MAGAZINE
october 2012
THE CONTROL ISSUE
CONTROL ROOM
AUTHOR
ANTHONY BOZZA IN CONTROL
ROCKER JAY WUD
SPECIAL
FALL COSMETICS PRODUCT GUIDE OCTOBER 2012
CONTROLLING
REALITIES
PAINTER
LUCIAN FREUD
TAKING CONTROL
ADONIS OUT OF THEIR SHELL www.ragmag.co | R A G M A G | 1
MAGAZINE
Publisher Gina Gabriel El-Fady
Contributors Lara Ariss Liliane Assaf Jonathan Cainer Amal Chaaban Youmna Chagoury Rabih Feghali Maria Frangieh Alice Hlidkova Sarah Hourany J.E.N. Maria-Elena Kassab Imogen Kimber Chris Lambert Sabina Llewellyn-Davies Maha Majzoub Nour Obaji Jacques Tchabarian Adam Volk
Editor in Chief Fida Z Chaaban Creative Lead Odette Kahwagi Managing Director May Ziade
Photographers Odette Kahwagi Jason Zamora Teddy Habib Czarro Ann Jon De Guzman
w w w . r a g m a g . c o
@RAGMAGLebanon RAGMAGMagazine RAGMAG
Opinions expressed are based solely on personal opinion and expericence, not reflective in any way of RAGMAG, a division of Raycon s.a.l. Selected images Shutterstock
Media Representative
Webmaster Youmna Chagoury
Nada G. Farha | Founder-MD Jdeideh Chalet Suisse St 444 Center 3rd floor Tel: 01 87 16 63 Ext 103 nfarha@pinkodsal.com advertise@pinkodsal.com
Stylist Jony Matta Public Relations Coordinator Lea El-Alam Marketing Advisor Daniella Tayar Administrative Coordinator Teddy Younes
RAGMAG Alex Gabriel Building Rue Colomn de Sahel Sahel Alma, Keserwan Tel: 09 916 222 / 09 913 777 lea.elalam@ragmaglive.com
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RAGMAG is a division of Raycon s.a.l. Copyright RAGMAG 2012 All Rights Reserved.
Distributor Lebanese Distributor Company Hamra, Axa Middle East bldg. Tel: 01 368 007
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ON OUR COVER Lebanese Pop Folk band ADONIS Photography by Odette Kahwagi Styled by Jony Matta
Contact us by phone or email to arrange your subscription subscriptions@ragmaglive.com Lea El-Alam +961 9 916 222 / 9 913 777 RAGMAG Alex Gabriel Building, Rue Colomn de Sahel Sahel Alma, Keserwan, Lebanon
THE CONTROL ISSUE
OCTOBER 2012
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
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EDITOR’S OPINION A MANIA FOR CONTROL
94
EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES COPYCAT
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
68
PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE
OUR EDITOR HAS ONE
REAL LIFE RUNWAY LANVIN
EDITOR’S PICK
100 MASTERCLASS
PIAGET SINCE 1874
102 MENSWEAR WITH 007 TOM FORD IS JAMES BOND
OUT + ABOUT 154 ZOOM CONTROL BEIRUT PHOTO FAIR
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CULTURE CLASH THIS PLACE IS OUT OF CONTROL!
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CONTROL ROOM
26
MUSICAL MOVEMENT
36
CONTROLLING REALITY
30
FREQUENCY CONTROL
44
DOLLARS+SENSE LOSING CONTROL
HAYDA LEBNEN
INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY BOZZA JAY WUD’S INCOMPLETE HEART LUCIAN FREUD
ADONIS NEEDS NO A.T.F.
CAN DRAGHI SAVE THE EURO?
CONTROL ROOM
ANTHONY
20 BOZZA
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YOU + YOUR COUNTRY CRISIS CONTROL DSC LEBANON
THE FINAL FRONTIER 42 WINDOWS 8! TECH 122 CONTROL FREAKS ARE OUT THERE SCIENCE
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FML WWW.IMADDICTED.COM
CONTROL YOUR INTERNET ADDICTION
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OCTOBER 2012
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
MON AMOUR, MON AMI 58 SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL
MATTHEW HUSSEY SETS YOU STRAIGHT
MIND, BODY + SOUL HELP ME NOUR + RABIH THEY TOOK A VACAY!
46 HARNESS THE POWER IN LEBANON HAWA AKKAR
54 CTRL + ALT + DEL RESTART YOUR LIFE
MIRROR MIRROR 74 JULIA’S BEAUTY BESTS
LOVING LIFE WITH LANCÔME
83 BLEU DE CHANEL
GET MOBILE WITH SCENT!
88 GET M.A.C. STARLET LIPS MISS MARILYN MONROE
78 CLINIQUE SKIN SUPPLIES MEN GET YOUR BEST SKIN
EAT, DRINK + BE MERRY 140 RESTAURANT REVIEW MAYRIG
134 GENTLEMAN’S MIXOLOGY CHOPIN VODKA COCKTAILS
142 CURRY CANTEEN
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DORA’S GOT THE BEST IN LEBANON
144 CONTROL YOUR PROTEIN INTAKE RECIPES
TAKE ME WITH YOU 132 VIENNA’S CULTURAL CLIME TRAVEL
118 119 120 121 126
SEE, SPEAK + HEAR NO EVIL SOUND CHECK MUSIC READ’EM + WEEP BOOKS PLAY NICE GAMES WATCH OUT FILM WORLD VISION BLOGGERS
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
With the uncovering of fall’s fashion and latest products on the market, we have also chosen to uncover talent that has been tucked away for far too long. RAGMAG is unveiling this month what I would call pure Lebanese talent ADONIS and JAY WUD. Not to know them and not to hear them would surely be a crime! For our monthly reader reward, thank you to Poliakov Lebanon for issuing our readers with tickets to Keane’s Concert on October 13th, we’re looking forward to heading backstage! Check out the interview next issue! Red Bull Lebanon also deserves a big thank you as well for our readers with reward tickets to the cool Flying Bach performance. Last but not least Momo’s at the Souks for opening their doors to RAGMAG and hosting our Chopin Vodka shoot. My special thanks this month goes out to @MissDubai5 for physically baking and shipping cookies to RAGMAG. This kind of love is most appreciated, cause it comes from the heart. Every month we repeatedly drill our readers that we love it when you write in to us be it positive or negative. A couple of weeks ago I did get an email from a Mr. Elie Diab. Though I did not necessarily agree with what he had said and I think he totally misunderstood my point of view, if I have offended you in any way I do apologize. I would like to say thank you for taking the time and writing to us, your message has been noted. On that note please keep writing to publisher@ragmaglive.com and follow me on Twitter @GinaGabriel1
Gina Gabriel El-Fady | Publisher
OCTOBER 2012
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
EDITOR’S LETTER
LEFT: TAKEENTERTAINMENTBACK.COM
CONTROL BECAUSE RAGMAG LIKES TO SET THE LIMITS
O
h Julia, the feedback for you was as we expected: you are everyone’s favorite girl. All of the people who wrote in to us this issue on social media let us know how much they’ve always loved you. For the readers who want to see more of the screen phenom (practically everyone I assume), she’s the leader of our Fall Product Guide this issue. Read about her newest endeavour with Lancôme and how this A-list stunner keeps herself in great form. Other noteworthy comments from readers: “That’s not how the Tupac hologram is made,” said one Twitter user in reference to my culture feature interview with Omar Abou Ezzeddine. Well, at this point it doesn’t much matter since the peeps behind the Coachella sensation sadly filed for bankruptcy. That being said, if you are indeed right, both myself and Cleartag stand corrected. I also want to mention that we are still receiving feedback about Nemr Abou Nassar’s August cover feature. We still have readers tweeting in, writing in and even Facebooking the article. For those of you who missed it in print, the full interview is now available on our website. A very big shout out to Nemr’s Fan Club who chronicled the magazine in a cool photo album and thank you for continuing to encourage others to send us pictures holding up the August issue. THIS ISSUE! We featured Adonis the band on our cover, and part of this was Nemr’s influence. We wanted to showcase real Lebanese talent. If you don’t know the band, you can get to know them here and YouTube their music. Go out and buy the CD, we did and we loved what we heard. We’ve also had a chat with Jay Wud, another Lebanese performer who is releasing his second album and just launched a new video, “Incomplete Heart”. SUPPORT OUR HOMEGROWN MUSICIANS. We’re behind them and we’re certainly behind Nemr for his latest initiative to TAKE ENTERTAINMENT BACK. If you want to know more about this, check out the website.
OCTOBER 2012
I hope you all decide to visit the site and learn more about how quality talent can become the norm in Lebanon and not an anomaly. Find me on Twitter @fidachaaban and follow @RAGMAGLebanon for updates and reader rewards that are meant to thank you for being part of RAGMAG. If you think of something that deserves print space, my cyber door is always open. If you haven’t joined us on Facebook and Pinterest yet, we’re looking forward to seeing you on those mediums as well. You are welcome to email me at letterstotheeditor@ragmaglive.com
to send me your thoughts and feelings about this issue or anything else, for that matter. Finally I want to encourage you to subscribe to RAGMAG and make it a part of your life every month. We are the only magazine in Lebanon that talks back. We’re here because of the support and constant encouragement of our loyal readers. It’s Your Magazine.
Fida Z Chaaban | Editor in Chief
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
FOR OUR SEPTEMBER ISSUE WE CONTINUED TO TALK TO YOU VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS- PINTEREST, TWITTER + FACEBOOK. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND PARTICIPATION AND HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO INTERACT WITH US ONLINE.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND SCRIBBLE ON OUR WALL TO WIN, WRITE TO US AT LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR@RAGMAGLIVE.COM OR TWEET US ON TWITTER @RAGMAGLEBANON!
IF YOU’RE BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE A PIC WITH YOUR FAVORITE ISSUE, SEND IT OUR WAY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL! YOU’RE ALL SO PINTERESTING, SO PIN US. RAGMAG IT’S YOUR MAGAZINE! RAGMAG reserves the right to edit for clarity and content
We’re showing off some of the best images that our readers sent in via email and Twitter. Thank you to all of the readers who sent us tweets and emails of their copies of RAGMAG.
WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU SO KEEP IT UP!
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GUESS WHAT? WE WERE ON MARCEL GHANEM’S KALAM ENNAS WITH NEMR ABOU NASSAR. IT WAS PRETTY COOL, WE’RE NOT GONNA LIE. CHECK IT OUT!
THE CONTROL ISSUE
READER REWARD
RECAP!
@RAGMAGLebanon RAGMAGMagazine RAGMAG
THROUGH THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WE REWARDED OUR READERS WITH TONS OF THE COOLEST GIFTS AROUND. MAKE SURE YOU JOIN US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO WIN WITH RAGMAG.
5 lucky readers and their guests went to Red Bull Lebanon’s Flying Bach event. www.redbullmea.com |
@RedBullLeb
3 techie readers took home the slick BlackBerry Curve 9920. Get brevity with BlackBerry and join them on social media or check them out on the web! BlackBerryME @ME_BlackBerry www.ae.blackberry.com
OCTOBER 2012
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EDITOR’S OPINION
CONTROL
ISSUES THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING
A PERFECTIONIST IN LEBANON
S
o you might know by now that I believe in hard work. Hard work and dedication and you know, all the trappings that come with it. That means giving your all, all of the time. But what if you, like me, constantly went the extra mile to get the job done and you constantly face obstacles that are out of your control? I think I can speak for a lot of workaholics in Lebanon who face the same challenges that I do: you can absolutely commit yourself to trying to get as close to perfect as possible, but there is always the inevitable brick wall that hits you in the face. Once you read more, you might think I’m basically your dream employee. I’m about to explain why I’m not, and why Gina might be way better off without me. WHAT’S YOUR TYPE? I’m ostensibly a Type A personality across the board. For those of you who don’t know what that means, it is a highly disputed pop psychology des-
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ignation that has passed into common parlance. When you are described as a Type A, you are typically thought to be high strung, very ambitious and truthful. As a Type A, you exhibit aggression and also have a sense of time-urgency (hello deadlines?). You’re described as an overachiever, a multi-tasker and you routinely take on more than you can handle with little or no objection, in fact you thrive on such circumstances. Depending on how you look at those characteristics and behaviors, you may see Type A people as a positive or negative part of the workforce. Since I am a Type A, I collaborate best with other Type A women and men. They are generally defined as proactive individuals who are experts at time management. Guess what a Type A personality hates? Procrastination, ambivalence and randomness! Before I get to my point, I want to reiterate that from a psychology perspective, this isn’t a real diagnosis. Meyer Friedman, a cardiologist, researcher and self-described “recovering” Type A, paired up with the likes of Stanford Uni-
versity to try and correlate being a Type A with heart disease and even cancer. I admit that the stress of trying to do too much too often probably is ruining my immunity and I hope that I never have to face a life-threatening illness due to my nature, but I (like other Type A-s), do think it is the best way to be. But not in Lebanon for reasons I will expand upon later. In his book, “Type A Behavior: Its Diagnosis and Treatment” (1996), Friedman posits that “free-floating hostility, timeurgency and impatience and a competitive drive” are the 3 key “symptoms” of being a Type A. He says that the hostility (borne of what the Type A sees as even small inconveniences) is well hidden, but the obsession with achievement (I must excel!) and the impatience (do you have a “short-fuse”?) is out there for everyone to note. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he wrote the damn book about me. Now that you understand what’s going on inside the mind of a Type A, imagine that Type A trying to make shit happen in Lebanon.
THE CONTROL ISSUE
PHOTOGRAPHY YURI ARCURS OCTOBER 2012
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EDITOR’S OPINION
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS I am waiting for an important delivery and things like traffic (due to a lack of proper urban planning) and the absence of a basic address system in Beirut (chaos personified) delays said shipment. I am trying to make a deadline and one of our writers is late with their assignment (no excuses accepted except for the dreaded Writer’s Block), so this delays my editing and subsequently delays the designers. These are only 2 small instances that positively drive me up the wall. The latter can be generalized to many different countries but the former cannot. The external factors in Lebanon that are out of my control drive me mad, literally. I can’t control whether or not someone decides to shut down the airport road, so it doesn’t matter that I manage my time down to the last minute and that I ensure I’ve got the extra time I need to send off emails before a flight. I can’t expect Youmna to upload 10 articles a day onto our website, because the internet seldom functions at a 2012-worthy speed. I can’t expect Daniella to get our participation in the next event organized, because the people at the other end aren’t returning her emails or numerous calls. All of these ridiculous circumstances that are forced upon me and other Type A worker bees in Lebanon, is enough to set the beehive into a frenzy.
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PHOTOGRAPHY GEMENACOM
WHEN MY SHE-WOLF COMES OUT, WOE BE THE UNLUCKY MORTAL WHO HAPPENS TO BE IN MY WAY. I HAVE TRIED TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO REIN IN THE RAGE. MY USUAL ANGER MANAGEMENT TACTIC? I [...] RAGE, RAGE, RAGE!
THE LEADER OF THE PACK There are 2 scenarios in which the colloquial term “alpha female” is referenced: dating or success. The definition of an alpha female in a dating context doesn’t concern us here, but the work-related aspect does. The Urban Dictionary defines an alpha female thus: “A dominant or assertive woman, a woman boss, the leader among a group of females. [The term] previously referred to the hierarchy among animals, now used to type human beings.” The alpha female in a pride of lions is the queen of the jungle and that animal kingdom designation has worked its way into every day conversations. In an article for “Psychology Today” debating the health and welfare of alpha females, Dr. Gabriela Cora says that they “have intrinsic characteristics—aside from being competitive, controlling, and more aggressive”. Clearly I’m an alpha female and it is very well suited to my job description everywhere around the world in the field of media. Well, everywhere except Lebanon. Why? Because, it’s a full moon type scenario here in Beirut all of the time. The oddball behaviors and the strange sensibilities aren’t an anomaly, they are the norm! So I go from being the alpha female to the she-wolf, often and easily. The best part about being an alpha female is the ability to make things happen. The worst part? The she-wolf, the werewolf in all Type A-s, rears its ugly head when the alpha doesn’t get her way.
THE GRAND FINALE When my she-wolf comes out, woe be the unlucky mortal who happens to be in my way. I have tried time and time again to rein in the rage. My usual anger management tactic? I call Gina and rage, rage, rage! We have been told that in the market or “souk” I am known to be “aggressive”, and Gina is said to be “nice” and “sweet” apparently. This is true to some degree, because Gina is the defuser. She’s the one who calms me down after a deal falls through because someone isn’t holding up their end of the bargain, and she’s the one who often talks me off of my tangents about the unprofessional conduct and the sheer stupidity of some of the people in this workforce. All in all, she might be better off without a Type A, alpha female perfectionist on her staff. You can be a victim of your own control issues, and I’m proof positive. After all, you catch more flies with honey than with brine
THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING AN ALPHA FEMALE IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. THE WORST PART? THE SHE-WOLF, THE WEREWOLF IN ALL TYPE A-S, REARS ITS UGLY HEAD WHEN THE ALPHA DOESN’T GET HER WAY THE CONTROL ISSUE
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CULTURE CLASH
C
ONTROL ROOM
MASTERING THE LIFE + TIMES OF ENTERTAINMENT’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL FIGURES BY AMAL CHAABAN
H
Amal Chaaban talks to New York Times bestselling author Anthony Bozza exclusively for RAGMAG
Anthony Bozza is the bestselling author of seven books, including the autobiographies of Eminem, Slash, Tommy Lee, Artie Lange and Tracy Morgan. Bozza’s writing career began with an internship at Rolling Stone magazine, where he did the usual fact-checking and assistant work that comes with the job. A defining portrait of Eminem for his first Rolling Stone cover led to six other cover stories, numerous features and countless articles over Bozza’s seven-year tenure at the iconic publication. @anthonybozza1 |
AnthonyBozza1 | www.anthonybozza.net
aving written the biography of Eminem, could you have predicted even back then the struggles he would later face with fame and drugs?
Oh yes, absolutely. I was saddened to hear that stuff but I definitely wasn’t surprised. You know, the opening of the book, he was doing five hits of Ecstasy and then on the plane, he was popping Vicodin for hangovers which is kind of extreme. Even back then, he told me that with all the stress with Kim [Mathers] and trying to raise [daughter] Haillie, he had been taking Tylenol PM [an over the counter sleep aid] for years because he would just get into bed and sit there and start worrying about everything. More money means better drugs. You know, he is a really smart guy so I am also not surprised that he didn’t go down the rabbit hole and just not come out. He’s a survivor.
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
It is said that you listened to and told people about Eminem long before he was famous. What was it about his music that attracted you?
I would say first of all, a white rapper. You don’t hear a good one of those everyday first of all. That was amazing to me off the bat and he was so intense and great. His style was different than other white rappers and he reminded me of early Beastie Boys, his whole kind of delivery and I loved that. There was nobody around who was doing stuff as crazy. His word choice was different; literally everything about him was different. I’ve heard him doing battle raps and then I went and listened to “Infinite” which I liked but I didn’t really like it as much as his battle round stuff because on “Infinite”, I felt like he was this white guy trying to sound black and on battle rapping he gave that the hell up and just went for it. Really, he just stands out because of who he is. Just the fact that he talked about horror movies and stuff. I mean, nobody was doing that, so he really caught me. In the opening pages of “Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem”, you say “I’ve always felt that to understand anyone, you must forget yourself and meet them, as much as you possibly can, on their own terms.” Do you think that attitude has helped in your success dealing with some of the biggest names of the industry?
Absolutely. Words to live by. I really do. When I first started interviewing people, it was kind of an awkward process, kind of like the first date and you try to make that first date last as long as you can. I can’t pinpoint a moment when I got better at doing it but I think that being able to try my best to know everything about the person, learn as much as possible about them and then just forget who they are and just be in the moment with them. I do think that is what you have to do to truly understand someone. The theme of drug use is rampant throughout some of your work. Why do you think drug use is so prevalent among celebrities? Do you buy in to the theory that drugs enhance creativity?
No, I don’t buy into that at all, like whatsoever. If you are not creative, then there is not a drug in the world that will make you creative. You may think you are, but that is even worse. I think that it’s rampant because it’s rampant in culture. They are not the only people doing it; they are the only people doing it publicly under a spotlight. I think it’s in human nature, I think celebrities are really called out on it because they are constantly under a spotlight.
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HIS STYLE WAS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER WHITE RAPPERS AND HE REMINDED ME OF EARLY BEASTIE BOYS, HIS WHOLE KIND OF DELIVERY AND I LOVED THAT OCTOBER 2012
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CULTURE CLASH
Talk to me a little bit about the death of Proof (DeShaun Dupree Holton), Eminem’s best friend. You did do an article on it and about the inconsistencies in the investigation. What do you think happened there?
That was a while ago so I don’t know if I remember all of the inconsistencies. I mean, it looks just like Proof was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean, Detroit is a rough town to this day, but I don’t know. It’s a rough town. What was it like collaborating with Tommy Lee, especially since his penile thoughts kept interjecting?
Well, the movie was already out [a stolen x-rated film of Tommy Lee and his then wife, Pamela Anderson], and I thought about that on the plane ride out. I was like, ‘his penis should argue with him’. I don’t know where that came from; sometimes I get some pretty big bouts of inspiration on airplanes. I got to L.A., I had an apartment I was going to meet him in, then he didn’t come back. He went on sort of a party run, he basically wasn’t home for two weeks and I was just sitting there. When I finally did meet him, I was this sort of trendy, über-professional with my goals for the book. I was just trying to really come prepared but he was not really paying attention to me. He was like getting it and finally I was like, ‘There’s one more thing. I wanna [sic] open the book with your dick talking to you’. He just stopped what he was doing and he looked at me, picked me up in the chair I was sitting in, then threw me in the pool and jumped in with me. He’s like, ‘That’s the best!’ Tommy and I spent an inordinate amount of time on his penis’ interruptions. In “Tommyland”, you confront a paparazzo. Did it feel surreal to you that these people were literally being legally stalked by men and women with cameras?
It is. Totally. Especially Los Angeles. You know, I am a native New Yorker and East Coasters and New Yorkers in general treat celebrities with a lot more humanity to be honest. Everyone doesn’t get up in their face. In L.A., they might as well be in a zoo. Tommy gets it so much, it’s crazy. Honestly, when I did that, I had just had it. I was pissed off, I really was and he was at kind of a tough spot in his life. You know, we would be with his kids, just trying to buy groceries and they would be up in his face. So that whole thing was coming, emotionally, I was pissed that he had to deal with that so much. That really came from a place from just being genuinely pissed for my friend. It is surreal; it is just bizarre, especially at this grocery store in Malibu. That is where they all sit and wait for whoever comes out with a shopping cart.
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Artie Lange’s “Too Fat to Fish” is written with you as a collaborator but unlike “Tommyland”, you don’t make any appearances. Why?
Yeah, Tommyland was kind of unique and Tommy is a unique being. That whole book is a unique entity and that was my first right so I guess I didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t expect what I got either. I lived with Tommy for 9 months, he moved me into his house which was amazing and great fun so I guess putting myself in the book isn’t something I really planned to do. That’s not really part of my philosophy, even as a reporter at Rolling Stone, I never really liked when writers did that, it’s a personal thing. I always wanted to write it for fans and I wanted them to feel like they are there, not me. Tommy really brought me into his world so much so it kind of just seemed very much a part of the whole experience. It just made total sense that I was in there. The footnotes started because I wanted to, Tommy is a lot of things that you would expect and that you wouldn’t expect and I wanted to do the unexpected with this book. Artie, is just different all together. Artie is just such a great storyteller, it just made more sense to have the artist take the floor. The co-writer is there to collaborate.
‘
I GUESS PUTTING MYSELF IN THE BOOK ISN’T SOMETHING I REALLY PLANNED TO DO [...] I NEVER REALLY LIKED WHEN WRITERS DID THAT, IT’S A PERSONAL THING
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
CULTURE CLASH
‘
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO START? INTERNET, REALITY SHOWS, WHAT CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY WOULD YOU LIKE TO MENTION
’
What is the single moment that stands out for you from all of the collaborations and interviews you have done?
I can give you a few, like getting thrown in the pool by Tommy Lee over his penis, that was pretty epic. So many times with Artie. Beating Slash at ‘Guitar Hero’, so he got an early version of ‘Guitar Hero’ and he had been playing it. I got it and he was like I want to play against you and I beat him a couple of times. Then he took it on vacation for two weeks, came back and made a point of challenging me again. That time he won. What do you think of the state of celebrity today?
I think it’s ridiculous really. You know, there is [sic] people with real talent and people that have sex tapes; and people care about that, as if they didn’t know how people have sex. Where do you want to start? Internet, reality shows, what crime against humanity would you like to mention. I only like contest shows like ‘Top Chef’, any other thing. You know, I guess if I am really depressed I could watch ‘The Bad Girls Club’ but if I am in that situation, I probably should book some time with a therapist. I don’t find watching not interesting people doing mundane things interesting. That thing about how all of it [reality shows] is scripted, yeah, that’s true. Sorry to disappoint you. I’d rather watch something with good writing. I think that the whole thing that we consider celebrity is really born out of a giant narcissism, like the generation of me. I think with everyone constantly taping themselves, it is just an offshoot of the Me Generation. You have interviewed Michael Moore. Why do you think he is such a polarizing figure in the U.S.?
Because he is going after the big cats. I mean, it’s really as simple as that. He is outspoken and he is liberal and a lot of the U.S. is outspoken and conservative. I think that is really what it is. A lot of people don’t want to believe that all of the things that he has revealed to be true are actually happening, that our country is like that. Some people still cling to the belief that this is the greatest country in the world and it’s not. We’re pretty low in the education level, that’s nothing to be proud of. That’s really why- some people don’t want to believe that about America.
OCTOBER 2012
On your website, you talk about AC/DC being one of the most critically underrated bands. Who else out there do you think is critically underrated?
Times have changed, it’s true. With digital media and the internet, you will find somebody somewhere who is singing the praises of just about anyone. If you are talking about AC/DC, this giant classic rock band not being on the cover of Rolling Stone until 2000, that is just ridiculous. I think that being a critic meant more so there were less avenues to find information from. You know, not everyone got the advance records
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CULTURE CLASH
PIECE BY PIECE PHOTOGRAPHY CZARRO ANN + JON DE GUZMAN
JAY WUD’S MUSICAL EVOLUTION CONTROLS THE MIC BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY
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he last time RAGMAG sat down with Jay Wud, he’d just released his first album “New Blood”, and he was still a solo artist. A lot has happened since then, so we reconnected with the rocker to catch up and find out more about his newest album, “False Utopia” and his newest video “Incomplete Heart”. “We wanted this record to be raw from the beginning,” says Jay referring to his release, “False Utopia.” It “talks about the fake and corrupted world we are living in. Every song has a story and the way you perform it says a lot.” Wud’s past use of cellos and synth heard on “New Blood” are noticeably absent this time around, but the throaty vocals are still present, especially in “Incomplete Heart” that comes across as more fast-
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paced. “This new record didn’t really need more than a drum kit, bass, my guitar and vocals. Vocals are definitely more revved up in the new album; the tracks are more upbeat and energetic.” The song does have quite the danceable rhythm, leading us to question Jay on how he’d react to club remixes of this song and others from his catalogue. “An artist works hard to deliver a message, a certain sound, and a remix can often diminish that magic around it to a different shape. Having said that, there are a lot of good remixes out there, if someone managed to pull it off and do it well then I don’t see why not!” Jay’s recent collaboration with comedian Nemr Abou Nassar on the viral “Lebanese Internet The Song” exposed him to a different demographic. Jay helped Nemr write the rhythm for the come-
dic ballad: “At that time Nemr and his team from Vanguard productions were shooting my videos on my gear setup in the studio. So on our day off we were just jamming me and him to a guitar riff, then I added a simple beat and next thing Nemr was in the recording booth improvising the lyrics while I was laughing my ass off in the other room. Then he came up with the idea of the piano
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I ADDED A SIMPLE BEAT AND NEXT THING NEMR WAS IN THE RECORDING BOOTH
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THE WHOLE SYSTEM ON HOW THE MUSIC BUSINESS WORKS HERE NEEDS REVAMPING part, the power cut and solo which I recorded. It was hilarious and lots of fun.” Nemr recently announced his newest project, “Take Entertainment Back”, and was endorsed by Jay on both Twitter and Facebook. Does he think that the local entertainment scene gets adequate support, taking bands such as Adonis, Meen The Band and Mashrou’ Leila into consideration? Does Jay find it more difficult for bands performing in colloquial Lebanese to break through compared to a Middle East-based rock band? “There’s always a challenge in this region whether you sing in Arabic, French or English. The whole system on how the music business works here needs revamping. But if we work on pushing it united with all artists and most importantly with the people that support this music in this region, we can
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make a difference.” Worth noting is that Mashrou’ Leila recently pulled out from opening for global rock superstars Red Hot Chili Peppers in Beirut after facing pressure from the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The new single is a different angle of Wud. We’ve always had the impression that Jay is on the shy side but his personality comes out quite strong in “Incomplete Heart”: “I do come out as a shy person to some people but I’m just quiet and more comfortable expressing myself through my music and performance. [The song] talks about a break up and it’s a raw, rock tune with a very basic message of going through that stage and wanting to be left alone,” he explains. His physical image –“more ink, longer hair and a new guitar”- and the storyline behind the album are not
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the only changes; Jay Wud is now a band with Pascal Elias on drums and Imad Jawad (of alternative sweethearts Lazzy Lung) on bass. Performing with a band “adds a lot to the table,” says Jay. “I’ve always loved being in a band and having other musicians to work with. Pascal Elias […] is by far the most talented, passionate and rock driven drummer in the region.” Long-time friends, Pascal and Jay performed together before forming the band, whereas Jay was driven to include Imad after seeing him perform live. “Having both of them in the band is a dream come true and that’s what made ‘False Utopia’.” Jay hinted at a “pretty special guest on one of the tracks” and a new video but says he’s keeping it “hush hush”. If it’s as good as “Incomplete Heart”, it’ll definitely make it to our playlist.
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EXERCISING
SELF CONTROL LEADING BY EXAMPLE LEBANESE BREAKOUT BAND ADONIS BRINGS THE REAL LEBANON TO LIGHT BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ODETTE KAHWAGI STYLED BY JONY MATTA
Y
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ou know, in Lebanon and especially for the older generation, a band is a bunch of angry whining young people trying to express their anger. We always hear, ‘Ah you’re a band? You just criticize, that’s what you do, don’t you?’ But we’re not like that,” explains Anthony Khoury, lead singer of the Lebanese pop folk band Adonis. And it’s true, they aren’t like that. Adonis tackles everyday issues and situations while succeeding at sending a social message. Their first album, “Daw L Baladiyyi”, was released in July 2011, and they sing about love in all 11 songs while addressing themes of concern like the degradation of Lebanon’s old cities and the difficulty of moving
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on. “We don’t need to raise the flag of a certain cause and we believe we can achieve so much in a more subtle manner, through music and through everyday conversations. So instead of saying, ‘Too many people are leaving the country! Beware! Stay here! Come back!’ we do tackle the issue, but differently. In our upcoming album, we created a story in which someone tells the person he loves about little everyday things they’ve done here and there in the city, the memories they have together, and he tells her: ‘Men chou btichki Beirut?’ [What’s wrong with Beirut?]” “Men Chou Btichki Beirut” is a special song to the band, because “in a way, it’s what we’re trying to achieve. We’re getting an education here, we’re working and we’re doing our own music. We’re
trying to stay here, even though it can be hard sometimes. The entertainment business in Lebanon is slowly changing but it’s shocking how much culture it’s lacking,” says Adonis Guitarist Joey Abou Jaoudeh, explaining how it’s the fault of both the people and the promoters.
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MEN CHOU BTICHKI BEIRUT’ IS A SPECIAL SONG TO THE BAND, BECAUSE “IN A WAY, IT’S WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE
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CULTURE CLASH
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WE’RE ALL DIFFERENT AND EACH MEMBER HAS HIS OWN MUSICAL INFLUENCES. BRINGING THEM TOGETHER CREATED THIS SORT OF SCHIZOPHRENIC ALBUM “People just take in whatever they’re being offered by entertainers, whether it’s on TV or on the radio, without questioning anything, without using their common sense and without wondering whether they really like what they’re seeing and hearing. To us, that’s the real issue. If everyone is used to hearing a certain type of music, the ones they play over and over again on the radio -that are also the ones that make a lot of money [for] the businesses- how can local bands like us have a chance? If things don’t change, people will not get to know us, and promoters won’t contact us for an opening act or to be part of a festival.” That’s why the band disagrees with Mashrou3 Leila’s recent decision to cancel their opening act for
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global superstars Red Hot Chili Peppers last month. “It’s not about politics and what you believe in. It’s about music and opportunities. We wouldn’t have cancelled, and if we were anything like Mashrou’ Leila, we would have gone on stage and sang for what we believed in. It would have been much more powerful and impactful.” Currently, the band is focusing on recording their second album. They still don’t know when they will be able to release it, but “it will be very different from our first album. We launched ‘Daw L Baladiyyi’ a few short months after forming the band, but we’ve been playing together long enough now for us to have a more specific voice and a more definite character as a band,” says
Anthony, referring to the experimental feeling of the first album. On their first album their genre alternates depending on the track: sometimes they’re more rock, sometimes they’re more jazz. The album is eclectic to the point that sometimes, there are different genres mixed in one song, like in “Chajrit el Jararank” where Lebanese folk segments alternate with blues. “We’re all different and each member has his own musical influences. Bringing them together created this sort of schizophrenic album,” says Joey. Some members think they should have waited to find their own voice before launching the first album, but Joey says it’s exactly what made it special: “We didn’t limit ourselves; whatever came to us, whatever we felt like, we tried,
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WE DIDN’T LIMIT OURSELVES; WHATEVER CAME TO US, WHATEVER WE FELT LIKE, WE TRIED, AND WE KEPT DIFFERENT THINGS. ‘DAW L BALADIYYI’ IS LIKE A MOSAIC OF ALL OF US
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LEFT: DAW L BALADIYYI CD COVER BELOW: DAW L BALADIYYI STILL IMAGE FROM YOUTUBE
and we kept different things. ‘Daw L Baladiyyi’ is like a mosaic of all of us.” What won’t change in the upcoming album are their architectural references in the lyrics. Both Anthony and Joey are architects and draw their inspiration from their surroundings. Anthony grew up and still lives in Adonis (situated in Zouk Mikhael), and many of his songs use urban and architectural allusions, like “a building facade, a dump truck, streetlights, a pole or a window… all these little things that make up a standard Lebanese ‘shere3’. Spaces and places play a big part in our music, that’s why there’s so much nostalgia in our songs,” he adds, like in their track “Chbabik” or “Windows”. The band has this feeling that “every little thing from the past is disappearing in a demolishing-rebuilding phenomenon happening
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all over Lebanon.” Anthony says they will however “tackle a wider variety of subjects, because we’ve grown up and become more sensitive to things we weren’t necessarily aware of two years ago.” The band is now focusing on recording their new songs; the recording process is a very spontaneous one with Adonis. At times, they’d write the song in the studio and give it a first go the very same day. Adonis have been playing a few of their new songs during their summer live concerts and say “there have been good response to these songs.” They often use their concerts as a way to get feedback on the songs they perform: “We listen to what our audience has to say about our new songs and whenever we’re recording them, we remember them and it gives the ex-
perience a different feeling and a new input,” says Joey. They also take advantage of the concerts to experiment with their own music. At their launch event held at Beirut’s Sporting Club in July of last year, drummer Nicola was getting “bored of his drum solo in the ‘Stouh Adonis’ song. He suspended several metallic elements like a frying pan and a ‘No Parking’ sign and decided to try a new percussion act. According to the band, it “turned out to be the highlight of the concert.” We’ll be around to watch Adonis mature musically, because like Lebanon, they’re an ever-changing entity. What better reflection could Lebanon ask for? LISTEN TO ADONIS Adonis @adonisband YouTube channel adonissism www.ragmag.co
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CULTURE CLASH LEFT: REFLECTION (SELF-PORTRAIT), 1985 (DETAIL) PRIVATE COLLECTION, IRELAND © THE LUCIAN FREUD ARCHIVE PHOTO COURTESY LUCIAN FREUD ARCHIVE BELOW: GIRL WITH A WHITE DOG, 1950-1 TATE: PURCHASED 1952 © TATE, LONDON 2012
CONTROLLING
REALITIES THE LATE LUCIAN FREUD BY JEN
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he art world lost a great talent on the 20th of July 2011, Lucian Freud. Born on the 8th of December 1922, Freud was a British artist renowned for his portraits. His paintings capture the rawness of humanity. With each brush stroke everything is stripped away to reveal flesh and emotion. One of the greatest realist painters, Freud “could never put anything into a picture that wasn’t actually there in front of [him].” In the aftermath of his death, famous art institutions have been sharing the captivating allure of his work across continents. The Lucian Freud Portraits
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exhibition is currently open to the public at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Texas, United States (ending this month) and before that was at the National Portrait Gallery in London, UK (from February 9th to May 27th, 2012). The National Portrait Gallery in London is home to more than 175,000 portraits from the 16th Century to the present and also has exquisite limited-time only exhibitions. The Modern Art Museum is dedicated to “collecting, presenting, and interpreting international developments in post–World War II art in all media,” hence this current exhibition highlights the importance of Freud’s legacy and his ever-present influence.
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CULTURE CLASH OPPOSITE PAGE: FRANK AUERBACH, 1975-6 PRIVATE COLLECTION © LUCIAN FREUD. PHOTO COURTESY LUCIAN FREUD ARCHIVE BELOW: BENEFITS SUPERVISOR SLEEPING, 1995 PRIVATE COLLECTION © THE LUCIAN FREUD ARCHIVE. PHOTO COURTESY LUCIAN FREUD ARCHIVE
While viewing the paintings at the exhibition, Freud’s stylistic development and technical prowess are striking. Each painting has evidently been brought to life over an extended period of time and in fact some took months if not years to complete. Each is the result of an in-depth relationship and understanding of the sitter. The psychological insight reverberates through the canvas. Freud describes his approach: “My work is purely autobiographical. It is about myself and my surroundings. It is an attempt at a record. I work from people who interest me and that I care about, in rooms that I live in and know. I use people to invent my pictures with, and I can work more freely when they are there.”
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It’s no surprise that there’s a poignant sense of intimacy in this paintings. After all most of his sitters were lovers, friends including fellow artists like David Hockney, family, people from all walks of life (from criminals to the Queen of England) and even himself. This impacts Freud’s work and gives the viewer a feeling of having a peek into someone else’s private moment. His daughter Bella describes sitting for her father as a process that “makes you conscious of life going on in the nicest possible way.” Freud saw art as “the life of forms” and his work combines texture with shape. Many of his sitters are stripped naked, displaying all to the world. While this might shock some as being crude,
there’s something very revealing about this. Photographer Bruce Bernard described Freud’s art as a force that offers “deepened sense – far beyond the scope of photography or any other medium – of how certain human beings looked and felt in the second half of the twentieth century.” The portraits tell tales and immortalize their subject matter. The art speaks for itself.
FREUD SAW ART AS “THE LIFE OF FORMS” AND HIS WORK COMBINES TEXTURE WITH SHAPE. MANY OF HIS SITTERS ARE STRIPPED NAKED, DISPLAYING ALL TO THE WORLD
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RAGGED CONTROL FACTS
10.27.1992
The day the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, also known as the CDC, was formed. The CDC is a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services and strives to protect public health and safety by disseminating information to promote better health decisions and by trying to prevent and control the spread of diseases (especially foodborne pathogens, infectious diseases and microbial infections). It also works on environmental health, occupational safety and health, injury prevention and health promotion and education.
COGITO ERGO SUM While the concept of telepathy (from the Greek “Tele” meaning distant and “Pathe” meaning experience) usually designates the supposed transmission of information from one subject to another without using any sensorial mediums, it hasn’t always been this plain and simple in popular culture. From the Vulcans in Star Trek to Legilimens in Harry Potter to Star Wars Jedi and X-Men’s Professor Xavier, some telepaths have the ability not only to read people’s minds and feelings but to influence and control them.
FREAK SHOW Calling someone a “control freak” is a derogatory way to allude to their need to dictate the actions and reactions of everyone and everything around them. Control freaks are often perfectionists who need the world to be as tip-top as they are. They are also associated with TypeA personalities who admonish their inferiors in public and co-dependent personalities who have abandonment issues as well as Antisocial Personality Disorder.
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RAGGED CONTROL FACTS
THINK TANK Mind Control, also known as coercive persuasion, brainwashing, mind abuse, menticide, thought reform or thought control, is the use of unethically manipulative methods to subvert the thoughts of an individual or a group into whatever the manipulators want. This explains how totalitarian regimes kept indoctrinating POWs with propaganda and torture techniques and it also explains the mass conversions to new religion movements.
NET NANNY In our day and age, it’s getting increasingly harder to control what our kids read, hear and see. Parents can’t help but be a little freaked out at the information pouring onto their children’s phones, laptops and little minds. This is why parental control features were created. Worried adults can control, limit and ban some applications, games, programs and songs as well as phone apps in order to protect their kids from explicit content, internet creepers and pornographic pop-ups.
613,809 The number borne by Nikola Tesla’s patent, “Method of an Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism of Moving Vehicle or Vehicles”, dating back to 1898. This is the earliest appearance of remote controls, which have since taken the world by storm. Allowing people to channel surf without leaving their couch, in everything from military operations and to mobile devices and radios.
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THE FINAL FRONTIER
OWN YOUR USER EXPERIENCE
WINDOWS 8 GIVES YOU CONTROL BY J.E.N.
T
he 26th of October could mark the start of a new era… or the beginning of a major flop. It’s the day Windows 8 will be officially released. And don’t let the name mislead you. It’s not a simple upgrade. It’s an operating system with a totally new look and feel. While this freshness will appeal to some, it might put off those who like the familiar and cringe at drastic changes. Windows 8 has a home screen with large panels you can touch, much like the live panels on phones running Windows (see the September issue for more info on Windows Phone 7). You can multitask, moving from one open app to another. Apps will be available from the new Windows Store. You can even view two apps simultaneous side by side (this feature isn’t present in any other OS in the same way). This
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“new look” makes navigating your way around Windows 8 a bit tricky at first. Since many things are initially hard to figure out in Windows 8, here’s a little help • Click on Win+X to get access to certain system tools like Task Manager and Control Panel. So Win+X is sort of like a mini Start Menu of sorts. • Select Win+F to get Windows 8 search tool. This is super useful when you need to find the link to say Notepad or a document. You can even search for info on tasks like shut down (and you’ll need it since figuring out how to shut down the computer isn’t as obvious as you’d expect). • Alt+F4 will close the active program (don’t expect to see the usual x or file exit options to close programs). You can also use the Task Manager to close programs.
While this all may not seem reassuring and the system already has its haters from those who tried the pre-release version, Windows 8 is actually a promising system once you get used to it. For instance TechRadar gives it an impressive 4.5 out of 5 as does PC Advisor UK. And on the bright side, you can upgrade to Windows 8 via download from Windows 7, Vista and XP for only $40 until the 31st of January 2013. With
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Windows 8, you can still use your old programs if you’re running it on a PC or laptop (if you’re upgrading from Windows 7). Sadly this is not possible on tablets which run Windows 8 RT. The Charms bar is another swanky new element. The bar has Settings, Devices, Share and Search options and the Share options change depending on the app you’re using. Windows 8 is also connected to the cloud. Microsoft’s official website markets this as: “Your Windows, everywhere: Perfect it once, have it always. Sign in to any of your devices running Windows 8 and your personalized settings and apps are right there.” Benefiting from the cloud also applies to your files.
To use Windows 8 your computer has to have a 1GHz or faster CPU, 1GB of RAM (or 2GB for 64-bit systems), 20GB of hard drive space and a DirectX 9 graphics card with WDDM driver. In a nutshell, Windows 8 works great on touch screen devices. It boasts a faster boot time and longer battery life compared to its predecessors. Security is much better. And when the proper hardware comes into play, it’s fast, smooth and even enjoyable to use. On the down side, significantly older PCs won’t be able to run it. There’s no traditional start menu, nor can you boot to the desktop. The very modern User-Interface (UI) will definitely get on the nerves of many people. And the entire experience won’t
DON’T LET THE NAME MISLEAD YOU. IT’S NOT A SIMPLE UPGRADE. IT’S AN OPERATING SYSTEM WITH A TOTALLY NEW LOOK AND FEEL. BELOW: WINDOWS UNIT PRESIDENT STEVEN SINOFSKY (RIGHT) IN AN INTERVIEW
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be the same without a touchscreen or trackpad gestures or Touch Mouse. To get a peek at Windows 8 before the release date, check out http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/ windows-8/release-preview
NEW HARDWARE FOR THE NEW SYSTEM Since Windows 8 is a touch-friendly system, many funky new hybrid ultrabooks with touchscreens and keyboards are ready to hit the market. Samsung, Lenovo, Toshiba and other manufacturers have treats to please us tech geeks: • Convertible tablet designs with rotating screens are back. This time they are not the bulky overprices niche items they used to be. • Fold-over designs are a fresh approach that could be hot stuff. • Sliding screen designs with keyboards that slide out from under the screen are popping up. • Docking station designs with tablets that can be connected to a keyboard through a dock or wirelessly are another option
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DOLLARS + SENSE
LOSING CONTROL PLUMMETING CURRENCIES MARIO DRAGHI IS INTENT ON PRESERVING THE EURO AT ALL COSTS BY MARIA FRANGIEH
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arly September, the spotlight was directed toward Europe’s president of the European Central Bank (ECB), Mario Draghi, who unveiled his bond-buying Euro debt plan on September 6, 2012. The political and public reactions to the plan rushed forth, a mixture of positive and negative opinions. Talk about the Euro losing its value (or even disappearing altogether) is not today’s news. The ill economic health of some European counties, such as Italy and Spain, requires urgent action to save the drowning Euro. The ECB would create a strong, credible backstop to protect the Eurozone’s weaker members from unjustifiably high borrowing costs. This is the basic explanation of the plan Mario Draghi announced on September 6, 2012 and also known as “Outright Monetary
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Transactions” scheme. According to this scheme, the ECB will commit to buy unlimited quantities of debt of up to three years in maturity. To qualify, a country would have to accept conditions and therefore make reforms. The conditions applicable on these monetary transactions would include an agreement by those governments who request the ECB to purchase bonds to follow identified reform policies as well as the activation of the two Euro-based bailout packages namely European Financial Stability Facility and European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The ESM was put in place to help countries such as Italy and Spain gain access to cheaper funds from the ECB and benefit from lower borrowing costs. The condition to lend Italy and Spain such funds is never to let go of the reform program no matter how public anger increases.
Analysts are skeptic regarding the conditionality clause. After all, wasn’t it conditional to enter the Eurozone? Germany has doubts too, and highly opposes the establishment of the ESM. The German constitutional court ruled negatively for the establishment of the ESM, as opposed to the support of Merkel who has been supporting Draghi’s plan. On the other hand, stocks responded positively to Draghi’s plan: optimistic expectations raised the markets. During the weeks preceding the announcement of Draghi’s plan, markets were eagerly waiting for the much anticipated ECB plan to ease the debt crisis in Europe. In Italy and Spain the 10-year bonds rose in price and their yields fell. It is expected that Spain will be among the first to seek the help of ECB, but will not opt for the full bailout package, according to a statement attributed to Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. Conjecture about the impact of ECB’s action plan are still too premature. ESM has only just been announced and the reactions among European countries are contradictory. Considering the especially negative German verdict, the highly volatile market expectations make it very difficult to predict the impact of such a program. Only time will tell about the success of the plan and of the ultimate approval or disapproval of the member states
THE ILL ECONOMIC HEALTH OF SOME EUROPEAN COUNTIES, SUCH AS ITALY AND SPAIN, REQUIRES URGENT ACTION TO SAVE THE DROWNING EURO THE CONTROL ISSUE
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION
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MIND, BODY+SOUL
HARNESSING
THE POWER
HAWA AKKAR HOPES TO BRING LEBANON’S ELECTRICAL ISSUES TO THE FOREFRONT BY IMOGEN KIMBER
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ebanon has some of the worst power cuts in the world, only Bangladesh has more days of electricity outages to Lebanon’s 200, but no one who lives in Lebanon needs to be told that. The problem is pretty simple, there isn’t enough electricity to go round. Lebanon looks like it is soon to need near to 4,000 megawatts but current production is at 1,700 megawatts, a staggering shortfall. Planning to change all of this is Hawa Akkar. Hawa Akkar is to be the first wind farm in Lebanon and will supply the country with cheap sustainable electricity.
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WINDBLOWN Albert Khoury, General Manager of Hawa Akkar, gave the technical explanation as to why there is a shortfall in electricity production: the method chosen to create the electricity is poor. “The little money they [Électricité du Liban (EDL)], collect is being spent on something that doesn’t create enough electricity,” said Khoury. There are a number of different methods to create electricity, for example burning coal, gas or nuclear power, of course varying in efficiency, environmental repercussions and cost. EDL spend 16 cents per kilowatt, this is incredibly expensive in comparison to say, England who spend 5 cents a kilowatt (using a variety of methods.) There is a “tremendous lack of investment in production capacity that is competitive,” said Khoury, and this is what he intends to change.
The advantage in the electricity coming at such a high rate is that it turns the model of the costs of powers sources on its head. In many cases, such as in Britain, wind farms are not as economical as their competitors but here sustainable sources can find a place in the market and wind is the best value of all the sustainable sources of energy. “Renewable is competitive and requires no subsidies from the government,” said Khoury. The cost of creating such a project is millions, but the investment is lined up, the majority of which is Lebanese. “It’s with a competitive price, cheaper prices than [other] producers, [and] all this will be private so no debt to the government with support of international financed banks,” said Khoury. As a result Khoury sees his project as being something that can only act as a positive contribution to the current electricity crisis.
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OWN YOUR USER EXPERIENCE | WINDOWS 8 GIVES YOU CONTROL
HAWA AKKAR IS TO BE THE FIRST WIND FARM IN LEBANON AND WILL SUPPLY THE COUNTRY WITH CHEAP SUSTAINABLE ELECTRICITY It so happens that, conveniently, Hawa Akkar’s plans are in line with an announcement by the then Prime Minister Saad Hariri back in 2009 at the Copenhagen summit. Hariri announced that Lebanon would aim to produce 12 percent of all their energy via sustainable sources by 2020. Following this announcement there was a drive towards wind power, particularly offshore, but the only project that is close to making this a reality is Hawa Akkar. At the moment Hawa Akkar look set to produce 60 megawatts, which could provide electricity to over 60,000 homes, although to reach the 12% they would need to create 100 megawatts. In addition to the phenomenal benefits of an increase in electricity for the entire country the wind farm should bring benefits to the local area where it is situated. Akkar has incredibly high unemployment rates and is largely neglected by government services. The wind farm will offer a remedy to these problems
by creating jobs in the area. Some communities shun the idea of having wind farms close to them, but according to Khoury in Akkar they are to be welcomed, probably due to the promise of work and that they will be placed as inconspicuously as possible. Of course production is not the only essential factor in ensuring everyone has 24 hours of power in their homes. The distribution of the electricity is equally important and can be fraught with problems, particularly in a country with political divisions. Hawa Akkar are signing a deal with the government to guarantee that the electricity is bought and distributed via the national grid. Khoury says, “The first and most difficult step is production -this is why we are taking care of this- distribution may have problems but without electricity there is nothing to distribute.” As soon as this deal is signed they are ready to put up the wind farms, and maybe with it, winds of change
HAWA AKKAR ARE SIGNING A DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO GUARANTEE THAT THE ELECTRICITY IS BOUGHT AND DISTRIBUTED VIA THE NATIONAL GRID
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YOU + YOUR COUNTRY
CRISIS CONTROL DONNER SANG COMPTER SAVES LIVES BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY
blood type A+ needed at “Urgent: Saint-Georges Hospital. Please call
this number XXXXXX if you can donate.” We’ve all seen this kind of messages posted on all social media platforms and sometimes sent as chain SMS, but like us, you’re probably unaware that these messages are often posted by Donner Sang Compter volunteers. “It all started in 2006, after I was in a car accident that caused someone’s death. A relative to that person was in urgent need of blood a few weeks after the accident, and the least I could do was donate a few units and ask my friends to help too,” says Yorgui Teyrouz, founder of the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Donner Sang Compter (DSC) association. “It felt so good, knowing that this small contribution helped save someone’s life, I knew I had to do something. Later on, with the July 2006 war with Israel, I gathered friends every time I knew of urgent blood need anywhere in Lebanon.” Over years of donating and spreading the word, Yorgui built a database with people and their
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blood type, becoming the on-call person to contact whenever someone needed blood units and later founding DSC. How the NGO works when receiving a request in simple on paper: the association contacts as many people as possible with the same blood type as the needed units, asking them to donate at a certain hospital. But when the association became a reference in blood donation and started getting dozens and dozens of requests per day, they found themselves unable to handle the cost of all the phone calls, so they started giving out the contacts of people willing to donate, with their approval. “The pressure is hard to handle,” says Yorgui, “for several reasons, because sometimes the person who called requesting donors calls back and blames us because they didn’t get enough units. Sometimes, donors are away or busy or physically can’t donate. When we get a call and the blood donation process is set in motion, we can’t be 100 percent sure that people will get all the units they need. All we can do is create a link between both parties.”
SINCE HOMOSEXUALITY IS CONSIDERED A CRIME IN LEBANON, NO LAW REGULATES BLOOD DONATION FOR SAME-SEX PARTNERS, AND THE DSC ASSOCIATION HAS “TO FOLLOW INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES.” Another criticism directed at DSC is their alleged homophobic attitude. In fact, in the “Cans and Can’ts” list available on the association website and handed to donors during blood drives, it is said that “You should not give blood if… you are a man who has had sex with another man (even if protected).” The “men who have sex with men” (MSM) blood donation ban has been subject to controversy
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YOU + YOUR COUNTRY
worldwide. According to Yorgui, “there are studies showing that historically, this group is at higher risk of infectious viruses like hepatitis or HIV. I believe that if a man has been in an exclusive relationship for a long time, he should be able to donate. However, we do not make the rules.” The MSM ban differs from one country to another, but since homosexuality is considered a crime in Lebanon, no law regulates blood donation for same-sex partners, and the DSC association has “to follow international guidelines.” Yorgui insists they never hold grudges against people who call in, accusing them of not doing their job: “You know, when you’re in a situation where someone you love is in danger and his hope of getting better is by getting blood units, you kind of lose it. You don’t know what you’re saying, and you need someone to blame. We’re this someone, and it’s okay. We do need people to know we are doing our best, though. Mostly, we need people to become
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CRISIS CONTROL | DONNER SANG COMPTER SAVES LIVES
donors.” That’s why DSC organizes regular blood drives. Legally, the DSC team can’t collect blood, so they work in collaboration with hospitals. They often organize their blood drives on university campuses to create awareness amongst the student body, considering it the best environment to “spread the word”, or in shopping malls to attract an even wider audience, each time with a different hospital. The blood units collected go to the hospital blood bank, but “it’s not enough. The units we get during the drives are never sufficient, as there really is a blood donation shortage in Lebanon.” As a “radical solution” for the shortage, Donner Sang Compter are launching their new project in the coming months: the Blood Bus, a mobile blood bank. Simply put, it’s a bus on the outside, a blood donation clinic on the inside, with all the equipment needed to collect blood. With their successful fundraising event at SkyBar Beirut and other private donations, the association is hoping to
bring several busses to Lebanon in future. “We might start with just one bus, lending it to a different hospital each day, so that many hospitals start filling their own blood banks. We’ll work with municipalities, universities, public and private companies so they know we’ll be there that day. It’s already quite hard convincing someone to donate blood, so we’re removing half the burden by make it easier on them: we’ll go to them instead of having them come to us.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP Donate blood and tell your friends to do the same. DSC does need volunteers to help them with the call center, the blood drives, the posters, the website and a million other things as well, but most of all, they need people to donate blood. Unless you medically can’t or you don’t fit the guideline criteria, there is no reason why you shouldn’t donate. It’s easy, it doesn’t take a lot of time, you can bring someone to entertain you, and that half-hour you spend gives someone else many more years to live.
Donner Sang Compter Dekwaneh facing Byblos Bank Nehme center, 3rd floor 03314868 | www.dsclebanon.org @DSCLebanon THE CONTROL DonnerSangCompter
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FML [F**K MY LIFE]
PULL THE PLUG CONTROLLING THE URGE TO STAY CONNECTED 24/7 BY MARIA-ELENA KASSAB
I
f you’ve read my previous FML pieces, you probably know I usually get anxious, then downright terrified and eventually end up having a blast. If you’re expecting this FML to be the same, turn the page and read something else because this one really F-ed my life.
When Fida called me up a couple of weeks ago, I thought she was going to ask about a piece I have yet to write or about an event in the area that I was going to cover or something. When she asked a seemingly innocent question about violence, a red flag went up in a small part of my brain, warning me to answer carefully because this could very well be dangerous. I was enthusiastic and excited about the topic, babbling about everything from war to martial arts, weapons and my desperate search for an affordable kickboxing class –something Fida found supremely disappointing. She huffed and puffed
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and grumbled about me being way too happy about the topic, it couldn’t possibly be my FML; she also threatened she’d find something better for me. Editor’s Note The above is all true. She sounded excited at the prospect of hitting someone. Onward and upward, we had to find her a better FML. One that she wouldn’t enjoy or else what’s the point?
Little did I know that by “better”, she meant three times worse. I received an email from Youmna, a non-threatening coworker, someone I never saw as dangerous (you all know how terrified I am of Fida when a deadline is looming) and the email changed the way I see Youmna forever. From a colleague and a friend, she became the enemy, an evil genius who spends her time scheming and plotting with Fida Von Doom. She told me, in very sweet terms, that I’d be taking some time off THE MOTH-
ER LOVING INTERNET. That meant no WhatsApp, email, Facebook, Twitter… I have to admit, they were nice enough to give me enough time to send a heads up to my work contacts, telling them I’d only be available through phone calls or texts. And as the beginning of my sentence loomed closer, my fingers furiously typed dramatic goodbye messages on WhatsApp and read as many tweets as possible. At midnight, Cinderella’s carriage went back to being a pumpkin and my iPod went back to being a music player. I received solemn goodnight SMSes and went to bed dreading the next 2 days. Editor’s Note Fida Von Doom? I almost like that better than the things you and your former sidekick tweet about me. Readers, think Cruella de Vil and the Devil Wears Prada. Yes, this is the kind of thing our staff says about me when they think I’m not watching. The thing is, I’m always watching. #EyeInTheSky
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I SPENT A FEW HOURS FUMING ABOUT NOT KNOWING THE NAMES OF THE TWO MALE KITTENS IN THE MOVIE “ARISTOCATS” Surprisingly, it wasn’t the fiery red Hell I thought it would be (take THAT Fida and Youmna!). I went to the beach, had lunch with my cousins, went to see a few friends and had no real problems staying offline. Of course, it sucked being the only one not online as people around me chatted, tweeted and posted beach photos of me on Facebook. It was impossibly frustrating not being able to Google every single tidbit of information I wanted to know. And boy, did I suddenly feel the need to know the most pointless stuff… I spent a few hours fuming about not knowing the names of the two male kittens in the movie “Aristocats”. (A. I’m totally serious. B. Their names are Berlioz and Toulouse.) The next day was easier at times, tougher at others. I missed reading the news, I missed my tweeps and I was anxious to see if I had gotten an answer about a job opening I had seen online. I had to find out about Michael
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Clarke Duncan’s death through a friend, I had no idea what was going on in the world and I’ll admit I was sorely tempted to cheat more than a few times –but I didn’t. I had to translate a text and once or twice, I had to resort a bilingual dictionary and my own personal thesaurus, which made me appreciate online translating tools a lot more and made me realize my interpretation studies seriously improved my memory.
internet is often down or works poorly in this region or perhaps do to the fact that my friends and family all made an effort to help me forget I wasn’t online. And while I did threaten Youmna and Fida with FML Hell (which wasn’t super smart since they’re the ones assigning everything and I shouldn’t threaten them for my own safety), I have to thank them for reminding me I can survive offline for a while but I choose not to
Editor’s Note Imagine a world without Google. Enough said.
Editor’s Note Indeed. Threats noted. We’ll have to keep this in mind for your next FML, Elena.
When my internet ban was lifted, I wasn’t even home and I had no internet connection, so I waited until 1 in the morning to get back online (a full hour after I was permitted to do so). The lesson I learned from this is that while I am an internet addict, I can survive without it. This might be due to the fact that the
I HAD TO FIND OUT ABOUT MICHAEL CLARKE DUNCAN’S DEATH THROUGH A FRIEND, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE WORLD
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MIND, BODY+SOUL
CTRL +ALT+DEL RESTARTING YOUR LIFE BY MARIA-ELENA KASSAB
Life is hard, and sometimes, life gets a little too complicated for most of us. When you’re faced with a million problems and you have no idea where to look for help or where to start solving crises, the three-fingered salute might be what you need to do. Before you start imagining all sorts of rude hand gestures here, take a second to remember that the three-fingered salute is the act of pressing the CTRL, ALT and DEL buttons on your computer to start the task manager function, close programs that are no longer responding, start new tasks and even reboot or shut down your computer. THIS PAGE, RIGHT: BUSINESSMAN SHANE BUTCHER
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ALT
Choose Change While life isn’t a buggy computer, sometimes you may feel like it’s NOT RESPONDING to your commands anymore. This is where you need to take a breath, take a step back and take back control over your own existence. It is never easy to reboot your life, uproot yourself from home and sell all your possessions like Shane Butcher. He decided to liquidate everything he owned, and put his entire life up for sale on eBay for $3.5 million! This video-game business owner wanted to sell his hardearned American Dream life to start over and travel the world, so he decided to put a price tag on as put his three video-game stores, his two Florida
WHEN YOU’RE FACED WITH A MILLION PROBLEMS AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO LOOK FOR HELP OR WHERE TO START SOLVING CRISES, THE THREEFINGERED SALUTE MIGHT BE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
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CTRL+ALT+DEL | RESTARTING YOUR LIFE
homes, his three cars, three kayaks, and a Thomas Kinkade painting. We’re not encouraging you to pull a stunt like that, but think about it: sometimes, you’re stuck in a life you worked hard to get, a position you worked hard to reach, a social life you work (and party) hard to maintain and yet something is still missing. Start up your own task manager and look at what you’re doing with your life –there must be a thing or two that aren’t responding properly or are taking up too many gigabites of your life such as a total absence of physical activity, not enough me-time or poor sleep patterns. Take the time to right click these issues, look at each and every aspect of them and calculate the negative impact they have on your life in order to make the necessary changes.
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DEL
CTRL Take Command
START UP YOUR OWN TASK MANAGER AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU’RE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE
So go ahead, give a three fingered salute, take back your life and show the universe what you’re made of
Kiss it Goodbye Sometimes, the negative pull doesn’t come from things in your life but from people, toxic friendships and overbearing relatives, demanding spouses and hyperactive children… Some of these people, you can eliminate from your life –think the friend who never calls you unless it’s for a favor, the one who conveniently forgets to pay you back, the colleague that keeps stealing your ideas and passing them off as their own –but some people, you’re kinda stuck with. What you can and should do is have an honest conversation with, say, the cousin who keeps mooching off you, the neighbor who always asks you to drive their kids places, your spouse who thinks your wallet is a treasure chest… to delineate limits and set things straight.
We probably all agree on Murphy’s Law, that anything that can go wrong will go wrong. But we should also agree on the fact that the universe doesn’t dictate your life, that bad luck doesn’t have to rule your existence and that you control your destiny, as clichéd as this sounds. In the words of William Ernest Henley in his stoic poem, “Invictus” It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishment the scroll I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul. The man had to have his leg amputated below the knee at age 17 in order to save his life from a nasty bout of tuberculosis of the bone, yet still believed he could control his life in the face of such dire odds. You mustn’t let bad luck, unfortunate incidents or crappy conditions wear you down. Blind optimism is not the way to go, but then again, neither is bleak pessimism 24/7.
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CULTURE CLASH
HAYDA LEBNEN’s
OUT OF CONTROL
STATE OF AFFAIRS BY SARAH HOURANY
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he analysis of the ideal state-citizen relationship lies at the core of political science studies. This is why RAGMAG decided to examine this particular relationship in Lebanon for our October issue. Yes, dear readers, we are experts bi kel chi, even when it comes to political issues. After all, we are Lebanese and that gives us the right to pretend that we know everything, even if we don’t! Theoretically, every state wants maximum control over its citizens, while the latter seek to enjoy the highest possible degree of freedom. Since this is mostly an impossible feat, certain compromises must be made in order to reach an equilibrium point where both sides are equally satisfied. This equilibrium should ensure that the state enjoys a certain amount of control over key issues so that it can function properly, while granting citizens the degree of liberty needed for their well-being. But it seems enno none of us are aware of it. Wa2ella we wouldn’t be constantly fighting over this privilege called “control”.
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Enno bisara7a, we don’t exactly see our government as an institution that we can rely on for safety, law and order issues. Metteklin 3a 7alna! Our families have military wings, our prisoners hold the Internal Security Forces hostage and their family members decide whether laws are beneficial or not.
LET’S CALL THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE: A SPADE IS A SPADE. THE STORY WILL NEVER REACH A HAPPY ENDING. THE CONTROL ISSUE
For instance, when the government decided to “protect” us by enforcing the use of the seatbelts, we insisted that this piece of fabric does nothing but tja3lik el tyeb w tdayyi2 el khele2! Ba3den, “fi wa7ad ken khallas from death law manno hatit el seatbelt,” was a very valid argument we proudly used then (ignore the research studies, kellon bala ta3me). We also refused the implementation of speed radar across Lebanon two years ago. Not that we did not want to reduce the number of vehicle collisions per day, but we were convinced that ma 7adan bimout iza ma ejit se3to. Lachou n7atton then? Plus, with all the traffic jams that we have, mech na2esna nemche 3a mahel. Time is money, you know? All this and the government never gave up on its right to be in control of crucial issues in the country.
Recently, it imposed a smoking ban in closed public places. Consequently, those breaking the law will be subject to a $90 fine while the owners of the offending establishments will have to pay a penalty ranging between $900 and $2700. Of course, it could have tried to control the waves of kidnappings, the bank robberies or the recurrent airport road closures. But it chose to control the smoking habits of the Lebanese citizenry. “So77etkon bethemna”, eh mbala! As expected, we’ve refused to obey it as we had little say in the drafting of this law. 2enno walaw de2it bi 3aynkon hal arguile? Ma bta3rfo that the entire Lebanese economy is based on the dear arguile? Let’s call things as they really are: a spade is a spade. The story will never reach a happy ending. The battle for control will never be won by either side. There will always be new laws that the government will try to impose, surprisingly, randomly, occasionally. And they will always be rejected under the tired mantra: “Bass fi echya aham”. Meanwhile, every reform attempt is doomed to failure… ma hayda Lebnen ya 3ayneh!
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO “PROTECT” US BY ENFORCING THE USE OF THE SEATBELTS, WE INSISTED THAT THIS PIECE OF FABRIC DOES NOTHING BUT TJA3LIK EL TYEB W TDAYYI2 EL KHELE2! BA3DEN, “FI WAHAD KEN KHALLAS FROM DEATH LAW MANNO HATIT EL SEATBELT”
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SPINNING OUT OF
CONTROL TAKE BACK THE HELM STARTING WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIP BY MATTHEW HUSSEY
‘TO BE IN HELL IS TO DRIFT; TO BE IN HEAVEN IS TO STEER.’ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
H
elplessness is a sure road to depression. There is nothing worse than the feeling that our fortunes in life are out of our control. We feel hopeless, like we are drowning in the current of bad relationships, family problems and miserable careers. Worst of all, we become resigned to this state of affairs, giving up any hope of being able to steer our lives again. We start reacting to our world, instead of shaping it. For me, this is one of the most upsetting sights in the world, when people resign themselves to defeat, and just accept “this is the way things are.” Most of us don’t feel this in every part of our lives, but we all have at least one area in which we lose control. For many people I coach, this area is their love lives, where they have just stopped trying. I can’t count the amount of women who
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
MON AMOUR, MON AMI
others are blowing you off track. And believe me, the distractions will come –learn to say no to people urging you to spend time on the wrong things. Sometimes control means having to insist on your own path, no matter what tests life throws in your way. AVOID PASSIVE ‘AUTOPILOT’ MODE We feel out of control when we fall into autopilot mode. We come home, turn on our laptop and zone out. Before we know it we’ve spent an entire weekend surfing the Internet and wonder why we aren’t getting anywhere. Our time is precious, be more conscious about how you choose to have fun – do something new to shake off routine and remind yourself how many opportunities you really have.
tell me they kick-ass in their jobs and have no problem controlling their company, but have no idea how they would go about meeting a suitable partner. We are all guilty of leaving parts of our lives up to fate, hoping that one day everything will work itself out. Or we feel out of control because we no longer feel like we can trust ourselves to follow through; we have broken so many promises to ourselves over the years that we no longer believe our own resolutions! Controlling your life isn’t something you have to earn. You have the ability to make decisions in every single moment that will change the course of the next month, year, or even the next decade. Let’s look at some ways you can instantly steer your ship back on course today. CREATE A COMPELLING VISION FOR THE FUTURE Have you ever seen what happens to a ship’s steering wheel if you take your hands off of it for too long? Left to the mercy of the elements it flies all over the place, spinning back and forth with no stable path forward.
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Now, I’m not someone who advocates writing out detailed five-year plans for your life, but I do know that the people who have control over their life are people who know their purpose. They don’t map out every single minute of the journey, but ultimately, they know the direction they want to be sailing in (and they make the destination as exciting as possible!). This means re-discovering where you want to be. What passions do you want to move towards? Where do you want to point that ship? As long as you know the destination, all you have to do is adjust the wheel when the ship starts to get pulled along by the wind. STOP TRYING TO CONTROL THE WEATHER One sure recipe for unhappiness is trying to control other people or anything out of our control. This is about as useless as trying to change the weather forecast by shouting at the sky. Whatever the weather is today, you still have to steer that ship. The challenge is not living a life without distractions, it’s being able to stay the course even when
AS LONG AS YOU KNOW THE DESTINATION, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ADJUST THE WHEEL WHEN THE SHIP STARTS TO GET PULLED ALONG BY THE WIND ADOPT THE ‘TRIPLE THREAT’ MODEL Remind yourself of what you are capable of. Instead of planning every hour of your day, simply write out three positive choices you can make to enhance your life every day for the next week, and commit to seeing them through in their entirety. When you get used to following through on your decisions, you’ll start to get excited and acquire the crucial momentum that drives you on to bigger things. Our lives are defined by our choices. No matter who we are, we all have moments in which we can re-assert control. Even if we’ve spent our entire lives drifting, every passing minute is another chance to steer that wheel towards a new island. Visit www.matthewhussey.com for more information that could move you forward in your life
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
NEW + NOW
Star Power American filmmaker Spike Lee receives Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker 2012 award at the Venice International Film Festival. The prize was conferred to Director Spike Lee at the awards ceremony which took place on Friday, August 31st during the 69th Venice Film Festival, directed by Alberto Barbera and organized by the Biennale di Venezia chaired by Paolo Baratta. Following the awards ceremony, the 69th Venice Film Festival presented the world premiere screening of the new documentary by Spike Lee, “Bad 25”, filmed on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s historic album, “Bad”. Jaeger-LeCoultre awarded Spike Lee with its iconic Reverso watch carrying a special engraving on its case-back. The Director of the Venice Film Festival, Alberto Barbera, in regards to this acknowledgment to Spike Lee, stated: “Spike Lee is a bold creative spirit, the author of daring and corrosive films, often unpredictable and provocative in the best sense of the term; films that challenge us to rethink our prejudices and our preconceptions.” For the past five years, the Jaeger-LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker prize has annually rewarded individuals having made a significant contribution to the development of contemporary cinema: Takeshi Kitano (2007), Abbas Kiarostami (2008), Agnès Varda (2008), Sylvester Stallone (2009), Mani Ratnam (2010) and Al Pacino (2011).
Lady Luck Twenty-eight stylish and charismatic women have been chosen for the next phase of the MARTINI Royale Casting, including Nancy Afiouny, former Lebanese beauty queen contestant in 2003. The candidates are vying to become the new female MARTINI star, who will be receiving €150,000, 12 pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes and 12 outfits from my-wardrobe.com. The 28 women from 23 countries were selected by the impressive international judging panel consisting of shoe designer Christian Louboutin, my-wardrobe.com founder Sarah Curran and Yuri Buzzi, the winner of last year’s MARTINI Kisser Casting. Named after the MARTINI Royale drink which constitutes of mixing 50 percent MARTINI Bianco and 50 percent MARTINI Prosecco, the MARTINI Royale Casting is a global search to find a woman who personifies the philosophy of MARTINI, “LUCK IS AN ATTITUDE”. The finalists will follow in the footsteps of previous MARTINI stars such as Charlize Theron and Monica Bellucci. MARTINI Global Brand Director Arnaud Meysselle says, “We selected Ibiza as a location for this semi-final stage of the campaign because it embodies a stylish energy that MARTINI is famed for. Ibiza is a real international player – stylish, playful and exciting!” All entrants will be filmed carrying out three challenges which may be seen at FACEBOOK.COM/MARTINI. The public will vote globally for their favourite entrants and help MARTINI to decide who should become the next female MARTINI star. MARTINI will announce seven finalists this month.
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
NEW + NOW
Big Personality MINI, the legendary small car with a big attitude, celebrates its 53rd birthday. Since its introduction in 1959, MINI has become an object and subject of obsession for so many people across the world. Owned and loved by the rich and famous (The Beatles, John Lennon and Clint Eastwood to name a few) and considered the small car icon of the 1960s, the MINI concept is as trend-setting today as it was 53 years ago. So how did MINI mania begin? Sir Alec Issigonis, one of the most original car designers of the modern era, was set a task by the then British Motor Corporation (BMC) to build a car that was spacious inside and minimum dimensions outside, seats for four passengers, impeccable driving characteristics, superior fuel economy, all at a very affordable price - and he did just that. The Morris Mini Minor was born on the 26th August, 1959, measuring just 3.05 metres in length – it was simply perfect for small parking spaces and low budgets. It was in 1961, when a very special variant of the classic appeared and consolidated the legend of the classic Mini. By 2000, more than 5.3 million units had left the production plants in the UK, making it the world’s most successful compact car. After a break of not quite one year, a new chapter in the history of this British legend began when in 2001 the BMW Group re-launched the classic Mini. Today’s MINI line-up includes six models: the MINI Hatch, MINI Cabrio, MINI Clubman, MINI Countryman, MINI Coupe and most recently the MINI Roadster, the first open top two-seater MINI. Happy 53rd Birthday MINI!
French Finery Longchamp, the world-renowned French leather goods and clothing house has announced the opening of a new store at the Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. Located on the first floor of the mall, the store houses classic Longchamp leather goods ranges alongside women’s ready-to-wear collections. The elegant modern design creates a welcoming, yet airy feel, enhanced by light wood panels which contrast with asymmetrical white walls that have been specially
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created to display the rainbow colours of the iconic Longchamp “Le Pliage®” bags. Sleek, low glass cabinets display small leather goods, a unique range of exquisite silk scarves and leather accessories, while the newly launched men’s collection affords its own dedicated area of the store featuring a combination of classic business bags and luxury travel cases. Longchamp has fast proved a firm favorite among Dubai shoppers since opening its first store four years
ago. In 2011, the house’s sales across the Middle East rose by over 100 percent, with much of that growth being driven by Dubai, and looking set to continue as new stores open over the coming year. The family run French brand has seen steady growth since its foundation in 1948. The store will join the other Longchamp boutiques in the region, including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Egypt.
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NEW + NOW
Tune In Jaguar confirms that it has agreed collaboration with singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey as part of launch plans for the Jaguar F-TYPE. The all-new two-seater sports car was revealed in Paris September 2012. Michel Trad, Director of Saad and Trad, the exclusive trader of Jaguar cars commented on this alliance: “Jaguar has always allied itself with international icons in different fields who genuinely reflect our brand’s spirit and status. Collaborating with Lana Del Rey comes in line with this philosophy especially that Jaguar is about to launch the new FType, a two-seater sports car that is a vivid representation of the vitality of the UK brand. F-Type has a strong focus on two main elements, authenticity and modernity, and these values are seen in Lana’s career as an accomplished artist.”
Mind Over Matter Mindshare, a global media network dedicated to innovative brand development for its clients, recently held a workshop focused on better understanding clients and how to cater to their needs. The workshop, titled “The Service Excellence Mindset”, took place on July 2nd and 3rd at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Beirut. The training was led by Jonathan Lavender, M-Services Group HR and training Director, and was attended by Mindshare Lebanon senior management, clients, and media suppliers. The course explored the correlation between service excellence and business success and focused on how to achieve high levels of client satisfaction. Specific skill sets taught at the workshop included techniques on obtaining constructive feedback from clients and cultivating client loyalty. “In the communication field, there are three main players; the clients, the agency, and the media suppliers,” explained Hana Khatib, Managing Director of Mindshare 62 | R A G M A G | www.ragmag.co
Lebanon. “Mindshare is taking a distinctive approach to elevating the communication industry by bringing all of these players together under one roof for training. Agencies often focus solely on clients while media suppliers are left out, and that is something we are determined to change on an industry level. We believe in the importance of involving media owners/suppliers, thus bringing all three stakeholders to the same level. The ultimate goal of this workshop is to give participants the skills they need to create seamless communication between each party. Mindshare has distinguished itself by being extremely effective in this
area, and we wanted to share our expertise in order to further raise the communication standards in our industry.” Mindshare, part of the WPP global communications group, was launched in 1997 and now has over a 100 offices around the world. In October 1999, Mindshare MENA was the first independent agency launched in the region. Today Mindshare has over 13 offices in 10 countries across the GCC, Levant, and North Africa. Mindshare works collaboratively with clients to increase brand awareness among consumers. The goal is to heighten brand recognition and exposure by creating unique solutions for clients’ communications challenges. THE CONTROL ISSUE
BEIRUT
INSPIRING MEETINGS START WITH INSPIRING PLACES. Make every meeting a success at Crowne Plaza Beirut. CROWNE PLAZA BEIRUT TO BOOK CALL 961 1 754755 OR VISIT CPBEIRUT.COM OCTOBER 2012
© 2012 InterContinental Hotels Group. All Rights Reserved.
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NEW + NOW
Wine +Dine Ch. Cos d’Estournel, Ch. Cheval Blanc/ Ch. D’Yquem and Ch. Margaux, four of the world’s finest Chateaux gather together under the roof of Beirut’s most elegant hotel. This October, the Phoenicia hotel embraces these four fine houses to highlight the winery season in Lebanon. Over 3 nights, local and international wine lovers are welcome to enjoy an exquisite wining and dining experience at the hotel’s panoramic restaurant, Eau De Vie. On the evenings of October 12th, 24th and December 6th renowned wine makers Jean-Guillaume Prats, Pierre Lurton and Paul Pontallier invite you to indulge yourself with a selection of extraordinary vintages straight from the cellars of the Chateaux, artfully paired with a delicate menu.
Upward + Onward DAMAC Properties, the largest private developer in the Middle East, has completed the raft foundation for its iconic ‘DAMAC Tower’ in Beirut, Lebanon. The main contractors MAN Enterprises s.a.l have now finished the foundation works and the pouring of the raft is a significant development in the construction process. Pouring the raft involved laying 500 tons of steel and 4200.00 cubic meters of concrete. “The sheer volumes of raw materials used are staggering. 500 tons of steel is the equivalent of more than 480 motor vehicles,” El Chaar added. “This is a major milestone in the construction of DAMAC Tower. The foundations are crucial for the super-structure, but they take time to complete. Work will now really begin to accelerate and customers will see an advanced level of construction from this point forward” said Ziad El Chaar, Managing Director, DAMAC Properties. The $300 million premium project, an innovative collaboration between DAMAC Properties and VERSACE HOME, will deliver the entire VERSACE lifestyle concept to discerning residents through a high-end building with bespoke VERSACE HOME interior design packages throughout. DAMAC Tower was launched as the first exclusive VERSACE HOME branded residential tower in the region. Situated in the elite ma64 | R A G M A G | www.ragmag.co
rina area of the new Solidere development in Beirut, DAMAC Tower has extensive views of the Mediterranean. “DAMAC Properties’ partnership with VERSACE, the world-renowned Italian fashion house synonymous with glamour and luxury, defined the interiors of DAMAC Tower. The shared vision of the two companies has combined to deliver the most prestigious and sought-after property in Beirut,” added El Chaar. Globally recognized brands like VERSACE HOME and DAMAC Properties lend confidence to investors considering investing in the property market in
Lebanon. This collaboration will be viewed by international investors as a strong endorsement in the future viability and growth of the Lebanese property market. DAMAC Tower won the prestigious Bloomberg International Property Award in 2010, which is one of the highest accolades awarded in the property sector. DAMAC Tower also won the global award for Best High Rise Architecture. This international accolade recognises DAMAC Tower on the global stage, and distinguishes the project as one of the most highly regarded residential developments in the world. THE CONTROL ISSUE
Mettle for Medals Known to be one of the finest blended scotch whiskies in the world, the multi award-winning Label 5 has continuously distinguished itself by the quality of its whisky, produced in the heart of Scotland. 2012 has been a rewarding year for Label 5 as it has garnered an impressive 9 medals for 2 members of its family; LABEL 5 Classic Black, the distinct scotch carefully created from a selection of the finest malt and grain whiskies, and LABEL 5 Extra Premium, the exceptional scotch fully matured in oak casks for over 12 years. The recent awards collected this year by Label 5 Classic Black include the gold medal at the Spirits International Prestige Awards and the silver medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition in the United Sates, in addition to the silver medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the bronze medal at the International Spirits Challenge in the United Kingdom. Label 5 Extra Premium has also won several awards in 2012 such as the platinum medal at the Spirits International Prestige Awards in the United states, as well as the silver outstanding medal at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, the silver medal at the International Spirits Challenge, the silver medal at the Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters and the silver medal at the Spirits Business Design Masters in the United Kingdom. Label 5 lives its way through awards.
Starboard
Officine Panerai continues the expansion of its distribution network with the opening of the new boutique in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The new store will be the first in Abu Dhabi and the second in the UAE, following the one in Dubai Mall. The new Officine Panerai boutique will offer customers and enthusiasts an understated, elegant ambiance in which to see and purchase all the models in the Panerai collections as well as the company’s most sought-after Special Editions. The design of the new boutique, with an estimated floor space of 53 square metres, is typical of all Officine Panerai boutiques, where shapes, colours and materials contribute to recreating a classic, Italian style environment that takes inspiration from the sea, the element that more than any other characterizes the distinctive identity of Panerai watches. From the historical supply of highly specialized, precision instruments to the Italian Navy, up to the current sponsorship of the classic boats regatta circuit Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge, the sea has always played a leading role in the Florentine company’s history, and the boutiques evoke this link through teak wood and steel, porthole-shaped windows and sinuous fittings recalling ocean waves and the shapes of the most elegant sailing yachts.
OCTOBER 2012
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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
EDITOR’S
PICK
AGATHA IS THE STAR OF THE SHOW Celebrating 50 years of rock n’ roll, the Rolling Stones, fronted by rock luminary Mick Jagger, just got a cool fashion effigy. AGATHA has created a whole collection to celebrate the group that set the Hall of Fame bar. We went a bit crazy trying to pick our collection faves, but here they are in brushed silver: the rigid half-cuff bracelet and wide ring engraved with “It’s only rock ‘n roll” and the Chronograph watch, etched with “The Rolling Stones”. It’s done in a silver-toned stainless and brushed steel case and bracelet. The show stopper of the entire shebang? The Star motif necklace, engraved with “The Rolling Stones” in rhinestone and silver-coloured metal.
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Beirut Souks 01-990 409 - Achrafieh 01-337 337 www.eden-park.com OCTOBER 2012
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MIRROR, MIRROR
MIRROR, MIRROR... WHO’S THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL? RAGMAG FALL COSMETICS + SKINCARE GUIDE RAGMAG WANTS YOU TO GET YOUR STRONGEST AUTUMN LOOK. WE’VE PULLED TOGETHER SOME OF OUR TOP PICKS FOR THIS SEASON’S FRAGRANCE AND COLOUR LAUNCHES. MEN, WE HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU, YOU’VE GOT SKINCARE AND SCENTS TO CHOOSE FROM AS WELL!
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
GIMME A HIGH 5
L’ORÉAL VITA LIFT 5
FOR MEN
The signs of aging in men are fivefold primarily. L’Oréal’s researchers have narrowed down the main indicators of aging skin to the appearance of wrinkles, topical dryness, a lackluster appearance or dullness, sagging due to a loss of density, and puffiness or swelling. With these symptoms in mind, L’Oréal Men Expert Vita Lift 5 Daily Moisturizer was created to help you get your skin in check.
OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE On a cleansed skin, apply a thin and even layer of Vita Lift 5 all over the face avoiding the eye contour.
DEMONSTRATED EFFICACY
5 points of action can be seen from the patented ProRetinolTM in L’Oréal Men Expert Vita Lift 5. Wrinkles are smoothed out and reduced, the skin is more hydrated and less prone to dryness day after day, a brighter look, with a firmer contour and less puffiness.
OCTOBER 2012
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MIRROR, MIRROR
FALL MUST-HAVES LANCÔME’S FALL 2012 COLLECTION BY AARON DE MEY The romance of roses at midnight evokes mystery and magic. Want to claim a bit of this floral majesty for yourself? Then head out and get Lancôme’s newest fall collection developed by Aaron De Mey, Artistic Director of Lancôme makeup. Aaron completed the study of Fine Arts at the Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design where he “specialized in painting, art history, graphic design, sculpture and photography.” You can check out Aaron’s recommendations and tips on Lancôme’s “Le Make-Up Blog”.
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The Midnight Roses collection includes a selection of 3 L’Absolu Rouge shades (360, 361 and 160) and 3 shades of L’Absolu Matt Cashmere (300, 301 and 100). The Crayon Khol 014 is a seductive purple shade that gives eyes real pop. With a strong emphasis on a powerful gaze, both the Brow Expertise Kit and the Hypnôse Brow Shaper are guaranteed to frame your peepers. The perfect end to this evening romance? Make your lashes irresistible with Hypnôse Drama Mascara.
TALK TO THE HAND! This fall get your hands the attention they deserve with Midnight Roses. Get Le Vernis 030 Top Coat Givre Magique to finish off a manicure using Le Vernis Shade 453 Infusion de Prune. Great in texture, Lancome’s lacquer collections wear beautifully.
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MIRROR, MIRROR OPPOSITE PAGE: ‘LA VIE EST BELLE’ MAKING OF CREDIT COLIN YOUNG-WOLFF FOR LANCÔME © 2012 JULIA ROBERT BLACK + WHITE IMAGE: TOM MUNRO FOR LANCÔME © 2012
It’s a BEAUTIFUL
LIFE La Vie Est Belle Campaign
JULIA ROBERTS STARS IN LANCÔME’S LAST ISSUE, WE FEATURED AN INTERVIEW WITH JULIA ROBERTS AND SHE GAVE A BIT OF A TEASER ABOUT HER STARRING IN THE NEW LANCÔME CAMPAIGN FOR THEIR MOST RECENT GLOBAL LAUNCH: “LA VIE EST BELLE”. THIS ISSUE, WE’RE UNVEILING THE FRAGRANCE THAT EMBODIES JULIA’S SPIRIT, PASSION FOR PATCHOULI AND ALSO HER BEAUTY SECRETS.
Beauty Q + A with Julia Roberts You’ve been a Lancôme spokesperson since 2009. What kind of relationship do you have with the brand today? I think they’re an awesome company, for one thing. And they all seem to really love what they make, and take a lot of pride in what they are presenting and how they present it and they include me in a way that I didn’t expect. They ask for my opinion about things. I just kind of feel part of the creative team a little bit more than I had anticipated. So in that regard it’s been really nice to be building relationships with people instead of just working for them.
You are the ambassadress for Lancôme’s new woman’s fragrance, which is a composition that incites women to freedom and to choose happiness. How do the values of “La Vie Est Belle” resonate with you? I just believe in being happy. 100 percent. And following your internal compass and there is patchouli in [La Vie Est Belle]. What emotions did you want to communicate in the commercial directed by Tarsem Singh for “La Vie Est Belle”? Confidence and courage to just forge your own path.
Did you take part in developing the fragrance? I did, which is what made it so fun because all along I was saying if they wanted to start from scratch and make a new fragrance that I was going to represent, I would want to wear it. I would want it to be something that if someone says, ‘Oh, this is the perfume that she wears, hmm?’, that it wasn’t going to be something that would repel me. And I talked about the kind of scents that I liked. And patchouli was one of them, and any kind of woodsy scent and nothing too powdery. We went back and forth- they would bring a lot of samples for me to smell and if I really didn’t like something I would nix it. I was surprised by how much input they took from me. It made it really fun.
LEFT: ‘LA VIE EST BELLE’ MAKING OF CREDIT COLIN YOUNG-WOLFF FOR LANCÔME © 2012
‘I JUST KIND OF FEEL PART OF THE CREATIVE TEAM A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED. SO IN THAT REGARD IT’S BEEN REALLY NICE TO BE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE INSTEAD OF JUST WORKING FOR THEM’ 72 | R A G M A G | www.ragmag.co
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JULIA’S BEST BETS BEAUTY SECRET “Lancôme eye cream”
DAY LOOK “I wear Lancôme sunscreen every day and then, if I really want to blow the doors off of a PTA meeting I’ll put on some mascara and curl my eyelashes and put on some Juicy Tubes.” NIGHT LOOK “More eyeliner and more Juicy Tubes. And then there’s the trained hair and makeup professionals that really know what they are doing.” FRAGRANCE “I like to smell nice and it is best when it’s kind of there, but still draws people in. You have to get close to figure out what you’re dealing with.”
What emotions does the name inspire in you? La Vie [est] Belle, the beautiful life. Again, it’s like the bottle, the fragrance, and the name, obviously these people work really hard to create a harmony of what they’re trying to present and to me they’ve really done it. This name is so sweet and light and just kind of a sunny day to me. The fragrance is described as being made up of luminous floral notes as well as earthier more sensual touches like iris and patchouli. What do these scents bring to mind and why do you like the patchouli? There’s just something about patchouli. And there’s so many different types of patchouli and I think it is really just evocative for people and transporting and for me, I think it’s really individual people. I mean I
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remember Marcia Gay Harden, a few years ago, I hadn’t seen her for a few years and we ran into each other and she gave me a big hug and she goes, ‘Oh, you still smell the same!’ And you know, it just made her so happy and kind of brought our friendship right back to the last day we saw each other. So that’s the thing about smells and for me, patchouli and always having that as part of my fragrance is, I don’t know, is kind of like the line of my life… people kind of knowing that I’m somewhere nearby. Or my kids like to sleep with a scarf I’ve worn around my neck all day and it just makes you feel cozy. When did you first discover it? I guess, well, it’s always kind of been a back and forth between sandalwood and patchouli, but it’s always been something
that’s, as they describe there, something that’s earthy, you know? Woodsy, sort of hippie notes. My twenties, I guess. How do you feel about the bottle design of “La Vie Est Belle”? It’s so beautiful. You know what I love that they did which I think is amazing in this day and age where everything’s about brand and everything’s got the name of the company and the person and the place stamped all over it. There’s nothing written on the bottle. Not even the name of the perfume, which is so bold because it just looks clean and beautiful. And I think it’s such a strong statement in this kind of marketplace to just have this stunning bottle. The colour of the perfume is so sweet and delicate and, yeah. It’s really beautiful.
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MIRROR, MIRROR LEFT: BOTTLE FRABRICATION, FACTORY POCHET DU COURVAL © LOUIS BOURJAC FOR LANCÔME
DECLARE YOUR
INTENTIONS La Vie Est Belle
THE “UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF THE RIGHT TO HAPPINESS” THREE FRENCH MASTERS OF PERFUMERY HAVE COMBINED THEIR TALENTS TO COMPOSE LA VIE EST BELLE: OLIVIER POLGE, DOMINIQUE ROPION AND ANNE FLIPO. HERE THEY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FINER POINTS OF FRAGRANCE AND WHAT IT TOOK TO CREATE LA VIE EST BELLE. Do you have certain favourite notes that you use in all of your compositions? AF I adore flowers and green notes in general. I have a particular predilection for orange blossom. I very often include a hint of it in my creations, even when it is not used as a key fragrance building block. DR I love flowers – bringing out all of their different facets, illuminating them in different ways. OP Patchouli and iris are two of my favourite notes. The give an inimitable sense of character to every fragrance they infuse. In terms of fragrance, is there a Lancôme signature? AF Yes, I would say ultra-femininity and a strong signature for each and every creation. Lancôme fragrances offer a dazzling, generous, enveloping form of femininity… Never cold or provocative!
OP As the fragrance needed to be simple to comprehend, our quest result had to be obvious. And still remains so, even after three years of work. DR The process was made easier by the excellent quality of the raw materials – we had a distinguished luxury palette at our disposal. That gave us total creative freedom. Would you ordinarily use so many gourmand notes in a fragrance such as praline, vanilla, tonka, caramel? AF Gourmand notes are highly successful in perfumery. They add an irresistibly addictive dimension to fragrance. We took particular care over the gourmand accord in “La Vie est Belle”, creating a blend of highly appetizing notes: vanilla, for its sweetly sensual side, coumarin for its enveloping pow-
dered almond facets, delicious moments of praline and also fruits – pear and blackcurrant – adding a touch of colourful and refreshing appeal! Does patchouli’s intensity make it more challenging to integrate within the fragrance’s harmony? AF We selected a patchouli heart for the fragrance, offering purer, less sombre facets. This allowed us to maintain the wooded intensity without overpowering the other ingredients: it simply complements them! How do orange blossom and jasmine answer the opening accord? AF They add sensuality, richness and femininity.
Tell us a little about the creative development of “La Vie Est Belle”? AF We were asked to create a sincere fragrance whose beauty is expressed by simplicity and quality. It was essential to perfect the most beautiful of raw materials to compose a new story in fragrance. The universe we have created is built around light, joie de vivre, substance…
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OPPOSITE PAGE, BOTTOM RIGHT TO LEFT: ANNE FLIPO, DOMINIQUE ROPION, OLIVIER POLGE THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: CARTER SMITH FOR LANCÔME © 2012, BOTTLE FRABRICATION, FACTORY POCHET DU COURVAL © LOUIS BOURJAC FOR LANCÔME
L’HISTOIRE DE
LANCÔME 1967 Climat 1969 Ô de Lancôme 1978 Magie Noire 1985 Sagamore 1990 Trésor 1995 Poême 2000 Miracle 2005 Hypnôse 2012 La Vie Est Belle
Today, the latest fragrance from Lancôme is a declaration to the beauty of life, representing the very first feminine tasty iris. “La Vie Est Belle” has notes of Iris Pallida from Florence, Sambac Jasmine, patchouli, and Orange Blossom. The sweet facet of the fragrance is infused with notes of vanilla, tonka bean, praline, blackcurrant and pear.
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“JULIA ROBERTS IS A WOMAN EMBLEMATIC OF HER TIME. HER EXCEPTIONAL TALENT, RADIANCE AND STRONG COMMITMENTS ARE IN PERFECT RESONANCE WITH THE VALUES OF LANCÔME AND THIS NEW FRAGRANCE. IT WAS OBVIOUS FROM THE START THAT JULIA WOULD BE THE AMBASSADRESS OF ‘LA VIE EST BELLE’. WHO BETTER THAN THIS LUMINOUS PERSONALITY WITH SUCH UNIQUE RADIANCE TO EMBODY THE FREEDOM TO BE ONESELF AND CHOOSE ONE’S OWN LIFE PATH – IN CONCRETE REALITY, AS A DECLARATION OF HAPPINESS? SHE IS THE ICON OF HAPPY FEMININITY. AND JULIA COULD EMBODY ALL WOMEN, IN ALL THEIR TRUTH AND DIVERSITY.” YOUCEF NABI, LANCÔME PRESIDENT
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MIRROR, MIRROR
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR
SKIN CLINIQUE’S SKIN SUPPLIES FOR MEN
Men, just like you’ve got a gym routine, you’re going to bring your skin up to par with the rest of you. In comes Clinique’s 3 step program for men. With three versatile products, you can expect to see clear, hydrated skin almost immediately. Industry insiders often replace men’s aftershave products with Clinique’s Scruffing Lotion 2.5 as it helps to tone up the shaving area and prevents difficult ingrown hairs.
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METHOD TO THE MADNESS HOW TO GET GREAT SKIN IN 3 STEPS
This routine works best for normal to dry skin. Combination skins will find the Scruffing Lotion 2.5 is good for them as well. This routine can be adapted to your specific needs, drier skins and oilier skins need to adjust cleansing and moisturizing options. Good to know: Skin Supplies for men are allergy tested, 100 percent fragrance-free and clinically formulated by a dermatologist. 1. On a damp face, apply a half-dime size of the Clinique Liquid Face Wash cleanser and gently foam well by working the product all over your face and shaving area in gentle circles. Rinse with lukewarm water, never hot! 2. Pat dry with a soft towel. Splash a small amount of the Scruffing Lotion 2.5 all over the face and shaving area. If you aren’t fond of the splash method, you can apply using a flat cotton pad. When applying Scruffing Lotion, you should avoid your eyes and the orbital bone area by a wide birth. Allow the Scruffing Lotion to stay on the skin and dry. 3. Apply a thin even layer of M Lotion all over the face and shaving area to rehydrate the skin.
FACT FILE EYE OPENER CLINIQUE’S SKIN SUPPLIES FOR MEN ANTI-FATIGUE COOLING EYE GEL
What A hydrating, cooling eye gel in a roller ball applicator. Ingredients like caffeine help reduce the appearance of irritation and puffiness and yeast extract helps to diminish the appearance of dark circles. Who Men with any of the following symptoms: dryness, puffiness, dark circles, lack of radiance in the eye area. Why To improve circulation in the eye contour and relieve signs of fatigue. When Every morning after cleansing. Tip This product is especially great after long flights. For a quick pick me up, apply after landing to give yourself a brighter look.
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GO BIG OR GO HOME STAFF PICK
CLINIQUE CHUBBY STICK MOISTURIZING LIP COLOUR BALM Our staff went a bit crazy for Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm so we caught up with Jenna Menard, a Clinique Global Colour Artist, to get you the goods on how to best use your newest addiction! Available in eight shades, Chubby Sticks are formulated with butters, oils and antioxidants to help protect the lips for an immediate and lasting moisturizing effect. Jenna says DOUBLE UP “It’s unlike other lipsticks – it travels well and can be used for any type of look, whether it’s for a morning meeting or a night out on the town. Before Chubby Sticks I never carried a lip product with colour in my purse – now you will mostly likely find Chunky Cherry in my possession 24/7. I also like it because it’s multifunctional – in a pinch I dab it on cheeks for a natural believable flush cheek.” Jenna says GET YOUR FULL LOOK IN A CINCH “Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Super Strawberry paired with a neutral shadow for the eyes like Lid Smoothie Antioxidant 8-Hour Eye Colour in Seventh Heather and Quickliner for Eyes in Smoky Brown. Mascara is a nice way to bring attention to the eyes without overdoing the colour. High Lengths Mascara and Bottom Lash Mascara are the perfect match for your lashes. Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in a more subtle shade like Whole Lotta Honey with a brighter eye liner, such as Cream Shaper for Eyes like Deep Cobalt and adding a little blush will help balance out the face.”
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MIRROR, MIRROR
COLOUR WHEEL
Shea Butter, Mango Seed Butter and Jojoba Seed Oil are used in Chubby Sticks to give you maximum hydration. This product allows for buildable coverage ranging in shades from oranges to pinks to fuchsias and violets. Shades like Heaping Hazelnut, Bountiful Blush, Two Ton Tomato, Mighty Minosa, Pudgy Peony and Voluptuous Violet are all part of the range. Our Favorite? Oversized Orange!
RAGGED CHUBBY STICK FACTS • Since launch over 2 million Chubby Sticks have sold globally… which if lined up end to end would equal the height of about 581 Empire State buildings or go the distance of 160 miles! • Chubby Stick is Clinique’s #1 Lip Product Worldwide and globally, 1 is sold every 15 seconds! • The #1 Chubby Stick shade is Super Strawberry, having sold more than 1 million globally since its launch.
SAVE YOUR SKIN THE NEW CLINIQUE AGE DEFENSE BB CREAM SPF 30
This new product can be worn alone for a more even looking skin (partial coverage) while protecting from both UVA and UVB rays or used as a primer under full foundation for full coverage. We like the combination of mica and silica to reflect light allowing for a more concealed and corrected look.
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MIRROR, MIRROR
GET
MOBILE! THE FALL FRAGRANCE
FOR MEN ON THE MOVE One of RAGMAG’s absolute top men’s fragrance just got a bit more worldly: BLEU DE CHANEL is now available in a Travel Spray format. “The scent of a man with an independent spirit”, Bleu de Chanel is a fragrance in 3 acts. The notes include classic fragrance staples like sandalwood, vetiver and cedar (all used historically by the best fragrance houses), and the unlikely pink pepper, frankincense and labdanum.
SPRAY SPECS Globetrotters will appreciate that the 20ml Bleu de Chanel Travel Spray comes with 2 refills and is ergonomically designed with Chanel’s Twist and Spray system. Know what that means? Your fragrance is safe in both your luggage and your carry-on since to engage the blue aluminium case, you need to activate it by twisting. Functional and safe between your clothing and electronics!
CHANEL - Helmut STELZENBERGER CHANEL - Helmut STELZENBERGER OCTOBER 2012
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MIRROR, MIRROR
GET THE
RED CARPET
LOOK
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY
BY CHANEL
ON KEIRA’S LIPS LISA USED LE CRAYON LÈVRES IN NATURAL AND ROUGE ALLURE LIPSTICK IN EVANESCENTE. We are simply star struck by Keira Knightley’s soft glow. Wearing this Chanel gown at the September 4th, 2012 red carpet premiere of blockbuster film “Anna Karenina” in London, England, her cosmetic look was also done with Chanel expertise. Chanel Makeup Artist Lisa Eldridge created Keira’s beauty look with Perfection Lumière Foundation in 10 Beige, Éclat Lumière Concealer in 20 Beige Clair, Lift Lumière Concealer in 10 Beige, Poudre Universelle Libre in 20 Clair and Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Rose Initiale. On her eyes Lisa used Ombres Contraste Duo in Gris–Subtil, Ombre Essentielle in Liberty and Ebony, Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Ebène, Ecriture De Chanel in Noir and Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir. On Keira’s lips Lisa used Le Crayon Lèvres in Natural and Rouge Allure Lipstick in Evanescente.
INSPIRATION FOR KEIRA’S LOOK “To compliment Keira’s beautiful Chanel dress, I wanted to create a soft, pale and pretty makeup that had a romantic feel but was careful to add strength around the eyes so the overall look wasn’t washed out against the dress. Above all, the makeup needed to be elegant and flatter Keira’s naturally beautiful face.” CHANEL Makeup Artist Lisa Eldridge
LOCK LIPS
Keira’s red carpet lipstick was the timeless Rouge Allure Lipstick in Evanescente from the “Beiges” series. We are big fans of the Rouge Allure collection for both the high impact colour and the nourishing formula: enriched with moisturizing and antioxidant agents like sweet almond oil, sappan wood and green tea. Check out the whole collection and revel in the silky texture. For a radical makeover, ROUGE ALLURE is coordinated with iconic CHANEL nail polishes. Get Chanel’s Le Vernis and pair your favorite Rouge Allure shade up. Choose from Le Vernis in BEIGE, HOLIDAY, COROMANDEL, PIRATE, and finally, the mysterious and inimitable ROUGE NOIR.
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CHANEL PRODUCT IMAGES - Didier ROY
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MIRROR, MIRROR
COCO NOIR BY CHANEL FOR WOMEN
RAGMAG’S SULTRY SCENT FOR FALL A new take on a classic romance: Coco Noir eau de parfum is captivating us one note at a time! We love the spicy allure of the original Coco and fresh jasmine of pretty Coco Mademoiselle, but Coco Noir has a special place in our fragrance wardrobe. It takes a master perfumer like Jacques Polge to create a scent that is demure yet still seductive, like the pared down sensibility of pre-wartime Europe. Our favorite aspect of Chanel’s newest jewel? Reliving the charm of Gabrielle Coco Chanel’s life and vicariously experiencing Venice in the 30s. Magnificent, wouldn’t you agree?
LEFT: 1936 GABRIELLE CHANEL IN VENICE PHOTO V.H. GRANDPIERRE © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED COURTESY OF VOGUE PARIS
BELOW: JACQUES POLGE
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A LOVE AFFAIR OF NOTES A COMPLEX AND ELEGANT COMPOSITION, COCO NOIR’S DISTINCTIVE SCENT IS AT ONCE “DESIRE AND MODESTY”
Grapefruit note Calabrian Bergamot Essence and Absolute of Rose Absolute of Jasmine Narcissus Note Rose Geranium Leaf Brazilian and Venezuelan Tonka Bean Indonesian Patchouli New Caledonian Sandalwood Bourbon Vanilla White Musk Frankincense
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MIRROR, MIRROR
M.A.C. INVOKES MARILYN MONROE
STARLET LIPS +SMOKING EYES There is only one Marilyn and M.A.C. is paying homage to the steamy starlet with a limited edition collection that will be made available this month. We gave you a social media teaser in September about the Forever Marilyn Charmed I’m Sure lipstick, our choice for the best red this season. Our other top lip picks of this collection? The dramatic Deeply Adored, the striking Love Goddess, the elegant Pure Zen and the electrifying Scarlet Ibis. Match these shades with lip pencils in Beet, Cherry, and Redd. For those of you who prefer the punch of a gloss, we’ve been wearing this collection’s DazzleGlass Phiff! and DazzleGlass in Little Rock. Get yours while you still can!
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SILVER SCREEN
Retro cool Marilyn has starred in some of our favorite happy go lucky movies. As politically incorrect as they seem now, they’re still a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. RAGMAG’s top 3 Marilyn classics: How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like it Hot and The Seven Year Itch.
OCTOBER 2012
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BEST
IN SHOW
GET THE HEALTHIEST MANE AROUND For a great seasonal update, you’re going to want to focus on healthy locks. If you’ve got glowing skin, you’re going to want to set it off with great hair.
TESTED + TRUE We like the Pantene Clinicare range for turning back the clock. Test it out: 30 days of use can help you reverse the damage and stress that your locks have experienced. Patented PRO-V Science and Japanese technology bring you the most effective treatment available. The Clinicare line includes shampoo, conditioner, one-wash intensive treatment, and hair essence leave-on treatment spray.
FACT FILE
• Thicker, shinier hair suggests youth and health. Psychologists have tested and retested people’s perceptions of hair for years. • Thin and weak hair is associated with aging and frailty in the same studies mentioned above. • Psychologists note that hair acts as a “frame” for the face. It is said to be one of the most important aspects of the “first impression” measures. • Hair has been found to be even more important than body type in the aspects of attraction between 2 people.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Make certain your hair gets an overhaul. This means a great trim every so often, hair experts suggest 6 to 12 weeks depending on the length and health of your strands. • Do get an impactful colour. If you aren’t fond of colour, a glossing boost can work wonders. • Play up your natural strengths: if your hair is curly, go with it. If your hair is straight, use it to your advantage. • Do play chameleon once in a while: get a French braid done if you normally wear your hair down or let loose with big curls if you’re normally into conservative styles such as buns.
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OCTOBER 2012
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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
THE
FALL LOOK
TO GET
MANGO PRESENTS YOUR PICTURE PERFECT AUTUMN WARDROBE
PREPPY PRETTY
Do light on light in a blazerblouse combo. Don’t go tighter than this image with slim fitting slacks.
We’ve chosen 3 outfits from Mango’s recent launches that we think are the most versatile for the fashion-conscious shopper! We’ve segmented them into 3 sections for you: Night Light, Preppy Pretty and On the Town. Wear them as presented or max out your investment by mixing and matching. Follow Mango’s lead, they’ve pulled these 3 looks together impeccably!
ON THE TOWN
Do mix textures and rich shades. Don’t add bulk to your bottom layer.
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NIGHT LIGHT
Do carry a bold statement clutch. Don’t take away from the neckline with unnecessary accessories.
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haider ackermann fw 2012/2013
MIX N’ MATCH
REAL RUNWAY
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RED LIGHT DISTRICT
morgan necklace available at gs
haider ackermann dress
HIGHLIGHT
gs gathered v-neck sweater
neil barret fw 2012/ 2013
mango
CROSS THE LINE
stella mccartney top
COLOUR COLLAR
marni rabbit collar
chloé holly alexander mcqueen skull-print silkchiffon scarf
LOCKED UP marc jacobs handbag
haider ackermann wool turtleneck sweater
marni crystal brooch
tort burch gloves
gucci ombré brogues
alexander mcqueen gold-tone skull charm python wrap bracelet
OCTOBER 2012
TOE-SHOES
tory burch ballet flats
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DARK KNIGHT
RISES FIFTH ELEMENT
gucci fw 2012/ 2013
caresse d’orchidées par cartier necklace five-flower motif pink gold, diamonds
BOLD BROWNS
michael kors sunglasses
iwc schaffhausen portuguese automatic edition dragon year
givenchy fw 2012/ 2013
© cartier 2011
CENTERPIECE
tory burch hair clip with pewter crystals
dkny merino wool and leather sweater
bottega veneta shearling jacket
CHAINED UP miss dior bag
the row risting ruched leather dress
mango leather belt
mango leather boot
zegna men bag
PIXIE DUST
isabel marant abon texturedleather shorts
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gucci fw 2012/2013
OCTOBER 2012
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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
A DECADE OF DESIGN
LANVIN ALBER ELBAZ +
CELEBRATE 10 ARTFUL YEARS
We are fawning over Lanvin’s winter wonderland: to mark the occasion of Alber Elbaz’s 10- year anniversary at the helm of the House of Lanvin, a special accessories collection for Winter 2012 was developed. Designed especially for this anniversary, the capsule collection “Happy” Les 10 Ans features 10 key themes that echo Elbaz innovations. RAGMAG simply adores the “Diamanté Heart” – it appears in a giant version on the bag, as a discreet version on the back of the ballet pump, and then transformed into a giant heart pendant with diamanté cabochons. The “Tulle and Pearls” theme, a nod to the house’s historic necklace of pearls covered in tulle, translated into a bag covered with tulle strips, a five-row rope of tulle-covered pearls and a ballet slipper with pompoms and diamanté pearls. The “HAPPY” 10 years line will be available in LANVIN boutiques and online. @LANVINofficial
Lanvinofficial
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OCTOBER 2012
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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
MASTERCLASS PIAGET BEHIND THE SCENES COUTURE PRÉCIEUSE COLLECTION
Piaget, Geneva-based watchmaker-jeweller, has created a re-edition of a vintage 1970s model classic timepiece: the knit dress inspired cuffwatch. We’re stunned by the larger Piaget collection sketched by fashion couture magnate David Downton. The renowned illustrator developed eight sketches immortalizing some of the Piaget’s finest models. His “sharp eye and his timeless feel for feminine style – involving the use of gouache, acrylic paint and Indian ink – create splendid showcases for the jewellery sets by the House” who has long set the standard for in-house development and craftsmanship exclusively in the Piaget High Jewellery workshop. The master-jewellers of Piaget have been creating the finest in haute joaillerie since 1874, and nearly a century and a half later, the House remains innovative and relevant.
high jewellery cuff watch in white gold set with 176 brilliant-cut diamonds (approx. 13 cts). silvered dial. piaget 56p quartz movement.
Gold chain cuff watch in white gold set with 159 brilliantcut diamonds. Diamond-paved dial. Piaget 56P quartz movement.
High jewellery cuff watch in with gold set with 314 brilliantcut diamonds and 85 baguette-cut diamonds. Silvered dial. Piaget 56P quartz movement.
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OCTOBER 2012
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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
FORD,
TOM FORD THE INTERNATIONAL DESIGNER DRESSES 007 FOR THE SECOND TIME We’re not surprised that Tom Ford will be dressing Daniel Craig as 007 for the second time around, after all it’s one man of mystery to another. Scheduled to hit the big screen the end of this month, we’re happy that we could bring you a sneak peek of Bond all turned out in Ford’s slickest cuts. Costume Designer for “Skyfall”, Jany Temime, worked closely with Tom Ford Menswear to develop made-to measure tailored clothing and casual wear including eveningwear, suits, shirts, knitwear, ties and accessories as well as exclusive eyewear worn by Craig playing James Bond. Tailor-made in Italy, the menswear is characterized by its elegant cut, exclusive fabrics and hand-finished details. “I could not be happier to be dressing Daniel Craig again in the next James Bond film. James Bond epitomizes the TOM FORD man in his elegance, style and love of luxury. I am thrilled to move forward with this iconic character,” said Ford, President and Chief Executive Officer of the brand.
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STILL IMAGES FROM THE MOVIE “SKYFALL” STARRING DANIEL CRAIG AS JAMES BOND OCTOBER 2012
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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
RAGMAG
RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR WOMEN
ABED MAHFOUZ FW 2012/2013
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RAGMAG
RAGING RUNWAY TOP CATWALK CHOICES FOR MEN
GIORGIO ARMANI FW 2012/2013
OCTOBER 2012
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EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INFRASOUND PERMEATING THE ATMOSPHERE
STARRING LEBANESE POP-FOLK BAND
ADONIS (FULL ARTICLE PAGE 30)
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ODETTE KAHWAGI STYLED BY JONY MATTA OPPOSITE PAGE ARMANI EXCHANGE Leather Jacket EMPORIO ARMANI Jeans, ARMANI EXCHANGE Necklace
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VERSACE COLLEZIONE Jacket, ARMANI EXCHANGE Jeans & Scarf EMPORIO ARMANI T-Shirt OPPOSITE PAGE ARMANI EXCHANGE T-Shirt & Necklace EMPORIO ARMANI Jacket
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VERSACE COLLEZIONE Jacket, GIVENCHY Cap & Jeans ARMANI EXCHANGE Shirt & Necklace OCTOBER 2012
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ARMANI EXCHANGE T-Shirt EMPORIO ARMANI Jeans, VERSACE COLLEZIONE Jacket GIVENCHY Cuff OPPOSITE PAGE ARMANI EXCHANGE Vest & T-Shirt EMPORIO ARMANI Jeans ARMANI EXCHANGE T-Shirt, GIVENCHY Cuffs
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LEFT TO RIGHT ARMANI EXCHANGE Cap & Jeans EMPORIO ARMANI Jacket, ARMANI EXCHANGE Jeans GIVENCHY T-Shirt & Cuffs OPPOSITE PAGE ARMANI EXCHANGE Sweater & Necklace VERSACE COLLEZIONE Jeans 112 | R A G M A G | www.ragmag.co
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LEFT TO RIGHT ARMANI EXCHANGE T-Shirt VERSACE COLLEZIONE Jeans, GIVENCHY Cuffs ARMANI EXCHANGE Skull Cap, VERSACE COLLEZIONE Jacket EMPORIO ARMANI Shirt & Jacket OPPOSITE PAGE EMPORIO ARMANI Shirt ARMANI EXCHANGE Jacket & Jeans
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SPEAK, SEE, HEAR NO EVIL
CHECK
BY JACQUES TCHABARIAN
Alanis Morissette HAVOC AND BRIGHT LIGHTS The cover of the new Alanis album is suitable for any New Age or Relaxation CD: blue sky and mountain range in the background and the wind dancing through her hair. That is the feeling you also get when listening to all twelve tracks on “Havoc and Bright Lights”, her first album in 4 years. Don’t panic, there is nothing New Age-y here, the songs are still in the guitar key of Adult Pop/Rock music, even though they do project a sunnier mood than her previous work. It’s business as usual when it comes to the compositions, some new instruments are added
here and there to spice things up, and producer Guy Sigsworth (who has worked with Madonna, Bjork and more recently Glee phenoms), delivers a production as clean as they come, making everything a comfortable listen. Some of the songs could have done without Morissette’s parenting lyrics- she sounds like a school teacher meting out lectures cautioning youngsters to avoid life’s traps. But all is forgiven as she takes her role of being a mother very seriously, and songs such as “Guardian”, Empathy” and “Edge of Evolution” quickly make you forget this small mishap. Recommended for those seeking comforting sounds in Rock music.
The Orb THE ORBSERVER IN THE STAR HOUSE The Orb were single-handedly responsible for the rise of Ambient House on the music scene in the early 90s, creating slow and soulful beats as opposed to the House genre’s faster beats. It’s no wonder then that their music would find similarities with the Dub/Reggae sounds fashioned by Jamaican maestro Lee “Scratch” Perry, a collab between them would’ve been of great interest… and ta da! there you have it in the form of “The Orbserver in the Star House”. The music on offer here was mostly crafted by the band who provide a balanced mix of Ambient Dub drapery for Perry to sing over. Done without falling in the trap of
hatching pseudo-artificial Reggae rhythms, rather the tunes are soft yet solid with dreamy fusion soundscapes. Perry’s voice comes across as more of an additional mystifying instrument then mere singing, rapping his sonic explorations in a world of universal brotherhood and hope for the misunderstood. The end result of this endeavor is astonishing -you get a feel for simultaneously familiar sounds and also something you’ve never heard before- that of the band establishing their mastery at collaborations over the years. If you feel like delving into something soothing from an exotic, distant place, you’ve been served.
Cat power SUN It must be a good year for veteran female artists who were having difficult times and found serenity again (see review number 1). Chan Marshall, the unique member behind Cat Power, was facing self-doubt and writer’s block in the past few years, but things seem to have progressed and she sounds happier and more upfront today (Again, revert to review number 1). “Sun” is an apt title for her new album as it looks like she had a lot of fun writing these songs. Tracks range from Indie to Electronic sounds, to piano ballads to what seems to be her attempt at penning a Hip Hop
song in the form of closer “Peace and Love”. One of the reasons for this new found joy could be the fact that she worked and recorded her new album on her own, without the help of other musicians, enrolling the capable hands of Philippe Zdar to handle the mixing responsibilities without too much interference. She has even upgraded her writing skills with the eleven-minute “Nothin But Time”, an open letter to the teen daughter of her ex-boyfriend (the main reason of her meltdown). But that’s all in the past, as demonstrated by the testimonial rainbow on her face.
Katatonia Dead End Kings It’s hard to call Katatonia a Metal band in the true sense these days as they have transcended that title. The Doom/Goth elements are still present, but the band, with each new release, is expanding more and more its explorations of dark atmospheric and melodic ambiances that are paired with their lyrical obsessions with grief, isolation and death. A grim prospect for some perhaps, but the music itself is so rich in sonic architecture and melodious underscores that the listener gets lost in sweet melancholia, almost forgetting what the band is morbidly describing in its passages. From 116 | R A G M A G | www.ragmag.co
the haunting cello intro of opener “The Parting”, the mood sets in steadily and takes hold of your senses without letting go. “Hypnone” and “The Racing Heart” continue their aural dark assault of disheartened guitars interlaced with multi-tracked strings. The addition of second passionate vocals by The Gathering female vocalist Silje Wergeland makes “The One You Are Looking For” nearly impossible to remain untouched. I won’t even tell you about the beauty and elegance of the two closing tracks; that is something for you to discover. Dark Scandinavian music at its best. THE CONTROL ISSUE
read’em +
weep BY AMAL CHAABAN
Tropic of Chaos Christian Parenti Clark Why you should read this book
Oil wars are not the resource grabs we should be worried about
It was once thought that all of the future wars that were to be fought would be fought for precious minerals and oil. Christian Parenti sets out to show us otherwise in his book, coining the phrase “catastrophic convergence” when talking about the triple threats of poverty, violence and climate change. He goes further by showing just how much climate change is exacerbating small conflicts around the world. Beginning with Africa where severe drought and uncertain rains have changed what were
once normal cattle raids into armed conflicts, moving into Central Asia where water scarcity is causing India and Pakistan to rattle sabres long and loud and finally into the Americas where you can clearly see that climate change is having a profound effect on human migration. Unlike other environmental books, Parenti does not pretend to have all of the answers; he just makes sure that we understand that there is far more at stake than resources when it comes to catastrophes.
The New Jim Crow Michelle Alexander
Why you should read this book
Racial suppression is a major tool of the establishment When Barack Hussein Obama was elected to the White House in the last election, people all over the U.S. declared an end to racism based on colour citing his victory as proof. Michelle Alexander posits that racism based on colour has not gone away, it has just taken on a new form. With years of legal experience in racial justice under her belt, she penned this book to prove that while the old forms of segregation and racism have fallen by the wayside, new ones have risen to take their place in the form of the industrialized prison system. Citing shocking statistics about the number of people of colour who are imprisoned each year, she proves that the while the U.S. is
no longer openly demonstrating racism and segregation, it is still in practise. The disproportionate numbers of black males who enter the prison system in the U.S. is staggering and when they get out, they face state sanctioned segregation. They are unable to vote, can be legally barred from renting a home based on criminal records (in some states) and employers can openly choose not to employ them all based on their records. While Alexander makes some very good points, one should note that this book is at times emotional as opposed to logical and that American legal scholars have disputed some of the information cited here.
I’m Wild Again Helen Gurley Brown Why you should read this book
Time is fluid and myth can be reality
The late Helen Gurley Brown was not a feminist in the traditional sense. In fact, some of her ideas on life, love and sexuality would have offended some feminists to the core. In this, the second of her autobiographical novels, she takes us through the early years of her life, interspersing memory with the common sense statements that made her such a success at Hearst Magazines. This book highlighted why it was under her
tutelage that the Cosmo magazine of old made many a Cosmo Girl get ahead. A true believer in working with what your creator gave you, she is funny, irreverent, and at times a bit acidic on what she sees as the decline of the modern woman and her work ethic. In true Gurley Brown style, she takes us into the personal arena of her life and tells us (without actually saying so) how to apply the lessons she learned to our own lives.
Time Untime Sherrilyn Kenyon
Why you should read this book
Your entire life can change in less time than it takes to blink Sherrilyn Kenyon is an author who knows her mythology: proving this, she takes us back to the myths of the Native Americans regarding 2012 in Time Untime. Through her hero (Ren) and her heroine (Kateri) we see the lives of Native Americans as they were and as they are at times now. Kenyon painstakingly recounts the Native American mythology surrounding time untime without making it too academic for her readers to enjoy. Ren is the most feared warrior of his time and OCTOBER 2012
it’s he who must help Kateri reset time by locating the glyph that does this. Before this can happen, they battle a multitude of forces who would like nothing more than to see time unravel and the world of man fall. Old characters blend seamlessly with new (though it would have been great for them to have a great part instead of a cameo) to add to the long running storyline of the Dark Hunters. Readers who enjoy books based on mythology will enjoy this foray into the myths of the Native Americans.
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playNICE
SPEAK, SEE, HEAR NO EVIL
BY ADAM VOLK
Borderlands 2
Publisher 2K Games | Developer Gearbox Software Platforms PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 With its cartoony visuals, judicious potty humor and blood-spattered first-person violence, Borderlands was a sleeper hit when it launched in 2009. Now, the sequel has arrived offering even more trigger happy carnage. Players once again find themselves on the planet Pandora, a sprawling world which is part Mad Max, part Man With No Name. You’ll wander post-apocalyptic deserts, glaciers and fields as you battle mutants, psychopaths and monsters. Like its predecessor, you can customize your character’s abilities and pick up a slew of items along the way.
The game is really all about finding bigger and better guns, taking on insane missions and exploring the world around you. If you choose to go it alone there’s plenty of gameplay to be had. Where Borderlands 2 stands out, however, is in its multiplayer. The previous two-player split screen option is available, but a new four player option is a blast, both literally and figuratively, as you and your comrades-in-arms blow apart literally everything in your path. Borderlands 2 isn’t the most cerebral or original game you’ll ever play, but it’s also one first-person shooter dripping with blood, guts and fun.
NHL 13
Publisher EA sports | Developer EA Canada Platforms PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Everyone knows that thirteen is an unlucky number. Case in point: the release of NHL 13 occurred only a week before the NHL actually went on strike, meaning that there will be no hockey this year. Okay, so that might not mean much to the good people of Beirut, but here in the land of ice and snow it’s a national tragedy. Fortunately, NHL 13 just happens to be an impressive enough game to tide hockey fans over until 2014 - not to mention being the perfect jumping on point for gamers who don’t know their
Detroit Red Wings from their Ottawa Senators. The latest installment in the popular series is all about realism, not only in terms of its amped up visuals, but also with its new True Performance Skating system, which offers new realistic physics and over 1,000 new animations. The game also includes some refined AI, with more realistic responses from both your own players and the opposing team. NHL 13 might not be the luckiest game, but it’s still a solid win for both veteran puckheads and hockey virgins alike.
Mikey Shorts
Publisher / Developer BeaverTap Games Platforms iOS (iPhone and iPad) When it comes to side-scrolling jumping games (also known as platformers) Super Mario Bros. is the undisputed king. Enter Mikey Shorts, a game that doesn’t quite surpass everyone’s favorite pipejumping Italian plumbers, but comes pretty damn close. In the game you play as Mikey, a short-wearing, down-on-his-luck kid. Your goal is to explore a series of strange worlds, where you’ll collect coins, battle robots and rescue people who have been turned into statues. It’s a simple premise, with only four buttons: left, right, jump and slide. Yet like Su-
per Mario Bros. the game is incredibly addictive, rating you on how quickly you can speed through each level and getting progressively more difficult as you go along. There’s also the inclusion of a Challenge Mode, which offers a series of unique button-mashing extras, and you can customize Mikey with over 140 different clothing items which you purchase with the coins you’ve earned (refreshingly, the game doesn’t ever ask you to spend real-world currency to pick up extra swag). The end result is a game that offers Super Mario Bros. style fun for an iPhone generation.
Torchlight II
Publisher Perfect World, Steam | Developer Runic Games Platforms PC If there’s one thing that gamers love, it’s a good dungeon crawl. Fortunately, Torchlight 2 has enough dungeons, monsters, treasure and magic to keep even the most hardcore role-playing fan wallowing in their own geekiness. The followup to 2009’s Torchlight, the sequel once again puts players into randomly generated dungeons. Players can then create their own character, choosing a race, sex, class and abilities, with the option to also customize their appearance. The game ups the ante, however, by now including overland areas which include towns, as well as night and day cycles and weather effects. Where 118 | R A G M A G | www.ragmag.co
Torchlight 2 truly shines, however, is in new co-op mode which supports up to six players online. Here, the game is pure multiplayer bliss as you battle monsters, gather loot and explore a literally endless number of dungeons. What’s more, Torchlight 2 includes the option to create custom levels, meaning that there’s plenty of player-generated content headed our way. Throw in a solid storyline and polished visuals, not to mention a retail cost that’s fraction of similar PC games like Diablo III, and you have a dungeon crawl so engrossing, you can practically smell the gold coins and dragon poop. THE CONTROL ISSUE
watch out BY ADAM VOLK
Release dates based on amazon.co.uk
What To Expect When You’re Expecting
| DVD & Blu-ray | 110 mins
Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Elizabeth Banks Release Date: October 22 As a soon-to-be-father (by the time you read this, my wife will have popped out our first child), I’m familiar with What To Expect When You’re Expecting, the bestselling self-help book by Heidi Murkoff. It’s full of tips on how to deal with baby bumps, ultra sounds and the other eight million other things that terrify unprepared parents. Which is why it’s a bit strange that someone would actually try and turn a prenatal reference book into a movie. Of course, in Hollywood there’s no such thing as a bad idea, and the result is a brain-numbing film that follows
a group of highly annoying couples, including a celebrity fitness guru, a photographer, a chef and the owner of a breastfeeding store—all of whom get knocked up. In typical romantic comedy fashion, the film is full of uninspired characters, lame setups and jokes that reek worse than a freshly filled diaper. Parenting looks hard, but if I can sit through an entire viewing of What To Expect When You’re Expecting without bashing myself to death with a baby monitor, something tells me I’m going to be just fine.
2 Days in New York | DVD & Blu-ray | 96 mins Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy Release Date: October 1 Ahh, New York City. With its art, culture and unmistakable style, there’s no place like it on Earth. The Big Apple also happens to be at the center of 2 Days in New York, a film co-written and directed by French actress Julie Deply. The follow-up to her underrated comedy 2 Days in Paris, the film once again follows Marion, a Parisian woman now living in Manhattan with her American boyfriend Mingus (played by Chris Rock). But when Marion’s family shows up from France – including her cheese-loving father,
perverted brother and drama queen sister - cultural misunderstandings and old family feuds quickly rear their ugly heads. 2 Days in New York treads on some familiar ground with its black vs. white, Europe vs. America setup and punch lines, but at the same time it never gets old, instead drawing much of its heart and humor from its believable and all-too relatable characters. The end result is a funnier, smarter, slightly more European version of Meet the Fockers, with a heaping dose of New York attitude thrown into the mix.
Dark Shadows
| DVD & Blu-ray | 113 mins Johnny Depp, Eva Green, Michelle Pfeiffer Release Date: October 15 The 1970s supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows has become a cult classic, thanks to its overacting, cheap sets and fromage-filled subject matter. Now, director Tim Burton has set his sight on a big screen adaptation of the lesser known pop cultural series. The film follows the life - and death - of Barnabas Collins (played by Johnny Depp) a former 18th century playboy who is turned into a vampire by an evil witch and imprisoned in a coffin for two hundred years. When he awakens, he finds himself in 1972,
his mansion now occupied by his dysfunctional descendants. Our vampiric hero then sets out to reclaim his family’s fortunes, while getting his revenge on the evil sorceress who cursed him. While the film has its moments, including some hilarious dialogue and spot on performances, its kooky blend of retro kitsch and Gothic vibes isn’t for everyone. Still if your idea of a good time is watching a vampire with a bad haircut cut a rug to some sweet 70s tunes, then Dark Shadows is definitely right up your alley.
The Five Year Engagement
| DVD & Blu-ray | 124 mins
Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Rhys Ifans Release Date: October 29
Marriage can be tough, but sometimes, just getting up the altar can be a challenge unto itself. That’s pretty much the premise behind The Five Year Engagement, a tepid yet charming romantic comedy. The film follows a Sous Chef (Jason Segal) and a recent psychology graduate (Emily Blunt) who hook up, fall in love and eventually get engaged. Unfortunately, events soon conspire to keep them from tying the knot, including career crises, deaths in the family, confusing sexual OCTOBER 2012
escapes and, in one instance, a hospital mishap involving frost bite and a missing toe. The two lead actors are both spot on in their performances, and while there are some genuinely funny and poignant moments to be had, the will-they-or-won’t-they premise also wears a little thin after awhile. Still, as a quirky and well-written film, The Five Years Engagement also manages to entertain, proving that sometimes there’s more to getting hitched than just saying “I do”. www.ragmag.co | R A G M A G | 119
THE FINAL FRONTIER
MIND CONTROL
THE CASE OF 187 + CONVICTIONS BASED ON BIOLOGY BY J.E.N.
F
orensics has come a long way over the years and now science has stepped in once more to change our approach to crime and to reshape the judicial system. Biological evidence of psychopathy may change the length of jail sentences based on recent research. The word “psychopath” is shrouded in misunderstanding due to popular culture and the media. Hervey M. Cleckley, a psychiatrist at the Medical College of Georgia, was the first to give a detailed explanation of the term in the 1940s. Psychopathy itself is not listed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition (DSM-IV-TR), and never has been, but it shares many points with Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). In some cases, people with ASPD are charming and come across
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as being “normal”, making them hard for the casual observer to pinpoint. Some traits associated with APSD include being egotistical, deceitful and unreliable as well as a behaving recklessly without explanation (just for the pleasure of it). Lacking feelings of remorse, sympathy or affection, people with ASPD don’t have meaningful, indepth interpersonal and romantic relationships. They often come up with excuses for what they do and regularly shift the blame on others. Contrary to what most people think, psychopaths are not all violent nor are psychopaths out of touch with reality and have been proven to be able to think rationally. Many psychopaths live a “normal” life and function as part of society while others obviously disrupt society, are overtly violent and exhibit other ASPD behaviors openly.
Now science may be able to identify psychopaths based on biological factors. This would mean that if a psychopath is charged with a crime, he might get a reduced sentence because he is not fully responsible for his actions. But if he is deemed to have high chances of reoffending, then he might get a longer sentence. To dig deeper into the implications of using science to identify psychopaths, three faculty members at the University of Utah teamed up: James Tabery (philosophy professor), Lisa Aspinwall (psychology professor) and Teneille Brown (law professor). They surveyed 181 judges in different states in America. The judges had to sentence a fictional character, a psychopath accused of a crime. In the invented scenario, which was loosely based on a real-life crime by a psychopath, a man was guilty of “aggravated
THE CONTROL ISSUE
MIND CONTROL | THE CASE OF 187 + CONVICTIONS BASED ON BIOLOGY
SHOULD SCIENCE BE USED? SHOULD PSYCHOPATHS HAVE GENETIC TESTS AND BRAIN SCANS? SHOULD SUCH EVIDENCE BE USED IN A COURT OF LAW OR NOT?
BELOW: ANDREI CHIKATILO, KNOWN AS “THE ROSTOV RIPPER” AND “THE BUTCHER OF ROSTOV” (SEE NEXT PAGE)
battery” which resulted in the victim having permanent brain damage. A psychiatrist diagnosed the criminal as a psychopath. And then came the interesting twist: half the judges had more evidence that showed the criminal had a genetic mutation that caused the behavior. And then half got this info as part of the defense (meaning the accused can’t be held responsible for his actions) while the rest got it from the prosecution (suggesting this man will do such things again).
agnosis of psychopathy, but it’s still significantly higher than what judges said their average sentences are for aggravated battery.” Some find this revelation to be worrying. Law and psychiatry professor at the University of Pennsylvania, Stephen Morse, claims that: “Having free will or not having it is not part of any legal doctrine, and needs never be proven or disproven.” So should science be used? Should psychopaths have genetic tests and brain scans? Should such evidence be used in a court of law or not? At present, the judge decides and hence there is no clear cut stance on this. And this in itself is an issue since it creates wide variation from court to court in the US. What about the rest of the world? Should scientific evidence be used in cases that involve psychopaths in Lebanon?
In a regular case (when the criminal was not a psychopath), the judges sentenced the criminal to 9 years of incarceration. But as a psychopath, the average sentence soared up to 14 years. This dropped to 13 years when the genetic mutation came into the mix and there was no difference when the evidence came from the defense or the prosecution. This is significant according to Tabery: “The addition of a biological mechanism slightly reduces the sentence compared to just the di-
The DSM IV-TR defines ASPD Paraphrased from American Psychiatric Association www.psychiatry.org
Individuals diagnosed with ASPD exhibit a “pattern of disregard for the rights of others” occurring after the age of 15. 3 or more of the following factors must be present: • inability to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest • deception (repeatedly lying, alias use, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure) • impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead • irritability and aggressiveness (as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults) • reckless disregard for safety of self or others • consistent irresponsibility (failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honour financial obligations) • lack of remorse (being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another). The individual is 18 years-old or older with evidence of conduct disorder (onset before the age of 15). The occurrence of antisocial behavior is not exhibited only “during the course of schizophrenia or a manic episode”.
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THE FINAL FRONTIER
CONTROL
FREAKS A FEW OF HISTORY’S DARKEST CHARACTERS BY AMAL CHAABAN
TED BUNDY
Born Theodore Robert Cowell in 1946, Ted Bundy had a fairly unremarkable childhood. It is noted in several biographies and true crime novels written about him that as an adolescent, he was well-liked, charming and charismatic. Bundy raped and murdered over 30 women and one child in his 4-year crime spree. Confident in his own mental acuity, he chose to represent himself when charged with the murder of two sorority sisters in Florida. He lost and was sentenced to death. An interview was done with a doctor named Robert Keppel (he consulted with Bundy on a book about another serial killer nicknamed the Green River Killer), and he disclosed highly disturbing facts about Bundy: not the least of which was his necrophilia predilection. Bundy was so universally hated that the day that the death sentence was carried out, people applauded when his body was being taken from the prison. 2 movies were made about him: Golden Globe nominated “The Deliberate Stranger” (1986) and “Bundy” (2002).
CONFIDENT IN HIS OWN MENTAL ACUITY, HE CHOSE TO REPRESENT HIMSELF WHEN CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF TWO SORORITY SISTERS IN FLORIDA. HE LOST AND WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH ANDREI CHIKATILO
Known as “The Rostov Ripper” and “The Butcher of Rostov”, Chikatilo was a veteran of the Soviet Military and later worked as a telephone engineer in Russia. He was born during WWII and endured a highly traumatic childhood. It is said (not proven) that his brother fell victim to cannibalism from their neighbours at a time of great famine. Early on, Chikatilo showed signs of sexual deviance when he wrestled a girl to the ground and orgasmed from the contact. That incident is thought to be the first time Chikatilo made
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the connection between sex and violence. His acknowledged victims totalled 53 of both sexes combined. Chikatilo was arrested on other charges at one point but freed after only 3 months because he could not be connected to the murders that had been discovered at that time. Once authorities were able to prove ties, he was convicted on 52 counts of murder and sentenced to the death penalty. There have been two movies made about his case, one being “Citizen X” (1995) with Donald Sutherland.
THE CONTROL ISSUE
MIND CONTROL | THE CASE OF 187 + CONVICTIONS BASED ON BIOLOGY
ALBERT FISH
American serial killer Albert Fish came from very troubled beginnings in an orphanage where it is said he had his first real experience with sadism. This trouble continued into his marriage when his wife left him with 6 children and ran away with a handyman. All of his children testified about his exceedingly troubling behaviour but several psychiatric assessments at the time did not turn up anything anyone thought was of psychiatric significance. Fish was apprehended because of an anonymous letter regarding the disappearance of a young girl named Gracie
JOHN WAYNE GACY
Born in 1942, Gacy had a mundane childhood and adolescence. It was not until after his first marriage in his early 20s that Gacy became active and very well known in the community. Before long, rumours about Gacy’s sexual proclivities spread and in 1968 he was charged with sodomy. The judge had him psychoanalyzed and the result was “antisocial personality who would probably not benefit from any known medical treatment”. His first wife divorced him while he was in jail and he relocated back to Illinois after
OCTOBER 2012
Budd. This letter detailed the kidnap, murder and cannibalization of young Gracie. The stationary this letter was written on was eventually traced to Albert Fish. After his arrest, Psychiatrist Dr. Frederic Wertham stated Fish was the best and most complex example of a “polymorphous pervert”. In his lifetime, Fish molested over 400 children and admitted to killing at least three people. He was sentenced to capital punishment and died by electric chair in the infamous Sing Sing prison. His story is immortalized in a movie called “Albert Fish” by John Borowski.
his release. In 1974, Gacy decided to open his own construction business called PDM Contractors and he also remarried. In 1978, while investigating a missing persons case that brought Gacy to their attention, officers noticed the smell of decomposing corpses in his house. A search warrant was obtained and over 20 male corpses were dug up. After his conviction, Gacy recanted his confession to no avail and he was executed in 1994 by lethal injection. At least 7 books and 3 movies have been made about the Gacy, also known as the “Killer Clown”
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WORLDVISION BY LILIANE ASSAF
RAGMAG IS PLEASED TO GIVE THE ONLINE COMMUNITY SOME MUCH DESERVED PRINT SPACE. THIS IS THE TWELFTH INSTALLMENT IN A PERMANENT COLUMN DEVOTED TO BLOG REVIEWS. FOR THE OCTOBER CONTROL ISSUE, WE ASKED LEBANON’S BLOG AGGREGATOR LILIANE ASSAF, TO CHOOSE 3 BLOGGERS THAT HAVE A FIXATION ON FOOD! GET CLICKING, PEOPLE!
BLOG TITLE The Burger Tribune BLOGGER The Burgerhead http://theburgertribune.wordpress.com URL
While browsing through The Burger Tribune, I started drooling. Okay really, you don’t have to get all weird on me and be surprised about this. I challenge you to go through this blog without either heading out immediately for a burger or picking up your phone to order delivery. If you’re a burger lover (like moi) you will definitely enjoy this blog. If you’re on a quest to find the best burger with the best accompaniments and the best tasting meat, then you have come to the right place. From humorous posts to actual reviews with delicious photos, this blog has it all. If you want to know your burger (no pun intended) , visit this blog and find where is the best place to have a burger in Beirut.
BLOG TITLE Permanent Hunger BLOGGER Marilyn Zakhour http://www.permanenthunger.com URL
@ MarilynZakhour
Permanent Hunger is probably one of the most ingenious blogs in town. I just love browsing through it, it’s great-looking, it’s neat, classy, and well done. No, I am not talking about meat. It’s always a thrill to go through an expert’s blog, and you can immediately sense that Marilyn is quite the connoisseur: you’ll find everything from olive oil tastings, to cooking, recipes, how to prepare a feast, what and where to eat when abroad, restaurant reviews and even garnishing your food. Marilyn talks about it all and has highlighted it on her blog. Just as how food is also about presentation, Marilyn presents her posts in a very aesthetic way. It’s like one of those neat cookbooks that make you want to go through it all. I’ll stop talking so you can click on that link. Are you hungry yet?
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
SPEAK, SEE, HEAR NO EVIL
BLOG TITLE My Culinary Journey Through Lebanon BLOGGER Barbara Massaad http://myculinaryjourneythroughlebanon. URL
blogspot.com/ - www.barbaramassaad.com @BarbaraMassaad
Barbara is not your average blogger, she has written 2 awardwinning books (“Man’oushe” and “Mouneh”) and is in the process of compiling her third book. So as you might have guessed, she’s a cook. You’ve probably heard her name, let me refresh your memory: she actually has a segment on Helwi El Hayet (a daily program on LBCI), where she introduces a new cook or baker and more. Her blog is a journey where she tells us of her adventures in cooking, of being consulted for a new restaurant’s menu, interviewing other successful cooks, sharing cooking and enlightening videos about where food comes from and more. Her blog is fun, to say the least, and there’s plenty to dig around in.
LILIANE’S CHOICE
BEST CUBE REVIEW
www.thecubelb.com | Reviewer Marina Chamma @TheCubeLB | @eyeontheeast URL http://thecubelb.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/in-the-country-of-men-by-hisham-matar “For many, to talk about political prisoners is to talk about the injustice of their imprisonment and the weakness of governments that cannot tolerate dissent. It is more about ways to ensure their release and fighting for change while trying to stay away from a prison cell. We usually tend to forget about those left behind, the mothers, the brothers, the children and the
friends, whose suffering outsiders may hardly ever fully comprehend. In his debut novel ‘In the Country of Men’, Libyan writer Hisham Matar tells the story of a father imprisoned for his political beliefs in Tripoli, Libya in 1979 through the eyes of his 9 year-old son Suleiman. The real story is Suleiman’s daily struggle trying to cope with the disappearance of his father
while living with his young mother under Qaddafi’s brutal dictatorship. Throughout the book, Suleiman is the son who misses his father and the man he looks up to. Yet time blurs the real image of Suleiman’s father with the father he wished him to be, more caring and affectionate than what he truly was. Suleiman becomes the man of the household, assuming the role of husband and confidante to his young mother, who resorts to drinking undercover to cope with her husband’s disappearance. In Suleiman, we see a confused young man, who in a possible attempt to save his father, cooperates with the very own people – the moukhabarat or security services – that whisked his father away from Martyr’s Square. In a relatively short yet insightful novel, filled with rich, if sometimes redundant, descriptions, Matar illustrates the hardships the free at heart face in living in a police state, while managing the more human and psychological repercussions on those living under its tyranny and oppression.” See the full post at the above URL
www.lebanonaggregator.com Lebanon Aggregator OCTOBER 2012
@LebAgg
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AN URBAN MASTERPIECE VIENNA’S CULTURAL CLIME BY ALICE HLIDKOVA
S
oaring above shops selling flowers, fruit and chocolate, the world’s oldest Ferris wheel soars to heights undreamt of. The Wiener Riesenrad stands over 200 feet tall, winning top ranks for its height in Europe. Its entrance, an intimidating steel and stone walkway layered more in coloured wood than expensive metal, tells the history—with nostalgic installations that drift past in giant Ferris wheel cars. Plump children lock arms in anticipation and gobble down veal sausages the Austrians call Wiener Schnitzels. They quickly board the
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gondolas with no glass walls to block the wind and ride it to the apex. The great wheel is a pleasant introduction to Vienna. The Austrian capital is sliced by the Danube River that touches the borders of most Central European nations including Germany Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. Donauinselfest, the region’s biggest open-air festival, takes place every summer on the river’s island. Entrance is free but not for the wheel. Lines are one of the longest and though safety precautions are necessary they are not strictly enforced.
DONAUINSELFEST, THE REGION’S BIGGEST OPEN-AIR FESTIVAL, TAKES PLACE EVERY SUMMER ON THE RIVER’S ISLAND ABOVE: DANUBE RIVER & ISLAND (DONAUINSEL) AND HIGHWAY JUNCTION. OPPOSITE PAGE: DER GRABEN STREET
THE CONTROL ISSUE
TAKE ME WITH YOU
OCTOBER 2012
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TAKE ME WITH YOU OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: BURGTHEATER IN VIENNA, DER GRABEN STREET
THIS PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: THE AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENT, DONAUINSELFEST, THE REGION’S BIGGEST OPEN-AIR FESTIVAL
WITH OVER THREE HUNDRED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BALLS FILLING IN AND AROUND ELEGANT MONUMENTS EACH YEAR, THE CITY HAS WON ITS STATUS AS THE WALTZ CAPITAL OF THE WORLD The vivacious and young capital magnifies the experience with the world’s oldest zoo. Built in 1752, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn is located on the grounds of a famous palace. The elegant, baroque Schönbrunn once served as a summer home for the Hapsburg dynasty. Today clean playpens of animals fill the territory; the ground widens and flattens for young giant pandas and bull sea lions readily accepting strips of food tossed by visitors while tropical birds soar and wheel above. Look ahead to one such bird with “blood stains” on its chest manically scurrying in its cage as dozens of photographers move closer to snap the perfect shot of its blood-red patch resembling stab wounds. Pay closer attention to the so-called dagger pigeon, their feathers naturally dyed red. Then move onward to the next section, where a 26 year-old African female elephant named Tonga is nine months pregnant. Last year the first successful artificial insemination was carried out with the frozen sperm of a wild South African bull. Strange, but such news draws close nearly as many visitors as Europe’s wheel darling.
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Vienna is head over heels about Waltz. With over three hundred public and private balls filling in and around elegant monuments each year, the city has won its status as the Waltz capital of the world. The Philharmonic Ball features the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in performance. Other favorite balls include the Blumenball, famous for its exquisite flower arrangements, the Zuckerbäckerball, organized by the city’s confectioners, and the Kaffeesiederball, in honour of Vienna’s most famous beverage: coffee. The big, grand and whirling events slowly but gracefully progress pairing well with the flirty and cheeky cha-cha, foxtrot or jive dances performed all year round in the shadows of the great Viennese Waltz.
THE CONTROL ISSUE
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TAKE ME WITH YOU
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM: HOFBURG VIENNA (FORMER IMPERIAL RESIDENCE IN VIENNA), VIENNA AERIAL VIEW
THIS PAGE, LEFT TO RIGHT: OLD TOMBSTONE IN THE CENTRAL CEMETERY, MARIA VOM SIEGE CHURCH
VIENNA’S RICH HERITAGE CONTINUES TO THRIVE FROM THE SHORT TOUCHES OF OPTIMISM RECORDED FROM THE ART NOUVEAU MOVEMENT LED BY ARTIST GUSTAV KLIMT TO THE LOGICAL POSITIVISM TEACHINGS OF PHILOSOPHER LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN. VIENNA INSPIRES ACROSS ERAS, FROM ITS MONARCH-PAST TO ITS REPUBLIC-PRESENT Jewish personalities, Gustav Mahler, Arthur Schnitzler, Johann Strauss, Arnold Schoenberg, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Ludwig van Beethoven and Max Reinhardt contributed greatly to the cultural city fabric, cynical in fashion from the numerous wars, occupations and battles it has won and lost. Most of the famous musicians and composers survived persecution and after exile returned to their city where they were to be buried below stone-covered in moss at the Zentralfriedhof. Europe’s second largest cemetery is dotted with 2.5 million tombs and graves, almost doubling the city’s living population. In 2005, a Tibetan monk consecrated a stupa among the
MOST OF THE FAMOUS MUSICIANS AND COMPOSERS SURVIVED PERSECUTION AND AFTER EXILE RETURNED TO THEIR CITY WHERE THEY WERE TO BE BURIED BELOW STONE-COVERED IN MOSS AT THE ZENTRALFRIEDHOF
magnificent congestion of mausoleums, crypts and chapels bisected by alleys of towering royal oaks. Vienna’s rich heritage continues to thrive from the short touches of optimism recorded from the Art Nouveau movement led by artist Gustav Klimt to the logical positivism teachings of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. Vienna inspires across eras, from its monarch-past to its republic-present. It proclaims “art for everyone.” It safeguards musical histories performed at the State Opera and stored in university libraries. It proudly displays riches in palace treasuries including the world’s largest emeralds, a 4.5-inch vase carved from a 2,205 carats crystal. In all shades of light, the city of Vienna is an unforgettable classical form of expression
EUROPE’S SECOND LARGEST CEMETERY IS
DOTTED WITH 2.5 MILLION TOMBS AND GRAVES, ALMOST DOUBLING THE CITY’S LIVING POPULATION
OCTOBER 2012
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THE GENTLEMAN’S COCKTAIL
CHOPIN VODKA
MIXOLOGY RAGMAG wants you to enjoy the science and expertise behind a real cocktail. Using Chopin Vodka, the latest upscale spirit to hit Lebanon and the Middle East, mixologist Derouiche Kaled of Momo’s at the Souks has developed a series of gentleman’s cocktails exclusively for our readers. Try your hand at being the bartender or just admire the mixology right here with us. Of the 3 Chopin Vodka varieties (Potato, Rye and Wheat), this selection includes cocktails made with Chopin Potato and Chopin Rye. Here’s to you!
photography jason zamora
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
THE CHOPIN
MARTINI INGREDIENTS
• 65 ml Chopin Potato Vodka • 12 ml Dolin Dry Vermouth de Chambéry • 2 dashes barbecue bitters
GARNISH 2 baby potatoes roasted with Cayenne pepper and smoked with barbecue wood chips
METHOD
• In a mixing glass, pour the Dolin dry Vermouth and
add the barbecue bitters. • Stir for 20 seconds and add the Chopin Potato Vodka. • Stir again for 20 seconds. • Serve in a chilled vintage martini glass and serve the
baby potatoes as an accompaniment.
THE
DETOX INGREDIENTS
• ½ cucumber • 4 fresh raspberries • 2 spoons homemade beetroot and Balsamic vinegar sorbet • 55 ml Chopin Potato Vodka infused with a vanilla bourbon bean (infused for 24 hours prior to mixing the cocktail) • 10 ml Galliano L’Autentico liqueur • 80 ml cloudy green apple juice
GARNISH • Cucumber slices • Green apple slices • 2 raspberries • 1 mint leave • Icing sugar to sprinkle
METHOD
• In your shaker, muddle the cucumber and fresh
raspberries • Add the beetroot and Balsamic vinegar sorbet • Stir in the vanilla infused Chopin Potato, the Galliano
L’Autentico liqueur and the apple juice • Add large ice cubes and shake vigorously • Serve over crushed ice in a Mason jar and garnish.
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EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY
THE
BITTER
SYMPHONY INGREDIENTS • 55 ml Chopin Rye Vodka • 10 ml Aperol • 100 ml L ‘Analcolico Biondo Crodino • 2 dashes Fee Brothers rhubarb bitters
GARNISH • 1 slice pink grapefruit • Homemade bitter + sweet mixed nuts
METHOD
• In a Cognac glass, pour the Chopin Rye Vodka and
the Aperol over large ice cubes • Add the rhubarb bitters and stir gently • Add the L ‘Analcolico Biondo Crodino and garnish
with a slice of pink grapefruit • Serve on ice with mixed nuts on the side
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
CHOPIN
MILK PUNCH INGREDIENTS
• 55 ml Chopin Potato Vodka • 12 ml homemade vanilla-saffron syrup • 60 ml almond infused soy milk • 2 bar spoons raisins infused with orange blossom • 2 dashes house blend bitters (chocolate, cherry and whisky bitters)
GARNISH • White and milk chocolate eggs made with popping sugar • Dry ice • Earl Grey and Vanilla teas • Grated Tonka Beans
METHOD
• In a shaker, place the raisins • Muddle them and add all other ingredients • Shake vigorously and serve in a vintage punch cup • In a steamer, place the dry ice and pour the tea to
create a thick steam • Serve with the chocolate eggs on the side
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STAR COCKTAIL
POLKAS PUNCH INGREDIENTS
• 65 ml Chopin Rye Vodka • 25 ml lemon sherbet • 20 ml homemade syrup (2:1) • 20 ml water • 3 spoons dry ice • 70 ml Pommery Champagne Brut Royal • Blackcurrant jelly cubes
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METHOD
• In a metal bowl, pour the Chopin Rye Vodka and lemon
sherbet • Add the syrup and water. Stir gently. • Add the dry ice and stir until the mixture looks like ice cream • Place 3 bar spoons of the mix in the cocktail glass and top
with the Pommery Champagne Brut Royal • Garnish with dry lemon slices and serve with the jelly cubes
THE CONTROL ISSUE
EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY
SPOTLIGHT ON
MIXOLOGY
Derouiche Kaled | Momo’s at the Souks Currently based in Beirut, Derouiche Kaled came to Momo’s at the Souks from the original Momo’s in London, England. “London is the city of cocktails- I was lucky enough to be taught by the Bar Manager at Momo’s London Andreas Tsanos, and considered to be one of the best bartenders in the world. Now, I’m living and working at Beirut and my first impression of Lebanon was that it’s amazing. The city, people and most importantly, I found a lot of bars. I believe Beirut to be one of the best bar cultures. As a Bar Manager, I share my experience and knowledge with my colleagues. I’d like to thank all the people who support me from Saint-Tropez to London and of course all management from Beirut Hospitality Company (BHC).”
RAGGED CHOPIN FACTS
Cu Chopin Vodkas are distilled 4 times in an original copper column still and are produced completely at the distillery in Poland. This process produces almost a 100 percent alcohol spirit. Handmade Haven Artisanal production techniques are used to create Chopin Vodkas in small batches for quality control and higher standards. The bottling facility is in Siedlce, Poland where it is blended with well water and distilled 5 additional times. Weight Watcher Chopin Potato Vodka is carb-free and gluten-free. Approximately 40 potatoes at a weight of 7 lbs. go into each 750 ml bottle of Chopin Potato Vodka. Orchestra Overtures The namesake of the brand, Frédéric François Chopin, was a celebrated Polish-French composer and virtuoso pianist.
BELOW: COLIN FIRTH SIGNING THE CHOPIN BOTTLE
OCTOBER 2012
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EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY photography jason zamora
CRAVE CONTROL TICKLES THE TASTE BUDS BY YOUMNA CHAGOURY
W
hen I was looking for a resto for this issue, I could only think of Mayrig. A friend had been telling me about the Gemmayzeh Armenian restaurant forever, and over the years, whenever anyone mentioned Armenian food, Mayrig was mentioned. It, in some way, controls the “ethnic” dining scene. After asking what I should have for dinner, I head to Mayrig with a friend (who’s intolerant to spicy food), to test it out. Located on the Pasteur Street and hidden by trees, the restaurant is an old stone house with a patio (which has recently become the smoking area), high windows and wood shutters. Inside, the décor is very Middle-East inspired, with coloured lamps hanging from the ceiling and long, red velvet curtains separating the different areas. The place has the warm feeling only a heritage home can give and looking around us as we make our way to the table, it looks like everyone feels the same. The restaurant had prepared a few samples for us to try but we were given
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the menu to see if there was anything we’d like to order. Like a Lebanese restaurant’s menu, Mayrig’s is divided into salads, cold and hot entrees, main dishes and desserts. The dishes are presented in Armenian, but an effort is made to translate them into both English and French. Our dinner begins with a selection of salads: the famous Itch, the equivalent of the Lebanese Tabbouleh, and the Vospi (lentil salad) served with crispy baked bread with a Balsamic vinegar aftertaste. This is followed by an assortment of lentil, potato and raw meat kebbeh, each served with its own dip. There was not a single dish I disliked at Mayrig, from the entree to the dessert, from the Mante -our Chich Barak- eaten crispy and served with tomato sauce and fresh yogurt, to the fried kebbeh made of rice and stuffed with minced meat, to the Soujok served with yogurt. As for the kebab, they’re cooked and served with wild sour cherries, giving the dish a fusion cuisine feeling. Armenian food, at least at Mayrig, does well as shared
platters. It is one of those places where you can go with a bunch of friends and get to eat a bit of everything. Do not leave without having a Banirov dessert, a maamoul stuffed with melted cheese and served with sugar syrup or Kaymakleh, ashta-stuffed apricots. THE +
+ VARIETY Mayrig offers food for all. Both
meat-lovers and vegetarians, as well as those who enjoy spicy food and those who’d rather keep the heat low. + SERVICE The waiters were friendly and explained each dish as is was served. If it’s your first time and you don’t know what to order, just ask one of the waiters.
THE -
- MUSIC In this case, it’s the lack thereof. When
I choose a restaurant, especially one with authentic “foreign” cuisine, I expect the whole experience, be it a bit cliché. Armenian cuisine should go hand in hand with Armenian music.
Mayrig 282 Pasteur Street , Mansour Building Ground floor, Beirut 01572121 | 03228227 info@mayrigbeirut.com THE CONTROL www.mayrigbeirut.com
ISSUE
d n 2 TION EDI
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8 - 10
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2012
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EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY
CURRYCANTEEN
DORA’S GREASY SPOON OFFERS AUTHENTIC CURRY DISHES TO ADVENTUROUS FOODIES BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES
B
eirut boasts a few decent curry houses; it’s always good to turn usual practice on its head and eat at a spot where the local Indian community esteems the food. The downside is that this spot is located at the Dora roundabout, a miserable dusty spot in the suburbs of Beirut where for years tired commuters have been standing around, waiting to catch a bus while endless streams of cars fly by.
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Overlooking this noisy spot is Indo-Lanka Restaurant, an Indian canteen which is not exactly the Ritz Carlton, but it’s where Lebanon’ s Indians head for their curry fix. It’s not easy to find, located above a spice shop where owner Ramu sells spices, rice, pulses and other essential Indian food supplies from 8 in the morning until late at night. “Weekends are really busy,” he says. When I walk in with two friends he is busy cutting a slice of pumpkin for Mari from Sri Lanka. Ramu comes here once a week to eat and to buy ulundu vadi, bhajia and pakhoras, different types of spicy fritters. “Only Indians and Sri Lankans come to eat here, the Lebanese don’t really like spicy food,” says
THE CONTROL ISSUE
CURRY CANTEEN | AUTHENTIC CURRY DISHES
Ramu, surprised to see us and then asks with obvious apprehension, “Why are you here, where are you from?” After identifying ourselves we head upstairs, hungry for curry, via the dingy, grimy stairs that lead up to the eatery. A large electric fan is working frantically in the tiny, hot room but stops as soon we arrive. To make matters worse my friend Joanne notices a small dark object moving on the stairs. Shirine is from India and has been working at the eatery for three years, now assisting in the kitchen and waiting on tables. After a quick hello and a big smile she brings us an array of colorful dishes, no menu, no order is necessary.
Okra with chili, pumpkin and potato stew, fluffy basmati rice, dhal, chick pea fritters, chicken and green peppers, tomato chutney… the dishes just keep on arriving and we have to tell Shirine to stop bringing them. All the food tastes great, just the okra is a tad too spicy for my friend Ewa whose eyes tear up after a sampling. I peep into the kitchen to compliment the chef who is busy mixing and rolling the fermented dough flat, then spins the discs into boiling oil to turn out breads which come out puffed and browned. His assistant, a young Indian girl, is busy with the vegetables, chopping garlic and onions, carrots and cauliflower. As she adds the chili, cumin, coriander and turmeric, a
heavenly aroma permeates the room. This is definitely good street food with the advantage of being able to eat while sitting down. Don’t expect any Limoges porcelain here though, its plastic plates and cutlery for all. The Indo-Lanka Restaurant may not be a feast for the eyes, but the food is good on the stomach and the wallet, an authentic meal at an affordable price which is heaven-sent for many of the Indians in this country who don’t have access to home-cooked food, and can’t afford to eat at Lebanon’s pricey restos. Here they can enjoy a 10-course meal and a coke for 5,000 LBP (just a bit more than $3). It just goes to show that even Lebanon has a great greasy spoon
photography sabina llewellyn-davies + teddy habib
THIS IS DEFINITELY GOOD STREET FOOD WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING ABLE TO EAT WHILE SITTING DOWN. DON’T EXPECT ANY LIMOGES PORCELAIN HERE THOUGH, ITS PLASTIC PLATES AND CUTLERY FOR ALL OCTOBER 2012
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EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY
HARNESS YOUR HIGH ENERGY LEVELS
HIGH PROTEIN
BITS + BITES
BY LARA ARISS
Each edition of RAGMAG Lara Ariss will present a meal in several courses that you can try at home. Lara trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London, England. For this issue of RAGMAG, Lara has chosen a selection of protein-packed recipes that help you get in control of your lagging energy. For more great ideas, check her out on the web http://www.bylara.me @laraariss bylara laraariss
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
TUNA SALAD PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES COOKING TIME 2 MINUTES SERVES 4 LEVEL EASY
INGREDIENTS • 1 kilogram fresh tuna steak, cut 1-inch thick • 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for brushing • 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling • 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper, plus extra for sprinkling • Zest of 2 lemons, grated • Juice of 3 lemons • 2 teaspoons soy sauce • 2 teaspoons hot sauce • 2 avocados, medium diced • 50 grams minced scallions, white and green parts • 50 grams red onion, small diced
METHOD
• Brush the tuna steaks with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. • Place the tuna steaks in a very hot pan and
cook for only 1 minute on each side. Set aside on a platter. • Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt,
pepper, lime zest, lemon juice, soy sauce and hot sauce. Add the avocados to the vinaigrette. • Cut the tuna in chunks and place it in a large bowl. Add the scallions and red onion and mix well. Pour the vinaigrette mixture over the tuna and carefully mix.
BLACK BEAN
CHILLI PREPARATION TIME 15 MINUTES COOKING TIME 35 MINUTES SERVES 4 - 6 LEVEL EASY
INGREDIENTS • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 small onion, diced • 2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped • 2 medium carrots, sliced •1/2 red bell pepper, chopped • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 420 grams black beans • 420 ml tomato sauce • 80 ml vegetable broth • 1 tablespoon chili powder • 1 teaspoon cumin • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • Salt and black pepper, to taste.
METHOD
• Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil for a minute or two,
then add sweet potatoes, carrots and bell pepper until onions are soft. • Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine well. • Simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 20-25 minutes, until flavors have mingled and vegetables are cooked.
OCTOBER 2012
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EAT, DRINK+BE MERRY
QUINOA LINGUINE WITH ROASTED SUMMER VEGETABLES
+FRESH BASIL PREPARATION TIME 20 MINUTES COOKING TIME 60 MINUTES SERVES 4 LEVEL EASY
INGREDIENTS • 100 grams squash, halved lengthwise if large, sliced crosswise • 100 grams cherry tomatoes • 2 red onions, halved lengthwise and sliced • 4 garlic cloves, crushed • 40 ml olive oil • Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper • 230 grams quinoa • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter • 120 grams finely grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving • 240 grams firmly packed torn fresh basil leaves
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METHOD
• Preheat oven to 230C. • Divide squash, tomatoes, onions, and garlic between two
large rimmed baking sheets. Drizzle with oil, and season with salt and pepper; toss to coat and then spread evenly. Roast for 30 – 40 minutes, until tender and golden brown. • In the meantime, place quinoa and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until all the water is absorbed – approximately 15 minutes. Remove from heat. • Add roasted vegetables, butter, parmesan, and basil to pot; season with salt and pepper, and toss gently with pasta to combine.
THE CONTROL ISSUE
DOWNTOWN 01 970 153/4 JAL EL DIB 04 724 324 VERDUN 01 735 500 KASLIK 09 642 690 HAMRA 01 751 244 JBEIL 09 546 485
eyedigits.com
SPINNEYS|HAZMIEH| 76 196 691
OCTOBER 2012
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
BRAINFOOD ROUND #1
ROUND #2
Trivia
ROUND #3
One Liners
1. What drug did the scientists at
1. But in this ever-changing world
2. What is the most popular board
2. While the other kids were
Pfizer discover while trying to find a cure for heart disease? game played in Russia?
3. Which well known aircraft
in which we live.
4. What is the National Anthem of Egypt called in English?
5. Cher claims she has which Red
Indian tribe’s blood in her veins? letter “V” as their international registration letter? name for what disease?
8. In 1958, the Wham-O company made over $100 million selling what kind of toy: Barbie Doll, Hula Hoop or Frisbie?
9. Dino belongs to which fictional cartoon family?
10. Who uttered the famous line, “Veni, Vidi, Vici”?
2. Which famous magazine publisher
the Bambi film?
made an appearance in the Beverly Hills Cop II film?
3. Christian Bale has played Batman
country?
twice, which other actor has also done this?
4. Used in WWII what does
“Kamikaze” literally mean?
5. The North and South islands of
and not so long ago.
New Zealand are seperated by which strait?
5. And the papers want to know
6. How many of the original seven
whose shirts you wear.
wonders of the world were in Egypt?
6. Strumming my pain with his
is situated in which state?
7. You are the apple of my eye.
known as the “Red Arm Faction” were better known as who?
9. Madagascar is in which ocean?
9. Now I need a place to hide
10 Abner Doubleday was credited
away.
jungle living character known as Tarzan?
5. “Endless Love” was the first film for which High Flying actor? actor his 2nd Oscar?
7. What was the Wham’s first hit single?
8. The German terrorist group
8. Clowns to the left of me.
4. Which american author created the
6. The “Godfather” film gave which
7. The US President’s Camp David
fingers.
7. Hydrophobia is the scientific
2. Luxor airport is located in which 3. Trondheim port is in which
4. Those were such happy times
6. Vehicles from where use the
1. What was the name of the rabbit in
country?
rocking around the clock.
Entertainment
1. Igor Sikorsky developed what form of transport?
3. You walked into the party
manufacturer produced the Chinook helicopter?
ROUND #4
Geography and History
with firing the first shot for the US Army in which war?
8. Blood, Sweat and what other word
made up the name of this 60’s rock band?
9. Who sang the theme tune to the
Bond film “From Russia with love”?
10 What was the name of the girl with “kaleidescope eyes” in the Beatles’ song?
10. Lonely rivers flow to the sea.
EASY
6 6
5 5 4 9 8 7 6 9 8 7 2 6 6 5 1 3 7 4 8 2 5 2 7 8 4 1
9
8 9
6
7
4
1 9 8 2 3 6 7
1
5 2
8
4 2 5 1
2 1 4
3
5
4
8
8
1
4 4 1 3 8 6 1 3 7 9 7 2 8 3 6 9 1 4 7 8 9 4 3 5 5 8
ROUND#1 1. Viagra 2. Chess 3. Boeing 4. My Country, My Country, My Country 5. Cherokee 6. Vatican City 7. Rabies 8. Hula Hoop 9.The Flinstones 10. Julius Caesar ROUND#2 1. Paul McCartney and Wings 2. Elton John 3. Carly Simon 4. The Carpenters 5. David Bowie 6. Roberta Flack 7. Stevie Wonder 8. Stealers Wheel 9. The Beatles 10. The Righteous Brothers ROUND#3 1. The Helicopter 2. Egypt 3. Norway 4. Divine Wind/ Wind of the Gods 5. The Cook Straits 6. Two great pyramids of Giza and the lighthouse of Alexandria 7. Maryland 8. The Bader-Meinhof Gang 9. Indian Ocean 10. The American Civil War ROUND#4 1. Thumper 2. Hugh Hefner 3. Michael Keaton 4. Edgar Rice Burroughs 5. Tom Cruise 6. Marlon Brando 7. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go 8. Tears 9. Matt Munro 10. Lucy 1 9 4 3 5 9 2 6 3 2 7 8 8 4 6 7 5 1
2 6 6 7 1 2 4 8 5 5 1 9 3 3 9 8 7
8 5 3 8 7 4 6 9 9 7 1 3 2 2 4 1 5 6
OCTOBER 2012
7 9 8 4 6 3 1 2 8 3 6 5 5 9 2 4 7
1 2 9 6 3 7 5 7 4 4 9 6 1 2 8 8 3
5 8 2 1 4 5 9 2 6 3 8 7 1 9 7 6 3 4
3 4 5 2 9 1 8 8 4 6 6 5 7 7 1 3 2 9
4 7 1 5 2 6 7 3 5 9 9 2 3 8 8 4 1 6
6 3 7 9 8 8 3 7 1 2 4 4 6 5 2 9
9 3 6 7 2 1 4 8 5
1 4 7 9 8 5 2 6 3
2 5 8 3 6 4 7 1 9
6 8 2 5 3 7 9 4 1
5 7 9 4 1 8 3 2 6
3 1 4 2 9 6 5 7 8
8 9 3 6 4 2 1 5 7
4 6 5 1 7 9 8 3 2
7 2 1 8 5 3 6 9 4
1 9 8 5 3 7 2 6 4
5 7 2 8 4 6 3 1 9
3 4 6 1 9 2 5 8 7
8 6 9 3 2 5 7 4 1
4 5 1 7 6 9 8 3 2
7 2 3 4 8 1 6 9 5
6 8 7 2 1 4 9 5 3
2 3 4 9 5 8 1 7 6
9 1 5 6 7 3 4 2 8
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
1
2
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DOWN
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16
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19
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20
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30 32
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78 81
freight.
75 76
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84 85
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93 94
95
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100 101
102
ACROSS 1. They study chromosomes. 3. Are they an aphrodisiac? 8. A system of names used
in art or science. 10. Newspaper writings? 12. She lost her shoe. 13. Very fussy. 14. They deal in furs. 15. A small sailing vessel. 18. The wounds of Christ? 25. Confirm. 26. Roman eighteen? 28. The lucky part of a chicken? 29. Followed. 30. Responsive to light.
32. A squeeze box for music. 35. Burst. 36. A dog’s residence? 37. Twice baked, in french. 39. Split in two. 43. The preparing of wood for
55. His wife is dead. 56. Flightless bird. 57. A game of throwing
44. It measures small electrical
66. Broken! 72. An established rule. for air. 73. Acting to arrest bleeding. 98. Poisons? 74. They are sometimes 99. Was he a mad monk? called “Sparky”. 100. Invented by John Napier, 75. A little on the large side? kind of. 76. Afternoon sleep? 101. Scouting. 80. Did the washing. 102. A master of music. 81. Not hers.
microscopic study. currents.
46. The taking of a life to end
a person’s suffering.
48. Played music in street for
cash.
49. Loses its leaves. 50. One of the layers in the sky. 52. It makes no sense.
ELTON JOHN SONG
A TELEPHONE?
ALBUM OF SONGS
rubber rings.
59. Description of fossils. 64. A chemical compund
with four chlorine atoms.
POP GROUP
SONG
MARVIN GAYE SONG
HEAVY METAL BAND
82. A blockhead. 83. Stealthy. 87. Old sailing ship? 89. A knight’s glove? 92. Run away 93. Chinese ship or rubbish. 96. It can kill superman. 97. Emergency opening
FILM
A TOOL
HORROR FILM
CANDLE IN THE WIND - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN - DARK KNIGHT RISES - IPOD - I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE - SCREW DRIVER - DARK SIDE OF THE MOON - IRON MAIDEN- HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL
OCTOBER 2012
62. Won the war! 63. Pointed to. 65. Became friendly with the enemy. 66. Took apart. 67. The abbreviated fiscal year. 68. Supported someone’s efforts. 69. A sphinx with the head of a ram. 70. Useful in the rain. 71. Spiny plate found on some
species of snake.
98
99
2. Did as was told. 4. Dexterous. 5. Very small. 6. A type of tree. 7. Not capable. 9. Puzzling. 11. Throw out. 14. Not perfect. 15. Not the oldest. 16. Rode fast on horseback. 17. Kinky knickers? 19. Fastest. 20. Has the shape of the letter Y. 21. Travelled. 22. Huge! 23. Going passed. 24. Found on crash helmets? 27. A form of medical dressing. 31. A large computer. 33. Confusion. 34. Sexually attractive. 38. One type of clay?. 40. Put into layers. 41. Boring. 42. Chinese cutlery? 45. Mathematical sum. 47. Intricate. 51. All look the same. 53. Can go bad. 54. Not inward. 56. Copies to try and equal. 58. Outer layer is a jellyfish. 60. Thumbs up for a lift! 61. A heavy barge used for carrying
77. For cutting steel. 78. They keep out noise. 79. On time. 84. Trespassed. 85. Ended. 86. Pasta? 90. Copy. 91. Whines. 94. A type of mine. 95. The bottom of a ship. ACROSS 1. CYTOLOGISTS - 3. OYSTERS - 8. NOMENCLATURE 10. ARTICLES - 12. CINDERELLA - 13. FASTIDIOUS 14. FURRIERS - 15. YAWL - 18. STIGMATA 25. VERIFY - 26. XVIII - 28. WISHBONE 29. TRACKED - 30. PHOTOSENSITIVE - 37. BISCUIT 39. BIFURCATE - 43. XYLOTOMY - 44. GALVANOMETER 46. EUTHANIZE - 48. BUSKED - 49. DECIDUOUS 50. OZONE - 52. NONSENSICAL - 55. WIDOWER 56. EMU - 57. QUOITS - 59. ORYCTOGRAPHY 64. TETRACHLORIDE - 66. DEFECTIVE - 72. AXIOM 73. HEMOSTATIC - 74. ELECTRICIANS - 75. BUXOM 76. SIESTA - 80. LAUNDERED - 81. HIS - 82. DIZZARD 83. FURTIVE - 87. GALLEY - 89. GAUNTLET 92. ABSCOND - 93. JUNK - 96. KRYPTONITE 97. TRACHEOTOMY - 98. TOXINS - 99. RASPUTIN 100. LOGARITH - 101. RECONNOITERING - 102. MAESTRO. DOWN 2. OBEYED - 4. SLEIGHT - 5. NEGLIGIBLE 6. FRAXINUS - 7. UNABLE - 9. ENIGMATIC 14. FLAWED - 15. YOUNGEST - 16. GALLOPED 17. CRUTCHLESS - 19. QUICKEST - 20. YPSILOID 22. ENORMOUS - 23. OVERTAKING 24. VISOR - 27. LINAMENT - 31. MAINFRAME - 33. CONSTERNATION - 34. NUBILE - 38. ALABASTER - 40. LAMINATED - 41. MONOTONOUS - 42. CHOPSTICKS 45. EQUATION - 47. ELABORATE - 51. UNIFORM - 53. PERISHABLE - 54. OUTWARD 56. EMULATES - 58. ECTODERMIC - 60. HITCHHIKER 61. HOY - 62. VICTORIOUS - 63. INDICATED 65. FRATERNIZED - 66. DISASSEMBLED 67. FY - 68. ENCOURAGED - 69. CRIOSPHINX 70. UMBRELLA - 71. ICHTHYODORULITE - 77. HACKSAW 78. EARPLUGS - 79. PUNCTUAL - 84. IMPINGED - 85. TERMINATED - 86. MACARONI - 88. HANKERED- 90. IMITATE- 91. WHIMPERS- 94. LIMPET- 95. KEEL.
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RAGMAG
ASTRO
Zodiac forecasts FROM JONATHAN CAINER
October.2012
IN OCTOBER, SATURN MOVES INTO A DIFFERENT SIGN OF THE ZODIAC FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE JULY 2010. THAT TELLS US PLENTY ABOUT THE ‘CHANGE OF MOOD’ THAT PEOPLE WILL NOTICE, ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT SUGGESTS A GROWING NEED TO BE MORE REALISTIC AND RESPONSIBLE PLUS A DEEPENING SENSE OF HONOUR AND DUTY. JUPITER’S COMMENCEMENT OF A RETROGRADE PHASE WILL INTENSIFY THIS EFFECT. WHILE GEMINIS, SAGITTARIANS, SCORPIOS, CAPRICORNS, AQUARIANS AND PISCEANS WILL PERHAPS BE MOST SENSITIVE TO THIS INFLUENCE, WE SHOULD ALL BE ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR WAYS TO MAKE A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH TO CHAOTIC CIRCUMSTANCES. STING
GWYNETH PALTROW
SCORPIO
October 24 - November 22 Mars, this month, leaves your sign within hours of Saturn moving into it. For good measure, Mercury is passing through Scorpio too. All this adds up to a big build-up to a big birthday. Here’s the future turning up in your life at last and saying, ‘OK, this is it! Here’s where we start getting more realistic, taking better care of our responsibilities and living more sensibly within our means.’ You’ve been wanting, for a long time, to get more organised, more efficient and more realistic. Now, all that can (and will) happen. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
LIBRA
September 24 - October 23
SAGITTARIUS
The last couple of years have been deeply intense, demanding, difficult and yet, at times, delightful. We can’t dismiss all that you have learned, understood and been changed for the better by. But aren’t you tired of wrestling with limited resources, frustrating situations and people who won’t move from fixed positions? This October, Saturn is leaving your sign at last. You’ll notice the difference almost immediately and you won’t find yourself under anywhere near as much pressure again for the next 30 years or so!
November 23 - December 21 Jupiter turns retrograde this month. It’s time to start going back over old ground and picking up something you nearly left behind. If it seems as if you’re not making progress, stop thinking about progress in such a linear way! Sometimes, what matters is not so much ‘getting where you want to be’ as ‘properly understanding where you’ve already been.’ The answer to a big question has been right under your nose for a long time. Once you see it, everything will start changing for the better. You don’t have long to wait for that now!
FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
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THE CONTROL ISSUE
CAPRICORN
December 22 - January 20 Whenever Saturn moves into a new sector of the zodiac, a new phase of your life begins. This happens every two to three years and it always marks a change of mood, pace and theme. It often also means the need to start playing the game of life by a different set of rules. Priorities that were beyond question just weeks ago may soon begin to seem all but irrelevant. You may continue to aim for the same goals but you’ll start seeing new routes to take towards these. Those changes will soon prove enormously beneficial. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
ARIES
March 21 - April 20 Are you ready to embrace change? Or does change look to you like a scruffy stranger who you wouldn’t want to get too close to? Fear not, you don’t have to embrace it till you’ve got to know it better, sent it to a shower and washed its clothes. Change has been hanging around so long waiting for you that it has forgotten a few social niceties. But if you are ready to kick a habit and explore a new way of leading your life, Mars in a new sign will help change ‘Change’ into the very entity you most want to be with in October. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
CANCER
June 23 - July 23 It is fine to do what you have always done if that’s what you truly like doing. But why would you stick with what you can’t stand? Do you think that perhaps, this month, you can fix a small problem but you can’t take care of a big one? Don’t imagine that your power is limited, like the amount of energy in a battery. Reach for your deepest hope and you’ll draw down direct from the cosmic mains supply. And when the utility bill comes in? It will be a small price to pay for the change you have managed to implement successfully. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
OCTOBER 2012
AQUARIUS
January 21 - February 19 You may already be keenly conscious of your commitments but in one area of life, you’ve been doing a lot of guesswork and then hoping that somehow, your luck will plug any gaps. You’ve also had quite a strong tendency, lately, to say ‘yes’ to too many offers and spread your resources too thinly. The questions life now urges you to ask yourself is, ‘What do I really want?’ and, ‘How can I more realistically make this happen?’ The answers, this October, may require you to make many adjustments. But you won’t regret these. ,,FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM
PISCES
February 20 - March 20 What’s the difference between reading a map and taking a journey? In many ways, it is like the difference between planning a party and actually hosting one. All the preparation in the world can’t properly inform you about the spur-of-the-moment challenges that you are bound to encounter! Some things will be easier than you expected them to be. Some issues that sounded simple in theory will turn out to be far trickier. In October, you may have to rethink many old ideas. But you’ll end up in a far stronger position.
JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
TAURUS
GEMINI
April 21- May 21 If October were a song, it would be coming from a nearby house, pounding out so loud that all you can hear is the bass. You’d be so annoyed by its intrusive rhythm, you’d go marching towards the source of the noise, determined to get it turned down. But as you got closer, you’d hear the catchy melody. And - despite yourself - you’d start to dance! Then you’d realise you were surrounded by people who had also become charmed by the thing they thought they didn’t like. October is a song, for you! A song of the heart! FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
LEO
July 23 - July 23 Is intelligence the result of nature or nurture? While the academics continue to debate this, I can at least confirm that zodiac sign is no indicator of IQ. We can’t say some signs are brighter than others. But there are definitely times when some of us all function better, when our minds are sharper, our ideas are clearer and our plans are more likely to make great sense. You’ll see what I mean by this in October. The cleverness fairy is sitting on your shoulder. If you want to be extra smart, ask her what will help her to stick around. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
May 22 - June 22 Beware unwanted visitors this month. And by this, I don’t mean friends and family members looking for a space on your couch! I mean the kind of moods and attitudes that sometimes, we allow into our lives by mistake. We think they’re only passing through, next thing we know they’ve taken over. We keep tripping over their stuff... and they even invite their own friends round to see them at your place! If pessimism comes calling or doubt knocks on your door tell them you’re sorry, but you’ve got no room for them! FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
VIRGO
August 24 - September 23 Once a year, every year, Venus passes through your sign. For a few weeks, you are blessed with extra charm, popularity and creativity. It’s not that all you touch turns to gold, but some does! It’s not that you melt the heart of everyone you interact with - but most people become a little softer when they spend time with you. Do you take full advantage of this? Of course not! You’re too shy and unassuming. But you always gain as much emotional and psychological support as you truly need. Materially too, you profit. As soon, you’ll see. FOR YOUR DAILY FORECAST AND MORE FROM JONATHAN, VISIT WWW.CAINER.COM
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OUT+ABOUT
ZOOM
CONTROL NEW MASTERS OF A CONTEMPORARY MEDIUM BY SABINA LLEWELLYN-DAVIES
J
ust a few decades ago photography was considered a lesser art form than paintings. Today, almost every modern art gallery shows art photography and there is an ever-increasing demand for prints. But, even though Beirut is home to a large art photography community, it lacks a space dedicated to photography. Nino Azzi, who has been representing Lebanese and international artists for almost fourteen years now, is out to change this. Azzi launched Art Lounge in the grungy Karantina suburb 8 years
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ago to showcase local and international artists. With a jury of 5 dedicated art lovers Azzi gathered the work of over sixty photographers from many countries to show at the opening of Artheum, a 1,500m2 space next door to Art Lounge that a few months ago contained just piles of debris from an abandoned clothing factory. The criteria for acceptance was based on quality, originality and strength of concepts; out of the sixty exhibitors approximately a third are established full-time photographers. Beirut Photo Fair aims to celebrate
contemporary and creative photography and the range of works displayed is wide, ranging from portraits, landscapes, abstract and realistic, some in bright hues, others in black and white. Azzi aims to promote established photographers, such as National Geographic magazine contributor Walid Rashid who exhibited some fine landscapes and Hollywood-based film producer Sylvio Tabet whose stunning pop art made a splash, albeit with a high price tag of $10,000. He also aims to motivate budding talents such as Floriane Glusseini, a15 year-old student, showcasing her images taken on a trip to Kenya. After just visiting the World Press photos exhibit in Vienna, featuring photography depicting just the woes and suffering of our planet, I found this fair refreshing in both content and range of subject matter. The talents on show are too numerous to mention here but the exceptional pictures by 26 year-old Lebanese photographer George Zouein are noteworthy. “It’s great to be part of a major exhibition,” says Zouein. “Every artist hopes to have their work recognized and appreciated and it was a pleasure to be part of this exhibition.” Azzi is already looking forward to the next edition. And, several amateur photographers who attended the opening night openly voiced interest in applying for the Second Beirut Photo Fair. The Beirut Photo Fair ran from 14 to 30 September in Artheum, Karantina Beirut, Lebanon www.beirutphotofair.com
THE CONTROL ISSUE
OCTOBER 2012
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