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São Paulo – Starting on May 3, Brazilians may see paintings, manuscripts, letters, documents, original notebooks and even personal objects of Lebanese philosopher, poet, painter and enthusiast Gibran Khalil Gibran. An exhibition at the Latin American Memorial should show the items, brought straight from Gibran Museum, in Bicharré, Lebanon. According to Lody Brais, the president of the Brasil-Lebanon Cultural Association, which organises the fair, this is the first time the material will be shown in Latin America. The Brazil-Lebanon Cultural Association is promoting the exhibition alongside Gibran National Committee and Gibran Museum. The organisation’s objective is to rescue Lebanese culture in the country and tends to work on themes that unite Brazil and Lebanon.

This video was shot 2-3 kilometers out of Jounieh.

Thank you Lynn

The American flag has figured prominently in the coverage of the murderous Boston explosions. Similar to the September 11th attacks, broadcasters have opted to keep the flag running in the background graphics of every segment. These shots from NBC's The Today Show this morning:

Like many abandoned Beirut mansions, this one in Clemenceau is covered in a jungle of weeds.

I wonder what this place would look like if they were cleared away.

Perhaps it's slowly dawning on the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb that they have been played for fools by Hezbollah, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Michel Aoun.

Both of the Christian parties had expected there to be a vote in parliament on the so-called Orthodox proposal, but the signs today are that this will not happen. If so, they will have to admit that they ran into a trap, led to endorse a proposal that would break March 14 apart and prevent it from winning a parliamentary majority.

I just came across an update by Mashrou’s Leila on Facebook announcing that they will be performing in Bassem Youssef’s show El Bernameg tomorrow night.

Not too many productions, but it is always a refreshing to see Lebanon via new eyes. By Janet.

WTF!!

via @JoeAkkawi

A Sunni politician from Beirut, Tammam Salam, has been designated to form a new Lebanese government. The main problem he is facing today is disagreements over what role the government should play, with elections scheduled to begin next June.

Mr Salam's appointment followed intense manoeuvring after the resignation of Najib Mikati. Hizbollah had wanted Mr Mikati to head a new government, while the party's main opponent, Saad Hariri, was apparently preparing to name Ashraf Rifi, the former head of the Internal Security Forces, as his bloc's candidate.

Herbal cream televangelist Zein El Atat has moved off the television informercials and onto the streets of Hamra.

His image now occupies every street pole over two blocks of the busiest section of the commercial district.

Brought to you by someone who belongs in a Gap commercial...

For elves.

Ahmad Mouselli is by the way a Lebanese professor of political science at the American University of Beirut and was defending the Syrian regime, while the other guy, Abdel Jalil Said, is a member of the Syrian opposition.

A photo of Cesc Fabregas making the “L” sign with his fingers surfaces, and next thing you know he made it because he supports the Free Patriotic Movement after his Lebanese girlfriend told him about Michael Aoun! You can read all about it here.