Random posts

• Mother of 30: Mama Jamale is a surrogate mother to more than 30 children. She has helped two generations of SOS Village children and looks forward to supporting many more.
• Rock hard: Gassan Rahbani, the original Lebanese rocker, shouts about everything from politics to the environment
• Venus attacks: He stops and sniffs his drink. Their eyes lock for half a minute – but men are ill-equipped for these games.
• Kung-fu redhead: Somewhere in the mess of neurological pathways I call Karl (when I'm referring to myself in the psychotic third-person) I've managed to equate affection with violence; in other words, if I enjoy someone’s company, I hurt them.
• Bearded bells: A legend in Lebanese theater, Rafic Ali Ahmad buys me a shisha at the notorious Rawda Cafe and talks about his life.
• Sing for peace: Magida el Roumi may have been singing for over 30 years, and despite the dip in optimism, her passion for peace is undimmed.
• Seed of Zicco: Zicco House is much more than just the poetry readings and concerts at the Samra Bar: it's a launch-pad for the country's most prominent movements, and has become a hub for thinkers and dissidents who dream of change.
• Angry mother: Nidal al Achkar is the lead role in the Beiruti theatrical movement. Manager and founder of the Al Madina theater, she offers a center for culture and art in Beirut, even if she herself has lost hope.
• Art attack: Sandra Dagher believes people care about art. As director of the Beirut Art Center she tries to walk the walk by bringing art to the masses whilst supporting local talent.
• Ex and bacon: All the crying has made that part a bit fuzzy, what is crystal clear though is picking up the 5 kilogram, metal-cast xylophone I was playing with and smashing it on his skull. Turns out he didn't like surprises either.
• In the stars: With her book breaking all local sale records, I revisit Maguy Farah to see what all this astrology business is about.