Picture from L’Orient-Le Jour

The picture shows a gay militant participating in the annual Montreal Gay Parade and protesting against the anal probe tests that were performed in Lebanon against 36 alleged homosexuals.

Lebanon’s “super nightclubs” straddle the line between brothel and strip club.

An interesting article on the Foreign Policy website. [Link]

[Excalibur Show]

More than 30 Kuwaiti women have filed for divorce after they discovered that their husbands spent the New Year’s Eve in Lebanon while claiming they were performing Umrah in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. [Link]

I was expecting some sex movie or nude scenes but instead all I got was some dirty talk. It is quite funny how Arabs consider such silly things as scandalous. Also, I had no clue Razan Maghrabi was Lebanese.

As a result of this “scandal”, Razan has encountered a nervous breakdown. [Link]

The television campaign sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and entitled “Lebanon blues” has angered a lot of Lebanese women who claim they are being portrayed in an indecent manner and that the Ministry of Tourism and its minister Fadi Abboud are promoting Lebanon as a country for sex tourism. [Full Response] [Lebanon Blues Ad]

Here’s an excerpt of what came in that response:

“The truth is that we are not “free” women wearing bikinis and partying all night. The truth is that we are deprived, poor and oppressed. Our bodies which you say are free, are still subject to many social, domestic, legal and economic restraints. We, as injured and humiliated women, ask the Ministry of Tourism to recall this advert immediately and to apologize for this insult. Because out bodies aren’t delicious fruit to offer to consumers so they will visit the “homeland” to pick out what they desire.”

Is it acceptable for the Ministry of Tourism to promote Lebanon as the “cabaret of the Middle East” to tourists? Can’t it revive tourism without selling women’s bodies? Dear Ministry, how can either we or you accept our bodies becoming the goal and target of the lust of the arriving spenders? How are we supposed to understand that “Lebanon Blues” is connected to our naked bodies? How can the Ministry of Tourism promote a message to the whole world that Lebanon is a country which sells its women for the sake of the tourists?

I am not surprised that Fadi Abboud might come out with such ads, he is known to be filthy and vulgar and has reportedly hit a female worker at his ministry few months back. Moreover and to make things worse, he issued a statement today that he wants to go through the Miss Lebanon 2011 applicants this year in order to “ensure the competition’s high standards”. [Article]

I wonder how he plans on ensuring the competition’s high standards?

I must agree with Mustapha from BeirutSpring that “it’s very unfortunate that a person with such dubai-esque sensibilities is the one in charge of promoting a place as rich and diverse as Lebanon. What’s even more unfortunate is that he’s using Lebanese women as Lebanon’s unique selling point.” [BeirutSpring]

In certain countries (like in the middle east i.e.) sex toys are taboo and their shops are forbidden, so the point was to create a sex toy hidden in an element that could be sold in the shop front of a home accessories boutique. [Source]

It would be interesting if someone got caught in the next few weeks smuggling sex toys in a bedside lamp.

Via JadAoun

Here’s what happened to a friend of mine a week ago during her massage session at a popular spa which i will refrain from naming as per her request.

Note: All characters showing in this post are fictitious. Any resemblance in names to real persons is purely coincidental.

Miss T. : Bonjour.

Receptionist: Bonjour Madame, how can i help you?

Miss T.: I wish to confirm my massage session tomorrow at 4 pm.

Receptionist: Confirmed, anything else i can help you with?

Miss T.: Non, merci.

Receptionist: Tekram 3aynik Madame.

Next day at 4 pm, Miss T. arrives as scheduled at her massage session.

Receptionist: Bonjour Madame, please be seated for a second.

Few Minutes later, Monsieur Philippe arrives:

Monsieur Philippe: I’m afraid Madam that there was a confusion when taking your appointment; we can only accomodate you at 4:40 instead of 4…

Miss T. : This would be impossible as I’m on a tight schedule, there should be another solution.

Monsieur Philippe: Would you mind then, if a male takes care of it.

Miss T: Hmmmmmmmm, only if he was a certified physio-therapist.

Monsieur Philippe: Well of course, I myself will perform the massage on you.

(Monsieur Philippe joins Miss T and asks her to get comfortable and lie down on the massage table)

Monsieur Philippe: is this your first time?

Miss T.: Here yes but i usually have one session every month.

Monsieur Philippe: Oh i’m sure you’ll enjoy that session and come back shortly for more.

Miss T.: Great!

15 minutes later
(Monsieur Philippe starts massaging in a “suspicious” way certain upper private areas)

Miss T. : Is That supposed to be normal?

Monsieur Philippe: Please Madam, you are dealing with a pro.

Miss T.: Hmmmmmmmmmm. OK

(Monsieur Philippe gets too comfortable)

Miss T. (annoyed): What the hell do you think you’re doing?

Monsieur Philippe: What do you mean??? aren’t you pleased?

Miss T. (pissed off): I want to get the hell out of here and talk to the management.

Monsieur Philippe: But I AM the manager; anyway it was a simple a mistake and my hands slipped.

Miss T. (pissed off): Mistake my ass! And i thought that was a respectful spa.

Monsieur Philippe: Please calm down, i might get fired for this.

Miss T. (pissed off): I sure hope so.

(Miss.T ended up making a big scene in front of the entire management and cancelling her membership at the spa.)

The saddening part is that this was not some regular massage place or those so-called Anti-Stress centers that provide “happy endings” for those who pay for it, but a very expensive and known spa.

Anyway, thumbs up for Miss.T and i hope this employee gets fired.

PS: He apparently got fired two days ago.

In a piece of cutting political commentary, a group of artists have protested about heightened security in the Russian city of St. Petersburg by drawing a giant 220ft-long penis on a drawbridge. [Source]

This is hilarious and genius!
They drew it on the bridge while it was still open and at night when it closes, the penis stands up looool

[More Pics]

Wow, I need to start watching this show… [YouTube]

Update: False alarm, turns out she’s Italian and her name is Cristina del Basso. She was on the Italian version of Big Brother. Someone was just pretending this video is of the Lebanese Star Academy. Here are some pictures of her (NSFW!) [Link]