In two days, my 1GB mobile 3G plan (ALFA) will be reset. My total consumption, so far, during a whole months minus two days is 162.18 MB ( = 15.8%). Compared to the first month 3G was implemented, when I reached my limit after just 8 days, it is a huge difference!

At my parents’ place, their “WISE” 1Mbps wireless broadband consumption is at 69% with three days to go.  Prior to this month, they used to recharge at least 2 or 3 times in a single month.

What is happening? Are we using the internet less? We’re no longer heavy internet users?

No ladies and gents, it is not us! The ridiculously slow and intermittent mobile and wireless broadband connections are making it impossible for us to use the internet.

A couple months ago, Lebanon witnessed a huge campaign aimed at the improvement of both mobile and home internet speeds. When new plans—faster plans—started to emerge we all thought this was a great step for every Lebanese internet user. Prior to that, internet in Lebanon was literally the worst in the world.

Despite the small increase in the maximum traffic bandwidth, which is not still ridiculous, as well as the small drop in 3G plan prices—$32 for 1GB of max. traffic, we thought “Hey, let’s not complain, this is a great step forward!”

But guess what? Today I AM COMPLAINING!

I just got off the phone with the technical support of one of the Cash-Cows/companies (I won’t say which one. Hint: see 2nd paragraph or click here) who supplies my parents’ home internet connection. I called to complain about the unbelievably slow speed which has been so for the past couple weeks. His response was (I’m not kidding):

Not bad! It seems they will fix it tomorrow! I DON’T THINK SO! And the reason I know is because this is the same exact response I’ve had for the second time in a row in less than a week! They could literally turn it into a recording and play it for all customers calling for support!

Moving to the infamous 3G. I’m sure most of you who use the same carrier as me (I won’t say which. Hint: see paragraph 1 or click here) are well aware of the 10 second hang up problem which has been going on for a quite a while now. In brief, what is going on is that if you’re connected to the 3G network you are most likely going to be disconnected from any call you make after just 10 seconds.

So I called ALF.. Oops.. I mean the company, and they told me they’re having a “temporary” problem with their 3G network(it seems temporary has a different meaning in their dictionary, because two months is not my definition of temporary). Anyway, because of some issues with the network, they are advising all their clients to switch their smartphones to 2G-ONLY modes.

Two months later, I’m still on 2G-ONLY mode, meaning that I can only use the slow EDGE connection—but which is faster than 3G at the moment. Every day, I try testing the 3G network: I get the famous 10-SEC Disconnection, and the internet is slower that what WAP was 5 years ago.

Now the solution in my opinion.. Forget it! I give up! I have no solution, and I guess neither does anyone! Am I too negative? Fuck it I don’t care!

My disgust with how things—everything—in Lebanon are regressing. The world moves forward while we run backwards. I’m starting to give up on my country (I put “starting” just to ease up on the negativity).

How about you? I would love to hear how you’re managing with all the negativity taking place in Lebanon?  

PS: I hope I’ll be able to UPLOAD this post over this …. connection!

Every person who has ever started a new personal blog—a serious one—knows how much effort and time it takes to launch one and maintain it. Those of you, who are considering creating a new one, need to be aware of the great amount of dedication in order to make such a project work. But don’t be discouraged because, if you ask any blog owner who has succeeded, it is worth every second of hard work you spend building YOUR blog.

My personal experience was not different. Looking back at the first couple months, I can still remember the obstacles I faced trying to make it between the already successful blogs. I tried every tool available for bloggers to promote their work. Sometimes I even considered giving up; but I really glad I didn’t.

Then one day, a twitter user whom I started to follow, followed me back, and started retweeting my tweets. Then on May 19, 2010 I was surprised to read a blog post on this guy’s personal blog; a post inviting his readers to check out my own blog! He claimed it was a decent attempt that needs a little encouragement. 

This guy to whom I am greatly in debt for of his genuine support of Free Thinking Lebanon. This great person who goes by the handle vjack (@vjack); the man behind one of the best Atheism and free thinking blogs out there: “Atheist Revolution”.

vjack this post goes to you buddy for all the good things you’ve been throwing at me for the past couple years. Thank you. Cheers!

It doesn’t matter whether you are a Human Being or an alien, you’re out of luck this holiday season. Don’t expect any warm wishes from your fellow Muslims.

The reason for that, according to a Muslim cleric, is that wishing someone “Merry Christmas” is considered a sin much more serious than murder. To find out why, watch our Wacko friend—below—explain his fatwa.

PS: For this issue of “Wacko of the Day” I had two nominees; and trust it was a very hard decision, since both shared the same level of idiocy. So I decided to include the other video(the second one) as well in this post.

So much buzz surrounded the sad death of the great Christopher Hitchens. From the controversial Twitter Hashtag #GodIsNotGreat—which reached the top ten trending topics, but was removed after complains from christian users—to the many blog posts related to the subject, different sentiments were expressed. However, one video stood out from the lot, which compelled me to write this post.

Hence, today’s “Wako of the Day” title goes to Bryan Fischer, host of the radio show “Focal Point” on American Family Radio—and complete pinhead. In the video below he claims the late Christopher Hitchens was sent to hell by god as a demonstration of his love for him.

Listen to his argument in the video below; and once you do, I’m sure will understand the reason I chose him as today’s WOTD!

Last Saturday, CLAFA (Coalition of Lebanese Atheists, Freethinkers and Agnostics) announced a special event, which I believe is going to be a great step forward for all Lebanese free-thinkers. On Monday 26 December, 2011, a screening of a Documentary by the Richard Dawkins Foundation titled “Dawkins on Darwin” will take place at 07:30pm at Masrah Beirut in Ain el Mraisseh, Beirut. A half-hour introduction on Evolution, by Dr Riyad Sadek—Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Herpetology at the American University of Beirut—will precede the screening; and a Q&A open discussion session will follow it. The guys at CLAFA will conclude the evening with the announcement of their new website FreeThoughtLebanon.com.

I encourage you all to attend this wonderful event—which by the way is free of charge. Try to make it early; the seats are limited, and seating will be on a first come first seated basis.

As an atheist and free-thinker I would like to see more events like this in the future.  Check back on the 26th to find out how it all went—I will also have some pictures posted.

Less than a month ago, I finished reading Christopher Hitchens’ (13 April 1949 – 15 December 2011) memoir “Hitch-22”. Even though I had always been a great fan, after reading his autobiography I felt some sort of connection to him, especially after reading about his experiences in Lebanon.

Learning about his death, last Thursday, felt like loosing a close relative and I great mentor. Nothing would ever express the sadness of loosing such a great voice of reason. Farewell dear Christopher Hitchens… Your words will live on forever, but you will be missed!

Out of all types of stupidity my favourite is definitely that which seems to be a common trait of all overzealous religious wackjobs. My choice for the first “Wacko of the Day” post belongs to this group of lunatics: Dr. Zakir Naik. Holder of a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, but who doesn’t practice medicine; instead he is a public defender of Islam, who wants to spread his religion throughout the world by preaching--using unbelievable idiotic arguments--that Islam is the only true religion.

I’ve listened to and read hundreds of arguments from different religious zealots, but this guys is something else! You can’t listen to his arguments without having a “what-the-fuck” look on your face (seriously, that is the only way I can describe it).

To see what I mean, and to understand the level of absurdity and madness which earned him the first “Wacko of the Day” title, all you have to do is listen to him speak in any of the videos below!

It’s been a long time since I last  published anything on FTL, and I terribly miss doing so. I’ve been wanting to get back to blogging, but somehow i couldn’t find the time. However, I hope I’ll be able to write at least one post per week.

Anyway, now that I’m back I have a new idea for the blog;  I’m going to start a new segment called “Wacko of the Day"—I don’t think there’s any need to explain  what it will be about. I believe that, along with the “Fatwa of the Day” segment, this new section would hopefully bring back the pulse of this blog.

This was shot off the monitor of the security cameras of Al-Wardieh Pharmacy in Beirut Lebanon on 12 July 2011.

After midnight, while my buddy mahmoud K. (pharmacist) was walking out the door of the pharmacy, this car slid off the main road after getting into an accident and then hit the pharmacy's main entrance and display, barely missing Mahmoud(you can see him jump away once he sees the car coming straight to him).. Nice reflex buddy!