Daily Archives: August 30, 2010

by

The Israeli Army Breeds Technology Entrepreneurs

The Economist:

Teenagers conscripted into high-tech units gain experience “akin to a bachelor’s degree in computer science”, says Ruvi Kitov, co-founder and chief executive of Tufin Technologies, an Israeli software firm. Almost all of Tufin’s employees in the country are, like Mr Kitov himself, veterans of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

In Lebanon It’s the other way around: Most entrepreneurs (who are equally successful) have probably dodged the military service.

by

Yet Another "Beirut Is More Tolerant Than New York" Article

The Beirut Synagogue strikes again:

The cooperation of the Lebanese, even Hezbollah, in the synagogue project demonstrates a degree of understanding that is sorely lacking in the U.S. The Lebanese did not allow their raw wounds from Israel’s repeated military assaults against their country to make them intolerant of Beirut’s remaining Jewish community and its symbols. Unfortunately, many Park51 opponents have a different view

It’s a great talking point for American liberals. But the Lebanese already know that we don’t hate the Jews. We just hate each other.

Related post: The Beirut Synagogue Is a Propaganda Gift That Keeps Giving

by

Beirut To Have Levant's First Harley Davidson Showroom

Marwan Tarraf, General Manager of Bikers Inc:

The first and only showroom in the Levant is scheduled to open in Beirut on September 24, ahead of Lebanon’s second annual HOG tour [...] The 1,000-square-metre (10,764-square-foot) showroom will also include a six-station service facility with staff trained by Harley Davidson to cater to Lebanon’s estimated 800-1000 Harley owner

I always thought that Harleys are made for vast, plain countries. Lebanon is small and mountainous, and yet we have a striving community of Harely enthusiasts. Make no mistake though, this is not about mushy emotional attachments. This is all about good business. Just think of all the government contracts they’ll get from servicing the police bikes alone.

Update: I was told there’s a Harley Davidson showroom in Jordan, so the showroom is not the first in the region, but the first in the Levant.

by

Some Weapons Are Holier Than Others

Unsurprisingly, a Hezbollah M.P. has given special status to Hezbollah’s weapons by calling for the disarming of all factions except for “the resistance.”

History taught us again and again that arms beget more arms, except when held by the legitimate central authority. Even if we do trust Hezbollah and their general struggle, that doesn’t mean that we can trust their rank-and-file elements, who are after all humans who can succumb to the temptations of power such weapons can provide.

If you have an RPG in your trunk, you’re more likely to aggressively demand a premium parking space from a defenseless layman.

Plus there is no argument whatsoever to justify the carrying of arms, designed to fight Israel, in Beirut.

Update: Now Lebanon has an opinion piece on the statements made by the above-mentioned Hezbollah MP and is worth the read.

by

The Dog Killers Are Fighting Back

Not everyone is happy with animal rights campaigns to stop the killing of stray animals. In fact, some people in Sidon (Saida) are campaigning to resume exactly such practices after they were put on hold when a human was accidentally shot.

People are worried from the dogs’ aggression:

Mohammad Iskandarani, [a] local, said that part of his ritual of performing dawn prayers at a local mosque included filling his pockets with rocks in the event he was attacked by the animals. He said the stray animals were bad tempered because they only flee “if I shower them with a barrage of stones.”

But shooting the dogs is not the answer. Perhaps it’s time to consider an animal control unit in the civil defense department.