RAGMAG Ohm Issue | Sept 2011 | Issue#16

MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2011

SPIRITUALITY SUCCESS ENDURANCE HEALTH

FIELDS

OF LIGHT DANIELLE ABISAAB AAED GHANEM LEILA HASSEN OLGA PAVLOVA HIBA SAAB

WILLPOWER

ALI WEHBE

OHM FEEL

STRENGTH PERSEVERANCE

McQueen ALEXANDER

OUT OF THIS WORLD

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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 Eric Joseph Reitmeyer Teddy Habib Samy Harb Selected images Shutterstock

Stylist Jony Matta

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

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

Tel: 01 368 007 Webmaster Youmna Chagoury

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

Copyright RAGMAG 2011 All Rights Reserved.

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

@ragmaglebanon ragmag

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

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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES COPYCAT REAL LIFE RUNWAY PRACTISE TRUTH SATYA JEWELRY 74 TRANSITIONAL FIELDS OF LIGHT OUR FASHION SHOOT 106 OUTLIER ALEXANDER MCQUEEN WAS IN HIS OWN WORLD 114 GET TO KNOW YOUR WATERFRONT FASHION + DESIGN AT ZAITUNAY BAY 66 72

OUT + ABOUT 130 GET TO KNOW YOUR WATERFRONT ZAITUNAY BAY 18 20 42

TRANSITIONAL

FIELDS OF LIGHT ASANAS BRING IT FORTH

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CULTURE CLASH FUCKING BELIEVE IT HADI TABBAL A HOLY DIFFERENT CLASS INTERVIEW WITH SUREKHA SADANA ELECTRIC PROBL-OHMS HAYDA LEBNEN

YOU + YOUR COUNTRY 104 FIND SPACE THE CREATIVE SPACE MAKES DESIGNERS NOT CLOTHES THE FINAL FRONTIER OHM-NIPRESENT GOD PARTICLE SCIENCE 144 GHOSTBUSTERS TECH 50

116 117 118 119 120

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

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30 26 28 32 44 48

LOOK

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IN THE MIRROR SELF-PROCLAIMED TALENT IN LEBANON

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THE ART OF SPIRITUAL NOITCELFER

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EDITOR’S OPINION INTROSPECTION NEEDS PERSPECTIVE OUR EDITOR IS A BAD WRITER SOMETIMES MON AMOUR, MON AMI OHM-ITTING MYTHS SINGLE VS. MARRIED FOR HIM SICK MEN SUCH A SPIRITUAL DRAIN MIND, BODY + SOUL THE MAN-BOY SPIRITUAL ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT APPLYING OHM MATTHEW HUSSEY HELP ME NOUR + RABIH ADVICE FEEDING THE SOUL GOING ORGANIC WILLPOWER ALI WEHBE’S ON THE RUN FML ROLLING IN THE DEEP DISCOVERING OHM MIRROR MIRROR THE SIXTH SENSE SILKOR PONYTAILS + HORSESHOES GET GREAT HAIR PICTURE PERFECT REALITY MAKE UP FOR EVER THE TRUE SPIRIT OF OHM SPA REVIEW

EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY 128 RESTAURANT REVIEW KAMPAI 134 MUST TRY RESTOS BEIRUTRESTAURANTS.COM 136 REVELLING IN GOOD TASTE RECIPES TAKE ME WITH YOU 122 1000 SPIRITS OF NYC TRAVEL BRAINFOOD 140 QUIZZ. DINGBAT. CROSSWORD. SUDOKU.

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publisher’s letter

September is here, and all I can think of is how time flies. Lots have happened and still there’s lots more to do. Maybe if I enroll in yoga, I’ll find the peace of mind not to fret over what’s not done, whilst chanting OHM. They do say yoga gives one peace of mind and the energy to let things go. Definitely on my to do list.

Thank you to Phoenicia for the wonderful prizes they have offered to RM’s 3 winners. Also a big thank you to Miss É and to Make Up For Ever for the great reader rewards.

Thank you to RM’s Twitter followers. We love you and we appreciate the support you give us. It is thanks to you that I know that someone out there appreciates us. Please continue to get in touch with us via @RAGMAGLebanon!

I would like to remind our readers that we are an interactive magazine. Please keep writing to us and give us your input. At the end of the day RM is yours just as much as ours. We need to know that you identify with us. So waiting for your emails at publisher@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

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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 OLGA PAVLOVA | YOGA INSTRUCTOR PHOTOGRAPHY ODETTE KAHWAGI STYLIST JONY MATTA

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TWITTER @ragmaglebanon FACEBOOK ragmag

editor’s letter

THE

OHM ISSUE

Because RAGMAG exists on more than one level

To begin with I want to thank all the readers who let me know their thoughts about the Upside Down August issue.

The feedback was positive enough that we will anniversary it someday. It was hard for the designers (Odette and Chris) to invert everything, especially since typography is one of the most important things a print publication can put forth.

Needless to say the whole RAGMAG team appreciates their extra effort last issue since no template existed for the inverted edition.

Moving right along- This issue is all about Ohm. The symbol, the feeling and even the sound. We wanted Ohm for a few reasons, not the least of which was that we could get the coolest yogis in Lebanon to cavort in sportswear. From an editorial standpoint, Ohm gave us the license to explore the spiritual and even supernatural side of things. It also allowed us to continue our themes in the way we like- universally recognizable, not just Lebanese and not just Western.

If you’re wondering why I’m upside down yet again this issue- it is a recycled pictured from August 2010.

I thought it was appropriate since the miracle of yoga is what allows me to execute a headstand (Sirsasana in Sanskrit)- in fact one of my instructors is starring in this month’s fashion shoot.

You would have learned that already if you would have read last month’s RAGged Upside Down facts. If you’re wondering whether or not I believe in the spiritual side of yoga, the answer is irrevocably yes. It a medium to explore the self and connect with your world, and RAGMAG endeavours to provide those things as well.

We’ve got a couple of interesting angles this issue- Hadi Tabbal has real conviction, New York’s buried history lives and breathes, and Ali Wehbe shows some real willpower. These things are all manifests of Ohm and all the different spiritual planes that accompany the symbol that speaks to

millions of people, me included. I think that RAGMAG speaks too, as both a learning vehicle and as a channel to tell you what both Lebanon and the world are seeing and experiencing. We hope that you feel Ohm as much as we do this issue, and if you’re more grounded than we are then we hope this elevates your firmly planted feet. Namaste, everyone.

Tell me what you liked this issue and what you didn’t by emailing me on letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com Follow me on Twitter @fidachaaban

Fida Z Chaaban

Editor in Chief

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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.

RAGMAG loves reader interaction so we ran a contest called #LifeIsOneBigMosaic on our social media platforms- Facebook and Twitter. We posted the teasers for the new Mosaic resto on our Facebook fan and friend pages a few days beforehand, then started the contest. In less than an hour, we had our 3 winners!

Our winners all declared that #LifeIsOneBigMosaic and now they’ll be able to test it out for themselves since the Phoenicia Intercontinental Beirut will be hosting each one of them!

Congratulations to three RAGMAG readers!

Twitter winner Jennifer Haddad @JennHaddad was the first tweep to claim the #LifeIsOneBigMosaic prize on Twitter. What happened next? She had tons of tweeps asking to be one of her three invitees!

Facebook winner Philippe Ghabayen Philippe was pretty quick on his keyboard and commented on our Facebook fan page faster than you can say, “Vamanos”!

Facebook winner Chantal Nammour Baz Chantal was keeping her eye peeled for a few days before the contest by paying close attention to the teasers!

When the contest was posted, she was the first to win!

WHAT ARE THEY GETTING? Dinner for 4 including wine at the newly renovated Mosaic restaurant in the Phoenicia Intercontinental Beirut!

Travel to beautiful Mexico through enchanting moments at the newly renovated Mosaic restaurant. Enjoy the best of its traditional cuisine, Folkloric culture and music between September 20 and 25 at the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel. This event is being held in collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico in Lebanon. We’ll be seeing you there, RAGMAG readers! Olé!

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PARTS WHOLE OF THE

MAKE MINE A MOSAIC Mosaic is defined as numerous pieces fitting together to create a whole. We think that Mosaic is a very Ohm like resto, since it’s inclusive of different styles and types of cuisines! Check out the digs for yourself since the newly refurbished all-day dining restaurant offers quite the selection! The open kitchen space renders the restaurant even more exciting and engaging to all food lovers! Enjoy an ever-changing variety of International and Oriental buffets with live cooking stations + live carving trolleys with special theme nights.

Hours of Operation Monday to Sunday | Breakfast 7:30 am to 11:30 am | Lunch 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Dinner 8:00 pm to 1:00 am

Phoenicia Hotel Minet El Hosn, Beirut +961 (0)1 357357 www.phoenicia-ic.com Find them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter @PhoeniciaBeirut

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LOOK

ART OF IN THE THESPIRITUAL NOITCELFER MIRROR SELF-PROCLAIMED TALENT IN LEBANON I JAY Z TYPOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATION

BY EVAN ROTH

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think art and spirituality are inexorably linked. I also think the reason many artists, writers, actors and the like will tell you that they are spiritual and not religious because they are loathe to adhere to any dogma that limits the personality and narrows their scope. And finally, I think that the Ohm issue is spirituality applied to art. We went with the Ohm issue because we needed to convey a few things- the importance of taking a clear look at yourself, the benefit of learning from others and finally, the human condition.

The Lebanese are very good at being “imfalsafeen”, a sarcastic way to convey being philosophical. They are also very good at pointing out their own talents, be they real or imagined. It’s time to take a good introspective look- are you really as good as you think you are?

Perhaps but then again, perhaps not.

The truth of admitting what we are and acquiring the perspective to judge is a long and difficult road and that, I think, is the true spirit of Ohm.

editor’s opinion RIGHT: MAN RAY, “RAYOGRAPH” (1926) BELOW TENNESSE WILLIAMS

THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH + NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

The foreword to my worn out paperback edition of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” by Tennessee Williams says somewhat apologetically, “…It is a pity that so much of all creative work is so closely related to the personality of the one who does it.” He’s right. It is a pity that so much of my writing reflects my personality, because my readership are forced to learn about what I know, take an interest in what I am interested in and finally, unconsciously absorb my opinions by careful cat and mouse wording in my opinion editorials. My readers know me better than people who actually KNOW me. Williams also says, “I am not a good writer. Sometimes I am a bad writer indeed. There is hardly a successful writer in the business who cannot write circles around me.” Now this is wholly untrue, but reflective of his self-deprecating nature. Born Thomas Lanier Williams III, his plays

are social commentaries mostly revolving around life in the Southern United States, exploring both what it is like being a victim of circumstance and being a product of your environment. He has shaped my understanding of living life and inhabiting the shell you were born in and the struggle to shed that shell.

Tennessee’s declaration that he was not a good writer, and sometimes is even a bad writer, has really resonated with me since my first tenth grade read. He is a good writer always, but I am not; and as he said, sometimes “I am a bad writer indeed”. This comes from two things: Writing in the “voice” of another and lacking the natural ability and inherent wit to connect societal dots in print. I think I always had the ability to recognize better writers than myself but the elusive perspective to see when I am a bad writer has developed over years under the tutelage of those that write far better. I don’t think over time my writing

will improve but I do think my style will change. The reason I am elaborating on this is that I want to explain that everyone in Lebanon thinks they are a writer or an artist or a photographer.

Everyone I talk to tells me they are good writers. I sit opened-mouthed and have to force myself to keep a neutral expression. I often respond by telling them about how Tennessee Williams -one of the most celebrated and respected American playwrights in history- thought he was not very good.

There is charm in his humility but there is also a smack of the absurd. But what’s more absurd is the fact that bad writers tell me with conviction that they’re good.

To this I say you must read more widely, and learn from those celebrated writers like Williams, who had a remarkable ability to give you sociological perspective in performances that lasted an hour and a half. I am a bad writer sometimes and that is the truth.

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THIS PAGE, LEFT: JAY Z

CRACKING

THE CODE

There is more than one way to skin a cat. You can use any artistic medium to get your point across- from painting to sculpture to music. One person that does that extremely well is Jay Z, famous rapper and successful entrepreneur, who has now added author to his impressive list of credits. His book, “Decoded”, is more or less the lyrics of all of his tracks deciphered. The glowing reviews could have been due to his fame so I decided to check it out for myself, asking my sister to ship it to me from Canada (thank you, Amal). If you have ever listened to Jay Z’s lyrics, you already know that the man does not shy away from controversial subjects. A song like “My President is Black” (Remix version) explained on page 230 is an example of one of the obvious socially-relevant tracks, but Jay Z being Jay Z, every song goes this way, even the ones you don’t expect. “Meet the Parents” on page 210 is about the dynamics between parent and child and at least ten other sociological and psychological ideas that are too intricate to explore in the few pages I am afforded for my op-ed. In addition to being a beautiful coffee table book with great photography, the book really is a must-read social commentary and history lesson- for both his fans and those that have never listened to a rap track in their life.

BELOW: JAY Z ‘DECODED’ BOOK COVER OPPOSITE PAGE: PAGE 293 FROM ‘DECODED’

To give you an example of how complex and multifaceted a Jay Z song can get, his 2009 hit “Run This Town” by Jay Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West says, “And our girls are blackbirds/ Ridin’ with they Dillingers”.

This is in reference to the life of John Dillinger, infamous bank-robber circa Depression era America, recently made into a feature film called “Public Enemies” starring Johnny Depp. “Bye, Bye Blackbird” was a popular song of the day and was also used as a theme in “Public Enemies”. Jay Z has used black as a lyrical play on words, often punning on the colour black as a reference to being Black or African American, and lending it to various themes, as he does with the Dillinger line. One Jay Z line took me a full paragraph to explain both, because as I said above, I am not a good writer and because Jay Z is. I bow before a talent far greater than my own, recognizing both Jay Z’s prowess and my lack thereof. I think all performance artists can take a page of Jay Z’s book (pun intended), because not only has he conveyed hundreds if not thousands of historical and literary illusions via music, but he has also managed to transition that music to other mediums and still pack the same punch. This is art and this is pivotal.

The list of artists that are able to make history and life digestible and even enjoyable is long, but by no means is it easy to make your mark on that list. Genius abounds in every artistic medium but that doesn’t mean it resides within you and certainly not within me.

The idea of being able to recognize genius also means that you have a realistic idea of your limitations and take a humble stance when you are in fact great at what you do. The Lebanese trend of self promotion is anti-Ohm and I speak for RAGMAG when I say that we are a work in progress, and hope you love us, despite our shortcomings.

Namaste

THE LIST OF ARTISTS THAT ARE ABLE TO MAKE HISTORY AND LIFE DIGESTIBLE AND EVEN ENJOYABLE IS LONG, BUT BY NO MEANS IS IT EASY TO MAKE YOUR MARK ON THAT LIST. 16 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

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IT’S MORE THAN JUST AN ACT

HADI TABBAL MAKES YOU FUCKING BELIEVE IT

BY IMOGEN KIMBER

“

I

want you to fucking believe it!” yells Hadi Tabbal in his role as Director at his workshop in the Medina Theatre, Hamra. Centre stage where two women are playing a role: They’re in their New York apartment having a dinner party for two and discussing their fortunes, or misfortunes as it would turn out, in their lives.

Repeating the scene three times, by the end they were two women in their New York apartment, they were not two women just playing a role.

Make It Happen Tabbal was starring in his own personal theatre - his workshop. The gentle, slightly quirky, Hadi I interviewed half an hour before had vanished and had been replaced with a Theatre Director.

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Tabbal was leading a collection of aspiring Lebanese actors through a course on the essentials of acting.

The number one rule is that under no circumstance is anyone allowed to revert to clichés. By this he meant that there isn’t “anger”, there is anger for a reason: because my partner left me… because I hate my job. To achieve this kind of genuine emotion a person must immerse themselves completely in this and feel it from the moment they enter the scene. “You can’t build it up,” Tabbal explained, “The emotion is always there. When you walk in the room you had already been dumped by your boyfriend, you didn’t realize it half way through the scene.”

In one performance a pair of women, Aya-Elsa Yassine and Dima Hamze, had a fight. The first woman, Hamze’s character, is angry because her employee made a mistake at work and she was also angry because she was jealous. Tabbal coaxed the two women to focus on feeling the full depth of their emotions and that means feeling them all the time.

“Good acting is specific acting,” Tabbal said, “Avoid stereotypes; she wasn’t supposed to be ‘a women in an office’ she was that women in that office.” This also applies to movements. Genuine acting means genuine movements, not theatrical gestures and pointless walking up and down the stage, and you never ever do anything for the audience.

‘GOOD ACTING IS SPECIFIC ACTING’

cultureclash

For the women in the New York apartment, Hilda Alsla and Jihane Farhat, it took three runs before they had completely immersed themselves in their parts. “I forgot about the text and became really angry,” said Farhat, “It was really liberating.” What was originally clearly a piece of stage became something that the women felt themselves rather than something they were pretending to feel. Tabbal got them to do this by seeing themselves as the person who was bitter because they never felt like they found real love. As they talked about their characters he insisted they refer to themselves in the first person when talking about the character.

Being Human Before I saw him in action Tabbal had already explained these concepts to me: The outcome of acting should be a human being who is in a certain set of circumstances rather than an actor who is on stage reciting their lines. Essentially this is the difference between pretending you are feeling something and actually feeling it, which is the difference between good and bad acting. You need to live something as the actor. If you are playing a part and not experiencing what is happening to this character you are pretending and that is what the audience will see, someone pretending.

“When you talk about living the circumstances the actor is going through the emotional journey by living it themselves. You have to actually live these situations,” said Tabbal as he argued that to be able to give yourself in this way needs courage as it means knowing yourself well and being able to expose this.

At the same time as looking inside yourself you also have to be willing to sacrifice being who you are to achieve something that is both different and believable. This refers again to the method of relying on cookie cutter feelings and reverting to idiosyncrasies.

From the East Side Now a resident in New York Tabbal returns to Lebanon to give these classes. Returning to Lebanon in the sense that he was originally from here and yet at the same time in many senses he has clearly become a New Yorker, a concept he agreed to with a small flourish of pride.

Tabbal believes that in Lebanon at the moment there is a lot of thematic, symbolical, representational theatre and not a lot of access to the personal.

Tabbal sees this as a result of culture and training. “We’re a little bit scared to show personal life in public and we are more interested culturally, because of our region where we live in thematic stuff because of religion and war and [...], in themes and symbolism.”

Not only is Tabbal incredibly passionate about his art form, having decided his career at the age of five, he is also a very passionate teacher: “I love to teach acting,” he says in his New York drawl, “And I love to teach acting here because what we do in these workshops is not really commonly done in this part of the world,” he says, adding a very endearing, “I don’t want to sound pretentious or anything.” (And he doesn’t).

And one more thing: “Don’t try and be avant-garde, you invariably won’t be.”

This is what I learnt from Hadi Tabbal

‘WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LIVING THE CIRCUMSTANCES THE ACTOR IS GOING THROUGH THE EMOTIONAL JOURNEY

BY LIVING IT THEMSELVES. YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY LIVE THESE SITUATIONS’

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cultureclash

A HOLY OPPOSITE PAGE: DEVOTION, 36 x 42 Inches, OIL ON CANVAS

CLASS OF ART

IN SUREKHA SADANA’S WORKS, GOODNESS GRACIOUS IS BOTH ART STATEMENT AND AUDIENCE EXCLAMATION

BY MAHA MAJZOUB

W

hen Surekha Sadana was a little girl, Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of creative arts and music, whispered sweet words in her ears and decided to take her under her wing. Asklepios, the Greek god of medicine, was not happy about this, being the ancestor of Asklepiades, the ancient Greek doctors’ guild and all. He set his eyes on the tiny tot and vowed she will follow him alone. Saraswati, being a wise and patient deity, let Asklepios have his way. Or so he thought…

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As preordained, the little girl would go on to pursue and complete an education in medical science, and as Asklepios had won over most of her family members, she discovered she hailed from a long line of physicians. But growing up, Sadana exhibited signs of artistic predisposition, pulling off elaborately esthetic art school projects and drawing her life’s incidents as a child. Saraswati’s patience eventually paid off, and Sadana decided that instead of treating human bodies with her prescriptions for the rest of her life, she would heal souls with her paintings.

Woven around themes and subjects with a strong spiritual essence, the artwork of Sadana reflects a deeply meditative self-taught artist true to her Indian roots in her undying spiritual quest. “I have always had keen interest in subjects related to spirituality and the introspection of the mind. Painting is a profound soul-searching experience for me,” remarks the New Delhi based artist.

‘PAINTING IS A PROFOUND SOUL-SEARCHING EXPERIENCE FOR ME’

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OHMNIPRESENCE

Works such as “Devotion”, “Offering”, and “Attainment” attest to her deeprooted dedication to God. And the emphasis on feet in much of her art accents this devotion. “The feet are the symbol of complete submission towards the Almighty God. In these works, I am expressing my wholeheartedness and dedication towards Him,” she explains.

The titles of her artwork, such as “Bliss”, “A Journey of Faith”, and “Infinite”, further mirror an artist at peace with herself and in her artistic practice.

Against this backdrop, it comes as no surprise that Sadana’s canvases take a sharp detour from the mundane and focus on a higher plane.

The non-material, socially-responsible girl, who donates a good deal of her sale proceeds to charity, takes these words of wisdom to heart. Her day starts with the soothing chirping of birds, which she feeds in her garden, after which she practices yoga for an hour followed by meditation. At 10:00a.m, Sadana steps into her studio, where she finds her amnesty until noon.

Then the mother of two lunches with her husband and concentrates on her kids. At 4:00pm, she reenters her studio.

She isn’t always consumed by painting; you can also find her there sketching, visualizing new work, or reading art related books.

That is why she oftentimes pays respect to other divinities and in particular to Buddha, who she describes as a state of mind and departure from the material world. “I see a sense of happiness on Buddha’s expression, which is much beyond material happiness. All of us work towards material pursuits but it eventually leads us to a sad state of mind, as it’s an unending chase. If we follow the path of Buddha we can achieve Nirvana or a blissful state of mind, which gives us a constant state of peace and happiness,” according to Sadana.

It isn’t always inside her studio that the foundation of her next project is sparked. Sometimes it happens during meditation or prayer, while visiting a holy shrine or while on a leisure trip.

From there, Sadana starts sketching that inkling in different dimensions on her pad, and after making a few sketches, she transfers it on the canvas to give her thoughts and ideas exuberant color.

With color, Sadana does not go wrong.

Her strokes are clean and tones realistic, emanating a soothing feeling that accentuates the themes of her canvases.

She likens her art to the language of

ABOVE: ONENESS, 36 x 48 Inches, OIL ON CANVAS RIGHT: BLISS, 36 x 48 Inches, OIL ON CANVAS OPPOSITE PAGE: INFINITE, 24 x 48 Inches, OIL ON CANVAS

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nature “My art is like the beauty of nature. Universal in its appeal, it’s simple in its presentation and direct in its expression.”

The multi-layered paintings represent the many shades of her physical environment. “In nature we can see the amalgamation of all colors in right proportions. Likewise, my palette has all colors balancing each other,” she argues. But she doesn’t have unconditional love for all colors.

Being from the bright Indian state of Rajasthan, Sadana has a special affinity for deep red, ochre yellow, and olive green.

Though she has worked with acrylic colors, oil pastels, and charcoal, Sadana is most at ease with oil paints because she likes the slow drying process of the medium, which gives her the freedom to rework on her canvas. “This medium has long lasting qualities too; you can cherish your art piece for ages and it will not fade with time,” she adds.

‘IF WE FOLLOW THE PATH OF BUDDHA WE CAN ACHIEVE NIRVANA OR A BLISSFUL STATE OF MIND’

HER FIRST BODY OF WORK COMPRISED THE SPIRITUAL SERIES GIVEN HER MEDITATIVE NATURE, AND THOUGH HER OEUVRE INCLUDES OTHER SERIES, SUCH AS THE COSMIC SERIES AND THE WOMEN LIBERALIZATION SERIES, SHE CONTINUES TO REVISIT THE SPIRITUAL REALM, AS IT IS A THEME CLOSEST TO HEART AND ONE WHICH OFTEN GENERATES IN HER NEW IDEAS AND DIRECTIONS.

THE OH MY FACTOR “Cherish” is an interesting choice of diction in Sadana’s case, as the works exude feelings of both reverence and appreciation. Sadana’s obsession with fine arts began to surface when she started painting very late at night and continued until the crack of dawn.

During the day, she was busy being a mother and wife. Her first body of work comprised the spiritual series given her meditative nature, and though her oeuvre includes other series, such as the cosmic series and the women liberalization series, she continues to revisit the spiritual realm, as it is a theme closest to heart and one which often generates in her new ideas and directions.

But the “spirit” of her art did not dawn on her while at home or amidst her natural environment. It happened in a very fast-paced city, where the market is cutthroat and the living is large. “It was while I was in Dubai that I became aware of the Indian-ness of my sources of inspiration for the first time. I used this time away from home to start thinking about the kind of subjects that I wanted to paint,” says Sadana, who has fervently been practicing art for over a decade.

The artist reckons being unschooled in art was a blessing dressed up as rawness. Art, she reasons, cannot be learned. “[Perhaps art school] would have helped me in the technical aspects

of painting, but I believe in working from the heart and taking painting as a journey of achieving self-contentment,” she adds. Sadana is not one to speak of her contentment that her works can be found in private collections of art aficionados in Dubai, India, and the U.S. or that she has exhibited prolifically across India and Dubai.

Contentment for her is more about spending time with her family and continuing her artistic practice, away from worldly pleasures or self-laudatory advertising. That is one of many reasons Sadana’s work represents a wholly and holy different class of art www.surekhasadana.com

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ॐ OHM facts Lawmaker

The late German physicist Georg Simon Ohm (17 March 1789 – 6 July 1854) has his own famous reference. Ohm’s law states “the current through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.”

For more info on amperes and how they relate to you, check out Hayda Lebnen this issue.

Da Vinci Code Two symbols represent Ohm, mean very different things and are universally recognized. The first is the Ω symbol, the SI (International System of Units | Système international d’unités) unit of electrical resistance, named after Georg Simon Ohm mentioned above. The second is Ohm (or Aum/ OM), presented as ॐ when written in Devanāgari and as ओम ् when written in Sanskrit. The more popular of the 2 is the former and can be seen on yogis and spiritualists alike almost anywhere you look.

Singsong Voice Ohm Namah Shivaya Gurave was penned by Krishna Das, the most famous devotional singer to come out of the United States.

Das, whose real name is Jeffrey Kagel, supposedly wrote the song for John Friend, the founder of Anusara yoga (to find out which celeb is a huge Anusara yogi, turn to our celeb page).

Listen to Krishna get his Ohm on: youtube.com has a number of his renditions of both the Anusara version and the original Ohm Namah Shivaya. Our Editor listens to him daily.

24 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

Spelling Bee Yoga purists often reject the spelling of ॐ in English as “Ohm”.

The versions “Om” and “Aum” are considered closer and more accurate. RAGMAG isn’t into hardliners, so we’re going with the diplomatic middle ground and general spelling. Ohm is considered the “smallest” mantra used for chanting and meditation. Several reasons exist for the different spellings but the most prevalent is the actual sound of doubling the vowels in the case of “Aum” and accurate pronunciation in “Om”.

Wake Up Call Chanting Ohm out loud is said to awaken the Third Eye chakra, which is located in the forehead area between the eyebrows.

Chanting a silent Ohm is said to awaken the Crown chakra which is located in the airspace above the top of your head. The Third Eye (sixth) chakra is responsible for your intuitive guide or “second sight” and the Crown (seventh) chakra is responsible for your connection with the universe.

Action Packed Action Packed- “Karma Yoga” is the street name for pro bono yoga sessions held by centers and teachers to give back to the community to encourage good karma. Karma classes are held for any number of reasons: to allow people who can’t necessarily afford regular fees, to raise money for a specific cause or to expose new students to practising yoga.

Check out www.omyogathon.com for a huge Karma Yoga session in London, England that will raise money for one of 4 charities or even one of your own choosing.

Hiba Saab, one of our models this issue, regularly holds Karma Yoga classes (Facebook group Hiba’s FREE Yoga Classes).

THE OHM ISSUE

25

mind, body + soul

s p i r i t u a l arrested development SOME MEN JUST WON’T GROW UP

BY SARAH HOURANY

Some men hit their forties and are still the “enfant terrible” of your nightmares. The complaint about your boyfriend’s behavior, “He just won’t grow up!,” may not be just an angry exclamation, you may be describing a disorder- Peter Pan syndrome.

For the Ohm issue, RAGMAG looks at what happens when his spirit is channeling an altogether younger man.

THE PETER PAN SYNDROME REFERS TO YOUNG MEN WHO REMAIN EMOTIONALLY IMMATURE

I

nspired by the famous character of the Scottish writer J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan, who refuses to grow up, this syndrome refers to young men who remain emotionally immature.

Though not yet classified as a psychological disorder by the World Health Organization (WHO), it is nonetheless gaining credibility. While it can affect both sexes, it is much more prevalent in men. First introduced by psychoanalyst Dan Kiley in 1983 in his international bestseller book, “The Peter Pan Syndrome: Men who have never grown up”, Kiley was motivated by the immature emotional behaviors coupled with a refusal to accept adult responsibilities in many of the troubled teenage boys he had treated. Kiley’s book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for months, selling millions of hardcover and paperback copies and has been translated into 22 languages. Interestingly, the same

26 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

concept appeared earlier in the Latin poet Ovid’s famous “Metamorphosis” book under the name “puer aeternus”, describing the child god of Eleusinian, later identified with Dionysius and Eros, who symbolizes the boy who never ages or grows up, or simply the eternal youth.

What are some of the indicators?

Psychologists list a number of more or less intense signs that can help you recognize Peter Pan Syndrome: signs of immaturity, egocentric and manipulative behaviors coupled with the inability to accept criticism. Manifestations of these signs include refusal to go on dates, relationship instability, inability to make good on promises and constant replacement of partners by younger ones as it postpones or even eliminates the pressure of commitment and responsibility. Other symptoms include a lack of self confidence, intertwined

with an obsession about appearance, as well as high levels of anxiety whenever alone or whenever evaluated at work.

Common behaviors involve eating burgers or pizzas on a daily basis, for example, and spending days and nights playing video games. Yes, it sounds like a boy’s club and pretty much is. The late Michael Jackson can be considered the most famous person suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome- “I’ll always be Peter Pan in my heart,” illustrates this at his own admission. Even Michael’s former California ranch, Neverland, was named after the mythical land that Peter Pan inhabited.

THE LATE MICHAEL JACKSON CAN BE CONSIDERED THE MOST FAMOUS PERSON SUFFERING FROM PETER PAN SYNDROME

Kiley observed that most of his patients that exhibited signs of Peter Pan syndrome grew up with a textbook case fleeing or devalued father figure or without one altogether. In many of these cases, mothers in charge of the fractured family weren’t strong enough to hold onto responsibility and unconsciously transmitted this lack of confidence to their sons. Kiley theorizes that the boys would find it hard to grasp their role and build their characters accordingly. That being said, it is worth noting that the lack of a solid father figure did not affect their intellectual development, as most of them showed signs of excessive intelligence and managed to score well on IQ tests. It is their emotional growth that is severely affected.

Other psychologists blame the overprotection of parents for the appearance of this syndrome. It is suggested that the excess care prevents children from growing independently, particularly on the emotional level, and blocks them from developing

MOST OF THE PATIENTS THAT EXHIBITED SIGNS OF PETER PAN SYNDROME GREW UP WITH A TEXTBOOK CASE FLEEING OR DEVALUED FATHER FIGURE OR WITHOUT ONE ALTOGETHER.

the adequate skills to confront life.

These young men “see the adult world as very problematic and glorify adolescence, which is why they want to stay in that state of privilege,” explains Humbelina Robles Ortego, professor of psychology. This is relative to “Wendy Syndrome”, another disorder introduced by Kiley, which describes women who mother their partners and friends, even making decisions on their behalf. Mothers suffering from “Wendy Syndrome” are thought to be one cause for the development of the Peter Pan Syndrome in children.

Another controversial analysis of the expanding of the men-boy phenomenon was conducted in detail in Kay Hymowitz’s book “Manning Up” in which she blames feminism for blocking young boys from growing up. According to Hymowitz, men, in the past, used to have a high-school diploma or a college degree, then get married and assume his work and family responsibilities. While with the

BOY-MEN IN THE MOVIES!

rise of feminism, men would have to compete with women who are more educated, who make more money and who, most importantly, don’t need husbands or babies anymore to be happy. All of this renders their traditional role as the family man and provider as meaningless and leads them to live in an extended adolescence that demands none or few obligations, postponing adulthood as long as they can.

Peter Pan syndrome is aggravated by the denial of the troubled men who have the telltale symptoms.

Their inability to understand the adult world tends to exhaust them and leads to isolation in an anxious world of abstraction that does nothing but elevate anxiety.

Untreated, this syndrome can keep these men in this endless vicious life cycle. The first step is then to help them recognize their problem, and help them move to the next one: psychoanalysis or psychoanalytic psychotherapy

40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN 2005

Starring STEVE CARELL

As the name of the movie suggests, the main character Andy reaches his forties and is still a virgin. But this is not what makes him a boy-man: Andy spends his days collecting action figures, playing video games and watching Survivor!

STEP BROTHERS 2008

Starring WILL FERRELL + JOHN C. REILLY

A comedy about two 40 year-old childish men who provide the perfect example of the Peter Pan syndrome. Not only are they both unemployed, financially relying on their parents, but they’re also not willing to move out or to find a job no matter the circumstance.

FAILURE TO LAUNCH 2006

Starring MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY + SARAH JESSICA PARKER

In this movie, Trip, a 35 year-old man still lives with his parents and they are desperately sick of their “little boy”. “It’ll take a stick of dynamite to get me out of my parents’ house,” says the maladjusted Trip. The desperate parents hire a relationship expert to help him grow up and leave the nest.

THE OHM ISSUE

27

APPLYING OHM

MANTRA’S FOR A HEALTHY MIND

BY MATTHEW HUSSEY

IT’S EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN OTHER PEOPLE’S MOODS, WHICH IS WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME HEALTHY MANTRA’S TO KEEP YOU BOOSTED WHEN YOU MOST NEED IT. A healthy mind, like a healthy body, needs to be fed well if you want to keep it in good shape. It’s important that we don’t simply become passive receptacles, allowing our moods to be dictated by what TV, friends, family, or any other sources that have an influence on our self-worth. It’s easy to get caught up in other people’s moods, which is why it’s important to have some healthy mantra’s to keep you boosted when you most need it.

Today, I want to share some of my favourites, so that no matter how much life throws you around, your internal mind remains an unshakeable rock of zen-like power.

1. “WORRYING ISN’T WORKING” Worrying might give you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.

When we find ourselves caught in a trap of anxiety, this mantra always reminds us that it boils down to two choices: We worry, or we work on it.

And it reminds us how important it is to always plum for the latter.

APPLYING OHM Use this when you are stressing about a future that hasn’t happened yet.

28 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

mind, body + soul

2. “WE DETERMINE OUR WORTH”

4. “I CAN ONLY CHANGE WHAT’S IN FRONT OF ME”

I stole this one from the film Jerry Maguire. There is a touching scene where Cuba Gooding Jr.’s character feels at his lowest because he’s not being valued as a football player. When he feels like he’s going to have to lie down and accept it, his wife reminds him “Honey, we determine our worth. No one else.”

The modern world can be a stressful place to be. If you fill your mind with catastrophic world events on the news, problems of family and friends, economic troubles, regrets about thing you could have done differently, it becomes all too easy to take on responsibility for things that are completely out of your control.

I always have a soft spot for this moment because it shows true resilience in the face of adversity. One of the hardest challenges we face in life is resisting against those who tell us what we can or can’t do, or who tell us what we don’t deserve. Results don’t determine what you’re worth, but how you perceive your worth does determine your results.

Give yourself a break, learn to simplify and focus on what you can do to fix things, and then let the rest go. What’s more, if you keep looking at the past, you risk letting the future pass you by.

APPLYING OHM Use this when you are rejected for a job interview, or turned down by a date.

3. “TODAY’S ACTION, TOMORROW’S RESULTS.” This mantra always reminds me that no matter how mammoth that task seems, it’s just a case of breaking it down into day-by-day blocks of work. Tolstoy’s War and Peace might be over 1,000 pages, but it had to be written in daily chunks, sentence by sentence.

APPLYING OHM Use this when you are overwhelmed by the world’s problems, and need to prioritize.

5. “STEP UP!” Sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves to put ourselves forward.

None of us want to be a background character in our own life. Being too shy to speak up, or never taking risks can result in us missing all the best opportunities to have fun, be happy and grow as a human being.

Telling yourself to step up reminds us that sometimes, in spite of everything we have to suck it up, forget our resistance and break through the Most of us are driven into wall of fear holding us back from procrastination because we focus too taking the big risks we know we heavily on the finished project, but we should. This one is all about pure can make anything manageable if we get emotion, when you just need an into the habit of chipping away daily. adrenaline shot of crazy courage to Your dreams aren’t made by one heroic break through your mental barriers. action, just think of all the little actions Every time you say it, speak it loud you can take today that will bring you a and clear in your mind, start walking step closer to the life you envision. Then tall and let it give you all the positive do the same thing tomorrow. force you need. Then go!

APPLYING OHM Use this when you are procrastinating from ever starting that big project/novel/ business.

APPLYING OHM Use this when you are asking for a date, giving that big speech, doing anything that terrifies you

TELLING YOURSELF TO STEP UP REMINDS US THAT SOMETIMES, IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO SUCK IT UP...

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 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 today.

THE OHM ISSUE

29

OH WHATTA FEELIN’!

THE SPIRITUAL DRAIN OF SICK MEN

BY MARIA ELENA KASSAB

We all have days during which we feel invincible, when every joke we say is greeted with laughter, every project is approved by the boss and every drink we order tastes like heaven (and a few are given to us on the house). And we all have days during which our jokes fall flat, our papers are soggy with tears, our projects are covered with bacteria, our bosses inch away from us as we sniffle and we can’t taste anything because our noses are blocked –we all have days during which we give up the fight and succumb to illness. Men tend to adopt one of five specific behaviors when they’re ill.

30 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

for him

OUT OF PROPORTION

This type is sometimes better known as the hypochondriac or healthphobic. This guy has researched so many medical conditions and symptoms, he thinks he has them all. If his left foot starts to throb, he’s afraid he’s getting diabetes– never mind the fact he just kicked a wall in frustration and throbbing is perfectly normal. If his nose is runny, he starts a food cure to rid his body of cancerous toxins. He always immerses his hands with the hand gel that kills 99.99% of germs after he touches ANYTHING and his quasi-paralyzing fear of illness is contagious in itself. When this guy gets sick, you’d better steer clear of him: he’ll convince you he has three types of cancer and a rare strain of tuberculosis because he coughed 17.81 times earlier that day.

SUPERMAN ON KRYPTONITE

BABY BLUES

THE HIBERNATING BEAR

Guys you’ve probably seen yourself on this list and ladies, you know what to do- tear out the applicable section, hand it over to your sicko and explain that his physical bouts of sickness are your spiritual ones!

This guy refuses to believe he’s sick and decides to act as though nothing is wrong. His back is killing him, but he still wants to try that spine-cracking workout with all his buddies. His throat is so constricted, he sounds like a teenage toad, but he insists on singing Dream On at the happy hour Karaoke.

His head feels like it’s been trampled by a herd of tap-dancing rhinos on crack, but he refuses to skip the hard rock concert he’s invited to. He’s so tired, he can’t count to seven without making sixteen mistakes. His fever is so high, he’s contributing to global warming but he still wants to save the day –he’s like Clark Kent, he’s hell-bent on soldiering on no matter what.

If you know someone like this, you’re gonna need bottles, pacifiers, diapers and a whole lot of patience. When this type gets sick, BAM! It’s back to early childhood for them. This guy tends to whine, nag, cry and blubber to gain your sympathy. This guy wants to be babied, so you’ll have to prepare his favorite food (and feed it to him), rent his favorite DVDs (and watch them with him so he doesn’t stay all by his lonesome), keep the house silent (but not too silent, it creeps him out), show him affection (but not too much, it smothers him) and generally be at his beck and call. This guy starts whining at the first sign of an illness, at the first sneeze and keeps whining till after he’s better.

YOU WON’T HEAR OR SEE HIM FOR THE DURATION OF HIS ILLNESS EXCEPT WHEN HE CRAWLS OUT OF BED TO SHOWER, EAT AND SEE IF THE WORLD IS STILL STANDING– ALTHOUGH HE DOESN’T REALLY SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THAT LAST ONE. I’M SICK, THEREFORE I RAGE

Life with this type of sick guy is, to put it simply, intolerable. He tends to hold everybody around him responsible for his sickness, whether they were contagiously ill or not.

When this guy is sick, there is no pleasing him: food is either too spicy (“I have a sensitive stomach right now!”), too bland (“This tastes like cardboard”) or just plain horrible (“I can’t believe you call this food”). If you’re healthy, it’s because you want to rub the fact that he’s ill in his face.

If you’re sick too, you’re trying to steal his thunder. If you sleep in a sexy nightgown, you’re just taunting him because he can’t do anything; if you wear a shapeless sweater, you think he’s impotent because he’s sick.

This might just be the easiest type of sick guy to deal with. When his fever gets too high, his cough too hacking or his sneezing too frequent, he retires to his bedroom and sleeps it off– sometimes for three days straight! You won’t hear or see him for the duration of his illness except when he crawls out of bed to shower, eat and see if the world is still standing– although he doesn’t really seem to care about that last one.

He’ll take his medicine, drink his soup and go back to hug his pillow without uttering a word. He might seem angry but the sickness throws his brain-mouth coordination off track. Try not to wake him up unless it’s important because a hibernating bear is extremely irritable – not to mention dangerous– when shaken out of its slumber!

WHEN THIS GUY GETS SICK, YOU’D BETTER STEER CLEAR OF HIM BECAUSE HE’LL CONVINCE YOU HE HAS THREE TYPES OF CANCER AND A RARE STRAIN OF TUBERCULOSIS BECAUSE HE COUGHED 17.81 TIMES EARLIER THAT DAY.

THE OHM ISSUE

31

mind, body + soul

help me

Nour + Rabih

BY NOUR OBAJI + RABIH FEGHALI

EVERY GIRL FEELS FLATTERED WHEN A GUY APPROACHES HER, BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT YOU LIKE HIM OR THAT HE IS WORTH RUINING YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND DEEPLY HURTING YOUR BOYFRIEND, SO DON’T FALL INTO HIS TRAP! My boyfriend’s close friend always checks me out when my boyfriend isn’t looking, and makes passes at me. I won’t lie to you, he’s hot. I feel part flattered, part guilty. If my boyfriend finds out he’d be devastated. He loves him like a brother and my boyfriend really trusts me. What should I do? Who should I be talking to here?

G, 36

“Talk to your boyfriend’s (non)friend telling him to back the fuck off! This should have been your first instinct... Are you really into your boyfriend?”

Amal, 35

“What you should be doing is putting Don Juan in his place and telling your boyfriend. Obviously he is no true friend of his. For now, until you decide how to proceed, under no circumstances should you ever be alone with him. It will be easy for him to say things that are untrue if there are no witnesses to disprove it.”

Sarah, 24

“I think you should discuss it first with your bf’s friend, telling him that you are bothered by his inappropriate behavior and that you’ll tell your bf all about it in case he keeps on doing it. Every girl feels flattered when a guy approaches her, but it doesn’t mean that you like him or that he is worth ruining your relationship and deeply hurting your boyfriend, so don’t fall into his trap!”

Rabih’s Vote Talk to the hot dude; tell him that you notice what he’s doing, and that if he doesn’t stop, you’re going to tell your boyfriend.

Just keep in mind that some men have an understanding with their bust buddies about their girlfriends – depending on how close the two guys are. Flirting, passes, groping ... etc. Their bond is often so strong that girlfriends are a mere accessory. I’m not saying your boyfriend and his dude are like this – but hey, its 2011… You never know!

Tamara, 20

“Tell the pig to stop doing it. If he makes a scandal and talks to your boyfriend about it and then your boyfriend questions you and the fact that you didn’t tell him first, say this was exactly what you wanted to avoid. He’ll get it.

As for you, try and feel ‘flattered’ by other guys’ compliments, not your boyfriend’s best friend.”

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Nour’s Vote Let me address your question and then I’ll put Rabih is his place. Everyone here agrees on one thing: You should tell your boyfriend or at least threaten to tell your boyfriend. I don’t agree. It doesn’t need all this attention and effort. It is really easy- You either act

like a big girl and deal with it yourself or you ignore it altogether. Personally, I think you’re enjoying it a bit overmuch in addition to relishing the drama it could cause. I suggest growing up and then we can talk about what HE’S doing wrong. That being said, if it was me and I wasn’t enjoying it as much as you are, I would just tell him quite clearly that staring is rude and creepy. Now for Rabih who has really managed to “charmant” me into a coma this issue: It is not okay for any guy to permit or turn a blind eye to his friend’s flirting *cough* (harassing) his significant other. You creep!

My older brother has never liked me, and ever since I’ve opened my eyes to this world, he has gone out of his way to demonstrate it. Now he has a family and I’m not a kid anymore, and he continues to look for ways to disappoint my parents in me. I have tried talking to him more times than I can remember. I’m so embittered by this because he’s hurt me so much over the years that I have no love and compassion for this man.

Should I just let it go?

Zeina, 24

“Well, does he really? It sounds to me like your opinion is clouded by childhood experiences and not the clear-eyed view of adulthood. What you see as pointing out your failures may be in fact pointing out concerns.

It sounds to me like you need to take him out for lunch, hash it out and try to hear him as the adults you are supposed to be as opposed to the children you were. If you do that and you can honestly say you gave it 1000 percent and if it still doesn’t work, then write him off.”

Raya, 28

Nour’s Vote

“Have you ever asked him why he doesn’t like you? Or why he tries to make your life impossible? That might be a start to breaking down the hostility. I mean the big brother bullying is normal when you are kids but at this stage its beyond child’s play, perhaps you may need to bring in other siblings or your parents into the debate to diffuse whichever underlying issue is fuelling his treatment towards you, it may be that he resents you because he sees your parents as favouring you or something similar in any case you need to unearth the root of the cause, before you can begin to treat it. You need to confront it as the bitterness will only continue to eat away at you.”

Okay, so your brother sounds like an asshole and you sound like a wimp. Sorry to stick it to you that way, but you need to hear it. You know, the thing about mean people is that they often thrive off of cowering others into submission. They also thrive off of intrigues and getting their way, feeling that they wield a power of sorts. You sound like you’re struggling with the fact that your brother doesn’t approve of you and never will- this is where you get my sympathy. It is always difficult navigating people’s ugly sides but it is what it is and since he doesn’t seem to want to extend an olive branch, you have no choice but to cut your losses and respond will cool dismissal. While this isn’t the best for family gatherings, you have to learn to extend your protective barrier and become Teflon- don’t let his hurtful behavior stick, basically. Rabih suggests going through your sister-in-law, and if you are feeling that this deserves another try, then sure, go the diplomatic route. Good luck with this, please let us know how it pans out

Justine, 39

“He is obviously very insecure with himself and needs to bring you down as an ego booster. Let it go, and give him kindness in return, even if he is nasty to you. Returning harshness with kindness is the best way to make them feel guilty and you great :)”

Rabih’s Vote Dear Editor, why did you accept a question from my own sister? Joking aside – sibling rivalry is a bitch while growing up but eventually dwindles and blooms into a wonderful relationship, especially a boy/girl duo… Unless you’ve done something that brought major shame on your brother/family, I don’t see why he’s being this way. Talk to his wife – she is key. Open up to her and if she’s smart enough, she’ll know that it is in her best interest (in the long run) to have him be on good terms with you. Hopefully she’ll help you better understand how to tackle it.

THE THING ABOUT MEAN PEOPLE IS THAT THEY OFTEN THRIVE OFF OF COWERING OTHERS INTO SUBMISSION. 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 chosenTHE toOHM participate.

ISSUE 33

SINGLE VERSUS MARRIED STATS

BY SARAH HOURANY

34 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

The Truth is beyond comprehension according to the ancient sages, but that doesn’t stop us from seeing its manifestations through meditation on Ohm that allows us to approach the Absolute, step by step, before reaching the state of awakening. At RAGMAG, we too think that the truth isn’t crystal clear, and that is why we always use reasoning and empirical evidence to guide you to it.

If you believe, when it comes to relationships, that when the princess rejected the prince’s proposal, he “lived happily ever after and rode motorcycles and slept with cute skinny girls and hunted and raced cars and went to naked bars and dated women half his age and drank beer, and never heard bitching and went to rock concerts and kept his apartment and favorite jeans and never got cheated on while working and all his family and friends thought he was fucking cool as hell and had tons of money and left the toilet seat up”*, keep reading, because we are about to guide you to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! And you won’t even have to chant after us to get there! *Taken from a hugely popular Facebook post making the rounds.

mon amour, mon ami

TONS OF MONEY MYTH

NEVER HEARD BITCHING MYTH

Who said you’d actually be wealthier living on your own? In a survey conducted by the National Institute on Aging on 12,000 people between 51 and 61 years-old, results showed that married people have more than twice as much money, on average, compared to unmarried people. Not only they did save more enjoying economies of scale but married men alone were proven to earn 26 percent more than single men with similar results for married women. These results were confirmed by another study conducted by Jay Zagorsky, a research scientist at OSU’s Center for Human Resource Research, who tracked the wealth and marital status of 9,055 people from 1985 to 2000, deducing that married people’s financial progress is about 93 percent faster than singles or divorcees. In fact, people seem to be more productive economically after they marry: they work harder, advance further in their jobs, save more, and invest wisely perhaps because “they are now working for something larger than themselves.

They are working for a family,” as the co-director of the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, David Popenoe, explains.

If you think being single will help you stress less and live more, then check the world health reports. According to recent emotional health tests, marrieds enjoy a high level of psychological wellbeing and are less likely to experience depression compared to singles. Their overall health is statistically better as they are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases.

An interesting body of research related to this specific point tackles the success of a kidney transplant for marrieds compared to singles. Researchers found that people with kidney failure who were married or divorced (or separated) were more than 50 percent as likely to be placed on a waiting list for a new kidney as never-married people.

Those who were married were also 28 percent more likely to receive the organ, relative to single people on the list and tended to fare better than single transplant recipients. According to Dr. Laura Taylor of the John Hopkins

University School of Nursing, these results make sense as being married gives patients team support. From the complicated diet, medications, and treatment to attending appointments, a married patient is in a better shape (mentally and physically) to receive the transplant. Hence, having better access to healthcare and better health overall, it’s no wonder that married people enjoy the “marriage mortality benefit”, an empirically proven advantage that married people live longer. In a U.S. research study conducted on a large sample of adults followed for 18 years beginning at the age of 48, approximately 60 percent of divorced and never-married women barely made it to 65, in comparison to almost 90 percent of married women. Results were similar among men: widowed, divorced or never married men had between 60 and 70 percent chance to live until 65 compared to 90 percent for married men.

ACCORDING TO RECENT EMOTIONAL HEALTH TESTS, MARRIEDS ENJOY A HIGH LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING AND ARE LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE DEPRESSION COMPARED TO SINGLES. THEIR OVERALL HEALTH IS STATISTICALLY BETTER AS THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO SUFFER FROM CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES. THE OHM ISSUE

35

mon amour, mon ami

SLEPT WITH CUTE SKINNY GIRLS MYTH

HAPPILY EVER AFTER MYTH

COOL AS HELL MYTH

The most common misconception among single men is that they have a better sex life compared to their married counterparts. Here’s the truth: married people have more and better sex. According to Dr. Linda Waite, professor of sociology, married people have sex twice as much as single people. Her findings were corroborated by another study done by the Kinsey Institute that concludes that 23 percent of single men periodically go a year without sex, compared to only 1 percent of married men. Similarly, while 19 percent of single guys have sex two to three times weekly, 36 percent of married men have sex just as often.

And that’s not all. Married people get more emotional satisfaction from sexual intercourse. The commitment, security and sexual frequency that marriage provides increases sexual satisfaction, studies report. Long and stable relationships lead to sexual experimentation and thus makes the relationship more enjoyable. “People who are committed to a partner get more than sex out of sex,” according to Dr. Waite.

You’re not likely to live “happily” now or ever after if you’re not married.

In a recent research study done by a doctoral candidate at Australian National University on 5,000 people across the nation, married men were found to be 135 percent more likely to report a high happiness score than single men, while married women were 52 percent happier than single women. Similarly, a longitudinal survey on 14,000 adults over a 10 year period, published in 2000, found that marital status was one of the most important predictors of happiness. According to the latest data, 40 percent of married individuals said they were very happy with their life in general, compared with just under 25 percent of those who were single or cohabiting. In a 2005 study, married people reported the highest levels of wellbeing, regardless of whether they were happily married or not. So even when controlling for relationship happiness, being married is associated with higher self-esteem, greater life satisfaction, greater happiness and less distress.

In addition to its positive contributions to your emotional and financial status, marriage can also make you feel safer.

Moderate domestic violence occurs half as often when a couple is married rather than living together. In parallel, single and divorced women are four to five times more likely to be victims of violence in any given year than married women while bachelors are four times more likely to be violentcrime victims than husbands. Marriage also reduces the likelihood of criminal behaviors among men: When studying the behavior of 475 high-risk adolescent boys throughout their adulthood, researchers found that marriage reduces criminal behavior by 35 percent.

Similarly, when comparing the behavior of identical twins to have a better analysis of the role of marriage, the research revealed that once men marry, they settle down and their antisocial behavior decreases by 30 percent.

This does not mean we want you to grab the next random person and get hitched, but rather to help you ohmit the “single and happy” myth that is blocking you from reaching what some consider a state of stability and happiness. So next time you meet “THE ONE”, think twice about declining a ring for your fourth finger

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA, 40 PERCENT OF MARRIED INDIVIDUALS SAID THEY WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR LIFE IN GENERAL, COMPARED WITH JUST UNDER 25 PERCENT OF THOSE WHO WERE SINGLE OR COHABITING. 36 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

THE 15TH, 16TH, 17TH & 18TH OF SEPTEMBER

FOR ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

IS CELEBRATING BEIRUT

THE OHM ISSUE

37

CELEBS HIT THE MAT Long before yoga hit the mainstream as to way to relieve stress and get fit, celebs were onto it. Yoga, literally “to yoke” in Sanskrit, is documented widely and has become part of the public consciousness. Read on for the Top Ten yogis you’ve seen on film and stage except here they’re treating their mind, body + soul.

OHM ALPHA AND OMEGA

CHRISTY TURLINGTON

LEFT: NUALA YOGA BAG

Christy Turlington was discovered as a teenager and went on to become one of the world’s original supermodels, gracing every major magazine cover and catwalk around.

At the age of 18, she discovered yoga when she was taken to a Kundalini class by a friend but has said that her real practice did not begin until she was 26. She credits yoga with keeping her healthy and centered. As a practitioner of 6 schools, both the spiritual and physical sides of yoga are part of this yogi’s life. She has founded two separate brands with yogic roots: SUNDÃRI and Nuala. SUNDÃRI is an Ayurvedic skincare line and Nuala is a brand of yogawear in collaboration with sportswear giant Puma.

Christy also launched the Every Mother Counts campaign to educate and advocate for pregnant women. One of the results of her practise is that she views all of her charity work as seva (service) and part of Karma Yoga.

OHM RUNNER UP

GWYNETH PALTROW

STING Music superstar and Police frontman Sting has long been an avid yogi. Beginning his practice in his 30s, more than 20 years later, he and his wife Trudy Styler are students of Tantra, Ashtanga and Jivamukti yoga. Sting has been quoted as saying: “Like music, yoga is a journey, one that is long enough so you keep developing, and keep learning. I don’t see an end to it…

Yoga is an important part of my creative life.”

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This famous yogi has been honoured for her “immense contribution to yoga” by the Bent on Learning Foundation and is a practitioner of Ashtanga. Combining this with a macrobiotic diet and a rigorous workout regimen has helped this superstar stay glowingly healthy. A long-time student and world famous advocate for holistic health and yoga, Gwyneth is known to extol the benefits of it at every opportunity.

Describing her practice, she once told In Style, “I’m very strict with myself.

When I practice six days a week and eat clean food, I feel much better.” Oscar winner Gwyneth once caused a media blitz when she was photographed with telltale bruises on her back- the result of the ancient practise of Cupping, a holistic treatment for a slew of ailments.

MADONNA The Material Girl was introduced to yoga by none other than fellow superstar Sting. A practitioner of Ashtanga, considered a more intense and harder workout, it has also influenced her spiritually for years.

She told ABC’s 20/20 that she wasn’t just doing yoga for her body but her mind as well saying, “I want to be liberated from my ego, less concerned about what other people think of me.”

RACHEL MCADAMS With a website called “Green is Sexy”, it is any surprise that Rachel McAdams is a student of yoga called Kundalini?

This branch of yoga focuses on the root chakra and is of the belief that if you can unleash this energy, you unleash your potential. Her website is all about living at one with the planet and yourself in a very realistic sort of way.

JENNIFER ANISTON Devotee Jennifer Aniston credits her practice with helping her get through her split with the wayward Brad Pitt. A long time student of yogi to the stars Mandy Ingber, Aniston did the opening of Ingber’s DVD called Yogalosophy.

Aniston has said that, “Yoga is very important. I love it. If I am not doing [yoga] then my spirit sort of goes”.

ADAM LEVINE This rockstar came to yoga after his trainer recommended it for his flexibility issues. Now a devotee of the practice, Levine uses yoga as his main workout and has said that it is much more “satisfying physically” than lifting weights. He has also told Yoga Journal that, “Yoga really revolutionized my life”. When touring, he has a personal instructor with him so that he never misses a day of practice.

GISELE BÜNDCHEN As a practitioner of Anusara yoga (based on Hatha yoga), Gisele maintained her routine throughout her pregnancy. According to reports, Gisele did an hour of prenatal yoga three times per week which helped her achieve a “very tranquil” delivery.

Blessed by nature with a stunning form, the supermodel works very hard to keep it and credits her practise with getting her prepregnancy body back. As Anusara is also a very spiritual practice, she credits it with keeping her calm and centred.

RUSSELL SIMMONS Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons is a devotee of Yoga to the point that he will practice any branch of it though he prefers Jivamukti. He has told people that the only part of his day that is non-negotiable is the time he practices yoga. In an interview with Financial Times, Simmons repeatedly cites yoga as giving him the strength and clarity to do what he does calling it the place he can “quiet his mind”.

THE OHM ISSUE

39

ROLLING

IN THE DEEP FINDING THE OHM WITHIN

BY IMOGEN KIMBER

O

nce I told a friend of mine who was questioning my ‘spiritual side’, “I’m like a beach ball – colourful on the outside, nothing on the inside.” Sceptic is not the word, I just don’t believe in souls, chakras, floating third realms, any of it. This is why Fida sent me for a chat with her favourite yoga instructor and a lesson in meditation: “Hiba, please teach Imogen how to awaken each chakra in chants and meditation and explain the colours and theories etc... Please also explain souls and connectedness and these sorts of concepts that you have taught me.”

Thanks Fida.

Editor’s Note It’s my duty to help you find spirituality.

(I think I get good karma for this, although since my motivation is not entirely altruistic, it might negate my karma. FML)

40 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

After that introduction I was expecting someone in touch with their ‘inner being’ and I have to be honest someone on the ‘hippy’ side of things (she was wearing a patchwork wrap) but Hiba’s logic was impeccable. Either we were naturally aligned or Heba was a master of sophistry and slowly leading me into the cult that is yoga.

“She handled me astonishingly well!” I told Jason the photographer as we left the building, and she really did, I was impressed.

MORE THAN A TWO WAY CONVERSATION The first question was what do I think energy is? “Food gives me energy, the sunshine gives energy, electricity is energy,” I started firing off. Quick as a flash Hiba replies, “Good!”

Alright! Turns out Hiba doesn’t believe in internal colours either. “Show me them on an MRI scan,” she bursts out.

Off to a good start.

Editor’s note Imogen LOL! I don’t think it’s so much as internal colours as more the feeling or expressions of those colours.

The first step was to learn the tools for meditation. I lay in the middle of the floor with my eyes shut and Hiba starts walking around me in a circle telling me how to breathe and which muscles to clench, namely my pelvic floor muscles (Could I find it? Yes, easily thanks, I know what that muscle is used for!) and a muscle near the throat.

I DON’T KNOW IF IT WAS THE GOLDEN LIGHT FROM THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH OR WHETHER IT WAS FROM MILDLY HYPERVENTILATING BUT AT CERTAIN POINTS MY HANDS AND FEET WERE TINGLING.

FML [f*ck my life]

“WHAT DID YOU FEEL?” “LIKE I WAS ON A MILD ACID TRIP,” I REPLIED SMILING. HIBA SMILED BACK, SHE LOOKED GENUINELY PLEASED. As Hiba circled me I was supposed to be concentrating on her instructions regarding my breathing and my muscles. Two trains of thought should have been enough, but oh no, I managed to create a third.

While listening, and I was because I could repeat it, I was also having my own dialogue around other topics including analysing Hiba’s behaviour, particularly why she chose to walk in a circular motion, and general thoughts on the state of humanity.

When I was allowed to sit up Hiba asked how it went, so I told her about my second voice. She suggested I give that voice space like a naughty school child but eventually push it away. I said I would give that a whirl.

As a note, the reason for the double muscle clench was to trap my energy inside, I assume for later use.

At the time Hiba came up with a great argument for why this works.

We talked about storing stress in certain places in the body and how this caused people problems, like headaches, backaches and how instead you can store your energy and distribute it evenly throughout your body. On reflection I might question whether you could store energy between two tensed muscles.

The second exercise was me on my feet, but same idea with the breathing and the muscle tightening and the like... This time though Hiba’s dialogue was a little more, let’s say ‘interesting’. “Mentally picture the energy in your body flowing down to the centre of the earth.” What?

“Picture a golden light coming up from the earth and filling your body.”

Editor’s Note Imogen being a little on the cynical side made her the perfect candidate for the Ohm FML segment. I can just picture her face during this conversation. But then I have faith in Hiba so I’m expecting a convert out of Imogen!

I knew my job was to focus and not behave like a schoolchild crossed with a maniac so I threw myself into it wholeheartedly. I don’t know if it was the golden light from the centre of the earth or whether it was from mildly hyperventilating but at certain points my hands and feet were tingling.

UHMMM? By far the easiest way to mediate was our last method, chanting ‘Ohm’. I’m not sure I really buy into the concept that spoken ancient Sanskrit inherently gives off relaxing vibrations, but I can see that shutting your eyes and chanting is somewhat soothing .

Sitting cross-legged facing each other with hands in classic ‘o’ posture, Hiba began with the ‘OOOOO’ and we launched into the chant. Like a curve on a chart the Om begins with the birth of something then it breaths life with the ‘hhhh’ and with the ‘mmmm’ it moves to nothing. We felt the different parts of our body as we were chanting that were supposed to be holding the vibration for that noise. ‘OOOOO’ is the chest and ‘mmmmm’ is the cheeks.

Please do try it at home.

Perhaps because of my talkative nature the fact that I was saying gave me something to hold on to and was probably the most relaxing of all.

“What did you feel?” Hiba asked me afterwards. “Like I was on a mild acid trip,” I replied smiling. Hiba smiled back, she looked genuinely pleased Editor’s Note Sounds about right. Namaste, Imogen.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA THE OHM ISSUE

41

cultureclash

HAYDA LEBNEN’ s NEVER ENDING PROBL-OHM

BY SARAH HOURANY

“O

hm’s Law deals with the relationship between voltage and current in an ideal conductor. This relationship states that the potential difference (voltage) across an ideal conductor is proportional to the current through it. The constant of proportionality is called the ‘resistance’, R. Ohm’s Law is given by V = I R.” For any non-Lebanese student, applying this should be a piece of cake. They really know what having electricity feels like.

But for our poor Lebanese students, the most they can do is dream about the day when V or I or R can become applicable to real life and not just textbook theory.

For the Ohm issue RAGMAG will be giving some coping tips for Leban-OFF, since the power isn’t ON. 8 rules on effectively managing the longlasting kahraba probl-OHM in Lebanon.

1. YOM EH, YOM LA2 Yom bteje l kahraba at 6pm, yom betrou7. Based on this simple rule, plan ahead. The day betru7, the ultimate plan would be going up to Faraya whereas the day bteje, you can invite your friends over for a DVD night. Make note of this schedule as many of you tend to get confused, ending up with a bunch of friends melting in your living room without working A/C, or going out while leaving your home with wasted running kahraba!

2. A LA MODE A closely related rule to number one is to be aware tekwe tyebak/tyebik, ahead of time, iza ken yom l2at3a! If you don’t, honey, then ra7it 3lek/3layke, unless you are able to convince your friends 2enno l tannoura el mja3lake is the summer must-have item! This can also be creatively applied to wet hair.

42 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

3. FACHAR BLOOMBERG If you are considering spending your lifetime in Lebanon then being familiar with graphs, charts, SPSS, eviews and other statistical programs is a must. Ya3ne, in order to survive you must become a Bloomberg expert, only without the “L”. Yes Boom n2ata3it, Yeyy ejit!

You should also follow the Kahraba news, like the Bloomberg experts do with stocks and bonds: its te2nin hours, its Megawatts chehade from our neighboring countries and its distribution across regions, seasons and religions!

4. DABKÉ, KELNA SAWA! Haven’t you ever noticed our reaction when kahraba comes back on a little earlier? It’s a mix of surprise, delight, astonishment and gratitude… But one thing seems to be missing, a Lebanese flavor to this daily reaction: Dabke!

Not only will it give you an outlet for these deep feelings of elation, thus maintaining well-balanced emotional health, but it also helps to strengthen family ties.

5. HABIBE, BEDDE ELLAK CHI! There comes a moment in each parent’s life when they should be telling their kids the truth and nothing but the truth. When the time comes, choose your words carefully to avoid harmful and lasting shock in your little ones. Try, “Habibe, in other countries kahraba is there 24/7.” Even if he starts listing every other country on the planet, hopelessly trying to find a country worse than his own, 2awwe albak w stick to the truth.

No matter how sad, it is a must. The sooner your child knows, the better.

6. INTA GHER CHEKEL, BASS… If it ever happens that you are watching the news with a nonLebanese friend, restrain yourself from laughing or making useless comments when you see people in Canada or Australia overwhelmed with panic due to a 5 minute electricity blackout. Ok, we all know innak Lebnene w gher chekel, but do us favor and shut up.

7. MA FIK TZA3LO Even if he was jele2, sa2il, kemekh w t2il el dam, you’ve gotta love the Ichtirak guy. This means the following: Never, ever complain, pay your “bill” on time and smile proportionally to the number of “amperes” he is providing you with. Spoiling him with homemade cookies and fresh orange juice is a plus.

8. SAVOIR-VIVRE Proper etiquette dictates that you should call people before you go visit them as it is considered rude to go without prior notice. But the savoir-vivre in Lebanon takes another dimension as it literally means “vivre” and “survivre” (live and survive). You definitely need to make sure eno fi kahraba, thus a working elevator, to avoid having a heart attack when climbing the stairs to the 6th floor when visiting.

PS: If you read a similar article in 2051, don’t accuse the writer of plagiarism. It is just that this situation will remain unchanged, and its consequences too… Ma hayda Lebnen, ya 3ayne!

COMIC BY ZINA MUFARRIJ WWW.ZINACOMICS.COM

THE OHM ISSUE

43

FEEDING THE SOUL

MEANS GOING ORGANIC MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES FOR OURSELVES AND OUR PLANET

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

I

t all began at a farm, which grows fruits and vegetables in the gorgeous region of Lalouq, located high up at 1,750m in North Lebanon.

Dr. Rameh El Chaer, a dentist raised on the farm, decided to dedicate his spare time producing healthy, organic goodies and spreading the word about the benefits. His produce has been certified organic for over 10 years now. Next step was to source an outlet where to sell the produce so, together with Elizabeth Rebeiz, an anthropologist, and Haifa Abbas, a marketing consultant, he launched Al

Marej, a one-stop organic food shop.

“All fruits and vegetables [sold] at Al Marej are sourced from local farms, including the farm in Lalouq,” says Abbas. “We also carry a whole range of processed local food, branded Al Marej, all from organic ingredients.”

Farming and eating organic is certainly not a new concept to Lebanon. Before farmers began using pesticides and chemical fertilizers, now forbidden in most European countries, all the fruits and vegetables here were organic.

Today, Lebanese consumers are becoming more aware of the dangers

of pesticides and are looking for more healthy choices. Globally, organic products appear to be more popular than ever. The Organic Trade Association’s 2011 Organic Industry Survey found that the U.S. organic industry grew at a rate of 7.7 percent in 2010 to more $28.6 billion, outpacing the growth of total food sales, which grew by 0.6 percent. Most experts agree that the word organic is often overused, even abused. We are more confused than ever about how to make the right choices for ourselves and the good of the planet and there is confusion between natural, and organic food.

“ALL FRUITS AND VEGETABLES SOLD AT AL MAREJ ARE SOURCED FROM LOCAL FARMS, INCLUDING THE FARM IN LALOUQ. WE ALSO CARRY A WHOLE RANGE OF PROCESSED LOCAL FOOD, BRANDED AL MAREJ, ALL FROM ORGANIC INGREDIENTS.” Al-Marej Organic Food Store Abdel Wahab el Inglizi Street, Achrafieh, Beirut +961 1 210 211 Find them on Facebook

44 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

LEFT: ORGANIC VEGETABLES AT AL MAREJ FARM LAKLOUK

mind, body + soul

A New Earth Store Zahret El Ihsan Street, Achrafieh, Beirut +961 1 219920 Find them on Facebook

ACCORDING TO AN INVESTIGATION BY BRITISH SCIENTISTS, ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLES CONTAINED UP TO 40 PERCENT MORE ANTIOXIDANTS THAN NON-ORGANIC VARIETIES. Sabine Kassouf and Layane Makarem recognized a gap in the Lebanese market back in 2008. Although, organic produce was available on the market at the Healthy Basket shop and the Souk el Tayeb farmers market in Beirut, the girls wanted to introduce a whole range of organic products, not just food but also cosmetics and eco-living. They decided to launch A New Earth in Beirut, a shop with a mission to supply the Lebanese with organic healthy versions of regular grocery items, plus specialty items such as raw food, and gluten-free products.

Initially Kassouf and Makarem thought that they would be able to fill a large section of the store with local organic products; unfortunately, they were only able to find a few certified producers.

Products like tomato sauces, ketchup, olive oils, jams, tofu, flower water, grains and some confectionery are

of local origin, but they continue to import to be able to carry a full range of organic products. Bestsellers are basic products like grains, fruits and veggies, but the word is getting out about ancient grains and berries grown in organic agriculture. The super foods that contain high amounts of antioxidants, fibers and essential fatty acids, and seaweeds that bring energy and protein, and Kassouf and Makarem are encouraging Beirutis to embrace a new way of eating.

Unfortunately, organic food still tends to be more expensive. If you can’t afford or are just unable to get all organic, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself on organics. Produce that does not have a thick rind or peel is safer than porous things. Whole cereals should always be organic, because the pesticides are concentrated in the bran of the grain.

According to an investigation by British scientists, some organic foods, including fruit, vegetables, may be more nutritious than non-organic produce. Early results showed that organic fruit and vegetables contained up to 40 percent more antioxidants than non-organic varieties. “Organic foods are more nutritious, richer in vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids than non-organic,” says Kassouf.

“Forget E-numbers, hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives... If you want a diet based on natural food that hasn’t been tampered with, think organic.”

IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD OR ARE JUST UNABLE TO GET ALL ORGANIC, IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF ON ORGANICS.

THE OHM ISSUE

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mind, body + soul BELOW: ORGANIC FRUITS AT AL MAREJ FARM IN LAKLOUK

‘WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE THE SWEET INTENSITY OF A FRESH ORGANIC CARROT, BOUGHT WITH THE SANDY SOIL STILL CLINGING TO IT, OTHER CARROTS WILL SEEM INSIPID AND BLAND’ Another advantage of organic foods is that you’re also doing the environment a good turn when you choose them.

Intensive farming methods erode soil and devastate wild life, and it is outrageously cruel to farm animals.

Local natural is still better than organic from abroad since there is less carbon footprint. “Our motto is local organic, less miles and no middlemen; directly from farms, to shop to consumer table,” says Abbas.

“There is no question about local versus imported. Being a locavore should be the next step, but having decided to open an organic store we

had to choose between a rock and a hard place,” says Kassouf. “Staying local but being able to only eat organic fruits and vegetables that were hard to find or opening a store with a full range of organic products, but unfortunately imported and adding to our carbon footprint.” To compensate they placed 3 recycling bins at their store, where customers can bring back the packaging for recycling. “When you experience the sweet intensity of a fresh organic carrot, bought with the sandy soil still clinging to it, other carrots will seem insipid and bland,” says Kassouf.

REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WITHOUT COMPROMISING FASHION STYLE Green and Glam, an eco fashion boutique showcasing stylish, ethical, and eco-friendly brands, is a welcome addition on the Beirut boutique scene.

The founder Celine Bejjani Tabet has gathered some gorgeous clothes, lingerie, accessories, and cosmetics aiming to offer the Lebanese an eco alternative to the usual multibrands available. Her mission is “to reduce our environmental impact without compromising the style!”

Bejjani Tabet has sourced well known designers and new talents, chosen for their contemporary design and vision, from all over the world. All clothes here are made from organic, natural and/or ethical material. Discover Edun, the brand that features designs by Hewson, wife of U2’s front man Bono. This organic and ethical label features lovely designs in stunning soft fabrics. Also on show are Valentine Gauthier, Les fées de Bengale, Kami Organic, LEAF, Featherstone & Co, and other eco-conscious labels Green and Glam Zahret el Ehsan Achrafieh, Beirut +961 1 217604

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THE OHM ISSUE

47

WILLPOWER

MAN ON THE RUN ENDURANCE ATHLETE ALI WEHBE BECOMES THE FIRST LEBANESE EVER TO COMPLETE THE 4 DESERTS RACES

BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES

A

li Wehbe runs by the mantra, “We must have a vision to see our potential and the faith to believe that we can.” And his philosophy has certainly paid off. Wehbe is becoming a running legend, the first Arab ever to have completed the 4 Deserts endurance races. Only 87 athletes in the world have achieved this feat.

Wehbe, a 41-year-old ICT consultant who grew up and studied in France, began his love affair with running 25 years ago, after he lost his mother to cancer. “I questioned my desires and lifestyle, and began my quest to become an athlete in the world’s most difficult races.”

Since then nothing has stopped him.

There are four desert races, each 250km: the Gobi March in China, the Sahara Race in Egypt, the Atacama Crossing in Chile, and the Last Desert in Antarctica. The conditions are harsh and competitors have to carry their provisions on their backs and complete the 250km in seven days.

The organizers just provide water and a place to sleep. In 2010 Wehbe participated in two big races, the 250km full self-sufficient in the Australian bush in May, and the Gobi March in the Gobi Desert in China in June. He finished the latter race totally exhausted and on a tortured single leg with a muscle strain.

Competing against the world’s best, he beat the odds and made it through making him the first Lebanese to finish this endurance race.

The next highlight for Wehbe was the Last Desert (Antarctica) which took place on the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands. “Along the course we [the competitors] passed a number of international research stations, penguin rookeries, iceberg-scattered coastlines and even an active volcano.”

This year, in March, he finished the Atacama Desert in Chili, a 250km race at 3500m from sea level, an impressive 16th out of 120 participants from 32 countries.

“THE REASONS THAT ENCOURAGE ME TO GO THROUGH THESE ENDURANCE RACES ARE THE CHALLENGE, A LOVE FOR ADVENTURE AND SPORT, AND THE SUPPORT OF CHARITY”

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mind, body + soul

“I LOVE PUSHING MY BODY TO THE LIMIT, WHERE THE MIND PLAYS A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.” “Running for a charity gives you an immense sense of satisfaction knowing that you help others and you are being helpful. The more generosity I encounter, the greater my motivation.”

His dad has been an inspiration from the start. “He’s just an impressive person. He will do anything for his son and is the first one to believe in what I do. His personality is the guiding light for me to pass through my challenges and weakness.” Balancing a running passion with work and family life is not easy and needless to say his social life suffers. “Running is the axis around which I organize my life, from which I explore the world in my own way,” says Wehbe. “They [my family] find it very dangerous and risky, but they understand that it is part of my life.

Danger and risk are part of any race; but I promised my wife, my father and my children, I will not go through the red line, but hey, in extreme sports, each meter is a red line.”

So what’s next? Wehbe is as always on the run and right now is warming up for the notorious jungle marathon in Brazil, a 250km inside the Amazon jungle. And in July he wants to climb Kilimanjaro, but “just for fun.”

Wehbe admits that living in a country which does not exactly encourage athleticism is frustrating at times. “It’s very difficult to train here, there is no infrastructure where one can have proper training,” he admits. Finding sponsors is also tough. “In 2007, after I was the 3rd to finish the Sahara race I thought it would be easy to find sponsors. I contacted around 300 companies but had no positive reply.

Nokia and BankMed have sponsored me since 2010 and helped me realize my dream.” What advice does he have for youngsters starting out? “To achieve, you must first believe. The main problem is that there is no infrastructure or facilities for the young in Lebanon to focus on sports. But if they have a dream, they should go till the end.”

When preparing for a race, Wehbe runs between 100 and 220 km per week. Endurance racing needs top mental stamina as well as physical fitness. “I love pushing my body to the limit, where the mind plays a very important role.” So, what keeps Wehbe going during a race where temperatures are so extreme, daytime between 35 and 45°C dropping to 5°C at night? “The reasons that encourage me to go through these endurance races are the challenge, a love for adventure and sport, and the support of charity,” he admits. This year he ran for Brave Heart Fund and the money raised will finance operations to save babies born with congenital heart malformation.

For those interested in helping the Brave Heart Fund go to braveheartfund.org

“TO ACHIEVE, YOU MUST FIRST BELIEVE. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS NO INFRASTRUCTURE OR FACILITIES FOR THE YOUNG IN LEBANON TO FOCUS ON SPORTS. BUT IF THEY HAVE A DREAM, THEY SHOULD GO TILL THE END.” THE OHM ISSUE

49

AS A CONSEQUENCE OF WAVEPARTICLE DUALITY, ALL QUANTUM FIELDS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL PARTICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

OHM-NIPRESENT HERE + THERE THE GOD PARTICLE

BY J.E.N.

T

he God Particle (aka Higgs boson) has been making the headlines lately: Has this ever illusive particle finally been discovered?

Or has it succeeded in hiding itself within the higher planes of existence, well beyond our reach? The particle was first postulated by the Scottish physicist Peter Higgs in 1964 as part of the Standard Model of physics and has captured the imagination of scientists the world over ever since.

First off, what is Higgs boson and why is it nicknamed the God Particle? It is basically a hypothetical particle. And interactions with this mysterious particle give quarks, leptons, and weak gauge bosons mass. To date experiments suggest possible glimpses of its existence through indirect evidence but no one has succeeded in getting direct evidence. The Large Hadron Collider is the most promising tool we have to crack this case (see our first issue for more info about CERN’s fascinating LHC).

Stephen Reucroft in the Elementary Particle Physics group at Northeastern University explains this sneaky little

50 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

particle: “Over the past few decades, particle physicists have developed an elegant theoretical model (the Standard Model) that gives a framework for our current understanding of the fundamental particles and forces of nature. One major ingredient in this model is a hypothetical, ubiquitous quantum field that is supposed to be responsible for giving particles their masses (this field would answer the basic question of why particles have the masses they do - or indeed, why they have any mass at all). This field is called the Higgs field. As a consequence of wave-particle duality, all quantum fields have a fundamental particle associated with them. The particle associated with the Higgs field is called the Higgs boson.”

Reucroft continues: “Because the Higgs field would be responsible for mass, the very fact that the fundamental particles do have mass is regarded by many physicists as an indication of the existence of the Higgs field. We can even take all our data on particle physics data and interpret them in terms of the mass of a hypothetical

Higgs boson. In other words, if we assume that the Higgs boson exists, we can infer its mass based on the effect it would have on the properties of other particles and fields.”

Howard Haber and Michael Dine, professors of physics at the Santa Cruz Institute for Particle Physics at the University of California at Santa Cruz clarify further: “Much of today’s research in elementary particle physics focuses on the search for a particle called the Higgs boson. This particle is the one missing piece of our present understanding of the laws of nature, known as the Standard Model. This model describes three types of forces: electromagnetic interactions, which cause all phenomena associated with

IF WE ASSUME THAT THE HIGGS BOSON EXISTS, WE CAN INFER ITS MASS BASED ON THE EFFECT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE PROPERTIES OF OTHER PARTICLES AND FIELDS.

the final frontier

electric and magnetic fields and the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation; strong interactions, which bind atomic nuclei; and the weak nuclear force, which governs beta decay - a form of natural radioactivity - and hydrogen fusion, the source of the sun’s energy.”

[The Standard Model does not describe the fourth force, gravity.]

And so scientist think Higgs boson exists but that it just hasn’t been seen as yet. But why has it been dubbed the God Particle? Because this particle (if it exists) would explain the difference between objects with mass (and hence form) and objects that only have energy (and hence no form). It would shed light on the long pressing puzzle of how energy in the universe became mass.

April 2011 saw the internet abuzz with news that the God Particle had finally been discovered by the LHC team at CERN. While the team had indeed seen something, they didn’t know what it was and had just sent an internal memo and a few emails to one another about

the possible discovery of the particle.

Somehow the internal correspondence had been leaked causing a media circus.

In July 2011 the news heated up once again. This time the LHC team stated that they knew where Higgs boson couldn’t be found which is better than nothing. They added that with more data supplied by their huge atomsmashing collider, they would be able to determine whether this much soughtafter particle exists or not within 18 months, basically another 16 months from now. July 2011 also saw news from scientists at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory who claimed to have found hints of the particle. A thrilled Dan Green, senior scientist at Fermilab said, “We’re getting quite close…It’s palpably exciting.”

And very exciting is an understatement.

Discovering Higgs boson would be an incredible breakthrough of great significance. More incredible even than Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons” which mentions the fabled particle

DISCOVERING HIGGS BOSON WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLE BREAKTHROUGH OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE. MORE INCREDIBLE EVEN THAN DAN BROWN’S “ANGELS AND DEMONS” WHICH MENTIONS THE FABLED PARTICLE.

THE OHM ISSUE

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new + now

CITY FOLK Audi is once again opening up new horizons: the Audi urban concept is a 1+1-seat, ultra-light car for congested urban spaces like Beirut! Not based on any previous model – its development is solely oriented on the strict principles of lightweight construction, efficiency and reduction. The result is a concept car with no unnecessary weight, and one that concentrates on the pure essence of sporty motion. With free-standing wheels, their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED lights. On board there is room for two people, their position slightly staggered and at a sporty, low level. All controls and materials are subject to the dictates of ultra-lightweight construction and the driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals to suit body measurements. Entry to the car is via the tailgate.

The roof is designed to be maneuverable and slides to the rear to open. Two e-tron electric motors provide the propulsion – providing the ultra-light Audi urban concept with the ability to accelerate powerfully. A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy – ideal for extended city tours.

BUZZ LIGHTYEAR “TO INFINITY + BEYOND” INFINITI GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR SEBASTIAN VETTEL LOOKS AHEAD TO HIS HOME GRAND PRIX AT THE NURBURGRING. Inspired Performance, by Sebastian Vettel

“For me, this is the big one. The German Grand Prix is my home race and, obviously, that makes it the one I’d love to win more than any other. I’ve been on the podium for my home race a couple of times –don’t get me wrong, that was a really enjoyable experience– but to stand on the top step in front of your home crowd and hear the national anthem has to be one of the greatest feelings any sports person can have. It’s something very, very special. Hockenheim –where I finished third in 2010– is just half an hour from where I live, but it makes no difference that the race has switched to the Nürburgring, near the border with Belgium.

A lot of my family and friends will come to this race. It doesn’t add pressure as such but it’s really nice to have them there. Some drivers will tell you that support is worth maybe a tenth of a second a lap or something. I can’t be sure about that, but it certainly adds to the good feeling of racing in my home country. I know the Nürburgring very

52 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

well because I raced there a lot in the junior categories when aiming to get to Formula 1.

I’ve obviously got a lot of good memories and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to attacking this circuit again in a Formula 1 car. It’s a real fun track because it’s got some nice long corners which should suit my Red Bull RB7 very well. The layout rises and falls quite dramatically, and that adds to the challenge and the enjoyment. In fact, I’d say the Nürburgring is one of the best tracks we have all year. I should add, of course, that this is the ‘New Nürburgring’. The old Nürburgring, known as the Nordschleife, goes off into the Eifel Mountains and the start/finish sits alongside the new track. They last held the German Grand Prix there in 1976. You can still drive round it in your road car today, and in fact I’ll be taking an Infiniti M37s and an Infiniti M35h around the track before the race

weekend which I’m really looking forward to.

It’s intimidating; a crazy place! Obviously, we wouldn’t be able to race on the old circuit because the cars we have today are way too low and too fast. But, because of the fantastic history of the Nordschleife, it makes the Nürburgring a place with tradition going back more than 70 years. You can’t buy that.

Now you know why I’d really like to win this one!”

From the 2011 season, Infiniti is a major partner of the Red Bull Racing team and features prominently on the race-winning RB7 driven by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

From the 2011 season, Infiniti is a major partner of the Red Bull Racing team and features prominently on the race-winning RB7 driven by Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

ITALIAN STALLION The Luxury Clothing Company is proud to announce the opening of its flagship Versace Collection boutique in the Berytus Building on Park Avenue in the Grand Hotels District, Downtown Beirut. The first in Lebanon from one of Europe’s leading design houses, is spread over 2 floors and covers 200 square meters.

The boutique features the latest Versace Collection ready-to-wear for men and women, a full range of men’s and women’s accessories including the most current selection of bags, shoes, belts, eyewear and perfume. Fresh designs, vivid colours

FILL ‘ER UP

For Fall/Winter 2011 Diesel is introducing its most iconic bag: the Divina bag. Available in three variations, the premium denim bags are manufactured in the same manner as the denim lines, going through the same washing process as 5 pockets. Personalized with the Diesel flag and enriched with black leather handles and trims, the Divina bag’s soft foldable construction of the sides is perfectly proportioned with its

and quality tailoring define this line from the iconic House of Versace. The retail atmosphere mirrors the glamour and Italian craftsmanship that make up Versace’s DNA. A neat, contemporary interior design with luxury accents everywhere coupled with a well-organized display creates a relaxing environment that makes shopping a pleasure. The new mono brand boutique is part of the Luxury Clothing Company Group that also operates the Rodeo Drive, Brioni, Tom Ford, La Martina and Giorgio Armani boutiques around Lebanon.

size, allowing both the shoulder comfort of a flat bag as well as extreme space through its tridimensional shape once open. Each bag goes through a long process of treatments in order to give it a naturally used and vintage look. The dirty sand treated denim and leather Divina is defined by treatments that create uneven and unique products, making each bag different and giving the bag its ‘rusted’like color.

ICE ICE BABY

Moët & Chandon is taking over summer with the launch of its brand new summer accessory: Moët Ice Imperial, the world’s first ever Champagne specifically created to be enjoyed on ice. Perfect served pure on ice, Moët Ice Imperial is an innovative Champagne blend ideal for daytime celebrations in chic and sunny hotspots.

Its fruity intensity, richness in the mouth, and fresh finish make it ideal for poolside drinking. In every way, Moët Ice Imperial is a radical new way to drink Champagne,

one that can be enjoyed outside of “traditional moments.” To reflect the brand’s refined positioning, Moët Ice Imperial comes in an unconventional white lacquered bottle, with touches of black, gold and silver, for ultimate sophisticated freshness. This truly unique experience is the ultimate blend of glamour, elegance, and pioneering spirit, and the perfect complement for spontaneous moments of celebration with friends.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS Philips in association with Business Partners AZ Electronic, announced the Lebanon launch of Lumea, a proven effective Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) depilation solution that grants women the ultimate beauty wish; to feel free from unwanted hair and have perfectly smooth skin every day.

Philips Lumea uses Intense Pulsed Light, the latest advanced technology used by the professional beauty industry for hair removal – adapted for use at home. Gentle pulses of light are applied directly to the hair resulting in the follicle going into a resting phase and shedding naturally. A simple and gentle treatment once every two weeks prevents new hair from growing back ensuring beautifully smooth skin all year round. Ozlem Fidanci, General Manager and Vice president, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Middle East and Africa, commented: “Philips has been

working with leading dermatologists Dr. med.

Paul Berretty (Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, the Netherlands) and Prof. Dr. med. Peter Bjerring (Director Mølholm Private Hospital, Denmark) for almost 7 years in the field of light based hair removal and these relationships, alongside a real desire to have this product available for home use by consumers has led to the development of Lumea. With the Lebanon launch of Philips Lumea, women in the country can now use a proven, safe and effective hair removal system from the comfort of their own home. Five adjustable light settings ensure a gentle and optimum treatment across a wide variety of skin tones and hair colours whilst an integrated UV filter and advanced safety controls provide maximum protection for skin.”

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WEARING A SILKOR SUIT THE SKIN’S SIXTH SENSE

The name Silkor comes from bringing together the English “silk” and the French “corps” or body. We decided to see just how accurate that was for our Ohm issue, interested in both the cosmetic side and the medico-aesthetic side of the company that does everything from laser hair removal to this issue’s pick- Diamond Micro-dermabrasion (DMD).

‘ALLIGATOR SKIN ON ROUGH ELBOWS AND KNEES CAN BE TREATED WITH DIAMOND MICRODERMABRASION, AS CAN SUBTLE BODY SCARRING AND IMPERFECTIONS’ 54 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

WHY Used to treat everything from an

uneven skin tone (hyper pigmentation from sun damage to Melasma, commonly known as “Pregnancy Mask”) and texture irregularities as well as scarring caused by any number of factors, we thought Diamond Micro-Dermabrasion was the most sought-after treatment that our readers would be curious to know more about. It can be done for body as well by using a special wand, “Alligator Skin on rough elbows and knees can be treated with Diamond Micro-dermabrasion, as can subtle body scarring and imperfections,” says Mariette Rouhana, my Silkor magician.

WHAT A high speed wand with a diamond-laced tip is drawn over the surface of the skin to remove dead skin cells, impurities and refine the overall top layer of the face and body.

HOW In a series of steps, the skin is prepared for the Micro-dermabrasion treatment

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PREPARATION + ADMINISTRATION 1. A special cleanser is chosen for you by the esthetician. Mariette uses a lovely cleansing milk to remove my makeup and gentle gauze so as not to damage the skin, followed by a freshening toner.

Once this is completed, I am ready for the actual treatment steps to begin. Time elapsed less than 3 minutes.

2. A gommage is applied laden with crushed peach pits. It is allowed to set for 2 minutes before it is gently rubbed off in a circular motion by Mariette. The benefits of the gommage? The removal of the superficial layer of dead skin cells and topical impurities, basically giving my face the cleanest slate possible for the Diamond Micro-dermabrasion wand.

This is completed start to finish in 10 short minutes.

3.The Micro-dermabrasion treatment begins. It feels almost like a forefinger drawn down the skin surface in sections.

“We do it in sections to ensure we get every inch,” said Mariette as she continued to span the length and breadth of my face. The Micro-dermabrasion

itself takes about 20 minutes and is a surprisingly pleasant sensation, relaxing even. The wand buzzes quietly and is almost not audible over our chatter. I eagerly wait to see the indicator pad removed to see the amount of surface build-up that has been sloughed off by the wand. Mariette presents it and I cringe. “Fida, you’re face looks fresher,” says Jason the photographer as he continues to shoot. I look in the mirror and see a huge difference, visible to the naked eye!

4. A deep treatment serum is applied to allow the next step, a glowing mask, “to penetrate better and to give you a major boost,” explains Mariette. This takes 30 seconds of gentle pressing and massagelike movements.

5. The “glowing mask is a made up of a vitamin cocktail. It is a powder and gel mixture that we mix then apply. It congeals then we remove it by peeling,” says Mariette as she prepares the mask mixture that is to be applied over the serum. She then applies an eye mask that

is routinely administered during the final step. “The Revitalizing Mask for eyes treats wrinkling, fine lines, dehydration and of course dark circles. There is hydrating and boosting ingredients such as green tea,” she says as she applies the cool, creamlike substance around my eye contour.

This is completed and she then begins to paint on the face mask with a mask brush.

The concoction is specific to each client as the final step is tailored to skin type and needs. This quickly gels into a solid mask and is gently peeled off by Mariette as she hands me a mirror. I look fresh and bright and my cheeks look like I’ve been jogging“Your circulation is improved and it gives a rejuvenated skin. It really helps to wake the skin up,” says Mariette adding that, “We often suggest the glowing facial as a pre-event or pre-bridal treatment.” Time elapsed roughly 10 minutes.

6. As I move to get up, Mariette stops me for one final step. “After these treatments, we always apply sun protection and an eye contour cream. It is very important to protect the skin from the sun, particularly after treatment.”

DOUBLE THE IMPACT • Combine your DMD with other treatments- “We can pair it with a glycol-peel ranging from 40 to 60 percent.” Normal and Oilier skins may consider this option while drier skins may consider the hydrating facials.

• Get a consultation. “The most important step is the consultation. We judge how many treatments a client needs to achieve best results and which routes to take.”

• Add neck and chest to your facial DMD to get radiant and healthy skin on face, throat and décolleté.

• A series of 6 total treatments over the course of 6 weeks are advised to get your optimal results.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

Wear Your Own Silkor Suit www.silkor.com Find them on Facebook Silkor Holding Follow them on Twitter @silkortweets

THE OHM ISSUE

55

SPIRIT YOUR WAY TO HEALTHY HAIR

BY ELODIE BARAKAT

Your hair is dry, brittle, split ends everywhere? RAGMAG has got a few ideas for you: Check out our cheat sheet of what you can do for a healthier, glossier mane!

BEST IN SHOW You know how too much alcohol isn’t good for your body? Well, it doesn’t do much good for your hair either. Styling products contain alcohol- hairspray, mousse, gel. The alcohol removes the protective sheath of your hair and dries it up. Use alcohol-free styling products or at least try not to use them too often.

As for the hairdryer, take care not to burn the hair shaft by keeping the dryer a minimum 15 centimeters away. Try adjusting the heat to warm rather than blazing hot.

Sometimes, you need to ignore your instincts: Stay away from shampoos that foam a lot. You might think it’s more efficient and getting your hair cleaner but the more foam a product creates, the more foaming agent in the product!

This is a contributing factor to irritated

56 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

scalps, dried hair, and a whole slew of other complications. Choose your shampoo wisely, according to what your hair needs and don’t wash your hair too often, especially if it’s dry. When you shampoo, you strip the sebum, known as the natural oils of your hair. Space out the shampoos until your hair adapts to the rhythm, and in between use dry shampoos like Klorane.

You probably already know it, but for the well being of your hair, you’d better avoid hair colour, especially when the product contains ammonia! Ammonia removes all the protective layers of your hair, spacing out the capillary fibers and damaging your hair, making it dry and brittle.

Choose an ammonia-free brand and still get that colour boost. To make your colour last longer, there are now a whole range

of shampoos, masks and even serums available. This prolongs the time between colour treatments and maintains the health of your hair.

Don’t forget that sun, salt and chlorine aren’t good for your hair and are even worse for your hair colour! Cover your head when you’re under the sun and rinse your hair well after going to the beach or to the pool. There are also oils and creams created especially for your hair to protect it while you’re under the sun and to nourish it afterwards, and most of them smell so good... you’ve got no excuse not to use them!

What you eat is also important to the health of your hair. For a glowing and strong mane, you need vitamins B, iron and silica.

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RAGged Hair Facts • One strand of hair lives approximately 6 years and will grow again 25 times in a lifetime.

OPT FOR A NATURAL SOLUTION • Vinegar Add a few drops to a bowl of warm water to rinse your hair after shampooing. It removes the hard water that leaves your hair dull giving you instant shine. It’s also said to remove dandruff!

• Egg yolk Use it as a 10 minute mask before shampooing to revive your colour and tone up your hair.

• Olive oil Use it as a mask before your shampoo to nourish and repair brittle and dry hair. Use 4 tablespoons for mid-length hair, apply and let it set for 30 minutes. You need to rinse gently but generously before you use your shampoo with lukewarm water.

• Ginger You can also customize the olive oil mask by adding fresh ginger crushed with the oil, it will revitalize your hair especially if it’s been weakened by a lot of colouring.

• Lettuce + Parsley This helps manage an oilier hair type!

Boil 10 leaves of lettuce with 40 grams of parsley, drain well and pour the infusion on your clean hair.

Rinse after 10 minutes.

• Rosemary Make an infusion of rosemary to help hair grow and enhance brown shades. Use 10 grams of rosemary for 1 Litre of water and pour it on clean hair.

Let set and rinse.

• There are only two kinds of melanin produced in the hair bulb that create all the different shades of hair.

• Blondes have more hair than brunettes. Brunettes have about 100,000 hairs as opposed to 150,000 for blondes and a whopping 200,000 for redheads!

• We grow approximately 10 meters of hair in a lifetime.

• It’s impossible to crush a strand of hair with a hammer.

• We lose about 60 hairs each day but a hair sheds 2 to 3 months after its bulb dies.

•Depending on cultures and traditions, hair can either be a sign of seduction, of power, of memory, of bereavement, of a vow or a relic.

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LIVE+LOOK MAKE UP FOR EVER MAKES REALITY LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER We’re loving the new MAKE UP FOR EVER concept- Look like you’ve had airbrushing done, without the airbrushing! RAGMAG isn’t into fakers and we don’t retouch our images much for that reason, so when we heard about the new HD campaign, we were all over it!

FACT FILE

For the first time ever, MAKE UP FOR EVER launched a retouch-free campaign to highlight how a woman can look perfect without hightech intervention. In this innovative promo, four women take snapshots of themselves with their digital cameras and camera phones. The result? Four impeccable visuals that have not undergone any retouching whatsoever and are even certified by a notary public. Now that’s what we call authentic!

At the heart of the professional ranges offered by MAKE UP FOR EVER for both public and professionals, there have always been revolutionary products reserved for the cinema world. To highlight the fine art of cinema, MAKE UP FOR EVER is set to be the Principal Partner at this year’s Abu Dhabi Film Festival, the Middle East’s renowned International Film Festival, to be held on October 13th - 22nd and aims at inspiring filmmakers while nurturing the growth of the regional film industry.

MAKE UP FOR EVER will be taking part behind the scenes with its latest High Definition range which has been created to meet the new standards of HD technology in TV and film. Professional makeup artists from around the world are flying to Abu Dhabi to support the prestigious Middle Eastern festival by bringing the world of professional makeup from backstage onto the red carpet and stage.

58 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU MAKE UP FOR EVER will be giving away 3 full kits to 3 RAGMAG readers. Yes, we mean the entire HD collection!

How you can win? Email letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com with the subject line: “I’M RETOUCH FREE WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER!” It’s that easy. Twitter users, you can also tweet @RAGMAGLebanon “I’M RETOUCH FREE WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER!” The first 3 readers to reach out to us will get their full MAKE UP FOR EVER HD range.

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MAKE UP FOR EVER’s HD Program allows you to do it yourself with no hassle!

Step 1 PRIME

Step 2 COVER

PRODUCT HD Elixir Instant Radiance and Hydration Serum Apply HD Elixir on parts the face that are more lined or dehydrated such as around the eyes to correct fine lines and puffiness or over the entire face to reduce signs of fatigue and dehydration. This serum will optimize the end make-up result.

PRODUCT HD Invisible Cover Foundation Apply a small amount of HD Foundation.

With its optimal concentration of pigments, the foundation hides imperfections while ensuring a natural, imperceptible result.

PRODUCT HD Primer Microperfecting Primer Apply the HD Primer which softens and moisturizes the skin, making it suppler, smoother and perfectly prepared for the application of makeup. Primer also helps to fix your makeup in place longer and maintain colour.

PRODUCT HD Invisible Cover Concealer Apply HD Concealer to camouflage fine lines and puffiness under the eyes and to correct other imperfections.

Step 3 FINISH PRODUCT HD Microfinish Cream Blush According to the shape of the face and the desired effect, the HD Blush can be applied in several ways.

• For a fashion effect, apply HD blush in a circular movement using brush #55N • To emphasize the Natural shape of the cheek, apply HD Blush in a comma shape using brush #25N • For a more intense effect, apply HD blush using the HD sponge.

PRODUCT HD Microfinish Powder The final step is to apply the HD Microfinish Powder for a glowing and flawless complexion. The ultra-fine texture is ideal for setting the foundation, giving the skin a velvety finish with no visible build-up.

SEE FOR YOURSELF

Live the unique and exciting HD experience by visiting www.hd-not-retouched.com Discover firsthand that with HD cameras everywhere you turn, a woman’s makeup should be picture-perfect. MAKE UP FOR EVER makes this possible for everyone with its High Definition Range.

MAX OUT YOUR PHOTO OP + GET MUFE

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

THE

TRUE

SPIRIT OF

OHM DON’T JUDGE THE SOUL SPA

BY ITS COVER

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

W

hen RAGMAG contacted the Soul Spa for our monthly spa review, little did I know I would come across such an “ordinary” spa in Lebanon –the good, the great ordinary! The building looks nothing like a place offering a wellness center, and I’m a bit puzzled by the old and not so clean look of the exterior but I decide I can’t judge a book by the cover. The elevator takes us to the 6th floor; upon entering the Soul Spa, a small A4 paper reads, “Kindly place shoes in cabinet.” I whine to my photographer Jason, who just laughs at the misery of my un-pedicured feet and pad barefoot inside.

60 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

We enter the spa to the scent of incense in the small hall, where the owner herself welcomes me and escorts us to the waiting room. The area is pleasantly dark and simple, only lit by small lamps made of big chunks of Himalayan Salt Crystals. A wide bookcase hides one of the walls, and I start going through the books while waiting for my therapist to prep the treatment room. “Repeat the mantra, Om Namah Shivaya, to receive the gifts of Shiva: courage, divine love, union, passion, renunciation, and enlightened meditation.” AGAIN? I did like my Yogic treatment last month, but I was craving some regular massage, something to tone me up and fill me with energy.

I am taken to the treatment room with two closed purple curtains that stop the afternoon light from flooding the room, it’s perfect for relaxation. The Soul Spa keeps it simple: a Chakra poster hangs on the wall, a few shutters hide a massage table and a dark wood cabinet decorates the room. As I start looking at the bottles of essential oils, wondering what my therapist Rabih was going to use and why, he asks me to lie down and announces his choice: lettuce oil, with a little bit of lavender for scent. This is the first time I’ve heard of lettuce oil and I question Rabih about it while he begins applying it to my neck, “Lettuce oil is full of vitamins and minerals, such as

‘REPEAT THE MANTRA, OM NAMAH SHIVAYA, TO RECEIVE THE GIFTS OF SHIVA: COURAGE, DIVINE LOVE, UNION, PASSION, RENUNCIATION, AND ENLIGHTENED MEDITATION’

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iron, calcium or phosphorus. We use it in facial massages because it keeps the skin smooth and prevents it from reddening,” he explains. Why would it go red, it’s just a facial massage? I think to myself, not yet knowing what this facial is meant to achieve. That’s when he starts vigorously rubbing my neck up and down, right and left. He focuses on a specific area, a muscle I didn’t even know about until he starts massaging it, located right under my ears, going down towards the center of my neck. “These muscles are the most important ones of your face, he explains. They’re not just the ones that support your other facial muscles; they also play a big role in the aging of your neck. By stimulating them, I strengthen them; your muscles and skin will age much better.”

“So it’s a rejuvenating facial, isn’t it?

But I’m 24…” Before I can finish my sentence, Rabih explains that this facial works in two ways: it helps reduce wrinkles, but it also prevents wrinkles.

Just like the body, the face contains a certain number of muscles that, if not stimulated, will lack of tone and firmness, thus make you appear older.

I can feel him pinching and massaging areas of my face. After a dozen minutes spent on only my neck, he moves upward, dedicating a few minutes to each section. Using his fingers, he sometimes lifts my skin for a second and let’s it go back. It wasn’t really a pleasant moment. It reminded me of my first aerobics session after a year of being a couch potato. Not only does it hurt and makes me sweat, but my skin is actually itching. Now my cheeks are

‘LETTUCE OIL IS FULL OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS, SUCH AS IRON, CALCIUM OR PHOSPHORUS. WE USE IT IN FACIAL MASSAGES BECAUSE IT KEEPS THE SKIN SMOOTH AND PREVENTS IT FROM REDDENING’

itching too, and that must be a sign that the muscles are actively working.

When he gets to my eye zone, the tapping starts. With impressively quick movements, Rabih starts tapping my eye contour and my forehead with what feels like a hundred fingers.

Apparently, the tapping technique is used when there are no muscles– only skin. It increases the blood flow by stimulating the blood vessels, and gives the same result as the muscle massage: a younger, firmer, toned skin. As he finishes by applying both his hands on my face and slightly pressuring to “calm” the muscles after their effort, I am expecting to look really red and worry about the pictures, praying Odette and Fida won’t take pleasure using the worst looking photos.

I get up and take a quick look at the mirror. My face looks rested, as if I had just taken a nap. I can however still feel the effects of the facial massage, the presence of the hidden muscles, and some kind of energy flooding under my skin. The lettuce oil happens to be the greatest choice for such a massage, as even some redness I had before the treatment disappeared.

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mirrormirror WHAT RAGMAG LOVES ABOUT THE SOUL SPA

•The simplicity of the spa. There are no useless expenses, the place bears a minimalist setting and concept, and makes wellness affordable.

•The shoes cabinet. Not only is it much more hygienic, it also avoids having people walking in heels disturbing a yoga class or a treatment that needs focus. And let’s not forget the great feeling of walking barefoot.

•The friendly staff: they’re ready to tell you all about everything – the treatments, the classes, even the products they’re using.

RAGMAG’S FAVORITE SOUL SPA TREATMENTS

TRADITIONAL THAI MASSAGE

This is an oil-free form of massage practiced Eastern style on a floor mat.

Combining acupressure techniques with passive yoga stretches used to distress your entire body, this massage releases blocked energy pathways and stimulates internal organs.

Om Namah Shivaya Yourself Soul Spa Verdun Main Street, Iwan Maktabi Building, 6th floor Beirut, Lebanon | SEPTEMBER 2011 62 RAGMAG +961 1 353 286 | +961 3 843 749

HOT STONE MASSAGE

It’s a specialty massage that involves the application of water-heated basalt stones of varying sizes to key points on the body, giving a deep massage and creating sensations of comfort and warmth. The hot stones are thought to connect the flow or paths of energy together in order to rebalance the body and mind. Ideal for muscular pains, sprains and strains, anxiety and tension, as well as rheumatic and arthritic conditions.

REFLEXOLOGY

Reflexology is a science based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas in the feet and hands which correspond to all glands, organs, parts and systems of the body. By applying pressure using thumb, finger and hand techniques to these reflex areas, your therapist can reduce stress and tension headaches, as well as help relieving digestive disorders, menstrual disorders or insomnia

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AYURVEDIC

HEALING IN LEBANON THE PHYSICAL OHM AT EDDE SANDS

For the Ohm issue, we decided that the best place for you to feel the power of Ayurvedic healing was the Eddé Sands Tropical Spa resort since they were the first to bring the ancient practise to Lebanon.

2 LUCKY READERS CAN WIN EITHER THE ABHYANGAM MASSAGE OR THE FULL BODY MASSAGE THIS ISSUE. How can you win? By sending greetings our way of course!

Email letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com with the subject line, “Namaste RAGMAG!” or tweet us on Twitter @RAGMAGLebanon #Namaste

Get Ayurvedic!

Tropical Spa at Eddé Sands www.eddesands.com 09/54 6666 Ext 127 | 03/997688 tropicalspa@eddesands.com | SEPTEMBER 2011 64 RAGMAG Find them on Facebook

WHAT IS THE ABHYANGAM MASSAGE?

The person undergoing Abhyangam massage is seated on the Drone (a wooden bed specially made for the massage). Herbal oil is then applied on the person’s head and massaged gently. Oil is then applied on the body and the massage is continued onto the neck, ears, shoulders, chest and back. The person then lies on their back and the massage is continued from shoulder to toe. During the course of the massage the person turns onto his stomach and to his back again. General massage (Abhyangam) has been found very effective for improving eyesight, longevity, sound sleep, rheumatism, vitality and creates glowing skin. This massage is also a preventive medicine; in short it rejuvenates the body and maintains the physique. $85.00 Duration 45 Minutes followed by Steam 15 Minutes

RAGMAG’S STAR AYURVEDIC TREATMENTS

Pair one face and one body treatment for a full Ayurvedic experience to truly bring you some serenity and relaxation.

Mukha Abhayangam + Muka Lepam (Face Massage and Face Pack) Part 1 Mukhabhyangam Face Massage

Kaircin is used for the face. This oil nourishes, cleanses and beautifies the tissues bringing a smooth youthful glow to the complexion thus reducing wrinkles and fine lines.

Part 2 Muka Lepam Face pack

After the facial massage Kairali’s face pack is applied and can be left on until dry and washed off with water. This leaves the skin soft and glowing.

Duration 30 Minutes

Pizhichil Body Massage

A special massage to rejuvenate the whole being. The prescribed medicated oil is applied on the head and the entire body. During this treatment the patient lies on the Drone while a piece of linen dipped in warm medicated oil is squeezed onto the patient’s as the body is continuously massaged. The massage is done slowly with light pressure. This massage protects you from illnesses and improves your immune system adding vitality and health to your life.

It also reportedly aids in the healing of rheumatic diseases, blood pressure, pain in the joints and diabetes. $120.00 Duration 55 Minutes followed by Steam for 15 Minutes

emperor’s new clothes

LAPTOP BAG LEATHER 40 x 29 x 10 cm

We like the look of Miss É bags for fall/winter 2011.

Grab a clutch and hit the streets in style! From handbags to wallets, they’ve got it all. Travelling for work? Pick up our Editor’s choice- Laptop bags that dimensionally carry everything from PC to Mac! Speaking of Mac, we’re also liking the new iPad cases available in a range of shades!

WEEKENDER LEATHER 46 x 22 x 30 cm

YOU CAN EVEN TAKE HOME OUR FAVE FALL MISS E PIECE PICTURED BELOW- THE SLEEK MIDNIGHT BLACK CLUTCH DONE IN CALF LEATHER AND SATIN.

MIDNIGHT BLACK CLUTCH CALF LEATHER + SATIN

How do you win?

The first reader to email “Fall fashion is easy does it with Miss É!” to letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com or tweet us on Twitter @RAGMAGLebanon with the hashtag #MissÉFallFashion will be taking home the clutch that all our staff is pining for! Available in the É Yard at Eddé Sands, get your spa fix and shopping rush in the same place!

TOTE LEOPARD PRINT

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emperor’s new clothes

MIX N’ MATCH REAL RUNWAY MATTHEW WILLIAMSON FW 2011

66 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

OSCAR DE LA RENTA FW 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

Akillis Puzzle ring

Tubal Tote Sas and Bide Indian inspired top. Taten 466.000 LBP

Simple yet different, this Smartiz & Co cylindrical shaped bag is perfect for a meeting or even a trip.

GS 165.000 LBP

Lucy h. necklace available at Taten 212.000 LBP

DAVID KOMA SS 2011

The Pieces Puzzle Fit Akillis bracelet

Pair this Leenoy black dress with some cool sandals or black stilettoes and you nail the sexy professional look.

Depeche mode 488.000 LBP

OSCAR DE LA RENTA FW 2011

Be Beaded DAVID KOMA SS 2011

Hand-worked beaded sandals, Morgan, available at GS 89.000 LBP

Veste Bel Air studded stilettos, GS 443000 LBP

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Eye Shadows Calvin Klein sand shades

ERIN FETHERSTON RESORT 2012

Flirty, sexy and girly, this dress has it all! Maurizio Pecoraro available at Taten 1.674.000 LBP

Satya Roots of Passion ruby necklace 18” Ruby stone, gold plate over brass 147.000 LBP

ALEXIA ULIBARRI SS 2011

Secret Keeper Louis Vuitton keepall with luggage tag

Heads Up

Malalaba headband. Whether you’ve got short or long hair, go ahead and accessorize.

Taten 59.000 LBP

Check out this Sarah Wayne skirt we found at Depeche Mode, nice and simple 383.000 LBP

Showy Chemise Eyedoll pink baby doll Taten 825.000 LBP

Ankle Bracelet

Giuseppe Zanotti flower embellished stiletto

68 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

Camomilla pink plastic sandals available at Taten 243.000 LBP

MOSCHINO RESORT 2012

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ALEXANDER MCQUEEN RESORT 2011

Brioni bangles

Stack ‘Em Up Satya gold connected bangle cuff, gold vermeil over sterling silver 1152000 LBP

Calvin Klein silver shades PAUL SMITH FW 2011

GIANFRANCO FERRÉ SS 2011

Les Petites shirt GS 458.000 LBP

Red Alert Miss é clutch

Vest by Med 145.000 LBP shirt by med 59.000 LBP Both available at GS

Satchel Story Alexandre McQueen Wicca calf hair clutch 2.392.000 LBP

Basic Black Champagne Champs Calvin Klein Daria pump

70 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

Repetto shoes Depeche Mode 608.000 LBP

PAUL SMITH SS 2011

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emperor’s new clothes

GOLD MINI SANSKRIT OM NECKLACE GOLD PLATE OVER BRASS $68

PRACTISE SATYA BOTH IN + OUT OF THE YOGA STUDIO LOTUS, TREE OF LIFE, OM TRIPLE 36” STERLING SILVER $148

Satya Jewelry by Satya Scainetti and Beth Torstrick-Ward based out of New York City is one of the most successful yoga-related brands in the world. “Satya” translating loosely to truth in Sanskrit has many layers of meaning. Our Editor picked up a few Satya pieces overseas and thought they were the absolute perfect fit for our Ohm issue! This fall and throughout the holiday season, we’re thinking Satya’s silver and gold creations with semi precious stones are just right for both day and evening wear. Our favorite Satya pieces other than Ohm? The venerable Tree of Life, a symbol of “wisdom, protection, beauty, strength and continuous growth”, and the Lotus, which symbolizes, “renewal, transformation, and new beginnings”. You can even beat your own cliché: Wear your heart on your sleeve! “Satya Jewelry celebrates the adventures of lives lived fearlessly,” since 2002- We’re definitely up for that!

ANGELITE CHAIN TASSEL HOOPS ANGELITE STONE, GOLD PLATE OVER BRASS $118 SILVER OM PENDANT NECKLACE STERLING SILVER $88

GOLD MINI OM DISC EARRINGS GOLD PLATE OVER BRASS $42

Celebrate Your Own Satya Filled Life www.satyajewelry.com Find them on Facebook 72 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011 Follow them on Twitter @SatyaJewelry

SMOKEY TOPAZ, ANGELITE OM CLUSTER SMOKEY TOPAZ AND ANGELITE STONES, SOLID STERLING SILVER $98

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TRANSITIONAL

FIELDS OF LIGHT ASANAS BRING IT FORTH

Photography by ODETTE KAHWAGI | Lighting by CHRISTIAN HARB | Styled by JONY MATTA Makeup by NABIL MAKHOUL | Hair by ROGER GABRIEL Guest starring DANIELLE ABISAAB | AAED GHANEM | LEILA HASSEN | OLGA PAVLOVA | HIBA SAAB

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ADIDAS FITTED LEGGINGS | SHEER CHEMISE LALA ROSE AVAILABLE AT KULTE | ORANGE BANDO STYLIST’S OWN77 THE OHM ISSUE

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‘I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT CHANGING THE WORLD SPRINGS FROM THE WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE ONESELF.’

RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011 SPANDEX LEGGINGS

BY KAYDEE AVAILABLE AT KULTE 80

| KNOTTED TANK TOP BY CANCAN AVAILABLE AT KULTE

emperor’s new clothes

H(OM)E STUDIO | MAR MIKHAEL/ACHRAFIEH, KHANIGUIAN BLDG, 3RD FLOOR Email dani-yoga@hotmail.com Blogspot danielleabisaab.blog.com | Twitter @Archiyoga

| Yoga Alliance 200 RYT - ISHTA NYC 2002 Graduate | Over 400 hours in Continuing Education Credits |

| Vinyasa Pop + Rock (An inspired medley of various yoga methods – Jivamukti, Anusara, Ashtanga) | | Slow Flow Vinyasa |

In Danielle’s Own Words “Ahimsa is the

myself in interaction with others and invariably refine the quality of my thoughts and intentions.

I currently live in a part of the world engrossed in violence which prompts me to practice Ahimsa now more than ever. I strongly believe that changing the world springs from the willingness to change oneself. Practicing Ahimsa means I take responsibility for my own harmful behavior and attempt the very best I can to stop the harm inflicted by others. It is said that if one can perfect the practice of Ahimsa, learning other yoga practices becomes almost unnecessary, for it encompasses the discipline in its entirety. Ahimsa requires us to remember our connection to all of

first tenet of the yoga practice. Being an Architect I guess this is a Yama that resonates with me a great deal by default because it lays the foundational stone of the Yoga practice. What architect in their sound mind is not concerned first and foremost with the foundation on which the building will stand erect?

Ahimsa means ‘non violence’ in Sanskrit, referring not only to physical violence but also the mental one.

Words and actions directed toward others always take root in the mind with a budding thought. Ahimsa allows me to grow and expand way more than any Asana (physical posture) as it asks that I constantly be vigilant, observe

creation, it is the acme of bravery and is not possible without fearlessness.

Lastly, I have the Sanskrit symbol tattooed on my left inner wrist as a daily reminder not to harm anyone including myself. Work in progress!”

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Phone 03/029734 | Email om.ghanem@gmail.com | Facebook Aaed Ghanem

| 200 hours in Sivananda Yoga | | Over 500 hours in Bikram Yoga |

SATYA In Aaed’s Own Words “Sat means

truth, thus satya is truthfulness. It’s to acknowledge truth through both words and thoughts in accordance with the actions. It’s in conformity with prevailing truth as the standard source of reference that yogis adhere to. It’s a term of power due to its purity and has been taken through ages as the path towards ultimate truth, hence all the deeds, words and thoughts that lead to truth are The Truth.

Satya has a philosophical meaning and defined as that which is always right, free of distortion, that which is beyond time, space, and people. Why beyond people, too? Because human life is changing through its phases of birth, life, and death, thus it’s not

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| Sivananda Hatha Yoga | | Bikram Yoga |

Satya. Satya is not the physical form only, it’s the super intelligence and energy manifesting through this form of body-mind experiences, allowing us to evolve and learn to reach the unchanging pure state of Ultimate Truth.

There is also a common interpretation about Satya and that is pure Love. It’s more a metaphysical state rather than a synonym of action. It’s regarded as a higher order, a notion of higher knowledge in the big picture. It’s what one becomes aware of upon becoming a Bodhi or enlightened.

When speaking truth and acting in a correct way, one becomes closer to human nature - to the good that resides in the heart of every human

being, as we are born according to this natural law, and we will get the ultimate support from nature with whatever that we are doing.”

‘SATYA IS NOT THE PHYSICAL FORM ONLY, IT’S THE SUPER INTELLIGENCE AND ENERGY MANIFESTING THROUGH THIS FORM OF BODY-MIND EXPERIENCES’

‘WHEN SPEAKING TRUTH AND ACTING IN A CORRECT WAY, ONE BECOMES CLOSER TO HUMAN NATURE’

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IF YOU DO NOT LIKE BEING WHAT YOU ARE, YOU WON’T FIND ANY HAPPINESS IN LIFE EITHER. YOU HAVE TO BE CONTENTED WITH WHAT YOU DO, IF YOU HAVE DONE YOUR BEST RIGHT?”

RAGMAGFULL-LENGTH | SEPTEMBER LEGGINGS 2011 FLUORESCENT

BY KAYDEE AVAILABLE AT KULTE | ADIDAS SPORTS-BRA CUT TANK TOP 88

emperor’s new clothes

YAYA YOGA STUDIO | CORAL BUILDING FACING CORAL BEACH HOTEL IN JNAH Phone 03/711967 | Email yaya.yogastudio@gmail.com | Facebook Yaya yoga space group Blogspot wix.com/yayayogastudio/yayayogastudiobeirut | Twitter @laylati

| RYT 200 Ashtanga Vinyasa | | 100 Hour Yin Yoga |

| Ashtanga Vinyasa Flow | | Power Yoga | Yin Yoga |

In Leila’s Own Words “Santosha is the

absolutely to our liking. Everything in life is subject to change, that is a fact and ironically, our natural instinct is to desperately hold on to objects and situations- Sooner or later, we will have to let go of what we claim as ours. That attachment of things and of a specific state of mind causes nothing but negative emotions such as fear, jealousy, greed, anger, depression and insecurities. Santosha will only emerge when we give up those attachments.

If you do not like being what you are, you won’t find any happiness in life either. You have to be contented with what you do, if you have done your best right?”

second Niyama of the 5 observances in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali which refers to the satisfaction- one being content and satisfied with what one has, what one is, where one is, and with what one has done or what one is doing.

I believe Santosha to be one of the crucial ethical and spiritual practices one aims to achieve in his/her life. It is the ability to recognize that although it is important to try to better our environment and life situation through proper effort, the world around us is never going to be perfect and

‘I BELIEVE SANTOSHA TO BE ONE OF THE CRUCIAL ETHICAL AND SPIRITUAL PRACTICES ONE AIMS TO ACHIEVE IN HIS/ HER LIFE. IT IS THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALTHOUGH IT IS IMPORTANT TO TRY TO BETTER OUR ENVIRONMENT AND LIFE SITUATION THROUGH PROPER EFFORT, THE WORLD AROUND US IS NEVER GOING TO BE PERFECT AND ABSOLUTELY TO OUR LIKING.’

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| ADIDAS MID-LENGTH PANTS

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‘ALL THE YOGIC PHILOSOPHIES ARE CONNECTED: WHEN FOCUSING ON ONE, IT IS VERY NATURAL TO REALIZE ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE OTHERS. THIS IS THE POWER OF YOGA... IT IS THE PRACTICE OF UNIFICATION.’

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emperor’s new clothes

Phone 71/801049 | Email hebasaab@gmail.com | Facebook hibayoga | Hiba’s FREE Yoga Classes | Twitter @hibayoga

| 100 Hours Eclectic Yoga (Hatha/Bikram/ Vinyasa) E-RYT™ Lisa Marie Livigni | 200 Hours Hot Yoga/Vinyasa Fusion RYS® Core Power Yoga, CA | 200 Hours Power Yoga for Beginners RYS® Core Power Yoga, CA | 300 Hour Bridge Program Participant RYS® Yoga Works, CA |

| Eclectic Fusion Yoga (traditional Hatha Yoga incorporating the styles of Iyengar, Vinyasa, Forrest, Ashtanga, Power Yoga, Sculpt, Anusara, Hot Yoga, Bikram, Sivananda, Jivamukti, Yoga Works, and other types of yoga that I’ve been exposed to in my personal practice) | Pranayama, Energy Work + Meditation | Restorative Yoga (for students dealing with restrictions due to age, injury, surgery, and/or physical limitations) | Prenatal Yoga (for expectant mothers) | Kids Yoga (ages 4 and above) |

In Hiba’s Own Words “Svadhyaya translates literally to ‘self-study’. The amazing thing about Svadhyaya is that it is an inherent practice. At some point or another, every human being is faced with the contemplation of their existence. It is an intrinsic part of being alive, of being human, to ask the questions, ‘Who am I?’, ‘Who is it that lives inside this body?’, ‘Why was I born?’, ‘What happens when I die?’... Svadhyaya validates these innate questions and encourages us to seek their answers within ourselves.

To study the self, to truly understand and accept the nature of the self, is a step forward on the path to truly understanding and accepting others and the oneness of all things. All the yogic philosophies are connected: when focusing on one, it is very natural to realize its relationship to the others. This is the power of yoga...

It is the practice of unification. Yoga is a science, a practical method for achieving a life of bliss, for realizing and experiencing oneness.

The yoga practice has eight steps, which are called ‘limbs’ because they all intertwine like the limbs of a tree to create a path leading to an extraordinary life of bliss. Yama and Niyama are the first two of these eight limbs. These two paths deal with behavioural ethics, the ‘do’s and don’ts’, the principles of practice dealing with how a yogi can better serve themselves with discipline and

‘EACH INDIVIDUAL IS CAPABLE OF SVADHYAYA AND OF ACHIEVING ENLIGHTENMENT ON THEIR OWN BECAUSE WE ARE ALL CONNECTED TO THE SAME SOURCE OF WISDOM AND TRUTH.’

responsibility for their inner realm (Yama), and better serve the world around them (Niyama), with social responsibility. The mindfulness of the Yama and Niyama practices are, in turn, meant to be applied in conjunction with the other six limbs on the path of yoga, including Asana (physical practice), Pranayama (breath control), and the remaining three practices of meditation Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyana (focusing and concentration for mastery of the thinking mind), leading to the final limb Samadhi (bliss or oneness).

Practicing one, all, or any of the limbs on the yogic path, will, in time, surely lead to the others, which, in time, will surely lead to Samadhi. Each individual is capable of Svadhyaya and of achieving enlightenment on their own because we are all connected to the same source of wisdom and truth.”

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emperor’s new clothes

Phone 03/298755 | Email olga@yogalifebeirut.com | Blogspot yogawitholga.wordpress.com Facebook Olga Pavlova | Yogawitholga | Wellness Yoga Holidays | Website www.yogalifebeirut.com

| RYT 500 hours Sivananda Yoga | 500 hours Ashtanga (Advanced Training including Yin, Restorative + Women’s Yoga) |

| Sivananda Hatha Yoga | Ashtanga | Vinyasa | Yin Yoga | Restorative Yoga | | Private Custom Classes | Pranayama(Breathing) | Rehabilitation | | Restorative Workshops | Yoga/Ayurveda/Detox Retreats | | Practitioner of Ayurveda + Panchakarma Holistic Massage Therapist |

APARIGRAHA In Olga’s Own Words “Fifth of the Yamas is Aparigraha, which has been translated as ‘non-hoarding’, ‘nonpossessiveness’ , ‘non-attachment’, letting go of desires. Of all the Yamas, this is the one, which if practiced, would have perhaps the most profound effect on our consumer materialistic society. Does this really mean we should give everything away, walk the streets begging in rags? The practice Aparigraha does not require that we get rid of all our possessions, just our attachments to them – the idea that a car, or a phone, or a pair of jeans can make us happy. In getting rid of these attachments, we’re able to see clearly what it is that we truly need, and so get rid of anything that we don’t need, the stuff that just weighs us down. This is only one most

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common aspect of Aparigraha, and on the material side personally I get this Yama quite easily. But it’s not just material objects that Aparigraha refers to, it is about anything that we hold on to, act possessively toward or hoard. It is so much more difficult to let go of ideas, beliefs, people, places or even the past. Practicing Apargrana in this aspect for me was a very big challenge and a very profound personal experience, which truly gave me so much freedom and spaciousness in my life.

I’m sure if we all could live in such a way that we were non-possessive, non-accumulative and non-hoarding… it would totally shift our relationship not only to material things, but also the Earth, ideas, our ego-identity and surely to one another.

Sanskrit writing of this Sutra from Patanjali Yoga Sutras: aparigrahasthairye janmakathamtasambodhah - Yoga Sutra II.39 One who is not greedy is secure.

He has time to think deeply. His understanding of himself is complete.”

‘THE PRACTICE APARIGRAHA DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT WE GET RID OF ALL OUR POSSESSIONS, JUST OUR ATTACHMENTS TO THEM – THE IDEA THAT A CAR, OR A PHONE, OR A PAIR OF JEANS CAN MAKE US HAPPY.’

OF ALL THE YAMAS, THIS [APARIGRAHA] IS THE ONE, WHICH IF PRACTICED, WOULD HAVE PERHAPS THE MOST PROFOUND EFFECT ON OUR CONSUMER MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY.’

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you + your country

FINDING

CREATIVE SPACE

BY IMOGEN KIMBER

WITH THE CREATIVE SPACE SARA HERMEZ WANTED TO “CREATE DESIGNERS NOT CLOTHES” AND IT SEEMED SHE HAD MADE GOOD ON HER PROMISE PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

A

bsolutely stunned was my reaction when I walked into The Creative Space in the beautiful Cafe Em Nazih, Gemmayzeh. Six young women with next to no experience in fashion design, along with guidance from Sara Hermez, had created an exhibition resembling that of a fashion graduates’.

With The Creative Space Sara Hermez wanted to “Create designers not clothes” and it seemed she had made good on her promise.

THE THEME ADOPTED FOR THE COURSE WAS MODERN VERSUS TRADITIONAL

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YOUR OWN DESIGN The 6 week course for the young students began by delving into the minds of the fresh fashion students.

Hermez made the young women create mood boards with ripped pictures from magazines to represent what made them happy. The exercise was as much about Hermez getting to know the students as it was the students gathering their thoughts and establishing their passions.

As the course was to offer the opportunity for young people to become designers and not merely make a few dresses they began with an instruction on the basics of sewing. Hermez’ philosophy,

which she took from her own tutor Caroline Shlala-Simonelli, was that to break the rules you have to learn them. You can see, even in the most flamboyant of dresses, the strong structure beneath; on top of this the young designers could build their own shape.

The theme adopted for the course was modern versus traditional, something that is resonant with the theme, or aims, of the entire course. The designers were asked to explore what Lebanon means to them through this lens, think about their own lives in this context, and reflect it in the clothes they made.

There are two pieces of essential information about the five students who were selected to take part on the course. One was that if it not for this course providing this free education they would not otherwise have been able to go on to study fashion.

“The students all have passion and desire and talent but they have no resources,” said Hermez. The second was that the students all came from a mixture of backgrounds. There were three Palestinian students and three Lebanese, one of whom was Armenian.

The students themselves said they found it quite astonishing to realize the realities that people living so close to them faced, particularly the reality of living in a Palestinian refugee camp.

TO MAKE A DRESS IMPRESS There are several factors that move a dress from off-the-peg into the realms of haute couture. The quality of the material is one of them. In this case the young students were lucky enough to have their material donated by a New York design house and sourced in Italy. Of course inspiration is another factor and these girls certainly had it. A few of the dresses had a familiar ball gown feel or had adopted a certain look from an era, such as the 1930s, but they were all completely originals.

One couldn’t help notice a particular dress which was just a sight to behold, lashings of material made it elegant, the short size made it sexy and the hand painting on the material made it extremely funky. The hosts saw me fawning over it and agreed it was something special particularly because it was created by the youngest in the group at only 16 years old.

Hermez herself has got about a bit, studying at Parsons the New School for Design in New York, taking an internship in Dharmshala in the Himalaya with Tibetan refugees and also in Cambodia. It was the latter that Hermez attributes to her desire not just to create artistically but to also create change. “It radically changed the way I saw the world,” she passionately explained.

After a summer in Lebanon (Lebanese in origin, Sara grew up in Kuwait) on her return to New York Sara discussed her desire to contribute more than just clothes to the world with her tutor, the renowned Caroline ShlalaSimonelli. Hermez wanted to merge her two passions; fashion design and humanitarian work. Simonelli suggested that Hermez found her own fashion school and from this The Creative Space was born. Also of Lebanese origin Simonelli was interested to take part in a project in Beirut. “I had a free education, so why shouldn’t other people,” she stated.

The ‘space’ in ‘The Creative Space’ is essential to what Hermez wanted to offer; both a fully equipped physical space and a mental space.

“It was to be open and creative with no boundaries,” said Hermez. She even sees fashion design as offering some kind of therapy through the creative process and the opportunity for self expression. Both Hermez and Simonelli projected the idea that “when you give kids space and creativity this is what they return,” as Simnoelli put it, “When they allow you to go on a creative vibration with them, it is incredible.”

It really does just come down to people finding the right ‘space’

If you want to contribute to The Creative Space they have suggested a number of ways in which you can do this • Help them find more space, physically, for rent • Assist them with supplies for sewing, including mannequins • Suggest transportation methods for the students • Contribute to salaries and costs Contact Sara Hermez on thecreativespace@gmail.com or see www.thecreativespacebeirut.com

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emperor’s new clothes THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN PHOTOGRAPHED BY NICK KNIGHT, MCQUEEN AND ISABELLE BLOW.

OPPOSITE PAGE: THE HORN OF PLENTY, FW 2009 Photography by Sølve Sundsbø courtesy of Alexander McQueen and the Metropolitan Museum of Art

THE DARK ROMANTIC REALM OF ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

BY ALICE HLIDKOVA

W

hen British fashion designer and couturier Lee Alexander McQueen hung himself in February 2010, days before London Fashion Week, family and friends dressed in his designs to the funeral.

For most iconoclastic designers, fame flourished after decades of hard apprentice and new contributions to the fashion world, but for McQueen it came sooner with his raw introduction of the romantic sublime when he created his own fashion label.

Romanticism for McQueen, aroused an exploration of nature’s philosophical concept of the sublime.

A representation of his emotional state such as awe and wonder, fear and terror. For fifteen years, in supreme degree, his runway shows elicited feelings to what he associated with the sublime: Tempestuous seas and twisting winds, starry skies and rugged

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mountains, melting icecaps and rolling waterfalls. His show concepts —rare, avant-garde, beautiful— preceded his designs. Beyond that, he explored historical romantic movements: gothic, nationalism, exorcism, primitivism and naturalism to further animate inspiration. As a romantic, imprisoned in two previous eras, McQueen constantly demanded reactions to his visions.

It was in 1992, when international style icon Isabella Blow bought McQueen’s first collection; his master degree graduation. Immediately, his “mutated jackets” —business suit jackets with organic patterns, raised shoulder padding, rounded dropped necklines— provoked her tastes. Supportive of his tailored mastery, she helped launch his career first as an apprenticed tailor. His clientele included Prince of Whales and Soviet statesman Mikhail Gorbachev.

As a skilled master of optical illusion, McQueen launched the “bumpster” collection shortly thereafter. He cut trousers alarmingly low at the back to reveal the buttocks, an area he found most attractive. Surprisingly, a tour guide at “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” exhibition at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, believed he got the idea from plumbers bending under sinks to fix pipe leakage.

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ABOVE: IRERE, SS 2003 Photography by Sølve Sundsbø courtesy of Alexander McQueen and the Metropolitan Museum of Art

THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: “BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE”, MCQUEEN AND ISABELLE BLOW PHOTOGRAPHED BY DAVID LACHAPELLE, MCQUEEN AND SARAH JESSICA PARKER

McQueen referenced Gothic novels, serial killer Jack the Ripper, and everyday prostitutes in his early career. “One of his mother’s ancestors owned an inn, wherein Ripper’s victim once lived,” another tour guide told me. Some suits had amulets of hair attached to waist bands. He got the idea from prostitutes who cut their hair, placed their locks in glass amulets, and gave them to their lovers.

Eventually, he fully explored the Victorian gothic era by drawing references to the deeply melancholic writings of Edgar Allan Poe, black crow and raven film imagery of Alfred Hitchcock, and dark, quirky-themed animations of Tim Burton. In Dante (fall/winter 1996-7) and Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (autumn/winter 2002-3), McQueen incorporated resin casts of vultures, dried black duck feathers and black silk to give his designs a sadistic and Frankensteinian feel. As a result his creations looked like theatrical costumes; Phantom of the Opera, Zorro, and the Three Musketeers.

In this period, McQueen was accused of masochism for his use of fetish, to which he responded: “I think there has to be an underlying sexuality. There has to be pervasiveness in cloths… there is a hidden agenda in fragility of romance. It’s like the ‘Story of O’ [a French-authored book on sodomy]. I’m not big on women looking naïve. There has to be a sinister aspect…” Again, his message was as such: melancholy and mourning, not aggression against women.

In fact, women became his closest allies. His collaborators were mostly women and his friends included supermodel Naomi Campbell and Sex and the City actress Sarah Jessica Parker. McQueen had many heroines, historical figures: Empress of Russia, Catherine the Great; national heroine of France, Joan of Arc; Queen of France, Marie Antoinette; and Virgin Queen of England and Ireland, Elizabeth I. All were strong and rebellious, like McQueen.

McQueen, of French and Scottish descent, was raised a proper Englishman in East London. Openly gay, he was always sensitive to heritage and culture, race and class. He clung to his French mother, Joyce, who died nine days prior to his suicide.

His father, a Scottish taxi driver, provided his son with the foundation of national Scottish pride. Throughout his career, McQueen was unsuccessful at separating fashion from politics, inviting much disapproval in fashion circles.

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TOP TO BOTTOM: THE WIDOWS OF CULLODEN, FW 2006, VOSS, SS 2001

Consequently, his penchant for romantic nationalism was woven and patterns of negative attitudes towards England and sympathy for Scotland, took shape in his most recent work.

Widows of Culloden (autumn/winter 2006-7). Reminding his audience of their nation’s “rape” of Scotland in the 1745 massacre of the Scottish Jacobites.

In Highland Rape (autumn/winter 1995), which greatly pushed his career, he featured battered models in torn Scottish print to make his nationalism clear. “Shorn of its original rawness and anger, the result was a poetic and technically accomplished tale that involved romantic images of Scottish fantasy heroines…,” reported online magazine Style.com. Ironically, he once showed up with Sarah Jessica Parker in Scottish prints for the museum’s AngloMania event.

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In contrast, The Girl Who Lived in the Tree (autumn/winter 2008-9) captivated a hail-Britannia motif rendered in tulle, embroidery and fur. Based upon a fairytale inspired by McQueen’s 600 yearold elm tree in his East Essex garden, McQueen used the metaphor of a girl coming out of the dark tree to meet a prince and become a queen, to portray the mourning of Queen Elizabeth II. Heavily injected with irony, he featured Victorian Goth ballerinas in muted punk plaids.

Delving into romantic exorcism McQueen focused on the politics of appearance, questioning the fashion world’s portrayal of beauty. In Spring 2001, McQueen made a bold move: he seated his audience around a mirrored box. They weren’t able to see inside, only to watch their own reflections.

Voss intended to produce an intense and paranoid self-consciousness. Once the cube was lit, models in bandages, straitjackets and kimonos, head-banged as though trying to escape a psych ward holding cell.

This climatic performance was replicated at the exhibition where a video filmed a shattering cube, uncovering a plump model reclined on a couch. The model, fetish writer Michelle Olley, had her face covered and wore a breathing tube. According to a guide, it had another meaning: pitting East (Japan) against West (America), inspired by the struggle of good versus evil in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Sarah Burton, the current Creative Director of Alexander McQueen, spoke with Vogue about the late designer’s red dress featured in Voss, before the exhibition’s opening. “So much of this show was about the collective madness of the world… Lee wanted the top of this dress to be made from surgical slides used for hospital specimens, which we found in a medical-supply shop on Wigmore Street. Then we hand-painted them red, drilled holes in each one, and sewed them on so they looked like paillettes. We hand-painted white ostrich feathers and dip-dyed each one to layer in the skirt.” What Burton described was the designer’s spontaneous creative process. He never finished one of the sleeves.

ABOVE: VOSS, SS 2001 Photography by Sølve Sundsbø courtesy of Alexander McQueen and the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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ABOVE: MCQUEEN’S FINAL COLLECTION: ANGELS AND DEMONS, FW 2010 Photography by Sølve Sundsbø Courtesy of Alexander McQueen and the Metropolitan Museum of Art OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, ANGELS AND DEMONS COLLECTION, ‘IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE’ FW 1997

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emperor’s new clothes

McQueen further championed authority of imagination and freedom of thought.

His most eccentric pieces are featured in his “cabinets of curiosities” displayed at the Met. They include Philip Tracey’s and Guido Palau’s headpieces; fabric butterflies, wooden birds and cork Chinese gardens. Inflamed by art and fashion history, McQueen created metal spine corsets, resin horns and body suits made of leather and horse hair.

Also on display, are video selections of his runway shows: emotionally passiveaggressive, methodically unorthodox, and stylistically radical. He painted sad joker faces on models and fastened skeletons to their knees, brought carousels and industrial machines on stage, built fires and checkerboard sets (referencing the Sorcerer’s Stone again, using his imagination to set himself free.

Importantly, McQueen often glorified the state of nature during his primitive phase. African tribes, dress rituals and Yoruba mythology served as themes for It’s a Jungle Out There (autumn/ winter 1997-8) His wildlife fashion was dubbed “silhouettes of the decade.”

McQueen transformed the silhouette, saying, “To change the silhouette is to change the thinking of how we look.” Irene (spring/summer 2003) told stories of shipwrecks, pirates and conquistadors. He explored the history of tribalism in Nihilism (spring/summer 1994), witnessing “noble savages living in harmony with natural world.”

Romanticizing the terrifying, big and overwhelming power of nature, brought McQueen closer to naturalism.

Rather than exploring Charles Darwin’s “Evolution of Species,” he focused on humankind’s devolution for Plato’s Atlantis (spring/summer 2010). As extraterrestrials, models wore heels styled into beehives. Dreams and personal fears invigorated his visions, often impractical when translated into design. As an experienced diver, he witnessed the negative impacts of climate change on our planet and its oceans. The show, streamed live on the web, also intended to demonstrate “time compressions produced by the

internet,” said McQueen, and create a conversation between creator and consumer.

How deep McQueen examined nature and analyzed dark facets of the romantic movement, can arguably be summarized in Angels and Demons— the show he never finished. A month after his death, the small show privately premiered for a small group of designers in Paris. His designs, shaped by the asceticism of Flemish art in 15th century Netherlands, were concealed in a gilded casket. He used imagery; annunciations of angels and the Virgin Mary, painted on alter pieces to prompt his collection—including the infamous gilded duck-feathered jacket. He also exercised fashion manufacturing: transcribing photography on fabric, to enliven a new style.

Today, the darkly glorious designs of McQueen, leave many with the uneasy pleasure of his artistic expression.

McQueen, his own biggest critic, impresses with a sense of grandeur and power, the way painter Tudor did in his paintings of the rolling swell of highseas.

Though drowning in his own storm, the romantic continues to take us on journeys we’ve never dreamed of, forever stretching our imagination

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MAGAZINE

GET TO KNOW YOUR WATERFRONT with

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

‘I HAVE BEEN APPROACHED BY MANY ENTREPRENEURS AND MANY PROJECTS BUT I JUST DIDN’T WANT A SECOND BOUTIQUE. THEN CAME ZAITUNAY BAY. ACTUALLY, THEY DIDN’T COME; I’M THE ONE WHO KNOCKED ON THEIR DOOR’

What Maison Selim Mouzannar Who Selim Mouzannar Know More www.selimmouzannar.com Find it on Facebook “Zaitunay Bay is my heartthrob. I liked its location, I liked the project even more; I just embarked on the adventure. You know, we need to know when to follow our emotions, even in business.” That’s what jewelry designer Selim Mouzannar has to say about him opening the branch of his brand in Lebanon’s new waterside destination. Having moved back to his native country more than 10 years ago, he never even considered opening a new boutique before Zaitunay Bay, “I have been approached by many entrepreneurs and many projects but I just didn’t want a second boutique.

Then came Zaitunay Bay. Actually, they didn’t come; I’m the one who knocked on their door,” he says honestly.

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Mouzannar considers the Zaitunay Bay one of the best projects the city has hosted. To him it represents Beirut, with its openness to the world, being on the edge between sea and land.

Just like his jewelry collection ‘Beirut’, it pays a tribute to our [lineage], our culture. He loves Beirut for her open wounds and her incredible positive energy. This is why he’s doing it; for the fun and the pleasure of it- “I just want to bring life and joy to Zaitunay Bay. You know, when you only consider the financial perspective of things, you can no longer afford being poetic. I’m not even sure I’m going to make money by opening a boutique in Zaitunay Bay. Let’s be realistic: I’m not going to get richer just by being

there. But the enrichment I will get from the place, that’s what I’m looking for.

And I hope they also benefit from my presence.”

GET TO KNOW with

YOUR WATERFRONT

What East and East Who Nada Debs Know More www.nadadebs.com Find it on Facebook + Twitter @nadadebs To Nada Debs, whose work revolves around the idea of preserving one’s cultural roots while forging the identity of the “Modern Arab”, Zaitunay Bay represents our culture to its very core.

“It has responded to our cultural needs, to what speaks to us the mosteating and socializing. I would like to see more projects that bring people together by enhancing our cultural and social heritage.”

‘IT HAS RESPONDED TO OUR CULTURAL NEEDS, TO WHAT SPEAKS TO US THE MOST- EATING AND SOCIALIZING’

BEING ONE OF THE VERY FEW RETAIL SHOPS TO OPEN IN ZAITUNAY BAY, NADA DEBS’ PRESENCE IN THE AREA “WOULD SEND THE MESSAGE THAT [IT IS] A STRONG LEBANESE BRAND.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON ZAMORA

“The uniqueness of the Zaitunay Bay project is very exciting. I am more than happy to be part of this concept,” says Nada Debs, founder of the “modern arabesque” East and East line of home furnishings. Nada Debs will be opening her new branch in Zaitunay Bay and adding a little something to her collection to fit the seaside project: designing objects for the yachting world. Being one of the very few retail shops to open in Zaitunay Bay, Nada Deb’s presence in the area “would send the message that [it is] a strong Lebanese brand.”

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CHECK

BY JACQUES TCHABARIAN

Seven Rainbows ALICE GOLD One quick look at the colours on Alice Gold’s debut album cover (or the album’s name for that matter) can give you a pretty good idea of what kind of atmosphere the London based blonde vixen deals in music wise. After a few seconds of the opening track, your conjecture is confirmed. Armed with Patti Smith’s rebel spirit, Janice Joplin’s powerful voice and the melodies of all the luminaries of the 60s and 70s, Gold chose to put out a hippie tinged record when most of her contemporaries opt for the

more money-making friendly sounds of the new millennia, all of it recorded only in a mere three weeks time. If you are nostalgic for the Free Love era, just take a listen to the acid folk of Jefferson Airplane in “Sadness Is Coming”, the Blues Rock riffs of Led Zepplin in “Orbiter” or even to obscure 70s French artist Noelle Cortier’s influenced “Runaway Love”.

Woodstock generation, the torch is still blazing, and the name of that torch is Alice Gold.

Time of My Life 3 DOORS DOWN Credit must be given to 3 Doors Down for trying to do things a little differently this time around, after 4 platinum albums that followed pretty much the same formula all the way. Yes, they could’ve continued down the same road where fans would’ve not minded the same songs being rewritten over and over again with minimal diversity or ingenuity. In comes Mr. Howard Benson to the rescue, known for producing heavier acts like Papa Roach or P.O.D., where heavy guitar riffs

are masters of the ring and all other instruments flow around it. Recorded between L.A. and Tokyo, Time of My Life tries desperately to shake the middle age that the band is currently passing through, masked by loud guitars and pumped up bass lines, but to no avail. The new sound doesn’t really fit and add to that a remarkable lack of hooks and catchy melodies, making songs like “On the Run” or “Racing for the Sun” almost memorable but with that special kick lost somewhere in the mix. Better luck next time.

Hell: The Sequel BAD MEETS EVIL Don’t get spooked by the album title people, no devil or other minion will pop up and drag your soul to hell while listening to this record. Bad Meets Evil is a Hip-Hop collaboration between Eminem and Royce Da 5’9’’ which began more than 15 years ago but came to a halt after both artists parted ways due to differences. All seems water under the bridge though for now as the dynamic duo have returned in form with a Hip-Hop album filled with Detroit sounds and echoes from the old school.

The combination of Royce’s hard hitting attitude

and Eminem’s witty gross humor (taking a swing at none other then Lady Gaga herself) makes the album charged with energy and pomp, with the only exception of “Lighters”, sung by Bruno Mars, which is a huge hit as we speak on the airways, but has little to do with the spirit of the rest of the album. Bad Meets Evil (taken from a title track from the Slim Shady LP on which both collaborated) is living proof that old school Hip Hop is still around and people don’t seem too displeased with it.

Wicked Will THE ETTES What do you get when you mix The Stooges and The Stones with Nancy Sinatra? You get the unique Garage Rock sound of the Ettes’s fourth album “Wicked Will”. And wicked it is, folks. It all starts with an acoustic ballad opener in the form of “Teeth” which gives validation to the term calm before the storm since everything that follows is a whirlwind assault of reverb guitars and fat bass lines courtesy of Lindsay “Coco” Hames and Jeremy “Jem” Cohen.

The band seems eager to take on the world, with

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enough energy and power to propel an intergalactic rocket into the unknown universe. This energy is felt in the fast rockers such as “Don’t Bring Me Down” as well as the few slower tunes like “You Never Say” while Hames’ vocals (in addition to her guitar duties) alternate between an angelic voice and a venomous spit which fits perfectly the songs and mood of the album. Add to that a top notch production and you end up with one of the year’s most fascinating releases. Definitely worth the investment.

and Bossypants

Tina Fey

weep read’em

BY AMAL CHAABAN

Why you should read this book

The best humour has reality woven through it

SNL alumni and 30 Rock creator Tina Fey has penned the funniest autobiography in years. No stranger to sharp wit interspersed with reality, she has written about her life as though it is one big comedy skit.

Inserted with all of the memories and the comedy are some very astute observations about the state of society today. Nothing is safe– politics is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to her commentary. Fey

discusses the trend of over-parenting with a weary tone and the even uglier trend of sexist coverage of female politicians with a bit of acid attached to her wit. Her memories of childhood and adolescence are treated as ruthlessly as her retelling of how she came to be known as “that woman” for imitating Sarah Palin. This book is funny, sly, and a great read for fans or people who enjoy pointed doses of reality.

Poser: My Life in 23 Yoga Poses

Claire Dederer

Why you should read this book Yoga is a journey, not just an exercise

Book Critic Claire Dederer started practising yoga with a great deal of scepticism and trepidation. Recommended to her by several people for back issues, but what no one told her was that as she progressed further as a student of various kinds of yoga, she would come to look at it as more than just a form of exercise. It became her escape, her therapist, her goal and her joy. Chronicling the journey of her life through asanas (the Sanskrit

name for yoga poses), Dederer shares memories, experiences and sometimes very painful lessons. The beauty of the book lies in how she is able to tie in a specific pose to what she is feeling, what she discovers about herself or the memory it calls to mind. This book is ample proof that yoga is a journey of learning about yourself and the people around you. All around a great read for yogis and non-yogis alike.

Among the Truthers

Jonathan Kay

Why you should read this book

Every great conspiracy has a thread of truth

To live in the world of the conspiracy theorist is to live in a world where a single reality has so great and so convincing a fiction built around it, it seems like fact. National Post reporter Jonathan Kay delves deep into the world of the so-called 9/11 Truthers, the Obama Birthers, the UFO junkies and those who believe that the world is controlled by shadowy cabals of power players bent on controlling not just money, but humanity itself. This book should be a work of

fiction because some of the theories strewn through it are so fantastic, unfortunately, as the author shows us all too often, people really live in these alternate realities.

Detailing conspiracy theories as far back as 1755, Kay finds a common thread leading through all of them regardless of type. That thread? Control. It is highly recommended that you keep a clear head and pen and paper near you to keep track of the dizzying array of theories you will find in this book.

Fly Away Home

Jennifer Weiner Why you should read this book Home is where the heart is

Confronting adultery is bad enough but confronting it in the glare of the media spotlight? Clearly one of the 9 circles of hell. Though Fly Away Home is a work of fiction, it cleaves closely to political families whose families are cast into turmoil. Where it differs? There is no Tammy Wynette crooning, “Stand by your man” here. A media frenzy ensues when a senator is found to have had an affair with one of his aides. Facing the

monster of all political marriage clichés, his wife leaves to her family home. Meanwhile, his 2 daughters, one an addict and one a doctor (with a secret of her own) are facing their own music. Weiner knits an eloquent tale of family, crisis and rebirth in this novel. None of the characters are the kind you fall head over heels in love with, perhaps that is why the reader will like this book all the more- human realism at its best.

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see, speak, +hear no evil

playNICE

BY ADAM VOLK

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

Publisher Microsoft Studios | Developer Fuelcell Games/Gagne International Platforms Xbox LIVE Arcade Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet might sound like a mouthful of a title, but it also happens to be an incredibly accurate description of one of the summer’s best downloadable games. A side-scrolling shooter designed by Fuelcell games and famed FrenchCanadian animator Michel Gagné, ITSP blends intriguing pop art visuals with a familiar retro style of gameplay. Players take on the role of a lone flying saucer on a planet which is invaded by bizarre creatures made entirely of shadow. Your goal is then to explore and battle your way through a variety

of environments and enemies. Fortunately, you can equip your plucky spacecraft with a series of weapons and tools, with everything from a laser cannon and force field to a retractable claw. The game is clearly heavily influenced by the popular Metroid series, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing given that the tried-and-true formula still works perfectly. The end result is a game that mixes old school arcade action with a quirky, animation-infused art style that more than lives up to its tongue twisting title.

Catherine

Publisher Atlus/Deep Silver | Developer Atlus Persona Team Platforms Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 Don’t let Catherine’s cheesecake anime cover fool you: this is a game that’s far more sophisticated than it first appears. Ostensibly, Catherine is a horror survival and puzzle game, but at its core it’s really more about exploring what it means to be in a relationship – not exactly a common topic for a video game. Players take on the role of Vincent, a neurotic IT employee who spends his evenings at a local bar getting drunk while also juggling a relationship with his long time girlfriend Katherine (that’s with a K). But after he ends up having a

one-night stand with a blonde bombshell named Catherine (that’s with a C) Vincent is soon plagued by a series of bizarre, guilt-induced nightmares. It’s these nightmares that form part of the gameplay, with Vincent forced to climb and manipulate a series of block tower puzzles, while during his waking hours he struggles to pick up the all-too real pieces of his life. Forget everything you know about video games - it’s not hyperbole to say that Catherine is one of the strangest and most original video games of all time.

Deus Ex: Human Revolu-

Publisher Square Enix | Developer Eidos Montreal | Platforms PS 3, Xbox 360 As the prequel to 2000’s ground breaking actionrole playing game, Deus Ex: Human Revolution transports players to the year 2027 and puts them in control of Adam Jensen, a security officer working in a high-tech cybernetics research facility who becomes embroiled in a deadly international conspiracy. As a combination of action and RPG elements, the game is based on a fluid design principle, with players able to tailor their style of play to almost any scenario.

For example, if a player needs to infiltrate a secure

building, they can choose to either go in guns blazing, use stealth to sneak in, hack their way in using a variety of high-tech gadgets, explore the area to gather more information, or converse with local characters in order to enlist their aid. With a gripping futuristic storyline, incredibly immersive gameplay and razor sharp cyberpunk visuals, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is not only a return to form for the legendary series, but may just be in the running for one of the best action-RPGs of all time.

Madden 12

Publisher EA Sports | Developer EA Tiburon | Platforms Xbox 360, PS 3, Wii Yup, it’s that time again. One of video game’s most popular franchises is back with yet another annual instalment. If you love both American-style football and the Madden series in general, there’s plenty to keep you satisfied, with the game adding a few new improvements, including expanded rosters in the preseason and the ability to trade players for future draft picks. EA has also thrown in 25 new plays to keep arm chair quarterbacks satisfied, as well as new online options for multiplayer competition.

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Unfortunately, if you’re a noobie to either American football or the franchise, Madden 12 isn’t really the best jumping on point, with the game primarily catering to its hardcore fan base. That being said, the interface has been significantly simplified and some of the game modes have been streamlined or given a few much needed tweaks.

Madden 12 is really a no-brainer. If you’re a fan of either the NFL or the series, you’ll likely be doing a touchdown dance of joy at the return of one of gaming’s most beloved sports titles.

see, speak, +hear no evil

watchout

BY ADAM VOLK

Release dates based on amazon.co.uk

Thor | DVD & Blu-ray

| 114 mins Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins Release Date: September 26 These days it seems that every two-bit super hero with a cape and a pair of spandex tights has their own movie. Fortunately, Thor manages to avoid becoming a comic book cliché, instead delivering the goods as a brainless yet incredibly fun super powered romp. Directed by Kenneth Branagh and based on the popular Marvel comic book series, the film follows the adventures of the titular God of Thunder (played by a bulked-up Chris Hemsworth), an arrogant, hammer-wielding hero living in the mythical realm of Asgard. Unfortunately, Thor’s jerk-

hole brother Loki ends up framing him for treason, and our hero is soon banished to Earth by his father Odin (a one-eyed Anthony Hopkins). Reduced to the status of a mere mortal, Thor soon falls for a local astrophysicist (played by Natalie Portman) and must use his abs of steel to win the girl of his dreams and reclaim his rightful place among the gods. As a film, Thor is riddled with cheesy-one liners and fancy schmancy 3D special effects, and yet beneath its glossy Hollywood veneer there’s also a surprising amount of humour, heart and yes, giant hammers.

How to Make It in America: Season 1 | DVD & Blu-ray

| 28 mins per episode x 8

Bryan Greenberg, Victor Rasuk, Lake Bell Release Date: September 19

This year marks the final season of HBO’s douchetastic bromantic comedy series Entourage. And while some will lament its passing, others may enjoy its quirky, less-obnoxious cousin, How to Make It in America. The series follows Ben and Cam, two best friends living in New York City and eking out a living through a series of dead end retail jobs and low level street hustles. But when they decide to start their own indie fashion label, they’re soon taking a shot at the American dream, while struggling to pay the rent

and avoid a bevy of seedy criminal characters. The show clearly wears its Entourage influences on its designer jacket sleeves, yet unlike the aforementioned series, How to Make It in America’s downon-their-luck protagonists are relatable and likable.

As an exploration of both the fashion industry and an underdog rags-to-riches story, the show is smart, funny and dripping with New York style, offering a glimpse into the Big Apple’s hipster-infested fashionista underbelly.

Incendies | DVD & Blu-ray

| 131 mins Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette Release Date: September 12 Based on the play by Lebanese-born dramatist Wajdi Mouawad, the Academy Award nominated Incendies is a powerful film which explores the deep roots of family and the soul-shattering impact of war. The film follows two twins, Janine and Simon, both of whom are living a seemingly idyllic existence in modern day Montreal. But when their mother, Nawal, passes away, the two siblings receive a mysterious letter informing them that they may have a brother who still alive in the Middle East. The twins set out across the globe on a journey to uncover the dark secrets

of their mother’s past and the family they never knew.

The film then alternates between Janine and Simon’s journey through a strange land, while also interspersed with flashbacks from Nawal’s troubled life in a country beset by hardships and war – with both stories culminating in a shocking ending that is both disturbing and poetically fitting. With impressive performances, impeccable cinematography and a gripping narrative, Incendies is a work of cinematic art that explores humanity’s ability to express both unfathomable hatred and unconditional love.

Win Win | DVD & Blu-ray

| 106 mins Paul Giamatti, Alex Shaffer, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale Release Date: September 19 Whoever believes the old saying: It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game, was probably never involved in the pin-or-be-pinned world of high school wrestling – a sport, which incidentally, is central to premise behind the quirky indie dramatic-comedy Win Win. In the film, Paul Giamatti plays Mike, a lawyer and family man struggling to stay financially afloat in small town New Jersey.

In between taking on a series of low level cases, Mike spends his off hours coaching the local high school’s pathetically unimpressive wrestling team.

But when Mike stumbles across a troubled teen named Kyle (played to perfection by newcomer Alex Shaffer), he thinks he’s found the chance to finally put a mark in the win column. The premise is ripe for Hollywood cliché, but under the masterful guidance of writer-director Thomas McCarthy, Win Win is a film that’s funny, heartfelt and real. Part sports movie, part coming of age film, part indie dramedy, Win Win is a top notch film that reminds us that it’s not whether you win or lose, sometimes just showing up is good enough.

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WORLDVISION

BY LILIANE ASSAF

RAGMAG IS PLEASED TO GIVE THE ONLINE COMMUNITY SOME MUCH DESERVED PRINT SPACE. THIS IS THE THIRD 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 SEPTEMBER OHM ISSUE, WE ASKED LEBANON’S BLOG AGGREGATOR LILIANE ASSAF, TO CHOOSE THE 3 BLOGGERS IN LEBANON WHO WERE WORKING TOWARDS YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH. HAVING A HEALTHIER BODY MEANS AN EASIER PATH TO A HEALTHIER SPIRIT. GET CLICKING, PEOPLE!

BLOG TITLE BLOGGER LANGUAGE URL TWITTER

Point à la ligne Nadine Issa English http://www.point-alaligne.com/ @point_alaligne

Point à la ligne by Nadine Issa (a registered dietitian) is a “keep coming back” nutrition blog. Firstly, while browsing Nadine’s blog you get the feeling that she is very accessible, which she is. One QR code, which can be scanned with a barcode reader application on your Smartphone, and you’ll be able to immediately add her as a contact on your phone. Nadine is also a very committed blogger: In addition to her weekly posts, she has something called “Monday Fix”, “Shape Up”, “Tips n’ Facts” and “Healthy Delights”. Her posts are pretty hip and on par with current events- since it’s summer and clubbing season, she offered quite a good guide on alcohol consumption. A person trying to preserve their figure and watch their calories can surely make use of that guide. Another example is how to eat healthy in Ramadan, which is very straight to the point and pretty helpful. Certainly not to be missed are the “40 calories chocolate cupcakes”. Point à la ligne (just click it!).

BLOG TITLE BLOGGER LANGUAGE URL TWITTER

Strawberry Blu Cynthia Abou Jaoude English http://strawberryblu.com/ @StrawberryBlu

Strawberry Blu by Cynthia Abou Jaoude is a nutrition, healthy food, cooking and dieting blog. Cynthia’s approach is an open kind of blog where she offers the reader full liberty to ask “anything”. In addition, Cynthia’s posts are very easy to read, since she presents the tips, points and steps in a very organized manner. In all of her posts you’ll find her signature style, where she puts a photo after each idea or point made, making it easier on the user to be convinced of her suggestions and memorize them for later need.

It like a “learn to do it yourself” blog, a must visit page with great advice, tips and quick recipes to help readers lead a healthier life, and also cook in a practical, low-fat and tasty way.

Liliane Talks Back Originally these weren’t the top 3 blogs I wanted to choose for this month’s issue- I had to choose one nutrition blog to complete the original theme I had in my head, but I couldn’t because I kept tossing and turning between 3 nutrition blogs by 3 wonderful bloggers. I couldn’t make up my mind because each blogger has a distinct style and offers different of content2011 with high relevance and quality. After a quick exchange of emails between Fida and I, she said the magic words! So here they are dear readers, the 3 blogs for this | SEPTEMBER 118 RAGMAGtypes month by bloggers who provide an abundance of help, tips and advice for a healthier life for YOU (The “Uncle Sam” way)!

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Paty M’s Nutrition World Paty M English http://patymsnutritionworld.blogspot.com/ @PatyAMag

Paty M’s Nutrition World by Paty M (a licensed dietitian and nutrition consultant), is a blog obviously about the world of nutrition. Paty provides insights and nutrition facts about certain elements such as coffee, supplements, breastfeeding, pregnancy, so on and so forth. Paty presents her writings in a research type of manner, explaining the state of the art side of that element, current situation, where it’s heading, its benefits and so on. After reading Paty’s posts you’ll feel like you learned something new that is extremely useful, interesting and fun to know. For a rich, mind-opening experience accompanied with fun facts, Paty M’s Nutrition World is an excellent read while having your coffee.

LILIANE’S CHOICE

BEST CUBE REVIEW www.thecubelb.com Reviewer Gilly Book “Freakonomics” by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner “A very overdue review. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about with ‘Freakonomics’ and ‘Super Freakonomics’

by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, so I picked them both up a few months ago.

After a very busy few months, I finally got around to finishing Freakonomics.

It shouldn’t take more than a weekend of reading; I am a lazy reader, guilty as charged. I like reading books cover to cover, and I must say that the table of contents and chapter descriptions at the beginning got me hooked into reading: comparing teachers to sumo wrestlers, crack dealers to corporations amongst many other seemingly ridiculous things.

Yet, one of the main points of the book is to uncover these seemingly ridiculous things and answer the big ‘Why?’ or “How?’ questions.

Correlation vs. Causation Although you might feel lost in the chaos of the crazy topic jumping that goes on in this book, and although the authors claim there is no real ‘unifying theme’, there is one important lesson that everyone should pick up from this book: correlation does not imply causation.

Usually, the road gets wet when it rains.

Thus there is a CORRELATION between wet roads and rain. But does rain always

CAUSE wet roads? What if some idiot was washing their car, oblivious to the slippery danger zone they’re creating? Enough digression though. Correlation does not imply causation. Sometimes a totally different third variable may be correlated with the first two, making them appear correlated, while it’s really that third variable that’s important. Example: A person’s height is correlated with the richness of their vocabulary. So do taller people have a better vocabulary? No. There is a third variable here at play here: AGE. Teenagers are older than children, teenagers are taller than children, and teenagers have a better vocabulary than children. It’s easy to fall for tricks like this in everyday life.

Opinion This book is meant to open your eyes to such tricks. Ask questions, things aren’t always what they seem, don’t take anything at face value. I enjoyed reading it, but discounted some of the author’s conclusions when they got liberal with the numbers and statistics (a few occurrences, nothing too bad though). There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.

A bit unfair, but something to keep in mind while reading. If anything, I believe the authors of this book would appreciate it if you keep that in mind. Like I said above, the main message of this book is that things

aren’t always what they seem, always look deeper etc. I recommend this book [as] a fun, light read which you can find in any bookstore here. First published in 2005, so it might feel like it’s talking about another decade, but the sections near the end are newer (2009) and fresh to read. There’s also a movie that came out last year with the same title, which is on my ‘to watch list’.

Expect a review of Super Freakonomics soon. Enjoy!”

www.lebanonaggregator.com Find the Lebanon Aggregator fan page on Facebook Follow her on Twitter @LebAgg THE OHM ISSUE 119

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take me with you

OLD

STORIES FROM

NEW YORK

CITY

THE CITY OF A MILLION SPIRITS

BY ALICE HLIDKOVA PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIC JOSEPH REITMEYER

IN NEW YORK CITY, THE ROTTEN BUNCH OF VAGABOND ARTISTS, DREAM-SEEKING HOOLIGANS AND AGING VAGRANTS STAGGER WITH EXHAUSTION, A HEAVY LOAD, OR INTOXICATION. GNARLING SHAMELESSLY AT URBAN GENTRIFICATION THAT HAS SWALLOWED THEIR LANDMARK NEIGHBORHOODS; MANY EXCHANGED LOFT APARTMENTS FOR EMPTY FACTORY CORNERS AND “SQUALORS”—HOBO SLANG FOR WRETCHED AND FILTHY BUILDINGS—LOCATED IN CITY OUTSKIRTS, UNTIL THOSE TOO BECOME INFESTED WITH GENTRY. BUT FEW HAVE STUCK TO THE STREETS: THESE FOLKS, SUCCUMBING TO OLD NYC MEMORIES OF SCANDALOUS GLAMOUR, PERPETUAL SQUALOR AND BLUNT HOMOSEXUALITY HAVE RESIDED FOR DECADES INSIDE CRUMBLES AND CRACKS OF ALLEYWAYS, HALLWAYS AND STAIRWAYS.

It was Downtown’s Meatpacking District that first became subject to cranes and bulldozers, then Lower Manhattan’s Bowery and now Brooklyn’s Williamsburg—though Red Hook is still holding on. Uptown’s Harlem, a favorable residence for Columbia University students, awaits the hammer next. Seemingly, NYC betrayed its old street reigned by low-life junkies, convicted murderers and schizophrenics mistaken for malodorous artists. But clever wits that delayed the construction of terraced loft apartments in say, the Bowery or West Village, can resist no longer. Self-made entrepreneurs and trendy, out-of-town hipsters soon replaced iconic relics as recently as 2005 when in fact they had survived for decades. Thus, the Bowery’s notorious flophouses, run-down theaters and squalid hotels leave few with hell-day memories.

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THIS SPREAD: SUNSHINE HOTEL

FOR A NIGHTLY FLAT FEE OF $10, ROOMS PIGEON-HOLED STRAYED ARTISTS, JADED PRIESTS, SERIAL KILLERS, VIETNAM VETERANS AND OTHER SOCIAL OUTCASTS. One such example was the Sunshine Hotel.

Overlooked by the newly raised New Museum with its “hello” signage painted in rainbow colors, the original hotel sign symbolized final destinations. For a nightly flat fee of $10, rooms—smaller than prison cells at four by six—pigeon-holed strayed artists, jaded priests, serial killers, Vietnam Veterans and other social outcasts. Chicken wire decorated the ceilings, so that guests and tenants “wouldn’t climb over to the other rooms,” manager Nathan Smith once explained, eventually closing its doors in 2005.

The Bowery’s music halls and clubs encountered similar fate and misfortune.

A year after Sunshine’s closing, CBGB manager Hilly Kristal closed the famous Punk and Blues venue as a result of lasting rental disputes with owner. Luckily, American high fashion designer John Varvatos served justice by preserving its urinals and opening his fashion label in its place. “It took about three months to get the stench of cigarettes and booze out of here,” Varvatos was quoted in a city daily newspaper. “We had the front and back doors open during that time and the crossbreeze did wonders to clear out the place.”

Former CBGB performer Nick Taylor and his band Gray, founded by graffiti artist Jean Michel Basquiat, recollected the Bowery’s rawness. Without daring to enter Sunshine, Taylor settled in the Mudd Club where he played music and drank shots for $0.25. In the early morning hours, close to “a hundred white boys” roamed Mudd’s sidewalk, recalled Taylor.

Taylor was regularly frisked by police officers during the peak of street-sold Crack Cocaine. Because he befriended graffiti artists who sold drugs, he posed as dangerous suspect, often mistaken for a drug dealer. Tensions heightened in the 80s, with arrival of AIDS, exposing many artists who shared needles regularly.

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“There was a lot of psychedelic thinking back then,” said Taylor, mentioning the spiritual love between Andy Warhol and Basquiat often found tongue-locked at parties. “But the city is safer now,” he said, convinced the streets today are run like a police state.

With help from close to five thousand volunteer police officers—the largest community initiative in the country, the streets are indeed safer. Hoping to draw little attention from cops, Gray will hold their first performance this year at the New Museum since Warhol’s death in 1987, and Basquiat’s in 1988.

Public prostitution inside John McGurk’s Suicide Hall, added to the mayhem. Low-ranking women and girls came to the nightlife haunt, a tawdry establishment, to sell cheap sex. Smack central in Bowery’s old red light district, the dive bar faced doomsday—teenaged tramps killed themselves with carbolic acid or leapt from the fifth floor. McGurk eventually closed the joint and moved to California, leaving vacancy for gangs and drug-dealers before it became a glass condominium a few years ago.

“THERE WAS A LOT OF PSYCHEDELIC THINKING BACK THEN [...] BUT THE CITY IS SAFER NOW”

Saint Marks Place, a street in the Bowery, unlocked its own legendary decay; an eerie specter marked by old German churches, threatened by new development. The Arlington Hall, originally built as a German music club headquarters, maintained its transformative musical pedigree for a century. It became a Polish National Home in mid-century and later, nightclub Electric Circus, where Lou Reed and Velvet Underground played for Andy Warhol. Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead performed there are well. A community rehab center sealed its musical history, before restaurant clusters filled its archways. Reviving St. Mark’s long-lost traditions while safeguarding its memorabilia, restaurants rarely negotiated real estate contracts with developers.

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THIS SPREAD: THE BOWERY

JIMI HENDRIX’S ELECTRIC LADY STUDIOS, CONNECTING ST. MARKS PLACE AND WEST VILLAGE ON 8TH ST., HELD GROUND IN THE TUMULT. Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios, connecting St. Marks Place and West Village on 8th St., held ground in the tumult. Manager Lee Foster once found Studio A, housing Hendrix’s Steinway & Sons white piano and Stevie Wonders’ keyboard, flooded from an underground water stream. He collected water in buckets as the city slept peacefully. For decades, deep rumbles and screeching breaks escaping a nearby subway station disturbed jam sessions…and so did ghosts.

“They spooked musicians in the past,” said Foster. Mike Brauer, album producer for Coldplay, U2 and John Meyer, and permanent resident artist in Studio C, escaped their haunting.

Perhaps it was Marilyn Monroe’s ghost that haunted, unofficially, Times Square’s Malin Studios. Chronically late for class, she slipped through its doors, wearing a headscarf, dark shades and no makeup.

Down the street, a billboard advertising Billy Wilder’s film The Seven Year Itch, flaunted her curves in the iconic windblown white dress. After her death, film teacher Lee Strassberg inherited her possessions and today, his third wife licenses her images, pocketing millions of dollars annually.

Hotel Waldorf Astoria rented Monroe an apartment, but never cherished her treasures. A lesser known hotel nicknamed “The Jane,” still displays Bob Marley portrait photography in its saloon. Historically, the West Village boutique hotel comforted sailors and Titanic survivors. Built by the architect of Ellis Island—an immigrant’s gateway into America’s scramble for golden opportunities—The Jane for many years granted affordable rates, polishing its cabin rooms. A single bed rents for a hundred bucks a night and a flirt with the ballroom’s Victorian décor and Bohemian clientele.

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take me with you

ABOVE: UNDERGROUND BASILICA CISTERN

In contrast, a horse stable converted into an apartment rents in the thousands, at Union Square’s Irving Plaza neighborhood. A famous artist left behind his wooden art easel, adding a nice fixture to its high ceilings.

Philadelphia’s luminary artist Warren Mueller at one time afforded his art studio in the West Village. In its place, restaurant Il Buco hangs his lanterns and welcomes poetry students into the basement, where writer Edgar Allen Poe wrote “The Cask of Amontillado.”

Mueller, who believes that one of the story’s characters was sealed in one of the cellar’s archways, said, “Every year, the class from NYU would come down there to see the sealed crypt and talk about the buried body. It was finally opened by the current resident of the restaurant to make a wine cellar.” Of course, no corpse was found.

This was New York City, and still is— vibrant with history, raw in attitude, reckless in behavior. A city to conceal,

discover, rediscover. A place altered by gentrifiers, where old residents became nomads and story-tellers. A memory forever captured in cracked bricks, spray-painted urinals, and treasured photographs

THIS WAS NEW YORK CITY, AND STILL IS—VIBRANT WITH HISTORY, RAW IN ATTITUDE, RECKLESS IN BEHAVIOR. THE OHM ISSUE

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K-OHM-PAI*

KAMPAI RESTAURANT WOKS THIS WAY

BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY

W

hen I parked my car in Downtown Beirut, looking for Kampai restaurant, I wondered why the newly opened restaurant chose that specific location: Still under construction, the neighborhood doesn’t look very nice.

I glance through the big bay-windows facing the street and see a crowded dining room. A place where people have lunch even if the view is ugly must be good, right?

Upon entering the resto, a framed menu strikes me. I can’t believe I’m witnessing something that most restaurants abroad and very few in Lebanon do: Have their menu outside the restaurant so passersby can decide whether they like what they’re offering! I’m pleasantly surprised already and the good first impression increases with the friendly welcome.

The setting is simple yet classy. Nothing in the decor nor the tables and chairs indicate this is a Japanese restaurant.

Away from clichés, the dining room is made of leather couches, wood and

126 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

black leather chairs. A bar is hidden at the end of the room, while the wine cellar steals the show. A few abstract art paintings add a touch of color to the place, along with the acid green menus.

In Lebanon, when one says “Japanese”, one hears “sushi.” Well, Kampai stand out in this regard too, being one of the very few purely Japanese restaurants in Lebanon. If the menu has a wide variety of sushis and makis, it also offers a selection of Teriyakis and Teppans, as well as some specialties with prime ingredients like Wagyu beef and stirfry woks of noodles and rice.

The menu is well organized and depending on what you feel like having, appetizers like the fusion Taco Sashimi, salads like the original Green Atlantic –a mixture of marinated seaweed with cold noodles and a special Kampai sauce, noodles like the Orange Chicken soba, or the incredibly tender Beef Teriyaki are all available.

Try out the Kampai Maksushi Fried Maki: Panko outside, scallops inside,

and grilled Salmon on top. It is hot and cold at the same time with a hint of pepper that spices up the taste of the scallops. *Editor’s Note This was Youmna’s attempt at integrating “Ohm” into the title. LOL Good job, grasshopper.

The + + The food presentation is worthy of a 5 star resto.

The King Prawn Tappan is served with heads and tails, but in a very clean and artistic way. As for the noodles, the touch of having just a sprig of coriander on the top makes the difference. + The taste. One doesn’t expect such freshness of ingredients considering the affordable prices. You don’t even need to chew the pieces of their Crispy Salmon salad; it simply melts in your mouth!

The – - The flies. It’s a shame I had to have lunch with two annoying flies moving around my head for God knows how many minutes. The restaurant is very clean but maybe they should just fumigate the garden next to it to avoid having insects swarming diners.

Kampai Palladium Bldg, Minet el Hosn, Downtown Beirut 01/999093 70/315215 www.kampai.webs.com Facebook Kampai Restaurant

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MAGAZINE

GET TO KNOW YOUR WATERFRONT with PART 3 IN A 3 PART SERIES

KARAM

Al-Bahr

ZABAD

WE’VE DECIDED TO EXPLORE THE NEW ZAITUNAY BAY IN A 3 PART SERIES TO GIVE YOU THE REAL STORY AND HELP YOU FEEL A LOT MORE INVOLVED IN WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR CAPITAL CITY. ZAITUNAY BAY, A CREATIVE ENDEAVOUR TO MAXIMIZE THE COASTLINE, ONE OF LEBANON’S GREATEST ASSETS AND TOURISM DRAWS, IS ONE OF THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECTS IN LEBANON’S HISTORY. RAGMAG IS COVERING ZAITUNAY BAY IN A 3 PART SERIES TO GIVE YOU THE REAL DEAL ON WHAT’S HAPPENING ON YOUR SHORELINE, SO YOU CAN REALLY FEEL IN THE LOOP. THE THIRD OF 3 FEATURE ARTICLES, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR PREVIOUS ISSUES ONLINE (WWW. ISSUU.COM/RAGMAG) TO GET THE FULL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT THAT AIMS TO BRING BEIRUT’S REVITALIZED WATERFRONT ON PAR WITH OTHER GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED WATER-FRIENDLY LOCALES. FIND OUT MORE AT WWW.ZAITUNAYBAY.COM FOR OUR FINAL INSTALMENT IN THE OHM ISSUE, WE HAVE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON WAYS TO TAKE THE MOST OUT OF LIFE’S PLEASURES- DINING WATERSIDE.

MOTI

Mahal Delux

SALMONTINI

BABEL Bay

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YOUR WATERFRONT

LIGHTHOUSE What Zabad Who Karim Haidar Know More www.zabadrestaurant.com (coming soon) | www.karimhaidar.com Find it on Facebook “Zabad is Arabic for sea foam,” explained Joyce Zavzavadjian as she gave us the background story of where the name for Zabad came from. Both Zabad and Karim’s new restaurant in Paris, L’écume des Bulles, play off the theme of sea foam but Zabad’s concept was developed first,” says Zavzavadjian. “Karim is in love with L’Écume des jours”. The title of the famous novel uses the French word for sea foam, written by Frenchman Boris Vian, a man known for many different intellectual pursuits. 42 year-old Karim Haidar is also known for many different pursuits, not the least of which are his 2 books on cuisine published in collaboration with others and a history

ABOVE: ‘CUISINE LIBANAISE D’HIER ET D’AUJOURD’HUI’ BY KARIM HAIDAR + ADRÉE MAALOUF RIGHT: L’ÉCUME DE BULLES, KARIM HAIDAR’S NEW RESTAURANT IN PARIS

in broadcasting on the French Cuisine TV channel. The former lawyer decided after 9 years of practising law to take a sabbatical and began experimenting with cuisine. “Karim has been abroad for 25 years. He began by introducing Lebanese cuisine to Europeans and expats. Now he is developing Zabad, the first restaurant of its kind in Lebanon. He is reinventing Lebanese contemporary cuisine,” said Joyce explaining that their 2 Parisian chefs are working with Karim’s creative direction.

“The professionalism and consistency of the French school of techniques is what you can expect from Zabad. We’re experimenting on stuffed calamari with white beans and swiss chard in

addition to different kinds of kebbes like artichoke kebbeh and freekeh with frog legs.” Karim opened his first restaurant in Paris and slowly established his reputation later relocating to London to work with the owners of the renowned Fakhreddine. He then continued to open restaurants in the trendier Parisian areas, including a restaurant named “La Branche d’Olivier” which offered contemporary Lebanese cuisine based on seafood and last year a champagne restaurant named “Point Bulles”, both of which received critical acclaim. What brings Zabad to Zaitunay Bay? “It will be very lively, a revival of Beirut,” and what better way to establish that than having one of our own culinary luminaries light the way?

‘BOTH ZABAD AND KARIM’S NEW RESTAURANT IN PARIS, L’ECUME DES BULLES, PLAY OFF THE THEME OF SEA FOAM BUT ZABAD’S CONCEPT WAS DEVELOPED FIRST’ THE OHM ISSUE

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GET TO KNOW YOUR WATERFRONT with

NOT A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME Babel, Karam and Salmontini are all established names in the biz. Check out their new locations and what specialties they’ll be putting forward at Zaitunay Bay.

What Babel Bay Who Afkar Holding – The original team of Babel Babel Bay, the newest addition to the Babel restaurant family will be opening at Zaitunay Bay. “We always wanted to open a place next to the sea. Zaitunay Bay offered this option in addition to the value that the legacy of the location will give to the brand. On top of that the attraction that Zaitunay Bay will be providing for both clients and investors,” explained Jad Mounzer, Restaurant Manager for Babel Dbayeh.

Priding themselves on their “caring and professional service,” Babel Bay will be maintaining the same high standards as their original Dbayeh location.

The menu will be the same as the original Babel, “retaining the same innovative philosophy and approach, however the base of the menu will be fish and seafood. Babel Bay will be offering a variety of Lebanese mezza with seafood and fish dishes with a rich, fresh fish display where guests can choose their catch and cook it to their liking. A selected Lebanese and international wine menu will enrich and harmonize the food as well as having a cigar selection complemented by a wide range of spirits and digestives

in order to create an exquisite experience.” The architecture, decor and menu of Babel Bay was all created by Afkar Holding, managing company of Babel. Why is Babel expecting success from Zaitunay Bay? “It will be successful due to the location and the heritage that no other spot offers. In addition, Zaitunay Bay has gathered different concepts and cuisine styles that will be very attractive to different tastes and budgets,” said Jad. Well, Babel Bay certainly has their bases covered!

PRIDING THEMSELVES ON THEIR “CARING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE,” BABEL BAY WILL BE MAINTAINING THE SAME HIGH STANDARDS AS THEIR ORIGINAL DBAYEH LOCATION. What Karam Al-Bahr Who The original team of Karam Karam is opening their newest location at Zaitunay Bay this fall called Karam Al-Bahr. Karam Al-Bahr will be serving Lebanese seafood dishes at the waterfront locale continuing their tradition of fine cuisine offerings.

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YOUR WATERFRONT

What Salmontini Riva Who The original team of Salmontini Know More www.salmontini.com Find it on Facebook Salmontini Riva, the location on Zaitunay Bay will have a different menu and concept than the Accaoui Salmontini branch. “Our chef is still finalizing the menu but Salmontini Riva will be serving fresh seafood catches throughout the day as well as our famous salmon and our signature dishes,” said Olga Khoury, Communications and Creative Executive for the Salmontini brand. The new concept of Salmontini La Maison du Saumon with its modern bistrolike interior will seat 64 on the terrace

and is featuring a bar that will dazzle champagne lovers. “From morning to evening, enjoy every hour of the day at Salmontini Riva. Wake up to the smell of our coffee and freshly baked croissants and at lunch and dinner savour an exquisite seafood menu prepared by our new French chef, specially flown in from Marseille,” said Olga. Guests can “watch the sunset from our terrace, sipping on the tastiest champagnes at Salmontini Riva- it’s an ultimate experience not to be missed!”

THE NEW CONCEPT OF SALMONTINI LA MAISON DU SAUMON WITH ITS MODERN BISTRO-LIKE INTERIOR WILL SEAT 64 ON THE TERRACE AND IS FEATURING A BAR THAT WILL DAZZLE CHAMPAGNE LOVERS.

DIFFERENT IS GOOD! What Moti Mahal Delux Know More www.motimahal-uk.com If you just aren’t feeling the Lebanese vibe, then try India on for size at Moti Mahal Delux. The first branch in Lebanon, Moti Mahal brings “forth the essence of Indian Hospitality and the best of Tandoori cuisine”. The 5 decade running chain has decided to open their doors at Zaitunay Bay and will be the only venue on site to offer

the traditional tandoor style cooking, tandoor translating literally to “clay oven”. We can’t wait to sample some of the spicier dishes with a great side of nan bread!

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IN THE SPIRIT OF MUST-TRY DINING

RAGMAG and BeirutRestaurants.com have teamed up to bring you the absolute must try restos this issue. To really help you eat drink + be merry we’ve compiled a list of places for you to hit up since if you visit Lebanon, you aren’t in the know unless you’ve been to these great places. We love a great meal 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 looking to dine with the foodies that know it all, our top resto list is a must try.

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

TELIENE RESTORANTE

BALTHUS

LE TALLEYRAND

KASR FAKHREDDINE

BALI BALIMA

CASABLANCA

MARGHERITA PIZZERIA

LE 1700

FRIDA

Sodeco, 911, Nasra Area Seifeddine al Khatib Street Beirut 01/610660 71/144700

Al Rassif Street Broummana Mount Lebanon 04/961387

Rue Gouraud Gemmayzeh, Beirut 01/560480 | 03/199005 www.pizzeriamargherita.com

Ghandour Bldg. Ave. des Français Downtown Beirut 01/371077 03/511611

Intabli Fountain Beirut Souks Downtown Beirut 01/971097

BarrnFaqra Kfardebian 03/441700 www.le1700.com

Fakhreddine Street Ain El Mraisseh Beirut 01/371500

Ain el Mreisseh Street Beirut 01/369334 03/865111

Zahret Al-Ihsan Achrafieh, Beirut 01/333226 70/801841 www.fridacuisine.com

YASMINA

Accaui Street beside Cyprus Embassy Achrafieh, Beirut 01/206406 www.yasminaindianfusion.com

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For 3 nights only [ Sep. 29 till Oct. 1st ] exclusive to 60 people per night only.

For reservation please call 01444080 / 01565997

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Revelling in Good Taste WITH LARA ARISS

EACH EDITION OF RAGMAG, LARA ARISS WILL PRESENT A MEAL IN SEVERAL COURSES THAT YOU CAN TRY AT HOME. LARA IS A LEBANESE EXPAT IN TRAINING AT LE CORDON BLEU IN LONDON, ENGLAND. FOR MORE GREAT IDEAS, CHECK HER OUT ON THE WEB HTTP://WWW.BYLARA.ME FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER @LARAARISS | FIND HER ON FACEBOOK BYLARA

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Coconut Prawns

PREPARATION TIME COOKING TIME MAKES LEVEL

WITH SWEET GINGER SAUCE INGREDIENTS

SWEET GINGER SAUCE INGREDIENTS

•4 egg whites •125 grams all purpose flour •100 grams shredded coconut •170 ml oil •G20 raw prawns, peeled and deveined,

•125 ml dashi stock •3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar * •4 tablespoons soya sauce * * •3 tablespoons sugar •1 teaspoon lime wedges

tails intact

15 MINUTES 30 MINUTES 20 EASY

TO SERVE

•Lime wedges

METHOD

• Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until light and fluffy.

Put the flour and coconut onto two separate plates.

• Heat a deep pan or wok and add the oil. While the oil is heating, toss one prawn in the flour, dip it into the egg white and roll it in the coconut. Set it aside. Repeat with the remaining prawns.

• Once the oil has reached frying point, carefully lower the prawns into the oil in batches of five. When the coconut has turned light brown on one side, turn over the prawns and cook until they are crisp and golden on both sides. Remove the prawns and drain them on paper towels.

• For the ginger sauce: Pour 125 ml of dashi stock into a saucepan with 3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, 4

tablespoons of soya sauce and 3 tablespoons of sugar.

Place saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil.

Then remove from heat and pour into serving bowl.

• When the sauce has cooled down, stir in 1 teaspoon of grated ginger.

• Serve the coconut prawns with sweet ginger sauce and a squeeze of fresh lime on the side.

NOTE

* **

can be substituted with chicken stock can be substituted with white wine vinegar

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Endive and Orange

SALAD

PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES SERVES 4 LEVEL EASY

INGREDIENTS

•1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar •4 tablespoons olive oil •1 teaspoon Dijon mustard •2 endives, sliced into bite-sized chunks •B2 oranges, segmented •1 large handful parsley •3 tablespoons walnuts, roughly chopped •20 black olives, pitted

METHOD • Put the vinegar, oil and mustard in a small bowl and stir to combine.

• Toss the fennel, orange, parsley, walnuts and olives together in a large serving bowl and drizzle with dressing.

PREPARATION TIME COOKING TIME SERVES LEVEL

20 MINUTES 30 MINUTES 4 EASY

Chicken Sautéed

IN PEANUT BUTTER SAUCE WITH RICE

INGREDIENTS

•1½ tablespoons vegetable oil, divided •1 red pepper, julienned •4 spring onions, chopped •60g fresh beansprouts •500g chicken breast fillets, cut into cubes •140g smooth peanut butter •2 tablespoons soy sauce •1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger •110ml chicken stock RICE INGREDIENTS

METHOD

• Sauté the red pepper, the spring onion and beansprouts in 1 tablespoon oil until tender but still crunchy, and put aside.

• Use the same pan to sauté chicken, add remaining oil if needed. When chicken is done and juices run clear, and put aside.

• In a saucepan, mix peanut butter, soy sauce and ginger over medium low heat. Add in the chicken stock. Add sautéed vegetables and chicken. Toss to coat all ingredients.

• For the rice: Wash in several changes of cold water, then

136 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

leave to soak for about 30 minutes in cold water.

• Drain the rice and put in a medium saucepan. Add water to just cover the rice and sprinkle salt. Bring the rice to a boil over medium heat and then cover with lid. Turn the heat down to low and leave to cook for about 10 minutes and then turn off heat. Leave the rice in the saucepan with the lid for about 5 – 7 minutes. Once you are ready to use the rice, fluff it up with a fork.

• To serve: Put equal amounts of sautéed chicken on 4 plates with equal amount of rice on the side.

Chocolate Ginger LAZY CAKE

PREPARATION TIME BAKE AND CHILLING TIME MAKES LEVEL

15 MINUTES 20 MINUTES 36 SQUARES EASY

INGREDIENTS

•Vegetable oil, for greasing •350 grams milk chocolate, roughly chopped

•150 grams unsalted butter •75 grams golden syrup •300 grams ginger biscuits, roughly crushed

•75 grams flaked almonds •75 grams dried cranberries •50 grams white chocolate, roughly chopped

METHOD

• Lightly oil a deep 23 cm square tin and line with grease proof paper and lightly oil the grease proof paper.

• Place the milk chocolate, butter and syrup in a bowl over a bain marie and leave until all the ingredients have melted and then stir to combine and set aside.

• Combine the ginger biscuits, flaked almonds and cranberries in a bowl.

• Pour the dry ingredients over the chocolate mixture and stir.

• Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface.

• Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a bain marie and pour over the mixture in the tin. Use a cocktail stick to swirl the chocolate to create a marble like effect.

• Cover the tin with cling film but don’t get close to the chocolate. Chill for at least 3 -4 hours or preferably overnight.

THE OHM ISSUE

137

quizz ROUND #1

ROUND #2

Science

ROUND #3

Geography

ROUND #4

Technology

Brain Teasers

1. What is the difference between a spiral and a helix?

1. Where can you find the Church of the Holy Sepulchre?

1. What is the S.I. standard of temperature?

2. What is it called when a liquid is cooled to below its freezing point but it does not freeze?

2. The port of Mocha is in which country?

2. Boats and planes can roll and what other two ways do they move?

3. What do the letters LI-ION mean on a battery?

4. What is the difference between KVA and KW? 5. Melanophobia is the fear of what?

3. what is the capital of Latvia?

4. Which of these is NOT a wine region of France? Rhone, Alsace, Rioja, Bordeaux or Jura?

5. The Island of Madeira is in which ocean? Atlantic, Pacific or Indian?

6. If something is described as being anular in shape, what does it 6. The Alpine Ski Resort of St. resemble?

Moritz is in which country?

7. You have three identically shaped balls 1Kg, 2Kg and 3Kg and you drop them from 20 Meters, which one will land first?

8. In climatology, to what does the term “Pluvial” refer?

7. The world’s highest swing, called the Nevis Arc, is located in which country?

8. Ibiza is in which Mediterranean island group?

9. Tirana is the capital of which 9. The Pascal is the SI unit of country? pressure.The Bar is the ilder term.

1 Bar is equivalent to how many 10. What is China’s second KiloPascal? largest river?

10. What element, whose symbol derives from its Greek name hydrargyrum, meaning watering silver, melts at -38.83 °C and yet boils at 356.73 °C?

3. What is the chemical symbol for Ozone?

4. What is the name given to the bending of light as it passes from one substance to another?

1. What cheese is made backwards?

2. If you write all the numbers from 300 to 400, how many times would you write the number 3?

3. What kind of bees make milk?

4. Where on earth do the winds always blow from the south?

5. If you feed me I will live but if you give me water I will die. What am i?

5. What computer operating 6. If five thousand, five hundred fifty system has a penguin as its logo? five dollars is written as $5,555, how should twelve thousand, twelve 6. There are three types of nuclear hundred twelve dollars be written? radiation. Gamma is one. Name the other two.

7. What number is next in this sequence? 1, 3, 4, 7, 11...

7. When a liquid changes from liquid to gas it’s called evaporation. What 8. Can you name three consecutive is it called when a solid changes days without using the words to gas?

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or 8. What is the name of the pigment Sunday? that gives leaves their green colour?

9. Mr. and Mrs. Mustard have six daughters and each daughter has 9. What is the cube root of 8000? one brother. How many people are in the Mustard family?

10. In an electrical circuit diagram, what is denoted by circle 10. A horse is tied to a 5 m. rope; 6 m. containing the capital letter A? away from it, is a bail of hay. Without breaking the rope, the horse is able to get to the bail of hay. How is this possible?

dingbats LONDON PARIS Book

Film

Group

Song

Film

Book

Film

2 COST $100.00 EACH 12 COST $50.00 EACH

Film

COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN COUNTDOWN

Song

ROUND#1 1. A spiral is on a flat plane 2. Super Cooled 3. Lithium Ion 4. KW takes into account the power factor 5. Colour Black 6. Ring 7. At the same time 8. Rainfall 9.100 10. Mercury ROUND#2 1. Jerusalem 2. Yemen 3. Riga 4. Rioja 5. Atlantic 6. Switzerland 7. New Zealand 8. Balearic Islands 9. Albania 10. Yellow River ROUND#3 1. Kelvin 2. Pitch and Yaw 3. O3 4. Refraction 5. Linux 6. Alpha and Beta 7. Sublimation 8. Chlorophyl 9. 20 10. Ammetre ROUND#4 1. Edam 2. 120 3. Boobies 4. North Pole 5. Fire 6. 13,212 7. 18 8. Yesterday, today and tomorrow 9. Nine 10. The other end is not tied to anything

A TALE (TAIL) OF TO CITIES - THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE - HOT CHOCOLATE THREE BLIND MICE - ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST - LITTLE WOMEN DANGEROUS MINDS - CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN - FINAL COUNTDOWN

138 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

brainfood

crosswords 2

3

4 6

9

DOWN

5 8

7

10

11 13

14

15 16

17

18 19

20

21

22

23

24

25

28

26

29

27

30

33

31

32

34

35

37

38

40

36

39

41 42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51 52

53

54

55 57

58

61

56

59

60

62

63

64

66

67 68

70

71

72

69

73

74

76

75

77 78

79

82

80

81

83

84

86

ACROSS

1. In Ireland or a beer?

4. A quiet state.

10. Mysterious.

13. Fat removal.

14. List of terms.

15. Muscle spasms.

16. The path of a planet.

19. 1.8 meters deep?

20. Make moist.

21. Doctors on the cutting edge?

22. He helped us get higher.

27. Tell everybody.

28. A famous Greek?

29. An important vein?

30. Another kind of prison?

34. Cleopatra’s snake?

35. Therefore.

38. Kissing.

sudoku

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

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

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

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

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

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

59. Neptune’s fork?

61. Is it hello or goodbye?

62. An opening.

64. He is always sick?

65. Feared intensely.

66. Closeness.

68. Fond memories.

72. Drains your strength.

74. Castro of Cuba.

78. Measures humidity.

79. Confirmed.

81. An old find.

82. Move closer to Sainthood?

83. Can be maintained.

84. Corrosive water from the skies?

85. Varied.

86. One direction to head?

EASY

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

40. The spoken language.

41. A ghostly appearance?

45. Is quite bad.

47. Stated.

48. Leave the ship?

49. A weak person?

50. Not many.

52. Split in two.

54. Repair.

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

5 1 7

1

6 3

8

2

4 9

5 2 5 7 8 1 6

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

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

5 8 2 6 7 9 1 4 3

1 7 3 4 8 5 6 2 9

7 6 9 5 2 8 3 1 4

3 1 8 7 4 6 2 9 5

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

6 5 7 9 1 4 8 3 2

9 2 1 8 5 3 4 7 6

8 3 4 2 6 7 9 5 1

4 6 1 5 9 3 7 2 8

9 8 7 6 2 4 5 3 1

2

3 5 2 7 8 1 6 9 4

2 9 5 3 4 7 1 8 6

8

7 3 6 8 1 9 2 4 4

1 4 8 2 5 6 3 7 9

6 1 4 9 7 2 8 5 3

8 2 9 1 3 5 4 6 7

5 7 3 4 6 8 9 1 2

ACCROSS 1. KILKENNY - 4. QUIESCENT - 10. ENIGMATIC 13. LIPOSUCTION - 14. GLOSSARY - 15. CRAMPS 16. ORBIT - 19. FATHOM - 20. DAMPEN - 21. SURGEONS 22. OTIS. - 27. BLAB - 28. ZORBA - 29. JUGULAR 30. GAOL - 34. ASP - 35. ERGO - 38. EMBRACING 40. VERNACULAR - 41. APPARITION - 45. NAUGHTY 47. OPINED - 48. DISEMBARK - 49. WIMP - 50. FEW 52. BIFURCATE - 54. RECTIFY - 59. TRIDENT - 61. WAVED 62. ORIFICE - 64. HYPOCHONDRIAC - 65. DREADED 66. PROXIMITY - 68. NOSTALGIA - 72. SAPS - 74. FIDEL 78. HYGROMETER - 79. SUBSTANTIATED - 81. FOSSIL 82. BEATIFY - 83. SUSTAINABLE - 84. ACIDRAIN 85. FLUCTUATED - 86. WESTERLY

85

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

2. Nothing to do with it.

3. Has not been told.

5. Cutting teeth?

6. Articles of clothing.

7. Have an affinity with.

8. Grow weak.

9. Part of a lock.

11. Sea going tortoise?

12. Enormous.

15. An ice cream holder?

17. Relating to blood vessels.

18. Feel offence.

23. Measure the amount.

24. Up to date.

25. Old fashioned confusion?

26. Not singular.

31. When it began?

32. Faced the problem.

33. Showing bloodshed.

36. Ate a lot.

37. Arrange in this order.

39. Chewed.

42. One type of cooked chicken.

43. Smoked fish.

44. Pay to use?

46. Not a donkey.

48. An order.

51. The correct words?

53. No set pattern.

55. A really old car.

56. Can bring relief.

57. A thin covering.

58. The living dead.

60. They have a pouch for their kids.

63. A noble gas.

67. Bond layers together.

69. Reproduce.

70. Inter.

71. Dug for.

73. Makes inquiries.

75. From where?

76. Punctuation or body part?

77. Very happy.

80. The “A” of A.D.

DOWN 2. IRRELEVANT - 3. UNINFORMED - 5. INCISORS 6. GARMENTS - 7. KINSHIP - 8. LANGUISH - 9. HASP 11. TURTLE - 12. GARGANTUAN - 5. CONE 17. VASCULAR - 18. UMBRAGE - 23. QUANTIFY. 24. MODERN - 25. DISCOMBOBULATED - 26. PLURAL 31. INCEPTION - 32. CONFRONTED - 33. GORY 36. GORGED - 37. ALPHABETICAL - 39. MASTICATED 42. KIEV - 43. KIPPERS - 44. RENT - 46. ASS 48. DIRECTIVE - 51. TERMINOLOGY - 53. RANDOM 55. JALOPY - 56. LAXATIVE - 57. MEMBRANE 58. ZOMBIES - 60. MARSUPIALS - 63. XENON 67. LAMINATE - 69. PROCREATE - 70. BURY - 71. MINED 73. ASKS - 75. WHENCE - 76. COLON - 77. JOVIAL 80. ANNO

1

THE OHM ISSUE

139

RAGMAG

astro

Zodiac forecasts FROM JONATHAN CAINER

September.2011

AS SEPTEMBER GOES SLOWLY BY WE GET EVER CLOSER TO A CONJUNCTION OF VENUS AND SATURN. IT TAKES PLACE IN THE PART OF THE SKY THAT ASTROLOGERS (THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY ALL ASTRONOMERS) CALL LIBRA. TO US, IT SYMBOLISES THE POTENTIAL FOR POSITIVE EMOTIONAL UNIONS AND CONSTRUCTIVE BUSINESS AGREEMENTS. IT SPEAKS OF DEALS BEING DONE AND OF PROMISES BEING MADE (AND KEPT). NO MATTER WHAT SIGN YOU ARE, IF YOU’RE HOPING TO NEGOTIATE AN ARRANGEMENT, A COMMITMENT OR A STRONG PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, THE CLIMATE IS AUSPICIOUS.

TIM BURTON

FIONA APPLE

LIBRA

September 24 - October 23

Aug 24 - Sep 23

The Pyramids, today, are as popular as they ever were. Stonehenge still gets plenty of visitors. Uluru has also stood the test of time. By and large, though, things come in and out of fashion. Either they don’t last or they do - but enthusiasm for them wanes.

That’s natural and inevitable. Now, if you don’t mind me asking, as we move into September and closer to your birthday, what in your life belongs to a bygone age? In what way might you be trying to keep a dinosaur alive? An era is over. A brave new world now needs to be discovered. Don’t cling to the past.

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

VIRGO

August 24 - September 23

Can mind-readers really tell what other people are thinking? Of course not. No matter how perceptive they may be, they are at a disadvantage, because most people, most of the time, are in ‘two minds’. Our attitudes alter according to our circumstances. We imagine we want something, but when push comes to shove - we often discover that we actually want another. Don’t prejudge a certain person’s opinion in September. Wait to see what they actually say and do. Be open-minded too, about what’s in your own mind and heart.

You could yet be surprised!

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

SCORPIO

October 24 - November 22 Not only is it unwise to judge a book by its cover, it is advisable to stick with it for the first few chapters. Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings, for example, gets off to a notoriously slow start - as does Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby.

Both, though, provide a ripping read if only you stick with them. September, may take a while before it begins to supply as much encouragement as you might hope for. This month’s developments though, really do tell a new story. Don’t mistake slow change for no change. Appearances can be deceptive and you’ll soon see something pleasing unfold.

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

140 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

November 23 - December 21

December 22 - January 20

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

‘When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.’ This quote comes from my favourite writer, Kahlil Gibran, but the secret link between these apparent opposites has fascinated many poets.

I mention it now because it’s too easy to take a superficial view of a deep situation. You must go beyond the obvious in September - if you want to make true progress.

What about the house you used to live in? Or the car you used to drive? Once, it was your pride and joy. There was no question of it belonging to anyone else. And now? Someone else has that pleasure. Your sense of ownership is directed elsewhere. There are many things in life that we think of as permanent even though, ultimately, they are only temporary. That’s all the more reason to cherish them while we have them, but to retain an objective sense of perspective, too. Remember, in September that the only thing you need to hang on to is your sense of perspective.

Some astrologers say it is unfortunate to have a retrograde ruler. I beg to differ. It all depends on what the ruling planet happens to be doing whilst it is retrograde. Your ruler, Uranus now moves apparently backwards through the sky, forming a series of alignments that can liberate you from a situation you have become uncomfortably stuck within. In September, you are retracing your steps, psychologically if not physically. You are revisiting a scenario you left some while ago. You have mixed memories but this time around things are due to be better.

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

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

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

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

ARIES

January 21 - February 19

TAURUS

February 20 - March 20

March 21 - April 20

April 21 - May 21

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

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

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

GEMINI

CANCER June 23 - July 23

July 24 - August 23

For much of September you may have to live with a situation that isn’t moving as fast as you might wish. You may also have to deal with developments that have more to do with the past than the future – the consequences of old decisions. ‘If only you had known then what you now know.’ Don’t waste time regretting wasted time! It’s never too late - and if you look at what could lie ahead, you will see every way to profit from an experience and right a serious wrong in the process. The past is a closed book. You can yet make the story of tomorrow, though, a tale of true triumph.

What about the weather? How much longer do you think it will carry on like this? Never mind what’s happening in your heart. Never mind what drama is in your life... let’s just talk trivia instead. That’s easier. Isn’t it? It may often seem to be. But we have to look at our challenges, answer our questions and face our facts. You are now dealing with a situation that seems serious. You may have to be brave - but if you are fair, if you have faith and if you don’t just ignore what needs to be discussed and talk about the weather instead, everything will have a happy (and easy) outcome... eventually.

It’s funny how you can know someone for years, and then suddenly realise that there is much about them that is a mystery to you. Even our closest companions have aspects to their character that it is easy for us to overlook or forget. You are now seeing a familiar subject in a fresh light.

This is causing you to process some unfamiliar thoughts and ideas. An agreement needs to be renegotiated.

An assumption must be questioned.

You’re no longer so sure, in September, that you can take anyone or anything for granted. But that doesn’t mean you’re in danger of loss.

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

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

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

Want to know a secret? Just ask. In fact, don’t feel obliged to articulate your inquiry. Just look. Observe the actions of a particular person. Catch their eye if you can. If you can’t, ask yourself why they won’t look at you.

Remember those ‘X-ray specs’ they used to advertise in kids comics. In September, you have the psychological equivalent thereof. Yours, though, really work! They don’t show bones, they show hidden agendas. You can see into hearts, souls and, to a lesser extent minds. Be sensitive to how much you say about this. Don’t be too sensitive to how it makes you feel!

May 22 - June 22

You may not hit the ground running in September but you should certainly manage to hit the bed snoozing.

Uranus continues its retrograde ramble through Aries. It is clearly in no hurry to get anywhere. Adopt a similar stance. Take your time.

Consider your options. Resist pressure to make long-term commitments.

You don’t yet know the half of what’s possible. That’s why it is so vital not to sell yourself short. No matter who claims to need what from you urgently, they can wait. Don’t make any old plan, make the right choice for the right reason. And get some rest.

They say leopards can’t change their spots. But in these days of cosmetic surgery this no longer sounds like a credible claim. They may not even require superficial adjustment to their appearance. They can use neuro-linguistic programming to subdue their inner-leopard. Er, can’t they? Where, in your world now, is therapy of some kind appropriate for someone? Remember the old joke; ‘How many psychotherapists does it take to change a light bulb?’ ‘Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change.’ Things really CAN change in September, if that’s what you want.

LEO

THE OHM ISSUE

141

the final frontier

BEFORE THE 1870S, GHOST HUNTING WAS SORT OF SIMILAR TO NECROMANCY OR SPIRITUALISM MUMBO JUMBO THAT INVOLVED SUMMONING SPIRITS TO A SPECIFIC PLACE A SEANCE WAS BEING HELD.

PARANORMAL VIBES SPIRITUAL TECHNOLOGY J.E.N.

W

ith British TV series like Most Haunted and American TV series like Ghost Lab hitting our screens, high-tech ghost hunting seems to be haunting us.

Ghosts have always held a certain otherworldly fascination. Past centuries have seen occasional attempts at investigating ghosts and poltergeists, but the first scientific investigations of hauntings didn’t start until the second half of the 19th century. Before the 1870s, ghost hunting was sort of similar to necromancy or spiritualism mumbo jumbo that involved summoning spirits to a specific place a séance was being held. After the 1870s, it came to entail the active search of a specific location, usually thought be haunted. Since the early 1900s technology slowly but surely started to creep into the exploration of haunted houses. One of the first to go high tech was Harry Price (1881–1948) at Borley Rectory in Essex, labelled at that time as the most haunted house in England. Over 200 people experienced strange happenings there between its construction in 1863 and it burning down in 1939. Despite this 20 year efforts with teams of observers to record

142 RAGMAG | SEPTEMBER 2011

ghostly phenomena, Price’s attempts at times degenerated into séances.

The 1970s saw high-tech ghost hunting awaken from death with the cheap availability of audio and video recording equipment. In 1973 Andrew Green (1927-2004) published a guide to ghost hunting which became rather popular and rekindled interest in using technology to investigate hauntings. To date equipment-based ghost hunting has yielded rather ghastly results, but technology seems to have had some breakthroughs in poltergeist cases.

The main reason behind the lack of concrete evidence and credibility might be because most ghost hunters are amateurs and only a small handful approach research using scientific standards.

Real-life ghostbusters nowadays use a wide array of tools and techniques.

From basic technology to more specialized high-tech options, these hunters are ever keen to get their ghost and to go beyond séances. Photography and video including night vision, infrared, digital and even disposable cameras are used. Electromagnetic waves are monitored with an EMF

IF THERE’S SOMETHING STRANGE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD, WHO YA GONNA CALL?

GHOSTBUSTERS

meter for strange changes (since ghosts are thought to create fluctuations).

Computers record video, audio, data and electromagnetic field fluctuations.

Temperature is measured using thermo graphic or thermal imaging cameras, infrared thermometers and sensors (since ghosts are thought to be cold). Digital and analog recording are set up to pick up on odd noises and electronic voice phenomena (like in the 2005 film “White Noise”). Geiger counters are used to detect spikes in radiation. Ion meters are used to check for a buildup of negative ions. Infrared and ultrasonic motion sensors are placed to rule out human movement. Gases like carbon monoxide may contribute to people thinking something strange is happening and hence air quality monitoring equipment is used. Sound vibrations are tracked with infrasound monitoring equipment.

What all these techniques suggest is that ghost investigators are probably slightly clueless about how to find a ghost and hence try to approach things from different angles. While ghost hunting might seem rather unscientific, it’s nice to know that technology can be useful in the world of the paranormal

THE OHM ISSUE

143