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English The World’s Global Language

French fries or chips?

When appellation Matters ‌ Irban Irban Interview

Teaching English Through songs The history of The English Language

How to read with Speed and Efficiency

A unique linguistic melting pot

Why English?

Do you speak English in public places where no one else understands just to make them feel you are better than others? Do you reply in English whenever someone speaks to you in French or some other language you don’t know just to show them that you know a foreign language too? Are you afraid of speaking English in public because people would think that you are a stuck-up? Do you feel offended when other people are speaking English around you rather than Arabic or French? Or do you use English just because you have to?

No matter what your attitude towards English is, or your reasons behind learning this language, no one can deny that it is imperative to learn English today.

For many years, French has been the “other language” for Algerians. People got used to it to the point that most of the time it’s hardly noticeable for them that they are not speaking Arabic when, in fact, they are speaking French. However, Algerian doors have been open to foreign investment and English found a way to sneak into our country’s linguistic make-up... Even though a decent number of Algerians were learning English, many others found themselves obliged to jump onto the train, be it for generic reasons (business, school curricula, etc.), or personal motivations (communicating with foreign friends, enhancing their career, or the desire to go traveling, etc.). It was then that a certain reorientation towards English began to take place in Algeria. You try to speak English in a public place here and watch people’s reaction: it’s either admiration or resentment. You would rarely find indifference. That alone shows how significant the English language is to many people, one way or another.

In a survey conducted by 50/Fifty to see why people all over the world learn English in the first place, we found that 37.20% of the interviewed population do so because they need it in their professional life, 24.80% because it is the world’s most widely-spoken language , 12.40% gave an interest in English literature and media as the source of their motivation, 6.97% because it’s easy to learn, 11.62 said it’s just for pleasure, and 4.65% had other reasons for learning English, while 2.32% said they need it to travel. Algerians wholly / perfectly fit in with these results.

It’s obvious that for one reason or another, English is one of the must-learn languages the world over; that’s why it is spreading very fast in Algeria.

Given the potential of the language to cross borders -not only between West and East but also between the anglo and francophone countries within Africa, the Middle East and beyond-, we decided it’s time to realize that it is becoming increasingly futile to keep fighting English, and hence our aim is to show people that it can never hurt to learn any language, let alone the one on top of the charts at this time. There’s no need to overreact, no need to over-love it or hate it, because at the end of the day, English is just another language.

The idea of creating an Algerian magazine in English was conceived in response to all these needs and considerations. So 50/Fifty, we are glad to announce, has come to the world in order to give the English-speaking community in Algeria something to read about in English, and the English-speaking community outside Algeria a better insight into our country. The main reason, however, is to erase all prejudices and communicate better with the outside world. Therefore, we decided to have ‘English’ as our first theme, so people will know more about this language and feel a little bit more comfortable with it.

Have a look at our sections that cover a wide range of topics, from language and literature through medical issues to your favorite recipes, life style and the latest trends in fashion, and enjoy yourself as you flip through the pages of your new monthly companion: Algeria’s very own English magazine, the one and only 50/Fifty.

It is you, dear readers, who are the heart and soul of every publication, and especially of this one. We want to grow with you. Therefore, your personal input, opinions and concerns are highly valued. In welcoming you to 50/Fifty, we wish to seize the opportunity of inviting you to honor us with your feed-back. It will be our pleasure and privilege to answer your inquiries and take up your suggestions.

We wish you much pleasure with your new magazine.

Love, 50/Fifty Team Aziza El Kolei

Publishing Director and Editor-in-Chief: Aziza El Kolei

Publishing Assistant: Ratiba Dahmani

Chief Copy Editor: Muhammad A. Al Mahdi

Copy Editor: Louise Bensaid

Graphic Designer: Mourad Bouzid

Writers/Contributors: Lardjane Imene, Zorina Dellali, Ghada Baghdadi, Muhammad A. Al Mahdi, Valentina Sommella, Saidani Oussama, Louise Bensaid, Bouzenita Djahida, Johanna Heil, Hamza Abdelhak, Amel Sait, Asma, Lilia, Ilias Rima, Gabriel Losa, Ibtissem Belmihoub, Aouachria Abderrahim Riadh, Amel, Hend Ashour, Mitzi Kay Jackson, Hamid Leulmi, Hamza Koudri, Soraya Bourouba, Sarah Mohamed, Kamal B. Nour Abd elsamii

50/Fifty Magazine Cité Les Dunes, Villa N° 399, Cheraga, Alger, Algerie Phone Number: +213 (0) 551.79.84.76 Email Address: contact@50fiftydz.com

Index

English The World’s Global Language Behind the present global language The History of the English Language How to read with Speed and Efficiency Teaching English through songs The Impact of Slang on Contemporary English Where is Reading in our Lives?

TOP Three High-Techs Experiencing the world plate By plate Studying in The United States An Interview with the Algerian artist Zekkour Fouzi It is a stimulant to communicate a vision through the medium of art A multi-lingual Algerian cheer “One, two, three - viva l’Algerie!”

An interview with the new Algerian phenomenon IRBAN IRBAN Professional Medical English What’s the Diagnosis?; Dyspepsia and Reflux A personal story about learning English A tribute to my very first English teacher A new way of traveling Couchsurfing Not just a Place to Sleep!

Most of the artist Algerian Literature Works of Algerian authors translated into English French fries or chips? Whe n appellation matters…

LOL, FYI the OED has added Y ....OMG, go and tell your BFF! Hospitality as a Trait o f the Algerian Culture A unique linguistic melting pot 50/Fifty Magazine’s Writing Contest Selection of poems for this issue An Overview of the Algerian Economy The Second World Power The Chinese in Africa Apple Cider Vinegar More than your average dressing Algerian food Cancer cell is clever!

Having problems remembering your vocab? Watch a scary movie Last actions of Esteban Moreno and the world Cinema reviews Algerian Action Offering a little help to those living in Algeria

English

The World’s Global Language

M

ost of the world’s population can communicate with each other by means of using an internationally spoken language, which is mainly learned as a second language, and is used in all international organizations and media, at professional gatherings, and in diplomacy.

Thus, this global language, as it were, simply acts as a medium of communication between people of different origins. In the last few years, you may have heard of English being described as a global language. Does that mean that people from all over the world speak English? How was it promoted to this status and why? Is it possible to change this?

And why not, say, design a truly universal language to replace it?

English is presently the most widely taught foreign language. It superseded and, in fact, relegated many other languages. This was the case in Algeria, where in 1996 the government substituted French with English as the main foreign language in Algerian schools, devoting many efforts and resources to helping people learn this language.

Traveling to any country, one may use English to communicate with the locals - but why English and not any other language?

It has been claimed that a language becomes strong if their native speakers are strong. Thus, English is a global language due to two reasons. First, the USA is a major player in the world’s economy and politics. As a result, the present position of English as a lingua franca is reinforced by political and economic factors causing a multitude of bodies, organizations and

individuals to make English the medium in which they conduct their activities in business, diplomacy, technology and science, publish their inventions and thus export this language all over the world. This trend, secondly, has a solid historical foundation to build on: in the 16th century, English was spread in the course of the British Empire’s dramatic expansion, as colonies in America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia were established.

Language being a major tool of colonization, English was imposed as administrative language as well serving as the medium of instruction, and hence became the official language that linked colonies and “motherland”, which made it the dominant language in many countries. This status, together with the practical utility resulting therefrom, caused many of these to keep English as their first or second official language even after attaining independence from British rule.

Consequently, the above reasons have made of English a global language which, according to statistics, is spoken by 375 million people as a first language, by around 2 billion people (a third of the world’s population) as a second language and by 750 million people as a foreign language. English is also declared to be the “Jargon of Traders”, as it dominates most business transactions.

Although English is the most widely spoken language, it is not considered a universal language which may be readily spoken and understood by everyone. English is said to be merely a technical and scientific

lingua franca, as it allows fast and easy communication, has simple rules, a manageable grammar and an easy vocabulary.

Some people, however, would strongly disagree with this characterization since the English language contains, after all, many irregularities, is obscured by a counterphonetic spelling and divided into a variety of (often very strongly differing) dialects.

The concept of English as the future’s universal language spoken and understood by every single person in the world, still purported by some, is therefore increasingly becoming a matter of fierce debate.

Some people indeed doubt its future because previous trends and linguistic patterns are strongly challenged by the emergence of new commercial and economic powers such as, in particular, China as the world’s second largest economy, expected to eventually grow into the world’s largest within the space of mere years. As a result, some experts are uncertain whether English will be able to retain its predominant position and expect Chinese to overtake it as global language in the coming decades, a thesis which is, however, is as much open to debate as the status and future of English as such.

Until then, in any case, English is and will remain an important language which most of us will find useful and many of us will find necessary to acquire.

Imene LARDJANE

Behind the present global language

The History of the English Language Spoken by 375 million people as a first language, by around 2 billion people (a third of the world’s population) as a second language and by more than 750 million people as a foreign language, English is making its way toward universality and is considered the world’s global language. Where did English come from? What are the steps of its development? And how was it influenced by other languages?

T

he English language started with the invasion of Britain by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes -Germanic tribes- in the fifth century AD. The earlier inhabitants of Britain spoke Celtic languages (a group of languages belonging to the Indo-European family, presently spoken in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and parts of Canada, Argentina and Chile), but soon their languages were influenced by the ones of the Germanic peoples (Dutch, Frisian, German, Norse, Swedish and Scandinavian languages) who gave birth to what is now called “Old English.”

Old English was the spoken language in Britain from 500 to 1100 AD. It was the mother tongue from which Modern English descended. However, from the perspective of contemporary speakers, they look like entirely different languages. The arrival of the Normans and the successive Norman Conquest put an end to the Old English period, as the influence of the Norman French-speaking people was to leave its mark on the language for good. For more than 300 years after the Norman Conquest in 1066, British nobility spoke AngloNorman, which is an ancient form of French, while English still remained the language of common people. Thus, some 10,000 French words were adopted into English, resulting in many phonological changes that led to what is now called “Middle English.”

The period of Middle English was characterized by the revival of the literary movement. Geoffrey Chaucer (1343-1400) is often described as the father of English literature, simply because he decided to write his long poem “Canterbury Tales” in English. William Shakespeare is the most important literary representative of Middle (or Elizabethan) English.

Though his vocabulary and grammar are understandable to the contemporary reader, the difference in meaning and associations connected with certain words at the time, a somewhat different attitude to

grammar, his artistic and highly individual use of language, as well as his use of verse, present a challenge to us today, as this may lead to an alteration of his original meaning in the perception of a reader unfamiliar with the conventions of the period. His use of language had a great effect on the development of English; as people and times were changing, his language too reflected a changing perspective, gaining a new flexibility through his genius. He invented new uses of words, used all variations of English and produced a simple and versatile grammar, which (for all the deviations the 21st century reader will observe) largely corresponds to that applied in modern language. As a result, Shakespeare has been highly influential in developing and preserving the English language, as he expanded vocabulary by changing nouns into verbs, which resulted in more than 1700 words of our common vocabulary. In addition, he contributed to the establishment and standardization of English grammar, which was then not yet fixed. Although there are many troubles in understanding Shakespeare’s literature, his works are important records of the development of Middle English.

By 1500, Middle English was coming to an end with the Renaissance. As the printing press developed, vocabulary, spelling and grammar were standardized. This created

“Early Modern English”, which lasted for 300 years. In that period, the first English dictionary was published and literacy became more common. Early Modern English was the introduction of present-day spoken English, which is known as “LateModern English” and differs from its earlier version in vocabulary and conventions of usage. It emerged in 1800 and developed a new, expanded vocabulary due to the adoption of numerous foreign words and new concepts reflecting the advance of capitalism ringing in the era of European imperialism in the course of Britain’s (and the continent’s) industrial revolution.

The rise and advance of English is much more complex than the history of one language alone. There are many languages which, in fact, served as tools in introducing English to the world. Although English itself was largely influenced by other languages such as Latin, French and Spanish, early modern English has made its way to universal propagation in the form of global English, spoken all over the world and used as a medium of communication worldwide.

After having experienced many changes, resulting in the four stages our article has elaborated upon, English has thus come to be adopted as an international lingua franca.

Imene LARDJANE

How to read with Speed and Efficiency

Reading is of enormous importance in today’s society. Whether it is newspapers, work reports, school assignments or even texts and emails, we encounter reading in every corner of our lives. We read to learn new things, to build up our vocabulary, to hold our own in highly intellectual conversations, or simply to lose ourselves in a world of fantasy and imagination.

Different reasons, yet the act is the same.

H

owever, how many times do we find ourselves holding a book when our concentration wavers and the words on the page swim before our eyes, or reading pages and pages but when we look back we realize that there was no comprehension involved so, we lose interest and give up on the whole book! In this day and age and with the advent of technology it is important that we invest our time in fruitful and effective activities. And to do so, we need to improve our reading skills so as to make our reading fast and at the same time efficient.

Fast and accurate reading is the result of the application of basic techniques that help us extract thoughts quickly and effectively. Furthermore, it is our determination and purpose that make our reading better. That is why we need to devise a plan to help us. But, before we proceed to these techniques and how to employ them, we need to divide the reading materials into three units: a paragraph, a chapter and a book. Now let’s learn the basic techniques:

How to read a paragraph Consider a paragraph as a unit of reading: A paragraph is a set of sentences that signifies the introduction of a new thought. It starts with a marginal indentation. These are the

ones we will keep an eye out for to better notice a paragraph because it will help us notice which of the paragraphs are of great importance and which are irrelevant. Read the first sentence carefully: From the structure of a paragraph we distinguish three types of sentences: a principal, or topic sentence, an explanatory sentence and a dud or immaterial sentence. Usually the first sentence is the one to introduce the main thought discussed in the paragraph. So reading it should give us the general idea behind the words. Read the last sentence: Because sometimes this sentence summarizes what has been said throughout the whole paragraph.

Consider the facts of the paragraph collectively: Because the sentences contain related thoughts. In doing so we will be able to note the logical sequence of the ideas and actually anticipate it. Hence, it helps us build speed into our reading.

Watch for dud sentences: These are sentences which do not contribute directly to the main idea, a sort of accessory sentences that can be left out without harming the coherence of the paragraph.

Note the words in italics or bold: The somarked words can be important or specialized terms, so we should take note of them and keep them aside, then look them up and learn them.

Finally, we should summarize our findings by re-reading the main idea and noting down the facts we found.

How to read a chapter Note the chapter heading carefully: We should scrutinize the title of the chapter to be aware of what we are about to read.

Turn to the table of contents: In order to know how this chapter relates to the rest of the chapters, to stay oriented to what might precede this one and keep track of the author’s thoughts.

Look for typographical clues: Sometimes the author will keep part of the text in italics; this is to stress the importance of the idea expounded. So we should give emphasize to it as well.

Look for an end-of-chapter summary: The summary is the bird’s-eye-view, so we should read it first to have a general idea.

Return to the beginning of the chapter and skim its main idea through the paragraphs: A chapter is a collection of paragraphs, so we should proceed with the same steps stated above for reading the paragraph.

Having read the chapter, repeat steps 2 and 4: This is important, as the quick review will help us master the chapter.

Teaching English through songs

How to read a book Read the title page: Every book deals with a particular area. So we should read the title page looking for any details that might give away the general idea of the book and see if it meets our needs.

Study the table of contents analytically: The table of the contents is the master plan of the book. Therefore, it will help us understand in which way the book is organized and laid out, allowing us to better know our way through it.

Read the preface (front matter): to have an insight into the author’s take on the book, their reasons for writing it, its purpose and their explanation of the methods used.

Look for end matter: This consists of appendixes, tables of supplementary data, glossaries, etc. It is really important to consult these because they make our browsing the book a lot easier and faster.

Proceed now to read the book following the steps suggested for reading the paragraph and chapter.

These were the techniques to use to read with speed and effective comprehension.

So, it is not a ‘wade through the whole reading material’ approach that makes our reading efficient, like a beaver going through a piece of wood. Rapid, precise reading is a skill that is worth a lot throughout life. With effective reading, we will get better grades in school, save ourselves time and be able to be more efficient in our work- and it will make our reading experience much more enjoyable.

Therefore it is important that we make some effort to develop this skill.

By Lilia

English is a language that interests a lot of people for various reasons. Most students love the language, but when it comes to grammar or rules it becomes their nightmare.

W

hat should teachers do in order to make it interesting? This is the question I asked myself. To answer it I had led a research on the topic and found out that yes, actually teachers can use music in class for their activities and at the same time students on their own can develop the language using some techniques they learned in class. This way they will learn without feeling overwhelmed or shocked by huge textbooks.

Most students listen to music while revising, doing homework, or reading for classes. So integrating music into the course would draw the students’ attention and interest to the course. Songs might be used to develop vocabulary, learn daily expressions, develop grammar, acquire the lexis… etc. The result of studies carried out on music as a teaching tool shows that most would dismiss music as just another form of entertainment, something to pass idle time with. Recent studies, however, are revealing that, quite contrary to this assumption, music actually is a very powerful educational tool.

The teacher can suggest to the students to listen to their favorite song and write down the lyrics. From that draft the teacher can create all the exercises for the class

(fill in the gaps, extract some expressions, extract all verbs conjugated in the present simple, etc.) Teachers can also use Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to get to know the musical tastes of their students in order not to repeat the very mistakes they are trying to remedy, such as giving a boring lecture when the class can actually be more beneficial by stimulating a greater degree of activity and involvement.

MBTI consists of a couple of questions, and depending on the answers given, there is a set of types that can be used to analyze the students’ respective types in the class.

The test questions can be found online and the test can be taken by every student.

According to the results, teachers can check the personality description of every student which would lead to conclusions on the musical tastes of the students, and therefore we can guarantee a successful course.

As teachers naturally aspire to make their courses as effective as they possibly can, they should always seek to know more about students and have fun working with them because this creates a relaxed atmosphere conducive to giving all they have and trying all they can think of.

By Ibtissem belmihoub

The Impact

of Slang on Contemporary English The use of slang English has had a remarkable exponential growth during the last decade, mainly due to the influence of TV and the internet. A slang word is used today; a new one is used on the eve of the next day, which probably makes you wonder: how serious is the impact of slang on the English language? Is it really contributing to what some linguists call “language corruption” or “degradation of language”?

F

irst, let’s give a definition of this beast: what is slang? Some language experts define it as “the use of highly informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker’s dialect or language.”

A thumping majority of these slang terms came to replace older and more formal words to describe certain situations or express certain feelings. Some words are exclusive to a specific region, for instance the British hunky-dory -meaning everything is cool and groovy, according to plan, no worries and generally going well-, luvly-jubbly -clearly another way of saying ‘lovely’, or chin wag -no, it’s not some kind of Chinese martial arts; it’s actually a verb-, and it means ‘to chat’. We should also mention some American-born slang: complisult -that’s a new entry and means to give a backhanded compliment, as in: «That’s a terrific jacket! I didn’t even know they made them like that anymore. »; glitzy -another way to describe something fashionable or luxurious, and phat -an AfricanAmerican word very often used in the HipHop community and meaning the coolest or the greatest. Let us conclude with an Australian expression: chuck a sickie -surely everyone has ‘chuck a sickie’ at some point in their career, which simply means to take a day off from work going on sick leave when you are perfectly healthy.

When it comes to people’s views on slang, we come across some quite contradictory opinions. While some consider this intertwinement of slang and formal English as a danger to the identity of the language, others decided to concentrate on the full half of the glass and go on to say that it’s beneficial because it has extended the range of words found in the English language.

However, let’s be more precise: let’s talk

statistics.

According to a poll on the web, 85% of all people use slang words in their everyday social interaction (including messaging, and IM (instant message) -based conversations) abbreviations should usually be written out in full the first time they are used in a piece of work); some of them even invented their own slang words, and others went as far as using slang words on exam papers and in formal interviews. David Crystal, a famous English researcher, claimed in one of his works that over 200,000 slang words are now used in everyday English. This shows how greatly ‘Slanglish’, as some people call it, has influenced the English language. A questionnaire analyzing the use of language within different communities showed that age played a fluctuating role. Young people (16-25 years old) stated that they used slang every day, even with their parents, who do not understand those terms. According to teenagers, slang language is deemed “cool” and is a must to fit in. Adults (over 25 years old) held varied opinions. Some of them claimed that they made some moderate use of it because it has invaded the language, and adapting to it is thus unavoidable, whereas others denied the use of it at all, considering it juvenile and unnecessary.

The impact of slang on the English language is about as subtle as an earthquake, to say the least; it IS there, and no one can deny it. We cannot tell for sure if the day will come when everybody speaks, writes and reads in slang but it’s safe to say that society, throughout all age ranges, is beginning to recognize and react to this linguistic intrusion, and they are becoming more and more comfortable integrating it into their day-to-day usage.

By Hamza

Where is Reading in our Lives?

W

hat I have noticed in people of our generation is a lack of knowledge and culture.

The main reason for this lies, on the one hand, in the formation of the human personality from the early days of an individual’s concrete operations, when concept and cognitive strategies begin to take shape, on to his formal operations stage*, when they are independently applied. Then there are, on the other hand, the influences of both community and the educational system, when the child or youth begins to reach out for the world beyond the protected confines of his own. As the educative process, during which we build our own knowledge, is directed by our teachers, it is they whose respective personality type exercises the major influence on a person’s attitudes toward learning and education as such. Another decisive influence, of course, lies in family conditions. Together, these two formative agents play the main role in enhancing the idea of reading in the emerging individual’s mind.

Reading vs. ….

The reality that presents itself to us, however, is this: in schools, students keep just looking for marks to help them pass on to the next scholastic year. At home, there exist many other amusements which may appear to hold considerably greater attraction than the study of a book. This is why there exists no reading culture in present-day Algeria, and why Algerian youth lacks the motivation and, most importantly, the inner connection with reading. The first entertainment attracting their attention is TV. Indeed, what the average Algerian boy or girl prefers to watch are programs of pure entertainment.

A second favorite medium is the Internet, where he or she hangs out, chatting, twittering, facebooking, downloading music and videos, or rather not knowing how to do anything at all.

Family conditions The culture of holding a book and continuing to read it has become nearly extinct in our country. As we have noted, it is the family who plays a major role in fostering the habit.

If one was born under severe conditions, with no shelter, no money, or without educated parents, of course, his life’s purpose and intentions would be focused on seeking

to obtain the luck denied him and yet so essentially required. Others do have well educated parents that lead them to proper path of knowledge, but they suddenly lose direction when their inclination to read diminishes under the influence of bad companions or colleagues who are inclined neither towards seeking education nor toward seeking knowledge. In both cases, however, the individual’s own strength of personality can play a major role in rescuing and stabilizing him.

A real problem The question of reading these days remains a real problem and becomes a dangerous issue if we keep silent about it for the sake of our country’s image. People ought to become aware of the importance of reading and broadening their knowledge in various fields so as to refine their culture. That does not mean to neglect all other issues. It merely means giving time to reading at least, say, one page a day. The importance of this, of course, is not inherent in haphazard reading, but pertains to the impact of reading as a part of social and personal culture to the effect of shaping an individual’s personality and helping them discover their intellectual capacity. Reading is a portal to others civilizations; it enables you to broaden your horizon, improve your imagination, and maintain the optimum standard of your linguistic capacity.

Step by step Sowing the seeds of reading in an individual takes time and may require special techniques. Starting from an early age, we should, first of all, instil reading in our children as a regular habit that forms an integral part of their daily life. We should try to stimulate their natural curiosity in directing it towards reading and the discovery of books. This may seem, at the beginning, mere play, but it will foster their familiarity with books and thus make them, as it were, companions with whom they spend their free time. After the first step, the establishment of the habit itself, has been playfully completed, there comes the moment when the child finishes reading their first book, which will make them more enthusiastic to finish the next, and after that, another one. In this way, s/he spontaneously learns to understand what s/he reads.

Finally, s/he has grown into a person who enjoys reading and takes pleasure in seeking more books to discover. We should always try to choose cheerful, happy stories and motivating books for our children in order to make reading more fun and enjoyable to them. In this way they will, for sure, love what they read. To improve and spread the culture of reading in our country, we should first convince people about the benefits of reading it, foster their love of books by different means, build institutions available to readers as well as writers and educate the younger generation to read.

By Bouzenita Djahida

*concrete operations and formal operations stage: stages of human intellectual development according to Jean Piaget (1896 - 1980), a Swiss psycholgist in opposition to the behaviorist school predominant in his time

TOP Three High-Techs As time goes by, more and more sophisticated technologies appear. Today we’re going to go through some of the most powerful and highly efficient new-techs These new-techs combine luxury features with the WOW factor of the 21st century.

T

he first innovative product is the “Apple iPod Touch 5G”, or simply “iPod 5”. Well … it is going to be released in September 2011, so we can expect it here in Algeria about three months later (or may be more). We are all aware of the many great products made by Apple, such as the previous version of iPod known as iPod 4.

However, as usual, speculation are high as to what will be included in the iPod Touch 5G. Below is an overview that gives you a glimpse of what we may find in this next release. So here are some of the features expected:

4/ iPad like 3G Micro SIM Card Service for iPod Tocuh 5G: Probably NOT, because that would make the gap between the iPhone and the iPod touch much smaller, especially considering that one can facetime and use VoIP apps (Voice Over IP Applications), so it would only eat away a larger portion of the iPhone market, and Apple earns more money per iPhone than per iPod Touch. So what about the price? Will that be changed TOO?! Yes, probably. The basics that we often see with updates around the iPod could include changes in price and storage space, along with a possible increase in iPod Touch battery life. Now, with the iPod Touch 4 price

starting at $229 (about 1.600.000 DZA !), it will be easy to assume that the price may drop below $200 (about 1.400.000 DZA !) for smaller storage space iPods .

1/ Better Still Photos Camera 2MP~5MP (Mega Pixels) : Apple added the camera to the 4th generation, and it would make sense to get a better camera in the 5th generation, so we are definitely going to see some camera improvements.

3/ Apple’s A5 Processor Chip with 256MB to 512MB RAM: Definitely will be on board in order to reach the required speed improvements.

2/ Built-in GPS for Maps and Other Services: Probably not to come out yet; we may find it in some future versions.

The Core “ i7 990X ” Extreme Edition

The second innovative product is Intel’s latest CPU, the Core “i7 990X” Extreme Edition. This Edition is NO “Pentium 4”, which most of us ALGERIANS use. This Exact Edition is considered Intel’s Top of the Line CPU. That means you will fly through everything you do on your PC - from playing intense 3D games to creating and editing digital videos, music and photos. PCs based on the Intel Core i7-990X Processor Extreme Edition deliver incredible performance with a rich feature set, such as: – 3.46Ghz Core Clock which can turbo up to 3.73Ghz using Intel’s Turbo Boost technology – Six Cores and Twelve Threads while utilizing Intel’s Hyper Threading Technology

– It supports 6x256kB of L2 cache, 12MB of L3 cache and also support for triple-channel DDR3-1066 memory And a lot more dazzling features that Makes your head spin around. Literally! The Core “i7 990X” Extreme Edition is now available on the market so you may find it here in Algeria...but it will be high-priced.

However, it will be worth every penny, so to speak, for any high-end users.

Honda FC : Future Sports Car with V Flow Fuel Cell Technology The third and the Last innovative product today is for CAR fans: the new FC Sport fuel based car from Honda that was recently displayed at the LA Auto Show. The designers have used to their advantage the flexibility which

is extended by the fuel cell, as it is placed on the back of the driver. It’s a 3-seater with the styling of a sports car ,where the driver is in the middle, with passenger seats on sides and back. The concept car is under intense study right now, with all its facilities being put to the test to understand the full utility of the product. Though there may be a possibility of Honda releasing a full version

for commercial use, it’s going to be o n e t r a f f i c s t o p p e r ! Well, I’m afraid this is the end of our TOP 3 HIGH-TECHS topic, which we took us to three products of a beautiful blend, combining clever engineering with functionality and thereby producing high end fashion that provides us with the extraordinary assets of 21st century’s hightech.

Experiencing the world plate By plate Portland is known as Vacationland in the USA for its mild summers, beautiful wildlife scenery, the finest lobster and some of the best restaurants on the East coast.

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or our first issue of 50/Fifty magazine I want to introduce you to the exciting excursions that are soon to come.

We will be touring America and abroad and reviewing some of the very best restaurants as well as giving you a little history lesson while on this gastronomic journey. My first epicurean destination is Eritrean cuisine via Asmara restaurant.

The Beef Tibsi at Asmara, a quaint Eritrean restaurant nestled in the heart of downtown Portland is delectable.

Tender, chunks of seasoned beef stewed in a thick tomato sauce with peppers and onions served inside an injera which coincidentally will be used as your eating utensil. Injera is traditional unleavened bread made from teff flour. The texture of this bread is moist, spongy and its taste is slightly sour however, a perfect complement to the spicy food. The bread is used to scoop up the meat and sauce and other meal components that you might have presented on your plate.

Upon entering this restaurant the relaxing ambiance engulfs you the moment you walk in and almost instantaneously calms your racing mind. The atmosphere is quiet, the lighting is perfect, and the dĂŠcor consists of traditional pieces of art and a few paintings on the wall. You are

promptly seated, and after reading over your menu you are given warm moist towels to wash your hands before your meal begins. It is traditional to eat with your right hand in Eritrea as it is in our Muslim culture. This one action of eating with one’s hands sets the mood for a lesson in humility and if you are lucky a new cultural experience, plus the food just tastes better this way.

In addition to the items reviewed there are other menu favorites that are definitely worth trying such as:

Lamb Tibsi, Shiro (roasted, ground chickpeas and red pepper cooked in garlic and spices), or if you want the full experience try one of the vegetarian samplers which encompass all of the best vegetarian dishes offered on the menu in hearty portions.

If you are ever in Maine, Asmara restaurant in Portland is a definite must on your list of places to visit.

Asmara 51 Oak Street Portland (207) 253-5122 Zorina Dellali

Studying in

The United States Studying in the United States is a unique experience. I feel this way as having been an Algerian student in the US, I got to learn a great deal throughout my journey abroad. In this article, I will share some of my experiences that will illustrate how unique it is to study in the USA.

I

had many positive experiences. While I was an undergraduate student, I got involved in various extra-curricular activities. After school, I always had something to do, volunteering for various organizations and traveling, when possible, during weekends. One student organization, for instance, organized a trip to New York City; a very enjoyable and culturally-instructive trip. I also spent time studying with peers at the library or alone at home.

It was important to strike a balance between one’s social and academic life. Moreover, studying abroad helps one become more aware of one’s own culture and cherish it even more. For instance, because Americans value fluency in other languages a lot, I myself became much more attached to Standard Arabic as I was sharing my linguistic background with the locals.

Overall, every person is different and, thus, might enjoy different experiences, but it is important to remain faithful to one’s identity and values.

There are also a few challenges when studying in the US, but these should not be an obstacle to one’s aspirations to study in the US because they are also learning opportunities. For example, the food is very different, and therefore it took me a few weeks to get used to the various kinds of burgers and gravy.

Academically, I was initially lost trying to figure out what courses to take over the first semester, later realizing that I had to choose by myself what courses to take after consulting with my academic adviser. It is important to stay close to one’s academic adviser in order to get advice as to which classes to choose for each semester. All in all, no matter what kind of challenges

one might face, it is important to work hard and remain committed to one’s traditional values to overcome any possible bumps on the road.

To end with, I think that studying in the US is a good experience to have. It will help you become more self-reliant and confident because you will be away from home. It will also help improve your fluency in English; a language that is increasingly used in many parts of the globe, including the Arab and Islamic world. There are many advantages to studying in other countries, and studying in the United States is no different. So, if you are interested in opportunities to study in the US, a thorough online search will offer you useful information to start with.

Kamal B

An Interview with the Algerian artist Zekkour Fouzi

It is a stimulant to comm through the medium of Algeria has been classified as one of the ten most beautiful countries in the world. Throughout its history, it has inspired many artists to create fascinating works. And one of them is Mr. Zekkour Fouzi, who was inspired by it to such an extent as to make him excel in describing the country in his artistic work.

By Bouzenita Djahida

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oday, he is here to help us understand an artistic view of the world, that vision which only artists can see, and to clarify its mystery.

What about painting?

Painting is one of these means of expression.

What can you tell us, Mr. Zekkour, about art?

What do you think about Algerian culture?

Art is the expression, or the translation, if you please, of what the human spirit contains; it is a divine gift to all people, in their diversity. Indeed, those who have risen to the state of artists have a creative ability and a highly cultivated aesthetic taste. They can perceive, in the shapes and forms of the things that surround them an expression of, and a means of communicating, their thoughts, feelings, and all that speaks to them in forms or images by means of reflections that manifest themselves as beautiful or so-called fine arts.

Algeria is one of the richest countries culturally, thanks to the heterogeneity of its regions and climate. Furthermore, it has been classified seventh among the most prominent archaeological sites and tourist attractions on the World Heritage List.

Algeria has attracted, and drawn on, the most important of the great civilizations now extinguished and thereby gained its unique position (albeit, like most countries aspiring to progress on the way to national development, problems such as poor management and excessive spending have had their effects).

How far has the Algerian aspect been a source for the artistic successes you have accomplished, or an inspiration for your art as such?

I cannot say anything about success, as this is quite a personal goal, which I take to be the endeavor of every artist. It is a stimulant to communicate a message or vision through the medium of art, in spite of difficulties related with the social aspect.

Another motive is simply the hope that your art is a means by which you are able to get the vision within you across to others.

Where is Algeria in your works?

In one way or another, Algeria is in the folds of all my works.

What, to foreign eyes, marks the Algerianness of your artistic work?

It is contained in the colors, the characters, traditional dress, or even in the jewelry. This is what characterizes most Algerian artists.

And what is most remarkable, as I have stated before, is the question of identity, being one of the most prominent and widely-covered topics, which is a common thread of all Algerian artists.

municate a vision art How do you perceive the Algerian artist?

The Algerian artist continues to sound out and describe the various dimensions of reality in people’s lives and history, as well as their implications. He is inspired by his nation’s beauty, to which his work is devoted, as are his dreams and concerns. Of these too, of course, his work is an expression. What distinguishes the Algerian artist is his portraying of mosques, corners, traditional neighborhoods and modes of dress and jewelry, which are his basic materials and resources. In addition to the art of calligraphy, ISLAMIC MINIATURES and their decoration witnessed a remarkable development in Algeria. Despite the focus on culture and the belonging to a wider civilization prominent in Algerian art due to historical circumstances, there is a remarkable passion about

the preservation of our own heritage and originality. That does not mean, however, that Algerian artists turned their back on Western schools of art and modes of expression, as will be recalled from the works of some of the country’s great artists such as Mohammed Racim, Mohamed Tamam, Mustafa Dabbagh, Mohammed Issiakhem, Mohammed Khadda, (old generation - the postrevolutionary symbols) and in particular in those of theyoung generation.

Which of your works would you consider your main work?

I consider my painting ”Nedjma” the best I ever did.

What is your main source of inspiration?

I am inspired by nature, men, women, ...

How has Algerian history influenced your works?

My works were all influenced by the history of Algeria and its dimensions, even if indirectly.

To what artistic movement if any do you owe the most, or would like to see yourself as belonging?

I do not actually belong to any artistic movement myself, but I have a tendency toward Orientalist Art (L’art des Orientalistes). I have been influenced as well by schools such as realism, the classical school of art, and by the art of miniature painting, which is one of the world’s oldest forms of art.

What is your advice to other young Algerian artists?

My advice to other young Algerian artists is perseverance and sacrifice. It’s not art for the sake of art, but our task is to make art accessible to all people and try to simplify rather than mystify it so it will become more understandable and more acceptable to the general public, who encounter it in exhibitions or museums. Art is noble and beyond commercialization. It must not to be made into a business or a mere source of income, or be shut up in workshops without being shared with other people, or society as a whole.

A multi-lingual Algerian cheer

“One, two, three - viva l’Algerie!”

During the qualification phase for the African Cup and the World Cup, a little sentence consisting of words in three different languages, was used as a slogan to support our national team. But «One, two, three - Viva l’Algérie» has been used before by others, in other times.

I

have read many stories on the web as to its origins, most of them were talking about football.

The first was in 1975 when Algeria had welcomed the Mediterranean Games and won by 3 goals in the final against France.

The score was 3 goals to 2; one, two, three for three goals. But the slogan is reported to have been used at earlier occasions in Oran, specifically in a famous match between the national team and the English club Sheffield United at the Bouakeul stadium where we assume it was, in fact, born. It was May 3, 1974.

There was also the1982 World Cup in Spain, when Algeria played a match against Germany. In the first round, the national team scored the first goal -»one»- and then the second -»two»-after which the public repeated the “One, two, three” slogan, adding “three” to encourage the team to score a third goal.

But according to Internet users, «One, two three - Viva l’Algerie» was not only a slogan in football matches. In the manifestations during the First World War, Algerians wanted to send a message to the world to call for the liberation of Algeria so they launched this sign in English, French and Spanish, the three official languages ​ of

the League of Nations, the predecessor of the United Nations, to express their endeavor for national liberation.

The meaning implied was: “Want to free Viva Algeria”, and as “one two three”, in dialectal pronunciation [albeit the least prestigious one] can sound like «want to free», it has become a symbol of the movement for Algerian independence.

Finally there was the year of 1993, when Jimmy Ouahid, a famous Algerian reggae singer, released a song with the title «One 2 free - Viva Algeria» ... and since then, this slogan has become firmly established among Algerians, except that the words have changed over time to become “One, two three”.

The question is; what is the real story behind this expression? Do you know?

By Hamid

An interview with the new Algerian phenomenon Tell us something about you ?

I’m 31. I work at the radio station since 1999, Algiers Channel 3. I like sports. I like movies.

All kind of movies.

How did you come up with of the idea Irban Irban?

When our national team was hit, I said to myself: what can I do for my team and my country, expressing myself and my view of things here. So I took a part of the move The Untouchables, and dubbed the dialogue in Arabic. At that time, I didn’t think it would be a big hit. When I upload it to Facebook, some 300 people saw it.

Did you have a facebook page before that?

No, I didn’t. Facebook is the best tool to use to follow the news, and that’s why I was connected with Facebook. Afterwards, it became my home, even though many pages of mine and even my Youtube channels have been deleted many times, due to copyright issues. But I guess because I have a lot of fans who are visiting my page and my channel, Facebook and Youtube are not deleting my videos anymore. They want people to visit their site, and I’m bringing a lot people to them.

And now you have your own website, right?

Just recently, there have been many fake Irban Irban websites, but the official one was released exactly four days before I had the pleasure to meet you. If you want to check it out, go to http://irbanb.com/irban.php

How do you choose your topics?

When I had my first success with my videos about the national team, I saw that most of my fans were males. It was good, but I wanted to have female fans as well, so I took a part of the movie Twilight and translated it into Dardja, adding some of our own social problems to the dialogue, which are things like difficulties to get married, difficulties to get jobs, difficulties in the lives of our youth in general.

What about the idea of Sidi Yaya?

I got it from the Beverly Hills show. Many people here want their lives to be like that, and it is like that in Sidi Yaya, so there you go. I don’t mean just the city, but all Algiers.

All I want to do with my work and all the topics I choose is to make people reflect on how they are living their lives in a humorous way.

What inspires Brahim?

Everybody and everything around me inspires me.

Do you work with any other people?

No, I don’t. I do the whole thing on my won. Sometime I have guest stars like Salah Aougrout. To me, he is the best actor in Algeria. But when it comes to the making of the video, choosing the topics and songs, doing the voices, it’s all me.

What are your dreams for the future?

I would like to have the chance to write and make movies, and act in movies, too. I would love to be on stage.

Many people want to see your videos on TV. What do you think about that?

I’ve already got some proposals from the Algerian TV and Nesma TV to do something for Ramadan, but I’m still busy making up my mind which to choose.

Do you have anything to say to other crazy creative Algerians like you?

In this age of the internet, anybody who is creative enough and has original ideas can shine, so my advice is : don’t let anything stop you. I’ve been called crazy so many times, but that didn’t stop me at all.

Many people told us that our idea of starting 50/Fifty is crazy too. What do you think?

I think that it is a very good idea. All the great accomplishments started with people who were called crazy. You have to believe in your project and don’t quit. People here need to have an Algerian magazine in English because all we have is either in Arabic or in French.

The theme of this issue is English.

Do you think it is important for Algerians to learn English?

Of course! I started learning English when I was 17 because I was a big fan of Phil Collins since I was 10, and I was always repeating the lyrics without knowing the meaning, and at some point I said that I have to know what they were saying, and that was how I started learning English. Today English is even more important than it was back then.

Professional Medical English

What’s the Diagnosis?

Welcome to the Medical English pages for both the general public and health professionals alike. Health questions, case studies, interviews and health promotion to educate, challenge and inform.

A

75-year-old man presents to the emergency department complaining of a sudden onset of abdominal pain.

The pain started about 4 hours before presentation to the hospital and has been persistent; it is present in the upper abdomen and is centred in the epigastrium.

He describes the pain as deep and burning.

There is no associated nausea or vomiting.

He does not report any changes in his bowel habits and has not experienced any recent fevers. The review of systems is also negative for any recent unintended weight loss or trauma. The patient also reports having had «indigestion» in the past that caused pain

similar to what he is currently experiencing, though much less in intensity. His past medical history is significant for coronary artery disease and hypertension. He takes two medications, both for his high blood pressure, but does not drink excessively and does not smoke.

On physical examination, the patient is pale and in obvious severe discomfort.

His heart rate is 122 bpm, and his blood pressure is 110/65 mm Hg. He is breathing with rapid shallow breaths at a rate greater than 30 breaths/min. His temperature is normal at 99.2ºF (37.3ºC), and a pulse oximetry reading while the patient is breathing room air shows a saturation rate of 100%. The cardiovascular and respiratory findings are unremarkable. The patient has significant tenderness in the epigastric region, with a rigid abdomen. There is little to no tenderness to palpation in the lower quadrants; a reliable assessment of the upper quadrants is not possible because of the tenderness in the epigastric region.

Hyperactive bowel sounds are heard on auscultation. The patient’s stool is brown and guaiac positive.

An electrocardiogram is performed and is noted to be unremarkable except for

sinus tachycardia. A full blood count (FBC) and a chemistry panel are sent. The FBC reveals a mild anaemia, with a haemoglobin concentration of 127 g/L (12.7 g/dL). On the chemistry panel, there is evidence of a slight azotemia, with a blood urea nitrogen level of 17.1 mmol/L (48 mg/dL) and a creatinine value of 106 µmol/L (1.2 mg/dL). The remainder of the laboratory investigations are unremarkable. Plain radiographs of the abdomen are performed. Both the inner and the outer walls of the bowel are visible.

Answer in next issue

Noticeboard: Medical English classes due to start at the end of 2011. Send me an email if you would like more information.

Check out the Medical English blog at: http://algerianmedics.blogspot.com or the ‘Algerian Medics’ Facebook group General Health I want to know......?

If you have a question about health that you would like answered anonymously, please email it to me. These will be published for other readers to answer in subsequent issues.

Dyspepsia and Reflux What are dyspepsia and reflux and what can you do to help yourself? What is dyspepsia and reflux? Dyspepsia means «impaired digestion?».

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here are many symptoms from which a person can suffer one or a combination. These include: upper abdominal or chest pain, bloating or fullness, nausea, vomiting, belching & reflux. Reflux is where a person feels some of the stomach contents come up towards the mouth. The person feels a burning sensation because of the acid that’s in the stomach.

What causes it?

Dyspepsia and reflux can be caused by the lifestyle choices we make, the food we eat and the medicines we take.

It can also be caused by bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori which lives in the acidic environment of the stomach.

Sometimes, no organic cause can be found and symptoms may be a result of an ‘irritable bowel’.

How can I help myself?

In my experience, our lifestyle can dramatically affect functioning of the gut.

By trying some of the suggestions below for a period of a month, you may notice an improvement in your symptoms: The following are known to irritate the stomach and cause dyspeptic symptoms.

Try to cut down the amount you eat / drink: coffee, citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, and pineapple), chocolate, alcohol, spicy food.

Try to keep a diary of when your symptoms happen and what you were doing or eating

just before. You may notice a pattern which will help you avoid this action or food or it will help your doctor to make a diagnosis.

There is a muscle around the top of your stomach which acts as a barrier. Smoking, coffee and chocolate can relax this muscle allowing stomach contents to come up towards the mouth and cause a burning sensation in the chest, bad taste in the mouth and if severe, can cause a tickly cough and tooth decay.

Increased pressure in the abdomen can make symptoms worse. This pressure can be caused by being overweight, wearing tight clothes around the waist and bending forward so try to avoid these where possible.

Exercise to reduce weight and speed up digestion but always wait an hour after eating before exercising.

Avoid lying down soon after eating as gravity will cause the food to come up towards the mouth, especially if the muscle around the top of the stomach is already weak. Allow your food to be digested before going to bed.

Stress, worry and anxiety are closely related to the function of the gut. Periods of stress can make symptoms worse and long-term stress can cause ulcers to develop. Try to reduce your stress levels through finding time to relax, deep breathing and finding ways to help you solve the problems you face. Talking to other people can help and some doctors may be able to offer counselling.

Mint, caraway seeds and red pepper powder have all been recognised as natural remedies for dyspeptic symptoms.

What if this doesn’t work?

If you are suffering from dyspeptic symptoms, try to adopt some of the measures above to see if they help your symptoms. If the problem persists then you should seek medical advice. Your doctor may be able to test for bacteria (which can then be treated with medicine), prescribe a drug which reduces the amount of acid produced by your stomach or help with the movement of food through the stomach.

It may be necessary to order an investigation to look inside your stomach to see what might be the cause of your symptoms.

He or she will also be able to see if you are taking medications which cause the stomach to become irritated such as steroids, nitrates and some painkillers or your symptoms may be related to a current condition such as diabetes.

These symptoms can also be caused by your heart or gallstones so always visit your doctor if they continue.

You should visit your doctor immediately if you vomit blood, have difficulty swallowing or feel that food is getting stuck, lose 3kg of weight or more without going on a diet or have persistent vomiting.

Louise Bensaid

A personal story about learning English

A tribute to

my very first English teacher

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owadays, almost everyone knows how to say something in English, from the usual “Hello, how are you?” to the more formal “How do

you do?”

It has almost become a necessity to be able to speak this language, sometimes for business, sometimes because we live in an English-speaking country, or sometimes simply because we have to.

But how many of us remember their very first English lesson?

Not many, I would guess, considering that the majority of us started learning this language at a very early age. Though we may still have the first book we used, I doubt we can actually recall the very first moment when we tried to speak a language so different from our own mother tongue.

However, I can tell you that I do recall the first time I did; the first moment I tried to understand something I had never heard before.

How? Well, thanks to my very first English teacher, who was not “Miss this” or “Mrs. That” but a singer. Yes my first English teacher was a singer -and a very popular one I would say, a legend: my first English teacher was none other than Michael Jackson! I know many of you will now be wondering how Michael Jackson could possibly have ever taught English to me, a little girl from the South of Italy so shy she could barely look people in the eyes, living, as I did, on the other side of the world! Well, let me tell you, my friends: he did. With his music. I was eleven when I became fascinated with his music. At the time I was starting secondary school here in Italy, as

the majority of us do at that age.

So, I began watching his “moon walking”, started listening to his songs - and I wanted to know what it was he was singing about, what he was actually saying in them. And that triggered an ever greater desire to learn English both at school and at home.

I would take my English dictionary, and flicking through the thousands of pages, I would look up words, phrases, expressions...

And there I was: learning prepositions, idioms, verbs and what Michael was singing about, and it made me so happy because I could sing along with him and actually be part of his music because I knew what I was saying in his songs.

My first English textbook was thus not an actual “book”, but Michael’s album “Bad”, which I still have and always keep with me because it reminds me of a little 11-year old Italian girl who started learning English by singing and translating the songs of her favorite singer.

There is no hiding from the fact that I also tried to “moon walk”. But I soon found out that this move was better left to Mr. Jackson and dancing was not really my cup of tea, after all!

Michael is long gone now, and many still speculate on how he died and try so hard to imitate him. But I want to honor his memory with this personal reminiscence because he really was the one who walked the very first steps with me on the road to being part of the English-speaking world.

This is meant to be a tribute to him and to the many stories he told in his songs, the many words I learned, the many idioms I

started using at school, and the high marks I earned.

So here’s to you Michael, to your “moon walking” and to your “c’mon”, because learning English from you was not that “Bad” after all.

By Valentina Sommella

A new way of traveling

Couchsurfing Not just a Place to Sleep!

With two bags cramped on a little trolley I passed the passport control at Algiers Airport, proud that I had obtained a three months visa after a long procedure, advancing to the arrival zone

M

y first time in Algeria! With excitement I took a seat and waited. Not for a taxi driver with a sign reading my name to take me to my hotel that I had booked in advance, not for a good friend I have known for a long time, not for a family member who was supposed to fetch me from the airport. I was waiting for Mo’. When going abroad for holidays, work assignments or short visits, the question always is where to stay. Many alternatives compete with one another: hotels, backpackers, guesthouses, Bed & Breakfast, lodges, privately rented apartments, etc. But neither of these was my choice for my stay in Algeria. This is because I am a couchsurfer, and so is Mo’. And that is how we know each other.

Now, what is the concept behind couchsurfing? Couchsurfing is a global network connecting people around the world via its website, where members create personal pages. That sounds much like our beloved Facebook but it has so much more to offer; it is an alternative way of travelling, a different way of exploring the world, another chance to make connections around the globe and to learn about people, places and cultures.

How does Couchsurfing work?

Couchsurfing relies on the kindness of strangers. Through the website, people are able to connect, communicate and make travel plans together. You do not have to offer a place to stay to be able to participate in couchsurfing; an open mind is a valid entry ticket. As a host, you offer your home to people from other places, as a surfer you visit people in their homes. It is also possible to meet for showing someone your city and have a coffee afterward, or simply to

just contribute to group discussions on the web, or even exchange post cards around the world. You do not have to limit yourself to any one of those activities, you can be part of all of them, depending on what your living situation and time permits.

So what does Mo get out of hosting people, then?

As a host, Mo is able to discover my country, Germany, through me without actually visiting it. In the evenings we find ourselves talking about our different backgrounds and he can extend his horizon while practicing his English. In the end, both sides benefit from the experience. Gaining new knowledge and interacting with people from different cultures is one of the main goals of couchsurfing. The Algerian couchsurfing community, especially in Algiers, is growing. It is attractive for many Algerians to receive guests from foreign countries. Algerian couch surfers have organised meetings among themselves to take visitors to Tipaza and spend time together. In a world where thinking globally becomes more and more important, it is a creative and exciting way to make new friends.

Why Couchsurf?

Couchsurfing strongly relies on the trust and honesty of all participants. Within the global network of couchsurfing the members vouch for one another and write references after their hosting and surfing experiences to gain credibility. But why? Isn’t it much easier to make a hotel reservation, pay in advance and know what service to expect?

If looking for a place to sleep, then this is your solution, but if you are looking for real-

life experiences, somebody who can answer questions about the country, unexpected adventures, couchsurfing is the way to go.

Couchsurfing, in a way, enables people to gain a different experience; to become travellers rather than tourists. It allows you to gain a different perspective. For me, staying with Mo’ and meeting his family has made Algeria more real than I could have ever imagined. When I found myself dancing to traditional music during an Algerian wedding and tasting homemade couscous, I knew it was the right choice to integrate with the lively Algerian people rather than being an isolated tourist going back to an empty hotel room.

No regrets Despite all the prejudices my friends and family had voiced before my departure, I have discovered the kindness of strangers and the trust I can have in the network of couchsurfing. This experience for Mo’ and I is one of sharing, exchanging and, most importantly, of discovering each other’s culture and way of living. I have found more than just a place to sleep, and Mo has been able to look and connect beyond Algeria.

This summer, it will be his turn to have his first surfing experience. He will be on his way to Croatia, where interesting, funny and passionate Croatian couchsurfers are waiting to show him their country and learn about Algeria. In the end, it is all about sharing. If you are interested in learning more about couchsurfing, you will find more information here: www.couchsurfing.org Registering, creating a profile and participating in this global network are for free.

By Johanna Heil

Most of the ar

Most of the artists I have met in my life do what they do (paint, write, play an instrument, et cetera) to feel better, to clean their souls from sorrows, to express their emotions‌To put it another way: to exorcise demons.

tist

That´s what makes Juan Pablo Rodriguez, a young artist from Bogotå, Colombia, different.

Of course he has demons like every good artist, but he has no intention of exorcising them.

When he grabs his brushes, he takes them out for a walk, makes

them pose and paint them before they sneak back into him when the sun rises. The results are unconventional and unique. Take your tour through the mind and vision of an outstanding artist and blend them with your own.

Enjoy him.

Algerian Literature

Works of Algerian

authors translated into English Algerian Literature largely emerged during the colonial era and gained a new impetus after independence, as Algerians promoted the revival of their heritage. It is mainly written in Arabic and French, and recently also in Berber.

Although there are no works originally written in English, Algerian literature is internationally acclaimed and has a wide Englishspeaking audience, as many works have been translated into the English language and were received with great interest on the European market.

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elemcen-born Mohamed Dib, known as the father of modern Algerian literature, has written many of his works in French.

His “The Savage Night”, translated into English in 2001, is a collection of 13 short stories that address violence and injustice.

The collection starts off with the story of a young man and his sister who were about to commit a terrorist act without knowing the exact reason. “A Game of Dice”, another story from the same collection, makes a man, who would have been a victim, kill a terrorist and interrogate another one, thereby analyzing the reasons that make people join terrorist networks.

The book won critical acclaim in America, as it reflects to some extent the events of September 11.

Many others of Mohamed Dib’s works have been translated into English as well, such as “Who Remembers the Sea” and “Omneros” (a book of poetry).

Kateb Yacine, whose “Nedjema” is recognized as a national revolutionary novel, is another important Algerian writer. The story is about four boys who fell in love with the daughter of an Algerian father and a French mother

Kateb Yacine works by Yasmina Khadra: “Double Blank”, “Autumn of the Phantoms”, “Wolf Dreams”, “The Swallows of Kabul”, “The Attack”, “The Sirens of Baghdad” and “What the Day Owes the Night.”

during Algeria’s war of independence.

“The Last Summer of Reason”, written

by Tahar Djaout, describes the life of a bookseller during the period when Islamic fundamentalists had taken over

the country. Other works by Algerian writers that have been translated into English include: Anouar Benmalek’s “The lovers of Algeria”, Tahhir Wattar’s “The Earthquake” and seven highly influential

Women writers also have an important position in Algerian literature; there are many female Algerian writers whose works have been translated and widely read in English. The first Algerian woman whose books were translated is Ahlam Mosteghanemi with her “Memory in the Flesh” and “Chaos of the Senses” that show the Algerian struggle against colonialism.

Another important female writer is Assia Djabar who talks about the lives of Algerian women and their role in society during the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial era in a collection of short stories called “The Women of Algiers in their Apartment.”

Algerian literature, thus, starts off as a part of and a voice of Algeria’s resistance movement, and of the dialogue within it. Later, it becomes a record of the complexity and difficulties that

characterize and animate Algerian life.

Although many of the works translated are mainly related to the national

Yasmina Khadra experience, they are greatly appreciated all over the world as they represent the great heritage of a country whose identity is formed by ancient grandeur, passionate resistance and an intrinsic spirit of resilience.

Tahar Djaout

Lardjane Imene

French fries or chips? Whe English has become the lingua franca of the contemporary world: it is the standard language for many forms of communication and the working language of several trade alliances and international organisations, such as the United Nations. It is also the language which produces the most cultural resources like books, films and television programmes. This ‘globalisation’ of the English language means that the question is no longer whether we should learn English, but instead which English we should learn

H

ow do we choose between American English and British English, the two main versions?

Does it matter at all if we say that our apartment is a flat? Should we honor our neighbours? In essence, should we call our fried potatoes French fries like the Americans or chips, as the British prefer?

Chips!

Let us be so British and call them chips.

After all, English originated in Britain; would it therefore not make sense to learn the language from the source? As a

French student wrote on an online forum, “people should learn British English. I am not learning Canadian French, am I? I am learning ‘French’ French”. Another reinforced that “I will not choose Austrian German over ‘German’ German”. The concern with learning more recent versions of a language is that it is, for cultural reasons, subject to numerous modifications, which make the original language seem ‘corrupted’.

Regarding English, Americans seem to have created “all sorts of new nouns and verbs and made up words that shouldn’t be”. Indeed, American English does not always follow the same grammatical rules,

n appellation matters… vocabulary, pronunciation and spelling as British English. In terms of grammar, there are some noticeable differences between the two forms. To express an event in the recent past, British English uses the present perfect with the words ‘already’, ‘just’ and ‘yet’. In American English, however, the simple past is most commonly used. ‘I have just had lunch’ becomes ‘I just had lunch’ and ‘I have already seen that film’ is changed into ‘I already saw that film’. Regarding possession, Americans generally use the verb ‘have ‘instead of ‘have got’ which is standard in the British Isles. Accordingly, the sentence ‘My friend has got a beautiful home’ would become ‘My friend has a beautiful home’. Similarly, when asking a question, Americans will most likely ask ‘Do you have a car?’ and not ‘Have you got a car?’

However, the feature that most strongly distinguishes American English from British English is the spelling. The endings –our; -ise; -re; -ogue; -amme and -que in British English respectively become –or; -ize; -er; -og; -am and –k or –ck in American English.

Thus, in America, we would enter into a dialog in front of the bank about the color of the theater’ stage and criticize the program.

This removal of letters makes American English words ‘look odd’ in the eyes of British students who argue that “there is no need to take those letters out”. One even added that “American English is [not] real, it is just lazy’.

Nevertheless, the differences are not limited to spelling and grammar; they are also present in vocabulary. Hence, a British ‘flat’ is an ‘apartment’ in America and ‘holidays’ are ‘vacations’. Consequently, in the light of all this “drifting away” from the traditional form of English, would we not be justified in favouring British English – especially since this version is more standard across the Commonwealth?

…but French fries taste so much ‘bedder’

Those who believe that British English is ‘purer’ and has preserved its longestablished features while American English disposed of them are mistaken. American English contains several archaic features which have been discarded in Britain.

In terms of pronunciation, the Americans pronounce the sound /r/ with the tongue slightly bent back. This had been the normal way of saying the /r/ in England in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

However, British English lost this sound after vowels. Current pronunciation of words such as ‘fertile’, ‘hostile’ and ‘missile’ in American English comes from the Shakespearian era. In terms of grammar, American English maintained the use of the

word ‘gotten’, whereas this form of the verb ‘to get’ is no longer used in Britain. As for vocabulary, Americans still use old-fashioned expressions such as ‘fall’ for ‘autumn’ and ‘platter’ for ‘dish’. Lastly, it should be reminded that the suffixes -ise, -re and –our have been been replaced with –ize, -er and –or in the seventeenth century by Noah Webster in an attempt at eradicating French influence from the English language and creating a distinct American culture. Indeed, endings like –our and –re come from the French. Thus, it is wrong to tease American spelling as it appears to be more loyal to English than its British equivalent. Consequently, let us not scoff at an American for pronouncing the words ‘better’; ‘data’; ‘Tuesday’ and ‘tube’ as ‘bedder’; ‘dadda’; ‘Toosday’ and ‘toob’, respectively. In fact, American English should be praised for its economical and regular fashion. American English uses briefer words, spellings and sentences than British English7. For instance, one would say ‘cookbook’ instead of ‘cookery book’; write ‘color’ instead of ‘colour’ and say ‘I will see you Tuesday’ rather than ‘I will see you on Tuesday’. American English also eliminates some irregular verb forms as observed in the use of ‘burned’ rather than ‘burnt’ for the past participle of the verb ‘to burn’.

I can have French fries with chips, right? Wrong Despite the major differences that exist between American English and British English, it would be incorrect to say that one is better than the other. British English might sound nicer and seem to be more sophisticated for some, but American English appears to be much simpler and informal which appeals to many others. A British English teacher declared that the argument should not be about which version one should learn, but instead which one is more appropriate for one’s needs. He gave the following advice to future students of English: “Choose [the version] that is most suitable for your

circumstances.

If you plan to live in Britain, and think you will spend the majority of your time engaged with British culture (and British people) then learn British English. But if you will live in the United States, or will spend most of your time engaging with American culture, or will spend most of your time speaking with American people, then go for American English”. He added that “while you need to choose one accent, you need not just listen to one type of speech.

Indeed, I recommend you listen to, and try to understand, as many different accents as possible. That will maximise your ability to communicate with other people. In the end, that is the goal of learning a language: to be able to communicate effectively”.

However, while each form of English is acceptable, using them both together is not. The key when learning English is to be consistent in its usage for the sake of clarity.

Consequently, if one writes in American English, one should always and only use American English spelling and vice versa.

In summary, it does not matter whether one chooses French fries or chips; they both have the same origin and both are appreciated worldwide.

By Asma

LOL, FYI the OED has added Y The addition of “initialisms”, abbreviations like OMG, FYI, BFF, LOL and the symbol Y, to the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary sparked great controversy among newspaper columnists.

S

ome went as far as to describe this update as “physically painful” and expressed fear for the future of the English language. Yet, are these concerns shared by the general public? Are these worries justified? 50fifty has explored this issue and interviewed a number of men and women in order to find out their viewpoint on this ‘word revolution.

Let’s just be brief…

On March 24th 2011, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) – “the bastion of language”, as the Huffington Post calls it – has added curious entries to its repertoire of words.

The acronym LOL (Laugh Out Loud) and the abbreviations OMG (Oh My God), FYI (For Your Information), BFF (Best Friend Forever), TMI (Too Much Information) IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) have now officially become part of the English vocabulary.

Though these abbreviations are essentially employed in electronic communication, the

OED judged them to be worthy of being recorded in Britain’s most authoritative dictionary. As Graeme Diamond, the OED’s chief editor explained, “they help to say more in media where there is a limit to a number of characters one may use in a single message.”

He further added that these abbreviations do not just act as space-savers, they have also come to convey a distinct meaning.

However, the most intriguing addition is probably the Y symbol, pronounced ‘to heart’ and achieved by pressing the ‘alt’ and ‘3’ keys simultaneously on the keyboard. This character originated from T-Shirt prints (e.g. I YNY) and bumper-stickers and has become the colloquial equivalent of the verb ‘to love.’

But not too brief!

Saying more with less might be a widespread mode of communicating for most people nowadays, but very few agree that this justifies the presence of abbreviations in the dictionary. Judging

Y ....OMG, go and tell your BFF! by online comments made in reference to these introductions, the move is not a positive one. Many deplore the “degradation of our species’ language” and predict that “the entire English language will eventually be reduced to initialisms.”

As one commentator summed it up, “the world is ending.” The main objection concerns the fact that OMG, BFF, LOL and the likes are abbreviations and acronyms, not words perse. Therefore, there is no justification to include them in a dictionary whose purpose for many is to record words. Furthermore, in a survey carried out on twenty men and women of all ages by 50fifty Magazine, three-quarters of them disagreed that LOL, OMG, BFF, FYI, TMI and IMHO should be included in the Oxford English Dictionary. According to one person, this could cause problems in communication, as these abbreviations could have a different meaning in other English-speaking countries. Other remarks concerned the fact that these initialisms are not real words and not used by everybody.

One student even accused people of being too lazy to write correctly and feared that these additions would have a negative impact on the English language. Though only five people answered in the affirmative, the arguments they made were very compelling. One person asserted that these abbreviations “are used to communicate [and have ]meaning.” Another reinforced this statement by declaring that “social media is part of language” so “we should not discriminate against it.” All shared the belief that the prevalent use of these expressions validates their presence in the OED. As one college student put it bluntly, “we use these daily, so why not?” The same pattern can be observed for the symbol Y. In this regard, more than three-quarters disagreed with the incorporation of the character in the dictionary. Explaining why Y should not be included in the OED, many replied plainly: “It is a symbol!” One student explained that for something to be included in the dictionary, it needs to be “expressed in the existing alphabet.” Moreover, adding symbols might encourage the addition of smileys such as Y and their use as words. Nevertheless, a minority welcomed the introduction because symbols can help us express ourselves better. Additionally, it would make sense to standardize a character that many people use. Even though there was a strong negative reaction to the addition of symbols, abbreviations and acronyms to the dictionary, more than half of those surveyed (sixty-four per cent) believed that a dictionary should be descriptive (i.e.

report how language is used) rather than prescriptive (i.e. dictate how language should be used). This support of the view that a dictionary should be descriptive is in conflict with their views that ‘non-words’ must not be included in the OED.

A cause for concern?

Should we fear the addition of social media speech to our glossary? Are we really destroying the English language with these new acronyms, abbreviations and symbols? Firstly, it is important to clarify that these expressions, along with the symbol Y, are not recent creations.

They should not be thought of as slang expressions whose life spans are short.

The OED explains on its website that OMG was first used in a letter sent by a British admiral in 1917 and LOL was around as early as 1960, though it meant ‘Little Old Lady’ at the time. As for the expression ‘to heart’ (expressed as Y), it came into use in 1984 via the sentence ‘I heart my dog’s head’ = ‘I Y my dog’s head’. As Graeme Diamond reveals, “things people think are new words normally have a longer history.” Moreover, OED researchers examine terms carefully and only add them once they become part of everyday language. Therefore society might be in need of a redefinition of the term, ‘word’ to encompass all the terms and symbols we use and thereby reflect how our language has changed. Besides, dictionaries should be thought of as glossaries which

catalogue the terms society uses, not as legitimizing sources. They should help future generations learn about how people communicated in the past and assist historians in analyzing the attitudes of individuals in a certain era. Furthermore, although vocabulary changes quickly in a language, sentence structure takes longer to evolve. Consequently, English will retain its most significant features for a long time to come. True, the use of ‘heart – originally a noun - as a verb might feel strange to some, but how would some feel about expressing themselves in nineteenth-century style and saying “Mr Murray’s letter is come” and “Jenny and James are walked to Charmouth this afternoon”, like Jane Austen? For those who might fear language development might be affected, there is apparently no reason to. Research published in 2009 by psychologists at the University of Alberta in Canada demonstrates that there is cause for optimism. The study – carried out over a one-week period on a number of teenagers - found that there were few links between the use of instant messaging and spelling ability. So do we need to worry at all? Should we not regard the inclusion of acronyms, abbreviations and symbols to the dictionary as a reflection of language transformation, rather than an indication of the decay of the English language? IMHO, the answer is yes.

Asma

Hospitality as a Trait o Hospitality is the act of cordially and generously receiving one’s guests. Being hospitable allows us to be receptive and shifts us into a welcoming and friendly mood. The concept is nothing new; it has been known throughout time and in many places, varying between nations and races, with each having their own ways of showing it. Algeria is no exception; all the more so as its culture is the offspring of the Arab and Berber cultures. It has always been known for its distinguished sense of hospitality.

A

lgerian culture places a great deal of importance on hospitality. Kindness, friendship, graciousness and thoughtfulness are all hallmark characteristics of the Algerian people. This shows in the welcoming spirit, warmth and openness with which Algerians meet their unannounced guests, be it close relatives, extended family or even complete strangers. Needless to say that it would be to no avail to try and enumerate all the features and facets of Algerian hospitality because they vary from one area to another. However, there

are some that are prevalent and shared among many areas around vast Algeria.

Abundant and different types of food This is the most prominent aspect of hospitality in any part of Algeria. At dawn, the mother, with the help of a daughter,

f the Algerian Culture along with traditional cakes such as m’semen, baghrir, kalb el louz, etc. Tea, in some areas, must be prepared in front of the guest and would be considered an offense if prepared in the kitchen and brought ready to the table.

The elder host (the husband if the guests are males or the wife if the guests are females) will ask for all the required ingredients -tea leaves, mint and sugar-, and then boil water on a little camping stove.

Dying the hands and the feet of the guests with henna This is a sign that the guests are appreciated and valued. The hosts would take pride in making it look dark red and beautiful.

The guests usually wouldn’t have had a say in the matter, as the hosts would not take no for an answer.

Showering the guests with little gifts and drowning them in perfume at their departure Algerians would do that to show that they were very pleased with would cordon off the kitchen the visit and would want their and set to preparing enough guests to come again. food to feed the neighborhood Algerians, for a week. The menu would vary from a h’rira or shurba soup even those of little accompanied by bourak, two or financial three salad dishes, at least two means main courses, fresh fruits of the -but of an season, two kinds of desserts, impressive and at least two sorts of drinks. openness Without forgetting, of course, and spirit, the fresh homemade bread. would treat Furthermore, in some parts of their guests Western and Central Algeria a like royalty ram would be slaughtered and because a three-day long feast would be this is part thrown in honor of the guests.

Between meals, the guests would of who they be treated to tea or coffee pauses are. It is

what shapes their identity, along with honor, dignity and a sense of righteousness - all values treasured and engraved in the young ones from one generation to the next. You are always welcome to visit us and see for yourself.

By Lilia

One way of understanding people is to explore their language, its origin and usage in daily life. Attempting to understand Algeria and its people surely means also to look closer at the linguistic influences the country has experienced throughout its history.

With this in mind, the country’s size and turbulent history pose a challenge. With almost 2.400.000 square kilometers, Algeria as an Arab country is the largest country on the African continent, situated in the North.

Its population of over 36 million distributed over this large area has created a diversity of different cultural heritages enriched by the variety of the Algerian people themselves.

A unique ling Arabic and Berber

French and English

Every country has its officially recognized language, sometimes even more than one.

Algeria has two official languages, the first being standard Arabic, recognized as such since Algerian independence in 1963 and widely used in education, the media and in official correspondence with the authorities.

Students learn Arabic during their 12 years of school. Today, 79% of the Algerian people speak Arabic. In 2002 the Berber language called Tamazight, the language of Algeria’s native inhabitants, became the country’s second official language. Tamazight revolves around several dialects that differ from area to area. For example, Kabyle is a dialect spoken by 15% of inhabitants, especially in mountainous areas (regions like Bejaia and Tizi Ouzouz); Tachawit, also considered a Berber language, is spoken by 5% of Algerians in the area of Ourés. As for the south of Algeria, another dialect is spoken there, known as Sahraoui. However, a country’s language is never limited to its official language. Local dialects, historical events and influences from other cultures produce a variety of other languages spoken in everyday life.

Algerians do not only speak native languages such as Arabic and Berber; there are also foreign languages used and spoken by most of them. In the course of our colonial history, French has been imposed, and established itself, in Algerian culture.

It has left its imprint very deeply on our soil: French is now taught in schools from primary school to university and is spoken fluently by a large number of people; many newspapers, books and documents are also released in French. It is the language used by many companies for business.

English is another language that has recently interested Algerians as well. Being perceived as an international language, it allows communication to transcend the borders of the francophone world. It is taught in our schools, and Algerians are now more interested in it than ever. A lot of private schools teaching English are opening every day because of this. The use of English is becoming more and more widespread in Algeria, with English being the main language in various institutes and companies ever since the day our country opened its doors to the outside world.

guistic melting pot Dardja Now to the most interesting part, among all the languages spoken in Algeria there is one which is quite particular: Algerian Arabic, also known as Dardja. It is a language created by Algerians for Algerians: a mixture of several languages with an Algerian touch added to all of them; a language that no one else can decrypt. Dardja draws its vocabulary from Arabic, French, Turkish, Spanish, Berber, and many other languages.

It is not taught in schools, but it is the one spoken on the street, used daily by almost all Algerians. It is a dialect that has its rules, as all the other languages do; rules that are now known and naturally respected: rules governing the conjugation of verbs, the forming of plurals, the use of pronouns, negation, interrogation, etc. It also has a rich vocabulary: words created by means of adding suffixes and prefixes to words from other languages. For example: the word “tabla”, which means table in French and English but had the “e” was changed to “a” because table is a feminine noun in Arabic; the same goes for “plaça”, “classa”, etc. There are also words taken from standard Arabic and changed a little to fit the rules of Darja.

For example, the pronouns “anaya” (ana in standard Arabic), “ntaya” (anta), “ntouma” (antoum”, “hnaya” (nahnou), etc. (which in English they mean I, you, we, in this order).

There are also WH questions taken from different languages, such as “kifesh” for how , “waalach” for why and “chkoun” for who .

English Expressions in Dardja New words have been created in Dardja, inspired by other languages. Algerians (especially the youth) keep creating words that some older Algerians cannot understand, from English, for example.

The new expression “pas de tahlab”, for instance, is the Dardja equivalent of the English “no milking”, which is used whenever someone doesn’t want to share some piece of information with you or ignores your questions about a particular topic.

There is another new one derived from English: “bottling”, whose Dardja equivalent is tkar’adj, used to express someone’s curiosity for knowing things that are generally none of their business.

Learning Dardja Since Dardja is the most widely spoken dialect in Algeria, foreigners who have settled in Algeria are getting more and more interested in learning it to improve the quality of their communication with Algerians. Now there are even institutes that give Dardja classes for them.

Dardja reflects the variety of cultures in Algeria, and the best thing about it is that any Algerian can innovate and create new terms and expressions in order to express themselves with ease; no need to watch their language because communicating is all that Dardja is about. So my advice for you: if you ever come to Algeria and you don’t speak any French, learn some Dardja.

Algerians would love to see you try.

33

The Three Winning Entries For This Issue

50/Fifty Magazine’s Writing Contest

Each month, 50/Fifty selects the best writings we receive from different ambitious amateur writers and posts them on the website to let our readers vote for the top three to be published in our magazine. Here are the three winning entries for this issue.

First place

«A windless Love»

By Aicha Nezzar Perplexing as a guest that I didn’t expect Surprising as an earthquake that I couldn’t detect Amazing, scintillating, gratifying full of tact Her love ignited in me with no guaranteed pact True feelings I held in me And silently I wrapped with glee That crazy love, a law of no logic Accosting one’s thoughts like magic Alas, hastily in a single sore day My heart became astray My love wagon her man drives away What a price both dragged me to pay A soul cataclysm that convulsed my entity Me knitting love out of superstitious mentality Drove my dreams to a desert finality My broken heart says with pity Myself, that fake hope I clung to Eyeball blind, ear deaf and barren is my heart meadow!

I’m barely kept with nothing to do Her love storm left a mess, Turmoil, chaos at every level of sense Between willingness and muteness It did, myself, obsess!

Was it good that I didn’t to her confess?

Would my fate tighten my cracked pavilion?

Would it celebrate my oblivion?

Many more questions bewildered my petition!

My shadow suddenly whispered! I’m tired standing!

Go!! I said, I’m not moving..

I won’t give up crying Me and my rhymes binding

Second place

Justice has been assassinated the building, knocked the door, but none has answered. I tried once again, then the door wailed: “you have awaken me girl, go away” I apologized: “sorry, but is there anybody inside?”

The door bemoaned: “it has been a long time ago when I was closed down and none has knocked me since then” “Do you mean that I am the only one who is still looking for hope and still believe in dreams?”

By Asma Fetsi Once upon a time, I was walking on the “Life Road” seeking for a child called “Happiness”; I kept walking and asking for the way to find my lost child… I found someone on my way to the “Hope Building”; his name was “No Way”. I asked him to show me the way to my destination.

He said: “no way”. I wondered why and he said again: “no way, your destiny is to live lost, there is no way to find Happiness”. I neglected his speech and kept walking…I was hampered by a stone, looked at it and read “Justice”!! While I was wondering what does this mean, the stone spoke: “you see little girl, I am an obstacle; I restrained you although I did not mean to” I asked astonished: “what do you mean? Were you put here to prevent me from reaching my

Third place

destination?” The stone yawned: “have you got the meaning of my name: “Justice”?”

“I am always saying that justice is omnipresent” “In fact I am, but people are day after day changing the main cause of my existence, they trade on my name and selfishly change my aims. Look at yourself; you are still looking for your lost child whom you will never find if Life Road remains serpentine. I am not saying that to dishearten you, but just to clarify the image in your mind, little girl” I kept calm holding back my tears, but I realized that it seemed a hard road, yet again I had to take it on. I held the stone and walked on my way towards Hope Building. It was foggy, but I did not care and I walked on…Finally, I attained

“You have to know that all the good things you put in your little heart have never existed, even this stone in your hand, it is just a mirage from your imagination” “Nothing is impossible, nothing is unreachable, I still believe in that” “You are still looking for hope in your life, but trust me girl, you will never be able to pass me and enter the building because it is just another mirage, trust me” “I don’t know whom should I trust, I don’t even know why I am here and what I am looking for and whether I will find it or not…Really I am lost” “Go back home my dear and try to live in peace with those who love you, then you will never need to enter the building because happiness is there. Trust me girl, in this road, justice has been assassinated”.

My first day at school

By Souhila Mekhoukh I was still playing out in the neighbourhood when school began. I was acting as the guard of my little brother at the time I needed to be watched myself. What I have understood later is that my wonderful dad registered me in school after a big struggle to be admitted at the age of five, otherwise I’d exceed six the following year.

And thus, I entered school in the middle of the academic year.

On my first day at school, dad dropped me and my elder brother, who was in the 2nd grade, at the school gate and went to work. The school yard was fully crowded with children of different shapes, shouting and playing. I saw many neighbours there who were happy to see me at school with my big rectangular satchel. Soon pupils gathered in rows and joined their classes, even my brother! I stayed all alone not knowing what to do! Not very long, the headmaster saw me and asked about my name, and innocently I replied: «I’m Suheilah», I knew nothing else about my surname, my age, or my parents’ names! Then he asked about my father’s name, and I naively replied: «My father is called Dad!».

This wasn’t my mistake anyway; my parents were to be blamed for not teaching me these primary labels. Fortunately the headmaster was

very kind with me and led me to my class where I sat in the back with a little boy. I knew nobody there. The first thing I started to do, I remember, was colouring and doing some maths games.

I had no problem using the pen as I used to imitate my elder brother at home, but my handwriting was so big and I never stopped writing that I finished my copybooks within a very short time.

When I came back home after the morning class that day, I found my little brother sleeping, which was not the habit. Mum explained to me later that being tired of non-stop weeping, he fell asleep. Oh, we were in very much agreement with each other and we rarely quarreled, and it was the first time I got far from him. How terribly sad he felt the day I started school! The poor, I left him behind crying hard!

My lovely mum tried to help me out with my new courses as she did with my elder brother, but I strongly refused and said: «You can’t be my teacher! You are my mother at home, and I have a teacher at school!» To these shocking words, mum never interfered in my business again. Strangely enough, I didn’t hate my early days at school as was the case with some kids.

I still remember that whenever I woke up, even in the middle of the night, I thought it’s school time and get prepared. Hopefully mum

wasn’t a heavy sleeper! I felt as if school was an obligatory stage which I had to go through.

However, still ignorant of what’s going around me, when I had my first summer holiday, I thought I’d never go back to school again. Little did I know that I’d spend the rest of my life in educational surroundings!

Here’s our selection of poems for this issue. We hope you’ll enjoy it.

Almost like full Circle

By Mitzi Kay Jackson My voice is the color of sound The child of the Diaspora Prepositions dance on my tongue And change places We be banging wit* sounds fulla** color And when we walk Words come out our feet Makes us light in the air Adjectives fall from our sleeves even And we move like verbs copied We talk in rhythms Screaming out in search of Our Mother’s Garden Let my people go…

Out of gospels and sun-baked bellies Our voice flatten*** in truth-telling gut funk blues Up the Mississippi to harmonica And guitar Naw’leans**** fills our mouths wit Flyin’ colors Of improvising Big Band, classical, smooth and speak easy And Smokin’ Joes My voice marks the color of sound Smoothed out in rhythm Makes ‘dem***** colors mellow out Always the young got to do something about change Colors marching Prepositions dance on my tongue Fulla color Fulla sound We be banging wit ‘em****** Dress almost like full circle Hotten trot********ladies n baggy men Strutting like peacocks fulla color fulla sound Almost like full circles * wit – (dialectal) with **fulla - (dialectal) full of ***flatten – dialectal for ‘flattens’ ****Naw’leans – dialectal for New Orleans *****’dem – (dialectal) these, those ******’em – (dialectal) them (used as well in the capacity of ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’) *******hotten trot – dialectal for ‘hot and trot’

Death

By Amel For you, the one who died, I suffered and still do and I have much cried These few words are for you: Strong emotions, endless tears strange odors, enormous fears Deep, deep feelings make me pass out Thinking of you over and again, crying out: How could it be so hard?

If you were gone somewhere and I knew I’ll never see you again, I swear I’ll be just fine But death’s got something strange that makes your heart fall into pieces Makes your body feel so hollow; it’s a world crisis I just want to be alone, alone with you again Life without you is just people talking to each other, looking at It looks like you, but it’s not you You are in the living room sitting and laughing You are in all those pictures in my head and my heart forevermore And I just love you so much my dear

UNSAID

Adelina

By Muhammad A. Al Mahdi

The first key you strike Is the beginning of all things The first cadence alone Is the power that sings And the chord that shall not cease For its voice is the voice Of which All other voices Are echoes, Treatise, exegesis The first tone, Adelina Is the first sigh, The first kiss, The first love, The first truth, As is, To a heart silenced by time, The memory of its prime And the heavy flame of youth And to God it is The vastness of the moment When HE with HIS SELF Is alone The first tone Belongs to him to whom longing Is dearer than life From him and her alone Shall the song derive That gives a voice like heaven, deep sea and river To my mute, martyred hands Whose only longing is Your own

By Amel I hope that you won’t be impressed by what I have been, petrified I HOPE THAT YOU WON’T BE STONED BY WHAT I HAVE BEEN, SHOCKED I PRAY WITH ALL MY HEART THAT YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN DISHONESTY, FILTHINESS AND ALL THOSE STUPID PATTERNS I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE NOT FORSAKEN I PRAY WITH ALL MY HEART THAT SOME DAY I’LL BE FORGIVEN I PRAY WITH ALL MY HEART THAT SOME DAY WE’LL TALK IT THROUGH BUT I SORT OF KNOW IT WILL NEVER BE SPOKEN AND I SORT OF KNOW THAT YOU REMEMBER BUT ACT LIKE YOU’VE FORGOTTEN It’s the hardest thing I’ll have to do and that has ever happened I’d rather jump off a bridge and feel that pain Than talk about it with you; it takes much more pain EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN THROUGH PAIN; ROUGH PAIN I CANNOT DO THAT TO YOU. I’LL CROSS THE LINE. I WILL DESTROY THIS BIG WALL WE BUILT IN BETWEEN. I’LL HURT YOUR PRIDE AND TO YOU I DON’T WANT TO BE MEAN EVEN IF IT MEANT KILLING MYSELF WITH GUILT AND FEAR EVERYDAY Even if it meant killing a bit of me everyday Even if it meant I’ll never look you in the face without fear I’D RATHER LEAVE IT, LEAVE YOU THAT DAY; FOR YOU IT MIGHT BE CLEAR.

Algeria oh Algeria!!

By Saidani Oussama

Oh Algeria! I love you so and of you I am proud You are the best nation and I say this out loud You’ve always been there and never hidden in a crowd Oh Algeria! The glory of your beauty is shown in all the eyes You’ve inspired all the world and given them butterflies Your flag is always flying high in the skies Oh Algeria! Faithful in Allah you trust You are our nation that will forever last And your history will never be blown away by the wind like the dust Oh Algeria! You are jewel that’s neither diamond nor gold You are a rose that never can fall or get old You are our gift that cannot be bought or sold Oh Algeria! You’re the nation of one and a half million martyrs You’ve never knelt down or known what the word fear is When I proudly read your history I shed tears Oh Algeria! You live in my soul, heart and mind I give you my eyes and wouldn’t matter if I had to live as a blind Because a nation braver than you I never would find

An Overview of the Algerian Economy

Being the second largest country in Africa, Algeria is rich in natural resources and natural gas reserves.

A

fter surviving the 1990s crisis, the Algerian economy experienced many significant reforms, reviving exports and opening its doors to domestic and foreign investment, which led to an increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to US$ 251,1 billion in 2010.

Today, the Algerian economy is opting for both externally and internally favorable solutions. Algeria was able to survive the last international economic crisis thanks to its reserve funds generated by the hydrocarbon sector, which represents the country’s main revenue, accounting for more than 55% of the total revenue, nearly 30% of the GDP and 97% of export revenues. In 2010, hydrocarbon revenues reached US$ 55,7 billion with a growth of 25% compared to 2009. Natural gas is Algeria’s leading export.

According to a report published by the US State Department of Energy, Algeria is the world’s tenth-largest deposit of natural gas reserves.

Non-hydrocarbon sectors make up another significant source of revenue for Algeria.

According to the International Monetary Fund, Non Hydrocarbon Gross Domestic Products (NHGDP) have reached an average growth of 6% over the past decade thanks to the Public Investment Program (PIP). The Government invested in the agricultural sector, which covers 8% of the country’s GPD, employing 14% of the Algerian labor force. Agriculture is followed by a booming fishing industry which is under-exploited, resulting in the current low production rate.

The fishing industry is based mainly on family-owned businesses, which is leading the government to encourage foreign investment in this sector.

Algeria’s economy is continuing to perform well. The Algerian government set itself a number of long term challenges, Such as a US$ 286 billion five year development program which was launched in 2010 aiming to update the country’s infrastructure, provide jobs and improve living standards For Algerians.

By Lardjane Imene

The Second World Power

The Chinese in Africa Over the last ten years, a dramatic growth of Chinese trade and investment has been noticed. China is expanding in all sectors. Its economy has reached an average annual growth of 8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as the government adopted some slow but steady economic reforms, and encouraged the country to pursue direct foreign investment, leading its economy to become the biggest after the United States of America.

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he Chinese Council of Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) reported that China invested US$59 Billion abroad in 2010; 22% of it was invested in Africa alone.

After adopting the “Go Global” strategy, China built up new relationships with the African continent to secure its supply of natural resources. It now covers 49 African countries, and is mainly dominating mining and construction projects. Although Sino-African cooperation takes the form of diplomacy and trade, China is largely benefiting from the African natural resources. For instance, as Sudan is number six in a list of countries receiving Chinese aid and investment, more than half of Sudan’s oil is sold to Beijing. Sino-African trade reached a total revenue of US$115 billion in 2010, representing 10% of African trade.

China’s main exports to Africa are destined for South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Algeria, while raw materials are the main Chinese imports from Sudan, Angola, Nigeria, Algeria and Gabon.

According to a survey conducted by the Institute of Applied Economic Research, Chinese investment is primarily centred on six important African countries; Algeria is one of these. On a scale from highest to lowest, the survey placed Algeria third among the countries receiving Chinese investment, after South Africa in first position, followed by Nigeria in

second. Chinese-Algerian collaboration is increasingly opening opportunities for investment and trade. The Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) concluded that in 2008, Algeria became the forth Chinese export destination with US$1951,58 million in exports. The Chinese ambassador to Algeria, Liu Yuhe declared that Chinese investment in Algeria reached US$1 billion in 2010. China currently has some 50 companies operating in Algeria with six major projects in the oil sector. Chinese investment provided Algeria with its first mall, its biggest prison, two hotels, an airport and the longest continuous highway in Africa. China is planning to increase its investment, which is greatly encouraged by the Algerian government.

Sino-African trade is increasing by 100% every three years. The South Africa based Standard Bank reported that China will increase her position in Africa, expecting its investment to reach US$50 billion in 2015.

A report drawn up by the Asian Society in New York concluded that China’s direct investments overseas could reach US$2 trillion by 2020. Still, people are criticizing China’s investment policies, as they fear the impact of its dominance on Africa’s national economies and political sovereignty. One might ask, with some justification: “Is Chinese investment helping the developing countries or exploiting their wealth?”

By Lardjane Imene

Apple Cider Vinegar

More than your average dressing

Tired of spending all your money on cosmetic products that cause more harm than good?

50/Fifty introduces natural remedies to help you stay beautiful using everyday items found around the home at a fraction of the cost.

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he history of Apple cider vinegar and its medicinal use dates back to the time of Hippocrates. In which he used cider vinegar to treat various ailments in patients. The word, ‘Vinegar’ is derived from the French vin aigre (sour wine). It is made from the fermentation of alcohol which has usually come from apples.

Many have speculated on the many amazing claims that cider vinegar is a cure for all; Skeptics think that the health and beauty benefits associated with this product, (that have been around for thousands of years I might add) are too good to be true. While apple cider vinegar may not cure diseases such as Cancer, or make you the perfect size 6 overnight, there are many discovered and

unexplored health benefits and practical uses. However, I can guarantee one thing‌ after reading this article you will never look at your bottles of vinegar in the same way.

Here are just a few basic uses to get you started on the right track to a healthier, lifestyle that is better for our planet, and better for you, than many of the chemical laden mass produced body care items sold today.

Hair benefits Natural Highlights- For enhancement of your highlights without using any harsh chemicals try vinegar. If you want blond

highlights then you will need to use white vinegar, and for darker hair colors you will need to use apple cider vinegar. You can streak your hair by spraying the desired sections of hair with vinegar and sitting in the sun allowing the hair to be exposed to the sun’s rays. For all over enhancement of highlight and low-lights add equal parts of vinegar and lemon juice and apply all over the hair until it is fully saturated and sit in the sun for at least 10 minutes to allow the sun’s rays to further lighten your hair.

Dandruff- To get rid of dandruff mix some apple cider vinegar with water, (I suggest using equal amounts), apply to the scalp and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then continue to shampoo or style as usual.

Hair conditioner – Apple cider vinegar can be used as a hair conditioner. After shampooing your hair, just pour a mixture of 2 tablespoons of apple vinegar and one cup of water over hair. Allow to remain on the scalp for a few minutes, comb through and then rinse thoroughly. The vinegar odor evaporates when the hair dries, so no one will know your beauty secret, unless of course you tell them. Apple cider vinegar even works great on curly textured hair leaving it bouncier and less likely to tangle.

Possible Health Benefits Weight loss- just 2 teaspoons a day mixed with an 8 ounce glass of water three times a day has resulted in slow, but steady weight loss.

Skin Benefits Reduces Acne- drinking a basic tonic of 2 teaspoons of apple cider mixed with 1 cup of water has been demonstrated to reduce acne, leaving skin with a healthy glow. It can even be applied topically to spot- treat pimples using a cotton ball or swab and a drop of vinegar to the affected area.

Soothes Wasp stings- apply apple cider vinegar to the area affected by the wasp sting to relieve discomfort and reduce swelling.

Body odors Apple cider vinegar is great for combating body odor

naturally because it balances the pH of the skin so that there is less odor-causing bacteria. Saturate a cotton ball with apple cider

vinegar and apply to each underarm.

Foot odor For foot odors you can soak your feet in a tub of water containing 1/3 of a cup of apple cider vinegar. This soak should be done once a week.

While this is just a short list, there are hundreds of possibilities for you to explore using apple cider vinegar.

Finally, you should never drink vinegar undiluted, as the acidity may damage the esophagus, and tooth enamel. As with any new treatments that are to be ingested, it is recommended that you discuss these and any other home remedies with your doctor especially if you are currently taking prescription medications, so that there are no adverse reactions.

Zorina Dellali

Algerian food Welcome to a taste of the World without leaving your kitchen, starting with a couple of traditional national dishes from Algeria.

Tchakhshokha Basakriya: Ingredients for the khobz (bread) 1 teaspoon salt 500g fine semolina 500g flour water

Ingredients for the marga (sauce) 8 lamb chops or 8 skinless pieces of chicken, on bone but skin- and fat free if possible 3 garlic cloves 1 large onion 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil or 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 2 medium courgettes (zucchini) 2 medium carrots 1/4 swede or 1/4 turnip 1 parsnip 2 large potatoes 2 teaspoons ras el hanout spice mix 1 cup chickpeas, drained 1 pinch dried mint salt and pepper 1 large green chili (OPTIONAL) 1 1/2 liters of water 1 cup of liquidized tomato puree

Directions:

Preparation Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes Total Time: 3 hours and 45 minutes

1/ Preparation Method for the Khobz (bread): Put the semolina and flour in a large shallow bowl - a gas’a is the best, if you have one. Make a little hole in the center of the semolina and flour, and add half a glass of water. Keep mixing the water until you have WORKABLE dough, then begin kneading. Do this until the dough becomes very smooth and elastic and your hands hurt. You should put this dough in the bread maker (on dough setting) if you want to make things easier. Once the dough has reached an elastic stage, leave it to rise for 5 minutes.

Take sunflower/vegetable (or similar) oil and lightly coat work surfaces, then pull off pieces of dough and form balls slightly larger than a golf ball.

Gently stretch these balls over the m’ri or pan and cook (approx. 30 seconds). Cover the cooked bread with a cloth or a towel so it doesn’t dry up as you finish cooking the rest.

2/ Preparation Method for the Marga (sauce): Chop the onion and garlic finely, and put them in a large heavy-bottomed pan, along with the meat or chicken and ras el hanout. Gently fry to seal the meat/chicken. You can use a pressure cooker for this.

Peel the carrots, potatoes, parsnip and swede, and chop the carrots, parsnip and courgettes into sixths. Cut the potato into 1/4’s and roughly chop the swede.

Add the vegetables to the meat, then put in 1L of water and turn up heat so they begin simmering. Add salt, pepper, and chili if applicable.

Cook for 40 minutes if you are using a regular PAN, and for 20 if you are using a pressure cooker.

In order to create a ‘stew’ consistency, you need to add the tomatoes, chick peas and dried mint and 1/2L more water or more, as appropriate.

Go back and heat and cook in the pan for further 30 minutes, if you are using a regular pan. If using a pressure cooker then cook on medium to high for a further 25 minutes.

Finally, place the khobz in a very large dish (or individually if preferred) and pour the marga (sauce) over it. Arrange the meat so that everyone has a piece.

Algerian Salad

Ingredients : 2 sweet red peppers, seeded.

4 medium ripe tomatoes.

3/4 cup cucumber.

2 small onions.

1/2 cup black olives.

6 anchovy fillets.

2 hard boiled eggs.

1 tablespoon of fresh basil or cilantro 3 tablespoons of olive oil 1 tablespoons of vinegar salt and pepper Instructions : Chop the red peppers, the tomatoes, the anchovy fillets and the basil/cilantro.

Slice the cucumber and the onions.Pit the black olives and half them, then quarter the boiled eggs.

Place all ingredients into a large salad bowl, add olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and toss gently.

Serve with pita bread if you wish.

Fruit Salad

Ingredients : ¼ melon 2 apples 2 bananas 5 oranges ¾ cup of orange juice ¼ cup of lemon juice 2 tablespoon of sugar 1 tablespoon of vanilla ½ tablespoon of cinnamon Whipped cream Instructions : Cube the melon and apples and slice the bananas. Peel, seed and chop the oranges.

Mix all the ingredients. Chill it well before serving it and serve it with whipped cream.

Mkhabaz: Ingredients:

• 100 grams of almond powder • 100 grams of coconut powder • 150 grams of icing sugar • 1 to 2 egg whites.

Frosting: • 1 egg white • 3 tablespoons of orange flower water • 3 tablespoons of lemon juice • icing sugar; 500 grams • 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil Directions: 1) Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl, then add egg whites and knead until you have a firm dough.

2) Roll out the dough to create crusts that are 2 cm thick.

3) Using a pastry cutter, cut discs of dough.

4) Place the disks of dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake 15 minutes at 150 ° C. Prepare the frosting: Mix the egg white with the orange blossom water and the lemon juice.

Then add the icing sugar until you have a sweetened and slightly thick dough.

Add oil and mix again.

Dip the cakes one by one into the paste to glaze them (be careful, if the frosting is not thick enough, they will sink). Decorate as you wish, and enjoy it!

Cancer cell is clever!

No, I haven’t lost my mind, thank you very much!

Yes, you read right! Let me explain before you leave this article and decide it’s not worth reading.

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ancer cells, as most people know, feed on the body cells and can spread rapidly within body. The type of cancer cell that you are going to read about is the ovarian cancer cell. Ovarian cancer is “cancer that starts in the ovaries.” The ovaries are “the female reproductive organs that produce the eggs.” (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).

According to Science News, a study of the ovarian cancer cell showed how smart it is; it creates a pathway for itself to be able to spread. The cell uses three types of protein to break its way through healthy tissue. The article states that researchers at Harvard University have carried out studies to reach their conclusion.

Cancer not only feeds on the patients’ cells, but also feeds on what the patient needs to stay healthy and strong in order to fight other diseases!

Enough negativity. Let’s look at the bright side before anyone gets depressed! One very positive thing is that there are more and more studies that offer explanations into cancer cell activity, which means that scientists can find better and more effective cures until we get rid of this disease for good!

Wait, there’s more!

To avoid risks of developing ovarian cancer, here is some advice and suggestions offered by Discovery Fit &Health, which may help! a. Pregnancy pills (for birth control) can help avoid the risk of developing cancer. Do not take them like pain killers, though! The article says that if you have been taking them for about 5 years (for the right reasons), risks can be reduced by 60%. b. Giving birth to one or more children, especially if the first was born before you reached the age of 30, and was breast-fed, also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer. c. Removing both ovaries will completely eliminate the risk of ovarian cancer, but women should not get this operation done and give up having children just because there might be a risk!

Only when there is an acute risk of developing the disease, for instance a family history in which ovarian cancer occurs as a hereditary condition, or test results indicating a heightened potential of developing ovarian cancer should this operation be considered. d. Tubal ligation and hysterectomy are also ways to avoid risk, but, again, they shouldn’t be applied as prophylactic measures but only as a radical response to a heightened indication!

Tubal ligation is the tying or clipping of the fallopian tubes to prevent pregnancy.

Hysterectomy is an operation in which the uterus is removed.

Since the disease exists, there must be a cure!

So have faith that doctors and scientists will understand this disease better as their research progresses and a cure will be found!

On this note, I wish to end my article, hoping you enjoyed reading it!

By Hend Ashour

Having problems remembering your vocab?

Watch a scary movie A

Think I’m kidding?

Think again! A study conducted on the effect of negative emotions on memory revealed that, apparently, negative emotions help ENHANCE memory.

nd we all thought we need to see pretty flowers and butterflies to remember things, and staying away from Jack Nicholson would do the trick. How wrong we were!

According to a study published in Science Daily, a group of 40 undergraduate university students were given 10 sets of 10 pairs of Swahili-English vocabulary items.

They were assigned two tests. One test was for the students to remember the words and get prepared for the main test. The other test was the main test itself, involving all the vocabulary acquired. During the first test, the students were shown pictures of different things; images of things that produce negative emotions, such as a pointed gun, or neutral pictures of everyday objects, or simply blank images. Then they were given a quick multiplication test to

cleanse their short term memory. After that, the major test on all acquired vocabulary was assigned to them. The words the students remembered best turned out to be those that were followed by images that produced negative emotions! (This is the moment to be shocked and recall: Negative emotions may enhance memory.)

So, for all my readers to remember this article by heart -I am not saying like it, I am saying REMEMBER it-, I give this little present to you!

Sources: Washington University, St. Louis.

«Shock and recall: Negative emotion may enhance memory.» Science Daily, 20 June, 2011. Web, 21 June, 2011.

By Hend Ashour

Last actions of Esteban Moreno and

I light a cigarette and look at the darkness. The night is pitch dark, and from the roof of my house I can only see empty streets, smell the perfume of my neighbor´s orange tree, feel a soft breeze on my arms´ hair… and perceive, very distant, a deaf and continuous tremble.

A short story by Gabriel Losa

I

blow the smoke, enjoying. I had always considered it silly that people on death row asked for a cigarette. I used to think that it was impossible that a simple cigarette could calm you down in that moment. In fact, it doesn´t. It doesn´t calm you down, but you feel the smoke more than ever. You enjoy it, knowing it´s the last time that it will fill your lungs. The sensation seems unique and unrepeatable. In those cases, it is unique and unrepeatable, and that´s what makes it wonderful. To know that you will never be able to do it again. If a guy on death row could ask for BBQ´d ribs or a girl to sleep with, he´d feel the same. An absolute exclusiveness that multiplies the sensations. But people on death row have to be content with a cigarette.

And my fridge it´s empty, and there´s no girl to go to bed with.

It´s 4:21 AM. I go downstairs to the bathroom and while I take a leak I look at the tiles. They are dirty and in the joints grows macroscopic mold.

I´m not a complete mess, but I´m definitely not a cleaning freak either. My house it´s not dirty, it´s… let´s say “too manly”.

I flush but I come out without washing my hands.

As I go back to the roof I check the fridge for the millionth time. I know there´s nothing in there, but I can´t help it. I guess that thinking about a last meal unleashed my appetite.

That or I´m losing my mind.

No. Not unless I go to the bedroom and check whether there´s a naked girl waiting on my bed.

I look around the house. It´s empty, inanimate and poorly lit, but I don´t feel

d the world

, just as a meridian, and generated – and still generates, due to earth cortex destabilization-, a huge seismic movement that is causing a tsunami of immeasurable proportions.

In consequence of that explosion, a devastating earthquake and a wave 750 meters high move to the west at a speed calculated as 1690 kilometers per hour.

Exactly earth´s rotation speed.

The earthquake moves on then, as a line of domino pieces falling, covering all time zones at the same hour.

Everywhere, no matter in which part of the world you are, the end of mankind as we know it came, comes and will come at 5:46 in the morning.

It´s 4:47 AM. I feel uncomfortable and anxious at home, so I turn the volume up and I go to the stairs to get to the rooftop again.

As I walk alongside my room on the way to the roof, I see that the door is open.

Intentionally, I avoid looking inside.

nostalgia at all. It has been empty and inanimate for a while now, so the fact that I´m about to die shouldn´t change anything.

I close the fridge door and the house gets a shade darker.

I hear a gunshot, coming from a few blocks away, that makes me pay attention.

I can feel the tremble again. Its intensity has grown.

It´s 4:32 AM. I turn on the TV. Statics. The same happens with the radio. It´s been like this for two hours and now it´s quite unlikely I can get the reception back.

To kill the silence. I put a record on my old record player. The Beatles´ White Album.

Three hours ago, news shows reported that a major calculation error in a nuclear test, at the east of Marshall Islands, cracked the tectonic plate in a north-south bound

On the rooftop I sit comfortably in a beachchair, light another cigarette and try to think about nothing at all. The tremble makes it a little difficult, but it´s monotonous enough that if I concentrate it´s kind of easy to ignore it.

I start with basic thoughts, trying to clear my mind. I think of my first car: an old Dodge uglier and less reliable than its owner.

Nevertheless, I love and miss that car. I guess that when you are young, or about to die, you have simpler aspirations.

I hum a few Beatles´ songs and try to amuse myself finding an official anthem for the end of the world. “Message in a Bottle”, by The Police, would be ideal.

I think of how much I like to read and realize that Garcia Marquez´s marvelous chronicle about Santiago Nasar´s murder would be perfect for a title in the imaginary news of tomorrow.

Impossible to get a more foretold death than this one.

My morbid wit makes me smile. Realizing that I´m smiling in these circumstances makes my smile even wider.

The power goes out in the whole city.

The music stops.

I can hear a sudden screeching of brakes and a car crash. People scream everywhere.

My smile disappears.

My watch beeps.

…..To be continued

cinema

Don’t sit through the whole movie just to be disappointed. 50/Fifty offers you a chance to check out the latest movies hitting the box office each month to help you decide what’s worth watching.

Captain America : The First Avenger July 22

Starring : Chris Evans, Stanely Tucci, Tommy Lee Jones & Natalie Dormer.

If you enjoy superhero movies that are based on comic books then make sure you don’t miss this action-packed movie.

Captain America may not be as popular with fans here as Spiderman or Batman but he isn’t

any less of a superhero. Just like any of them, he won’t rest until he saves the day. Captain America is about a soldier named Steve Rogers (Evans) who volunteers in an experimental program that turns him into a super soldier.

Friends with Benefits July 22

Starring : Justin Timberlake, Mila Kunis This romantic comedy is about two best friends who decide to add sex to their friendship & ignore all what Hollywood movies have taught them.

However, they realize that sex does complicate things.

The movie may sound a lot like

“No Strings Attached” starring Natalie Portman & Ashton Kutcher, but this movie looks like it’s going to be a lot more fun. Besides, all Timberlake fans will get a kick watching him in another romantic comedy.

Cowboys & Aliens July 29

Starring : Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford & Olivia Wilde This movie stars Mr. James Bond himself, Daniel Craig & Indiana Jones Harrison Ford.If these two aren’t enough for you to mark the screening date in your calenders, then adding Olivia Wilde to the mix should be. This movie is about a town called Absolution, where no one makes a move unless ordered to do so by the ironfisted Colonel Dolarhyde

(Ford). A stranger with no memory (Craig) stumbles upon this town that doesn’t like strangers. Craig’s character, naturally, feels none too welcome.

However, this stranger is more than he’s given credit for, as the people will find out when they get attacked by aliens. A movie that is Western, action, adventure & SciFi in one shouldn’t be missed.

reviews Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows : Part 2 July 15 Starring : Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Need I say more? The epic movies based on the JK Rowling’s famous books are coming to an end. Fans have watched their beloved wizard and his friends grow in this beautiful imaginary

world, and they grew with him. Although it’s hard to say goodbye, everything must come to an end. S, Harry, Ron and Hermine’s fan buckle up to watch the final battle to see things change for good.

Crazy, Stupid, Love July 29

Starring : Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Kevin Bacon & Marisa Tomei Love is crazy and stupid. No one can argue with that. But in this star-studded movie about a father (Carell) whose marriage is falling apart we find out it is also complicated. Carell’s character uses the help of a young ladies’ man

Jacob (Gosling) to open up to the world of being single. However, we find out in the course of events that no one knows everything when it comes to love and relationships because love is crazy and we can all be clueless sometimes.

30 Minutes or Less August 12

Starring : Jesse Eisenberg, Aziz Ansari, Danny McBride, Nick Swardson Two wannabe criminal masterminds (McBride & Swardson) kidnap a pizza delivery boy (Eisenberg) and force him to rob a bank. The boy enlists the help of his former best friend (Ansari). As the clock

ticks, the boys have to deal with the police, assassins and the problems their friendship is facing. If you like crazy comedies like Pineapple Express and Zombie Land, then you’ll love this insane movie.

Algerian Action

Offering a little help to those living in Algeria

Algerian Action is a small London-based charity that aims at offering help to those children and families living in Algeria that are experiencing the effects of poverty.

U

nlike many other parts of Africa, Algeria is not a Third World country. It is a developed (and fast-developing) one. As a country, it possesses vast natural resources and is no doubt a wealthy nation. High unemployment rates and a lack of suitable housing, however, mean that almost one quarter of the population are currently living below the poverty line and in inadequate conditions. These are the people that Algerian Action aspires to help.

The charity was set up by Emma Waller four years ago, after she spent a holiday in Algiers. Initially, the charity only provided clothing and other essentials to new born babies but over time, as more and more families received aid, it was realised that it was really the older children of poor families who were in the direst need of assistance, as the baby clothes could be recycled and used again each time an infant had outgrown them, whereas buying new clothes in increasingly bigger sizes was a true problem for families with very little income. With that in mind, the remit of Algerian Action was expanded to include babies as well as children aged 0-16 years. Today, the charity still provides clothing to this age group, along with the elderly who have no family support. They also offer assistance to those who cannot afford basic items of furniture or essential repairs to their homes, in addition to providing food to those in severe need.

Algerian Action has a wide network of supporters from all over the world with approximately 1,000 donations being

received every month. The charity currently has 20 volunteers based in the U.K. and Algeria who help collect and distribute donations and generally help to promote the work of Algerian Action. Everyone involved gives their time and skills freely and nobody receives payment of any kind for the help they provide.

In addition to the charity’s general work of providing essentials to those in need, a number of special projects are regularly organized, including this year’s Eid Appeal, which has just been launched. The charity is asking for donations of small toys, sweets, balloons - all the things that children love! It is planned that a total of 500 gift parcels will be distributed to children in Algiers at Eidu’l Fitr. These children will largely be from poor families. However, Eid gifts will also be given to children in orphanages and to some in hospitals.

Funding has recently been secured to start a new scheme later this year, which will provide fresh fruit on a fortnightly basis to families in dire need. Initially the project will cater for a limited number of families and will be gradually expanded to include all those who receive assistance from Algerian Action.

If you would like to support the work of Algerian Action in any way, to donate, volunteer, to help spread the word, or if you know a child or family in need, please do get in touch.

For further information visit www. algerianaction.co.uk