RAGMAG Steamy Issue | Feb 2012 | Issue #21 by RAGMAG Magazine

MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2012

THE STEAMY ISSUE

BEIRUTING IS A FULLTIME JOB FROM 8AM TILL 2AM

www.zaitunaybay.com

RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

There is a place where families spend quality time. Where friends enjoy a good laugh around a meal. Where drinks become endless conversations. There is a place where the sea is more than a bay. Where strolling is a habit and shopping a hobby. There is a place called Zaitunay Bay. It’s the capital’s new entertainment destination, with restaurants and select boutiques for you to discover. Welcome to the “Beiruting” way of living. Welcome to Zaitunay Bay.

BEIRUT MARINA - MINET EL HOSN

THE STEAMY ISSUE

JEWELRY BY NADA G | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ODETTE KAHWAGI

RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

Publisher Gina Gabriel El-Fady Editor in Chief Fida Z Chaaban Creative Lead Odette Kahwagi Managing Director Georges Yarack

Photograhers Odette Kahwagi Christian Harb Jason Zamora Teddy Habib Patrick Abi Salloum Leila Roumani Selected images Getty

Contributors Stephanie Aoun Lara Ariss Liliane Assaf Jonathan Cainer Amal Chaaban Youmna Chagoury Rabih Feghali Maria Frangieh Alice Hlidkova Sarah Hourany Matthew Hussey Maria-Elena Kassab Imogen Kimber Chris Lambert Sabina LLewellyn-Davies Maha Majzoub J.E.N. Nour Obaji Jacques Tchabarian Adam Volk

Selected images Shutterstock

Media Representative Webmaster Youmna Chagoury Stylist Jony Matta Public Relations Coordinator Lea El-Alam Marketing Advisor Daniella Tayar Admnisitrative Coordinator Teddy Younes

publishing & media representative

Nada G. Farha Managing Director Jdeideh Chalet Suisse St 444 Center 3rd floor Tel: 01 87 16 63 Ext 103 nfarha@pinkodsal.com RAGMAG Alex Gabriel Building Rue Colomn de Sahel Sahel Alma, Keserwan Tel: 09 916 222 / 09 913 777 lea.elalam@ragmaglive.com Distributor Lebanese Distributor Company Hamra, Axa Middle East bldg. Tel: 01 368 007

w w w . r a g m a g l i v e . c o m

@ragmaglebanon ragmag 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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48 58

52 62 68 70 72

74 76 78

BEIRUT SEX+SEXUALITY 6 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

EDITOR’S OPINION STEAMY CITY BEIRUT IS SEXY + SEXUAL MON AMOUR, MON AMI BOILER ROOM DR. HELEN FISHER KNOWS ROMANTIC LOVE PRESSURE COOKER THE MARRIAGE DEBATE, AGAIN! MIND, BODY + SOUL CLEARING THE MIST THE PSYCHOLOGY OF ATTRACTION HELP ME NOUR + RABIH ADVICE RELEASING THE PRESSURE VALVE MATTHEW HUSSEY BLOW OFF SOME STEAM BACH THERAPY IN LEBANON TURN UP THE HEAT CUPPING IN LEBANON MIRROR MIRROR SPICE UP YOUR LIFE TAO SPA IS HOT HOT HOT! FAST FACE FACTS! BEEZIES CAN BE YOURS! BACKSTAGE PASS GET DITA’S COVER LOOK

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY 140 STEAM BATH 961 BEER + LEBANESE BREW 142 SPARKS ROUND TWO BEIRUTRESTAURANTS.COM 144 GATHERING STEAM SPANISH GOURMET IN LEBANON 146 RESTAURANT REVIEW AMARRES ZAITUNAY BAY 148 DECADENT DESSERT FARE VALENTINE’S DAY RECIPES TAKE ME WITH YOU 134 THE STEAMING STREETS OF NEW ORLEANS TRAVEL BRAINFOOD 154 QUIZZ. DINGBAT. CROSSWORD. SUDOKU.

82 84 90 92 94

EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES MAKING STEAM EFFY’S TURNS THE BIG 3-0! COPYCAT REAL LIFE RUNWAY TICK TOCK SET YOUR CLOCK TO 6:05 AT DEPECHE MODE NEW STEAM MADAME REVE INTIMATELY YOURS OUR FASHION SHOOT DOLLARS + SENSE CLEARING THE ECONOMIC FOG THE INVISBLE HAND IN LEBANON

OUT + ABOUT 120 COLDPLAY PLAYING IT HOT IN ABU DHABI 158 STEAM MACHINE SLUTTERHOUSE’S NEW ALBUM 20 24 36 60 66

CULTURE CLASH LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP ALFRED TARAZI THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL REBRANDING MENASART DITA VON TEESE THE QUEEN OF BURLESQUE STEAMING VALENTINE’S DAY DATES HAYDA LEBNEN LOVING LIFE INTERVIEW WITH MARYJANICE DAVIDSON

FML STEAM ROOM SPEED DATE YOUR WAY THROUGH THE NIGHT

YOU + YOUR COUNTRY GATHERING STEAM FIGHT RAPE MARCH

THE FINAL FRONTIER 28 SOPA FULL STEAM AHEAD TECH 132 GENETICS GAINING STEAM SCIENCE 122 123 124 125 130

SEE, SPEAK + HEAR NO EVIL SOUND CHECK MUSIC READ’EM + WEEP BOOKS WATCH OUT FILM PLAY NICE GAMES WORLD VISION BLOGS THE STEAMY ISSUE

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8 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

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publisher’s letter

RAGMAG has the pleasure and honour to introduce to you the great Dita Von Teese, with her first ever interview in the Middle East. We very much appreciate the time she took from her very busy schedule to allow us a peek inside her life. We couldn’t have hoped to get steamier than DVT for the month of February. This month’s social media contests kept our readers literally on their toes throughout the month of January with our many rewards. A big thank you to all of our supporters: • Nokia Lebanon and Cream Boutique for coupling up in the current reader reward contest. It has generated a lot of fun from our readers on a supposedly relaxing Sunday, at some point I was even getting dragged into it and rooting for the winners on Twitter. Sadly, the most I was able to offer was luck as we didn’t think it was fair for the staff to vote. • Marchon Gulf offered our readers 3 pairs of to die for Calvin Klein sunglasses. I can tell you that we at the office were absolutely envious! • Make Up For Ever and BEESLINE for revving up our Mirror Mirror section with their recurring generous rewards. • The Phoenicia Intercon for hosting our fashion photo shoot for the month of February. As most of you know that last month Fida, Youmna, Odette and I detoxed for RM. Our emails and Twitter accounts were flooded with comments and compliments. As penance (that’s what I call it), Mr. Philippe Ghabayen found my article so hilarious that he decided that hypnosis is my answer. RM apparently agrees with him so in an upcoming issue, you’ll get to see me try hypnosis at his suggestion. Now that’s an interactive reader! So follow me on Twitter @GinaGabriel1 to find out if #ISucceed and remember that RM is #YourMagazine I love talking back to you. Keep your emails flowing with both the good and the bad to publisher@ragmaglive.com

Enjoy the 14th of February! Happy Valentine’s Day.

Gina Gabriel El-Fady | Publisher THE STEAMY ISSUE

MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIBE TO FEBRUARY 2012

SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER PER ISSUE 10,000 LBP 6 ISSUES 50,000 LBP 12 ISSUES 100,000 LBP 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

w w w . r a g m a g l i v e . c o m ON OUR COVER DITA VON TEESE

PHOTO COURTESY OF LEV RADIN | SHUTTERSTOCK

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@RAGMAGLebanon RAGMAGMagazine

editor’s letter

STEAMY BECAUSE RAGMAG LIKES TO CLEAR THE FOG JANUARY, JANUARY, JANUARY! How are we going to live up to that issue? We thought you might like it (we have a pretty loyal reader base), but what we didn’t anticipate was the onslaught of reader comments about our Detox Missions! In the first week of the January issue release, we logged over 100 reader tweets and posts about our Detox Missions alone. The result was outstanding- looks like you all really enjoyed watching us go out on a limb! Thank you for being part of our Renew + Restore issue and we hope that you all got to know us a little bit better in the process. I want to also comment about a specific sort of tweet that came our way 10 times this month. Reps from different advertising and public relations firms across Lebanon were tweeting that once the mag arrived at their office, all work would cease and desist so that everyone could get their hands on a copy! We’re so flattered that the staff of Lebanon’s agencies are that excited to get their RAGMAG issues every month. Readers, don’t forget you can subscribe to us by emailing subscriptions@ragmaglive.com

Okay onto this issue- SO STEAMY! The Queen of Burlesque Dita Von Teese is gracing our cover- enough said! My second favorite article this month has to be Stephanie Aoun’s FML. Each issue we send one of our tireless contributors to try something offbeat and fresh. For our February Steamy issue, we combined two fun traditions: Speed dating and blind dating. Stephanie went on three consecutive blind dates of 30 minutes each- back to back! Find out what happens when perfect strangers meet up in a dating scenario- and if this is something that might work for you. Stef, you’re so adventurous! Every Valentine’s Day, magazines worldwide try to define and redefine sexy. This time we thought to explore the highly debated trend of dermal anchors: Piercings that are embedded in the skin all over the body. Who better to explain than Hady Beydoun? You know him as a multi-medium artist and Lebanon’s version of Miami Ink, but this issue, he raises the bar even higher! Check out my new dermal anchor in our Culture Clash

section. It was a pretty hair-raising experience, I’m not going to lie to you. Yes, I actually got not just one, but two dermal anchors for RAGMAG. (Sorry, Dad and Mom! Gina made me do it- blame her.) Talk to me on Twitter @fidachaaban and follow @RAGMAGLebanon for updates and reader rewards galore. If you have something to tell me about the mag or something that deserves some print space in Lebanon, my cyber door is always open. Reach me at letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com I want to remind you that we are the only magazine in Lebanon that talks back. We’re here because of the support and constant encouragement of our loyal readers. Spend 2012 with RAGMAG- It’s Your Magazine.

Fida Z Chaaban | Editor in Chief

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letters to the editor FOR OUR JANUARY ISSUE WE CONTINUED TO TALK TO YOU VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMSTWITTER AND FACEBOOK. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND PARTICIPATION AND HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO INTERACT WITH US ONLINE.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND SCRIBBLE ON OUR WALL TO WIN WRITE TO US LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR@RAGMAGLIVE.COM OR TWEET US ON TWITTER @RAGMAGLEBANON!

IF YOU’RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE A PIC WITH YOUR FAVORITE ISSUE, SEND IT OUR WAY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL! RAGMAG- IT’S YOUR MAGAZINE! RAGMAG reserves the right to edit for clarity and content

Congratulations to three RAGMAG Calvin Klein loving readers! RAGMAG loves reader interaction so we paired up with Marchon Gulf and ran an online contest via social media. We posted the teasers for the cool Marchon Gulf Calvin Klein rewards on our Facebook page and Twitter a few days beforehand then we ran the competition. Congratulations to three RAGMAG Calvin Klein loving readers- Tania Awada, Iman Imad and Nadine Imad! (Are Iman and Nadine sisters? We think so!)

Iman Imad is going to be beachin’ in the big leagues with her new CK sunglasses (model #CK7790S) at a retail value of $353! Iman was the first to get 40 likes on her post “I’m gonna be so CK cool with Marchon Gulf’s reader reward.” It was a close race, but Iman pulled in first. Send us a shot in your new shades, Iman! @DoubleIMA

Tania Awada will be looking cool in the heat with her Calvin Klein Marchon Gulf reward at a retail value of $465 (model #CK7262S)! She was the first to root out a cool Beach Boys song, “Wouldn’t it be Nice?” and post the phrase “I’m getting’ ready to beach with my CK shades!” Congrats Tania, send us a shot of your sporting your new eyewear. @TaniaAwada

Nadine Imad had the most difficult challenge: We posted a Lil Wayne (rapper extraordinaire) video and asked our readers to guess who he was rapping about it in the song. Once Nadine guessed Fergie (yes, of the Black Eyed Peas), she then had to get 30 likes on her post! She took home these cool Calvin Klein sunglasses (model # CK7773S) at a retail value of $350!

“LOOK FOR ME! YOUNG, B.” Nokia Lebanon and Cream by Glam on You, your fashion destination in Saifi Village, have teamed up to reward our readers. Watch us on Facebook and Twitter for the big reader reward and how you can be the winner! Nokia Lebanon will be rewarding one reader

12 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

with their N9 and Cream will be rewarding one reader with a personal style session complete with a full outfit! NOW THAT’S WORTH THE LOOK! And yes, Beyoncé and Jay-Z might have something to do with this new reader reward. There’s your hint!

Marchon Gulf’s Steamy Selection of eyewear got us a little crazy this month! We gave away 3 Calvin Klein shades, but look what else they’ve got going on! Their brand portfolio includes star-studded fashion lineup of the Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Jil Sander, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Nautica, Nike and Sean John! They also recently announced

new licensing agreements for designer heavyweights Salvatore Ferragamo and Valentino. Sales of Marchon Gulf’s new season’s collection saw Fendi holding top spot, followed by one of our faves- Lacoste. Designer brand of the moment, Michael Kors, is the third highest selling brand for Marchon Gulf and we’re not the least bit surprised to hear it. Get your shady business in order with these cool RAGMAG top picks!

CHLOÉ ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH MARCHON EYEWEAR Chloé announced a newly signed license agreement with Marchon, one of the world’s most prominent eyewear companies. The license will grant Marchon the rights to manufacture and distribute the sun and ophthalmic collections under the Chloé brand. The first deliveries will be effective from the 1st of September 2012, formalizing the beginning of a relationship between these two global players in the luxury business. Geoffroy de la Bourdonnaye President said “Chloé is proud to partner with Marchon

whose optical expertise and worldwide vision will allow women who love the effortless and graceful silhouette of Chloé to enjoy the most technically advanced and stylish eyewear”. The Chloé Eyewear Collection captures the fluid femininity of the brand, taking inspiration from their seasonal RTW collection, accessories and iconic pieces which showcase the Chloé brand’s superior use of foundational colours and textures. Claudio Gottardi, Marchon President and CEO said, “This partnership is an exciting

one for us. We are extremely excited to be adding Chloe to our expanding global portfolio and attracting new female customers. The dedicated Chloé consumer appreciates luxurious sunwear and eyewear and we are looking forward to leveraging the brand DNA as we translate the delicate femininity from the ready-to-wear to our new collection.” The Chloé collections will be sold in Chloé boutiques, department and specialty stores, and select optical stores worldwide.

THE STEAMY ISSUE

editor’s opinion

14 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

o here we are again. Valentine’s Day and all of the hullabaloo that comes with it. I thought my op ed this month should be about something sexy. The problem is, as a writer, I don’t like putting my personal life out there. It just isn’t cool to have all these random people reading about my life like SJP’s long-running Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw. Small confession for our RAGMAG peeps, in Toronto, my relationship articles had gained me a bit of notoriety- I was often compared to Carrie- like it or not, I was the sort of downtown girl who had a reputation for writing about love’s mishaps (both men’s and women’s). I lived like Carrie too, except for the whole million-dollar wardrobe. I had a close group of

girls and we were invited to attend every event, we regularly had dating disasters that wound up in my articles, and yes, we knew the value of a good stiletto. Readers, know that I was a lot younger then and when my friends came home after yet another weirdo date, I inevitably couldn’t resist the urge to frame my next article around the flavour of the month. So now you know that when you Google me, you’ll find some relics of my past writing life as a young Girl About Town. There is even a M.A.C. lipstick in that shade, and I was given it as a gift- that’s how Carrie-ish I was (Leslie, I still have it!). So where am I going with this trip down memory lane? I’m going to break my adult writing rule and talk about sex and the city- this city, to be exact.

ELECTRIC AVENUE

Beirut is sexually charged- there is no doubt about that. For those of you who have never been here, you cannot imagine the constant electric vibrations in the air: Who’s sleeping with who, who isn’t sleeping with who, and finally who’s sleeping with everyone. The gossip and speculation isn’t different from other capitals, but what is different is that at least 50 percent of people have no outlet for their urges. Seriously. I get harassed in the street every single day, at least 10 times a day and I attribute this to the current inequality in the economic situation. The real dichotomy that exits here between those who get it on all the time and those who don’t (and can’t) is palpable. For some, Beirut is a quagmire of sexual oppression, repression and frustration. For others, it is literally a hot bed of opportunity. Ladies, think back to the last time you were sexually harassed in the street- it wasn’t the suited-up business type from a multinational company. It was the valet parker, the construction worker and the guy selling shawarma. They have no choice essentially because of their lack of education, stunted intelligence and financial difficulties. This doesn’t mean I am giving them an excuse- if you are ignorant enough to “latish” some girl in the street, then you are a Neanderthal who doesn’t deserve a date or sex.

THE STEAMY ISSUE

GETTIN’ YOUR GAME ON

Guys, so what gets you tail in a city like Beirut? Lots of money, for one. Connections in nightlife, for another. If you’re lucky enough to have one or both, then you’ve got tons of choices for bed partners. You don’t have to be especially funny, smart or attractive. What you do need is a booked table at MAD or Life. Girls, what do you need? A very pretty face and a set of implants doesn’t hurt. If you’re lucky enough to be naturally endowed, even better, although plastic surgery doesn’t seem to negatively impact your odds much. There is a slim selection of the aforementioned sexually satisfied people that look for likeminded partners who think being smart is sexy and that physical attractiveness is a nice added bonus. I am the latter not the former and this is why finding a suitable match in Beirut is so tough. Smart is sexy and no matter how much cash you’ve got, you can’t buy brains. Even if you get educated, it doesn’t make you intelligent, emotionally or otherwise.

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THE NEW BRAZIL

People often talk about the hypersexuality of Rio de Janeiro. The thong bikinis, the tanned, shimmering beach bods, and the steamy heat all add up to one hell of an orgy. I can’t personally say I find Brazil sexy (I have zero desire to even visit), but I can say I find it sexual. Being sexual and being sexy are different and if you don’t know how or why then you need to educate yourself on the nuances of seduction and psychology. Beirut is sexier than Brazil and more sexual than Brazil but very few people internationally see Lebanon that way. Believe me when I say that in some parts of North America, they think bombs not boobs when Beirut comes to mind. I don’t think we should be known as a sex tourism capital, but we’ve all seen the “Super Nightclubs” and Maameltein is a red-light district as much as any other. There is no use pretending that a huge demographic of the population doesn’t frequent these establishments and that a major portion of our tourists come here specifically for that as well- and by that I don’t mean the “Big Champagne”. (It is important to note that the operation of Super

Nightclubs in Lebanon is a murky business that may or may not involve human trafficking -it all depends on who you speak to- but I digress.) Lebanon is the new Brazil, and there are more parallels than prostitution, sun and consensual sex. Things like child labour, flagrant lawlessness and the drug trade, to name a few. Again, I don’t want to deviate from my main point so I’m going to let that go… for now anyway. To sum it all up, sex and the city isn’t necessarily the sexy TV type. It can be the gross violation of your personal space, your boundaries and finally, your comfort level. If you’re like me, you feel people imposing their sexuality on you every time you leave the house- in the form of harassment. We don’t want to be known for visual rape and verbal abuse as much as we don’t want to be known as a sex tourism capital. Beirut is a sexy city, but we cross the line of agression too much and too often. Being a victim is not sexy, not in Beirut or any place else. Sexuality should be embraced as your personal choice, now that’s sexy

THE STEAMY ISSUE

you + your country

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

GATHERING STEAM FIGHT RAPE MARCH

TAKES TO THE STREETS BY IMOGEN KIMBER

“

don’t think it is a controversial position to be against rape,” Rola Yasmine, representative of Nasawiya. The implication of the statement is shocking.

FULL STOP

Rola Yasmine, along with around 600 men and women, including those from the social movement Nasawiya, marched upon the parliament in Serail on Saturday, January 14th. They had a very basic demand – that all rape should be made completely illegal. The specific demands were thus • Currently a man can rape his wife and it is not deemed illegal. This must change. • Currently a man can offer a marriage proposal to the women he raped and is granted pardon from the charges. This must change. These two laws, or lack thereof, essentially give a rapist a get out of jail free card.

18 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

LEGAL SHMEGAL

The importance of this now, more than ever, is because the Lebanese parliament recently considered the legal status of marital rape and therefore contemplated whether an act of rape can even be deemed to exist between a married couple. Raised once, it was denied, but on the Monday after the march the Government vowed to raise the issue again. During the march, Prime Minister Najib Makiti tweeted his supported to those marching but when Monday morning came round, frustratingly the law was not passed. The message this gives is that a man can treat his wife however he pleases. The reality is even more sinister in that this effectively creates a situation whereby there is nothing she can do about it. “The thought that women’s bodies aren’t actually owned by them is a terrifying thought. Women really are second rate citizens (in Lebanon) and there are no laws to protect them. We must re-evaluate laws against domestic violence,” Yasmine lamented.

BLAME GAME

For the cases of rape that do fall outside the law and are deemed to be illegal, Yasmine says that many women she has spoken to oft report that the mechanisms do not exist within the police force to provide them with any protection or recourse. The blame often falls on the victim with the pitching of various demeaning questions like: “But what were you doing out so late?” or “What were you wearing?”

Editor’s Note I personally experienced this at the Gemmayzeh Police Station when I reported an incident. The officer in charge asked me both of those questions when I reported a flasher who tried to attack me. I ground the officer to bits, using my foreign passport as protection- I was able to put him in his place but I cannot say that Lebanese women would have the same leverage. It is absolutely shameful behavior on the part of the police.

Thanks to a system rife with sectarianism, founded on religious precepts, a women can often end up having to consult with religious leaders who, as Yasmine states, are more keen to keep the marriage going than trying to free someone from an abusive situation: “Even in the cases where women have a medical record showing that they have been attacked they [the religious leaders] will still try and patch it up,” she said. Nasawiya realize that changing the sectarian system is perhaps a goal that is out of reach, but “Surely, anyone of any religion should be protected from being attacked? We are talking about something self evident - are you with rape? The answer should be no, really.”

“EVEN IN THE CASES WHERE WOMEN HAVE A MEDICAL RECORD SHOWING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ATTACKED THEY [THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS] WILL STILL TRY AND PATCH IT UP”

HUSH HUSH

“I can’t believe we are discussing rape,” said Yasmine. Of course Yasmine was very keen to talk about rape; in fact as soon as we met we burst into discussion on everything from radical feminism, to socially influenced sexual conduct. What she actually meant was that she can’t believe we [the Lebanese] are still at the stage of making rape completely illegal; the discussion should be on the finer points, on that grey area, “But we are not there yet,” said Yasmine, “We are not at that privileged point of being able to discuss if she is saying yes and then no and then passing out, we are not even discussing that, we are talking about very clear cut cases: [...] when there is someone forcing themselves upon you, whether it is someone you know or someone you don’t.” One of the other driving forces that pushed Nasawiya to make a stand right now with the Fight Rape protest was the horrific incident recorded in the press of a woman named Miriam

Akhdar. The details of the incident are not clear but the women ended up murdered and naked. Her family maintains that she was not raped. Yasmine claims that while there was discussion on this incident, much of the dialogue revolved around blaming race and religion, noting that the perpetrator was Syrian and Muslim while the girl was Christian. The family were adamant to point out that while the girl was murdered she was not actually raped and that she was on her way home from church. None of these points focus on addressing the violations that women face; “It’s ridiculous, rather than talking about the actual rape people are talking around the issue,” said Yasmine. For now the future is unclear, but with a system set against them it does not hopeful at least until society, parliament and religious factions take note of the slogan: “Yes means yes, and no means no, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you go.”

PHOTOGRAPHY PATRICK ABI SALLOUM

You can find the founder Nadine Debs and Rola Yasmine along with many others in the open space that is the new Nasawiya headquarters in Mar Mikhael. Pop in for a visit or check their website for times of meetings and activities. www.nasawiya.org 76/676862 @nasawiya nasawiya THE STEAMY ISSUE

BELOW: WOE IS ME, MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER, 140X140CM, COURTESY GALLERIE KRINZINGER

FIGHTING FOR

INNER PEACE ALFRED TARAZI’S

PHOTOS COURTESY ALFRED TARAZI

LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WAR

BY MAHA MAJZOUB

“ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE MOST KEEN ON SHOWING THAT THE CIVIL WAR WAS OVER AND THAT LEBANON WAS BEING REBUILT IS RAFIK AL-HARIRI, AND HE LAY AS A CORPSE JUST ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SOLIDERE”

t was a little odd to hear Alfred Tarazi recall the sordid history of the Lebanese war as we sipped flavored teas at a posh and pretty gourmet store in Achrafieh – not that there was anything ordinary about the interview. I arrived 10 minutes ahead of the scheduled meet, which is not exactly something I’m famous for. The tea, being artisanal, would take a rather long stretch of time to infuse. “So I’d better pour the hot water over here now, right?” I tell him, gesticulating at the tea leaves. “Yes, unless you want to drink hot water,” he says. Ok, so the man speaks his mind, I tell myself. And his mind doesn’t formulate the most typical answers.

“THE BEST PART ABOUT MY ART RESIDENCY IN VIENNA WAS THAT THE OPERA HOUSE WASN’T VERY FAR AND WE WOULD PAY FIVE EUROS TO WATCH FANTASTIC PIECES OF WORK” 20 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

Case in point: “What is your favorite art medium Alfred?” I thought for sure he would pick between photography, sculpture, collage, drawing, and mixed media installations because that’s what his oeuvre includes. Response: “Opera.” My reaction: Silence. He adds, “I would love to produce an opera…It’s such a challenging media.” I continue to react silently with confusion smacked across my forehead. He attempts to break my now deafening silence, saying, “The best part about my art residency in Vienna was that the opera house wasn’t very far and we would pay five euros to watch fantastic pieces of work.” Tarazi spent May through June of last year at Krinzinger Projekte gallery in the Austrian capital, where he produced a set of large scale drawings that focus on Lebanon, its history, and his hometown Beirut. A common thread linking all the paper works is a project he has been working on since 2005, which is “Silent Square”. A temporary memorial for the victims of Lebanon’s civil war, “Silent Square” is conceived as a hypothetical moment of national reunion that is designed around a massive commemoration of all those who have lost their lives in Lebanon

since the first spark of the war in 1975 until infighting came to a halt in 1990. The project proposes representing each of the 200,000 fatalities by a physical entity, which is a two-centimeter wide metal pipe with a LED light blinking from red to white on top. The steles would be spread at the interval of a meter and a half from each other, forming a mammoth 290,000 squaremeter square. It was upon the slaying of former statesman Rafik al-Hariri seven years ago this month that Tarazi began mulling the importance of remembering what many have repressed or long sought to forget. “Everyone thought that the civil war ended in 1991, and I think one of the people who were most keen on showing that the civil war was over and that Lebanon was being rebuilt is Rafik al-Hariri, and he lay as a corpse just on the outskirts of Solidere,” he argues. “This man spent his life trying to put Beirut back on the map. And all of a sudden, you had the civil war, which was like a dormant animal that was awakened, swallowing him up as though telling him, ‘no, the civil war isn’t over and you belong to this history now’.”

cultureclash TOP TO BOTTOM: THE MARTYRS PLAYGROUND, MIXED MEDIA ON PAPER, 140X140CM, COURTESY GALLERIE KRINZINGER IN A SEA OF OBLIVION, INSTALLATION VIEW, THE DOME 2010

“Suddenly,” he continues, “we were reliving in a situation of war, of assassinations and bombings – in a crazy rhythm of death… So I thought that in a troubled and tense atmosphere, an art intervention, which is a cultural intervention, could strike people.” So Tarazi, a self-proclaimed cultural activist, set out developing several schemes of what he would go on to define as a temporary war memorial. And in 2007, he was fixated on setting that up in Downtown Beirut, which was a home for a heavily protracted sit-in by the then opposition. “I thought that instead of having two different parties quarreling over power and occupying the land, which was not being used anyway, we could empty it all and transform the whole space to a temporary memorial,” says the 31-year-old artist who studied graphic design at the American University of Beirut. “The tragedy is that,” he laughs, pausing briefly before he carries on, “I started taking myself too seriously as I developed this project. So I was knocking on doors and zealously saying, ‘I have this interesting idea, what can we do about it.’” The concept has yet to physically materialize, but it is one which Tarazi continues to pursue, describing it as one of his “lifetime commitments”.

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“WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL, I HEARD STRANGE RUMORS THAT EVER SINCE THE WAR, THE HOLIDAY INN HAS BEEN UNTOUCHED, SO IF YOU GO INSIDE, YOU CAN STILL FIND CADAVERS [...] SO I DECIDED TO VISIT THE SPACE. I DISCOVERED THAT IT HAS BEEN ENTIRELY CLEANED UP, THOUGH IT STILL BORE THE SCARS OF THE WAR. LOVE NEST, GICLEE PRINT, 150X150CM, COURTESY THE RUNNING HORSE GALLERY

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cultureclash

“I DON’T THINK THAT AT ANY POINT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF THE WAR [...] THE DAY THE LEBANESE ARE WILLING TO STOP KILLING EACH OTHER IS WHEN WE CAN SAY THE WAR IS OVER”

DON’T FORGET TO REMEMBER With that in mind, Tarazi instigated in 2009 The Feel Collective, which groups enthusiasts with whom he has been developing narratives to invite people to think over the violent history of Lebanon as well as “resist the united states of amnesia”. The group, whose name signifies compassion and is also a play on the meaning of the word feel in Arabic (elephant), has undertaken several efforts to that end. This included an installation held in 2010 at the Dome in Downtown Beirut, marking the 35th anniversary of the war as well as an event at the Running Horse Gallery that looks back on a decade after the September 11 attacks. Another one of Tarazi’s personal endeavors is evident in the “Wishful Beginnings” series. Made of digital prints on aluminum, the artworks show the portrait of a beautiful young woman against a backdrop of the

dilapidated Holiday Inn hotel building, which was the site for some fierce militia battles during the war. “When I was at school, I heard strange rumors that ever since the war, the Holiday Inn has been untouched, so if you go inside, you can still find cadavers,” says Tarazi. “So I decided to visit the space. I discovered that it has been entirely cleaned up, though it still bore the scars of the war. When I was there, I was very much aware of the history of the past. But I found myself in a voluminous empty space and there was no story. So I started associating different narratives to that building.” He created the fictional story of two star-crossed lovers in 1982, a story that continues with the respective nephew and niece of that couple in the postwar period. “I’m quite interested in the issue of repetition of history and stories,” explains Tarazi.

LEFT TO RIGHT: 100LL, FROM THE SERIES A NATIONS INFLATION, GICLEE PRINT, 100X100CM, COURTESY THE RUNNING HORSE GALLERY TUNNELS, GICLEE PRINT, 150X150CM, COURTESY THE RUNNING HORSE GALLERY

“I don’t think that at any point we have learned from the experiences of the war… Maybe it was decided to put an end to fighting in 2008, but you can see that the predisposition of Lebanese as different communities to engage in violence to resolve a certain political crisis is still there. The day the Lebanese are willing to stop killing each other is when we can say the war is over,” Tarazi points out. Until then, you can expect him to keep trying to fight for that closure that will create some inner peace for a profoundly grief-stricken nation left to lick its wounds, and you can also expect him to give some atypical answers to most things

alfred.tarazi www.silentsquare.org

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cultureclash RIGHT: SAMIR KHADDAJE INSTALLATION ART -DETAIL, COURTESY GALERIE JANINE RUBEIZ

THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL

ART SHOW AIMS TO TURN BEIRUT INTO AN ART DESTINATION

BY MAHA MAJZOUB

ART EXPERTS LAURE D’HAUTEVILLE AND PASCAL ODILLE HAVE DECIDED IT’S TIME SOMEONE FILLED IN THE BLANKS The fair manager and the artistic director of MENASART have rechristened the fair – which for two years was known as the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia art fair – as the Beirut Art Fair. RAGMAG rubs elbows with the French duo and finds out, among other things, if the fledgling fair has got the goods.

“

hy doesn’t Beirut have its own art fair?” It’s a question that anyone with the slightest of interest in culture must have asked at some point. “And why doesn’t Beirut have a contemporary art museum?” That’s another good one to raise. We can’t answer that one, so your guess is as good as ours. However, these lines carry a response to the first question, as art experts Laure d’Hauteville and Pascal Odille, have decided it’s time someone filled in the blanks.

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What prompted this move? Laure d’Hauteville: Whenever Pascal and I travel to talk about MENASART Fair, people ask where MENASART is. When we’re introduced to art professionals and investors, people would pause and refer to MENASART instead as the fair in Beirut. And that’s how it started. Also on the international art calendar, art fairs stand out, so we thought of rebranding as Beirut Art Fair, with MENASART underneath. After all, we are still young. As soon as we did this launch, we were greatly lauded on this move and received unimaginable attention, in addition to stirring media frenzy.

What are you modeling the fair after? L d’H: We don’t want this to be like all the other art fairs, like Dubai Art Fair, which is commercial. We are a hybrid art fair, where 50 percent will be commercial with art gallerists and the other 50 percent will be non-profit through the art programs. The idea behind is to prove something different every year about the artistic creation from this territory. For instance, this year “Street Art” will be featured for the first time. Also the whole point of MENASART is that galleries from across the world can present MENASART artists, thus building bridges between galleries. We are a fair of connections and discovery. Hence, we are a hybrid; part of it is commercial, but we bring the culture first and foremost. And we will keep pushing the envelope…We bet you Art Dubai will talk about “Street Art” next year and this year it is featuring Indonesian artists, which is something we beat them to two years ago.

RIGHT, TOP TO BOTTOM: MARIO SABA, «THE TEMPLE» (FROM THE CONCEPT UTOPIA- THE BABYLON SYNDROME), 2010, COURTESY GALERIE ÉPREUVE D’ARTISTE WU JUNYONG, 2010. CLOUD’S NIGHTMARE (CAPTURES), COURTESY IFA GALLERY KEVORK MOURAD, 2011, ACRYLIC ON PAPER, 127 X 97,5 CM, COURTESY RAFIA GALLERY

What will the 2012 program include? Pascal Odille: I will begin with the “Street Art”, which will be both indoor and outdoor. For the outdoor section, we will build at the entrance of Biel a 10-meter long wall. Four young artists will do something absolutely stunning using both European letters and calligraphy, commenting about Beirut and the situation... Indoor, we will show a five-year retrospective of Street Art through a daily 45-minute video projection on the wall to a backdrop of live music by graffiti artists and rap crew Ashekman. The “Comic Books Corner” will show the original published drawings of the different comic artists like Mazen Kerbaj and Zeina Abirached and will also highlight artists from across the region such as Egypt, Iran, Algeria, and Tunisia. The “Installation Platform” this year will be called “This is Not Wonderland”, which will be a huge labyrinth with four or five artists who will present sculptures and installations of various textures. We will still have the “Video Box”, which was quite successful last year. We will also have a specific pavilion dedicated to a curator, who will be big-time French curator

Catherine David who has championed Arab art in Western art venues. It will be a very intellectual exhibition by an Arab painter and poet. This is in addition to several conferences and the 40 international art galleries selected by the artistic committee. We’ve also invited the managers of several art fairs in the region to give the fair a truly regional flavor. This is not forgetting a huge children’s program. What do you think MENASART accomplished in editions 0 and 1? L d’H: People were really happy to see that the fair is there and is evolving. They were surprised that it wasn’t easy art but something deep and that starts a conversation. We are also very selective of the galleries. It’s not about the numbers, as the more galleries you have the more money you can make. People were happy to see the boutique art galleries as well as completely new art programs. Beirut Art Fair 2012 is taking place at BIEL from July 5 to 8. www.menasart-fair.com

ABOVE: FAISAL SAMRA - IMPROVISATION DISTORTED REALITY (VIDEO), 2005, 9MIN58, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST

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dollars +sense

CLEARING THE

ECONOMIC THE INVISIBLE HAND

FOG

ave you heard of the invisible hand? No! Think again! The invisible hand is part of Adam Smith’s body of work- he’s also the father of capitalism and the author of the “Wealth of the Nations”. Smith, an advocate of free markets, as opposed to protectionism and government regulated markets, used the term as a metaphor. The term refers to the self-regulating nature of the marketplace. Basically, it’s the natural force that guides free market capitalism through competition for scarce resources. Smith posited that individuals when pursuing their own

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+LEBANON BY MARIA FRANGIEH

goals will be promoting the goals of the entire society. Smith has illustrated how he believes the economic society operates: Each individual in the society will be pursuing his/her own goal of increasing his/her wealth. In order to do so, the individual must engage in an exchange of goods and services with someone else in the society who will value what is offered. In a free market and due to the division of labor the society’s interest will be improved. Therefore, there will be no need for any regulations in the market since the “invisible hand” will guide the market to equilibrium.

Reality Check

We’re sure you’re wondering by now if the invisible hand is for real! Well, Smith himself was conscious of the precincts that existed on free markets. The Nobel Prize winning economist Stiglitz, in his book Making Globalization Work, provided a clear cut to this inquiry. The invisible hand does not often exist on the market. Markets will not promote equilibrium since externalities exist. Externalities are costs or benefits accruing to a third party other than the producers and consumers, like pollution,

adverse health effects, and the like. In keeping with this, in the presence of externalities markets will not be able to promote equilibrium without the intervention of the government, which will impose taxes and regulations amongst other things to influence the market factors towards equilibrium. The question now becomes on finding the most appropriate balance between the market and the government, especially after the latest financial crisis. It is important to note that each market has its own balance depending on the time and characteristics.

THE QUESTION NOW BECOMES ON FINDING THE MOST APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN THE MARKET AND THE GOVERNMENT

The Here + Now

The Lebanese economy is characterized by a free market regime, a liberal financial sector, the promotion of a laissez faire commercial institution along with a government supported liberalism. It’s well known for being service oriented, mainly in the touristic and banking sectors. Foreign exchanges and capital movements are freely admitted in the country. A closer look into the economy confirms Stiglitz’s arguments on the missing invisible hand in some cases. After the civil war ended in 1990, the country’s economy was in trouble and massive capital was required to bring back the economy to its previous state. Since the Lebanese economy is service based, it was very difficult for the invisible hand to

appear after 15 years of war, a large public deficit and a highly bureaucratic government. The government had no other solution but to intervene on the market and stimulate the market factors using different policies such as increasing government spending, privatization and other tactics. Globalization has encouraged free markets. Many countries such as the USA, Canada, and nations throughout Europe are promoting laissez faire practices. But the existence of externalities and the latest financial difficulties are confirming the need for a government intervention. The dilemma of the right balance between the market and government intervention is endless. What is for sure is that the way out is customizable according to each country

SINCE THE LEBANESE ECONOMY IS SERVICE BASED, IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE INVISIBLE HAND TO APPEAR AFTER 15 YEARS OF WAR THE STEAMY ISSUE

the final frontier

SOPA

FULL STEAM AHEAD STOP

ONLINE

PIRACY

ACT

BY JEN

he week of the 16th of January 2012 was action packed in the world of the internet. Many raised their voices against SOPA and PIPA on Facebook and Twitter. Several websites actually went offline in protest on Wednesday the 18th (such as Wikipedia and Reddit). This day is now known as “The Day the Internet Went Dark” and on that one day SOPA was mentioned on Twitter 2.4 million times. Google “censored” its logo and a Chrome add-on that identifies which websites support SOPA and which are against SOPA was released. But what was all the commotion about? SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act) are American legislation meant to combat online piracy and provide a solution to digital copyright theft. Online piracy is a very serious issue as it impacts profitability, the economy, innovation and creativity and hence it is something that needs to be addressed. However, many found that these acts were not the best way to tackle the problem since they would undermine online freedom of speech.

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SOPA and PIPA can be traced back to the 13th of October 2008 when the PRO-IP Act of 2008 was approved. It increased penalties for trademark, patent and copyright infringement. On the 12th of May 2011, the Protect IP Act was suggested as a means to minimize access to “rogue websites dedicated to infringing or counterfeit goods.” SOPA came onto the scene on the 26th of October 2011 and was further examined on the 16th of November 2011. By mid-November 2011 big names such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, Mozilla and eBay started to kick up a fuss.

THE ANTI-SOPA CAMP ARE NOT PRO-PIRACY BUT FEEL SOPA AND PIPA’S APPROACH IS THE WRONG WAY TO TACKLE THE PRESSING ISSUE OF ONLINE PIRACY

The way that SOPA works seems viable enough. If intellectual property infringement is discovered, the copyright holder can take legal action even if the accused website is in another country. The legal action can result in websites being taken down, subscribers being blocked from access, search engines being barred from linking to these websites, and payment processors and online advertising networks being banned from doing business with these websites. In addition to this, if an accused website’s owner is found guilty, he/she may go to jail for up to 5 years. Needless to say SOPA has many supporters including film studios and big brands like SONY. While both acts are American, the very nature of the internet means the effects will be felt around the globe, especially since the most popular websites and search engines in the world are American. But things are never so simple and hence SOPA raises many concerns since it’s extremely invasive and could very well result in the sort of censorship seen in China. It may also have negative repercussions on venture capital with entrepreneurs in say the

digital media field being worried about lawyers and litigations and having problems attracting funding. SOPA could even result in American jobs moving overseas. It’s worth noting that the anti-SOPA camp are not pro-piracy but feel SOPA and PIPA’s approach is the wrong way to tackle the pressing issue of online piracy. SOPA’s author, Rep. Lamar Smith claims fears are “unfounded.” But many, including Anonymous (who were featured in January’s issue), are convinced the threat is real. And this motivated the internet blackout on the 18th of January and a deluge of people contacting their local representatives to take action to prevent these bills from becoming a reality. On Friday the 20th of January Congress announced that SOPA and PIPA would be tabled. This was a victory for those against the bills, but are the bills totally dead or will they rise from the grave? On the 19th of January 2012 Megaupload (the famous file sharing site) was shut down by the Department of Justice for knowing hosting and sharing copyrighted material. Anonymous retaliated against this. Looks like the online wars are far from over

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STEAMY

Yard Stick “It’s not the size of the boat, it’s the motion of the ocean.” Forget what you’ve heard, the Kinsey Institute for research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction reported that the average erect penis size of American men is approximately 5 to 7 inches in length and 4 to 6 inches in circumference. Guys, despite all this, if you don’t know what to do with it- then size doesn’t actually matter.

The age of the oldest participant in a random sampling survey by the Kinsey Institute asking participants what qualified as sex. They posed the question, “Would you say you had sex if…” and the statements included various scenarios: Penile-vaginal, penile-anal, and oral-genital. Almost all participants agreed that the first was considered sex whereas only 2 out of 10 found that penile-anal penetration was considered sex. The surprising findings also indicated that only 3 out of every 10 participants agreed that oralgenital contact was considered sex.

Myth Buster Some common myths that abound for the sexually active include using a balloon or plastic cling wrap in place of a condom (this absolutely does not work), that you can “wash” sperm out after having sex by bathing or showering (which you can’t), and that women can’t get pregnant during their period (very untrue).

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Snuggle Up A study in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that men in long-term relationships report higher levels of satisfaction with their partner when they’re getting copious amounts of affection. Hugging and cuddling were reportedly 2 gestures of affection that boosted relationship bliss!

Pucker Up Julia Roberts, as the happy go lucky prostitute in Pretty Woman to Richard Gear’s John (slang for client), wouldn’t “kiss on the mouth”. Studies indicate depending on the sex worker, he or she may or may not want to kiss on the mouth for several reasons including transmitting sores and infections in addition to emotional attachment issues. For some sex workers, kissing on the mouth is not an issue and permissible as it may not encourage intimacy.

Put on the Red Light

Wikipedia has a helpful list of the world’s red-light districts on their website “both current and historical” with designations of legality. The popular hit song “Roxanne” by The Police was originally released in 1978 and is ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as number 388 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song was reportedly inspired by prostitutes lurking about the band’s Paris hotel and written from the view of a John who had fallen in love with a hooker.

Best Buds “Friends With Benefits”, the recent blockbuster film starring Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake , focused on 2 pals that end up sexually involved. The usual complications ensue when Mila’s character falls for Justin’s. The chemistry on screen wasn’t so great but the story is pretty familiar: Despite deals excluding feelings from the arrangement, someone inevitably gets hooked.

Hook, Line + Sinker A study of Wayne State University and Michigan State University students found that two-thirds of the participants had a friends with benefits arrangement. The huge percentage mostly said their number one reason for doing so was the convenience of not having to commit. 22 percent of the participants were having full-on intercourse.

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cultureclash

THIS PAGE: PREVIOUS DERMAL ANCHORS DONE BY HADY BEYDOUN

BY FIDA CHAABAN

iii, NO! This is so disturbing! Fida, you can’t do this!” That was one of the responses I received when I sent around a mass email asking my friends and colleagues where I should have my dermal anchor placed. In layman’s talk, basically a body piercing that only has one end. It is embedded in the skin by “digging a hole” then working in the anchor-end of the jewellery.

Not to be deterred, I then sent around images of other people’s dermal anchors and asked which they found most attractive. What I got back were a ton of responses that indicated to me that they are anything but- most people found them disturbing and commented on how painful they all looked. One email called the body modification trend, “trashy, not sexy and a little bit scary”. What they did comment positively about was Hady Beydoun“Oh really, Hady does this? That’s so cool.” I was confused- If I show people and label it as Hady’s work, is it then considered sexy? Yes, apparently. I chose a whole bunch of new people and phrased it differently. I wrote, “Guys, Hady Beydoun is going to give me a dermal anchor piercing. Which of these is the most attractive?” and attached a few pictures. Then the responses were genuinely positive. This indicates to me that when doing something trendy like a dermal anchor, doing it with the best makes it automatically cool. I had decided to get 2 anchors next to one another but I still wasn’t sure where. That meant 2 separate studs and 2 separate puncture wounds.

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Most of the people I emailed chose my wrist but according to Hady, “continual movement in that area makes it hard to heal properly,” thus making it not flush with the skin. It’s actually one of the worst places to pierce along with “ankles, knees and fingers. Technically the more skin you have in the pierced are the better chances you have for the body healing and not rejecting it. Thinner skin like on the fingers is not really a good idea especially because the fingers move a lot. The best places would be face, neck, shoulders, arms, sides, and hips”.

WHEN DOING SOMETHING TRENDY LIKE A DERMAL ANCHOR, DOING IT WITH THE BEST MAKES IT AUTOMATICALLY COOL

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN HARB

“A DERMAL ANCHOR IS A VERY SHALLOW WOUND, ALMOST 2 MILLIMETERS DEEP, AND IT TAKES 2 WEEKS TO HEAL VERSUS THE CONVENTIONAL BELLY PIERCING THAT TAKES UP TO THIRTEEN MONTHS TO COMPLETELY HEAL.” I was all for doing my wrist and tried to convince Hady in several different ways but his professionalism won me over and I gave him a few other options. “I want you to pierce your collarbone. It’s sexy on youyou should get it done there,” he said. I wore pen mark dots all over my body for about a week and asked people what they liked. The reason I opted not to go with my collarbone was sheer practicality. For evening events- picture me in a gowna dermal anchor might ruin the whole elegance of it. Plus, things like dermal anchors (a relatively new trend in Lebanon), might make people take me less seriously work-wise and that would be disastrous.

How many dermal anchors has Hady done? “Around 100 so far, I only started doing it 2 years ago. The neck and arms are the most popular in Lebanon.” 100 people doesn’t seem like a lot and for a trend considered sensual and daring by people in the know, I’m surprised it hasn’t been more widespread. “It originated in Switzerland… I was introduced to it by a Swiss piercer who visited me a few years back,” he explains. Gesturing to his neck he continues, “I used to have one in my neck (which I did myself) for a couple of years.” Pulling on a glove, he is all smiles as he explains that “like every new thing, it takes time for people to find the courage to go for it because the thought of it is kind of scary. You know, to dig a hole in the skin sounds a little scary for some people.” As I watch him prepare the apparatus, I begin to get nervous and even slightly nauseous. Fighting down

the feeling of queasiness, I try to take deep breaths as Hady explains what he will be doing. What’s sexy to him dermal anchor wise? “I think that depends on the body and the person wishing to have one or more,” although he takes a minute here to remind me he wants to place mine on my collarbone.

“I WANT YOU TO PIERCE YOUR COLLARBONE. IT’S SEXY ON YOUYOU SHOULD GET IT DONE THERE” THE STEAMY ISSUE

cultureclash

If you’ve already looked at the pictures, you know that I’ve settled on my left hip. And now I am ready to lose my cookies (read: barf). How deep is this thing going in? “A dermal anchor is a very shallow wound, almost 2 millimeters deep, and it takes 2 weeks to heal versus the conventional belly piercing that takes up to thirteen months to completely heal.” 2 weeks doesn’t sound bad at all, but what does sound bad is that he informs me he’s about to begin digging the first hole: Okay breathe. Breathe. Talk to Hady, focus on talking to Hady. What made him start offering dermal anchors? “The controversy of the subject, the novelty of it, and the freedom to being able

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to place a piercing anywhere on the body,” and then he starts ripping my heart in half. He begins creating the cavity through which he will insert the anchor. I try my best to keep it together and use my yogi focus to see past the pain but I’m not going to lie to you- I began screaming bloody murder. I think that no one in the studio (our photographer Chris included) expected the string of curse words and screams that came next. It is taking a while and a quick glance at Hady tells me that he is smiling the whole time! “Hady, you sadist asshole,” I manage to say between screams. “I think you’re enjoying this,” is what he says back to me.

I TRY MY BEST TO KEEP IT TOGETHER AND USE MY YOGI FOCUS TO SEE PAST THE PAIN BUT I’M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOUI BEGAN SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER I want to tell you that the second dermal anchor wasn’t as bad as the first but it is and maybe even slightly worse because I know what to expect this time. I don’t know how I am able to do this without fainting or vomiting, but I do. I screamed and even told Hady off, yes, worse than what I quoted above. I couldn’t wait for it to be over. After the fact- I really do like how they look and that they are not in an exposed area. When can I get a little more creative? “Since the dermal anchor is but a small shiny dot that comes in many sizes and styles like coloured gems, stars and the like, it can be fitted into many tattoo designs; surrounding a flower or the eye of a dragon,” explains Hady. A glance at my left hip in the mirror and I can picture it: A very Kat Von D. sort of tattoo wrapping around my 2 dermal anchors. Or not. I think I’ve done enough body modification for the time being- even if Hady Beydoun thinks it will make me sexier

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cultureclash

BY FIDA CHAABAN

DITA VON TEESE IS EVERYTHING: SHE’S SEX ON A PLATTER AND SHE’S SEXY ON A PLATTER. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TWO IDEAS ARE DIFFERENT. NOT EVERYTHING TO DO WITH SEX IS SEXY, ESPECIALLY IN 2012 AND NOT EVERYTHING SEXY IS ABOUT SEX. DVT HAS MANAGED TO BECOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST CROSSOVER STARS IN THE HISTORY OF MODERN ENTERTAINMENT BRIDGING SEX AND SEXY LIKE NO ONE EVER BEFORE. IN OUR INTERVIEW WITH DITA, SHE IS FRANK AND FORTHRIGHT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY- BRAZENLY COMPOSED AT ALL TIMES. THE FACE OF SEXUALITY HAS CHANGED, AND THAT FACE IS DVT. PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

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38 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

COURTESY OF LEV RADIN | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

cultureclash

mmaculate and poetic: Those are the first things I think of when I see images of Dita. She’s got porcelain skin and a pinup-girl wave in her raven hair. She’s Snow White with her ruby red lips. She’s the fairest of them all, and we don’t need a mirror, mirror on the wall to confirm that. But she’s a bit problematic to classify: Is she an entertainer? An actor? A model? A sex symbol? Is she for or against feminismafter all she does disrobe publicly and let’s not split hairs over how artistic it all is. Is she as pro animal rights as her PETA campaign suggests? Does she support the Lesbian-Gay-BisexualTransgender (LGBT) community as her famous MAC Viva Glam VI campaign leads you to believe? I have other questions, some I’m not even sure I can ask her- Is she a freak in bed? I imagine the droves of men who are turned on by the very mention of her name.

She’s performed for everyone that’s anyone. Her highly coveted performances are carefully choreographed and she’s brought absinthe, corsets and nostalgia back into the limelight. DVT is also sex, drugs and rock n’ roll- her widely publicized relationship with Marilyn Manson isn’t the only link. She’s gone on record saying things most public figures of her stature are hesitant to admit. She’s also the most elusive starlet we’ve seen in a long timeapproachable yes, fathomable? Perhaps not. Talking about her crossover star power, Dita is surprisingly humble, “I’m as shocked as anyone else, but I think it’s a testament to doing something you believe in and sticking with it rather than giving up. I started doing this over 20 years ago now, so I was no overnight success.” Her

career is too lengthy to go into here, but things of note other than her performances are cameos in rock videos, appearances on viral TV shows like America’s Top Model where she taught contestants to be sexy via her trademarked burlesque routines, and finally her contracted appearances for household brand names that automatically thrust the brands into the cool stratosphere. “I think there were a few moments that brought me mainstream attention, such as the cover of Playboy in 2002, my martini glass show appearance with the Pussycat Dolls which was singled out as a standout moment by critics, and also I did some big shows for Louis Vuitton, and that brought a lot of mainstream attention. In France, when I was the first guest star in history of the Crazy Horse Paris, that propelled me to a different level of recognition,” she explains.

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She’s not just a pretty face, the woman has business acumen. “I have a lingerie line, a dress line called Muse by Dita Von Teese, and my new fragrance,” the last of which is her signature scent. She has become her own brand but maintains that she “never expected anything like this! Burlesque was something of a hobby, and I never expected it to become a career, let alone something of a brand.” But brand she is and she has collaborated with staple companies like Wonderbra and the much more risqué and va va voom Agent Provocateur. She’s represented the Moschino diffusion label, Moschino Cheap & Chic, in several shows and appeared in fashion king Jean Paul Gaultier’s Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week in 2007. It is worth mentioning that as this issue went to print, Gaultier’s most recent collection was inspired by Amy Winehouse- Dita chose the late singer as her pick for

most interesting current entertainer saying, “I was always a very big fan of Amy Winehouse for her voice, her knowledge of retro music and for her devotion to her personal style.” Birds of a feather flock together making Von Teese, Gaultier and the late Winehouse a cozy trio of mutual admiration. Who else does she endorse? It has recently become the fashion for celebrities to endorse their preferred political candidates with most performance artists stoically in the Obama camp. She’s careful when I broach the subject of politics- does she follow? “Yes, a bit, but I never discuss it publicly.” That settles that. She doesn’t need to wade into that hot water since her persona is already rife with controversy. She does sexually charged performances for a living and doesn’t shy away from porn. ABOVE, TOP TO BOTTOM: DVT AND DESIGNER JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER, DVT WITH DESIGNER ELIE SAAB

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cultureclash

BELOW, LEFT TO RIGHT: DVT WITH HER EX-HUSBAND MARILYN MANSON, DVT WITH HER CURRENT BOYFRIEND COUNT LOUIS-MARIE DE CASTELBAJAC

Does she think public expressions of sexuality are empowering or do they encourage stereotypical views of sex? She is adamant that “the beauty of this and anything is that it is viewed differently by everyone, and no can say what it is for ME expect me. Clearly, I feel empowered by making a living off what I do best, and by doing what I love. If someone finds it offensive, they don’t have to watch, but the feminist argument about what I do is difficult in this case because the majority of my fans are women and gay men, so critics who say I am degrading myself because I perform striptease don’t really have the whole story about what I do and who my audience is.” Degrading herself? I disagree with that sentiment but Dita is correct, she has been attacked for her routines and vampy stage life regularly. From here we move to the topic of pornography. I explain that some psychological studies indicate that porn creates unrealistic sex expectations in the bedroom, suggesting that it may even damage a relationship and encourage aggression. She’s quick to point out the obvious: You can either take it or leave it, and I echo her sentiments that it can be whatever you make it out to be. “I believe that it is different for every person, every couple, and adults should be left to make this decision to themselves. I’m not at liberty to decide for anyone. For me, in some relationships I’ve had, the use of porn was healthy, and for some of my relationships it was not, and for some it didn’t exist at all in the relationship,” says Dita.

The natural course of this interview dictates that I go into relationships now with DVT. But, unlike her past interviews, she is no longer fielding these sorts of queries. Her current relationship is a bit of a mystery but a quick Google run will give you hints as to what’s up in that arena. I know what you’re thinking, her past relationships still make print. I try to work it in because let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to know what the sexiest woman on earth is doing in the bedroom? Apparently, the specifics are off limits and Dita goes so far as to say that the worst thing anyone has ever written about her is “misinformation about my romantic relationships, which I don’t

like because it can cause trouble in my personal life for no good reason! And I am also annoyed when they write that I’ve had plastic surgery on my face. I’ve never done anything to my face!” I broach the subject of hard-edged rocker Marilyn Manson who is Dita’s ex-husband. She declines to address this subject all together but graciously gives me a window of opportunity, “I am not discussing this or any current relationships specifically, as it is all sacred to me and a part of my life that I now choose to keep private. If any general questions about love and relationships are posed, I will answer those,” she says.

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cultureclash

Alright, if I’m given lemons then I’ll make lemonade. In women and men, what’s sexy to DVT? “In a woman, I admire someone who wants to help and uplift other women rather than be jealous and spiteful. I like what we call a ‘girl’s girl’, meaning you can trust her, and she is a positive force to be around. It’s sexy to be a good person! In a man, I think it’s sexy to be confident but also kind and caring with people.” I think back to how often my panel mentioned her marriage to Manson which prompts me to ask her how difficult it is to address her relationships in the press. What I get is more admissions and a bit of an explanation: “It can be difficult, because you know, relationships are hard for anyone, but it becomes somewhat magnified when you have strangers speculating and judging you. I did manage to

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gracefully get through a breakup with no one even knowing, so that was a great feeling to know that it CAN be controlled a bit if you surround yourself with good, trustworthy people and if you choose your words to journalists very carefully.” Yikes, me included. What about the articles that have referred to her as bisexual? Dita has gone on record as saying she’s had relationships with both men and women. Does she think that sexual labelling is handicapping the rights of the LGBT community? “I did experiment when I was younger with bisexuality, but I discovered that I was really only curious and perhaps doing it to please the man I was with at the time, but I do find that many of my thoughts and fantasies do drift there, but I also think that it’s good to have fantasies that you don’t need to act on. I wish that we lived in a

world where you were considered outcast if you only preferred one sex, and it would be amazing if everyone were just accepted as they were.” She has also lent her star power to animal rights in her PETA campaign but is careful to remark that she “worked with PETA regarding their important spay and neuter your pets campaign, and I was reluctant to put my views on animal rights out there, because I am not perfect either, I have worn fur, I eat meat from time to time, but it does boggle my mind when I see animals being treated horribly for no reason at all, when there are ways to be humane. I have been to some countries where I have been so astonished and shocked at the blatant mistreatment of animals, so much so that I had to leave.”

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cultureclash

So how much of Dita is real when’s she is performing? “I would say that my real personality is with me up there onstage, and you can see that when I do my show...there is a lot of vulnerability, humour, and a sense of playfulness, and those are important things that make a good show. It can’t just be perfect and straightforward sexuality. But no, I don’t wear all those Swarovski crystals, feathers, stage makeup and all that stuff in the bedroom, nor do I ‘put on a show’... I do, however, wear great lingerie every day and I do consider myself a sex-goddess in the bedroom and I make every effort to live up to my reputation as a seductress!” Speaking of reputations and experimentation, Dita has mentioned a history of illicit drug use in past interviews. Does she believe people should go through period of experimentation even with drugs? “No I don’t think that it’s for everyone at all! I personally don’t have any regrets about my drug use, which was mostly about mind-expanding drugs, not common street or party drugs. I had good experiences, and I wasn’t trying to run away from myself or anything,

so I never became an addict. I used drugs in an emotionally ‘healthy’ way, if it’s possible to say that! But I don’t think many people do that, that’s the problem. I definitely do not think everyone should try it, that’s for sure! I did a lot of research about these drugs I tried, and I wasn’t just in it for a party.” I share with her that one of our readers who responded to my preinterview poll said she, “wastes her time with bad men”. She evenly responds: “I think mostly people (in the U.S. especially) don’t understand what I actually DO... That’s what I usually hear, and perhaps it’s the same in the Middle East, since people see photos of me but don’t see me actually doing my shows. I respect that fact that everyone has their own individual ideas about what they think is sexy, who they admire and who they think is talented and who isn’t, so I don’t expect validation from everyone, but I would like people to know that these lavish big shows I put on are of my own conception and creation.”

She reminds me that she isn’t “like a pop star who has a team that does it all and shows me the steps and everything, I’m doing this basically by myself, from the financing these shows to the styling to the lighting, and that’s real work, so when someone says, ‘she’s just a dumb stripper’ it’s a bit annoying because my shows stand their own against big opulent Vegas shows. With regard to the comment about ‘bad men’ ...Well, I’ve been with a very kind, level-headed, good man for several years now, but I try to keep my private life a bit more quiet than it was when I was with the ‘bad man’ that I think they refer[ring] to!” Other predictable comments came to us from male readers like, “stunning” and “gorgeous”. Despite her performance prowess, the most tell-tale indicator of public sentiment was a comment by another panel participant: “Yeah hot, guilty pleasure! She has an appeal but married to weird Marilyn.” But all press is good press, I guess and Dita is quick to point out some really positive coverage when asked saying that “They print a lot of nice things about me in the French newspapers. The biggest French newspaper once said I deserved the Légion d’honneur [Legion of Honour], which would be amazing... Josephine Baker was awarded it, which is amazing that there is a government that would award the highest honour to a woman that made her mark by dancing nude!” I’d like to come up with something really stellar to end this piece with but all I can think of as I finish writing is what DVT embodies: Realistic and regal. Glamour and guts. Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. And that’s why she is as big as ever

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BOILER DR. HELEN FISHER ON ROMANTIC LOVE BY ALICE HLIDKOVA

“LOVE IS NOT A STAGE. RATHER IT’S A SERIOUS BRAIN SYSTEM [...] THAT EVOLVED INTO LUST (SEX DRIVE), ROMANTIC ATTRACTION (ROMANTIC LOVE), AND ATTACHMENT (DEEP FEELINGS OF UNION WITH A PARTNER)”

wo thousand years ago, Plato stated: “The God of Love lives in a state of need” to describe love, one of life’s greatest mysteries. Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University, in Newark, New Jersey devoted 40 years to uncovering the mysteries of romantic love. She wrote five books on the evolution to the human sex drive, monogamy, adultery, divorce, the chemistry of romantic love, and why we fall in love with someone in the first place. She argues that love is a brain system that gradually changed over the last 400 million years of human evolution. “Love is not a stage. Rather it’s a serious brain system, such as the fear and danger systems,” says Dr. Fisher, “that evolved into lust (sex drive), romantic attraction (romantic love), and attachment (deep feelings of union with a partner).”

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mon amour, mon ami LEFT: THE NYMPH SALMACIS AND HERMAPHRODITUS BY FRANÇOIS JOSEPH NAVEZ, 1829

Fisher found other chemicals pulsing through the brain when you fall for someone. An increase in serotonin may explain why the person you are romantically in love with remains in your thoughts. While oxytocin, a hormone released during orgasm, deepens feelings of attachment, and vasopressin, a hormone released after sex, keeps the bond long-lasting. In another study, published in her book “Anatomy of Love: The Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray,” Fisher sets out to explain the seven year itch—a human phenomena of marry and remarry. What she found, by examining marriage, divorce, and adultery across 100 different societies and cultures, is that the seven year itch is a myth. We actually start to get “itchy” after only four years. “It makes evolutionary sense,” says Fisher, “in the first four years the child is an infant, then he joins others at play dates, and parents can break up afterwards.” In her book “Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love,” Fisher and neurologist Tina Brown, studied the brain activity of 49 men and women after they underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that defines the anatomy of the brain. Seventeen had just fallen in love; 15 had just been rejected by someone; and 17 were still in love after 21 years of marriage.

“DOPAMINE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FEELING PLEASURE, TRIGGERED BY DESIRES AND REWARDS. IT’S LIKE FEELING THE RUSH OF COCAINE!”

In her study, Fisher examined lust driven by the sex hormones of testosterone and estrogen—in both men and women—that did not necessarily involve intercourse, followed by the activation of the neurotransmitter adrenaline. “When you are falling for someone, your levels of adrenaline increase, and you may sweat as your heart beats stronger,” says Fisher. She discovered the attraction between a man and a woman was evident with the presence of high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, found below one’s cognitive thinking and emotions, in the reticular core of the brain. “Dopamine is responsible for feeling pleasure, triggered by desires and rewards,” says Fisher, “It’s like feeling the rush of cocaine!” ABOVE: DR. HELEN FISHER

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mon amour, mon ami

“WE BUILD A LOVE MAP, AN UNCONSCIOUS LIST OF WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN A PARTNER. IT’S SIMPLE: THAT PERSON WALKS INTO A ROOM, SAYS SOMETHING FUNNY, YOU HAVE THE SAME INTERESTS, AND THEN YOU FALL IN LOVE”

RIGHT: MARBLE STATUE DEPICTING THE GREEK GODDESS APHRODITE

The data also showed that you are less likely to get divorced with more kids: 23 percent of those divorced have one kid as opposed to 7 percent who have three kids. She adds: “97 percent of mammals do not pair up to raise the young after four years, while monogamy is common among the 3% percent” Fisher also proved that love was indeed universal. She concluded that the experience of love became transparent across different age, gender and ethnic groups. “When I did studies of 400 Americans and 400 Japanese, of gays and heterosexuals, I found them all to experience romantic love,” says Fisher, though she found some surprises among different age groups. “The youngest to fall in love was a two-yearold boy who was stroking the hair of a girl at a play date,” she told me. So what triggers the brain system for romantic love? “We build a love map, an unconscious list of what we look for in a partner. It’s simple:

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that person walks into a room, says something funny, you have the same interests, and then you fall in love.” Apart from hormones, Fisher believes that matching up personality types—“explorer, director, builder, and negotiator”—guides the behavior of love (So much for the belief that opposites attract- for more on this see our piece “Clearing the Mist” in the Mind, Body + Soul section).

Fisher’s work transformed her into a believer in the power of love. “We have so many crimes of passion when we are rejected by love, yet love may treat clinical depression, and bring down suicide and murder rates,” she says. Though she remains unmarried, she has fallen in love more than once. As Plato suggested, we simply need love and can’t live without it

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CLEARING BY ELODIE BARAKAT

hat sets your attraction radar off? What do we look for in a partner? Are there really general rules in terms of attraction? Biology or psychology? Let’s try clearing the mist a bit and see what makes your meter run on high.

“Hungry Like the Wolf”

If we stick to biology and evolution, we’re not very different from animals. The key isn’t “how?” but “why?” and the answer is so simple that it might shock you: Reproduction. Why do men look for beautiful women? To increase the chance of having the most attractive (and by default –healthy) offspring. Why do women look for strong and masculine men? So that she can ensure protection for the family and guarantee the survival of her children. Why are men attracted to large-breasted, youthful women? Because these characteristics

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suggest health and therefore are processed as a sign of strong fertility. Though those factors might sound a bit primal and even prehistoric (I can hear the romantics out there complaining), they still play a part - mostly subconscious - in today’s attraction map between men and women. “It’s genetically programmed in human DNA,” explains sex therapist Sandrine Atallah. “We look for the person better suited for reproduction.” If women no longer need a big, strong hunter, they do tend to look for a man with a stable situation that will be able to provide for the family. Health, genetics, fertility... everything Darwin discussed. Still, the biological (evolutionary psychology) position doesn’t explain everything. It doesn’t take the complexity of human choice into account and it doesn’t account for matters of sexual preference such as homosexuality and fetishism.

mind, body + soul

OPPOSITE PAGE: STILL SHOT FROM THE MOVIE “ET DIEU CRÉA LA FEMME”, 1956

“SEVERAL SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT SIMILARITIES BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN PLAY A BIG PART IN THE FIRST STAGES OF ATTRACTION” Connecting the Dots

Another way of looking at attraction is to focus on the interactions between individuals. One saying sums it up quite well: “Likes attract likes”. Though “opposites attract” sometime turns out to be true as well- this might be explained by a kind of research that explores what we aren’t. “Several sociological studies have shown that similarities between a man and a woman play a big part in the first stages of attraction,” explains Atallah. “It has also been observed that complementarity plays a part in the durability of the relationship and that although we might be attracted to a very different person, the relationship hardly lasts and is very complicated”. Don’t panic, this doesn’t mean your relationship won’t last if you don’t mirror your partner. Similarities can be anything from education, interests, religion, to tastes and personalities.

Men (tend to) look for women who fit the following description • shorter than themselves • youthful appearance • symmetrical face • high pitched voice • full lips, breasts and buttocks • healthy figures • friendly and smiling • rather mysterious and not too talkative

Culture and society also figure heavily here: Both play a big part in our way of seeing things. In many African countries, round and heavier set women are considered more attractive than the thinner Western preference.

Twisted Sister

Finally, the seduction process plays a huge role in attraction. According to Gisèle Harrus, French psychologist and author of “Qu’est ce que la séduction?” there are a certain number of methods that mostly border on male chauvinism. The enchantress-type is often mysterious and silent: Saying little but is unlike the other women he may come across. The seducer is reassuring, caring and makes her laugh. The man charms the woman, giving her the incentive to continue. Things like privation, distance and unanswered requests intensify the attraction, supposedly

Women (tend to) look for a men who fit the following description • taller than themselves • symmetrical face • broad shoulders and a V-shaped torso • masculine appearance • deep voice • funny and kind • confident and protective • able to provide for and protect a family

• Women tend to be more attracted to men in relationships according to 2009 American study by researchers at Oklahoma State University. A group of women were presented with a fictitious ‘perfect’ man. 59 percent of them declared being interested when he was presented as single as opposed to 90 percent when presented as in a relationship. • The more we are ‘exposed’ to someone the more we are attracted. This theory, developed by Rowland Miller, an American professor of psychology also works in the opposite case scenario. The more we are in contact, the more we can hate someone. • Ovulation plays a role in attraction. During ovulation women tend to show themselves off to advantage and it’s been scientifically proven that men have brain receptors for pheromones excreted during menstrual cycles. • Scent is a way to scan genes: Several studies showed that women tend to prefer the body scent of men who are most genetically compatible with them for reproduction, especially during ovulation.

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THE

STEAM

ROOM

SPEED DATING COMPLETE STRANGERS FOR RAGMAG BY STEPHANIE AOUN

FIDA’S EMAIL SAID THAT I WOULD MEET THREE MEN CONSECUTIVELY AT FACES PUB ON HAMRA STREET. I WILL BE SPENDING 30 MINUTES WITH EACH GUY AND GET A 15 MINUTE BREAK IN BETWEEN DATES. I HAVE NEVER FELT MORE INSECURE IN MY WHOLE LIFE!

ou know you’re in trouble when you get a call from Fida telling you that your turn for the next FML has come. “Steph! You’re speed dating on Thursday for FML!” That was the first thing I heard. The second? “I’m sending you all the info by email,” yelled Fida into the phone. It hit me, I was definitely screwed. My first reaction was to call my best friend and tell him all about it (and yes, I squeaked and screamed). Fida’s email said that I would meet three men consecutively at Faces pub on Hamra Street: The Foreign Gentleman at 8:30pm, The Lebanese Entrepreneur at 9:15pm and finally The Career Athlete at 10:00pm. I will be spending 30 minutes with each guy and get a 15 minute break in between dates. I have never felt more insecure in my whole life!

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Editor’s Note It’s true that I was yelling into the phone- I definitely enjoy assigning FML every issue. My fave thing is driving our writers nuts prior to FML assignment time (true story haha). This time, Gina and I cooked up a blend between blind dating and speed dating. I know a lot of single guys in Beirut and in addition, Valentine’s Day is here! Perfect, no?

8:30pm THE FOREIGN GENTLEMAN

Here I am right on time with no date in sight yet. I head straight to the bar and I’m actually secretly hoping that he won’t show up! A few minutes later he walks in with a big smile on his face, approaches me and gives me a warm, friendly kiss on the cheek. There is my ice breaker right there! Immediate relief. After exchanging a

couple of smiles and pleasantries, he orders us drinks and we start chatting. Apparently he is half English and half Spanish, in other words sexy accent and attractive looks! The conversation starts flowing from one subject to the other: Hobbies, studies, work and just life in general, until we both start feeling secure enough to tackle more personal issues and go into what we like and dislike when it comes to relationships. And before I know it, the bartender comes over to let us know that our time is up (30 minutes!). To tell you the truth it went by way too fast for me- I wish it was longer because I was really enjoying the discussion. To top it all off, here he is asking for the bill, like a real gentleman would, and asking me for my phone number, like a really smart man would! (Which I gave of course…) Great way to kick off the night.

FML [f*ck my life] PHOTOGRAPHY JASON ZAMORA

AFTER EXCHANGING A COUPLE OF SMILES AND PLEASANTRIES, HE ORDERS US DRINKS AND WE START CHATTING. APPARENTLY HE IS HALF ENGLISH AND HALF SPANISH, IN OTHER WORDS SEXY ACCENT AND ATTRACTIVE LOOKS! Round Up

The only bummer about this date is that I caught him looking at my cleavage three or four times, which he admitted to by the way. Guys, you just can’t do that on a date, girls will always notice! But hey, he was very friendly and outgoing and we laughed about it together so all is forgiven! CHEMISTRY 7 ATTRACTION 7 INTEREST LEVEL 8 SOCIAL SKILLS 9 POTENTIAL TO SEE AGAIN 6 Editor’s Note So can I pick ‘em or can I pick ‘em? See StephTRUST MY JUDGEMENT! Regarding the whole cleavage thing, at least he admitted it. Points for honesty.

9:15pm THE LEBANESE ENTREPRENEUR

Now I’m doing much better with a little alcohol in my system and a great first date under my belt. At exactly 9:15pm I see a guy enter the pub. He is signalling at me to wait for a second and then he heads directly to the restroom. Ok, HELLO AWKWARD?! Two minutes later he walks out and heads towards me. We greet each other with a cold handshake and we both grab a seat. I can tell right away that he’s regretting having accepted to take part in this experience. Oh boy… He seems uncomfortable, and does not seem very serious about the whole date. One question leads to the other, and we surf subjects until I suddenly realize that we’re finally both relaxed

and actually enjoying the date. At least I am! We both like clubbing and going out and so we are sharing things like our favourite places, type of music, crowd and common acquaintances… I love the fact that I can actually relate to him on many levels, although he’s still very discreet about what he’s sharing with me. I completely understand that knowing that we just met 20 minutes ago. Our time is up, we stretch it with a few stolen minutes, and we part.

Round Up

All in all it started off really shaky but ended on a positive note making it a good encounter. Although we shared a few giggles and some personal information, the conversation remained almost mechanical. I felt he couldn’t really let go and just enjoy the discussion. But after all -it might be about a person’s character- it takes some people a little more time to get into their comfort zone. CHEMISTRY 7 ATTRACTION 5 INTEREST LEVEL 6 SOCIAL SKILLS 6 POTENTIAL TO SEE AGAIN 7 Editor’s Note Hard to gage your reaction to this date, Steph. Since I know him personally, I can vouch for the fact that he’s slow to warm up. Readers, you should know that our photog Jason called me while Steph was on this date to tell me that her date headed to the restroom before even saying hello properly. Even Jason was outraged! LOL

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FML [f*ck my life]

AFTER A FEW INTRODUCTORY WORDS I’M COMPLETELY RELAXED. IT’S AS IF I’VE KNOWN THE GUY FOREVER. I EVEN TAKE OFF MY HEELS IN FRONT OF HIM, WHICH WERE KILLING ME BY THE WAY 10:00pm THE CAREER ATHLETE

One more date to go, I’m actually really enjoying this whole experience! 10pm sharp: A handsome, friendlylooking guy walks straight up to me, asks me if I’m Stephanie and then gives me a warm hug and smile. Big relief! After a few introductory words I’m completely relaxed. It’s as if I’ve known the guy forever. I even take off my heels in front of him, which were killing me by the way. He’s wearing flip flops for God’s sake so I might as well make myself comfortable! We start talking about hobbies, clichés in our society, our respective lifestyles and I’m pleasantly surprised to find out that he teaches Capoeira, which I’ve been wanting to try for a while now. We continue talking about this Brazilian martial art. He told me all about where he learned Capoeira, how long he’s been practicing it… Now that I think about it, this is all that we talked about the entire date. I immediately felt that it’s a big passion of his so I actually

enjoyed discussing it with him. At this point (and three long islands later), I’m tipsy and I almost fall off the high barstool! Thank God we just laugh it off and carry on with our conversation. Our time is up, he gives me his card and I let him know that I’ll be seeing him very soon for my first class.

Editor’s Note So basically, my summary of this is that you were borderline drunk and shoeless at a pub in Hamra! Readers, I had instructed Steph in my initial email to her: “Space out your drinks please, I don’t want you plastered by the third date”. Clearly that advice went unheeded LOL. Glad to hear you’ll be joining the Capoeira ranks, Steph!

Round Up

I absolutely loved meeting this guy. I got to share with him his passion for Capoeira and I also got to know that he’s into acting- I loved his whole artsy side. The only almost negative thing about this date is that it really didn’t feel like one. Instead, it was like interviewing an athlete and getting a sneak peek into his world, not that it’s a bad thing or anything CHEMISTRY 5 ATTRACTION 5 INTEREST LEVEL 6 SOCIAL SKILLS 7 POTENTIAL TO SEE AGAIN 8

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED MEETING THIS GUY. I GOT TO SHARE WITH HIM HIS PASSION FOR CAPOEIRA AND I ALSO GOT TO KNOW THAT HE’S INTO ACTING- I LOVED HIS WHOLE ARTSY SIDE 56 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

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PRESSURE COOKER 3A2BELIK OU 3A2BELNA BY MARIA-ELENA KASSAB

’amour is in the air and there is no escaping the red teddy bears in every storefront, the sickly scent of red roses at florists nationwide and the sappy romantic comedies on every channel (dodge that bullet by renting one of the movies on our Valentine’s Movies for the Single Girl list). And while all this might trigger tears of joy in every attached female, we single girls will look on as bouquets are delivered to offices, chocolate boxes are artfully strewn around your best friend’s room and people propose on live television. Then we will bravely meet the slightly disappointed eyes of family members as they wait for us to finally tie the knot.

There is no denying that the Middle Eastern mentality about marriage has changed over the years and that a lot of families are now insisting women get an education before bagging a husband; however, we still retain old ideas and beliefs that can really turn up the heat. No matter how much people say their families are cool about their young women not marrying early, everybody still says “3a2belik” whenever someone gets engaged: They’re hoping you will be the next to say, “I Do!” Every time a woman accomplishes something completely unrelated to marriage, such as graduating, getting a great job or buying a new pair of shoes, her relatives and friends (and friends’ relatives) wish her next accomplishment

NO MATTER HOW MUCH PEOPLE SAY THEIR FAMILIES ARE COOL ABOUT THEIR YOUNG WOMEN NOT MARRYING EARLY, EVERYBODY STILL SAYS “3A2BELIK” WHENEVER SOMEONE GETS ENGAGED 58 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

to be marriage, “3a2bel ma nshoufik 3arouss”. And not only do they say this to the woman, but also to her parents, which will only exacerbate whatever frustration they feel at her singledom. We can understand the trepidation parents feel when they imagine the bleak, lonely future a woman could have if she is not married and has no kids: Who will take care of her when she’s old and her mom and dad are no longer there? We can understand their burning desire to have grandchildren before they’re too old to be able to enjoy them: They love their kids so much and they are sure to love their grandkids even more. What they don’t realize is that not every girl who doesn’t get married when she’s still young will become one of those “3awenis”, the creepy spinsters that glower at every couple that walks by. What they don’t understand is that marriage is not as essential to survival as it was in the past, because successful women ensure they’re well taken care of when they’re old. It’s called self-reliance!

mon amour, mon ami

And the one thing people can’t seem to get through their heads is that education is not an obstacle to marriage. A young woman with a PhD will not scare every potential suitor away, but may even find a partner better suited for her. Young women have more opportunities than ever before, opportunities to become successful editors, respected CEOs, prominent diplomats, heads of state… and they need an education to make it that far, not a man and a solitaire. These opportunities, careers and success stories do not exclude marriage, far from it, but they don’t depend on it, either.

We all know that when you tell someone not to do something, they suddenly itch to do it. When you tell your daughters, sisters and cousins not to die alone, not to avoid marriage, not to delay the search for a suitor, you’re only turning them off of the entire concept. The more pressure you put on them to become a Mrs., the bigger the chance that she’ll crack and decide to stay a Miss, or –God forbid, in our society – decide to live with a man who is not her husband and maybe have a kid with him. Then the designation Ms. comes into play. Yes, the dreaded zone where you cannot tell if she is single or hitched.

Until our society finally understands that marriage is not synonymous with happiness like it used to be (debatable back then, too), I’ll join all my single ladies in smiling and saying “b3id l sharr” whenever someone hopes I get married soon: May this evil stay away from me –for now anyway

I’LL JOIN ALL MY SINGLE LADIES IN SAYING “B3ID L SHARR” WHENEVER SOMEONE HOPES I GET MARRIED SOON: MAY THIS EVIL STAY AWAY FROM ME –FOR NOW ANYWAY

THE STEAMY ISSUE

HAYDA LEBNEN’s

STEAMY LOVE WHAT WOMEN REALLY WANT BY SARAH HOURANY

hat do women want? Whether you are asking it rhetorically or as an actual informative query hoping for an answer, you are definitely raising one of men’s most frequently posed questions. You don’t need to get yourself electrocuted to be granted the gift of knowing like Mel Gibson in “What Women Want”, the movie by the same name, or read an endless collection of psychology books. Instead, we’ve prepared a simple checklist collected after an extensive study of the Lebanese female society behavior vis-à-vis love issues to help you identify their needs accurately.

JUST ANSWER THE 5 CHOU-S AND WE CAN GUARANTEE YOU BAGGING A STEAMY VALENTINE! 60 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

1. CHOU 3ANDAK? With the dramatic increase of housing prices across Lebanon, this question is crucial. Therefore your answer had better be 7erzene! • If you have a villa, stop here as you do no need to fulfill the rest of the requirements. Inta feris el a7lem! • If you own an apartment, lucky you Mr. Bachelor. You have now the privilege of picking one lucky lady among a bunch of hot ladies. • If you have a chalet, she might think of going out with you as long as you exhibit I’ll-get-an-apartment “fi moudda akasaha sana” – behavior. Time is money, baby! • If you don’t have any of these, nsi el mawdou3 unless you have a Jeddo, a Teta, a 3amto or anyone you expect to inherit from soon. You should be able to prove it with the appropriate medical records and property certificates.

cultureclash

2. CHOU BETSOU2? There’s absolutely no need to discuss it again as we went through the necessity of showing off your car in Lebanon before in RAGMAG’s Hayda Lebnen column. However, we should let you know that after being classified as the number one requirement for dating for years, it has now dropped to number 2 due to the intense competition with the real estate industry. However, it can still outweigh the property in importance if you drive chi ktir 2awe (a Ferrari would work). Ma after all, the car is mobile while the apartment is not. This counts much more in front of her family, coworkers and friends. 3. CHOU DINAK? We all know that it is not really likely that you’ll be discussing religious issues on a date but if you are looking for a serious relationship, pick a girl from your own religious background ta ma tekela box. She may be madly in love with you and doesn’t care at

all about conditions 1 and 2 (ya3ne hal2ad in love) but for her parents the religion marked on your ID is far more important than your morals, values and ethics. Therefore “Bente bedda tekhod Meslim?” or “bente el wahide beda tetjawaz Masihe?” will announce the end of the relationship. Bil 3arabe el mchabrah: Manak men dina? Eh khallik la ahlak habibe! 4. CHOU BYECHTEGHIL BAYYAK? Hala2 you can be very educated, polite and loyal but the status of your parents plays a much more important role in your relationship. Eno tkheyal eno your potential 7ametak ma t2oul, “Bente akhadit ibin flen”. Ma hiye she raised her daughter impatiently waiting to announce that exact sentence, ma fik tenza3a! So men el awal ma t3azzib halak: If your dad mano “Flen” then zahhit abel ma tzahtak. Note: Ma tenghash if her dad is not even close to being Flen. You still don’t have a chance.

5. CHOU MA3ACHAK? Men el ekhir: Adde bto2bad is a decisive factor in your relationship. If you haven’t realized it by now, lahi2 7alak as you’ll have to develop superpowers to be able to generate a salary that is higher than the average annual income in Lebanon. Ma tensa eno she might not want to work (hiye princess aw chi) or she might decide to leave work at anytime (be ready). You may even be allowed to launch a Super Nightclub but she couldn’t care less as long as you give her enough money to afford a maid, to shop day and night and to attend all the brunches with her mom. Only then, hiye w 2emma would yitnezalo on condition number 4. See how easily achievable these conditions are? You don’t even have to be kind, devastatingly handsome or smart! Now that you realize what Lebanese women want (chi metel a business deal) all you have to do is prepare your presentation, ma hayda Lebnen ya 3ayneh!

CHOU BETSOU2?

AFTER BEING CLASSIFIED AS THE NUMBER ONE REQUIREMENT FOR DATING FOR YEARS, IT HAS NOW DROPPED TO NUMBER 2 DUE TO THE INTENSE COMPETITION WITH THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY

THE STEAMY ISSUE

mind, body + soul 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.

help me

NOUR+RABIH BY NOUR OBAJI + RABIH FEGHALI

NOW TAKE IT SERIOUSLY AND SEEK HELP PROFESSIONALLY BECAUSE YOU ARE HINDERING YOUR RELATIONSHIPS AND PERSONAL FULFILMENT IN THAT ARENA I hate men, how do I change my attitude? LOL- No joke. I’m sick of their drama and never knowing what skeleton is in the closet so it is making me too cautious and I feel that I’ve scared off a few good guys because of how much time I take before dating them. I need tips! Jasmina, 31

“You have to dust off the bad experiences you’ve had with men so far, and bite the bullet by embracing your fear and concerns and moving on.” Cassidy, 23

“Really, the question is why do you feel this way towards men? There are as many ‘types of men’ as there are shades of grey. And secondly, if you aren’t into men, then why do you want to date them?” Rola, 32

“It is funny that this question comes up in this round of Nour because I just finished having this talk with friends. Men bring so much drama to the room and they always blame women... that being said, I feel like you are either very bitter or very damaged by a relationship. Until you examine why you seem (from your own words) to look for the worst and imagine skeletons in the closet, you are doomed to relationships that fail because of mistrust. Examine yourself.”

Rania, 23

“See a shrink.”

Nour’s Vote Wow the Interactive Panel all responded quite aggressively to this question! Most of the responses were like “maybe you don’t like men” or maybe “you’re gay” and the like (I didn’t choose those to print). The woman posing this question isn’t confused about her sexuality, she is clearly scarred by bad experiences in the past. (That’s enough ranting at the Interactive Panel.) And as for Rabih - he advises snooping and sneaking around - terrific, all of our female readers now know NOT to ever try and date Rabih. On to the question: Every sane person should have a look before leaping mentality but sometimes being too cautious is a handicap. You said it yourself- you may be scaring off the good ones. The old saying goes that you shouldn’t throw out the baby with the bathwater and this is what you’re doing when you negate things before they begin. Perhaps you should seek counselling for this. The fact that you joked about it initially (people often joke about things that really bother them) suggests that you are making light of the situation in order to at least broach the subject. Subject broached. Now take it seriously and seek help professionally because you are hindering your relationships and personal fulfilment in that arena.

YOU CAN, FOR EXAMPLE, FIND OUT WHO YOUR COMMON FRIENDS ARE AND ASK ABOUT HIM – JUST DON’T BE TOO OBVIOUS ABOUT IT 62 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

DIFFERENT IS ALWAYS GOOD. TRY IT OUT. HOPEFULLY HE’LL LEARN A LITTLE MORE CULTURE BY STICKING AROUND WITH YOU Rabih’s Vote Google, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn searches tend to reveal enough information about your potential suitors. You can, for example, find out who your common friends are and ask about him – just don’t be too obvious about it. Of course, you can always steal his phone, spend a day going through it in order to find out more about him and then return it to him by having someone call him to say that they found the phone somewhere. But then again, that’s illegal and I advise against that strategy.

I’ve met someone so different than the typical guys I’ve dated. He’s great in so many ways but he is a little less cultured and religious than me, he also has valid reasons for the way he is. I like him but I’m not used to someone like him. Should I pursue it?

relationship as he won’t feel comfortable around you. Unless sex makes it worth taking the risk.” Youmy, 23

“Why is this an issue? Thank God you started dating different people. It would get pretty boring if you only dated either intellectual guys or religious ones. That doesn’t mean you’re going to marry him, you’re just dating. Maybe you’ll find out what you really want out of life is someone like the ones you’ve been seeing. But how would you know if you don’t try something else?” Layan, 40

“Of course you should date him! Don’t miss out of something wonderful because of preconceived prejudice! But at the same time don’t go into something where you will be constantly judging him as this is not fair.”

Rebecca, 25

Nour’s Vote

“Less religious is not a problem but being less cultured will eventually break up your

It is hard to find a good man these days; Nour is the first person to say so. He is

different you say, which may add colour and vitality to your relationship. Where things get sticky is if he is fundamentally different. You won’t know if the shoe fits if you don’t try it on for size. I say give this a spin and see what kind of roadblocks you experience. If the shoes begin to pinch, you know that the differences between you are more of a gulf and less of a pond. Pay attention and see what develops- you have nothing to lose.

Rabih’s Vote Different is always good. Try it out. You never know, you may be able to inspire him to be more religious – and hopefully he’ll learn a little more culture by sticking around with you. I would say – Give it a chance.

HE IS DIFFERENT YOU SAY, WHICH MAY ADD COLOUR AND VITALITY TO YOUR RELATIONSHIP THE STEAMY ISSUE

mind, body + soul

I’ve recently seen and heard of a friend’s husband being unfaithful. She is a stay at home mom with a few kids while he works and spends his weekends living like a bachelor. I feel like her marriage is at the end of the rope and she has no support getting on her feet. None of her closer friends want to get involved but I feel so bad for her... What do I do?

knows and in her own way, lets it go? This is a situation where NO ONE should tread. If they break up, you will be blamed and your friend will always remember that you are the person who destroyed what she thought was idyllic. If they stay together after the fallout, you will still be blamed and will lose her friendship anyway because there is no way in hell he will allow it to continue. Leave this situation alone, don’t tell anyone. Ever.”

“fringe friend” meaning that you are on the outside of the inner sanctum. Marriage is a tricky beast that greater mortals have failed to tame- she sounds like a lesser mortal, unfortunately. Nour thinks you should keep a safe and discrete distance from this- some battles are not yours to fight. Besides haven’t you ever heard of shooting the messenger?

Hala, 32

Nour’s Vote

“Get her in touch with a good lawyer so she gets alimony, child support, and make his life a living hell for being such a loser and thinking he can get away with it.”

It is hard not to notice inconsistencies in your long-term partner or husband. I doubt that she is unaware of the situation since he is “living like a bachelor”. If she is, perhaps an eye-opener is in order but it should come from someone closer than you, especially since you seem to be a

It ain’t your problem lady! Keep your mouth shut. There must be a reason why her “closer” friends aren’t telling her. Or maybe she actually knows about what is happening and is pretending to be oblivious (you’d be surprised how many women follow this strategy just to maintain the peace).

Youmy, 23

“I honestly don’t know if I’d want my friends to tell me. I think that no one is really that blind, and that if she doesn’t want to see it, then she’s not going to see it – or believe you as a matter of fact.” Natalie, 26

“Been there, done that, lost a friend over it. Do you really want to be the person to break it to her that he is catting around? Do you have that right? What if she already

64 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

Rabih’s Vote

THERE MUST BE A REASON WHY HER “CLOSER” FRIENDS AREN’T TELLING HER. OR MAYBE SHE ACTUALLY KNOWS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AND IS PRETENDING TO BE OBLIVIOUS

GIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR THINGS TO CALM DOWN, THEN TAKE HER OUT SHOPPING AND GET HER CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SHOES GUY’S CORNER I pissed my girlfriend off. What happened was due to our crazy schedules (work stuff) we haven’t been able to see each other much as we are in a long distance relationship. (Picture a 3 hour plane ride). I had made a few promises that I couldn’t keep BUT BUT BUT I do lots of cool stuff for her and I’m generally considered a good boyfriend. (I even watch all her movies that I hate.) The latest fight is over NYE, we were supposed to spend it together but something came up and I ended up on a guy’s trip instead and she went out with her friends. She is majorly pissed at me and continues to bring it up and I am being a jackass and kind of yelling at her. How am I going to fix this since it seems like we’re on a downhill course?

to meet her. As you mentioned, on NYE you chose to spend it with the guys. Obviously you’re not on the same page. She cares so how dare you yell? You can’t be expecting her to be all cool when she has been craving to spend time with you on one of the few days you are both off the job. And for God’s sake it’s your job is to do cool stuff so don’t brag about it w trabbe7na jmeeleh. Man up, inform her on where she stands in your life and dodge the drama.” Lorena, 31

“Pack your shit, buy a ticket and surprise her wherever she happens to be. The way I am reading your question, you basically dumped your girlfriend to party with your friends.... unless the ‘something that came up’ happens to be an alien invasion you need to battle, you are in the wrong here.”

“I actually terminated a 4 year relationship after he chose to spend it with the boys in Miami instead of with me. Long distance is not easy, and if you want to make it work, it shouldn’t be drawn out for too long. You need to compromise, manage your time and expectations realistically in order to try to make it work against all the odds. As you can see I’m not a firm believer in long distance relationships and their usual but unfortunate outcomes. Now although I’m only addressing the New Year faux pas- I will bring to your attention that this may only be the tip of the iceberg on how important you view the relationship and what your priorities are.”

Aya, 20

Nour’s Vote

“Dear I am ‘generally a good boyfriend’,I think you already made the decision of not making her a priority in your hectic schedule. If you truly feel something towards her you would have found the time

The Interactive Panel hates you- all the responses painted you with the same ugly brush. I’m not overly fond of you myself, come to think of it. The “BUT BUT BUT” disclaimer sucks since you (as her

Sacha, 31

boyfriend) are kind of obligated to do “cool stuff for her” especially if she does cool stuff for you. I suggest some major damage control before she takes a hike. Rabih kind of has the right idea, but given the grey areas that we can’t factor in, you’ll need to shift your priorities and figure this one out for yourself.

Rabih’s Vote You’re an ass. You know how women LOVE their New Year plans and how it’s very important for them to spend it with the person that they care about and/or love. You should have made sure to be with her. Anyway, it is what it is. I do have a solution for you if you care enough. It’s called “The Red-Soled Shoe” remedy: Give it a couple of weeks for things to calm down, then take her out shopping and get her Christian Louboutin shoes. You’ll end up spending a good “K” on them, but it’ll mend all wounds and buy you a few naughty mishaps for months to come

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.

THE STEAMY ISSUE

BY AMAL CHAABAN

New York Times

BESTSELLING AUTHOR

MaryJanice Davidson is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of the Undead and Unwed series. Davidson has written over 30 novels, including six series, and contributed to 19 anthologies. You can learn more about Davidson at www.maryjanicedavidson.net

66 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

Amal Chaaban talks to bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson exclusively for RAGMAG Your books are sarcastic, whimsical and fun, yet there is an undercurrent of lessons learned throughout them. Do you think that we as a society learn that way?

There is a theme of love that runs through many of your books, love between friends, love between relatives and romantic love. Do you think love conquers all?

I do except I think that society’s learning curve takes about 20 times as long. If you look at any country’s history, any society’s history, you will see that our learning curve is so slow. One of the things I like about my characters, Betsy in particular is that sure she is learning but sometimes it takes her a while to realize that she can’t let the situation sit the way it is going to sit and she needs to get in there and fix things. Betsy’s not a genius and my other characters are not geniuses so you will not see them saving the world after half an hour of brainstorming but I do think that at the end of the day, they get the job done. I do think that we as a society get the job done. I am a dog person, and a six week old puppy knows not to shit where she eats but as a species, we haven’t even got that down. It’s a little sad that a tiny puppy has figured out something we haven’t but I do think we are learning.

I really do. I am so fortunate -I mean yeah- we didn’t have much when I was growing up but my parents love each other, they love me and my sister, I am married to the greatest guy in the world, my children are wonderful and beautiful, I am getting paid to do what I love best. I am always always [sic] trying to be aware of how incredibly fortunate the little girl from the trailer park who didn’t go to college is and I don’t ever want to lose sight of that. Without it [love], what are we doing anything for? Survival? That is no fun. Absolutely I think it redeems us. Sinclair told Betsy that he loved her from the beginning. Do you believe in love at first sight?

Ironically, I don’t. I believe in lust at first sight. I have never fallen in love at first sight. Lust? No question. In the case of my husband that turned into love but it took a couple of months.

cultureclash

In the mermaid series, Fredrika has two men competing for her and she can’t seem to decide between them. Do you think that we as women have a hard time making a choice when it comes to who is best for us?

legs so to speak. I think all you can do is try not to confuse love at first sight with lust at first sight which is something I think that many women are prone to.

I hate to generalize but then I think back to my love life… I am reluctantly agreeing with you because I made some bad choices before I made a really good one. It’s a learning curve, I think men choose the wrong people all the time as well. I definitely don’t think we have cornered the market on that with our sex. I think it is one of those things where you are going to screw up until you get your sea

In so many of your books, the path to love and relationships is never a straight or easy one be it between siblings, friends or lovers. Do you think it has to be difficult to achieve for love to be lasting and worth it?

I don’t think it is just about love. I think we value the most what we had to fight for. The present that just fell into your lap that you didn’t even know you wanted, that you played with for a week and then just forgot about never

means as much to you as the one you had to take a second job for to be able to get it for yourself. Maybe it is just my upbringing but I just think the stuff I had to work for has always been so much more valuable to me than the stuff that just fell on me. Some of your books read like un-fairy tales where Happily Ever After has yet to be achieved. Do you think we are indoctrinated to expect Happily Ever After?

I do think that. Anybody who has ever watched a movie or watched TV or read a book is. There is a debate brewing in the literary world about the term and genre “ChickLit”. Since some of your books are classified as that or as romance, where do you stand on it? Is it a real debate or a non-issue?

I definitely put it in the non-debate. What I do love about the romance genre is that my readers have never had more choice. It’s great if you don’t like paranormal romance because you have mystery-romance and romanceintrigue and historical romance. There are just so many subgenres out there and I don’t think there has ever been a time when readers have had more choice. People can debate the merits of chick-lit vs. War and Peace, that’s wonderful, great. In the meantime, I think it is great to have the choice

THE STEAMY ISSUE

RELEASING

THE VALVE EXHALE THAT

PENT UP STRESS+ FRUSTRATION BY MATTHEW HUSSEY

Ever notice how you can feel completely stressed out even when you’re supposed to be taking a break from work? Or how you can take a whole day off feel just as burnt out when you get back with your nose to the grindstone? This is because we have not gotten the hang of doing relaxation properly! Think what most of us do these days when we get a spare couple of hours: We surf the internet, check our email, watch the news, or spend the time planning the next load of work. And what’s more, we can manage all of these tasks sitting at the same desk we work on, whilst staring at the same computer we work on. This isn’t relaxing; this is just spending two hours being unproductive in the workplace. What we need to realize is the distinction between being “idle” and being “relaxed”. Most of us spend our free time simply being idle. We don’t really think about what we’re doing; we go into autopilot and fritter hours away without ever really recharging our batteries. What I want to propose now is that you give yourself a better class of relaxation. I can understand that it might seem a little patronizing, being told how to de-stress. But trust me, this is one of the biggest challenges we face in modern society. We are getting worse at relieving stress and frustration, and this shortcoming affects our creativity, our relationships, our happiness, and even our lifespan. So let’s lay down some rules for relaxation.

68 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

mind, body + soul

1. DON’T RELAX HALFHEARTEDLY

If you’re taking time off, that’s final. Don’t take any work calls, ignore your email, and close your diary. The first step in this process is deciding what you’re NOT going to spend time on. Relaxation is all in the mind. If our mind doesn’t feel relaxed, then we will constantly feel stress no matter how much time we take off. So decide now that when you play, you are going to play full-out.

2. MOVE OUT OF YOUR WORKING ENVIRONMENT To release stress we have to switch your brain off from “work mode”. To convince your brain to wind down, move as far physically and emotionally from your normal work environment as possible. Perhaps this means seeing some friends on the other side of town (preferably those you don’t work with), or joining a running club to give yourself some time outside amongst nature.

If nothing else, get out of the office and head down to the park. Then, take out a pen and paper and write down some of the most exciting and enjoyable experiences you want to have in life. Now you’ll have a whole list of activities that inspire you outside of your workplace. Use this list as a blueprint for ways you are going to relax over the coming months. 3. GIVE

YOURSELF TREATS TO ANTICIPATE

One of the best ways to get the most out of your relaxation time is to use it to give yourself rewards for all the hard work you’ve done over the week.

For example, book yourself a massage or a wine-tasting for the weekend, and tell yourself that you are going to earn this week by achieving your targets. Or perhaps you just want to indulge in watching a good movie with some junk food. Whatever it is, make sure you have a strong emotional connection to it. The more you are emotionally engaged in enjoying your down-time, the more it’s going to stimulate your brain and help you shift all of that pent up frustration. It might be laughing yourself silly with your friends, it might be pushing yourself hard physically and giving it everything you’ve got, or even just taking some time to do something romantic with the person you love. 4. GET OVER THE GUILT Most people spend their lives putting off relaxation, always under the assumption that they will save all that fun stuff for some time in the future. But the truth is, we have less time to do these things than we think. We have to get over our guilty feelings about work, and realize that taking time to blow off steam is an equally urgent priority in life. If we don’t allow ourselves to relax now, we can end up waiting a lifetime. We never want to risk that melancholy thought of looking back in old age and asking ourselves: “Why didn’t I just have more fun?” Of course, what constitutes “fun” will vary for every one of you. That’s why I’m not presuming to tell you how to spend your free time; I’m just urging you to spend it well!

MOST OF US SPEND OUR FREE TIME SIMPLY BEING IDLE. WE DON’T REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT WE’RE DOING; WE GO INTO AUTOPILOT AND FRITTER HOURS AWAY WITHOUT EVER REALLY RECHARGING OUR BATTERIES

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. 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.

For more information on Matthew Hussey´s worldwide coaching programmes visit www.matthewhussey.com today.

THE STEAMY ISSUE

FLOWER POWER IN BACH THERAPY BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

“HEALING WITH THE CLEAN, PURE, BEAUTIFUL AGENTS OF NATURE IS SURELY THE ONE METHOD OF ALL WHICH APPEALS TO MOST OF US.” DR. EDWARD BACH, 1936

any of us experience emotions of insecurity, grief or discontent at some stage and we accept such feelings as routine and part of our daily lives. Your negativity affects both you and those around you and eventually may even impact your health. A little mix of flower essences may just be the ticket to help achieve fulfillment and happiness. I first heard about Bach remedy, an alternative therapy for emotional problems based on the essence of flowers, back in the UK where it is readily available at pharmacies. As an avid fan of alternative remedies, I was pleased to hear that Leonore Voorwalt, a Dutch Bach therapist based in Lebanon, was giving a talk at Edde Sands. Off I went in search of some flower power.

70 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

“More and more people are having difficulties in dealing with their emotions,” said Leonore, who prefers to be called Noor, in her introduction. “Fear of rejection, doubt, and feelings of loneliness are just some of the unwanted feelings which we carry from past situations. They can be a real burden on our ability to be happy.” Noor used to work in theatre productions, as well as in the European Space Agency, all the while practicing Bach flower therapy next to her “regular” work. While she was hospitalized with an ankle injury and feeling incredibly frustrated a friend introduced her to Bach therapy. She was prescribed a remedy and within three days the feeling of frustration had left her system. So convinced by the positive results she trained to become a therapist. This was 18 years ago.

mind, body + soul

THE REMEDIES ARE NAMED AFTER DR. EDWARD BACH, A BRITISH HARLEY STREET PHYSICIAN TURNED HOMEOPATH, WHO DISCOVERED A SYSTEM OF FLOWER REMEDIES IN THE 1920S The remedies are named after Dr. Edward Bach, a British Harley Street physician turned homeopath, who discovered a system of flower remedies in the 1920s. He gave up a successful medical practice and went in search of flowers with healing properties and prepared essences from the petals for his patients who suffered negative mood swings. By 1936 he had developed a complete system of 12 flower remedies, each prepared from the flowers of wild plants, trees and bushes. The therapy was taken up, tested, studied and perfected by Dietmar Kraemer, a German physicist. The remedies work by treating the emotional system of the individual. How are they made? The petals of the flowers are immersed in water and left in the sun for 12 hours. This essence is then put into tiny bottles. The Bach therapist diagnoses each person individually and decides doses during one on one sessions.

Noor has been living in Lebanon for more then 2 years and has come to the conclusion that many Lebanese suffer from the stress of daily life as well as the burden of bygone events, like the civil war. She has seen time and again and without fail that Bach remedy can relieve such stress, rid our minds and feelings of negativity and make us feel revived and ready to face the world.

people’s recommendations I took up Noor’s invitation for a consultation a month later. After an hour she tested me with having feelings of indecisiveness, lacking confidence and unable to refuse requests, and tested the relevant flower mixture to put me back on track. The treatment was for 22 days during which I took drops of the mixture several times a day.

During Noor’s talk a member of the audience stood up to profess that for her Bach therapy was heaven-sent. Her daughter suffered from emotional problems due to an accident and had nightmares and showed antisocial behavior. “I took my daughter to Noor for four sessions. Now I have my daughter back again. I am totally behind this therapy,” she said. Some people benefit after just one session, but most people need several sessions usually over a period of six months. Not one to go by other

At the time, I was going through a rather stressful time with work, family and the run up to Christmas. Taking the drops made me feel more carefree and less prone to stress. Then the 22 days were up and the little bottle empty. A few days later I felt the stress creeping up again so I headed back to Noor who was not at all surprised to see me. “The return of these emotions is normal,” she said, telling me that it usually takes nine to twelve months of Bach Flower Therapy to have a lasting effect. “Considering it takes a lifetime to acquire the unwanted emotional feelings, this is not too bad now is it? We accept negative emotions as normal but we should not. I used to be negative about so many things but not anymore,” and sent me off with another little bottle to cope with my ups and downs. Leonore Voorwalt gives consultations in Beirut, Monday-Thursday, and Fridays at Edde Sands www.leonorevoorwalt.com

THE BACH THERAPIST DIAGNOSES EACH PERSON INDIVIDUALLY AND DECIDES DOSES DURING ONE ON ONE SESSIONS THE STEAMY ISSUE

HOT ZONE BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

CUPPING IS A COMMON FOLK REMEDY FOR DISPERSING ENERGY OR STAGNANT BLOOD, WHICH CAUSES PAIN

had vaguely heard of cupping but never felt like giving it a try, for a very simple reason: I do have chronic pain in the neck and upper back area, but I know the reason and I know there is no cure. Plus, it’s not a big deal and the pain is bearable. My Editor, considering me the perfect guinea pig for the magazine, decided to send me off to Koura (North Lebanon) to try cupping with Dr. Alia Melki in her brand new Wellness Center, the Five Elements. Driving the Koura narrow roads, all I can think of is why on earth Dr. Alia decided to open her center in Afesdik, what seems to be the region’s smallest town. When I tell her this, she laughs and tells me that “when you’re good and needed, you can be anywhere. People will come to you.”

“THE TREATED AREA WILL BE BRUISED, BUT YOU WILL NOT FEEL PAIN (...) IT WILL RELEASE ALL THE TENSION I CAN ALREADY SEE IN YOUR UPPER BACK.” 72 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

While waiting for Christian to charge his camera battery, Dr. Alia gives me a tour of the place. It’s divided into 5 rooms, each one representing one color, one element and corresponding treatments • The Green room | Wood | Pilates room • The Red room | Fire | Massage room • The Gray room | Metal | Acupuncture and couple treatment room

• The Blue room | Water | Nutrition room

(Dr. Alia doesn’t like the word diet!) • The Yellow room | Earth | Cupping room

Opened since 11/11/11, the center is mainly known for its cupping method “used mostly for pain management,” Dr. Alia says. According to a cupping booklet she hands me, written by Neil Reid- acupuncturist and member of the Massage Association of Australiacupping is a common folk remedy for dispersing energy or stagnant blood, which causes pain. Dr. Alia explains that the darker the bruises are, the more she has to work on that particular area. Wait, bruises? What bruises? “Let’s just start the treatment and you’ll see.

mind, body + soul

“I AM GOING TO TEST DIFFERENT PARTS OF YOUR BACK, BUT I CAN ALREADY SEE BY THE WAY YOUR BODY MOVES AND STANDS STILL, WHERE THE STAGNANT BLOOD IS LOCATED” The treated area will be bruised, but you will not feel pain, on the contrary. It will release all the tension I can already see in your upper back.” Wow, how did she guess? “I am going to test different parts of your back, but I can already see by the way your body moves and stands still, where the stagnant blood is located,” she adds. I lie down, offering my back to her professional hands. She has a few degrees hanging on the wall of the Yellow room, one of which came from her training in China.

PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN HARB

She starts by using tweezers to handle a cotton ball before dipping it into a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Choosing a medium-sized cup that looks like a huge bulb, she lights the cotton ball and quickly wipes flames onto the inner surface of the cup she’s holding near my skin, just enough time to remove all oxygen from it without heating the glass. She then applies it to my left shoulder. I can HEAR Christian’s face. He tells me my skin is swelling inside the stuck bulb and I understand where the bruises are coming from. She repeats the process many times very quickly. I don’t see them coming, I just feel my whole upper back covered with heavy bulbs. Since I am here for the whole experience, when she offers to “wet cup” me, I agree. “The skin is

broken with needles and I will place a cup over the area to draw out the stagnant blood,” Dr. Alia explains. “This is a technique to be used only on the dark areas, where the blood needs to be let out.” I feel small stings at the center of my back, and Dr. Alia quickly applies a cup there. I can rely on Christian’s sounds to know it doesn’t look very pretty. Again, I am not feeling any pain. When a few mililitres of blood have been drawn, Dr. Alia removed the red cups and cleans my back. I stand up and for the first time in years, I am not feeling anything. Usually, even when there’s no pain, there’s a stiffness in my muscles that irritates my body. Even that is gone. The bruises are purple but do not hurt, and my whole upper body feels lighter than ever Get Cupped! Dr. Alia Melki | Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture & Remedial Therapies Center Melki, Ground Floor Afesdik El Koura, North Lebanon THE STEAMY ISSUE 73 06/931750 06/336355

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DOUBLE

PHOTOGRAPHY JASON ZAMORA

BOILED TAO SPA SPICES UP

YOUR LIFE BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

hen I had to pick a new treatment for this month’s Steamy Issue, sauna and Turkish bath were the first thing that came to mind. But after the really hot experience @talktoceline and I had at the Four Seasons’ Sparty’s perfect sauna, I just couldn’t bear more sweat. I decided to go for a body treatment that involved heat -the Tao Spa Rampah Rampah- I wasn’t sure what it entailed but the name sounded exciting.

Upon entering the Spa on that very cold day of January, I did not expect to see such a beautiful and quiet place. The spacious entrance and its dimmed lighting, the warmth and the murmurs of therapist, the brown and gold colors of the place are a great foretaste to what I expect to be the best Balinese experience I can have in Lebanon. I’ve been told that all Tao Spa therapists are Indonesian and trained in Bali, spa capital of the world.

I change and slip into the pink bathrobe and then I start with a red rose petal and Dead Sea salt footbath, followed by a 30 minute Balinese massage to “heat my body up” says Surya, my therapist. She pressures different parts of my back and feet and she even lifts my legs and stretches them. I have to say, with the dimmed lighting, Surya’s expert hands, and the smell of the Rempah bags being heated in a double boiler next to me, I am almost falling asleep. While she massages me with hibiscus essential oil, a mild scent that doesn’t inhibit the wafts of Rempah, I ask her about the treatment.

THE SPACIOUS ENTRANCE AND ITS DIMMED LIGHTING, THE WARMTH AND THE MURMURS OF THERAPIST, THE BROWN AND GOLD COLORS OF THE PLACE ARE A GREAT FORETASTE TO WHAT I EXPECT TO BE THE BEST BALINESE EXPERIENCE I CAN HAVE IN LEBANON 74 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

SPICES AND HERB MUSLIN BAGS ARE HEATED, RELEASING WAFTS OF SCENT- BELIEVED IN INDONESIAN TRADITION TO CARRY CURATIVE PROPERTIES Tao Spa’s Rempah Rempah treatment is based on a hot poultice massage technique. Spices and herb muslin bags are heated, releasing wafts of scentbelieved in Indonesian tradition to carry curative properties. The therapist then massages the whole body with those poultices, releasing the body’s tension, helping blood circulation and healing any existing pain. Surya begins with my shoulders and upper-back. Going back and forth with her hands, she “kneads” my skin and pressures particular points in this area. After a few minutes of massaging there, I can feel her heading down towards my legs, only to climb the massage bed. She then rolls my skin up and down for 5 minutes and places 3 poultices on my spinal column, providing me with a great feeling of

warmth while she massages my legs. She repeats the process with both legs, then with the front part of my legs and belly. Just when I think we’re done –and I must say, it was already more than enough – she moves up towards my head and massages my neck with the hot poultices. This part is the most relaxing- it’s combined with a neck, shoulder and head stretch. She does it gently, yet firmly- so much so that I am tempted to ask how she does it exactly so I replicate it at home. The combination of the scents – I detect ginger, lemongrass and cinnamon – and the way Surya kneads my skin is really working: I am extremely relaxed and even the photographer’s presence and the fact that we had to turn on all the lights on for the pictures don’t bother me.

TAO SPA MAGIC

• The spa is also a gallery! The paintings on the walls are for sale. So are the Tao products. Good to know: The products are 100 percent organic and 100 percent custom-made in Bali for Tao Spa. • The friendliness and smiling faces of the therapists. • Every room in the spa is spacious and serene, from the lockers to the single rooms to the huge Royal Room.

I end my Rempah experience with some fresh ginger tea in the relaxation room. To me, this was just as important as the treatment itself. It gives you a few minutes to cool your body down, get ready for the city noise and pollution, and maybe just a few more minutes of the Indonesian journey

RAGMAG’S TOP SPLURGES AT TAO SPA

• The Royal Room: $400 2 people 3 hour duration. You get a welcome fruit basket, a two-hour full body massage, a body scrub and mask, a private sauna and Jacuzzi for two. It’s the perfect spa gift for an anniversary, a baby shower, a birthday, or just a couple’s getaway. • The Zen for Body and Mind Ritual: A Zen-like tranquility experiences with a 90 minute stone massage, body mask and scented bath. You are also offered a special tea that goes with the experience. • The Top-to-Toe treatment: A combination of a one-hour massage, a full body scrub and mask, a facial and a hair treatment. Tao Spa Le Mirage Plaza Bldg, René Mouawad Street, Facing Arope Insurance, Aisha Bakkar Verdun, Beirut 01 744905/6/7 THE STEAMY ISSUE 75 Tao-Spa-Health-Club

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TRIPTYCH GET YOUR SKIN HEALTHY AND BLEMISH FREE WITH BEESLINE! “WHAT SORT OF SKINCARE ROUTINE SHOULD I BE USING?”

It is always a good idea to use a basic cleanser and moisturizer every morning and evening. It is worth noting that if you are a makeup wearer, you should be using a separate eye makeup remover for the sensitive eye area, then follow with a cleanser. No matter your age, you need to cleanse your skin for 2 reasons 1. To rid you skin of impurities and day to day build up including makeup. Water and soap will strip your skin and not cleanse effectively. 2. To prepare your skin to receive the moisturizer. You products won’t penetrate well without a cleansing routine first.

“HOW CAN I GET RID OF MY BLACKHEADS AND LARGE PORES?”

While nothing can completely get rid of your pores, you can definitely minimize your pore size and rid your skin of blackheads. Start by using a gentle exfoliator. On a moistened skin (not too wet) rub a small amount of a semi-granular exfoliator concentrating on your t-zone. The t-zone is generally where you’ll find most of the build-up. Rinse really well and dry your face gently. Follow with a cleansing mask. The exfoliator would have loosed up the impurities and then the mask will help draw everything out. Do this once every five days to keep your skin fresh and clear. For daily treatment, you can use a pore tightening astringent that will help to keep oil at bay and give you a smoother complexion. We like BEESLINE FACIAL MUD MUSK 60 ml

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We like BEESLINE OLIVE LIFT FACIAL WASH 250ml BEESLINE VITAMIN C SERUM WITH COLLAGEN 15ml BEESLINE OLIVE LIFT CREAM 30ml

“IS EYE CREAM IMPORTANT? HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED ONE?”

The fragile eye area is in need of moisture as well. Your facial moisturizer should not be used in the eye area since it is not meant for the thinner skin there and is usually not ophthalmologist tested. Eye creams can have a variety of benefits. You can choose one for just moisture or one that addresses your immediate concerns like puffiness and dark circles. In any case, an eye cream is always a good idea and should be used morning and evening after cleansing We like BEESLINE EYE CONTOUR SERUM 30 ml

THE WHOLE KIT ‘N CABOUDLE CAN BE YOURS

The Beezies ’s RAGMAG kit is going to 3 lucky readers! To be fair and account for delivery discrepancies in Lebanon, we’re going to randomly pick from the emails we receive, not choose the first 3- this way everyone gets to play fair and square. If you’ve won a reader reward in the past 6 months, you can’t enter but share the contest with your friends!

Beezies products are “naked, green cosmetics” that contain little or no water (hence no need for preserving materialsince water is where bacteria grows) and are free of • Parabens • Petro-chemicals • Synthetic fragrances • Artificial colors (edible food coloring only)

The 3 Beezies ’s RAGMAG kits contain • Body Splash • Body Lotion • Strawberry Fruitcake Soap Bar • Sugar Body Scrub • Fizzie Fuzzie Heart (instant bath bubbles) • Supernova Foam Explosion (great for manicures and pedicures/softens cuticles) • Shower Jello (shower gel in jelly form) • Bath Bombs (more fizzy fun!) • Solid Body Butter (glide on the body and shine) • Massage Candle (melts into massage oil) • Strawberry Body Cream Jar

HOW DO YOU WIN?

Email letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com “I YOU RAGMAG, GIMME A BEEZIES BEESLINE BUZZ!”

THE STEAMY ISSUE

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BACKSTAGE

Get Dita’s riveting red carpet style with MAKE UP FOR EVER’s must-haves.

CRYSTAL CLEAR COMPLEXION

To achieve that flawless complexion, get your hands on MAKE UP FOR EVER’s HD Program. A simple 3 step program designed to offer women a flawless complexion for a picture-perfect look.

2. Apply false lashes to add volume to your lashes. You can either go for the Single Eyelashes or the natural Nude Eyelashes. Apply one layer of Smoky Lash mascara as a base to curl your own natural lashes and aid the application of the single false lashes. Apply the glue to the false lashes. Let the glue dry for a few seconds then adjust and set the lashes where your natural lashes on the top or bottom are less thick. You can use tweezers to make it easier.

1. To highlight, apply Aqua Cream #13 in warm beige on your eyelids and under your brow bones. 3. Use the Matte Black Aqua Liner #13 to create the cat eye effect. Start from the middle of the eyelid and go towards the outer corner of the eye. Stretch towards the outside to create a catlike effect. Then continue drawing with the Matte Black Aqua Liner #13 from the middle to the inner corner of the eye.

78 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

DITA VON TEESE PHOTOS COURTESY OF LEV RADIN | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

VA VA VOOM EYES

4. Apply Smoky Lash Mascara to the lashes. Sweep it upwards from root to tip to plump individual lashes and achieve volumized lashes. Repeat on lower lashes. 5. Apply white Kohl Pencil inside the eyes of the lower lash line. 6. Redraw your eyebrows with dark brown Waterproof Eyebrow Kit # 3 to intensify the colour.

LUSCIOUS LIPS

Draw your lips with Aqua Liner #8C in red. When drawing your lips, always start from the middle part of the upper lip (heart shaped section) and then draw the middle part of the lower lip followed by joining the lines from the corners towards the middle of your lips. Follow by applying Rouge Artist Intense in Moulin Rouge (satin red) shade all over your lips. Quick Tip For a longer lasting effect, blend Aqua Lip (waterproof lip liner) all over the lips to unite the colour and then apply your lipstick

THE STEAMY ISSUE

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STEAMING

Is she a pop culture lover? Then you’re going to give her one of the 3 special k’s signature fragrance. We don’t know if her sisters will be launching their own scents soon, but this one is a sure bet for your celeb-struck lover. For the woman on your Valentine list that has her own thing going on, you’re going to choose this bright and airy fragrance. She’s the girl with a touch of intrigue and a considered a trendsetter.

BEST NEW MEN’S FRAGRANCE

Your spiritual soulmate will be lovin’ your scent-savvy if you pick this Lalique gem up. It’s inspired by the garden of Nilang, dedicated to lotus blooms, this is your V-Day winner.

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Not the settling down type? Your sweetheart (or tweetheart haha) has an adventurous spirit. He’s the masculine type who’s always hopping on the next flight to destination unknown. We like the warming note of amber that spices things up a bitjust like your footloose guy!

THE STEAMY ISSUE

emperor’s new clothes

EFFY’S PRESTIGE JEWELLER EFFY’S TURNED THE BIG 3-0! FOUNDED IN 1982 BY EFFAT KREIDIE, THE BRAND PRIDES ITSELF ON ARTISAN QUALITY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP. WE HIT UP THEIR DECEMBER BIRTHDAY BASH AT THE PHOENICIA INTERCONTINENTAL TO SEE SOME OF EFFY’S BEST KNOWN WORK SHOWCASED WITH A LUX COCKTAIL RECEPTION. FROM THE CLASSICS COLLECTION TO THE SIGNATURE EFFY’S COLLECTION, WE’RE HOPING FOR 30 MORE GEM STUDDED YEARS! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, EFFY’S!

Effy’s Verdun 730, Main floor Beirut 82 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012 01/785473 03/161014 www.effys.com

THE STEAMY ISSUE

MIX N’ MATCH

REAL RUNWAY HAIDER ACKERMANN SS 2012

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

GUCCI SS 2012 MENSWEAR

Valentino sunglasses Marchon Gulf

Sling Shot

Basic grey T-shirt for men available at Bershka 25000 LBP Perrelet Turbine Xl Gold watch

Skinny Minnie Another must have, the studded belt. Available at Bershka 27000 LBP GUCCI

SS 2012

HAIDER ACKERMANN SS 2012

Black jeans, Zara 79000 LBP

Stradivarius bag 55000 LBP Jean shorts available at Zara for 55000 LBP

Use + Abuse Pair this i-shirt with a black leather jacket,

Wedding ring EverYours Collection by Mukhi Sisters

jeans, and ankle boots and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be rocking that look! Zara 45000 LBP

You Stud! Beautiful red leather jacket available at Zara 299000 LBP

Black studded booties available at Zara for 179000 LBP

Spike the Ball Christian Louboutin Marquise spikeembellished leather clutch

Lace Race

These knee-high boots are hardcore! Available at Stradivarius for 169000 LBP THE STEAMY ISSUE

emperorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new clothes

Valentino sunglasses Marchon Gulf

Swarovski Roxane ring

Get Lucky!

Clover ring Charm Junkie Collection by Mukhi Sisters

V-Day EMILIO PUCCI SS 2012

Givenchy tote

JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER HAUTE COUTURE SS 2012

Oscar De La Renta Silkchiffon and lace top

Swarovski Ties of Love pendant

Topshop Clean Ponte pencil shift dress

Nothing says seduction better then lace! Lace see-through top available at Zara 35000 LBP

Swarovski Romatic wristlet pouch

Ring My Bell Christian Louboutin Artemis bell-embellished shoulder bag

I love the golden detail in the heels of these pumps, available at Zara for 135000 LBP

Swarovski Roxane ring

Crew Cut

Check out the cuts on this skirt! Pair it with a silk simple top and add up to a whole sensual look Stradivarius 55000 LBP

Think Pink

Christian Louboutin Yolanda patent-leather pumps

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GIVENCHY SS 2012

THE STEAMY ISSUE

JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER HAUTE COUTURE SS 2012

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Tiffany pink spinel + diamond earrings

Two is Better than One

Valentino bow satin clutch

Pendant + necklace Tiffany Hearts lockets EverYours Collection by Mukhi Sisters Lace dress Zara 79000 LBP

MIU MIU SS 2012 ROBERTO CAVALLI SS 2012

Collar Cutie

This structured dress is for those of you bold enough to show the best of their assets! Bershka, 75000 LBP

Marc by Marc Jacobs Clark twill dress

Toe Shoes

Jimmy Choo Whirl glitter and suede ballet flats

Pair this baby with some ballerina flats or with black stilettos and enjoy your night Zara 79000 LBP

In the Fold Givenchy pocketbook

with hardware accents

Spare Change Swarovski Romantic coin purse

Take Off Givenchy snakeskin tote

The colour of these peep toes makes all the difference Bershka 59000 LBP

Givenchy stilettos THE STEAMY ISSUE

emperor’s new clothes

SET YOUR CLOCKS FOR 6:05 We’re all about the new concept space 6:05 at Depeche Mode! If you don’t know what’s up, you can hit them up every day from 10 to 10 (except for their slightly altered lazy Sundays). So what’s the big deal with 6:05? Cocktails, art space and tons of other stuff. We got out and about to see what all the timed commotion was about, and among other cool stuff, every day at 6:05 is cocktail hour. Thursday night at 6:05 is event time, where you’ll see some of the hip art scene happening right around you. You can even get your fashion fix there since they’ve got a selection of goods from international designers. Download their calendar and check them out on the web so you know what’s up PHOTOGRAPHY JASON ZAMORA

6:05 at Depeche Mode The Palladium Minet el Hosn , Downtown Beirut 01/974199 www.605.com.lb 2012 90 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 605atdepechemode

THE STEAMY ISSUE

emperor’s new clothes

MADAME REVE BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY PHOTOGRAPHY JASON ZAMORA

“VINTAGE QUICKLY BECAME TRENDY IN LEBANON, EVERYONE WANTED TO WEAR, SELL, AND CREATE VINTAGE. THE PROBLEM IS, SOME OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO SELL VINTAGE ONLY DO LOOK-ALIKE VINTAGE. THESE PIECES HAVE NO SOUL”

O “

h, so you’re selling old stuff?” This was one of the typical reactions when Madame Reve started back in 2004 by selling vintage clothes. Lina Chamma and Hala Mzannar, founders of Madame Reve, were the first to introduce the vintage concept in Lebanon. There was a whole craze going on in Europe, but the Lebanese public had not yet become familiar with the whole reuse and revive idea. Eventually the excitement of the novelty took over the prejudice. “At first, there was a lot of resistance. We had to find a way to make Lebanese women try it. We decided we could tell them to take any item home and try it for a day or two, and bring it back for a refund if they didn’t like it,” explains Lina. The tactic paid off.

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Over the years the brand has evolved moving from clothing to accessories. Lina and Hala travel around the world several times a year, bargainhunting pieces of other times, but they don’t just sell them. They break them and then reassemble them to create what is now Madame Reve’s trademark: Modern, unique pieces, ones that, alone, highlight the simplest of outfits. Using not only gold-dipped metals and cultured pearls, but also lace, silk, chiffon and other fabrics, they create authentic vintage pieces that

have real value, with a story and history. “Vintage quickly became trendy in Lebanon, everyone wanted to wear, sell, and create vintage. The problem is, some of those who claim to sell vintage only do look-alike vintage. These pieces have no soul” says Hala. I wonder how a regular customer can see the difference. “You just need a trained eye,” she explains. “If you look closely at a piece, you can see if it hand or machine made. Vintage is also signed, most of the time. And those with a strong sensibility can get the historical feeling of it.”

“IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT A PIECE, YOU CAN SEE IF IT HAND OR MACHINE MADE. VINTAGE IS ALSO SIGNED”

Just like the feeling you get at the Circle Gallery. If you haven’t been to the showroom, you don’t know what you’re missing. It is as unique as the brand’s pieces and just as elegant. It is a hybrid creation, between the old and the new, a modern showroom in a 1929 Beirut building. Designed by Riad Kamel from Les Architectes Anonymes, the 7-meter high cylindrical room, lined up with 81 black busts topped with 81 light bulbs showcase the Madame Reve creations advantageously. When you look around you and everything is the same, you notice what’s different: The pieces themselves. “We wanted our pieces to be exposed on busts

because that’s how they can show their creativity and their uniqueness,” Lina says by way of explaining the mirroreffect concept. Lina and Hala believe in evolution. They started off with clothing, now they’re into accessories, and they don’t know what the future has in store. They don’t like to stagnate, and they sure don’t like their pieces to get boring with time: “We always tell our clients to come back with their pieces when they get bored with it or if they don’t like it anymore. We will break the item and reassemble it in a different way. We like the way our creations can evolve throughout the years.”

“WE WANTED OUR PIECES TO BE EXPOSED ON BUSTS BECAUSE THAT’S HOW THEY CAN SHOW THEIR CREATIVITY AND THEIR UNIQUENESS” THE STEAMY ISSUE

Photography by ODETTE KAHWAGI + CHRISTIAN HARB Styled by JONY MATTA Fashion Set Direction ALEXANDRA KAHWAGI Makeup by ELIE ESTEPHAN from Institute HALA AJAM Hair by Salon ROGER GABRIEL Model EMMA of NATHALY’S AGENCY

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THE STEAMY ISSUE

BLACK SPANX MID-THIGH LENGTH SLIP K-LYNN $92 | MULTI-ROPE NECKLACE NADA G

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PURRL JEWELRY: PINK GOLD INDEX BUBBLES RING $2500 | PINK GOLD CHEVALIERE STAR OF INDIA $4500 | BLACK GOLD DIAMOND BALL RING $2000 | W/Y &PINK GOLD ALLIANCE RINGS $1000 | YG/WG/PG/ ALLIANCE RING $850 HEMATITE TOI ET MOI WG RING $2000 | HEMATITE TRIO PEARS MOUNTED ON W/G DIAMOND EARRINGS $8500

THE STEAMY ISSUE

RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

CORSET BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN | WACOAL PANTIES K-LYNN $60 PURRL JEWELRY: PINK GOLD INDEX BUBBLES RING $2500 | PINK GOLD CHEVALIERE STAR OF INDIA $4500 | BLACK GOLD DIAMOND BALL RING $2000 | W/Y &PINK GOLD ALLIANCE RINGS $1000 | YG/WG/PG/ ALLIANCE RING $850 HEMATITE TOI ET MOI WG RING $2000 | HEMATITE TRIO PEARS MOUNTED ON W/G DIAMOND EARRINGS $8500

THE STEAMY ISSUE

OVERLAY STRAPPED EMBELLISHED CAMISOLE BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN | PURRL JEWELRY: BLACK PEARL SAUTOIR MIKIMOTO $5500 | W/Y + PINK GOLD ALLIANCE RINGS $1000

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BRA K-LYNN SIMONE PERELE $109 PURRL JEWELRY: JAIPUR BRACELET $18000 | WHITE YELLOW & PINK GOLD ALLIANCE RINGS EACH BETWEEN $850 + $1000

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RING BY NADA G

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SIMONE PERELE BRA K-LYNN $109 | PURRL JEWELRY: BLACK PEARL SAUTOIR MIKIMOTO $5500 | JAPANESE AKOYA CHAIN EARRINGS MOUNTED WITH SPINEL BEADS + DIAMONDS $1800

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SIMONE PERELE BRA K-LYNN $109 PURRL JEWELRY : RING PURLL WHITE YELLOW + PINK GOLD ALLIANCE RINGS EACH BETWEEN $850 + $1000 | JAIPUR BRACELET $18000

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JEWELRY BY ALMAS | LACE BLOUSE BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN | WACOAL BRA K-LYNN $110 | SKIRT STYLIST’S OWN

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JEWELRY BY ALMAS | STRAPPED EMBELLISHED CAMISOLE SLIP BY MISSAK HAJIAVEDIKIAN

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BLACK SPANX STRAPLESS SLIP K-LYNN $124 PURRL JEWELRY: BLACK GOLD NEED A SCREW MOUNTED WITH DIAMONDS 6500$ | SILVER TREE BRANCH BANGLES $185 EACH | WG RING MOUNTED WITH DIAMONDS $2900

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PURRL SHAMBALLA BRACELETS RANGING BETWEEN 950$ + 2600$ | CHANTAL THOMAS CORSET THE STEAMY ISSUE

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PURRL SHAMBALLA BRACELETS RANGING BETWEEN 950$ + 2600$ | CHANTAL THOMAS CORSET

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JEWELRY BY NADA G | WACOAL BRA K-LYNN $112

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JEWELRY BY NADA G | WACOAL BRA K-LYNN $112 | WACOAL BEAUTY SECRET SLIMMING BOTTOMWEAR $97

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A NEW KINGDOM

Cartier “The King of Jewelers, Jeweler of Kings” has got a new address: 109 Allenby Street, the newest most sought-out luxury destination in Beirut. Still located in Downtown Beirut, the House moved from El Moutrane Street to Allenby Street, offering 300 square-meters of elegance with iconic Cartier creations of jewellery, watches, high-end creative perfumery and stylish accessories. The new space, designed by Bruno Moinard, is conceptually a series of distinct, but interconnected environments, with a real sense of privacy and intimacy for their clientele. It has a theme that is both traditional and contemporary enabling to incorporate very diverse product lines; in addition to a bridal salon with Cartier’s devoted team of experts to provide brides exceptional service. The Cartier boutique was officially inaugurated at a ribbon-cutting

ceremony in the presence of Louis Ferla, Managing Director of Cartier Middle East and Tony Salamé, CEO and owner of Aïshti and various guests. The ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception showcasing selected pieces from the new Sortilege de Cartier high jewellery collection brought in especially for the occasion to Beirut, the latest Jewellery from

NEW DIGS

Tiffany & Co. announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to enter into a strategic joint venture with Damas Jewellery, a company incorporated under the laws of Dubai, related to the operation of TIFFANY & CO. retail stores in the United Arab Emirates. Frederic Cumenal, executive vice president, said, “We are very pleased to extend our relationship with Damas Jewellery through this joint venture, which will enable us to better integrate five existing TIFFANY & CO. stores into our worldwide store network and enhance awareness of our brand in the United Arab Emirates. We see very exciting opportunities to expand our sales throughout this important region.” Under the memorandum of understanding which covers five TIFFANY & CO. stores (three in Dubai and two in Abu Dhabi) as well as future store expansion, Tiffany will be responsible for merchandise assortment and pricing, advertising and promotional activities, staffing, store design and visual display and financial services.

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The joint venture is expected to begin operating in the second quarter of 2012. Prior to establishing the joint venture, Tiffany sold merchandise, on a wholesale basis, to Damas which operated the TIFFANY & CO. stores. Both Tiffany and Damas are contributing capital to the joint venture.

the Trinity Pearls and Panthère de Cartier collections and an array of Cartier’s latest fine watchmaking pieces. Inspired by the magic of the red box and the Christmas spirit, Cartier’s new boutique facade was beautifully decorated with red spotlights, red ribbons and a cascade of Cartier red boxes.

GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

Stolichnaya® Gold held a winner’s award ceremony at Vintage wine cellar in Beirut’s Saifi Village to present four lucky contestants with gold bullion as part of the “Rediscover Gold” campaign to launch the revamped Stolichnaya Gold premium vodka in Lebanon. Stolichnaya created a custom application on the StoliLeb Facebook page to provide various ways for consumers to win great prizes and celebrate the launch of the new Stolichnaya Gold. Visitors to the page could enter an instant win Las Vegas style jackpot for a chance to win bottles of the new Stolichnaya Gold premium vodka with accompanying shot glasses or exclusive tickets to the avant premiere of the latest installment of the Mission Impossible movie series, MI4: Ghost Protocol. The grand prizes for the campaign were subject to purchase of a competition scratch card, revealing a unique code from specially branded packages of Stolichnaya Gold. Upon receiving their code, consumers were asked to enter it on the competition tab on the StoliLeb page to enter the draw for one

of four grand prizes of real gold! For the first time in the region, the prize announcement was live streamed via the StoliLeb Facebook page allowing all those that entered the draw to watch and see if they would be one of the four lucky winners. Mr. Charbel Sakr, winning $10,000 worth of gold, Khalil Zaarour, winning $5,000 worth of gold and both Elie Chaaya and Boulos Gitani each winning $2,500

worth of gold were the grand prize winners for rediscovering gold with Stolichnaya. “Stolichnaya is always eager to not only involve our consumers in our campaigns but to also reward them for their loyalty to the brand. It is these consumers who truly help make Stoli the number one vodka here in Lebanon.” said Mazen Costa, Stolichnaya Brand Ambassador, Gabriel Bocti S.A.L.

TRULY FINE

This Valentine’s Day, dazzle your loved one with a hearty gastronomic dinner, and dine romantically by the waves of the Mediterranean Sea in the old bay of Jounieh. Cooked by a passionate threetime Michelin starred chef, the five-courseValentine dinner is a blend of delicious surprise and intrigue. The Valentine’s feast is romantically composed with edible petals to delight both secret admirers and hopeless romantics alike. The delicacies of the Valentine’s Floral Menu commences with the Finesalade de homard aux pétales de fleurs sauvages entrée, followed by the Saint-Jacques locales rôties. Mousseline Carotte Cumin. Unlégercoulis au parfum de rose. Main courses consist of the Dos de Mérou. Jeunes legumes grillés au Pélargonium along with the Duo de filet de boeuf angus en symphonie de la fève de Tonka. The sensuous dessert Le coeur ouvert invites you to serenade your loved one under the stars. For bookings and reservations +961 9 919 666 | +961 70 919 666 | info@ubayclubresto.com

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SCORING HIGH!

At the third event in the America’s Cup World Series held in San Diego, Energy Team finished twice on the leaderboard. The Peyron brothers’ French Team, for which Corum is Official Timekeeper, came second in the Match Racing Championship and third in the Fleet Race that closed the event. With its two finals wins in the America’s Cup World Series finals, Energy Team is actively vying with the favourites of the circuit – to the delight of Corum and its guests who were invited to follow the races in the Californian Bay and to enjoy an exclusive evening. Assembled for a prestigious dinner

at the Hotel Andaz on Wednesday evening, Tourneau’s guests were introduced to Corum’s know-how through the collection’s elegance, value and design, as well as the longstanding connection between the brand and the sailing world. Energy Team members chose to celebrate the day’s victory by joining Corum for the evening. The American and Mexican press met on Thursday at the same venue to enjoy fine dining while listening to a presentation about the brand, its history, its collection and its strategy. Commenting on the wins, Corum’s CEO Antonio Calce said: “I am

thrilled by Energy Team’s excellent result in San Diego. It gives all Corum personnel a great sense of pride to see our name and our Corum key, the brand emblem, enjoying such impressive visibility on the wing and sails of the catamaran! We are thereby not only conveying our brand image worldwide through associating with this prestigious competition, but also the name of La Chaux-de-Fonds and the origins of Swiss watchmaking. I congratulate all team members for this excellent performance and extend my hearty encouragement for the next event.”

Infiniti FX’s proud record in the Middle East.” Those enhancements centre on styling cues. The new front grille gives the already assertive looks of the previous model a more overtly aggressive appearance, complemented by the standard fitment of chrome front fog lamp finishers across the range. Newly designed 20” alloy wheels are standard across the FX35 range and 21” alloy wheels standard on the FX50. The exterior upgrades can be enjoyed in a palette of colours including Iridium

Blue and Graphite Shadow. Inside, the FX interior provides a warm, inviting environment, highlighted by a driver-oriented cockpit with intuitive controls, available sport seating and advanced audio, navigation (including Arabic language support and direction of Mecca feature) and technology – ranging from a Bose 11-speaker Premium Sound system to the Infiniti Intelligent Key, Intelligent Cruise Control (Full-Speed Range) and Around View® Monitor system.

UP+AND new now AT ‘EM

Infiniti, the luxury automotive brand from Japan, has begun sales of its enhanced for 2012 Infiniti FX to the Middle East region. Already a popular model across the region, upgrades to the 2012 model refresh the crossover’s appeal with new design cues and technology to complement its performanceinspired driving dynamics. Juergen Schmitz, General Manager, Infiniti in the Middle East, commented: “Infiniti FX has been a key model for us since its introduction and played a significant part in building the popularity of the brand in the Middle East. The region is a very important market for us and the arrival of 2012 Infiniti FX underlines our commitment to delivering the full Infiniti model range and our unique total ownership experience to its car-buying public. We’re sure the enhancements made will continue

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new + now

GETTING COZY

Take pleasure in a romantic stay at Four Seasons Hotel Beirut with the Valentine’s Escape, offering couple’s opportunity to enjoy some quality time together. The package includes an early checkin, late check-out, a welcome surprise awaits them on arrival as well as a relaxing couples massage (one per stay). Linger over the lavish buffet breakfasts, included in the package, and plan a romantic dinner for two at The Grill Room while you take in the stunning view of Beirut Marina or Zaitunay Bay– there are so many ways to create memories that last. The Valentine’s Escape is available for USD 545 per room per night in a double room, for a minimum of two nights stay from February 10 until February 20.

WINNING SPIRIT Family owned distiller William Grant & Sons, producers of Glenfiddich, Grant’s and Balvenie, was dubbed ‘Distiller of the Year’ for the year 2011 at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) awards banquet. In all, the independent distiller scooped 54 medals and four trophies in the Oscars of the spirits’ world, seeing off competition from around the world to be awarded the sought-after title. Members of the press, priority customers of Gabriel Bocti S.A.L. and representatives from William Grant & Sons were invited to celebrate this great achievement at a private function held at the Vintage Wine Cellar in Beirut’s Saifi Village. Mr. Gordon Dron, William Grant & Sons Managing Director of Europe, Middle East & Africa, was on hand to discuss the award winning family business, discussing what separates William Grant & Sons from other premium distillers. “William Grant & Sons have won Distiller of the Year award due to the long term vision we have. At this family owned business, we think of strategies for the next 30 years to cater to our consumers and meet up to their standards,” commented Dron. In addition, William Grant & Sons also received the honor of ‘International

Spirits Producer’. Additional awards were given out for The Balvenie 30 years old for best Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 15 years and over. The Glenfiddich 15 years old, Rich Oak and 40 Year Old were also all honored with the “Gold Best in Class” trophy. “It pleases us greatly to have the honour of being the distributors of such award winning brands from the prestigious William Grant &

Sons distillery. The challenge is now on us to ensure that consumers in our local Lebanese market are able to enjoy these fine spirits and get a taste of the success from the family owned distillery right here at home,” said Selim Bocti Chief Operating Officer of Gabriel Bocti S.A.L., the sole distributors of William Grant & Sons in Lebanon.

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SMOKE

SCREEN STEAMY ABU DHABI HOSTS COLDPLAY FOR THE SECOND TIME! RAGMAG got out + about and a little bit overheated at Flash Entertainment’s Coldplay concert. After a series of promotional concerts in Europe last October, Coldplay embarked on their worldwide tour in December, 2011. Over 25,000 fans packed the concert venue at the Abu Dhabi Corniche Breakwater to watch the Grammy Award-winning rock band ring in the New Year and kick-start the Emirate’s historic hosting of the

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Volvo Ocean Race. Front man Chris Martin opened the show with a resounding, “Abu Dhabi, are you there?” We were and did we ever love it! The crowd went wild to Mylo Xyloto, Hurts Like Heaven, In My Place and everyone’s Coldplay favorite, Yellow. Coldplay’s New Year’s Eve performance was just one of a number of major activities presented by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority for the

two week hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race fleet. Hala Badri, Executive Vice President, Brand and Communications, du mobile said, “Coldplay presented an unparalleled performance; the concert was a spectacular end to 2011, the perfect beginning to 2012, and just a taster for [what] du Live! will bring to the UAE in the coming year.” We can’t wait, count us in for your next round of events, Flash!

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CHECK BY JACQUES TCHABARIAN

Pioneer THE MAINE Despite being formed in Arizona, The Maine opted for a North Eastern state when they named their band back in 2007 and unleashed their own brand of Emo Punk. On their third album, “Pioneer”, they have stripped down their sound to the minimum: Long gone are the studio bells and whistles of the previous albums, leaving room for a simpler song composition but laden with mature emotion. Differences with their label resulted in the band releasing the album on their own independent Action Theory label, giving them more freedom in the direction of their musical course. “Pioneer” is an appropriate title

The Dreamer/The Believer COMMON

Common, one of the most unconventional performers that ever graced the Rap scene,is back with a ninth album. The road that led him to album number nine was paved with many phases: From his outmoded political views to passing through his Jazz/Rap period when the rage of the moment was gangster Rap, and finally to his ever-changing production team. Point in case, he’s ditched the super producer duo of the Neptunes(producer of his previous album), to reunite with his old collaborator and partner in crime No I.D. The mood is uplifting, and has a cruising the universe feel, as reflected by the front cover and the name of

since the band is walking around on new territory here, such as in the excellent “Some Days” which dwells in an earlier Fountains of Wayne era, while “Misery” takes you into the soul of a tormented mind on a confessional journey. Fans of the old sound still have their share in the likes of the party anthem “My Heroine” and the romantic “Call To Arms”, but the best moments in the album come in the form of two songs contemplating nostalgia and the sensation of being young at heart, namely “While Listening to Rock N’Roll” and the lovely “Like We Did”. A great start of the new year for the Punk genre.

the album. No I.D brings a lot of sandy samples and soothing instrumentation to the mix, making songs like “The Dreamer”, “Gold” and “Ghetto Dreams” a treat to listen to. Common has asked poet and singer Maya Angelou to make an appearance on this album, but the most unexpected collaboration comes in the form of, wait for it, his own father. Common is going through a new phase of peaceful radiance even if sometimes with silly lyrics: “Buck naked in the kitchen flippin’ pancakes” is a phrase you’ll hear in one song, but don’t let that turn you away from a really captivating album.

Imaginaerum NIGHTWISH

Nightwish have taken their art to the next level. Not only their new concept album is a Symphonic Metal opus of epic proportions, which saw them teaming up with a 53 piece orchestra, but the said opus will also double as the soundtrack to the new movie of film and animation director Stobe Harju, who incidentally directed the band’s 2009 award winning music video “The Islander”. The album (and the movie subsequently) is based around the tale of a man who is reminiscing about his life as a young man. The band has cited director Tim Burton and surreal artist Salvador Dali as main influences during the creation of the music, meaning

a steady dose of gothic and fantasy sonic landscapes. Ghostly piano passages, dreamy backing choral vocals and war march instrumentals (as in Track 7 “Arabesque”) are thrown in the mix along with their trademark crunchy guitars, making the songs both flamboyant and grandiose. Blessed with immaculate production,opener “Taikatalvi” takes us through Middle Eastern melodies, while “Last Ride of the Day” shows us the band at their most bombastic. One of the strongest moments of the album comes in the form of “Turn Loose the Mermaids”, a beautifully crafted song with Celtic influences. Hopefully the movie will live up to the intensity of the album.

Another Lie SLUTTERHOUSE Slutterhouse have definitely made a name for themselves, some would say as much for their music as for their exotic personas, namely front man Rabih Salloum’s storming off stage during a live gig due to sound difficulties or Nabil Saliba believing that he was kidnapped by aliens in the 80s. If the latter were true however, perhaps that experience helped him shape sounds and create addictive electro pop music, because the music is interesting on this new full length album, ladies and gents. Futuristic keyboards and programmed percussions fill the album with a myriad of creative compositions where the band’s influences can sometimes be heard in faraway echoes on some of the songs (which is not all that bad- as

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some critics point out). Opener “Stop Me” is what the Scissor Sisters would sound like if they ever went electro, “Another Lie” reminds us of The Cure’s opening notes in “A Forest” and Rabih’s vocals provide us with a laidback Brian Molko on the verses of “Electric Bracelets”.The darker side of the album can be found in “Everyone” which German band De/Vision would sulk about for not writing it first, and “All the Time” with its O.M.D opening. The best of the bunch has to be “Space and Ghosts” with its keyboards and synths built up in the middle section, leading up to Salloum belting out, “No one wants to be lonely,” in a frenzy. Fans of MGMT, Empire of the Sun and 80’s new wave bands in general, this album is for you.

and Outside The Lines

Amy Hatvany

weep read’em BY AMAL CHAABAN

Why you should read this book

The love of a child for a parent is more complicated than anything else

What do you do when you are the person trying to take care of the one who should be taking care of you? What do you do when someone who desperately needs the help doesn’t want it? These are just two of the questions asked in Amy Hatvany’s complex and ultimately heartbreaking novel. Eden has watched her father struggle with serious mental illness since she was a child. When she finds him with slit wrists in the bathtub, it is the last straw for her mother who divorces

him. As an adult, she goes on a journey to find him only to find that the rosy future she pictured was not the life he wants. This is a story of a man who knows he is ill but can’t deal with the side effects of his treatment, of a girl who wants to save her father, and finally of a society that looks to medicate “normalcy” onto those who are mentally ill. The journey the reader goes on via David’s thoughts is both sad and enlightening. Break out the tissues for this tale.

Madonna of the Seven Hills

Jean Plaidy

Why you should read this book

The original gangsters came before Al Capone

Long before the great Margaret George and Philippa Gregory, there was Jean Plaidy. This woman was not the originator of historical fiction but easily one of the most prolific and best loved of her generation. It is easy to see why when reading this ditty on the life of one Lucrezia Borgia. The novel opens when Rodrigo Borgia is till a Cardinal and the fair Lucrezia is about to enter the world. From the get go, the words are so masterfully used that you are immediately drawn into the world of Italy as it was back then. Replete with backstabbing, social climbing, murder, and of

course adultery, Plaidy shows us why history calls the Borgias under Rodrigo the original crime family. No one is safe from their wrath; and certainly no one is safe from their machinations in a quest for more power. In addition to portraying the Borgias so well, Plaidy provides a rich insight into their world and what it was really like away from the romanticized versions of history. The slavery, antiSemitism, opportunism are all skilfully played out in the background yet kept in the forefront at the same time.

The Sisters Brothers

Patrick DeWitt

Why you should read this book

Who doesn’t want to romp through the Wild West at high noon?

The hype surrounding this award-winning novel was deafening, winning the Canadian Governor General’s award for Fiction and accolades from reviewers everywhere. This review is no different. The story of the Sisters brothers, Eli and Charlie, takes place during the California Gold Rush. The characters are artfully brought to life with a skill for both realism and fanaticism. We get a peek into what San Francisco would have been like when every man, woman and

child were infected with “the fever” (gold fever, that is) and it is not pretty. The Sisters bros are guns for hire out to kill a man for theft. It is not until later in the novel that we and the brothers realize that all is not as it seems. Many of the reviews cited the humour found in the book but this reviewer found it far deeper- there is a great deal of philosophical thinking in Eli’s narration that greatly enhances this novel and turns what would have been just another satire into a truly great masterpiece of fiction.

Undead and Undermined

MaryJanice Davidson Why you should read this book

Life is hellish when you are being undermined

Vampire Queen Betsy Taylor has eschewed the traditions and mores of the vampire world from the time of her rising. In this book, the middle one of a trilogy within the series, we are beginning to see the backlash fully taking effect. The clues are present throughout the whole series but it isn’t until this instalment that things become clear. From the beginning, Betsy has been entirely too unconventional for the old crowd and what’s worse? She didn’t care then and doesn’t care now. Like other books filed under the misnomer of “chick lit”, this whole series

is more about coming of age, a learning of responsibilities and about friendship. Davidson is a hysterically funny writer who mixes life lessons with a huge dose of humour. This has the effect of making you laugh out loud while thinking: There is a lesson here to be learned. Readers -a caveat- none of these vampires sparkle so if you are looking for another Twilight, look somewhere else. This is a great pick for downtime reading when you just want to escape the mundane and sometimes difficult world we live in. THE STEAMY ISSUE

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playNICE BY ADAM VOLK

Soul Calibur V

Publisher Namco Bandai Games | Developer Project Soul Platforms Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Once upon a time, fighting games flourished in video arcades around the world, with gamers slapping down their hard earned quarters in droves. Today, however, the genre appeals mostly to a small, yet loyal, niche fan base. Enter SoulCalibur V, the latest instalment in the popular series which is hoping to reinvigorate the stagnant fighting game genre. Designed to appeal to both veterans and noobies alike, the game has essentially retooled its overall mechanics from the ground up. The end result is a robust combat system

that’s easy enough to learn, while also offering enough depth to keep more experienced fighters satisfied. Throw in online play, new fight modes, a character creation system and some extremely polished visuals, and the end result is a solid, fast-paced fighting experience. It’s not exactly a pick-up-and-play type game, but if you’re interested in the ancient art of button mashing, chances are you’ll dig SoulCalibur V’s refined dose of classic arcade action.

The Darkness II

Publisher 2K Games | Developer Digital Extremes Platforms Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 When The Darkness first hit consoles in 2007, it was a first-person shooter that seemed to resonate with both critics and fans alike. Based on the comic book of the same name, the game followed the exploits of mafia hitman Jackie Estacado who is possessed by a supernatural entity known as the Darkness. The result was a gore-soaked blend of paranormal powers and trigger happy carnage. Now the sequel has arrived, with Jackie now the head of a powerful mob family. Unfortunately, he’s still haunted (literally) by his dead girlfriend, not to

mention having to battle powerful occult forces who will stop at nothing to get Jackie’s power for themselves. The story is a schlocky as the first, but still reasonably entertaining. Visually, however, the game looks great, with a distinctive cel-shaded art style created by 3D artists meticulously hand painting the game’s assets. There’s also been improvements to combat, including the ability to now “quad-wield” four guns and powers at once. The Darkness II, isn’t exactly the most original game you’ll ever play, but for fans of horrorbased first-person shooters, it’s pretty much a must own.

Amy

Publisher Lexis Numérique | Developer VectorCell | Platforms Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network I really wanted to like Amy. I really did. I mean listen to this premise: the game follows a seemingly average woman named Lana who must escort an autistic eight-year old girl named Amy through a post-apocalyptic world overrun by a zombie plague and military checkpoints. Unfortunately, Lana has been infected, meaning she must lead Amy to safety before she turns into a bloodthirsty monster. It’s a concept that seems ripe for both dramatic storytelling and gameplay possibilities. Unfortunately, Amy’s

narrative never really evolves and the largely stealthbased gameplay becomes an exercise in head-smashing frustration. As a downloadable title (available both on Xbox LIVE Arcade and the PlayStation Network), there’s no doubt that the game is ambitious, and the visuals are top notch. Unfortunately, Amy lacks any kind of structure or progression, with level design that is punishingly difficult. Amy is one game that could have been a hit, but instead is as clumsy and hard to stomach as one of the game’s countless walking corpses.

Grand Slam Tennis 2

Publisher EA Sports | Developer EA Canada Platforms Xbox 360, PS 3 Ah, good old John McEnroe. The famous 80s tennis champ had a temper that was as fiery and out of control as his afro. McEnroe also just happens to be featured on the cover of EA’s Grand Slam Tennis 2, which is only fitting because the game is as challenging and entertaining as the champ himself. Like its predecessor, the game once again lets players take control of a variety of real-life champs or create their own from scratch. Players then have the option to battle through a number of gameplay modes an options, with everything from

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a 10-year career mode to jumping in to a few quick tournaments. The controls have also been tightened using either the thumbstick (on the Xbox 360 version) or the PlayStation Move (on the PS3 version) to control your racket. The game also includes a variety of real-world courts such as Wimbledon, and new online game options. The end result is a top-notch tennis experience, that’s about as close to the real thing as a video game can get. Just try to resist the urge to smash your controller in a McEnroe style fit of rage.

watchout BY ADAM VOLK

Release dates based on amazon.co.uk

Midnight in Paris | DVD & Blu-ray | 94 mins Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard Release Date: February 62 Ah, Paris. Birthplace of baguette-wielding mimes, chain smoking supermodels and of course, snootiness. Now, the legendary king of cinematic neurosis, Woody Allen himself, sets his sights on the City of Lights with Midnight in Paris, a funny, sharp and very entertaining film which explores the intoxicating appeal of La VilleLumière. The film follows a successful yet creatively unsatisfied screenwriter named Gil (Owen Wilson), who is visiting Paris with his shrewish wife and wealthy in-laws. But just when Gil thinks he’s lost his mojo, he

accidentally stumbles upon a mysterious cab which appears each night at precisely midnight and whisks him back in time to 1920s Paris where he encounters his real-life literary heroes, including Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein. Of course, as the story unfolds, Gil discovers that history, love and inspiration aren’t always what they seem. Hilarious, smart and quirky, Midnight in Paris is easily one of Woody Allen’s finest films in years and a love letter to both Paris and the act of writing itself.

Warrior | DVD & Blu-ray

| 140 mins Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte Release Date: February 20 Mixed Martial Arts – or MMA as it’s also known among fanatics – has generated a great deal of controversy over the years. To some, it’s a barbaric and brainless blood sport, to others it’s a sweet science that’s as much about determination, guts and technique as it is about violence. The criminally overlooked film Warrior, offers its own take on MMA, while also adding a poignant dose of family drama among the uppercuts and body slams. The film follows a former fighter turned high school teacher (up-and-comer Joel Edgerton) who

We Need To Talk About Kevin | DVD & Blu-ray

finds himself heading back to the ring in order to bail his young family out of financial trouble. Before long, however, he’s on a collision course with his brother (Tom Hardy) an MMA fighter and ex-Marine who is struggling with both a troubled past and the two brother’s alcoholic father (Nick Nolte, who has since been nominated for an Academy Award for the performance). The end result is a smart and action-packed family sports drama, that packs a one-two punch that feels like Rocky with a blood spattered contemporary edge.

| 112 mins

Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller Release Date: February 27

What makes us who we are? Is it the way we’re brought up or is there some inescapable genetic destiny buried deep within us? The nature vs. nurture debate is at the forefront of the shocking, insightful and incredibly powerful film We Need to Talk About Kevin. Based on the 2003 novel by Lionel Shriver, the film follows a mother (a captivating Tilda Swindon) struggling to piece together her life after her teenage son Kevin has carried out a Columbine-style high school massacre. Through a

series of flashbacks, we learn more about Kevin who, despite his seemingly benign and idyllic upbringing, constantly displays flashes of violence and sadism. With incredible performances and a script that is both soulful and disturbing, We Need to Talk About Kevin is a film that explores a rarely discussed aspect of our society. There are of course, no easy answers, but if the film teaches us anything, it’s that sometimes simply asking the question is the most important and difficult step of all.

Sherlock - Series 2 | DVD & Blu-ray | 3 episodes Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman, Mark Gatiss Release Date: January 24 Sherlockmania is everywhere these days. From the reinvigorated big screen adaptations starring Robert Downey Jr., to the new book by Anthony Horowitz (the first to be released with the blessing of the estate of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). Few, however, capture the essence of the world’s greatest detective quite as brilliantly as Sherlock, the popular BBC television series which offers a contemporary spin on the 125-year old pop culture icon. In the second season, Sherlock and Watson (both played to perfection by Benedict Cumberbatch and The Office’s

Martin Freeman) are back and on the case in modern London. The three episode series (each of which is essentially a mini-movie unto itself) follows the classic Doyle works “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Hound of the Baskervilles” - with an impressively updated twist. The end result is easily one of the best shows on television, with a solid sevenpercent solution of humour, drama and action that’s offers a refreshing take on Doyle’s famous creation for a Facebook generation.

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see, speak, +hear no evil SPECIAL VALENTINE REVIEW

BY MARIA ELENA KASSAB

IT’S VALENTINE’S DAY AGAIN! WE SUGGEST YOU MAKE SOME POPCORN, GRAB A BEER (CHECK OUT OUR ARTICLE ON 961 AND LB BEERS) AND WATCH ONE OF OUR TOP PICKS! WHETHER YOU’VE JUST COME OUT OF A RELATIONSHIP, AREN’T INTO DATING OR BELONG TO THE PERPETUALLY SINGLE CLUB, THESE MOVIES WILL MAKE YOUR NIGHT.

Clueless (1995) Category LTLOL Like, Totally Laugh Out Loud Director Amy Heckerling Starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphey

Plot

Cher Horowitz is a rich, seeming shallow and high school IT-girl who thinks that sex, clothes and popularity are the most important things in her teenage life. She spends her time giving her friends fashion advice, setting people up and looking for true love in a parody of US West Coast lifestyle.

Why we love it

The 90s outfits will make you cringe and laugh simultaneously, the airheaded (yet surprisingly likeable) characters are hilarious and this movie has some of the best one-liners ever. Sure, there’s a bit of romance, but it involves Paul Rudd so we don’t mind.

Heart Quote

“Sometimes you have to show a little skin. This reminds boys of being naked, and then they think of sex.” Cher Horowitz

Legally Blonde (2001) Category I’m Too Good for Him Director Robert Luketic Starring Reese Whitherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair

Plot

When Elle Woods’ boyfriend dumps her because he’s going to Harvard and she’s too much of a dumb, blond sorority girl for his taste, she decides to show him what he’s missing out on: She gets accepted into Harvard Law and shows more legal skills than anyone expected.

Why we love it

The mix of sorority pink and Harvard gray, of sprightly bubbliness and levelheaded intellect, of high-pitched voices and droning lectures, of sexy outfits and study halls. Elle Woods is an unforgettable character, ever-optimistic and smarter than she initially lets on.

Heart Quote

“Oh, I like your outfit too, except when I dress up as a frigid bitch, I try not to look so constipated.” Elle Woods

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Thelma and Louise (1991) Category BFFs Conquer All Director Ridley Scott Starring Sarandon, Geena Davies, Brad Pitt, Brad Pitt’s abs

Plot

Louise is a waitress and has some problems with her boyfriend. Thelma is married to a man who wants her to stay quiet and in the kitchen. The two friends decide to skip town in a ‘66 Thunderbird, but their road trip turns into a flight when Louise kills a man who threatens to rape Thelma. They head to Mexico but are chased by the American police.

Why we love it

Brad Pitt’s abs. The feeling of complete freedom as you drive off into the sunset with your best friend. Brad Pitt’s abs. The power to turn your life around and be with your closest friend when the cops chase you down. Did we mention Brad Pitt’s abs?

Heart Quote

“You said you ‘n me was gonna get out of town and for once just really let our hair down. Well darlin’, look out ‘cause my hair is comin’ down!” Thelma

The First Wives Club (1996) Category Revenge Is Sweet Director Hugh Wilson Starring Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton

Plot

College friends Brenda, Elise and Annie reunite and find out that they were each dumped by their men in favor of younger women. They decide to fight back and kick their exes where it really hurts: Their bank accounts! They come up with devious, hilarious plots to get even –Hell indeed hath no fury like a woman scorned!

Why we love it

The wives get mad, get even, and get it all! The movie has a starstudded cast of award-winning actors and it takes a dark theme (revenge), and puts a positive, humorous spin on it. Besides, watching the three main actresses sing and dance to You Don’t Own Me is priceless and even empowering.

Heart Quote

“You think that because I’m a movie star I don’t have feelings. Well you’re wrong. I’m an actress. I’ve got all of them!” Elise

Bridesmaids (2011) Category Shit Happensl Director Paul Feig Starring Kristen Wiig, Rose Byrne, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy

Plot

When her best friend decides to get married, Maid of Honor Annie, an out-of-work pastry chef, finds herself working with a gaggle of colorful bridesmaids to make Lillian’s wedding a smash hit. Through ups and downs, good times and bad, expensive parties and bizarre rituals threaten to unravel lovelorn Annie’s life.

Why we love it

Dubbed “the Hangover for women”, this movie has no shortage of moments that will make you laugh so hard, that you’ll fall out of your seat. The cast is stellar (Melissa McCarthy delivers the best performance) and the humor goes back and forth from sarcasm and oneliners to poop jokes and disastrous situations –not a dull moment.

Heart Quote

“Why can’t you be happy for me and then go home and talk about me behind my back like a normal person?” Lillian

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see, speak, +hear no evil SPECIAL VALENTINE REVIEW

SINGLE LADIES, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE YOU TO WATCH THE FOLLOWING 6 MOVIES, UNLESS YOU’RE A FAN OF HEART-WRENCHING, TEAR-JERKING SOB-FESTS THAT WILL MAKE YOU MISERABLE, PROMPT YOU TO CALL AN EX-BOYFRIEND OR EAT CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM UNTIL YOU CAN’T MOVE.

Titanic (1997) Spoiler alert: The ship sinks and the lovers aren’t together forever.

A Walk to Remember

The Notebook (2006) An elderly couple relives their glorious, unbelievable love story and there aren’t enough tissues in the world to mop up your tears as you watch this.

The Breakup (2006) If you recently broke up, stay away from this movie as it hits too close to home and there’s no real happy ending.

Romeo + Juliet

Moulin Rouge (2001) The movie is bright and colorful but ends on a note so terrible that you’re bound to cry your heart out.

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(2002) Good girl turns bad boy good, good girl gets sick, good boy gets sad.

(1996) Unless you live under a rock, you know that they both commit suicide at the end.

Fashion , F un , F rolics – F eeling Famous !

presents

Fashion House Thursdays with F Vodka Luxury Collection and DJ Said Mrad and

Le Paon Rouge Valentine’s Special on February 15th Minet El Hosn, Phoenicia Hotel Beirut, Lebanon • Phone +961 (0)1 35 70 70 • Mobile +961 71 01 71 02 tablebooking.beirut@whiskymist.com • www.whiskymist.com THE STEAMY ISSUE

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WORLDVISION BY LILIANE ASSAF

RAGMAG IS PLEASED TO GIVE THE ONLINE COMMUNITY SOME MUCH DESERVED PRINT SPACE. THIS IS THE EIGHTH INSTALLMENT IN A PERMANENT COLUMN DEVOTED TO BLOG REVIEWS. IN ADDITION, EACH ISSUE LILIANE WILL CHOOSE HER FAVORITE POST FROM THE CUBE, A LEBANESE BLOG DEVOTED TO BOOK REVIEWS. WE HAVE (AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE) KEPT THE POST VERBATIM ONLY MAKING THE NECESSARY EDITS. FOR THE FEBRUARY STEAMY ISSUE, WE ASKED LEBANON’S BLOG AGGREGATOR LILIANE ASSAF, TO CHOOSE THE 3 BLOGGERS IN LEBANON WHOSE POSTS WERE ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. GET CLICKING, PEOPLE!

BLOG TITLE LANGUAGE URL

If you don’t know by now, I don’t pick out the 3 bloggers every month randomly, it truly takes me weeks to do so, to the extent that Fida becomes like my mom: “Liliane, bloggers?”, “Liliane, did you pick them?”, “Liliane, did you decide on the bloggers?”, “Anything?”, “Hello, bloggers?!” Sometimes it takes me a long time to pick them, and sometimes I pick them but I ponder on what I am going to write about them. Because I am a blogger, I understand that what I long to read when someone writes about me, is them describing me the way I see myself yet I am too shy to say it. We don’t have enough bloggers that post about relationships in Lebanon, so it was quite good news to see bloggers who cover such topics submit their blogs to the Lebanon Aggregator. I didn’t choose them because they’re the only ones, I chose them because I truly believe they’re very good.

Yup, this is it. English http://yupthisisit.wordpress.com/ @Blushingsblog

It’s still a baby blog (barely 3 months old) that I recently learned of. You can safely say I’m a new reader just like you will be, once you finish reading this column and rush onto checking Blushing’s blog, that is. I’ve been hooked to her blog from the very first post that I saw: She wrote about love. No! Don’t despair just yet- she didn’t write about a red rose flying in the sunset with an accordion playing in the background. She wrote about love in a scientific way, explaining what butterflies are and why sometimes when in love we act crazily. Summarily speaking, she didn’t dissect love to the point of disgust,

BLOG TITLE BLOGGER LANGUAGE URL

LOVEanon Mike Oghia English http://loveinlebanon.blogspot.com/ @MikeOghia

This blog caught my eye on Twitter first which led me to check out his blog out of curiosity. Mike is a sociology graduate with a love for research, people and relationships, so it’s the perfect place for you to hang out. Mike does not write posts, he writes essays and mini-papers, or sometimes even a whole paper. His writings are supported with extensive research and references at the end. By the end of the post, you feel like you have become a professional about the subject equipped with strong knowledge, examples and counter examples. In a flash you are ready to enter the world of discussions. If this isn’t what you’re looking for, the information you’ll gather from the examples Mike shares will make you feel compelled to apply them in real life in order to dodge a bullet here or gain a star by doing the right thing there. Mike’s blog is all about human emotions and understanding them, and he does quite a good job at it. Go there if you’re looking to stretch your mind into intriguing thoughts, debate material or simply to enjoy an informative and interesting read. 130 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

instead she made being in love sound even better and more justified. We have information pollution on the Internet, and people tend to babble a lot. Even if Blushing’s posts are a bit long, you find yourself involved and fully concentrated without stopping for a second wonder, “Why is she off topic?” You just don’t, in fact you enjoy her flow and look forward on what she’s going to say next all the while trying to predict what conclusion she will come to. With every paragraph, she presents an intriguing idea worth thinking about and certainly one you can identify with. Both genders will enjoy reading her- girls to agree and identify, guys to learn.

see, speak, + hear no evil BLOG TITLE BLOGGER LANGUAGE URL

Gabe’s Gabriel Ghali English http://gghali.blogspot.com/ @gabrielghali

If you’ve been finding yourself engulfed by negative energy and pessimistic surroundings, making you feel down, exhausted and hopeless, I have one blog for you: It’s Gabe’s. The previous two choices were mostly about interpersonal relationships, but on Gabriel’s blog you will find yourself learning how to enrich the relationship between you and you. Yes, you read me right. It’s nice to have a different perspective on things from time to time. We talk to other people constantly and sometimes we forget to talk to ourselves. Learning about who we are, what have we become and how life’s events have changed us (or not) recently. A self-evaluation from time to time is imminent, and Gabriel’s words can help the reader with a starting point. For a fresh breeze of positivity, type this URL in your browser and start looking at life with more lightness and relaxation.

LILIANE’S CHOICE

BEST CUBE REVIEW

www.thecubelb.com | @TheCubeLB Reviewer Liliane Assaf | @FunkyOzzi Book “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini http://thecubelb.wordpress.com/2011/11/10/the-kite-runner-not-for-the-faint-hearted/ “‘The Kite Runner is a novel by Khaled Hosseini. The Kite Runner tells the story of Amir, a young boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, who befriends Hassan, his father’s young Hazara servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan’s monarchy through the Soviet invasion, the mass exodus of refugees to Pakistan and the United States, and the rise of the Taliban regime.’ [Wikipedia] But really, it’s not about that, or at least not only about that. Throughout all these events, the author has an incredible talent of getting

you to hold on to your book at times with teary smiling eyes, to turning your face away from the book because you cannot take it anymore; take the cruelty of conscious guilt, the sad reality that evil exists with no reason, and that bad things happen to good people. I must admit that I stopped reading this book at times because I was not in my best shape and that book made me cry. But this doesn’t mean I am not recommending it. In fact, and you probably already know, The Kite Runner is a classic book, it’s a must read according to many sources, it has even been turned on to a movie (which I have yet to watch). The

reason I am recommending it, is not because of how famous this book is or how talented the author is, it is because this book makes you think of ‘What would I have done?’, ‘How come it’s not a Disney story where everything works out just perfectly?’, ‘Why aren’t things okay yet?’. All this makes you feel innocent and naive at times, dirty and stupid at others, strong and courageous at one point, vulnerable yet full of dignity, as well as hard working and perseverant, to eventually not giving up. And flying a kite is just like that. If you’re not scared to get in touch with your feelings, fly a kite, and read the book.”

www.lebanonaggregator.com Lebanon Aggregator @LebAgg

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GENETICS GETTING CLEARER CUT BY JEN

011 saw many scientists succeed in seeing behind the fog of our genetic make-up. Exploring the human genome for juicy clues, the world of science made certain strides in better understanding how our bodies work and how we can cure or prevent diseases. Here are some of the most notable recent discoveries in genetics. Obesity is a major modern public health problem that results in many health issues. Genetic variations in the FTO gene have long been linked to being at risk of obesity. But recent studies show that this isn’t as clear cut as it seems. For instance the same obesity-linked genetic variant has the opposite correlation in very young children. And so your FTO gene and age need to be taken into account. Parkinson, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, hits many aged 50 and over. 2011 saw three big findings in Parkinson. The first was in March when Stanford scientists used a patient’s cells to successfully recreate features of the disease. In June, 23andMe found two new genetic associations with Parkinson’s disease and in October found a gene that could possibly shield against the disease.

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These are important findings since they could help find better treatments and cures and more accurate insight into what causes the disease. Your genes can be seen…in your eyes. No one has the exact same irises. We all have different colours, spots and lines. But why? Around 3,000 people were part of an Australian study that proved that certain genetic variants are the cause behind certain difference in patterns in our irises. A sweet study on type 2 diabetes tried to find out why people of South Asian descent have higher rates of type 2 diabetes than those of European ancestry. The study which included around 60,000 people of South Asian origin discovered several genetic variants linked to type 2 diabetes, and those seem to be associated with the disease in Europeans too. An older study uncovered similar genetic factors linked to the disease in Europeans and South Asians. However, most of the genetic variants had stronger effects in one population. Susceptibility to diseases differs between men and women and yet most research overlooks the nuances of sex in disease

research, prevention and treatment. A Stanford research group dissected data from one of the first genomewide association studies (GWAS) and unraveled some of the genetic mysteries behind Crohn’s disease and coronary heart disease in relation to men and women. Linda Liu (from Stanford’s research team) states, “studying sex differences can help provide a missing link in terms of different gene-endocrine and gene-environment interactions in males and females.” Science used to believe that humans originated from East Africa. But March 2011 suggests otherwise. Researchers at Stanford, UCSF and 23andMe dug up evidence that our ancestral roots could actually be from Southern Africa. And Europeans’ ties to Africa exist. 80,000 Europeans were studied and 3 percent to 4 percent of those with entirely European origin had some hidden African ancestry. Genetic findings related to prostate cancer, breast cancer, migraines and various autoimmune disorders were other 2011 highlights. With 2012 now in full swing, the steam around genetics will continue to clear. But what parts of our double helix will be disentangled?

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

Socialize Your Business (12 hours) INSTRUCTOR MS. MARIA FRANGIEH

Marketing has changed! Keep up with the times by learning how to use the Internet and Social Media for marketing. Social Media have become an essential tool for marketers nowadays. Guarantee your organization greater exposure, additional revenues and close communication with customers by incorporating Social Media in your marketing strategies.

WHO SHOULD JOIN? Business people with a limited budget for marketing, people in the marketing departments of small and large companies, people planning to enter the field of marketing. The fee will be 275,000 LBP and registration dates are January 9 to February 6.

THE STEAMY ISSUE

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take me with you

THE STEAMING,

TEEMING STREETS OF THE BIG EASY IS ALIVE + WELL BY ALICE HLIDKOVA

Noisy crowds mill along New Orleansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Frenchmen Street, squeezing in and out of threaded jazz clubs. Inside the venues, caged within hot spotlights, musicians are immersed in a heated discussion with one another. Their shiny brass instruments do the talking, and feed off each other while improvising their tunes. Soon the audience is silenced and the performance begins.

their rituals, spoke their native tongues and used instruments first introduced by the French and Spaniard conquistadores, giving birth to the jazz foundation. Suddenly African American neighborhoods of Treme and the Lower Ninth Ward began weaving brass bands, social aid and pleasure clubs, into the emerging musical fabric.

Not much of the jazz culture has changed since musicians Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Wynton Marsalis defined jazz as acoustic, blues-based, and decidedly African American. Legendary musician Jimi Hendrix understood its impact at Congo Square where he would invite local bands to his evening concerts. At the height of segregation the grassy preserve was used for the cultural and economic benefit of enslaved men when no other public square in America permitted such activities. The Haitians and Senegalese practiced

RIGHT: JIMI HENDRIX

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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: RED BULL STRET KINGS; PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND

WITH ITS CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL INFLUENCES—AND AN “ANYTHING GOES” MENTALITY—NEW ORLEANS ARGUABLY HOSTS MORE FREE FESTIVALS THAN ANY OTHER METROPOLITAN CITY IN THE COUNTRY Jazz exploded after the United States purchased Louisiana from the French. As Catholic Irish workmen built canals and Protestant German scholars opened academic institutions and breweries, Baptist free men of colour took greater authority of liberal arts, operating all-black schools and newspapers. Creoles— the pleasant mutt of three cultures: Caucasian, Indian, and African—set stage for jazz on hundreds of cotton and tobacco plantations nurtured along the river. One such southern fairy tale is Oak Alley Plantation, a National Historic Landmark, enriched with twenty-eight oak trees in two well-spaced rows.

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With its cultural and historical influences—and an “anything goes” mentality—New Orleans arguably hosts more free festivals than any other metropolitan city in the country. Drag queens ride in colourful carriages and mingle in leather dive bars during the Decadence (gay pride) Parade. Polytheistic religious practitioners seize the streets for the Voodoo Experience. Foreign artists toast to Jazz Fest, whereas locals reserve their energy for the burlesque New Orleans Bingo Show or the theatrical French Quarter Festival. Professionals, dressed in latex and spandex, follow suit in the 610 Stompers impromptu parade. Meanwhile, their wives head the 610 splits.

Mardi Gras reigned the festive atmosphere at the start of the Christian holiday of Lent. French settlers once pleased their ladies with masquerade balls, but today celebrations spill into the streets. Costumed people -covered in body paint, feathers, glitter, confettidance under the ornate grilles of street-lined verandas decorated with painted graceful metal ivy, brittle metal twigs scrubbed by bright beads. As they parade past hushed red-light district of Bourbon street, baroque furniture galleries of Royal Street, and novel art shops of Decatur Street, they wash down alligator sausage and crawfish with their beer. On Chartres Street, the familiar faces of Jude Acers, Guinness World Records holder in chess and Scott Boswell, restaurateur known for liquid nitrogen-cooled vodka, pleasantly separate the informal processions.

take me with you

JAZZ TRUMPETER COURTESY OF ELENA GRIGOROVA | SHUTTERSTOCK .COM

TOP TO BOTTOM: STREET BAND IN NEW ORLEANS, FRENCH QUARTER IN NEW ORLEANS

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MARDI GRAS PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATALIA BRATSLAVSKY AND WENDY KAVENEY | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

take me with you

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OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: OAK ALLEY PLANTATION, MARDI GRAS, NEW ORLEANS LANDSCAPE

Since the 1970s Mardi Gras has shifted directions to Uptown and Mid-city districts. Oak tree-lined avenues of St. Charles and Esplanade once served inspiration for American author Tennessee Williams and French artist Edgar Degas. And for the Mardi Gras Indians -young men dressed in Indian costumes stitched with beads and ostrich feathers- resembling Brazilian samba dancers they assume the roles of chiefs, flag boys and spot men, and dance in commemoration of their ancestral past. They briefly occupy

the six-mile stretch of Magazine Street, which lends its space for the city’s party-goers and resident artists. It’s difficult to imagine New Orleans without music. But in 2005, as Hurricane Katrina blew through the city, music briefly came to a halt. Fourteen-foot veils of water drowned eighty percent of the city including its many venues, leaving its musicians to abandon their posts and take refuge in other cities. But the strongest-willed of the bunch returned, prayed, and performed again.

Often such artistic vocations were reserved mostly for events associated with suffering. Because life was short as a result of persecution and disease, natural disasters and death, musicians gathered at religious ceremonies and funerals to dance. On the storm’s six-year anniversary, in August, many musical groups sent out their bands to dance in commemoration of the lives lost. Citizens held candle vigils near the repaired levies intended to safeguard the rice bowled city—well under sea level—from any natural disasters.

JAZZ TRUMPETER COURTESY OF ELENA GRIGOROVA | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Back on Frenchmen, musicians are yet again breathing their own tunes. At the Grammy-award-winning playhouse, Mayfield, trumpets are burnished; at Snug Harbor, stages are dressed with orchestra; at The Three Muses, tenor saxes are humbly warbled. In a few moments jazz will spill out with wedges of light from open doors into the ruffled skirts of Jackson Square, wherein professionals market their talents well into the steamy night

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961 BEER +

LEBANESE BREW HEAT UP MAZEN HAJJAR IS OUT TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DRINK BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

he Lebanese are renowned worldwide for their creativity and entrepreneurial skills. But, trying their hand at making their own beer is not something one would expect the nation to get into. “Actually, beer is dead easy to make, much easier than arak,” says Mazen Hajjar, founder and CEO of 961 beer. “You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to make beer.” According to Mazen, all you need is a plastic bucket to start off with. Add barley or wheat, then warm water and mix; this is called the mashing process. Separate the liquid from the barley, add hops, and boil for an hour. Then, flash cool it. Stir, top up with cold water, pop in the yeast, put the sealed plastic bin in a cold spot and decant into a pressurized barrel. Leave it for a few weeks and you’re off.

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Or, if that sounds too complicated then just order a crate of 961 beer or LB, Lebanese Brew, its sister product. “Of course, it’s all about trial and error… you get better at making beer as you go along,” says Mazen. He admits to having tasted around 4,000 beers all over the world looking out to perfect his own brew, since he set up the 961 microbrewery in 2006. LB has been tagged as “A Brave New Beer”. Why brave? “With LB we’re trying to bring beer back to its original home. “Beer is the oldest beverage on earth, originating from 9,000BC. The first human settlements were in Sinai, and barley was grown back then,” explains Mazen. To prove his point he shows me a Discovery Channel documentary entitled How Beer Saved the World. Historians and anthropologists tell of how the agricultural revolution

came about in 9,000BC when barley was cultivated and domesticated to make beer. Even the invention of the plough came about in order to cultivate barley. In the film, archeologists tell of how pharaohs were buried with urns containing beer as it was considered a valuable commodity; even the laborers who constructed the pyramids were thought to have been rewarded with beer.

“ACTUALLY, BEER IS DEAD EASY TO MAKE, MUCH EASIER THAN ARAK. YOU DON’T NEED TO BE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO MAKE BEER.”

eat, drink + be merry

Farfetched? Not according to Mazen who wants to change the way the Lebanese think about beer. The 961 microbrewery, located in the industrial district of Mazreat Yachoura a half hour drive out of Beirut, is open to the public and Omar Bekdache, head of operations, gave me a grand tour in the company of Bala, his bulldog. He is proud of their beer due to the purity of the ingredients. It contains no added corn or rice, unlike most commercial beers, just malt, hops, water and yeast. The 961 range now includes lager, red ale, and a porter and is exported to 16 countries.

“MOST LEBANESE STILL CONSIDER BEER AN UNSOPHISTICATED BEVERAGE. WINE IS ASSOCIATED WITH SOPHISTICATION, AND BEER WITH ENGLISH HOOLIGANS”

Mazen and Omar are aware that Lebanon is not exactly a beer-drinking nation -the yearly total consumption of beer in Lebanon is about equal to the amount consumed during the Oktoberfest in Munich- but both aim to change this. “In Lebanon, we are conditioned into drinking beer out of a bottle at subzero temperature. By all means, drink beer at -3°C if you don’t want to taste it,” says Mazen. “Most Lebanese still consider beer an unsophisticated beverage. Wine is associated with sophistication, and beer with English hooligans.” Beer should be drunk at select temperatures and from a wide-mouthed glass. Beer also benefits from food pairing, just like wine. Ever considered a beer and wine evening? Well, some wine sommeliers believe that certain cheeses benefit from pairing with beer rather than wine. Mazen is planting hops all over Lebanon to use for future production, the hops is currently imported from

Germany. And the company is bent on supporting the local community and gives all spent mash to the pig farmers for free, unlike other breweries which sell it. “In return we ask these farmers not to use hormones in their production,” says Mazen. After the tour of the brewery I had the privilege of tasting a soon to be released 961 pale ale. Light in color, it is made with locally-sourced base materials, sumac and thyme, to create an extremely unusual flavor… a really delicious beer with a Lebanese twist. “I am aiming to educate people about beer, not just the 961 brand,” says Mazen.“Beers are not the same they are unique, just like human beings.” I tasted the 961 porter with different foods, as he suggested, and decided that it really goes down a real treat with chocolate truffles. Try it- it might just change the way you drink!

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eat, drink + be merry

SPARKS FLYING

ALL OVER AGAIN! BeirutRestaurants.com for more great suggestions

@b_restaurants

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!

LA PARRILLA

THE PORTER HOUSE

ROCOCO

AL DENTE

EAU DE VIE

ALBERGO HOTEL ROOF RESTAURANT

66 Saint Maron Street Gemmayzeh, Beirut CUISINE ARGENTINEAN + 961 1 585885 + 961 3 919119

Abdel Wahab Street , Achrafieh CUISINE ITALIAN +961 3 280516 www.albergohotel.com

CASABLANCA

Ain el Mreisseh Street, Beirut CUISINE INTERNATIONAL +961 1 369334

CHEZ SOFI

Mar Mikhael, Achrafieh, Beirut CUISINE FRENCH +961 1 566991 www.chezsophie-lb.com

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Al Arz Street Gemmayzeh, Beirut CUISINE FRENCH +961 1 443442

Mina El Hosn Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel Beirut CUISINE FRENCH +961 1 369100 www.eau-de-vie.ca

LE 1700

Faqra, Kfardebian CUISINE FRENCH +961 3 44 1700 www.le1700.com

Monot Street, Achrafieh CUISINE INTERNATIONAL +961 70 881771

Abdel Wahab Inglizi Street Albergo Hotel, Achrafieh CUISINE INTERNATIONAL +961 1 339797 www.albergohotel.com

COUQLEY

The Alleyway Gemmayzeh, Beirut CUISINE FRENCH +961 1 442678 www.couqley.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY LEILA ROUMANI

THE SPANISH WAY GOURMET FOOD & DRINK BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

alvador Sandoval has always been passionate about food. Born in Santiago de Chile, he studied industrial mechanics but soon decided to take up a profession that matched his real passion and founded Spanish Gourmet: Exporting authentic Spanish artisanal products to the rest of the world. On a trip to Lebanon five years ago Sandoval met his Lebanese wife and decided to settle here. He is now realizing his dreams by creating Spanish Gourmet Lebanon to bring a variety of his nation’s best produce to the Levant. He believes that Spain’s cuisine is one of the best in the world, for both quality and variety, as the food of each of the country’s seventeen different regions is influenced by a unique climate and local way of life.

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“We know that it is very hard to compete with Italian and French products which are well-known all around the world. But, the Spanish taste is different and unique in its kind,” insists Sandoval. “So our target is to promote Spain in Lebanon, to make people discover all these flavors, all this diversity of artisanal products, and how to use them.” Sandoval is always on the look out for authentic Spanish artisanal, choosing only handmade gourmet fare with mouth-watering and delicious flavors. Among the goodies he has sourced are Iberian ham, artisan vegetables in olive oil, Bonito del Norte tuna, artisan cheeses, herbal teas and, of course, wine. Spain has over 2,9 million acres vineyards planted, making it the most widely planted wine producing nation

in the world. Major Spanish wine regions include the Rioja and Ribera del Duero, well known for their grape variety. Now Spanish Gourmet is introducing fine Spanish wines to Lebanon including the wines of Marques de Caceres (Rioja) as well as a range which includes the Anta Banderas (Ribera del Duero). The latter aims to become a landmark on the global wine scene, raising awareness since the heartthrob Spanish actor Antonio Banderas is involved with the brand.

“OUR TARGET IS TO PROMOTE SPAIN IN LEBANON, TO MAKE PEOPLE DISCOVER ALL THESE FLAVORS, ALL THIS DIVERSITY OF ARTISANAL PRODUCTS, AND HOW TO USE THEM”

eat, drink + be merry

And what is fine wine without a good morsel of cheese? Look no further than Spain for a wide variety of cheeses made in a wide variety of styles including fresh, cured, semi-cured and pressed paste. “Most of the cheeses imported by Spanish Gourmet are artisanal made with raw milk, which gives its special taste,” says Sandoval. “And this detail makes our difference in the Lebanese market.”

In December 2012 Spanish Gourmet Lebanon organized a Ham Cutting Course at The Blue House in Beirut with Spanish Chef Miguel and local chef Paul Haddad in the presence of His Excellency the Spanish Ambassador D. Juan Carlos Gafo.

PAIRING FOOD WITH WINE

According to Salvador Sandoval, the El Pastor Roncales cheese pairs wonderfully with Marques de Caceres or Anta Banderas red wine. Slowly ripened in mountain air over several months this cheese has a rustic, nutty and olive flavor and a moist, smooth texture. Serrano ham, almonds, olives and membrillo (quince paste) all pair well with this tasty cheese. It can also be enjoyed grated or sliced thinly and served with vegetables.

The Manchego Cheese Don Cesareo is a dream with Marques de Caceres or Anta Banderas red wine. This unique cheese originates from the Spanish hillsides of La Mancha and the smallscale, artisan production yields an exquisite cheese made with raw milk with an incredible taste due to slow aging. The locals enjoy this cheese served before a meal, topped with a spot of Spanish quince jelly or dipped in honey. Visit www.spanishgourmetlebanon.com soon for more tasty morsels! It’s currently under construction

EL PASTOR RONCALES CHEESE PAIRS WONDERFULLY WITH MARQUES DE CACERES OR ANTA BANDERAS RED WINE

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eat, drink + be merry

LARGUEZ LES

AMARRES!

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

“

hay, another French Bistro in Beirut!” That’s the first thing that came to my mind when Fida asked me to review Amarres Bistro & Café Français for February. Located in Zaitunay Bay, Amarres is entrepreneur Ziad Kamel’s latest project following in the successful footsteps of Couqley in the Alleyway Gemmayzeh. When I get to the restaurant, I am welcomed and taken to my table, next to the amazing “wine wall” of the restaurant. As I am contemplating it and the copper tables, I am annoyed by the cigar smoke coming from the table next to me. Wishing this was a nonsmoking venue, I ask the helpful waiter if I can move to another table, where I can finally take a look at the food and wine menu. I am pleasantly surprised by the small number of dishes. The 24 item menu, divided into entrées, hot dishes, side

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orders and desserts, is very French bistro-ish: A few salads, meat, fish and poultry. I decide to go for the lentil salad served with a roast beef rocket roll and the duck confit, while my significant other tries the onion soup gratinée and the Amarres steak. All dishes were very tasty, but I have to recommend the onion soup: It’s hot, rich, and full of flavor. As for the steak, it is tender, and we can still get the meat taste under the creamy sauce accompanying it. The duck could do with more cooking-time for the fat skin to get crispy, but its meat is so soft it magically melts off the bone. We were too full to have any dessert, but I don’t consider it to be the highlight of Amarres’ anyway. I think it’s a place one goes to for a quick lunch when in the area- one is served quickly and dishes are as simple as they are delightful.

For a coffee or a cup of tea in the afternoon, Amarres must be on your Top 5 Beirut list. The setting makes all the difference when compared to other coffee venues. Vintage-looking posters adorn the walls, while a big copper chandelier centerpiece descends from the ceiling, echoed by smaller ones lining up the bar. The big baywindows create a transparent façade to the restaurant, letting in all the daylight, creating a tranquil atmosphere The +

+ The cozy, Frenchy-style setting, especially the “wine wall” + The great value for money. Portions are generous, ingredients are good quality and it’s not a rip-off.

The –

- Why is the menu a mix between French and English? Pick one language, preferably French for cohesion, and stick to it. - I was not asked how I wanted my meat. When a restaurant offers good quality meat, it is expected to offer the cooking choice that comes with it. Amarres Bistro & Café Français Zaitunay Bay 01/372292 info@thealleyway.org AmarresBeirut | @The_Alleyway

Welcome to our new venture Citymall - Kaslik - Hamra - Verdun - Jal el Dib - Jbeil Mzaar(Kfardebian) - ABC(Ashrafieh) - ABC(Dbayeh) Le Mall(Sin el Fil)- Downtown - Spinneys(Hazmieh)

eyedigits.com

PHOTOGRAPHY LEILA ROUMANI

* NOW IN ZAITUNAY BAY

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BY LARA ARISS HAVING SPECIALIZED IN PASTRY AT LE CORDON BLEU LONDON, LARA DEDICATED THIS ISSUE TO HER ALL-TIME FAVORITE BAKING AND PATISSERIE RECIPES. For more great ideas, check her out on the web http://www.mylara.me @laraariss bylara

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eat, drink + be merry

VANILLA CHEESECAKE PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 50 MINUTES SERVES 10 - 12 LEVEL EASY

This recipe is very basic but extremely decadent, perfect for afternoon tea with friends. INGREDIENTS For the Base

INGREDIENTS For the Filling

•160 grams digestive biscuits •40 grams unsalted butter

•500 grams creamcheese •300 ml sour cream •150 grams caster sugar •3 eggs •3 teaspoons vanilla extract

METHOD • Preheat the oven at 180°C. • Lightly grease a 30 cm springform tin. • In a mixing bowl, use your hands to crush the

digestive biscuits and then combine with the butter. The mixture should be sandy in texture. • Pour the mixture into the tin and pat it down till smooth and even. • Place the tin in the preheated oven for 7 minutes and set aside to cool. • Bring down the temperature of the oven to 150°C. • Meanwhile, make the mixture for the filling. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cream cheese, scraped vanilla seeds and the vanilla extract and mix until the ingredients are well combined. • Add in the eggs one at a time, and continue to mix till all the ingredients are well combined. • Pour the batter into the springform tin and bake for 55 minutes and then slightly open the oven door. Continue to bake until the center of the cheesecake is set, about 5 - 7 minutes.

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APPLE CRUMBLE

Apple Crumble is an all-time favourite of many and is known for being a quick and easy dessert served with nostalgia after an intense meal.

PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 40 - 45 MINUTES SERVES 6 - 8 LEVEL EASY

METHOD

• For the apples: Peel, core and slice into thickish slices. • Toss the apple slices in a bowl with the sugar, cinnamon and ground cloves and

then placein a 24 cm x 16 cm x 6 cm baking dish. • For the crumble: In a food processor place the diced butter, sugar, flour, optional

INGREDIENTS •700 grams Bramley apples •225 grams Cox’s apples •25 grams light brown sugar •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon •¼ teaspoon ground cloves

INGREDIENTS For the Crumble •110 grams whole almonds •75 grams chilled salted butter, diced •175 grams all-purpose flour •110 grams brown sugar

TO SERVE •Clotted cream or vanilla ice cream

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almonds and cinnamon and whiz for a few seconds until the mix resembles crumbs. Spoon the crumbs mix evenly over the apples. Use your hands to firmly flatten. • Bake for 40 – 45 minutes at 200°C. Serve warm with a side of clotted cream or vanilla ice cream.

eat, drink + be merry

BRIOCHE

PREPARATION TIME 3 HOURS 25 MINUTES COOKING TIME 15 MINUTES MAKES 1 LEVEL DIFFICULT

Brioche is known for its sophisticated taste, although not favoured by the general public I personally find comfort when having a slice of brioche with goat cheese and tomato jam. INGREDIENTS •150 grams bread flour •2.5 grams salt •17.5 grams sugar •17.5 ml milk •2 eggs •8.5 grams yeast •170 grams unsalted butter •Optional: handful of raisins or sultanas

METHOD

• Sieve the flour, salt and sugar together into the bowl of the

Kitchen Aid. • In a separate bowl, add the eggs and milk and gently

combine. • Gently swirl the ingredients using the hook of the Kitchen

Aid. • Add in the yeast and turn on the kitchen aid to combine all the ingredients - it shouldn’t take more than 10 - 12 minutes. The dough should feel elastic. • Gradually add in the butter and continue to mix until fully combined. • At this point, you may add the handful of raisins or sultanas, and mix till just combined as you do not want to over mix. • Flatten the dough on a tray and cover with cling wrap. Place in the oven at 50°C for 15 minutes.

• Remove from the oven and knock back the dough and place it in

the fridge for 60 minutes. • Lightly grease a rectangular 500 gram loaf tin and shape the

dough into a rectangular shape to fit the tin. • Place the loaf into the oven at 50°C for about 1 1/2 hours, until

the dough doubles in size. • Remove from the oven, and set aside for 10 minutes. • Gently brush the dough with egg wash. • Bake for 15 minutes at 170°C, until dark brown. A cocktail stick

inserted in the center should come out clean. • Leave in tin to cool for about 15 minutes and then remove from

tin and leave to cool completely on wire rack.

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CHOCOLATE TART

PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 40 MINUTES plus chilling time SERVES 6 - 8 LEVEL MEDIUM

When someone is in limbo and doesn’t know what to bake, this recipe will be the saviour as it is always a winner. INGREDIENTS For the Sweet Pastry Dough •225 grams plain flour •110 grams butter •80 grams sugar •1 large egg •Zest of 1 orange

INGREDIENTS For the Chocolate filling •400ml double cream •A few drops vanilla extract •100 grams caster sugar •400 grams dark chocolate, approximately 70 per cent cocoa solids •50 grams butter •Zest of 1 orange

METHOD For the tart • Crumb together by hand the butter in to the flour. • Add the sugar. • Mix in the egg and enough milk to form a soft dough – add flavour (opt). • Wrap the dough in cling wrap and rest in fridge for about 15 – 20 minutes. • Grease a 20cm/8in loose-bottomed tart tin. • On a lightly floured work-surface, roll out the sweet pastry to a size large enough to line the tart tin with a little excess all around. • Line the tart tin with the pastry, pressing the pastry into the edges. Trim off the excess pastry with a sharp knife and cover with cling film. Place into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes. • Preheat oven to 180°C. • Remove the tart case from the fridge and uncover. Line the pastry with baking parchment then fill with baking beans or uncooked rice. • Transfer to the oven to bake blind for 15 minutes, then remove the greaseproof paper and baking beans (or rice) and return to the oven to bake for a further 10 minutes, until it is just cooked and golden-brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.

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For the chocolate filling • Meanwhile, for the filling, bring the cream, vanilla extract, orange zest and sugar slowly to the boil in a pan. • Break the chocolate and butter into pieces and place into a large bowl. Pour over the cream mixture and whisk slowly until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. • Pour the chocolate mixture into the tart case and leave to cool. Place in the fridge to set for 2 hours. • Dust with cocoa before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

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quizz ROUND #1

ROUND #2

Entertainment

ROUND #3

ROUND #4

History+Geography

Trivia

1. In which country was The King and I set?

1. What do the letters M.P. stand for in MP3 player?

1. The Khyber pass links which two countries?

2. Which of the seven dwarfs wore glasses?

2. Which temperature is the coldest? -5C or -5F?

3. In the Batman films, what was Robin’s real name?

3. What is the square root of 3025?

2. Only one member of the UN has a name, in English, that begins with Y. What country is it?

4. Who wrote the book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

4. You have all heard of a paper size known as A0. What is the area of A0?

5. How many children were there in the Von Trapp family? 6. In which town did Superman grow up? 7. What was the name of the tiger in Jungle Book? 8. What was the name of the boy in the Terminator films? 9. Who played the leading role in the film The Fly? 10. In which Shakespeare play does the character Portia appear?

4. What is the main official residence of the Head of State of Cananda?

5. What colour is the Black Box found in aircrafts?

5. The Aswan dam is in which African country?

6. What metal is liquid at room temperature?

6. What is the capital of Haiti?

7. The radio active isotope called Americium can be found in what common household? 8. What temperature is the same for both Fahrenheit and Centigrade? 9. The thickness of nylon is measured in what? 10. The name Yet Another Hierarchal Officius Oracle is better known as what?

dingbats WE ARE IN TROUBLE NOW

ROUND#1 ROUND#2 ROUND#3 ROUND#4

5. What do the Russians call an astronaut?

7. What number is between 9 and 11 on a regulation dartboard?

9. Name BP’s catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil rig, lost off of the US Louisiana coast! 10. Who was elected Prime Minister of Lebanon on the 25th of September 1943?

8. Nyotaimori and Nantaimori refer to the rare Japanese practice of eating sushi or sashimi on what surface? Wood, leaves, a naked person or a newspaper? 9. 2009 what the Chinese year of what? 10. What name is given to the process of changing hides into leather?

TO TOO TWO TU

DRINK TOGETHER

GIVEN ON MOTHER’S DAY?

BU BOMB LL

MAIDEN

NO S

4. Which company manufactures Lifebuoy soap?

8. Montreal stands on which river?

NO RUNS SCORED IN THIS?

WE SHOULD LEAVE NOW

IS THIS THE SIGN OF A SNOB?

3. What animal appears on the flag of Sri Lanka?

6. What car company faced major problems over a sticking accelerator fault in 2010?

GO GO

2. S.I. are the letters used to indicate a unit of measurment is a standard. what do they stand for?

7. What is the name of the present Head of State in Lebanon?

ROSE DAFFODIL TULIP DAISY

SO WE’RE UP

EIGHT O’CLOCK

3. The Golden Temple at Amritsar is a place of worship for what religion?

1. Which famous female tennis player fought against breast cancer?

DR. SYLVESTER A PANTOMIME MARTENS CHARACTER?

A KIND OF SNOWMAN?

LAP LAP LAP

ALMOST FINISHED

1. Siam 2. Doc 3. Dick Grayson 4. Ian Fleming 5. Seven 6. Smallville 7. Shere Khan 8. John Connor 9.Jeff Goldblum 10. Merchant of Venice 1. Moving picture 2. -5F 3. 55 4. 1 square meter 5. Orange 6. Mercury 7. Fire detector 8. -40 9. Denier 10. Yahoo 1. India and Pakistan 2. Yemen 3. Sikh 4. Buckingham Palace 5. Egypt 6. Port-au-Prince 7. Michel Suleiman 8. St. Lawrence 9. Deepwater Horizon 10. Riad Solh 1. Martina Navratilova 2. System International 3. Lion 4. Unilever 5. Cosmonaut 6. Toyota 7. 14 8. Naked person 9. Ox 10. Tanning

WE ARE IN THE SOUP - IT’S TIME TO GO - TURNED UP NOSE A BUNCH OF FLOWERS - MAIDEN OVER - PUSS IN BOOTS TEA FOR TWO - ABOMINABLE - THE LAST LAP

154 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

brainfood

crosswords 1

3 5

12 14 17

23 25

27 28

39 40

41 43

52 55

57 58

62 63 64

71 72

74 75

78 79

ACROSS

3. Very long! 7. Because you are told to do it. 9. Very salty type of fish. 11. Easily deceived. 12. Stop! 14. Harmful. 15. An inky mark? 18. Muslim leader. 21. Very rough edges.

23. Cannot be corrected. 25. A fish’s lung? 29. A wooden hanging aid? 31. Old fashioned drying aid. 33. Not very strict. 36. An electrical storage

4 1 9 5 3 4

5 6 2 7 3 2 6 4 8 5 1 1 4 3 9 9 8 7

7 5 1 8 6 4 3 9 4 7 9 3 2 2 1 5 8 6

6 9 9 4 8 3 4 1 7 8 3 6 1 5 2 5 7

4 2 5 6 2 7 9 5 1 4 8 9 3 1 8 7 3 6

1 8 3 5 7 2 8 7 9 4

3 8 7 1 1 5 2 2 5 3 6 7 9 6 8 4

2 4 8 2 5 1 1 8 9 6 4 5 7 3 6 3 9

9 3 6 9 4 8 7 7 3 1 5 4 8 6 1 5 2 2

1 6 5 9 8 1 4 3 2 5 6 7 2 1 8 4 6 9 8 7 6

1 7 3 5 7 6 8 3 6 9 2 5 8 4 1 9

49. Has no feeling! 50. Shaping on a piece of wood. 52. Live in.

EASY

7 1 3 4 2 9 5 7 8 6 7 6 8 1 4 3 9 5 6 2 7 8 6 4 3 7 1 5

success.

component. 38. Bitter smelling. 39. The “B” in BMW.

sudoku

55. A pig’s house? 57. Petition against someone. 58. Needed for growth! 60. Capital of Slovenia. 62. A sound system. 63. From the past. 67. Nullify. 68. Unlawful. 70. Rubbish thrown from a ship.

40. A small snub nosed dog. 42. A burden on you! 43. Outer part of an orange? 45. A small pistol. 47. Really happy with after a

5 4 8 1 9 7 3 2 6

7 6 1 5 2 3 4 8 9

5 9 7 1 2 7

8 4 6

9 2 9 3 4 8 6 5 1 7

3 5 6 1

1 2 4 3 5 9 6 7 8

8 3 6 7 1 4 9 5 2

9 7 5 8 6 2 1 4 3

3 1 9 2 7 5 8 6 4

4 8 7 6 3 1 2 9 5

9 4 2

8 1 7

4 5 2

6 5 7 2

6 5 2 9 4 8 7 3 1

7 1 2 9 5 8 4 6 3

4 8 5 7 6 3 9 2 1

9 6 3 4 1 2 7 8 5

8 5 6 3 4 7 1 9 2

2 7 1 5 8 9 6 3 4

3 4 9 6 2 1 5 7 8

5 2 8 1 7 6 3 4 9

1 3 7 8 9 4 2 5 6

DOWN 1. One type of swimming race. 2. Give in. 4. Stretchable? 5. A Bikini? (commonly misspelled) 6. Jump into. 8. One way to fish. 10. Addictive drugs? 13. Small parasite. 16. A pile of rocks on a hill. 17. A Lebanese priest? 19. Space dust? 20. A painting on a wall. 22. Evaded. 24. A Lebanese bakery? 26. Having a strong need for sex. 27. Has an atomic number of 40. 28. Slowly. 30. Has unlimited power. 31. Watery part of milk. 32. A root that can be eaten. 34. Some finger prints are this. 35. Inclination. 36. Became thicker. 37. Educated. 41. A wardrobe? 44. Over cook. 46. I think I’m better than others. 48. Eighth planet from the sun. 51. A carpenter’s tool? 53. Study of people and their work. 54. The living dead? 56. Old punishment for sailors? 59. The last bus stop! 61. Without any limit. 64. Became a priest. 65. Unsure. 66. Hanging down. 69. Angry. 73. Rubbish on the beach. 74. An order to stop trading. 75. Expensive clothes shop? 76. An established rule. 78. Throw away.

6 9 4 2 3 5 8 1 7

71. Norwegian strip of sea between

the hills.

72. Was the Dodger this? 75. A position in ballet. 77. Ski slope? 79. Unsure about it. 80. Bell ringer.

ACROSS 3. LENGTHY - 7. BEHEST - 9. ANCHOVY - 11. CREDULOUS 12. HALT - 14. INJURIOUS - 15. BLOT - 18. KALIF 21. JAGGED - 23. IRREDEEMABLE - 25. GILL - 29. GALLOWS 31. WRINGER - 33. LAX - 36. CAPACITOR - 38. ACRID 39. BAVARIAN - 40. PUG - 42. ONUS - 43. ZEST 45. DERRINGER - 47. JUBILANT - 49. HEARTLESS 50. TENON - 52. HABITATE - 55. STY - 57. SUE 58. NUTRIENTS - 60. LJUBLJANA - 62. DOLBY 63. ARCHAIC - 67. NEGATE - 68. ILLICIT - 70. JETSAM 71. FJORD - 72. ARTFUL - 75. ARABESQUE - 77. PISTE 79. QUESTIONABLE - 80. CAMPANOLOGIST

DOWN 1. FREESTYLE - 2. YIELD - 4. ELASTIC - 5. BEECHWEAR 6. PLUNGE - 8. TRAWL - 10. NARCOTICS - 13. MITE 16. TOR - 17. KHOURY - 19. NEBULA - 20. FRESCO 22. DODGED - 24. YAANI - 26. LASCIVIOUS 27. ZIRCONIUM - 28. GRADUALLY - 30. OMNIPOTENT 31. WHEY - 32. YAM - 34. LATENT - 35. CANT 36. COAGULATED - 37. TAUGHT - 41. CLOSET - 44. BURN 46. EGOTISTIC - 48. NEPTUNE - 51. GIMLET 53. ERGONOMICS - 54. ZOMBIES - 56. KEELHAUL 59. TERMINUS - 61. BOTTOMLESS - 64. ORDAINED 65. HESITANT - 66. DROOPING - 69. INDIGNANT 73. FLOTSAM - 74. EMBARGO - 75. AISHTI - 76. AXIOM 78. DUMP

13 15

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astro

Zodiac forecasts FROM JONATHAN CAINER

February.2012

FEBRUARY BRINGS US ONE OF THE MOST SENSITIVE OCCASIONS ON THE CALENDAR. THERE IS NOTHING ASTROLOGICAL ABOUT VALENTINE’S DAY. IT IS NOT AS IF THE PLANET OF LOVE AUTOMATICALLY JOINS FORCES WITH THE PLANET OF SELF-EXPRESSION, INSPIRING MILLIONS TO POUR OUT THEIR HEARTS. THOSE WHO DO IT, JUST DO IT BECAUSE, WELL, IT’S TRADITIONAL. THOSE WHO DON’T, HAVE TO WITHSTAND THE ACCUSATION THAT THEY ARE UNROMANTIC OR HEARTLESS. IF YOUR LOVE LIFE DOES NOT LOOK SET TO BRING JOY LATER THIS MONTH, FEAR NOT. IN 2012, SUCH THINGS WILL COME NATURALLY, WHENEVER THEY (AND WE) ARE TRULY READY. CHRISTIAN BALE CHRISTINA RICCI

PISCES

February 20 - March 20

Start February as you mean to go on? If you can. If not, don’t bother trying to read meanings into the circumstances that you find yourself facing this month. You may fear that they are full of potent portent but in fact they tell you nothing about what lies ahead. Your future remains to be shaped and you have all the tools you need to turn it into whatever you might most wish it to become. The big question you need to ask, is not ‘how will things turn out?’ It is how, in your most secret heart of hearts, would you like events to unfold? Be inspired. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19

Remember how, in the old cartoons, characters were forever chasing other characters across ever more dangerous territory. Sooner or later, they would reach the edge of a cliff. Suddenly, both hero and villain would find themselves running in mid-air. Invariably, they would maintain their momentum until one or both stopped to notice the predicament they were in. Then they would immediately plunge to the ground! And the moral is? Keep on running this month. It is only if you stop and start worrying that you will find something to worry about. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

ARIES

March 21 - April 20 Life is a roller-coaster. It has its ups, it has its downs but would we really have it any other way? When asked, of course, we all say that we would prefer not to be looping the loop. We like it even less when the intervals between each perilous plunge are short. Yet there are also glorious, energising, exhilarating moments on this great ride of existence. When these come along, they make it all worthwhile. You are beginning to wonder why you ever entered into a certain stressful situation. This month, you will get a pleasant reminder. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

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April 21 - May 21

May 22 - June 22

GEMINI

CANCER

If you ever want to understand what really happened to you in your past, all you have to do is wait a while. Soon the future will be here. When it arrives, you will be able to see precisely what kind of an impact your story so far has had. Too often, we dismiss valuable opportunities because they do not match our ideas or expectations. Don’t become unduly anxious about your situation this month. Look closely. It offers you the rare chance to go back to yesterday and alter something that has the potential to bring you a far brighter tomorrow.

There are plenty of drama schools in the world. Why, then, are there no melodrama schools? Because none of us needs to be taught how to create one of these. They come naturally to us. We eat, sleep, fulfil physical functions and stir up intense emotional vortices full of angst, passion, fear, desire and despair. Then, we eat and sleep again! Oh, I forgot to add something. After an issue has been blown up out of all proportion, we worry about why we let this happen. That’s also normal! Relax this month and your dramas need only be mellow dramas!

We all have closets. Those closets all have skeletons in them. Those skeletons, though, have long since lost most of their identifying features. They are not very interesting. The only power they possess is the ability to seem slightly shocking when you first open the cupboard door and they leap out at you from the dark. Shine any kind of a light on them for any length of time and they soon become a pile of boring old bones. If you really want to conquer a fear from the past this month, you must simply decide to stop hiding from it.

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

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

People tend to think the start of the new year is symbolic. If they have a great celebration, they assume they will spend the next 365 days in a similar state. If things are stressful or unsatisfactory - or simply a little dull and flat, they take this as an omen of more such experiences to come. That, though, is like trying to read a book by looking at the cover. What matters, is not how things have been for you so far in 2012, it’s how they are going to turn out from this point on. And over that, you have far more control and choice than you know.

February brings a chance for you to go riding to the rescue. But do you really feel inclined to saddle-up your white charger? Why must it be down to you to do all the sorting out, all the clearing up and the saving of the day? Shouldn’t someone else be taking responsibility for the consequences of their own actions? Won’t they continue to repeat the same mistakes until they learn the hard way? Be available to help but don’t step forward and take control of another person’s situation, unless it really gets right to the wire and there is no alternative.

We always start the year with such good intentions. Our resolutions are clear in our minds. But within days, somehow, it all gets back to normal. We fall right back into the same old habits. We follow the familiar routine. Then, disheartened by our apparent failure to bring about change, we give up all hope of ever leading our lives differently. Really, though, the year is still young. Your most important astrological opportunities are still ahead of you - and they are big. If there is something you really want to alter in 2012, there is no reason why it can’t happen.

FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM

Success does not always involve achieving your ambitions. It may not be wise to argue with the dictionary, but we have to acknowledge that the general definition of this word is a little incomplete. We are surrounded by people who have attained success and by projects that have been ‘successfully completed’. But how much happiness has this so-called success really brought? And if something is without joy, how can we possibly call it successful? February may not bring exactly what you feel it should, but it will still leave you feeling like a true success.

October 24 - November 22

Happy New Year. Yes, I know it is late - but until now, I have not felt it appropriate to say this directly to you. I am still half-tempted to wait a while longer. Things won’t really start to feel fresh and different until later in February. At least, though, you are now at the end of a drama that has been bubbling away in your life since late last year. A decision has been made. A line has been drawn. From here on in, with Mars still in your sign, you can move forward with confidence and clarity. You no longer have to keep going round in the same old circles.

Let us begin our journey through February by asking a question. Why do you feel as you feel? What if you could turn a particular feeling on or off like a tap? What if you could put down whatever you can’t stop clinging to? In theory it all sounds easy. In reality, there are good, strong reasons for your deepest emotions. To alter them, you need to have at least equally strong, good reasons. Even then, you may not be able to change them because feelings are not always reasonable. But if you WANT to react differently to a challenge, you can at least try.

CAPRICORN

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out + about

SLUTTERHOUSE HEATS IT UP AT ART LOUNGE BY JEN

PHOTOGRAPHY JASON ZAMORA

RAGMAG got out + about and a little heated up for the steamy launch of Slutterhouse’s second album Another Lie in style on the 21st of January. Qarantina’s popular Art Lounge was on fire with the band’s live performance and their trademark electro-pop vibes. Rabih Salloum and Nabil Saliba, the two unique talents behind Slutterhouse, create their crowd pleasing tunes in Beirut and Paris and the European touch is potent in their sound. Named MTV Iggy’s Artist of the Week, Slutterhouse’s new album was highly anticipated. The house was packed with old fans who wanted to relive the glory of the September 2009 launch of Made in Dance, their debut album, and scores of new fans.

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Slutterhouse performed a riveting selection of tracks from Another Lie, including the upbeat Stop Me and the much darker Electric Bracelets. The duo enthralled the crowd with old favourites from Made in Dance, encouraging fans to sing along. Charismatic front man, Rabih, really worked the crowd. The night spun into dancing delirium till the wee hours with a solid line-up of DJs: Ladybug, Rod Lee Winters, Jade and Vanclode Jandam. RAGMAG was glad to be on hand for the cool album launch at an equally hip venue. Another Lie is now on sale, so if you missed the launch you won’t have to miss out on the music. Check out the full album review in our See, Speak, Hear No Evil section

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www.dior.com 160 RAGMAG | FEBRUARY 2012

L A S H - M U LT I P LY I N G E F F E CT VOLUME AND CARE MASCARA The infinite New Look, by Diorshow.