New Year Mood in Lebanon

Dear Lebanon

I will be posting links to interesting stories concerning the current mood of Lebanese people.

1- Hold the Champagne: Lebanon Is in No Mood to Party By MICHAEL SLACKMAN (NY Times)

2- Lebanese Awaiting Psychics' Predictions By DONNA ABU-NASR (Guardian Unlimited)

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3-2-1-1 Happy New Year

Dear Lebanon

I am back since the 20th of December to the motherland, and I have to admit that nothing has changed... Or almost nothing.
Indeed, Monot is no longer the "IN" place to go out, since nightlife has moved to Gemayzeh, a perpendicular street to Monot less then 1 Km away. Still, some Monot pubs are there to stay, notably Pacifico and Lila Braun.

I read one interesting story on the net, which states that this year, before switching to 2006, we will be adding one extra second to 2005. A leap second to adjust and synchronize atomic clocks to the earth rotation. While this might seem absurd, it is apparently a necessity because it affects indirectly our daily lives, from GPS tracking to telecom operations...

So, this year, instead of doing a regular countdown before kissing your lover, count 3, 2, 1, Another 1, and then HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

For more info on the 2005 leap second, click here.

Back for vacation

Dear Lebanon

Few days and I will be back... back to reality...

I cannot express how I felt when I learned the news about the death of Parliament Member and Annahar General Manager Gebran Tueini.
Although I didn't agree with his latest political views and alliances, I still believe that at the time when nobody dared to mention Syria from inside Lebanon, he was never afraid to discuss openly the corruption and dominance of the syrio-lebanese politicians.
A great man is gone...And we are left in shock and awe.

Still, life goes on, and I sincerely hope that we will prevail.

Being Lebanese, I will be going home for Christmas to spend the holidays with my family and friends. Still, the airplane tickets with the cheapest airline will cost me more than a ticket to Brazil with 3* hotel accommodation for 10 days... Go figure...

Well, I guess my next post will be from Lebanon, where I hope my theory of "Lebanon on hold" and "Waiting for Mehlis" will no more be valid. I HOPE!

Until then...