COVER November 2012 - issue # 165 b a z a a r - m a g a z i n e. c om
HARVEY N
NICHOLS
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Tailored to perfection Sarar takes pride in its style, detail and craftsmanship, presenting you with a classic to contemporary premium look. We use only the highest quality Italian fabrics, which are then expertly tailored to fit you and your taste.
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SAR NEW YORK BERLIN FRANKFURT CHICAGO CAIRO ISTANBUL MOSCOW BEIRUT WASHINGTON ZURICH BARCELONA PRAGUE NEW DELHI KUWAIT
RAR
HON
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VISION E
EXPRESS
VICT
TORY
ANO
OTAH
AMERICA OPENING AT THE MALL THE AVENUES
ALSO AVAILABLE AT 1ST AVENUE – THE AVENUES & MARINA MALL TEL: 182-12-12
AN EAGLE
Intr
The bazaar team... Boss Ahmed El-Adly
Yusra Ahmad
Business Development
On that note, and because what we love more than anything here in bazaar is making sure every issue is better than the one before it, we have put together another whopper. Yes, with the dining guide around the corner, we now tend to voice our opinions in burgers, pizzas, and much more. Watch out Kuwait, there’s a new Japanese spot in town, and it’s no lightweight contender! Taiyou, located on the 19th floor of the Costa Del Sol Hotel in the seaside area of Shaab, is the hidden gem that shines brightly amongst the array of Japanese restaurants in our local dining scene. With fresh, mouthwatering dishes, and breathtaking views of the sea, Taiyou promises to be a local favorite. But wait, we found more than just great new food! We've also been paying attention to all the amazing services appearing all over town, like the helpful Dent Express to get rid of those nasty dents, and the 24/7 tire repair service, Banchar Basha which is one of our what’s trending tips. Did you know there was an online pharmacy, too? Dowa.com will deliver right to your doorstep. Soon, there’ll be no reason to leave the house! But more importantly, we met new, cool people! For new, cool people are usually the ones behind new, cool ideas, and we love a new, cool idea! Get ready to meet the fun loving food fiend, Ahmed Al-Hendi, to the incredibly talented artist and our up close and personal, Muneera Al-Rumaihi, who is more than just an artist. Her work in combining different mediums of art along with simply handwritten poetry is truly inspiring. Happy reading!
I hab M ok alled
Design Sumaiya AL-Shar han
Staff Writer/Social Media Yasmine El Char if
Staff Writer Kevin Smith
Communications Consultant Hala Y. Sharara
Editor A. Al-Duaij
Contributing Writers Abrar Al Shammari Bibi Al-Falah Deepa Pant Emma Abdullah Hala Sharara Jaye Sonia Loaay Ahmed Nada Faris Shabana H. Shaikh Sumayyah Meehan Yara Al-Wazir
Photographers Ghadeer AlBahar Sumaiya AL-Sharhan
Printing
British Industries for Printing and Packaging
LA Times Daily Star USA Today MTC International MIT Review Travel Times Hollywood Watch Slate Tribune Media Services
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There have been a lot of discussions lately in the bazaar office, and all over Kuwait actually, about the grass and if it really is greener on the other side. With all the problems and unrest in the Middle East, a lot of people we know have been exploring their options, and quite a few have mentioned immigration to Canada, moving to Europe, and of course there are always the ‘dreamers’ who talk about moving to Thailand, opening a juice bar, or water-sports center and living the simple life in flip flops and shorts. The problem is that nobody seems to have definitive answers, since nowhere is perfect. Just switch on the news and on any given day and you can watch protests all over Europe as people complain about the recession and the harsh austerity policies put in place to save their economies. Asia isn’t any better, with its own recession, unpredictable weather and of course language barriers. Then you have Canada and the USA; far away, with extremely high income taxes, and unemployment at an all-time high. Of course, you have other day-to-day challenges if you are considering moving to the West. For starters, it’s a lot colder than the Middle East, and winter is a lot longer. It’s almost impossible to be able to afford a full-time housekeeper or nanny, and all the other gardening and carwashing services that we seem to take for granted here. And let’s not even mention freak storms like Sandy. But, you’re thinking to yourself, they have a proper public transport system, and amazing free health care, and free schooling if you have kids, and parks, and theaters and so much more! So, where does that leave us? I personally believe it doesn’t really matter where you are. What really matters is to identify what makes you happy, and what gives you personal satisfaction, and to go for it each and every day of your life no matter where you are.
Syndicates and Sources
Starbucks Coffee (65 branches) BSK - Britsh School of Kuwait Cozmo - 4 branches Topshop Galleria Complex The Video Club Souk Sharq Energie Costa Café H&M Bredz Jacques Dessange Miss Sixty Airport Mall Häagen Dasz The One Café ACK (Australian College of Kuwait) AUK (American University of Kuwait) AUM (American University of Middle East) Boxhill College Marble Slab D’Lush Early Bird Café Harley Davidson Al-Kout Mall Centrepoint Café Johnny Rockets Pizza Express Al Corniche Club Kuwait Airways Oasis Club Shay W Nanaa Le PQ Cafe Boushahri Clinic Al Salam Hospital 4 x 4 Customs Ligne Roset Hard Rock Café Pilates & More Mowasat Hospital Camille Albane Dar Al Funoon I.O. Centers Cutting Edge Salon Dasman Diabetic Centre The Burger Hub Dunkin Donuts Waterlemon Café Supreme International Clinic Casper & Gambini’s Segafredo Cafe O Pao Cafe
The views expressed in bazaar magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff (but sometimes they are).
Ahmed El-Adly
No one likes to be dumped;
recycle me, please.
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INDEX NOV ' 12
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EARTHEN VISION
ALCHEMY OF WISDOM
RAMI AL ALI
MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA
TA I YOU
The award winning Gunoot Eco Resort project, led by regional developer/ owner United Real Estate Company (URC), designers SSH International and CalEarth combines wisdoms of the past with innovations of the future.
When asked ‘What is the secret of Kuwait?’, the answer is almost always ‘its people’. When asked ‘Why?’ the reply is ‘Kuwaitis are educated, intelligent, wise, open to the outside world, and love life and their country.’ Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah.
When the Haute meets this Couturier, Eastern elegance meets Western refinement. Where Rami Al Ali is concerned, his couture creations completely redefine evening glamour. Find out more in our special interview as Al Ali discusses his journey with fashion design.
A mystery of fashionable proportions is unveiled this November at H&M with the upcoming launch of the special Maison Martin Margiela collaboration. Read on as we interview the Maison about the collection of ‘reinterpreted’ iconic pieces for H&M and much more!
We love uncovering hidden dining gems all over K-town. Even though we tried to keep Taiyou, a wonderful Japanese restaurant with stunning panoramic sea views, a secret to ourselves, our ethical obligations to share the knowledge lead us to this review.
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MUNEERA AL-RUMAIHI
TRUTH OR DARE
Al Rumaihi shows us how the makings of an artist can be extremely intriguing as we get up close and personal about her life, art, blog and more— an innate talent for combining artistic mediums to create art with a soulful message.
Ahmad Al-Hendi, aka A7madani, knows a thing or two about food; we like to call it a food fancy that never quits. Food addiction aside, you have a guy that turned an interest into more than just a fun, local pastime.
INVISIBLE MAN, p.140
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TOPSHOP
WHAT’S TRENDING?
AN ARAB ABROAD
WiMD
GEEKS AND GAMERS
We know they offer an array of brilliant personal shopper options, yet how does one of favorite high street brands fare out when it comes to the real experience? Check out our review of the Topshop all-new personal shopper service.
Too many social media accounts and not enough time? Check out our brand new page to show you what’s on, online: we’re liking, tweeting, pinning and sharing, so don’t waste an instant and start sharing with us, you might get a mention next month!
In a land where Eid is just another time of the year, and the only family gatherings are those you Skype or Tango your way into, Yara takes us through her journey of celebrating the holiday of Eid, solo, as she embraces her London years.
Wireless broadband at speeds up to 15 Mbps? In Kuwait? Discover the new wireless Internet service provider, WiMD, and see what they are offering and why it may be a better alternative to your current Internet situation.
Our favorite geek is back, this time he talks Fable. A world where actions have consequences and the relationship between our moral choices and their outcomes, both positive and negative, build the foundation of our character. So, go forth and be heroes!
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G-STAR
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Galleria Marina Mall/Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Breadz The Avenues Johnny Rockets Paul Pizza Express Crumbs Haagen Dazs Starbucks Airport Mall Pizza Express Starbucks Dar Al Awadi I.O. Center Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks
Stand Alones 4 Boutique A.W.A.R.E. Center Alghanim Marine
Beautylicious Brush Salon Cozmo Bowling - Salmiya, Kaifan, Discovery Mall, Mahboula Dar Al Funoon Gallery Tilal Goji Boutique Jacques Dessange Salon, Shaab Karizma Kuwait 4X4 Landmark - Al Rai café, Fahaheel, Salmiya London Limos N Bar N Style Pink Moon Boutique Sultan Gallery THE One The Video Club TIES Center Schools & Universities American International School American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Boxhill College BSK - Britsh School of Kuwait Universal American School Kuwait University Starbucks Khaldiya Starbucks Adeliya Starbucks Jabriya Starbucks Shuwaikh
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JACK WILLS
up close and personal Muneera Al-Rumaihi By bazaar staff
The makings of an artist are countless; from education, practice, to an innate talent, Muneera Al-Rumaihi presents us with the simple process of exploration. A desire to explore, well nurtured with ambition, education, and support, yields unlimited results. Originally an English literature major, Al Rumaihi developed her intrinsic talent to “mess around” as she nonchalantly deems, to lead her to her first solo exhibition, “Exhibition” at Bayt Lothan, last spring. Debuting with twenty pieces, one is instantly drawn to her interesting technique, combining various mediums like collage, calligraphy, and acrylic, and moreover, the instant emotional response her personal pieces incite. Her passion for art goes beyond the canvas, as she also conveys her love for all things art via her online space, www.ladaisha.com. She adds, “I started the blog in order to spread the knowledge and beauty of art and to introduce some wonderful talents to my readers. I feel that we are living in a society that’s so used to underestimating that power when it is in fact a very important aspect in our lives.” Although Al-Rumaihi hadn’t planned on showcasing her work at the time of her solo exhibition, she recounts the rushed experience with pride, “It was pretty amazing, and beyond my expectations!” In a way, her method of ‘messing around’ went into 26
overdrive, compelled to always seek originality and freedom in whatever inspires the soul. She might not be a trained calligrapher, yet her normal handwriting conveys a personal, relatable element. “No matter what I do, if I’m playing with paints, collage, or whatever comes to mind, I like to use my normal handwriting in adding some of my favorite poems onto the canvas, it’s like adding the icing to the cake” Whether she’s in her ‘overdrive’ mode, or not, Al-Rumaihi’s journeys with art serve as a reminder of the beauty of humanity that we can no longer feel or see because of our busy lifestyles. She states, “Thousands of people are getting killed everyday, we watch them in the news every morning and we no longer care because we are too busy or too conditioned. That thought alone will drive me mad, so I run to my studio and find myself painting a colorful figure and use a specific poem to address a hidden meaning because we can no longer sense or empathize with the emotions of others. No matter how hard life might be, or how busy one might get. Never forget your need, our need, for peace and love. I try as much as I could to use my paintings as a reminder of that.” Mind you, Al-Rumaihi doesn’t only ‘mess around’, she cultivated her talent by training with established artists like Abdullah Al Jeran, and earlier participated in
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group exhibitions like FA Gallery’s Without Boundaries exhibition in 2011. However, every artist has their individual style, as she adds, “I don’t sketch! I imagine it in my head and just start outlining the canvas. Most of my artwork is inspired from my surrounding and the society: The social obligations, the political issues, and sometimes I get inspired by my random thoughts.” Despite her artistic desire to constantly remind us to ‘empathize’, Al-Rumaihi first and foremost perceives herself as a wife, mother, daughter and friend. Then, oddly enough, the artist follows suit. “I can’t call myself a full time artist just yet. I wish I could, so maybe someday. Even so, family always comes first and they are very supportive. My mom is very talented too and has very beautiful taste in art and textiles, while my father is so into literature and poetry that he sometimes speaks fusha’a, traditional Arabic, and that fascinates me. If anything, I draw all artistic desire, and motivation from them. And when it comes to my husband, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be working. He knows very well how to snap me out of my comfort zone and work overnight to finish a painting.” Were she to ultimately choose to follow her artistic path on a full time basis, Al-Rumaihi has an army of family and friends, including us, to keep her paintings coming.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? A cup of coffee, along with my favorite playlist while the windows are wide open in my studio surrounded by my canvases and paint and knowing that everyone I care about is all right. What is your greatest fear? The sound and sight of wind/sandstorm, and flying…not that I hate traveling but "Take-off & Landing" terrifies me! What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I'm a bit too gullible and sensitive. For me, it’s not “we always want what we don’t have”, but “we always want what we had”. What is the trait you most deplore in others? Arrogance and talking behind peoples’ backs. Which living person do you most admire? I'm blessed for having my parents, husband, five siblings and one sister in law. I cherish and admire each one of them, but in the art world it's Mr. Safwan Dahoul as he is such a great artist. What is your greatest extravagance? Traveling, luxury hotels and bags. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? Yallah! Really? Beautiful! When were you happiest? In 2006, when I first met my hubby during my last year of college; a lot was happening at that time, the excitement was at its max. Which talent would you most like to have? Producing music, and playing the harmonica. What would you consider your greatest achievement? My first solo show. Where would you most like to live? One of those coastal towns in Italy, but not for so long, just for a few years as I belong here. For more on Muneera Al-Rumaihi, visit her online portfolio at www.ilmanana.com. 27
what's on? PRETTY LITTLE THINGS
As part of its mission to cultivate and support critical discourse around contemporary Arab art, ArteEast is undertaking a Research Residency with Kristine Khouri that will permit us to locate Kuwait at the crux of regional art production and exhibition. As a society where art patrons and collectors have long cultivated the art community, Kuwait holds an important place in the history of Arab art. This residency has been generously funded by The Sultan Gallery with gifts in kind by Sheikha Paula AlSabah, ATELIER AZIZ ALQATAMI and the Alzaid Family.
an outlet for her creativity, eccentricity, and neurosis. Once a year she takes the blog to a gallery. On November 5th (and for one night only) it’s the turn of The Arabana Project to host PGB3. What: PrettyGreenBullet : TheThirdExhibition When: November 5th, 2012, 6:30-9:30 Where: The Arabana Project, Shuwaikh, behind The Al-Ghanim Showroom, 4th Ring Road. GALLERY TILAL
EXHIBITION: The Founding Years (1969-1973) A Selection of Works from the Sultan Gallery Archives. Opening : 6th November, 2012; 7 – 9pm 7th November: 10am – 4pm & 7 – 9pm 7.30 – 8.30pm “From Archives to Collectors: Some Stories from The Sultan Gallery”, talk by Kristine Khouri & moderated by Barrak Alzaid (a Residency in collaboration with ArteEast) 8th – 29th November: 10am – 4pm (Closed on Fridays & Saturdays)
Where: Al Sadu House When: November 3rd - 5th Pretty Little Things is back with its third installment at Al Sadu House November 3rd - 5th. Explore more regional brands and meet Topshop's personal stylist, Hannah. Then, to round out the year, Pretty Little Things will be celebrating its one-year anniversary with an upscale outdoor festival at Salhiya Plaza; December 4th – 6th. With twinkling fairy lights and cozy cups of steaming hot chocolate, it is not to be missed!
Sultan Gallery is located in South Sabhan, Block 8, Street 105, building 168. For more information please call 2471 4325/6 ext.110 or log onto: www.sultangallery.com. PRETTYGREENBULLET 3
Suhail Badoor’s exhibition of works is the first at the Tilal Gallery. He is here to share with us his adventurous escapade, breaking the walls and delving into the frightening world of boundless modernism; he is nevertheless, seems fully confident of his strong arms that eventually navigates him back to the safety of the cognitive and more familiar world of his own originality. The first impression that the visitor gets when looking at Badoor’s paintings, is the striking contrast between his smooth and calm gradation of colors and shades on one side, and on the other, are his sharp and tense lines that are unwavering in showing firmness and roughness of what he sees and feels. His blend of colors appears to be fairly well crafted and reflects the hands of a skilled artist; but his lines tend to reveal the shyness and purity of the originality of his own vision, setting the tone for such impeccable divergence of the richness and fusion of colors. Badoor’s universe then comes alive, floating in the midst of transparent waves that permeate his entire work, once again, revealing a clear yet reticent artist’s personality.
SULTAN GALLERY
ArteEast, in collaboration with The Sultan Gallery hosts a research residency with Beirut-based researcher Kristine Khouri. Ms. Khouri’s research work is grounded in interviews, archives, and a variety of other resources and focuses primarily on modern art history in the Arab world in addition to working with artists who have a research based practice. 28
A Self-Touring Experience Dates: 7th – 22nd November 2012 Artist: Suhail Baddor Exhibition
Perhaps better known in the art world for her more ‘conventional’ works of acrylic on canvas, three years ago artist Ghadah Alkandari opened up a new window to the way she looks at the world. Since that time her blog, PrettyGreenBullet.com, has become
Gallery Tilal is located in Shuwaikh, Jahra Road, Tilal Complex, M3-M4, Gallery Tilal. For more information please call 2225 6101 or log onto www.gallerytilal.com.
BANANA REPUBLIC
what's trending As much as we work our hardest to give you one rocking print issue after the other, we’re socially active (or try our best to be, we are bazaar humans after all) and we love it! Find us online: It makes our day when we see your tweets/mentions/likes/comments/shares about your favorite features and more.
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what: photography, art+more by Waleed Shaalan type: IG account, @wshaalan editor’s note: inspiring architect with an incredible artistic streak
what: @BancharBasha type: Tweep- company editor’s note: Instant tire repair service in Kuwait 24/7
what: @Notsiz type: Tweep- Kuwaiti Sketch artist editor’s note: catchy fashion/celebrity sketches and illustrations!
what: Travel Channel type: Pinterest account editor’s note: travel inspiration and daily surprises
what: Manga-Camera type: iPhone app editor’s note: our bazaar office snapped with Manga-Camera
what: CRYPTIK type: website, art movement, public art editor’s note: challenging people to see different realities
what: Slices type: iPhone app for twitter editor’s note: manage followers in topic ‘slices’, discover new tweople!
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LA MARTINA
truth or dare
FOOD FANCY Ahmad Al Hendi By bazaar staff
Kuwait’s fascination with food never fails to impress. Let’s face it, eating out in Kuwait isn’t simply about feeding a basic hunger, it is an established and practiced culture. We enjoy the food we eat, we like to get to know how to cook the food we eat, we even like to compete over whose meal is better. Enter Ahmad Al Hendi, who couldn’t agree more, as his food fascination borders on an addiction. He is truly, a normal, down to earth, fun-and-foodloving guy. A guy’s guy, if you may. Even his online persona, also used on his personal blog, doesn’t convey more than ‘A7madany’, a common Kuwaiti nickname for all guys named Ahmad. His online space is strictly personal, “My blog is more like my diary, and I choose to write everything in it whenever and however I want. I do post quite randomly, yet mainly focus on the freedom in sharing cross-cultural ideas and debates. But with food, that’s a totally different obsession.” For Al Hendi, his food addictions opened up many doors for him, from working in the field, to wanting to create something fun for the food loving people in K-town. He states, “Food is all around you, it’s simply something that you cannot avoid so I got addicted to it. Food is an art that distinguishes chefs and restaurants from one another. I believe that the food industry in Kuwait has reached an international level where we do compete with the world’s best food companies.” Let us refresh your memory, remember Project X’s entertaining MC? Yup, that’s your A7madani. He doubled as an MC and co-organizer of the entire project, all with a smile on his face. He comments on 32
the whole experience. “I’ve attempted to organize cooking competitions in Kuwait before. However, when it came to Project X, It truly was a first in Kuwait. It excites me still when I remember seeing the different cooks competing and cooking with flair and great talent. Project X also educated people about food and what really goes into cooking. The added touch of competing, the tension and constricting rules to cooking, made it all the more special!” Besides food, Al Hendi enjoys a good banter, whether it is about politics, economics, arts – anything to enlighten and enliven the soul. “Selffulfillment is always the greatest goal, and it is an independent choice that only you can work towards; enlightening and being enlightened by others is what I seek in life.” How would your mother describe you in one word? Darling. How would you describe your mother in one word? Mom. What is the most insane question you’ve ever been asked? Do you love reading? What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? Swimming at the beach in the middle of winter. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? Freedom. Where would you like to live? What is your dream retirement location? There’s no place like home (Kuwait).
What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? Mahatma Ghandi “Be the difference you want to see in the world”. What animal best describes the kind of partner you’d be interested in? A deer. What do you miss about your childhood? Being naughty and a trouble maker. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Abdullatif. How would you describe your handshake in one word? Respectful. What is the toughest part of your character? Doing whatever it takes to achieve my goal(s). Who is your favorite historical figure? Sheikh Abdulla Al Salem Al Sabah. What in the world do you least desire? Living a life without a goal or purpose. What do you think is lacking in the world, which if there was more of, would make the world a better place? A very strong and valuable educational system. Why do you think most girls/guys like you? For being myself and not trying to be somebody I’m not. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is a thing called…” Joy For more on Ahmad Al Hendi, visit: a7madany.wordpress.com.
AUDI (550) S7
ABU DHABI ART 2012 The countdown begins By Deepa Pant
Abu Dhabi Art brings together under one roof internationally renowned and emerging galleries. bazaar takes a look at some of the highlights ahead of the opening.
The mood is upbeat and Abu Dhabi is on a new high. Art lovers the world over are waiting with bated breath for the bigger and better 4th edition of Abu Dhabi Art, a four-day event that opens on November 7 at the Saadiyat Cultural District, also famed for being the future home of Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The 2012 edition includes the world’s top 50 galleries, including 10 new galleries. The event features paintings, sculpture, photography, installation and multi media art works of over 400 artists. The program promises to include a schedule of talks, discussions and book launches featuring renowned artists, curators, art historians and gallerists. “You can see from the caliber of galleries we have again this year that it was a difficult decision to select a small number from the exceptional submissions, to fit with our boutique platform. We think the line-up reflects our goal – to show museum-quality work in an iconic setting,” says Rita Aoun-Abdo, Executive Director. “We are delighted to be hosting the fourth edition of Abu Dhabi Art at the UAE Pavilion and Manarat Al Saadiyat on Saadiyat Island. Having launched the unique venue last year, this space, located in the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District, showcases the dedication and integrity that Abu Dhabi maintains in cultivating 34
the country’s cultural landscape, and welcomes leading and innovative galleries from the art scene again this November,” remarks Nicola Ure, Senior Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Art. Exciting elements such as an integrated and expansive design program and the Abu Dhabi Art Community initiative as well as the return of the dedicated children’s art zone enhance this year’s cultural event. Signature, the section presenting emerging artists in a solo show is back again and Beyond returns to show large sculptures, site specific installations, public art works and performance art. Displaying the most interesting new finds in contemporary art to discerning international collectors and art lovers is Abu Dhabi Art’s initiative entitled Bidaya, which has on display CDA projects from Istanbul. Shen Po Chen, Senior Project Manager, Abu Dhabi Art remarks that Bidaya is one of the most exciting elements of Abu Dhabi Art offering galleries less than three years old, the opportunity to showcase their artists and program on an international stage. “This year, we are delighted to introduce the works of Adel Abidin as well as Turkish artistic contributions to Abu Dhabi, the region and our international audience.” “A rich and diverse program is integral for Abu Dhabi Art to evolve. We are cultivating a platform to stimulate an exchange of ideas between some of the world’s most influential artists,
collectors, gallerists, writers and curators. Our myriad of events includes film-screenings, design and art-based workshops, performances and talks, which are open and accessible to all visitors. We encourage interaction as a key facet for education and have developed the comprehensive public program to satisfy the creative needs of our audience,” emphasises Tairone Bastien, Head of Public Programming, Abu Dhabi Art. Explaining the objectives of Abu Dhabi Art to the Emirati community, Bastien says, “The objective of the Design program is to recognise and re-ignite understanding of the innate aesthetics of the UAE through the study, exploration, experimentation and promotion of the roots of Emirati creativity - a design aesthetic based on transient states, freedom of movement, mobility, and constant change.” Bastien further adds that this program supports and promotes UAE artisans and designers in the context of art and contemporary culture by connecting them with local, regional and international figures and institutions through innovative programming. Make sure to catch the sculptural installation by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata , who is known to work in the midst of demolition and construction. The fascinating sculptural installation entitled, Chairs for Abu Dhabi from exhibitor Kamel Mennour, is constructed from hundreds of chairs
stacked in layers, forming a six metrehigh structure. Also keep an eye out for Saudi artist Nasser Al Salem (Athr gallery), whose pop installation work entitled God is Alive, He shall not Die is an interesting contemporary work comprising of neon light on a reflective mirror, a testimony to his artistic diversity. Some other artists to watch out for include Abdulnasser Gharem, a talented Saudi artist whose wonderful work, The Stamp (Inshallah) is inspired by the rubber stamps used by the officials in Saudi Arabia. Also on view are some remarkable works of Sami Al Turki (Athr Gallery), namely The Postman from the Cartoon Series, 2012 in lambda print. The line up continues with the celebrated contemporary artist and activist from Cameroon, Pascale Marthine-Tayou, known for his eclectic work that is linked to the idea of travel and migration and he will also be speaking at the event. Finally, the audience will be offered a rare opportunity to attend Art Conversations with high profile Indian artists Subodh Gupta and Bharti Kher (Hauser and Wirth Gallery). The artists are known for their significant installations and outstanding sculptural works using every day objects that indicate juxtaposition of art with day to day life. Gupta has been nicknamed the Damien Hirst of India by British newspaper The Guardian. In addition, there are a host of lectures, panels, interviews, book launches, and interactive design along with screenings, live performances and interviews with leading and popular names from the art world. Abu Dhabi Art 2012 takes place from November 7 to November 10 at Saadiyat Cultural District, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and sponsored by BVLGARI. For more information, please visit : www.abudhabiartfair.ae. Images courtesy Abu Dhabi Art.
NINE WEST
EARTHEN VISION Let’s get back to the basics. By bazaar staff
Many might argue that ‘responsible’ or ‘green’ buildings are impractical and costly, yet this year’s winner of the best future leisure led project at the World Architcture Festival—Gunoot Eco Resort, tells us a different story. A visionary team spearheaded by regional developer and owner United Real Estate Company (URC), designers SSH International and the California Institute of Earth Architecture implemented an approach that combines wisdom of the past with the innovation of the future. Not only did they think, advocate, and pursue ‘green architecture’; they went ahead to become internationally recognized for making this notion an award winning reality at this year’s World Architecture Festival. Designing a Nader 36
Khalili-inspired earthen eco resort in Southern Oman, the project won first prize in the Future Projects—Leisure led development category at the WAF. The Gunoot Eco resort would materialize at a remote fishing village with an abundant thirty kilometers of untouched shores against a backdrop of mountains in Shuwaimia, in the south of Oman. Thinking outside of the box and avoiding the typical development that did not take into consideration the environment and local culture, various submitted masterplans were rejected as they resulted in a high density over development ration that would completely overpower the unspoilt beauty the area holds. The undeniable factor of remoteness, alone,
presented both practical and financial difficulties. The team looked towards the Earth for the answer. With this vision for an Eco resort, a triple bottom line would be achieved: Attracting eco tourists seeking the remote and alternative would result in higher revenues. Second of all, working with the local environment, in terms of the magnificant scenery and local materials, would add an inimitable attraction. Finally, the social bottom line successfully engages the local population; fishermen gain an additional skill to be used aside from fishing season, while higlighting the local culture in the architecture of the Eco resort stimulates a unique sense of identity and pride for the local community. When it came to researching the project ahead,
Principal Architect Waleed Shaalan recalled an experience righ after graduating from architecture school on the East Coast of the USA in the late 80’s. A visit to the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI Arch) where the late architect Nader Khalili was teaching , it was there where he saw clay models of his early works on earth architecture, and learnt about his innovation into the Geltaftan Earthand-Fire System known as Ceramic Houses where they were burning adobe structures in earth quake zones to strengthen their structural performance. Not only so, Khalili pioneered a vision of sustainable earth architecture, whereby he developed his Super Adobe system in 1984, in response to a NASA call for designs for human settlements on the Moon and Mars.
Up until the Persian Gulf War, Khalili’s work remained purely theoretical, until a huge influx of displaced refugees in Iran led Khalili to partner with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and applied his research to emergency shelters. A humanitarian and an architect at the same time, Khalili went on to start the California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth) in 1991, where he taught his Superadobe building
technique. URC and SSH especially looked to Khalili’s work in developing the Superadobe construction system, a technique that involves sandbags, and barbed wire technology, to create a large and extended adobe. Although these two elements are commonly used in war, the end tribute is rather a peaceful and lasting one. The team decided to contact Cal-Earth to study the possibility of commercial application. Ms. Renimah continued on next page...
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Al Mattar—EVP at URC, met with Dastan Khalili in California to introduce the concept and get them on board. Upon contacting Cal-Earth for assistance to emulate a Khalili-inspired vision at this remote fishing village in Oman, an onsite 5-day training course was organized, and local tradesmen, along with the local contractor were invited to participate to discover this new, or rather old, technique of earth architecture. After the training session was completed and the team was ready, it was prototype time. Working with local materials was key in making a sturdy prototype that also blends with the local architecture; old fishing nets were mixed with plaster for extra reinforcement, using local stone for flooring purposes, and traveling across the majestic country that is Oman in search of local arts and crafts served the team with abundant choices, given the nation’s proud tradition and dedication to keeping the artisanal culture alive. When it came to powering the resort, solar panels played a major role: Solar panels harnessed electricity, a solar heater was put in place, and a solar-powered air conditioning system was introduced. Using the 38 continued from previous page...
sun’s energy managed to reduce consumption by a staggering 30-40%, and in doing so the team cultivated a growing curiousity towards employing green energy throughout the community with various other clean energy applications. The prototype did indeed materialize in the most pleasant of manners, satisfying the team’s vision, and intriguing those who wondered about the earthen domes coming to life by the Omani shores. Not only so, the prototype at Shuwaimia positively presents a decreased cost, as the total construction cost was reduced by approximately 20-30 percent, and in the near future, the team sees the total cost decreasing even further. In their final masterplan, the team aims to implement a permanent crafts center that would allow for the creation of new job opportunities for women in the local community, as well as providing an onsite training program at the local architecture college that teaches sustainable architectural practices. In the meantime, a monitoring system for the prototype has been put in place, and the data will be made available for reasearch purposes in the future.
The Omani, regional, and international community is absolutely taken with the feat, where local universities wish to implement summer workshops on site. Thus enters a new era for sustainable architecture in the Middle East, as United Real Estate Company and SSH International set a new standard for development with an award winning design and an inspired vision. URC is a subsidiary of KIPCO and a major shareholder in SSH International. The Team: • Developer and Owner: United Real Estate Company • Architects, Engineers and Planners: SSH International • Architect: Waleed Shaalan, SSH International • Super Adobe Consultants: Cal-Earth • Architect: Hooman Fazly, Cal-Earth • Project: Gunoot Eco-Resort • Location: Shuwaimia, Oman • Photography: Waleed Shaalan – SSH International • WAF Entry: 2012 • Award: World Architecture Festival 2012 – Winner.
Tiffany & Co
‘FABLE’ A model for heroes… By Jaye Sonia
Of all the console-based, roleplaying games I’ve played, I think Fable is one of my favorites. For one, it’s one of the first electronic games that really addressed the relationship between our moral choices and their outcome in direct ways. Every decision had a result, even when I couldn’t see them immediately, and those decisions determined who the hero became. It had moments of moral ambiguity, too; it made the player really think about what he wanted his hero to become. If your character drank too much beer, he would get sick. If he ate too much, he’d get fat. If he committed evil acts, his appearance would shift – he’d become dark and demonic in appearance. Alternately, if he committed himself to good and performed good actions, he’d gradually become more noble in appearance. Every action the Hero of Oakvale performed had consequences – sort of like in real life. Of course, while this game was based on fantasy, the underlying theme was 40
the same. If you wanted to be a hero, you had to do heroic things. Let’s say that again while I change the tense ever so slightly. If you want to be a hero, you have to do heroic things. That’s not a bad message if you ask me. A lot of the issues Fable addressed were ones we face on a daily basis. The Hero of Oakvale had opportunities to spread rumors, steal from others, and even be sexist. There were plenty of opportunities for him to take the low road. But he also had a chance to stand up for those weaker than him, help the poor, and save those who couldn’t save themselves. And in most battles, the hero could choose to spare his enemy after he defeated him. Sure, there was still a lot of opportunity to slay the minions of evil (it is a fantasy after all); but just as many opportunities to make noble decisions, as well. Sure, sometimes you had to stand up and fight. Other times, you had to encourage others to simply help themselves. It was a fun game and, like
a lot of games that came after it, allowed players to play through it several times, achieving different outcomes. As far as games go, you could get a lot of mileage out of it. But the message I took home was something subtle and simple. It reminded me that being a hero started at home. That’s not a message we receive very often, either. Sure, the movies sell us plenty of extraordinary folks who have just the right will, just the right talents, and just the right sort of circumstances to save the world from invading aliens led by evil gods. Or maybe they fight old villains who, in their past, they helped to create. But they’re almost invariably the recipient of special powers, technology, or wealth – they have the tools at their disposal to fight the bad guys. Very few of them, sadly, are simply heroes just because. Think about all of the things we’re faced with on a day to day basis. Racism, sexism, intolerance, dishonesty, theft, and even road rage (it’s the 30, after all) – think about all of our chances to be bigger, better people. Think about
your opportunities to be a hero. Being a hero isn’t just about your reaction to these things, either. It’s also about being proactive, and when possible, being the person that isn’t provoking the negative in others. Maybe you slow down on the 30 and don’t do that “Get-out-of-myway-I’m-more-important-than-you” thing with your headlights or maybe you stop to let someone cross the street instead of pushing them to one side. Maybe you say “hi” to the guy or girl who makes your coffee or tea in the morning. Maybe, when you’re maid is done cleaning, you simply say “thank you.” Our mentalities go a long way, too. How we think about things generally determines how we act when faced with problems. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t shift our thinking. Maybe we stop and ask ourselves what our inner hero would do. How do we envision heroes thinking about them? Do we take the noble path or do we take the easy path? Do we stick up for others, even when they’re not around to hear it, or do we go with the flow? What if November, at least for you and I, were, “think like a hero month”? What if we woke each day and said, “You know, today I’m going to just do something good”? And what if, over the course of November, we each changed a few things – even if they’re small things – that made someone’s life better? What if those actions rippled outward, empowered others, and just like the game Fable – we slowly became heroes ourselves. Wouldn’t that be good? So, what’s stopping us? Who says we can’t? Why not turn November into the first of many months where each of us makes those small, heroic changes? Let us – regardless of what others think – turn November into “Think like a Hero” month. Let’s care for an animal, donate some of our time to the poor, give someone a ride, or even just polish up our manners. Let’s treat everyone with respect. Let’s toss marginalization right out of the window! Let’s be heroes!
SWATCH
S.I.K.
Building a theatre community By bazaar staff
They say “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” and nowhere is this more true than in the challenging, but fun, world of community theatre. Last month we sat down with Tim Waddell, Artistic Director of the new SIK (Staged In Kuwait) Productions, to find out more about Kuwait’s newest community theatre group and what drives ordinary people to dedicate their time to staging quality productions in venues around Kuwait. Tim, what is SIK Productions? SIK Productions is a non-profit group comprised of volunteers from a wide mix of nationalities and professions. We aim to stage a full season of TV style game-show nights and quizzes, musicals, plays, pantomimes and kids shows, at venues across Kuwait. Do you have to have a great talent to be involved? One of the strongest appeals of community theatre is that you don’t have to necessarily be a fantastic actor, incredible dancer or phenomenal singer to join. In fact, most of the people with whom you’ll be working will be much like you regardless of their age, gender, race, or home lives – normal people who just want the opportunity to whet their performing appetites and meet new friends. So, it’s a great way to meet a new social circle? Absolutely! Having a common interest means you have an instant connection with the group, and you’ll soon find yourself with a new set of friends and acquaintances. The type of work/play rapport that exists 42
in community theatre creates incredibly strong bonds and will, without doubt, increase your social network. What do volunteers get from participating in community theatre? Becoming a thespian, director, stagehand, costumer, prop master or stage manager in a community theater group has far more intrinsic benefits than you probably ever realized. Of course it’s a huge amount of fun first and foremost. But, theatre is also a fantastic training ground for Teamwork, in just the same way that participating in a sport is. The group has to work together to meet a performance deadline and one wrong move can ruin a production, so everyone playing their part is essential. Members learn how to work as a team and lead teams and sub teams. Lessons that immediately translate into other areas of life. Secondly, being on stage and in front of an audience is an amazing self-esteem boost. Some people gravitate toward the theatre during a low period of their lives. For instance, the recent divorcee who needs a change, and desires to meet people in a non-threatening environment. The awkward teen wants to be a part of a non-judgmental crowd. For those people (and others like them), they find a way to no longer be locked into their everyday existences; for an hour or two, they can be someone else. They can essentially live another life, one for which they may even receive accolades from fellow performers and onlookers. Finally, most people involved in amateur
dramatics find themselves becoming masters at juggling a number of different projects. They appreciate that they cannot let anyone down, so they work hard to manage their work/life balance. In this way theatre keeps their mind sharp as they study to learn lines and manage a busy schedule. It takes effort but is hugely rewarding; and everyone loves to hear the roar of the crowd on performance night. There is no greater buzz. You make it sound like community theatre is life-changing? The more you put into your theatrical experience, the more advantages you’ll receive. Getting involved in amateur dramatics won’t necessarily change your life, but it certainly has the potential to completely alter your perspective on life. What’s next for SIK Productions? We are currently in rehearsal for Mad Musicals, a staged concert of songs from stage and screen musicals to be staged this month, and our annual Christmas pantomime (a fun family show with lots of audience participation), which will be staged at the Performing Arts Centre in The English School, Salmiya in December. Busy times! How can people get involved? If people would like to join the SIK team in any capacity (we welcome all skills as community theatre needs seamstresses and singers, carpenters and choreographers, ASMs and actors!) you can contact us via our website (www.stagedinkuwait.com) or find us on facebook, twitter and instagram (@stagedinkuwait).
DESIGUAL
bazaar goes dining b+f BURGER BOUTIQUE Reopened, revamped, recycled, ridiculously good By bazaar staff
Burger Boutique opened in 2005 and developed a loyal following pretty quickly. It was the first dedicated burger joint in Kuwait and this focus was evident in how good the burgers were. Others of course followed suit and now Kuwait has more burger places than you can shake a stick at. So when Burger Boutique reopened last month, after being closed for a year, we wanted to know whether it still had that special something. From what we found, they still have it, plus a whole lot more. Those expecting the same Burger Boutique will be in for a surprise, but trust us, one they’ll like. The location has changed (directly opposite the old place) the logo has changed, the color theme has changed, the menu has changed, the concept has changed; the only thing that hasn’t changed is the quality of the food. They now have an in-store bakery where they bake all their own burger buns – potato rolls, whole wheat sweet potato rolls – and hot dog buns (they also bake the buns for Slider Station here too). Building on this, they also make their own pickles, jalapenos, sauces, smoke and flavour their own bacon, have cheese made to their very own specifications and even make their own sausages! They pretty much make everything they can themselves. The beef is grass-fed, certified organic and the fries are cooked in healthy canola oil, the ketchup is even organic. There are no 44
preservatives, no nitrates, no GM foods; as the menu attests ‘it’s natural’. It doesn’t stop there; the menus are printed on recycled cardboard boxes, the napkins, cutlery, and wrappers for the burgers are all made from recycled material too. When the menus become damaged they then get recycled to make bill holders to present the cheque to the customer in. Burger Boutique screams organic, natural, quality. Another thing they also provide is transparency. A large window provides a view of the bakery where you can see all the buns being baked, which is pretty much a twenty-four hour operation. The grill area is also open and there for all to see. They want you to know the quality of the ingredients and how the fresh it all is. They offer eight signature burgers and eight sliders on the menu. We loved the Bacon Swiss and the Green Chilli burgers. From the sliders we had Room 22 and went crazy for the Under The Sea, which is a fried fish filet, with citrus tartar sauce, served on a red bun. But for the creative amongst you out there, they also offer a chance to build your own burger; first choose organic grass-fed beef or chicken; then decide if you want a potato roll, whole wheat sweet potato roll, or a lettuce wrap; then choose from cheeses like Tillamook Cheddar, Black Truffle White Cheddar or good old American; then sauces including Green Chilli Aioli, Smoky BBQ Ranch, or Portobello Cream; free toppings include House Pickled Chili or
Cucumber and House Sweet Relish; finally there are premium toppings such as Hickory Smoked, Apple Wood Smoked, or Maple Chipotle Candied Bacon, Caramelized Onion or Fried Organic Egg. This allows the choosy eater to order exactly what they want and the creative eater to truly indulge and experiment. You could have a different burger every time no matter how many times you visited Burger Boutique. To go with the burgers you can choose from a variety of fries such as Herb, Cajun, or Dynamite, which come topped with house made chili, cheddar, bacon, roasted onion, and jalapeno & chipotle ranch, that are every bit as good as they sound. There are also Sweet Potato Fries and Pommes Noisettes, which are little balls of mashed potato that are then fried. To go along with the fries they also have some ‘accessories’ – Maple Sticky Buffalo Shrimps (Just like OFK), Onion Rings and Mushroom Poppers are both breaded in Panko which give them a crunch and lightness like no other breadcrumb can, then there are the Jalapeno Bottle Caps, which are slices of jalapeno, breaded and fried and served with honey mustard. Warning, these are addictive! The Hot Dogs are delicious, which is understandable as they make the sausages in-house. We went for the New Yorker, which comes with organic ketchup, mustard, mayo, house sweet relish, fresh jalapeno, and sauerkraut.
For those watching the waistline, Burger Boutique offers the option to Zap It. What this means is that you can choose lean grass-fed beef, fat free cheese, and low fat sauces and dressings for your burger. You can even zap your fries, which means they will be air-fried using 60% less oil. This cuts the calories but tastes just as good. We struggled to tell the difference. After you’ve finished and settled the bill, you’ll probably (if you’re like us) be thinking of dessert. There are none on the menu but worry not, you’ll be encouraged to stop by the Skinny Cloud counter on your way out. This is a brand new concept being offered by Burger Boutique. Skinny Cloud is an icecream like treat that is billed as being ‘half the guilt, twice the fun.’ First choose a flavour of Skinny Cloud,
then choose fillings. They will then be loaded into a machine that looks a little like a drill that will swirl your Skinny Cloud and your filling together – you’re essentially creating your own ice cream! You can then choose toppings. At the recommendation of Burger Boutique’s infamous Vilas, we went with Peanut Butter Skinny Cloud and swirled in Maple Chipotle Candied Bacon. Amazing! French Vanilla, swirled with frozen Dally’s Chocolate Pudding (from the Slider Station dessert menu) with white chocolate topping was also delicious, and devoured. Behind the Skinny Cloud counter you may recognise the old Burger Boutique door, which has been reconstituted and now adorns the wall in a very stylish manner. This nod to the past that is present in
the newly opened Burger Boutique is fitting. It’s all changed here but they know why they were loved in the first place, and that certain something is definitely still there, only more so. For those who haven’t tried Burger Boutique before, you should; for those who loved the old Burger Boutique, accept change, and you will love the new Burger Boutique even more. We don’t see how anyone couldn’t.
b + f Burger Boutique is located on Mezzanine II, Arraya Mall, Sharq. For more information visit www. burgerboutique.com or call 22299775. Follow them on twitter @BurgerBoutique_. 45
SCOOP A
A CONE
big boys toys Because grown men still need to play
NIKE LEBRON X
HOTTUG
EPIC FREQUENCY PRINTS
This year saw LeBron win his first NBA championship, so it only makes sense that his followup sneaker boasts a number of firsts as well. The Nike Lebron X ($270) is the company's first signature shoe to offer Nike+ Basketball support, which lets you track in-game activity via your iPhone, and is the first Nike shoe ever with a full-length visible Nike Zoom unit. Modeled after a diamond, the shoe also offers Hyperfuse construction for a one-piece upper, Flywire technology for a secure fit, and a lightweight feel. Available in three colorways.
Hot tubs/jacuzzis are common on upper-class seafaring vessels, but what if your vessel was literally a hot tub? In that case, you'd be sailing along in a HotTug (â‚Ź11,450; roughly $14,800 and up). This ingenious little boat is made from wood and fitted with glass fiber reinforced polyester, uses a stainless steel stove with a single wall pipe to keep the water as warm as you like, and is powered by either an electric or standard outboard motor. Used to having company in the water? Not to worry, as this boat can hold six to eight people.
How do you put words on display without any text? Pick up one of these Epic Frequency Prints ($300). Each of these 48" x 18" gallery wrapped prints sport the waveform of a momentous bit of speech from recent history — Neil Armstrong's "One Small Step", JFK telling us to "Ask Not", FDR reminding us that there's nothing to fear but "Fear Itself", and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech among them. Lest your guests simply stare and wonder what they're looking at, each one includes a QR code that brings up a digital version of the print embedded with the audio represented on the wall.
www.store.nike.com
www.hottug.nl
https://epicfrequency.com
LEICA M CAMERA
TAG HEUER CARRERA 1887 SPACEX WATCH
EVERNOTE MOLESKINE SMART NOTEBOOK
It's full frame fever season, and it looks like Leica is the latest company to catch the bug. The new Leica M Camera ($7,000) boasts an all-new, 35mm format 24 megapixel CMOS sensor, the blazing fast Maestro image processor, Live View and Live View Focusing on the 3-inch, Gorilla Glass-covered display, 1080p video recording, a splash-proof magnesium alloy body, and compatibility with both M- and R-mount lenses. Arriving early next year.
Built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of a Heuer watch's first trip into space - aboard the wrist of John Glenn - the TAG Heuer Carrera 1887 SpaceX Watch ($5,800) pays tribute while looking to the future. A white dial with custom anthracite hands and hour markings, a polished stainless steel case, a brown perforated leather strap, and a smoked-sapphire case back with the SpaceX logo and an illustration of the company's Falcon rocket and Dragon spacecraft.
Ever wish there was a way to digitize everything you've poured into your trusted notebook? Now there is. The Evernote Moleskine Smart Notebook ($25-$30) has been specially designed to let you quickly and easily snap a photo of each page using the Evernote app, making all your words and notes instantly searchable and sortable. Included Smart Stickers let you automatically tag pages and passages, and Skitch arrows to draw attention to important things on the page.
http://us.leica-camera.com
www.tagheuer.cn
www.evernote.com
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CROCS
(WOMAN/BOOTS)
TOPSHOP Catering to shopaholics and shopophobes, alike By Hala Sharara
I’m not a shopper. I don’t like going to the mall and wandering around. I tend to get confused with all the options, styles and trends and usually end up going to the same stores and buying the same things purely out of habit. Needless to say, my closet is pretty much an array of the same style of clothes varying only in age and size. As a mother of two kids who contends with afterschool activities, homework and just making sure that they stay alive, I barely have time to even think of going shopping. So when the people at bazaar called and offered that I try out the new Personal Shopper service at TOPSHOP’s new Marina Mall store, I figured “Why not?” Upon entering the store, I was greeted by the very beautiful and very stylish Hannah Delaimi. My own Personal Shopper! Imagine the excitement of being led through the store into a very chic and private inner room where you are served coffee and cupcakes while an array of clothes are laid out for you, all in your size, in whatever style you request, just waiting for you to try them on. Imagine all the fuss and muss and hassle of shopping being completely eliminated with just one phone call. Whether you choose a quick “In and Out” session that lasts half an hour, or a “Miracle Worker” session that takes an hour and a half, you’re sure to have an incredible experience. With the latest pre-selection of items, updates on product arrivals, access to exclusive collections or designer collaborations, the TOPSHOP Personal Shopper experience is definitely not something to be missed. “Our clientele are busy women” said Hannah “They’re either mothers or career women, or both. They’re women who have the money, but just not the time to shop.” Whether you know exactly what you want, or if you want a complete wardrobe overhaul, your personal shopper is that extra pair of eyes you always need when 50
trying on outfits. She’s there to make sure that all the items selected compliment your body, that they can be mixed and matched easily, and she provides you with tips on not only clothing, but also accessories, shoes and a little extra help with hair and makeup ideas. Just for the sake of argument, let’s say that there are two kinds of women: those who love to shop, and those who hate it. For the woman that loves shopping, an excursion to the mall is an outing in and of itself. She meanders with lazy purposefulness throughout every store, plucking out perfectly matched pieces, trying on, swapping, exchanging sizes, seeing what's on sale, what's new this season and putting things aside and making mental notes for later purchases. She stops for a coffee somewhere if she stops at all, and then continues on with her leisurely hunt. Her counterpart finds going to the mall a tiresome experience. She has neither the time nor the patience. She only goes when in dire need of a particular item, and when she does, she walks purposefully; as if with blinders on, entering one specific store, picking her size, not bothering to try it on, pays for it and runs out. She simply has no time. The beauty of the TOPSHOP Personal Shopper service is that it caters to both these women, as well as everyone in between. With just one phone call get ready for some personalized retail therapy, tailor made just for you. All you need to do is build up your stamina to try on an array of pieces selected just for you from the Factory Girl, Sensationalist or Pennsylvania Military lines available this fall. For your own TOPSHOP Personal Shopper experience, call 1821212, Ext. 5. or visit their Facebook page on: facebook.com/topshopme. Check them out at PLT starting November 3rd.
Y. BAHBAHANI (MECCANICHE VELOCI)
DENT XPRESS Paintless Dent Removal By bazaar staff
A dent, a bang, a ding, a collision; all part of the inevitable when you’re driving in Kuwait. Whether you’re driving, stationary at the lights, or your car is parked, it can happen at any time and when it does, that little dent can cause a major headache. Dent Xpress offer a service known as paintless dent removal. This is a collection of techniques, originally developed to repair hail damage that can leave a car looking like a golf ball, for removing dents and dings, and can be seen as more of an art form than a skillset. There are no machines or equipment involved in the process. Instead, a highly skilled individual working with a specific set of tools will work hands on with the damaged area to bring it as close back to the original look as possible. The skills required to perform paintless dent removal can take many years to perfect. So it’s reassuring to know that Dent Xpress has been offering this service since 2005, when they were the first to provide paintless dent removal in Kuwait and the Middle East. For the uninformed (like me), the alternative to this is a less delicate process done at a body shop that ends up being painted over. This can pose a few problems; a painted car decreases in value, so if you 52
plan on selling it this will severely affect your asking price. Paint also adds weigh to a car that can affect performance and is more than undesirable. Paintless dent removal is also a considerably faster option than alternative options, so car owners favor it. If it is a small job it can be carried out in between five minutes and one-and-a-half hours. Body shop and paint jobs can take upwards of three days. If you have a ding in your car you can drop by Dent Xpress in Shuwaikh, they’ll take a look at it and let you know, first if they can actually repair it (some dents can be too far gone for PDR), then they will let you know to what degree they can repair it. Their expertise is so high and their service so sought after,
they even have people driving in from Saudi Arabia to have their cars repaired! All you have to do is take a look at the before and after photos on their website to see the quality of the craftsmanship on offer at Dent Xpress. So if you really care about your car, and want an efficient, speedy, hands-on service, Dent Xpress will treat your car as if it was their own. When you get the car back, nobody will be able to tell there was a dent there in the first place. Dent Xpress is located at Shop No: 33, Nasser Center in Shuwaikh Industrial Area. For more information visit www.dentxpress.com or call 24837666. Follow them on twitter @dentxpress.
GRAND CINEMA
THE ALCHEMY OF WISDOM Diving for Kuwaiti Pearls By bazaar staff
Cristian Barnett
Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah
The Alchemy of Wisdom is a book like no other in Kuwait. It is an art book, as beautiful as you’ll find on any coffee table, it is an exploration of Kuwait through the question ‘What is the secret of Kuwait?’ The answer being its people, it then follows that a celebration of Kuwait’s most inspiring individuals would be the best way to fully explore Kuwait’s secret. This was the drive behind this impassioned project for Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah, Founder and CEO of Lulua Publishing. She was looking for a specific kind of inspiration though. “I was looking for men and women who make us proud to be Kuwaitis, in part because they are Kuwaitis.” In total she found forty-eight of them and she would capture their spirit in words and pictures. 54
Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah, along with Lulua Publishing Group Editor, Zeina Bitar, worked on collecting pearls of wisdom from these inspiring Kuwaitis – a not unenviable task. They met with them and culled inspirational words that would then serve as inspiration for portraits. The Alchemy of Wisdom is first and foremost a photography book. Celebrated British photographer Cristian Barnett was charged with the task of capturing the philosophy of these individuals and their words through his lens. “I always saw ‘The Alchemy of Wisdom’ as a photography book, driven by images that best illustrated the pearls of wisdom gathered from our Kuwaitis. I wanted the book to be an artistic masterpiece like no other in the Arab world, because these individuals deserve a book that is as inspirational as
they are,” says Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah. No two images are alike and each photo is a unique representation of the person whose wisdom it is distilling and each location was different. The book itself is stunning; deep black, the title embossed in gold lettering of English and Arabic, the cover hints at the wisdom lying in wait on the enclosed pages. The pearls of wisdom are transcribed in English and Arabic and are accompanied by stunningly reproduced portraits of Kuwait’s most inspiring individuals. Within the pages of the book you can make your own exploration of the question, ‘what is the secret of Kuwait?’ You will find the answer in the many inspiring and wonderful Kuwaiti pearls, dived for by Sheikha Intisar Al-Sabah and
Zeina Bitar
Zeina Bitar and captured on camera by Cristian Barnett. It truly is a wonderful, inspirational book. For more information on The Alchemy of Wisdom, visit: w w w. t h e a l c h e m y o f w i s d o m . c o m . The book can purchased at Dar Nur, Dar al Athar, Sadu House, FA Gallery, Gallery Tilal, and Contemporary Art Platform (CAP) or alternatively, please contact Lulua Publishing on 9405 8795 or info@thealchemyofwisdom.com.
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I BOUGHT 27,000 TWITTER FOLLOWERS By Seth Stevenson
I'm a selfish Twitter user. I love scrolling through, letting it alert me to vital news, opinion and baby mammal GIFs. But, like some 40 percent of all people on Twitter, I prefer consuming tweets to contributing them. Cultivating a horde of Twitter followers would be a great move for me professionally. It would extend my influence as a journalist and bolster my - yes, ick - personal brand. I've long envied the hefty follower counts of Slate colleagues like Farhad Manjoo (25,000), Dave Weigel (77,000), and John Dickerson (a teeming mob of 1.38 million). How to augment my small, proud band of 1,100 tweeps? I could have won new acolytes by offering links to timely content. By engaging in sharp intellectual battles. By crafting 140-character bon mots. But, much as I wish I could get jazzed about doing all that stuff, I don't find it spiritually rewarding. To the freelance writer in me, this feels more like unpaid work. So instead, I bought 27,000 followers from some sketchy Internet sites. Total cost: $202. I'm not trying to fool anyone. I've laid bare my trickery here for the world to see. I just wondered what all the fuss was about. In July, when the Romney campaign denied accusations that it had bought followers, it was the first time I even realized that buying followers was possible, let alone a thing anybody would wish to do. By August, the New York Times was revealing that in fact everybody does it, including "celebrities, politicians, start-ups, aspiring rock stars, reality show hopefuls - anyone who might benefit from having a larger social media footprint." To figure out where my newly purchased followers were coming from, I called up Al Delgado, sole proprietor of the Brooklyn-based FanMeNow.com. Delgado explained that there are two different types of Twitter followers you can buy. "Targeted followers" are actual people who seem likely to be interested in the topics you tweet about. Marketing companies 56
charge hefty fees to identify these compatible tweeps and then persuade them to follow you (by tweeting at them and through other means). Makes sense. But that's not what I bought. Instead, I acquired fake "created accounts" - mass-produced zombies that do nothing but pad the numbers of your follower count. Delgado told me he buys these fake accounts in bulk from suppliers in India. Techies on the subcontinent cook up all these nonexistent personas, making sure the accounts look just real enough to pass as nonrobots. In a typical day, Delgado says he files 30-35 orders, most requesting between 1,000 and 5,000 zombie followers. "Sometimes someone will buy a million," he says, "which costs $1,300. Some of these are people you've heard of. I mostly sell to musicians but also lots of models, and comedians." To be clear, the zombie tweeps just sit there, inert. I tweeted at several of them to see if I could stir them awake and was met with total silence. Buying these fake followers doesn't get you more retweets, more responses to your witticisms, or more traffic for the articles you link to. It just gets you a bigger number next to your name. So why do people do this? I assume it's in part to create an illusion of success that people hope will be self-perpetuating. It's like showing up to a date in a rented Mercedes drop-top when in real life you drive a dinged-up station wagon. To the casual observer, your numerous fake Twitter followers suggest you're a social media powerhouse - a person of influence not be ignored. It also seems like fake followers might beget more real followers. I noticed that after I'd bought my zombie followers, the rate at which new, nonzombie people followed me seemed to rapidly accelerate. I had a hunch that, because I seemed more popular, I was showing up more in the box to the left of your feed where Twitter suggests people for you to follow. When I asked a Twitter spokeswoman if this was the case, she told me, "The answer to this is still, 'It's
complicated.' The number of followers by itself is not an automatic signal for boosting an account to be suggested. It's a factor, but along with a number of others." Still, it's a factor. And, as best I can tell, Twitter is not fantastic at sniffing out whether a huge percentage of your followers are fake - they seem more likely to assume that all those inert accounts are real but "inactive." Your Klout score might also get a small boost due to your larger number of followers, though Klout says your score is based much more on ability to get replies and retweets than your sheer follower counts. There are also downsides to buying fake followers. For instance, you might be embarrassingly busted. Still, unless people harbor some sort of resentment or suspicion about you, it's pretty unlikely they'll bother to investigate. They'll just assume you're a Twitter star. And here's where it gets uncomfortable for me. Confession: In the month or so since I bought all those followers, up until outing myself in this story, I've sometimes felt a small ego jolt at the thought of people noticing that impressive number next to my name. Which is creepy and absurd. Unlike my talented Twitter colleagues, I did absolutely nothing to deserve this feeling of pride and accomplishment. I very much did not build that. My giant, gormless lump of fake followers will never go away. To ditch them, I'd need to sort through my 29,000 one by one, taking care not to jettison any flesh-and-blood tweeps. Not gonna happen. So the zombies will trail me around until the end of days, sort of like (to paraphrase Eddie Murphy) herpes, or luggage. They'll sit there silently, serving as a constant reminder that I've taken a lazy shortcut. I'll feel guilty about this from time to time. But I'll also enjoy some of the benefits of Twitterati status - without making myself into a links clearinghouse, straining to be clever, or living my life in public. I guess Mitt Romney (and his 1.2 million followers) would call me a taker, not a maker.
BHS
bazaar books Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures. ~ Jessamyn West
AMERICA AGAIN: RE-BECOMING THE GREATNESS WE NEVER WEREN'T
I COULD PEE ON THIS: AND OTHER POEMS BY CATS
THIS BOOK IS FULL OF SPIDERS: SERIOUSLY, DUDE, DON'T TOUCH IT
MY MOTHER WAS NUTS
ALL THE SHAH'S MEN: AN AMERICAN COUP AND THE ROOTS OF MIDDLE EAST TERROR
by Stephen Colbert
by Francesco Marciuliano
by David Wong
by Penny Marshall
by Stephen Kinzer
Elections aren’t really a laughing matter--not usually. But America Again seeks to change that. Following up on 2007’s best-selling I Am America (And So Can You!), the writing team behind The Colbert Report delivers an election-time parody that employs the cocksure, egotistical voice of “Stephen Colbert” to inform readers about how the United States is “Americeptional” in a wide range of subjects: like healthcare, Wall Street, energy, and, of course, elections. Depending on your political bent, you'll rank this book anywhere from amusing to downright hilarious. There are jokes galore. And it even comes with 3-D glasses.
Cat lovers will laugh out loud at the quirkiness of their feline friends with these insightful and curious poems from the singular minds of housecats. In this hilarious book of tongue-in-cheek poetry, the author of the internationally syndicated comic strip Sally Forth helps cats unlock their creative potential and explain their odd behavior to ignorant humans. With titles like "Who Is That on Your Lap?," "This Is My Chair," "Kneel Before Me," "Nudge," and "Some of My Best Friends Are Dogs," the poems collected in I Could Pee on This perfectly capture the inner workings of the cat psyche. This whimsical volume reveals kitties at their wackiest, and most exasperating (but always lovable).
Soon to be a movie starring Paul Giamatti. As the sequel opens, we find our heroes, David and John, again embroiled in a series of horrifying yet mindbogglingly ridiculous events caused primarily by their own gross incompetence. The guys find that books and movies about zombies may have triggered a zombie apocalypse, despite a complete lack of zombies in the world. As they race against the clock to protect humanity from its own paranoia, they must ask themselves, who are the real monsters? Actually, that would be the shape-shifting horrors secretly taking over the world behind the scenes that, in the end, make John and Dave kind of wish it had been zombies after all.
My Mother Was Nuts is an intimate backstage pass to Penny’s personal life, her breakout role on The Odd Couple, her exploits with Cindy Williams and John Belushi, and her travels across Europe with Art Garfunkel on the back of a motorcycle. We see Penny get married. And divorced. And married again (the second time to Rob Reiner). We meet a young Carrie Fisher, whose close friendship with Penny has spanned decades. And we see Penny at work with Tom Hanks, Mark Wahlberg, Whoopi Goldberg, Robert De Niro, and Whitney Houston.T hroughout it all, from her childhood spent tap dancing in the Bronx, to her rise as the star of Laverne & Shirley, Penny lived by simple rules: “try hard, help your friends, don’t get too crazy, and have fun.”
With a thrilling narrative that sheds much light on recent events, this national bestseller brings to life the 1953 CIA coup in Iran that ousted the country’s elected prime minister, ushered in a quarter-century of brutal rule under the Shah, and stimulated the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and anti-Americanism in the Middle East. Selected as one of the best books of the year by the Washington Post and The Economist, it now features a new preface by the author on the folly of attacking Iran.
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source: www.amazon.com
TOMMY HILFIGER
WEST
T ELM
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Dani and Eytan Kollin, Siblings and Co-authors of the Award-Winning Saga The Unincorporated Man, Discuss Their Series. By Nada Faris
“A brilliant industrialist named Justin Cord awakes from a 300-year cryonic suspension into a world that has accepted an extreme form of market capitalism. It's a world in which humans themselves have become incorporated and most people no longer own a majority of themselves. Justin Cord is now the last free man in the human race - owned by no one and owning no one.” – www.theunincorporatedman.com. The Kollin brothers sought to explore the ramifications of unincorporation in a world where death and war were eliminated and humans lived in peace and prosperity. Things go awry, however, when Justin reintroduces war and the ancient concept of “freedom” that disappeared from capitalism’s vernacular. Subsequent installments examine the resurgence of ancient religions as well as the codification of gender in light of their most effective features. The siblings were kind enough to discuss their series with bazaar magazine. Q: Justin Cord's reanimation in the first book unhinges 300 years of incorporated progress. This event allows the discussion of freedom versus incorporation to commence in the novels. Today, we’ve had similar disturbances, namely in the forms of religious fundamentalism, coup-d’états and regime changes, or the Occupy movements that appeared all 62
over the world. Should freedom take precedence over security and justice? A: It’s interesting that you put freedom on one side of the equation and justice on the other. Without freedom there is no real justice — only influence with the powerful. The Middle East has a vast history of seeking justice, but accepting influence. Many of history’s most respected Imam's operated under the wing of some sultanate, caliphate or government. They obviously made that choice between justice and freedom, but what makes the concept of Justin Cord so powerful and dangerous is his fundamental understanding that the means are the ends; that without freedom there is no sustainable, worthy justice. Q: Was killing off a main character in the middle of the series a purely artistic decision to further the plot or was it a philosophical statement on the lack of individualism under incorporation? A: It was simply the story moving forward. The thing that made Justin so unique and dangerous was his moral adamancy. He was the veritable modernday equivalent of Patrick Henry. And there comes a time when every society needs such a figure to rally around. But societies change and adapt and in the end Justin could not. So in a real sense he was dead no matter what. The larger message here is that the
virtue of freedom and the clarity of its import (as represented by Justin) must often be separated from the actions needed to achieve it (as represented by Sandra, who in many respects is just as nasty and tenacious as Justin’s nemesis, Hektor). In short, Justin’s death was an important milestone in our attempt to answer the question: freedom at what price? Q: The Unincorporated series takes a dramatic shift in the middle, ascribing a more central role for female characters. We know that capitalism does not care about gender, only profit. So what does unincorporation have in store for gender, especially in the light of reviving religious beliefs? A: Women coming to the fore in the Unincorporated universe was more a matter of evolution. Traditional war plays to men’s strengths of brute force and cold calculation. But women have always proven better at organizing larger groups. When the men went out to hunt it was the women who kept everything running; kept everyone organized, sheltered and fed. And once humans started using tools and hunting in groups, brute strength was no longer the be all and end all. Suddenly, how the tools were used was of far greater import than the strength with which they could be wielded. Women have also been better at organizing the tool users. This became more apparent as The Unincorporated War continued and the demands of each side necessarily brought the best to the fore. Interestingly, the women of the Outer Alliance rose to the fore much more quickly than those in Hektor’s United Human Federation. If I could rephrase the second part of your question it would be: Now that religion’s back and the gender-blindness of incorporation gone, will women once again be subjugated? The answer is, of course, no. We posit that the de-evolution of capitalism to its purest state (incorporation) is actually a good thing that ends up bedeviled by bad decisions and even worse overlords. But remember, 300 years of genderblind equality is a societal inculcation that can’t easily be erased, especially in the Outer Alliance where an individual’s true mettle is tested and rewarded every day with Darwinian efficiency. Further, religion’s re-introduction is a direct result of incorporation’s inability to answer life’s fundamental questions with regards to permanent death, moral clarity and spiritual dimension. In short, we tested the “the world would be so much better off without religion” trope and found it lacking. The problem is that when man becomes God, which in our story the medical and technological ascension of the singularity allowed, he becomes ethically unmoored. So much so that he’s able to justify his own enslavement as a necessary good without realizing the inherent danger of his position. We don’t purport to suggest that religion
is the savior of man (only man can be the savior of man) just that man, left to his own devices, seldom acts in others’ self interest. This is also not to say that religion doesn’t have its fair share of monsters and misanthropes, it does; only that for the newly freed people of the Outer Alliance only religion was able to offer the types of answers to the questions they were asking. I’m reminded of a revered spiritualist’s quote, “… the goal is not to have but to be, not to own but to give, not to control but to share, not to subdue but to be in accord. Life goes wrong when the control of space, the acquisition of things of space, becomes our sole concern.” This is clearly a mindset not only incompatible with incorporation but wholly necessary to achieve true freedom. It also begs the question: are faith and freedom inextricably linked?
If religion, as J.D. Black so eloquently explains in The Unincorporated Woman, is to ever return to the Outer Alliance, it can only be on her terms (pluralism and toleration). And if there are women in the Outer Alliance who would choose to adhere to what some might see as anachronistic rituals of the past then let them find their own asteroid and live happily ever after (as in our novels’ communities of faith). Again it goes to the question: freedom at what price? In this case, the answer is the freedom to choose — even if others are of the opinion that the choice is a poor one. Q: In contrast to real life, the books presented these communities of belief as moderate, tolerant, and united individuals. What was the thematic role behind these changes, knowing that certain religious preachers who combat capitalism today advocate
terror and violence, as opposed to preachers who found a way to reconcile their religious principles with the alterations of modern societies? A: By the time of our story’s religious revival the various religions had spent centuries in exile, both culturally and geographically. They were tiny communities numbering in the hundreds of thousands surrounded by the seeming contentment of secular billions. Some religions historically become more violent and isolated when driven to near extinction while others become far more moderate and accepting. We chose to have the old faiths choose the second path. They had, in effect, finally learned the lessons that we believe God wanted them to learn – namely that how you believe is not nearly as important as what you believe. Q: Some critics called your characters plot devices geared towards the extrapolation of your views on incorporation. My favorite character is Hektor Sambianco. I think he’s raw, opinionated, and ruthless. I would like to know how you came up with this sexy villain. And in general, how would you respond to these critics? A: All stories are told by humans for humans. Of course our characters are plot devices! Every human being is a plot device in someone's life (just think about your parents, siblings and friends). And if the critics can discern our views of incorporation we’d certainly like them to tell us, because so far we haven’t' figured out how we feel about it yet. As for Hektor, he started out as a one-scene character and was only meant to appear as the corporate stooge. But he kept on coming back. Some characters do that. They just refuse to go away. He evolved into the perfect defender of incorporation because in his heart he truly believes in it. Q: Is The Unincorporated Future the fourth and final installment of the saga? A: We’re certainly open to the possibility of doing more but The Unincorporated Future ties up this story arc in a nice, neat little bow. There’s a reason for that. 1) It’s what our publisher requested and 2) we desperately would like to write in another universe, a few of which are already on the table. Dani and Eytan Kollin won a Prometheus award for their debut novel The Unincorporated Man, which also landed a place on Sci Fi Essential Books among the best new science-fictions. They followed it with three more installments: The Unincorporated War, The Unincorporated Woman, and their recently released The Unincorporated Future. You may also want to check out their latest short story, Day By Day, which revolves around a Mayan prophecy and which begins on the last day of the Earth’s existence. Stay up to date with news and blog entries by visiting their website: www.theunincorporatedman.com. Nada Faris is an award-winning poet who writes articles and short fiction in local magazines and newspapers. Her articles and short fiction appeared in Kuwait Times Newspaper, bazaar magazine, UniQue Magazine, Norton's Anthology for Hint Fiction, En V Earth Magazine, City Pages, and Khaleejesque. Visit her website: www.nadafaris.com. 63
WiMD The internet just got faster By bazaar staff
Internet in Kuwait. We know how you feel about it. Copper lines, clogged hubs, days to download a movie, streaming can be next to impossible. Well there’s a new player in town offering something different, they guarantee speeds, so if they say 6mbps, that’s what you’ll get. WiMD is a young and aspiring privately owned company offering high speed wireless internet and data solutions to residential and corporate customers in Kuwait. Their services have been available for corporate clients for a couple of years and now they want to offer those services to the residential market. They see a future for Kuwait where broadband is as commonly accessible as electricity and running water. WiMD differs from other ISPs because their wireless broadband doesn’t require a landline to work. The connection from WiMD is wireless so even if you do have a landline, which can be a major problem depending on which area of Kuwait you live in, you don’t need to worry about how much speed that line can handle. 64
How does this work? When you sign up for the service, WiMD will send a representative to your home to test the bandwidth speed you can receive at your location. They will then sell you the package that relates to the speed you can achieve. This is part of the transparency that they are striving for as a company. They won’t sell you an internet package promising something that it can’t deliver. When the speed is determined, an antenna is installed on your roof and connected to a router via an Ethernet cable inside your home. You’re then set up to receive wireless broadband internet. They offer speeds starting at 6Mbps going up in 1Mbps increments all the way to 15Mbps. Because this is a wireless connection each user has a dedicated bandwidth so you don’t have to worry about how many other people in your neighborhood are online. Whichever speed you choose, WiMD guarantees you a pipe the width of your subscription. In other words, you will get your dedicated bandwidth at all times. Simply put, you get what you pay for. That means you will see exceptional upload/download ratios and
you can expect speeds higher than you thought were possible. The best part about the wireless broadband from WiMD? Unlimited usage! Some ISPs promise this but then tucked away in the fine print they have a provision to cap your usage. WiMD approach this differently. They are proud of their connections and actively encourage their customers to utilize them to their fullest potential. They have no limitations and no hidden usage policies. They also offer a 24 hour call center and are active on social media, twitter in particular, to keep customers up-to-date with anything they need to know. WiMD currently provide coverage for the entire state of Kuwait, so if you’re looking for a fresh approach to internet, WiMD’s wireless broadband might be the solution you’ve been wishing for. For more information on WiMD visit www.wimd. com.kw or call 2249 2792. Follow them on twitter @WiMD_CO.
VINTAGE 55
Goji's Pick CLOUD DANNIJO By bazaar staff
A hot delivery has left the ladies at team bazaar on cloud 9, or should we say cloud Dannijo? We’re seriously trying to control ourselves from putting every single piece from this hot designer duo on reserve before anyone else sees them! Well, once you guys get a look at the most amazing designs from these seriously talented New York-based siblings, you won’t blame us for trying! What makes Danielle and Jodie (hence, Dannijo) Snyder so special is that although they are not the first sister duo to spend their days playing dress up, they are among the few who actually managed to turn this pastime into a successful career. At such 66
a young age, Jodie, the elder of the siblings began making handmade beaded designs she sold to local boutiques and her sister Danielle, (always wanting to impress Jodie so she could hang out with the older kids), taught herself wirework on their father’s medical tools! The girls opened their first store while they were still in high school, selling handmade goods and the likes in their hometown of Jacksonville. In 2008 they began their foray into Dannijo handmade jewelry design focusing on their signature mix of metals punctuated with colorful fabrics, crystals and pearls. Mind you, that the girls were able to achieve this level of success while just out of college.
Considering that the girls count Natalie Portman, Blake Lively, Sophia Bush, Beyonce, and Milla Jovovich as fans, it’s no wonder Goji boutique can’t keep their beautiful designs in stock for long! Their jewelry is not just awesome, but their relationships with hot fashionista’s such as Leandra Medine’s uber cool Manrepeller make their pieces iconic and understated all at once. The Dannijo fan is the quintessential Goji girl, looking for something unique, special and well let’s be honest…just plain COOL! Dannijo and other unique designers are available at gojiboutique.com.
BURGAN BANK
INNOVATION
Why it’s about more than bright ideas By Debra Kaye and Jure Klepic
While many people make no distinction between creativity and innovation, in reality there is a huge difference between the two. Not all bright ideas are innovative, even if they appear to be quite creative. And being a game-changer, not creativity, is what makes the difference between a market-altering product and one that has limited appeal. In terms of business and commerce, a creative idea stops short of being groundbreaking if consumers aren’t 68
willing to buy the resulting product or service readily and enthusiastically. Innovation pulls multiple threads together for consumers (quality, usefulness, coolness, look, feel, price, and life-enhancement). While creativity may be unique and even admired, it may not captivate others in a big enough way to change the marketplace. Or, it may not offer benefits that shift the market. It may be an extraordinary expression of an idea that goes no further than a single manifestation. There is an old
advertising adage that says, “It’s not creative unless it sells,” meaning that the primary purpose of advertising is to sell a product or service, not win creative awards. If the product doesn’t sell, then it doesn’t matter how creative the advertisement is. “Where’s the Beef?” was a widely successful ad campaign for Wendy's, but it was pulled due to quality issues at the chain in 1985. Kanye West got it when he said, “The concept of commercialism in the fashion and art world is looked down upon. You know, just to think, 'What amount of creativity does it take to make something that masses of people like?' And, 'How does creativity apply across the board?'” Creativity for business is not just discovering the new and different, but turning it into something powerful and persuasive that motivates people to open up their wallets. Making a connection between ideas and consumer wants, needs, fears, and dreams is essential if marketers want to achieve success. It’s not enough to compete on price alone, because a competitor can always undercut that price. Today’s consumers are willing to pay more for something if they love it, especially if they see value that it’s a great product. Why are people paying hundreds of dollars for an iPhone when there are perfectly good phones available at a much lower cost? When the economy begins to rebound, firms that have relied on price cutting instead of innovating won’t have anything new to offer. New ideas that sell are needed every day to satisfy customer demands, enter new markets, gain competitive advantage, or even just to keep pace with the competition. When a company hits on something that resonates instantly with people, magic happens. Consumer buy-in at that point seems almost ridiculously easy, like it was with the iPad, Swiffer, and Target's designer clothing collaborations when the affordably priced Missoni line sold out in less than 15 minutes in Chicago and New York stores and crashed their website with consumer demand. The distinction between creativity and groundbreaking also applies to marketers who are trying to use social media to connect with customers. Being creative is not just coming up with a great gimmick. During this year’s Super
Bowl, Toyota thought it was being creative when it came up with a Twitter campaign for the Camry. The intent was to engage users with Tweets to the effect of “Ready for Sunday? Make sure you’ve entered for your chance to win a 2012 Camry!” The effect was that there was no engagement and consumers simply felt they were being bombarded with unsolicited messages. Innovation is getting consumers to do something by taking advantage of personal communication technologies. Social media strategies need to include consideration of the relationship, the type of message, the technological object (smartphone, computer, notepad, etc.) that is delivering the message, and timing. Together these components form a strong, viable structure. Old marketing theories and creative forms don’t fit into this new communications mechanism, which requires a unique understanding of symbolic and cultural meanings of the technological device and, particularly, timing, to sell differently. A new kind of inventiveness must join with creativity to draw crowds and change purchase behaviors. A great example of innovation in social media was the promotion behind the movie The Hunger Games, which included Facebook contests, Twitter scavenger hunts, a Tumblr blog called Capitol Couture, iPhone games, and YouTube videos. One Twitter promotion even allowed fans to campaign online to become mayor of various districts in the movie’s society, Panem. This was truly innovative thinking in building relationships and making fans become members of an imaginary society to drive movie attendance, creating involvement instead of annoyance. Creativity in marketing today means finding the social media influencers as well as those capable of being influenced, building relationships, and engaging potential customers much earlier in the consumer relationship. It means thinking about the delivery form for the message-the object which will shape the message and perception of the brand. Social marketers today need to break the rules of traditional communication streams, manage their communities differently, and become truly innovative instead of just relying on creativity to alter the market and sell their product.
GARMIN
An Arab abroad
THE EID DILEMMA By Yara Al-Wazir
I always found the holiday season stressful when I lived at home. Whether it was Eid or a birthday, the influx of emotions, people, food, sweets, and the sudden burst of must-do activities was overwhelming and exhausting, but it’s one of the things I miss most since moving away. Even though I hadn’t started university yet, I spent my 18th birthday with my friends in Morocco rather than at home with my parents; in my mind, I 70
was convinced that this had prepared me to be able to celebrate anything and everything on my own so long as I surround myself with the right people. A month after moving away for college, I realized that Eid al-Adha was right around the corner, and I fell into the biggest slump of all time – or so I thought. As fate would have it, I would be too ill to celebrate anyway, but the slump that I fell into taught me lessons for my second Eid away from home, which certainly gives
Kuwait Eids a run for their money. The most important thing to do is to surround yourself with the right people. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to celebrate with the Islamic Society at your university. Whether you end up celebrating with people who celebrate Eid, or simply with people who’d like to know what Eid is like, it’s the atmosphere of being in a room with dozens of people and so much food that you can barely breathe that makes the whole situation feel like home. Do something new, go somewhere exciting. Remember when you were 5 and you’d go to a new theme park? Do it again. For once, your rides won’t be limited to the ones at Entertainment City or Sha’ab Park; instead you have the opportunity to go on some of the fastest, largest, and most exciting rollercoasters in the world, so go ahead and do it. Dress up. Even when it’s not Eid, walking into a mall or a gathering in Kuwait feels like you’re joining the audience at New York Fashion Week, but once Eid comes around, it no longer feels like you’re part of the audience, instead it feels like you’re actually on the runway. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be dressing up to go shopping when you live anywhere but Kuwait, but dressing up for Eid is a must. Ladies, strap on some heels and put on a dress. Gentlemen, pull out your finest dishdasha, or Oud-scented perfume and go all out. Eat up. Nothing brings people together like food, so throw a party with some authentic Arab food, and invite your friends to bring a dish that represents their country. Not being able to cook shouldn’t be a problem as you can find Lebanese cuisine in almost every town, although sometimes it’s labelled Greek or Mediterranean instead. Skype the family; nothing feels as warm and fuzzy as being on speakerphone with the entire family. This way, you’re close enough to the chaos for it to feel like home, but far enough to enjoy it at the same time. Make sure there’s a box of tissues nearby though, as this puts you in the risk of a waterfall of tears. Take a day off. The transitional process from fourday Eid holidays to zero-day Eid holidays is tough and it’s even harder when your department or lecturers don’t understand that Eid is a perfectly legitimate excuse for missing a deadline, but you’re guaranteed to have two free days each week – the weekend. Use them to celebrate either in advance or late, or even both. Nothing quite beats a double celebration. Yara Al Wazir is an activist and student currently based in the UK - her monthly column reflects on her experience of moving away from the familiarity and comfort of Kuwait, to the UK in pursuit of a university degree.
MAKI
TAIYOU Authentic Japanese dining with stunning views By bazaar staff
Recognized as one of the healthiest cuisines around the world, the Japanese diet invites us to consider more than just simple ingredients served on a plate. When it comes to Japenese cuisine, going back to nature and creating a harmony of flavors are primary aspects of the dining experience. Keeping in line with the fact that Japan is an island nation; its culture, traditions, and moreover, cuisine, look to its natural surroundings for inspiration. Taiyou, located on the 19th floor of the Costa 72
Del Sol Hotel in Shaab, is the hidden gem that shines brightly amongst the array of Japanese spots in our local dining scene. Paying tribute to its island homeland, the sea will surround you wherever you choose to sit, as the uninterrupted gulf views will immediately balance out your stress levels—suddenly, your regular tone of voice will become more subdued, and a happy grin will take over. Truly, Taiyou presents one of the most stunning sea views in Kuwait. The décor emits simplicity, as hints of bold shades of red adorn the minimalist style furniture, signalling a a classic mark of Japanese tradition; you eat with your eyes, so why detract from the beautiful dishes to follow? Instead of overwhelming the diner with unneccessary embellishment, Taiyou instills the spirit of harmony in every facet of its operation, from service, dining selections on offer, to its design aesthetic. What does this generic notion of ‘harmony’ entail? That whether you would consciously recognize it or not, the natural ingredients, the main feature of a typical Japanese dining experience, must go with all the other dishes
consumed during a given meal, as well as the person having the meal. Yes, that’s you. Taiyou, with its utterly relaxing ambience, and freshly cut selections of Japanese delicacies, succeeds in delivering this esoteric principal of ‘harmony’ without you even knowing it, you’ll simply experience it. Start off your meal with a classic Salmon to Avocado Salad, with crabstick, freshly diced pieces of salmon, tobiko, and mixed lettuce in a subtly spiced Saikyo sauce. Before devouring the appetizing dish, I immediately noticed Taiyou’s attention to inviting the diner to firstly eat with their eyes. A simple salad plate was presented as a towering vision of color, neatly organized, yet sumptuously balanced in flavor. We also sampled the fun and crunchy Rock Shrimp, batter fried little pieces, with a spicy mayo sauce on the side. This bazaar editor is an avid lover of Sashimi, and the assorted platter we sampled was divine, visually and flavor-wise. Let the flavors of chilled salmon and tuna do all the work, and all you have to do is get creative with the wasabi, ginger, and soy sauce. For Nigiri fans,
go for an assorted platter as well; perfect to share with friends, with white fish, tuna, salmon, and a special Unagi. Ever so gently drizzled in a Teriyaki sauce, the grilled eel, or Unagi, had us wanting to order another platter. Fancy even more Tempura? Choose from shrimp, crabstick, fish fillet, and assorted cut vegetables. Another delicious specialty is the Lobster and Crab Special Hosomaki, with a mixture of Lobster tempura, fresh crabmeat tempura, cucumber and a gently spiced lemon mayo in yellow mame wrapper. This dish delivers a fantastic balance of textures, achieved from the crunch of the tempura and the softness of both the lobster and fresh crabmeat, along with an added edge of lemon that gives what is normally sweet meat a surprising twist. The Uramaki, sushi rolls with rice on the outside, are most welcoming, where lovers of raw seafood, and those who prefer their seafood cooked, will both feel included! Batter fried rolls,
such as the Green Maki, with batter fried crabstick, mango, avocado, an even greener tobiko and spicy mayo, and crispy California Maki (a twist on the classic) with a sweet Teriyaki sauce, will leave one satisfied. When it comes to variations on all things raw, the peanut Mayo infused Crazy Maki, Volcano Rocks, and spicy and crunchy Tuna or Salmon Maki will leave your taste buds buzzing with simple flavors that go a long way. Supreme Rolls are always a filling treat, combining two main highlights for Japanese fans all around: rice and seafood! Presented as much larger rolls, the Supreme roll is a mixed delight of Crabstick Tempura, prawn tempura, mango, avocado, lettuce, cucumber, tempura flakes, spicy mayo and even a spicy lemon mayo. The result? An explosion of flavors! For chicken lovers, we highly recommend the Kentucky Roll; I personally felt that this roll is the ultimate rendition of Chicken Katso curry. With crisped, breaded chicken, cucumber and Tonkatsu sauce,
the combination resonates with Japan’s embrace of the curry, and the Worcester inspired (it’s somewhat sweeter, though) Tonkatsu sauce will leave you wanting to steal a bottle and make a run for it. A more realistic option, and this editor’s more orderly plan B, is to glance at the Katsu options on offer and pick from beef, drumsticks, prawn and fish fillet with plenty of that yummy Tonkatsu sauce. For dessert, we opted for Banana Tempura, crunchy, batter fried banana slices that burst with flavor on the soft inside, with a delectable honey mayo, and batter fried ice cream tempura. Least to say, we’ll definitely be coming back to Taiyou, as there are so many other dishes we’ve yet to sample! For instance, other selections that should never go unnoticed include the Lobster Teppenyaki, and Temaki Sushi. If, like me, you’re a fan of this hand held roll, a wide assortment of options is freshly rolled upon request. These include California Temaki, with crabstick, avocado, cucumber, tobiko, mayo, to spicy salmon, or spicy Tuna. Our advice? Pick a larger group of friends, order all of the above, and have fun sampling the different delights on offer.
Taiyou is located on the 19th floor of the Costa Del Sol Hotel in the seaside neighborhood of Shaab on the Gulf road. Call 1830 083 to make your reservation. 73
IKE
KEA
A NEW ERA OF BAROQUE Rami Al Ali: The Haute and the Couturier By bazaar staff
When one of our own regional talents dresses the likes of the elusive Ivana Trump, Vanessa Mae and more, we’re surely going to stop and pay heed. Syrian born and Dubai based, fashion designer Rami Al Ali created his debut line in 2000 to become a master in blending Eastern elegance with Western dazzle; a couture creation by Rami Al Ali is the object of every woman’s desire. Arriving at Rome’s AltaRoma fashion week in 2009, he became the first international Syrian designer to receive an entry into this prestigious fashion event, going on to achieve remarkable success on an international scale. With a second couture show in Paris, his AW12 collection breeds a new perception of the classical Baroque era: “Elements inspired by an artistic era where passion is channeled into objects of beauty and desire, Shakespeare’s theatre gives way to elaborate opera. Ornamental style and fine detailing create rich visuals. Direct, unambiguous, yet theatrical and empowering. Indulgent lifestyles 76
forever embodied through art. Welcome to the twenty-first century baroque.” Lucky for us, we managed to steal a few moments with the couturier to tell us more about his inspired work: Why does Paris hold a special place in your heart? Paris is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve visited. I’m a great admirer of its history, culture and architecture and places like the Place de la Concorde and the Seine River are very inspirational. After two shows in the couture capital this year I can say that I have accomplished one of my biggest goals and there is no other city worth holding so dear. How does your A/W presentation reflect the Baroque Era? My AW2012 collection echoes the Baroque Era through the details in every piece that reflect the lavish lifestyle of that period. I’ve tried to revive the ethereal paintings that I have admired from that era through the use of ornamental embroidery, authentic textures as well a play on colors. What type of woman chooses Rami Al Ali couture? My love for fashion was greatly inspired by my mother and sisters. They were strong, confident and feminine and their style had always reflected it. I design for that type of woman, someone with a strong character, grace and elegance and that’s the kind of woman that chooses Rami Al Ali Couture. Who is your style icon?
Without a doubt, Grace Kelly & Audrey Hepburn epitomize style. They had such a romantic kind of beauty and always carried themselves with grace and confidence with what they wore. They knew how to complement their silhouettes with dresses that emphasised their femininity and they have been an inspiration behind many of my designs. Who would you love to wear your designs? It would be an honor to see my designs on either Catherine Zeta Jones or Salma Hayek. I know so many women that look up to them and just like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn; they too carry themselves with a refined confidence. Will we be seeing Rami Al Ali couture in Kuwait? I have a lot of clients based in Kuwait and it’s always a pleasure working with them. I’ve been planning to launch a ready to wear collection but I’m still preparing for that and while you can’t foresee the future, Kuwait could one day be home to one of my stores. What's next for S/S 2013? I’m currently working on my SS2013, drawing inspiration from art exhibitions and places I visit. It will be tough competing against myself after my AW2012 collection drew so much interest and from my sketches so far, I can only hope this collection will be just as loved as the one before. Keep an eye out for it as the last thing I would want is to ruin the surprise.
Visit www.ramialali.com for more information.
OXYGENIZER
Loaay's Two Cents Got business problems or challenges at work? With his Two Cents column, Loaay Ahmed shares his expertise in strategic management consulting to help managers, employees and entrepreneurs thrive.
Q
The manufacturing division of the company I joined recently has been, for years, producing products for the wholesale 'trade' division, but has never engaged with direct clients. Now, my task is to attract projects to the manufacturing division, however, without a big client list prospects are hesitant. How can we convince them to give us a try? LA: Giving proposals and discounts is not the best way in general. Proposals should be given out only to summarize and document what has been promised by you and agreed to in principle by the prospect. Contracts are nothing but a legal form of such proposals. So, if you’re spending a lot of your effort having first meetings, followed by rushed proposals and chasing responses, there are better ways to waste your time. Companies benefit from having a proven track record to support their claims. While you can’t offer one at the moment, you may want to have your prospects experience what you’re capable of. Think of organizing a Factory Tour Day with multiple prospects being picked up with comfortable rides to your location and back. Get them to understand your capabilities in action. After all, ‘seeing is believing’. If they decline your invitation on the grounds that they don’t have the time, bring the factory to them. For example, ask your most senior technical manager or engineer to join you in some of those meetings to show off your operational setup. Some prospects have a hard time trusting salespeople but they’re open to someone from the factory force. You can always shoot a video demonstrating the equipment setup, but also highlighting the technical expertise of the team you have. Many videos promote machinery, but without experienced staff these expensive tools won’t produce deliver by themselves. Put yourself in your prospects’ shoes and provide real and clear evidence to answer their doubts...and that's just my two cents.
Q
One of our employees has been calling sick quite frequently lately. Although it’s nothing serious from what we’ve been told and it’s mainly oneday offs, the increased frequency is raising doubts. We don’t demand medical papers for every incident, as it’s not part of our internal culture. But what if we’re being taken advantage of? LA: The law gives employers the right to demand medical papers to explain medical leave. If your company decided to trust employees, you can’t doubt them when they exercise their right. You either hired the right people who fit within the honor system and won’t take advantage of it or you have simply hired some bad apples. Instead of changing the rules for everyone and make it needlessly difficult, focus on setting tougher guidelines for employing new staff.
Now, back to your sick employee. First, give your employee benefit of the doubt and make sure s/he is fine and functioning. What if it is something serious and they’re trying to keep it away from everyone at work not to disturb the mood? If you really have doubts, ask only that employee to provide some medical papers due to the high frequency to put this issue to rest. However, an alternative treatment is to focus on results and deliverables. If you agree with any frequently sick employees on what, how and when work needs to be done, then it won’t matter if they got ill as long as these results are on your desk...and that's just my two cents.
Q
We run a large retail operation with many branches. While we spend large amounts on advertising to attract customers to visit and offer many discounts, our showrooms traffic is in decline. Our management is not interested in marketing gimmicks that result in giving away things for free just for publicity as they see it as waste of money. Any tips? LA: It’s getting more and more difficult for many consumers to manage their daily tasks and find time to put their feet up. With busy schedules and shorter attention span that’s almost disappearing, it’s hard for many consumers to stop and pay attention to your advertising campaign. And if they did, they might find it challenging to make the time to visit. They think about road traffic and how it takes them forever to find a parking spot. Suddenly, they’re discouraged to leave their comfortable homes. Brands need to spend more money towards making a difference in customers’ lives rather than just communicating what they sell. If the obstacles above are the main reasons for why consumers are not visiting, take some of the money spent on media and use it to solve these issues. Brands need to put themselves behind their customers and not in front of them. It requires a serious mind shift by the entire team. When brands see themselves as enablers and service providers even when they sell products, then they’ll always find ways to make things better, easier, more comfortable, convenient, and interesting for their customers. If your management team thinks operating in such ways is a waste of money, remind them of the cost of their discounted sales as they’re giving away profit margins and spending more money announcing it. If the owners or stakeholders don’t demand and enforce such changes, old school managers will do only what they’re used to until they resign or get fired, but eventually, it is the brand itself that will financially suffer...and that's just my two cents.
For Loaay Ahmed's advice on business or work matters, send a short email to loaay@knightscapital.com. Please note that only the questions chosen for publishing will be answered.
Loaay Ahmed is a management consultant and strategic expert. To learn more about Loaay and his consulting service, strategic business therapy, visit www.knightscapital.com. 78
DUNE
A MYSTERY UNVEILED AT H&M Interview with Maison Martin Margiela
The creative collaborative, Maison Martin Margiela, on the H&M collection: Tell us about your collaboration with H&M. The collaboration with H&M is a series of re-editions of Maison Martin Margiela garments from various seasons since the brand was first introduced in 1998. Each garment features a special label stating from which season it originated, meaning that each piece acts like an archive of important moments from our history. The garments chosen for re-edition were carefully selected so that the collection also consists of a complete wardrobe to wear this winter. Why did you agree to collaborate with H&M? We have always believed in the democracy of fashion and have always wished to reach the widest audience possible with our designs and concepts. In the past it may not have been possible to do so, either because of the scarcity of materials, or the difficulty in making a particular product. This collaboration allows us to share our creative processes with people all around the world. 80
What are the key pieces in the collection? As they are all re-editions from our archives, they’re all key pieces, covering the major themes of the maison. For women, there are masculine shapes adjusted to the female body with the narrow shouldered jacket or the adjusted biker jacket; oversized clothing is represented with the oversized pea coat and blazer, as well as the adult sized Dolly cardigan. The processes of tailoring are explored with the pattern cut jacket; the ambiguity of trompe l’oeil is found in the trompe l’oeil evening dress, the body with integrated bra, and the invisible wedge pump. And then there are garments that have undergone transformation, such as the car seat cover dress, the duvet coat, the opened-up trouser skirt, the sock sweater, as well as accessories such as the candy clutch and the glove purse. For the men’s collection, there are garments such as the reversed shearling coat from Autumn-Winter 1998, the fusion of a single and a double breasted jacket from SpringSummer 2004, the hand painted jeans from Spring-Summer 2009, the bow tie
shirt from Autumn-Winter 2002, and the re-assembled Fair Isle sweater from Autumn-Winter 2004. There are also accessories such as the hand painted loafers and boots, the mirror ball scarf and the oversized fanny pack. Can you give us a brief history of the maison? Maison Martin Margiela was founded in Paris in 1988. Starting with just a women’s collection, we have grown to include clothing for men, as well as accessories, shoes, objects, fragrances and our artisanal couture line. Our philosophies and practices have remained the same since the beginning: celebrating a collaborative creative team rather than any one individual; the continual questioning of the function and utility of garments; the unity and purity of white, as shown by our white interiors and the white coat worn by our team; the recuperation, transformation and reinterpretation of garments and objects. What type of woman wears Maison Martin Margiela? Maison Martin Margiela is for any woman who wants to wear our clothes. Since the maison’s founding, we’ve wanted to make clothing that is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or lifestyle. We’re very happy that we have many customers from different walks of life who have stayed loyal to us, and who have built up a wardrobe of our garments. We hope to reach many more women with our collaboration with H&M. What are the key concepts of menswear at Maison Martin
Margiela, and how is this H&M collection different from your main collection? Menswear at Maison Martin Margiela is about creating a wardrobe of pieces, and focusing on the details of construction and the fit of individual garments, rather than about styling or a look. It is an introverted process, reflecting the way that men relate to their own clothing. The difference is that our own collection is a constantly evolving response to questions of form and utility, while the H&M collaboration is a series of re-editions, looking back at previous Maison Martin Margiela garments Who are you really? Do you actually exist? We do exist indeed. Since the very beginning, we have chosen to speak collectively as a creative team, rather than as one individual. The creative team is happy for their designs and concepts to speak for themselves. H&M Creative Director, Margareta Van Den Bosch, on the Maison Martin Margiela collection: Why did you decide to collaborate with Maison Martin Margiela? Maison Martin Margiela is one of the most important brands of the past three decades. Its radical designs have gone on to influence all of fashion, proving that their concepts and ideas are always incredibly desirable and wearable. It’s an honor to have them collaborating with H&M.
What’s special about the collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela? As with each of our designer collaborations, we want to get the true essence of the brand, so that our customers really feel like they are entering into the label’s world. We have had collaborations that have looked to the past before, but never one that has done specific re-editions of some of their most famous pieces. It really will be an incredible moment to be able to buy re-editions of some of the most important garments in recent fashion. What are your own feelings about Maison Martin Margiela? Are you a fan of the brand? I have loved Maison Martin Margiela since its first shows in the late 1980s. Like everyone who works in fashion, I’ve always been excited, surprised, challenged and astounded by their designs, and the scope of their ideas. They have an incredible ability to keep coming up with amazing new concepts each season. I remember
when so many of these garments were first shown, and it’s so exciting that they will be available once again with H&M. What was it like collaborating with Maison Martin Margiela? Are they very secretive? It has been lovely collaborating with Maison Martin Margiela. Although they may appear secretive from the way they represent themselves, they are actually all very friendly people who love fashion and love working at the Maison. They are very inspiring people to work with, who always see the possibilities in everything. They have a very positive, very open attitude towards their work. How did you decide on the nature of the collaboration? We went through the same process as we always do with collaborations. After our initial talks about the collaboration, the brand designs the collection for us, and then we talk about how we can produce the collection to make sure it is of the best possible standard. It’s
a true collaboration, with both sides working together to get the results that everyone is happy with. What will Maison Martin Margiela’s womenswear bring to H&M? The women’s collection features some truly extraordinary garments, which are both historical documents, and also feel so perfect for fashion today. I love how an idea so simple as the oversized blazer will look amazing today worn with jeans and heels, while a conceptual piece like the car seat cover dress is so completely unique, and yet is also amazing to wear. I can’t wait to see how women around the world will wear the collection in their own way. What does Maison Martin Margiela’s menswear bring to H&M? Their menswear is amazing. It’s such a clever combination of concept and wearability. Some of the pieces are advanced in their thinking, while others are pure classics. Somehow they manage to have both in their collection and make the mix feel
effortless. Men that I know who wear Maison Martin Margiela are real loyal fans of the brand - they wouldn’t think of wearing anything else. It’s great to have their special approach to menswear at H&M. Who is the collection aimed at? What sort of man will wear Maison Martin Margiela at H&M? The collection is aimed at everyone who loves great clothes. Maison Martin Margiela is a brand that can be worn by everyone, regardless of their knowledge of fashion. Their clothing is intelligent, and also wearable. It’s full of classic pieces you will love for years to come.
The Maison Martin Margiela collaboration will be available at H&M stores worldwide starting November 15th. 81
bazaar techno Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~ Arthur C. Clarke
THE BOBINE
STEVE JOBS TRIBUTE MACBOOK PRO
LOCKITRON
From now on, we're using the Bobine, a phone charging cable that's also a flexible tripod. A twofoot-long cable that comes in iPhone and micro USB versions. It holds its shape when you bend it, so you can use it as a tripod -- flex it, loop it, wrap it around whatever you see! In fact, it might be your most portable tripod: coil it like a regular cable and take it anywhere. The Bobine does double duty, charging your phone while holding it steady. Even when it's not charging anything, it makes a great tripod. It can stand on its own for a self portrait or group shot anywhere.
One year ago today, the relentless visionary and innovator Steve Jobs passed away. Celebrate his legacy with a Steve Jobs Tribute MacBook ($TBA; Auction). This extremely limited edition - only three are being made - MacBook Pro with Retina Display features the Jobs silhouette Apple logo design by Jonathan Mak carefully cut from the edges of the Apple logo, and Jobs' "You can change things" quote laser-etched on the bottom. All proceeds from the auction will be split between the crowdfunding charity Get It Done and a new fund being set up for iPhone apps that add value to society.
You can pay for your coffee, turn off your lights, control your TV, and start your car with your smartphone - so why can't you unlock your doors? That's exactly what Lockitron ($150) does. This sleek box slips over the inside of most deadbolt locks, and sports built-in Wi-Fi to let you check on the status of and lock/unlock your door from afar. You can also add family and friends as guests to share access, but we're most excited about the Bluetooth 4 integration, which means it can sense your iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 and unlock the door automatically without you having to do a thing.
www.photojojo.com
http://nl.ebid.net
www.lockitron.com
LOGITECH HARMONY TOUCH
ZEAL iON HD CAMERA GOGGLE
AUTOGRAPHER
Logitech has finally returned to the universal remote game - with a new flagship in tow. The Logitech Harmony Touch ($250) melds a traditional remote form factor with a smartphone-like interface that fills its centrally-located 2.4-inch touchscreen. Instead of typing in numbers, the Harmony Touch lets you place tappable channel icons right on the screen, so your favorite channels are never more than a swipe and tap away. It's also rechargeable - no more AAs and offers backlit hardware buttons for watching in the dark.
Why strap a camera to your head when you can simply wear it instead? The ZEAL iON HD Camera Goggle ($400) puts an eight-megapixel sensor and a 170-degree wide angle lens right between your eyes, capturing 1080p video or full-quality stills directly from your point of view - and letting you review your shots via an in-goggle viewfinder. They still have to work as actual goggles, and they don't disappoint there, either, with a high-density, antifog infused Optimum lens, impact resistant frame, and dual strap adjustments.
Wouldn't it be great if you had a photographer following you around, documenting key moments in your life without ever noticing him/her? The Autographer (ÂŁ400; roughly $650) is designed to do something similar. Meant to be worn, it features a host of sensors - a GPS, accelerometer, thermometer, and motion detector among them that work together to decide when it's time to take a picture. 8GB of internal storage. It's got built-in Bluetooth so you can check out your shots instantly, no wires required.
www.logitech.com
www.zealoptics.com
www.autographer.com
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LABEL .M
closet Bibi
WINTER IS COMING By Bibi Al-Falah
If you are a fan of the scandalous Game of Thrones then this phrase will be very familiar to you. Over in the real world, winter is indeed coming (finally) and we can get excited about embracing our favorite Fall fashions once again. Every girl has her seasonal preference, but I personally find winter wardrobes 84
to be infinitely chicer than their preceding summer counterparts. Somehow, no summer dress could ever compete with the classy components of a winter wardrobe. There’s a reason why September is Vogue’s largest and most popular issue... coats, vests, scarves, and best of all-boots! These are a few of my favorite things. Now that the weather has finally cooled down, every girl across the country can re-organize her closet with items we haven’t touched since March to reflect a personal winter wonderland. First on the agenda: winter essentials. There are a few pieces that every girl should have to make cold weather dressing easy as pumpkin pie. Let’s start from the bottom with boots. Boots are probably the most versatile shoe category because this simple five letter word can describe anything from a high heeled ankle boot to an ultra-casual Ugg boot. Every girl needs at least one pair of the following: a riding style boot (love this trend), a high heeled neutral boot (both work and weekend appropriate), a fashion-forward boot (ex. over-the-knee), and a casual warm boot (like EMU Australia). If you are lacking some of these must-haves worry not, as the abundance of physical and online stores have you covered. I love Shoebox NY because the variety of boots there is always great. Be aware of high street stores because the styles make look good but they might feel horrible. I fell in love with a black suede ankle boot last year but never managed to even leave the house in them because they pressed on my ankle in the most painful way. If you’re searching for the ultimate boot then go for high quality for both longevity and comfort. My favorite pair of leather boots is a Ralph Lauren pair purchased from AlOthman, who also bring the fiercest Louboutin boot collection each Fall. Don’t skimp on a designer brand because of the price tag- these will last you a long time. A great boot is like a great jacket; worth the investment. Speaking of jackets… Jackets are one of the greatest assets of your wardrobe as they are capable of transforming an outfit from boring to preppy, rock-chic, bright, and even show stopping (think Balmain style). Every girl should have a few great workappropriate jackets for the winter time, especially in trendy patterns like houndstooth and tweed in modern day cuts. Massimo Dutti has mastered the sophisticated riding-style jackets and Zara also has a beautiful warm fall jacket collection. For weekend outings, have more fun with a rock and roll inspired black leather jacket or last year’s favorite brown leather and shearling trend. Online shopping is great for Jackets because you can usually be sure of the size unlike a pair of trousers or a dress. Some of my favorite online clothing destinations are shopbop.com, net-a-porter.com and theoutnet.com. Vests happen to be Jackets’ distant, yet equally fashionable, cousin. These beauties come in many forms and can dictate the look and feel of your entire outfit. My personal favorites are fur vests, although many Peta activists would disagree with me (sorry Peta!). This is actually a hit amongst our men in Kuwait, who wear their favorite rabbit fur lined vests in winter to stay warm. With so many other vests on the market, you are completely covered no matter what the occasion may be. Next on our list we have scarves. Last winter exploded with Louis Vuitton’s leopard scarf and with good reason, it’s gorgeous! You don’ t have to go for the big brands here though, since so many stores across the country have a huge, trendy, and warm selection of pretty scarves. My advice? Since winter clothes are usually neutral-colored, go for bright scarves in eye catching colors like fuchsia and yellow to add an element of brightness to your outfit’s conservative color palette. I love dressing for this time of year…what are your favorite fall fashions?
CALL IT SPRING
CARRIE MATHISON And her feminine instincts By Alyssa Rosenberg
Ever since bipolar CIA agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) arrived on television last fall with the debut of Showtime's Homeland, there's been something of a struggle to define her. She isn't exactly a conventional anti-hero: As she pursues sleeper agent Sgt. Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), we actually want her to win, rather than hoping she'll get a long-delayed moral comeuppance of the kind that Breaking Bad's Walter White so clearly has coming. But she's not a conventional hero either, given her complete disregard for rules and boundaries, and the mental-health issues she has under only intermittent control. Homeland is, I think, doing something new: While anti-hero shows often end up as sly critiques of masculinity (think Tony Soprano), Homeland actually offers a defense of Carrie's emotionalism, turning it into a superpower rather than a feminine weakness. The anti-heroes who have dominated the so-called Golden Age of Television for the last decade have tended to embody both the strengths and pitfalls of various masculine-coded traits. In The Wire, Jimmy McNulty's bullheadedness means that major crimes that might otherwise have gone 86
uninvestigated are pursued and prosecuted, but his unchecked determination and supreme self-regard do great harm to the people unfortunate enough to be part of his personal life, and in some cases, to the careers of those who follow him down countless rabbit holes. Walter White's obsessive attention to detail and enormous drive to make up for his past failings lead him to become a dominant producer of methamphetamine in Breaking Bad, but that same need for control also leads him to terrorize his wife Skyler. Mad Men's Don Draper is a man whose masculinity, which once made him so successful, is now losing its currency. As with these guys, Carrie's strength is also her weakness. But rather than first impressing us with her competence and then showing us how toxic that competence can be when it's applied to other areas of her life - the traditional anti-hero trajectory - Carrie started out this season fragile and vulnerable, unable to take the emotional risks and strains of intelligence work, and has grown stronger by expressing her emotions more openly and honestly. She scored a victory when she personally reconnected with a former source, the abused
wife of a Hezbollah commander. She renewed her bond with Saul by opening up to him about how deeply damaged she was by being wrong in her investigation of Brody, and he reciprocates that honesty by showing Carrie Brody's martyrdom video before he shows it to anyone else, guaranteeing she'll be roped into the restarted investigation. And Carrie's emotional intelligence - her volatile, and yes feminine, instincts rather than the practiced cool of most spy heroes - is what drove this week's episode (spoilers, needless to say, follow). She has none of the cold rationalism or killing competence of a James Bond, and her angry determination is as personal as it is patriotic. "I liked you, Carrie," Brody says in the moments before he's shackled and hooded. "I loved you," she spits back at him. "If only the circumstances had been wildly different." But in the end, she gets the man that no one else could. And in doing so, she proved that the thing that got her fired from the CIA, her mental illness, her quavering lip, and her extreme sensitivity to others, are the greatest assets in a room full of high-tech surveillance equipment and guys intent on playing it cool.
AFGI
A MATTER OF PINK NBK’s dedication to Breast Cancer Awareness By bazaar staff
“In the month of October, in solidarity with every woman suffering from breast cancer, we at NBK wear the ribbon to show our support. It’s not just a ribbon we wear; it symbolizes life, struggle and courage. I am proud to say that National Bank of Kuwait is one of the largest institutions committed to social responsibility, and specifically to raise awareness towards Breast Cancer. This responsibility is not just a duty but a moral commitment to provide support wherever needed no matter what the circumstances are.” Shaikha Al Bahar, NBK Chief Executive Officer Shaikha Al Bahar
Every year, October marks a month of awareness dedicated to shed light on Breast Cancer. This year, the National Bank of Kuwait is going beyond the month of October in its efforts to raise awareness. Where Breast Cancer awareness is concerned, it is our individual and collective responsibility to do our part to raise awareness, and NBK 88
has committed to raising awareness about Breast Cancer and various causes as part of its responsibility towards society. To show support for this cause, NBK has committed to raising awareness by distributing Pink Ribbons to all employees, collaborating with Royale Hayat Hospital for early detection exams, and extending the campaign throughout all of its
official social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by including daily tips and facts about the cause. Throughout the years, NBK has played a major role towards supporting charities and raising awareness ranging from various events and activities like The Annual Walkathon, the Ramadan “Iftar Tent”, NBK’s Children’s Hospital, supporting the Orphanage, and much more. Following a long line of corporate social responsibility campaigns, this initiative also reflects NBK’s commitment towards society and all of its members. In continuation with these events, NBK’s Breast Cancer Awareness holds true with the institution’s values. In collaboration with Royale Hayat Hospital, NBK offers all its female customers a special discount on a Bilateral Mammogram for the early detection of breast cancer, as part of NBK’s awareness campaign “Be Aware”, which is valid until 30 November 2012. So not to worry, if you missed out on October, awareness goes beyond this month, as it is supposed to; breast cancer awareness and breast self-examinations, along with checkups at a certified medical treatment center, should not be reserved to a certain month. “This breast cancer initiative aims at educating our customers on the importance of early detection and encouraging them to get routine checkups”, said Manal Al Mattar, Public Relations Executive Manager at NBK. Also, both male and female NBK employees have been highly supportive of this cause in wearing their pink ribbons to work daily throughout the month of October, and NBK is the first bank to officially support this cause and light its building with the trade mark Pink every night to show its support too. It is a collective responsibility, and it starts with one person to lead by example. For more about NBK, log on to www.nbk.com, find them on facebook NBK - Official Page or follow NBK on Twitter and on Instagram @NBKPage.
TAF
EQUAIT Beautiful Minds By Shabana H. Shaikh
Activists Faisal Al Fuhaid and Leanah Al Awadhi are a dynamite package – and it is not just because of their age – but rather, for the task they have taken upon themselves, when they could have savored the carefree-ness that is a privilege of youth. Instead, they spend time talking about political issues, planning events that advocate equality, and finding ways to inspire the country’s young bloodline in becoming socially responsible citizens whom they call Q-Heroes. When I met the duo at the P2BK 2012 Expo for this interview, two things were evident – firstly, they truly believed in being the change they wanted to see in their community; and secondly, their dedication to social causes that were widely prevalent, but hardly talked about. Faisal and Leanah are the bold initiators of EQUAIT – a youth-driven organization with an objective to promote social equality and human rights through social media and public events in Kuwait – taking on evils like bullying and discrimination. It started out as a blog, less than a year ago, rapidly gaining momentum among the youth of Kuwait, and manifesting into an organization of seven active members and two successful events already held under their masthead. With a face that is at once youthful and wise, 18 year old Faisal is currently pursing a major in Computer Science, while Leanah is still a senior in high school! Sitting across the table from them at Mishref Fairgrounds, I was mentally shaking my head, as we so-called ‘experienced’ adults are prone to do. But oblivious to my skepticism, the two youngsters plunged into their 90
story, speaking passionately about what they believed and what they wanted to do for the next-Generation of Kuwaitis. Faisal, also an active member in the Kuwaiti division of the British Councilsponsored Global Changemakers program since 2009, founded EQUAIT in August 2011. If you think, he is just a fortunate product of an oil-rich Kingdom having supportive parents or whose youthful enthusiasm is based on empty idealism – think again! Apparently, Faisal was bullied relentlessly while growing up, which in his own words he describes as being a ‘terrible feeling’. But instead of playing the victim, he decided to do something about it. Their very first event, ‘Pink Friday: Anti-Bullying Walkathon’, was held in December 2011 and will continue to be their annual event. Last year, supporters of the cause turned up dressed in pink at Scientific Center and thereon marched to Marina Waves and back. As it turns out, pink is not only the colour for breast cancer awareness, but also the international colour for anti-bullying initiatives (It has a story of it’s own that started in Canada). The walkathon was followed by the ‘iRespect Football Tournament’ held in February this year, with teams from four private English schools, SKELPS Soccer School and Everton Soccer School participating in a friendly tournament on GUST’s sports field. On his activism, Faisal writes on EQUAIT’s website: “People, who use religion, race, gender, sexuality and country of origin as an excuse for belittling their peers or disliking them, are just too ignorant to look beyond the surface of who they are. As clichéd as this may sound, I believe that we
are created as equals to one another and I harbor great disrespect for people that simply choose to see the world in black or white.” EQUAIT’s co-founder, Leanah Al Awadhi on the other hand is an ‘inside-out’ beautiful person. This bubbly young Kuwaiti, who has probably inherited her mother’s Colombian brand of beauty, had her minute of reckoning while living in Colombia. During her two years there, Leanah did community service with the Red Cross Foundation and participated in Model United Nations – both of which influenced her interest in social issues. Deeply moved, she returned to Kuwait and found her answer with EQUAIT. “I find discrimination, hypocrisy and egoism deeply repellent,” emphasized Leanah, who encountered her own share of indifference when she joined forces with Faisal. “I believe that without those three things, our society would undoubtedly be different, as a family regardless of family name, religion, race, sex, and colour.” “I have been ridiculed by cousins and peers for being involved in social activism, telling me I was wasting my time, and should rather be doing things other Kuwaiti girls do,” Leanah reveals laughingly, but none of it managed to deter the youngster from her path. Faisal and Leanah run a tight ship when it comes to enlisting new members in EQUAIT or in choosing Q-Heroes. Members interested in associating themselves with EQUAIT are interviewed meticulously to ensure a dedicated team that shares similar visions and beliefs. “We need serious change-makers, youngsters who realize their potential,” Faisal explained, revealing a no-nonsense attitude.
Recently, they organized a food drive called ‘iGIVE’, where they distributed Iftar meals to underprivileged workers all across Kuwait during Ramadan and backed the goodwill gesture by distributing Eideeye (gift money) during Eid. “They deserved it for working in the sun for very little pay!” remarks Faisal, adding, “We were glad with the results and hope to repeat it in the future!” Next, they plan to host an ‘EQUAIT Model United Nations (EQUMUN)’ conference in the first quarter of 2013. EQUAIT crew is currently planning – what they call – a series of short videos highlighting and finding solutions for the social issues around Kuwait. “I have been told by a lot of people to not go ahead with it, and understandably so," commented Faisal on the project. "It hasn’t been easy, we are way behind schedule, but I won’t give up.” They will commence filming this December and will feature a surprise guest in its first promo video. As Faisal puts it in his matter-of-fact way with the shrug of his shoulders, “Nothing is impossible.”
Upcoming Event: ‘Pink Friday: Anti-Bully Walkathon’ will be held on 16th November this year. Check their website (www.equait.org) for details. For more, log on to www.equait.org or follow them on Twitter@equait. You can also email them at equait.info@gmail.com. 91
bazaar music
THE SOUND OF THE LIFE OF THE MIND
NORTH
SUN
In 2011, the original three members of Ben Folds Five came together to record three new studio tracks for The Best Imitation Of Myself: A Retrospective, a career-spanning Ben Folds anthology. With the band's magic rekindled while making the new tracks, Ben Folds Five gave its first concert in more than a decade to a spellbound audience at New York s Mountain Jam Festival on June 2, 2012. Now, Ben Folds Five return with The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind, the group's first album of new music in 13 years.
North sees Matchbox Twenty driving their pop-rock sound further forward; magnifying the indelible melodies, crafty lyricism, and glorious hooks that have always defined their multi-platinum body of work. The band Rob Thomas, Paul Doucette, Kyle Cook and Brian Yale, lived together in a house in Nashville where they all collaborated on the new material before once again joining forces with the Grammy Award-winning producer Matt Serletic at his Emblem Studios in Calabasas, California. The result of their labors stands among Matchbox Twenty s finest.
Sun is the 2012 studio album from Cat Power. Six years after her last album of original material, Chan Marshall has moved on from her collaborative forays into Memphis soul and Delta blues. She wrote, played, recorded and produced the entirety of Sun by herself, a statement of complete control that is echoed in the songs' themes. The narrative arc of the record is deeply American in its spaciousness and optimism, but the music itself is defiantly modern and global.
GIRL ON FIRE
TWO ELEVEN by Brandy
by Smashing Pumpkins
Girl On Fire features powerful anthems and intimate ballads, led by Keys' signature soulful voice and personable and relatable lyrics. The songs are anchored by Keys' powerful vocals and trademark piano, but are sonically broadened by heavy drums, electric sounds, reggae and future soul, which gives the album an evolved, modern-day feel while simultaneously sounding like a classic body of timeless music. The album features an inspirational mix of the sounds Keys discovered while recording and traveling, particularly in London and Jamaica, layered within her New York City roots.
TWO ELEVEN features collaborators Timbaland (Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, Jay-Z), Bangladesh (Ke$ha, Usher, Nicki Minaj), Mario Winans (Mariah, Puffy, Keyshia Cole ), Danja (Britney Spears, Keri Hilson, Jamie Foxx), Harmony (Rihanna, Keri Hilson, Fantasia), Hit Boy (Eminem, Lil Wayne, Kanye West), Noah 40 Shebib (Drake, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne), along with hit making songwriters Sean Garrett (Usher, Beyonce, Britney Spears), Rico Love (Usher, Beyonce, Chris Brown), Ester Dean (Katy Perry, Rihanna, Christina Aguilera), Frank Ocean (Justin Bieber, John Legend, Tyler, the Creator), and Chris Brown, to name a few.
MELLON COLLIE AND THE INFINITE SADNESS is being released in multiple physical and digital configurations. The Deluxe Box Set's 5 CDs include 64 bonus tracks of previously unreleased material or alternate versions of MELLON COLLIE era songs, and its DVD features a live show filmed at the Brixton Academy, London (1996) and bonus performances from the German music television show Rockpalast (1996). The package includes 2 books containing personal notes, lyrics, new collage artwork, plus a Decoupage kit for creating your own scenes from the MELLON COLLIE universe.
by Ben Folds Five
by Alicia Keys
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by Matchbox Twenty
by Cat Power
MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS
source: www.amazon.com
VERSACE GLASSES
HEAVY METAL MAVENS “Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.” ~Oscar Wilde By Sumayyah Meehan
I grew up in the heavy metal era of music. A place where heavy metal bands like Def Leppard, Poison and Metallica ruled the music scene with an iron fist. My bedroom wall was literally plastered with posters of all my 94
favorite bands in all of their longhaired and leather pants glory. So nothing really shocks me when it comes to fashion. I mean if I can get over Brett Michaels wearing pink lipstick I can handle anything. Or so I thought.
The latest fashion trend to slowly sweep through some of the trendiest malls and hottest restaurants in Kuwait has sent a cold chill down this heavy metal diehard’s spine. The evolution of metal spikes as a designer fashion
accessory sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel or, at the very least, a staple that would appear over the course of the next twenty years. But oh no, I assure you, this latest fashion craze is alive and well in Kuwait. I first noticed the trend at a Chinese eatery this past summer. I was on my way to the ladies room when I literally bumped into a woman wearing a light sweater fitted with about a dozen sharp two-inch spikes on either shoulder. Satire aside, I seriously could have lost an eyeball in this run in as my left eye was “in the way” of her over exaggerated highheel induced wiggling gait. Thankful to have both eyes intact as I made my way out to my table, I spotted another woman at a different table sporting a bib type sweater that was absolutely bedazzled in spikes and rivets. Since I was unsure if she, too, had been in a fight with a Transformer on her way to the restaurant, I threw caution to the wind and started searching online the moment I got home. Granted, I did not find a single crime report of an Autobot attacking one of the good denizens of Kuwait. So I turned my attention to finding the slightest remnants of any fashion trend, from around the globe that featured sharp metal spikes protruding from ordinary pieces of clothing. Much to my dismay, and after a good hour of searching, I could not find a single instance where accessorizing with spikes was considered stylish or trendy. I do, however, think spiked-out clothing is pretty “cutting” edge given that the spikes can be used for a wide variety of handy dandy uses. First and foremost, they make for great selfdefense weapons to ward off would be assailants. Second, they make an excellent resource for storing food for the winter. Simply impale the food and eat when hungry! And last but not least, could you imagine not winning an argument with the person who just tried to steal your parking space when wearing a spike-encrusted garment? So the heavy metal maven may be a strange sight on the streets of Kuwait, but she’s armed and dangerous. So watch out!
NAPKET
FAST T
TELCO
bazaar goes cruising THE NEW VOLVO V60 HITS KUWAIT A blend of style, performance and groundbreaking safety! By bazaar staff
The Volvo V60 has arrived in Kuwait, following its official World Wide launch in 2010. “Many of the customers who had an advance look at the new V60 during the development process feel that its attitude is at least as sporty as that of the all-new S60,”says Thamer Al Ayoub, Volvo General Manager, Kuwait. Thamer adds; “The typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without the slightest compromise on sporty design and exciting driving properties.” With the competition razor-sharp, Volvo has further boosted the V60 interior’s sense of exclusive quality and packed the car with safety and comfortrelated technical innovations. The result is a truly unique sports wagon, in total harmony with its sporty attitude. The new Volvo V60 makes its entry into the car market with its sights firmly set on giving the allnew S60 sedan model a tough match over the title of “The Most Dynamic Volvo Model Ever”. From the design viewpoint the focus was on making the car as close to a coupe as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear. The sports wagon does not aim to compete with the traditional estate car. For the customer who wants a lot of load space, there is the V70 or XC70. The pronounced wedge 98
shape and the slim coupe-like roof line of the new V60 are accompanied by the shoulder profile along the car's sides. The dip in the middle of the double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the stance and makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted bonnet and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasize the sports car feel. The all-new Volvo V60 R-Design comes with a range of specially developed design details both outside and in. On the inside, the driver and front passenger sit in sports seats in which the backrest from the V60 is matched by an all-new seat cushion with even closer side support than before. A styling pack gives the V60 buyer the opportunity to boost the sporty attitude still further. Available in the accessories range, the styling pack includes skid plates front and rear, a front decor trim, side scuff plates, special exhaust tailpipes and unique 18-inch wheels. The styling pack gives the car the robust look inspired by the ruggedness of the XC60. The Volvo V60 has a classy, comfortable and spacious cabin. It’s keenly priced and comes with a huge array of standard options. The V60 comes with the high standard of safety kit that you’d expect from Volvo. Six airbags and stability control are standard, as is Volvo’s City Safe system, which detects objects in
front of the car and can stop it to prevent low-speed impacts. The optional Driver Support Pack includes a Pedestrian Detection System – which can also recognize a person in the road – along with adaptive cruise control, a lane-departure warning system and a blind-spot information system. Beige and black are the main colors of the upholstery range, which is spiced up with the new highlight shade Beachwood Brown. The décor inlays are available in Charcoal, Shimmer Graphite aluminum or Urbane Wood. Volvo Sensus is an excellent example of how Volvo Cars refines the driver environment. All information is presented on a five-inch or seven-inch color screen in the upper part of the centre stack. If the customer chooses a multimedia audio system, Volvo Sensus comes upgraded with the larger seven-inch screen that also displays information and images from the navigation system, phone, reversing camera, panorama camera, DVD player, digital TV and so on. The Bluetooth connection has been upgraded to allow not only hands-free phone conversations but also music streaming from a preferred Bluetooth enabled portable music player. Volvo is actually the only brand to offer Bluetooth music streaming throughout the entire vehicle range.
The audio experience in the V60 has been enhanced compared with previous models. The most advanced system, Premium Sound, has a class-D digital 5x130W amplifier with circuits from Sweden's Anaview, Dolby Digital in combination with Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, the award-winning MultEQ from Audyssey Laboratories and 12 loudspeakers. Volvo Cars' chassis experts have chiseled out the driving experience in the new Volvo V60 with the same passion and uncompromising approach that characterized the development of the all-new S60 sedan. The result is an authentic sports wagon with driving properties that do the sporty lines full justice. Like the all-new S60, the new V60 is fitted with Advanced Stability Control. With a new roll angle sensor, it is possible to identify any skidding tendency at a very early stage. Advanced Stability Control is a great asset in dynamic driving involving considerable lateral forces, thus improving handling and rapid avoidance maneuvers. Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring for smoother cornering. When cornering, the car's inner driven wheel brakes at the same time as more power is transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows cornering more tightly while reducing any tendency to under steer.
The T6 petrol engine has a displacement of 3.0 liters and has been improved still further, primarily thanks to lower internal friction. It now pumps out 304 hp and no less than 440 Nm of torque. At the same time, Volvo Cars' engine specialists have succeeded in cutting fuel consumption by about 10 percent to 10.2 l/100 km (EU Combined). The engine's power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. The all-new S60 is also available as a 2.0 GTDi (Gasoline Turbocharged Direct Injection) variant (T5) producing 240 hp and torque of 320 Nm. Furthermore, there is a 1.6-litre GTDi engine available in two versions: 180 hp (T4) and 150 hp (T3) with torque of 240 Nm. The T5 and T4 are available in combination with Volvo's automatic six-speed Power shift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox. The T3 comes with a manual gearbox. Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is a groundbreaking technological solution. It can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, warn the driver - and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time. Collision Warning with Full Auto Brake warns and automatically brakes if the car risks hitting another vehicle from behind. City Safety automatically brakes
if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops in low-speed urban traffic. Driver Alert Control is a unique technology to detect and alert tired and distracted drivers. Blind Spot Information System helps detect vehicles in the offset rear blind spot on both sides of the car. Lane Departure Warning alerts the driver if the car runs across the lane markers without the turn indicator being used. In the field of comfort, there are features such as the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which automatically maintains a set gap to the vehicle in front. What is new is that the Adaptive Cruise Control operates at speeds below 30 km/h, all the way down to standstill (cars with automatic gearbox). The V60 can naturally be equipped with parking sensors front and rear and a Park Assist camera at the rear. A camera in the front grille with a 180 field of vision is available as an option. This camera can ‘see around the corner' and helps the driver negotiate blind exits and park. For more information, please visit Al- Qurain Automotive Trading Co. (Abdulaziz Al-Ali Al-Mutawa) online, www.volvocarskuwait.com and visit their Facebook page: www. facebook.com/VolvoCarsKuwait and Twitter:@VolvoCars_KW or call 182 8200. 99
A SUPERSTRONG BIOMIMETIC TAPE
Inspired by gecko feet
By Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan
This small, inexpensive pad can support 700 pounds of weight, thanks to insights gleaned from the diminutive reptiles.
Obnoxious insurance commercials notwithstanding, the gecko has contributed a fair amount to human culture. In particular, scientists have long been fascinated by the reptiles’ foot pads, which give them the remarkable ability to climb on walls and ceilings. Over the past decade, a plethora of research institutions have attempted to replicate the effect, hoping to design a stronger, lighter adhesive material. Leading the pack is University of Massachusetts Amherst, where researchers Al Crosby and Duncan Irschick have developed a proprietary adhesive called Geckskin. The biomimetic product--which looks like a coaster--synthetically replicates the gecko’s foot pads, which are covered in millions of microscopic hairs called setae. “Amazingly, gecko feet can be applied and disengaged with ease, and with no sticky residue remaining on the surface,” Irschick explains, mainly thanks to Van der Waals forces--the molecular bond between two objects close to each other. Scientists had long attempted to replicate setae, but no one could get it quite right--primarily, because no one was looking at the gecko’s anatomy in full. Irschick, a functional morphologist who has spent two decades studying geckos, 100
figured out that it wasn’t just the setae that made the foot pads strong; it was the rigid tendons beneath them, acting in unison with the soft hairs. So Crosby and Irschick designed a multilayered pad that mimics the combo: a soft layer of a type of inexpensive silicone called polydimethylsiloxane, woven into a rigid layer giving the granular fabric the stability it needs to support huge weights. “Our contribution is to really look at the whole organism,” Crosby explains. “It allows the pad to drape over the surface, getting close enough that the Van der Waals interactions become strong.” An index-card-sized square of the stuff can support 700 pounds to a glass wall, then easily peels off leaving zero residue. Obviously, such a product could have huge commercial appeal for companies selling everything from flatscreen TVs to adventure apparel. Geckskin™ is still a few years off, though. “We don’t have a product on the market, yet,” Crosby tells Co.Design, “but hopefully soon.” He adds that the team is carrying out another study--this one, of adhesion-based climbing organisms--that could contribute to other consumer products down the line. Says Irschick: “It shows the true integrative power of evolution for inspiring synthetic design."
RAYBAN
PLEDGING TO END THE 'PSY-LENCE' On World Mental Health Day By Shabana H. Shaikh
Did you know that women are 2 times more likely to be depressed than men are? Or that eating raisin slowing (mindfully) every morning for 10-mins is an effective mind exercise? While proper sleep, good eating habits & exercise can be beneficial in reliving stress, says Massachusetts/Harvard Medical Experts.
World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10th. This year, in a first of its kind event in Kuwait, Alaa & Dalal Alhomaizi of the S.P.E.A.K. campaign (Bazaar October 2012 issue) brought together international medical experts from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, local healthcare professionals and the public with an aim to spread the importance of mental health and lessen the stigma attached to mental illnesses. One might wonder why the sudden discussions on mental health. “Because, in Kuwait, we tend to hush around the subject,” believes Alaa & Dalal, who effectively describe it with a term they coined - ‘Psy-lence’. “When it comes to mental illness, all we hear is silence. A man with bipolar disorder claims that his medications are just vitamins. A woman says she was buying groceries or at the movies instead of admitting, she was visiting her psychologist. A family keeps their son, who has autism, in hiding to avoid revealing his condition.” The 2-days long event, which was a collaborative effort with the Kuwait Mental Health Center, and Ministry of Health, stressed the importance of being educated about mental health. The 6-member international delegation included Dr. David Henderson, Dr. Maurizio Fava, Dr. Gregory Fricchione, Dr. John Herman, Dr. Asha Parekh and Dr. Christina Borba, who explained that mental illnesses are more common than we tend to acknowledge. It affects 1 out 4 people during the course of their lifetime, and can lead to other medical conditions, if left untreated. For instance, Depression can increase the risk of type II diabetes or cardiovascular diseases by 2.5% in patients. The bilingual sessions addressed a wide range of subjects. Noted Kuwaiti psychologist, Dr. Naif Al Mutawa, delivered an insightful session on the very important role we play in the lives of those suffering with mental health problems. Dr. Christina Borba, who specializes in Women and Mental Health, said during her speech, “It’s interesting to note that the mental anxiety faced by women around the globe was pretty much the same," adding, “That some societies, like the Middle East, have better familial support system which proves very beneficial to women in particular." 102
Dr. Asha Parekh, whose specializations include Mood and Anxiety Disorders, addressed children’s Mental Health advising parents and adults to be cautious while dealing with children. Alaa & Dalal conducted their presentations with primary focus on how we need to stop alienating people who are suffer with mental illnesses. The event witnessed an impressive turnout by physicians from primary care centers, public & private hospitals, and mental health professionals from both the Kuwait Center for Mental Health and private psychological institutions in Kuwait. The public symposium was equally well attended and the diverse expertise of the Harvard/Mass General team – that ranged from children to women's to mood disorders and schizophrenia – were informative. The sessions concluded with ‘Ask the experts’ panel which not only opened the floor for questions from public and professionals about mental health, but also revealed the impact of the subject. A Pledge Wall (put up by SPEAK) saw doctors, students, and the public pledging to fight the stigma of mental health in Kuwait. It is common knowledge that society is often harshly judgmental towards those unfortunate to be bipolar or autistics, and as result of our bigoted views these people tend to live in secrecy and battle their illness all alone, quiet often worsening rather than improving their condition or lifestyle. "We have been planning this conference for a while and it took a lot of hard work to pull it off. The event would not be possible without the wholehearted support of our mentors at the Harvard/Massachusetts Hospital, Kuwait Center for Mental Health, and our generous sponsors and supporters,” said the Alhomaizi twins, adding resolutely, “SPEAK will continue this fight until one day the stigma of mental illness is a thing of history."
Feel free to pose your questions to Alaa & Dalal Alhomaizi on: ask.fm/speakuwait or email them at speakuwait@hotmail.com.
L'OCCITANE (ARABIC)
FASHION’S FULL-FIGURED FAILURE By Robin Givhan
Don’t like your body? Don’t blame the models.
The spring 2013 runway shows, which finished in Paris last month, were filled with impossibly skinny, extremely young gazelles. So were the fall glossies. Fashion as usual, perhaps—yet this was supposed to have changed. In the midst of the ongoing battle between an industry intent on creating idealized images of women, and critics who believe those images do grievous harm, the 19 editors-in-chief of the Vogue brand banded together last May to announce a détente. They promised 104
not to “knowingly” use mannequins under the age of 16 or those who appeared to have an eating disorder, and pledged to be “ambassadors for the message of healthy body image.” To demonstrate their seriousness, they dedicated issues to the cause. American Vogue mounted a splashy cover story on Olympic athletes, while Gisele Bundchen’s perfectly round derrière took center stage at French Vogue. But the lure of teenage models proved irresistible. By fall, Vogue China had broken the pledge and
featured 15-year-old model Ondria Hardin; its counterpart in Japan suffered a similar lapse. This was only the latest industry failure. In 2007, the Council of Fashion Designers of America created a similar pledge, which has since been broken—most notably, by designer Marc Jacobs, who unapologetically included a 14-year-old Hardin in his fall 2012 show, her baby face barely visible under a giant, fur hat. The fashion industry simply loves a skinny young girl. And for the average woman, fashion continues
to deliver a brutal, frustrating fantasy. But are the models to blame for women’s psychic battering? To most critics, skinny models seem to exacerbate the occurrence of eating disorders. But over time, it hasn’t mattered if the models-of-theday were waifs or Amazons. Experts say there’s no evidence that the rate of eating disorders has spiked or plummeted accordingly. So apparently size doesn’t matter. Rather, fashion’s sin is that it peddles dissatisfaction. What one has is never quite pretty enough, luxurious enough, glamorous enough—and, with obesity on the rise and baby boomers settling into retirement— thin, toned, and tight enough. Activists say fashion could give women a break by showing a diversity of body sizes and designing for all of them. But democracy in fashion has only added to the stress. Mass marketers make it relatively inexpensive to be fashionable—if a woman makes an effort. Beauty is a big-tent conceit and no one is exempt, even if they’d like to be. Why can’t we make peace with fashion? Perhaps because we can’t decide if it is a commodity industry that should respond to a marketplace filled with size 14 women, or if it is an art form that should be free to weave elusive fantasies. During Vogue’s golden years, the magazine was filled with black-andwhite images of models posed to exaggerate lithe physiques. It also featured illustrations that reduced the body to simple geometry—circles, triangles, legs elongated to lines. We savor those images because we see them as art. “No one is going to protest a Giacometti, but they will protest a photo in ‘Seventeen’,” says Susan Scafidi, academic director of Fordham’s Fashion Law Institute. Contemporary fashion tries to be both rarefied and accessible. Economically, it only makes sense. But while everyone should be concerned about the well-being of models, it is helpful to remember that while they are flesh and blood, fashion itself is mostly smoke and mirrors.
SUNDEK
THE RENTAL COMPANY What’s theirs is yours By bazaar staff
Benchmarking against the world’s largest cities’ rental companies, The Rental Company, a subsidiary of The Meaza Group Company, is the first of its kind in Kuwait where customers can find high quality furniture, decorations, lighting & sound equipment and stages, among several other event utilities, for corporate and social events all within a reasonable budget and a flexible delivery system. Making it a point to make their customers’ experience as hassle-free as possible, they’ve even created an-easy-to-surf catalogue on their website (www.therentalcompany.com.kw) containing 90% of their products where customers can browse and immediately request automatic quotations for items they are interested in renting. What makes TRC so unique? Other than their already handy online catalogue? How about the fact that they are available 7 days a week, without a minimum lead time, subject to item and quantity availability? And, because they own all the items they offer for rent, many of which are exclusive to TRC, they are in control of not only timely deliveries, but more importantly, cost, which makes their prices very competitive. Their team of professional handlers carefully package, deliver and pick up the equipment right from your doorstep. The best part? No minimum order requirement! Once you’ve selected your items, the TRC team will provide you with a quotation based on a 24-hour rental fee. The prices they offer are daily fees and therefore any additional day(s) are multiplied by the total rental amount. Looking to rent their equipment for a longer period of time? No problem, they offer special rates for long-term rentals. Keep in mind that, although they’ve virtually made it so you never have to leave the comfort of your couch, once they’ve delivered the equipment to your door, it will up to you to set it up as 106
their team of handlers does not provide set-ups. If however, you need help setting up TRC can quote you a reasonable fee for getting help or setting you up with set-up consultant. But, have no fear, for all their technical equipment comes with a technician to supervise the set-up and remains there throughout the event to ensure everything goes smoothly. As you would expect of any rental company, TRC operate on a COD (Cash On Delivery) basis, while requiring a deposit for larger booking order. Companies who are looking to utilize TRC’s services can rest assured that they welcome credit payments to those that have a good credit history with The Meaza Group Company. The Rental Company seems to have gone out of their way to fill a void in the market of hassle-free, exclusive event supplies with very competitive prices. They own all the equipment they rent and that’s why they can be so flexible. From sofas and tables, which include their exclusive variety of LED furniture items, which are sturdy and can handle heavy weights, including cocktail tables, cubes, cylinders, coffee tables and benches, all of which are battery operated (and therefore wireless) for up to 8 hours and can change up to 13 colors through remote control, to street barricades, poles and ropes, and traffic cones for crowd control – if you think you might need it, TRC probably has it. For a full listing of their supplies, and to learn more about order and cancellation policies, please log onto www.therentalcompany.com.kw. For more inquiries please email: Info@therentalcompany.com.kw or call T: 2434 3226/ 2434 3622, Cell: 9999 1852.
BOSSINI
bazaar investigates RIVER ISLAND River Island Design forum returns for Autumn 2012 with a collection of specially commissioned pieces created by William Tempest. William’s exclusive range for River Island draws inspiration from ancient Egyptian mythology, 1920s interiors and the work of M. C. Escher. Key pieces from the collection of effortless eveningwear separates and accessories include a sequined chiffon shirt dress, an art deco plunge back column dress and laser cut heels. Black and nude fabrics with opaque contrasts feature heavily alongside textiles designed exclusively for the collection, including a tessellated design and a geometric art deco pattern. The scarab beetle, a symbol of wealth and power for ancient Egyptians, acts as a motif which runs throughout the range via prints and finishes. Williams Design forum collection will make its debut via short film at LONDON’S FASHION WEEK’s second biannual festival. FASH/ ON FILM, an initiative devised by the British Fashion Council in conjunction with River Island, aims to support and develop creative film in the industry. William Tempest studied at the London College of Fashion and worked with both Giles Deacon and Jean-Charles de Castelbajac before launching his eponymous line in 2009. William’s fl air for creating luxurious, modern pieces has enabled him to count Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham and Emma Watson as fans. The 13 piece collection is available in selected River Island stores and online at riverisland.com.
OXYGENIZER The new way of breathing Oxygen and water are indispensable elements for life on earth. Furthermore, the ultimate cause of all diseases is insufficient oxygen and water. Oxygen enriches our blood, cells, tissues and organs with energy while water hydrates our bodies to support human body functions for optimal good health.A lack of both oxygen and water will greatly disturb the balance of our immune system and regularity of cellular and organ functions while promoting the build-up of harmful toxins. Benefits of Drinking Oxygenizer Oxygen Water • Improvement in energy, vitality and immune system • Delay in aging process as it promotes healthy cell and tissue regeneration • Natural boost to your well-being and mental clarity • Enhances the uptake of vitamins supplements • Promotes faster recovery from injury and muscles from exercise Oxygenizer Now available in supermarkets and coops in 2 sizes 350 ml & 500 ml
NEW LOOK WOMENSWEAR AW12 New Look Womenswear AW12 is all about sumptuously feminine elements and their strong structured counterparts. The ‘Spellbound’ collection is inspired by the magical themes adorning this season’s catwalk, with a tougher edge to create a soft and floaty yet strong and structured range. Winter florals in a dark gothic palette are teamed with studded, spiked leather and distressed, ripped denim. Women can explore their rebellious side with graphic tees and buckled biker boots that contrast with the femininity of the collection’s sheer fabrics and lace touches. The strong grunge undercurrent is reflected in exposed zips and tarnished buttons, chains and cutwork. Scarlet dog- tooth, black-and-white hounds-tooth and metallic leopard print play with texture in this collection. This season, New Look womenswear is bold, sassy and suave. Tarnished hardware, contrast collars, dog-tooth, Aztec and baroque prints come together to demonstrate the eclectic nature of the collections. There really is something to scintillate every sense!
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DESIGUAL AUTUMN/ WINTER 2012 Rainbow L Line Light reflection Desigual and Monsieur C. Lacroix create a new season of the fantastic L line. The L line captures the memory of a timeless and baroque repertoire, with the French designer’s particular imagery close to the Desigual universe, such as the prints inspired by eighteenth century upholstery, oriental touches and floral designs. The elaborate items, complex prints and bold combinations are part of the collection based directly on the French designer’s best-known images. The Casual line, with Marilyn Monroe as a source of inspiration, for a happy day-to-day. More youthful and urban clothes, retro but also romantic, that aim to surprise and convey a joie de vivre characteristic of Desigual. Dobby fabrics enrich and embellish the collection.
BATH & BODY WORKS Launches Signature Collection Wild Garden in the Middle East Let your senses come alive with the brilliance of this lush, wild and playful collection every time you adorn yourself with the new delightful range by Bath & Body Works. The Wild Garden arrives in the Middle East and promises a fragranced shower that captures the first bloom. The new Wild Garden scents burst with an exotic medley of juicy fruits and fresh summer flowers. Experience the sensation of stepping into a natural wild garden with this new collection by choosing from these unique and breathtaking scents. This Wild Garden collection in three new fragrances is available in full and travel sizes so you can take a full bloom even when you are on the go! As part of this range, there is a fantastic Tote Bag featuring splash mist, body lotion, shower gel, lip gloss, scented candle and bath sponge products for an unforgettable Wild Garden experience. Although the products are worth KD 17.3, it is offered for KD14.5 only! Visit Bath & Body Works stores to choose your favorite fragrance from the Signature Collection Wild Garden and step in to the wild side!
2012 مجموعة إيديليو تعكسُ هذه المجموعة.تجسد مجموعة إيديليو الحديثة من ساعاتِ سالفاتوري فيراغامو األناقة واإلبداع اللذين لطالما طبعا أسلوبَ دار فلورنتين ."الساحرة المتميزة بتنوّعها رؤية شاعرية لمفهوم "انقضاء الوقت ّ . تشك ُل إيديليو الساعة الجوهرة الفائقة العظمة التي تحاكي سما ًء ليلية متاللئة بالنجوم وتمتاز بقرصها المدرّج المرصع باألحجار الكريمة يحيط بالقرص كوكبة.يتأ ّلقُ الطراز األوتوماتيكيّ من الناحية الجمالية والحركية سحراً بقرصه المدرج األبيض البسيط وطابعة األنثوي الصرف ِ في حين يبدو رباط المعصم األنيق مصنوعًا من جلد التمساح اللماع الموسوم بدمغة،6 و12 واألرقام الرومانية المتمركزة عند،من األحجار الماسية . يتجسدُ هذا االبتكارُ االستثنائيّ في نسخة محدودة مؤلفة من مائة ساعة فقط.فيراغامو الحمراء ُ صقل نسخة كوارتز وإدخال التحسينات عليها لتصبحَ متميزة بقرصها المدرج األبيض أو الفضي المزخرف بنقوش متناسقة والمزين بالماس في َّتم ّ وبرباطٍ مطبوع بجلد التمساح األبيض أو األسود أو األرجواني أو سوار معدني، مم25 تمتاز هذه الساعة بإطار مذهب وبنسخة مصغرة.9 موقع الرقم .متميز بلونين متدرجين .تو ّلى قسمُ "تايمكس غروب لوكزوري ديفيجين" إنتاج مجموعة إيديليو المصنعة وفقَ أعلى معايير التقنية والجودة السويسرية في صناعةِ الساعات
EXPLORERS BASE INTRODUCES THE INSTANT TENT As always, Explorers Base brings to their customers the most functional gear available. This year is no different; the all-new most convenient instant tent is now available for sale in Explorers Base. The tent is easily set up in just one minute and taken down in the same amount of time. It is big enough to hold two queen airbeds and high enough for campers to stand up and move, making this tent feel a lot like home far away from home. When the weather gets rough, count on the WeatherTec™ System and fully taped seams to keep you dry. At two times the thickness of standard material, the fabric is also less likely to rip than other tents. The tent is available in different sizes. The 4-person (2.44 m x 2.13 m), the 6-person (3 m x 2.7 m) and the 8-person (4.3 m x 2.4 m). Explorer Base is one of the many Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co. retails. For more information on Ali Abdulwahab Al Mutawa Commercial Co. and other brands visit our website at www.aaw.com or call 1804449. 109
THE PAST UNRAVELED
‘This Is Not How You Write Stories’ By bazaar staff
In her first published work, This Is Not How You Write Stories, Architect Roa AlShaheen presents a surrealistic novel in collage format—only a few words and a series of artwork, using original images from the archive of National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters. Her words might be few, yet her publication sheds a light on the significant realm of architecture in Kuwait in a strangely accessible aesthetic. Whether you’re an artist, architect or an avid reader, you will be intrigued by its puzzling format that unravels the past. The fact that the exclusive source of materials is of archived photography lends the images a certain holistic nature because they are composed of materials using similar reproduction techniques and there's something interestingly odd about them. The oddness extends to ‘constructing’ an unbounded format; the narrative is not structured even through the series of vignettes, yet history has taught us that the past is completely subjective. In that sense, the unbound collages allow readers to decide the storyline themselves. Nevertheless, no image stands alone; each appears as one element of a sequential narrative. Things begin to break down when arranged as a sequence, however. What exactly transpires, and why? Not just ambiguous, these series stand boldly and deliberately opaque, challenging the reader to assign any meaning - neither confirming nor denying any that one might try to impose. This isn't a comic book, and it isn't a story. It is, however, a novel in a modern literary sense as there is a consistent and extended mood throughout. At the historical level, it offers another range of potential interpretations. Imagebased storytelling can act as a visual retelling of a history hardly known throughout the viewers' culture and architectural education, and lure them to a more modern kind of involvement. Message aside; you will mostly likely never see a book as random as this. Whether you view it from start to finish, or from finish to start, it makes just as much sense either way. However, something about the pictures and the little bit of text makes you want to make your own connections to continue reading. AlShaheen indulges us with a few more tidbits: What prompted you to create this kind of novel? A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader 110
using sequential art; I chose to generate it through experimental design rather than the traditional comics format. The classification is employed in a broad manner in English books. Yet, Arabic graphic novels mainly encompass children's works and short stories, or are simply ignored as a category or viewed as comic books. Was the design aesthetic of the novel a deliberate decision? In a way yes, the emotional effect on the reader is a given considering the nostalgic images of the past. Also, since the original imagery was in black and white, I purposely used colorful metaphors and a figurative language. Since graphic novels are a slowly growing field in Arabic, its originality in relation to other publications does give it its appeal. What's your inspiration behind creating a novel about the realm of architecture in Kuwait? I graduated from the school of architecture in Kuwait University last year. Since then I have started "Labij" a design+ architecture office, where we design contemporary architecture, interior design, and other design related products. I also work at the National Council for Culture Arts and Letters as an architect on conservation projects of old buildings in Kuwait. So, architecture is a big inspiration to whatever I do creatively since my work tackles the old and the new. How long did it take you to finalize the piece? Seven months, I started writing in March and a month later I had access to the archive of imagery. I found that history does repeat itself. The impressions I had written down were portrayed in the in my collage artwork, transforming the old photography to address current affairs. What are some personal messages conveyed through the book? I decided to give the book an ambiguous approach since each page can convey different meanings to different people. Also, the choice of having it not bound together gives the reader a chance to create a new sequence of his/her own. However, one of the most evident messages of the work is the scrutiny of the relationship between human beings and their surrounding environment. ‘This Is Not How You Write Stories’ is available at That AlSalasil in the avenues, Aafag bookstore in Tilal complex, and Dar Alfunoon art gallery.
NASSER SPORT
(BEIGE & RED BOOTS)
INTELLIGENT MELODRAMA ‘Blind Intersections’ by Lara Saba and Nibal Arakji highlight social disparity in three tales By Jim Quilty
There is a moment in Alejandro Iñárritu’s Babel when, for some in the audience, it becomes a “great” film. It comes near the end of the three apparently free-standing stories coiled together by Iñárritu’s collaborator Guillermo Arriaga, and washes over you as a moment of illumination. A U.S. citizen who’s just survived a harrowing ordeal in Morocco picks up a telephone, calls home and tells his Mexican servant he wants to talk to his two kids. After a moment or two, you recall having listened in on this conversation near the start of the film, from the perspective of the man’s servant and children. It’s not an “Ah ha!” moment of the sort that unlocks the vexing mystery at the center of a detective story. Hearing the Moroccan half of the phone conversation simply confirms how two of the movie’s three stories are connected. The somehow devastating illumination of this moment lies in realizing that, contrary to what mainstream filmmaking convention has taught us to assume, these two stories have not been unfolding concurrently. Some critics, who do not think Babel is great, suggest that Arriaga’s gesture is ultimately empty because it does less to illuminate the narrative’s themes than it does the cleverness of the writer. The spirit of Iñárritu and Arriaga are lodged in the pores of Blind Intersections, whose world premiere opened the Beirut International Film Festival last month. Like the work of Iñárritu and Arriaga, the debut feature film collaboration of Lebanese screenwriter Nibal Arakji (also the film’s principal producer) and director Lara Saba is a narrative of three loosely connected stories. Rather than roving over three continents to underline the diffuse nature of their plot, Saba and Arakji have set all their tales in contemporary Beirut. Its residents are fond of observing that “Beirut is a village,” but class differences here (sectarian affiliation never raises its head during the film) are enough to ensure that, glancing encounters aside, the richest 112
and poorest of its citizens can exist separately. The central cord of the plot is that of Nour (Ghida Nouri), a university student who is attractive but too hard working and serious minded to be distracted by her frivolous, well-off friends. When disaster suddenly tears through her struggling middle class family, a series of financial and emotional dominos start toppling. Save the insincere reassurances of social convention and the sympathetic tears of her wheelchair-bound grandmother, Nour must face these trials alone. A few rungs up the social ladder reside India and Malak (Carol Hajj and Charbel Ziade). Though Malak’s line of work is vague, his designer suits, boardroom meetings and his flat’s unobstructed sea view of the rock of Raouche suggest the couple belongs to Beirut’s new generation of haute bourgeoisie. India’s work as an elementary school teacher keeps her grounded in mundane realities. Economically superfluous as it is, she wears her work as a badge of honor, though the audience never witnesses any of her purported classroom wizardry. The story focuses rather on India and Malak’s sole challenge, their struggle to get pregnant. Shuffling about near the bottom of Beirut society is Marwan (Alaa Hammoud), a little boy whose story is virtually absent from this country’s narrative repertoire, though it echoes through cities around the world. Marwan is an elementary school student – possibly at India’s school, though he isn’t one of her students – where he has a scholarship. But his problems far outweigh the advantages of intelligence. His young single mother is a nightmarish creature whose existence revolves around getting drunk in front of the television and shagging various men in exchange for daily rations of booze and hash. Rather than helping her boy succeed, she forces him to clean the house before class. For spare cash she routinely pimps him out to a pederast. Arakji and Saba set their three basically sympathetic characters in motion with variously insurmountable
obstacles facing them, giving their audience ample opportunity to squirm in discomfort along the way. Comedy is distinctly (and not inappropriately) absent from Blind Intersections. Two narrative themes bind the three characters. One is education – Nour and Marwan are bright students, while India claims to be a devoted educator. The other is medical care, here embodied by Doctor Karim Shihab (Chadi Haddad). A young resident doctor on the outpatients’ ward of some unnamed Beirut hospital, Shihab bears witness to the misfortunes the filmmakers rain down on the three principal characters. (“Bears witness” is the operative word, for woe betides anyone in desperate need of medical assistance who stumbles into Shihab’s care.) Saba and Arakji fall far short of Iñárritu and Arriaga, but Blind Intersections isn’t a bad film at all. The look of the thing, lensed by Michel Lagerwey, is subdued to the near-monochrome grey that audiences have come to associate with the social realist palette. The soundtrack, by Lebanese experimental musician Raed al-Khazen, is dislocating yet sonorous – though it seems difficult to depict a female character’s emotional duress without hearing plaintive piano notes in the background. The acting is competent and generally controlled enough to avoid toppling into soap opera-style scenery chewing. This is a credit to Saba and her cast, particularly Ghida Nouri – whose Nour must enact greater emotional tribulation than India, while her age forces her to be more expressive than the taciturn Marwan. When it comes to the writing, the word “derivative” comes to mind. This isn’t necessarily welcome hereabouts, where efforts to capture the roiling social disparities beneath Beirut’s facades are rare and passionate filmmaking seldom complemented by equal levels of technical expertise. There are worse models to emulate than that of Arriaga’s brand of intelligent melodrama. ‘Blind Intersections’ will have a theatrical release later this year.
RED
bazaar snap
Title: Celebrating our 13th Wedding Anniversary! Photographed by: Ghadeer AlBahar Location: Fintas – Kuwait Description: There is nothing like celebrating our anniversary with a beautiful Kuwaiti sunset..
For your snap submissions, please send an email including the photo with its title, location, and description to snap@bazaar-magazine.com
freedom to express 114
ZEE BRGR
THE SADAT ERA Abdel Meguid’s 1984 novel recently translated: a journey to the pre-Mubarak years By India Stoughton
American poet and author Maya Angelou famously wrote that “history, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”As long-standing rulers across the region began toppling like dominoes last year, many people have begun looking to history in an attempt to predict what might come next and avoid the past repeating itself. As one of Egypt’s better-known writers on the international scene, Ibrahim Abdel Meguid has had several novels published in English, though The House of Jasmine, first published in Arabic in 1984, was only recently 116
translated. Translated by Noha Radwan, the book appeared in English for the first time this June – almost 30 years after publication – a reflection of increased interest in historical literature set in the region among the Englishspeaking world post-Arab Spring. Set in Alexandria in the era of President Anwar Sadat’s rule, the story is narrated by the oddly named Shagara (Arabic for tree). The book opens on June 13, 1974, the day that the thenpresident of the United States, Richard Nixon, came to Alexandria, as part of a state visit to Egypt. The incredibly tall Shagara, who works as an administrator in
Alexandria’s shipping yard, is charged with the task of escorting a group of workers to cheer the president’s arrival. Instead, he pays each worker half the money due to them, sends them off to spend the day as they will, and keeps the leftover cash, thus adding his petty act of corruption to the larger lie being played out for the international press. For those not very familiar with Egypt’s history, it is worth reading the translator’s afterword before commencing the novel, as it astutely links the contents of the book to current events, as well as contextualizing several key events which might otherwise pass over the heads of readers due to their low-key treatment. Radwan’s afterword puts the book’s opening events into perspective, noting that the day after Nixon’s visit the New York Times reported that “President Nixon received a rousing welcome from hundreds of thousands” – presumably not knowing that the crowds had been paid-off by a manipulative regime. Abdel Meguid continues to provide an alternative perspective on the officially sanctioned history of Sadat’s 11-year rule. Shagara and his friends watch on television as Sadat lands in Jerusalem in 1977, as part of the negotiations which led up to the signing of the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty. Though the treaty won the Egyptian President a Nobel Peace Prize, through the eyes of Shagara – who is not particularly politically engaged – Abdel Meguid provides an insight into the sense of betrayal felt not only by hardline Egyptian Islamists, one of whom assassinated Sadat two years later, but by the average Egyptian citizen. Silence falls in the cafe as Sadat shakes hands with Menachem Begin and Golda Meir, and Shagara describes his emotions with an uncharacteristic poetry. “Silence and gloom were filling the space behind me as darkness fell,” he says. “I was sitting on the edge of a cliff over a deep valley. One push backward would have left me dead.” Abdel Meguid has succeeded in lending his protagonist a quirky, memorable voice and a believable
range of habits and viewpoints, which run the gamut from endearing to alienating. Like the character of Zaki Bey el Dessouki in Egyptian author Alaa Al-Aswany’s best-selling 2002 novel The Yacoubian Building, Shagara’s main preoccupation is women, whom he thinks about almost constantly. Unlike Dessouki, however, his thoughts center not explicitly on sex, but on the means to this end – how to find himself a wife. He begins the book living with his widowed mother in a tumbledown house, but is gradually able to increase his personal standing, thanks in large part to acts of petty crime. He has just three friends, misfits like him, all of whom are trying to run away from reality in some way. Shagara’s friend Hassanayn finds escape in reading old history books, studying for a degree he does not need. Magid dreams of owning his own pharmacy, but having achieved this aim decides to leave the country. Abd al-Salam, an ex-soldier who fought against Israel in the 1973 war, cannot find a place for himself either, eventually emigrating to Iraq. “None of us have been successful at anything,” he tells Shagara before he leaves, “but we have not been failures either. We stand in a vacuum.” Abdel Meguid paints a compelling picture of a country in which corruption is rife, leading to a frustrated population, who one minute riot in the street and the next appear resigned to their fate – almost apathetic. He prefaces each chapter with a surreal short story, loosely linked in some way to Shagara’s experiences. Most of these are grim little tales, though recounted in a whimsical style – babies born with tails, a dead woman who comes back to life and runs through the streets naked, luring people to an uncertain fate, and a man who climbs a light tower and refuses to come down, eventually slitting his throat. These passages remain unexplained. Are they dreams? Moral tales? Premonitions? Or are they perhaps just Abdel Meguid’s way of adding an extra pinch of the surreal into the reality of an Egypt where nothing quite seems to make sense?
CROCS
(KIDS/GIRLS)
WHITE WHISKERS By Abrar Al Shammari
They say that unconditional love is the love that lasts even when wrinkles have riddled your hands and face, when bald patches on your head have to be combed over with what few strands of grey hair you have left, when your face contorts and you wince in pain at your old, aching legs every single time you have to stand up, and when they still kiss you despite your new, unappealing habit of not only snoring in your sleep, but slobbering, too. Yet, this process loses all sense of romance and selflessness when only one of you is doing the aging. We come up with excuses for our anger when we lose someone we love. We say it was too soon, too sudden, we weren't given enough time with them, didn't share enough kisses, laughs, secrets, whispers, hugs. But the truth is, even if we were told when we'd lose them, even if we were given a few extra years with them, no amount of time would ever have been enough for us to love them to our full capacity before saying goodbye. Even 118
if all you're asking for is just one more touch, just one more chance...in reality, not even forever would be enough. I met my dog Flake when I was fourteen years old. I am nineteen today, and I still remember the strange little quirks she had back then that made my heart melt. This golden-lab mix was not a tiny little bundle of hyperactive, untainted puppy joy; she was a frail, starving two-year-old golden gal with a visible ribcage, what seems to be a cigarette burn on her front leg, a scar between her eyes, and literally shook with fear. Yes, most people prefer puppies. Yes, puppies have pure, unscathed souls, and because of that, they have the ability to fall in love with you for an entire lifetime in a short span of only a few minutes. They're not much different from babies, from a certain angle. There's a reason why when people choose to adopt, they don't seek older children; it's because their personalities have already been shaped, and more often than not,
they're still suffering from emotional scars as a result of past traumatic experiences. It's a burden, and usually signifies a bumpy road to recovery; most people prefer the smooth path. Yes, it took a long time for Flake to trust my family and I - but all of that effort, patience, and tip-toeing to be considerate of her fear of loud noises was worth it. Since Flake has become a part of our family, I often joke with my little brother and tell him that she was the best 'decision' he ever made - because he was the one who brought her home. I have a photograph of my little brother and Flake sitting side by side on a couch when she first arrived; my brother Fawaz was eleven years old and still curly haired and baby-faced, and Flake was still quite skinny, but also had a young face. One of the things I loved the most about having Flake grow old with us is watching my little brother grow up at the same time, too. When he grew facial hair, wrinkles riddled her face. When he shot up, she gained weight. When he started to
develop an easy going, laid back personality that he was happy with, she also developed a sense of security and confidence. My sister has often labeled me "Mother Theresa" in a not-so-flattering way, implying that I try too hard to save the world - that, I am guilty of. At fourteen years old, Flake's constant terror bewildered me. I could not fathom what kind of pain someone would have to go through in order to reach that level of fear. I watched her, studied her, thought maybe if I looked at her hard enough, that I would be able to see into her soul, get some kind of insight into the trauma she experienced. Of course, nada. But I learned to be tender, gentle, kind, and considerate because of my friendship with her. Let me tell you: it is not easy to love someone who's been hurt. It takes an indescribable amount of patience, and understanding, and sacrifice. You have to comprehend that the last person they trusted took advantage of that trust and hurt them. Understandably, they're hesitant to ever trust again. You also have to understand that the mistrust is not aimed at you; there is no room for your personal feelings when you are in the process of healing someone who's been hurt. You can't take anything personally; not their suspicion, or aggression, or any walls they may put up. Flake went to a "training center" in Chabd, where she was subjected to ruthless torture for two weeks. When she "graduated" from this "training program" that taught her nothing but fear, she developed a phobia of men. It took her at least one year before she was able to warm up to my older brother, who I assume reminded her of those men because he was an adult male - despite the fact that he was also quite gentle with her, she could not help the association she had made. Over time, with a great deal of patience, she reached a point where she would warmly greet Abdulla with smiles and a wagging tail every time she saw him - she learned to love him. I have a silly but surprisingly effective philosophy that the key to anyone's heart is through their stomach. Now, apply that philosophy to someone who just came back from a torture camp where food was a privilege only offered to 'superior beings' who walk on two legs. Naturally, when I unwrapped a Bu Thahab cone and tentatively sat criss-cross next to her bed, her eyes lit up and her nose started sniffing, trying to find the source of goodness that filled her sense of smell with such a fantastic aroma. I let her come to me, not pushing her. And from that point on, we took baby steps to building the trust between us. There have been times during certain rough patches of my early teenage years when I would quietly hide away with her and pour my deepest,
darkest thoughts to her. I cannot describe the wonderful sense of catharsis these confession sessions would offer me, especially as a young girl with raging hormones and indescribable confusion about the world - she made it simple, though she offered me no words. She offered me company and acceptance. We were there for each other when things were difficult. In 2008, my sister Shahd left to England for grad school. At that point, Flake had formed a deep attachment to her, and had picked her as "her person" - it has something to do with the fact that they slept in the same bed, I think. The heartbreak she experienced at her departure was excruciating; I won't lie, I shared her pain. I was also very attached to my sister, and this was the first time in my life that we would have to be apart for so long. I cried my heart out - and so did my mother. This was not exactly comforting for Flake, who must have assumed the worst. The long, cold winter months passed, and I clung to her for comfort, because I knew she missed her just as much as I did - except she could not rationalize it like I could. When Christmas came, Shahd finally came back to visit. On a cold December morning, my family and I waited for our sister outside our home. When the car pulled up, and Shahd stepped out, my eyes darted towards my dog, who was standing at the end of the street. Her eyes widened, and she blinked twice, like she could not believe what she was seeing. She must have thought she was seeing a ghost, but after blinking a few times and affirming that what she was seeing was indeed real, she bolted towards my sister at lightning speed. We shared the same overwhelming joy at my sister's return. I watched her grow old and ill, saw her develop arthritis and would feel nothing but utter helplessness when she would have difficulty standing or going up the stairs. I felt even worse knowing that she could not enjoy our Scientific Center walks like she used to, because she would run out of breath within fifteen minutes. I watched her whiskers turn from a gorgeous golden shade to a pale, white color. Yet, I think the worst part was that she still tried to be the same. She still rushed to greet us when we'd come home from work, school, travels; even though I knew it was painful and tiring. Let me tell you: nothing hurts quite as much as not being able to ease the pain of those you love the most, especially when they try so hard to mask it for your sake. A month ago, we came back from the vet after a long day of x-rays, blood tests, and endless picking and probing. The doctor examining her had suspected she had a tumor in her mouth; "she might have a tumor", he said.
I don't think he was quite aware of the magnitude of that one single word, "might". "Might", as in she may or may not suffer a slow, painful death. "Might", as in my family and I may or may not have to watch her deteriorate right before our very eyes. "Might", as in we may or may not have to decide if we should spare her all that pain and put her to sleep. The way he so lightly tossed the word "might" made me think that I "might" just choke this guy. At 7 PM of that day, she was exhausted, and collapsed on our kitchen floor. I knelt down beside her, and she cuddled her head in my lap, snoring quietly. I stroked her soft, golden ears, consoling her after such a draining day. I studied her features; her small paws, her fragile legs, her pretty ears, her blond eyelashes. I was suddenly so determined to drill every single feature of her into my memory, so afraid that I would someday not remember the triangular shape of her wet, brown nose. She was sleeping so soundly, and I did not want to wake her. I told myself not to make a sound, not to move an inch, no matter how upset I was. But when the pain swelled up in my chest, when a lump formed in my throat, my tears betrayed me and traveled down my cheeks. I still held my breath, careful not to sob so as not to wake her; I closed my eyes and wished it all away, imagined I was still fourteen years old and she was still the two-year-old skinny lab with her head in my lap licking away at my Bu Thahab cone. I was jolted back to reality when I felt her warm, wet tongue licking my tears, and found her sitting up, facing me. I broke down. I wrapped my arms around her with an intensity that clearly said I was terrified of losing her. She was only seven years old, and I was not ready for her to go. I am grateful for all the great memories that we've had together, and for Flake showing me what kind of tenderness and patience I was capable of. I am grateful that I can now touch her paws and legs without her twitching and retracting, that she can now wake up from certain sounds in comedic annoyance rather than anxious fear, that I can now shower her with kisses and make her feel loved without her previous discomfort at that kind of proximity and affection, and knowing that I played a part in her healing process. I am especially grateful that during times of sadness or pain, she was there for my family - she has offered us comfort during times when we had lost every ounce of faith. I am grateful that we were able to give her a life where she felt safe, secure, happy, and confident. I can honestly say that she is a transformed dog now, and whether or not we do lose her, a part of me will always be with her, and a part of her will always be in us. I will forever carry her in my heart and soul. 119
SOOR C
CLINIC
I GIGGLE, Therefore I am By Nicholas Day
I have just discovered a profoundly human, evolutionarily crucial fact about the new baby in our house: He likes to be tickled. This isn't a joke. For centuries, the deepest of thinkers - Aristotle, Darwin, Shylock - have puzzled over this silliest of human acts. Robert Provine, a neuroscientist at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County, is their heir, and according to his new book, Curious Behavior, Shylock was on to something. Tickling is not an inexplicable physical tic. It's central to who we are - and how we became who we are. Provine first began researching tickling when someone came up to him before a talk on laughter - he's an expert on the subject - and said she hoped he wasn't studying tickling. She hated tickling. So inevitably, he decided to study it: "Her revulsion was persuasive." If she's that annoyed by it, he thought, it must be important. Its importance begins in infancy. "When people say they hate being tickled and there's no reason for it, they forget that it's one of the first avenues of communication between mothers and babies," he says. "You have the mother and baby engaged in this kind of primal, neurologically programmed interaction." Or the father: I tickle my son; he shrieks; I tickle him more; he shrieks more; I tickle him yet more; he starts wailing. I apologize. In a sense, this is our first conversation - how we manage to talk with someone despite being preverbal. The content here is socioemotional, and as a form of social binding, it preceded the development of language, Provine says. Play with a toddler and you might end up recapitulating that developmental progression: before talking comes tickling. "If one wants to become friends with a young child," as the neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp has written, "there is 122
no easier way to negotiate the social terrain than by gently escalating tickle games." Tickle games are not unique to humans. They're part of our mammalian heritage. "Tickle is what binds mammals together in rough-and-tumble play," Provine says. Pick a mammal. Squirrels engage in play that looks a lot like tickling. So do - of all species - elephants. So do rats: In a sensational experiment a decade ago, Panksepp recorded the ultrasonic sounds, inaudible to the human ear, that rats make when tickled by an experimenter. The rats, in other words, seem to giggle when tickled. But only chimpanzee and human mothers gaze deeply into the eyes of their infants - and then tickle them. In the wild, chimpanzee infants will bite their mothers, who respond by tickling; the infants then bite their mothers again, which provokes more tickling; and so on. It's a social dance: Tickling is the way we and the chimps establish, without words, that we're in this thing together. Tickling in infancy is foundational behavior, in other words. Provine contends that tickling is at the root of not just communication but laughter. "Tickle is the primal laugh stimulus," Provine says. It is the "labored breathing" during this sort of rough-andtumble play that is at the root of human laughter, he argues: Over millions of years, pant-pant became ha-ha. It goes back so far that the feigned tickle is Provine's candidate for the oldest joke in the world. It's the only joke, he says, that you can tell with equal success to a human and a chimpanzee: They both crack up. (An actual tickle would spark a purely reflexive response, so it doesn't qualify.) Curious Behavior, which has chapters on things like sneezing and yawning, is a work of what Provine calls sidewalk neuroscience - research you can do while walking down the street. You don't need a
massive National Science Foundation grant; you need people willing to laugh into your microphone. ("If you insist on more equipment, buy a stopwatch.") But Provine's basic point is serious: He thinks that we overlook the significance of mundane or embarrassing behavior. Sometimes deep insights are found in shallow places. We yawn when other people yawn, or itch when other people itch, because these are very old, herd-driven behaviors. We are obeying what Provine calls "neurological scripts." And tickling, Provine says, has a profound lesson to teach us. "When you look at the evolution of the development of tickle, you're also looking at the evolution of the development of self," he says. What's at work in tickling, he argues, is the neurological basis for the separation of self from other. After all, as Provine noted so indelicately, you can't tickle yourself. Your body knows that you are you; you can't fool it. "Otherwise you'd go through life in a giant chain reaction of goosiness," Provine says. "You'd be afraid of your own clothing if you could never distinguish between touching and being touched." When a baby senses a foreign hand lightly brushing his bare feet, he's experiencing something that is recognizably other - which means that there's something that isn't other, too: There's himself. Tickling is central to who we are, because it is part of how we establish that there's a ‘we’ there. I tell myself that tickling my son is keeping me young. And Provine tells me that the ramifications of not being able to tickle yourself - the link between tickling and the perception of self - haven't been fully pursued yet. So with every diaper change, for the sake of science, I pursue those ramifications. At press time, the research seemed to be going well.
TAIBA HOSPITAL
MY DIGITAL WEDDING I tweet, I pin, I do By Brian Ries
I asked my girlfriend to marry me on a boat on the wide expanse of Lake George. There was no iPhone to capture the moment, no Twitter to tweet or Facebook to share, and, back at our campsite, no AT&T service to call home with the news. There were only s’mores. And drinks. For the two of us, it was nice. But I’ll tell ya, future marrieds: the lull couldn’t last. Within minutes, we were in my Jeep, driving 10 miles out of the woods, where we sat on the shoulder of a road trying, to no avail, to make the engagement “Facebook official.” (Turns out you can’t update your relationship status from the iPhone app. A Facebook spokesperson says the company plans on adding this feature in the future.) Lacking the digital evidence, we wondered, had it even happened? With five weeks behind us and still a year out from the date, the engagement is as real as the 124
ring. Our wedding now has a hashtag, a website in the works, and a growing list of potential vendors we’ve found online. Yelp is our beacon. Facebook our guide. (No surprise: in my day job I’m head of social media at Newsweek and The Daily Beast, managing accounts and watching for news.) My fiancée has grown particularly fond of Pinterest, the photo-sharing network used by a whopping 19 percent of women on the Internet, per one recent Pew study. To my eyes, weddings are the central reason it exists. “Pinterest is a tool people use to find inspiration for the important things they want to do in their life,” a spokesperson explained to me. “Planning a wedding is a great example.” This past July, Pinterest doubled down, creating a separate category for weddings. The same month Facebook—its users aging into love and marriage—introduced a feature displaying special events, starting with engagements and
weddings, alongside friends’ birthdays when you log in. (Babies are there, too.) The use of social media in wedding planning has risen fourfold in the past four years, according to a recent survey conducted by the weddingplanning sites The Knot and WeddingChannel. com. In it, nearly 50 percent of brides said they used social media to communicate information about their wedding, up from 23 percent in 2008. And Anja Winikka, The Knot’s site director, points out the slew of questions that now face the netiquette-aware bride. After the engagement, do you Instagram the ring or call your mother? On the big day, do you update your status before or after the first dance? As of press time, we’re still searching for a wedding minister down in Nashville. There are two finalists. Only one has a Facebook page. You can guess which one’s getting the job.
HOME CENTER
bazaar movie night The latest from the big screen playing in cinemas across Kuwait in November
THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN - PART 2
RISE OF THE GUARDIANS
CLOUD ATLAS
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family Cast: Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin and Isla Fisher
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Hugh Grant
Synopsis: Bella is enjoying her new life and new
Synopsis: Rise of the Guardians is an epic
Synopsis: Cloud Atlas explores how the actions
powers, after the birth of their daughter, Renesmee. Soon, however, their family bliss is threatened again, by a new menace. Vampire Irina believes a child like Renesmee could challenge the power and existence of the Volturi. Bella and the Cullens - together with any allies they can assemble - are preparing to fight a crucial, ultimate battle, to protect their family.
adventure that tells the story of a group of heroes - each with extraordinary abilities. When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs and imagination of children all over the world.
and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.
KILLING THEM SOFTLY
HERE COMES THE BOOM
TROUBLE WITH THE CURVE
Genre: Crime, Thriller Cast: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta and Richard Jenkins
Genre: Action, Comedy Cast: Kevin James, Salma Hayek and Henry Winkler
Genre: Drama Cast: Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams and John Goodman
Synopsis: Set in 2008, amidst the financial crisis and
Synopsis: Former collegiate wrestler Scott Voss
Synopsis: Gus Lobel (Clint Eastwood), one of the
the Presidential election, Killing Them Softly begins with a pair of hoods (Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn) holding up a high stakes, mob-protected poker game under the presumption they can get away free. The reason being, Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta), the guy overseeing the game, actually robbed his own game years earlier, later outted himself, but enough time had passed and it was laughed off and he was forgiven.
(Kevin James) is a 42-year-old apathetic biology teacher in a failing high school. Cutbacks threaten to cancel the music program and lay off its teacher (Henry Winkler,) Scott begins to raise money by moonlighting as a mixed martial arts fighter. Everyone thinks Scott is crazy - most of all the school nurse, Bella (Salma Hayek). In his quest, Scott gains something he never expected as he becomes a sensation that rallies the entire school.
best scouts in baseball for decades, but, age is starting to catch up with him. Nevertheless, Gus refuses to be benched for what may be the final innings of his career. The one person who might be able to help is his daughter, Mickey (Amy Adams), an associate at an Atlanta law firm whose drive and ambition has put her on the fast track to becoming partner. She joins him on his scouting trip, jeopardizing her own career to save his.
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For more details on movie timings and the cinema nearest you, log on to www.cinescape.com.kw
ALACANT
bazaar checks it out LABEL.M ORGANIC SULPHATE-FREE, WITH A CITRUS TWIST label.m Professional Haircare is the culmination of an original vision created by Toni Mascolo OBE – Chlairman/CEO and his daughter, Sacha Mascolo-Tarbuck Global Creative Director. Having cofounded TONI&GUY in 1963, the last 48 years has seen Toni Mascolo guide the company’s distinct brand heritage – which continues to go from strength-to-strength. How many products are in the range? Currently there are 53 high performance products, all formulated with ingredients derived from natural elements including ‘hero’ ingredients used widely within the range including: Barbados Cherry, Avocado Oil, Capaucu Butter Wheat and Soy Protein. What do the 4C's stand for? Cleanse, Condition, Create and Complete. The overriding ethic is that products can be intermixed for a bespoke experience to care and styling. Explain the label.m link to Fashion Week events? label.m head to London Fashion Week 14th- 18th September 2012, and helped in creating the looks for over 40 shows this Spring/ Summer season. This is the 17th season label.m has helped created the looks for the catwalk, with label.m Volume Mousse and label.m Extreme Hold Hairspray expected to be firm session favourites! label.m products continues to maintain the commitment to high end natural hair care with accountability. label.m organic range is a way to respond to this demand in creating salon professional products that meet the expectations of clients who want integrity but without compromising. We successfully launched the Organic Range in TONI&GUY AlCorniche Club and some other fine salons for clients who demand an extra tender hair care such as Cutting Edge Salon, Agalia Salon, Top to Toe Salon, Tulip Salon, Boudior Salon, Hotel Missoni Sixsenses Spa, and La Beaute Salon to name a few. Given to harnessing the best of nature with integrity and proven efficacy, the highly successful label.m organic range of shampoos and conditioners which are both Sulfate Free was first launched in 2008, has been repositioned for Spring 2011 as a specialist sub-range and incorporates elements ranging from a new look – plus a line extension. In addition there’s the introduction of a zesty burst of Orange Blossom to partner the best selling Lemongrass variant. label.m organic shampoo has ‘adaptable control with instant shine for all hair texture and lengths. Formulated with Avocado Extract to smooth the hair shaft and also protects against UV rays with Enviroshield technology whilst counteracting frizz. label.m organic conditioner is a mild conditioning formula for the finest of hair types with a beautiful organic citrus blend of Tuscan Mandarin Fruit, Organic Mediterranean Bergamot, Maltese Blood Oranges, Orange and Lemon Peel extract. All steeped in a base of Cypriot Orange Flower Water which deeply soothes whilst Omega-3 essential fatty acid strengthens and revitalises hair bringing it back to life. label.m organic Range combination smells absolutely divine. The shampoo is deliciously lemongrass like and really givens out a beautiful burst of smell. The conditioner has a milder scent, which really compliments the shampoo and does not leave the hair with an overpowering fragrance. Hence, while washing the hair you can even feel how moisturised these products are making it. Call beau-tique cosmetic at 22251285 for your nearest stockiest. www.beau-tiqueonline.com.
TED BAKER A/W12 Survival of the Fittest The perfect celebration of Great Britain’s Great Outdoors, Ted’s A/W12 Collections feature autumnal tones of burnished berries and earthy hues to create a heart-warming palette that embraces rustic beauty and rural charm. Town meets country with heritage fabrics and classic silhouettes sitting alongside modern pieces that are perfect for any occasion; all cut out for the survival of the fittest this A/W12. For Menswear, heritage fabrics are mixed with functional materials to create heavily detailed pieces that are second nature to Ted. Suede shooting patches, contrast elbow patches and knitted panels are key on both knitwear and outerwear. Nylon gilets feature tweed shoulder patches with cord collars; puffa jackets are more technical with waxed canvas contrast details or fur linings and herringbone check shoulder patches. For a smarter look, tweed and wool jackets celebrate Britain’s heritage with steam train and pheasant inspired prints and pheasant lapel pins. The collection also sees the resurgence of denim with heavy selvedge classic fits styled with statement turn-ups. So it’s survival of the fittest with Ted this Autumn/Winter: the finest menswear, womenswear and accessory collections distinctively designed to ensure you do not blend in with the surroundings.
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مطعم كوجي الياباني المذاق الشهي والخدمة األمثل أعلنت شركة قوت العالمية إلدارة المطاعم عن إفتتاح مطعم كوجي الياباني في منطقة القبلة في مدينة الكويت حيث تم اإلفتتاح برعاية السيد الدكتور منصور السعيد وكيل وزارة التجارة المساعد للشؤون القانونية وحضور السادة الوكالء المساعدين في الوزارة وعدد من موظفي السفارة اليابانية في الكويت وجمع غفير من .السيدات والسادة محبي األطعمة اليابانية وقد تم اإلفتتاح بجو مثالي فيما عبر السادة الحضور عن إعجابهم بالمستوى .الذي يمتاز فيه مطعم كوجي الياباني وقال السيد زكريا ياسين المدير التنفيذي للشركة أن مطعم كوجي الياباني يضم نخبة من أفضل الطهاة ذوي الخبرة الممتازةفيالمطبخاليابانيويعتبرباكورة .لمطاعم أخرى سيعلن عنها في القريب مطعم كوجي الياباني يستقبل زواره محبي السوشي والتيبنياكي وكل األطباق اليابانية يوميا من الساعة . ليال12 ظهرا ولغاية الساعة12
HOME CENTRE PRESENTS DAZZLING HOLLYWOOD GLAM COLLECTION Exclusive Range Boasts Rich Accents of Taupe, Champagne, Mink Grey, Silver and Gold reminiscent of yesterday. Reminiscent of charming and elegant boudoirs, typical of old-school Hollywood charm, Home Centre promises to up the glam quotient of your home with some exciting new pieces from its all new Hollywood Regency collection. The Hollywood Regency ensemble incorporates elements of Art Deco with eclectic touches of silver screen-inspired glamour. Low sofas, stools and statement chairs make for fluid conversation and comfort. Animal prints and chinoiserie chic accessories can be used to lend a sense of exotic opulence. The special collection boasts of porcelain white cake trays, aquamarine hurricane vases, bejewelled bowls and simple but stately timepieces. Pearls and feathers, classic chandeliers, and vintage framing are key elements of the collection. Home Centre collection includes statement pieces to help your room acquire that distinctive and inimitable look of 50’s glamour. Now available at all Homecentre stores – Al Rai, Shuwaikh, Awqaf and Fahaheel. Also opening soon at The Avenues - Phase 3
EARLY LEARNING CENTRE LAUNCHES FULL PRODUCT RANGE ON MOTHERCARE SITE The Early Learning Centre, one of the UK’s number one brands dedicated to supporting mums in helping their children grow into happy self-confident people, has launched its full range of products, as well as many other additional brands, online with Mothercare. Customers shopping on mothercare.com will now be able to browse ELC toys and even place orders within a Mothercare order. Busy parents can choose to have their orders delivered to their home in just four working days or they can collect their purchases from the Mothercare store of their choice after two working days. Customers can also select to pay on delivery, either when the goods are delivered to their home or when they collect in store. The complete online launch of ELC includes UK brands alongside local brands such as ‘Aquadoodle’ and ‘Leapfrog.’ For bilingual parents, other brands like ‘VTech’ and ‘Fun to Learn’ can help teach children in two tongues. Early Learning Centre products are more than simple toys, they enable self-expression, encourage creative thinking, promote feelings of happiness, high self-esteem and much more. Visit mothercare.com to browse the latest in Early Learning Centre toys!
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PARTY LAND
THINK YOUR BOSS IS PSYCHO?
‘The Girl’ studies Alfred Hitchcock’s obsession with Tippi Hedren By Christine Champagne
There was a point when director Julian Jarrold didn’t feel so comfortable shooting ‘The Girl’.
Based on Donald Spoto’s book Spellbound by Beauty: Alfred Hitchcock and His Leading Ladies and written by Gwyneth Hughes, the film, premiering on HBO chronicles Alfred Hitchcock’s obsession with leading lady Tippi Hedren during the filming of The Birds and Marnie. Hitchcock was relentless in his pursuit of Hedren and vindictive when she turned down his advances, punishing the actress by forcing her to endure all sorts of unnecessary discomfort, according to Spoto’s book and Hedren’s recollection of that period. Take the filming of the famous attic scene from The Birds. It needlessly stretched on for days as Hitchcock sat in his director’s chair dispassionately observing Hedren being pecked at and scratched by real birds. And it was when he was recreating this scene for The Girl that Jarrold found himself sitting in his director’s chair “squirming and feeling a little bit like Hitchcock” as he watched Sienna Miller, who plays Hedren, crouching on the floor fending off an onslaught of birds continuously shooed at her by a bird wrangler. “Sienna was fantastic. She just went on and on, but at a certain point we had to stop because it was absolutely exhausting and very unpleasant for her. It’s difficult as a director. You get very close to a line,” says Jarrold, who unlike Hitchcock, spent less than a day 132
shooting the difficult scene. “There’s no doubt this experience did make me more sensitive to my role as a director,” Jarrold adds, noting that he is collaborative with actors, letting them in on his plans, while Hitchcock was known to be less communicative. A British television and film director whose credits range from a modern television adaptation of The Canterbury Tales to the feature film Kinky Boots, Jarrold has, like any director, studied Hitchcock’s work. “I was sort of puzzled and fascinated by his later films because they often have a slightly strange relationship between the man and the blonde,” he says, citing Vertigo. “It has been a favorite of mine, but I never completely understood it. It was made before the instances [with Hedren] we’re talking about, but there are some strange similarities in the way Hitchcock treated her and in the way that the blonde in that movie is sort of created from scratch in the guise of what the man wants.” As familiar as he already was with Hitchcock’s work, Jarrold wore out his DVDs of Hitchcock films preparing to shoot The Girl, which he says was daunting to cast. Miller entered the casting process late in the game, and the director recalls being won over by how she instinctively understood how to play Hedren. “A lot of
the time she doesn’t say a huge amount in the movie, but what she does say has a lot of subtext to it. It’s a tricky part,” he says. Jarrold had met Toby Jones, who portrayed Truman Capote in Infamous, early on in casting, and the director was confident he could embody Hitchcock. But the actor had scheduling conflicts. Ultimately, the shoot was delayed so Jones could take on the role. “Toby is such a clever person in terms of playing real people. He’s not someone who slavishly tries to impersonate them. He brings his own qualities to the role on top of an immense amount of research,” Jarrold says. “He likes to disappear into the part. He transformed himself in four hours in makeup every day, and you may have heard that once he was on set, he was Alfred Hitchcock. He wasn’t Toby Jones anymore.” The Girl was shot in 26 days in Cape Town, South Africa, and nearby coastal locations in part because Jarrold wanted to use a hot, sunny locale. “One thing I love about Hitchcock films is that murder often happens but it’s not always dark and gloomy. He shot in bright, searing sunlight,” Jarrold says. It was crucial to bring the viewer into the unique visual world created by Hitchcock, but it was equally important for Jarrold to craft an intense psychological drama. “A lot of the film is about control--Hitchcock desperately trying to control Tippi, and she, in her own way, trying to resist that,” he says. Hedren, who told attendees of an HBO panel at the Television Critics Association Press Tour this summer that Hitchcock, who blacklisted her in Hollywood, may have ruined her career but didn’t ruin her life, is not portrayed as a victim in The Girl. “A lot of people would have crumbled or cracked. But she was so interesting in the way she was able to stay strong. She was walking a tightrope really,” Jarrold says. “She had an innocent quality and yet a strong quality, and she was never, ever going to submit to him.” While Hitchcock’s treatment of Hedren was deplorable, Jarrold didn’t want to portray him as simply a monster. “I hope we haven’t done that,” he says. “I think perhaps in the first half of the film you might think that. Hopefully, as the film goes on, you delve into his psychology and begin to see his vulnerabilities and where he is coming from.” As to whether he is concerned about rubbing Hitchcock fans the wrong way, Jarrold says, “Obviously, if you don’t want to hear this story, you may not like it. But, for me, it enriched the experience of watching his other films. He was unbelievably successful. He made these very commercially successful films, and yet he was showing relationships on-screen that were very odd and peculiar, and he was making the audience identify with them through his brilliance as a filmmaker.”
KITOKO
THE RISE OF WOMEN Does not mean the end of men By Stephanie Coontz
The New York Times ran an op-ed by Stephanie Coontz in reaction to Hanna Rosin's new book, The End of Men. Rosin responded. Now it's Coontz's turn:
I completely agree with Hanna Rosin on how much - and for the most part, how irreversibly - women's options and gender power relationships have changed. In my last book, A Strange Stirring, I emphasized the enormous gains women have made since the 1960s. And I am currently working on another book, tentatively titled Intimate Revolutions, showing how these positive trends in gender equality - along with new technologies, shifting racial-ethnic dynamics, and some decidedly negative trends in socioeconomic inequality have transformed interpersonal relationships at every stage of life, from birth through old age, for better and for worse. Rosin and I also agree that despite the dismantling of institutionalized patriarchy and the decreasing tolerance for the forcible assertion of male privilege, women still face widespread prejudices, as well as structural barriers to further progress toward full equality. Yet we share a fundamental optimism about the potential for continued progress, and about the benefits that progress holds for men, women and children alike. Our differences are mostly over tone and 134
emphasis. When read in its entirety, Rosin's book shows a clear grasp of the complexity, contradictions and trade-offs of the gender revolution we are experiencing. But the book's title, The End of Men, and Rosin's frequent use of phrases such as "matriarchy," while attention-getting, carry two dangers - dangers that concern me enough that I wrote about them in the op-ed pages of The New York Times. First, they can contribute to the erroneous idea that women have pulled ahead of men in most respects. The fact is that although women do earn more college degrees than men and some have moved into the highest echelons of the political and economic hierarchy, on average women still earn less than men with comparable levels of education, even accounting for seniority and total time at work. This is true of young, childless women too, who come closer to parity with their male peers than any other group. Overestimating women's gains can lead to the false assumption that the rate of social change we saw following the early victories of the women's movement will continue indefinitely. In fact, there is considerable evidence of a stall in measures of gender equality since the 1990s, and women have experienced real setbacks in their access to reproductive choice. Even more importantly, phrases like "matriarchy" and "the end of men" can lend credence to a conclusion that both Rosin and I completely reject: the notion that women's gains have come at the expense of men. The increase in unemployment and fall in real wages for the bottom 70 percent of men since the 1970s is not the result of women's ascent from the artificially low wages and limited job access that prevailed during the era of legal discrimination. It is a product of growing socioeconomic inequality, outsourcing of traditional male jobs, attacks on unions, and decreasing investment in infrastructure. It is true that many men (as well as a significant though smaller subset of women) have had difficulty adjusting to these changes. Some men remain so invested in their breadwinner identity that they go into crisis if their wife earns more than they do. Others, hoping someday the old order will return and they will recover their masculine privileges, fritter away their chances for self-improvement. But labels such as Rosin's "Cardboard Man"
and "Plastic Woman" do not do justice to the nuance and compassion found elsewhere in her book. And I am not convinced that women have been that much more nimble and flexible than men in adjusting to new conditions. Women, like men, continue to select gender-stereotypical occupations and college majors such as health care and services. It may be that women's gender inertia simply has happened to be an advantage in a period when these jobs are expanding, while men's gender inertia has left them more vulnerable to deindustrialization and the deskilling of traditional male jobs. It remains to be seen how nimbly women will respond as the ripple effects of recession-induced cutbacks further shrink the government sector, another traditional area of female employment. Although men bore 80 percent of the job losses during the first stages of the recession, since then women have lost a higher proportion of jobs than men, and have recovered a lower proportion of those lost jobs. Rosin and I agree that stereotypes about what men can and should do have changed much less than those about what women can and should do, and many men remain hamstrung by a powerful masculine mystique that is in part enforced by the structure of the workplace and partly internally imposed. Nevertheless, the transformation in men's attitudes toward gender relationships has arguably been every bit as revolutionary as that of women, although it began later. In 1970, men overwhelmingly disapproved of married women working. As late as 1980, 54 percent of men believed that husbands should be the main breadwinners. But by 2000, as detailed in the book Alone Together, that number had fallen to 30 percent. In a 2008 Pew Research poll, 68 percent of women and 69 percent of men said both sexes make equally good leaders. Despite these differences, I share the hopeful conclusion with which Rosin ends her book. Although the troubling increase in economic insecurity and inequality may one day undermine support for gender equity, right now the revolution continues, and more and more men have learned to appreciate that it gives both sexes, in Rosin's words, "a little more room to breathe." Stephanie Coontz is a professor of History and Family Studies at Evergreen State College, and the Director of Research and Public Education at the Council on Contemporary Families.
NASSER SPORT (WIDE VARIETY)
AL-HIJR Saudi Arabia eases access to long-hidden ancient ruins By Assaad Abboud
Fully draped in a black veil, Irish blonde Angela Miskelly stares out in awe as she strolls through Al-Hijr, the ancient Saudi city of tombs carved into rose-colored sandstone mountains.“Spectacular … wonderful … breathtaking,” she says. “But where are the tourists? If we had a site like this in my country, we would have millions of tourists.” Dating back to the second century B.C., the Nabataean archaeological site – also known as Madain Saleh – has long been hidden from foreign visitors in this ultra-conservative kingdom that rarely opens up to tourists. Saudi Arabia is thought to have been wary of archaeologists and scientists seeking to study its ancient ruins for fear their findings could shine the spotlight on pre-Islamic civilizations that once thrived there. In recent years, however, Saudis have increasingly ventured to these sites with the authorities more tolerant of their curiosity. Described as the largest and best-preserved site of the Nabataean civilization south of Petra in Jordan, Madain Saleh is the first Saudi archaeological site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It lies 320 kilometers north of Medina, the Islamic holy city of western Saudi Arabia, and extends for some 15 square kilometers. According to UNESCO, it includes 111 tombs, most of which boast a decorated-facade, cave drawings and even some pre-Nabataean 136
inscriptions. It also boasts intricately designed water wells that serve as a prime example of the Nabataeans’ architectural and hydraulic genius. The Nabataeans first inhabited the area in the second century B.C., but their ancient civilization existed as far back as the eighth or seventh century B.C. in the countries of the Levant – including Lebanon, Syria and Jordan – at times even extending into the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. Originally nomads from the Arabian Peninsula, the Nabataeans were masters of trade, dominating the incense and spice routes in the pre-Islamic period. Their civilization collapsed in 106 A.D. at the hands of the Roman empire. After decades of prohibiting visitors, authorities are now increasingly allowing entry into pre-Islamic archaeological sites in the kingdom, though Western tourists are still rare. Officials at Madain Saleh say that the number of visitors to the site reached 40,000 last year, most of them Saudis and foreign residents of the kingdom. They hold hopes that figure will double in 2012 with the government relaxing entry restrictions. Though prior consent is required for access to Madain Saleh, it can now be obtained more easily from Riyadh or the nearby town of Al-Ola. The highest volume of visitors is between December and March, given the lower temperatures
in the otherwise scorching desert heat. Two museums also exist on site, including one devoted to the famous Hejaz railway built by the Ottomans in the early 20th century that ran from Damascus to Medina and passed through Al-Hijr. The second museum, which opened its doors to visitors just two months ago, traces the pilgrimage route to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. On his first visit to the ancient site, Saudi national Tareq al-Adawi from the northwestern city of Tabuk says he was “overwhelmed.” “I encourage all Saudis to come visit this place,” he says. Another Saudi tourist, Ahmed al-Moghrabi, says he was “shocked by the majesty of the place.” A small team of French and Saudi archaeologists are now carrying out excavations on the site in an effort to preserve and better understand its ancient history. Madain Saleh, though likely one of Saudi’s most famous archaeological sites, is not its only one. The area bears evidence of other ancient civilizations. Just 22 km from Madain Saleh is Al-Ola, located on the ancient incense route. The city served as the capital of Lihyan, an ancient Arab kingdom. It is home to archaeological remnants that date back thousands of years, including its citadel that is some 8,000 years old.
GULFNET
I AM NOT LEGEND Hollywood's obsession with casting mediocre starlets in legendary roles By Alyssa Rosenberg
It's not news that the women Hollywood puts on screen are whiter, skinner and more affluent than the actual women who buy tickets to see those movies. But recently, something even more disturbing has happened: Studios have announced a number of biopics about female singers, who will 138
be played by actresses who are dramatically skinnier and far less talented than the actual women they'll be portraying. First, there was the news that Zoe Saldana, an exceedingly thin rising action star of Dominican and Puerto Rican parentage, would play soul singer Nina Simone, whose dark complexion and weight
were both significant parts of her image. Simone's daughter, Simone Kelly, has said that the color of her mother's skin and the shape of her nose played important roles in shaping her mother's identity. Saldana can dance - she was signed by an agent who spotted her in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
and she played a ballerina in Center Stage - but there's never been any particular indication that she can sing, much less that she's possessed of the kind of pipes that made Simone's music so extraordinary. But really, what qualifies her for the role is that she's one of the most visible, bankable young actresses of color working today. "I suspect that what's happening here is that they want a 'name' to play Simone," wrote Ta-Nehisi Coates in The Atlantic. "In that sense, what we're seeing here is something more systemic." That same desire for a "name," though fortunately not the racial issues, are all over the casting for the adaptation of Girls Like Us, which explores the careers of Carole King, Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon. As Dodai Stewart notes at Jezebel, Taylor Swift has been tapped to play Mitchell despite an absence of demonstrable acting talent. And live, her vocal chops haven't always stood up to the test, either. She was badly off-key when she and Stevie Nicks performed together at the 2010 Grammys. The casting for King and Simon are somewhat better: Alison Pill will be freed from her servitude on The Newsroom to play Carole King, and Mad Men's Jessica ParĂŠ, who started off this last season by serenading Jon Hamm, will play Carly Simon. But there's a definite whiff of the cynical in the casting of Swift, a hope that her fans will turn out for anything, no matter the subject matter. Not exactly a vote of confidence in the material. It's bad enough that so many of the fictional women deemed marketable by mainstream movie productions are bland and homogenous, based more on what executives think will sell than what stories demand. But it's especially depressing to see real women, beloved icons in their own right, cut down to Hollywood size. It's apparently not enough to be a musician, a civil rights activist, or an environmental advocate: these days, you have to be a starlet, too.
TAAL
INVISIBLE MAN By Dan Levin
Liu Bolin’s disappearing art has taken the Internet by storm.
It’s one of those bleak Beijing days when the smog lies so low that the sky looks like a white canvas about to collapse. Liu Bolin actually prefers it that way. The city’s horrendous air quality is perfect for outdoor photos, and the artist, standing motionless and covered in paint beside a bus stop, has worked too hard for the sun to ruin his shot. At 39, Liu is lanky, with mussed hair and heavily lidded eyes that make him appear as if he’s just rolled out of bed. In fact, he’s been awake for hours preparing for the latest addition to his Hiding in the City series that has helped turn him into one of the most recognizable Chinese contemporary artists. Which is ironic, considering the series has earned him the moniker “invisible man.” In 2005, Liu, then a struggling artist from Shandong Province with little to his name but a sculpture degree from China’s premier arts academy, watched helplessly as police officers demolished the artist village where he lived and worked. That trauma was the necessity that birthed his greatest invention: a photograph of Liu standing in front of his destroyed studio, his clothes and face painted so that he blends into the broken walls and shattered bricks. He describes that initial photo and the many that followed as a silent conversation about the conflict between the individual and society, which in China often churns with the forces of economic development. “We are each locked in our own fate,” he tells me as assistants dab gray paint on his trousers to match the asphalt behind him. Liu has since been photographed camouflaged into hundreds of scenes across the globe—the vermilion gates of the Forbidden City; supermarket aisles; Olympic 140
propaganda billboards; the lagoons of Venice; Ground Zero; the Wall Street bull. Often he’s impossible to detect at first, but Liu prefers to be ever-so-slightly off kilter. “When I move a bit, it lets people look and think about the art,” he says. “I don’t want to fade into the larger scene.” Liu’s works combine painting, installation, sculpture and photography into a repeated visual pattern so versatile that each image resonates with a different meaning—repression, power, suffering, luxury. It’s a gimmick, but one found on museum walls and in private collections. Perhaps more importantly, he’s all over the Internet. A Google search for Liu yields thousands of sites featuring his work. According to Artnet.com, which tracks Web searches of artists’ names, Liu is currently No. 29 and recently held the top spot for five months. He is the only Chinese artist in the top 120 aside from Ai Weiwei, No. 54, whose high profile arguably stems more from political activism than his creative expression. It’s a critical distinction. Ai may be a household name, but how many people could identify him by his art? Liu, meanwhile, by nature of his shtick, is immediately identifiable. Eli Klein, the New York–based gallery owner who represents Liu, describes his client this way: “Liu Bolin is the most famous Chinese contemporary artist for his artwork.” To understand how a Chinese artist could, in five years, go from being broke to selling photos for up to tens of thousands of dollars, the answer lies online. Liu came of age artistically just as social media began to dominate popular culture. His work, with its iconic visual repetition and subversive irony, lends itself to the viral physics of Web 2.0—it’s art as meme.
Whether that means he’s highbrow is up for debate. Philip Tinari, director of the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, likens Liu’s appeal to that of “a YouTube video with 3 million views,” he says. The work “has a very obvious sort of ‘gotcha’ people can see and pick out and that makes it interesting. It’s like a catchy melody in a pop song.” The world changed for Liu in 2007, when Klein included him in a show at his Soho gallery. When Liu’s images drew crowds of serious collectors and the curious alike, Klein instantly knew he’d hit gold. “It was so clear by the reaction from the public that in the West the sky’s the limit with Liu’s work,” Klein tells me. Liu’s art has since become a phenomenon, appearing in group and solo exhibitions at museums across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Collectors are scrambling for a piece of the action. Many of his works, all limited editions, are sold out. Rarity has made their value soar, going for as much as $250,000 for an edition depicting Liu concealed amid a mural of Chinese dragons. With demand for Liu’s photography booming and supply limited, collectors are racing to the secondary market. Even there the waiting list is huge. Two years ago Klein sold one of Liu’s most famous images—the artist disappearing into a Manhattan magazine rack—for $18,000. He recently resold it on the secondary market for $46,000. The production of each piece feels worlds away from the chic art scene where it eventually ends up. Take the bus stop, where Liu is in the process of disappearing into a vibrant propaganda poster decorated with sunflowers. Emblazoned beside
the petals are four Chinese words: Patriotism, Innovation, Inclusiveness, Virtue. These characters are plastered across the city, part of the municipal government’s campaign to inspire residents to love their country and improve their character. Few, however, seem to be taking the exhortation to heart. On the poster, someone has scrawled information for what is perhaps a more authentic modern Chinese innovation—fake documents. Need a diploma or a driver’s license? Call the number below. As with many of Liu’s works, the act of fading into China’s sociopolitical landscape is subtly subversive. By plunking himself into the juxtaposition of two of China’s most public industries—propaganda and counterfeiting—he’s forcing the viewer to decide which is the real Beijing. Liu is clever enough not to make the explicit contrast, but the sarcasm is palpable. Over the many hours the image takes to prepare, Liu stands stone-still, descending into a kind of meditative trance as his assistants turn him into a canvas. Passersby, some waiting for the bus, stop and stare; others don’t even glance. At some point, Liu may decide he’s had enough of hiding in plain sight. His airy Beijing studio is dominated by sculptures of a peony tree made of phone chargers and another of traditional Chinese clouds—proof that he can do more than what has made him famous. His versatility as an artist defines the harmonious balance of skill and vision so attractive to collectors, says Megan Connolly, director of Chart Contemporary, a Beijing-based art consultancy. “In China, nobody’s just a painter,” she says, “because here, anything is possible.” 141
bazaar around town MOUAWAD’S FIRST KUWAITI BOUTIQUE OPENS AT AL HAMRA LUXURY CENTER Mouawad, the luxury jeweller and watchmaker, officially opened the doors of its new flagship boutique at exclusive AL HAMRA LUXURY CENTER, in Kuwait City. The new showroom is the first new generation Mouawad boutique to open in the country. Commenting on the opening, Pascal Mouawad, Co-guardian of the company and member of 4th generation managing the family business, said: “I am very excited to be here today for the official inauguration of our first boutique in Kuwait; at the beginning of this year my brother Fred and I committed to bringing Mouawad’s creations closer to our clientele in the region, and today I can once again say that we are fulfilling that plan”. The new showroom, located on the ground floor in the exclusive AL HAMRA LUXURY CENTER, covers 152 square metres and has been designed according to the Mouawad new generation store concept; originated by brothers Fred and Pascal Mouawad, the new look and feel was launched back in 2010 with the opening of the Dubai Mall boutique and reflect the enhanced direction and strategy of the brand. With the distinctive décor in the grey and gold of the Mouawad brand, the new Kuwait outlet features an exclusive private VIP room for customers to try on select pieces from the exquisite jewellery and watch collections the company is renowned. The boutique sparkles with signature Mouawad haute joaillerie sets, boutique collections, watch collections and objets d’art, all entirely designed and produced by Mouawad. Since its inception 122 years ago, the family business has grown, expanding its presence abroad; Mouawad now owns more than 15 retail outlets across the globe, of which eight (TBC) are located in the GCC. For more information on Mouawad and its exquisite collections, please visit www.mouawad.com
CENTERPOINT An enchanting range of Lifestyle collection now in store This season, the hottest picks can be found at Lifestyle stores, across the region with Lifestyle’s homegrown brand, Adore, offering a range of classic totes and stylish satchel bags. The must-have designs are available in gorgeous beige and cream shades that will complement any outfit. To make arm-swinging statement ladies can pick up one of the beautiful Adore satchel bags. With elegant weaved detailing the bags can be used from day to night, for work or party time. From catwalk to high street, the brand new Makgio collection from Lifestyle embraces the bold and bright tones of orange and pinks. The colour-pop shades, a current fashion-favorite, will brighten any outfit and ensure you stand out in the crowd. NYX cosmetics offer stunning make-up sets that are perfect for every woman! NYX Spring-Fling collection and NYX Bohemian Chic - Nude Matte Collection offers a color palette that ranges from the most classic to the most glamorous. So whether you are looking for passive tones or flamboyant shades in eye make-up or stylish satchel bag, do visit our Lifestyle stores in Centrepoint – Salmiya, Hawally, Al Rai, Fahaheel, Kuwait City, Fintas, Sulaibikhat and Jahra.
HARVEY NICHOLS KUWAIT OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM Harvey Nichols, one of the most prestigious British luxury department stores has established its social media presence by officially launching on Facebook and Instagram. Featuring more than 450 brands and showcasing the hottest designs, Harvey Nichols Kuwait’s social media sites will be an important touchpoint between fashionistas and the store which is scheduled to open later this autumn in the Prestige Mall, part of The Avenues Phase 3 expansion. Providing rich content about premium fashion, lifestyle, beauty and luxury dining, followers can expect exclusive first-hand updates about new trends and products, special events and unique offers, which will only be available on these platforms. “We are pleased to announce the launch of our social media activities which provide a great opportunity to connect with our customers. We are determined to make the experience on these platforms as special and as engaging as customers will find in the store itself”, said Marcello Grasselli, Business Director, Harvey Nichols Kuwait. Customers can Like Harvey Nichols Kuwait on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/harveynicholskuwait and follow on Instagram at “harveynicholskuwait”. 142
DENTAL IMPLANTS AT AL- MUBARAKIYA DENTAL CENTER Dental Implants are commonplace replacements for missing teeth. When teeth are extracted and nothing is done to replace the roots, the jaw bone shrinks due to lack of use. Placement of an implant helps keep bone. Anyone who has missing teeth and has adequate bone left can have implants placed; Implants can replace a single missing tooth or can be spaced to replace several teeth where a large gap is present. In an event you do not have adequate bone we can graft bone to restore the bone to its original state. Implants are usually made of titanium and are strong and compatible with bone. They are almost always placed under local anesthesia with no discomfort and have a waiting period for them to anchor within the jaw bone and left to heal for usually 3-6 months before a natural looking tooth can be made. With new techniques wait times are getting shorter and shorter. Some teeth can now even be fitted at the same time as the implants (these are called (‘immediate implants') but you should check with your dentist to see whether these are suitable for you. Implants are fixed, which means they don’t come out, just like the teeth in your mouth, when you smile there is no visible difference ,in addition they do not decay and are relatively free from developing gum diseases. Patients are always pleasantly surprised at how easy and comfortable the procedure of placing implants is.The practice of dental implants required expertise in planning, surgical placement and crown fabrication, it is as much about art and experience as it is about science, Talk to your dentist, so they can refer you to an experienced ‘Implantologist' for assessment and treatment. Here at our dental center you will discover how to find the best cosmetic implants at the best prices. Prepared by: Dr. Mohamed Zaki Elsisi ,Oral Surgeon and Implantologist, Al- Mubarakiya dental center (Al-Egaila branch).
TOP WORLD INTERNATIONAL REINTRODUCES CUCCIO NATURALÉ TO THE KUWAITI MARKET Cuccio Naturalé is a natural nail, hand, and foot care treatment product line. It was created from Tony Cuccio’s personal experience, his Italian background and visits to Italy. Cuccio is wellknown in the beauty industry for its diverse array of products, including Butter Blends, Lytes lotions, and foot files. It was introduced a decade ago as the first natural product line for nails, hand and foot treatments. Today Cuccio Naturale is trusted by top spas, day spas and salons throughout the world, and is the largest manufacturer of nail and beauty products created using the finest fruits and plant extracts to help clients obtain beautiful, longer natural nails and younger looking hands and feet.
الرياضية "واغن" الجديدة تصل إلى الكويتV60 فولفو V60 حين يتناغم التصميم المذهل مع األداء المتفوق وأنظمة السالمة االستثنائية وصلت سيارة فولفو قال ثامر االيوب مدير، وتعليقًا على هذه المناسبة.2010 إلى الكويت بعد إطالقها الرسمي عالميًا في "الكثير من:عام شركة فولفو للسيارات احدى شركات عبدالعزيزالعلي المطوع الوكيل الحصري بالكويت الجديدة يشعرون أن تصميمها الرياضي ال يقل جاذبية عنV60 العمالء الذين عاينوا مسبقًا تطور سيارة "تحقق سيارة "واغن" الرياضية ما يطمح إليه الراغبون: وأضاف إيرنبيرغ." الجديدة بالكاملS60 سيارة مع مساحة وفيرة ومرونة إضافية دون أي مساومة على التصميم الرياضي ومزايا القيادةS60 بفولفو الداخليةV60 عززت فولفو مقصورة، وتحديًا للمنافسة الشديدة التي تشهدها هذه الفئة."المذهلة ودعمت السيارة بمجموعة واسعة من االبتكارات التقنية ألنظمة،بإضفاء لمسات من الجودة الحصرية حيث تتناغم ميزاتها المتفوقة مع مظهرها،السالمة والراحة لتكون النتيجة سيارة واغن الرياضية الفريدة سيدانS60 الجديدة بكل تصميم وقوة إلى منافسةV60 وتهدف فولفو.الرياضي المفعم بالحيوية ."الجديدة بالكامل على لقب "طراز فولفو األكثر ديناميكية على اإلطالق
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WHY Does everything taste like chicken? By Jackson Landers
At least once a week, someone tells me that some food other than chicken "tastes like chicken." People throw the analogy around constantly. Virtually any meat that is pale in color, firm in texture, and lacking a strong flavor is subjected to the chicken comparison. Why chicken? It's probably at least in part because most of us haven't eaten very many types of meat. The meat universe of a typical carnivore is limited to chicken, turkey, beef and perhaps lamb. That's a pretty narrow selection in a world that includes more than 10,000 species of birds - let alone 144
the rest of the vertebrate world. (And saying that things "taste like chicken," it appears, is a distinctly American habit.) The range of species I've heard compared to chicken, flavor-wise, is very broad across the evolutionary spectrum: various birds, of course, but also snakes, lizards, small mammals, certain fish. Which made me wonder: Can we trace the taste of chicken back down the evolutionary tree to a common ancestor? What was the first creature in evolutionary history that tasted like chicken? And for how long in the Earth's history has life been
tasting like chicken? Something had to come first, and I don't think it was either the chicken or the egg. In order to answer this question, we need to start with chickens and work our way back through the evolutionary family tree. Does chicken taste like chicken? Don't laugh this is an important question. Even lifelong chicken eaters usually have a very narrow experience because the birds sold in grocery stores are usually one of a very few breeds that have been designed to grow a lot of breast meat very quickly in factoryfarm settings. A Plymouth roasting hen slaughtered
for market at seven weeks does not make for the same eating experience as a 2-year-old Rhode Island Red. I once ate a bantam rooster that tasted more like iguana than a grocery store chicken. I posed a question for a group of friends on Facebook, asking them whether they thought Cornish game hens taste like chicken. Some of the respondents were adamant that the little birds have their own flavor and texture that hardly resembles chicken. What I didn't mention when I asked the question was the fact that Cornish game hens are simply ordinary chickens slaughtered at a younger age. Our idea of what chicken tastes like seems to be as informed by our expectations as by our palate. A consensus has emerged in the scientific community that chickens and other birds are probably the direct descendants of dinosaurs. I have lost many good nights of sleep wondering what various species of dinosaurs tasted like, but the fact is that we don't have any left to eat. Other than birds, the closest living relatives that we have to eat are the crocodilians, which date back to at least 250 million years ago. I have eaten alligators on several occasions and have found that they can have a lot in common with chicken. Like chickens, their muscles are primarily light meat, which is made of muscle fibers that are well-suited for short-term bursts of speed and power. Tail meat tends to be somewhat tough (except in a very young animal), while the limbs are more tender. The best alligator meat I have ever eaten was in a bar on the Gulf Coast of Florida, where the bartender brought out a tray of "gator wings." These alligator limbs had been prepared identically to conventional Buffalo wings, and they tasted exactly like enormous Buffalo wings, with the most noticeable difference being that the bones were less delicate. I figure this similarity dates the taste of chicken back at least 250 million years right there. (This is assuming, of course, that the crocodilians of yesteryear didn't taste terribly dissimilar from the alligators of today.) Looking back even further on the evolutionary tree, modern reptiles are related to chickens through a group of animals known as diapsids, which originated around 300 million years ago. Modern snakes and lizards are both descended from the diapsids - and as it happens, I have had the pleasure of eating a nice assortment of them: black spiny-tailed iguanas, green iguanas and various snakes. What all of them had in common was a taste and a color after cooking that was like chicken, coupled with a texture reminiscent of crab meat. You wouldn't mistake the texture of snake for chicken, but run it through a meat-grinder, and you wouldn't know the difference. Another group of animals related to diapsids are the testudines: turtles and tortoises. Their exact evolutionary origins are murky, but what's clear is
that they taste like chicken. Raw snapping turtle meat is multicolored, with individual chunks mottled either red or white. But cooked, snapping turtle is indistinguishable from chicken to most palates. My 8-year-old daughter and 5-year-old son have enjoyed battered, deep-fried "turtle tenders," and they have deemed the meat identical to chicken. (I agree.) If it passes the taste test of a fussy 8-year-old, it probably really does taste like chicken. (Maybe the ranch dressing helped.) What chicken-reminiscent beasts existed before the diapsids? Now we must go way back in time to the first vertebrates that lived on land: the early amphibians. We don't have any good fossils of these earliest land-dwellers, but there have been some well-preserved amphibian footprints dating back roughly 395 million years. The only amphibians still around today split off from the early amphibians around 300 million years ago. Frogs, the prototypical modern-day amphibian, taste definitively like chicken. Their texture is even like chicken. In a blind taste test, I couldn't tell the difference. White meat, intermediate texture, mild flavor: It's all there. This, along with the taste of snakes, lizards and turtles, implies that tasting like chicken has been around for at least 300 million years. Looking further back in time to before the amphibians, we arrive at the fish. I've been told that many kinds of fish taste like chicken, but in practice I have never found this to be the case unless the meat is disguised in some way. Only last week I fried some fresh haddock in a beer batter and refrigerated the leftovers. The next morning I found that the cold fish tasted just like chicken - right up until I tried a bite without the breading. Then it tasted like fish again. My brain had been confused by an outer layer that reminded it of a chicken recipe. If there is one group of fish that can be considered more closely related to chicken than the others, it's the lobed fish. Lobed fish are the class of fish that are popularly thought of as a missing link - the creatures that first became adapted to spending time on land and eventually evolved into amphibians. These types of fish usually had fleshy fins with articulated bones. They were very common during the Devonian period, but today lungfish and coelacanths are the only survivors. Coelacanths have hardly changed at all in the last 400 million years, but they are endangered today, which sadly takes them off the table. However, fishermen from islands off the coast of Mozambique used to eat coelacanths before scientists began paying them a premium for live specimens. The fishermen described the fish as oily and said the texture of the cooked flesh was unappetizingly soft unless it had first been salted and dried. This doesn't sound like chicken at all.
Lungfish are more appetizing to the Western palate than the coelacanth but still distinctly fishy tasting. One might cook with them interchangeably with cod or bass - but nobody will mistake the taste or texture for chicken. Why is this? Several barriers prevent fish from tasting like chicken. A chemical called trimethylamine, which develops after a fish dies and creates that distinctly fishy flavor and odor, is a big one. Texture also plays a role: Fishes' muscle structure is different from chickens'. Fish muscles are typically arranged in bands along the sides of the body and are separated by relatively less connective tissue than what is found in the muscle of their evolutionary descendants. These bands of muscle are what make cooked fish flaky. Fish muscles are relatively simple because all they have to do to move through water is perform a sort of sideways flopping motion. The muscles of land-dwellers like chickens, lizards and frogs are more specialized and are designed for the more varied movement of individual limbs. Neither the coelacanth nor the lungfish is the evolutionary missing link per se, but both are solid living representatives of the group of species that amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs and chickens are all descended from. If the lungfish or the coelacanth's meat is representative of lobed fish in general, then we can surmise that meat probably didn't start to taste like chicken until the transition from fish to amphibians occurred. The first known species to make that transition from water to land was Pederpes finneyae. P. finneyae appeared about 350 million years ago and was the earliest creature in the fossil record to have the forward-facing feet of a fully terrestrial animal. Assuming the transition from water to land necessitated the complicated muscle structures we see in today's land creatures, then P. finneyae probably would have been an excellent candidate for marinating in lime juice and cilantro and then cooking and shredding for tacos. So roughly 350 million years ago is probably when life began to taste like chicken, right when some lobed fishes had fully transformed into the first terrestrial amphibians, like P. finneyae. It's hard to imagine that this trait has had any advantage for the animals that exhibited it, given that the only situation in which flavor is expressed is when the organism dies. (In fact, considering that we generally like the taste of chicken and go out of our way to kill chickens in order to taste them, you could say that tasting like chicken is a distinct disadvantage.) But it would appear that the taste has nonetheless persisted for hundreds of millions of years. So maybe instead of saying that the next pale, firm, mild thing you eat tastes like chicken, you should say it tastes like Pederpes finneyae. 145
bazaar a la mode beau-tique INTRODUCES KITOKO OIL Argan Oil is one of the world's most precious oils, a beauty secret, women of the Moroccan desert have known for centuries. It is sometimes called "liquid gold", and is believed to be one of the reasons Moroccan women maintain supple, radiant skin even as they live in the dry climate. For thousands of years, African healers have employed the unparalleled nourishing and medicinal qualities of Karite to treat the hair and skin. The oil, extracted from the nut of the Shea Tree, has been carefully blended with that of the celebrated North African Argan tree to create the ultimate in hair repair and rejuvenation. Inspired by nature, Kitoko Oil Treatment combines the healing and therapeutic properties of these highly nutritional oils to revitalise, strengthen and condition the hair, leaving it ultra smooth and beautifully radiant. Kitoko Oil Treatment is an indulgent blend of Karite and Argan oils, richer in antioxidants, Omega oils, and Vitamins A and E than other oils. This sensory oil treatment is per fectly balanced to the hair and scalp, resulting in incredible absorption and rapid penetration without adding weight to the hair. The oil is a lightweight formula, per fect for all hair types, provides intense nourishment, whilst smoothing & strengthening the hair. It restores shine and moisture balance, tames frizzy or uncontrollable hair and is instantly absorbed with non-greasy feel and no build up. It also alleviates scalp dryness, Improves the hair ’s elasticity, it is excellent for replenishing brittle hair & split ends, it contains naturally derived UV filter which reduces drying time plus it is a colour-safe formula. Kitoko Oil is available in three sizes 290ml, 95ml and 10 ml.
Distributed by beau-tique cosmetics international. Available in Toni & Guy AlCorniche Club, Top to Toe Salon, Blush Salon, and Emmanuel Salon. Call 2225 1285 for your nearest stockiest.
REDISCOVER WHITE MUSK The Body Shop’s fragrance icon Over thirty years ago, The Body Shop introduced a fragrance that was to become a worldwide best seller. The original iconic White Musk was one of the first ever fragrances to use manmade musk rather than musk taken from deer. Today it continues to enchant millions of women and one White Musk fragrance is sold every 3.5 seconds all around the world. So go ahead and rediscover it! White Musk contains notes of velvety musk, floral lily and ylang ylang with hints of fresh galbanum and basil that combine to create the sensual top notes, awaken and stimulate the senses and provide the initial scent of the fragrance. Notes of velvety musk, oriental jasmine, floral lily and rose combine to create the feminine heart note and form the dominant notes of the fragrance while notes of velvety musk, oriental jasmine, floral lily and iris, rose, sweet vanilla, fresh amber, patchouli, oakmoss and vetiver with hints of fruity peach, merge to create the velvety base notes, which tend to linger on the skin longer than the other notes. With no added colour and fully recyclable packaging, this product is suitable for all skin types, and as an added bonus, you can be kind to the environment if you dispose of it correctly. A signature scent for every woman at every moment, when you use the cruelty-free White Musk fragrance you are helping to protect the musk deer.
SPLASH UNVEILS AUTUMN WINTER 2012 FASHION ROYALE COLLECTION Fashion found inspiration in the past with the new AW’12 Splash collection featuring a minimalistic mix of culture and trends. The new season wardrobe revisits the realm of Kings and Queens with swishing gowns, bow ties, and ornate jewellery all in the new Fashion Royale collection. Splash Fashion Royale is a collection filled with a mélange of traditional and contemporary opulent 'runway' feast fit for royalty. With the AW’12 blockbuster trends already at the top of every fashionistas shopping list, ranging from retro mix of the 19th century to tapestry and heritage classics and all the way to military alongside some Eastern futurism, the trends were given a spin providing chic and elegant fashion. The entire collection is teamed with accessories to covet with and makes each ensemble stand out. To get your pick of the latest looks and styles that range from vintage to modern chic head to any Splash store, where the collection will be available from now until December 2012. Splash is located in Centrepoint stores across Kuwait in Al Rai, Salmiya, Kuwait City, Hawally, Fahaheel, Jahra, Fintas, Sulaibikhat and the stand alone store at The Avenues.
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BOGGI FALL/WINTER COLLECTION 2012 Inspired by the early 90’s, the Fall/Winter 2012 collection is well identified by an elegant, sober spirited feel in the formal section of the collection and a more colorful, less pretentious attire in the sportswear section. The selection for formal suits ranges from worsted to fulled fabrics, characterized by blended patterns in the pin stripes, and by solid colors usually proposed by twill weaves. A large section of the formal suits is dedicated to patterned jackets that can be paired up with dyed knitted garments and pants for a contemporary metropolitan overall look. Alongside the tailored jackets, Boggi introduces the sport jackets made of dyed cottons or plain, dyed or patterned wools. The collection also showcases a wide selection of coats ranging from cashmere blends to pea and jersey coats with the aim of enhancing comfort. The Button Down classic shirts have been integrated into the tailored fit section through the replacement of traditional collars, thus making the classics even more fashionable. Dobby fabrics enrich and embellish the collection.
G-STAR AUTUMN/WINTER COLLECTION 2012 MEN RAW Essentials by G-Star RAW Raw Essentials are limited editions crafted in the G-Star RAW atelier for denim purists. RAW Essentials blends exclusive denim with innovative construction techniques and hand-finished details. This season’s denims for men include the New 5620 Dimension Tapered in Pin Denim - an Italian deep black indigo Selvedge denim. Complementing this dark denim, G-Star also offers the vintage medium aged new 3301 straight, with 3D moulded knees and a 3D back pocket with wallet mark. A highlight of the collection is the Parka Jacket, a modern reworking of a classic Army fishtail Parka. The jacket comes in raw Sateen Denim, developed from an old European work wear fabric from the late 19th century, and features a removable hooded quilted liner. Complementing the denims and jackets are a range of tops, including this season’s introduction of knitted denim: an unexpected combination of knitted sweat fabric and twill. Dyed with real indigo to give the fabric a deep and intense colour, knitted denim is applied to gilets and sweats in the RAW Essentials collection. G-Star RAW. Just the Product
BAUME & MERCIER LAUNCHES TWO LIMITED EDITION CAPELAND TIMEPIECES FOR KUWAIT Baume & Mercier has launched two new limited editions of the famed men’s Capeland model, exclusively for Kuwait. The ‘Al Hamra Tower’ timepiece was designed to mark the opening of the Al Hamra Tower and is limited to only 77 pieces, representative of the number of floors of the tower. The launch of the watch was announced to commemorate the opening of the new Baume & Mercier point of sale at the Behbehani Luxury Boutique in the Al Hamra Tower in Kuwait, and is the first specially crafted Capeland limited piece to be designed for the Middle East. The other edition was created to celebrate 50 years of partnership between retailer Morad Yousuf Behbehani and Baume & Mercier. This 44mm flyback chronograph, limited to 50 pieces, offers a sun satin-finished and opaline copper-colored domed dial with blue tachymeter & black telemeter, and a blue alligator strap with copper-colored stitching. The two special Capeland models are set to arrive in Kuwait in November. The Al Hamra Tower edition is available at the Behbehani Luxury Boutique, Al Hamra Tower, and the other at all Morad Yousuf Behbehani retail points.
ARMAND NICOLET Armand Nicolet’s ultra flat collection combines aesthetic and technical excellence. This masterpiece of micromechanics is perfect for impeccable man style thanks to the very slender body and movement. This ultra-thin watch is truly a mechanical wonder featuring the manual winding movement AN710A which is derived from FHF 72, produced in 1960. Underneath the balance wheel the movement is finished with “Perlage” while the bridges are decorated with “Surface Vagues” and gold engravings. Armand Nicolet’s expert watchmakers integrated it with the shock absorber Incabloc and made many other modifications so that this masterpiece could achieve modern technical standards. This Limited Edition of 999 pieces (the amount of pieces relates to the limited quantity of original movements still available in our warehouse) displays an attractive minimalist dial that makes this watch the perfect time keeping device on a classy man’s wrist for any important occasion. For its simplicity of appearance this formal and dressy line catches immediately everybody’s attention. Available with silvered, blue or black dial in the stainless steel 316L version and with grey or silvered face in the two-toned version (with 18 Kt rose gold crown and bezel), this family mixes slick lines and elegance with new and up-to-date colors and materials. Available at Yacoub Behbehani Sons Co. Stores 147
bazaar shorts BEHIND THE DOOR By Emma Abdullah
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I press my ear against the wall and hold my breath. I can no longer hear them. I try to listen harder. I hear footsteps—I think they’re his. I count the number of steps he takes, I suppose he has reached the door. Then I hear it swinging open and I almost know for sure that he’s leaving. I rush to the window to make sure. I get a good look at him—he’s wearing a black suit with a black tie and holding a briefcase in his left hand. He casually glances at his watch and walks a little faster towards his BMW, which matches his suit perfectly, and takes off without looking behind. I pace the room, my mind feels numb from all the thinking. Then I hear it – a loud cry. I retreat to my place against the wall. I can hear them sobbing and saying things but I cannot make out the words. There is the sound of a baby crying too, I assume it’s Mona only because I recognize her cry. I have become used to the distinctive sound of each of their cries. This one is the baby. He returns at about half past eight. Nine o’clock on Tuesdays. I hear the familiar sound of the BMW tires on the gravel followed by the headlights as his car pulls in. I take my place and wait. It will begin at about half past nine. Half past ten on Tuesdays. At around 9 o’clock, the screaming begins. He is early today; I imagine he has had a bad day at work. He bellows at them at the top of his voice… I hear the sound of bottles crashing onto the floor and the shriek of six year-old Taylor. There are some cries and some swearing; words that I have never heard before but that the little ones are probably used to. Then, silence. Silence can mean a lot of things; silence can mean pain, it can mean sorrow, it can mean acceptance or fear. You can let it define you and scream for you, you can let it be your voice and hide behind it. You can surrender to silence and let it guide you, or let it build its walls around you. It is very often in what we cannot hear that there are the most words. Silence is the most powerful weapon. Her backpack is streaked with different shades of blue. It is one of those expensive brand bags that everyone wants; they are an easy way of showing you have money. Her clothes are neat; she wears a long sleeved shirt and a red skirt that reaches below her ankles. I know they are expensive clothes because I have seen them in a shop before. She looks small and frail in them, like she’s been forced to wear them. Taylor is also wearing long sleeves today; a dark blue hoodie that makes him look much older. Their faces seem to lack emotion and there isn’t any light in their eyes. Slowly, they get into the BMW. She holds Taylor’s hand as if to protect him. Their father sits himself in front of the
steering wheel and sympathetically waves at me before closing the door. I don’t wave back. I watch them pull out of the driveway, on their way to school. She even tries to force a smile because smiling twelve year olds are normal, because going to school is normal, because it’s better to be normal. What does it feel like to live a lie? To wake up in the morning and put on your fake smile of convenience? To keep quiet when people talk because you’re afraid you might say something, let the truth slip out just a little bit and then have to lose yourself in an even bigger lie? What does it feel like to be afraid to come home, to live amongst the screams, to watch the people you look up to crumble? What does it feel like to fear the people you love? To love yet hate them? To want them to die yet be beside you? What does it feel like when you’re hurting everywhere; mentally and physically, when you have nowhere to escape and everyone thinks you’re fine and happy because they don’t know – nobody knows? They don’t know what happens when the door closes. Nobody knows the story behind the door. I don’t know where they go after school. They come home in their black BMW with their expensive clothes and backpacks. Today, he is wearing a red shirt that matches her skirt. Happy families do that sometimes, they wear the same colors because they are united and content. A father with a decent job, a lovely wife who cooks a nice meal for his return and their three children – a boy and two girls. The perfect family in their prefect house. They could fool us all if they wanted to. She gets out of the car, still clutching Taylor’s hand. For a moment, our eyes lock and it’s like I can feel every single emotion in her—like she’s using her eyes to call for me, to beg for my help. I look away. Half past nine. He isn’t home and it isn’t Tuesday. I wonder if he’s decided not to come home after all, to go away before he does them any more harm. They would be better off without him. Suddenly, I hear the sound of the tires on the gravel and my heart sinks a little bit at the thought of the deceptive calm that had come over me. He is back. I rush to the window, hoping to understand the reason for his bizarre late return. I see him get out of the BMW and open his trunk, only to pull out a colorful kids’ bicycle and a huge doll. He then pulls out a bouquet of roses and makes his way to the house, closing the wooden door behind him. I find it difficult to comprehend. Is he sorry? Does he think he can buy their silence? Are they going to be alright after all? Was everything solved and were they going to celebrate? I comfort myself with that last thought, simply because it’s always comforting to tell yourself things are going to be alright. Because even if
part of you senses you’re lying, it’s comforting to shut it out, shut out reality and pretend, because pretending is nice. Eleven o’clock. The screaming begins and this time I don’t need to take my place at the wall so that I can hear them. It has never been this loud. I feel like barging into their house and screaming at him to stop. I hear the baby, I hear Taylor, I hear their mother. Should I call the police? I am indirectly responsible? No, it has nothing to do with me, I should mind my own business. I force myself not to listen, to pretend I can’t hear because pretending is comforting and pretending is nice. The cries are louder. I turn up the television volume and drown out their pleas. Then there is silence. Seven o’clock in the morning. I am awoken by a somewhat familiar sound but am too sleepy to properly identify it. It takes me a few minutes to realize that it is coming closer and that now, it seems to be right under my house. Curiosity overcomes my desire to go back to sleep and I walk to the window. I see an ambulance followed by two police cars and before I have time to make any assumptions as to what it could be, two men rush out of my neighbor’s house with a stretcher, carrying someone whose face I cannot see. I stick my face to the glass, trying to identify the body but in vain. Is one of the children hurt? I only see a black sleeve. The men put the stretcher into the ambulance and drive away, their siren tearing open the warm silk of calmness in the neighborhood. My heart beats fast—I can try to lie to myself and say it had nothing to do with me but somewhere I know I’ll always have ignored that cry for help. I try to compose myself and rethink the situation. Suddenly I notice something outside in the garden. She is sitting on the grass, staring up at me, wearing shorts that reveal her swollen legs. I have to squint a bit but I am shocked to see the blisters, they are all over her arms too. Calmly, she looks at me as if to ask me to take a look. To look at what I had done to her by ignoring her persevering cries. My heart is pounding inside my ears, surely it couldn’t fully be my fault, but the look in her eyes is so accusing, it burns. She continues to sit there, alone in the grass, still looking up at me as if to ask me why and the worst part was, I knew I’d never be able to answer that. Can you be blamed for something you did not do? Can you be blamed for letting silence speak for you? If I were to be judged, would I be guilty for surrendering to it? Did my silence mean acceptance or fear? All of a sudden, she stands up and she smiles – as if to say it was okay, that sometimes it’s better to act like things are alright; pretending is safe. She walks up and caresses the BMW with her hand before entering her home, entering the truth, behind the door. 149
8 SIGNS YOU'VE FOUND YOUR LIFE'S WORK By Amber Rae
Wondering if the job you have now is "the one"—or just another stop on the way to something more fulfilling? Check out this list to know whether it's time to settle in or keep moving.
This month marks the ninemonth anniversary of the most natural and obvious, most joyful and energizing decision of my life: to fully commit 100% to my life's work. I've spent every day falling more madly in love with how I live my life and spend my time, the contributions I'm making to society, and the discomfort and growth that I feel each day. My journey getting here was both arduous and enthralling. It was not at all straightforward. I had numerous experiences that collectively brought me here, teaching me what I'm capable of and showing me what does and does not resonate. Though I've known for many years that my purpose is to unlock human potential, it took me some time to fully embrace my intuition, to figure out how to actualize this vision, and to build the courage to lean into my fears. (And it's still, and always will be, an ongoing learning process.) I've made the mistake of plunging headfirst into a business commitment that wasn't fulfilling, spending more 150
time trying to make it work than actually getting stuff done. I've felt red flags early on in a startup but waited nine months to listen to my intuition. I've put off my own ideas to help others actualize their visions because it was less scary. Though I would relive my mistakes all over again in a second (and I believe making more mistakes helps you grow and gain confidence), I'd love to save you some time and energy along your journey. Inspired by an article by MeiMei Fox about finding "the one" in love, and based on my own experiences and conversations with friends who are in love with how they work, live, and play, here are 8 signs you've found your life's work: 1. It doesn't feel like work. Your life's work is not a "job"—it's a way of living. Your work enables you to create the lifestyle you want for yourself and your lifestyle includes your work. You frequently stop and think to yourself, "Wait, am I seriously working right now?" You can hardly distinguish between work, play, and life—as they
are all intertwined. In everything you do, you are constantly pursuing your vision of optimal living. 2. You are aligned with your core values. Your life's work is an extension of your beliefs and worldview. You live in integrity because what you do is in accordance with who you are. This alignment will inspire you to move a small mountain if that's what you have to do to realize your vision. Every day you work to manifest and actualize the world you imagine because by making it so, you'll make the world more alive, beautiful and well. 3. You are willing to suffer. Passion comes from the latin word 'pati,' which means 'to suffer.' Your life's work is less about following a passion and more about your willingness to suffer along the way. The journey will be immensely challenging at times. You'll be exposed to unexpected challenges and setbacks and you may endure hardship, rejection, and sacrifice. These roadblocks will motivate you. In fact, you see the
short-term pain and discomfort as tremendous opportunities for learning, growth and depth; they're critical to appreciating the beautiful and joyous moments. 4. You experience frequent flow. You naturally and often fall "in flow," deeply immersed by your work and the present moment. At 1:13 p.m. you realize five hours have gone by since you looked at the clock last. Or, you look up and realize it's 12:21 a.m. and your instinct is to keep creating. Flow isn't something you have to force; it just happens. 5. You make room for living. Your work provides you the ability to live fully and enjoy life. Though you feel captivated and enthralled by your work, you make room for healthy routines like fitness, connection, spontaneity, and play. These activities re-energize and enable you to live a holistically fulfilling life. 6. Commitment is an honor. When you discover your life's work, the question of commitment is easy. There is no hesitation or analysis as to whether or not the work is right for you. Your heart says yes. Your mind says yes. Your body says yes. Commitment to your work feels like breathing. You cannot imagine spending your time dedicated to any other purpose. 7. The people who matter notice. "You look vibrant!" and "I've never seen you so healthy and happy!" and "This is without question what you're meant to be doing!" are among the comments you may hear from the people closest to you when you're on the right path. It's important to note that these people who care for you deeply may also be the first to question and worry in the early stages. But, once you are thriving, they'll notice and lovingly support your efforts. 8. You fall asleep exhausted, fulfilled, and ready for tomorrow. You go to sleep each night grateful for the day. You know you're on the right path, you gave the day your all, and you can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow. This is your life and you cannot imagine living it any other way.
LANDMARK GROUP (D ) iabetes
SORRY, MOVIES Television's keeping Tina Fey By Alyssa Rosenberg
30 Rock comes to an end this season, and its star/creator, Tina Fey, seemed primed to shoot off into the galaxy of the movies. But word came down that Fey has signed a four-year deal with Universal Television, and will keep developing shows for NBC. This is very good news, because television needs her even more than the movies do. Fey isn't exactly Shonda Rhimes, the phenomenally successful creator of the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, its spinoff Private Practice and political fixer drama Scandal. 30 Rock's stayed alive on critical acclaim and awards more than on the ratings from its small but dedicated fanbase. Unlike Rhimes, Fey probably won't be able to make just any show she wants - NBC is trying to climb out of a ratings cellar with decidedly dumber fare than that which Fey's turned out for the last six seasons. But unlike Rhimes, whose shows have been, in many respects, conventional procedural soap opera (which is part of what makes them so 152
successful), Fey may be able to reset the bar, again. When 30 Rock began, Fey's Liz Lemon was an anomaly - a woman who, in the words of her boss Jack Donaghy, was "New York third-wave feminist, college-educated, single - and - pretending - to - be - happy - about - it, overscheduled, undersexed, you buy any magazine that says 'healthy body image' on the cover and every two years you take up knitting for . . . a week." Liz could be racist, as when she assumed her new actor Tracy Jordan couldn't read; self-interested to the point of faking alcoholism to court a new guy; and painfully awkward. And she exploded the pop culture conceit that it's easy for women to have it all, or to make the changes that are necessary to have it all when they have fully formed personalities and established lives. Every weird, not-easy-to-like, fascinating woman to arrive on television since, from Hannah Horvath on Girls to Mindy Lahiri on The Mindy Project, owes a debt to Liz Lemon.
Not only am I excited to see the women Fey might create next, but I'm also interested to watch whom she mentors and where they go. From Community star Donald Glover, who recently sold an autobiographical show to NBC, to Kay Cannon, who just sold a sitcom about a woman working on an NFL Sunday show to Fox, 30 Rock writers have gone on to do fascinating things. Fey and NBC may have never been able to turn 30 Rock into a massive ratings success, but she's helped train the next generation of writers who may be able to sell her brand of smart comedy to a wider audience. Of course, I'd love to see Fey on the big screen, particularly in romantic comedies. Given the tendency for female characters to be younger and speak less than their male counterparts, Fey as a mouthy broad and a suitable romantic interest would be a welcome addition to the market. Still, she can do more to make pop culture smarter and weirder behind the scenes than she can looking gorgeous in front of it.
HYPOXI
KICKSTARTER IS NOT A STORE By Farhad Manjoo
Five years ago, if you'd seen a Kickstarter project asking you to fund Kickstarter, you would've skipped it. But in one of those quirks of online behavior that can't really be explained - why does anyone spend hours volunteering on an online encyclopedia? - the site is thriving. Kickstarter's crowdfunding model, in which ordinary people give money to dreamy inventors who hock their projects using flashy videos, has helped hundreds of artists and small businesses launch their ideas. Now, Kickstarter is being hailed as something more than just a place for people to raise money. By providing early funds to people with great ideas, some pundits believe it will be a crucial ingredient in the revival of American manufacturing. But Kickstarter's long-term prospects have recently begun to look shakier. The problem is "vaporware" several high-profile Kickstarter projects have failed to deliver their promised creations on time, or even at all. Among these is the Pebble smartwatch project, which garnered $10 million in donations in May and was supposed to have delivered its first watches to donors by September. Now delivery is delayed indefinitely. Reuters' Felix Salmon has argued that Lifx, a WiFi enabled LED light bulb that has raised about $1.3 million so far, is looking like vaporware, too - LED light bulbs are extremely difficult to manufacture, and the guys behind this project seem to be underestimating the costs and intellectual property minefield involved 154
in making one. (Last year, I raved about Switch, a company that's trying to make an amazing dimmable LED light bulb for $20; the company showed me a prototype and told me to expect the bulb to go on sale in October, but it's still not available. So mea culpa for calling it "the world's greatest light bulb.") Then there's Ouya, an "open" gaming console, which won $8.5 million and is supposed to deliver its tens of thousands of devices by early next year. Few people expect it to meet that goal. Kickstarter has a plan to address these criticisms. Last month, it put out new guidelines meant to raise the bar for new pitches. From now on, Kickstarter projects pitching new hardware won't be allowed to show photos or videos that "simulate" what a product might do in the future. Instead, the site says, "Products can only be shown performing actions that they're able to perform in their current state of development." They're also not allowed to show "photorealistic" renderings of hardware - they can show sketches or design diagrams, but if they want to give people an idea of what the finished product looks like, inventors must show real photographs of real prototypes. And, finally, inventors can't offer multiple quantities of a product in return for higher donations. For instance, the Pebble watch project offered to give 100 watches to donors who pledged $10,000 or more each (31 people took them up on that). Kickstarter says that offering multiple units implies that "products
are shrink-wrapped and ready to ship," when in fact they may be far from that. These are sensible policies; I think they'll go far in cutting down some of the fantastical projects that pop up on the site. But the most important part of Kickstarter's policy update was the headline: "Kickstarter is not a store," the site warned. That's something everyone should keep in mind when they decide to back a project. Although Kickstarter can sometimes feel like a collection of infomercials - fasttalking guys make a slick presentation about their unbelievable new thing, and offer great deals for early acolytes like yourself - giving to a project is in reality more like funding scientific research. Or maybe it's like dropping money into a subway performer's tip jar. Or maybe it's like betting on roulette. Or all three - opening your wallet to fund a Kickstarter project is a way to further science and the arts, and, if you're lucky, you may get a small reward in the process. But you should never expect to get anything in return. Kickstarter is an act of faith; if you can't afford to give away your money and get nothing in return, you shouldn't give anything at all. Even so, Kickstarter is a great site that's earned a well-deserved niche in the manufacturing world. I'd encourage you to browse Kickstarter, and to fund something if it strikes your fancy. By all means, take part in the dream. Just don't forget that you're buying a dream, not an object.
STARBUCKS
bazaar scopes
ARIES
March 21 - April 19
TAU R U S
April 20 - May 20
GEMINI
May 21 - June 21
CANCER
Jan 20 - Feb 18
PISCES
A new business partnership could enhance your earnings if you choose one who is industrious and talented. Do not become involved with those who merely talk a good game, however. In romantic activity, keep things light and don’t commit yourself too early in the game. Parental concerns could be paramount to you, but may become less of a problem if you are frank.
June 22 - July 22
Dec 22 - Jan 19
A Q UA R I U S
A trip to another city or climate could open things up for you and prove to be much more interesting than you had imagined. Stop mistreating your body, particularly with excesses of food and drink, and your general health will improve dramatically. If you are in the mood for romance, don’t stand on ceremony and let the object of your affections know how you feel. Career problems may improve suddenly.
An ability to say the right thing at the right time is to be treasured — but sometimes, it is better to say nothing at all. An urgent appeal for financial help should be handled carefully, but a minor amount of money might prove less expensive than injured feelings. Excitement in romance could be intoxicating, but make sure you view the entire picture before saying yes.
LEO
Nov 22 - Dec 21
C A P R I CO R N
Your latent creative talents have lain hidden long enough. Now is the time to trot them out and run them up the flagpole. If no one salutes, you won’t have lost anything, but if they do, you could be in for some surprising changes in your lifestyle. An excellent chance for matrimony awaits many unmarried Capricorns and — perhaps — for some who are.
An old love affair, kept on the back burner for a lengthy period, could either flame up suddenly or die quietly, depending on your reaction to a touchy situation. Individual cases may vary, but the latter course could prove the wisest in the long run for many. Avoid unnecessary arguments with colleagues over credit for minor accomplishments.
July 23 - Aug 22
S A G I T TA R I U S
Set your mind to the task and you will find it not nearly as difficult as you thought at first. In dealing with an old flame who no longer ignites you, try to be both gentle and truthful. Operating within your own framework will prove to be much more profitable to you than striking out for unknown fields. Begin a savings plan now, however modest.
Your vacation plans could be spoiled by carelessness involving planning procedures. Pay special attention to such matters as vehicle safety and reliability. Seek to avoid arguments concerning financial matters, particularly with persons who have no direct interest. Romance could take a side-trip along interesting avenues, but caution should be used when a situation involves someone previously committed.
When planning a trip, be sure to make important reservations well ahead of time, confirming them with a deposit if necessary. Steer clear of office malingerers and backbiters, as you may be lumped with them when it comes time to separate the sheep from the goats. Exercise your will power when it comes to making major purchases of luxury items. If there is no need, there will be little pleasure.
VIRGO
S CO R P I O
Oct 23 - Nov 21
Get back to nature. Find your pleasures in simpler things and don’t be too tied to modern conveniences and frivolities. Expect a certain amount of trouble resulting from an overindulgent appetite. You could avoid some of the problems, however, if you rely on the advice of an old friend. Career matters could improve and you may be in line for a promotion or increase in income if you move fast.
Aug 23 - Sept 22
LIBRA
Sept 23 - Oct 22
This could be your lucky month, if you take advantage of the opportunities that may come your way. Make sure that you clear up any old debts that might be hanging and don’t neglect an important letter that needs writing. A new love partner could enter your life now, but you may not be able to notice him or her because of being too tied up with inconsequential matters.
Feb 19 - March 20
what’s your sign?
Precaution is advised when dealing with one whose vision is limited by jealousy. Anything you say can — and probably will — be used against you if things come to a showdown. Romantic plans could go awry if you are unable to overcome a tendency to flirt indiscriminately. Make the most of your talents and let other know of your abilities. Avoid over-indulgence in eating or drinking.
A developing interest in a fellow worker could cause you some headaches on several levels unless you are able to cool it. Office romances seldom follow a smooth path and if it is serious, one or the other should consider a change of employment, if possible. In health matters, follow the advice of your physician, regardless of the seeming inconvenience.
source: www.horoscopessign.com 156
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ZAIN
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