The Weekly Leaks: Red Hot Chili Peppers in Beirut This September (I Sure Hope So!)

Update April 7, 2012:

CONFIRMED =D

Event page here 

I like the RHCP. That’s why I’m posting this premature leak, in hopes the excitement might help seal the deal.

The RHCP will be in the Middle-East area in September, with shows planned in Eastern Europe and the Western Mediterranean like Greece. Sources have assured Gino’s Blog that the negotiations are in their final stages and that everything will be finalized by early next month.

So, for now this is NOT 100% CONFIRMED so don’t butcher me if anything goes wrong. But, I trust this source and besides, he/she is a massive RHCP fan and is just as excited as we all are.

If the show goes down, it’ll be in Solidere, probably the new Beirut Waterfront or perhaps even in Zaytunay Bay (although I think the crowd size will dictate the larger Beirut Waterfront). It’s also be in September (I’d bet before September 10).

So, fingers crossed! Confirmation in a few weeks, and I promise I’ll keep you updated =D

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In Time Movie Review

I enjoyed this movie. It’s not Matrix-material in terms that it unexpectedly changed movie history when it was expected to flop, but it’s nevertheless an original look at how things could be different in our world.

It stars Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried in a world where genetically engineered humans stop aging at the age of 25. This is weird, since your mom, grandma and great grandma could all look as your girlfriend. The catch is, at 25, they only get one year. They can trade in time for services, and vice versa. For example, a cup of coffee costs 5 minutes.

It’s cool cause in a way, time really is money in that world. The world is divided into cheekily named “time zones” in that people with thousands and millions of years are in one sector, while others with mere minutes live in others.

The constant strive for more time creates an ideal Darwinian world where the fittest can become immortal and the not-so-fit run out of time and die. JT of course challenges that status-quo in this very enjoyable movie.

Despite the criticism, and perhaps the potential for major improvement, I really recommend you pay that 1$ and get it on a pirated DVD, or spend those few hours downloading it via internet torrents.

IMDB Rating: 6.6/10
My Rating: 7/10

Names and Faces of MPs Who Are NOT Against Rape + Protest on January 14

You guys (and gals) know I hate religion. Religion is cool when you’re a spineless person in need for some fake reassurance and a reason to act human. That’s cool cause it only affects you. However, religion isn’t cool when it affects other people’s lives negatively. One negative way, as I’m sure all women and any person in his/her right mind would tell you, is being raped. Rape is one of the most heinous crimes people commit, up there with murder and child molestation.

Unfortunately, in Lebanon, where “honor” crimes were outlawed only last year, rape is still legal when the parties are married, or get married after the crime. Wow, how embarrassing and stupid… Every time I hear or think of this, I think “seriously?!” and wonder if we’re going to hold public beheadings and make Sharia Law the law of the land next.

What’s worse, is that the draft law that we all thought would pass with ease in parliament, has been held up for months as religious fundamentalists try to alter the draft law, making it defunct and ceremonial (the way they think women should be in society).

The disgusting stances of muslim religious leaders in Lebanon, calling women’s protection a “travesty to harm social and religious fabric” makes my stomach turn. But, that is to be expected from old men in robes who feel empowered by bringing down women and reducing women’s roles as “answering to men, as men answer to God”.

What’s even more disgusting is that the committee overseeing this draft law, consists mostly of non-muslims and even one of the few female MPs. I’d understand why Mohamad Jisr, Ali Ammar and of course Imad el Hout would want to hijack the law. After all, they belong to the sects whose religious heads made it not ok to protect women’s rights and in a country where these men in robes decide the fate of elections, I wouldn’t blame those MPs, they’re just boot-licking cowards in search of re-election.

Now, here I’m not blaming the whole sect of course, just its leaders. After all, people have brains and many of us are educated. For example, when I say the Vatican is retarded for being against the use of condoms and other contraceptives, that doesn’t mean all Catholics are retards. I myself was raised as a Maronite in communion with the Catholic Church and so were many of my friends. It’d be a pretty safe bet that none of them are against the use of condoms and safe sex. That’s why priests can be against condoms all they want, and preach against it day and night, but the law of the land should never ban it, and it never does in most cases because that would be endangering the lives and health of those involved. But, when retarded religious opinions and prejudices are law, that’s when the men and women in suits need to step-up to the robed men and set things right.

What’s even more disgusting, is the pressure some religious leaders have put on TVs to stop airing TV spots illustrating the horror many women still face. Blackmail at its finest, I’m sure if God existed he’d be proud of you!

Nabil Nicolas, Michel El Helou, Gilberte Zouein, Ghassan Mkheiber and Shant Jejenian have no excuse though. What’s appalling is that most are in the Free Patriotic Movement, the block who calls itself the “change and reform” block and whom I put a lot of hope in in 2009. To that, I say, shame on you, and that come next elections, I and many like me will be working fiercely to make you fail miserably in the ballot boxes. After all, some estimates put the male to female ration in Lebanon as high as 1 man for every 4 or 5 women, which means that out of every 5 votes, as many as 4 are female, who I’m sure don’t believe that the Kur’an is enough to ensure their protection from abusive husbands.

Protest January 14, 2012

I personally support this rally, and will be present at it, like many other men who are organizing themselves to lobby for gender equality and safeguarding women’s rights and safety. An example is the ABAAD NGO, which has almost 4000 fans on Facebook and that’s before the launch of their website! I recommend you follow KAFA and Nasawiya as well, two NGOs in which I have many friends and who I undoubtedly support. As for the details on the January 14 protest, here’s the FB event page.

Real Men

Real men don’t beat women. Real men don’t rape their wives. Real men will win the hearts of the women in their lives through respect and adoration, not oppression and subjugation according to religious ridiculousness.  Real men should lock up small men who take advantage of Lebanese moms, sisters and daughters.

Edit: check out this hilarious tumblr blog making fun of Imad Hout’s controversial comments. (thanks serge!)

FASHAL – iPad2 TOUCH?! WOW!

Taken in Bikfaya

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