APRIL 2012
THE FIRST MAGAZINE IN THE REGION TO USE MOBILE TAGGING THE WIDEST CIRCULATED YOUTH FOCUSED MAGAZINE IN THE UAE
SOCIAL MEDIA blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
know more on page 12
+ PLUS
RUNNING WILD PEETA THE PASSION OF ART FAIRY TALE MAGIC
contents
ed’s note:
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letters to the editor uspace what’s hot the bottom bottom line tech talk / game hedz tempo’s top 10 songs / on my ipod my style blueprint running wild peeta city bites the passion of art people calendar youth talk time capsule planetarians fairy tale magic doc in the house / campus view social media: policy not policing tamakkan knowledge hub articulate / just handcrafted mini minx / just a thought
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We receive so much feedback from you, our readers, about what you want to see more of in Tempo, and what you want us to throw out. We love your letters and are always thankful for the feedback, both positive and negative.You see, we know that you wouldn’t write to us if you didn’t care. So we gathered months of feedback and decided to send Tempo back into the garage for a tune-up. We’ve tweaked the design and the look and feel, and hope Tempo is more entertaining and pleasing. We’ve also been tinkering with our website www. tempoplanet.com to make it easier to read and more user-friendly to navigate. Have a look and send us your comments and ideas. Drop me a line personally and I promise to respond. The one thing that we’re not changing is the Tempo editorial formula. We are still steadfastly ‘community’ and remain unabashed in recognizing groups and individuals who are interesting and make a contribution to the wonderful tapestry of humanity in the UAE.
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Be kind, live well and keep up the tempo!
Sana Bagersh Managing Editor bagersh@tempoplanet.com MANAGING EDITOR Sana Bagersh SUPERVISING EDITOR Ian Mason
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Angeli Castillo
FEATURES WRITER Alma Kadragic
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Neena Rai Jan D’Sa
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Sharon Carvalho
Manar Al Hinai Ahmed Samir
MARKETING COORDINATORS Manjul Abhishek Laskar Laipubam
Rohith Bhat Azza El Masri Shahid Saeed
MAGAZINE DESIGN Mark De Castro
Blakniss Shamma Al Suwaidi
DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Melaku Muluneh
ADDRESS To reach editorial at Abu Dhabi Tempo email: editorial@tempoplanet.com. If you need to find out where you can pick up your copy call: 02 491 8624/25 or check out the list of Tempo distribution points on our website. NOTE TO ADVERTISERS Advertisers can request brand tagging with all advertisements. To reach advertising call: 02 491 8624/25, fax: 02 491 8626 email: advertising@tempoplanet.com DISCLAIMER Tempo is a publication of BrandMoxie. Although Tempo Magazine does its best to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of its contents, the publisher cannot accept any responsibility for errors, mistakes and inaccuracies. The publisher reserves the rights of this product and no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the permission of the publisher. MEDIA LICENCE NO. 1/105866/24295
Dave Solomon Justin Thomas
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Hello Tempo! I was an intern for your amazing magazine last year! Loved working there, learned a lot and definitely got a lot of experience too. Well, this is a stop motion film I came up with, not so long ago. It was a college project :) Hope ya’ll like it! :D Cheers - Nyurka Fernandes Hey Nyurka, we’re so proud of you and we wish you the best of luck with University! - The Tempo Team
Dear editor, I was touched by the story on the orphanage in Tanzania, and also about the British School Al Khubairat drive for Zambia. Sharing such stories really helps to motivate us all - Mathew N. Hi Tempo, I don't always agree with your choices for Top 10 songs in the UAE ( "Give me all your luvin?" - Madonna... Really?!!) But I'm glad you're doing the Top 10 in the UAE...coz no one else is doing it - Brian D.
TEMPO’S SHOUT OUT: “WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE MAGAZINE?” Well, the articles are interesting and Tempo is like a home for everyone to get noticed! :)
I loved the story on The Dream Players!! - Kera Thompson
- Jason D’souza
The fact that anyone with talent can find their place in Tempo :)
u vote
- Simone Carvalho
RESULTS OF LAST MONTH’S U VOTE:
NEXT MONTH’S QUESTION: Do you like the new size of Tempo magazine? Yes No
Tempo asked our online readers, If you had a super power, what would it be? This is what you said:
INVISIBILITY X-RAY VISION SUPER STRENGTH SUPER SPEED
go to tempoplanet to vote
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10% 10% 60%
20%
anks for Hey Ed, th rians. he Planeta featuring T more grass We need is, tives like th roots initia ls o ping scho and I’m ho ce ities embra and univers dra M. this - San
BrandMoxie was proud to host the launch of Imagenation's film club, Bopcorn & Sawaleef, at it's Innovation@Work Hall. Follow them on twitter: @ BopcornSawaalef
u space
ENTREPRENEUR FOCUS IN THE ZONE WITH… Meet Houda Cassim, Francophile Fashionista Houda, a Saudi entrepreneur with a strong French influence, has poured her love of Paris and everything Parisian into a new boutique she has set up called ‘Paris Avenue,’ located in Khalidiya. Houda chatted to Tempo about her inspiration and her dreams. A SAUDI IN FRANCE I am a Saudi national. I studied architecture at Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Paris, but due to family reasons I had to stop my studies and started working for my embassy. Having lived for several years in Paris, I have been imbued of French culture, and I appreciate a lot of the French know-how in many fields. I knew this was something I had to do when I moved to the United Arab Emirates. BRINGING PARIS TO ABU DHABI Paris Avenue is a concept store themed around the discovery of new designers. It is dedicated entirely to those creators of art for whom elegance, originality and quality go together. I offer a large selection of handbags and shoes for major
occasions and everyday use, as well as accessories and decorative items. Paris Avenue is the window to the world for these designers. INSPIRATION AND PARTNERSHIPS There are two - the first one is a nod to my father, God bless his soul, who used to have a fashion boutique, but I was too young to be interested in it. The second reason is to pay tribute to the art of French living and to all the artisans who love their work. I take this opportunity to thank all those who surrounded me, helped me and encouraged me - my family, my friends and my wonderful collaborators. THE ESSENCE OF PARIS AVENUE I wanted a cosy place where everyone would feel at home. It is not only a boutique but a gallery where you can admire objects, and read, smell and feel the soul of Paris avenues. Most of the items available are chosen from materials and handmade in small workshops. Some of these items are unique. The workshops I deal with respect labour rights, demand freedom of association and compliance with local laws, and prohibit child labour, forced labour and discrimination. FORWARD LOOKING With God’s help, I will consider opening more stores in the UAE and in the GCC region. I also have other projects in mind, not in the fashion field but still related to French living. Paris Avenue is located off Zayed First in Khalidiya.
To find out more about Paris Avenue call 02 635 4030
shortly after. He told me all about motorcycles, his favourite hobby, and how much he wanted to have a social life again.
MEMBERS WANTED: Special needs group formed By Jenna Bolduc As a newly-arrived special education teacher in the UAE, I quickly became aware of the lack of organizations for children and adults with exceptional needs. FIRST MEETING Last year, I met a wonderful woman with a 21-year-old son who has exceptional needs. They are expats who have lived here for about two years. She told me that her son is bored and stays at home every day because there are no opportunities for him. She said he sits around the house and waits until she returns so they can travel to the mall or go outside to ride his beloved Harley Davidson bike. I met with her son
FORMING A SOCIAL GROUP After hanging out a couple times, we decided to start a social group for adults with special needs. The aim of the social group is to find adults with mild-moderate cognitive or physical disabilities and create an exciting environment for them to feel welcome and be accepted for exactly who they are. ABOUT THE GROUP The group has started as a meet-up group through www.meetup.com. It is free of charge - the only costs will be for the activities we do. In particular, we urge the guardians of group members to attend the first meet-up. However, more members – at least 3 or 4 – are needed to commence the proposed regular events such as dinners, bowling, movies, plays and going to the beach. MORE INFORMATION To find out more or to register someone as a group member, visit www.meetup.com/Socialgroup-for-Adults-with-Exceptional-Needs
TALKING BOOKS By Azza El Masri
Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars (Dutton Books, 2012) Author: John Green
What’s worse than losing someone to the death-grips of cancer? Being diagnosed with a terminal cancer yourself. Introducing John Green’s newest masterpiece, “The Fault in Our Stars”. FINDING THE BEAUTY OF LIFE Despite the miraculous surgery that buys her a few extra years, 16-year-old Hazel’s cancer has always been terminal. Then she meets Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old ex-basketball player, at a Cancer Kid Support Group and her life takes a beautiful, tragic and funny turn. For the first time, Augustus coaxes her into savoring the beauty in her life. CHARACTERS TO LOVE Narrated by Hazel, “The Fault in Our Stars” will grip readers with the deep and realistic perception it describes. Heavy with philosophical meaning, this novel succeeds in absorbing you right into the lives of its main characters to the point of feeling like you’ve become part of the book. It raises fundamental questions that every teenager asks themselves yet adds a sense of gravity for those who haven’t much time left. LAUGH AND CRY John Green, acclaimed for his previous novel “Looking for Alaska”, mixes comedy with tragedy so perfectly that you’ll find yourself not knowing whether to sob or laugh. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to have a notepad close at hand while reading to jot down all the beautiful, perceptive quotes. But more than just notes, you will find yourself writing out half of the book because of its touching realism and the perceptions of young adults and their feelings. For me, “The Fault in Our Stars” is the best book of 2012 so far. It’s powerful and life-changing; electric, sharp, funny but tragic. Read it - trust me, you won’t regret it. www.tempoplanet.com | 05
LAIDBACK LUKE
5 April, Flash Forum, Abu Dhabi After proving to be a massive hit with the crowds at Creamfields Abu Dhabi 2011, the Dutch dynamo Laidback Luke returns to the capital on 5 April. With his fusion of hyper drive house step & ghetto jack trance bass, he’s sure to whip up a frenzy at the FLASH Forum. Supported by local DJs Mister Outlaw and Immaculate Touch (Chad Punk and Stew Magoo), this is a club night not to be missed. Laidback Luke chatted to Tempo about his upcoming gig – the interview can be read on www.tempoplanet.com
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION® BAZAAR 14 April, Café Arabia, Abu Dhabi The Make-A-Wish Foundation® United Arab Emirates does some awesome work, and this is no exception.Vendors, artists and artisans are invited to participate in a fundraising arts and crafts bazaar on Saturday 14th April from 10-4pm at Café Arabia, Abu Dhabi. Support the cause and help them put a smile on a child’s face! The Foundation, under the Chairmanship of HH Sheikha Sheikha Bint Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, is dedicated to granting wishes to children aged 3-18 living with life threatening conditions in the UAE. More info: mel.raymer7@yahoo.co.uk
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THE DREAM PLAYERS IS GOING MALL-SIDE!
MIDDLE EAST FILM AND COMIC CON THE DREAM PLAYERS 19 April, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi
After successful performances at the Innovation@Work space, The Dream Players will take its next show to the newly-expanded Al Wahda Mall on 19 April from 6.00pm- 8.00pm. Be a part of the coolest community talent show in Abu Dhabi and cheer on the incredible talent being discovered in the UAE! More info and registration: www.thedreamplayers.com
20-21 April, Mina Seyahi Hall, Dubai International Marine Club The region’s largest pop culture and entertainment festival is back. The Middle East Film and Comic Con is the place to meet celebrities for autographs and photos, buy exclusive merchandise and loads of cool stuff from some of the world’s largest entertainment companies, watch classic sci-fi, anime, superhero movies and gain exclusive previews of the summer’s biggest blockbusters. Gamers compete in the Gamezone and try out the latest video game releases, take part in art, cosplay and gaming competitions, and join in workshops and panel discussions. Ticket info: www.mefcc.com
THE BOTTOM BOTTOM LINE Lighting up the skyline I passed by the Abu Dhabi breakwater and realized that there was something quite spectacular about the skyline. And then it occurred to me, that it was the huge UAE flag that’s next to the Abu Dhabi Theatre. The flag, which I’ve heard told holds the Guinness record for the largest flag in the world (can anyone corroborate this?) looks absolutely stunning, and it’s all because of the lights at its base. Now the flag projects to the heavens and carries a sense of historical purpose.
DUBOMEDY TURNS 4! 1 April, 7.00pm and 9.00pm DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai April Fools Day (1 April) is an appropriate day to celebrate Dubomedy’s 4th birthday bash. Renowned international comedian Aron Kader (Axis of Evil, LA’s Comedy Store, Arabs Gone Wild & much more) returns to the UAE after a three year absence, and his live show in Dubai is sure to match his previous sold out shows . Joining Aron will be Mina Liccione and Ali Al Sayed along with two students from the Dubomedy Arts School to be nominated by Aron based upon their ‘end of workshop’ performance. To join the comedy workshop, email LOL@vivadubai.com Show info: LOL@vivadubai.com or www.dubomedy.com Ticket info: www.ticketingco.com or 050 927 3621. VIP tickets: AED 250. Regular seating: AED 175.
EMIRATES KOREAN FILM FESTIVAL 5-8 April, Heritage Village and other locations in Abu Dhabi The Emirates Korean Film Festival celebrates the best of Korean cinema and culture from 5 – 8 April. This year’s festival will introduce the politics of North and South Korea through the eye of the lens. The world of Korean anime opens up during Saturday’s family friendly day at the Heritage Village, along with Korean fashion, food and fun. A festival highlight is the annual platform of educational workshops by award winning filmmakers. Festival info: http://www.wix.com/ekff2012/ekff#
BE THE FACE OF SMASH! Send a photograph of yourself to smash@liwastores.com along with the answer to "Why should you be the Face of Smash!?" The winner will be the Face of Smash! and will receive a voucher worth AED 400 to spend at any Smash! outlet, and will be featured in Tempo's My Style Blueprint. The chosen entries will be uploaded to the Smash ME Facebook page. 3 runners up also get gift vouchers. So enter today and get your friends to 'Like' your pic!
Nipping smoking in the bud Is anyone aware of the growing problem of smoking among the young? If you have any doubt then go to the public parks where kids hang out in the evening and you’ll see groups of preteens and teenagers lighting up casually and passing out fags as if they were gum sticks. I saw a young boy who looked like he was 11 or 12 lighting up, and I was hugely tempted to walk up to him, yell ‘idiot’ in his face and take away the cigarette. But I didn’t. Health craze bandwagon Hurray for all the health clubs that are popping up everyday throughout the UAE; it gives all of us less reason to gripe about why we can’t exercise. The health clubs who get marks are the ones that are clear about their offerings and transparent about their prices. Amna writes to me that she went up to Fitness First to ask about their prices and was told that the girls at the counter couldn’t give prices, and that she had to first talk to one of their interviewers/reps and that they needed her number and would call her back later to give her an assessment etc etc…. not cool, guys. Getting the word out If you’re a film aficionado, there is a recent event that you should have not missed but probably did. This is a documentaries film festival focusing on women that was held in Abu Dhabi in March. It was brought to the capital by The Women In Film group (kudos Michelle Nickelson) and held outdoors at Heritage Village. It was an incredible setting with many unforgettable films. The only thing missing was an audience… what a shame only a small number of people knew about the event… if only art authorities and corporate benefactors supported worthy artistic events with funding for marketing. In support of film Thank you New York Film Academy and US Ambassador Michael Corbin for the invitation to the short film competition “The UAE Through Your Eyes:Your World,Your Future.” Five movies were shown at the ambassador’s residence. Tempo was especially happy to see Daniel Malak, a rising star from the Tempo-NYFA “I Love UAE” competition, win this short film competition. And a Tempo shout out to Image Nation who launched its new social film club - Bopcorn & Sawalef - at BrandMoxie’s hip innovation space in Nahyan Camp. All pretty cool stuff. Write to me: concierge@tempoplanet.com The Concierge
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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
tech talk Shahid Saeed | Talker for the Non-Techies
LATEST NEWS Social Media Demographics
THE NEW iPAD Apple has unveiled its third iPad, restoring its technological lead over rivals in the tablet stakes. The new iPad has impressive retina display upgrades to 3.1 million pixels, giving it the range of 2048 x 1536 which is more than an HDTV resolution. It has Apple’s new A5X processor with quad-core graphics, said to be four times the pixels of iPad 2. The camera is upgraded to 5 megapixel with 1080p HD video recording and 4G LTE - I don’t know why a tablet would need that much faster data speed but it sounds great. With the Dictation feature, you can now write an email by speaking. It also has the smart covers previously supplied with iPad2, and the battery life is up to 10 hours per charge which is also a good sign.
Follow me on @shahidaasi
CANON EOS 5D MARK III Canon has announced the latest addition to its world-famous EOS range with the launch of the new EOS 5D Mark III which builds on the performance of the legendary EOS 5D Mark II. It features a 22.3 megapixel full-frame sensor, up to 6 frames per second shooting, 14-bit DIGIC 5+ processor, 61-point AF system and 63-zone metering, a huge native ISO range 100-25600 expandable to 102400, advanced AF system, 1920X1080 full HD movie, highly accurate exposures by iFCL metering system, 3.2” clear view TFT fixed LCD screen, dual card slots CF Type 1 and SD/SDHC/SDXC. The Mark III is faster and more responsive and features the tools to adapt to everything from studio photography to creative videography while producing results of the highest quality.
More than 66% of adults are connected to one or more social media platforms, but who exactly are these people? This infographic, created by Online MBA, breaks down the demographics: • 57% of Facebook users have completed some college and 24% have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree. People aged 45 and older make up 46% of Facebook users. There is also gender split, with women using Facebook more than men - about 57% of Facebook users are women. • 59% of Twitter users are women. • Pinterest has the heaviest gender imbalance, with 82% users being women. • Google+ is occupied by men (71%) and about 50% of Google+ users are 24 or younger. • LinkedIn have an even ratio of men and women, and 49% of over-45s use the site to connect with other business professionals. • Most people use social media to stay in touch with friends and family, and more are doing so while on the go - about 200 million Facebook users check their Timelines from their mobile devices every day.
game hedz Blakniss | Original game head from Atari to XBox!
MASS EFFECT 3... How’s it going, Game Hedz? I trust you›ve done the right thing and got your hands on a copy of Mass Effect 3. If you haven’t, you’ll be cursed with two left thumbs...or something like that. We’ve been playing through the game (not finished yet) and can see the immediate impact of larger scale conflict and story that makes for a density of interdependent missions and pivotal relationships. You might experience the temptation, like I have, to backtrack and change a choice to see the differing outcome, like putting Jack and her students on the frontline. I chose a support role for them, but wonder if choosing frontline duty would put Jack back on the Normandy. We’ll see. Otherwise, it’s rolling on nicely, though the beginning stages of the
game are more cut scene than anything else - only after about 45 minutes of game play does the full RPG experience kick in. NOTE OF CAUTION: if you import a saved character, you can’t choose gameplay mode - you get Role Playing Game mode (RPG) by default.
...AND A MORE! Big news! You can play a Mass Effect prequel on iOS! Can I get a “wuhoo”! It’s called Mass Effect Infiltrator, and you play Randall Enzo, a Cerberus operative with a conscience who is now fighting for the Alliance (supposed good guys) and intent on taking down Cerberus (Cerberus is a dubious organisation that is working against the good guys in the main game).You are trying to recover important alien-related data from a research facility and pass it on to the Alliance. It hasn’t been widely publicised but it does exist, I promise, and it’s pretty cool. With similar controls as Dead Space and Shadowgun, you can shoot from cover, vault, switch weapons and use biotic skills pretty seamlessly.
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This story occurs simultaneously with the Mass Effect 3 storyline, and the outcome apparently contributes to the console game’s storyline!
Pretty sweet. Just make sure you have an EA account so the game outcomes can be synced. This game does great in continuing to show how iOS and other portable devices can provide a great gaming experience with near console level graphics and gameplay. Get it, and keep fighting to save the universe! Without the universe we can’t enjoy chocolate...and I love chocolate.
MY FAV APP My favourite app is Real Football 2012 for iPhone, iPad & Android devices. This is a fantastic touch game and very easy to play for anyone as it has difficulty selection options. You can play in practice, exhibition, league and cup mode; select your team, level, time, ball and when you are off the ground, push the goals to win the match; share results on Facebook; and get your rewards in coins, cash and experience points. Later, you can use all the rewards to buy more stuff from the store provided within the game. Everyone must try this app - it’s free to download and heaps of fun.
by Shajeel Malik
1 Earthquake - Labrinth ft. Tinie Tempah 2 Lego House - Ed Sheeran 3 Stronger - Kelly Clarkson
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
We Are Young - Fun ft. Janelle Monae Stronger - Kelly Clarkson Glad You Came - The Wanted Set Fire To The Rain - Adele Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye ft. Kimbra Starships - Nicki Minaj Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj Take Care - Drake ft. Rihanna Wild Ones - Flo Rida ft. Sia Part Of Me - Katy Perry
1.
Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye
2.
Starships - Nicki Minaj
3.
Elephant - Alexandra Burke ft. Erick Morillo
4.
Next To Me - Emeli SandĂŠ
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Wild Ones - Flo Rida ft. Sia
6.
Titanium - David Guetta ft. Sia
7.
Hot Right Now - DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora
8.
Turn Me On - David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj
9.
Love Me - Stooshe ft. Travie McCoy
10. Paris - Jay-Z & Kanye West
4 Part Of Me - Katy Perry 5 Get Yourself Back Home - Gym Class Heroes ft. Neon Hitch
6 Starships - Nicki Minaj 7 Drive By - Train 8 Wild Ones - Flo Rida ft. Sia
Phoebe Jaspe, a 20 year old film making student who is currently a digital content creator in an oil/gas company loves chillwave, homesick ambient sounds laced with modern/electro pop, psych-folk, post-punk revival, nu gaze and witch house. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Twin Shadow - Castles in the Snow (Com Truise remix) Holy Other - Touch Stumbleine - Sun Bleached Marques Toliner - Deep in my Heart Twin Shadow - Slow (Van Rivers remix) The xx - VCR Toro y Moi - Talamak James Blake - Wilhelm Scream Neon Indian - Polish Girl Washed Out - Feel it all Around
9 Hot Right Now - DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora 10 Sorry For Part Rockin - LMFAO
View the #1 SONG IN THE UAE
www.tempoplanet.com | 09
Name:
Ahmed Mohammed Abusara
Age: 20 4th year Civil Engineering student at Abu Dhabi University
Fashion Statement: I am forever a lover of fashion. Some people are quick to say that I am not into fashion, but we all have style within ourselves, whether we are open to recognizing it or not. Clothes are a part of our daily lives so why not make a statement with your clothes?
Your personal style: Funky, fun, bright, sometimes sporty, comfy, suitable and stylish.
Fav buy of the past month: A t-shirt from Armani Exchange. Which is your fav store in AD? H&M is my favourite store. There are a lot of places but I think the best places are Diesel, Zara, H&M and Pull & Bear. Does AD have style? Of course it has style! I think that people here are much more stylish compared to other countries in the region. It’s a multicultural city so you can see the style ranging from a kandura to jeans and a t-shirt. Do you have any fashion pet hates? I don’t like people wearing unmatched colors in the same outfit; outfits with glitter and shiny diamonds; and I don’t like shoes with long necks.
MY FAV THINGS
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cover story By Sharon Carvalho
RUNNING WILD PEETA SOCIAL MEDIA THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Wild Peeta is a home-grown success story with an ambitious plan to roll out their unique brand of restaurants across the globe. Mohamed and Peyman Parham Al Awadhi, the brothers behind Wild Peeta, tell Tempo how social media and the community have been critical to their growth.
Getting started As with any invention or idea, it comes out of opportunity.You see something that doesn’t exist and you fill that gap. For us, it was creating the first brand of gourmet shawerma. We saw that there were tons of regular shawerma shops but not one that had gone beyond the norm. That was about 12 years ago and it’s been a hell of a journey since then. Learning curves It took so long for the idea to take shape partly because of fate and partly because of the lack of funding. Back then, there was an abundance of ways to find financing for cars or houses or other such items but there was nothing for those that needed money to start a business. 12 years ago, the business environment in the UAE was not geared for startup businesses. Then, eight years ago, we went and met the Sheikh Mohammed Establishment (now called Dubai SME), explained everything to them and since then, they’ve been huge supporters of Wild Peeta. We are now in our third year of operation and it has been highly turbulent because of the many learning curves we’ve faced. Start-up challenges We tested a lot of things. As a small business, you are able to have an idea and test it out and you learn from these tests. The statistics for a startup business are really poor in the UAE. They say that there is a failure rate
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of between 50-70% for small businesses not making it past the 3-5 year mark. It’s not easy being an SME in the UAE because there is no legislation for small businesses. Being grouped with big businesses is not fair because they have more money and resources at their disposal. We believe that unless this is addressed, we won’t see enough small businesses entering the market and we stand to lose some amazing ideas that small businesses can bring to the market. It’s simple - does the UAE only want imported brands? Does the UAE not want to see local brands and local ideas? Meeting expectations There’s a lot of hype that surrounds Wild Peeta. Sometimes it works for us and other times it doesn’t. How it works for us is that everybody always wants to go to Wild Peeta. How it works against us is that sometimes, expectations are extremely high and we have to remind everybody that we’re still new. We are a small business that’s only been around for three years and we’re trying to make the best of the means that we have. Being different Two things that you notice when you walk in to the outlet are: one, the food and two, our followers. We make everything in our kitchen by hand, with fresh ingredients and no preservatives. We don’t own a deep fryer! Everything we get is from the Middle East and we put all of that together to create our
menu; a really good hearty soup, our gourmet shawermas and our signature drinks. For instance, our coffee is from a brand called RAW that sells organic fair trade Dubai roasted coffee. In terms of our cold drinks, we make our own and we’re a big fan of teabased drinks. Passion brings happiness Wild Peeta has changed our lives tremendously. For one, it showed us how resilient we can be. We came in to this with a small budget and so we had to find innovative ways to achieve what we wanted to. For most, moving from a paid job to this is not easy but for us, we didn’t think much about it. It was just hell, yeah! And even though it’s extremely challenging to be a small business in the UAE, we have never been happier. We believe that happiness comes from doing something that you love, have passion for and believe in deeply. Plus it helps that there are 10,000 people encouraging us and keeping us grounded constantly! Next, the world I think today, more than ever, we know that Wild Peeta has the potential to be in every major city in the world. It makes us feel that there’s no such thing as impossible. Impossible was when they said that man couldn’t fly or couldn’t be in space! We feel that man can do anything, so why not? Why not have a brand created in the UAE and exported to every country?
QUICK Q’s
10,000 followers... and growing
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Our social media followers have been a huge part of our lives even before we opened the outlet. We invited them to help in the decision making. We asked them for advice about the drinks we served and the layout of the store and almost everything. We figured that the more people we asked for advice, the better we would be. Over three years, we have built a following of over 10,000 people and these aren’t random people. We grow our followers, have conversations with them and take time out of our day to involve them with Wild Peeta’s life and, in the process, these 10,000 people feel like they are a part of the Wild Peeta existence.
We have all sorts of events happening at Wild Peeta. There was a Dubomedy comedy event, we celebrated Social Media Day, and clubs like the Dubai Anime Club and the Twitter Book Club meet at our outlet. Wild Peeta is like a focal point, an opportunity to connect all these people in the UAE.
Customers are everything People tend to ask us why would we want to involve 10,000 people in our decision making process. We think that it makes us better people and it makes Wild Peeta a better brand. We’re doing this for ourselves and our customers and if we don’t listen to our customers, why do it?
These are all community initiatives and we don’t want to take credit. The only thing that we do is bring them together. We create opportunities for the people to share. We’re just grateful that the community has adopted Wild Peeta and considers it their own. It would have tougher if the community hadn’t got together. SUCCESS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Wild Peeta’s social media influence ranks among one of the highest in the UAE and it’s growing among the Middle East. The result of having such a strong influence is that brands look to us as partners to try to engage the community. For instance, Sony got in touch with us to collaborate and we look forward to more such collaborations.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE WILD PEETA IN 5 YEARS? We would like to have a handful of outlets in the GCC. We have a target; we’re looking at a certain number of outlets and a strong base in the GCC before moving out. Every day we get contacted to open up Wild Peeta outlets across the Americas, Asia and Europe but we aren’t going to do it until we have a solid foothold in the GCC. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T RUNNING A RESTAURANT? We really don’t know but running a restaurant has definitely taught us that life is too short to do anything that you’re not passionate about. We’d travel. We love travelling and we’d travel all the time if we didn’t have the restaurant. One way that we’ve managed to incorporate travelling is by launching Peeta Planet. Peeta Planet is our way of fusing social media, travelling and television. It’s us travelling around the world but guided by our followers. Our followers tell us the best places to go and we go there! WHAT IS THE WILD PEETA MOTTO? Local. Social. Fresh.
www.tempoplanet.com | 13
city bites By Justin Thomas
SEVILO’S AT MILLENNIUM: ITALIAN FOOD YOU CAN’T REFUSE The restaurant is one of the last strongholds of genuine face-to-face social intercourse. Sadly though, even here, there are increasing numbers of diners insisting on a side of Blackberry with every meal. It’s heartbreaking to watch a young couple out for a candle-lit meal, both of them stare lovingly into their smart-phone screens, frantically thumbing messages to whoever, wherever - “fa6ooomy: waynich 3yooni?” On what level is the couple actually even together? Physically? Perhaps. Psychologically? Definitely not. More tragic still is when only one partner engages in this behavior while the other partner waits patiently for scraps of leftover attention.
Such a scene is unlikely at Sevilo’s, an oldschool restaurant oozing authenticity. This is a place where the food, the chefs, and the occasional musicians command attention, diverting diners away from their habitual digital distractions. Sevilo’s is located within Abu Dhabi’s Millennium Hotel. Not the gargantuan Grand Millennium Hotel resembling a citadel which casts an ominous shadow over Al Wahda Mall, but rather the older Millennium Hotel on Khalifa Street. This Millennium has a lobby which is almost identical to that of its sister hotel, the Sharjah Millennium. This slightly disorientated me on arrival as I was haunted by surreal feelings of déjà vu until I made the connection between the Sharjah and Abu Dhabi venues. I would describe Sevilo’s decor as old-world woody homeliness with lots of dark wood, soft lighting and a distinctly European feel. I particularly love the little twisted olive trees dotted around the place. Sevilo’s is unashamedly Italian. When we visited, there was live Italian music being strummed on a small wooden guitar-like instrument, accompanied by a woman with a glorious soprano voice. Those diners fluent in Italian were mesmerized. All of the lyrics, except ‘amore’, were wasted on me, but live music has an almost unfathomable ability to create an enjoyable ambience. Thursdays at Sevilo’s is known as ‘Mamma Mia Serata’. This is Sevilo’s signature night,
14 | www.tempoplanet.com
where their Italian chef masterfully prepares a medley of traditional Italian dishes and guests get to sample everything. This is a nice concept, not quite buffet and definitely not à la carte. Each dish is brought fresh to the table and you can take as much or as little as you like. It’s meant to create a homely dining experience - food like mamma used to make. Mamma’s rules too; you get what you are given and eat it. But there is lots of choice and Mamma, being the friendly matriarch she is, has made all your favorites. Nine courses were served on the night we dined. First up was a bruschetta with spicy vegetables and black olives. The olives were amazing, understandable given that Sevilo’s is olives spelt backwards, and they obviously harbor a well placed affection for this versatile veg/fruit. Then came pizza - one topped with dry beef and lobster, the other beautifully be domed by buffalo mozzarella and roasted eggplant. Next up was, a variety of elegant salads, followed by durum wheat pasta and hammour garnished with a dill sauce. Another pasta dish arrived, tortellini stuffed to bursting with trout and spinach. This dish was followed by risotto with saffron and grilled vegetables, then pan-fried tenderloin steak, and finally roasted hammour fillet. I also counted at least six different types of dessert, among them a powerfully-caffeinated tiramisu. Gluttony and journalistic integrity forced me to eat a little of everything, and quite a lot of somethings. Of particular note was the pizza.
Calling it pizza seems a disservice - this was about as distant from the usual fast-food-joint pizza as a Ferrari is from a Fiat. Similarly, the steak was outstanding, equal to, if not superior to, those served at establishments specializing in steak. Midmeal, the Chef and his assistant toured the tables on a well-deserved lap of honor. They received authentic heartfelt appreciation from all the diners. By the time desserts started to pile up on our table, I was fighting an almost irrepressible urge to do my Don Corleone impression, especially as the music wafting through the restaurant was reminiscent of the famous wedding scene from “The Godfather” movie. However, before I could muster my best Brando face, one of my dining companions leaned across the table and, in an impossibly husky voice, said: “Bonasera, Bonasera, what have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully? If you’d come to me in friendship, this scum who ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day.” The Thursday night ‘Mamma Mia Serata’ experience is priced at just over 100 dirhams per person inclusive of soft drinks, an unbelievably modest tariff for such a first-rate dining experience. Indeed, it is an offer you can’t refuse. I strongly recommend it, but leave your Blackberry or iPhone at home, and give your undivided attention to the food and your dining companion - they deserve it.
THE PASSION OF ART LIVING THE DREAM By Sharon Carvalho
To most, art is just a hobby and is not taken seriously. But to some, art is a passion; a lifestyle. It is a way of capturing every moment and being inspired every second. For Nabeel Khalfan Al Mehairbi, art is just that. Nabeel told his story of inspiration and passion to Tempo. In the beginning I am a 40-year-old Emirati of mixed UAE and British heritage and I live and work in Abu Dhabi. Apart from painting, I love reading, movies and travelling. I also love visiting the theatre and national galleries. I began winning prizes in the UK and UAE for my art in my late teens. It was then that I realised that my drawing skills were above average. One day I sat down and asked myself how much this means to me, and from that moment I decided to push myself every day. It has not always been easy but was worth every moment and since then I have not stopped. Living the dream My journey as an artist has been very exciting. I only began taking my art seriously three years ago and since then I have participated in an exhibition at the Ghaf Gallery, which was my first exhibition. This was followed by other ventures culminating in being documented as one of the Emirates Fine Artists in the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation database. Personal influences My personal influences are artists from the Impressionist period such as Renoir, Monet and Sisley. They redefined how paintings were made by capturing a moment on the canvas and understanding how the surroundings affected the subjects. These artists changed all preconceptions on painting standards and, at the time, struggled to make a name; now
the Impressionist period is one of the most recognized and revered. For me, inspiration could also come from an idea, a scene or even an expression on a person’s face. Artistic difference In the UAE, there are not many artists who are realist painters; for the most part it is modern/contemporary works. Here is where I can offer something that is not seen every day. It has worked for me and against me. Overcoming challenges The main challenges are building a name and having galleries show your work.You have to work hard and never give up. Life motto My motto would be to just enjoy every day of your life. Advice for new artists The best advice I can offer is that if you love painting and creating artwork, don’t let anyone dissuade you. I suggest that you introduce yourself to the art community, show your work, market yourself, visit local exhibitions and don’t hide at home, otherwise no one will know you. Books are second to art I have been lucky with where I work. Books are my other passion so you can imagine how much of an inspiration it is to be working for the National Library. www.tempoplanet.com | 15
April Fool’s Day!
Flea Market @ Café Arabia 9am- 1pm
World Ports and Trade Summit 2012 @ ADNEC 2-4
National Poetry Writing Month
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9
16 5th Gulf Film Festival @ InterCon Hotel, DFC 10-16
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ABC Expo @ ADNEC 22-25
30
Simone
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4
11
Natalie Cole in Concert @ Emirates Palace Auditorium
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The Eagles perform @ The Sevens Stadium tomorrow!
HAPPY B IR T H D TO MEAY !
Emirates Skills National Competition @ ADNEC 11-12
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CITYSCAPE Abu Dhabi 2012 @ ADNEC 22-25
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OLIVER! The musical @ Madinat Jumeirah 12-23
17 Gulf Rail 2012 @ DICEC 17-19
24 Tamakkan Seminar @ Mamoura Auditorium my april eco pledge
Laidback Luke @ Yas Arena
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12
19
Tri Yas @ Yas Marina Circuit tomorrow
The Dream Players @ Al Wahda Mall 6pm - 9pm
26 Hug a friend day!
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13
Atelier Live Dance Arena @ Dubai International Cricket Stadium
UAE Jet Ski Championship @ Abu Dhabi Breakwater
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27
Middle East Film and Comic Con @ Dubai International Marine Club 20-21
Al Ain Education and Career Fair 30 April- 2 May
my april to do list
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The Bride Show Dubai @ DIEC 4-7
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t Abu Dhabi Spor NEC Exhibition @ AD 12-14
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Community Arts and Crafts Souq @ Café Arabia 10am- 4pm
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Walk for Autism @ Zabeel Park, Dubai
Ankit Lodha
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8
15
22
29
Beauty Secrets Show 2012 @ ADNEC 30 Apr- 3 May
Zeeshan Razzaqi
Anushka Abraham
Zainab Khan Osama El Kamel
Kareem K.
Dubai Fashion Week Fall/ Winter @ Dubai World Trade Center 7-14
Piscine Middle East 2012 @ADNEC 22-25
Olympians @ ADNEC till 30th April
Laveezah Khan
APRIL
tempo’s people calendar
youth talk THEORIES DEBUNKED: THE FALL FROM GRACE
By Ahmed Samir
You’re wrong.Yes, you are.You think you’re right, and perhaps many agree you are right, but you’re very likely as wrong as can be. Allow me to explain.
completely false! A dizzyingly abrupt fall from grace. And similar falls litter the science and history books. The Earth was thought to be flat, not the spherical structure we know it to be today.
In the year 334 BC (or thereabouts), a particularly interesting individual by the name of Aristotle declared that living creatures can arise from non-living matter (among many other equally interesting theories); that frog tadpoles seemingly appearing out of nowhere in muddy pools and lakes arose from the sand and water. Or that maggots appearing on decaying meat arose from the meat itself (not, as we know now, the result of the hatched eggs of flies attracted to the dead flesh).
Then followed another faulty theory: the sun was thought to revolve around the Earth, as do all the planets - an idea that was supported by the fact that the sun, stars, and planets appear to circle the Earth, and the physical perception that the our planet is not moving, but a stable structure, the pivot of the universe. Well, wrong again.
The theory was Spontaneous Generation - that is, the postulation that life can take form from that which does not contain life. At the time, the philosopher and polymath’s theory was widely accepted and generally held to be the true origin of thing. Frogs looked like they appeared from the water and mud, so they must be born from them! Right? Well, wrong of course. With the invention of the microscope and the development of atomic theory, Aristotle’s theory was completely debunked by the 17th century and regarded as having little base in scientific fact. Aristotle, despite being a lucid thinker, was clearly limited; he didn’t know about microscopic life. His limitations led him to an incorrect conclusion. The interesting thing about all this is that something once held to be scientific fact was later proved to be
And even today, scientific theories are continually given a bashing, proverbially thrown against a wall and smashed to smithereens for being inadequate, for being superseded by other more advanced, more thorough evidence. It’s a continuous cycle of ‘find out, think, discard, think again, find out again, repeat’. Doubtless, the continuous process of trial and error, discovery and debunking and right and wrong, is integral to our development as a species, and to our understanding of things – which brings up a very interesting question. The question now becomes ‘what do we now know and think is right, but actually isn’t’? What will we discover that will tip the scales of belief in favour of new theories, new ideas and new ways of looking at everything? What are we wrongly convincing ourselves of? Worth thinking about.
By Shamma Al Suwaidi
Sometimes I like to stop to get off the fast moving river of life and take a look at it from a distance, where it is in clear view. I observe the lives of people around me, like close friends or relatives, and have a quick health scan on my own life while I’m at it.
Finding real friends Apparently I find that an important aspect of my existence is my social life. Oh, and by social life, I don’t mean dragging myself to visit my annoying neighbors on a daily basis in order to maintain our ‘neighborly relationship’. I mean my REAL friends from all around the world. Well, how do you fit a flight to Brazil and back in 24 short hours? And what about spending all that money just to
18 | www.tempoplanet.com
EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA: GOOD OR BAD?
visit a friend for a few hours? No. Welcome to the year 2012. I can use something that can be both extremely helpful and extremely dangerous at the same time. It’s what we human beings like to call ‘social media’. You know, BBM, Facebook, the stuff that keeps you connected. Make-up or break-up? What comes to mind when you think deeply is... are they actually helping us maintain our social lives, or are they just breaking us apart from past friends? On the positive side, when you’re in a situation where you can’t meet your friend in person, you can always contact them easily through a social media channel, and pretty quickly too. You can group chat or even video chat with a bunch of relatives that you haven’t seen in a while. In other words, meet them virtually.
Sounds nice and harmless, right? Well, up to a point. Consider this. A group of friends are sitting at a table, and instead of communicating face-to-face, they are all tapping away on their BlackBerrys, zoned out and into another world. Not so social. Social disconnect So are these ‘useful tools’ actually bringing humanity downhill? Seems unbelievable, but it’s actually possible. I find myself attached to these strange things myself, and it feels like only yesterday we had to jam our friends’ numbers onto our landlines to contact them. I can’t help but notice how quickly the world is evolving. But here’s the question... is it evolving in a good way? That’s something for you to think about.
TIME CAPSULE
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Name:
LAITH AL KARYOUTI
Age: 20 Profession: College Student Nationality: Palestinian / Jordanian PERSONALITY Your most valued possession: My gigantic collection of 70s and 80s hard rock and heavy metal music. One thing you cannot live without: Music. The person who inspires you the most: There are plenty of people that inspire me a great deal, but if was just one it would have to be Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Five things you need for survival: 1. Chips Ahoy Cookies 2. Six litres of Water 3. Monster Energy Drink 4. Mp3 Player 5. Clothes Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Working at a large company, probably in their Human Resources Department. What is your idea of peace? Everyone living in an ideal environment, where we mind our own business and do as we please without a desire to conquer other people’s territory. What item do you keep buying even though you have plenty? Headphones. What random act of kindness have you performed so far in 2012? Saving a dog from being crushed by the doors of an elevator.
Who in your life deserves a big old thank you? My parents the most, I’ve done a lot of things in my life that has made them miserable yet they keep giving me support and love so I succeed in my endeavors. Have you found your purpose yet? To be as good a human being as I can be, and to keep the music that fills every day of my life with joy alive long enough to pass on to future generations. What is the craziest thing you have ever done? I’ve done a lot of crazy things but if I had to pick one that might make people scratch their head a little, would be from Sixth grade in elementary school, kids would be playing at the football field and I’d pee in water bottles and throw the bottles at them. What is your earliest memory? How old were you? My birthday party when I was 3 years old, my mother held a puppet show just for me and invited lots of friends to come and watch the show. Most of us were infants so we didn’t fully understand what was going on , but I remember that day I received my first Power Ranger toy and was thrilled and excited for the next couple of weeks over it. If your life was a book, what would it be called? Old Played-Out Song. If given a chance to change your name… Would you? If so, what would it be? Nope, my name is a pretty unique one. If you wanted to look absolutely great, how would you dress? Jeans, tight polo shirt, brown boots. If you could wake up tomorrow in the body of someone else currently living, would you do so? Whom would you pick? I would probably pick Lemmy Kilmister, the man is the definition of rock’n’roll.
What’s your current Last SONG syndrome (LSS)? Women And Rock for Persian Risk If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose? That 70’s Show
TRAVEL If there is a place, hangout, café, mall or hotel (any place) that you feel at homewhich place would that be? Marina Mall If today is the last day- where would you rush to go? Rainbow Bar and Grill in Beverly Hills, California What is your idea of a perfect weekend? Getting a big number of obscure, rarely heard of music records and listening to them, picking out the ones I like best and among other things to eat as much junk food as my body could possibly handle with some friends Where in the world have you travelled? Your wishlist of countries to visit. Canada, UAE and Jordan … I would love to visit Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Greece and England If you suddenly found yourself with a free ticket to the moon (and back of course), would to take the trip? What are the reasons for your answer? Who would you take with you? Yes it would be a one-of-akind experience, to witness first-hand the full beauty of the Earth with my own eyes. If you could have personally witnessed one event in history, what would you want to have seen? Woodstock ‘69 You can select one person from history and ask them a question to which they must give a truthful reply. Whom would you select, and what question would you ask? Jimi Hendrix. And I’d ask him what inspired him to create that whole new dimension of rock guitar playing?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT What was the best thing before sliced bread? Easy, Unsliced bread would be the answer If you were on death row, what would your last meal be? It would be a chicken Shawerma from just about any place that knows how to make them right. What is your favourite dessert? Tripe chocolate muffin from Starbucks If you could associate yourself with a drink/ snack/ fruit / vegetable- what would it be? Chips Ahoy Cookies
www.tempoplanet.com | 19
THE PLANETARIANS
By Sana Bagersh
RADICAL WAYS TO CONSERVE AND
REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING In February 2012, Abu Dhabi unveiled a new utility bill for water and electricity that provides customers with more information on their usage such as what the government subsidises, along with an indication of whether usage was within the ideal (green) or greater than the ideal (red). This is a radically innovative idea to ‘nudge’ people out of their complacency and ‘empower’ them (yes, empower them) into making the right decisions. Here are some other ideas that might work. Some are drastic, while others are outright outlandish. But all offer food for thought…
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RADICAL IDEA # 1: YOU WASTE,YOU PAY
RADICAL IDEA #2: PAY TO BAG IT
RADICAL IDEA #3: GROW LOCAL, BUY LOCAL
RADICAL IDEA #4: SET GREEN POLICE LOOSE
OK, your utility bill shows that the consumption of your family of three is equivalent to that of a family of 10.You then receive a ‘usage matrix’ that charges you a certain rate up to your ‘ideal’, then anything over that is charged at a rate that goes incrementally higher.
We all have the best of intentions when we buy reusable shopping bags and pledge to be more eco-conscious. But we always conveniently ‘forget’ to take the bags to the store with us. We mentally lament our negligence and vow to remember the next time around
We all know that shipping produce (or any other good for that matter) from far away involves a lot of energy cost and causes pollution, not to mention the extra preservatives used to keep the produce fresh.
What if green police prowled the streets and slapped a fine on the spot.You throw garbage into the sea, you get fined; you leave excess lights on, you get fined; you water your garden in the morning, you get fined; you wash you car with copious amounts of water, you get fined. And so on.
So, say you are charged at the rate of Dh 1 per litre up to the first 20 litres for your family, then Dh 2 per litres on the 21th litres up to your 25th litres, and then Dh 3 for the 26th litres up to the 30th litres etc. You get the idea…. (these are of course not actual costs per litres costs but shown here for illustrative purposes). Now flip the coin and think: what if you were a family (or businesses) that consumed less that the average. Well, then you get rewarded (and thereby incentivized) with a lower per unit charge.
5 RADICAL IDEA #5: CARPOOL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT Public transport is encouraged, and carpooling rewarded…for families, company staff etc. Carpool lanes exist in high traffic areas, and carpool lots offer nominal, or even free, parking. High tariffs are charged for second or third cars in a family, while lower fuel cost charges (at the pump, or through rebates) are offered to families and businesses that conserve.
Well, what if we paid for forgetting? Here’s the scenario: the cashier asks you if you brought your reusable bag.You shake your head and apologise. The cashier then pulls out paper or plastic (hopefully biodegradable) bags and charges you something; say Dh5 or Dh10 (or whatever) apiece. I’m sure that would jog your memory next time you plan to go shopping.
6 RADICAL IDEA #6: VIRTUAL OFFICES Companies and organizations introduce truly ‘virtual’ offices to cut down on commuting. Staff can work at home and connect to the company remotely. Obviously this would not work with all types of jobs, but it can certainly work for a good many.
Now, think of what would happen if it was possible to expand farming projects locally so that it was possible to grow quality produce locally. Obviously this would need to be sustainable (but remember we’re already saving more water from Idea #1). Ideally, the produce grown locally would be organic, or at least it would be grown with measured levels of pesticide.
7 RADICAL IDEA #7: EXCESS TARIFFS You have a big house, a big car, a big office? Well that means that you need more energy and resources to maintain your ‘big’ lifestyle. That also means that you would be liable to pay ‘excess tariffs’ to help fund other green programmes, kind of like the way it works with carbon credits.
DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN ‘RADICAL IDEAS’ TO CONSERVE AND REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING’? SEND YOUR BLOG TO
www.theplanetarians.com
www.tempoplanet.com | 21
BOSTON UNIVERSITY PRESENTS
corporate leadership workshops dubai: 29-30 april | abu dhabi: 3 may
The faculty from Boston University’s Brussels campus, in collaboration with the American University in the Emirates and Zayed University, is bringing their world-renowned corporate leadership workshops to the UAE, providing practical examples and international expertise within the context of interactive seminars for mid-career level professionals.
The workshops are open to the public with several courses to choose from, including:
All participants receive a Certificate of Completion from Boston University.
•
DUBAI: When: 29 – 30 April | 9:00am to 4:00pm Venue: American University of the Emirates (Dubai Campus), and the Boston University School of Dental Medicine in Health City Course tuition fee: AED 2,500
• •
Excellence in Project Management Presentation and Communication Skills Organizational and Team Dynamics
Learn how to successfully utilize leadership skills to achieve organizational goals. Examine practical approaches and complete projects efficiently. Practice presentation techniques and communication skills to effectively get across ideas.
SUPPORTED BY:
ABU DHABI: When: 3 May | 9:00am to 4:00pm Venue: Zayed University (Abu Dhabi campus) Course tuition fee: AED 2,500
EARLYBIRD OFFER: Book and pay before 15 April and pay only AED 1,750 per course Don’t miss this unique opportunity. Enrol today! Limited places are available. For more information on the workshops contact enroll@bu.edu or visit www.bu.edu/brussels to find out about the graduate programs offered in Brussels.
SPONSORED BY:
Photography by Angeli Castillo
FAIRY TALE MAGIC:
CHILDREN’S PUPPET THEATRE OPENS IN ABU DHABI By Hana Makki
Once upon a time in a faraway desert, there was a sparkling metropolis filled with people from the lands of the world. Many people would come through; some would stay, and some would go. One such arrival was a lady named Irina. Irina seemed like most people in the glistening city; she lived with her family and enjoyed the lifestyle. But if you looked a little closer, you would see a fire blazing right in the middle of each of her eyes. Irina had a secret, one that was filled with magic. A magic she was about to unravel to the people of the city; a magic introduced as The Golden Fox, Abu Dhabi’s first puppet theatre. THE CURTAIN OPENS Irina Kohn is a puppeteer from St Petersburg and an expert in the world of fairy tales. In the coming months, Irina will open The Golden Fox at the Abu Dhabi Theatre and prepare for a performance of Anderson’s classic tale The Princess and the Pea. "I like Anderson. He’s actually one of my favorite fairy tale writers," declares Irina. "His stories are always focused upon a search for identity." "My first puppet show was actually The Princess and the Pea. It was so successful that I think it would be great to do it again here in Abu Dhabi." PUPPET PASSION Irina’s passion for fairy tales seems quite unique. Her knowledge of not only Anderson’s work , but classical tales such as the Brothers Grimm, their origins and the morals behind the tales is alluring. Listening to her, I felt that I’d opened up a rich treasure chest, and Irina was holding the lantern introducing me to a new world – a world occupied by puppets,
"I used to work with children teaching English as a second language," explains Irina. "During one of my classes, I decided to use puppets. The reaction was incredible. Puppets have an amazing affect on children. They mesmerize, attract and unleash the imagination." "With puppets I discovered that not only can a teacher inspire a pupil, but the world of puppets opens up the unlimited imagination of a child. Naïve emotions are one of the most valuable in a creative process." INVOLVING CHILDREN The children becoming part of the creative process seems an understatement. Irina’s puppet theatre is one of collaboration and dedication by each member of the theatre. "In our first meeting, we look at the script and discuss the writer and the story elements," said Irinia. "We then go on to decide who wants to take on which roles. The puppeteers choose their own characters, and we take into consideration what they see and visualize. We have table reads of the script and it’s always interesting to see how the children automatically start developing their own characters." Then the real work begins! The children become involved in all aspects of the theatre – creating the puppets, the scenery, the costumes and the special effects. Irina also brings in young musicians whom will decide upon and perform the score. "No one is left out. There's too much work to do!" exclaims Irina.
CREATING THE MAGIC Listening to Irina made me nostalgic for my own childhood. Creating a performance from scratch would have certainly been an inspirational journey at a young age. But it did occur to me whether I would have had the courage to perform in a prestigious venue like the Abu Dhabi Theatre, "This is where the magic really is – it’s not the child, it’s the puppet," said Irina, with that familiar gleam in her eye. "There is no barrier. You see, the child doesn’t see themselves as the performer - they can do anything, even mistakes! It’s not them, it’s the puppet. It’s hard work though, learning lines and managing the puppet, but by the end, they all transform into professional puppeteers." A HAPPY ENDING Irina Kohn’s passion for fairy tales is enchanting and contagious. Her craft in communicating to children through puppetry and theatre is one to be admired and respected. I, for one, look forward to seeing the children of our desert metropolis create their own Princess and the Pea, a timeless tale which reminds us to always believe in and be who we are.
The Golden Fox is inviting children in Abu Dhabi between the ages of 10 to 15 to come and join. Email Irina at iykhon@gmail.com to discover more. www.tempoplanet.com | 23
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
doc in the house Dr. DMS | A doc from the Bronx
SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NERDS: PUTTING IT INTO MEDICAL PRACTICE There is a tight connection between medicine and social media. Many doctors have Facebook,Twitter, and other accounts. However, there is a whole social media scene just for us; sites that require the input of our credentials for verification before we can join. Once we’re in, it’s a whole scene for ‘our eyes only’.
Couch pervs, it’s not what you’re thinking. There is a wealth of forums by doctors for doctors. The subject matter varies from educational information to advice from peers (“Had this case yesterday..... what would you do?”) to physician personal matters. Private Forums This is where it gets interesting, and why they need to restrict access. Many forums talk about you. “What if I don’t like my patient anymore?”, or “I wonder if I caused the complication?” and so on. The forums are private. Not for the masses. Why not, you ask. I see your point. It might be nice to understand the psyche of your doc, right? Then again, maybe not. Maybe you don’t really want to know how they feel about you, or if they have just made a huge mistake. Maybe they don’t want you to know about it. During training, there are weekly teaching sessions. There is a fundamental lecture called M&M (Morbidity and Mortality Rounds) where we get to dissect a case in which a colleague screwed up and try to learn from it. We only face the criticism of our peers - those who supposedly think and act
alike (in theory). It’s away from the prying eyes of the other medical services, nurses, administration and lawyers. Docs need an outlet too Social media outlets function like an anonymous M&M where we can air our ‘dirty laundry’, and just as anonymously, fire back praise or criticism. There are no on-the-spot embarrassing quizzes; rather, faceless and nameless comments. Upon leaving residency (training), most docs are on their own and are expected to keep learning all the ‘latest and greatest’ treatments, medicine etc. It’s great in theory, but who has the time to keep up with all that? These sites can help facilitate the learning process, while, at the same time, giving peace of mind to others who may face burnout. The medical profession needs folks to stand together and to help one another. The Beatles summed it up nicely, “Oh I get by with a little help from my friends.......”
campus view By Rohith Bhat
CINEMA’S LATEST PEST: THE FAN GIRL
Like a werewolf slowly changing form under the full moon, so did the fan girl under the influence of sweetie-poo hero (her words, not mine) - from the extra long ‘awwws’ at the hero’s first kiss (in this movie, at least) to the extra shrieks at moments of suspense.
There are not a lot of things in this beautiful world that I hate. Ok, that’s a complete lie. I’m actually disappointed that 2011 went by so peacefully. Never again will I trust the good name of internet promises (read rumours) of mass destruction.
I have never been jealous of the hearing-impaired, but I was on this day because, sadly, the movie also came with the wannabe director’s cut in the form of comments from the fan girl side of the hall.
But in my long list of cursed things – which includes traffic jams, clowns, politicians, flying monkeys and Robert Patterson - a new breed of nuisance has entered and now contends for the top position with movie vampires..... FAN GIRLS!!! We all know them. They are the source of the squealing noise in the line at the theatre, the reason movie merchandising sells, and why you hear the same movie song over and over again on the radio. I also suspect that they are the reason why none of the hit men I’ve sent out to kill Justin Bieber have come back alive!!! Why do I hate them so much? Well sadly, yours truly had the misfortune of sitting next to one in a movie recently. Why did I go a movie which attracts fan girls, you ask? (If you didn’t ask, simply assume
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the mask of an intelligent reader and put on a curious face, will you??) Well, let’s just say it involved a map to Inca treasure, a resourceful writer, and a friend with evidence to blackmail me with!! Anyway, I digress. Sadly I was seated next to a representative of this strange and uninteresting race. It started out quite simple – ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhs’ when the protagonist appeared on screen (name withheld to protect the once lightning-marked head) - but things quickly went downhill.
However, the pain was not limited to my ears alone. The price not to become a cinema hall killer was paid in blood -yes, blood. When the monster appeared on screen, it was my arm that was gripped by her panic-induced talons, and when celluloid tragedy struck, it also struck my shirt sleeve in the form of teardrops and boogers. But fortunately all bad things must come to an end, and after one and a half hours of what I call my application for sainthood, I was introduced to the said fan girl’s better half who gave me the allknowing smile of a fellow victim in Vietnam. Next time, I’m just downloading the movie off the web.
SOCIAL MEDIA: POLICY NOT POLICING
By Abbas Alidina
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard someone say “we don’t need a social media policy. Facebook, Twitter,YouTube and other social networking sites are blocked in the office”.
Abbas Aldina is Director of logicks. com, a specialist social media company based in Dubai.
This type of statement is usually a recipe for disaster. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand and avoid social media in the workplace. Whether you like it or not, it’s time to develop a social media policy for your organization. Here are 5 tips to get you started:
INTRODUCE THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY
1
The purpose of a social media policy is to protect both the employer and employee in regards to the conversations that occur on the social web. Most employees initially feel that such a policy is an invasion of their privacy. It must be explained to employees that they are now brand ambassadors. An employee who talks about their employer, job or industry to their friends on social media is indirectly impacting the organization’s brand. If employees understand the reason for the policy, they are more likely to abide by it. CUSTOMIZE THE POLICY FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION
2
One size does not fit all. The social media policy that works for another company may not necessarily work for yours. Make it easy for employees to use social media in a positive manner. Provide specific examples of what to do, what to avoid, and explain the reasoning behind it. The social media policy should evolve over time and be a living breathing document. ESTABLISH AN ESCALATION PATH
3
While your social media policy will cover most possible scenarios, it is a good practice to leave a buffer for any unexpected issues or problems. Employees must know how to escalate issues or who to approach for questions. An escalation path will help employees determine how to respond in the event of an unprecedented situation. KEEP IT SIMPLE
4
Keeping the policy simple makes it easier for employees to digest, understand and embrace it . The policy can be as basic as a single page document or a short PowerPoint presentation. A few organizations have even put together a short video. Some good examples are Victoria Department of Justice and salesforce.com INTEGRATE THE POLICY INTO THE ORGANISATION
5
Establishing the social media policy is the easy part; implementing it can be more difficult. The larger your organization is, the more challenging it can be to roll out a new policy.
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Once the policy is ready, the next step is to develop a training program for your employees. Partnering with the HR or Learning & Development departments is a good practice because they may already have access to resources and a process for rolling out such a policy. SOME TIPS: • • •
Integrate the policy into new hire orientation to ensure recruits are up to par Incorporate the social media policy into existing learning and development plans Launch a series of informal ‘lunch and learn’ sessions to introduce the importance of a social media policy
tamakkan knowledge hub
PEDAL HARDER:
SOCIAL MEDIA LEADS THE MARKETING RACE By Ian Mason UNLEASH BUSINESS SUCCESS IN 2012! HOW TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS PROFITABLE Tuesday 24 April | 6.00 – 8.00pm Al Mamoura Auditorium, Abu Dhabi PROGRAMME: ‘Sales – The Key to Business Success’ by Chris Bradley, Partner in Keyhole. Chris will outline the critical sales process and offer invaluable advice on how to close a sale. ‘Change for Success’ by Simon Blandford, CEO of Vesta Management Consultancy. Simon will discuss how to keep your business profitable by looking implementing change. The Entrepreneur Quiz The return of the popular entrepreneur quiz. Panel Discussion with opportunities for the audience to participate. Plus other exciting and inspiring speakers!
I like to think of myself as a modern guy. But when it comes to marketing, I have arrived at the awful realisation that I am decidedly pre-historic. As a marketing professional, this equates to disaster. I was like the proverbial ostrich with its head in the sand, naively thinking the phenomenon that is social media was a passing fad - if I stayed buried long enough, it would pass over and we’d return to the traditional mainstream media I am so familiar with. Doh! Opportunity lost Now I am pedalling harder than the Tour de France cyclists to catch up, but I am not sure I ever will. I know a wall from a tweet, a connection from a twinkle, but even these are almost archaic now as even newer technologies develop. My slowness to catch on is like bypassing a whole generation. No longer can marketers simply talk in terms of television, newspapers, magazines and radio. Social media should now be a part of most marketing campaigns, for good reasons. It is cheap, it is targeted, it is measurable – everything a marketing manager wants.
Twitter vs LinkedIn I am a user of Facebook – though not a good one – but I don’t use Twitter. My social life is my own and I don’t want to share every aspect of my day. However, I accept that Twitter is an influential marketing tool and the clever use of tweets, re-tweets and hash-tags can be a potent communicator if harnessed correctly. I have, however, emerged from the sandpit for long enough to become a convert to LinkedIn, and not just in terms of building contacts for future employment (don’t tell the boss). LinkedIn is also a business development tool. People who accept connection requests – or ask to be connected – understand the nature of LinkedIn so using your contacts as business leads is fair game, as long it doesn’t become pestering. That’s not the spirit of the game. New twist to an old concept The key to unlocking the clout of social media is in the words. Social. Media. Or, in simpler terms, broadcasting messages to friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends’ friends, and so on. Engaging with the community is exactly like the old-fashioned
Attendance is free but registration is required. To register, call Priya on 024918624 or email info@tamakkan.org Visit www.tamakkan.org or search ‘Tamakkan’ for links to iTunes podcasts of previous seminars and other knowledge sharing information.
‘word-of-mouth’, it just uses a computer screen and keyboard. Therefore the power of social media lies in being social. Many marketers boast that the number of ‘Likes’ on Facebook indicates their company’s popularity. While this certainly helps in marketing terms, it is also very similar to the old ‘hits’ measurement on a website – a quantitative methodology, not a qualitative one. It adds up to numbers but it does not indicate the depth of engagement. Be active, not passive Marketers need to connect with their social communities on a regular basis with offers, competitions, information, handy tips and all sorts of things that develop a relationship with the user. It’s so much more than just accepting their click on the ‘Like’ button. Savvy marketers know they need to keep up with the latest trends. Perhaps a Tamakkan workshop on social media is one way to keep ahead of the game. In the meantime, I’ll just keep pedalling. Hard.
Ian Mason is CSR, PR and Training Manager at BrandMoxie and Tamakkan. Tamakkan offers a range of professional skill workshops and team development events for companies, covering areas such as customer service, social media and communication. Email Ian at ianmason@brandmoxie.com for further details, or call (02) 419 8624. www.tempoplanet.com | 27
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
articulate Neena Rai | An artist with a flair
FUNKY CAMELS AND MORE: THE ART OF SITA I first met Bahrain-based Dutch artist Sita Dotinga at Art Abu Dhabi last year. From the beginning, I was intrigued by her very Indiansounding name, and it turns out that Sita is a Dutch name as well. Not having come across many Dutch artists in the region, I welcomed the opportunity to know her better. Style As striking as her work, the tall and vivacious Sita mostly displays her art in Bahrain. Her style is extremely colorful and has layers of depth that one can spend some time discovering. Sita had moved around a lot with her husband before settling in Bahrain where she finally got the opportunity to focus on her passions. There, she is quite popular for her lovely and often extremely honest (read: funny) portrayal of camels. Funky camels, funny camels, grumpy camels and even more camels; she has them all. Inspirations Often deriving inspiration from nature, Sita likes to paint flowers, abstract and semi-abstract artworks.
She also mentions her works are influenced by the world around her and her experiences. In her recent artworks, Arabic elements have popped up as well. Being versatile with her medium, Sita paints with watercolours, acrylics and oils. With a background in textile art, she has a particular fondness for textures which can be observed in her latest works. Philosophy Every artist has their own way of working, and Sita’s unique way is to take pictures of people and places in order to use them later for paintings. She is not an artist who paints every day and prefers to paint with a goal in mind, like an exhibition. One of things that I really liked about her is the apparent lack of
“the need to be a commercial artist”. Not that I have anything against commercial artists, but I find it refreshing that artists even today paint to share their art and want their art to be in many homes across the world. In order to do so, they often sell at rates that are lower than market rates. It is my sincere hope that those who have bought Sita’s paintings realize what they have with them. Artists like her are a true gift to the community. This region is blessed to have so many talented artists from around the world that bring so much joy and diversity with them.
Follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/NeenaRai
just handcrafted Jan D’Sa | Scientist artiste hybrid
A DOLLIE GOOD TIME: NEVER TOO OLD TO LOVE Women are never too old to own a dollie – and a handcrafted one at that! Thanks to local crafter Maggie Tuite, the magic of dollies will never disappear. Maggie has been creating dollies off and on for a number of years but has been involved in it full time for nine months. She calls her creations Dollie Day Dreams. Creating a Dollie “I try to create the fond memories that girls have of their first doll within the concept of my work,” says Maggie. “I make the basic form from either wire, cloth or, most recently, old-fashioned wooden clothes pegs. From there the magic begins, depending on my mood. The doll may be a wild funky one or a sweet one with perfect hair and subtle make-up.” The wire and cloth dollies are always made to sit like a dog and will adorn any shelf or chair they feel comfortable in. For her cloth dollies, Maggie meticulously cuts, sews and stuffs them even though they take a longer time. Her main source of inspiration comes from flowers in the garden, a piece of colored fabric or memories of the places she has lived in. For example, she has made local
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dollies dressed in abayas and adorned them in jewels. Once she starts to create, the doll comes to life and that’s when Maggie bestows the doll with a name. The Final Touches “No matter what the doll is made from, she will always end up with a hand-painted face and sometimes with false eyelashes,” says Maggie. “The face is left until the end so I can match the make-up with her style.” “I love hand-painting the eyes which are then decked with long eyelashes. I firmly believe that the eyes are the window to the soul and it’s so true in these particular dolls.” However, Maggie does not like taking commissions. “I feel they inhibit my creativity and that doesn’t work for me,” she says.
Get Your Own Dollie Find out more about Dollie Day Dreams on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/dolliedaydreamsdubai
Jan D’Sa is the artist-designer of Janys Dé mixed media (www.janysde.com). Follow this handcrafting advocate’s trips ’n treats at the Cultural Arts Travelogue (www.culturalartstravelogue. com)
horoscope Aries: Romance flows freely in your life this month. It always does at this time of year. There could be some real surprises along these lines. Persons could step from the shadows with flowers for you. Persons you had never considered romantically before could pursue with vigor and vise versa. Taurus: The home front is looking so right this month. Any improvements you have made or are working on pay big dividends during the first half of this month. If there are things that you would like to change regarding you abode, this would be the right time to undertake that effort. The results will be very satisfying. Gemini: This will be an interesting month for you as the emphasis is on communication. There could be a flurry of information coming your way. The problem is Mercury is retrograde for the month.You may have to triple- check that information before releasing it to others. Cancer: Your money is highlighted this month. It’s all good news, though.You may be feeling the effects of a budget put into place months ago, thus resulting is a surplus of funds. Also, changes that you could have made at the personal level bear meaningful fruit during this twoweek period of April. Leo: You’re bubbling with energy this month with the Sun and Mars in your 1st house of self. The energy last for three weeks and it’s a good time to get out there and do the projects you’ve been thinking about. During the month, there could be confusing signals and signs coming from your Committed Other. Postpone taking action on joint money matters until after the 11th. Virgo: Normally, this is your month for taking it easy, but April finds you dealing with a behind the scenes well spring of energy that must be dealt with or there could be consequences to your health that would be hard to diagnose. Seek ways to alleviate the pressure. Also try to avoid overindulging in food or drink during the last half the month. Libra: Activities with friends sweep you through this April with fun at every turn. Short trips during the first two weeks could find you in lovely surroundings. If you must travel, make sure you triple check everything before you leave with Mercury retrograde all month. Scorpio: The career sector is jumping with activity and excitement this month.You may be thrust into the limelight over your accomplishments. There could be major advancements and pay increases from ideas and hard work you have put forth. Traveling for business or transactions at a great distance work best on the 17th. Double-check all the figures before agreeing to anything though. Sagittarius: Now is a good time to consider increasing your knowledge at the higher education level. Perhaps embarking on a new path of enlightenment or just a reading really thick book. Travel is favored as well, but with Mercury retrograde it’s advisable to triplecheck you plans, schedules, and itinerary for mishaps that could catch you by surprise. Capricorn: Joint money, taxes and insurance will hold your attention for the first two weeks of the month. Good news could be coming your way, just when you needed it the most. Careful planning may be required to stretch funds after the 21st, at a time when you feel the pull of the open road and the need to get away from it all. If traveling is on the agenda, remember to triple-check everything like schedules, planes tickets and reservations. Aquarius: Personal committed relationships dominate your life for the first three weeks of April. Renewed romance and enthusiasm could find its way back into this area. If you’re not in a committed relationship look for happiness to come through your business partners. Remember to acknowledge them for all they do in your behalf. It will pave the way for the remainder of April. Pisces: Your job scene is hopping with action and fun this month.You could get a raise or a promotion, or both.Your health should be in tiptop shape so get out of the house and move around. This would be an excellent time to start a new diet or exercise plan.
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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS
mini minx Angeli Castillo | Making minutes out of molehills
FROM TRASH TO TREASURE: CREATING NEW FROM OLD Have you ever had a childhood obsession with collectibles? Bottle caps, Pokemon cards, baseball cards, action figures? One man not only had such an obsession, he turned it into a fulfilling career. Man with an obsession Meet Alexander Allan Arevalo, online marketing and art director of Halimaw! Sculptures, a business he shares with his partner and producer Jay Sia, who is based in the Philippines. They create custom-made statues of all sorts and sizes, but a majority of their work is based on Marvel, DC and characters from video games which you can find in the upcoming Middle East Film and Comic Con. A hobby becomes a business Growing up, it seems AAA never out shed his fascination and love for collectibles. Just like any avid collector, it started out with toys as a little boy but it didn’t stop there - it just got more expensive as he grew older. He then decided instead to create his own sculptures which his friends saw and asked for replicas. Everything else is history.
Sculpting for a living It wasn’t as easy as it sounds to get into sculpting. In fact, Alexander didn’t discover his love for it until he learned about the huge pool of talented fellow sculptors in the Philippines. When asked if sculpting is hard, Alexander replies “it’s not hard but it takes time.” It seems a lot of time indeed; the whole prototyping process takes about 2-3 months depending on the size. But once done, the proudly Pinoy duo teams up as caster and painter and are able to finish about 10 pieces per month. Still collecting Collecting is something everyone subconsciously does. “I think pretty much everyone has something that catches their fancy and collects if they have the extra cash to spare,” says Alexander. Statues are Alexander’s stress busters; he finds it relaxing to come home at the end of the day to a room full of collectibles he is fond of. His wife loves them too since it encourages him to stay at home. Alexander’s dream Being his day job, sculpting gives Alexander the freedom to choose his working hours. It may seem a little strange for his team to be in the Philippines while he’s here in the UAE, but it works. He takes
care of the front end of things while his partner works the other way around and they manage to make ends meet. Alexander’s dream is to create an excellent piece, mass produce it and sell it worldwide. Good advice Alexander didn’t just get to this point overnight. His advice is simple. “Practice! It’s not something you can learn just by reading or watching videos.You’ll get ideas from it of course but you need to train those hands.” “Study anatomy too if you’re doing human sculptures; proportions are important. Did you know that a perfect human body is 8 heads high?”
To find out more about Halimaw, their works and their appearance at the MEFCC, log onto http://www.dtoycollector. blogspot.com/
just a thought Manar Al Hinai | A Khaleeji girl who overthinks a lot and loves to write
SOCIAL OR ANTI-SOCIAL? THE REAL IMPACT OF NEW MEDIA There are a lot of articles out there about how social media has affected marketing and business performance. But many tend to overlook how social media is actually affecting our written and oral communication, or daily communication with each other. Changing communication Email, SMS, BlackBerry Messenger, Twitter and other social media communication tools have caused such an irreversible impact on the way we write that it would definitely anger our English teachers who spent hours teaching us basic grammar and how to write in full sentences. Impacts of social media The social media has impacted writing in two ways. One way is that writing is now more concise. When Twitter first came out, and we signed up, many of us were annoyed by its 140-word limit. I thought “how on earth am I supposed to report an event using 140 characters?” But now I realize that Twitter has been the greatest tool to teach me how to summarize the essence of a subject.You don’t need a whole essay to cause a movement or a change.
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Unique language Another way is using different words or abbreviations to refer to something. We no longer say “See you later” when we want to write a message, but we opt for the shortened “c u l8r”. Others would rather say “dat” instead of “that”. No, they are not spelling things incorrectly; rather they have come up with a whole new language that no one can judge to be wrong or right. Sharing feelings However, I think the greatest impact social media has made is on people’s communication with each other. Some people do not open up to their best friends when they are down, but would rather share their feelings with their 300+ followers on Twitter. Sit around in any café or a restaurant and just look at the people around you. Many will be sitting with
their friends; however they would all be typing away on their BlackBerry devices and barely talking to each other. Final thought This gets me to thinking, is social media really helping us become more social people, or perhaps anti-social disconnected robots?
What do you think? Follow me on Twitter: @manar_alhinai