RAGMAG Up in Flames Issue | Feb 2011 | Issue #9

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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editor’s opinion

14 MOLOTOV COCKTAIL DON’T LIGHT THE FUSE

see, speak + hear no evil 134 SOUND CHECK 136 137 138

MUSIC

READ’EM AND WEEP BOOKS WATCH OUT FILM PLAY NICE GAMES

you + your country 18

BREAKING THE CIRCLE LOYAC GETS FIRED UP

mind, body + soul 60 64 66 70 150

DISCO INFERNO ARE YOU PORN SAVVY? HOME FIRES BURNING MATTHEW HUSSEY REIGNITES IT HELP ME NOUR ADVICE SIMMERING INSIDE + OUT IMPROVE YOUR SEX LIFE PUT OUT THE FIRE EXTINGUISH THE CHOCOLATE CRAVING

take me with you

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TIMELESS ATHENS

out +about 32

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RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

TRAVEL

PASS THE TORCH DANNY CAVANAGH + ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN

cultureclash 20 22 26 36 46

mon amour, mon ami

THE LONG LETTER I NEVER SENT POETRY IGNITE THE PARALELL NAZIF TOPÇUOGLU THE FIRE INSIDE INTERVIEW WITH SHERRILYN KENYON FLEEING A BURNING BUILDING CITIES REDUCED TO ASHES HAYDA LEBNEN BIT7IBA? EHHHH!

48 52 56

for him

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emperor’s new clothes 88 92 94 96 108 114 116 126 128 130

FIRE + ICE A SHINY HISTORY LESSON ALL FIRED UP VICTORIA’S MILLION $ SECRET PLAY WITH FIRE SHOP IN LEBANON IMMOLATION OUR FASHION SHOOT COPYCAT REAL LIFE RUNWAY TRAIL BLAZER 69ER PACO RABBANE SPELLBOUND OUR FASHION SHOOT MELTING POINT AGATHA SAYS IT FOR YOU FAN THE FLAME SHOP ONLINE STOKE THE GIVING FLAME SHOP + GIVE BACK

the final frontier

IN THE LINE OF FIRE

GEORGES CHAMCHOUM

mirrormirror 72 74 78 80 82 84

BURN BABY BURN GET MASSAGE SMART FLAMES OF PARADISE THE SPA AT THE PHOENICIA BEDROOM EYES SMOLDERING TEMPTRESS LOOK GREAT FOR LESS BEESLINE HEATS IT UP TEMPERATURE RISING GET AN AFTERGLOW THE PHOENIX RESURRECT YOUR EYELASHES

FML [F*CK MY LIFE]

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DANTE’S INFERNO

BE A BABY DRAGON

eat, drink +be merry

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FIRE PREVENTION TECH POISON THAT BURNS WITH LIFE

158

QUIZZ. DINGBATS. CROSSWORD. SUDOKU.

brainfood

HALLMARK HOLIDAY FIGHTING THE COMMERICAL FIRE AN OLD FLAME FUELING ANOTHER TRY FIRE STARTERS CELEBS STEAL HEARTS

SCIENCE

146 148 152 154 162

RESTAURANT REVIEW LE RACLOT SPARKS WILL FLY BEIRUTRESTAURANTS.COM INDULGE THAT BURNING DESIRE CHOCOLATE EVERYTHING! FLAMBÉ FEAST RECIPES QUENCH THE FLAMING THIRST MICHAEL KARAM KNOWS WINE UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

publisher’s letter INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR GEROGES CHAMCHOUM PAGE 24

Well, I can’t help but kick start this letter with these words: Happy Valentine’s, everyone!

No, I’ve not gone mental. I just love the feeling of spreading love, you only have to ask my team.

I love saying the words I love you. In return, for my FML Fida’s showing me lots of love for Valentine’s by sending me next month to the zoo so that I get acquainted with the king of the jungle. (For those of you out there reading this, that’s a hint for our next issue!) Do you think she’d notice if I were to send someone else? My love for fury things begins and ends with a teddy bear.

As you probably notice, RAGMAG’s style has been a bit unlike your everyday conventional magazine.

This month is no different. We have yet again hit the jackpot with another amazing issue, from cover to cover. Feb is Up in Flames with our one to one meeting with acclaimed film director and producer Georges Chamchoum and of course our smoking hot photo shoot by our very own Chris and Odo. I would like to thank Beesline for being tremendous supporters of RAGMAG and for giving us this month’s goodie baskets to give away to our winners.

Which leads me to remind you that I look forward to your emails on a monthly basis at publisher@ragmaglive.com

Please write in and you never know, you might be next month’s winner.

From RAGMAG we wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day filled with laughter and a lot of love! Make sure that the 14th of February will be the day that you remind everyone who is dear to you that you love them, that is what Valentine’s Day is all about.

FASHION SHOOT MAKING OF PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMY HARB CHECK OUT THE VIDEO MAKING OF ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Gina Gabriel El-Fady

Publisher

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Publisher

Gina Gabriel El-Fady Editor in Chief

Fida Z Chaaban Managing Director Georges Yarack Creative Lead Odette Kahwagi Photograhers Christian Harb Odette Kahwagi Jason Zamora Samy Harb Selected images Shutterstock

Stylist Jony Matta Sales Representative Magda Nassar Public Relations Coordinator Lea El-Alam Marketing Advisor Daniella Tayar Admnisitrative Coordinator Teddy Younes Printed by Raidy Printing Group

Contributors Maher El-Alam Stephanie Aoun Elodie Barakat Bryan Borzykowski Jonathan Cainer Amal Chaaban Youmna Chagoury Alice Hlidkova Sarah Hourany Matthew Hussey Leslie Iddison Maria-Elena Kassab Imogen Kimber Chris Lambert Sabina LLewellyn-Davies Maha Majzoub J.E.N. Nour Obaji Aline Rahbany Adam Volk Media Representative RAGMAG Alex Gabriel Building Rue Colomn de Sahel Sahel Alma, Keserwan Tel: 09 916 222 / 09 913 777 magda.nassar@ragmaglive.com lea.elalam@ragmaglive.com Distributor Lebanese Distributor Company Hamra, Axa Middle East bldg.

Tel: 01 368 007 ON OUR COVER PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN HARB MODEL YANA | LIPS AGENCY HAIR ROGER GABRIEL MAKEUP LESLIE IDDISON STYLIST JONY MATTA Yana is wearing a lace robe by NK iMODE from VANILL A.

RAGMAG is a division of Raycon s.a.l.

Copyright RAGMAG 2010 All Rights Reserved.

Opinions expressed are based solely on personal opinion and expericence, not reflective in any way of RAGMAG, a division of Raycon s.a.l.

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RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

Contact us by phone or email to arrange your subscription subscriptions@ragmaglive.com Lea El-Alam 09 916 222 / 09 913 777 RAGMAG Alex Gabriel Building, Rue Colomn de Sahel Sahel Alma, Keserwan

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Th he 250 he 250 GB GB S1 Min Minii HDD HD DD.

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editor’s letter

the RAGged Fact Odette has incorporated the NEW color of the year througout the issue.

BECAUSE RAGMAG IS IN A BLAZE OF GLORY Lebanon, the Old Vs New issue was really RAGMAG. We fused everything old made new again. There are so many people

out there who love retro but have their feet firmly planted in modernity.

RAGMAG is like that too, so we put together the January issue to reflect that.

Our readers loved the shoot and we got tons of positive feedback, so thank you very much.

Since you were all so gracious last issue, we decided that for Valentine’s Day we’d give you something to devour. What better time to show RAGMAG’s love for you than February?

We didn’t want to do the regular hearts and chocolate thing, it’s just not what we’re about. So we lit it up in every way we could think of. We set things alight, literally and figuratively. Odette had a flaming fashion shoot and I went to learn to blow fire for my FML. Not F*ck my Life this issue, but Flambé My Life.

We went with Athens for travel because it is home to the original Olympic flame.

The fire was kept burning all through the Olympics in Ancient Greece so it fit the Up in Flames issue like a glove.

This issue is both Valentiney and unValentiney, because it wouldn’t be RAGMAG if we didn’t play with the ideas a bit. We looked at relationships both with your friends and lovers, because

they are equally important. We asked Matthew Hussey to help you rekindle your fizzling love life, Hiba Saab to help you get your sex life steaming and allotted Help Me Nour 2 extra pages this issue.

We looked at things like fire in history, science, art and finally the most important fire: the one inside.

Whether you’re burning for a cause like LOYAC, our subject for you + your country this issue, or watching us go Up in Flames, this RAGMAG edition is not to be missed. We hope you like our Valentine’s Day gift to you.

As always, what fuels our creative fire most is our readers. Tell me what sparked for you this issue and what didn’t by writing to me at letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com

Follow me on Twitter @fidachaaban

Fida Z Chaaban

Editor in Chief UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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letters to the editor RAGMAG WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU! WRITE IN TO LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR@RAGMAGLIVE.COM, POST YOUR PICTURES ON FACEBOOK WITH OUR ISSUE OR TWEET US ON TWITTER #RAGMAG. THE BEST POSTS, TWEETS, PICS AND LETTERS WILL BE AWARDED AN EXCLUSIVE GIFT FROM AGATHA PARIS. WE’VE TEAMED UP TO REWARD OUR SPARKLING READERS WITH SOME REAL SPARKLE A LA AGATHA. (Check out p.2 for their Valentine’s collection.)

RAGMAG RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT FOR CLARITY AND CONTENT.

RAGing letter we

Lorena Libertad Hernandez Montano Lorena, RAGMAG is thrilled to hear that we kept you entertained. Since you’ve had a tough time, stranded and all, BEESLINE is rewarding you with Valentine’s Day products! Thanks for writing to us.

RAGing image we Maria-Cristina Kassab Boueri told us that even “Med students take a break to read RAGMAG!” We’re loving your pic and since you really do deserve a break, you win Valentine’s Day products from BEESLINE! Thanks for posting on our Facebook page, Maria-Cristina.

I BURN FOR YOU RAGMAG got a special Valentine’s Day gift from the people over at Virgin: A sneak peak release copy of Andy Lucas’ new CD! We thought it was too good to be true since one of the tracks is called Burn. Now come on, is that perfect for our Up in Flames issue or what? Take a look at the actual CD, we think a burning piano definitely deserves some print space. Andy’s album, named after title track Weekend Millionaire, is one of the CDs you’ll be recommending to all your music buff friends. Working his way up to a major release from playing in piano bars like many great performers before him, we’re happy he’s finally made his way to Lebanon. You might also want to check out Turbulence, track 7. Get your copy of Weekend Millionaire at Virgin and hear Andy “burn for you”.

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UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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editor’s opinion

MOLOTOV COCKTAIL WHY BEING VOLATILE IN LEBANON IS DE RIGUEUR After spending the past 8 months in Lebanon I see it as a source of heat giving off a near toxic radiation almost like a nuclear reactor. Lebanon and Lebanese are the passionate about anything and everything from music to food. We are also passionate about the state of affairs in our country, which is normally a good thing. Here it is not a good thing. The passion we as Lebanese harbour for the state of affairs in our country starts fires, figuratively (which is fine) and literally (which is not). We’re talking about fire, like a Molotov cocktail. A form of incendiary weapon, a Molotov cocktail is relatively easy to make and used throughout history in many parts of the world where there has been conflict, civil or otherwise. You take a simple glass bottle and a flammable substance with a wick basically and set it alight. I have known how to make

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one since the first time I saw it in the 1993 blockbuster film A Bronx Tale.

Various historical and news pictures have since better educated me on the finer points of usage and efficiency. We as Lebanese are a Molotov cocktail– readily available, easily used and manipulated, and finally when used with ill intention– dangerous. We’re ready to blow, and no one even wants it to happen, not the people I know anyway. I know I don’t want some sort of cataclysmic explosion, we’ve had that happen already. Today’s Lebanon, and I really mean today (Monday January 24, 2011), is reminiscent of a smoldering volcano at the tipping point, spewing steam and lava and smoke. Someone needs to listen before all hell breaks loose. Before the whole country is covered so deeply in ash and fallout that we no longer have hope of a resurrection.

The Drama

Sitting in Jbeil I overhear a particularly dramatic phone call. Her hair is wild, her mascara is streaming down her face in filthy rivets of tears. Sewer water, I think. “Izzah badee intak ma3 milyon shab, mah ilak 3allayeh,” she says screaming into the phone. She is hysterical. Finally she has enough of the voice on the other end, and whips her phone on to the stormy waterfront rocks. It’s dark here, there are people around, and she is “imhestra”. No one approaches her to help. No one asks why. Looking at my friend, I ask him why he barely looked askance at the girl scratching at her own skin.

“Tabi3eh,” he brushes me off, barely acknowledging the question. The excess of emotion, the scene itself is disturbing. What if she nose dives right off this cliff, I wonder. Will anyone move then? I think the answer is no but people assure me that I’m wrong

and that Lebanese love to help each other. Regardless, the point is that I think the Lebanese are so used to this excess of emotion that it barely phases them. They’ve seen it all. From street fights to Darak with a little too much sneer in their smile. In psychology, it is widely documented that households that have higher levels of expressed emotionality are more likely to engender relapses in recovering patients. They are also more likely to have family members that suffer from any number of psychological problems, again studied and proven. The high expressed emotionality of Lebanon is enough to make anyone jumpy and nervous, myself included. Already high strung, I feel as though I am ready to snap at any given moment. My fuse is just begging to be lit, woe to the next unlucky weirdo who tosses a sexual or derogatory comment my way. I will

blow, and this is a habit I acquired here from the unrelenting barrage of drama in the streets! The constant aggression in the air here can be likened to a powder keg. We, as a country, are at any time ready to spontaneously combust. The slightest provocation sets off heated arguments between perfect strangers and I am ashamed to say that I too have sunk to this extreme.

Hotter climates other than Lebanon are known for this, but what’s the real problem here? In an effort to make me better understand the repercussions of the chaotic atmosphere and extreme stress the Lebanese are under, friends constantly refer to the “daghit”. I understand “daghit” to mean pressure and it is an apt description since I have been referring to the country as a pressure cooker since the day I arrived.

What causes this and what can we do about it?

THE SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION SETS OFF HEATED ARGUMENTS BETWEEN PERFECT STRANGERS AND I AM ASHAMED TO SAY THAT I TOO HAVE SUNK TO THIS EXTREME.

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editor’s opinion

The Powerhouse

First we need to look at power and who is really in control here. When you give someone a uniform and charge them with monitoring the conduct of the average citizen, you need to choose exemplary people.

In Lebanon there seem to be several sets of law enforcement officials under various banners: Darak, Fouhoud and the Army. I may be missing some, but this is because it is hard to determine who does what. A slouching, sneering, heavily armed adult is a disconcerting sight, especially to me since I was brought up to see law enforcement officials as a positive thing. The Darak slap 2 efficient times on the hood, “Yallah… arrrib!” A bit much to handle especially if this happens a lot. If I am any judge, and I take taxis several times daily, this is a common occurrence, far too often for a civilized functioning society. When your country’s uniformed law enforcement set off feelings of unease, you have a major problem.

When they create hostility at the very sight of their swagger, (uniformed law enforcement should never swagger), you have a problem. And finally, when you don’t trust your uniformed law enforcement, you have a problem. So

this is my problem, and as far as I can tell by the people I’ve spoken to, they have a problem with it as well. Rumors of corruption in the form of bribery, patronage and extortion, as well as abuse of power by law enforcement are rampant. Who is to be believed?

The old adage goes that seeing is believing. I have seen many things in my 8 months in Lebanon, and the vibe of aggression is what I believe. I cannot say for certain that there is corruption here, nor can I say for certain that shady dealings are taking place in dimly lit corners, but I can say that when you are in uniform, you are representing your country and your people and you should stand erect and radiate a positive and proud countenance. The army seems to be the exception. They are polite, friendly and stand at attention even at the most random checkpoints that see little to no traffic. The reason (in my opinion) that so many Lebanese support our army is because they’ve got a tough job and they handle it with grace. People shout “Watan!” from their cars and genuinely bid the army “3afieh”. Perhaps the rest of the Lebanese law enforcement groups should follow suit, pun intended.

The Ceaseless Chatter

Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs to think before they speak.

From the government to the average citizen, we all just need to word everything a little more carefully.

The never ending threats of violence and the hints of forthcoming civil strife are making everyone edgy.

It is affecting harmony, cohesion (both in society and even within households), and finally it is just fuelling the trouble. When you stand behind leaders who make vague statements alluding to revenge and lockdowns and a true siege, then you are guilty of lighting the fuse on the powder keg. When you support those who make proclamations referring to consequences and terror, you are the fault line under the volcano. And finally, when you turn on your fellow citizen, your Lebanese brother, and the right to a court of law, you are throwing that Molotov cocktail

CARE FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR PEOPLE. DON’T LET LEBANON GO UP IN FLAMES.

STILL IMAGE COURTESY OF RICARDO KATRA UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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you + your country

BREAKING OUTOF THE

CIRCLE LoYAC gets fired up for fairness

BY IMOGEN KIMBER

G

etting a job has never been easy.

Many a graduate leave university, advance forward, certificate proudly in hand expecting to be snapped up by employers eager to benefit from their young enthusiasm and intellect.

For most graduates this is not to be; employers often see fresh graduates as more of a burden than an asset with limited ‘real-life work experience.’ The world of work can suddenly seem like a closed circle; there are those on the inside and those on the outside. This is often so in Lebanon, where work circles can be particularly guilty of clique-like behaviour, leaving certain sectors of society out in the cold before they have even began to climb the ladder.

Trying to open up some of these closed doors is the Lebanese notfor-profit Lothan Youth Achievement Center - LoYAC; plucking young people with potential from disadvantaged backgrounds to give them the advantage they need.

Connections, Connections “It really is about who you know,” Marianne Wehbe tells me unabashedly from her showroom in Achrafieh. She is explaining how you go about getting a job, set up your own business, do anything really, in Lebanon. Working for DHL whilst also being business partner with the new and successful fashion designer Krikor Jabotian, Wehbe isn’t short of her own success and nor is she ashamed of this, in fact the opposite, she has harnessed this in such a way as to help others.

Being a board members of LoYAC Lebanon is one of the ways that Wehbe can help other people achieve the kind of success that she has. “Lebanon is very clique, it’s who you know and that is sad as there are so many great students out there who would probably work harder, if they thought they had a chance,” said Wehbe. The idea is that LoYAC provides this chance.

The principle is quite excellent:

THE LEBANESE NON-PROFIT LOTHAN YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT CENTER (LoYAC), PLUCKS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH POTENTIAL FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS TO GIVE THEM THE ADVANTAGE THEY NEED.

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Everyone gives what they have to offer, the thing that they do best.

The students have intelligence, enthusiasm and ambition and LoYAC has the connections. Together everyone achieves their aim.

The LoYAC System How it works with LoYAC is that firstly a young person has to be shown to be a good student with high scores.

The second criterion is that they must prove that they are in some way underprivileged. I asked if there was a rigorous checking system. Wehbe seem pretty sure that in Lebanon no one would apply for this kind of assistance if they did not need it, either way “You can tell if they are really hungry,” she said.

The students do have to go through an interviewing process which simulates the kind of experience they would have if they were applying for a job. A very valuable experience in itself.

LoYAC hasn’t yet had a single complaint from any one of their placements, from either side. Wehbe puts their success down to the eagerness of the young people.

Sweet Success Wehbe was immensely proud of one young man who had applied to LoYAC four times to get a placement.

Successful at school, and according to Wehbe blessed with charm, she believed the reason he was struggling to get a placement was thanks to “cultural reasons.” When pushed she alluded to his Palestinian parentage.

Thanks to some personal string pulling he eventually got his internship and four years later is still working for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Distributing food aid on the outskirts of Tripoli as a volunteer for LoYAC, Ahmed Zahra wasn’t ever expecting to end up with a job. In fact he only joined the program by chance after hearing about it through his friends.

Still working on his degree in Business Management at the Lebanese University his enthusiasm landed him with an internship at the computer consultancy, NOCC, and eventually a job. “Frankly, I was surprised [about] what happened to me. My manager told me that if I continued to work well then I [would] stay [on] as an employee in the company.” Of course Zahra did continue to work well and he did end up staying on as an employee.

Another of their success stories is Hossam Mohamed. Not even out of

University, a media student at the Beirut Arab University, LoYAC was able to get Mohamed an internship with MBC. Again, after a successful internship he turned into a successful employee.

Wehbe sees multinational corporations as the hardest circle to crack. The assumption might be that regulated interviewing processes and external headquarters would undermine internal bias but apparently this is not the case.

Safety Net? Is there anything similar from the government? Any schemes for young people? “[There is] nothing provided by the government. Nothing. Government who?” Wehbe replied indigently. One thing that makes it harder to crack the market here is the lack of access to funds. There are no schemes offering interest free loans for start up companies, which means someone with very little has very little hope.

“It is hard to break barriers of religion and politics. Education is the key,” Wehbe says as she goes on to argue the greater problems of the education system in Lebanon. “When you educate a child they will think again about opening a book. But if they can’t afford a book they will follow anyone [...].

Maybe we can help the next change.”

Giving Back Besides just assisting the individuals who take the placements LoYAC are making small steps towards breaking down the insular working atmosphere within Lebanon. Ideally stereotypes and prejudices will change within companies and they will be open to a wider resource pool in the future.

Making the Lebanese work market more accessible also goes some way to slowing the tide of young people who for a number of reasons feel they are more likely to get employment abroad.

Another general aim of LoYAC, through their work, is introducing awareness of corporate social responsibility in Lebanon, something they see as severely lacking.

And as for the young people themselves, they also give back more than just higher employment numbers.

They all have to put in some time with the community; projects with young, with elderly, whatever suits them best.

But their best return is simply working to their full potential

“IT IS HARD TO BREAK BARRIERS OF RELIGION AND POLITICS. EDUCATION IS THE KEY”

LoYAC Lothan Youth Achievement Center If you want to support the work of LoYAC Lebanon they are eager to hear from you.

You could be offering donations, however large or small, want to help with a community project or perhaps you are part of a company who would like to work with LoYAC offering placements for internships.

Contact Mariana Wehbe +961 1 381 922 m.makhlouf@loyac.org www.loyac.org/lebanon

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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cultureclash

r e t g t n lte the lo n

e s r e v e n I WORDS BY ALINE RAHBANY

I wake up In my empty bed I look around My infinitesimal room You are not there I look for you Out in the streets Smell what remains of the scent Of your specter That just passed by Minutes before I got there But all in vain You are never there I sit on my desk Wait for a sign To have a substance To daydream about But there are no signs I am left alone Even my dreams walked on me Even my imagination betrayed me

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And I thought I would give up all I have All my emotions All my perversions The most dear illusions and hallucinations For a moment of liberation But the minute I grasped this liberation Between my miniature fingers The moment I smelled emancipation It just lost its golden swathe It lost the adrenaline rush I thought it would entice in me Deliverance is nothing Compared to being trapped Inside that shielded mind of yours For what is a dream worth Without being able to share it with you?

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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cultureclash

A WORLD

APART

THE PARALLEL UNIVERSE OF

NAZIF TOPÇUOĞLU

BY MAHA MAJZOUB

G

etting drawn to a Nazif Topçuoglu photograph is both easy and natural. Provocative and sexually charged, his works are almost akin to painting in their rich color and detail.

Then comes the tough part, which is in comprehending the context and message of the piece. Topçuoglu’s art is not for everybody. And he is hardly apologetic about that. His works are replete with art and historical references from classical paintings of art masters like Rembrandt (van Rijn) and Théodore Gericault to literary geniuses including Marcel Proust and Thomas Mann. “A certain level of education and intellect” is required to pick up these allusions, Topçuoglu says.

Topçuoglu does not shoot landscapes or wildlife, nor does he capture actual events. The Turkish artist does not even refer to himself as a photographer, preferring “picture-maker”. He chooses staged photography where “he allows small accidents to happen”. Set in period backdrops, his artworks feature young women that act out symbolic roles in a bid “to reconstruct unclear and imperfect images of an idealized past”, he says. A dreamer, Topçuoglu reinvents the past and creates an ideal world, portraying women the way he wishes them to exist.

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THE OTHER WOMAN

Women – svelte, young, attractive, and feminine – are the leading actors in Topçuoglu’s pictures in his belief that “there is hope and energy in youth and femininity”. “Women are capable of giving birth to new ideas as well as human children, and they are made resilient and strong to survive the birth experience,” he argues. “Also, in art history, women have always been the chosen subject; beauty is synonymous with the female character.” These women not only represent the second sex, but also function as “symbols for all the oppressed people of the world”.

His female subjects operate in clusters, not individually. “I think the only way to successfully survive is by being united in groups, especially if people want to gain anything,” stresses Topçuoglu, 57. A male in a Topçuoglu scene is a rarity because “it is an idealized world without the males,” he points out. “When you place a male in a picture with the girls, people start thinking of standard romantic stories.”

Instead, he tries to emphasize the struggle by making the males conspicuously absent. “You ask, ‘Where are the males?’ Maybe they have all became soldiers and gone to war, and got killed or something, if you like,” he says facetiously.

Topçuoglu may not want to wipe out the entire male race but he ultimately sees “little hope for change in a male dominated world, even if the men were young,” he says – the male being the symbol of the oppressor, of course.

The overwhelming influence of the gentler sex on him and his undying quest to underscore their struggle and sacrifice, and in effect alter their reality, stems from the fact that he grew up surrounded by a group of rebellious, cultured, and feminine women – very much like the women in his artworks.

OBJECT OF MY AFFECTION

Topçuoglu’s favorite subjects put him in his critics’ direct line of fire, under the pretext that he uses sexual innuendos or turns these women into sex objects because of the graphic nature of the shots. He says people accusing him of the objectification of women are visually and culturally constipated, as they cannot draw links to historical references in his works. While most of these women are shot in miniskirts and bare a good deal of skin, there is no nudity in his pictures. Topçuoglu blames this frame of mind on the conservative Turkish society, which

MURDER MYSTERY, 121 X 143 CM, 2010.

COURTESY OF NAZIF TOPÇUOGLU / GREEN ART GALLERY, DUBAI.

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RIGHT: THE TRIPTYCH, 3 PANELS OF 180 X 120 CM EACH, 2009.

OPPOSITE PAGE: SUICIDE, 182 X 114 CM, 2007.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF NAZIF TOPÇUOGLU / GREEN ART GALLERY, DUBAI.

“THE TRIPTYCH” SHOWED THE CONFORMISTS – A WELL-COIFFED BUNCH DRESSED IN TRADITIONAL SCHOOL ATTIRE – AND THE REBELS WITH RIPPED OFF CLOTHES AND DISHEVELED HAIR.

he says is getting all the more so with time. For him, Turkish women “have the advantages and problems of both the East and the West, so it is four times more difficult for them.”

Topçuoglu shares some of his sociopolitical takes on Turkish society and the world through the theatrical performances of his ladies. He began by questioning the position of female compatriots with his 2002-2003 series “Readers”, which remains his favorite.

“Because if the girls had not started reading, i.e. educating themselves… they would not have rebelled,” Topçuoglu explains. In this series, he visits the old corridors of his childhood and attempts to relive those memories.

Topçuoglu is admittedly constantly preoccupied with time, memory, and loss. “I worry about the transience of people and things in general,” he writes in his artist statement, hence his endeavors “to recapture the past”.

His 2009 “Virgin Suicides” similarly takes jab at the situation of women in the region. Borrowing its name from Sofia Coppola’s 1999 feature film, it shows two girls, apparently on the verge of death. They are covered in seemingly their own blood, which in fact is the juice from the pomegranates they appear to have eaten. The photograph is taken at the moment when one of the girls has just died, the girl wielding the knife gazes out at the viewer, looking pleased with herself.

That same year, Topçuoglu unveiled one of his masterpieces, which fetched $33,133 at a Sotheby’s auction. “The

Triptych” showed the conformists – a well-coiffed bunch dressed in traditional school attire – and the rebels with ripped off clothes and disheveled hair. The rebels, who bring to mind Francis Bacon’s naked wrestlers, are being tried by the conformists because of their revolutionary beliefs as they live in a traditional society. These were the girls who started reading.

Now educated and all grown, they are fighting for their rights with their hands and teeth.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

Clearly, Topçuoglu’s pieces appeal to audiences and art critics. “It makes you think without being boring,” he says of his work. “You want to look at my work for a variety of reasons, but then you start questioning your motivations, because there is something unsettling there. Many unsettling elements actually, I hope! You realize that you may in fact have been mistaken in your initial responses and attraction.”

It all starts with a theme on Topçuoglu’s mind, for which he finds the proper location and the right performers, who are mostly university art students. Finding the right cast is both painstaking and crucial. Part of the process entails a search for “girls who have star quality and who will fit the leading roles better”, he indicates. It’s ultimately a one-man show. He designs the costumes and finds accessories and props himself. “Finally, I put it

together by drawing storyboards and/ or do some Photoshop before I even touch the camera,” he says. Shooting one picture can be elaborately tedious, requiring up to a whole day to come to fruition. He makes half a dozen or so artworks a year.

Topçuoglu’s serious interest in photography began in 1981 in Chicago, which led him to obtain a Masters in this art form. Returning home in the early 1990s, he tried his hand at commercial photography and advertising until he shifted focus to the work he does today. He established a solid relationship with Galeri Nev in Istanbul beginning with his initial series. And his art commanded attention across Europe, where he was widely exhibited, including Paris Photo in France and Scope Basel in the Netherlands. The region took notice of Topçuoglu when Green Art Gallery in Dubai put on his first solo in the Middle East in 2009. The gallery also represented him in December at the inaugural ZOOM Art Fair in Miami, which concentrated on artists from the Middle East and its Diaspora. It was the first time his work was shown in the U.S., though it is in the JPMorganChase permanent collection, among many other prestigious institutions. He was featured in various important art publications and has himself authored three books on photography. And in a few months, a monograph spanning his career will be published, a career he spent creating a world apart

www.naziftopcuoglu.com

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

25

the

FIRE INSIDE

BY AMAL CHAABAN

Amal Chaaban talks to Sherrilyn Kenyon exclusively for RAGMAG IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR SHERRILYN KENYON HAS CLAIMED THE #1 POSITION TWELVE TIMES. THIS EXTRAORDINARY BESTSELLER CONTINUES TO TOP EVERY GENRE SHE WRITES. WITH MORE THAN 23 MILLION COPIES OF HER BOOKS IN PRINT IN OVER 30 COUNTRIES, HER CURRENT SERIES INCLUDE: THE DARKHUNTERS, THE LEAGUE, LORDS OF AVALON, BAD AGENCY AND THE CHRONICLES OF NICK. SINCE 2004, SHE HAS PLACED OVER 50 NOVELS ON THE NEW YORK TIMES LIST. SHERRILYN KENYON, WHO IS PROUD OF HER CHEROKEE HERITAGE, LIVES A LIFE OF EXTRAORDINARY DANGER... AS DOES ANY WOMAN WITH THREE SONS, A HUSBAND, A MENAGERIE OF PETS AND A COLLECTION OF SWORDS.

26 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

Your novels are often classified as romance novels. Given their layers and complexity, do you think that classification is correct?

Actually it’s interesting. The Dark Hunters have been published under the logo of Horror, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance and currently they are labelled as fiction. It’s just where the marketing department of the publisher’s want to put it.

The Dark Hunters are created because their souls cry out for vengeance yet they are only redeemed by love. Why is that?

Because I think that is the only thing that saves humanity and saves individuals. Again, I take everything personal because my understanding

of the world comes out of my own experiences. Originally while the DH had that pact with Artemis and been betrayed, it wasn’t until my older brother died that I added that element of the scream of vengeance. The only thing that brought me back was my husband. I don’t think I would have survived it. In a weird way, a part of me died with my brother and has never come back. The only thing that got me through was my husband.

Dangereuse’s story of betrayal comes out of the French Revolution. Is her story based in fact? Do you think that likely happened to someone in France?

I am sure it did. It was a very bleak time; everybody was so afraid that

cultureclash

‘ “I LOVE HER SO MUCH MORE THAN MYSELF THAT I CAN’T BEAR

THE THOUGHT OF LOSING HER, THE THOUGHT OF HER IN PAIN IS HORRIFIC TO ME” they would sell out family to survive.

Not just in France, but people do that the world over. Take the movie 300, the movie is fabulous but what is really historically significant about that particular story is that they were not betrayed by a stranger, they were betrayed by one of the guys in their unit. It was one of the Spartans who had fought who sold them out.

Unfortunately, people do that.

In “Night Play”, Bride McTeirney is described repeatedly as being larger. Was it important to you to show that larger women can be found attractive given that you juxtaposed her with her ex’s new thin girlfriend?

It is interesting because people keep coming back to Bride but if you read the books, Grace is heavy, Sunshine is heavy, most of them with the exception

‘

of Tabitha and Amanda are not skinny and they actually have issues because they are skinny.

Valerius Magnus hid his pain by keeping firm control of every emotion in public. It is only when his one true love Tabitha is attacked that control slips. Why?

Because he is not an automaton. When you look at the way Roman’s were expected to be – his whole character comes out of Roman society –, the way they fought, the way their aristocracy was. That is one of the reasons why the Roman orgies and stuff were so WOO HOO because here it was acceptable to cut loose. He took it one step further because with his family, he was never allowed the luxury to do let his guard down for one minute. In the case of Tabitha, she is the one person who truly allows him to be himself. It is

born out of “I love her so much more than myself that I can’t bear the thought of losing her, the thought of her in pain is horrific to me”.

Savitar says “You’ll never see the moments coming that will forever mutilate your life – at least not until after they have mowed you down”. Isn’t that a bit fatalistic?

He is extremely fatalistic and there is a really good reason for it. He did something really bad in his past that he has to confront everyday – that is one of the reasons why he has withdrawn to the island.

How much research on the ancient world do you do for each novel?

This goes back to when I was in College. My father kept asking what I was going to do with that because I kept changing my major. His big thing was “Why do you need 12 dead languages” and I would say “You know Dad, the day may come when they reanimate Chaucer and I will be the only person who can communicate with him”. I am fascinated by culture and peoples, I learned Sanskrit so I could read the Rig Veda. I love knowing all of that.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

27

cultureclash

In each of your books, the sentence “...each human myth is rooted somewhere in reality” appears in one form or another.

Can you expand on that?

That is my personal belief. When you really start looking at mythology, everybody has vampires, everybody has dragons, so that and a lot of stuff is that dragons come from dinosaur bones.

That is how man explained the giant head of a T-Rex. We all share some degree of consciousness. We wouldn’t have this communal belief if there wasn’t some sort of reality behind it.

Many of your lovers are star-crossed, why is that?

were so terrified of that they only built one or two temples for and he really was not celebrated. Yet, when you read him in fiction, he is always crying because he got his butt whipped by somebody.

Then there is the character of Artemis, she is the protector of women in childbirth but if you make me mad, I am going to shoot my arrow in that belly and kill your baby and you. That was her character when you read a lot of her myths.

The severing of Ash & Nick’s friendship has morphed into a blood feud. Did you plan that?

It wouldn’t be interesting fiction if it wasn’t. Number two, nothing ever comes easy.

I do indeed. At least I hope that’s true...

When you read her or any of the Gods really, one of the things that has always drawn me to especially the Greek Pantheon is that the characters are so rich and so vibrant with their dichotomies. On one hand you have Ares the God of War who the Greeks

28 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

When you say “Dictation doesn’t work that well. The ability to create and understand speech is in a part of the brain that shuts down when you go creative”, does that happen to you when you try to dictate your words?

It happens to everybody. When you are really in the story and you’re there and everything is so clear and the phone rings or somebody comes in and you really don’t understand them clearly. They are talking to you but you don’t understand them. They have done many neurological studies on this. The creative side of the brain, the right side has two areas that produce and understand speech, Broca and Wernicke’s, begin to shut down when you are doing any kind of heavy creative processing.

So if you have to speak, you have to reawaken that side

In the outtake of Dream Chaser, you write “The most beautiful thing about love is that it’s blind to who and what we are”. Do you believe that?

Artemis is such a pitiable creature and an uber-bitch by turns. Why have you written her like that?

Basically, all these are what I call Darwinian moments. When you think back to your childhood good or bad, you don’t remember every single time of getting up, brushing your teeth but if you ever suffered an injustice, you remember it clearly right down to the shoes you were wearing that day.

Those are the moments, good or bad, that define us. Any word, any smell triggers in our brain, an emotion. We have good and bad triggers.

Yes, that was why they were always so close from the beginning because the worst betrayals always come from those closest to you.

You have said “[the] writing process makes me delve deep into human psyche and what shapes and forms us all from cradle to grave”, can you expand on that?

MANY OF YOUR LOVERS ARE STAR-CROSSED, WHY IS THAT? IT WOULDN’T BE INTERESTING FICTION IF IT WASN’T. NUMBER TWO, NOTHING EVER COMES EASY.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

29

forhim

IN THE LINE OF

FIRE GEORGES CHAMCHOUM

BY GINA GABRIEL- EL FADY

RAGMAG TALKS TO ACCLAIMED FILM DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER GEORGES CHAMCHOUM SHORTLY AFTER HE IS HONOURED BY NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY. GEORGES CHAMCHOUM, ONE OF OUR GREATEST TALENTS ABROAD, IS THE PRIDE AND JOY OF MIZIARA, HIS HOMETOWN IN NORTH LEBANON.

ABOVE, LEFT TO RIGHT: MUSKETEERS FOREVER (1998), DIRECTED BY GEORGES CHAMCHOUM. GEORGES CHAMCHOUM AND NC HEIKIN AT THE MONACO FILM FESTIVAL, IMAGE COURTESY OF KRYSTOF KRIZ.

C

urrently residing in the United States, Georges was born in Niger, West Africa and then moved to Lebanon with his family at a very young age to continue his schooling.

Georges has fond memories of the house that was filled with 18 cousins and describes it as an “incredible time. We were all brought up to be very close. I am hoping that one day I would be able to make a movie of that part of my life”. He later moved to France, to boarding school, where he spent the rest of his student life.

He describes it as “a big change from what [he] was used to… it was a lonely move.” Later discovering that

30 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

“the move had a big effect on how [his] life would map out”.

Georges joined the competitive film industry after graduating in 1968, from the Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français in Paris. Georges has produced and directed over 40 fiction and documentary features to date, many of them award winning, between Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the USA. His work has been presented at various international film fests from Berlin to Cannes.

Georges talks to RAGMAG about the challenges of breaking into film, and what he’s learned from being in the line of fire.

“I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO TRAIN WITH THE BEST, FOR EXAMPLE ROMAN POLANSKI WHO ENCOURAGED ME TO LATER JOIN FILM SCHOOL IN POLAND AND ANDREI TARKOVSKY.”

BELOW: PUBLISHER GINA GABRIEL EL-FADY INTERVIEWING FILM DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER GEORGES CHAMCHOUM.

How difficult was it for you to join the film industry?

I cannot say that it was easy.

I was fortunate enough to train with the best, for example Roman Polanski who encouraged me to later join film school in Poland and Andrei Tarkovsky.

In Europe, the industry is very limited and very hard and I was very unhappy.

However in the United States, my talent was recognized. I admit that competition is huge but there is more chance to work in the film industry than Europe.

What are your regrets and your successes?

I have no regrets. I don’t regret anything in my life. Everything I have done, I was aware of. God knows how many mistakes I have made. But I believe that one learns from one’s mistakes. I hope that the young are more aware today. A lot of people cannot take failure but failure is good, failure is the best lesson and I wish I knew that. As for successes, I have done what I have wanted to do. I still have a lot to achieve.

Would you say that coming from a privileged lifestyle made it easier for you?

Of course it does. You are more comfortable and relaxed when you are pursuing your dream. I was lucky.

However I don’t consider it to be all positive, it took me more time to mature. I counted a lot on what I had.

Tell us more about the Monaco Film Festival?

I am proud to say that this is my sixth year organizing the Monaco Film Festival. We started with practically nothing. I was encouraged to make my own choices. It’s all about giving a chance to film makers who are worth it. People forget that it takes a lot of energy, tears and laughter to make a movie. To make a movie is a miracle in itself. My thanks to Notre Dame University are never ending. They are great supporters and the backbone of the festival.

Is it difficult for filmmakers to swap from the real world to the fictitious world?

Filmmakers are blessed with many lives. They live both worlds at the same time. It is very difficult not to get totally involved, however as long as one is aware that they are not in the real world then they’ll be ok. Unfortunately that is not always the case. It is difficult especially in Hollywood not to get totally involved. One can get to a stage whereby one stops identifying with their true self.

Any new projects on the horizon?

I am working on a documentary now. It is called Children of War. It initially started with the reconstruction surgery of a child who lost half of her face in a bomb in Iraq, but it has been extended to discuss survivors in different countries.

Do you have any advice to a young person who wants to follow in your footsteps?

I have always advised people to do what they have to do before they join the industry. Once in the industry, they have to be one hundred percent committed. The key to success is not only what you know, nor is it only talent. It is personality. Arrogance will lead to one’s downfall. I am speaking from personal experience

ABOVE: TIGER HEART (1996) DIRECTED BY GEORGES CHAMCHOUM STARRING T.J. ROBERTS, JENNIFER LYONS, ROBERT LA SARDO, RANCE HOWARD, TIMOTHY WILLIAMS.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

31

out +about

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN HARB

the pass

TORCH

ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN + DANNY CAVANAGH TEAM UP RAGMAG got out + about with Play For Today and 2U2C for our Up In Flames issue. Why? Because Raffi Ohanian and Music Hall brought 2 very special performers to Beirut. We spent a few hours on the evening of Tuesday, January 11 listening to both

Anneke van Giersbergen and Danny Cavanagh passing the torch back and forth. RAGMAG got all lit up at the sold out event, especially since it was pretty up close and personal with only 500 seats available.

The night began with Anneke van Giersbergen crooning some of her best known melodies and strumming the guitar. RAGMAG found it hard to believe her apologetic claim, that she couldn’t actually “play very well”, since it was music to our ears. And judging by her hardcore fans who were singing along, they didn’t believe her either. Engaging the crowd, shout out requests were encouraged and honoured by Anneke, who then brought our Danny Cavanagh to an enthusiastic welcome.

RAGMAG wants to be out + about with you.

Tell RAGMAG what’s up in Lebanon. We want to hear new sounds and see new places. You know of a cool place for us to try or a show we should see? Your band, bar or event could be covered next. We just might drop in. Send us an email with the event description, location, and contact information to RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011 32 outandabout@ragmaglive.com

The sound guy seemed a little baffled at first when Danny when was calling out instructions, but it didn’t deter Danny from getting the crowd up and at ‘em, especially when he covered a couple of well known and much loved U2 tracks. Anneke van Giersbergen of Agua De Annique and The Gathering and Anathema’s frontman Danny Cavanagh, released their collaboration album In Parallel, recorded at the Little Devil in Tilburg, March 2009. It was about time we saw them perform together here in Beirut. RAGMAG suggests you listen to their flaming cover of Damien Rice’s The Blower’s Daughter.

Play For Today (PFT) has spent the past 9 years setting the music scene on fire through the production of concerts and festivals, and RAGMAG was glad to be at their most recent venture. A “full-service entertainment company created to produce musical and artistic events in Lebanon and the region”, PFT and 2U2C got RAGMAG out + about with 2 indie rockers that we’re putting on our favourite’s list. Keep passing the torch

Take Up the Torch www.pftlive.com Facebook Play For Today - Live Entertainment www.aguadeannique.com www.anathema.ws UP IN FLAMES ISSUE 33 Follow Anneke van Giersbergen on Twitter @AnnekeAnnique

RAGged

FLAMING facts The CATALYST Pyromania is a rare disorder that involves the starting of fires for “gratification and tension relief”.

Pyrophilia also involves the starting of fire for gratification, but is different because the latter is sexual in nature. Pyrophilia is not accepted as an established disorder by all psychology professionals.

INFERNO

Francis Ford Coppola’s award winning interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula used blue fire rings on the entry road to the castle. The usage differs in the original book: on certain evenings spirits are set loose and “a blue flame is seen over any place where treasure has been concealed”.

{87

The ranking of Ring of Fire in Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time published December 9, 2004.

34 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

{7

The number of weeks Johnny Cash’s rendition of Ring of Fire stayed at number 1 on the Billboard charts. The song was written by June Carter Cash (who did not marry Johnny until 4 years later), and Merle Kilgore. It is the most well known song of Johnny’s career.

CAUTION Flammable!

Phil Dusenberry’s memoir, Then We Set His Hair on Fire: Insights and Accidents from a Hall of Fame Career in Advertising, details the late Michael Jackson’s famous fire accident. During a staged concert for a Pepsi commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, pyrotechnics set the King of Pop’s hair alight causing second degree burns. He later donated his settlement award ($1.5 million) to the Brotman Medical Center that houses the Michael Jackson Burn Center.

Spontaneous COMBUSTION

The Phoenix, a legendary firebird that can be found in many ancient mythologies and traditions including Phoenician, experienced a popular revival through wizarding series Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling.

Dumbledore’s pet phoenix was named Fawkes, and is depicted in film as bursting into flames and being reborn.

1987 {

The year the last supernova was seen with the naked eye, according to NASA. Prior to that, the last supernova to be seen without telescope aid was approximately 400 years ago. A complete list of recent supernovae (the plural of supernova), can be found at www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/lists/ RecentSupernovae.html

The FIRE Inside

According to Dr. Eric Christian of NASA, “To get a stellar implosion (leading to a supernova and then either a black hole or neutron star), the fuel at the center of the star gets used up, and the core cools rapidly.

The pressure that has been holding up the outer layer drops, and the outer shells start falling toward the center.” After meeting at the center, “the mass rebounds into a supernova explosion… [and] either forms a neutron star or (if the original star was really large) a black hole.”

HOT Stuff

Fire signs in the Zodiac are Aries, Sagittarius and Leo. Proponents of Astrology believe that being a fire sign means you are extroverted, high in leadership capabilities, passionate and a hell-raiser when provoked.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

35

cultureclash

FLEEING A

BURNING BUILDING

BELOW: EMPEROR NERO OF ROME.

Great Fires of History

OF ALL THE ELEMENTS HUMANITY CLAIMS TO HAVE MASTERED, THE LEAST PREDICTABLE AND MOST DANGEROUS CONTINUES TO BE FIRE. ONE ERRANT SPARK CAN CREATE AN INFERNO THAT LEVELS A WHOLE CITY. RAGMAG TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGEST FIRES IN HISTORY FROM A SAFE DISTANCE.

Rome In popular lore, it is said that Nero fiddled while Rome 64 A.D.

London 1666

In September of 1666 a fire started in a bakery in London belonging to one Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane. The fire spread quickly because the Lord Mayor of London was indecisive about using firebreaks to cut off the fire’s path. As the fire spread and then jumped the Thames River, the palace of King Charles II came close to being destroyed and it was only the concerted efforts of the mobilized fire crews that stopped the fire from spreading to London Proper. The death toll was placed officially at 6 and over 70,000 people were left homeless. The aftermath of the fire brought xenophobia to the forefront and foreigners were targeted for trying “to destroy London”. King Charles II pleaded with the homeless to settle outside of London fearing a rebellion though how much resettlement happened outside is unknown.

36 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

burned and that the great fire of Rome happened because Nero sent out his men to burn the city to make room for his Domus Aureas. The truth is, no one knows the cause of the fire, we only know that the fire originated in the Merchant’s Forum and spread from there. The fire burned 72% of the city and killed approximately 3000 people. One year later, less than 2% of the city had been rebuilt. There are no dollar values recorded as the cost of the fire but given that Rome was once the center of an Empire that spread across the known world, it would be astronomical. Nero used the fire as an excuse to persecute the Jews and Christians in the realm but got his Domus Aureas built as he had wanted from the beginning.

Chicago 1871

At the time of the great Chicago fire, the city was in a drought and by the time October rolled around, the entire city was a tinderbox waiting to go up in flames. The fire that destroyed a great deal of Chicago started in a barn behind the home of Patrick O’Leary and for many years, it was said that a cow kicking over a lantern caused the first flame (later found to be untrue). When the blaze started, the Fire Department was late getting there as they went to the wrong address; by the time they got there, the blaze had spread from building to building thanks to wind conditions. When the fire finally burned itself out, the damage was staggering. The fire destroyed an area about 6 km long and approximately 1 km wide.

This encompassed more than 2000 acres containing 120 miles (190 km) of sidewalk, 2000 lampposts, 17500 buildings, and $222 million in property. Of the 300000 people who lived there, 90000 were left homeless.

San Francisco 1906 On April 18, 1906 a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco causing over 30 fires due to ruptured gas mains. It has been estimated that up to 90% of the total destruction was the result of the subsequent fires which destroyed approximately 25 000 buildings on 490 city blocks. To make things worse, Firefighters attempted to demolish buildings to create firebreaks, which resulted in the destruction of more than 50% of the buildings that would have otherwise survived. The firefighters were untrained in the use of dynamite and in some cases, ended up starting even more fires. Insurers had a long history of not insuring San Francisco residents for earthquake damage due to its proximity to the San Andreas Fault line and at the time, deemed all of the fire damage due to earthquakes so no claims were paid out to the people. To this day, the 1906 catastrophe remains the single worst disaster in the history of the United States.

Tokyo 1923

In 1923, a 7.9 magnitude quake struck Japan in the Tokyo region.

The Great Kantō quake combined with 18km/hr winds caused one of the great conflagrations in the history of the region. The quake struck at a time when many people were using fires to cook and these soon turned into firestorms as they were aided by the wind. The death toll was set at approximately 140000 including those missing presumed dead. The single greatest loss of life occurred when 38 000 people were packed into an open space at the Rikugun Honjo Hifukusho (a former Army Clothing Depot) in downtown Tokyo. These people were incinerated by a firestorminduced fire whirl. The earthquake had caused water mains all over Tokyo to break so putting out the fires took nearly two full days. In this quake, the fires were the greatest cause of death but the costs in loss of property were attributed to the quake. In the aftermath of the disaster, panic ensued and ethnic violence against “foreigners” to the country was up.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

37

the final frontier

TAMING

FIRE

WE ALL HAVE A HIDDEN PYROMANIAC IN US WHO SECRETLY ENJOYS THE BURNING BEAUTY OF FIRE AND THINGS BEING DEVOURED BY FLAMES. MANY OF US ALSO APPRECIATE THE HOTNESS OF FIREMEN. BUT FIRE IS NO JOKE. IT CAN CAUSE HEAVY DAMAGE, FINANCIAL LOSSES, SEVERE INJURIES AND EVEN DEATH. THIS IS WHY FIRE PROTECTION AND FIGHTING TECHNOLOGY ARE CONSTANTLY BEING DEVELOPED.

BY J.E.N.

F

ire technology uses basic research and engineering principles to create solutions. Fire prevention is key and in a certain sense is more important than fire-fighting itself. Striking the coal when it’s still hot (so to speak) can do a lot to minimize the risks.

There are many viable forms of fireprevention and loss-reduction measures including fire-safe building codes, periodic inspections of the premises, fire-detection systems and automatic fire-suppression systems.

Despite years of technological advances, fire fighters still mainly use good old-fashioned water to put out roaring fires. Water is great since it is practical, inexpensive and can cool a burning item down to a point where it does not produce gases that burn.

This doesn’t mean that technology

38 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

can’t make a good thing even better.

Additives can be mixed with the water to increase its flow or sticking power, as can chemical and physical extinguishants such as fluorocarbons, film-forming proteins, and foams.

The development of flame inhibitors has significantly contributed to fire control. These flame inhibitors work indirectly by interfering with the reactions inside a flame that lead to the sustained release of heat. The interference created by flame inhibitors makes the temperature go below the temperature needed for a fire to ignite. Halogenated hydrocarbons such as chlorobromomethane (CB) and bromotrifluoromethane (also known as Halon 1301) are the best and most effective flame inhibitors.

However in dry-powder chemical

FIRE DETECTORS PICK UP ON CHANGES IN THE SURROUNDINGS...

OTHERS CAN PICK UP FLAMES A FEW MILLISECONDS AFTER THEY START

BY SENSING THE SPECIFIC INFRARED OR ULTRAVIOLET WAVELENGTHS. extinguishers, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate is the most practical fire inhibitor. Other good dry-powder inhibitors are the salts of alkali metals including lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium. Foams are very common too and different types are available. Protein-type, low-expansion foams work well on petroleum products which tend to be extremely volatile and flammable. This makes them a good option for crash-rescue operations. While for enclosed spaces, high-expansion foams have been developed to suppress fires and they can surprisingly contain enough air for a person to breathe inside them.

Another type of flame inhibitor is Light Water, a film-forming solution created by the U.S. Navy for use with dry chemicals to fight aircraft crash fires.

Today it is also used to tackle urban fires and burning petroleum storage tanks. Very versatile, it works as a

liquid or as a low-expansion foam that interferes with the release of flammable vapors from burning fuel.

Automatic sprinkler systems are rather nifty installations with heat sensitive sprinklers on the ceiling which are connected to an ample supply of extinguishants. Once fire is detected, the sprinklers turn on, dousing the heat and flames. Many use automatic sprinkler systems in conjunction with smoke detectors and/or fire alarms. The extinguishant reaches the sprinklers in different ways. In the standard wet-pipe system all the pipes have water under pressure, ready to be released. In the dry-pipe system (normally used for unheated buildings in freezing climates or for cold-storage rooms) branch lines and other distribution pipes have dry air or nitrogen under pressure. And there are many other set-ups tailored to suit different needs, climates and possible scenarios.

Fire detectors pick up on changes in the surroundings. Some are designed to identify if the temperature is much higher than usual or rises much faster than it should via sensors that use electronics or mechanical components that melt or expand when heated. Others are designed to sniff out smoke by detecting the concentration of solid or liquid particles in the air. These either use a small radioactive source or a light source and light-sensitive receiver.

And others yet can pick up flames a few milliseconds after they start by sensing the specific infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths. Regardless of type, fire detectors are combined with an alarm system and other measures such as emergency number dial-up, sprinklers etc. The moral of all this technology: things don’t have to go up in flames if you catch the first flicker

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

39

the final frontier

AFLAME WITH LIFE

BY J.E.N.

H

as our idea of life gone up in flames? Do we need to redefine life? Maybe. Why? Because on the 2nd of December 2010 a team of scientists announced that they managed to train a type of bacteria to actually live on a diet of arsenic instead of phosphorous and to incorporate the arsenic into its cellular machinery and DNA. Arsenic is poisonous and was always thought to be too toxic and chemically unstable to let life grow and flourish… Until now that is. This new development not only challenges the preconceptions we have about life, but also has phenomenal implications for life in the universe.

Scientist around the world, even those not involved in this project, are tooting the possibilities if this claim is indeed true. Dimitar Sasselov (an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and director of one of the center’s institutes) said, “There is basic mystery, when you look at life…

Nature only uses a restrictive set of molecules and chemical reactions out of many thousands available. This is our first glimmer that maybe there are other options.” Felisa Wolfe-Simon (who led the experiment and is a NASA astrobiology fellow at the United States Geological Survey in Menlo Park, Calif., who led the experiment) stated, “This is a microbe that has solved the problem of how to live in a different way.”

40 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

The experiments used cultured microbes from the sediment from eastern California’s Mono Lake, which is a highly alkaline closed basin that is three times as salty as the ocean and is rich in carbonates, phosphorus, arsenic and sulfur. The microbes got a diet of sugar, vitamins and trace metals, but no phosphorus (which life usually needs).

The microbes were then force-fed increasing amounts of arsenate while a control group was fed phosphate. While the arsenic group grew less than the phosphorous group, they still grew and even multiplied, using the arsenate in the place of phosphate! The researchers radioactively labeled the arsenic and hence traced the atoms to the backbone of working DNA. It’s interesting to note that arsenic is right underneath phosphorus in the periodic table of the elements and hence shares many of its chemical properties and this is what makes it so toxic. And it’s also worth noting that the GFAJ-1 strain of the Halomonadaceae family of Gammaproteobacteria grew the best out of the lake microbes but underwent changes to its normal development, growing around 60% larger than usual with big, empty spaces inside the cell. While it managed to adapt to the arsenic diet, it grew significantly better when fed phosphorous.

As Wolfe-Simon expressed it, “It isn’t about arsenic, and it isn’t about Mono Lake… There’s something fundamental about understanding the flexibility of life.” And understanding can be tricky. Researchers are extremely puzzled how arsenate is doing the job of phosphate in cells. Phosphate is the ‘P’ in ATP (life’s energy currency) and is an essential part of DNA’s double helix. Biochemistry would suggest that things would fall apart if they were built with arsenate instead of phosphate.

And yet this microbe totally challenges established biochemistry by not falling to pieces and thriving.

This experiment is not without controversy and many are questioning the validity of the findings and claims. Skeptics abound and scientific communities are abuzz with heated debates about this little bacterium. It now seems like the research team has a great battle in front of it to ensure its findings don’t go up in flames and aren’t burnt to the ground

‘THIS IS A MICROBE THAT HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF HOW TO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT WAY.’

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

41

FML [f*ck my life]

DANTE’S

INFERNO

BY FIDA FIERY CHAABAN

‘I remember that the second circle is reserved for Lust.

Damn it, it’s this issue isn’t it? I am being punished for the lusty Up in Flames issue of RAGMAG.’

C “

hris you need to call this guy.

He’s going to teach me to blow fire for FML the Up in Flames issue,” I said. Or is it breathe fire?

“Blow fire? You must be joking,” he stared at me incredulously trying to determine how serious I was.

“No,” I said calmly, “Really, I’m going to blow fire. I already told Gina.”

Chris shrugged and mumbled, “It’s your funeral.” He dials Wissam, the Fire Breather, and arranges the whole thing in under 5 minutes. (Chris, why didn’t you talk me out of this idiocy?)

We agree to meet in Hamra for the training session and it starts to sink in. Of all the frik’n FML idiotic ideas, I think, swearing inwardly with words not fit to print. But what else can you do with fire? Either blow it or eat it, and the former sounded way less risky than the latter. Well, both sound scary and dangerous as all hell, but what can I do? I’ve spent the last 8 issues assigning the RAGMAG staff to sometimes risky and sometimes

42 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

ridiculous stunts, how can I give myself something easy? So I have no choice but to lead by example. Here goes nothing. (Dear Good Gina, if I come away maimed for life will you please take care of me? Love, Fida. PS. Let’s forget about the time you and Bad Gina paraglided off a cliff with that guy who couldn’t remember your name.)

I reflect momentarily on the fact that I began with an FML water stunt and I’m now doing an FML fire stunt, does this meaning something? (Odette, jump in at any time with the “Chaotic patterns of the universe,” stuff.) Mentally I begin considering the 9 circles of hell, am I guilty of something? Heresy? Hmm, no.

Gluttony? No. Violence? No. Treachery?

No. I remember that the second circle is reserved for Lust. Damn it, it’s this issue isn’t it? I am being punished for the lusty Up in Flames issue of RAGMAG. Dante’s Inferno dictates that in the second circle of hell I’m to be blown back and forth by pummelling winds, well, just as long as that doesn’t

happen when I’m trying to blow fire.

So Fire Breather Wissam Al Hassan and his friend Mohammed show up carrying 2 large bottles of water and tissues. The guys are funny and cool and I decide this is all a clever ruse to distract me from the fact that I am about to self immolate. I begin messaging Gina on Blackberry, and my Twitter goes off with Youmna tweeting my doom. All of the RAGMAG staff are eagerly awaiting the results. FML really!

Wissam starts demonstrating the correct blowing technique. Looks easy enough.

Yoga breathing techniques don’t fail me now! Inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth, got it. This goes on for a while and I’m shaking but proud that I am successful at the breathing part. Wissam then hands me a bottle of water and tells me to take a sip explaining that before I try with the flammable substance that he refers to as “zeit”, translating loosely to oil, I have to practice with water. Umm what? Hold up, I wasn’t aware that I

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN HARB UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

43

FML [f*ck my life]

‘FIDA, THIS IS THE ZEIT. YOU TAKE A SIP AND MAKE SURE NOT TO SWALLOW. WHAT YOU DID WITH THE WATER, YOU DO WITH THIS.’ had to put some toxic and flammable concoction in my mouth for this to work! What about the yogi breath!

Apparently, you spit fire, not breathe fire. You take a drink of whatever venom it is then spit it out in a fine mist and that is what makes the flames.

What the hell have I signed up for?

If the ridiculous image of my learning to spit (I look so vulgar) isn’t apparent to my readers, trust me I am a horrible mess. I realize quickly that I don’t know how to spit and the water is dribbling down my chin, onto my clothes, and generally going everywhere. Then to further add to my embarrassment, a crowd is assembling.

They’re watching as I try to spit a mist of water at Wissam’s hand! The man is so gracious, he doesn’t even flinch as my spitty-water covers him. On the contrary, he encourages me and says, “Spit further! Hit my hand!” I am mortified and really ashamed that I am spitting water at this handsome and talented guy, who incidentally is a professional dancer and is about to appear in a play. “Inhale deeply, here!

44 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

Now spray the water and try to hit this wall,” he says. I do this over and over, making a mess of myself, him and amusing the onlookers. If you think this sounds easy, you should all grab water and try to create a mist of spit from your mouth. These are the steps I have to learn: 1. Take a drink of water, hold it in behind my bottom teeth and make sure I don’t swallow a drop.

2. Inhale through the nose, not allowing the water to escape or move from its position.

3. Make a rapid exhale and a split second after, release a small amount of the water as a mist.

4. Do another quick inhale through the nose (I mean I have half a second).

5. Make another rapid exhale and release another mist of water.

6. Run for my life before fire gets involved.

Okay not the last part, but really it is so complicated. I am trying my utmost best for RAGMAG because I love the mag, the staff and of course our readers. I am also a stubborn asshole, as many people will tell you. So I try

and try and try. Poor guy, Wissam is cool and calm and I’m a shaky, bad student.

After 30 minutes of the 5 step method, Wissam, Mohammed and Chris, the photographer who is capturing this hellish debacle, cheer for me as I create a fine spit mist of water. I am sure, in the history of Lebanon, that no one has ever cheered so loud for spitting before! They’re sick of my girlish squeals and shyness at spitting, and they’re also proud that I can do it. Wissam pronounces me ready to try the zeit and fire. Okay whoa, I’m not ready and I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. I back away slowly as he brings out a bottle of clear fluid, “Fida, this is the zeit. You take a sip and make sure not to swallow. What you did with the water, you do with this.” FMFL. If the spitting and breathing and assembled crowd isn’t enough to make me dizzy and nauseous, this sure is! I smell the bottle warily. No scent? “It’s not gas, it’s a special flammable chemical. Don’t swallow,” he repeats. He demonstrates and blows a gorgeous fire stream!

The man is amazing. Not only does he blow the fire, he twists and twirls the baton and maintains the form of a dancer while doing so. “FMFL,” I say as I watch him breathe fire and hold his position flawlessly. “Yallah Fida, dowreek,” one of them says. I don’t remember who, because I am afraid that this is my last moment on earth, and wonder if I have atoned for all my sins.

I have no choice, Wissam pulls me forward and hands me the poison bottle. So I opt to put some in the bottle cap (at least I can control the amount this way), and firmly steel myself: Enough nonsense Fida, just do it! Okay Nike has brainwashed me, and I dwell on that for a while as it seems

better than letting my mind explore that I’m about to drink a chemical and spit fire. The guys laugh as I fill my little bottle cap. I will never look at these water bottles the same way again. I swear to God Gina, if I light myself on fire, you better be the first person writing poetry in my honour!

Amal, Odette, help! Someone, anyone!

Daniella, Teddy, Youmna, Maha? Are you guys going to let me do this?

RAGMAG, bitches all of you. Hate you all, I scream inwardly as I take my first sip of poison. It has a slimy texture and some dribbles down my chin. Wissam holds the fire baton aloft and I am supposed to do my 5 steps. Wissam pulls me close to the damned thing and orders, “Yallah, Fida! Go!”

And I do! I don’t know how or why I did it, but I did! I make beautiful fire!

And then I promptly run! No joke, I bolted away from him. The guys are proud of me and the crowd is all really amazed. Hell, I’m amazed. Okay, I think we’re done now. But Wissam, ever the patient and determined coach, tells me that was just my first try, “Yallah marrah tanye,” he says. What!

But I did it, I whine. “La2, yallah,” he says as he hands me the bottle. So I get ready, take another swig of poison and do it several more times until I am master of the most dangerous element.

And I didn’t light myself, or anyone else on fire. Dante, that second circle of hell is going to have to wait a little longer, cause I made it out alive Learn to Get Dragon Breath Wissam Al Hassan TEL 03/464432 Email aboualwess@hotmail.com Find him on Facebook

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

45

cultureclash

HAYDA LEBNEN’s National Public Display of Affection Day

BY SARAH HOURANY

E

l hake el Lebnene is the classiest, most romantic and inspiring way of expressing one’s feelings. Forget about all the other chatter (my love, ma chérie, mi amor), and all the sweet words Hollywood has fooled you into liking. Even though to2brine nchalla’s literal translation in English is, “may you bury me, God willing”! We all know that, in Lebanon, it is the most intense form of love expression.

This February, Lebanese and only Lebanese is the official language of Valentine’s Day! Learn how to use it appropriately and how to apply RAGMAG’s very useful tips in order to ace the most commercial holiday of the year!

1. Pick Your Category Choose one or more of these words from the following categories and use them more frequently. Bonus points if you try and succeed at including them in your greeting cards. You can also use current popular Lebanese songs for inspiration, see some examples below.

Food 2achta, 3assal, 7elo Violence and Aggression To2briné, To2bré 3damé, yo2sof 3omrik chu b7ebbik, ya 2atél ya ma2toul Death and Suicide Bmout fiké, Iza bteterkine be2tol 7alé Hopes and Goals Ritani tanbak m3assal, Raytné el dam3a yalli 3a khaddik, ya raytik jarté w sakni bi 7arti Bodily Organs 3youné, 2albé, 3a2lé Flora and Fauna wardté, zahrit hayété, hachichit albé Time and Space nharé, laylé, 3omré, hayété, zamané Destiny and Determinism 2adaré, nassibé God and the Omniscient Alla khala2ik w kasar el 2alib, yo2borne Alla elle khala2ik

46 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

Mental Health jnouné, khwété Superlatives aghla el nass, a7la ma khala2 Rabbé, ahdam wehde bil 3alam, ajmel el banet Forces of Nature nari, cha3alti el nar, ma tel3abi bil nar, 7ar2et albi (we chose to focus on fire but there are many more) Orders and Commands Fared 7obbi 3layke fared, Béddi yaki inti, beddi tkouni marti

2. Preparation is Everything Rule number 2 on Valentine’s Day is all about preparation. Prepare your gifts in advance, and anticipate your partner’s actions and reactions to avoid embarrassing and uncomfortable moments.

MEN •Even if she looks like the typical girl next door, lavish her with compliments that make her feel like the Lebanese Brigitte Bardot. Lebanese women excel at accepting flattery.

•Even if you buy her a small gift, put in a BIG, very BIG box (on Valentine’s, Lebanese women become even more visual and greedy creatures).

•Even if you have heard that a single flower is a very special and symbolic way to express your love, don’t even try to offer it. To a Lebanese woman, it means you’re bakhil (even if its price triples on Valentine’s), and not romantic at all! Go big or go home.

WOMEN •Wear no less than 5cm of foundation on your face, or better yet, schedule another pointless makeup application at the overpriced salon you frequent.

•Wear the following colors: black and red…or red and black (the standard uniform of the day). Others colors will not be tolerated.

•If he takes you out to sahrit Fares

Karam, act as though you are attending a very unique concert by the legendary Charles Aznavour •Don’t forget to take pictures of the gifts he gives you, it is the only way to show your Facebook friends how much he LOVES you. (What’s the point if you can’t flaunt it?)

3. Fake it ‘Til You Make it Wherever you go on Valentine’s Day, act as though you are the couple of the year. This includes 30 photos per hour, 5 Habibis per minute, and 1 loud kiss per ten seconds. “B7ebbik”, w “ana kamen” are a must, even if you have been only dating for 2 weeks, enno come on, if you don’t say it won’t sound Valentine-y at all! In Lebanon, mazahir are everything: No one will think you’re in love if you don’t show it off!

Men Special Attention Required

You might be mech taye2a on February 14th, but this should not hold you back from acting like Romeo, opening the car door, putting French songs in the car, and of course pulling out the chair in the restaurant.

Women Beware

As for you, Juliette, enjoy your night as a princess, because you know that tomorrow, you’ll be dashing in the rain and he won’t carry an umbrella over your head. Plus you won’t be hearing anything other than Wassouf for the 364 remaining days!

Then again, rather than going through all this nonsense, you might only send her a card in which you write, “L’amour triomphe de tout” along with one red rose.

But then it wouldn’t be the same, Mah Hayda Lebnen’s Valentine…ya 3ayné!

Pourquoi PAS chocolate for every occasion

Batroun, Lebanon | Tel +961 6 74 45 45 / +961 3 27 28 62 UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

47

HALLMARK HOW TO FIGHT HOLIDAY FIRE WITH FIRE

BY MARIA ELENA KASSAB

48 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

mon amour, mon ami

YOU AND YOUR SWEETIE-PIESHNOOKUMS-POO LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND HAVE THE EXACT SAME CONVERSATION YOU HAVE EVERY TIME YOU’RE OUT ON A DATE, EXCEPT THIS TIME, THERE ARE A LOT MORE “I LOVE YOU”-S AND “YOU ARE MY LIFE”-S.

A

h, Valentine’s Day. Some will tell you it’s the most magical day of the year and others will call it the most overhyped, over-exploited and overrated day ever. I actually really love Valentine’s Day –I mean, what’s not to like? Sappy music on the radio, check. Fuzzy red teddy bears in every shop window, check. Heart-shaped chocolate in every candy aisle of every supermarket, check.

Giggling girls planning on decking their boyfriends’ rooms with red-and-pink balloons and giving them pink boxers with red hearts as a mock-present, check. Panicking guys who don’t know what to give their girlfriends and who can’t find a place at a decent restaurant, CHECK. All those factors make February 14th my favorite day of the year.

And if you believed that, you obviously don’t know me.

Hearts galore, little cupids floating around shooting arrows at your ass, rings hidden in pieces of cheesecake (ouch, swallowed it by accident? You’re never wearing that piece of jewelry in your life, lady!), roses cost more than cars and single people are thrown into the margins of society? Thanks, but no thanks. I’d much rather spend my Valentine’s Day or night with my girlfriends having some actual fun.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m single and ready to mingle and I love going out and painting the town red (pun totally intended), but just not on that particular night.

You sit down with your significant other on Valentine’s Day, right?

The setting is romantic: a dimly-lit restaurant with little hearts strewn around on your table. He orders

the expensive wine –it’s a special occasion, after all – and you glance at the menu which is filled with names you can’t pronounce and prices you can’t fathom. You decide on the most normal-looking thing on the menu and smile at the exasperated-looking waiter as he takes your order. And then, the real fun begins! You and your sweetiepie-shnookums-poo look at each other and have the exact same conversation you have every time you’re out on a date, except this time, there are a lot more “I love you”-s and “you are my life”-s. It’s more awkward than it should be and you expected it to be the night of your life! Don’t say you didn’t, don’t lie, ladies! You expected a night of magic and surprises and thoughtful little touches here and there, you got a rather bland meal

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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YOU WERE EXPECTING THE PERFECT PRESENT BUT YOU GOT THE REGULAR RED TEDDY BEAR, A SINGLE RED ROSE, A RED MUG WITH HEARTS AND YOUR PICTURE THAT APPEARS WHEN IT’S HEATED, A BOTTLE OF YOUR FAVORITE PERFUME OR A PRETTY SHINY NECKLACE. at a restaurant crowded with couples as awkward as you guys are –except for those two playing tonsil-hockey in the back. You were expecting the perfect present but you got the regular red teddy bear, a single red rose, a red mug with hearts and your picture that appears when it’s heated, a bottle of your favorite perfume or a pretty shiny necklace. You got him aftershave and a stuffed red giraffe he hated but said he loved. You’ll have dinner; you’ll order dessert which will be heart-shaped and covered in chocolate. Some idiot is going to propose at a nearby table and you’ll all clap as she says a tearful yes –but we all know the men are going to be feeling the pressure to pop the question. The evening is eventually just another date –slightly more expensive and stuffy than usual- no matter how great you try to convince yourself that is was the most magical moment of your life.

50 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

And while you’re having the time of your life doing that, I’ll be hanging out with my girlfriends. We’ll either stay at home with a bunch of DVDs, some Chinese food and our favorite guy in the world, José Cuervo or we’ll go out to the same restaurant you’re at or hang out at the pub you’ll hit after your stuffy dinner. We’ll cover every single topic there is, from sex toys to boy toys, from positions to techniques, from sexiest guy in the world (I say it’s Johnny Depp, but feel free to disagree) to douchiest guy we’ve been with (you know who you are, sweetheart). We’ll tell every single dirty joke in the book and analyze couples’ body language to determine how long they’ll stay together. We’ll laugh our asses off and flirt shamelessly with the bartender if we’re out. If we’re staying in, we’ll down that bottle of tequila and dance like maniacs, laughing ourselves hoarse.

The next day, you can have your post-Valentine blues on your redconfetti covered floor, with your sad little sagging balloons and your already-wilting flowers that cost more than my monthly paycheck.

I’ll settle with waking up with the mother of all hangovers, swamped by fuzzy memories of kissing someone I shouldn’t have kissed and trying to decipher a guy’s number written in black indelible ink on my arm

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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mon amour, mon ami

GIVE IT ONE MORE GO RAGMAG IS GUILTY AS CHARGED! WE TOO FIND THAT SOMETIMES IT IS EASIER TO RE-DATE AN OLD FLAME RATHER THAN START A NEW FIRE FROM THE BEGINNING. IT IS EXHAUSTING GETTING TO KNOW NEW PEOPLE. HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU ASK THE SAME OLD QUESTIONS: WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL? WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? WHAT`S YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT? YOU’VE BEGUN TO FEEL THAT STARTING A RELATIONSHIP FROM SCRATCH SOMETIMES ISN’T EVEN WORTH IT SINCE THE NEW GUY OR GIRL IN YOUR LIFE MAY ONLY LAST TWO WEEKS. SO YOU JUMP BACK INTO THE CIRCLE: DATING YOUR EX. LAST ISSUE WE COVERED GETTING RID OF THE BAD EX AND MOVING ON WITH YOUR LIFE. BUT WHAT IF HE WASN’T TERRIBLE? WHAT IF HE WAS ACTUALLY GREAT BUT CIRCUMSTANCES CONSPIRED TO DRIVE YOU APART? IF YOUR OLD FLAME FALLS IN THE “ONE WHO GOT AWAY” CATEGORY, THIS ARTICLE IS FOR YOU. READ ON FOR THE WHAT, WHY AND HOW OF RE-DOING THAT RELATIONSHIP. MAYBE THIS TIME IT COULD ACTUALLY WORK!

52 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

YOU BEGIN TO REMEMBER HOW GOOD YOUR EX WAS at all the minor and major stuff. He would make small talk and hold his own at your professional events, speak to your friends even if he didn’t necessarily like them (after all, they’re your friends), and indulged your sweet tooth with little treats from the little patisserie you enjoy.

Y

ou are sick of meeting new people who turn out weird after a couple of weeks. You think they’re wonderful initially until the other shoe drops. You find out odd facts about them from their past: prior criminal convictions, loads of emotional baggage or a habit of throwing tantrums that you find infantile.

It might be personality flaws that you find irritating like inconsistent behaviour (calling you ten times today and not at all tomorrow), bad social skills (barely says a word when you’re out in groups), or even a lack of generosity where it counts (not bothering to treat your friends to a reciprocal round of wine).

While these things seem trivial, they bother you. You begin to remember how good your Ex was at all the minor and major stuff. He would make small talk and hold his own at your professional

events, speak to your friends even if he didn’t necessarily like them (after all, they’re your friends), and indulged your sweet tooth with little treats from the little patisserie you enjoy. He also emailed you interesting bits of news about topics you were following, and always had something to share over dinner. This new clown doesn’t have very many interests and seems to pretty much be a scene-ster, only hitting up places the Lebanese In crowd thinks are cool. Your Ex thought for himself and was always up to trying little known holes-in-the-wall.

The comparison continues until you find yourself sending a text message or making the call, and this is not wrong. Many couples have broken up due to reasons they find bigger than themselves.

Fire Extinguisher 1 Parting the Red Sea Religion is a big roadblock in Lebanon and is responsible for tons of breakups.

She is Muslim and you are Christian, or he is Christian and you are Druze… the story is repetitive and common. With the growing political issues even sects within the same religion are becoming less tolerated. But you just can’t help but feel that person was so right for you. You had a lot in common and understood one another.

Fire Extinguisher 2 The Global Village Another popular breakup reason seems to be relocation and the difficulty of maintaining long distance relationships.

She relocated to Australia for school and the distance and time zone variations were too much (you couldn’t even Skype for days). You weren’t at liberty to travel (passport and financial constraints) to see her. You moved to Qatar for a new job and she felt out of the loop since she didn’t know your new friends and couldn’t put a place to a name when you mentioned the Gordon Ramsey café at the Pearl.

Fire Extinguisher 3 Show Me the Money An additional breakup reason in Lebanon is often financial. The couple cannot afford to get married or take it to the next level and as such one or both give up in search of a partner more able to commit after years together. It is economics plain and simple. You hate to do it but do not feel that another four long years of waiting is in the cards for you.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

53

mon amour, mon ami

THAT OLD FLAME HASN’T FIZZLED OUT, and there is no reason why it should if you get your priorities straight and face them head on.

Any of the 3 reasons we’ve mentioned qualify as a relationship worth doing over one more time. Giving it another try does not mean you are lapsing back into a cycle of makeup and breakup.

Do things differently and see if you can resolve it, for good.

Add Fuel to the Fire 1 Don’t be fooled into thinking the situation is beyond repair. When you resolve to try again, don’t be a naysayer. Saying things like my parents will never agree because you’re a… (fill in religion) means you don’t really want to be part of the solution. Maybe one of you is more willing to accommodate the other without residuals of ill feelings, so great go for it. If neither of you are willing to convert then agree to get married in a civil ceremony with or without your parents. Trust us they will come around eventually. And if they don’t, then they are allowing their prejudices to come before your future happiness. This is a trade off that may not be easy, but is realistic.

This is a tricky situation and while the solution we present sounds easier said than done, it is not. It is easily done.

Just as people will easily write you off for choosing your partner over an ideology, you should write them off for choosing an ideology over you.

Add Fuel to the Fire 2 Don’t allow yourself to feel excluded.

Distance and time are relative concepts that people can conquer easily. Many successful couples live apart for extended periods of time. Make an effort to learn about your significant other’s new life and schedule phone

54 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

dates, Skype video cam sessions and even write to one another on a regular basis, even if you chat on Blackberry or WhatsApp every day. Both of you must commit to a definite time at least twice weekly and stick to it come hell or high water. In the age of social media, long distance is easier than ever. Change your outlook on long distance relationships. It can be a very positive thing: You have a lot of time to work on your hobbies and career, you can spend time with your friends and finally, when you do get to see one another, it seems all the more special since you spend so much time apart.

Couples that see one another on what seems like a vacation basis often have nothing to fight about and don’t sink into a boring rut. You have your life, and your partner has her life and when you get together it can be a real luxury.

Add Fuel to the Fire 3 Just like you made the cost-benefit decision to part, make the cost-benefit decision to get back together. The cost of you breaking up was high emotionally and even higher when you calculate your valuable time. The time you spent together was lengthy and the recuperation after your breakup was just as lengthy. This is time wasted. You spent good years together but it isn’t financially feasible to make this work?

Yes it is. Planning and budgeting are key to any well executed endeavour.

You did it for your university degree and even during your internship. You planned ahead to buy your car and make your payments every month.

Start by setting a realistic budget. You need a place to live together and all the

trappings of a home, write that down.

Set timelines and financial savings goals. One or both of you can get a second part time job and limit your excess spending. Great rewards often demand great sacrifice. Cutting corners and extra clocked work time is not easy but can be done. When negative voices chime in (your parents or her parents, your friends or his friends), explain that you have generated a budget and financial action plan that will enable you as a couple to realize your goals together and in a structured period of time. This will quickly put their uneasiness to rest and give you a reinforced feeling of security.

RAGMAG wants to see you happy and this Valentine’s Day take control and make it happen. That old flame hasn’t fizzled out, and there is no reason why it should if you get your priorities straight and face them head on. Be proactive and rekindle that fire!

Valentine’s treats at The finest in Lebanese designer handbags and accessories

We hope that you will find as much pleasure in wearing our creations as we had in creating them!

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Visit us in Beirut on Mondays at ĂŠCafe Sursock! Tel. +961 1 33 32 40 UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

55

mon amour, mon ami

FIRE STARTER

CELEB SPARKS FLY

RAGMAG DECIDED TO DEVOTE SOME INK TO THESE DECIDEDLY UN-VALENTINE WORTHY WOMEN. KNOWN FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE AS THE CELEBRITY BOYFRIEND STEALERS.... A WELL-EARNED MONIKER THAT HAS ENDED UP SOMETIMES IN DISASTER AND OTHER TIMES IN HAPPILY EVER AFTER. READ ON FOR THE BURNING TRUTH.

ANGELINA JOLIE / BILLY BOB THORNTON / BRAD PITT Brad Pitt’s marriage to Jennifer Aniston was not the first casualty of Angelina Jolie’s man-stealing tendencies. Long before she had ever heard of Pitt, she set her sights on Billy Bob Thornton. They too met on the set of a movie and it was exactly one day after Thornton split with long time love Laura Dern that Jolie was spotted with a Billy Bob tattoo. With that relationship behind her, she moved onto other prey.

Sparks flew on the set of Mr. And Mrs. Smith between Pitt and Jolie and the rest is tabloid history.

LEANNE RIMES / EDDIE CIBRIAN When Leanne Rimes met Eddie Cibrian on the set of the Lifetime movie Northern Lights, he was married to Brandi Glanville and she was married to Dean Sheremet. It didn’t take long for these two to start having an affair and it took even less time for the media to catch on. After several predictable and unconvincing denials, the two finally admitted that they were “in a relationship”. Needless to say, their respective spouses were less than impressed and filed for divorce. Rimes and Cibrian recently announced their engagement. It remains to be seen whether or not Rimes will set her sights on someone else and move on.

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TORI SPELLING / DEAN MCDERMOTT As heiress to the Spelling fortune, Tori had her every wish granted. Her wedding to her first husband came in at well over a million dollars and when she tired of that, she divorced him. While working on a movie in 2005 Spelling met Dean McDermott and subsequently fell for him. Apparently the fact that he was married to one Mary Jo Eustace and had two children didn’t factor into the equation. The couple married in 2006, got their own reality-show and now have 3 children together. Ain’t love grand?

JULIA ROBERTS / DANNY MODER While the movie The Mexican may have been forgettable, Julia Roberts certainly wasn’t. Danny Moder was working as a cameraman on the set of the movie and it was love at first frame. Moder’s marriage to Vera Steimberg at the time was no obstacle; neither was Robert’s reputation for being a runaway bride.

After a 4 year media-documented courtship, the couple married in 2004 and settled into domestic bliss under the radar. They currently have 3 children.

The Un-Valentine Award goes to…

SIENNA MILLER

Saving the best for last is what we do best here at RAGMAG so following that tradition; our award for most shameless man-stealer goes to Sienna. Most of the women on this list had the good sense to at least try to keep their man-stealing ways under cover (both literally and figuratively) except Sienna Miller. Of all the celebs on our list, she is the one who proudly appears beside her married paramours.

First it was Jude Law’s marriage to Sadie Frost and then it was Balthazar Getty’s marriage to Rosetta Millington that were hit by hurricane Sienna. Law’s marriage fell apart and Getty has since left Sienna’s world and come back to sanity.

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RAGged

facts

Name Calling Valentine’s Day is often called a “Hallmark Holiday” referring to its commercial value. The 100 year old company first offered Valentine’s Day cards in 1913 and began producing them in 1916.

Red, Red Wine Charlie Brown’s famous broken heart quote, “Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love,” was reportedly in reference to the little red headed girl.

The object of his affections was never fully explored as a character in the famous comic and cartoon series by Charles M. Schulz.

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It Adds Up Mathematically, there are several different formulae that create heart-shaped curves. The most popular of the equations is the “cardioids”. The formula for the “implicit curve” (x2+y2-1)3x2y3=0 is said to produce a better approximation of the heart shape. Who said math wasn’t the stuff romances are made of?

{1000

The number of unmarried participants in a North Carolina’s Wake Forest University study.

Ranged in age from 18-23, researchers found that “young men are more reactive to the quality of ongoing relationships,” according to Professor Robin Simon.

Heart Break Hotel The same study determined that

women seemed to be more emotionally affected simply by whether they were in a relationship or not, the authors stated.

As a result, women were more likely to be depressed when a relationship ended or feel happier just by being in a relationship, according to the findings.

Tricks of the Trade The word aphrodisiac, “a food or other substance that creates sexual desire,” comes from the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. For the most part, aphrodisiacs are an unsubstantiated claim according to medical science.

Some very unsexy vegetables (celery, lettuce and artichokes) are all said to be aphrodisiac in nature. Not your best Valentine dinner bet, maybe go with the oysters and chocolate instead.

Buy Me Baby Cole Porter’s famous song, “Love for Sale” came from the musical The New Yorkers. The Broadway musical opened on December 8, 1930 to mostly good reviews however the song was promptly banned from radio play due to its taboo subject matter: prostitution and johns.

1849

The year Esther Howland of Worchester, Massachusetts published the first American Valentine. After receiving a card from an English associate, she decided to bring the materials she needed from England and found she could not keep up with the high demand for her cards. She is credited with revolutionizing the Valentine card industry.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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mind, body + soul

disco inferno PORN + YOU

BY SARAH HOURANY

I

f you think that pornography, “the sexually explicit media that are primarily intended to sexually arouse the audience” is a product of today’s society, you are definitely wrong. The pleasure and curiosity triggered by nudity and sexual images was discovered long ago: Portrayals of people having sexual intercourse originated in Ancient Greece, Rome, and other African, Asian and European cultures, archeologists confirm. The Kama Sutra, dated 2nd or 3rd century, highlighted different sexual practices and acts as well. It is even believed that today’s version of porn is a product of Victorian England.

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As successful as pornography is, at least commercially speaking, it has been at constant battle with lawmakers that attempt to restrict its availability to the public. But, with the expansion of the internet, talk of “banning” porn is highly unlikely.

So rather than beating a dead horse (and also because we don’t believe in censorship), RAGMAG will focus on educating you about the classical schools of thought on porn. Read on to learn the effects of pornography on your relationship and the gender differences in consuming porn.

MORALISTS BAN PORN!

The moralist perspective considers sex a private act done by married adults mainly for the goal of procreation, and that man, created in the image of God, can choose between good and evil.

What pornography does, according to this theory, is create a tempting social environment and influences society negatively by encouraging sexual acts outside of the approved boundaries, ranging from adultery to homosexuality and bestiality. Thus leading to the degradation of sex and marriage through its emphasis on the importance of sex and sexual gratification. Similarly, pornography can cause a decrease in the authority and influence of moral institutions which undermine important social connections and moral judgments, specifically sexual monogamy and the traditional family structure.

LIBERALS PEOPLE ARE FREE TO CONSUME PORN!

The liberal perspective argues that the human being is exposed to a wide range of information and has the capacity to choose rationally the behavior considered appropriate within his culture. This perspective does not believe in the concepts of good and evil which are cultural and arbitrary classifications. Therefore, humans are free to express their ideas, among which their sexual desires and concepts of women and men through pornography with no restriction from people of from the government.

Supporters of this perspective find that pornography can be beneficial as it allows the self-expression of sexual interests and confirm that it is not harmful since it triggers, in most cases, sexual “thoughts”, not acts.

THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE ARGUES THAT THE HUMAN BEING IS EXPOSED TO A WIDE RANGE OF INFORMATION AND HAS THE CAPACITY TO CHOOSE RATIONALLY THE BEHAVIOR CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE WITHIN HIS CULTURE.

RADICAL FEMINISTS PORN DISTORTS THE IMAGE OF WOMEN!

The feminist theory argues that our perception of the good and the bad, of women, and of the act of sex between men and women is a product of social relations that are based on power dynamics: In society, men hold considerable power over women, and this is translated into their portrayal of sexual intercourse in porn. As opposed to moralists who oppose pornography on a just cause basis, this approach expresses concerns on pornography’s effect on women, through the internalization of an unrealistic image of women in men’s minds.

The radical feminist approach also finds that the Liberal’s concern for freedom of speech ignores that men themselves control political speech and of various fields including porn. Briefly, this perspective insists that pornography is a systematic practice of exploitation and subordination based on sex that differentially harms women and that the intolerance and aggression it promotes would lead to diminishing opportunities for women in employment, education and property.

Pornography Is the gain worth the risk?

While most consumers of porn say it is nothing more than a source entertainment, a number of experts warn of the adverse effects of porn, especially on sexuality and relationships. According to research studies, porn alters the image of women in men’s perception, turning them into objects to satisfy urges. These unrealistic expectations of women’s acts and looks make consumers of porn less likely to sustain real-life relationships and sexual satisfaction, psychologists confirm. A 2003 study proved that the more pornography men watched, the more they categorized women in traditional gender roles and the more they described them in sexualized terms. A study in 2004 proved that married men who cheated on their spouses were three times more likely to have consumed porn than faithful husbands.

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One contrasting view is that pornography can be sometimes what couples need to refresh their relationships and rekindle a fizzling desire. For this to work, couple therapists suggest using “erotic” rather than pure pornographic material, since the former represents mutually satisfying sex between equal partners.

Eroticism as well as masturbatory fantasies can help develop a deeper sexual connection in the couple and help them develop as adults, confirms David Shnarch, a wellknown psychologist. Fantasy is key to inspiring couples to experiment more and engage in more creative activities, and thus save their relationship from redundant routines.

STUDY IT!

•Studies focusing on magazines, movies, internet and laboratory studies found that men consume porn more regularly and are more sexually aroused by pictures of nudity and of sexual acts in comparison to women, while they are less likely to consume explicit media that focus on communication and romance!

•Men are more stimulated than women by porn films that expose different actors but less stimulated by the same actors realizing different sexual acts.

•Men get more excited by visual portrayals, while women tend to prefer stories that include sexuality in a broader context than magazines or porn movies.

•Men are more likely to search for opportunities to consume sexually explicit media, alone or with the

company of a same sex friend and they are more likely to use such stimuli (great bodies…) as a stimulant for masturbation to release their sexual tensions.

•Women tend to volunteer less for studies relating to sexually explicit media regardless if they focus on hard or soft core porn, whereas, among men, studies found no significant differences between those who volunteer for erotica studies as compared to those who volunteer for nonsexual studies.

•When excitement levels are the same between women and men after watching a porn movie, men tend to reveal that they would participate in similar experiments in the future much more than women

PORNOGRAPHY CAN BE SOMETIMES WHAT COUPLES NEED TO REFRESH THEIR RELATIONSHIPS AND REKINDLE A FIZZLING DESIRE.

RAGged Porn Facts •Soft porn is pornography that shows or describes sex, but not very violent or unpleasant sex, or not in a very detailed way •17.5 million dollars is the budget of the most expensive porn movie of all time “Caligula” (1979).

•“Deep Throat” is the highest grossing porn movie of all time: released in 1972, its revenue estimates are believed to be in thousands of millions of dollars.

•Harry Reems, the famous male star of “Deep Throat”, converted to Christianity and is now living a peaceful life as a successful real estate agent in Utah, after years of starring in porn films, drug and alcohol abuse.

•According to recent statitistics , $3,075.64 is spent on pornography every second.

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•“Behind the Green Door” is the first hardcore film widely spread in the US. It is also the name of a famous pub in Gemmayzeh.

Coincidence?

•According to 2006 Pornography revenue statistics, China topped the list with more than 27 billion dollars in pornography revenue.

•A number of children’s fable character names are linked to thousands of porn links. Parents, pay attention!

•A total of 4.2 million websites contain pornography. That is 12 percent of the total number of websites.

•“Boys in the Sand”, considered to be the godfather of gay porn, achieved a great success when released in 1971. “Boys in the Sand II”, released in 1986, was unable to match the success of the original.

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KEEP THE

HOME FIRES

BURNING AVOIDING THE RELATIONSHIP RUT

BY MATTHEW HUSSEY

We all know how exciting new relationships can be. When we first start dating someone new, everything seems to move at an unstoppable pace.

Our dates are exciting, we have endless conversations, and as soon as we say goodbye we can’t wait to see them again.

But we also know how quickly things can fall flat when the shine of this honeymoon period wears off, when a relationship starts to stagnate and become routine. This is because by their very nature relationships are built on stability. Though this stability has its perks, it also brings with it laziness.

We get used to seeing someone, we get used to them always being there, and suddenly we no longer feel that instant infatuation that gives us butterflies in our stomach. Put simply, everything becomes standard.

Once a couple settles into a routine, they tend to get stuck.

If we don’t figure out how to combat this rut, we can end up repeating the same pattern for years, cycling though a dozen relationships and wondering why the result never changes.

So today I want to give you some pointers for keeping a relationship fresh.

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mind, body + soul

KEEPING A RELATIONSHIP FUN REQUIRES EFFORT TO KEEP THINGS NEW AND EXCITING. 1. RENEW THE EFFORT Ask yourself this question: What

were you doing differently when you first started dating?

After a while we can all get lazy in our relationships. We stop trying as hard with each other, and if we’re not careful we can spend every night eating the same meals, watching the same television programmes, having the same conversations, and even the same sex (or worse, no sex!).

That’s why the first thing we have to do, is start making an effort again.

From now on, schedule at least one date-night a week. This can be one night in the week where you both agree that no matter how busy you are, you’re both going to go out together and solely focus on each other, making an effort to dress up and look your best. Keeping a relationship fun requires this kind of effort, to keep things new and exciting. This leads on to our next point…

2. INTRODUCE VARIETY

As mentioned above, routine is a friend of stability but the enemy of excitement. That’s why a cornerstone to any lasting relationship is to keep introducing that sense of variety into each other’s lives again.

Variety makes things unpredictable, and it is this very quality that makes new relationships so much fun. So why not try surprising your partner with an exhilarating trip you can both take together? Or, instead of going to that restaurant you always go to, book an activity you’ve both never tried before.

It might be wine-tasting, or going to see a concert, or maybe just having a picnic. When you introduce variety in even the smallest way, your whole relationship will feel brand new.

3. START FLIRTING AGAIN

What makes the early stages of a relationship so exciting is that we tease our partners, we flirt with them and tell them they’re sexy, whereas couples that have been together for a while allow this sexual tension to simply fizzle out from the relationship. So, remind your partner how much they turn you on. This might be just remembering to seduce them still and tell them how attractive they are, or you can do it playfully by sending your partner a text during the day telling them you can’t wait to get them home.

4. BE THOUGHTFUL

A lot of people underestimate the power of giving in relationships. Most of us save all of our giving for someone’s birthday, and forget to be thoughtful for the other 364 days of the year!

Now when I say thoughtful, this doesn’t require throwing around a lot of cash and buying extravagant gifts. In fact, research has shown that irrespective of price, people will always treasure the smallest gifts over a diamond bracelet if it shows a personal touch.

So being generous can involve even the tiniest of treats, just something to show your partner that you thought about them during your day. It might be picking them up a photography book because they expressed an interest in it, or it might be just lighting some candles when they come home and treating them to a massage if they’ve had a hard day. Little treats like this show that you’re attentive to their needs, that you listen to them, and most importantly, that you care enough to put in a little effort.

When you get into a habit of generosity with each other, you’ll find infinitely more fun, more joy and more excitement in your relationship

RAGMAG brings you the best in selfimprovement. Matthew Hussey is one of the leading talents in behavioral change and success. As a Life Strategist he has founded two coaching companies working with thousands of individuals across the globe to show them ways of making dramatic shifts in their lives. Matthew’s success has been built on finding out what people want, and showing them how to make it happen in the shortest time possible. He is currently a weekly columnist for Now magazine, providing expert advice on dating and relationship issues for female readers. In addition, his coaching has been featured in the London Metro, Evening Standard, The Sun, The Independent, Men’s Health, Glamour magazine, Cosmopolitan, and Elle magazine. His seminars have recently taken him to New York where he ran a live event and an interview with Sirius radio, and will be taking him to Las Vegas later this year to speak about his methods. A highly sought after public speaker and executive coach, Matthew has consulted companies including Accenture, Virgin, Morgan Stanley, Weil & Gotshal, and CB Richard Ellis, as well as over 5000 individuals and organizations ranging from directors of FTSE 100 Companies, Universities, international investment funds, artists, and royalty.

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mind, body + soul EDITOR’S NOTE Since February is often the month people dwell on matters of the heart, and Help Me Nour is one of the most popular columns in RAGMAG, we’ve decided to extend it this issue.

HMN is usually a 2 page spread but for the Up in Flames issue, we’ve devoted a full 4.

help me

Nour

BY NOUR OBAJI

“I have been married for 5 years now.

The passion is completely gone. My husband does not want me anymore. I feel heartbroken. I can’t leave him because I love him and I have children with him. But I feel rejected and angry all the time. Should I leave or give it another try?”

Sarah, 29

“Not because I am somewhat of a feminist but if you actually believe that he doesn’t want you anymore then you need to leave. Kids learn by example and you are teaching them that living in a home with little or no love is okay. They should see you and your partner as exactly that, not you and ‘Casper’, an absent other half.

It’ll be hard, I can’t imagine but for your kids you need to be confident in yourself and for the sake of your sanity and heart, you need to be loved.”

Lillian, 34

‘MY HUSBAND DOES NOT WANT ME ANYMORE. I FEEL HEARTBROKEN’

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“If you found out your boss wasn’t happy with you and was thinking of firing you would you look for another job? Or pull up your socks and remind him why he hired you in the first place? You will have to work at your marriage or sooner or later you will find yourself, bored, redundant or simply replaced.”

Yvette, 37

“You should definitely give it another try and if doesn’t work, you should move on with your life.

Try to make your husband understand what you are going through and how you really feel, if he listens and understands perhaps he will have the will to make the relationship work. Some couples consider therapy. If none of these work, then my dear, pack your bags and move on. You have only one life and one chance to live it the way you want to. There are lots of men out there. You will find happiness with another man sooner than you think.”

RAGMAG BRINGS YOUR REALITY CHECK TO YOU. SEND NOUR YOUR QUESTIONS, AND EACH ISSUE SHE DOES HER BEST TO GIVE YOU SOUND ADVICE. THE ONLY INTERACTIVE ADVICE COLUMN IN LEBANON, EACH QUESTION IS ADDRESSED BY READERS BEFORE NOUR WEIGHS IN ON THE MATTER.

Youmna, 23

“I think admitting there is a problem is a good thing, but is your husband in the same place? Do you talk about it? Do you tell him what you’re going through? It always takes two to make it or break it. Talk to your husband and try working things out. If you still have feelings for him, and you think he might too, maybe you should consider counselling. Sometimes, a couple needs external help.”

Guy’s Vote

“If you’re 5 years into your marriage, you are statistically in the 28-33 year age-range, which means that you’ve still got a lot of ‘sex’ in you. The reason why he doesn’t desire you is probably cause you let yourself go (gained weight and stopped taking care of yourself). Get on a diet, join a gym and change your hairdo. It’s a 6-12 month process, but trust me, he’ll come back like a dog in heat.” Rabih, 33

Nour’s Vote It breaks my heart to read the words, “My husband doesn’t want me anymore”.

This is the most delicate question Nour has received in a long time. Let’s look at the facts: You still love him but he doesn’t love you and you have children together. Okay, understood. You are not a martyr. This is not the time to stand up and declare that you are giving up your needs for your children.

You are entitled to a life of your own and with that life should come love and affection and feeling fulfilled. Get out. Nour and the Interactive Panel were split on this one and as for our Guy’s Vote, who says you’ll still want your husband after your suggested transformation? For you and for your children, you must make an effort to reclaim your life.

DATING YOUR BOSS IS A NO-NO UNLESS YOU WANT TO JEOPARDIZE YOUR CAREER AND YOUR CREDIBILITY.

“I have recently landed a very good job, I love the work, I love my colleagues, I even loved my boss… Until he started hitting on me. I have tried ignoring it then laughing it off and etc. but it only spurns him on. At first it was a little exciting and I was flattered (he even brought me gifts). I want to keep my job, but I can’t let this progress. It’s becoming scary and to add to the mix he is married with children! What do I do?”

Noura, 27

“Did you accept the gifts he got you? If you did, don’t blame anyone but yourself. If you didn’t, you need to firmly and seriously tell him to stop. If he doesn’t, that’s why you have a HR manager.”

Lina, 25

“Your first mistake was in encouraging his behavior by accepting gifts. Regardless of how ‘flattering’ it was, the man was your boss and you knew that. Nothing has changed except that you have suddenly grown a conscience. I am going to assume you are in a country with very lax employment and harassment laws so the best thing for you to do is to tell him

flat out to cut it the hell out. If that doesn’t work, then you will probably have to leave the company. Too bad you like your job so much. You made your bed when you started accepting gifts from him so now you have to lie in it. No sympathy from me.”

in anything physical. He’s smart enough to know not to play around where he earns his living and he’s probably only looking for a little attention here and there. If he’s not the big boss, start planning your move to another department.”

Rabih, 33

Esther, 33

“Hate to break it to you but things will only get worse from here. If you had more patience and tolerance for this and you think it will eventually go away, I don’t think you have asked that question to begin with. Therefore, and before the office starts accusing you of seducing him or being the office tramp (perhaps you have started hearing that already), I recommend you leave. Try talking to him to tell him to back off. Now, if that doesn’t work and you still decide to stay, be prepared for things to get ugly. I’m not encouraging you to run away.

But I’m saying things won’t be easy. Good luck.”

Guy’s Vote

“If he’s the big boss, learn to deal with it – you’re not the only woman that works for a married man that continuously flirts with her. Men like that are unhappy in their marriages. Most likely, he’s not interested

Nour’s Vote Nour was a little quick to judge here. The first words on my fingers were Sexual Harassment until I felt like you were a participant, in which case it is just plain dumb. I hope, for your sake, you did not accept the gifts (it sounds as though you did). For starters, dating your boss is a no-no unless you want to jeopardize your career and your credibility, not necessarily in that order. Second, dating a married man is pushing yourself up a creek without a paddle: Basically, the problem with no solution. You’ve combined the 2 dilemmas and created a royal mess. Extract yourself from the situation immediately. If you are a victim of harassment and did not encourage this nonsense (did not accept the gifts etc.), see your HR and be prepared for everything to be documented. Incidentally our Guy’s Vote “learn to deal with it” is completely inappropriate.

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“I seem to always attract married men who don’t wear wedding bands, and in most of the cases I’m attracted to them as well. This always ends up in a disappointment. What do I do?”

Leslie, 26

“Don’t date the married man, simple.”

Shannon, 31

“Scenario 1 You’re young, yet you hang out with older, married people. No wonder you end up liking them and vice versa. Try and go out with people your own age and single people. Maybe that will help.

Scenario 2 All of your friends are married so you only get to meet other couples. Maybe you’re in the wrong circle. Don’t give up on your friends, but find other activities to do on your own. You will be able to meet other people and widen your circle of acquaintances.”

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Guy’s Vote

Nour’s Vote You’re a magnet for married men, this is unfortunate. Nour thinks that at some point you were made aware that the man is married. I think everyone has had a FML moment when you meet someone great and find out they’re taken. Most people at this point back off. The old Alanis Morrisette song Ironic comes to mind, “Meeting the man of your dreams, then meeting his beautiful wife.” You sound like you’ve met the man of your dreams a couple of times over. This question is altogether redundant.

Full stop.

“Two facts: 1) Married men are generally attractive 2) Married men are attracted to almost anything that walks. Either accept the fact that you’re one of these women that entertain married men (in which case you will go to hell), OR categorically turn away ALL married men from your life and stop flirting with them.” Rabih, 33

‘EITHER ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU’RE ONE OF THESE WOMEN THAT ENTERTAIN MARRIED MEN OR CATEGORICALLY TURN AWAY ALL MARRIED MEN FROM YOUR LIFE AND STOP FLIRTING WITH THEM.’

Mirvette, 24

“I can’t believe how many times and in how many variations this comes up. It is never ever acceptable under any circumstances, in any way, shape or form to do this. Let’s look at why you are attracted to these men? Are you a commitment phobe and like them because they are ultimately unattainable? Are you attracted to them just for the chase? Do you honestly think that if they cheat on their wives they will be faithful to you? You are being delusional.”

‘HOW LONG IS ACCEPTABLE TO WAIT FOR A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL BEFORE CUTTING MY LOSSES AND MOVING ON?’

“I have been dating my boyfriend for approximately 6 months… He is mid thirties and I’m not far behind.

How long is acceptable to wait for a marriage proposal before cutting my losses and moving on? I’m over thirty and you know what that means, my biological clock is ticking, I don’t have time to waste!”

Alexa, 34

“Don’t you think he’d tell you if he was ready to be in a relationship now? Clearly he’s not, he either just likes you as a friend or knowing you’ve ‘fallen for him’ flatters his male ego. So make him stop calling you if you’re not ready to let him in your life as less than your fiancé.”

with any other man?’ OR ‘Did he just happen to be an acceptable option for now, plus I’m 33, so I might as well’? Once you sort these questions out internally, the answer will be crystal clear.” Rabih, 33

Kathy, 31

Nour’s Vote Nour isn’t fond of labels. Nor is she fond of timelines. Or deadlines. Or ultimatums.

You are between a rock and a hard place.

You think your relationship has evolved to the point where you can take it to the next level. He may or may not think so. The train doesn’t seem to be on schedule, you’re thinking. This is your chance to hop off at the station, or continue onto the next stop, “DESTINATION UNKNOWN”. If you love him and can see a future with him, maybe keep the Choo Choo on the tracks for a little while longer

“There are no rules. Rules in relationships mean nothing. Some people date 5 years before getting married and end up divorced or depressed. Others date a few months, get married and are happy. Try to find out if you both want the same things out of your relationship. Does he want kids too?

Is he ready? You need to talk to him before deciding on staying with him or leaving him.”

“You have only been seeing this guy for six months, are you sure he is what and who you want to spend your life with? Is this the person you want to have a child with? Or do you just want to get married because your clock is ticking? If you want to get married because your clock is ticking, you are setting yourself up for a world of disappointment.

Those little tiny things that only irritate you now will make you crazy later. Why settle for whatever you can get when waiting will likely get you what you want?”

Sala, 29

Guy’s Vote

“You probably know that there is really no set time for these things. Some guys propose after three months and others never do unless you give them the ultimatum and I think no girl should go there. But if you’re waiting for a straightforward answer, I suppose you should wait another six months to one year to see whether he will pop the question the or not, hopefully in the 21st century.”

“Your boyfriend already knows if he wants to marry you or not – in fact, the moment he met you, he probably decided. Men in their thirties tend to be quite aware of what they want and what they’re looking for in a woman. If he’s the responsible/switched-on type, he knows already what’s on your mind (biological clock etc.). The question you need to be asking yourself is, ‘Is he really the man for me? Am I deeply in love with him? Can I not see myself

Youmna, 26

To ask a question,

send your problems to helpmenour@ragmaglive.com

To join the reader response panel and give feedback to women across Lebanon, send your name, age, and email address to helpmenour@ragmaglive.com subject line: Interactive Panel.

We will contact you if you are chosen to participate.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE 69

mind, body + soul

simmering RAGMAG SPEAKS TO HIBA SAAB ABOUT THE SEXUAL SIDE OF YOGA

BY FIDA CHAABAN

F

rom tantric sex to the Kama Sutra, yoga and sexuality are inextricably intertwined. Popular culture has given yoga a sexy mystique and often misleads people looking to give yoga a go. We sat down with yoga instructor Hiba Saab to get our facts straight.

Begin with a simple truth: Yoga has physical and mental benefits that can improve your sex life. Both men and women stand to gain from practising yoga, and those gains extend to your sexuality.

The Bodily Boost The physical benefits of yoga are widely documented. The various forms of high impact yoga do a great deal for muscle tone and power. “Yoga helps blood flow, increases stamina and energy and physical strength,” explains yoga teacher Hiba Saab. We sit down to discuss the ancient practise and she explained that blood flow and the improved circulation achieved in yoga allow for stronger sensations in

the pelvic area (stronger orgasms) and throughout the body, increasing your responsiveness to tactile stimulation.

Your increased stamina and energy of course allow for more frolicking time with your partner, and physical strength ups your ability to manipulate your partner creatively and hold those positions longer. “It makes your sex life more diverse, you can us the postures to try exciting new positions,” she continues. Accredited sex therapists often note the importance of trying new things, but sometimes those new things are out of reach physically.

Yoga is known to improve both flexibility and for the forms of yoga that have a heavy cardio side “releases endorphins, balances your hormone level, and increases your libido.” Yogic pranayama (breathing techniques) are “very helpful for sex, your breathing becomes rhythmic and controlled”.

Other benefits? “Yoga harmonizes your habits, you eat better, you drink more water and you stabilize your routines,” adds Hiba noting that her students often comment that their diets have improved and even destructive patterns like smoking begin to decline.

Yoga both invigorates and relaxes and practitioners report better and deeper sleep.

YOGIC PRANAYAMA (BREATHING TECHNIQUES) ARE “VERY HELPFUL FOR SEX, YOUR BREATHING BECOMES RHYTHMIC AND CONTROLLED”.

Ignite the Fire Within www.facebook.com/hibayoga Facebook group Hiba’s FREE Yoga Classes hebasaab@gmail.com 70 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011 mobile 71/801049

LEFT: YOGA INSTRUCTOR HIBA SAAB.

“YOU ARE MORE CONSCIOUS OF YOUR BODY. WE DEVELOP AVERSIONS TO OUR BODIES, YOGA FORCES YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF. THE BREATHING AND TANTRIC SIDE IS A TRANCE LIKE STATE SO YOU ARE NOT SELF CONSCIOUS. IT ALLOWS YOU TO BE FULLY PRESENT WITH YOUR PARTNER.”

The Mental Magic Yoga’s reputation of cool and somewhat mystifying power is warranted. The mental plusses derived from yoga such as better levels of concentration and direction extend to all parts of your life including professionally. But what does this do for you sexually? “You are more conscious of your body. We develop aversions to our bodies, yoga forces you to take a look at yourself. The breathing and tantric side is a trance like state so you are not self conscious.

It allows you to be fully present with your partner.” Are there specific types of yoga dedicated to breath and tantra?

“Pranayama is a part of tantra. It involves different breathing techniques such as Kapalabati which literally means breath of fire. Also any kind of short breath spasms, alternate nostril

breathing and breath retention,” says Hiba naming a few of the well known techniques of breath. Yoga’s mental influence doesn’t have to do solely with breath and trance. “It makes you more conscious of how you conduct yourself: compassion for others and for yourself. This harmonizes your relationships with others, including your partner. It also increases your comfort level.” The 3 physical S’sStrength, Stability and Stamina relate to the mental side of yoga as well by “improving your confidence and your awareness of the body. It makes you feel more desirable thus you become more desirable. You feel attractive and become attractive,” Hiba explains. The sacral chakra, swadisthana in Sanskrit, is located at the bottom vertebra above the tailbone at the level of your

sacrum. “This chakra is related to your appetites, desires, emotions, sleep or darkness,” says Hiba noting that certain poses encourage blood flow to the hips, sexual organs and sacral chakra more than others.

This is another mental benefit of the physical yoga: People wanting to improve their libido and arousal response to tactile stimulation can do yoga. When you feel more responsive and express that, your partner is more motivated and gratified. Which poses stimulate the sacral chakra? “Any kind of seated forward bend, hip openers like the butterfly pose (also called the bound angle pose or baddha konasana), and half pigeon (eka pada raja kapotasana). Warrior postures 1, 2 and 3 are also relevant.”

Q + A with Hiba Saab What is Kama Sutra?

“Kama Sutra is an ancient Sanskrit text that gives practical tips for sexual conduct... everything from how to choose the right partner, to how to engage in sexual activity. It is unrelated to the concept of tantric sex. The only link is the origin... the Kama Sutra, yoga, and the practice of tantra are all ancient Indian traditions rooted strongly in Indian culture and mythology.”

What is Tantric Sex? “In general, tantra is energy work... it’s any method that you use to achieve a connection with the divine in order to achieve a goal. This includes yoga, pranayama, meditation, creative visualization, etc. So tantric sex is basically using the mindfulness of yoga or meditation, basically being aware of energy while engaged in sexual activity... it helps you become fully aware and present in the moment, fully engaged with your partner and centered in your body. ”

The best types of yoga to improve your sex life?

“If you do a slower pace of yoga, it will help you balance hormones and endorphins. If you really want to improve your sex life, I strongly suggest a power yoga, vinyasa, ashtanga.”

Any favourites?

“Hot yoga is just sexy. Tapas, which literally means heat, is one of the pillars of yoga.

It’s a very important factor in the practise, relating to internal and external heat. When you turn up the heat, it ignites your fire within and makes you want to do yoga more.

It is good for us to change our perspective on heat, there are postures that are easier during hot yoga. It’s good for the sinuses and of course the skin because of the moisture.”

What about men and yoga?

“An interesting fact is that more men are coming to yoga for help with erectile dysfunction. I think it is part physical, part mental for the benefits.”

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BURN BABY

BY LESLIE IDDISON IN THE SPIRIT OF VALENTINE’S DAY WE AT RAGMAG THOUGHT SOME OF YOU MAY BENEFIT FROM READING UP ON A FEW PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE TECHNIQUES AND OUR FAVORITE MASSAGE OIL PICKS.

Massage oils should be silky, sensuous and sexy. Unfortunately, they are more often than not, sticky, slimy and sloppy. This V-Day, treat your sweetheart to one of our tried and tested favourites. These luxurious oils not only feel great but leave your skin silky smooth and glowing.

RAGMAG Sinful Star Product Ménage a Trois Massage Oils

by Agent Provocateur Fall in love with this set of three decadent massage oils. Concentrated blends of precious oils, with scents of Sensual Ylang Ylang, Rose Passion, Tuberose Intoxication, infuse your skin with moisture while having a soothing and relaxing effect. We love how these non-greasy formulas penetrate deep for maximum absorption and leave your skin satiny-smooth and ready to slip between the sheets... ooh la la.

72 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

Risqué Runner-Up Play With Me Massage Oil

by Victoria’s Secret Smooth on this fruity-floral oil, scented with apple, exotic jasmine and cashmere woods, perfect for an adult play-date! As an added bonus this luscious liquid comes with a built-in game! Two dice suspended in the bottle give you sexy directions for some fun. Shake the bottle and see where the evening goes!

Seductive Solution Sensual Massage Oil

by The Body Shop This sensual essential oil blend is inspired by traditional Polynesian massage rituals. It contains ylang ylang from Madagascar, Hawaiian kukui oil and Tahitian vanilla. It’s the perfect blend to indulge in and share.

10 Tricks of the Trade You don’t have to be a professional masseuse to treat your partner to a surprise massage, but a few insider tips may make things go a little smoother and help you out if you’re not sure where to begin.

1. Make sure you’ll be doing the massage in a warm, quiet and relaxing environment. Play some soft music, dim the lights and maybe light a few candles. Have your partner lie on a firm bed or a comfortable mat on the floor.

2. Keep towels handy. Have your partner lie on one and keep others close by to cover your partner, keeping the body warm.

3. Massage oil is a must to reduce friction and prevent pulling on hairs, but refrain from using too much. Less oil creates deeper pressure and a better massage. Your hands should glide not slide.

4. Warm the massage oil in the palms of your hands before applying it to your partner. Once the massage has started try to keep one hand on the body so there are no surprises. This keeps your partner more relaxed and allows them to really focus on the massage.

5. Avoid applying direct pressure on any bony areas like the spine and shoulder blades.

6. Using the whole surface of both hands, stroke firmly upwards from the lower back all the way up to the neck, then with gentler pressure, circle outwards and back to the lower back region.

7. This next technique uses the heels of the hands and applies slightly deeper pressure. With one hand on either side of the spine, work both hands in circles starting at the lower back. Create your circles working first outward then upward, slowly making your way up the back.

8. For this technique stand on the opposite side to the one you’re going to work on first. We suggest standing on the right of your partner and working on the left side first.

With one hand placed on top of the other, use the flats of your fingers and push firmly away from the spine, then glide gently back up to the center line. Again, start from the lower back and work up. Then switch sides.

9. Place your forearms horizontally across the lower back.

Apply firm downwards pressure. Slide the arm closest to the head upwards until it’s just under the shoulder blades.

Repeat this movement six times.

10. Finish the massage by repeating techniques 9, 8, and finally 7, letting your hands rest in one spot for a moment to let your partner know the massage is finished.

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BY LESLIE IDDISON

I hear soft sounds of lapping water, I smell something delicate and floral. Are those real palm trees?

I

’m not from Beirut. I’m not even from Lebanon. In fact, this is my first time on Lebanese soil. So when my editor tells me upon my arrival that I’ll be reviewing The Spa at the Phoenicia Hotel, I’m thrilled. So far my trip has been a bit of a sensorial overload. I wasn’t fully prepared for all the sights, sounds and smells that awaited my arrival. The constant flow of traffic, car horns, people, shops, sirens, construction and intermittent music had my head swirling. Jason, my new friend and photographer, drives us to the Phoenicia, in a sea of morning traffic (which I’m told isn’t that bad).

Needless to say, by the time we hike to the grandiose front entrance of the Phoenicia I’m ready for a change of atmosphere and I feel like I could use a bath.

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I’m in a trance as we make our way through the marble lobby, lined with plush red carpets and tables laden with fresh flowers. This is a distinct improvement. Now I’m standing in front of The Spa, and with a nondescript name like that, I don’t really know what to expect. But as I push through the heavy glass door I’m immediately transported and I take a deep breath of what feels like the first fresh air I’ve breathed in days. I hear soft sounds of lapping water, I smell something delicate and floral.

Are those real palm trees? Indeed there are four very real palm trees, ensconcing the concierge desk, gracefully arching upward, directing my gaze towards the heavens. I’m in a tropical paradise, on vacation within a vacation. “I’m not leaving here,” I think to myself, “Jason will have to explain to Fida”.

I’m at once greeted by the spa’s staff who invite me to sit while I wait for my therapist. I’m told that today I’ll be having the “Balinese Massage”. I have to say, I didn’t think I’d be travelling to Lebanon to be taken all the way to Bali but I can’t wait to see where this journey will go next. Silently my therapist appears, and this only further deepens my illusion as she herself is from the island of Bali. I begin to see that no expense has been spared here to create a real Balinese Experience.

“Pengalaman Balinesse” actually translates to “Balinese Experience”, and it is with this in mind that the spa has taken such care to create an authentic experience for its patrons. I follow my therapist through candlelit, pastel petal lined hallways to the treatment rooms and I’m encouraged to change into a plush white robe. Orchids on

the massage table and more flickering candles keep me miles away as I disrobe and recline onto the massage table, my therapist quickly covering me with a towel, only exposing my head and feet. Gentle music eases me into a reverie, with only the soft clicks of Jason’s camera reminding me that I’m not in fact on a tropical beach.

My eyes close as I try to forget my surroundings. “Please, deep breath”, my therapist asks me as she holds her hands close to my face. As I inhale my nostrils are filled with smell of pure essential oils, I detect eucalyptus which has an immediate soothing effect. I sink deeper into the massage table. Unlike other massages I’ve had, Balinese massage begins at your feet and works upwards, giving your body a feeling of lightness and stimulating your circulation. I’m told that Balinese

massage incorporates techniques from shiatsu, reflexology, acupressure and aromatherapy. It is used to treat various ailments such as neck pain, stress, headaches, insomnia, muscle pains as well as respiratory problems and asthma. I think back over the past few days; the planes, the jet lag, the noise, the walks up and down steep hills of uneven pavement and the car exhaust; I could be suffering from everything on that list to some degree. This massage couldn’t have come at a better time I think, as I’m kneaded, stretched and stroked with essential oils of jasmine, rose and sandalwood. My therapist works deftly with the pan flute music, first one leg then the next, my back, arms, stomach and head. After she completes each section of my body, I am redraped with a towel as the therapist applies pressure, transferring

This massage couldn’t have come at a better time I think, as I’m kneaded, stretched and stroked with essential oils of jasmine, rose and sandalwood.

PHOTOGRAPHY JASON ZAMORA

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energy to the area, stimulating blood and oxygen flow. I’m still in Bali when I hear her gentle voice inform me that the massage is complete. She invites me to take a shower if I would like but I’m not ready to rinse off the essential oil goodness just yet. I must admit I’m a little sad as I absently pad back down the hallway toward the change room; looks like my trip to paradise is about to come to an end. I’m all warm and animated, feeling like the star of Elton John’s hit duet as he sings, “You’re walking, talking like a flame, baby.”

Back in my own clothes, I’m graciously met by The Spa’s manager, Mr. Amine Dib. He invites me to sit and enthusiastically tells me everything I wish to know about my treatment and the spa. The Spa offers their clients an extensive range of services, with The Balinese Experience being one of the newest offerings. “Our mission… [is to] give them alternatives so they can

truly find themselves here”. The Spa is now on the brink of a new horizon; with a planned renovation (with a budget of one million dollars), they are constantly renewing themselves and striving to be pioneers of the spa industry in Lebanon. For example, I’m told that the spa will be “going organic” with approximately one third of their services being offered using organic products. With a heavy emphasis on purity and creating an unrivalled atmosphere, The Spa has made itself into a must-try facility for locals and visitors alike. I know that as a visitor to Beirut, I’m certainly grateful to have had the opportunity to get-away at The Spa Phoenicia. As I walk out through the opulent luxury of the lobby and back onto the noisy street, I realize that even though my trip to Bali has come to an end, my trip to Beirut is just beginning and I can’t think of a better way to have started it!

With a heavy emphasis on purity and creating an unrivalled atmosphere, The Spa has made itself into a must-try facility for locals and visitors alike.

RETURN TO PARADISE FOR THE SPA’S VALENTINE’S DAY PACKAGES A Moment to Cherish

Cocoon your body with a luxurious antioxidant Grape Bath & Wrap leaving your skin radiant, toned and smooth while its subtle fragrance eliminates all your stress. An Abhyanga massage will follow for a complete tension release.

DURATION 110 minutes

Love Whispers

Revitalize your skin with Chum Chou Tropical Flower facial and Ponklai relaxing body massage from Ytsara. The organic Thai products used for these treatments will rejuvenate your body and invigorate your mind.

DURATION 120 minutes

From the SPA, with Love

Pamper your face and body with a lavish Pearl Therapy that will give your skin hydration, firming and luminosity while harmonizing the mind and soul. A relaxing foot massage will follow for immediate relief of feet tension and aches.

DURATION 115 minutes Paradise Found The Spa at Phoenicia Intercontinental Beirut Minet El Hosn, Beirut Tel76 01/369100 Direct 01/357030 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011 www.phoenicia-ic.com

THE OUTER LAYER interior design practice & innovative inn architectural material

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE 77 6th oor Antelias Commercial Centre Beirut Lebanon t: +9614 521442 m: +96170 339555 www.theouterlayer.net info@theouterlayer.net

LEFT: KIM KARDASHIAN

BY LESLIE IDDISON

VALENTINE’S DAY IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND WE AT RAGMAG COULD NOT THINK OF WHAT TO GET YOU. THEN IT CAME TO US; WHAT IS THE PERFECT GIFT FOR A SIREN LIKE YOU THAT WILL COME TO YOUR AID OVER AND OVER? HOW ABOUT A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO CREATING THE PERFECT SMOLDERING BEDROOM EYES! THIS TWIST ON THE CLASSIC SMOKY EYE COMBINES COOL SILVER WITH WARM BRONZES FOR AN UPDATED VERSION OF THIS DATE-NIGHT STANDBY. YOU CAN THANK US LATER! FOLLOW OUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE AND YOUR BLAZIN’ GAZE WILL LIGHT ANYONE’S FIRE!

1. Start by applying your favorite eyelid primer from the lash line to brow bone.

This will ensure your look lasts all night.

Dab the primer across your lower lid and blend upward using your finger tips.

We’re burning for Photo Finish Lid Primer from Smashbox Urban Decay Lid Primer 2. The next step is to create the perfect brow. You may choose to use a fine tipped brow pencil or a brow powder applied with a fine angled brush. Start by placing the pencil or brush at the highest part of your arch and extend the brow outward. This gives the eye a bit of a lift. Once you’ve created the “tail”, go back to the “body” of the brow and fill in sparse patches where you may be missing hairs. The idea here is to create density rather than change the shape of the brow.

We’re burning for Dior Backstage Brow Styler in Universal Brown Your favorite Brow Powder with M.A.C. angle brush 3. You’re now ready to start with your eyeshadow application. To create a highlight on the brow bone, apply a light vanilla-toned shade with a bit of shimmer right into the arch of the brow. Use a fluffy blending brush to spread the shadow across the length of the brow bone, directly underneath your eyebrow.

We’re burning for M.A.C. Vanilla Pigment

78 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

4. Now, for a subtle pop on the eyelid, apply a soft silvery taupe shadow across the lower part of the lid. Be sure to apply the shadow right into the inner corner and blend across the lashline and up to the crease. Carry the silvery colour about three-quarters of the way across the lid, leaving the outer corner of the eye.

Intensify the look by applying an extra dab of the colour right to the middle of the lid.

Try using a mid-sized flat brush.

We’re burning for Urban Decay Shadow in Vapor Smashbox Single Shadow in Platinum 5. To add some warmth and dimension your next step will be to apply a deeper bronze shade to the outer corner. Use a small, rounded soft brush. Dab a little of the bronze shade to the outer corner of the eye at the lash line. Gently blend the second shadow inward to meet the silvery colour you applied first. Spend a couple of seconds blending so that you can’t see where either shade stops or starts.

We’re burning for Urban Decay Shadow in Chopper

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6. This next step can be tricky for some but it’s the key to these smoldering bedroom eyes. Choose a light to medium toned matte brown eyeshadow. With a narrow, flat edged brush, place the shadow into the crease of the eyelid. Blend the shadow back and forth from inner corner to outer corner. To create more depth and intensity add in a deeper warm brown shade using an even narrower brush. The deepest shade should be placed into the deepest part of the crease. By using multiple shades in the crease you create smokiness and a beautiful natural depth.

We’re burning for M.A.C. shadow in Cork M.A.C. shadow in Shag

7. Now to really get things steamy… choose the deepest black liner you have.

The pencil should be soft, blendable and deeply pigmented. Lift your eyelid slightly so that you can apply the pencil as close to the lashes as possible. The line should be narrowest at your inner corner and get thicker as you draw towards the outer corner. Use a fine angle brush to soften the line you’ve just drawn. Blend the liner upwards and outwards at the outer corner.

As the black pencil blends with the warm brown shades it creates smoky grey shades.

We’re burning for M.A.C. Eyeliner Crayon in Smolder Smashbox High Definition Pencil in Black Onyx

TAKE TWO If smoldering eyes aren’t your thing, we’ve got something special lined up.

Go for flirty and fun with Make Up For

Ever’s New Très Vichy Collection!

Inspired by the 60’s and the Vichy pattern, this limited edition collection features 3 Limited Edition pieces. You’ll be stealing hearts left, right and centre with these precocious pieces. RAGMAG is loving the faux lashes adorned with tiny bows!

Très Jolie, Très Vichy!

8. Grab your favorite eyelash curler and gently curl your lashes. Don’t squeeze too hard or you’ll have a sharp fold in your lashes instead of a graceful curl. Add a couple coats of your favorite volumizing mascara. Try lifting your eyelid again to get the mascara right to the root of the lashes.

We’re burning for L’Oréal Voluminous Mascara in Carbon Black

9. This next step is an industry insider tip frequently used by make-up artists. It gives your look a real professional edge; lifting your eyelid, use the same back pencil you used earlier to carefully line the inner rim of your eye. This step is sometimes called “tight-lining” and it gives real depth and definition to the lash line. Do the same to the lower rim.

10. As a final step, use your small angled

brush and the deepest brown shadow and gently blend the shadow across the lower lash line from the outer corner across toward the inner corner, stopping about two-thirds of the way across.

Now that you have the keys to smoky-eye success right at your finger tips go ahead and get blazing!

Limited Edition Duo Palette A refillable dual palette with diamond white shadow and baby pink blush.

Limited Edition Faux-Lashes Natural faux-lashes with a bow in pink + white Vichy pattern.

Star Powder, Diamond Collection Four iridescent shades: Diamond White, Diamond Pink with purple highlights, Diamond Pink with golden highlights, Diamond Green with golden highlights. Use these for sparkling effects on the eyes, cheeks and body.

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for less THIS VALENTINE’S DAY SPEND A LITTLE AND GET A LOT. MAKE IT A STEAMY HOLIDAY AND SPEND UNDER 50000 LBP! WE’RE ALL A BUZZ FOR BEESLINE’S SWEET TREATS THAT CAN BRING YOUR SPECIAL SOMEONE A GREAT BIG GIFT WITHOUT A GREAT BIG BILL.

RAGMAG is burning for Sensual Massage Oil 16000 LBP This product is available in the Hot Spot Kit or separately. See this issue’s Massage How-To for some great tips on how to get rubbing the right way.

Shining Cream Tasty Body Massage 14000 LBP Available in 2 great flavors, Sultry Strawberry and Charming Chocolate, for all your clandestine dates!

XY Super Gel 8000 LBP You know what to do!

Beesline Hot Spot Kit 42000 LBP A special edition kit with a variety of Hot Spot products that includes their best selling Hot Oil! Diva’s Powder 18000 LBP Get glowing and sinfully sweet with their Diva’s Powder, puff included.

This also makes a great gift to give to your friends for their un-Valentine’s day!

Get the Buzz Beesline The Shop Kalaà Street LAU Lower Gate, Hamra, Beirut Tel80 + 01/808871 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011 www.beesline-theshop.com

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RAGMAG Star Product Beesline Massage Candles

With a base made from wax and a center of solid oil, it looks like an ordinary candle at first. Upon lighting, the oils melt transforming into a massage treatment formula. The melted area becomes a massage oil to be poured on the receiver’s back! Use for massage in the neck, shoulder and back areas, or get a little more creative! We’re loving that there are 2 sizes and various colours available.

Get the little one for yourself at 20000 LBP and the large as a gift at 40000 LBP

SPECIAL MENTION

For those of you out there who still like a little cute with your Valentine’s gifts, BEESLINE has that covered too: Get your Beesline bear in 2 sizes. The bear helps to fill a gift basket and acts as a keepsake.

16000 LBP Small 20000 LBP Large

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HEAT IT UP WITH A SEXY GLOW

BY LESLIE IDDISON

NOTHING QUITE COMPARES TO THE LOOK OF AFTERGLOW. YOU KNOW WHAT WE MEAN; THE LOOSELY TOUSLED HAIR, THE RADIANT FLUSHED CHEEKS, THE HEAVY EYELIDS AND OF COURSE THE SLIGHTLY SWOLLEN LIPS THAT ONLY CAN BE ACHIEVED AFTER THE PERFECT PASSIONATE KISS. WELL THIS MONTH WE’RE GOING TO TEACH YOU HOW TO FAKE IT! (THE AFTERGLOW PART, THAT IS.) RAGMAG THINKS IT’S TIME TO GET ALL HOT N’ BOTHERED AS WE GIVE YOU SOME INSIDER TIPS ON HOW TO LOOK LIKE YOU’VE JUST, AHEM, YOU KNOW… KEEP GLOWING, GIRL! BELOW: SIMONE PERELE LINGERIE. BRAND AVAILABLE AT K-LYNN.

1. Start by applying a generous amount of an emollient moisturizer. This will give your skin the perfect dewy canvas and help contribute to creating a natural flush.

We glow crazy for Clarins HydraQuench Moisturizer This moisturizer, loaded with essential oils and plant extracts comes in three formulas of varying richness. Choose the formula that best suits your skin type.

2. Dab on a lightweight concealer. This look is about showing some skin (literally) and therefore we will forgo foundation and just cover what needs to be hidden. For most women this means a little for your under eye circles and perhaps a dab on any blemishes or areas of redness.

We glow crazy for Lancôme Maquicomplet Liquid Concealer You’ll love its lightweight texture and high power coverage. A small dab is enough.

Choose a shade that is as close to your skin tone as possible.

3. Now for the blush, a little rosy glow creates the perfect romantic flush. Use a cream blush to keep the dewiness you’ve achieved in Step 1. Using your finger tips, apply a small dot of the cream blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend quickly outward in a circle.

Start with a very sheer application and build the intensity by adding as many layers as you would like.

We glow crazy for Shiseido Accentuating Colour Stick in Rosy Flush

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LEFT: ADRIANA LIMA IN VICTORIA’S SECRET SPECIAL VALENTINE SHOOT

5. Finally, those freshly smooched, pouty

4. Radiance is the key to this look and this next step gets you glowing in a snap.

We love using a highlighter to give your skin a healthy sheen and capture the light.

Highlighters come in many different forms and for this step we chose a gel-based formula. Using your fingers, or a foundation brush if you prefer, apply this product along your cheek bones, along your brow bone and to the inner corners of your eyes.

We glow crazy for Benefit High Beam Liquid Highlighter

lips. To create this effect we will use two different products. Start with lip stain to give the lip natural pigment that won’t rub off.

Apply a few dots of stain to your lips and blend quickly with your fingertip. Time is of the essence here, don’t let the stain dry or you’ll have spotty lips. Next we chose a plumping gloss to give the lips volume and delicate shine. Apply the plumper to your top and bottom lips, concentrating on the edges for fullness.

We glow crazy for Benefit Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain Christian Dior Collagen Maximizer Choose whatever colour of stain you like but as a guideline; fair skins look best in pink or fuchsia stains, medium skins work well in red or orange stains and dark skins are flattered by berry or plum stains.

Now that you have all the tricks you need to fake it you can keep everybody wondering exactly what (or who) makes you blush that way!

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Before

THE

After

PHOENIX EYELASH REGROWTH AND REPAIR

BY LESLIE IDDISON

T

his is a story of struggle and triumph, of battle and victory, of sorrow and jubilation. This is the story of my eyelashes. Okay, so it’s not the bold drama I may have had you visualizing but if you’re like me; and I believe many women are, at some point in your life you’ve probably spent time thinking about your eyelashes. After all, think of all the mascara we buy, each tube promising to give you longer, thicker, blacker lashes. Let me tell you the tale of how my lashes took a turn for the worse and how I managed to not only save them from certain death but nurture them to new lengths I never thought possible like a phoenix from the ashes.

(No joke!)

Ironically, I was born without eyelashes. Then, low and behold, one morning my mother looked into my crib and there they were blinking back at her; as if they’d sprouted overnight.

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And according to her they were lashes to die for. As a child I learned to use my lashes to look innocent when my hand was caught in the cookie jar or to appear sweet when trying to get my way (I’m still pretty good at that). As a teenager I would spend hours and most of my spending money in the pharmacy, searching for the mascara that would give me lashes like the girls in the magazines.

At some point during my late teens and early twenties, I developed the habit of pulling on my lashes when I was distracted. If I was concentrating on something at work, if I was worried, stressed, reading, driving…I would be pulling my lashes out. My mother would scream, “You’re not going to have any eyelashes!” and soon I began to see she was right. After years of pulling, my lashes were definitely thinner and worse; I’d pulled on them so much that I’d done permanent

damage to the follicles. After one particularly stressful period, my lash line had several bald spots.

I knew something had to be done: Lash growth treatments. You may have heard rumblings about miracle treatments that actually have the ability to enhance lash growth. While first only available from a doctor, several pharmacy versions have been developed based on the same technology. The original prescription version of these treatments was actually discovered while testing medication for glaucoma treatment. After test subjects reported noticing longer and fuller lashes it was not long before a lash treatment hit the market. This not only appealed to women with short or thinning lashes, but women who had lost their lashes due to other medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. While users saw results, some of them also reported side

mirrormirror effects, namely the appearance of brown pigmentation in the iris (the coloured portion of the eye).

After the popularity of this prescription became apparent, a mass of replica products began to pop up from several different cosmetic and skincare companies. The difference being the active ingredient in the new formulations was not a drug ingredient, and therefore could be sold to the public without prescription in North America.

My curiosity was peaked. While my initial reaction was to go straight for the prescription version, I was hesitant when I heard of the possibility of having permanent brown spots in my light-coloured eyes. I decided to reach for an over-the-counter

treatment called Stimulash by Fusion beauty. With study results that claimed to increase lash length and volume without permanent side-effects, I figured something was better than nothing. Following the directions of a once nightly application, I monitored my progress over the next eight weeks.

Weeks 1-3 No visual difference however I do notice that I am not shedding lashes when I take my makeup off. Incidentally, the product does claim to reinforce follicles.

Weeks 4-5 I begin to see that the individual lash hairs are noticeably thicker, giving my lashes a denser appearance.

Weeks 6-8 In the places where my lashes had been the thinnest, or I had bald spots, I can see many tiny baby lashes sprouting. The lashes on the outer corners of my eye are distinctly longer and growing upward.

Weeks 9 to Date My lashes have significantly increased in length. Now, at least once a day, a complete stranger asks if my lashes are real or not.

(Hence the resulting article.)

If you’re looking to boost your blinkers, take it from me, these new lash treatments do show results. That being said, as with any product, results may vary depending on the product you choose and your diligence in application. I’ve compiled a list of products with their descriptions

Try

According to the Brand

Key Ingredients

Side Effects

Application

Stimulash Fusion

by Fusion Beauty

Longer, thicker, stronger lashes in just 6 weeks.

Can also be used on sparse brows.

•Sodium Hyaluronate for deep conditioning.

You may experience a tingling on your lash line that should subside with use.

You may notice darkened pigmentation on the skin where you apply the product. This effect is nonpermanent.

One nightly application.

Apply as you would a liquid eyeliner; painting the clear product on your eyelid at the root of your lashes.

You may experience a tingling sensation with the first few applications.

Again, apply like a liquid liner before bedtime, taking care to keep out of the eyes.

None reported, although as with any product, you could have your own allergies to any of the ingredients. If you experience any reaction; discontinue use.

Brush through clean lashes as though you were applying clear mascara.

•Vitamins A, C, E for nourishment and shine •Methylamido Dihydro Noralfaprostal to strengthen the root of each lash.

RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum

62% Increase in length, darkness and curl in 6-8 weeks. Also can be used in the brows.

•Bio engineered Octa/Copper/ Oligo peptides, helps amplify volume.

Tip: Make sure to remove all makeup for optimal absorption.

•Isopropyl Cloprostenate, promotes cell regeneration.

•Sodium Hyaluronate, promotes shiny, healthy lashes.

Eye Lite Double Lash

by Mavala

Healthier, stronger lashes in just 4 weeks.

•Lactococcus Ferment, deep conditioning agent that keeps lashes soft and shiny •Glycosaminoglycans, strengthen the lashes and prevent breakage.

RAGged Lash Facts

•Eyelashes protect your eyes from foreign bodies such as dust and debris.

•The lifeline of each lash is approximately 5-6 months, from the time it sprouts to the time it sheds.

•You have approximately 150-200 lashes on your top lid and another 75-100 on the bottom.

•Eyelashes are composed of keratin. (Keratin is composed of approximately 3% water and 97% protein.)

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new + now CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT: JOHN GALLIANO SS 2011 RUNWAY, MICHAEL KORS AND JOHN GALLIANO AT THE THE VIP SECTION OF AïSHITI’S WOMEN’S DEPARTMENT.

GALLIANO + KORS BARE IT ALL!

The latest collections from John Galliano and Michael Kors were unveiled at the VIP section of Aïshti’s women’s department at a private viewing. Nomadic tribes were the inspiration behind the John Galliano collection, which featured plenty of fur, layered looks and motif embroidery.

American designer Michael Kors opted for updating more classic styles, from chunky cashmere sweaters to suede wrap shirts in§ camel and other neutral tones. Guests also got a sneak preview of John Galliano’s spring and summer 2011 collections.

PICKING UP THE PIECES AKILLIS

Luxury French Jewellery manufacturer AKILLIS has taken the world of jewellery outside its comfort zone by designing retro puzzles and reintroducing them as pieces of exquisite jewellery breaking away from the floral designs and patterns that have been a hallmark of women’s jewellery for decades.

“The AKILLIS philosophy is about setting new standards and revitalizing an ancient and conservative establishment by introducing new design concepts using quality materials, unique style and innovative design,” observed Caroline Gaspard, CEO of AKILLIS. The new AKILLIS Puzzle collection is fashioned with a classic touch yet adds a flare of edginess fitting for a 21st century trendsetter. “The brand is taking fine jewellery into a new era, where sophistication and luxury blend effortlessly with fun, freedom, authenticity and inimitability,” Ms. Gaspard added. AKILLIS’ puzzle range is designed to fit clients’ distinctive lifestyles and all materials chosen are hand-selected and meet the stringent demands of the highest quality gold, diamonds and gemstones for every piece created.

THE OUTER FRINGE WARDÉ Wardé, the leading home textiles company, has inaugurated its newly established branch in Achrafieh with a show of multicoloured fabrics displayed outside its new premises exhibiting the different textiles in motion. The new branch’s premises consist of 3 floors whereby each floor offers a variety of choices to suit every taste and requirement. Besides providing its customers with the finest in drapery and furniture fabrics, Wardé also offers a wide selection of accessories, fringes, cords, upholstery bindings, tiebacks, tassels and trimmings designed with minute attention to detail.

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MONTBLANC

IMAGINES ALL THE PEOPLE Montblanc celebrated the 70th Anniversary of one of the most talented artists ever to write music history. With the launch of the John Lennon Edition Montblanc is ensuring that Lennon’s legend not only lives on in his verse, his music, and his artistic legacy, but in the beauty of a timeless writing instrument. Reflecting his genius as a musician, the John Lennon Special Edition incorporates several design elements evoking the music of the 1950s and 1960s. The gentle grooves chiselled into the black precious resin of the barrel mimic those of an old-style vinyl record, and the clip is shaped like a period guitar head completed with tuning pegs and etched strings on the neck. Hand engraved on the 18K gold nib is the symbol of peace. At the focal point of the instrument, where the cap meets the barrel, is a silver plaque engraved with John Lennon’s selfportrait - the sketch he scribbled so often in place of a signature - which pays tribute to the memory of the edition’s namesake. The instrument features a number of symbolic engravings including the release date of the song “Imagine”: 02.10.1971, as well as his self-portrait signature. In addition, the rhodium-plated, 18K gold nib bears the sign so often traced in flowers: the peace symbol. The Montblanc John Lennon Edition is available in Montblanc Boutiques worldwide and in the Middle East.

GIRARD-PERREGAUX LEADS THE WAY Girard-Perregaux is celebrating a double anniversary: thirty-five years of the Laureato collection and forty years since its first quartz wrist watches.

The Manufacture, now renowned the world over for its mechanical movements, also played a pioneering role in the story of quartz watches.

Girard-Perregaux that set the decisive frequency of 32,768 Hz, since adopted by all manufacturers as the universal standard, has obtained almost 80 patents in the watch making field. It is an extraordinary heritage, a part of which is celebrated by this commemorative model. The transparent case-back reveals the movement with its Côtes de Genève decoration and blued steel screws. The battery cover is customized, evoking the famous Girard-Perregaux Tourbillon and stamped with the Manufacture’s logo. To emphasise the dynamic style, the grey dial is decorated with a checkerboard motif. The applied hour markers and the flange supporting the minute indicator add extra depth to the design. The hour and minute hands are luminescent for easier reading in the dark, while the second hand is outlined in red. This subtle touch of scarlet is echoed on the date indicator, inspired by the 1970’s, and on the inscription 32 768 Hz. This is found at 6 o’clock, as a tribute to Girard-Perregaux’s leading role in advancing quartz technology.

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT EDDÉ SANDS The Starlight Lounge, the latest addition to the culinary family of Eddé Sands, has opened its doors. Situated on the rooftop of Eddé Sands in Byblos and framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, the Starlight Lounge offers you the most spectacular views of the Byblos-Beirut Bay, combined with an unforgettable dining experience. “Food is meant to be shared and enjoyed with good company,” said Ralph Sayegh, Director of Food and Beverage.

“The small plates, intimate atmosphere and attentive service at Starlight will allow our diners to sample a variety of creative light snacks or an entire meal.” In addition to the restaurant’s distinctive charm, this season sees the introduction of the new fondue menu accompanied by entertainment from local favourite, pianist Tony Fakhoury every Friday and Saturday night.

The Starlight Lounge welcomes you for breakfast and dinner.

For reservations please call Eddé Sands 09/546666.

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THE BIG 5 IN JEWELS

BY STEPHANIE AOUN

THIS FEBRUARY WE TOOK A FLAMING TURN FOR RAGMAG AND NOTHING GOES BETTER WITH FIRE THAN A LITTLE ICE. READ ON FOR THE LIST OF HISTORIC JEWEL COMPANIES THAT HAVE FROSTED SOME OF THE WORLD’S BIGGEST NAMES. THE COMPANIES THEMSELVES HAVE OFTEN BECOME A SORT OF CELEBRITY IN THEIR OWN RIGHT, SPAWNING ART IN POP CULTURE, FILM AND EVEN CONFECTIONS. Disclaimer: RAGMAG cannot be held responsible if this article makes your significant other request any of the following for Valentine’s Day.

TIFFANY & CO THE LITTLE BLUE BOX Founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young in New York City in 1837 as a “stationery and fancy goods emporium”, Tiffany & Co has since reestablished their relevance in the jewelry world countless times. Recognized for its timeless appeal and the utmost quality of the jewelry, Tiffany Co. remains the largest and the most respected jewelry company in the United Stated and across the world. Elizabeth Taylor received a Jean Schlumberger dolphin clip from her husband, Richard Burton. Jacqueline Kennedy had Schlumberger design her signature. And of course, Audrey Hepburn, star of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, wore Tiffany jewels. These days you can even find Tiffany birthday cakes everywhere, in their signature blue shade with white sugar icing ribbons.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AUDREY HEPBURN IN BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S, TIFFANY & CO. KNOTS RING, ELIZABETH TAYLOR, THE TIFFANY & CO. FAMOUS BLUE BOX, TIFFANY & CO HEART-SHAPED WEDDING RING.

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VAN CLEEF AND ARPELS THE MYSTERY SETTING For over a hundred years, Van Cleef & Arpels has been one of the top jewelry names associated with exquisite gem stones and their novel innovative use of fine materials. The legendary “Mystery Setting� technique, patented in 1933 by Van Cleef & Arpels, consists of completely concealing the gemstone settings; the result is an illusion where the blossoms formed by the rubies, sapphires, or emeralds literally float on the backdrop of transparent resin. This luxury house is known to have a strong celebrity following with the likes of historical dames Marlene Dietrich and Eva Peron, and new Hollywood faces like Reese Witherspoon and Maggie Gyllenhaal wearing Van Cleef and Arpels.

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emperor’s new clothes CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: THE PANTHERE BROOCH, THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR, B-ZERO BVLGARI RING, BVLGARI F/W 2010 AD CAMPAIGN, THE ‘SANTOS’.

CARTIER THE PANTHERE BROOCH Cartier has a long and distinguished history of serving royalty, as well as stars and celebrities. One Prince of Wales hailed Cartier as “Joaillier des Rois, Roi des Joailliers” (Jeweler to Kings, King of Jewelers”). The French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer carries the name of the Cartier family of jewelers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the “Bestiary”, best illustrated by the “Panthère brooch” of the 1940s created for Wallis Simpson, the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala, and in 1904 the first practical wristwatch, the “Santos.”

LEFT: MARILYN MONROE. BELOW: HARRY WINSTON CROSSOVER RING, RIFHT: FREJA BEHA ERICHSEN IN HW’S LATEST AD CAMPAIGN.

HARRY WINSTON THE HOPE DIAMOND Harry Winston’s diamond store on New York’s prestigious Fifth Avenue is one of the most luxurious addresses for jewelry and ornaments. You may not have heard of him but Marilyn Monroe cited Winston in her hit number ‘Diamonds are a girl’s best friend’.

Harry Winston’s expertise in the precious stone field gives the brand an untouchable cachet. Winston has distinguished himself with his spectacular jewelry, creating for well known royalty such as Queen Elizabeth II and the Shah of Persia. Winston has worked on many world famous diamonds, the Blue Hope for example and the diamond drops which Richard Burton gave to Elizabeth Taylor.

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RAGMAG’s FIRE+FROST WINNER

BVLGARI THE B ZERO Based in Rome, since 1884, Bulgari has been creating renowned fine jewelery for over a century. In the 1970s, many of the more expensive Bulgari pieces such as necklaces, bracelets and earrings were characterized by instantly recognizable, bold, almost brutal designs combining large and weighty gold links with black-surfaced steel. Genuine Bulgari items usually have a unique serial number that is registered with the company.

Although the company made a name for itself with jewelry, today it is a recognized luxury brand that markets several product lines including watches, handbags, fragrances, accessories, and even hotels.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: JULIANNE MOORE IN BVLGARI JEWELS. BVULGARI’S B ZERO 1 COLLECTION DESIGNED BY ANISH KAPOOR. BVLGARI HIGH JEWELRY EARRINGS AND RING. BVLGARI EXHIBITION AT THE GRAND PALAIS IN PARIS, JANUARY 2011.

PAZ VEGA IN BVLGARI AT THE VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2010.

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emperor’s new clothes

WHAT’S THE BIG SECRET? VICTORIA’S FANTASY BRAS. THE JEWEL ENCRUSTED, DESIGNER, ONE OF A KIND PIECES HAVE BEEN MAKING HEADLINES AND SETTING RECORDS FOR ALMOST A DECADE. TO TOP IT OFF, THE CREAM OF THE MODELLING CROP IS ALWAYS CHOSEN TO SPORT THE PIECES, DOUBLING THE EXCITEMENT. READ ON FOR RAGMAG’S LIST OF HEFTY PRICE TAGGED UNDERGARMENTS, AND THE MODELS THAT WEAR THEM.

VICTORIA’S SECRET SETS LINGERIE RECORDS

BY STEPHANIE AOUN

$12.5 million RED HOT FANTASY BRA 2002

This creation is part of a $15 million brapanty set called Red Hot Fantasy. The one-of-a-kind bra has 300 carats of Thai rubies stitched onto red satin and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “most extravagant and expensive item of underwear ever created”. The design of this uniquely bejewelled bra-panty set was kept a secret until the inauguration of Manhattan’s new Victoria’s Secret store on Broadway and 67th Street, and was modelled by none other than the red-hot Gisele Bündchen.

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$11 million

VERY SEXY FANTASY BRA 2003

This 370-hour creation beat the Star of Victoria by sporting the 70-carat Mouawad Excelsior diamond. A replica of this bra belongs to the Gemmological Institute of America in Carlsbad. The Heavenly Star Bra, worth $12.5 million, is studded with 1,200 Sri Lankan pink sapphires and a 90-carat emerald-cut diamond as centrepiece. The diamond alone is worth $10.6 million. Matching panties come for an additional $750,000.

$10 million

HEAVENLY 70 FANTASY BRA 2004 This jewel-studded innerwear masterpiece was features 70-carat pear-shaped diamonds in the center and 2900 pave diamonds in an 18-carat white gold setting, all put together by jeweler Mouawad. The bra reportedly took over 275 hours of labor to make. It was presented by supermodel Tyra Banks.

$5 million

BLACK DIAMOND FANTASY MIRACLE BRA, 2008

BY MARTIN KATZ

This bra designed by Katz is made up of 3575 black diamonds, 117 certified one-carat white round diamonds and thirty-four rubies, in addition to two giant black diamonds, teardrop shaped, weighing more than 100 carats in total! Angel Adriana Lima was the lucky one chosen to model the piece and wore it on the runway of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Miami Beach.

$10 million

STAR OF VICTORIA FANTASY BRA 2002 This stunning Fantasy Bra features 1150 ruby roses, 1600 emeralds and a centerpiece of the Victoria diamond: a 60-carat flawless pear-cut stone. Also designed by Mouawad, it took over 370 hours of work to make, and was modeled

by Czech model Karolína Kurková.

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emperor’s new clothes

What are you hiding?

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

LEFT TO RIGHT: HUIT 2011, WOLFORD 2011.

BRANDS AVAILABLE AT VANILLA.

Go romantic DIAMONY With their laced silky camisoles and their balconnettes à la Marie-Antoinette, Diamony is the perfect lingerie store to dress sexy and timelessly romantic. Pink and silk are a must if you want to look and feel flirtatious but comfortable. Pick a bra with diamante, a little embroidery or pretty arabesque patterns, and plain assorted panties with ribbons. A pastel eye-shadow, a dash of blush and a pink lipstick will complete the outfit. Keep it simple, you don’t want to look overdone.

Our tip No romantic lingerie outfit is complete without a babydoll – don’t forget it!

Ask for the assistants help – they will guide you through the whole process of picking the good size and shape of your bra.

LEFT + RIGHT IMAGES: VERDISSIMA. BRAND AVAILABLE AT DIAMONY.

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THIS VALENTINE’S DAY WHETHER YOU WANT TO DRESS TO IMPRESS OR JUST FEEL THE HIDDEN POWER OF GOOD LINGERIE, THE CHOICES IN BEIRUT ARE NOT IN SHORT SUPPLY. WE TOOK A LOOK AROUND LEBANON AND SAW WHAT WAS UNDER ALL THE CLOTHES. HERE ARE SOME STORES TO CHECK OUT FOR YOUR UNDERCOVER WARDROBE IF THE ONLINE SHOPPING CRAZE ISN’T FOR YOU.

LEFT TO RIGHT: SIMONE PERELE F/W 2010, CHANTELLE F/W 2010.

BRANDS AVAILABLE AT K-LYNN.

CHANTELLE THONG. BRAND AVAILABLE AT K-LYNN.

Go naughty K-LYNN If you’re more of a “femme fatale”, or just feel like being one on Valentine’s Day, forget about the romance and look for the dynamic outfit. The basics: underwire bras, thongs or G-strings and, the must-have item, underwear suspenders. The colors: all black or all red. Multicolored outfits will just kill the look. The fabrics: lace or any see-through material that are pure turn-ons.

You don’t want to forget getting assorted high-heel shoes.

Our tip Do NOT leave the store before getting one of their Bijoux Indiscrets box – feather ticklers, handcuffs and satin masks should make this an unforgettable night for your lover.

ALL 3 IMAGES: WOLFORD. BRAND AVAIBLABE AT VANILLA.

Go playful VANILLA Key-word: costume lingerie. Themed underwear is perfect for putting on a whole new personality – and then play with it. Put aside your prejudices and Hello Kitty panties, and let the game begin: this Valentine’s Day is all about your fantasies.

Unfortunately, Lebanese stores don’t offer role-playing outfits, but you can find them in costumes stores or create them at home.

What’s more important is what’s underneath.

We picked Vanilla for the playful lingerie store because it’s the one that offers the widest variety of colors and fabrics. Red lace for the sexy nurse, tartan for the school student, satin black and white for the French maid, silky salmon pink for the good girl gone wrong.

Our tip If you like something and you’re not comfortable wearing it, DON’T BUY IT. There’s nothing worse than struggling with your underwear while role-playing. Too much self-consciousness will ruin the game.

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Makeup by LESLIE IDDISON Hair by ROGER GABRIEL Models LIPS AGENCY Set Design by SANDRA + SASHA DIA

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CUT OUT BODY SUIT

BY LALA ROSE PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP.

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LACE BABYDOLL BY NK IMODE FROM VANILLA 179000 LBP. LACE ROBE BY NK IMODE FROM VANILLA 375000 LBP. PANTIES LALA ROSE PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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BOOTS BY STELLA LUNA FROM MARIA PINO 670000 LBP. BABYDOLL BY VANILLA 281000 LBP. THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP.

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CORSET BY COQUETTE FROM K-LYNN 449000 LBP. LEGGINGS BY PATRICE CATANZORO FROM VANILLA 69000 LBP. STILETTOS MARIA PINO 370000 LBP.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: JEWELRY BY ZÉNA O 128000 LBP. THIS PAGE: VINTAGE CORSET BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 23000 LBP.

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THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP. PANTIES LALA ROSE PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. JEWELRY BY ZÉNA O 128000 LBP.

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VERSACE SS 2011

COPY

CAT! Mix N’ Match Real Runway

RAGMAG SHOWS YOU HOW TO REPLICATE THAT RUNWAY TREND! SEE OUR TAKES ON HOW TO MAKE THE READY TO WEAR, ACTUALLY WEARABLE.

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emperor’s new clothes

Triple Threat Piaget Possession, 18K rose gold chain bracelet

Agatha Paris cord bracelet with heart motif

Jimmy Choo Rosalie black gloss elaphe tote CALVIN KLEIN SS 2011

Criss Cross JASON WU PRE-FALL 2011

Strappy little red dress by Preen, available at Taten 1790000 LBP

Walk the Line

Box bag with gold accents, available at Cream

This asymmetric dress

by Doo-ri is very versatile and easy to accessorize, available at Taten 2538000 LBP

Lengthwise

Black and gold ruffled Georgina Goodman heels, available at Taten 2457000 LBP

Attention Span

Add the perfect finishing touch with this fun and flashy goldfish ring by Butler & Wilson, available at Label Queen 98000 LBP UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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PORTS 1961 PRE-FALL 2011 Antonio Ben bracelet by Chimol, available at Label Queen 135000 LBP

Chit Chat

TADASHI SHOJI FALL 2010

Cocktail ring available at Over The Rainbow 75000 LBP

Out of Line

Shape Shifter

Sport this edgy dress we spotted at Deviations 1800000 LBP

Jimmy Choo tube petrol glitter clutch

Blue gloves by Chantale, available at Cream 165000 LBP

ERDEM PRE-FALL 2011

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Two Timer

This eye-catching set by Baldan would be a perfect choice, mainly because it goes with almost anything.

Available at Taten Shoes 974000 LBP Bag 608000 LBP

EMILIO PUCCI SS 2011

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GUCCI SS 2011

Bow Tie

Manouk pearl necklace, available at Taten 81000 LBP

ALBERTA FERRETTI SS 2011

Alexander McQueen gold clutch

Slip On

The feel of this shirt by Thakoon makes all the difference, the fabric is luxurious, but then again who doesn’t love satin! Available at Taten 905000 LBP

Dress Down

Sequined tunic by Antik Bantik, available at Taten 750000 LBP

Cami Off

This Rachel Gilbert amazing find at Label Queen is our coup de coeur.

1131000 LBP

Peeping Tom

Platform heels by Peep Toe, available at Label Queen 240000 LBP

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J MENDEL SS 2011

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BLAZER PACO RABBANE’s

MAGIC NUMBER69

BY FIDA CHAABAN

We know you love Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg heating up the charts together with Je t’aime Moi Non Plus. She got her own Hermès bag namesake (featured in our October issue) and sported Paco Rabbane at the height of her career. The year was 1969, and the number was everywhere: from Serge’s steamy 69 Année Érotique to the ever present 69 bag by Paco Rabanne. The 69 bag, chosen by the Design Museum of London as one of the 50 Bags That Changed the World, is RAGMAG’s accessory must have pick this season. Another sultry starlet that swore by her 69 bag was Brigitte Bardot. With her tousled hair to pouty lips, nothing oozed sexy like Brigitte, so it was only right that she should be accompanied by the iconic 69 bag.

Handmade and produced in France, the 69 bag was recently presented at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris over 40 years after the original launch. Keeping with the original design, ladies in waiting can choose from 9 high quality variations on the original materials. RAGMAG is all about the original Paco 69 mantra of “To each her 69”, and the 2011 relaunch gives you the option of choosing from fine full-grain and smooth leather, stingray leather, rubber, acrylic, horn and several striking versions made in aluminum or other metals. Get yours before they’re gone!

LEFT: JANE BIRKIN AND SERGE GAINSBOURG AT THE ‘MIDEM DE CANNES AU WHISKEY A GOGO’, JANUARY 1972.

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TO YOU YOUR 69

IF Boutique 39 Abdallah Beyhum St. Dowtown, Beirut 01/970177UP IN FLAMES ISSUE 115

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PASSIONATA PANTIES FROM K-LYNN 87000 LBP. PLEASURE STATE BRA FROM VANILLA 216000 LBP.

MAKEUP BY LESLIE IDDISON HAIR BY ROGER GABRIEL MODELS LIPS AGENCY SET DESIGN BY SANDRA + SASHA DIA

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THIS PAGE: GLOVES AND TUTU BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. CHANTELLE BRA FROM K-LYNN 173000 LBP. CHANTELLE PANTIES FROM K-LYNN 84000 LBP. OPPOSITE PAGE: THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP. HALF CORSET BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PANTIES BY LALA ROSE PRICE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: BABYDOLL FROM VANILLA 156000 LBP. THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP. STILETTOS MARIA PINO 370000 LBP. OPPOSITE PAGE: CORSET

BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. SKIRT BY LAYLA KOURIS PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THONG PANTIES BY SALLY JONES FROM VANILLA 116000 LBP. STILETTOS MARIA PINO 370000 LBP.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: BODYSUIT

BY LALA ROSE PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP. THIS PAGE: CORSET BY COQUETTE FROM K-LYNN 449000 LBP.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP. STILETTOS MARIA PINO 370000 LBP. PANTIES BY LALA ROSE PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THIS PAGE: CORSET BY LAYLA KOURIS PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. PANTIES VANILLA 69000 LBP. THIGH HIGH STOCKINGS FROM VANILLA 22000 LBP.

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emperor’s new clothes

RAGMAG WAS RUNNING OUT OF WAYS TO SAY I LOVE YOU, BUT WE WERE QUICKLY TURNED INTO A POOL OF WARM FEELINGS WHEN WE SAW AGATHA’S NEW ENGRAVED COLLECTION, IN STORES THIS FEBRUARY. THE STERLING SILVER RING AND BRACELET MAKE OUR VALENTINE’S DAY HOT LIST FOR THEIR SLEEK DESIGN AND POLYGLOT TAKE ON AMORE! SINCE SILVER MELTS AT A SMOLDERING 961.93 °C, WE THINK GIVING AGATHA FOR VALENTINE’S DAY IS A SAFE BET, NO MATTER HOW HOT IT GETS! THE BEST PART IS YOU CAN GET THIS COLLECTION FOR YOURSELF SINCE A LITTLE AFFIRMATION GOES A LONG WAY. GENTLEMEN, IF A PROMISE RING IS IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE SUGGEST DOING IT THE 2011 WAY WITH AGATHA’S RING PENDANT WITH DIAMOND. IT’S A LOVELY GESTURE IN 9 CARAT GOLD SET WITH A DIAMOND THAT HINTS OF GOOD THINGS TO COME.

Liquefy Her Heart in 6 Languages ABC Dbayeh 04/416000 BHV City Mall

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FOR INQUIRIES AND RESIDENTIAL DELIVERY CONTACT +961 70 779 669 | MKKHOLDING.COM UP IN Imported byFLAMES ISSUE

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FAN

THE BEST OF THE WEB LINGERIE EDITION

BY MARIA ELENA KASSAB

K-Lynn www.k-lynnlingerie.com The stark black-on-white, coupled with K-Lynn’s trademark pink flower makes this website visually attractive since it keeps your eyes comfortable as they roam the sidebar: the basic bras, panties and nightwear are there as well as hosiery, babydolls and sportswear. The highlight, though, has got to be the Bra Guide: K-Lynn wants you to love your bra and know how to pick the right one for your shape and size. There’s a section about choosing the best undies for what you’re wearing in order to flaunt what you’ve got and a section about caring for your bras –and therefore, for your ta-tas.

Frederick’s of Hollywood www.fredericks.com

When you see the trends on this website, you’ll never want to wear clothes again. Frederick’s items bring out the sultry seductress in you and range from amazing bras to cheeky panties, from crotchless undies to garter belts, from lacy bustiers to saucy corsets that make you feel like either a sexy pirate or a flirty countess… Frederick’s makes sure you’ll want to play naughty forever. The website also offers bridal, bachelorette and Valentine’s idea as well as a seduction page. There’s even a Plus category, for curvier women, which offers options that are just as sexy as their skinnier counterparts.

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Agent Provocateur www.agentprovocateur.com When you visit Agent Provocateur’s website, you’ll imagine a deep bass line playing in the background, some mood lighting, maybe a smoke machine and sexiness galore! Those bras were not meant to be worn under a sweater on your night in –unless you’re planning to surprise your man all of a sudden. You’ll want to wear those bras in such a way that they peek out of your shirt, tantalizing and oh-so-forbidden. If you’re feeling bold, why not go for their playsuits? If you’re feeling more subdued, they offer panties that are so delish, it would be a crime to cover them up with pants or a skirt –so wear those to bed and be prepared to seduce.

La Perla www.laperla.com If you’re looking for something deliciously titillating yet still delicately soft, visit La Perla’s website. The pieces are lacey without being frilly, the cuts are feminine without being overly revealing, the items are sexy without being too bold and daring. They’re tasteful and appealing, playful and classical at the same time. They recall images of timeless seductresses and eternally beautiful ladies. You’ll feel like wearing those undies under a beautiful dress only to slowly, softly peel it off –those bras and knickers deserve a chance to be gawked at. And then be prepared to be called the sexiest thing on earth by your guy, your mirror or both.

Victoria’s Secret www.victoriassecret.com Are you feeling playfully naughty, like an angel caught with its hand in the cookie jar? Do you feel your girls and tush deserve to be adorned with some of the most popular lingerie known to man? Do you want to look amazing and make your dude’s jaw drop in awe? If you answered yes to all three questions (and we know RAGMAG gals want, deserve and get only the best), then Victoria’s Secret is for you! From downright sultry to playfully toeing the line between naughty and nice, Victoria’s Secret offers colors, patterns, shapes, sizes and moods for all. So garb yourself in one of the world’s best-kept secrets and prepare to make ripples that will echo in both you and your man’s infinity.

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emperor’s new clothes

stokethe

APPLE’S RED IPOD NANO, PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO HELP FIGH HIV/AIDS.

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

A SCARF, TREE SEEDS, OR A LOVE POUCH… DECLARE YOUR LOVE THIS MONTH WITH A GIVING GIFT THAT HAS A LASTING IMPACT. WHETHER YOU WANT TO SPEND THOUSANDS OR JUST A FEW DOLLARS, WHETHER YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR YOUR ROMANTIC INTEREST OR FOR YOUR MOTHER, SPREAD YOUR LOVE WITH A DREAMY GIFT THAT GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

From the Heart

The Brave Heart Fund is a charitable initiative established in November 2003 at the Children’s Heart Center at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. The Fund’s mission is that no “child should die of heart disease because of a lack of funds” and its goal is to help cover the cost of surgeries and hospitalization for needy children suffering from Congenital Heart Disease. Funky items especially designed for the Brave Heart Fund are available for purchase online with proceeds going to heart surgeries for those children whose families cannot afford it. Peace in the Heart is a line of jewellery created by Lebanese designer Rola Ali-Ahmad. The pendants, bracelets and keychains, in silver and gold, are great way to show your love for someone. And must-have items are the slouchy pouches, aptly named The Love Pouch, designed by Maria Arida, available in different sizes and colors, including Valentine’s red. www.braveheartfund.org

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Tree Hugger

Warm and Fuzzy

www.treeshirt.me

www.offrejoie.com

TreeShirt is a new funky T-shirt company, conceived in Lebanon, which offers original designs made by extremely talented Lebanese artists who have a lot to say and show. The T-shirts are too gorgeous for words and can even be delivered to your doorstep, packaged in a little brown pot with seeds so that you can plant your very own shrub. And, if that is not green enough, for every TreeShirt you buy a dollar is donated towards the reforestation efforts of Lebanon.

This is a cause that we all strongly believe in so grab these T-shirts for all your loved ones decorating torsos with amazing designs in quality cotton has never been greener!

Offrejoie, a Lebanese NGO, seeks to collect over 6,500 sweaters for distribution to prisoners all over Lebanon. Over the past 18 years this initiative has been made possible with the help of schools, universities, organizations, individuals, as well as through the collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Justice. Pullovers for prisoner’s aims to draw attention to a taboo subject in this country: overcrowding and atrocious prison conditions. Distribution is set for Sunday, February 6, 2011.

Wrap Around

Norma Ishak has been creative since she was a young girl. She crafted her first custom made scarves at the age of 15 and over the past 30 years has built up a collection of rare yarns from across the globe. Many of her scarves are made from these vintage one-of-a-kind yarns from her personal collection. What makes her collection even more special is that she employs women from Lebanon’s rural regions who lack job opportunities. Ishak provides these women with training plus the yarn and the tools to get started. This initiative offers them an additional income plus a new lease on life. All the items in the collection are hand-knit, whether they are one-of-a-kind or production pieces. Ishak likes to think that each handmade and custom designed piece has a story to tell as each item is unique with exceptional details unlike any other. www.normaishak.com

Music to My Ears

If music be the food of love then play on… and support a good cause at the same time. Go for Apple’s red iPod nano which is a triple threat: it comes in bright red, is très chic and most importantly a portion of the proceeds go to help fight HIV/AIDS. Maybe add a personal touch and have your loved one’s name engraved on the back.

And don’t forget to top it up with some sexy Barry White tunes to put you in the mood for love. www.apple.com/ipod/red

Food for Thought

The way to someone’s heart is through the stomach? If you believe this then the Mijotons cookbook is the perfect goodwill love gift for you to bestow on that extra special person. This gem was published a few years ago by four ladies who had the great idea of collaborating on a book to use as a fundraiser to support the Lebanese Red Cross. Micha and Maya Sarraf, Wadad Kanaan and Fadia Wardé show us how to make traditional Lebanese dishes as well as a few unusual concoctions, such as an intoxicating arak spiked mint tea. www.antoineonline.com

Star Struck

Brangelina and Asprey: Who said that charity and luxury don’t walk hand-in-hand?

Well, Angelina Jolie is proving otherwise.

She has made the news as actress, UN Goodwill Ambassador, partner to actor Brad Pitt, and mother to six children; not satisfied with her feats she has now teamed up with Brad to design a selection of gold and silver pieces, the Protector Collection, for British luxury goods firm Asprey. The collection, which includes snake motifs on each individual piece, is handcrafted at Asprey’s London flagship store in New Bond Street.

Jewelry prices start at around USD 1400 and the net proceeds from sales of this limited collection will go to Pitt and Jolie’s charity, Education Partnership for Children of Conflict, founded in 2006. www.asprey.com

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see, speak, +hear no evil

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

STORIES OF LOVE, PLATONIC OR PASSIONATE, HAVE KEEP AUDIENCES RAPT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MOVIE INDUSTRY. THE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR SOME OF THE GREATEST FILMS, LOVE HAS INSPIRED STORIES THAT RUN THE GAMUT FROM FUNNY TO TEAR JERKER. RAGMAG HAS PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF SOME OF OUR FAVE LOVE STORIES FOR YOUR VALENTINE VIEWING PLEASURE. FROM THE HISTORIC FILMS (NOW AVAILABLE IN DIGITALLY RE-MASTERED VERSIONS) TO THE NEWER REELS, WATCH OUT FOR THESE BOX OFFICE BEAUTIES IF YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE THEM.

BEST LOVE STORY Love Story (1970)

Director Arthur Hiller Starring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal

Harvard Law student Oliver and music student Jennifer fall in love and start building a life together despite Oliver’s father’s disapproval. Disowned, Oliver finds himself with no money and bills for Jennifer’s health treatment when she becomes very ill.

Why we love it

The movie is the incredible story of two lovers who would do anything for each other, including lying and living off almost nothing.

Heart Quote

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”

BEST HISTORIC LOVE Romeo and Juliet (1968)

Director Franco Zeffirelli Starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey

Two beautiful lovers want to be together but fate and family just won’t let them. Romeo is a Montague, Juliet is a Capulet, and that’s enough to stop them from getting married since the two Verona families have held a grudge against each other for decades. The movie ends with the two lovers committing suicide out of love and despair.

Why we love it

The ending is beautiful, even with the death of Romeo and Juliet. Their families realize what they have driven their children to and they promise peace. The movie shows how a sacrifice in the name of love can be stronger than war.

Heart Quote

“My only love sprung from my only hate. Too early seen unknown, and known too late”

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BEST LOST LOVE The Notebook

(2004)

Director Nick Cassavetes Starring Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams

A poor young man, Noah, falls in love with a rich girl, Allie. The movie tells the twists and turns they go through due to their different social standards, and how their feelings keep bringing them back together.

Why we love it

The Notebook is the story of a lost love but not in the way you think. Growing old, Allie has lost her memory (possibly suffering from Alzheimer’s), and Noah persists in reading their story to her, waiting and hoping for a few moments of lucidity in which she remembers him. They are back in love for a few seconds before she forgets it all again. Her love is forever lost, while his still lingers.

Heart Quote

“I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.”

BEST BREAKUP Eat, Pray, Love

Director Ryan Murphy Starring Julia Roberts

(2010)

Liz is a middle-aged modern woman who has everything one is supposed to wish for: a husband, a career, a nice house – yet she finds herself unhappy. She gets divorced and decides to wander around the world, looking for her inner self.

Why we love it

It shows break ups can be a good thing. If it’s not working, it’s just not working. On another level, Liz’s story shows how good it can be to be alone sometimes. One needs a little selfishness, or time, or whatever it takes to be happy, single at first, together as one after.

Heart Quote

“This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something.”

BEST ODD LOVE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Director David Fincher Starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett

(2008)

Benjamin Button is a medical phenomenon who ages backwards. He goes from a wrinkled old baby to a young man who falls in love with his childhood friend Daisy. Their love adapts to Benjamin’s anomaly, with them separating when the age difference becomes too big to bear.

Why we love it

The movie ends with Benjamin reverting to a regular baby, his lover holding him as her own child. Daisy, throughout the whole movie, is ready to play different roles in Benjamin’s life, as long as she’s part of it: she goes from friend to lover to mother. As controversial as it is, her love is stronger than anything.

Heart Quote

“Would you still love me if I were old and saggy?” – “Would you still love ME if I were young and had acne?”

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CHECK

BY BRYAN BORZYKOWSKI

KEYSHIA COLE Calling All Hearts

I’m going to let you in on a little music industry secret: there’s no good reason why one artist does better than another.

Connections have a lot to do with it, talent not so much. While Beyonce continues to pump out over-the-top R&B tunes to massive sales, her contemporary, Keyshia Cole is in a bit of a slump. After a million people bought her brilliant debut The Way It Is, the artist has struggled — her 2008 record A Different Me failed to crack the Billboard 200 charts.

It’s not exactly clear why she’s been left behind, but you can’t say she’s not trying hard to stay in the game. She keeps pumping out infectious R&B and, for the most part, it’s as solid as anything her cohorts have created.

One of Cole’s best selling points is that she grew up in the rough confines of Oakland, California — she hasn’t been afraid to talk about inner-city life, a topic many other urban pop vocalists have shied away from. Her latest isn’t as raw as some of her past tunes — she mostly deals with heartache here — but songs like Long Way Down are filled with passionate prose. “Already had me a cheater and mistreater, already been with a flosser and smooth talker, I’ve had a betrayer something like a player, but that ain’t what I want no more,” she laments on the smooth soul number.

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While there’s a lot of good stuff here, at times it seems as if she’s trying too hard — a few songs seem so geared for radio play that they’re devoid of any personality. Sometimes is one of those tracks. It starts with a bland finger picked guitar; Cole’s voice is as soulless as a washed-up wedding singer, while the song is one of those tunes that you turn on in the middle of the night to help you fall asleep.

see, speak, + hear no evil

Cole’s worked too hard to fade into obscurity — she started singing when she was 12 and has meticulously climbed her way up the music industry ladder ever since — which is why it’s a shame to see her falter on this record. She’s stripped much of the disc of the infectious pop that catapulted her to stardom and instead plays it way too safe.

But songs like the gritty, dirty Last Hangover prove she’s got plenty of fire left in her. When she realizes that record sales, or other people’s success doesn’t matter, she’ll start writing first-rate music again. And while that might not be enough to win her awards, her and her fans will be better off.

SHE STARTED SINGING WHEN SHE WAS 12 AND HAS METICULOUSLY CLIMBED HER WAY UP THE MUSIC INDUSTRY LADDER EVER SINCE

CAKE

BUCK 65

It’s been six years since the quirky rockmeets-funk group Cake have released an album. While no one was clamouring for a new disc, if you missed their infectious riffs and horn blasts you’ll like this record. It’s more subdued than past efforts, but they’re still as catchy and eccentric as ever.

Only in Canada could Buck 65, an eclectic East Coast rapper, turn weird, hipster rhymes into a successful career. To celebrate his 20 year career he teamed up with numerous Canadian rockers — including Islands’ Nick Thorburn and the Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie — to create a refreshing and engaging album of easily digestible hip-hop.

Showroom of Compassion

20 Odd Years

GHOSTFACE KILLAH

CAGE THE ELEPHANT

WuTang’s most reliable ex-member is, perhaps, Ghostface Killah, who continues to produce excellent solo albums. His latest samples catchy choruses from old soul record; his raps are as fresh and infectious as ever. This Motown-meets-Gangsta Rap release is a must listen.

If you like fuzzy 90s alt.rock then pick up Cage the Elephant’s new disc. It’s a mix of not-so-subtle nods to Nirvana, Pixies and Pavement, and while that does result in some pleasant sounds, the nostalgia eventually wears thin. In the end it feels like a cover album of songs you’ve never heard of.

Thank You, Happy Birthday

Apollo Kids

TAPES ‘N TAPES Outside

After one time buzz band Tapes ‘N Tapes fell flat with their 2008 record Walk It Off, they decided to leave their label and revisit the sound that made them famous. Just like the critically acclaimed 2005 record The Loon, this effort is a lo-fi mix of contagious alt.rock.

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and The Ten Things I Love About You

weep read’em

BY AMAL CHAABAN

Julia Quinn

Why you should read this book

Love’s intensity doesn’t always have to be so dark

Historical romance author Julia Quinn takes us back to a time when marriages between nobility were still arranged and women had little say in the matter. Our heroine Annabel may be married off to a corpulent old Earl in need of an heir unless hero Sebastian Gray does something about it. The story may be ripped from history but the humour isn’t. One of the most notable

things about any book that Julia Quinn puts out is the sly humour laced throughout the pages and this book is no exception. The reader may find themselves grinning like a loon or laughing out loud while sympathizing with our heroine. When it comes to this book, be prepared to have fun while turning the pages with baited breath to see how it all turns out.

The Bride Quartet

Nora Roberts

Why you should read this book

It’s like head candy: Easy to read and a little bit sweet

Meet Mac, Emma, Laurel and Parker, the women behind VOWS. In this new quartet, fiction queen Nora Roberts takes us behind the scenes of a wedding planning company run by four best friends whose lives are about to take some interesting twists and turns. The mastery of Nora Roberts is that even the novels she writes that are centered

on relationships don’t come off as your typical modern romances. The women in this 4 part series are smart, funny, talented, lovely and so well written that you wish they were your best friends.

As you journey with them down the rocky road to love, you may smile inwardly because you’ve experienced something similar.

Will You Marry Me? Seven Centuries of Love

Helene Scheu-Riesz

Why you should read this book

Love can’t be expressed in a text message

In this compilation of Love Letters, we see how historically documented relationships started, played out and ended. Helene Sheu-Riesz has chosen letters throughout the ages that chronicle some very famous (and some not so famous) love stories throughout time. Beginning in the Gothic period and moving up through time to the Victorian age, the letters show that old love stories put your text messages hearts in the delete box. The heavy emotion and poetic wording are

so markedly different than the language we use today to express how we feel about the people we purport to love. Letters in this anthology to pay attention to: from David to Joab (1035 BC), Prince Arthur to Catherine of Aragon (1499), Henry the VIII to Anne Boleyn (pre 1533) and Freidrich Nietzche to Mathilde Trampedach (1876).

This anthology will make you long for the days of the real written word and loathe the sex-ting trend of today.

Love: Quotes and Passages from the Heart

B.C. Aronson

Why you should read this book

The meaning of love is as varied as love itself

B.C. Aronson has put together a compilation of some of the best quotes about love out there. The focus is not just on amorous love but also on the love of family, friends, faith and yourself. There is also a chapter on the loss of love. Household names like Mae West (providing the more humorous side of love) and Gandhi (the more philosophical train of thought) are all in there. The quotes are separated by the type of love making

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it easy to find what you’re in the mood to hear. The unifying theme for this anthology is the human capacity to love in every way imaginable.

Our favourite quote was by the Maestro himself: “Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the real genius” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

see, speak, +hear no evil

watchout

BY ADAM VOLK

Release dates based on amazon.co.uk

Winter’s Bone | DVD & Blu-ray | 100 mins Jennifer Lawrence, John Hawkes, Lauren Sweetser Release Date: January 31 In writer-director Debra Granik’s chilling and pitch perfect dramatic thriller, newcomer Jennifer Lawrence stars as Ree Dolly, a determined 17-year old girl caring for her two younger siblings and mentally ill mother in the rundown backwaters of the Ozark Mountains. When her criminal father fails to show up to court, forfeiting a costly bail bond and putting their home at risk, Ree sets out to find the hardnosed family patriarch and convince him to return to prison.

Along the way she enters a seedy world ruled by drugs,

violence and family roots as old and unforgiving as the icy mountains around her. Artfully blending the genres of crime, coming-of-age and drama, Winter’s Bone offers a glimpse into a rarely seen side of Americana, depicting a bleak rural underbelly without resorting to trailer park clichés. Smartly written, elegantly shot and featuring an outstanding performance from the film’s young star, Winter’s Bone is a powerful piece of filmmaking and one of the most original and engaging films of 2010.

Red | DVD & Blu-ray | 111 mins Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren Release Date: February 14 Getting old sucks. One day you’re in the prime of your youth kicking ass and taking names, the next you’re dealing with gray hairs and the effects of both gravity and irritable bowel syndrome. And that’s pretty much the premise behind director Robert Schwentke’s Red. Based on the graphic novel by comic luminary Warren Ellis, the film tells the story of Frank Moses (played

by Bruce Willis) a “Retired and Extremely Dangerous” CIA operative now eking out a monotonous existence in the suburbs.

But when a government hit squad shows up take out the geriatric gunman, Willis shows he’s still got a few

moves left and hits the road to find out why he’s once again been put in the crosshairs.

Along the way he enlists the aid of a number of former spooks-turned-septuagenarians, including an intelligence expert (played by Morgan Freeman), an unhinged weapon’s nut (played by a hilariously demented John Malkovich) and a former MI6 gun-forhire (played by perennial GILF Helen Mirren). The end result is a funny, stylish and action-packed phosphorous grenade of a film that packs an armour-piercing punch as the trigger happy grandchild of Grumpy Old Men and Jason Bourne.

The Social Network

| DVD & Blu-ray | 121 mins Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake Release Date: February 14 Anyone who’s ever been repeatedly superpoked or forced to sift through countless Farmville wall posts knows just how influential Facebook has become.

For good or for ill, the ubiquitous social media site is now everywhere, clogging up smart phones and web browsers and connecting us with the old classmate we’d hoped to never see again. The Social Network traces the meteoric rise of the popular website, following the exploits of Facebook’s infamous founder Mark Zuckerberg (played to weasely perfection by Jesse Eisenberg), taking us from the company’s controversial founding at Harvard University, to

the chaotic, billion dollar class action law suits and shattered lives it’s left in its sizeable digital wake.

Directed by David Fincher with a screenplay by legendary Hollywood scribe Aaron Sorkin, the film is a smart, savvy and intriguing looks at a hitherto unknown chapter from the online annals of Web 2.0. With solid performances, a unique visual style and whip-smart dialogue, The Social Network is also a cautionary tale of greed, hubris and our increasing obsession with technology. Best of all, it may just make you think twice before posting those incriminating photos on your wall and accepting your mom’s latest friend request.

Never Let Me Go | DVD & Blu-ray | 103 mins Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield Release Date: February 1st Based on the novel by award-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go is a smartly told masterpiece that explores the overarching themes of death, identity and love, while also working within the subtle tones of dystopian science fiction. To give too much of the plot away would ruin the film’s exquisitely paced narrative and unique thematic elements. Suffice to say, the story follows three young students (played by Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield) who live a seemingly idyllic existence at a pastoral boarding

school in the English countryside. Their world, however, is not quite what it appears, and as a love triangle begins to take shape, we learn a darker truth about who the three students really are and the sinister purpose behind their supposedly benign existence. Featuring impressive performances from the film’s three leads, solid directing from Mark Romanek and a poignant and powerful screenplay by Alex Garland, Never Let Me Go is an original and thought provoking film that explores what it truly means to be human.

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see, speak, +hear no evil

playNICE

BY ADAM VOLK

DC Universe Online

Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment | Developer Sony Online Entertainment Platforms PlayStation 3, PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (or MMORPGs to those uninitiated in nerd-speak) are serious business. Just ask the millions of gamers currently grinding their way through World of Warcraft or comic book inspired games like City of Heroes and Champions Online. Now, Sony has thrown its spandex tights into the ring with DC Universe Online. The game allows players create their own superheroes or villains, offering up an impressive range of character customization, including a variety of powers and costumes to choose from.

Players are then given “Mentors” in the form of comic

book icons such as Batman, Superman, the Joker and Lex Luthor, depending on which side of the great superheroic divide you want to play. Players can then take on specific quests, explore familiar settings such as Gotham City and Metropolis, battle other players, or engage in cooperative team-based missions. Throw in solid visuals, impressively epic comic book storytelling, action-packed gameplay and a persistent online world filled with virtually every major hero and villain from DC comic book mythology, and you have a game which packs a massive online super-powered punch.

LittleBigPlanet 2

Publisher Sony Computer Entertainment Europe | Developer Media Molecule Platforms PlayStation 3 The sequel to Media Molecule’s innovative and quirky platformer, LittleBigPlanet 2 is a return to form for one of the PlayStation 3’s most unique series.

Players once again must navigate a Pixar-like world of fantastical handcrafted items and backyard obstacles, solving puzzles and encountering strange creatures along the way. The game is as gorgeous, bizarre and addictive as its predecessor, yet it’s the sheer amount of player created content that makes LBP 2 stand out as a truly remarkable gaming experience. Players can also create a virtually endless number of unique

characters from specialized and unlockable parts. The real fun, however, is in customizable level creation.

The original LBP saw over 2 million player-created levels and the sequel not only offers access to that existing catalogue but features a streamlined creation system, with tools which are significantly more userfriendly than the original. What’s more, players can now create entire mini-games based around racing, puzzle-solving and even role-playing. It may be a little planet, but as the old saying goes: it’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it.

Dead Space 2

Publisher Electronic Arts | Developer Visceral Games | Platforms PS 3, Xbox 360, PC Turn off the lights, crank up your stereo and prepare for the very distinct possibility of soiling your astronautpants while playing one of the scariest video games of all time. The sequel to EA’s blockbuster sci-fi horror shooter, Dead Space 2 once again puts players in the armoured suit of Isaac Clarke, a engineer from the 22nd century who barely survived his first encounter with hordes of vicious Necromorphs; alien creatures which turn corpses into shambling reanimated monstrosities. This time out Isaac finds himself in a space station orbiting Saturn which is in the early

Minecraft (Beta Version)

Publisher Mojang Specifications | Developer Mojang Specifications Not so much a game as an experiment in open world design, Minecraft is quite literally one of the most unique and innovative games of the past decade. The premise is simple: players are dropped into a visually crude looking world where they can dig, mine and harvest various resources, converting them into foot long blocks that can be used to build - well, pretty much anything you can think of. It may sound boring, but a quick YouTube search will reveal just how pervasive this game has become.

So far gamers have created a life-sized virtual

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stages of a Necromorph infestation. As a result, Isaac must once again suit up and use a variety of engineer-based weapons including plasma cutters, flamethrowers and gravity guns to decapitate, maim and obliterate his nasty alien adversaries.

Dead Space 2 makes a few refinements to the original, including a new multiplayer mode that allows 8 players to battle online.

Creepy, atmospheric and genuinely scary, Dead Space 2 proves that in space people really can hear you scream.

| Platforms Mac, PC

replica of New York City, a full scale model of the Starship Enterprise, a working computer circuit board and one online world so large it’s now roughly eight times the size of the Earth. Think of it like LEGO on crack, with player’s limited only by their imaginations and how much time they’re willing to sink into their sprawling virtual creations. Players can also battle monsters in a Survival Mode, explore other gamer’s worlds, or work collaboratively on shared projects. The end result is a game that has quite literally redefined independent game design one small block at a time.

unwindinstyle

Experience leisure & relaxation in the tranquility of Lebanon, at the newly opened One to One Hotel – Dhour Choueir.

Situated between the mountain valleys, designed stylishly offering breathtaking panoramic views.

Treat yourself at the 4star boutique hotel this season, rates starting from $100 including bed & breakfast! * Rates are subject to 10% VAT. * Monthly & Weekly rates are available.

6 • • • • • •

easy ways to book: t: +961 4 391270 f: +961 4 391269 res.dhourchoueir@onetoonehotels.com onetoonehotels.com via your preferred travel agent gds codes: Galileo: WV97619 - Sabre: WV100304 - Worldspan: WV74447 - Amadeus: WVBEYONE

dhour choueir

hotel

Dhour Choueir Square, p.o.box 28690 Lebanon t. +961 4 391270 f. +961 4 391269 UP IN FLAMES ISSUE res.dhourchoueir@onetoonehotels.com onetoonehotels.com

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take me with you

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TIMELESS HOME OF THE ORIGINAL OLYMPIC FLAME

BY ALICE HLIDKOVA + ERIC JOSEPH REITMEYER

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

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THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM, FRIEZE FROM THE MUSEUM. OPPOSITE PAGE: ANCIENT PILLARS AT THE ACROPOLIS.

BUILT IN 2009, THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM IS THE MOST FAMOUS CONTEMPORARY STRUCTURE IN THE CITY, AND IS BUILT ABOVE AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION SITE. The potbellied dogs plop to the ground in front of the restaurant, idly waiting for the chef to emerge and offer a delectable assortment of scraps. In Athens, strays are a sad aspect of daily life, and although they can present a nuisance to residents and tourists alike, Greek hospitality ensures the canines don’t go without their daily portion of stuffed eggplant and sheep’s pie.

A handful of Roma street children gather and pet the dogs as a girl plays a tune on the accordion. Tourists are charmed by the scene, and as they disappear with the chef into the welcoming atmosphere of the interior, the children leave the animals to their feast, making their way toward a flat topped rock high above the city.

Known as “city on the edge”, the Acropolis is the city’s high rise cradle of European civilization, made up of temples, shrines, theatres, and sanctuaries. Once known to be the home of the gods, it is now one of the most popular historic tourist destinations in the world.

Dominating the skyline is the Parthenon, a pillared temple dedicated to the protector of the city, Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. The primary role of the building was to shelter the 40 foot statue created by Phidias in 438 BC. Although the statue no longer stands, many smaller marble copies exist, and are on display at the National Museum.

One can spend an entire day at the Parthenon alone, marvelling at the engineering prowess of the ancient Greeks.

But in order to fully appreciate their skill you must visit the Parthenon Gallery, held within The Acropolis Museum not far from the ruins. Built in 2009, the museum is the most famous contemporary structure in the city, and is built above an archaeological excavation site. There you can view many of the original pieces, including the Metopes, Pediments, and the Frieze, all of which adorned the pillar of the city. However, many fragments are currently scattered throughout the world, on display in Vienna, London, Paris, and Rome.

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take me with you

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

143

TOP TO BOTTOM: MONASTIRAKI SQUARE IN ATHENS, TOWER OF THE WINDS.

THE ERECTHEUM, HIGHLIGHTED IN HOMER’S ILIAD, WAS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME OF THE MOST ANCIENT AND HOLY RELICS OF THE ATHENIANS: POSEIDON’S SALTWATER WELL AND ATHENA’S OLIVE TREE. Worthy of equal importance is the temple of Erechtheum, a shrine dedicated to the legendary Greek hero Erichthonius. The Erectheum, highlighted in Homer’s Iliad, was associated with some of the most ancient and holy relics of the Athenians: Poseidon’s saltwater well and Athena’s olive tree. Athena and Poseidon had once contested for the notorious title, “patron of the city.” The challenge was to present a gift that would be valuable to all Athenians. Athena, the victor, planted an olive branch, and soon forth sprung an olive tree, a symbol of peace and prosperity.

Situated below, within the patches of green sloping from the Acropolis stands the Holy Apostles Church. Built in the 10th century, the monument is one of the few surviving intact since its foundation.

Nearby stands the Tower of the Winds, a unique octagonal clock-tower equipped with instruments measuring weather and time, including sundials, water-clocks, and wind vanes. Further below, at the foot of the Acropolis, is Emperor Hadrian’s Library; inside scattered around the site lie the original pink, blue, and white tiles representing “hope, faith and love.”

Athens has suffered from the ravages of history. Years of warfare have left the structures of the Acropolis severely damaged. The once vibrant citadel of the ancients has suffered conquests from all sides of the peninsula, with the Persians, Turks, and Romans invading their shores.

Modern history has seen the Nazi flag fly high above the Parthenon. German soldiers used the structure as barracks during World War II. During a killing spree of Greek soldiers, the Germans spared a single man who was ordered to remove the flag of his country. In honour of Athens and its gods, the young Greek wrapped himself in his proud colors and plunged to his death.

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take me with you

LEFT: THE ERECTHEUM TEMPLE. BELOW: VIEW OF THE ACROPOLIS.

Since 1992, the government has been refurbishing the Parthenon, whereas the Greeks only needed ten years to build it. The limestone used to reconstruct parts of the structure are extracted from the original mines that bore the first slabs of marble. The completion date is uncertain; what was intended to be a decade-long restoration project has turned into an ongoing plan since 1975.

The attractions of Athens are not limited to ruins. Journey through Plaka, known as “Neighbourhood of the Gods� and lose yourself in the labyrinthine streets of this historical district. No cars are allowed, so feel free to examine the neoclassical architecture at your leisure.

Dive into the many shops selling jewellery, sculpture, antiques, and ouzo - minty sweet licorice.

Along a pebbled alleyway sits a small ceramic and glass shop run by an old Greek named Georges. He is found out front, slumped in an old chair as he feeds his canine friend leftover salami.

Several tourists approach as two young Roma girls play him a song on their accordion. When they finish they extend their tiny hands to accept a Euro and point in the direction of the Acropolis

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

145

eat, drink + be merry PHOTOGRAPHY JASON ZAMORA

melting

pot

the

Le Raclot Fires it Up

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

S

ucculent. If there is one word to describe Le Raclot restaurant, this is it. Located in the heart of the Jounieh old souk – well known for its small shops and mana’eesh bakeries, and its famous Lebanese festival “Tmasha w Shar”, the restaurant, even with its discreet entrance, semi-hidden by creepers, attracts a clientele that extends from the northern region to Beirut. As you may have guessed by its name, Le Raclot serves French cuisine, but what sets it apart is the type of French cuisine: Rustic food, finding its origins in the French and Swiss mountains. It is just that: cheese fondue and raclette are the specialties of Le Raclot. Not only one of the few places that offer theses items on the menu, but also the place where they’re served best.

The menu is small: 3 combinations of cheese fondue, meat fondue or raclette.

The raclette combination includes a salad of lettuce and nuts, a Lebanese red wine carafe, and a delightful dessert

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made of ice cream truffles, the perfect way to end your meal. But make no mistake about these dishes: if they seem to be particularly simple – after all, melting cheese in on a raclette machine is not that complicated-, the accompaniments Le Raclot offers are fresh and varied: raw chicken and meat that you grill to your liking, boiled shrimp, firm potato slices, different kinds of charcuterie, French baguette and an assortment of four different dips.

Another characteristic of this restaurant is that it’s THE winter restaurant par excellence. Thank the cold that accompanied the last few weeks and warm up in the chalet-style restaurant.

Downstairs, there is wood everywhere, from the parquet floor to the walls and ceiling. Upstairs, the wood gives way to the old Lebanese stones, which form an arch on the entire ceiling.

The restaurant does not bother with superfluous decoration: red curtains, plain lampshades, assorted brown leather tablecloths and small candles

compose the setting. The small tables and the intimate lighting make it a perfect place for a romantic Valentine dinner.

For the occasion, you have two options: 1) You’re a fan of the Special Valentine evenings: book a table as soon as possible, Le Raclot’s theme nights are very coveted. 2) You’re not that into romantic Valentine’s day: book your table for the day after, but seize any opportunity to try it out

The + +The very small wooden bar with 3 or 4 stools – perfect for a drink after dinner. +They only serve 3 dishes (sorry, cheese haters!), but they’re the best at it. +The service is quick and the portions very generous.

The – -The subdued lighting makes it hard to see what you’re eating.

-Le Raclot only opens in the evening, making it mostly a weekender outing.

-They served American mustard as a dip. What happened to the good old Dijon mustard? It’s a French restaurant!

Le Raclot Mina al Jadida street – Souk Jounieh 09/ 914999 | 03/ 266119

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

147

eat, drink + be merry

sparks will fly

RAGMAG TEAMS UP WITH BEIRUTRESTAURANTS.COM TO BRING YOU THE MOST ROMANTIC OPTIONS FOR YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY DINING PLANS. WE’VE INCLUDED THE BEST OPTIONS TO HELP YOU EAT DRINK + BE MERRY FOR YOUR SPECIAL AMOROUS EVENING, OR ANY EVENING THAT YOU NEED TO KICK START THAT SPARK. WE SUGGEST YOU MAKE RESERVATIONS AND AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT. PLANNING IS EVERYTHING! BEIRUTRESTAURANTS.COM ALREADY DID THE RESEARCH, SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GET WHISKED AWAY IN A SEA OF CANDLELIGHT WITHOUT LEAVING LEBANON!

L’OSTERIA

THE LIBRARY

TELIENE RESTORANTE

COLONIAL LOUNGE OF BARCELONA

BURGUNDY

FIONA’S

Gourad Street Saifi Village, Beirut TEL 01/999820 - 03/074949

Saifi Village, Downtown, Gouraud Street, Beirut TEL 01/985825 - 03/034200

Tyan Building, Nhar Street Mar Mikheal, Beirut TEL 01/566175

Broumana main road (near Grand Hills Hotel) Tel 04/860350 71/102426 www.clobarcelona.com

FOUR SEASONS THE GRILL ROOM

1418 Professor Wafic Sinno Avenue Minet El Hosn, Beirut TEL 01/761000

Charles El Helou, Gemmayzeh Nahr Beirut TEL 01/448944 70/944440

COUQLEY

The Alleyway, Gemmayzeh Beirut 01/442678 www.couqley.com

Sodeco, 911, Nasra area, Beirut Seifeddine Al Khatib Street, Beirut TEL 01/610660 71/144700

ALDENTE

Albergo Hotel , Abdel Wahab Inglizi Street Achrafieh, Beirut TEL 01/202440/1 03/ 280516 www.albergohotel.com

ALBERGO ROOFTOP

Albergo Hotel, Abdel Wahab Inglizi Street Achrafieh, Beirut Tel 01/339797 www.albergohotel.com

Spark it Up Mention The Grill Room at the Four Seasons definitely makes the top 3 for our picks of romantic dining places. From ambience to excellent cuisine (seafood with Mediterranean influence), the view also makes your meal Valentine worthy.

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Spark it Up Mention It seems that Couqley is the restaurant everyone is talking about these days. For the best service and a creative take on bistro cuisine, Couqley earns itself a RAGMAG spark. The wait staff are courteous and nonintrusive, good for those intimate moments when interruptions are not welcome.

Spark it Up Mention RAGMAG has spent more than a few romantic evenings sipping wine and indulging in great cuisine on Albergo’s rooftop. For sheer charm and a grace of interior not often seen in Beirut, book this restaurant for your Valentine’s evening.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

149

mind, body + soul

put out the

fire SATISFY THE CRAVE SANS GUILT

BY ELODIE BARAKAT

CHOCOLATE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM. WE LOOK AT IT AS A DANGEROUSLY ADDICTIVE THING, A THREAT TO OUR SILHOUETTE AND A FENCE BETWEEN US AND OUR SKINNY JEANS. BUT WE’RE WRONG! EVERYTHING IN MODERATION IS GOOD, CHOCOLATE INCLUDED: IT KEEPS OUR MOOD UP AND IT’S A STRONG ANTIOXIDANT... SO GO AHEAD, TAKE A BITE OUT OF LIFE!

CHOCOLATE CHEERS YOU UP When you’re down, do you often feel the need for chocolate? It’s biological.

Tyramine, serotonin, phenethylamine theobromine, and the list goes on ...

No need to list them all. Just remember that they stimulate you, increase your adrenaline secretion and have euphoric, relaxant and antidepressant benefits. Of course, the amounts contained in chocolate are slight. They don’t have a strong therapeutic effect but are enough to elevate your mood slightly. This is why chocolate is such an (un)guilty pleasure.

CHOCOLATE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEART !

Hard to believe isn’t it? So, what if a scientific study had been done on twenty thousand people. What if all those people were given 6g of dark or milk chocolate every day. And what if, after 8 years of study, it was proven that this daily diet assured a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases by 40%? Dear chocolate fans, this utopian study has been done by German scientists and was published this year in the European Health Journal. Yes, chocolate lowers blood pressure. No, chocolate fat doesn’t give you bad cholesterol. And yes, it is good for your

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heart. Still, remember the key word: moderation. 2 to 4 pieces of chocolate per day is enough, for your heart and certainly your jeans.

THE ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT

You must have heard about antioxidants.

They slow aging, strengthen our immune system, reduce the risk of cancer, and help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Well, good news: cocoa is among the strongest antioxidant natural products. A stronger antioxidant than red wine, green and black teas.

IS DARK CHOCOLATE BETTER TO STAY SLIM?

Black, milk, white: they all contain the same amount of calories (between 535 and 557 calories for 100g of chocolate).

If white contains more fat, black and milk have more sugar. For diet purposes, it’s more or less the same.

In terms of health though, remember that chocolate’s “power” comes from the cocoa. So, the more cocoa there is in the chocolate you have, the more benefits you get. And as you might know, there isn’t any cocoa in white chocolate, so keep that in mind when choosing your snack.

MYTHS AND LEGENDS ABOUT CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CAUSES ACNE

No, it doesn’t. Science hasn’t found any link between chocolate and acne. So forget it, pimples aren’t a good argument to keep us away from chocolate.

CHOCOLATE CAUSES CONSTIPATION

Not at all. Indeed, it tends to do the contrary. Its antioxidants ease digestion and it’s filled with fibers and fatty acids improving intestinal transit.

WE CAN GET ADDICTED TO CHOCOLATE

Alright, once we had a piece, it’s hard to stop. And yes, some substances contained in chocolate have effects on certain areas of the brain that can be compared to the effects of addictive drugs.

Still, you’d have to ingest 11kg of chocolate to sense it. You might feel sick before getting addicted!

CHOCOLATE IS AN APHRODISIAC

It does contain phenethylamine, a stimulant molecule that has been identified as a substance motivating sex. But, as for addiction, you’d have to eat 100kg of chocolate for the aphrodisiac to have a direct effect. Not sure you’d be able to see anyone after that

from

February Help treat children suffering from cancer without spending more than a meal.

www.EatOutForLife.com 70-351515 Visit our participating restaurants today!

Sponsored By UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

151

eat, drink + be merry

Chocolate Here, There + Everywhere

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

EATING CHOCOLATE, FEELING GOOD AND HAVING SEX APPEARS TO BE A TRADITION WHICH DATES BACK TO THE ANCIENT AZTECS.

BELOW: SERENDIPITY’S FROZEN HAUTE CHOLOCATE.

S

o what’s the big deal about Valentine’s Day and chocolate?

Or love and chocolate. Or sex and chocolate. Eating chocolate, feeling good and having sex appears to be a tradition which dates back to the ancient Aztecs. Cocoa was considered a royal aphrodisiac and the Aztec king Montezuma supposedly drank liquid chocolate all day long to enhance his libido.

Eating chocolate is said to release endorphins, also known as pleasure chemicals, natural chemicals released from the body, which cause an emotion of pleasure. Well, if you love chocolate and you enjoy sex what could be better than combining the two? But, before

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you go off into the kitchen to melt some chocolate to smear over your partner, stop: regular chocolate is not really suitable as it gets hard too quickly and is also likely to be sticky, messy and maybe even painful to remove! Get some specially formulated chocolate body paint. If you can’t find any then Nutella will do though it’s thicker than body paint and not as easy to spread.

Lebanon’s Chocolate Club hosts theme parties where chocolate body painters entertain clubbers. “Why did we call our venue The Chocolate Club? Well, when you say the word chocolate it puts a smile on your face,” says Jack Bibawi from the Chocolate Club. To set the mood clubbers are served mini chocolates by the hostesses.

Sinfully Rich

For real chocaholics it’s the quality that counts. For them mass-produced chocolate bar treats are like house wine when compared to a vintage Bordeaux.

Some chocolate producers though go overboard to impress. Knipschildt Chocolatier, founded in 1999 by Fritz Knipschildt, sells the most-expensive chocolate, a $250 dark chocolate truffle with a French black truffle inside. It is available by preorder only. And Chocopologie by Knipschildt retails at $2,600 per pound. New York’s Serendipity 3 restaurant serves up a $25,000 sundae, the Frozen Haute

Chocolate, certified by Guinness as the most expensive chocolate dessert in the world. It contains a blend of 28 chocolates, 14 of which are the rarest in the world, it’s infused and dusted with five grams of edible 23 karat gold. You get a Knipschildt La Madeline au Truffle on the side as a bonus. The sundae is served in a crystal cup with a diamondencrusted gold spoon, which is yours for keeps. But, it’s what’s at the bottom of the cup that makes it the most expensive chocolate treat ever... an 18 karat gold bracelet studded with one carat’s worth of white diamonds.

The Dark Side

Hershey, the world’s largest manufacturer of chocolate, reports that dark chocolate sales have grown by 11.2% in the last four years. Not only does it taste good, but studies have shown that dark chocolate helps prevent heart disease and cancer. It has also been shown to improve mood by boosting the brain chemical serotonin.

Cocoa contains flavanols, which may help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system by relaxing blood vessels and keeping cholesterol from building up in them, thus reducing the risk of blood clots and by slowing down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.

Dark chocolate also has topical benefits: Head to the Essential Spa at the Mövenpick Hotel and Resort to indulge in a Dark Chocolate Body Wrap.

“Last year Valentine’s Day was really something; a special mouthwatering menu was set for that night…. and the amazing thing is that we had two guys who proposed in the Lounge,” says Walid J. Abou Arraj, partner/ marketing manager of The Chocolate Lounge in Beirut. “Currently we have many winning menu items, such as The White Chocolate Salmon, Salmon Salad, Chocolate Lave and Chocolate Fondue.

And soon we will start with events, we have many in mind, such as Chocolate Champagne night.” RAGMAG can’t wait!

BELOW: KNIPSCHILDT’S LA MADELINE AU TRUFFLE AND CHOCOPOLOGIE

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

153

eat, drink + be merry

AN UPDATED VALENTINE DINING EXPERIENCE WITH CHEF MAHER EL-ALAM

THIS ISSUE RAGMAG AND CHEF MAHER EL-ALAM BRING TOGETHER A HARMONY OF DELIGHTS BOTH FOR THE PALATE AND THE DISCERNING EYE. A CREATIVELY ARRANGED ROMANTIC DINNER FOR 4 IN 3 COURSES IS SUGGESTED FOR YOUR VALENTINE FESTIVITIES. GO ELEGANT NOT KITSCHY THIS YEAR BY STYLING YOUR DINING TABLE IN OLD WORLD CHARM. CHEF MAHER SUGGESTS A CHILLED WHITE WINE AS THE PERFECT ACCOMPANIMENT TO THIS VALENTINE’S DAY FEAST.

Table Setting + Decoration A medley of roses is the suggested arrangement to compliment both the romantic tone of the meal and the use of roses in cuisine. RAGMAG suggests a classic centerpiece of light coloured roses in pastels of pink, yellow, lilac and peach. You will need an additional set of roses for the actual dinner preparation as well. (Find your most reputable floral dealer for the edible and garnish rose variety.) For placemats and settings, go with an off-white contemporary lace tablecloth and complimentary napkins in shades that match your roses. Napkin rings can be a tiny fresh rose banded with elastic. Candlelight is advisable but eschew the long taper variety and opt instead for tea lights strategically positioned off the main table. This will free up table space and prevent maneuvering them throughout the meal.

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-

4 salad forks 4 salad knives Large utensils for serving salad Large platter for salad 4 dinner knives for fish 4 dinner forks for fish Large serving platter for the salmon Spatula to serve the salmon and vegetables Basket to present the salmon canapé 4 dessert plates 4 forks for dessert 4 knives for dessert 4 glasses for white wine 1 silver toned ice bucket to keep wine chilled and at hand 16 whole peach (salmon coloured) roses to be divided for 2 recipes.

STEAMY SALMON

Canapé

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR 4 SERVINGS •1 packet of white round canapé •250gr butter •White pepper •400gr smoked salmon

PREPARATION Butter the 16 pieces of round canapé and add a pinch of white pepper.

Roll the smoked salmon into florettes (a round floral style), and place each one in the middle of the canapé.

Place the canapé on the table, serving as the appetizer and enjoy with the chilled wine.

PRAWN SALAD

Guacamole Dressing

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR 4 SERVINGS

•1kg prawns (approximately 12 pieces) •2 avocados •2 red tomatoes •1 sprig coriander •1 large onion •3 cloves garlic •1 pinch salt •1 pinch white pepper •2 heads Roca leaves (Romaine lettuce) •1 head Iceberg lettuce •juice of 2 lemons •1/4 cup white vinegar •1 cup virgin olive oil

PREPARATION In a bowl place the peeled prawns.

Mix well with salt, pepper and olive oil to taste. Place in a preheated oven at 200 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove the prawns and allow them to cool. Wash the produce well (Roca, Iceberg, tomatoes and coriander). Peel and blend the garlic and onion in a bowl. Add the chopped coriander and tomatoes.

Dice the peeled avocado and combine with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the lemon juice and vinegar followed by the olive oil. Present your salad on a round platter.

Begin by placing the iceberg lettuce with the Roca leaves and then the guacamole dressing. Finish by placing the prawns in a pleasing and symmetrical design.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

155

eat, drink + be merry

SALMON FILLETIN A BED OF

Greens and Vegetables

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR 4 SERVINGS

•4 fresh salmon fillets (approximately 250gr to 300gr each) •4 medium potatoes •1 bunch fresh spinach •8 mushrooms •5 cloves garlic •100gr butter •Salt •Pepper •3 cups fresh cream •Juice of 1 lemon •1pinch dill •50gr flour •1 shot vodka •olive oil

PREPARATION Clean the salmon and debone carefully. Dress the salmon with salt, pepper and olive oil. Place it in a preheated oven at 200 degrees for 25 minutes. While the salmon is baking, wash and prepare the potatoes and place them in oven for 40 minutes.

In a skillet, sauté the mushrooms and the spinach with the chopped garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Pay special attention not to overcook the vegetables.

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To create the entrée sauce, place butter and crushed garlic in a saucepan and add flour on a low heat. Combine and stir until the mixture becomes smooth.

Add 1 shot of vodka along with the fresh cream and gently add salt and pepper to taste. Finish by adding the dill and the lemon juice.

Place the spinach and mushrooms first on the plate. Place the salmon filet in the center and surround it with the baked potatoes. Garnish with rose petals and serve.

MILLE-FEUILLE WITH

Sugar Coated Rose Petals INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR 4 SERVINGS

•1 packet Mille-feuille pastry •Rose petals •6 eggs •200gr sugar •Juice of 1 orange •Lemon zest •3 ml vanilla •5 ml essence of rose water •50gr corn flour •1/2 litre milk

PREPARATION This segment has 3 parts to preparation. Pay special attention to the order of events as it will help you stay organized and save time.

Start to roll the pastry, cut for each portion 3 square pieces and place them in the oven at 250 degrees for 15 minutes. The objective here is a slight golden-brown colour (should the pastry reach the golden-brown shade earlier, remove them from the oven).

SUGAR COATED ROSE PETALS Using 3 eggs yolks, add a pinch of salt and beat well with a whisk. Dip each rose petal (one at a time), into the egg yolk mixture. Then dip the saturated petals in sugar and place them on a tray to dry. (Note: Covering the flat tray with wax paper may prevent the petals from sticking.)

PASTRY CREAM Begin by placing 50gr of corn flour in a bowl and add 125 grams of sugar.

Add the egg whites and 3 complete eggs. Add lemon zest and a pinch of salt and mix together. Bring the milk to a boil in a sauce pan and add the vanilla. Slowly add the hot milk. Allow the mixture to boil for 4 minutes. Continue to stir to prevent burning the mixture. Place the sauce in a bowl and allow to chill. Once cooled, add the orange juice and the essence of rose water. Keep chilled by placing in the fridge.

FINAL COMPOSITION Put one layer of pastry on the plate. Using a pastry bag, apply the cream as the first layer. Place a second layer of pastry pressing in firmly.

Add another layer of cream then follow with a third layer of pastry. Press together gently to finish your last layer. Decorate with the sugar coated rose petals on top and around the perimeter of the plate.

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

157

quizz ROUND #1

Sport

ROUND #2

ROUND #3

Lyrics from Songs

ROUND #4

Trivia

Science + Nature

1. What type of vehicles is used on the Cresta Run?

1. We don’t need no education, we 1. What is the correct way to don’t need no thought control... address the Pope?

1. What is the world largest plant seed?

2. How many balls are used in a game of snooker?

2. You’re a song written by the hands of God...

2. What is the more common name for modulator/demodulator?

3. In which sport would you find a ring called “A Basho”?

3. Clue number one was when you knocked on my door...

4. What name is given a serve in tennis that is unreturnable?

4. A long, long time ago... I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.

5. What country hosted the 2006 football World Cup? 6. What are the two longest track events in which competitors use starting blocks?

7. In which sport can you be penalised for “Travelling”?

8. Who are the main sponsors of the Abu Dhabi Air Race?

9. In darts, what is the highest score that can be obtained with three darts without hitting the treble 20?

10. What game gets its name from the French for “Little Wheel”?

5. I’m sitting here in the boring room, It’s just another rainy Sunday afternoon...

6. Sally called , when she got the word, she said “I suppose you’ve heard about ...”

7. And it’s been the ruin of many a poor boy and God I know I’m one...

8. I don’t want to talk, about things we’ve gone through...

9. And our friends are all aboard, many more of them live next door...

2. In a standard pack of cards, what is the only king that has just one eye showing?

3. What item of food gets its name from the French for “Twice Baked” ?

4. In the UK it is called a motorway, what is it called in Germany?

5. What is the name of the Greek goddess of victory whose name is used as a famous brand name?

6. According to the Bible, who performed the “Dance of the Seven Veils” for King Herod?

7. When walking to the altar, what is the name of the area that the bride actually walks down?

8. What was the name of the blind Benedictine Monk who invented champagne?

9. If you were being served MIEL, what would you be eating?

10. Young man, there’s no need to feel down, I said young man, get 10. Who ran through the streets yourself off the ground... naked shouting “Eureka”?

dingbats

NOT HIS

3. What is the largest muscle in a man’s body?

4. We have all heard of AM and FM in radio terms, but what does PM or sometimes PhM mean?

5. What is a baby rabbit called?

6. If a device is said to be 250Watts and uses 250VDC how much current does it take?

7. From which plant do we get the spice Safron?

8. What is the “W”, found on computers, that is designed to give a step by step guide for using some programs?

9. In the human body the Patella is also known as what?

10. Which direction does a CD rotate?

SATURDAY TODAY

SONG

FILM

SONG

FILM

SONG

FILM

FILM

FILM

TOIL 9 2 5

SONG

MONDAY

ROUND#1 1. Bobsleigh 2. 22 3. Sumo Wrestling 4. ACE 5. Germany 6. 400 meters/400 meters Hurdles 7. Basketball 8. Red Bull 9.171 10. Roulette ROUND#2 1. Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd 2. Underneath Your Clothes - Shakira 3. Cloud number 9 - Bryan Adams 4. American Pie - Don Mclean 5. Lemon Tree - Fool’s Garden 6. Alice - Smokie 7. House of the Rising Sun - Animals 8. The winner takes it all - ABBA 9. Yellow Submarine - Beatles 10. YMCA - The Village People ROUND#3 1. Your Holiness 2. Diamonds 3. Biscuit 4. Autobahn 5. NIKE 6. Salome 7. The Nave 8. Dom Perignon 9. Honey 10. Archimedes ROUND#4 1. Coconut 2. Modem 3. Gluterous Maximus (buttocks) 4. Phase Modulation 5. Kit or Kitten 6. One Amp (I x V = W) 7. Crocus 8. Wizard 9. Kneecap 10. Counter-clockwise BA BA BLACK SHEEP - GHOST BUSTERS - YESTERDAY THE COLOUR OF MONEY - CALIFORNICATION - CATCH 22 WORKING NINE TO FIVE - GOLDEN EYE - THE WIZARD OF OZ

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DOWN

1. Often used when horse riding.

2. Very withdrawn.

3. We usually have four of these?

4. Very grand!

6. Not to be worshipped?

7. The arm of a crane.

9. Black beer or a fattish person?

11. “Table” is one of these.

13. Peaceful.

16. A room for experiments?

19. Shake violently.

21. A rich man’s toy?

24. She tries to lead you astray.

25. Hold tightly.

28. Take no notice of.

30. Think again.

sudoku 2

1 6

7 2 6 8 4 1 2 8 7 9 3 6 4 3 7 4 9 9 5 3 5 1 4 7 4 1 6 3 1 9 5 6 8 2 8 3 4 9 7 2 5

3 6 2 7 8 2 9 4 7 5 6 1 3 5 4 9 1 8

5 9 8 7 4 4 9 2 7 1 3 8 2 6 1 3 6

2 9 7 4 3 1 1 9 8 8 6 6 5 2 5 7 4

6 2 4 6 9 7 2 5 5 4 9 7 1 3 8 8 3

1 8 8 1 5 6 2 3 3 7 4 2 9 9 6 7 4

8 4 5 2 4 1 7 8 1 6 5 9 7 3 2 3 6 9

7 1 5 2 6 3 6 9 5 2 4 8 8 4 1 4

50. American bumper?

51. Good for your teeth?

52. They say a mule is this.

54. Tempted.

57. The strangest taste in sex.

62. Trying to breathe.

64. One of FTV’s sequences.

66. Tasty crustacean.

EASY

1 8

6

31. Lack of.

32. He’s the boss?

33. Without thought or reason.

37. Very strict!

38. Rich chat show hostess?

39. Part of the skull.

44. An old Roman form of transport.

47. A lack of hearing.

9 3 3 9 6 8 8 7 4 1 2 4 7 6 5 1 2 7

3 2 4 9 6 2 5 7 3 1 4 2 5 3 1 6 5 9 2 2 9 1 2 5 9 8 3 4 1 4 8 3 7 1 6 9 2

1 6 3 9 2 4 7 8 5

7 9 2 8 5 6 3 1 1

3 8 7 2 6 5 4 1 9

2 1 9 7 4 3 5 6 8

4 5 6 1 9 8 2 7 3

8 7 1 4 3 2 9 5 6

9 3 5 6 1 7 8 2 4

6 2 4 5 8 9 1 3 7

7

4 3 2 6 5 1 4 2 1 3 5 4 8 5 2 5 9 5 2 9 2 6 3 6 7 1 4 1 2 6 7 4 5 8 9 3

8 9 4 3 6 1 7 2 5

7 3 5 8 9 2 4 1 6

9 6 2 1 8 4 5 3 7

4 5 8 2 7 3 9 6 1

3 7 1 9 5 6 2 4 8

2 8 9 6 1 7 3 5 4

5 1 7 4 3 9 6 8 2

6 4 3 5 2 8 1 7 9

3. Hard work?

5. Where roads join.

8. Not from the East.

10. Used in steel production.

12. It’s the smallest piece.

14. A dog or a planet?

15. An old writing implement?

17. Dead body.

18. Related to horses?

20. One type of clue?

22. Cannot do it.

23. Feel sad for.

26. Act without talking.

27. Only one.

29. A flock of Geese.

34. It’s rubbish.

35. Not in heaven or in hell?

36. For your arrows.

38. The art of paper folding.

40. Make better.

41. Not many.

42. Helps.

43. The study of the cold?

45. Heavy rainfall.

46. Took a chance.

48. A French flower?

49. An English chien?

53. Almost.

55. Gain from.

56. A feeling.

58. Hawa in English.

59. A fashion brand?

60. Something for safety or found on a big man?

61. The initial stage.

63. Anger.

65. Well known film manufacturer.

67. Not straight.

68. A great honey maker?

70. Very boring?

73. Tear apart.

75. Too early.

77. The lowest zero temperature?

78. It can be dangerous.

79. A man’s magazine?

81. Full of your own self praise.

82. Watered.

84. Found in the courtroom?

86. A guard?

87. Listen to.

88. Told someone.

89. Ran away.

90. A place to keep your women?

69. Don’t be naughty!

71. Became friends again.

72. Take down.

74. It circles the world.

76. A small container.

80. Following the latest fashion.

83. It’s not yours!

85. Another name for Christmas?

ACROSS 3. LABORIOUS - 5. JUNCTION - 8. WESTERN - 10. KILN 12. MINISCULE - 14. PLUTO - 15. QUILL - 17. CORPSE 18. EQUINE - 20. CRYPTIC - 22. UNABLE - 23. LAMENT 26. MIME - 27. SOLITARY - 29. GAGGLE 34. NONSENSICAL - 35. LIMBO - 36. QUIVER 38. ORIGAMI - 40. HEAL - 41. FEW - 42. ASSISTS 43. CRYOGENICS - 45. TORRENTIAL - 46. RISKED 48. FLEUR - 49. CAT - 53. NEARLY - 55. BENEFIT 56. SENSATION - 58. WIND - 59. GAP - 60. ABS 61. PRELIMINARY - 63. IRE - 65. KODAK - 67. BENT 68. BEE - 70. DREARY - 73. RENT - 75. PREMATURE 77. ABSOLUTE - 78. HARMFUL - 79. PLAYBOY 81. EGOTISTICAL - 82. IRRIGATED - 84. JURY 86. SENTINEL - 87. HARKEN - 88. INFORMED 89. ABSCONDED - 90. HAREM

1

DOWN 1. WHIP - 2. INTROVERT - 3. LIMBS - 4. OPULENT 6. IDOL - 7. JIB - 9. STOUT - 11. NOUN - 13. SERENE 16. LABORATORY - 19. QUAKE - 21. YACHT 24. TEMPTRESS. - 25. GRASP - 28. IGNORE 30. RECONSIDER - 31. DEFICIT - 32. MANAGER 33. MINDLESS - 37. UNFORGIVING - 38. OPRAH 39. FOREHEAD - 44. CHARIOT - 47. DEAFNESS 50. FENDER - 51. FLUORIDE - 52. STUBBORN 54. ENTICED - 57. KINKIEST - 62. GASPING 64. TENDANCE - 66. CRAB - 69. BEHAVE 71. RECONCILED - 72. DEMOLISH - 74. EQUATOR 76. JUG - 80. TRENDY - 83. MINE - 85. YULE

crosswords

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

159

RAGMAG

astro

Zodiac forecasts FROM JONATHAN CAINER

February.2011

VALENTINE’S DAY, THIS YEAR, FALLS ON A MONDAY. THERE’S AN IDEAL EXCUSE TO TURN THE WHOLE PRECEDING WEEKEND INTO A FESTIVAL OF ROMANTIC GESTURES. REGARDLESS OF THE DOWNTURN, THERE’LL BE AN UPTURN FOR VARIOUS COSY LITTLE RESTAURANTS AND GETAWAY HOTELS. FLORISTS, CHOCOLATIERS, JEWELLERS AND CANDLEMAKERS SHOULD DO WELL. THERE HAS LONG BEEN AN UNSPOKEN YET UNDENIABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN WEALTH AND ROMANCE. IN ASTROLOGY, IT IS REFLECTED BY THE PLANET VENUS, WHICH GOVERNS BOTH LOVE AND LUXURY. VENUS, THIS MONTH, IS IN CAPRICORN, SIGN OF ‘PRAGMATISM’. FEBRUARY MAY BE EASIER ON THE HEART AND THE PURSE, THAN MANY NOW EXPECT. JENNIFER ANISTON

ROBBIE WILLIAMS

PISCES

February 20 - March 20

One person’s piece of old junk, is another’s priceless antique. A slightly stale sandwich in a wealthy household is a poorer person’s fantastic feast. Some assets cannot be transferred. Others, though, most certainly can. Something, that someone else hardly values, is a treasure that you would love to acquire.

Much the same can now be said about an asset of your own. As we now approach a month in which the Sun, Mars and Mercury will eventually enter your sign, amazing possibilities arise.

Give away what you really don’t need and you may yet find that you get what you would so much like to have.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

ARIES

March 21 - April 20

There are many games that people play. Of these, perhaps the most insidious is the game called ‘Let’s play it safe’. It sounds fine in theory.

If you avoid taking a risk or dicing with drama, you will never look foolish. Nobody will be able to accuse you of having ‘got it wrong’. People who play this game, though, lead dull lives.

They avoid the pitfalls, but they also miss life’s exciting opportunities. As Mars and Mercury pass through your sign in February, they effectively urge you to stop playing such a game now. Be brave. Break a deadlock. Act out of inspiration not out of fear and you’ll never regret this month’s changes!

Money is coming into your life but as soon as it gets there, it is taking one brief look at you and saying, ‘see you later’.

It is not that you are spending wildly or making poor choices, it is more that there are bills you never budgeted for and needs you weren’t expecting. In February, your love life is also due to be full of surprises, some of which are a little tense or dramatic. In a strange way, you thrive on having so much to deal with, complain about - or strive to set straight. So you had best enjoy the upheaval whilst you can because soon you will commence a more prosperous, stable, emotionally comforting era.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

160 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

April 21 - May 21

May 22 - June 22

GEMINI

CANCER

Remember the old story about the emperor’s new clothes? How did those two dodgy tailors ever fool him into standing naked before the crowd? They must have used hypnotism. But did they put everyone in the town into a trance?

Or were the people just so in awe of their leader that they went along with whatever he said? Any pretence can be kept up for a while. If just a few people act as if they believe in it, they can persuade many others to treat it as true. But sooner or later, the reality will reveal itself. Will February bring you a rude awakening?

Well, it need not be rude. It may, indeed, be very timely and profitable.

Donuts. Candies. Wild nights. Crazy adventures. Secret passions. The things that many of us enjoy the most are neither sensible nor good for us. Does that mean, then, that we should eschew them all? We had best be careful who we ask. There are some enthusiastic aesthetes who would insist that we should. If you are of that view, you will find this a difficult month. Indeed, you will find difficulty wherever or whenever you try to restrain powerful impulses and justify irrational urges. It won’t do you too much harm to indulge at least a few of these in February. And there’ll certainly be plenty of opportunity for fun!

You may wear your heart on your sleeve a lot of the time but when you need to, you can act. You can, indeed, act with all the consummate professionalism of a famous thespian. Some performances you put on are so convincing, they even fool you! One side-effect of this is a natural ability to know when others are putting on a front of some kind, too.

Right now, you suspect that there’s more to a story than meets the eye. Of course there is. Play your part well in February and you’ll find out just how much more.

You’re about to ‘coax a response’ from someone that ultimately makes you happier... and potentially wealthier!

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

TAURUS

LEO

VIRGO

June 23 - July 23

LIBRA

July 24 - August 23

August 24 - September 23

September 24 - October 23

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

Dare you take the risk you are now contemplating? What if it backfires? What if you end up looking silly with a lot to explain? Then again, let’s look at the other side of this. What if you don’t try? What if you miss a great opportunity? What if you end up kicking yourself? All will be fine as long as you follow the first law of gambling. Never bet a penny more than you can afford to lose. There’s a point past which you must not go. Until you reach it, you should keep on going! And if it’s an emotional gamble, rather than a financial one that you’re considering in February, remember that pride is never worth trying to preserve!

Why are the easiest things sometimes so difficult? Why do we end up wrestling intently with problems that we really ought to be able to sweep aside?

Different people have different theories.

Some think that the universe deliberately clouds our judgement, or puts us in compromising situations so that we can be tried and tested. Maybe that’s true, maybe not. Every so often, though, we get a break. Suddenly, we see what’s going on, what’s really needed and how to make it all okay. In February, you are going to gain such clarity. That will help you resolve many difficulties and fulfil many desires!

Venus is the planet of love, popularity, charm and creativity. Through all but the first few days of February, it will be in your sector of the sky. That’s not a guarantee that the spirit of St Valentine will favour you over and above all other seekers of romance but it certaintly suggests your love life won’t be entirely unsatisfactory! There may well be something that you want now, more than a perfect relationship or the fulfilment of some fervent passion. You seek a sense of material security and the ability to sustain a lifestyle that seems to be under threat.

Soon, you’ll feel far better about your chances of doing that.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

WWW.CAINER.COM

How good are your instincts? You are about to find out. Do you need to worry?

No! You will never be able to hear your instincts accurately if you are experiencing anxiety. Success relies on your ability to be humble, yet confident; quiet enough to hear what your heart is saying, calm enough not to be swayed by fear, yet brave enough to act on whatever seems most appropriate at a deep, intuitive level. Nobody can tell you what to do but you can tell yourself. Listen to your own deepest wisdom in February and you’ll strengthen and develop an emotional bond. You’ll solve a pressing material problem too!

October 24 - November 22

Some days, we just look at the world and shrug our shoulders. None of it makes sense. All of it seems confusing, disappointing, unfair or somehow just wrong. What changes this? Why, on other occasions, do we feel full of excitement and inspiration? It isn’t always because things have started to go our way. We don’t have to ‘get lucky’ before we get happy. We just have to get rid of whatever negative emotion we feel trapped by. Well, when I say ‘get rid’ I guess I mean, rise above, let go of, see through and move on from. All of that is viable for you in February, which brings a real chance to invite new hope into your life.

If you’re not happy with what’s happening, do something about it. Be discreet, but don’t be shy. Be diplomatic but don’t apologise for yourself. Be gentle but don’t be a pushover. Be determined but not angry. If, in February, you remain calm and reasonable, kind and sensitive, polite and pleasant you will manage to push the agenda that means most to you, regardless of who now seems to be standing in the way of this. You’re dealing with someone who acts with apparent authority yet who is actually gripped by a crippling fear. Don’t underestimate the extent of your power to reassure. It’s impressive.

CAPRICORN

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

161

eat, drink + be merry

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

‘ Michael Karam, Lebanese wine enthusiast.

A

n interview with Lebanese journalist and wine writer Michael Karam is always fun. His down-to-earth approach to wine tasting is refreshing and his writing on the subject has helped raise awareness for his country’s wine on the international stage.

WHAT/WHO INSPIRED YOU? Well apart from the Margaux, Tom Stevenson, the editor of Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia, who in 2003 asked me to contribute The Wine Report. That chapter got me a book deal and the rest as they say is history.

Karam is the author of Wines of Lebanon, which won the Gourmand Award for the Best New World Wine Book, 2005. His latest publication, Michael Karam’s Lebanese Wines 2011, is a comprehensive guide listing over 200 vintages from 31 wineries in Lebanon. Now he is launching Your Wine Style, an online wine community dedicated to promoting wines and the wine culture of countries with a focus on independent boutique wineries, in collaboration with a group of international wine professionals looking for a more fun approach to wine.

A WINE TASTERS BIGGEST ASSET IS THEIR NOSE. DO YOU AGREE? The palate has a lot to do with it too.

My wife is a better taster than I am.

MICHAEL, HOW DID YOU BECOME A WINE EXPERT? I prefer the word enthusiast. I dunno really; maybe when I drank Chateau Margaux on Christmas Day 1984. It was then that I knew what good wine tasted like.

162 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011

HOW HAS THE WINE INDUSTRY IN LEBANON PROGRESSED IN THE LAST YEARS? Globally, people are now more accepting of New or even Old World wines. In Lebanon, we have made great strides. We have nearly 40 wineries compared to just four after the civil war.

The sector is becoming a more even playing field and consumers have more choices as they become more aware of what they are drinking.

IS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR WINE THAT ALL LEBANESE SHOULD KNOW? If you complain that it gives you a headache you are probably either

‘ drinking too much or drinking the wrong wine at the wrong time. An expensive but young wine is not meant to be drunk like an easy-drinking wine and the harsh tannins will give you a headache.

Secondly, 5000 years ago, the Lebanese were the first people to bottle and export wine. Thirdly, the temple of Bacchus in Baalbek is an awesome monument to our wine heritage and we should all be very proud of it.

HOW IS WINE CONSUMPTION IN LEBANON COMPARED WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD? Microscopic. As a quick example our national consumption is 1 liter per person per year. In Cyprus it’s 30 liters per person per year. Britain’s wine market is nearly as big as Lebanon’s GDP. They knock back gallons of the stuff.

LAST YEAR SAW THE PUBLICATION OF YOUR LEBANESE WINES 2011: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE. WHY THE GUIDE? LONG OVERDUE SOME SAY… There was a gap in the market and it needed to be filled. So far [the reaction] has been very positive, but people may be just being polite. We’ll have to see the sales figures

UP IN FLAMES ISSUE

163

164 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2011