bazaar June 2022 issue by bazaar magazine

June 2022 | Issue #269 w w w.ba z aar.town

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Int Hello June, hello summer, hello end of the school year for those of you who are students, or who have kids who are students, hello less traffic, hello waking up later, hello vacation plans! It’s kind of hard to believe that after two horrible covid summers when all of us (well, almost all of us) couldn’t travel, that’s all behind us finally, and its back to normal when it comes to hopping on a plane and leaving for a short or long vacation. Wellllll, its almost back to normal, since Monkeypox has suddenly appeared out of nowhere and reared its ugly monkey head, so let’s see how that pans out…. hopefully its nothing too serious, and doesn’t result in travel bans and lockdowns and quarantines, since I honestly don’t think anyone has the ability or willingness to tolerate any of those measures anymore! Let’s start off by congratulating the class of 2022. We’re proud of you for not only graduating but doing it in the middle of a pandemic. The perfect way to celebrate is with MARTINI 0.0 and MARTINI 0.0 ROSE. Now that you’re past that milestone, it’s time to open the curtains on the future, figuratively and literally, with Mastara. The platform has teamed up with star designer Farah Al Humaidhi, to bring us the best tips and tricks to choosing the best blinds and curtains. Part of moving into the future is meeting new people to expand your social and professional network. This month we’re introducing you to movers and shakers who are unafraid to step out of the box. When Nehal Adel, Kuwait’s Curly Girl decided to reject the norms of straightened hair she opened the door to the rest of us to embrace our natural hair too. At the other end of the spectrum is Ghassan Assi, TRAMPO’s Chief Operating Officer, who showed us that agility, flexibility and caring about people is the secret to a successful business. Reem Al Gharabally also graces our pages with her latest heartwarming story about Kuwait’s Bliss and Paper, the community-based bookshop brought to us by Fajer Ahmed and Jacob Oommen. We also meet Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Resort’s new culinary team, and we were fascinated by their incredible experiences in the world of gastronomy and how they are going to be shaking things up in Kuwait. We’re stepping into the future in more ways than one. We followed along as five key opinion leaders took the new fully electric Porsche Taycan on a road trip in K-Town and we’re fully sold on the benefits and beauty of moving away from fossil fuels. After seeing the car perform we think that the future has truly arrived. We’re always hungry (pun intended) for new experiences. The new Amiti Noura location in Sabah Al Salem is a perfect example. The same wonderful authentic Kuwaiti cooking but in a fantastic space with outdoor and indoor seating that will be the perfect backdrop for a filling meal. And if you’re looking for something quick and easy, then the new Shake Shack Avocado Bacon Burger. Who would have imagined that creamy avos paired with crunchy bacon would be the perfect team? Shake Shack new obviously and this is a not to be missed limited time offer. The ultimate new experience is Midar, a high-end Bahari meal in the heart of The Avenues. The closest thing to a time-machine, Midar takes you on a trip back in time to the Kuwaiti seaside. We loved it all from the Hamour Biryani to the delicious tanour bread.

The bazaar team... Boss Ahmed El-Adly

Editor Alia Al Duaij

Operations Manager Ihab Youssef

Content Manager Yasmine El Charif

Mixed Media Solutions Jennifer Cádiz

Design Shadi Mofeed

Staff Writer/Online Media Mariam Raslan Yasmin Gamal Yasmine Dalloul

Contributing Writers Reem Al Gharabally

Contributing Photographers Chris Johns

Communications Hala Y. Sharara

Syndicates & Sources Fast Company LA Times MCT International Newsweek

Printing British Industries for Printing and Packaging

Happy reading! Ahmed El-Adly 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).

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INDEX JUNE 2022 28

BLISS AND PAPER

THE CURLY GIRL OF KUWAIT

Reem Al Gharabally pens one of Kuwait’s most heart-warming stories. The two-decade friendship between Fajer Ahmed and Jacob Oommen led to the birth of the community-centric Bliss and Paper. Flip over to read about their story and how one avid bookworm’s love for books saved the decades old family establishment that was once Q8 Books.

SOLIA’S GENO RINCON

Between her infectious laugh and her Sophia Vergara-esque accent, Solia’s Genoveva “Geno” Rincón has conquered our hearts. And in turn, living in Kuwait has captured hers! Meet the spicy Spaniard of Solia in this month’s issue, and read all about her adventures moving from her native Spain to Kuwait as Solia’s Brand Operationss Manager.

Nabi Curls by Nehal has taken Kuwait’s curly girls by storm, giving us perfect haircuts, we could only imagine in our wildest dreams. So, we just had to get to know the brilliant artist behind these lifechanging styling techniques - Nehal Adel. Meet the talented curly hair genius in this month’s issue.

TOOFOOLA

We’re loving Toofoola, a parenting platform born in the Middle East, whose most recent campaign is to raise awareness about menstrual health for teenagers. Discover this ground-breaking campaign addressing a variety of themes relevant to teens and their parents under “The Teens Project” and get ready to be amazed. We know we are!

THE WORLD-CLASS CULINARY TEAM AT JUMEIRAH MESSILAH BEACH HOTEL AND RESORT

Speaking of the delicious eateries at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Resort, we’ve been lucky enough to get the scoop on who the new culinary geniuses behind the great food paired with scenic vibes are at the hotel. Take a peek behind the kitchen and meet the new chefs in this issue.

HOOKED ON MIDAR

We’re hooked on Basil Al Salem’s latest concept, Midar: a traditional Kuwaiti seafood restaurant that takes us back to his and other Kuwaiti families’ lunch tables during the country’s golden era. Step back in time to the 1960s and 1970s Kuwait and enjoy one of the best meals we’ve ever had in this issue.

106 A NEW MENU AT PEPPER STEAKHOUSE

Ever since Pepper Steakhouse’s recent re-opening at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Resort, we’ve been salivating for their superior steaks. They’ve taken things up a notch by introducing a new menu filled with dishes so delicious, we don’t know where to start. Check it out in this month’s issue, and be sure to book your table today.

114 AMITI NOURA’S NEW HOME

When we’re craving an authentic Kuwaiti meal that feels like it was cooked by a loving aunt, the skill of a world-class chef, all completed by a warm sense of renowned Kuwaiti hospitality then Amiti Noura is the only place to visit. And now you can enjoy the same amazing experience at Sabah Al Salem!

HOOKED ON MIDAR P. 98 22

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Al Mubarakiya Dental Clinic - Egaila, Salmiya Al Safat American Hospital Boushahri Clinic Dasman Diabetes Institute Diet Care Center Gulf Clinic International Clinic Maidan Clinic - Fahaheel, Farwaniya, Hawalli, Sharq, Subah Al Salem Noor Clinic Salam Hospital Seif Hospital Soor Center Taiba Clinic The Cosmetic Surgery Clinic

Hotels & Health Clubs

Crowne Plaza, Far waniya Hilton Kuwait Resor t & Spa Holiday Inn, Salmiya Inspire Pure Fitness Jumeirah Messilah Beach Resor t Hotel & Spa JW Marriott – Residence Inn, Sharq Millenium Hotel & Conference Center Pilates & More - Salmiya, Mahboula Spaloon The Palms Beach Hotel The Yoga Center

Malls

4 Boutique Alghanim Marine Alghanim Showrooms - Safat Al Rai, Shuweikh, Sharq, Fahaheel beau-tique cosmetics British Embassy US Embassy Brush Salon CAP Galler y Cookie Dough Dar Al Funoon Dar.Nur Gold Class Lounge - Grand Cinemas Al Hamra TONI & GUY- Al Corniche TONI & GUY- Cliffs Kuwait Airpor t Business Class Lounges Finesse Nail Lounge Media Elephant Shuwaikh Market Sultan Galler y THE One The Chairman's Club

Galleria Al Hamra Elevation Burger Boulevard Starbucks Costa Coffee The Promenade Caribou Mall 360 Dunkin Donuts Marina Mall Marina Crescent Casper & Gambini Chocolate Bar Johnny Rockets P.Q. Paul Souq Sharq Starbucks Haagen Dazs Symphony Mall Juan Valdez The Avenues Elevation Burger Johnny Rockets Paul Starbucks Airport Mall Starbucks Dar Al Awadi Starbucks Spoons Chocolate Bar Salhiya Complex Starbucks

Schools & Universities American International School American University of Kuwait Australian College Kuwait Bayan School (Hawalli) Boxhill College BSK - British School of Kuwait Universal American School

Kuwait University Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks Starbucks

Stand Alones

Al Salam Mall Arraya Haagen Dazs

Virgin Megastore Ar tspace Kuwait

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what's trending June 2022

What: @msbeach.kw Info: The first social commerce platform for swimwear and beach stuffs in Kuwait. Editor’s Note: because you can’t ever have enough swimsuits

What: @md_selection Info: Unique beaded accessories Editor’s Note: Accessories maketh or breaketh a lewk.

#2 What: @summervibse Info: Unique Bags & Hats Beach sets Editor’s Note: Perfect accessory for your beach escapades

What: @brilliantsmart.q8 Info: First toy store owned and stocked by a Play Therapist Editor’s Note: Entertain your kids with the right toys this summer

What: @watergames_kw Info: Outdoor water game products Editor’s Note: Get active on the water and have fun with friends

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BLISS AND PAPER

How Fajer Ahmed and Jacob Oommen are making the case for community-based bookstores in Kuwait By Reem Al Gharabally

The books on the shelves of Bliss and Paper bookshop have been on a long journey. The bookshop has withstood several location and name changes before re-opening in August 2021 in its current location in Dasman complex. Behind the 13,000 books on its sleek, new bookshelves is an almost two-decade long friendship between the owner Fajer Ahmed and her bookstore mentor Jacob Oommen.

[Continued...]

“Fajer would come to the store with her school bag. The first books she traded in to buy books were Archie comics,” Jacob remembered. “I started the bookstore with no business knowledge and a whimsical thought – let me try and fail than to always think it should have been something I should have done. It ran very well. I had a lot of fun, I met a lot of people. I wanted to sell it thinking I would take a long sabbatical. I had my day job, travels, a social life and I had other projects I wanted to work on.”

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The story began when 16-year-old Fajer, an avid reader, stumbled upon the second-hand bookstore Q8 books on Soor street in Kuwait City, owned then by Jacob. “Growing up, I read a lot,” Fajer said. “Books were an escape for me. And I did not have money to buy books so I would go to Jacob at the end of the week with whatever money I had to buy books.” Jacob described his first bookshop as a “hole in the wall”. He ran it for 10 years from 2003 to 2013. “Fajer would come to the store with her school bag. The first books she traded in to buy books were Archie comics,” Jacob remembered. “I started the bookstore with no business knowledge and a whimsical thought – let me try and fail than to always think it should have been something I should have done. It ran very well. I had a lot of fun, I met a lot of people. I wanted to sell it thinking I would take a long sabbatical. I had my day job, travels, a social life and I had other projects I wanted to work on.” Fajer was newly graduated when Jacob broke the news he wanted to sell the store that had fed her reading habit for 10 years.

[Continued...]

“I never thought I would open a bookstore but when Jacob said he was closing his bookstore I thought I would love to buy it, but I did not have the money. I had just graduated from law school. My Mum gave me a Rolex as a graduation gift and I said can I have cash instead because I want to buy a bookstore,” she laughed. “My granddad overheard and gave me a sum of money. It was still not enough to set everything up, so my friend Tareq Al-Ibrahim, chipped in”. Jacob had received several offers from people to buy his bookstore, but he chose to sell it to Fajer. “Every week she would come to the bookstore, she would bring all her friends and she would say this is my favorite place. Although I am sure she said that to every business she went,” Jacob laughed. “Who better to have that place than someone who liked it. Also Fajer was someone who champions equal rights and I thought that was the sort of person who should be running a bookstore. Someone who treated people well. I am proud of the fact that I actually gave it to the right person because it is still running, and I am sitting here and talking to you.” With a team of volunteers from their circle of

friends, 13,000 books were transported to a new location in Bayt Lothan overnight. Fajer named her new store Q8 bookstore. “When I bought it from Jacob the idea behind it was to move it out of the city to make it more of a community and arts center,” she said. Fajer, who is also a practising lawyer, travels to visit the most beautiful books stores in the world, sometimes going to places just because of a bookshop she heard about. “I noticed the ones that are doing well are community-based bookstores,” she said. Q8 Bookstore moved out of Bayt Lothan after an active public campaign failed to save the historical building from demolition. Jacob and Fajer went their separate ways. Fajer moved the bookstore to Dar Althar Al-Islamiyah in Yarmouk and Jacob went onto manage the Salmiya bookstore Better Books. But their friendship survived. “Sometimes a year would pass, and we wouldn’t talk but whenever I needed him, he was there,” Fajer said. Fajer contacted him to help her when she re-opened the bookshop in its current location. It was re-branded Bliss and Paper on the

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suggestion of the marketing team to shake off a reputation of being a pop up as a result of the various moves in a small space of time. “We want people to come in and read. I did not want something luxurious or something people did not feel comfortable walking into off the street. We never say you have to buy something to read. But I also had to think how I could cover costs. We thought adding a café would be really nice for a bookstore,” Fajer said. Now book clubs meet there around the tables and chairs thoughtfully placed around the space. They order a coffee and talk. Parents bring their children to browse the English and Arabic books. Sometimes the browsers would buy a book. There are rooms available for rent for meetings and the space has been used for a jazz concert. There is also a room dedicated to Jacob’s antiquarian book collection with rare books about the region. There are also rare copies of the iconic Wizr comic series from the 70s. Jacob says among new books that come in, 32

[...Continued]

there are books that rotate between the used bookstores in Kuwait. “Some of these books have been circulating for 20 years. You see my handwriting in most of them. We see people bring back books and you open it and realize it has come a full circle,” Jacob said. There is an easy banter of old friends between Fajer and Jacob. “Jacob was more of a mentor. He taught me what he had learned. He did not just sell his store and disappear,” Fajer said. “I wish that happened,” Jacob laughed. “I am trying to give it back to him,” Fajer giggled. “I don’t want it,” Jacob insisted. They hold a copy of Jen Campbell’s “Weird things customers say in bookshops” and the two agree they have heard their fair share of unusual requests. “One customer came in and asked for this fiction book that had a bus in it. Or we have people who come in and ask they are looking for a book, they are not sure what it is about but it is blue,” she laughed and added, “I shouldn’t make fun of the customers.”

Despite the challenges to keep the bookshop running both Fajer and Jacob believe there will always be a place for books in people’s lives. “I don’t believe that there are people who cannot enjoy reading. I believe anyone can enjoy reading if they pick the right book,” Fajer said. “The best part is making friends. My favorite part is when people meet in a bookstore. I am waiting for my first bookstore wedding.” “It is difficult to keep bookstores like this open and a lot of time and effort goes into keeping it this way,” Jacob said. “Bookshops are essentially places that dish out stories from across the world. And that is where the joy is if you are a storyteller or a story lover. And I think most people are.”

Bliss and Paper is located in Dasman Complex, Jaber Al Mubarak Street. Opening hours are from 12 pm to 10 pm. For more information, please follow @blissandpaper on Instagram. Photography by Chris Johns.

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truth or dare

THE CURLY GIRL OF KUWAIT How Nehal Adel makes the cut as our new favorite hairdresser bazaar staff

Nehal Adel and I are laughing on Zoom as we’re chatting while she’s on holiday in Thailand. A gorgeous backdrop of pure white sands and palm trees are behind her and she has a big smile plastered on her face with her normally curly hair pulled back into a bun. “I thought we weren’t allowed to wear buns!” I say teasingly, referring to one of her cardinal rules I learned when she had given me the best haircut of my life just two weeks before. “I’m at the beach! And the light salt water has been amazing for my hair. Besides, we all deserve a break, sometimes!” Of course, Nehal only laughed this off after explaining to me the difference between tying back wet hair and causing mechanical damage, stripping your curls of their natural flow and a once in a while good natured pull back on the beach. She is meticulous about her process in helping others embrace and rock their curly hair, because she had undergone a challenge with her own hair as well. “I never knew I had curly hair,” she told me. “Okay… I did know, but I didn’t know what to do with my curly hair. I always saw that hair came in two different types: straight and frizzy, and mine was always frizzy.” And the way she’d deal with her frizzy hair was by always straightening it or putting it up into a bun. “I freaked out and went to dermatologists and everything because my hair was always so frizzy.” But when she realized that nobody could help her fix her hair, she started to research ways to take care of it herself. In doing this, along with trial and error with different products, she learned a lot about how to cut, style and manage her hair, transforming it from a hopelessly frizzy mess to a gorgeous tangle of curls that she would later share with the world - or at least Kuwait. Having moved from Egypt to Kuwait to work as a translator at the Korean embassy just before the Pandemic, Nehal (who is, by the way, fluent in Korean! How fab is that?) armed herself with her newly-acquired knowledge to spread the gospel of 34

curly hair care to other curly girls in Kuwait, offering haircuts and tutorials during the pandemic. “Full lockdown was especially hard on the curly girls of Kuwait. Many of them were freaking out about their hair because it was so damaged and they didn’t know how to deal with it.” So, to fix this, Nehal started a Facebook group with tutorials to help empower curly girls to manage their own hair. The response to this was immediate, and led to Nehal, who had been cutting her own curly hair to open up her studio to the public, taking appointments. And before she knew it, more people were asking for her services. “I wanted to empower other curly girls, because I felt so empowered after learning how to cut my own hair. Every curly girl has been traumatized at the salon at least once in her life - I know I have. And the key to having curly hair you can style on your own and feel proud of starts with a good haircut.” Many of Kuwait’s resident curlies have gotten their hair cut at Nabi Curls by Nehal. She’s even had some high profile clients in her chair, such as influencers and members of high society and the royal family, which organically led to a lot of exposure. And if you are to look at her portfolio on Instagram, you’ll see a collection of before and after pictures, showing women who are elated with their curly cut results. Speaking from firsthand experience, Nehal’s know-how and thoroughness makes a world of a difference. She really does know how to analyze a face and give a curly girl a dry cut that opens up her face and makes her features stand out in an attractive way, instilling confidence as a result into every person who parks herself onto Nabi Curls’ chair. But all those who have gotten their hair cut (or read: life changed) by Nehal know that it isn’t a brief procedure. First, Nehal asks that you send her a photo of your hair, and that you answer a brief questionnaire asking about your hair care routine, if you’ve ever dyed your hair, what kind of products you use, etc. Then, she asks that you wash your hair and let it dry completely by the time you make it to her studio. Once you’re there, she analyzes your curls, explaining to you what type of hair you have and your curls’ natural behavior that hinders your hair from achieving the type of shape you want it to achieve. This leads to her assessing the haircut that will work best for you, a dry cut, a wash, followed by a styling session. Throughout the whole process, she walks you through every step, explaining and encouraging you to take notes. She teaches you how to wash

and style your hair, and even recommends the products you should use, sending you a detailed list afterwards. The whole experience is bespoke and handheld, ensuring that you’re a part of every step. Nehal’s services are fully personalized and are designed to empower, leaving every curly girl with the tricks and tools to take care of her own hair and achieve those instagram-worthy curly looks we’ve all dreamt of having at some point or the other. “My advice to any curly girl is to start with a

great haircut. Because if you have a great haircut, you’ll be able to conquer anything with your hair, and you’ll always feel great. Confidence is key.” And no wonder she calls her salon Nabi Curls as “Nabi” means butterfly in Korean. “It’s also a pleasant surprise that in Kuwaiti slang, Nabi means “I want”. But the way I see it is, you come to my chair in your cocoon. Four hours later, you’ll emerge back out into the world as a butterfly.” With the volume and luster she achieves, happy butterflies emerge, indeed! [Continued...]

TRUTH OR DARE QUESTIONNAIRE How would your mother describe you in one word? Stubborn. How would you describe your mother in one word? Beautiful. What is the most ridiculous question you’ve ever been asked? I couldn’t think of any, as I do believe that everyone has their own point of view and “ridiculous “ is objective. What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done? I joined the Faculty of languages, Korean language department after high school just because of the Korean drama shows I watched and was hooked on. What is your theme song? “Hall of fame” by the Script. What word in the English or Arabic language do you wish you had invented? Freedom. Where would you like to live? On an Island country like Thailand. What is your dream retirement location? In the making. What is the first famous quote that comes to your mind? “When there is will, there is always a way”. Which animal best describes your perfect partner, be it in business, or life? Horse, strong, free, independent yet very gentle and kind. Do you miss anything from your childhood and if so, what is it? Family gatherings. If you could change your name, to what would you change it? Isis, the Ancient Egyptian goddess of healing and magic.

Who is your favorite historical figure? Egyptian former president Anwar Alsadat.

How would you describe your handshake, in one word? Friendly.

What in the world do you least desire? Arrogance.

What is the toughest part of your character? Being a perfectionist, a blessing and a curse at the same time, sometimes I forget that natural is not perfect and perfect is not natural.

What do you think is lacking in the world, which [if there were more of it] would make the world a better place? Kindness for sure.

[...Continued]

Why do you think most people who do, like you? I’m extra caring and they like to open up to me I guess. Finish this sentence: “Happiness is…” Self love. Want to change your hair and your life with Nabi Curls by Nehal? Take the first step and check out her Instagram page @nabicurls_bynehal.

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TOOFOOLA IS BREAKING THE TABOOS ON MENSTRUATION

A menstrual health campaign for teenagers spearheaded by Juliette Zeidan By bazaar staff

“That time of the month.” Five words, always mentioned so nonchalantly in reference to Menstruation. The monthly period, however, is a physiological occurrence that will affect half the world’s population during their lifetime, yet it remains a difficult subject to broach. According to the World Health Organization, the average age in which young girls hit puberty is between 10 and 12 years, and preteens don’t always know what to do, who to ask and how to take care of themselves and their bodies. Even older teens might not find the information and support they need simply because they do not feel socially empowered to do so. Enter Toofoola, a parenting platform born in the Middle East, and their most recent campaign to raise awareness about menstrual health for teenagers. The organization’s first awareness effort focuses on adolescent menstrual health and addresses a variety of themes relevant to teens and their parents under “The Teens Project”, a Toofoola initiative that focuses on multiple topics important for teenagers and their parents. The campaign centers around the menstrual heath topic, including education, myths and taboos, and period management. Toofoola will also be releasing testimonials of many partners on this campaign through video and interviews, as well as launching a competition and a raffle draw on a menstrual kit. The campaign will also include a podcast focused on teenagers to answer any questions, issues or challenges that parents may have. The project has gained the official partnership of MHDay along with the support and partnership of multiple initiatives, experts and NGOs from around the Arab region, such as Wing Woman Lebanon, Dr. Rana Hany in Egypt, Lizzom in the UAE, Zina Malas in Jordan and BB pads in the UK. Menstrual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to the menstrual cycle. It is a women’s health issue that is often neglected or worse, is considered taboo. This is why education is the first step towards breaking the silence by making information and scientific knowledge more accessible to those who need it. Juliette Zeidan, midwife and founder of Toofoola. com said: “Toofoola’s menstrual health campaign will aim to educate and empower adolescent girls to take control of their bodies. The campaign will also seek to break the taboo around menstrual health and educate both boys and girls. In addition, Toofoola will be partnering with organizations that provide menstrual products and hygiene education to teen girls in need.” By raising awareness about these issues, Toofoola hopes to make a difference in the lives of teenage girls around the world. 38

[Continued...]

Jiji, as everyone calls her, is a mother of 2, a wife, and a certified midwife. Born into a family of four sisters and raised in a charming village in the mountains of Lebanon, Jiji was raised on family values that she embodied throughout her life and her career. Her journey as a midwife started in 1993 with her studies at the Lebanese university. She had an interest in the medical field, but her choice of midwifery was particularly exceptional to her as it deals more with a human’s happiest moment of life, delivering a new life. She delivered more than 500 babies until she got married and moved to Kuwait. Being away from her mother and family, Juliette had to navigate her pregnancy, motherhood,

parenthood with her husband utilizing her own professional knowledge. This is when Toofoola. com was born. Toofoola star ted with the idea of writing and documenting baby rhymes in Arabic to help moms sing to their babies’ Arabic lullabies. This idea grew and moms star ted asking Juliette for help and suppor t throughout their pregnancy and motherhood as they were away from their mothers back home as she was. At that moment, inspired by their need, she star ted a blog with ar ticles discussing different topics based on her personal experience, as a mother and a wife, and her professional experience as a midwife.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and after working in the corporate world for more than 18 years, Juliette decided to focus on her passion Toofoola.com and make it her full focus and fulltime job. Realizing the role technology played in delivering her content since day one through the blogsite, Juliette decided to continue on this path by capitalizing on her content delivery through social media and podcasting. She creates and delivers weekly content to her audience through Instagram, facebook and the website, and bi-weekly audio content through her podcast. Her Arabic podcast titled “Ahlieh Be Mahalieh” delivers 7 to 8 episodes per season and is available across all major podcast directories such as Apple, Spotify, Google, Anghami and more. Although a professional healthcare in her own right, Juliette still believes that the advice of a parent or grandparent to a parent or parent-to-be is priceless. Yet combining it with medical and professional know-how will definitely help today’s parents navigate the fast-changing daily challenges in having and raising children, specifically in the Arab region and North Africa. And this is the ground upon which her philosophy of content creation is built. The Teen project brings Toofoola’s philosophy, values and beliefs full circle by creating the content and tools that can help girls navigate this turbulent time in their lives. Juliette adds, “Adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to poor menstrual hygiene due to a lack of knowledge and understanding about their bodies. This can lead to serious health problems, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, urinary tract infections and reproductive issues. In addition, poor menstrual hygiene can also cause mental health problems, stress and shame.” The campaign will extend over two months, overlapping with the Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28. The campaign is the first phase of a three phase project. 40

[...Continued]

Download the comic booklet from the website: www.toofoola.com

CMY

If you’re a teenager or parent of a teenager, make sure to check out the Toofoola website for more information at teens.toofoola.com. Let’s break the silence around menstrual health! Follow @toofoola_official on Instagram.

THE BRIGHT SIDE TO ANGER

How science explains it and how to manage it By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Most of us prefer to avoid feeling angry at work (and really, in any other area of life like relationships, family, sports, and even social media). However, this doesn’t help us in achieving that goal. In fact, unless you are not human, you will find that there are many situations that can trigger your anger, including some that seem absolutely justified: unfairness, provocation, the realization that people are trying to take advantage of us, not to mention incompetent drivers, bad bosses, annoying work colleagues, and of course a slow internet connection. Psychologists have studied anger for over 100 years. Like any universal behavior, it is clear that there must be at least some rational reasons, and even justifications, for anger to be so pervasive and dominant in every society, and across all walks of life. From an evolutionary perspective, anger is best understood as a neurocognitive adaptation “designed to bargain for better treatment.” In other words, anger is a demand for help, change, and action. More specifically, research has highlighted three important functions of anger: Showing status or strength to others: Anger is both a common defense tactic, as well as a universal offense strategy. We are angry to show power, status, and intimidate, even if this also shows we are unable to manage a situation well. In many ways, anger is an attempt to gain control when we have lost self-control. Venting, or letting steam off: Anger is cathartic, which is why repressing or suppressing it has been linked to a wide range of psychological and physical wellbeing deficits. As Mark Twain famously noted, “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” Actually improving things: Anger is a signal that the status quo must be changed, and it can fuel moral outrage, which is often a force for good. And yet, there’s no question that anger is also corrosive. For example, it makes people bitter, it prioritizes hate over love, and is divisive and polarizing. Above all, anger perpetuates the belief that we are right (even when we are clearly wrong) that things cannot be changed. Anger is rarely the most effective approach to dealing with problems, even when it does invite constructive and proactive actions as a follow-up. People differ in their propensity to experience anger, which is mostly what emotional stability (or emotional intelligence) refers to. Think about it as a continuum that ranges from the Dalai Lama on the low end to the character of Tony Soprano on the high end, or from Angela Merkel to Alexandria Ocasio Cortez. There’s as much variability in people’s tendency to express (or repress) anger as there is in how they look. 42

There are also known gender and cultural differences in anger. Most notably, men are more likely to express anger in terms of physical aggression as compared to women who are more likely to suppress anger (mostly because they are socialized to do this from a young age). As for cultural differences, though anger is a universal and biologically-rooted emotion, nations differ in how it is typically expressed, interpreted, and what concessions are made when anger is infused in different interactions and situations. For example, passive aggressive cultures (e.g., Japan, Britain, Sweden) may be more likely to engage in polite displays of fake friendliness while actually feeling angry, compared to more direct, intense, and emotional cultures (e.g., Argentina, Israel, France). But the most practical lessons from science is that everybody can learn to manage their anger more effectively, and that there are clear benefits to doing so.

Cognitive behavioral therapy: As it is designed to help people reframe their thoughts, become indifferent to anger triggers, and develop new habits. Mindfulness: Its ability to help people get in the zone and suspend evaluation or self-conscious emotions, also reduces anger. Empathy: This improves people’s ability to take others’ perspective, significantly reduces people’s anger and aggression displays. Rational compassion: The habit of being kind and prosocial to others even when we don’t necessarily empathize with them is a powerful force for reducing anger expression in any environment. Avoiding stressors: Reducing our exposure to situations that may trigger us is a well-established technique that everyone can apply to minimize the experience of anger.

Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash.

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HOW KUWAIT CONQUERED GENO’S HEART Chatting with Solia’s Genoveva Rincón By bazaar staff

It’s only 11am when I sit down with Solia’s Genoveva Rincón, but the arid Avenues eatery is already abuzz with morning diners settling down to enjoy their coffee and Solia’s famous breakfast. “Do you want some breakfast?” Geno asks me as I sit down. “Our breakfast here is delicious”. When I decline her invitation she persists, then settles for serving me a cup of her signature coffee instead. Something I’ve dubbed “the Cappugeno”, consisting of cappuccino with almond milk. As we sip our Cappugenos, I take note of the animated expressions coming from Geno as we chat about her life in Kuwait as well as her career, interests and work ethic. I also take note of the little gestures and expressions she uses that show the comfor t and fondness she feels towards her new home of the past four years, Kuwait. Whether it be a friendly wave to a colleague or frequenter of the modern Mediterranean eater y, or her quick and slick motion for the Maître’de to turn down the music during the call to prayer. Each motion is elegant and understated, but filled with intention, appreciation, and respect - three she feels are vital to experiencing and embracing a new culture when you’re living far from home, as she does. Hailing from Sevilia, the southern Andalusian strip of Spain, Genoveva Rincón moved to Kuwait in 2018 to work with the Al Hajer y group at Solia as a brand operations manager. It keeps her busy and, on the move, having to bounce around from location to location in order to make sure ever ything at each Solia establishment is running smoothly. “This was especially difficult during the pandemic, because of other details we had to focus on; closing temporarily, deliver y logistics, shor tage of staff…. I had to ser ve once or twice. It always makes me ner vous! I can’t hold a tray like they can!” she laughed. She’s also made herself at home at Solia, finding extreme solace and suppor t from all the staff. “I especially can’t do anything without Venky (Venkatesh) and Faisal” she says, calling out her gratitude for 44

two members of the Solia family. “I would be lost without them”. Living in Kuwait has become a welcomed surprise to her, but what Geno also did not expect was for her career to take her to the restaurant industr y. Her past experience in this field is limited, Geno does have a histor y of sharing love through food. “In Spain, many of us end up working in restaurants, at hotels or as baristas [to make money] during university. I did when I was studying law. So, this is the extent of my food experience, but food has always been my love language. My parents were always working growing up so I would surprise them with a home cooked meal. This is a way of showing love, you know? Providing, feeding, and getting together to share food. That’s also what I love about the restaurant industr y.” But instead of pursuing a career as a professional chef from the days she would cook for her family, Geno’s eclectic interests and cer tifications include (but are not limited to) studying law in university, life coaching, and her ultimate love, her intricate histor y in the ar ts; specifically, cinema and dance such as ballet and flamenco. “I have always been drawn to the ar ts,” she tells me, talking about how she went through different journeys throughout her life, always coming back to music and dance. “I’m even par t of a band over here that plays flamenco music” she says brightly. “I did not expect to find such musical and ar tistic passion and talent in Kuwait!” Another thing she didn’t expect to find in Kuwait was Padel - the Spanish spor t that’s taken our countr y by storm. “I especially can’t believe that Padel is so popular here,” she said when I asked her if she was an experienced Padel player since she comes from the spor t’s native countr y. She laughed and admitted she used to play quite a bit in her youth “But it’s always just for fun! It always makes anyone happy to see something from their homeland when they’re living away. I like that Padel is popular here.” Despite her work in the food industr y, Geno is extremely disciplined when it comes to her food intake and prefers to keep her diet light and free of heavy calories and carbohydrates. But she really likes the food at Solia and [Continued...]

says that it’s hard to choose which dish is her favorite. “Solia has an ever-evolving menu and always changes, and I’m always tr ying ever ything out. It’s all so delicious. I really love our food.” When pressed, she listed some of her stars “The omelette is excellent… avocado sliders with eggs… the mushroom risotto is so delicious but risotto has too many calories….” Okay, Geno. Enough with the calories. What’s your favorite food in the world? “Oh… in Spain, we eat fried potatoes with eggs and chorizo” she says with a dreamy look on her face. “if it wasn’t so unhealthy, I would eat that all day for the rest of my life.” Perhaps a new Solia menu addition is looming? But Padel included, Geno finds lots of similarities between Arab and Spanish 46

[...Continued]

personalities, which makes her feel comfor table as a guest in Kuwait. “It’s always hard to come to a new place and be away from your family and friends, but Kuwait has not been as difficult as I thought it would be. People are so warm and inviting here, and remind me a lot of the Spanish.” Working in the restaurant industr y has also been a great way for her to bond with the people of the countr y she now calls home. “I’ve learned so much about Kuwait and the culture by working at Solia,” she says warmly. “It’s so interesting how similar to the Spanish you are. After all, you conquered us!” She reminds me. Not that she seems to mind this tidbit of Arab/Hispanic histor y. “In fact, I always joke with people here that I’m ready for the Arabs to conquer the Spaniards

again! Why else do you think I’m here?” She laughs infectiously, and once again offers me something to eat. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?” she demands, charmingly trilling her ‘r’ and really reminding me of Modern Family’s Sophia Vergara. I’m good, Geno, but I’ll have another Cappageno with you any day.

Follow Geno for her latest on Instagram @gno_rg and TikTok @genorincgor.

The American University of Kuwait received its Institutional Accreditation from the Private Universities Council (PUC), Ministry of Higher Education in the State of Kuwait, and has a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation with Dartmouth College (Hanover, N Hampshire - USA).

admissions@auk.edu.kw Tel: 1802040/(+965) 2224-8399 Ext: 3148 www.auk.edu.kw

OFFICE JOKES

The business case for getting your team to laugh together By Steve Cody

In the current “age of distraction”–with constant news, pings and memes—focus is fleeting. Technology has encroached on all aspects of our lives, with our devices squeezing more time out of our day than ever before. Productivity aside, how is the rise of negative and overwhelming world news impacting our employees’ wellbeing? Moreover, how is the overload of information we receive throughout our day affecting them personally? And, most important, what can we as leaders do to cut this Gordian knot? While we turn to technology to soothe our anxieties and decompress, we also look to it in a business setting to improve communications, workflow and skills. However, technology can be a double-edged sword if not managed property. A recent Pega report studied five million hours of live desktop activities and found that the average employee switches between 35 applications more than one thousand times a day. With this in mind, leaders have an important role to play in mitigating information overload. This culture of constant connection takes a toll, both professionally and personally. This is where humor comes in. Both stress management and information management should be ingrained in company culture and modeled from the top down. Bringing levity into the workplace can enhance employee engagement, wellbeing and performance—and ultimately become a competitive advantage for any business. Fact: organizations in which humor is part of the culture reported shareholder returns 19% higher than their competitors, according to a Huet & Associates study. Humor connects people and encourages them to be present. Injecting humor and levity in our daily work interactions, even virtually, can actually change how our brains work, generating more alpha brainwaves that help us develop creative solutions, reduce stress and solve problems. Most important, it builds resiliency, which can help employees better navigate the challenges and changes we are facing on a regular basis and bounce back more quickly. Integrating humor into the workplace isn’t always easy, though. Business leaders need to be strategic about boundaries and approaches to ensure levity without offending their staff. Deprecate yourself, not others In general, humor can be a powerful coping tool in even the toughest of environments. Further, self-deprecating humor can be an effective way of improving employee engagement with leaders. Research by the Harvard Business Review found that individuals who disclose negative or sensitive information about themselves using humor are seen as warmer and more competent versus when they deliver in a serious manner. 48

Choose topics carefully It’s important to stay away from taboo topics when using humor to lighten the discussion. It’s not a time to get into a debate on politics or religion nor focus on a particular colleague or employee. Spoken or written from a position of authority, words carry added weight; they can be used to either foster further anxiety or create a supportive space. Whether it’s global conflict, business disruption or social unrest, we will continue to experience psychological challenges. Humor helps establish a culture of openness and discussion, providing a strong foundation and creating a comfortable space before a crisis hits. Have fun It’s very difficult to dislike someone who makes you laugh. Use this to your advantage when meeting new teams or clients, discussing potential changes in the organization or simply to break the ice or

tension in a room. When used appropriately, humor can build rapport and empathy— and even get a meeting back on track. It’s important to learn the right balance for your organization, specifically— as humor isn’t a fit for every company (like an autocratic, top-down culture). For eons, most of corporate America has demanded a strict code of professionalism and stiff upper lips. But where has that gotten us? To a time when employees are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Fortunately, humor in the workplace creates an avenue for open communication and understanding, even in tough situations, and encourages creativity across a company. A culture that includes levity encourages people to be more authentic, creative and innovative, three factors that every business and its staff need today.

Photo by Dominik Vanyi on Unsplash.

THE IPOD HAS BEEN GONE FOR A LONG TIME

Sorry, Apple, the iPod Touch was never really an iPod By Harry McCracken

It’s rare for a tech company to issue a press release announcing that it’s discontinuing a product—especially one whose profile had already eroded into near invisibility. But there’s no mystery about why Apple chose to formally acknowledge that it’s ceasing production of the iPod Touch. Introduced in September 2007, the Touch has always been most easily described as a device that could do everything an iPhone could . . . except make phone calls. But it was also the last Apple product to carry the name “iPod,” making it a link to the era that began when Steve Jobs unveiled the original iPod music player on October 23, 2001. In the early years of this century, the iPod turbocharged Apple’s comeback story and captured as much mindshare as any pre-iPhone gizmo ever had. It was the most powerful consumer product of its time, and though that time ended when the iPhone arrived, it’s still startling to realize that Apple is killing off the last remaining vestige of the brand that saved the company. Of course, the Touch had little in common with that 2001 iPod, which was not groundbreaking because it could do almost anything. Instead, it did one then-amazing thing by putting 1,000 songs in your pocket. Though later iPods did offer some additional features—most notably the ability to play videos and shoot video—they remained music-centric in a way that the iPod Touch never was. Which raises a question: Branding aside, was the iPod Touch really an iPod? Back in 2005, Jobs himself told Steven Levy that an iPod “is just a great digital music player.” That was his way of explaining that the iPod Shuffle—a $99 MP3 player the size of a pack of gum that played music only in shuffle mode—was still an iPod. If any device that’s great at playing digital music can be an iPod, the Touch surely qualified—just at the opposite end of the continuum from the Shuffle. Or did it? Far be it from me to quibble with Steve Jobs’ definition of what an iPod is. (As of today, I guess that should be “what an iPod was.”) But there’s a fundamental difference between a gadget that’s about you and your music collection, and little else, and one that is also about socializing, productivity, gaming, fitness, reading, and pretty much every other aspect of life. All those dancing silhouetted people in classic iPod commercials weren’t suffering from digital distraction. Instead, they were deeply focused in a way that’s radically different from the modern experience of using an iPhone or iPod Touch. And it was a focus that would be impossible to recreate on any device that offers the App Store. There’s also a great yawning divide between a device that’s capable of holding a personal music collection you’ve carefully curated and one that lets you stream songs in infinite quantities 50

from Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, and too many other services to mention. The music streamers have never felt like they’re about my music; for one thing, I can’t go into them without being reminded that there’s a lot of music out there that I don’t care about. And though such services have millions of tracks, they still don’t have all the songs I ripped from CD onto my iPod. Back when Apple introduced the first Apple Watch, Tim Cook called it “the most personal device we have ever created.” In retrospect, the iPod in its pre-Touch form has a pretty good claim on that title, simply because there aren’t many things that say more about

people than the music they choose to keep with them at all times. So, as far as I’m concerned, the last real iPod went away in September 2014, when Apple discontinued the iPod Classic. No, I’m not arguing that the iPod Touch was a step backward compared to previous iPods—just that it was something fundamentally different. When we entered the iPhone age, we left the original iPod magic behind, both for better and worse. But thinking about what we lost makes me want to fish an old iPod out of my junk drawer and party like it’s 2001 all over again. Photo by insung yoon on Unsplash.

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THE VISION, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT THAT DRIVE TRAMPO A conversation with Ghassan Assi, Chief Operating Officer at TRAMPO By bazaar staff

No matter how old you are, jumping around at the indoor trampoline park locations at TRAMPO is a magical experience. Everyone loves the momentary feeling of weightlessness, when gravity ceases to exist and you feel like you are flying. Kids and adults love the different games and areas where you can shoot hoops while you jump and even challenge your friends to balancing beam battles and dodgeball.

We spoke to Ghassan Assi, the Chief Operating Officer at TRAMPO to learn more about the behindthe-scenes work that goes on. “The reactions range from blank faces as in no idea what I am a talking about and these are unmistakably singles or parents with no kids or ‘yes we regularly take our kids to TRAMPO, our kids love it … ’ and even after so many occurrences, I still feel a sense of achievement that we are doing things right,” he explains. Parents, and their kids, love TRAMPO and they love them back. And us bazaarites love going as adults even without kids. And it seems that Ghassan does too, “On a personal level climbing is my favorite, it is an activity that I enjoy with my kids. Also, I appreciate prospecting and hunting for the next viral active play games and challenges.” Ghassan’s career path is interesting; he holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree 52

in engineering, in addition to an MBA. He started working in the aerospace industry in Canada, more than thirty years ago, for several years before drifting into the telecom sector and eventually the infrastructure and leisure and entertainment at TRAMPO. He loves how TRAMPO is a very agile and flat organization. It is a homegrown Kuwaiti success story that started from an idea in 2015 that is now in Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and Oman serving millions of very loyal and happy clients. What sets it apart is the progressive corporate culture which is a reflection of the owners and leaders’ vision. “The employees make this company great; we value and recognize their contribution and engagement. The workforce is encouraged to innovate, participate, and share, they are trusted,” Ghassan tells us. He is very proud that his team took a homegrown concept to a multiple

award-winning reality. He believes that with vision, dedication, and commitment the sky’s the limit. We are slowly going back to our prepandemic lives, but COVID-19 hit the enter tainment industr y harder than most, and its ef fects are still going to be felt there for a while. Being an agile organization, TRAMPO’s response to the situation helped manage the situation and reflects their values and vision. “Early on we realized the risk of a prolonged disruption in our revenue streams, so we executed our crisis management plan with the objective to help our key people navigate these uncer tain times, the ultimate goal being the post pandemic recover y. With par ticipation of all the stakeholders, namely the employees, the owners, the banks, the landlords and the suppliers we were able to sail through these rough seas,” Ghassan says.

For example, TRAMPO had to quickly adapt and integrate new rules and regulations which is a challenge even in the most conventional circumstances, as it involves developing new procedures and training staff on them and tr ying to do it seamlessly without disturbing the client’s experience. “We were a bit rushed into it but eventually found our stability point. It should be said that many, if not most, of the new policies and procedures will stay with us well beyond the Covid-19 pandemic,” Ghassan explained. He also told us that they would like to push for a fully paperless environment. “On the customer engagement side ideally, we can move to 100% online transactions thus reducing entr y queues and substantially improving the clients’ experience. What Covid-19 did is underline the need to speed-up and leverage technology to reengineering and simplify business practices and processes,” he told us. This switch was initially introduced to reduce the number of physical objects being passed between people, but it is also a win for the environment. We hope more companies will take TRAMPO’s lead and follow in their footsteps. Any child-related business means big responsibility, which Ghassan, TRAMPO and the entire team take ver y seriously. “On a personal level, I am involved in all the safety and security

aspects and have been successfully pushing that agenda based on training, inspections, and certifications. We have so far been ver y successful in avoiding major accidents,” he explains. We know exactly what he means too. Ever y time we’ve been to TRAMPO we notice how the staff explain ever ything and reiterate safety instructions and are always in position to quickly manage situations before they arise. TRAMPO is one of Kuwait’s most popular entertainment destinations. It is a per fect place to visit all year round, especially when the weather outside is too hot. And it offers an active and engaging experience for ever yone and we hope to see more locations. “In the short to medium term, I would like to see TRAMPO expand in the remaining GCC markets and beyond it. The real challenge is testing the waters outside our regional comfort zone, maybe in the medium to long term time horizon,” Ghassan tells us. And we can’t wait for that to happen too. Trampo Extreme has two locations in Kuwait: Murouj; off 6th Ring Road next to Sahara Golf Club and The Promenade Mall; Hawaly, AlOthman Street, First Floor. They are also located at Oman, UAE & Qatar. Call them at 2225 5260 for more information and follow @trampoofficial on Instagram. 53

PANDEMIC POOR OR PRETTY RICH?

The pandemic created a new billionaire every 30 hours as millions are set to fall into extreme poverty By Michael Grothaus

Oxfam International has a new report out today that highlights the rapidly widening gap between the few ultra-rich and the world’s poorest. The report, titled “Profiting from Pain,” found that during the first two years of the pandemic, a new billionaire was minted every 30 hours, with a total of 573 of the world’s richest becoming billionaires during that time frame.

On the flip side, in 2022, Oxfam expects a million people to fall into extreme poverty every 33 hours–nearly the same rate a new billionaire is minted. The astonishing rate that people the world over are set to fall into extreme poverty–263 million people in 2022 alone–is due to the rapidly rising costs of living, including everything from the cost of energy to the cost of food. While the billionaires who control these assets will profit even more, hundreds of millions could be priced out of staying alive, Oxfam warns.

Announcing the release of the report, Gabriela Bucher, executive director of Oxfam International, said: Other shocking findings from the report found that the world’s 2,668 billionaires own $12.7 trillion of the planet’s wealth, with the world’s ten richest men owning more than the poorest 3.1 billion people on earth. Oxfam is urging governments to introduce a one-off tax on billionaires’ pandemic profits to help average people pay for the rapidly rising cost

of food and energy. The organization is also calling on governments to create an annual wealth tax that would see millionaires taxed on 2% of their total wealth per year and billionaires taxed on 5% of their total wealth per year. Oxfam says such a tax would generate $2.52 trillion per year, which could provide universal health care and sufficient social protections for every resident of low- and lower-middle-income nations. Photo by Mathieu Stern on Unsplash.

YOUTUBE VS TIKTOK

Inside YouTube’s long bet on TikTok-style short-form content By KC Ifeanyi

Last year, YouTube rolled out Shorts, the platform’s answer to the rising tide of short-form content. It seemed inevitable that YouTube—the first popular digital video destination—would join the ranks of Instagram’s Reels and Snap’s Spotlight to try to keep pace with TikTok’s growing dominance. But launching products that mimic existing platforms hasn’t always panned out (RIP IGTV). Shorts, though, is a bet that seems to be paying off. YouTube recently announced that Shorts is now averaging more than 30 billion daily views, which is four times more than a year ago. “We have the opportunity, as we continue to build this product, to really be a leader in this space,” says Kevin Ferguson, creator partnerships director for Shorts. “And the reason I believe that is because we are prioritizing creator needs and creator feedback.” A big part of creators’s needs, of course, is getting paid. Shorts launched alongside a $100 million creator fund. In the pool of eligible creators, 40% had never gotten paid by YouTube before. “For us, that’s really exciting because we’re paying this next generation of creators,” Ferguson says. He notes that the Shorts Fund is a bridge to more longterm, sustainable revenue streams, most notably building an ad business within Shorts, something YouTube is currently testing. There is no plan as of yet to incorporate Shorts into the YouTube Partner Program, the gateway that creators have to cross to monetize their channels. To be eligible for the program, creators need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time. But right now, watch time from Shorts content isn’t counted. YouTube is pushing Shorts to creators as another tool to build a loyal audience, alongside VOD and live. Conceivably, there could be a rising class of YouTube creators exclusively focusing on Shorts, given the popularity of short-form content. So creating partner-program requirements specifically for Shorts could be a good idea, especially as TikTok is rolling its own solutions for supporting creators beyond its own fund. Ferguson says that there’s nothing to announce yet along those lines with Shorts, but “we’re thinking through what is the best way to bring sustainable creator monetization to life for this platform, holistically.” In addition to ideating around revenue streams to support Shorts, Ferguson is also working with creators to build out features for the platform. Ferguson spearheads the YouTube Shorts Community, which provides select creators with such perks as events, workshops, and early access to new launches, as well as a direct line to in-house managers who give and receive feedback. “Sometimes we’ll hear, ‘Hey, X platform 56

has this feature. I want you to bring that to Shorts.’ But what’s cool for us is, because YouTube is inherently a multi-format platform, we also get requests and ideas for things that can only be brought to life on YouTube,” Ferguson says. For example, Remix, a feature that allows creators to cut one-to-five second clips of YouTube videos into their Shorts. Remix is similar to TikTok’s stitching feature, but leans on the frictionless nature of editing within the app and having access to YouTube’s massive trove of videos. “The amount of content that can be unlocked for that type of storytelling is really unparalleled,” Ferguson says. “We’re seeing creators get really excited taking that video that they loved five years ago and bringing it to life again in their short-form video.”

TikTok is the undisputed champ of short-form content at the moment. But Ferguson welcomes competition and remains bullish on Shorts’s prospects. “A robust ecosystem with multiple players in the short-form space is ultimately a good thing for creators, and it keeps us fresh,” he says. “I think a lot of times people equate short-formvideo content with TikTok content. We’re still at the beginning of this thing. There’s an opportunity for us to continue to evolve what this format looks like in partnership with our creators and our users.”

Photo by Collabstr on Unsplash.

A DAY OUT IN THE

PORSCHE TAYCAN

Opinion leaders from Kuwait experience the fully-electric Porsche Taycan in a one-of-a-kind journey without charging stops By bazaar staff

The performance of electric cars has often been at the center of talks on the future of car making, and more specifically, the performance of electric sports cars and how they compare to combustion engine cars. The talk goes further when speaking of the performance of electric sports cars in extreme weathers in countries such as Kuwait where the lifestyle also requires commuting long distances from one point to another.

Five key opinion leaders took the electric car challenge to the test. And not any electric car. Led by actor and television host Mohammed AlKazemi, they took Porsche’s first ever electric sports car, the Taycan, on a full day journey around Kuwait. They experienced its per formance, technology and features, covering approximately 350 kilometers without having to recharge its batter y once. The journey started on the Gulf Road. AlKazemi drove the Taycan to the Shaab area where he picked up his first guest, press reporter Jenan AlZeed. Their discussions while driving to Souq Al Mubarakiya focused on the technology of the car as they explored its features and per formance as well as the interior design of the vehicle. AlZeed shared her positive impression of the car, first noting its stability on the road as well as the silence of the engine. After a walk through the alleys of Souq Al Mubarakiya, AlKazemi suggested that AlZeed took the wheel back home. She reiterated her 58

first impressions of the car and complemented the experience. As AlKazemi headed to his second guest, radio host Salman AlNajadi, the Taycan’s batter y showed a charging level of 80% after having covered approximately 75 kilometers. On their journey to the northern part of Kuwait through the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Causeway, AlKazemi showcased the Taycan’s features to AlNajadi as he requested to increase the air conditioning level. At a touch, AlKazemi increased the level on the all-touch dashboard and showcased that the intelligent and intuitive design which allows drivers to control using touch operation or the voice control function. At their destination, AlNajadi discussed the global move toward achieving sustainability in every aspect of the economic cycle, particularly consumerism which has a direct impact to the environment. He emphasized on the shift to driving electric cars and the important role that international car brands have to support that shift

and change mindsets when it comes to driving luxury sports cars. Halfway through the journey, the Taycan had consumed 50% of its battery charge and has driven around 190 kilometers so far. AlKazemi continued the journey to the Subiya area where he met with Dr. Osama Behbehani, Consultant in Advanced Dentistry and Cosmetics, at his caravan. Behbehani was first caught by the design of the vehicle, which he qualifies as an “unmistakable Porsche design” vehicle. As they both explore the exterior details of the Taycan, Behbehani admired the sporty roofline of the vehicle, which slopes downward to the rear. As an avid Porsche enthusiast himself, Behbehani compared the Taycan’s exterior to that of the Porsche 911, as he admired the pronounced shoulders of the wings resulting in a sharply emphasized rear and, the glass-effect Porsche logo, which has been integrated into the light bar at the rear end that dates to the first Porsche 911 Turbo model.

Driving the Taycan on the different roads and areas of Kuwait, guests have shared similar views about the stability of the vehicle while driving, its strong performance and most importantly, the silence it offered throughout the journey. After Subiya, AlKazemi headed to the Jahra area. The Taycan’s battery was at 40%, the equivalent of 230 kilometers driven at that point. The final guest was branding expert, Mohammad AlRasheed. What he first noted is the uniqueness of the design which he said was easily recognizable as the Porsche brand. AlRasheed spoke of the significance of choosing a car that truly aligns with one’s lifestyle, personality, liking and goals; elements that car brands invest in to deliver to the needs of different segments of drivers. During their drive, AlRasheed and AlKazemi discussed more about the vehicle’s capabilities in Kuwait’s environment and way of life, both agreeing that the car hasn’t failed to deliver on its performance even after a full day driving around the areas of Kuwait. AlKazemi ended the journey heading back to Salmiya after covering around 350 kilometers. The remaining battery charge stood at around 10%, enough to enable AlKazemi to drive back home without having to recharge the vehicle. The full-day journey took five guests across Kuwait and its different environments, from the urban city to the activities at the seashores and in the desert. Having received over 50 international awards and recognitions for its engineering, design and performance, the Taycan has most importantly covered long distances that enable local drivers to enjoy an electric sports car with peace of mind.

For more information about the Porsche Taycan, please visit Porsche Centre Kuwait, Behbehani Motors Company, please call 1870 870 or head to porschekuwait.com. For the latest updates on social media, follow @PorscheCentreKuwait on Instagram and Facebook. 59

REMOTE INNOVATION

No office required By Rishin Patel

Companies have long viewed remote work as the enemy of innovation. Traditionalists have said remote work can’t replicate the creative synergy that takes place in person. They’ve also argued that, with less supervision, remote workers are less productive than in-person workers. In some cases, as in the healthcare industry, in-person dynamics seemed so necessary that remote arrangements were scarcely considered. March 9, 2022, marked the two-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 lockdowns. Whether or not companies agreed with conventional remote-work wisdom, all had to innovate without seeing their coworkers face-to-face. They say necessity is the mother of invention. In the past two years, a necessity to work remotely produced a slew of innovations. From an estimated $218 billion extra in e-commerce spending to skyrocketing interest in online-learning options, those who used the pandemic as an opportunity to challenge conventional wisdom won big. Two years on, here’s why remote innovation works—and how the healthcare industry, in particular, has benefitted.

The two main advantages of remote innovation 1. Challenges cognitive biases—and produced many happier workers. “Cognitive biases” are entrenched ways of thinking that prevent us from seeing things in a new light—in other words, that keep us close-minded. A couple key pandemic examples: Normalcy bias, which tells us that the “normal” we’ve gotten used to is how things will always be; and functional fixedness, which makes people stick with the method that’s always worked rather than experimenting with something new. The pandemic forced people to reconsider notions of normal, and made previously effective methods unusable. Without the shackles of these cognitive biases, people were forced to come up with new viable work dynamics. Now, 91% of workers hope some amount of remote work persists. 2. Welcomes more personality types. Inperson dynamics work best if you’re outgoing, confident, extroverted. If you’re introverted, shy to introduce new ideas? Not so much. Given that there’s a roughly 50-50 split between introverts and extroverts, that means in-person dynamics only work well for half of the workforce. Remote working, which lets each employee tailor their own work processes, helps everyone thrive. Remote innovations reshaping the healthcare industry Until widespread vaccination, in-person medical visits were generally unsafe. As a result, 2020 alone saw a more than 6,200% increase in telehealth visits: from 840,000 in 2019 to more than 52.4 million a year later. 60

CMY

On a basic level, this established telehealth as a viable means of service in a pandemic world. But it also illuminated ways for healthcare providers to use telehealth in a post-pandemic world. Here are some of the most exciting examples: • Pre-visit engagement and triage. Remote screening methods like questionnaires and call centers have reduced pressures on hospitals, kept patients engaged, and made pre-visit procedures more convenient. Some providers have even begun using “virtual waiting rooms,” which allow patients to wait for appointments in their cars or homes instead of actual waiting rooms. As much as we’ll all miss reading 2012 issues of Sports Illustrated, the virtual waiting room is a huge win. • Expert supervision. With enhanced videocommunication technology, experts have been able to supervise complicated medical procedures that could not otherwise take place. Radiologists, ultrasound sonographers, intensive care units, and more have benefitted from remote supervision. In my opinion, one of the coolest: Tele-ICUs, which function like a kind of air traffic control, monitoring

patients with data and telemetry that assists bedside care. • Virtual care stations. Possibly more important than who’s getting care is who’s not getting care . . . and why. Minorities and low-income families have struggled to get good care during the pandemic, showing healthcare innovators which communities need their attention most. Virtual care stations, set up in retail establishments, city buildings, libraries, and others, use cameras, lighting, and speakers to connect underserved communities with high-quality care. It’s a pod-based system that brings care to people instead of expecting people to already live close to care facilities. Whether we know it or not, all of us hold onto ways of thinking about how the world is or should be. Black swan events are always waiting around the corner to force us to evolve our thinking. New paradigms around remote work have forced us to reconsider the very definition of innovation— splintering it into a 10-step spectrum and forcing us to take meaningful steps forward. Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash.

CLOSE YOUR EYES The year’s most exciting immersive art experience has just opened. But no one will see it By Nate Berg

A wild new room-scaled artwork has just opened in London, but no one will see it. Or at least not with their eyes open. Called Dreamachine, this immersive art piece is a carefully orchestrated light show intended to be experienced with closed eyes. Through flickering and pulsing light patterns and an accompanying soundtrack, Dreamachine generates a visual experience that doesn’t require the eyes to be open. Something like a mix of hallucination and imagination, the show will be different for every person who experiences it. As an artwork, it claims to be the world’s first piece intended to be experienced with closed eyes. That may or may not be the case, but the project does make a solid argument that it’s possible for immersive visual art to exist without explicitly being seen. Dreamachine is an expanded realization of an artwork first developed in the late 1950s by artist and inventor Brion Gysin. Like a perforated lampshade made to spin around a light bulb, the device created a rhythmic pulse of light that when “viewed” with closed eyes would create a kind of kaleidoscopic experience for viewers. An acolyte of postmodern author William S. Burroughs, Gysin envisioned his “dream machine” as a tool for people to create their own cinematic experiences within their mind’s eye. He hoped that dream machines would make their way into living rooms around the world, a more introspective and active version of the entertainment available on television. American poet, writer, and painter Brion Gysin with his dream machine Gysin’s TV takeover never materialized. But the ideas explored in his device have become the stuff of actual neuroscience. Researchers have shown the flickering light’s effect on the human mind to be a powerful force, and one capable of inducing vivid visual experiences. The phenomenon, known by researchers as “stroboscopically induced visual hallucinations,” can be traced back to our earliest ancestors who gathered around flickering campfires. The light’s impacts on the brain go beyond the areas associated with vision to the entire cerebral cortex—the physical center of our consciousness. The project to turn Gysin’s concept into a largescale artwork was led by Jennifer Crook, an artist and director who has worked on participatory art projects with artists like Christo and Olafur Eliasson. In contrast to Gysin’s original vision for a small device that might sit on a coffee table or in a living room, Crook’s Dreamachine is its own auditorium-like space, with a ring of reclined seating. The room was designed by the art and architecture collective Assemble, winner of the 2015 Turner Prize for Art and known for its innovative community-focused projects and art installations. The project also involved advisers ranging from a philosopher and a sound designer to a neuroscientist. 62

Crook specifically wanted the space to be large enough for groups of about a dozen people. Even though each person’s experience of Dreamachine is unique, she wanted people to go through the experience collectively, and to be able to discuss what they saw and envisioned after leaving the room. The scientific team on the project created an interactive Sensory Tool, in which participants are guided through a series of questions to try to verbalize their experience inside Dreamachine.

Some can even contribute visual representations of what they experienced in the form of drawings. The mobile venue for Dreamachine features spaces where these discussions and reflections can occur. After its run in London, Dreamachine will travel to several other cities throughout the U.K. Tickets to access Dreamachine—and your mind’s eye—are free. Photo by Zulmaury Saavedra on Unsplash.

FARAH ALHUMAIDHI TEAMS UP WITH MASTARA TO HELP US ADD SOME PIZZAZZ TO OUR HOMES Discover simple and smart changes that can transform your space By bazaar staff

We have a confession. We’re guilty of making bad decisions about our home curtains and blinds. After following “Tips with Farah” every Wednesday on the Mastara IG account, we realized just how wrong we were. The collaboration couldn’t have come at a better time, with the beginning of summer, we are thinking of giving our homes, chalets and even offices a much needed facelift. Kuwaiti designer, interior design influencer and entrepreneur Farah AlHumaidhi needs no introduction. She has taken the design world by storm with her keen eye for detail and impeccable taste. Her YouTube channel offers in-depth information and advice on designing your spaces while her social media platform offers insights, tips and the know-how you need to create rooms you love and thrive in. With several decor courses under her belt, she’s the perfect person to guide us through the process. And who better to collaborate with than Mastara, Kuwait’s first and only bilingual platform (app and website) that offers customized curtains and blinds services online. The company has completely disrupted the industry by making it simple and easy to make the right decisions for your home with an exacting sense of accuracy that is unparalleled in the market. They even send you fabric samples and specialists to measure and offer advice for the best window dressings for your space. This season, Farah is sharing her tips on the Mastara platform and advice about buying and styling your window coverings and introducing you to the world of curtains and blinds. Here’s a breakdown of what we learned so far: Before you begin Farah’s first tip is to think about curtains and blinds in the early design stages. Many of us choose our window coverings as an afterthought which is a mistake. We need to consider things like size, placement of the railings, if they will be visible or hidden, lighting options and whether the curtain will be controlled manually or using a remote control. All these different options which are fully customizable by Mastara can change the design and look of window treatment and thinking about them earlier in the process makes it easier to make the right choice. Create your own mood board Mood boards are a fun way to find your own style and aesthetic. They are a flexible tool that can help 64

you imagine different colors and textures coming together. You can create your own by adding photos, fabric samples for your carpet, sofa and even other elements like accessories and plants. Once you have recreated the room you can start adding the curtain samples. If you are using roman blinds then you need the correct fabric type. Our friends at Mastara can show you the samples that have the correct amount of structure needed. Farah also offers tips on choosing a contrasting which can make the color pop or a complementary color which blends in. Size matters The right size curtain can make or break the look you are going for. If your curtain is too narrow or doesn’t look full enough it can end up looking sad. Farah explains that you need the full length from ceiling to floor multiplied by the width. Measure the width of your window then add about 50 cm on each side to fully cover the window, that number then needs to be multiplied by two to account for the pleating and gathering that gives a curtain that beautiful rich look and feel. Don’t worry if this feels too complicated, the experts at Mastara are masters at measuring and doing all the calculations for you. This is especially useful if you have corner windows or irregularly shaped balconies that you want to style. Enjoying the view is part of the experience! While we use curtains to ensure that we have privacy, we also don’t want to lose out on pretty views, especially at the chalet or if your window overlooks a garden. Farah suggests choosing a sheer fabric that doesn’t obstruct the view. In a situation that a nice view isn’t present, then perhaps the design of your window dressing needs to be elevated. Meeting the experts You’ve created your mood boards, measured and double checked your numbers, you’ve decided what you want and you’re ready to invite the Mastara team to visit for a consultation. Farah suggests that preparing for that meeting can really help with the process. Sharing your vision with the team can help them understand what you are going for and that helps them offer you the best options for your space. Chilling in the chalet While all of the above tips work for any space, chalets can benefit from the smart solutions that Mastara offers like the Sunscreen blinds, UV blinds, linens, shutters and sheers. They will keep your chalet feeling cool and stop harmful rays from entering without interfering with your enjoyment of the view. Motorized solutions Motorized curtains and blinds are very useful. They give your home a futuristic and practical feel while also being accessible. You can even connect the

motors to a smart home app for extra usefulness. However, Farah reminds us that you need to make sure that you’ve added electrical points in the right places and that the motor you select works with the curtain’s size, weight and fabric. Don’t worry too much about it though because the Mastara team will help you find the right one for you.

and the fabric can handle the climate in Kuwait really well. The fabric is easy to wash and press and doesn’t hold dust. It is also available in several widths which are great for whatever size you need. Now that you’re armed with all the information you need, you can give your home a new look and feel for the summer without a worry on your mind.

Bonus tip: the best sellers Farah shared Mastara’s best-sellers with us and explains why they are a great option for most people. Customers love the linen-blend curtains in neutrals (white, beige and gray) and she explains that these can work with almost any room decor

Follow @mastarakw on Instagram to view all the videos in full. Mastara is the first and only bilingual app and website in the region to offer customized curtains and blinds online. Book a free consultation today at www.mastara.me/appointment or call 56611559. 65

DON’T CALL YOURSELF THAT

8 words you should never use to describe yourself in an interview (and what to say instead) By Amanda Augustine

Whether your interviewer directly asks you to “tell me about yourself” or chooses a different line of questioning such as, “How would your colleagues describe you?” or, “What are your greatest strengths?” the end goal is the same: to get a better sense of who you are and determine if you’ll be a good fit for the position. While it can be uncomfortable to share your best qualities to relative strangers during the interview process, it’s important that you’re prepared to speak about yourself with confidence. After all, if you’re not confident in your abilities, why should a prospective employer be confident in hiring you? However, there’s a very fine line between confidence and arrogance during the interview process. The difference comes down to how you communicate—and the words you choose to describe yourself. The last thing you want to do is come across as conceited or inauthentic because you resorted to describing yourself with the same overused buzzwords experts warn you to remove when writing your résumé. Below are some of the most commonly overused words candidates use to describe themselves during the interview process—and what you can say instead to communicate your value and win over your interviewers. Hardworking Let’s be honest: Is anyone ever going to say they’re unmotivated during a job interview? Of course not. While possessing this quality is certainly appealing to employers, simply making this statement won’t prove that it’s true. Instead of telling your interviewers that you’re a hard worker, convince them of your work ethic by showing them your capabilities. Team player Take a moment to consider what being a team player really means. It’s more than simply getting along with others and being able to work in a group. A true team player is able to compromise, when necessary, show respect for others, listen to the needs of their team members, and work together to come up with solutions or meet goals. Dynamic and passionate If you want to describe yourself as being dynamic or passionate in an interview, follow the golden rule: Show, don’t tell. If you show up to an interview full of positive energy and excited to share your ideas, there will be no need to tell the interviewer that you’re passionate about your work—your attitude and behavior will speak for themselves. To ensure you’re able to express both your dynamic personality and passion for the job opportunity during the interview, focus on your interview 66

preparation. Do your research on the company and the position so you feel confident entering the interview room and explaining what excites you about this opportunity. Adaptable and flexible It’s true that employers, now more than ever before, are interested in hiring professionals who are willing and able to adapt to new challenges in the workplace. In fact, when TopResume asked hiring professionals to identify which skills have taken on greater importance since the pandemic, “adaptability and flexibility” surfaced as the most-prized trait. Instead of stating, “I’m adaptable,” let your interviewers know you’re equipped to handle whatever workplace scenarios may come your way by explaining how you thought on your feet and brought creative solutions to the table throughout the pandemic. For example, perhaps you had to figure out a way to virtually onboard new employees, scramble to modify your company’s services in a virtual environment, or pivot your team goals mid-quarter while still meeting them. By providing concrete examples of how you successfully met challenges head-on, potential employers will appreciate the flexibility and adaptability you could bring to their team. Creative and innovative While describing yourself as “creative” or “innovative” can come across as cheesy at best

and obnoxious at worst, the fact of the matter is that these skills are important requirements for certain roles. In order to express your creativity and innovative spirit in terms an employer will value, consider how your creativity or innovation has factored into your previous roles. If you’re pursuing a creative role—e.g., artist, designer, product manager, writer, advertiser, etc.—make sure your online portfolio or blog is updated with your latest projects and that its link is listed at the top of your résumé and on your LinkedIn profile. Be ready to talk about what you enjoy about the creative process, how you’ve leveraged your creativity in your latest projects, and what was the outcome of those projects. If the type of role you’re seeking requires creative problem-solving skills (another top priority for many employers these days), be prepared to explain why you like tackling new challenges and share recent examples of when you had to think outside of the box in order to solve a problem, learn a skill, or meet a goal that benefited the company. While stuffing your résumé and LinkedIn profile with generic buzzwords can be off-putting to potential employers, it’s far worse when you recite them during an interview. Instead, practice describing your skills with terms a potential hiring manager can appreciate with anecdotes that demonstrate your qualifications and value. Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash.

Rest, Play, Repeat Get them ready for outdoor fun with plush, sun- safe towels.

THE WORLD-CLASS CULINARY TEAM AT JUMEIRAH MESSILAH BEACH HOTEL AND RESORT HAS ADDED FOUR STARS TO THEIR ROSTER Say hello to Executive Chef Emanuele Saracino, Executive Sous Chef Danielle Milliani, Executive Pastry Chef Ufuk Çelik and F&B Director Yesim Insel By bazaar staff

Chef Emanuele Saracino joined the hotel in February 2022 as Executive Chef – Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Resort. Emanuele Saracino is not just a cook, but a lover of taste, a researcher who renews tradition daily, a technician who knows how to combine the refined taste to a spectacular presentation. A free spirit, curious, innovative, who has transformed the education for “beautiful, good and healthy” food into his philosophy. Chef Emanuele Saracino was born in a rural town in Puglia, an Italian who was destined to cook, he cultivated his passion for cooking in his family kitchen in Biondo before then continuing his skill abroad, in London, France, Singapore, Russia, United States, bringing decades of experience in the world’s top kitchens to Jumeirah. 68

Emanuele Saracino - Executive Chef

Esim Insel - Director of F&B

Daniele Milliani - Executive Sous Chef

Chef Emanuele’s passion lies in the art of creating great dining experiences that offer simple, harmonious cuisines - cooking from the heart. Prior to his time in Jumeirah, Chef Emanuele had a remarkable journey, full of prestigious accolades in the culinary world. In 1991, at the age of just 20, he worked for the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel in London with two Michelin stars alongside the famous Chef Bruno Loubet. At the same time, he studied at Westminster College in London. At twenty-three years, he had proven quite prodigious and won the gold medal at the world championships in Luxembourg, two years later he has also obtained the captain of the Italian national team in the world cup in Lyon in 2005 and published the book ‘Dessert, Dessert, Dessert, il Buffet secondo L’etoile and Equilibrium. In 1997, he was called by the superior institute of culinary arts Etoile of Sottomarina in Chioggia (VE) and was entrusted with the role of culinary academic director. He worked among the most luxurious brands in the world including The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Marriott, and prestigious culinary academy Etoile, Le Notre, and along with renowned chefs such as Raymond Blanc. His priority is to create unique offerings, making Jumeirah Messilah not only the place to stay but also a leading hotel in its culinary offerings. While most of the work is done in the kitchen, if the logistics and planning are not taken care of, even the most skilled chefs will be quite challenged to create amazing dishes and menus. Which is why we need someone like Yesim Insel at the helm of F&B. Yesim is a true hotelier who is determined to make little moments of lives count. Her 29-year career has landed her in Kuwait after working in Istanbul, Washington, D.C., and Chicago at luxury hotel brands as Kempinski, Fairmont, Park Hyatt, and Four Seasons in several roles including Director of Catering. Recently appointed at Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Resort as Director of Food and Beverage, she is the only female director in charge of operations in the hotel industry in Kuwait, which shows that the hotel is also committed to empowering women in leadership roles. Born and raised in Istanbul, she fondly remembers the enchanting smells of Spice Bazaar and the local charcuterie shops while tasting cheese as a little girl next to her father. She says, “Food is the most powerful magic that instantly brings oneness when people eat together regardless which part of the world they are from.” [Continued...]

She calls herself an achiever – but only when a challenge excites her! In the world of Covid-19, she felt that she re-learned everything about the world of hospitality, but she’s always been determined in finding ways to make things better, even in the middle of a pandemic. Being a single mom of a 10-year-old son makes her feel that she must be the best version of herself at all times. Not only is she accomplished in her career, but she is also an unpublished author of a novel that is being sent to publishing houses. Her second book project is already in progress. She often thinks if Hans Christian Andersen would be living in the same century, a collection of her stories would be part of Andersen’s big book of Complete Fairy Tales. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of all of the members of a team in the kitchen, but the role of Executive Sous Chef is invaluable. They manage and oversee operations in the kitchen as well as the kitchen staff of an outlet. They plan the menu, liaise with suppliers, control the budget and ensure the quality of kitchen operations. Taking on that role is Chef Daniele Milliani who was born in Tarquinia, a small town at the end of Tuscany. Growing up in a country which is famous for its cuisine, wines, culture, and history has helped propel Danielle into the world of food. As a child he loved the process of food preparation, which was often. By the time he was 14 he had already decided that a culinary career was for him. “Culinary for me is my soul. I would like to make the people happy with my food and would like to introduce them to the actual taste of Italian cuisine,” he explains. And if you thought all of these additions were amazing, we’re here to sweeten the deal with Ufuk Çelik who will be taking on the role of Executive Pastry Chef. If you love pastries, baked goods and chocolate, he’s your man. Originally from Turkey, Ufuk has been busy making sweet treats all over the world from Jordan to Abu Dhabi and now he’s making life sweeter in Kuwait. We have always been fans of the Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Resort experience, but we can’t wait to try it out soon with all of this amazing talent behind the scenes.

For more information, visit Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Resorts’s Instagram @jumeirahmessilsahbeach. For reservations, please call 222 69 666, or email: jumeirahrestaurant@jumeirah.com. 70

[...Continued]

Ufuk Celik - Executive Pastry Chef

Inflatable Pinata Bash Party Slide

AlRai, The Avenues, Souq Sharq, Al-Kout, Boulevard, Promenade

LISTEN TO LEARN

These 7 fun, fact-filled podcasts will teach you something new By Doug Aamoth

There may be a seemingly endless supply of podcasts available today, but it can be difficult to find ones that toe the line between style and substance.

They do exist, though. Here’s a shortlist of factfilled podcasts that are interesting, informative, and—best of all—entertaining. You’ll laugh. You’ll learn. And you’ll be glad you added them to your podcast player.

This weekly podcast features episodes that average about 50 minutes and tackle deep-thought issues put forth by big thinkers. If you’re looking to not only learn but also expand your horizons at the same time, this is a good place to start.

Stuff You Should Know With a name like Stuff You Should Know, this podcast better deliver. Thankfully, it does. New episodes drop nearly daily, last around 45 minutes, and run the gamut of topics: artificial banana flavoring, nose jobs, mysterious crimes, even a breakdown of Rodney Dangerfield’s act.

Good Job, Brain! Good Job, Brain! bills itself as “part quiz show, part offbeat trivia, and all awesome.” That’s a pretty good description for this weekly podcast, which features episodes that last about and hour and covers a truly dizzying array of topics spanning science, history, language, and beyond. It’s unpredictable, it’s weird, and it’s fun.

Curiosity Daily If you’re looking to cram as many fun facts as you can in as little time as possible, Curiosity Daily is right up your alley. As the name implies, this is a once-daily podcast. It covers a wide range of subjects—a few per episode—and lands at about 15 minutes a pop. It’s a great vehicle for ingesting a bunch of fun facts without spending too much time doing it. TED Radio Hour If you like TED Talks, you’ll love TED Radio Hour. 72

Discovery Looking to lean a little toward the science-y side of things? The BBC’s Discovery podcast is a mustlisten. Episodes surface weekly and last about a half hour each, covering topics such as why people’s hair turns white, how Wi-Fi works, what’s next for space travel, and much more. It’s a wonderfully informative look at past, present, and future issues—all presented in easily accessible, well-produced episodes.

Smart People Smart People is an interview-style podcast with two hosts who pick the brains of—you guessed it— smart people. Episodes appear each week, last between 45 minutes and an hour, and feature a great mix of compelling questions after which the hosts get out of the way so their guests can shine. Topics lean ever so slightly toward self-help without being too cheesy about it. You’ll learn a bunch of cool stuff about health, business, and other matters, and perhaps even better yourself in the process. I Should Have Known The perfectly-named podcast I Should Have Known offers up engaging tidbits—with a twist. The podcast’s trio of hosts tackles a single issue, unraveling a series of facts about it. However, one of the facts is always a lie. It’ll keep you on your toes for sure. Episodes last about 15 minutes and come out once a week.

Photo by Mohammad Metri on Unsplash.

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FREE MEDIA

The best legal site for free e-books, music, and movies By Doug Aamoth

Full disclosure: My original plan was to do a “3 best places to find free e-books, music, and movies” column wherein I found for you three different but excellent sites.

Then I discovered that one excellent site in particular stood out as having the best overall mix of everything. So, I figured that instead of sending you to the far corners of the internet for all your free content needs, I could just direct you a single convenient destination instead. You and I are both busy people, so let’s get straight to it, shall we? Hoopla That’s the site: Hoopla. What’s the catch? There are three. First, you’ll need a library card. That part is not all that hard. Second, your library must be a Hoopla partner. That doesn’t seem super hard, either. I live in a smallish town, and our library works with Hoopla. And finally, the third catch—and it’s a fair one—is that Hoopla acts like a library, meaning that you’re “borrowing” content for a set number of 74

days. Unlike a real library, however, you don’t need to worry about returning the stuff you’ve borrowed on time. It’ll expire on its own, and won’t be accessible to you unless you re-borrow it. It depends on the publisher, but most movies and TV shows are available for three days. Most music is available for seven days. Most books— including audiobooks, e-books, and comics—are available for 21 days. Now, your local library will also decide how many items you can borrow at a time. Mine has a limit of 10. Your library will also decide whether it’ll allow for renewals. If it does, you’ll get a message 24 hours before your content is due back asking if you want to borrow it again. How’s the content? Is this the same as subscribing to Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, Peacock, and HBO

Max all at once? No, it is not. However, neither is Hoopla just a repository for old public-domain books and underperforming independent films. There’s real content here. To get a sense of what’s available, check out these pages for popular movies, popular shows, popular music, and popular e-books. So, there’s a little something for everyone and plenty to binge. You’ve got the Encanto soundtrack, the Harry Potter series, Hot in Cleveland with the late, great Betty White, and of course the excellent coming-of-age hit 13 Going On 30. There are plenty of duds, too, but free is free. Perhaps the best part, especially if you’re keen to watch movies and TV, is that Hoopla has apps for Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku. There are apps for iPhone and Android as well. Photo by Maarten van den Heuvel on Unsplash.

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LEXUS OPENS BRAND NEW BOUTIQUE AT ASSIMA MALL

Lexus introduces L-Finesse Boutique Concept Store in Kuwait’s Assima Mall By bazaar staff

Mohamed Naser Al Sayer & Sons have announced the opening of the brand-new Lexus boutique, L-Finesse, located at Assima Mall. This new world of Lexus powered by advanced technology has found a Kuwaiti home at the architecturally stunning, modern shopping destination in the capital governorate.

The opening ceremony was attended by Shunsuke Kitai, Assistant General Manager at Toyota Motor Corporation along with Mubarak Naser Al Sayer CEO, Mahmoud Abou-Zahr Senior Business Director Lexus Kuwait, Top Management Team, members from Lexus Sales and Service in the presence of representatives from the press and media. Mubarak Naser Al Sayer said, “Al Sayer and Lexus have always taken new leaps of excellence, and we thrive to enhance, develop and be creative. From car models and designs, to our facilities and of course, the way we provide an amazing experience to all of our customers.” The Lexus L-Finesse design seeks to give physical form to the Lexus experience. It dynamically unites the contradictory elements of “leading-edge” and “finesse”, through the

seamless anticipation of customer needs and desires that is central to Lexus’s design philosophy. Lexus-designed products, known for their incisive simplicity and intriguing elegance, are also on display at the spectacular showroom. Customers and Lexus fans can now experience the modern, striking, yet warm and driver-friendly products at the L-Finesse Boutique at Assima Mall. “Lexus is the leading luxury automotive brand in the world, especially in Kuwait. It is by far the most desired luxury automotive brand.” Mahmoud Abou-Zahr commented. “Market trends are now changing and AlSayer Lexus wants to be where the customers are, rather than waiting for customers to come to showroom. L-Finesse is closer to the customer and will offer a unique experience, and of course, increase the brand value”. 77

Assima Mall is located in the heart of the city and attracts visitors of all age groups. It also holds many of the long-awaited “firsts in Kuwait” such as National Geographic Ultimate Explorer Experience, UFC Gym, a new supermarket brand, and now the new L-Finesse boutique. According to Bedour Faisal Al Sayer, Deputy Marketing Manager “L-Finesse is a unique concept store not a regular showroom. An impressive location where visitors can explore about Lexus brand and products. We are providing a modern experience powered by the touch of advanced technology. L-finesse promises the ultimate luxury experience right from the moment our customer steps in and through the various touch points at the store”. Discover Omotenashi – Japanese Hospitality Customers at the L-Finesse Boutique will be welcomed by the boutique’s receptionist who will guide them in every step through their journey with a service of wide-range beverages to create a memorable, high-end experience. Some of the exceptional features of L-Finesse include an official accessories and merchandise display, two brand advisors offices for a more personalized, one-on-one experience to explore the latest Lexus models with customers, offering them a convenient opportunity to execute a sales transaction if the customer wishes to purchase a brand new Lexus. Powered by Advanced Technology Upon visiting L-Finesse, Customers will notice the display of two digital screens at L-Finesse. The concept store also features a large horizontal video wall displaying the true Lexus spirit. Furthermore, there are two more interactive screens for customers to explore the Lexus brand 78

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and its heritage. L-Finesse is also equipped with two virtual reality (VR) units where customers are introduced to Lexus vehicles driven by the exciting VR experience, supported by the motion sensors and the VR headset. Such advanced technology enables them to interact with the selected vehicles, change colors, turn around, get inside, play product videos, and much more. Lexus aims to consistently provide the highest levels of customer satisfaction for all Lexus

investors and buyers. The L-Finesse endeavor is part of the continuous commitment by Al Sayer of further reinforcing Lexus’s strong market presence, and its connection with its esteemed customers and loyal fanbase.

Lexus L-Finesse is now located in the new Assima Mall in Kuwait City. Follow them on Instagram for more information @lexuskw.

WORKING IN THE METAVERSE

What virtual office life could look like By Sam Gilbert

In the context of work, the digital divide has become less about access to devices and connectivity and more about skills and mindset. Many experienced professionals have never learned more than the rudimentary basics of email, web search, and Microsoft Office. Instead, they lean hard on nearby colleagues or the IT help desk when things go wrong. By contrast, young people have already demonstrated a competitive edge in the virtual workplace. They come equipped with a more intuitive grasp of digital technology and the initiative to troubleshoot problems via YouTube tutorials, social media, and subreddits. As a generation, they’re also bigger gamers. As more and more work takes place in virtual reality— and one does not have to share the somewhat eccentric vision of the metaverse Mark Zuckerberg articulated last year to believe that it will—being familiar with massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) like Fortnite and Roblox, not to mention the ability to manage multiple digital identities, is set to make that edge keener still. Much of the metaverse is still to be built. VR, of course, has long been used in training for certain physical jobs, from astronauts and pilots to law enforcement, surgery, and manufacturing. When it comes to specialist machinery or complex locations, the relative safety and cost advantages of training virtually are obvious. But it is in knowledge work, from software engineering to law to design, where the changes will be most profound. How virtual workplaces can improve communication For most people, remote working during the pandemic has been characterized by alttabbing between communications apps and videoconferencing platforms such as Slack, Teams, and Miro. And there is certainly a lot of room for improvement there. Academic studies have found that collaborative work among colleagues suffers when they work remotely. Exchanges over email or Slack increasingly replace real-time in-person conversations, hampering communication. Google itself has claimed that informal chats at coffee machines and lunch tables in its campus were responsible for innovations such as Street View and Gmail. But with remote working, this kind of serendipitous encounter all but disappears. And of course there are costs to remote working, in terms of individual well-being too. Stanford University researchers have found that so-called Zoom fatigue is driven by a combination of intense eye contact, lack of mobility, self-consciousness about one’s own video feed, and the cognitive demands of 80

needing to give exaggerated feedback to signal understanding, agreement, or concern. The metaverse 1.0 will no doubt see organizations creating persistent VR workplace environments, in which employees can interact in real time as embodied avatars. VR versions of office spaces can be designed to encourage chance encounters and corridor chats. Employees in the Korean VR workplace, Metapolis, can do large presentations, give speeches and work in small groups. Meanwhile, the ability to use and read body language and actively participate in group discussions by scribbling Post-it notes or drawing on a virtual whiteboard should make remote meetings in VR more engaging and less sedentary. They require much more active use of the neck, shoulders, arms, and hands than a typical hour on Zoom. How to work as an avatar It seems likely that a new set of workplace norms will emerge as the metaverse develops. Team games, including virtual bowling nights and virtual ping-pong tournaments, might supplant Zoom drinks as the default remote working social event. When it comes to hiring, meanwhile, VR could bring distinct benefits. “Blind” auditions have been shown to significantly increase the

representation of female musicians in symphony orchestras. It follows that interviewing as an avatar might diminish the effect of bias— unconscious or otherwise—against people on the basis of their gender, age, or appearance. Just as custom “skins” (outfits) are a feature of many MMOs, in the virtual world of work there may well be demand for creativity in virtual fashion and accessories too, as people seek to express their personal brand within the constraints of professional dress codes for avatars. Gucci has already sold virtual hats, handbags, and sunglasses on the MMO platform Roblox. Young people have been the worst affected by the disruption COVID-19 has caused to the job market. While some struggled with working productively from a shared house or their parents’ homes, others were scammed into joining companies that did not even exist. Nonetheless, the pandemic has also brought exciting glimpses of how remote working might evolve. Due to public health concerns and climate pressure, the latter is here to stay. As it develops into the metaverse, it will continue to bring capabilities that are concentrated among younger people to the fore.

Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash.

COLE HAAN LAUNCHES THE 4.ZERØGRAND REGATTA BOAT SHOE For life on and off the water By bazaar staff

This summer, Cole Haan invites everyone into the clubhouse with innovative new performance boating footwear. The iconic American performance lifestyle brand and retailer, announces its entry into performance boating footwear with the launch of its most recent innovation: the 4.ZERØGRAND Regatta Boat Shoe. 82

Throughout the Spring and Summer seasons, Cole Haan is introducing products that echo its ‘Cole Haan Clubhouse’ ethos— celebrating the spirit of the spor ting life in the company of friends. Cole Haan is expanding its offering through its new per formance footwear meant for golf, tennis and, now for the first time: Boating. To truly feel the wind in your sails, the 4.ZERØGRAND Regatta Boat Shoe features a breathable mesh upper crafted from 100% recycled ocean polyester, which is recycled from collected ocean plastic. Under foot, the integrated Tidalflow technology provides por t to starboard midsole drainage and a per forated anatomical insole—helping to keep feet from getting waterlogged even in the most demanding waters. The Regatta also keeps you topside through its Anchor trac outsole system providing extra traction in dr y, wet, or gale force conditions. “This Summer, we’re inviting ever yone to relax with some friendly competition on greens, on cour ts, and on the water with family and friends. We’re delighted to extend our special alchemy of all day per formance and style to sailors, yachtsmen, and yachtswomen in search of their own endless summers. The Regatta boat shoe looks great and per forms even better, whether you’re readying and coming about, tying an Estar Stopper, or headed aft for another beverage,” said David Maddocks, Brand President, Cole Haan. The 4.ZERØGRAND Regatta Boat Shoe offers a boat load of per formance, style, and versatility—qualities Cole Haan fans have expected from the brand for nearly a centur y. Using the brand’s signature Grand 36Ø Design & Engineering System, the 4.ZERØGRAND Regatta Boat Shoe was designed with both per formance and wearability in mind. That meant prioritizing steady traction, ideal fit, and an exceptionally responsive mesh upper for breathability. “We have been redefining footwear for nearly a centur y and we always seek to bring innovative products to market. Our first foray into per formance boating footwear is no different,” adds Scott Patt, Chief Creative Officer, Cole Haan. “Our goal was to provide boaters a per formance product to confidently take the helm and do it in style.” The Cole Haan 4.ZERØGRAND Regatta Boat Shoe is available at Cole Haan stores across Kuwait and online on Colehaan.com.kw from the 5th of June. It has been designed for both men and women. For the latest updates, check out Cole Haan on Instagram @colehaan.kw. 83

THE TREES CAN’T SAVE US

In an increasingly warming world, we can’t rely on trees as a climate change cure-all By William R.L. Anderegg

When people talk about ways to slow climate change, they often mention trees, and for good reason. Forests take up a large amount of the planetwarming carbon dioxide that people put into the atmosphere when they burn fossil fuels. But will trees keep up that pace as global temperatures rise? With companies increasingly investing in forests as offsets, saying it cancels out their continuing greenhouse gas emissions, that’s a multibillion-dollar question. The results of two studies published in the journals Science and Ecology Letters on May 12, 2022—one focused on growth, the other on death— raise new questions about how much the world can rely on forests to store increasing amounts of carbon in a warming future. Ecologist William Anderegg, who was involved in both studies, explains why. What does the new research tell us about trees and their ability to store carbon? The future of forests is on a knife’s edge, with a tug of war between two very important forces: the benefits trees get from increasing levels of carbon dioxide and the stresses they face from the climate, such as heat, drought, fires, pests, and pathogens. Those climate stresses are increasing a lot faster as the planet warms than scientists had expected. We’re seeing immense wildfires and drought-driven forest die-offs much sooner than anyone had anticipated. When those trees die, that carbon goes back into the atmosphere. We’re also seeing evidence that the benefits trees get from higher levels of carbon dioxide in a warming world may be more limited than people realize. This tells us it’s probably not a great idea to count on forests for a widespread carbon sink through the 21st century, particularly if societies don’t reduce their emissions. Trees and forests do all sorts of other amazing things—they clean the air and water, and they provide economic value in terms of timber and tourism and pollination. So, understanding how they will grow matters for many reasons. There’s an argument that, with more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, trees will simply grow more and lock that carbon away. What did your study find? Two key things affect tree growth: photosynthesis, which is how trees turn sunlight and carbon dioxide into food, and the process of cell division and expansion. There’s been a long-standing debate about which is the biggest driver of tree growth. A good metaphor here is a cart with two horses. 84

The cart moving down the road is the tree growing, and there are two horses attached, but we don’t know which one is actually doing the work of pulling the cart. One horse is photosynthesis. That makes a lot of intuitive sense—it’s where all the carbon comes from for building cells. But we know there’s another horse—in order to grow more wood, trees have to grow layers of cells, and the cells have to expand and divide. That cell growth process is very sensitive to climate changes and tends to shut down when conditions are dry. Large parts of the Western U.S. have faced severe drought conditions for years. About half the contiguous U.S. was in drought in May 2022. People assume that photosynthesis is the dominant process almost everywhere. But we found stronger evidence that these cellular processes that are sensitive to drought actually do more to drive or limit growth. We used tree ring data from thousands of trees across the U.S. and Europe and measurements of photosynthesis from towers in nearby forests to check whether tree growth and photosynthesis were correlated over time. If they followed the same pattern, increasing or decreasing in the same years, that would have suggested photosynthesis was the horse pulling the cart. Instead, we found no correlation. That suggests that droughts, rather than the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, may have the biggest impact on how quickly trees grow in the future. We’re already seeing more frequent and severe droughts in many regions. What did you learn about the risk of tree death in the future? In the other study, we found that lowering global greenhouse gas emissions could have a huge impact for avoiding damage to forests from wildfires, drought, and insects. We used years of satellite observations, climate data, and a network of about 450,000 tree plots across the U.S. where each tree is monitored for

climate stress and survival. With that historical data, we built statistical models of the risk U.S. trees face from wildfires, insects, and climate stress, primarily related to drought. Then we looked at what might happen under future climate scenarios, with high carbon emissions, medium emissions, and low emissions. You can explore the results on an interactive map. The big picture: As the planet warms, wildfire risk increases substantially over the current century, especially in the Western U.S. In a scenario with medium emissions, wildfire risk is projected to increase by a factor of four. Drought and insect risks increase by about 50% to 80%. What does this mean for the use of carbon offsets? Together, these studies suggest that the benefits carbon dioxide has for growth won’t be nearly as large as people thought, and the risk of climate stress, particularly wildfire, drought, and insects, will be much larger than people anticipate. That has huge implications for using forests as carbon offsets. So far, carbon offset protocols and markets have not really grappled with this updated scientific understanding of the risks that forests face from climate change. This tells us that climate policymakers and offset developers need to be very careful about how they count on forest offsets to deliver benefits. The more hopeful message is that our actions in the next decade matter enormously. If we can rein in the speed of climate change and take a loweremissions path, that does a huge amount to lower risk and increase the benefits. This isn’t a “throw up our hands and panic” situation—it is our chance to take steps that make sure resilient and sustainable forests last for the future. What we do with our own emissions and efforts to slow climate change matters immensely for the future of forests.

Photo by Johann Siemens on Unsplash.

UPCYCLE YOUR PUFFER

These designers turned old puffer jackets into comfy chairs By Elissaveta M. Brandon

If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to sit on a cloud, wonder no more.

Two Icelandic designers have created a pair of stools using recycled puffer jackets. Each stool is made of a sinuous metal rod and three parkas threaded around it like sleeves. Called Erm, Icelandic for “sleeve,” the project was recently displayed at DesignMarch, a design festival in Reykjavik that usually runs in March but was postponed due to COVID-19. Erm is part of a larger exploration of the circular economy and the potential to turn discarded clothes into something completely unrelated. It’s a promising endeavor, considering the fact that the United States generates about 25 billion pounds of textile waste per year and only 15% of that gets donated or recycled. Ever since it was invented in the 1930s, the puffer jacket has grown into one of the most utilitarian status symbols of all time, but the garment isn’t without flaws. Puffer jackets are typically made of polyester, which is made from petroleum (a fossil fuel), and it takes a lot of energy to produce, though recycled polyester 86

is becoming more common. Historically, puffer jackets were also filled with goose down, which raises ethical concerns, though more and more brands are using synthetic or recycled down. That puffer jackets are the star of this project isn’t all that surprising, given Iceland’s obsession with the item. “Puffer jackets are a huge part of Icelandic identity,” says Arnar Ingi, who created Erm with Valdís Steinarsdóttir, two independent designers who are also a couple. “At this point, it’s a national wardrobe,” he adds. These particular puffer jackets were sourced from 66°North, an almost 100-year-old Icelandic brand that makes outdoor clothing. Ingi says that to prolong the lifespan of its products, the company typically offers repair services–but some jackets just can’t be repaired, so they get donated to organizations like the Red Cross. Ingi and Steinarsdóttir saw the potential for something a little more creative. First, they deconstructed the jackets: The

sleeves were left as is, and the middle of the jacket was sewn in the shape of a sleeve as well. The parts were flipped inside out to conceal any wear and tear that may be visible on the exterior, and then everything was stitched together to form one long tube that was threaded around the metal rod. To make the stool even puffier—and comfy as a cloud—they used leftover parts like collars or lapels as extra filler. (For now, the stools aren’t for sale, but the pair is hoping to make more on demand.) Ingi explains that a stool felt like a natural starting point, but the designers have more products in mind, starting with chairs with backs. Whatever the final collection looks like, the designers are hoping the project will inspire companies to think about recycling and upcycling beyond their immediate industry. “Everybody is trying to close the loop of their product cycle, but how can you expand it?” Ingi asks. “This ceased its function as clothing, but it doesn’t mean it ceased its function altogether.”

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MEN’S SUMMER FASHION STARTS AT DEBENHAMS

Step into summer with GreenTreat and Original Penguin now at Debenhams.com.kw! By bazaar staff

A new brand alert has hit the menswear section at Debenhams! Gentlemen, are you ready to update your style and find a new look for yourselves this summer? From comfortable loungewear to easy, breezy, super soft (quite literally) and sustainable summer looks, Debenhams has got you covered in only the best of the best from GreenTreat and Original Penguin!

GreenTreat GreenTreat’s ambition is to create gorgeous products from sustainable materials and minimise the impact on the environment, while making a conscious commitment to comfort. GreenTreat prides itself on the products’ SuperSoft touch. Where other brands are happy with a standard softness, GreenTreat aims far higher. Their mission is to create a fusion between fashion and comfort which they call ‘SuperSoft Wear’. Relax and unwind in the Debenhams GreenTreat SuperSoft bamboo loungewear collection. The range is made from soft and gentle sustainable bamboo fibres that do not irritate your skin, while it’s antibacterial, hypoallergenic and moisturewicking properties work to keep your skin feeling fresh and comfortable. GreenTreat’s loungewear is the staple for every man’s wardrobe, the collection includes lounge sets, trousers, shorts and t-shirts which are ideal for off-duty days where comfort is key. Original Penguin With over 60 years of heritage, Original Penguin has been adorned and adored by the masters of culture and sport to define itself as an American classic that knows how to have fun. This iconic brand now fully encompasses the lifestyle of what it means to be an original, and how to enjoy yourself while doing it. Today, Original Penguin embodies a modern minded style, with a diverse range of products. Made for originals, by originals. This Debenhams Original Penguin loungewear collection is for the bold, for those wanting to make a statement bringing retro-inspired cool to modern loungewear and boasting a range of lounge trousers, shorts and cotton t-shirts in classic colourways, including 100% BCI cotton fabrics. The men’s lounge trousers, shorts and cotton t-shirts are some of the most comfortable loungewear you will ever have the pleasure to experience, while the cuffed jersey trousers are versatile enough to be worn in or out of the home. Browse the collections from both of these brands in the comfort of your own home on Debenhams Kuwait’s website at www.debenhams.com.kw. Follow @debenhamsmiddleeast on Instagram and Facebook for all the latest updates. Shop the collection at Debenhams in Grand Avenue – The Avenues, Souq Sharq and The Gate Mall. Call Customer Service: 182-12-12. 89

THE SNAP PIXY

A shockingly simple drone that redefines the selfie By Mark Wilson

I have a magical backyard—though it wouldn’t look like that to you. Sure, I plant dozens of flowers and herbs each year, and spend a bit too much to have my lawn mowed. But I have a fence that’s falling down, patches of mud from my dog, and, ugh, power lines. So the magic of my backyard is less visual than experiential; it’s the sensation of jumping through the sprinkler during sunset.

I say all this to convey a point: Every photo I’ve ever taken of my backyard fails to capture the memories of my mind’s eye. That was, until I launched Snap’s new Pixy drone from my hand, and it flew in a graceful arc around my daughter and me. As it captured my daughter’s smile and the blowing leaves in our neighborhood trees, my backyard was suddenly my backyard, a world of cinematic proportions and nostalgia generated in every moment. And I realize, oh. This is why Snap—a multimedia platform with 332 million daily users—still refers to itself as a humble “camera company.” It has slowly but surely become a master at capturing a moment, even if its stock plunged 40% this week in response to its struggling ad business. Pixy, of course, is different than anything Snap has released before, ranging from its augmented reality lenses that turn selfies silly, to its Spectacles camera glasses that capture a first-person view from your face. This canary yellow drone feels weightless in your hand. Just press a button, and it takes off. And depending on the mode you’re in, it can grab a simple photo of you, trail you while walking, fly into the sky and back in a simulated crane shot, or circle around you while you dance in place. 90

“What Pixy is really good for is capturing you with the context of everything that’s going on around you,” says Russell Patton, product manager on Pixy who led the development of Spectacles. “[Pixy is] a form factor opening up these new possibilities.” Strategically, Pixy is another tool for Snap to suck you into its AR world. But to get there, Snap first had to rethink what the drone could be: an approachable, easy-to-use camera. That’s because, technically speaking, Pixy isn’t the first drone capable of some of its feats. DJI makes drones with longer run times than Pixy’s few minutes of flight that can launch from your hand and can follow you to film. But its design features exposed propellers and sharp, sci-fi movie angles across its body—both of which imply they want to cut you. By contrast, the Pixy features no sharp edges, and its tiny frame slips comfortably into a back pocket. Snap’s secretive hardware team declined to say how long it took to develop the device, though Patton admits that getting to its exact form took a lot of experimentation and study. In any case, it’s the most friendly-looking drone I’ve ever seen. “What we wanted was [it to be] a product that

you don’t have your phone out and be messing around with a bunch of controls,” says Patton. “You want to be able to fly, to pick a capture mode and be ready to go; the dial is a great interface to be ready to go.” Once you’ve captured whatever you want, the photos and videos download quickly to your phone, where you can edit them and add AR filters to post on Snapchat, or simply add to your smartphone’s own camera roll. Editing on Snapchat is certainly trickier than using the drone itself, requiring you to master the app’s oft-esoteric menus. But Snap did create a few one-button editing tools that are incredibly handy—most notably a jump cut that edits out snippets of long videos while keeping them cohesive, and an AI cropping tool that cuts the landscape video into a Snapchat/ TikTok-friendly portrait view in which you’re always centered. Even if you have no interest in the Pixy itself, you’ll probably benefit from it as a citizen of the internet. I imagine that it’s going to up the ante for skateboarding, dance, and travel videos, along with pretty much anything else that might benefit from smooth, hands-free, full body video. Selfies will never be the same.

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HELLO GOOGLE

7 time-saving Google Assistant tricks you should use every day By Doug Aamoth

If you’re like me, you’re constantly looking for ways to save time. I’m not all that busy, mind you: I’m mostly just lazy. And the less time I spend doing stuff, the more time I have to not do stuff. Enter Google Assistant. It’s very good at setting timers, which must be among its most oft-requested tasks. But it can do a whole lot more, some of which can result in real time-savings each day. Here are a handful of Google Assistant commands that I use every day on my Android phone. “Good morning” Pro tip: Hold down the Assistant button and say “good morning” while your spouse is nearby. It’ll launch the routine—and you’ll have said good morning to your spouse. By default, this routine will tell you about the weather, what’s on your calendar, any reminders you’ve set, upcoming birthdays, and if your battery is low. Finally, it’ll read the news to you. You can edit this routine and others like it by launching Google Assistant, simply saying “routines,” and then tapping the Routines cog. “Help me leave on time” Lose track of time often? This trick is a godsend if you try to cram too much into each morning. A half hour before you need to leave, say “help me leave on time,” and your assistant will begin a 30-minute countdown of sorts. It’ll nudge you at the 20-, 10-, 5-, 1- and zerominute marks with a little chime and message about how much time you have left. Or, you can customize these times using the same workflow described in the previous tip. And if you’ve got a wildly fluctuating commute, use the “tell me about my commute” command to get a sense of when you’ll need to start the 30-minute countdown. “Read this” Ah, my personal favorite. As someone who’s both lazy and loves to multitask, the “read this” directive makes short work of long articles. If I start to get the feeling, about three paragraphs in, that whatever I’m reading might take a bit, I’ll just hold down my Assistant button and say, “read this.” A quick whiff of technological achievement later, and my phone is reading aloud to me while I putter around the house. Call someone on speakerphone Now for this one to work, you’ll need to enable “Hey Google” functionality (see how here), which simply means that your phone will be listening for you to say “Hey Google” in lieu of launching the Assistant app. 92

But it’s mighty handy when your hands are full, covered in cake batter, or carrying one or more children around. Once enabled, say “Hey Google, call Slippery Pete on speakerphone” (of course, replacing Slippery Pete with someone in your contact list). It’ll then dial that person, and put you on speakerphone so you can move about unencumbered. “Find my phone” I do realize the irony of using your phone to find your phone, but if you’ve got another Google Assistant-enabled device—say, a tablet, a second phone, or a smart speaker—it’ll become your new best friend every time you can’t find your phone. Say “find my phone,” and it’ll start your wayward handset a-ringing while you make your way around the house looking for it. Bonus tip: If that doesn’t work, try accessing Google’s Find My Device page from a web browser. It’ll pinpoint the locations of your Google-connected devices and ring them for five minutes straight.

“Take me home” As someone who’s perpetually lost, I usually bark this order into my phone while driving, followed by a slew of expletives (but it still works!). Say “take me home,” and Google Maps will open up, get a lock on your location, and start piloting you back to familiar surroundings. “Good night” If you find yourself doing too much tapping before you set your phone on its charger each night, check out the “good night” routine to see if you can automate some or all of it. By default, saying “good night” to the Assistant prompts you to set the alarm, tells you if your battery is low, and then plays soothing sleep sounds for a bit. However, you can, and should, customize this routine to your liking by saying “routines” and tapping the Routines cog. Open up the Bedtime routine, and tap the “Add action” button to automate things like adjusting your ringer volume, turning on “do not disturb,” and telling you about tomorrow’s weather. Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash.

IKEA BILLY IS MORE SUSTAINABLE IN ITS 40S ®

Celebrating the IKEA BILLY – the original shelfie bookcase with new timeless colours and sustainability improvements – making it more circular By bazaar staff

BILLY bookcases glass/dress 80x30x202 dark red

BILLY bookcases 80x28x202 cm brown/ walnut effect

You read it here first! IKEA will launch the new and more circular BILLY dressed in beautiful wood expressions. By shifting from veneer to paper foil, reducing plastic use, and making it possible to disassemble and reassemble, IKEA aims for BILLY to continue to be an important part of people’s homes for many more years to come. BILLY has been one of IKEA’s best-selling and most popular products for over 40 years. It was launched in 1979 and has ever since helped create a better everyday life for the many people. It may be regularly refined but the original formula behind BILLY still shapes it – space to show the things that make you. That’s why it still fits so easily into our lives. Now, BILLY is becoming even more timeless, with improvements in circularity. Material and design changes made with circularity in mind will improve the appeal, quality, and durability to ensure that BILLY stays relevant for many more years to come. 94

BILLY bookcases 80x28x106 cm white

BILLY bookcases with glass-doors 80x30x202 cm grey-turquoise, white stained oak veneer BILLY is more than storage, it’s a chance at self-expression that makes each bookcase as unique as its owner. As it turns 40, IKEA is celebrating with new colors and accessories. The classic bookcase gets three new birthday looks, with color updates in yellow, dark red and beige –make a statement and put your possessions center stage! “BILLY is one of our most beloved products, and it represents an important part of IKEA’s history. The new wood expressions will be a great facelift, and the shift to paper foil enables more efficient material use and reduces production waste. It is a giant leap into the future for BILLY. We hope it continues to be as popular and spread joy in people’s lives for many more years to come,” says Carsten Ebel, Sustainability Director of IKEA Al Homaizi. The veneer used today will be replaced with a high-quality paper foil, enabling new eye-catching wood expressions while making it more durable without compromising the scratch resistance. New colours and finishes, such as black oak, dark brown oak, brown walnut, oak, and birch. These expressions will better align with IKEA’s entire range and replace today’s available colours, except for the white finish, which will remain available with the same improvements. In addition, the complementary OXBERG door series will be relaunched with the same updates. Dressed up or down, BILLY comes with add-ons like a display shelf, doors, inserts and bookends, that let you organize and style your bookcase your way. New wrapped edges will be introduced to reduce the number of plastic edge bands without compromising the stability, and paper edge bands will replace the remaining plastic ones over time. This means the majority of materials used to produce BILLY will come from renewable sources in the future, another important step towards IKEA’s goal of only using renewable or recycled materials by 2030. In addition, the nails used to attach the back panel

BILLY MORLIDEN bookcases glass doors 80x106x30

BILLY bookcases 240x28x106 cm will be replaced with snap fittings. This change will make assembly easier and disassembly and reassembly possible and create more possibilities for repairs. These improvements will help increase BILLY’s lifetime by making it easier to bring BILLY with you as your life and needs change and pass it on when no longer needed. “This is an important change to BILLY that goes hand in hand with the IKEA people and planet positive strategy to design our products circularly from the very beginning. Making it possible to disassemble and reassemble the bookcase, and improve its mobility, will make it easier to bring

it with you as your life and needs change. By enabling products and materials to stay in use longer, we solve many customers’ needs and take steps toward reducing our impact on the planet,” says Carsten Ebel. In spaces where you need practical storage BILLY is a great solution. Flexible and functional, it’s made to get the job done. Visit IKEA 360, IKEA The Avenues, IKEA Assima Mall or shop online at www.IKEA.com.kw. For more information, please call 184 0408 or follow @IKEAKuwait on Instagram. 95

FINANCIAL STRESS IS ALMOST UNIVERSAL

Here’s how it affects you most By Sam Becker

Many people may have found ways to be more comfortable with less money over the course of the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean that their account balances have them floating on cloud nine. In fact, almost all full-time workers in the U.S. (97%) say that they experience financial stress in some shape or form, according to a new survey from Purchasing Power, which was conducted by Harris Poll in March and surveyed more than 1,100 Americans with full-time jobs. It also found that more than half (54%) of respondents were “unable or barely able to cover monthly living expenses over the past year—a figure that declined only 2% from 2021. Interestingly, it’s not just those on the lower end of the earning strata who are feeling increasingly squeezed and stressed—a quarter of households earning six figures are living paycheck-to-paycheck, too, the data shows. “What is surprising is that these results aren’t exclusive to households with lower incomes,” said Trey Loughran, the CEO of Purchasing Power, a provider of employee purchasing programs. When you consider that inflation is also eating away at Americans’ purchasing power, it may be safe to assume that Americans are feeling more financial stress than ever, even during the doldrums of the pandemic, when stimulus and government support systems temporarily helped alleviate monetary pressures for many households. And financial stress can be a multidimensional problem. A 2021 survey from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that among the top “significant sources of stress” for the more than 3,000 people surveyed were “work,” “money,” “the economy,” “housing costs,” and “job stability.” Bosses, you should care As far as why employers may be concerned about the fact that virtually all of their employees are feeling the money crunch, financial stress has been tied to a variety of on-the-job performance issues, such as a loss of productivity, and a loss of focus, which could lead to mistakes and potential revenue losses. Paying employees more can help: A 2021 NBER working paper, studying the effects of financial stress on low-income Indian manufacturing workers, found that workers who are paid earlier and paid more can see an increase in productivity by as much as 7.1%, in addition to making fewer mistakes. People with financial stress also say it affects their sleep, physical health, and overall happiness, in addition to contributing to their overall stress at home, according to the Purchasing Power report. 96

Paying employees more may not be a permanent solution for all workers, especially during a time of high inflation, since even relatively high-income households, such as those bringing in six figures, struggle with financial stress. For some, dealing with financial pressure will require some planning and strategizing. And if the economy slips into a recession, which may be more likely than not at this point, getting a grip on their personal finances may be more important than ever. For the millions of Americans trying to get a grasp on their financial anxiety, getting back to

some financial basics is probably the simplest and most effective route forward. That includes taking some relatively simple steps, like creating a budget, tracking your spending, and even reaching out to a professional for help, per the APA. While these steps won’t necessarily serve as an overnight financial cure-all, getting a grasp on your finances can be a powerful first step toward feeling more confident about your financial picture—or at least help you get some sleep at night. Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash.

This Ain’t Just Food This Is A Work Of Art

www.lovesushu.com 22091190

HOOKED ON MIDAR High-end Bahari dining in the heart of The Avenues By bazaar staff

When we walked into a wave of elegant decor and the faint smell of spices lingering in the air, we were greeted by an oasis of lush greenery surrounding the comfortable setting that is the Midar “outdoor” seating area. The restaurant is situated in The Avenues’ luxe The Gardens area, so outdoor isn’t actually outdoor, but with a spectacular view overlooking Fifth Ring Road and sunlight flooding through the large windows and the structure’s skylight, we might as well be in a climate-controlled sunroom enjoying a leisurely family lunch. Along with the soothing sounds of Abdel Halim Hafez crooning on the hi-fi and little plates of crisp vegetables and spicy ma’abouch alongside freshly prepared fish, you instantly feel like you’ve been transported back to 1960’s Kuwait.

The 60’s and 70’s were a special time for Kuwait. Part of the golden era of the country’s history, where oil wealth was newly discovered and the culture of fishing and pearl diving were still abundant, most of Kuwaiti cuisine was dependent on family-style fish dishes using freshly caught fish. Back in those times and before the 98

discovery of oil, Kuwait’s economy was about fishing and pearl diving. If people didn’t catch fish, they wouldn’t have anything to eat. Today, we are not at a shortage of delicious food in Kuwait, especially with concepts from Basil Al Salem’s award winning Gastronomica chain of restaurants including the brand new Midar to choose from.

Basil Al Salem was adamant on creating a concept that reflected Kuwait’s most treasured tradition, the sea. “This restaurant is the first of its kind here in Kuwait,” Gastronomica Director of Operations Louay Morsel tells me. “Basil Al Salem wanted to bring back the Kuwaiti tradition of seafood and recreate the feeling of eating

at your Kuwaiti grandparents’ house in a haute setting.” High end bahari inspired dining is the experience Midar delivers, and we’re all here for it. Because we chose to enjoy lunch on the terrace, we just had to take a tour of the restaurant’s impressive interior. Adorned with homey vintage memorabilia and set up to look like a dining room of an old house with individual tables to host individual parties, Midar’s aesthetic felt modern, regal and comfortable in a homelike setting all at once. I especially enjoyed the traditional Kuwaiti moldings on the pillars that resembled fish scales, which many old houses had as a nod to their bahari seafaring heritage completed by fishermen’s baskets, which lined the ceiling. A Catch of the Day display sat neatly on ice at the front of the open-concept kitchen area where you can see the tanour being used to make delicious, crusty bread, and the kitchen staff expertly preparing your food. If you have the opportunity to, catch a glimpse of the grill master cooking your catch of the day over smoked, date palm leaves on an open flame. Our selection was entirely as per Louay’s recommended ordering. We asked him to surprise us, and surprise us he did. Mouthwatering tanour bread made with a date-sourdough base and sprinkled with sesame seeds paired with Jahra Street hummus - a hummus that’s so creamy and kissed with crunchy pine nuts which pairs per fectly with the smokiness of the tanour dough. But we had to tear ourselves away from the bread to try the other dishes that started to fill our table. The Crispy Lentil Salad was elegant in preparation, with individual leaves of lettuce filled with pomegranate, diced cucumber, onions, tomatoes, red pepper, crispy vermicelli, crispy lentils and a tamarind tahini dressing which offered a tangy contrast to the natural sweetness of the vegetables. Shrimp on Khoubz is Midar’s take on Shrimp Toast, with shrimp that’s been minced to creaminess and spread on classic tanour bread, sprinkled with sesame seeds and fried to crispy per fection. Pair it with their in-house made tomato chutney sauce and you’re in heaven. But to reach Nirvana? Try the Khoubz Eroug. This Deep fried vegetable fritter paired with spicy yogurt dip was my absolute favorite appetizer that I tucked into during the appetizers round, and would’ve kept eating it if it wasn’t pulled away from me to try other things. I would go back to Midar and order this dish specifically, because I could not get enough of the crunch that came with every bite. The Smokey Eggplant was a close second, made with whole charcoal roasted eggplant, tahini, datebalsamic molasses and walnuts. This needs no pairings and is delicious on its own, especially if you enjoy the smokiness of eggplant, but this would be your chance to give the tanour bread a cheeky comeback and scoop up a generous portion with it. 99

As we waited for our mains to make their way to the table, we happily sipped our beautifully made drinks. The drinks menu at Midar offers freshly pressed juices and artfully made yet simple cocktails using a blend of different fruit. The photogenic Golden Era cocktail containing mango, lemon juice and pomegranate juice, and Lumi Passion Fruit Iced Tea with passionfruit, lemon and lumi tea. These two drinks were absolutely perfect in balancing out the spiciness that was to heat our table. Still sipping our drinks and tucking into the massive Grilled Jumbo Shrimp that we were presented with, we savoured the shrimp’s succulent meat drenched in lemon-butter sauce with a hint of saffron while we watched the friendly and well-informed waiter Ma’en expertly prepare our grilled Catch of the Day on a carted tray next to our table: a plump, beautiful sea bass brought in fresh from the region (since the Gulf does not have any sea bass - but this fish is the only one that isn’t local to Kuwait’s waters.) opening it and removing its bones, spooning delicious hashou stuffing of caramelized onions reminiscent to Palestinian musakhan with a hint of the quintessential Khaleeji curried taste. I happily accepted a portion of fish which absolutely melted in my mouth, while dousing it in the ma’abouch spicy seasoning that comes with the table. I am a ma’abouch girl through and through, and like any true born and bred Gulfite, enjoy my food with a bit of extra spice and flavor. The sea bass was not lacking in flavor, and nor was the Hammour Biryani - the true star of the show with its saffron-spiced rice, biryani sauce, fried onions and tender cubes of fresh Hammour - but the green and red ma’abouch along with the pickled achaar and plate of fresh rocket leaves, green onion and radishes were very much appreciated for someone like me who always likes a little extra. That achaar though. Mountain garlic, roasted tomato, absolute bliss. But I have to warn you about adding ma’abouch to the biryani - it does taste wonderful, but it doesn’t need it. You will sweat and tear from the spiciness and nothing will save you but a drizzle of the raita yogurt that comes with the rice dish, followed by a few final sips of your Lumi Passionfruit Iced Tea. And because all sweet experiences must end on the sweetest note possible, we finished things 100

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off with a parade of desserts. Sticky Date Cake: warm date cake with date molasses and caramel sauce, topped with their cardamom milk ice cream and sesame tuile. All their desserts were special, but this one warranted two extra bites from me. Because I stand by this claim, nobody does date cake quite like Kuwaitis do. Other desserts on offer were Elba with an Egaily Crumble, which is a saffron-infused custard take on the Kuwaiti favorite Girs egaily, and Darabeel Chai Haleeb Milk Cake which was also lovely, as a sponge cake drenched in tea milk and topped with whipped cream and crumbled darabeel biscuit. Both were pleasant, but they were no Date Cake in my books. The Kleecha & Gaimar Ice Cream Sandwich, however, came as a close second. With ice cream made from fresh clotted cream sandwiched between traditional sesame biscuits and drizzled with honey saffron caramel, this confection gives the KDD chocolate ice cream sandwich a run for its money for the title of “Best Ice Cream Sandwich in Kuwait”. When you visit Midar, order that for dessert along with the Date Cake and a never-ending stream of Arabic coffee from the Dallah. That is the best way to finish your meal at this lovely restaurant. Before you leave to go straight home and collapse into a deep siesta induced by Kuwaiti soul food, (seriously - don’t bother strolling around the Avenues after lunch. You’ll never make it.) don’t forget to pick up a jars of their in-house made ma’abouch and achaar to take your experience back home with you. Because this is what Basil Al Salem was aiming for when he created the concept that has taken reign in his heart: to create something close to home, for locals to invite into their homes just as he has invited you into his. Midar is an old Kuwaiti word for “hook”, which can be seen throughout the restaurant’s branding. And just like the hammour, nwaibi, zubaidi, baloul, shrimps and crabs of the Arabian Gulf, Basil Al Salem’s Midar has us hooked. Be sure to visit for one of the greatest meals of your life.

Midar is open in The Avenues Phase 4 - The Gardens. Follow them on Instagram @midar.me and visit their website at www.midar-me.com. 102

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IS SELF-SABOTAGE A MYTH?

A psychotherapist debunks the most common concepts that keep us stuck By Next Big Idea Club

Britt Frank is a licensed psychotherapist, trauma specialist, educator, and former addict. She is an award-winning adjunct professor for her time teaching at the University of Kansas. She also speaks and writes widely about achieving and maintaining emotional wellness. Below, Frank shares five key insights from her new book, The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path Forward. Listen to the audio version—read by Frank herself—in the Next Big Idea App. 1. We need anxiety. When your smoke alarm starts screeching, the noise is uncomfortable and inconvenient, but the alarm is not attacking the house; the noise is a sign that something needs attention. Similarly, anxiety is not a character flaw or an illness—it’s the “check engine” light on our brain’s dashboard. If we disable or mute our anxiety indicators, we won’t know where the problem is. Anxiety is a roadmap that points us towards either a real or imagined threat, pain from the past, or something in the present that needs our attention. Anxiety can lead us out of our chaos. In short, we need it. 2. Motivation is not a mindset issue. There are mechanisms inside our nervous system responsible for survival physiology, otherwise known as the “fight, flight, or freeze” responses. If you are shut down (freeze), or if you are stuck in fight or in flight (sympathetic overreaction, such as panic or racing thoughts), you are not able to think your way out because that is a physiological state. Just like you can’t think your way out of indigestion or think a car into driving if it doesn’t have gas, you can’t think happy thoughts and expect to set forth into action. Turning the amygdala response off is the key to motivation. The amygdala is the panic button in our brain that sounds the alarm that something is wrong. Even if, logically, you don’t think you should be stuck in survival brain, this is an automatic process. Our brains are wired to identify danger and seek safety. This means if your brain, whether consciously or subconsciously, thinks you are in danger, then it will create a survival response. If your brain is perceiving a threat, it will put your system in a state of hyperarousal or shutdown, and we call that procrastination and lack of motivation. 3. Mental health is a physical process. Language matters. “Mental” health has very little to do with our minds. A nervous system that is stuck in a state of fight, flight, or freeze will present the same exact symptoms as clinical depression or pathological anxiety. But a nervous system response is not an illness or a disorder. 104

A brain stuck in fight, flight, or freeze is not sick or disordered—it is mis-attuning to safety and danger in the environment. A brain that feels safe will seldom produce symptoms. This doesn’t mean that we don’t need therapy or medications, but it does mean that the framework we’ve historically used to view our most troubling feelings and thoughts needs to be changed to a model that is more biologically accurate, as well as empowering. 4. There is no such thing as “self-sabotage.” We all make choices that interrupt our lives, but the phrase “self-sabotage” is a misnomer because the actions that mess up our plans, destroy our relationships, and annihilate our sanity are not intended to sabotage. Rather, these self-sabotaging behaviors are a suboptimal effort at self-protection. 5. All behavior is functional. Our habits and compulsions interfere with our ability to live our best, most productive lives. Not all behavior is acceptable, but all behavior is functional—otherwise the behavior wouldn’t exist. For instance, the functionality of a suboptimal behavior could be image preservation: if you don’t

make changes, then you don’t have to change the status quo. Any change brings a degree of grief, but as modern Western people in a “just think positive, live your best life” kind of environment, the idea that we need to name the things we’re most afraid of and integrate parts of ourselves that we don’t like, all as antecedents to change, is a really hard sell. Addiction is an example of a highly toxic, but nevertheless functional behavior. If I am addicted to a substance, behavior, person, or way of thinking, then I don’t have to deal with whatever awaits me on the other side. While the disease model of addiction is still prevalent, there is an equal amount of research indicating that addiction is not always a disease. As a former addict and as a therapist who has worked in inpatient drug rehab, I have yet to meet anyone who struggles with addiction who doesn’t also have an underlying pain point that the addiction is attempting to soothe. When you drill down beneath even the most extreme behavior, you’ll almost always find either untreated trauma or unresolved grief. Photo by Aubrey Odom-Mabey on Unsplash.

A NEW MENU AT PEPPER STEAKHOUSE! Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel’s renowned steakhouse celebrates home-grilled masterpieces in a modern light By bazaar staff

Early this year Pepper Steakhouse at the Jumeirah Messilah Hotel and Beach Resort reopened and we thought we couldn’t be more excited. Turns out we were wrong, because we just found out that we’re also getting an updated menu that includes all of our favorites and new delicious additions that we can’t wait to try.

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Pepper Steakhouse is renowned in Kuwait for its juicy, tender, flavor-loaded per fectly grilled steaks set amidst stunning surrounds and a transcendent ambience. Just off the bat, we love that the new menu clearly marks Vegan and Vegetarian options. It also highlights dishes that may contain nuts so that guests with allergies can easily order something yummy without worr ying. The steakhouse’s location is unparalleled as it features an expansive two floors of seating starting on the lower lobby level of the hotel. Diners who would prefer more privacy have the option of a private dining room on each of the levels. Per fect for romantic meals, high powered business lunches or even families celebrating important milestones together. The new menu at Pepper Steakhouse features an exciting page of starters, and we instantly gravitated towards options like the Pan seared Prawn Salad, freshened up with mango, cucumbers, tomatoes and shallots. We also enjoyed the timeless flavor combinations of the Goat Cheese salad, including succulent beetroot, crunchy walnuts, and a sweet yet tangy Balsamic glaze. If salads aren’t your thing, you can always start with a creamy soup like the Onion Soup which is loaded with delicious creamy gruyere or a more substantial Lobster Bisque. With 5-star scener y, ser vice and dishes, Pepper Steakhouse is on ever y gourmand’s mustvisit list. As the hotel’s premium steakhouse restaurant, Pepper offers “Home Grilled Masterpieces” ser ved in pure blissful luxur y.

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As delicious as the appetizers are, we’re really here for the steaks and grills. The heritage prime beef cuts are famously seasoned with the finest salt and pepper blend, and then grilled to per fection. Connoisseurs will be delighted by the selection and even steak newbies will have no trouble ordering from the menu. You can choose between Angus Beef Long Fed Gold 220 Days and Wagyu Stockyard Beef Red Label Grain Fed in your preferred cut. Each dish comes with your choice of starch, side and sauce. If you’re not sure what you’re in the mood for or would like some advice, don’t hesitate to ask the staff. They know their stuff and can skillfully guide you to the best choice based on your preferences. There are also other lamb, beef, fish and poultr y options that are smoked or grilled to per fection in the open flame kitchen. And don’t worr y if your party includes children, even the kids’ menu was carefully curated to offer them something new to tr y without over whelming them with options that might be too much for them like 108

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the Mini Roast and the Lumachine Bolognese. You can’t leave before you’ve had some dessert, it’s the unspoken law of eating at Pepper Steakhouse. Whether you have indulged in the steaks and would prefer a fruit platter or would like to end on a high note with a Pecan Pie Sundae, there’s something on the menu that will tickle ever yone’s sweet tooth. Pepper is open for dinner from 07:00 PM till 11:30 PM only. For more information and advance bookings, the Restaurant Reser vations team is pleased to receive your calls at 2226 9666.

The Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa is located in Messilah, Al Ta’awun Street, Block 7, Building 13. For more information, please call 2226 9666 or visit http://Jumeirah.com. Follow their latest updates on Instagram, @JumeirahMessilahBeach, Twitter @JumeirahMB, and Facebook.

YOU’VE DONE THE HARD WORK

Here’s how to get the recognition you deserve By Herbert Lui

Good work absolutely does not just speak for itself. That’s why a piece of art is always accompanied by an artist statement, and each art show is accompanied by ephemera, an audio guide, or a curator. A staff member at a restaurant not only delivers the food, but explains the story behind a dish or an ingredient, highlighting the story behind it; or they even open up the kitchen, making every operation visible through a glass. As people, we value work more when we know how much effort went into it; it’s why Rolls Royce vehicles are still hand-made. So even if we’re working as writers or marketers, we need to do the same. This is the opposite of faking it ’till you make it. We’ve already done the work, now we need to communicate our effort to clients and colleagues, which enables them to appreciate the work more, and makes the writing process smoother. CREATE A VIDEO TO ACCOMPANY IT At my editorial studio Wonder Shuttle, we work with experts to collaborate on writing; we believe that transferring this knowledge and clearly communicating it will lead to additional hires and sales at lower costs. We conduct and record an interview with the author of the piece, then write it up on their behalf; they edit it and we work together to publish and promote it. A year ago, I started sending clients an asynchronous video walking them through an initial draft of a blog post. I want each client to know exactly what my team and I were thinking as we worked through the draft. Sometimes, I’ll highlight some of the stats and the methodology or the research it took to get it, or the thought we put into the flow and structure of the piece. One of my editors took the lead on the communication for a recent delivery. (I use Screenflow, she uses OBS, you can also use Loom.) If you’re working freelance or in-house, and you don’t want to do an extra meeting, make a video walking someone through the work you’ve delivered. They’ll appreciate it, and there’ll be fewer misunderstandings—which makes the process easier for everyone. For larger projects, if I’m recording a video including work samples and a pitch deck, the video might take 10–15 minutes; otherwise, for a draft delivery, it might take less than 5 minutes. SET UP A MEETING TO WALK THROUGH IT As with the asynchronous videos, a live meeting gives you the opportunity to walk your potential clients or employers through your thought process as you present your work, but has the added benefit of allowing you to answer questions along the way. The point is to make your work as clear as possible, and a live presentation can do this in a compelling way, leaving a stronger impression on your audience, as well as providing a more complete picture of your project. 110

SEND SHORT, POINT-FORM, NOTES If you are unable to make a video or organize a meeting with someone, leaving notes for the reader can also be a great way to guide them through your work. Just as an editor will give a writer back notes on a draft, making suggestions or asking for clarification, you can make notes on your own work, preemptively answering the readers questions or explaining why you made the decisions that you did. This not only gives the reader an insight into your creative process, but also demonstrates to them your ability to communicate and be proactive, which might not come across if you can’t speak with them and simply send them your work. You can’t leave it to chance that the work makes a good impression on the reader; make sure they know the effort you put into it. If you’re just sending your client, or your bosses and colleagues, a draft as the deliverable, it’s worth the additional presentation effort.

You may think that making notes or preparing a live video or presentation makes more work for someone, but it actually saves them time; you can call out parts you want their feedback on, you can reassure them that you tried hard on this, and show them that you’ve put a lot of thought into it and that they can trust you. It can be a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy: when you present your work to someone, and they appreciate what you accomplished and how you work, they’re more interested in making sure the project works out. This sounds really straightforward, but I’ve worked as a deputy editor, editor-in-chief, and an editorial director at organizations like Shopify, Intuit, and WorkOS, and I’ve never had a writer proactively reach out to walk me through their draft. I would’ve been happy to see it—it’s out of the ordinary, and it’s a sign of confidence. Plus, I always have the option to choose not to watch it, of course; but I don’t think I ever would. Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash.

THE NEW IT-WATCH?

Google’s Pixel Watch combines Fitbit brains and Apple Watch vibes By Mark Sullivan

At its I/O developer event Wednesday, Google said it will release its own smartwatch, called the Pixel Watch, this fall. Until now Google had provided the operating systems for smartwatches, but never the watches themselves. The Pixel Watch is built “inside and out” by Google, as Rick Osterloh, the company’s senior vice president of devices and services, put it during the keynote address. It’s also the first Google product to fully embody the technology the company purchased when it acquired fitness tracking pioneer Fitbit in a deal that was completed last year. Design-wise, the Pixel Watch gives off serious Apple Watch vibes. Its crown and replaceable polyurethane bands look the same. The oblong button next to the crown mimics the Apple design. The recycled stainless steel. The raised crystal dome on the front. Osterloh even used some familiar Apple marketing language while introducing the Pixel: “It’s . . . glanceable, so you can be more present at home, at work, or on the go,” he said. (This suggests you can quickly wave off unimportant notifications by glancing at your wrist—results vary.) Jony Ive couldn’t have said it better. But any mimicry seems reasonable enough. After all, given the popularity of the Apple Watch, it’s fair to say consumers have consented to these design features. Why should Google try to reinvent the wheel? And yet the Pixel does part company with the Apple Watch in a very obvious way: It’s round. Then again, if you look at the round shape in the context of wristwatches, rather than smartwatches, it’s not radical at all. Wristwatches through the generations have mostly been round, all the way back to the days of pocket watches. Only when diodes started getting built into watches did the square shapes arrive. Some people may find that a round smartwatch gives off a less “techie” look than the Apple Watch’s “rounded square” shape. Fitbit brains The Pixel Watch contains Google’s Assistant, which you can ask for information such as map directions. It also contains Google Wallet, so you can make purchases or board public transportation with a raise of the wrist—no phone required. But the device’s marquee features appear to center on fitness tracking. “My favorite thing about the [Pixel] Watch is its deep integration with Fitbit,” Osterloh said. Here, Google may have learned a marketing lesson from the market-leading Apple Watch. When Apple began selling its smartwatch in 2015, it described it as a multipurpose device that acted as an extension or remote control for the iPhone. 112

Sales were slow at first. When the company began thinking and talking about the watch as a health and fitness device, it connected with consumers and sales increased. Fitbit made many fitness tracker devices but it also developed an extensive software back end for tracking, sharing, and socializing around a wide array of health and fitness metrics (step counting is just the start). The Pixel Watch tracks continuous heart rate, Active Zone Minutes, exercise stats, and progress against fitness goals, as well as some sleep-quality measures, and probably some other things Google hasn’t talked about yet. (Osterloh said his company will provide more information about the Pixel Watch during the months leading up to launch.) A better Apple alternative But why would Google make its own watch when it’ll be competing with the Android-powered watches of its partners? Google launched its Android Wear operating system for wearable devices back in 2014, hoping that partners such as Samsung, Motorola, and HTC would go forth and make smash hit Wearpowered smartwatches (it’s now called Wear OS). But the market for Android smartwatches was tepid from the start.

“They want there to be showcase devices that are examples of the best experience/ implementation in the hopes it spurs the ecosystem,” says Ben Bajarin, principal analyst at market research firm Creative Strategies, in a message to Fast Company Wednesday. “This is probably even more important in the area of smartwatches, where their partners have struggled to gain any traction,” Bajarin says. “Google needed to do this to help kick-start broader support for their WearOS platform and it makes sense to do something specific to Pixel and the Pixel hardware ecosystem, which is clearly broadening.” Broadening indeed. Aside from the Pixel Watch, Google announced a new pair of earbuds called the Pixel Buds Pro, as well as a new smartphone called the Pixel 6a. Since it’ll be important that the Pixel Watch integrate and interact easily with these and other Google hardware devices, the Android team announced a number of improvements that’ll let Google devices pair and share content with each other more easily and securely.

Photo by Andres Urena on Unsplash.

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AMITI NOURA: NOW IN SABAH AL SALEM Get your fix of authentically Kuwaiti homemade recipes at Amiti Noura’s new home in Sabah Al Salem By bazaar staff

We’re no strangers to Amiti Noura’s signature offerings. Every visit to the restaurant reminds us of our favorite auntie’s home. Her home has character in every corner. If you’re over for lunch, she will pull out all the stops and serve you in the fanciest china and the sparkliest silverware. Until recently, we only had one. When Amiti Noura opened at the Avenues, we knew we found a second home, and now we have a new location to head to when we’re craving a meal that feels like it was cooked with the love of an aunt, the skill of a world-class chef and the hospitality of grandma.

Amiti Noura, a contemporar y dining destination with a traditional Kuwaiti kitchen and home, has launched its second branch in Sabah Al Salem, inviting diners to enjoy a taste of classic Kuwaiti home flavors. Amiti Noura, which translates to ‘Aunt Noura’, pays homage to authentic local recipes and Kuwait’s spirit of hospitality. We love the Sabah Al Salem location for its proximity and easy access, because going over to your favorite Auntie’s place should be convenient in ever y way. At the new Sabah Al Salem location, diners will find a wide variety of classic home-style dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all of which are defined by family recipes and offer a unique combination of distinctive flavors and spices. Food is more than just fuel, it is histor y and culture, and the Amiti Noura menu has been exper tly created to not just tell the stor y of Kuwait’s culinar y heritage, but to add to a new chapter to it, enriching a vibrant legacy of flavors. 114

Passing by Amiti Noura, the mix of aromatic herbs and spices coming from the kitchen will entice you to go in and tr y the specialties. One of our favorite things about Amiti Noura, is that just like your real aunt, you are welcome to visit any time of the day starting with breakfast. Grab your entire family for a fun and fulfilling Riyoug Platter. It is a spread fit for royalty that features favorites like hummus, labneh, shakshuka, falafel, cheese platter with fresh vegetables, lamb mince hamssah, jam and honey and ser ved with freshly baked tanoor bread and regag bread. And to seal the deal they will offer you some sweet karak. We’re just getting started too! Lunch and dinner are just as amazing at Amiti Noura. Just make sure to arrive hungr y, because there are so many delicious dishes. The Chicken Machboos is made extra special for dinner with the signature saffron rice, caramelized onion, and daqous sauce. Seafood lovers will fall in love with the Murabian; fragrant rice and shrimps cooked in shrimp-spiced broth. Mixed with caramelized onion, fresh coriander, dill and shrimps. Another highly-popular dish is the Potato and Pumpkin stew, stewed in tomato sauce flavored with tamarind. Even classics like french fries are given the Amiti Noura twist like the sumac fries which are dusted with the zesty red herb and a special oil blend for an added layer of flavor. When it comes to the per fect ending for a meal, the delicious variety of traditional Arabic desserts like Sab AlGafsha and Om Ali will complete your day. At any time of the day, if you are craving the flavors of home, nostalgia, and comfort, a meal at Amiti Noura is your gateway into the legacy of authentic Kuwaiti cuisine. Remember to come in a big group to sample more delicacies from Amiti Noura’s vibrant menu. Better yet, make it a family affair with standing lunch plans ever y Saturday, you won’t regret it!

You can find Amiti Noura in Sabah Al Salem and The Souk in The Avenues. To stay up to date with their news follow them on Instagram @amitinoura.Featured image courtesy of Amiti Noura. 115

GET WELL SOON

9 ways design can actually help you heal in the hospital By Mohsen Rasoulivalajoozi and Golriz Farzamfar

Long before COVID-19 made the public aware of the importance of good air ventilation, designers have been concerned with how physical environments affect people’s well-being and mental health. In the 20th century, hospital design underwent a profound change. Hospitals used to be a place for only the treatment of diseases and injuries — or places strongly associated with death. By the mid-20th century, due to medical and technological advances and the growth, development and professionalization of diversified approaches to health care, hospitals had become centers of health systems. Nowadays, hospitals are not only places for treating disease and illness; they’re also institutions for promoting physical and psychological health, and places of recovery and healing. Today, patients expect more than just treatment. As hospitals’ mandates and missions have shifted, so has hospital design. Healing environments For designing healing environments, significant advances have been made that support a patient’s process of recovery. The concept of a healing environment puts the patient at the center of hospital and health design. To this end, in addition to patients’ clinical needs, their psychological and mental needs must also be taken into consideration in the design process. For example, empirical research has shown that natural daylight, contact with nature, and a pleasant indoor environment promote a sense of well-being that benefits patient recovery. A terrarium in the lobby of the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, seen here in 2014, offers both natural daylight and contact with nature. Physical aspects of hospital interior spaces can all contribute positively to patients’ health and state of mind. Patients’ perceptions of control Design researcher Roger Ulrich conceptualizes how the physical and social environments in health-care settings can affect patients’ well-being, including reducing stress. He calls this theory “supportive design.” Each of these elements can be viewed as an opportunity for improving a patient’s spatial experience.According to this theory, all the challenges and considerations for improving the health environment can be classified into three main branches: perceptions of control, social support, and positive distraction. To allow patients to perceive a sense of control in their environment, some studies have focused on the value of mapping and wayfinding at the planning phase of hospital design that more beneficially result in helping patients to navigate independently. 116

Social supports Access to social support reduces patient levels of psychological distress during their presence in the treatment centre environments. This can be facilitated by providing patients with access to private and quiet spaces, where they can discuss personal information or express their needs to family, friends, and hospital staff. As an example, arranging furniture that provides acoustic and visual privacy for patients in hospital public spaces can be an intervention to provide a sense of social support. Positive distraction Positive distraction is mainly concerned with anything that can catch a patient’s attention or interest, leading to a positive state of mind or mood. Therefore, visual distraction elements such as televisions, reading materials, indoor plants, views of nature, or artwork can remarkably contribute to a feeling of well-being. Patients might access nature not only through windows with scenic views, but also in paintings or art depicting nature in abstract or realistic styles. Patient, family, staff roles For example, as elements of positive distraction, patients can bring their personal belongings to the hospital room such as a small plant, pillow and blanket or their own reading materials or arts and craft supplies.Patients, families, caregivers and hospital managers can also help to create a healing environment for patients. Families and the staff can help to generate pleasant conditions and space for patients to

hang patients’ artwork or preferred images on the wall. Design incorporated into hospital protocols With adequate resourcing, healthcare providers could have more tools to improve patients’ states of mind through small design ideas that can be incorporated into hospital protocols. For example, providing a whiteboard on the patient room wall would allow the families, patients, and staff to draw figures of nature or write positive messages. To help bolster a patient’s perception of control, hospital staff could draw a patient’s name on the glass window of their room with a smiley face to help them find their room. To offer social support, hospital managers can provide free and easy access to Wi-Fi or telephone for patients in all spaces of the hospital. Curtains or blinds can be considered in hospital public spaces such as waiting areas to offer flexibility for patients who prefer to communicate privately with hospital staff or their family members. Including health-care staff, patients in design Although patients, staff and families can independently help to improve the patient’s spatial experiment, designers should also include them in the design process. Accordingly, designers and researchers can benefit from this design approach that is connected with the role of health-care staff, caregivers and patients to improve healing environments in hospitals. Photo by Adhy Savala on Unsplash.

It’s All About

BIG WRAPS Dine in or Order now

GET READY FOR AD BREAKS

Why advertising won the streaming wars By Rob Walker

“The end of advertising is coming,” a Forrester researcher declared about five years ago. Citing the consultancy’s 2017 report on the subject, the researcher explained that, increasingly, “consumers have options for getting what they want without interruptions.” This was not an uncommon view at the time. A book published that same year, bluntly titled The End of Advertising, made a similar argument: “The ad apocalypse is upon us,” the promotional copy summarized. “Today millions are downloading ad-blocking software, and still more are paying subscription premiums to avoid ads. This $600 billion industry is now careening toward outright extinction after having taken for granted a captive audience for too long, leading to lazy, overabundant, and frankly annoying ads.” If you were looking for a single company that embodied this line of thought, you could do worse than point to Netflix. A leader of the “bingeable, no-advertising revolution,” as one observer put it recently, the streaming giant became a monster success precisely because of its emphasis on a quality—and interruption-free—viewing experience. Part of that, for years, entailed a very clear perspective on advertising. To quote CEO Reed Hastings: “No advertising coming onto Netflix. Period.” Recently, of course, Netflix admitted that, well, advertising is coming to Netflix. Details are a bit hazy, but perhaps as soon as this year the company will introduce an ad-supported tier as a way to boost subscriber growth, particularly abroad. Partly, this is a function of Netflix’s own distinct and evolving needs as a business (the company lost subscribers for the first time in a decade), and partly about the reality of drastically increased competition in the streaming-entertainment category, much of it ad-supported. But it’s also a function of something bigger than any single company or category: the surprising triumph of advertising in the digital era. This counters, perhaps once and for all, an endof-advertising narrative that has been continuously offered, and continuously disrupted, for decades now. The big picture idea goes something like this: In the old days, consumers passively took in the commercial persuasion that technology forced on them, in a world of highly limited and strictly top-down media choices. The ad business was unstoppable; Mad Men was basically a documentary! Then (the argument continues) along came a series of tech and media changes—cable, digital video recorders, the Web, etc.—that each handed over more control to an increasingly active and demanding consumer. This was accompanied (or perhaps caused, depending on who is telling the story) by a fundamental shift in consumer behavior: a supposedly all-new skepticism about and scorn of advertising. RIP, Don Drapers! It is of course true that ad-avoiding businesses certainly emerged, from HBO to a welter of premium subscription services. And many ad118

driven businesses like network TV and newspapers suffered, or even died. But meanwhile, some of the most mindboggling business success stories of the digital era turned out to be purely ad-driven. Despite initial resistance from their respective founders, both Google and Facebook became advertising juggernauts. And mobile-era media remains thoroughly soaked in commercial messages, from the murky world of social media “influencers” to old-school traditional ads interrupting video clips and articles to sponsored messages breaking up search results and content feeds. (Hard data is tricky to pin down, but by some estimates a typical consumer is exposed to as many as 10,000 commercial messages a day.) That’s why Netflix is hardly the only subscriptionfocused business to capitulate to advertising. Spotify, to pick one high-profile example, is spending millions to build a podcasting presence partly to tap into that genre’s ad potential. The videogame world—and thus, whatever “the metaverse” turns out to be—is increasingly ad-targeted, too. Even Amazon earns substantial revenue from advertising, through what once would have seemed like a completely unthinkable tactic: spiking its product listings with sponsored results. In short, we are not likely to experience “the end of advertising” anytime soon. To the contrary, advertising will persist precisely because—

however “lazy, overabundant, and frankly annoying” it may seem—it is the bedrock of a proven business model. Advertising makes all manner of entertainment and information and other services much cheaper, or even free, to many more consumers. And consumers like that. Netflix’s current attitude about surrendering to advertising seems a little cavalier. The company hasn’t been collecting the kind of user data that advertisers now covet, but Hastings shrugs that off as an “outsourceable” issue: “We can be a straight publisher and have other people do all of the fancy ad matching, and integrate all the data about people,” he said recently. Reality might be a little more complicated than that. And as Fast Company‘s Jeff Beer points out, advertisers and brands might want to see a more serious and creative attitude before they buy into whatever Netflix has in mind. That said, Netflix is making the only move it can as a response to real-world consumer behavior. Hastings described the new tier as catering to the “ad-tolerant.” This is an amusing and interesting framing, because it simultaneously describes nobody and everybody. Pretty much, none of us chooses to take in ads. But by now we all know that absolutely none of us can avoid them. Period.

Photo by Tom Dillon on Unsplash.

THE

GREAT CHINESE FOOD YOU ARE CRAVING!

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CELEBRATE LIFE’S MILESTONES WITH MARTINI 0.0 Here’s to the new beginnings for the class of 2022! By bazaar staff

Life is not a race, but if you need a metaphor, we like to imagine a leisurely train ride across a colorful and changing landscape. And the graduating class of 2022 are arriving at one of the largest and most exciting stations of their lives. So, it’s time to celebrate with friends, family, and all the people who have been cheering and supporting their hard work for years. Celebrating is an art and we’re really good at it. We love throwing lavish dinner parties and bringing together loved ones on a random Tuesday, but when there’s a special occasion like a graduation, we’re going bigger because we can’t imagine things any other way. And while you might be thinking of guest lists and menu options we’re here to tell you not to forget the beverages! The recent trend in alcohol-free drinks has brought us MARTINI 0.0 and MARTINI 0.0 Rosé. Refreshing bubbly drinks that add to table theatrics and experience. With over 150 years of expertise, MARTINI 0.0 brings its reputation and knowledge to the zero-alcohol category to cater to the low/no trend that’s sweeping the globe. Only the very best grapes from Northern Italy’s premium regions are used to produce the MARTINI 0.0, an all-natural, alcohol-free sparkling drink. The result is a light, sweet, delicate fruity taste – perfect for celebrating with friends and with meals. And for those of us who appreciate drama and have no issues with being a little extra, MARTINI 0.0 Rosé is our new BFF. It is made from the highest quality concentrated grape juice and red fruits, grown and carefully crafted in the sun-drenched hillsides of Northern Italy. MARTINI 0.0 Rosé provides connoisseurs an all-natural, alcohol-free sparkling beverage that still retains the same great flavor that MARTINI 0.0 is known for. Now is the time to be making core memories with the people who have been along for the ride. We make no promises about the future and hope you hold no regrets about the past. We believe that now is the time to be reveling in the magical moment of change and tipping points. We raise a glass of MARTINI 0.0 to all of you for making it this far; the students who have worked hard, the families who helped and the friends who made it all worthwhile. There will be a time, later, to plan for the future, but right now focus on the achievement and celebrate! And what better way to do that than with a fabulous party and delicious food and drinks. MARTINI 0.0 has fresh, fruity, fragrant 120

and pleasant aromatic notes of Moscato. The taste is fresh and well-balanced between acidity and sweetness from Italian white grapes, citrusy notes, sage, elder and peach. All coming together with yellow with gold reflexes set in a rich golden color. We’ve been learning from Gen-Z and they’ve shown us that if they’re going to live through a pandemic and deal with the fallout, they’re going to embrace it all. From a return to maximalism and TikTok challenges to romanticizing their lives and being ok with speaking their truths, we’re proud (and slightly jealous) of this generation. So we’re going all the way. MARTINI 0.0 suggests using a flute glass and we’re going to do just that! Hold the glass to the light, look at the color, and look for fine lines of bubbles. Smell just above the glass to capture delicate notes. Take a deeper smell closer to the glass to capture the stronger notes. Take into the mouth and swirl round the palate, so it touches all sides of the mouth. Assess how the bubbles feel in the mouth (soft, prickly, gentle). Then capture the key flavors. Think how long the flavors last in the mouth and what is the final taste you are left with. Congratulations class of 2022 we know you will do great and that you can take on whatever life throws at you.

You can find MARTINI 0.0 and MARTINI 0.0 Rosé at roomserviceq8.com and select retailers. Follow @roomserviceq8 on Instagram for more information. 121

IS THE DOCTOR ONLINE?

3 ways the metaverse is already reshaping healthcare By Sam Glassenberg

Let me confirm what might be nagging you about the “metaverse”: There’s more to it than what you’ve been reading. The metaverse hype-men would have you believe that the ultimate purpose of this technology is a fancy ‘second life’ where consumers put on a clunky headset, create a digital twin of themselves, and buy that twin some virtual Nike shoes and artificial real estate. It’s all sneakers and NFTs; shopping, sports and concerts. It’s all consumerism and little impact. At best, this is an ill-informed vision of where this technology (that the video game industry built and developed over decades) can take us. At worst, it distracts from the actual value. The promise of the metaverse is real and, even better, the underlying technology is quietly delivering on that promise in the industry you’d least expect: healthcare. Here’s a few examples of how “medicine’s metaverse” is set to transform this industry: Massively-Multiplayer, low-risk medical training Cloud gaming technology can enable physicians from disparate locations to practice procedures together, collaboratively, on a virtual patient over Zoom. There’s no special app or headset needed because the virtual patients (and the accompanying fluids, soft tissues, and ultrasound beams) are all simulated in the cloud. These physicians can train on difficult clinical cases they would only otherwise experience on a live patient. Imagine: Just like Fortnite allows a hundred players to play competitively in a shared environment, this technology can enable up to hundreds of physicians to competitively (and collaboratively) diagnose and treat virtual patients at in-person and online medical conferences, across specialties like dermatology, rheumatology, and immunology. Medical device and life science companies can also use this technology to teach and train healthcare professionals on their devices and therapeutics. For example, Munich-based Brainlab created an interactive virtual version of their radiotherapy system that replicated a hospital site visit, allowing healthcare professionals to engage, step-by-step with their technology and software from anywhere, anytime – all available to stream to multiple users across any device. In this and many similar cases, instead of traveling from hospital to hospital (challenging even before the pandemic) or trying to explain multimillion-dollar equipment using a slide deck or videos, companies can let healthcare professionals diagnose, treat, and operate on virtual patients together over Microsoft Teams. These technologies will move the needle (at scale) from a business 122

perspective, measurably increasing time, sales, and performance. Real Digital Twins In medicine, digital twins can capture massive amounts of patient scan data (MRI, CT, ultrasound scans) over time–coalesced into one view–to plan surgeries and monitor disease progression and treatment. In many cases, prototypes and replicas of the human body, hospital systems or entire hospitals are already in use. Researchers at Empa have already created several hundred avatars of real people suffering from chronic pain and are using them to optimize and predict the impact of medications. NASA is exploring the ability to capture digital twins of astronauts before launch in anticipation of long-haul missions to the moon and Mars. Virtualizing real anatomy can answer questions like, does this ultrasound taken nine months into the mission match the astronaut’s digital twin, taking into account the anticipated changes from the known impact of microgravity? Or is something wrong? Video games have been improving the ability to recreate human skin for over a decade–to the point that game characters today are indiscernible from reality. Now, healthcare is leveraging this same

technology to recreate any skin disease, on skin of any color, under any lighting environment–helping, for example, to train dermatologists to recognize rare skin diseases on skin of color when there is no reference in the literature. Medical AR When applied in the operating room, AR headsets can digitally project a patient’s digital twin on top of the physical body during surgery. Surgeons can see the CT and MRI data ‘inside’ of the patient as they perform a procedure, knowing precisely where the needle, scalpel, or drill will line up with the anatomy. Surgeons have already performed augmented reality surgeries on live patients, correcting spine problems and removing tumors. This is where the intersection of digital and physical worlds has real value. Ultimately, what really separates Medicine’s metaverse from the hype you may be reading about is that you don’t have to wait patiently, hoping to see the societal and commercial value one day. From cloud-based collaborative training to AR surgical planning, in many cases the value is already being realized or is on the cusp of happening today. It’s being realized for patients, for medical professionals, for society, and for industry. Photo by Artur Tumasjan on Unsplash.

CRYPTO CASH OR CRASH? Panics and death spirals: a history of failed stablecoins By Ryan S. Gladwin

After the stunning fall of Terraform Lab’s Terra USD stablecoin sent shockwaves through the crypto markets that wiped out some $200 billion in wealth in just 24 hours, the public—and many government officials—are questioning just how “stable” these stablecoins really are. But Terra isn’t the first stablecoin to tumble. The idea behind stablecoins is that, unlike other forms of cryptocurrency which often have wildly fluctuating prices, a stablecoin is pegged to a more sturdy asset, usually the U.S. dollar. It’s designed to offer the benefits of paying with cryptocurrency without the wild price swings. Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. The problem happens when the price significantly deviates from the peg. Investors panic, there’s essentially a run on the bank, and the coin falls into a “death spiral,” which is what happened with Terra USD (UST). There are three main types of stablecoins: fiat-backed (in which the token maintains equal reserves of the currency it’s pegged to); cryptobacked (in which the token is collateralized by cryptocurrencies); and algorithmic (in which the token relies on algorithms to regulate supply and demand in order to peg its price to a dollar). UST is a blend of crypto-backed and algorithmic (not all algorithmic stablecoins are backed by an asset). Historically, most of the stablecoins we’ve seen fail have been algorithmic. Stablecoins that weren’t The most infamous example of a failed stablecoin was Basis Cash, which launched in late 2020 and quickly flamed out. At its peak, Basis Cash had a market capitalization of $30.74 million. Basis Cash struggled to hold its peg, falling from $1 to $0.30 in the month of January 2021. The project used what’s known as a “seigniorage algorithm.” In this system, two (or more) tokens will be created: One will be the stablecoin, and the other a token that is free to move like any other token. When the price of the stablecoin goes below $1, holders of the second token will be able to buy the stablecoin at a discounted price. This pushes the price back to $1. In the case that it goes above $1, more of the stablecoin will be created and distributed across the network, pushing the price back down to its peg. This is a similar system that Terraform Labs adopted with its LUNA and UST tokens. (CoinDesk recently reported that Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, was one of the pseudonymous founders of Basis Cash.) Another big seigniorage-algorithmic stablecoin that failed was Empty Set Dollar, which also launched in late 2020 and peaked at a market cap of $22.74 million. Within months, the token lost its peg to the U.S. dollar and began a descent to less than $0.01. Then there was the death of Iron Finance‘s 124

stablecoin in June 2021, which wiped out the holdings of investors, including Mark Cuban, who quickly called for regulation in the space. That stablecoin used a partially crypto-collateralized seigniorage algorithm, similar to the system that Terra adopted with UST. When Iron’s TITAN token became overvalued, a lot of big investors sold, the stablecoin depegged from the U.S. dollar, and— you guessed it—another death spiral. Although these are the biggest stablecoins to fail, many others have tumbled before they could do major damage. Other stablecoin projects that depegged and never recovered include SafeCoin, BitUSD, DigitalDollar, NuBits, and CK USD. Can UST come back? Things look extremely bleak for Terra. There has been at least one stablecoin to recover from a death spiral, but the situation was different. Stablecoin OUSD was hacked back in November 2020, which led to the price plummeting to $0.14. Its price didn’t move for months, leaving investors sweating. It was able to successfully relaunch

in January 2021, has remained close its $1 peg, and has increased its market cap to just over $60 million from less than $1 million before the hack. In any case, the fall of Terra and the ensuing crypto crash have led to calls for more regulation of the industry. It has also raised fresh concerns about Tether, the largest stablecoin, which briefly lost its peg to the U.S. dollar in the wake of UST’s collapse. Tether claims to be a fiat-backed stablecoin, with backing of cash or “cash equivalents.” However, Tether has previously been fined by the U.S. government for allegedly misstating its reserves and has since failed to be as transparent about its reserves as many would like. Following UST’s tumble, the U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that she hopes Congress can pass legislation to create a regulatory framework for stablecoins sometime this year.

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash.

POKE PICK... THE LATEST TREND IN HEALTHY EATING

ALL YOU AVO WANTED The Avocado Bacon Burger and Chicken has arrived at Shake Shack! By bazaar staff

With the turn of the season, we’re constantly finding ourselves craving something fresh. And there’s nothing quite like sinking your teeth into perfectly plump, ripe bright green avocado. Now imagine that pairing with crunchy veal bacon, and let this medley of beautiful flavors play on your taste buds. Hungry yet? Yes? Good. Because the Avocado Bacon is now available at all Shacks for a limited time. Believe us when we say: It’s all we AVO wanted!

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Avocado lovers across the GCC are rejoicing, and for a good reason. For the past ten years, we’ve grown accustomed to and only expect the best ingredients from our closest Shack, and we’re elated that the Avocado Bacon Burger and Avocado Bacon Chicken are making an appearance on the Shack’s menu! And while adding avocado might seem simple enough, we know that selecting per fectly ripe avocados for the special Avocado Bacon Burger or Avocado Bacon Chicken is no easy task! The limited time Avocado Bacon Menu features freshly sliced avocado—no packaged “spread”—and of course smoked veal bacon to give it that taste kick we all know and love. You can opt for the Avocado Bacon Burger, a cheeseburger topped with freshly sliced avocado, smoked veal bacon, and the famous ShackSauce. The Avocado Bacon Chicken is per fect for anyone who’s craving a hit of Shake

Shack’s per fectly crispy chicken breast (always hormone and antibiotic free) along with freshly sliced avocado, smoked bacon, fresh lettuce, pickles and herb mayo. YUM! We didn’t waste a minute to stop by the nearest Shack to tr y both offerings, and we were so blown away. We can officially state that Avocado and Bacon are a match made in heaven. Perhaps it’s the creaminess of avocado that got us hooked, or was it the per fect crunch of the smoky veal bacon? We couldn’t make up our mind and joyfully munched on both sandwiches in golden silence. Speaking of golden, any meal at Shake Shack is deemed incomplete without an order (or three) of golden, bright, crinkle-cut Shack Fries. We couldn’t stop dipping our fries into the Avocado Bacon Burger’s ShackSauce, or the delectable herb mayo in the Avocado Bacon Chicken! To top it all off, we also tried Shake Shack’s Mango Passion Lemonade for

an uplifting hit of freshness. We can’t wait to get our next fix of this delicious combo. But hang on, the good news doesn’t stop here, because you can now add avocado to EVERYTHING! Yup, you read that right, you can add deliciously fresh, creamy slices of avocado to your favorite burgers and sandwiches, but only while supplies, last, of course. So, for example, if you want to add a yummy, textural element to cool down your favorite order of Hot Chicken, don’t hesitate to add freshly sliced avocado to your sandwich! Make a pit stop at your closest Shack ASAP, ‘cause Shake Shack’s Avocado Bacon menu won’t be in town for long! To skip the wait and for contact-free payment and pick-up, order ahead online at shakeshackme.com, or order your favorites straight to your door through delivery on Deliveroo and Talabat. 127

WORK 2.0

How tech from Slack to Discord can prepare students for the future of work By Kavitta Ghai

Most of the world thinks of college as a bridge to a better future and, more specifically, a better career. We are willing to go into debt and put our life on pause for years with the promise that we will come out the other side with the skills necessary to both enter the workforce and thrive within it. However, the American Association of Colleges and Universities reported in 2021 that, while most employers view liberal education as essential for workforce readiness, fewer than 50% of employers are ‘very satisfied’ with graduates’ actual preparation for the workforce. They highlighted that the expectation is for higher education to prepare students not only with the technical expertise they will need, but also the ability to think for themselves and solve new problems. When the world looks like a completely different place than it did a few years ago, we need to ensure that our ability to prepare students for it scales at the same rate. Therein lies the challenge: Are we doing enough to prepare the next generation of this country to take on a world where they will need both the social skills and the critical thinking ability to solve global issues that affect our very existence? If the answer is no, how can we begin to shift into the future of workforce readiness through tangible solutions that any classroom can adopt today? Setting expectations for the future It’s no secret to anyone that, when we talk about the future of the workforce, we typically mean it in terms of technology. Technological advancements like AI and machine learning are going to permeate every industry out there within the next decade, and students today need to be learning how to build a career in a world that will be mostly automated. Experts at Dell and the Institute of the Future predict that up to 85% of the jobs that today’s college students will have in 11 years haven’t been invented yet. So how do we prepare students for jobs that we don’t even know about yet? The answer is in the soft skills that a machine or robot will not be able to replicate. Whether someone decides to go into computer science or construction, they will need to have real-world skills that allow them to work productively with others in a constantly evolving world. 128

Solutions we have now The arbiters of this change are going to be those that students trust most—their teachers. However, to put this burden on a group that is already stressed and overworked is unfair without providing a thoughtful solution that also accounts for the instructor’s needs. The sweet spot is to find a solution that meets everyone where they already are so that the change feels as natural as possible, and is therefore easy to adopt. If technology is the future, then students need to be experiencing it in the classroom as early as possible. However, it needs to be implemented in a way that doesn’t add more work to the teacher’s plate and thus is purpose-built for the classroom. While there are emerging ed-tech tools that are bringing these specific solutions to the classroom, social tools that are already on most students’ phones are also a great place to start. Researchers at the University of California found that teachers who utilize social tools like Snapchat were able to connect with their students faster than ever before. Students begin using these apps in middle or high school, so to meet them where they are allows the flow of conversation to happen instantaneously. Biology professor Kelly Thomasson remarked that all but one of her students had already been using Snapchat. “Our class was more connected socially because they could respond to the feed. . . . Everybody in the class always came to office hours and lab time,” Thomasson says. Starting

with familiar modes of digital communication can make the transition to a tech-friendly classroom easier for both the student and instructor. Setting them up for success The current most prevalent education technologies like the LMS allow students to communicate primarily with their instructors, yet not one another, which can set them up for failure when it comes to effective workplace communication. Studies show that managers use about 45% of their time for communication in discussions with colleagues at their own hierarchical level, but only 10% to communicate with superiors. Students need to become literate at in-group collaboration to understand how to work inside of a team. Not only does implementing modern collaboration tools give them real-life skills for the workforce, it also has compounding effects on their education itself. In these class group chats, students should be encouraged to ask and answer each other’s questions just like they would in a Slack chat for work, which then takes much of the burden off of the instructors to be omniavailable. The goal here is to take students from passive learners to active knowledge creators for one another, very similar to what they will inevitably have to do within their careers.

Photo by ELLA DON on Unsplash.

bazaar music

JUNE MUSIC Congratulations to the class of 2022! Whether you are done with high school or university, graduating is a huge achievement that many of us spend years working towards and reaching the finish line deserves its own soundtrack!

Title: Wear Sunscreen Artist: Baz Luhrmann Release date: 1999

Title: Graduation (Friends Forever) Artist: Vitamin C Release date: 2000

Title: Congratulations Artist: Post Malone Release date: 2017

The OG of all graduation songs based on “Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young”, commonly known by the title “Wear Sunscreen”, is an essay written as a hypothetical commencement speech by columnist Mary Schmich, originally published in June 1997 in the Chicago Tribune.

Vitamin C wrote the song as a response to how many friends drift apart soon after graduation from high school. The song is partly orchestrated, featuring a string arrangement based on Pachelbel’s Canon in D and a vocal appearance from the NYC All-City Chorus. One version of the song contains student interviews from the Class of 2000 of Lyndhurst High School in New Jersey.

“Congratulations” is a song by American rapper and singer Post Malone, featuring vocals from fellow American rapper Quavo. It was released through Republic Records on January 31, 2017, as the fifth single from Malone›s debut studio album, Stoney.

Title: I Was Here Artist: Beyoncé Release date: 2011

Title: Don’t Stop Believing Artist: Journey Release date: 1981

Title: Started from the Bottom Artist: Drake Release date: 2013

“I Was Here” is a reflective R&B ballad, in which Beyoncé vulnerably reviews her past, wanting to leave an impact on the world before her life comes to an end.

At the dawn of the 1980s, Journey was becoming one of the most successful rock acts of the era. The band added Cain on keyboards before entering the studio to record Escape. Cain had kept the song title from encouragement his father gave him as a struggling musician living on Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard.

“Started from the Bottom” is a song by Canadian hip hop recording artist Drake, released as the first single from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same.

Sources: wikipedia.com 130

RAISING CANE’S NOW AT 360 KUWAIT!

Calling all Kuwait Caniacs! You can now enjoy your ONE LOVE® with a side of upscale shopping at 360 Kuwait By bazaar staff

The eleventh Raising Cane’s location opened at 360 Kuwait! This restaurant also proudly holds the title of the 30th Raising Cane’s establishment in the entire Middle East. It was ONE LOVE® all around, as the friendly Raising Cane’s crew celebrated the opening with immense excitement for the new restaurant location.

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Raising Cane’s new restaurant location couldn’t have come at a better time, as with the temperatures rising outside, we are finding ourselves resorting to more indoor activities with our little ones. 360 Kuwait is a firm favorite destination of ours, and with the opening of Raising Cane’s at their beautiful Food Court, we’re all sorted for the summer! The Louisiana-born fried chicken eatery has been known for its ONE LOVE® philosophy and unwavering quality chicken finger meals, all of which are available in every menu across the Middle East. It’s also known for using only the highest quality ingredients and a handmade, cook-to-order system that ensures a great-tasting chicken finger meal served hot and fresh every time. And it really is, every experience at Raising Cane’s starts with the perfect crunch, no matter your location, and our experiences trying Raising Cane’s at different locations in Kuwait has taught us that our addiction to their famous Cane’s sauce is very real! Today, you can enjoy your regular Raising Cane’s meal with a view of 360 Kuwait’s stunning Food Court. The new location offers all your favorites, including meals of three, four, or a six (the Caniac Combo – for the brave) quality chicken fingers or their Single Sandwich Combo. Raising Cane’s 360 Kuwait also offers the renowned infinite Sweet Tea refills, which are quintessential to any Raising Cane’s experience. The chicken at Raising Cane’s is evidently the ultimate star of the show – using only premium chicken tenderloin, and marinated for a full twenty-four hours, the tender chicken fingers are then hand-battered, breaded and ready-to-fry, resulting in chicken that is the most succulent and tender piece you can ever bite into. As for their super-secret sauce recipe, you’ll have to go try it to know what makes it super special – hint: it goes stunningly with everything on your plate! Founded in 1996 by Todd Graves in Baton Rouge, LA, Raising Cane’s has made its way from the Pelican State into our hearts. The chain first began expanding internationally in 2015, opening its first restaurant at the Avenues Mall Kuwait. The brand has since then grown into other markets throughout the Arabian Gulf region: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE and several more openings in Kuwait. Raising Cane’s is also renowned for its unrelenting focus on doing what’s right for its customers, crew, and communities. Their “family first” ethos ensures that its restaurants are operating with the highest standards of food safety, cleanliness and health.

The new Raising Cane’s restaurant is located at Mall 360 – Level 1, Food Court. For more information, follow @raisingcanesme on Instagram! For delivery and online orders, you can click and collect your order via the Raising Cane’s ordering platform Order.raisingcanes.me, Talabat or Deliveroo. 133

bazaar Apps

THE OFFICE: SOMEHOW WE MANAGE

LEMMINGS

SHEPARD FAIREY AR - DAMAGED

LINGODEER

RONRON

NOOK CALENDAR

The Office: Somehow We Manage lets fans play through hilarious moments from the criticallyacclaimed Emmy award winning comedy, where they’ll tap their way to record proﬁts at Dunder Mifflin, and get down to business.

It’s been nearly 10 years since Shepard Fairey’s last solo exhibition in his hometown of Los Angeles and the iconic HOPE imagery he created for then Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Now for the very first time Shepard Fairey’s work has been transformed into an Augmented Reality experience. Experience his most ambitious show to date, aptly titled DAMAGED.

RonRon (purr in French) provide a great meditation experience using high quality audio and haptic on the iPhone in order to simulate a cat purring on you. Use it for having a heartwarming moment, or after a stressful day.

The epic 90’s game is now on mobile! Lemmings are cute, lovable animals, drifting through space, searching for their home world. Only you can save them! The classic game was revived with new HD visuals and beautiful animation! Guide the flow of Lemmings to safety and survival!

LingoDeer is a fantastic language-learning tool with a strong Asian-language focus (though it includes a few major European languages, too). The app’s courses are multilingual, so if you wish to learn Japanese as a German speaker, this is the app for you.

Nook isn’t simply a better-looking calendar app. It helps free up people’s time, so high-performing teams can focus on what actually matters. Sync calendars, use Calendly-like features, coordinate work locations, and quickly create events.

play.google.com itunes.apple.com 134

bazaar movie night June Movies

MAJOR

CHITHBA BAIDA

JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION

LIGHTYEAR

BLACK PHONE

MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU

Release Date: 2 June Genre: Action Adventure Cast: Prakash Raj, Shobita Dhulipala, Adivi Sesh Synopsis: Based on the life of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred in action during the November 2008 Mumbai attacks and was consequently awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award, on 26 January 2009.

Release Date: 16 June Genre: Animation Cast: Chris Evans, Keke Palmer Synopsis: The story of Buzz Lightyear and his adventures to infinity and beyond.

Release Date: 9 June Genre: Comedy Cast: Ahmad Alonan, Sultan AlFaraj, Shahad AlSalman Synopsis: New phenomena spread in the world where people are not able to lie anymore. How will our characters in this movie manage their lives without lying… not even an innocent lie?

Release Date: 23 June Genre: Horror Cast: Ethan Hawke, Jeremy Davies Synopsis: After being abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-yearold boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer’s previous victims.

Source: cinescape.com.kw 136

Release Date: 9 June Genre: Action Adventure Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum Synopsis: Four years after the destruction of Isla Nublar, dinosaurs now live--and hunt--alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures in a new Era

Release Date: 30 June Genre: Animation Cast: Taraji P. Henson,Steve Carell Synopsis: The untold story of one twelve-yearold’s dream to become the world’s greatest supervillain.

A FLAVOR FOR EVERY TASTE

EXTRA MILD

MILD

MEDIUM

STRONG

IT’S NOT MEAT, IT’S NABATI Discover guilt-free, healthy and delicious plant-based options by Americana Foods By bazaar staff

Burgers, chicken nuggets, meatballs - they’re all absolutely delicious. But imagine enjoying these favourite foods with just half the guilt, thanks to all the vitamins, minerals and goodness added into them from plant-based wellness? That’s Nabati. Here to satisfy the local demand for accessible, high-quality plant-based offerings, Americana Foods delivers us with the answer via Nabati. We must say, their slogan is quite cute too, “Halati Wi Ana Nabati!”

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Nabati, the Arabic word for “plant-based”, nicely sums up what this line of delicious and healthy frozen foods by Americana is all about. Long gone are the days of endlessly searching for quality, affordable plant-based goodies, as you can shop all of Nabati products from your closest coop or supermarket today. It is clear that Plant-based products have taken the world by a storm, and to stay true to its ethos of keeping up with trends in the food market while innovating them to be healthy and promote wellness to the regional palate, Americana Foods follows suit with Nabati. Nabati offers our favorite frozen foods as plant-based fare, with a taste so

incredible (and also close to meat) that it doesn’t make us miss animal protein at all. While the Nabati line is perfectly suited for vegetarians, flexitarians can also enjoy these plant-based goodies, and you know what, you won’t be able to tell the difference. The Nabati line-up includes Meatballs, Beef Burgers, Breaded Chicken Burgers, Breaded Chicken Nuggets, and Chicken Burgers. All of these varieties are super flavorful, tender and juicy, cholesterol free thanks to their plantbased properties, and present an great source of protein. Without further ado, let’s explore the line-up together:

Beef and Chicken Burgers Have a Burger Day but take the guilt away! Nabati’s burgers are reminiscent of juicy Angus beef burgers, but with no cholesterol and the added benefits of veggies and legumes. Feel full longer and feel lighter throughout the day with a per fectly seared Nabati burger. And you tell us - can you believe it’s not meat? If you’re a Chicken lover, then you should definitely tr y Nabati’s Chicken Burgers, we tried them ourselves and could barely tell the difference! Pan-fr y it, or pop it on the grill for a charcoal, smoked flavor, you can indulge all you want without the guilt. [Continued...]

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Breaded Chicken Burgers and Breaded Chicken Nuggets There’s nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a yummy breaded Chicken Fillet burger, it is absolutely the ultimate indulgence. But with summer upon us, you may want to cut back on the deep fried animal protein and indulge the Nabati way, which is Chicken-free! Prepare Nabati’s Breaded Chicken Burger however you like (we suggest air-frying them to crispy perfection), opt for a wholewheat burger bun, add your favorite toppings, and you’re all sorted! Chicken Nuggets make for a naughty and nostalgic meal, and Nabati’s Breaded Chicken Nuggets can now be enjoyed without feeling like you’re eating something with no nutritional value. 140

[...Continued]

Forget about shying away from chicken nuggets because of their deep fried, fatty reputation. Nabati’s nuggets may be breaded but with the added nutritional value of plant-based goodness, they stand alone as a healthy meal. We think that Nabati’s Breaded Chicken Nuggets present the perfect opportunity to introduce more plantbased meals to the youngest members of the family, because really, we haven’t met a kid yet who doesn’t love chicken nuggets! Meatballs - or shall we say, “Meatless balls”? These plant-based delights will surely elevate your spaghetti and meatballs lunch, saving you calories and cholesterol thanks to the meatless element of the meatballs (so that you can make

up for it with the parmesan cheese.) But they still pack a punch when it comes to flavor. Pair them with your preferred pasta or rice, opting for whole grains, spelt or buckwheat for even less calories. Nabati’s foods are all packed with vitamins, loaded with juicy flavors and will save you a lecture from your doctor by keeping your cholesterol levels low. As Americana’s signature saying goes, halati wi ana Nabati - I feel better because I’m plant-based. With Nabati foods being significantly lighter than more traditional frozen items, we can confidently back that claim up!

Shop The Nabati range at your closest Coop or Supermarket Today!

bazaar books

HOW ARE YOU, REALLY?: LIVING YOUR TRUTH ONE ANSWER AT A TIME

IONA IVERSON’S RULES FOR COMMUTING by Clare Pooley, Fiction

by Jenna Kutcher, Non fiction

Forget hustle harder. Forget a mandatory 5 a.m. wake-up. Forget outlining your life plan in six-month, one-year, and five-year spans. We’re living in a cultural shift as we reframe our perspectives around the purpose of work, what work/life balance really means, and how we want to spend our time on this planet. Jenna Kutcher shares her philosophy on how to live a life that exists outside the tired cliché of “having it all. In Part One: Who You Are, Jenna uses stories from her childhood, some career false starts, her marriage and path to motherhood, and more to show how to crystallize your sense of your own identity. In Part Two: Who You Have, and Who Has You, Jenna shows the benefits of a support system, and how to build your own authentic community. In Part Three: What You’re Going to Do About It, Jenna guides you through illustrations from her career on how to turn your deepest dream into a life that brings success, joy, and—most importantly-the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

JAMES PATTERSON BY JAMES PATTERSON

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Authenticity Project comes an escapist read that will transport you, cheer you, and make you smile. Every day Iona, a larger-than-life magazine advice columnist, travels the ten stops from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station by train, accompanied by her dog, Lulu. Every day she sees the same people, whom she knows only by nickname: Impossibly-Pretty-Bookworm and Terribly-LonelyTeenager. Of course, they never speak. Seasoned commuters never do. Then one morning, the man she calls Smart-But-Sexist-Manspreader chokes on a grape right in front of her. He’d have died were it not for the timely intervention of Sanjay, a nurse, who gives him the Heimlich maneuver. This single event starts a chain reaction, and an eclectic group of people with almost nothing in common except their commute discover that a chance encounter can blossom into much more.

HOTEL NANTUCKET

by James Patterson, Memoir

by Elin Hilderbrand, Fiction

Fresh off a bad breakup with a longtime boyfriend, Nantucket sweetheart Lizbet Keaton is desperately seeking a second act. When she’s named the new general manager of the Hotel Nantucket, a once Gilded Age gem turned abandoned eyesore, she hopes that her local expertise and charismatic staff can win the favor of their new London billionaire owner, Xavier Darling, as well as that of Shelly Carpenter, the wildly popular Instagram tastemaker who can help put them back on the map. And while the Hotel Nantucket appears to be a blissful paradise, complete with a celebrity chef-run restaurant and an idyllic wellness center, there’s a lot of drama behind closed doors. The staff (and guests) have complicated pasts, and the hotel can’t seem to overcome the bad reputation it earned in 1922 when a tragic fire killed nineteenyear-old chambermaid Grace Hadley.

Bestselling author James Patterson is among the most-anticipated June 2022 book releases, not for one of his thrillers but for a new memoir detailing his life. Patterson describes how a kid whose dad grew up in a poorhouse became one of the most famous modern storytellers. On the morning he was born, he nearly died. Growing up, he didn’t love to read. That changed. He worked at a mental hospital in Massachusetts, where he met the singer James Taylor and the poet Robert Lowell. While he toiled in advertising hell, James wrote the ad jingle line “I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us Kid.” He once watched James Baldwin and Norman Mailer square off to trade punches at a party. He’s only been in love twice. Both times are amazing. Dolly Parton once sang “Happy Birthday” to James over the phone. She calls him J.J., for Jimmy James. How did a boy from small-town New York become the world’s most successful writer?

HOW TO RAISE AN ANTIRACIST

THE HOUSE ACROSS THE LAKE

by Ibram X. Kendi, Non Fiction

by Riley Sager, Thriller

The tragedies and reckonings around racism that are rocking the country have created a specific crisis for parents, educators, and other caregivers: How do we talk to our children about racism? How do we teach children to be antiracist? How are kids at different ages experiencing race? How are racist structures impacting children? How can we inspire our children to avoid our mistakes, to be better, to make the world better? These are the questions Ibram X. Kendi found himself avoiding as he anticipated the birth of his first child. Like most parents or parents-to-be, he felt the reflex to not talk to his child about racism, which he feared would stain her innocence and steal away her joy. But research and experience changed his mind, and he realized that raising his child to be antiracist would actually protect his child, and preserve her innocence and joy. He realized that building antiracist societies safeguards all children from the harms of racism. 142

Source: Goodreads.com

Casey Fletcher, a recently widowed actress trying to escape a streak of bad press, has retreated to the peace and quiet of her family’s lake house in Vermont. Armed with a pair of binoculars and several bottles of bourbon, she passes the time watching Tom and Katherine Royce, the glamorous couple living in the house across the lake. They make for good viewing—a tech innovator, Tom is powerful; and a former model, Katherine is gorgeous. One day on the lake, Casey saves Katherine from drowning, and the two strike up a budding friendship. But the more they get to know each other—and the longer Casey watches—it becomes clear that Katherine and Tom’s marriage isn’t as perfect as it appears. When Katherine suddenly vanishes, Casey immediately suspects Tom of foul play. What she doesn’t realize is that there’s more to the story than meets the eye—and that shocking secrets can lurk beneath the most placid of surfaces.

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bazaar techno

CLICBOT

Encourage creative exploration and logical thinking with the ClicBot kids’ coding robot. It enables little ones to build and personalize a pet they can nuzzle up with. In fact, it even interacts like a puppy when it sees its owner. Moreover, this kids’ coding robot comes with simple pieces that easily click together, making it suitable for smaller hands. The ClicBot also sports a modular design with a brain, joint, wheel, skeleton, foot, holder, sensor, suction cup, and grasper. So it’s easily customizable to offer more possibilities. Additionally, this robot includes hundreds of built-in emotions to teach the importance of interaction.

NIGHTCORE PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONER

Make summer more comfortable with the Nitecore Portable Air Conditioner. Whether you’re camping or playing sports outdoors, this gadget provides up to 2,550 BTU of impressive cooling power. In fact, this whopping horsepower ensures it can reduce your tent’s temperature to 18ºC in only 10 minutes—this is also thanks to its dual hose system. Moreover, the Nitecore AC has a super compact, portable size to go with you anywhere. Furthermore, it requires low power consumption while also offering circuit protection and high cooling efficiency. With an all-in-one design, this installation-free gadget has a convenient grip and makes only 50 dB of noise for overall quiet operation.

LITTLEBIRD TODDLER CARETRACKER

Do you worry about your little one when they’re with a carer? The Littlebird Toddler CareTracker kids’ tracker has a host of features that provide you, a parent, with peace of mind and helps to improve your child’s well-being. In particular, you can monitor your caregiver’s location from anywhere. And you’ll receive notifications if your toddler gets out of Bluetooth range to view their live location. In fact, it provides 24/7 cellular connectivity and GPS tracking. Moreover, this kids’ tracker, which is suitable for ages 1–5, allows caregivers to keep you updated with photos, mood updates, location, and there’s even a chat.

SANDISK PROFESSIONAL G-DRIVE

Shield your photos, footage, and files from accidental drops and damage with the SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE ArmorATD hard drive. Boasting an aluminum frame, internal shock mounts, and an easy-grip rubber bumper, it’s exceptionally durable. In fact, it’s rain-, dust-, and crush-resistant up to 1,000 lbs, enabling you to take it with you on all your adventures. Moreover, this hard drive offers USB-C connectivity and provides a plug-and-play storage option with support for Thunderbolt 3. It also includes a USB-C to USB-A adapter for USB 3.0 compatibility. Furthermore, this SanDisk hard drive comes in various storage options: 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, and 5 TB. So you can find a size to suit your work needs. It also offers transfer rates up to 140 MB/s in a portable form.

Source: bestproducts.com 144

8BITDO ULTIMATE WIRED CONTROLLER

Enjoy extended gameplay in comfort with the 8BitDo Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox. Compatible with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Windows 10 and above, it includes customized button mapping and vibration control. You can also adjust the stick and trigger sensitivity. In fact, you can customize each stick for higher precision control. Moreover, this 8BitDo Xbox wired controller boasts an enhanced grip to eliminate falls while you game. This controller also includes 4 sets of vibration motors to provide live feedback during gameplay. Meanwhile, the back buttons provide easy access to enhance comfort.

SNAP PIXY

Tired of stretching to take a group photo? Or maybe you want to feel free in the moment while knowing that you have pictures to look back on. The Snap Pixy flying camera can float to take photos for you and open up a new world to photography. This pocket-size camera can even orbit and follow wherever you lead without a controller. Pixy then finds its home in your hand and lands gently at the end of the flight. Moreover, this flying camera transfers videos from flights wirelessly and saves them to Snapchat Memories. You can then use Snapchat’s editing tools to customize what you capture. Finally, with just a few taps, you can crop into portrait, add effects and easily share the results to Chat, Stories, Spotlight, and more.

bazaar around town AUK ART & GRAPHIC DESIGN DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES 15TH ANNUAL CAPSTONE EXHIBITION The Art & Graphic Design Department at the American University of Kuwait (AUK) launched its 15th annual Graphic Design Capstone Exhibition which took place at the Promenade Cultural Centre. The exhibition offered senior students an opportunity to display their creative work, which covered a range of themes, including social and cultural awareness, corporate identity, and entrepreneurship. The exhibition ran for one week and participating students were evaluated by industry experts based on their creativity and presentation, their ability to conduct and use graphic design research strategy effectively, and their ability to plan and implement a compelling graphic design display. The chair of the Art & Graphic Design Department, Professor William Anderson, talked about the exhibition and what it represents, “After a two-year hiatus on in-person exhibitions, AUK’s Art & Graphic Design Department is proud to present the Graphic Design Capstone Exhibition 2022. The exhibition showcases the final large-scale projects of graduating graphic design majors. Their capstone projects bring together all of the knowledge and skills they have acquired at AUK and shines a light on their talent and creativity.” Held on an annual basis, the Graphic Design Capstone Exhibition brings together visitors from the field of graphic design, including experts from graphic design studios, publishing houses, film and video production companies, advertising, and multimedia firms. AUK’s Graphic Design Capstone Exhibition presents an opportunity for senior students to fully incorporate their design strengths and learning into a focused and extended process of research and visual expression. Saba Al-Enezi, a digital artist who was one of AUK’s participating exhibitors discussed how the University aided her in reaching her full potential, “The art department is the best. They helped me through my projects and made me feel confident and secure. AUK is such a safe community that allows you to express yourself and your art.” For more information on the American University of Kuwait please visit auk.edu.kw and follow their latest on Instagram and social media @AUK_Official. TALENTED CHEFS FROM ALSHAYA RESTAURANTS WIN BIG AT HORECA 2022 Talented chefs from Alshaya restaurants played a prominent role as they demonstrated their culinary expertise at this year’s Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Awards (HORECA) - Kuwait’s leading food and beverage competition. 14 awards were won by a team of 24 chefs who joined hundreds of fellow hospitality professionals in showcasing their talents in a range of live competitions covering the hospitality, catering, and food industry sectors. Alshaya chefs from Asha’s, Amiti Noura and Alshaya’s culinary team competed and won three gold, four silver, and six bronze as well as the best hygiene in various categories including Asian cuisine, Kuwaiti traditional dish, pasta, mystery basket, and burger making competitions. The chefs cooked up award-winning dishes that have not just won the hearts of customers, but also the hearts of judges at HORECA. “Congratulations to all our chefs who have performed so well this year. In iconic competitions such as Horeca, we seek to ensure displaying the best form of talent and hard work in what we do. We believe in our chefs’ culinary skills, and we are very proud of this outstanding achievement, these awards only prove we have been doing it right.” said Frank Bordini, Head of Culinary at Alshaya Group. Learn more about Alshaya Group at www.alshaya.com. JUSTIN BIEBER WILL PERFORM IN DUBAI AS PART OF HIS JUSTICE WORLD TOUR Thomas Ovesen, owner of TOP Entertainment said, ‘together with our partners All Things Live and AEG Presents we are thrilled that Justin has managed to find time in his jam-packed tour schedule to add a second night to his Dubai stop. What we have seen in the last few days has been absolutely fantastic– the demand for this show has far exceeded any and all expectations. What excites me the most is that the appetite for live entertainment is back – and what a way to welcome it back. Do not delay in purchasing your tickets.’ October 9th tickets will be available for purchase from 2pm today to all fans that registered for the Visa pre-sale. Those fans will have exclusive access to purchase tickets for both shows up until 10am tomorrow. General on-sale will commence at 10am on May 27th across any ticket categories still available for both shows after the pre-sale. These new shows come on the heels of his 52-date 2022 North American tour, which kicked off in San Diego on February 18. Each evening promises to be a celebration for both Justin and his fans after the pandemic sidelined his 2020 tour. For more information, please visit www.justinbiebermusic.com. 146

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CAPRICORN DEC 22 – JAN 19 Keep a sharp eye on your money or else you may find it’s slipping through your fingers rather too easily. Frittering away your hard-earned cash on fun frivolous things is ver y tempting now which is fine if you can afford it. However, you may find that retail therapy isn’t all it cracks up to be and find you’re feeling the pinch sooner than expected.

GEMINI MAY 21 – JUN 21

Your naturally inquisitive mind is searching for greater stimulation this month and it may be time to consider taking up some kind of serious study. It doesn’t have to be a conventional subject; just as long as you feel challenged you should get a lot from it.

CANCER JUN 22 – JUL 22 You may be experiencing some tension with the people you work alongside late and it might have even spilled out into open arguments, whether you were directly involved or not. Don’t let work pressures get you down and tr y not to take out any frustrations on a loved one at home.

LEO JUL 23 – AUG 22 Love is tinged with romance this month as you find yourself drawn irresistibly to people who give off an air of myster y. This is great if you’re in a relationship because it’ll add a lovely touch of glamour to all your interactions, showing off that sparkle that initially brought you together.

VIRGO AUG 23 – SEP 22 Creative and unusual ideas will provide the best solutions to dealing with all those little tasks that need doing. Embrace the latest technology because you could find you have a knack for it and new skills will make your work life easier and there could be financial dividends as a result.

LIBRA SEP 23 – OCT 22 Lady Luck is with you now and you’re positively bursting with energy and what better way of using it up than embarking on a new romance. Keep it light and fun and you’ll find yourself enrapt by the object of your affection. Opportunities are out there now waiting for you; all you have to do is make the most of them.

AQUARIUS JAN 20 – FEB 18 You’re in your element this month; with your innate quirkiness bubbling to the sur face you can’t wait to make your presence felt both at work and at play. There’s an aura of unusual glamour about you that will be quite irresistible to a lot of people. You will also feel more in tune with the humanitarian side of your personality and you may find yourself helping out a neighbor, friend, or the world with a spontaneous act of kindness.

PISCES FEB 19 – MAR 19 Your genuine selfless nature is in full force this month and you could find that you’re called on to act in a caring and compassionate way. This could see you being of ser vice to someone close to you or you may feel compelled to get more actively involved in an organization that works for the benefit of others.

ARIES MAR 20 – APR 19 You’ll find it easy to get along with people this month, when you’ll be feeling congenial and generous to friends as well as close partners. In fact, this month could see you taking a partnership to the next level of commitment. Whatever your relationship status this whole year promises luck where others are involved.

TAURUS APR 20 – MAY 20 This month will see you taking stock of what you most want to achieve regarding your main aims and career goals. Expressing yourself creatively at work will give you an enormous sense of well-being and following your gut feelings will be a better guide now than just logical thought. Working alongside colleagues will be rewarding because your bright ideas are proving popular, but watch out for a tendency to automatically take charge though.

SCORPIO OCT 23 – NOV 22 You’re keen to develop a sense of security this month and the best ways of doing this are either visiting family or spending quality time relaxing in your own home. You’ll have an eye for attractive items of décor during this month and you may find yourself splashing out on luxur y items that may not have any practical use at all.

SAGITTARIUS NOV 23 - DEC 21 You may be experiencing quite a stressful period at the moment, that’s seeing you get quite angr y and frustrated. Power struggles with people will set tempers flaring. The best way to expel excess energy is a rigorous exercise regime, the results of which will be a much calmer and relaxed you.

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Source: wisehoroscope.org

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