RAGMAG Force Issue | June 2011 | Issue#13

MAGAZINE JUNE 2011

DSQUARED2

GRAVITATIONAL FORCE STEPHEN

WALT FORCE MAJEURE

THE

FORCE PAULO

COELHO FOUR FORCES

ISSUE

THE SECOND IN THE MEN’S POWER SERIES

BRAD

THOR TOUR DE FORCE

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RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

Publisher

Gina Gabriel El-Fady Editor in Chief

Fida Z Chaaban Creative Lead

Odette Kahwagi Managing Director

Georges Yarack Photograhers Christian Harb Odette Kahwagi Jason Zamora Teddy Habib Samy Harb Fady Nammour

Selected images Shutterstock

Stylist Jony Matta Fashion Set Direction Alexandra Kahwagi Sales Representative Magda Nassar Public Relations Coordinator Lea El-Alam Marketing Advisor Daniella Tayar Admnisitrative Coordinator Teddy Younes

Contributors Liliane Assaf Maher El-Alam Stephanie Aoun Elodie Barakat Jonathan Cainer Amal Chaaban Youmna Chagoury Paulo Coelho Rabih Feghali Alice Hlidkova Sarah Hourany Matthew Hussey Leslie Iddison Maria-Elena Kassab Imogen Kimber Chris Kriesa Chris Lambert Sabina LLewellyn-Davies Maha Majzoub J.E.N. Nour Obaji Aline Rahbany Rami SalamĂŠ Jacques Tchabarian Adam Volk Media Representative RAGMAG Alex Gabriel Building Rue Colomn de Sahel Sahel Alma, Keserwan Tel: 09 916 222 / 09 913 777 magda.nassar@ragmaglive.com lea.elalam@ragmaglive.com

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Tel: 01 368 007

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Copyright RAGMAG 2010 All Rights Reserved.

Webmaster Youmna Chagoury

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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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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES COPYCAT REAL LIFE RUNWAY TIME + FORCE WATCH ME GO FORCE VECTOR OUR FASHION SHOOT GRAVITATIONAL PULL ORBITING DSQUARED2 126 RACING FASHION F=MA 88 94 108 96

13 50 74

18 24 38 42 44 46 66

34 36

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CULTURE CLASH FORCING THE ISSUE STEPHEN WALT TALKS FOREIGN POLICY TOUR DE FORCE INTERVIEW WITH BRAD THOR THE DRIVING FORCE JOHN BERGMAN FORCE FIELD KARATE KID MAJD GHADBAN FLASHBACK* POETRY THE FOUR FORCES PAULO COELHO HAYDA LEBNEN DADDY WIDENS THE GENDER GAP YOU + YOUR COUNTRY FORCED ENTRY JOURNALISTS AGAINST VIOLENCE TASK FORCE LET’S TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY

THE FINAL FRONTIER 54 USING BRUTE FORCE SCIENCE 56 INVISIBLE FORCE FIELD TECH 162 NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT NAEL GHARZEDDINE 130 131 132 133 134 136

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OUT + ABOUT GET SLOSHED BACARDI BARTENDER BENDER FORCING THE WIND INTO LEBANESE SAILS BEIRUT BOAT SHOW FEEL THE EARTH MOVE MARK SHAKEDOWN SHAKES YOU UP

SEE, SPEAK + HEAR NO EVIL SOUND CHECK MUSIC READ’EM + WEEP BOOKS WATCH OUT FILM PLAY NICE GAMES WORLD VISION BLOGS FORCE FORWARD MCFF 2011

ROBIN WRIGHT PAR PETER LINDBERGH

GERARDDAREL.COM

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60 64

58

48 68 70

FULL STEAM FORCE FEEDING YOU THE TRUTH

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82 84 86

EDITOR’S OPINION ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK FORCING YOU TO DEAL WITH FEAR MON AMOUR, MON AMI FULL STEAM AHEAD FORCE FEEDING THE TRUTH JOIN FORCES FATHER + DAUGHTER TEAMS FOR HIM FORCED TO GROW UP A BOY, A NECKTIE + A NEW WORLD ORDER MIND, BODY + SOUL FORCE OF NATURE HIT THE HIKING TRAILS IN LEBANON HELP ME RABIH ADVICE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT MATTHEW HUSSEY FML FORCING YOUR HAND HIT ON THE BARTENDER MIRROR MIRROR LOOK GREAT FOR LESS NIVEA’S SPLISH SPLASH FORCING UP THE COURAGE DEAL WITH HAIR LOSS ORANGE ALERT DIOR STEALS THE SHOW

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY 148 AIR FORCE THE STOVE RESTO IMPORTS THE BEST 150 RESTAURANT REVIEW LE BAR A THYM A CUT ABOVE THE REST 152 BEIRUTRESTAURANTS.COM CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW COOKS FOR 154 YOU RECIPES TAKE ME WITH YOU 142 HONG KONG IN FULL FORCE TRAVEL BRAINFOOD 158 QUIZZ. DINGBAT. CROSSWORD. SUDOKU.

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Downtown Tel +961 1 970367

publisher’s letter

When I look back at the year 2010/2011, I can hardly believe that we have made it to one year. It has been a journey filled with excitement. Through RAGMAG we’ve met some very interesting people that have shown us a Lebanon filled with brilliance, and a new generation that has surpassed our expectations.

Please join our team to wish RAGMAG a Happy Birthday! We hope that the next year will bring us luck and prosperity.

A special thanks to DSQUARED2 for showing us what it’s like being on the other side of fame whilst still having your feet on the ground. You guys ROCK! Thank you to Harley Davidson, for making our shoot an exciting venture. You can see the making of this month’s shoot along the side of my letter. Check out our making of video on Facebook so you can really get into RAGMAG. Please keep your emails coming to publisher@ragmaglive.com and keep checking our updated website www.ragmaglive.com

Gina Gabriel El-Fady Publisher

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

Publisher’s Note RAGMAG regrets the typographical error in the Culture Clash feature on Flavia Codsi. Umami was presented as unami and physiological should have THE FORCE ISSUE been psychological.

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SUBSCRIBE TO 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 PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN HARB MODEL ADNAN DIRANI | GIORGIO’S AGENCY STYLIST JONY MATTA Adnan is dressed by HARLEY DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON FAT BOY EDITION MOTORCYCLE

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TWITTER @ragmaglebanon FACEBOOK ragmag

editor’s letter

FORCE Because RAGMAG is RAGing Forward Commitment was interesting, sort of.

What was more interesting was the amount of readers that told us they too wanted to weasel their way out. From runaway brides to grooms that felt that shirt collar was akin to a public lynching, we seemed to have nailed it. Thank you for your participation, RAGMAG is nothing without our readers, especially since we know you’re still committed to making us the best read and most talked about magazine in Lebanon in only one short year! Happy Anniversary RAGMAG readers, we couldn’t have done it without you!

A couple of things contributed to the Force issue. We know we’re the “baby magazine” on the market. That only encourages us to force the mag forward, bringing you content from both here and abroad. We also experienced

unprecedented positive feedback from the first in our men’s power series, the April Static issue, encouraging us to add a second to the list. Finally, in honour of Father’s day, our hardcore male audience, and the fact that we’re forced to get more and more inventive each issue, you now have the issue you’re reading.

We wanted to explore force ways you didn’t expect. From the scientific aspect (you know by now that my inner geek demands this), to channelling inner focus and outward strength like Lebanon’s Karate Kid, Majd Ghadban, to the forces behind the scenes at the MCFF. We sent Sarah Hourany to force her hand at MyBar (see her posing below?) and Maria Elena wrote about the forces that interact between her and dear old dad.

I checked in with design duo DSQUARED2 to see what they were up to and Professor Stephen Walt gave us a pretty comprehensive rundown of the forces at work in foreign policy and international dynamics.

I look forward to hearing what you liked about this issue and what you didn’t. Write to me at letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com Follow me on Twitter @fidachaaban

Fida Z Chaaban

Editor in Chief

RAGMAG’S CONTRIBUTOR SARAH HOURANY LIGHTING UP MYBAR | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

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letters to the editor

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND SCRIBBLE ON OUR WALL TO WIN, WRITE TO US LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR@RAGMAGLIVE.COM OR TWEET US ON TWITTER @RAGMAGLEBANON! RAGMAG reserves the right to edit for clarity and content.

RONI SABRI TOLD US BOTH VIA PHONE AND EMAIL HOW MUCH HE LOVES RAGMAG. HE TOLD US THAT HE LIKES OUR MAG SO MUCH THAT HE ALWAYS ENDS UP GIVING HIS COPIES AWAY SO MORE PEOPLE GET TO KNOW US. THANKS FOR BOTH THE GREAT CALL AND THE EMAIL! RONI, WE’RE PLEASED TO SEND YOU ALL THE BACK ISSUES THAT YOU’VE PASSED ON AS WELL AS SENDING YOU ON A BACARDI BENDER. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY! TWEEP @BEIRUTDRIVEBY SAID HE LIKED A FEW ARTICLES IN OUR MAY COMMITMENT ISSUE: SAVORING THE MOMENT FEATURING GUSTAV INNOVATION SUCRÉE AND RAMI SALAMÉ’S ONE QUESTION FOR COMMITMENT. “GREAT ARTICLES IN THE MAY RAGMAG… WAY TO GO GUYS!!!” WE LOVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM SO YOU’RE GETTING BACARDI’S BEST. ENJOY RESPONSIBLY!

WE HAD A FEW COOL FACEBOOK COMMENTS BUT MARK ARBANIEH IS OUR WINNER THIS ISSUE. HE WISHED US GOOD LUCK ON OUR FAN PAGE, AND SINCE EVERYONE NEEDS A LITTLE POSITIVE AFFIRMATION, HE’S GETTING OUR BACARDI BEST WISHES AS A REWARD!

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out +about

FULL

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

FORCE

RAGMAG got out + about, and let’s face it, a little bit sloshed at Horeca’s Bacardi Bartender challenge! Definitely a be-there-orbe-sober moment, the competition brought some of Lebanon’s best barkeeps out in force all aimed at creating the True Original Bacardi Superior Rum Legacy Cocktail. We had a great time watching Constantinos Constantinides get crowned champ for his “Yelbow Superior” cocktail. Apparently the name comes from Yellow and Elbow and is a fusion Swizzle, Mai Tai, a Mojito, Piña Colada and Daiquiri. Bacardi, we’re definitely in for next year!

RAGMAG loved the showdown so much that this issue our lucky June winners are taking Bacardi home for reader participation!

Sharing is caring guys and enjoy your Bacardi responsibly. For more tipsy fun, check out Sarah Hourany’s FML stunt, being the bartender at Beirut’s MyBar, where her first drink was a… (wait for it) Mojito! Where would she be without the Bacardi? Our thoughts exactly.

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ARE YOU

AFRAID OF THE

DARK?

The End is Nigh When you are forced into facing your fears

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editor’s opinion

“I think that organized religion is a mental illness that afflicts people in varying degrees and you are minorly afflicted. There are people that much worse off,” said my friend Jean in response to my joking call advising him that he should be lighting candles and making novenas, at the very least.

I

MIND OVER MATTER

t is Saturday, May 21. It’s 3 p.m. here in Beirut, and North America varies in time difference anywhere from 7 to 11 hours behind us. I don’t know what time The End is coming, but apparently it is today. Did he predict an exact hour and in what time zone? Upon further research, I am able to determine that today is the Rapture and the actual end of the world will be October 21, 2011. So much for the cool October issue RAGMAG has planned.

Don’t these things zero each other out?

The heavenly scale that my good and bad deeds are weighed on seems a little skewed! Prayer seems to weigh really heavily in Islam, but I kind of pray my own way, that is to say that in my head I thank God a lot. I’ve just found out that the big event is taking place 6 p.m. in each time zone! A sort of staggered end-of-days release, like the Harry Potter films. Two hours to go… but then shouldn’t it have happened in Australia already?

RADIOHEAD

I don’t know what time The End is coming, but apparently it is today.

For those of you who don’t know Harold Egbert Camping, he is an 89 year-old Christian American radio personality who uses numerology (yes, that very exact science) and other things (like an overactive imagination), to predict Armageddon. Apparently, today is exactly 7000 years since The Flood, the one involving Noah. How he arrived at that is irrelevant. What is relevant is that there are literally tons of people all over the world who seem to really believe this will come to pass.

Some of the global population, the believers (or one would assume), will be “Raptured”, taken up to feast and cavort in heaven cloud-hopping (as opposed to club-hopping), while the rest of us, unfortunately I am of the latter group, will be facing tsunamis, earthquakes and fire here on earth until D-Day in October. It hardly seems fair.

I’m Muslim and as Jean pointed out, “only mildly afflicted”, not being very religious, but more spiritual. I’m a live and let live kind of person, and a yogi, so I’m often seen wearing the Sanskrit symbol for “Ohm”. And yes I even chant in yoga, because I believe in the interconnectedness of the universe amongst other yogi tenets that surely don’t jive with the more conservative and devout people of my sect. I’m a good person, I think? I don’t fast but I’ve never eaten pork. I drink but I donate as much money as I can.

Why am I talking about this? Because I agree that religion is used as a control tool. I also believe that can be used to generate serious cash, just look at any of the religious based organizations that you hear about every day. I’ll resist the urge to name the ones you’re thinking of since I don’t need the fanatics beating down our office door. You can convince anyone of anything if you are suave enough, have enough guts, and are capable of making a really

Send me your cheques, made payable in my name, and I will secure us a gateway to heaven.

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editor’s opinion

great sales pitch. So in this op-ed of mine, I want to try and convert you all to the religion of RAGMAG. Send me your cheques, made payable in my name, and I will secure us a gateway to heaven. I have been informed of this gateway by a voice in my ear that sounded like thunderclaps! It’s in the Cayman Islands. It’s tax-free and no one will ask where I got all the money, our Eastern-Euro mafia friends whose properties are now lining the famous Cayman Seven Mile Beach can vouch for this, as can the perpetrators of Bre-X. I’ve been there, scoped the territory, and I know this to be true.

The Voice tells me so. I don’t need to name the numerous televangelists that have made their fortunes off of their congregations of desperate people. I also don’t need to remind everyone of Waco, Texas and the Branch Davidians. Even worse, think of Jim Jones convincing his 900 plus followers to drink Kool-Aid laced with cyanide on November 18, 1978 in Jonestown, Guyana. It was one of the largest mass murder-suicide cases in history. The Voice tells me other things too, like how I can control a whole group of people through my prophecies, be they religious or political, which brings me to my next point.

WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG, BAD WOLF

In my interview this issue with Professor Stephen Walt, I was reminded of something an old Poly-Sci prof of mine used to drill into us nearly every lecture: Fear is one of the best forms of population control. Professor Walt pointed out that rightwing American powers may have found it advantageous to paint both Islam and Arabs as the people about to huff and puff and blow your house down, thereby distracting the population from focusing on deregulation of markets and economic doom. It’s widely known that raising the Alert level, from Yellow to Orange is a great way to distract people. In one episode of the hit FOX series Prison Break, one of the masterminds behind governmental conspiracy orders the Alert level raised and tells his underlings to “find a storage facility of Arabs or something,” as a way to get the President off the front page. Regardless whether or not you support Michael Moore, his documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11, gives an excellent breakdown of how powerful fear really can be. American Congressman Jim McDermott himself explains that “You can make people do anything if they’re afraid… You make them afraid by creating an aura

of endless threat. They played us like an organ. They raised the [Alert to] orange, up to red, then they dropped it back to orange. I mean, they gave these mixed messages, which were crazy-making.”

Crazy-making indeed, I’ve seen it myself.

‘THEY GAVE THESE MIXED MESSAGES, WHICH WERE CRAZY-MAKING.’

ABOVE: NEWSWEEK’S COVERAGE OF THE 900 JIM JONES FOLLOWERS THAT COMMITED MASS SUICIDE. RIGHT: AMERCIAN CONGRESSMAN JIM MCDERMOTT IN FAHRENHEIT 9/11.

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COUNTER-CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: DAVID KORESH, THE “FALSE MESSIAH”, BRACH DAVIDIAN SIEGE IN WACO, TEXAS, STILL FROM THE TV SERIES ‘PRISON BREAK’.

I don’t need to name the numerous televangelists that have made their fortunes off of their congregations of desperate people.

Watch Your Step

“What if the terrorists try to bomb the subway system?” So that day, you choose to walk the twenty-plus city blocks to work. This isn’t a joke, it actually happened a few years ago in Toronto. We were put on high alert because we were a potential target and where better than the YongeBloor interchange, one of the busiest in the Toronto system. That station happened to be one of the closest to my apartment, and I took it anyway.

It wasn’t empty, not by any means, but it was emptier than normal. There were a huge number of people that day, either by coincidence or out of fear, who did not go near that station at all and this kind of continued for the next few days. I did take the subway but I’m not going to say I wasn’t nervous. Even with my heavy dose of scepticism, there was still a nagging reminder in the back of my mind that

asked, “Are you really sure you want to take the train today?” Thus far, thankfully, Toronto is not one of the worldwide victims of terror, but that doesn’t mean people never think it will happen. I for one, hope it never happens anywhere, ever again, but I cannot live everyday in fear, because then I would never do what I needed to do.

And this is the problem in Lebanon, No one does what they need to do because they’re constantly afraid.

So Gina, Odette, Chris, office girls and contributors, don’t worry about our timeline this month. We won’t make it to print since it’s going to be all hellfire and brimstone. Don’t be afraid of our deadline, be afraid of the continuous and pending threat of violence, the pressure cooker that is Lebanon, and all the other rumors out there to keep the population in check. It is, after all, their checkmate

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G-Force THE CRUX OF POLARIZATION THE MIDDLE EAST, FOREIGN POLICY, AND WHY EVERYONE CHOOSES A TEAM

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cultureclash

RAGMAG talks to Stephen M. Walt, United States Foreign Policy expert, and what that means for Lebanon

BY FIDA CHAABAN

Stephen Walt doesn’t have a lot of time on his hands, and this interview was no exception to the rule. We had exactly 60 minutes to find out what was really going on in the region and how we’re perceived from afar. RAGMAG talks to Stephen Walt, the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international affairs at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, a contributing editor at Foreign Policy as well as the author of four books. We asked Professor Walt’s opinion about the real deal on everything from the untouchable force of the American-Israeli lobby, to “spreading democracy” in the Middle East and finally, the pervasive power myth of the Persians in Arabia.

I

am 48 minutes into my interview with Stephen Walt when I stop to do a time check. I am panicking because I’m running out of time and have only gotten through half of the questions on my list. The research for this interview nearly killed me and I am silently sending up a prayer that I had the forethought to record this conversation. Why? Because Stephen Walt, perhaps one of the most controversial commentators on American foreign policy, throws a myriad of ideas and nuances my way that no amount of research could have prepared me for. I definitely couldn’t have written all this down, his answers aren’t the problem, they are clear and concise. The problem is that there are so many factors to consider, so much to take in, that his answers create more questions, so I am deviating from my original, carefully timed, interview schedule.

‘

The complicated game of cat and mouse between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) of countries and the United States eludes me, so this is where I decide to start. What exactly would the motivator be for the GCC, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, to team up with the U.S., other than economic benefits? Stephen pauses as he considers the question then begins to explain, that “there are lots of the reasons why countries in the Gulf are interested in having a close relationship with the United States and that’s particularly true of the smaller Gulf States that have had to navigate between Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. To me it’s not surprising that countries like the UAE, Kuwait or Qatar have been interested in having a good relationship with the United States. But the United States doesn’t want any single power to

be controlling the Persian Gulf region, we would like to have a balance of power there, and so we do tend to shift sides depending on which power seems to be ascendant in their capabilities or acting in a particularly aggressive or threatening way.”

THE UNITED STATES DOESN’T WANT ANY SINGLE POWER TO BE CONTROLLING THE PERSIAN GULF REGION

‘

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IRAN’S DEFENCE BUDGET, ITS TOTAL MILITARY SPENDING, IS ONLY ABOUT $10 BILLION A YEAR, IT HAS NO REAL POWER PROJECTION CAPABILITY; IT CAN’T CONQUER ANY OF ITS NEIGHBOURS.

I discuss the current tense atmosphere, especially after the WikiLeaks debacle revealing the highly negative sentiments of many of the GCC countries toward Iran. I quote a few of the more scandalous cables, remarking how pivotal an open declaration it was, inadvertent or not. “Right now there [are] concerns as to what Iran’s role would be, but we tend to exaggerate the danger it presents. To put it in comparison, Iran’s defence budget, its total military spending, is only about $10 billion a year, it has no real power projection capability; it can’t conquer any of its neighbours. It just doesn’t have the military forces that would allow it to do that, but it has been very skilful at trying to exploit political divisions throughout the region: the Sunni-Shiite divide and the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, to try and cause trouble for its neighbours. That’s a very limited threat and limited capability that its neighbours can meet relatively easily, I’m not saying they can do it automatically.”

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Professor Walt reasons that, “the key for America is to have a Middle East policy there is to make it for different countries there to cooperate with us rather than difficult.” Isn’t this the key to everything, I wonder aloud? Public opinion regarding American foreign policy borders on hostile, I point out.

Is there even a way to change this?

“You can’t fix this by trying a better marketing strategy, but what you have to do is come up with a more intelligent foreign policy.” This very point was discussed in a recent blog of Stephen’s in Foreign Policy called “Wishful Thinking”. In “Wishful Thinking”, where he debunks the myth that “Anti-Americanism Can Be Cured

By Skillful ‘Public Diplomacy’”, he says that “the Bush administration appointed a former advertising executive to work on polishing America’s ‘brand’ (without success).” The topic moves in that direction and I ask Stephen to

THE UNITED STATES WILL BE MUCH MORE POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD IF WE STOP STICKING OUR NOSE IN EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS AND TELLING THEM HOW TO RUN THEIR COUNTRIES.

elaborate on the trend of “spreading democracy”, applying cookie cutter democratic systems that don’t necessarily fit the region’s history and society. He affirms my beliefs as he says, “The idea that the United States or France has the automatic blueprint that you can impose on societies that have very different history and very different traditions is a huge mistake…

It’s been historically a huge error to assume that we know how to run other countries and therefore they should just follow our advice on how to govern themselves. The United States will be much more popular around the world if we stop sticking our nose in everybody’s business and telling them how to run their countries. We have enough trouble trying to run the United States right now, so maybe we want to focus a bit more attention on that and a bit less on telling everybody else how to live.”

cultureclash

But what about the current upheaval in this part of the world? I suggest that many of the tribal based countries in the region may not be suitable for a democratic system based on the U.S. form of government. Stephen says that “there is no reason why you can’t have a successful democracy in societies where there are tribal and other divisions, but the key is it’s almost impossible for outside powers to impose democracy especially through the use of military force.

Rather, different societies have to reach and develop different and more representative governments taking into account the particular traditions and conditions in these societies. What the United States has to remember was that it took several hundred years for Europe to become democratic and that process was frequently a violent and a very contested one. Democracy takes root slowly in places where it hasn’t existed before and the worst way is by invading or trying to overthrow a country and imposing a set of political institutions on it.”

What about the Iranians? I ask Stephen if they are really able to throw down and own the region. “I think there’s a tendency in the U.S. and also in some parts of the Middle East to exaggerate the danger that Iran poses.

It’s a potential challenger and there are conflicts of interest as well, but I don’t think Iran is in a position any time soon to dominate the region, in part because there are lots of other countries that would oppose that, including some outside powers like the United States. I think it’s a set of problems or concerns but there’s a tendency to see it in almost apocalyptic terms but I think that is really overstated.” What about their ties to groups operating outside governmental influence? Doesn’t that skew things considerably, shifting things in their favor, I press. “I think it’s no question that Iran has used some of these organizations to try and extend its influence but I think that one has to take the threat that poses in perspective. To take the Lebanese case… I think Hezbollah does not have hegemony over Lebanon. The central problem in Lebanon is that there are a whole series of contending groups and none of them really control or dominate. Hezbollah is a very important actor but I think there are a variety of things that [the United States] can do and others can do that will limit its capacity to influence things in Lebanon and therefore limit Iran’s influence.” I am not fully convinced and press for more information, asking whether or not having strongholds through

THE CENTRAL PROBLEM IN LEBANON IS THAT THERE ARE A WHOLE SERIES OF CONTENDING GROUPS AND NONE OF THEM REALLY CONTROL OR DOMINATE. these groups in strategic positions like Lebanon makes a difference. Stephen does not waver as he gives me a reality check, “We tend to overstate the degree to which Iran controls these organizations, that Hezbollah sort of takes all its orders from Tehran. It is an indigenous movement within Lebanon and although Iran has supported it, a lot of Hezbollah’s influence inside Lebanon is based on their ability to mobilize and organize the Shiite population in Lebanon.”

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cultureclash

AN INTEREST GROUP [AIPAC] THAT WAS MODERATELY INFLUENTIAL BACK IN THE 1940’S AND 1950’S […]

HAS BECOME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP

I suggest part of that support base is a backlash response to the seemingly cemented Israeli-American relationship. Closer than close, the two powerful nations are usually a unified front and I ask Stephen how this all developed and why the Western media, rightwing or not, seems to buy into this partnership. Certainly 9/11 didn’t help, but does he agree that this was exploited to the Zionist advantage? “A number of pro-Israel groups or individuals, call it parts of the Israeli lobby, have certainly tried to magnify the sense of threat from the Arab world or from the Islamic world and that became especially pronounced after 9/11. There was a quite conscious effort on the part of Israel and its supporters in the United States to basically say, ‘The United

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States and Israel stood on one side to try and the entire Arab and Islamic world stood on the other side’ to try and further cement that alliance.” He continues on to point out that, “A second part though, I believe that the right wing in America, and by this I don’t necessarily mean people who are part of the Israeli lobby, also saw magnifying the threat from the Arab world or Islam as a way of distracting Americans from all sorts of other issues, including economic issues, the way in which they were running the economy, the fact that there was less and less regulation of financial markets and things like that, so in a sense there were two different motivations here, and yes that’s led at least some parts of the American media to be very focused on a magnified threat from Islam.”

THE RIGHT WING IN AMERICA [...]

SAW MAGNIFYING THE THREAT FROM THE ARAB WORLD OR ISLAM AS A WAY OF DISTRACTING AMERICANS FROM ALL SORTS OF OTHER ISSUES

Scapegoating aside, how did the Israeli lobby groups become so powerful? Even with my limited background in political science and the Washington lobbyists, I am familiar with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and their reputation of forceful achievement.

Are they the most powerful? Stephen evenly responds that, “The Israel lobby is the most influential special interest group in the area of foreign policy... it certainly is that groups like AIPAC or others are very influential. Anyone who works in Washington certainly knows about it, they are certainly frequently ranked among the lobby groups. I think in foreign policy they’ve had the greatest impact.” But when and how did this happen, I ask incredulously, and Stephen quickly breaks down the history for me noting that money and education played a big role, in addition to positioning. “AIPAC, when it was originally created, was a very small operation, only a handful of people.

What’s happened over the last 50 or 60 years is that these groups have gotten way much better organized, and second,

the American-Jewish population has been very successful in American society, assimilating, doing very well, learning how the political system works and operating within it the way all interest groups do. They’ve become also more politically skillful as well, [learning] how to push the right buttons within the American system.

As a result, an interest group that was moderately influential back in the 1940’s and 1950’s, even did weigh in on Middle Eastern issues, has become almost impossible to stop by the 1990’s and certainly now,” he says comparing it to the National Rifle Association (NRA) widely known to wield serious influence in Washington.

That is one way to look at it, and the other way is to note the shortcomings of American-Arabs and the organizational skills of the Middle Eastern countries. Apparently we just aren’t as well-connected and Stephen puts this in harsh relief for me as he says that, “The other reason why the Israel lobby is as influential as it is, is that it really doesn’t face any serious

opposition within the American political system. Arab-Americans are not as politically united, partly because they come from many different countries with different interests. They’ve not been in the country as long so they’re not as well assimilated, all of that is starting to change. They’ve not yet become as successful economically, and don’t have the same resources to devote to the problem.”

“If you look at how the American system of government works, if there is a powerful interest group on one side, and really no one on the other side, most politicians will go with the powerful group, not pay that much attention to the other side. If there were another lobby on the other side with equal clout, then you would see a more even playing field when it came to debating what U.S.-Middle Eastern policy ought to be,” says Professor Walt.

I think Stephen makes perfect sense: When you’re trying to win the game, it is essential that the scale isn’t tipped so drastically in the other team’s favor. And that’s the crux of the real problem

MOST POLITICIANS WILL GO WITH THE POWERFUL GROUP, NOT PAY THAT MUCH ATTENTION TO THE OTHER SIDE

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BY AMAL CHAABAN

BESTSELLING AUTHOR

AMAL CHAABAN TALKS TO BESTSELLING AUTHOR BRAD THOR EXCLUSIVELY FOR RAGMAG Your biography lists that you worked at the government at one time. Is that why your scenes describing operations are so realistic?

I think that the reason they are so realistic is that I have so many people who have done operations helping me with my books. These are not operations I have done for the DOD [Department of Defense] or Homeland Security.

Brad Thor, a graduate of the University of Southern California, has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Analytic Red Cell Program and is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Lucerne, Path of the Assassin, State of the Union, Blowback, Takedown, The First Commandment, The Last Patriot, and The Apostle. www.BradThor.com Follow him on Twitter @BradThor

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There is a lot of debate on the use of torture to extract information. What do you think?

I think we have an interesting debate that some people put under the term torture. Certain things are certainly torture and there are other things that I would identify as enhanced interrogation. I use that ticking time bomb scenario. Let’s be straight, American interrogators never immediately go to that harsh

interrogation method. They try to get the information strictly in a question and answer format but if the subject does not cooperate, things escalate from there. At the end of the day, what a lot of people in the United States and around the world call torture – like waterboarding – which has been only done with three suspects and has successfully gleaned intelligence. That in my opinion is not torture. When I think of torture, I think of drilling someone’s knee caps, pulling out their fingernails, cutting their tongue out. So when you put someone in stress positions or turn the air conditioning up so that their cold, for me, that is enhanced interrogation. Let’s also remember that the subject can stop these things at any point. All they have to do is answer the questions. It’s not that the interrogators from the US are sadistic people. They are interrogating terrorists, they have all the power and they can stop it at any point.

cultureclash

‘

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE TERRORISTS IS THAT THEY USE THE QURAN TO ARGUE THAT THEY ARE RIGHT; IT IS HARD FOR PEACEFUL MUSLIMS TO COUNTER BACK THAT MESSAGE.

‘

Are you a proponent of the use of force as Harvath is in your books?

Scot Harvath has always a wide range of options available to him. It depends on what the situation calls for. If you are going in to kill people, then you are going in with guns blazing.

You take great pains in your books to make sure that people understand not all Muslims are terrorists. Why?

‘

I do it for two reasons. One: It is the truth, I strongly strongly believe that. My concern is that the Muslim community especially in the United States is very quiet, it is not very vocal.

I can’t speak to Canada, I can’t speak to Europe but in the U.S., it is very quiet.

We don’t hear enough from them.

There are some wonderful advocates; one of my favorites is Dr. Zuhdi Jasser. Someone asked me if I ran for President what would I do. I answered that I would make Dr. Jasser Secretary of State because I can’t think of a more brilliant, more diplomatic man than Zuhdi Jasser who would do so much for our country on an international level.

Two: I go to the lengths that I do in my book is because I am concerned there is this conspiracy of silence. I liken the situation to the run up to Germany in WWII that was filled with good Germans but they were intimidated into silence… They were beaten, threatened.

That’s my fear that is what is happening in the Muslim community. What I see from my study of what happens with the terrorists is that they use the Quran to argue that they are right; it is hard for peaceful Muslims to counter back that message. I can’t explain why there isn’t a more vociferous backlash by the good Muslims, I want to encourage them.

Until they are able to do that, I want to continue to drive home to America that the majority of Muslims in my country are good Muslims. I am afraid that their silence will encourage only a bad picture of their community.

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I ACTUALLY THINK THAT HIS [BIN LADEN] DEATH, WHILE I AGREE WITH IT, IS GOING TO FORCE AL QAEDA TO DO A SERIES OF OPERATIONS TO PROVE THEY ARE STILL A STRONG, DEVASTATING FORCE.‘ What is your opinion of the various conspiracy theories surrounding 9/11?

I am not a conspiracy theorist at all. I think with the Obama birth certificate thing, I think it served President Obama well to take so long to release it. All he was doing was making his political opponents look like idiots. The longer they held out about this birth certificate, the worse they looked. As far as 9/11 is concerned, I gotta tell you; there is no government – my government included - that smart. When I meet people who think 9/11 was an inside job, I ask them, ‘You realize this is the same government that runs our post office and we can’t even get our mail delivered properly and these guy are going to bring down two buildings, crash a jet into the pentagon and in Pennsylvania!’ I mean our Treasury Secretary is a moron in this country. He couldn’t even figure out his own taxes. You have to consider who you are thinking are these geniuses. So no, I don’t believe in that stuff.

“The Last Patriot” has a presidential clandestine operation moving through it.

How often do you think that happens?

There are operations happening all the time that the average citizen doesn’t hear about. I am astounded how much information was put out after the OBL [Osama bin Laden] raid. In the books, it serves a great purpose to have a President do that. Do certain things happen with just the President? I have no idea. I met the elder George HW Bush once and he asked me to pass the pepper. That is the only Presidential directive I have had.

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In “Blowback”, you talk about a war raging between moderates and extremists. How do you see that when so many don’t?

I’ll tell you what really did it for me.

I was very interested in Islam when I was in college. I had a girlfriend whose father was from Pakistan and her mother was from Germany. She had told me I would never be allowed to meet her father, her German mother yes, just not her father. I don’t even think he knew she had left Islam.

She was living in the U.S. and they were in the U.K. This thing between moderates and radicals, I don’t know how anyone cannot see it. I like to tell people that Al Qaeda did not pick the WTC [World Trade Center] because it was full of Republicans. They picked it as a symbol and if they go to bomb the NYC [New York City] subway, they are not going to post operatives at the turn style asking to see voter registration cards. They are happy to kill Christian, Muslim and Jewish Americans. They don’t care.

Do you think the death of Bin Laden has dealt a killing blow to extremism?

I actually think that his death, while I agree with it, is going to force Al Qaeda to do a series of operations to prove they are still a strong, devastating force without Bin Laden.

One of my concerns with killing Osama Bin Laden is the intelligence we could have gotten out of him. We got so much out of Khaled Sheikh Mohammed; I would have liked to get some out of him.

QAEDA DID ‘AL NOT PICK THE WTC

BECAUSE IT WAS FULL OF REPUBLICANS. THEY PICKED IT AS A SYMBOL.‘

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THEY [AL QUAEDA] ARE HAPPY TO KILL CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM AND JEWISH AMERICANS. THEY DON’T CARE.‘

Warfare and the use of force today has become very impersonal thanks to technology. Do you think that makes it easier to go to war?

I never think war is something that should be easy or entered into lightly. It is very very serious… what is interesting to me here is that we had President Obama and Eric Holder wanting to try Khaled Sheikh Mohammed in civilian court and not liking this indefinite detention in GITMO [Guatanamo Bay Naval Base] but they have no problem going into these tribal areas like Waziristan with unmanned drones and killing with no trial whatsoever. At the end of the day, warfare is never pretty, never clean.

There is no such thing as a clean kill.

It is a messy and dangerous business never to be entered into lightly.

How did you figure out that the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) does not represent American Muslims?

Every time you empower CAIR, you take voices away from the mainstream Muslim community. You are stopping the mainstream community from talking. People know what charlatans CAIR is now. I have always said that people who want to make their living as race hustlers (like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson) or religious hustlers are only successful if the people they purport to represent are not successful.

It is inversely proportional. CAIR is only successful as long as they can convince Muslims in America that mainstream America hates Muslims and that’s not true. It’s not true at all. Yes, some stupid things happened after 9/11 by stupid people. CAIR wants Muslims in America to believe they are constantly under attack and they are not. If you look at PEW research, you will see that Muslims in America are the most successful in the western world. No one takes CAIR seriously anymore.

The problem is we don’t have enough mainstream Muslims that are media savvy. I don’t think the mainstream Muslim population wants CAIR speaking for them; it does not make them look good.

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‘

IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO GO TO WAR TO PROTECT YOURSELF, YOU WILL BE COMPLETELY BULLIED OVER.

[...] STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE IS THE KEY TO KEEP THE PEACE.

‘

At the beginning of “The Athena Project”, you quote Aristotle “We make war so that we may live in peace”. Do you believe that?

I think in the time of Aristotle yes. At the very end of the day, if you want peace, you must prepare for war. If you are not prepared to go to war to protect yourself, you will be completely bullied over. I believe in what former President Reagan said and that is “peace through a strong national defense”. I really believe that strong national defense is the key to keep the peace.

‘

In “The Athena Project”, you write “In essence, men could be counted on to act stupidly around an attractive woman”.

How true do you think this is?

Not all men will act stupidly but there is something about beauty that automatically disqualifies women as a threat. Men have been conditioned to expect threats from other men so women almost get ignored; they get disqualified as a potential threat. It’s a fact of life, when guys get around a pretty girl; most of them act pretty dumb.

[THE ATHENA PROJECT] IS ALL BASED ON REAL SCIENCE.‘

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Where did the idea for “The Athena Project” come from?

I had heard whispers that Delta Force had been recruiting women to do what the men are able to do. That is what gave me the idea for the book.

How much of the science in “The Athena Project” is real?

It is all based on real science, as a matter of fact, a month after that book came out, Foxnews.com said that quantum teleportation was the biggest breakthrough of the year. Now, I stepped it up and forward. I took some liberties. It is based on real science. I took it to where most scientists want it to go

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ENFORCEMENT ACTS Aug. 3, 2007 Mohammed Mahmoud Abdelaziz is detained in Mansoura, northeast of Cairo, on suspicion of theft.

Aug. 9, 2007 Abdelaziz dies shortly after his release from police custody.

He was stabbed in the heart and electrocuted. He was 12 years old.

Oct. 8, 2008 Mervat Abdul Salam Abdul Fattah is struck with a rifle by police when she would not let them enter her home in the Southern Egypt town of Samalout to look for her brother, a suspected thief. She dies of internal bleeding caused by the fall. She was eight months pregnant.

Jun. 6, 2010 Khaled Said is grabbed by police at an Internet cafĂŠ in the coastal city of Alexandria and is tortured to death before the eyes of incredulous bystanders. It is said he had just uploaded a video of corrupt police officers distributing cash and narcotics following a drug bust. He was a charming 28-year-old businessman.

Feb 15, 2011 Mohamed Taman starts frantically venting out his anger on canvas. He depicts those he loathes the most – ousted President Hosni Mubarak and the riot police. A few days earlier, while participating in the Egyptian demos at Tahrir Square, he takes a rubber bullet in his left eye and another bullet in the head. He is arrested and sustains more wounds. But thankfully, Taman is still alive to tell the tale.

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THE HARD-HITTING TALENT OF MOHAMED TAMAN

BY MAHA MAJZOUB

BELOW: ANGELS OF HELL, 170x117cm, MIXED MEDIA, OIL, METALLIC, PIGMENT, VARNISH ON BOARD, 2011

TOP TO BOTTOM: THE LAST PHARAOH, 170x117cm, MIXED MEDIA, OIL, METALLIC, PIGMENT, VARNISH ON BOARD, 2011.

OBAMA’S DOUBLE FACES, DIPTYCH 30x30cm EACH, MIXTURE OF PETROLEUM COLORS ON BOARD, 2009

“Being politically active, this makes me greatly understand the political situation in Egypt, which is philosophically nourishing when thinking about my artwork,” he argues.

“Now I intend to transform my political views to works of art that represent my own take on political changes and conflicts in Egypt and the region.” Such takes include calling U.S. President Barack Obama a two-face as expressed in the 2009-executed diptych “Obama’s Double Faces”.

When he is not busy with meetings with the young rebels that rewrote the fate of Egypt, Taman can be found in his studio working away at a politically charged series that documents this notable period in the history of the most populous Arab state. He says he plans to reveal the works at the two galleries that represent him – Espace Karim Francis in Cairo and ArtSpace Gallery Dubai. He assures me he is not going down the political road for the viewing pleasure of gallerists or art critics.

Force of habit

As a 34-year-old Egyptian based in Egypt, Taman has been forced to see the posters of the same head of state since he turned five. “Ever since I was little, I have detested the face of that man whose pictures covered all walls – at school, in the streets, at government institutions... I even worried I’d find his picture in my room one day,” Taman tells RAGMAG. “So after his ouster, I decided to draw his last portrait my way.” The 170x117cm mixed media rendering of Mubarak, which Taman scornfully titles “The Last Pharaoh”, does not portray the man who ruled Egypt for three decades at his best.

The police, on the other hand, ascended in Taman’s book to angels

– “Angels of Hell”. “These underdogs have suppressed and tortured us over the course of 30 years,” he says.

The young artist finished the two oil, metallic, pigment, and varnish on board artworks in a month just in time for Art Dubai, where they made rippling waves.

A political activist who participated in the Egyptian pro-democracy protests since the initial spark on Jan. 25 and who is on the revolutionary board of trustees, Taman does not mind being labeled a political artist on the back of these empowering works. No stranger to political overtones, Taman was regularly bullied by police whenever he was critical of the policies of the toppled regime.

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TAMAN’S PRACTICE RELIES ON CHEMICAL REACTIONS “It is natural to produce art about revolutions in the aftermath of a revolution, as it is the artists’ interpretation of specific political positions and events. Besides, revolutions are extraordinary events, which we don’t witness every day … so it is only natural for various auction houses and galleries to take interest in such kind of work,” Taman remarks.

“There might be some honest work by artists who have truly lived the revolution, and there might be quacks or artists who are only making work in the name of the revolution in order to sell. And these are not genuine

artists who represent the spirit of the revolution,” he goes on to say.

As for those deliberately producing work about war and conflict to please and appease Western auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s, they need only look at Taman’s “Regeneration” series to understand where he stands on that. Executed in 2007, the regeneration referred to by Taman is “the empowerment of the mind and the ability to see beyond appearances”.

It explores deep-rooted complexes such as the idea that the West is better than the East, as articulated by a man who spent long years in Paris and

received coveted attention from Europe, including various residencies namely at Kunst Halle St. Gallen, Switzerland. In that series, he concludes that “heaven is what he makes with his own hands anywhere” but he first must regenerate himself.

‘THERE MIGHT BE SOME HONEST WORK BY ARTISTS WHO HAVE TRULY LIVED THE REVOLUTION, AND THERE MIGHT BE QUACKS OR ARTISTS WHO ARE ONLY MAKING WORK IN THE NAME OF THE REVOLUTION IN ORDER TO SELL. AND THESE ARE NOT GENUINE ARTISTS WHO REPRESENT THE SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTION.’ LEFT: MAN IN BLACK, 170x120cm, MIXTURE OF PETROLEUM COLORS ON BOARD, 2007-2008-2010.

BELOW: BRIDE WITH BOUQUET OF FLOWERS, 244x122cm, MIXTURE OF PETROLEUM COLORS ON BOARD, 2009

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‘THE PROBLEMS WITH SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN EGYPT ARE HINDERING MY PRACTICE OF THIS [CHEMICAL] EXPERIMENT’ LEFT: RUSSIAN BALLET DANCER (ANNA PAVLOVA), 170x120cm, MIXTURE OF PETROLEUM COLORS ON BOARD, 2009

His thesis looks into the relation between the laws of reactive chemicals and the laws of programmed chemicals in oil paints. He explains he is endeavoring to control these chemicals through computer programming. “But the problems with scientific research in Egypt are hindering my practice of this experiment,” he says.

Let’s get chemical

Silver bullet

The art scene will also be hit by flying shrapnel of the revolution, Taman asserts. “At least artists will enjoy some freedom of speech,” he says, sighing in relief that security forces will stop tightening the noose on Egypt’s artistic and creative talent. But just because Egypt is no longer a police state does not make it fertile ground for artists and their art. “There are a myriad of challenges facing the Egyptian artist, beginning with affording to pay for a studio to work in, promoting your artwork, and producing the artwork at your expense. And after the show is over, the artist may not find the place to store the artwork,” Taman laments.

These factors combined led a good many Egyptian artists to abandon their brushes and artistic genius, according to Taman. “They steered clear from plastic arts, as it is not a guaranteed source of income,” says the artist who doubles as a graphic designer to make ends meet. “There is also the matter of authentic and objective artistic criticism in Egypt as well as the insufficient services available for this field. The average citizen does not care about the arts, which is given a marginal role in society,” continues Taman who is currently completing his PhD in multimedia arts and design at University of Helwan, Cairo.

Taman’s practice relies on chemical reactions; his handmade oil paints and pigments are laboriously superimposed, creating a wholly unique and dynamic integration of somber hues and ghostly metallics, according to ArtSpace. He makes his own paints, a technique he has been employing for over 10 years, one which depends on chemical reactions between materials with a petroleum medium. “I continue to develop this technique, whose advantage is that the artwork cannot be copied or replicated since the end result depends on the chemical reaction that cannot be repeated,” he says. The downside? It takes forever to dry – usually six months.

Part artist, part chemist, Taman deems himself an experimentalist who is taking stock of what is happening in an evolving region while actively interacting with it. He believes Arab artists are on the threshold of war to prove themselves on the international front. So soldiers fight fair and start redrawing the art of war. May the force be with you

moh.taman@gmail.com www.karimfrancis.com

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FORCED ENTRY

JOURNALISTS AGAINST VIOLENCE

CAMPAIGN FOR PRESS FREEDOM AND SAFETY

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

MICHEL HAJJI GEORGIOU HAS BEEN AN OPINION WRITER AND POLITICAL ANALYST AT L’ORIENT-LE JOUR NEWSPAPER FOR OVER 10 YEARS. FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO), JOURNALISTS AGAINST VIOLENCE, MICHEL GEORGIOU HAS BEEN ACTIVELY FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OF LEBANESE JOURNALISTS SINCE 2009.

“It’s a good thing, committing to defending human rights, specifically those of journalists. You give life a meaning, otherwise it is tasteless and so is your job.” Georgiou has seen his work in the field of press freedom acknowledged with the 2007 Gebran Tueni Award for Freedom of Expression and the 2008 Foundation of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law award.

When asked about his hobbyhorse, freedom of expression in Lebanon, Michel Hajji Georgiou says, “There is no free press in Lebanon, there are only

34 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

free journalists.” With no institution to defend them, Lebanese journalists have no shield. Georgiou discusses the assassinations of Samir Kassir and Gebran Tueni, both in 2005. To him, the assassination of journalists for loud and clear political ideas is just beyond all comprehension. Hence his active fight for journalists’ rights and the creation of the Journalists Against Violence organization, which denounces the physical and moral attacks against journalists in the region.

The psychological aspect, intellectual

terrorism, is hard to define yet very present in the press circle, can be as damaging as physical abuse. Insults, perjury, slander, and especially threats are not to be taken lightly. “Moral violence is terrible,” says Georgiou. “It terrorizes and often forces journalists to back off, and adopt a system of self-censorship. Worse, in the general tense climate in Lebanon, it quickly degenerates into concrete violence. A physical attack is a hair’s breadth away from the threat.” Cases of violence take place more frequently than we think.

ABOVE: MICHEL HAJJI GEORGIOU IN THE BACKTROP PICTURE OF THE LATE EDITOR GEBRAN TUENI, AL-NAHAR. BELOW: LATE JOURNALIST SAMIR KASSIR, SURVIVOR MAY CHIDIAC.

This April alone, Journalists Against Violence has documented the case of a television channel correspondent in southern Lebanon whose car was vandalized, and two NTV journalists attacked one in North Lebanon, the other in the South.

Created in 2009, this NGO is still very young, unfunded and relatively unknown by the general public, yet it performs vital work in defending journalists in Lebanon. Unable for the moment to create training courses that would focus on the profession itself, what it must be, and the journalistic values such as solidarity among its members, Journalists Against Violence is more of a regulatory organization.

In other words, it warns about diverse violations. It alerts the press, hoping they take over in mobilizing public opinion, as in the case of the newspaper Al-Akhbar website hacking a few months ago, (allegedly for publishing cables from WikiLeaks), but also the diplomats and authorities

– “When there are [authorities],” says Georgiou chuckling ironically, hoping they take the necessary measures.

Few NGOs in our part of the world do regulatory actions. Journalists Against Violence deals specifically with internal affairs for financial reasons but is expanding its projects to various fields, including their last initiative currently in progress. In cooperation with the Foundation of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and SK-Eyes, Journalists Against Violence created a committee and a campaign for the abolition of censorship, a practice that Georgiou judges to be “Stupid” and “Restrictive of our citizen choice” explaining that “There are silly rules in film censorship, for example. We can show 10 to 15 seconds of scenes considered erotic, and then we have to cut the movie. As if we hadn’t had time to see everything there was to see ... They should leave us the right to decide if we want to watch such a movie, or read such a book. It is our right as citizens.”

‘THERE IS NO FREE PRESS IN LEBANON, THERE ARE ONLY FREE JOURNALISTS.’ THE FORCE ISSUE

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TASK FORCE

THE LEBANESE TRANSPARENCY ASSOCIATION

BY A BROKEN AND OUTDATED SYSTEM OF FIGHTS CORRUPTION PROTECTED GOVERNMENT, LEADERS CONTINUE TO MISUSE LEBANON’S

BY ALICE HLIDKOVA

CODES OF JUSTICE IN CORRUPTING THE COUNTRY

The Lebanon Transparency Association (LTA) Executive Director Badri El Meouchi compares the country’s governance to a 1960s Skoda. “You turn on the windshield wiper and the radio starts playing,” he says. Educated in Canada and London, El Meouchi uses the car metaphor with jest to describe the “old and useless” public administration from which a large portion of corruption is bred.

Since its founding in 1999, the national chapter of Transparency International so far has failed its mission of curbing corruption and promoting a more open system, mostly due to singling out parliamentarians as targets. El Meouchi recognizes the futility of this strategy, saying, “Since public officials are chosen not by merit but by [religious] communities they belong to, there has not been a national interest in fighting corruption.”

Raising public awareness has been LTA’s strongest platform, and only recently have corporate leaders and public officials come together to confront the issue. In the public sector, LTA has signed agreements with the

Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Lebanon to improve corporate governance, and also with the Ministry of Interior to monitor elections.

Meanwhile in the private sector, LTA has worked with business associations such as—Association of Industrialists, Bank Audi, Chamber of Commerce, BUTEC and SABIS—to improve corporate government standards. “They have contacted us to see how they can survive past one or two generations of family ownership,” says El Meouchi, whose team offers training course in corporate governance for its directors.

In addition, LTA’s youth program has targeted two thousand young individuals to carry LTA’s mission across the country.

When it boils down to the fight, citizens are taking greater initiative. Victims of corruption are contacting the Hotline, established by Lebanese Advocacy and Legal Advice Center (LALAC), to request advice and tips from pro bono specialists. Since its launch in May 2009, seven hundred fifty civilians and public officials requested information and shared their stories. Some called

36 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

from the secret service using false names to “spy” on LTA, according to El Meouchi. Assisted by a lawyer and legal advisor who offer free legal services by phone or by appointment, the hotline essentially informs citizens of their rights. Its Project Manager Natacha Sarkis is proud to say that half of the one hundred thirty corruption cases were solved. According to Sarkis, most of them fall under the umbrella of the Ministry of Interior where most of Lebanon’s public institutions are located.

‘SINCE PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE CHOSEN NOT

BY MERIT BUT BY [RELIGIOUS] COMMUNITIES THEY BELONG TO, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A NATIONAL INTEREST IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION.’

The result of LTA’s findings is that corruption in the form of bribery has increased. According to the survey “Administrative Corruption in Lebanon,” sixty five percent of companies registered in Lebanon paid bribes to “facilitate and accelerate governmentrelated procedures,” of which half paid the government officials on a regular basis. In the same report fiftytwo percent of those registering their companies faced impediments such as a “demand of extra payments,” averaging $1,500.

In an interview El Meouchi gives the example of state inspectors from X ministry asking for bribes when auditing companies. “They ask for a bribe in return for a ten percent discount, a percentage entitled to the citizen by law,” he says, concluding that companies fall into the trap since they are unaware of their rights.

On the corruption scale, Lebanon fares poorly. Transparency International’s 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index shows that nearly three quarters of the 178 countries in the index score below five, on a scale from 10 (highly clean) to 0 (highly corrupt). Lebanon, scoring 2.5 fell to 127th place. Qatar was the

only country in the region to make the top twenty rank scoring 7.7.

Fundamentally, reforms begin with public administration, however, supporting a new budget for public administration requires a massive effort by politicians who have to agree as to how it Is carried out. “This is the tool needed to fix everything else in this country,” he adds. Next, laws need to be updated and enacted. “Last April, 300 laws were waiting to be reviewed and enacted,” El Meouchi says in disbelief. LTA has already sent a draft proposal for Access to Information Law and Whistleblower Protection, which will enable a more transparent system. Lastly, El Meouchi is pushing for judiciary independence and independent regulatory bodies to prevent outside influence in the legal process.

El Meouchi is drafting the United Nations Commission Against Corruption (UNCAC) Gap Analysis Report to submit to decision makers and the media. Published end of May, the report will recommend laws in compliance with international standards and what parliamentarians need to consider. In a separate initiative, LTA

is working with the President and current Prime Minister to support the creation of an independent anticorruption commission.

Always pushing the envelope, El Meouchi would like to see Lebanon exercise stronger principles of governance - such as neutrality, effectiveness and efficiency - as seen in Europe, Canada and the United States. He warns that a more aggressive approach may take shape, involving intimidation and protests, if political leaders continue to betray their people. He is unconcerned with repercussions, saying, “We don’t give a shit what they [ten religious leaders running the country] think of us anymore.”

‘WE DON’T GIVE A SHIT WHAT THEY [TEN RELIGIOUS LEADERS RUNNING THE COUNTRY] THINK OF US ANYMORE.’

Lebanon Transparency Association (LTA) Hotline 01/388131 www.transparency-lebanon.org Sami El Solh Avenue, Manhattan Bldg. 6th Floor Badaro, Beirut 50-552, Lebanon 01/388113/4/5 info@transparency-lebanon.org Calls: request for information on the services LTA offers, personal accounts of victims of corruption, reports of corruption, legal advice for citizens who want to know about their rights as Lebanese citizens. Just about THE FORCE ISSUE 37 anything on corruption and rights of citizens.

THE

DRIVING OF FORCE JOHN BERGMAN

BY IMOGEN KIMBER

For Dramatic Affect

John Bergman is dramatic; he is loud and in your face, and yet he is also profoundly emotional.

It makes sense when you realize that John Bergman has spent 30 years working on criminal justice and mental health as a drama therapist in prisons.

He needs all these qualities and more.

He has to be emotional but strong and have barriers but openness.

Thanks to the organization of Zeina Daccache’s Catharsis (featured in our December issue) and the support of the British Council, Bergman had brought his energy and experience to Lebanon.

Therapists from across the country were treated to a two day workshop held in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Beirut only after Bergman had spent three days in the Roumieh Prison working on the preparations for their second theatre production.

38 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

The people inside you

Sitting in on his workshop, even if it was only the last afternoon of the two day symposium, was a personally moving experience. In his training course Bergman was teaching through practice; only five minutes in and I was taking part in a role play exercise conversing with a childhood teacher.

We had to think of a teacher who we felt didn’t like us. First I was acting as myself, asking the teacher why it was that he didn’t like me. Then I became the teacher and put myself in his shoes so I could understand why he behaved the way he did.

This twofold activity let me examine my own feelings, express them and then, equally as important in coming to terms with an issue, it allowed me to examine what the motivation of the other person was in their behaviour.

And this is vital in being able to create a final conclusion.

“What’s your unfinished business?”

Bergman asked us. Most of us have it.

Another activity in the same vein as the previous one was to put a person you had unfinished business with in a chair. You talk to them, as though they are there and tell them everything you ever wanted to say. And then, after this seeming actualization of a conversation, Bergman violently shakes the chair and knocks it to the ground. The effect is both disconcerting and liberating.

On the Inside

Even in the light of a Saturday afternoon workshop in a hotel Bergman’s work is heavy enough; people in the group were visible moved, one to tears, as they explored some very old scar tissue. Carrying out the same process in prison is not for the faint hearted where the object of the unfinished business could be your own murder victim or an abusive father.

cultureclash

As a result he has to exercise caution, “You have to ask yourself if they are ready to deal with this. He might not be.” This was something he heavily emphasized, anyone taking in part in therapy has to be aware of what they are doing and must be careful to protect themselves.

Perhaps essential to Bergman’s success is his attitudes towards inmates. “They are human beings who amongst other things have committed a crime,” he explains his real way of looking at the situation but not in any way denying what they have done.

Beyond just addressing the prisoners Bergman works with prison officers.

“I try to give the prison officers the tools. They are a huge influence over the prisoners who they see every day,” he said. His work is usually very well received from the prison systems as they see the benefits. He has worked as a consultant with the British prison system and on violence reduction in Croatia as well as working in Australia, New Zealand, Bulgaria and Romania.

“THE GUYS RESPONDED TO THEATRE BECAUSE IT IS ACTIVE AND CHALLENGING.”

How it Began

Back when he began his relationship with acting in the 1960s Bergman saw theatre as an amazing platform with great potential. Travelling around Europe with a theatre company from Geneva, Bergman embraced the free spirited nature of the era. In small villages in the middle of France he was putting on performances of the Tibetan Book of the Dead. The performances already included the interactive element that comes with drama therapy as he would encourage audience participation to the point that they insisted that they would hand them belts and tell them to do what they want.

“We were pushing the boundaries of artistic expression, looking for new ways to use our bodies,” he explained.

Despite this Bergman eventually found himself looking for something more. It may have been disenchantment with the concept of theatre but it also may have been a result of the change in era which gave rise to a different mood and feeling.

“Theatre was different then than it is now; theatre was not for the bourgeoisie but for everyone else,” he said.

Taking a step far away from theatre Bergman spent time working in a foundry. A reflective period he took the time to read, think, and consider, but even after returning to university in

Northern California to study theatre he still wasn’t there and there was a moment that needed to be grasped. He realized though that there could be a way to touch people on an even deeper and more personal level and get results. By chance he found himself writing a script for a woman who was putting on a play with 25 African inmates in a maximum security prison. “I found an audience.

I knew it immediately. The guys were alive, reactive, intense,” he affirmed.

He had found the depth, “The guys responded to theatre because it is active and challenging.”

Inside all of us

Bergman is not shy about his own shortcomings, if you can call them that.

During his training sessions he is honest about being on his sixth divorce. As I speak to him after he admits that having his own issues acts as an inspiration to his work. “We are all jailers as we jail ourselves. [...] A jail is a frightening place.

You can die in jail. You can be lost in jail.

You can be found in jail,” he said.

Something in the process of theatre allows inmates to access a part of their brain that they are otherwise denied. As Bergman puts it, “People will never stop expressing.”

THE FORCE ISSUE

39

force facts

Power Hour

“May the Force be with you” is a line from Star Wars basically bidding someone luck in endeavours. The line has passed into common parlance with Star Wars fans and non-fans alike. “Use the Force, Luke” is another famous line spawned from the series created by George Lucas. International Star War’s Day is May Fourth where people worldwide acknowledge the Force, defined as “a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power”.

Float Like a Butterfly A “Force Field” is often used in science fiction lit and is usually a type of protection barrier made of energy that can be both used to keep things out or in. Various types of Force Fields have been experimented with by universities.

Radboud University in Nijmegen the Netherlands created “Diamagnetic levitation”, using a substance that repels a magnetic field, enabled this frog to levitate in midair.

Actin’ Like They Drunk The song “Like a G-6” by Far East Movement has pretty much nothing to do with planes other than flying like one when one is intoxicated. Do to Drake’s reference to G-4 pilots, a play on words of the Gulfstream IV, the artists decided that a G-6 would be faster. A G-6 is Gulfstream G650 and is capable of a cruise speed of “Mach 0.85 to 0.90, with maximum speed of Mach 0.925”.

G-6 is from the older naming system but continues to be used worldwide when discussing Gulfstream jets.

40 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

Sign on the Dotted Line

The French term Force Majeure, also known as cas fortuit in French and casus fortuitus in Latin, is often used in contracts to absolve parties from fulfilling contractual obligations in extenuating circumstances. Events like a vis major “act of God” (natural disasters) or situations beyond one’s control like war and rioting fall under the Force Majeure banner.

Exception to the Rule The same term is applied differently when used in a military context.

When used for aircraft or vessel purposes, Force Majeure allows for cooperation or repercussion-free landings when required by extenuating circumstances. The aircraft or vessel must be allowed under Force Majeure to secure itself in landing or docking without interference.

Crack the Code Those same landings are facilitated by the NATO phonetic alphabet (known by several other names). The most commonly internationally used spelling alphabet (helping everyone to understand transmissions regardless of native language), was tested extensively mostly by the UK and the US to determine how well the alphabet worked. Some variants exist, like “Washington” replacing “Whiskey” in Saudi Arabia apparently due to the alcohol ban.

Brought to you by ROMEO-ALFA-GOLF-MIKE-ALFA-GOLF

Motion Sick

The term g-force (g for gravity) is “technically incorrect”. Widely assumed to measure gravity, it actually measures acceleration of an object in relation to free falling, rather than force. The measurement for g-force in the International System of Units (SI) is m/s2. Typical examples of g-force are some amusement park rides and the Bugatti Veyron which is capable of the astounding acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 2.4 s. Hold on to your hats!

THE FORCE ISSUE

41

The

KARATE KID

ABOVE: LEFT, MAJD GHADBAN.

DEVELOP YOUR FORCE FIELD

BY FIDA CHAABAN

22 year-old Majd Ghadban is gearing up for his latest competition as this issue was going to print. June 10, 2011 will see him competing in Thailand in the World MMA Super Championships for which he has travelled to Thailand in advance.

As we interview him, Majd is now training 8 hours daily in what he calls a “social training” for the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competition. “You can use everything in MMA: Kickboxing, karate, grappling breakdowns, takedowns, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling,” amongst countless other styles. When I tell Majd I’m a little afraid of full contact fighting, he laughs it off. Thankfully, Majd has never sustained an injury during his competitions.

42 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

The Lebanese national speaks 3 languages, typical of many Lebanese except for the fact that in addition to his native Arabic and English, his third language is Chinese. Curiously respectful, I had to insist on Majd calling me by my first name rather than the formal address of “Miss” despite introducing myself as Fida. Quiet and composed, Majd’s presence is oddly suited to what one would think a typical martial arts practioner would be like. Originally from Aley, he studied Chinese with his father and can read and write some Mandarin. His Chinese name, Zhǔ Xùn Lóng, means “fearless dragon” and was given to him in China.

cultureclash

“I started martial arts training at a black belt academy when I was 8 years old with karate and taekwondo.

After 7 years of doing that, I switched to Wushu (kung fu), Kickboxing and Muay Thai,” Majd explains. “I have been doing Chinese, Japanese, Korean and modern martial arts for the past 14 years under the instruction of my father, Dr. Hassan Al Ghadban. He was a previous World Champion in

different styles of martial arts and an international and national military and civilian instructor.” Dr. Ghadban, who currently resides in Aley, Lebanon, attends some of Majd’s competitions as his instructor and Master.

2010 saw Majd begin what he calls his “international adventures”. He then “went to China and trained harder with native national champs and competed to be the proud foreign[er] that held a championship in China in SANDA Chinese boxing.” The only competitor from Lebanon, the championship took place in Zhengzhou after Majd’s training with noted names Jinlong Zhan and Yale Yuan. Majd’s list of accomplishments include the national

title for Karate and Kickboxing in Lebanon and he also lays claim to several championships for open martial art styles.

“I have been teaching martial arts, taekwondo, kickboxing, karate, and self defence for over 6 years,” says Mjad.

From gyms, schools in Aley and Mount Lebanon at their black belt academy, in addition to AUB, and private lessons, Majd has students ranging in age and background, most recently teaching at the AlShareqa security group in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

We’re looking forward to Majd Ghadban’s force field penetrating yet another competition. Bring another title back, Majd!

THE CHINESE CHAMPIONSHIP TOOK PLACE IN ZHENGZHOU AFTER MAJD’S TRAINING WITH NOTED NAMES JINLONG ZHAN AND YALE YUAN.

IMAGES COURTESY OF MAJD GHADBAN

THE FORCE ISSUE

43

cultureclash

FLASHBACK * WORDS BY ALINE RAHBANY

I lay on the carpet I am nude, exposed Deceived, by my own mind Your words, they utter In my ears After you’re long gone The night is young

44 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

And am isolated Static, I remain Under your spell The skin aches But I have no nails The memories flow But I cannot touch them

They look so real Disguised in colors Scratch my memory Smell my skin Lay beside me And remind me To remember you

THE FORCE ISSUE

45

Four

The

FORCES

BY PAULO COELHO

“BUT I’LL SPEND ETERNITY DYING OF BOREDOM! I’D MUCH RATHER BE IN HELL!”

F

ather Alan Jones says that building our soul requires Four Invisible Forces, namely love, death, power and time. It is necessary to love because we are loved by God. It is necessary to be conscious of death in order to understand life better. One has to fight in order to grow - but without falling into the trap of the power that we obtain in doing so, because we know that such power is worth nothing.

And lastly, it is necessary to accept that our soul – although eternal – is at this moment caught in the web of time, with all its opportunities and limitations.

46 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

FIRST FORCE

SECOND FORCE

Rabbi Iaakov’s wife was always looking for an excuse to argue with her husband. Iaakov never answered her provocations.

Until one night, during a dinner with some friends, when the rabbi had a ferocious argument with his wife, to the surprise of all at table.

“What happened?” they asked. “Why did you break your habit of never answering?”

“Because I realized that what bothered my wife most was the fact that I remained silent. Acting in this way, I remained far from her emotions.

“My reaction was an act of love, and I managed to make her understand that I heard her words.”

As soon as he died, Juan found himself in a very beautiful place, surrounded by all the comfort and beauty that he had dreamed of. A figure subject dressed in white came up to him: “You are entitled to anything you want.”

Enchanted, Juan did everything he had dreamed of during life. After many years of pleasure, he sought out the figure in white. He said that he had experienced everything and that now he needed a little work to make him feel useful.

“That’s the only thing I cannot get for you,” said the figure in white.

“But I’ll spend eternity dying of boredom! I’d much rather be in hell!”

“And where do you think you are?”

LOVE

LEFT: PAULO COELHO IN 1973.

OPPOSITE PAGE: PAULO COELHO, © MARTÍN RENDO IMAGES COURTESY OF PAULO COELHO.

DEATH

cultureclash

THIRD FORCE

FOURTH FORCE

“I’ve spent a good part of the day thinking about things that I should not think about, desiring things that I should not desire, planning to do things that I should not do.”

The master pointed to a plant and asked the disciple if he knew what it was.

“It’s belladonna. It can kill you if you eat the leaves. But it can’t kill you just by looking at it. Likewise, negative desires can cause no harm – if you don’t let yourself be seduced by them.”

A carpenter and his apprentices were traveling through the province of Qi in search of building materials. They saw a giant tree; five men all holding hands could not encompass its girth, and its crown reached almost to the clouds.

“Let’s not waste our time with this tree,” said the master carpenter. “It would take us forever to cut it down. If we wanted to make a ship out of that heavy trunk, the ship would sink. If we tried to use it to build a roof, the walls would have to be specially reinforced.”

POWER

TIME

The group continued on its way. One of the apprentices remarked: “Such a big tree and no use to anyone!”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” said the master carpenter. “The tree was true to its own destiny. If it had been like all the others, we would have cut it down.

But because it had the courage to be different, it will remain alive and strong for a long time yet.” © Translated by James Mulholland www.paulocoelhoblog.com

“BECAUSE IT HAD THE COURAGE TO BE DIFFERENT, IT WILL REMAIN ALIVE AND STRONG FOR A LONG TIME YET.”

THE FORCE ISSUE

47

FORCE OF NATURE ACROSS LEBANON IN ONE MONTH

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

I

t’s a chilly spring afternoon as a group of us wait under a cloudy sky in Qobaiyat, a village far off in the Akkar region of north Lebanon.

I pull on my jacket while waiting for the arrival of eleven sturdy trekkers, who have been hiking the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT), one of the country’s best-kept secrets.

This April, the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) organized the third complete Thru-Walk, from Marjayoun to Qobaiyat to promote responsible eco-tourism in Lebanon. This 440 km hiking trail, extends from Qobaiyat in

48 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

LEBANON’S FIRST LONG DISTANCE WALKING TRAIL OFFERS TREKKERS THE ULTIMATE INSIGHT INTO THE COUNTRY’S WILD BACKCOUNTRY

the north of Lebanon to Marjayoun in the south and passes through the most gorgeous landscape of high mountains ranges and deep valleys. Here goats still roam free and village folks seem to live without a care in the world. Along the way the trail passes seventy-five towns and villages, three nature reserves, a World Heritage site (the Qadisha valley), ancient castles, abandoned mills and Roman ruins.

Sections of the trail range from easy to difficult. Trekking 9 to 20 kilometers a day you get to go places inaccessible even by four-wheel drive vehicles, like

a monastery cut into a cliff where a hermit resides. Brochures are available with information on each of the 26 sections of the trail, in addition to information about local guides and lodging.

Georges Khoury joined the Thru Walk for a weekend midway plus the last seven days. “Spring on the LMT is great, you see wild flowers, waterfalls, rivers, trees, cliffs, lakes, snow… you meet the locals, share their food and their homes , listen to their stories,” says Khoury. “On the trail you are far away from the city in nature, seeing a

mind, body + soul

THIS APRIL, THE LEBANON MOUNTAIN TRAIL ASSOCIATION (LMTA) ORGANIZED THE THIRD COMPLETE THRU-WALK, FROM MARJAYOUN TO QOBAIYAT TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE ECO-TOURISM IN LEBANON. different environment every day while meeting hikers from other countries.”

Paul Khawaja, head of trade and investment at the British embassy in Lebanon and vice- president of the LMTA, is an avid hiker who trekked for 3 weeks during this year’s ThruWalk. “To be really aware of what our country has to offer you have to go beyond Beirut,” he says. “But while trekking the trail this year I saw more construction than before which is harming our environment. We have to do our best to create awareness for our incredible natural resources before urbanization tears it apart.”

ECODIT, a worldwide environmental consulting company, had the idea of creating the trail in the hope that hikers will support the economy of rural regions by providing income to the lodgings and the tour leaders.

“The LMT Association organizes trailclearing days in coordination with local communities including scouts groups,

municipalities, and other volunteers,” says Karim El Jisr, director of ECODIT and president of the LMTA. “We must lobby local authorities and regional urban planning departments to protect the trail from unwanted construction and urban infrastructure. This is an ongoing effort.”

The good news is that you don’t have to be Hercules to hike the trail, but it does help to have a decent level of fitness to tackle the 9-24 kilometer a day sections. It takes just under a month to trek the whole length of the trail, but the organizers have come up with sections which even novices can cover in a day reachable from dozens of access points along the trail. My own time on the trail has included treks during all four seasons, in hiking boots or snowshoes, under the blazing sun or pouring rain. I have hiked with friends, led by a local guide, exploring sections of the trail over a long weekend. Often you don’t see another soul on the trail,

dotted with faded purple white stripes marked on rocks… you feel so far from the city, reaching heights to take in far fetching views with a gasp – not of exhaustion but rather in awe of the incredibly beautiful surroundings which so few people living or visiting Lebanon get to see.

So invest in a pair of sturdy hiking boots and take some time out on this trail to fall under the spell of Lebanon’s diverse landscape of lush hills, deep forests and fertile agricultural valleys. Just ask Adrian Cazalet, a hardy 76-year-old British veteran trekker who came to Lebanon last year to complete the LMT ThruWalk in 29 days. And he loved the experience so much that he came back this year to spend the month of April walking hundreds of kilometers to complete the entire trail. “This year we faced tougher elements than last year with more fog and rain,” says Cazalet. “But, the changes in weather made the trek all the more interesting and it was an incredible experience.”

“I first hiked 2 sections. I enjoyed it so much that I joined again for another 3 days,” says Frederick Weber, a Lebanese/German national who works with the German Community in Lebanon. “I used to hike outside Lebanon, but I never have as much fun as here. Lebanon’s mountains are so nice and full of diversity! Hiking from a village to another and meeting everyday different communities was so special during the Thru Walk.”

ECODIT, A WORLDWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING COMPANY, HAD THE IDEA OF CREATING THE TRAIL IN THE HOPE THAT HIKERS WILL SUPPORT THE ECONOMY OF RURAL REGIONS BY PROVIDING INCOME TO THE LODGINGS AND THE TOUR LEADERS.

THE FORCE ISSUE

49

FORCING DAZZLING YACHTS, DELICIOUS MARINE ACCESSORIES, AND DASHING SKIPPERS COME TOGETHER FOR BEIRUT BOAT 2011

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

L

ebanon’s boat enthusiasts gathered for what has become the event to launch the summer season, the Beirut Boat show, now into its 7th run.

Beirut Boat 2011 once again featured a good line-up designed to put the wind into the sails of serious boating enthusiasts, as well as eager spectators, showcasing the latest from leading boat and yacht producers.

On the agenda were boats, boats, and, of course, more boats, as well as some lively entertainment: a fashion show and a media boat party. On the menu: sushi, cocktails and sunset. Dress code: white and barefoot.

50 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

The scene was actually more Cannes than Beirut, the former more familiar with playing host to floating parties. Sipping pink martinis, guests were clad in white adhering to the dress code, apart from one brave heart who came in striking purple.

Summer in Lebanon is now officially in full swing and Minister Michel Pharaon was on hand for the opening of the event, “which represents a promising summer in a country set to assume an international role on the maritime scene.”

out +about

WITH PRICE TAGS RANGING FROM 100,000 TO MILLIONS OF EUROS, EXHIBITORS FROM AUSTRALIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, ITALY, KUWAIT, LEBANON, LUXEMBOURG, TURKEY, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND UNITED KINGDOM SHOWED OFF YACHTS TO SHARE THE DREAM OF BOAT OWNERSHIP. The show took place at La Marina Joseph Khoury, Dbayeh, a ten minute drive north of Beirut from 18-22 May 2011. The 110,000 m2 marina offers mooring for 700 boats and super yachts up to 85 meters in length and has carved out a name for itself over the last decade as the best equipped marina in the country.

Apart from a breathtaking display of boats, yachts and super yachts, marine accessories were also on show and 130 exhibitors participated to a backdrop of wild entertainment: sexy fashion shows and a dance parade during which sultry Latino dancers’ wild antics gave the boats a run for their money.

With price tags ranging from 100,000 to millions of Euros, exhibitors from Australia, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom showed off yachts to share the dream of boat ownership.

And while most of the population is tightening their belts, there are evidently still some big spenders out there; boat sales in Lebanon went up last year.

“Lebanon witnessed a 40% increase in boats sales in 2010,” says Lina El Haj from IFP (International Fairs and Promotions), a leading Middle East fair organizer who jointly organized

the Beirut Boat Show with Messe Düsseldorf, organizers of the world’s largest boat and water sports trade fair (boot-Düsseldorf).

“All in all, this means that we are sailing towards success in the right direction,” said Albert Aoun, Chief Executive Office of IFP. “Whether at the level of participating companies or national pavilions, this year’s edition is characterized by a special international presence which indicates the trust in Lebanon’s position and it’s regional role on the maritime industry and tourism fronts.”

In past years, Lebanon has seen a real boom in marinas and waterfront facilities as well as an increase in trendy beach resorts where dropping in by yacht has become a popular pass time for the rich and famous. And checking out the shiny beauties lined up on the waterfront at La Marina, all with the latest cutting-edge technology and craftsmanship, it is clear that more Lebanese are eager to part with their cash to enter the exclusive club of boat owners.

Whoever said that volume is everything may be right. Causing a stir was the impressive stand showing enormous gleaming MAN marine engines with gold plated parts, designed to send boat owners into raptures. And the show’s most impressive mooring was a sleek 40 meter CRN super yacht designed to pull out all the stops; this beauty will set you back a cool 16 million Euro.

So, if you’ve got some change to spare maybe it’s time to splash out and get that yacht you’ve always dreamt about… what are you waiting for?

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

THE FORCE ISSUE

51

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

THIS FATHER’S DAY RAGMAG WANTS YOU TO THINK ABOUT 2 THINGS: GIVING A UNIQUE GIFT, AND GIVING ONE THAT HAS A TRICKLEDOWN EFFECT OF CHARITY IN THE COMMUNITY. WHETHER YOU PLAN ON SPENDING A LITTLE OR A LOT THIS YEAR, YOU’VE GOT TONS OF CHOICES FOR GIFTS THAT WILL SIMULTANEOUSLY STAND OUT AND HELP OUT. THIS IS OUR FOURTH SEGMENT OF GOODWILL GIFTS, AND LOOK FOR MORE IN FUTURE ISSUES!

CauseWorld

If the significant person in your life is cause conscious and has an iPhone then send him this application. It’s sure to get him off playing Angry Birds and the cool thing is that you won’t have to fork out a lira to do it.

Big corporations have all agreed to donate money on your behalf to a cause of your choosing. It’s simple: When you walk into a store, start the iPhone application, check in and start gathering “karma points”. Once

you’ve accumulated a number of karma points, you can start donating them to a cause of your choice. The application gives users karma points for checking into certain retail stores and can then be converted into donations to various charities and other good causes (water in Sudan, food for the poor, trees in the Amazon). And it will keep him busy while you shop. www.apple.com

AFDC

(Association for Forest Development and Conservation) has a long track record in protecting our forests and looking after our birds. Their motto is “For Nature. For Life.” But many guys are still intent on hunting and fail to recognize the importance of preserving the life of our birds that have a huge impact on our ecosystem as they pollinate by spreading seeds and eat nasty insects. Lebanon is also an important country for migrating birds and over three hundred bird species have been recorded here. However, the birds are suffering and threatened by mindless construction and hunting. So change your man now before it’s too late and make a donation in his name or sign him up for the next volunteering event. You can sponsor/ donate a tree, an event, a project, a program or you can even get him to become an AFDC partner. www.afdc.org.lb

52 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

Healthy Basket started 10

years ago as a project by the American University of Beirut to improve Lebanese farmers’ livelihood in rural areas and to adopt organic agriculture. Fresh, certified organic fruits and vegetables are produced by small farmers throughout Lebanon, closely supervised by LibanCert and sold to Healthy Basket. It is specialized in home deliveries through its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. By signing him up, your man will receive a weekly basket of fresh organic fruits and vegetables of the season on his doorstep. The basket contents change weekly depending on the seasonal offerings. HB also has a shop in Adonis Street, Hamra, Beirut, and offers a weekly delivery service. Support the community and encourage a healthy lifestyle in one shot!

www.healthybasket.org

Louis Vuitton

are showing how a business can be innovative and successful, and at the same time environmentally responsible. They have joined forces to create a limited-edition version of the Louis Vuitton’s monogrammed Keepall 45 - a luxurious gift for any guy, great for weekend trips away. Each bag boasts a handcrafted charm created in Kenya for fair-trade jewellery label MADE, as well as a plaque with the inscription “Every journey began in Africa”. All proceeds from the sale of the piece will be donated to Technoserve in Africa for the Conservation Cotton Initiative and to the Chernobyl Children International.

The bag is carried by singer Bono and his wife Hewson in the new ad campaign. They are also sporting Hewson’s own organic and ethical label Edun, which she created to encourage trade in Africa. The pair have long campaigned against extreme poverty in Africa and hope that by raising the profile of Edun, they will encourage more of the fashion industry to do business in Africa. Support their cause and order him a conscious cotton shirt online from the stunning spring/summer 2011 collection. www.louisvuitton.com www.edun.com

Jibal Loubnan

Honey makes what you eat a little more fun. There is really nothing better than honey and royal jelly made high up in the Lebanese mountains. Buying this honey supports the rural communities and helps your man to stay nice and fit. In ancient times it was traditional to present newlyweds with honey to help them enjoy their first sexual encounters. And the use of honey as an aphrodisiac is also mentioned in the Kama Sutra where it is said that honey spiced with nutmeg is said to heighten an orgasm. Rich in B-vitamins, enzymes and amino acids, pure natural honey will help to pump the energizers through his system. www.jiballoubnan.com

SPECIAL MENTIONS Inaash has a full range of

TreeShirt is a funky T-shirt

www.inaash.org

www.treeshirt.me

exceptional items, but it is the smooth silk ties that really stand out.

Quite reasonably priced at USD100 they make a great gift for men who need to be tied. And your buy will support a group of Lebanese and Palestinian women to preserve the traditional heritage of embroidery and to provide financial support to destitute families.

company conceived in Lebanon.

They offer original T-shirt designs made by talented Lebanese artists that have a lot to say and show. The latest is called Hamra.

For every TreeShirt you buy, one dollar is donated toward helping the reforestation efforts of Lebanon, a cause we all strongly believe in.

THE FORCE ISSUE

53

using BRUTE FORCE

ABOVE: LEONARDO DA VINCI’S WORKSHOP, AN EXHIBIT FEATURING LIFE-SIZE MODELS OF LEONARDO’S INVENTIONS AND MACHINES.

Men-Powered Science

BY J.E.N.

S

cience has always been a driving force in a society’s progress. And yet the world of science was (and still is to a certain degree) dominated by men. If we challenge ourselves to list the most prominent scientists in history, names like Pythagoras (580 B.C.–500 B.C.), Archimedes (287 B.C.–212 B.C.), Hakim Ibn-e-Sina (A.D. 980-1037), Nicolaus Copernicus (1473- 1543), Gallileo Galilei (1564-1642), Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), Isaac Newton (1642-1727), Charles Darwin (1809-1882) and Albert Einstein (1879-1955) spring to mind.

And all are men. There are a few women scientists whose names have stood the test of time such as Marie Curie (1867-1934), but they are few and far between. Science was and to a large extend still is the domain of men.

But what makes men such a prominent force in science?

54 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

Women have been active contributors to science since Ancient Greece but they were always overshadowed by their male counterparts and rarely got the recognition they deserved.

Women rarely had the opportunity to be educated and those who were educated had to deal with the biases and hostility of an overwhelmingly patriarchal society. Today, women have far more equal opportunities and yet studies have shown that girls and later women are less likely to opt for a career in science. The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Research on Gender in Science and Engineering (GSE) has identified widely held perceptions (which they labelled as “myths”) that shed light on this. Myth: Girls are less interested in science than boys. Reality: At elementary level boys and girls show equal interest.

But by 8th grade gender stereotypes

have started to take their toll on the girls. Myth: Teachers are no longer biased towards male students. Reality: Maths and science teachers interact and help boys more than girls. Myth: Parents can do nothing to motivate their daughters to like science. Reality: Yes they can. Vocational psychologists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) have identified that “selfconfidence instilled by parents and teachers is more important for young girls learning math and science than their initial interest.” This implies that science being something for the big boys is more social and cultural than genetic (and hence scientific).

But since science is historically the manifestation of male mental muscle (in fact until the late 19th Century those who pursued science were dubbed “men of science”), it’s worth exploring influential male figures in science.

the final frontier

NIKOLA TESLA’S PATENTS AND THEORETICAL WORK ESTABLISHED THE FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN ALTERNATING CURRENT ELECTRIC POWER (AC) SYSTEMS THUS CONTRIBUTING TO THE SECOND INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION. Hippocrates (460 B.C. –370 B.C.) was a physician from Ancient Greece and is the father of medicine. He revolutionized the way people approach disease through his certainty that illness is not caused by gods or spirits but is the result of natural occurrences.

Italian Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519 A.D.), while famous for his art, was also a great man of science. Expert mathematician, inventor, anatomist, engineer, painter, architect, sculptor, botanist, writer and musician, he was the ultimate Renaissance Man. He was a visionary and conceptualized a helicopter, tank, concentrated solar power, calculator, the double hull and outlined a rudimentary theory of plate tectonics.

Another Italian, Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) was a physicist and astronomer with his eyes on the stars. He improved the telescope and is considered the father of modern observational astronomy, modern physics and science. He studied the motion of uniformly accelerated objects which is still taught in high school and introductory physics courses at

university. Through his telescope, he confirmed the phases of Venus, discovered four of Jupiter’s largest satellites and more. Galileo wasn’t scared to go against the mainstream and championed Copernicanism (which was highly controversial in his day).

His presentation of heliocentrism (the planets revolving around the sun) got him into trouble with the church.

Isaac Newton (1643-1727) was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist and theologian. He published debatably the most influential science book, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (we mentioned in April’s RAGged Facts), which contains his groundbreaking discoveries on universal gravitation and the three laws of motion (laying the basis for classical mechanics that governed the view on the physical universe for centuries and influenced modern engineering). He also built the first practical reflecting telescope, developed a theory of color based on the observation that a prism decomposes white light into a visible spectrum and formulated an empirical law of cooling.

Serbian engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) is often labeled as the most important scientist and inventor of the modern age. He is most famous for innovative contributions in the field of electricity and magnetism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the invention of the radio. Tesla’s patents and theoretical work established the foundations of modern alternating current electric power (AC) systems thus contributing to the Second Industrial Revolution. In addition to his work on electromagnetism and electromechanical engineering, he has contributed to the formation of robotics, remote control, radar and computer science.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), a German physicist, is renowned for his theory of relativity and mass–energy equivalence (E = mc2). In 1999 Time Magazine named him the “Person of the Century”. Einstein received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics and his numerous contributions include his special theory of relativity and his general theory of relativity. He also helped make advances in the fields of relativistic cosmology, capillary action, critical opalescence, classical problems of statistical mechanics and their application to quantum theory. He also gave an explanation of the Brownian movement of molecules, atomic transition probabilities, the quantum theory of a monatomic gas, thermal properties of light with low radiation density, the conception of a unified field theory and the geometrization of physics. He obviously kept himself busy!

Many other male scientists played a central role in the evolution of science and were a force that molded the way we see the world and live our daily lives. Today many of the most promising scientists are also men. Will science continue to be dominated mainly by brute force?

LEFT: NIKOLA TESLA’S HIGH-VOLTAGE, HIGH-FREQUENCY EXPERIMENTS IN HIS COLORADO LAB, 1899.

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55

the final frontier

THE INVISIBILITY CLOAK COULD VERY WELL BREAK THROUGH THE BARRIER OF SCIENCE FICTION AND MAKE ITS APPEARANCE IN THE REAL WORLD SOONER THAN EXPECTED.

NOW YOU SEE ME Force Field of Invisibility

BY J.E.N.

I

s that Sue Storm Richards (aka Invisible Woman) from the Marvel Comics universe I don’t see in front of me? Well actually that could be you in a few years time. The invisibility cloak could very well break through the barrier of science fiction and make its appearance in the real world sooner than expected. Harry Potter, eat your heart out!

Scientists at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART) Center managed to conjure up a nifty little $1,000 device that can make objects, even large ones, seem invisible.

Made of calcite crystal, the device (let’s call it an invisibility cloak) taps into optical anisotropy’s power to create the illusion of invisibility. While it can only work on a two-dimensional plane, this is one of the top 10 breakthroughs of 2010 and opens the door to great possibilities for the future. The transparent cloak was created by gluing together two pieces of calcite with differing optical paths and has a small wedge 38mm x 10mm x 2mm in size.

56 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

The team took advantage of calcite’s optical anisotropy properties (bending the light rays as they enter the cloak) to render objects under the wedge invisible when the viewer tries to see from the left and right sides of the wedge.

Associate Professor George Barbastathis, head of the research team, is extremely optimistic, “In the future, it is possible theoretically and I’m certain at some timeframe, it will be possible to operate all around. So it will become what we call the threedimensional cloak. Then it would be possible to hide objects, for example, underwater. I’m sure there are also military and security applications, and I can let your imagination run loose there.”

Dr. Barbastathis already has his eyes on the future, “At the moment, it is optimized for green visible light. It also works with other visible colours, but it is not perfect. There are things we can do to make it work even better at

the full visible range. Also, I mentioned it is cheap, but one of course hopes to bring the cost down even further, if it is destined to have wider applications.”

It seems like the world has its sights on invisibility technology. While SMART was busy with their research, a competing research team in the UK were also working their magic and came up with their published results 3 days later. In 2010, German scientists managed to make a piece of gold “invisible” from all angles using porous crystals but this illusion only worked with microscopic objects. There is also a Japanese scientist who is developing “optical camouflage” but his technique is based on cameras projecting an image.

This budding technology is a whole new force field. It could have great benefits (like being a neat way of hiding your valuables out of sight) but the applications could have unseen and worrying implications if used for espionage and warfare

THE FORCE ISSUE

57

A BOY A NECKTIE

+ A NEW WORLD ORDER

BY RAMI SALAMÉ

G

rowing up, my biggest fear was the actual growing up. I didn’t want to become a “man” because men are boring and predictable. I was willing to do anything to avoid becoming a man.

For me, men held office jobs and wore neckties. So, my young logic said I should avoid those two things.

I hate the necktie*. For me it will always symbolize a boy’s passage to adulthood; his succumbing to a life of labor; the surrender of his childhood dreams. Maybe that’s why, in the movies, strict schools force students to wear neckties, and they refer to them as “young men”.

I DIDN’T WANT TO BECOME A “MAN” BECAUSE MEN ARE BORING AND PREDICTABLE. 58 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

In my fight against evolving into a “man”, I earned a B.Sc. in geology. I thought it would be my ticket to the great outdoors; so that I would never have to report to a cubicle, or be forced to do tedious work on a daily basis with that cloth leash under a starched collar.

And yet, here I am, working a 9-to-6 job in a cubicle. Granted I don’t wear a necktie, but still… every day is a battle to keep the “boy” from being kidnapped by the “man”. So I spend every day scheming ways to turn the world into a boy-friendly place.

I’m secretly re-designing the world.

One day, I’m going to put this plot into effect, and unleash the “boys” from the men who hold them hostages. And this is my plan: I designed the houses. There’s no white paint involved. Just colors. All houses would have rotating doors, with minimum rotation requirements to enter. You must make at least 3 rotations. Or until you get dizzy. You walk in and slam into a wall, and everyone would have a laugh.

Some houses would be made of chocolate brick, because that’s where I would like to live. There are no witches in the new world.

On the planet I designed, there are no elevators. To go up, you take an escalator. This escalator is moving downward because the boy in you likes to run in the opposite direction, as a challenge, with a big smile on his face.

for him

EVERYONE DRIVES BUMPER CARS. THERE ARE NO ROUNDABOUTS; JUST GIANT ARENAS FOR ALL TO BUMP INTO EACH OTHER. And the only way to go down is by slide. Imagine you lived on the seventh floor, and every morning you had to slide down to work. Wouldn’t that be amazing? The more fun-loving you are, the higher the floor you’d want to live on. What a jolt in the morning!

Everyone drives bumper cars. There are no roundabouts; just giant arenas for all to bump into each other. And popcorn waiting for you when you arrive at the parking lot.

The office would be a wonderful place to go to. It would be like your first day at school.

You walk in, place your lunchbox next to your desk, and spend the entire morning doing some hard tasks, like connecting letters to animals, and deciding which shape goes through which hole.

The cafeteria at work would serve candy and cornflakes. There would be compulsory food fights during lunch break. It would be ok to spill soup on your shirt because the stain wouldn’t show against the other crayon and watercolor stains.

Of course, this plan is going to take ages to execute. I doubt I’ll have much support from the colleagues in the cubicles around me, because I think they’ve all completed the metamorphosis. They are “men”.

Irreversibly.

So until I put the plan into effect, I’m keeping the boy alive by other means.

Like this: At the end of every year at work, I get an employee assessment report. It’s like a school report card. So, when I visit my parents in Lebanon, I try to get my father to sign it. I pretend that I can’t go back to work unless he signs my report card.

“Dad, I tried my best. I just don’t get this business growth part,” I say to him. “I promise I’ll do better next year. My boss doesn’t like me. He picks on me. I don’t even wanna go to work any more. I’ll just go back to school and study!”

And then, before I go to sleep wrapped in my ghost-proof blanket and with the nightlight on, I head back out, look at my dad with a sad face, and say, “My boss wants to meet you. He wants to talk to you.”

* I believe the necktie was invented by an unhappy man.

Observe the movements involved in tying a necktie. It’s an opportunity, every morning, to strangle yourself because you hate your job or your life. I see the inventor standing in front of the mirror, necktie halfway around his neck, mumbling, “One of these days, I tell you, I’ll have the courage to tighten this damn thing around my neck and put an end to all this crap.”

Rami Salamé is a part-time pedestrian, OCD ruminator, and eternal child. He is a Lebanese expat in Jeddah, KSA, where he is also a stand-up comedian and comedy writer by night. He is not possessed by the devil or anything.

Follow him on Twitter @ramisalame Find him on Facebook @rami.comedian THE FORCE ISSUE

59

FULL STEAM FORCE FEEDING YOU THE UGLY TRUTH

60 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE. YOU MEET SOMEONE AND INSTANTLY CLICK. IT’S RANDOM AND UNCALCULATED. HE HAD YOU AT “HELLO”. THEN THE MOVIE ENDS, OR RATHER IT ENDS BADLY. HE’S NOT YOUR JERRY MAGUIRE, AS MUCH AS WE’D LIKE HIM TO BE. YOU DIDN’T PLAN FOR THIS AND IT JUST HAPPENED, WE KNOW. ONCE IT STARTED IT SEEMED TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. LADIES, READ ON FOR THE SENTENCES YOU KNOW SO WELL (AND ABSOLUTELY HATE TO HEAR), AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU’RE OUT THERE, THIS ONE WAS INSPIRED

BY YOU. (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.) THIS ARTICLE IS TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION, IF HE’S PULLED ONE OF THESE LINES ON YOU, MAYBE RIP IT OUT AND DELIVER IT STRAIGHT TO HIM. (NOT IN PERSON, THAT’S WHEN HE’LL START CALLING YOU A STALKER.)

mon amour, mon ami

WE KNOW HOW IT HAPPENED: WHEN YOU FINALLY DECIDE TO LET YOUR GUARD DOWN, HE DROPS YOU LIKE IT’S HOT.

“I THOUGHT THIS ONE WAS DIFFERENT.” He isn’t and wasn’t. You thought wrong. The fact of the matter is most women have been let down at some point by the men in their lives, be they permanent or temporary fixtures.

Your dad missed your soccer game in grade 5 and that was the only time you ever scored a goal. Your brother was out clubbing when your car broke down. He told you to call the tow truck company, and didn’t decide to leave the party until you threw a screaming tantrum. And the guy you just started hanging out with, who you initially didn’t trust and couldn’t believe in, just pulled a 180 on you. We know how it happened: When you finally decide to let your guard down, he drops you

like it’s hot. You call your girlfriends and whine that “he didn’t seem like those other guys.” Guess what? He is and always will be, and his Snoop Dogg manifestation is characteristic of both men and women. He stopped liking you and you’re hurt, but don’t feel kicked when you’re down. Just move on, after all you have no choice. The thing is, no guy ever lives up to the “different” label primarily because that just doesn’t exist.

“Different” for all intents and purposes is what women wish existed, but have yet to find, like the Fairy Godmother. This is like when you’re picturing the goal state of anything, if you aren’t realistic about your target, then you’re going to strike out.

“WE JUST HUNG OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES.” His words. Of course. This is the standard line men use when they need validation for nipping a relationship in the bud. This is their way of justifying a confusing (for you) and awkward (for him) situation. You liked each other, a lot. Well, maybe you liked him a lot and he kind of liked you. That “kind of” turned into not at all, and he wants out. When you ask for a reason, “Did I offend you? Did I do something untoward?” and mentally rack your brain for anything wrong you could have said or done, he whips out the “couple of times” response. Yes, it was only a couple of times, but it was his idea to drop by and see him at work,

not yours. He called you at 3 am and woke you up, not the reverse. So why did he turn cold suddenly? Who knows? He could have found you a threat to his independence or hated your nail polish. His best friend might have called you a fruitcake or he could have found you had a tad too much bite. Whatever the reason, large or small, he isn’t going to elaborate, and when he drops this line on you, it makes you look obsessed and clingy when you press for answers.

Yes, you have a right to know, but he’s like the UN resolutions on Israel- Just because they’re the right things to do doesn’t mean anyone pays attention.

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mon amour, mon ami

“I’M NOT READY FOR ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.” Or ever. And if I was, it wouldn’t be with you. That is the unspoken ending to that sentence, unfortunately. Your friends promise you that it isn’t you, it’s his work, all the pressure he is under and yes, of course you’re pretty enough! Look, you probably are pretty enough, smart enough and superfriendly, so much so that it’s a wonder he would walk away, but the fact is he did. Maybe it really isn’t you. Maybe he really is fielding so much right now that he can’t juggle one more thing.

Even if you are as busy as he is, as challenged as he is, and more so, he has decided that you aren’t the right fit.

There is that small percentage of men

HE’LL FORGET YOU IN TIME, FRIENDSHIP AND EVERYTHING ELSE. YOU’RE STRONGER THAN THIS, SO RESIST

THE URGE TO STRANGLE HIM, ALTHOUGH YOU’D LIKE TO. 62 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

who will keep you on the backburner of their mind and mentally plan to revert to you when things let up, but this is like .01 percent of the single males out there. The rest use this as the de facto reason to extricate themselves from a situation that escalated with or without their participation. Yes, we agree that one hand doesn’t clap, but he isn’t taking responsibility simply because he thinks this ridiculous sentence will make you feel better. What would make you feel better is if he was brutally honest. If he said, “The truth is, I just don’t like your [attitude, dress, body, lifestyle]” it would just make everything easier, but he isn’t going to so don’t hold your breath.

“I JUST WANT TO BE FRIENDS.” No he doesn’t. He has enough friends and so do you. He doesn’t want to kill things off completely, because he feels bad and may even have a genuine regard for you, so he has the “friend”-ly chat. You may have met through work, and this makes it awkward to sever relations completely. You know a lot of the same people and you’re guaranteed to run into one another again, after all Beirut is the size of a postage stamp.

You’re left holding the phone, literally, and think, “FML, Why the hell did I let myself get into this mess?” Because you liked him and it was a temporary lapse in judgement. Because it is human nature to like people and give

them the benefit of the doubt. Yeah we agree, fuck your luck and fuck your life, this time anyway. Take it in stride and going forward, keep the interaction light and baggage-free, especially if you have professional endeavours in common.

Try not to lash out on him as this conversation is taking place, especially since you never know if he will repeat it.

If you’ve encountered the ugly species of male that does repeat the story, then chin up. He’ll forget you in time, friendship and everything else. You’re stronger than this, so resist the urge to strangle him, although you’d like to. Especially when he gives that inane smile that makes you want to deck him. At ease, soldier

YOU’VE HEARD IT AND SO HAVE WE. RAGMAG AGREES IT’S NOTHING NEW, AND YOU ALREADY HAD THE GUT FEELING THIS WOULD HAPPEN. IT’S ALRIGHT, YOU’RE GOING TO HANDLE THIS THE WAY YOU HANDLE EVERYTHING ELSE, WITH A COOL HAND AND A STEELY EYE. WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS TIME SOMEONE FED YOU THE TRUTH, EVEN IF YOU DIDN’T WANT TO HEAR IT. AFTER ALL, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, RIGHT?

THE FORCE ISSUEGS63

FORCES

BY MARIA ELENA KASSAB

W

ere you ever so broke you didn’t have the money to go to that super-cool party the popular kids were throwing and you tried to sneak money from your father while he snored the afternoon away on the couch –only to find there were more pictures of you than Benjamins in his wallet? Did you ever do a double take when you realized your boyfriend or best friend acted exactly like your father, which is why you liked them so much? Did you ever come on a cold winter night to find your favorite pair of socks getting all warm and toasty on the heater, courtesy of Dad? Have you ever given Father’s Day a second thought, bought

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REVISIT YOUR RELATIONSHIP THIS FATHER’S DAY

your dad a present or just expressed your appreciation of all he does for you? His job in creating you might have been brief (sorry for the mental image, oh cringing readers) but his role in your life was central and most probably will continue to be so. So it doesn’t matter if you call him Baba, Pa, Pops, Dad, Daddy, Papa or the very feminine Lebanese Paaaaappiiiiiiiiiiiii, you should celebrate your father on this day. Why, you ask?

Well, did he not wake up to feed you when your mother was too tired to even move? Did he not change your diapers and have you sweetly throw up on him and burp in his face? He was too afraid to hold you in his arms

when you were born because you were so tiny, so fragile, that he was afraid to break you with his big man-hands. He’s the one who taught you how to ride a bike and told you he’s holding your seat and keeping you balanced when, in fact, you were riding all by yourself, fueled by the faith that you had in your daddy’s protection as he watched you with a twinge in his heart, thinking of the day you’d really ride away from him.

He’s the one who took your floaters off and taught you how to swim, then gave you “whale-back” rides in the pool: you spurred his sides like he was a horse when he could barely hold his breath longer, yet he kept going because you were laughing so hard.

mon amour, mon ami

He’s the one who gave you your first sip of beer but forbade you to drink outside the house before you turned 18. He’s the one who gave you a ride to your friends’ parties and stayed up till you called him for your ride home (even if it was at four in the morning. I’m guilty of that one!). He’s the one who dropped everything and picked you up from school when you called and said you were sick, the one who helped you with your physics homework and corrected your math problems. He’s the one who took you to the movies and stayed with you, even if you chose a flick that he ended up sleeping through. He’s the one who fell in love with Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and other sagas simply because you watched them so much instead of letting him watch the news. He’s the one who taught you the Vulcan Salute because he was a Trekkie, who told you that May 4th was Star Wars Day (May The Fourth be with you) because he loved Jedi when he was younger.

He’s the one who made you listen to endless classical music tracks till you started requesting them yourself, the one who taught you everything there is to know about cars, guns, warplanes and aircraft carriers just because he’s a history and war junkie and knows everything there is to know about everything. He’s the one you called

during your rally-papers and asked for the name of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony –which had the other people in your group hail you as a walking Google. He’s the one that rushed you, white as a sheet, to the hospital every time you fell down and hurt yourself, and that held your hand while the doctor gave you injections and stiched you up. He’s the one you ran to when you had a nightmare, and the only person who, in your mind, could protect you from things that went bump in the night, even if he was sound asleep.

He was the one who was so proud of your grades, one would think he’d studied for the exam himself –in fact, he might as well have, since he’s the one that stayed up late and woke up early to help you and your siblings review the exam material. He’s the best sandwich-maker, egg-fryer, pastacooker, steak-searer, luggage-packer, driving-teacher, problem-solver you’ll ever meet, but you still find some way to criticize or poke fun at him. He simply shrugs your comments off or fires his famous death-glare your way; this look, however, does not affect you one bit because you still see him as the big teddy bear with the comfy belly to sleep on when it’s cold.

He’s the one that pushes you away when you try to cuddle up to him but still sneaks into your room to make

sure you’re properly covered up and kisses your forehead goodnight when he thinks you’re already asleep. He’s the one that tells you to fly with your own wings and start being independent but still babies you when you’re sick.

He’s the one that tells you to shoot for the stars but is here to comfort you when you fail, the one who’ll take on the entire world if it means you’ll smile.

He’s the one that glares at any potential suitor because he used to be a young man once upon a time, so he knows what goes on in a guy’s mind when girls are involved. He’s the one you call, in tears, when you get into a car crash and the one you call, elated, when you see a kitten and need to gush about the sheer cuteness of the scene.

Sure, he gives monosyllabic replies, grunts instead of talking before drinking his morning coffee, suffers from Manopause (check our April issue for more info on that) from time to time and sometimes seems older than dinosaurs, but he’s your father, your dad, the man to whom you owe your existence. Why not give him and hug and tell him you love him, take him to the classical music concert of the week or have a mini sci-fi marathon with him? You can also get him a material present, a good book on spy games, a George Cziffra CD or a great fragrance.

As for me, I’ll just tell my Pops he’s my favorite dad ever. Now that’s love

SURE, HE GIVES MONOSYLLABIC REPLIES, GRUNTS INSTEAD OF TALKING BEFORE DRINKING HIS MORNING COFFEE, SUFFERS FROM MANOPAUSE FROM TIME TO TIME AND SOMETIMES SEEMS OLDER THAN DINOSAURS, BUT HE’S YOUR FATHER, YOUR DAD, THE MAN TO WHOM YOU OWE YOUR EXISTENCE. THE FORCE ISSUE

65

cultureclash

HAYDA LEBNEN’s Incurable LDS

Forcing the Gender Gap to Close

BY SARAH HOURANY

A

fter the identification of LMS (Lebanese Mama Syndrome) in our March issue, RAGMAG pursued its search for new psychological disorders diffused in the Lebanese population. We’ve successfully identified one of the most interesting and controversial ones: Lebanese Daddy Syndrome commonly referred to as LDS. LDS is defined as “the inability of Lebanese Fathers to treat daughters and sons equally, exhibited when dealing with each of the two categories with substantially different weird behaviors”.

In order to identify LDS, see the detailed diagnostic below. Keep in

66 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

mind that the more symptoms you recognize, the stronger they are, and the longer they’ve lasted, the more likely it is that you’re dealing with LDS. When these symptoms become overwhelming and disabling, that’s when it’s time to seek help!

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LDS WHEN DEALING WITH DAUGHTERS • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness before her wedding.

“She is still a baby (34 years old), ba3ed bakkir ta tetjawaz!” are common comments in this critical situation.

• Feelings of irritability or restlessness when meeting a man she is dating, coupled with paranoid responses, “Ma 3ajabne hal chabb, ma 7essayto mnih abadan, he is gonna hurt my baby!” (Incidentally, “hal chabb” is a model citizen, volunteering his time to various associations and NPOs) • Sudden switches of mood. Quickly alternating from depression to extreme elation at the moment he is informed of that his daughter has broken up with “hal chabb”.

• Unexplained aches and pains when his daughter is driving home late at night alone. (Read: 11 pm)

Wa2ta kenet bi 3omrak, ken ma3e Renault 12, kenit a7la siyara!

COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LDS WHEN DEALING WITH SONS • Unconscious attempts to push the son to get married at a young age. He wants to see the family name transmitted from generation to generation as quickly as possible (and live to witness that).

• Hidden feelings of excitement when his son is going on a date accompanied by proud expressions of, “2ebne tali3 rejjel!”

• Loss of touch with reality. When with his son, continuously recalling exaggerated facts that happened 3 to 4 decades ago which begin with varied statements such as, “Wa2ta kenet bi 3omrak”. Some examples include • Wa2ta kenet bi 3omrak, ken ma3e Renault 12, kenit a7la siyara!

• Wa2ta kenet bi 3omrak ken 3ande six pack abs w kenit dewikh banet el 7ayy!

• Wa2ta kenet bi 3omrak kenet ana echteghil men wa2ta ma ken 3omre 10 snin w a3te ahle!

• Wa2ta kenet bi 3omrak kenet fout bi machkal ma3 20 chabb w kasseron kellon!

• Harbors illusions that a man who attends to his appearance is not a “rejjel”. Hair removal, piercing, gel and tattoos may all help this symptom manifest itself. “Lachou hal 7araket ya 2ebne?”

• Continual and persistent demands to watch football matches with him, and that’s before he starts his annoying SHAKHIR by the end of the first half.

• Automated answer when his son asks for a new car/item, “Chteghil w jiba!”

• Trigger of physiological problems.

Eye issues such as “opsoclonus” the rapid and involuntary eye movement that is irregular and chaotic, (sometimes called “dancing eyes”, when his daughter is getting dressed to go out.

• The above symptom is often coupled with “metamorphopsia”, a vision problem in which objects appear distorted: straight lines may appear to be wavy, curved or bent and objects may appear to be smaller than they actually are. This is especially prevalent when his daughter is wearing shorts or mini-skirts, the sufferer tends to see it 10cms shorter than it really is.

• Irrational fear of hypothermia suggesting his daughter, “Cover up” as her outfit leaves her susceptible to the elements.

• Tendency to set midnight curfews although she is over 25 years old. Chu mfakara Cinderella?

Lack of energy/ will to decline her demands that begin with, “Daddyyyyy/ Papiii”

•

POTENTIAL TREATMENTS One of the main potential treatments for LDS is an 8 week intensive rehabilitation program that aims to help fathers grasp that the differences in chromosomes X and Y. In addition, the program aims on helping the sufferers of LDS to treat their offspring equally, especially in terms of marriage, dating and work. Thus far in Lebanon, the success rate has been negligible, and RAGMAG suggests not wasting your time.

Why? Our Daddys, simply, will never change. Ma hayda Lebnen, w hol bayyéto, and we know them far better than you do, ya 3ayné!

THE FORCE ISSUE

67

mind, body + soul

help me

Rabih

BY NOUR OBAJI + RABIH FEGHALI

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

CHANGE IS POSSIBLE BUT IT’S GOING TO TAKE TIME. In my relationship with my husband, I have always been the one in charge but lately, I feel like he needs to step up a bit and we are fighting all the time. Is it my fault for letting him slack off the whole time we have been together?

Randa, 39

“As strong and independent as you are or could be, a man always needs to feel in control even if it’s by a bit, give him back that control and see if he makes changes.”

Saja, 25

“BEGIN AS YOU MEAN TO GO ON! It’s difficult to ask someone to change when they have been dealing with situations in a certain way for a long time. Change is possible but it’s going to take time. Try gentle reminders and being very patient with him and let him know how you feel about having to shoulder the responsibility all the time.”

Sabine, 41

“A relationship is about partnership, not about one person constantly taking the helm. While you are slightly at fault for not encouraging him to assume more responsibility sooner, this doesn’t mean that it’s too late for change. Instead of pointing the finger at him, tell him how you feel. And once you’ve done that, tell him you want him to play a more active role since you genuinely respect him and want to build a life with him. If that doesn’t work, then you might want to reconsider your demands or your relationship.”

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Rabih’s Vote And this is why I have always opposed this whole women’s rights thing. Women are supposed to stay at home, take care of the family while the man goes out, works his butt off to bring back the gravy – it’s a simple formula – a law of nature that has worked for many centuries. Then came the 20th century and messed it all up. Sorry I cannot advise on this issue.

Nour’s Vote Too bad I cannot completely erase Rabih’s Vote altogether. (Randa’s too, but I am not in the habit of attacking the Interactive Panel.)

Rabih, you like most men, should advocate the DI (Double Income) relationship. Rather than wanting a woman who brings home the bacon, you want the bacon fried and served to perfection? The Martha Stewart of your dreams doesn’t exist. Careful what you wish for.

Now, onto the question: You’ve always been in charge in your relationship? Why was anyone in charge? Why wasn’t it a partnership? I do think this is your fault, because marriage, when done properly, isn’t a tug of war with the partners pulling in opposite directions or one partner not pulling at all. Your formula is flawed from the get go, therefore it doesn’t come to fruition.

I suggest re-evaluating the whole You Vs. Him arrangement and sitting him down for the 50-50 talk. 50 percent of this marriage is you and 50 is him. If you don’t want to pull your 50 or he doesn’t, then you’re in a hot mess of your own making.

mind, body + soul

I WENT OUT WITH A GUY A COUPLE OF TIMES AND HE JUST STOPPED CALLING? WHAT HAPPENED? I ASKED IF I DID SOMETHING AND HE WOULDN’T EVEN GIVE ME A REASON! IT WAS ALL HIM TO BEGIN WITH AND THEN HE JUST SEEMED SO MEAN AND RUDE ALL OF A SUDDEN. WHO DOES THAT?

IF SHE SCREWED YOU ONCE, SHE WILL MOST LIKELY DO IT AGAIN. I have a friend that I had a falling out with years ago and I really feel like she allowed me to take the blame for something I didn’t do. She basically threw me under the bus. Now, she is back and wants to go back to being the best of friends the way we were but I feel like I just don’t trust her.

Am I being fair?

Reshma, 27

“Yes, you are being fair, once a person lets you down or you lose trust in them my advice is to take it as a sign and move on. Always go with your gut feeling when to trust a person or not.”

Jaz, 31

“Everyone makes mistakes and no one is perfect. But trust is something earned and hence your being suspicious is totally understandable. You might want to ‘test drive’ her sincerity while maintaining a bit of healthy distance before you plunge into BFF mode again. Or you might simply want to avoid her.

Or you might even want to put the old saying, ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’ into practice.”

Tamara, 24

“If you felt good during the time you weren’t friends then probably it’s better to leave it that way.”

Rabih’s Vote You need to look into her motives. Why is she doing this? Does she stand to gain something from this re-friendship? Speak with a sister, or cousin or someone close – explain all the details to that person and see what they say. Maybe you were wrong about the fact that you “didn’t do what you took the blame for” and she was right all along.

Nour’s Vote You don’t trust her? Neither do I. She sounds like the cat who got the cream. I don’t have much to contribute here except that I am a very Once Bitten, Twice Shy person. If she screwed you once, she will most likely do it again. Granted, people grow up so if this happened when you were 17 and you’re now 35, then I think it is time to let go and let bygones be bygones. If this is fairly recent I would steer clear. As for Rabih’s vote, like most men, he has zero instincts in this regard and thinks that women slant things to suit them, speaking in terms of conflict.

Being a woman, I do not think we alter our memories to suit our moods, since I know that when I’m wrong, I always stand corrected.

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.

Editor’s Note Since we get this question over and over again in different formats, we have devoted a whole article to it in Mon Amour Mon Ami called Full Steam Ahead. Read on for Rabih’s opinion.

Rabih’s Vote

Considering the plethora of options that men have nowadays within the dating pool in Lebanon, as natural predators they have become a little pickier than usual with what prey is actually worthy of a kill. With that in mind, I can only make assumptions as to why he brushed you off after a couple of dates: *There are others. Let’s face it, you are probably not the only chick he’s going on dates with. There may be one other, or many others - who knows? *Your heavy makeup. At dinner, you expose yourself to being closely scrutinized. Your heavy makeup may be turning him off. Most men tend to prefer ladies with more of a natural look. *Your table manners. Do you touch your chicken with your hands? Do you break a piece of bread by biting into it? Believe it or not, table manners say a lot about a woman.

That can be a deal breaker for many men. *Your pheromones. A popular term that has been used quite often lately. Pheromones are the unique scents that are emitted by your body to attract the opposite sex. Many times, the man’s scent receptors are not attracted to specific pheromones - in fact, they can have the opposite effect. *You’re a heavy smoker and he’s not.

There is nothing worse than “going on dates” with a heavy smoker when you’re not one.

Most non-smokers may be able to tolerate a social smoker, but if you were puffing away at dinner he was not impressed. *You’re boring. You aren’t such a smart cookie, and beyond the basic small talk and gossip, you don’t have much to say. If you’ve relied on your looks for most of your dating life, now’s the time to start reading up on stuff.

Beauty is no longer enough.

THE FORCE ISSUE

69

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

HOW TO FORCE YOURSELF TO MAXIMIZE YOUR STRENGTHS AND MINIMIZE YOUR WEAKNESSES

BY MATTHEW HUSSEY

Do you ever feel like you aren’t putting your talents to their best use? Too many of us in life suffer because we fail to (a) identify our strengths and (b) put ourselves in situations that allow us to use our strengths to their maximum potential. What’s more, it’s equally important that we don’t find ourselves constantly let down by weaknesses that we wish we didn’t have. With that in mind, let’s look at some time-tested methods for getting the best out of your natural talents:

1. YOU DON’T HAVE TO ELIMINATE WEAKNESSES, JUST LEARN TO MANAGE THEM.

Some people fall into the trap of thinking that to achieve their full potential they have to rid themselves of all their weaknesses. They assume that they can be an all-rounder in every area of their career, their relationships, and their health. This is a waste of energy. You will always have areas in your career or relationships that you find more difficult than other people do. The trick is to manage your weaknesses, so that at the very least you can curb their worst effects. One way to do this is through a technique called modeling. All this involves is seeking out people who are strong in areas you are weak in.

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mind, body + soul

YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE AREAS IN YOUR CAREER OR RELATIONSHIPS THAT YOU FIND MORE DIFFICULT THAN OTHER PEOPLE DO. For example, if you have a problem with lateness or meeting deadlines, find people for who are consistently early for everything. The time you spend with them, the more you’ll learn the different ways they behave which enable them to be so punctual with their work. Being around these people puts a certain social pressure on you to conform and manage your own behaviour to keep in line with theirs.

So don’t bury your weaknesses and hide from them; find people who love the things you can’t stand, or that you are bad at. These people are going to be the perfect compliment to your own talents.

2. ORGANIZE YOUR

LIFE AROUND YOUR STRENGTHS – IT STARTS WITH PASSION!

If you want to play to your strengths, it’s best to beginning by seeking out the kind of work you are passionate about, since these are likely to be the things that you will get very good at.

This is because if you start by having a burning passion for the work you do, you will be more willing to put in the extra hours it takes to master it.

But make sure that when you think about your passions you are very specific. For example, don’t just say you are passionate about writing, since this is still a very broad area. Think more narrowly: what kind of writing are you good at? Are you good at coming up with the ideas or are you better when you are told what to write? Do you work better with creative freedom or with specific project outlines? These kind of questions are going to make it clearer where your strengths lie, and will save you time fumbling around with things that aren’t suited to your skill set.

When you figure out your passions, your job becomes so much easier. Figuring out your passions is about finding “the path of least resistance”. By this I mean, the things that your brain just seems to be able to do naturally, those things that you have an immediate instinct for, and feel able to contribute to in meaningful ways.

If something feels like pure drudgery, it probably gives you a sign that you are not playing to any of your strengths.

3. SEEK OUT

ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE BETTER THAN YOU.

It’s important to keep yourself challenged if you want to maximize your strengths.

If you never exercise them, and stay in environments that offer no real difficulty, you can find yourself stuck at the same level for years.

One quick way of getting to the next level in any skill is to find people who are better than you in the area you want to develop. If you want to get to the next level in anything, you need to be surrounded with people who are at the top of their game. This applies in every area; find people with the best relationships, the best physical fitness or the career you want. All of these people are going to keep you striving to make your strengths even stronger.

4. DON’T BE SHY ABOUT VOCALIZING YOUR STRENGTHS!

Last but not least, all of this is no good if you don’t have the confidence to tell people what you are good at. Don’t be overly modest; if you happen to be perfect for a certain task in your job, tell everyone that you can handle it. The more you keep people informed of your strengths, the more they are going to give you opportunities to show them off!

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

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

FORCE ISSUE

71

new + now

BE A GOOD SPORT Audemars Piguet is delighted to announce the appointment of Lebron James as the new global brand ambassador. Audemars Piguet, the world’s oldest watch manufacturer still in the hands of its founding families, has chosen LeBron for his commitment to excellence, skilled technique and unwavering generosity - values shared by these two legends. James proudly joins an elite roster of brand ambassadors including race car icon Michael Schumacher, international soccer star Leo Messi, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and top professional golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, and Vijay Singh.

Audemars Piguet is the oldest Haute Horlogerie watchmaker still in the hands of its founding families, perpetuating a legacy based on three fundamental values: tradition, excellence and creative daring, particularly in the field of complex watch mechanisms where it holds a record number of world firsts.

HOLD THE DOOR With its iconic gullwing doors, the SLS AMG has taken the Mercedes and AMG brands to new heights in the automotive industry. Since its world premiere at the 2009 International Motor Show in Frankfurt/Main, the SLS AMG has caused quite a sensation with its purist design, intelligent lightweight construction and superior handling dynamics. The super-sports car is the highlight in AMG’s more than 40-year history. The arrival of the SLS AMG struck a chord with performance-hungry automotive enthusiasts with global sales placing the SLS in top position within

the super sports car segment. This success was echoed in the Middle East region, with the vehicle securing its spot as the bestselling super sports car within eight months of its market launch 2010. The SLS AMG, has been recognized by several reader surveys, as well as receiving numerous accolades from top automotive magazines. The SLS AMG has received awards including the ‘Most sporty cars of 2010’ from sport auto, the Auto Bild ‘Design Award 2010’, and ‘The best sports car’ by auto motor und sport.

CONNECTING PEOPLE Nokia announced the Nokia E6 and the Nokia X7, two new smartphones aimed at business people and entertainment enthusiasts respectively. The two devices are the first Nokia smartphones to contain the updated Symbian software, with usability enhancements such as improved text input, a faster browser and refreshed Ovi Maps. “We are further strengthening Nokia’s smartphone portfolio with these two new devices, both of which offer a more beautiful and intuitive user experience that will soon also be available for the Nokia N8, Nokia E7, Nokia C7 and Nokia C6-01,” said Jo Harlow, head of Nokia’s Smart

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Devices business. The Nokia E6 is a sleek business smartphone with a full QWERTY keypad and a high resolution touch display.

The device comes in a compact size that makes it easy to use with either one hand or two. The Nokia E6 offers exceptional battery life and the best out-of-the-box Microsoft messaging experience on a business smartphone, including access to Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Communicator Mobile and Microsoft SharePoint. The Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused smartphone with a large 4” display ideal for gaming, and an 8 Megapixel camera for capturing pictures and HD-quality video.

PURPLE RAIN Amethyste Lounge is set to attract the city’s elite ready to indulge in a purple world filled with candlelight and relaxing music in the heart of Beirut.

Amethyste has introduced two signature themed nights: Friday Latin Night – in line with Amethyste’s range of the best tequilas and rums in Beirut; and Sunday Band Night - a live band

to set the mood on a laidback Sunday afternoon during the sunset hours.

Located in the Phoenicia Hotel, the outdoor oasis is open daily from noon till midnight and offers an extensive list of signature cocktails, international fusion cuisine and a wide variety of shishas. Play it by ear and drop in on this sexy purple party place.

“I SEE YOU, BABY!” Mercedes-Benz has launched a new season for its CLS, the four door coupé first debuted in 2003 and quickly established itself as the ultimate musthave style statement for chic drivers across the Middle East. The charismatic CLS will be easily recognized when it hits roads across the region this month. With distinctive design elements inspired by the breakthrough SLS AMG super sports car, the CLS sports a new scowl courtesy of LED High Performance headlamps, and will be available to the image elite as a V6 CLS 350, a V8 CLS 500, or a

supercharged bi-turbo V8 CLS 63. “Customers across the Middle East and the globe have rewarded us for our courage in launching a completely new vehicle concept onto the market,” explained Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East & Levant. “And with its exciting design and refined sportiness, the new edition of the CLS also benefits from the fact that we are a whole generation ahead of the competition with our four-door Coupé.”

GET RACING

With the 911 GT3 RS 4.0, one of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart’s most popular, coveted and successful racing pedigree production cars is entering the home straight. Limited to 600 vehicles, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 brings together in a road car all the attributes that have made the Porsche 911 GT3 a serial winner on the race track. The flat engine’s crankshaft has been lifted unchanged from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car’s six cylinder engine and the forged pistons’ connecting rods are fashioned from titanium. The fourlitre displacement sports engine, the biggest 911 model line engine ever, is also the most powerful naturally aspirated engine with 125 hp/litre (92 kW). It achieves its maximum power of 368 kW (500 hp) at 8,250 revs per

GIMME FIVE!

Up high and down low, the new FiveFingers offerings have people slapping hands for great footwear all over town. Developed as a barefoot alternative for sailing, climbing and light trekking, they’ve since become a cult item. The much touted benefits of going barefoot inspired the ergonomic technology of FiveFingers. Leveraging all of the body’s natural biomechanics, the forward thinking

minute. The engine delivers its maximum torque of 460 Newton metres at 5,750 rpm.

The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 offers truly impressive performance. It makes it round the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7:27 minutes.

The 911 GT3 4.0, available exclusively with a six-speed sports transmission, sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standing start in 3.9 seconds, its gearing designed for the racing circuit taking it to the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark in under 12 seconds. The limited edition 911 is painted white as standard and has trademark characteristics such as the wide track, the low vehicle position, the large rear wing with adapted side plates, the typical central twin tailpipe and the aerodynamically optimized body.

footwear increases lower leg muscle in addition to helping balance, posture, range of motion and general foot health. Yogis and Pilates buffs are going to really love the feeling of padding barefoot through Beirut’s busy streets. We’ve even heard that gym enthusiasts are structuring their outfits around their favourite pair of FiveFingers.

Get five alive fit with FiveFingers Lebanon.

THE FORCE ISSUE

73

out +about

I FEEL

THE EARTH

MOVE ...UNDER MY FEET

DJ Mark Shakedown Abou Jaoudeh Gets it Going for RAGMAG WE HOOKED UP WITH MARK SHAKEDOWN TO BRING YOU THE RADIO ONE DJ’S HANDPICKED SUMMER FAVORITES, CHECK OUT THE PLAYLIST HE PUT TOGETHER ESPECIALLY FOR US. GET YOUR ITUNES UP AND RUNNING, IT’S TIME TO DOWNLOAD!

SAVE THE WORLD SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA MR SAXO BEAT ALEXANDRA STAN SUN IS UP INNA BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE BENNY BENASSI FT CHRIS BROWN GREGORY’S THEME BASTO PARTY ROCK ANTHEM LMFAO YEKE YEKE 2011 (ROBBIE RIVERA MIX) MORY KANTE DAVID TORT (AXWELL REMIX) ONE LOOK DIAMONDS IN THE SKY (ORIGINAL MIX) TV ROCK. HOOK & N SLING & RUDY SWEAT (DAVID GUETTA EXTENDED MIX) SNOOP DOGG

THE SHAKEDOWN For the past 7 years, Mark Shakedown has spun his House and Progressive sound to thousands of people every Saturday evening.

Tune in from 10pm to 12 Midnight at Radio One Lebanon to hear him get the earth shaking if you haven’t heard him yet. The 24 yearold DJ got an early start, spinning his first on-air gig at the age of 17. He’s had that many years to perfect his hand, so it’s no wonder he’s one of the best known DJs to launch out of Lebanon, spinning throughout the Gulf and even launching a pilot station in Amman, Jordan.

Find him on Facebook markinthemix Follow him on Twitter @mark_shakedown

PHOTOGRAPHY BY FADY NAMMOUR

74 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

THE FORCE ISSUE

75

FML [f*ck my life]

FORCING ATMYBAR

BARTENDING WITH A MASTER

BY SARAH HOURANY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

B

ars are comprised of two groups of people: the ones serving, and the ones being served. I happily belonged to the second category, though I’m not even close to being a star drinker. I rarely order more than one drink, otherwise I get dizzy. Besides beer, vodka and whisky, I’m not even familiar with drink names. I pity bartenders who have to deal with me as I am ignorant in the cocktail alphabet, and even worse, I tend to order (after a long lecture on the available drinks), non-alcoholic ones. Go ahead and laugh, I’m used to that. My friends say that the Lebanese association for road awareness “KunHadi” should be named “KunSarahHourany”, as I proudly adopt the “don’t drink” part of the famous “don’t drink and drive”.

“2ishar wala tachrab” is another slogan inspired by my non-drinking behavior and jokes about me getting tipsy by smelling alcohol never seem to stop.

But my life was about to change when I heard a certain Voice resonate deep inside my head. “Sarah, you have to be a bartender,” said The Voice (Fida’s famous voice actually).

Excited, I prepared myself to cross

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over to the mysterious world BEHIND the bar. I was ready to discover nightlife in an amazing downtown lounge named MyBar where a true Master was patiently waiting (Wissam, The Bartender). It was promised he would reveal to me the famous Bartender Secret Code kept confidential for generations. I was about to make MyBar, MY BAR. Editor’s Note I did something I never do. I showed up to watch Sarah’s FML. I wasn’t surprised at all to see Sarah’s pretty face and pleasant demeanor gather admirers. It’s no coincidence that I chose her to be our staff Barkeep. I knew she could “own it” so to speak, which incidentally is the concept behind MyBar, err HerBar?

CODE #1 KNOW YOUR STUFF “A bartender shall know the names and the contents of all the drinks in the universe” I still don’t but in the few hours I spent there, I learned some very interesting facts • 20-somethings tend to order what we can term “nightclub drinks” such as vodka-Redbull or vodka-Seven-up.

• Older men prefer whiskey and mature women are more likely to enjoy a glass of wine.

• Mojitos and Cosmopolitans remain the most popular drinks overall- regardless of the age range-although the latter is requested more often by women.

• The most expensive seems to be Cognac XO as opposed to more affordable options like Vodka.

I learned how to prepare the two most indemand drinks at MyBar, and here’s the proof that I was a good student.

• To prepare a kick-ass Mojhito, place 8 mint leaves at the bottom of a tall glass, then squeeze juice from 4 cut pieces of fresh lime. Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and gently crush these items with a muddler. Finally, add crushed ice and 5cl of rum and top with soda. Don’t forget to garnish it artistically before serving!

• To prepare a proper Cosmo, the martini made famous Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw, place ice in a cocktail shaker then add 4cl of vodka, 2cl of triple sec, 1cl of lime juice, 2cl of Lemon juice and 4cl of cranberry. Shake twice and strain into a cocktail glass.

Editor’s Note I should mention that every drink Sarah started off with got sent my way. I was woozy less than 15 minutes into her FML stunt. She then began serving HerBar customers complete with a knockout smile. I was proud to hear the management call her a “natural” as they watched her shake, garnish and serve.

CODE #2 SERVICE WITH A SMILE “A bartender shall always wear a welcoming smile, even when the clients deserve to be punched in the face” Even if a bartender is angry, upset or exhausted, a real professional should always be friendly and ready to serve clients well. I wasn’t in any of these moods; on the contrary, I was so happy and excited that I decided to offer Doudou shots (the cute name was behind my choice) to people sitting on My Bar, in MyBar. Imitating the Master’s steps, I combined Tabasco, lemon juice, vodka and olives in shot glasses and successfully served 4 Dou-dous.

CODE #3 BE BRAVE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY! “A bartender shall be willing, at all times, to take risks to ensure the continuation of public amazement” Customers may not often order or even know a “Flaming Lamborghini” but if you want to impress the people sitting at Your Bar, you should be ready to prepare it.

Add Baileys, Kahlua, Galliano, Grenadine, black sambuca, white sambuca, Absinthe and Midori. Using a RAGMAG lighter (this is crucial), light the liquid in the cocktail glass, enjoy the sight of it going up in flames!

Editor’s Note Sarah began to scare me at this point. She didn’t seem worried that she was setting alight a questionable looking concoction, and she certainly was pleased to present me with it. Flaming Lamborghini? I think, after tasting my first ever drink with Absinthe, I will stick to my martinis. But Sarah, great work with the pyrotechnics.

CODE #4 THE SECRET SERVICE “A bartender shall be able to create new cocktails and share its ingredients only in exceptional circumstances” After a period of meditation and deep thinking, my Master and I were able to create something extraordinary: The RAG-tini! We’ve decided to reveal the top secret recipe to our readers (next page), because we want to celebrate RAGMAG’s first anniversary. What better way than with our own cocktail?

CODE #4 THE SECRET SERVICE “A BARTENDER SHALL BE ABLE TO CREATE NEW COCKTAILS AND SHARE ITS INGREDIENTS ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES” THE FORCE ISSUE

77

FML [f*ck my life]

CODE #5 UNCONDITIONAL LOVE “A bartender shall always be grateful to those who provided him with schooling, help and support” Thank you Master Wissam for my apprenticeship. Thank you for helping me learn how to maneuver the huge bottles like a pro, teaching me to pronounce Curaçao correctly, and most of all for teaching me how to prepare the coolest drinks with a cooler hand.

In December, I was a dancer. In June, I’m a bartender extraordinaire. Thank you Fida for Filling My Life (FML) with so much fun and excitement, you are spoiling me! (Keep it up) Finally, thank you MyBar for making it My Bar! Editor’s Note After our slurry night of fun at HerBar (which may or may not have ended with me singing, “I likeeee the Bartender”), I’m happy to report that I stuck to RAGMAG’s strict no drinking and driving policy. I can assure you, I sound nothing like T-Pain and Akon so pity whoever took me home that night.

RAGMAG likes MyBar’s cool take on energy drinks. Get your own MyDrink and kick back while listening to their lounge-sexy CD compilation!

Get Sloshed with the RAGMAG Team (Enjoy Responsibly!)

MyBar, Beirut’s new concept lounge and bar Handcrafted cocktails + Asian fusion cuisine 01/999608 70/608999 1344 Park Avenue, Beirut Central District RAGMAG | JUNE 2011 78 www.mybar.me

THE FORCE ISSUE

79

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Luisa Cerano

Q + A with Jurgen Leuthe, owner of Luisa Cerano Q How important is it for Luisa Cerano to maintain a strong Middle Eastern presence?

A We are in Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, and in Lebanon, we have our first free standing store in Downtown Beirut. We own also couple of shopping outlets, as well as shops in a multi-brand store department in Europe.

Q Your shop’s décor reflects a special ambiance that is related also to your brand. What can you say about that?

A We are flexible concerning everything with the brand, the décor is always connected with the country itself, like in Beirut we kept the ceiling with the same guidelines of LC. Monotones of white and grey as well as the logo.

Q What do you offer as a leading brand to your customers? What is your philosophy as LUISA CERANO on outfit collection? What do you consider as a niche offering of LUISA CERANO. A When they talk about outfits, they talk about coordinates, the right trousers with the right jacket but we say: An outfit is a free mixture of shirts and knitwear and that is our thing.

Knitwear is one of our basics; it is our core quality and what LC is very well known for. But now after many years we have a quality selection of shirts, dresses and the collection is flexible depending on the trend.

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THE FORCE ISSUE

81

mirrormirror

GREAT KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK

WE LIKE NIVEA FOR MEN’S NEW SILVER PROTECT RANGE. SPEND LESS THAN 50000 LBP AND STILL BAT 1000 BY GETTING NIVEA’S NEW SKINCARE RANGE MEANT TO PROTECT AND PERFECT. WE’RE LOVING THE WOODYCITRUS SCENT THAT IS FRESH WITHOUT BEING OVERPOWERING! STEP UP TO THE PLATE WITH THESE EASY TO USE PRODUCTS.

Start with NIVEA FOR MEN Silver Protect Shaving Gel, laden with chamomile to soothe and anti-bacterial agents to prevent inflammation. We think the gel texture is one of the best feeling men’s products out there. Finish with a thin even application of refreshing NIVEA FOR MEN Protect After-Shave Fluid for a hydrated and protected skin.

The After-Shave Fluid’s also got panethol in it, which also soothes and moisturizes!

Getting a smooth shave has never been so easy.

82 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

A WORK OF ART Now that you’ve got great skin, get all done up to hit the town with Make Up Forever’s new Art of Nude collection.

You won’t get that Picasso-face since it’s easy to work with and in shades of neutrals, looks great on everyone! Get forever and ever colour with Make Up Forever.

SPLASH

WE LIKE THAT NIVEA’S EASY-PEEZY 3 STEP RANGE IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES, INCLUDING YOU DRY TYPES OUT THERE. GET HYDRATED WITHOUT SPENDING A BUNDLE AND KEEP YOUR SUMMER SKIN FRESH AND BLEMISH-FREE WITH NIVEA! AN ADDED BONUS IS THEIR SUN PROTECTION FACTOR OF 15, GREAT FOR CITYWEAR!

THE FORCE ISSUE

83

VIN DIESEL

FORCING UP THE COURAGE TO DEAL JASON STATHAM

YOUR HAIR IS GETTING THINNER, YOUR FOREHEAD IS GETTING BIGGER AND YOU WONDER HOW LONG IT’S GOING TO TAKE FOR THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD TO TURN INTO A LANDING STRIP... RIGHT, YOU’RE LOSING YOUR HAIR. WHY IS THAT? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP IT OR AT LEAST SLOW IT DOWN? READ ON FOR SOME EXPLANATIONS, TIPS AND ADVICE.

BY ELODIE BARAKAT

Hair loss affects more than 50 percent of men after the age of 40 and around 30 percent of women after the age of 50 (don’t panic ladies, it’s much less common for females). All hair loss isn’t the same: It can be due to a hormonal imbalance (for women mostly around the times of pregnancy and menopause) or due to a violent stressor or even medical treatments. But those cases are rare. Here we’re talking about adrogenic alopecia, the most common case of hair loss.

BRUCE WILLIS

WHAT DOES ANDROGENIC ALOPECIA MEAN?

This type of hair loss mostly affects men, and can start as early as their 20s.

As it’s name indicates, it is genetic... If you see your grandfather and father going bald chances are pretty high that it can happen to you too. The loss can occur over decades or be brutally quick: three Christmases later you’ve become Bruce Willis.

ANDRÉ AGASSI

JOHN TRAVOLTA

PRINCE WILLIAM

CHARLIE SHEEN

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mirrormirror

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR HAIR?

It’s all about testosterone. Most people think that men losing hair have more testosterone than others... The truth is that the problem is not the amount of testosterone you have, but the way your body reacts to it. In androgenic hair loss, scalp cells are overly sensitive to testosterone. The hormone exhausts the hair by accelerating it’s cellular renewal and once those cells are dead, it’s permanent.

Unfortunately science doesn’t know how to stop androgenic hair loss yet, although the guilty gene (named Sox21) has recently been identified

by Japanese scientists. There are good medications available, for which you’ll have to turn to your doctor, but they only work as long as you don’t stop the medication.

JUDE LAW

THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SLOW HAIR LOSS I Choo Choo Choose You

Choose your food wisely. Magnesium preserves your hair balance and stimulates the action of vitamin B which activates the production of keratine, a key structural component of your hair! And don’t forget about zinc since it suppresses the action of an enzyme involved in androgenic hair loss and also contributes to hair growth. You can find zinc in red meat, magnesium in sea food, cereals and chocolate mostly. Get your vitamin B in beans, meat, bananas and wholegrains!

Butt Out

Smoking makes blood circulation harder. You’re scalp is not vascularized well which suffocates the hair follicles.

NICOLAS CAGE

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

Have capillary massages to stimulate blood circulation in your scalp. The better blood circulates, the more toxins are eliminated and the more your hair is nourished! Easy does it, massage your scalp gently when washing your hair.

At some point, it’s no longer question of hair thinning and it’s time to say the word: we’re talking about baldness.

You can either accept your Patrick Stewart look or go with a more radical option: Have hair restoration surgery like Nicolas Cage and John Travolta.

Hair transplants are permanent and need care. Surgeons remove hair from the back of your head, where the cells aren’t as sensitive to hormonal effects, and implant where it’s needed.

DONALD TRUMP

VIN DIESEL

HOW TO WEAR WHATEVER HAIR YOU HAVE LEFT AVOID THE TEMPTATION TO SIDE PART If your hair is thinning on the sides, it will emphasize it. Adopt Jude Law’s style : coiffé décoiffé hair cut with some locks brought on your forehead. Perfect coverage!

DON’T SLICK IT UP Hair gel, hair creams... “Forgetaboutit”! Drop the mafioso style since these products dry your hair, irritate your scalp and make your hair follicle suffocate accelerating the hair loss! Opt for a little bit of wax, just what you need to keep your hair in place.

TAKE A SHORT CUT At some point, you’ll just have to surrender to the inevitable: longish hair isn’t nice when there isn’t much hair left.

Accept your capillary lot in life! Cut it short or shave it all off: it’s not THAT bad! Vin Diesel goes the 100 percent skin option and he’s still considered one of the world’s best-looking men.

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mirrormirror

CHRISTIAN DIOR PULLS TOGETHER A FORCEFUL SUMMER COLLECTION Dior does it again with this summer’s must-have one off pieces that you’re going to want to grab before they’re gone!

We like Dior Vernis Electric Nails in Aloha. Finish with their great top coat! Check out how good it looks on their model.

We love their Lip Maximizer because who wouldn’t love a better pout? Use this one year-round.

We’re touting Diorskin Nude Glow Healthy Glow Summer especially since their attention to detail is worth knowing about: The woven texture of this silky powder is inspired by the Lady Dior Avenue clutch.

We’re hooked on Christian Dior’s new fragrance: Dior Addict to Life. Wear this floral blend when hitting the town this summer!

Notes of sparkling rose, vibrant jasmin and white musk will get you noticed.

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emperor’s new clothes

MIX N’ MATCH REAL RUNWAY HERMÈS SS 2011

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BCBG MAX AZRIA SS 2011

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

Fendi Selleria shoulder bag

BCBG MAX AZRIA SS 2011

Air Conditioning Combining two trends is what every smart cookie does. Zara harem pants 49.000 LBP

D&G SS 2011

Necking

Something about this sleeveless high neck top caught our eye.

Zara 49.000 LBP

Stitch in Time

ALEXANDER WANG SS 2011

Elegance + simplicity.

Zara 79.000 LBP

These retro inspired peep toes are your focal point.

Zara 119.000 LBP

Nights in White Satin

White sandals by Bershka.

99.000 LBP

Gucci Hoochie

Gucci limited edition bracelet to benefit Japan earthquake relief THE FORCE ISSUE

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DSQUARED2 SS 2011

Miami Vice GBershka sunglasses.

25.000 LBP

Double Mint

TOMMY HILFIGER SS 2011

Watch Me Move

Girard-Perregeau1966 blue dial chronograph.

This short navy skirt has preppy chic written all over it,.

Zara 69.000 LBP

Go for the effortless look with this Bershka t-shirt 21.000 LBP

Grey TRF flats.

Zara 39.000 LBP

Rochas Long denim shorts

Finish with these casual white shoes we spotted at Bershka.

79.000 LBP

x2 Match these two pieces together for a guaranteed preppy chic look, Bershka.

Vest 99.000 LBP Top 25.000 LBP

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Go Green Fendi Selleria handbag

DSQUARED2 SS 2011

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Wild Child Bvlgari brown

Agatha western charm clip earrings, enamel and metal.

289.000 LBP

chedron acetate sunglasses with Leoni motif.

FENDI SS 2011

Printed v-neck, loose-fitting top.

Zara 69.000 LBP

Button Me Up

Pair this long oversized vibrant button-up shirt by Zara with black tights or skinny jeans to balance.

79.000 LBP

DRIES VAN NOTEN SS 2011

Brace Yourself Agatha leather bracelet.

103.000 LBP

Blue oversized bag, available at Zara.

189.000 LBP

We’re Honoured Saint Honoré Opera watch

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Office Politics Micheal Kors’ faded-navy linen wide-leg pants are a smart and stylish summer option for the office.

1193.000 LBP

JEREMY LAING SS 2011

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THE LINK BETWEEN TIME + FORCE THIS FATHER’S DAY GET HIM THE GIFT THAT TAKES A LICKING AND KEEPS ON TICKING! (IF ANY OF YOU RECOGNIZED THAT SLOGAN EMAIL THE SOURCE IN TO LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR@RAGMAGLIVE.COM) WE’VE CHOSEN A FEW TIMEKEEPING GOODIES TO HELP YOU NARROW DOWN THE HUGE SELECTION. FROM QUALITIES LIKE SWISS MOVEMENT TO GREAT HARDWARE CONSTRUCTION, THESE WATCHES GET US GOING. WE PREFER A FINE HANDCRAFTED BAND IN NATURAL MATERIALS OVER THE METAL STYLE FAVORED IN LEBANON. THE THREE STYLES WE’VE CHOSEN HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENT TAKES ON FUNCTIONALITY MEETING ELEGANCE. CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE CHOICES.

ROGER DUBUIS Chronograph La Monégasque Big Number

JEANRICHARD Bressel 1665 small hour and minute

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IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN Portofino Hand-Wound Eight Days Watch

DIGITAL IS SO OVER!

emperor’s new clothes

FOR THE WORKAHOLIC, OFFICE HOURS JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT COOLER. WE’RE LOVING MONTBLANC’S STATE OF THE ART FREE-STANDING MASTERPIECE. IF THE MAN IN YOUR LIFE DOESN’T WEAR A WATCH, YOU’VE NOW FOUND YOUR SOLUTION. THE MONTBLANC NICOLAS RIEUSSEC HOROLOGICAL TIMEWRITER IS THE CLOCK YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

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DSQUARED2

BY FIDA CHAABAN

DESIGN DUO DEAN AND DAN CATEN, KNOWN THE WORLD OVER AS DSQUARED2 PULL YOU INTO THEIR ORBIT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. ORIGINALLY FROM CANADA, CURRENTLY BASED IN LONDON BUT TRAVELING CONSTANTLY, THE TWIN DESIGNERS HAVE MANAGED TO DO WHAT SO MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT: CHANNEL THEIR INFECTIONS ENERGY AND LIFE FORCE INTO THEIR CLOTHING. IT HELPS THAT THERE ARE 2 OF THEM. 2 INSANELY CREATIVE, INSANELY UPBEAT AND INSANELY ARTICULATE BROTHERS THAT MAKE UP THE BREAKOUT BRAND, AS THOUGH ONE OF THEM WOULDN’T BE ENOUGH. BOTH THE FASHION AND MUSIC WORLDS HAVE GROWN TO WATCH FOR DSQUARED2’S CREATIONS AND AD CAMPAIGNS, THE NEWEST SHOT BY MERT ALAS AND MARCUS PIGGOTT. THEIR TALENT, CHARM AND SHEER INNOVATION, A MISH-MASH OF MANY DIFFERENT INFLUENCES, TRANSLATES INTO CLOTHING THAT IS BOTH COVETED AND WEARABLE. FOR THEIR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH RAGMAG, DSQUARED2 HAVE ALSO RELEASED PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN AND UNPUBLISHED IMAGES OF THEIR FALL-WINTER 2011 COLLECTION.

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emperor’s new clothes OPPOSITE PAGE: DEAN AND DAN CATEN WITH LINDA EVANGELISTA.

D

an Caten introduces himself quickly and I can practically feel him smile through the receiver as I ask about Dean, his other half. “We’re always together.

We’re really just tied to one another!

We’re constantly talking to each other… We see things together,” the twin says when I ask how much time the 2 actually spend in one another’s company. “We have our own bedrooms in London,” he says when I ask if the two share a home.

They share everything apparently; even their love lives are intermeshed.

“We like to date at the same time, it makes everything easier,” Dan says in response to my questions about the super-close brotherly connection and if that causes relationship complications. “To date one of us, you kind of have to like both of us.

You’re dating 2 people basically. We have 2 steady guys and we have our family get-togethers. They’re great guys, they understand our lives. Dean met his, a French-Moroccan man, on vacation in Mexico and I met mine in Miami, he was a Russian working in a restaurant trying to learn English.”

Speaking from personal experience,

I remark that it’s difficult to know who to trust, how does one just make that leap of faith? “You have to know who’s in front of you. You never date in the industry! The models hit on you because they want the job, you have to think about that,” he says frankly.

I mull that over and ask Dan whether or not the possibility exists that they are simply just attractive guys with a lot to offer? “Whatever,” he says laughing, showing both the sparkling personality and the fun bite the brothers emote on camera. I suggest that no matter where they go people are bound to recognize the handsome pair and that exponentially increases their chances of being hit on at which point Dan laughing remarks that “you get more chances that way!”

I can’t resist asking even though I know it’s redundant and brace for a cringe on the other end of the line: What about the whole twin thing? I am surprised by the thoughtful and serious response as Dan admits that the 47 year-old twins “kind of have the same brain.” The youngest two of nine children, of an Italian father and English mother, “definitely have some twinner connections. We’ll try to call

each other at the same time, lots of stuff, so many things… We once both had bike accidents on opposite ends of the city at the same time!” I mentally crawl back into my psychology years and remember the numerous stories of identical twins, literal genetic clones of one another, and the startling similarities between them, even when raised apart.

These two are the stuff textbooks are made of, down to the frequent use of “we”. Surely this is something people find simultaneously adorable and maybe a little unsettling. I am both thrilled and somehow thrown for a loop when Dan says, “We speak as us.” Dean is slightly older at six minutes, but “crazier, and more fun. I have fun too, don’t get me wrong. We’re a little bit different. I’m a little shorter, a little rounder because I like food,” Dan jokes. “I’m the more balanced one. I wake up first and then wake Dean up.” Born on December 19, the twins “complement each other. I always drive. Dean can’t, he never got a license.” It is worth noting that this is one of the only times in the entire conversation that the word “I” is used, even when describing upbringing and life-altering decisions, like their joint career path.

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emperor’s new clothes BELOW: DEAN AND DAN CATEN WITH DITA VON TEESE AND PARIS HILTON, THE TWINS WITH JANET JACKSON. OPPOSITE PAGE: DSQUARED2 FW 2011 COLLECTION

How did they get started? “We left design school because we ran out of money. We knew we got what we wanted out of school! We learned so much during our first job, it was hands on,” speaking of their first foray into the workforce after design school. Eventually they “took what we could get out of Canada and took it to a bigger stage.” The bigger stage that followed was none other than Madonna’s: The brothers dressed her 2002 Drowned World Tour.

“She definitely knows what she wants,” when I comment on how daunting a task that must have been. “We learned a lot from her; we worked hard trying to get everything perfect and get everything done.” Their heady relationship with the biggest names in music continued when they dressed

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the little girl with a big voice, Christina Aguilera, for her 2003 Stripped Tour.

The roster of performers dressed by the pair is a list of who’s who in music, everyone from pop princess Britney Spears to the always hypnotic Lenny Kravtiz, have all gone the DSQUARED2 route. Perhaps most appropriate was their warm homecoming, especially since they designed the costumes for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

“That’s a whole other thing, these tours and the Olympics. It’s not really fashion, it’s more costume. Doing the Olympics, getting involved in these huge productions, even Brtiney [Spears] too… We love that world of collaboration.” The twins are currently doing the “Life Ball. It’s going to be a Hell’s Angels meets military meets birds and flight. It’s coming out really cool,”

says Dan. The Life Ball, held in Vienna, Austria since 1993, is organized yearly to support AIDS and HIV sufferers.

Global citizens, the twins name Rio de Janeiro, Mykonos, Toronto, Tokyo and “of course Beirut” as their favorite cities.

“We like Beirut; we had a party at a beach hotel! The people were great,” referring to their fragrance promo visit last summer. “We go out, it’s not insane.

We went to gay pride [Toronto Pride Parade 2010], and it was really fun!

We were celebrity bartenders the night before! We’ve been back [to Canada] eight times this year. We have a home, a lot of relatives there. Canadians are great, they make you feel very nice and sweet, even if they don’t have a clue about fashion,” they say referring to the support they receive from people both in and out of the know.

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emperor’s new clothes OPPOSITE PAGE AND BELOW: DSQUARED2 FW 2011 COLLECTION.

Their newest collection, Fall-Winter 2011, is their “version of Cold Mountain,” the 2003 blockbuster film directed by Anthony Minghella. “We watched Cold Mountain and we loved how Nicole Kidman looked. The pioneer look, early settlers contrasting with biker leather… It’s about cold, layering and accessories to get the look.

Very wintry, very dark, very Mormoneven. It was a place of reference, the blacksmith, the mini-little buttons and we played with it. It gave us a place to start, adopt it and mould it to what we wanted and make new,” they

explain. The influence is seen down to “eyewear, you know with the granny glasses, that old charm.” But this is just a sampling of their influences since their brand is characterized by “contrasts and details. Details in general are a big part of the brand. The lining inside a sleeve, the stitching…

We like our clothes to be clothes, not costume-y and not make people look like they’re trying too hard. I think what we like to do with our denim is make it as authentic as possible.

Certain details make it look rich and important,” they explain.

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emperor’s new clothes OPPOSITE PAGE: THE PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN AND UNPUBLISHED DSQUARED2 FW 2011 AD CAMPAIGN, PHOTOGRAPHED BY MERT ALAS AND MARCUS PIGGOTT. THIS PAGE: DSQUARED2 FW 2011 COLLECTION.

Who are the 5’6 twins wearing lately?

“We don’t even know about new designers, we don’t have time to look at stuff anymore! You know, we have a fit problem, if we do go shopping, we shop in Tokyo and find what we like.” Do they like everything the same? “Some things are a little different. I’m wearing a platinum Rolex with diamonds, rubies and sapphires but my brother is wearing it in gold! We love watches.

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I have a Rolex Yacht-Master II with a blue ceramic dial. It’s very pretty,” Dan gushes. I turn the subject to the evolution of the DSQUARED2 brand and growth with the brothers. “We matured, our clothes are maturing.

We have different needs, we have to adapt! We like to play dress up and put on a suit once in a while, the Oscars, the Grammys [Grammy Awards], the red carpet stuff. I think our audience is changing as well.”

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OPPOSITE PAGE: THE PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN AND UNPUBLISHED DSQUARED2 FW 2011 AD CAMPAIGN, PHOTOGRAPHED BY MERT ALAS AND MARCUS PIGGOTT. THIS PAGE: DSQUARED2 FW 2011 COLLECTION.

emperor’s new clothes

“We’re really our own customers,” as they explain that they wear their own pieces. “We would look to Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, growing up. Jean Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler for shows, extravagant shows! We were always big fans,” they exclaim. On the topic of Dior, I ask about superstar designer John Galliano’s much-debated recent ousting from the iconic house and the twins echo much of the popular sentiment on the subject simply calling it “not a cautious remark to make for someone in his industry.”

While opinionated, the twins clearly steer clear of drama, calmly explaining that they’re “easy and simple. We live day by day, enjoy stuff. We love our job and doing what we do.”

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ON ADNAN HARLEY DAVIDSON BLACK PANTS 112.500 LBP | SHIRT 90.000 LBP | BOOTS 290.000 LBP | BLACK SCARF 45.000 LBP ON MAJA HARLEY DAVIDSON VEST 360.000 LBP | BOOTS 290.000 LBP | CREAM KAYDEE SHORTS 132.500 LBP | KAYDEE TANK TOP 165.000 LBP | BIRDCAGE ACCESSORIES STARTING 60.000 LBP

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FORCE Photography by ODETTE KAHWAGI + CHRISTIAN HARB Styled by JONY MATTA Set Director ALEXANDRA KAHWAGI Makeup by NABIL MAKHOUL Hair by ROGER GABRIEL Models ADNAN DIRANI + MAJA PEROVIC HARLEY DAVIDSON FAT BOY EDITION MOTORCYCLE Courtesy of Harley Davidson

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FORCE

THIS PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON LEATHER VEST 200.000 LBP | HAT 84.000 LBP | RINGS STARTING 368.000 LBP | JEANS 66.000 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE ON MAJA HARLEY DAVIDSON SHIRT 147.500 LBP | TANK TOP 102.000 LBP | BOOTS 290.000 LBP | BIRDCAGE SHORTS 90.000 LBP | BIRDCAGE + CREAM ACCESSORIES ON ADNAN HARLEY|DAVIDSON SUNGLASSES 225.000 LBP | SHIRT 147.000 LBP | I SHIRT 80.000 LBP | BLACK PANTS 112.500 LBP | BOOTS 290.000 LBP RAGMAG JUNE 2011 110

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FORCE

HARLEY DAVIDSON SUNGLASSES 225.000 LBP | LEATHER JACKET 1.463.000 LBP | BOOTS 247.500 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON BOOTS

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FORCE

VECTOR

THIS PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON SUNGLASSES 225.000 LBP | SHIRT 147.000 LBP | TANK TOP 102.000 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON TANK TOP 112.500 LBP | BIRDCAGE LEATHER SKIRT 480.000 LBP | CREAM BRACELET 97.500 LBP | BOOTS 290.000 LBP

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FORCE

VECTOR

THIS PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON HELMET 510.000 LBP | BANDANA 47.400 LBP | LEATHER JACKET 675.000 LBP | LEATHER PANTS 381.000 LBP ON MAJA HARLEY DAVIDSON BOOTS 247.500 LBP | LEATHER JACKET 1.463.000 LBP | SUNGLASSES 225.000 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE BIRDCAGE | DRESS 210.000 RAGMAG | JUNE ACCESSORIES 2011 116

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FORCE

THIS PAGE ON ADNAN HARLEY DAVIDSON PANTS 112.500 LBP | SHIRT 180.000 LBP ON MAJA HARLEY DAVIDSON BOOTS 290.000 LBP | BIRDCAGE TOP 180.000 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON RAGMAG | JUNE 2011 SHIRT 147.000 180.000 LBP | BOOTS 289.500 LBP | CREAM JEANS SHORTS 277.500 LBP 118

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FORCE

THIS PAGE ON ADNAN HARLEY DAVIDSON PANTS 112.500 LBP | JEANS VEST 124.500 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON TANK TOP 112.500 LBP | BIRDCAGE RING 82.500 LBP | LEATHER SKIRT 480.000 LBP | CREAM BRACELET 97.500 LBP

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FORCE

VECTOR

THIS PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON LEATHER VEST 201.000 LBP | HAT 84.000 LBP | RINGS STARTING 367.500 LBP | JEANS 66.000 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE ON MAJA HARLEY DAVIDSON SHIRT 147.000 LBP | TANK TOP 102.000 LBP | BOOTS 290.000 LBP | BIRDCAGE SHORTS 90.000 LBP | BIRDCAGE + CREAM ACCESSORIES ON ADNAN HARLEY|DAVIDSON SUNGLASSES 225.000 LBP | SHIRT 147.000 LBP | BLACK PANTS 112.500 LBP RAGMAG JUNE 2011 122

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FORCE

THIS PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON SUNGLASSES 225.000 LBP | HELMET 510.000 LBP OPPOSITE PAGE HARLEY DAVIDSON TANK TOP 102.000 LBP | SUNGLASSES 225.000 LBP | BIRDCAGE + CREAM ACCESSORIES

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F=ma RACING MASS X

FASHION ACCELERATION IS ALL ABOUT FORCE

BY STEPHANIE AOUN

O’Neal Racing since 1970

Jim O’Neal was there when it all began. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, and as a young teenager was absolutely hooked on motorcycling. Off-road racing was just getting started in the late 1960s when O’Neal was hitting the local hills and trails with his buddies.

Dirt bikes didn’t exist as riders tried to adapt their street bikes, so racers needed better motorcycle parts, apparel, and accessories to compete. O’Neal started making motorcycle parts and modifying his motorcycle in his high school auto and metal shops, and in 1970, selling spare parts to local riders. Over four decades later, O’Neal racing gear, ATV gear, and accessories have become a dominant fixture in the off-road scene.

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WE’RE TOLD THAT AN ELEMENTARY WAY OF LOOKING AT TORQUE IS FORCE MULTIPLIED BY DISTANCE. FIELDING THAT FORCE AND GOING THAT DISTANCE, ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD OF RACING, MOTOCROSS AND OTHER FAST AND FURIOUS SPORTS, REQUIRES THE RIGHT GEAR. CHECK OUT SOME OF RAGMAG’S PICKS FOR THE BEST STUFF AROUND.

emperor’s new clothes

Racing since 1974

Fox Racing first opened for business when Geoff Fox, a Ph.D. who taught physics at the University of Santa Clara, launched Moto-X Fox, a tiny distribution business for European motocross parts and accessories in a 1,500-square foot building in Campbell, California. In 1980, during the highlycompetitive AMA 125 cc National Championship series, Team Moto-X Fox riders wore bright red, yellow and orange race outfits. Handmade by Fox, the clothing became an instant hit with the fans and interested enthusiasts started calling the Fox shop in Campbell inquiring about its availability. In July 2006, Fox Racing decided to change its name to Fox Head Racing, Inc. Today, Fox remains a family owned and operated business, with the second generation working fulltime at the company.

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emperor’s new clothes

Thor MX Racing since 1967

Thor, riding apparel company, was founded by motocross star Torsten Hallman who popularized motocross racing in the United States in the 60s with his unprecedented speed and dominance of the sport. After his racing career, he began to sell motocross pants and gloves at the races to help supplement his income. This eventually led to the formation of THOR Motocross (Torsten Hallman Original Racewear), which heavily influenced the look and function of motocross riding gear. From the company’s beginnings out of the trunk of Hallman’s car, Thor grew to become one of the leading off-road racing apparel companies in the world.

Hallman later sold his interest in the company, but remains Sweden’s Thor importer.

EXCEED THE SPEED LIMIT Sparco

Racewear

Two race drivers who shared the same passion for motorsports founded Sparco in 1977.

Headquartered in Settimo Torinese, Turin, Italy, this automotive part and accessory company specializes in producing items such as seats, steering wheels, harnesses, racewear and helmets.

More than 2 decades later, Sparco’s ambition for producing the safest driving suit possible is still the number one priority for the company.

Racewear Ltd. is a British motorsport racewear supplier, founded in 1982, and specializes in race suits, kartsuits, helmets, racing boots, racing underwear and accessories for racing, karting, oval racing and powerboating industries. Racewear Ltd is based in the village of Lacock in Wiltshire and distributes worldwide.

In 2010, the company was accorded “Challenger” status by Business Link South West for its innovative approach to online retailing and marketing

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The Outdoors, Leisure and Lifestyle Event

22 - 26 JUNE 2011 BIEL - Beirut, Lebanon Organized by:

Under the auspices of:

Supported by:

In collaboration with:

Official TV:

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Ministry of Youth and Sports

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Why Outdoor Lebanon?

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Official Newspaper:

See the latest outdoor activity products and gear displayed for the first time in the country

Participate and compete in outdoor games and activities during the event

Sponsored by:

Venue:

www.outdoorlebanon.com IFP Group Building, 56th Str. Hazmieh, P.O.Box. 55576, Beirut, Lebanon. Tel: + 961 5 959 111, Fax: + 961 5 959 888, Email: info@ifpexpo.com THE FORCE ISSUE

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see, speak, +hear no evil

CHECK

BY JACQUES TCHABARIAN

Last Night on Earth NOAH & THE WHALE The first thing you notice in the opening track of Noah and the Whale’s latest album is the fact that vocalist Charlie Fink is a big fan of the Bono school of singing, both emotionally and texture wise. Musically however, comparison to the latter singer’s band is not on the menu since Fink and the gang deal with a more adult alternative music these days. The folk element that was present in the band’s earlier material (especially on their excellent first album “Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down”)

is rarely found here, but the traditional NATW melodies and cool segments are still there.

In a new approach to their music, some of the material is synthesized and drum programming surfaces here and there, not doing real justice to their honest delivery of sensitive and thoughtful songs. All and all, this is an album that would be great for those Sunday mornings where you just want to stay in bed and let the music set the mood for the rest of the day.

Passive Me Aggressive You THE NAKED AND FAMOUS Once in a while, an album comes along and lifts your spirits up regardless of what kind of mood you’re in and gives you a take on life as full of zest and energy (even if its, for some, only for the duration of the album). Passive Me, Aggressive You is one of those albums, and the New Zealand based indie crew has created a small gem of 80’s post Punk/Dance, with enough blown out synths and distorted drumbeats to make it a serious contender to the Dance Rock throne that is currently occupied by Brooklyn’s

excellent Yeasayer. Another aspect that makes this album a delight to listen to is the dual male/female vocal delivery by the band’s two vocalists, Thom Power and Alisa Xayalith. In tracks such as “Punching in a Dream” and the gorgeous “Young Blood”, Power and Xayalith elevate the songs to another level where each one of them completes the other’s yearnings, or whispers softly in the background sending a deam-like vibe throughout the album.

A must have.

F.A.M.E. CHRIS BROWN After the release of his third album “Graffiti” back in 2009, Chris Brown’s career was in uncertain waters. Sure the album had sold short of gold sales status, which qualifies it as a hit, but compared to his two previous offerings which reached platinum status, questions were starting to be asked regarding the survival of a fourth album. Add to that the assault charges (beating his girlfriend at the time, none other than Rihanna), which resulted in his appearance at the Grammy Awards to be withdrawn from the committee and his songs being pulled

gradually from heavy rotation on worldwide radio stations. But the Pop/R&B prodigy has made a good comeback on “F.A.M.E”, showing his multi-talent delivery in different songs, from straight R&B to club anthems and slow jams. Surrounding himself with artists such as Ludacris and Justin Bieber adds more flavor to his particular mix of musical taste, making songs like “Yeah 3X” and “Beautiful People” impossible to miss. Not exactly up to the standard of his first albums though, but none the less, a good return to form.

Club Life V1, Las Vegas TIESTO Being one of the most influential DJs in the world and hailed as number 1 for many years by numerous magazines has given Tiesto free range to experiment with his Club Dance and Trance music for almost 15 years now. After his highly successful “Magik”, “In Search Of sunlight” and “Elements Of Life” series, the Dutch electro maestro has returned with a new installment in the form of “Club Life”, where his usual blend of Trance and House sees him delivering a mix

130 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

album of first class caliber. Remixes and original mixes are on the menu, with “Fire in Your New Shoes” standing out due to some enigmatic vocals courtesy of Martina Sorbara from Canadian band Dragonette. Many collaborations are also found this time around, with as diverse peers as Hardwell and compatriot Trance producer Marcel Woods, but it’s with the closing track, the party pleaser “C’mon” that Tiesto and collaborator Diplo bring the set to a new high.

Decision Points

George W. Bush

and

Why you should read this book

weep read’em

BY AMAL CHAABAN

Don’t you want to know what the hell he was thinking?

The 43rd President of the United States was and continues to be one of the most polarizing figures in modern history. His supporters think he can do no wrong and his detractors think he can do no right.

The truth lies somewhere in the middle. This memoir provides a fascinating insight into the thought process of a man who led the United States of America into two wars and financial ruin. It is apparent from the tone of the memoir that he is completely unrepentant for the decisions that led to war though he does allow a

caveat that he wishes the intelligence had been better on Iraq. Missing from the Iraq discussion? Abu Ghraib.

One of the unfortunate things about the controversy surrounding him is that the major funding decisions on stem cell research and education were drowned out by the cacophony of screams. His work with the victims of AIDS in Africa also unfortunately went unnoticed. Read this book to get a better look inside W’s White House and what life was really like on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

A Journey: My Political Life

Tony Blair

Why you should read this book

To determine whether time and being proven wrong taught him any humility

When RAGMAG gave me the theme of this edition, I immediately thought of this book.

Of all the world leaders who joined forces with George W. Bush, Tony Blair took the most flak.

This book highlights a Blair that is as arrogant, vain, and unapologetic as ever. There are parts of the book that are so self-aggrandizing that you are forced to wonder if he has a God complex. Blair speaks briefly about his childhood and spends a considerable amount of time lamenting Gordon Brown but you can

feel a lack of humility permeating the entire book. It comes through loud and clear that no matter how large or how small the decision was, he felt he was right all the way through even if there were disastrous consequences.

His protestations of empathy with Iraqis who have suffered as a result of the war come off as hollow and empty as his protestations that he was never in it just for the politics. No surprises in this memoir at all just a rehash of all the things that he thought were right.

The Athena Project

Brad Thor

Why you should read this book

Women are as deadly as men when need be

Brad Thor is known to be a master of his genre with even 2012 Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich giving him rave reviews. His books are often action packed, tightly woven and intricate; The Athena Project is no exception. This novel veers from the writing of his peers because the protagonists here are a group of women you would NEVER want to be on the wrong side of.

Gretchen, Julie, Megan and Alex make up a top secret team called the Athena Force. Wholly off the radar

of most of the Department of Defence and Intelligence agencies, these women go where men fear to tread.

Beautiful, brave, smart and deadly, the four women are sent into situations that at times seem hopeless but they somehow make it through.

The science discussed in this novel is real and poses some perplexing questions should it come to fruition.

This read is a knuckle biter all the way through and when it is all over, you just wish for more.

A Russian Diary

Anna Politkovskaya Why you should read this book

The truth can be the last thing you ever write

In an age where much of the mainstream media now has reporters embedded with armies reporting the “truth”, journalists with guts seem to be few and far between which makes the loss of Anna Politkovskaya tremendous. Ms. Politkovskaya, a Russian journalist, toed the wrong side of the line and crossed the powers that be with her investigative reporting. This book, published posthumously, is a translation of her diary and if it is any indication of her reporting skills, it is no wonder that she became public enemy number one. The diary

starts in early 2003 and gives a frightening and incriminating look into the Russian Federation. She is scathing in her indictment of Vladimir Putin and the Duma and no less acidic about some of her peers who she feels were bought with offers of “better access”.

Her notes on Chechnya, the Beslan school siege, and several different bombings are articulate and sharp. She refused to roll over and play dead even in the face of threats on her life, paying the final price for her great courage when she was gunned down in her apartment building in 2006.

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see, speak, +hear no evil

playNICE

BY ADAM VOLK

Virtua Tennis 4

Publisher SEGA | Developer SEGA Platforms Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii These days it seems like more and more video games are convincing lazy couch potatoes to put down their bags of Doritos, heave themselves into an upright position, and actually engage in a little cardio. Case in point: Virtua Tennis 4, a game that makes use of either the PlayStation Move, Microsoft Kinect or Wii Motion Plus (depending on which console you own), to simulate all of the back-and-forth action of professional tennis. The Kinect version is a little twitchy, but for Nintendo and PlayStation owners, the responsive motion capture controls are a perfect

way to practice your backswing – while also letting you to take on the role of some of the sport’s biggest names. Virtua Tennis 4 also adds a quirky and entertaining board game-like interface that allows you to further develop your character off the court with a series of mini-games. Sure, it isn’t exactly the same as throwing on your short-shorts and hitting the clay in real life, but for out-of-shape gamers looking to work up a light sweat without accidentally getting hit in the crotch by a stray racquet, Virtua Tennis 4 has plenty of love to give.

DiRT 3

Publisher Codemasters | Developer Codemasters Platforms Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 From the time most of us can walk we’re told to keep it clean. Whether it’s splashing around in puddles, rolling in the grass, or making mud pies, getting dirty is a major no-no.

Which might explain why the DiRT series - a game which rewards players for revelling in muck and grime - is so damned successful. DiRT 3 offers up more of the same, putting players behind the wheel of a rally car, a super-charged vehicle which competes in gruelling, long distance off-road races. DiRT 3 offers 50 new real-world rally cars to choose from, and lets

players test their reflexes, endurance and vehicular fortitude in races across the globe; whether it be the swelteringly dusty African savannah, the weatherbeaten European wilderness, or the muddy redneck backwaters of America. For rally car fanatics, it’s hard to beat DiRT 3’s impressive mix of customizable vehicles and stunning environments. Throw in online races as well as new time trial and race modes, and you’ve got one of the best rally racers of all time and the perfect outlet for gamers looking to get down and dirty.

L.A. Noire

Publisher Rockstar | Developer Team Bondi / Rockstar | Platforms PS 3, Xbox 360 When it comes to video game developers there are few as successful as Rockstar, with the company creating hits like the legendary Grand Theft Auto series as well as last year’s Red Dead Redemption. Now, Rockstar offers up a hardboiled dose of classic detective fare with L.A. Noire. Set in 1940s Los Angeles, players take on the role of Cole Phelps, a World War II veteran and fledgling member of the LAPD. Players must then take Phelps up the ranks, from a lowly beat patrolman to a seasoned detective investigating a James Ellroy-style murder mystery involving jazz,

drugs, Hollywood starlets and police corruption. In addition to an absolutely stunning recreation of the City of Angels, L.A. Noire also features plenty of shoot em’ up action, an impressively sophisticated film noir storyline and the inclusion of patented facial recognition technology which allows players to interrogate suspects and determine if they’re lying or not based on their expressions. The end result is a yet another home run for Rockstar, mixing cutting edge game development with the hardboiled detective genres’ potent blend of babes, booze and bullets.

BRINK

Publisher Bethesda Softworks | Developer Splash Damage | Platforms Xbox 360, PS 3 At first glance, BRINK might seem like an all-too familiar video game recipe: take one part postapocalyptic war zone, add an equal measure of first-person carnage and serve to trigger-happy gamers.

Yet despite treading on an over-used genre, BRINK manages to remain surprisingly fresh thanks to its impressive visuals and unique gameplay features.

Set in the far future in a dystopian floating city called “the Ark”, players take on the role of heavily-armed soldiers battling for control of the crumbling metropolis.

Combat, however, boils down to a combination of first

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person shooting and parkour, with players able to leap, climb and deftly manoeuvre through the rusted ruins. The action is rapid fire, with room for up to 16 players online, but BRINK earns even more props for its customizable character creation system, with near limitless possibilities in terms of items, clothing and appearances. What’s more, the unique classes and objective-based gameplay means BRINK works beautifully with almost any style of play. The end result is an incredibly deep and actionpacked shooter that injects a fresh shot of adrenaline into a well-worn genre.

see, speak, +hear no evil

watchout

BY ADAM VOLK

Release dates based on amazon.co.uk

Paul | DVD & Blu-ray | 104 mins Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen Release Date: June 13 Oh Aliens. If they’re not busy trying to anally probe David Duchovny or racking up expensive long distance charges “phoning home,” they’re making annoying crop circles in some poor farmer’s field. In the film Paul, however, the ubiquitous little green men offer a close encounter that also happens to be very funny. The film follows the adventures of two British science fiction geeks (played by Shaun of the Dead’s Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) who embark on the great American road trip. But when they stop outside the infamous Area 51, they run afoul of Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen), a seemingly prototypical X-Files style alien. The two soon

discover, however, that Paul is a far cry from you your Reese’s Pieces munching extra terrestrial, and instead is a friendly, pot-smoking joker who, like all good aliens, is really just looking for a ride home. They then set out to get Paul back to a galaxy, far, far away while being chased by a ruthless government agent (played by Jason Bateman).

Funny, and littered with nerd-friendly pop culture references, Paul is charming and quirky, if not a little stiff at times. Still, if you’ve ever enjoyed a good alien from Uranus joke, chances are you’ll enjoy Paul’s sci-fi stoner vibe.

True Grit | DVD & Blu-ray

| 110 mins Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin Release Date: June 13 For many film lovers, the Hollywood Western is a genre that peaked in the late 70s and is now as stale and leathery as Clint Eastwood himself. Fortunately, there’s True Grit, a film that almost single-handedly breathes new life into a genre that, until now, has been about as fresh as a saloon outhouse. Technically the film is a remake of the 1969 John Wayne classic of the same name, but in truth it follows the original novel by Charles Portis more closely than it does the Duke’s six-shooter masterpiece. Directed by the Coen Brothers, the Academy Award nominated film tells the

story of Mattie Ross (played to perfection by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld), a plucky fourteen-year old girl whose father is brutally gunned down in a frontier town. Not one to be deterred, Mattie decides to track down her father’s killer and enlists the aid of drunkenyet-still-deadly U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) and a Texas Ranger with more courage than sense (Matt Damon). The end result is a brilliant and blood soaked work of contemporary filmmaking that hits like a slug from Winchester rifle and fully restores the Hollywood Western to its rightful place.

The Mechanic | DVD & Blu-ray | 88 mins Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland Release Date: May 16 These days it seems you can’t fire a 9mm handgun in a video store without hitting a Jason Statham movie.

The perpetually douchey and unshaven Brit first earned action cred in his Transporter series and he’s essentially been reprising the same role ever since.

The Mechanic is no exception, with Statham taking on the role of stereotypical ass-kicker Arthur Bishop, an assassin renowned for his ability to make his victim’s deaths appear accidental. But after Bishop is forced to execute his former mentor, he soon encounters his troubled son Steve (played by the incredibly talented

Ben Foster). Feeling guilty, the hardnosed killer takes Steve under his wing and teaches him the ins and outs of professional assassination. It’s an intriguing premise (and, incidentally, a remake of a little known 1972 Charles Bronson film) but unfortunately, The Mechanic falters as an action flick, with two unlikable main characters and a few ho-hum shoot ‘em up sequences. Foster, it should be said, is really too good of an actor for a film like this, and as for Jason Statham – well, let’s just say if he keeps cranking out duds like The Mechanic, it’s only a matter of time before someone puts a bullet in his career.

Love & Other Drugs | DVD & Blu-ray | 112 mins Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Oliver Platt Release Date: May 23 Viagra. It’s been called the wonder drug, the most popular prescription of all time and -for any man who’s ever had “performance issues” - the perfect way to put a little block in your wood. Which is why it’s surprising that Hollywood hasn’t taken on Viagra before. Enter Love & Other Drugs, a film that manages to walk a strange line as both a romantic comedy and a send-up of the pharmaceutical-drug industry. Based loosely on the non-fiction book “Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman” by Jamie Reidy, the film tells the story of Jamie, an up and coming drug rep (played by Jake “Don’t Call me Donnie Darko” Gyllenhall) who is living

the dream as a womanizing anti-depressant peddler.

But when he crosses paths with a beautiful Parkinson’s patient (played by Anne “Don’t Call Me Ella Enchanted” Hathaway) it makes Jamie question his priorities. Love & Other Drugs offers a few laughs and both Gyllenhaal and Hathaway are rock solid, yet sadly, what could have been the Thank You for Smoking of Viagra, instead treads upon the same sappy romantic comedy formula we’ve seen a million times before. Side effects may vary, but in the final prescription, Love & Other Drugs remains a somewhat flaccid film that will probably only partially arouse your interest.

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WORLDVISION

BY LILIANE ASSAF

RAGMAG IS PLEASED TO GIVE THE ONLINE COMMUNITY SOME MUCH DESERVED PRINT SPACE. THIS IS THE FIRST 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 JUNE FORCE ISSUE, THE SECOND IN OUR MEN’S POWER SERIES, WE ASKED LEBANON’S BLOG AGGREGATOR, LILIANE ASSAF, TO CHOOSE THE 3 BEST MALE BLOGGERS IN LEBANON. GET CLICKING, PEOPLE!

BLOG TITLE JIRAH FI AL-THAKIRA BLOGGER Pascal Assaf LANGUAGE Arabic URL http://pascalassaf.blogspot.com TWITTER @PascalAssaf

Jirah Fi Al-Thakira is the personal space for writer Pascal Assaf.

His writings vary from cultural investigations that he has run for NowLebanon.com, to his personal writings and short stories.

A short story of his, “Ajmal Ibtissama”, began in one post as a teaser with no storyline in mind, but upon receiving many comments and requests for a sequel, he continued with it.

The Arabic language blogs make up less than 10 percent of the Lebanese blogosphere. Pascal’s blog is one of those few, and of those few, is a must read.

Pascal’s blog is characterized by a singular prose style and unpredictable endings paired with plot twists. Pascal hopes to launch a book with a collection of his short stories soon.

BLOG TITLE BEIRUT SPRING BLOGGER Mustapha Hamoui LANGUAGE English URL http://www.beirutspring.com TWITTER @BeirutSpring

Mustapha, a Lebanese National living abroad, is one of the few veteran Lebanese bloggers. He began blogging in 2005, mostly a political blog reporting the incidents that happened in that year and with time has become a reference for a local and international audience, currently receiving thousands of daily hits.

Mustapha recently changed his blog into a stock and flow type, ensuring a daily dose of several posts and currently provides content that is not exclusive to politics, but includes international trends, interesting news and odd stories. His blog has become a sort of archive to the most important happenings in Lebanon and internationally.

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see, speak, + hear no evil BLOG TITLE OUR MAN IN BEIRUT BLOGGER Nasri Atallah LANGUAGE English URL http://www.ourmaninbeirut.com TWITTER @NasriAtallah

Nasri Atallah is the man behind the blog “Our Man in Beirut”.

Nasri, born and raised in London, recently relocated to Beirut and now calls Lebanon home. Nasri’s way with English and his sense of humor makes his blog different. His narrations about every day things and events in Lebanon when seen through his eyes take on a whole new vibe. Despite the fact that his posts revolve around the “normal”, we still feel drawn to his words and admire the way he tailors his posts. He could be writing about a quest to find the best burger in town, yet you still feel compelled to keep reading, whether you’re interested in burgers or not.

Nasri has a book in store next Christmas, so stay tuned.

[NASRI ATALLAH] COULD BE WRITING ABOUT A QUEST TO FIND THE BEST BURGER IN TOWN, YET YOU STILL FEEL COMPELLED TO KEEP READING, WHETHER YOU’RE INTERESTED IN BURGERS OR NOT. LILIANE’S CHOICE

BEST CUBE REVIEW www.thecubelb.com Reviewer Mustapha Book “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro “Time Magazine called this the best English-language novel of the decade.

Now I haven’t read all the novels of the decade but I’m pretty sure Never Let Me Go deserves to be up there.

Kathy H, the main character, starts the story by telling us about her childhood in Hailsham, a seemingly idyllic boarding school in the English countryside. She tells us about Ruth and Tommy, her best friends and how they grew up together. In the beginning, everything appears normal and the characters seem to be having lovely childhoods, with vivid details, giggles, temper tantrum, school pranks, love triangles and gossip about their Guardians.

But the kids at Hailsham, it turns out, are not normal kids. They are special kids who were brought into this world for one purpose and one purpose only: To grow up and donate their vital

organs, one by one until they “Complete” (die). The story follows with how they grow up, graduate and become Donors and Carers (people who nurse donors until they eventually become donors themselves).

They all accept their roles in life and never challenge it. The matter-offactness with which Kathy tells us about donations and completions can drive you crazy. But the genius of Ishiguro is in portraying the human relationships between the three characters, in how they raise in your mind questions of friendship, growing up, life of death and what it means to be human. All in all a fabulous and engrossing read.

This book has just been turned into a movie and the trailer is very promising.

But do yourself a favor and read the book before you watch the movie. I promise you, you won’t regret it.” www.lebanonaggregator.com Find the Lebanon Aggregator fan page on Facebook THE FORCE ISSUE 135 Follow her on Twitter @LebAgg

MCFF 2011 HAS SCREENED 89 FILMS FROM 36 COUNTRIES WITH THE MAIN FOCUS BEING SOCIAL ISSUES AND STUDENT FILMMAKERS.

FORCE FORWARD

REPORT FROM THE MONACO CHARITY FILM FESTIVAL

BY CHRIS KRIESA

THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT: THE MIRROR BOY, FORGIVENESS, THE INNOCENT CHILDREN.

I

t was certainly a place that I always wanted to visit, and then it happened - the phone call from a good friend asking me if I still had a copy of my short comedic film, “The Last American Car”. My quick affirmative was rewarded when he replied, “Great, bring it. I want you to be the Master of Ceremonies at the Monaco Charity Film Festival, (MCFF), which I am starting this year. I want this festival to celebrate new filmmakers and to use the profits to benefit charity.”

That was in May of 2007 and the man who called me was Vicente Zaragosa.

Next thing I knew, I was having breakfast in the sun on the rooftop restaurant of the Marriot Hotel in Monaco. The view was stunning: The beautiful, blue Mediterranean, dotted with luxury yachts, its waves lapping onto the shores of Monaco with its regal Palace and lavish homes. The view made my task of writing the Gala Dinner Speech almost impossible.

136 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

The MCFF officially opened later that day, in a conference room in the majestic Hotel Paris, next door to the famous Monte Carlo Casino. In that meeting room, with a projector, large screen and 40 chairs, sat Vicente, six film buffs and myself. Vicente and I exchanged looks as he stood up and inaugurated the first MCFF with a few brief words. We wondered if the audiences for our meager 37 films were going to cap out at six people.

We wondered if anyone in town knew about the festival. We wondered how in the world we’d be able to pay the bills, much less send money to charitable causes. Slowly, other filmmakers and foreign dignitaries started arriving and our audience grew. Every night we had a cocktail party outdoors and on one evening Prince Albert made an appearance. Things were looking up and on the night evening of the Gala Dinner, the ballroom at the Hotel Paris held 250 guests. We survived, learned

from our experience, and made plans for the next year. We knew we were in over our heads, but we believed we could make this work.

The next year, luckily, Award Winning Director/Producer Georges Chamchoum came on as Program and Artistic Director and we started feeling more like a festival. Georges had spent years on the Board of the Le Festival du Film Fantastique et de Science Fiction in Paris.

He had the experience and the contacts to move us in the right direction; more and better films, more publicity and more dignitaries. Georges loved Vicente’s idea of helping new filmmakers and soon got film schools involved in sending films to the MCFF. Our number of films screened in the seven day-festival increased, from 37 in 2007 to 116 last year. These included features, feature documentaries, shorts, and student shorts from 31 countries. Special tributes were made to Tibetan Films, Films on Tibet and Brazilian Cinema.

see, speak, +hear no evil LEFT TO RIGHT: R.F.K’s LAST JOURNEY, A BITTER TASTE OF FREEDOM, BLACK GOLD, BED FELLOW.

With the efforts of Vicente, Georges, and the MCFF team, the festival has continued to grow in size and quality.

This year will be the first year we have an actual theatre for the screenings Monaco is a small town with hardly any movie theatres. MCFF 2011 will screen 89 films from 36 countries with the main focus being social issues and student filmmakers. Screenings are free and open to all. This year’s charitable focus of the festival is the Virlanie Foundation in the Philippines, which houses, feeds and educates over 1000 homeless children in 12 residential facilities in Manila

A large number of countries are represented at this year’s MCFF including 9 movies from Lebanon (1 feature, 8 student shorts) as well as 4 from Notre Dame University in Louaize. NDU has been MCFF Partner the past 3 years as well as the Im Kwon-taek College of Film & Performing Arts Dong Seo University, South Korea with Faculty Dean Keon-seop Park the driving force behind it. Nigeria’s 3 features are represented this year by one of Africa’s major stars, Genevieve Nnaji. A number of environmental films will be screened, a cause dear to The Prince Albert Foundation, who have decided to administer for this year’s film fest.

An afternoon is dedicated to the Children of War Foundation with a presentation of several movies coming from Azerbaijan, Liberia, Nepal, Norway, Palestine and Romania, ending with a Lecture by Dr. Jeff Hammoudeh from the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles.

MCFF 2011 by the Numbers 89 Movies 36 Countries 21 Features 16 Feature Documentaries 21 Shorts 31 Student Shorts 20 Film Schools 27 World Premieres 31 European Premieres

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THE USE OF

FORCE WAR CRIMINALS THEN + NOW

JEAN-PAUL AKAYESU Rwanda

Jean-Paul Akayesu, mayor of a commune called Taba in the Gitarama region, was ostensibly responsible for law and order during the time the massacres in Rwanda began. Akayesu personally ordered the murder of several Tutsis coupled with rape. He also ordered house to house searches for any remaining Tutsis so that they might also be put to death and provided the Hutus with death lists to make sure that the people named were killed. Jean-Paul Akayesu was charged with 15 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and violating the Geneva Conventions on February 13, 1996.

He was found guilty and convicted of 9 counts of genocide and crimes against humanity by the court at The Hague. Akayesu was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes despite his protestations that he was being made a scapegoat.

138 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC), THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, DESPITE SOME MISGIVINGS, HAVE BROUGHT QUITE A FEW FAMOUS WAR CRIMINALS TO TRIAL. WHILE THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SUGGESTING THAT CERTAIN PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE MORE LIKELY TO FACE INDICTMENT AND TRIAL MORE THAN OTHERS, SOME JUSTICE IS STILL BETTER THAN NO JUSTICE. THAT BEING SAID, WE AGREE THAT ALL CITIZENS OF EVERY COUNTRY SHOULD BE EQUAL IN FRONT OF THE ICC, EVEN THE NATIONS WHO HAVE NOT RATIFIED, INCLUDING THE MOST POWERFUL ONES. READ ON FOR A LIST OF MEN WHO WERE AND ARE STILL WANTED, DEAD OR ALIVE.

BELOW: THE HAGUE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

JOSEPH KONY Uganda

The leader of The Lord’s Republican Army (LRA) in Uganda is infamous for using child soldiers. The LRA aims to establish a theocratic government in Uganda based on the Ten Commandments and their leader is more than happy to break a few of those to do so. The last known estimate for children abducted by Kony in Uganda is 66,000 though he is thought to have abducted at least 104,000 since 1986 according to the Ugandan government. These children are not just used as soldiers; they are reportedly sex slaves, work horses and cannon fodder. Kony also has his hands in the pie in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in Sudan, arming and training militias who suit his worldview. In October of 2005 an arrest warrant was issued for Kony by the ICC though he still remains at large, reportedly last seen in the DRC.

MLADEN MARKAČ Croatia

Born in Croatia in 1955, this convicted war criminal rose through the ranks to achieve a final rank of Colonel General in the Croatian army. According to the indictment at The Hague, Markač (who was indicted along with two others) participated in a “joint criminal enterprise”. His list of charges included: five counts of crimes against humanity (persecutions, deportation, inhumane acts, murder) and four counts of violations of the laws or customs of war (plunder, wanton destruction, murder, cruel treatment).

These crimes had all been committed against ethnic Serbs in the region in a pattern of systemic terror. Markač was convicted on April 15, 2011 of 8 crimes against humanity, sentenced to 18 years and is currently incarcerated at The Hague.

SLOBODAN MILOŠEVIĆ Serbia

Rightly or wrongly, Slobodan Milošević is the single most recognizable name and face of the war in the Balkans. His name is synonymous with the atrocities that occurred during that war although he is certainly not the only person at fault.

Milošević served as President of both the Socialist Republic of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at different times. His terms as President in both cases were marred with strife, demonstrations and war. He was arrested by Yugoslav federal authorities on Saturday, 31 March 2001, on suspicion of corruption, abuse of power, and embezzlement. Those charges didn’t stick as there was a lack of evidence so the Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić sent him to The Hague to stand trial for charges of war crimes instead. He was found dead in his cell in 2006 from an apparent heart attack. The Hague refused to take responsibility for his death stating that he had refused to take any medication for his heart problems. Some believe he was poisoned so as not to incriminate others and did not die of natural causes.

BREAKING NEWS As this issue was going to print, the Serbian government confirmed that General Ratko Mladić was arrested in a small village near a town called Zrenjanin in North Serbia.

No date has been set as yet for his transfer to The Hague.

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HAZIM DELIĆ

Bosnia Herzegovina

Hazim Delić served as Deputy Commander and Commander of Čelebići prison camp located in central Bosnia in the town of Čelebići. Delić was indicted with 3 others and convicted on November 16, 1998 of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions (wilful killings, torture, wilfully causing great suffering or serious injury, inhuman treatment, and unlawful confinement of civilians), and violations of the laws or customs of war (murders, torture, cruel treatment, and plunder). Delić was originally sentenced to 20 years, later reduced to 18 following the second sentencing judgement of 9 October 2001. On 24 June 24, 2008 Hazim Delić was granted early release, based on credit given for time served in detention since 2 May 1996. His current whereabouts are unknown.

GERMAIN KATANGA

Democratic Republic of Congo

Katanga, also known as Simba, was indicted on July 7, 2007 with a sealed warrant after the court decided it had enough to charge him. The litany of charges includes murder, sexual slavery, and using children under the age of 15 to actively participate in hostilities. The conflict in the DRC is one of the most brutal in the world today and Katanga was right in the thick of it as a rebel leader. Born in 1978, Katanga rose quickly in the ranks of the rebels and became known for his brutality. One of his better known crimes is attacking the village of Bogoro where over 200 people were indiscriminately killed, captives were imprisoned in a room full of corpses and the women and young girls of the village were all raped and sexually enslaved. Despite several leaders in the rebel group being handed over to the ICC in 2007, the conflict in the DRC still rages and rape is widespread

DISHONOURABLE MENTIONS RAGMAG’s candidates for the ICC who have not been charged due to geopolitical complications

ROBERT MUGABE Zimbabwe

The total destruction of Zimbabwe due to mismanagement

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SPECIALIST CHARLES GRANER

United States of America

One of the ringleaders of Abu Ghraib prison

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take me with you

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HONG KONG IN FULL FORCE

BY ALICE HLIDKOVA

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OPPOSITE PAGE: TIAN TAN BUDDHA IN HONG KONG. LEFT: HONG KONG SKYLINE, HONG KONG STAR FERRY.

THE HONG KONG PEAK TRAM REACHES THE TALLEST MOUNTAIN OVERLOOKING THE CITY’S SKYLINE AND HARBOR. The most favorable way to discover Hong Kong, unless you are pressed for time, is by riding inside cable cars. Those who experience the Pearl City, kick themselves for not paying attention during a cable tramways crawl up the northern coast; if they had, they would notice street life at a relaxing pace. While the San Francisco cable rail is known for climbing over the city’s fearsome hills; the Hong Kong Peak tram does just that, and reaches the tallest mountain overlooking the city’s skyline and harbor.

A judder of concern ripples among passengers at Victoria Peak as they board a century-old tram. As it ascends the summit on a 45 degree tilt, anxiety overwhelms passengers too frightened to peak out their windows—and notice how laidback Hong Kong can be. Forced to lean back in their seats, they’ll reach an altitude of two thousand feet in eight minutes.

During their terrifying ride, few passengers fix their eyes on Victoria Bay, and study the tumult of cranes unloading cargo.

Unlike the street life of Hong Kong, the third largest harbor in the world is marked by a conglomerate of blue cranes, white cruise ships, and dented freighters against a backdrop of emerald and jadecolored hills. Dotted with thin apartment complexes disrupting the harmonious greenery of the landscape, the hills reveal the strains of an over-saturated market.

The tram comes to a sudden halt in front of a seven-storied building in the shape of a ship, and passengers ease their thin frames through the vehicle’s narrow doors.

Peak Tower is not a maritime museum as some have hoped, but an entertainment complex housing several attractions: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium, Hong Kong’s Historical Adventure, and the Peak Explorer Motion Simulator.

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take me with you

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LEFT: HONG KONG AT NIGHT.

TO SEE HONG KONG AT NIGHT FROM PEAK TOWER IS WORTH THE RIDE. Inside Historical Adventure, the island’s first computer-operated entertainment ride, visitors take a journey through Hong Kong’s early history, before hurrying to the Simulator. At first indifferent, visitors become more interested with close inspection of its high-tech projectors, sound system, and motion chairs. Without hesitation, they sit down to view moving images on screen, and witness an exciting virtual journey of the city.

To see Hong Kong at night from Peak Tower is worth the ride. The popular saying, “the city becomes a luminous pearl with a sea of lights twinkling in the streets after dark,” becomes a reality during daily evening light shows. The spectacular night view unfolds condensed neon lights and lasers bouncing from one glass building facade to the next. Spectators, watching the row of lighted skyscrapers, buy lighted street gadgets, and wave them above their heads.

As riders descend the summit, and if they are up for the challenge, they take another cable car to Ngong Ping. The six kilometer bi-cable ropeway offers visitors a half-an-hour ride over the cool city and into the serene hills of North Lantau which spill into the South China Sea. Unlike the Peak Tram, Ngong Ping covers more ground and is completely suspended in air. Instead of a looming ship ahead, passengers gasp at a golden Buddha seated above a hill.

Reached by a set of 268 steps, Tian Tan Buddha holds the proud title of the world’s largest outdoor bronze statue.

Located next to the Po Lin Monastery, the Buddhist symbol welcomes visitors to its gardens and pavilions. A planned construction of a hall to house ten thousand Buddha statues will teach visitors the city’s recent and elaborate history from high ground.

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take me with you

ABOVE: INCENSE COILS IN MAN MO TEMPLE.

To play it safe, hit low ground on the Star Ferry to Kowloon Peninsula.

Linking Hong Kong island to mainland China, and encircled by Victoria Harbour, Kowloon offers another animated part of the city. Its Tsim Sha Tsui district, a mimic of New York City’s Times Square commercial intersection, is best enjoyed by foot. The Science Museum, near the ferry terminal, houses the largest rolling ball machine in the world. But for many travelers, the largest and most bizarre attraction is up the road on Nathan Road, nicknamed the Fifth Avenue of Hong Kong.

Sandwiched between the Holiday Inn and Imperial hotels, the ultradense building complex of Chungking Mansions, is Hong Kong’s largest housing and commercial hub. An eyesore at first sight, it is easy to be turned off by its dodgy appearance, but inside its seventeen stories occupying five connected blocks is the city’s cultural nucleus. With a fixed population of five thousand, and with twice as many visitors, the sleepless citadel offers a myriad of cryptic restaurants surrounded by over a hundred hostels, offering a cheap nightly rate.

Like the Greek city of Athens, Kowloon is a gateway into the islands. Less noisy than the Greek islands, the 263 island clusters accessed from the peninsula’s terminal, offers a limited entry into Hong Kong’s most secluded spots. There are few cities in the world that shoot up vertically from preserved uplands, which promise countless adventures in the sky, on ground, and in water—from inside ancient cable cars to the interiors of grim buildings

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eat, drink + be merry

AIR FORCE F

orcing new tastes in the Lebanese culinary market is tough, but at The Stove, Chef Sarkis “Sarko” Dertorossian, treats his aged meat “like I treat the lady – with tenderness and care.”

The French venue is first in Lebanon to age beef—twenty days for French-imported Charolaise open ribs and five days for Australian-imported Black Angus.

Turning his hobby into a profession in 2002, Sarko served as chef in many of Beirut’s fine restaurants including Italian Bice Ristorante. The 35-year-old LebaneseArmenian became The Stove’s head chef since its October opening.

Sarko takes his meat seriously, and he is willing to pay a high price to bring quality to his restaurant, paying 23900 LBP for 1200 grams of the Charolaise and 17500 for 1000 grams of Angus. “With the Euro going up, high taxes and long storage process, the meat gets expensive,” he says with pride, refusing to freeze meat or buy from producers who injectantibiotics into their cows.

Flown to Beirut from Australia and France on a weekly basis, the meat is unpacked and washed in the receiving room’s large basins. He then marinates the pieces with thyme, repackages them in vacuum-

148 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

THE STOVE RESTO FLIES IN THE BEST MEAT ON THE MARKET

BY ALICE HLIDKOVA

sealed moisture impermeable bags, and stores them in an industrial fridge before placing it inside a smaller fridge to age. At three degrees Celsius, sealed rolls of beef lay packaged in dry bags to improve the tender texture, next to tiny begfig birds that look like dumplings. “This is the hanging tender…you take the meat out of the cow’s mouth,” says Sarkos, whose preference is the Angus for its fat content and tender meat.

Lebanese restaurateur Antoine Saadé turned the French concept of aging meat into a Lebanese reality. Taking up residence in the Alpine French hamlet of Grenoble, Saadé dreamed of opening up a “restaurant with a garden” he says, munching on Manchego cheese and sweet peppers from the afternoon’s wine tasting. Swapping downtown luxury for the bistro-friendly neighborhood of Monot, Saadé preserves the calm, natural haven he remembers fondly.

Recommending a strong French Bordeaux red to accompany the aged beef, Saadé admits that some people don’t like its taste. “They are not used to the [meaty] hard flavor of the Charolaise,” he jokes, comparing his experience with that of the Americans who age their beef up to 60 days.

His limit is 25 days.

The unique ambiance of the interior is due to the large French-made stove taking center stage within the dining area. The size of a small Peugeot, at a cost of 100,000 Euros, allows diners to watch Sarko sort through expensive raw meat and cook in olive oil, pepper, shallots, and other special ingredients which are found in their béarnaise and bordelaise house sauces.Guests are also welcome inside the kitchen, giving them an opportunity to witness in greater detail how the food winds up on their plates.

The Stove has an extensive menu, serving pork and lamb shank (which take up to six hours to cook), fish, frog legs and snails with pricey Camus XO Superieur Cognac to ease digestion.

For desert, the pain perdu dipped in thick English creamy sauce is delicious.

With two restaurants in Beirut already mimicking Antoine’s creation, Sarko assures me he is not worried, “We are the first, if not the best.”

GET YOUR TASTE BUDS ON The Stove 01/333270 03/489111 Monot Street, Achrafieh Beirut Mon-Sat 12.30pm-3.30pm, 8pm-11pm

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Bar à thym

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

W

ith its tiny colorful sign, made of wooden boards mounted one above the other, painted in gay colors and describing the different sections of a restaurant menu, and a name like that (in French, “baratin” means sweet-talk), Le Bar à Thym intrigues the Gemmayzeh passers-by, heading to Mar Mikhael to see what’s new in town. It’s the neighborhood’s new little treasure: but you have to look to find it.

For those who never tried a Breton crepe, this thin dough made from buckwheat flour, coming out with a dark color and a nutty, earthy flavor, wait no longer. The one and only authentic creperie in Beirut shows off its specialty. Salty, sweet, à l’American, à la Mexican... Make no mistake though, Le Bar à Thym is not a pancakes kiosk.

The place is generous, in every sense of the word. The setting is very colorful,

150 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

with walls painted in purple and a few decorative items that brighten the restaurant even more, with little green and pink flower pots. The dishes are big, and you get much more filling in the crepe than in any other restaurant you’ll try.

With its 7 wood tables and chairs, the restaurant attracts a wide clientele, from those who drop in for a bite on their way to the many neighboring bars, to those who come for the incredible variety of desserts like a Ferrero Rocher crepe (made with the famous Italian chocolate) or the standard French Suzette (butter, sugar, orange zest and Grand Marnier liqueur, to those who come for the very homey atmosphere and a little chat with the owner.

Le Bar à Thym mixes a classical item of the French cuisine, with a pinch of innovation as for their filling. Try out the Classic Pizza-style Tatotitaine crepe, the

Normande with the little taste of white wine, or the Mexicaine with chicken, homemade guacamole and fresh tomato sauce.

The setting itself is a harmonious mixture of genres between the classical stone ceiling and the acidic green decoration. It actually forms all the charm of this small restaurant

The + + The menu is diverse: 55 crepes between the salty and the sweet ones. There’s one for everyone. + The salsa background music adds a little something to the experience.

The – - The homey atmosphere sometimes get to the extreme side of it: the staff sometimes forget about the boundaries between them and their customers.

- The quality of service is random: Sometimes you get all their attention, sometimes they kind of just forget about you.

Le Bar à Thym Mar Mikhael, Rue Gouraud 01/572205 www.lebarathym.com

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A CUT ABOVE THE REST

RAGMAG and BeirutRestaurants.com have teamed up to bring you the absolute best in steaks this issue. To really help you eat drink + be merry we’ve compiled a list of places for you to try a range of the juiciest and choicest cuts available in Lebanon right now. We love a good steak and having the inside info from BeirutRestaurants.com makes it easier! They’re RAGMAG’s goto site for everything from tapas to entrees that you can really sink your teeth into. If you’re a carnivore extraordinaire, our top resto list is a must try.

Follow BeirutRestaurants.com on Twitter for more great suggestions @b_restaurants

COCTEAU

CHEZ SOPHIE

ZINC

LE RELAIS DE L’ENTRECOTE

BURGUNDY

LA PARILLA

GAUCHO

CASABLANCA

CENTRALE RESTAURANT

THE GRILL ROOM Four Seasons Hotel

LA ESTANCIA

Sodeco, facing Zaatar w Zeit Achrafieh, Beirut 01/616617, 03/603003

Maarad Street, Downtown Beirut 01/990992

Pheonix Tower, Minet El Hosn, Beirut Tel 01/364807 www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk/restaurants/ restaurant.php?id=beirut

Mar Mikhael 1399 Beirut 01/566991 www.chezsophie-lb.com

Saifi Village Saifi, Beirut 01/999820, 03/773009

Ain el Mresisseh, Rue Dar el-Mreisseh Qaddoura Bldg. 2nd floor, Beirut 01/369334

Wafic Sinno Avenue, Minet El Hosn, Beirut 01/761000 www.fourseasons.com/beirut/

152 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

37 Seifeddine el Khatib Street Sodeco, Beirut 03/873333

St. Maron Street Gemmayzeh, Beirut 01/585885, 03/919119

Mar Maroun Street, Saifi Beirut 01/575858

Gouraud Street, Zihenni & Tirs Bldg. 8th Floor Gemmayzeh, Beirut 01/442281, 03/236206

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Captain Jack Sparrow’s Dining D-Lish WITH CHEF MAHER EL-ALAM

A PIRATE’S LIFE FOR ME FOR THE FORCE ISSUE, RAGMAG AND CHEF MAHER HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD A HEALTHY, ISLAND INSPIRED MEAL IN 3 COURSES. GET YOUR BEST PALM FRONDS AT ANY OF THE FINE RETAILERS IN LEBANON, ARRANGE A GREAT ROCK CENTERPIECE WITH A FEW WHITE CANDLE STUBS. THE TABLE LINEN AND NAPKIN RINGS SHOULD BE RUSTIC AND FUN. CHEF MAHER SUGGESTS A PAIRING OF YOUR FAVORITE CHILLED BEER SERVED IN FROSTED GLASSES. PUT THE IN THE FREEZER FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES PRIOR TO SERVING TO ACHIEVE THE FROSTED GLASS EFFECT. CHILL OUT, IT’S THE ISLANDS, MON.

Table Setting and Decoration -

Beer glasses Ice bucket to chill beer bottles 4 side plates 4 forks 4 knives Large plate for salad Large serving set for salad Large platter for the main course Large serving set of spoon and fork 4 dessert plates 4 dessert forks 4 dessert knives Serving spatula

154 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

Islander SALAD INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR 4 SERVINGS

PREPARATION

ISLANDER DRESSING

Wash the lettuce, tomatoes, and the fresh mushrooms well. Open the artichoke heart jars, drain and dry. Chop the lettuce and place on a serving platter.

Add the asparagus, slicing lengthwise in half. Follow the same procedure with the palmetto and artichokes. Cut the mushrooms in half, followed by the cherry tomatoes. Arrange around the plate.

Combine the freshly squeezed lemon juice, add salt and pepper to taste, 1 spoon of mustard and blend well in a blender. Gently add the olive oil and blend until smooth.

Serve separately so that guests may use their preferred amount.

•1 head Iceberg lettuce •12 cherry tomatoes •1 conserved asparagus •1 conserved palmetto •2 jars artichoke hearts •12 fresh mushrooms •Juice of 2 freshly squeezed lemons •1 pinch salt •1 pinch pepper •2 cups olive oil •1 tablespoon mustard

The Ocean Blue

GRILLED PRAWNS INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR 4 SERVINGS

•1kg prawns •2 fresh heads broccoli •6 carrots •4 potatoes •Olive oil •1 sprig dill •salt •pepper INGREDIENTS FOR COCKTAIL SAUCE

•5 tablespoons mayo •5 tablespoons ketchup •1 teaspoon Tabasco •1 teaspoon cognac •1 pinch salt •1 pinch pepper •Juice of 1 freshly squeezed lemon

PREPARATION Start by cleaning the prawns well.

Marinate with salt, pepper, olive oil, and dill for one hour. Grill the prawns.

Wash and chop the potatoes and grill them until cooked through. Boil the carrots (cut in discs) and do the same

for the broccoli. Strain well, add salt and pepper to taste to the vegetables while still hot. Present the prawns in a group arranged next to the vegetables and present the cocktail sauce on the side.

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Rum Runner

PINEAPPLES

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR 4 SERVINGS

•2 large pineapples •2 tablespoons sugar •1 teaspoon fine rum •12 pieces strawberries •Chantilly cream spray •1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice •1 pinch salt

PREPARATION Cut the pineapples in half, down the middle. This will create one half for each guest. Cut the inside of the pineapple carefully then chop into cubes. Place the cubed pineapples in a bowl, add rum, sugar, 1 cup pineapple juice and a pinch of salt. Mix well and

156 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

place in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill. Place a hearty amount of the marinated, chilled mixture in each pineapple half.

Garnish lightly with Chantilly cream and finish with fresh strawberries. Serve and enjoy!

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

THE FORCE ISSUE

157

quizz ROUND #1

ROUND #2

Trivia

History+Geography

1. Which religious woman has appeared on the cover of Time Magazine more than any other woman?

2. What do the letters AKA mean?

ROUND #3

Brain Teasers

ROUND #4

Pot Luck

1. Southern Rhodesia became 1. How many days are there in a known as what country in 1980?

Millenium?

1. What is the name of Fahion TV’s owner?

2. Which Egyptian President ordered the seizure of Suez Canal in 1956?

2. The Teddy Bear was named after which famous person?

2. A family has 5 children, half of which are boys. How is this possible?

3. What does the Bridge of Sighs 3. In what year did the RMS Titanic 3. What 5 letter word becomes in Venice connect the Doge sink? shorter when you add 2 more Palace to? letters to it?

4. In which city is the famous statue 4. What rank in the Royal Navy known as “Venus de Milo” on 4. Before the discovery of Mount does James Bond hold?

What was the name of the display?

Everest, what was the highest founder of Monkey World, who mountain in the world?

5. The letters GI are used for US died at the age of 56 on the 17th 5. In what year did the Channel soldiers, but what do the letters of March 2007?

Tunnel open?

5. What 5 letter word do Oxford really mean? graduates always pronounce what was the world record height 6. Which famous fashion designer wrong?

6. What is the only product or for water propelled rocket? introduced the Polo label in service provided by Richard 200, 400 or 600 meters?

1967?

6. If you were in a sealed room full of Branson’s company that does Methane and you struck a match, not use the Virgin’s name?

What does the French word 7. what is the name of the artist what would happen?

Marmite mean in English? who famously painted a portrait 7. Who shot John F. Kennedy? of his mother?

7. When can you add 2 to 11 and get What do the letters IAEA stand one?

8. We’ve all heard of WD40, but for?

8. Who founded Playboy magazine what do the letters WD stand in 1953?

8. If 7 people shake hands once with for?

What is the largest artery in the each other, how many hand shakes human body?

9. The Maid of Orleans is another are there?

9. What common substance name of who? weighs more in its liquid form Who is the Greek God of the 9. If a 1 km long train is travelling at than in its frozen form?

Marriage Ceremony?

10. Which female tennis star 1 km/min, how long will it take to was stabbed by a Stefi Graf pass a 1 km tunnel?

10. What instrument does the The density of which substance is fan while she was playing in leader of an orchestra play? measured by a lactometer?

Hamburg in 1993?

10. A full bottle of wine weighs 120 ounces and the bottle is exactly twice the weight of the wine, how much does the wine weigh?

3. What is the only upper case English letter that require the pen to be lifted off the paper twice when you write it?

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

dingbats SEX DO YOU SMOKE a personal question

E

D

O

P

ORGAS M ORGASM

a great ending?

HORNY what’s your mood?

SEX smuggling group?

BEISREUXT film and tv series ROUND#1 ROUND#2 ROUND#3 ROUND#4

ORGASM ORGASM ORGASM

OR GA SM

4.

is it wrong?

CHAS

used for safety

a good beat

TITY

this way for Priests?

1. Virgin Mary 2. Also Known As 3. H. 4. Jim Cronin 5. 600 (623) 6. Cooking Pot 7. International Atomic Energy Authority 8. Aorta 9.Hymenaeous 10. Milk 1. Zimbabwe 2. Gamal Abdel Nasser 3. 1912 4. Paris - Louvres 5. 1994 6. Ralph Lauren 7. Whistler 8. Hugh Hefner 9. Joan of Arc 10. Monica Seles 1. 365,250 2. They are all boys 3. Short(er) 4. Mount Everest 5. Wrong 6. Nothing, it needs Oxygen 7. 11 O-Clock 8. 21 9. 2 mns 10. 40 ounces 1. Michel Adam 2. Theodore Roosevelt 3. Prison and execution place 4. Commander 5. Government Issue 6. Mates Condoms 7. Lee Harvey Oswald 8. Water Displacement 9. Water 10. Violin

DO YOU SMOKE AFTER SEX? - MULTIPLE ORGASMS - FEELING HORNY DOPE RING - SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE - BUM TITY BUM TITY BUM BUM BUM SEX IN THE CITY - CHASTITY BELT - MISSIONARY POSITION

158 RAGMAG | JUNE 2011

brainfood

crosswords 2

1

5

4

6

ACROSS

3 7

8

10

9

11 12 14

13

15

16

17 19

18

21 23

24

25

29

28

20

22

26

27

30 32

31

34

33

35

36 38

37

39

40

42

41

43 45

48

44

46

49

47

50 51

53

52

54

55

56

57

59

58

60 64

63

61

62

65

66

67

68 69 70

72

71

73

74

75 77

76

78

79

80

81

83

82

84 85

4. Looses colour.

7. The use of words correctly.

10. Anxiety and stress.

11. Usually found at the start of a book.

13. Having absolutely nothing.

15. A scary dream.

17. A bad vision.

18. Attractive in an old fashioned way.

19. A ship’s luggage compartment?

24. A short, quiet time.

26. Hoping to achieve something.

29. Together with.

30. Generous.

32. Baked twice in French!

33. Don’t put this before the horse.

36. Can be altered.

38. One method of execution.

40. She liked apples.

41. A retinal tug.

43. On the catwalk?

47. Useful for cooking on.

48. A nurse’s watch?

49. A sheep’s enclosure?

50. Put together.

51. Usually repeated in music.

53. Was he mad?

54. Some people are said to be full of this.

56. Self esteem.

57. Found on a bad computer?

58. A type of pasta.

63. Made a mistake.

65. A gradual increase in loudness.

66. Zero.

68. Inclined to one side.

69. Part of a pen.

71. Not sweet?

72. A wager.

74. Needing food?

75. Famous!

76. A swimming pool in France?

78. Not straight.

80. Furtive.

81. Walk about.

82. Process of turning sugar into alcohol.

83. A spinning top?

84. A French nursery.

85. Obscene.

86. Hurt Imp. 87. Very determined.

86 87

14. A bridge made of arches.

16. We have to pay this.

20. To raise up.

21. A passing trend?

22. Moderate.

23. A storage for arrows?

25. Country ruled by a Queen.

27. A space or fashion brand?

28. Coiled wire?

sudoku 6 5

4 7 9 5

4 5 6

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

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

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

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

5 2 8 1 7 8

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

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

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

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

46. Helps meat cook when you

do this.

49. Short story in the Bible?

52. Atomic number is 28.

55. Amazonian one is the biggest.

59. This is really old!

60. Female wild boar.

61. Can keep you warm in winter.

62. Eye Glasses or events?

butter.

42. Has a pleasant smell.

44. Going past.

45. They decide the case.

EASY

2 4 9

2 8 9 3 1 7 9

31. The strength to continue.

34. A square pillar!

35. A sailor’s punishment?

37. An English preserve!

39. A chocolate bar or like peanut

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

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

5 9 7 1 6 4 8 2 3

6 2 4 8 7 3 9 1 5

3 1 9 7 5 6 2 8 4

7 4 5 2 1 8 3 6 9

2 8 6 3 4 9 7 5 1

9 5 3 6 8 2 1 4 7

1 6 8 4 3 7 5 9 2

4 7 2 5 9 1 6 3 8

6 3 7

8

9 2 5 7

4 8

5

3

4

8 9 1 8 2 9 9 6 3 9 6

7 9 3 5 1 4 2 6 7 8

1 2 7 6 9 8 3 4 5

6 4 8 5 3 7 1 9 2

5 9 2 7 6 4 8 1 3

8 6 4 2 1 3 7 5 9

7 1 3 8 5 9 2 6 4

4 8 9 3 7 1 5 2 6

3 7 6 4 2 5 9 8 1

2 5 1 9 8 6 4 3 7

64. Eves Errs.

65. A baby lion?

67. Assist financially!

70. An excellent cut of meat?

72. A type of shark.

73. A person in office is said to be this.

77. Made a harsh noise!

79. A really old car!

ACCROSS 4. FADES - 7. DICTION - 10. TENSION - 11. FOREWORD 13. DESTITUTE - 15. NIGHTMARE - 17. PREMONITION 18. QUAINT - 19. HOLD - 24. LULL - 26. ASPIRING 29. AND - 30. KIND - 32. BISCUIT - 33. CART 36. VARIABLE - 38. CRUCIFICTION - 40. EVE 41. TRIANGULATE - 43. MODEL - 47. HOB - 48. FOB 49. PEN - 50. ASSEMBLE - 51. CHORUS - 53. HATTER 54. ZEST - 56. EGO - 57. VIRUS - 58. MACARONI 63. ERRED - 65. CRESCENDO - 66. NIL - 68. LISTING 69. NIB - 71. BITTER - 72. BET - 74. HUNGRY 75. RENOWNED - 76. PISCINE - 78. ASKEW 80. SURREPTITIOUS - 81. AMBULATE 82. FERMENTATION - 83. GYROSCOPE - 84. GARDERIE 85. LEWD - 86. TRIUMPH - 87. RESOLUTE

1. Part of a song.

2. A wine maker.

3. An unruly crowd.

5. We can make this with money.

6. A lot of noise.

7. Did Saint George fight this?

8. The Lone Star State?

9. Usually a restricted area.

12. A public house?

DOWN 1. VERSE - 2. VINTNER - 3. MOB - 5. INVESTMENT 6. DIN - 7. DRAGON - 8. TEXAS - 9. ZONE - 12. INN 4. VIADUCT - 16. TAX - 20. LEVITATE - 21. FAD - 22. MILD 23. QUIVER - 25. KINGDOM - 27. GAP - 28. SPRING 31. ENDURANCE - 34. OBELISK - 35. KEELHAULING 37. JAM - 39. CRUNCHY - 42. AROMATIC 44. OVERTAKING - 45. JURY - 46. BASTE - 49. PARABLE 52. NICKEL - 55. JUNGLE - 59. PREHISTORIC - 60. SOW 61. QUILT - 62. SPECTACLES - 64. REVERSES - 65. CUB 67. CONTRIBUTE - 70. RUMP - 72. BASKING 73. INCUMBENT - 77. GRATED - 79. JALLOPY

DOWN

THE FORCE ISSUE

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RAGMAG

astro

Zodiac forecasts FROM JONATHAN CAINER

June.2011

TWO ECLIPSES HAPPEN IN JUNE. TO SEE THE SOLAR ECLIPSE, ON WEDNESDAY 1ST, YOU’LL HAVE TO BE PRETTY FAR NORTH. TO CATCH THE LUNAR ECLIPSE, YOU CAN PROBABLY REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE... THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE TO STAY UP LATE. TO PICK UP THE INFLUENCE OF AN ECLIPSE, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO SEE IT. YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO BE WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE COSMOS IS ABOUT TO PRESENT THE WORLD WITH AN AMAZING OPTICAL ILLUSION... AND BE OPEN TO THE IDEA THAT IN YOUR WORLD TOO, AN OLD ILLUSION CAN BE DISPELLED AND A NEW ONE CREATED!

JOHNNY DEPP

JULIETTE LEWIS

CANCER June 23 - July 23

They say that ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man.’ Or woman. Well, June brings a solar and lunar eclipse.

That’s definitely a sign that some kind of ‘special hour’ is arriving. But hang on. Before we look at who or what now needs to come to your rescue, let us discuss whether you actually need rescuing. What’s so right? What’s so wrong? What’s so tricky or sticky that you can’t find your own way out of it?

Actually, nothing. If the hour truly has come, so too has come a moment where from somewhere within yourself you find a resource you can draw on. It will not let you down.

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GEMINI May 22 - June 22

Mercury and Venus are gliding across the dance floor of the zodiac, whispering playfully as they twist and twirl. Using the power of imaginary amplification, let us listen in on their discussion. Why yes! It’s working. The two are discussing you - and they seem to be saying some highly complementary things.

Apparently, you have talents that you are not yet making full use of - and you have admirers whose interests you have hardly even registered. This month, that begins with a solar eclipse in your sign and goes on to bring wonderful much-needed change in every key area of your life.

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LEO

July 24 - August 23 Astrologers have trouble with months like this. Whenever you have a solar eclipse followed by a lunar eclipse, you must expect a testing time of change, challenge, turbulence, tension and transformation. Sudden surprises invariably occur. And what can we say about them? Expect the unexpected?

Then people say, ‘You are supposed to know what to expect!’ I can’t say exactly what kind of a surprise you will have in June - but despite all you may fear or think, you’ll be deeply touched by the way that difficult issues eventually resolve themselves with almost magical ease.

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August 24 - September 23

September 24 - October 23

LIBRA

SCORPIO

‘All things must pass.’ Indeed.

Some, though, must pass more than others. Football players, for example.

Dumbfounded participants in quiz shows. Quality controllers on assembly lines. They all must pass, as much as possible, as fast as possible. Some of us hang on to too much. We ought to let stuff go. We should worry, think and fear less; relax more. But we end up trying, instead, to solve riddles that can’t be satisfactorily answered.

June, with its pair of rare eclipses, brings questions that won’t be easy to address. Pass on them! Or Pass them on! And you’ll be fine.

In case you should ever become a movie director and decide to make a great horror film, here’s a piece of advice. You don’t need to spend a fortune on special effects to create some hideous monster; you need simply to suggest that it exists. The less detail you reveal and the more you rely on reaction and nervous anticipation, the more terrifying your movie will be. The imagination of the audience will fill in the gaps around the hints you drop.

Remember that please. It’s what you don’t know but fear that’s unnerving you this month. The reality is actually tame and easy to handle!

We need a little word about superstitions. Often, we don’t even know we have these until we find ourselves nervously trying to appease gods we may have angered or observe rules that, for some inexplicable reason, we feel desperate not to break. What factors are informing your choices in June? What do you suppose, assume, expect or believe to be true? Might there be, somewhere in what’s driving you, a worry that’s going to become a self-fulfilling prophecy if you’re not careful? Believe in your natural entitlement to success!

And in nothing else!

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VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORN

October 24 - November 22

AQUARIUS

November 23 - December

December 22 - January 20

January 21 - February 19

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PISCES

ARIES

Once, when we went to the movies, we all knew where we stood. The good guys wore white. The bad ones had black hats and moustaches. Then, the baddies had an idea. If they swapped their black hat for a white one and shaved off that tell-tale facial hair, they could pass themselves off as heroes and thus make far more mischief. It’s not just in the movies where it’s now getting ever harder to tell who and what is right or wrong. In June, you face a quandary, as dramatic in its own way as any great moral tale. You must go beyond the superficial for the kind of change you want and deserve.

You quite like pushing your luck. You rather enjoy experimenting to see how far you can get. You are not afraid to try out something new and different.

Others may not always trust your judgement, but you feel comfortable that you know the difference between careful speculation and dangerous gambling. Generally, your more sensible hunches succeed, so you have reason to trust yourself. Given all this, what reason is there to worry about the big step that you will get a chance to take in June? Or are your doubts trying to tell you something?

Heed them, at least a little.

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A lunar eclipse. In your sign. The world had better watch out. You are in no mood to be messed with. You have targets to reach, ambitions to fulfil, points to prove. How successful will you be? Extremely. Not everything will go your way in June, but you will make pleasing progress and you will have little to complain about. Watch out, though, for the intensity of your emotions. You are more sensitive than you realise and your words carry more weight than you think. Be delicate, gentle and persuasive and you may find you never get as far as needing to lose your temper.

February 20 - March 20

Is June going to be a month of dejavu? Will you go through what you have gone through before and wind up in situations that seem uncannily similar to past experiences? Will you relive old dramas and revisit familiar scenarios? Yes. But there still can be substantial change, either from some dramatic leftfield development or through some determined decision on your part to start living life differently from now on. In that, your greatest source of power lies. Smile sweetly and say, nicely but clearly, what you want. And you’ll yet break amazing new ground.

March 21 - April 20

June’s solar eclipse takes place in the part of your chart that governs ‘risk’, while the lunar eclipse is in the sector of the sky that, for you, governs ‘reward.’ You might think this all points to one simple promise. If you take a risk, you’ll get a reward. But it’s not so straightforward. In one key area of life, you’ve got to comply with someone else’s wishes. Rather like a fly in a spider’s web, the more you struggle to break free from this situation, the more caught up in it you will become. Be still. Hold steady. Wait until someone else takes a risk that goes wrong. And you’ll get the reward!

TAURUS

April 21 - May 21

It is almost as if, somewhere in your world, there is an illusionist at work.

Someone is trying to create the impression that all is well in an area of life where much has lately been chaotic and confused. You are suspicious of reassuring voices. You have heard them before, promising succour that never comes. You are doubtful too, of sweeping changes that may (or may not) be on the horizon. You figure that even if they do come, they’ll bring as much to regret as to celebrate. Jupiter, though, is now entering your sign for the first time in a decade. Trust what looks good. It IS good!

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THE FORCE ISSUE

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the final frontier

NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT DEBUT AUTHOR NAEL GHARZEDDINE SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON HIS NEW BOOK, “THE PROPHECIES OF KARMA- THE WARNING”

32 year-old debut author Nael Gharzeddine, a graduate of American University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Beirut, is the latest author to hit RAGMAG’s radar. His new book, “The Prophecies of Karma The Warning”, is part dystopic, part utopic, and written in English. Given that the book is science fiction, your assumptions tell you that Gharzeddine should be a Trekkie or have some sort of fondness for aliens and time travel, at the very least. He’s quick to correct you, “I had no intention of writing a science fiction book when I first started, it was meant to be a thriller”. Then what brought about The Prophecies? “I was interested how things would look in the future. It was the futuristic stuff that I was interested in”.

The novel takes place in Lebanon of the future and the country has certainly changed. In Gharzeddine’s Lebanon, robots perform many of the basic human of today, birds have been

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eradicated and genetic engineering is the norm. When asked if the Robots come from his computer science background, it’s another negation, “Not really. I watch a lot of discovery channel and science shows. I am interested in what have we discovered today, what can we discover tomorrow?

What are we doing today? What is wrong [and] where did we miss?” Are his characters are based on people he knows? Answering with a laugh, he says certain things that the characters do are based on an amalgam of people he knows.

Of note is the theme of isolation running through his book. Main character Jamal is in sustained isolation be it emotional or physical throughout the entire book. Did Nael feel that same isolation as a child? Hesitating, he says, “Yeah, I did. Is it that obvious in the book? I was focusing on making his thoughts speak out, making his thoughts important and making him not

distracted by the things around him.

I didn’t want him to sound like he is living in his own world but I wanted to give him his own space. His thoughts have to make a statement on their own”.

There are parts of this book that are very controversial, not the least of which is the hit that religion takes.

While he agrees that tone of the novel is contentious, he claims not to worry, stating that while he’s not anti-religion, it’s worth taking a cynical look since “everybody should be up for criticism if they believe they are right. If you can’t take criticism that means you are weak inside and know you are not right, so stop claiming to be right. I did it on purpose”. The Prophecies of Karma is part fiction and part societal commentary, and fully worth taking a look. Currently available at all Virgin Megastores and Librairie Antoine stores in Lebanon, it should sit high on everyone’s summer reading list

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