Make sure to check Joe Show’s latest video on God’s Heaven as he speaks about our public debt and the recent arrests over free speech.
This isn’t the first time for him to talk about Lebanon with the last time being about the elections I think, but what puzzles me every time is the number of people defending their sect leaders in the comments like they’re just flawless.
Most of what I watch on TV at home are foreign movies and series that I get from torrent websites, and except for a couple of shows, I rarely follow Lebanese TV channel because most of their stuff are either pointless like the famous talk shows or utterly stupid like the murex d’or worthy drama series.
However, I’ve been recently loving some of the Lebanese content I’m finding on Youtube and Facebook and the ones I follow the most are the shows produced by Heyoka, a collective founded by a group of movie enthusiasts. They currently have two main shows, Movie Court presented by Anis Tabet and Daniel Habib, and Kazdoura presented by George Khalaf and Stephanie Atallah. The two shows are really simple, one reviews movies and the other is about street food, but I personally find them more entertaining than anything on TV.
Anis and Daniel are quite knowledgeable about the film industry and you got to enjoy the episodes they do to butcher some Lebanese movies, and apart from that they sometimes host Lebanese actors/directors for interesting talks about their work and the movie industry in Lebanon. On the other hand, George and Stephanie have a cool chemistry in Kazdoura, they have a good taste and it’s always funny to watch them tease each other in each episode.
Other projects they were involved in also include “El3ama malla show” featuring Ghayd Chammas a few months ago which was also pretty cool to follow.
You can follow Heyoka’s new videos on their Youtube channel as well as on Kazdoura’s Facebook page and Let’s Talk About Movies page.
I’ve been reading the recent articles about Ziad Itani and Colonel Suzan El Hajj and I couldn’t believe how fucked up the story is (given it is really true). The whole thing of course can’t but make you wonder how low can some officials get with their corruption and how easily can they actually get away with it!
All Colonel Hajj had to do to get Itani in prison was to fabricate a case accusing him or collaborating with Israel by claiming that the IP address of one of the people he was messaging on Facebook was traced back to Israel. However, this shows a big flaw in the way the ISF and other related governmental institutions work to pursue suspects.
When needed, Facebook and other social network websites disclose accounts records to governments to help them identify their owners in the cases where accounts are used with bad intent (check their terms here). The most important info they can provide is basically the IP address related to the suspect account. Governments can then check with their local ISPs in order to identify the identity of the person behind that IP.
In the case of Itani, articles are claiming he was not communicating with anyone in Israel, on the other hand what Hajj did was simply fabricating a false feedback from Facebook reporting that one of the account he was talking to was traced back to Israel. And this is where basically someone fucked up big time by not checking the authenticity of such information! Account records at Facebook CANNOT be forged, so whoever wan handling the investigation was Itani could have easily confirmed the claim by inquiring Facebook again.
The reason Itani was framed for was purely personal. Colonel Hajj thought he was the reason she was ousted from the cyber crime bureau and it was almost the end for him. This means anyone can end up with a similar fate for criticizing some official or a well connected person. And worst of all, the authorities can convince the masses of any case just like they did with Itani.
The minute Ziad Itani was arrested the whole investigation with him was being leaked to Al Akhbar newspaper through one of their journalists named Radwan Mortada (here and here). Throughout the whole thing that guy was acting like an official spokesperson to the State Security department, and his articles made him sound like he was actually present during the interrogations.
All other media outlets were eventually picking his stories and this played a big role in actually convincing us Ziad Itani was really collaborating with Israel.
I don’t know what’s next for him, those who did a bad job authenticating the evidences should know better. Officials promised he will be released on Monday, but who will compensate him for the months he spent in prison? Who will make it up for his wife and little daughter? Who will restore all the damage done to his reputation? And who will erase all the bad articles about him everywhere on the web which will eventually haunt him forever?
What I’m certain of though is that officials elsewhere would be resigning over such scandal instead of capitalizing on it for political gain in the upcoming elections!
If such figures interest you, below are stats about the Lebanese population on Facebook compiled by Nasri Messarra.
I’m not quite sure about it, but I guess these numbers show when you post some ad on Facebook.
via Joe’s Box.
Catfight!
Screenshot via El-Nashra
These guys can buy you anything, Lebanese Facebook likes, twitter followers, YouTube views, and even Instagram followers.
Are you looking for Facebook likes, Twitter followers, Youtube views, Google+ circles, or instagram followers for the lowest prices possible?
We can offer you the BEST prices and 100% guaranteed results, and the fastest delivery!
All of our Likes/Followers/Viewers are REAL and PERMANENT.
*** ARAB & LEBANESE fans also available! ***
Buy Arab Likes, Buy Lebanese Likes, Buy Arab Fans, Buy Lebanese Fans, Buy Arab Facebook Likes, Buy Lebanese Facebook Likes, Buy Arab Facebook Fans, Buy Lebanese Facebook Fans, Buy Twitter Followers, Buy Arab Twitter Followers, Buy Lebanese Followers, Buy Facebook Fans, Buy Facebook Likes, Buy Youtube Views, Buy Instagram followers, Buy Google+ members
I’d love to see what’s the title on their business cards… “Social media traders”?
Are you looking for Facebook likes, Twitter followers, Youtube views, Google+ circles, or instagram followers for the lowest prices possible?
We can offer you the BEST prices and 100% guaranteed results, and the fastest delivery!
All of our Likes/Followers/Viewers are REAL and PERMANENT.
*** ARAB & LEBANESE fans also available! ***
Visit our website for more info:
www.allrealfans.com
Phone: 71 097 007
Email: info@allrealfans.com
Buy Arab Likes, Buy Lebanese Likes, Buy Arab Fans, Buy Lebanese Fans, Buy Arab Facebook Likes, Buy Lebanese Facebook Likes, Buy Arab Facebook Fans, Buy Lebanese Facebook Fans, Buy Twitter Followers, Buy Arab Twitter Followers, Buy Lebanese Followers, Buy Facebook Fans, Buy Facebook Likes, Buy Youtube Views, Buy Instagram followers, Buy Google+ members
ALL at:
www.allrealfans.com
According to this article in Lebanon Files today, it seems that the intelligence-oriented Information Branch has asked the ministry of telecommunication for all SMSs that has been exchanged over the two months that preceded the assassination of General Wissam Al-Hassan back in October 19th, in addition to our internet accounts and Facebook passwords!
ذكرت صحيفة “السفير” ان شهية الأجهزة الأمنية ولا سيما شعبة المعلومات، فُتحت من جديد على “داتا” شبكة الاتصالات الخلوية في لبنان، مع فارق خطير هذه المرة، تمثل في عدم الاكتفاء بطلب تسليمها حركة الاتصالات، كما كان يحصل في السابق، ليصل الأمر إلى مستوى غير مسبوق، في خطورته وتداعياته، مع طلب الشعبة الاطلاع على محتوى كل الرسائل النصية الخلوية المتبادلة بين جميع المواطنين، على مدى الشهرين اللذين سبقا اغتيال اللواء وسام الحسن، إلى جانب الحصول على كلمات المرور (باسورد) لشبكات الإنترنت والفايسبوك التي يستعملها اللبنانيون.
وفي هذا السياق , أكد وزير الاتصالات نقولا صحناوي للصحيفة ان الوزارة تلقت طلباً بالحصول على محتوى الرسائل النصية وكلمات المرور (باسورد) لشبكات الإنترنت والفايسبوك العائدة إلى اللبنانيين، على مساحة كل لبنان، محذراً من أن الموافقة على هذه الاستباحة ستجر المزيد لاحقاً.
وأكد أنه رفع هذا الطلب إلى الأمانة العامة لمجلس الوزراء من أجل درسه، “مع توصية من قبله برفضه ورده، آخذاً على الهيئة القضائية المختصة بالنظر في طلبات الأجهزة الأمنية أنها تكتفي بتسجيل موقف عابر، بينما المطلوب أن تكون أكثر فعالية في صون الدستور وحقوق المواطنين.
It’s weird that the Information Branch is asking for our Facebook password since that means ISPs in Lebanon are actually keeping a log of all passwords we input! Anyway, I hope the government rejects this request and instead agfrees on supplying data related to specific people and during a reasonable time frame.
You probably have heard in the last few days the joke about a new button being unveiled by Facebook to the Arabic market to allow the users in the region to respond with “Inshallah” to event invitation they receive. The joke was started by a parody website The Pan-Arabia Enquirer, and unfortunately the LBCI website fell for it! Check the article they posted here. (I expect them to delete it soon)
Following the opening of its office in Dubai, Facebook has revealed the first of what it claims will be many alterations to the social media site tailored to the local Arabic market. As of next week, users across the Middle East and North Africa will have to opportunity to respond with ‘Insha’Allah’ to an event invitation, along with the usual ‘Join’, ‘Maybe’ and ‘Decline’.
“This was the result of several focus groups across the region,” said Facebook Arabia’s Regional Solutions Manager, Majid Johnson. “Adding an ‘Insha’Allah’ button for Facebook events was by far and away the most popular request.”
Facebook Arabia also announced plans to introduce a ‘Platinum Upgrade’ specifically for GCC markets.
“This was another big winner in our focus groups,” claimed Johnson. “Facebook Platinum is going to be our premium option for the more exclusive social media user. It’s going to come with a significant signing on fee, but will offer five-star services, such as a bespoke wall and 24-hour status concierge facility, along with space for just 50 members at one time.”
Facebook Platinum is expected to launch this November.
Absolutely priceless!
Thank you @tinkeyeh
Update:
The article was removed from LBCI’s website.
If you’re a fan of Zaatar W Zeit then here’s your chance to get a 30% discount on their meals simply by visiting their Facebook page and getting the offer they’re currently posting. Once you click on “Get Offer”, you’ll instantly receive an e-mail from them that you’ll have to present at the restaurant to get your discount.
It’s actually the first time for me to see a Lebanese company making use of the Facebook Offers, expect more to start doing the same!
I found about Lebtivity through a tweet by @CarlaEid. The website is a social calendar for events around Lebanon with a very user friendly interface allowing to search for events by date and category, and it already have dozens of events for you to plan the summer season!
In addition, Lebtivity helps events organizers promote and manage their events through easy to use tools and for free. Make sure to check it out here.
