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Editor’s Letter

REWIND & FAST FORWARD Every year, I have been dedicating December to taking out my junk. It’s a time to clean out my room, get rid of that pile of paper I’ve been keeping on my desk for no reason, clean out my closet and make a list of what I’m missing. This recycling applies to my daily life as well.

I go through lists of things I’ve done this year and find out what it is that I did best and how I can do things differently next year, especially now that 2012 is just days away.

A lot has been happening this past month. It’s as if everyone wants to take advantage of these few months left until count down. Fashion week (p33), loads of concerts (p22) and great events at universities and schools (p6) is what the UAE youth has been up to.

The Rugby Sevens is around the corner and we’ve taken it upon ourselves to give you everything you need to know about the games on p46.

Okay! You have long holidays, so I’m assuming you’re either travelling or have family guests coming to stay over. Either way, you have no choice but to deal with that crazy aunt you’ve got and that cousin of yours that talks with his mouth full. The question is: how will you get through the holidays? Check out our advice on p10.

Lastly, and most importantly, happy 40th UAE National Day! Celebrate, celebrate and then celebrate some more.

MARIA ROUSAN editor@one8one.net

My Say TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!

MEET OUR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Write to us at mysay@one8one.net and tell us what you think. All submissions must include your name and contact details.

Submissions may be edited for spelling or length and may be published in any medium. All submissions become property of one8one.

Anton Rodionov Dahlia Dandashi

Kinza Adil

The magazine has inspired me to become a part of the project in getting involved in the community. Working at one8one would be a great experience, for I hope to major in photojournalism in university. It would be an honour to be more involved with the youth community around me.

I recently found out about one8one and ...WOAH. I have been wishing something like this existed in Dubai for soooo long and was so excited when I stubled across this.

Luz Ocampo The whole concept of the magazine is great, everyone seems to be enjoying the magazine, you give out great opportunities for everyone to have their say, get involved and be heard. It’s all about having fun right?

Mahra Bader Al Mansouri I had the pleasure of meeting the representative of your magazine, one8one, at my school (Universal American School of Dubai) and upon learning that there was an “Unusual and Interesting Sports” section, my friend and I jumped to the chance to learn a sport we have been thoroughly eager to learn.

There is almost NO opportunity for teens/youth in this place and it is really demotivating. Your magazine has taken that one really important step and created the ultimate...place.

So yeah, amazing!

William Ayass Love your magazine.... Didn’t Maria come to ‘Al Yasmina School’? I was there and I “Sent you an e-mail!”

Birgitte Tindborg I just saw this magazine today...very interesting article about Tom Carr and Sharmila Dance.

The first thing one should know about me is that I love to communicate; whether it is through writing, designing or speaking, it is all good by me. We live in the age of global communication and I have happened to be incredibly lucky to be able to use all of the tools to stay in touch with our whole big world.

The second and the only other thing one should know about me is that I keep my hands in most of the pies: music, electronics, entertainment, fashion and apple pies as well. The latter is rather a favorite of mine.

And finally, the most attractive thing about life is unity and that’s how I see ‘one8one’.

It connects youth and helps everyone converse with one another.

Editor’s Letter 1 My Say 2 ‘s Up 4-5 S’ cool Stuff 6-8 Holidays Survival Guide 10-11 Wonders of the UAE 12-13 Gaming 14-15 Music Beats: RaRa Riot 16-17 Hitlist 19 Album Reviews 20 Bookshelf 21 Concerts 22-25 Fashion 26-31 Fashion in the City , Gifts for Guys and Gilrs 32-33 Music to Her Ears: Ghadeer Abeidoh 34-37 Gizmos & Gadgets 38 Movies 39 Fake It Till You Make It ; A Cover for Your Book 40 Vision Board 41 Meet the Artist: Zoe Philippe 42-43 Rugby 7’s 44-47 OMG! 48 Photography 50-51 Letters to a Coach 52-53 Nutrition 54 Astrology 56-57 Party Time 58 Brain Food 59 Jokes 60 How to Submit to one8one 61 For You to Know 62 Internship with ‘one8one’ 63

DECEMBER

Dubai International Film Festival, Madinat Jumeirah and Mall of the Emirates, Dubai (Dec 7–14)

Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai (Dec 11-17)

Christmas

Sharjah Water Festival, Al Majaz Park, Sharjah (Dec 14-23)

Dubai Rugby Sevens, The Sevens Stadium, Dubai (Dec 1-3)

UAE National Day

Creamfields, Yas Arena, Abu Dhabi (Dec 8-9)

UIM World Powerboat Championship, Dubai International Marine Club, (Dec 8-10) Chris Brown Live, Dubai Festival City

Dubai World Championship, Race to Dubai, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai (Dec 8–11)

The Wind in the Willows, performed

by DUCTAC at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai (Dec 15-17)

Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Zayed Sports City (Dec 29-31)

Sade live, Yas Arena, Abu Dhabi

Volvo Ocean Race, Abu Dhabi Corniche (Dec 30-Jan 14)

Downtown Dubai Classic Car Show, Emaar Boulevard, Downtown, Dubai (Dec 1-3)

Al Dhafra Camel Festival, Madinat Zayed, Western Region, Abu Dhabi (Dec 17-28)

Sundance NYE, Atlantis, Dubai Peppermint Experience ft. Armin Van Buuren, World Trade Centre, Dubai

Know of something going on in town? Want to share? Write to us about it to mysay@one8one.net.

8 6

S’S’cool coolstuff stuff BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER Over 100 students, faculty and staff members at the American University in Dubai last month took part in a blood donation campaign, which is held twice a year on campus. The blood drive was organised in association with the Blood Bank Department at Al Wasl Hospital, with donations going to children suffering from thalassemia.

“The AUD community is always eager to bring hope to Thalassemic Children across the UAE and their families, and to extend its support, in general, to causes with philanthropic dimensions,” said Nelly Halabi, AUD’s Health Centre director.

MICROSOFT EYES UAE EDUCATION Microsoft has announced an agreement with the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) that will set up a Microsoft Learning Centre, which will serve as a specialised resource centre for students and faculty members. The centre, based at the Abu Dhabi campus, will also be a laboratory for the testing and development of Windows Phone 7, Windows Azure and Microsoft Kinect.

“We are committed to providing a world-class educational experience for our students as they prepare to enter a competitive knowledge-based economy as graduates,” said Doctor Tayeb Kamali, vice chancellor of HCT.

KAPOOR LIGHTS UP WOLLONGONG The star of recent Bollywood hit Rockstar, Ranbir Kapoor, last month paid a visit to the University of Wollongong’s Dubai campus, along with co-star Nargis Fakhri and the film’s director, Imtiaz Ali. Excited students lined up for two hours before the stars turned up, all eager to catch a glimpse of the people behind one of the autumn’s most successful Bollywood films. Some students even dressed up as rock stars.

When Kapoor arrived, he was greeted by the university’s president, David Rome, and hoardes of screaming fans. The star then spent time talking to the crowds before shouting, “I love you,” and then joining the university band to sing a few lines from the film’s lead song, Sadda Haq.

RED BULL RACING CAN WORLD FINAL Team Belgium was crowned Red Bull Racing Can World Champions at the home of British motorsport, Silverstone. There were 16 teams from around the world competing in the hotly contested finals day, which tested skill, speed and design.

The teams were initially awarded points based on the designs of their cars, with Japan proving the early pace setters thanks to a stunning design, and being awarded maximum points for the categories of idea, design and assembly. Next, the drivers took their machines onto the track to prove their speed on the mini-Silverstone circuit.

The final saw Belgium and Mexico battle it out with the Belgium team eventually taking the top step on the podium.

LIFE AFTER UNIVERSITY A former student from Middlesex University in Dubai, Tania Shaikh, last month returned to her old place of study to speak about her new career as a junior editor of Elle magazine. The young writer met journalism students and advised them on how she came to the position she is in now. She spoke of the internships she undertook when still a student, and how she explored different fields of journalism.

Shaikh also encouraged the budding journalists to seize every opportunity that is put in front of them, and to take up challenges by writing in experimental styles to broaden their horizons. Overall, she proved an adept role model for the students looking to enter the publishing industry.

RARE Rare is Dubai’s newest chic lounge and nightspot located in the Media Rotana with its own private entrance and valet parking.

With a Baroque-inspired interior and a contemporary Renaissance feel, Rare offers an experience like no other in Dubai, with trendsetting music from Dubai’s top DJs and rhythmic live Jazz on Wednesdays.

Rare lives up to its name. The decor is rarely seen, the music (tasteful, wicked House) is rare to find in this city, and, most importantly, the atmosphere and the crowd are definitely rare. 21+ only.

8

S’S’cool coolstuff stuff ZIPZ SHOES Have you ever been irritated when you’d like the shoes but could not wear them more often because they wouldn’t always match your clothes? Well, fear not, ladies and gentlemen, because now there is something called Zipz Shoes. These things are magical; it’s a shoe which is made of two parts, the sole and the top cover, a match made in heaven. They look like regular sneakers and somewhat resemble Converse All Stars, but there is a trick. The sole is attached to the upper cover with a zipper, and the covers can be purchased on their own.

In other words, you can have one sole and a gazzilion different covers.

You can check out this coolness at www.nahel.com or www.zipzshoes.com.

NYU ABU DHABI HACKATHON FOR SOCIAL GOOD IN THE ARAB WORLD New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) hosted computer science students, academics, and technology experts from around the globe to participate in the first ever International Hackathon for the Social Good in the Arab World in Abu Dhabi.

During the three-day event, more than 50 students worked in teams to create mobile and web applications designed to tackle real-world social issues in the region. The first prize went to Hamza Al Kofahi and Ahmad Malkawi, students from the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), for their KineTherapy application.

The duo previewed a demo of a “physical therapy game” using Microsoft’s Kinect technology to monitor a patient’s actual movements against an animated guide directing the therapy program.

The NYUAD Hackathon was designed to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and entrepreneurship in computer science, while presenting students with the opportunity to interact with international technology experts, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Mentors included faculty members of the participating universities and professionals from organizations such as Yahoo!, Grameen Foundation, LinkedIn, Microsoft Corporation and the World Bank.

RED BULL QUICKET The Ajman Pindi Express team emerged as winners over the RAK Warriors in the Red Bull Quicket tournament held on Friday, October 14, at Mega Mall Sharjah. Red Bull’s Quicket is likely to emerge as one of the best ways to play street cricket. Popular among Asians, where street gully is played almost throughout the year, Red Bull’s Quicket has brought in a new desire and enthusiasm among cricketers.

“This form of street cricket is likely to become popular with the fans, who do not stand a chance to play big-time cricket,” said Khalil, one of the players. “Quicket will at least help them fulfill a part of their dreams.”

10

Holidays Survial Guide

by

DXB GURL

I remember that holidays used to be fun when I was seven. My cousins and I used to invent games like pretending to be puppies, crawling on all fours and talking in dog language. I don’t really know how that worked exactly, but nonetheless, I recall it to have been fun.

Now, 10 years later, holidays pass with a struggle and only seem to be fun three years after they happen. So this year, I’m making it more exciting. I’ve devised a few master tips for all holidaystrugglers (I hope I’m not the only one) on how to prepare for the most interesting time of the year.

CHARGE ALL YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES The most crucial of all steps.

Make sure whatever telecommunication device you are using is fully charged and ready for constant tweets, Facebook status updates, and BBM-ing or Whatsapp-ing.

Make sure the camera is fully charged for pictures. You need to take as many pictures as possible, pick out the funniest ones, post them online and tag everyone.

SPEECH PREPARATION

MENTAL PREPARATION I read somewhere that video games actually increase your multi-tasking abilities. So level- up, my friends. Make sure to get a good dose of video games in you before everyone arrives. You’ll need to be able to listen to your uncle and aunt talk at the same time.

#1

Speech practice helps you prepare for the smart compliments that you’ll be giving (see tip number four). Repeat “red leather, yellow leather” or “eleven benevolent elephants” five to six times consecutively, preferably three times a day.

#3 #2

SMART COMPLIMENT PRACTICE, AKA, EARNING BROWNIE POINTS FOR NEXT YEAR’S HOLIDAY GIFT. Older people love compliments, so go ahead and tell them how lovely they are. “You look lovely, Aunt May. I love this color on you; it brings out your eyes,” said with a big smile.

#4

#5 BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP TECHNIQUE This technique can be used throughout the year. Some family members just love to throw a few comments here and there that might get you a bit discouraged. Whenever you feel a comment coming towards you, sing Baa Baa Black Sheep in your head while they’re talking. You’ll actually have a smile on your face while they bombard you with criticisms and you won’t even have to listen to a word of it.

#6 #7 SET SOME GROUND RULES

ME TIME

Your room is your space, so it makes sense to put up your rules on the door. It’s a nice way of telling our cousins to buzz off. If your cousin is sharing your room with you and is staying for more than one day, make sure your rules are more specific to get the point across. For example, do not touch anything with or without my permission. Stick the message on the outside of your door and shut the door that they have to read it before they come in.

Buy that album or video game that you’ve been wanting ahead of time. If you get overwhelmed and need some time alone, you can mention that you have some homework that you’d like to get done.

Once in your room, put the music or video game on and enjoy some solitude. If someone catches you playing your video game, say that you’re doing research on your paper that is titled Video games and their effect on Neuropsychological pathways.

#8 PLAN ACTIVITIES There are tons of places you can take your cousins. At these, you don’t even have to talk to each other and you can still have a great time. Try out some kind of sport. Go skiing, ice skating or just go watch a movie. Board games are great, too; get the family together for some Pictionary and they will all love it. Just make sure to team up with someone that understands the way you think so that your team wins.

12

Wonders of the UAE by

SALIM LALLAS

Abu Dhabi

SHEIKH ZAYED GRAND MOSQUE This fantastic mosque really does inspire people to visit it. The first feeling I felt was amazement, before a true religious calm came upon me. They are not joking when they call it a national landmark.

The first thing you see are the pools that overlook the building, which adds to to how amazing the mosque really is. The huge landmark covers five football fields and this is impressive enough in itself.

But then you walk into the main hall to find a chandelier and a huge, knotted carpet, making for a breathtaking sight.

If that was not enough, looking at all of the small details in the design of the building and the artwork showed me why exactly it took them so long to build it. I would suggest that anyone who has the opportunity to visit this building should do so.

Tel: 800 555

The UAE has turned 40; here are the wonders that I’ve decided to share with you to mark this significant occasion.

AL- AIN SPRINGS

BURJ KHALIFA

I would have never thought that in the middle of the desert there would be a green and lush city and for it to be the birth place of Sheikh Zayid bin Sultan Al Nahayn. What made this sight more astonishing is that they still used old methods of irrigation (Falaj) and that they have managed to maintain the integrity of this beautiful oasis. The Hillside streams, waterfalls and hot springs are just too good to miss out on. www.visitabudhabi.ae

The tallest building in the world is a must-see. This building really did put Dubai on the map and, whereever I go, I am asked if I have ever visited the tallest tower in the world. I can never forget the New Year’s Eve when they had such a good fireworks show that, when it was over, people waited to see if there was anything else. It is such a great building that Tom Cruise will be seen jumping and climbing it in the new Mission Impossible movie. Whenever I go to dinner at the Dubai Mall, the water show is nice to watch while you are waiting for your food and overlooking the great Burj.

Tel: +9714 8888888 www.burjkhalifa.ae

Dubai

BIG RED Big Red is a huge sand dune that is just too much fun to not visit at least once a year. The last time I went, we all had bikes and cameras attached to our helmets. What a time we had. We spent around six hours riding up the big dune in a group of ten people, and one person even took his own car. At the end of the day, we all climbed to the top of the big dune and watched the sun set and it was well worth it.

Tel: +971 55 2680498 www.dubaidunebashing.com

Fujairah

Umm Al-Quwain DREAM LAND Dreamland is the world’s largest aqua park, offering many rides, slides and a lazy river for relaxation. This is a fantastic weekend away either with friends or family. Even if you want to spend the night and go again the next day, there are many places to go and I have always had a great time with my friends whenevenr I’ve gone.

Tel: +971 6 768 1888 www.dreamlanduae.com

SNOOPY ISLAND

THE CORNICHE

An island that looks exactly like the Snoopy cartoon character, this has lots of things to do and my favourite is Scuba diving. Even if your friends don’t Scuba dive, or you don’t, there is a huge amount of water sport activities to do from canoeing, snorkelling or even just relaxing on the beach all day with friends and family. Imagine yourself swimming alongside many marine animals including the black-tip and white-tip reef sharks that are friendly.

This is an experience of a lifetime for many. I always swim to the island and see if I can catch a glimpse of any weird creatures. A natural coral reef has developed over time and has become a habitat of much marine life to make it a perfect snorkelling spectacle. Many divers recommend this area, as it offers night and wreck dives with loads of marine animals to be seen.

Tel: + 971 9 244 5555

This is a perfect place for peace and relaxation, allowing all of the stress in the world to leave your mind while you listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the shoreline. While doing so, enjoy some food, drink and a good group of friends just to make a good night even better.

Ras Al- Khaimah

Sharjah THE ISLAMIC MUSEUM OF CIVILIZATION Opened in 1987, offering a wide choice of Islamic exhibitions and lessons about the worlds fastest-growing religion, this museum gives you the full-view of what it stands for. I did not know how much the Islamic world has taught us and how much Muslims actually achieved from medicine, astronomy, geography, natural science and architecture. This exhibition also holds beautiful and vibrant art work that goes back to before the seventh century AD, plus there’s a gift shop so that you can never forget about the fantastic experience. I would recommend a visit because it is just too good to miss out on.

Tel: + 971 6 5655455 www.islamicmuseum.ae

AWAFI FESTIVAL A three-week festival held in December or January. The festival has many things that you could do and interesting events to watch and enjoy. My favourite is to take high-performance 4x4 trips while my family goes around buying stuff. Traditional food and dancing is also available, and there is nothing better than trying out different styles of cooking from different places. While there, you might want to pass by the last hillside fort in the UAE. The fort is a great example of historical architecture

Ajman MOWHAIHAT This is a tomb that was uncovered in 1986 while authorities installed a new sewage system. This site proved that there were settlements on this land long before we could even imagine. And all the belongings from the tomb are in the Ajman Museum for public viewing.

14

Gaming

Battlefield 3 It may not have taken Call of Duty’s throne this year, but DICE’s next-gen Battlefield has delivered incredible shock and awe that has surely rattled the multiplayer shooter from its kingly position. With the introduction of the Frostbite 2 graphics engine, Battlefield 3 has pushed the boundaries of realistic visual effects with superior textural quality, incredible physics and life-like character animation. But gorgeous visuals are only a small part of the Battlefield experience. DICE has outdone itself with the game’s multiplayer campaign, featuring largescale, 64-player battles (24 on consoles), a co-op mode, and an entirely new way to track player performances with Battlelog.

Need for Speed: The Run While previous Need for Speed titles made you want to run from it, EA is making sure you are too busy drooling at the sports cars in Need for Speed: The Run. Powered by the Frostbite 2 engine, the latest NFS title takes players into the illicit business of high-stakes racing through urban roads, icy mountains, and across narrow canyons.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim The Empire of Tamriel is on the brink. The High King of Skyrim is murdered, and like good RPG stories, a long lost evil has woken again. The Dragons, lost in the passages of the Elder Scrolls, have returned to the good folks of Tamriel and are scaring everyone.

This is where you, the player, come in, wielding dual weapons and shooting fireballs out of thin air.

Much like Bethesda’s previous RPGs, Skyrim remains a soul-absorbing, addictive experience that will want to pick up a fight with your friends and family so that they don’t disturb you for the hundreds of hours you will pour into the game. If you are planning to dive into the world of Skyrim, make sure you have sorted your issues.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Despite having an aggressive competitor in Battlefield 3, Activision’s latest Call of Duty iteration had absolutely no trouble finding its way into player’s homes. Modern Warfare 3 sold 6.5 million units in its first day alone, earning more than the last four Harry Potter movies combined in the UK. It may not be entirely original or innovative, but gamers don’t seem to be minding it all that much.

Uncharted 3 After escaping a train wreck in the snowy mountains of Shambhala, Nathan Drake has gone ahead and crashed a plane in his latest adventure. This time, though, he has landed himself in the Arabian Desert and is in search for the fabled Atlantis of the Sands. And as the formula goes, Drake isn’t the only one pursuing the pleasures of the treasures. In pursuit are a clandestine organisation and its ruthless leader, who has made Drake’s routine treasure collecting a bid for survival—for him and for everyone around him.

Ra Ra Riot

Modern Day musicians are often seen with the same regular instruments guitar, piano, drums, bass - but rarely do we ever see musicians bring indie music to life with a cello. This is what Ra Ra Riot’s Alexandra Lawn has done.

As a member of the band which formed in Syracuse, USA, in late 2006, Lawn has become an entity within herself as well as a part of the band. Bringing an unlikely instrument into the genre is a bold move to help mesh the sounds and rhythm of the songs. Lawn gives an inside scoop as to what it’s like being a cellist in the band.

817

When and why did you start performing as a cellist?

I started when I was three years old.

They offered cello and violin lessons at a Montessori school, so they were all liberal with creative opportunities. I chose cello. After a few years, I started doing recitals and such, and I enjoyed it.

Do you have someone in particular that you link your inspiration to as both a cellist and a member of the band?

As far as cellists go, I really love Pierre Fournier and Mstislav Rostropovich. I’ve always been a fan of Itzhak Perlman’s playing as a violinist as well. And far as bands and rock and roll go, I love Fleetwood Mac, The Police, Etta James, Black Keys, and Kate Bush.

Is your family musical, did they support you and your talent -especially your career with Ra Ra Riot (RRR)?

My brother has an awesome voice, and they are all big fans of music, but other than that, no one else plays an instrument. They are super supportive and are really into the band. And they are excited about my career with RRR, too.

How do you feel about your career with RRR? It is great. I am getting to do things that I love to do. Plus I travel to a lot of fascinating and beautiful places. It’s very fulfilling and inspiring.

What’s your relationship with the rest of the band like? How does the writing process work out for everyone?

Our relationship is very much like a family. We’ve known each other for a while now and have gone through a lot together. We have a lot of fun together, and have had amazing experiences, so it runs deep. As far as writing goes, it is very collaborative, but each song usually originates from one person to a degree.

It can sometimes be a complete song or demo, or a smaller idea.

Could you mention a few of the songs that originated from you?

You and I Know and Megafauna.

What does it feel like to be one of two women in the band?

[Laughs] It’s good. I think it makes for a nice balance. Having boys in the band is awesome and fun, but it’s crucial to at least have another lady there.

Otherwise, you might lose your mind. We need girl time sometimes when on tour.

What are your fondest musical memories with the band?

I really love looking back on the days when we played house parties. Those were so punky and fun and wild.

What was your reaction to getting signed to a label?

It was pretty mellow. We took our time and waited for a comfortable group of people to work with to come along. It was a nice feeling.

How do you feel when you perform in public?

I find it very fun. We love performing together - it’s elating and just feels good. You get to be loud, too, which is awesome.

You play an instrument that not many people within the genre of music that your band is in play - how do you feel about that?

I don’t really think about it much, but I do try to use it well as a musical instrument. I am always striving to get better at it, and hopefully write good music with it.

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say to them?

Hmm… Paul Simon, and I would say “thank you”, because he is amazing and perfect.

What have you heard of Dubai and the UAE? I actually sat by a man on a plane ride the other day who had just come back from Dubai (his family lives there). I hear in some parts it’s like a huge Las Vegas, and other parts it’s very businessforward. Plus, the new building that was built (which is the largest in the world) has been a talked-about topic in the band. We are fascinated.

Do you think you and the band would ever be interested in playing in the UAE, or would you even just visit?

Yes! It would be awesome to get to be there and learn things and see the UAE. Where do you see yourself in five years in terms of your musical career? Do you think you’ll still be with RRR? Hopefully still having fun and creating music. Who knows, hopefully I still will be.

What would you say to budding cellists who wish to do something different with their music, such as you have with RRR? Do it. [Laughs] If you really want to, do it and work hard at it.

To find out more about RaRa Riot visit www.rarariot.com

by

dina hassan

Th e D u b a i M a ll • M a ll of t h e E m i r a t e s • D e i r a C i t y C e n t r e • M i r d i f C i t y C e n t r e • M e r c a t oM a ll • Bu r j u m a n • A b u D h a b i M a ll

MUSIC

19

1. WE FOUND LOVE Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris

WHERE THE MUSICIANS AT...

MUSICIAN’S WAREHOUSE www.musicianswarehousedubai.com

MELODY HOUSE- DUBAI www.melodyhouse.ae

THOMSUN MUSIC

www.thomsun.com/en/membercompanies/by-sector/musicalinstruments.html

SADEK MUSIC

www.sadek-music.com/contact.html

VIRGIN MEGASTORE

www.virginmegastore.me/Music. aspx?pageid=8

THE MUSIC CHAMBER www. music-chamber.net

2. S* AND I KNOW IT LMFAO

3. SOMEONE LIKE YOU

Hitlist

Adele

4. WITHOUT YOU

David Duetta ft. Usher

5. MOVES LIKE JAGGER Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera

6. STEREO HEARTS

Gym Class Heroes ft. Adam Levine

7. PUMPED UP KICKS Foster The People

8. GOOD FEELING Flo Rida

9. IT WILL RAIN Bruno Mars

10. IF THIS WAS A MOVIE Taylor Swift

GOOGLE THIS...

WWW.SPLODER.COM WWW.THESMOKINGGUN.COM WWW.COLLEGEHUMOR.COM

OUT ON DVD... by SALIM LAlLAS

THE LINCOLN LAWYER

SAW: THE FINAL CHAPTER

MICHAEL JACKSON: THE LIFE OF AN ICON

Cast: Matthew McConaughey

Cast: Tobin Bell, Betsy Russell

Documentary

The young lawyer, freelancing from his car, thinks he has got a catch, a wealthy young man who was arrested for the brutal assault of an escort.It seems like the case of a lifetime. The case is easy at first and moving in the correct direction when Mickey Haller (McConaughey) realises that his client is actually guilty of many other crimes that he got away with. When more and more bodies surface due to his curiosity, and his family is threatened, Haller has to put an end to the madness. The twists and turns never end and the movie keeps you intrigued until the very end.

The blood-thirsty franchise has come to a bloody end. The series that disgusted many but excited the majority has taken us through many bloody and brutal torture devices. This system of brutal murders initially started by one man‘The Jigsaw’ and then was passed on to his successors to pile up the number of bodies. The movie is more disturbing and guts-wrenching than any other of the franchise. Featuring eleven traps, more than in any of the previous saw movies, including cars and weird contraptions, the film will expose your mind to things you would never think could possibly exist.

The true story of the ‘King of Pop’ has finally been released to the public, revealing all about one of the world’s most famous icons. Famous for his record-braking albums, Taboo videos and his ‘out-of-this-world’ dance moves, the artist took the world by storm to be loved by generations to come. His life was not always glitz and glam as it was tainted by shocking stories and conspiracies.

The movie holds real interviews with the members of his family and many of his friends giving us the inside scoop on his private life.

20

Album S’ cool stuff Reviews

DRAKE

COLDPLAY

LUPE FIASCO

‘TAKE CARE’

‘MYLO XYLOTO’

‘FRIEND OF THE PEOPLE’

by DINA HASSAN

by SHAHMIR KHAN

by DINA HASSAN

Once again, the young Drake has taken the billboards by storm. His new album, Take Care, despite taking a different approach to the stories behind his lyrics, still manages to deafen listeners with its incredible musicality. Released on November 14, the album consists of numbers featuring the likes of Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, Chantal Kreviazuk, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Rihanna, among others. The first single of the album, Dreams Money Can Buy, was released on May 20, 2011, through his October’s Very Own website.

Rather than rapping about how amazing becoming famous has been for him, Drake takes a step back to analyse his life, and this is seen through most of the songs on the album. Some of his tracks hit the internet and became hits before the album dropped, offering the public songs such as Headlines and Take Care, featuring Rihanna. With a mix of pop, R&B and electronica, Drake brings music for the masses to life. This is an album that will not die out easilt - it’s going to be around for a while and will soon invade the radio stations, so get ready and listen up.

Last month, critically acclaimed rock band Coldplay’s new album, Mylo Xyloto, was released around the world. I had been aching to listen to the album, counting down the long days until its highly anticipated release. Being a Coldplay fan, my expectations were nothing short of high and I thought it would to be hard to top their phenomenal 2008 album, Viva la Vida. And yet again, Coldplay failed to disappoint, delivering to the world a mind-blowing work of art; music which was truly beautiful, and which, by the end of the album, left me craving more.

Songs like Every Teardrop is a Waterfall, Paradise, Charlie Brown and Hurts Like Heaven make you want to stand up and sing the words to the world. Their lyrics, rhythm, beat and melodies really did prove that, in the album, “every sound is a symphony”. From the tracks that were fast and energetic to the ones that were slower and soothing, Mylo Xyloto shows that Coldplay aren’t even near the top of their game, giving you something better each time. This band are here to stay and will continue to make their mark on the music industry; the album has already been at the number one spot on the iTunes charts for three weeks running, and deserves to stay there for weeks to come.

It is truly a collection of fantastic music.

If you haven’t heard it already, give it a listen!

As promised, on American Thanksgiving, Lupe Fiasco released his newest mixtape of songs, and there is only one word to describe it - epic. Known for his outstanding opinions on politics and social issues seen through the lyrics of his music, the hip-hop artist uses this mixtape as another outlet for his beliefs, which many youths today agree with.

This new album contains additional artists such as Dosage, Lil Ronnie and an extremely upbeat Ellie Goulding collaboration with Bassnectar. With song titles that have deep symbolism about the world today, the lyrics of each song expand on each title. For example, Double Burger With Cheese is not about eating a burger, but rather about modern day consumerism. Including sound bites of political events and news clippings, just like any of his other work, his music surprises, bringing in different kinds of beats from dubstep to light hip-hop beats.

This album is definitely one to keep on replay on the iPod. But watch yourself, you might inadvertently start busting a move without noticing while listening to this mixtape. A beautiful mix of politics and music.

21

Bookshelf A GAME OF THRONES

by George R.R. Martin Many know this title from the new HBO series that follows three, simultaneous, interlinked stories. However, many are not aware that this epic series originated as an epic novel from a full series named A Song of Ice and Fire. Just like any other novel projected onto the widescreen, the novel is better. The locations of the events taking place within the plot each have their own story, in The Seven Kingdoms, on The Wall, and in The East.However, the story mainly revolves around the Stark family, headed by the father, Lord Eddard Stark from Winterfell, and involves the family’s interactions with the other larger family names in each of the three locations. An entrancing story, set in a make-believe realm, with characters that the reader will both love and hate, this is a story (and a series) that is a must-read for fantasy fans. It is a fantastic story; why else would they have turned it into a series?

THE LITIGATORS

by John Grisham The king of thrillers, John Grisham, has produced yet another story bound to entice a large body of readers. The plot is centred around the characters Oscar Finely and Wall Figg, the two and only partners and lawyers at Finely & Figg, a law firm that deals with more minute cases such as DUIs (Driving Under the Influence) and divorces. Through a decision to expand the firm, they invite in David Zinc, a young attorney who was kicked out of his former firm. And with him along for the ride, the two decide to tackle a larger case against Varrick Labs - a case that would make them rich fast without much work. If you enjoy thrillers, this is a great novel to sit down and be absorbed in for a good few hours. With several surprises within the plot, this story is sure to keep your eyes glued to the pages.

THE BEST OF ME

by Nicholas Sparks You would think that Nicholas Sparks would be inflicted with carpal tunnel, judging by the number of novels that seem to be flying right from his head and down through his hands onto the keyboard. His seventeenth novel, The Best of Me is another exciting romantic accomplishment by the author that is sure to pull at the heart strings. The novel is about two former high school sweethearts who return to their home town for the funeral of their mentor from back in the day. The two are forced to recognise and consider how being each other’s first loves affected them, and how the lives they lead were not the ones they expected to. A masterpiece of emotion in writing, Sparks’ novel is a story that no one should miss out on reading.

Read a book lately?

Want to share it with us?

Tell us about at mysay@one8one.net

22

Concerts

Nothing else matters…

Metallica by

Sameer Abeidoh

I can’t think of any way to begin to describe the awesomeness that was implemented on that specific Tuesday night. For the first time ever, Metallica hit hard and rocked the whole Middle Eastern region with some of their finest originals at Abu Dhabi’s own Yas Island. The actual event started with Nervecell, a local band that started out in Dubai in early 2000. Even though they began local, they had accomplished so much and rose to perform and travel all around the world to do intercontinental tours. And they did a pretty awesome job at warming us up with a few death metal songs.

Nervecell then stepped off the stage, so you can imagine how the massive feelings of anticipation grew among the crowd, as the ecstatic moment they’d been waiting for neared. Minutes passed, and the crowd’s roars and screams emerged as the vivid musical piece of Ecstasy of Gold played out while

the huge projected screens showed off a scene from Chuck Norris movie The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Seconds later, a crazy Lars Ulrich (drummer) appears to initiate this forever memorable night.

The soundscape was absolutely breathtaking; the bass drum alone gave your chest convulsions, and the distorted sounds of the electric guitars kept you staring in awe just wondering and imagining what was going on in the brilliant minds of the sound engineering folk behind the stage. The atmosphere was overwhelming; you could easily feel and sense that all the people that were there were unified with mutual feelings and glee as they jumped and moshed.

During the performance, we witnessed a beautiful guitar solo by Kirk Hammett.

And Metallica also decided to sing a cover of Am I Evil? in a tribute to Diamond Head.

Aside from the occasional and unnoticeable unsynchronised notes, it must come to everyone’s consideration that this was a live performance, and at this level, I think it was nearly perfect.

It’s the chance of a lifetime for most people, watching a legend like Sir Paul McCartney perform. And for thousands of people in this part of the world, including a Beatlemaniac such as me, November 13 was a dream come true.

Covering the biggest hits spanning a five-decade career is no small feat for a performer. And with all due respect, McCartney, all of 69 years young, may not perform for much longer. So when a Beatle comes to town, you go pay your respects.

The crowd went wild as he took the stage with Hello Goodbye, and he returned the love with lots of shukrans, sending the giddy audience into fits of giggles with his hilarious attempts at speaking Arabic.

The adoring crowd fed off his energy and the rousing crowd pleaser, Give Peace a Chance, turned Yas Arena into a sea of peace signs waving in the air. While the set was peppered with solo numbers, such as Lullaby and Maybe I’m Amazed, which many in the audience were not clued in to, it was his touching, heartfelt tributes to late Beatles members George Harrison and John Lennon with their own personal touches - a ukulele for the former and an unintentionally funny tribute in Arabic for the latter - that truly moved the crowd as giant screens flashed never-before-seen pictures of the original quartet.

Concerts these days are all about big set designs, multiple costume changes and even bigger personalities, so there is something to be said about one man, his guitars and a grand piano, backed by a pitch-perfect band putting on a 2.5hour show to remember. There is also a lesson to be learned by younger artists barely half his age.

Of course, not to be outdone by the shock and awe special effects of younger artists, the Wings super hit Live and Let Die provided the perfect song to set the stage on fire with stunning pyrotechnics as fireworks shot into the sky. By the time he got around to Beatles anthems such as Hey Jude, Yesterday and Eleanor Rigby, I was a blubbering, tone-deaf mess.

The magnitude of how relevant the Beatles’ music was during the tumultuous period when it was created may relate to an entirely different generation. But the mix of young and old at the concert was a testament to the timeless magic of the Beatles and Paul McCartney’s star power.

As the performance closed with the powerful Helter Skelter, I realised how incredibly lucky I had been to watch a real, live Beatle perform. It was a special, unforgettable night and it’s moments like these that make you realise that dreams do come true.

Maybe I’m Amazed . . .

Sir Paul McCartney by

PARINAAZ NAVDAR

24

Concerts

Up close and personal . . .

Janet Jackson

Thousands of pop fans flocked to the Yas Arena on a Thursday night to see the legendary Janet Jackson perform her many number one smash hits.

The pop icon kicked off another outstanding season of Yas Island Show Weekends, bringing what has been hailed worldwide as her largest ever tour, Number Ones: Up Close and Personal, to the UAE. Fans were taken on a trip down memory lane as the iconic megastar serenaded her supporters with her most popular number one hits, including Control, What Have You Done For Me Lately?, Nasty, Miss You Much, Escapade, Again and Love Will Never Do Without You. But it was the song that Jackson dedicated to Abu Dhabi, That’s The Way Love Goes, that had the crowd roaring.

“I’m gonna’ take you to places you’ve never been before,” she sang, leaving fans in awe of one of contemporary music’s true icons.

by

When I found out Britney Spears would be coming to Abu Dhabi, I literally fell off a chair. I counted down the days to the moment when I’d finally be able to see someone whose music is so inspiring as well as moving, and I don’t mean physically only.

On arrival to the venue, I was not surprised to see a queue forming ever so quickly. People ran to the stage the moment the gates opened; the energy was fascinating. There were people of all ages, even those whom were too young to know her music well.

Miss Spears opened the show with her most recognized hit of 2011, Hold it Against Me. I was gone. The stage was the biggest I’d ever seen, with a glittering set that channeled the Femme Fatale theme of a fierce woman conquering the world. The crowd was on fire, while the princess of pop looked radiant, unbelieveably beautiful and moved exactly to the beat.

The show was incredibly intense; she barely had any breaks going through songs one after another. In the opening of Big Fat Bass, Brit appeared from the

speaker, sending the crowd into a total mess. During Lace and Leather, one lucky fan was taken up on the stage, so she could give him a special up-close performance. And for I Wanna Go, Britney simply got a crowd of fans up there, so they could all dance and forget about everything else.

One song she’d be wearing white, and the next, she’d be in gold. The set-up was so incredibly extensive and beautiful that my camera’s brains were blown out. Britney finished the show with her biggest hit from the Femme Fatale album, ‘Til the World Ends, which had her flying in the air with massive angellike wings, shimmering and dancing.

And if that’s not enough, the last couple of minutes of the song had the whole stage rain gold-like sparkles all over the crowd.

I have never seen such energy, such happiness amongst 30,000 people, all dancing and just having the time of their lives. Simply put, she set a new standard for the concerts in the UAE. I’d definitely want her to ‘gimme more.

To check out the concert photos, scan the QR Code.

ANTON RODIONOV

Gimme more . . .

Britney Spears by

ANTON RODIONOV

Siobhan Fraile wears Dress/ Patrizia Pepe Shoes/ Model’s Own Accessories / Forever21

Heinrich Taute wears Hat/ Forever21 Vest/ Forever21 T-shirt/ Forever21 Jeans/ Pull and Bear Shoes/ whateverittakes.org Rubber Bands/ whateverittakes.org

Heinrich Taute wears Hat/ Forever21 Vest/ Forever21 T-shirt/ Forever21 Shoes/ whateverittakes.org Jeans/ Pull and Bear Yiona Hottentot wears Scarf/ Forever21 Top/ New Look Pants/ Patrizia Pepe Shoes/ Forever21

Zachory Beadsley wears T-shirt/ Pull and Bear Jeans/ Pull and Bear Belt/ Pull and Bear Rubber Bands/ whateverittakes.org Shoes/ New Look Siobhan Fraile wears Jacket/ Bershka Top/ Forever21 Pants/ New Look Shoes/ Zara Accessories / Bershka Dina Hassan wears Jacket/ Bershka Dress/ Patrizia Pepe Shoes/ Model’s Own

Dina Hassan wears Jacket/ Bershka Top/ Bershka Jeans/ Patrizia Pepe Shoes/ Bershka Accessories/ Forever21

Want to be a model?

We are looking for all shapes and sizes. If you know how to smile and want to try modeling, email us your photo and why you’d want to be a model to mysay@one8one.net If you know a bit about fashion, write to us or help out our stylists and a photographer during the fashion shoots. It’s loads of fun!

Yiona Hottentot wears Hat/ Forever21 Top/ Forever21 Pants/ Patrizia Pepe Shoes/ Forever21 Rubber Bands/ whateverittakes.org

Gifts for Girls

32

Fashion in the City

BLING SLIDING CARD CASE “Bling” away with these fashionable card cases.

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Saks Fifth Avenue Show

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Dolce & Gabbana, glitter, lights and colours. Models, photographers and fashionistas. The fashion scene is complete - at least it definitely was at the Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show.

Held in Atlantis (with an afterparty at Ndulge), it was a small show yet really great with an amazing atmosphere - we even got free chocolate from It’s Sugar.

Luckily, we were given really good seats and I even sat next to a lady I worked with when I had a summer internship at renowned fashion magazine Elle.

wear your colours, glitter and give your outfits some edgy glamour. The winter, therefore, seems to bring us a glittery, colourful Christmas wardrobe to shine in with fabulous dark, shimmering greens, golden and silver, bright orange, yellow and pink fluffy skirts and lots of statement accessories.

A particular theme underscored the evening, with vibrant colours, metallic shines and an eclectic fusion of European chic and American jazz-age glamour dominated the affair, and a diverse collection by Saks encompassing the pioneers of high fashion.

We had first-class seats from which we could see everything perfectly, were right in the middle of the action, and were also invited to the after party at Ndulge. Dance music, an Alice in Wonderland feel and sushi - an unimaginable, strange fusion. It was fantastic and very enjoyable.

Hats, coats, high heels and boots - musthaves this season, along with aboveknee-length socks and lots of stylish accessories. The summer’s statement big-bright colours have remained, so

The show itself was very good. Energy and talent were present in every aspect of the show and so the models showed great vitality and beauty.

TOP 10 OF EVERYTHING 2012 This bestselling ‘Top 10 Annual’ is back, with over 700 updated lists and brand-new feature spreads revealing exactly who or what is the best, worst, richest, deadliest, or simply biggest of almost everything!

THE MUSIC OF MAHMOUD KAABOUR ‘AL-RASHEEDI’ Amarshi and Kaabour’s music braid together in this album into a trans-generational work that commemorates a family’s love and Beirut’s old music.

Available at Virgin Megastores.

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BOWERS & WILKINS ZEPPELIN AIR WIRELESS AIRPLAY SPEAKER DOCK ‘The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air iPod’ dock fills your room with more than just sound.

LONDON BOULEVARD ‘London Boulevard’ is a pitch-black thriller with ruthless underworld bosses.

Available at Virgin Megastores.

Dubai Fashion Week

Fashion week has always been something of an interest for me and so I begged ‘one8one’ editor to help me attend this year’s Dubai Fashion Week. The high expectations were met. Interestingly, the runway was a lit square on the ground rather than long, rectangular platform - this proved of use, though, at the Mumbai Sé show.

It was a great event especially the models of the Mumbai Sé show - which was my personal favourite.

The collections, again, were very feminine, colourful and glittery, inspired by (in the case of Cartas) more traditional, rustic and even ancient Greek or Roman tones and designs.

Other shows displayed a lot of colour again, with tons of shimmer and shine, creating an overall vibrant and energetic look.

The designs in most cases were very interesting and varied a lot, showing that our fashion geniuses seem to want to explore new grounds and new boundaries. Rather than only showing clothes one wears normally, some shows brought us art, like Cartas’ did. The designs were amazing, offering a fusion between the modern and the traditional.

The overall atmosphere was fantastic.

The bloggers, fashion icons and photographers all gathered to see what the spring would bring us. The background was a huge LED screen, showing varying images from show to show.

After the Mumbai Sé show, Peroni invited us to an after party at the Media One Hotel, which was great fun.

With good music, a great view and a wonderful atmosphere, it seemed like the best way to end the day.

Ghadeer Abeidoh

“I think of everything in terms of music, even silence is another kind of music.

Music can contain everyone, and I have no choice but to contain it.�

35

coming years, but for now, here is an inside look into where she has been and where she is going.

When you graduated from high school, what was your goal? And how did you envision yourself achieving it?

To be very honest, I was just as confused as any other teenager who graduates from school and feels the burden of making a choice that will last a lifetime.

It’s not like I had this superior certainty of what I wanted; I didn’t know what I wanted, mainly because I wanted to be so many things, and I get so easily excited when I’m learning something new.

The pursuit of one’s dreams has become an incredible challenge in this day and age, with the rising levels of competition, standards and obstacles.

However, those who do manage to surpass the norm are recognised as the brightest and the best, which is exactly what Ghadeer Abeidoh is in the modern music world.

Involved in many activities, such as teaching piano, helping at Al Rashid Al Saleh School in Dubai and being a movie score composer for twofour54 Abu Dhabi, Abeidoh also devotes a lot of time to her passion - playing the piano.

She has now been accepted into Berklee College of Music, one of the most prestigious music schools in the world, and plans on making her mark in the future of the music industry. Abeidoh’s name is one to be recognised in the

This is where the sabbatical year came in handy, it was not optional that I stay and work after graduating because our financial situation didn’t allow me to go to university, but I really didn’t mind it.

After graduating, I took the entire year to work and perform. I’d been working in the field of music ever since I was 14, so it was not new to me to be teaching and accompanying students on a full time basis. Other than gaining experience in the music business, the year off from school helped me really think about what I wanted. I took the time to contemplate, to read and to decide what I want to do, which field I would excel in, how I could be of use to my community and be the best I can be.

It was obvious from then on that I was meant to be a musician. I love music, I also feel useful in the field of music; I feel that I’m productive and I can give.

So my goal is to do something I love, do something I’m good at, and to be an active part of the community.

“I love music, I also feel useful in the field of music, I feel that I’m productive and I can give.”

36

“My parents of course never interfered, my mom always said, “Do whatever makes you happy” and my dad provided me with the guidance and the strength to chase my dreams..”

And the only way to achieve your goal is to believe you can, and to act upon your aspirations.

By what means did you achieve your goal of getting into Berklee College of Music? Was what you went through to get to this point what you expected it to be?

I have no idea how I got into Berklee; all I remember is that I did everything else everybody else did. I sent my application, I went to Kuala Lumpur to audition, and then it was all a haze until I got the acceptance letter with a partial scholarship. After that, I think there was something that had to do with... clouds.

Like a fourth, seventh - oh, cloud nine!

Yes that’s what it was.

It was nothing like I expected it to be - it was 500 times better. You have no

idea how many good people I met in the last two years during my struggle to get to Berklee. Everybody wanted to help. There was a group of ladies who adopted my dream and did everything they could to help me realise it. I call them the fantastic four, If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be where I am today.

What were other people’s expectations of you? What were your expectations of yourself?

I had graduated from an Arab system school and I did my Tawjihi in sciences.

My classmates, friends, teachers, all saw me as a chemical engineer because we didn’t take music lessons at school, and a lot of my teachers didn’t even know that I played the piano.

I am also a good speaker; I was valedictorian of my high school class,

and, being a Palestinian, I’m quite politically opinionated, so the other option was obviously that I become a journalist.

My parents, of course, never interfered.

My mum always said, “Do whatever makes you happy,” and my dad provided me with the guidance and the strength to chase my dreams. But they never told me what to do with my life, and I’m blessed to have them.

Sometimes, when I tried to explain to my friends and acquaintances that I wanted to study music, I would be met with a certain cynicism, like, “Music?

That’s not even a real major,” or, “Music!

Ha! Try living off of that!” But none of that matters because I have but one expectation of myself - to be the best musician I can possibly be.

What would you say have been your biggest obstacles?

Not having a teacher. I’m mostly selftaught on the piano, and there were a lot of things that I wanted to know and I needed a pianist to show me.

But thankfully we have YouTube to save the day, and I bought a whole bunch of books about music theory and harmony and I read them. My father, being a musician, helped me whenever he could, despite the fact that he’s mostly familiar with oriental music and I have a bit more of a western background in music.

If you could have done this stage in your life all over again, what would you do differently?

Absolutely nothing. It’s been hard, yes, but nothing worth having comes easy.

Describe how you feel about your passion for music.

Let’s just say that if I eat three times a day and drink water seven times a day, I probably listen to music a gazillion times a day - both in and out of my head.

I feel rich when I hear the faint sound of the hammers hitting the strings, and when they resonate they fill me. I love to hear the human voice, in conversations, recitations, yawning, whining and even my mother’s out-of-tune singing! I think of everything in terms of music. Even silence is another kind of music.

Music can contain everyone, and I have no choice but to contain it.

Why did you choose Berklee? What were your other options?

If you have a dream of being the best you can be, then you must try your best to get the best education you can get, the best community of musicians to learn from, the best learning atmosphere, and simply aspire to grow in a healthy environment.

My other options were the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, the University of Dusseldorf and Carleton University in Canada to study music. In addition, typically AUS, AUD and even Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi were options to study chemical engineering or journalism.

What exactly do you plan on studying?

In general, I want to do composition, songs, classical pieces, and even movie score. I applied to do a bachelors of music, which is the most comprehensive course in music.

So what’s next for you? Does the dream continue on after Berklee?

Definitely. I’m already composing music for many short movies that are making an entry in the Dubai International Film Festival, and I want to continue doing that. I also want to perform and arrange music for events, like the fundraiser we held for the kids of Rashid Center on the 1st of May. Who would you say inspired you the most, not only in your passion for music, but also in life?

One of my best friends was the one who told me, “Figure out what you want, believe you are destined for greatness, and embrace all the opportunities that come your way, and most importantly, if you want something bad enough, it will happen.” And that’s what I would tell all the other striving artists in the world. by

dina hassan

38

Gizmos & Gadgets

by ANTON RODIONOV

It seems like yesterday we were awed by the 1GHZ dual-core chips in the upcoming phones, and tablets or how unimaginable, almost unthinkable, it was to have an Atrtificial Intellegence driven device that would schedule your meetings, find you restaurants and read you your messages and emails all hands-free; it was laughable to hope for Blackberry OS to change and take the world back by storm. It seems like yesterday, yet it’s a year ago.

NOKIA & WINDOWS PHONE 7 Nokia had finally realised the damage and dropped Symbian for good, which led to a massive partnership with Microsoft to focus Nokia smartphones purely on the Windows Phone 7 platform. The phones were announced in October and are expected to ship by the end of this year. It’s worth noting that Nokia’s own platform, MeeGo, was briefly shown to the world with the release of N9, which turned out to be a jewel and the most creative product the Finnish giant has come out with in years. Unfortunately, the future of MeeGo is a misty one, for, so far, Nokia is focused on the Windows platform.

LENOVO Lenovo has gone through a total make-over and started churning out beautifully built tablets and ultra-books, giving others a run for their money. Just recently, it’s unveiled a tablet with 2GB of RAM, a Tegra 3 processor, due for release at the end of 2011. It sounds a bit excessive, so let’s hope it doesn’t have only minutes of battery life.

APPLE

BLACKBERRY 10

Apple released the thinnest tablet, which threw the competitors against the wall and got them back to the drawing board.

Apple also managed to introduce the world to the iPhone 4S and Siri. It is an artificial personal assistant, which is more than just a speech-controlled feature; it supports dictation, reading, scheduling meetings and reminders, sending text messages and replying to emails, searching the web, and WolframAlfa.

RIM (the Blackberry manufacturer) started off really bad by releasing its first tablet, the PlayBook, which would later become a commercial flop. The firm then showed the world that it could still produce some awesome hardware by releasing the Bold 9900. And RIM just recently announced that the totally new software should be coming out completely revamped and rebranded into what it calls Blackberry 10.

GOOGLE ANDROID

SAMSUNG Samsung has become the official copy-cat of 2011 and is now being sued by Apple left and right. Its Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S phones lines are both the main targets of Apple’s lawyers. Copying is not the most sincere form of flattery in this case.

When it comes to Google, things get messy, aggressive and progressive. It started off the year with Android Honeycomb for tablets, took the industry by storm with phones like the Galaxy SII, the HTC Sensation and the Motorola RAZR, bought Motorola Mobility and wrapped up the year with the release of Android Ice Cream Sandwich on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. However, it’s not all well and pretty in the Big G world, for it has been publicly accused of being a thief of technology by the late Steve Jobs in his official biography.

It has additionally been indirectly sued by other tech giants like Microsoft and Apple for its Android OS. Let’s hope the future is brighter than this for the search giant.

To wrap this up, I’d say 2011 was a rollercoaster year. It’s had its ups and downs, most notably the passing of Steve Jobs, it has introduced us to the new, and improved the already-existing technology. Now it is all about what’s next, and all we have to do is sit back and enjoy the ride.

WIN!

me-movies.com Me-movies.com have got loads of premiere tickets to all sorts of movies, so log on to their website, enter and win.

39

Movies

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS

HAPPY FEET TWO Cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams Happy Feet showed people just how lovable penguins can be, and the sequel comes back to reinforce this. The film tells the story of Erik, the son of Mumble (the protagonist from the first film) as he tries to prove his talents among the penguins, while Mumble’s family and friends try to fend off a new threat to their home.

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law Guy Ritchie managed to put Sherlock Holmes back in the spotlight with the first film, and his interpretation of the character was warmly greeted by filmgoers.

Sherlock Homes returns with a sequel, where he will face his greatest adversary, Professor Moriarty.

WAR HORSE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: Cast: Jeremy Irvine, Emily GHOST PROTOCOL Watson Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner After being framed for a terrorist plot, the IMF is disbanded. After Ethan Hunt initiates Ghost Protocol, he and his former teammates form a rogue team whose mission is to clear their name and find who was really behind the plot. Mission Impossible has been one of the most extravagant action series in recent memory, and this film promises to deliver more of the same.

Steven Spielberg returns to war films with this film, and interestingly, this film deals with the first World War, an event rarely addressed in film. War Horse is about Albert, a young man whose horse, Joey, is sold to the cavalry forces fighting in the War. Albert, determined to save his horse, enlists in the army and goes on a mission to bring his friend home.

MONEYBALL Cast: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, a manager of a baseball club who, due to budget constraints, uses computer analysis to draft players.

Moneyball is a story we have seen many times, an inspirational tale set in the sports world where one man goes against the establishment. And strong performances from Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, as well as high praise from many critics indicate that this film is a must-see, whether you enjoy sports films or not.

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIP WRECKED Cast: Anna Faris, Christina Appelgate, Amy Poeher The Alvin and the Chipmunks film series may not appeal to adults, but they have been a considerable success with young children. In this entry, Alvin and his friends find themselves stranded on a tropical island after a cruise.

They soon discover that what seemed like a deserted island is not so deserted after all.

Cover For Your Book by

dina hassan

When we got to school, we have a certain world built around us. Our social lives depend on who we are or who we try to be. Who we are depends on what first impressions people make of you; you can be the high class achiever and be known as a nerd. Take care of your appearance and be known as the buff guy or the queen bee. Short, tall, with an appetite to eat or none at all, these are the things that distinguish ourselves from one another.

Fake It Till You Make It by

Sarah Sikander

From a young age, we are often told to be ourselves. Personally, I had no idea what that meant - “How could you be anyone else besides yourself?” I would think. But now, many years later, I understand.

The media - music videos, reality TV, movies, fashion - is all around us. It consumes us as a society today. All these aspects are present in our day-to-day lives, influencing and dictating what we wear, how we speak and act, all in the hopes of fitting in. From the Be Yourself campaign that is practically drilled into our minds when we first enter school, we go in completely oblivious to the ideals that would soon enter our minds.

Our entire self gets labeled with one word, a word that limits us into doing so much less than we really can. You start believing what others say about you and let them interfere with everything you do. Then, in time, you start losing your right to be who you want to be. This will cause a fear of change and a fear of judgment.

The world is filled with new experiences, and your abilities are limitless. Being stuck in a shell is not something you want to live with for your entire life. So open up to new things, meet new people - different kinds of people, spend some time alone to determine what’s important and what is not to you. Get to know yourself; your likes, dislikes, what you enjoy doing. Get rid of any useless negativity, and if it’s not constructive criticism, then don’t use it.

Be proud.

It is important to be considerate of people’s expectations of you, but it is more important to be considerate of your expectations of yourself.

School. School, a dictatorial regime, where everyone and anyone has to ‘fit in’.

If not, we are faced with the ridicule that comes with the punishment of social rejection. What’s a way to avoid such a horrible fate? Fake it. Alter yourself as much as possible, wear what everyone else does, and speak just like them, try anything to fit in.

Let’s be honest, the person that someone up the high school chain of command finds weird is not someone you’re most willing to be best friends with. You might think that the Barbie-type girl, the one that always has her nails done is covered head to toe in pink and always asks stupid questions, wouldn’t be taken seriously and is probably looked down upon and made fun of. It turns out that in today’s society, this girl is put on a pedestal and everyone wants to be her friend. All the guys think that she’s attractive and no one would ever (to her face) say anything remotely negative about her.

It would seem that the person who’d rather not conform to all this is usually disregarded. Is this what society has come to? It seems so. This happens to be the reality. In Arthur Miller’s, The Death of a Salesman, one quote struck me: “Be liked and you will never want”. In this play, a father pushes his children to the idea that when liked, you will succeed. This happens to be true, for the most part, in modern day society. All these television shows, such as MTV’s Made and Plain Jane, where they basically transform one person into another that society finds to be more acceptable, are essentially reflections of people changing who they are into who society wants them to be.

So what can be concluded from the Be Yourself campaign is that, on some level, there will be those who appreciate the original personality, but not as many as there should be. It is just safer to stay within the lines that society draws.

This is the world we’ve come to, but it’s up to us to be true to ourselves

41

A vision board is your treasure map to all your greatest desires. It’s a board with loads of pictures of all the things you want. The idea behind it is to see your goals and things that you want clearly every day. For those of you who have seen The Secret, this board is made to attract all the things you want and to allow you to become the person you want to be.

Your life will change and steer itself in the direction you desire.

Vision Board

Vision boards make your goals clear and create a great positive feeling towards your vision.

All you need is a bunch of old magazines, the internet, a printer, a board, glue or thumb tacks.

Step 1 Take the time to sit by yourself and make a list of all the things you want and be very specific. If you want a computer specify which one (MacBook Pro). If you want a raise in your allowance, put a number.

Step 2 Take a stack of magazines and start cutting out all the pictures you like. This also works well if you really don’t know what you want. Just go through the photos and pick out whatever stands out to you and lay them all out on the floor in front of you.

Step 3 Start going through all the photos and pick out only your favourite ones. Photos of the things you want most or the ones that you enjoy looking at most.

Step 4 Hang up all the photos on your board around a picture of a happy you and write under them. Be specific; use colours, shapes, smells and sounds. Make it as real as possible while you’re hanging them up.

Pretend you already have them.

Step 6

Step 5

Watch out for opportunities that will come your way. Every day there are opportunities that you can take that will take you closer to your goals, so watch out for them and carpe diem—seize the day.

Every morning, look at your vision board and take the time to look at each and every photo. Take a little bit of time to create that feeling of happiness that you would have if you already had them.

Don’t expect everything to just come to you because you’ve made the vision board; you actually need to go out there and make things happen. So what are you waiting for? Go get your magazines.

Zoë Philippe THE ARTIST

by

HIBA GANTA

Meet Zoë Philippe: living proof of the connection between science and art.

The first thing that you notice about her is that she is reminiscent of a painting of herself, with her platinum Rapunzelstyle hair and grey eyes.

the development of her style.

But it’s her academic repertoire that is often initially met with incredulous shock and disbelief. She took four sciences for her International Baccalaureate diploma, as well as art, and is planning on enrolling in Ghent University, Netherlands for the medical program.

But on a more matter-of-fact level, she has her preferred muses such as Lara Stone, Alessandra Ambrosio, Liv Tyler, Franscisco Lachowski, Sean O’Pry, and Toby Hemingway from whom she borrows physical features and creates new characters. From amongst her predecessors, influences of Norman Rockwell, Adam Hughes, Serge Birault, Rembrandt and Rien Poortvliet can also be discovered. Philippe’s assured passion for the surrealist genre has been reinforced by her childhood as well as by Liesje Philippe, her mother, who is also an inspiring artist.

As a surrealist artist, her style involves a wide range of media such as charcoal, pastels, pencil, acrylics, oils and digital work, too. The inspiration for her beautiful, child-like approach to her craft is very relatable; her creations are often pivoted around a storyline that involves the fantastical. Her childhood love of Disney has been paramount to

“Disney movies, as well as the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises, greatly boosted my love for the fantastical at a young age,” she says.

Despite this assurance, the process of turning that inspiration into art is not

‘Brood’ Charcoal on paper

43

‘Lisa’ Digital painting

an easy feat. According to Philippe, it is a “grueling process on both the artist and spectator.”

She believes that bringing a piece to life is so difficult because it means spending large amounts of time in order to clearly depict what she envisioned. Philippe believes that the quote, “Art is science made clear”, said by Wilson Mizner, should be taken to mean that “art opens our eyes to the greater meaning to life, beyond biological urges”, which is why converting concept into substance is challenging but also exciting.

“What I find so refreshing about art is that it is a step away from science as it is not restrained by theorems or facts,” she explains.

For Philippe, reaching the peak of one’s talent is not something that should necessarily be a budding artist’s goal.

“I believe that it’s a bit of a death sentence for an artist to proclaim they have created their best piece because that sets all their future art work in a meagre light,” she says.

Her extraordinary ability to expose the obscured connections between science and art is something which is both exciting to discover and look forward to, as she continues to hone her craft while taking on the world of medicine.

‘Style’ Pastels on paper

45

Rugby 7s Oh boy, the Rugby Sevens is just around the corner. I don’t know about you, but I am extremely excited. The only drawback about the Dubai Rugby Sevens is that it comes around only once a year, but I guess that’s what makes it such a special occasion. The sound of the crowd`s roar with excitement as a team scores, or a big sigh when an error is made, makes it worthwhile to go and watch it every year.

The colorful flags of all the participating countries are waving around the stands adding a wide spectrum of enthusiasm. The singing fans, DJs, cheerleaders and the half-time shows only arouse a fantastic, electric atmosphere, not forgetting the mind-boggling costumes and musical instruments that edge the teams on to victory.

The clash of nations on the field is only greeted with happiness and enjoyment off the field. People from all over the world converge together to make an exciting and very enjoyable three-day weekend. The off-field entertainment is just as enjoyable as the matches themselves. While the beverages are flowing, a large variety of food from around the world is being gobbled and enjoyed.

The Dubai Rugby Sevens is part of a bigger tournament; it is actually one of the nine countries that the Rugby Sevens is hosted in, which makes it a part of the HSBC Rugby Sevens World Series. It’s a two-sided game with loads of action, great tackles and a show of great athletic skill. Each team consists of seven players on the field at a time, playing two seven-minute, intense halves. While the major tournament is going on, many teams from around the world descend on the Dubai Rugby Sevens to play in smaller tournaments to offer the viewers more entertainment throughout the weekend. School teams from Dubai and clubs also join the tournament to compete, so that they can play on the big stage on the final day in front of thousands of fans.

by

SALIM LALLAS

In 1970, a group of expatriates formed a Dubai-based team which won and got crowned as the inaugural champions.

That is when the sport really took off in Dubai. It was not until 1995, when the first Rugby Sevens game was played on grass at the Exiles Rugby Club, that the Rugby World Cup Sevens Qualifiers was hosted here. As the years went by, more and more fans from around the world flocked to come and watch the Dubai Sevens. In 2006, there was a record-breaking crowd of 32,000 people who watched the games at the Dubai Exiles. However, in 2008, the tournament was moved to the Emirates Stadium, which was purposely build for the tournament. That year, a world record crowd of 50,000 people came together to watch the splendour of the Dubai Rugby Sevens.

Let’s make history again. Let’s hope that we see a large crowd at this coming Dubai Rugby Sevens to make it a very memorable occasion. Don’t forget to bring your flags and get ready to support your country’s team.

TEAM LIST

ALL-TIME PLAYER POINTS Player

Team

Points

Ben Gollings

ENG

2652

Waisale Serevi

FIJ

1310

Tomasi Cama

NZL

1237

Uale Mai

SAM

1230

France (FRA)

Santiago Gomez Cora

ARG

1178

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Amasio Raoma

NZL

1124

William Ryder

FIJ

987

Fabian Juries

RSA

925

Lolo Lui

SAM

895

Zimbabwe (ZIM)

Mzwandile Stick

RSA

855

Portugal (POR)

Nasoni Roko

FIJ

847

Samoa (SAM)

Lavin Asego

KEN

833

Mikaele Pesamino

SAM

822

Simon Amor

ENG

721

Pedro Leal

POR

698

Stefan Basson

RSA

691

Wales (WAL)

Emosi Vucago

FIJ

668

Scotland (SCO)

Orene Ai’i

NZL

656

Philip Mack

CAN

644

Peter Miller

AUS

631

Collins Injera

KEN

624

Cecil Afrika

RSA

595

Karl Tenana

NZL

575

Humphrey Kayange

KEN

562

Tafai Ioasa

NZL

561

Argentina (ARG) Australia (AUS) England (ENG) Fiji (FIJ)

Kenya (KEN) New Zealand (NZL)

South Africa (RSA) Canada (CAN) United States (USA)

SCORE CHECK Keep the scores in check with this Dubai Rugby Sevens 2011 table.

Each team playes 3 games in a Pool. The team with the most points is at the top of the Pool. Resulting in 2 qualifying teams that move to the next stage.

Semi-finals

Win = 3 points Lose = 1 point Draw = 2 points No show = 0 points

PAST WINNERS

Quarter-finals

Points

Points

Draw Lost

Lost

Win

Win

Canada

Scotland

Australia

Zimbabwe

Kenya

England

Wales

Pool D

Played

Played France

Portugal

United States

South Africa

Pool C

Pool B New Zealand

Argentina

United Arab Emirates

Samoa

Fiji

Pool A

Played

Played

Win

Win

Lost

Lost

Draw

Draw

Draw

Points

Points

2010: England 2009: New Zealand 2008: South Africa 2007: New Zealand 2006: South Africa 2005: England 2004: England 2003: South Africa 2002: New Zealand 2001: no official winner 2000: New Zealand 1999: New Zealand

OMG! If all the people in the world were a grain of sand, we could all fit into a can of tuna Rats and horses can’t vomit

A dairy cow can produce more milk when listening to music.

Vampire bats adopt orphans, and are one of the few mammals known to risk their own lives to share food with less fortunate roommates.

It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open

If you shut down your computer for 60 seconds, this is what you will miss online: •1500+ blog posts •98,000 tweets •12,000 new ads on Graigslist •20,000 new posts on Tumblr •600 new videos (25+ hours) on Youtube

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours

Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning.

Squirrels forget where they hide about half of their nuts.

Our population grew by another 95 people since you started reading this.

Photography The winner of this month’s photography contest is Dahlia Dandashi with ‘I’m so bitter.’

I think it all happened the day my older brother called me up in the early hours of the morning. We were talking about the usual things—school, family, what we’d been doing on the weekends—just catching up. When he asked me about my love life, I almost chuckled. I licked into the lemon I was eating. My face scrunched up, almost surprised at how sour the lemon was.

“No boys,” I said proudly. I felt the acid course through my system.

The phone went silent.

“Who’s heart did you break now?” he almost whispered. I started to laugh as I was cutting up more lemons.

“Don’t laugh!” he smiled through the telephone. “Dahlia, don’t you see how bitter you are? Have some sympathy for a boy!”

The second he said “bitter”, I looked down at the counter full of half-cut lemons. With a sour taste still present in my mouth, the gears in my head began to churn.

“I’m bitter?” I asked inquisitively.

“It sounds bad. I didn’t mean it like that.

I’m sorry,” he apologetically replied.

I flashed a smile.

“No, that’s great! Thanks!”

I hung up the phone even before he said goodbye. I put my camera on a stand, wore yellow, and sat amongst the lemons. I looked around.

“I may be bitter, but so are lemons.”

by

Dahlia DANDASHI

51

Aliya Katturakan

Dahlia Dandashi

Rawan Mustafa Hannoon

Nadira Fatah

Dahlia Dandashi

Letters to a Coach

Get advice from our life coach Maria Chatila. Write to her at coach@one8one.net. All writing will remain anonymous.

Maria Chatila holds a Bachelor of Arts with a dual major in Child Studies and Sociology from Concordia University

Q. My mom yells all the time. I dread the

hour where she comes home from work because nothing is perfect. If I’ve done my homework, which is what makes her shout at me most of the time, she’ll find something else to be upset about. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have to come home every day. How can I get away from this?

in Montreal, Quebec. She also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Sunderland University in the United Kingdom and is a certified and credentialed life coach, holding a diploma in Management Coaching & Mentoring from the Institute of Leadership & Management in the UK. Maria Chatila is dedicated to creating powerful individuals, teams and relationships by inspiring them to achieve their full potential. She is passionate about motivating individuals of any age group by her ability to create a safe and empowering space for coaching.

Sharing is caring It sounds to me that you and your mom are going through some challenges communicating at the moment. A couple of ideas come to my mind.

First, your mom may be coming home still triggered from the challenges of her day.

Unfortunately, many people are unable to shake off their issues before opening the door to their families at home. Your mom many need some unwinding time when she comes home, but the reality for her may be that there is still too much work to do at home and she is unable to relax before jumping into her mother role. Although this is very hard on you, it is very important that you step into her world for a minute so that you can show her some empathy.

Second, I always recommend that parents and children communicate as effectively as possible. Too many times, assumptions are made and, through these assumptions, a lot of upset is created in the relationship. I suggest that you wait until your mother is calm and somewhat relaxed and then you can sit down with her and let her know how you feel. The only way to really understand her viewpoint is to allow her the opportunity to share it with you. Remember, this exercise is going to require that you give her a chance to speak without jumping down her throat with blame and anger.

Once she has spoken, try to digest her message to you. Think about what you heard.

Ask her for clarification about what you heard. Most times, we don’t hear the other person speaking because we are too busy trying to drive our point. Show your mother that you want to really understand her and that you want to share the responsibility in making your relationship as pleasant and as supportive as you can together.

Finally, I worry that you are so unhappy and that you wish you didn’t have to go home every day. Sometimes, we are unable to pinpoint our unhappiness and so we feel unhappy with everything. I ask you to sit down and really take a note of the things that you are unhappy with at home. Then, make a note of the things that you are really happy with at home. Pinpoint your concern and try to ask yourself this question: “What can I do to help myself feel happier at home everyday?” I believe that as individuals, we hold the key to our own happiness. There is not one person or parent that can make you feel happy. Take ownership and share your anxieties with your mother. She may surprise you and tell you that she has noticed all that you have shared with her, and that she too wants to improve your relationship.

Q. I’ve been friends with this group at uni

for quite a while and we have a great time.

But recently someone new has joined the group of friends and this guy is cool but destructive, and everyone follows and does what he wants us to do. Just recently, it’s become really bad where it’s become cool not to throw our garbage in the bin and just throw it in the street, or scratch cars with keys just for fun. I don’t want to do all this; people don’t deserve to be treated that way.

I still like my friends but how do I tell them that I don’t like this guy and don’t want him to be part of our group anymore?

New “friend” It is always unfortunate when good friends start to drift in different directions. This concern is shared by everyone, both young and old. From what you have written, I understand that this new person who has joined the group is not setting a good example for the others. This issue will take some serious inner reflecting, so I suggest that you sit down and try the following: Firstly, it is very normal for friends to drift. I believe that it is part of the life journey that we are all on. Knowing this does not make the situation any less hurtful and frustrating, but it is important to remember that it is normal and very common. With this in mind, make a note of all of the old things that you and your friends would do together. How were you as a group? What values did you all hold, whether you shared them or not? What was very important about the group that you want to keep and share with the ‘new guy’?

Why can’t they accept me?

I am so sorry that you had to overhear a conversation about you. I must tell you that being labelled with ADHD is only that, a label. It has no bearing on how successful or how much you are going to achieve in your life and in your future. ADHD is the label given to individuals who have problems with inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity or a combination of them all. There are various tests that are done to properly diagnose individuals with this label. I am assuming that they were done with you.

Q. I have been diagnosed with ADHD. My

parents struggle with me, and I know this because I overhear them talking to their friends telling them they don’t know what to do with me. I am a good person and love everyone around me, so why can’t they accept me the way I am? And why do my parents have to hide me from people?

With the risk of sounding like I am on your parent’s side, it is important for you to understand that your parents may be reaching out to their friends and family for support. As all parents do, they want what is best for you. Unfortunately, they may have been indiscrete about their approach to seeking help and guidance. I suggest that you sit down with your parents and share your concerns with them.

Communicate what you think that you heard and how it has affected you. Try to listen to their fears and worries as well. Together, you will be able to decide how to approach your needs and concerns more effectively.

Labels Labels are like clothes. In this case, it sounds like you are wearing a uniform called ‘nerd’. It is not clear to me whether the class has labelled you a nerd or whether this is a label that you have given to yourself. Either way, I would like for you to read this with an open mind and an open heart. I want you to remember that the label is not personal, although it may feel very personal right now. We all carry many labels with us. For example, one of my labels is ‘coach’. It feels great sometimes but other times it also feels very heavy. Being labelled a ‘nerd’ does the same for you. Imagine that you were able to take off the label and put it in front of you. Draw a picture of it if you have to, and put it out in front of you while you do this exercise.

Firstly, ask yourself what a nerd does other than being studious and loving to learn.

What is great about being a nerd? What do nerds have that is so special? List some great nerds - believe me, there are many, so really do some research. Google if you have to. Think outside of your network of friends and search.

Next, make a note of what a nerd does that is undesirable. What behaviours or actions do you think are not skilful? What would you change about the label?

Finally, look back at what you have written and see what you want to keep and what you want to change about being labelled a ‘nerd’. Remember, it is only a label, so you get to tailor your behaviour. Sometimes, we view our labels as undesirable but our friends and family are envious of our strengths, so this exercise will give you a chance to see how wonderful you are.

Then, think about what the group is learning with the new friend. What is trying to change with the group? Sometimes, rebellious behaviour is a sign of something trying to be communicated, regardless of how poorly executed it is being done. Be the person in the group that is able to look past the rebellious acts and try to see what the new friend is asking from the group. Is it attention? Is it connection? Is it feeling a part of something? If you are unsure, ask the group. Remember, asking requires that you omit any blame in making them wrong. This behaviour will simply turn them against communicating with you and you will be left triggered, frustrated and back where you started.

Finally, ask yourself this question: “What is your highest hope for the friendship with this group?” And then think about what your biggest fear is for the friendship with the group. Sometimes, just realising what we are hoping for makes it easier to share with our friends. This time of self-reflection will allow you to view what is really going on from an angle that you are not able to achieve by simply reacting to the actions of the group’s behaviour. Let me know how it all works out.

Q. At school I am the nerd in class. I do well on my exams and love to study and learn.

But I hate being labelled as the nerd, how can I be different?

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?

54

Nutrition by

STEPHANIE KARL

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a distressing and embarrassing problem for many people, but doctors are not sure of its exact cause. It is a functioning disorder where the nerves of the bowel become overly sensitive, and the muscles fail to work in unison as they should.

IBS comes and goes often with no reason for the onset. Stress, diet or an infection can trigger symptoms and food makes it worse.

- tummy pain which is relieved once you have been to the toilet - gassiness or flatulence all the time - frequent bloating and abdominal discomfort - irregular bowel movements - frequent episodes of diarrhea, often passing mucus as well - diarrhoea alternating with constipation

LOW LACTOSE EATING Some people benefit from avoiding lactose, the sugar found in milk and soft cheese, as it can cause bloating and diarrhea.

FIBRE

FOOD INTOLERANCES

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

A high-fibre diet is not suitable for everyone but if you are constipated, you should aim to eat more vegetables, wholegrain breakfast cereals, fine wholemeal bread and fruit.

To supplement fibre, have one tablespoon of unprocessed bran and bran cereal up to three times a day, or take a fibre supplement such as psyllium (Metamucil, Fybogel) or sterulia (Normacol).

Intolerance to some natural chemicals found in foods such as amines, salicylates, and glutamates is common in IBS. It may be beneficial to follow an elimination diet under the guidance of a dietician or nutritionist to work out problem foods.

Medication can help relieve cramps, bulking agents can keep you regular, peppermint oil capsules for spasms and anti-diarrhea tablets when needed.

NO MORE WIND

ADD ACIDOPHILUS

Avoid Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, legumes, dried fruit, spices and anything with whole seeds.

Other foods that can cause distension are fizzy drinks and sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol. Eat slowly and avoid swallowing air.

Friendly bacteria from probiotic yoghurts or capsules can normalize your bowel bacteria, but must be taken regularly.

WORK OUT YOUR TRIGGERS

Modifying your diet is only one treatment and unless particular foods or group of foods causes problems, there is no need to eliminate foods. A balanced diet is important for health and energy.

Keep a food diary to help you understand what foods aggravate your system. Coffee, tomatoes, milk, wheat and preservatives are reported as common offenders.

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Astro December 2011

SAGITTARIUS (22 November - 22 December)

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

Delays and glitches are evident this month, however, overcoming the bumps in the road is a part of life and you’ll be able to sail through quite peacefully. It’s time to hit the books. You’ll be peaking in the educational perspective, so it’s the perfect opportunity to learn something new or to hit those books in preparation for exams. Find time to have some fun. You’ve been focused on work, so let loose a bit; it will be better for both you and those around you.

You are on top of the world.

Karma is working with and not against you. Whatever you do that is good will be returned to you within the month. A flood of responsibility is coming on the next tide but so are honor, appreciation and happiness.

Travel, education, work and philosophy are all going to be providing great opportunities, so explore your life a bit more and appreciate the finer things.

Pro-active, popular and confident are words to describe you this month. But as much as you love being on a highvibration mode, you need to remember to have some quiet time. Read a book, watch a movie, or do something else that does not require a lot of energy. The relaxation that will come with taking a break will power you up even more for the next task you plan to take on, so recharge every once in a while.

It’s nearly the holidays, which means another period of activity. It’s a wonder - do you ever get tired? Time to figure that one out. If not from social escapades, then from excessive work, or living in the gym, this month is active for you. From this, your attitude may alter towards the impatient but remember, other people aren’t going to be as lively as you. Your hot wire needs to be cooled in order to enjoy everything.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

Wardrobe change! Your personality is going to be altered by events this month, so be prepared. Emotional tolls will be great, but will be both positive and negative.

Relationships with friends and parents will be strained, so be patient and collect your emotions - a clear head is the most productive one. The work front is great, on the other hand; improvements are being made and you will be content with that.

This is the time to develop, hone and cultivate your social skills through cooperation.

Working with others will benefit you much more than usual in the next few weeks. You will experience the benefits of partnerships and teamwork and become a better person from them. Working out or playing a team sport is definitely something you should do to exercise the need for being with others as well.

Reorganisation! You may dread it, it may bore you, but it needs to be done, and be done at the beginning of the month in order for you to be free for the rest of the month. This is great, seeing as Christmas and New Year’s Eve are almost here, meaning that you should be laughing at those who are stressed before Christmas because you already organised yourself.

Reorganising everything will clear your workspace, for list and mind, so you might as well do it.

Happy, happy, happy! This coming month is going to be full of fulfilling experiences and enjoyable moments (plus you get presents because of Christmas and get to party because of New Year’s Eve).

It will be hard for anything to ruin your mood, so use the opportunity to explore new things and new places. Just have some fun and go crazy!

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Maximum personal independence! That is the stage you are in right now, and you’re enjoying it vigorously. Though obligations at work or school are intensifying, balance is key to you continuing your streak of happiness, so make sure everything’s organised before you go out partying for the rest of the month. It will give you more time to have fun and less time to worry.

Time to get a little bit crazy.

Allow yourself that extra chocolate, allow yourself to stay out a bit later, and indulge in your senses. It’s the holidays, so you have the opportunity to let loose a bit and have fun. Try something adventurous and interesting, something you would never think of doing on a daily or weekly basis. Experiment; see what’s out in the world and live a little.

Drama is going to be abundant this month, so brace yourself.

Remember to be patient and try not to anger anyone - it’ll make life a lot easier for you and everyone around you. Attempt to distance yourself from the drama and you should be okay. Lay low and enjoy the holidays with your family, remember how important family is and how much love you have to share.

Being in the right place at the right time is not something you’ve been very good at, but your luck is going to change this month. A watch is a great investment this month and setting aside time for yourself is good for your health and enjoyment, especially with the Christmas break being this month. Organise your time and you will be content with the way you spend it.

(21 March- 20 April)

(21 July- 20 August)

(23 November- 20 December)

(21 April- 20 May)

(21 August- 20 September)

(21 December- 19 January)

21 May- 20 June)

(21 September- 20 October)

(20 January- 18 February)

(21 June- 20 July)

(21 October- 22 November)

(19 February- 20 March)

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S’Party cool stuff Time ARE YOU THE LIFE AND SOUL OF THE PARTY? Tick the answers in the quiz then calculate your score to find out how competitive you really are.

6: The sound system breaks at your best friend’s birthday

1: When arriving at a party, do you…

a. Head straight to the bathroom to make sure you look okay? b. Walk up to the first group of people you see and say hi? c. Scour frantically for someone you know?

2: During the evening do you…

a. Move around the room chatting to as many people as possible? b. Stay in one place and talk to the same group? c. Dance the night away with your friends?

7: When introduced to someone new at a party, do you…

3: If you spot someone wearing the same outfit, do you…

4: When your favourite song comes on, do you…

a. Go over and complement them on their taste? b. Panic and leave? c. Hide behind your friends in case people think they look better in it than you do?

a. Mouth along and tap your toes? b. Throw your hands in the air, scream approval and drag everyone around you to the dance floor? c. Ask your friends if anyone will come and dance along with you?

5: Your friends plan to leave early but you’re having a good

time, do you… a. Stay anyway, there are plenty of other people to chat to. b. Try and persuade them to stay so you can? c. Go with them - you don’t want to be the loner at a party on their own.

party and everyone is starting to leave. Do you: a. Console them and offer your sympathy, wondering when you can go too? b. Lead everyone in a series of party games? c. Offer to go home and get your iPod dock? a. Chat politely for a while then wander off to find your friends? b. Make friends - you get on well with everyone. c. Smile and leave with the person who introduced you?

8: Your’e not in the mood for going out but you have promised

your mate you’ll be at their party. Do you… a. Put in a brief appearance and leave as soon as possible? b. Go and try to make the best of it, knowing you can always leave early? c. That would never happen - you’re always up for a party!

Points 1: a – 1, b – 3, c – 2 2: a – 3, b – 1, c – 2 3: a – 3, b – 1, c – 2 4: a – 1, b – 3, c – 2

5: a – 3, b – 2, c – 1 6: a – 1, b – 3, c – 2 7: a – 1, b - 3, c – 1 8: a – 1, b – 2, c - 3

1-8

Parties aren’t really your thing. You’ll go if you have to, but it’s not your first choice. Instead of dancing the night away with people you don’t know all that well, you’d much rather spend time with your close friends, doing something you all enjoy. a friendly person and are happy to meet new 9-16 You’re people. Parties are fun from time to time, although you don’t make it your business to put in an appearance at every one you can. Once there, you’ll make the most of it and enjoy yourself, but if it’s not a great party then you are quite happy to leave early, knowing you won’t miss out on much.

17-24

Every night that isn’t spent partying is a wasted opportunity. You’re the life and soul of each event and everyone knows it. If the music dies or people aren’t dancing, the host always turns to you to get the party going and you are always more than happy to oblige. As for leaving early, most parties end far too quickly for that to ever be an option!

CROSSWORD

59

Across

Down

1 The only recorded shark in Antarctica (2 Words) 5 Often seen in ‘Coca-Cola’ Christmas ads 6 Grey bird similar to Sea Gull 8 Fish that produces its own anti-freeze (2 words) 10 Eight-legged sea creature 11 Bird with a black head and a white body 13 Tiny animals that float on the water 15 Also known as a small-toothed whale 17 Semi-transparent crustacean 18 All white pigeon-like bird 19 A favorite snack of Killer Whales 20 The largest mammal in the world

2 One of the largest birds in the world 3 Characterized by the vivid eye color 4 Free Willy 7 Known to squirt ink in defence 9 Sometimes referred to as “Mutt” 12 The largest of the hexapod lineages 14 Microscopic arthropod 16 The star of ‘Happy Feet’

Brain Food SUDOKU Easy 5 6 3

2

2 8 1 9

8 5 7 4

4 9

4 8 2 3

4 7

9 8

3 6 9

4 7

6

3 4 8 1

2 9 5

3

2

6

Hard 4

2

6 5

8 7

2 8

6

4

4 7

1

1 9 5 7 3 1

6

1

3

2

Easy 2 8 3 4 7 3 6 5 1

5 7 1 8 2 6 9 3 4

Hard 6 3 4 9 5 1 7 8 2

9 1 3 5 4 7 8 2 6

7 4 2 6 8 9 3 1 5

8 5 6 3 1 2 4 9 7

3 2 8 7 6 5 1 4 9

1 9 7 2 3 4 5 6 8

4 6 5 1 9 8 2 7 3

2 1 6 5 8 7 9 4 3

7 3 9 2 1 4 5 6 8

F V O L V R D H

6 4 1 8 5 9 3 2 7

8 7 2 1 3 6 4 5 9

5 9 3 7 4 2 8 1 6

9 5 4 6 7 8 1 4 9

3 6 8 4 2 1 5 6 8

1 2 7 3 9 5 2 7 3

5

2

J A GU A R S F I A T O N M L A D A R M T GH I N I N N I I

L O T UMM E R S O M L E L AMB O R S U C F E R R A R I G E T O A U D O N K Y T E Y I I C T S E A T V O L K SWA G E N I T S A A N 4

4 8 5 9 6 3 2 7 1

8 3

8

Answers from the previous issue

7

4 5 3 9

60

Jokes

Innkeeper: The room is $15 a night.

It’s $5 if you make your own bed.

Guest: I’ll make my own bed.

Innkeeper: Good. I’ll get you some

nails and wood.

Q. What do you get when you cross a

snowman with a vampire?

A. Frostbite.

Seeing-eye Dog

Q. How do crazy people go through the forest?

A.They take the psycho path.

Q. What did the judge say when the skunk walked in the court room?

A.Odour in the court.

A man goes into a restaurant with his big dog and sits next to the door. The waitress comes up to him and says, “You can’t bring that dog in here!”

Q. What did the fish say when he swam

The guy, without missing a beat, says, “This is my seeing-eye dog.”

A. Dam!

“Oh man,” the waitress says. “I’m sorry, here, the first meal’s on me.”

Q. Why do sea gulls fly over the sea?

A. Because if they flew over the bay, they

Another guy walks into the bar with a Chihuahua. The first guy sees him, stops him and says “You can’t bring that dog in here unless you tell her it’s a seeing-eye dog.” The second man graciously thanks the first man and continues to the counter.

He asks for a coffee.

into the wall?

would be bagels.

Q. What did the ground say to the earthquake?

A. You crack me up!

Q. Why did the cookie go to the hospital?

A. Because it felt crummy.

Q. What do you call cheese that is not

yours?

A. Nacho Cheese Q. Why did the boy eat his homework?

A. Because his teacher said it was a piece of cake.

Q. Why is Basketball such a messy sport?

A. Because you dribble on the floor.

The waitress says, “Hey, you can’t bring that dog in here!” The second man replies, “This is my seeing-eye dog.”

The waitress says, “No, I don’t think so.

They do not have Chihuahuas as seeingeye dogs.”

The man pauses for a half-second and replies, “What? They gave me a Chihuahua?”

61

How to Submit to one8one

Submission Guidelines: Remember that we completely depend on you, young youth, to send in your writing and make creative contributions.

!!!

You can submit your work in three different ways: Through your school: Written work and art/photos may be submitted directly through your school. Provide your work to your teacher and he/she will be able to guide you.

Through email: You can also send us your work by email, but please make sure you’ve read the guidelines before you do.

All written work and videos should be sent through email.

Email us at mysay@one8one.net Through direct mail: You can send your work through direct mail. Please make sure your work is neatly written or typed and do not forget to include your details.

Send your work directly to: one8one, P.O Box 117890, DubaiUAE

Please include the following:

1. Name 2. Date of birth (year) 3. Address (area you live in) 4. Telephone number 5. Email address 6. Name of school you attend There is no word limit to the writing you submit, but keep in mind that most published pieces are fewer than 1,500 words.

The work you submit may be published in one8one monthly magazine, in our books or/and on our website. Submissions will not be returned, so please keep a copy for yourself if you need to. Label all your work; interview, poetry, art, article, fiction, non-fiction‌ etc.

You can email your art of photography as an email attachment, scan items as grayscale line art or color file of at least 300 dpi (resolution) and smaller than 10mb when saved.

Do not scan as a halftone. Save all items as a TIFF (.tif), PICT or JPEG file, before sending as an attachment.

You can email a video (no longer than 5 minutes) to us in the following formats: MOV, .AVI, MPEG, and .WMV.

For you to know There are no deadlines to when you submit your work. We accept your submissions all year long. However if the work you send in is specifically for an event or occasion, please try and send it in at least one month prior to the date.

At the end of your work please include the following originality statement to confirm that this is your original work. Please include your full name: “I, FILL IN WITH FULL NAME certify that the above and/or attached work is entirely original.”

You will be able to request anonymity. If for any reason what so ever you do not want your name to be published, your request will be respected, but you must include your name and all the above mentioned information.

-We reserve the right to publish our edited version without your prior approval.

-We may not print your name on personal articles and in some cases may change the names to protect other people’s identities.

-All material submitted to us becomes the property of one8one.

By submitting your work to one8one magazine you are giving us the nonexclusive right to publish your work in any format, including all print, electronic and online media.

-Our editorial staff will review all the submissions. Each one is read by

two editorial staff members and the best is picked out for each section of the magazine, website and books.

-If your work was not published and you ask about it, there is no way that we can find it as we receive a large number of submissions each year. If chosen, your article will get published within 5 months of your submission date.

-Ideas for creative categories would be: School News, Art, Poetry, Fiction, Opinion, Community Service, Culture, Travel, Jokes, How things work, Sports, Health and Fitness, Interview, Review, Technology, College Essays, Real Life Experiences.

-You can submit scanned or photocopied prints of art work but please make sure it is of high quality. And remember that we will not return them.

-Anyone can send photos. Take pictures of your friends or any chosen topic and send it through to us and we will publish it either on the website or in our magazine.

-If you are published you will receive a letter from us as well as a copy of the magazine issue or book which includes your work. If you are published on our website you will receive an email notification with the link to your work.

!!!

The one8one will print 10,000 copies of the magazine, which means that over 30,000 people will be able to view your work. Our website will be open to general public as well, so anyone can see it.

Internship We are looking for a dedicated set of young people to support the one8one team during the summer.

We are looking for: Journalists & Writers Fashion Editors Sport Editors Male & Female Models Music Editors Photographers Event Managers Whatever else you can do that’s not on the list but would be great to have in the magazine We have our meetings on bean bags, write on our windows and walls and have pizza for lunch. If you think you’ve got what it takes to be part of our team this summer then email us at mysay@one8one.net

Editor in Cheif Maria Rousan How does this work?

Deputy Editor Dina Hassan

You send in your articles, we read them, choose the best ones and publish them in the magazine. If you get published, you have a chance to win loads of cool stuff and represent The one8one at major concerts happening in the UAE. You will get media passes to the events and an amazing camera to take pictures. You’ll have a blast at the concert then write about it for The one8one. Which concert did you say you’ve always wanted to go to?

Log on to www.one8one.net to read our writing guidelines and send your work in to mysay@one8one.net.

Only the crème de la crème of the work we’re sent makes it on to the pages of our magazine so put your best foot forward and get writing.

Sports Editor Hana Hassanbek Art Director Alessandro Zanchetta Graphic Design/ Production Anton Rodionov

Love to write?

Whether it’s poems, book reviews, game reviews, fiction or nonfiction: if you write, we want to read.

Like Fashion?

No matter what shape or size you are, we’re looking for character. If you’ve got what it takes to be in front of the camera we want you in our photoshoot.

Play an instrument?

Let us hear about it!

Read a book lately?

Send us a review and give others the chance to read it or leave it.

Love sports?

Write to us so we can let everyone else know how much fun your sport is and how they can join in.

Play video games?

We want to know what the best and most disappointing games are that you’ve played. You never know what you might win just by giving us your opinion.

Like jokes?

Knock knock on our email and make us laugh!

Are you an art lover?

Show us what you can do. Beautiful things are meant to be seen.

Love your camera?

Pick it up and send us your best photos to be published.

Know of a cool event?

Let us know and we’ll be there to take pictures.

Do you like to act?

Young thespians, show us what you can do.

Watch movies?

Tell us all about the latest movies you’ve seen so everyone else can know if it’s worth watching or not.

Listen to music?

What’s your favourite band? Write about them so everyone can have a listen.

Fashion Art Director/ Stylist Ivana Arsenikevic Assistant Stylists Kristina Milicevic Heinrich Taute Make-up Artist Marcia Lima Photography Andy Ramos - Fashion Marko Zirdum - Cover and Sports Contributors Maria Chatila - Life Coach Stephanie Karl - Nutritionist Youth Contributors Aliya Katturkan Rawan Mustafa Anton Rodionov Hannoon Dahlia Dandashi Salim Lallas Dina Hassan Sameer Abeidoh DXB Gurl Sarah Sikander Ghadeer Abeidoh Shahmir Khan Heinrich Taute Siobhan Fraile Hiba Ganta Yiona Hottentot Nadira Fatah Zachory Beadsley Parinaaz Navdar Zoe Philippe Advertising 050-5501412 ad@blkiris.com Publishing Black Iris Publishing FZ LLE Printers Raidy Printing Group