Rabih Dagher

Lebanese behind the largest illegal use of Quebec’s healthcare insurance RAMQ

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:17:00 +0000

You have previously heard about the documentary exposing Lebanese faking their Canadian permanent residency, and this one just adds to it.

Quebec’s healthcare system RAMQ (Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec) is trying to recuperate around $500,000 caused by the illegal use of the system, which made it the largest fraud in RAMQ’s history in relation to illegal use of the medical card. And guess what, the majority of this is caused by Lebanese.

RAMQ has investigated in the recent months around 1,700 immigrants. More than two-third of them, the majority Lebanese, have simulated their presence in Quebec with the help of a fraudulent Lebanese immigration lawyer, the famous now Nizar Zakka. They have obtained a medical card and used it for healthcare services totaling $500,000. RAMQ was only able to recuperate around $42,000 since most of the immigrants do not live in Quebec. The control of this fraudulent activity will not be easy until RAMQ implements its new barcode card.

You can read the investigation report on RAMQ’s official website here.

Quebec's healthcare system (RAMQ) medical card

On the Beirut synagogue

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:38:29 +0000

Lebanon was once home to a thriving Jewish community, but its estimated that there are now fewer than a hundred Jews left in the country. So it came as a surprise when the tiny Jewish community announced the rebuilding of one of Beirut’s historic synagogues.

Natalia Antelava from BBC reports on the Beirut synagogue in the video below:

Watch online Earthlings, the shocking documentary about society’s cruel treatment of animals

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:25:07 +0000

If you’ve never watched this documentary, then I urge you to do so unless you have a weak heart.

Earthlings is a 2005 multi-award-winning documentary about speciesism by Shaun Monson. The film was narrated by Hollywood actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix. Earthlings also features a score by musician and activist Moby, who’s one of my favourite musicians.

The documentary is about the suffering of animals for food, fashion, pets, entertainment and medical research. It is nicknamed “the Vegan maker” for its sensitive footage shot at animal shelters, factory farms, slaughterhouses, circuses etc… The film took around six years to complete because of the difficulty in obtaining footage within these profitable industries.

You can watch the documentary online for free at www.earthlings.com .

Watch the trailer below. Viewer discretion is advised:

The Putting Bra: another weird lingerie creation from Japan

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 02:44:09 +0000

If you think the Man Bra is weird, well check this out.

Ever been in the middle of something, then realized you really want a game of golf? Well the Japanese lingerie manufacturer Triumph have come up with a solution: a putting mat bra. The bra can be transformed into a 1.5 meter long putting green which is fully equipped along with a special skirt to ensure silence during the game.

Check it out in the video below:

The Man Bra from Japan’s online lingerie Wishroom

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 02:33:22 +0000

Where would you find the weirdest creations on earth?

Japanese online lingerie shop Wishroom has recently unveiled a strange addition to its new product line: the Man Bra. Strangely, the $30-dollar Man Bra is now Wishroom’s fastest-selling men’s garment. The Man Bra comes in three colours - black, white, and of course, pink.

Check it out in the video below:

The ‘rebirth’ of Lebanon’s fashion industry

admin — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:41:08 +0000

One by one, Lebanese designers are conquering catwalks across Europe. While many designers in Europe have faced problems due to the economic downturn, Lebanon’s fashion designers have had no shortage of work. They are thriving as the country profits from a year of political stability.

BBC correspondent Natalie Antelava reports below from Beirut on Lebanon’s bid to become the capital of the Middle East fashion world:

Noodle bath: another relaxation treat from Hanoke, Japan

admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 07:19:56 +0000

After bringing you the Beer Bath in Czech Republic and the Chocolate Bath in Hanoke, Japan, a new type of bath will be added to the list. It’s the Noodle Bath, again in Hanoke, Japan.

The Yunessan Spa House have launched a bath containing noodles and broth for their customers. Health authorities have banned edible noodles , so a synthetic noodle is used. A noodle bath is apparently good for the skin, and can increase metabolism.

Check it out in the video below:

It’s Christmas, not Xmas

admin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 18:17:55 +0000

We see it every year, without paying much attention to it. We say it every year, without being aware of it. It’s the word Xmas, which is a substitute of Christmas. It bothers me when people use the word Xmas instead of Christmas, because they are substituting the Christ by an X. After all, ‘X’ is an abbreviation of ‘Ex’ (such as extreme, extra, etc…), and does not represent, in any form or another, the word ‘Christ’.

Out of respect for Christianity, I suggest you use the word Christmas instead of Xmas.

Meanwhile, I leave you with this Jingle Bells song, Punjabi style, and I wish you a Merry Christmas full of joy and happiness to you and your family:

China unveils world’s fastest train

admin — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:51:41 +0000

China has just launched the fastest express train in the world on the longest track on earth. At a speed of around 400 km/h, this locomotive is so smooth that even a standing cigarette won’t be toppled. It ran from the central city of Wuhan down to the south coast in a record of less than 3 hours, compared to the 10 and a half hours that it normally used to take.

This is not something new for the Chinese, and if you’ve been to Shanghai then you know what I mean. They have the Maglev train that takes you from Shanghai airport to downtown at a speed topping 432 km/h.

Check out the express train in the video below:

Wash-Bar: the German disco laundromat

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:23:30 +0000

Now, I feel like doing laundry.

In Hamburg, Germany, the Wash-Bar is no ordinary laundromat. It’s in fact a disco laundromat! While the spin dryers get to work, DJs spin tunes for the customers. The laundromat even serves food and drinks.

Check it out in the video below:

Latest craze in Valentine’s gifts: chocolate spa and bath

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:54:04 +0000

I have previously blogged about beer bath as the ultimate relaxation treat, but for non-alcoholics or chocolate lovers, these top it all. They are the latest craze in Valentine’s gifts: the chocolate spa in Israel and the chocolate bath in Hanoke, Japan.

Check them out in the video below:

Tabouli and Baba Ganoush: two of the world’s most expensive cats

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:22:35 +0000

The New York Cat Show in 2004 was the first public exhibition of cloned cats. Three cats, which were named after Lebanese culinary dishes, wowed the visitors. These cats were Tabouli, Baba Ganoush, and their genetic donor Tahini. At 50,000$ for the clone, Tabouli and Baba Ganoush are two of the most expensive cats in the world.

Check them out in the video below:

Jetlev-Flyer: the recreational jetpack that lets you fly over water

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:25:08 +0000

If you’ve been dreaming about flying a personal jetpack for way too long, then your wait is finally over! Jetlev Sports Inc. is proud to introduce the Jetlev-Flyer, the recreational jetpack almost anyone can enjoy over water. But just one thing, it’s priced around 130,000$.

Check it out in the promotional video below:

Dolce Heavenly Concert: the Japanese concert where the audience is asleep

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:23:26 +0000

In Tokyo, Japan, this recital is the only one of its kind in the world, since most of the audience members… are asleep. In this two-day event called “Dolce Heavenly Concert”, spectators are invited to relax in luxury beds and since it’s sponsored by Haagen-Dazs, they are provided with as much ice cream as they can eat.

Check it out in the video below:

Kayabukiya Tavern: the Japanese tavern with monkey waiters

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:14:50 +0000

The Kayabukiya Tavern in Utsunomiya, Japan, employs two waiters with special background: they are both macaque monkeys. If you’re wondering how they are tipped, well they earn boiled soybeans as tips. Though in line with animal regulations, they only work for two hours a day.

Watch them while they’re working in the video below: