http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog Expressions of my Consciousness Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:34:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Those working off the land in Lebanon face stiff competition for international trade, as they do not benefit from subsidies like many farmers abroad. But as Katy Watson from BBC reports, one man has now set up Beirut's first farmers' market to help local producers reap rewards closer to home. [flashvideo ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/08/beirut-farmers-market-to-help-local-produce/ The skyline of the Syrian capital is changing, with tower blocks being replaced by new office buildings and malls. Damascus is also slowly opening up to private investment and encouraging an influx of entrepreneurs. The BBC's Lina Sinjab has met Abdulsalam Haykal, who runs a number of private businesses, and ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/08/damascus-sees-new-business-horizons/ Lebanon has a reputation for cultivating local crafts, from metalwork to woodwork and many are still making a living from their traditional skills. But faced with cheaper imports from China and India it is getting tougher to survive. This has prompted some to try to raise the profile of local ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/08/lebanese-crafts-struggle-to-survive-against-cheaper-chinese-imports/ Suddenly, I feel like joining the army. On August 5th, Lt. Col. Rakesh Jetly, a psychiatrist and senior health adviser for the Canadian Forces, said Canada's military would use the illicit dance-floor drug Ecstasy to treat soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder if it's proven safe and effective. A new study published in ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/08/ecstasy-could-be-used-to-treat-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-by-canadian-forces/ As of July 19th, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Lebanese company Produits Phoenicia Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Cedar brand Tahini described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The affected product, Cedar brand Tahini is sold in 450 mL jars, bearing ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/07/recall-of-product-tahini-from-cedar-brand-in-canada-as-it-may-contain-salmonella-bacteria/ The music video of the first Nations United song, I wish, directed by Chaker Khazaal. I wish is performed by 11-year-old Jackie Vainberg and talented Corey Brouwer. The music video star the Strain twins & lyricist, Olie Vainberg. More information on the Nations United campaign and film on www.nationsunited.org http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/07/watch-the-music-video-of-nations-united-first-song-i-wish/ In Dubai, UAE, pet pampering has finally gone mobile. A company called 'Shampooch' offers pet grooming in a van. Watch the video below for more information: [flashvideo filename=http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/mobile-pet-spa.flv backcolor=0x9EC723 frontcolor=0x165C08 lightcolor=0xCAEDC3 image=http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/mobile-pet-spa.JPG /] http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/07/shampooch-dubais-mobile-pet-spa/ A vibrant young team filled the set while filming a fresh new music video produced by the Nations United group. The video titled, 'I WISH' is a feel-good anthem voiced by 11-year-old rising star, Jackie Vainberg, and directed by Nations United founder Chaker Khazaal. The lyrics to this incredibly catchy ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/06/nations-united-release-their-first-song-i-wish/ I have already blogged about Chaker Khazaal and his brilliant project Nations United which unites the nations through a collaborative movie combining people from different parts of the planet. Now, the "Art of Peace" gala is being thrown in Toronto on June 17, 2010, where all the proceedings of the ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/05/nations-united-gala-art-of-peace-in-toronto-on-june-17-2010/ On May 16, 2010, star-studded panel of judges chose Miss Michigan USA, Rima Fakih, as MISS USA 2010. She is the second Miss USA of Lebanese-American descent, after Julie Hayek in 1983. Fakih currently resides in Dearborn, Michigan. Born in Lebanon, Fakih grew up in Queens, New York, where she attended ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/05/lebanese-american-rima-fakih-crowned-miss-usa-2010/ A day after firing a 10-ton hummus broadside in a food fight with Israel, chefs in Lebanon weighed in with another first for a Guinness record on Sunday - five tons of Falafel. Falafel, like hummus and tabbouleh, are the objects of a cultural quarrel between Israel and Lebanon. Israel ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/05/lebanon-sets-falafel-guinness-record-on-may-9th-2010/ In a continuous battle of Hummus with Israel, and after Lebanon set the record straight in October 2009 but again Israel stealing it in January 2010, Lebanon on Saturday May 8 2010 claimed another victory and set the biggest Hummus world record at 10,452 kilograms. More than 300 chefs ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/05/lebanon-sets-again-the-guinness-world-record-for-biggest-hummus-plate-in-may-2010/ Indian military scientists are studying an 82-year-old who claims he has not had any food or drink for more than 70 years. The holy man claims that he derives energy through meditation. Prahlad Jani is being held in isolation since April 22nd 2010 in a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gurjarat, where ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/05/prahlad-jani-mataji-the-indian-hermit-with-no-food-or-water-for-more-than-70-years/ Lebanus, the Lebanese organization behind the famous Lebanese Night in Montreal, is celebrating their 10th edition of the Lebanese Film Festival in Montreal on May 15th and 16th. It is a great opportunity to discover and learn more about the many talented authors of short and feature-length films from Lebanon. All ... http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/05/montreals-lebanese-film-festival-2010-on-may-15-16-by-lebanus/ In Beijing, China, nothing quite says fine dining... like a toilet-themed restaurant. At this establishment in Beijing, it's no use complaining to the waiter that the food looks a bit like ****. Watch the video below for more information: [flashvideo filename=http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/beijing-toilet-restaurant.flv backcolor=0x9EC723 frontcolor=0x165C08 lightcolor=0xCAEDC3 image=http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/beijing-toilet-restaurant.JPG /] http://www.rabihdagher.com/blog/2010/05/beijing-toilet-themed-restaurant/