LACD Newsletter                                                                 Issue #4
                                                                                                                                                   May 18,2017

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” -- Confucius
  The LACD Went To Lebanon!
 A delegation from all chapters represented the LACD and participated in the Lebanese Diaspora Energy Convention 2017, in Lebanon, on May 4, 5, and 6.
 “ Proud of our LACD new elected National Board and Chapter reps from Washington D.C., New York, Boston, Michigan, Ohio, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arizona and California who participated in the Lebanese Diaspora Energy convention and were honored with a special meeting with the President of Lebanon. Join LACD and become a member and encourage your Lebanese-American friends, families and acquaintances to join at: http://www.lacd.us” --
LACD Founder Gabriel Issa.
For more on the activities of the LDE 2017, watch this video.
 
 
Lebanon News!
  " Change and Reform" MP Ibrahim Kanaan said that the deadline for producing a new election law persists till the last moment, disclosing that the recent days witnessed an exchange of ideas over the proportionality electoral law proposal on the basis of medium-size districts. Details
"  We are at an important crossroads and there is a chance of … reaching an electoral law," said Deputy Speaker Farid Makari, hoping that "the extension of the parliament's term would not go beyond the technical deadline." "There is an almost full consensus over the proportionality law. What is left is to agree on the details; something that appears to be solvable," Makari said. "The opening of an extraordinary session of the House of Representatives is a national duty and it serves the country's supreme interest," he said, assuring that President Aoun and PM Hariri will go forward with this decision out of keenness on the interest of Lebanon.
  Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Youssef Fenianos, opened on May 11, the new radar center at Rafic Hariri International Airport, in the presence of Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon Michelle Cameron. Fenianos announced that the new radar system would improve the airport's capacity and would also improve the collection of climate data to assist air traffic controllers in guiding airplanes and detecting military and civil targets in the Lebanese airspace.
MISCELLANEOUS (CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH)
    May Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary refers to special Marian devotions held in the Catholic Church during the month of May honoring the Virgin Mary as "the Queen of May". These services may take place inside or outside. A "May Crowning" is a traditional Roman Catholic ritual that occurs in the month of May
Located 16 miles from Beirut and perched atop Mount Lebanon, and topped by a beautiful Marian statue rising 1,886 feet above sea level, the shrine of Harissa, Our Lady of Lebanon is breathtaking. It affords spectacular views of Lebanon's countryside and the Mediterranean Sea. Patriarch Hoyek inaugurated the shine on May 3, 1908, the first Sunday in May, celebrated as Our Lady of Lebanon's feast day ever since, not only in Lebanon but in the Lebanese Catholic Diaspora throughout the world.   More..
  An advertisement by a Lebanese fast-food chain featuring a same-sex couple saw a flurry of comments by social media users following its release this week. The online advert by Crepaway, which was shared on the chain's social media platforms on Wednesday, has been hailed as the first in the country to feature a lesbian couple cuddling by the seaside as the voice over says "and here's to never hiding your love-bites". Full story

  A month ago, Karl Massaad became the first Lebanese & Arab driver to compete in the British Formula4 Championship for 2017. On May 6, Massaad made history by clinching his first podium at Thruxton Circuit in the F4 British Championship certified by FIA. After a difficult and disappointing qualifying round where the young Lebanese driver finished in 8th spot, Massaad was off to a great start on race day and advanced to fourth spot within four laps before clinching the final podium spot on Lap 6. Massaad’s quick pace earned him a well deserved third spot noting that he was only 4.7 seconds away from first spot.
  U.S. NEWS
  President Trump delivered his first commencement speech as president, on Saturday morning at Liberty University. Speaking at the Jerry Falwell-founded Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia, Trump promised the Class of 2017 that, "As long as I am your president, , no one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith." "America has always been the land of dreams because America is a nation of true believers," Trump said. "When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, they prayed. When the founders wrote the Declaration of Independence, they invoked our creator four times. Because in America, we don't worship government, we worship God." Watch the full address here.  

Was Firing FBI Director Fair? A majority of Americans think it was not. While 38 percent of respondents said ousting the director was appropriate, 54 percent said it was not, according to the NBC News/Survey Monkey online poll released Thursday. A plurality of respondents, 46 percent, also said they believed Trump dismissed the FBI chief because of how he handled the investigation into Moscow's interference in the election and possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.  Details
  The White house HAS A SPELLING PROBLEM! From press releases to inauguration posters to tweets from President Donald Trump himself, an alarming number of the White House's official communications contain typographical errors and spelling mistakes.  Tweets like this one are raising eyebrows. More..

Good for a laugh
  Saturday Night Live has taken a fresh dig at Sean Spicer after the White House press secretary concealed himself behind a hedge to avoid taking questions from the media earlier this week. The episode showed Mr Spicer – – played by actress Melissa McCarthy –peering through the press briefing room window from behind a bush while Trump political aide Sarah Huckabee Sanders fielded questions from journalists. McCarthy’s Spicer – enraged over his apparent replacement –ousted Ms Sanders from the podium before turning upon the assembled journalists with his usual ire. The journalists then probe Mr Spicer about his future with the Trump administration. Watch the segment here
            From LEBANON

Zahle is the capital and largest city of Beqaa Governorate. Zahlé is located 55 km (34 mi) east of the capital Beirut, close to the Beirut-Damascus road, and lies at the junction of the Lebanon mountains and the Beqaa plateau, at a mean elevation of 1000m. It is famous throughout Lebanon and the region for its pleasant climate, numerous riverside restaurants and quality arak.  
  LACD Newsletter Team:
Joey Chbeir: Media Group President
Marlene Sabeh: Media Coordinator
Sami Arayssi: Senior Contributor
Andre Jbeily: IT Coordinator


A Picture Is Worth One Thousand Words!