HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: alami@McRCIM.McGill.EDU (Wassim Alami)
Subject: Re: AUB Scandal! Hariri does it again!!!
Originator: alami@sienkiewicz.mcrcim.mcgill.edu
Organization: McGill Research Centre for  Intelligent Machines
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 93 17:25:54 GMT


In article <1993Jan26.101038.1@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk>, zzaaskk@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk writes:
|> Hariri does it again! 
|> 
|> Robert Fisk, The Independent reporter (UK news paper) has reported [...]
|> 
|> Apparently Hariri has provided around $300,000 to supplement the pay AUB
|> medical staff in order to stave off inflation and stop them from 
|> emigrating to the states. The fund was kept a secret from the AUB 
|> American trustees. People who knew about it were Dr. Salti the deputy 
|> to the president of the AUB and Fouad Senyoura Now a minister then general 
|> manager of Mediterranean Bank where the fund was allegedly kept. 
|> 
|> Dr. Salti was fired from his position after Mr. Herter the President, who have 
|> not dared to visit his university since his appointment, knew about the 
|> fund from a doctor whose payments from the fund were stopped. This doctor
|> wrote a letter to Herter and the deans. The fund was set up by Mr Hariri,
|> Dr. Najib Abu Haider and other unnamed donors. Payments were made to about 
|> 18 members of staff, without paying income tax. Shock Horror!
|> 
|> Mr. Hariri stands again accused of saving the best part of the medical 
|> service in Lebanon. He should be stopped now, other wise he might do 
|> Lebanon some good. 
|> 
|> Another part to the story, it is suspected in Beirut that Herter is using this 
|> to Purge Arabs from the AUB senior ranks and send American academics back to 
|> Beirut to take their places. In anticipation on the lifting of the ban on 
|> American citizens who wish to visit Lebanon. 
|> 
|> Dr. Salti has also aired some views about the 'Arabisation' of the AUB,
|> some time ago, in a time frame involving decades! He MUST be SHOT! 
|> How dare he?
|>  
|> 
|> Professor Samir Makdisi was appointed in place of Dr. Salti.
|> 
|> 
|> Kamie 

Why is hiding the fund from the board of trustees a necessity for "saving 
the best part of the medical service in Lebanon"?

There's no question of "Arabisation" vs "Americanisation" of AUB.
I'd rather wait to hear the details before I say anything, but the way
the News is put, it seems like the Deputy President is doing something 
illegal.

Arab (Lebanese included) faculty and staff members are an asset to AUB,
that it wouldn't be able to function without, but it should be made clear that
AUB in the midst of the civil war was undergoing corruption although far from
being as corrupted as an average Lebanese institution. 

AUB was an `elite` institution and should be back to play its natural
role in the middle-east, the `elite` can be Arab or American, the major
issue is to have it back a major Education and Research centre for the
benefit of the ARABS.

There is corruption at AUB, there are non-competent people out there,
and something should be done about it.

Wassim Alami
From: fakhoury@eng.umd.edu (Hadi Fakhoury)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: AUB Scandal! Hariri does it again!!!
Date: 27 Jan 1993 16:58:15 GMT
Organization: Project GLUE, University of Maryland, College Park
NNTP-Posting-Host: antares.eng.umd.edu

The only problem that I saw with this fund was that Dr. Salti (who
is reputedly an honest, hard-working man) did not create a committee
to oversee the distribution of the fund to whomever deserved it. He
therefore left himself open to criticism for possibly biased (as
in only his personal judgement) distribution. Otherwise it was a
perfectly acceptable way to entice good people to stay in Lebanon.

It is very suprising however that Dr. Salti concealed (if that was 
really the case) the idea of the fund from everybody in New York,
given that the consequences were obvious. Who knows who knew what?

(silent reader's first post, sorry for any problems with netiquette).

Hadi.
D
P
From: steel@hal.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Nick Steel)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Visiting Lebanon: More Questions
Date: 22 Jan 93 21:07:24 GMT
Article-I.D.: life.1jpnmcINNler
Organization: /etc/organization
NNTP-Posting-Host: hal.ai.mit.edu

In article <C15Cty.2pF@ccsun.strath.ac.uk> ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz") writes:
>In article <1993Jan19.172954.1@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk> zzaaskk@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk writes:
>>
>>Wellcome to Tripoly. Enjoy Halawet Aljuben from Al-Halab. The old city
>>in Tripoly, or what is usually termed as the Souk, is probably the Largest 
>>intact Mamluk city left in the Middle East. Shame how it is neglected by both
>>the Tripolese, Lebanese government, and the UNIESCO. It should be declared
>>a site of Common Human Inheritance. 
>
>I heard (from some Tripolese freinds here in the UK) that Tripoly is rich  anD
>full of historical buildings. I knew that it has the finest examples of islamic
>architecture in Lebanon. I have seen some photos of mosques but did not
>know that a near complete Mamluk city does exist there. 

Indeed,  I just visited Tripoli (where I was born and raised).  I went
and prayed in a mosque (al jami` al kabeer) near Bab Arramal (or
Souk Al juma`),  I have always known that mosque, but did not 
realize it was about 800 years old, until I read the ancient arabic on 
its walls, and its history.

BTW, I had lots of Halawt Aljuben,  bread from Almeer, food at
Seer, fun in Ihdin @ Mar sarkees spring, ..etc

I have to admit that the food quality in Lebanon has dropped drastically.
Especially the pastries at Al Hallab.  The Qatr they are using is
awful now adays.

jle
From: ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz")
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Beirut's city centre
Date: 25 Jan 93 10:39:09 GMT
Organization: University of Strathclyde


To those interested in the construction of Beirut's city centre, Al Majalla
( an arabic magazine, num 675, 13-19/01/93) has an interview with one of the
critics of the Hariri plans.

Harot Komejian (sp??), discusses some of issues related to the plans. 
The article is short but has some enlightening information.

I. Ballouz
-- 
*******************************************************************************
* IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
* ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
*******************************************************************************
From: zzaaskk@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: PEACE: To whom it may concern
Date: 27 Jan 93 10:03:00 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre CGU

In article <1993Jan24.210052.16801@newstand.syr.edu>, purwinto@rodan.acs.syr.EDU writes:
> "I oppose military intervention or lifting the arms embargo in the civil war 

Just what the Serbs and the Croats want, while the Muslims are being Killed,
pilaged, raped, made homless. This is not peace, this is condoning agression,
genocide and giving another indication to the world that we are living in a
gungle the strong can do whatever they want to the weak.

> ACTION FOR PEACE IN THE BALKANS

Read Action for contiuing massacares of the Muslims in the Balkans.


Kamie
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz")
Subject: Beirut city centre
Organization: University of Strathclyde
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 18:13:54 GMT


According to an arabic daily (Asharq Al Awsat), there will be a seminar about
the reconstruction of Beirut's city centre in Paris soon.
The venue will be "The institutE Of the Arab world" but the date is not defined
exactly. During February, they wrote.

It is not MENTIoned however, whether there will be an exhibition for the plans
or not.

I. BallouZ

-- 
*******************************************************************************
* IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
* ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
*******************************************************************************
From: 9999sc01@uhdvx3.dt.uh.edu (Alexandre Khalil)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Names
Date: 27 Jan 1993 20:39 CST
Organization: University of Houston-Downtown
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: uhdvx3.dt.uh.edu
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41A   

In article <1993Jan27.193122.4444@news.cs.brandeis.edu>, masri@binah.cc.brandeis.edu writes...
[..well pondered reflexion on the necessities of accomodating two cultures
in one life span deleted...]

>					We wanted our child to have a name 
>that reflected both heritages.  We chose "Iskander" (to be pronounced 
>"Alexander" here and "Iskander" in the Middle East) for a boy 

  I cannot but sincerely agree with you on this wise choice.  Do believe that
I am saying this without any bias whatsoever: this is a totally impartial 
opinion.

[..Excellent reflexion -though not of so much importance-on the choice of 
female first names deleted..]

alex -IMVHO- khalil
Organization: Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Date: Thursday, 21 Jan 1993 13:44:22 PST
From: Lois White <LMWHITE@SLACVM.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: names

In article <1993Jan21.151023.29391@news.cs.brandeis.edu>,
masri@binah.cc.brandeis.edu says:
>
>Here's the boy name list again.  As I posted before, it's much shorter
>than the list for girls.  I think it's harder to find "crossover" names
>for boys, unfortunately.
>
>Yusef           Joseph
>Kareem
>Nabil           Bill
>Waleed
>Sami
>Nadeem
>Fadi            (most people don't like this one: "Fatty")
>Chadi           Chad
>Fouad           Fred
>Raji            Roger
>Ya'oub  Jacob
>Ree'an  Ryan
>Naji
>
Here are "crossover" names of some of my Arabic friends:

Khalid           Cal  (in English Cal is short version of Calvin)
Khalil           Cal or Charlie
Haytham          Sam
Fareed           Fred
Ya'oub           Jack
`Issa            Jesse or Isaac
Jamal            Jim
Saleem           Sam
Elias            Elias (pronouced Ee-LIE-es)
`Ali             Al  ( = short version of Allen)

And some suggestions for possible "crossovers":

Waleed           Wally (  = short version of Walter)
Zaki             Zeke  (  = short version of Ezekiel)
Jad              Chad
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: selassa@cad652.intel.com (Shauki Elassaad )
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: AUB Scandal! Hariri does it again!!!
Date: 27 Jan 93 16:00:53 GMT
Organization: Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA


Thanks for the FYI.  I rarely hear news of Lebanon except from
the usual sources (CNN) or the daily paper or when I call my family.  It 
would be great if we can use this forum for exchaning news on the latest 
in Lebanon.
 
regards,
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shauki Elassaad			Email: selassa@scdt.intel.com
Design Technology, Pole M5, RN4-38, Phone: (408) 765-5816
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: masri@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Subject: names
Reply-To: masri@binah.cc.brandeis.edu
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 15:10:23 GMT


Here's the boy name list again.  As I posted before, it's much shorter
than the list for girls.  I think it's harder to find "crossover" names
for boys, unfortunately.

Yusef		Joseph
Kareem
Nabil		Bill
Waleed
Sami
Nadeem
Fadi		(most people don't like this one: "Fatty")
Chadi		Chad
Fouad		Fred
Raji		Roger
Ya'oub	Jacob
Ree'an	Ryan
Naji



There you go!  Good luck!

Debbie Masri
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: wshaib@bnr.ca (Wadih Shaib)
Subject: Tripoli Castle
Reply-To: wshaib@bnr.ca (Wadih Shaib)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 18:11:34 GMT


We still have a sampling of lebanese banknotes in one of our
photo albums. I recall seeing many castles on the actual 
tenders. Well, I checked yesterday, and I have this list.
Please correct me if I'm wrong:

   1 LL: Baalbeck Castle/Jeita Grotto
   5 LL: National Museum/Nahr el Kalb bridge
  10 LL: Aanjar Palace/Raouche (?)
  25 LL: Sidon Sea Castle/?
  50 LL: TRIPOLI Crusader/Mamluk/Turk Fort/?
 100 LL: Cedars/Beit eddine Palace
 250 LL: Tyre (sour) Roman Avenue/?

( ? = 'I don't know where that thing is' :-)

============================================================================
Wadih J. Shaib                     |   "BNR And I Don't Necessarily 
Bell-Northern Research             |    Share The Same Opinions..."       
============================================================================
From: borrel@dhhalden.no (B|rre Ludvigsen)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Have you any pictures?
Date: 24 Jan 93 13:44:24 GMT
Organization: Ostfold College

Do any of you have any pictures from Lebanon old or new that they
would like posted on the net? I'm willing to scan and post photographs
and other graphics on the liasun3.epfl.ch cultural ftp server for
you. The pictures can also be posted here for the duration, but 
"permanently" on the server. If you have a scanner but don't know
how to post the scans on the net, just drop me a line.

- Barre Ludvigsen <borrel@dhhalden.no>

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Barre Ludvigsen                                borrel@dhhalden.no
Associate Professor, Architect        borrel@sigallah.dhhalden.no
Ostfold Regional College                            (NeXTMail OK)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: rached@sample.eng.ohio-state.edu (Rached Zantout)
Subject: Re: Beirut city centre
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept of Electrical Engineering
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 18:46:08 GMT

Hi

When I was in Beirut over the break, I heared that the Chamber of Deputies
(Majlis Annoueb) had approved increasing the number of Skyscrappers (sp ?)
"Natihat Assahab" from 2 to 23.
Najah Wakim was very critical of this since the government's treasury got nothing
from that increase in profit for the real estate company.

rached

P.S. did anybody get the book published by the architect group mentioned in the
original article ?

Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz")
Subject: Re: Visiting Lebanon: More Questions
Organization: University of Strathclyde
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 12:18:16 GMT

In article <1993Jan21.113802.1@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk> zzaaskk@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk writes:
>In article <C15Cty.2pF@ccsun.strath.ac.uk>, ccav38@ccsun.strath.ac.uk ("I.Ballouz") writes:
>

[ ... ]

>But I know a man who does :-] ( British Advert Line ) He has just finished a
>PhD in architecture from London. He was interested on the effect of Islamic
>Sharia on the architechture of Islamic cities. His case study was Tripoly. If
>you want I can get you both in contact.

I am glad to learn that some architects and planners are getting interested in
the islamic heritage in Lebanon. I knew of similar studies but those were done
on other arabic cities. 

If you can, please e-mail me the thesis details ( name, author, year, school...)
and I will get it through Inter_Library loan. 

[ .. ]
> 
>The situation is bad. Three factors contribute to the deteriorating state.
>Govenemantal neglect, There is nothing to force the people to conserve the old
>quarter, inhabitants ignorance of the importance of their city, and the civil
>war that distroyed many places, these places were restored in most ugly way to
>look like the rest of the modern Architecture of Concrete jungles.
>
You are right, plenty of factors have led to this state. Money, neglect...etc
The restoration of old structures cost a lot of money and require highly 
trained staff.
Also, the turbulent political and social life we have, does not help either.
The confusion we have been experiencing, did not allow  us to formulate our
relation to our past. Therefore, we have some kind of apprehension when it
comes to dealing with our historical heritage.

I hope that these kind of studies will underline the value of the city
and also draw the attention to the state of these ancient parts. 

[ ... ]
>        
>Kamie

I. Ballouz


-- 
*******************************************************************************
* IBRAHIM BALLOUZ            **           DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE          *
* ccav38@uk.ac.strath.ccsun  **  STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY GLASGOW SCOTLAND U.K. *
*******************************************************************************
From: selassa@cad652.intel.com (Shauki Elassaad )
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Lebanese culture?
Date: 28 Jan 93 16:05:28 GMT
Organization: Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA

In article <27JAN199300044797@dt3>, 9999sc01@dt3 (Alexandre Khalil) writes:
|> In article <26JAN93.24878115.0059@VM1.MCGILL.CA>, CXYB@MUSICA.MCGILL.CA 
|> (CXYB000) writes...
|> 
|> >Could someone provide some info about Lebanese culture?
|> 
|>   Would you be more specific: the topic is quite vast ?
|> 
|>   I am quite honored to make your acquaitance, but would you have a clearer
|> name -though probably less romantic- than CXYB000 ?
|> 
|>   Yours truly
|> 
|> alex khalil
|> U. of Houston-Downtown
|> alex@dt.uh.edu

  A couple of days ago, I phone Beirut, and they told me about the uproar
over the Hariri(?) plans for Beirut.  They told me the the council of misiters
will hold a meeting to discuss this very issue on Wednesday (I think).  I do
not have details about the causes of the uproar other than people fear that
they will lose their property in Beirut (I am not clear my self).  Could some
one please shed some light on this.

Regards,
-------------------------------------------------------------
Shauki Elassaad			Email: selassa@scdt.intel.com
Design Technology, Pole M5, RN4-38, Phone: (408) 765-5816
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: fahs@ecf.toronto.edu (FAHS Samir M)
Subject: Jazz
Organization: University of Toronto, Engineering Computing Facility
Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1993 05:35:02 GMT


Blue Camel is the Title of a superb CD release from Germany by Rabih 
Abou-Khalil, a lebanese musician residing in Germany.  The composer 
was successful in blending the oud into a more jazzy style of music.
The following statement, which was included in the enclosed pamphlet,
describes his music to a fair accuracy, " Rabih Abou-Khalil walks the
thin line between Jazz and traditional arabic styles.....using the
classical rythms and modes of Arabic music, they go far beyond the 
classical idiom in the improvisatory passages......"

One will find the CD cover to be  distinctive in its design and easily 
discernible by the Blue Camel that's made up of artistic arabic calligraphy
of the names of the musicians of the album, which were designed in Beirut
and by Abou-Khalil.

The Musicians:

Rabih Abou-Khalil: Oud
Charlie Mariano:   Alto Saxophone
Kenny wheeler:     Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Steve Swallow:     Bass
Milton Cardona:    Congas
Nabil Khaiat:      Frame Drums
Ramesh Shotham:    South Indian Drums, Percussion.

The above list is also meant to serve as a guide to what instruments to
expect on the album.  If one likes these kind of attempts, and blends
of "Oriental" Jazz (as Ziad names it) then they will get to enjoy
the full 61 minutes  of the CD.

The CD is a 1992 release by the German ENJA label, ENJ-7053 2, and should be 
available in the Jazz section of music stores.  


Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: bh437292@longs.LANCE.ColoState.Edu (Basil Hamdan)
Subject: Re: Mamluk Remnants in Tripoli
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1993 17:06:14 GMT
Reply-To: bh437292@lance.colostate.edu
Organization: Engineering College, Colorado State University

In article <1jpnk2INNh7c@srvr1.engin.umich.edu>, kamprath@space-grant.sprl.umich.edu (Michael F. Kamprath) writes:
|> In article <C17w0G.C9K@ecf.toronto.edu> FAHS Samir M, fahs@ecf.toronto.edu
|> writes:
|> >
|> >Recently on SCL, there was a mention of the remnants of the Mamluks in
|> Tripoli. 
|> >Some excerpts from a book by John Gulick, Tripoli: A Modern Arab City, are
|> >included below.  The book dates back to 1967, and as the title indicates
|> >it is not totally devoted to the history of the city, but it addresses the
|> >different aspects of it at the time the book was written. 
|> >
|> 
|> What/Who are the Mamluks?

The Mamluks, are a dynasty that ruled parts of the Middle East for about
3 centuries, roughly from 1250, to 1550.  So the Mamluk era left its 
stamp on the Arachitecture of the buildings mentioned by Samir.
Mamluk, litterally means "that which is owned", or in other words
slaves.  The rulers during these times used to have a sort of slave
mercenaries as armies and advisers.  In the 1200's the Abbasid
Califate in Iraq was overrun by the Mongol invasion of Hulachu, the
Mongols at their furthest extension went as far as the Syrian Coast
(nowadays Lebanon and Syria) which was controlled by the Ayyubids
(the nephews of Saladin or Salah el Deen Al Ayyubi), who had expelled 
the Crusaders.
The Mamluks had first taken over the rule of  Egypt after the collapse of
the Ayyubid dynasty and they were the ones that repelled the Mogols out 
of Syria (Baybars was their miltary leader) and took over the rule.
The Mamluks were mostly of Turkish origin, issued from inner Asia
and the Caucase.  Their dynasties were not handed from father to son,
only those recruited and trained as military leaders were allowed to 
access positions of power, and usually the sons of Mamluk leaders did
not enter the ranks of the Mamluks.
So in short, the mamluks are soldier-slaves, they started out
as mere mercenaries, but then, because they were the real holders
of power took over the control of nowadays Egypt ,Syria, Lebanon,
Palestine and parts of Iraq.
If you are interested in a comprehensive overview of the history
and social developments in the Midlle East I would recommend
the book by Albert Hourani _A History of Arab Peoples_, 1991.



|> ======================================================================
|> |Michael F. Kamprath                   | The University of Michigan  |
|> |  kamprath@space-grant.sprl.umich.edu |      Aerospace Engineering  |
|> |  kamprath@engin.umich.edu            |      Graduate Student       |
|> ======================================================================

Basil
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: fahs@ecf.toronto.edu (FAHS Samir M)
Subject: Re: who are the MAMLUKS?
Organization: University of Toronto, Engineering Computing Facility
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 02:02:43 GMT

In article <1993Jan26.094041.1@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk> zzaaskk@v2.cgu.mcc.ac.uk writes:
>In article <1jpnk2INNh7c@srvr1.engin.umich.edu>, kamprath@space-grant.sprl.umich.edu (Michael F. Kamprath) writes:
>> What/Who are the Mamluks?
>> ======================================================================
>> |Michael F. Kamprath                   | The University of Michigan  |
>> ======================================================================
>
>
>The above information are recollections from my history lessons 15 years ago.
>May be the history buffs of the net will provide us with more details and
>may be point us towards some good reference books. I am not sure if there 
>are many details about the mamlouks in Alber Hourani's book History of the
>ARABS.
>
>Kamie
> 

Not a bad book to consult on the subject is a book by Robert Irwin,
The Middle East in the Middle Ages, Croom Helm Ltd, 1986.

Samir M. Fahs.



Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: omar@wucs1.wustl.edu (Omar El-Ghazzawy)
Subject: Re: Plays by Ziad al-RaHbani
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis MO
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 22:00:37 GMT

'sami' bil inbli-l 'an'oudi-i, man? shou bta'mil iza til'itlak shi
'an'oudi-i bein hal 'ana'id? bta'tiha mwa'id, walla bt'abbi' bilrakiid?

<rhymes perfectly!>


tra,

   edmond@tripos.com