December 2016 Y7 Magazine

Y7 MAGAZINE December 2016

PEER PRESSURE You no longer have to sit silent.

There is something you can do about it.

AUTONOMOUS CARS Will we even need a license in the future?

WHAT MAKES LIFE HARD? We all have it hard, but it doesn't have to be this way!

MEMORY ENEMIES If you want to improve your recall, don't do these things...

COLORISM IN

FASHION How much of a problem is it? Here we delve into the world of fashion as experienced behind the scenes.

CONTENTS

# We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! @ya7elween

20 SURROGACY A NECESSITY? Some couples are left to face the hard decision of surrogacy or adoption. But is surrogacy a necessity?

26 AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

14 THE BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS

The future of driving looks pretty promising!

It’s beginning to look a lot like christmas

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BOOK REVIEWS

COLORISM IN FASHION

WHAT MAKES LIFE HARD

Here we are sharing this month’s best reads!

Racism used to be a big problem in the fashion industry but is it still?

Take a knee, relax and read this article to help you feel better.

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Did you know that December used to be the tenth month of the Roman calendar? The root word “decem” actually means 10!

06 THE WORLD OF FASHION Dr Laurence Ajaka let’s us into a world that many of us dream about!

10 MEMORY ENEMIES I can’t remember what I was going to write here!

12 MOTHERS To work or not to work? Hmmm...

16 PEER PRESSURE Together we can irradicate peer pressure!

18 GADGETS FOR CLIMBING Don’t go backpacking without these.

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22 HABITS TO HAVE

THE RUNDOWN AFTER A BREAKUP

Kick in the New Year with new habits!

ON TREND 24 WHAT’S 03 If it’s hot right now, you’ll know about it here first!

The emotional drain of a breakup can take a toll on you. But we’ve all experienced heartbreak. It’s natural and yes -- you will get through it!

EDITOR’S NOTE

HELLO Y7 READERS We want to thank you all for a successful year!

We would love to thank you all for contributing your stories, news bits and research to our publication and we look forward to much more in the new year.

We listen to our readers and as such we have decided to take this publication in a bold new direction!

From January forward this magazine will fall into the category of lifestyle.

It will provide how-to articles and important life stories to help improve the lives of our readers.

reviews, news headlines, jokes, personal stories and more. We are very excited about this direction and hope you are too! We are taking submissions for the new year, so if you have something positive and interesting to say, we’d love to read it!

“We are all one big comfy family.”

Look forward to more articles about tech, science, health, nutrition, fitness, beauty, fashion and community. You’ll see book reviews, movies 3

NEWS SLIDE NEWS CONTRIBUTORS

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

illicit drug use, besides marijuana, is falling among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders nationwide, a new survey shows.

METEROR SHOWER @SPACE.COM

TURN YOUR EYES TO THE SKY ON DECEMBER 22ND!!!

While the moon will obscure this month’s Ursid meteor shower, it’s still worth taking some time before the holidays to check out the sky show, meteor observers said.

You will need a dark sky to see them.

SAY WHAT!?

Want to study how fake news stories and other false claims spread online? Try Twitter Trails, where computer scientists are training an algorithm to detect misinformation from the way it propagates and how skeptical users respond. Or head over to the Observatory on Social Media, a.k.a. Truthy, where a tool called BotOrNot can detect the telltale behavior of the automated accounts that play a leading role in spreading partisan misinformation.

CONTROL FACEBOOK WITH YOUR MIND? Research at Binghamton University in the US found that every person has a unique pattern of brain activity when shown a series of images. In the study, a computer measured the brainwaves of 45 volunteers and was able to determine the identity of each person with 100 per cent accuracy. This means that your ‘brain print’ could be a very effective way to enable secure login to computer systems, including Facebook.

IOS UPDATE + FACEBOOK = UH OH If you thought Facebook’s Year in Review feature was all you had to worry about this week, we’ve got some bad news.

Thanks to a glitch on the social network, posts and photographs from days, months and even years ago are apparently resurfacing on the profiles of some unlucky and mortified Facebook users.

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THE NEFTLIX OF BEAUTY?

IN FACT

Marcia Kilgore is well-versed in launching revolutionary companies, but her newest venture may just change the beauty world forever.

The entrepreneur founded a string of household name brands — Bliss, FitFlop, Soap & Glory — before moving on to Beauty Pie, a newsubscription service that calls itself “makeup without the markup.”

The concept is simple, but genius: Kilgore works with the chemists and manufacturers behind prestige companies and has them create formulas for Beauty Pie. If you sign up for a $10/monthly (or $120/ annually) subscription, you’ll get access to these beauty products at factory price.

WHY COLD MAKES YOUR BONES ACHE

There is a psychological link: people who claim the weather affects their joints do feel more pain than those who don’t make these claims. If weather sensitivity was a purely physical phenomenon, then people would be affected whether they believed that the variability was related to the weather or not. But a 2007 study also found that every 10°C drop in temperature resulted in worse arthritis pain. This may be because cold weather causes changes in the fluid that lubricates each joint.

JOKES ON YOU GOOGLE, SIGNED IKEA The Swedish names of Ikea products can be tricky to pronounce, what with their umlauts and silent consonants.

Eradicating any linguistic confusion, the homewares giant’s latest campaign see select products given English alternatives: Frequently Googled relationship problems, of course.

The searches were pulled from the most common Swedish searches and used in the “Retail Therapy” campaign.

And naturally, those secretly Googled questions are paired with an Ikea product that could “fix” the problem.

“How To Stay Married” all for the low low price of $39.99!

“How To Stay Married” all for the low low price of $39.99!

If Inbjudande is just a name your western sentiments simply can’t wrap themselves around, how about a lovely “Too Shy To Ask Someone Out” apron?

Ad agency Åkestam Holst took motivation from the complications of family relationships of many kinds: The exquisite frustration teenagers cause their parents, the difficulty of financial decisionand even the complexities of how one would confront an unfaithful lover.

All thoughtfully paired with Ikea products.

RIDDLE ME THIS! Wednesday, Tom and Joe went to a restaurant and ate dinner. When they were done they paid for the food and left. But Tom and Joe didn’t pay for the food. Who did?

Products even include a “Related Relationship Problems” tab at the bottom of each page. If you like “He Doesn’t Text Back,” you’ll love “I Need More Men In My Life.”

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SUCCESS PROFILE

THE WORLD OF FASHION: IS IT AN EMPTY HUSK OF SUPERFICIALITY? The world of fashion has a reputation for being seedy and cutthroat. Plenty of people look down on the industry and regard it as a less than pristine means of earning a living. There is much contempt for those involved, but it’s hard to judge the world of fashion without getting the perspective of someone who has lived the life and knows the business inside out. To investigate whether the scene deserves its notoriety or not, we met up with former model and fashion icon Nathalie Fadlallah.

BY DR. LAURENCE AJAKA

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Nathalie Fadlallah is perhaps Lebanon’s first supermodel and hails from the North of Lebanon in Koura. What makes her a success is her ability to transform her career from a mere model to the founder and director of the first modeling agency in Lebanon, Nathaly’s Agency in 1988.

The agency remains one of the best in Lebanon and supplies models locally and internationally. Nathalie also launched “Miss Resort Lebanon”, a venue for holding fashion shows. She made the transition into television by hosting a show on OTV called “The Model Show by Nathalie fadlallah”” that specialized in recruiting and training models; Carla Daher is one of the most famous to have come from the program. Nathalie is also a social activist and holds the title of artistic chief in the Lebanese Association for Fighting Drugs. One of her biggest accomplishments was closing the Naccache Bridge in protest for drug usage among Lebanese youth. In 2013, she was one of the candidates for the Lebanese Parliament, and she led a nationwide campaign to encourage women to join the government. With an illustrious career built and still more ahead, Nathalie Fadlallah is the perfect example of a model that has branched onwards.

Nathalie was first discovered at the tender age of 11 when she was attending the preparation of a fashion show. An Italian agent spotted her and decided she had to be in the show.

Young Nathalie was overwhelmed to be part of a show that had been in the works for more than a month, but she was persuaded by her friend to take the plunge. She thought it would just be a one-time thing, but little than a week later, she was asked for another show.

And the request kept pouring in.

At the time, there was only one modeling agency in Lebanon called “Premiere” headed

by Salim Beck Karam, the current Member of Parliament. They used to put on shows in the Solimar. At one point, there was a disturbance in the agency and all the models started fighting Karam because of monetary issues, but at 17, Nathalie was the only one to stand her ground and support him. Her loyalty caught the attention and admiration of Karam, and he asked her if she was capable of handling the trappings of the agency. Fueled by the sense of challenge, Nathalie managed to rebuild the agency in 6 months, and the collaboration remained till 1988 when in the heat of the civil war, Nathalie Agency was created after a tremendous effort. A new legislation had to be made because there was nothing in the Lebanese Law concerning modeling agencies.

During those days, Nathalie was touring all over the Arab world as a model and head of an agency. She also took fresh designers with her and opened new doors for them. The first 3 years of the Shopping Festival in Dubai, Nathalie Agency was number one. Naturally, other 8|

agencies opened over the years, and Nathalie Fadlallah welcomed the competition. She reminisced about the days when competition was providing the most beautiful and professional models for the job instead of just lowballing the prices regarding these techniques as a failure.

Nathalie Fadlallah is one of the most interviewed public figures. She was even placed as Number3 in the Forbes’ list of the most influential Arabian business women along with the presenter Jezelle Khoury after a spontaneous interview that lasted for more than two hours.

When asked about her future plans, she gave a sneak preview of an upcoming project called “History” that highlights fashion as well as art. And when asked why she always closes down a large area every time she makes a new event, she cheekily replied that “Unless something hurts, it doesn’t get through to the Lebanese people”. She asserts that her decision to cause a historic traffic jam when she closed the Naccache Bridge was spotted on because even though there was plenty of grumbling with regard to the wait, they were all made aware of how infested our society has become with drugs. Her new “lock down” will be dedicated to reminding the Lebanese population about the struggle and hardships the nation had to endure as well as celebrate the beauty we have.

Her decision to join the political rat race was a prelude to bringing the issues of women’s quota into the spotlight. She took this step when she started having thoughts of immigration despite her deep love for her country.

Unlike most, she decided to fight back by throwing herself into politics. The step caused a media flurry because no one seemed to be able to link the worlds of fashion and politics together. It was her style and eloquence while presenting her ideas that made people take her more seriously. Nathalie claims that winning a seat was never the purpose; she wanted to encourage other women and remind them of their independence and endless potentials.

Nathalie doesn’t deny the controversy surrounding her in the media. Her brutal honesty in interviews has made her a favorite for others and a bane for those who tip-toe the lines of political correctness. Any criticism is taken as an additional motive to move even further and higher. She has grown used to those who try to provoke her into appearing in an unflattering fashion, and she is steadfast

to remaining true to herself. She promises to remain forever positive and dreaming.

When asked about what the government can do, Nathalie stressed the need for regulations for modeling agencies that seem to be popping up everywhere. She also lamented the endless bureaucracy that each model has to go through whenever they want to leave the country and the endless expenses each trip costs.

The same applies to all entertainment communities where individuals go unappreciated in contrast to Lebanon’s history of beauty and success. She sees it as the strength that allowed the Lebanese people to survive the vicious civil war.

She jokingly added that she would love to be the Minister of Tourism because no one else is more qualified than her to promote Lebanon.

About her future plans, Nathalie stated

that although she dreams endlessly, she tries to live one day at a time. She plans every day as if it is the first day in her life because sleep is but a temporary death and each day is the first day of the rest of her life.

Her involvement with the public life compromised her personal life to a certain degree, but she tries to balance as much as possible. Being the spoilt sister for a brother and two sisters, she had a close relationship with her mother because she needed protection when she started so young as a model. Nathalie gives her mother credit for her career because she defied the norms of society that frowned on models in those days. Her father was especially problematic because he was extremely concerned about what the society would think. It wasn’t until he saw the applause she got in a fashion show while wearing an extremely short dress, which he finally gave in and recognized how proud he is. Meanwhile; Nathalie

remained on top of her class because she didn’t want to give her parents any excuse to question her choice of careers. Her mother was also the person that made her ignore vicious rumors that invariably come up when people are successful. And till this very day, she smiles whenever anyone says something nasty about her.

Nathalie Fadlallah married at one point, but problems with her in-laws made her refrain from making a family. However, she has been indisposed to think about marriage because of the numerous failures she witnesses every day. She adds that although she isn’t alone, she doesn’t see herself walking down the aisle anytime soon. Having been denied motherhood, she considers each model she works with as a surrogate son and daughter. Besides, she admits that God’s plan to be where she is.

Nathalie Fadlallah is a fashion icon. She has the beauty and the brains essential to navigating the world of fashion. While there is much corruption to be found, those who manage to be a success have to have the mind of a seasoned business person. People ought to take a closer look before they judge the world of fashion as an empty husk of superficiality.

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SCIENCE

MEMORY ENEMIES WRITTEN BY.CARLA HADDAD| PHOTOGRAPH BY. JOHN

WHEREHASMY MEMORYGONE?

“Many people buy dozens of books and do a lot of online research on memory improvement techniques.

In spite of this, they may still be stuck with a poor memory, mainly because they are not aware of the real culprits”

CHALLENGE YOURSELF: Do a riddle a day to begin with then switch it up to crosswords, word searches and find the item challenges.

Many people buy dozens of books and do a lot of online research on memory improvement techniques. In spite of this, they may still be stuck with a poor memory, mainly because they are not aware of the real culprits that are making them suffer these lapses. It is crucial to know about these enemies and take action towards removing them before even learning any memory techniques.

reading, writing, understanding and communicating with people improve nerve channels and especially lazy cells in the brain which will improve the memory with time.

The brain is not a muscle in the body that you can exercise to become more buff. Memorizing word charts or crossword puzzles will not improve brain functions. On the other hand,

01 FITNESS Walk 30 minutes a day to lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, depression and memory loss!

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02 NUTRITION Eat foods that contain B-complex vitamins such as whole grain cereals and lots of lean protein. Also get those Omega’s in with plenty of healthy fats like fish oil and avocados! Your brain will thank you for it.

03 GAMES Do a crossword puzzle a day to keep sharp. You can also play goldfish with a basic deck of playing cards.

SCIENCE

What are the main factors that affect your memory?

ALCOHOL

STRESS

SLEEP

Drinking long-term affects more than the liver.

Take a few deep breaths, everything will be fine.

Sleep longer and you’ll look younger and retain your brain.

When you consume excessive amounts of alcohol, brain neurons will start to progressively become damaged. Many researches proved that when a person becomes addicted to drinking alcohol, many changes will affect the normal function of the brain mainly the neurons responsible for our memory potentially causing irreversible damage.

Stress is another enemy of the memory.

Stressed people secrete excess amounts of glucocorticoids that may distort the brain’s hippocampus that controls the memory.

Your brain sort, while you are sleeping, all of the memories during the day; nerve cells organize all of the information received.

Therefor a person should never sleep less than their normal hours because lack of sleep could cause serious damage to the brain sections that affect the memory over the years.

When people move beyond stress and become depressed, they are affected with memory problems such as memory loss and in worse cases Alzheimer.

ANTI-ANXIETYMEDICATION Anti-anxiety medications can be both helpful and harmful, speciifically when it comes to the brain.

The semantic memory refers to a portion of long term memory that processes ideas and concepts that are drawn from personal experience. On the other hand, the episodic memory is a person’s unique memory of a specific event. Benzodiazepine pills (anti-anxiety pills) such as Valium and Lorazepam have other effects on the memory. Some may help keep new information and others affect either the semantic memory or the episodic mem-

ory. Therefor it will be different from someone else’s recollection of the same experience. Taking these medications should only be under the strict supervision of a qualified physician.

Strengthen the brain with plenty of mental challenges like puzzles and hard math.

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OPINION

MOTHERS: TO WORK OR NOT TO WORK?

Women are known for multi-tasking; they have the ability to fulfill different tasks at one time.

They are able to have a job while taking care of their family. However, there are some advantages as well as disadvantages of being a working mother.

WRITTEN BY. DR. RANDA SALIBA CHIDIAC | PHOTOGRAPH BY. JOHN KEI

JOBS FOR WAHM’S

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TRANSCRIPTION

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The most popular WAH job is audio transcriptioning. A transcriptionist listens to an audio or video file and types what she hears verbatim.

WOULD YOU WORK FROM HOME? Lots of new moms decide to work from hom in order to spend more time with their new babies.

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DESIGNER Yes! You can be a designer from home. Lost of very popular floral designers, interior designers and clothes designers work from home!

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PLANNER Wedding, party and business planners are happy to work form home as it gives them the flexibility they need to plan in peace.

Families are changing and so are gender roles. Men no longer assume that they will be the sole providers for their families.

Women no longer expect to take the sole responsibility for their families. Children do not expect their mothers to be available at home all the time. Parents today try to find a balance between their jobs and their families. In the past, women did not have the right to vote, to go to school, to borrow money, to own property, or to work in certain occupations. Over the years women have fought for their rights, and now gender equality is protected by a number of laws and regulations in many countries around the world. Women have

made great progress in balancing between the home and the workplace.

Nowadays, due to the economic situation, many women have started supporting their families.

Men are no longer the sole provider of the family; women have taken it upon themselves.

Some women might not be obliged to work, but they enjoy being part of the competitive business work. First of all, let’s start with the advantages of working mothers. Of course the first advantage of working mothers is complete financial independence that provides

MOTHER’S CAN REALLY DO IT ALL! an advantage to her and her children. Second, mothers always inspire their children; they are their role models. If you have a son or daughter then he or she can look up to you. It means they have their inspiration right in their home.

Furthermore, working mothers are highly respected by their husbands and other members in the family like fathers-in-laws or mothers-in-laws who also give value to a working woman. In addition, and from my personal experience as a working mother, I can assure that a working mother is more organized than a non-working mother. Usually, a housewife has a very little work to do. After doing their daily chores, they do not have anything left. Hence, they start getting bored. However, the life of a working woman is full of exuberance. They have something new to do every day and they feel very excited about it.

Last but not least, a working and independent woman is always a sign of a healthy society, and a working woman could contribute in creating such a society.

On the other hand, there are some disadvantages for working mothers, and family is the biggest disadvantage. If a woman is working, then she won’t be able to give time to her family.

And for many individuals, family comes first. Therefore, family would be negatively affected be-

cause children may not get that quality time that they would have otherwise. Not just children but even the husband may complain about it if his wife was working for long hours. Another disadvantage is fatigue. Regardless of their ability of multi-tasking, there comes a time when they have to bear so much stress juggling between two jobs. They have to look after their families on one hand, and on the other, bear tension of their work which can lead to fatigue. Moreover, working women sometimes become so completely occupied by their work and managing family that they become totally consumed by managing at both ends. Hence, there is very little left for their friends making them feel isolated and that is not a healthy life. Also, a feeling of guilt may emerge because they are not giving quality time to their families. Many marriages end up in divorce because of an imbalance created by working outside.

In conclusion, whether you are a working mother or a housewife, the fact remains that the most important thing in life is being happy, as happiness makes the world go round. So, to work or not to work, this is the question you need to answer.

Popular Co’s for Working Moms 3M

If you’ve gone to school or held an office job, you’re no doubt familiar with this company. They make everything from white out to tape. 3M offers jobs to those over seas and domestic.

AMERICAN EXPRESS

No matter where you live, you’ve no doubt heard of this Credit Card giant. If you like talking to diofferent people, problem solving and crunching numbers, this may be for you.

DELL

The computer giant Dell is more than happy to offer momsthe opportnuity to work from home. They offer an array of positions in sales, customer service and tech support to experienced individuals all over the world. Check out the WSJ for their latest listings.

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SEASONAL

THE BEAUTY OF CHRISTMAS December is arriving soon which means that Christmas will be knocking WRITTEN BY. FADY AL HASHEM | PHOTOGRAPH BY.

Each year, Christians celebrate the birth of the Savior on the 25th of December, a time when the holiday mood reaches out to almost everyone. Since many decades, people have accustomed to the practice of greeting, giving, and cherishing this day of year. Throughout the recurrence of similar beliefs and the respect of a particular tradition, celebrating Christmas became known as a mandatory ritual. How is the revelation of these ceremonies featured?

For starters, the practice of greeting is being shown all over the world, by the religious side of the holiday. Christians celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, according to the Bible, in Beth Lethem in Israel next to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. Believers honor that memory by installing a crib inside of which they are statues of the holy characters. Since the Middle Ages, it has been believed that when Christ was born, the snow and the ice during winter shook off the trees which glowed with evergreen. That is why people set up trees and cribs in their homes during Christmas as a declaration of a cultural and spiritual aspect of the holiday.

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When the landscapes are painted in white, red and green, people rejoice and express that by generous gifts. They purchase flower bunches such as a Poinsettia basket or any other attractive arrangement of flowers as a way of greeting loved ones. There are also carolers who sing the outstanding and obsolete melodies of Christmas as they knock on several doors of a neighborhood. Other gifts are offered with profound stories that bind their distribution. Statistics showed that the amount of good deeds advances incredibly during the festive holiday. As for children, they believe in Santa Claus. The whole process is being carried forward on a big scale of the society to encompass the values and the wonders of a personal touch into every gifted present.

Finally, Christmas is famous for its ornaments and the Christmas dinner on the 24th of December. The dinner is preferably homemade as the holiday incarnates the gathering of relatives and closed ones. Love and joviality put smiles and laughter on all faces. Families also decorate the Christmas tree before the clock strikes twelve to indicate the end of the evening. Lights glisten and cheers fill all hearts. Positive energy and

affection roams the households. Christmas meals usually include main dishes and Christmas cakes that differ among different societies. The most important thing to remember is that during this time, families reconvene to cherish the goodness in the world.

Every country has its proper culture and mode of celebrating Christmas. The common norm is to set up a lighted candle in shelters as exaltation of religious figure.

Giving and receiving presents is another principle tradition. And, the treasuring of what this holiday has to bestow on people remains the reason of their happiness.

HEALTHY FOOD

GINGERBREAD

MAN

The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits was at the court of Elizabeth I of England. She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests.

White Chocolate Kissed Gingerbread Cookies: Prepare and refrigerate dough as directed. Shape into 1-inch balls.

Roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Immediately press a white and milk chocolate swirled kiss-shaped candy into center of each cookie.

Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Makes 5 dozen.

Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with Lemon Creme: Prepare and refrigerate dough as directed. Shape into 1-inch balls.

Roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in preheated 350°F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. For the Lemon Creme, mix 1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow cream, 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened, 4 ounces cream cheese, softened, and 1

teaspoon McCormick(R) Pure Lemon Extract in medium bowl until well blended. To assemble whoopie pies, place about 1 tablespoon filling on the flat side of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, pressing gently to spread the filling. Roll edge of whoopie pie in 1 cup crushed peppermint candy. Repeat with remaining cookies, filling and candy. Store whoopie pies between layers of wax paper in airtight container in refrigerator up to 5 days. Makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Caramel Pecan Gingerbread Thumbprints: Prepare and refrigerate dough as directed. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven8 to10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Immediately press a pecan half into center of each cookie. Top each with 1/4 teaspoon of caramel topping. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Drizzle

GINGER HEALTH BENEFITS WRITTEN BY. SARAH

Next time you feel ill pop a little ginger in a glass of hot water, add a few drops of honey and a squeeze of lemon.

It can be used fresh, dried and powdered, or as a juice or oil. Ginger is commonly used to treat various types of “stomach problems,” including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.

RECIPE BY : FARAH QUIN

INGRIDIENTS 3 cups flour 2 teaspoons McCormick(R) Ginger, Ground 1 teaspoon McCormick(R) Cinnamon, Ground 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon McCormick(R) Nutmeg, Ground 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup butter, softened 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 cup molasses 1 egg 1 teaspoon McCormick(R) Pure Vanilla Extract

DIRECTIONS

1.

Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

2.

Add molasses, egg and vanilla;mix well.

Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

3.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

4.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown.

Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

Decorate cooled cookies as desired. Store cookies in airtight container up to5 days.

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SOCIETY

IS PEER PRESSURE GIVEN THE AQUIRED ATTENTION? Peer pressure is often brushed aside and rarely given the attention it deserves even though it can have long-reaching repercussions in adolescents’ lives well into adulthood. tipping point between growing into confident adults WRITTEN BY.DR. ZEINA ZEIDAN MAALOULY | PHOTO-

The way adolescents are perceived by their peers could be the tipping point between growing into confident adults and struggling to cope with life. If they feel unaccepted by their immediate circle, adolescents can become very vulnerable to virtually any upset. They would likely blow matters into unprecedented proportions and disturb their entire social and academic structure.

On the other hand, being accepted by one’s peers would provide a cocoon of content that will project into almost every aspect of their lives making them more flexible and capable of coping with life’s ups and downs. So depending on their stance in the hierarchy, a bad grade

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could spell the end of the world or be nothing more than a minor nuisance.

This takes an even darker twist if the adolescents feel they have to somehow gain the acceptance instead of assuming there is a niche where they would accept in by default.

For example, “nerds” tend to associate socially with like-minded adolescents and rarely try to cross over into new “clicks”. But should that default acceptance be questioned, psychological and emotional syndromes such as anxiety and depression can develop.

What to do if your child is being pressured by peers?

Most parents’ initial reaction to finding out that their child is being bullied is to retaliate and take matters into their own hands. However, several responsible steps should take place to address the issue instead. In fact according to the Mayo Clinic, appropriate authorities should be contacted, such as teachers, guidance counselors or principals, with factual, matter-of-fact information, such as dates, times, people involved and the types of bullying activity that occurred.

DO NOT retaliate, in most cases this only makes the situation worse!

FACT: Adults can be the victims of peer pressure too!

Is Peer Pressure Common?

For More Information

Each year over 3.2 million school aged students are victims of bullying, resulting in approximately 160,000 students staying home from school. Studies also show that suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers and approximately half of youth related suicides are linked to incidents of bullying. imately 4,400 deaths annually, and for each successful suicide among youth, there are about 100 suicide attempts.

Nobullying.com is an online forum aimed at educating, advising, counselling and all importantly, helping to stop bullying, in particular, cyber bullying.

This website started as a social responsibility project for us, but through the support of a community of parents, educators and teenagers – it has grown into one of the biggest anti bullying and online safety websites in the world.

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GADGET

GADGETS FOR BACKPACKERS Survival Deck - This deck of cards tells you what to do in the case of emergencies.

C lean Water Tablets - IYou never know if you’ll have clean water, so it’s best to be prepared.

Emergency Watch - This watch can do more than tell time. It starts fires and has a compass.

Hotspot - Yes hotspot. Incase your cellphone looses signal this will give you the option of wifi calling.

Portable Battery - This will give your phone the extra juice you need wo keep a charge without the cord.

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BEST BOOKS OF DEC 16 Team Review

SHORT, QUIRKY FUNNY!!!

“Mindy’s relatable and self-deprecating humor makes you want to be her sister or roommate, or anything that will allow you to be in her presence.

It speaks to any female with family, friends and basic insecurities. She hilariously chronicles her life before fame while managing to throw in some Harry Potter metaphors. It leaves you feeling like, if you had the opportunity to meet her, you guys would totally be best friends and she would GET YOU.” – Jessica Kane, The Huffington Post Team Review

HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY “Humorous science fiction novels have notoriously limited audiences; they tend to be full of ‘in’ jokes understandable only to those who read everything from Jules Verne to Harlan Ellison. The Hitchhiker’s Guide is a delightful exception, being written for anyone who can understand the thrill that might come to a crew of interstellar explorers who discover a mysterious planet, dead for five million years, and then hear on their ‘sub etha’ radio a ghostly voice, hollow, reedy, insubstantial: ‘Greetings to you.

Team Review

HYPERBOLE AND A HALF “You’ve probably seen the book’s cover image somewhere around the Internet.

And there’s a pretty good chance you know what it’s from: Hyperbole and a Half, an odd personal blog that quickly developed a cult following charmed by writer Allie Brosh’s deliberately childlike Microsoft Paint illustrations and comical narration.

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HEALTH

SURROGACY: A NECESSITY OR A LUXURY? WRITTEN BY. DR. LAURENCE AJAKA | PHOTOGRAPH BY. JOHN KEI

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Surrogacy is a complex medico legal process by which a one party pays the second party to carry a fertilized egg to full term to later on hand over the child to the first party. In most cases, the egg belongs to the woman who will raise the child, and the sperm belongs to the partner of this woman. In other cases, the woman carrying the baby often donates her own egg to be fertilized.

When asked, Dr. Naba’ pointed out that this phenomenon has started to take steam when some famous female public figures who are concerned about their bodies and the ramifications of pregnancy started to seek surrogacy to maintain their brand. A lawyer must be present throughout the procedure because it presents many medico legal complications with the surrogate.

This topic has started to cause worried murmurs in the Lebanese society, and for a better understanding, we met up with Dr. Toufic Naba’, the clinical director at the German-Lebanese Medical Center and the former General Secretary of the Lebanese Society of OB-GYN (LSOG).

For example, if any congenital anomalies are detected, the biological parents might opt for terminating the pregnancy or refuse to accept the child. In some cases, the surrogate might decide not to hand over the baby even though she has no legal right to keep it.

Such an action is a breach of a legally binding contract.

He went on to clarify that his technique is not legal in many countries, so it tends to be difficult and expensive.

It also often depends on oocyte donations, a point that adds further complications. Most Eastern European countries allow surrogacy as well as some Western ones such as Belgium. In Lebanon, there are plenty of rumors surfacing around especially among lab technicians that witness cases of women coming in for scans with other women.

When questioned about their relationship, the Lebanese woman would deny the other woman being her maid and would often admit that they are their surrogates. This has caused plenty of uproars because such a practice is strictly prohibited.

In Lebanon, there were several IVF group meetings in the Lebanese OBGYN society during Dr. Naba’s reign as their general secretary. They also had some meetings with the government, but getting funding was always difficult because the different ethnicities that make up the Lebanese society have different attitudes towards donations not to mention the complicated bureaucratic regulations that have to be met. What is acceptable to one sect can be a taboo for another, so normally such matters are left for the personal moral code of the doctor and the family.

When asked whether there are any documented breaches, Dr. Naba’ replied that he heard of one case where the doctor that performed such surrogacy was summoned to the Lebanese Order of Physicians to be informed that the procedure is unacceptable in Lebanon. The man involved in the operation was even ordered to marry the maid; something he was capable of being from a sect that allows polygamy.

When asked about the mental state of the women undergoing such procedures, Dr. Naba’ explained that they are greatly affected because they witness all the stages and radical changes brought on by pregnancy. They experience the intimate relationship with the child and could very well become emotionally attached even with the knowledge that the baby is not genetically related to them because the pregnancy and delivery processes are meant to forge a bond between mother and child. This might even lead the surrogate mother to want to keep the child for herself in some cases.

Dr. Naba’ declined ever having performed such a procedure because of the legality in Lebanon as the Lebanese Order of Physicians strictly prohibits it. “As an affiliate to this order, I am bound by their rules and regulations. Even if paid large sums of money, I wouldn’t facilitate such a procedure because these delicate issues should only be approached in the strictest professionalism and ethical standards”, he assured. Aside from that, if the cause was genuine such as the having had a hysterectomy and not the shallow reasons such as not wanting to ruin her figure, he encouraged a couple to go to other countries where this practice is acceptable.

All things considered, the law prohibits profitable surrogacy—a practice known as ‘rent a womb’—and concedes only infertile couples to bear a child by means of a surrogate mother. However, we cannot deny the fact that what had started in the name of necessity has become a “fashion”. child by means of a surrogate mother. However, we cannot deny the fact that what had started in the name of necessity has become a “fashion”.

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TECNOLOGY

HABITS TO HAVE IN 2017 We are creatures of habit. Everything we think, say and do is a result of deep-seated habits etched into our minds through years and years of repitious behavior. Those very same habits either help to propel us forward or to hinder our progress in life.

WRITTEN BY. SARAH HUGES | PHOTOGRAPH BY. JOHN

Habits are an undeniably powerful part of life.

They’re an integral part of the underlying behavioral psychology that shapes the direction of our lives. It takes commitment, willpower and an unwavering desire to overcome our seemingly natural tendencies to think, feel, speak and act in a certain way.

Clearly, for those absolutely committed to things like happiness and success, habits offer the pathway to enrichment in life. They’re also the tools we use to help automate our progress towards one end or another, assisting us with the achievement of our goals and the fulfilment of our dreams.

Still, for the most part, we’re often left in the dark. We’re unsure of ourselves or where to start on the road to developing good habits.

What are the best habits to have in your life when you want to succeed or be happy?

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BE POSITIVE

SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE Ehendici menderum sum quatias exerum voluptassi dolupturia commolorem nemperionem quidis restem fugita veniet quas evel eiuntiam aut reratio dolorature con nis sinime et est quia.

John Doe, Kansas - USA We spend a great deal of time immersed in our problems. But problems are also a sign of life. The only time we’ll lack problems is when we’re six feet under. And if you want to shift your focus away from your problems, you have to be grateful for what you have. Yes, even for your problems.

Gratitude is the surest pathway to health, happiness and success. It shifts our attention towards what we have rather than what we don’t have. It’s the natural abundance of simple pleasures and opportunities that we’ve been afforded with and blessed with that we often take for granted.

DRINK WARM WATER WITH LEMON JUICE IN THE MORNING Lemons are a natural source of Vitamin C, but also possess other health benefits -- such as helping with your digestion, boosting your immune system, along with cleansing and rehydrating your body.

WAKE UP EARLIER IN THE DAY The early morning hours are a time for peaceful reflection and ample productivity, where the world is still and asleep, allowing you to focus wholeheartedly on your long-term goals. Anyone who is serious about success in any measure knows that it’s important to wake up early.

Even if you’re not a morning person, use incremental changes in your daily routine to start waking up earlier and earlier. Begin by setting your alarm clock back by 15 minutes the first week, 15 minutes the next week and so on. Do this until you can wake up at least two hours earlier than you’re waking up now.

JOURNAL YOUR THOUGHTS Journaling your thoughts is a great way to reflect on who you are and what you’ve been doing in life. Time can go by so quickly that we often forget the details of what we did even a few short months ago. Those details are often novel to recall as it adds clarity and purpose to our lives, reminding us of life’s lessons and joys.

get a window into your mind at any point in your life. This is a powerful method for self-reflection, and also a great way to motivate and inspire yourself going forward into the future.

Get in the habit of writing out your thoughts and journaling your experiences on a daily basis. Intertwine it with your goals, hopes and dreams for the future, writing out what you envision your life will look like down the road, then come back to read it later on to

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NOTABLE MENTIONS

THERE ONCE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE....

The most children born to one woman was 69, she was a peasant who lived a 40 year life, in which she had 16 twins, 7 triplets, and 4 quadruplets.

70% If left alone, 70% of birthmarks gradually fade away.

EDIBLE NAILS NEW TREND

It’s been a weird year for nails. Not bad, just weird. And the latest trending talon look is perhaps the most confounding of all — chocolate nails. And yes, they’re edible in case you’re asking for a friend.

WRITTEN BY. SARAH HUGES | PHOTOGRAPH BY. JOHN

REDUCE YOUR C SECTION RISK Having a doula to support you during birth will decrease your risk of c-section by 28 percent.

Doulas also decrease the likelihood of many other medical interventions and increase a mother’s satisfaction with her birth experience.

It’s no surprise then that their presence at births has doubled in just the last 6 years.

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The brainchild of nail artist Jessie Mills (@naileditnz), the woman you may remember from the “Polish Mountain” challenge, it seems the candy-coating is pretty simple to achieve. Mills swirls chocolate icing on the body of the nail then, then dots each nail with a variety of pearllike adornments. Once they’re dry?

They’re yours for the tapping...or snacking.

Not to mention the fact that any woman with chocolate-covered nails wouldn’t be able to so much as graze something without smearing it with sweet, brown melty-ness. Show me a woman who could evade that mess and I’ll show you a liar.

While brown happens to be a trending nail polish color, as a nail biter this is very dangerous territory.

Jessie Mills was interviewed about the new controversial trend and had the following to say:

But practicality aside, there’s no denying that the nails are sweet — quite literally.

NAIL TIPS

GAIN CONTROL OVER THE BRUSH !

Getting a manicure is a nice treat, but for numerous reasons many of us prefer painting our nails at home.

Some people even find painting their own nails relaxing, especially if they’re doing it while binge-watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls (or maybe that’s just me). Regardless, it’s something so many people do but only a few people do well. So to help you hone your skills, we rounded up four hacks to make your DIY manicure look like a salon-quality job.

CHOCOLATE NAILS: NUMMMMMY OR NASTY?

Gain control. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a righty or a lefty, painting with your nondominant hand is about as challenging as texting with your eyes closed. No matter what I do, one hand

‘One day I thought, what’s the weirdest thing I can come up with?’

Despite racking up thousands of views online, her video tutorials of how to recreate the chocolate nails have polarised opinion among beauty fans.

Some said they looked ‘gross,’ or compared them to fecal matter, while others were concerned that eating chocolate off your nails is not very hygienic.

But in response to her critics, Mills said: ‘On Facebook, people got very stressed and angry about it! I can understand as its pretty unusual.

‘When people say: “Ew that looks so gross,” I just think yes, I agree.

And when people say: “Ew your fingers are so dirty, why would you put them in your mouth?” I just think: “Ever licked your fingers after KFC? Or got food stuck in your teeth?”

Jessie Mills is a qualified nail technician and has built a legion of 26,500 fans on Instagram, 50,000 on Youtube and 44,500 on Facebook

looks beautiful and the other looks like a two-year-old did it. While I was getting a manicure recently at Van Court Studio in New York City, manicurist Lisa Lee told me a hack I’d never heard before: She recommended that when you’re painting with your nondominant hand, you move the hand you’re painting rather than the hand holding the polish brush. It might sound strange, but it makes sense. You have much more control of your dominant hand so you can more easily move it steadily in tiny increments. Unless you’re ambidextrous—in which case I’m guessing a lot of things come easier to you.

Facebook.

Mills also took part in the polish mountain challenge, where beauty bloggers applied layers of varnish to her nails to form a large clump.

‘When people say: “Ew” I just laugh.

‘I don’t get worried about comments, especially for this one as it was just for fun. I’ve been online for long enough to build a thick skin. I tend to read them out loud and my husband and I have a good giggle.’

She added: ‘I actually went to re-do edible nails recently but couldn’t. Once was enough - time for normal nail art now!’

As well as recreating viral beauty trends, Mills has built a legion of 26,500 fans on Instagram, 50,000 on Youtube and 44,500 on Facebook with her creative nail art tutorials.

Recent videos include how to make geometric patterns, festive Christmas tree art and even Pokemon Go-inspired nails.

Jessie Mills is a qualified nail technician and has built a legion of 26,500 fans on Instagram, 50,000 on Youtube and 44,500 on

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AUTO

GOOLGE Self-driving car

AUTONOMOUS DRIVING: IS IT THE SOLUTION FOR FATAL CAR WRECKS?

Car manufacturers seem to have given up on humans behind steering wheels and want to focus on devising self-driving vehicles to minimize car accidents.

WRITTEN BY. DR. TOUFIC AJAKA

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Self-Driving Uber

This might come off as a drastic measure, but decades of trying to invent safer cars and campaigns warning about the dangers of reckless driving have failed to curb the rate of fatal accidents. Though costly, these cars will ultimately be able to bridge the gap between public and private transport modes when they become interconnected in one web that reduces traffic and possibilities of car accidents.

Far from being some futuristic concept, this technology is being developed in earnest as we speak. New models are being embedded with the software required to be part of a large network that can be monitored from a remote server.

The testing phase has commenced in many major manufacturing names to tweak any possible malfunctions. The driving force behind this movement is the certainty that computers will not get distracted for any reason, thus putting a deterrent on car accidents. Specifics about such a system cannot fully be elucidated unless a sufficient number of vehicles are tested in various real-time scenarios. Small-scale studies in Europe and Northern America have all shown the average commuter to be satisfied with the cars and services being included as part of this new system. This will investigate the benefits of such a system on a chosen vehicle.

Self-driving cars have been in production since 2009 by several manufacturers with each adopting a personal interpretation of how this technology ought to be shaped. A common denominator between all manufacturers is the usage of sensors with a range of over 150m diameter that detects and distinguishes

Self-driving Big Rig

between pedestrians, cyclists, birds, trash cans and virtually anything found on the roads. The mechanism behind the actual process is simple enough. The car locates itself down to the exact lane it’s found in. This is followed by having the sensors detecting all the surrounding obstacles and objects in the vicinity. The software’s logarithms will predict what type and pattern of movement each surrounding object would have. It then proceeds to choose the safest trajectory to move in. These sensors, along with sufficient power to operate the system and vehicle, could very well be the safest means for driving. The interior is designed solely for riding with none of the components used for steering the vehicle.

Early testing results show that these cars are capable of moving on all road and in sorts of weather conditions. Some manufacturers have clocked over 3 million miles of testing for their models.

Google’s cars have 2 million miles of road experience after launching their tests in 2009 with the first model the Toyota Prius.

The predictions are that by the year 2020, there will be more than 10 million self-driving cars on the roads. Manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla are on the verge of commercially releasing some models. Tech giants such as Google were instrumental in this movement because their investment propelled the technology needed for such a system. Such cars will solve numerous issues such as speeding, traffic congestions, lowering greenhouses gases emissions and car accidents.

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RELATIONSHIPS

THE RUNDOWN AFTER A BREAKUP Queue door slams! We all hate it. But it’s happened to many of us. The good news is that the pain doesn’t last forever.

WRITTEN BY. FADY AL HASHEM | PHOTOGRAPH BY.

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After two people break up, the guy writes on a piece of paper what he tends to address to the girl, in which he evokes the time they spent together and the unspoken things. He starts the letter with a simple salutation “hello”. He asks her how she has been since their separation and he tells her how much he misses her. Whenever he sees the sunset, he remembers that they would make love until they could see the sun setting behind the sculptured pane of the window in his house.

Now that every little piece of what

they had fits together, he could easily inform her that their story was made of a torn romance boasting a fantastic history. Grace was just a mile away, but, sadly she did not give him any reason to stay with her. The relationship was in a rut, and even the sexual intimacy became routine and listless when it used to be fierce in its intensity.

Even though they separated then fell apart, he wished her well from the bottom of his heart. Any man in his position could keep wondering why a

they engendered the rain and the names of the video games that they used to play with. Tequila would fill their lungs as they smiled for their youth and aspirations. “It has been a while since we have lastly talked to each other”, he added.

BREAKUPS ARE A PART OF LIFE....

THIS TOO SHALL PASS.

couple would suddenly move on. All they have now is a box of good old memories from their past. He really hopes that life treats her well and that she remains happy.

These days, he recalls many flashbacks of where they stood as he sits quietly on the kitchen chair in a daydream. Of course, it aches to recognize the fact that they were not meant for each other. He stepped out of her life to give her a chance for a new love. He was just longing for one last kiss before they reached the deadline. She was incredibly attractive, but, they matured to realize that their paths do not collide as she was ambitious and put work as a priority above all. He can also recall the night

However, the difference between them caused heartbreak. They kept the pain buried deeply in their roots to save face. Their journey ended bad making it difficult to reestablish contact. But the bad blood needs to be quenched, so let them meet in a place where there is not any inhibition.

Perhaps, he was only charmed by her glimmering eyes that crave for the life that they could have had.

He focused too much on her exterior beauty that he forgot that a woman’s true beauty rests in her personality. Communication is not a war to win, but rather the beginning of a new chapter where they can omit the sad affair.

Towards the bottom of the letter, he wrote “this is the last time you will hear from me. You will know that I have been hiding in the darkness for too long”.

Indeed, he is struggling to forget his sorrows for their relationship was an ideal mix of romance and magic. Nothing in life is easy or in vain. Their souls will finally be joyful because they were able to tear down the walls they built to shields themselves when they finally move on to date other people.

Hearts are in the process of healing and will ultimately get cleansed.

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CORNER

WHAT MAKES LIFE HARD

Anger is the main source of headaches and stress. It cannot be contained in a certain area because of the bad energy transfers from one person to another.

WRITTEN BY. FADY AL HASHEM | PHOTOGRAPH BY.

People’s demons come out to play with a vengeance whenever they are mad. It is very infuriating that we have to put up with such individuals because life is too short to cope with difficult people, and displays of anger are only acceptable in few situations.

Financial problems, fatigue, and frustration are essential roots to the privation of rage management.

A person’s financial problems can trigger many emotional responses that can be translated into verbal violence. A person who keeps worrying about monetary problems ends up extremely nervous which could affect his conduct on a daily basis. A spendthrift can enter in debt because he is very careless about the way he uses his money. He will never be satisfied with what he has always looked out for the new and improved. Indeed, he defeats himself with compelling behavior because he never lives within his budget. Such people dedicate their cash to materialistic possession on a compulsive basis, even those that they do not necessarily need. When people deny a rational solution that can possibly resolve their financial issues, they gradually become stressed out and tired.

Heavy fatigue, if experienced for prolonged times, evolves into a fear that prevents the person from sleeping enough and may cause chronic insomnia. The immune system gets affected and one experiences headaches and bouts of anger. An aggressive father can, thereby, transmit genes of hostility to his children. In this case, the entire family’s genetic makeup will suffer because this is not something that can be cured. It is frustrating that some innocent people tolerate them when they do not have to. They ought to acknowledge that they have the power to reduce their anger in order to keep their happiness. None should drive off the road of righteousness by indulging negative vibes. An important note a person should remember is to attack the problem, not the person. If only 30 |

everyone is mature enough to admit that we are nowhere near flawless. Anger begins when we keep blaming others for mistakes that we can fix. News flash, we are human beings who are allowed to have imperfections because sins are a part of us.

Being mad will seldom lead to any good.

Some people will volatilely convey their emotions through excessive sarcasm or critical judgments. Controversial conversations will stimulate antagonistic fights. People try their best to control every situation by raising their voices at each other. They spend most of their days yelling since they inherited or acquired this bad habit from previous generations.

Hence, why are people ashamed to declare their trespasses? Being true to their inner thoughts allows them to manage their personal conflicts and helps them to thrive to positivity instead of compressing anger. Before they open their mouths to swear or say hurtful stuff, they should breathe deeply and take moments of silence. Furthermore, those who often talk about hypocrisy do not know that they are hypocrites by showing pity in public while exchanging hateful gossips in private. Once they give away love, they feel the need to take it back, because they did not learn the proper way to deal with their difficulties.

We have been hiding in the dark for a very long time, worrying about several issues that can be smoothed over solved with calmness. Financial complications can be settled by economizing. Fatigue should vanish with the balance of working schedule and sleeping hours, and people should remember to remain hopeful regardless of the circumstances.

Frankly, no matter what you go through or what people think about you, be yourself because you will never impress everyone. Always remember to count your blessings in order to remain calm.

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MAGAZINE CREATIVE 2013 | 31

BEAUTY

COLOR IN FASHION

Far Too Many Fashion Magazines Only Used White Cover Models In 2016 And yet, diversity in fashion is still on the rise!

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2016 was a groundbreaking year for inclusivity in fashion, in ways both big and small.

There was an influx of diversity on Fashion Week runways, a continued effort to define the word “nude” with an accurate range of skin tones, and several sexy, inclusive lingerie campaigns, to boot.

Harper’s Bazaar US, Jalouse, Marie Claire U.K., Porter, Vogue Germany, Vogue Netherlands, Vogue Paris and Vogue Russia. Not one of those titles put a non-white woman on a cover this year.

When it comes to top fashion magazines, however, it’s staggering that just 29 percent of cover models in 2016 were non-white, according to TheFashionSpot’s yearly diversity report. That’s a measly 196 women of color out of 678 cover appearances.

British Vogue, which just earned praise for putting plus-size model Ashley Graham on its January 2017 cover, featured only one non-white woman ― Rihanna ― on its 2016 covers. Even more jarring? According to the report, “over the past 14 years, only six models of color have merited stand-alone British Vogue covers.”

TheFashionSpot, which also reports on diversity at Fashion Week, tallied stats for cover models who identify as female based on race, size, gender and age. The worst offenders when it came to denying covers to women of color were Love Magazine,

Transgender models landed five covers in 2016, according to the report, with four covers starring model and actress Hari Nef. While Michelle Obama’s Vogue and T Magazine covers kicked us all in the feels and Barbra Streisand gloriously covered W,

women over the age of 50 accounted for just five percent of covers.

Unsurprisingly, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid were the top three most in-demand cover models, landing 14, 10 and eight covers, respectively. Lupita Nyong’o starred on five.

The report isn’t all bad. The number of nonwhite models increased by 6.2 percent from 2015, and popular magazines like Teen Vogue, Paper and InStyle were counted as some of the most diverse. The report itself changed to include stats on models over 50, plus-size models and transgender models for the first time this year.

Slow and steady might not be the ideal route for diversity in fashion to take, but it still wins the race.

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GIFTS

Hulu - No Commercials $11.99 per month

Blue Bottle Coffee Subscription $24 per month

Every coffee lover deserves a pick-me-up! Give the gift of caffeine with Blue Bottle’s subscription program, which starts at a reasonable $24. Choose from a variety of sizes and types of coffee, including single origin, espresso beans, blend assortments, and even decaf.

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DECK THE HALLS WITH E-SUBSCRIPTIONS Every year, the need for an extra-special present inevitably comes at the 11th hour. Not to worry — here are 13 last-minute holiday gifts so thoughtful, they’ll think you’ve been waiting all year for this gifting moment.

Monthly subscriptions are an ideal gift: they are easy to purchase, keep going well past the holiday season, and are thoughtfully curated with legitimately zero effort on your part. Give the gift that keeps on giving with the Sling TV, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Audible and more.

Sling TV - Cable TV on the go from $19.99

Amazon Prime Membership $99 per month

There is literally no better gift than a subscription to Amazon Prime, which includes free two-day shipping, instant access to millions of videos, songs, and books, as well as free unlimited photo storage in Amazon Drive. You choose what day to have the gift emailed to the recipient, and if they are already a member of Amazon Prime, the gift will convert into a $99 gift card for them to use on anything they’d like.

The Bouqs Company Bouquets $50 per month

Maybe by “last-minute,” you still have a week to spare. Or days.

Or merely hours. In any case, they will be tickled pink when a beautiful hand-delivered bouquet arrives just shortly after you order it. Bouquet varieties and arrival times may vary, based on your recipient’s location, but you can shop based on arrival date so that if you only have a day or two to spare, you can find something that’ll ship in time.

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TECHNOLOGY

BEST APPLICATIONS TO USE WHEN TRAVELING With the advancement of transport systems, traveling has become easier than what it was in the old days. The modern transport system has made the lives of the traveling people easier by decreasing the distance with swift transport vehicles. The normal journeys do not cost more than those were in the old days.

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By Edy Hourany

The purposes of traveling are different for different people. There are some people who travel for the sake of pleasure. The people, who are heavily burdened either at their domestic front or at their offices, move to faraway places to relieve their worries and anxieties. The poets and writers make a trip to distant places for collection of facts for or to get inspired. Businessmen also visit various places to inquire as to whether there are scopes for expansion for their business. It is common for statesmen to visit other countries on goodwill missions.

Travelling provides the benefit of sightseeing and gives pleasure to the visitor. In addition, it gives an opportunity for an individual to have firsthand knowledge of variegated people inhabiting the world. One cannot appreciate the work of art created by master hands unless one visits places and things. To enjoy your travels more and to make the best out of your journey, many challenges are faced: the language, the places and transportation systems and finally the post vacation when it comes to photo and memory management. In this article, I will shed light on the best technological inventions to make our travel easier, cheaper and unforgettable.

Nowadays, almost everyone has a smartphone. We don’t leave our house unless we have our mobile phone, tablet and probably our laptop. Using your mobile phone, you can make the best out of your trip. Just download the following applications and get ready for the best tour ever. Let’s start with the pre-travel preparations. “Tourist language learn & speak” is an application developed by SRSDEV Team. This application helps you get around while visiting countries with a foreign language. They support multiple languages such as Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese ...etc. The application is divided into multiple categories to make the search for words easier to the standard user. Categories are as follow: Numbers, Weekdays, Time Telling, Greetings, Small talks, Airport, Train, Bus, Taxi, Hotel, Restaurant, Police, Hospital …etc. The developers also made available a text to speech feature with no internet

connection required. With this application, you can get yourself ready with the basics in the language you need before you leave to the desired destination. Furthermore, you can download “Google Translate” application. This application has the ability to translate offline any word you find around you without the need of typing it. All you have to do is to open the camera option from the application and face it to the word you desire to translate.

The application will directly translate the word into your desired language. I advise everyone to try I; works like a charm.

Upon your arrival, you need a map to be able to transport yourself around the country. You can download “HERE WeGo”, a navigation application developed by Nokia. What is special about this application is that you can use the maps in offline mode. All you have to do is to download the map of the desired country and then use it. HERE WeGo is a free app that makes city navigation effortless. With detailed routes, turn-by-turn guidance and information about every way of getting around, it’s the only app you need to get through the city. Take your car, ride your bike or hop on public transport to get to your destination. If you’re in a hurry, call a taxi or check nearby car clubs. HERE We Go has recommendations for all the ways you can get around, so you can compare and pick the best one for you. And finally, we have the post-travel setup. Using “Google photos”, you can manage all your photos and arrange them into memories, collage, and animation.

Using Google photos, you are able to upload an unlimited picture to Google servers for unforgettable and inerasable memories.

Furthermore, using this free service from Google, your photos and videos will be automatically backed up and organized, so you can find and share them faster while sure that you will never run out of space on your phone.

By traveling, we benefit from shaking things up. By Visiting Mountain and forest area, we enjoy the wild beauty of nature.

Those who lead their lives in a populated city get free air and enjoy beauty by traveling. By visiting places of natural beauty our thought process is transported to a new reality. And with the aid of technology, moving around became easier, effective and more efficient. | 37

GIFTS

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FR

Dr. H Farhat with Natalie Fadlalah

with Chantal Antoun

with Natalie Lahoud

38 |

Edy. Laurence . Marie , Mariam and Me

with Toufic Ajaka

with Zeina Zgheib

ROM THE Y7 STAFF

with Marie Michelle Ishak

with Mariam Harb

A bunch of us!

with Edy Hourany

Dr. Laurence Ajaka

Dr. Toufic Ajaka

| 39