Wrapping up for this year...

So this brings a very eventful and very polarized year (where the highs were mighty high, and the lows very deep) to an end. So to all the readers, a very merry Christmas and a hope that 2012 will be better than this one, and that it will bring you health, wealth, and fulfillment. In the words of Maha Salma, or rather the end song of her famous "3alam al sighar"... "Bye Bye ya helwin!"... Till next year.

When you're only (randomly) number 1, you try harder!

You are not going to believe this... I barely did myself. Yesterday I was offline for the day and when I came back I discovered that the blogosphere cannot be left alone for a single day without causing a major upheaval. What happened? Apparently, I am the last to know that Beirut/NTSC has been elected as number 1 in Communicate magazine's list of top 10 blogs of the year.
And how did I know it? Because while checking my stats on the dashboard of blogger I saw many entries from Blog Baladi who posted the full list. As Kevin in the Wonder Years once said "some people have glory thrown on them while they're in the bathroom" (sadly, I do not have the exact quote but it is in season 2, episode 10). Or as Ines de la Ferssange once said when she was elected best dressed woman in Paris "si j'avais su, j'aurai fait un peu plus d'effort" (if I had known it, I'd have done a bit more effort!)... Seriously, I blush!
So, to misquote Avis and its very famous slogan "when you're only number 1, you try harder!"

PS: There seems to be a confusion here, it appears that the list in "random" according to a tweet by Liliane (which explains Gino's 10th position) - however if you look closely at the list it is neither alphabetical, nor according to number of readers, or fans on facebook (where I would rank zero), so I still chose to believe that it is "random with a bias of preference"....

A case of mistaken identities (5)

"C'est le temps que tu as perdu pour ta rose qui fait ta rose si importante" (it is the time you have wasted on your rose that makes your rose so important) Antoine de St Exupery.

A case of mistaken identities (4)

I've got balls to do this... Taking on one of the most known franchises in sports... And yet, when Tarek goes NTSC, there's no stopping it!

A case of mistaken identities (3)

And keep this in mind: Grendizer will always be stronger than Jonger! Always!.... And NTSC will be stronger than both!

A case of mistaken identities (2)

More pop culture from way back yonder, most of you were not even born yet when this magazine used to be published!

A case of mistaken identities (1)

After the "Dabke-Tarek" debacle, now comes this.... Is there no end to your suffering? :)

PS: If I am old enough to remember the "3imlak" magazine, then I am a grandaddy by facebook years!

Ashekman hoodies now available in town!

I used to think that Ashekman were 1 in a million, it seems I had my figures wrong as now you can get those 1/100 limited edition hoodies from the Ashekman store (right behind Napoletana in Hamra in Strand Center)... Get a piece of the action for yourself and earn your bragging rights!

UNHATE - Benetton goes local!

Someone, and I wish I could know who that someone is, spoofed the Benetton UNHATE campaign with a local flavor, making Saad Hariri (head of the Future Movement, ex PM) and arch-rival Hassan Nasrallah (at the helm of the Hizbullah) and (in the second adaptation) Samir Geagea (head of the executive committee of the Lebanese Forces) and General Michel Aoun (competing Christain Maronite leader and head of the Free Patriotic Movement) doing the "unhate" posture.
The person who did these spoofs commends my highest esteem. And if anyone knows who that person is, please let me know!

The yearly Archewallogy greeting card

So, what do you think of this industrial sculpture? Or is it a deconstructivist post-industrial work? Whichever, it remains one of my favorite pieces of "public" art which is actually hidden from view as sadly few people are aware of its existence. I know it is still too early for the greeting card, but keep it up your sleeve and check it when you want to arrange your virtual ecards underneath your lightupyoureletronicchristmastree.com page....

Furn el chebeck - Jounieh in ZERO minutes

Google maps, please adjust. Welcome to Furn el Chebeck, right above the Jounieh Bridge. Need I say more? (I love these finds which fill Lebanon - it's like opening a deli in LA and calling it NY) To be on the safe side, I have not tried the manoushe of "furn el chebek" yet (the oven of the window, but also the name of another region in Beirut), will be back when I do.

Wooden Backery: A Sinatra moment

Well, to quote the rest of the song "mistakes, I've made a few"... Insert crooner somewhere in the background. Or a wedding singer...

The best Christmas ad this season....

I know I shall live to regret those words, but there you have it: The best Christmas ad this season comes from Daniela Tobler. It is posted only once (above Golden Beach) and it is simple and clear and direct. A zipper opens up on a denim background (which may I remind you, is the core product of Daniela Tobler) revealing and world of magic inside and is topped by the zipper's handle in the form of a star. Why can't they always come up with something so great?

Santa Claus is not coming to town!

This is the rest of the Christmas panorama in town... Again, very little to comment on. Even the Heineken gimmit barely works it for me, as I am really sick of ads trying to "engage the audience online"!... Anyhow, the other nagative review goes for Castania, with the twist of their brilliant line "t3ish w ma tekol ghayra" (which means "may you live and not eat anything else" but in Arabic it is a take on another proverb which goes "may you live and have another disappointment" - because living rates higher than disappointments). My problem is - after the 2008 election of General Michel Suleiman - they came up with a great ad "n3ish w ma nekol ghayra" but when they promise you "el kell ra7 yekelah" for Christmas which originally means "everyone will eat it on Christmas" but also doubles as "everyone will get disappointment" I really beg to differ on this one!...
Oh, and the Samsung ad "ma t7ek" (which means "do not stratch your head") has been done in 2003 for "Malak el Falak" with EXACTLY the same line!.... At the time it was done by Impact BBDO, so I am not sure who did this one!

Ma tel7a2ne makhtoube.... la MEEN!

Well, I am not sure about the music as I have not heard much from it - but I am posting this on the force of the poster!....

Bob Bacha, official representative for Showoffus libanicus

So there, the Showoffus libanicus species has a representative, his name is Bob Bacha. It could have been anyone else mind you, but the criteria for (unnatural) selection were very stringent, they included:
Number of ex-girlfriends held cuncurently,
Number of flashy hot rods parked in his grarage,
Number of champagne bottles opened at the trendiest nightclubs,
Number of allowance still given by his father,
Number of trips undertaken yearly to glitzy destinations,
Number of diminishing brain cells he boasts annually.
Mind you, the competition was fierce as the town is gruelling with such individuals but finally, Bob used the highest "wasta" imaginable and possible and was so happy about his selection he actually went out to celebrate with his crew and they opened several bottles of champagne, he saw his name flash on the scroller of the hippest club, cruised around town in his newly acquired sports car, got a "raise" from his father along with an open ticket to the destination of his choice and consequently lost even more brain cells.
Please calle him on 76 66 66 66 to congratulate!

SMALL TALK at AUB featuring Beirut/NTSC

The Department of Architecture and Design

American University of Beirut

Cordially invites you to the first edition of:

 

SMALL TALK (a TALK20 event)
Beyond The Image An open design discussion highlighting the relationship between the creative work process and the target audience. The power, the spread, and the universality of the image all contribute to its important influence on our work today. By tracing the steps of the design process, this talk will attempt to reveal the layers that construct the final image.
PAUL KALOUSTIAN / Architect
YARA KHOURY NAMMOUR / Design Director / Al Mohtaraf Design House
NUNO PEREIRA / Design Director / Brandcentral . M&C Saatchi MENA
TAREK CHEMALY / Communication Consultant / Beirut . NTSC
Monday December 19th, 2011 at 6.30 pmDar Al-Handassah Architecture Building
ALH (Architecture Lecture Hall)
After the success of our five TALK20 events so far, we have decided to launch in parallel a second variant of this event, which differs by having a smaller speaker group and a more focused theme based dicussion.This year, small TALK, is bringing together four speakers from  different design fields in Lebanon under one specified theme, chosen by the students. Each speaker will have 15 minutes of presentation time to speak about his or her work, reflect on the subject, and show how he or she deals with it in his or her own practice. The four  presentations thus present four different facets of one theme in design. They will be followed by an informal discussion that would  hopefully be enriching to the students, the professionals, and the local creative design scene.

Marianne Schoucair among the 10 best posters in "Right to education"

Lebanese Marianne Schoucair is among the 10 best posters in the "Right to education" - pity the official entry labels her as "United States" (she lives there, but look at her resume to see she is an AUB alumni). Her website is http://www.marianneschoucair.com/ - if I were you, I'd go there and congratulate her!

Samsung and the fanfare for the common man

Samasung has found an interesting gimmick "tanni w ranni" which replaces "tanni w ranni"... What? Yes, there are two sounds in arabic one is the "te" and the other "tah" - which for certain Achrafiieh-residing frenchy cookoos is the same when actually it isn't. So "Tanni w ranni" (with a tah) means "fanfare" or "bringing out the street band" and "tanni" means "having a second portion of something" or simply "doubling" something... So there, you win twice with Samsung - first in quality and price (I assume!) and the other with instant gifts.

"Ensa Clopedia Libanica" by Fady Chahine and Tarek Chemaly on 7UPstairs Publishing

Open publication - Free publishing - More anthropology

And here it ladies and gentlemen (and all the crooks who steal!)... Fady Chahine and myself are further exploring the Lebanese languages and since the Lebanese have invented the alphabet due to their (alleged) ancestors the Phoenicians, they are entitled to redefine every word that exists on earth since all of them "mouta7adiroun min asl loubnani" (they come from a Lebanese ancestor, just like Chakira and Paul Anka :) )... Enjoy, and spread all over the place!

"Ensa Clopedia Libanica" - Pre-launch teaser!

So there's another book that's going out - soon! Maybe even today. Enjoy the cover and back cover, or even better - don't enjoy them.... Well, at least there has been no use of Gandour or any of its products, so there may still be hope for me after all!

Byblos municipality as the grinch who stole (the) Christmas (greetings)!

Thank you Hala!
It's official! Another copycat! Here it is, Byblos municpality steals the greetings from the Roger Oddone design studio. How corny indeed... But wait, apparently it is said so in the youtube description of the ad (well, at least that's the pretext BBDO used).... Good luck justifying this one.

Dabke dabke ya chabab :)

I know that I am doing nothing but giving even more ammunition to those who hate my graphics, my guts and my bad taste.. But "bicharafkon" with dAbKE containing three letters of my name (tArEK) how difficult was it for me to spoof the logo? And get this - I didn't even pay for the packet, I had it for free at the Toom Extra launch! So I am stingy AND have a bad taste.

Toom Extra book launch (or the perils of having three bloggers)

It seems so peaceful and lovely... Three bloggers on one site - the photo was taken yesterday during the Toom Extra book launch.

But soon, Rana was disposed on with the use of a poisoned "taboush" (just look at the offerings at the table). To celebrate, Tony and Samah went smooching but then, "he cheated with me then he will cheat on me" so goes the expression.... So the kiss was nothing but a Judas kiss and Tony got a stab in the back which only left....

... Samah to enjoy the garlic all to himself. Thinking some girl is going to kiss him after the overdose of garlic. Good luck to him!
And guys, Mabrouk for the book!

Beirut pays tribute to two genuises

One is Andy Warhol and the other is Steve Jobs!... Well, we're not ungrateful it seems.

Kaak kaak, taza ya kaak

This handbag (yes, it is a handbag) was found in Waw design on Clemenceau Street (or a little bit down AUB's medical gate)... The use of the pop cultural Lebanese references is simply bewildering!... Nice work!

Beirut in a capsule

I think these two photos encapsulate Beirut (or more precisely the Hamra street) of today. A graffiti colored wall and an ambulant Lemon stall....

Plantu in Lebanon

French caricaturist Plantu was in Beirut to give a conference at l'Ecole Superieure des Affaires (ESA) out of a BADER initiative, the theme was "cartooning for peace". It was quite sad to see that most of the audience had left after ex-foreign affairs french minister Hubert Verdine finished his presentation... I think one of the hightlights of the super presentation was the woman sitting on a stoold wearing a string popping out of her pants being transformed into the eyes of a veiled woman. All of the presentation was truly impressive, and he had as eating out of his hand!

More out of duty than enthusiasm

If am commenting on most of these ads it is out of a sense of duty rather than enthusiasm. This is what remains from the pre-Christmas lot (which is already sweeping town bit by bit). Let's see: I could not, for the life of me, understand who was behind the "What's in your head?" campaign. Unless I am dreadfully mistaken then is no brand there. Is this a thesis? And which is one of the bottle wearing a mexican hat. Again, I could be awfully wrong but... What's in your (he)ad? is more appropriate as a question.
The Warde wallpaper has been there for a while, but I still haven't commented on it - I think what they did for their fabrics was more "alive" than this one. But at least it's blue, it's fresh, and it could have been much worse.
Oh, finally a bit of a fresh air. An association called "Abaad" is warning against family violence towards women (why isn't it Kafa? Or it is once more the Lebanese syndrome of each one working for himself better than collaborating with whatever is already on the market?). Anyhow, a local proverb goes "Darb el habib zbib" - the hitting of a loved one is as sweet as dried raisins - so this campaing replaced "zbib" with "mou3ib" which means "scandalous" or "shameful". A nice attempt if you ask me.
Bosch is hitting on the eternal question every used car owner asks him/herself in the morning... "Will it start or will it stall?"... Well, at least it is an informative message which does not sacrifice the creativity for the real info and ends up not being a hard-sell ad. In other words - a fine balance between letting you know what they want and delivering it with minimum harm to the eyes.
With a full moon ecplise coming over this December 10th, Debbas is joining the melee by eclipsing its own prices. You might not believe it but back in the 80s Debbas had some of the best ads in town. The 80s might have been back in terms of fashion and pop culture, but not for Debbas it seems.
Another civic message in the lot after "Abaad". Himaya - litteraly "protection" - tackles child abuse and molestation (again, it has been done before with the character of "Salwa" - so why couldn't these two associations work together and save money is beyond me). So the man hiding in the tree is the tree itself.... When it comes to art direction this is second to none, so I guess I should be impressed (oddly, I did not touch me neither emotionally nor on the cerebral level).
So there's a new wine in town? Or it is new? I have no clue!... The message is simple, this is the wine2.0 or the 3G of the wines, so "upgrade".
And isn't it cute for all these corporations to play the nostalgia card? Very recently we had ABC flipping their album, now it is HSBC - although with a name like "The British Bank of the Middle East - Sub Branch" one can hardly relate it to the HSBC initials. But if it makes sense of them, then good luck!
The Sleep Comfort card of saying in an advertisement that they do not need advertisement for their matress has been done before (most recently by "Cafe super Brasil" saying that the customer has always been their ad). But I still found it cute to see.