Category Archives: Uncategorized

#SwissLeaks: Lebanon Is #11 and #12 In Countries With The Most Money In Swiss Banks

A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares

We often hear that the Lebanese diaspora has a lot of money and is quite well off. That is the impression that we leave abroad. When I was in France, the stereotype that many seem to attribute with Lebanese is being rich. As my grandma would say: a reputation of richness is better than that of poverty.

But how rich are the Lebanese abroad? How much money do they have in foreign banks? Well, how about we discover the situation in the banking capital of the world: Switzerland. After all, aren’t we the Switzerland of the Middle East?

A fascinating report has surfaced online yesterday  detailing information that was “stolen” by Hervé Falciani, a former employee at HSBC Switzerland’s HQ in Geneva. The information dates back from 2007. It encompasses a timeframe of a few months’ worth of transactions across HSBC in Geneva: between November 9th, 2006 and March 31st, 2007.

The information…

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How Lebanon Absolutely Failed When ISIS Killed Our Soldiers

A Separate State of Mind | A Blog by Elie Fares

August 2nd, 2014. It has been such a long time. That was at a time when the Lebanese army was fighting ISIS at our north-eastern border with Syria. Nowadays, we call it “The Battle of Arsal.” And on that day, ISIS took hostage several of our army members.

Subsequently, our government became a little irritated. Here was another “mess” they had to deal with. It was nothing major. They weren’t obviously going to try their best as long as the status quo remained the same; that status quo being the soldiers remain alive and the fragile “truce” with ISIS remains in place.

On August 28th, Ali Al-Sayyed was beheaded, becoming the first public Lebanese victim of ISIS. His video did not cause the outrage – even in Lebanon – that the death of James Foley caused. Nowadays, if you drop the name Ali Al-Sayyed in a casual conversation, few would…

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Boris Johnson to have talks with Hillary Clinton as London Mayor’s roadshow hits the US – Americas – World – The Independent

No boffos just barfing and borrish Boris!

 

The first part of the tour – which begins in Boston before heading to New York and Washington – could be hit by bad weather. The Boston authorities are advising people to stay at home because of the threat of a severe snow storm.

Last month Mr Johnson flew to meet the Kurdish Prime Minister. He was pictured taking aim with an AK47 alongside Peshmerga soldiers fighting against Isis. Critics in the London Assembly claim he has “mentally checked out” of his mayoral role.

via Boris Johnson to have talks with Hillary Clinton as London Mayor’s roadshow hits the US – Americas – World – The Independent.

Evelyn Cameron’s Disasters Led Her to a Life Most Worthy…

Ladies in Defiance

By Heather Frey Blanton
Copyright 2014 Heather Blanton

Follow me on https://www.facebook.com/heatherfreyblanton and
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“Manual labour . . . is all I care about, and, after all, is what will really make a strong woman. I like to break colts, brand calves, cut down trees, ride and work in a garden.” Evelyn Cameron “Manual labour . . . is all I care about, and, after all, is what will really make a strong woman. I like to break colts, brand calves, cut down trees, ride and work in a garden.” Evelyn Cameron

Born in England in 1868, Evelyn Flower was the daughter of a wealthy East Indian merchant. She was born to a life of leisure and comfort. But not for it.

In 1889, Evelyn decided to walk away from the feather beds and army of servants. She married Ewen Cameron, a man who preferred the stars above to a roof over his head. He and Evelyn honeymooned in the Bad Lands of eastern Montana and fell in love with the area. They both lived to ride, hunt, and explore, and the chance to determine their own destinies was…

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