Fresh Issue

Your Ideas in Print

Let’s Talk..

Nadine Hanafi shares her top tips to become a better communicator Splash of Colour

Tarsila Schubert shares her passion for graffiti

Discover Taiwan

All about the hidden gem of Asia

Latest Tech

Fly Blade and Acer Liquid Jade brought to the test

Speak Fashion like a Pro Don’t make a Faux Pas

11th Annual DIFF Eight days of movies and celebrities

The Who

Get your updates on the F1 After Show

Absolace

Progressive rock band with soul

TAKE ME I’M FREE one8one.com

Editor's Letter A brief study was done by a small HR company in the United States, and they have found that more than 80% of the employees would like to become better communicators, have more empathy, improve their people skills and become better team leaders in 2015. The study was expecting to hear the usual answers from employees such as higher raises, promotions, better standard of living, losing weight, etc. Of course they were quite shocked to learn what the research had presented. But when you think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense, because communication is such a fundamental skill to have in today’s day and age. When communication is ignored, relationships whether professional or personal ultimately break down due to low motivation and productivity.

This 2015 we realise that the key word is “Communication” and this is why we have brought to you one of the brightest and best, so without further ado, let us present to you Nadine Hanafi, CEO and founder of an amazing company called We are Visual. Nadine is passionate about presenting information in a creative, visual and engaging manner so that people can share their info in a clear and objective manner that is easy to understand and grasp. Within her exclusive cover feature she shares with us several insights and tips as to how we can improve the way in which we deliver information to others.

Since everyone is unique and would probably have different resolutions we also have an exclusive fitness feature with two famous professional tennis players Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka who share with us how they keep fit and get prepared for the new tennis season.

We have also prepared a very colourful fashion spread which is filled with exclusive fashion jargons and lingos that every girl should know; also how one can add some colour into their winter wardrobe and how to master the art of the very temperamental turtleneck.

We really hope that the New Year brings you tons of happiness, joy, new and exciting memories that last for ever. As the popular quote goes, “Ring out with the old, and bring in the new”.

Let us bid farewell to 2014, and say hello to 2015.

BHARGAVI NAGRECHA Acting Editor(editor@one8one.net)

1 Editor’s Letter 6-7 ’s up 8-9 Hitlist 10-11 Photography 12 Album Reviews 13 Movies 15 In Cinemas 16- 17 Gaming 18-23 Fashion Shoot: Colour Me Silly 24-25 Fashion for Her 26-27 Fashion for Him 28-31 Fashion Lingo You Need to Know 32-37 Cover Story: Nadine Hanafi 38-39 Artist: Tarsila Schubert 40-41 New Technology 42-43 Taiwan: Discovering Taipei 44-45 Dubai International Film Festival 46-47 Musicians: Absolace 48-49 Food Blogger: Cinnamon Weekends 50-51 Dining Out 52-53 Fitness Rules of Champions: Train Like an Athlete 54 Books 56 The Who Live in Abu Dhabi 58-59 Tips to Live a Happy Life 60-61 Astrology 62-63 News

’s up What When Where

January

Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai (Jan 1-Feb 1) Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi (Jan 1-3)

The Galleria Festive Market, The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi (Dec 10-Jan 5)

Ballet Gala with Stars from Paris Opera National, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai (Jan 8-10)

Mamma Mia The Hit Musical, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai (Jan 2-10) At One With the Sea, Destination Village, Abu Dhabi (Dec 12-Jan 3)

DSF Celebration nights ft. Najwa Karam and Assi Helani, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai

Street. | Group Photography Exhibition | Talk | Film Screening, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai (Nov 25-Jan 3)

DSF Celebration Nights ft. Nancy Ajram and Amr Diab, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai Winterfest, Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi (Dec 12-Jan 10)

Everyday Middle East Photography Exhibition, Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai (Jan 12-Feb 26)

DSF Celebration Nights ft. Elissa and Majed Al Mohandess, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai

DSF Celebration Nights ft. Balqees and Khaled Abdul Rahman, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai

DSF Celebration Nights ft. Ahlam & Mohamed Abdo, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai

Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi (Jan 15-18)

DSF Celebration Nights ft. Shireen Abdelwahab & Rabeh Saqer, Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Dubai

Omega Dubai Desert Classics, Emirates Golf Club, Dubai (Jan 29-Feb 1)

Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, Dubai Police Academy, Dubai

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

Arijit Singh Live in Dubai, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai

8

Hitlist

Music

Apps

1. Blank Space Taylor Swift

2. Take Me To Church Hozier

3. Uptown Funk!

Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

4. Lips Are Movin Meghan Trainor

5. I'm Not The Only One Sam Smith

6. Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran

7. All About That Bass Meghan Trainor

8. Animals Maroon 5

WordPress (Android & iOS)

Audible (Android & iOS)

WordPress is a great way to write, edit and publish blog posts onto your website, and it is packed with features while allowing you full integration with other apps. Users can also easily check their stats and get inspired to write and blog at any time.

Long journey? Tired eyes? Audio books is the way to go! The best thing about this app is that you can easily find and read all of your favourite books at any time. So whether you are waiting in line, stuck in traffic or traveling far, audio books are a treat to be appreciated.

9. Love Me Harder

Ariana Grande & The Weeknd

10. Shake It Off Taylor Swift

11. Jealous Nick Jonas

12. Only

Nicki Minaj ft. Drake & Lil Wayne

13. The Heart Wants What...

Selena Gomez

14. I Don't

Big Sean ft. E-40

15. Habits Tove Lo

16. Tuesday

I LOVE MAKONNEN ft. Drake

17. Don't

Ed Sheeran

18. Waves

Mr. Probz

19. Bang Bang

Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj

20. 7/11

Beyonce

Nasa App (Andoid & iOS)

Money Tracker (Android)

This isn't the galaxy’s best looking app, but it's full of geek-level info and media from the NASA archive, along with pictures, news and updates on what's going on in the enormous world that we are all part of.

Did you really spend that much on coffee this week? Money Tracker strikes a sensible balance between simplicity and features, and is a great way to track where all of your money is being spent.

This is a great way to see where you can cut back and save.

Insta

Blogs

YouTube

@Happsters Just as the name suggests it is an account filled with pin-worthy quotes that are so pretty and inspiring, that you'll want to print them all out and decorate your room with. This is a great account to read in the morning when you are looking to get motivated and cheerful.

U Create (http://www.u-createcrafts.com/) Kari has put together an extraordinary blog, through which you can find fun and easy DIY projects, party ideas, activities, crafts and delicious recipes. U Create has thousands of free tutorials, recipes and projects to inspire anyone while providing some great tips and tricks to make creating fun. There are tons of free printables and downloads for holidays, home décor and simple gifts ideas.

edbassmaster edbassmaster’s is one of the most funniest YouTubers who basically goes around the city, taking on the roles of eccentric characters who are rude, obnoxious, and/ or socially challenged. It’s interesting to see how the general public handles the uncomfortable interaction he engages them in, and you’ll find yourself laughing at their reactions, or cringing at the almost unbearable amounts of awkwardness he generates.

Funky Junk Interiors (http://www.funkyjunkinteriors.net/) Donna is the heart behind one of the most novel and creative blogs called Funky Junk Interiors. Through her blog she is able to create cool stuff out of salvage finds with little or no funds, and the result is quite inspiring. Donna is able to see potential in pretty much anything. After reading her blog you will never look at junk in the same way ever again.

Daily Grace Daily Grace is one of the best vlogger there is today as she is naturally hilarious and appeals to such a wide audience. She delivers brand new videos five out of seven times in a week. Her congeniality makes you feel as if you already know her and you’re simply watching one of your friend who is discussing random topics with you.

One of the best YouTube accounts we have checked out this month.

Good People

The Giver

Cast: James Franco, Kate Hudson, Omar Sy, Tom Wilkinson

Cast: Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep

Tom and Anna Reed (James Franco and Kate Hudson) fall into severe debt while renovating Anna's family home in London. As the couple faces the loss of their dream to have a house and start a family, they discover that the tenant in the apartment below them has been murdered, and he left behind $400,000 in cash. Though initially hesitant, the couple decide to quietly take the money and use only what's necessary to get them out of debt. But when they start spending the money and can't seem to stop, and find themselves the target of a deadly adversary—the thief who stole it—and that's when very bad things start happening to good people

This film, based on Lois Lowry's book, tells the story of a perfect world. One where everyone is happy. When Jonas is eighteen years old, he's chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories.

He enters into training with an old man called The Giver. From the Giver, Jonas learns about pain, sadness, war, and all the unhappy truths of the "real" world.

He quickly realises that his community is fake. Confronted with this reality, Jonas faces difficult choices about his own life and his future

@HumansofNewYork Brandon Stanton has managed to create an amazing account through which he posts quotes, short stories and photographs of strangers living in New York who makes the world feel a little smaller and, so much more human.

What started out in NYC has now turned into a worldwide adventure.

DVD Picks

The Hundred Foot Journey Cast: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal) is an extraordinarily talented culinary ingénue. When he and his family are displaced from India they decide to settle in a quaint French village where they decide to open an Indian eatery. However, Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), who is the owner of an acclaimed restaurant just 100 feet away, strongly objects. War erupts between the two establishments, until Mallory recognises Kadam's impressive epicurean gifts and takes him under her wing.

10

Photography

Maxine Ransom

Anton Rodionov Want to see your photography in print? Submit your art at www.one8one.com We’d love to share your talent.

Tamanna

Hasibul Islam

Mohammed Abdul Tariq

Hasibul Islam

Beandri Collinet

12

Album Reviews 5 Seconds of Summer 5 Seconds of Summer

Yet another self-titled album after ‘Beyoncé’, ‘Britney Jean’ and ‘Avril Lavigne’. 5 Seconds of Summer or 5SOS is a four member Australian Punk-Pop-Rock band who recently debuted with their self-titled album.

These chaps have also been the opening act of One Direction’s ‘Where We Are’ tour, leading to their present fame.

If you’re into rock and pop, then this album could be for you. The theme’s the same as for all boy-band albums – girls. The album is pretty good for a debut and contains a total of 17 songs. Almost all the songs have really good, dominating beats and awesome drum exercises in the background – thanks to their drummer Ashton. The lyrics of the songs are also pretty simple yet quite memorable. However, the songs ‘She Looks So Perfect’, ‘Don’t Stop’ and ‘Good Girls’ are the top-scorers, and they are more towards the pop side. The group shows their soft side with ‘Amnesia’, which is a combination of really good, touching lyrics and clear, nice vocals from the four and is the only song where there are no hardcore drumbeats.

On a whole, the album is a good debut and we are looking forward to their future releases.

Azealia Banks Broke With Expensive Taste Three years on, the hook of her breakthrough single 212 has come to sound more like a self-fulfilling prophecy than the self-motivation of a hungry young artist. In those three years, Azealia Banks has started more Twitter feuds than she has released official songs. Her latest album, ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ is her way of experimenting within her field of interest: off-kilter underground club music paired with opulent fashion-inspired imagery.

Banks has long displayed a keen ear for a beat, and the selection she has curated for ‘Broke With Expensive Taste’ almost threatens to overshadow her. However Banks is fantastic at creating memorable parts of songs, less good at creating memorable songs; while her spontaneity means the album avoids the problems of overthinking, there’s a casualness about this project – from the way in which Banks rides her beats into the jumbled sequencing – that means it comes off more like a superior mix -tape than a tightly crafted album.

Nonetheless this just might be the year's boldest release.

Ronika Marathon Something's terrible wrong in the state of pop if Ronika's still failing to notch the hits. The Nottingham singer/ DJ/Producer released some enjoyable tunes in her new album 'Marathon' and this EP drives the point home again.

The title-track is pure rare groove, all slap bass and disco strings; the semi-raps of 'Forget Yourself' – the lead song on 'Selectadisc' – owe something to Gwen Stefani; and the song 'See Through You' is addictive, with some influences of the New York punk-funk.

Ronika aka Veronica Sampson leaves us with 'World Is Turning', which is another perfect-pop 80s throwback with a sleek and modern electro clatter thrown in. The entire album is sparkly, entertaining and high on love, which is all about the 70’s and 80’s disco-tech inspired music.

The funky and prideful bass eases you into each and every song which make it quite fun. The album has a lot of faded charm – the voice is reminiscent of early Madonna. It is high time more people checked Ronika out.

Movies

13

Share your opinion on latest music and movie releases. Submit your reviews to mysay@one8one.com We’d love to share your ideas.

Nightcrawler Jake Gyllenhaal's Lou Bloom is an outsider drawn to the nocturnal world of freelance crime journalism. Armed with a digital video camera and police radio scanner he joins the race to be first at the scene in the aftermath of gang wars, car wrecks, suicides and home invasion homicides. The right footage is worth thousands to TV news stations desperate for the next gory prime time exclusive - because "if it bleeds it leads".

But when Bloom starts trespassing on crime scenes and making the news not chasing it, Dan Gilroy's thriller enters a darker realm...

Think American Psycho meets Taxi Driver as Bloom's ambition sees him smash his moral compass in the chase for ratings while the dollar signs in his eyes reflect the twisted morals of a subverted American dream.

The movie may be a scathing satire, and Gyllenhaal’s chilling climax is made unpredictable and totally compelling by his excellent acting skills. His unnerving presence is reminiscent of Christian Bale's Patrick Bateman in the American Psycho.

Somehow you still root for him despite his tragic flaws. Gyllenhaal deserves an Oscar for a restless and darkly comic transformation in one of this year's best films.

Horrible Bosses 2 Horrible Bosses 2 is a classic comedy sequel: yet it tries to recreate the infectious camaraderie and constant lolz of the original. The second time around the jokes just don't come as frequently as they did first time around. The movie employs the use of the first movie's funniest moments such as the "toothbrush gag" of the original. Everything else feels a bit more forced, too, Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey and Jennifer Aniston all make a return – with two out of the three of them actually having relevance to the movie.

Using the film’s stars to their full potential would have solved the main problem which was the lack of any standout moments. There are no lines you will be quoting as you walk out the cinema with your friends, nor scenes you’ll be talking about. Just a few funny moments to make you giggle. Horrible Bosses 2 was watchable enough with enough amusing interludes to not to test your patience.

But for a comedy about kidnap, it was strangely inadequate, and even the biggest fans of the original will not leave the theatre thinking that Horrible Bosses 3 really doesn't need to happen.

14

In Cinema

Alone for Christmas Starring: David DeLuise, Kim Little, Davis Cleveland

This is the tale of when an American family visits Grandma's house on Christmas Eve, they leave their dog alone at home. So when a bunch of burglars try to take the presents from under the tree, the faithful dog uses every trick it knows to stop them.

The Water Diviner Unbroken

Nightcrawler

The Pyramid

Starring: Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Jai Courtney

Starring: Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson.

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton

Starring: Denis O'Hare, Ashley Hinshaw, James Buckley

As a boy, Louis Zamperini is always in trouble, but with the help of his older brother, he turns his life around and channels his energy into running, later qualifying for the 1936 Olympics. When World War II breaks out, Louie enlists in the military.

After his plane crashes in the Pacific, he is captured by the Japanese navy. Louie becomes the favourite target of a particularly cruel prison commander.

When Lou Bloom, a driven A team of U.S. archaeologists young man desperate for unearths an ancient pyramid work who discovers the buried deep beneath the high-speed world of L.A. Egyptian desert. As they crime journalism. Finding a “...I just pour my heart out search the pyramid's depths, group of freelance camera theysay become hopelessly whatever I feel, crews who film crashes, fires, and lost in itsand darkIand endless study rap � murder and other mayhem, catacombs. Searching for Lou muscles into the cutabout Hopsin visit: a waymore out, they become throat, dangerous realm of To know desperatemyfunkvolume.com to seek daylight night crawling - where each again. They come to realise police siren wail equals a they aren't just trapped, they possible windfall and victims are being hunted. are converted into dollars

Australian farmer Connor (Russell Crowe) travels to Istanbul to discover the fate of his sons, reported missing in the action, where he forges a relationship with the beautiful Turkish woman (Olga Kurylenko) who owns the hotel in which he stays.

Holding on to hope, Connor must travel across the wartorn landscape with the help of a Turkish Officer, himself a veteran of the World War I battles.

and cents.

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16

Gaming

The Crew (PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4) “The best thing about the game is that cars can also be tweaked depending on your style such as street or performance”

The Crew is an amazing racing game for the PS4 that requires players to infiltrate an illegal racing street gang known as the 5-10s as they drive around the country from Los Angeles to Miami, Florida. Within the game one would play Alex Taylor who was wrongfully accused of murdering his brother and must now team up with the FBI to find the killer The Crew is basically the ultimate road trip that gives the players a gigantic virtual world of America to race on. The developers Ivory Tower have also added a wide variety of cars from traditional muscle cars such as a Ford Mustang to super cars that will require the player tweak them as not only do you race through cities and highways but also off-road.

The best thing about the game is that cars can also be tweaked depending on your style such as street or performance, both with their pros and cons but then you may need a car that can go off-road via dirt so it’s a careful balancing act. Cars can be modified to include circuit, dirt, street, performance and raid which ensures that all facets of driving is covered. In order to access these different modifications, your character does need to be at a certain level so grinding is required. Upgrading your cars is also a fun process but does require some tweaking of parts which may affect other capabilities of your car.

The Crew is a game that still has a few graphical issues and gameplay nuances that can cause controller rage. Although the story is relatively forgettable, we actually did enjoy driving around America in its “free mode” and when engaged in missions, some were extremely difficult due to the control mechanics and insane difficultly of the AI. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting racing game that is probably a little too ambitious for most but definitely recommended for those with no time commitments.

Guacamelee!

Super Turbo Championship Edition (Wii U) The Super Turbo Championship Edition is a breath of fresh air, playing Guacamelee on a TV, or even the GamePad thanks to seamless Off-TV Play, which gives this beautiful world more room to breathe. Guacamelee was made by a group that loves games and gaming. From an opening which very clearly references Ocarina of Time and the wealth of posters in the background, to sections of the game that actually use the combat and movement to mimic the mechanics of other games.

The game makes extensive use of a mechanic reminiscent of the best 2D Zelda titles and familiar sounding riffs feature in the music from time to time.

It’s pleasing, and a significant achievement then, that none of this is at the expense of Guacamelee's own identity.

The game seems to have a story, that of a hero’s shoes for you to fill, and a big baddie for you to overcome. Once you’re up and running that momentum propels you forward through the game that’s always taking you to new places and teaching you new techniques. On your colourful journey you’re treated to a cast of engaging characters, some really funny dialogues, and statues to smash. A good thing about the game is that you can bring a friend. In an age where couch co-op play is in dangerous decline, Guacamelee reminded us of some of the great all time screen sharing games.

Bayonetta 2 (Wii U) Bayonetta 2 never strives to be anything less than the purest, rarest kind of action-game experience, one that values skill, reaction time, and sheer spectacle over all else. Sure, you can feel the influence of the likes of Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden in Bayonetta 2 's combat, and see it in its wonderfully outlandish visuals. But neither of those games, nor the many that followed in their footsteps, come close to the brilliance of Bayonetta 2 .

It is a master-class in pure, unadulterated action-game design, where it’s insane eye-popping visuals meld effortlessly with some of the sharpest, most joyful combat to have ever graced a video game. We love that there's no delay in getting you to the good stuff either, no scene-setting preamble to keep you from the action. Within minutes you'll have travelled through space atop a crumbling building, sliced golden angels into gooey chunks of meat, and even hopped inside a machine-gun-mech to take on gigantic holy beasts.

Newcomers may well button bash their way through these opening moments, but the sheer spectacle of it all makes them no less fun or exciting.

Player’s combat skills and proficiency skills evolve at a natural pace, one moment you're happily chopping away at angelic guardians atop a fighter jet, and the next you're battling a giant golden snake that's guarding the glittering gates of heaven. Death comes quickly to those who fail to adapt to the timings and speeds of these wildly different encounters, but it's in this learning by doing that you're rewarded with a real sense of accomplishment, one that you don't get from simply being told what to do. Nothing seems forced or faked, and with a couple of minor exceptions.

The mechanics of Bayonetta 2's combat don't differ too much from those of its predecessor. Everything from the way punches and kicks connect with your enemies, to the detailed, pixel-perfect animations that accompany them, showcases a stunning combat system that values skill and reaction times while looking gorgeous in the process. Bayonetta 2's combat is so expertly constructed, and its presentation so joyously insane, that you'd have to try so very hard to get bored of it all.

Colour Me Silly

product: Uni-ball, Maped photography, and art direction: Anton Rodionov make-up: Izabela @prettiestbyizabela models: Tamara Ghoul, Yara Mersi

24

Fashion for Her by

olga lobanova

Turtleneck Sweaters Are Back!

This classic staple has graced the necks of countless style icons such as Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O, and probably your grandmother.

Despite its not-so-cool reputation, this winter gives us the green light to wearing all the possible turtlenecks we can imagine. The sweaters are available in a variety of incarnations—cropped, oversized and tissue-thin.

Turtlenecks offer plenty of great styling opportunities; making them super easy to incorporate into your existing wardrobe and also helping you to battle the winter chill.

Ralph Lauren, Helmut Lang, DKNY and Chanel were just a few of the fall/ winter collections showcasing turtlenecks. We saw them paired with skirts and trousers, as well as worn under dresses with a plunging neckline. Some designers sent models down the runway in ridiculously oversized turtlenecks, but in all honesty, we loved them. Because with a neckline that big, who needs a scarf?

Style tip for those of you, who are trying to create a boho-chic look: wear a big chunky turtleneck sweater with the collar of the sweater messy and leave your hair tucked in.

Fitted turtlenecks sweaters are more classic and they’re perfect for office paired with your favourite skinny jeans, pencil or any other A-line skirt.

If you’re eager to nail this trend, check out our styling ideas for three occasions: daytime, university or office, and night out.

We think Audrey Hepburn would approve.

H&M

Monroe & Me C.Wonder West

Harvest

Topshop

Office

Day Outdoors

DSquared2 Gerard Daren

DKNY

Chanel

Oak @Net-A-Porter

Monroe & Me

Zara

Repetto

Party

Zara

ValleyDez

Marc Jacobs

Sephora

ValleyDez

Alexander McQueen

Pinko H&M

Ted Baker

The Kooples

Valentino Sol Sana @ West L.A.

Mango

26

Add a Splash of Colour to Your Winter Wardrobe!

Stereotypically we know men do not prefer to experiment with the different colours and shades, and tend to stay within the black-grey-navy scheme in their everyday wear, especially during the winter season. Even though most of them look great, classy and timeless, we believe that one of the easiest and most fun ways to express your individuality and brighten up your day is to add some colours into your wardrobe.

Oliver Spencer once said, "Inject some colour into your life and it will brighten your mood" and we have a few tips to show you exactly how to.

Accessorise!

Accessories are taking centre stage. The average man on the street has finally realised to what women have known for years: accessories are versatile, affordable and definitely completes any look. Think about colourful accent pieces: caps, scarves and bags. The trick is not to be afraid of colour, while ensuring to not go overboard with it. Find a level of colour that you're comfortable with.

Wear colourful footwear An easy way to make a strong statement is to inject a serious dose of colour into your footwear. Historically, shoes for men have typically come in one of two hues: black or brown – but over the past few years, brands have been providing all-new, more adventurous styles for the latest generation.

Vibrant slip-ons, epic Nike Air trainers or brogues with contrasting sunshine soles and laces can be your ultimate style statement.

Invest in some argyle A pattern typically associated with golf, Argyle was in, then out, and now it’s in again, and we couldn’t be happier. But instead of wearing it like your dad or granddad would, while playing his weekly eighteen holes, why not give it an edgy rock ‘n’ roll slant by combining bright colours?

The argyle sweaters will seamlessly help inject life back into any of your current go-to autumn and winter looks.

Don't forget outerwear One of the biggest menswear winter trends we have spotted is the statement coat. Go for a bold coat that not only adds a pop of colour to your wardrobe but also keeps you warm.

If you think the UAE's winter is too mild for you to wear a coat, then try a vest.

28

Fashion Lingo You Need to Know Are you familiar with what haute couture, gaiter, or ombre mean? If you answered “no” to any of these, you’re certainly not alone. We have a glossary for you to improve your fashion dictionary.

Bespoke

A made-to-order garment, usually a suit, could also apply to shoes or a wedding dress; tailored specifically to the customer’s measurements and specifications.

Dirndl

A-line

Garments shaped like a letter "A" - skirts, dresses, coats. The term was coined by Christian Dior, who introduced the style in spring 1955.

Traditional Bavarian costume comprising a dress, a lacy blouse and an apron. The fashions of Oktoberfest inspired such designers as Christopher Kane and D&G.

Capsule Collection

The concept behind this idea is giving customers around 10 staple pieces (coats, blouses, trousers, and more) that can be mixed-and-matched so as to maximise your outfit potential. Our recent favourite capsule collection, you ask? Cara Delevingne for DKNY.

Faux Pas

A term borrowed from the French, meaning a miss-step or major no-no.

Espadrille

A shoe constructed from canvas with a plaited rope sole. Originally worn in the Pyrenees and South America, Espadrille-inspired footwear has been given a new lease of life in the high-end collections by Chanel and Valentino a few years back.

Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2012

Gaiter Chanel S/S 2014

A piece of fabric worn over the shoe, extending to the ankle or the knee.

Haute Couture

A French term, mean exclusive, customfitted high fashion clothing as produced in Paris, and imitated in other fashion capitals such as New York, London, and Milan – made for individual customers from high quality, by using expensive fabrics.

Iridescent

Kitten Heel

The property of a fabric that appears to change color as it catches the light.

Valentino

Jouy Print

A white or off-white background on which a repeated pattern, depicting a detailed scene, appears. Recent adopters of the design include Carven, Ruffian and Duro Olowu.

Mandarin Collar

A short slender heel, usually just 1.5 or 2 inches high.

Lookbook

A collection of photos created to show the designer’s collection for the current season. Typically the photography is less ‘creative’ and more about showcasing the clothing, although that is not always the case.

Small, close fitting and upright collar.

Originating from traditional Chinese garments, it is used in oriental-inspired collections and to create a minimalist feel.

Carven S/S 2013

Neats Rocha S/S 2015

Small socks with evenly-spaced designs.

As popular with adults as they are with children, little socks constantly pop up on the catwalks of quirky labels like Miu Miu, Rocha, Prada and Anna Sue.

30 Fendi S/S 2014

Quilted

When two or more layers of material are sewn together to make a thicker padded material, often creating a diamond pattern of seams throughout the fabric; for example, the classic Chanel quilted handbag.

Ombre

Describes when a color fades in stages (usually down the length of a garment) from deeply saturated to nearly white.

Peplum

A short flared, gathered, or pleated strip of fabric attached at the waist of a woman’s jacket, dress, blouse or skirt to create a hanging frill or flounce.

Sartorial

You’ll see this a lot in fashion articles, often with a slight menswear association. Originally “Sartorial” comes from the Latin word "sartor" meaning tailor.

Resort Collections

Collections shown in late spring. This season was originally concepted and marketed for affluent customers who spent the post Christmas and New Years holidays in warm climates.

Trompe L'Oeil

Trompe L’Oeil means “to trick the eye” and is an artistic technique where realistic imagery is used so to appear Mary Katrantzou S/S 2011 3D. Mary Katrantzou Spring can be certainly seen as the pioneer of Trompe L'Oeil in contemporary ready-to-wear after presenting her perfume-bottle inspired dresses for S/S 2011.

Unitard

A skin-tight garment that covers the body from the neck to the wrists and ankles.

Costume National S 2014 Valentino S2014 Couture

Vent

In simple terms a vent is a split in a garment that makes it easier to move.

Vents are most commonly found on skirts and tailored jackets although can be used for aesthetic purposes, adding flair to the piece.

WIWT

Often used as a hashtag, an acronym for “what I wore today’.

X-Ray Fabrics

Sheer fabrics with a translucent effect.

Brood S 2013

Prada S/S 2013

Zori

A traditional Japanese sandals, that have possibly inspired the flip-flops.

Miuccia Prada experimented with Japanese-inspired elements and presented a futuristic version of zori in her Spring 2013 collection.

Yoke

When you notice that there is a separated section around the neck of your garment, this is a yoke. A yoke covers the area under your neck on the front and back of the garment, and is commonly highlighted with contrasting fabric.

Nadine Hanafi Entrepreneur, Designer and Speaker

Cover Story

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Nadine’s personal journey to entrepreneurship started at a very young age while growing up in Morocco where she had started a children’s summer camp in her family’s backyard. At such a young age she went around her neighbourhood pitching her idea to all the parents who were more than happy to let her babysit their kids for free. Since then she has been dreaming of running her own business and was just waiting for the right idea.

Fast forward a decade or so, Nadine is now the CEO and founder of a Miami-based Creative Communications Agency called We Are Visual. Her company specialises in creating highly visual and engaging presentations that help clients tell a compelling story through the use of visual aids.

Some of her international clientele includes TEDx speakers, professional speakers, entrepreneurs and Fortune 100 companies. Nadine’s company We are Visual was recently awarded the "Top US Company Started and Run by an Entrepreneur under 35" by the Empact Showcase and was even honoured at the United Nations. Our team had the opportunity to speak with the very creative and talented Nadine Hanafi and this is what she had to say…

How and why did you start We Are Visual?

I have always been fascinated with design and the power that it has to make a message so much more compelling. I used to analyse commercials and print ads that I found original and take note of how they went about making their messaging remarkable. I am also a big movie fan with a huge appreciation for the art of visual storytelling. The light bulb first went off in my head when I realised that our formal education was not preparing us to be effective visual communicators in a world where more and more messaging is being done through visual means and PowerPoint has become the standard and most widely used communication tool in the world.

From college into our careers, we are required to produce hundreds of presentations on a regular basis and yet there is not a course we can take in college to teach us how to use the tool properly. The result is that so many people end up creating presentations the same way they create Word documents; linear, text heavy with little to no design elements. They don’t realise that their messaging could be so much more powerful if they apply the simple principles of effective visual communication. A little design and structure can really transform a presentation from a yawn inducing torture to an exciting and engaging experience.

So after sitting through one too many of these coma inducing presentations, I realised that there was an opportunity for me to help people tell their stories in a more persuasive, visual and engaging way. I set out to stop the bleeding and start a movement to eradicate mediocre presentations. Thus, We Are Visual was born.

I started the company out of my living room in August 2013. Using only my personal savings, I embarked on a risky entrepreneurial journey with no business plan and no plan B: I had a dream of building a successful business, a vision for the company and a gut feeling that people could use my PowerPoint skills to improve their presentation content. Within 14 months, I grew the business to six-figure revenue with no external capital.

I first made a name for myself in the presentation design niche market by publishing SlideShare presentations that became viral and landed me a spot in the top 1% most viewed content on SlideShare in 2013. After designing visuals for several speakers at TEDxMiami and TEDxCoconutGrove.

Within a few months, my client list grew more than tenfold as I got to work with entrepreneurs and speakers from 12 different countries as well as several Fortune 100 companies.

Today, I am expanding my team in Miami and developing more strategic and global partnerships. My new goal for the company is to design 1500 presentations, in 15 languages, in 2015.

How did it feel to be awarded by the United Nations for best entrepreneur?

It was surreal! Being honoured at the United Nations and having my logo featured on the NASDAQ billboard in Times Square were major highlights in my entrepreneurial career. I am incredibly proud to be part of such an energetic group of young entrepreneurs who are each changing the world in their own way.

How do you convert your client’s idea into a visual presentation with design?

I would tell you but then I would have to kill you! (laughs) We guard our secret sauce for visual transformation pretty fiercely. Our proprietary process involves a thorough consultation with the client to understand the context of the presentation, how it will be presented and any technical or industry-specific knowledge we need to gain in order to help them explain complex concepts in a simple visual format. The next step is the design phase whereby we create the new slides or rebuild existing slides based on the agreed upon design theme that the client chooses from the options we provide.

One of the rules we operate by when it comes to turning ideas into a visual presentation is to stick to one idea per slide and one visual per idea.

Why do you think it is important to have effective communication skills in today’s day and age?

People appreciate it when you make an effort to simplify information and put it into a visual format that will make it easy for them to absorb. Exceptional communication skills is the x-factor that transforms a talented manager into an inspirational leader and a business into a movement.

Every webinar you host, every speaking engagement and every proposal you pitch is an opportunity to expand your network and increase your net worth.

You’re not going to win the client over or conquer your audience with a poorly designed message and a plain set of visuals.

I think it is becoming all the more important to be an effective communicator in this generation of shrinking attention spans and information overload. If you want to be heard, you’ve got to have remarkable communication skills.

What according to you is the influence/strength of a PowerPoint presentation?

A great PowerPoint gives the speaker confidence and the audience visual support to help them absorb the message more effectively. When you effeciently combine verbal and visual language, magic happens. You ignite new parts of your audience’s minds allowing them to take in more information, understand it more clearly and remember it for a longer period of time.

Too often people forget that presentations aren’t about presenting information, rather they are about persuading an audience. A great PowerPoint presentation takes the audience on a transformative journey that engages, convinces and excites them.

What does it take to become a better visual communicator and why is it so important?

We are becoming a visually mediated society and we need to adapt to the way people consume information. A good visual communicator simplifies complex information and makes it easier to digest for the audience. If you use visuals effectively and creatively, your message will stand out by being original, engaging and eye-catching.

36 How do you do this?

Step 1: Simplify, simplify, simplify. Don’t tell your audience how to build a clock when all they want to know is what time it is. Identify the key points in your presentation that will make or break your message and cut out the fluff. Don’t think “what do I want to tell my audience”, think “what can I tell my audience that will be valuable to them? What do they want to hear/learn from me?” Your audience is king! If you frame your content this way in the beginning phase, you are already on your way to making a fantastic presentation.

Step 2: Less text, more images. You can use all sorts of imagery from icons to stock photos along with a beautiful colour palette to add visual zest to your slides. If you make an effort to limit the amount of text on each slide, create custom graphs to go with the design and spice everything up with some cool stock photos, your presentation will get an instant facelift.

How can one integrate colour and design into a presentation without going too crazy, and yet making it aesthetically appealing?

Colours set the tone for the presentation and make it more fun and visually pleasing to the eye. To avoid unpleasant, distracting and mismatched colours, you should try to use colours within the same palette. There are tons of web resources where you can find matching colour palettes or create your own.

We use Adobe Color CC. You need to make sure that the colours remain consistent throughout all of the slides. No surprise pink highlights in the middle of an all-black and green design!

The colours you choose also helps you create meaning within your slide. For example, using an accent colour to highlight important facts, numbers, and words or using contrasting colours to distinguish different/opposing ideas.

What advice would you give to the youth of the world?

New technologies have turned us into a generation of people who are getting used to getting what we want, when we want. I think this is making us a generation of impatient people who are losing touch with the concept of patience, sacrifice and slow-earned success. As Steve Jobs once said, “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time”. True and sustainable success requires time and a lot of sacrifice.

So if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, you have to be ready to sacrifice the comforts of routine, free weekends, full nights of sleep and a social life… Becoming an entrepreneur will test you to your core. It will make you question who you are and why you are doing what you do. On the bright side, you will come out of this experience a new person with a renewed and stronger sense of who you are, what you want and what your place in the world should be. It really is the most fulfilling feeling in the world.

Never give up on your dreams no matter how crazy or “delusional” they may seem.

Don’t let anyone tell you that your dreams are unreasonable or that you can’t do something. With a little bit of patience and a lot of hard work, you can achieve anything you set out to do. Be bold, be daring and be crazy.

“Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” - Steve Jobs

by

bhargavi nagrecha

“colours set the tone for the presentation and make it more fun and visually pleasing to the eye.�

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Artist: Tarsila Schubert writing by photos by

Shaun Van Der Linden Tarsila schubert

Colourful, intriguing and charismatic, describe both the artist and her work. Tarsila Schubert is working her way to becoming a household name in the Dubai Art scene and her work speaks for itself. When she's not brightening up the otherwise grey walls of DIFC or painting recycled furniture at Yasalam (Abu Dhabi) for charity she's working on improving herself as an artist and just saying YES to life.

Our team had the opportunity to speak with the ever inspiring Tarsila Schubert and learn more about her and her journey as an artist.

What was your inspiration to become an artist and were there any hurdles or difficulties on the way?

My earliest memories with art begin early, when I was a kid, I collected books and posters of Hieronymus Bosch and when I was twelve or thirteen years old, I would engross myself in Greek mythology stories, drawing the heroes and villains I read about. I would also create completely new characters from my imagination and draw them. When I was eighteen, I began to study dentistry at a university in Brazil, which was a three year course. My passion was art but I didn't have the courage or means to pursue it so I chose dentistry, but after two years I took the plunge and decided to do what I love and it made me feel like I was really living. At first it was a real struggle, but I knew that life as a young and aspiring artist was never going to be easy, but it was requirement.

Where do you find inspiration for your work and who do you look up to as an artist?

Inspiration can be found everywhere. People and nature inspire me so much, we live in a crazy world, full of things to be noticed, and I always try and watch my surroundings. Since I am from Brazil, I'm used to seeing a lot of green and bright colours, and I always try to incorporate it in my paintings. Ever since I have moved to Dubai, I have been influenced by Arabic Calligraphy and the traditional MiddleEastern way of life. I admire many artists, but specifically the artists from the past.

I am passionate about the surrealist movement, as I said earlier, I really like Bosch, and I believe his work has influenced the surrealist movement. Also, I like the colours of Matisse and the faces and bodies of Egon Schiele.

What do you normally portray in your art? How personal is it?

I paint everything I see around me, and inside me. I try to make my reality seem more beautiful through rose tinted glasses. I dream a lot, and I always put my dreams and my nightmares in my paintings. A few years ago, I decided to become a street artist, so that I would be able to connect and share these feelings with people from all walks of life. Art is a feeling, an emotion, a moment, which are all very valuable. Our society is becoming more external, electronic and busy, and art can bring life, remind you of your internal feelings.

Do you sketch/practice before you paint or is it freestyle?

Most of the times I just do freestyle.

What is it like being a graffiti artist in Dubai? How is the scene changing?

I’ve been living in Dubai for two and a half years and ever since I moved here, I've seen so many changes that has led to an art evolution here. Projects are now sponsored by the government and people are getting more and more involved and interested, especially in street art. Galleries with new art concepts have opened, and has become more accessible to the public, we even have large art events that are being held. I truly believe that Dubai has everything to become a world reference for art in the future.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years and what is your ultimate goal as an artist?

My life has always been very unstable, full of changes, and nothing constant. I do not like to over plan, I just keep doing things in the present. In five years I don’t have the slightest idea where I'll be or what I'll be doing, and I prefer to let life surprise me.

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Overall Rating: Hardware – 9/10 Software – 7/10 Camera – 8/10 Overall –8/10

New Technology

Fly Blade Hardware Let's get this out of the way Fly Blade is beautiful; it is one of the world's thinnest devices; at a mere 5.1mm thin it is just a little thicker than the world's thinnest Oppo R5 (4.85mm). The build quality is great and the overall feel is great; think of an iPhone 5s meeting Xperia Z3.

Software Fly Blade runs on Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat, however it does not look anything like the Google stock OS; its OS is heavily customised by Fly Blade and we found it a bit different and difficult to navigate at first due to the hidden settings and absent App tray. With regards to its speed, Fly Blade runs apps smoothly thanks to its Octacore processor.

Camera The camera on this phone is not great. Indeed, the front shooter does a good job at capturing wide angle selfies, it is the rear lens that leaves one wishing for more. We ran some field tests and found the images a little too grainy and, in some places, blurred when the light wasnt on our side.

Verdict Fly Blade is a beautiful phone; it is thin, super light (under 100g), has a great screen and build quality that's far better than many other devices in its price range (AED 999). If you are looking for a reasonably priced phone that runs on Android, looks and feels great and is light, Fly Blade is for you.

Share your opinion on the latest tech products. Submit your reviews on mysay@one8one.com We'd love to share your ideas.

Acer Liquid Jade Hardware Acer Liquid Jade is the latest foray the company is making into the world of Android mobile space. The hardware of this device feels organic due to its curved body and screen, however it also feels a little cheap thanks to its fully plastic structure; the buttons and the front speaker are the most notable points in that sense. The phone comes with 8GB in-built memory out of the box, but can support up to 32GB of additional memory, should you need more space for your photos and videos.

Camera Speaking of photos and videos, Acer Liquid Jade is definitely not the point-and-shoot you would like to carry; the camera is incredibly slow and grainy even though it sports 13MP and is capable of shooting in 1080p resolution. The front 2 MP sensor adds to the injury by having a slow face-detection functionality as well as generally washed out look. All in all, this is not the phone one should buy for its camera.

Software When it comes to software, Acer Liquid Jade runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat; however, it should be noted that this is a skinned version of Android-the one Acer sees fit for its customers. We had no complaints with it, as it is a good Android OS on a mid-tier device. The system runs smooth and we've had no hiccups with the apps we had run on it.

Verdict Let's get this straight, Acer Liquid Jade is a great well-priced device; it performs well and feels great in hand due to its ergonomic body structure; however, do not expect this to be the next flagship device as it does not feel expensive due to its plasticky materials. Overall, its a great device to give as a gift to a friend, or a younger sibling.

Overall Rating: Hardware – 6.5/10 Software – 6/10 Camera – 6/10 Overall – 6.5/10

Taiwan Discovering Taipei by

Anton rodionov

What is Taiwan? Where is it? It's Thailand, right", funny as it is, I heard these questions more than a couple of times when I said I was going to visit the Far East island last month. My itinerary was busy and I had no clue what I was going to experience in one week; I was to start off with Taipei, then relax at the gorgeous Sun Moon Lake, spend a night in Tainan, visit insanely unusual E-Da world, move to Kaohsiung and then round it all off with a bullet train ride back to Taoyuan on the Taiwan High Speed Rail. I was excited, to say the least, and couldn’t wait to explore this mysterious country.

I didn't know what to expect from Taiwan, and so when I got out of the airport and saw the green mountains with highway bridge roads twisting and cutting through the valleys of lush green forests, I knew I was in for a fun ride. It took us about an hour and a half to reach the capital city of Taipei by car. Travellers can also take a bullet train from Taoyuan, which is a 20-minute trip by train, however do note that the train station is approximately 20 to 30 minutes away and can be reached with the help of a coach bus provided exclusively by the airport.

This is the first part of my journey to Taiwan- Asia's best kept secret.

My choice of stay was Palais de Chine, a beautiful and luxurious hotel located in Datong District-a perfect area for those who want to shop as well as enjoy the city's night attractions.

Travel

With its population of over 8 million people, Taipei is the largest city in Taiwan; it is divided into the Old and New Taipei which are both equally amazing in their own way. Both have their own individual charm and scenic beauty. As a 300-year old city, Taipei is filled with modern buildings but still manages to maintain its historical artefacts. One can experience its historic richness when they visit gorgeous architectural monuments like the National Palace Museum, where visitors can see one of the largest collections of 10,000 years of Chinese history. The Taipei 101 is a magnificent structure and was until recently the tallest tower in the world until the home-grown Burj Khalifa surpassed it in 2010.

One of the famous monument in Taiwan is the Chiang Kai-shel Memorial Hall which was built in memory of the late President of The Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shel. The Memorial Hall is a huge white building with four sides, with a gorgeous blue coloured roof that is in an octagonal shape. This symbolises the number eight, a number traditionally associated in Asia with abundance and good fortune. The hall also includes two sets of white stairs, each comprising of eighty nine steps to represent Chiang's age at the time of his death, which is placed near the main entrance.

Another great thing to do is to visit the famous night markets that Taipei so well known for, as you can enjoy experiencing a multitude of local food and drinks sold on the streets while looking for the best bargains. The Shihlin Night Market is one of the largest and oldest markets in Taiwan, and it is very close to the National Palace Museum, which makes it an excellent destination for the evening time once you are done venturing the museum. The other night market is Raohe and it is in the heart of Taipei, and it is mainly food focused which leaves you with a bountiful of choices to try and savour. Generally, the urban areas of this city are full of life, clean and even the people are wonderfully polite, kind and helpful.

For those who are interested in healing and relaxation, the Beitou district in Taipei is recognised for its wonderful hot springs, historical sites and lush green environment. This is a location that you’d not want to miss. The Spring City Resort in Beitou is an excellent place to unwind and enjoy the therapeutic hot spring baths and the unbeatable view of the city lights blend into the glittering sky at night.

The view from Taipei 101 is stunning. There are two viewing decks: indoor on the 89th and the upper outdoor deck on the 91st floor.

There are nine Night Markets in Taipei, where visitors can indulge in amazing local cusines and authentic Far Eastern street shopping.

Dubai International Film Festival

The 11th edition of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) got off to a glamorous start at the Madinat Jumeirah with a red carpet opening gala screening of ‘The Theory of Everything’ from Academy Award-winning director James Marsh. Many famous celebrities such as Emily Blunt, Lee Daniels, Virginia Madsen, Asha Bhosle, Nour El-Sherif, Nadine Labaki, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Olga Kurylenko added the glitz and glamour.

The next eight days saw the screening of a total of 118 features, film shorts and documentaries, including 55 world and international premieres from 48 countries in 34 languages. The prestigious DIFF Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to two legendary artists one of them being, renowned Indian playback singer Asha Bhosle for her decades of dedication to the Indian cinema and acclaimed Egyptian actor Nour El-Sherif for his work in over 100 films, and for a astounding career that’s spanned nearly five decades.

The Muhr Shorts I am Nujoom, Aged 10 and Divorced

by Khadija Al-Salami This short film along with catchy title and a highly-charged topic of a real-life incident of child brides in Yemen, won the best feature in the Muhr competition and succeeded in achieving a standing ovation during its first screening. The short portrays the life of a Yemeni child-bride, who was sold off to a man 20 years her senior. The protagonist Nujoom as played by first-time actress Rieham Mohammad, who did a splendid job of breathing life into her character as a child bride who fights her way out of an abusive arranged marriage.

Dolphins

by Waleed Al Shehhi The feature was shot in the scenic Ras Al Khaimah and follows the intricately intertwined stories of father, mother and son named Saud, within a twenty-four hour period. The film features the character Saud, an only child who struggles to come to terms with his parents’ separation and sets off on an unusual adventure which ensures to keep the audience in an unpredictable web. The mystical and captivating situation reveals the inner struggle of each person’s personality that just makes the whole movie all the more captivating.

I’m Dead

by Yacine Mohamed Benelhadj This short is a thriller featuring Omar – a car thief, who finds a bag filled with banknotes in the back of the car he’s just stolen. When Omar realises that the owner is not going to let him get away with his money, things become even more complicated when the car owner turns out to be a killer.

A Letter to the King

by Hisham Zaman This Muhr feature received a special mention and is about the emotional tales of five refugees as told to the audience in the form of a letter by an 83-year-old man named Mirza. The five refugees take on a journey to discover happiness, suffer humiliation, find love and seek revenge. The five stories are bound together by a letter and is written by the 83-year-old Mirza, who wants to personally hand over the letter to the King of Norway.

The Water Diviner

Russell Crowe stars as Joshua Connor in his directorial debut which is a film about a grief-stricken Australian father who sets out for Turkey after World War I to find his three sons that are presumed dead during the battle of Gallipoli.

The movie is very aspiring, emotionally manipulative and is nothing if not polished. The water symbolises a spiritual connection the protagonist shares with his three sons lost in the Great War. The film gives a lot of space to emotions, but Crowe reins in his immense personality to contribute a simple yet touching performance and, as a director he underplays the metaphors, particularly the recurring water theme, so that it seems more organically placed within the movie. The audience can very easily connect with the movie as it is filled with emotions and is truly a great story.

The Theory of Everything

Once a healthy, active young man, Stephen Hawking as played

by Eddie Redmayne received an earth-shattering diagnosis at 21 years of age. With his wife Jane fighting tirelessly by his side, Stephen embarks on his most ambitious scientific work, studying the very thing he now has precious little of - time.

Together, they portray something deeper and more complex than the average romantic dramas that seem to take place these days. Although Redmayne’s vulnerable playfulness and spirited charm virtually erase Hawking’s real-life shortcomings, they’re still evident, especially when, as he grows more and more dependent on Jane, and his demands begin to seem increasingly spiteful and cruel. Overall this is an exceptional film, not because of the protagonists’ impressive triumphs, but because it honours their struggle as well.

Absolace Formed in 2008, UAE-based Absolace have earned a huge following across the Middle East with their mixture of progressive rock and metal. The band is comprised of Nadim Jamal on vocals, Jack Skinner on Guitars, Ben Harris on Bass and Greg Cargopoulos on Drums. In 2010, the band recorded and released their debut album Resolve[d] which showcased Absolace’s unique rhythmically focused sound and quality. Together the band is a harmonious combination of intense, dynamic and electric when performing live shows all throughout the UAE. Our team had the opportunity to speak with guitarist, Jack Skinner who had graciously offered to answer the questions on behalf of the band.

So tell us how Absolace started off in Dubai? How did you'll meet?

Greg and I went to school together and we were both playing in separate bands, and one day he called me up and said that he had an idea for a band that he'd really like to try out. That’s when he asked if I would like to play the guitar, during this time Greg had also met Nadim through work and they both ended up chatting about music and bands, so naturally that’s how Nadim joined us. Ben is a bass player by profession and we heard about him playing around town through a mutual friend, so we went down to the nights when he would be playing at and that’s how he joined us.

Since we all shared common grounds in regards to music we quickly became friends and band members.

Where does the name "Absolace" come from?

Absolace is a combination of two words: "Absolute" and "Solace". Our band name is basically a nod towards the two things we really do try to keep in mind when writing and playing music together. We try and emphasise on the rhythmic element which needs to be very precise and calculated when we play and that adds the ‘Absolute’ element. The more relaxed side to the music is when we get to feed off each other while playing, this helps us to create a contrasting feel to the very calculated heavy parts of our music, which adds to the ‘Solace’ element.

How would you describe the feel/ sound of the band?

I think ultimately we'd be labelled as Progressive Rock/Metal - but individually we like to add our own personal influences to the overall feel to the music we play.

Do you guys ever feel nervous before performing on stage? If so, do you have a trick to stop the nervousness?

Yes, sometimes we do get nervous before going onstage, especially if we haven't been on stage in quite a while, it certainly be a little nerve-racking. We always find the best thing to do is to warm up properly for about twenty minutes or so and just get our heads in a calm and collected space where we know what we are going to do next. Sometimes it is important to remind ourselves that people are here to watch us and enjoy our performance, so it is important for us to enjoy yourselves too. This guarantees that everyone will have an amazing time.

What was your biggest performance and where was it? Tell us about it Our biggest performance was probably at ‘Beats on the Beach’ in 2010 for F1.

There were a lot of people down there, and it was a lot of fun to perform to such a large audience and at such an enormous stage. It was an amazing experience, the sheer sound radiating from all over the place was quite an experience.

How do you feel the UAE music scene has evolved over the last few years?

It seems to be going great! There are some great bands that seem to be popping up every few weeks or so it seems. Also something that has truly helped encourage and feed the whole music scene over here is the introduction of more open mic nights and showcase performances with places such as Jazz@Pizza Express and The Fridge. These events are really pushing artists to come forth, plus a lot of people are interested in listening and having a good time. Of course these last few years we've also seen Red Bull get involved with the local bands, not just in the UAE but also in the Middle East. They are truly helping bands get support slots for larger international acts and marketing their music by making it accessible for people over the planet to get the chance to listen to them.

What is your favourite song to perform and why?

My personal favourite to perform is probably "White Lies." It has some great lyrics and I feel really gutsy when I get to play it live! I can really dig in and get lost for a bit while playing that song. (Smiles) What advice do you have for aspiring bands or musicians?

In terms of bands, it's pretty simple - Just keep playing! The most important thing is to enjoy playing together, as you're with your friends making and playing music together. So just enjoy yourselves.

Where do you see your music and your band in the next 5 years?

Oooofffttt! Difficult one! Honestly, I hope we'll be doing the same thing we're doing now, which is writing music together and individually trying to further ourselves on our instrument. In 5 years I really do think we'll be releasing hopefully another album that will be different from the last, playing more "together" than the last album and still having a great time!

For more info and news on the band check out their Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/absolace

Musicians

48

Cinnamon Weekends

What or whom inspired you to start food blogging?

I was inspired to start blogging when my friends and family would like my facebook posts about all of the food experiments that I would conduct. I used to receive several appreciative notes and requests for the recipes, and over time, there were many requests pouring in to start a food blog. On December 2013, I decided to make it my New Year’s Resolution to start a food blog in 2014, and ever since then my Through Cinnamon Weekends, Shruthi posts classic husband, family and my friends have supported me. recipes that have been tried and tested by friends, family and professionals. The recipes found on the Where did the name ‘Cinnamon Weekends’ come from? website cannot be boxed into any one specific category Cinnamon is one of my favourite spices, and I love adding it to my such as gluten-free as Shruthi believes in eating a coffee, baked goodies, curries and so much more. Since most of my variety of foods that provide different nutrients which special cooking, photography and blogging happens on weekends, I in turn makes life fun. choose Cinnamon Weekends as the name of the blog.

Shruthi wasn’t always passionate about cooking and baking as she always found it to be too tedious.

But when she made an attempt at trying new dishes and actually perfecting them she saw such amazing responses from her friends and family that she was overjoyed with herself and decided to start a food blog.

What according to you is the best and worst part of food blogging?

The best part of blogging is the satisfaction that you get in perfecting a dish or recipe and it feels even better when readers are able to replicate it and enjoy it just like how I had imagined them to. It feels wonderful when readers are able to enjoy making something new and exciting. I have learnt so much through blogging, improved on a lot of skills and it has even helped me to become a better person.

Follow Shruthi's blog at: http://www.cinnamonweekends.com

I cannot think of a bad part of blogging, except my dislike of certain technical aspects that takes up a lot of my time.

What is your comfort food?

My ideal of comfort food would be my mom’s homemade bowl of warm Mutton Leg Soup. It is simply delicious.

Describe your blog in four words?

Personal, Heartfelt, Simple and Inspiring.

Recipes

by Shruthi

Orange and Almond Cake Large Oranges – 2 whole Free range eggs - 6 Caster Sugar - 240 gm Ground Almonds - 240 gm Baking powder - 1 tsp Icing sugar - for dusting 1. Wash whole oranges and boil them for at least 40 minutes until they are soft. This removes the bitterness from the skin. Leave them to cool and puree the insides without the seeds.

2. Preheat oven to 190 degree C. Butter a 9 inch cake pan, and line it with baking paper.

3. Beat the eggs and sugar for about 5 minutes, until thick and creamy. Fold in the ground almonds, baking powder using a wooden spoon. Finally, add the orange puree and stir until all are evenly combined. Do not over mix.

4. Pour the cake mixture into the prepared pan, and bake for 45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean when poked in the middle.

5. Once the cake has cooled dust with icing sugar. Garnish with some orange peels and berries.

Sweet 'n' Spicy Chicken Roast Chicken pieces- 1 Kg Tomatoes - 3 medium sized Coriander powder - 2 tbsp Kashmiri Chilli powder - 1 tbsp Shallots - 10 Ginger - 1 inch piece Garlic - 10 cloves Garam Masala Powder - 1 tsp Onions – 4 whole sliced thinly Ginger and Garlic paste - 1/2 tbsp each Cumin powder - 1/4 tsp Curry Leaves – 2-3 leaves Pepper Powder - 1.5 tbsp Oil – 1 tbsp.

Dates – 2 thinly sliced 1. Wash and clean the chicken pieces.

2. In a small pan, dry roast for 3-4 minutes the coriander powder and kashmiri chilli powder. Add the shallots, garlic, ginger and garam masala. Remove from heat, and let it cool.

Grind this mix into a smooth paste.

3. In a medium saucepan, add oil, and fry the onions until golden brown. Add the paste from step 2 and sauté for another minute or so.

4. Add the sliced tomatoes, and wait until the water from the tomatoes have been absorbed. Add the dates, cumin, curry leaves and add salt to taste.

5. Add chicken pieces along with little water. Cover and cook for a few minutes. Once the chicken is done, open the lid and get it to the consistency that you want (Medium gravy or dry). Add crushed black peppercorns and give a final stir.

6. Serve with warm pita bread/ chapattis or rice.

50

Dining Out

Reem Al Bawadi Reem Al Bawadi is Dubai’s most popular Arabic dining chain, and while we have not been to their first branch in Jumeriah Beach Road, we have been to the one on Sheikh Zayed Road.

We enjoyed how spacious, peaceful, relaxed and comfortable it felt to be in the restaurant. The decor of each location is fairly similar with traditional Arabic ‘wall scenes’, plants and low-hanging lights.

During our visit we were greeted by a hostess who helped guide us towards our tables, and then we were immediately greeted by a waiter who gave us our menus.

Since the best way to know if an Arabic restaurant is good we ordered all the basic staples such as the hummous, tabblouleh, fattoush, baba ghanoush and muhamara which were all quite tasty and well-seasoned. For the mains we ordered the sizzling shish taouk that was pretty standard but flavoursome. The mixed chicken grill was one of the most delicious grills that we have had in a long time and the portion size was huge and was able to feed two people. The Zaatar and cheese manaeesh was also very delicious, the overall service was very fast and the staff were quite helpful and friendly. We left Reem Al Bawadi feeling satisfied, stuffed and happy. However, people who don’t smoke shisha should be made aware that the smell of shisha permeates all throughout the restaurant, but there is plenty of space within the restaurant that you can sit without being bothered by the smoke.

Overall we found the restaurant to be a great spot to enjoy a traditional Arabic meal along with friends and family. They have a great atmosphere, good food and is quite reasonably priced.

Cost: AED 180 for 2 poeple Location: Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Marina, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard Share your opinion on the best restaurants in the UAE. Submit your reviews to mysay@one8one.com. We'd love to share your ideas.

Eataly Eataly is any Italian food lovers’ paradise and it is most definitely not tiny, it is a whole 2000 square foot restaurant that is comprised of various different stations such as the patisserie, Panini counter, gelato, espresso bar, fresh juice counter and even an amazing cheese counter. We love how seamlessly they manage to make a restaurant into a mini Italian supermarket that sells exactly the same products that they use to cook with. In this way diners have the opportunity to recreate the same food merely by purchasing the raw ingredients such as their store made fresh pasta, sauces, cheese, spices, vinegars and other flavourings.

During your first visit, the restaurant can seem to appear a little jumbled up and even hard to decipher, regardless it also has a bright, casual and contemporary look that makes it quite exciting, unique and fun to browse at. After walking past all the different stalls we eventually sat down near the cheese counter and were immediately greeted by a cheerful waiter who gave us our menus.

We started out with the Arancino which is a deliciously huge deep fried rice ball stuffed with cheese and we also opted for the Bocconcini Di Mozzarella Fritti which is deep fried mozzarella balls served with Antonella tomato sauce which is to die for. This is one of the best tomato sauce that we have ever tried. For the mains we ordered a mushroom pizza that was quite tasty and achieved the perfect balance of chewy and crunchy. The Cacio Pepe is a new addition to the menu, and is basically fresh egg spaghetti served with Pecorino, Parmigianino Reggiano, salt and pepper that tasted a little dry but was quite tasteful. The last main dish that we ordered was a traditional Crescione Spinaci flat bread sandwich that was stuffed with Spinach, veal bacon and cheese and was accompanied with a small fresh salad and potato fries that they make in-house.

Overall the food and service was great, and they have an amazing concept that is quite unique.

Cost: AED 180 for 2 people Location: The Dubai Mall

52

Fitness Rules of Champions: Train Like an Athlete

The Mubadala World Tennis Championship is back for a seventh year, bringing the best display of world class tennis entertainment to the Emirates. Six of the world’s best players will battle it out on centre court at the International Tennis Centre at Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi as they compete for the prestigious Championship title - and a winner takes-all prize of $250,000 - over three action packed days.

This January the world’s number 1 champion Novak Djokovic was back to defend his title alongside previous victors, such as Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

We had the opportunity to interview two famous professional tennis players, firstly the French player Gael Monfils and secondly the Swiss player Stan Wawrinka.

Stan Wawrinka Gael Monfils What role does diet play in your sporting success – how much of a focus is your diet or does it not matter due to the amount of calories you burn daily?

I naturally burn a lot of calories daily because when I am not training for tennis I am playing football or basketball. My diet has not always been my highest priority however now I am being a lot more focused about it.

What would a typical day’s eating and drinking look like for you?

I usually eat cereal for breakfast, and then lots of rice, pasta, chicken and fish for lunch and dinner. My daily food intake is quite boring.

Are there any super-foods you can’t get enough of or bad foods you would never touch?

I am allergic to cheese so sadly I will never have any.

However I love Caribbean food cooked by my parents, but I don’t get to see them very often hence I don’t get to eat it as often as I would like.

What about food which you probably shouldn’t have but struggle to resist?

Maybe Greek sandwiches?

What are the ultimate fitness moves that you use to keep yourself in top shape?

I take dance classes, I love them as they are super physical and keep me in great shape!

Follow Gael on twitter at: @Gael_Monfils Follow Stan on twitter at: @stanwawrinka

Mubadala is seen as the start of the tennis season – how do you prepare for the start of a new year?

I’m doing my fitness preparation together with my fitness coach Pierre Paganini in December as well as an intensive tennis practice. Having played the Davis Cup Final this year during my off-season, I find it very important to strike the right balance between resting and getting ready for the new season.

Do you make changes to your fitness regime or preparations?

Not really. Together with my team we know what works well for me and I like to stick to my routine.

How many hours a day do you practise when not competing?

It depends very much on the time of the year. During an intensive preparation stage I play tennis for four hours and additionally do two hours of fitness on top of that.

What do you do to unwind after a match?

I like to sit together with my team and go over what I just did, or go drive my bike and listen to some music.

What role does diet play in your sporting success – how much of a focus is your diet or does it not matter due to the amount of calories you burn daily?

It does matter. I eat a bit of everything but try to stay healthy. I usually eat a lot of fish and vegetables, but I also like to taste the local cuisines when I travel. But of course before matches I stick to my routine, and just have some salad and a plate of pasta.

What would a typical day’s eating and drinking look like for you?

I always start the day with a fresh bottle of Evian and I always carry a bottle with me. Staying hydrated is very crucial for me so I try and drink several litres of water on and off the court. I’m also a big coffee lover, so I have several cups of coffee per day.

My breakfast is pretty normal, some bread and jam, orange juice and fruit as well along with one or two cups of coffee of course.

For lunch I often have salad and pasta. For dinner everything is fine, from sushi to meat or fish. I like everything, also every now and then I eat a small dessert as it doesn’t hurt.

What about food which you probably shouldn’t have but struggle to resist?

Being Swiss I love Fondue and Raclette. It’s so yummy, I don’t think it can hurt if you have it every once in a while during winter.

54

Books

Cartwheel Author: Jennifer duBois Cartwheel is a suspenseful and evocative novel about an American professor Andrew Hayes who comes to Argentina to assist his daughter Lily, who is studying abroad.

When Lily arrives in Buenos Aires for her semester abroad, she is enchanted by everything she encounters, the colourful buildings, the street food, the handsome elusive man next door. Her scholarly roommate Katy is a bit of a bore, but Lily didn't come to Argentina to hang out with other Americans.

After being gone for three weeks Lily returns to find that her roommate Katy has been murdered and that she is the prime suspect of her murder, and is charged with murder. With a sarcastic wit and keen emotional insight, Cartwheel offers a prismatic investigation on the ways we decide what to see, and how we choose to believe in one another and ourselves.

In Cartwheel, Jennifer duBois delivers a psychological suspense and rare moral nuance. The book will keep you guessing until the final page, and it will question you about how much we really know about ourselves.

Share your opinion on the best book that you have read recently. Submit your reviews on mysay@one8one.com We'd love to share your ideas.

The Magnolia League Author: Katie Crouch When her free-spirited mother dies in a tragic accident, sixteenyear-old Alexandria Lee is forced to leave her West Coast home and move in with a wealthy grandmother she's never known in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful if unwilling member of the Magnolia League-Savannah's long-standing debutante society. But of course white gloves and silk gowns are a far cry from the vintage t-shirts and torn jeans shorts she's used to wearing in her neo-hippie lifestyle back home.

Alex is the first in decades to question the Magnolia League's intentions, yet even she becomes entangled in their seductive world. The members enjoy youth, beauty and power- but at a cost.

As Alex discovers a pact between the Magnolias and the Buzzards, a legendary voodoo family, she discovers secrets-some deadlyhidden beneath the glossy Southern veneer.

Katie Crouch's "The Magnolia League" is filled with aristocratic Southern belles, black magic, temptation and the beauty of the South. The book is filled with poignant and humorous moments but is squandered on a truly repulsive and obnoxious protagonist.

56

The Who Live in Abu Dhabi

Adnan Mayassi The 2014 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix closing Angeli Castillo day was highlighted by a win for Mercedes very own Lewis Hamilton. What’s a better way to celebrate a win for the UK than by their very own.

writing by photos by

“the whole venue came alive and felt electric as the performance itself was spectacular.”

The Who took to the stage for the very first time ever in the Middle East at the du Arena on Yas Island. The legendary rock and roll band blazed through a set list made of their all-time greatest hits such as the ‘Pinball Wizard’, ‘Who are You’ and ‘Baba Oriely’. Roger Daltrys vocals were as good as they have ever been, Daltry managed to hit all the lows and highs of the whole set without missing a beat, accompanied by the electrifying Pete Townshend. The highlight of the evening must have been their performance of ‘Behind Blue Eyes’, and ‘Baba Oriely’ with Daltrys eternal shriek rocking through the arena.

The whole venue came alive and felt electric as the performance itself was spectacular and when the crowd started joining in on every song on the set list it was even more amazing. By the time the evening came to a close, the crowd chanted for an encore and in a classic rock n roll fashion The Who headed the call of the crowds. Sadly it was not ‘My Generation’, but that did not put a dent on the evening as this will be remembered as one of the greatest performances within the du Arena.

Tips to Live a Happy Life Omar Khayyam once said, “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” We love this quote because people always put off living and actually being a part of their own lives. It’s like they are drones going on about their usual way of being and merely just surviving.

This is why we think that everyone should try and make a conscious decision to choose happiness and make it an integral part of their lives in 2015. By choosing to live a happy life you remind yourself to feel joyful, content and even blissful. Here are some of our top tips to be happy:

Live and let Live

Everyone should be allowed to live by their own principles and ideas so long as they don’t harm themselves and others. Allow people to make their own choices and have their own ideas. In short don’t try and control other people and their behaviours.

Eat light

Support your body, mind and spirit with simple meals three times a day. Eating light helps us to feel lighter and also increases concentration, digestion, energy levels, and productivity. By taking care of your body you are enhancing your overall quality of life.

Let the creative juices flow

Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist there are so many ways to express creatively. Cook with a loved one, dance in your living room, sing in the car, journal without editing or crossing out, learn a new joke.

Play and have fun

Turn off the TV

Rather than watching TV, use your time more mindfully. Read, walk, meet friends, or join a group or class. Use your time to connect to others and yourself.

Or jump in and do something different, spontaneous, and wild!

Make sure to stay active as physical activity is crucial for your mind and body. By exercising you relieve any stress and release endorphins and that instantly makes you feel better.

Talk less, and listen more

Do things that make you happy

Practice random acts of kindness

Don’t take life too seriously, as even though we all have responsibilities there’s no reason why we can’t approach much of our lives in a playful manner.

In fact, those who do so will undoubtedly be happier.

When you hang out with your friends and loved ones, learn to love the spaces in the conversation. Listen more to their tone as they share rather than thinking about how you are going to respond.

writing by

shivani Nagrecha

Although this sounds obvious, many people simply forget to do things from which they gain pleasure. So it is important to do things that give you pleasure such as taking an afternoon nap, enjoying a warm and soothing bath or going to the park or beach.

Get moving

Random acts of kindness are good for givers and receivers alike. It could be a quick call or text to someone you care about or have lost touch with, or giving up your seat on the metro, or buying someone lunch or giving a spontaneous bunch of flowers to someone.

Astrology

January 2015

60

Capricorn 21 December- 20 January The Capricorn-born people are the most determined of the entire Zodiac signs. The most prominent qualities of the Goats, as they are called, are that they are ambitious, conservative, determined, practical and helpful. They make good team leaders and organisers, because of their single-minded focus on their work, sense of responsibility and sincerity. They are perceived by people around them to be workaholics, unemotional and detached. Some of their negative qualities are being suspicious, resentful, inhibited, pessimistic and stubborn, but deep inside the Goat has a humble heart. They are soft, and their hard outer shells are meant to guard themselves against the hurt caused by rejection.

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

During this month you tend to dislike people who feel compelled to step forward with ideas about how established systems might be improved. This makes them appear inept to you for now. You appear to be dealing with an authority figure that the relationship is not quite compatible for you. When the drama dies down, you will have made a permanent difference. However do not confront with authorities for this month and earn their wrath.

You appear to want reassurance that what you're being told by a certain person is real, honest and right.

Soon, information will come to light to reassure you. But that is not everything. During this period there would be some rifts in the household.

Make sure to not overreact to situations. Take time to enjoy the New Year, Taurus.

A partnership of some kind is becoming a priority now in your life. You might be focused on strengthening an existing one or building a new alliance that could be taking up much of your thinking time. The planetary positions insist that there is some degree of longevity attached to this. Both you and this other person can only benefit from what is being agreed now. A good period to renew vows in your personal and professional life.

Somewhere in your world, you're making an assumption.

Elsewhere, a certain person is doing the same. If you were able somehow put these two assumptions together, both you and the other person would probably be startled at how inaccurate a picture would be created. You believe a certain situation to be true as does the other person.

Tension can be lessened if you're willing to open a line of communication before it gets worse during the new months’ time.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

An invisible clock is ticking in your life, Leo for this month.

You are painfully aware of this and an imminent deadline.

You appear anxious to see a real and tangible result where you have invested much time, energy and resources. You should know that your efforts have not been in vain. The key to getting the response you want lies with willingness on your part to ask for help. It really is available to you, so ask for it.

For the month it appears that, no matter how much effort you give toward pursuing something or how polite, courteous and helpful you're willing to be, you encounter resistance and obstacles in the form of people who don't share your concern. You're having to deal with systems, protocols and a need to wait for your turn. Trust that this frustrating process won't last much longer dear Virgo.

If an offer of help is available, is it not worth taking, Libra, this month. Where a difficult or tense situation is concerned, you could use a helping hand and that is precisely what's being offered to you. Your refusal of help has more to do with your stubbornness than anything else. Nobody is expecting you to swallow your pride or make grand apologetic gestures but life would be considerably easier if you would accept the help being offered to you.

Perhaps you've had one or two close companions speak their minds about ways in which you're progressing a goal close to your heart. But do you honestly believe their comments or suggestions are valid. That's what you need to decide now. You think you're doing no wrong where your pursuit of something is concerned but others think differently. Make sure that you safeguard your selfconfidence during this period, Scorpio.

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Help of some kind is being provided to you now but it is a long way from how you wish you were being helped.

Pretty soon you will receive the kind of help you require will be made available to you.

Long distance travels owing to pleasure are on the cards for this month, Sagittarius. Go on and have fun. But be cautious about your financial dealings as they seem to be hitting the roof.

Most disputes and arguments can be sorted swiftly in your life if you would show willingness to be open and honest with others.

Sometimes though, it is best to say nothing. Sometimes, it helps to stand back and let a process unfold further on its own before deciding to intervene. You would be wise now to say nothing and keep a card or two close to your chest, just for the time being, where an important discussion is concerned.

Have you grown a bit too comfortable with someone's preparedness to sort something for you? What a certain person may have taken under their wing originally as a favour could be a bone of contention on their part now and, although nothing may be said don’t take advantage of their organisational skills.

Try to identify something someone else is doing on your behalf that you could be doing yourself. If you can, then you will avoid an unnecessary and potentially tense discussion later.

During this month, you need a moment or two to determine our surroundings. You're in a situation now, particularly regarding something that has shown no signs of movement of late and now appears to be moving forward. It's natural you should be cautious but don't apply too much caution.

You can't afford to stand still for too long. Moving slowly is better than not moving at all. Go on, enter into an active mode, because an inactive state might make people tread over you for the month.

20 March- 19 April

22 July- 22 August

22 November- 21 December

19 April- 20 May

22 August- 22 September

21 December- 20 January

20 May- 21 June

22 September- 23 October

20 January- 18 February

21 June- 22 July

23 October- 22 November

19 February- 20 March

62

News

AUD and Swedish Wood, a Cultural Crossover Initiative The American University in Dubai (AUD) in cooperation with Swedish Wood announced today the winners of ‘Swedish Wood Meets Arabia’, a student design competition creating a link between Scandinavian wood culture and Arabic design, in the presence of the Ambassador of Sweden in the UAE, H.E. Jan Thesleff.

The five final groups were selected from a pool of ten finalists at a previous event. The winners are Mariah Sobh and Syeda Salwa Hasan for the design ‘The Hybrid’ – which won them a one-week study trip to Sweden, fully covered by Swedish Wood.

The second and third place went to ‘Sarab’ by Mona Al Ghussein, Lina Al Medanat, and Mariez Barsoum; and ‘The Cruise’ by Bhawna Ludhani Tilokani, Zeina Al-Khoury, and Lisa Harpalani respectively.

The competition was launched at AUD on the 14th of September 2014, where AUD students – from the School of Architecture, Art and Design – were tasked to exchange ideas, design, and develop a project with the help of experts from Swedish Wood and the support of their faculty members, in order to produce innovative contemporary design projects using the potentiality of Swedish softwood. The competition gave the students an opportunity to work in teams and to design a piece of furniture or decoration made of Swedish softwood and adapted to Arab traditions and culture.

The jury of the finale included Mrs. Charlotte Dedye Apelgren, Communications Manager and Mr. Erik Belfrage, Project Coordinator from Swedish Wood; in addition to Dr. Nabyl Chenaf, Dean of the AUD School of Architecture, Art and Design, and Mrs Farida Kamber Al Awadhi, President of the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID).

Skyline inaugurates Common Room The Common Room at the Skyline University College (SUC), Sharjah, was inaugurated on December 08, 2014 by Mr. Kamal Puri, Founder President of the Skyline University.

A pioneer in the field of higher education in UAE Mr. Kamal Puri spoke about the purpose of this Common Room while declaring it open, “The main purpose of the construction of the Student Common Room is for the benefit of SUC students. Students can do activities such as listening to music, watching TV/video, playing games, social gathering, conducting of group events etc. Students staying in the hostel as well as other students can spend longer hours in the campus.”

Spread across 296 Sq. meters of area it can easily host a gathering of sizeable. Common Room houses state-of-the-art sports facilities such as Table Tennis, Billiards, Foosball, Carrom and Chess. The SUC authorities have also made a special events corner in the Common Room for students to interact and organise events.

NYU Abu Dhabi Student Named 2015 Falcon Scholar New York University Abu Dhabi senior Arfa Rehman is the sole recipient of the 2015 Falcon Scholarship, which will fund her postgraduate study at the University of Oxford for two years beginning next fall.

The Falcon Scholarships are administered by the Rhodes Trust and are awarded each year to one or two exceptional students preparing to complete an undergraduate degree from a college or university in the United Arab Emirates. The Falcon Scholarship supports students who demonstrate a strong propensity to emerge as “leaders for the world’s future”. At Oxford, they are welcomed as members of the community of Rhodes Scholars. Arfa was selected for her outstanding intellect, character, leadership, and commitment to global service.

Originally from Aligar, India, Arfa grew up in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

She is currently completing a double major at New York University Abu Dhabi – Social Research and Public Policy, and Visual Arts.

Arfa has compiled a perfect 4.0 official GPA while at NYUAD. She is a talented graphic designer, whose work was featured in the catalogue of Visual Arabia and is a co-founder of the University’s student-run design collective. An active volunteer, Arfa is on the leadership board of the Women’s Leadership Network at NYU Abu Dhabi, has taught art and technology classes in Bangalore for the last four summers, and has volunteered at the Somali Cultural Center in Abu Dhabi. Arfa is also a recreational swimmer. At Oxford Arfa plans to read for two one-year courses, an MSc in Comparative Social Policy and an MBA.

The New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi to offer Five Scholarships The New York Film Academy in Abu Dhabi is supporting Emirati filmmakers by offering five places on their January 2015 intake of NYFA’s Film-making Program, designed to give students a well-rounded film-making experience necessary to make their own films.

The program is for people who have a passion to plunge into full-time HD filmmaking, and to commit themselves to a focused and demanding curriculum. Students complete the program with learned skills on the latest equipment, using the latest industry standard software, gain an enormous amount of production experience, create films of their own, and gain an expanded awareness of themselves and others.

The students’ final films are celebrated at a special school screening open to cast, crew, friends, family, and invited guests, where the students receive their certificates from the dedicated faculty and administration of NYFA-AD. To see additional information about the scholarships and The New York Film Academy, as well as to begin the application process, please email to: abudhabi@nyfa.edu and visit: www.nyfa.edu.

The deadline for applications is January 10, 2015.

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