Beirut

They're American, I have no idea why the band is called Beirut, but they are genius and I love them! :)

From All My Heart.

Let me first start by sharing with you, one of the biggest inspiration of my life, which is of course, V for Vendetta.

Well, actually, that's the only thing I really wanted to say, I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.
Wether you're on your way to work to work in the early morning or coming back from a party late at night, I hope this brings a smile to your face.

Thank you LM for making this possible :-)

The Seagull

I decided to keep this name cause I have to share my seagull obsession with someone!

Yesterday, I read one of the most inspiring book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
It is all about seeking perfecting and I loved and enjoyed every page.
I highly recommend the book, and I want to share my favorite part:

Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, and you'll see the way to fly.
- Jonathan Seagull

Thank You.

This post is dedicated to J, A, T and P. I don't know if you will ever read this, but this is the only way I have to thank you for what you did.
I am writing this because you gave me faith, faith our lovely Lebanese society, but you also showed me and proved to me that change is coming, slowly but surely.

You used to be the guys I dread. The overly straight dudes who kept randomly throwing homophobic comments, maybe without even realizing it.
Saying 'gay' and 'louteh' might have become a normal thing to do for you, but every time I heard those words, I kept thinking, why, why are you using this particular word every time you have something bad to say?

But all the respect you showed me these last couple of days showed me that you were no enemies, but friends. You respected my privacy and helped me when I needed help.
Your anonymous tips were really helpful.

Anyway, thank you again, and I hope you get to read this :-)

Lebanon & Drama

So, a pillar collapsed and the landlord is informed. He did nothing about it. Two weeks later, he advices everyone to sleep out of the building. Then, it collapses.

What is everyone doing? Standing in the red cross and the police's way, trying to get as close as possible. How nosey are you? Get out, you are freaking useless. 

What is the media doing? Sending 10 cameras there and interviewing survivors, minutes after the collapse, saying names on national TV without anyone's consent.

What are the people trying to help doing? Throwing rocks on the ruins randomly. What if there is someone under that you bloody idiot? 

What is their miracle solution? Pray and light a candle. Yes, that's helpful.

Lebanese people, Y U SO DUMB?

Same Blog, New Name.

Why?

Because I promised my friend I would change the name.
Because I am only a man. A man who wants nothing to be able to hurt him
Because I want to be able to fly, live on my lonely rock, with only the lighting and the waves as company.

Exilé sur le sol au milieu des huées,
Ses ailes de géant l'empêchent de marcher.

Dear Anonymous,

You freaked me out, you did.
Yes, now you know who I am, you do. What gave it away? The rainbows?
But I really wonder, how can one find rainbows if he's not looking for rainbow?

Dear Anonymous,
I wonder, I really wonder, what did you prove? 

Fight Rape

Why?
Articles 503 and 504 of the Lebanese Penal Code, which define what rape is, exclude marital rape and any sexual violence.
Article 522 states that the case can be dropped if the rapist asks the victim to marry him.
This is just creepy.
Nobody can be aware of all the monstrosities that can happen behind a closed door and the worst part is that a woman cannot even resort to the authorities.

Who?
Nasawiya, a collective of feminist activists, is taking the initiative by organizing a march. But a march needs a crowd and a crowd needs you!

When?
Janury 14th at 12pm.

Where?
Ministry of Interior in Sanayeh to Parliament in Downtown

Don't forget to check the Facebook event for more details.

The Lebanese Penal Code is just so wrong on so many levels. 
I hope this can be the first step for many changes to come!
Be there!

The Spider & The Fly

I'm not really into poetry but I really wanted to share this.

Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly, 
'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy; 
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, 
And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there." 
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain, 
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again." 


"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high; 
Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly. 
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin, 
And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!" 
Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said, 
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!" 


Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do, 
To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you? 
I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice; 
I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?" 
"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be, 
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!" 


"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise, 
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes! 
I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf, 
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself." 
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say, 
And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day." 


The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den, 
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again: 
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly, 
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly. 
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing, 
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing; 
Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head; 
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!" 

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly, 
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by; 
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew, 
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue -- 
Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last, 
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast. 
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den, 
Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again! 


And now dear little children, who may this story read, 
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give heed: 
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye, 
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

By Mary Howitt 

Books, books, books.

We all have books we bought and never read, and I just can't stop buying books, cause it's kinda addictive and all.. I'm a booka-shopa-holic, which means, I love buying books.
It's not that I don't read them but somehow this list is just getting longer and longer. It's just that my books read to books bought ratio is like 1:5.

George Orwell: Animal Farm
Jodi Picoult: The Pact
Gregory Maguire: Wicked (I actually read half of that then my sister stole it and now I have it back!)
J.D. Salinger: Catcher in the Rye
Richard Dawkins: The God Delusion
Stieg Larsson: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. (It's a thing I do... buy a whole series and just dump it in the waiting list. Oh, and I am not watching that movie before reading the whole book!)
Karin Slaughter: Faithless, Beyond Reach (These are actually from an adult-crime series I started in England... Couldn't find the rest here so I had to get them online.)
Cornelia Funke: Inkspell, Inkdeath. (Read Inkeart and watched the movie and loved them both.)

So yeah, for some reason everyone thinks I am so into comic books and stuff when I'm really not. Maybe they just have no gift ideas? I dunno.
But every time at my birthday and on Christmas I get all these comic books and all I think about is "Yay! More free books for me!" :)

I am now reading: The Help - Katheryn Stockett (Again, not watching the movie until the whole book is done)

So what do you think I should read next?

My precious, my shiny..

Bursting the Bubble

We all live a redundant routine. We get attached to that routine. It makes us feel safe. Then something comes up, and you have to abandon that routine. You get used to something new and create a new routine.
Then, reality hits you back and you go back to the same old habits.

These holidays have been wonderful.
Waking up at 12, going out at 1, just walking around with my laptop, a couple of books and of course, an umbrella (Forgot it once, regretted it the rest of the day). Just walking around in Ashrafieh, getting lost, finding my way back. Sitting, getting a coffee, writing, working, reading. Alone.
Go back home around 5, eat, go back out, walk. Alone.
Come back home around midnight, sleep.

I totally fell in love with that 'lifestyle'. I just felt like a homeless guy for a couple of weeks and it was awesome. I saw new faces, been to places I've never been to before. School, home, friends, I just couldn't stand doing the same thing over and over again.
I still haven't got tired of that. I wish I could still go out all day and do nothing and just stare at stranger and chill.
I just burst my bubble and I'm glad I did.

Tomorrow, I go back to school, back to my routine. I'm afraid I won't have time to spend days just chilling. But, oh well... My laziness has its limit.
It's just that, I discovered so much things. When you're all alone, you can see everything, it's all clear.
We all have these awkward moments when we think about life and all before sleeping. Just imagine doing this all day long.

These holidays have been enlightening and I just wish that my routine isn't going to stop me from having some alone me-time.
I don't want this bubble to ever built itself around me ever again.