CP May 2021

M AY 2 0 2 1

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ISSUE: 137

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MAY 2021

On the cover: Talal Khalaf (@talalkhalaf) Directed by: Jameel Arif (@jameelarif) Photographed by: Riyas (@riyas.photokw) Location: In2Raw Studio (@in2raw)

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46. 54.

38.

contents BEAUTY

22. Look On The Pink Side Of Life.

ENTERTAINMENT 60. New May Book Releases 61. Writing Movie Wrongs 62. Oscar Winning Movies

INTERVIEWS

16. Talal Khalaf 38. Fatemah Alothman 46. Jino Mary Joy 54. Yousef Almeer

TRAVEL

12. Mallorca, Spain Top Fives 34. Bonus Miles - Beachy-Keen 53. A Room With A View

SOCIAL DIARY 68. CP Journal

FASHION 26. Tommy Jeans Pastel Capsule Sp2021 64. Your Dream Holiday Has Been Bottled

By Dior

16.

FEATURES 8. A Year To Change The World 11. ‫هل تعرف نقاط القوة ونقاط الضعف لديك؟‬ 28. The Rise Of Digital Shopping 30. In2raw: The State-Of-The-Art Rental

12.

Studio For All Your Photography And Video Production Projects.

44. Makeup Industry In Kuwait

FITNESS 24. What Is Formerlyme?

30.

REGULARS 70. Homework For Grownups 72. Horoscopes

Hello to all the CP magazine readers: Hope everyone had a wonderful Eid. I am super excited to share with you some of our superstars from our May issue. For our cover interview this month, we have interviewed Talal Khalaf the master mind behind JOYA center, Talal is a certified international trainer in Trauma release and meditative breathing .

During our discussion, Talal told us about his journey by travelling across the globe from India to China to understand the different cultures, individuals and community behaviors.

His interview is very inspiring and informative and I am sure you all will enjoy reading it as much as we did during interviewing him.

We have also interviewed a captivating personality Yousef Almeer - a 24 year old Artist, Photographer, Creative Director, Electrical Engineer, and soon to be Filmmaker from Kuwait and a brand owner of “3tone”.

Yousif explained how important social media has become as an essential tool for any creative in the modern era.

We also have an exclusive interview with our very own Fatma AlOthman who is now the co-founder of a new women-only Rebel Gym. Fatma provided a full walk-through the new gym and explained how it is different than any other gym in the region.

I am also glad to share the great news that more than two million people took the vaccine in Kuwait. Which means that we are progressing towards normalization soon and many people will be able to travel during this summer.

Share with me your travel plans.

Our traveling experts provide excellent spots for vacation and staycation this summer. Starting from spending nights in Cala Figuera to driving down to Sa Calobra.

Thank you for reading ! See you next month with more interesting interviews and amazing articles by our team.

Fatima Hamad AlJutaili Managing Editor

gillsherryauthor

A YEAR TO CHANGE THE WORLD

Gill Sherry

When I sat down to watch the TV documentary following Greta Thunberg’s year-long campaign to explore the science of global warming, I expected to feel sad and frustrated.

It would, after all, focus on the damage we are causing to our precious planet as well as highlight how little is being done to change it. But in addition to those predicted emotions, I also felt encouraged and extraordinarily impressed.

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MAY 2021

When a lone, fifteen-year-old girl took the day off school to sit outside the Swedish Parliament with a sign saying ‘Skolstrejk för klimatet’ (School strike for climate), no-one expected it to result in a worldwide protest, least of all Greta herself. However, inspired by her unwavering determination, children around the world began to engage in similar protests and the ‘Fridays for Future’ movement was born.

Since then, the young environmental activist has addressed the United Nations, met with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and travelled the world to further her knowledge and strengthen her campaign. She also met with Sir David Attenborough, probably the world’s best known naturalist. And whilst many students continued to strike from school every Friday, Greta was busy gathering the evidence needed for her mission: to hold world leaders to the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty on climate change.

The documentary followed Greta to Canada’s Rocky Mountains, where the rise in global temperatures is allowing the pine beetle to flourish, thus causing widespread destruction of trees. As a direct result, squirrels, birds and grizzly bears are also suffering. Historically, freezing winter temperatures would kill the pest, protecting the forest and its inhabitants. Evidence, should we need it, that it only takes one minor change to have major implications.

In Canada, Greta also visited the Athabasca glacier, currently suffering its fastest melt rate ever. In some areas, the ice looked black, the result of soot and dust from forest fires. This residue means the snow and ice is less able to reflect the sun, increasing the melt rate still further. As if that’s not bad enough, the melting ice is causing sea levels to rise – predicted at 1 metre by the end of the century – and almost every coastline in the world is susceptible to the resulting disaster.

In 2018, California suffered some of the deadliest wild fires ever seen in the United States. Eighty-six people died and fifty-thousand were displaced. Greta talked to some of the survivors and expressed her frustration. “We see all of these things repeating themselves over and over again. People die and people suffer from it but we completely fail to connect the dots.”

Her eloquence is astounding for someone so young. Coupled with the fact she was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome – a form of autism – her achievements are remarkable. Lesser individuals may well have walked away, particularly when death threats were received and conspiracy theories spread. But her passion is obvious and her resolve unfaltering.

In 2019, Greta was due to attend the 25th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Chile. Unfortunately, due to social unrest in the country, the venue was shifted to Madrid.

The travel implications were disastrous for Greta who, due to her unwillingness to fly (because of the chemical impact on the atmosphere), had already travelled half way around the world the wrong way. She was forced to embark on a 19-day Atlantic crossing from Virginia to Lisbon by catamaran. For the benefit of the doubters and haters who are constantly looking for an excuse to criticize the young activist, the trip was confirmed as carbon neutral.

During her travels, Greta also met the Sami-herders of northern Sweden, the last and only indigenous people in Europe. They have cared for (and relied upon) reindeer for over a thousand years but their very existence is being threatened by climate change. Due to global warming, the snow is frequently replaced with rain. Rainfall on existing snow forms a layer of ice which the reindeer are unable to break. For centuries, they have been able to dig through the snow to feed on the vegetation below. This is no longer the case and, without intervention, the animals will die from starvation and the Sami way of life will be lost forever.

The tragic reality of climate change is that it is the most vulnerable who are bearing the brunt. It is those who have contributed to it the least, that will suffer from it the most. It is without doubt a real injustice.

The documentary went on to discuss the heatwaves which are becoming more common and more severe. It also highlighted catastrophic floods and Alpine rock falls as well as the problem of methane associated with livestock. And, of course, the subject of coronavirus could not be avoided. Greta was forced to return home when lockdown restrictions were imposed, bringing her year-long trip to a premature end. She took the opportunity to rest, embracing the silence and reflecting on the things she had learned. In the meantime, air travel was suspended, factories were closed, roads were empty. As a result, there was a drastic drop in pollutants. Speaking of the COVID crisis later, Greta said, “The coronavirus pandemic showed that if we do face an emergency, everything can change overnight. The climate crisis has never once been treated as an emergency.” A good point, well made. Although COVID-19 has dominated world headlines, Miss Thunberg firmly believes that the climate crisis is the most difficult issue humanity has ever faced, not the ongoing pandemic.

There is no denying that Greta is no ordinary teenager. She doesn’t crave material things like new clothes (fashion accounts for 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions) or the latest gadgets.

She doesn’t spend time watching trashy TV or reading fantasy novels. She certainly doesn’t eat burgers and other fast food favourites (she is vegan). Rather, she wears her clothes until they literally fall apart and, when she does find time for herself, continues her research into global warming.

Despite witnessing the decline of our natural world and the inadequate measures being taken to tackle it, I was heartened by the lengths this incredible young lady has gone to in order to question those accountable. She certainly didn’t set out to become a household name. She was simply a child who cared about her planet and was worried about her future (so much so, she became depressed and didn’t eat or talk for two weeks).

She didn’t for one minute think she would address the United Nations and make what is arguably one of the most impressive speeches of all time.

“This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying.

Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!”

Great Thunberg may see herself as an accidental activist but her selfless attitude, steadfast determination and undeniable passion are appreciated and respected the world over. She is, quite simply, an incredible young woman.

“The only thing that creates hope is action and if there is no action there is no hope. It is my moral duty as a human being to do everything I can.”

Her duty, it seems, is not only to ensure that world leaders keep their promises, but also to encourage the rest of us to recognise how fragile the future of our planet actually is.

If only there were more people like Greta.

Greta Thunberg: A Year To Change The World is a highly recommended three-part documentary series filmed for the BBC.

www.cpmagazine.net

9

.‫ مميز‬.‫ حصري‬.‫حلو‬

.‫مع أحمد الزامل‬

NEW

Iced AZ Latte

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MAY 20212020 JANUARY DECEMBER 2019

NEW

AZ Latte

‫‪lulwa.lifecoach‬‬

‫هل تعرف نقاط‬ ‫القوة ونقاط‬ ‫الضعف لديك؟‬ ‫‪Lulwa AlKhamees‬‬

‫اهال ً قرائي االعزاء ‪...‬‬ ‫اليوم موضوعي سؤال اريدك ان تأخذ وقتك بالتفكير فيه ‪...‬‬ ‫قبل االجابة ‪ ...‬سؤالي ‪:‬‬ ‫( هل تعرف نقاط القوة ونقاط الضعف لديك ؟)‪...‬‬ ‫من المهم جدا ً ان نتعرف على نقاط القوة والضعف لدينا ‪...‬‬ ‫لعدة اسباب ‪ ...‬اهمها ان نتعرف على ذاتنا ‪...‬‬ ‫عزيزي القاريء هل تعرف من انت حقاً؟‬ ‫معرفتنا ل نقاط القوة و الضعف لدينا ‪ ،‬س يساعدنا في‬ ‫حياتنا ‪...‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫و س يساعدنا ايضا في حل الكثير من المشاكل التي تطرأ‬ ‫علينا ‪...‬‬ ‫و داللة على ذلك الكثير من عمالئي يأتون لي و يتحدثون عن‬ ‫حياتهم ‪ ...‬ومشاكلهم المختلفة ‪...‬‬ ‫ومن خالل تحدثنا أثناء الجلسة ‪ ...‬نكتشف ب انه لديه نقطة‬ ‫ضعف هي التي اربكت حياته ‪...‬‬ ‫وهي سبب المشاكل التي لديه ‪...‬‬ ‫و بالمقابل يأتون لي عمالء اخرين لديهم نقاط قوة كامنة ‪...‬‬ ‫لم يستفاد منها او يتم التركيز عليها ‪،‬او حتى التعرف‬ ‫عليها ل تحقيق احالمهم‪...‬‬ ‫لذا من المهم جدا ً انا وانت ان نتعرف على أنفسنا و نواجه‬ ‫ذاتنا ‪...‬‬ ‫ونتعرف على نقاط القوة ل نحقق احالمنا ‪ ،‬ونتعرف على‬ ‫نقاط الضعف لدينا ونتخلص منها ونعي بوجودها ‪...‬‬ ‫لذا واجه نفسك واعرف من انت !‬

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tifahtravels

MALLORCA, S PA I N TOP FIVES Latifah Al-Hazza

1.Spend a few nights in Cala Figuera

The charming fishing village of Cala Figuera is tucked between rocky cliffs, pine trees and fig trees at the end of a bay. Cala Figuera is located about 60 kilometres from Palma de Mallorca. Here you will see the fishermen's houses with their ‘garages’ that play home to their boats. The idyllic harbor is home to wooden fishing boats that bob up and down beside sailing boats and motor yachts. Fresh fish and seafood are served in the harbor restaurants, which are stocked with fresh catch from the local fishermen.

2.Hike down to Caló des Moro

Caló des Moro is one of Mallorca's best kept secret beaches…that everyone knows about. For a long time, this tiny stretch of fine white sand and translucent turquoise blue water was relatively unknown because of the difficulty in reaching it, but lately, the word has spread and this unspoilt beach can now become very crowded in the summer months. The beach is about 40-metres long and the sea stretches far out between steep cliffs.

3.Spend a few nights in the mountains in Sóller

Sóller is a town surrounded by mountains with a lovely town center. Sóller probably has the prettiest town square in Mallorca, complete with an old wooden tram that runs through the town and down to the port.

4.Drive down to Sa Calobra – the most beautiful drive in Mallorca

Sa Calobra Road is nicknamed "The Snake" by locals. With a length of 13 km only, it is one of the most scenic drives in the world. It snakes through the rocky landscape of the island and is also steep. The eight-mile stretch of highway offers some of the most scenic views of the island.

5.Go for a coffee and a walk in Deià

Deià is a village away from the tour bus routes, but also filled with foreigners. It is beautiful, with no signs of chain hotels, but also very fancy. It is a favorite hideaway of a number of millionaires.

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MAY 2021

tifahtravels

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1.Coca Mallorquina, Coca de Trempó & Trempó Salad

Coca is Mallorca’s popular form of dough – made with flour, water, olive oil, yeast and salt. Trempó is Mallorca’s traditional salad made from finely diced onions, bell peppers and tomatoes. Coca de Trempó is the combination of the two – a baked salad pizza bread. But, the flavor is nothing like pizza. The Coca can be crispy like a biscuit and there is no cheese. Instead, the coca is fully loaded with toppings.

2.Ensaïmada

One of the most famous Mallorcan foods, Ensaïmada is an incredibly light and flaky pastry (sort of like a croissant).

3.Tumbet

Tumbet (or Tombet) is a local favorite made with potatoes, tomato, bell peppers, eggplant, garlic and olive oil. The vegetables should be fried and then the tomato sauce with the garlic is made separately. Then, the two parts of the dish are combined. Tumbet is considered to be the Mallorcan version of ratatouille.

4.Pica Pica

This Mallorcan dish is simply squid stewed in a sauce of tomato, onion, garlic and spicy paprika. Add a bay leaf and cook until the squid starts to soften just a bit. What gives it a unique flavor is the squid itself. You can really taste the sea in this dish.

5.Cocarrois

This is a local stuffed pastry (snack) with fillings that vary from vegetables to meat and even seafood.

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MAY 2021

1.Cap Rocat 2.La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel, Mallorca 3.Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden 4.Finca Hotel Can Estades 5.Hotel Rural Predi Son Jaumell Capdepera

1.Restaurante Sa Foradada 2.Ca's Patró March, Cala Deià 3.Botànic 4.Dins 5.Sadrassana

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talalkhalaf

Talal Khalaf is a meditation, breathing, and meditative therapy facilitator from Kuwait. He is regularly conducting sessions both in Kuwait and internationally.

Talal was was interested in character analysis and personality development since childhood. He began his inquisitive journey by travelling across the globe to understand the different cultures, individuals and community behaviors.

The findings, experiences and learning led him to introduce his own signature program which is "Meditative-Breathing", practiced and followed through his Joya Center.

We sat with Talal this month to know more about what meditation is all about and why would someone need to join his program.

We really enjoyed our discussions and were amazed to learn so many interesting things. Here is our exclusive interview with Talal for our readers.

INTERVIEWED BY: JAMEEL ARIF (@jameelarif) CORDINATION: FATIMA AL-JUTAILI (@f_jay23) PHOTOGRAPHY: RIYAS (@riyas.photokw) LOCATION: in2raw (@in2raw)

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MAY 2021

www.cpmagazine.net

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MAY 2021

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a proud Kuwaiti national and have diversified training in breathing, meditation, and trauma release Techniques. Working on the platform I have built up a meditative breathing and Joya Center.

I conduct courses, therapies and workshops internationally and facilitating other training institutes too.

Tell us about your education.

I have attended various courses and conducted therapies, thus becoming a Certified Breathing and Meditation facilitator. My experience added up to recognize me as a Certified Trauma Releasing Specialist. I am a Certified International Trainer through the UK Training Board.

How did you first become interested in Meditation?

As I have mentioned before, my inquisitive journey in finding the people’s behavior and the influence of ethnicity and culture on the behavior of a collective group, I have found that the meditation techniques were practiced in many countries like India, China and other Asian countries to have a stable and healthy mental and behavioral condition. This led me to experience meditation and it’s benefits. It was not me finding meditation, rather, it found me!

How would describe Meditation?

Meditation in a single note, is an art of living. It’s being alive, and being aware of what is happening at each moment. It helps you to discover yourself and the situation you are in each moment, it is the way to live the moment. Meditation opens the door to live out each moment cheerfully, with the actual realization of it.

How is concentration different from Meditation?

Concentration is about spending lot of energy to focus on a specific thing. The whole attention is on that particular subject matter, which results in forgetting about ourselves and rest of the things around it.

While meditation is being awake or being aware of the moment and observing what is happening at that moment. We understand about ourselves, we are aware of the moment and observes each and everything happening at that moment.

What are the benefits of practicing Meditation?

Meditation is not a technique, rather it is an art of living by understanding the reality. The first benefit is that it teaches us to understand ourselves, our mind, emotions and behavior. As it helps to understand the situations and we can live that moment peacefully without engaging our mind, thoughts or emotions.

Thus, meditation gives us clarity, peace and

calmness, which finally brings relaxation to our body too. Meditation balances our energy, and helps us to invest the energy in required quantity to the required aspects alone.

Where’s the best place to Meditate?

Any place is perfect for meditation. You can meditate in your Bedroom, in your Kitchen, at your office, even when you are driving, eating, or walking. Meditation is not an exercise. It is all about being, being awake, being aware of what is happening. For example, while you are eating, being aware of the food and taste smells that you are having, and enjoying the same with its taste and flavor, that itself is a meditation.

Or if you are going for a walk, seeing and listening to the nature, the sound, enjoying the fresh air, and you being aware of all this, becomes a meditation. In a nutshell, every place is perfect for meditation.

Where do you teach or conduct your sessions?

The Meditation Programs are conducted in all GCC countries, some African countries like Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Asian Countries like India, Nepal, China, and in USA, UK, etc. Totaling 21 countries.

How different is it to provide your therapy online Vs. one -to -one sessions?

Most of the therapies; groups or one to one, even if it is in an open session. They will be taught first on the Trauma Release and other therapies and Train the Trainer, as a group. 80% of such therapies, when progress becomes One-to-One. Most Programs for Balancing, Harmony, and some of the Meditation and Breathing has to be conducted as a group, even though they are not therapy. But through online, some of the breathing techniques, Awareness techniques, and some other Programs for Balancing, Harmony, Meditation, etc., are conducted. So, for therapies, online will not be productive, our online program is mostly for balancing or relaxation breathing or some meditation training but our therapy and trauma release is of line

What is the Breathing Therapy?

There are many kinds of Breathing. But in our Breathing Therapy, it not only increases the capacity, but it releases the Trauma from the Body and clears the mind, releases hidden emotions (since childhood) which were affecting the body, behavior and state of mind. The benefit of Meditative Breathing is that it brings back people from negative Emotions, Trauma, Depression and keep their body and mind in pleasant state. They will not be living in the past, but will be able to enjoy the present moment, as they are aware of everything.

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Who would need it and why?

Most of the people need the Meditative Breathing.

Breathing is the primary essential that brings life.

Teaching someone to balance the Oxygen and Carbon dioxide in their body will help them to be healthy and stable physically, mentally and emotionally. This therapy helps them to leave the past behind, to see themselves and their potentials.

They will be approaching life positively and thus become an achiever in life.

What are some of the greatest accomplishments thus far?

The therapy has changed everyone’s state of mind and the thought process positively as the pain, the fear and the suppressed emotions are being released from that person. As they feel safe, there will be clarity in their thoughts. The brain sends good signal to the body, resulting in the production of good hormones like Dubamine, Exetocene. The proper functioning of brain and the nervous system regulates the imbalance of hormones. This therapy brings healing to the body too.

Can meditation help with depression and anxiety?

Of course. Meditation can almost heal the person completely form depression. It is not a technique or a treatment for a particular period of time. It brings clarity, awareness, positivity and gives good vibes and signals to our body, a relaxation for the brain, body & muscles. Meditation not only releases the good hormones, but it puts a check on the releasing of bad hormones like Cortezone and Adrenaline. This gives a calmness and composed state of mind, helping us to see oneself and the surroundings.

Is there anyone who should not meditate?

Everyone can meditate and there are different kinds of meditation too. As I mentioned earlier, it's not a technique, but it's all about living out life in its fullness.

Tell us about some of your hobbies?

I do read a lot, practice meditation, do my physical exercise as well as breathing exercise.

What’s the best way for people who want to experience your therapy to dive into them?

We conduct regular programs in more than 21

"Meditation in a single note, is an art of living."

Is one session sufficient? What is the duration of typical sessions?

The number of sessions and their timings completely depends on the nature of the therapy and the history of the person. Some therapies extend from 1 and half hour to 3 hours. Most of the breathing sessions for the trauma release is from 1 hour to 2 hours. Some of the programs are conducted for 3 to 4 or more than 6 days with morning and evening sessions of 12 to 16 hours, to work on the body, mind and emotions.

How often do I have to practice meditation before seeing benefits?

Meditation can be practiced every day. Living on each moment. In the beginning, you might have to consciously bring yourself into that awareness. But in due course, it becomes a lifestyle. You can see the benefit of meditation on a daily basis. And if you are aware, or being awakened, we can see the benefit of it, moment to moment too.

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MAY 2021

countries & people can join us, considering the accessibility and the nature of the program. This is announced in our website which is www.joyacenter. com. Currently, the interested candidates, may practice it through my YouTube channel, Instagram, where I upload different videos periodically.

Your message for us at CP magazine.

Thanks to CP Magazine for introducing us to the public, or rather, introducing Meditation and it's benefits to the public, especially during this Covid pandemic.

These days, people all over the world, are adversely affected, either financially, mentally, emotionally or even spiritually. Meditation is the tool that can bring you out of this traumatic experience all by yourself.

You can have clarity in your understanding, positivity in your thoughts, peacefulness in your actions, and enjoyment in your life. It's not the situation that controls you, but you, being aware of yourself will walk through it peacefully.

Stay healthy, stay safe.

www.cpmagazine.net

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SanaMakeupArtist

PINK

"Look on the pink side of life."

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MAY 2021

"Pink isn't just a color.

It's an attitude too”

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formerlymeofficial

FormerlyMe.com presents “Carey Drilling Sessions”

WHAT IS FORMERLYME?

Jim West

FormerlyMe is an online movement to motivate and inspire people to become the best version of themselves by showing them my journey and experience in trying a new workout and lifestyle regime every 30 days. Every post, update, and video is ‘formerly me’ as I endeavor to become the best version of myself and become FormerlyMe. Each month CP Magazine will showcase a part of my journey to becoming the best version of myself. I hope that in turn this inspires and motivates you to start your own journey as well. For this month’s story we will focus on the “Carey Drilling Sessions” days of my journey.

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MAY 2021

I had a few male personal trainers in my first year of FormerlyMe, and when I decided to work on a slam dunk challenge I knew I needed to focus on mobility and flexibility.

I reached out to Carey Drilling to get me started on developing my muscles for jumping. Carey Drilling is the founder and lead personal trainer with her company DrillFit Training. With schooling and certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine, and working alongside some of the best bodybuilders and athletes in the business, she has developed substantial knowledge in the wide scope of the fitness industry. She has experience in functional training, bodybuilding, weight loss, strength/conditioning, corrective exercise, and rehabilitation.

We got started with working on the legs from quads to hamstrings. The leg presses and lunges she had me doing were at first hard to keep balance. I stuck with it and after a few days of working through the exercises I started to get stronger and maintain better balance. This only reinforced the lesson I keep coming back to of consistency. If you stick to something long enough and practice perfectly, it does get better and better.

January passed us by super fast and my time with Carey came to an end. Carey helped me get a great start on preparing myself to reach my goal of slam dunking a basketball again at 44 years old. Two more months of February and March to go!

I announced via YouTube the GoFundMe campaign for my Slam Dunk Challenge to raise money and awareness for Child Mind Institute. The Child Mind Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most.

Follow Carey Drilling on Instagram https://www. instagram.com/carey3drillfit3

Follow my journey online at FormerlyMe.com and on the YouTube channel. Next month I will cover more unique experiences I had the end of 2020. Until next time that has been FormerlyMe! facebook.com/FormerlyMe twitter.com/MeFormerly instagram.com/formerlymeofficial www.cpmagazine.net

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TOMMY JEANS PASTEL CAPSULE

SP2021 26

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A BREATH OF FRESH STYLE The Spring 2021 TOMMY JEANS Pastel capsule brings a new invigorating wave of energy, showcasing limited edition logo colors and relaxed fits for the ultimate carefree, all play and no work vibes.

COLOR-BLOCK PASTEL POPS A soothing pastel palette delivers a fresh twist to the iconic red, white and blue logo, while mix and matchable, color-block designs bring creative freedom to the fashion lover who likes to play.

CHILL OUT IN STYLE Showcasing a softer side to streetwear, the capsule hits that sweet spot where comfort meets style for a collection designed for maximum chill.

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27

nomadia.princessa

THE RISE OF DIGITAL SHOPPING

Who would have thought that we would have everything delivered to our doorstep these days? Despite the global pandemic many countries specifically in Asia has adopted shopping online for many years. Now here we are in Kuwait going forward with this strategy to ride through the damages of the pandemic. Many businesses have shifted from offline platforms to online. Reasons behind this matter it is not only due to closures, but due to the accessibility and feasibility.

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Tarfa Alfarhan Shopping through the internet started off in 1994 with reputable companies like E-bay and Amazon who were pioneers. Later on it has been launched in China with Ali Baba and Taobao. As years passed by we have managed to create and keep innovating our online platforms. Through this shopping structure many companies were able to save costs, time, and conduct market research at the tip of their fingers.

Usually when shop-ping online the market has been educated that they would receive goods at a cheaper rate. This is where it has attracted them to lean towards digital purchases. Customers also feel it is much more convenient in terms of time, where they can place orders at any time they please. Or even not having to deal with other people for a transaction. Efficien-cy is the structure that digital shopping was based on for both consumer and service provider. Yet despite the quick changes in technology where people used to use web servers, nowadays apps (applications) have been created. These apps are much more user friendly as it can be used on smartphones, which these days everyone is on them constantly. However the beauty is that apps are able to save customer data, retrieve information swiftly, and has a touch of personalization towards the user. Even if there was no human contact, apps are able to send direct notifications to compensate.

The digital shopping era in Kuwait has boomed recently, of course the obvious reason is due to the pandemic.

Kuwait has a culture of shopping through souqs and malls, this is what everyone is familiar with. Going out to the mall on a Friday night is a typical outing for friends and families. Now with the precautions and closures business structures have shifted and it was kind of forced. Talabat was one of the first companies that taught the community the structure of digital shopping however through food orders. As a leader in the digital shopping industry in Kuwait we saw it has become a huge success and even expanding to other GCC countries. Boutiqaat came along later and provided the same ideology but delivering beauty goods. With Boutiqaat their smart marketing through influ-encers gave customers the credibility and trust to go ahead and swipe their card online. Today every business has shifted to the digital world. You can get your groceries, phar-maceuticals, flowers, food, clothes, accessories, books, toys, pet products, skincare, re-al estate and even services. In terms of services looking at a local company like Garagee has built up an online system where you can book car repair services and have your car fixed at your doorstep. No need to go to garages anymore they come to you. Shopping for anything

and everything can be done at anytime or anywhere literally at the palm of your hands. Kuwait’s millennials have learned to adapt the online methods in order to survive the pandemic. Majority are restaurant and beauty salon owners, lucky for the res-taurants its a product they deliver. However for the salons its a service, but still to de-crease human contact Salons have taken the initiative to go digital. A beauty app like Salony showcases salons and their services, showing the user what they offer. But inte-grating a booking system. No need to call just use the app to go the salon. Everything is going digital! Whether you are bored in the office or even relaxing on your bed, you can manage to have things delivered at your doorstep.

The downside of this accessibility is sometimes brushed off. Now looking at the majority of the community there is a high number of millennials who are fully aware and capable of using their smartphones to purchase. However we forgot about the older generations where they are not used to it.

Their payments are done via traditional ways meaning cash, cheques, and swiping the card at the vendor’s place. This is a hard adjustment to them as they don’t comprehend it for example question like how can you pay “online” what method can occur. These questions usually arise to that segment. Traditionally they are much more prone to have a look at the product to feel and touch it, instead of scroll-ing on screens.

Have we forgotten about them? It certainly seems like it with digital shopping. There of course the obvious problems like delivery delays, fraud vendors, hid-den costs stated later, again feeling and examining the products, and even counterfeit items. Many have been fooled and left skeptical. This is why e-commerce based companies must establish honesty, but really provide a unique service due to the competition around. Yes it is true the digital world cuts on costs specifically on manual labor, which is a positive for them but not always for the people. People won't be needed as systems have replaced them to do more jobs in less time. It can be struggle for people as it lowers the probability of acquiring a job.

We keep wondering if this is the new pathway, and it seems like it at the rate we are moving. Digitized systems have taken over providing both ends with major benefits. Will we continue this way for a while?

Are stores going to be neglected? Guess we just have to wait and see how far we can reach with digital shopping. Who knows maybe one day you can even purchase an island without even visiting the premises. www.cpmagazine.net

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in2raw

IN2RAW

THE STATE-OF-THE-ART RENTAL STUDIO FOR ALL YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO PRODUCTION PROJECTS. 30

MAY 2021

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LARGE OPEN CONCEPT STUDIO WITH NATURAL LIGHT 32

MAY 2021

In a country like Kuwait, where the outdoor temperature is not very supportive for outdoor photography, In2Raw is the latest addition to the indoor studio options in Kuwait. The studio options in Kuwait are quite limited and not up to standards required. Although, many photographers enjoy outdoor shoot projects but many shoots need a proper studio.

We met with the founders of the studio and learnt more about the place. One of the partners said that as a photographer himself in Kuwait, he always struggled to find the right place to carry out professional photoshoots and satisfy clients needs.

THE IDEA The partners came with the idea and agreed to work on the project as soon as possible.

Both partners agreed and decided that if they were going to do this, they were going to do it right. They wanted to add elements that are not available in the market. The studio was designed with the needs of a professional photographer in mind and provides all the equipment and requirements that are usually requested by most clients and photographers.

GOALS The goal is to provide premium service, easy setup, state of the art equipment with affordable prices for the regular customer and a fair price for corporate clients.

Within the two months since in2Raw was launched, it has been able to attract business and corporate clients from an array of interesting fields. The space has been used for fashion shoots, yoga class videos, TV interviews, music videos and social media content shoots. The studio has also been able to accommodate all the creative needs of content creators and individuals for personal and family shoots. The studio has quickly become a hub for creatives from all fields to work together and inspire each other.

“It’s wonderful to witness all the creativity and ideas come to life and we truly are excited for what’s to come.” said one of the partners.

Both the founders are committed that the studio has a lot more to provide and they will continue to work very hard to ensure the studio space meets all of our clients needs and wishes.

In2Raw is located in Kuwait City, in City Tower, Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed Street, next to Al-Shaheed Tower and KIPCO. You can follow them on Instagram @in2raw www.cpmagazine.net

33

joseberrocoso

since 2010

BEACHY-KEEN:

THE PURE SHORES MAKING WAVES As temperatures start to climb, days become longer and peak sunshine approaches in the Western Hemisphere, it’s only natural that the mind starts to dream of coastal sojourns. Luckily, the possibilities are endless.

From the allure of the Greek isles and Croatia’s scenic seaside spots, to a communal playground on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, Design Hotels presents a host of beachside hideaways where wiling away the days, drink in hand, isn’t just a temptation, it’s a requirement.

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MAY 2021

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With its unrivalled views of the Aegean Sea from sun-dappled terraces and a name that alludes to the ocean—Kyma is Greek for ‘wave’—Myconian Kyma is a perfect launchpad from which to explore Mykonos’ southern coast. Rooted in its community and known for its long-standing ties to local farmers and fishermen, the hotel is also able to offer guests an authentic taste of the sea at NOA, a Greek restaurant that serves views of the ocean alongside Mediterranean cuisine and traditional Greek mezethes.

On the same island, sister property Myconian Avaton overlooks Elia, Mykonos’ longest beach, presenting guests with direct access to aquamarine waters, fine sand, and hidden coves. Here, under a parasol and private lounger reserved exclusively by the hotel, guests can soak up the sun and the idyllic landscape for a real experience of paradise.

Over in Halkidiki, Ekies All Senses Resort offers a similar vibe of barefoot luxury from its location on Vourvourou Bay in Sithonia, where a neighbourhood of islets takes beach hopping to a new dimension. Closer to home, Vourvourou beach is literal steps away from the hotel’s mix of rooms, suites and villas for an unrivalled level of immediacy to daily waterfront jaunts.

The crystal blue waters and white sand of the Mediterranean Sea is only a stone’s throw away from Almyra in Paphos, where standout design makes the sea appear as a natural continuation of the property’s own pools. Al fresco dining at Ouzeri, the hotel’s seafront taverna, brings diners even one step closer to the water with local cuisine served under flowering pergolas on the sand.

At Praia Verde Boutique Hotel in Portugal’s Castro Marim, the elements come together in an unexpected way in a locale that straddles both forest and beach for a dramatic enactment of where land meets sea. Around 10km away the beautiful Fábrica Beach—a renowned highlight of the Algarve—adds another box to check on a list of must-sees for those wanting to explore the 36

MAY 2021

coastline. Further north in the off-radar historical city of Santiago do Cacém, Santiago Hotel Cooking & Nature combines close proximity to the Alentejo coast with top dining offerings and a gorgeous natural setting. On the rare occasions when they’re not embracing the cooling waves of the sea, guests are invited to take part in the hotel’s many cooking lessons and culinary experiences for full immersion in the flavors of the region.

All of the Cote D'Azur’s finest elements come together at Five Seas Hotel Cannes, where the glittering seaside landscape of the French Riviera is in touching distance, along with Plage du Festival—Cannes' oldest private beach, which is officially partnered with the hotel. Closer to home, Five Seas’ own rooftop infinity pool is joined by sumptuous white daybeds, live music, and pop-up brasseries for an equally thrilling beach alternative.

A communal playground it may be, but the simple attributes of sun, sea, and sand still reign supreme at the Papaya Playa Project, Tulum’s see-and-be-seen hangout and home to a beachside luxury that features cabañas, swinging hammocks, and visiting DJs. Bordered by the jungle, the hotel now includes the newly reborn Beach Club where music curation by guest artists, original cocktails, and a breezy vibe all come together for the perfect Tulum experience. In Rovinj, Croatia, the concept at Hotel Lone places a similar emphasis on the unique natural landscape, with an unexpected positioning that places it between an ancient forest and the Adriatic Sea. Integrating views of the water with a design that reflects the color palette of the region’s beaches by way of whitebeige stone, the property is just steps away from Mulini Beach, with its vistas of Lone Bay. www.cpmagazine.net

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TheRebelGym

FATEMAH AL-OTHMAN

CO-FOUNDER REBEL GYM Everything You Imagine Is Real!

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MAY 2021

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Hi, Congratulations on the opening of The Rebel.

How has the past year been like for you?

Can you tell me when you first developed an interest in A lot of brainstorming, testing and developing the concept. health and fitness?

After high school, I had decided to shift to a healthier lifestyle and When did REBEL officially open its doors for customers? discovered my passion for everything sports and fitness. I fell in We officially opened doors on the 28th of March 2021. love with idea of actually helping people to live a better life.

How and when did the idea of starting Rebel started?

Why did you name it "REBEL"?

I’ve been working professionally in this field for almost 10 years; and I’ve always found a room for improvement. When I managed to build the right team; we went all in to change the game, to creating a highly engaging and motivational concept. So, we chose to be Rebels.

The name REBEL was chosen to invoke a mind shift; where we rebel against daily pressures, society’s stereotyping, short term “solutions”, not being able to commit, not being able to reflect your true self; ultimately unleashing our slogan "Change the Game" and be the best version of you.

What are some of the other amenities at the gym?

How was the process of starting the gym? Did you face any At Rebel, we try to get all your needs under one roof. At REBEL: difficulties? How did you overcome them?

It was not easy. It takes a lot of time, effort and focus but when -We offer high quality boxing gloves and inner gel gloves. We are you put yourself together in a team with various skills and with the planning to expand our merchandise. mindset of “when there is a will, there is a way” you simply reach -InBody body composition service. your goal no matter what.

-Recharge bar in collaboration with Raw Pops where you get your pre-workout and post-workout healthy snack, coffee and exclusive 40

MAY 2021

-Spacious changing rooms, showers and toilets area.

believe that “everything YOU imagine is real”; a good candidate should believe that they are able to reach what they believe to be their true self and we promise to guide, help, motivate them to achieve that.

How is a typical workout at REBEL?

Can you explain how membership works?

Our main group class (Rebel Hour) is designed to target all group muscles; divided between strength, conditioning and cardio kickboxing in less than an hour while keeping you focused and motivated at all times.

Our first class is always free. After that, you have the flexibility of choosing between Class Packages or Monthly Packages. We also offer Personal Training Packages for anyone with special training needs.

What makes REBEL different and unique?

Can you tell us more about your app?

What sets us apart is that we are the 16th country in the world to implement smart kickboxing; our punching bags track your speed and force to provide you with actual workout score instead of calories burnt. We do that in an atmosphere where fight club meets nightclub to add that extra motivation you need.

Our App is the gate to booking your classes and purchasing your packages. You can simply download it, signup to automatically get your first free class & reserve the day, time and even the punching bag spot you prefer.

shakes.

-Free lockers and rental lockers.

It can be hard to get motivated to workout – what’s your Who is a good candidate to join REBEL? Who is your training advice for someone trying to get into it or back into it? ideal for?

For those who are trying to get into it: Just focus on starting; it We welcome females of 18+ years old of all levels since our coaches doesn’t matter where you’re at right now; just REBEL and get are always there to guide them through every step. But since we started! www.cpmagazine.net

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We’ve built a concept that helps you to keep motivated and we strongly believe that continuity is the key to see that progress; once you see the progress we promise you it will turn into a lifestyle and addiction if you will.

For those who want to get back into it, we all hate starting over; so, stop giving up! You did it before, try to focus on the benefits you’ve gained and the time you’re losing each time you make an excuse.

Can you tell us what’s next for REBEL? Currently, we’re focusing on expanding our amazing team with the same spirit and passion. Our goal is to franchise REBEL from Kuwait to the world.

Your message for us at CP magazine.

We really appreciate your work, it is truly inspiring and motivating to get such exposure opportunity; we are really thankful and hope you keep doing what you’re doing.

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43

nadalmuzaini

MAKEUP INDUSTRY IN KUWAIT IN EARLY 2021 Nada Al-Muzaini

All makeup shops and makeup applications have witnessed the decline within the makeup industry in Kuwait.

Since early 2021 we have seen the market's tremendous drop since the demand for new products had decreased in the past since the beginning of the pandemic caused by Covid-19. The makeup industry usually generates a lot of cash in Kuwait and worldwide which accounts to many jobs and livelihood of many. 1 The article will look at the effects of the COVID-19 on the beauty industry within the early 2021. In addition, we interviewed almost 220 women in Kuwait asking about their makeup habits and how it changed in the past year (since COVID in early 2020).

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THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY Following is the market value for women’s cosmetics in 2016 across the GCC. Kuwait can be seen to be placed at 4th position, whereas Saudi takes the lead.

Country

Market Value (USD bn)

Saudia Arabia

4.9 (70.98%)

UAE

1.02 (14.83%)

Oman

0.48 (7.01%)

Kuwait

0.28 (4%)

Qatar

0.13 (1.86%)

Bahrain

0.09 (1.31%)

When broken down into product categories, fragrances (36.16%), color cosmetics (26.51%) and skincare (17.69%) accounted for the largest proportions of the GCC’s women’s cosmetics market.

Country Market Value (USD bn).

In addition, AlQabas, 20162 “a study, conducted by AlQabas daily, showed that between 205,000 and 230,000 Kuwaiti women spend KD 350 to 400 per month on beauty which adds up their total spending to KD 980 million a year” and this showed that before COVID-19 the demand within the makeup industry grew tremendously.

However, since early 2020 the makeup industry got a big hit from COVID-19 since it was on Full lockdown and no delivery was accepted. Even, after the partial lockdown was introduced in some countries there was a lot of restrictions within makeup industry3 such as not allowing consumers to try samples in the store and allowing a certain number of people coming to the store. Even after many restrictions in Kuwait we saw a drop in the makeup industry especially for new products where consumers cannot try sampling the products therefore, they wouldn’t buy the products as they would only buy something they know previously.

Even during the lockdown many local stores in Kuwait switched from in-store shopping to an online platform (website, Business WhatsApp and Instagram) where they would sell their products online (as this is less costly by having online store rather than having an actual shop). Coming late to the game by operating online (having a online website)are Al-Shaya company launching beauty website called the Beauty Edit by oct 20204 and Sephora – Kuwait branch operating online by Early 20215 even though both shops had What’s App service.

In order to understand how the market was operating in the Q2 of 2021, we have conducted a survey and asked the interviewees about their makeup habits.

RESEARCH We currently interviewed almost 220 personal, where we asked questions about the makeup industry in 2021 in Kuwait especially with COVID-19, since the makeup industry got affected a lot and the demand on the makeup has decreased in the past year. We interviewed females from the age of 1545 years old, however most of the interviews were between the age of 15-25 years old (120 from 220) and we interviewed Kuwaiti and Non-Kuwaiti women. Most of the interviews have an income between 200-400 KD. We asked our interviewees on how they are dealing with the

lockdown in Kuwait and most answered (44%) that they are ok and they are trying to survive, as the situation was temporary and others answered (35%) that the situations is very bad and are bored. In addition, we also asked them if they are buying makeup now? 55% said yes and 45% said no. In addition, we asked why they are not buying makeup and the answers were because of the following reasons; they are not going out (45%), they already stocked makeup (40%) and lastly, there are no weddings and gatherings now like before (42%).

However, most candidates said they prefer to buy makeup from local stores (73%) and others said they would prefer to buy makeup products from international brands (27%) due to fact that maybe the local stores sell the expensive products, do not trust the brand, can’t sample the product at the store due to restrictions, maybe the local shops carry fake products rather than authentic products, and many more. In addition, to gain trust of the products local shops need to do a lot marketing such as explaining their concept more, showing why the price is expensive, demonstrating more about the products by showing tutorials and providing customers feedback as this will gain the trust of the consumer. Moreover, interviewees informed us they would prefer coming to the store (70%) rather than buying the product online (30%).

We also asked our candidates on which digital marketing they prefer, they answered they prefer Instagram ads (70%), to be part of online application such as Boutiqaat, Brandatt, Adasat etc (40%), influencer ads (20%) and others (18%). Additionally, we asked If they like to see local stores collaborating by providing discount priced boxes and 90% said yes and only 10% said no. Also, most interviewees liked companies to give special coupons such as special coupons for their birthdays, for second purchase, for first time purchase etc, and they said that they prefer the company send them exclusive deals before announcing it to the public and be part of a loyalty program.

Most of the interviewees said that they like to support the local market however, companies need to be transparent with their consumer so they would gain their trust of the companies’ products and service. Also, the companies should promote the products and services individually such as their media platforms and not on a third party as an influencer.

CONCLUSION In this modern era, a beauty company needs to have clean, natural and transparent beauty products as this will be a unique approach for the company6. Similarly, companies need to be more engaging with their customers as 28% of the interviewees said they prefer that the companies send them promotions on their the WhatsApp and promote any new offers through the company's social media accounts (50%). As companies need to engage with their followers on their social media platforms and understand the consumers trends and demands7. Moreover, companies need to promote new digital solutions for their consumers.

1

Gerstell, Emily, et al. How COVID-19 Is Changing the World of Beauty. May 2020, www. mckinsey.com 2 AlQabas. “Kuwaiti Women Spend KD 989 Million Annually On Beauty, Cosmetics And Fitness Products.” 30 Mar. 2016, kuwaitlocal.com Accessed 12 May 2021.

3 Handley, Lucy. "DIY Treatments And A Digital Pivot — Here’s How The Beauty Industry Coped With The Coronavirus". CNBC.Com, 2021, https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/13/ heres-how-the-beauty-industry-coped-with-the-coronavirus.html. Accessed 12 May 2021.

4 2021, https://www.instagram.com/p/CKn7i4Qg8Eq/?igshid=kofxnw6yrcmi. Accessed 12 May 2021.

5 https://www.instagram.com/p/CKn7i4Qg8Eq/?igshid=kofxnw6yrcmi 6 “8 Beauty ECommerce Trends That Will Define the Industry In 2021 [Free Guide].” Yieldify, 28 Jan. 2021, www.yieldify.com/free-guides/beauty-ecommerce-trends/.

7 Decker, Kimberely J. “How COVID-19 Hit the Beauty Market.” Nutritional Outlook, 11 Jan. 2021, www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/how-covid-19-hit-the-beauty-market.

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stonegreydubai

JINO MARY JOY

Optimistic, Confident, Artistic are three words that define Jino Mary Joy as a designer. Her love for art and colors began very young. Then, it was all about expressing herself through patterns. Born and raised in Dubai, she is heavily influenced by art and fashion. Jino truly believes that organic fabrics is the way forward and sustainable fashion will flourish in the years to come. She also believes in the power of Modest fashion, and strives to create every piece for the Modest crowd.

Having worked with fashion brands such as Vero Moda, Only and Woolmark, as well as fashion publications including Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, the 27-year old designer brings her experience and unique ‘minimalistic’ aesthetic to fashion label Stone Grey.

Launched in Dubai, Stone Grey is a minimalist and slow fashion brand that focuses all it’s time on quality and design. The brand focuses to incorporate details that add the perfect amount of personality to each product. The brand offers timeless staples in modern cuts that can be worn in many ways and to suit many lifestyles. Each piece at Stone Grey is contemporary, fresh and created for the modern woman.

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Talent Radar Words: José Berrocoso

w w w. s t o n e g r e y. a e

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City Pages Magazine: Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Jino Mary Joy: Jino Mary Joy is the 27 year old Designer and Founder of

Stone Grey. Born and raised in Dubai she has always surrounded herself with the best of art, music and culture (she explains in theird person).

I’m a true believer of the power of positivity. Being a minimalist at heart, I have tried to fully weave the concept into my brand as well. Romantizing and promoting the idea of less is enough, I create for the need and not for the calender.

CPM: What inspired you to become a fashion designer? Did you always know what you wanted to do?

JMJ: Being an artist at heart I’ve constantly been attached to colours, patterns and textures. As a child it was always a dream to become an artist, painting on the largest canvas. I truly admire abstractism and all the artists that have contributed to the movement. Before immersing myself into the fashion industry, I did have a strong pull toward interior designing.

I designed my very first collection in high school. Knowing I had a mentor who saw a designer in me before I realized that for myself was reassuring and motivating. However, I picked my education in Media and whilst working as a Junior Fashion Assistant Intern at Harpers Bazaar Arabia, I realized I loved fashion and immediately pursued it.

CPM: If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career what would it be?

JMJ: Be patient and believe in the intention you’ve set out to achieve, trust in the process and the talent you know you have. I have always been my worst critic, knowing I could have done better everytime. That eventually turned me into a perfectionist and a workaholic. If I need something done perfectly I need to do it myself and if that took me 24 hours to get done, I’d spend that in a heartbeat. It has taken me a lot of retrospecting to realize that its okay to not do the best or be the best all the time.

CPM: What is the ethos of Stone Grey?

JMJ: The Brand is built on creating timeless fashion, designs that are not trend based and that are of high quality to withstand a long time. We also promote minimalist, not in design aspect alone, but also on how quality trumps quantity. We create fahion following our own rules.

Define sustainable concept nowadays in the fashion industry in five words.

CPM:

JMJ: Buy few that lasts long.

CPM: How does the sustainable aspect of your brand work?

JMJ: We at Stone Grey, believe sustainabilty starts from within the four

walls of a working studio. At the brand’s headquarters we truly strive to reduce and reuse paper, for instance, we use recycled paper patterns for all our designs, we produce all our sales proofs as e-reciepts. Packaging was an important challenge for us. In the age of social meia where the art of a Brand and its products lie in the way it’s packaged, it was hard to créate a packaging that would be reusable, sustainable and still appealing for the gram. Our packaging is made of a Cotton cloth bag with drawstrings, which can be washed and reused. Another aspect of being sustaible is creating quality products. We emphasize on the quality of tailoring and we ensure that it guides in the durability of each product.

CPM: Where do you look for creative inspiration?

JMJ: Every collection to date was designed keeping a particular

personality in mind. People are my inspiration. Their unique dressing styles in what draws me to créate something new that I know would personify that particular personality. Its a very subjective visión into each design and not everyone would understand what I see in the design and how I connect the two. Most of my collection are names of real people or TV characters that have made a personal impact on me and each design is my take on that person.

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MAY 2021

CPM: Is it hard to stay innovative?

JMJ: It’s perhaps easier to be innovative. What’s harder is creating

a design that I must be able to envision being worn 10 years and beyond from the date of designing but still creative with a tad bit of desired personality.

CPM: What type of research did you conduct for the women’s

collection?

JMJ: The research we conduct before creating any collection is looking for innovative tailoring skills, a new technique to finish a garment or a method that helps créate a higher quality and to increase durability. We are always on the lookout for creative tailoring. In terms of design research we usually look back into what

women wore in the past and we look into new ways to redeisgn it for the present by adding our aesthetic signature.

CPM: What materials, fabrics and colours did you use in the new collection?

JMJ: The fabrics we use are mostly Polyester. We often get asked

why we use synthetic fabrics being a sustainable Brand and its true, we are striving toward finding the perfect fabric and its a constant struggle. We aren’t a 100% a sustainable Brand and the fabrics we use are a part of our Brand that we are working on. But with client requirements from fabrics we understand the qualities required from a fabric is achievable from a polyester fabric than a natural fiber fabric. www.cpmagazine.net

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“I’m a true believer of the power of positivity. Being a minimalist at heart, I have tried to fully weave the concept into my brand as well. Romantizing and promoting the idea of less is enough, I create for the need and not for the calender”

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MAY 2021

We work on solid colored fabrics. Every collection we try to tackle a new color family. Prints are harder to decide on, as we stick to classic prints like stripes, polka dots and plaid. We do have a new collection in the works for a future date, for which we would be creating a collection in different hues of nude browns and greens.

CPM: How do you want people to feel when wearing your clothes?

JMJ: Natural. I would want them to feel like it’s basic instinct. It shouldn’t

be stressful or hard to decide what to pick in the morning, instead it should feel basic, easy and comfortable, almost instinctual.

CPM: How do you walk the line between being unique and having commercial appeal?

JMJ: I’m not going to lie, this is hard. When the world goes in for pineapple printed dresses and you create something “basic” in comparison, you are often flooded with comments like “this is so basic” or “Do you have this in the new print that everone is wearing”. Sometimes it takes a lot of un-learning and relearning to fully relate to the vision of the Brand.

CPM: Your face masks have been worn by many prominent influencers in the region including Joelle Mardinian, Rania Fawaz or Reosemin Manji. Tell us more about the range.

JMJ: Face Masks was a product line designed for the need of the hour.

The first initial several pieces were made off of leftover fabrics from the studio before the demand exceeded the available fabrics. It was created as a solution to a lot of skin reactions from surgical masks and it also worked as a great substitute during its shortage. We do still créate masks for men, women and children and we realize how it is now more important than ever to have a good substitute to the one time use of surgical masks. The masks are created of 3 layers with a non woven mid layer that acts as the filter, the masks also come with adjustable elastic straps to adjust to the desired fit. Personalization with embroidery was introduced to be able to distinguish masks within a family and to add a personal touch to the productline.

CPM: What role do you think social media plays in fashion today?

JMJ: It plays the biggest role. The reach of social media increases by the

minute. Social Media plays on the basic advertising rule of ‘when you see something enough number of times you’d be convinced to want it’.

Through Social Media you can target your audience to get them to see what you’re selling enough number of times to spark a curiosity.

CPM: Where do you see Stone Grey going in the future?

JMJ: I see Stone Grey getting into production on a larger scale in the

future. We have been slowly helping other designers establish their brands within the región and it’s an extremely fullfilling experience and I would love to do more of it.

CPM: Your message for us at CP magazine Kuwait.

JMJ: Stay positive and be happy. Choose happiness over everything and

everyone else, no matter what that is for you.

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by travel-expert José Berrocoso

RECONNECT WITH NATURE IN THE LUSH NEW ZEALAND MOUNTAINS

www.preferredhotels.com Looking to avoid the bustle? Azur Lodge’s nine secluded villas are designed for privacy and serenity. The property features nine idential 800 square-foot villas, all offering unobstructed views of the mountain ranges and Lake Wakatipu. Each villa features open plan living in the midst of New Zealand’s natural environment, incorporating a lounge, dining area and private sun deck. Take a hike along Lake Wakatipu's shoreline or a embark on a dramatic flightseeing trip. Set out on a four-wheel-drive adventure down Skipper’s Canyon Road, go white-water rafting down the Shotover River, or jet-boating along the Dart River. Head to Coronet Peak or the Remarkables in winter to take on New Zealand's best skiing, join a stargazing tour, or explore the 75 wineries in Gibbston Valley. www.cpmagazine.net

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yousefist

The 24 year old Artist, Photographer, Creative Director, Electrical Engineer, and soon to be Filmmaker from Kuwait.

Tell us about your education.

I’ve majored in electrical engineering at Penn State in the US for 5 years. I moved to Pennsylvania when I was 17 and graduated in 2019. While taking my engineering classes, I also took the opportunity to take classes not relating to my major. I learned a lot and took courses in Art History, Photography, Painting, Graphic Design, Wellness and Filmmaking. Learning multiple disciplines helps you a lot in progressing in each individual discipline.

How did you get interested in fashion?

I started researching and learning about fashion in 2018. At that point I was doing paintings but I realized that paintings weren’t easily accessible to people. To showcase or sell your paintings you had to do or be part of a show, and the process of having your paintings shown takes a long time especially when you’re an up and coming artist. So I wanted a way to showcase my design and art in another way thats a lot more accessible to people and that’s fashion. Skater brands like Supreme, Huf and Diamond were big inspirations to me. I learned how to screenprint and use vinyl cutouts to design t shirts and hoodies.

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When did you launch your label officially?

I launched 3TONE with my friend Ahmad AlHusaini, who’s our Business Manager, in November 2020. I worked on getting the best material and logo for about a year and a half before officially launching. I had the idea for the logo tee months before I actually settled on the right one because I had to make sure it felt right. The packaging was also important as it is the first impression of our style as a brand. I’m the Creative Director for 3TONE so I design the pieces but also the packaging, which includes a limited sticker sheet with original designs and a thank you card.

How and why did you choose the name "3tone" for your brand?

The idea for 3TONE just came to me one day while I was in the US; I liked the idea of limiting the color palette to 3 colors because it allowed me to be more creative within those limitations. 3TONE refers to the 3 tones of color we use which are green, blue and yellow. They’re derived and inspired by the natural elements, green representing the plants and greenery, blue representing the sky and ocean, and yellow representing the sun.

Nature is the best inspiration for color palettes. But we also use black and natural white to highlight the colors.

INTERVIEWED BY: JAMEEL ARIF (@jameelarif) PHOTOGRAPHY: DANA ALMUTAWA (@dowmut) STYLING: YOUSEF ALMEER (@yousefist) ART DIRECTION/SET DESIGN: DANA ALMUTAWA & YOUSEF ALMEER

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What is the vision of your brand?

The vision for 3TONE is to become a staple in the Middle Eastern fashion industry. The most important thing that’s associated with 3TONE is quality. The materials we use are always the best and have a satisfying texture that’s comfortable and durable, the designs are also simple but unique which makes for a diverse piece that can be worn in any environment or activity. You can wear a 3TONE Shirt or Hoodie out to dinner or a night out, its also comfy enough to wear at home, or you can wear it to a work out. Practical use is important and we’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from people loving the sweatpants, hoodies and shirts with some wearing them regularly. That’s the ultimate goal, which is to make a product thats universally appealing, comfortable but also made well with good quality and design.

We learnt that you are also into music. Tell us about your musical journey?

I used to freestyle with my friends for fun way before I actually started recording anything. When I first saw Juice Wrld freestyling for an hour straight, I thought to myself I can probably make a 2 or 3 minute song. I started out only doing rap, then slowly explored and found out that I could also sing. Once I learned what I’m capable of, I pushed myself into showing the best side of me musically and controlling my voice and flow and also using my voice as an instrument. It didn’t happen overnight, just like any art form I put in the time and research and crafted my sound from different styles from R&B and Hip-Hop to Rock and Pop. If you practice enough and you’re genuinely passionate about something you can progress easily the more time you clock in.

What are you plans for your music? What are you currently working on?

My plan is showcase my music and visuals in a different way than what’s currently seen in our music scene. Visuals are very important for artists to I’m currently working on the finishing touches on my first project, the self-titled EP “SAMO KILLA”, which will be released June 18th. I’m also working on my first studio album which will be released later this year with new fully original production. I’m taking my time creating because I enjoy the process and I want to make sure the music I release ages well and has a timeless feel. I’m also working on a mixtape called “The Clear Vision Tape” with my friend ësmaelow, under our collective Clear Vision, which will be released this summer as well.

What message do you want to convey through your music?

When it comes down to it, my main objective in doing music is to bring joy to people and also have a tool to self-express that’s different than anything else in my life. It’s helped me heal in situations that I had no one to talk to about, and it could also help someone who’s maybe going through the same situation and feel like they’re alone in going through it.

What I want to show through pursuing music is that we all share similar struggles, I’ve even had a few people contact me saying that they went through the same things I’ve expressed in my music, and that it helped them feel better about it. I also want to encourage the Kuwaiti youth to pursue music, and not in a way where we’re mimicking foreign artists and rappers but to do it in our own original way. We have so much creative talent in Kuwait that’s suppressed because we don’t encourage music and art as a legitimate pursuit. My hope is that Kuwait will one day nurture creative talent in music and arts, and that’s one reason I do what I do; to become part of the change I want to see happen.

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How would you describe your style of music?

It’s difficult to for me to define what I do in music because it’s versatile and constantly evolving, but if I had to put words to it, I would describe it as wavy.

Where do you take the inspiration for your music?

I always had an instinctual musical inclination, but making music is actually a relatively new thing to me, I’ve only been doing music for about a year and a half now. The way I approached songwriting when I started out is very different than the way I do now. I used to think I had to be this character to seem interesting enough to write about, but after practicing music almost every day for about 6 months when the pandemic hit, I learned how to use all the happy and sad moments and events in my life and write them in a way that’s sonically appealing. I think the best music is the most authentically written and performed.

Who is your greatest influence?

I listen to a broad range of types of music. I don’t believe in genres anymore. I think that music nowadays is so fluid and interchanging styles that it’s not fair to label it under one “genre”. My music style is derived from artists that I’ve studied throughout the years. Kanye was the first I connected with.

I listened to all his albums and the first live show i’ve ever seen was him performing in Abu Dhabi in 2013. It blew my mind what one artist can do. I also loved listening to Arctic Monkeys, Travis Scott, The Weeknd, SZA, the 1975, and Frank Ocean. Recently i’ve been looking to artists in the Middle East and how they express themselves without western influence. Shabjdeed and AlNather come to mind. They’re artists from Ramallah in Palestine and they speak their truth so authentically in their own way it’s inspiring to me.

Do you play any instruments?

I do not play any instruments, but i’m interested in learning how to play Guitar and Oud. There’s something about the vulnerability in playing these instruments that brings something special out of me.

Now let us talk about your photography and videography talent. How did this happen?

I first started photography as a hobby, my father bought me my first digital camera when I was 13, I used to take pictures of my family at home and in vacations. Then I started taking an interest in Landscape Photography when I was about 16; I travelled a lot during that time so I used to take photos of as many different types of landscapes as I could. Then when I went to university, I starting getting interested in Portrait Photography, facial and hand expressions were some things that intrigued me and that’s when I started taking photography seriously. I took some photography courses in university that helped sharpen my skill, we used to do assignments in abstract, still life and action photography that helped me culminate my style and be able to know how to express myself through photography. One of my biggest inspirations in photography is Irving Penn, who worked for Vogue magazine in the 1940’s and 50’s. I first saw his work in an exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in DC, from then on I was obsessed with his variety of work and even got inspired to get into Fashion Photography myself. Another inspiration of mine is Andy Warhol. His polaroids specifically photographing his friends and celebrities in a casual environment was not a mainstream style back then, and the results were beautiful portraits that are still iconic to this day. It even prompted me to get the same polaroid camera he used in the 1970’s.

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I think in our day and age, what’s missing most is genuineness and authenticity. Especially with social media, we tend to build a

character that displays only a certain part of us and we get caught up in trying to keep up with being that character and comparing

ourselves to others lifestyles that we might forget who we really are and what we really want out of life. The world needs more genuine

interaction and realness, so I urge everyone to take a break from social media once in a while for a few days at least. It also helps with maintaining good mental health which is very important.

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You are a big fan of film cameras. How do you see photography different with film cameras?

For me, it’s about nostalgia. My family was big on photography, especially family photos, capturing moments of everyday life as well as events and trips. Getting that fresh stack of photos out of the print studio and seeing them for the first time, almost like opening a present. Visually, the grain in film gives a nice effect that you can’t authentically achieve in digital photography. I think film photos also have a timeless feel to them, a moment captured in time that exists in physical form, like a memory that you can physically touch.

How would you best describe your style of photography?

I would describe my style as candid, simple but raw. I don’t do as much posed photos as I do impromptu photos. I like genuine expression, when someone sees a camera pointed at them they act differently than when they don’t. To avoid that, I have a conversation with the person I’m shooting while we’re shooting. I like to have fun when I’m shooting, I enjoy the creative process and try my best to have the person or people i'm shooting enjoy it too. I tend to find that when people get genuinely comfortable around you, they don’t worry about whether or not you have a camera pointed at them, they will show genuine expression and that’s what I try to capture in my photography.

what is your greatest attribute when it comes to your work ethic?

Organization was big challenge to take on and one that I’m still working on. Because I’m working on many things at once, I tend work in cycles to give each medium the time and attention it needs. I don’t usually work on more than two projects at once. I’ll work on designs and sourcing materials for 3TONE for a week and the next week I work on music, then the next week I’ll do some shoots and so on. My greatest attribute when it comes to my work ethic is that I always give 100% when I’m working on something. I’ve reached a point in my life where when I do something, I do it because I want to and not because I have to. That allows me to give it everything I got because I’m doing it with my own conviction and I’m very thankful and blessed for that.

How can fans find you?

On Instagram, my main artist page is @yousefist, my brand 3TONE’s page is @3tonekw and my music page is @ samokilla.

I’d recommend people who are interested in music to follow @samokilla, I do live music shows and post covers and announcements and clips of the process of making music on it frequently. I’d also recommend following @3tonekw to see my latest designs and shoots.

How important is Instagram for the modern day photographer?

Is there anything special that you do to get into a creative mindset?

Where do you feel most in your creative element?

Describe an incident that has left a lasting impact on you.

Social Media has become an essential tool for any creative in the modern era. Instagram is like the new way to display your work instead of a gallery or physical space but with the type of easy access that’s similar to displaying your work in the street for the public to see. It’s a way to get exposure but also connect with fellow artists, photographers and models. My tips for getting more attention to your page is to post material that either has shock value or be aesthetically pleasing or both; that’s what usually attracts most people.

I love natural lighting. I feel comfortable with anywhere that has natural lighting, I even built my studio with skylights and big windows to maximize the natural lighting in the space. In terms of environment, my studio is a place that I have full control of and can change the lighting and build sets. That helps in creating an environment that allows me to tap in to my flow state when I’m doing a shoot. I also love nature and urban settings with a lot of light, I love blending the subject into the environment and landscape of the place we’re in.

What attracts you to a subject?

As a photographer or director or artist, I try to show people how I see something that might be different that what they see. That’s the creative challenge, is to show the beauty of something that others might not notice at first. When it comes to people and expressions, I like to use the same approach.

There’s beauty hidden in a lot of us that we don’t appreciate as often as we should. I like to show that side of people, usually through certain moments that I shoot candidly, and it translates well in photos. In terms of aesthetics, color is something that immediately catches my eye. I also love people with a good sense of style. If I’m picking a model for a shoot, that’s usually the first thing that I look to, and I try to incorporate that style in my shoots.

What are some of your greatest challenges, and

Before photoshoots or shows, I usually play some good music to get my creative juices flowing. Some of my favorite albums to listen to are Yeezus by Kanye, Barter 6 by Young Thug, Apricot Princess by Rex Orange County and Songs in the Key of Life by Stevie Wonder. I also like to drink a Redbull which gives me a good boost of energy, shout out to the Redbull Team in Kuwait they showed me love and hopefully we’ll be working on something together soon for my music.

Not an incident per se but something that’s definitely had a lasting impact on me was taking an art course on how to read and appreciate art properly in my first semester in university. It was with my professor and mentor Paul Manlove, who I went on to take 3 other courses with, including Graphic Design, Painting and Oil Painting. Before I took that class, I wasn’t really into art at all. I knew I had a skill in drawing, but in school and in general our society, art for the most part is not taken seriously, and so I didn’t have any reason to explore outside of my scope. Taking this class and learning about all these artists and pieces and artistic movements that affected culture opened my eyes on the art world and seeing how artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol and Picasso expressed their perspectives and truths through art.

This opened a huge door for me that I never knew existed; I didn’t just want to see and appreciate art, I was inspired to be an artist in my own right and express myself in a way that I didn’t before. I first started with exploring Photoshop and creating digital pieces through photo transformation and manipulation, then went on into exploring different art forms like painting, graffiti, Arabic typography, silkscreen printing and more. That led to me finding Film & Filmmaking, which is what I aspire to pursue as a career. I’m going to study Filmmaking at NYFA in Los Angeles hopefully this year, and I’m very excited to see what I’m able to do in that field as a Kuwaiti filmmaker. www.cpmagazine.net

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since 2010

New May Releases

Where the Grass Is Green and the Girls Are Pretty

by Lauren Weisberger

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Devil Wears Prada and When Life Gives You Lululemons comes a highly entertaining, sharply observed novel about sisters, their perfect lives . . . and their perfect lies.

A seat at the anchor desk of the most-watched morning show.

Recognized by millions across the country, thanks in part to her flawless blond highlights and Botox-smoothed skin. An adoring husband and a Princeton-bound daughter. Peyton is that woman. She has it all.

People We Meet On Vacation

by Emily Henry

From the New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read, a sparkling new novel that will leave you with the warm, hazy afterglow usually reserved for the best vacations.

Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.

Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.

Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut.

When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex.

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Let's Talk About Hard Things

Yearbook

by Anna Sale

by Seth Rogen

Anna Sale wants you to have that conversation. You know the one. The one that you’ve been avoiding or putting off, maybe for years. The one that you’ve thought “they’ll never understand” or “do I really want to bring that up?” or “it’s not going to go well, so why even try?”

Sale is the founder and host of WNYC’s popular, award-winning podcast Death, Sex, & Money, or as the New York Times dubbed her, “a therapist at happy hour.” She and her guests have direct and thought-provoking conversations, discussing topics that most of us are too squeamish, polite, or nervous to bring up.

But Sale argues that we all experience these hard things, and by not talking to one another, we cut ourselves off, leading us to feel isolated and disconnected from the people who can help us most.

Yearbook is a collection of true stories that I desperately hope are just funny at worst, and life-changingly amazing at best. (I understand that it's likely the former, which is a fancy "book" way of saying "the first one.")

I talk about my grandparents, doing stand-up comedy as a teenager, bar mitzvahs, and Jewish summer camp, and tell way more stories about doing drugs than my mother would like. I also talk about some of my adventures in Los Angeles, and surely say things about other famous people that will create a wildly awkward conversation for me at a party one day.

I hope you enjoy the book should you buy it, and if you don’t enjoy it, I’m sorry. If you ever see me on the street and explain the situation, I’ll do my best to make it up to you.

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba

The Premonition: A Pandemic Story

by Chanel Cleeton

At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s captivating new novel inspired by real-life events and the true story of a legendary Cuban woman– Evangelina Cisneros–who changed the course of history.

A feud rages in Gilded Age New York City between newspaper tycoons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. When Grace Harrington lands a job at Hearst’s newspaper in 1896, she’s caught in a cutthroat world where one scoop can make or break your career, but it’s a story emerging from Cuba that changes her life.

Unjustly imprisoned in a notorious Havana women’s jail, eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros dreams of a Cuba free from Spanish oppression.

by Michael Lewis

Fortunately, we are still a nation of skeptics. Fortunately, there are those among us who study pandemics and are willing to look unflinchingly at worst-case scenarios. Michael Lewis’s taut and brilliant nonfiction thriller pits a band of medical visionaries against the wall of ignorance that was the official response of the Trump administration to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The characters you will meet in these pages are as fascinating as they are unexpected. A thirteen-year-old girl’s science project on transmission of an airborne pathogen develops into a very grown-up model of disease control. A local public-health officer uses her worm’s-eye view to see what the CDC misses, and reveals great truths about American society. A secret team of dissenting doctors, nicknamed the Wolverines, has everything necessary to fight the pandemic: brilliant backgrounds, worldclass labs, prior experience with the pandemic scares of bird flu and swine flu…everything, that is, except official permission to implement their work.

The Nine: The True Story of a Band of Women Who Survived the Worst of Nazi Germany

by Gwen Strauss The Nine follows the true story of the author’s great aunt Hélène Podliasky, who led a band of nine female resistance fighters as they escaped a German forced labor camp and made a tenday journey across the front lines of WWII from Germany back to Paris.

The nine women were all under thirty when they joined the resistance. They smuggled arms through Europe, harbored parachuting agents, coordinated communications between regional sectors, trekked escape routes to Spain and hid Jewish children in scattered apartments. They were arrested by French police, interrogated and tortured by the Gestapo. They were subjected to a series of French prisons and deported to Germany. The group formed along the way, meeting at different points, in prison, in transit, and at Ravensbrück. By the time they were enslaved at the labor camp in Leipzig, they were a closeknit group of friends. During the final days of the war, forced onto a death march, the nine chose their moment and made a daring escape.

My Time Will Come: A Memoir of Crime, Punishment, Hope, and Redemption

by Ian Manuel and Bryan Stevenson The United States is the only country in the world that sentences thirteen- and fourteen-year-old offenders, mostly youth of color, to life in prison without parole, regardless of the scientifically proven singularities of the developing adolescent brain--a heinous wrinkle in the scandal of mass incarceration. In 1991, Ian Manuel, then fourteen was sentenced to life without parole for a non-homicide crime. In a botched mugging attempt with some older boys, he shot Debbie Baigrie, a young white mother of two, in the face. But as Bryan Stevenson has insisted, none of us should be judged by only the worst thing we have ever done.

Here, capturing the fullness of his humanity, is Ian Manuel's powerful testimony of growing up homeless in Central Park Village in Tampa, Florida, a neighborhood riddled with poverty, gang violence, and drug abuse--and of his efforts to rise above his circumstances, only to find himself, partly through his own actions, imprisoned for two-thirds of his life, eighteen years of which were spent in solitary confinement. Here is the at once wrenching and inspiring story of how he endured the savagery of the US prison system and of how his victim, an extraordinary woman, forgave him and bravely advocated for his freedom, achieved by a crusade on the part of the Equal Justice Initiative to address a barbarism of our judicial system, and to bring about just mercy.

GODZILLA VS. KONG Directed by Adam Wingard Written by Eric Pearson, Max Borenstein, Terry Rossio, Michael Dougherty, and Zach Shields

WRITING MOVIE

WRONGS moviewrongs.com by: JIM WEST

With 36 films in the Godzilla franchise and 12 in the King Kong franchise this makes for one epic monster battle. With five writers on this project they have their hands full in trying to infuse two franchises and sets of film characters coming together. On the Godzilla side of the house we have Millie Bobby Brown and Kyle Chandler. On the Kong side we have Rebecca Hall and Julian Dennison. Interweaving characters from both world is a bit tricky and the hopping back and forth around locations gets blurry at times. Sometimes this becomes a distraction to the real reason people are watching this film...see monsters fight each other.

Here comes the spoilers.

Team Godzilla is trying to figure out what is causing Godzilla to attack a facility in Pensacola. The organization it attacked is already off the bat shady as hell and a conspiracy theorist, Bernie works there and extracts data about their secret technology. He knows they are up to no good and can't quite figure things out. The teens find him and they set off to investigate Apex Cybernetics.

The CEO of Apex recruits a disgraced scientist who has a theory on Hollow Earth, that there is an entire world inside the core of the earth where the titans have come from. He believes that Kong can lead them to this home and therefore he convinces his old colleague to allow them to use Kong for this purpose as they feel it will help Kong. Apex intends to discover a energy source in Hollow Earth. Ultimately they acquire the energy source signature and then able to power their secret project which is a Mechagodzilla. They utilized a brain of King Ghidora operated by neural link to control it. Of course things are expected to go haywire and the brain takes over completely.

Kong and Godzilla get to face off more than once. The first time it's on water and Obviously Godzilla has the upper hand as

this is not Kong's element as a mammal. Godzilla wins round one. The second time they square off in Tokyo, Kong starts off strong and actually almost comes close to winning round two.

Yet Godzilla is King of Monsters for a reason and he takes round two. As Godzilla goes on to fight Mechagodzilla, he finds that he is not as strong and as powerful as Mechagodzilla. Kong comes to his rescue and they team up to defeat Mechagodzilla.

Then they give each other nods and go their separate ways.

Awwwe swoon. The film is a bit chunky with the location switching between the two teams of people investigating their own mysteries. The film has lots of neat visuals when they are in Hollow Earth and leaves room for at least another film to come later to explore this world. Yet where to take their stories from here is the hard task. What else is there to defeat?

Perhaps a film can go back in time and explore the past battles between Godzilla and Kong's ancestors. That may be a hell of a monster battle royale.

This film suffers a lot form trying to cater to two franchises and trying to maintain a balance. Yet although Kong gets more screen-time, Godzilla wins overall in the round count. This just throws off the balance. I think another round should've been inserted into the film giving Kong a clear win so the round tally could be a tied up at one point before the Tokyo fight.

Other than that it is quite a job these writer's had to take on to bring these two long running franchises and beloved characters together and give them each ample time to share the screen.

Sometimes the best you can do is serves up more spectacle over story/plot. This is a rare case where that would've been welcome. This film needed more monsters fighting than humans investigating/exploring.

Thanks for reading Writing Movie ‘WRONGS’. www.cpmagazine.net

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othmanqalfas

OSCAR WINNING MOVIES

Othman Qalfas

Many great movies didn’t get any chance to be seen in the cinema because of Covid-19. This is why It was hard for most of us to keep up with the best movies of last year and the beginning of this year. But we are going to discuss some of the best movies that are honored and awarded by the Oscars.

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Nomadland

Let’s start by saying that this movie won 3 Oscar Awards this year. The first one went for Chloe Zhao for Best Director and she is the second female director to get this award. The second one for Frances Mcdormand for Best Actress and her stunning performance and the main event is that Nomadland got an Oscar for Best Picture. The movie is based on a book and talking about Fern who lost everything and kept going around and live per-day surviving and battling for her life.

The Father

It was nominated for 6 Oscar awards but got 2 awards. This movie got Best Adapted Screenplay award which means that this movie or materials already exist but they have adapted it in a new way. Also got the Best Actor in a leading role for Anthony Hopkins, while the battle was powerful he managed to get it.

Basically the movie talks about the father who got Alzheimer and how he see’s things.

Sound of Metal

A movie that got 2 Oscar Awards for Best Sound and Best Film Editing. This movie is about a guy who play drums in a band, and because it’s a noisy industry he get deaf. Here is where his journey in life begins, while he wants to continue his career and get back with his love. Staring Riz Ahmed as Ruben and Olivia Cooke as his girlfriend and his partner in the band Lou.

Soul

This movie is the only animation movie in the list. Since it talks about a musician, they were able to get 2 Oscar award for Best Original Score and the Best Animated Feature Film. Basically it’s an animation that you don’t want to miss. It talks about the purpose of life and how to find it although you might think that something is your purpose, in the end it could be something else.

The movie is produced by “Pixar” which is the most famous animation studio.

Tenet

I personally didn’t like the story of this movie because it has a lot of twists and it’s not easy to understand. But this movie won the Best Visual Effects Award.

It’s not a secret that Christoper Nolan is a genius when it comes to directing.

So it’s a well deserved award for the process and the results seen in the movie.

Minari

A different drama about a Korean-American man who searches for a better living for him and his family in Arkansas State. Discussing many aspects of life like love and money. This Movie got an Oscar Award for Best Supporting Actress for Youn Yuh Jung and it was pleasing to see non-Americas actresses get an Oscar Award.

Judas and the Black Messiah

One of the realistic stories about the president of the Black Panther “Fred Hampton” starring Daniel Kaluuya. He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar Award. It’s a great movie to see and well written and played with a lot of violence and true realistic events.

Enjoy Each movie with an eye of an Oscar Critic. See how they film it and how the actors are acting. How the story is written and what is unique in every movie. www.cpmagazine.net

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YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY HAS BEEN BOTTLED BY DIOR Dior’s new fragrance is an olfactive escape to the Cote D’Azur Words: José Berrocoso Photography: Courtesy of Parfums Christian Dior & Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

In celebration of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc's 150th anniversary, paying tribute to its exquisite natural surroundings, the 'Grand Dame' hotel has collaborated with Christian Dior on a signature Eden-Roc fragrance. It is the fusion of two emblems of French art de vivre: the inimitable Parisian elegance of Christian Dior, and the sun-bathed luxury of this iconic palace, a member of the Oetker Collection portfolio of masterpiece hotels.

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A ‘declaration of love to perfume,’ Dior Perfumer-Creator, François Demachy composed the Eden-Roc perfume by imagining himself arriving at the hotel by sea, taking in the salt, sun, pale rocks and lush vegetation. The final salty, woody accord is a scented reflection of the hotel’s exceptional location on the Cap d’Antibes, that tells a quintessentially Mediterranean story of marine air, flowers, citrus fruits, aromatic scents and maritime pine trees.

The Eden-Roc fragrance is a scent imbued with the Mediterranean breeze, intended to evoke the delights of the French Riviera with a composition that is both mineral and green, and that tells its story as though revealing a landscape, or playing the notes of a melody.

The fragrance opens with a powerfully invigorating scent of the sea, with a tangy, salty top note leading with strength. Then, aromas reminiscent of tanning oil and skin warmed by the sun develop, thanks to a jasmine note heightened with an instantly recognisable

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touch of coconut.

The fragrance is named simply ‘Eden-Roc,’ evoking the magic of a place where the sea, sun and nature celebrate their union. Three colours representative of the hotel can also be identified: blue for the sea, yellow for the sun, and green for the pine trees. To complete the pleasure of perfume, inspired by the peace and quiet of this exceptional place, Demachy has also created an Eden-Roc candle, liquid soap and body cream. Used for the bath or simply to relax, each of these creations is the fragrant interpretation of the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc’s corner of paradise.

Philippe Perd, Managing Director of Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc comments: “This fragrance marks the union of two icons of French heritage and elegance for whom innovation and tradition are closely linked. We are in tune.

François Demachy has succeeded at turning a dream into reality with this unique fragrance that so incredibly resembles the location.”

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since 2010

Aerie opens its first store in the Middle East in Kuwait

Huawei Starts to Sell New SERES SF5 Car in its China Flagship Stores An extended-range electric SUV coupe enhanced by Huawei technologies enters Huawei flagship stores across China

Ready to get REAL? Aerie by American Eagle has opened its first store in the Middle East, located at The Mall - The Avenues, Kuwait.

Aerie is one of the fastest-growing specialty brands in the apparel industry and creates the most comfortable loungewear, activewear, apparel, trend-right intimates, and swimwear. The collection is made with love and reflects the confident spirit of the Aerie woman.

The welcoming store experience offers the softest apparel, sweat-ready activewear, cozy loungewear, beautiful intimates, and the chicest swimwear—all designed to make females feel good about who they are, inside and out.

The Aerie brand stopped retouching models in 2014 to celebrate REAL beauty in all its various forms. Since then, the #AerieREAL mission has changed women's lives worldwide by challenging the fashion industry's ideas of beauty and promoting self-empowerment, body positivity, diversity, and inclusion.

Huawei announced that China’s automotive company SERES has launched an extended range electric vehicle-the new SERES SF5, and it will be available in Huawei flagship stores across China. For the first time, Huawei welcomes a vehicle partner to its “1+8+N” ecosystem.

"This exciting announcement sets a precedent for both the consumer electronics industry and the new energy vehicle industry,” commented Richard Yu, Executive Director, CEO of the Consumer Business Group, Huawei. “In the future, we will not only provide leading smart car solutions to help partners build better intelligent vehicles, but also help them sell those vehicles through our retail network across China."

TUMI Announces the Launch of its First-Ever Professional Esports Collection

The high performance monster with Huawei technologies In response to consumers’ range and recharging anxieties about electric vehicle, Huawei and SERES have created a new electric drive range extension system. Equipped with HUAWEI DriveONE Three-in-One Electric Drive, the system is not only the optimal solution for reducing range anxiety, but also delivering world-class coupe performance. The new SERES SF5 offers flexibility for users, with a range of 180 km in pure electric mode to meet the needs of daily city commuters, and a range of over 1,000 km in extended range mode for long distance travelers.

The high-performance capabilities boast 0-100 km/h acceleration in 4.68s. The vehicle performance is also aided by the lightweight aluminum chassis, the four ball joint doublewishbone front suspension and the trapezoidal multi-link rear suspension. This makes the new SF5 a performance monster, delivering a faster acceleration while also providing a more stable tilt control and superior shock absorption.

HUAWEI HiCar solutions enable users to seamlessly switch between their mobile phone applications to the vehicle’s central control panel, enabling access to navigation, music and more, anytime, anywhere. This world-class coupe provides entirely new user experiences: the music on your phone can be continued seamlessly when you get in the car. It also provides interactive voice control, allowing users to focus purely on driving. HUAWEI HiCar can also connect the car to other smart devices, so users in the car can turn on air condition, smart screen and other connected devices at home, with consummate ease.

The vehicle’s three-dimensional surround audio system consists of 11 sound units, tuned by HUAWEI SOUND core technicians and acoustic experts. Together with the vehicle’s perfect NVH solution- a library-level silence of 38 dB , the audio system delivers authentic and immersive opera-like sound quality.

The new SERES SF5 has a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) rescue recharge mode, which can provide emergency power to isolated vehicles in the wilderness. It also provides vehicle-to-load (V2L) camping power supply mode, empowering induction cookers, stereos, and other equipment, so users can have BBQ when they stop.

The new SERES SF5’s twisting and bending strength meets five-star safety design standards, with a body made of robust and reliable ultra-high strength 1500Mpa thermoformed steel. With L2+ level automatic assisted driving, traffic congestion assistance, full speed domain adaptive cruise control and other features, users facing urban congestion don’t need to worry about longdistance driving.

In addition, the front row is equipped with sporty and sophisticated seats with ventilation, heating and massage functions, and the intimate smart welcome mode makes every getting in and out of the car more comfortable and convenient.

The new model will be available in Huawei Stores from April 21st Available in China at 246,800 CNY (4WD) and 216,800 CNY (2WD), the new SERES SF5 comes in four colorways – Deep Ocean Blue, Charcoal Black, Pearl White and Titanium Silver Grey along with Midnight Black, Garnet Red, and Ivory White interior trim.

Starting from April 21, 2021, users can visit Huawei flagship shops nationwide for a test drive.

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TUMI, the leading international travel, lifestyle, and performance luxury brand, today unveils its first-ever pro-level Esports line of bags and accessories. Pioneering a new class of performance gear and welcoming in a new client base, TUMI consulted with numerous industry experts from game developers to professional esports athletes to help design top-of-the-line bags that meet, if not exceed, the needs of today's gamers like none before.

In developing this first-of-its-kind line, TUMI gained unique insight as to what every gamer is looking for when it comes to protecting their prized tech and gear. True to TUMI's DNA, each style has been built to last with the keenest eye for detail and superior functionality packaged in the sleekest design. From the aluminum zippers to the unique organization systems, every aspect and touchpoint was created to maximize functionality for the specific needs of gamers.

TUMI wants the equipment Esports athletes and hobbyists rely on to not only survive every journey, but to help them excel whether that's on the road, behind the desk or being cheered on by fans.

Showcasing TUMI's innovative nature, various components of this collection have been crafted with high-performance recycled materials. Each piece is built to last, not only protecting the gear that matters most, but also the world's natural resources with the integration of sustainable materials that meet TUMI’s rigorous testing standards. The use of abrasion-resistant coatings and TUMI’s signature ballistic nylon deliver superior durability. All of these innovations come together to deliver a refined line of travel and lifestyle essentials that fuel world-class gaming performance.

Chery Leads Chinese Automakers Exports

HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT_Where fashion meets fitness

Stainless Steel looks, All-day SpO2 monitoring and 10-day battery, all on your wrist

Since its inception in 1997, the value of independent innovation has been at the core of Chery’s development strategy to build a leading international brand operating in more than eighty countries around the world, including Japan, Germany and the United States, coming first among Chinese automakers in terms of export markets selling major volumes. The car manufacturer has undergone major strategic transformations in recent years, allocating its resources in the pursuit of quality and client benefit.

Today, Chery is looking towards new horizons in the Gulf markets, especially in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by leveraging its philosophy of independent innovation into offering a wide array of products and services complimenting diverse segments of Saudi motorists, where Chery’s Tiggo and Arrizo car models along with the premium brand Exeed helped the company realized its strategic vision of recording its highest sales of near 9 million units worldwide. This became a testament to the vigorous research and extensive field trials that the company undertook to meet internationally recognized standards of product quality and durability.

Chery’s success is attributed to the values it was built upon. Such values inspired the initiative of establishing the Institute of Engineering and Automotive Research at its headquarter in Wuhu that made important breakthroughs in a number of basic technologies related to transmissions, engine and fuel efficiency, as well as its continuous innovations in advanced technologies such as smart grid and autonomous driving.

Chery has set new standards for high performance embodied in the third generation of its smart engines, which are stronger, lighter and more fuel-efficient, making Chery among the top ten engines of 2019 in China. In this regard, the company’s president, Mr. Zhang Guibing, commented: "We have witnessed a monthly increase in domestic sales and exports, and we are extremely proud of the performance we see with our third generation advanced engines."

Despite the repercussions of Corona virus on the automotive sector, Chery has witnessed a rapid recovery and increased demand since the beginning of 2019, as the automaker launched its latest models designed with more presentable external frames and attractive interior compartments equipped with the latest technological features to meet the desires of diverse target groups in the Saudi market.

In a step-up effort at consolidating its position in the Kingdom’s market, Chery is preparing to introduce its latest range of models and setting up new levels of high performance for its customers in the country and the region.

You have probably heard about Huawei’s latest smartwatch – the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT – that combines Huawei’s leading technology in a sleek stainless steel body with continuous SpO2 monitoring, 10-day battery life and a host of fitness tracking making it the ideal wearable for every fashionista out there.

The HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT adds a bit of flair to the loved and popular HUAWEI WATCH FIT Series with a refined stainless steel body. The 1.64-inch large AMOLED rectangular display giving it a deluxe look while also providing you with an immersive viewing experience.

Additionally, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT is equipped with a soft fluoroelastomer strap that is specifically designed for comfort and durability. What else? With a single tap on your Huawei smartphone, you can select a photo from your Huawei smartphone gallery and use as your watch face. Available in two attractive colourways: Frosty White and Midnight Black.

If you are into fitness and sports or even if you are not the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT takes care of your health on your behalf. Huawei’s latest fitness smartwatch provides you with an all-day monitoring of blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) which is an important indicator of your health and fitness levels. You can also keep track of your heart’s health with HUAWEI TruSeen™ 4.0 heart rate monitoring technology that monitors your heart rate whether you are in motion, still or even when asleep. Additionally, you can also keep track of your relaxation status, thanks to the HUAWEI TruRelaxTM technology which provides 24/7 pressure monitoring, allowing you to maintain a relaxed state of mind at all times.

You should not be worried about those health features running in the background draining the battery life either that is mainly because the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT might be a small device but it packs a powerful punch, that is for sure. Battery life can last up to 10 days; on top of this, it also supports Huawei’s fast charging technology. A five-minute charge can sustain the smartwatch for an entire day of typical use , while just half an hour will charge the battery to 70%.

Staying fit is important and working out every now and then can help in maintaining your overall health. In order to help you reach and achieve your fitness goals the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT comes with a wide range of fitness features to kick-start an effortless new active lifestyle. This fitness smartwatch supports 96 workout modes; 11 professional sports modes and 85 free sports modes. It also comes with 13 pre-installed running courses for runners of all abilities; together with the built-in GPS and multiple sensors, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT can record your running and jogging routes to provide you with real-time guidance to improve your efficiency.

Lastly, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT comes with some smart and interesting features that make everyday life easier. Incoming calls, message reminders, remote camera shutter which allows you to snap photos when you are not carrying your phone and music playback control are a just a few to mention.

With a sleek stainless steel body, continuous SpO2 monitoring and a 10-day battery life in addition to the powerful health and fitness tracking features, plus the accessible price point, the HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT is probably the smartwatch you are missing.

Meta Description: The HUAWEI WATCH FIT ELEGANT stainless Steel body, all-day SpO2 monitoring and 10-day battery is the ideal fitness and fashion gadget

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FOR

HOMEWORK

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUIZ

JUMBLED WORDS T

1. What word makes five new words when prefixed with: Form, Fume, Jury, Son, and Verse?

E

W

2. What term, originally German, refers to the imprint in snow made when falling backwards: Fallenbach; Schnodent; Gappeneitz; or Sitzmark?

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E

S

N

A

P

E

C

T

A

R

N W R

O

D

L

E

1

T

2

V

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3

K

A

4

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5 6

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3. Named onomatopoeically, a sistrum is an ancient Egyptian instrument of: Musical percussion; Torture; Water-dowsing; or Navigation?

4. From Latin meaning 'stake', what is the hinged or pivoted catch preventing reverse motion of a ratchet wheel: Pawl; Stawl; Rawl; or Yawl?

5. What traditional strong ceramic material is named ultimately from a pig?

G

6. What does the Greek prefix 'iso' mean: Many; Long; Equal; or Two? 7. How many curves characterize a Cupid's Bow: One; Two; Three; or Four?

8. Superannuation is an alternative (and Australian/NZ) term for what sort financial payment scheme?

ANSWERS: 1.DITTO, 2.WOVEN, 3.SHAKEN, 4.ACCEPT, 5.NARROW, 6.GLADE

9. The mythological Phoenix bird originally and essentially symbolized: Fire; Ashes/Remains; Flight; or Rebirth?

TEST YOUR VOCABULARY ‘Do you think these pictures might be a clue, Ted?

10. What part of the human body contains bone-forms called Phalange, Cuneiform, Talus and Calcaneus?

In this sentence, clue means: a. a detailed list

c. an artistic device or effect

b. a slight indication

d. a contemptuous or scornful remark

11. What legendary man-trapping creature is actually the world's the largest living bivalve mollusk?

12. Musk, a common basic fragrance, takes its name from Sanskrit 'muska' meaning: Flower; Deer; Lemon; or Scrotum?

13. The roadrunner (Geococcyx, or chaparral bird) is a member of which bird family: Loon; Cuckoo; Stork; Ostrich?

14. What swirly pattern is named after the administrative central town of Renfrewshire in Scotland?

follow the clew to help find your way out. will help you solve the case. The original Middle English word was clew, which meant “a ball of thread.” If you were trapped in a labyrinth, you could When you first join the police force, you’re mostly just walking the beat. But when you’re promoted to detective, your job is to look for that big clue that

ANSWER: b. A clue is a piece of evidence that helps solve a problem, or it's a slight hint. When you’re in the dark about the surprise party your friends are planning, they'll say, “She doesn’t have a clue!”

15. What does the pencil grade HB stand for?

CAR & JEEP A car covers a distance of 200km in 2 hours 40 minutes, whereas a jeep covers the same distance in 2 hours.

What is the ratio of their speed?

16. What characteristic of Borneo ranks it among the largest five globally: Island; Mountain; Lake; or Population?

17. The Malayalam language is from, and still used by over 30 million people in: China; Malaysia; India; or Australia?

18. Copra is the dried white meat or flesh of what?

A. 3:4

19. What does the internet top level domain '.cat' represent?

B. 4:3

20. What term refers to a traditional alternative to electronic or digital technology, and separately to something which corresponds to another?

C. 4:5 D. 5:4

12.Scrotum, 13.Cuckoo, 14.Paisley, 15.Hard Black, 16.Island, 17.India, 18.Coconut, 19.Catalan, 20.Analogue

ANSWERS: A

MAY 2021

ANSWERS: 1.Per, 2.Sitzmark, 3.Musical percussion, 4.Pawl, 5.Porcelain, 6.Equal, 7.Two, 8.Pension/Retirement, 9.Rebirth, 10.Foot, 11.Giant Clam,

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HOROSCOPES (March 21 - April 19)

(July 23 - August 22)

ARIES

LEO

Sizzle into April, Aries! It’s birthday season and you are the cosmic favorite at this time. Prepare for a surge of energy to electrify you.

The new moon on April 11 is the most important of the year for you because it falls in your zodiac sign. Use the following week to take action to create the life of your dreams. The doors are opening to you, but you must seize the day. This lunation spotlights you and will help you to feel bold, confident, and strong.

The sun blooms in your solar second house beginning on the nineteenth, indicating that the month to come could be quite prosperous. Assess your budget, consider how you can add more income to your life, and certainly don’t be afraid to spend a bit on yourself.

Your ruler Mars dives into the depths of your solar fourth house starting on April 23, likely turning your attention to domestic, family, or home-related matters in the weeks ahead. Take charge and you can make a great deal of progress in these areas.

(April 20 - May 20)

TAURUS Sizzle into April, Aries! It’s birthday season and you are the cosmic favorite at this time. Prepare for a surge of energy to electrify you.

The new moon on April 11 is the most important of the year for you because it falls in your zodiac sign. Use the following week to take action to create the life of your dreams. The doors are opening to you, but you must seize the day. This lunation spotlights you and will help you to feel bold, confident, and strong.

The sun blooms in your solar second house beginning on the nineteenth, indicating that the month to come could be quite prosperous. Assess your budget, consider how you can add more income to your life, and certainly don’t be afraid to spend a bit on yourself.

Your ruler Mars dives into the depths of your solar fourth house starting on April 23, likely turning your attention to domestic, family, or home-related matters in the weeks ahead. Take charge and you can make a great deal of progress in these areas.

(May 21 - June 20)

GEMINI Take the reins, Gemini! April brings you excitement and passion as you continue to harbor mighty Mars, the red planet, in your zodiac sign until the twenty-third. This rare blessing brings you firepower, magnetism, and drive. This is one of the most important periods in two years to initiate plans and go after what you most desire.

When Mars leaves your sign on April 23, you’ll have less dominance and less persuasive power as he turns his energy to heating up your expenses and income sector.

The sun is shaking up your solar eleventh house of friendship throughout most of the month. When the new moon appears in this same sphere on the eleventh, you will likely hear news that brings you happiness from a lovely pal or acquaintance. You may now see yourself invited to some important events or even watch as someone in your network steps in to open a doorway to one of your dearest hopes and dreams. Seize the day!

The sun shimmies into your solar twelfth house on April 19, encouraging you to rest after such a busy stretch of weeks. Take a breather while you pamper yourself with some much-needed TLC.

(June 21 - July 22)

CANCER The sun and Venus are perched at the top of your solar chart for most of the month, Cancer, ensuring that you are seeing great success and reaching toward your ambitions.

The new moon on April 11 also spotlights your professional concerns, encouraging you to take a stand and show the world your power. New business opportunities, a promotion, or a chance for favorable publicity could be right around the corner. However, it’s of utmost importance that you seize the day to show VIPs, new clients, and everyone else you have what it takes to rock their world.

Many of the planets begin to migrate into your solar eleventh house of friendship this month too, and when the sun ignites this arena from the nineteenth on, you’ll be hearing from many people in your network.

Festivities, events, and good times may fill your calendar.

Mars the red planet, giver of magnetism, drive, and power, energizes you starting on April 23, so it’s likely you’ll be the main event!

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April will be action-packed for you, Leo. With mighty Mars bringing energy, enthusiasm, and fun to you via your social network throughout most of the month, you’re likely to see many friends and enjoy the lively pace. You could feel as if you’re truly part of a wonderful community that loves and supports you, so don’t forget to live in the moment.

The sun and new moon bring special attention to your solar ninth house of expansion, so in the days following April 11, be sure to consider how you can expand your perspective of the world. This may bring you an opportunity to pursue a media-related endeavor, go back to school, or even plan to travel later in the year.

When the sun sizzles into your solar tenth house of honor and achievement on the nineteenth, get ready to be in the spotlight even more than usual in the weeks ahead. This will energize you to assess your shifting ambitions and reach for the stars. Work hard now because you could be in alignment for a major professional breakthrough, especially for past hard work and likely linked to earlier in the year.

(August 23 - September)

VIRGO Feel your ambitions coming alive in April, Virgo. Mighty Mars is lighting up your professional life like fireworks! You began to feel this surge of momentum last month, and it will continue to propel you until April 23.

This is one of the most important times in two years for you to hustle as hard as possible and see tremendous results. Everyone from VIPs and bosses to the world around you is quite impressed with you and could rally behind any cause you lead. If you’re out of work, be sure to strive hard now to find the perfect match for you.

Mars soars into your solar eleventh house of friendship on the twenty-third, encouraging you to let loose and have a bit of fun.

Beyond this, April has a great many other important aspects. The sun and new moon unite in your sector of intimacy on April 11, encouraging you to assess the give and take in your relationships. This can aid you in being in the best partnerships.

(September 23 - October)

LIBRA With might Mars heating up a fellow air sign throughout much of the month, you’re feeling magnetic, sexy, and on fire, Libra. This may also see you focused on a significant media, academic, or international matter. The red planet can ignite your professional life like you’re the star at the center of a stadium from April 23 on. Prepare to be quite busy as well as see your name in lights. Hustle hard and look to make immense progress. If you’re out of work, you’re especially favored in the weeks ahead.

Beyond this, April is showcasing a major period that’s all about your relationships. The sun and new moon unite on the eleventh, helping single Libras find someone with long-term potential or coupled ones make important plans. This is an auspicious time for union, and some Libras could be discussing moving in, getting engaged, or even marrying.

Shortly thereafter, the sun, Venus, and Mercury move into your solar eighth house of intimacy, giving you the urge to merge ever closer. You will be quite interested in analyzing the give and take in your relationships and if you’re getting everything you require. It’s important to openly discuss these matters rather than run away from them because of a fear of intimacy or past trauma. Be confident that you deserve the best union ever.

(October 23 - November)

SCORPIO Get ready for an especially busy month, Scorpio. Cosmic energy highlights your solar sixth house of productivity, demanding that you put more energy, effort, and time into balancing your routine.

The sun and new moon unite on April 11, opening a doorway for you to reestablish the perfect work/life equilibrium that you need. This is also one of the most important times of the year for you to look for a new job or take on more clients if you work freelance. This can improve your business success significantly. Also, because this same sector also highlights exercise and fitness, if you’d like to implement a better regimen, now is the time to do it.

Later in the month, Mercury, Venus, and the sun align hand in hand in your solar seventh house of partnerships, smiling lovingly at you across the sky.

Single Scorpios can find possible suitors with long-term potential, whereas those already dating or committed might discuss serious plans. This is an auspicious time for you regarding romance and affinity. With your co-ruler Mars also diving into the seafoam of a fellow water sign on the twenty-third, you’re going to possess even more allure and magnetism than usual!

(November 22 - December)

SAGITTARIUS With fiery Mars across the sky from you until April 23, your most important focus is on partnerships. Whether this is a romantic partner, business associate, or collaborator, you can see so much more progress by working in unison rather than trying to fly solo. For single Sags, this also brings you the impetus to be clear about what you desire in a union and set forth to find the right person. Whether it’s someone who loves travel like you or shares the same passion for your hobbies, you may align by hunting for them now.

Also, with the shining sun, Mercury, Venus, and new moon in your solar fifth house of love and fertility throughout the early part of the month, you’re going to be passionate for your heart’s desire. If single, use the days after the eleventh to set up a line of potential suitors, because you might just find the perfect one. If you’re looking to conceive, the week following this lunation is especially sweet.

When the planets start to move toward your solar sixth house of productivity, you may find that you’re quite busy from April 19 on. New projects and responsibilities are sure to cross your desk, and you’ll find your calendar packed with appointments. It would be best to assess your work/ life balance so you can find the best flow for you in May.

(December 22 - January 19)

CAPRICORN You are a productive machine as of late, Capricorn! As mighty Mars ignites your solar sixth house of work and exercise, you’re charging forward with the energy of a cannon. This will continue for most of the month, until April 23 to be exact. On that date, the red planet sizzles into your solar seventh house of partnership, making your relationships your top priority. Embrace this exciting time in the weeks ahead.

Beyond this, April is filled with other astrological news. The sun, Mercury, Venus, and new moon fall in your solar fourth house of domesticity for most of the early part of the month. The days after the eleventh could bring the impetus to fix up your living space, move, or tend to a familyrelated issue.

However, when many of the stars start to migrate toward your solar fifth house of pleasure, you’ll be ready to focus on your heart’s desires. The sun officially enters this sphere on April 19, ensuring that romance, creativity, and fertility sparkle for you. Like fleets of cherubs raining arrows of love down from above, you’ll be ready to open your spirit to let the right person in. Single Capricorns should make dating a top priority, whereas committed ones may be able to reignite their spark hotter than ever before!

(January 20 - February 18)

AQUARIUS Embrace your heart’s passions, Aquarius. As Mars, the mighty red planet, sizzles alluringly in your solar fifth house of romance and fertility, it’s time to dive into pleasure. This transit began last month and continues until April 23. Single Aquarians must use this fuel to chase after love and search for a soul-mate connection. Committed ones may use this firepower to heat up their connection once again, as well as pursue pregnancy if you like. Those with a creative urge could feel especially inspired and create at least one masterpiece during this time.

Beyond this, April has other areas of importance too. The sun, Mercury, Venus, and new moon inhabit your solar third house of communication in the early part of the month. The eleventh could bring a dawning regarding the way you approach a writing, speaking, or advertising initiative. Focus on the messages most important to you and how you explain yourself.

The planets next shift toward your solar fourth house of domesticity, and as the sun joins the parade on April 19, you may be enjoying more time at home. In the month ahead, you could consider updating your space, moving, or handling some crucial family matters.

(February 19 - March 20)

PISCES Feisty Mars heats up your solar fourth house of domesticity until April 23, so you’re seeing a lot of attention around home or family matters. It appears you’re quite fired up about them, whether that means you’re moving to a new destination, embarking upon a renovation, or taking charge of a family issue. Use this fuel to take the initiative.

When Mars shifts into your solar fifth house of true love on that day, get ready to make romance and fun your top priorities!

Beyond this, April comes jam-packed with other astrological goodies. The sun, Mercury, Venus, and new moon align in your solar second house of finances in the early part of the month. Watch the week after the eleventh for a possible opportunity to increase your wealth, whether through a new job, raise, or lucrative client. Don’t just wait for it to come to you, though.

Seize the day!

Next, the planets shift into your solar third house of communication, and as the sun brings light to this area of your life as of the nineteenth, you’ll become especially persuasive. Your mind should be ablaze with interesting ideas about how to articulate your perspective.

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