Vuelto Christmas and Music Edition by Vuelto Magazine

VUELTO NOV DEC 2012

Private Businesses Small, But Not Insignificant

AWithout LifeLimbs Shared by Nick Vujicic

Exclusive Interview With

PHILLIP LOMAX Fierce, Female Freedom Inspired by EVE ENSLER

Fabulous Events List Brighter

Than

Moonlight

Why Fashion Can’t Wait for 2012’s +

Luxurious Winter Season

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Truth in Engineering

VUELTO EDITORIAL Chief Editor Eddie M. Amintohir Managing Editor Emily & Flannery Tirtomihardjo Feature Writer Emily Mundy Contributing Writers Emma Delsohn Aaron Lynn Paulina Felicita Nindya Atmodipero Brian Tracy John C. Maxwell MODEL Philip Lomax Alayna Brand MARKETING Executive Marketing Timothy Tandiokusuma Media Strategist Santika Maristio Account Executive Paulus Harjabrata Rosita Sutanto Albert Lukman ART AND DESIGN Executive Designer Andreas Imanuel Graphic Designers Stefhanie Winny Janet Yang Candy Chan Helen He Owen Taslim FASH ION DEPART M EN T Michelle Teh Gabriella Katherine Bianca Salim PHOTOGRAPHER Head Photographer Aaron Alifen William Halim Cover and Editorial Photographer Emily Ryder

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Photo by: Aaron Alifen It is often said that time moves swiftly – before one realizes, the end of the year has come around. Amidst our daily bouts with business and deadlines, we may notice that only a few of them bring us closer to achieving our dreams. Yet, we become entrapped within the whirlpool that is our daily routine. Perhaps, the best advice is to break it? Slow down, pace yourself, and give yourself time to dream again. Evaluating your dreams, then, becomes easy. Simply ask yourself: How have I improved compared to last year? Have I accomplished the tasks on my New Year’s resolution list? Have far must I go to reach my dreams? In light of moving toward the future, there are two types of people: those who plan, and those who patiently wait for the right time. Though both are hardworking, determined, discipline individuals, they can be distinguished by what manner they choose to prepare for the future. Some say that life itself can be summed up in four basic categories: education, work and career, interests and fulfillment, and rest. However, many do not consider the number of people who are genuinely living their desired lifestyles. If education is supposed to promote a better future, then why is 1 out of every 2 Americans either unemployed or underemployed? If hard work alone is adequate to provide financial freedom, then why do billionaires account for only 1% of the US population? It seems as if there are some unwritten rules in the world we live in, and they determine the quality of life for each contestant. Indeed, we live in a world where unwritten rules inevitably do powerfully influence our decisions and lifestyles. After all, “those who never sow cannot reap”, and “vision without action is hallucination.” I most strongly believe in the idea that each one of us, regardless of circumstance or negative influence in our lives, can have the power to decide our own futures and lifestyles. One person in particular has been an amazing inspiration to me: Nick Vujijic. In this edition, we have covered Nick’s inspiring story, as he has become a man who lives by his own rules, and makes the world accept his definition of a satisfying life. Likewise, it is my hope that, through this magazine, our readers will be provided with fresh and new perspectives that will lead to a better, more fulfilling lifestyle.

NOV DEC 2012

contents

Event List

exclusive interview with philip lomax

Music Review

winter fashion trends

movie review

private business, small but not in significant

Around the clock productivity

combining paper smart

six simple rules of life

dream act: soon to be reality?

eve ensler: fierce, female freedom

how to manage stress

brighter than moonlight (poem)

bangbar

man vs machine

the phone call (poem)

Evolutionary Curve of Telecommunication Device

Nick’s Inspiring Example – “A Life Without Limbs”

UPCOMING

E VENTS LIST Written By Emily J. Mundy Design By Stefhanie Winny

Seattle U and Gonzaga U’s 2012 Leadership Conference

The 2012 SUGU Leadership Conference will bring together a diverse range of students from Gonzaga University and Seattle University for the sixth consecutive year to experience academic and personal growth. Students have the opportunity to exchange ideas, share innovative research, and make connections that have proven to extend far beyond the scope of the annual conference. The mission of this doctoral program is to “prepare effective leaders for an interdependent world.” The Leadership in Uncertain Times Conference will be held on the Gonzaga University Campus on Saturday, March 17th EACH YEAR, from 8am – 4pm. For more information, contact Faith Gilbert at gilbert.faith@ gmail.com, or call (509) 599-7061.

Western Region Leadership Conference

The Western Region Leadership Conference is hosted by one of the fourteen participating states located in the western region of the U.S., and provides students with the opportunity to travel, network with DECA members from other states, attend inspirational breakout sessions, and participate in mock competitions. This year, the conference will be held right here in Seattle, Washington, from November 15-18, in the Sheraton and Westin Seattle Hotels. The cost of registration is $125 for each enrolling student (plus hotel and other expenses). Josh Sundquist (a Keynote Speaker) and Jim Wand (an entertainment hypnotist) will be attending the conference, and a hightech, outdoor treasure hunt will be set up as a GeoTeaming Event for the attendees! More information can be found at www.wadeca.org/conferences/western-regional.

Motivational Storyteller – Thomas Dismukes

Meeting planners across the country consider Thomas Dismukes to be one of America’s greatest motivational and humorous storyteller/speakers. Since 1991, audiences in 19 different countries have heard his unbelievable and true stories of his life’s adventures. With a unique ability to discern a meaning behind madness, Thomas has powerful messages for ANY group of people seeking a unique speaker that will customize his message to your specific needs. For more information on how to attend a presentation, or book a performance, visit www.storiesthattell.com. VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

DECA Fall Leadership Conference

Every year, the Distributive Education Clubs of America (known as DECA) holds a conference wherein which students can attend sessions led by business professionals and advisors, and network with the vendors at a large marketing fair. Additionally, each school can select three students to attend the Chapter Leadership Academy, lead by the Washington DECA State Officer Team. This annual conference takes place October 27-29, 2013, at the Westin Seattle Hotel. Important documentation and information will be posted once updates become available at www.wadeca.org/conferences/fall-conferences.

GET INVOLVED – Youth Speaks Seattle

Since 2003, Youth Speaks Seattle has been the city’s premier collective for youth spoken word poetry, “creating avenues for youth voices through creative writing instruction and performance opportunities.” Open for anyone between the ages 13-19 to speak or share, Youth Speaks open mics are supportive, celebratory spaces where participants can perform in whatever style they wish: music, freestyle, poetry… finished or not! The Youth Speaks open mics are held every first Sunday of the month from 6:30-9:00 pm, at the WAPI, located at 3722 S. Hudson St. (and Rainier), 98118, and every third Sunday at the Ally Upstairs Room at Café Allegro, located at 1408 NE 42nd Street (between University Way and 15th Ave), 98105. To learn more about Youth Speaks, local writing circles, performance activities, and slam competitions, visit www.artscorps.org/programs/teen-programs/ youth-speaks. Speak, poets!

FREE Financial Seminars: Seattle, WA

Rich Dad Education is a dynamic educational company that delivers “life-changing financial philosophies through a tested and proven educational model developed by Tigrent Learning, Inc.” Rich Dad Education seminars, based on the series of books published by Robert Kiyosaki – the guiding force behind the company – teach personal finance and business tactics that promote long-term financial success and independence. FREE financial workshops will be coming to Bellevue, Lynnwood, Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma, hosted by Rich Dad Education. Register at http://richdadeducation.com/Register.aspx. Images by: verizon,net, chinesefinanceassociation.com, gobransonacengy.com. gonzaga.edu, blogspot.com, and artscorps.org.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Intermezzo

Lady Gaga

Stefani Germanotta was born in 1986 and climbed to the top of the industry as a singer/songwriter, eventually revolutionizing dress, stage performance, and lyric ideals in pop culture. She is renowned for her albums The Fame and Born This Way, and her involvement in humanitarian causes and LGBTQ activism.

Foster the People

This American indie pop band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2009, and is composed of Mark Foster (vocals, keyboards, piano, synthesizers, guitar, programming, percussion), Cubbie Fink (bass and back up), and Mark Pontius (drums). The single “Pumped Up Kicks” went viral in 2010, landing them a record deal with Startime International. The group’s melodic, lyric infused beats infuse many genres including indie, pop, and old school rock.

Beyoncé

Knowles (now Knowles-Carter) attended performing arts school in Houston, Texas, and became one of the lead singers of Destiny’s Child in 1990. Since then, Beyoncé has established herself as an influential female singer, with four consecutive number one albums as a solo artist, and a great deal of involvement in the music world, clothing design, and movies.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Intermezzo

Pirate Radio

Inspired by the 1960’s British rock n’ roll scandal, filmmaker Richard Curtis devised his 2009 ensemble about the irreverent, yet inspiring tale of a seafaring band of rogue deejays whose “pirate radio” captivates and inspires a great number of fans. Playing all the music that was banned from the nation, the group of men and one lucky lady boldly and hilariously defies the government that attempts to kill the radio show. Originally released as a second film by Curtis in the UK, The Boat That Rocked was re-edited and released in the US, where it was re-titled Pirate Radio. The film stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighty, Nick Frost, Rhys Ifans, Gemma Arterton, and Kenneth Branagh. Recommended when in need of a serious rock n’ roll pick-me-up.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Pitch Perfect

Continuing along the music theme, this relatively new release follows an all-girls acapella group named “The Bellas” who attempt to beat the reigning acapella group “Treble Makers”. Main character, Becca, hesitantly joins the group; as she is an alternative DJ who seems to have a generally negative outlook on the world, and not the type to enjoy choreographed song and dance.“Fat Amy”, a young female sex-addict, and a quiet girl who speaks almost silently but enjoys lighting things on fire. With such a quirky and diverse bunch, hilarity is bound to ensue. As both groups aim to win the international acapella competition, viewers are taken for a ride through many voices, plot tension, and forbidden romance. Director Jason Moore was aware his musical comedy might be compared to Glee, American Idol, and The Voice, but that he is thankful those television series exist, as he would love to see a generation of kids who think it’s pretty cool to sing, dance, and express yourself. VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

e h t d n u o r A y it iv t c u d o r P Clock that you are. on and off - it’s something rn tu n ca u yo at th ing th s time to our lives, and less and les Being productive isn’t some in do to re mo d an re mo by, there is d the clock. With every year that goes u can be productive - aroun yo w ho s re’ he , nd mi in at do it in. With th Article by A

aron Lynn D es

ign by Stefh

anie Winny

This assumes you have “normal” hours for work or school. If you’re a night owl or a morning person, just adjust backwards or forwards for when you sleep and wake up.

7am-10am: Time to Kick $#!@

Believe it or not, the best time to get things done is as soon as you get up. It’s usually quiet, and you’re fresh for the day after a good night of rest.

Take your lunch break. The absolute BEST lunches, are those where you eat with friends or people you enjoy hanging out with - this will help energize you for the rest of the day. If you can, take a 20-minute power nap after lunch. Your body’s biology and rhythms will be telling you to rest around this time anyway. Be sure to keep it at 20 minutes - you won’t drop into deep sleep, but you will feel way better for the rest of the day.

7pm-10pm: Winding Down

Once your second important task is done, it’s time to start winding down, to eat dinner and to look after yourself.

The first thing you want to do is drink two glasses of water to kickstart your body. Then, go about your usual morning routine.

Renew your energy levels by doing things that you enjoy, and be sure to wind down before you go to sleep too - softer lighting, and a little bit of television or reading is great for helping you fall asleep at night.

Once you’re ready to get to “work”, start with your most important (or hardest) thing first. Because once that’s out of the way, the rest of the day will be easy.

10pm-7am: Sleep Time

10am-1pm: On the Grind

At around 10am you should be on the tail-end of your most important task for the day - keep at it until it’s done. Now it gets fun. Pick two to three “fun” tasks or errands to knock out. These are the things that are still important, but easy to do, like dropping mail off at the post office, going to the bank, or returning some calls. Use the fact that it’s going to be lunchtime soon to your advantage - definitely look forward it, and push out those last couple of things you need to do.

1pm-4pm: Lunchtime and Downtime

This is usually the time most people are out at lunch. And that’s great, because if you’ve been productive up to now, you’re likely feeling a bit tired and ready for a break. 11

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Remember, you need 6-8 hours of sleep every single night. Here are some quick tips to help you get the best sleep: * Make sure your room is cool, about 64-71 degrees Fahrenheit. * Make sure your room is dark. * If you can’t sleep, just lie there and chill out - you’re getting rest, and you’ll fall asleep eventually.

Summing Up

In very simple terms, that’s how you be productive around the clock. Now all you have to do, is apply it to your own life, and stick with it!

About the author:

Aaron Lynn is a productivity consultant and all-round time management ninja. He writes about personal productivity and personal technology at Asian Efficiency (http://www. asianefficiency.com/).

Six

Simple

Rules of

Life Written by John C. Maxwell Designed by Candy Chan

A five-year old slugger smacks the baseball out into the field and sprints toward third base. A tiny midfielder, playing her first soccer match, reaches down and scoops into her arms the ball rolling through the green grass toward her. A small child on the basketball court receives a pass from a teammate and excitedly races to the hoop…without remembering to dribble. If you’ve ever coached a children’s sports team, then you know the importance of explaining the simple rules of the game. Initially, chaos and confusion reign supreme as children accustomed themselves to unfamiliar regulations.

Yet over time, the once-confusing rules become second nature, and the kids play together without even having to think about them. RULES TO LIVE BY Playing a sport without knowing the rules leads to chaos, confusion, and even can result in injury. Likewise, going through life without a reliable set of rules gives rise to disorder, dissatisfaction, and even harm. In this lesson, I’d like to share six simple rules that have helped me to navigate life. I hope they provide you with food for thought as you consider, or reevaluate, the rules you live by. VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

RULE #1 RULE #2 Put family first. Follow the Lots of leaders give lip service to Golden Rule. putting family first, but they don’t actually practice giving their spouse or kids top priority. What does it mean to put family first? For me, it involves redefining success. I do not measure my success in terms of career accomplishments. For me, success is when those closest to me love and respect me the most. Practically speaking, I make sure to schedule time with loved ones before setting my work calendar. It’s far more important for me to give prime time to my family than to “get ahead” by working overtime.

As followers, we universally ask three questions about our leaders: 1) Do they care for me? 2) Can they help me? 3) Can I trust them? As a leader, regularly pose those same questions to yourself—Am I caring? Am I helping? Am I reliable?—as a reminder to treat others the way you would like to treated.

“Happiness

cannot be won, bought, or brought to you by another person.

“

RULE #4 Choose a positive attitude.

RULE #5 Have a personal growth plan.

Happiness cannot be won, bought, or brought to you by another person. Rather, it results from a conscious choice to be grateful for our blessings and to make the best of life’s letdowns. Whatever happens to us, we always have control of one thing: our attitude.

The key to personal growth is to have a beginner’s mindset. Beginners admit they don’t know everything and proceed accordingly. As a general rule, they’re open and humble, noticeably lacking in the rigidity that often accompanies experience and achievement.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

RULE #3 Take care of yourself. Doing something for yourself is not a selfish act; it’s a sustaining act. In a university commencement address several years ago, Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises, spoke of the relation of work to one’s other responsibilities: Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them—work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls—family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. I’ve learned the importance of this rule the hard way—through the trauma of a heart attack. If you’re not carving out time to rest and replenish, to exercise, and to monitor your spiritual wellbeing, then eventually you’ll breakdown. When that happens you’re no good to anyone.

RULE #6 Give more than you receive. Everyone must ask for help at some point along the journey of life, but each person also has an inborn need to serve others. When I stopped trying to extract value from the people around me, and instead began searching for ways to add value, my influence soared.

Fierce, Female Freedom Inspired by EVE ENSLER “I can feel what you’re feeling as you’re feeling it, inside the feeling before”, mutters the small and vibrant woman into a microphone placed on a stage before a few thousand people, just before exploding into her famous words: “I AM AN EMOTIONAL CREATURE!” Article by Emily J. Mundy Design by Stefhanie Winny Pictures by: gaekerassets.com

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

“Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no when you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here. Believe in kissing.” –Eve Ensler.

nd an emotional, devotional, world-famous woman, she is. Eve Ensler, author of I Am An Emotional Creature and various other creative and non-fictional works, became a provocative bestselling author in 1996, traveling the globe to write monologues and stories inspired by real women. Moving through a whirlwind of intense emotions conveyed through her writing and spoken word poetry, Eve’s voice is fierce and unforgettable, teaming with the hundreds of stories told by imaginative, complicated, tender girls around the world. On top of her career as a writer, speaker, and poet, Eve is a prominent activist addressing international issues of violence against women and girls. In 1998, her experiences performing inspired her to create V-Day, a global activist movement to spread awareness of violence against women, giving females in America and oversees alike the powerful voice they so desperately needed. In 2010, more than 5,400 V-Day events took place in over 1,500 locations. To date, the entire V-Day movement has expanded and raised over $80 million. Furthermore, large V-Day activists have taken it upon themselves to educate millions of women about the issue of violence in an attempt to lessen it, and have launched and reopened over 12,000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe homes in the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt, and Iraq. The safe houses provide local females of every age with a sanctuary from physical and sexual abuse, female genital mutilation, and honor killing rituals. Eve’s international travels have allowed her to participate in filming V-Day’s Until the Violence Stops and the PBS documentary What I Want My Words To Do To You; she is currently the winner of over twenty international awards and honors. Because girls today often find themselves struggling between remaining individuals and conforming to what society thinks is expected of them, Eve writes to encourage the celebration of the “authentic voice inside every girl”, and calls for females everywhere to speak up, break the rules, and become the women they have always wanted to be.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Among the girls created in her novel I Am An Emotional Creature are: an American girl who struggles to resist the pulls of peer pressure in a suburban high school; an anorexic debating the importance of physical heath against the allure of a tiny figure; a Masai girl from Kenya unwilling to submit as her and her sisters face inevitable female mutilation; a Chinese factory worker making Barbies who learns to appreciate the organicity of her womanhood. Recalling her intimate struggle with identity as a young female from a tragic home, Eve says, “I finally know the difference between pleasing and loving, obeying and respecting. It took me so many years to be okay with being this different, alive, and intense”. For girls who have been silenced, screamed at, told to contain themselves and suppress their hopes for something different, feeling as if they are worthy, loved, cherished, and respected takes many years of support and a deep understanding of forgiveness. It’s high time an international band of women unite – unafraid, armed with blurring self-respect, and ready for change – to protect the fleets of females fighting for the lives they deserve.

BRIGHTER

than

MOONLIGHT

Poem by Emma Delsohn Design and photography by Candy Chan When we walked into the city that night, with the sky-scrapers snapping at the heels of the stars, all strung-out on light, you said, “If your plane ever crashes or gets caught in a midnight bruise, I want you to talk to me instead of the moon.” I scraped the rust from my trust closed my eyes, and set it loose. There were nights after that where you found me wrapped in parachutes

Suffocating and trying to save myself-you let the wind fall from my chest and drained the hurricane stuck in my heart until my breath returned to rhythm and my cheeks returned to dry; I never had to ask you ‘how’ or ‘why.’ You just knew, and tonight, I know there’s something that’s far brighter than the moonlight speaking through you.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Man vs. Machine:

the Key Differences Between Real and “Unreal” Communication Article by Emily J. Mundy Design by Stefhanie Winny

sx c.h

drice.com

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

fter a long day last week, I slunk into my fifth-floor apartment on Capitol Hill to watch one of my favorite movies online and catch up with my closest friend who attends university in Southern California. In the middle of the movie, while my fingers busied themselves texting, typing, and browsing, a commercial came on that grabbed my attention: a teenage girl sits alone in her comfortable, cozy bedroom curled up in front of her laptop saying, “My parents have no friends… I have 895 of them.”, when the scene immediately cuts to depict her parents’ adventures rock climbing, sailing, traveling, and interacting with people from all over the world. Looks like her parents might know how to have a little fun, after all.

possible to remain “connected” to the outside world without ever having to venture into it. A growing concern began in the early 2000’s, when journalists began questioning the overall beneﬁts of social

tion with the person you’ve personally touched. Subsequently, the media has become a powerful tool used to inform the public about world events from a global perspective, and promote empathy for one’s fellow man on an international level. But, to scale things down a bit, social media – both as a channel and a tool – can be used in addition to existing channels of communicating with others, not as a replacement for a more personal forms of interaction. Sadly, it seems that more and more people are u s ing social media to replace more intimate channels of communication, while some have used social media to replace one-on-one human interaction completely.

“Face-to-face interaction with others beckons a deeper sense of understanding and provokes greater empathetic relation”

Though I am not personally attached to my phone or another technological device, I wouldn’t dare to debate the communication topic with a technology connoisseur. There are numerous valid reasons why so many people choose to communicate – whether it be for personal pleasure or business purposes – through media interaction, social networking sites, and the like. In the virtual world of the internet, everything we can imagine happens to be a few keystrokes and mouse clicks away; we have complete access to all types of goods and services, entertainment, music, food, and personal, business, and intimate “connections” with others, all without leaving the conﬁnes of our homes! Because it is entirely possible to sustain oneself physically without venturing beyond personal property, it is also

networking, asking whether these types of websites were “killing ‘real’ human interaction”. Over a decade later, the general consensus is, well, both yes and no. Any exchange over media is not considered to be “true interaction”, which requires more than simply communicating back and forth with another person through a channel or conduit. Genuine interaction between people requires all individuals to be open to interact intellectually, physically, emotionally, spiritually, visually, and so on. Face-to-face interaction with others beckons a deeper sense of understanding and provokes greater empathetic relation. Considering this, it’s easy to see that all types of communication extend far beyond the scope of the media. For instance, a great deal of people take the opportunity to give belongings to those less fortunate, or donate lump sums of money to particular charity causes during the holiday season. Though, in the cases of most donation processes, the physical interaction with the person or people to which your money has gone is entirely absent from the equation.

Though a new and exciting tool to communicate with others, social networking, plain and simple, is merely a medium through which some amount of communication can occur on a surface level – a wonderful networking tool, but a channel nevertheless. Perhaps, sticking to the proven, personal communication tactic of a faceto-face conversation is the key to promoting empathy and compassion, and keeping the sacred art of intimate conversation alive.

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to have the physical, human interacVUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

The Evolutionary Trend of Telecommunication Devices Article by Eddie Amintohir Design by Helen He

The way that people communicate with one another has evolved so much in the last 100 years that it’s difficult for some to imagine how messages were sent before the rise of high-technology. If you needed to communicate with a distant relative, you sent a letter. If it was particularly urgent, you would have sent a telegram. Not until the advent of the telephone did real-time long distance communication become possible. Still, while our communications technologies is ever-evolving, facilitating a real-time back and forth remains the goal. It is only the medium through which we express our ourselves that changes. This communication trend should come as no surprise, as we can see signs throughout history of people contriving means of communicating with one another when out of earshot. Most of these technologies specialized in doing one thing very well: sending life or death messages. From smoke signals to lighthouses, primitive messaging systems conveyed information that enabled survival. This form of simplified communication over long distances was key to our survival. In today’s world, where more people reside in concrete jungles, rather than in the plains of Africa, our communication systems have shifted from aiding survival to greasing the gears of society. Whereas in the past a letter may have been sufficient to get a message across, the focus today is on a shorter and shorter response time. Indeed, there exists an ever-increasing trend to shorten response time while at the same time allowing a greater amount of information to be conveyed. From Facebook updates to Tweets, everyone is talking. 19

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

This is, on the whole, a good thing. Most forms of communication are conducive to strengthening the glue that holds society together. Even within the last 25 years, we have seen an evolution in the way that people keep one another in the loop. In the early ‘90s, if you needed to tell someone to call you, but couldn’t, or didn’t want to call them yourself first, you would have paged them. The recipient would see your number, and know that they should get in touch. Today, you would simply shoot off a quick text message. If you needed to show a long-distance family member a photo, you faxed it, most likely in black and white. Now you simply send an email, upload it to a photo website or send it to their mobile phone. Indeed, society has become a sort of worldwide At the heart of the smartphone is the concept of “apps,” connected network in its own right. Facilitating this or mobile applications. It is apps that give the smartphone transformation is a series of technical advances, the its smarts, and in fact, differentiates it from other types of fuel for which seems to be a demand for smaller phones. There are apps available for just about any task devices and an ever-expanding thirst for data. We are you would need to complete on the go. The smartphone inquisitive creatures, and we want as much data as we is communications technology come full circle. With realcan get our hands on. It comes as no surprise, then, time voice and video technology covered, we have once that handheld communications technologies are so again begun creating communications technology that popular--in particular, the smartphone.The smartphone can enhance our life and help ensure our survival. is perhaps, in as much as we can presently conceive, the epitome of communications technology. Consider For instance, recently an app was unveiled for the a handheld device that can facilitate not only real-time iPhone that can measure a person’s heart rate. How it voice communication, but video as well. This is a device works: various and subtle shades of pink, red, purple with which you can check stock prices, find recipes, access and green in the face convey information to the app encyclopedias and find directions. about the temperature of the skin, which in turn allows the app to divine information about blood flow and rate. To pull this minor miracle off, you simply point the phone’s camera at the target’s face with the app engaged, and wait. As a bonus, the app doesn’t require physical contact with the target. While quickly determining heart rate may not be a lifeor-death event, and while a stethoscope is likely a more practical and accurate device for doing so, the groundwork is nonetheless present for apps like these to make a huge impact in the average person’s day-to-day life. At the end of the day, the forecast is for communications technology is to become increasingly intelligent, and to continue finding new and exciting modes of expression. Whether you conduct business with someone on the other side of the planet, or buy and sell stocks from your living room with your smartphone, you participate in this great evolution. VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Nick’s Inspiring Example

Discover the secrets shared by Nick Vujicic concerning how to live a full and satisfying life despite the perils of great adversity Article by Emily J. Mundy

For an entirely able-bodied person, it is virtually impossible to imagine how drastically different his life would be if he were born with a disability of some sort. How much more difficult his or her life would be, born without the necessary limbs to experience touch, to lift and carry things, to walk and dance and run. Nick’s Remarkable Story: Meet Nick Vujicic. Born in 1982 in Brisbane, Australia, Nicholas Vujicic came into this world with neither arms nor legs, without any kind of medical warning or explanation from his doctors. Shocked and devastated,Dushka and Pastor Boris Vujicic would have to nurse a limbless son in hopes of providing him with the best life possible. Throughout his childhood and adolescence, Nick not only dealt with challenges in school such as bullying and self-esteem issues, but also struggled with depression and a crippling sense of isolation and loneliness. Despite the unfortunate reality, Nick went on to study at Griffith University in Logan, Australia, and obtained a double Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Financial Planning. By the age of 19, Nick started to fulfill his dream of being able to encourage others to master the art of introspection, and prompted those that listened to seek a higher power for inner-happiness and solace. “I found the purpose of my existence, and also of my circumstance”, preaches Nick, who wholeheartedly believes that every encounter and struggle in our lives has a purpose in the grand scheme of events. In 2007, Nick made a massive and courageous move from Brisbane, Australia, to California, USA, where he became the President and CEO of his non-profit organization Life Without Limbs. 21

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Since his first public speaking engagement at the age of 19, Nick has shared his inspirational story with millions of people around the world – speaking to an array of groups such as students, teachers, youth groups, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and congregations of all sizes. He has been interviewed on various televised programs and promoted internationally for his astounding, single-handed impact on his community of supporters. Finding Motivation in the Mean Face of Adversity Inspirational and extraordinary people never seem to be far from a good look beneath the surface, but Nick Vujicic has certainly left millions awe-struck with his incredible sense of positivity. When asked where he finds the inner strength to live a life filled with the challenges associated with a severe physical impairment, Nick replies, “The challenges in our lives are there to strengthen our convictions. They are not there to run us over.” Motivated by an intense passion to set a living, breathing example of perseverance, Nick has learned not to give up simply after hearing a few “no’s”. Rather, his philosophy on life exceeds one try at things, as he writes in his book, “If I fail, I try again, and again, and again”. Mastering the Art of Positivity Impressed and motivated by his sensational speeches and incredible story, countless individuals have made reading Nick’s travel journal and blog updates a daily activity, just to keep a steady dose of inspiration in their lives. Unconcerned with the number of failures before achieving one success, Nick shares his rule-of-thumb when it comes to overcoming obstacles and doubt: “If you can’t get a miracle, become one”.

We can all learn invaluable lessons from Nick’s life work, applying them to our own struggles and seemingly inescapable circumstances. To recall one’s greater purpose in life can be, at times, the silver lining of a storm. As Henry David Thoreau put it, “One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of the coldest winter”. After marrying the love of his life, Nick and his new wife Kanae Miyahara spent their honeymoon frolicking about the beautiful beaches of Hawaii like any other couple. Today, he is the bestselling author of his book Life Without Limbs, and lives with Kanae in Hawaii. The agile Vujicic still has no trouble using his camera to take photographs of his stunning wife. Nick continues to post daily “two minutes of hope” segments on his Facebook page, which can be accessed and listened to by the public. *For more information concerning Nick Vujicic’s autobiography, book, non-profit organization, and events calendar, visit www.lifewithoutlimbs.org.

Legless and limbless speaker Nick Vujicic in Prague, September 10, 2010. Photo taken on: September 10th, 2010.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Exclusive Interview With

PhilliP lomax Article by Emily J. Mundy

Design by Helen He

Photography by Emily Ryder

Meet the 23-year-old singer and musician, whose powerful talent discovered on the X Factor remains the driving force behind his first album. Delve into the mind and heart of Lomax, and take a journey through his inspirational lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s story and expanding career.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Luxurious Autumn & Winter Season

Why Fashion Can’t Wait for 2012’s

Vogue gallery writer tilly Macalister-sMith boldly began her article on this upcoMing winter’s fashion trends referencing the “dressing down” speech Meryl streep gaVe anne hathaway in the deVil wears prada. “it was a Monologue that opened our lexicon to what layMen would haVe once called ‘blue’”. she was of course referring to the great debate oVer the color cobalt – one that has returned with a huge bang this winter. Article by Emily J. Mundy Design by Janet Yang

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Photography by Aaron Alifen

Alongside the kingly color of cobalt is its royal compliment, a princess purple – she is powerful, passionate, and dazzling. Together, these two reign supreme as the loveliest primaries of the season. Creeping up on autumn/winter trends is the rise of oversize fashion! Big is beautiful when it comes to layering two – or five – personal pieces to make your own unique statement. Vogue Magazine predicts that oversize garments will work their way into various styles, as it’s ideal for the casual tomboy who likes to keep things chic and streamlined. With easy combinations like a pair of hunter boots laced over warm leggings, knit scarves draped over large ponchos, and loose, long sleeve layers covered by a classic pea coat, this season’s look will be versatile, classic, and beautiful, in short. Embracing the art of coloring and cultivating patterns, many designers have created winter lines specifically centered on floral prints and fabric bouquets that possess an alluring, hyper-real quality. A similar blooming trend is the clean, oriental look inspired by the exquisite culture in the East, complete with cherry blossoms and lotus flowers. For a tailored stride, this autumn’s “slouchy” boyfriend styles rule the runway, accompanied by professional, printed trousers. The new spin this season? Elegant shades

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Private Businesses:

Small, but not

insigniďŹ cant Article by Emma Delsohn Design by Helen He

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Image from pixelperfectdigital.com

Steven Smith is what some would call ‘the ultimate entrepreneur.’ Starting out as the manager at the first natural foods store in Portland, Oregon, Smith founded his first of three businesses—the Stash Tea Company. From its humble beginnings in 1971, the Stash Tea Company grew to be a multi-million dollar brand name that can now boast of being one of the biggest specialty tea companies in the United States. Stash Tea was eventually sold to a Japanese tea company in 1993; but Smith wasted little time in embarking on his next business venture. Tazo Tea, Smith’s second creation, came to fruition in 1994, and grew to success even more rapidly than the Stash Tea Company had: It landed him a #13 spot on Gourmet Live’s Top 25 American Food Entrepreneurs list, and dominated the specialty tea market during the 1990’s. The powerhouse Starbucks Coffee Company bought Tazo Tea for $8 million in 1999, and Tazo still remains one of the most esteemed tea brands in all of America.

they are typically very subject to economic change, and can fail to treat customers and employees alike with the same amount of respect a small business can. Today, a success story such as Steven Smith’s is both surprising and impressive. The United States is still suffering from the devastating recession that began in late 2007, and one of the most significant effects on our nation has been an increased rate of unemployment. During the very year that Steven Smith sold his first box of Smith Teamaker tea, the unemployment rate reached an alarming 10%, the highest rate to be reached since 1982. As economic activity continued to decline, large businesses were forced to lay-off as many employees as they could in order to survive the recession, leaving

publishing of The Epic of America, the American Dream is what has characterized the greatest of goals for every working American. During an economic recession such as the one we ﬁnd ourselves in today, it can be diﬃcult to believe that something as idealistic as the American Dream is possible to achieve. With fewer jobs available and less money to spend, most Americans are not willing to take many economic risks. Steven Smith lives a comfortable life, running his tea shop with his wife in the Northwest. In photographs, his smile is genuine and full. Steven Smith will, beyond a shadow of doubt, spend the rest of his life working in the tea

“

It isn’t hard to recognize the appealing aspects of a small business—they are able to respond faster to changes in the economy, provide markedly better customer service, and are more conscious of the needs of each of their employees.

Of course, Smith refused to stop there. He now is the proud owner of Steven Smith Teamaker, and manages the Smith Teamaker store in Portland. From creating the tea itself, to packaging it and marketing it to his customers, Smith is completely in charge of his own small business. It isn’t hard to recognize the appealing aspects of a small business— they are able to respond faster to changes in the economy, provide markedly better customer service, and are more conscious of the needs of each of their employees. Corporations, due to their size, cannot boast of this;

”

millions of Americans out of work. In the past 5 years, the unemployment rate has dropped to 8.3% (as of July 2012), but the recession’s crippling eﬀect on the U.S. economy remains. Long before the economic crisis of the early 21st century, James Truslow Adams authored a book called The Epic of America, in 1931. It was in this book that Adams coined the term, “the American Dream.” Adams deﬁned the American dream as “that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” Since the

dustry, pursuing his passion for as long as it will sustain him. Most Americans today are, in some respect, struggling to maintain their typical way of life during this economic recession. They have put their dreams and happiness on hold, because they feel they need to in order to survive. Though Steven Smith’s story may be considered a rarity, it is a prime example of what can happen with a tireless devotion to following one’s own American dream, regardless of economic circumstance--the American dream can become a reality.

Combining Paper Smart With Pavement Experience How Utilizing Both Common and Academic Knowledge Can Lead to Great Success

Article by Emily J. Mundy Design by Candy Chan Photograph credit to Erickn on Dreamstime

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Anecdotal evidence shows that a solid foundation of “street smarts” (as in personal motivation and drive, developed people skills, and a good ability to communicate and sell) is essential for any successful businessperson. Add experience, education, and a healthy lifestyle to the mixture, and the result is a golden thing to behold in a singular person seeking success. Take, for example, two applicants competing for a management position in a newly opened, sister-store to a separate successful boutique, aiming to sell clothing – both used and new – and an array of quirky local merchandise: Michael: “My friends know me as the one who tends to have the most common sense out of the group – I feel as if I’ve learned to read other people so that I know how to act around them, and understand them in a way that assures them they can trust me.” David: “Out of my peers, I consider myself to be the most logical. If I’m presented with a problem, I am inclined to

solve it as quickly and eﬀectively as I can.” Michael: “I believe I would make a good manager because I can easily connect to people, and I possess a natural talent for selling.” David: “I feel that the manager’s position is one I can ﬁll successfully, as my education has prepared me to understand the inner-workings of a business, and I am accountable and responsible.” Considering the very small amount of information shared by the two applicants, who is more appealing to hire as the manager of a local boutique? Or, would a combination of both the applicants’ strengths be most suitable overall? “Neither book smarts nor street smarts is as helpful as a rich relative”, jokes Tim Knox, entrepreneur, author, and speaker, who is now the founder and president of four successful technology companies, despite the fact he decided to forgo college.

“On the street, the center of knowledge is you; conversely, you attempt to absorb and deconstruct a third party’s take on the world when you read a book – at best, you are removed from the actual equation by one degree.”

Typically, to be “street smart” means to have situational awareness; to be able to access the environment one is in, to decipher who is in this particular environment and why, and to discern what angles of approach are available to choose from. A person who relies more so on known facts, calculated opinion, and proven theory to relate to the world around him or her is considered, in the opposite sense, to be “book smart”. Though a sound education and knowledge bank of information to sift through deﬁnitely help a person to be successful tremendous amounts, there is also a great deal to be said about an individual trusting his or her own judgment. One whose strengths consist mostly of learned survival techniques and graceful consults of empathetic emotions tends to correctly predict the movement of characters, and plot, in his life. The prime distinction, then, between someone who is street smart compared to someone who only has an educational degree is who remains ‘at the center of knowledge’. On the street, the center of knowledge is you; conversely,

you attempt to absorb and deconstruct a third party’s take on the world when you read a book – at best, you are removed from the actual equation by one degree. Relating to multitudes of diverse people – in a way that doesn’t feel forced or superficial – is a skill that is only fully developed with uncut experience. Ultimately, “smarts” – regardless of where or how or why they are developed – can only be tagged as priceless. Take all of what’s happened in the business and personal world (this includes the glamorous and the down-right ugly) – then think, improve from it. Any successful journey that has personal value requires you to put yourself at risk and survive, to struggle, to thrive, and to reap the benefits of hard work. “An advanced degree – especially from a prestigious university will definitely open doors, but in the end, it really doesn’t matter how much education, experience, talent, or money you have”, councils Tim Knox. “It’s what you do with it that matters”.

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VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

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The DREAM Act: Soon To Be A Reality? Article by Emma Delsohn Photo by Hongqi Zhang | Dreamstime.com

There are few political issues that have sparked more controversy than that of illegal immigration. Some believe that those who enter the U.S. illegally are committing an awful crime and should be deported immediately, regardless of circumstances. Others contend that immigration laws should be less brutal and calculating, and extend sympathy to immigrants instead of rejection; those who believe in the latter are likely to support the DREAM Act. The Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act, commonly referred to as the DREAM Act, seeks to “help those individuals who meet certain requirements, have an opportunity to enlist in the military or go to college and have a path to citizenship which they otherwise would not have,” according to the official DREAM Act website. Essentially, the DREAM Act’s goal is to give youths, who were brought into this country by undocumented parents at a young age, an opportunity to achieve citizenship and further their education in the United States. To qualify for the DREAM Act, young people must meet several strict requirements: the applicant must have entered the United States prior to their 16th birthday, been in the United States for at least 5 consecutive years prior to the bill passing, and have graduated from high school, obtained a GED, be currently enrolled in college, trade school, or in some other type of institution for higher learning. Furthermore, the applicant must be 30 or under at the time they are applying, and have no previous or current convictions. Put simply, the DREAM Act is looking to give promising young people a chance to thrive in our nation.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

If the applicant meets all the qualifications of the DREAM Act, he or she will be granted “a temporary, conditional allowance to remain in the Untied States for up to 6 years.” Although this bi-partition bill was introduced to Congress in 2001, the DREAM Act is yet to be passed into law. However, in June 2012, President Obama issued an executive order that halted at least 800,000 deportations of children who were brought into this country by their illegal immigrant parents. Obama’s bold choice to partially disregard the congressional ruling is being called by some ‘the DREAM Act Lite.’ In doing his, our president has conveyed his position on what is to be done about the illegal immigration problem. Not the entire nation agrees with President Obama. Generally, Republicans are concerned that illegal immigrants will only serve to increase the unemployment rate in our country, by taking jobs from American citizens because they are able to work for such little money. Other complaints include that illegal immigrants evade the tax system, could induce a higher crime rate. Despite consistent opposition, proponents of the DREAM Act are close to achieving their goal, and President Obama’s 2012 executive order is clearly a step in the DREAM Act’s direction. As our nation continues to strive to be as just as possible, the DREAM Act will surely be at the forefront of any political conversation involving immigration laws.

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

How to Manage Stress and Overcome Difﬁculties By ByBrian BrianTracy Tracy Design Designby byHelen HelenHe He Image Imagefrom fromstockfreeimages.com stockfreeimages.com

As Asan anindividual, individual,you youare areconti continually nuallyfaced facedwith withchallenges, challenges, diﬃ diﬃculti culties esand andtemporary temporarysetbacks. setbacks.They Theyare arean anunavoidable unavoidable and andinevitable inevitablepart partof ofbeing beinghuman. human.By Bylearning learninghow howto to manage managestress stressand andrespond respondwith withaapositi positive veatti attitude tudeto toeach each challenge, challenge,you’ll you’llgrow growas asaaperson personand andstart startmoving movingforward forward in inlife. life.In Infact, fact,without withoutthose thosesetbacks, setbacks,you youcould couldnot nothave have learned learnedwhat whatyou youneeded neededto toknow knowand anddeveloped developedthe the qualiti qualities esof ofyour yourcharacter characterto towhere wherethey theyare aretoday. today. Much Muchof ofyour yourability abilityto tosucceed succeedcomes comesfrom fromthe theway wayyou you deal dealwith withlife lifeand andmanage managestress. stress.One Oneof ofthe thecharacteristi characteristics cs of ofsuperior superiormen menand andwomen womenisisthat thatthey theyrecognize recognizethe the inevitability inevitabilityof oftemporary temporarydisappointments disappointmentsand anddefeats, defeats,and and they theyaccept acceptthem themas asaanormal normaland andnatural naturalpart partof oflife. life.They Theydo do everything everythingpossible possibleto toavoid avoidproblems, problems,but butwhen whenproblems problems come, come,superior superiorpeople peoplerespond respondwith withaapositi positive veatti attitude, tude,learn learn from fromthem, them,and andkeep keepmoving movingforward forwardin inthe thedirecti direction onof oftheir their dreams. dreams.

Manage Manage Stress Stress with with aa Positi Positive ve Atti Attitude tude

There Thereisisaanatural naturaltendency tendencyin inall allof ofus usto toreact reactemoti emotionally onally when whenour ourexpectati expectations onsare arefrustrated frustratedin inany anyway. way.When When something somethingwe wewanted wantedand andhoped hopedfor forfails failsto tomaterialize, materialize,we we feel feelaatemporary temporarysense senseof ofdisappointment disappointmentand andunhappiness. unhappiness. We Wefeel feeldisillusioned disillusionedand andreact reactas asthough thoughwe wehave havebeen been punched punchedin inthe the“emoti “emotional onalsolar solarplexus”. plexus”.

Since Sinceyour yourconscious consciousmind mindcan canhold holdonly onlyone onethought thoughtat ataatitime, me, either eitherpositi positive veor ornegati negative, ve,ififyou youdeliberately deliberatelychoose chooseaapositi positive ve thought thoughtto todwell dwellupon, upon,you youkeep keepyour yourmind mindopti optimisti misticcand andyour your emoti emotions onspositi positive. ve.Since Sinceyour yourthoughts thoughtsand andfeelings feelingsdetermine determine your youracti actions, ons,you youwill willtend tendto tobe beaamore moreconstructi constructive veperson, person, and andyou youwill willstart startmoving movingforward forwardand andmore morerapidly rapidlytoward towardthe the goals goalsthat thatyou youhave havechosen. chosen.

The Theopti optimisti misticcperson, person,however, however,knows knowshow howto tomanage manage stress stressin indiffi difficult cultsituati situations onsand andsoon soonmoves movesbeyond beyondthis this disappointment. disappointment.He Heresponds respondsquickly quicklyto tothe theadverse adverseevent event and andinterprets interpretsititas asbeing beingtemporary, temporary,specifi specificcand andexternal externalto to himself. himself.The Theopti optimist mistresponds respondswith withaapositi positive veatti attitude, tude,knows knows how howto tomanage managestress stressand andcounter counterthe thenegati negative vefeelings feelingsby by immediately immediatelyreframing reframingthe theevent eventso sothat thatititappears appearspositi positive vein in some someway. way.

ItItall allcomes comesdown downto tothe theway wayyou youtalk talkto toyourself yourselfon onaaregular regular basis. basis.In Inour ourcourses coursesof ofproblem problemsolving solvingand anddecisions decisionsmaking, making, we weencourage encouragepeople peopleto torespond respondto toproblems problemsby bychanging changing their theirlanguage languagefrom fromnegati negative veto topositi positive. ve.Instead Insteadof ofusing usingthe the word wordproblem, problem,we weencourage encouragepeople peopleto touse usethe theword wordsituati situation. on. You Yousee, see,aaproblem problemisissomething somethingthat thatyou youdeal dealwith. with.The Theevent event isisthe thesame. same.It’s It’sthe theway wayyou youinterpret interpretthe theevent eventto toyourself yourself that thatmakes makesititsound soundand andappear appearcompletely completelydiﬀ diﬀerent. erent. 39

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Even better than situation is the word challenge. Whenever you have a difficulty, immediately reframe it, choose to view it as a challenge, and start moving forward. Rather than saying, “I have a problem,” say, “I have an interesting challenge facing me.” The word challenge is inherently positive. It is something that you rise to that makes you stronger and better. It is the same situation, only the word that you are using to describe it is different. The best of all possible words to maintain a positive attitude and manage stress is the word opportunity. When you are faced with a difficulty of any kind, instead of saying, “I have a problem,” you can say, “I am faced with an unexpected opportunity.” And if you concentrate your powers on finding out what that opportunity is—even if it is only a valuable lesson—you will certainly find it. As the parable says, “Seek and ye shall find, for all who seek find it.”

Moving Forward and Thinking Positive

Here are four ideas you can use to help you to maintain a positive attitude and manage stress: First, resolve in advance that no matter what happens, you will not allow it to get you down. You will respond with a constructive and positive attitude. You will take a deep breath, relax and look for whatever good the situation may contain. Second, neutralize any negative thoughts or emotions by speaking to yourself positively all the time. Say things like, “I feel healthy! I feel happy! I feel terrific!” As you go about your job, say to yourself, I like myself, and I love my work!” According to the law of expression, whatever is expressed is impressed. Whatever you say to yourself or others is impressed deeply into your subconscious mind and is likely to become a permanent part of your personality. Third, remember that it is impossible to learn and grow and become a successful person without adversity and difficulties. You must learn to manage stress and rise above the difficulties

in order to become a better person. Welcome each diﬃculty by saying, “That’s good!” and then look into the situation to ﬁnd the good in it. Finally, start moving forward in life by keeping your thoughts on your goals, dreams, and on the person you are working toward becoming. When things go wrong temporarily, respond by saying to yourself, “I believe in the perfect outcome of every situation in my life.” Resolve to maintain a positive attitude, be cheerful, and resist every temptation toward negativity and disappointment. View a disappointment as an opportunity to grow stronger, and about it to yourself and others in a positive and optimistic way.

Brian Tracy is Chairman and CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company specializing in the training and development of individuals and organizations. Brian’s goal is to help people achieve their personal and business goals faster and easier than they ever imagined. Brian Tracy has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5,000,000 people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada and 55 other countries worldwide. As a Keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year. For more information on Brian Tracy programs, go to: www.briantracy.com

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

Bang Bar

Design by Helen He

Craving for some mouth-watering spicy food? 41

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

ost of the delicacies in Asia are seasoned with all sorts of ingredients and is known for being favorably spicy. If you’re a fan of Thai food, Bang Bar is a must. Asian foods are also well known to be spicy. If you’re a fan of Thai food, then this place that I am about to introduce is a must. Thai food is one of the most complex and wideranging cuisines of the world. It is not an instant cuisine – rather, it’s prepared with the flick of a knife and a toss of the pan. To achieve sensational taste, the food needs the cook’s attention, expects time to be spent on it, and requires much effort. Some say that in order to experience true Thai flavors, one might need to wander around Bangkok or Chiang Mai tto sample the street food. But the distance poses a hassle! Not to worry: Bang Bar Thai Restaurant & Lounge, located in West Seattle, offers a wide range of Thai comfort food. The place is eye catching so it wasn’t hard to find – between Alaska St. and Edmunds St. Street parking is sometimes a problem, but delivery and take-out options are available. Hurry Run…with your empty stomach!!! Homesick? Come here! There is a warm welcoming feeling with their fusion design and ambiance. Though low-lit, the hand-painted decoration provided represents both traditional and modern elements showcasing their Asian fusion menu with a twist of fine dinning style. Come with your folks and taste the explicit kinds of drinks. Happy Hours 7 days a week from 3-6pm and 9pm-closing, enjoy it only at great Bang Bar Thai Restaurant & lounge; all martinis $5 and all house wines $4. This place is good for groups but not kids. In addition, it takes reservations and walkins are welcome too. The place has a wall that separates the front door and also a faux-forest screen between the bar and dinning room. The level of noise is average, which is nice cause you want a relaxing place to enjoy good food.

The menu is awesome. It has all the classic traditional Thailand cuisine. The owner Kay Fuengarom, kindly welcomed us and allow us to sit while she ordered Bang Bar’s signatures dishes. While waiting, Tae the server brought us water and made sure that the table was set properly. The waiter provided adequate customer service, he asked how spicy do we want our food to be. They had choices from 1 to 5, and we decided to go with 2 stars. For the appetizer, we had the Crispy coconut prawn that was served with homemade plum sauce. It was deep fried till golden brown and crispy on the outside but moist inside. The only down side of this dish is that the coconut flavor wasn’t very strong. It taste scrumptious and the price is reasonable. While still enjoying the appetizer, our server came with two specialties entrée that we’ve ordered. The ﬁrst one was Dungeness Crab Pad Thai and the second was Crispy Garlic Chicken. Both came out in large portion and presentation was pleasant. The Pad Thai was wrapped in thin-crepes like egg topped with deep fried Dungeness crab. It was also served with crushed peanuts and green chili sauce on the side. We dig in straight away and found more crabmeat inside. It tasted sweet and sour. Instead of vinegar, the sourness is derived from tamarind juice. We ordered the spicy level at 2 stars but it was more to the sweet side! Maybe that’s because I prefer my food to be flaming hot. As for the Crispy Garlic Chicken, it was deep fried in their special butter. It was cooked tow perfection. It was sautéed in a rich garlic sauce with bell peppers and topped with crispy basil. It was fresh, hot and crunchy right from the kitchen. We expected subpar quality, and were very pleasantly surprised to find the chicken really amazingly delicious. The chicken had minimal batter, crispiness holds up to take away and is not super salty or garlicky. Value = $12.95 Overall, Bang Bar is a great restaurant for a variety of people to enjoy, if you want to hang out with friends and family over a unique dinner. They can’t wait to see you there!

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

THE

PHONE CALL Article by Nindya Atmodipoero Designed by Candy Chan Photograph credit to Barbar760 on Dreamstime

VUELTO | Nov-Dec 2012

“So what’s the plan for today?” says the voice from the other end of the line. The warm voice of my mother. “Uhm,” I pause. “Nothing. Just work I guess.” “The whole day? Surely not.” “Well, maybe not for the whole day. But I’m the only here, so –” “Ah, wish you were here, Chris! We’re having a big feast at your sister’s, the house is fully decorated, your brother is going to have it all on video and…” My mother continues talking, but I have stopped listening. I can’t bear it. The view outside my window is just like in one of those Christmas movies. The snow is falling and everything is covered in white. Romantic, sure. However, isn’t it the company, not the scenery, that makes it romantic? This is Christmas, no one wants – no one should – be alone at Christmas. But here I am. All by myself. In my skimpy dorm room, trying to work on my papers while eating cup noodles. Where is Santa when you need him the most? I want my mother’s home-cooked meals, I want home. “Chris? Are you there?” My mother asks. “Yes, yes,” I answer immediately, “what were you saying?” “They’re arriving, so I gotta go.” “Oh.” “I’ll say hi from you to everybody!” “Yes, please.” “Alright then, take care Chris. Merry Christmas!” She hangs up before I got the chance to reply. Then I go outside for a cigarette as I watched people passing by, carrying presents. I never thought I’d say this, but I miss Christmas-shopping. Though I’ve saved a whole lot of money since I don’t have anyone to give the presents to, I miss the whole process of buying something for someone special. Suddenly my phone rings “Yeah, what’s up?” I say. “Don’t tell me it’s you who’s smoking alone looking pathetic.” “Sorry, man. Can’t help being homesick. HAHA. Oh wait, how do you know?” “Look across.” And there he is, my flat mate Matt, standing outside of his car, waving at me. I hang up and walk – okay, run – towards him. We fist bump. “DUDE!” I say, “I thought you left this morning, I thought -” “I was on my way, man. But then – ” “Then?” “I thought to myself, A bro shouldn’t leave another bro spending Christmas alone.” He grins. “What?” “I’m here to pick you up.” I stand there. Speechless. “Don’t just stand there. Get in the car.” He tilts his head at the door. “You’re serious, right?” “C’mon, everyone should be enjoying a home-cooked meal on Christmas.” He smiles. I guess Santa is real after all.

49 YEARS CHEFâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EXPERIENCE TAIWANESE AND INDONESIAN CUISINE THAT BRINGS WARMNESS 707 8th Ave S Seattle, WA 98104 (206) 264-8899 Hours Mon, Wed-Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm

No MSG added. Homemade Noodle. Requested meals outside the menu accepted.

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