HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no (Elie Dib Wardini)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Some thoughts on Arabic aphabet news reader
Date: 6 Oct 92 10:09:28 GMT
Organization: UiO

In article <1992Oct5.230250.4196@prism.poly.edu> medawar@prism.poly.edu (Bassem
Medawar) writes:

>
>Wrong.. I have PC's here in our labs that *are* directly connected to Internet
>using the public domain NCSA software.  This software allows telnet, ftp, lpr,
>etc.. and can even use name servers within and outside your domain.  You can 
>ftp from anywhere in the world into such a software equipped PC.  I have even 
>myself installed quite a few of them.  I am sure the same applies for the Mac 
>(Elie?)

I use a Mac, and am connected to the net. I use it read the news and ftp etc. a
very good instrument I should say!

I am infact using my Mac, to write Norways first Norwegian-Arabic dictionary! I
say that, just to tease my Arabs colleagues and ask them how much they have
contributed to their Arab culture? How many peole have they to teach Arabic?

stop Wardini! this is PC talk, not teasing time!

We can in fact install Arabic operating systems on the mac a get excellent
results. Yet as Naji pointed out, the mapping is extremely difficult, since the
Arabic scipt is context sensitve. As of now, it is impossible to exchange Mac
Arabic files to eg. Dos Arabic aplications.


For us how have tryed to overide the native (in my case norwegian) systems and
make them write Arabic or try to map Arabic texts from the Arabic system to the
norwegian system have had much problems.

note the following:

supose that I write in arabic from right to left:
(read backwards: fil-bayti rajulun)

        nulujar ityab-lif

you not only have to map the letters one to one, but also incert then at the
write palace. You have to note the line breaks, and evetuntually all the
different forms of the same letter (note the extreme case of "t").

I have worked so hard with this, that my conclusion is that until we get a 16
bit character set, Latin is our only solution!

note that we aslo come into problems when we use "high" ASCII characters.

most apllications use them for some function or another.

maybe I am pessimistic, and maybe I am not so attached to the Arabic alphabet.
But belive me I tried!

>
>bassem
>

elie wardini
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: 9999sc01@uhdvx3.dt.uh.edu (Alexandre Khalil)
Subject: Lost some friends: help
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41A   
Organization: University of Houston-Downtown
X-Lunar-Date: 6 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes since the new moon
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 04:06:00 GMT

Hello 

  I have lost a few friends when they left Lebanon fot the States to continue 
their studies. 
  Now that I am also in the US, I am trying to get in touch with them.

  Here are five names:
    - Walid Ali-Hassan ( Engineering )
    - Qussai Sharafeddine 
    - Nahed El-Baba ( Nursing )
    - Rulla Maatuk
    - Ali Habib, last I heard of Ali, he was in Fresno, CA but I cannot recall
the name of the college/university

  The common denominator among us is that we were all at one point in time 
volunteers in the Lebanese Red Cross/First Aid Teams: 
  If you were in the Red Cross also, drop me a mail, maybe you know somebody
who knows somebody else who.... and we'll find some other lost friends.

Beyond duty

alex khalil ex-muss@if/"sicourite"
alex@dt.uh.edu
U. of Houston-Downtown
From: bh437292@longs.LANCE.ColoState.Edu (Basil Hamdan)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: s.c.l. poll (was Re: Bill Clinton meets with CLAO in NJ.)
Date: 5 Oct 92 16:52:52 GMT
Reply-To: bh437292@lance.colostate.edu
Organization: Engineering College, Colorado State University

Given the interest in Bill Clinton's meeting with CLAO, I propose
we hold mock presidential elections, of all scl readers,
regardless of whether they are eligible to vote in the upcoming
election or not.

Please email me your preference to me 
bh437292@longs.lance.colostate.edu.

1. Who would you vote for today ?
a. George Bush
b. Bill Clinton
c. Ross Perot
d. Other, please specify
e. undecided

2. If you know who you would vote for, please indicate what is
the issue that was most important to you in reaching a decision
a. The candidate's stance on Lebanese affairs.
b. The candidate's foreign policy toward the Middle East in general.
c. The candidate's domestic (US) economic and social policies.
d. A combination of the above factors.
e. Other issues, please specify.

The voting will be open for a week and results will be
posted next week (October 12 th) in s.c.l.


Basil

My vote:

1. b
2. d
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: waid@leland.Stanford.EDU (Walid F Nasrallah)
Subject: Ambassadors' Names - A modest proposal.
Summary: How about a mailing list for the objectionable collection of lore?
Keywords: Offensive Humor
Organization: Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 92 03:21:55 GMT

Send me privae mail if you agree.

BONUS THINGY WHATSIT:

What two letters do you need to change on the following genuine
politician's name to make it belong on the list:

Benito Fellini.
 
DO NOT POST THE ANSWER, because I fully endorse the _gorwn-ups'_ efforts
to keep this stuff off public media.  In real life, we never even discussed
this topic in private gatherings where women were present, so we should not
be any less discrete here (although this is not to be construed as being 
exclusivist towards women on this particular "meeting".
From: hminassi@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Ski Farayah)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: What's up with the "Market"?
Date: 27 Sep 92 23:57:24 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego


    Ahlan, I have a question about the center market
of Lebanon and the rumor that a billionaire wants
to rebuild it.  If anyone knows what the "deal" is
please let me know.  Also, does anyone know what the owners
of the stores will get out of it and what steps they should
take if they live outside of Lebanon (ie: USA).
    Shoukran,
    Hrant
    hminassi@sdcc13.ucsd.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: fardoun_a@cubldr.colorado.edu
Subject: Re: <None>
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Sat, 26 Sep 1992 19:20:01 GMT

In article <1992Sep24.232739.12402@oracle.us.oracle.com>, gsmine@us.oracle.com (Georges Smine) writes:
> In article <1992Sep23.174650.27249@ee.eng.ohio-state.edu> rached@sample.eng.ohio-state.edu (Rached Zantout) writes:
>>Bassem, is it that hard for you to grasp this information ?
>>
>>Yes, Husseini was elected.
>>All the reports that cited the defeat of Husseini were talking about the
>>humiliation of the "former speaker of the parliament" who got votes less than any
>>other candidate in his area.
>>Husseini is supposed to be a strong man in his area and thus his list was
>>supposed to pass in its entirety. Still if his list lost one or two names, he
>>would have won.
>>To get only his seat and another one with him from his list (due to the grace of
>>Hizbollah people that left two seats empty on their list) is definitely a LOSS to
>>Husseini. He is now alone in the parliament and thus cannot influence it as he
>>would have if the whole list passed.
>>
>>I don't know how else can we put it
>>
>>rached
> 
> 
>   What an analysis!  Rached, you should be on crossfire or McLaughlin group!

may we disagree on election, right or wrong honest or not. 
However obviously because some do not agree with others they try to be funny.
What happens is this:
before elections:
non expected Hizbollah in Balback to win more than one or two seats.
Hizbollah and Hussieni tried to have one list of six shiite. but 
they did not agree on how much each party can name. Hizbollah asked for three 
cadidates out of six, Hussieni said only one candidate can be named by
Hizbollah. At the end there were two different lists. first called 
"Al-wafaa lelmukawama" this was Hizbollah list. it had eight names.
four shiite, (one sunni and three christians) I am not positive about the
numbers of sunnis and christians".
Hussieni had his list of about 10 candidates with six shiite and the rest 
are sunni and christians (of different sects).
Note that in ballaback six shiite go to the parliment and (assuming my above 
numbers are right) one sunni two maronites and one catholic.
after the election:
All eight candidates on Hizbollah list won. and Since six shiite goes to the
parliment and hizbollah list had only four, two other candidates (Hussieni 
and SHams ) were elected by default. So Hizbollah won big while hussieni 
list lost. Even though two candidates from hussieni list won by default.
I hope my poor english cleared this subject a little bit.
					
A. fardoun
Six shiite and one sunni and th
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: krt@ddxrsg.mlo.dec.com (Khaled Tabbara)
Subject: Re: What's up with the "Market"?
Reply-To: tabbara@3d.enet.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 92 17:27:21 GMT


In article <38689@sdcc12.ucsd.edu>, hminassi@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Ski Farayah) writes:
|>
|>    Ahlan, I have a question about the center market
|>of Lebanon and the rumor that a billionaire wants
|>to rebuild it.  If anyone knows what the "deal" is
|>please let me know.  Also, does anyone know what the owners
|>of the stores will get out of it and what steps they should
|>take if they live outside of Lebanon (ie: USA).
|>    Shoukran,
|>    Hrant
|>    hminassi@sdcc13.ucsd.edu
|>
--

Hrant,

I don't know much about the billionaire story. But when I was in Lebanon
last Christmas I learned that the government established a privately held
company which will handle the re-construction of the downtown district. 
They would raise money for this by having outside investors buy shares in the
company. A percentage of the shares will be set aside for distribution to
the people who lost their property ...etc.

The plans for re-construction look very impressive and the architectural
paintings are really beautiful. 

But then again, I don't know what the chances are that any of the plans will
be implemented. (I wouldn't hold my breath for the next five years). 

I think the by-laws of this company were published in the the An-Nahar
newspaper many months ago...


Regards,

Khaled

e-mail: tabbara@3d.enet.dec.com
       

Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: fardoun_a@cubldr.colorado.edu
Subject: Re: The "ploy" ?
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Tue, 6 Oct 1992 18:45:37 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.084129.3434@ulrik.uio.no>, e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no (Elie Dib Wardini) (Elie Dib Wardini) writes:
> In article <NMOUAWAD.92Oct4154749@neumann.waterloo.edu> nmouawad@waterloo.edu
> (Naji Mouawad) writes:
>>
>>
>>To those of you accusing us of a "ploy" of "isolasionim" and of
>>"destroying the richness of our culture":
>>
>> there is no "ploy", that is none that I know of here in Waterloo
>>Ontario :).
>>
>> As it stands Alphaleb is a tool of communcation. You are welcome to
>>use it make comments on its constitution and suggest modifications.
>>You can ignore it and since you are the majority you have not to
>>worry: the small minority we form (isn't Lebanon a country of
>>minorities ?) we will use it happily and be contend in our little
>>corner.
>>
>> You do not need to worry, we will soon disapear and leave you alone.
> 
> Naji I share your feelings. Maybe it is best that we in fact isolate ourselves?
> Maybe then they will be happy! they will have proved their self-fulfilling
> prophecy i.e. isolate anyone who does not agree with your, then accuse them of
> isolationanism!

you do not have to make it look like a drama, you can have your own corner. 
I did not pay enough attention at the beginning to this subject, however, the 
more I am reading the more I am convinced that it has a political back ground 
far away from the love os science and lebanese language. in lebanon even 
close villages ( the south is very good example) have different accents, so 
some time in the future every tiny village might develop their own language 
in latin or indian or chinese letters. anyway the way they speak is different.
the bottom line is: some fellow lebanese as mentioned before believe that 
arabic means ISLAM so they frankly want to change their language; once they 
speak french another lebanese third phinician; again that is fine you can 
have your own corner and stay their as much as you like.   
finally, I am wondering why elie did not write this message in the latin way 
as the rest of his messages lately.

> 
> I get more and more pessimistic every day!
> 
> NB: you know I bet that instead of understanding our feelings, many are going
> to become sarcastic and start calling us paranoid, or the lost archeologists,
> or schitzophrenics etc.
> 
> may God bless them!
and you too.
> 
>>
>>naji.
> 
> 
> elie wardini
A. Fardoun
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: jle@locus.com (John Elghani/10000000)
Subject: Re: Ambassadors' names
Organization: LC
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1992 05:04:33 GMT

In article <92270.164616U38065@uicvm.uic.edu> Nasri <U38065@uicvm.uic.edu> writes:
>Here's an example:  The Russian ambassador is: Niko Balakhoff
>                    The German ambassador is : Shlakhto Btakhto
>                    The Chinese ambassador is: Shim Tizi Shim

		     The Soviet Gorby:  Gerrbo w shoof
		     The Qatari :  Kilmabisto Al Tany
		     Naif Hawatmi (PFLP D) : Hatif Hawajbo.
		     Saddam : Bumper

jle
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no (Elie Dib Wardini) (Elie Dib Wardini)
Subject: al-lugha al-@arabiyya, wa-qiimatuha
Organization: UiO
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 1992 13:04:15 GMT

ara anna al-kathiira min ukhwaanina al-@arabi, al-lubnaaniyyuna minhum
khaSattan @ala haadhihi al-shabakati, yakhaafuuna ana ba@Da al-aHruf
al-Laatiniyya sa-tudhiilu majdahum aw karaamatahum.

limaadha?

limaadha laa tata@allamuna mina al-@arabi al-musta@ribati, ay @arab
al-jazzirati, Hiina katabu bi-aHrufi HadRamuuta wa-aHrufi al-Araamiyyiina? Maa
qaalu annaha sa-tanfiy jinsahum aw-qawmiyyatahum aw-majdahum.

kaana al-@arabu dhaaka al-Hiina qaadiruuna @al-ta@allumi. araaDu al-@ilma
fa-sta@malu ma biwis@ihim. 

Limaadha al-khawf? limaadha al-ru@b? 

hal sabbabat kitaabatu al-lughati al-maalitiyyati (wa-hiya lahja @arabiyya!)
ayya Dararin lil-lughati al-@arabiyyati, aw li-karaamati al-@arab?

hal tadhunnuuna anni ana, wa-lastu @arabiyyan, anni sa-aSbHu @arabiyyan li-anni
asta@milu al-aHrufa al-@arabiyyata?


lakum hawiyyatukum wa-liya hawiyyati. lan ta'khudhunaha minni, wa-lan aakhudha
hawiyyatakum minkum.

hal tadhunnuna anni idha katabtu bi-al-aHrufi al-@arabiyyati @awaDan @an
al-aHrufi al-Laatiniyyati (wa-aSluhumaa waaHid, na@am al-Finiiqiyya!) sa-aHubbu
al-@araba akthara? aw idha kataba mar'un bi-al-aHrufi al-Laatiniyyati
sa-yakrahu al-@araba.

Na@am na@lamu annana lasna al-awwaliina fi mashruu@ina. wa-laakin na@lamu anna
ashkhaaSun mithlukum, hum al-ladhiina mana@u kulla baadiratin wa-sta@aanu
bi-ta@liilaati ka-al-inizaaliyya, wal-khiyaana, wa-kurhi al-@arabi li-iTfaa'i
kulli mubaadaratin, sayyi'tan kaanat aw-mufiidatan.

aquulu lakum, la tafza@u, la takhaafu! in kataba ba@Du al-Lubnaaniyyiina
bi-aHrufin Laatiniyyatin, lan tanTafi'u shu@latu al-@arabi wa-lan tumaasu
karaamatuhum.

hunaaka ashyaa'un ahummu min AlephLeb, yajibu @alaykum al-@arabi an tandhuru
ilayha idha araDtum an taHrusu @ala karaamatikum wa-majdi al-@arabi.

Inni Lubnaaniyyun, wa-lughati al-lahjatu al-lubnaaniyya. uriidu an aktuba biha.


wa-kullukum, antum al-ladhiina tuhaajimuuna Bassem, la ta@lamuna annahu, huwa
al-ladhi arada wa-aSarra an yaDumma AlephLeb jamii@a al-aSwaati al-@arabiyya,
wa-laysa faqaT al-alfaadha al-mawjuuda fi-al-lahjati al-Lubnaaniyya.

kuffu @an al-faza@, wal-hala@.

qaala al-mathalu al-ingliiziyy:

I know that I am paranoid, but you do not need to persecute me for it!

la takhaafu!


akhukum, al-Lubanaaniy,

elie wardini
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: 9999sc01@uhdvx3.dt.uh.edu (Alexandre Khalil)
Subject: Re: soc.culture.lebanon.dialect?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41A   
Organization: University of Houston-Downtown
X-Lunar-Date: 7 days, 5 hours, 10 minutes since the new moon
Date: Mon, 5 Oct 1992 17:42:00 GMT

In article <1992Oct5.151313.15564@prism.poly.edu>, medawar@prism.poly.edu (Bassem Medawar) writes...
>fi shee ihtimaame la ti'sis soc.culture.lebanon.dialect? 
[...]
>             shuu ra'ikon?
> 
>hadaf "scld" Haykoon l-kitabeh bil-lahjeh al-lubneenyee bi ayya Sura, AlephLeb
>aww ghayro.
> 
>cameen fakkro izha l-'isim "scld" mnasib
[...]
lees^ la'. ma badna niz@ej Hada.

>bassem

alex
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago
Date: Tuesday, 29 Sep 1992 01:21:46 CDT
From: Nasri <U38065@uicvm.uic.edu>
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Ambassadors' names
 <1992Sep27.130838.24428@njitgw.njit.edu> <1992Sep28.094753.20494@ulrik.uio.no>
 <1992Sep28.232212.2465715@locus.com>

Did you know that they found the arms of Venus De Milo in Wisconsin ??












They were in Geoffrey Dammer's freezer.


Nasri

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+        Je suis jeune, il est vrai; mais aux ames bien nees            +
+        La valeur n'attend point le nombre des annees.                 +
+                                              LE CID (DON RODRIGUE)    +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From: faouazh@kirk.msoe.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Lebanese Scolarships
Date: 4 Oct 92 16:16:15 CDT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Milwaukee School Of Engineering, Milwaukee, WI USA

I am a current student at MSOE majoring in Computer Engineering, and my father
is pay a hack a lot of money for my education.  Since I am an International
Students there is no Scolarships offered for us.

So please if you could help me find a place or an agency that offer scolarships 
for Lebanease or International students, I will be gratefull.

Thanks, 
	 H.F
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: e.d.wardini@easteur-orient.uio.no (Elie Dib Wardini) (Elie Dib Wardini)
Subject: oSSa asiire @an l-asad wil-weewe!
Organization: UiO
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 17:29:20 GMT

 
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: jle@locus.com (John Elghani/10000000)
Subject: 2 dead in Saudi/Qatari Border Dispute, Yesterday.
Organization: LC
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1992 23:47:35 GMT

Today's Los Angeles Times newspaper is reporting a battle that took place
Yesterday  (Wed) on the Saudi and Qatari borders over land
dispute.  The report says 2 Qataris were killed and another was
taken hostage by the Saudis.  Some Saudis were wounded also.

jle
From: fardoun_a@cubldr.colorado.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Re: Ambassadors' names
Date: 30 Sep 92 20:38:41 GMT
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder

In article <1992Sep29.152734.28279@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM>, nabil@ncrcol.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Nabil Idriss) writes:
> I got one more from a shy person who does not want to post it. I will
> post it instead.
> 
> Iranian Ambassador:  Hafez Bidat Allah
> 

I tkink more than one message asked our fellow lebanese or whatever to kindly
stop. it looks like the insensitivity of some other continues
						A. fardoun
> 
> -- 
> Nabil Idriss                           |   We take customer satisfaction  
> NCR - Midrange Products Division       |   personally.
>       Columbia, South Carolina         |      
> email: nabil@ncrcol.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM |
From: elie@hdtv.njit.edu (Elie I. Mourad)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
Subject: Center for Security Policy report on Lebanon.
Date: 4 Oct 92 01:55:53 GMT
Organization: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, N.J.


The Center for Security Policy, a Washington think tank that includes on
its board top experts on foreign and defense policy, issued a study
saying that "although the Syrians have had a substancial military presence
in Lebanon since 1976, the Taif accord marked their first significant
step toward establishing permanent political dominance there."
The Center added: "even after President Gemayel appointed General Aoun to head
an interim emergency government, the United States actively supported
Syria in its efforts to establish a government subordinated to Damascus'
control. Washington went so far as to lend its authority to Assad's
initiatives by inviting principals from the various Lebanese factions
to attend meetings at the US embassy in Beirut - where they were 
lobbied to accept his proposals."

"When this campaign failed to bear fruit, the Bush administration
decided to support Syria's idea of having the Arab Leagueto induce 
the Lebanese to accept Damascus' terms. The result was the meeting
in Taif, Saudi Arabia... Despite the fact that the legitimate (Aoun)
government of Lebanon was not a party to the agreement, the United
States gave full backing to Taif, and urged the Aoun government to 
work with Syria - its occupier and oppressor - to implement 
(so-called) 'reforms'".

"The ultimate betrayal of an independent Lebanon, however, occured
during the run-up to the war with Iraq... On 13 October 1990, Syria
launched a final offensive aimed at driving Aoun out of power...
Despite the documented slaughter of hundreds of Christian trrops -
inlcuding reports of the cold blooded murder of Christian soldiers
after they surrendered, the elimination or disappearance of many
others in and out of uniform and assassination of Dany Chamoun and
his wife, the Bush administration raised no protest against the 
Syrian conquest of Lebanon. Instead... Administration spokesmen blandly 
expressed concern at (so-called) 'excessive violence,' and did nothing."

The Center for Security Policy concluded that "the United States'
betrayal of Lebanon... is an odious blot on the good name and people
of the leader of the Free World... This policy must not be permitted
to stand."
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon
From: hani@borage.engin.umich.edu (Hani Abinassif)
Subject: Re: AlpaLeb V 1.0
Date: Mon, 05 Oct 92 17:58:33 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor
Originator: hani@borage.engin.umich.edu


In article <1992Oct2.172318.18330@prism.poly.edu>, medawar@prism.poly.edu (Bassem Medawar) writes:
[....
> The proposed standard is not for a language, it is for an alphabet.
> Do you know the difference between a language and an alphabet?  (I wonder)
> 

I am really confused if you guys (the Trio) are talking about the same thing.
You are talking about an alphabet, ElieW and Naji are talking about a dialect.
Is the alphabet "INVENTED" to describe a dialect or a language (i.e. Lebanese
dialect or Arabic language).  

It is my position (which supports Khaled's doubts) that the objective of
such a serious endeavor is politically motivated if its sole purpose is
to describe the Lebanese Dialect.  There is no doubt that attempts have
been made before and failed miserably.  It failed (Saed Akl's language)
because of the limited use and applicability of such a dialect. 

Along the same lines, this proposal is a shot in the arm of Akl's attempts
which is merely politically motivated.  


> bassem

-Hani 
-- 
 ____    ____ "These views are explicitly/implicitly
|    \  /    | mine...and not that of U-M or CAEN",   
 | |\ \/ /| |  University of Michigan            | Hani_Nassif@um.cc.umich.edu
|__ | \/ |___| Computer Aided Engineering Network| hani@engin.umich.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon