In our "modern" life, it seems hard to stop and take time out to really get involved in social issues and support change. Companies began by implementing programs of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to help integrate social awareness and change into the work environment.

Lately, I find myself more and more engaged in world music. In London, for example, I often go to a bar on Tuesday nights to listen to bands/singers/groups from all over the world. Last week, I attended the launch of a young Senegalese singer, Carlou D, whose sounds and words (those that were translated, of course!) moved me.

I love to listen to music while I work and am always looking for new links to online radio stations, streamed songs selections etc...recently, we have been quite boring and have been downloading capital radio fm (the "top of the pops" in London) and everyday we hear Nickelback's really popular over played song, Rockstar.

So yesterday, a friend of mine sent me an email with a "modernized" version of this summer classic....in ARABIC. Definitely worth a listen!

 

I landed in Beijing last night after 20 hours journey time from London, with a transit stop in Dubai where I continued the remaining leg of the journey with my father. I was already super excited about the opportunity to come to Beijing (my 1st visit) to see the Olympics when, to my increased excitement, Pele was sitting one row in front of me!!!! A real great sports man sitting, or mor like, just chilling, right in front of me.

I was surfing through different fashion websites and found myself on sephora.com when i read "lash pimping" - i don't really like make up too much, but always love to dress up my eyelashes - i have a pair of gold eyelashes, a diamond encrusted pair (a gift from a friend), a mutlicolored pair..and so, when i read the title, i had to find out more.

There is a great online community focused on bringing about change and helping people in need. A few months back I found out about a site called www.freerice.com - in which you test your vocabulary - for every word you get right, they donate 20 grains to the UN World Food Program. And, at the time, i got so hooked.

On Tuesday, after a few months of secret nips n’ tucks we relaunched the new version of the site. We were all excited to share Dia Diwan, a place where we talk about all good things coming out of the Middle East and then…… Lebanon joined the group of very troubled countries in the Middle East; two people from our team live in downtown Beirut and our hope was dulled down to concern.

Today I was reading the FT online and found an article questioning the relationship between hemlines and the health of the economy; When times are good, the theory goes, hemlines rise as people are comfortable to "flaunt it" and when times are bad, hemlines come down as people feel the need to be protected and cocooned.

So the question is how healthy is the economy at the moment? Well, from the recent fashion shows it seems that there hasn't been a consensus either way and that the jury is still out.

What do you think? 

Following up on Anissa Helou's recent review of ilili, ilili is nominated by Time Out Magazine as the best new import. This is the 1st time Lebanese cuisine is now being recognised in New York City's dining history. So please vote!

http://www.timeout.com/newyork/static_content/surveys/?surveyid=962

Please click on the link above and vote -  scroll to the bottom of the page under the section "Best New Out-of-Town Import" and select Philippe Massoud (ilili).

Water has made the biggest come back - French fashion designer Christian Lacroix has designed two limited edition bottles for Evian. The first is the "Haute Couture" bottle styled after a woman wearing a gown and the second is the "Prêt-à-Porter" bottle with a frosted lace pattern.

As i just finished "Deluxe", this really stands out as a clear study in brand extension and the question of brand dilution. How far is too far?