news.beiruter.com - A directory of Lebanese blogs

A Smoldering Disaffection with the President's Policy

chief — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 04:35:00 +0000

Marty Peretz, editor-in-chief of The New Republic, voted for President Barack Obama as you'd expect from the boss at a left-leaning magazine. But he has some complaints about the president's foreign policy, as do I. (I more or less approve so far of Obama's handling of Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan.)

Genius

chief — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:11:00 +0000

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1198

Problem with the Comments Section

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:59:39 +0000

All comments, including my own, that include links are instantly deleted by my publishing software. Anyone who writes something in the comments section with even a single embedded link will see a message claiming the comment will be published after I approve it. But that isn't actually happening. These comments are being deleted straight away before I even have the chance to look at them, let alone approve them. I'm not sure what the problem is. This is not a feature. It's a bug. Any ideas?

The Opposition’s Plans (or lack thereof) for Lebanese Security

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:20:57 +0000

While Hezbollah and its allies continue to insist variably on “real participation”, proportional representation, and/or a blocking third, al-Akhbar’s Hassan Aleiq reveals information on March 8’s intentions towards Lebanon’s security apparatus. Aleiq reports that neither before nor after the elections did March 8 actually develop a coherent initiative for reforming Lebanese security, save Nasrallah’s vague intention to equip and train the military. Ho

IRAQ: Iraqis pay tribute to a strongman

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:22:12 +0000

Memories of Abdul Kareem Qasim (right), Iraq’s first leader after the monarchy, were alive today as Iraq celebrated the anniversary of the establishment of the modern Iraqi republic in 1958. His supporters view him as a defender of the poor who fought for the state’s rights against the interests of the West. His detractors view him as the first in a series of disastrous would-be strongmen who led Iraq on to the path to instability that culminated in dictator Saddam Hussein.

Wanted: Lego Man

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:57:34 +0000

This is a long shot but does anyone have a Lego man they would want to sell me? They are used for display purposes. I took a picture of the oneabove at Fantasy World but its not there anymore. Its around 40cm tall. Does anyone from Fantasy World read my blog by any chance?

Kuwaiti show dubbed in English

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:15:42 +0000

Ansam uploaded and posted a video recorded from a Saudi channel of a Kuwaiti TV series that’s been dubbed in English. Can anyone imagine if they did the same thing to Bye Bye London? I would watch that! [YouTube]
via Five One Eight

Ila ayn ya jenblat?? (2009-07-14)

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:12:40 +0000

Rumi!!!!!! Soufiste ou Boudhiste? ou simplement prophete au ballon rouge? cela serait bien de l'integrer a mon hymne perso a cte de koulouna (evidement;)

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:04:12 +0000

Tout est un, la vague et la perle, la mer et la pierre. Rien de ce qui existe en ce monde n'est en dehors de toi. Cherche bien en toi-même ce que tu veux être...

Britain revokes Israel arms permits

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:55:54 +0000

This, from Aljazeera English, citing agencies. The UK should also decide on an arms embargo.Britain has revoked licences for the sale of military components to Israel after conducting an export review in the wake of Israel’s war on Gaza, officials have said.
Five arms-export licences have been cancelled out of 182 that Britain had granted to companies, an Israeli official said on Monday.
The licences all involved parts for the Saar Corvette, a boat used in Israel’s 22-day military offensive on the Palestinian territory in December and January.

Selective Reporting from Lebanon and Palestine

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:44:55 +0000

This is a good, if short, article of The Palestine Chronicle that rightfully asks why it is Israel that is all too often made out to be the victim in the world of journalism.
By Nate George – Beirut
Bias and selective reporting in favor of Israel is nothing new. We have come to expect sins of omission and commission from the media, and recent weeks proved to be no exception.

Wonderwall

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:27:00 +0000

Here's a more beautiful version of the original Oasis one.

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall

Those parties should definitely make that review

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:26:27 +0000

La culture… revolver sur la tempe

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:42:28 +0000

Nagib Aoun – C’est la partie immergée de l’iceberg, celle dont peu ont conscience, celle qui est enfouie sous des tas d’immondices, déjections fétides d’une vie politique qui n’arrive pas à s’élever au niveau des urgences nationales.
Subrepticement, sournoisement, le travail de sape est entrepris sous le couvert de la résistance à la résistance culturelle, réminiscence [...]

Paging Matt Damon

chief — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 08:28:40 +0000

This Times article on the recently uncovered CIA assassination program that was reportedly never operational and has just been disbanded includes a funny quote that outlines some of the logistical problems of assassin squads. Perhaps Jason Bourne could be hired as a consultant:
But in practice, creating and training the teams proved difficult.