Internet Toolkit/Internet Toolkit.iso/info/lebanon

Text File | 1993-11-24 | 57.6 KB | 1,489 lines

·    Subject: soc.culture.lebanon FAQ

Archive-name: lebanon-faq
Last-modified: 1993/03/12
Version: 1.4


_______________________________________________________________________________


Comments: This FAQ could also be obtained via anonymous ftp
          at the ftp site borg.poly.edu (128.238.10.106)
          in pub/scl as filename "faq"

Note to Bassem:  this is the updated newest version,
                 renamed as version 1.4

Here is a listing of questions , with a *********  next to those
that have yet to be answered fully:


In particular if a kind soul could look up and post or e-mail me
the addresses and phone numbers of the Lebanese Embassy
in Washington DC and the LA Consulate, that would make the US
section complete for question #2.

1. What is the value of a Lebanese pound in terms of US$, Can$, UK lb,
   etc.?

2. What is the address and phone number of the Lebanese Embassy
   and/or Consulates in the US, Canada, France, etc.... ? *********

3. How can I phone Lebanon and which carrier gives the cheapest rates?

4. What are the airlines servicing Beirut ?

5. Where can I find tickets for Lebanon at a good price ?

6. What are the e-mail and telnet IP addresses for sites in Lebanon ?

7. What are the phone numbers to call to get Lebanon news ?

8. What are the radio frequencies and broadcast times of Lebanese
   related radio programs  ?

9. What are the various Lebanese organisations and how can I contact them ?

10. What are the projects you can contribute to help rebuild Lebanon ?

11. What are the various Lebanese magazines and newspapers ?

12. Where can I find Lebanese magazines and newspapers ?

13. What has been written by Lebanese and/or on Lebanon ?

14. Where can I find works written by Lebanese and /or on Lebanon ?

15. Are there Arabic word processors ?

16. Is there a standard Arabic alphabet representation in Latin ?

17. Where can I find Lebanese songs and music ?

18. Where can I find a Lebanese restaurant ?

19. Where can I find a Lebanese grocery store?

20. Is there a good Lebanese recipe book ?

21. Are there recipes available on the net ?

22. Is there an ftp archive site for Lebanese art works ?

23. What is the best way to deal with multiple system TVs and VCRs and
    where can I get my VCR tape converted to a format that works in Lebanon ?

24. What are newborn names that could be used for Lebanese children living
    abroad that would work in both Lebanon and Western societies ?

25. I plan to go home soon and I have heard rumors that the draft
    will be re-instituted, do you have any additional information about this ?
    I was born in 1923 and I am afraid that I would be subject to the draft !!!

26. Where can I get a copy of the English translation of
    the Lebanese Constitution ?

27. Where can I get a copy of the English translation of
    Taef Agreement ?

28. I need to ship a car/ or some merchandise to Lebanon, do you
    know of a shipping company that handles this ?

29. I suddenly developped an urge for Middle-Eastern cuisine,
    can you help me quench this horrifying thirst ?

30. Where can I get the latest travel advisory for Americans wishing
    to visit Lebanon or the Middle-East ?

Thanks to all contributors to this FAQ, especially:
Naji Mouawad (who started the effort), Bassem Medawar, Samir Fahs, Mazen Saghir,
Edmond J. Abrhamian, Alex Khalil, Olivier M.J. Crepin-Leblond, Hassan Hammoud,
Mazen Mokhtar, Borre Ludvigsen, Ghassan Semaan, Elie Wardini, Fadi Harfoush,
Debbie Masri, Pauline Homsi Vinson, Youssef Fawaz, Mike, Nasri, Rached Zantout,
May Nasrallah, Khalil Khoury, Danny Chahal, Haidar Harmamani, Wadih Shaib,
Walid Nasrallah,Kamie Kitmitto and of course to myself
(sorry if I missed anyone )

This FAQ List was edited by Alex Khalil and Basil Hamdan.

*******************************************************************************

1. What is the value of a Lebanese pound in terms of US$, Can$, UK lb,
   etc.?

It fluctuates. Typically, a good way to keep abreast of the 'latest' figures
is to:

 - Look at the Wall Street Journal

 - Subscribe to Leb-Net (Leb-Net@@cumesa.mech.columbia.edu), which
   reports the value every couple of days.

*******************************************************************************

2. What is the address and phone number of the Lebanese Embassy
   and/or Lebanese Consulates in the US, Canada, France, etc.... ?

  For Canada:

Embassy of Lebanon
640 Lyon St.
Ottawa, Ontario
              K1S 3Z5
[phone]

Consulate of Lebanon
40 Cote St. Catherine
Montreal, Quebec

[phone]

  For the USA:

Washington DC Embassy:

Embassy of Lebanon:

Consulates:

  New York:

Consulate General of Lebanon:

9 East 76th St.
NY, NY

Phone: [phone]

 Detroit:

Consulate General of Lebanon
1959 E. Jefferson
Suite 4A
Detroit, Michigan 48207

Phone: [phone]

  Los Angeles:

Consulate General of Lebanon
   Hollywood Boulevard, Suite
Los Angeles, CA

Phone:

  For the  United Kingdom

Lebanese Councilor Section
15 Palace Garden Mews,
London W8 4QQ.

England UK

Phone: [phone]

*******************************************************************************

3. How can I phone Lebanon and which carrier gives the cheapest rates ?

     Using the *local* Lebanon number 04-961345 as example, you dial:

            011 961 4 961345   (to use AT&T)

     10 222 011 961 4 961345   (to use MCI)
     10 333 011 961 4 961345   (to use SPRINT)

 Note how the Metn area code 04 has been used *without* the leading
zero. These calls do not require an operator.

 Calls have been placed to beirut (01), & metn (04) without major
difficulty.

  MCI has the lowest rate, if you do the following.

    1- register for the $3 dollars a month international calling
    program. This will give you 10% discount on your calls if they were
    placed within the package specified time intervals.

    2- You have up to two international number to register under
    the family and friend program. So do register your Lebanon number
    under family and friends, and you will get 20% discount on these
    numbers when called.

    Total saving is 30% on their already cheapest Rate.

*******************************************************************************

4. What are the airlines servicing Beirut ?

  Most European and Arab airlines are now flying to Lebanon.

  *Some* are: MEA(obviously), Air-France, Swissair,
     Austrian Airways, Alitalia, Sabena, Alia, Egypt Air.

     There is also a rumor that MEA will be resuming its flights to NY
     this April and that by then all travel restrictions on Americans
     traveling to Lebanon will be lifted, nothing confirmed there yet.

*******************************************************************************

5. Where can I find tickets for Lebanon at a good price ?

Travel Agency        Number(s)         Contact person(s),
     Name                                  location,
 (if available)                         and/or comments
                                          (if supplied)
_______________________________________________________________________________

Admiral :      [phone]     (located in Marietta GA)
                                  (ask for Hassan Ramadan)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Travel:    [phone]     (ask for Matthew)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlantis :     [phone] TEL  141 East 44th Street  #702
               [phone] FAX  NYC, NY 10017
               [phone]     (Alitalia and British Airways)
                                  ($ 1100 round trip ticket from
                                   San Francisco to Beirut bought
                                   in Christmas 92/93).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Mediterranean
Travel :       [phone]     (deals mainly with Alitalia,
                                   recommended for its good prices).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Char Tours:    [phone]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate :    [phone]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Farra Travel:  [phone]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Golden Arch:   [phone]     (may be out of business ?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haddad Travel: [phone]     (experienced but beware)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Int'l Travel & [phone]     (ask for Doha Gabro ?)
Trade, Inc. :                     (Example of price quoted for
                                   Dec '92 round trip
                                             $ 880
                                   Travel from:
                                   Washington, DC - Beirut
                                   United: Wash <-> London,
                                   MEA: London <-> Beirut)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lotus :        [phone]     (located in Los Angeles area)
                                  (deals mostly with ALIA, the
                                   Royal Jordanian Airlines, can get
                                   relatively good prices if you are willing
                                   to endure traveling on ALIA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mill-Run Tours:[phone]     (Ask for Jean Zodo.  She's lebanese,
                                   and she has been very helpful).
                                   They are located in Chicago, IL.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oxford Travel &                   (ask for Sami Silfani)
Tours :        [phone] TEL (located in the Atlanta area)
               [phone] FAX (Sami was quite informed and
                                   worked hard to get the
                                   cheapest fare possible)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharif Travel: [phone]     (could be the same as the reference
                                   that shows up later as Moursi Sharif
                                   - other reference has an 800 number -
                                   Recommended as super nice and cheap)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunship :      [phone]     (deals mainly with British Airways)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel All(??):[phone]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel Corner: [phone]     (from outside Atlanta)
or             [phone]     (Atlanta)
or             [phone]     (Atlanta)
                                  (Ask for Lina Makhlouf, gets the
                                   prize as the most recommended
                                   travel agent)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel Nework: [phone] TEL  1581 Route 23 South
               [phone] FAX  Waynes, NJ 07470
                                  (Ask for Ms. Peggy Healy)
                                  (tell her Tommy's sister recommended!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vista Int'l :  [phone]     (located in West Virginia ??)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World Express Travel:             (ask for Annie - she is from Lebanon).
               [phone] TEL (located in Houston, Texas)
               [phone] TEL
               [phone] FAX
_______________________________________________________________________________
No name given
for travel agency:                (ask for Garbiz Askanian)
               [phone]     (gave the best deal to someone)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone]     (ask for Malek Haddad)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone]     (ask for Hala)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone]     (ask for Marwan or Maha)
                                  (located in the Washington DC area)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone] TEL (ask for Pierre or Nathalie)
               [phone] FAX (located in Montreal-Canada)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone]     (ask for Moursi Sharif)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone]     (ask for Ali Srour)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone]     (located in Florida)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No name given
for travel agency:
               [phone]
_______________________________________________________________________________
Negative Recommendations
_______________________________________________________________________________

D'International:                    (located in West Roxbury, Ma.)
                                     Travel agent is a Lebanese person.
                                     She booked flight on non-existing
                                     flight from Paris to Boston.
                                     The traveler had to pay a $ 100.00
                                     penaly, and agent did not reimburse him
                                     even though she had made the mistake.
                                     Traveler also found out she had done
                                     the same thing with several other people.
_______________________________________________________________________________

for 800 number directory call 1 [phone]

*******************************************************************************

6. What are the e-mail and telnet IP addresses for sites in Lebanon ?

  As far as anyone can tell, none accessible to the public so far. If such
is not the case, let us know.  There is a service, however,
similar to CompuServe that is available for a fee.

  To my knowledge,the closest that comes to international computer
communications is LibanPac, that is modeled on the French TransPac
and that regularly transfers data between Ashrafiyeh and France through
the submarine cable.


AUB has some MCI mail boxes but access is restricted.
This is what Nabil Bukhalid, Manager of Personal Computer Support Unit at
AUB says about it in a recent communication:

    AUB has a restricted TYMNET link and an MCI mailbox. The
    PC Support Unit at AUB is negotiating the implementation
    of an EARN node at AUB and we are in the process of
    testing an X.5 gateway to EARN via a C O. concentrator.
    Also AUB has applied to the NCI for an Internet address.

    A TCP/IP backbone network was planned and its
    implementation was scheduled for the last quarter of
    1991.  The project was freezed after the blasting of
    College Hall, the upper campus cabling ducts are badly
    damaged, and we are facing some budget problems.

    For the time being I have the permission to use the MCI
    mailbox for urgent correspondence..

*******************************************************************************

7. What are the phone numbers to call to get Lebanon news ?

  There is a mailing list called Leb-Net that sends digests to subscribers
every two days on the average. It is usually quite thorough.
  To subscribe, send a short request to:

         [e-mail]

*******************************************************************************


8. What are the radio frequencies and broadcast times of Lebanese
   related radio programs  ?

  This information is extracted from Passport to World Band Radio,
L. Magne (Ed.), IBS, 1992, ISBN 0-914941-27-5:

  All times are in GMT, frequencies are in KHz.

Voice of Lebanon, Beirut-Ashrafiyah, Phalange, 8KW, English but mostly Arabic
broadcast.

0900-0915       6550
1315-1330       6550
1815-1830       6550

King of Hope, Marjayou^n, Mideast, 12 KW, English and Arabic broadcast.
0700-1100       6280 (Mideast), 11530 (Europe)
1400-1700       6280 (Mideast), 11530 (Europe)

  Neither one of the stations listed above were easily received in NY with a
portable SW radio and an indoor antena.  The book doesn't list the government
radio station which used to broadcast in the 11KHz-12KHz range from Amshit.
The Amshit broadcast could not be received either.

*******************************************************************************

9. What are the various Lebanese organisations and how can I contact
them.

American Task Force for Lebanon
2250 M St., N.W., Suite 305
Washington, DC 20037
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

  This organisation publishes a monthly newsletter called "Outlook",
with Tanya Rahal (Exec. Ed.), and Deeb Keamy (Managing Ed.)

*******************************************************************************

10. What are the projects you can contribute to help rebuild Lebanon ?

  There is a non-profit organization for Lebanese Academics and Professionals
that is working on development projects between Lebanon and North America.
It is called ALPA (Association of Lebanese Professionals and Academics)
to join or contact them, send e-mail to:

          [e-mail]
or
          [e-mail]

*******************************************************************************

11. What are the various Lebanese magazines and newspapers.

  Some of the newspapers are:

Al Hayat  (published in London as well as in Beirut)
Al Nahar
Al Safeer
Al Anwar

  Some magazines:

Al Nahar al Arabi wal Duwali
Al Hawadess

  A very good source of information on economic developments in Lebanon
is the Middle East Economic Digest, which is published weekly, in English.

*******************************************************************************

12. Where can I find Lebanese magazines and newspapers.

   In NY/NJ, you can buy it in the World Trade Center, in Penn Station, Newark,
NJ, and in Arab shopping areas (see below).

  In Norway, many big libraries have  magazines and newspapers relating to
the Middle East. In Arabic there is the Ahram or the British based alHayat
or Sharq al-Awsat.

  In Oslo the small Kiosk besides Saga cinema sells magazines and newspapers
that relate to the Middle East. The University of Oslo publishes a magazine
called Midtosten Forum that takes up issues related to the Middle East.
Most articles are in Norwegian, but there are some in English or other
Scandinavian languages. To get this magazine write to:

Midtosten Forum
Tidsskriftredaksjonen
1030 Blindern
0315 Oslo
Norway

*******************************************************************************

13. What has been written by Lebanese and/or on Lebanon ?

  What follows are titles of books by contemporary Lebanese writers available
in English.(They all deal with the war in one aspect or another).

Kamal Salibi, "A House of Many Mansions, The History of Lebanon
Reconsidered", 1988.

Emily Nasrallah, _Flight Against Time_ trans. Issa J. Boullata.
Charlettetown, P.E.I.: Ragweed Press, 1987.
  This is a very touching depiction of an older man's inability to get
  used to life in Canada, where his children live and where they want
  him to move because of the outbreak of the war in Lebanon.  The old
  man's attachment to his Lebanese village is conveyed in a simple,
  direct style, making his predicament that much more poignant.

Elias Khoury, _Little Mountain_ trans. Maia Tabet. Minneapolis: Univ.
of Minnesota Press, 1989.
  What I find really interesting about this book is its post-modern
  style.  The narrative point view, speaker, time, place, all shift
  without warning.  It is almost as though Khoury is trying to re-create
  stylistically the disjunctions and disruptions occasioned by the
  civil war in Lebanon. (his representation of women, however, is
  rather sexist in my view)

Etel Adnan, _Sitt Marie Rose_ Post Apollo Press, 1978.
  In this work Adnan narrates the experiences of a Maronite woman who
  falls in love with a Palestinian and is kidnapped by a group of men
  (her co-religionists  among whom is an old school friend of hers.
  Her experiences are witnessed by her students who are deaf-mutes.
  This is a very powerful and disturbing book.

Etel Adnan, "five senses for one death." The Smith Special Issue 18, 1971.
  This is a long imagistic poem by Adnan.

Jean Said Makdisi, _Beirut Fragments: A War Memoir_ New York: Persea Books,
1990.
  Makdisi is a Palestinian-Lebanese who describes her experiences in war-
  torn Beirut.  For her those experiences, which she retells in very
  moving terms, and her determination to stay in Beirut make her a true
  Beiruti.  Her love for Beirut and her agony over what is happening to
  it are quite clear.  Employing different styles (chronicle, descriptive
  narrative etc.) in different chapters, Makdisi ends her book with a
  very moving poem.

Here's the poem :

"Is it possible to hope that from the rubble of war, which at certain
times seemed to haved ended civilization, a new form might arise and
permit future creativity?  There is something of the alpha and omega
in this hope, is there not?

Zbale   garbage surrounds us, everywhere we look, there are piles of
        rubbish, debris, there is stench and ugliness, we

Yield   always we yield to the force of things, we are in danger of
        surrendering to despair, and to the ease of

Xenophobia
        there is always someone else to blame for what has happened to
        us, it's never our fault, oh no, and meanwhile we are


Waiting always waiting, for the others, for the solution, waiting for
        them to let the water come gurgling into our empty taps, waiting
        for the walls to crumble

Weary   of the never ending

War     we listen, overwhelmed with sorrow and anger to the the empty

Words   the endless empty rhetoric which has only brought more

Violence
        while the

Veneer  of fashion glitters like a wrothless, forgotten coin in a
        mound of rubble as it catches the sun.

Ugliness
        surrounds us, the ugliness of a broken city, ugly buildings
        sprouting up everywhere, ugly streets, whole neighborhoods, the
        beauty of mountains is destroyed by utilitarian ugliness, and

Time    weighs heavily on us--our days are long, and we carry History
        on our backs, an intolerable burden--but History gave us also

Tyre    and

Tripoli and

Sidon   timless relics from the past, ancient, beautiful, but

Scarred by war and the suffering of

Refugees
        We are a land of refugees, a people of refugees, coming from
        everywhere, going nowhere.

Refugees
        make beautiful causes, but they are people--their trucks piled
        high with the pathetic remnants of former lives, mattresses and
        goats and children and stoves--they have found no

Quicksand
        in which everyone sinks.  We are in a

Prison  of violence and forgotten ideals.  Still,

Peace   will come, and

Oppression
        will end, must end, and

Nemesis will come, but not with more

Militias
        certainly not with more fighting men, nor with more

Lies    the lies told by everyone to preserve the war and to preserve the

Knitting
        together of the unravelling whole.

Justice In war there is no Justice, and it is not from War that Justice
        will come.

Jbeil   ancient Byblos, and

Jounieh with its ancient harbors and stunning bay, emerald mountains
        dipping into the blue sea and searching into the azure skies,
        they are in danger of drifting away from us, but someday perhaps
        there will be

Joy     and

Jubilation
        when this war ends and the

Internecine
        butchery ends.  They say

Hope    springs eternal and so it does, in spite of the

Guns    and the

Fawda   the anarchy which threatens us at every turn, because

Earth   around us is beautiful: the gray rocks on the sheer cliffs, the
        shimmering silver leaves of the olive trees, the deep dark green
        of the ancient cedars, the sweet smell of the pine forests, the
        oranges dotted like yellow stars in the sparkling groves that lie
        by the blue seas.  Meanwhile, our

Days    pass, drearily, with explosions shattering the stillness of the
        nights.  Our senses are dulled by the

Catastrophe
        that has been upon us here in

Beirut  --poor, ugly, stricken beirut, broken Beirut, unloved city, lost
        Beirut, like the child in the tale, torn between two mothers, but
        no Solomon here, no true mother.

Beirut  pleads to be redeemed, but not by

Another

Army.
............................
(This poem is more effective as a culmination to Makdisi's memoirs.  It
is reproduced here without permission.)

Hanan Al-Shaykh, -The Story of Zahra_ trans. Peter Ford. New York: Quartet
Books, 1986.

  Zahra is a shia Lebanese living in Beirut during the war (though she also
goes to West Africa for a while).  I won't give away the plot but only
mention that she has a very complex relationship with a sniper.  I really
liked this book.  It deals very frankly with sensitive issues such as sex
and politics, and especially with the struggles of women.

  Other Lebanese writers I like but for whom I have yet to see anything
published in English are Ghada el Samman and Layla Baalbakki.  Excerpts
of their works are available in English in anthologies such as -Opening
the Gates_ edited by Margot Badran and Miriam Cooke. Indiana UP, 1990
and _Middle Eastern Muslim Women Speak_ edited by Elizabeth Warnock
Fernea and Basima Qattan Bezirgan. Univ. of Texas Press, 1977.  There
are several other anthologies out as well.

  The University of Chicago library has an excellent collection of books
in Arabic.  You might search there for what's available. UC Berkeley
also has a very good collection.  There is at least one bookstore that
I know of in San Francisco called The Arabic Book Center that also
supplies books in Arabic as well as English.  They will order books
for you as well.

  If you want to read good books by Lebanese writers, Amin Malouf has
written "Samarcande", "Leon l'africain", and "Les croisades vues par
les Arabes".  These books were best sellers in France.
(Samarcande in particular is HIGHLY recommended).

  Amin Maalouf's books have been translated into English.
Here are the English titlesof two of them:

  "The Crusades Through Arab Eyes" trans. Jon Rothschild. Schocken Books,
New York, 1987.

  "Leon l'africain" has also been translated.  The English title is
Leo Africanus.

[Begin French]

  Le dernier roman d'Amin Maalouf s'intitule "Les jardins de lumiere".
Il raconte l'histoire de "Mani", un oriental qui a vecu au 3eme siecle,
et fonde une nouvelle religion, le "manicheisme".
Son principe de base etait le respect de toutes les religions
(Christianisme, Boudhisme, ... l'Islam n'existait pas encore).
Apres s'etre repandu un peu partout (de l'Inde jusqu'en Europe, en passant
par la Perse, le Moyen Orient, l'Egypte ...) cette religion a disparu vers le
12eme siecle a cause des nombreuses persecutions de la part des autres religions
(Christianisme, Islam ...). Bref, le roman est une sorte
de biographie imaginaire qui constitue neanmoins une vraie lecon de tolerance
et pose beaucoup de questions sur l'interet des religions ...
  Personnellement, j'ai lu les trois romans d'A.M. : "Leon l'africain",
"Samarcande" et "Les jardins de lumiere". Tous les trois sont excellents
(a mon avis) mais j'ai eu une legere preference pour "Samarcande".
  En realite, je pense que ce qui plait aux occidentaux dans les oeuvres de
Maalouf c'est son style de "conteur" (Haqawaati), auquel ils sont peu habitues
(parfois il va un peu trop loin dans l'invraisemblance des  coincidences...)

[End French]

  Robert Fisk,"Pity The Nation - The Abduction of Lebanon", Oxford Paperbacks,
1990, ISBN 0-19-285235-3, approx $16.00

  Fisk is an AP correspondent who reported on the war in Lebanon *from*
Lebanon since its inception in the mid 70's.  A devastating book.
  'Required' reading for anyone interested in an unbiased account
of the wars in Lebanon. Covers events through the late 80's.


  Thomas Friedman, "From Beirut to Jerusalem"

  Charles Glass, "Tribes With Flags"

  Jonathan Randall, "Going All The Way"

*******************************************************************************

14. Where can I find works written by Lebanese and /or on Lebanon ?

  Check your local or University Library, most of the  books listed above can

be obtained in major bookstores or on special order from your local bookstore.

*******************************************************************************

15. Are there Arabic word processors ?

  Bassem Medawar has compiled a large FAQ on the subject of Arabic on
computers.  It is very comprehensive and is available on the SoL archive
in
     borg.poly.edu  in  /pub/reader/text/faq2   (notice the 2 in faq2)

  There is Arab TeX.  A message was posted about it on scl and Leb-Net
some time ago.  It is public domain, based on TeX which is also public
domain.  TeX is NOT user friendly -as compared to the Macs.

  There are Arabic word processors. But the solutions are a little more
complicated than we would want them.  There is one program
which runs on any Mac operating system, i.e. any language. I produces text
that can directly be pasted into other word processors. This program is
called AlKatib, but is very old and has very many restrictions. Don't
expect much from it.

  Otherwise the way to go is to use the Mac's Arabic Operating system
(AOS).  This system is designed to work with any program.  Yet again this
is not completely true. Most programs that are worth their price, are not
compatible with AOS. Only very primitive programs that uses the editor
routines of the operating system correctly and are very limited in
their features. There are however a few programs that work correctly
with AOS.  There are the products of a company called WinSoft
(based in France?). They have a word processor, WinText and a database
WinFile. I use the word processor and am sort of satisfied. It is not very
expensive either. On the other hand, there is an Arabic (and a Hebrew)
version of Nisus. I have not used it, but some colleagues who did are
satisfied. I am not sure of the price.

  For those who need a useful and cheap database, you could opt for
FileMaker Pro. It is not completely compatible with the AOS (you can not
search Arabic text) but is useful and quite efficient. Another program
that I used earlier was SuperPaint 1.xx. It is a paint/draw program which
is compatible with AOS.

  For those interested in Islamic studies, there is also Koranic software.
The Alim is an "Islamic Study Toolkit". It offers the entire text of:

  - The Qur'an in Arabic
  - Transliteration of the Qur'an
  - Yusuf `Ali's translation
  - Yusuf `Ali's commentary
  - M. Pickthall's translation
  - All nine volumes of Sahih Bukhary
  - Islamic Subjects Database
  - Maududi Sura information
  - Chronological History of Islam
  - Biographies of Companions
  - Islamic terms dictionary

  The Alim runs a clean and powerful text based windowing system.
Several windows can be run at once. It also has a powerful pattern
searching feature.

  The databases are cross-referenced. Separate modules can be
purchased, they include Sahih Muslim, Tirmizy, Al-Muwatta and Assad's
translation among other volumes.

  The standard package has an introductory price of $99.00 and costs
$149.95 in retail. Macintosh, Windows, OS/2 and OSF/Motif support is
expected in the first quarter of 1993. I saw the package and it is
EXCELLENT. It is certainly worth the price. If were to buy the books
in paper form it would cost more than $100, plus you would not be able
to cross reference or search.

  The current version is distributed on 7 high density DOS disks and
when decompressed takes 15Mb on a Hard Disk. You need at least 1.5Mb
on your Hard Disk to run the Software and you can decompress the
components you need. You also need EGA graphics or better. It also
runs on a Macintosh with Soft-AT.

  The Software was developed over six years by a two person company
called ADVENT (800-397-5561). It is distributed by IQRA Bookcenter:
800-521-ICRA or 312-274-2665.

  For users of Wordperfect, there is an Arabic module that can
be added to Wordperfect.  The module enables one to write in English and
Arabic.  It's extremely user friendly!  The regular price is
expensive but the educational price is about $135 (with student or faculty
id).  However that you need to have/buy the standard version
of Wordperfect in order for the module to run.  So it's great for those who
already use Wordperfect, but it may be too expensive for those who don't
since they would need to buy both the standard version and the Arabic
module.

*******************************************************************************

16. Is there a standard Arabic alphabet representation in Latin ?

  The standard is called cat (for Classical Arabic Transliteration) and
is the work of Bassem Medawar.

  The file can be retrieved from the SoL archive by anonymous ftp to

    borg.poly.edu   in   pub/reader/text/translit/cat

*******************************************************************************

17. Where can I find Lebanese songs and music ?

  Town Records in Manhattan sell International records including,
sometimes, Lebanese.

  Shahin Brothers, in Brooklyn, Atlantic Avenue, sell a large collection of
Lebanese and other Arabic Music.

  They also sell Lebanese/Arabic books.

*******************************************************************************

18. Where can I find a Lebanese restaurant ?

  In Brooklyn, NY, there are a couple Lebanese Restaurants on Atlantic
Ave.  One is Tripoli Restaurant, good food, a bit expensive, good to
invite a guest, and another more popular (and affordable) Kabab and
Shawarma restaurant (a-la Abu Khudor) accross the street from Tripoli
Restaurant.  The Kabab restaurant even has an indoor water fountain,
nice touch.

  The area near NY Univ in Manhattan has quite a few M.E. restaurants.

  Somewhere in Manhattan there used to be a Cedar Restaurant.
_______________________________________________________________________________

  There are three in the St.Louis area:

      Aladdin's - 2241 S. Brentwood, [phone]
      Very good, reasonable price.

      Salim's   - 6501 Delmar, [phone]
      Good, but expensive.

      Mediterranean Taverna - Edwardsville IL
      Good food & entertainment, Middle-Eastern buffet for ~$7.
_______________________________________________________________________________

  Here are two lebanese restaurants I've been to in Paris - France.

Name    : Al-Dar.
Address : very close to Place Victor Hugo (?Av. Raymond Poincarre?).
Price   : relatively expensive (200-300 FF per person = medium size
           mezze + meat + dessert).
Quality : Good to Very-Good (same quality then in Lebanon).
Remarks : Lebanese service, arabic music, grocery with lot of lebanese
          staff (less expensive).

Name    : Al-Diwan.
Address : Avenue Georges V (close to the Champs Elysee)
Price   : relatively expensive (250-350 FF per person = medium size
          mezze + meat + dessert).
Quality : Good.
Remarks : Lebanese service, arabic music, grocery with lot of lebanese
          staff (less expensive).

There are a lot of other lebanese restaurants in Paris. I only know
these two and I recommand Al-Dar.

_______________________________________________________________________________

  Here in London, we are well supplied with a number of Lebanese
restaurants.  I'll describe only a small selection of them.

Name: Maroush I
Location: 21, Edgware Road, W2
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per Person: No music, no arak : GBP.18 (US$ 36);
                 Music and alcohol : GBP.37 (US$ 74);
Quality: The food is okay. This is the flagship of the Maroush/Ranoush
chain of three restaurants+ 1 takeway in London. On week-ends in the
winter and throughout the week in the summer, there is live music and
dancing which makes you think you are in Bairut itself ! Beware
though, minimum charge when there is music and dancing is GBP.37
(US$74) which is damn expensive, but if you don't care, then go for
it. Last time I went there with friends, we spent 4 hours eating,
singing, and generally having a good time.  Quantity of food: Well,
since they will charge you a minimum price of GBP.37, you really have
to eat a lot to make up to this price ! Say 3 starters per person,
plus main course, plus baklawa, plus fruit, plus mint tea etc. - open
'til 4:00am or so !

Name: Maroush II
Location: 38 Beauchamp Place, SW3
Telephone: [phone]


Cost per Person: GBP.18 (US$ 36) + drinks (3 starters(shared) + main
course) Note: Second Maroush restaurant in London, near Knightsbridge
Quality: I'm not pleased with this one. Bad service. Crowded with the
wrong type of crowd. Although the food isn't cheap, the decor is
el-cheapo.  Quantity of food: Okay.

Name: Maroush III
Location: 62 Seymour Street W1H - perpendicular to Edgware Road.
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.18 (US$ 36) + drinks
Note: 1 minutes away from Maroush I

Quality: This one's my favourite Maroush restaurant because I have
been there so many times I know everyone. The food is good while not
too expensive. Summer is more crowded than winter because of the Gulf
population taking its quarters around the nearby Edgware Road.
Recommended starters: Arayes, Baba Ghanouj (Mouttabal), firri, Makanek
Un-recommended starters: Kibbeh (it's not the real thing), sojuk (it
is different every time I go there !)  Recommended main course: Lahem
Meshwi. Farrouj Kebab.  Recommended drink: Laban Ayran (they know how
to do it properly) Beware of the meat Shawarma, it's very greasy,
*very*.  Quantity of food: plenty. 3 starters to share plus main
course is enough.  Baklawa and/or fruit is included in the cover
price. If you can eat the whole tray of baklawa (about 40+) your meal
is on the house (that's what they told me) Additional notice:
Check-out the Maitre d'Hotel. He thinks he's Lebanese but in fact he
is Spanish, and it's funny to hear him speak Arabic ;-)

Name: Al Hamra
Location: 31/33 Shepherd Market, Mayfair, W1Y
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.29 (US$58) + drinks
Quality: Situated in the heart of Mayfair, a very prestigious area of
town, Al Hamra is pretty expensive. But then again, it is the only
place which has someone at the entrance to park your car for you.
Since it is so hard to park in central London, it's pretty good,
especially in the evening when you don't want to walk the streets. The
food is of good quality. But then, one would really expect it. Book in
advance, because the restaurant is pretty small and very popular.
Quantity of food: less than in Maroush III, but who says that quantity
counts ?

Name: Fakhreldine
Location: 85 Piccadilly, Mayfair, W1
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.40+ (US$80+) + drinks

Quality: Very popular, very expensive, very good. The bill seems to be
exponential with what you eat. If you have a business meal with
anybody you want to impress, take them there. Most people whom I know
and have gone there have gone only once. They are still saving for the
next time !  This is known to be the best in town. Go there, if you
can afford it.  Quantity of food: at those prices, do you bother ?
It's the people there that matter. Who knows, you could be striking
the deal of your career !

Name: Beit Eddine
Location: 8 Harriet Street, SW1X
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.25 (US$50) including drinks

Quality: This is a small restaurant where it is advisable to book
during week-ends. The food is good, but nothing special. But a friend
of mine really likes it. I guess the atmosphere, although being
simple, is very pleasant. Shawarma is pretty good. Lahem Meshwi is a
bit dry, so be sure to order Humus to dip the meat in...  Quantity of
food: the portions are rather small. Be sure to order enough !

Take-away food:


There is a quantity of takeaway shops for Arabic food in London, especially
on the Edgware Road. After having tried nearly all of them, I can only
recommend one:

Name: Ranoush Juice
Location: 43 Edgware Road, W2
Telephone: [phone]
Cost of sandwich: GBP.2.50 (US$5) average
Recommended sandwiches: Chicken Shawarma; Mouttabal Sandwich
Recommended drinks: freshly-made carrot juice, it's good for you !
Recommended process-to-get-served: go to the till, and order your food; pay
and use the ticket that you get to give to the cooks. If you are a pretty
girl you'll probably get served immediately ;-).

  Well, that just about rounds-up a small selection of Lebanese
restaurants in this part of the world. One last observation: you'll
find that the garlic sauce served with chicken (for example) is pretty
weak compared to what is served back in Lebanon.  Home cooking is
still the best !

  Editorial Note: I have used GBP for Great Britain Pound Sterling, and
the exchange rate is US$ 2 for GBP 1. -> I can't be bothered to use
the exact exchange rate.

  The PHOENICIA, 11/13 Abingdon Road (Off Kensington High Street)
London W8. Tel: [phone]. The food is
consistently excellent, the quantities are more than ample, the prices are
reasonable and extremely good value, and above all the service is
friendly, courteous. They even speak Lebanese instead of the condescending
French some are prone to. It merits at least one visit every time I leave
this cold country for the nearest I can get to a good Lebanese meal
barring home cooking. Try their mezza!

*******************************************************************************

19. Where can I find a Lebanese grocery store?

  There are two large Arab shopping areas that I know of in NY/NJ:

Brooklyn, NY, Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn Heights.
Paterson, NJ, off Guarden State Pkwy, Hazel Street exit.
______________________________________________________________________

  In St.Louis:

Middle-Eastern Markets (Aswak al shark-al-awsat) on Grand Blvd.
Jay International Markets on Grand Blvd.
Al Madina Al Arabia in North County.

*******************************************************************************

20. Is there a good Lebanese recipe book ?

  Fann-Al-Tabkh by Georges Al-Rayess.
*The* book on Lebanese cuisine. This book is a classic, and is
extremely thorough. Not for the amateur cuisinard or the faint-of-heart,
though. Can be obtained from Librairie Antoine in Beirut.

  For a more practical and less complicated cookbook, see Madeleine
Farah's book 'Middle-Eastern Cuisine'

  Another alternative is a book,  that is not specifically Lebanese
but contains many Lebanese and other Middle Eastern recipies:

Claudia Roden: A New Book of Middle Eastern Food. Penguin.

Sahtayn!

*******************************************************************************

21. Are there recipes available on the net ?

  Yes! Telnet to Archie and search for recipies with the command: prog
recipies. Here you will get the address of the servers that have on-
line recipies. Choose the server closest to you and FTP the file(s).

following are addresses to Archie servers:

archie.doc.ic.ac.uk [146.169.11.3]     UK/European  Imperial, London,
                                                      UK
archie.funet.fi     [128.214.6.100]    European     FUnet, Helsinki,
                                                      Finland
archie.au           [139.130.4.6]      Australian   Deakin, Geelong,
                                                      Australia
archie.sura.net     [128.167.254.179]  World        SURAnet,
                                                      Maryland, USA
archie.rutgers.edu  [128.6.18.15]      World        Rutgers, New
                                                      Jersey, USA
archie.unl.edu      [129.93.1.14]      World        Lincoln, Nebraska,
                                                      USA
archie.ans.net      [147.225.1.2]      World        ANS, New York, US

archie.mcgill.ca    [132.206.2.3]      World        McGill, Montreal,

*******************************************************************************

22.  Is there an ftp archive site for Lebanese art works ?

  A selection of scans of photographs of Beirut and Lebanon from the last
century, courtesy of the Harvard Semitic Museum's Bonfil collection have
been made available on liasun3.epfl.ch users/choueiry/Bonfils

*******************************************************************************

23. What is the best way to deal with multiple system TVs and VCRs and
    how can I get my VCR tape converted to a format that works in Lebanon ?

  Three solutions :

    1. Buying a switchable television and use your video recorder.
    2. Buying a switchable video recorder (PAL / SECAM / NTSC) and
        a PAL / SECAM television.
    3. Buying a switchable video recorder (PAL / NTSC) and a
        PAL / SECAM television.

   First case : You can watch to french and foreign broadcast,
you can use your video recorder and your tapes, but you can't record
french broadcast.


   Second case : You have still to find a french PAL / SECAM
television. That should not be that much expensive. But : in that case,
you can watch the local broadcasts, watch your tapes AND record local
broadcasts.

   I don't know how much costs a switchable television, but as
for the video recorder, it's about 300.000 yen in Japan for the only
model available. That video recorder converts any video signal to any
other.

    Some people may point out that the conversion is not perfect.
That's true. In fact, the signal conversion achieved by that video
recorder is a VERY LOW COST conversion. It converts SECAM to a pseudo
PAL, PAL to a pseudo NTSC, but that's neither a professionnal quality,
nor a broadcast quality.

    Just for information : a professionnal quality PAL/SECAM/NTSC
converter (the converter only) costs 1.800.000 yen.

    Third case : There is another video recorder (AIWA) which
converts NTSC to PAL only. That one is quite cheap (60.000 yen here
in Japan). That one with a french SECAM / PAL television would make
it, if you don't expect too much quality, and if you don't record
SECAM broadcasts.

    About the quality : There are some video recorders allowing
to make low speed records (one third of the normal speed). Up to six
hours on one tape, but of course lower quality. The quality of a low
cost converter is about the same...

    The ideal solution : you buy a switchable television AND
a switchable video recorder. In that case, you can record in any format
you want and use your tapes in any country. Since you don't need the
signal conversion, you get a broadcast quality image in any case.
_______________________________________________________________________________

  Here are some recommendations for businesses that will convert
VCR tapes from one standard to another :

 DAKE International
 3208 Foxboro Dr.
 Richardson, TX 75082
 [phone] 1pm-9pm

  The cost is $18.50 per tape which includes a new tape and shipping.
They can convert to any TV system: PAL, SECAM to NTSC or vice versa.

  Another one is in Raleigh, NC.  It provides conversion from and to
any format (VHS, VHS-C and 8 mm types of cassettes).
This will allow playback of videotapes made overseas, here on U.S.
TV's and VCR's (NTSC System).
  The service will also convert the other way around,(i.e. from
U.S. system to any of the systems used anywhere else in the world - PAL,
SECAM, etc..)

Mailing Address:  INTERNATIONAL VIDEO CONVERSION
                  520 Harvest Lane
                  Raleigh, NC 27606-2217

Phone:            [phone]

Fees:             $20.00 + $5.00 S&H
                  (Price of a High Grade Cassette Included, 2hrs or less)

Delivery:         Mailed back the next day, express shipping at request.

Payment:          Cheque, Cash or Money Order mailed with tape.


  A third one is:

SOMI International
50 Summer Street
Edison, NJ 08820.
Phone [phone]

  Their price is good ($12.99 for a regular 2-hr tape and $17.99 for more than
2-hr tape, include $3/tape for postage and handling).


  Fourth recommendation :

  This information was obtained from listings in VideoMaker Magazine.
Another good company is:

        RVT
        1911 Douglas Boulevard #85
        Roseville
        CA 95661
        [phone]

  The approximate cost is around $25 for 2 hours including tape
and return shipping.
CA residents have to pay tax at 7.25%. They have a 24 hour turnaround time.

*******************************************************************************

24. What are newborn names that could be used for Lebanese children living
abroad that would work in both Lebanon and western societies.

For girls:

  If names sound alike (Homonyms) the first one mentioned will
be the Arabic spelling, then the English (or the English equivalent):

Dana            Danah     The name that got the most votes from the net
Dania
Dina
Dima
Farah           Farrah
Faten
Hala
Hana            Hannah
Jihane
Johayna
Joumana
Karima
Laura
Leila           Leyla/Layla
Lina
Lubna
Mariam          Myriam
Marwa
May
Maya
Mona
Moniya
Nadia
Nadine
Najat
Nariman
Nour
Noura           Nora
Rania
Salam
Samar           Summer
Samia
Sawsan          Susan
Safiyya         Sofia
Sara            Sarah
Sourayya
Sukayna
Yasmin          Jasmin

For boys:

Yusef           Joseph
Ree'an          Ryan
Kareem
Nabil        Bill
Waleed
Sami
Nadeem
Fadi
Chadi        Chad
Fouad        Fred
Raji        Roger
Ya'oub        Jacob/Jake
Ree'an        Ryan
Naji
Farid
Ramzi        Ramsey
Samir        Sam
Rabih        Robbie

*******************************************************************************

25. I plan to go home soon and I have heard rumors that the draft
    will be re-instituted, do you have any additional information about it ?
    I was born in 1923 and I am afraid that I would be subject to the draft !

  The latest on the subject and the most recent decision  is that men
born during 1972 and later years will be drafted.  The same was also
confirmed recently in some of the arabic papers published in Canada.
Originally it was thought that only those of 1975 will be drafted, but
it was later decided to go with 1972...


26. Where can I get a copy of the English translation of
    the Lebanese Constitution ?

  A Translated copy of the Lebanese Constitution is archived on
borg.poly.edu (128.238.10.106) as /pub/scl/constitution.
To obtain a copy from ftp enabled sites the following commands should be
followed:
ftp borg.poly.edu  (or ftp 128.238.10.106)
login name:  anonymous
password  :  send id as password
cd pub/scl

get constitution

*******************************************************************************

27. Where can I get a copy of the English translation of
    Taef Agreement ?

A Translated copy of the Taef Agreement is also archived on
borg.poly.edu (128.238.10.106) as /pub/scl/taef
To obtain a copy follow similar procedure as the one followed in
the previous  question using at the end :
get taef (instead of get constitution)

*******************************************************************************

28. I need to ship a car/or some merchandise to Lebanon, do you
    know of a shipping company that handles this ?


  There is a Lebanese person that handles shipping cars (among other things)
to Lebanon.
  His name is Hassan Issa, and his home phone is : [phone]
You can mention that Hassan Hammoud referred you.  It may be very helpful.

*******************************************************************************

29. I suddenly developped an urge for Middle-Eastern cuisine,
    can you help me quench this horrifying thirst ?

  You can try to prepare any of the following recipes:

  Falafel

       1 lb. dry ful (fava beans)
       1 small onion
       1 bunsh of chopped parsley
       2 cloves of garlic, crushed
       1 t. ground coriander
       1/4 t hot red pepper (optional)
       1 t. baking soda
       1/2 t. cumin
       Salt and pepper to taste
       1 T. flour

  Soak ful in cold water for a few days, changing water daily.  When ready,
peel ful and grind with onion in meat grinder.  Add all ingredients,
mixing well.  Grind mixture a second time.  Form into patties and fry.

Variation:  Soak 3/4 cup of dry homus with ful.  Then follow above directions.

  Stuffed Grape Leaves in Oil.

1 lb tender grape leaves
12 oz. rice
12 oz chopped red onions
4 bunches parsley chopped fine
12 oz ripe tomatoes chopped very fine
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. spices (mixed cinnamon and sweet + hot pepper)
2 1/5 lb sliced tomatoes
1 pt. boiling water.
2 oz. lemon juice
4 oz. oil
potatoes cut in the thickness of 1 1/2 inch.

  My Lebanese mother-in-law adds garbanzo beans as well, about a cup
or so with the above proportions. Note that these are the "lentin"
variety; there are also grape leaves with meat, for those who eat
meat.

  As hinted above, rolling the leaves is the tricky part an the book
doesn't explain how to do it. Could anyone provide any hints on that?

  Nothing substitutes for experience.
When my wife and I make grape leaves, hers are always much tighter
and more consistent than mine. But I'm learning! Here's how we do it:

  Lay the leaf face down in front of you, with the stem end towards
you. (Be sure to remove the stem, by the way). Put a tablespoon
or two of the stuffing in the middle of the leaf. Fold in the
sides, then roll up the leaf starting with the end that is
closest to you. It's very much like rolling a burrito, if that's
any help.

  When cooking, be sure to put a plate on top of the grape leaves,
so that they don't expand too much. Also, we like to crush some
garlic and sprinkle it on top of the grape leaves before cooking.

Sahtain!


    Knafi (bil Jibn or Ushta):

  I have recently learned to make Knafi, and if I do say so, I think I have
become very good at it.  I use the shreded stuff, not the breadcrumb crust.

  First prepare the syrup ('ater) from twice as much sugar as water
with some lemon juice and orange-blossom water (mazaher).  Mixing in honey makes
it taste more familiar to American palates, and putting in a tiny amount of
Carob molasses (dibs) makes the flavour "heavier" (i.e. more like
something cooked).
The syrup goes in the fridge.

  Next I prepare the clotted cream ('ushta).
The ingredients are:

One liter milk,
1/4 litre heavy cream
and one teaspoonful rosewater (maward)

  Prefereably boiled over a light flame in a wide, shallow tray over
two burners.
After that, it needs to be left at room temperature overnight so that the
thick layer of stuff on the surface can trigger the coagulation of a greater
of the milk/cream mixture.
Adding the rosewater after most of the boiling is done is a good thing to do.

  You may refrigerate the 'ushta now if you want to do this later.  The cheese
could be Lebanese white cheese (jinbi baidha) if you can get it or mozerella
otherwise.  The shredded dough needs to be well buttered : pouring melted butter
over it is not enough, you have to leave some butter in solid form and rub it in
to make sure every strand is coated.  I assume this will not be a problem with
breadcrumbs.  Also, using clarified butter is a good thing to do if you have
time.  (If you are still with me, you probably have time ;)
In order to clarify the butter, melt it and throw away the parts
that float or sink (unless, of course, you have some REAL samneh!).

  One layer of knafi in the tray followed by the cheese (cut into any shapes
you wnat: it'll melt anyway), covered with the 'ushta and topped off by another
layer of buttered knafi is the final configuration.
  Bake at 350 for half an hour then raise the temperature to 450 to brown it;
remove when it looks brown enough
(unless you see smoke, which is another indication it is done :>).

*******************************************************************************

30. How can I get the latest travel advisory for Americans wishing
    to visit Lebanon or the Middle-East ?

  A collection of all travel advisories released by the State
Department during the last 4+ months is FTPable from

                        RASCAL.ICS.UTEXAS [128.83.138.20]

          file Travel-Advisories in directory misc/misc.


*******************************************************************************