RedHobo.com RedLeb v2; the musings of a Lebanese hobo. Now in exciting seaweed flavor

About redleb/redhobo

Lebanese signature wall treatment

Where's the red?

I’ve always liked the color red.

When I was ten or so, I went out to play. War is an on-and-off thing, and while some days I’d fall asleep to the same cannons that woke us up, others were so quiet I’d almost forget about the fighting.

It was snowing that day, and I’d never seen the snow up close. I braved a nearby field and walked around until I found something worth exploring, a undischarged shell (must’ve been a 120mm mortar). I slipped, and slammed my face straight into it; it didn’t explode – we actually made a vase out of it later.

I passed out for a short time and woke up blind. I fumbled around on my knees; I was still outside, still in the snow and could hear mom calling out to me, but I couldn’t see anything. My head was soaking wet and throbbing, so I figured I’d managed to gouge both my eyes out – well it made sense to a ten-year old. I shut my eyes, wiped my face and opened them. To red.

It was rather beautiful actually, a pool of deep, bright red blood on a patch of bright white snow. I was euphoric; red meant I could see, although it also meant that I’d injured something else. I made my way back home and my parents carried me to a clinic. I’d managed to rip off the right side of my nose, and got my first taste of unanaesthesized stitching (too close to the eyes apparently); I also got a decent story out of it, and a very manly scar. And I never forgot the red.

The color red also comprises two-thirds of the Lebanese flag, a touching reference to the blood of innocents and braves who gave their lives for my independence. Yes, independence; and while it’s all cool to snicker at the word, I suggest those who fancy arguing semantics redirect their brilliance to more productive endeavors. Like crocheting.

And it’s not all about bleeding. Red is a passionate color, red is an apt homonym of read (thanks for that one Mike) and redleb is a signature brand of hashish produced in Lebanon. We apparently export the stuff as well, but that’s all hush hush.

What's with the new domain?

Well, that was something of a coincidence. Somewhere between moving hosts, redesigning the site and leaving the country I felt like buying a new domain. I'd become something of a globe-trotter, and new domains always give geeks a feeling of home, or at least consolidation.

ASL?

The site is part portfolio and part blog; and while the topics are often universal, and ranting has no creed or color, most of the content here is written with the disgruntled, modern Lebanese in mind. You see, an estimated 35% of my country’s population lives abroad (and those are the permanent ones); and I can’t blame them – I myself fly around the world just to keep my sanity in check. A couple of decades of explosions, consistently unstable politicians and more guns than pens will do that. But the times they are a-changin’, and even the smallest effort in the right place shivers up the whole country’s spine; it’s a place of miracles now, even as it is a place of war. And I’ll buy you all drinks when you’re here.

Where is this relationship going?

I post roughly once a week, but it's really more of a pretty rant, isn't it?

As of January, 2010, the interviews have been discontinued indefinitely. I loved working on them though, for the most part, and they'll stay in the archives.

The interviews targeted Lebanese people who’ve had a significant effect on the country over time, or have shaken things up a bit. These included celebrities, media personalities, artist, writers, shopkeepers, street sweepers and this old lady trying to sell me flowers. Well no, not her, she’s not very nice.

The rant is called a Slice of Life, a column I sell every month. This electronic incarnation is more frequent, more personal and free of censorship. I’m not about to get overtly vulgar or sell smut, but I’d like to keep my options open. Fuck.

What have you done for me lately?

This isn’t a commercial site, well, it’s very mildly commercial. The majority of the work here has already been sold, typically to the Middle East. Rights in other regions are likely still up for grabs, so use the contact form for any inquiries.

As far as commissions go I’m rather happy with my current workload. I will however take on first-person narratives or satires that seem interesting, as well as any chance to write about Middle Eastern life and culture (but not politics – I don’t like my opinions dictated to me) in international publications.

You never listen!

If you’ve got an idea for a rant, article or interview then click the pretty contact button and let me know; there might be a drink in it for you, and certainly some credit. If you have a good photograph for a story I’d be more than happy to showcase it (under creative commons licensing). And if you’re a writer, journalist or beautiful woman, drop me a line, and let me know what it’s like in your neck of the woods.

So much to learn, so little time. Study study study.