FEBRUARY 2013
THE FIRST MAGAZINE IN THE REGION TO USE MOBILE TAGGING THE WIDEST CIRCULATED YOUTH AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED MAGAZINE IN THE UAE
PG 12
PAPER MAGIC UAE QUILLER FARAH AL FARDH
PLUS+ LOTSA DOSA MUSIC OBSESSION HEART, ART AND SOUL WHAT'S IN YOUR BAG
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04 notes & cyberchatter 05 uspace 06 what’s hot 08 tempo’s top 10 songs / on my ipod 09 social meets 10 my style blueprint 11 music obsession 12 cover story –paper magic 14 city bites 15 innovation competition: musahamiti 16 youth talk 17 people calendar 19 doc in the house / remixing rumi 20 heart, art and soul 22 game hedz / tech talk 23 trending 24 moving forward 26 the planetarians 27 media 28 what’s in your bag 29 horoscope 30 miss khulood
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Occasionally in life you come across those rare individuals who are not satisfied with following the tried and tested, but plunge themselves into risk and the totally new. Tempo this month celebrates three people who caught our eye, for their individuality, their vision and their courage. Henry Bennett is a restless soul; a performing artist and teacher who explores new dimensions in music and art. Farah Al Fardh is an Emirati who stumbled upon paper quilling, an esoteric European art form and has applied a creative energy into promoting it region-wide. Palestinian Mohammed Sawan is a talented rocker who wanted to start a band but, unable to attract the right people, decided to go it along anyway: the result is Obselion, a one man band with the sound of a full metal ensemble. Speaking of game-changers, I had the great fortune to meet a lot of inspiring entrepreneurs recently at the Booth-Booz conference on women’s entrepreneurship. Read about it in this issue. We salute those pioneers among us; and recognize their energy, passion and resiliency.
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Embrace your creative soul Abu Dhabi.
Sana Bagersh Managing Editor bagersh@tempoplanet.com
MANAGING EDITOR Sana Bagersh
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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
FEATURES EDITOR Dr. Alma Kadragic
Ahmed Samir
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Ajir Shujahi
Azza El Masri
MARKETING DIRECTOR Manjul Abhishek
Ali Suliman
Blakniss Dorian ‘Paul D’ Rogers Dr. DMS Nabeela Huda
DESIGN & LAYOUT Mark De Castro PHOTOGRAPHER Angeli Castillo DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Melaku Muluneh
Saif Nasir Samarpan Chakraborty Sanah Chauhan Shahid Saeed Sharon Carvalho
DESIGN BY }
ADDRESS To reach editorial at Abu Dhabi Tempo email: editorial@tempoplanet.com. If you need to find out where you can pick up your copy call: 02 491 8624/25 or check out the list of Tempo distribution points on our website.
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Love your work guys! Keep up the good job. – Mohammed Rashid Dean Hoke @deanhoke Very nice piece on Kate Grasell by @AbuDhabiTempo about Abu Dhabi Infant Massage Course she is conducting. Azza E @aetheawesome @AbuDhabiTempo's Jan issue is here! I reviewed@jodimeadows' INCARNATE: "a beautiful story that raises a thought-provoking question" #review Author Jodi Meadows’ response:
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Theresa F Weber @ TheresaFWeber @AbuDhabiTempo Can’t wait to read January issue and @ almakad's article on the beauty of Arab films #abudhabi . Your mag is a great resource!
FUN FACT By Tony James
No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and purple. Guess ten words without rearranging any of its letters from the word “THEREIN” Answers: the, there, he, in, rein, her, here, ere, therein, herein.
The cover story (Tempo’s January issue) on the UAE Rally Drivers was very inspiring for a race lover like me. – Jim Sebastian
RESULT OF LAST MONTH’S VOTE:
Tempo asked how did you welcome the New Year?
68.0%
WITH FAMILY
32.0%
WITH FRIENDS
0.0%
BY MYSELF
0.0%
AT WORK
THIS MONTH’S QUESTION: If you could construct the perfect Valentine's date, what would be her/his overriding quality?
1. Funny 2. Intelligent 3. Attractive
TO VOTE GO TO tempoplanet.com
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TALKING BOOKS By Azza El Masri
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TIME TRAVEL - KING ON KENNEDY
2013:
YOUR HANDBOOK FOR LIVING A BETTER LIFE By Ali Suliman
HEALTH • Drink plenty of water • Eat Breakfast like a king • Lunch like a prince • Dinner like a beggar LIVE WITH 3 E's: Energy, Enthusiasm & Empathy • Make time to pray, meditate — feed your soul. • Worry less, play more. • Read more books than you did in 2012. • Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. • Get enough sleep — you’ll need it. • Take a 10-30 minute walk daily and while you walk, smile. PERSONALITY • Don’t over-do things. Mind your limits. • Your energy is too precious — don’t waste it on gossip and envy; you already have what you need. • Dream more while you are awake. • Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your loved ones of their
• • •
mistakes. That will ruin your present. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others. Realise that no one is in charge of your happiness except you. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree (or being mistaken).
SOCIETY • Call your family often. • Each day give something good to others. • Forgive everyone for everything. It will make you a better person. • Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of six —it will give you perspective. • Try to make at least three people smile each day. • Accept that what other people think of you is none of your business. LIFE • Do the right thing! • Know that however good or bad a situation is, it will change. • Present yourself well. • Make your inner most self happy, and you will be happy.
ONE UNIVERSE: THE FLOWER AND THE HUMAN By Samarpan Chakraborty
A flower, an expression of a fulfilled tree The completeness of its life, a flower Its beauty is like the untapped competence of a human body Its blossoming is the celebration of human inclusiveness Its colour, its vibrancy, its life He looked at a flower and realized he is a flower Yet not blossomed, yet not complete I saw a tree and I saw me My life in harmony with the tree I closed my eyes and I saw The tree and me as one entity Since birth we were destined for this harmony She gave me life with every exhalation As I gave her mine For centuries half of you and me were living in a tree Being, breathing and blossoming within the tree And yet we go about exploiting what Mother Nature gave us Without a price, never considering it a loan, just for us Let us stop for a while and expand our senses, we see The tree as a part of you and also a part of me.
11.22.63 by Stephen King Hodder, 2012 Many attribute Stephen King to being the father of modern American horror literature, and inspiring an entire genre in books and movies. His book “11.22.63” is refreshingly different. This is not another horror novel, but his first foray into mainstream sci-fi: a book about time-travel. If you know your history, you’d know what 11.22.63 stands for. It is a date that has changed the course of American history; on November twenty-two 1963 US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. King was just a teenager when it happened, but the memory of that time is indelibly etched in his mind, and his writing brilliantly describes his memories with poignant detail. You can smell the sweat, feel the depression, the prevalent racism, and the working-classmen’s hardships – as well as King’s eloquent pathos. The book 11.22.63 starts in 2011, with Jake Epping, an English teacher from Lisbon Falls, Maine, who has just come out from a bitter divorce and who is chosen for a dangerous mission: catch Lee Harvey Oswald and prevent the Kennedy assassination. And don’t mess up. Jake leaves behind the information era and his identity to go back to the times of soaring American industrialism, the Cold War, Elvis and the marriage ideal of the 1950s. This is where he meets Sadie, a high school librarian with a troubled past. But this is no romance novel, I assure you; Jake is on a quest and although his feelings for Sadie often make him reconsider his purpose, he never wavers. I devoured this book greedily, and (I confess) I abandoned chores and scholarly commitments. There are very rare books that hook you from the first sentence, but Stephen King is an expert in that. If you like big books (and I do mean big), and you like a good story then please embrace the genius of Stephen King and get his latest novel 11.22.63 now because King proves, yet again, to be one of the best storytellers of our generation!
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YOUR GUIDE TO THIS MONTHS’ HOTTEST EVENTS
H.H. SHAIKH SULTAN BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN CAMEL’S FESTIVAL February 1 – February 15 Sweihan Area, Al-Ain ABU DHABI ART HUB January 12 – February 7 Venue: Abu Dhabi Art Hub Abu Dhabi A first-of-its-kind live and work art community for local and international artists today officially opened its doors, unveiling a robust events calendar and unique programs integrating art perspectives with the community.
H.H. Shaikh. Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival for the traditional camel races, beauty contests and sloogi race in Sweihan city, have dedicated special shows for 'Asayel' (pedigree) and 'Majahim' (darkskinned) camels, and the wellknown and rare 'camel beauty contest'. The festival also has a traditional souq and a camel auction with various contests for traditional handicrafts.
Details: www.adah.ae
Details: www.abudhabi.ae
GOURMET ABU DHABI February 5 – 20 Venues: Across Abu Dhabi's finest dining restaurants
TRI YAS February 8 Venue: Yas Marina Circuit Yas Island
Gourmet Abu Dhabi – the annual culinary festival which runs across 20 of Abu Dhabi’s leading restaurants from February 5-20 features a masterful collection of the world’s leading masterchefs . On the sideline of the event is the 2013 Gourmet Stars Awards – an annual highlight of the UAE capital’s annual culinary festival. Thirty-nine finalists have been selected for the 10 hotly contested public accolades.
Tri Yas 2013 is the region’s only first day and night triathlon – swim legs will be in daylight in the Yas Marina, bike and run legs will take place under full flood lights on the Formula 1 track and on Yas Marina Circuit roads respectively. This follows the same race format as the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Transition will be in the Formula 1 pits to provide a unique experience.
Details: www.gourmetabudhabi.ae
Details: www.yasmarinacircuit.com
YAS RACING SERIES February 14 Venue: Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island Bring your own car out to a Yas Track Day and feel like a champion and push your vehicle’s limits on our highly advanced Formula 1 circuit. Maneuver the configurations of this sensational track and get familiar with its turns and corners. You will be based out of Support Pit’s airconditioned garages with qualified Yas Racing School instructors to give driving tips and light coaching. You can follow one of YMC pace cars for a few laps to get to know the circuit and the best routes through the corners. The half-day and full-day sessions allow you to test your skills and the performance of your car in a safe and controlled environment. Details: www.yasmarinacircuit.com 06 | www.tempoplanet.com
SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS February 24 – March 2 Venue: National Theatre, Abu Dhabi Under the patronage of H.H Sheikha Reem Bint Ahmed Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, the legendary live performance of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs will be showcased at the National Theater in Abu Dhabi. This spectacular play uses the highest technical equipment that offers optical illusions, which have amazed audiences around the world. It expands the imagination of children by showing a different and exciting perspective of this legendary children’s tale. For more details, visit www.skyevent.ae
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MUSIC
View the #1 song in the UAE
TEMPO’S MUSIC CHART LETS YOU DISCOVER THE LATEST TOP 10 SONGS IN THE EMIRATE, WHILE KEEPING EYE ON YOUR FAVOURITE ARTISTS.
SUIT & TIE (FEAT JAY Z) JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
LITTLE THINGS
1 HALA SALEH is a 20 year old student who can’t start her day without listening to music.
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ONE DIRECTION
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE TAYLOR SWIFT
DRINKING FROM THE BOTTLE (FEAT. TINIE TEMPAH) – CALVIN HARRIS
DON’T STOP THE PARTY (FEAT. TJR) – PITBULL
MY LIFE (FEAT. EMINEM & ADAM LEVINE) – 50 CENT
HO HEY
3 4 5
1.
Thrift Shop (feat. Wanz) – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
2.
Everything Has Changed (feat. Ed Sheeran) – Taylor Swift
3.
If I Didn’t Know Better – The Civil Wars
4.
Mercy (feat. Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz) – Kanye West
5.
Folsom Prison Blues – Johnny Cash
6.
The One That Got Away – Katy Perry
7.
Fortune Teller – Maroon 5
8.
Glad You Came – The Wanted
9.
Good Girl – Carrie Underwood
10. Kezzabeh – Joe Ashkar
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THE LUMINEERS
IMPOSSIBLE
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JAMES ARTHUR
DIAMONDS
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RIHANNA
LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN BRUNO MARS
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1.
Suit & Tie (feat. JAY Z) – Justin Timberlake
1.
Suit & Tie (feat. JAY Z) – Justin Timberlake
2.
I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift
2.
I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift
3.
Ho Hey – The Lumineers
3.
Drinking from the Bottle (feat. Tinie Tempah) – Calvin Harris
4.
Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
4.
Impossible – James Arthur
5.
Don’t You Worry Child (feat. John Martin) – Swedish House Mafia
5.
Don’t Stop the Party (feat. TJR) – Pitbull
6.
Don’t Stop the Party (feat. TJR) – Pitbull
6.
Kiss You – One Direction
7.
Beauty and a Beat (feat. Nicki Minaj) – Justin Bieber
7.
Locked Out of Heaven – Bruno Mars
8.
Home – Phillip Phillips
8.
Clown – Emeli Sande
9.
Daylight – Maroon 5
9.
My Life (feat. Eminem & Adam Levine) – 50 Cent
10. Sweet Nothing (feat. Florence Welsh) – Calvin Harris
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10. Skyfall - Adele
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In Abu Dhabi there’s a tight little group that is passionate about one thing: language! Meet ‘AD Speaks:’ a multinational community that promotes the idea of all languages, communication and friendships.
THE MANTRA WE ALL WANT TO SPEAK. WE ALL WANT TO SHARE. WE ARE ALL WILLING TO LISTEN.
THE IDEA:
HAROL
People from all over the world (Columbia, Syria, Canada, Russia, France, India, and so on) come together to learn the language you’d like to have, and have a good time while doing so.
Arrived from Columbia without the knowledge, or understanding of the English language. He joined the AD speaks a while ago he can now speak the language with unquestionable ease – he can keep up with any conversation.
THE LOCATION AND TIME: Roul’s Cafe at Central Market. They meet every Tuesday 7-9 for the entire group. Sunday 10-12 for women only.
KHALED From Egypt. Learning French and English. He says AD Speak is a fabulous experience, and said it is one of the best experiences he had in Abu Dhabi. He teaches Arabic to others.
HANAA
THE ORGANIZERS: Patricia, Carol and Rosa
From Syria says she’s had great help the group in learning English. She also hopes to learn Spanish and French.
JANINE From Canada. Trying to learn the Arabic language said a challenge is to find and understand your own learning style. Her Arabic mentor commended her great ability in handling the language.
Connecting: www.facebook.com/ADspeaks www.tempoplanet.com | 09
PHOTOGRAPHS BY: ANGELI CASTILLO
SAM J. MACHIN 29 } MUSICIAN
FASHION STATEMENT: I heard Jess C Scott say “A fit, healthy body is the best fashion statement,” but that sounds like a lot of effort to me! So I just try to look at all the bands I grew up listening to, and then pick and choose the bits of style that I like. DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE IN LESS THAN 10 WORDS: Indie Rock, London, not Boy George. FAV BUY OF THE PAST MONTH: Probably my denim shirt from H&M. I was looking for ages for one the right colour and fit, and now and again H&M comes up with the goods. WHICH IS YOUR FAV STORE TO SHOP IN? I’d say Bershka, Pull & Bear, H&M, and Springfield is where I can usually find something to spend my money on! DOES THE UAE HAVE STYLE? Well, I suppose there is a tendency for quite a show-off kind of culture with all the money knocking about here, but now and again you do see some pretty ballsy outfits! DO YOU HAVE ANY FASHION PET HATES? I never quite see the point in people having those Chinese or Japanese symbols as tattoos, especially when they don’t speak or understand it! A lot of people in the UK have them these days, like for instance their children’s names or something, and naturally 99% of the people who see it will also not know what it means….so what’s the point?!
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MUSIC OBSESSION: MUSIC
THE MAGIC OF OBSELION
By Nabeela Huda
It began back in 2006 when a young Mohammad Sawan found himself at his friend’s house listening to his friend playing the electric guitar. He was enthralled. Soon afterwards, a 23-yearold artist with an undying love for music emerged. Mohammad Sawan was born and raised in Abu Dhabi. After he graduated high school he applied for a job at Virgin Megastores to save up for college and music. Now he performs gigs around town, as the one-man band called Obselion. “ I had been trying to look for and reach new people to jam with and to start a new group. I couldn’t find anyone, so unfortunately, or fortunately, I had to do the entire thing on my own. Imagine a 5-piece band but one guy composing each instrument and writing everything! Beat by beat. Note by note. Word by word. What resulted was my Extended play (EP) “The Calm Fire”. I was lucky that a good friend of mine, Abbas Al Mossawi, agreed to help me and provide vocals since I’m not good at singing high notes like him. I thought to myself if there’s a chance to make this EP sound better
why not go for it? And I was very happy with the final product. “ How I came up with the name ‘OBSELION’ is interesting. I spent a week trying to think of cool, catchy, and unique band names. I woke up one day and headed to the washroom to freshen up after a rough night and all that was screaming in my head was “OBSELION”. It didn’t make much sense to me but it sounded incredible! I googled the word and there was absolutely nothing about it, no definitions at all. So while brainstorming endlessly with my high school teacher, Mr. Wayne Brown, he exclaimed, “You know what, the right definition for Obselion is "Uncontrollably Devoted to Passion." And that stuck ! “ A high point for me was my participation in the talent-hunt, Yas Rock Factory that was held by Flash Entertainment. I won a spot and got the chance to play on the Flash Forum stage alongside several other great UAE bands from all genres on the same night 30 Seconds To Mars took performed. “ Thinking back, I believe that my English teacher from my last year of high school
impacted me a lot. He himself is a musician and a music producer and he knows a lot about music. I was ecstatic to learn that he loved my EP especially the song “The Cure”. But early on I was inspired and entranced by my friend’s guitar strokes. I loved the energy. The first music my friend taught me was the intro to ‘In the End’ by Linkin Park. From that point on I loved music more than I ever thought I would. Since then my life has completely changed. “The Calm Fire contains six tracks and is 23 minutes long. Two of the tracks are instrumentals, a mix of dub step and post rock. And the other four tracks are just pure face-melting metal-core. A line from my song Dear Dreamer says” ‘I will never give up on my dreams. And I swear from what I feel, someday it will be real’. I say believe and achieve your dreams”.
The Calm Fire is available online at www.obselion.bandcamp.com to download it for free. http://obselion.bandcamp.com/ track/the-calm-fire www.tempoplanet.com | 11
PAPER MAGIC
UAE QUILLER, FARAH AL FARDH By Sanah Chauhan
Although new to the Arab world, the art of paper quilling dates back centuries. What started off as a hobby for Italian and French nuns during the Renaissance is now an increasingly popular art form being practiced all over the world. This gentle art form involves rolling up strips of paper into shapes and designs that are used to decorate wedding invitations, birth announcements, greeting cards, scrapbook pages, and boxes and even art displays.
“That was when I twisted my ankle and was advised bed rest for a month. I had to find a way to pass my time. I came across a book called Paper Twirling on Amazon, which included everything from the instructions to the materials required for the craft.”
At the vanguard of the paper quilling movement in the UAE is Farooha Humaid Al Fardh, the only Emirati paper quilling artist to be recognized both locally and internationally. Tempo caught up with her to learn more about this unique art.
FROM SHEEP TO STARDOM Her success with the sheep art resulted in many queries regarding in an online forum, and soon Farah began posting DIY Paper Quilling articles online to explain how to make basic shapes and designs. These articles spread word of mouth about the artform throughout the Arab world and was especially noticed by one of the forum members, who happened to be an employee at Sama Dubai TV.
AN ARTISTIC DISCOVERY Farooha, 33, always had a passion for arts and crafts throughout her school life. She graduated in 2002 from Zayed University’s College of Communication and Media Sciences but was introduced to paper quilling in 2004 quite by accident… 12 | www.tempoplanet.com
She showed her artwork to her relatives, friends and colleagues, and they all encouraged her to develop her skills. Soon she started to sell her artwork through an online forum for UAE women. “The first of my artwork to be sold were in the shape of colourful sheep! And during the month of Ramadan, I sold 350 sheep! That was a great beginning for me.”
The Sama TV reporter invited Farah to present her artwork on a TV show called “Marasi” and soon after that Farah received a deluge of
invitations from other channels. Farah was invited to channels like Rotana Khalijeya, Al Arabiya, Noor Dubai TV, Abu Dhabi TV, Al Ain TV, Dubai TV, Sharjah TV and Decision Makers TV. In January 2009 Farah launched the first ever Arabic/English website on the art of paper quilling. “I called the website “Farooha,” my nickname, and soon I was getting lots of traffic and inquiries.” In fact the website became so popular that it went on to win the Tamaiaz Award from Mawarid Finance in May 2009 in the presence of Sheikh Majed Bin Mohamed Al Maktoum. In 2009, Farah joined The Quilling Guild in the UK and was the first appointed regional representative from the UAE. She then joined the North American Quilling Guild, the Japan Quilling Guild in 2010 and the Dutch Quilling Guild in 2011. SPREADING THE WORD Farah’s endeavours to spread the art of quilling in the Arab world have been successful. After her television appearance on Sama Dubai TV, Farah was invited by Dubai Women’s Association to conduct quilling workshops. She also had a kiosk in Modhesh Fun City for two months
called “Al Fardh Crafts” where she sold many craft books and tools related to paper quilling. In a bid to promote quilling in schools Farah conducted workshops in Ras Al Khaimah for art teachers from different emirates to promote the art in their own classes. “In all the encounters where I demonstrated the art, people were seeing quilling for the first time. It was amazing to see how people reacted to my work.” In July 2009 Farah participated at the First Doll Exhibition at Dubai Festival City where she was the only Arab among 15 artists from around the world. Through this exhibition Farah started creating 3D figures or miniatures and introduced the first Emirati 3D figures.
In 2010, she conducted a workshop at Zayed University, which was part of the “Refresh” Festival and in the same year also participated in the RAK Economic Department creativity and talent exhibition. Farah was especially thrilled when she was asked to participate in the UAE’s 40th UAE National Day, and where she organized a quilling demonstration. She says her next step is to start teaching classes formally. “ There are a lot of art enthusiasts who are looking for new creative options to explore.” She adds: “I know that all it takes is to get people started as quilling is very addictive. It’s like that commercial for Pringles: Once You Pop, You Can't Stop. I want everyone to try it and experience the joy that it brings.”
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PRESENTS
LOTSA DOSA By Nabeela Huda
ARE YOU IN SEARCH OF A DISTINCTIVE INDIAN CUISINE? THEN YOU SHOULD TRY THE ‘DOSA,’ THE FERMENTED RICE BEAUTY THAT IS THE STAPLE FOOD OF THE SOUTH INDIANS, AND THAT IS SIMPLE YET DELECTABLY VERSATILE. HERE’S A QUICK GUIDE: WHERE: SANGEETHA WHAT: Masala Dosa BUILD: Perfectly round Indian crepes with two dips: coconut mint and coconut chili. COMMENT: Searching for a rich, authentic experience I went to check out Sangeetha on very busy Electra Street. What I found was the most unaffected Indian experience ever! The double floored small space and the servers dressed in culturally resonant apparel reminded me of the Indian ferry sailors of the 90’s. Within 10 minutes my order arrived. It was served in a large circular hot aluminium plate. If I could have Masala Dosa for the rest of my life, it would need to be exactly like this! It was incomparable fermented rice, and it came with a mushy filling of mashed potato and coconut mint dip to die for. RECOMMENDATION: Great food at a bargain price - you can eat enough to feed a nation!
WHERE: ARAB UDUPI RESTAURANT WHAT: Masala Dosa BUILD: Paper-thin Masala Dosa with a choice of dips and ‘aloodaal’ (lentil and potato mixture) COMMENT: One of the oldest Indian restaurants in the UAE, Arab Udupi still leads the South Indian pack. My order of masala dosa when it reached my table was a sight to see! Spanning an entire arm’s length (kid you not), it was an impressive sight. I loved it, not only because of its value-for-money to size-ofdinner-plate ratio (literally), but in terms of taste as well! I enjoyed the flakes that tore off the bread, the dips that were of consistent thickness, and texture of the dosa. RECOMMENDATION: A little more expensive then Sangeetha, but one taste of it and you will regret not having tried it earlier! RATING:
RATING:
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WHERE: ARYAAS RESTAURANT WHAT: Aryaas Special Dosa BUILD: Vibrant conical beauties in every colour COMMENT: Located in Karama, Dubai, Aryaas offers an extensive menu of dosas, uttapams (Indian pancakes), and idlis (rice cakes) using authentic ingredients of rice flour, lentils or semolina. This popular restaurant is a treat to the mouth and to the wallet. Their gorgeous dosa came in multiple colours (green, yellow and orange!) along with a wonderfully pungent ‘sambar’ chutney of coriander, coconut and tomato. The dosas were a delight to eat, with juices dripping everywhere. RECOMMENDATION: Make sure to lick the last bit of sauce from your fingertips because the chutneys are far too precious to waste! RATING:
WHERE: FOODLANDS WHAT: Rava Dosa BUILD: Buttery thicker and crispier, with aachar (pickles). COMMENT: Foodlands on Airport Road in Abu Dhabi and Salahuddin Road in Dubai, is a pleasing family restaurant that offers a variety of Indian cuisines (as well as some that are Persian and Chinese). In search of the mighty dosa, I couldn’t wait to try out their version. What I was served were rava dosas that were very buttery, hot, soft and waiting for your teeth to sink into them. Thicker than most regular dosas, these were also somehow crispier but just perfect with the accompanying seasoned squishy potatoes. RECOMMENDATION: If you’re going to binge, the taste makes the ghee factor worth it. RATING:
INNOVATION COMPETITION: MUSAHAMATI FOR YOUTH By Ajir Shujahi
Musahamati is a competition launched by the Abu Dhabi Awards aimed at promoting innovation among youth in Abu Dhabi. Khaled Al Falasi, Senior Strategic Communication Officer at Executive Affairs presented Musahamati at Tamakkan, and Tempo caught up with him to find out more about this exciting initiative...
HOW DOES IT WORK? Well, first you need to apply. Participants choose a category and then define a specific issue that they aim to resolve and results they intend to achieve. The categories are: Environmental Preservation & Awareness; Culture & Heritage; Technology & Innovation; Healthy Lifestyle and Social Responsibility. Submissions are only made via an entry form available on www. musahamati.ae.
KHALED, TELL US ABOUT MUSAHAMATI. Musahamati, meaning ‘My Contribution’ in Arabic, encourages the youth in Abu Dhabi to identify an issue within the community and provide a creative solution that will make a positive change. Recognizing that youth are an integral part of our community and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Awards launched the initiative ‘Musahamati’ as a competition is open to citizens and residents, between 16-23 years old.
Then, if you’re selected, you must attend the Shortlisted Workshop: the shortlisted submissions are invited to a workshop, where they will be offered advice from experts. The third step is final proposal submission from shortlisted participants:participants have threeweeks tosubmit final proposals. Then, you will have to provide the final presentations:shortlisted participants present proposals to the judging committee. Finally, the winner will be announced! Initial support will be provided to bring the idea to life.
WHAT ARE ITS OBJECTIVES? The initiative has been designed to encourage a sense of social responsibility amongst the youth in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We aim to promote creative thinking and community solutions by showcasing participants and winners as local innovators and role models. Also, we hope to instill the Abu Dhabi Awards values of giving, selflessness, commitment and inspiration.
WHAT CRITERIA DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE TO FULFILL? Good question! All submissions will be judged against the following criteria: how achievable they are – practical, meets community needs. How sustainable – efficiently maintained over a sustained period; offers the potential for a lasting effect; not a one-off initiative. Is it original, inspirational? Ideas must be unique and
motivational for members of the community. Research is very important: you will need to provide sufficient qualitative and quantitative analysis and research to support the idea. Another question to ask yourself is: is my idea scale-able? That is, is it flexible and adaptable? Can it be reproduced elsewhere? Cost-efficiency, too, should be considered: submissions that demonstrate low cost and high benefits are preferred.
WATCH THE EXCITING VIDEO CAMPAIGN DESIGNED BY BRANDMOXIE
Be sure to send in your submissions before the deadline which is February 23. Follow @musahamati and #musahamati www.tempoplanet.com | 15
TECHNOLOGICALLY AFFECTED DEATHS
STANDING YOUR GROUND
By Ahmed Samir
By Saif Nasir
Not much goes untold these days. So much of our lives is broadcast to everyone we know electronically: who we know and become “friends” with, who we’ve met, where we went, and what happened. We’re witnessing the death— or at least, farthest possible truncation — of enquiry and privacy; the former dying because we rarely have to ask to know something (we can find nearly anything about someone on their profiles), the latter seeing its demise in the phenomenon of the internet-sharing of nearly everything!
People will always try to enforce thoughts and opinions on you, thinking they know all there is to know about you, and all that can be done in response to a life’s situation facing you.
Why do we feel the compulsion to share everything online? Is it arrogance, and we think everyone inhabiting our social-pages wants –or, worse still– deserves to know? Or is it a latent god-complex and we’re aching to delineate every facet of our existence to our “followers”? The name “follower” connotes a certain subservience, doesn’t it? Are we really looking to share our mind’s contents by tweeting, or are we all secretly looking to build our deserved fanbase? Unabashed self-advertisers, the lot of us!
ENLIGHTENMENT:
Maybe it’s their dumb human propensity to proclaim themselves infallible, but it is your responsibility to stand your ground firmly, and not let others’ opinions shake your confidence. Those around you will try to change you, but it’s your (our) collective job to fight back if we truly truly believe in the actions we take. This idea of influence branches out and reaches far, and to many areas. In the end, they all intertwine and lead back to the same point: don’t let the outside world change your opinion of who you are, how you act, what you do, what you believe in, the decisions you make, and so on.
And it’s impacting conversation, too! The real world kind of conversation (distinction for in-person, face-to-face conversation). Instead of actively participating in it – listening, assimilating what I’m told, replying accordingly – when, say, I’m told a story about something that happened earlier, I’m reduced to replying with, “I know, you already tweeted about it” – or – “Yeah, you posted pictures of it on Facebook,” or some other equally abominable variation of the same. There — the practice of revealing, in-conversation storytelling is dead, too! The modern human finds himself in a state of uber-connectedness never before experienced by any of his hierarchal kin. Seconds after you think of that witty remark and tweeting it, someone half the world away would be chuckling at it, and your visit to that new restaurant, they know about that too, along with your relationship status, and, much to the indignation of the thoughtful few who remember them, your birthday as well. It’s a violent deluge of personal information unfolding itself for whoever wishes to be informed (calling all stalkers!), and you have to wonder if it’s good for so much to be bandied around like cheap candy. For the time being, though, this information explosion is staying, and it’s clear, too: unless I decide to be a hermit and revoke every concession to technology, I won’t have my privacy back. Well, there’s an idea…
16 | www.tempoplanet.com
It is your life to live. The choices you make might be faulty, but they are your choices that you made of your free will, and that is something every person has, and that is ultimately how you will learn; that is how you will become better as a person. You live and learn, as they say. So recognize that to be human is to make mistakes. Countless times in my writing, painting, life, people would not give me advice, but would rather try to forcibly make me do what is in their minds as they are convinced that this is the best thing to do. Very often I forget that it is within my capability to refute and deny them what they want. They will push. Just push back harder. Keep in mind that I am not advocating disobedience; we all need to listen to our elders, and we have to listen to the words and guidance of others. Consider them. If you feel like the option presented is a better one, then follow through and act on it. Think things through, always. Don’t let others cause you to be confused or in the dark, because that’ll be nothing more than a catalyst to have you make regrettable decisions. As Victor Hugo said, “The soul in darkness sins, but the real sinner is he who caused the darkness.”
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FEB
4
11
Al Ain Fun Fair @ ADNEC Convention Centre Al Ain
my january to do list
3 Omega Dubai Desert Classic @ Emirates Gulf Club
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6
Short Work & Sweet shops @ Du Dubai bai
27
Barbados beauty Rihanna’s Birthday
20
Les Contradictions de la Vie @ The Mojo Gallery Jan 14- Feb 28
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Abu Dhabi Art Hub @ Abu Dhabi
my january eco pledge
5
12
Gourmet Abu Dhabi @ Abu Dhabi 5-20
Camel Festival ea @ Sweihan Ar 1-15
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Lovable Rachel from friend’s, Jennifer Aniston’s Birthday
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ME Tech @ Madinat Jumeirah
Figure it out @ Dubai Festival Centre Jan 14 –Feb 27
26
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship @ The Aviation Club
25 Dubai Polo Club Series @ Dubai Polo & Equesterian Club
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Wild Wadi’s Swim @ Burj Al Arab
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8
2
Columbian sensation Shakira’s Birthday
9
5th Emirates Classic Car Festival @ Emaar Boulevard
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Yas Track Day @ Yas Marina Circuit
15
Call for Artists @ Arsh Art Gallery
UAE Wooden Powerboat Championship @ Break Water, Abu Dhabi
14
Dubai Jazz Festival @ Dubai Festival City 14-22
Child actress and love, Dakota Fanning’s birthday
23
Valentines Day
Barry Hilton in StandUp Chameleon @ Souk MadinatJumeirah
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Alessandro Lauria
21 Meydan Race Nights @ Nad Al Sheba
28 Yas Drifts Night @ Yas Marina Circuit
Arjun Suria
MEFMA Annual Conference @ The Address, Dubai Marina
17
Micheal Jackson History Show II featuring Kenny Wizz @ Souk MadinatJumeirah
24 Snow White and the Seven Dwarves @ Abu Dhabi National Theatres
Nada
N.B.
doc in the house
remixing rumi
Dr. DMS | A doc from the Bronx
Dorian ‘Paul D’ Rogers
"YOU LOOK FINE, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?" AND “DOES THIS HURT?”
A POET’S TWIST ON THE ANCIENT CLASSICS OF RUMI. PAUL D’ TAKES A CLASSIC POEM AND REMIXES IT TO GIVE IT A CONTEMPORARY SPIN. The Breeze At Dawn by Rumi The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep. You must ask for what you really want. Don't go back to sleep. People are going back and forth across the doors where the two worlds touch. The door is round and open. Don't go back to sleep. The Pillow that Became You by Dorian "Paul D" Rogers
Do you think that everyone manifests pain the same way? How can you tell if a person is in pain when they’re not screaming or actually telling you? These are in fact, legitimate questions that every doctor faces and that many researchers try to answer. It is a genuine medical conundrum and causes a lot of stress to everyone involved, including doctors. You would think it was straightforward, but the more one looks into it, the murkier the facts become. Does gender make a difference? As a child, I always assumed that girls were “sissies,” because they would cry with a little rough play. Did they cry because they were hurt? Or because they were annoyed? Fast forward a few years and women are now often praised for their high pain “threshold”. I often hear “It’s not as bad as childbirth,” (or other such similar references to child birth) with giving birth presented as the most painful human experience. How about cultural expressions of pain? I have seen some cultures screaming “whoop, whoop”, while slapping the top of their heads during minor procedures, while others remain calm and collected. We often credit more flamboyant cultures with low thresholds, and histrionic behavior, but I wonder if it’s not so much about the level of pain, but rather the expression of it. Then, there are the traumas: the awake gunshot victims, amputees, burn victims etc, who at times surprise us with their calm presentation. Are they in pain? Hell yeah! Folks describe them as “being in shock”. But why are they so calm? Occasionally staff assumes they are comfortable and thus give them nothing. So how do we tackle this problem? Usually using an incredibly stupid question: “on a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst pain you can imagine for example being stung by killer bees and set on fire at the same time, what do you rate your pain as?” Amazing advancement in science! You can even safely try it at home. Believe it or not, that’s what hospitals are starting to do everywhere. Obviously it’s flawed, right? Sure, but that is all we’ve got. Medicine is an art. I hope that it will never be reduced to the pathetic checklists that are being served to us in plentiful supply these days. If you could do this at home, then I’d be out of a job...
You consist of downy feather. Became a fifth of your original size and just a fraction of your weight. You've lost all the melanin that hued you, Now you're neutral and lily white. More plump. Less personal. More silent treatments. Less arguments. You make me want to go back to sleep. This is my gradual way of letting you go. The white flag over tea and cookies. There were too many gunshots before. Artillery shells carpeted the bedroom floor. There are no true winners in war. It was the fighting that killed us. I hold you tightly nightly, daily if my schedule allows. Lovers wonder why I don't cuddle with them, or share intense stares. They swoon if I don't spoon, flip over on their backs and roll their eyes like dice. Maybe I'd be more sensual in bed if you were hidden. Too big for the dresser drawer. I could tuck you under cover and blanket and make love over the sheets like the heartless do. You've made me a celibate wreck. I'm officially single but unofficially still yours. Your remain my singular regret. Maybe it's better this way. Ages have past and now your scent has aged on my bed sheets. Smells of crushed rose and trampled intentions. I mention you as small talk on road trips and airplane rides when travelers ask why I brought you along. I want to go back to sleep. Let me wean with this baby bottle. Let me fast with cloth and cushion like the children do. Stay inanimate for me just a little while longer so I can heal in absentia of the woman that is probably way over me.
www.tempoplanet.com | 19
HEART, ART AND SOUL: MUSIC
HENRY BENNETT
By Ajir Shujahi
Henry Bennett, a 27-year-old performer and teacher in Abu Dhabi, fits the profile of the impassioned artist who is bursting with a need to express himself artistically, and to find recognition for his unique and refreshing performances. Born in Liverpool to English/ Iris parentage, Henry went to cathedral school in Oxford and studied music at university in London. Tempo caught up with him to learn about his latest artistic forays...
INTRODUCE HENRY TO US. I am a singer, pianist and cellist and enjoy all kinds of experiments with sound and the immersive arts. I hate television but love French cinema. I play football once a week and like climbing mountains in remote parts of the world. I love meeting new people. I am easily overwhelmed with emotions and prone to bursting into tears over the most basic expressions of humanity. IS IT TRUE THAT YOU LEFT HOME AT THE AGE OF EIGHT TO PURSUE MUSIC? Yes, I left home at eight to pursue a singing scholarship - my parents let me make the decision myself! The first major hurdle was overcoming my homesickness. I cried myself to sleep every night for two weeks and had to be separated from the other children because I was keeping them awake at night. After my tears had dried, nothing seemed quite the same ever again. Leaving home was one of the hardest things that ever happened to me but I haven't looked back since! I like to constantly challenge myself - all the career related obstacles that have come my way have been of my own making. I believe that the biggest test is always getting to know yourself. WHO OR WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR INSPIRATION? I'm greatly inspired by the imagination and inventive scope of children. There's nothing more heartwarming than hearing the sound
20 | www.tempoplanet.com
of a baby giggling, or conversely as disturbing as a child's screams in the night time. I deeply admire truly independent thinkers for being themselves. A personal hero of mine is the composer Oliver Messiaen who had a rare neurological condition called synaesthesia which caused crossover between his senses. He literally saw colours in music and devised a system of composition which adhered to his unique spectral understanding. His music conjures up a bizarre new world of uniform abstraction; it's an alien landscape with laws unto itself. He was a devoted man who was fascinated and enthralled with nature, spending many hours notating bird-song in his garden. He was famous for his incredible improvisations on the church organ and was the first to incorporate electronic sounds into the symphony.
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AS TEACHER BEEN?
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
Wonderful so far. It's been rewarding from a personal and emotional perspective and also in relation to my development as a musician. I find the teacher-student relationship to be symbiotic. You both learn a great deal from the experience. I always see a little of myself in my students and have greatly enjoyed having the opportunity to meet people like me from all over the world. It was fascinating to live and work with non-english speaking university students in Central China. Much faster than I imagined it possible, we found ways to communicate in a way that transcended language. Music truly is a universal dialect.
In five years I'll be 32 which seem pretty old, so I should probably have written my first second and third symphonies by then! I will continue to explore new parts of the world but hope to settle on a concrete aesthetic which will define my work. I am constantly developing ideas about new ways to make music and have yet to find an identity which caters to all of my creative needs. Perhaps I will become the first 'king of all trades'! I'm now contemplating taking masters in opera. Who knows what the future holds? Whatever it is it will be fun I am sure.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR RECENT PROJECT IN MANARAT AL SAADIYAT. On January 16th I debuted my project 'Recycled Rhythms' at Manarat al Saadiyat. It is an interactive musical experience which I installed as part of 'Eco-scape' in association with the Ministry of Culture's Eco-future exhibition. I collected donations of hundreds of empty bottles, cans, coat hangers, old pots and pans, cutlery, bottle tops, bits of piping, old tools and much more which were used by kids to build their own musical instruments. We recorded the sounds and overlaid them to create an improvised soundscape- it was really cool! I'm now looking forward to taking the project on tour and into schools.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO ASPIRING MUSICIANS AND READERS?
I would like to make an appeal to young musicians and Tempo readers to become more active in the community. There are so many ways to revitalize your life by being more creative. Turn off your television. Turn off your computer. Go to an art gallery. Start a band. Take singing lessons. Make a collage. Join a choir. Write poetry. Tell stories. Invent plays. These experiences can change the way we see the world for the better. They open our horizons and broaden our understanding of life.
If you are a school or art house and are interested in hosting Henry’s Recycled Rhythm event please contact rhythmsrecycled@gmail.com
www.tempoplanet.com | 21
game hedz
tech talk
Blakniss | Original game head from Atari to XBox!
Shahid Saeed | Talker for the Non-Techies
DEAD SPACE 3 Dead Space 3 is out and you should be playing in the dark and shivering with fear.
MSI NETBOOK U180 N2600 MSI U180 a 10.1-inch netbook powered by Intel’s Cedar Trail platform is pretty much what you would expect from a small and lightweight netbook.
We played the demo before the game came out and immediately had reservations about weapons customization. I didn't need customized weapons in the first two why would I need them now? That, and it seemed to be way more time consuming and complex than it needed to be. I think lots of gamers are going to pass up the bench customization and just go for existing blueprints. The other downer was a strong feeling of deja vu. Yes different enemies, yes a new environment but - meh. So what? That said, the demo was only a very, very, very small peak into the game - and developers never give away any important stuff in demos. So, maybe the post mortem will be far more positive.
It has LED backlit 1024X600 screen, packs with Intel’s Atom N2600 dual-core Processor, GMA 3650 graphics, up to 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, 320 GB of Hard Disk Drive and so much more. This pretty versatile device is priced at AED 999 at various Carrefour stores across UAE. LENOVO IDEAPAD S400NOTEBOOK Lenovo IdeaPad S400 a premium looking with its metallic exterior notebook is powered by Intel’s 3rd generation Intel Core i5 1.7 Ghz CPU, 14-inch HD widescreen (1366X768) LED Display running on Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500 GB Hard Disk Drive, 3 USB ports, and other features. It is also loaded with Microsoft Windows 8.
MARK OF THE NINJA If you haven't found this little gem on XBox Arcade, give it a whirl. With graphics in a very Samurai Jack kind of style, the story is intriguing and the game play tons of fun in this sideways scroller. You have your customary upgrades with an imaginative choice of weapons and distraction items from darts that cause hallucinations to a portable box you can hide in when necessary. A Ninja fighting to protect the integrity of his clan; you are sent on a suicide mission that comes with twists, turns and a couple surprises. It's a stealth game no doubt, but you can always let the blades fly if you are so inclined. The game tends to reward stealthy movement and stealthy kills. Pick it up for 1200 MS points.
MY FAV APP } USER: ATA UR REHMAN SHEIKH
AWQAF UAE: The General Authority and Islamic Affairs and Endowments of United Arab Emirates has launched its Mobile Application which offers a broad range of services, including Adan alerts, Fatwa questions and answers, mosque locator, Qibla directions, as well as information on hajj and umrah. You can also download Friday sermons, books and publications. The app is available for free download on iPhone, iPod Touch, Android and Blackberry Smartphones. 22 | www.tempoplanet.com
The S400 is priced at AED 2299 at Carrefour UAE with a free bundle comprising :Touchmate Tablet, Touchmate Mouse and Touchmate headset.
NEWS & GOSSIP US$ 100 CHARGE FOR SENDING A MESSAGE TO MARK ZUCKERBERG?? Sending a message to Facebook founder Zuckerberg carries a $100 price tag, according to Mashable. That’s also what it costs to message Facebook COO Sheryl Sandburg, CFO David Ebersman, and several other Facebook members. A Facebook representative told CNN that they are testing some extreme price points as a spam filtering mechanism. The messaging fee is one of several new revenue streams Facebook is testing. WINDOWS MESSENGER TURNING OFF Starting from 15 March 2013 is the cut off date set by Microsoft to get everyone using Windows Messenger to migrate to Skype. In November 2012 Microsoft made the announcement that they will be switching off Live Messenger in early 2013 but they gave no specific date at the time. To help people migrate before March 15 Microsoft had provided a way to talk and swap contacts between Messenger and it has added Follow me on an upgrade button to replace @shahidaasi messenger with Skype.
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WHAT’S COOL, FUNNY AND QUIRKY ON THE NET
The Tube
DRIVE THRU INVISIBLE DRIVER PRANK
AMAZING BURJ KHALIFA FIREWORKS 2012
Sit back and don’t hurt yourself laughing at people freaking out to a ghost driving a car through a drive-thru!
Missed out the chance to watch fireworks live front of the largest tower in the world? Don’t worry, head out to youtube!
PEP GUARDIOLA REFUSES TO SHAKE HANDS
UAE VS. IRAQ, ARABIAN GULF CUP 2013
Ouch! The Spanish football player refuses common courtesy with the Portuguese heartthrob? That must have hurt…
For those who have missed the finals of Gulf Cup 2013, watch all goals and full highlights where the team UAE lifts the Gulf Cup 2013
Blogwatch A dedicated women magazine that deals with topic such as Arabic cuisine, beauty, gardens, pregnancy and so on.
Twitter Tweeps Follow Us
A fun loving and inspiring author with a huge fan following.
@abudhabitempo
Like Us www.emaratiya.com
@AlexanderMcNabb facebook page www.tempoplanet.com | 23
Sana Bagersh addresses the conference
MOVING FORWARD:
WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AND THE FUTURE OF MENA By Alma Kadragic (@almakad) | Photos by Christina Fernandes
An Arab woman in this region has three men who influence her life, said Sana Bagersh (@Bagersh) to women attending the “Women Entrepreneurs in MENA” in Dubai last month: her father, brother, and husband. Bagersh spoke at the conference organised by Chicago Booth and Booz and Co to explore issues relating to women’s economic empowerment, and to specifically address ‘The Third Billion’ – the number of women entering the workforce in the next decade. Bagersh said these three individuals impact a woman in three ways: what she studies, if and where she works, and how she is funded in case she becomes an entrepreneur. She said that government policy has great transformational impact in favour of women. She said the latest UAE Cabinet Decision for the inclusion
24 | www.tempoplanet.com
of women in company and organizational boards has a strong trickle-down influence to three distinct audiences: it sends a message to women – validating them and their efforts; it lets fathers/ brothers/ husbands know that such change is sanctioned by the government and is great for nation building, and three, it sends a message to employers that women are worthy of these leadership positions. “In my case,” Bagersh said, “my father let me go to university in the US, my brothers supported me, and at this time in my life, I count on my husband for being there for me personally and professionally. Bagersh is the managing editor of Tempo, CEO of BrandMoxie and founder of Tamakkan, a leading entrepreneurship support network. Four years ago New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof (@NickKristof) and his wife Sheryl Wu Dunn (@WuDunn) published “Half the Sky,” a book about how empowering women
is the key to helping individuals, families, and ultimately entire societies improve their standard of living. That kind of thinking was behind the conference organized by Booz & Company and the alumni of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The starting point was the Third Billion Index created by Booz & Company to link data from a number of sources to identify the national environment for women at work around the world. Figures for 128 countries ranked them in categories such as “At the Starting Gate,” “Taking the Right Steps,” and “On the Path to Success.” No MENA country was beyond “the Starting Gate.” The UAE is number 109 of 128 countries in empowering women; India is 115; Saudi Arabia is 123; Finland is at the top. In the next ten years one billion women – the third billion - are expected to join the world’s
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Dr. Leila Hoteit addresses the conference A member of the audience asks a question
Sana Bagersh chatting with delegates
• workforce. Many of them will start their own businesses, but it won’t be easy. Dr. Leila Hoteit, Principal, Booz & Company, listed four challenges that women make it difficult for working women and entrepreneurs alike: • Becoming acknowledged as more than only caregivers • Recognizing importance of investing in women’s future – education, health services, day care for children
•
Thinking small – only microfinance available, not larger loans Lack of gender-specific data so that status of women can be separated from general categories
Governments can help by providing women with: • Education • Equal pay for equal work • Maternity leave • Paternity leave • Childcare • Support to entrepreneurs
All of this is most important in the GCC, according to Dr. Hoteit, because women here are three times more likely to be unemployed than men. During coffee breaks when she wasn’t on stage, Bagersh was pelted with questions from participants who wanted to ask questions more privately. Everyone at the conference seemed to agree that there is much work to be done to empower women in MENA and thereby help combat unemployment and social problems.
TO ADVERTISE IN THE WIDEST CIRCULATED YOUTH AND COMMUNITY FOCUSED MAGAZINE IN THE UAE, CALL: 02 491 8624
www.tempoplanet.com | 25
THE PLANETARIANS
THE POWER OF THE DATE PALM UNLOCKED:
ENVIRONMENTAL POLUTION AND WATER SOURCE By Tempo Research Dept
DATE PALM TREES ARE EVERYWHERE AROUND US. THEY ARE INTRINSIC TO THE HISTORY OF THIS REGION AND ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE GIVING PROPERTIES. IN THE PAST EVERY PART OF THE PALM HAD A TANGIBLE USE FOR PROVIDING SHELTER AND SUSTENANCE.
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Innovative research from Sultan Qaboos University could hold the answer. SQU researchers have found a new way of putting palm tree waste to good use. They have discovered that extracts from palm date leaves are effective in removing chemicals from the water released from medical institutions, like hospitals and clinics.
The process involves extracting the carbon from the leaves using sulfuric acid at 170째C through a process known as carbonization. Carbon produced in this manner removes the pharmaceutical chemicals as well as heavy metals making the water safe for irrigation. SQU principal researcher El-Said El-Shafey explained that this method of removing the chemicals from water was developed over more than a decade of research. Although the team was also successful in producing dehydrated carbon from other kinds of agricultural waste, El Shafey said that the date palm leaves have been more effective than other forms of agricultural waste.
SQU researchers are piloting the use of a treatment plant for use as a natural way to treat the contaminated water. To render waste-water sterile before it is released into the sewers system, chemists use dehydrated carbon derived from the waste date palm leaves to aid in the filtration process.
The findings of SQU are a significant step in curbing environmental pollution in treatment plants all over the world. The use of dehydrated carbon from agricultural waste can also help solve the problem of dwindling water supplies by changing treated waste-water into potable water.
Yet during the process of date farming large amounts of waste product are generated from the trees. In fact, an estimated 180,000 tons of date palm leaves are generated annually by date palm plantations in the Middle East and also North Africa.
media
Dr. Alma Kadragic
NEW TRENDS: PUBLISHING DIY By Alma Kadragic (@almakad)
At some point around the late 1970s when I joined the team producing news for Good Morning America at ABC News, I became aware of a colleague named Terry Irving.
email too. What I like is that he’s writing about what he knows and doing it very well. One of the books he’s writing is “Courier,” a thriller about a motorcycle rider who picks up film shot by professional crews for a major TV network bureau in Washington DC. That was Terry’s first job with news, and he is an expert on motorcycle riding, something I never knew about.
USD 2500 he gets “editing, proofing, a book cover, a choice of interior formatting options, and all the technical bits (ISBN number and Library of Congress listing, etc).” That includes distribution on www.amazon.com and Amazon. com.uk plus five other retail channels and 25 copies for friends.
I was based in New York, and he was in Washington DC, but news was produced in both places, and we talked on the phone and intercoms as we rushed to meet deadlines at 7:01 and 7:31 and again at 8:01 and 8:31, and later if news broke while GMA was on the air on the west coast (3 hours behind east coast NY and DC). In time we worked together on big events like elections and presidential trips. Then I was sent to London and in 1983 to Warsaw as bureau chief. In 1990 I left ABC News and broadcasting to start my own PR agency.
He turns out to relish the roads and highways of the US capital. The courier gets chased by baddies and has to figure out how to bypass traffic and get the film – which has to be developed and edited – to the news studio in time for the evening news broadcast. “Courier” is set in late 1972 when President Richard Nixon had been re-elected and after the robbery at the Watergate apartments that didn’t seem like a big story but culminated in the resignation of Nixon in 1974. It’s also when the city is enduring the big dig for the future metro system –part of the story as well.
FOR USD 2500 HE GETS “EDITING, PROOFING, A BOOK COVER, A CHOICE OF INTERIOR FORMATTING OPTIONS...
Committed to Washington DC, Terry went from ABC to FOX, MSNBC, some dotcoms, some consulting, and eventually CNN. By 2010 he was out of TV news and looking for something different. Overseas and after I was no longer at ABC, we lost touch. If it weren’t for a Facebook group called ABCeniors, we might still be out of touch. A year or so ago, I started following ABCeniors and saw that Terry often posted news tidbits about people we had worked with and chapters from the books he’s been writing.
The first two chapters of “Courier” are available on line: See www.terryirving.blogspot.comfor an idea of the book’s flavor. When I read them, I emailed Terry that the story was good. In return he sent me the full manuscript of “Courier” and asked me to write a review. I started reading about 6 pm and finished three and a half hours later. Then I wrote the review: go to the Facebook page for “Courier”: http://www.facebook.com/ terryirvingcourier and scroll down quite a while.
Terry is also on Twitter (@terryirving) and that’s how we now communicate, although we use
What happens next? Terry has a deal with Createspace which is part of Amazon. For
Terry adds, “the print process is, of course, FREE. It's free because they don't print the book until someone orders it. Welcome to the Brave New World of Print On Demand.” None of this prevents a publisher from contracting to publish copies of the book in the normal way. Terry hopes that will happen soon. Meanwhile, he’s already written most of the next book about courier Rick Putnam and his friends. It’s called “Warrior.” He’s also written the e-book “The Unemployed Guy’s Guide to Unemployment”: see it at http://unemployedguysguide.blogspot.com/ and started a new blog for seasoned journalists whose careers have always been in writing but who now want to dip a toe into self-publishing: www.getmerewrite.me. I know some people who have self-published, but they’ve done one book and stopped. Terry is more interesting because he’s going about it in an organized manner testing the limits of social media to promote his work. I hope he succeeds. He may be a role model for some of us.
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ABU DHABI EDITION
RITA GHWAYEEN
Jordanian, age: 23 INTERIOR DESIGNER
wallet - splash body spray - bench earrings - splash lip balm - hnm necklace - pierre cardin perfume - chanel pencil - all prints
Images by
ANGELI CASTILLO PHOTOGRAPHY To view more, please visit angelicastillophotography.wordpress.com
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horoscope
HAOS C : 9 1 2 E L FI hives 2012 Client Arc
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ARIES: Your forceful manner makes waves in the workplace. Keep your opinions to yourself this month and you will be a lot happier from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your personal life blossoms when an old friend comes back into your life later in the month. Leo and Sagittarius play important roles. TAURUS: Your strong, steady nature will keep you calm during a tumultuous month at work. You won’t fall prey to co-workers’ worries. However, it’s a different story when it comes to romance. An evening with that special someone will allow you to open up and let your emotions show. GEMINI: You’ll feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster when it comes to family this month. Relatives will be spending a lot of time with you and sharing their true feelings. Don’t hold your emotions in. Venting them will help bring you back to an even keel. Look to friends for relaxation. CANCER: Bask in the glory at work this month as you successfully complete a difficult project. Your superiors will be impressed. Your social life improves and your phone won’t stop ringing. Friends you haven’t heard from in quite a long time will be in touch. Taurus and Gemini are involved. LEO: Your outgoing personality is a hit with superiors at work. They need someone to go after the heavy hitters and it very well could be you. Your loyalty to a good friend could put you in a difficult situation this month. Don’t lose someone close to you just because you’re feeling impetuous. VIRGO: Even though it may be hard for you, you’re going to have to sit still when it comes to a family event this month. Let relatives make the plans and only give your input if asked. It all will work out for the best. A friend will look to you for advice later in the month. Try not to be judgmental. LIBRA: Don’t let work get you down this month. It’s only a job; so many more important things go on after 5 p.m. Romance blossoms later in the month. You’ll be swept off your feet when you least expect it by someone whom you never thought could interest you. Gemini and Aries are involved. SCORPIO: You know who you are and what you can do, so don’t be a showoff at work early in the month. It can make you look foolish in front of your boss. Family matters are of prime importance this month. Show loved ones how much you care — even if they do drive you crazy at times. SAGITTARIUS: Don’t let a mistake at work get you down late in the month. Just explain yourself and correct the error. You don’t lie well, so don’t try it. Your family ties grow stronger this month. As for romance, you’re riding a wave of excitement. Enjoy it and start thinking about the future. CAPRICORN: Keep your shoulder to the wheel at work this month. Don’t let petty arguments among co-workers distract you. A close friend will need your help. Give him or her support. However, stand your ground when he or she makes a ludicrous request. You’ll be thanked for it later. AQUARIUS: Don’t be a follower at work this month. Now’s your chance to take the lead and show everyone what you’re capable of. A loved one will seem aloof this month, but don’t overreact. He or she just needs to be alone for a little while. Respect his or her wishes. You’ll be close again soon. PISCES: Life is your stage this month — make your mark wherever you go. However, don’t let your satiric nature go overboard. Remember to respect other people’s feelings. Show compassion to a friend in need later in the month. He or she is counting on you for advice.
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MISS KHULOOD: FOOD
K’S COOKIE SHOP
By Sharon Carvalho
Khulood Al Mehairi is the face behind K’s Cookie Shop, a cool new retail concept that offers cookies with culinary pizzazz and a personal touch. Tempo visited Khulood at her cute shop on Muroor Road to sample her yummy cookies and to see what makes her tick. When you meet Khulood you see that she is the perfect embodiment of a young, successful and ambitious Emirati woman who is following her dreams. At the mere age of 25, Khulood is currently working on getting a master’s in business administration, while also managing her very own business. The Abu Dhabi native Khulood has a degree in Communications and Media Sciences from Zayed University and enjoys cooking, reading, travelling and photography. Khulood realised her passion for baking in 2010 and starting baking on a small scale from home: “I loved baking, and I’d make batches of cookies, experimenting with different ingredients, and constantly fine tuning the flavours”. 30 | www.tempoplanet.com
Then in 2011 she opened her own store so she could sell her cookies. “If you come to my store you’ll find 13 different cookie varieties, but apart from these I like to constantly come up with new ones - usually personalised cookies for special occasions such as National Day and Christmas.” Khulood says the main inspiration behind the cookies is her sisters who have encouraged her right from the start. “I saw cupcakes that come decorated in different flavours and designs and so I decided to try to do something along the same lines but for cookies.” What’s even more interesting are the unique names that she has for each flavour; names such as “Almond Avalanche”, “Pistachio Punch”, “Mocha Metropolis” and “Chocolate Chic”. Speaking about the challenges she faced Khulood said understanding and complying with government regulations was one of the biggest initial stumbling blocks. “It’s not easy starting your own business, and it is especially hard establishing something from scratch.” But even though it was a bumpy start, Khulood says
she is now building a steady client of fans who love her cookies. “All I wish is for my business to flourish and I want people to recognize and support the shop as a local brand”. Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is: “Dream, dream, dream and then take action. Do things with a twist. You can freak out inside but you should never show it! Just go out and do it.”