All the Beirut news.

[YouTube]
Ktir Gharibi Indeed!

Law 174 – No Smoking Lebanon Facebook Group proudly posted today that the latest research conducted by Dr. Jad Chaaban (AUB) has revealed that the “the indoor smoking ban that went into effect in September 2012 has *caused* a revenue increase of +3% for the sector”.
The full research was not published yet but I do hope that they are only considering restaurants that applied the non-smoking law because no one seemed to care about this law in most of the places I visited lately, whether nights, pubs, restaurants etc…

[YouTube]
This video is a month old yet pretty much shows how fragile the security situation is in Tripoli. It’s more than shameful to treat a human being this way, regardless of what he might have done.

Clashes in Beb el Tebbane in 1975
If you thought the Tripoli clashes are recent ones and due to the situation in Syria, check out these old pictures from the 1970s and 1980s posted by NakedBana2. I guess we will never learn.

Tripoli 1976

Around 12:30 PM today while trying to get some work done, I heard a cacophony of honking that went on for longer than the typical irate taxi driver. 
Finally I had to have a look out the window, and when I did, over a dozen cars were streaming through Hamra waiving Hezbollah, Amal and Syrian flags. The honking was similar to a wedding celebration.

Looks like we could have another interesting archeological dig in central Beirut. These pictures were sent to me this morning by reader Zal fa, who shot them between the construction walls.

(حبر ورصاص على ورق ink and pencil on paper)
Ein El Helwi refugee camp:

Who knows the camp from a distance hears the sound of bullets. Yet who knows it closely hears the sound of the basil plants saying: " I miss the hands of the "hajjeh"* " (*old lady)
في شباب السفير

A few places are closing and others are opening… what’s going on. Are restaurant owners doing their homework properly before investing a lot of money to open up a new concept? Open another branch of an already existing concept… Dbayeh area is now swamped with new restaurants between Le Mall, ABC, Junction 5, Blueberry Square »more...

Left: Amanda Seyfried on the red carpet at the ’Lovelace’ Premiere during Berlin’s International Film Festival in this stunning cobalt lace long royal blue gown from Elie Saab’s Spring 2013 Collection and TIFFANY & CO. jewelry.

Samsung Lebanon were kind enough to lend me the new Samsung Galaxy S4 to try it out for a couple of weeks and return it. Even though I only got it on Monday, I’ve been experimenting on my friend’s S4 for the last week or so and have few things to say about this latest addition to the Samsung’s popular S series.

Light and dark, yin and yang, oil and vinegar bowl is all about zen. Achieve a harmoniously tasty balance with the Zen ceramic Dipping Bowl. Head out to get some tasty bread, like those at Tartine Bakery and start dipping. The Zen Dipping Bowl is made of dishwasher and food safe ceramic.

Customers will be transported to the Mediterranean in the heart of London’s bustling center enjoying their gelato DRI DRI. The Front Room of St Martins Lane’s hotel is a dynamic retail space. It has housed various creative collaborations with partners including The Convenience Store (fashion boutique), Wallpaper (photography exhibition), Angela Hill (vintage books), The Design »more...

Source
The teacher answered Alexandra in 3 languages and he’s suing her for libel and defamation.

Text of the Picture being circulated:
The Lebanese writer Rachid Al-Daif forcefully raped and manipulated his student in the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Beirut for four years, starting when he was 62 and she was 19. He locked her in his house and demanded sex from her at night, even raping her in her sleep. He threatened her in order to keep it a secret. This January, the rapist resigner before being shamefully fired from LAU when the university administration learned about his actions.

If only everyone in Tripoli thought the same as this man instead of hating on each other.