ftp.pasteur.org/FAQ//ftp-pasteur-org-FAQ.zip/FAQ/lebanon-faq/part3

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From: [e-mail] (Alaa Dakroub)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.lebanon,soc.answers,news.answers
Subject: soc.culture.lebanon FAQ, part 3/5
Followup-To: soc.culture.lebanon
Date: 4 Jun 1997 22:00:49 GMT
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Summary: This article contains a list of questions asked frequently
          by newcomers to soc.culture.lebanon; it then provides answers
          to them. Please read this before posting to the group.
          Rules of net etiquette specify that newcomers to a group
          should read the FAQ (this file) and spend some time
          reading the group before posting to it; this helps
          ensure that postings are appropriate for the type
          of discussion in the group.
          Please send all updates/additions/corrections to this
          FAQ to [e-mail] (Alaa Dakroub)
          This FAQ is availbale at the ftp sites ftp.leb.net
          (206.127.55.2), in /pub/scl, rama.poly.edu (128.238.10.212) in
          pub/scl, and ftp.u.washington.edu /public/scl as filename
          "lebanon-faq/part3".It has also a W3 version on:
          http://www.leb.net/lebanon-faq
          (Date of last modification: 4 Jun 1997.)
Frequency: monthly
Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu soc.culture.lebanon:59590 soc.answers:7930 news.answers:104168

Archive-name: lebanon-faq/part3
Last-modified: 1997/4/6
Version: 2.37

*******************************************************************************


20. Is there a standard Arabic alphabet representation in Latin ?

  The standard is called cat (for Classical Arabic Transliteration) and
is the work of Bassem Medawar.

  The file can be retrieved from the SoL archive by anonymous ftp to

    rama.poly.edu   in   pub/reader/text/translit/CAT
(a copy is availble on ftp://huez.eurecom.fr/SCL/Transliteration/cat.gz
                    or
                 http://huez.eurecom.fr:8080/SCL/Transliteration/cat.gz
[the www.cica.fr, or huez.cica.fr are no more valid]
          and on
   http://www.ludvigsen.hiof.no/webdoc/levant_servers.html#Language)
*******************************************************************************

21. Are there any available sources to learn Syriac ?

If you want to learn Syriac from scratch, and are not interested in all
the misty gritties of grammar, check the book of Malphono Abrohom Nuro,
Suloqo (I believe it is available in the US).

There is also a book from the Kaslik called "Le Syriac pour tout le
Monde". I do not recommend it. But if it is the Only one you can get hold
of, so why not.

I Sweden there are some school books produced: Safro Tobo, by Malphono
Johanon Kashisho. These too are good.

If you are interested in Learning Syriac grammar, then your best bet (if
you can French) is Costaz' "Grammaire Syriac", you can also buy a
dictionary.

There are also some other Grammars for Syriac. Noldeke and Brocklemann,
but these are real heavy stuff.

for those of you who know Hebrew, check S. Muroaka (sp!) Syriac for
Hebraists. A very good book.

There is a basic difference though between these set of books:

The first are to teach "Modern Literary Syriac" this means stuff that is
more for daily use, while the second set is for those who want to dig into
the huge and fascinating Syriac literature from old to the present.

----
    An arabic book can be bought in Syria, the title is al-Aramiyah
al-muhkiyah, it teaches spoken Aramaic/Syriac.

*******************************************************************************

22. Where can I find Lebanese songs and music ?

  Town Records in Manhattan sell International records including,
sometimes, Lebanese.

  Shahin Brothers, in Brooklyn, Atlantic Avenue, sell a large collection of
Lebanese and other Arabic Music.

  They also sell Lebanese/Arabic books.

  Interested in Arabic or French music on CD in the US/Canada ?
  Contact the following for a catalogue:

  Chaabouni World CDs Inc.
  103 Wood Street
  Westerville Ohio 43081
  [phone]
  e-mail: [e-mail]

 If you're willing to drive to Toronto, you can check out the Nasr plaza
 at the North-West corner of Lawrence and Warden. There is a Middle-Eastern
 music store with quite a large collection.

 Beit Al-Fikr recently annouced that a large collection of
 Arabic compact discs (CDs) available for inexpensive wholesale
 prices...To get the most recent CD catalog send a check or money
 order for $ 4 to:

    Beit Al-Fikr
    P.O Box 426
    Watertown, MA 02172

    Phone/FAX: [phone]
    E-mail: [e-mail]

 Beit Al-Fikr also has a good selection of Marcel Khalife music on
 CDs...

--------------
In Brooklyn, NY:
contact Rashid Sales Co.
They have the largest selection of Arabic music CD's and cassettes that I
know of in the US.
Their phone number is 718-852-3295 and just ask them to send you their
latest cataloque.

address is:
Rashid Sales Co.
191 Atlantic Ave.
Brooklyn, NY

They have a 1-800 number: 1-800-843-9401

-------------

If you are in S. Calif you can try "Sawt wa Soura" on Ball an Magnolia
in Buena Park

-------------

For France:

You can find arabic CDs and tapes in general, at most of the main music
shops like FNAC for instance or Samaritaine, La Sorbonne etc. Prices
are in the same range as for other kinds of music which is from
120-140 FF.

*******************************************************************************

23. Where can I find a Lebanese restaurant ?

  In Brooklyn, NY, there are a couple Lebanese Restaurants on Atlantic
Ave.  One is Tripoli Restaurant, good food, a bit expensive, good to
invite a guest, and another more popular (and affordable) Kabab and
Shawarma restaurant (a-la Abu Khudor) accross the street from Tripoli
Restaurant.  The Kabab restaurant even has an indoor water fountain,
nice touch.

  The area near NY Univ in Manhattan has quite a few M.E. restaurants.

  In Manhattan there is Cedars of Lebanon restaurant.

Here is the Address:

  Cedars of Lebanon
  39 East 30th Street
  New York City, 10016
  Phone: [phone]

  I've been to this restaurant and it is excellent.
  They have a Lebanese band that sings Lebanese songs,
  and the food is very good.
  Excellent place for a Saturday evening.

  Atlantic Ave is the best place to get lebanese food from.
  There is "Shahadi". They carry a lot of good food: kHubz, zaitoon, Homos,
  Jibne, all kinds of canned foods, etc. they even have arabic sweets, but You
  should take a look 1st at Damascus Bakery two doors away. Well when you get
  there you'll see it.

  Also here in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn , which is easily gotten to by car or
  train (The R Train) we have EVEN MORE Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian,
  Egyptian grocery stores then you'd ever imagine that was on Atlantic
  Avenue. Also if you are islamic there are tons and tons of Hallal meat
  stores located on 5th avenue in the 70's,and 60's (streets)

--> addition:

  Moustache, 90 Bedford St., NYC (Soho -- btwn Grove and Barrow St off
  of 7th Ave South).  Has excellent variations on Hummos, Tabouleh,
  Mana'eesh (za'tar bread) and a dish called Ouzi (rice, chicken,
  spices...).  Long lines but worth it, excellent price and quality,
  a "best kept secret".

  Byblos, 3rd Avenue and 39th St.  Excellent food, reasonable prices,
  great host and singing-belly dancing on weekends.

  Al-Bustan, 827 Third Avenue (between 50 and 51st Street) -
  212-759-5933 It caters to the business world, with professional
  atmosphere, and great food.
_______________________________________________________________________________

  There are three in the St.Louis area:

      Aladdin's - 2241 S. Brentwood, [phone]
      Very good, reasonable price.

      Salim's   - 6501 Delmar, [phone]
      Good, but expensive.

      Mediterranean Taverna - Edwardsville IL
      Good food & entertainment, Middle-Eastern buffet for ~$7.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Canyon Cafe, 330 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm  Springs CA 92262
Tel [phone], Owner Ghassan Razzouk.
It is a small cafe in Palm Springs that serves Lebanese dishes
The proprietor is half Lebanese half Italian, he is married to
a Colombian and has lived most of his life in Mexico. He does
a good falafel, the makanek are nice, Tabouleh and Baba Ghannouj
need some work.

_______________________________________________________________________________

In Denver there is a Cedars Restaurant run by a Lebanese guy, I've
heard good things about it, but I've not been there.  Hopefully,
you can find it listed in the phone book.

another restaurant in Denver is Mid-East Feast, here ot goes the address
and the opinion of an SCLer!:

Mid-East Feast Restaurant
2594 S Colorado Blvd
University Hills Unit A
Denver Colorado 80222
[phone]

This is by far the best Lebanese restaurant in Denver. It is run by
Chef Besharah Salame, who is the former chef to the President of Lebanon.
He also worked for the niece of the King of Saudi Arabia.
His restaurant is small but it feaatures falafel, 3 combination plates
that are very good, chicken & beef shawarma, gyros, 3 types of kabobs,
sheesh t'aouk, and salads, sandwiches & appetizers.

We are fortunate to have many Middle Eastern Restaurants in Denver;
some by Jordanians, some by people from the West Bank and some from
the Old City (El Quds). Besharah's falafel and his combination plates
are one of the best.

The restaurant is located on the Northeast corner of Yale and Colorado
in Denver and it can be reached from either the Yale or Colorado exit
off Interstate 25.

The Cedars of Lebanon, listed above, is good but
expensive. It is located at 1550 S Federal Blvd at Florida St
in Denver Colorado. Phone is [phone].
_______________________________________________________________________________
In Austin, Texas:

Longhorn Po-Boy's
2801 Guadalupe, Suite 5
Austin, TX
[phone]

Armen's Mediterranean-Armenian        [mediocre food except for
     Restaurant                 mashaoui's]
2222 Rio Grande
Austin, TX
[phone]

_______________________________________________________________________________
In Washignton DC:

Check out Skewers restaurant on P street and 17th... the best Lebanese
restaurant and atmosphere in the DC area... say Hi to Mirvat, your hostess
over there... tell her Ramzi sent you.  (Check out the Lebanese wine:
Mozart, and their great deserts).
Also, make sure you listen to ANA radio on WNTL 1030 AM daily for
community affairs, music, and news... enjoy
_______________________________________________________________________________

In Seattle Washington:

In a seattle menu guide there is a listing under lebanese
restaurants :

Omar Al Khayam
7617 Aurora Avenue N.
Seattle
782 5295

354 Sunset Blvd N.
Renton
271-8300
_______________________________________________________________________________
--> New
In New Jersey:

not exactly in Manhattan, but 20 minutes car ride from it in NJ is
Cedars Bakery. excellent lebanese foods, I should know.

it's in Teaneck, NJ. their phone number is 201-837-4330.
_______________________________________________________________________________
  Here are two Lebanese restaurants I've been to in Paris - France.

Name    : Al-Dar.
Address : very close to Place Victor Hugo (?Av. Raymond Poincarre?).
Price   : relatively expensive (200-300 FF per person = medium size
           mezze + meat + dessert).
Quality : Good to Very-Good (same quality then in Lebanon).
Remarks : Lebanese service, arabic music, grocery with lot of Lebanese
          staff (less expensive).

Name    : Al-Diwan.
Address : Avenue Georges V (close to the Champs Elysee)
Price   : relatively expensive (250-350 FF per person = medium size
          mezze + meat + dessert).
Quality : Good.
Remarks : Lebanese service, arabic music, grocery with lot of Lebanese
          staff (less expensive).

There are a lot of other Lebanese restaurants in Paris. I only know
these two and I recommend Al-Dar.

_______________________________________________________________________________

  Here in London, we are well supplied with a number of Lebanese
restaurants.  I'll describe only a small selection of them.

Name: Maroush I
Location: 21, Edgware Road, W2
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per Person: No music, no arak : GBP.18 (US$ 36);
                 Music and alcohol : GBP.37 (US$ 74);
Quality: The food is okay. This is the flagship of the Maroush/Ranoush
chain of three restaurants+ 1 takeway in London. On week-ends in the
winter and throughout the week in the summer, there is live music and
dancing which makes you think you are in Beirut itself ! Beware
though, minimum charge when there is music and dancing is GBP.37
(US$74) which is damn expensive, but if you don't care, then go for
it. Last time I went there with friends, we spent 4 hours eating,
singing, and generally having a good time.  Quantity of food: Well,
since they will charge you a minimum price of GBP.37, you really have
to eat a lot to make up to this price ! Say 3 starters per person,
plus main course, plus baklawa, plus fruit, plus mint tea etc. - open
'til 4:00am or so !

Name: Maroush II
Location: 38 Beauchamp Place, SW3
Telephone: [phone]

Cost per Person: GBP.20 (US$ 36) + drinks (3 starters(shared) + main
course) Note: Second Maroush restaurant in London, near Knightsbridge
Quality: This place was recently refurbished in 1993. Before, it used
to be pretty bad. I must say that it has all improved ! One has the choice
to eat either at the bar (on the ground floor) or in the restaurant part.
The bar is *very* busy, but it's a cool place to meet people, in front of
the sizzling kebabs etc. The food is standard. Standard dishes in the
restaurant, and sandwiches in the bar (like Ranoush Juice).  If you're
in the Knightsbridge area, you now know where to eat !

Name: Maroush III
Location: 62 Seymour Street W1H - perpendicular to Edgware Road.
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.18 (US$ 36) + drinks
Note: 1 minutes away from Maroush I

Quality: This one's my favorite Maroush restaurant because I have
been there so many times I know everyone. The food is good while not
too expensive. Summer is more crowded than winter because of the Gulf
population taking its quarters around the nearby Edgware Road.
Recommended starters: Arayes, Baba Ghanouj (Mouttabal), firri, Makanek
Un-recommended starters: Kibbeh (it's not the real thing), sojuk (it
is different every time I go there !)  Recommended main course: Lahem
Meshwi. Farrouj Kebab.  Recommended drink: Laban Ayran (they know how
to do it properly) Beware of the meat Shawarma, it's very greasy,
*very*.  Quantity of food: plenty. 3 starters to share plus main
course is enough.  Baklawa and/or fruit is included in the cover
price. If you can eat the whole tray of baklawa (about 40+) your meal
is on the house (that's what they told me) Additional notice:
Check-out the Maitre d'Hotel. He thinks he's Lebanese but in fact he
is Spanish, and it's funny to hear him speak Arabic ;-)

Name: Al Hamra
Location: 31/33 Shepherd Market, Mayfair, W1Y
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.29 (US$58) + drinks
Quality: Situated in the heart of Mayfair, a very prestigious area of
town, Al Hamra is pretty expensive. But then again, it is the only
place which has someone at the entrance to park your car for you.
Since it is so hard to park in central London, it's pretty good,
especially in the evening when you don't want to walk the streets. The
food is of good quality. But then, one would really expect it. Book in
advance, because the restaurant is pretty small and very popular.
Quantity of food: less than in Maroush III, but who says that quantity
counts ?

Name: Fakhreldine
Location: 85 Piccadilly, Mayfair, W1
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.40+ (US$80+) + drinks

Quality: Very popular, very expensive, very good. The bill seems to be
exponential with what you eat. If you have a business meal with
anybody you want to impress, take them there. Most people whom I know
and have gone there have gone only once. They are still saving for the
next time !  This is known to be the best in town. Go there, if you
can afford it.  Quantity of food: at those prices, do you bother ?
It's the people there that matter. Who knows, you could be striking
the deal of your career !

Name: Beit Eddine
Location: 8 Harriet Street, SW1X
Telephone: [phone]
Cost per person: GBP.25 (US$50) including drinks

Quality: This is a small restaurant where it is advisable to book
during week-ends. The food is good, but nothing special. But a friend
of mine really likes it. I guess the atmosphere, although being
simple, is very pleasant. Shawarma is pretty good. Lahem Meshwi is a
bit dry, so be sure to order Humus to dip the meat in...  Quantity of
food: the portions are rather small. Be sure to order enough !

Take-away food:

There is a quantity of takeaway shops for Arabic food in London, especially
on the Edgware Road. After having tried nearly all of them, I can only
recommend one (in addition to Maroush II):

Name: Ranoush Juice
Location: 43 Edgware Road, W2
Telephone: [phone]
Cost of sandwich: GBP.2.50 (US$5) average
Recommended sandwiches: Chicken Shawarma; Mouttabal Sandwich
Recommended drinks: freshly-made carrot juice, it's good for you !
Recommended process-to-get-served: go to the till, and order your food; pay
and use the ticket that you get to give to the cooks. If you are a pretty
girl you'll probably get served immediately ;-).
Note: refurbished in March 1994, the place is now so bright inside that
one needs to wear shades. The eating area has been expanded a bit as well.
It gets really crowded in the summer.

There is a quantity of takeaway shops for Arabic food in London, especially
on the Edgware Road. After having tried nearly all of them, I can only
recommend one:

  Editorial Note: I have used GBP for Great Britain Pound Sterling, and
the exchange rate is US$ 2 for GBP 1. -  I can't be bothered to use
the exact exchange rate.

  The PHOENICIA, 11/13 Abingdon Road (Off Kensington High Street)
London W8. Tel: [phone]. The food is
consistently excellent, the quantities are more than ample, the prices are
reasonable and extremely good value, and above all the service is
friendly, courteous. They even speak Lebanese instead of the condescending
French some are prone to. It merits at least one visit every time I leave
this cold country for the nearest I can get to a good Lebanese meal
barring home cooking. Try their mezza!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Fransisco:

    the folowing info might be of intrest:

    The only authentic Lebanese restaurant that I know about is called
Byblos.  It is in San Fransisco, on Lombard & Buchannan in the Marina area.

    Also about Byblos the following :
Byblos Restaurant

Type of food: authentic Lebanese restaurant
Location:  1910 Lombard Str.
                  San Francisco, CA
Phone: [phone]
Prices: Appetizer average about $4
            Entree' average about $11
Open for lunch and dinner

"La Mediterranee" on college avenue in Berkeley.
Not great but just ok, very Americanized...

Is Mediterranean Gardens still in business?  They were on San Pablo St in
Albany a few years ago, and served quite fine Lebanese cuisine (authentic,of
course).  I used to live in SF, and went there frequently, but no longer
live in the area.  The proprietor was Youssef, and I recall that his mother
made some of the dishes.  I do not know the address, but recall parking near
Chemical Bank (?), and that it is on the east side of the street.
(George Ayoub)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Paris in France:
There is a Restaurant/Sanck/Traiteur/Patissier called Le Sultan
It's not expensive, and the food there is good ...
(I did not taste the patesserie though)
I took there three of my german freinds (so four persons :-) we had the right
of 14 Meze' dishes for 420 FF (approx $75) ..
Address:
13, rue Saint Denis
75001 Paris
Tel: [phone]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Australia

     I live in Melbourne, and I beleive there is one very nice place
     to have a decent lebanese meal. It is called Mount Lebanon Restaurant
     ( Mat'3am Jabal Lebnan ).

And I live in Sydney, where there are many Lebanese expatriates, and
therefore many good Lebanese restaurants. These can be found in many
suburbs, but the best place to start is the corner of Cleveland and
Elisabeth Streets, not far from the main business district. Within two
minutes walk there about ten restaurants - my favourite is Lazeez
Delicious, one shop from the corner on Elisabeth Street.



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boston

Don't miss Shawarma King on Huntingtom Ave.  It's a few blocks
due west from Mass Ave.  There really are no good high-class restaurants
but Shawarma King is really good.

Try Ali Baba restaurant on Union Square in
Allston, it's fast food but they have some good stuff.

*******************************************************************************

24. Where can I find a Lebanese grocery store?

  There are two large Arab shopping areas that I know of in NY/NJ:

Brooklyn, NY, Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn Heights.
Paterson, NJ, off Guarden State Pkwy, Hazel Street exit.

--> New

Cedars Bakery
953 Teaneck Road
Teaneck, NJ 07666 (near George Washington Bridge)
[phone]

Excellent Middle Eastern food and drinks (cheeses/olives/bread/labne/arak),
including many foods made on permises (hummus, baba ghannouj, falafel ...).
The store ships via UPS anywhere in the US.

_______________________________________________________________________________

  In St.Louis:

Middle-Eastern Markets (Aswak al shark-al-awsat) on Grand Blvd.
Jay International Markets on Grand Blvd.
Al Madina Al Arabia in North County.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Phoenicia Bakery & Deli            [very good bread]
2912 S Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX
[phone]

Austin Gourmet Market
1931-G East Oltorf
Austin, TX
[phone]

_______________________________________________________________________________
These two bakeries in Michigan will ship baklava:

        Afrah Bakery
        12741  W. Warren
        Dearborn, MI 48126
        Phone: [phone]

        Shatila Food Products
        8505 W. Warren
        Dearborn, MI 48126
        Tel. [phone]
        Fax. [phone]

Warren Avenue in Dearborn, Michigan: *Lots* of places where you can find
Lebanese grocery stores and restaurants, Lebanese bookstores,
Lebanese music stores etc ...


Still in Dearborn, Yasmeen Bakery: Tel: [phone]
______________________________________________________________________________
For Paris-France
    A nice one and cheap one is " Boulangerie et patessirie du cedre"
(10 small-bread packets for 35 FF)
58 Av Dausmenil 75012 Paris (near gare de lyon) tel [phone]
    Also Traiteur Arnaout (belongs to the same person) they have some
Lebanese products and food;
64 Av Dausmenil 75012 Paris  tel [phone]
*******************************************************************************

25. Is there a good Lebanese recipe book ?

  Fann-Al-Tabkh by Georges Al-Rayess.
*The* book on Lebanese cuisine. This book is a classic, and is
extremely thorough. Not for the amateur cuisinard or the faint-of-heart,
though. Can be obtained from Librairie Antoine in Beirut.

  For a more practical and less complicated cookbook, see Madeleine
Farah's book 'Middle-Eastern Cuisine'

There is also "Cooking  the Lebanese  Way" by Cedar  Hashashe.

  Another alternative is a book,  that is not specifically Lebanese
but contains many Lebanese and other Middle Eastern recipes:

Claudia Roden: A New Book of Middle Eastern Food. Penguin.

Sahtayn!

*******************************************************************************

26. Are there recipes available on the net ?

  Yes! Telnet to Archie and search for recipes with the command: prog
recipes. Here you will get the address of the servers that have on-
line recipes. Choose the server closest to you and FTP the file(s).

following are addresses to Archie servers:

archie.doc.ic.ac.uk [146.169.11.3]     UK/European  Imperial, London,
                                                      UK
archie.funet.fi     [128.214.6.100]    European     FUnet, Helsinki,
                                                      Finland
archie.au           [139.130.4.6]      Australian   Deakin, Geelong,
                                                      Australia
archie.sura.net     [128.167.254.179]  World        SURAnet,
                                                      Maryland, USA
archie.rutgers.edu  [128.6.18.15]      World        Rutgers, New
                                                      Jersey, USA
archie.unl.edu      [129.93.1.14]      World        Lincoln, Nebraska,
                                                      USA
archie.ans.net      [147.225.1.2]      World        ANS, New York, US

archie.mcgill.ca    [132.206.2.3]      World        McGill, Montreal,

Another way would be to:

  *  telnet to freenet.carleton.ca
  *  login as "guest", no password is needed
  *  enter "go culture" at the command line
       Your Choice ==> go culture
  *  select "Sunshine Recipes" from the menu

enjoy !!

*******************************************************************************

27.  Is there an ftp archive site for Lebanese art works ?

---> Change:

The domain dhhalden.no changed to hiof.no.


  There is an effort undertaken by Barre Ludvigsen and to provide a
multimedia server of cultural material relating to Lebanon and  the Middle
East. Material is deposited as it appears and as people contribute.
Everyone is urged to contact Barre Ludvigsen at <[e-mail]>
or to directly add to the collection and contribute under the cultural material
heading.
  Barre created recently a WWW home page at his site, it's name is :
MultiMedia ftp servers for the Levant, it contains four pointers to the ftp
servers : liasun3.epfl.ch, ftp.hiof.no and rama.poly.edu and
eurecom27.eurecom.fr, also it contains some pointers on WWW pages related to
specific authors/Topics  here it's the
address and the contents of this page :

(welcome)

The Levant Cultural MultiMedia Servers

   Architecture
   Cinema
   Cosmetics
   Discussion
   Egypt
   Food
   Geography
   Humor
   Language and literature
   Lebanon
   Music and song
   Peace
   Photography
   Politics
   Postcards
   Radio
   Religion
   Syria
   Other sources


The why's and wherefores:

These web pages have been set up to give Internet users a more or less structured
approach to some of the multimedia cultural material on Lebanon and the Levant
we've collected and located on the net since the summer of 1992. "We" being Berthe
Choueiry, Bassem Medawar (Bassem's homepage),Alaa Dakroub (Alaa's homepage)
and myself.

Yes, I know there's one country of the Levant which is conspicuously absent from the
server. My excuse is that I have very little knowledge of the country, nor do I have the
same interest as I have for the others. This is not so much a matter of bias as one of
happenstance. Lebanon was my home for 20 of the first 25 years of my life. It gave
me somewhere to call home, 2 other languages, a sense of cultural tolerance and
insight, a country to mourn and hope to nurture anew.

If you have something to contribute or something to complain about, send me a note.
The purpose of the server is not merely nostalgic. It's meant to be a repository and
guide to all manner of information with cultural relevance to the Lebanon in
particular and the Levant in general.

For my part, this project started in 1992 with a series of contributions to Berthe's ftp
server at the Artificial Intelligence Lab of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de
Lausanne, Switzerland. Since then various other sites have been discoveredor come on
line. Some are ftp sites, others WWW sites.

Most of the material linked in these web pages reside on our anonynous ftp server,
ftp.hiof.no (158.36.33.3) in Halden, Norway. This is so that those without WWW
access can retrieve material either with ftp or mail ftp. However, some material is
found on this WWW server and the other servers concerned with Lebanon and the
Levant:

eurecom27.eurecom.fr
   Alaa Dakroub's ftp server. Contains SCL stuff, Lebanon FAQs and back issues
   of Leb-Net News.
ftp.hiof.no
   Contains pictures, texts, tourist brochures and is a companion server to
   liasun3.epfl.ch. Its home is at the ╪stfold Regional College in Halden, Norway
   and maintained by Barre Ludvigsen. All the material i Halden is linked on
   these web pages.

rama.poly.edu
   The "Sounds of Lebanon" site contains audio data, the scl FAQ and some other
   things from soc.culture.lebanon, Arabic language editors and various other
   material. It's maintained by Bassem Medawar at the Polytechnic University of
   New York's Farmingdale, Long Island campus.
liasun3.epfl.ch

   Note: Due to space constraints all the Levant files on the liasun3.epfl.ch
   server have been moved to ftp.hiof.no pub/levant
   Is situated at the Artificial Intelligence Lab of the Ecole Polytechnique
   Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland and contains lots of wonderful pictures,
   texts, songs (arabic text and audio), maps, animations, etc. This is the original
   cultural multimedia server for Lebanon and the Levant, established in August
   1992, courtesy of Berthe Choueiry.

http://www.ludvigsen.hiof.no/webdoc/levant_servers.html

MultiMedia ftp servers for the Levant


Barre will be happy to help anyone who feels they might have
something to contribute.

There is another WWW home page, managed by Barre also, it contains a nice set
of pictures from Lebanon contributed by Elie Wardini.
Address : http://www.ludvigsen.hiof.no/webdoc/elies_pictures.html

For more details of the contents of the ftp directories please try to read the
README files and the Index files.

   A set of pictures of the AUB (American University of Beirut) are availble
via gopher. The address is :

    gopher://libra.arch.umich.edu/11/AUB


*******************************************************************************

28. What is the best way to deal with multiple system TVs and VCRs and
    how can I get my VCR tape converted to a format that works in Lebanon ?

  Three solutions :

    1. Buying a switchable television and use your video recorder.
    2. Buying a switchable video recorder (PAL / SECAM / NTSC) and
        a PAL / SECAM television.
    3. Buying a switchable video recorder (PAL / NTSC) and a
        PAL / SECAM television.

   First case : You can watch to drench and foreign broadcast,
you can use your video recorder and your tapes, but you can't record
French broadcast.

   Second case : You have still to find a French PAL / SECAM
television. That should not be that much expensive. But : in that case,
you can watch the local broadcasts, watch your tapes AND record local
broadcasts.

   I don't know how much costs a switchable television, but as
for the video recorder, it's about 300.000 yen in Japan for the only
model available. That video recorder converts any video signal to any
other.

    Some people may point out that the conversion is not perfect.
That's true. In fact, the signal conversion achieved by that video
recorder is a VERY LOW COST conversion. It converts SECAM to a pseudo
PAL, PAL to a pseudo NTSC, but that's neither a professional quality,
nor a broadcast quality.

    Just for information : a professional quality PAL/SECAM/NTSC
converter (the converter only) costs 1.800.000 yen.

    Third case : There is another video recorder (AIWA) which
converts NTSC to PAL only. That one is quite cheap (60.000 yen here
in Japan). That one with a French SECAM / PAL television would make
it, if you don't expect too much quality, and if you don't record
SECAM broadcasts.

    About the quality : There are some video recorders allowing
to make low speed records (one third of the normal speed). Up to six
hours on one tape, but of course lower quality. The quality of a low
cost converter is about the same...

    The ideal solution : you buy a switchable television AND
a switchable video recorder. In that case, you can record in any format
you want and use your tapes in any country. Since you don't need the
signal conversion, you get a broadcast quality image in any case.
_______________________________________________________________________________

  Here are some recommendations for businesses that will convert
VCR tapes from one standard to another :

 DAKE International
 3208 Foxboro Dr.
 Richardson, TX 75082
 [phone] 1pm-9pm

  The cost is $18.50 per tape which includes a new tape and shipping.
They can convert to any TV system: PAL, SECAM to NTSC or vice versa.

  Another one is in Raleigh, NC.  It provides conversion from and to
any format (VHS, VHS-C and 8 mm types of cassettes).
This will allow playback of videotapes made overseas, here on U.S.
TV's and VCR's (NTSC System).
  The service will also convert the other way around,(i.e. from
U.S. system to any of the systems used anywhere else in the world - PAL,
SECAM, etc..)

Mailing Address:  INTERNATIONAL VIDEO CONVERSION
                  520 Harvest Lane
                  Raleigh, NC 27606-2217

Phone:            [phone]

Fees:             $24.90 + $5.00 S&H
                  (Price of a High Grade Cassette Included, 2hrs or less)

Delivery:         Mailed back the next day, express shipping at request.

Payment:          Check, Cash or Money Order mailed with tape.

Conversions from photographic pictures, slides, 8, super 8, 16 mm movies to
any of the video standards are also provided.

  A third one is:

SOMI International
50 Summer Street
Edison, NJ 08820.
Phone [phone]

  Their price is good ($12.99 for a regular 2-hr tape and $17.99 for more than
2-hr tape, include $3/tape for postage and handling).


  Fourth recommendation :

  This information was obtained from listings in VideoMaker Magazine.
Another good company is:

        RVT
        1911 Douglas Boulevard #85
        Roseville
        CA 95661
        [phone]

  The approximate cost is around $25 for 2 hours including tape
and return shipping.
CA residents have to pay tax at 7.25%. They have a 24 hour turnaround time.

*******************************************************************************

29. What are the Arabic TV channels that can be received in Northern and
    central America

There are currently 2 Arabic channels that could be received anywhere
in the US, Canada, and central America either directly through satellite,
or through local cable companies.


These channels are:

1- ANA/MBC   Arab Network of America/Middel East Brodcast from london

Originates from Washington, it broadcast for about 14 hours a day,
Monday to Friday, all day Saturday and Sunday. Their broadcast
includes children programing news, movies, and a lot of Arabic music
videos.  This broadcast is carried on by some local cable companies,
and the only way to receive it if it is not carried on your local
cable is by satellite:

Tune to....................................Satcom G6/G2 channel 10 C band


2- ED TV     (Arab Emirate television).

   This broadcast is directly from Dubia. It broadcast 24 hours a day
7 days a week. also had children programing, news, Aerobic, Art,Music,
religion, etc.  This program is not carried on cable, and to receive
it on satellite

Tune to....................................Galaxy 7 channel 17 C band




In order to receive these programs on cable, talk to your local cable carrier,
or for the same price the cable charges, you can install your own satellite,
and receive all these channels free.


PS: SATKING SATELLITE HAS THE LOWEST PRICES EXAMPLE:

For  $799     He will sell a fully motorized system that will pick
                up all the C-Band stations including ANA,MBC,and Dubia.

For  $499     will buy you a fixed dish and reciver easy to install
        in one hour. This system will pick one arabic station.

His Address is:

        SATKING SATELLITE whole sale to public.
        4819 West Commonwealth Place
        Chandler Arizona 85226

        Tell number:    1-(602)-961-9782


*******************************************************************************
end of part 3/5


_____________________________________________________________________
Alaa Dakroub     | 'al-'arD waTanI wa al-'insAnyah 'usratI
Sophia Antipolis | La terre est ma patrie et l'humanite' ma famille
France           | The earth is my fatherland and humanity my family
                 | (Gibran Khalil Gibran)
------------------ http://www.eurecom.fr/~dakroub/ ------------------