The Thinking Blogger Award.
My good blogger friend, arch.memory, kindly nominated me as one of his 5 recipients of the Thinking Blogger Award.
To my mind, arch.memory has always been an amazing and generous talent, and being on his list makes me very honored and proud. I met him when I was preparing for my urban design thesis. I was working on the memory of the Lebanese War. He had finished his architecture thesis on the same topic. I wrote to him, he wrote back, and... we're here.
Thank you Ash! (I wish I could re-tag you with the award).Also, this couldn’t have happened at a better time since, today marks my 1st year blogging anniversary. It was exactly last year, that I started opening up to you; opening up to the world. I have learned a lot, I shared views. We’ve been each others venting space, and we’ve been each other’s inspirations. I built many close friendships (even though virtual sometimes) with many fellow bloggers. It was slow, difficult and uninspired at some points, while creative, intellectual and flowing at others. But mostly, I have had a blast!
Thank you my friends.The tag passed on to me, I have to choose 5 bloggers and bestow upon them the Thinking Blogger Award. My blogger community being small and all, I am going to bend the rules a little, and send the award to bloggers already nominated by arch.memory…
Bloggers that I will nominate now, will have to comply with the following rules:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think.
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme.
3. Optional: Proudly display the 'Thinking Blogger Award' with a link to the post that you wrote.
(between you and me, you don't really really have to if you don't like the tag)
And the Thinking Blogger Award goes to:
1. Across the Bay_ by Anton EfendiI have to start with Anton. Not because I am biased, him being a good friend of mine in real life and all, but it’s that because of him, I embarked on this blogging journey; Tony got me into blogging. His political writings are full of sarcasm and mockery, but rarely off-target. A sharp critic, and intelligent scholar, the Efendi is the guy you don’t want to have an argument with.
2. A Blog About Nowt_ by *(asterisk)
English sarcasm at its best! Not that I am claiming to be the expert, but I am can tell you that this sharp blogger, is always dead on. His posts are always straight to the point and honest. And between his stories, and the stories of lovely Red, they give you the best topics of discussion in the blogosphere.
3. Passing for Normal_ by MirvatIt came to a point where this blog was my addiction. One of the bloggers I mostly identify with, a fascinating writer and a poet, I sometimes feel that Mirvat writes me, better than I would write myself. A proud to be Lebanese (w bterfa3 el rass kamen), Mirvat is always flirting with your nostalgia, brining you to your knees heavy with beautiful long gone memories… smile my nostalgia friend.
4. Mysterious Eve_ by Eve
arch.memory said it best (since he also awarded her): you are truly missing out if you can’t read eve in Arabic. Posting from the capital, Beirut, eve is the throbbing heart for many expat.-bloggers around the globe; she is sort of our connection to the homeland. With poetic grace, eve carries us to a landscape of Lebanese dreams, and authentic memories; you sometimes shiver under the power of her literature.
5. Tajerib_ by NONE/DXB; ANOTHER HUMAN BEING
An old classmate, a friend, and a colleague, none/dxb never ceases to inspire. A subtle artist who posts slowly, but whenever that is, you are sure to be impressed. His court métrage "destin animé" is a perfect example of his genius. My blogging journey wouldn't have been as fun, and inspired, if it weren't for the interesting discussions we have from time to time.
késsak dude! [cheers!]
Labels: anniversary, award, blog, tag
The Lebanese Diaspora.
I received this by email today. I thought it was a pretty cool informational sheet, although I really really hate the graphic... (very childish and kitschy).
hmmm I could re-do it the way I think it should be presented... maybe another time.
It is self explanatory I think. The grand total of the Lebanese in the diaspora is about 12.5 million, and the population of Lebanon comes close to 4 million. (these are the legal ones)Just one question though: What the fuck are we doing in the Philippines?
Labels: diaspora, graphics, patriotism, statistics
The Virginia Tech Massacre.
Bowling for Virginia tech.
It took me a while to decide whether I should write about V.T.'s massacre. Since I still think that too much media and commotion around this subject, will surely make it happen again, as these stupid gunners are usually in need of attention... However, I was going to post something, but I read one of my blogger friends' post on the subject.*(asterisk)'s post was right to the point, and I couldn't have put it any better. Besides, my comment is posted there, so you can also read my opinion on this painful incident.May they rest in peace. All of them. We lost two Lebanese students in this bloody incident.
Two Lebanese students were among the 32 people killed by a gunman at Virginia Tech University in the United States, government sources said on Tuesday.
The Lebanese foreign ministry was officially informed that Reema Samaha and Ross Abdallah Alameddine, both 19, were killed in Monday's rampage at the university, the sources told AFP.
Police identified the gunman behind the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history as an English major "loner" student from South Korea. The man shot dead 32 students and staff at the campus before committing suicide.(AFP)(AP photo shows an undated black-and-white yearbook photo provided by Westfield High School in Chantilly of Virginia Tech freshman - naharnet.com
These two kids, fled bombs and wars, traveled thousands of miles looking for a brighter future and good education, only to die gunned down in class, by a twisted, dumb fuck!PEOPLE!
DO NOT CARRY GUNS!
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Update:
Another article was posted on naharnet, telling scenes from the life of both Lebanese students... you can read it here.
Labels: guns, massacre, stupid, virginia tech
Long Distance_01
I usually call her before I go to sleep. I am in my bed, and she is on her way to work. She is already in her car, driving the bustling highway, drinking her morning coffee, while talking to me on her cell phone. She started her day full charge and already multitasking, while on the other side of the planet, I am finding it hard even to articulate and formulate useful sentences. That doesn’t mean that I am lazy. That just means that we’re truly worlds apart. (Although I am a bit lazy)There are many means of communication these days to make your life easier, and make you “reachable” anywhere in the world. We use most of them. Except we never sent each other carrier pigeons, nor smssed with white smoke. We invested so much in being in-touch… But in our own way. I say in our own way, because people usually don’t find that we communicate well… she and I. We normally approve understandingly, because honestly we never feel that they deserve an explanation. We really don’t make a big deal out of it; we don’t even think about it twice… Pouf! Dissolves into thin air. We do communicate. We communicate extremely well… But in our own way. We are one of those couples who are able to communicate a lot, without saying much. There is no such thing as “uncomfortable silence” between us. Anything is welcomed, enjoyed, and appreciated, be it silence, talk, or song.A lot is said with silence anyway. People should try it even. She and I… We’re worlds apart, yet so much alike
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One, by U2 is one of my favorite songs. I found this version of the song, by pure chance; a very sexy performance by French Vanessa Paradis.
I prefer the audio for the video because it makes you dream and imagine a bit, but if you want, you can click Here for the video.
Labels: about her, long distance, msn, musing
Just when we thought Spring was here...
Labels: everyday life, photography, visual art
Alf Mabrouk; 3melo Meghle. [Congratulations]
Headlines read:
"A female camel gives birth to twins, in Saudi Arabia"...Do you need me to translate the whole thing, or was that enough of your time wasted?
Labels: Funnies, Saudi Arabia, stupid
do you visit... there?
my brain these days IS...
Labels: a trip with Emily, photography, ramblings, visual art
