• Some updates

    Here are some events to add to your busy calendars for Wednesday, Dec 16th

    1- Will be giving a talk at AUB at noon, Nicely107. Theme: Expression through image (vs. txt) Β by modern youth in Leb.

    2- Will participate to a round table at the French Culture Center at 6:30PM along with Stavro Jabra & Armand Homsi, moderated by Julien Le Bot.

    Hope to see lots of you in those events πŸ˜‰ Cheers!

  • Introducing Live Tweeting!

    And now… the project that has been keeping me just a little bit busy from you!

    Live tweeting is a real-time interactive web application for multi-language live coverage, based on micro blogging service twitter. Dec 9 – 10 is “the” internet event of Europe, Le Web, and this application will allow Arabic speakers to follow the event live & translated! I will also be translating on Twitter tomorrow.

    I got to design the livetweeting visual identity & website, and got to do some illustrations that you can discover throughout the website πŸ˜‰

    Here is a scoop for you my darlings:

    Illustration to represent LiveTweeting from the floor of Le Web:

    Illustration to represent Crowdsourced Arabic Translation:

    Illustration for wrong URL page (404):

    Illustration for Error page (500):

    Now it’s true that I’ve overnighted a couple of times on this project πŸ˜› , but the biggest credit is due to the team who worked on it, Samer Karam (who came up with the concept), Beshr Kayali (who developed the whole site! and in very very short time!), Mohammad Kayali (who did the amazing video you just watched!), and supporters, contributors: Meedan.net,Β Maroun Najm, Omar Christidis, Habib Haddad, Emile Cubeisy, Elie El Khoury… What do you guys think of the outcome?

    See you tomorrow on www.livetweeting.com!

    And last but not least, here’s a beautiful song to brighten up your day πŸ™‚ ‘Make Peace’ by Brad Mehldau & Pat Metheny (WHAT Β a combo!)


  • Another collab with Qifa Nabki!

    Click here to continue the story…

    Once again, I get to enjoy illustrating for a blog that I admire big time, Qifa Nabki. Hope you’ll enjoy it πŸ™‚

  • Amalgam + Point, Ligne, Bulle in Femme magazine

    A big thank you to Jenny Saleh for both features! Reminder: The exhibition at CCF in ongoing until Dec 22, so if you did not visit yet, it’s not too late! πŸ˜‰ No posts today, as I am preparing you some “surprises” for the holiday season! Stay tuned!

  • Maxime Chaya – Steep Dreams

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    Yes, ladies and gentlemen, tomorrow is Maxime’s book STEEP DREAMS’ signing, at Villa Audi, Sofil. From 10.00 am to 8:00 pm! Here’s the poster, click on it for more info, or just visit the website: www.MaximeChaya.com. A big thank you goes to Samer Karam (with whom I worked on the website), for giving me this chance πŸ™‚ Can’t wait to get my copy of Maxime’s book tomorrow! Hope to see you all there πŸ˜‰ Have a great day!

  • AIDS… in Lebanon?

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    Translation of Arabic sentences:

    “B3id el sharr: God forbid!

    Sayer bi zahi2 hal TV: TV is so boring lately

    Sketo Naji tole3 ma3o sida. la2to mnel philipiniyye: Rumour has it that Naji is HIV positive! He caught it from the domestic worker at his house.

    Lah ya 7aram ya Rosanne. Shou hal ossa!: Oh no! Poor Rosanne.. What a disaster!”

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    So, today is World Aids Day 2009. In Lebanon, sex and all its derivatives are still rather taboo subjects. Besides, the not-so-alarming numbers of HIV-positive people makes the issue not-so-alarming comparing to other political or social problems. However, why wait until it is spread like in some other countries? The increasing sex-tourism approach to Lebanon, combined with the very high lack of STD awareness in Lebanon (mainly due to non-secular school systems) AIDS is very vulnerable to spread, and to spread fast. Let us not forget to raise awareness about it everytime we get the chance.

    Other Lebanese bloggers on World Aids Day:

    β€’Β CafΓ© Thawra

    β€’Β Chantal

  • ATMs & Sukleen union

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    It really bothered me seeing all those pieces of paper on the street in Jounieh (for a bank that I won’t name πŸ˜› )! Usually when ATMs are inside the bank, they have a trash can next to them (which minimizes the thrown tickets), but when the ATM is on the street, it can get really messy! Good thing we have Ella to calm us down πŸ™‚ Here’s a song dedicated to you! ‘It’s Only A Paper Moon’ by Ella Fitzgerald. Have a lovely day πŸ™‚

  • Pre- & Post-CCF exhibition photos

    Here are some photos from the preparation & organization of the CCF exhibition.

    First, we went to Hamra & Gemmayze vandalizing the walls (with the help of Darine & Chantal)

    Photo by Chantal Akkary
    Photo by Chantal Akkary
    at T marbouta

    at T Marbouta
    at T marbouta

    Then, with the help of Julien Le Bot, was the time to put up the posters at the CCF couloir.

    Way in…
    Way out…

    Last, but not least, the opening! Thanks to all who made it πŸ™‚

    Photo by Rawad El Hoyek
    Photo by Rawad El Hoyek
    Photo by Rawad El Hoyek

    The exhibition is ongoing at the CCF until December 22! πŸ™‚

    I’ll now leave you with some spanish guitar to brighten up your day! ‘Big Brother’ by The Stephane Wrembel Trio, from Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona soundtrack. Enjoy it πŸ™‚

  • Nataloo show (UNCUT!)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Who puts a stair step atΒ the entrance of a door?!?! Good thing it wasn”t live! Since I can”t keep any secrets away from you, I decided to share with you this small mishap πŸ˜› Thanks again for all the support you gave on Twitter (and off, of course), I really enjoyed getting live feedback on the interview πŸ™‚ I was so worried they would not have cut out this part, and you were all watching… I”m so glad they did πŸ˜€ Here is the interview to those who missed it! (Notice how the part between entering the door and sitting in the salon is “missing!”)

    Part 1:

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHlXIMKYVVs]

    Part 2:

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtdk68Jv4E8]

    Thanks to Christine, Nathalie & all the team of the show who made this happen.

    Have a lovely long weekend, and happy adha to all concerned!! πŸ™‚

    P.S. As you see I have been slow in posting, because a lot has been happening the last month, and I am officially tired and REALLY need a break. I do hope you forgive me! Will still keep you updated in all cases, but just at a bit slower rate… Don”t forget that the will be going until Dec 22.

  • 'Amalgame' poster exhibition

    You”re all invited to the launching of the exhibition “” that will contain brand new posters of comics. See you there! πŸ˜‰

    Date: Monday, November 23rd 2009

    Time: 6:30 PM

    Place: Centre Culturel Français

    This exhibition is within the CCF”s event “Point, Ligne, Bulle” about drawing and all related activities in Lebanon. I got to design the event identity, here”s a snapshot for you πŸ™‚

  • Photos of Jordan (+fanart #5)

    I was glad to meet wonderful artist Ali Maher, who was so kind to draw me the image below on the placemat paper at the restaurant while we had dinner. Thank you Ali! You’re such a special person πŸ™‚

    For the photos, there’s more on Flickr & Facebook but here’sΒ a selection for the blog:

    (more…)