“The telephone rang. It was my 70 year old great-aunt. My heart crumbled. I knew full well what was coming next. ‘Hello there sweetie,’ she chirped. ‘So, have you met anyone special?’ Her tone became grave and stern. ‘Not yet,’ I replied in a rather ‘goodness not again’ manner. ‘Tsk,’ she snapped. ‘You’re 34 years…
Local fashion fantastic
The fashion, the glamour, the luxury. Beirut has long been full of trend crazed, snazzy dressers and designers keen to leave their mark on the international scene. Beyond the obvious fashion victims and overly zealous devotion to cosmetic surgery, lies a city that regularly comes alive with exhibitions and events that celebrate local artistry, artisanship…
Copy paste republic of Lebanon
“Plagiarism is the ‘wrongful appropriation’ and ‘stealing and publication’ of another author’s ‘language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions’ and the representation of them as one’s own original work … Plagiarism is considered academic dishonesty and a breach of journalistic ethics. It is subject to sanctions like penalties, suspension, and even expulsion. Plagiarism is not a crime…
Selfie mania
Ah, the selfie! The modern day self-portrait gone digital. #selfie #instagood #instamood There’s nothing quite like it to spice up our Facebook newsfeeds and to make Instagram the unique photo shrine that it is. There are two main types of selfies that abound, in addition to endless sub-categories. The first is the ‘center of the…
Travel Apps: Potential to take flight
There I stood, lost in translation in the middle of Moscow. All the signs were in Russian and none of the locals out and about on the streets spoke English. It was time to call out the big guns. I whipped out my smartphone. My trusty holiday apps were ready and waiting: Google Maps, Foursquare,…
The enduring power of memes
“Let’s make a Happy video!” “Let’s do the Harlem Shake.” “Planking? Yes, of course. Check out my photos.” “Oh look it’s another Grumpy Cat!” You’d have to be living under a rock not to be familiar with memes, which are according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to…
Android Aphrodite
With Valentine’s Day upon us again, do you ever feel you have done it all? Flowers, cards, bottles of wine – they all seem so cliché. How about dressing up as a cyborg or ‘wiring up’ to your partner in ways you never imagined? Wearable technology is a growing trend and to celebrate this most…
The problems of being a non-smoker in Lebanon
We were enjoying the ambiance at a resto-bar until it hit, or rather puffed our way. Breathing suddenly became an unpleasant task and there was mist everywhere. I looked around to determine the cause. Lo and behold, practically everyone was smoking, in an enclosed indoor space. Surely, the waiters or management would kindly ask the…