So, what if I told you I could get you a resident visa in a different country, and a job or acceptance at a university. Would you move there or would you stay in Lebanon?

Do You Smoke?

So, I wanna know how many of you smoke cigarettes. For those of you who are serious smokers, I would love it if you’d contact me privately too for a research/entertainment opportunity throughout the summer of 2012.

Drive-In Cinema Please!

Looks like you guys are hating the theaters, and probably their prices lately. A better deal per car might prove a bit more bearable and enjoyable, especially since you need not worry about parking meters and stuff like you need to know almost everywhere.

I personally am hating theaters in Lebanon lately, the jacked-up prices, the crappy 3-D glasses, the annoying kids, everything… You sometimes see those cool drive-in cinemas where you just pull into a big parking lot, hook up your sund system, and enjoy a movie in the comfort of your car. There used to be one in Beirut, in font of Buddha Bar, but it closed down. Wouldn’t it be cool to have another one? I wanna know, would you guy attend?

Also, 67% of you can vote next elections… So, I’m really excited about the upcoming project!

Things need to change. We need to change them. But, to change, we need to be able to vote. That’s why I’d like to gauge how many people who read this blog are actually eligible to vote (21 and above, and no criminal record, and of course Lebanese). Don’t get me wrong, if someone’s below 21, their campaigning will be just as integral, but its nice to have some numbers about ballots we can be sure about!

Also, if you’re gonna boycott, do vote “yes” as in technically eligible to vote =P

Last Week’s Poll

So, it’s simple. Two new awesome and happening clubs opened up this winter, White’s winter venue, MAD and Life Club right next to B018. Which is your favorite?

Last Week’s Results

I guess I share the majority’s opinion: it’s smart, but too shady for my liking

 My views on KONY 2012 have been outlined previously here. So, read it. But, in a nutshell I think the idea was amazingly successful, meme material too in my opinion. But, like everything successful, it has its die-hard supporters and its sworn enemies.

Honestly, I think the conspiracy theorists are exaggerating things a bit, I doubt Obama wants to invade Uganda anytime soon based on a YouTube video. Also, most of the oppoesers use the words “illuminati” or “the elite” and other uninformed leftist-leaning bigot vocabulary. So, they didn’t really buy me, despite some pretty good points raised.

Lemme know what you guys think, I put the two, three main positions and other. Please feel free to elaborate.

Last Week’s Results

Help me form my own opinion. You guys have always been a source of inspiration and guidance on tough matters, and this is definitely one of those moments.

Last Week’s Poll

The results are somewhat astonishing. Only 28% would never try it, while 39% smoke up regularly, 19% have tried it once or twice and the remaining 13% wouldn’t mind trying it….

So, I guess this is one of the few local industries which the majority of Lebanese people (or at least readers of this blog) encourage generously.

Perhaps the most divisive subject in many of the world’s cities is whether or not marijuana should be legalized, or at least the ineffective zero-tolerance policy most nations adopt be amended. With the trillions of dollars spent on the “War on Drugs”, drug abuse has only gone up, making it an epic failure. Countries where marijuana is decriminalized, such as the Netherlands, have among the lowest levels of drug abuse in the world, while the US with one of the most tough drug laws, leads the world in drug abuse. But a less-known and more recent successful example is Portugal, with its drug abuse levels dropping 50% in the 10 years after decriminalization. Canada is on track to legalize marijuana in the coming weeks as well, with public polls suggesting the approval rating of such a move are over 80% in liberal parts of the country, and a staggering 60% in more conservative parts.

As for Lebanon, I remember 5 years back, when one said “hashash” it was equated with vile things such as rapist and murderer (legally, it still is). Today, it is the butt of most jokes and the word is less-associated with negative connotations. We also hear of widespread use of marijuana in Lebanon, especially among the youth of the country. But, here this post is just to gather an approximate estimate of how many Lebanese youth actually do smoke Hashish. It is for a massive post I’m preparing about the history, present and probably future of Hashish in one of the world’s oldest and finest producer of Hashish.

• Lebanon has been growing cannabis for centuries, with notoriety for some of the best crop in the world (very high-quality Lebanese Red and Blonde Hashish)
• During the Lebanese Civil War, Lebanon produced 1,000 tonnes of Hashish resin every year, amounting to 500 million USD in profits for one of Lebanon’s most under-developed regions (the Bekaa)
• Hashish was legal in Lebanon before its prohibition in 1926
• 1000 square meters of Hashish yields 1,000USD for the farmer, while the same amount of wheat yields 50USD only
• Drug lords in Lebanon have enough wealth, firepower and influence over the government that the corresponding authorities don’t even bother to pursue them, only lower members of the cartels
• From 1991, every year, the Lebanese government goes on a mission to destroy cannabis fields in the Bekaa, which are widely seen as a failure after only 17 million USD of the UNDP’s estimated 300 million USD needed to develop the Bekaa enough to stop the cannabis industry were raised by 2001
• People convicted of abusing Hashish, get sent to jail, and many come out veteran heavy drug abusers seeing how they’re incarcerated with inmates convicted of much more serious crimes like rape, murder and heroin/cocaine addicts. Add to that the unimaginably corrupt correction system in Lebanon, and you get a massive crack house we call Roumieh Prison.

Anyway, this is just a very small part of much larger post on Hashish in Lebanon. I know many of you might feel uncomfortable talking about this, but I feel the elephant in the room should be addressed.

CAUTION: the poll is completely anonymous, chances of your vote being traced back to you is virtually 0, so don’t worry about being honest if you do smoke. And even if for some reason someone was specifically monitoring you at that precise time, it is inadmissible legally.

BUT, make sure your comments are anonymous as well (don’t sign in with Facebook/Wordpress/Twitter). Remember, Hashish is illegal in Lebanon and if you use it, and make that information available online, you could risk getting in trouble.

Check here for last week’s poll

courtesy of www.skileb.com

With well over 4.5 meters of snow accumulated at the Cedars ski resort, and more still falling, it’s fair to ask which of you guys and gals will be up on the slopes this semester break!

Last Week’s Results

So more than 31% of you already have tattoos, and only 5.71% have had enough! Guess it really is addictive… As for the rest, 27.41% are open to getting inked while the rest are completely against it. My, if only my grandma knew so many of today’s youth “desecrate” god’s creation =P

Simple question, do you have a tattoo? If so, do you want more? If not, will you ever get one?

Last Week’s Results

It’s clear that when it comes to playlists and shows, Radio One is on top, and that, I agree with. However, MixFM’s heavy presence in the events department pushed many to vote for them. So, in pure terms of a “radio station”, Radio One came out on top and when it come to event organization, MixFM was king.

My favorite shows? Gavin Ford in the morning and Dave Asher on NRJ! I toggle between them in the morning.

Note, in a previous poll, Light FM was you guys’ favorite station (at 32%). This poll is to settle it between these 3

All three radio stations have been spamming us with hour-long ads on why they’re the “official number one” But which one really is? Let us know and tell us why!

The BDS chapter in Lebanon is planning to protest and boycott NYE-1 tonite, read more here and vote!