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A Turkish 'hammam', whose name derives from Arabic hamma, heat, is known in 'western' cultures alternatively as a Turkish what?
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List of etymologies of country subdivision names : definition of List of etymologies of country subdivision names and synonyms of List of etymologies of country subdivision names (English)
Heard Island: discovered (first confirmed sighting) by Captain John Heard of the merchant vessel Oriental, 25 November 1853 [11]
McDonald Islands: discovered by Captain William McDonald, 4 January 1854 [11]
Norfolk Island ( Norfuk : Norfuk Ailen): discovered and named by James Cook (1774) either for the Duke of Norfolk [12] or for his wife [13] [14]
Austria
States
Burgenland (German; Hungarian : Várvidék; Croatian : Gradišće): originally called Vierburgenland, "Land of four Burgs (castles)", a name suggested in 1919 from the endings of the four former counties forming the state: Preßburg , Wieselburg , Ödenburg and Eisenburg . In 1922 Austria ceded Ödenburg to Hungary and dropped the numeric prefix Vier- ("four"); the remaining three counties became Burgenland. [15] The Hungarian Várvidék and Croatian Gradišće calque the German Burgenland[ citation needed ]
Carinthia , German Kärnten: etymologically related to the early Slavic medieval principality Carantania (Slovenian Karantanija, German Karantanien); a suggested etymology references a Celtic term for "stone" or "crag", while a popular etymology holds that the name means "land of friends"
Lower Austria , German Nieder-Österreich: the lower part (lower in height) of the original territory of Austria ('the eastern country'), as opposed to Upper Austria; also called Österreich unter der Enns "Austria below the (river) Enns"
Salzburg : after the city of Salzburg (literally "salt castle"), which takes its name from the salt mines that existed there during the Middle Ages
Styria , German Steiermark: after the castle of Steyr ; in the high Middle Ages, it formed a march of the Holy Roman Empire , hence -mark
Upper Austria , German Ober-Österreich: the upper (physically higher) part of the original territory of Austria, as opposed to Lower Austria; also called Österreich ob der Enns "Austria above the (river) Enns"
Vienna , German Wien: from Celtic Vindobona (vindo "white" + bona "foundation, fort")
Vorarlberg , literally "in front of the Arlberg", takes its name from the Arlberg , a mountain (German: Berg) characterised by Arle, a local German term for " mountain pine ".
Belgium
Regions
Brussels , Dutch Brussel, French Bruxelles (the capital city, outside any province; also Belgium's third region): medieval Dutch broek 'bog' + zele (in many place names in the Low Countries="habitation using thatching")
Flanders , Dutch Vlaanderen, French Flandre(s): plural of a terrain type; or "flooded land"; or a compound Flemish vlakte "plain" and wanderen "to wander". [16] The name extended from the historical county (about half lost to French and Dutch neighbours; the rest roughly made up two administrative provinces, East Flanders and West Flanders; in French les Flandres, plural) to the whole Dutch-speaking, majority part of Belgium (French la Flandre, singular)
Wallonia , French Wallonie: from the (Romanized (Germano-) Celtic, now Francophone) Walloon people: as in many European countries, so named by Germanic neighbours; meaning: "strangers". Compare "Wales".
Provinces
Liège : of disputed etymology. The name Liège may have the same origin as the ancient name of Paris, i.e. Lutetia ; the German form, Lüttich, suggests this. Liège and Lutetia would both derive from Latin lucotætia, "marsh" or "mud". Another suggestion derives the names from Latin Lætica, "colony", or Leudica, "free". Alternatively, the Latin Leudica meaning "public place" may have given rise to the Walloon Lîdje and thence to Liège. Note that the name appeared in written form as Liége (with an acute accent) until the 1950s.
Brazil
Takeo Province : Grandfather Keo
Canada
For etymologies of the provinces and territories of Canada, see Canadian provincial and territorial name etymologies .
Historical regions
Acadia (French Acadie): origin disputed:
Credited to Italian navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano , who first named a region around Chesapeake Bay Archadia ( Arcadia ) in 1524 because of "the beauty of its trees", according to his diary. Cartographers began using the name Arcadia to refer to areas progressively farther north until it referred to the French holdings in maritime Canada (particularly Nova Scotia ). The -r- also began to disappear from the name on early maps, resulting in the current Acadia. [17]
Possibly derived from the Míkmaq word akatik, pronounced roughly "agadik", meaning "place", which French-speakers spelled as -cadie in place names such as Shubenacadie and Tracadie , possibly coincidentally. [18]
Nunatsiavut : Inuktitut , meaning "our beautiful land". [19]
Chile
Regions
Roman numerals originally identified the regions in order from north to south (except Santiago). With the establishment of Arica-Parinacota and Los Ríos Region in 2007 the numbers no longer reflect the regions' positions.
Map of the Czech Republic with traditional regions and current administrative regions
Historical regions
Czechia, an alternate name for Bohemia: From Czech Čechy, from Čech ("a Czech"). Traditionally traced to a Forefather Čech , who brought the Czechs into Bohemia.
Bohemia : "Land of the Boii ", a Celtic tribe of the region. The ultimate etymology of Boii is uncertain, but has been connected to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "cow" and "warrior"
Moravia : "Land of the Morava "
Denmark
Bornholm : the Old Norse version of the name, Burgundarholm, suggests connections with the Burgundians , who traditionally originated in Scandinavia
Copenhagen ( Danish : København) - a corruption of the original designation for the city, Købmandshavn, or "Merchants' Harbour" in Danish. It comes to English via the German Kopenhagen.
Jutland ( Danish : Jylland; German : Jütland) - name associated with the Jutes
Zealand ( Danish : Sjælland) - literally "sea-land" or "the land in the sea" from Old Norse "Selund" and Old Danish "Sialand". A highly speculative alternative interpretation postulates an origin from *Selha-undi, "seal".
Dominican Republic
Main article: List of Dominican Republic Provinces by etymology
Estonia
Note: Estonian maakond means " county " and maa means "land". Counties given here without the suffix -maa take their names (and etymologies as given here) from their capitals.
Hiiumaa : from Estonian hiis - "holy grove", or hiid - "giant", meaning "land of holy groves" or "land of giants".
Ida-Virumaa : "Eastern Virumaa" - see Virumaa below
Jõgeva : from Estonian jõgi - "river" ( Pedja river ) and possibly vahe - "between" (since the old estate stood on an island in the river), meaning "between rivers".
Järvamaa : from Estonian järv - "lake", meaning "land of lakes".
Läänemaa : from Estonian lääne - "western", meaning "western land".
Lääne-Virumaa : "Western Virumaa" - see Virumaa below
Petseri : from Russian peshchera - "caves".
Põlva : from Estonian põlv - "knee". According to a legend, a virgin was once bricked in a church wall on her knees. According to another version, the Tartu - Võru and Kanepi - Räpina roads form a curve, shaped like a knee.
Pärnu : named after Pärnu river , that drains into the sea at Pärnu
Saaremaa : from Estonian saar - "island", meaning "island-land".
Valga : from German family names de Walco and de Walko. According to another version, from Old Estonian valketa - "white".
Virumaa : from several Finnic languages virukas - "big" or "strong", or vire "sharp" or "penetrating" (for wind), meaning "land of the strong / big" or "land of the sharp / penetrating winds". (In Finnish, the words for Estonia and Estonians derive from Virumaa - Viro and virolaiset.)
Finland
Helsinki : The Swedish name Helsingfors ( [hɛlsiŋˈfɔrs] or [hɛlsiŋˈfɔʂ] ) represents the original official name of the city of Helsinki (in the very beginning, in the form 'Hellssingeforss'). The Finnish language form of the city's name probably originates from 'Helsinga' and similar names used for the river currently known as Vantaanjoki, as documented as early as the 14th century. Helsinki (pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: [ˈhelsiŋki] ), refers to the city in all languages except Swedish and Norwegian. Helsingfors comes from the name of the surrounding parish, Helsinge (source for Finnish Helsinki) and the rapids (in Swedish: fors), which flowed through the original village. The name Helsinge possibly originated with medieval Swedish settlers who came from Hälsingland in Sweden. Another possible derivation looks to the Swedish word hals (neck), referring to the narrowest part of the river, i.e. the rapids. [24]
Ostrobothnia (or in Swedish: Österbotten) - "Eastern Bothnia". Bothnia is a Latinization of Old Norse botn, [25] meaning "bottom". The name botn was applied to the Gulf of Bothnia as Helsingjabotn in Old Norse , after Hälsingland , which at the time referred to the coastland west of the gulf. Later, botten was applied to the regions Västerbotten on the western side and Österbotten the eastern side ("East Bottom" and "West Bottom"). The Finnish name of Österbotten, Pohjanmaa, or "Pohja"-land, gives a hint as to the meaning in both languages: pohja means both "bottom" and "north."
Åland - "Waterland", from the proposed Germanic root *ahw-, cognate with Latin aqua and meaning "water".[ citation needed ] Ahvenanmaa, its Finnish name means "Land of Perch " and is partially borrowed, partially folk-etymologized from Germanic.[ citation needed ]
France
Historic regions
Most modern French départements take their names from local geographical features: usually rivers, occasionally mountain ranges or coasts. Thus most such names have a self-evident immediate origin: even non-speakers of French can deduce them with a minimum of geographical knowledge. The traditional provinces and regions (of any period) often bear names with richer but more obscure histories.
Alsace - from Latin Alsatia, a Latinised form of the Germanic name that also yields Old High German El-sasz, allegedly meaning "foreign settlement" (according to the OED article on "Alsatia" [26] ); or "settlement on the Ill River"[ citation needed ]
Artois - from Latin Atrebatensis, adjectival form derived the Belgic tribe Atrebates , whose name comes from *ad-treb-ates, meaning 'inhabitants', based on the Celtic root treb- 'building', 'home' (cf. Old Irish treb 'building', 'farm', Welsh tref 'building', Middle Breton treff 'city', toponyms in Tre-, Provençal trevar 'to live in a house or in a village'). [27] According to Alexander MacBain (d. 1907), [28] the name Atrebates parallels the Irish aitreibh, ‘building,’ Early Irish aittreb, ‘building,’ and Welsh adref, ‘homewards’. McBain states that the Celtic root treb corresponds to Latin tribus, ‘tribe’, and to English thorpe, ‘village’. [28] MacBain reconstructs *ad-treb- as the Proto-Celtic form of Early Irish aittreb. [28] The name of the main city of Artoi, Arras (Atrecht in Dutch) derives directly from the tribe's name Atrebates , so Artois properly means "territory of Arras".
Basque Country ( French : Pays Basque, Basque : Euskal Herria) - derived from the ancient tribe of the Vascones via the medieval Duchy of Vasconia and a County of Vasconia, split from it. The Basque name derives from Euskara (the autochthonous name of the Basque language).
Labourd (Lapurdi): from the Roman city of Lapurdum (modern Bayonne ).
Lower Navarre (French: Basse Navarre, Basque: Nafarroa Behera, Benafarroa). From the medieval Kingdom of Navarre , itself of disputed etymology (either Basque nabar: "brownish, multicolor", also "ploughshare"; or Romance nava: "river bank"; or Basque naba (valley, plain) + herri (people, land)). Compare Kingdom of Navarre#Etymology
Soule : deformation of the original Basque name Zuberoa or Xiberue
Franche-Comté - in French, literally the "Free County " of Burgundy (as opposed to the Duchy of Burgundy )
Gascony (Gascogne) - from the Duchy of Vasconia (also Wasconia), itself derived from the ancient tribe of the Vascones . In Latin and Romance languages in medieval times, Vascones came to apply to all the Basque-speaking peoples .
Languedoc - the region speaking the langue d'oc (as opposed to the regions whose language ( langue d'oïl ) developed into modern French)
Limousin - from an adjective referring to the local centre, Limoges
Lorraine - from the Mediaeval Latin coining Lotharingia , meaning the lands granted as a kingdom in 855 AD to Lothair , son of the Holy Roman Emperor Lothair I
Maine (province/county), from the Maine River , considered a variant/continuation of the Mayenne River , whose early French name suggests "middle river"
Normandy (Normandie) - land settled by Viking Northmen in the early 10th century
Occitania , from Occitània in Occitan . From medieval Latin Occitania (approximately since 1290). The first part of the name, Occ-, is from Occitan [lenga d']òc or Italian [lingua d']oc (i.e. "Language of Òc"), a name given to the Occitan language by Dante according to its way of saying "yes" (òc). The ending -itania is probably an imitation of the old Latin name [Aqu]itania.
Provence - from Latin provincia (province), short for Provincia Narbonensis, the Roman province located in present-day southern France.
Savoy - of unknown origin, but dating to the days of the Kingdom of Burgundy
Territories
Clipperton Island , a territory: From the French Île de Clipperton, for the English mutineer and pirate John Clipperton who hid there in 1705.
Europa Island , a territory: For the British ship Europa, which visited the island in 1774. For the etymology of Europe, see List of continent etymologies .
Wallis: for the British explorer Samuel Wallis , who sailed there in 1797.[ citation needed ]
Germany
States
Baden-Württemberg : formed by combining the names of the former states of Baden and of Württemberg .
Baden: after the city of Baden-Baden , formerly Baden, the name became reduplicated to distinguish it from the state (as in "Baden in Baden"). The name means "baths", after the springs in the city.
Württemberg: after Württemberg Castle, which stood on the Württemberg, a hill in Stuttgart , formerly Wirtemberg, further origin uncertain (-berg means "mountain")
Bavaria (German Bayern): the state of Bavaria developed out of the tribe of the Baiuvarii , who probably gained their name from the land of Bohemia
Brandenburg : after the city of Brandenburg . The earlier Slavic name of the castle (Burg) of Brandenburg appears as Branibor (Slavic for "Branim's forest", where bor means "a dense forest").
Hamburg : from the 9th-century name Hammaburg, where Hamma has multiple conflicting interpretations, but burg means "castle".
Hesse : after the tribe of the Chatti
Lower Saxony (German Niedersachsen): after the tribe of the Saxons . "Lower Saxony" became differentiated in modern times from the state of Saxony to its southeast. The word "lower" reflects Lower Saxony's location in the lowlands of the North German Plain , as opposed to Saxony, which has a higher elevation
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ( German ) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern): formed geographically by joining Mecklenburg with the western part of Pomerania , also called Hither Pomerania.
Mecklenburg takes its name from Mecklenburg Castle in Dorf Mecklenburg (Burg means "castle" in German, the first part means "big": compare Middle Low German mekel, cognate with English mickle — "big castle").
Pomerania (German Pommern) comes from Slavic roots meaning "near the sea" (in Slavic languages more means "sea"): the standard modern Polish name for the region, Pomorze, demonstrates this well.
North Rhine-Westphalia (German Nordrhein-Westfalen) — geographically formed by joining the northern part of the Rhineland (after the River Rhine ) with Westphalia .
The name of the Rhine derives from Gaulish Renos, and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *reie- ("to move, flow, run"); words like river and run share the same root. [36] The Reno River in Italy shares the same etymology. The spelling with -h- suggests a borrowing from the Greek form of the name, Rhenos, [36] seen also in rheos, "stream", and rhein, "to flow".
Westphalia formed the westernmost subdivision of the Saxon tribe; the origin of the second part (-falen in German) remains unknown
Rhineland-Palatinate (German Rheinland-Pfalz): formed geographically by joining parts of the Rhineland (after the River Rhine ) with the Rhenish Palatinate , formerly a palatine county located near the Rhine, meaning that its count administered a palace of the Holy Roman Emperor .
The name of the Rhine derives from Gaulish Renos, and ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root *reie- ("to move, flow, run"), the common root of words like river and run. [36] The Reno River in Italy shares a similar etymology. The spelling with -h- suggests influence from the Greek spelling of the name, Rhenos, [36] seen also in rheos, "stream", and rhein, "to flow".
The word Palatinate derives from Latin palatinus "imperial", from palatium "palace", after the location of the palace of the Roman Emperor Augustus on the Palatine Hill in Rome
the Saarland - after the Saar River
Saxony (German Sachsen): land of the Saxons (possibly the "sword-folk"). The state of Saxony developed out of the Saxon tribe, which principally inhabited present-day Lower Saxony ; during the Middle Ages and early modern times, the name migrated to the current location of the state of Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt (German, Sachsen-Anhalt): formed geographically by joining the Prussian Province of Saxony (see above under Saxony) with Anhalt
Anhalt takes its name from Anhalt Castle near Harzgerode ; the origin of the name of the castle remains unknown
Schleswig-Holstein : created by joining Schleswig and Holstein .
Schleswig takes its name from the City of Schleswig , which in turn derives its name from the Schlei bay and the Low German word wig for "trading place".
"Holstein" comes from a Saxon subtribe named, in Latin, Holcetae , whose means "dwellers in the wood" (Northern Low Saxon: Hol(t)saten; German: Holzsassen).
Thuringia (German Thüringen) — after the tribe of the Thuringii . Some[ who? ] have suggested that the Thuringii represent the remnants of the Hermanduri , the last part of whose name (-duri) became corrupted (-thuri) and afterwards suffixed with -ing, meaning "descendants of (the [Herman]duri)". [37]
Historic regions
Brunswick (German: Braunschweig): from the town of Brunswick , possibly originating as "Bruno's wik" (Bruno's marketplace) (with reference to the legendary founder Bruno, Duke of Saxony , died 880, or another Bruno) or as "burnt wik"); the High German form Braunschweig is an erroneous translation of the original Low German Brunswick
Franconia (German: Franken): from the traditional designation " Franks ", referring especially to the Kingdom of the East Franks . The name refers to those areas east of the Rhine that were first occupied by the Franks, as opposed to areas that were held by the Swabians , Bavarians or Saxons . The ethnonym "Frank" has sometimes been traced[ by whom? ] to the Latin francisca (from the Germanic *frankon, akin to the Old English franca), meaning "javelin". While the throwing-axe of the Franks is known as the francisca , the weapon conversely may have taken its name from the tribe.
Hohenzollern : ultimately from the names of Hohenzollern Castle and its location, Mount Hohenzollern (known locally as Zoller or Zollern). The lexeme hoh/hohen in German means "high/height".
Oldenburg , after the city of Oldenburg , first recorded in 1108 as the town of Aldenburg, subsequently also a county, duchy, grand duchy and republic, meaning "old castle"
Prussia (German: Preußen) — (at times historically connected with Germany or with parts thereof): from the people known as the Prussians , a grouping of western Balt peoples whose collective name (German: Prussen or anciently Pruzzen) may possibly derive from an Indo-European root meaning "swamp": see Prussian people ; for political reasons, the electors of Brandenburg decided to name themselves kings of Prussia in the 18th century; in this way, they transferred the name of the remote eastern region to a major German state
Swabia (German: Schwaben or Schwabenland): after the tribe of the Suebi whose name may come from Proto-Germanic *swēbaz based on the Proto-Germanic root *swē- meaning "one's own" [people], [38] from an Indo-European root *swe-, [39] the third-person reflexive pronoun .
Greece
Arcadia : from Arcas , the legendary eponymous leader of early Hellenic settlers
Sparta : from Greek Σπάρτη spartē, a cord or rope made from the shrub spartos, a type of broom
Macedonia , from Greek mak- (long, tall) - 'highland'.
India (Republic of India)
See List of Indian states and union territories by the etymology of their name .
Indonesia
Aceh : From the words a meaning "not" and cheh meaning "broken", refers to the strength of unity of the people of the area.
Banten : named in the honor of the former Banten Sultanate , which ruled over the region from 16th to the 18th centuries and became one of the main fronts of opposition against the colonial might of the Dutch East India Company (VOC).
Bengkulu : named after the Bengkulu river, which passes through the area of the province. The name of Bengkulu itself comes from the Malay word bangkai meaning "corpse", and hulu meaning "river-source" — it refers to the story that in the past the area near the source of the river Bengkulu had often served as a battlefield—tribes and clans battled each other on the river banks leaving them "full of corpses and blood"[ cite this quote ].
Gorontalo : from the Dutch version of the local phrase hulontalo, meaning "lands surrounded by water" due to the many lakes and rivers formerly in the area
Irian Jaya : The name Irian can have various meanings, as each dialect of the island has a different meaning for it. But the most acknowledged[ by whom? ] version interprets it as "land of heat", as many local dialects interpret iri as "fire" or "heat". The syllable an means "land" in all the dialects. Thus, Irian may refer to hot weather.[ citation needed ] An alternative etymology for Irian (variously identified[ by whom? ] as a real etymology or a folk etymology ) stems from the acronym Ikut Republik Indonesia, Anti Nederland ("Join/Follow the Republic of Indonesia, rejecting The Netherlands) (see the article on the Province of Papua — as of 2009 [update] the official Indonesian and internationally recognized name for Irian Jaya).[ citation needed ] The word jaya means "victory" or "glorious" in Indonesian , referring to the Indonesian victory over the colonisers who controlled the area both militarily and diplomatically, a sign of pride as the Indonesians showed themselves capable not only of defending their lands from the Dutch attempt to reestablish colonial rule after World War II, but also of taking over lands not included in the 1945 proclamation or the 1950 reunification, specifically Irian Jaya' or the Province of Papua.
Jakarta : from the Javanese words jaya (meaning "victory") and karta (meaning "glory"), which make up the phrase "victorious & glorious; this refers to the victory of Prince Pati Unus (also known as Fatahillah ) of the Demak Sultanate in his campaign to defeat the rival Malakka Sultanate of the Malay peninsula and Samudera Pasai Sultanate of Aceh region in the mid-16th century. The "glorious victory" also refers to the event of Indonesian Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945 which took place in the city.
Jambi : the province takes its name from the historical Jambi Sultanate which ruled over the area from the 17th to the 19th centuries
Lampung : From the word "Lambung" in the Old Malay phrase anjak Lambung, which means "descended from the heights". This refers to the ancestral riddle of the Lampung people, who allegedly had ancestors "descended from the heights". The "heights" reference the southernmost part of the Barisan mountain range that runs through all the western part of the Lampung province. More specifically, it is said[ by whom? ] that the "heights" refer to the plateau at the foot of the Pesagi Mountain . (The center of the legendary ancient Kingdom of Sekala Brak , allegedly one of the oldest kingdoms in Indonesia.)
Nusa Tenggara : from Nusa meaning "islands" (referring to the Lesser Sunda Islands that make up the area) and tenggara meaning "south-east" (referring to the position of the area within the country).
Sumatra : from Ibn Battuta 's 14th-century pronunciation of the name of the Samudra Kingdom (13th to 15th centuries CE)
Yogyakarta : From 'Jogja' and 'Karta'. Jogja is a Javanised version of a Sanskrit word, 'Ayodhya', the prefix A- meaning 'not' and 'Yodhya' is synonymous to Hindi 'Yuddha', meaning battle, combat, fight, or war. Thus Ayodhya, which later Javanised into Jogja, meant 'The place of no fight' or in simpler interpretation, peaceful. This may refer to the geographic location of Jogjakarta, being fortified naturally by the Java Sea to the South, the Merapi Mountain to the north, the Gunung Sewu Karst Mountains to the east and Progo River to the west where it would be the perfect fortress of peace, and even more supported as a breeding place of peaceful life with its rich and fertile volcanic land and rivers, sourcing up to the majestic Merapi. The word 'Karta' means glory, referring to a hope that this city would bring glory to its people.
Iran (Persia)
Lorestan : land of the Lurs
Mazendran : its combination of 3 words: Mad (female, mother, mater) and Zainthi (wisdom, knowledge, science) Eran (aryans), Both MAD and Eran is either suffix or prefix of many places in greater Iran or Persia Europeans called + upper India
Ireland (Eire)
Connacht : Connachta in Irish. "Descendants of Conn." From the Irish Connachta people, who all claimed descent from the High King Conn Cétchathach , Conn of the Hundred Battles.
Leinster : Laighin in Irish. From the Irish Laigin people, named after láigne, the broad blue-grey iron spearheads they carried, and Old Norse staðr, meaning place or territory
Munster : Mhumhain in Irish. From the Gaelic goddess Muman and the old Norse staðr, meaning place or territory
Ulster : Ulaidh in Irish. From the Irish Ulaid people, whose name probably comes from Old Irish ul, "beard", and old Norse staðr, meaning place or territory.
Meath : Mide in Irish. "Middle" in Old Irish. No longer a province of Ireland.
See also: Etymological list of counties of Ireland
Italy
Campania : different interpretations: 1) from the Latin campania (countryside, plain, battlefield); compare Champagne in France. 2) from the ethnonym "campani", Oscan italic people who lived in the Apennines mountains in the Southern Italy before the Greek colonization . Greek ancient sources record the term "campani" before the Roman colonization, putting doubts on the Latin interpretation. Campania is likely derivated from the toponym of the ancent city of Capua (from *Campuam/Kampuam = *Campania) which was the most important city in the region during the oscan and etruscan period
Friuli : from the Latin Forum Julii (The market of Julius), which at the beginning referred only to the city of Cividale , founded by Julius Caesar and then extended to the whole region
Latium (in modern Italian: Lazio): land of the early Italic inhabitants known as Latins , in their turn popularly associated with the mythological King Latinus [in turn, "Latins" (in Latin, Latīnī) — as well as the name of King Latīnus (simply the singular of the same name) — clearly derived their names from Latium by means of the ethnic suffix -īnus, with the obvious meaning of "inhabitant(s) of Latium", which makes this etymology ridiculously circular, but let that serve as a warning to the reader as to the quality of this and other etymologies on this page]. Ovid hints at perhaps a slightly more sophisticated folk etymology , with a legend of the naming of Latium after Saturn latente deo (as a god in hiding) after he allegedly fled to Italy following his expulsion by Jupiter . - Modern linguists postulate origins in a Proto-Indo-European language (PIE) root *stela- (to spread, extend), expressing the idea of "flat land" (in contrast to the local Sabine high country). But the name may originate from an earlier, non Indo-European one. See the Online Etymological Dictionary .
Lombardy : from the Germanic tribe of the Lombards (literally "long-beards" or " long-bearded axe people", or, according to another theory, "long- halberds "), who invaded Italy in the 6th century. Note: After the Lombard invasion, the name "Longobardia" or "Langobardia" applied to the whole of Italy for about two centuries, throughout Europe and also in Arabic (al-Ankubardiya). The name Italia did not return into wide use until the late 8th century
Marche : literally. " marches ", "borderlands". In the Middle Ages the region lay on the boundaries between imperial lands and the more independent areas of southern Italy. The March of Ancona became the best known of such marche
Tuscany : the land of etruscans : in Attic Greek, the Etruscans were known as Τυρρήνιοι (Tyrrhēnioi), earlier Tyrsenoi, from which the Romans derived the names Tyrrhēni (Etruscans), Tyrrhēnia (Etruria), and Mare Tyrrhēnum (Tyrrhenian Sea). The Etruscans called themselves Rasenna, which was syncopated to Rasna or Raśna. In modern Italian Toscana derives from Etruria (Latin), later "Tuscia" (which now is the name of a subregion in the northern Lazio ) and finally "Toscana".
Sardinia : speculatively linked with the Shardana people and/or with Sardis
Sicily : island settled by the Sicels
Japan
Hokkaido : "Northern Sea Circuit " in Japanese, a compromise archaism selected by bureaucrats during the Meiji Restoration (See: Naming of Hokkaido )
Korea
Chungcheong - from the first characters in the city names Chungju and Cheongju .
Gangwon (South Korea) / Kangwŏn ( North Korea ) - from the first characters in the city names Gangneung and Wonju .
Gyeonggi - the Chinese characters for the name mean "area around the capital", referring to the location of the province around Seoul , South Korea
Gyeongsang - from the first characters in the city names Gyeongju and Sangju .
Hamgyŏng - from the first characters in the city names Hamju and Kyŏngsŏng (?).
Hwanghae - from the first characters in the city names Hwangju and Haeju .
Jeolla - from the first characters in the city names Jeonju and Naju (The first character of Naju is actually "ra"—"r" changes to "n" in the initial position, and the combination "nr" changes to "ll" due to phonological characteristics of the Korean language ).
P'yŏngan - from the first characters in the city names P'yŏngyang and Anju .
Laos
Vientiane - city of sandalwood
Malaysia
Alor Star - alor in Malay means "furrow", while star refers to a kind of tree (Bouea macrophylla) that bears small, sour fruit known as kundang or remia in Malay
Cyberjaya - Malay: "cyber excellence", a reference to the city's designation as the " Silicon Valley of Malaysia"
Groningen ( Gronings : Grönnen or Grunnen):
Limburg : Derived from the castle-fortified town of Limbourg which in turn was derived from "lint" "dragon" and burg "fortress."
North Brabant ( Dutch : Noord-Brabant). The name in Carolingian times appeared in Latinised form as pagus Bracbatensis, from bracha "new" and bant "region".
North Holland (Dutch: Noord-Holland): Germanic "holt (i.e. wooded) land" (often incorrectly regarded as meaning "hollow [i.e. marsh] land")
Overijssel : Dutch for "lands across the IJssel river" (also Latin: "Transiselania")
South Holland (Dutch: Zuid-Holland): Germanic "holt (i.e. wooded) land" (often incorrectly regarded as meaning "hollow [i.e. marsh] land")
Utrecht : named after the city of Utrecht ; the name derives from Latin Ultraiectum ad Rhenum, meaning "place to cross the Rhine river".
Zeeland (also English: Zealand): Dutch for "Sea land".
Aruba : Uncertain. One etymology derives from Spanish Oro Hubo ("there was gold");[ citation needed ] another cites the Arawak oibubai ("guide").[ citation needed ]
Saint Martin (Dutch: Sint Maartin): for Saint Martin of Tours , as it was first sighted by Christopher Columbus on St. Martin Day (11 November), 1493.
Curaçao : Uncertain. One etymology derives from Portuguese curaçao ("healing");[ citation needed ] another from Portuguese coração ("heart");[ citation needed ] another that it is a local endonym; [41]
Other names
Alkmaar : from Aelcemaer, meaning 'lake of auks', due to the fact that lakes formerly surrounded the core of Alkmaar - all of them now drained and thus turned into dry land
Amsterdam : from Amstelredam, which means "dam over the Amstel " (the river Amstel flows through present-day Amsterdam)
Batavia (Germanic): "arable land" (derived from the regional name " Betuwe ", as opposed to the other regional name "Veluwe" meaning "fallow" or "waste" land). Alternatively: the people known as the Batavians (Latin: Batavi) inhabited the island of Betawe between the Waal and the Rhine . The name of the island probably derives from batawjō ("good island", from Germanic bat- "good, excellent" and awjō - "island, land near water"), referring to the region's fertility.
Bonaire : Uncertain, but thought to have been originally derived from the Caquetio word bonay. Later Dutch and Spanish colonists modified it, first to Bojnaj and finally to its current name of Bonaire (French: "good air").
Holland (part of the Netherlands; but the term often refers to the country as a whole): Germanic "holt (i.e. wooded) land" (often incorrectly regarded as meaning "hollow [i.e. marsh] land")
Netherlands Antilles , a territory: From their Dutch owners and from a mythical land or island ( Antillia ), west of Europe, or a combination of two Portuguese words ante or anti (possibly meaning "opposite" in the sense of "on the opposite side of the world") and ilha ("island"), currently the name for these Caribbean Islands.
Rotterdam : meaning 'dam over the Rotte' (the river Rotte flows through present-day Rotterdam)
Stad en Ommelanden for the province of Groningen, meaning "city and surrounding lands" and referring to the city of Groningen and the medieval Frisian lordships west, north and east of the city.
Twente (region in the east of the province of Overijssel): from Latin tvihanti[ citation needed ]; or after the Germanic tribe the Tubantii as described by Tacitus ; or an early form of the current Twents -language word for a 2-year-old horse: Tweanter.
New Zealand
See also: List of New Zealand place names and their meanings
Provinces
Auckland : in honour of George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland , a patron of William Hobson , who founded and named the city of Auckland. The Earl took his sobriquet from Auckland in Durham , United Kingdom, possibly deriving from the Celtic Alclet or Aclet, or "Cliffs of the Clyde". Although nowhere near the River Clyde , the locality may have had connections with the Celtic kingdom of Strathclyde ; it may have borrowed the name of the Clyde for aesthetic or prestige reasons, as Alclet's river - the Gaunless - means "useless" in Old Norse ; or a nearby river may have had the name "Clyde" — history does not record the name of the river Gaunless before the Norse named it
Other categories
Cook Islands , a territory: In honor of British captain James Cook , who discovered the islands in 1770.
Levin : from a director of the railway company that established the town to help boost its railway
Niue , a territory: Niu probably means "coconut," and é means "behold." According to legend, the Polynesian explorers who first settled the island knew that they had come close to land when they saw a coconut floating in the water.
Plimmerton : from John Plimmer, Wellington pioneer, director of the railway company that created the seaside resort to help boost its railway; central Wellington has Plimmer's Steps.
Tasman : district named from the bay name, in honour of Dutchman Abel Tasman , commander of first European expedition to sight the country; also a mountain and glacier name. Abel Tasman National Park bears a fuller version of his name.
Tokelau , a territory: From the Tokelauan "North" or "Northern", in reference to their position relative to Samoa . The Tokelauan people traditionally suppose themselves to have originated from settlers from Samoa.
Waikato : Named after the Waikato River . The hydronym means "flowing water" in Māori.
Norway
Territories
Svalbard , a territory: A compound of Norse roots meaning "cold edge"[ citation needed ]
Pakistan
Afghania ( Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ) - from the native Pashto language for "valley of the Afghans"
Balochistan - Land of the indigenous Balochi people of the Iranian plateau that straddles south-east Iran and south-west Pakistan
Punjab - from the Persian for "Land of Five Rivers" in Central Pakistan
Sindh , Sindhustan or Sindhistan - from "Sindhu," the Sanskrit name for the Land of the Indus River
States
State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir — Azad: Urdu, "Free"; "Kashmir" either:
from the Koshur (Native Kashmiri ) for "mountain tribes people" in north-east Pakistan; or
from Sanskrit Kaśyapa-mīra, sea (or lake) of the Kaśyapa , [43] although some regard this as a folk etymology . [44]
Papua New Guinea
New Britain - in honour of Great Britain. Originally named by William Dampier in the Latin form Nova Britannia; called Neu-Pommern (New Pomerania ) during the period of German colonization until the conquest of the area by Australia in 1914
New Ireland - named after Ireland (with the Latin phrase Nova Hibernia ) by Philip Carteret in 1767 when he established that it differed from nearby New Britain . (Officially known as New Mecklenburg (German: Neumecklenburg or Neu-Mecklenburg) during the period of German New Guinea from 1885 to 1914.)
Peru
Minho : after the river Minho, that passes north of the region
Ribatejo : meaning "near the Tejo (the Tagus river)"
Trás-os-Montes : literally, "behind the hills", its territory is behind the mountains of Serra da Estrela
Romania
For etymologies of Romanian counties, see Etymological list of counties of Romania
Bessarabia - from Basarab I , Wallachian prince who led some expeditions in this land
Bukovina - (in German: "Buchenland")="beech land"
Dobrogea - from Dobrotitsa , ruler of the region in the 14th century [45]
Haţeg - "Terra Herzog"=Duke's land
Muntenia - from muntean=man of the mountains, from Romanian munte=mountain
Oltenia - from the river Olt , called Alutus by the Romans, possibly from Latin lutum, meaning "mud" or "clay".
Transylvania - "beyond the woods" — i.e., from Hungary
Ardeal - possibly a borrowing of the Hungarian name Erdély, like the Romani name Ardyalo — speakers of old Hungarian pronounced Erdély as Erdél. The initial Hungarian "e-" occasionally changes to "a-" in Romanian (compare Hungarian egres "gooseberry" and Egyed, which became agriş and Adjud in Romanian). However, the ending '-eal' in Romanian does not suggest a Romanian borrowing from Hungarian. In parallel examples, Hungarian -ely becomes -ei in Romanian. But when Hungarian adopts a word from Romanian, “a” usually becomes “e”: Andreas becomes Endre, the Latin ager becomes eger, etc. Thus the word Ardeal could become Erdély. - The linguist Josep Lad Pic determined[ citation needed ] that the word "Ardeal" has an Indo-European origin, while the words Erdely and Erdo do not. The Proto-Indo-European root *arde ("to grow", "high") manifests itself in the Old Indian árdhuka ("prospering"), and in Latin arduus ("high"). In Celtic Gaul, Arduenna silva parallels the English " Forest of Arden " and the Ardennes Woods in Belgium. In Romanian, deal means "hill" and ardica “to grow, high, prosperous”.
Wallachia - "land of the Romance-speaking people"
Russia
Amur River : Amur comes from the Tungus amor for "great or big river".
Arkhangelsk Oblast : the region of the city of Arkhangelsk , whose name the inhabitants traditionally associated with a monastery in the area dedicated to the Archangel Michael (Russian: Архангел Михаил or Arkhangel Mikhail).
Chechnya : the Russian ethnonym Chechen probably derives from the name of the ancient village of Chechana or Chechen-aul . The village stands on the bank of the Argun River , near Grozny . Another theory derives the name from chechenit' sya, "to talk mincingly". [46] Vasmer suggests a Kabardian origin: šešen. [47] The native term, Noxçi, comes from nexça (sheep cheese), nox (plow) or from the prophet Noah (Nox in Chechen).
Dagestan : the word Daghestan or Daghistan ( Avar : Дагъистан; Arabic and Persian : داغستان) means "country of mountains"; it derives from the Turkic word dağ, meaning "mountain" and the Persian suffix -stan meaning "land of". The spelling Dagestan transliterates the Russian name, which lacks the voiced velar fricative .
Grozny or Groznyy: Russian for "stern" or "severe" (as the adjective describing a fort)
Kaliningrad Oblast : from the Russian name Kaliningrad (Kalinin-city) of its largest city, renamed in 1946 to commemnorate Mikhail Kalinin
Kazan (former Imperial Russian governorate): (compare the name of the city of Kazan )
Khabarovsk Krai : the Khabarovsk region. The city of Khabarovsk took its name from the explorer Yerofey Khabarov
South Africa
Before 1994
Map of the provinces of South Africa before 1994: Cape Colony (1), Orange Free State (2), Natal (3), and Transvaal (4).
Transvaal : literally beyond the Vaal River , which acted as its southern border.
Natal : see below at KwaZulu-Natal.
Orange Free State : the Free State operated as an independent country (Free State) during most of the 19th century. The adjective Orange came from the Orange River to the south/south-west of the province, in turn named in 1779 by Robert Jacob Gordon (1743–1795), commander of the Cape Colony garrison (1780–1795), in honour of the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau . [59]
After 1994
2009 map of South African provinces
Eastern Cape , Northern Cape , Western Cape : from the Cape of Good Hope , the site of the first European settlement in today's South Africa, which would give its name to Cape Town , Cape Colony , and the former Cape Province , of which each of the three named provinces originally formed a part.
Free State : the popular contraction of this province's historic predecessor, the Orange Free State .
Gauteng : The Sesotho name for the province's and country's largest city of Johannesburg . The literal meaning, "Place of Gold", refers to the area's large gold-mining industry.
KwaZulu-Natal : a combination of the names of the two entities that merged to form the modern province:
KwaZulu : a bantustan formed in the apartheid era, ostensibly as a "homeland" for the Zulu
Natal : Portuguese for "Christmas". The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama named the area: he landed on the coast of the future KwaZulu-Natal on Christmas Day in 1497.
Limpopo : the Limpopo River forms the province's and the country's most northern boundary.
Mpumalanga : "east", or more literally, "the place where the sun rises", in several Nguni languages , among them Swazi , Xhosa , and Zulu . Refers to the province's location in the north-east of South Africa.
North West : From its geographic position, in the north of the country and west of the main population-centre of Gauteng.
Spain
Andalusia : from the Arabic name ( Al-Andalus , with several suggested etymologies) formerly applied to the whole Iberian Peninsula
Aragon : from the Aragon River , that gave its name to the county of Aragon, one of the little Christian polities that resisted Islamic rule in Spain during its greatest extent (see Reconquista )
Asturias : the land of the Astures , an early people of north-west Spain
Basque Country ( Basque : Euskal Herria): from the ancient tribe of the Vascones , whose name became an ethnonym in the Middle Ages. The Basque name derives from Euskara (the autochthonous name for the Basque language).
Álava ( Basque : Araba): of uncertain etymology. Various theories see it deriving from a Roman town called Alba, from several prossible Basque etymologies and even from Arabs (who, however, never occupied the province for long). A chronicle of 905 uses the form Arba, but later the word commonly appears as Alaba or Alava.
Biscay ( Basque : Bizkaia, Spanish : Vizcaya): variant of bizkarra ("shoulder", "back" or, in this case, "mountain range" in Basque)
Guipuscoa ( Basque : Gipuzkoa, Spanish : Guipúzcoa): of unknown etymology. Old documents sometimes use the variant Ipuscoa.
Cantabria : from the Cantabri , a mountain people defeated by the Romans only after a great military effort ( Cantabrian Wars , 29 - 19 BC). Celtologists have suggested a derivation from the Celtic root cant-, meaning "rock" or "stone", and from the suffix -abr, used frequently in Celtic regions. From this we can deduce that the word "cantabrus" means "dwelling in the mountains ", referring to the rugged terrain of Cantabria. Another suggestion derives Cantabria from the Celtic Kant ("mountain" or "rock") and Iber (the river Ebro ), thus "The Mountains of the Ebro". Spaniards also call this region La Montaña ("The Mountain"), but usually call the Bay of Biscay the Cantabrian Sea .
Castile : the Spanish/Castilian name Castilla reflects the Spanish castillo ("castle") and the Latin castellum ("fort" or "fortress") with reference to numerous forts or castles erected by King Alfonso I for the defence of the area
Catalonia : from the castlà ("castellan") class who governed the nascent feudal Catalonia from their castles in the 11th and 12th centuries. (Compare the etymology of " Castile ".) Other parallel theories exist: Lafont (1986) says Catalunya could come from Arabic Qalat-uniyya (Qalat means "castle" and -uniyya operates as a collective suffix) because medieval Catalonia formed a border country with a lot of castles in front of the Muslim and Arabized zone of the Iberic peninsula. Some texts suggest that the name Catalunya derives from "Gauta-landia": land of the Goths, or "Goth-Alania" meaning "Land of the Goths and Alans" [60] through Arabian *Cotelanuyya [cf. Andalusia, land of the Vandals], as the Visigoths and Alans invaded and divided Iberia between themselves, agreeing to rule some parts together, with the region of Catalunya going to the Visigoths. Additionally, the Visigothic kingdom of Catalonia may have taken its name from that of the original homeland of the Visigoths, "Gotland". Coromines suggests an Iberian origin: Laietani (latinization of Iberian laiezken) > *laketani > laketans > metathesized as catelans > catalans, re-inforced by castellani (with an epenthetic s according to Coromines). Another theory suggests *kaste-lan as the Iberian name, later Latinized as castellani (an Iberian tribe in northern Catalonia according to Ptolemy ); then the name would have evolved into *catellani > *catelans > *Catalans.
Extremadura : from Medieval Latin Extrema Dorii (literally, "extremes of the Douro river"), referring to the territories south of the Douro basin; or from an Old Castilian word used to designate the further territories controlled by the Christians (see Reconquista )
Galicia : from Latin Gallaecia , the name of the province created in Roman Hispania by Diocletian in 298 CE. It derives from gallicoi or callicoi, (Galli or Celts ).
León : the ancient kingdom and subsequent province of León take their name from the city of León , whose name derives from its position as the base of a Roman legion (Latin legio)
Navarre (Spanish: Navarra, Basque: Nafarroa): from the Kingdom of Navarre . Navarra has been argued to have either a Basque or Romance etymology. In the first case it would come from nabar ("brownish, multicolor", also "plowshare"), in the second from nava ("river bank").
Rioja : speculatively interpreted as "red" from the redness of a prominent soil type in the area. [61]
Sweden
Historical Provinces
Sweden formerly consisted of historical provinces (Swedish: landskap), and the province-names still often serve to describe locations in Sweden. Their names often date from before the year 1000. Officially Sweden now subdivides into counties (Swedish: län), introduced in 1634.
Historical provinces:
Jämtland : from Jämtland, the historical province.
Västerbotten : from Västerbotten, the historical province.
Norrbotten : from Norrbotten, the historical province.
Switzerland
Aargau : German name labelling the district ( Gau ) of the River Aar .
Appenzell : from Latin abbatis cella, meaning "land of the abbot", referring to the fact that Appenzell originally belonged to the Abbey of St. Gall .
Basel : traditionally associated with the Greek basileus ("king") or basileos ("of the king"): the city saw itself as preserving the Imperial Roman heritage of its parent settlement, the Roman town of Augusta Raurica . Note the use of the basilisk as a Basler icon.
Bern : German Bär[e]n (bears): reflected in the capital city 's bear-pits , foundation-legend and coat-of-arms
Graubünden : (the German name literally means "grey leagues") — from the Grey League , a grey-clad organisation started in 1395.
Neuchâtel : French for "new castle"; Neuenburg (with the same semantic meaning) in German
Schwyz : named after the town of Schwyz ; the origin of the town name is unknown.
St Gallen : from Saint Gall (c. 550 - c. 646), traditionally the Irish founder/namesake of the Abbey of St. Gall which came to dominate the area.
Solothurn : the city of Solothurn , capital of the Canton of the same name, first appears under the Celtic name Salodurum.
Thurgau : an early medieval Gau county named after the River Thur .
Ticino : from the principal river of the canton, the Ticino , a tributary of the Po River .
Uri : (speculatively) from the older German Aurochs, a wild ox (see aurochs ); or from the Celtic word ure, a bull. (Note the head of the bull on the cantonal coat of arms.)
Valais (French), Wallis (German): from the Latin word vallis, meaning "valley"; the canton consists mainly of the Rhone valley.
Zurich : after the city of Zurich , called Turicum in 2nd century Latin; the origin of the Latin name is unknown.
Thailand
Nonthaburi : Probably comes from Nuanwulifu in Chinese ( Chinese : 暖武里府), means Warm military in house, or probably from Nontri, the provincial tree of Nonthaburi province.
Phitsanulok : " Vishnu 's Heaven", from Thai Phitsanu (cognate with Vishnu ) and lok ("globe")
Ukraine
Traditional regions
Most of Ukraine's oblasts take their names from their principal city; but Volyn Oblast, Zakarpattia Oblast, and the Crimean Autonomous Republic offer exceptions to this rule. See also subdivisions of Ukraine .
Zaporizhia Oblast : from the city Zaporizhia , in turn after region "beyond the rapids" (seventeenth century), downstream of the rapids of the River Dnieper
Zhytomyr Oblast : from the city Zhytomyr (988), after Zhytomyr, prince of the Drevlians
United Kingdom
For etymologies of the United Kingdom's counties, see Etymological list of counties of the United Kingdom .
Territories
Anguilla , an overseas territory : "eel", for its elongated shape, from either Spanish anguila, Italian anguilla, or French anguille, as it is uncertain whether the island was first sighted by Christopher Columbus in 1493 or by French explorers[ who? ] in 1564. [63]
Bermuda , an overseas territory: "Land of Bermúdez", from the Spanish La Bermuda, from the Spanish captain Juan de Bermúdez who sighted the island in 1505 while returning from Hispaniola . [64]
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI), an overseas territory:
South Georgia: "Land of George ", from the original "Isle of Georgia" bestowed by British captain James Cook in honor of King George III on 17 January 1775. "South" distinguished it from the other colony of Georgia , which became an American state in 1782.
South Sandwich Islands: Bestowed by British captain James Cook in honor of John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich , who at the time was First Lord of the Admiralty and helped fund Cook's voyages. "South" distinguished them from the other Sandwich Islands, now known by their native name Hawaii .
Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), an overseas territory:
Turks Islands: for the indigenous Turk's-cap cacti (Melocactus communis)
Caicos Islands: from the indigenous Lucayan caya hico, meaning "string of islands".
United States
For etymologies of American counties, see Lists of U.S. county name etymologies .
Territories
Baker Island National Wildlife Refuge, an unincorporated territory: for American captain Michael Baker of New Bedford, Massachusetts , who claimed to have discovered it in 1832 or 1834, despite being the third to have done so. [66]
Guam , a territory: From the native Chamorro word guahan, meaning "we have".
Howland Island , a territory: Bestowed by Capt. George E. Netcher in honor of the lookout who sighted it from his ship, the Isabella, on 9 September 1842.
Jarvis Island , a territory: Bestowed by the British Captain Brown[ who? ] in honor of Edward, Thomas, and William Jarvis, the owners of his vessel the Eliza Francis.
Johnston Atoll , a territory: For British captain Charles J. Johnston , commander of the Cornwallis , who discovered the atoll on 14 December 1807.
Kingman Reef , a territory: For Capt. W.E. Kingman , who discovered the reef aboard the Shooting Star on 29 November 1853.
Midway Islands , a territory: For their geographic location, perhaps from the islands' situation midway between North America and Asia, or their proximity to the International Date Line (halfway around the world from the Greenwich Meridian ). [67]
Middlebrook Islands or the Brook Islands, former names: For their discoverer, Captain N.C. Middlebrooks .
Navassa Island , a territory: From the Spanish Navaza (nava- meaning "plain" or "field")[ citation needed ], bestowed by members of Christopher Columbus 's crew who discovered the island while attempting to return to Hispaniola from Jamaica
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Bath
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Eastern Thrace refers to which part of Turkey?
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Bahrain This Month - October 2013 by Red House Marketing - issuu
YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE
HOME SUBSCRIBERS COPY
October 2013 ~ Vol. 17 ~ Issue 10 www.bahrainthismonth.com
Bahrain Music Festival www.bahrainthismonth.com
Micky Jagtiani 40 Years On Ramee Grand 5-Star Opens
Featured This Month:
Ruthless Romans | Germany in Bahrain | New In Town
HAPPENINGS ~ DINING ~ ARTS SCENE ~ CLUBS & SPORTS ~ KIDS’ EVENTS ~ AFTER DARK ~ SAT TV
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Issue 194
Contents October 2013 Cover Story:
23 Music for all Seasons The annual international music festival always throws up a surprise or two; this year is no exception with another
23
compelling roster of talent to grace our ears.
Happenings: Bahrain This Month reviews events happening around town during the month of October 2013:
30
42
23 Borderless Tunes: The international music festival is back in town 26 Think Pink: Awareness month to highlight breast cancer 30 Ruthless Romans: A comic take on British history 44 Lahore on Canvas: Thajba Najeeb showcases her hometown 48 Toast for Tails: World Animal Day in the spotlight 50 One Step at a Time: Bahrain British School’s arts academy shows the way 23-50 Calendars: Events during October
Personality:
74 Diplomacy of Influence The Kingdom’s most senior diplomat tells Bahrain This Month what currently heads the agenda at the Ministry of
82
Foreign Affairs.
Spotlight:
76 A Habit of Success Forty years after opening his first retail shop in the Kingdom, the Forbes-listed billionaire Micky Jagtiani reveals he still has a soft spot for Bahrain.
92
82 Changing Mindsets You’ve probably seen them starting to appear on our streets;
Bystander
Eyad Fakhri, the acting CEO of Arabian Taxi, explains what
At BTM we celebrated Malaysian National Day, took in the summer festival at Coral Bay and swooned over the new MercedesBenz S Class. We tasted the latest addition to McDonalds’ menu, spiced up our Friday brunch at the Crowne Plaza and went for an Italian bite at the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa. The Scorpions turned out not to be as nasty at the name sounds!
84 New Frontiers
the ‘yellow cabs’ are all about.
Invigorated by the opening of the first five-star hotel for the Ramee Group, Shantaram Shetty looks towards expanding the hotelier’s footprint in the Kingdom.
October 2013 7
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Issue 194
Contents October 2013 Germany in Bahrain:
91 Encouraging Signs We take a look at the contribution that Germany makes to the economic and social fabric of the Kingdom in this annual review.
129
New in Town: This month we take a look at what’s new in town. From new hotels to restaurants, and new schools to care hire services, there’s much to do and see. 129 New Temptations: A look at new products and services around town 158 Dining Discourse: Our restaurant scene is alive and well!
Downtime:
143
157
109 Football Madness: How to spend a billion 110 A Guy’s Best Friend: What the doctor ordered … 112 Showcase: Lulu Hypermarket gadgets 116 Music: Rock and roll till dawn 118 Computer Games: The theft is a legend 119 Websites: An oyster on the vine 120 Apps: Driving a soccer ball 121 Movies: No time to rush
Motoring:
141 Uniquely Athletic: Hyundai Sonata 142 Briefs: Land Rover Sport and Ford Explorer 144 Showcase: Toyota Zelas
Dining:
157 Poolside Fiesta: Gulf Night Out returns 158 Happenings: Where to dine this month 167 Showcase: Friday brunch at Spices Indian Restaurant
149
173
After Dark:
173 A Hybrid Form: Ibrida opens at the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa 174 Happenings: Where to be seen this month 179 Showcase: Halloween at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa
Showcase:
149 Home Furniture and Furnishings: Autumn collections 187 What’s New: Dreamy scents 188 Marketplace: Latest products and services
Book your Trip at Regulated Tariff www.bahrainthismonth.com
Regulars:
205 WIN WIN 206 Tarotscope 207 AD Index 208 Last Word October 2013 9
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The team
Bahrain This Month October 2013
Publisher and Chairman George F. Middleton Email: [email protected] Publishing Director David M. Robertson Editorial queries: [email protected] Editorial Consultant Dr. Paul Balles Assistant Editor Elma Bartholomew, Ankita Mamgain
Dear Readers,
Contributors James Claire (dining), Simi Kamboj Bystander Editor Anil Ravi Shankar Print Production Manager Sabu Sebastian Layout and Graphics Dalal Al-Sabbagh, Romeo San Miguel, Rodolfo A. Reyes Jr. Staff Photographers Shankar Kunhambu, Subeesh Kumar N S Administration and Finance Samson Vaz, Marlyn Ragasa Personnel Manager Bassem A. Al Khabbaz Media Sales Marise Prata Dos Santos, Hilary James Circulation Manager Fawaz Al Balooshi Distribution Team CM Abdul Rahman, Rafeeq Mohammed, Gopal Arul Kumar, Epegenio Tempra Jr. Distributor Al Hilal Corporation Photography Picture Arabia: [email protected] Printing Press Dar Akhbar Al Khaleej W.L.L., Bahrain Published monthly by
Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. P.O. Box 641, No. 1 Seaton Place St., Helier Jersey JE48JJ, Channel Islands, U.K.
Red House Marketing P.O. Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain Tel: (+973) 17 813-777, Fax: (+973) 17 813-700 Email: [email protected] www.bahrainthismonth.com © Copyright Reserved 2005 The concept, content, style and design of this publication remain the exclusive property of Red House Marketing (Jersey) Ltd. and must not be reproduced in any form whatsoever without prior written permission. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication. However, Red House Marketing cannot accept legal responsibility for any error or omission. expressed in this magazine by journalists •andViews writers are not necessarily those of the publishers of Bahrain This Month.
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1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION Bahrain: BD24
Cover
Cover Picture: Palestine National Ensemble of Arabic Music, Al Kamandjati, performs at the Bahrain International Music Festival this month. YOUR GUIDE TO A GREAT WAY OF LIFE
BD 2.000 (SR 20)
October 2013 ~ Vol. 17 ~ Issue 10
Mark Twain once famously said that October was a peculiarly dangerous month to speculate in stocks. He then went on to list a further 11 months of the year in which speculating was also not a good idea! This month’s issue, as the cover notes, is built around the theme ‘New in Town’. The reality, of course, is that we need to speculate in order to accumulate, and there would appear to be no shortage of investors willing to embark on new ventures within the Kingdom. From new hotels to dining venues, perfumes and car hire services, we are perennially hungry as both entrepreneurs and consumers to try something new. Our two main business interviews exemplify our desire to keep moving forward. Eyad Fakhri aims to encourage our use of public transport by launching Arabian Taxis’ yellow cab service. In the hospitality sector, Shantaram Shetty, the group general manager for the Ramee Group in the Kingdom, is eying up further five-star properties around the island. Those in need of a successful role model in the business world need look no further than the billionaire featured in our spotlight article. Reading his story of personal tragedy one can only wonder at the drive and perseverance required to turn a single shop in the Kingdom into an organisation that now employs 45,000 people. Micky Jagtiani, whom I am proud to call one of my closest friends, started his business life here 40 years ago and is back in town this month to celebrate this milestone. Another individual whose career is littered with significant achievements is the Kingdom’s most senior diplomat. Karim Al Shakar has an unshakeable belief in tolerance as the only path to resolve conflicts. This month’s issue includes our annual review of ‘Germany in Bahrain’, with the ambassador to the Kingdom indicating that she is encouraged by positive signs that, both at home and here, the future is on an upward curve. As one would expect for this time of the year our happenings pages are packed full of events taking place around town. We can take in everything from high fashion at Moda Mall to an entertaining production of life in Roman times. So, whatever you choose to do this month, take time to enjoy the great way of life that the Kingdom has to offer.
Only 6 issues to go.
George F. Middleton Publisher and Chairman
April 2014
Ruthless Romans | Germany in Bahrain | New In Town
HAPPENINGS ~ DINING ~ ARTS SCENE ~ CLUBS & SPORTS ~ KIDS’ EVENTS ~ AFTER DARK ~ SAT TV
www.bahrainthismonth.com
October 2013 11
bystanderthismonth
Malaysian National Day Celebrations HE Ahmad Shahizan Abd Samad, Malaysian Ambassador & the Malaysian Embassy hosted a MERDEKA reception to celebrate Malaysia's 56th Independence Day. The event attended by HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of the Malaysian community & guests was held at the Crowne Plaza's Bahrain Conference Centre
Nor Hayati & HE Ahmed Shahizan
Ibrahim, Sunil, Sameer & Soja
HE Ahmed Shahizan & HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa with members of the diplomatic corps at the cake cutting ceremony
Atiqah, Rosnani, Doris, Lea & Danielle
George, Puneet & Meher
Ali, HE Ahmed Shahizan, Jamal & Azhar
Haugen, Jan, Tyrone, Ali, Aukut & Colin
12 October 2013
Ahmed, HE Ahmed Shahizan & Shaikh Mohammed
Amar, Hanis & Hadi
Nor Hayati, HE Ahmed Shahizan & Ebrahim Kooheji
Sally with Mr & Mrs Gautam Toolsidass
Dr Sarmiento, Jing & Dr Farkhanda
Yamamoto & Yukiko
www.bahrainthismonth.com
THE FASHION CAPITALS OF THE WORLD WITH STARRING HUDA & MONA KATTAN
You are invited for an exclusive sneak peek into the Autumn/Winter 2013 collections, straight from the glitzy Fashion Capitals of the World, New York, London, Milan and Paris. Bahrain’s most premium shopping destination is a must-visit this month as glamourous celebrity duo Huda & Mona Kattan join Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Sally Matthews for an exclusive launch event to unveil the season’s hottest trends, along with an array of high-fashion activities. • Fashion Capitals of the World Event • A Fashion Illustration Showcase by the World-renowned Veronika Kemsky • Women’s Art Exhibition by Noura Bouzo • Fashion Shows, and much more Get ready to immerse yourself in Fashion from September 25th to October 12th, 2013 at MODA Mall.
www.modabwtc.com modamall
moda_mall
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Japanese Ambassador's Reception HE Shigeki Sumi, Japanese Ambassador hosted a reception at this residence to bid farewell to Kohei Akiyama, Counsellor & Deputy Chief of Mission, and to welcome his successor Daisuke Yamamoto
HE Vichai Varasirikul, Nejib & Akiyama
14 October 2013
HE Thomas Krajeski, US Ambassador & HE Shigeki Sumi
Yukiko, Daisuke Yamamoto, Hideko Sumi, HE Shigeki Sumi, Kohei Akiyama & Nobuko
HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador & Nancy
Daisuke Yamamoto
HE Chilman Arisman, Indonesian Ambassador
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Filfil See you on Friday!
Friday is Family day. Especially at Kempinski Treat yourself and your loved ones to our Friday Family Brunch at Baharat, where Arabic specialities complement an international gourmet buffet. Especially for children, our family brunch includes a kids buffet, a fun-filled play area with activities, bouncy castle and friendly mascots! After your meal, take advantage of our special pool offer for brunch guests, and spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing outdoors. +973 1717 1000 | [email protected] | kempinski.com/bahrain
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Mala Kumar's Milestone Birthday Party HE Dr Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador & Mala Kumar hosted a party for a number of friends to celebrate the milestone birthday of Mala. The party was held at the Al Iwan Room in Sheraton Bahrain last month
HE Alberto Vecchi, Italian Ambassador, HE Dr Mohan Kumar, Mala Kumar & Romina Vecchi
HE Iain Lindsay, British Ambassador, Mala Kumar, Bridget Lindsay & HE Dr Mohan Kumar
Nor Hayati & HE Ahmed Shahizan, Malaysian Ambassador
HE Thomas Krajeski, US Ambassador, Bonnie Krajeski, Mala & HE Dr Mohan Kumar
HE Christian Testot, French Ambassador, Zeina Testot, Mala & HE Dr Mohan Kumar
Mala as Eliza Doolittle
Sharon, HE Dr Mohan Kumar, Mala & Irwin
Philippe & Rocio
Jaap, Wendy, Mala, Leylan, Dogan & HE Dr Mohan Kumar
Punnet, Neetha, Mala & HE Dr Mohan Kumar
Lynne, Mala, Shandra & HE Dr Mohan Kumar
Ashalatha, Mala & Shantharam
Qays, Karina, Mala & HE Dr Mohan Kumar
Mala, Qutub & Uzma
Anne & pApA g rapping "An Ode To Mala-jiiii"
Adel & Mona
Mala feeds HE Dr Mohan Kumar the cake
HE Christian Testot, HE Alberto Vecchi, HE Ahmed Shahizan, Nor, Zeina & Qays
pApA g & Mala-jiiii
Mala singing 'Wouldn't it be lovely'
Guests enjoying themselves on the dance floor
Guests on the dance floor
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Asean Foundation Day A flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the Malaysian Embassy in Seef to mark the 46th Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Foundation Day. The event was attended by HE Dato Ahmed Shahizan Abd Samad, Malaysian Ambassador, HE Vichai Varasirikul, Thai Ambassador, HE Sahid S Glang, Philippines Ambassador, HE Chilman Arisman, Indonesian Ambassador, HE Pehin Dato Abduljalil Ahmad, Brunei Ambassador, Embassy staff & members of the Asean communities
HE Sahid S Glang, HE Vichai Varasirikul, HE Chilman Arisman, HE Ahmed Shahizan & HE Abduljalil Ahmad
The Ambassador's cut the celebratory cake
Malaysian Embassy staff
Susan, Ratheesh, HE Ahmed Shahizan & Abdulla
Shariman, E.H. Poh & Sarmiento
happeningsthismonth When? October 20-25 | Event? Bahrain International Music Festival | Venue? National Theatre and Cultural Hall
Crazy Opera
Tunes that Transcend Borders Bringing together some of the best artists from various corners of the world, this harmonious celebration is all set to enthral you this month. The Ministry of Culture delivers the 22nd edition of the Bahrain International Music Festival held under the ‘Manama: Capital of Arab Tourism for 2013’ programme this month. All events are held at the Cultural Hall except for Crazy Opera, the venue for which is the Bahrain National Theatre. Crazy Opera A wonderful fusion of classical opera arias and distinctive Arabic beats, Lebanon’s Crazy Opera delivers an innovative amalgamation of music, dance and chorus on October 20. The group’s soprano, Samar Salamé, deftly combines the talents of Ziad Nehmeh, Roger Abi Nader, Toufic Maatouk, the Beirut Chamber Orchestra, and the Antonine University Choir to deliver a spell-binding performance. Klazz Brothers and Cuban Percussion Jive to the salsa beats with this sensational Latino act on October 21. The five musicians of the group combine their unique talents to produce a one-of-a-kind sound that blends elements of jazz, swing, classical, salsa, and Latin rhythms. Al Kamandjati: Palestine National Ensemble of Arabic Music Bringing together talented artists from across Palestine, this act breathes new life into traditional Arabic musical heritage. Also this month
Witness them deliver a full repertoire of classical and original compositions with their signature touch on October 22. Alim Qasimov Ensemble The music of the Alim Qasimov Ensemble reflects traces of cultures past that are an intrinsic part of the traditional Azerbaijani music known as Mugham. This sure-to-be entrancing performance on October 23, presented in collaboration with the Aga Khan Music Initiative, is not to be missed. Prague Chamber Orchestra Performing on October 24, the Prague Chamber Orchestra displays a brilliant assortment of classical to contemporary scores. Their vivid repertoire encompasses Mozart and Haydn, the High Baroque melodies of Bach and Vivaldi, and Bohemian masters such as Michna and Zelenka. Lena Chamamyan Submit to the melodious strains of the Syrian-Armenian vocalist Lena Chamamyan in the festival’s final show on October 25. Closely connected to her roots, she performs her unique brand of music which skilfully blends the folklore of her native Syria with influences from around the world. All events are free and are held at the Cultural Hall except for Crazy Opera, which is hosted by the National Theatre and tickets for which are available at Virgin Megastore. E Call 17 291-243.
World days Recognise world days this month. When? October 2 Event? Non-violence Day Celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday by promoting nonviolence. When? October 4 Event? Smile Day Start off your day by smiling — every little bit of kindness counts! When? October 5 Event? Denim Day Take a fashion risk and sport an all-denim look today!
When? October 5 Event? Teachers’ Day Show some appreciation for your favourite teacher. When? October 9 Event? Post Day When is the last time you sent a handwritten post to a loved one? When? October 10 Event? Sight Day Blindness is increasing; do your part to raise awareness.
44 x Arts & Culture - 48 x Clubs & Societies - 50 x Teens & Kids - 52 x Sports & Recreation
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October 2013 23
happeningsthismonth When? October 5-6 Event? Abaya exhibition Venue? BIECC A showcase and sale of abayas by regional designers. E Call 77 333-338. When? October 6-11 Event? Luxury goods sale Venue? BIECC Here’s a chance to purchase highend brands at discounted prices. E Call 36 754-942. When? October 9 Event? First aid course Venue? The First Aid Box Learn some important life-support skills and gain a certification. E Call 39 363-622. When? October 11-13 Event? Instagram bazaar Venue? BIECC A platform for Instagram users to market and sell their products. E Call 39 423-421. When? October 12 Event? Kaleidi concert Venue? NEC Premises (Al Raja School) Concert features some local, popular Christian choirs. E Call 33 643-754. When? October 14-19 Event? Eclipse festival Venue? Al Dar Islands Festival for cultural, artistic, musical and adventurous enthusiasts. E Call 17 704-600. When? October 18-19 Event? Gaming expo Venue? BIECC Event that attracts gaming geeks from all over the GCC. E Call 17 536-881. When? October 20-25 Event? International music festival Venue? Cultural Hall and National Theatre Enjoy the rich musical offerings from around the world. E Call 17 291-243. When? October 24 Event? Charity event Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Talk by ex-footballer Neil Ruddock followed by dinner. E Call 17 531-666. When? October 29-31 Event? Career Expo 2013 Venue? BEICC Exhibition provides academic and professional guidance to students. E Call 38 888-223. When? November 2-5 Event? Horrific Histories play Venue? Cultural Hall An evening of Roman history with all the gory details intact. E Call 17 366-666.
24 October 2013
Gaming Bonanza Brace yourselves for two days of complete madness as the IGN Gaming Convention takes place on October 18-19 at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Conference Centre. The event attracts gamers from across the GCC and is the biggest of its kind to be held in the Kingdom. Featuring appearances by international and regional celebrities, you get an opportunity to see the latest in video gaming technology and entertainment companies and vendors all under one roof. The two days promise a variety of activities including exclusive sneak-peeks of unreleased video games, gaming consoles and movies. Learning workshops and a cinema area are parts of the event as well. E Call 17 536-881. Over the moon The Eclipse Festival is tailored for cultural, musical, and adventurous enthusiasts of Bahrain. From families to artists and party-goers, the lengthy roster of events has something for everybody. Al Dar Islands provides the perfect venue with clear blue waters and pristine beaches. The event creates a lifestyle village with local and international cultures, music, food and entertainment mixing together. From October 14-19, the festival features over 21 musical performances, camping, and activities spread across three arenas. On the 18th, the lunar eclipse party includes an international DJ line-up and visuals by ‘Intelligence of Insanity’ from Australia. Bring your tents! E Call 17 704-600.
Enchanting melodies This soulful festival showcases the talents of many Christian choirs across the island. Organised by Cross Factor, the Keleide Festival features a number of music groups such as The Redemption Band, One Voice Choir, The Keleide Band and Joymon Alexander of Rise & Build Ministries. The show is free and will be held on October 12. E Call 33 666-643.
Junior artists Here’s a chance for your kids to show off their creative side in a graffiti wall competition at Seef Mall. Taking place from October 9-12, there’s a raffle draw with the prize winners to be announced on October 13. Simply go to the mall, draw on the graffiti wall, snap a picture and upload your masterpiece on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Seef Mall will run a kids’ area that hosts various activities throughout the month as well. E Call 17 582-888.
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available with VIVA Unlimited Plans
Be the first in Bahrain to get the new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with VIVA. Design your life with the amazing new multitasking device. Visit the nearest VIVA store to get yours now.
happeningsthismonth When? Throughout October | Event? Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Venue? Various
When? October 4 Event? HOG ride Venue? Harley-Davidson store, Budaiya This biking group organises annual ride that starts at 7.30am. E Call 39 777-475.
Think Pink, Think Action Observing the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Kingdom’s businesses and non-profit organisations join hands to inform and educate people about it. Breast cancer, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in women. Despite a plethora of literature available on it, the illness continues to be widely misunderstood by many. The Think Pink Bahrain awareness campaign this year is taking a different approach to educate people about the various detection methods, stages and myths about the condition. They will target men in an innovative programme. “A man with a girlfriend, wife, sister or mother can also play a big part in the fight against breast cancer. We aim to encourage these men to work with the women in their lives so that cancer prevention can be tackled together, not just in isolation,” says Jules Sprakel, Think Pink Bahrain’s founder. The aim is to make men understand the condition and motivate women to undergo monthly check-ups and self-examinations. A number of events and activities have been planned by the society, hoping to engage maximum number of people. Pink calendar On October 4, the Harley Davidson Owners Group conducts an awareness ride that leaves the Harley Davidson Store in Budaiya at 7.30am. Dessange organises a fun 3-hour workout session, the Pink Zumbathon, on October 21, to support the cause. The same day, the Gloss Thinks Pink event is being held at the Marriott Executive Apartments from 11.30am till 2.00 pm. Bahrain City Centre turns pink on October 23, with the Ralph
26 October 2013
Lauren Pink Pony event from 11am till 1pm. On the 29th, the Capital Club hosts the Pink Cadillac Afternoon Tea Event in support of the campaign. A pink Garden Tea Party is being organised by the British Embassy on October 30 from 6.30pm till 8.30pm. Remember the dress code — its pink! Finally on October 31, the campaign ends with a lecture organised by Euromotors and the Land Rover Drive event. On November 1, the Bahrain Cancer Society’s annual walkathon, to raise money, takes place on Amwaj Islands. The 5km walk will commence at 5pm, in front of the ID Design store; participants are requested to gather at 4pm to ensure the walk starts (and ends) on time! City dress code The Bahrain Cancer Society (BCS), in its efforts to raise awareness, has launched ‘Manama — The Pink Capital’ campaign. “We are inviting organizations and companies to support cancer awareness by switching their external building lights to pink, the global colour associated with breast cancer,” noted board secretary, Ahmed Ali Al Nuwakhta. Last year many buildings in Manama turned pink, along with some iconic global landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London in the UK, the Sydney Opera House and the White House in Washington DC. With Bahrain Financial Harbour, Moda Mall and several of Bahrain’s premier hotels already expressing their commitment to the event, the society hopes many more organisations will come forward to support the campaign. E Call 17 233-080 or visit www.thinkpinkbahrain.com; www.bahraincancer.com
When? October 21 Event? Pink zumbathon Venue? Dessange Enjoy a day of zumba and spinning at the fitness club. E Call 17 713-999. When? October 21 Event? Gloss thinks pink Venue? Marriott Executive Apartments The theme for the evening; wear pink — of course! E email [email protected] When? October 23 Event? Ralph Lauren event Venue? Bahrain City Centre A special collection of clothing for cancer awareness is unveiled. E Call 17 112-720. When? October 29 Event? Pink Cadillac afternoon Venue? Capital Club A tea party with a difference; fun and learning combined. E Call 17 100-100. When? October 30 Event? Garden tea party Venue? British Embassy A get-together that brings out survivor stories and much hope. E Call 38 402-448. When? October 31 Event? Land Rover event Venue? TBA An awareness drive organised by Euro Motors. E Call 17 460-460. When? October 31 Event? Euro Motors lecture Venue? TBA A talk on breast cancer detection, treatment, facts and myths. E Call 17 460-460.
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ABU DHABI ALMATY AMMAN DUBAI FEZ JEDDAH MARRAKESH MANAMA
tailor-made experiences for your every moment Tchaba Boutique - Nakheel Centre, Maqabah. Tel: 17-000545
ABU DHABI
MANAMA
happeningsthismonth When? October 24 | Event? Innovation Excellence Seminar | Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu
Innovating for Success Advocating fresh ideas and an out-of-the-box thinking, this seasoned public speaker is in the Kingdom to motivate corporate honchos to young professionals to adopt a novel approach.
Our rapidly evolving world and dynamic markets need novelty that can stand the test of time. In an environment where organisations and countries are striving to reignite their growth engines, a conventional approach might not be the right answer. A popular public speaker and published author on the topic, Braden Kelley brings his ideas in a seminar organised by Expressions Marketing, at Diplomat Radisson Blu on October 24. Having shared his ideas across the world, Braden equips organisations to identify creative opportunities that can lead them to achieve sustainable growth and change. His insight and in-depth research have helped several organisations to leverage the collective wisdom and passion of their employees. The session introduces the participants to the concept of innovation, the process of generating creative ideas and how to employ them to strategically drive organisational growth. A mix of lecture, group exercises, discussions and question and answer session; Braden extensively interacts with attendees. Out of the box Some of the topics to be discussed include understanding the need for innovation, the core of ideation, its strategic application and developing a sustainable business model around it. Additionally, the conference aims to help you identify your tactical necessities for driving growth and renewal, generating new ideas and opportunities and ways to insert
28 October 2013
Braden Kelley
them as a macro enterprise capability. Braden will also elaborate upon his famous ‘nine innovation roles’. Organisation leaders and decision makers, business owners, entrepreneurs, strategic planners, consultants and advisors, can all take part in the seminar. Professionals in the media, public relations, human resources, development and research and university students can get a fresh perspective on reviving corporate conventions and processes. Initiating change Braden Kelley is a seasoned innovation speaker, inbound marketing strategist and social business architect. He has published over 600 articles and is the author of the book Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire. On the advisory board of many companies, his contributions have resulted in increased revenue and effective cost reduction. Braden is passionate about generating new ideas and his work has been translated into French, Spanish and Swedish. Creating creative strategies, effective customer marketing, organisational change and improved performance are his key focus areas. An MBA from London Business School, he served in the United States Navy before he left it to pursuing a career as a knowledge management and collaboration consultant in Silicon Valley. E Call 17 744-939.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
The Domain, Diplomatic Area, Manama, Bahrain Tel: +973 16 000 222 /thedomainbahrain
@domainbahrain
@domainbahrain
happeningsthismonth When? November 2-5 | Event? Horrible Histories performance | Venue? The Cultural Hall
Horrible Romans! All the world’s a stage Founded by actor-manager Neal Foster, the Birmingham Stage Company (BSC) is one of UK’s leading producers of theatre for children, adults and families. A resident of the Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham, it has worked with Britain’s finest writers, including David Almond, Terry Deary, Michael Morpugo, Phillip Pullman and David Wood. Over two decades old, the company celebrated its 21st anniversary with three world premieres of the new productions of Roald Dahl and Philippa Pearce classics. Since its foundation in 1992, it has staged over seventy productions for adults and children. Some of the actors that have worked for BSC are Stephen Mangan, Simon Callow, Richard Dreyfuss, Amanda Donohoe, Indira Joshi, Corin Redgrave, Eva Pope, Diana Coupland, Barry Stanton, Marcus D’Amico and Honor Blackman. The world’s first major stage production of The Jungle Book was staged by the BSC. The company is proud to have brought Horrible Histories to the stage with eight world premieres. Among them have been Awful Egyptians, Ruthless Romans, Terrible Tudors, Vile Victorians, Frightful First World War and Woeful Second World War. All have featured ground-breaking 3D Bogglevision! E Call 17 366-666.
UK’s leading drama company brings its star act to the Kingdom to rewrite history with a dash of humour.
30 October 2013
Here’s a history lesson you’ll never forget. One of the United Kingdom’s most acclaimed theatre groups, the Birmingham Stage Company, brings to the island a crash course in medieval methods that will surely put many textbooks to shame. Served on a humorous platter are the tales of evil emperors, gallant knights and bloodthirsty gladiators. The epic drama recreates the magic woven by Terry Deary in his book Horrible Histories: Ruthless Romans, revealing the grim reality behind one of the greatest empires of all times. From the terrible twins who founded Rome to barbaric rulers that made murder a sport, it has all the details that often get lost in translation when it comes to children’s books. The one-hour show promises all the nasty bits and much more. Join Julius Caesar in his battle to be the emperor and experience the awful tactics of the Roman army. Hold on tight for a terrifying journey back into Roman Britain with Queen Boudica and prepare to meet the sword-slaying Spartacus! Director Phil Clark captains the show with a seasoned cast comprising Tessa Vale, Chris Gunter, Ashley Bowden and Mark Paterson. The show comes to Bahrain on November 2. Remember to sit tight in your seats after the show and join the cast and crew for a 20-minute question and answer session. There’s even an opportunity to have your photos taken with them!
www.bahrainthismonth.com
happeningsthismonth FOOD & HOSPITALITY EXPO 2014
A Taste of Bahrain One of the leading hospitality industry expos in the GCC is now stronger than ever, with more companies participating each year.
The sixth annual Food & Hospitality Expo business-to-business event is a core component of the Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority’s (BECA) annual exhibitions’ calendar. With the support of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the event is powered by Tamkeen. The event is dedicated to the food, beverage, hospitality and packing technology industries. This year’s expo will bring together an international audience of buyers, retailers, distributors, food and beverage professionals, and the relevant media. It is an ideal opportunity to facilitate deals between buyers, sellers, importers and exporters worldwide. The Kingdom of Bahrain has succeeded in combining modern styles of hospitality with traditional Bahraini styles. The industry is growing year by year, with new restaurants, hotels and concepts appearing. This platform is important in bringing together key players and showcasing what Bahrain can do in terms of international hospitality. The exhibition is not just meant for members of the industry. Visitors can come and enjoy the chefs competition, which sees local chefs competing for the best dish, with live cooking on stage. They can also sample some of the exhibitors’ products and participate in raffle draws by the sponsors. BECA chief executive officer, Hassan Jaffar Mohamed, highlighted the importance of this expo. “We are continually working towards growing the Food & Hospitality Expo along with the other exhibitions in the calendar in order to grow and develop business tourism in Bahrain,” he says.
“This is in line with BECA’s objectives to promote the Kingdom of Bahrain as the regional exhibition and conference hub and develop the meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions sector.” The aim of the expo is to provide unique business opportunities for trading companies within the relevant industries. Early exhibitor bookings are encouraged to guarantee space for a special rate. The event will run for three days and is open from 10am to 7pm daily with free entry to all. E Visit www.beca.bh or follow @bahexpo on Facebook and Twitter.
When? April 15-17, 2014 | Event? Food & Hospitality expo | Venue? Bahrain International Exhibition & Conference Centre
32 October 2013
...a new look, the same heart
Enjoy 5 days of fun! 1
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ay nesd Wed th
Including the amazing, interactive
Digital Graffiti Wall! Plus: Seef Story Telling, Face Painting, Movie Time, Henna Painting, Balloon Twisters and so much more... Seef Mall is celebrating the launch of our fun new logo which shows our brand’s friendly energy and sincere commitment to you, our loyal customers. The Seef Mall family is growing with Seef Malls now in both the Seef District and Isa Town and we are soon launching in Muharraq. To celebrate, we invite you and your whole family to share in the fun!
9
th
happeningsthismonth When? November 20-December 3 | Event? Faulty Towers dining experience | Venue? InterContinental Regency Hotel
The Customer is Wrong! Brace yourself for a laughing riot as the globetrotting tribute to one of the most famous British sitcoms returns to the Kingdom. After its Manama debut last year, the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers’ tribute act has only grown stronger. This amusing show returns to Bahrain to bring down the curtain on a successful world tour. With its roaring popularity, the show today boasts eight teams of cast members who between them have toured over 20 countries and appeared at major arts festivals. This hit act has even enjoyed a season at the Sydney Opera House while maintaining a London West residency. Renamed ‘Faulty Towers’ — to distinguish it from the original TV series — the dining experience debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2008. Performing this year in Bahrain are Suzanna Hughes as Sybil, Ed Howells as Manuel and Rob Langston as Basil. All you have to do is settle in and buckle up for a two-hour ride of highly improvised comedy. Only a third of the show is scripted, so there’s plenty room for impromptu gags. This rib-tickling dinner is served from November 20 at British Embassy, 21st to December 3, at the InterContinental Regency Hotel and Dilmun Club on December 1. Tickets start from BD30. For more information visit www.faultytowers.bh. The Chuckle Club in October Internationally acclaimed stand-up comedians Dana Alexander, Carey Marx and Mark Stephenson keep the humour mill turning during October. Catch them in action at the Bahrain Rugby Football Club, The British Club and InterContinental Regency Hotel on October 9, 10 and 11 respectively. E Call 36 663-509.
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Malaysian Ambassador's Dinner HE Dato Ahmad Shahizan Abd Samad, Malaysian Ambassador hosted a networking dinner to built positive working relationships with Bahraini dignitaries at the Signature Grill in the Capital Club
Faidzul, Nazri, Kushairi, Ahmed Zubir, HE Ahmed Shahizan, Dr Mohammed, Suryono, Nasawdin & Shahriman
Nurul, Hani, Nor Hayati, Tazimah, Suraini & Fatima
Suraini & Nurul
Tel. 17.564444 - Fax. 17.564466 email: [email protected] Seef district, facing Ritz Carlton Entrance - Palace Palms Bldg.
www.natuzzi.com
Benvenuti a casa.
happeningsthismonth When? Throughout October | Event? Kids’ Dig | Venue? Bahrain Science Centre BAHRAIN SCIENCE CENTRE
Junior Archaeologists Kids get a lesson in history in an innovative way this month when their curious instincts help them uncover facts about their own civilization.
The Bahrain Science Centre (BSC) has launched an ingenious project that introduces children to archaeology through a dummy digging expedition. The ‘Kid’s Dig’ that starts this month and runs till the end of the year, is a miniature replica of an archaeological site, where excavation of various artefacts is carried out under supervision. Essentially a large, shallow sand pit, it is filled to a depth 35 centimetres with dry sand and contains 124 different cultural and natural history relics. Children use tools such as spades, rakes, brushes and sieves to excavate the pieces. Once found, the objects are placed in plastic bags and labelled. A facilitator then assists the junior archaeologists to describe what the object really is and the information it gives about past civilisations. The session ends with a brief statement about the importance of archaeological research and Bahrain’s rich archaeological heritage. Workshops There are many more programmes running at the BSC. A number of Mad Science workshops are scheduled throughout the month. On October 1, 6 and 21 there is a lecture and demonstration on static electricity and on October 5 and 26 Geo Lab workshops are organised. If interested in photography, you can learn the science behind it in a workshops on October 7 and 24. E Call 17 686-466.
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Sepak Takraw At Al A'ali Mall As part of the celebration of 46th Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) Foundation Day, a game called 'Sepak Takraw' - a native sport to the Malay-Thai Peninsula, was also held at the Al A'ali Mall last month
HE Sahid S Glang, Philippines Amabbasdor, HE Chilman Arisman, Indonesian Ambassador HE Vichai Varasirikul, Thai Ambassador, HE Ahmed Shahizan, Malaysian Ambassador & HE Abduljalil Ahmad, Brunei Ambassador
Worraroj, Sarah, Panee & Paween
Ratna, Sukma, Nor Hayati, Hani & Rosnani
36 October 2013
happeningsthismonth When? Throughout October | Event? Charity Campaign | Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa
A Box of Happiness
For the third consecutive year, the Box Appeal charity campaign is taking place to support the less advantaged. Led by the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa the programme runs throughout the month. Created in 2008, the initiative involves members of the public filling up boxes with essential items and donating them for distribution to people in need. You can be part of it by collecting empty boxes from the hotel reception, filling them with the listed items and returning them to the collection point or directly to the hotel. They are typically filled with 12 essential items such clothes, toiletries, books and stationery. No money, food or used items should be placed in the boxes, which will then be distributed to less-privileged workers in Bahrain. This programme is part of the Diplomat Radisson Blu Responsible Business Programme which supports and raises awareness for environmental and community-related issues. In total, 15 Radisson Blu, Radisson Royal, and Park Inn by Radisson hotels are encouraging the people across Middle East and Northern Africa to get involved in supporting humanitarian charities. This year, the Box Appeal has included two new countries, Jordan and Lebanon, in addition to Bahrain, the UAE, Egypt, Qatar and Oman. Last year over 13,000 boxes were donated — a sign of the generosity and compassion of individuals and corporates across the region. E Call 17 531-666.
A social responsibility initiative, carried out by a leading hospitality group, returns to the Kingdom with the hope of helping millions in need.
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Bahrain City Centre 5th Anniversary Under the patronage of HE Dr Hassan Fakhro, Minister of Industry & Commerce, the Bahrain City Centre celebrated its 5th anniversary last month. Senior officials from Majid Al Futtaim Properties, shoppers and visitors to the mall celebrated the event that was held at the Mall's Central Galleria
Duaij Al Rumaihi
Fatima, Ali, Aysha, Zakeena & Sara
Baraa, Zainab & Nabeela
happeningsthismonth When? Throughout October | Event? Indian festivals | Venue? Various
Festive Fervour
Indian expatriate societies bring the community together to celebrate their festivals and keep traditions alive. This month there is an abundance of such event around town.
This is perhaps the most exciting part of the year for the Kingdom’s Indian community as they prepare to celebrate some of their main cultural festivals. Members of the Indian Ladies Association (ILA) are back with their annual Navratri carnival. Dress to impress in your finest Indian attire and practise your best garba and dandiya moves. Held at Crowne Plaza hotel’s convention centre on October 3; the event includes live entertainment and dinner. Prizes will be given to the best costumes and dance. The proceeds from the event will go to the Sneha organisation. E Call 39 757-329. Navratri celebrations are also under way at Gujarati Samaj Bahrain. An exciting programme that involves dandiya and garba dances, authentic Gujarati cuisine and fun games and prizes is being arranged on October 17. E Call 38 882-930. Festivities at The Indian Club begin with Eid on October 16. The next day they host a Navratri event with the traditional dance and dinner. The Melody Makers band flies in from Mumbai for the evening’s entertainment. E Call 39 401-279. The Bengali community gets together for the Durga Puja festival this month. The celebrations at Bongio Samaj begin on October 10 and end on Dussehra, which is on the14th. Look forward to a traditional Bengali feast with group games, live music and loads of fun. E Call 39 151-598.
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Scooby Doo Show Cartoon favourite ScoobyDoo took to the stag last month at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIEC), Sanabis. The show was held as part of the Bahrain Summer Festival
Scooby-Doo entertains the audience
happeningsthismonth When? October 1-12 | Event? Fashion festival | Venue? Moda Mall
Huda and Mona Kattan and Sally Mathews
MODA MALL
Fashion Central Bringing together the island’s most stylish folk, all under one roof, this fashion fiesta offers the best of the runways from across the globe.
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The Kingdom’s all set to put its most fashionable foot forward as the couture connoisseurs come together for the Moda Mall Fashion Festival, 2013. With a line-up of exciting purchases, exhibitions, contests and special guests, the event promises to up the island’s style quotient by many a notch. The high-end shopping festival includes a number of fashionthemed initiatives such as an illustration display, illustration masterclass and the ‘Fashion Capitals of the World’ event. A women’s art exhibit, showcasing the works of some Saudi artists is part of the two-week long programme as well. In addition, the festival presents you with an opportunity to meet well-known beauty and fashion trendsetters in the industry. This fashion extravaganza aims to transform Moda Mall into an international fashion hub, with display stands bringing forth the characteristic style of cities such as London, New York, Paris and Milan. The mall becomes your ultimate shopping destination with the latest collections of clothes, accessories and lifestyle products from each of these stye-capitals. Moda Mall has invited UAE-based beauty and fashion bloggers Mona and Huda Al Kattan to unveil the Fashion Capitals of the World Exhibition at the Fashion Court. The design contest gives the island’s creative fashionistas a chance to attend a live class, led by ace fashion illustrator, Veronica Kemsky.
Enjoy an energising break at the pop-up Italian coffee shop, located at the jewellery court, which will run throughout the duration of festival. On offer are a variety of Italian snacks, such as homemade sweets, savoury bites, salads, cold sandwiches and fresh roasted Stumptown coffee from 10am to 10pm. Home of luxury This high-end shopping destination boasts the biggest names in the international and local fashion scene. Your are spoilt for choice with over 120 leading luxury brands ranging across Fendi, Dior, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Versace and many more. In addition to the aisles of luxurious merchandise, Moda Mall houses a state-of-the-art health club. After shopping, one can take a scrumptious halt at a variety of restaurants such as Abd El Wahab, Maki and several venues at the Sheraton Hotel. E Call 17 535-140.
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happeningsartsculture When? October 1-18 | Event? Art exhibition | Venue? Capital Club
Lahore on Canvas
When? October 1-10 Event? Styling workshop Venue? Al Riwaq Gallery Join Leticia Orue as she uncovers the aesthetics of styling. E Call 17 717-441. When? October 1-12 Event? Fashion photography workshop Venue? Al Riwaq Gallery Acclaimed photographer José Morraja decodes fashion photography. E Call 17 717-441.
In an effort to connect with her roots, this young artist recreates a vivid collage of Lahori splendour in a monthlong exhibit. Combining the love for her native town and an inherent talent, Thajba Najeeb brings her latest artistic offering to life with an exhibition dedicated to Lahore. The ‘Life in Progress’ collection boasts a colourful and fascinating glimpse of the soul and the grandeur of the city. Thajba uses acrylic, watercolour, marker, ink, pen on canvas and paper to create this vibrant kaleidoscope. The exhibition, officially unveiled last month, runs to October 18 at Skyline Lounge at the Capital Club. “We are delighted to support such a talented yet humble artist; Thajba’s collection will be inspirational not just for our members but the community at large,” says Shahnaz Pakravan, general manager, Capital Club Bahrain. The observer The exhibition includes artworks that portray the different aspects and various circumstances of life — a reflection of Thajba’s own experiences. “Life in Progress signifies the constant change that our lives go through. Everyday is a new challenge, a new emotion — a new experience,” she says. Featuring her latest work, titled ‘My Love Affair with Lahore’, the showcase presents several paintings from her previous collection ‘Women’. She attributes this love for the arts to her parents who, themselves, are inclined towards culture, music, art and dance. However, adding further, she recalls developing a more serious approach towards it at school, where she took up an Art IB course. “Expression in any form or manner is intriguing to me and I loved to sketch in my free time. It started with my art course and has never stopped since then,” she adds.
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When? October 1-18 Event? Art exhibition Venue? Capital Club Thajba Najeeb pays a tribute to Lahore in her latest showcase. E Call 17 533-532. When? October 6-24 Event? Solo exhibit Venue? Albareh Gallery Al Saeed’s first solo exhibition, showcasing his B+ collection. E Call 17 717-707.
Thajba Najeeb
The roots Born and raised in Bahrain, Thajba reconnected with her Pakistani roots while browsing through the work of Dr Ajaz Anwar, the inspiration of her current collection. “In the summer of 2012, I saw Lahore through his watercolour impressions in a book I received as a gift,” Thajba recalls. “Nostalgia took over, taking me back to the streets of Lahore where I visited my grandmother’s house as a child. I could remember the smell of the fresh jalabees (local sweet) sold on the roadside, the blaring traffic, the children playing and the man with the milk or nihari cart.” She even got in touch with Dr Ajaz while working on this collection and the celebrated artist wished her good luck. Thajba hopes to hold an exhibition in her native city as well. “Of course I would love to take this to Lahore. The art scene there is really rich and getting into it would be amazing for me.”
When? October 10-November 2 Event? Art exhibition Venue? Maison Jamsheer Two Bahraini artists display the spirit of the Arab world. E Call 16 625-514. When? October 26-November 30 Event? Art exhibition Venue? La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Art British artist Adam Ball brings his first solo exhibit to Bahrain. E Call 17 230-123. When? October 27 Event? Art exhibition Venue? Bin Mattar House A showcase of the works of Hala Al Khalifa inspired by the sea. E Call 17 322-549. When? October 27-30 Event? National Unity film festival Venue? Alumni Club, Adliya Bahraini and international short films showcased in a festival. E Call 39 901-340.
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happeningsartsculture
Jewels of the Ocean
Preserving Himself Celebrated British artist Adam Ball unveils Resolution — his first solo exhibition in Bahrain, at the La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Arts. The pieces are curated by international art advisor Filippo Tattoni-Marcozzi. The showcase features a variety of mediums, including hand-crafted paper cut-outs, large-scale paintings, minimal white layered paper pieces and a mural painted directly onto the gallery walls taken from the artist’s DNA. The artist aims to denote and amplify the animate and inanimate balance of nature by incorporating microbiological elements layered against a diverse range of images. Adam uses himself on a microscopic level as a starting point by taking photographs, using anatomy of his own cells and including microbial elements down to the chromosomal structure. He employs the essential building blocks of life, to create repeated fractals and patterns. Born in 1977, Adam Ball rose to critical acclaim in 2002 after displaying a ten-metre-high canvas, one of the UK’s largest paintings. E Call 17 230-123.
Presenting the works of Hala Al Khalifa, the Shaikh Ebrahim Centre for Culture and Research opens its 2013-14 season. Consisting of installation art and video, the showcase explores the legacy of pearl diving and the rich yet dangerous relationship with the sea that was the lifeline for many families living on the shores of the Arabian Gulf. This show is a tribute to those who lost their lives at sea and to the legacy and heritage of pearl diving. E Call 17 322-549.
When? October 6-24 | Event? Art exhibition | Venue? Albareh Art Gallery
When? October 26-November 30 | Event? Art exhibition | Venue? La Fontaine Centre of Contemporary Arts
When? October 27 | Event? Art exhibition | Venue? Shaikh Ebrahim Centre
Positive Power
A talented Bahraini artist, Zuhair Al Saeed, displays his latest collection ‘B+’. Inspired by the works of the Syrian poet Adonis, the paintings aim to instil hope and a positive outlook. This is his first solo exhibition that brings together artworks that lie on an intersection between installations and paintings. He deftly incorporates the physical sense of the material world into his work and demands participation rather than contemplation. The exhibition runs at the Albareh Art Gallery from October 6 to 24. E Call 17 717-707.
When? October 10 | Event? Art exhibition | Venue? Maison Jamsheer
Expressions Alliance Française, in its first painting exhibition of the year, displays the works of two of the most prolific artists of the region. Depicting the spirit of the Arab world through their paintings are Ghasan Muhsen and Abbas Al-Mosawi at the magnificent Maison Jamsheer. Ranging across abstract expressionism and impressionism, the two capture the essence of the culture and its myriad facets. The venue provides an inspiring backdrop to the richness of their work. Located in the historic Muharraq district, it has become the cultural centre of Alliance Française for showcasing the best of the French and Bahraini cultures. After the exhibition Abbas will even conduct an exclusive painting workshop and teach you his secrets, on October 12. E Call 17 683-295.
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Sitra, Tel: 17 732732 www.nissanbahrain.com
happeningsclubssocieties When? October 4 | Event? Trivia Night | Venue? Candles Restaurant, Dilmun Club
Toast for Tails
When? October 3 Event? Navratri celebrations Venue? Crowne Plaza Indian Ladies Association organises its annual Navratri event. E Call 39 757-329.
Ankita Mamgain
When? October 4 Event? Trivia night Venue? Dilmun Club The BSPCA quiz night to commemorate World Animal Day. E Call 17 593-479.
Animal lovers come together for a fun-filled night to test their knowledge about our four-legged companions on the World Animal Day. The Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BSPCA) has organised a fun-filled event where animal lovers can gather for a friendly quiz about the animal kingdom. Here’s a great opportunity for you to show off your knowledge about your own furry friends. The trivia quiz night, organised by the society in association with the Dilmun Club, will be held on October 4, World Animal Day. Featuring teams of six contestants, they will compete for fun prizes and the coveted title of BSPCA’s Smartest Animal Lovers. The evening begins with the dinner at 7pm, followed by the contest at 8pm. Along with tantalising food, enjoy happy hours on drinks that extend throughout the night. The prizes are not restricted to just the quiz contestants. A lucky draw gives away an Xtouch seven-inch smart tablet, mobile phones, spa treatments, dinner coupons and much more. This promises to be an evening of excitement, laughter, a bit of competition and a shared love for animals. “By participating in this event you’ll not only have a wonderful time but will also help us in our endeavour to create better living conditions for the island’s growing stray and abandoned animal population,” says Joyce Hughes, the fundraising coordinator. A voluntary group that works for the welfare and rehabilitation of animals on the island, BSPCA hopes to raise a significant amount of money through the event. Proceeds will
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go to the many animal welfare schemes run by the group. Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release is one such programme that looks into humanely controlling the breeding of stray dogs. Additionally, the money funds medicine, food and other supplies for homeless animals. The event is held at Candles Restaurant and is priced at BD5 per player for the quiz and BD7 per person for dinner. BSPCA’s Penny and Paul Erickson have masterminded the event. “World Animal Day seemed like a great time to launch our drive to raise funds for our neutering programme. We hope supporters of this initiative will watch out for our forthcoming fundraisers as well,” says Penny. People for a cause This is one of the many programmes that BSPCA runs during the year to raise money, aiming to foster respect and tolerance towards animals in the Kingdom. Their relentless work has resulted in better health and homes for many stray and abandoned animals. The society is involved in checking the illegal import and breeding of animals for financial gain and essentially promotes responsible animal ownership. Founded in 1979 by a group of six individuals, the society has come a long way. Over the years it has rescued and rehabilitated many abandoned animals and today owns one of the biggest animal shelters on the island. E Call 17 593-479.
Dana Alexander
When? October 10 Event? The Chuckle Club Venue? British Club International stand-up comedians deliver a night full of laughter. E Call 17 728-245. When? October 10-14 Event? Durga Puja celebrations Venue? TBA Join the Bengali community for an evening of festivities. E Call 39 151-598. When? October 16-17 Event? Eid and Navratri celebrations Venue? The Indian Club Eid and Navratri celebrated in full festive fervour. E Call 39 401-279.
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happeningskidsteens When? Throughout October | Event? New dance classes | Venue? BSB Academy of Performing Arts
When? Throughout October Event? Zumba classes Venue? The British Club Kids can enjoy Zumba, but you need to register in advance. E Call 17 728-245. When? Throughout October Event? New dance classes Venue? BSB Academy of Performing Arts Learn jazz, ballet, hip-hop and acrobatics at the new dance academy. E Call 17 610-895. When? Throughout October Event? Kids’ Dig Venue? Bahrain Science Centre Join the fundig out some cool artefacts. E Call 17 686-466. Hip hop
One Step at a Time One of island’s many performing arts academies adds another feather to its cap; a new dance department. The British School of Bahrain’s Academy of Performing Arts has opened its new dance academy. With classes ranging from ballet and acrobatics to hip-hop and modern jazz the centre is open for admission to anyone who wishes to learn. Put on your dancing shoes The academy has specially designed courses that suit a range of interests and learning ability. The Tiny Tots Tiptoes programme is a way to introduce children to dance by using innovative music and combining ballet steps and modern moves. Those striving to be more agile and work their muscles can join acrobatics. Unlike gymnastics which, only involves floor work, this has airborne formations and lifts which require much flexibility. A perennial favourite is mastering hip-hop; you can easily feel out of place in a party if you don’t know a few moves. Get trained in this funky, relaxed dance style that is fun and energetic. Be it for pleasure or a more serious pursuit, the academy offers a variety of ballet courses that include both traditional and contemporary versions. IDTA (International Dance Teachers Association) Preparatory Ballet programme is an entry-level module that works upon conventional steps, grace and fluidity of movement. This is aimed to help you with posture, muscle development and coordination.
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The school’s IDTA Preparatory Ballet and Tap Combined class encourages children to learn more than just one subject and widens their skill range, creating a more versatile dancer. Another popular combination class is the IDTA Primary Ballet and Modern Jazz module. The hour-long sessions bring complementary dance forms together to create technical dancers. Modern jazz exams start from age six upwards; as these instruments are more demanding, it is important the child has more muscle development. In good hands The classes are taken by IDTA-certified professional Louise Chapman. She is a dedicated and passionate acrobatics, jazz and hip-hop dancer. She has studied contemporary ballet and tap dancing in order to fulfil her wish of becoming a complete artist. After training at Phil Winston’s Theatreworks, she gained her qualification as an IDTA dance teacher. Louise possesses 15 years of experience of teaching in different countries and has trained with Bako Gabor in American jazz and Cunningham techniques.
When? Throughout October Event? Kids’ fashion workshops Venue? TOFO Young fashionistas can join this crash course in fashion design. E Call 17 180-343. When? October 2 Event? Bumps and beyond Venue? Dilmun Club A fun event where mums join the little ones in playful activities. E Call 17 690-926. When? October 17-24 Event? Arts and craft camp Venue? Studio Ceramics Let your kids discover their creative side in this art and craft camp. E Call 17 599-026.
When? October 31 Event? Kids’ Halloween party Venue? Studio Ceramics Fun-filled bash for tiny tricksters that includes many games and prizes. E Call 17 599-026.
Young masters The academy hosts the annual Bahrain Young Performers Festival and has included a new dance category this year. This year’s competition includes a preparatory class for young singers, instrumentalists, actors and dancers who are in the early stages of their development as performers. The entry deadline is October 13. E Call 17 610-895.
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happeningssportsrecreation When? October 25 | Event? CWFC Fight Night 9 | Venue? Khalifa Sports City, Isa Town
The Warriors Return Mixed martial arts mania hits the country once again with an exciting showdown between two cagefighting champions. After its roaring success last year, the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship returns to the Kingdom for the CWFC Fight Night 9. Scheduled for October 25, it will be held at the Khalifa Sports City in Isa Town. The cage fight’s return is one of the most anticipated tournaments on Bahrain’s sporting events roster this year. “Our last show in Bahrain was one of my favourite CWFC events but I expect Fight Night 9 to be even better,” says Cage Warriors CEO, Graham Boylan. “We certainly welcome Cage Warriors back for another suspense-filled evening of this ultimate combat sport,” adds HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. The big fight Two of the top cage warriors are being prepped to battle in Fight Night 9. Bruno Carvalho takes on former CWFC welterweight champion Gael Grimaud in what is likely to be a nail-biting match. Bruno is aiming for his second successive CWFC victory after defeating Steve Dinsdale at Cage Warriors 52 in March. The 31-year-old BJJ black belt holds victories over Cathal Pendred,
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former KSW middleweight champion Vitor Nobrega and Dream veteran Tatsuya Mizuno. Gael returns to the ring for the first time since last year’s CWFC 52 tournament. The 33-year-old Frenchman became the island’s favourite after defeating Jesse Taylor and retaining the title in the CWFC Fight Night 6 held last year. In addition to 13 stoppage wins under his belt, he held the title of CWFC welterweight champion in September 2011. Cage-control The Cage Warriors Fighting Championship continues to be one of the most popular mixed martial arts (MMA) events held across UK, Ireland and the Middle East. Based in London, it is regarded as one of Europe’s top MMA organisations. The fights are contested over three five-minute rounds with a minute-long rest period in between. As per the unified rules laid down for the sport, the competitors are only allowed to fight in approved clothing, without shoes or any other kind of foot padding. The fighters must also use light gloves (4-6 ounces) that allow fingers to grab. Following the huge success of last year’s show and the growing popularity of MMA in the country, a series of fights will be organised ranging from amateur to professional bouts. The event will be broadcasted live from Bahrain and will be shared with Cage Warriors’ international media partners.
When? October 4 Event? Rugby match Venue? Bahrain RFC First competitive home game of the season. E Call 17 729-561. When? October 18 Event? Bahrain 10s tournament Venue? Bahrain RFC Teams from Doha, Kuwait and Khobar in a round-robin tournament. E Call 17 695-809. When? October 24-26 Event? AMH Island Golf Tournament Venue? King Hamad’s private golf course Bahrain’s biggest charity golf tournament tees-off this month. E Call 39 688-619. When? October 25 Event? CFWC Fight Night 9 Venue? Khalifa Sports City Exciting showdown between two MMA cage-fighting champions. E Visit www.cagewarriors.com When? November 2 Event? Swim challenge Venue? Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa Annual swimming tournament returns to raise money for charity. E Call 33 282-182. When? November 2-9 Event? Juniors’ tennis tournament Venue? Bahrain Tennis Club ITF Championship for kids starts. E Call 17 729-561.
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Rialto Italian Restaurant Opening The Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa, the five star hotel belonging to the Ramee Group held a reception to mark the opening of Rialto, its Italian Restaurant, last month
Ashalatha & Shantharam Shetty
Marco Esposto, Shantharam, Tiziana Federici & Salvatore Romano
Dheeptha, Ashalatha, Shantharam & Ashish Shetty with HE Dr Mohan Kumar, Indian Ambassador
Shyam, Andrew, Giovanni, Matteo, Charmie, Roshan & Susantha
Sudeb, Ashalatha & Sanjay
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Santhosh & Crystal Wedding Santhosh, son of Mr & Mrs Ponnuchamy & Crystal, daughter of Mr & Mrs Pinkerman, celebrated their wedding at the Ponnuchamy residence followed by a reception at the Al Dana Hall, Gulf Hotel last month
Exchanging garlands
Applying sindhoor after tying three knots
Putting on the metti (toe ring)
Gita & Ponnuchamy
Gita, Wafa, Crystal, Santhosh & Omar
Hema, Crystal, Santhosh & PK
Groom seated on his father's lap
Avinash, Ponnuchamy, Gita, Crystal, Santhosh, Dr Faisal Al Hamer, Aziz Qassimi, Khamis Al Muqla & Mariam
Ashok, Latesh, Sunil, Neelam & Jayshree
Crystal & Santhosh
Manal, Mary, Clement, Vijay, Crystal, Santhosh, Guraz, Burzana & Parikshit
Crystal, Santhosh, Sandra & Bob
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Diplomacy of Influence his first assignments were diplomatic training courses in Kuwait and Cairo, during which he honed his skills and gained deeper insights into the interests and diplomatic work of regional allies. “Whatever I learned, it was under the tutelage of my boss, Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, who I consider the godfather of Bahrain’s diplomacy. His role in settling Iranian claims over Bahrain sovereignty is a major contribution that led to the independence of Bahrain. I’d say he’s left a lasting impression on many major issues and questions of bilateral foreign policy,” he observes. In 1972, Sheikh Mohammad assigned Karim to Bahrain’s permanent mission to the UN in New York, where he had his first taste of multilateral diplomacy and the confrontation between Eastern and Western blocs at the peak of Cold War. Karim has since represented Bahrain’s interests at the United Nations as required, going on to become vice president of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 1988 and presiding over many of the plenary meetings during its 45th session. He chaired the G-77 grouping of developing countries at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at Geneva in 1986, a rewarding role for a national of a small country such as Bahrain. HE Karim Al Shakar
Simi Kamboj One of Bahrain’s most experienced diplomats has been winning friends and influencing people on the international stage for over four decades.
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Karim Al Shakar is a man for all seasons. An hour spent with the affable 66-year-old is a lesson in humour, wit and diplomacy, all in the national interest. The Undersecretary for International Affairs is among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' most experienced diplomats, having joined back in 1970. Karim was born in Manama and went to India to pursue a degree in political science at Delhi University. He recounts the derision in Bahrain when he told people about his chosen subject of study. “People laughed and asked me: what future is there in politics when you’re under British protection? Get a degree in economics; that way, you’ll get a decent job in banking at least,” he recalls. Politics was not so much on Karim’s mind until the Six Day War broke out in 1967, bringing home the realities of the region. He threw himself into the students’ movement and, as secretarygeneral of the All-India Pan Arab Students Association, canvassed support for the Palestinian cause, meeting the Indian prime minister and the president many times. Back home after obtaining his degree, he witnessed at close quarters Bahrain’s negotiations for a nine-member GCC confederation, which, however, failed to materialise. After Bahrain’s independence, young Karim was among the first batch of three diplomats at the newly formed Department of Foreign Affairs, which had five employees at the time. Among
Pressing matters As he leaves Bahrain to attend the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Syrian crisis reigns uppermost on his mind. “The use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime against its own people cannot be overlooked. If the international community is to prevent such incidents from happening again, the guilty should be brought to justice,” he says. Bahrain has always had strong views on war crimes; it was the 65th country to ratify the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1997, playing the decisive hand which ensured that the CWC came into force. He likens the Assad government’s actions to those of Saddam Hussain’s and Muammar Gaddafi’s — an unlawful regime using unlawful means to stay in power, no matter what the consequences. “The international community cannot shirk from its obligations. Where there is genocide, intervention is called for. As signatories to the UN Charter, we can’t overlook its principles, which underline the protection of civilians, especially women and children,” he notes. Against this backdrop, the role played by the UN becomes more relevant than ever, even as the organisation celebrates its 68th anniversary later this month. To those who are sceptical of the UN’s past record and accomplishments in peacekeeping, Karim offers a quote from Dag Hammarskjöld, former secretary-general: “The UN was
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not created to take mankind to heaven, but to save humanity from hell.” In all his years of lobbying on the international stage, the Palestinian cause has remained close to his heart. “It’s very disheartening to see that Palestine remains the only country in Africa and Asia still under occupation. This situation is not acceptable in the 21st century. Since the partition of Palestine by General Assembly resolution 181 in 1948, which envisaged two states, the Arab state was never created. We hope the new US initiative will bring the two sides together to create serious dialogue towards the outcome,” he observes. The apogee of Karim’s diplomatic career at the UN came in 1989 when, as chairman of the Arab Group, he was successful in bringing Yasser Arafat to the UN Headquarters to address the General Assembly. The US had refused to grant Arafat a visa, arguing that the PLO was a terrorist organisation. Karim contested the case on behalf of Arafat and won. “We demanded that America had to respect the Headquarters agreement between the UN and host country. This was a battle where all Western and African countries voted in favour of the Arabs, with the exception of US, Israel and the Marshall Islands. We stuck together and Ramsey Clark, former secretary of the US Department of Justice, agreed to be our legal representative. We won the case, but not before we had moved the General Assembly venue to Geneva,” he recounts. Bahrain was vice president of the General Assembly and even though Bahrain’s then foreign minister Shaikh Mohammed was present in Geneva, he asked Karim to preside over that meeting, conceding that it was ‘his show’. “It was very touching. Shaikh Mohammed was a great boss who never took credit away from a subordinate, if credit was due. It was really gracious of him to allow me that opportunity,” he notes. "This ethos has continued under our current minister, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, whose energy and initiative have firmly established Bahrain on the diplomatic map, and who is greatly respected both for his insight and for his care and understanding for all Ministry personnel." Political platform For a small island nation, Bahrain has benefitted significantly from its active in the UN since the 1970s, believes Karim. “As a policy, we’re against violence and terrorism of any sort. We are proud of our record of resolving our conflicts in a nonviolent manner. For instance, the dispute over Hawar Islands was resolved peacefully at the International Court of Justice. We’re of the view that confrontation never helps,” he maintains. In a similar vein, Bahrain’s decision to join other smaller and medium-sized UN members, including Brunei, Singapore, Monaco and the Bahamas as part of the Global Governance Group, or 3G, is a reflection of its desire to be heard in the international arena. “In recent years, the G20 meetings have become very important. Even though their decisions are made without consulting us, we’re affected by these resolutions. In such times, no country, no matter how small, can remain passive. To make our voice heard, we have to stick together with common, shared principles forming the basis of our cooperation.”
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HE Karim Al Shakar with former U.S. President George Bush
xxxxx Whatever I learned, it was under the tutelage of my boss, Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, who I consider the godfather of Bahrain’s diplomacy As a specialist in multilateral diplomacy, Karim has traditionally enjoyed operating on wider international platforms. However, he also tasted success in his assignment as ambassador to the UK during the Iraq occupation of Kuwait. He had a very good working relationship with Margaret Thatcher and managed to persuade her to visit Bahrain. Again, it was Karim who paved the way for Bahrain’s close bilateral relations with China during his posting there as ambassador from 2001 until 2007. Relations with the Asian powerhouse have now reached a pinnacle following HM King Hamad’s recent China trip.
Dialogue among civilisations The horrific events of 9/11 brought to the fore the turbulent climate of prejudice and Islamophobia foretold in Samuel Huntington’s 1990 book, Clash of Civilizations. In this environment, the United Nations launched an intellectual initiative, a dialogue between cultures under an Alliance of Civilisations, where Karim represents Bahrain. “The dialogue started between Turkey and Spain, where the objective was to introduce the East to the West in order to confront prejudice and xenophobia. It is composed of dialogue between religious followers to bring out common elements in all our faiths,” he says. The King Abdullah Centre in Vienna has taken a lead in disseminating the message of peace and understanding in order to diffuse confrontation between cultures. In this instance, the UN campaign for understanding and tolerance reminds Karim of his own homeland’s tolerant approach towards religion and culture. “As far as I can remember, tolerance has been part of our culture in Bahrain. Throughout my childhood, I visited the Manama temple where we were given laddoos. As boys, we went to the Sacred Heart Church, which didn’t have a boundary wall in those days. Even at the American Mission we were welcomed and given chocolates. The beauty of Bahrain lies in that every community has been able to live here freely and practise what it believes in,” he says.
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spotlightthismonth
A Habit of Success Micky Jagtiani
George F Middleton The Landmark Group celebrates the 40th anniversary of its first store in Bahrain this month. Micky Jagtiani goes down memory lane with BTM, looking back on a life well lived.
76 October 2013
Success hasn’t changed billionaire businessman Micky Jagtiani; the soft-spoken 62-year-old remains grounded and modest, faintly dismissive of his wealth and accomplishments. Micky is due back in Bahrain this month, after a gap of more than a year, for the 40th anniversary celebrations of his business. “It’s been a wonderful journey. We never had many hiccups along the way,” he observes. “Forty years down the line, the Landmark Group runs 1,500 stores across the Middle East, India, Egypt, Turkey, Yemen and Pakistan.” I first met Micky in 1983, ten years after he had started the business in Bahrain together with his brother and the late Shaikh Rashid bin Hassan Al Khalifa. As he looks back on his early days in the Kingdom, where his company began, it’s time to confront a host of memories, good and bad.
“It was circumstances that brought me to Bahrain,” he reminisces. Born into an Indian immigrant family in Kuwait, Micky tried his hand at accounting in the UK before joining his brother in Bahrain. “My brother was ill and I decided to stay back to help him with the business,” he says. In a bitter twist of fate, he lost his brother and both his parents to illness within a span of 18 months. At 27, he was alone in Bahrain with meagre family savings and no prospects. He could have looked at his family business in Kuwait, but the retail stores there were on the verge of collapse. His back against the wall, Micky decided to take over his brother’s retail space and filled it up with baby clothes, strollers and kids’ merchandise. This was the original Mothercare; the beginning of what would turn into one of the most profitable retail chains in the Middle East. Bahrain proved a good training ground for the young entrepreneur, and 19 years later, in 1992, with six stores and 400 employees, he took the “biggest risk” of his life. On a leap of faith, Micky moved his family and company to Dubai. The Gulf War of 1990 had unsettled the regional economy and people were nervous. Everyone around advised him not to launch a business in Dubai, but he remained firm in his convictions. By the mid-1990s, the global increase in oil prices had allowed Dubai to expand rapidly. In the absence of any organised retailing in the region, Micky had an early mover’s advantage. He opened the first Shoe Mart store in 1990 in the UAE and Splash was launched three years later. Today, over 20 years later on, the group has 400 stores in the UAE. In hindsight, however, Micky does not credit the move to any planning on his part. “I don’t think I was a good planner. It was one of those things; I just decided that I needed to leave Bahrain,” he says. “I guess I was plain lucky, being at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. No one looked at retail as a business in Dubai in those days; we did it and we did it well.” It helped that he came from a trading family, based in Kuwait where he was born, that had been in the retail space since the 1950s. Retail was in his DNA, after all.
Max
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xxxxx Forty years down the line, the Landmark Group runs 1,500 stores across the Middle East, India, Egypt, Turkey, Yemen and Pakistan
Home Centre
As one of the first players to tap into the South East Asian supply markets, Landmark was able to offer mid-range products at affordable prices. Micky’s mantra of “delivering exceptional value” seems to have given him the right balance, building Centrepoint, Home Centre, Splash, Lifestyle, Emax, Shoe Mart, Max and Shoe Express into trusted brands that have enjoyed long-term success. “I’d say we opened up the South East Asian markets for the rest of the world. That’s where the others started to follow,” he opines. In addition to the home-grown, value-driven brands in its portfolio, Landmark Group has added franchised international brands such as New Look, Reiss, Lipsy and Koton. The Shoe Mart international footwear division includes franchise footwear brands Kurt Geiger, Casadei, Ecco, Bata, Pablosky, Fabi, Dumond, Lewre, Foot Solutions, Vicini and Valencia. Way ahead Micky is quick to shrug off the “easy success” he enjoyed in Dubai at a time when it was a big, open market awaiting the players. In contrast, his forays into Europe and India have been anything but a cakewalk. Landmark remains one the largest retailers in the Indian department store business and one of the largest players among the hypermarkets, but it hasn’t been as profitable as in Dubai. “India is a very difficult market. It doesn’t move as fast as Dubai does. We tried to venture into England and Portugal, but weren’t very successful. We’re now looking to scale up in Africa, if possible,” he says. Then, there are fears that the retail sector in the Middle East has already seen its best days and the time ahead will never be as buoyant. “I think whoever has been successful is living off his past glory. Things are not as easy as they used to be. In the last five to ten years, we have recorded a healthy double digit growth, but that’s nowhere near the earlier levels,” he notes. The group has since diversified into the hospitality sector, with the Citimax chain of hotels targeting the mid-market segment for business and leisure travellers. It now runs three hotels in the UAE, with an inventory of over 1300 rooms. Foodmark, the restaurant division, has franchise brands such as Mango Tree and The Meat Company. Micky harbours plans for expansion in Bahrain, with the possibility of building a couple of shopping malls in the Kingdom. However, he’s put them on the backburner for the moment. But Bahrain continues to have a special place in his heart, he concedes.
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Mothercare
Giving back To Micky, his wealth and success is a modest achievement, which he terms “quite coincidental” in his long career. The only difference it has made to his profile is the occasional appeal he receives for donations from various quarters. The Landmark Group is now an enormous family with 45,000 people on its rolls. Micky derives special satisfaction in doing favours for his employees and in watching them settle down in life. “You know, I don’t spend very much on myself. Most of it goes to people who I’ve worked with. I want to give back to society as much as I can, through social initiatives,” he says. Besides his wife Renuka and three children, the people who are closest to him are those who’ve worked alongside him over the years and to whom he’s given shares in his company. “There are special people like Radha and Makeena, who contributed to my success and have become my partners. There’s another employee, Kader, who has joined me in the business,” he notes. In 2000, he set up the Landmark International Foundation of Empowerment to support underprivileged children in India through school and healthcare development programmes. Micky has supported homes for destitute children in Bangalore, vocational and non-formal schools, community clinics and medical camps for slum dwellers and an old age home in Chennai. At his orphanage in Bangalore, he says he would sleep on the floor because it helped him stay grounded! While Micky may not adhere to any set of specific religious beliefs, he’s a firm believer in karma. Above all, his deep commitment and devotion is to his business. “I can confidently say that I’ve never taken a shortcut in my business and have always tried to act honestly and with integrity,” he says.
October 2013 77
businessthismonth When? October 21-23 | Event? Human resource conference | Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel
Participants at the 2012 HRM Summit
Enhancing Human Capital Gurus and thought leaders region-wide come together to address the growing need of human resources professionals to connect with global best practices. People are the most important resource for a company and without motivated employees organisations can never achieve their objectives. Successful companies that know this build into their organisational planning a comprehensive motivational strategy to inspire and retain employees. The 5th Annual HRM Summit is an exclusive platform for human resource (HR) professionals and will take up issues close to their heart. “The Conference assumes importance in light of the global economic uncertainties and a regional economic slowdown,” says MA Sridhar, CEO of Roshcomm, the conference organisers. “We’ve witnessed the effect of this slowdown on the job market, which in turn puts significant pressures on managing talent and productivity and the anxieties of the workforce.” HRM Summit is supported by Tamkeen and is approved by the Ministry of Labour for Government Levy Reimbursement. Three workshops led by HR experts will run post-conference, dealing with the subjects of leadership development, elements of success and building motivation. The last factor is particularly crucial for organisations navigating the economic downturn, believe HR experts. “When you’re looking at raising organisational performance it’s important to remember that what motivates people is not normally a ‘one size fits all’ scenario,” offers James CoakleyAlso this month
Boyce, communication skills superintendent at Bapco, who will run the workshop. “The focus of HR development needs to address a range of factors including rewards, working conditions, and beliefs and values of the individuals that make up the workforce. You succeed when you align individual engagement with the shared objectives of the company.” According to James, a company that build sufficient strategic depth within the organisation retain a level of commitment that enables its workforce to shift gear and adapt during a downturn. Many struggling companies have perhaps overlooked this, he feels. “However, the challenges of a downturn can offer up many opportunities. Status quo is no longer an option and required changes can be genuinely empowering,” he adds. “They can also present opportunities for personal sacrifice and role development that can deepen and enrich commitment”. Brad Boyson, executive director of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), MEA in Dubai will run a workshop on the HR Success Competency Model, the first comprehensive competency model the HR profession has developed for its members. “Many people assume that knowledge is enough and the more knowledge, the better to get things done and done quickly is all that matters,” he says. “However, competencies reinforce that to be truly successful, one needs to know the right theory and apply the appropriate action – both together.” E Call 17 365-044.
When? October 1-2 Event? LRIC seminar Venue? Mövenpick Hotel Tamkeen supported seminar organised for the telecom sector. E Call 17 460-000. When? October 1-2 Event? Insurance forum Venue? The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Event that explores professional liability insurance. E Call 17 580-000. When? October 7-8 Event? New learning strategies conference Venue? Gulf Hotel US author Bob Pike talks about creative training and methods. E Call 17 713-000. When? October 7-9 Event? Housing forum Venue? BIECC Exhibition to show green technologies for the housing sector. E Call 17 180-689. When? October 8 Event? Women in Business forum Venue? Capital Club Event for businesswomen and female aspiring entrepreneurs. E Call 17 100-100.
80 x Conference - 82 x Entrepreneur - 84 x Interview
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October 2013 79
businessconference When? October 20-23 Event? Pipeline conference Venue? Gulf International Convention Centre Industry professionals network on best practices for the industry. E Call 17 713-000. When? October 21-23 Event? HRM summit Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Fifth annual discourse on human resources management. E Call 17 531-666.
When? October 22-24 | Event? Bahrain-India conference | Venue? Bahrain International Exhibition & Conference Centre
India Calling This premier India-focused networking event will showcase the latest in Indian products and services targeted at Bahrain and the wider GCC market.
When? October 22-24 Event? Bahrain-India conference and exhibition Venue? BIECC Event organised to boost investments between the two countries. E Call 77 113-349. When? October 24 Event? Innovation seminar Venue? Diplomat Radisson Blu Renowned expert delivers a talk on new business methodologies. E Call 17 744-939. Braden Kelley
Roy Mathew, first from right, with officials from Indian Embassy, CII and EDB
This month, top Indian businessmen and investors look to Bahrain in a bid to take advantages afforded by the Kingdom’s open business approach. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) will hold the firstever Bahrain-India Economic Partnership Conference. “The historic India visit of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa laid the foundation for meaningful business interaction between Bahrain and India,” says Roy Mathew, director for the exhibition and conference. “This event is an effort to build on that foundation and enhance business relations between the two countries.” CII is partnering with Gulf and East World Exhibitions for the event, which will be supported by the Indian Embassy in Bahrain and the Economic Development Board (EDB). The theme for the conference is ‘Bahrain-India Economic Partnership: Springboard to access wider markets’. CII president S Gopalakrishnan will lead a CEO delegation of six Indian chief executives representing the healthcare, automotive, construction and manufacturing sectors. Gopalakrishnan is executive co-chairman of the Indian IT behemoth, Infosys, which has revenues of US$7.2 billion. MA Yusuffali, MD of the Lulu Hypermarket group will co-chair the event with HH Sheikha Noora bint Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Kerala will be the partner state, having the prime pavilion at the BIEC, the venue for the event to be held from October 22-24. E Call 17 502-797.
bystanderthismonth Bahrain’s leading perfumers Junaid for Perfumes recently gifted a number of school bags to orphans of the Royal Charity Organization. The gesture came as part of their activities to support humanitarian causes and provide the children with school goodies for the start of the new academic year. Present at the occasion were Yusuf Abdullah Al-Yaqoob, Assistant Secretary General for Planning and Charity Resources Development, Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Head of Charity Resources Development Section, Alaa Budalama, Senior Public Relations Specialist & Junaid Fuad, Financial Manager at Junaid for Perfumes
Al Hawaj and Sons awarded its Star Employee of the Month for August at a ceremony held at the head office in Salmaniya. Seen here, Shyam Narayanan, Operations Manager, Betty Alicer Larigo, Star Employee of the Month, Abdul Wahab Y. Al Hawaj, General Manager & Hazem A. Elrazek, Retail Manager
The Gulf Hotel Bahrain was recently awarded a certificate of excellence by Booking.com, one of the web’s leading online travel agencies for attaining a score of 8.1 on its guest reviews for the year 2012. Amir Fahmy & Salma Abdel, Account Managers from Booking.com presented the award to Abdulla Siddiq Al-Awadi, Hotel Manager, in the presence of Raed Mayoof, Assistant Director of Sales (GCC), Carina B. Mores, Sales Manager, Travel Trade & Ryan Rene P. Advincula, Marketing & Communications Manager Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) has announced the full acquisition of HOCHTIEF Facility Management Bahrain (HTFMBA) and the buyout of the 50% shares in the joint venture. The 50% stake will add to BAC’s existing 50% of the joint venture making this a 100% Bahraini company fully owned by BAC. Seen here signing the agreement are, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Chief Executive Officer of BAC & HOCHTIEF representative Burkhard Sager, Vice President, HOCHTIEF Service Solutions International
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The National Hotels Company, owner of the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa handed over a donation of BD300 to the Bahrain National Hereditary Anemia Society (BNHAS) in support of Al Tahady Wa Al Hayat - the magazine issued by the society. Seen here, BNHAS representative Layla AlHussaini & Michael Kuhn, Sales & Marketing Director The eGovernment Authority (eGA), as part of its commitment to culture and education, participated in the 20th Al Ayam Cultural Fair 2013, which was held at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre. Seen here, HE Mohammad Bin Ebrahim Al Mutawa, State Minister for Follow-up, visiting the eGovernment Authority’s stand at the Cultural Fair
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Ma'ameer 17 703 703 Arad 17 465 533
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businessentrepreneur
A Matter of Convenience xxxxx Yellow Cabs are ideally suited as shuttle services during major events, for airport pick-ups and drop offs and as personal drivers for school transport, grocery shopping and more
Eyad Fakhri
Simi Kamboj For a business hub, Bahrain’s public transport system remains far from satisfactory. This ‘yellow’ taxi service aims to fill that void in the coming months.
82 October 2013
The evolution of an efficient and reliable transport system has long stalled economic development in Bahrain, given the Kingdom’s over-dependence on private transport. In what is now a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma, taxi drivers in Bahrain complain about not finding enough business, while residents and visitors bemoan the shortage of cabs on our roads. Arabian Taxi was launched in 2009 to give the required fillip to the public transport sector. A joint initiative by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Bahrain Development Bank (BDB), the service started with a fleet of 200 London taxis with a signature black-and-white chequered design. As well as enhancing transport options, the company aims to broaden work opportunities for Bahrainis and the families of retired or deceased taxi drivers, who were brought in as shareholders in the company, with 80 per cent holding. Going a step further, Arabian Taxi has now launched 23 Radio Taxis, or Yellow Cabs, in Bahrain, with plans for an additional 25 taxis to be added to the fleet later this year.
“Taxis anywhere in the world are a matter of convenience. They’re the most comfortable and no-fuss means of transport favoured by business travellers. We need a shift in our mindset in Bahrain to consider the taxi as a lifestyle option that's most convenient for everyday use,” says Eyad Fakhri, acting general manager of Arabian Taxi. However, given the shortage of parking space in the city and increasing congestion on the roads, the taxi easily scores over self-driven vehicles as a hassle-free conveyance. Radio Taxis will take the convenience further; you can telephone the centre and ask for a taxi to be at your door in minutes. Customers who dial the call centre will face no rejections and service will be quick and efficient, he adds. “Yellow Cabs are ideally suited as shuttle services during major events, for airport pick-ups and drop offs and as personal drivers for school transport, grocery shopping and more,” adds Eyad. “Our cabs answers the requirements for special needs people, who get a 20 per cent discount. In fact, these are the only vehicles in Bahrain that can comfortably accommodate wheelchairs. These taxis work well for elderly people as well,” he points out. Private radio taxi services have done well in Bahrain but, with a small fleet, they cannot be expected to service the entire Kingdom. In the long run, the Radio Taxi fleet is set to expand further as Arabian Taxi plans to gradually upgrade all London cabs into Radio Taxis. Already, preparations are in hand to open an Arabian Taxi office at the Bahrain International Airport. Eyad concedes that churn among drivers is high, given the long hours spent on the road in extreme weather conditions, but maintains that Arabian Taxi remains faithful to its mission. “We are committed to keeping taxis running on the roads. Arabian Taxi is envisaged as one of the instruments that will form the backbone of the road transport system in Bahrain.” E Call 17 461-746.
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businessinterview
xxxxx The five-star segment in Bahrain is underserviced and all our forthcoming properties in Bahrain will be five-star hotels “Indian food is perceived as over-spicy and too heavy for Western and Arab palates. At Rasoi, we’re doing fusion Indian cuisine that’s lighter on the palate, and with an international style of plating. There’ll be ghazal performances and a live kitchen to keep the guests engaged,” he notes. Coming up on the 24th floor is a luxury Japanese lounge and restaurant, Ruka, that will offer breathtaking sea views all around. Manned by a chef from Japan, Ruka will set new benchmarks in Japanese cuisine, he hopes. The hotel has just added the perfect venue to dine, unwind and party, Ibrida, on the first floor, where bands from overseas will perform live.
Raising the bar
Shantharam Shetty
New Frontiers SIMI KAMBOJ One of the most profitable four-star brands in the region, the Ramee Group has now set its sights higher as the hospitality player looks to enhance existing properties in the Kingdom.
84 October 2013
Having delivered on his commitment to a full-fledged luxury hotel for Bahrain, Shantharam Shetty seems a relieved man. The Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa received its five-star certification from the government earlier last month and the authorities were pleasantly surprised by the hotel’s standards, the group general manager for the Ramee Group of Hotels recounts. “Already we’re receiving reviews of 9 or above from guests on Internet booking sites. From here, we won’t look back any more,” he says. “The five-star segment in Bahrain is underserviced and all our forthcoming properties in Bahrain will be five-star hotels.” For the present, Shantharam is supervising the final touches to Ramee Grand, which will open formally in mid-October. He’s upbeat about Rasoi, the contemporary India restaurant launched last month under chef Subir, who brings experience from a Michelin-star kitchen in Switzerland.
With an inventory of around 1,200 rooms in the Kingdom, many might assume that Shantharam has his hands full. However, the Ramee Grand’s reception in the market has buoyed him to the extent that he’s now chalking out plans to renovate and upgrade at least two existing Ramee properties in Bahrain into five-star hotels. The group will utilise two plots of land adjacent to the Ramee International Hotel in Juffair, measuring over 75,000 square feet, to build a brand-new luxury property. He expects work to begin in mid-2014 and a relaunch of the property by 2017. He has similar plans for upgrading the Ramee Palace Hotel in Juffair, employing a 55,000-square feet plot next door for a bigger luxury hotel. “We’ve found that guests don’t mind paying a premium for a quality product. Our statement of purpose is set now; we know what is to be done and what the process entails,” Shantharam says. He plans to engage professional consultants for all aspects of the developments, to oversee the upgrade exercise, starting from the hotel design to kitchen facilities, rooms and other services. Shantharam says the company is sitting on proposals for managing properties elsewhere in the GCC and believes they are now in a position to dictate terms. “The trend has changed now. With our success in the fourstar market, we have proved ourselves in the five-star segment as well. We’ll be very selective in the properties we manage in the future and on our own terms, too,” he states.
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bystanderthismonth
Alliance Francaise New Media Centre Launch The Alliance Francaise held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the launch and inauguration of its Multimedia Language Laboratory in Isa Town. The launch was attended by HE Christian Testot, French Ambassador
HE Christian Testot, Khalid Fakhro, Zeina Testot & Christophe Freschi
Noor & Heidi
Rohit
Sadiq & Shakkur
State-of-the-Art Facilities designed for a brighter vision Medical Specialties (screening & treatment): Diabetic Retinopathy, Vitreous Hemorrhage and Intra Vitreal injections, Use of Pascal (Argon) & Zeiss (YAG) laser machines. Treatment of Keratoconus with cross linking technology, Glaucoma (raised intraocular pressure), Squint & diplopia. Surgical Specialties: Suture-less Phacoemulsification (cataract) surgery, Refractive & corneal surgeries, Oculoplastic procedures including Botox & fillers, Suture-less Retina & Vitreous surgery, Retinal detachments repair surgeries and Macular holes repair surgeries Investigational Specialties (diagnostic aids): Ocular Ultrasonography, Ultra Bio Microscopy (UBM), Corneal Topography, Automated Field of vision (Perimetry), Intraocular lens measurement (Biometry), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA)
Gulf Eye Center
2nd Floor of The Gulf Diabetes Specialist Center, Blk. 329, Rd. 29, Bldg. 99, Salmaniya, Manama Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel: (+973) 1723 9171 • 1723 9239 E-mail: [email protected] Facebook/Instagram/Twitter : gulfdiabetes 88 October 2013
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Tamkeen "Community Engagement Initiative" Launch Tamkeen launched its "Community Engagement Initiative", a new initiative which seeks to enhance its reach within communities across Bahrain, and provide better services through its programmes to develop the capabilities of Bahrainis and enterprises in the private sector. The event was attended by HE Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chairman of Tamkeen, senior Tamkeen officials, stakeholder representatives, as well as new Tamkeen community representatives. The launch was held at the Awal 3, Gulf Hotel last month
Abbas, Furishta & Mona
Aala & Atifa
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Amal Al Kooheji, Mahmood Al Kooheji, HE Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Yousif Ali & Mohammed Bucheeri
Mazin, Amal & Sana
Germany in
October 2013
A Special Supplement by Bahrain This Month 92 Encouraging Signs HE Sabine Taufmann sees multiple avenues through which the countries can expand their close economic and business links for mutual benefit.
94 Here for Good Married to a Bahraini and working in Saudi Arabia, Johannes Glas now sees the Kingdom as his primary home.
96 A German Education The option for study in Germany, as an alternative to English-language countries, is increasingly an attractive one for nationals of the GCC.
99 The Best of Germany While German business prowess is famed for its engineering and technical excellence, there’s a more pervasive presence in the Kingdom than we might imagine.
100 Automotive Masters It is not just in the world of passenger car that German automakers have made their mark; commercial vehicles have an equally strong local presence.
103 German Showcase From engineering firms such as Keller Grundau to masters of logistics like DHL, the Puma sportswear brands and Berlitz, our lives are enriched with a German trademark.
Commercial Index Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes)................................. 95 AMA Motors (MAN).................................................. 102 AMA Sports (Puma)................................................... 103 Behbehani Motors (Porsche).................................... 97 Berlitz............................................................................ 90 DHL International....................................................... 107 German Skin Care Centre......................................... 101 Keller Grundbau......................................................... 105
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Germany In Bahrain October 2013 61
germanysupplement
Encouraging Signs HE Sabine Taufmann
BTM: What are the challenges confronting Germany at this point? HE: Germany can be successful only when there is progress in Europe. It’s in Germany’s interest to see Europe progress. We will not remain strong in the long term if Europe is doing badly. The three-pronged approach of solidarity, consolidation and new growth through increased competitiveness is bringing success. In the first quarter of 2013, the eurozone’s economy returned to growth for the first time in a year and a half. Of course, the German economy has played a huge part in driving this growth.
Simi Kamboj All eyes are on Germany as the industrial powerhouse hauls the eurozone out of recession.
This month Germany celebrates the 23rd anniversary of its reunification after more than forty years of division. German Ambassador to Bahrain, Her Excellency Sabine Taufmann, shares her thoughts on the occasion as well as her plans for the future of German-Bahraini relations. BTM: How do you view this anniversary? HE: I was born and raised in Berlin, where the Berlin Wall was a visible symbol going much beyond the division of the two Germanys, symbolising the division between the Western and Eastern political systems. Citizens of Berlin have a deep understanding of how important and valuable the unity and support of friendly countries is. This is why relations with the US, so instrumental in Germany’s unification and liberty, will continue to play a pivotal role in our strategic alliances. BTM: How do you chart the progress made by Germany since the reunification? HE: Germany is doing better than it has in a long time, even in the midst of a global economic downturn. Unemployment is at its lowest in 20 years. Youth unemployment is gratifyingly low. We are exporting more than ever. Increasing domestic demand is driving new growth, which has also benefited our neighbours. Medium-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy and they will need to adapt to global challenges. Some of them have found a solution by finding partners abroad, and this is where I see the future of German-Bahraini relations.
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BTM: How important is Bahrain and the GCC region to Germany? HE: Bahrain is among the most modern and liberal economies and remains an attractive business location in the Gulf. Because of its consistent policy of economic diversification, the liberalisation of its market, the excellent infrastructure and telecommunications as well as its proximity to important regional markets, and of course, excellent investment conditions. Finally, the workforce here is the most educated and skilled in the Gulf. Germany has a good reputation as a reliable trading partner in the GCC region, where Bahrain has been a traditional partner. The GCC region is Germany’s fifth largest trading partner outside the EU market. As is the case with other economies in the Arab peninsula, Germany’s positive image here is largely due to the performance of its industry. BTM: What is the current level of trade between the two countries? HE: Exports from Germany into Bahrain have been very stable, around US$550 million in 2012. Even in the difficult year of 2011, we saw exports from Germany peaking at US$660 million, while Germany imported around US$130 worth of products from Bahrain. BTM: In which sectors do you see scope for Bahrain and Germany to work together in the coming years? HE: There are numerous areas where Germany and Bahrain could expand their close economic and business links for mutual benefit, such as education and vocational training, infrastructure, engineering, medical treatment and equipment as well as water supply and energy. Over the coming years, I expect a rise in Bahraini exports to Germany in completely new segments such as textiles. More than half of our exports to Bahrain consist of machines and machine parts. In this respect, I am glad to see that the construction sector in Bahrain seems to be recovering, because German machinery is known to provide a competitive advantage.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
BTM: Which German companies are major investors in the Kingdom, and why? HE: In addition to the soft factors such as the quality of life, Bahrain has a lot of clear advantages such as the facility of registering a company with complete ownership. Some German companies that use Bahrain as a base for their regional operations include DHL, RMA Pipeline Equipment, SMS Meer and BASF. The BASF plant in Bahrain is by far the biggest and most modern unit in their global production network and they employ 70 per cent local staff. A sound political environment, though, is crucial to attract foreign investment. National reconciliation will boost trade relations and make the Kingdom a safe economic and financial hub. BTM: What’s the main conduit for business between the two countries? HE: The annual Arab-German Business Forum is the most important business venue for the GCC in Germany, bringing together high-level political and economic delegations from Germany and Arab countries. It was a great honour to have Bahrain as the official partner country this year. A high-ranking delegation from Bahrain led by Kamal Ahmed, Minister of Transport and Acting Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board, and Dr Essam Fakhro, chairman of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, participated at the Forum in Berlin from June 12 to 14. A number of business deals were struck, not only between
Bahraini and German companies, but also between companies from Bahrain and other countries in the region. As a follow-up to the Forum, a business delegation organised by the GermanArab Friendship Society intends to visit Bahrain in October. BTM: Outside business, where does Germany interact with Bahrain? HE: The Bahraini-German Friendship Society, which was founded in 2000, and the German Business Roundtable, established in 2009, are important institutions promoting German-Bahraini business relationships. Important members of the Bahraini-German Society ranked among the delegation to the Arab-German Business Forum in Berlin this June. The Society and its members are building bridges between the German community and Bahrain in many ways. On September 22 last month we followed the results of the federal parliamentary elections together over the news broadcast. But the success of our bilateral cooperation will depend, to a large extent, on our openness to Bahrain and its people, to its students, businessmen and skilled workers. Bahrain’s interest in Germany, especially among young people, has grown enormously. Many young Bahrainis have chosen Germany as their holiday destination. The number of university students is also rising. Demand for language courses offerred by the German Embassy has grown by almost 50 per cent over last year. This represents a great opportunity for both Germany and Bahrain.
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Porsche Panamera Launch Porsche Bahrain held a reception to mark the unveiling of the brand new 2014 Porsche Panamera at the Porsche Centre Bahrain last month The Porsche Panamera
Hamad, Kelly, Fadi, Peter & Morgan
Laura
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Here for Good Simi Kamboj More people are now putting down roots on foreign shores than in any other time in history. For European nationals, no land is possibly more hospitable in the region than Bahrain.
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Munich-born Johannes Glas has chosen to be based here for the last seven years, and now sees Bahrain as home. Even though the working week keeps him in Jeddah, the private banker who is married to a Bahraini looks forward to spending weekends in the Kingdom. “Most Bahrainis I’ve known are incredibly friendly, warm and welcoming. People I’ve just met have invited me to their homes for dinner the next day. I don’t think we’ll ever leave Bahrain; this will remain our primary residence,” he notes. Johannes met his Bahraini wife at business school in Paris. After marriage, the couple lived in Zurich and later moved to London, where his wife took a break to raise their twins. “For us, it was important that our children know their mother’s cultural heritage and values, including, of course, the Arabic language. We decided to move to Bahrain to be near my wife’s family,” he says. While Johannes is happy to see the twins imbibe their mother’s culture, he would like them to pick up German as they grow older. He ensures that the family visits Germany twice a year on holiday and the twins spend summer at a camp near Berlin, where they learn to canoe, sail and surf alongside lessons in the German language. Raised in Bavaria, where people in his home town tend to marry within the community, Johannes admits his marriage raised many eyebrows. His parents were initially surprised and anxious, but they’re now happy and proud of his decision.
Johannes Glas
They’re now more aware about Islam and the Middle Eastern culture, having visited Bahrain several times. Having lived in Europe with a foreign wife, Johannes is no stranger to the racism and Islamophobia that Westerners sometimes direct towards Arabs. Of course, in his case, there was also the matter of timing — he got married four weeks before 9/11 changed the world. “It’s strange that even in this day and age, people in many parts of Europe, even Germany, haven’t informed themselves about other cultures and this ignorance breeds distrust and a fear of the unknown. Which is why it’s so important that our children know both sides of their heritage,” he says. The years spent in Germany and Switzerland have made Johannes all the more appreciative of Bahrain’s open and welcoming culture. “It’s definitely much easier for a German or Swiss family to come and settle down in Bahrain rather than the other way round. I know that from my wife’s experience in Zurich. Perhaps, one needs to take into account that many European countries are dealing with an influx of refugees and asylum seekers, but nothing can really justify racism,” he says. Johannes is a member of the German Business roundtable in Bahrain, a platform where German companies and professionals exchange ideas about business in the Kingdom. For the most part, though, his leisure time is spent between his children and the extended Bahraini family.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
germanysupplement
A German Education BTM: Which are the leading German universities in these fields? JK: Let me start with a German university in the region. The German University of Technology in Muscat (GUtech) combines know-how from RWTH Aachen as well as local support from Omani partners. RWTH Aachen is just one of the leading technical universities, several of which were recently designated national centres of excellence. Another one is the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Its history dates back almost 200 years, and Carl Benz, the father of the automobile, studied there. Today, KIT is a leading institution in fields such as informatics, engineering and natural sciences, and runs one of Europe’s largest centres for energy research. Further east, Technische Universität Dresden is one of the 11 German universities that were designated as part of the ‘excellence initiative’. Committed to science and engineering since before the reunification of Germany, TU Dresden is now a multidiscipline university.
Dr Joachim Kolb
Moving to Germany for studies is a common occurence these days, especially from Bahrain. Bahrain This Month takes a look at the reason behind this.
Dr Joachim Kolb, the former director of the DAAD Information Centre in Abu Dhabi, helps us understand why Germany is one of the top choices for those wishing to study overseas. Whether you are a student looking to get your bachelor’s and master’s degree in Germany or if you are just interested in a term abroad, he gives you all the information you’ll need to make a decision. BTM: If you are a Bahraini student, why would you study in Germany and what would you study? JK: From a job market perspective, I would choose from among the so-called STEM subjects, which are a group of disciplines comprising the natural sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. Particularly in fields such as mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, robotics and medical technology, Germany’s technical universities continue to define the global gold standard. At the master’s level, their programmes are increasingly accessible in English.
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BTM: What are the rewards of studying in Germany? JK: Industry internships are part and parcel of the degree programme for German engineering students, who have access to numerous blue-chip engineering firms. Many foreign students in the field enjoy this experience so much that they stay on after their studies to gain hands-on experience at a German engineering company or research lab. Every graduate of a German university can now work in the country for up to 18 months, before either taking a permanent job in his or her area of specialisation there or moving on to other shores. At a time where many countries worldwide are struggling to place their graduates in the workforce and access for foreigners has become more problematic, a robust German job market has kept its doors wide open for international students. BTM: What are the requirements for studying in Germany? JK: The visa requirements are the same for all students and in fact simple. It is possible to apply for a visa even before your acceptance by a German university is confirmed. Details and forms can be found on the website of the German Embassy. The requirements for acceptance vary depending on the subject. Let me mention the foundation year. If you do not meet the requirements to study the subject of your choice, you can make up for it by expanding your skills during a foundation year together with students from all over the world. E Visit www.study-in.de email [email protected].
www.bahrainthismonth.com
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Mercedes-Benz S-Class Launch Al Haddad Motors held a press conference and an unveiling ceremony to mark the launch of the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class at the Royal Gold Club. The event held last month was attended by Al Haddad Motors management, members of the media and guests
Graeme Newport & Rasool Al Haddad
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class being unveiled
Graeme & Alia Mark
Al Haddad Motors management with the Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Alia & Naheed
Randa, Sanhita, Marise, Graeme, David & Alia
Marise
Waseem Al Haddad, Graeme Newport & Rasool Al Haddad
Paul, Rasool, Waseem, Mark & Jamie
Sumesh
Sixt Bahrain Conference Sixt Germany chose Bahrain for its GCC pricing convention which was hosted by Sixt rent-a-car Bahrain, a division under Bin Hindi Transport Company. The event was held the Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel, Bahrain City Centre
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The event was attended by Philipp Grunner, International Franchise Manager & Marta Kis, International Pricing Manager from Sixt Headquarters, Germany, along with Nawaf Bin Hindi, Director A.A. Bin Hindi Group, Lloyd Lourdes Mendes, Franchise Manager, Sixt Bahrain, managers and key staff from Sixt Bahrain
www.bahrainthismonth.com
germanysupplement Oktoberfest at the Gulf Hotel — A German tradition
Always Say Yes! A German brand might not have the razzmatazz of those from other countries. One thing, though, is for sure - we can depend upon a product with a German stamp.
Puma Sportswear
www.bahrainthismonth.com
When we think about how Germans might impact our daily life, our natural inclination would probably be to think ‘car’ in the first instance! That’s hardly surprising. After all, the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are names that are indelibly etched into our consciousness. What these automotive brands do, though, is to emphasis our expectations of a German product - precision engineering to the highest quality. The last thing we expect from a product or service with a ‘German’ label is for it not to work as described on the box. While we tend to think about passenger cars when it comes to the motoring industry, German companies have a significant presence in the commercial vehicle market as well. Over at Al Haddad Motors you’ll discover a range of trucks from the Daimler Group. Another brand we all know well is MAN, whose local partner is AMA Motors. Our penchant for predictable engineering runs through the gamut of our lifestyles; the kitchen equipment from Miele is more than likely powered by a Siemens power plant. The building in which we spend our days could well have been the end product of foundations conceived by Keller Grundau. In the medical field we’re likely to find a German influence, whether
it is through a visit to the German Skin Care clinic or the equipment used to save a life. The softer side German brands are, however, not all about a well-oiled and functioning piece of equipment. The fashion world, for instance, might not be an industry that we would link with Germany. Yet, think about Puma, distributed by AMA Sports in the Kingdom, and we are talking about a German brand. The same goes for Hugo Boss. When it comes to personal pampering, brands such as Nivea and Schwarzkopf call this central European country home. In the financial services industry we will find a number of major powerhouses. We might not bank at Deutsche Bank but many of us will have acquired an insurance product from the Allianz Group, for whom the Allianz Takaful business is headquartered in Bahrain. MedNet International offers healthcare insurance and is part of the Munich Re insurance group. If we want to send a package half way around the world, we’re likely to call DHL, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post. Should learning a foreign language be high on our list of priorities, Berlitz has a solution waiting for us.
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germanysupplement
Flying the Flag Tony Sidgwick Bahrain This Month talks to Graeme Newport, the man in charge of one of the country’s most prestigious brands in Bahrain, Mercedes.
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It’s hard to summarise what a brand like Mercedes means to somewhere like Bahrain, but the easy answer that springs to mind is luxury and prestige. “When you look at Mercedes-Benz, you immediately think quality, technology, and engineering,” says Graeme Newport, general manager for Al Haddad Motors. However, what many people often forget is that Mercedes isn’t just about luxury cars. You also have the commercial vehicles as well, ranging from vans and ambulances right up to HGVs, so there’s an economic contribution to consider. “Across the world Mercedes is one of the biggest truck brands,” says Graeme. “But the Daimler Group, which also has truck brands like Freightliner, Western Star, Unimog and Fuso within its portfolio, is the world’s second-biggest truck manufacturer. It’s a very exciting group to work with, as there’s so much going on.” And with the launch of what is arguably the most technologically advanced car in the world, the new Mercedes S Class, it’s an especially exciting time for the brand.
Graeme Newport
“The exterior design of the new S Class is more of an evolution, but the striking difference is now very much on the inside, and on the technology that’s gone into the safety and performance,” adds Graeme. “There are something like 50 computers within the car, six radars, and three cameras; it’s just phenomenal the way all this technology has come together. “In addition, with the demise of Maybach, we are also now going to see many things that were planned for their limousines offered in the S Class instead. “The reality is that the Maybach will continue, but it will be in the form of an S Class, and over the next three or four years we’re going to see a lot more derivatives of the S Class, for example versions like the long wheelbase and the super-long wheelbase, which will approximate to what the Maybach used to do. “We’ve also got the 600, which is the V12 super version coming as well, and the S63 and the S65 AMG versions. Next year we’ll also get the S Coupé, which was formerly the CL. On the more accessible end of the range, there will be the S400 V6 version, which is replacing the S350.”
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Despite this large number of variations, it’s not just the S Class that’s keeping things exciting at Mercedes. “The exciting thing for us between now and 2017 is that there are about nine all-new models coming out, so there’s going to be a huge product offering.” However, it’s not just the products that make a successful car dealership, as the levels of service can make or break a business too, which is why Al Haddad Motors have been making big changes, with even bigger ones to come. “Over the past couple of years, a lot of feedback we’ve had was that we had some work to do to improve our presentation of the brand. Our efforts have been paying off; our customer satisfaction scores have gone up by 20 points in the last two years. This was done by listening to our customers, and finding solutions to what the issues were.” It’s their plans for the future, though, that are perhaps most ambitious, with a brand new service centre planned for construction on a newly acquired plot of land right alongside their showroom near Isa Town. “One of the key issues we had was that we have a showroom in Isa Town, but when it comes to services, the customer has to take it to the back of Salmabad, and that’s not really the area, image or experience we want our customers to have in terms of after-sales service. “It’s an important asset not just because of having the service centre right next to the showroom — we’ll end up with a 200metre frontage for Mercedes, which will increase our visibility and presence in the area. And, when people come in to drop
their cars off for service, they’ll be able to see our entire range, as well as experience the bistro, the coffee shop, and so on.” So, with many all-new models in the pipelines, improved levels of after-sales service and a brand new service centre in the planning stages, Mercedes looks to be forging ahead into the coming year with a great deal of confidence.
Mercedes S Class
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Rotary Club Of Salmaniya Lunch Meeting The Rotary Club of Salmaniya held a lunch meeting for members & guests at the Golden Tulip's Gilgamesh Ballroom. The guest speaker was Adnan Al Mahmood, who topic was 'The Impact of CSR on Business'
Farrell International Co. W.L.L.
German Skin Care Centre SKIN CARE MADE IN GERMANY
Problem: Acne, scars, wrinkle, pigmentation, ageing, large pores, stretch marks, cellulite, fat reduction, body forming, permanent hair removal, tired eyes/legs, … Michel & Khalil
Sebahat, Marjan, Ernest & Yahiya
Khalid
Method: Microdermabrasio, Mesotherapy, Body forming, Cavitation, Lymphatic, Fat-Away-Method, Fruit Acid, Radiofrequency, High frequency, Ultrasonic, IPL, LED, Infrared light, dermaceutical tailor made Crème,… www.beauty-manama.com Olivier & Patrick
www.bahrainthismonth.com
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germanysupplement AMA MOTORS
The Future in Motion A top-ranking international supplier of commercial vehicles offers companies in the region the ultimate transportation solutions. AMA Motors, a division of the Ahmed Mansoor Al-Aali Group, has been a partner with MAN Truck and Bus since 1997 and continues to build its success within the Kingdom. Due to the growth in the commercial vehicle market in the region, MAN opened a Middle East office in 2006 to support its importers within 14 countries. The celebrated German engineering and quality of the product ensures that they are able meet the requirements of every customer and to withstand the environment they work in. The reliability of the product is globally recognised as a market leader and is known to reduce the total cost of ownership through being consistently efficient. One of AMA Motor’s core values is to be the number one choice by offering consistent levels of service and building long-term relations with both customers and brand partners. The philosophy of the brand is that the key is not to just sell a truck but to offer a complete transportation solution to the end user, therefore maximising the usage of the vehicle. AMA Motors are able to offer comprehensive service and maintenance packages and in addition all vehicles supplied include the MAN ProfiDrive Driver Training, which is designed to make drivers safer and more efficient. The business in Bahrain has grown dramatically over the years. There are plans to upgrade the facilities with a new showroom and service facility in the near future. E Call 17 772-256.
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www.bahrainthismonth.com
germanysupplement PUMA
Inspired by Nature Looking for a smoother running experience? This first generation concept shoe is built to challenge the conventional standard of static footwear.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Global sportlifestyle brand Puma looks at performance through a different lens and defeats convention through true innovation. Throughout its history since it was founded in Germany in 1948, the brand has merged the latest in technology and design in order to introduce revolutionary products into the market. Through their retail partners AMA Sports, a division of Ahmed Mansoor Al A’ali Co BSC, Puma has been able to provide these innovative products since 2005 through their various outlets in Bahrain and Qatar. Puma has always focused on provocative, risky ideas aimed at enhancing an athlete’s experience — the all-new Puma Mobium Elite shoe is no different. A new category on the market of performance running, this model features ‘adaptive running’. PUMA Mobium Elite takes into consideration that the foot expands in three directions: longitudinally, laterally and vertically. It in turn adapts with the body in motion, encouraging a more natural and efficient mid-foot strike. The ‘Mobium Band’, running through the outsole in a ‘figure eight’, is designed to work dynamically like the tendons in the foot. Its ‘Windlass Chassis’ mimics the effect of a foot’s expansion and contraction as it moves. The shoe takes inspiration from the most efficient running machine on the planet — the cat. Similar to cats’ paws, it compresses together during propulsion phase and expands during stance phase to provide cushioning. The ‘Expansion Pods’ on the outsole of the shoe expand and contract with the foot. E Call 17 178-046 (Bahrain City Centre) and 17 592-929 (Budaiya).
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germanysupplement
Porsche Panamera
PORSCHE CENTRE BAHRAIN
A Grand Move The Panamera can now regard itself as a real Porsche; an increase in the model range allows this four-seater luxury sedan to take its place alongside its stable mates.
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The Panamera model sees an expansion of the options available for customers. In total there are nine new editions to choose from, three of which can now be seen at the Porsche Centre Bahrain. “This is a great moment for our brand as we extend the Panamera range to an unprecedented nine models in the Gran Turismo segment,” says Morgan Sunderland, brand manager of Porsche Centre Bahrain. “Each model offers a unique and individual experience, but all bring luxury and comfort together with sporty driving performance.” At the heart of expansion is a drive towards sportier dynamics, greater efficiency and a decidedly sharper design. When it comes to looks, traditional values and pioneering design come together to deliver a fresh exterior. Visually tighter lines, more pronounced contours and new body elements combine to enhance the Gran Turismo character. A wider rear windscreen gives the car a visually lower stance, while the new spoiler and optional LED lights are stand-out features. The model redesign also includes an enhanced driver experience. New tyres, lighter 18-inch wheels and a specially tuned Porsche stability management system add to the Panamera’s sportiness and comfort. While one of the most marked upgrades has been an increase in fuel efficiency, this has not resulted in any compromise in sporting performance. The standard version of the Panamera has a top speed of 259km/h and delivers 310hp.
The three new variants currently in the showroom are the Panamera 4S Executive, the Panamera Turbo Executive (with an extended wheelbase) and the Panamera S E-Hybrid. “I am personally excited about the new executive versions that represent the best of both worlds; a sporty spin in the driver’s seat or an efficient work session in the comfort of the rear,” adds Morgan. “It is the first time that Porsche has paid special attention to the absolutely exquisite rear compartment. Several features, such as eight-way power seats with seat ventilation as well as thermally and noise-insulated glass with privacy glazing, are what our customers will be able to enjoy.” Moreover, the hybrid sets a new benchmark as the world’s first plug-in hybrid in its class. Both the 4S and S E-Hybrid come with a new three-litre V6 engine featuring biturbo charging. E Call 17 459-911.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
germanysupplement KELLER GRUNDBAU
Centuries of Expertise Established in 1860, this construction firm is built on two principles: engineering excellence and a commitment to continual innovation. Keller Grundbau GmbH is a well-recognised name throughout the Bahrain construction industry since its inception here in 1973. The company offers solutions to soil and foundation problems, with operating centres across the globe. Over the last four decades, the international geotechnical contractors have completed more than 1,200 jobs in the Kingdom. The business uses bored cast-in-situ piling, mini piles, bored and soldier pile walls, secant piling, ground improvement with vibro techniques, dewatering and grouting, and soil and rock anchors. General manager Imtiaz Ahmed Syed, who has been with the firm for 31 years, says, “Keller is the first and only company to introduce the bottom feed dry method for ground improvement by vibro techniques to Bahrain using a purpose-built Vibrocat.” This technique provides an economic and flexible solution, which easily adapts to varying ground conditions. The dry method system for ground improvement is widely used in many projects, such as the Bahrain International Airport extension, Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa, Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Hidd and PWC facilities in Hidd. It has also been used for a stainless steel mill plant, ground storage tanks and warehouses. The quality management system of Keller Grundbau in Bahrain is maintained in accordance with the requirements of ISO9001:2008. “We are committed to continually improving the effectiveness of our system,” Imtiaz adds. “The Bahrain division of the international brand gets backing in respect to equipment and techniques from the Keller Group and Keller Holding in Germany.” Keller’s Middle East branch unit’s managing director Geert Janssen, technical director Guido Freitag and the Bahrain-based design team headed by Jeyaprakash Elango has several years of expertise in the field. They are always ready to assist clients while formulating technically sound and cost effective solutions based on the foundation of value engineering. E Call 17 741-677 or visit www.kellergrundbau.com.
Imtiaz Ahmed Syed
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BERLITZ BAHRAIN
Learning the Right Way Studies show that learning a new language through everyday situations is much more useful than instructions in a classroom.
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Whether for professional or personal needs, learning to speak a second or third language is increasingly important in today’s world. Be it a business trip or a family getaway, understanding another country’s way of speaking and culture helps you prepare for a better experience. Although perfecting grammar and writing skills gets you on your way to being fluent in a language, learning new vocabulary without knowing how to use it in real situations will get you nowhere. When you are in a foreign country, you need to be able to talk your way through any eventuality. Traditional classroom lessons are one of the most effective ways of education, but sometimes you need a little real-life experience to make the information stick — enter Berlitz Bahrain’s revolutionary training concept! Through simulations and coaching, clients get to experience day-to-day life conversations, using the language they want to learn. “The idea is to revamp practical training through the usage of different venues to train clients with real situations. The simulations are held all over the island in cafés, shopping malls, airports and even hospitals,” says Manaf Alanni, the centre’s director. “Participants successfully retain over 80 percent of the information, which compares to less than 70 percent with a traditional classroom approach.” Through the interactive sessions, students learn to fluently and effectively ask for directions, order a meal, and conduct
business and government transactions. Each lesson is completely different. Each simulation classes lasts between 90 minutes and two hours. The sessions are recorded and work as additional training tools for all parties involved.“The idea behind the simulation courses is to allow trainees to see how much they have benefited from their lessons,” adds Manaf. As one of the leading schools in the world, Berlitz has been offering over 130 years of language training innovation. The centre has been heading the industry for over a decade in the Kingdom. A variety of programmes serves a number of specialised cases and includes some tailored for individuals with busy schedules. You can learn a language from the comfort of your home or office with the Berlitz virtual classroom, an online programme. Students are connected to an instructor via interactive training software. A series of soft skills courses, such as body language, effective communication, motivation and team building, are also available. These courses are run as workshops and can be customised to meet the specific requirements of companies and individuals. A branch in Budaiya now lets parents schedule their own classes alongside those of their children. E Call 17 827-847 (Adliya) or 17 694-233 (Budaiya).
www.bahrainthismonth.com
germanysupplement DHL
At Your Doorstep With over 30 years’ presence in Bahrain, this global market leader in the logistics industry is committed to maintaining its leadership position.
DHL remains a key contributor to the local economy by further developing their wide portfolio of services coupled with a vast regional network of which the hub in Bahrain is the nerve centre. Over 70 per cent of employees, including supervisory and management roles, are Bahraini nationals. “Customers trust DHL as the preferred global express and logistic partner, helping us lead the industry in terms of quality, profitability and market share. We offer high quality service and strong expertise, combined with the most extensive global network presence,” says Emad ElHajjami, Bahrain country commercial manager. To stay on top of the game, the company delivers a one-of-a-kind portfolio of logistics, value added services, easy-to-use standardised products as well as innovative and tailored solutions. Approximately 500,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories are focused on service, quality and sustainability. “DHL is a responsible corporate citizen in all countries. We take into account the social and environmental needs of the public. The firm reduces its carbon footprint for every letter mailed by finding the most efficient and optimum way of getting it to the customers,” he adds. “We took part in the global Earth Day with Reef Arabia, building artificial reefs. Our employees had done their part by cleaning Al Dar beach.” DHL is the main logistic provider for Bahrain Air Show 2014, which was crucial to our commitment to being part of the biggest events in Bahrain. By being the official logistics provider, they will help put together one of the biggest spectacle in the Kingdom. E Call 17 364-100.
NO ONE KNOWS BAHRAIN LIKE WE DO. ....... Operating in 220 countries around the world; we are always at home. dhl.com.bh
www.bahrainthismonth.com
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Fundraising Dinner For
Archaeological Expedition on the Royal Burial Mounds Bahrain’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of outstanding global value ENJOY AN EVENING WITH LIVE ENTERTAINMENT BY ANNA THOMPSON-HALL & FRIENDS MASTER OF CEREMONIES MR. IAN FISHER OF RADIO BAHRAIN MEET DR. STEFFEN TERP LAURSEN AND HIS TEAM
October 24th - 7pm
• Buffet with live cooking stations. • Raffle Draw with exciting prizes. • Ticket price incl. dinner, entertainment & welcome drink
“Every archaeologist knows in his heart why he digs. He digs... that the dead may live again, that what is past may not be forever lost, that something may be salvaged from the wrack of ages, that the past may color the present and give heart to the future.” T. Geoffrey Bibby. 1956
BD 18/p.p (10 BD go to fundraising) Tickets and Reservation at the Dilmun Club The Dilmun Club in Saar Tel. 17690926.17692986
PANTONE 871 C C:20 M:25 Y:60 K:25
PANTONE 288 C C:100 M:67 Y:0 K:23
downtimeintro
Football Madness Maryam Toorani They say that money sculpts the world. After the recent record-smashing summer transfer period, it is evident that it also sculpts football. This year has seen FIFA process over 10,450 transfers. To be more specific, the first half of 2013 saw US$929 million of international player trading. Although it is a natural market progression for player values to increase, has the willingness to spend big bucks helped or hindered the ‘beautiful’ game? After Gareth Bale completed his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for more than US$85 million, it begged the question, where are the financial controls that the UEFA have been talking about? Of course, Bale wasn’t the only one to make headlines. The year also saw Brazil’s forward Neymar join Barcelona from Santos for a whopping fee of US$74 million. Mesut Ozil of Real Madrid caught a last-minute surprise switch to Arsenal for what in today’s world might be considered a modest fee of US$42 million. One man who has been known to desperately try to integrate transfer controls is UEFA chief Michel Platini, who has gone as far as saying the big money spending is considered “robbery”. While the French national team and Juventus legend addresses the imbalance among Europe’s elite, it seems that clubs with the heaviest financial backers are on top of the food chain. Case in point is France’s Ligue 1. Although the recent success seen by Germany’s Bundesliga has caused a change of the Also this month
guard in European football, it has been long overdue. Take Borussia Dortmund for example. After almost going bankrupt, the club rebuilt itself cost-effectively using a young homegrown talent. The same can’t be said about the newest surprise, however. The uproar caused by the top French league, which is still considered ‘raw’, was less foreseeable. The likes of Paris Saint Germain and Monaco are butting heads with Europe’s heavyweights, thanks largely to the influx of foreign investment of recent years. Not to say that Ligue 1 wasn’t entertaining prior to the Qatari and Russian takeovers, but would we still have all this buzz if the league’s two top teams hadn’t attracted some of the biggest names of football? Over the last two years we have seen some of the most sought-after players (Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Javier Pastore anyone?) trade in their dreams to play for ‘big name’ clubs for even bigger pay cheques. Of course, not every team has the benefit of wealthy businessmen with a whole lot of cash to splurge. In Serie A, the summer saw clubs spend about as much as they have made in transfer fees. On the other end of the spectrum is a prime example of financial controls. Australia’s A-League has established a salary cap on all its players, possibly giving clubs an equal chance of success. The big spending of today’s glitz and glam football could be due to the sheer scarcity of individual talent. Or it could simply be because a sheikh or Russian oligarch has decided to play real-life ‘soccer manager’. One thing is for sure — money is the future of the game.
112 Gadgets x 118 Music x 120 Computer games x 121 Websites x 122 Apps x 123 Movies
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Have a look Hansgrohe has launched a new app to allow customers design their own virtual bathroom. Now you can how your shower or washbasin will look before you decide to buy.
Bigger and better LG Electronics’ latest line-up features advanced TVs equipped with incredible picture quality, stunning design and innovative technologies.
October 2013 109
downtimegadgets
A Guy's Best Friend Feel a midlife crisis coming on? Or just want to show off? Whatever the case, guys will love this month’s gadgets!
Editor's pick!
Time for a change
Nissan aren’t the only brand who has gone smartwatch mad. The Samsung Galaxy Gear watch is sure to be a game-changer, with a 1.63-inch 230 x 230 AMOLED display, a 1.9-megapixel camera and 70 impressive apps — and it’s a lot cheaper than the Nissan watch!
An Apple a day
Of course, we couldn’t talk about this month’s gadgets without reiterating how excited we are about the new iPhone 5S and 5C. Both feature an eight-megapixel camera, full 1080p HD recording and the brand-new iOS7 software. The only difference between the two options is that the 5C is the cheaper alternative.
Watch and learn
Move over Sony and Samsung, car manufacturer Nissan has introduced their own smartwatch. The Nissan Nismo concept watch features a 41-megapixel camera as well letting you know when your car needs a service! But this watch will not come cheap!
Make a note
Samsung have no shortage of great gadgets this month! With the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 you can run multiple apps at once and the new soft-touch, fauxleather back panel makes this tablet feel much more premium than the previous version.
110 October 2013
Hear me now
Finally, wireless headphones that sync to the screen perfectly! The RS 220 headphones, from Sennheiser, allow you to listen to audio or watch TV with ease and without waking everyone else up!
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Shave with precision
This sounds like something out of James Bond. Philips has announced the Beard Trimmer 9000, which features a laser to ensure your beard is trimmed to the millimetre — patchy facial hair is a thing of the past!
I can ski!
With the Smith Optics I/O Recon goggles you can make skiing all the more techy. The goggles have a small display tucked into them, which gives you all the analytical data of your skiing, and also are the most fog-resistant goggles on the market!
Hey ho, LEGO
You can use the excuse that you’re getting this for your son, but the LEGO Technic 4x4 Crawler is irresistible to play with! Once you’ve constructed the 1,300-plus-piece machine you have an awesome remote-controllable car that will ensure hours of entertainment!
Game on
A great new gaming accessory, the RazerAtrox Arcade Stick brings back the classic 80s nostalgia to PC gaming. Now you can play Donkey Kong or Street Fighter as it was meant to be played!
For the drill of it
Spice up your DIY with the Worx Semi-Auto Driver. This hi-tech screwdriver is fast, efficient and will make DIY a total breeze! All gadgets are available online.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
October 2013 111
downtimegadgets
The Latest Gizmos If you’re after some new gadgets, Lulu Hypermarket is where you should be. Expect to find the most competitive offers on the latest products.
Editor's pick! Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The latest innovation from the Korean brand pushes the boundaries with a great screen, slim design and powerful processor.
Apple iPhone 5c
This is the first device out of Apple to come in bold, bright colours. With a new fingerprint identity sensor, an amazing interface and an impressive camera, the iPhone 5c is forward thinking.
Samsung Galaxy Mega Dual Sim Tablet
This 5.8-inch dual SIM ‘phablet’ offers high-quality display and an expansive viewing experience. The multi-window offers greater convenience while multitasking between two apps.
HP Slatebook
The flexibility and fun of a tablet meets the productivity and power of a notebook in the HP Slatebook. Users can easily transition from tablet to notebook with a magnetic hinge design that makes docking and undocking work like magic.
Samsung Galaxy S4
The incredibly wide full HD Super Amoled screen fits perfectly within an extraordinarily slim bezel encased in a special polycarbonate body, making it the lightest and most sophisticated Galaxy smartphone yet.
112 October 2013
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Samsung Smart LED TV
Not only are you offered exceptional quality viewing, but with this 40-inch Smart TV, you can access a wide selection of online apps and contents.
LG Full HD LED TV
Delivering better colour, quality and sound, this LG 50-inch LED TV offers film buffs the ultimate home entertainment experience.
Lenovo 3G Tablet
Stay connected wherever and whenever with the Lenovo IdeaTab S6000. Customers get a 10.1-inch IPS display, a 3G module, a microSD slot and a built-in 32GB memory.
LG 42-inch Smart 3D LED TV
Watch your favourite movies and characters come to life in your own living room with this smart TV from LG.
Samsung 46-inch LED TV
This full HD TV allows you to view crystal-clear imaging in the comfort of your own home. The contemporary design is coupled with remarkable connectivity features.
Lulu Hypermarkets can be found at Dana Mall, Hidd, Ramli Mall and East Riffa
www.bahrainthismonth.com
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Spices Bollywood Brunch The Crowne Plaza Bahrain held it's monthly Bollywood Brunch at the hotel's Spices Restaurant last month
Priya, Ruth & Chef Mohammed
Jocelyn with Sreelekha, Prajwal, Shreya & Dr Parveen Kumar
Prakash, Priya, Surbita & Cynthia
www.bahrainthismonth.com
HOME ELECTRONICS
Gadgets at Your Doorstep High-tech gadgets dominate the modern world, so much so that if you want to be ‘in’, you need to be in with the new.
Home Electronics is a retailer of the latest smartphones, TVs, laptops, tablets, appliances and so much more. For the technosavvy looking for the ‘it’ gadget, the electronics hypermarket is a one-stop destination. “We make sure that the must-have products are readily available for our customers. You can find devices like ultra highdefinition televisions, micro Hi-Fi Bluetooth systems, smart steam irons, true steam with sensor dryers, cardio ergometer elliptical trainers and robotic mops,” says floor manager, Bernadette Lim-Dones. Shoppers are spoilt for choice with the variety of models and brands that can meet a complete range of household needs — all at affordable prices. Since our uber-connected lives need us to be virtually accessible at all times, Home Electronics continuously provides innovative ways to keep up with the fast pace. Of course, you are not left alone in dealing with this technology overload. An efficient team of professionals is always on hand to help you with any of your questions. If you, like most of us, live a very hectic life with no time to browse around stores for what you are looking for, don’t fret. The electronics hypermarket has a brand new initiative that will make your technology-centric life so much easier. “We now have a ‘pay upon delivery’ system. This enables the customer the chance to make a purchase without leaving the comfort of his or her own home. They only need to call us, give us the information of the item they want and wait for its delivery,” she adds. E Call 39 769-813
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Promotion Period : Sept. 25th to Oct. 17th, 2013
33314288 www.homeelectronics.com.bh www.bahrainthismonth.com
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Rock and Roll All Night Many of us have silently lamented the death of rock and roll, when suddenly a song comes on the radio and you can actually hear the sound of real guitars and drums.
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks
MN BUMO ALTHE
WHAT’S THE STORY? It’s been an interesting
TH
couple of years for Trent Reznor. After putting Nine Inch Nails on hiatus back in 2009, the 48-year-old alt-rock icon went on to produce various film soundtracks, such as The Social Network and the American adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Reznor returns with Hesitation Marks; the first release since 2008’s The Slip. This album features an entirely new band.
WORTH A LISTEN?
It’s hard to believe Nine Inch Nail’s progression since Reznor first began producing with the industrial outfit. 1994’s The Downward Spiral was the soundtrack of unhappy and angst-ridden teens across the world. He has been described as one of the most influential musical icons in the past 25 years. Trent sings in Me, I’m Not that ‘I am not who I used to be.’ Upon listening to this record, what Reznor proclaims becomes more apparent. This release feels more upbeat, nodding toward the likes of Depeche Mode. Tracks like Copy of A features a glitchy synth line and pulsating beats, with his voice sounding melancholic as usual. One of the highlights is Find My Way, which reiterates some of the gloomier themes and melodies of earlier albums.
Verdict: It’s a welcome return for one of alt-rock’s most influential and venerated outfits. Whilst this is a change from the Nine Inch Nails we’re used to, it’s by no means a bad one. TOP TRACKS: Copy of A and Find My Way. Balance and Composure
The Things We Think We’re Missing Pennsylvania’s finest, Balance and Composure, return with their first full-length album since 2011’s Separation. Their wonderful mix of melodic and hard-hitting guitar work is as gripping as ever. It is awash with melancholic yet powerful vocal melodies and hooks. One of the most interesting rock bands around today, The Things We Think We’re Missing is certainly worth a listen.
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Arctic Monkeys
AM It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know an Arctic Monkeys song. The Sheffield quartet is one of the most defining acts of indie rock. They return with their latest release, AM. The group has retained its original spark and fun-filled atmosphere.
The Strypes
Snapshot Irish four-piece The Strypes unveils a guitar-driven R&B set. The record is energetic, but it does feel as if the quartet is playing it too safe at times. They seem to be relying on tried and tested ideas rather than doing anything slightly risky.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
downtimecomputergames
Back in the Game It’s great to see some of the biggest gaming franchises returning to our consoles this month. Here’s our selection of the best ones.
TH GA E M M E ON TH
Rayman Legends
OF
(Xbox 360, PS3, PS Vita, Wii U) Visually pleasing, well-designed and quite simply fun, Rayman Legends is a fantastic return from one of the best platformer series in the gaming industry. It is one of the few that can rank up alongside the likes of Super Mario Bros.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist
Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) RATING:
WHAT IS IT?
It’s hard to deny the impact that Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series has made upon the gaming industry. The previous instalment was heralded as one of the best games of recent history and the game sold out almost instantaneously when it was released back in 2008. And now, the critically acclaimed open-world action-adventure series is back with the fifth addition, Grand Theft Auto V. The game is set in the fictional Los Santos, which is loosely based around Los Angeles. Players take the role of three different characters.
(Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U) Unlike most action games, Blacklist isn’t simply shooting your way out of everything. Each level can be dealt with in varying ways. You can either blast your way out or shoot everyone in sight. Rely on stealth and creep through levels to avoid enemy contact. It is a great addition to the Splinter Cell series.
GRAPHICS: The first thing that is immediately striking about this addition to the GTA series is just how incredibly dense and open the game is. The geography of Los Santos is extremely varied, with deserts, forests, mountains and cityscapes. So you’d be hard pressed to find nothing to do in the game.
GAMEPLAY: The most interesting new feature in this game is that there are
three protagonists to choose from, each with their own unique goals and back story. There’s Michael, a retired bank robber; Franklin, a sympathetic young man; and Trevor, who fits the typical ‘bad- guy’ role. The thing that is awesome about having these characters is the ability to switch between them; the transition is fluid. The characters will go about their business and gameplay isn’t stalled.
VERDICT: It’s easy to see why this was one of the most anticipated games of the year. The story might not be a blockbuster, but this is everything you could want from a GTA game.
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Total War: Rome II (PC) The Total War series is one of the most popular strategy franchises in gaming today. The latest addition is bigger than ever before. It’s not a dramatic change from the previous instalment. Nonetheless, it’s engaging and has the same extended playability as the last one.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
TE TH SI ON EB M W THE
OF
Vine RATING:
WHAT IS IT?
This isn’t one of the newest sites available at the moment, but it sure is becoming one of the most popular sites/apps today. Vine is basically a video sharing social networking site, which allows users to create short videos (generally only around eight seconds long) and share them with other users all around the world.
THE GOOD: It’s awesome to be able to make these cool little videos.
You can stop and start videos again to create mini ‘scenes’, which means the possibilities are incredibly varied. The site also lets you view other people’s vines from across the world. It seems as if there’s already a fair few Vine ‘celebrities’. It has become the YouTube of smartphones and there are millions of videos to view. In a similar way to Instagram, you can tag the videos so you can share them more easily.
THE BAD:
Without wanting to state the obvious, you have to share a lot of your details with the site to join. If you’re not particularly interested in seeing millions of short videos or perhaps even making them, then you probably shouldn’t sign up.
VERDICT: It’s obvious why this is already becoming one of the biggest social networking sites today.
Oyster.com They describe themselves as ‘the only hotel site that inspects in person, like your mother-in-law’. While it might not sound like an attractive proposal, Oyster.com is certainly one of the best sites to find a hotel to suit you. All the photos are from the Oyster team.
Adioso.com Adioso.com is the flight search engine for those who are flexible with their time of travel. The site lets you punch in something like ‘London to San Francisco anytime return’ and will enlist inexpensive rates. So for the spontaneous amongst us, this is ideal.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
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iPlay Games Gaming apps are back in force this month. We take a look at some of the best new ones available.
T
TH PS ON APHE M
OF
Giant Boulder of Death (iOS) Simple and effective, this game does exactly what it says on the tin. Smash things with a giant boulder and rack up the points. There may not be much to it, but this cool free app is definitely worth downloading. It’s a great time killer.
First Touch Soccer 2014 (IOS) RATING:
WHAT IS IT?
One of the most realistic soccer apps on hand, First Touch Soccer 2014 carries on the series and gives it a welcome boost. The game features a variety of new modes and updated graphics to maximise your gaming experience.
THE GOOD: Firstly, the graphics are incredibly realistic for a smartphone game. The
animations are well produced. The game has a myriad of wonderful new features, and one of the most enjoyable is the manager mode. This allows you to manage over 180 clubs over 30 individual competitions. You can sign new players, renew player contracts and of course coach your team. First Touch Soccer 2014 also features a new ‘one touch’ control mode that lets you shoot and pass with a series of taps and swipes, making this ergonomic as well as enjoyable. To top it all off, it’s totally free!
THE BAD: The only issue present in this game is that it has been noted to crash a little
bit, which is obviously frustrating, as you can imagine. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t put you off as there are bound to be updates which sort out these minor inconveniences.
VERDICT: This is a great (if not one of the best) soccer games available on iOS. Its playability is fantastic!
120 October 2013
2K Drive (iOS) Buckle up and get ready for one of the best driving experiences you can get on an iPhone. 2K Drive lets you take control of the wheel and tests your driving skills with incredible detail and realism. It’s at the pricier end of the spectrum at nearly BD3, but if you’re willing to spend, you’ll definitely be satisfied.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Rush RATING: DIRECTED BY: Ron Howard STARRING: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl
THE PLOT:
Set during the climactic 1976 Formula 1 World Championship, this movie follows the playboy Brit James Hunt (Hemsworth) and the analytical Austrian Niki Lauda (Brühl) as they face off in the tenth race of the championship.
WORTH WATCHING? The film starts off by following the
traditional sports biopic formula. Hemsworth’s performance is enjoyable as the eccentric James Hunt, but it’s Brühl’s performance as the more solitary and moody Lauda that is really interesting. His character development throughout the movie guarantees to change your opinion of the Austrian. Director Ron Howard employs a lot of interesting camera techniques for the racing sequences to make them as thrilling as possible.
VERDICT: Rush is by no means perfect, but it is one of the most exciting sports biopics in a while with the leads never failing to make it enjoyable.
White House Down Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx lead this action-packed, patriotic and corny blockbuster. It’s everything you’d expect from the title and has filled that gap that director Ronald Emmerich’s previous films such as Independence Day left behind. Whether or not that’s a bad thing, that’s for you to decide!
About Time The king of British romantic comedy Richard Curtis returns with his latest movie About Time. This film has a lot more than a regular rom-com. It asks a lot of interesting questions and has a lot of genuinely moving moments. What would you do if you could travel back in time? Although it misses the mark, the movie can give you ideas.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
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bystanderthismonth
Reflection of Thais Show The Thai Embassy held a musical evening - the Reflection of Thais - a three-strong group of Thai musicians, a soprano, violinist and pianist, from the Princess Vadhana Institute of Music at the Cultural Hall last month. The event was part of the Bahrain Summer festival
Paween, HE Vichai Varasirikul, Thai Ambassador & Witchu
Tom, Nid, Sita, HE Vichai Varasirikul, Amm, Ja & Sai
122 October 2013
Vinod, Wally, Tanya, LJ, Armie, Mariel & Cynthia
Bob & Steve
Clarke & Tony
Lonnie & Rob
Prevent breast cancer by eating one of these foods a day! Green tea: can cause certain types of cancer cells to self-destruct and prevents them from growing and spreading Blueberries: a nutrient-packed antioxidant which causes cancerous cells to self-destruct Flaxseed: helps reduce tumor growth and spread Broccoli: a cancer fighting compound which stops breast cancer cells in their tracks and helps them self-destruct the growth of breast cancer cells
Pomegranates: a rich source of antioxidants, they can inhibit an enzyme that plays a role in breast cancer development Fatty fish: Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna can slow the growth of breast cancer cells Walnuts: snack on 2 oz of walnuts today and you can halt the development of breast cancer tumors
New extension Seef Mall |1st Floor | Manama| Bahrain Tel: 13333286, 13333288 | www.organicsbahrain.com Organic Food and Cafe Bahrain @organicsbahrain
124 October 2013
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Hapkido Belt Presentation Hapkido Mu Mu Kwan held a belt presentation ceremony and upgraded around 50 students to different color belts. The ceremony was held at the Al Najma Sports Club in Juffair. The belts were awarded by Master Salah, a 6th Dan black belt holder in Hapkido
Master Salah
A Hapkido demonstration by Master Salah
Mohammed, Mehadi & Master Salah
Ayyad, Master Salah, Mehadi & Ahmed
Ameer
Ali
Hussain
Visit our unique dental specialist center in Bahrain, New Zinj. Our doctors are highly qualified abroad. Dr. Rim Bogari, cosmetic and general dentist ( Germany ) Dr. Haidar Alfayadh, prosthodontist and cosmetic dentist ( Baghdad ) Dr. Alaeddin Abu Khalaf, orthodontist, Dr. Gerhardt klein, implantologist ( German )
www.bahrainthismonth.com
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Arabella Mieko De Leon’s Christening Raynand and Ayla De Leon celebrated their daughter Arabella Mieko De Leon’s Christening last month. The Christening ceremony was held at Our Lady of Arabia Parish in Awali followed by a reception at The K Hotel Raynand & Ayla De Leon with Baby Arabella
Rosa, Frances, Ayla, Raynand, Rev. Fr. Ruwen & Alex
Raynand & Paul
Raynand Ayla & Khalid Hady with Baby Arabella
Chris & Melissa
Blessing Baby Arabella by Rev. Fr. Ruwen
Emma & Gerald
With the Arabella’s Godparents (from left) – Riz, Sheryl, Chris, Ayla, Raynand, Baby Arabella, Rev. Fr. Ruwen, Grace, Rachel, Gerald & JP
Experience a diversity of fine cuisine from across the vast continent of Asia in Bahrain’s most intimate dining room with sweeping views of Arabian gulf.
126 October 2013
www.bahrainthismonth.com
McDonalds Halloumi Sandwich Launch McDonalds Bahrain launched a new sandwich on its breakfast menu - the Halloumi. To mark the event, McDonalds Bahrain invited members of the media to an exclusive kitchen tour and a chance to make their own Halloumi sandwich. The event was held at the McDonalds branch on Exhibition Road last month
Ahmed
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downtimeintro
Football Madness Maryam Toorani They say that money sculpts the world. After the recent record-smashing summer transfer period, it is evident that it also sculpts football. This year has seen FIFA process over 10,450 transfers. To be more specific, the first half of 2013 saw US$929 million of international player trading. Although it is a natural market progression for player values to increase, has the willingness to spend big bucks helped or hindered the ‘beautiful’ game? After Gareth Bale completed his move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for more than US$85 million, it begged the question, where are the financial controls that the UEFA have been talking about? Of course, Bale wasn’t the only one to make headlines. The year also saw Brazil’s forward Neymar join Barcelona from Santos for a whopping fee of US$74 million. Mesut Ozil of Real Madrid caught a last-minute surprise switch to Arsenal for what in today’s world might be considered a modest fee of US$42 million. One man who has been known to desperately try to integrate transfer controls is UEFA chief Michel Platini, who has gone as far as saying the big money spending is considered “robbery”. While the French national team and Juventus legend addresses the imbalance among Europe’s elite, it seems that clubs with the heaviest financial backers are on top of the food chain. Case in point is France’s Ligue 1. Although the recent success seen by Germany’s Bundesliga has caused a change of the Also this month
guard in European football, it has been long overdue. Take Borussia Dortmund for example. After almost going bankrupt, the club rebuilt itself cost-effectively using a young homegrown talent. The same can’t be said about the newest surprise, however. The uproar caused by the top French league, which is still considered ‘raw’, was less foreseeable. The likes of Paris Saint Germain and Monaco are butting heads with Europe’s heavyweights, thanks largely to the influx of foreign investment of recent years. Not to say that Ligue 1 wasn’t entertaining prior to the Qatari and Russian takeovers, but would we still have all this buzz if the league’s two top teams hadn’t attracted some of the biggest names of football? Over the last two years we have seen some of the most sought-after players (Falcao, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Javier Pastore anyone?) trade in their dreams to play for ‘big name’ clubs for even bigger pay cheques. Of course, not every team has the benefit of wealthy businessmen with a whole lot of cash to splurge. In Serie A, the summer saw clubs spend about as much as they have made in transfer fees. On the other end of the spectrum is a prime example of financial controls. Australia’s A-League has established a salary cap on all its players, possibly giving clubs an equal chance of success. The big spending of today’s glitz and glam football could be due to the sheer scarcity of individual talent. Or it could simply be because a sheikh or Russian oligarch has decided to play real-life ‘soccer manager’. One thing is for sure — money is the future of the game.
112 Gadgets x 118 Music x 120 Computer games x 121 Websites x 122 Apps x 123 Movies
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Have a look Hansgrohe has launched a new app to allow customers design their own virtual bathroom. Now you can how your shower or washbasin will look before you decide to buy.
Bigger and better LG Electronics’ latest line-up features advanced TVs equipped with incredible picture quality, stunning design and innovative technologies.
October 2013 109
downtimegadgets
A Guy's Best Friend Feel a midlife crisis coming on? Or just want to show off? Whatever the case, guys will love this month’s gadgets!
Editor's pick!
Time for a change
Nissan aren’t the only brand who has gone smartwatch mad. The Samsung Galaxy Gear watch is sure to be a game-changer, with a 1.63-inch 230 x 230 AMOLED display, a 1.9-megapixel camera and 70 impressive apps — and it’s a lot cheaper than the Nissan watch!
An Apple a day
Of course, we couldn’t talk about this month’s gadgets without reiterating how excited we are about the new iPhone 5S and 5C. Both feature an eight-megapixel camera, full 1080p HD recording and the brand-new iOS7 software. The only difference between the two options is that the 5C is the cheaper alternative.
Watch and learn
Move over Sony and Samsung, car manufacturer Nissan has introduced their own smartwatch. The Nissan Nismo concept watch features a 41-megapixel camera as well letting you know when your car needs a service! But this watch will not come cheap!
Make a note
Samsung have no shortage of great gadgets this month! With the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 you can run multiple apps at once and the new soft-touch, fauxleather back panel makes this tablet feel much more premium than the previous version.
110 October 2013
Hear me now
Finally, wireless headphones that sync to the screen perfectly! The RS 220 headphones, from Sennheiser, allow you to listen to audio or watch TV with ease and without waking everyone else up!
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Shave with precision
This sounds like something out of James Bond. Philips has announced the Beard Trimmer 9000, which features a laser to ensure your beard is trimmed to the millimetre — patchy facial hair is a thing of the past!
I can ski!
With the Smith Optics I/O Recon goggles you can make skiing all the more techy. The goggles have a small display tucked into them, which gives you all the analytical data of your skiing, and also are the most fog-resistant goggles on the market!
Hey ho, LEGO
You can use the excuse that you’re getting this for your son, but the LEGO Technic 4x4 Crawler is irresistible to play with! Once you’ve constructed the 1,300-plus-piece machine you have an awesome remote-controllable car that will ensure hours of entertainment!
Game on
A great new gaming accessory, the RazerAtrox Arcade Stick brings back the classic 80s nostalgia to PC gaming. Now you can play Donkey Kong or Street Fighter as it was meant to be played!
For the drill of it
Spice up your DIY with the Worx Semi-Auto Driver. This hi-tech screwdriver is fast, efficient and will make DIY a total breeze! All gadgets are available online.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
October 2013 111
downtimegadgets
The Latest Gizmos If you’re after some new gadgets, Lulu Hypermarket is where you should be. Expect to find the most competitive offers on the latest products.
Editor's pick! Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The latest innovation from the Korean brand pushes the boundaries with a great screen, slim design and powerful processor.
Apple iPhone 5c
This is the first device out of Apple to come in bold, bright colours. With a new fingerprint identity sensor, an amazing interface and an impressive camera, the iPhone 5c is forward thinking.
Samsung Galaxy Mega Dual Sim Tablet
This 5.8-inch dual SIM ‘phablet’ offers high-quality display and an expansive viewing experience. The multi-window offers greater convenience while multitasking between two apps.
HP Slatebook
The flexibility and fun of a tablet meets the productivity and power of a notebook in the HP Slatebook. Users can easily transition from tablet to notebook with a magnetic hinge design that makes docking and undocking work like magic.
Samsung Galaxy S4
The incredibly wide full HD Super Amoled screen fits perfectly within an extraordinarily slim bezel encased in a special polycarbonate body, making it the lightest and most sophisticated Galaxy smartphone yet.
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Samsung Smart LED TV
Not only are you offered exceptional quality viewing, but with this 40-inch Smart TV, you can access a wide selection of online apps and contents.
LG Full HD LED TV
Delivering better colour, quality and sound, this LG 50-inch LED TV offers film buffs the ultimate home entertainment experience.
Lenovo 3G Tablet
Stay connected wherever and whenever with the Lenovo IdeaTab S6000. Customers get a 10.1-inch IPS display, a 3G module, a microSD slot and a built-in 32GB memory.
LG 42-inch Smart 3D LED TV
Watch your favourite movies and characters come to life in your own living room with this smart TV from LG.
Samsung 46-inch LED TV
This full HD TV allows you to view crystal-clear imaging in the comfort of your own home. The contemporary design is coupled with remarkable connectivity features.
Lulu Hypermarkets can be found at Dana Mall, Hidd, Ramli Mall and East Riffa
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Spices Bollywood Brunch The Crowne Plaza Bahrain held it's monthly Bollywood Brunch at the hotel's Spices Restaurant last month
Priya, Ruth & Chef Mohammed
Jocelyn with Sreelekha, Prajwal, Shreya & Dr Parveen Kumar
Prakash, Priya, Surbita & Cynthia
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HOME ELECTRONICS
Gadgets at Your Doorstep High-tech gadgets dominate the modern world, so much so that if you want to be ‘in’, you need to be in with the new.
Home Electronics is a retailer of the latest smartphones, TVs, laptops, tablets, appliances and so much more. For the technosavvy looking for the ‘it’ gadget, the electronics hypermarket is a one-stop destination. “We make sure that the must-have products are readily available for our customers. You can find devices like ultra highdefinition televisions, micro Hi-Fi Bluetooth systems, smart steam irons, true steam with sensor dryers, cardio ergometer elliptical trainers and robotic mops,” says floor manager, Bernadette Lim-Dones. Shoppers are spoilt for choice with the variety of models and brands that can meet a complete range of household needs — all at affordable prices. Since our uber-connected lives need us to be virtually accessible at all times, Home Electronics continuously provides innovative ways to keep up with the fast pace. Of course, you are not left alone in dealing with this technology overload. An efficient team of professionals is always on hand to help you with any of your questions. If you, like most of us, live a very hectic life with no time to browse around stores for what you are looking for, don’t fret. The electronics hypermarket has a brand new initiative that will make your technology-centric life so much easier. “We now have a ‘pay upon delivery’ system. This enables the customer the chance to make a purchase without leaving the comfort of his or her own home. They only need to call us, give us the information of the item they want and wait for its delivery,” she adds. E Call 39 769-813
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Promotion Period : Sept. 25th to Oct. 17th, 2013
33314288 www.homeelectronics.com.bh www.bahrainthismonth.com
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Rock and Roll All Night Many of us have silently lamented the death of rock and roll, when suddenly a song comes on the radio and you can actually hear the sound of real guitars and drums.
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks
MN BUMO ALTHE
WHAT’S THE STORY? It’s been an interesting
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couple of years for Trent Reznor. After putting Nine Inch Nails on hiatus back in 2009, the 48-year-old alt-rock icon went on to produce various film soundtracks, such as The Social Network and the American adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Reznor returns with Hesitation Marks; the first release since 2008’s The Slip. This album features an entirely new band.
WORTH A LISTEN?
It’s hard to believe Nine Inch Nail’s progression since Reznor first began producing with the industrial outfit. 1994’s The Downward Spiral was the soundtrack of unhappy and angst-ridden teens across the world. He has been described as one of the most influential musical icons in the past 25 years. Trent sings in Me, I’m Not that ‘I am not who I used to be.’ Upon listening to this record, what Reznor proclaims becomes more apparent. This release feels more upbeat, nodding toward the likes of Depeche Mode. Tracks like Copy of A features a glitchy synth line and pulsating beats, with his voice sounding melancholic as usual. One of the highlights is Find My Way, which reiterates some of the gloomier themes and melodies of earlier albums.
Verdict: It’s a welcome return for one of alt-rock’s most influential and venerated outfits. Whilst this is a change from the Nine Inch Nails we’re used to, it’s by no means a bad one. TOP TRACKS: Copy of A and Find My Way. Balance and Composure
The Things We Think We’re Missing Pennsylvania’s finest, Balance and Composure, return with their first full-length album since 2011’s Separation. Their wonderful mix of melodic and hard-hitting guitar work is as gripping as ever. It is awash with melancholic yet powerful vocal melodies and hooks. One of the most interesting rock bands around today, The Things We Think We’re Missing is certainly worth a listen.
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Arctic Monkeys
AM It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t know an Arctic Monkeys song. The Sheffield quartet is one of the most defining acts of indie rock. They return with their latest release, AM. The group has retained its original spark and fun-filled atmosphere.
The Strypes
Snapshot Irish four-piece The Strypes unveils a guitar-driven R&B set. The record is energetic, but it does feel as if the quartet is playing it too safe at times. They seem to be relying on tried and tested ideas rather than doing anything slightly risky.
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downtimecomputergames
Back in the Game It’s great to see some of the biggest gaming franchises returning to our consoles this month. Here’s our selection of the best ones.
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Rayman Legends
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(Xbox 360, PS3, PS Vita, Wii U) Visually pleasing, well-designed and quite simply fun, Rayman Legends is a fantastic return from one of the best platformer series in the gaming industry. It is one of the few that can rank up alongside the likes of Super Mario Bros.
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist
Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) RATING:
WHAT IS IT?
It’s hard to deny the impact that Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series has made upon the gaming industry. The previous instalment was heralded as one of the best games of recent history and the game sold out almost instantaneously when it was released back in 2008. And now, the critically acclaimed open-world action-adventure series is back with the fifth addition, Grand Theft Auto V. The game is set in the fictional Los Santos, which is loosely based around Los Angeles. Players take the role of three different characters.
(Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U) Unlike most action games, Blacklist isn’t simply shooting your way out of everything. Each level can be dealt with in varying ways. You can either blast your way out or shoot everyone in sight. Rely on stealth and creep through levels to avoid enemy contact. It is a great addition to the Splinter Cell series.
GRAPHICS: The first thing that is immediately striking about this addition to the GTA series is just how incredibly dense and open the game is. The geography of Los Santos is extremely varied, with deserts, forests, mountains and cityscapes. So you’d be hard pressed to find nothing to do in the game.
GAMEPLAY: The most interesting new feature in this game is that there are
three protagonists to choose from, each with their own unique goals and back story. There’s Michael, a retired bank robber; Franklin, a sympathetic young man; and Trevor, who fits the typical ‘bad- guy’ role. The thing that is awesome about having these characters is the ability to switch between them; the transition is fluid. The characters will go about their business and gameplay isn’t stalled.
VERDICT: It’s easy to see why this was one of the most anticipated games of the year. The story might not be a blockbuster, but this is everything you could want from a GTA game.
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Total War: Rome II (PC) The Total War series is one of the most popular strategy franchises in gaming today. The latest addition is bigger than ever before. It’s not a dramatic change from the previous instalment. Nonetheless, it’s engaging and has the same extended playability as the last one.
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Vine RATING:
WHAT IS IT?
This isn’t one of the newest sites available at the moment, but it sure is becoming one of the most popular sites/apps today. Vine is basically a video sharing social networking site, which allows users to create short videos (generally only around eight seconds long) and share them with other users all around the world.
THE GOOD: It’s awesome to be able to make these cool little videos.
You can stop and start videos again to create mini ‘scenes’, which means the possibilities are incredibly varied. The site also lets you view other people’s vines from across the world. It seems as if there’s already a fair few Vine ‘celebrities’. It has become the YouTube of smartphones and there are millions of videos to view. In a similar way to Instagram, you can tag the videos so you can share them more easily.
THE BAD:
Without wanting to state the obvious, you have to share a lot of your details with the site to join. If you’re not particularly interested in seeing millions of short videos or perhaps even making them, then you probably shouldn’t sign up.
VERDICT: It’s obvious why this is already becoming one of the biggest social networking sites today.
Oyster.com They describe themselves as ‘the only hotel site that inspects in person, like your mother-in-law’. While it might not sound like an attractive proposal, Oyster.com is certainly one of the best sites to find a hotel to suit you. All the photos are from the Oyster team.
Adioso.com Adioso.com is the flight search engine for those who are flexible with their time of travel. The site lets you punch in something like ‘London to San Francisco anytime return’ and will enlist inexpensive rates. So for the spontaneous amongst us, this is ideal.
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iPlay Games Gaming apps are back in force this month. We take a look at some of the best new ones available.
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Giant Boulder of Death (iOS) Simple and effective, this game does exactly what it says on the tin. Smash things with a giant boulder and rack up the points. There may not be much to it, but this cool free app is definitely worth downloading. It’s a great time killer.
First Touch Soccer 2014 (IOS) RATING:
WHAT IS IT?
One of the most realistic soccer apps on hand, First Touch Soccer 2014 carries on the series and gives it a welcome boost. The game features a variety of new modes and updated graphics to maximise your gaming experience.
THE GOOD: Firstly, the graphics are incredibly realistic for a smartphone game. The
animations are well produced. The game has a myriad of wonderful new features, and one of the most enjoyable is the manager mode. This allows you to manage over 180 clubs over 30 individual competitions. You can sign new players, renew player contracts and of course coach your team. First Touch Soccer 2014 also features a new ‘one touch’ control mode that lets you shoot and pass with a series of taps and swipes, making this ergonomic as well as enjoyable. To top it all off, it’s totally free!
THE BAD: The only issue present in this game is that it has been noted to crash a little
bit, which is obviously frustrating, as you can imagine. Nonetheless, this shouldn’t put you off as there are bound to be updates which sort out these minor inconveniences.
VERDICT: This is a great (if not one of the best) soccer games available on iOS. Its playability is fantastic!
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2K Drive (iOS) Buckle up and get ready for one of the best driving experiences you can get on an iPhone. 2K Drive lets you take control of the wheel and tests your driving skills with incredible detail and realism. It’s at the pricier end of the spectrum at nearly BD3, but if you’re willing to spend, you’ll definitely be satisfied.
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Rush RATING: DIRECTED BY: Ron Howard STARRING: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl
THE PLOT:
Set during the climactic 1976 Formula 1 World Championship, this movie follows the playboy Brit James Hunt (Hemsworth) and the analytical Austrian Niki Lauda (Brühl) as they face off in the tenth race of the championship.
WORTH WATCHING? The film starts off by following the
traditional sports biopic formula. Hemsworth’s performance is enjoyable as the eccentric James Hunt, but it’s Brühl’s performance as the more solitary and moody Lauda that is really interesting. His character development throughout the movie guarantees to change your opinion of the Austrian. Director Ron Howard employs a lot of interesting camera techniques for the racing sequences to make them as thrilling as possible.
VERDICT: Rush is by no means perfect, but it is one of the most exciting sports biopics in a while with the leads never failing to make it enjoyable.
White House Down Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx lead this action-packed, patriotic and corny blockbuster. It’s everything you’d expect from the title and has filled that gap that director Ronald Emmerich’s previous films such as Independence Day left behind. Whether or not that’s a bad thing, that’s for you to decide!
About Time The king of British romantic comedy Richard Curtis returns with his latest movie About Time. This film has a lot more than a regular rom-com. It asks a lot of interesting questions and has a lot of genuinely moving moments. What would you do if you could travel back in time? Although it misses the mark, the movie can give you ideas.
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Reflection of Thais Show The Thai Embassy held a musical evening - the Reflection of Thais - a three-strong group of Thai musicians, a soprano, violinist and pianist, from the Princess Vadhana Institute of Music at the Cultural Hall last month. The event was part of the Bahrain Summer festival
Paween, HE Vichai Varasirikul, Thai Ambassador & Witchu
Tom, Nid, Sita, HE Vichai Varasirikul, Amm, Ja & Sai
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Vinod, Wally, Tanya, LJ, Armie, Mariel & Cynthia
Bob & Steve
Clarke & Tony
Lonnie & Rob
Prevent breast cancer by eating one of these foods a day! Green tea: can cause certain types of cancer cells to self-destruct and prevents them from growing and spreading Blueberries: a nutrient-packed antioxidant which causes cancerous cells to self-destruct Flaxseed: helps reduce tumor growth and spread Broccoli: a cancer fighting compound which stops breast cancer cells in their tracks and helps them self-destruct the growth of breast cancer cells
Pomegranates: a rich source of antioxidants, they can inhibit an enzyme that plays a role in breast cancer development Fatty fish: Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna can slow the growth of breast cancer cells Walnuts: snack on 2 oz of walnuts today and you can halt the development of breast cancer tumors
New extension Seef Mall |1st Floor | Manama| Bahrain Tel: 13333286, 13333288 | www.organicsbahrain.com Organic Food and Cafe Bahrain @organicsbahrain
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Hapkido Belt Presentation Hapkido Mu Mu Kwan held a belt presentation ceremony and upgraded around 50 students to different color belts. The ceremony was held at the Al Najma Sports Club in Juffair. The belts were awarded by Master Salah, a 6th Dan black belt holder in Hapkido
Master Salah
A Hapkido demonstration by Master Salah
Mohammed, Mehadi & Master Salah
Ayyad, Master Salah, Mehadi & Ahmed
Ameer
Ali
Hussain
Visit our unique dental specialist center in Bahrain, New Zinj. Our doctors are highly qualified abroad. Dr. Rim Bogari, cosmetic and general dentist ( Germany ) Dr. Haidar Alfayadh, prosthodontist and cosmetic dentist ( Baghdad ) Dr. Alaeddin Abu Khalaf, orthodontist, Dr. Gerhardt klein, implantologist ( German )
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Arabella Mieko De Leon’s Christening Raynand and Ayla De Leon celebrated their daughter Arabella Mieko De Leon’s Christening last month. The Christening ceremony was held at Our Lady of Arabia Parish in Awali followed by a reception at The K Hotel Raynand & Ayla De Leon with Baby Arabella
Rosa, Frances, Ayla, Raynand, Rev. Fr. Ruwen & Alex
Raynand & Paul
Raynand Ayla & Khalid Hady with Baby Arabella
Chris & Melissa
Blessing Baby Arabella by Rev. Fr. Ruwen
Emma & Gerald
With the Arabella’s Godparents (from left) – Riz, Sheryl, Chris, Ayla, Raynand, Baby Arabella, Rev. Fr. Ruwen, Grace, Rachel, Gerald & JP
Experience a diversity of fine cuisine from across the vast continent of Asia in Bahrain’s most intimate dining room with sweeping views of Arabian gulf.
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McDonalds Halloumi Sandwich Launch McDonalds Bahrain launched a new sandwich on its breakfast menu - the Halloumi. To mark the event, McDonalds Bahrain invited members of the media to an exclusive kitchen tour and a chance to make their own Halloumi sandwich. The event was held at the McDonalds branch on Exhibition Road last month
Ahmed
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reportnewintown The Domain Bahrain
New in Town! Hardly a day goes by without something new in town appearing in front of us; here’s a peek at what should be finding its way onto our to-do lists.
Also this month
Occupancy rates in five- and four-star hotels have long been a barometer of the Kingdom’s economic health. Speak to any hotel manager in recent months and there’s a new-found optimism about the business climate. But are we right to think just in terms of occupancy rates? The number of hotel (hospitality) rooms is on a decidedly upward turn around town. We’ve seen in the past few weeks two new five-star hotels open their doors. The Domain Bahrain, in the Diplomatic Area, offers an entirely new take on the hospitality industry with its cluborientated approach. Over in the Seef district, the Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa has witnessed some pretty impressive
occupancy rates in the first month or so of its life. The tourism ministry expects a further two five-star hotels to open in the coming months, as well as a couple of new entrants into the four-star category. All of these hotels bring a swathe of dining options into the bargain. The Ramee Group delivers new Indian (Rusoi) and Italian (Rialto) dining experiences. Amongst the options available at The Domain are French ([34]) and Japanese (Imari) cuisine styles. Both hotels offer new entertainment options; Ibrida at the Ramee Grand and Txoko at The Domain. For what is new around town on the restaurant scene, take a look at our dining section starting at page 158.
134 x The Domain - 136 x U Drive - 137 x Syed Junaid - 138 x Multinational School - 136 x Ambassador Stores
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reportnewintown RBH Medex
Driving options Not a month passes without a new vehicle of some description being unleashed on our roads. Our motoring section this month, starting on page 141, showcases what we can now find in showrooms around the Kingdom. Euro Motors have introduced an all-new edition of the Range Rover Sport model that ups the ante in the luxury segment. A new Nissan Tiida and a Toyota Zelas expand an already expansive range of options for consumers. Mall therapy When we are need of some therapy, some window shopping at one of the many malls across the island offers an inexpensive alternative, until we start to like what we see. The days of a clutch of malls centered on the Seef district grabbing our attention is rapidly evaporating as areas such as Riffa have taken off as retail destinations. Enma Mall is filling up fast with the new branches of DG Sharif and Le Chocolat opening their doors, while both the Oasis and Ramli malls continue to attract shoppers. Back in Seef, the Designer Outlet (in Seef Corner) adds to the variety. Elsewhere, in Segaya, both the Al Hayat Shopping Mall and Tala Plaza are springing into life as new outlets continue to open. You can pop in for a pizza at Tala or sign up for some insurance at AXA Gulf’s latest branch within the Al Hayat Mall. In Juffair, the Al Raya Mall will open soon. Within all the malls, the change of weather brings a
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change in merchandise. From fashion to home furnishing and gadgets there’s something new to challenge keeping our hard-earned dinars in our pockets. Our home furnishing feature, from page 149 onwards, tells us what we can find in store at the likes of THE One, Mobilia Una, Phoenicia Décor and Roche Bobois. When it comes to telling the time we can rely on Asia Jewellers and Bahrain Jewellery Centre to have a selection of watches to keep us on schedule. For that special timepiece look no further than Cartier and Patek Philippe. For a more affordable option, the latest GPS watch from Seiko, available at Ambassador Stores, will make sure you are in the right place and at the right time. For an Eid gift, head down to Junaid for Perfumes to check out their latest fragrances. Haraka Boutique in Yateem Centre is a fun concept shop, which looks like a traditional cold store that features the popular range of funky watches, T-shirts and bow ties. Country Mall in Budaiya is set to open a number of new stores. On the ground floor you can soon spot I-See, a clothing line. Joining the fashion segment is Bazaza, on the second floor. Make-up aficionados in the Kingdom have been waiting for the opening of Beauty Box in Al Aali Shopping Complex. Owned by celebrated Bahraini make-up artist Fatima Mahmood, the store is an exclusive dealer for Naked Cosmetics in the Middle East.
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Specialty products Within the Nakheel Centre, opposite St Christopher’s School in Saar, two specialty beverage retailers offer us an array of tea delights. Tchaba Boutique and Darcha aim to entice with exotic flavours. Darcha is more than just a retailer of teas; it combines traditional Eastern tea with Far eastern cuisine. The two-storey venue serves fresh, healthy, simple, delicious meals along with our specialty drinks and teas, allowing customers to enjoy a fusion of Eastern flavours. Darcha
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THE DOMAIN
A Refined Experience ‘Stay, Work, Play’ is reflected in every inch of this social club and boutique hotel; offering a novel social experience that ensures you work hard and party even harder.
The latest addition to the Manama skyline is a social club and boutique hotel that unites business and pleasure with panache. Chic and Unique Hotels Group’s first project in the Kingdom is a 36-storey high all-suite hotel complemented by a wide variety of social spaces, restaurants and lounges, aiming to establish new standards of luxury hospitality. New social arena Located in the Diplomatic Area, The Domain Bahrain focuses on sociability, entertainment and technology. “As one of the most anticipated launches of the year, the hotel has opened to a great response, attracting the island’s young professionals, corporate brass and high-rollers alike,” notes Patrick de Groot, managing director of The Domain. Deftly blurring the lines between work and pleasure, the hotel combines media, entertainment, style and sociability, delivering an innovative luxury experience. With an omnipresent social element aided by the ‘domain managers’ in the physical world and ‘The Conversation’ app in virtual settings, it creates a space that is a hybrid of opulence, service and new-age connectivity. The emphasis on social interaction is further seen in the eclectic mix of the hotel’s dining and entertainment outlets. “We are thrilled with the response the hotel has received in just a few weeks,” Patrick adds. “As a team we all look forward to introducing the guests and members to our fresh, ground-breaking social concept in the Middle East,” he says. The soft opening phase of the Domain is almost over, and within the next couple of weeks the remaining social and wellness components will be brought to life. Haute cuisine Apart from providing a new-age living experience, The Domain is also grooming itself as a destination for fine dining and entertainment. The Domain boasts a total of nine social spaces
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including restaurants, bars and lounges. Cuisine styles from Japanese, South of France, Basque to Italian-Lebanese are prepared by seasoned chefs. In addition to à la carte service, the hotel is currently running exciting promotional offers. At Txoko, the Basque sky lounge on level 36, different social audiences are invited daily to unwind with colleagues and friends after work. Make sure to take your business cards along for optimum networking. The lounge welcomes its neighbours from the Diplomatic Area on Sundays, bankers on Mondays, servicemen on Tuesdays, Domainistas (ladies) on Wednesdays and the energy sector on Thursdays. On Sundays, everyone’s invited. Le Domain at level 34, featuring south of France cuisine, offers a set business lunch menu for two- and three-course meals priced at BD11++ and BD13++ respectively. With a spectacular view of the city and a number of private rooms, Le Domain provides a fine ambience for formal as well as casual dining. E Call 16 000-000 or visit www.thedomainhotels.com.
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Servicing our needs The Kingdom is well-endowed with educational facilities; newcomers, though, are always welcome. The Multinational School Bahrain believes that a high standard of education should be available to all children, including those with learning disabilities. When it comes to acquiring a car, finding a reliable car hire company in the Kingdom can sometimes be something of a challenge. U Drive aims to meet our expectations and the opening of a fourth outlet, in Seef, suggests that they have got the answer to our needs. If you need to send money home, Nonoo Exchange has opened three more outlets, in Hoora, Hidd and Riffa. Over in Saar, the new Saar Mall is gradually opening its doors. In addition to a Géant Easy outlet and a branch of Costa, Bahrain Financing Company has opened its 36th outlet. At the gentle hands of a seasoned and highly trained professional, enjoy a fullbody scrub with the traditional Turkish kese mitt at Pure Spa in the Kempinski Grand Hotel. The first Turkish Hammam in the Kingdom, this new treatment package is perfect for nourishing your skin. It is no longer a chore to fetch groceries. The Alosra Supermarket chain has launched a resourceful web portal that brings ease and efficiency to your shopping experience. A grocery errand is no longer something that needs to be planned. We get a feel of India’s glamorous film industry with the opening of Bahrain’s first Bollywood dance studio. Bollywood Steps, at Ramli Mall, invites dance enthusiasts to join in the
fun sessions. RBH Medex is a new medical centre, bringing specialist services closer to people in Riffa. The latest addition to the KIMS family operations in Bahrain, the centre features 12 specialist clinics. If this gets all too much for you, then head to the Bahrain Meditation Centre. The new extension is now open and ready to balance your body, mind and soul.
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Junaid for Perfumes
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Travelex New Branch Opening Travelex held a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of it's new branch in Hidd. The branch was opened by Graham Flannery, director of Business Development at Travelex
Phanny, George & Tahir
Sharath, Graham Flannery, Qaiser & Noor at the opening of the new branch
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TCHABA DESIGNER TEA
A Sip of Life This designer tea boutique seeks to enrich people’s lives through the experience of fine tea, promoting a life of health, balance and wellbeing.
Tchaba Boutique is a house of teas that connects people with unique blends and flavours sourced from around the globe. Tchaba believes in the concept of a ‘sip culture’, where one experiences life sip by sip. They believe that tea is more than just a hot drink. It’s the perfect companion for every moment of your life. Tchaba is a full leaf, full-bodied tea, hand-picked from the very tip of the evergreen camellia sinensis bush, producing the most flavourful cup and retaining its unique essential oils. The premium tea specialists offer three unique lines: vintage, blend and herbal. The vintage range offers four types of tea in their natural form: black, green, oolong, white. The signature blends are made using full tea leaves, essential oils, spices, flowers and fruits. The herbal infusions are a blend of herbs, fruits and flowers, designed to deliver multiple benefits for the mind and soul with every sip. Tchaba is known to have introduced the world’s first biodegradable handcrafted tea sachet made from corn leaves. This natural sachet is hand-stitched to avoid staples or glue. It protects the essential oils and retains the anti-oxidants naturally found in the leaves. It is also home to an assortment of accessories that enhance your journey with the teas. They make great tea ware, which act as lovely gifts as well. The Tchaba Boutique is now open in Nakheel Centre opposite St Christopher’s School in Maqabah. E Call 17 000-545 and follow Instagram.com/tchaba_bahrain.
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MULTINATIONAL SCHOOL BAHRAIN
Inspiring Education With so many aspects to be taken into consideration when deciding where your child goes to school, a newcomer to town just might make the choice easier. The new Multinational School Bahrain (MNS-B) provides just the right balance of international standards and a child’s personal needs. Offering an outstanding academic programme, the school believes in building on a student’s individual strengths. Centred on an outcome-based Australian curriculum, MNS-B provides academic excellence of an unrivalled international standard in Bahrain in an inclusive supportive, learning environment. First established in Riyadh in 1998 by chairperson Julia Jefferson, MNS quickly grew to become one of the leading schools in Saudi Arabia. The school’s international academic standards are determined by benchmarking against other schools from their accrediting authorities. “Our teachers are highly qualified and experienced, hailing from native English-speaking backgrounds. Our inclusive, supporting learning environment includes open access, wherever possible, for students into the school and development of each student to their potential,” explains Julia. The supportive learning environment includes involvement, and communication, with parents and the community in the school. Complementing Bahrain’s multicultural society, the school helps students who come from varied linguistic backgrounds, with English as an additional language department. Heavily encouraging the use of IT from an early age, each classroom features interactive whiteboards and computers linked to the Internet. The school also considers extracurricular work to be a major tool in a child’s personal development. “Our after-school programme includes a variety of clubs, including sports, arts, language and drama,” she explains. MNS-B is conveniently located in Adliya and is now open to pupils aged three to 12 years, with plans to accommodate IGCSEs and A Levels in the near future. E Call 17 711-444, 35 524-172 or 34 364-444.
Multinational School Now Open in Adliya
Providing Academic Excellence Tel: 17711444, 34364444, 35524172 Email: [email protected] www.mns-b.com
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Service Guaranteed
Gregory Rodrigues with Jehad Amin
When it comes to finding an organisation to meet your driving needs, you want a partner that does not compromise on quality. Udrive, with its dynamic and young fleet, aims to be this partner offering mobility solutions while providing value for money. Established in 2010, Udrive is a subsidiary of House of Travels and the brainchild of CEO, Jehad Amin. The company has since positioned itself as a complete provider of car hire and leasing solutions in Bahrain. “We boast a large fleet of new and latest models of vehicles with the aim of suiting every customer’s needs. At present, we have a count of around 800 vehicles and hope to add 700 more in the next 12 months,” says Gregory Rodrigues, Udrive general manager. “Our mission is to deliver prompt service and expert guidance to customers. It is vital that we understand the needs of each client,” he adds. The innovative skills of the team have helped convert the customers’ requirements to new service standards, which in turn have made Udrive one of the fastest growing rental companies on the island. “We recently launched our fourth branch in the Seef district. Two more outlets are in the pipeline, set to open in the next year alone,” Gregory explains. “It has become a habit to deliver excellence in every step of our business. Our success lies in the trust we receive from customer feedback and recommendations.” E Call 17 580-208, 17 321-208, 17 365-288 or 17 212-101.
LOCATIONS IN BAHRAIN CORPORATE OFFICE: Tel. +973 1758 0208, Fax. +973 1758 0559 MANAMA BRANCH: Manama Centre, P.O. Box # 565, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. Tel. +973 1721 2101, Fax. +973 1721 1397 AIRPORT BRANCH: Bahrain International Airport Arrival Lounge. Tel. +973 1732 1208, Fax. +973 1732 1209 JUFFAIR BRANCH: Al Shahab Avenue, One Bahrain Building. Tel. +973 1736 5288, Fax. +973 1736 9188 Enquiries and Reservations:[email protected] Website: www.udrivebahrain.com
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SYED JUNAID
The Scent of a Man Define your identity this festive season with a fragrance that blends an authentic past with a creative present.
In line with the upcoming Eid celebrations, Junaid for Perfumes has launched their all-new men’s scent, Wujood. Designed for a man who stands tall and distinct, the perfume is an intense combination of rose, musk and sandalwood oils that uniquely outline a strong personality. Created for the modern man, who still holds on to his Arab roots, this scent is best worn on the traditional ‘ghetra’ and ‘thobe’. The distinct fragrance emanates sophistication and lingers on for hours without leaving a stain. It is designed to create senses of wellbeing, safety and nostalgia. Wujood is elegantly packed in a 100ml bottle, adorned with gold and silver leaves and a gold crown that reflects the spirit and uniqueness of this masculine cologne. It is now available at all Junaid for Perfumes outlets at BD20. A century of excellence Over the years, Junaid for Perfumes has acquired a legacy that has redefined the meaning of traditional scents. Known to mix contemporary and traditional notes, the household brand has become a go-to perfumery if you want to stand out in a crowd. In fact, the Junaid collection of perfumes and ouds has become a consumer favourite not only in Bahrain, but across the Middle East. Founded in 1910, the dynamic and innovative perfume house is considered a pioneer of the industry in the Arab world. E Call 17 737-007.
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bystanderthismonth
LG Muharraq Outlet Opening LG Electronics in association with AJM Kooheji Group held a ribbon cutting to launch a new LG showroom in Muharraq. The showroom was opened by AJM Kooheji Group vice-chairman Mahmood Kooheji & LG Gulf president D. Y. Kim
D.Y. Kim & Mahmood Kooheji open the outlet
Rohit & Sanjeev
Gopal, J.K. Park, James, Himavan, Sanjeev, Mahmood Kooheji, D.Y. Kim, Rohit, Y.D. Kim & Brian
Gopal, Mahmood Kooheji, D.Y. Kim, Rohit & Sanjeev
Mansoor & Redha
Ann & Gopal
Fayyaz & Rafiq
Darcha Tea House Opening An opening ceremony was held to mark the launch of Darcha Tea House located at the Al Nakheel Centre in Saar last month
Weena, Heidi, Michelle, Carole, Nicky & Marise
Weena with her friends and kids
Ella & Saije
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AMBASSADOR STORES
A Revolution in Time Using just the power of light, this luxury watch connects to a GPS network and tells time with atomic clock precision.
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The new Seiko Astron is the world’s first GPS solar watch. It requires no external power source and is entirely selfsustaining. It adjusts to all 39 time zones at the touch of a button. It took almost 10 years to package its advanced functionality in a watch that is beautiful to look at and comfortable to wear. The advances that have turned the timepiece from dream to reality are the ultra-low consumption GPS module, the highsensitivity ring-shaped antenna, the small and ultra-low consumption power source and the sensor that thinks. In order for the Astron to identify its location and maintain atomic clock precision, it must receive signals from at least four of the GPS satellites that orbit the Earth. The watch consumes about one-fifth of the electricity of a conventional GPS module. By placing the antenna under the dial ring, Seiko succeeded in enhancing its receptivity to the maximum degree, a characteristic that is further enhanced by the use of ceramic on the bezel, as this material is superior in the reception of radio waves. Astron employs a new lithium ion secondary battery small enough to easily fit into the watch case. Its reliability is assured by a new integrated circuit that monitors and regulates the power charge and discharge. This ensures the long life and safe operation of the rechargeable battery. When the watch is hidden by clothing or in moments of low light conditions, the sensor remembers the last successful time adjustment and seeks a satellite signal at that time. If the amount of remaining energy is low, however, the intervals between time adjustments are automatically extended to conserve power. E Call 17 225-513.
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Faces This Month From Anime shows, and private dinners, from the youngest rockstar in Pakistan performing, to fashion shows and smiling faces, our photographers were in the midst of it all, capturing all the action
Shiv Khera at Lanterns
Shiv Khera with the Kinger family enjoy a meal at Lanterns Restaurant, Adliya
Ebrahim Al Ameer & Ahmed Dadabhai with their families at Moda Mall last month
Princess Nashli with grandma Nassreen, daddy Harvey & mummy Nassreen at a weekend retreat in The Ramee Grand Hotel, Seef Area
George, Dr Puja, Dr Gordon, Saurabh & Anne at Nirvana, Ritz-Carlton
Zoher, Ali & Faisal
motoringthismonth
Hyunda Sonata
A Compelling Proposition Tony Sidgwick There’s a reason that the Sonata enjoys Hyundai’s biggest sales figures — very few cars offer so many features for such a reasonable price. Affordability alone, however, wouldn’t necessarily make the Hyundai Sonata so popular. What has really propelled the car to the very top of its class in the mid-size sedan segment is the combination of price and excellent safety ratings, reliability, and elegant design. The design comes courtesy of their facility in California, and the input of design guru Thomas Bürkle, formerly of BMW, at their design centre in Germany. Aside from the sublime looks, there have been a number of upgrades for the 2014 Sonata, most notably perhaps under the hood. The 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine is claimed to be the most powerful in its class, putting out 178hp, and it still satisfies ultra low emissions vehicle standards. The power is channelled through a choice of a six-speed automatic or manual transmission with SHIFTRONIC, which offers the ease of automatic manoeuvring or the fun of manual shifting using steering wheel paddle shifters. The stylish coupé-like exterior receives a new front grill, restyled front and rear headlamps, high-tech LED taillights and accented fog lights as well as desirable alloy wheel options. Inside, the modern interior looks even more luxurious, with a polished, hard-surfaced detail, a revised centre stack design Also this month
and larger navigation screen together with a new audio-visual navigation system. Added to this, the 2014 model comes with an array of modern safety technologies that include four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, six airbags poised to protect and a Traction Control System, to keep the wheels from slipping under acceleration. There’s also Electronic Stability Control, for exceptional handling, Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution to help the Sonata come to a swift stop. “Designed to be more elegant than ever before, the Sonata 2014 is Hyundai’s brilliant new thinking in motion,” says Raed Mu’ti, general manager of First Motors. “The Sonata is a well-built leader in its class, not only offering dynamic driving performance but excellent value for money as well.” First Motors, which is a part of the Al Zayani Investments group, is fully committed to demonstrating to the Bahrain market that Hyundai is the brand that represents unique value for money without compromise. “For example,” adds Raed, “at First Motors our customers are ensured of utmost peace of mind with the lifetime warranty that is offered irrespective of mileage limit, and is completely transferable should the car be sold. Together with three-year roadside assistance, all of this combines to ensure an attractive resale value.”
When? October 5 Event? BKSC Round Two Venue? Bahrain International Karting Circuit Action-packed day for karters in local championship. E Call 17 450-000. When? October 7, 21 Event? Drag & drift nights Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Take your own car or motorbike out onto the circuit’s drag strip at night. E Call 17 450-000. When? October 11 Event? National sprints Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Take part in a 2,000cc challenge organised by CRC. E Call 17 450-000. When? October 17, 19, 20 Event? BDRC race days Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Drivers get behind the wheel for some high-octane action. E Call 17 450-000. When? October 18, 19, 26 Event? Open track experience Venue? Bahrain International Circuit Speed junkies to test the limits of their machines on the circuit track. E Call 17 450-000.
For further details, and to arrange a test drive, visit the Hyundai showroom at Ma’ameer. E Call 17 121-121.
142 x Wheels - 143 x Showcase
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motoringbriefs The ultimate premium Sports Utility Vehicle, the new Range Rover Sport is the fastest, most agile and most responsive vehicle ever produced by Land Rover.
Euro motors
Dynamic Performer
Euro Motors, the exclusive distributor for Land Rover in Bahrain, has launched the all-new Range Rover Sport in the Kingdom. “The new Range Rover Sport is a vehicle that has been designed and engineered without compromise, making it the ultimate premium sports SUV,” commented Zayed Zayani, Euro Motors’ managing director at the launch. “The Range Rover Sport has long been one of our most popular models here in Bahrain.” This new model delivers the brand’s best-ever on-road dynamics together with class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability. The new, technology-packed vehicle presents customers with a more assertive and muscular exterior. “I have never experienced such an exciting and dynamic new vehicle,” added Raymond, Land Rover general manager at Euro Motors. “It has all of the understated presence and luxury that you would expect from a Range Rover, but the performance and excitement that I would normally only expect to find in a sports car. It is a truly remarkable driving experience.” With a starting price of BD39,000, the all-new Range Rover Sport gives customers a choice of trim levels — HSE, Supercharged and Autobiography — together with a new Dynamic version. E Call 17 750-750.
ALMOAYYED MOTORS
Smart Offers
Ford has built its reputation around a platform of technologies, offering customers the opportunity to experience them with a range of exciting offers. Almoayyed Motors, the official distributor for Ford in the Kingdom, has launched its smartest campaign yet, offering customers a selection of their most innovative cars at competitive prices. “Ford is equipped with the demands of its tech-hungry market; you will find the latest innovations at your fingertips in our large range of vehicles, including the voice-activated SYNC and MyFord Touch systems,” says Sandeep Mathur, general manager at Almoayyed Motors. The 2013 Taurus, with a starting price of BD9,950, comes with MyKey, which allows parental controls on driving speeds, and multi-contoured front massage seats. The Edge connects the driver to the world with hands-free calling and to music with voice commands, and has a starting price of BD10,795. Adventurous and powerful, the Explorer allows you to select the terrain settings to maximise performance and has a starting price of BD12,245. E Call 17 737-373.
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EURO MOTORS
A Fusion of the Elite Epitomising everything that is style, a luxury fashion player collaborates with one of the most luxurious automakers.
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Debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition concept car features a unique, new look in terms of colour scheme, materials and finish. The car is intended for development into a production version in 2014 and will maintain the same personality and quality of the current Quattroporte range. The Ermenegildo Zegna branding is the result of a close collaboration between two companies that are linked by history, tradition and exclusiveness. The exterior features a special-effect paint finish that simulates the fluidity and purity of metal, using ultra-fine aluminium pigments. A gloss black primer amplifies the brilliance of the aluminium pigments and creates a sensation of depth. The platinum metal colour finish is nuanced to express the car’s classic and technically advanced character. The material and chromatic research behind the Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition is based on a play between the classical and the contemporary. Classical warm hues, like moka and greige, are reinterpreted in a modern twist to emulate Zegna’s latest men’s fashion collections, conveying a formal, sophisticated character. Interior components, such as the seats, door panels and roof lining, are finished in genuine soft leather. A velvet-smooth, bright fabric guarantees the level of quality needed for automotive applications. The new warm titanium treatment and antique-look matte finish accentuates the car’s exclusive, balanced interior.
Two plates obtained from aluminium ingot, bearing the words ‘Ermenegildo Zegna Exclusively for Maserati’, announce and promote the collaboration between the two companies. One is located on the outside of the pillar while the other, personalised with a limited series number, is applied to the central console. Hidden behind the sun visor is a real fabric label made exactly like those sewn into the linings of Zegna suits. This provides the customer with an indication of the level of care and attention dedicated to the design and finish of every aspect of this car. The Maserati Quattroporte Ermenegildo Zegna Limited Edition is equipped with a V8 twin-turbo engine with 530hp and 710Nm of torque, and capable of a top speed of 307km/h with an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds. E Call 17 750-750.
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EBRAHIM K. KANOO
Stand Out from the Crowd This coupé, one of Toyota’s popular vehicles, comes with a sporty new look, upgraded interior and an enhanced driving experience.
The new Toyota Zelas is defined by more assertive styling, starting from the front with distinctive new headlamps and an all-new hood that extends lower towards a more open, muscular grille. Beneath the rear bumper, a new blackout valance features an FR-S style, lower-centre trim piece and lower perimeter reflectors; new advanced LED tail lamps complete the picture. “The new Zelas design was enhanced with an outstanding look, a sportier style and driving experience that will thrill customers while retaining the car’s unique spot in the marketplace,” said Ayman Shehadeh, Toyota and Lexus marketing manager at Ebrahim K. Kanoo, the exclusive distributor for the Japanese brand in the Kingdom. “Together, they deliver a fun-to-drive experience when seated behind the wheel of the new Zelas.” Seventeen-inch alloy wheels enhance the aggressive character of the car’s profile. Standard on the Zelas, the wheels feature a premium dark gray finish, contrasted by eye-catching machined-spoke surfaces. The car will be available in seven exterior paint colours, including two new additions — ‘Super Red 5’ and ‘Blue Mica’. Powered with 2.5-litre engine with 178hp and four-cylinder and Dual VVT-I, driving enthusiasts will appreciate the retuned electronic power steering that provides a more engaging response. The super-intelligent six-speed automatic electronically controlled transmission, with paddle shifters, adds driving excitement and delivers excellent fuel economy. Interior styling The sporty design of the new Zelas carries over to the interior with a look and feel that is sophisticated, sporty and functional. The spacious interior offers the driver and passenger more comfort and convenience, as the front cabin design provides a more driver-centric cockpit. Additional comfort has been accomplished by making the seats thicker, with firmer seat bolsters, while entry and exit for rear
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passengers has been made easy with a walk-in lever located at shoulder level on the front seats. Featuring a powerful standard audio system with an eightspeaker sound package, there is an emphasis on amazing sound quality with both mid-range and woofer speakers. The new audio system comes equipped with features that Zelas drivers will enjoy, including Bluetooth compatibility, HD radio technology, a six-CD, aux, mini jack, remote system and steering wheel-mounted controls. Safety first The Zelas is installed with premium safety features that include six SRS airbags, an anti-lock brake system and electronic brake force distribution. Additional standard safety equipment includes brake assist, vehicle stability control (VSC), a brake override system and active front headrests. There’s also a button that allows the driver to turn off the VSC feature for a sportier drive. The new Zelas is available at a competitive price of BD7,999. In addition there is a four-year, or150,000km, warranty that Ebrahim K. Kanoo offers to all Toyota customers in Bahrain. For more information visit the Toyota showroom in Sitra or visit www.facebook.com/Toyotabahrain. E Call 17 730-730 or visit www.toyota.com.bh.
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Y.K. ALMOAYYED & SONS
Refreshing Make-over A complete refresh of the region’s best-selling compact hatchback adds dynamic styling, classleading spaciousness, advanced technology and greater versatility.
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Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons, the sole distributor of Nissan in Bahrain, has introduced the all-new Nissan Tiida. Coupled with class-leading spaciousness, the completely revised second generation of the Middle East’s best-selling compact hatchback has everything to build on the brand’s established success. Shaped to complement the lifestyle of the young at heart customers in Bahrain and throughout the region, the Nissan Tiida hatchback, first introduced to the Middle East in 2005, leads the C- hatchback segment with a 54 per cent market share. “The all-new Nissan Tiida is equipped to reward the diverse lifestyles of Bahrain’s free spirits,” says Paul Baker, general manager at Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons (Nissan Division). “Tiida is the Middle East’s most established name in the hatchback market, with a customer loyalty second to none in its class.” With a refreshed design and improved levels of standard technology, the new Tiida will not only appeal to existing customers but is also expected to attract a new range of Middle East buyers looking for a stylish and premium hatchback. Inside and out there is dynamic styling. The aerodynamic body shape blends sophistication with a sporty influence, complemented by a widened and lowered stance, electricfolding mirrors and 17-inch alloys wheels. Spectacularly spacious from inside, a sleek, modern cabin welcomes the driver and passengers, and features quality materials and lifestyle-accommodating design. The interior design, which offers comfortable accommodation for up to five
adult passengers, and expansive windows give an incredible level of visibility. The hatchback is available with the choice of two engines and five well-equipped grades. Starting with the 1.6-litre ‘S’, it comes as standard with a 60/40 rear split bench seat. Safety features include dual front airbags, an anti-lock braking system, electronic brake distribution and brake assist. The car boasts the latest Xtronic continuously variable transmission and keyless entry. Leather seats, six airbags and an electrically-controlled sunroof are included in the 1.8-litre SL Plus model. Meanwhile, Tiida’s optional VDC compares the actions of the driver with the current vehicle behaviour and selectively brakes individual wheels and controls engine power to help keep the car on its intended path. There’s also an immobiliser system that allows ignition only with a particular code key. Additional options include satellite navigation, 5.8-inch QVGA colour display and rear-view camera and iPod connectivity. An attractive multimedia package is available and includes a hands-free Bluetooth phone system and streaming audio with either an iPod or portable MP3 player through a USB connection. To see the new Tiida for yourself, and to arrange for a test drive, visit the Nissan showroom in Sitra. E Call 17 732-732.
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ZAYANI MOTORS
A New Take on the Lancer! With a bold new design setting it apart from the current two versions of the Lancer, the Lancer Fortis is the affordable new sedan from Mitsubishi.
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Zayani Motors has launched a new version of their hugely popular economy sedan, the Mitsubishi Lancer Fortis, which boasts not just excellent levels of comfort and safety but also a lifetime warranty in Bahrain. “The all new Lancer Fortis from Mitsubishi delivers on all counts. Its trendy looks, great performance, and above all, value for money, makes it the perfect choice for those aspiring to own a great new car within a budget,” says Mohammed Zaki, general manager of Zayani Motors. Powering this new Lancer is a plucky 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, which puts out a commendable 141hp, giving you plenty of ‘grunt’ for city driving. Helping you to get more out of the available power is Mitsubishi’s exclusive MIVEC technology, providing optimal valve timing across all rev ranges. With CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), the Lancer Fortis offers a new level of driving enjoyment; an automatic transmission that’s smooth, quiet, and efficient, eliminating the harshness and power lag of traditional gear changes. Coupled with INVECS-III, the Fortis can monitor road and driving conditions to automatically determine timing, or observe driver behaviour, to create an intelligent profile that anticipates your every move. No matter where you go, danger can come from any direction. Even if you can’t prevent it, you can still prepare for it, and that’s why the Fortis features an array of active and passive safety features to protect all occupants from harm. Powerful anti-lock brakes and brake-force distribution enable drivers to avoid hazards on the road, while the RISE (Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution) body works to absorb collision damage and direct it away from the interior.
The Fortis was built for safety right from the first stage of design, with the construction of the RISE body, which protects occupants with extensive front and rear crumple zones that absorb impact energy before it reaches the cabin. The cabin and doors, meanwhile, use a highly rigid frame and reinforced beams to redirect energy and damage around and away from occupants. Adding to the residual value of the Fortis is the lifetime warranty offered by Zayani Motors. The 10 years, or one million km, warranty is available on the full range of cars offered by the dealer — Mitsubishi, Peugeot and MG. In addition to this, there’s the Diamond Lifetime Warranty, which covers the engine, gearbox and transmission. To see the Lancer Fortis, visit either the Mitsubishi showrooms in Ma’ameer or Arad. E Call 17 703-703.
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bystanderthismonth
InterNations Reception InterNations - a trusted network & guide for expats in Bahrain held a reception for members to mix and mingle with fellow expats and global minds last month. The event was held at The Domain Bahrain Hotel in Diplomatic Area
Rogier, Patrick, Thamina, Lani, Hanan & Makram
Alex, Andrea, Daya, Ruan & Mathieu
Viveka, Bashir & Najah
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reporthomefurnishing
Latest Decor Trends This month, we dive into the colossal world of interior design and home furnishings. Here is our roundup of the top trends of autumn and winter.
Summer is slowly fading away. As the weather picks up, many of us are sensing the need for change in our living spaces. Interior design and architecture enthusiasts should know that it is time to get in line with the small touches that will help recreate the latest trends in home decor. For those looking to change things up this season, the Bahrain This Month rundown on the top themes should act as a guide. Life under water Perhaps the best theme for our island, this trend takes inspiration from the natural world living deep beneath the surface of our seas. In the latest collections that have hit the
stores, you can find pieces that mimic the corals and plants. Delicate accessories replicate the surreal world and give your rooms the feeling of being submerged. Use a mix of glossy and opaque materials and earthy surfaces like exposed concrete, stone and slate. Look for ruffles and chunky knits to imitate the complexity of aquatic structures. This, however, is where the intricacy stops. Overall, you need to embrace a simplified look, especially when it comes to prints. Flowing stripes resemble water bodies and an aerial view of islands. The colour tones ought to enhance the setting. Blues, greens and whites work best.THE One offers our readers tricks to perfect this trend.
Featured this month 151 x Mobilia Uno - 152 x The One - 154 x Phoenicia Decor - 155 x Roche Bobois
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Time for celebration There is no rule set in stone that gloomy weather demands a dull interior. Bring out the bright colours and souvenirs you’ve collected from your holidays abroad. The idea is to unite various cultures with a fresh twist. Get inspired by age-old rituals and Russian architecture. The materials you need to look for are highly texture-driven. Chunky tapestries, heavy embroidery, tassels and beading are welcome. Balance the Baroque with raw and rustic finishes. Work with dark natural wood. Its subtly can be broken with geometric prints. Take a look at latest pieces at Phoenicia Décor and Roche Bobois in the pages ahead for inspiration. Act like royalty Glamour and luxury makes a comeback this season. Don’t shy away from bejewelled and encrusted details. Vintage, rustic and worn woven textiles are the materials of choice. Obviously, this isn’t a trend for the fainthearted or inexperienced. It’s very easy to slip into a zone of tackiness if you don’t know what you’re doing. It is, therefore, convenient that places like Mobiliauno offer expert advice and customised products. What you need to create is an elegant and faded setting of glamour. Mirrored surfaces and rustic dipped effects give the lustre and shimmer required to break the warmth of pale and grey woods. Sprinkle elements of sparkle scarcely. Sandblasted and tarnished accessories are perfect, preferably in matte gold or copper shades. Dark velvets are an option for flawless regal ambience.
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In its place Unfussy decor is something we’d all love to try. However, taking a minimal approach requires a lot of organisational skills. If it isn’t kept clutter-free at all times, you can miss the mark. The way to get this right is to invest in the perfect furniture. Look for innovative pieces and unusual shapes that do not compromise on functionality. You cannot go wrong by picking anything from BoConcept, a brand that specialises in this style. Although the materials used tend to be futuristic, the theme represents a familiar retro quality. Be abstract; go for broken stripes, micro weave structures and patchwork prints. Let the focus be on the actual room, the modular sofas and wall units. You know you’re going in the right direction if the piece has dual functions. Clever design and pared-back patterns give you the assembled look, letting you sit back and appreciate design.
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MOBILIAUNO
Bold, Bright and Edgy
This home furniture store offers all you need to make a house your home through solid materials, attention to detail and impeccable craftsmanship.
Mobiliauno is well known for fusing elegance with modernism. The company’s philosophy is based on high-end luxury and has been dedicated to contemporary design without compromising on comfort. The focus has been on pushing furniture trends to the limit, while leaving a benchmark in the industry. This season Mobiliauno focuses on a lot of bold and bright colours to lift up the atmosphere of any area of the home. The products are more edgy, making them stand out in any room but at the same time blend in well with everything else. Whether you are designing an area as private as a bedroom or an open space such as a living room, the colours from the new collection will bring out a person’s creativity. Classic, limited and unique Mobiliauno has not lost touch with its classic themes. The brand has made sure that there are products for clients who like to keep things simple and traditional. The furniture store only brings limited quantities of the products as they believe every home has to be unique. Constantly on the search for new and innovative furniture, Mobiliauno introduces new stock on a regular basis to satisfy the customers’ needs. A team of highly skilled interior designers and architects offers customised service to allow greater individuality.
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The ability to take a customer’s vision and present them with the perfect solution to complement their home has led to the company’s success in redefining classic furniture as liveable luxury. Whether a client is looking to design something for his or her home or an office space, Mobiliauno works to meet the buyer’s demands. The company has worked on several large projects, including Durrat Al Bahrain, Zawia 3 in Amwaj Islands and Saraya Al Basateen. E Call 17 822-268 or visit www.mobiliauno.net.
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reporthomefurnishing THE ONE
In the Blues
Live the high life with one of the four exciting styles from the newly launched autumn/winter 2013 collection by this wellliked home decor outlet.
Capture the strikingly sophisticated Mediterranean mansioninspired look of THE One’s Grand Azure range. It blends a classic colour palette of cobalt blue and crisp white with a few black accents, white fabric upholstery, mirrored furniture and ginger jars. Set the tone for this fresh, exclusive living room look with some clever wall treatments. Simply paint the upper part in a bright blue and finish off the lower part with a digitally printed wallpaper to create the illusion of white wood panelling complete with a dado rail. A nod to seaside living Think symmetry when it comes to your main furnishings. Place a pair of pristine, cotton-linen blend white sofas facing each other.
Create a mirror image with matching scatter cushions in charming blue and white tie-dye. Continue the balancing act with a duo of black display cabinets topped with a couple of ginger jars. To bring some masculinity to the style, introduce a few more black touches in the form of painted coffee and side tables, an Asian box, black lampshades and a worn-out rug. To break up the blue on the walls, go for a gorgeous sunburst mirror and white-framed Ben Wood yachting photos to further strengthen the coastal feel. Finally, accessorise with clear glass, polished silver, white candles, and blue and white porcelain jars. Bring it all to life with white lilies and a bay tree. Visit THE One’s outlet in the Al A’ali Shopping Complex to recreate the Grand Azure lifestyle! E Call 17 587-178.
The One
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reporthomefurnishing PHOENICIA DÉCOR
Art Deco Home If you’re looking for a way to spice up your home this autumn and you’re unsure how to inject a new trend, then visit this home decor store which makes it very easy for you.
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Phoenicia Décor is a recognised home furniture and accessories outlet in the Kingdom. The store has launched its latest collection in time with the seasonal changes. Get inspired by the display of modular seating and furnishings that are based on the autumn and winter decor trends. The simple and beautiful black and white theme can be spotted across the showroom located in Seef. What makes it catchy is the use of patterns. Those who like to make their statement loud and clear can opt to add a pop of colour in a neutral setting. The yellow cushions and red sofa give you an idea of how you can play with bright hues during days of dull weather. Accessorising is the key to personalising your living space. Pick vases, picture frames, candlesticks, baskets, jars, ottomans, flowers and scents to complement the look you try to create. E Call 17 564-444.
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Feria Dining Table
ROCHE BOBOIS
Contemporary Classics Preserving nature’s finest offerings in timeless, artistic furniture, this interior design chain serves functionality on a creative platter. Feria dining table Part of Roche Bobois’ Les Contemporains collection, the table lends a strong and stable character to your dining space. Made in solid oak, the design is clean and sharp and comes with the option of sandblasted oak veneer or plain wood finish. A black tinted divider runs through the entire length of the tabletop and is surrounded in granite steel. The table is available with 50-inch extension leaves as well, and can be customised to different shape or sizes as per your design and space requirements. Evidence sofa Designed by Philippe Bouix, this sofa is one of the signature pieces in Les Contemporains collection. Upholstered in tendresse leather, it has a corrected grain and pigment finish. The seat is made of high-density HR foam; an XL elastic strap is used for suspensions and the base in made of solid beech in a grey stain finish. The piece is available in more than 50 colours and can be configured as an armchair or an ottoman.
No Limit lamp
No limit lamp This tinted glass lamp is one of Roche Bobois’ most eye-catching pieces. For those who want to add some fun elements in their interiors, the lamp makes an interesting choice. The glass base gives the look of an aquarium with suspended fish decoys and has a fabric shade on top. Saxe dresser The piece belongs to the brand’s Nouveaux Classiques collection that combines period styles and designs with the designers’ contemporary sketches. Built out of finest quality natural materials and traditional know-how, the collection possesses both modern design and old-world charm. The dresser comes in an antique cherry-wood top and has three sets of drawers. The piece shown here has a brushed back finish and is hand-waxed. E Call 17 582-901.
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The warmth of traditional arabic hospitality
diningthismonth
Gulf Hotel, Poolside
Poolside Fiesta Laying down a tantalising buffet along with a multitude of entertainment, this five-star property brings back one of the Kingdom’s oldest and most popular theme nights. The Gulf Hotel’s exclusive poolside event, Gulf Night Out, is back with a splash! The themed dining experience goes all out with a wide variety of food, live cooking stations and non-stop entertainment. Resembling a carnival with raffle draws and games, the event features performances by various bands and dance troupes. The hotel boasts the largest number of food and beverage outlets within a single property on the island and dishes from all 17 of its restaurants are on offer at the affair. No pool party is complete without a barbeque station and this one is no different. Watch out for the smoky surprises from the grills. Starting on October 1, the poolside buffet is served every Tuesday till the end of the month. “This is a night of guaranteed fun, whether you are with friends or family. We invite you for non-stop entertainment, games and, of course, the fabulous buffet that we are famous for,” says Ryan Advincula, the hotel’s marketing and communications manager. Starting 8pm onwards, the buffet is priced at BD17++ and BD15++ for Prestige Club, NSA and Gulf Air members, if the ticket is purchased before Tuesday. On the day, the rates are BD18++ and BD16++ for Prestige Club, NSA and Gulf Air members. Also this month
Italiano treats Offering the true taste of an Italian kitchen is La Pergola restaurant at the Gulf Hotel. At the helm of affairs is Chef Dario Cattarinch, whose Neapolitan roots have brought in a special touch to the dishes. Introducing some new dishes to the menu, Dario successfully maintains a fine line between innovation and preserving the traditional flavours. “Italian cuisine is about quality ingredients and simple recipes, that keep the inherent flavour and taste alive,” Dario explains. “We have introduced Paccheri all’aragosta, which is paccheri pasta in lobster sauce and is a really special preparation I learnt in Italy.” Other additions include the Focaccia rucola with pomodori confit , boconccini, cernia al cartoccio con patate which is grouper and potato cooked in foil and a filleto al’aceto balsamico which is a grilled beef fillet in balsamic reduction. Known as one of Bahrain top five-star properties, the Gulf Hotel continues to deliver high standards of service to its residents and corporate customers alike. In addition to its luxurious rooms and suites, contemporary apartments, and panoramic views of Manama, the hotel serves as plush dining and entertainment option for residents and visitors alike. A centre of culinary fineness and social activity, the venue hosts some of the most anticipated events in the Kingdom’s dine-out calendar. E Call 17 713-000.
158 x Happenings - 171 x Theme Nights - 172 x Restaurant Listing
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When? October 5 Event? Cooking class Venue? Fiamma, Sofitel Hotel Learn the nuances of authentic Italian cooking from the chef. E Call 17 636-363. When? October 16 Event? Cooking class Venue? Wok, Sofitel Hotel Get a masterclass in perfecting those tricky Asian flavours. E Call 17 636-363. When? October 24 Event? Cooking class Venue? Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Take a crash course in gourmet cooking. E Call 17 171-000. When? Till October 25 Event? Birthday offer Venue? Neyran, Mercure Grand Enjoy a 40 per cent discount when celebrating your birthday. E Call 17 584-400. When? Throughout October Event? Gulf Night Out Venue? Gulf Hotel The fun poolside dining is back with the hotel’s enormous buffet. E Call 17 713-000.
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Celebratory offers Marking its 40th anniversary, the Mercure Grand Hotel offers a 40 per cent discount to those celebrating their birthdays at the Neyran restaurant until October 25. This is valid throughout the day for a maximum of four persons. Spend your birthday or anniversary at Golestan, at The Sheraton Bahrain, throughout the month. For a minimum spent of BD40++, the restaurant offers a bottle of wine and a cake.
Bon Appétit From cuisine festivals to new chefs joining the ranks, the Kingdom braces itself for an appetising October. Here’s a look at the month’s food and beverage events.
Featured this month
158 October 2013
The Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain introduces a Belgian cuisine master from Leon de Bruxelles, Chef Paul Vanlancker, to showcase his signature mussel recipes. Drop in from October 25 to November 2 for a set menu at BD 15++ and an opportunity to meet the chef. Learn the nuances of fine Italian cooking at Fiamma Restaurant, at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Hotel, where chef Stefano reveals a few of his culinary secrets. At BD10 enjoy the interactive session from 10am till1noon on October 5. Taking you on a gastronomic journey through Vietnam is Chef Minh Duong on October 16 at the hotel’s Asian restaurant, Wok. For BD18 it includes the cooking class, lunch and soft beverages. Learn to cook a venison steak and perfect purées on October 9 and Foie Gras terrine on October 24 with Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel’s talented brigade of chefs. Get a behind-thescenes tour of the hotel’s main kitchen and pick up tips and tricks in this culinary masterclass.
The new milieu Elite Seef Residence and Hotel unveils a new venue this month. The House of Grills is the hotel’s new barbecue restaurant, offering three different kinds of grilled preparations. With a charcoal grill, tandoori station and pizza oven, it is all set to tantalise a variety of taste buds. Savour a blend of contemporary Indian cuisine at Rasoi at Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa. The new venue deftly blends the traditional flavours of the Indian subcontinent and fresh presentation ideas that will appeal to the island’s diners. InterContinental Regency has a new executive chef on board; chef Adrian Upward from the Netherlands. With over two decades of experience he brings his unique style and techniques to the Kingdom. The elaborate menu at the Yamin Jana Lebanese Restaurant, at Dragon Hotel & Resort, has been revamped with a new look and many new additions. Try out the innovative recipes that combine modern technique and traditional ingredients.
159 x Johnny Rockets - 160 x Shoo Fee Ma Fee - 162 x Block 338 - 163 x Bennigan's - 164 x Hard Rock Cafe 164 x Saffron - 165 x Golden Tulip Hotel - 166 x Vapiano - 166 x Le Jardin Restaurant
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JOHNNY ROCKETS
A Classic Diner Few food outlets deliver a complete culinary offering so effortlessly and within a relaxed and themed atmosphere as this American classic.
Premium dishes for gourmands, appetising snacks and engaging children’s menus are the foundations upon which the house of Johnny Rockets has been built. Whether you lived through, or even know about, 1960s America with its music, fun and trailblazing food, you’ll soon discover that this restaurant chain is home to the perfect burger; it’s also an education and insight into the liberating 60s era. Operating since 1986, Johnny Rockets offers simple, greattasting food from a menu of all-American favourites, including juicy hamburgers, hand-dipped shakes and malts and freshly baked apple pie. The chain is renowned for its traditional burgers, retro feel, juke boxes on the tables and smiling staff with uniforms of a past era. There is, though, nothing yesteryear about the modern cuisine offered here. New menu Neither does a family trip to Johnny Rockets entail any compromise for parents, as witnessed by the new premium wagyu beef menu. A ‘luxury’ burger, with pricing starting from BD4.500, can be savoured together with gourmet truffle fries or Fontana cheese fries. A ‘Smoke House Wagyu’ burger will see you devouring a wagyu beef patty, cheddar cheese, beef bacon, a crispy onion
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ring and smoke-house barbecue ranch sauce served with a brioche bun. As well as single and double burger options, there is a Houston Wagyu burger offering jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, fresh lettuce and tomato with a spicy sauce. For something new and different try the new apple pie milk shake, which contains a real slice of apple pie. Blended together, this rich sweet treat adds depth, flavour and texture to a humble milkshake. The health-conscious have not been forgotten either at Johnny Rockets, with a selection of salads; alternatively, simply order your burger with a healthier side order. Johnny Rockets covers all bases and successfully adds a gourmet touch to even a basic burger and fries. When simplicity can taste and feel this good it’s little wonder this home of fun and entertainment, with a pinch of history, has proven so successful in the Kingdom. You can find Johnny Rockets within the restaurant block at the Al Aali Shopping Complex or at The Lagoon Park on Amway Islands. At either venue you will discover the brand’s signature ambience — and taste. E Call 17 566-565 (Al Aali) or 16 011-199 (The Lagoon).
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SHOO FEE MA FEE
Authentic Flavours! In addition to the traditional and some evolved Lebanese recipes, the uniqueness of the restaurant lies in the informal communal atmosphere created in a plush environment.
Located in the busy locality of Adliya, Lebanese restaurant Shoo Fee Ma Fee is not easy to miss. Designed to promote communal dining, the restaurant’s decor and service create a warm and informal atmosphere. “We believe in the philosophy that if there’s anything that brings people together it is good food,” says manager Mohammed Fayyad. “We would ideally like to see dishes being shared amongst tables and everybody engaging with each other. I believe consumption should not be a quiet, private affair but a loud and colourful group effort.”
Full of surprises The venue provides a comfortable space, spread over two floors, that serves traditional and authentic Lebanese food. The kitchen serves an eclectic selection of starters, main course dishes and desserts. “The menu has been designed to deliver a healthy range of dishes catering to a variety of palates,” notes Mohammed. The kitchen staff has many years of experience and only use the freshest ingredients to deliver a signature taste. At the same time, the restaurant makes fresh marinates every day with natural juices, herbs and spices. “The pictures on the menu do justice to the food when it arrives. The two look exactly the same,” comments Mohammed. “And, remember to avoid any snack before your supper here! The portions we serve will take care of you, even if you skipped the previous meal.”
160 October 2013
What’s up? Shoo Fee Ma Fee is a Lebanese catch phrase that means “What’s up?” The expression represents the vibe of the restaurant — a hospitable venue where you can enjoy good food and company. “We believe no amount of fancy props or gimmicks can establish a loyal customer base like zero compromise on the quality of food and warm, friendly atmosphere,” Mohammed notes. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can drop by for a casual supper or dine in to celebrate a special occasion. A strong and committed customer-base vouches for the Shoo Fee Ma Fee’s food and hospitality. The restaurant doubles as a venue for small private parties as well, and provides home delivery and catering services across the Kingdom. E Call 17 311-280.
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Good times are woven around the aromas of good food and at Shoo Fee Ma Fee, no one is a stranger. So come together for an authentic Lebanese feast with your friends and make some new ones while you savour our delicious delights! The Shoo Fee Ma Fee philosophy comes from our desire to bring traditional and authentic Lebanese food (like the famous Lebanese starters, juicy Shawarma and fluffy Manakeesh) offered in a modern and inviting ambiance.
Come in. Sit down. Have a nice meal.
t +973 17311280 f +973 17311281 bldg.175 rd. 2608 adliya 326
Shoo Fee Ma Fee Restaurant
diningf&bnewintown BLOCK 338 RESTAURANT
Back to the Future
When restaurants talk about adding character to the concept they are usually talking of furnishings, architecture and design. This restaurant is all about character.
Malcolm
162 October 2013
When Block 338 Restaurant, Lounge and Gardens opened in 2010 it changed our concept of relaxed and casual dining. Prior to this, patios and outdoor dining were confined to tight spaces. With few chairs, most outdoor areas challenged the very meaning of ‘al fresco’ dining and the external space it requires. Block 338 rewrote the rule book in this regard and gave us an area of grass which is sorely absent in this dry desert landscape. As is the case with life, though, Block 338 has changed over time and we often remember the past with affection. “Starting this month, Block 338 is returning to its origins, a place for us all to find the finest food on the island in relaxed surrounds,” says Malcolm Burroughs, the executive chef for MESK Holdings, the company that runs Block 338. “Restaurants should have their distinctive character and Block 338 had that in abundance in the past. The sofas and cushions are returning as we return to a more informal dining experience that is fun.” Malcolm is a former model, costume designer and celebrity chef who has travelled the world; not only does he know his food but also something about style and character. “Designing what we eat is only part of the challenge,” he says. “Other upgrades in the process are the furnishings, conservatory and flooring, which will add to the ’cool’ ambience.” Unfussy, unpretentious deliciousness is how Malcolm
describes the new menu, which still contains some old favourites but with a new twist. The mini burger trio now comes with three new signature sauces. Malcolm’s personal touch can be seen with the likes of a prawn tower dish — a prawn and avocado cocktail — and a wagyu beef steak with mustard ice cream. Over the weekend, the patio will feature a brunch with live cooking stations; indoors, there will be a separate menu. Dessert at the restaurant is about to get a serious make-over as well. Look out for a temptation called ‘melting cappuccino’ — a chocolate fondant topped with home-made cappuccino ice cream and berry sauce. A new addition Launching in November, MESK will add another leg to its food and beverage portfolio. Joining Block 338, Aroma Café and Restaurant and The Meat Co. will be a new venture located in the Seef district. The Cake Boutique will be headed by Nadia Zucchelli, a famed cake designer. She will be conjuring up a line of sweet treats and desserts that will also find their way on to the menus at all of MESK’s restaurant and café venues. E Call 17 710-338.
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BENNIGAN’S RESTAURANT
An Irish Breakfast! How many times have we been told that the most important meal of the day is breakfast? More times, one imagines, than we have actually eaten the first meal of the day!
Peter Lyons
9/11/13
4:38 PM
Bahrain Family Leisure, the company which currently owns and operates franchise restaurants in the Kingdom under the name of Bennigan’s, Cucina Italiana and Ponderosa Steakhouse, now has a new general manager at the helm, Peter Lyons. “We have relaunched our breakfast menu at Bennigan’s with a serious commitment to taste and flavour for our guests in addition to striving for an unmatchable guest experience ahead of our competitors,” says Peter. Bennigan’s breakfast menu provides ideal options for working adults and families to kick-start their day. With the stress of making your own breakfast out of the way, you can tuck into a selection of new menu options at your leisure. The ‘Full Irish’ breakfast, for instance, is not just big on words; it’s big on everything, including the taste! As a native of Liverpool, in the northwest of England with Irish roots, one might expect Peter to know a thing or two about an Irish breakfast; he’s certainly brought his experience to the table. “The breakfast menu offers hearty choices from a whole range of products such as The Bennigan’s full monty, breakfast burrito, the butty, fresh waffles and pancakes, French toast and kids’ breakfast. You can even build your own omelette. The menu options start from BD2.500 per person,” adds Peter. If you thought St Patrick’s Day was a once-a-year event, then there’s a surprise in store for you at Bennigan’s. The restaurant has designated the 17th of each month (other than March) as St Practice Day; an opportunity for a full-on Irish experience that includes a special three-plus-one free deal on the Emerald Isle’s famous black beverage. E Call 17 813-750.
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diningf&bnewintown HARD ROCK CAFÉ
Once Bitten, Never Shy! It is said that you should never bite the hand that feeds you; well, perhaps you should do just that when the food is as delicious as it is at this iconic venue.
The best bite is surely the one that you never forget; it’s the sentiment you will discover when feasting upon the new bar bites selection at the Hard Rock Café. To celebrate restaurant’s 16th year of operation in the Kingdom, this standout venue on Exhibitions Avenue will invigorate our senses with ‘mini’ tastes to savour. In the same way that the Spanish tapas style of cuisine allow customers to sample many dishes, so, too, does this new menu. These bar bites, though, are not just about amazingly tasty food. Hard Rock Café also looked at drink trends around the globe, from Bali to Dubai to Madrid, and ended up creating a selection of cocktails that are worthy of headlining a world tour. These include some classics with a twist, and some with very distinctive tastes that do not fall within the ‘sweet tooth’ category. The combination of both food and drinks in such a manner is, of course, just what we expect from Hard Rock Café. For a brand that is renowned around the globe, is to little wonder that the new bar bites menu takes flavours from Asia, India and Europe to give us such delicacies such as Asian spring rolls? Alongside this you’ll find pulled chicken burgers, mc and cheese bites, battered fish bites and mini cheeseburgers. Then there’s the ‘party on a plate’ called the AllAmerican platter. If dieting is all about eating smaller amounts, then we will all land up at the same place. As for the saying, small is beautiful; well, it’s absolutely delicious as well at the Kingdom’s very own Hard Rock Café! E Call 17 291-569.
AL AREEN PALACE & SPA
Middle Eastern Fusion A make-over to its food and beverage offerings is on the cards for this five-star hotel property, starting with a cuisine style that is close to home!
Saffron Khaleeji Cuisine is the name of the refurbished dining venue at Al Areen Palace & Spa. Located in a beautiful high-ceiling setting, with exquisite Middle Eastern interiors, the Arabic restaurant overlooks the hotel’s outdoor pool. The signature bistro introduces a new spread of new dishes inspired by modern Bahraini recipes. The blend of European and Khaleeji cuisines results in an extraordinary feast. “At Saffron-Al Areen, we take you on a culinary journey that goes beyond traditional Arabic dishes,” says Dr Essa Faqihi, Al Areen Palace & Spa advisor. “We offer the taste that would satisfy lovers of the cuisine and provide a gastronomical adventure for all our guests.” The à la carte menu showcases well-liked starters such as an array of mezze, nakhi and spicy, cold gazpachos. Diners can also enjoy fresh salads and a selection of soups such as the famous harees, jareesh and lamb soup. For the main course, the kitchen brigade puts together an extensive menu. Indulge in hammour machboos, mutabak zubaidi and lamb thareed. There is no shortage of grilled dishes like hammour tikka and lamb reyash. The feast will not be complete without Bahrain’s favourite desserts, such as khanfaroosh, bathetha and a household favourite, umm ali. Saffron-Al Areen is the first of many upscale restaurants that will be launched in the five-star property over the next few months. E Call 17 845-000 or visit www.alareenpalace.com.
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GOLDEN TULIP HOTEL
A Family Affair The Friday brunch at this five-star hotel is more than an opportunity for some good food; it’s a chance to spend some quality time for family and friends.
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The all-day dining venue at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Al Wasmeyah Restaurant, is turned into hive of activity with the launch of the new Friday brunch. Served from 10.30am-4.30pm, the weekly event is celebrated for its friendly atmosphere and great music. The cosy environment offers a perfect balance between an intimate setting for a family and a social gathering for a group of friends. You’ll find a range of activities for children, to keep them occupied, and a band for those who like to dance and enjoy a singalong. As one might expect from a five-star hotel, there’s a spread of food to cater for any palate; an extensive range of salads and starters is complemented by the wide choice of dishes for the main course. In the event that you cannot find something exactly to your liking, then head over to the fresh food ‘market’. Here the attentive staff will arrange for your selection of meat or fish to be cooked to your request, and then delivered to your table. If you still have space left for some dessert, the ‘corridor’ of sweet goodies will not leave you disappointed. The brunch also includes a ‘cooking’ lesson. Selecting one of the dishes from the buffet, Executive chef Daniel Mast and his team, with a visit to the hotel’s kitchen, will show you how it was prepared and cooked. It’s all part of the friendly service and casual ambience the hotel generates for its Friday brunch guests. The brunch is priced at BD25 net per person and includes alcoholic beverages, reducing to BD18.500 net per person for the soft drink only option. Kids below the age of seven eat for free, while those aged between 7 and 12 pay BD7.500 net per child. E Call 17 535-000.
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diningf&bnewintown VAPIANO
All-New Specials
The casual Mediterranean ambience and the frequent introduction of new specials make every visit to this restaurant one to remember.
RAMADA HOTEL BAHRAIN
With decades of international experience under his belt, a change of season means drawing upon memories from his childhood and travels around the world for Roland Goessler. It’s an opportunity for renewal that the executive chef at the Ramada Hotel Bahrain embraces with anticipation. Running from October 1 to 15, the Autumn Fair menu at the four-star hotel’s Le Jardin Restaurant offers a delightful culinary experience. As a prelude to American Thanksgiving Day, turkey features heavily on the à la carte menu at the restaurant. “Turkey should be enjoyed outside traditional festivals,” says chef Roland. “It’s not only a delicious meat but also a very healthy dining option.” The chef proves his point with some very tempting dishes on his autumn menu. Grilled turkey escalope with wild mushrooms, turkey goulash with spätzle and sautéed Brussel sprouts and Asian stir-fried turkey with vegetables and egg noodles don’t just sound good, they taste good as well. Residing seamlessly alongside the turkey fare are other delights such as pumpkin and coconut soup, sweet potato and prawn dumplings and chestnut lasagne. Pumpkin also features on the dessert menu as the flavour ingredient for a cheesecake. The homely feel to the menu is similarly enhanced in the form of a warm pear, apple and cranberry tarte tatin. There are few places more pleasant to enjoy the colours and flavours of autumn than Le Jardin — a garden full of enchanting tastes set within an ambience of warmth.
The casual Mediterranean ambience and the frequent introduction of new dishes make every visit to this restaurant one to remember.
Home Delights
Celebrating the beauty, colours and distinct tastes of autumn is easy for this executive chef; it’s about enjoying seasonal flavours and the best produce that money can buy.
When? October 1-15 | Event? Autumn food festival | Venue? Le Jardin, Ramada Hotel Bahrain
Vapiano invites you to have a relaxed and healthy meal this October. Indulge in its new set of specials, which includes the strawberry spinach salad. This is a wondrous blend of fresh spinach, juicy strawberries, mild goat cheese, red onions and pine nuts with a homemade raspberry maple syrup dressing. Combining fresh ingredients with modern Italian decor and highquality food options, the modern Italian restaurant offers handtossed pizzas and freshly made pasta, all made in sight of guests. In the homemade pasta selection, you can find the ‘pasta porcini’. This dish, as the name suggests, consists of fresh porcini mushrooms with onions in a creamy sauce. Food lovers can try out the two new pizza specials on their visit to this unique bistro, located on the first floor of Bahrain City Centre. The pizza porcini is made using fresh porcini mushrooms, tomato sauce, rocket salad and Vapiano’s very own tomato bruschetta mix. The pizza gorgonzola is an irresistible mix of creamy, mild gorgonzola and mozzarella combined with honey and olive oil. At this restaurant, every dish is made in front of guests, using fresh ingredients and authentic Italian recipes. You can even watch the pasta being made in the pasta manifattura, a glass-walled kitchen. To top off your meal, drop by the coffee bar for some dolci (dessert), fresh juices or a cup of their selection of teas. E Call 17 491-391.
E Call 17 742-000.
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CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL BAHRAIN
A Spiced Brunch! David M. Robertson For an alternative Friday brunch, look no further than the feast of Indian cuisine served up at this restaurant that lives up to its name.
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The Friday brunch at the all-day dining restaurant, La Mosaique, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain has always been a hit with local residents and visitors alike. Such is its popularity that the stalls hosting the buffet now extend into the hotel’s lobby. Our visit to Crowne Plaza, though, was to sample the brunch at Spices Indian Restaurant. Upon arrival our main concern — would our two boys aged seven and six actually eat anything — was immediately resolved. The boys were whisked away to a children’s play area, to be watched over by the hotel’s staff and with access to anything they wanted to eat at the La Mosaique buffet, which included a kids’ selection of food. My wife and I were left to absorb the modern ambience of Spices and to enjoy lunch at our leisure. The Chaat counter yielded a selection of ‘street’ food, as an appetiser, alongside more traditional offerings and a live cooking station. As with the main course options the range of dishes allowed for the full spectrum of tastes, from the rich to the spicy and plenty in between. A murg noorani kebab sits comfortably next to a tandoori malai broccoli starter. For the main course we tucked into a combination of Malabar fish curry, a spicy dish from southern India, a murg makhani and a Kashmiri mutton rogan josh. The ubiquitous biryani was not to be missed, nor was some gobi mutter pudani. A range of Indian specialties, such as gulab jamun and gajjer halwa, is joined by a selection of pastries and ice creams for dessert.
The Friday brunch, which is held on the last Friday of each month, is priced at BD16 per person (BD20.500 with alcoholic beverages) and children aged between six to 12 pay BD8 per child. Brunch is served between 12noon and 4pm. A fresh look Those who have passed by the Crowne Plaza recently will have noticed that the South Wing is currently undergoing a renovation, to deliver rooms with a contemporary, comfortable and fresh design. La Mosaique has also been spruced up with new furnishings and the terrace leading out from Harvesters Pub has been completely revamped. With new furniture and fixtures, the outdoor area is ideal for an evening out in the more ambient temperatures of autumn. The hotel’s health club has been rebranded. Now operating under the name ‘bfit’, the club has a new massage room and the saunas have been upgraded. There are also new squash and tennis courts and an aerobatics studio. E Call 17 531-122.
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diningf&bhappenings AL ARISHA LEBANESE RESTAURANT
A Taste of Lebanon
Some of the best-tasting Lebanese food in Bahrain is not where you may think; instead, it can be found on a quiet street within Umm Al Hassam.
For those who have lived in Bahrain all their life there is little question about where the best Lebanese food can be found. Even on a quiet night, a regular stream of ‘locals’ come to dine on delicious perfection at Al Arisha Restaurant. Snacks of soaked almonds and healthy loubieh bel zeit — green beans cooked with onion and garlic cloves in tomato sauce — are ideal to commence your dining experience. As you peruse the lengthy menu you can either make your own selections or ask the waiter to offer what is best-suited for you and your guests. We let the restaurant’s staff choose for us and were entertained by some delicious cold mezzes. Fatoush Al Arisha, shanklesh salad and hummus were delicious and served with freshly baked flat bread and crisp wafers. A selection of hot mezze followed and included kibbe, tangy chicken livers and spinach fatayer — traditions all done to perfection. Our main course arrived after allowing us a little rest; samke harra and baby quail served with rice did not last long! The quail was marinated to perfection and suitably succulent and moist to the taste buds. Refreshed for the season, the restaurant’s owner, Maha Al Mahmood, has overseen an upgrade to the outside dining area to coincide with more ambient temperatures. With its fountain and the opportunity for a sheesha, Al Arisha is a perfect venue for this time of year; and where you can expect great food, great company and a Lebanese experience not easily forgotten. E Call 17 725-414.
LANTERNS lounge & RESTAURANT
Al Fresco Dining
168 October 2013
As the season changes and the weather cools enough for us to dine outdoors, Lanterns Lounge and Restaurant welcomes you to enjoy the terrace and fusion cuisine. With the hot season coming to an end, the Grill Garden of Lanterns Lounge & Restaurant, a new oasis in the heart of Adliya, invites you to spend some joyful hours outside. It constitutes the perfect venue for a relaxing barbecue with the family or enjoying time with friends. The stunning venue boasts excellent lounge music, beverages and dishes. Grilled food is freshly prepared in the open BBQ station in the garden from noon until 7pm. The revamped menu will bring the garden experience to a new high. Enjoy grilled crab cocktails and tandoori wings as appetisers. Indulge in the Tikki, a veggie burger made with edameme, broccoli, sweet corn, bell peppers and potatoes with a hint of roasted spices. Wash down your meal with fresh and fruity beverages and cocktails. Take advantage of the full restaurant menu from 7pm. It covers the best of contemporary Indian cuisine. Don’t forget the celebrated Lanterns buffet. This has been extended as well and consists of live cooking stations and fresh breads. The patio garden remains open until 2am. If the temperature remains high, then a veil of mist is used to cool you down. The venue, located in the heart of Adliya, has the advantage of a private car park that can accommodate up to 100 vehicles. The indoor dining area and an event space upstairs makes Lanterns a must-visit lounge and restaurant. E Call 17 250-999.
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THE K HOTEL
Contemporary Touch
“We present a cosmopolitan blend of authentic Japanese, Asian, Indian, Arabic and Mediterranean cuisine, prepared at live cooking stations by our team of chefs,” Volker adds. “The buffet boasts a sushi bar and a seafood station serving fresh seafood and is complemented by live entertainment.” Brunch is available from 12.30pm to 4.00pm for BD19.5++ per person including selected beverages. On weekdays, drop in with your colleagues or associates for a business lunch served from noon till 2.30pm. It’s priced at BD4 per person, which includes soft drinks and mineral water.
Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, this culinary venue delivers an experience which will keep you coming back for more!
Next time when you can’t decide where to go for dinner and fancy something contemporary with a touch of tradition, head straight to Klouds, at The K Hotel. No, it’s not a typo and nor are we suggesting a sci-fi, skywalk of a restaurant. Located in the centre of Juffair, Klouds presents an innovative menu with a dash of traditional Asian flavours. “This is our all-day dining venue that offers a superb breakfast buffet, business lunch and themed dining options in the evening where guests enjoy the best food in Bahrain,” says Volker Mandlowsky, the hotel’s general manager. A head start Start your day with breakfast at the restaurant from 6.30am to 10.30 am, which includes a wide variety of juices, cereal and international dishes. If you’re racing against the clock during weekdays, try out the laidback Friday brunch that not only includes a range of cold cuts, breads and cheeses but a large spread of global cuisine.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Speciality evenings Mark your Wednesdays for a taste of the Orient at the restaurant’s Asian buffet. Enjoy starters such as chicken satay, yakitori, tempura and Thai fish cakes prepared at the live cooking stations. The menu has many favourites, including fish in black bean sauce, nasi goreng, Italian pastas, Malay chicken curry, Thai green curry, roast lamb with kung pao sauce, and many more. Served from 7pm to 11pm, it is priced at BD9.5++ per person with soft drinks and BD14.5++ with selected beverages. The seafood night every Thursday serves a mouth-watering spread of the day’s fresh catch. Specialities include spicy gazpacho with chilled basil shrimp skewers and a number of grills. Look out for poached shrimp, clams, mussels, oysters on the half shell and scallop ceviche with a variety of sauces and accompaniments. This is priced BD 12++ per person with soft drinks and BD17++ per person, including selected beverages. Other all-you-can-eat theme nights include kebabs and shawarma on Saturdays, pizzas on Sundays, barbeque dishes on Mondays and Italian pastas on Tuesdays. These buffets are available at BD4++ from 7-11pm. E Call 17 360-000 or visit www.thekhotel.com
October 2013 169
diningf&bhappenings PANASIA RESTAURANT
Fusion of Asian Flavours
If you can’t decide between Indian, Chinese or Thai fare for dinner, then head to a restaurant in Umm Al Hassam to experience a culinary journey through Asia.
170 October 2013
Situated opposite KIMS Medical Centre, Panasia opened its doors in 2011. The restaurant is nothing short of a fine dining oasis of Eastern cuisine, where you can indulge in a fusion of flavours. The two-storey venue of modernity is designed by Arun Nalapat, an award-winning architect and interior designer based in Bangalore, India. His creation, owned and run by Abdul Rasheed Puthusseri, founder and managing director of Unique Restaurants, would fit into any modern city landscape. This architecturally magnificent building is a feast for the eyes and a journey for the soul. In essence, Panasia is a ‘spa for the gourmand’. From dusty roads, one steps into a sanctuary of greenery. Water features soothe the soul; slate tile floors offer an additional element of nature. The decor is calmingly different from every angle. Outdoor dining on the decks puts you in a one-of-a-kind setting. Panasia offers fine dining while remaining unpretentious and serves quality food at affordable prices. It abides by the Unique Restaurants’ philosophy of fresh food prepared and served with attention to detail in an environment of serenity. The experience is enhanced by the sound of Eastern music, which is not so loud
as to interrupt the conversations of those gathered. The Asian hospitality starts with a warm towel to freshen the weary traveller, followed by complimentary snacks and chutneys to bring the palate to life. The menu boasts Indian, Chinese and Thai dishes. The kitchen lies behind etched glass, allowing the food preparation to take the form of background theatre while you wait for your meal. Try the beautiful garden seating area that offers a serene natural environment, perfect for outdoor dining. The waterside rooms are ideal for family and friends, providing privacy without shutting you off from the rest of the restaurant. Whether you walk in for lunch, dinner or snacks, pay a visit to their tea house on the first floor. Open from noon until 4pm and then from 6pm until midnight, the lounge offers a setting that befits any gathering. Try out the new menu of mouthwatering dihes set that is set to be unveiled on October 16. Bahrain this Month’s readers can avail a special offer. Get a free dimsum starter or Indian dessert with every meal. If you’d like to experience the exquisite recipes at a private party away from the restaurant, take advantage of their catering services. “For those craving Panasia’s dishes but not wishing to be driving to the venue, call them for home delivery services which starts on November 1. We have also started our VIP catering services for private gatherings at home or at the workplace,” says Lodi, restaurant manager. Diners are requested to reserve their tables in advance on weekends. E Call 17 721-600 or 39 523-825.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
themenights wednesday What: Asian Night Where: Klouds, The K Hotel Eat all you can at this authentic Asian buffet for BD 9.5++. E Call 17 360-000 What: Seafood Night Where: Al Wasmeyyah, Golden Tulip Sample the fresh catch of the day and unlimited selected beverages. E Call 17 535-000
sunday
tuesday
What: Masala Mahal Where: Saraya, Sofitel This trip down the spice route serves some fine Indian dishes. E Call 17 636-363.
What: Discover Asia Buffet Where: Silk's, Mövenpick Hotel Authentic cuisine with unlimited wine and beer at BD19++. E Call 17 460-000
What: Indian Tandoori Night Where: Al Waha, Gulf Hotel Tantalising fare dished out from the Indian-style clay oven. E Call 17 713-000.
What: Lebanese Arabian Buffet Where: Kenza, The K Hotel A slice of Lebanon served in traditional settings at BD8. E Call 17 360-000
What: Pizza Night Where: Klouds, The K Hotel An all-you-can-eat deal on pizzas with soft drinks for BD4. E Call 17 360-000
What: Pasta Night Where: Klouds, The K Hotel Variety of pasta in sauces of your choice with soft drinks at BD4++. E Call 17 360-000
What: Tex-Mex Night Where: La Mosaique, Crowne Plaza Authentic Mexican flavours for only BD12++. E Call 17 531-122.
What: Meat & Fish Where: Legendz Steakhouse, InterContinental Regency A five-course gourmet dinner with selected wines for BD 22++. E Call 17 227-777.
What: Italian Aperitivo Buffet Where: Mondo, Diplomat Radisson Blu A classic Italian buffet with live entertainment for BD10++. E Call 17 531-666.
What: Surf and Turf Where: La Mosaique, Crowne Plaza Enjoy your favourite seafood and meaty delights for BD12++. E Call 17 531-122.
What: Butcher Shop Night Where: Al Waha, Gulf Hotel Prime cuts of meat prepared on live cooking stations for BD13++. E Call 17 713-000. What: Seafood Buffet Where: Al Noor Tent, Elite Resort & Spa An elaborate seafood buffet with the paellas as star attraction. E Call 17 373-333. What: Steak Night Where: La Mosaique, Crowne Plaza Offering some of the best cuts straight off the grill. E Call 17 531-122.
thursday What: Thursday Night Brunch Where: Silk’s, Mövenpick Hotel A quirky affair that serves brunch favourites for dinner. E Call 17 460-000. What: Hot Grill Night Where: H2O, Elite Grande Hotel Enjoy fresh food from live barbecue stations. E Call 17 565-888. What: Del Mare Buffet Night Where: Klouds, The K Hotel An extensive seafood buffet at BD12++ with soft drinks. E Call 17 360-000.
What: Arabian Night Where: Selections, InterContinental Regency Authentic dishes and sheesha with live cooking stations. E Call 17 227-777. What: Beef Eater’s Grill Where: Al Wasmeyyah, Golden Tulip A char-grill experience with a choice of selected prime cuts. E Call 17 535-000 What: Seafood Night Where: La Mosaique, Crowne Plaza The day’s catch at BD21.950 with selected drinks. E Call 17 531-122.
saturday What: Catch of the Day Where: H2O, Elite Grande Hotel All you can eat seafood fiesta for BD10 including shisha. E Call 36 020-750. What: Flavours of Arabia Where: Saraya, Sofitel Offering a number of authentic Arabian dishes for BD18 per person. E Call 17 636-363
friday
monday
What: Sizzler Night Where: Al Waha, Gulf Hotel Enjoy sizzling treats offered in an unlimited buffet. E Call 17 713-000.
What: Vegetarian Thali Where: Golden Peacock, Mirador Hotel A selection of vegetarian dishes as a complete meal for BD2.9. E Call 17 312-000.
What: Lebanese Arabian Buffet Where: Kenza, The K Hotel A slice of Lebanon served in traditional settings at BD8. E Call 17 360-000
What: Vegetarian Thali Where: Golden Peacock, Mirador Hotel A selection of vegetarian dishes as a complete meal for BD2.9. E Call 17 312-000.
What: The Commons Where: Klouds, The K Hotel Gourmet kebabs and shawarma for BD4++ with soft drinks. E Call 17 360-000.
What: Monday Pasta Night Where: Fiamma, Sofitel Enjoy your favourite pastas and create your own special sauce. E Call 17 636-363. What: BBQ & Salad Buffet Where: Klouds, The K Hotel The buffet offers a wide selection of BBQ dishes & Salad for BD4. E Call 17 360-000 What: Mussels Promotion Where: Camelot Here’s a dinner of unlimited ‘moules et frites’ for BD14 per person. E Call 17 717-745
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diningrestaurantlisting World Beat Café
American Bennigan’s Blaze Burger Burger Lounge Burger Wisconsin Chili House Chili’s Franks a Lot Fuddruckers Hard Rock Café Johnny Rockets Ric’s Kountry Kitchen Ponderosa T.G.I.Friday’s Tony Luke’s Tony Roma's
17 813-750 17 744-773 77 055-772 17 594-458 17 580-045 17 581-221 17 811-970 17 742-266 17 291-569 17 566-565 17 725-550 17 580-552 17 179-041 17 494-940 17 870-070
Asian Chin Li Curry Country David's Stir Fry Hot Wok House Boat Kontiki Meisei Memories Monsoon Noodle Factory Nu Asia Panasia
17 717-717 17 537-555 17 540-188 17 178-083 16 010-321 17 525-455 17 007-770 17 178-646 17 749-222 16 010-534 17 587-171 17 721-600
17 612-576
European Block 338 Camelot Coco’s Cyprus Taverna Déjà Vu Paul Bakery & Restaurant Sizzlers Txoko Zytoun
17 710-338 17 717-745 17 716-512 17 716-316 13 657-770 17 172-321 17 716-999 16 000-000 17 298-471
Filipino Bahay Kubo Borakay Chuckay Fast Food Flamingo Kowloon Quick Stomach Swan Lake
17 231-996 17 514-400 17 532-250 17 231-106 17 224-357 17 295-540 17 291-655 17 237-768
Fusion Fusions
Indian Akbar Clay Oven Copper Chimney Curry Tree
17 296-660 17 717-008 17 728-699 16 030-662
Upstairs Downstairs Wafi Gourmet Zoe
17 713-093 17 179-999 17 176-400
International (5 Star Hotel) Al Safir Al Waha Al Wasmeyyah La Med La Mosaique Le Domain[34] Olivo’s Brasserie Rimal Saraya Saveur Selections Silk’s
17 524-538 17 746-425 17 535-000 17 580-000 17 531-122 16 000-000 17 525-214 17 845-000 17 636-410 17 171-000 17 227-777 17 460-055
International (4 Star Hotel) Al Nakheel Café California Café Marisol Café Sayah Chaq’s Grill Fusion Café Grand Café Il Giardino Julio's Coffee Shop Klouds La Brasserie La Café Le Cascada Le Jardin Neyran Parsia Ramee Bistro Ramee Café Red Café Relax Inn Coffee Shop Rendezvous Tiffany’s
17 559-900 17 826-001 17 701-201 17 224-000 17 290-555 17 811-688 17 727-230 17 583-388 17 565-888 17 360-000 17 313-333 17 810-555 17 360-360 17 742-000 17 584-400 17 814-777 17 290-600 17 297-000 17 296-660 17 815-815 17 366-222 17 716-999
Iranian
Peppers Rice Bowl The Noodle House Wok
17 717-808 17 179-600 17 666-353 17 636-415
Brazilian Brasa de Brasil Brazil Rodizio Grill
17 582-225 17 826-686
Chinese Beijing Chinese China Express China Garden Ching Foli Hong Kong Kowloon Magic Wok Shanghai Hut Soie Spice Nice
17 717-969 17 717-439 17 746-423 17 564-424 17 722-199 17 728-700 17 725-015 17 506-070 17 292-988 17 533-533 17 713-603
Café Restaurants Cafe Delices Café T Delifrance Esquires Le Bateau Le Chocolat Lina’s Café Rosa Verge Skyw@lk Café
17 746-434 17 750-777 17 696-031 77 177-660 17 369-165 17 582-259 17 532-538 13 667-777 17 363-999
Hyderabad House It’s Mirchi Kalpaka Lanterns Mantra Moti Mahal Mumbai Spices Nattinpuram Nirvana Papadom Shamiana Spices The Yellow Chilli
17 720-031 17 727-230 17 297-000 17 590-591 17 211-133 17 825-333 17 382-255 17 290-600 17 589-318 17 564-434 17 178-085 17 531-122 17 580-480
Indian/Pakistani B-B-Q Delights Chutney’s
17 564-282 17 591-259
International East West Cuisine Healthy Calorie Jim’s Restaurant La Fontaine Links Little Chef/Wholesale Mei n Yu Muju Nando’s Pomodorini Rendezvous Salad Boutique The Crepe Café
17 210-012 17 369-399 17 710-654 17 230-123 17 751-262 17 595-950 16 010-160 16 039-800 17 825-100 17 000-121 17 178-712 36 664-427 17 820-722
Golestan Isfahani Parsian Persian Garden Persian Room Takht Jamsheed Tehran Grill
Arirang Da Rae Jung
17 290-945 17 002-490
Lebanese Abd El Wahab Al Areesha Al Hamra Palace Beyroute Café Blanc Carla’s Lebanese Bistro Kenza Leila Mashawi Lebanese Grill Qasr Al Sultan Grill Rayés Shoo Fee Ma Fee Tarbouche Express Yamin Jana Zahle Zayt Zaytoon Zeitouna
17 298-008 17 292-911 17 533-336 17 531-122
Shawarma 17 131-111 17 725-414 17 224-000 17 280-111 17 100-069 17 697-687 17 360-000 17 566-556 17 506-070 17 744-144 17 312-700 17 311-280 17 229-979 16 033-800 17 746-417 17 312-222 17 365-055
Mexican Casa Mexicana Margarita Mexicana Senor Paco’s Al Zerda
La Perle Sea Chef Seafood Market Waves
17 715-521 17 746-462 17 725-873 16 662-123
Middle Eastern Al Abraaj Al-Bokhari
17 178-090 17 311-186
Leewan Al Khor Melh Alzad Taza Yalla Yalla
16 010-666 17 311-170 17 784-997 17 827-999
Shawarma Express Zahlawiya
17 729-922 17 710-051
Steak Houses Klouds Le Sauvage Meat + Fire Legendz Plums The Butcher Shop & Grill The Meat Co
17 360-000 16 000-000 17 227-777 17 580-000 17 172-323 17 742-080
Thai Baan Saeng Thai Banana Leaf Lanna Thai I Am Thai Orchid Thai Royal Thai Shada Thai Express Thailand Wang Thai
17 715-775 17 744-171 17 593-940 77 040-454 17 296-660 17 746-421 17 721-155 17 506-070 17 717-040 17 710-771
Turkish Iskenderun Grill Kosebasi Turkish Mashawi Express
17 292-950 17 172-322 17 002-939
Italian Bice Ristorante Café Italia Caffe Spasso Carino’s Italian Grill Cico’s Cucina Italiana Fiamma Gusto Italiano Justapasta La Pergola La Taverna Luigi's Restaurant & Pizza Masso Medzo Mia Mia Mino’s Pizzeria Mondo Nino Oliveto Pasta Art Pastarito Ristoranti Prego Primavera Roma Romano’s Macaroni Grill Vapiano
17 533-666 17 744-774 17 822-274 17 587-878 17 713-710 17 001-317 17 636-363 17 695-556 17 581-919 17 506-070 17 746-419 17 229-979 17 693-533 17 721-061 17 227-777 17 564-414 17 744-777 17 525-484 17 566-555 17 716-747 17 001-750 17 179-300 17 751-263 17 580-000 17 725-885 17 723-818 17 491-391
Japanese Bushido Edo Frangipani Fuji Sushi Bar Hakisushi Kei Maki Mirai Sato Sugoi Sumo Sushi & Bento Sushi 101 Yo! Sushi
172 October 2013
17 524-579 17 369-269 17 811-511 17 580-600 16 010-166 17 746-431 17 555-989
Korean
17 583-555 17 290-945 17 582-422 17 533-383 17 725-638 17 533-000 17 522-733 17 713-113 17 746-429 17 178-748 17 718-090 17 822-274 17 583-373
Moroccan Momo Le Marrakech
17 180-659 17 003-273
Pizza Domino's Little Caesars Margherita Pizza and Pasta Metro Pizza Papa John’s Pick a Pizza Pizza Express Pizza Hut Pizza Inn Pizzabella The Pizza Company
17 826-222 17 179-400 17 723-133 17 794-000 17 581-516 17 720-929 16 010-524 17 711-113 17 811-666 17 827-133 17 811-830
Polynesian Trader Vic’s
Seafood Asia Sea Food Far East Seafood Market Fish Market La Marine La Mer
17 224-466 17 727-230 17 701-201 17 595-775 17 636-411
Quick Service Restaurants Burger King Burgerland Chickey’s Chicking DQ Grill & Chill Elevation Burger EZ Take out Burger Fatburger Hardee’s Herfy Jasmi’s Kentucky Fried Chicken Kudu New York Fries McDonald’s Pollo Campero
17 506-070 17 713-778 17 257-778 17 200-040 17 506-070 17 587-828 17 241-111 17 131-414 17 178-084 17 243-115 17 727-887 17 711-111 17 717-542 17 178-436 17 221-722 17 161-716
Eating Out listings
Note: Whilst every effort is made to cover all leading restaurant outlets in Bahrain, the details listed are based upon replies to our survey. BTM cannot accept any responsibility or liability for inaccurate information: we recommend you check with the restaurant to reconfirm their listing.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
afterdarkthismonth
A Hybrid Form elma bartholomew A new nightclub has come to the rescue of those of us who have grown tired of bar hopping in the usual after dark venues. Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa in Seef has begun to unveil its outlets. Among the first is Ibrida, the five-star property’s nightlife venue. One of the biggest nightclubs in the Kingdom, this venue sets a new beat for the party crowd. If you want to kick your heels up, let your hair down and dance until dawn, then this is the place to be. From a glittering dance floor to an intimate lounge area, Ibrida boasts several separate venues within its walls. Move up to the deck to find the lounge area with just as much energy and opportunities to dance. This premier club boasts a sophisticated design that is chic and minimalist. The focal point, after the large stage and dance floor, is the grand bar, which is as remarkable as it is stylish. The venue features a perfect balance of mirrors and urbane lighting. Other eye candy decor includes the booths and wall units, balancing the modern with the rustic. From the DJ booth, expect to hear hip hop, rock and house music formats, which are spun nightly. One thing that makes Ibrida so alluring is its amazing resident band. Experience good music and get dancing to the beats of Tune In. Also this month
Options abound no matter what you’re after — Latino, reggaeton, top hits, hip-hop or the ‘50s. You will join in the action. The live performance on the saxophone and hand-held drums draws a crowd ready to move on the dance floor. Steering away from what one would call a typical setting, Ibrida features a blend of light, sound and flavour. Multi-award winning master mixologist M Fadli takes over the bar, creating unique cocktails. Bringing years of expertise in the clubbing industry to our shores, he introduces Bahrain’s party-goers to new beverages. If you aren’t the livewire kind and would rather spend an evening of relaxation, opt to be seated in their dining area. Prime Australian steaks that are cooked to your preference are reason enough to stay for dinner. Ibrida has flown in a Japanese chef directly from Tokyo to keep the bar bites and meals authentic. Their calendar of promotions include ladies’ nights, unlimited drinks on Tuesdays, early dining deals and happy hours with 25 percent off on orders made between 8 and 10pm. This new addition to the club scene in Bahrain can accommodate up to 1000 people. Advance booking is advised for larger groups to guarantee their tables. While ladies can enter for free, gents need to pay an entry fee of BD10, inclusive of a free drink. If you’re looking for a high-energy and high-class club-of-allclubs, you won’t want to miss the fun at Ibrida. E Call 17 111-972 or follow Facebook.com\ibridabahrain.com.
174 x Happenings - 176 x Happenings Halloween - 180 x New Bands - 184 x Theme Nights
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When? Throughout October Event? Oktoberfest Venue? Mezzanine Lounge, Kempinski Hotel Bavarian food and beverages are the flavour of the month. E Call 17 171-000. When? October 10-11 Event? Hawaiian festival Venue? The Warbler The Irish pub dons tropical garb for a fun evening. E Call 38 381-631. When? October 11 Event? Beach party Venue? Club Buffalo, Ramee California Its sand and surf all the way at this saloon’s beach party. E Call 17 826-001. When? October 25 Event? French wine festival Venue? Tapas, Sofitel Hotel Enjoy exquisite French wines on the patio by the sea. E Call 17 636-363
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A Night at the Beach
Club Buffalo
From beer bravado to sandy surprises, the party roster of the month offers a variety that will keep your after-dark hours filled with action.
Join the surf and sand mania at ‘Summer at Shore’, a beach theme bash organised at Club Buffalo on October 11. The Western saloon turns into a sunny shack with an unlimited drinks supply for BD20. Live in action, Intempo and DJ Paul Rees churn out tunes that keep you dancing throughout the night. Ladies get the unlimited offer on cocktails and wine from 9pm till 1am for only BD3. The Warbler hosts a Hawaiian Festival on October 10 and
11 featuring beach décor, hula music and dance, a special food menu and tropical cocktails. Look forward to fun games and contests, and authentic entertainment by artists from Hawaii. Chillout under the stars with live music by the beach on October 18 at The Eclipse Party at the Al Dar Islands. Live bands and DJs from all over the region set the stage ablaze. Dance away to energetic bass-lines and twisted tunes as the thumping music continues all night.
bystanderthismonth
Scorpions Tribute Show Scorpions fans were treated to two nights of the rock band's music with tribute band In Trance. The band played some the greatest hits of the Scorpions at Rocky's Cafe, Ramee International Hotel, Juffair last month
In Trance in action
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Corners Sports Bar
The Bavarian ball Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel brings you a slice of October festivities with the Oktoberfest for the entire month! Come to Mezzanine Lounge for a taste of Germany with traditional veal sausage, potato salad and sauerkraut and of course the original Weissbier. The Gulf Hotel hosts their version of this themed attraction on October 3 and 4, bringing out the best of food, ales and famous folk band Lasterbacher Musikanten. Tickets are available at the hotel lobby and are inclusive of a lunch or dinner.
Midnight bites Enjoy an evening of exotic wine, gourmet bites and cheese while listening to live entertainment from Christian and Antonina at the Tapas Restaurant and Bar at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa. The event is on Friday October 25 from 8-11pm for BD15 per person. The entire menu at the Vesuvio Mediterranean Bar has been redesigned and updated with a wider range of pub meals and dishes to suit every taste. Ranging from the usual favourites to some exclusive dishes by international chefs in the kitchen, here’s a gastronomic delight for your after-work rendezvous. The happy hours at the bar apply from 5-8pm, seven days a week, offering great deals on beverages. Corners Sports Bar at the Dragon Hotel & Resort has enhanced its menu with the introduction of some new classic dishes to complement the existing popular range of bar food.
New on the deck DJ Tin Tin spins out the latest from the UK underground at Kicks this month onwards. A great entertainer, he plays the latest hits and loves interacting with the crowd. Bahrain’s English club The Warbler has a new resident entertainer; DJ Francis from Philippines. Drop in for a night of killer tunes and a taste of Britain in your own neighbourhood.
Tapas Restaurant and Bar
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Inter-Hotel Bowling Tournament The Gulf Hotel hosted an InterHotel Bowling Tournament with eleven hotels participating in the event. The tournament was held at the Fun Land Bowling Center last month
Volker, Heinz, Neman, Michael, Ian & Ned
Leilani & Michael
Katrine, Maria, Cynthia, Ryzza, Mona, Lavina & Cora
Ian McKie in action
Heinz with the Moevenpick Hotel team
Haribabu, Lito & Lahiru
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afterdarkhalloweenhappenings The Dark Night Rises
The Dark Night Rises For those who’ve grown out of the trick-or-treating phase of life, this quirky holiday spells plenty of ghoulish fun. Happy Halloween!
Donning the garb of a haunted haven, The Coral Bay Club’s Halloween Project presents two Ministry of Sound resident DJs, Michael Woods and Shane Patrick. Inviting you for a Blood Fest is The Warbler with fun games, a horror show and lots of spooky surprises. Enjoy the themed canapés and unlimited drinks for BD20 per person at Club Buffalo’s Zombie Night. Club F1’s spooky party features a Jägermeister promotion along with a set three course dinner menu and free house beverages for BD10. The crazy costume party at Bizarre Lounge, at the Kempinski Ixir Hotel, offers blood shots, tombstones and electrifying music by Resident DJ Mysterioo Arif. Join the Ghosts & Ghouls at Kicks for a bloody masquerade featuring non-stop entertainment by resident DJ TinTin. Come prepared for there are prizes for the scariest and funniest costumes. Zombies attack at Davy Crockett’s where resident band Elevate, DJ Cobus and cocktail promotions make it a night to remember. The Harvesters at Crowne Plaza throws a fun costume-bash. The ladies enjoy two complementary drinks and there are free ‘Fireballs’, the club’s spicy canapés, for all. A beachside graveyard at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Hotel offers a chilling Halloween experience. Entertaining the crowd is Swiss DJ Oliver Shine and two Bahraini DJs. For BD35, the night includes ten beverages and food from the grill. JJ’s Irish Pub and Restaurant’s bash promises an Absolutely Terror-Rific time with resident band The Noise and DJ Leeward on the decks. The party starts from 9pm and entry is free.
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Scorpions Tribute At Club Buffalo Club Buffalo at the Ramee California Hotel in Juffair played host to a night of rock mania with In Trance, a Scorpions tribute band last month
In Trance rocks the house
Bryan & Antony
The Noise
JJ’S IRISH PUB AND RESTAURANT
Absolutely Terror-ific The entertainment at this popular Irish pub just gets more potent. Electrifying tunes and a much louder noise deliver this year’s Halloween bash!
One of the most popular night-out venues in Bahrain, JJ’s Irish Pub and Restaurant boasts a great entertainment line-up along with a large selection of English and Irish bar food. The resident band, The Noise, now has some new members to enhance an already versatile sound. A new face, DJ Leeward, takes on the deck, spinning international chartbusters that keep you going on the dance floor. At the end of this month is, of course, Halloween, and JJ’s promises an ‘Absolutely Terror-rific’ time. From pumpkin heads to broomsticks, the venue has it all. Just come dressed for the occasion and show off your creativity as there are prizes to be won. The bash starts at 9pm and entry is free. Make more noise One of the island’s most popular cover bands, The Noise has been rocking at JJ’s since last year. The band now presents a stronger, five-member line-up which comprises Josephine, James, Tammy, Khylie and Scott. With powerful vocals, strong rhythm section, infectious guitar riffs and solos, the band entertains a packed house almost every night. Each member doubles up as the ‘front-man’ so the range of music is immense with some outstanding harmonies. This is their fourth line-up since they arrived in Bahrain. A mix of British and South African musicians, they are the most recent winners of Bahrain’s Battle of the Bands competition. This energetic quintet throws some original twists into the music that you want to hear, making their covers truly original.
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Their ever-expanding set is varied in genre and the addition of new songs every week keeps things fresh and up to date. Bending Leeward The newest member in JJ’s entertainment set is DJ Leeward, who grew up in South London and started MCing with his friends at house parties and under-18 clubs. He’s been mixing tunes since he was a teen with a friend while he saved the money to buy his own vinyl decks. His first professional DJ experience was at Es Vive Hotel in Ibiza, at 21, which gave him a taste of the international music scene. On that is quite different from London. With time, his talent and passion got him more gigs until a record label, Spin City, signed him and he began producing music for an Internet radio station. When he discovered the position of resident DJ at JJ’s was available, he jumped at the opportunity to come to Bahrain. E Call 39 329-083.
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CORAL BAY
Ministry of Haunted Sounds Known to deliver great entertainment throughout the year, this venue by the bay leaves no pumpkin unturned to give you an unforgettable Halloween experience.
Revel in a night of spine-tingling, glamorous and ghoulish fun at the invitation of the Ministry of Sound (MOS) Halloween Project at Coral Bay. The year’s most-awaited costume party on October 31 gets even wilder with headlining MOS DJs taking you on a night-long trip where no move is too dangerous for the dance floor. An electrifying line-up The club will fly in a star MOS DJ, Shane Patrick for the event. In 2012, the UK club introduced three new residents with the potential to become internationally acclaimed music artists. In just a year’s time, they have exceeded all expectations. MOS discovered Shane Patrick in a competition it ran with Data Transmission. He was soon announced as the club’s new resident and is known for his distinct sound and understanding of both underground and mainstream music. Having already had his tracks picked up by Roger Sanchez, the DJ and producer now enjoys a dedicated fan following. Shane is following in the footsteps of MOS prodigy Michael Woods, who is now a global superstar within dance music with residencies not just in the UK but all over the world. He released his debut album last year featuring a selection of his own released tracks and four exclusive ones produced especially for the CD. He has produced tracks for the English rapper, Example, which became chartbusters and got him award nominations. This electrifying act by the beach is not to be missed amid. Don’t forget to find a costume that blends in with the theme for the night. The party starts at 9pm and is priced at BD5 per person.
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Shane Patrick
Party by the bay Situated on the clear waters of the Arabian Gulf, the club is a popular destination for relaxation, adventure and entertainment. From F1 parties, international concerts to weekly entertainment by local artists, it is the centre for great entertainment. MOS DJs Tim Cullen and Coral Bay’s resident DJ Dave Hayes hosted a magical evening last month and ‘Chilled Out Tuesdays’ is another popular attraction. The club has a marina, a beach, fully equipped gym, a lounge, a Lebanese restaurant, Rayés, and hosts some of Bahrain’s most popular parties. E Call 39 557-687
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SOFITEL BAHRAIN ZALLAQ THALASSA SEA & SPA
Ghouls Just Want to Have Fun!
with two Bahraini DJs, the tempo of the evening doesn’t drop until the full orange moon has risen high, out of the Arabian Gulf. The month’s popular beer fest is dressed for the holiday as well. This event features more than 25 brands of international brews. The beer stations are provided by the BMMI group while the hotel dishes out its tantalising best. Join the intoxicating masquerade at BD35 per person, which includes ten brews or soft drinks and food from the grill. Those who wish to party till the very end; a room package is available at BD150. This includes a luxury room, breakfast for two, as well as entrance to the party with vouchers for ten brews or soft drinks. The hotel expects over 400 people to attend the event.
DJ Oliver Shine
Get together for a spooky night by the beach, featuring an international artist, at one of the island’s prime five-star properties.
www.bahrainthismonth.com
Here’s a celebration that combines the best of October. A beach party, organised by Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa, puts Halloween costume drama into the October beer fest. Watch out for loads of ghostly tricks and a free-flowing supply of ales at this ultimate blow-out. Get your costume, pose and designated driver in order! The hotel creates a perfect setting for the haunted holiday by the beach, which is being transformed into a graveyard. Dress to impress — the scarier the better. From pirates to princesses, bloodthirsty vampires and creatures of the occult, everyone descends for a night-long megafeast on October 31. Swiss DJ Oliver Shine gets behind the deck and spins out the latest selection of popular to underground tracks. Collaborating
A unique venue With its pristine location and expansive structure, Sofitel provides a one-of-a-kind setting for any event. The beach, a stunning ballroom and private island can host magnificent events, weddings and parties. The 262 luxurious rooms and suites offer state-of-the-art amenities and breathtaking sea views. This is also the only five-star property in the GCC that boasts an authentic Thalassa Sea and Spa. This spectacular new seawater spa hotel and resort blends French art de vivre with traditional Bahraini styles. Its army of gourmet restaurants lays down a variety of cuisine in plush surroundings, making your dine-outs much more special. The hotel regularly introduces promotional offers on stay, dining, activities and spa with a number of loyalty programmes, so you can sample a taste of fine French hospitality for great value. E Call 17 636-363.
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afterdarknewbands
The eye Candies
City Soundcheck With the changing season, new beats delivering pulsating rhythms are to be heard from entertainment venues around the Kingdom.
Here’s our round-up at Bahrain This Month of the new bands that you can find having taken up residence at your favourite hotspots. A Bulgarian female duo takes charge of the entertainment at the Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre’s Mezzanine Lounge. Friends Band. Consisting of singers Yana and Hristina, they cover a wide range of music from 50s rock and roll classics to modern hits covering genres including jazz, evergreen, country, soul, reggae, Latin and pop. At Club F1, Girlz Ink will enthral audiences with their powerful combination of music, dance and lots of glamour. The eight-member group from the Philippines delivers an exiting performance — not to be missed. Another all-girl band that is fast becoming the toast of the town is The Eye Candies at The Harvesters, Crowne Plaza. Their performance is a thrilling display of energy and talent. Expect to get a taste of the latest R&B hits together with retro, jazz, and their signature bossa nova beats, all in one evening. One of the island’s oldest Irish pubs, The Warbler at Ramee Baisan Hotel, introduces Soundphoria. This vibrant act covers music from pop, rock, reggae and hip-hop. Having performed in
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In Tempo
a number of Asian and Middle Eastern countries, the band looks forward to entertaining the audiences here. At Elite Resort & Spa’s Waikiki Poolside Bar the entertainment is provided by The Fusion Box. With a play-list that includes retro to latest hits, they deftly infuse music into your evenings out. One of island’s favourite night-time venues, Club Buffalo at Ramee California, has brought in a seven-member European band In Tempo. They play every night from 9pm onwards. The band performs all-time favourites to current hits and is already popular with audiences.
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Davy Crockett’s at Hotel Diva in Juffair boasts an international seven-piece line-up, variously hailing from Canada, Germany and South Africa, called Elevate. Performing six nights a week, the band even allows you to take the lead singer’s spot, on the popular Monday night, live-oak sessions. Featuring rapper Sammy Dee alongside Rush from Cape Town and multilingual singer Leyla. Muju at the Dragon Hotel & Resort, Amwaj Islands, is the new address of Jamelo & Sariefa, The Jazzy Duo. The two perform every night and during the Friday brunch, building a relaxed atmosphere to suit all occasions. Visit Enigma at the Windsor Tower Hotel to see XOP (Extra Ordinary People) in action. Performing every night, the band's original line-up features DJ Worship on Sundays. Jazzing up your evenings at Block 338 in Adliya is the resident band True Blue. Guitarist Adel and vocalist Ahmed build up their melodic magic every night from 7.45pm onwards. A Latino group, Barek Trio, enlivens the evenings at the Flamingo Bar and Lounge at Mövenpick Hotel. Featuring pianist Bairon, drummer Angela and bassist Doly, the band has over ten years of experience, performing across the Middle East and Europe. A six-piece line-up Cinderella Rockafella performs daily at the Downtown Bar of the Intercontinental Regency Hotel. This talented group of musicians bring together the richness of their diverse ethnic backgrounds. Having performed extensively in their native countries and around the world they are all set to take the island by storm. Adding further heat to your salsa affair at Pars International’s Latin Quarter is the resident band Barbarossa. An electrifying fusion of Latin, disco and reggae beats; they create a lively atmosphere for your margarita nights out.
Friends
The Vesuvio Mediterranean Bar at Best Western Plus Olive Hotel, Juffair, receives a musical make-over as well. The Vesuvio Trio is a highly entertaining and energetic group of singers and performers. Along with a wide range of music the group is known for interacting with the audience. Dublin at Ramee International is where you can witness the entertaining set of seven-member ensemble SOS (Sounds of Soul). This international group plays an eclectic array of tunes ranging from rock to salsa, R&B, hip-hop and reggae. When in the mood for some unplugged melody, head to Casa Terrace at the Mercure Grand Hotel. The Flamingos, an Egyptian duo, strums beautiful instrumental music that forms a calming backdrop to your evenings. Performing Thursdays and Fridays, catch them in action from 6pm to 9pm. Innovations, a Filipino band, takes to the stage at Al Nada Lounge at The Sheraton. Playing the latest hits by your favourite artists, they deliver an energetic performance every day of the week except Saturdays. Rockey's Cafe gets a new seven member line up called Goove Line. From retro hits to current chartbusters, they deliver the comple package.
Soundphoria
Dublin
RAMEE GROUP OF HOTELS
Party Mania Some of Kingdom’s favourite hotspots offer a great mix of entertainment, attractive deals and themed events throughout the month.
If you still got sand in your shoes from your beach holiday, be sure to attend the ‘Summer at Shore’ theme party at Club Buffalo on Friday, October 11, 2013. Bring out your bikini tops and beach T-shirts; the affair brings the best of summer fun into your night out. With tantalising fare and flirty cocktails, here’s an event that gets the surf right into this country den. Dance the night away and drink all you can for BD20. A Hawaiian Festival has been organised for October 10 and 11 at The Warbler. Come in for a taste of tropics complete with tiki elements, hula music and special food and wine. There are interactive games and artists specially flying in from Hawaii to entertain you. Get into the groove Rocky’s Café welcomes its new in-house band ‘Groove Line’ to buzz your boots with high energy performances night after night. A potent mix of seven versatile members, they tear the stage with their explosive act and dramatic range. The band successfully adapts to a variety of moods, be it a laid back lounge or a high-voltage dance floor. With an expansive repertoire, they can cover your favourite classics and the latest hits with equal ease, moving seamlessly through a number of music styles. The entertainment at the club alternates between the band and the in-house DJ Dan from the UK.
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The Warbler
A spook-tacular affair! Calling all creatures of the night is Club Buffalo’s Halloween themed Zombie Night on Thursday, October 31, 2013. Drop-in for the ultimate gore-galore at the year’s most coveted costume party. Themed canapés and drinks make the night even more fun. Keep a close watch on your company for there’s an unlimited supply of drinks for just BD20. The resident band Intempo and DJ Paul Rees take charge of the entertainment, churning out the latest tunes to keep you going all night. Come prepared for a Blood-fest at The Warbler for an exciting masquerade party. Themed decor, cocktails and fiery bites turn spooks into fun. Be creative when dressing up; the best (or rather the worst) dressed goes home with goodies. A horror show is the highlight of the evening. Dublin Club turns into a house-of-horrors as well for the holiday. There are a number of promotions on drinks and lots of contests and prizes. The Jägermeister girls join the scare-scape at Club F1, doing the rounds with Jäger-shots. The club’s in-house band, Girlz Ink and DJ Ryan bring the house down as you enjoy a three-course meal with a free house-beverage. E Call 17 310-687.
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afterdarkthemenights sunday What: Sports & Shots Where: The Warbler, Ramee Baisan A single shot goes a long way here. Unlimited drinks for BD9.9. E Call 38 381-631. What: FBI Night Where: Harvesters, Crowne Plaza For those in hospitality industry, the menu is offered at half price. E Call 17 531-122. What: Quiz Night Where: JJ’s Irish Pub & Restaurant Take part in the famous JJ’s quiz and win prizes for each round. E Call 17 742-323. What: Hop Fest Where: Block 338 Restaurant, Lounge & Garden Unlimited brews and a lavish buffet at BD9++ from 7 to 10 pm. E Call 39 159-912.
What: Grape Fest Where: Block 338 Restaurant, Lounge & Garden Grape tasting with cheese and vegies for BD8.5++ from 7-10 pm. E Call 39 159-912. What: Microphone Madness Where: JJ’s Irish Pub and Restaurant One of island’s popular theme nights; free shot for every singer. E Call 17 742-323. What: Live-Oke Where: Davy Crockett’s, Hotel Diva Here’s your chance to sing with the band live on stage. E Call 39 046-715
tuesday What: Candy Night Where: Zodiac Lounge, Elite Grande Dine in a candy shop! Colours pop in the decor and on plates. E Call 36 020-750.
What: Jam Nights Where: Downtown, InterContinental Regency Jam with the band and receive a free drink. E Call 17 227-777
What: Boys Night Out Where: The Warbler, Ramee Baisan Enjoy a 20 percent off on Bullfrog and bucket beer for BD9.9. E Call 38 381-631.
What: Spiritual Sundays Where: Davy Crockett’s, Hotel Diva Enjoy a fun-filled evening with special offers on all house spirits. E Call 39 046-715
What: Cocktail Night Where: Harvesters, Crowne Plaza Happy hours continue; buy one get one free offer on all drinks. E Call 17 531-122.
t
What: Games Night Where: Kicks, Hotel Diva Pool, darts, board games and extended happy hours. E Call 39 922-583.
monday
What: Nostalgic Night Where: The Warbler, Ramee Baisan Not only music makes you nostalgic but the reduced prices too. E Call 38 381-631.
wednesday
What: Becks Jam Nite Where: Club Buffalo, Ramee California Rock out on stage with the band and get a free Becks pint. E Call 17 826-001.
What: Drink and Sing Where: Zodiac Lounge, Elite Grande Free drinks for the best voice in this multilingual Karaoke Night E Call 36 020-750.
What: Sushi Night Where: Muju, The Dragon Sushi platter with unlimited select beverages at BD14. E Call 16 033-833.
What: Pint and Jam Night Where: The Warbler, Ramee Baisan Jam with the in-house band and enjoy four pints of beer @ BD9.9. E Call 38 381-631.
What: Paellas Night Where: Waikiki, Elite Resort & Spa Sea Food and Paellas made from freshest ingredients and rice. E Call 17 313-333.
What: Premium Promo Where: Club Buffalo, Ramee California Enjoy a selection of premium spirits and mixers for BD2. E Call 33 731-000.
What: Karaoke Nights Where: Shift 7, Elite Resort & Spa Sing the night away while pouring drinks with your close mates. E Call 17 313-000.
What: 4 Pint Pitcher Night Where: Harvesters, Crowne Plaza Quench your thirst with discounts on all pitchers at the bar. E Call 17 531-122.
What: Karaoke Night Where: Corners, The Dragon Resort Partake in the growing madness around the mic with each drink. E Call 16 031-113.
What: Karaoke Night Where: Champions Lounge, The K Hotel Enjoy a game of darts and pool or even sing your favourite song. E Call 36 249-807.
What: Quiz & Curry Night Where: Kicks, Hotel Diva Join the fun as you test your GK and enjoy some hot Indian curries. E Call 39 922-583.
saturday
What: Brainiac's Fun Quiz Night Where: Corners, The Dragon Resort Fun-filled trivia quiz with prizes galore — free entry. E Call 16 031-113.
thursday What: Hot Grill Night Where: Zodiac Lounge, Elite Grande Live barbecue stations dish out a wide buffet of tantalising treats. E Call 36 020-750. What: Steak Night Where: The Warbler, Ramee Baisan Order your favourite prime cuts and get a pint of beer free. E Call 38 381-631. What: Thursday Night Grills Where: Waikiki, Elite Resort & Spa A meat bazaar with marinades of your choice for BD12. E Call 17 313-333. What: Karaoke Night Where: Kicks, Hotel Diva Start the weekend with a spirited singalong with friends. E Call 39 922-583.
friday What: Drink and Sing Where: Zodiac Lounge, Elite Resort & Spa Free drinks for the best voice in this multilingual Karaoke Night. E Call 36 020-750.
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What: Retro Night Where: Zodiac Lounge, Elite Resort & Spa Sway to some classic tunes as you drink in some retro magic. E Call 36 020-750. What: Sports & Shots & Warbler Nightingale Where: The Warbler, Ramee Baisan Get a bucket beer for BD9.9 with nightlong Karaoke. E Call 38 381-631. What: Karaoke Nights Where: Shift 7, Elite Resort & Spa Sing the night away with your buddies and smashing cocktails. E Call 17 313-333. What: Cocktail Night Where: Harvesters, Crowne Plaza Continuing happy hours; get buyone-get-one-free on all drinks. E Call 17 531-122. What: Chill Out Saturday Where: Waikiki, Elite Resort & Spa Enjoy soothing music and BBQ preparations by the pool. E Call 17 313-333.
What: Jazz Night Where: Block 338 Restaurant, Lounge & Garden An evening of acoustic jazz with the in-house band True Blue. E Call 17 710-338. What: Hoteliers’ Night Where: Downtown, InterContinental Regency Flash your card for a discount if part of the hospitality industry. E Call 17 227-777.
bystanderthismonth
Mitesh Get Together Mitesh Mistry hosted a get together for his friends Kinjal & Vimal from the UK, who were on a visit to Bahrain as part of their honeymoon. The get together was held at Trader Vic's, Ritz-Carlton Bahrain, Hotel & Spa last month
Mitesh & Nivita
Kinjal & Vimal
Mitesh, Nivita, Kinjal, Vimal & Vineeth
Lini Lal's Birthday Party Lini Lal celebrated her bithday with a number of her friends at Maggie's Cafe in Adliya last month
Abish & Lini
Waleed
Fawaz
Ego State Therapy Seminar A foundation training seminar in Ego State Therapy and further training toward becoming a Clinical Ego State Therapist, was held by Dr Gordon Emmerson at the British Club last month. The four-day seminar was organised by Dr Puja Taneja Malhotra of Esho Funi Consultants WLL
Dr Gordon Emmerson
Dr Puja Malhotra & Dr Gordon
Dr Gordon, Christal & Zedenka
Dana
Dr Puja Malhotra & Dr Gordon Emmerson with participants
Goans Football Summer Fiesta The BARSAL (Bardez & Salcette) boys held a prize giving and entertaining evening to celebrate the success of the Goans Football Summer Fiesta at the Sea Shell Hotel in Adliya last month
Maxy, Fr Anthony, Vincent & Francis
Dilma & Savio
Poonam, Biju, Jeff, DJ Chocolate & Dipti
Peter, Nisha & Caji
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An Oriental Touch Rasasi Perfumes have launched a unique extension to its La Yuqawam Oriental collection with the all-new Orchid Prairie and Tobacco Blaze series. Available at Rasasi Perfumes.
Narcotic Scents Living a sporty lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to compromise on sophisticated timepieces. This watch from Technomarine is an ideal companion for festive nights along the French Riviera. Available at A La Mode.
For Art’s Sake Louis Vuitton collaborates with FrancoTunisian street artist eL Seed. The same poetic and fluid ‘calligraffiti’ messages that made him popular in the world of urban art can be seen in this pieces. Available at Louis Vuitton.
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What’s New Edited by Maryam Toorani
The Charmer Some of the finest ingredients of perfumery craftsmanship give life to Versace Pour Homme Noir Oud, designed for lovers of oriental scents. The intense and regal composition consists of spicy notes with a deep scent of leather. Available at leading retailers.
Dream Nursery The furniture from Mamas & Papas is thoughtfully designed and beautifully crafted. It comes with a promise of quality and durability. Make a statement with a distinct modern feel or create a calm and cosy traditional look. Available at Mamas & Papas.
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marketplace
OMEGA
Underwater Adventures From the development of the first true dive watch in 1932 to the sponsorship of an acclaimed environmental film, this luxury timepiece brand’s connection to water bodies is deeply rooted.
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It is Omega’s enduring and rich maritime legacy that inspired the creation of the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M GoodPlanet. This is an innovative wristwatch that serves as a tribute to the GoodPlanet Foundation and the positive work it does for our environment and underwater ecosystems. It features a bold blue lacquered dial with applied indexes. The polished and facetted rhodium-plated hour and seconds hands and aluminium-fashioned GMT hand are coated with white Super-LumiNova which emits a blue light. The rhodium-plated minute hand emits a green light, as does
the dot on the diving bezel. There is a date window at the three o’clock position. A domed scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, enhanced with antireflective treatment on both sides, protects the dial from damage above and below the water’s surface. The bright orange GMT scale on the bezel ring and central GMT hand make it possible to track two separate time zones. This makes it ideal for the frequent traveller, who enjoys taking in the beauty of the oceans, lakes and rivers first-hand. The caseback features a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, making it possible to see Omega’s revolutionary technology within.
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Time, day and date The watches in Omega’s Seamaster Aqua Terra collection have established themselves as some of the brand’s most distinguished. With timeless styling, they live up to their name. They are equally at home on the decks of boats and on dry land. This year, Omega is proud to introduce new Aqua Terra models that include a date window at six o’clock as well as a window at 12 o’clock displaying the day of the week. The day and date indications don’t change gradually but jump instantaneously at midnight. The range of case metal and dial options offered for the DayDate watches gracefully extends the Seamaster Aqua Terra family. You can find it in subtle stainless steel, in classic 18K red gold and in a combination of both. A legend enriched Every watch in the Omega Seamaster family has a distinct link to the sea and the Aqua Terra collection boldly carries on that connection. Like the other Aqua Terra models, the dazzling Day-Date models are water resistant to 15 bar (150 metres/500 feet). With a design that is at once elegant and sporty, the stability offered by one of the world’s finest watch movements and the useful and stylish day and date functions, these new members enhance one of Omega’s most popular watch collections. E Call 17 537-753 (Moda Mall) or 17 100-135 (Bahrain City Centre).
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marketplace
ASIA JEWELLERS
The Sunny Allure The yellow glow makes a come-back in contemporary jewellery with a luxury brand restoring the golden metal’s inherent flamboyance.
Van Cleef & Arpels (VC&A) jewellery, initially available in pink and white gold, now includes new designs in yellow gold. The Perlée collection offers a warm style, inspired by one of the house’s characteristic techniques — golden beads. These beads lend their imagery to a jewellery line that is cheerful and feminine. True to the house’s heritage and flair, they glitter in a range of variations. The VC&A signature, engraved in fine English script, lends a classic elegance to rings and bracelets. In certain creations, diamonds complement the metal, tracing a glittering ribbon or graceful clover motifs. The earrings illuminate your face with a subtle glow while the pendant adds a scintillating point of light to the neckline. The rings with diamond accents bring an elusive blend of glamour and grace to your fingers, while the cuff bracelets, covered entirely with diamonds, employ a snow setting technique. Versatility and charm The sophisticated Perlée designs adapt to every mood and occasion. Different models can be combined with your attire in various combinations, to express a unique and personal style. Mixing yellow with white or pink gold lends contemporary style to the collection, in a vivid arrangement of luminous beads.
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These luxurious accessories can even be paired with other VC&A collections, especially pieces from the Alhambra collection. Decorated with malachite and the signature beaded border, recent Magic Alhambra and Vintage Alhambra ranges bring an interesting contrast with aesthetic overtones. Emblematic style Adorning the house’s creations with their gleam, golden beads have been part of VC&A’s heritage since the 1920s. At that time, a thin thread of textured metal was first used to edge the stones and motifs of certain jewels. This type of setting, achieved by raising the precious metal and shaping it into a ball, was used in Egyptian-style pieces then in fashion. Since then, these yellow beads became part of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and watches of the Couscous collection, inspired by the Arpels’ holiday in Morocco. During the 60s the combination of yellow beads with hard stone or coral beads became a part of Alhambra creations. Whether as decorative elements or fully fledged sources of inspiration, golden beads have continued to illuminate VC&A creations. Most recently, they became part of the Perlée collection’s joyfully feminine style. E Call 17 131-122.
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KEMPINSKI GRAND & IXIR HOTEL
Charge-up Your Senses
A new spa attraction is generating interest across the Kingdom and beyond. Here’s a peep into Bahrain’s largest Turkish hammam.
Samy Ibrahim
The Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel Bahrain City Centre’s Pure Spa has opened the doors to its own take on a traditional spa from Turkey. “We have developed a contemporary version of a traditional hammam that delivers the benefits of age-old treatments in modern settings.” says Samy Ibrahim, Kempinski’s spa and wellness manager. “We only use authentic products and bath accessories brought in from Turkey.” The facility can accommodate up to six people in the main treatment room with ten sitting in the common area. A marbletiled room, which is heated constantly with steam, maintains the temperature between 40-45 degrees Celsius. “We advise out clients to have a counselling session with the therapists, so they can decide upon the most suitable treatment,” adds Samy. “The treatment begins with a dip in one of the three hot plunge pools that prepares your body for what lies ahead. This softens your skin, opens the pores and brings the blood pressure to the required levels.” The basic treatment lasts for 45 minutes and includes a full body scrub with a kese mitt (Turkish loofah) and is followed by a bath. The treatment can last up to 2 hours depending upon the add-on products and services requested by a client. Body masques such as wild honey, Arabic coffee and cream milk are all available. The session ends in a cold bath kept at 12 degrees Celsius that closes the pores and hydrates the body after the steam room experience. Pure indulgence Samy has made a number of innovative changes to the spa since he took charge earlier this year. From the decor to the treatments and customer experience he describes a visit to Pure Spa as “a
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world-class experience in your own neighbourhood”. The dimly lit corridors help your senses to reach a dormant state, which the spa considers is perfect for relaxation. Complemented by aroma therapy candles and soothing music, the ambience is indeed dreamy. Pure Spa’s team of eight therapists receive training at least twice a year from international professionals. The spa uses premium quality organic products, such as Green Bar and Elemental Herbology, and the couples’ treatment room is built as a suite, allowing for complete privacy while enjoying a massage. Having been in the industry for 15 years, Samy brings his experience of working in some of the best spas all around the world. “I can assure our clients they will receive a memorable experience. I want them to leave refreshed and energised for weeks to come,” he adds. E Call 17 171-000.
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marketplace
BATELCO
High Speed for Everyone Streaming videos, downloading songs and surfing the Internet will never be the same with a high-speed 4G mobile network connection.
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A new breed of fast Internet services is here and Batelco offers the Kingdom another first. After the successful launch of their superfast 4G LTE, the telecom operator presents the fastest 4G LTE service for prepaid lines as well. The fourth generation wireless technology is designed to make your online life easier, providing the ultimate experience with amazing download speeds of up to 100Mbps. This service is set to be the talk of the town ensures instant access without waiting, streaming or buffering. An enhanced online gaming experience in addition to superfast download and upload speeds are within easy reach thanks to the new technology. It is also the perfect solution to satisfy the requirements of customers using bandwidth-intensive applications, transforming their digital lifestyles tremendously. An additional benefit that SimSim customers can enjoy is the unlimited calls to Batelco lines for BD4 per month. The service is activated simply by sending the message ‘AM’ to 4554. “Batelco is entering a new era with the delivery of the 4G LTE
service for prepaid customers, who will now have the ability to use their prepaid numbers to access the Internet via our 4G mobile network using their 4G-enabled smartphones,” says Muna Al Hashimi, consumer division general manager at Batelco. To get the service, customers only need to visit any Batelco retail shop and apply for a new 4G LTE SIM card. Batelco is also the first in Bahrain to offer the latest 4G LTE smartphones and devices with different features and price ranges to suit customers’ needs and requirements. These include Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC, Sony Xperia Z, Sony Xperia Ultra, Sony Xperia ZR and Nokia Lumia 625. If you are looking for a postpaid service, the new devices are offered in attractive packages. All customers can subscribe or upgrade any current Batelco postpaid package to 4G LTE. Consumers will be able to benefit from access to a wide range of innovative multimedia applications, products, services and solutions targeted not only at today’s handheld mobile devices, but also to other non-traditional devices. E Call Visit www.batelco.com.
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REDTAG
Seasonal Charm
This popular fashion retailer has unveiled its latest winter collection, keeping you warm and stylish as the leaves begin to turn.
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The new collection from Redtag is a seamless blend of tradition and youthful energy targeted at the value-conscious fashionista. The four main themes of the season for fashion and home decor are Just, Marvel, Migration and Outré. A refined palette grounded in neutrals and understated contrasts ensure the minimalist style of the Just theme. Essential and soulful in its appeal, this range celebrates casual and contemporary comfort wear. Marvel evokes a surreal imagery with heightened senses using multitones and shimmering finishes. Vibrant colours swing in hazy tones from glowing surfaces, creating a dramatic effect. Vital and warm, Migration embodies a balance of nature and craft. Driven by strong craft origins, it explores a raw yet refined aesthetic.
Hinting at over-embellishment and the darker side, Outré inspires a new sensuousness. Dramatic combinations of colours and compelling contrasts give a fresh perception of tactility. “You will see a variety in colours ranging from hot pinks to yellow, warm browns, vivid turquoise and relaxing neutrals,” says Samir Motegheria, country manager of Redtag. “Aside from colours, we have experimented with textures. Fashion and value are not mutually exclusive at our outlets.” Key looks from the winter collection are luxuriously multilayered, rich and contrasting textures for fashion wear and home decor. It has just the right mix of charm, romance and comfort. E Call 17 716-370 (Adliya), 17 556-430 (Bahrain Mall), 17 162-188 (Bahrain City Centre) or 77 001-243 (Enma Mall).
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Dr Isabel Camara Gonzalez
BAHRAIN SPECIALIST HOSPITAL
Understanding Oral Health Did you know that gum disease — an infection of the tissues that surround and support your teeth — is the major cause of tooth loss in adults?
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As it is usually painless and undetectable to the inexperienced eye, patients may not know that they have gum disease. The condition begins with dental plaque, the sticky film of bacteria that is constantly forming on the surfaces of our teeth. Our mouths are colonised by 500 different species micro-organisms. “Gum disease is often silent, meaning symptoms may not appear until it reaches an advanced stage,” says Bahrain Specialist Hospital’s (BSH) periodontics specialist Dr Isabel Camara Gonzalez. “Warning signs include gums that bleed during and after tooth brushing, redness, tenderness, bad breath and bad taste in the mouth. In some cases, gums pull away from the teeth. Formation of deep pockets between the teeth and gums and a change in the way teeth fit together are major red alerts.” Although genetics play a role in the likelihood of developing the disease, other factors can increase your risks. These include poor oral hygiene, smoking or chewing tobacco, crooked teeth that are hard to keep clean, pregnancy, diabetes and even puberty and hormonal fluctuations. There are several stages of gum disease. The early stage, gingivitis, is the mildest form and is an inflammation of the gum tissues caused by dental plaque build-up due to inadequate oral hygiene.
“This causes the gums to become red, swollen and bleed easily. There is usually little discomfort at this stage and it is reversible with professional treatment and good oral home care like daily brushing and flossing,” says Dr Isabel. Untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line, producing toxins that irritate the gum. The toxins stimulate a chronic inflammatory response in which the gums and bone that support the teeth are broken down and destroyed. Gums then separate from the teeth, forming pockets (spaces between the teeth and gums) that become infected. As the disease progresses, the pockets deepen and more gum tissue and bone are destroyed. Often, this destructive process has very mild symptoms. “Eventually teeth can become loose and start moving around in the mouth and may have to be removed,” the doctor says. Since it is possible to have even the severest gum disease without any warning signals, Dr Isabel advises regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations by a specialist. “Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. The sooner you treat it, the better,” she adds. E Call 17 812-000.
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VIVA
Get Up to Date Hold on to your seats techno-geeks. The Samsung Note 3, Samsung Gear and Nokia Lumia 925 are now on the market.
With the launch of three of the most anticipated high-tech gadgets, VIVA Bahrain has made it easy to stay up to date with the latest products from the biggest names in technology today. Android fans can now be the first to get their hands on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch. A radical rethinking of the brand’s traditional Note device, Galaxy Note 3 comes with a larger display and a 13-megapixel camera. The Android-powered Galaxy Gear Smartwatch is designed to be an accessory for your smartphone that can power apps, display and send email, text messages and social media updates. It can even make and receive calls with its 1.63-inch display screen. VIVA and Intercol, the authorised partner for Nokia in Bahrain, have teamed up to exclusively introduce the slim and lightweight smartphone with PureView technology — the Nokia Lumia 925. This addition to VIVA’s portfolio of devices is powered by the Windows 8 operating system and introduces a metal design. The new features include the latest camera innovations and third-party applications. The devices are available with VIVA through a range of flexible plans designed to suit every customer’s personal needs. E Call 124 or email www.viva.com.bh.
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Team Fraser Suites with the Best Guest Review award
FRASER SUITES BAHRAIN
Excellence Rewarded One of the Kingdom’s leading serviced apartments and hotel residences receives another honour for its consistently good service.
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Located in the heart of the city, Fraser Suites Bahrain received the ‘Best Guest Review’ award from one of the leading online travel agencies www.booking.com. The website accords this honour each year to properties with an average score of 8 or above, out of a possible total of 10, given in an online guest review. The luxury apartments scored a high average of 8.7. “We are delighted with both the award and with the exceptionally high level of satisfaction amongst guests who stay with us,” says Juliana Mateva, director of sales, Fraser Suites. The property is just an easy stroll from leading businesses and corporate venues, designer stores, restaurants and entertainment options.
A Complete package You can choose from 90 deluxe studios, one-, two- or threebedroom suites, or treat yourself to a plush penthouse at the five-star apartments. The rooms offer panoramic views of the city's skyline and Arabian Gulf. Facilities include a 24-hour concierge and security, a kids’ club, spa, salon and gym, highspeed Internet, outdoor pool and Jacuzzi and a private car park with valet service. The venue is built to cater to the needs of both the single traveller and families. “Kids specially love the wading pool and the Fraser Kids Club playroom. They can even be entertained at Seef Mall’s Magic Island theme park and a 16-screen cinema complex,” adds Juliana.
Rave reviews Customers rate the venue based upon their level of satisfaction with service and facilities. “I was extremely pleased with the facilities; free, tented parking on the sixth floor, full kitchenette and two large bathrooms in a three-bedroom apartment. The pool is a great attraction for kids,” says Tamim from Kuwait in his review of the property on booking.com. The proximity to Seef Mall is an added advantage. Fraser Suites is the recipient of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for 2013 as well. “We are grateful that customers are rewarding our efforts. Our staff takes utmost care in delivering the most comfortable stay to the guests and such accolades encourage us to do even better,” Juliana adds.
Business benefits The property also serves as an impressive business venue with four meeting rooms. Each is fitted with state-of-the-art equipment including LCD projectors, screens, flipcharts, microphones and more. The Onyx seminar or function room can host a group of 60 people. Offering an intimate setting for up to 16 people, the Pearl Boardroom is an appropriate venue for small training sessions, job interviews and board meetings, while the Turquoise Boardroom can host up to four guests in stylish comfort. In addition, the Gallery Lounge is a chic space with sea views, hosting up to 60 people, and can be used for presentations and cocktail receptions. E Call 17 569-333.
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AXA INSURANCE
Be Safe, Stay Covered Your most valuable asset, your home, is also the most vulnerable. You need to make sure you are covered against theft, vandalism and natural disasters.
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Paying for home insurance may seem like an additional expense until the time you actually need it. In fact, it’s not just for the home but also your family; house contents and every prized possession need to be fortified against damage or loss due to any catastrophe such as fire, theft or other natural disasters. AXA Gulf is playing a pivotal role in reinforcing the need for home insurance. “Our Home Insurance product offers two major benefits,” says Stephen Wagstaff, AXA country manager for Bahrain. “Firstly, the coverage includes both your contents as well as an occupiers’ liability coverage.” The contents insurance covers things that aren’t part of the fabric of the house such as the furniture and electrical equipment, and covers items including curtains, carpets and garden accessories. The liability portion sorts out who will bear the costs of any damage and is dealt with by the insurance company. This means that, once the home insurance is in place, the policyholder can rest easy even in the event of an untoward incident. “A fire or theft can turn one’s life upside down. It’s bad enough to lose everything in a natural disaster or a theft, but it’s even worse when you don’t have insurance to cover you,” adds Stephen. “With AXA, you can be at ease. Not only will a good policy cover your contents and personal belongings against unexpected events and calamities, but also provide you
an alternative accommodation if your home is made temporarily uninhabitable. This is vital in case of any unexpected turn of events such as a fire.” The home insurance offered by AXA in Bahrain can also be extended into worldwide cover on an optional basis. In addition, there’s a third-party liability cover up to BD200,000 and tenant’s liability up to BD10,000. All this comes at a very competitive annual premium which starts as low at BD20. Additional options available for coverage include your personal belongings, jewellery and clothing with various coverage limits to choose from. New branch Widening its footprint in the Kingdom, AXA recently opened a new shop at Al Hayat Mall in Zinj, its fifth store in Bahrain. “AXA has strong growth plans for the Kingdom of Bahrain. Our new shop at Al Hayat Mall is testimony to our vision in the Kingdom; to become the preferred insurance company in the GCC,” says Stephen. “Our strategy is to let customers choose their preferred channel when buying or renewing their insurance, whether through shops, call centre or website. This shop will offer better access to our customers and enhance their experience.” E Call 8000-1060 or visit www.axa-gulf.com.
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marketplace CERAM DENTAL CENTRE
The Perfect Set Ever wonder why we enjoy some people’s smiles more than others? The read on …. Physical appearance is a major link in the communication chain and our first impressions of people are generally obtained from their facial aesthetics. So, what is it that makes a smile beautiful? “One of the most important elements is the degree of appearance of the upper incisor teeth,” explains Dr Alaeddin Abu Khalaf of Ceram Dental Centre. “Seventy-five percent of teeth should be visible together with two to three millimetres of the gum band. Anything more than that is considered a gummy smile.” The relationship between the line of the upper incisors and the lower lip is another factor. For a more appealing smile, the curved line on the cutting edges of the upper incisor teeth should be parallel to the lower lip and slightly touching. “There should be no dark parts at the edges of the mouth. The teeth must completely fill the space at the corner of the lips and the gum must fill the space between teeth,” adds the dentist. To correct dark triangles between the front teeth, which give undesirable effects, the doctor collaborates with a periodontist. Gum contour is also a vital aspect to a beautiful smile. In an ideal condition, the upper central and canine gum must be at the same height, while the upper lateral gum is one to two millimetres lower. “In order to offer a good treatment plan, at Ceram Dental Centre we collaborate with other dental specialists for optimum results. As a result, we provide our patients with a convenient and professional way to attain their dream look,” Dr Alaeddin says. The orthodontist is the vice president of the Jordanian Orthodontic Society and a member of the World Federation of Orthodontists. E Call 17 131-123. MARAFIE CLINIC
Winter Skin Care Winter is arguably the worst season for those of us with dry skin. Bahrain This Month talks to a dermatologist to find out how to protect our sensitive hands.
Dr Alaeddin Abu Khalaf
Cold air can leave your skin dry, itchy and dull. Dr Hanann Marafie of Marafie Skin and Laser Clinic tells us what we need to do to avoid these factors. “Moisturising is the most essential trick to keep your hands from getting flaky. Keep a small hand moisturiser in your purse to make sure you use it on a daily basis,” she says. Even though it is winter, the sun’s harmful UV rays can still cause damage. Make sure to use a hydrating sunscreen during the day. “It’s very important to avoid using cleaning agents with your bare hands. When you wash dishes or clothes, use gloves with an inner layer of cotton for protection,” the doctor advises. Another great way to rejuvenate your skin is through a paraffin treatment. It is excellent in hydrating dry skin, awakening ageing skin and undoing damage caused by the sun. All-around care The clinic uses some of the most advanced laser machines for hair removal, non-ablative facial rejuvenation and resurfacing, in addition to laser treatment for broken veins. Procedures to treat skin diseases, clear pigmentations and for face and body lifting are offered. Dr Marafie uses non-invasive treatments for rejuvenating the hand resulting in no pain. The procedure, available only in the Busaiteen branch, is the latest technology to hit the industry and takes as little as an hour. E Call 17 585-373 or 17 333-071.
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NAZIH TRADING
Macadamia Magic Wondering what makes the tresses of your favourite celebs dance so stylishly under the lights? Here’s an unveiling of nature’s best-kept secret for beautiful, lustrous hair.
This wonder-product is perhaps one of nature’s best secrets for your hair. Macadamia oil’s incredible qualities in strengthening and revitalising hair tissue are fast creating a buzz in the beauty industry. Sourced from the South Pacific the oil closely replicates the scalp’s own natural sebum. This texture and consistency allows it to penetrate deeply into the hair follicles and get readily absorbed into the scalp. As the nutrients seep further into the skin the roots get stimulated, resulting in better blood circulation and more nourishment for your hair. The high absorption and deep penetration of the oil in the hair and scalp means both obtain the required nourishment to stay healthy. The oil has a lightweight texture that does not make your hair heavy or sticky, keeping the look clean, bouncy and lustrous. What makes macadamia oil better from others is its high nutritious composition. The constituents include calcium, vitamins B complex and E, proteins, phosphorus, iron and 80 per cent monosaturated fat, which help to protect the hair and scalp from damage. The vitamin E helps hair to become smooth and rejuvenated; even thick and coarse hair softens up, while proteins help strengthen and promote the growth of healthy hair. Macadamia oil also eliminates frizzy hair and detangles the strands to make it more manageable; something you can notice after just one application.
them from root to tip, forming a protective sheath that guards your tresses against the sun’s harmful UV rays. The oil is quite effective in easing out the frizz, improving hair texture and making it more manageable. Repeated application cuts down the drying time by almost half. These products, bursting with natural fatty acids, get instantly absorbed into the skin. In addition to the oil, the line includes moisturising masques that deeply condition your hair, reducing the effects of long term sun damage and styling treatments. For the complete macadamia make-over, use their rejuvenating shampoo and leave-in cream as well. The Macadamia Natural Oil range of products is available at beauty salons, spas and beauty supply stores across the island. E Call 17 535-853.
The gold standard The oil is readily available in the market under the Macadamia Natural Oil range; a professional collection of revitalising hair care products that enliven dull, damaged hair. This line combines macadamia oil with the added benefits of argan oil. Often known as ‘liquid gold’, argan oil is suitable for all hair types and renews
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marketplace DR AMAL DENTAL CENTRE
Orthodontics at a Glance Bahrain This Month sits down with an expert to learn more about one of the first specialities in the field of dentistry.
GULF EYE CENTRE
Clear Vision
Though popular, laser eye surgeries cannot be prescribed to all people. Here’s a new procedure that has successfully aided the vision of many who had lost hope. Traditionally, one needed to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct long- and short-sightedness. Recently, LASIK emerged as a reliable option that can treat refractive errors in the eye. However, a new procedure is now available that implants an artificial lens inside the eye without disturbing your natural cornea or lens. The biocompatible ‘Implantable Contact lens’ or ‘Implantable Collamer Lens’ (ICL) can be rolled up and injected into the eye with a syringe, where it unfolds and takes the desired shape. Unlike LASIK, which can only be performed on +3 to -6 dioptic range, ICL can correct vision that is beyond this bracket. Dr Wael Wagih, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Gulf Eye Centre describes the procedure as an effective treatment with a high success rate. “After the initial counselling we closely examine the patient to determine the amount of correction required. With the necessary measurements we get the customised lenses made,” he explains. “On the day of the surgery, topical or general anaesthesia is administered and the lens is injected over the natural lens. The process doesn’t take more than 20 minutes to half an hour.” Karen Ahmadi, the first patient to receive an ICL at the centre, describes the experience as liberating. “I had worn glasses since the age of four. The process took nearly 30 minutes and since then I haven’t worn any lenses; I even drove the very next day,” she says. This is a reversible process and, unlike any other corrective eye surgery, has been approved for soldiers, pilots and others working in extreme conditions. E Call 17 239-171 or visit www.gdsceye.com.
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Orthodontics involves the use of corrective appliances, such as braces, in order to straighten or align teeth, correct bite irregularities and close unsightly gaps. “Crooked teeth and teeth that do not fit together properly are harder to keep clean. They are at risk of being lost early due to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Extra stress is placed on the chewing muscles and that can lead to headaches, temporomandibular joint syndrome, and neck, shoulder and back pain,” explains Dr Nagham Amjed, orthodontist specialist at the Dr Amal Dental Centre at Noor Specialist Hospital. The expert explains that the benefit of orthodontic care is more than just a pleasing appearance. It results in a healthier mouth. The speciality can be used to help with procedures in other areas of dentistry such as cosmetics. Many of us have questions related to orthodontic treatment including if we are at the right age to have braces and what to expect when you get them. Book an appointment with Dr Nagham to get them answered. What makes you a candidate for orthodontic treatment? Overbite, where the upper front teeth lie too far forward over the lower teeth l Underbite, where the lower teeth are too forward or the upper teeth too far back l Crossbite, where the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth l Open bite, where there is space between biting surfaces of upper and lower teeth l Misplaced midline, where the centres of the upper teeth and lower teeth don’t line up l Spacing, gaps or spaces between the teeth that occur naturally or as a result of missing teeth l Crowding, when the jaw cannot accommodate all the teeth l
E Call 17 240-050.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY
Online Safety Guide
There is nothing more important to a parent than the safety and wellbeing of their child. The online world is no exception to this.
Did you know that 43 percent of children interviewed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) met with a stranger online? Respondents were asked to identify the type of personal information they shared with strangers online. Forty-nine percent had shared their real names, 37 percent their email address, five percent their home address, 17 percent their mobile phone number and two percent had shared bank account or credit card information. Isn’t that something you would want to supervise as a parent? Just as you would hold your child’s hand to cross the street, it is imperative that your role as a parent extends to the online world. What it does SafeSurf is an intuitive and interactive education platform on cyber safety, designed by the TRA in collaboration with Childnet International. It guides parents and guardians to the
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many facets of online vulnerability and how they can safeguard their children. “In support of this, we have produced a comprehensive tutorial that is available online in five different languages: Arabic, English, Urdu, Malayalam, and Bengali,” says Mariam Mohammed Al-Mannai , cyber safety specialist. “This is accessible through any stationary or handheld device with an Internet connection. Through this feature-rich tutorial, we familiarise you with the necessary tools, information and actions that can be taken to enable a cyber-safe experience.” This initiative, undertaken by the TRA, is part of their commitment to public social responsibility and is a firmly held belief in the organisation’s core ethical role. The residents of Bahrain can expect an official campaign revolved around SafeSurf to begin in October. E Visit www.safesurf.bh.
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marketplace GULF DENTAL SPECIALITY HOSPITAL
Oral Health
Modern advancements in medicine mean that there are effective and painless treatments available to patients today. This speciality hospital keeps up with the latest trends in dentistry.
Dr Amina Mustafa
YATEEM OPTICIAN
Crystal-clear Vision Relying on the best is the only way to go with anything to do with our sight. This optician has been ensuring quality eye care for more than a century.
For 14 years Gulf Dental Speciality Hospital has offered all dental services under one roof. Having the full capacity to handle all cases makes the experience smooth and less stressful for the patient. “We have the patient’s records in one place, facilitating ease in continuing treatments,” explains the hospital’s CEO Dr Amina Mustafa. “If a dental lab is needed, we have one in-house. If consultation from various doctors is required, then it can be done swiftly because specialist doctors from all areas of dentistry are available at the hospital.” This convenience is coupled with offering the latest in dental equipment and treatments. All types of cosmetic treatments, using the latest materials like lumineers, known to give the perfect smile, are on offer. When dealing with crowns, patients now have the option of zirconium, a new metal-free material which is aesthetically identical to a normal tooth but has the strength of metal. The hospital boasts laser technology used in procedures like surgeries and gum treatment, which enhances healing and reduces the possibility of infections. “Phobia is not the only reason people stay away from the dentist,” Dr Amina explains. The reality is that tooth decay and gum disease are totally preventable. All that is lacking is the knowledge of how to prevent them. “Educating children and adults about their oral health is a priority for us at the hospital. The first step towards healthier teeth is ensuring that you do regular checkups, that is, every six months,” she adds. E Call 17 741-444. Over 100 years since its inception, Yateem Optician still has one of the strongest presences in the Gulf. Established in 1910 as the first optical outlet in the region, the company was headed by the late Ali Ahmed Yateem. Now fronted by his son Abdullah Ali Yateem, the optician operates on the philosophy of serving the community and a sincere devotion to the trade. Reputed for its reliability, the Yateem name is synonymous with quality eye care not only in Bahrain but also in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It is distinguished by the exceptional quality of services offered. Featuring fully automated surfacing laboratories, Yateem Optician operates in collaboration with international leaders in the optical lens industry. They ensure that the products delivered to the customers are on a par with international standards. High-end eyewear One of the top brands showcased in their outlets is Seiko Optical. A renowned name in the luxury segment, this line offers individualised optical lenses that cater to varying needs of the most discerning wearer. Seiko has produced lenses for more than 40 years and sells them in over 30 countries. Highly qualified and experienced optometrists and contact lens specialists are at hand in every showroom of Yateem Optician. The team of experts make sure that every customer receives the best possible care and advice. E Call 17 253-397.
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ALOSRA SUPERMARKETS
Shop at Ease This premium supermarket takes its 'fresh and friendly' shopping experience online, through a new, fast and efficient system.
One of the island’s popular supermarket chains, Alosra Supermarket, has launched an ingenious web portal that brings substantial ease and efficiency to your shopping experience. You no longer have to mark the calendar or leave early from work for a grocery errand. At www.alosraselect.com, you can shop and have the goods delivered anywhere in Bahrain, at just the click of a button. Surf through their list of local and international premium products while sitting in the comfort of your own home. Virtual aisles Divided into various categories for easy navigation, the website has a clean and interactive layout. Options include home and kitchen, grocery, toys and games, personal care, baby care and special deals. With a growing portfolio that boasts over 7,500 products, Alosra aims to display a much larger variety of goods online. “We are committed to sourcing new, innovative and premium products to satisfy the needs of all our loyal customers,” says Pavlos Babiolakis, Alosra’s buying manager. Once you log in and your details are saved in the system, your checkout time is lessened when you visit again.
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Friendly service “By offering this online service, the website further enhances Alosra’s focus on the best customer experience, providing greater convenience and a tailored service,” adds Pavlos. “Gone are the days of walking aimlessly around a store, waiting in line to pay for your purchases and then hauling them to your car, only to realise that you have forgotten to pick something up!” The supermarket chain focuses on enhancing its service standards and delivering greater customer satisfaction. A team of service agents is available on the phone to ensure you have a smooth and enjoyable experience. “If you cannot find what you are looking for, or if you have a special product you would like us to source, our team will go the extra mile to try and accommodate your needs,” he explains. The website uses an interactive delivery calendar, available at checkout, where you can choose a convenient delivery time. A number of safety precautions have been put in place to ensure that products remain safe and fresh while being transported. Refrigerated delivery vans are used to carry all items. Customers may pay online with debit or credit cards or choose to pay on delivery with either cash or cards. The delivery is free for all orders above BD15. E Call 17 739-515 or visit www.alosraselect.com
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bystanderthismonth
Primavera Media Lunch The management of the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa hosted a media luncheon to introduce the new menu creations at Primavera, the hotel's Italian signature restaurant last month
Mark Neukomm & Chef Guy
Kareena, Chef Guy, Cara, Paula, Shabana, Claudia, Jose & Chef Mauro
Members of the media with Ritz-Carlton management & Primavera chefs
Jose & David
Bahrain This Month gives readers an exclusive chance to win watches from Sharif Group.
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Hint: You can find the answers in this issue of BAHRAIN THIS MONTH.
Who got it right?
This is a fun game for all readers. Each of these pictures is taken from advertisements in this issue of BAHRAIN THIS MONTH. All you have to do is identify the ad and mark your answer below each ad clipping. So test your observation skills, and you may be a winner!
Bahrain This Month received 58 entries last month, 49 of which answered all the questions correctly. Congratulations to everyone, particularly our three winners: Winner : Reni Kumar Second Place : Tigist Worku Firew Third Place : Ralph Gonzaga
Last month’s solutions
1.
1. Pete McGowan 2. Gulf Hotel
3. RKMA Rajakaruna See you 4. Coral Bay on5. DrFriday! Charles Wall 6. Renault Koleos 7. The PALACE Boutique Hotel 8. Paul Balles 9. Duolingo 10. Club Buffalo
2.
Which car did we test drive? ___________________________
1. Al Arisha 2. Lala Bella 3. Pizza Inn
Friday is Family day. Especially at Kempinski Where can you find Ibrida? 4. The Children's Place
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Name:
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Treat yourself and your loved ones to our Friday Family Brunch at Baharat, where Arabic Address: specialities Which venue is hosting a cage complement an international gourmet buffet. 3. Especially for children, our family brunch includes a kids buffet, a fun-filled play area Telephone: fight? with activities, bouncy castle and friendly mascots! After your meal, take advantage of our special pool offer for brunch guests, ___________________________ Email: and spend the afternoon swimming and relaxing outdoors.
9
What is our app this+973 month? 1717 1000 | ___________________________
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Where is DJ Oliver Shine performing? ___________________________
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cpr: [email protected] | kempinski.com/bahrain
Entry deadline is October 15. The winner will be selected at random. Please include your full name, CPR number, address and telephone number, and mail to: Win Win, Bahrain This Month, PO Box 20461, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain.
4. October 2013 205
tarotscopethismonth
libra
Sep 23 – Oct 21 October is all about consolidation, both financial and emotional. The omens are good as a loan or investment provides you with capital to clear longterm debts and plan ahead for a more secure future. Emotionally, you may find yourself at your zenith, as you feel particularly pleased with the state of a relationship. Your partner may demonstrate an uncommon level of affection that, coupled with other positive events this month, will prove decisive. You have a lot to look forward to in your life right now and the level of enjoyment you get out of it will all depend on how much you believe in yourself. Card of the Month — The Nine of Coins For a detailed, personalised Tarotscope reading, contact Raphael by email: [email protected]
Scorpio October 22 – November 21 This month you will rediscover a love that may have been absent from your life for some time. The most obvious incarnation could be through your partner who suddenly discovers a romantic approach that has been missing in your relationship. If things have been stale and unadventurous then this could be the moment when your love life becomes fresh and alive again. Furthermore, events may encourage you to think about a trip away in an effort to maintain the atmosphere. A friend from your past is still waiting to hear from you after a recent conversation and you need to ask yourself why you are holding back getting in touch again. Card of the Month — The Knight of Cups Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 A separation is on the cards as you discover a partner’s intentions were not all they first appeared to be. You could find a relative’s words coming true and your most terrible fear becoming a reality. The situation will leave you analysing all the sacrifices you have made and see you coming to terms with the impact over the coming months. You may even find that having cut off so many people to pursue a selfish aim will leave you with very few shoulders to rest your head upon. If anything, this should prove the catalyst for you to reconnect with a few people in your life and perhaps begin the difficult process of rebuilding bridges. Card of the Month — The Devil
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Capricorn December 22 – January 18 The cliché of life being very much a lottery could well apply to many Capricorns this month, especially if you are planning home improvements or investments. There is every indication that any work to be done in the home should only be attempted by people you know you can trust; so, the warning is to watch who you hire! A young child with a longterm illness could cause you a measure of concern and a trip to the doctor may be necessary due to a worsening condition. While it might not be as bad as you believe, there is every indication that a situation left unattended is going to cause more damaging issues so take the initiative. Card of the Month — The World
Aquarius January 19 – February 20 A past secret concerning money will return to haunt you just when you thought it was buried and forgotten. If you have been trying your best to hide this moment in your life then you are about to learn an awkward lesson in truthfulness! A new problem in the shape of a partner who finds your secrecy uncomfortable to live with is also going to raise the stakes so, all in all, it could be a tricky September! On the family front it will be comforting to see a loved one who has wrestled with a few personal demons is finally getting their life in order and may even be a little more approachable now as a consequence. Card of the Month — The Eight of Cups
pisces February 21 – March 20 If October 29 is the date set for a special occasion, then beware a flirt who may try to stretch the normal boundaries of friendship and push themselves upon you. It might be flattering to get some attention but there are other motives at work here and you certainly shouldn’t ignore the feelings of other loved ones who could be hurt. A young child will come to you with a problem they are afraid to share with their own parents; it could put you in an awkward situation. You may be called upon to stir some courage in the youngster and help them through difficult times, but you have to be careful not to influence them too much at the same time. Card of the Month — The Page of Wands
Aries March 21 – April 20 October sees you coming to terms with the loss of something particularly important to you, possibly a car or even your place of residence. The circumstances that bring about such an event are mainly your own fault and it could well mean a complete re-evaluation of your circumstances. On a more positive note, you could find yourself back in contact with a loved one, who has been absent because of a past family disagreement, and they may be able to help out. Things are not quite as bad as they seem and sometimes change can be just what you need to open an even better chapter in your life. Card of the Month — The Four of Cups
Taurus April 21 – May 20 Many Taureans will see October as a month of consolidation and financial gain as you seek to organise your finances into a more manageable structure. A bonus or windfall will allow you to clear debts and free yourself of monthly commitments. You may find that those who owe you money will surprise you by paying back a loan before it is due. On the job front, you could see a move on the horizon and the possibility of a pay increase will prove decisive. Those of you with creative interests may also find a new avenue for success in an area you had never previously considered. Card of the Month — The Emperor
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advertisersindex Gemini May 21 – June 20 More than any other factor this month, you will soon realise just how much you are loved and appreciated by those around you; your family will rally around to extend support during a difficult time at work. It could be that pressures or uncompromising rivals have left you deflated and depressed. However, the tide is turning slowly in your favour and with the assistance of family and friends you will soon negotiate the corner to a more fortunate period in your life. You can never truly appreciate the good things in life unless you have gone through some down times and this episode should make you realise that. Card of the Month — The Queen of Coins
cancer June 21 – July 20 A case of mistaken identity could lead you into an embarrassing situation this month as one white lie told to impress someone balloons into a series of awkward compromises with the truth. Beware, the situation may get out of hand as you struggle to find a clear avenue. The best option will be to remain tight-lipped and wait until the dust settles before saying another word. News of a new addition to the family will reach you by accident and you may discover that you are called upon to assist in choosing a name! All in all its going to be a busy month for your sign and one that will leave you satisfied when looking back later. Card of the Month — The Three of Swords
LEO July 21 – August 21 A journey overseas could lead you into deep financial difficulty, especially if you do not take care of matters of insurance. If you are planning a trip then make certain you are covered for all eventualities. Although nothing too serious may occur, the real hurt could be to your bank balance. A long-term relationship may be at the point where greater commitment is required and you could find your partner eager to press home the idea of marriage and even children. Of course it could mean that you are going to have to re-evaluate certain things in your life but if this is what you really want then it won’t be a problem. Card of the Month — The Six of Cups
virgo August 22 – September 21 Prosperity could well be yours this month, solving a number of financial issues that seemed insurmountable earlier this year. However, the real message for this month is not your turnaround in fortunes but in your attitude to those near you, who may need some monetary support of their own. On a separate issue and one still connected with finance, your good luck could be hampered by an outstanding bill which you have been putting off paying. It’s not like you to be that forgetful so attend to the matter quickly before if becomes a legal issue as you don’t need that right now! Card of the Month — The King of Coins
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AXA Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Bahrain Development Bank . . . . . . . . . . 87
Germany in Bahrain
Al Haddad Motors (Mercedes-Benz) . . . 95 AMA Motors (MAN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 AMA Sports (Puma) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Berlitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 DHL International . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 German Skin Care Centre . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Keller Grundau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Porsche Centre Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Home & Furnishings
Mobilia Uno . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Phoenicia Decor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Roche Bobois . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 The One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Hotels & Luxury Apartments
Al Areen Resort & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . 63 Fraser Suites Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Golden Tulip Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Gulf Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Kempinski Grand & Ixir Hotel . . . . . . . . . 15 Mirador Hotel (Peacock Restaurant) . . 126 Ramada Hotel Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Ramee Baisan Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183 Ramee Grand Hotel & Spa . . . . . . . . . . 128 Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Resort . . . . . . . . . 41 The Domain Bahrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The K Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Jewellery & Watches
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i don't know
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The famous medieval stone landmark in Turkey's largest city is the 'Galata (What?)'?
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Galata Tower
Galata Tower
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The Galata Tower, also known as the Tower of Christ, is a medieval stone tower in Istanbul, Turkey. It is located to the north of the Golden Horn. This is one of the city’s most amazing landmarks. It has a very high, cone-capped cylinder that juts out into the city’s skyline.
Description
The 9-story tower is about 219 feet tall and has an observation deck. By the time of completion, this was then city’s tallest structure. This tower has external diameter of almost 54 feet at its base, an inside diameter of about 29 feet and the walls have a thickness of over 12 feet.
On the upper floors of the tower there is a restaurant and a café. From here visitors can get a great view of Istanbul and the Bosphorous. There is also a panorama balcony that encircles the very highest row of windows. It is narrow and open to weather and is therefore not recommended for people with a fear of heights. You will also find a night club which hosts a Turkish show. There are two elevators to get you from one level to another.
History
Galata Tower was initially built during the expansion of the Genoese colony in Constantinople in 1348. It was by then the tallest building in Istanbul. It was actually the apex of fortifications that surrounded the Genoese citadel of the Galata. During the Ottoman Empire, the upper part of the tower was modified in several different restorations. It was by then used as the observation deck for spotting fires.
Starting in 1717, Ottomans began using the tower to spot fires in and around the city. During the reign of Sultan Selim III in 1794, the tower’s roof and stairs were seriously destroyed by a fire. Later, in 1831, another fire damaged the building. After this new restoration work took place.
In 1875, during a very heavy storm, the roof at the top of this tower was destroyed. Due to this damage, the tower remained without the conic roof for the rest of the Ottoman period. Finally, from 1965 to 1967, during the Turkish Republic, the original cap of the tower was finally restored.
During the final restoration process that took place in 1960’s, the original wooden interior of Galata Tower was replaced with a concrete structure. The tower was then commercialized and opened to the general public.
Istanbul Famous Landmarks
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Tower
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Who are Turkey's 2nd largest ethnic people and about 18% of the population?
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2+1 Apartment at The Center of Galata,... - HomeAway Beyoğlu
30 nights
About the property
Galata is located in Beyoğlu, on the european side of Bosphorus. Famous with the Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi in Turkish), is a medieval stone tower just to the north of the Golden Horn. One of the city's most striking landmarks, it is a high, cone-capped cylinder that dominates the skyline and affords a panoramic vista of Old Istanbul and its environs.
Our apartment is located at a 5 minutes walking distance to the Istiklal Street and Beyoglu, located at the heart of Istanbul. The apartment is suitable for a minimum rental period of 3 days for 2 people.
The 2+1 apartment is equiped with all necessary furnishings. It is located near the Istiklal Avenue in Taksim, recently renovated.
The apartment offers a living surface of 85 m2 and the stated price is for 2 people.
In case the number of people to be accomodated is more than 2, an extra charge of 50 TL for each person has to be paid daily.
The apartment is located 6 stairs down the ground floor, it is not a basement. It gets the sunlight all day long and also has a winter garden.
In the apartment, you may benefit of 3 double beds, with the supplementary beds, the number of people to be accomodated may be increased up to 7.
Reservation Detail:
After you successfully submit your reservation request, you will receive an e-mail response from the home owner or property manager, within the next 24 hours. At this point, the full details of your confirmed reservation including the address of the property and the contact details of your local host will be shared with you through e-mail.
We hope you have a pleasant stay!
#1824
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i don't know
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Turkey's international telephone calling code is?
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Turkey Country Code 90 Country Code TR
About Turkey Hide
CountryCode.org is your complete guide to make a call from anywhere in the world, to anywhere in the world. This page details Turkey phone code.
The Turkey country code 90 will allow you to call Turkey from another country. Turkey telephone code 90 is dialed after the IDD. Turkey international dialing 90 is followed by an area code.
The Turkey area code table below shows the various city codes for Turkey. Turkey country codes are followed by these area codes. With the complete Turkey dialing code, you can make your international call.
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ninety
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Comprising 100 Kuruş, what is Turkey's currency, first minted in the early 1400s as Ottoman money?
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Turkey Mobile Code - How to call a Turkey cell phone from United States
How to call a Turkey mobile phone:
011 - United States exit code to dial first when calling international
90 - Turkey country code must be dialed next
Mobile Code** - Turkey mobile code must be dialed next
011 + 90 + Mobile Code** + Local Number - Overall dialing format
World Times:
The time in United States is now (CLICK FOR TIME ZONES)
The time in Turkey is now 08:42:15 AM (08:42:15 AM)
More Ways to Call a Turkey mobile phone:
- From 0.4¢ per Minute
Tips for calling a cell phone in Turkey:
To call a Turkish cell phone from a land line, simply follow the mobile country code dialing instructions above to place your call.
To call a Turkish cell phone from your cell phone, you may need to first use the + (plus) sign prior to entering the Turkey mobile code and telephone number.
If you are calling Turkey from your cell phone, you may incur additional charges or fees from your mobile carrier. We recommend trying out a service, such as Rebtel
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i don't know
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The turkey bird, named mistakenly after the country Turkey, originated in?
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The Straight Dope: Is turkey (the bird) named after Turkey (the country) or vice versa?
A Staff Report from the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board
Is turkey (the bird) named after Turkey (the country) or vice versa?
November 27, 2001
Dear Straight Dope:
With the recent earthquake in Turkey, I started to think about the fact that there's a bird and a country named the same thing. How did each get its name? And are there any other countries named the same as animals or food? Is there a place named Chicken?
— Aron Siegel
SDStaff bibliophage replies:
Here's all I know for sure: Despite several crackpot theories to the contrary, the bird was named after the country, but in a very roundabout way so that the details are uncertain. Oh, one other thing I know for sure: No European should ever have been allowed to name any New World species. The Aztecs, who kept domesticated turkeys for hundreds of years before the Europeans arrived, had a perfectly good word for the bird in their Nahuatl language: xuehxolotl, which, of course, is pronounced. Don't ask me how it's pronounced, but I'm sure it can be done. If the Europeans had been smart enough to stick with the original name, there would have been no need for me to write this Staff Report, and on Thanksgiving we'd sit down to "xuehxolotl with all the trimmings." Oh, the things that might have been.
First let's talk about the country. Turkey was named for the Turks, believe it or not. Turk can mean either "a citizen of the modern state of Turkey" or more broadly, "an individual of the Turkic-speaking people." The many Turkic languages are spoken not only in Turkey but also in a large area of central Asia and in northern Siberia. The real question is the origin of the name Turk. The word is essentially the same in many languages, including English, Turkish, Arabic, and Persian (Farsi). It probably comes from some Turkish root, but there's no consensus on which one. It may be one root meaning "strong" or "vigorous" (according to the American Heritage Dictionary) or it may be another meaning "the people" (according to the Encyclopedia Americana).
There are a couple of other theories of how the country got its name, both wrong. The first has it that the country was named after the first leader of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. But like most Turks, Mustafa didn't have any surname at all until 1934, when he chose Atatürk ("Father of the Turks") for himself. He had already given the country its western-influenced name Türkiye several years earlier. During the period of the empire, the Turkish name for the country had nothing to do with the Turks. Rather, it was named for the Osman (Ottoman) dynasty that ruled it. Another theory has it that the English named the country after the bird, as a taunt. But the country was already called "Turki" or "Turkeye" in English by 1275, hundreds of years before the bird was known in the Old World. Now I'll give you the bird. It's likely the first bird called "turkey" in English wasn't the familiar Thanksgiving fowl (Meleagris gallopavo), but a smaller domesticated bird originally from sub-Saharan Africa: (Numida meleagris), which we now call the Guinea fowl. This bird was introduced to the Mediterranean in ancient times and was known (as a rarity) to the Greeks and Romans. It was named after the mythical Meliagrides, who were the sisters of Meleager and who were turned to birds after his death. This bird seems to have disappeared from Europe and was reintroduced from west Africa by Portuguese traders at the end of the fifteenth century. If this bird was from Africa, why was it called "turkey" in English? Probably because it was introduced to England by so-called "Turkey merchants" who traded with the Mediterranean region, including the Ottoman Empire (which then controlled the eastern third of that sea). A similar confusion caused another New World species, maize or corn (Zea mays), to be called "Turkey wheat" or "Turkey corn" in England.
M. gallopavo was introduced to Spain from America sometime between 1498 and 1526 (but most likely before 1511), and thence to England sometime between 1520 and 1541 (but probably before 1530). It too was named "turkey" in English, perhaps because it was confused with N. meleagris, or because it was likewise introduced by Turkey merchants. In citations from the Oxford English Dictionary, "turkey" dates from 1541, but it is unclear which species is meant. Among unambiguous citations, the N. meleagris meaning of "turkey" beats out the M. gallopavo meaning by only three years (1552 vs. 1555). The OED doesn't say so but according to Schorger, the word has also been used to describe other birds the males of which use tail displays, such as the peacock. It is even possible that "peacock" was the original meaning of the word in English, but that seems unlikely. For the same reason, the capercaillie (a kind of grouse) has sometimes been called a peacock (pavo) in Latin as well as "turkey" in English.
There are other theories of how the bird got its name. John Smith (of Pocahontas fame) is sometimes given credit for naming the birds he saw in Virginia "turkey," having confused them with the Guinea fowl. But as we have already seen, both birds were established in England decades before Smith was born in 1580. Another story is that the bird was named after its caruncle (wattle), which is sometimes blue, the color of Turkey stone (turquoise). Okay, but just because you like "Turkey in the Straw" doesn't mean you have to grasp at straws trying to explain the name.
Another story is that Christopher Columbus named it tuka, after the Tamil word for "peacock." (He may or may not have been the first European to see a real turkey; the credit sometimes goes to Pedro Alonso Niño or Vincente Yáñez Pinzón, but it's less certain that the birds they saw in earlier years were really turkeys). It's hard to imagine why Chris would choose a Tamil word when Spanish already had a perfectly suitable word for the domesticated peacock, which was not at all uncommon in Europe at that time. But in fact he named the bird he saw in Honduras in 1502 not tuka, but rather gallina de la tierra ("ground chicken").
But the peacock theory isn't entirely fantasy. In the early days, there were dozens of different names for the turkey in Spanish, but the one that finally caught on was pavo, which originally did refer to the peacock. To differentiate it from the turkey, the peacock is now called pavo real in Spanish (which could be translated "royal turkey," and coincidentally this is exactly what I call my brother-in-law). The two birds may not look very much alike to us, but the association isn't completely unfounded:
They act the same. The males of both the peafowl and the turkey spread their tail feathers in mating displays, though the turkey's display is much less impressive.
They sound the same. Both of them have unpleasant calls, a fact noted by the writer Motolinía who visited Mexico in the sixteenth century.
They taste the same according to at least three early reports, including that of Columbus.
In addition, there is a related species found in Central America, the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata, also called Agriocharis ocellata), which resembles a peacock in having eye spots on its tail feathers. It may have been this bird that the earliest Spanish explorers saw, or it may have been any of several other birds of the region that have been confused with the peacock. This confusion is a big part of the uncertainty of exactly when M. gallopavo was introduced to Spain.
English is not the only language that incorrectly associates the turkey with Turkey. Welsh borrowed the English usage and calls the bird twrki. But it is interesting that many other languages incorrectly associate the bird with other countries. In many languages (including Turkish and French), the bird is called by names indicating it's from India. This may derive from the confusion between the East Indies and West Indies that was rampant in those days. In fact, one of the early Spanish names, gallina de las Indias, means "hen of the Indies." But other languages (such as Dutch and Danish) are strangely specific in calling the bird by names indicating the bird is from the Indian city of Calicut. At that time, Calicut was the most important city for the trade between Europe and India. So it would not have been unreasonable for Western Europeans to assume that anything exotic came from Calicut, or more generally, from India. Incidentally, "calico cloth" is also named after Calicut.
In Portuguese, the bird is called peru, despite the fact that the bird was not introduced to Peru until after the Spanish conquest. The most reasonable explanation for the association is that the bird became popular in Portugal shortly after Pizarro conquered Peru in 1532, and the Portuguese made a natural assumption. In Brazilian slang, peru can also means "penis," which must make life interesting along the Brazil-Peru border. One word for the bird in one of the several dialects of Hindi is also peru or piru, which is probably borrowed from Portuguese. That makes sense, since the turkey was introduced to India by the Portuguese (sometime before 1612). Another suggestion, discounted by Portuguese etymologists, is that Portuguese and Hindi both borrowed the word from a Tamil source. Tamil again? It's hard to understand the fascination Tamil holds for the inventors of false etymologies. Maybe they figure most of us can't speak it and so will believe almost anything about it. In case you were wondering, in Tamil the bird is called by names meaning "sky chicken" or "foreign chicken," but neither name looks anything like tuka or peru.
Lest you think the scientific name of the turkey makes more sense than the common ones, it is my duty to inform you that it is perhaps even more messed up. Meleagris gallopavo is composed of the names of three different birds, none of them the turkey. Meleagris was the ancient Greek name of the Guinea fowl (mentioned above). For hundreds of years, European naturalists believed the turkey was a kind of Guinea fowl, for reasons that are not entirely clear. Gallopavo was one of the early Spanish names for the turkey (often spelled gallipavo). Gallo- comes from gallus, the Latin word for the common barnyard fowl (chicken), Gallus domesticus. And -pavo comes from Latin word for the blue peacock, whose scientific name is Pavo cristatus. The Spanish apparently gave it that name because the bird combined several traits of the two birds. Some later naturalists took the name too literally and assumed the turkey was a hybrid of a peacock and a chicken or of a rooster and a peahen.
Other foods that share names with countries? Well, there's chili or chile (as in pepper) but it's not etymologically related to the name of the country Chile. Guinea is an obsolete shortened form of the edible "Guinea fowl" (mentioned above). And from the Brazil nut tree (named after the country) we get brazils (or Brazil nuts).
If you'll accept geographical features smaller than nations, you can make a whole meal out of places. You could have a Bologna and Cheddar Sandwich with Dijon, and a cup of Java to wash it down. You could even serve it on fine China. And since you asked, there is a place called Chicken, Alaska (pop. 17). There's also an airport in California called Chicken Strip. No word on whether it's tender, juicy, and golden-brown. I could continue in the same silly vein, but that would be beneath the dignity of the Straight Dope. I'm not Ghana do it.
Aw, who am I kidding?
Oman, all this talk of food is making me Hungary. Iran over as soon as I smelled your cooking. Jamaica nuff for me? Why, yes, I would like some coffee. Just one Cuba sugar, though. You're out of cream? Why don't you just milk Macao to get Samoa? Bring me some booze instead. Lots of it, because I really want to Taiwan on. This is what you call food? It's nothing but Greece. Waiter, Czech please!
Suggested reading: The Wild Turkey: Its History and Domestication by A. W. Schorger
— SDStaff bibliophage, Straight Dope Science Advisory Board
Staff Reports are written by the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board, Cecil's online auxiliary. Though the SDSAB does its best, these columns are edited by Ed Zotti, not Cecil, so accuracywise you'd better keep your fingers crossed.
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Mexico
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To celebrate extravagantly (usually loudly and drunkenly) in town/city bars, clubs, etc., is called to 'Paint the town (What?)'?
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Eagle vs. Turkey: America's First Bird Controversy - National Wildlife Federation
Archives
Eagle vs. Turkey: America's First Bird Controversy
Did you know that the original choice for America’s National Symbol was not the bald eagle? Find out which bird it was, and how the eagle was chosen.
11-01-2007 // NWF Staff
Nations often adopt animals as symbols: England has its lion, India its peacock. On the afternoon of July 4, 1776, just after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress appointed a committee made up of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin to select a design for an official national seal.
The three patriots had different ideas and none of them included the bald eagle. They finally agreed on a drawing of the woman Liberty holding a shield to represent the states. But the members of Congress weren't inspired by the design and they consulted with William Barton, a Philadelphia artist who produced a new design that included a golden eagle.
Because the golden eagle also flew over European nations, however, the federal lawmakers specified that the bird in the seal should be an American bald eagle . On June 20, 1782, they approved the design that we recognize today.
At the time, the new nation was still at war with England, and the fierce-looking bird seemed to be an appropriate emblem. But from the start, the eagle was a controversial choice. Franklin scowled at it. "For my part," he declared, "I wish the eagle had not been chosen as the representative of this country. He is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly. You may have seen him perched in some dead tree where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing hawk and, when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish and is bearing it to his nest for his young ones, the bald eagle pursues him and takes the fish. With all this injustice, he is never in good case."
Some people have since questioned whether the eagle would have been chosen to adorn the seal had the nation not been at war. A year after the Treaty of Paris ended the conflict with Great Britain, Franklin argued that the turkey would have been a more appropriate symbol. "A much more respectable bird and a true native of America," he pointed out. Franklin conceded that the turkey was "a little vain and silly," but maintained that it was nevertheless a "bird of courage" that "would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards who should presume to invade his farm yard with a red coat on." Congress was not convinced, however. The eagle remained our national symbol.
In truth, both the turkey and the bald eagle are native to the Americas. But if the issue is a bird that represents our nation , Americans can't really lay exclusive claim to either species, since both traditionally ranged in Canada and Mexico as well.
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i don't know
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An eccentric or crazy person is informally referred to as having '(What?) in the belfry'?
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Tue, 09 Dec 2014 09:25:00 +0000
Universally Challenged - the early rounds
<p><strong><u><font color="#000000"><font class="single_document"></font>Round 1</font></u></strong></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>So, the ‘Universally Challenged’ Inter-House Quiz started today with Belling (U6th) Vs Trew Day Girls (L6th).</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Many thanks to those of you who came to support your House, or (as was the case for most of the spectators) eat the vast array of e-numbers which were on offer!</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>It was a bit of a shaky start; Trew Day at one point having no team members turn up to participate, then being one short; but thanks to Chloe Spires a complete team was eventually prepared.</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>The quick fire, first General Knowledge round was less a case of ‘fastest- finger- first’; halted by Belling’s buzzer having ‘technical difficulties’ (and nothing at all to do with Victoria and Rebecca bashing it repeatedly *<b>ahem</b>*)</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Jocelyn impressed by correctly answering a question on international vehicle registrations for Trew, but sadly the Language Diversity bonus questions proved a little too baffling until Harriet’s wild guess at a Monsoon being a ‘Seasonal South Asia wind and accompanying rainfall’! Sadly this turn of good fortune was not to last. Harriet then attempted an answer to the question: ‘An eccentric or crazy person is informally referred to as having ‘(What?) in the belfry’. Clue- an animal. Harriet’s answer- A racoon???!!!!!!!!!</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Belling fought back fiercely, despite Mrs Tarrega forgetting to keep score for both teams! </span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Victoria’s startling knowledge of anatomy and Rebecca’s knowledge of weaponry put them back on track, despite the fact that Stephanie couldn’t tell a hexagon from a dodecahedron! </span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Unfortunately neither side could recall several key events from 2013- including the death of Nelson Mandela </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">L</span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'> </span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Although moaning constantly that the questions were “Much harder than last year”, Belling were victorious with a 6 / 5 win against Trew Day girls. </span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"> <span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Tomorrow sees the tension mount as Senior battle it out with Lower Trew</span></font></p><p><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"></font></span></p><p><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><strong><u><font color="#000000">Round 2</font></u></strong></span></p><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><p><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">After Trew Day girls’ narrow defeat on Tuesday you could tell that the L6<sup><font size="2">th</font></sup> Team were feeling the pressure. Even Mrs Brown heroically sacrificed part of her day off to lend support to her girls…</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">The quick-fire rounds were certainly more that today- thanks to the yellow buzzer’s 24 hour recovery period after the pounding (literally) taken the day before at the hands of Victoria and Rebecca B!! Questions were asked, buzzers were pressed and answers were given- woohooo!</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">Unfortunately though, not all of the answers were correct; Grace Kweller- a keen addition to the team seemed to think that ‘Buddhism’ was the religion with five pillars! (Islam/Buddhism- easy mistake to make, eh?!). </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">Neither team had any knowledge of famous bomb names (which can only be positive!). Millie Norton appeared to be guessing most of the answers but to her credit- usually with success (except for thinking that Stephen Spielberg directed Psycho?!) and Viola seemed more surprised than anyone when she correctly answered a question on the relationship between the number of protons in an atom and its atomic number (they are equal). Anyone would think she was studying sciences at A2?!</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">As Senior successfully secured two rounds of bonus questions, the pressure on the Lower Trew team’s faces was clear; Amber seemed truly baffled by the whole experience and it was all too much for poor Megan who started randomly hitting the buzzer having no idea of the answer…or indeed, the question! For example ‘Where is the Amazon delta?’ The answer- Brazil. As Megan hit the buzzer she realised she was unsure of the question and a mad episode of squawking “Where is the Amazon? Where is the Amazon?” ensued, making her sound like a homesick parrot!!</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>It was a brave attempt by the Lower Trew team but sadly for them, </span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Senior</span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'> were victorious with an 8-4 win and go through to the semi- finals.</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"><strong><u>Round 3</u></strong></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Like locusts devouring crops, the lure of e-numbers proved irresistible and meant that the audience for this event was similar to that of a Wimbledon final. A rowdy bunch they were, having to be hushed on several occasions as the tension mounted.</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Both, impressive-looking teams; you could sense that Upper Trew (</span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;'>Izzy Fernandes, Toluwa Agboola and Emma Poppleton) </span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>knew that they were up against some serious Bridge brain power </span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;'>(Jessica Chong, Haruka Akimoto, Rukky Harriman)</span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>. </span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>The warm-up questions were answered in record time; almost entirely by Upper Trew whose ‘Buzzer-reaction’ was lightening quick. As quiz-master I was a little concerned that telepathy was being employed as they were on the buzzers even before the questions had left my lips!</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Toluwa impressed with her knowledge of the song ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’, managing to answer ‘Eight maids a-milking’ without having to sing the first 7 days first! Similarly, Emma knew how many white squares there were on a chess board- also without having to count them. </span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Bridge were scuppered by a tree-based question as they had not heard of a ‘conker’ which was unfortunate. Their motto-based questions also caused problems; Rukky, Haruka and Jessica seemed to think Google was the answer to every motto! Thankfully, Jessica did persevere with this theme as the answer to ‘Don’t be evil’ was indeed Google- phew!</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Izzy identified a ‘long wrap-around skirt, also meaning ‘sheath or quiver’ from Malay’ as a sarong but sadly neither team knew the infamous family who reside at 742 Evergreen Terrace. At this point the audience had to be kept calm as angry looks and expletives were exchanged between spectators who most certainly knew the answer. Most noticeable of these spectators was Asha Booth who was jumping around as if she had stuck her fingers in the nearest electrical socket and simultaneously was desperate to go to the toilet! (Sorry Asha- it was very amusing </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>)</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>After order was restored, Rukky successfully answered a tricky Biblical question on the First Letter to the Corinthians, which reinforced her attentiveness in chapel recently- well done! </span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Unfortunately, even this was not enough against the mighty Upper Trew, who shall henceforth be known as the ‘Buzzer-Bandits’! With an outstanding 12 points to 4, </span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>Upper Trew </span><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'>were victorious.</span></font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">So, the winning teams this week who have successfully secured a place in the semi- finals are: Belling, Senior, Upper Trew and in a twist of fate- Trew Day girls have the final place as the highest scoring losing team. The excitement continues this week on Tuesday, and Friday and the teams will need your support more than ever.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"></font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><strong><u><font color="#000000">Semi-Finals #1</font></u></strong></span></p><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">On Tuesday we saw the start of the Semi-Final rounds with Belling (U6th) taking on Upper Trew (L6th) in an action-packed 15 minutes. </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">With some strategic team changes, Belling had the wits of Victoria Fishpool, and Deputy Head Girl duo- Jemima Wolstencroft and Hattie Hillard. Upper Trew decided to stay with their original team comprising of Izzy Fernandes, Toluwa Agboola and Emma Poppleton. </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">The poor buzzers didn’t quite know what had hit them; Questions were being answered at such an alarming pace that Mrs Merrell had concerns she may run out of them and would have to start making them up herself! Had the teams been practising? Or was the sugar-rush of consuming two enormous bags of sweets and popcorn the reason for these super-quick reaction times? Izzy impressed everyone in her knowledge of the meaning behind several South American countries and Belling knew their facts when it came to Suffragettes.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">No all the answers were correct, however- Please don’t ask the Lower 6<sup><font size="2">th</font></sup> to deal with any electrical problems (as they don’t know what colour the ‘live’ wire is) and Hattie seemed to think that the answer to ‘What have mammals and birds got that reptiles and fish haven’t?’ was “Wings!” (Not unless they have been drinking Red Bull, anyway). Answer: Warm blood. Hattie did try to redeem herself by singing the theme tune to ‘Chariots of Fire’ and miming actions as well as (eventually) answering the question!</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">The round ended in a nail-biting finish. Although they fought a brave fight, sadly Upper Trew were defeated by Belling with incredibly impressive scores- 20/17 - the highest in the history of Universally Challenged. </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"> </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><u><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000"> Semi-Final #2</font></span></u></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">After the excitement of Wednesday’s round, you could smell the tension in the air (and the heady aroma of yet more sugar!). </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">Senior (U6th) were forced to make some substitutions due to previous team members being absent. The impressive line-up was now: Millie Norton, Levina Chow and Sylvia Zhang. Trew Day girls- Harriet (don’t mention Racoons) Walton, Jocelyn Preko and new addition Grace Oliver looked nervous, as they had only narrowly gained this place by being the highest scoring losing team.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">The buzzers braced themselves for another pounding as the warm-up starter questions were asked. However, it was less a case of ‘warming up’, more ‘cooling down’. The teams looked baffled for at least 10 questions and I started to wonder if I was asking the questions in English! Thankfully, I was able to quickly rule this out as audience members were leaping about like frogs in a bucket in a bid to answer what Elizabeth Ross deemed “Very easy questions!” For example- The seats in the House of Lords are red, not green. Stephen Spielberg directed ‘ET’ and ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">In the end, both teams took to guessing the answers; this had mixed success- more so for Trew Day girls than Senior. </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">Millie correctly guessed where the TV shows ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and ‘Lewis’ were set but then sadly forgot that Palm Springs in in Florida, not Arizona, even though she has been there… she thinks…</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">Trew Day did well to recall that Jon Snow is a character in ‘Game of Thrones’- especially as there were threats of ‘lynching’ from the audience if they did not get that correct! Harriet randomly guessed that a Bronte sister was the author of the lesser-known novel ‘Villette’ but then sadly reverted back to form with the comment “Is Estonia an actual place?” !!!!</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">Despite this, Trew Day girls managed to secure victory with a 9/5 defeat of Senior.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">As is the case in this ‘Circle of life’ we are back to the beginning. Trew Day have risen like a triumphant phoenix from the ashes of defeat, as they were the highest scoring losing team and are now in the final. In a bizarre twist of fate, they will face the team that knocked them out in the very first round.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">And so, just as Simba returned to his rightful place on Pride Rock; Trew Day Girls will meet Belling in the Final on Tuesday.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">You will all be able to support them as this will take place during Assembly.</font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">The battle for the trophy and the Krispy Kremes continues. </font></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">There will be buzzers…</font></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">There will be random answers…</font></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='font-family: "Comic Sans MS";'><font color="#000000">There will be a winner! </font></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p></span><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><font color="#000000"></font></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font></p></span><p></p><p> </p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Universally-Challenged---the-early-rounds
Tue, 09 Dec 2014 09:23:00 +0000
UCAS deadline & L6th House Supper
<p>Good evening Parents and Guardians,</p><p>Last Friday marked two important occasions for Q Sixth Formers. </p><p>For the L6th, we attended a quite unusual House Supper. I note 'unusual' as traditionally, the Sixth Form House Suppers have been quite sophisticated affairs; girls, and their parents, taking the opportunity to dress up in the most glamorous way possible.</p><p>This year had a Disney theme.</p><p>Enough said, I think. (other than to note that there are some incriminating photographs available on @QSixthform)</p><p>Very well done to Mrs Brown and the Trew Social Committee for an excellent event.</p><p>For the U6th, however, last Friday marked a very important moment - our internal deadline for UCAS. Offers are already starting to come in for girls from places such as Exeter, Bristol, Leeds and Nottingham - on top of requests for work from Oxford, Cambridge and UCL - so we would strongly encourage girls to ensure they have uploaded to UCAS as soon as possible.</p><p>We know this is a stressful time for students and parents alike, so do please be in touch if we can help put any anxieties to bed.</p><p>To that end, this week's Lecture of the Week is on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3oIiH7BLmg&list=PL46E54F6D91F61D14&feature=player_detailpage">how we can use our time wisely to minimise stress</a>.</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/UCAS-deadline-L6th-House-Supper
Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Welcome back!
<p>Good morning all,</p><p>A hearty welcome back to all our Sixth Formers - I hope everyone is feeling refreshed and excited for the challenges ahead as we approach Christmas?</p><p>Without question, I think the term ahead is the most important for our girls. They have settled on subjects and have a large block of time to obtain mastery in their chosen areas - with the Christmas break on the horizon with which to consolidate. </p><p>Hopefully you all found Parents' Evening a fruitful experience - please do be in touch with your daughters' tutors f you would like any further information from subject staff. </p><p>Lastly, I look forward to seeing those parents of the Lower 6th that will be attending the forthcoming House Supper. I am informed the dress code is 'Disney' - I have no idea what to say about that . . .</p><p>Our lecture of the week is entitled '<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoIqkQuxAJc">Mind Change</a>' from leading neuroscientist Susan Greenfield. I hope you enjoy it.</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell </p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Welcome-back
Mon, 03 Nov 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Progress Checks and Parents' Evening
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>Apologies for the slightly late weekly summary - I was finally struck down by the cold that seems to be making its way around the site! </p><p>As I mentioned to the Sixth Form girls in Tuesday's assembly, staff are putting together their progress checks at the moment - in advance of the Parents' Evening on Friday 17th October. Hopefully, your daughters took my rather broad hint that last week was an excellent time to ensure they made a good impression on staff. Tutors will be reviewing effort and achievement marks this week and will be forwarding their thoughts on to you. Please do be in touch if there's anything you would like to discuss further here. If not, I look forward to seeing you shortly at the Parents' Evening.</p><p>It has been another extremely busy week - not least with the Boarding Inspection taking place Monday to Wednesday. We've had excellent team success in Golf, Hockey and Cross Country, with outstanding news for Chrissy Horn, Alice Wills and Hannah Williams over their individual progress towards international honours. We wish them all well.</p><p>Wednesday evening was an extremely busy time: 6th Form girls were guides and advocates for their A Level subjects in the 'Into the Sixth Form' event. Then, seamlessly, we celebrated Nigerian Independence day - girls cooked and prepared a wide variety of Nigerian delicacies. I worry that there was a video camera near me when I tried something especially warm ....</p><p>We will be hearing about how to go about preparing for American university in 6th Form assembly this week and Mrs Tarrega will also be talking about the forthcoming interview practice sessions for the Upper 6th. Hopefully your daughters will find both experiences useful.</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p><p></p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Progress-Checks-and-Parents-Evening
Mon, 06 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000
An extremely busy week
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>It's been a rather busy week in the Queenswood Sixth Form. </p><p>From a demonstration by the local Fire Brigade, to an inspiring talk from an ex-Head Girl, Lucy Pickworth, to the forthcoming Fulbright conference on USA universities, and ending up with a rehearsal of the School Song this morning, there's really been something to pique the interest for everyone.</p><p>We're well into the swing of things now - the pace of lessons picks up, co-curricular activities are well established and the daily life of the school becomes a very pleasant background buzz of energy. There are upcoming Progress Checks and a forthcoming Parents' Evening on the horizon which will give an excellent early indication of life at Q - but please do not hesitate to be in touch if you have any worries or concerns.</p><p>I thought that this week's <a href="http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UIg00a_CD4&feature=player_embedded">'Lecture of the Week' </a>on the future of intelligence well married the sense of exploration we've been mining this week. It's a fascinating talk from Professor Nick Bostrom on the way in which the brain works and, perhaps more interestingly, the way in which it may work in the future . . .</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p><p>Head of Sixth (@QSixthForm)</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Lecture-of-the-Week-The-Future-of-Intelligence
Fri, 26 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000
OQ Ventures Award
<p><img width="653" height="650" style="width: 506px; height: 528px;" src="http://www.queenswood.org/Mainfolder/sixth-form/images/Lucy---Peru.jpg"></p><p></p><p>On Tuesday, we were fortunate enough to hear from OQ Lucy Pickworth (Head Girl 2012-2013) about the OQ Ventures Award and the use she made of the grant she received.</p><p>Lucy spoke with passion about the Old Queenswoodians' Association and their worldwide network. Finally, she outlined the way in which current Queenswood girls could access the OQ Ventures Award during both their Gap Year and also when at University. As an example, Lucy took us through some of her travels in Peru.</p><p>All in all, this looks like a fantastic opportunity for Q girls - past and present - and we will be encouraging all girls to consider putting themselves forward for the OQ Ventures Award when applications open in January.</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/OQ-Ventures-Award
Tue, 23 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Study Skills & UCAS
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>This week's focus for the Sixth Form girls has been on Study Skills - the Lower 6th received a talk on the Growth Mindset and the Upper 6th heard all about the mind and memory works.</p><p>We think these sessions are hugely important. </p><p>It is very easy for us to think that all our girls have excellent study habits - witness their outstanding GCSE results. However, in preparing themselves for AS and A2 study, they need to move beyond learning habits that have served them well lower down the school. It is my constant mantra to them that they should be spending as long working on their subjects outside of their lessons as they do within a classroom.</p><p>That means <strong>five hours</strong> of private work per <strong>subject</strong> per <strong>week</strong>.</p><p>And they need to approach this study in a more independent way than they will have experienced at GCSE. Hopefully, the sessions Elevate run for them - alongside all the support from their academic and House Staff - help them to begin to see this.</p><p>Outside of study skills, we hope that all of the Lower 6th have now firmed up their AS choices - we gave them a fortnight to 'trial' things - and that they are now well underway. </p><p>For the Upper 6th, it's all about UCAS at the moment - meeting with personal tutors, discussing personal statements etc etc. I wrote to all Upper 6th parents in the middle of the week to share some of the information we are currently giving the girls - if you would like me to resend it to you, please do not hesitate to be in touch.</p><p>Our 'Lecture of the Week' has been posted for girls - this week it is focusing on the way in which the City of London was designed and developed. For your interest, you can follow this lecture <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33e0yvFYf5s&feature=player_embedded">here</a></p><p>I wish all of you a happy Exeat weekend.</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Study-Skills-UCAS
Fri, 19 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000
A week in . . .
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>So, the first week has flown by and - hopefully - your daughters have begun to settle into something of a routine. An awful lot has been going on in and around the site with rehearsals for the Barbican and the Scholars' Play picking up pace, and excellent sporting success - both home and away.</p><p>All of our Lower 6th Girls have now received notice of their personal tutors - these members of staff have been carefully selected as we feel they will be best able to support, challenge and guide your daughters through their two years in the Sixth Form. They will be in touch shortly to introduce themselves.</p><p>For the Upper 6th , we are very much in UCAS territory now. For those that are Oxbridge, Medics or Vets, our deadline for the personal statement is very much on the horizon, but we would hope most girls have met with their tutor and discussed how things are going.</p><p>As always, do not hesitate to be in touch with the Sixth Form team if we can offer any help or advice or answer any questions you might have in these early weeks.</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell (@QSixthForm)</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/A-week-in
Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Lecture of the Week #3
<p>Good morning Parents and Guardians,</p><p>This week's 'Lecture of the Week' asks the question: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D6hBQtajewk">'Can Corporations be a Force for Good</a>?'</p><p>I hope you find it interesting!</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p><p> </p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Lecture-of-the-Week-3
Fri, 12 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Welcome!
<p>Dear girls and parents,</p><p>I wish a hearty welcome to all our new L6ths joining us today (and a fond welcome back to the U6th).</p><p>You return to a Q Sixth Form that is as big - and successful - as it has been for many a long year. Alongside outstanding results at AS and A2, with record numbers of girls achieving places at the top universities in the UK and the USA, we have sporting stars earning national and international recognition, and actors and musicians that regularly hold their own with the best in the field.</p><p>As our outgoing Head Girl - Abi Williams - noted in her closing address to the school: "Queenswood is a place where it's cool to be smart. Where it's good to succeed. Where you will be supported - whatever your interest - in achieving your potential."</p><p>I - alongside all the other members of the Sixth Form team - look forward to helping you achieve that potential over the coming year.</p><p>There will lots of communication in coming weeks and months but I thought I'd take this opportunity to briefly share something I'll be doing each week: posting 'lecture of the week' on something that students (and parents) might find interesting and inspiring.</p><p>This week, an apt one I thought - Tristram Hunt MP on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSamflBIA48&feature=player_embedded">the nature of the school curriculum</a></p><p>Kind regards,</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Welcome
Wed, 03 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Lecture of the Week #1
<p>Dear Parents,</p><p>I thought you might enjoy (!) access to some of things we offer to your daughters as part of their enrichment programme in the Sixth Form. </p><p>Next year, I will be sending the girls a 'lecture of the week' on something I hope they might find interesting and I'll also post it here for you to review: and hopefully talk about over the dinner table.</p><p>Firstly, is Ian Leslie on <a href="http://www.thersa.org/events/video/vision-videos/ian-leslie-curiosity"><strong>'Why our Future Depends on Curiosity'</strong></a></p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Lecture-of-the-Week
Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Choosing Universities: Advice for Parents
<p>Dear Parents,</p><p>Mr Sheldon and the Sixth Form team are spending quite some time at the moment helping the L6 girls make the most appropriate choice for their post-Queenswood existence. </p><p>Today, we took all the girls off-timetable to help them fill in the 'nuts and bolts' of the UCAS form. They were also fortunate to be offered some Personal Statement advice from James Luckhurst of Interview Guru: which we hope will prove invaluable! You get access to some of the <a href="http://www.queenswood.org/Mainfolder/sixth-form/documents/Personal-statement-advice-2014-15.docx"><strong>advice here </strong></a>if you would like to review it - likewise, if you get in touch with your daughter's tutor they will be able to fill you in more fully.</p><p>However, obviously, we know that this is a very tense time, not just for the girls, but for parents too. To that end, might I suggest that <a href="http://www.parentadviser.co.uk/?dm_i=BEM,2L8CJ,GKJ5HA,9GDDP,1"><strong>this</strong></a><a href="http://www.parentadviser.co.uk/?dm_i=BEM,2L8CJ,GKJ5HA,9GDDP,1"><strong> website</strong></a> might be a really useful resource for any parent feeling nervous about the process.</p><p>On top of this, we're all here to help and answer any questions you might have - so please, do not hesitate to be in touch!</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell </p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Choosing-Universities-help-for-parents
Wed, 25 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Driver Safety
<p>Dear Parents,</p><p>As we know many of our girls will be seeking to learn to drive over the summer, Mrs Sanders - the Senior Mistress - will be speaking to girls today about the school's driving policy. </p><p>I'm sure they will fill you in on all the relevant details. It is an Upper Sixth privilege to bring a car on site and one our senior girls take very seriously. Driving is an excellent way for girls to build independence and I'm sure you will all be very relieved when your 'taxi' services are no longer required. </p><p>We know that your daughters learning to drive will be a stressful time for you, though. If you have time, I'd encourage you to have a look at <a href="http://www.driveiq.co.uk/"><strong>this website </strong></a>which has excellent information for new drivers (and their parents). Likewise, we will be running some lectures at school next year about the importance of driver safety to ensure girls are getting the right message.</p><p>If you have any worries at all, please do be in touch.</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Driving-Safety
Tue, 24 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Oxbridge Conference 2014
<p>Dear Parents,</p><p>I've just contacted the girls about an Oxbridge Conference taking place at St Albans on September 11th. It's going to be a good opportunity for them to hear about the process of the application, some key advice over the personal statement and also meet with others from the county similarly interested. </p><p>Numbers are quite tight and the response has been very positive from girls. If your daughter is in any way interested in Oxbridge entry for 2015, make sure they let me know as soon as possible!</p><p>Kind regards</p><p>Paul-James Merrell</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Oxbridge-Conference-2014
Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Week #7 (3 March - 9 March)
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>I hope everyone enjoyed the mini-heat wave we seemed to have experienced yesterday? Certainly, the girls were very keen to inform me of all the places in the world that the UK was hotter than on Sunday. To hear tell of their weekends, it sounds like the whole of Hertfordshire was filled by Q girls furiously revising outside in the sun . . . </p><p>On Tuesday, Mrs Scrivens and Mr Kelly accompanied a group of girls to a Q Networking event at Newnham College, Cambridge. This was an excellent opportunity to meet up with Old Queenswoodians and also a chance to see Cambridge University in a slightly different light. This event was hosted by Lucy Pickworth, our ex-Head Girl, and reports were of a very pleasant evening with much swapping of contact details.</p><p>We wish the AS Drama groups the best of luck for their performances on Monday and Tuesday evening. Rehearsals have been underway for some time now - supplemented by a rigorous weekend programme - so I'm sure we will once again witness more excellence in Theatre.</p><p>Obviously, we are into the serious business of exam preparation now - I almost feel like we have a minute-by-minute countdown taking place. If any parents would like any advice on how best to assist their girls to revise at home, please do not hesitate to be in touch. Mr Sheldon has organised several sessions for the girls focusing purely on this matter - and subject staff will be, of course, highlighting techniques for their individual subjects - however, we know that sometimes parents might want a bit more information themselves!</p><p>I wish you all a pleasant week - and long may this weather continue!</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Week-7-3-March---9-March
Mon, 10 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Week #6 (24 February - 2 March)
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>This is just a quick 'welcome back' and I hope everyone had a pleasant half-term break?</p><p>After the wettest winter on record, it is lovely to see the sun starting to show its face and I'm sure the girls are going to appreciated not having to run the gauntlet of driving wind and rain as they move around campus!</p><p>Last week was important in the Sixth Form for two major events. Firstly, well done to the Hockey team for all the efforts at the National Finals. There's an excellent report elsewhere on this site, so I just want to express my own pride in how well our girls performed. It is no small thing for a school our size to so consistency reach this standard and everyone involved - staff and pupils - should be very proud indeed. </p><p>Secondly, last week was the occasion of the dreaded Mocks examinations. In the absence of January modules, these take on an especial importance - allowing girls and subject staff to take stock of knowledge and understanding before a big final push as we approach Easter. I'd like to commend the majority of our girls on their efforts and performance and, from looking at early results, there's an awful lot of which to be proud. For those that found the experience more challenging, there will be lots of support offered in coming weeks in order to ensure that all girls are able to reach their potential.</p><p>We are about to embark on a more 'normal' week with the resumption of lessons and I will be speaking to the girls in our assembly on Tuesday about how little time we all have left! It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the weeks run away from us.</p><p>I wish you all a happy (and dry) week!</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Week-6-24-Feb---2-March
Mon, 03 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Week #5 (3 February - 9 February)
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>All hail Rebecca Batcup - Queen of the John Fry!</p><p>Thursday night witnessed yet another fantastic evening of public speaking - judged by author Freya North - where some of the key issues of the day were discussed. All the topics were selected by the 2013 winner, Emma Neville, and their controversial nature certainly challenged the six speakers.</p><p>Each girl spoke with fluency, energy and great persuasiveness, with our guest judge finding it an almost impossible task to differentiate between them. However, it was Rebecca, and her thoughtful meditation on the 'The Veil Empowers Women', who finally won the day. I think you can watch her excellent speech elsewhere on this website: I would, if you missed it, urge you to do so!</p><p>A huge well done to her, and we very much look forward to seeing what she suggests as questions in 2015. Thank you so much for all of you that supported the event - this is an outstanding tradition for the Sixth Form (and the Academic Scholars) and one which really shows Q girls off at their best.</p><p>I was delighted to have been asked to contribute to the Sixth Form lecture programme that is currently being constructed by our Senior Scholar, Izzy Hadjisavvas. Apparently, I can talk about "anything that interests me." I can hear the groans already . . . Having given it some thought, I think I might spend my hour lecturing on our society's fascination with Vampire fiction and why the image of the immortal bloodsucker casts such a shadow over, especially, teen culture. (I'm Team Edward, by the way . . .)</p><p>As we approach half-term, I am beginning to feel a little like a broken record on the topic of the Mock Exams that will take place the first week back. However, what better way can there possibly be to stay out of the appalling rain that is currently plaguing us than to sit down, with a cup of tea, and reflect upon all that has been learned this year? </p><p>Certainly, I cannot think of one.</p><p>I always think this half-term break is a significant one - marking as it does the beginning of the end of the A2 and AS courses. With the 'real' exams appearing so quickly after Easter, the precious few weeks left to us as pupils, teachers and House staff take on a new importance. We remain so impressed by the focused and diligent attitude of our girls in taking advantage of their teachers' support at this crucial time- long may it continue!</p><p>This will be my final post of this half-term - I wish you all a relaxing, though not <strong>too</strong> relaxing break. The next time I post, I will - hopefully - be reflecting on how very well the Mock Exams have gone for our girls . . .</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Week-5-3-February---9-February
Mon, 10 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Week #4 (28 January - 2 February)
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>Thursday night was the occasion of our social over at Princess Helena College.</p><p>We took a coach of L6 and U6 girls to quiz against a range of schools - including, crucially for our girls, some young gentlemen from Hitchin Boys, St Columba's and Bedford School.</p><p>A very pleasant, and entertaining, night was had by all. I personally managed to get only one question right, so it was good to see the Queenswood Sixth Form well represented in the winning team - 'Anonymous' - through Victoria Fishpool, Alex Chrysanthou and Rebecca Batcup. Our Head Girl, Abi Williams, has already spoken to me about how we could, perhaps, go about hosting such an event in the future - so watch this space!</p><p>A very big 'well done' must go to Senior International Prefect, Esta Qi, for organising a Chinese New Year meal in the Pizza Hut on Friday night - I know everyone who added to the giant order from our local takeaway was very grateful. So, too, must huge respect be given to Senior Prefect for House Activities, Sarah Hills, who orchestrated an excellent evening of fun and games for the girls pre-House Drama. Both girls set excellent examples of our Prefect system in action!</p><p>Speaking of which . . .</p><p>Senior Academic Scholar, Izzy Hadjisavvas, took charge of Sixth Form Assembly for the Lower 6th on Tuesday to answer questions for those interested in Oxbridge entry next year and to give the benefits of her experience in successful negotiating the university process. There will be many such university and UCAS based talks for the L6 in coming months, but we thought it was useful to take advantage of the very recent experience of the recent applicants.</p><p>Finally, we wish all of those taking part in the John Fry Public Speaking competition on Thursday - judged by Freya North - the very best of luck. It is always an excellent occasion and I look forward to seeing as many parents and guardians there as possible. It should be a controversial and interesting evening!</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Week-4-28-Jan---2-Feb
Sun, 02 Feb 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Week #3 (20 - 27 January)
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>The week began with some outstanding news from our girls hoping to undertake Art Foundation courses. Yasmin Munro and Natalie Oon attended their interviews and - on the basis of the quality of their portfolios - were offered places on the spot! Outstanding news, well deserved, and showing the huge breadth of talent in our Sixth Form.</p><p>We're all very much looking forward to the upcoming social quiz at Princess Helena College next Thursday. I would like to think that it was the opportunity of testing their minds against the best and brightest quizzers in Hertfordshire that has led to such big numbers coming with us - however, it may have something to do with three boys' schools also in attendance . . . I hope to report back on great success next week.</p><p>The John Fry opening round was run this week, and I hear back from Miss Severino and Mr Daughton that the standard was hugely high. I look forward to seeing who makes it into the final six and what they make of the questions set by last year's winner, Emma Neville.</p><p>Finally, obviously, we like to highlight the huge benefits that exist in boarding in the Sixth Form. I was going to spend some time today waxing lyrical on that very topic - however, it occurred to me that some words from one of the students would be far more pertinent. I asked Lauren McBride, a very recent convert from a Day Girl to a Boarder, to comment on her experience post-Christmas:</p><p>"I have been a Day Girl at Queenswood since Year 7 and had never spent a night at school. After deliberating whether I wanted to board or not for the first time in L6th, I decided to stick to what I knew and stay as a Day Girl for the first term. </p><p>However, this term I have changed to a Boarder, and after a few weeks of boarding I can say that it was the right decision. There is so much more time to keep on top of your work and socialise with your friends in the additional hours in the evening - I feel I'm getting so much more done that I was in the first term. So, even in this very short space of time, I think that boarding has made a difference and I am pleased with my choice!"</p><p> I wish you all a pleasant and fulfilling week.</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Week-3-20---27-Jan
Sun, 26 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Week #2 (13-19 January)
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p><p>So, Friday night marked the occasion of the Lower 6th House Supper.</p><p>Despite our best attempts to persuade the girls towards something more glamorous, the theme of "the Sixties" seemed to be unshiftable hence some . . . unusual costumes. </p><p>Well done to Zoe Lykourgou and Victoria Fishpool who shared the award for Best Student Costume (as a Lichtenstein paining and Jacque Kennedy Onassis, respectively) and Mrs Davidson, in her splendid Hippy attire, for winning Best Staff Costume. They were a sight to behold.</p><p>A fantastic night was had by all: with well over a hundred people in attendance, this was one of the biggest L6 Suppers in years! A huge thanks must go to all in Trew who worked tirelessly to make the event such a success, the staff who gave of their time to support their tutees and, especially, to Mrs Merrell for overseeing the planning of the evening. </p><p>Mr Shaw's musical talents aren't too bad either . . .</p><p>Moving beyond the House Supper, it has been another excellent week in the Sixth Form with yet more University offers pouring in and lots of girls off on interviews and preparing portfolios. There's a lovely buzz around the Houses at the moment: the girls are just beginning to realise that the end is in sight, and yet there's still time to take stock and enjoy what Queenswood has to offer. </p><p>Applications are coming in thick and fast from girls keen to take place in the John Fry Public Speaking competition - for those of you who have not attended the event before, it is a fantastic opportunity to hear some of Qs finest public speakers deal with a range of complex topics. This year, we are fortunate to have the author Freya North as our VIP judge. </p><p>The initial rounds will happen in the coming week - trimming down to a final six. I hope to see many of you there!</p><p>A huge well done on the sporting front for several of our Sixth Form girls - Megan Crowson and Alice Wills have had great success in the Daily Express 'Hockey Writers Youth Awards' and will attend a ceremony in Knightsbridge on Tuesday. Likewise, we congratulate Katty Weymouth in being accepted to two ITF competitions in Kenya at the end of the month - hopefully, the temperatures will be more clement than those seen at the Australian Open!</p><p>All in all, a very busy and satisfying week </p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Week-2-13th-19th-Jan
Fri, 17 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000
Week #1 (6–12 January)
<p>Dear Parents and Guardians,</p> <p>One of my (many) New Year’s resolution is to keep a weekly blog of things happening in the Queenswood Sixth Form so that parents can see the huge range of achievements that their daughters are probably not sharing with them! Hopefully, this resolution will stick slightly longer than my attempt to go for a run every morning….</p> <p>At the start of each term, I like to remind girls that one of the very best things about the first day back (indeed, perhaps the only good thing) is that it is a fresh start and an opportunity to move on from all that has gone before. This is especially true this term as it is also the beginning of the calendar year and pupils have returned fresh from their holidays fully laden with Christmas gifts and New Year’s resolutions. It is an opportunity to dazzle staff with all the work they have completed over the break, to hand in all those assignments that never quite made it in pre-Christmas and to drive forward with renewed vigour as we approach the Mock exams towards the end of February. </p> <p>I should note that these exams are especially significant as, without January modules, they take on especial import as guides for the summer. We are urging girls to prepare themselves diligently for the last week in February and would encourage you to view them as key indicators of your daughter’s current progress.</p> <p>On a similar note, this term, under the direction of Mrs Scriven – Head of Government and Politics and Senior Tutor for the Upper Sixth – we are placing great emphasis on the importance of understanding current affairs. We have recommended simple ways for sixth form students to engage regularly and meaningfully with the world around them:<font color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" dir="ltr"></span></font><font color="black" face="Tahoma" size="2"><span style="font-size: 10pt;" dir="ltr"></span></font></p> <ul><li>Watching current affairs shows such as Newsnight, Question Time and the Andrew Marr show on Sunday mornings.</li><li>Waking up to the Today programme on Radio 4</li><li>Reading the daily newspapers in House or the copies of The Week that we supply to them.</li></ul> <p>We feel that any girl undertaking any of the above can certainly think themselves well-informed on the events of the day!</p> <p>Early in the week there was excellent news for Emma Neville, Abi Williams and Izzy Hadjisavvas to start the New Year as all three of them received Oxbridge offers; this is an excellent achievement and testament to their hard work over the past few years. There are a few other girls awaiting Pool offers and we have all of our fingers (and toes) crossed for them. Offers continue to flood in for the Upper 6<sup>th</sup> girls – and I hope the Lower 6<sup>th</sup> take inspiration from seeing what they themselves will be experiencing in twelve months’ time.</p> <p>Outside the classroom, this weekend I went to watch the National Indoor Finals for Hockey at my old place of work, Bromsgrove School. I enjoyed seeing my first game of Indoor Hockey and, although things did not work out the way we hoped, I’m sure we learned an awful lot from the experience. Well done to Megan, Chrissy, Alice, Yasmin, Victoria, Amy, Naomi and Gina!</p> <p>Likewise, I was encouraged by the number of Sixth Formers involved in the running of co-curricular clubs for girls in the younger years. There can be few better examples of selfless leadership than those that give of their time for others. Well done to all of those that encouraged, enticed and bribed the 7s, 8s, 9s and 10s to join their activity.</p> <p>It’s the Lower 6<sup>th</sup> Supper on Friday and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible – I have no idea what I own that could reasonably be considered 60s, but I’ll do my best. My next blog post will, I fear, contain a few images from this event . . .</p> <p>I think that’s enough for now: all the best for the coming week, the term and for 2014.</p> <p>Paul-James Merrell</p>
http://www.queenswood.org/Hello
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Derived from Samuel Coleridge's 1798 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner' what is someone said to carry around his/her neck as a heavy guilt or liability?
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Full text of "The semantic development of words for mental aberration in Germanic .."
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PD 585 Z3 1922 MAIN yC-NRLF B 4 obT aas THE OTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS IFOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND LITERATURE IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF GERMANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES BY HARTIE EMIL ZABEL PRIVATE EDITION, DISTRIBUTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LIBRARIES CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 1922 (^ I^.l ^i. i K '^ >i,/-... .:v ^ J. |; ^,- K r- V- •¥' '1^ ■^' ';^^ 'V" ;5 :JI ?«^ '^■■ ■&" :Y . ^■ ^f -ir. .*^i I J. Ir. fet &t:-^^ '<\ % )■* I? i-- *^. ■ ^ .t,-'^ ;^; ,v tvv ^;? 'hWi:>.' THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ^ THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF ARTS AND LITERATURE IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT OF GERMANIC LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES BY HARTIE EMIL ZABEL PRIVATE EDITION, DISTRIBUTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LIBRARIES CHICAGO. ILLINOIS 1922 EXCHANGE PREFACE This study aims to define the comparisons which have given ex- pressions for mental aberration. When it has established this underlying figure it does not concern itself with the further history of a word. Accordingly only those definitions of a word are given which are pertinent to the subject. When a word appears in a large number of dialects, only representative dialects or those dialects which show an interesting variation of form or meaning of this word are instanced. Expressions for mental aberration shade off into those for stupidity, folly, feeblemindedness, etc., and therefore the limits of the subject were drawn somewhat arbitrarily to include certain very closely related words rather than to exclude anything of interest. The words of the separate groups have been arranged in the order of the Sanskrit alphabet, as this frequently brings associated words nearer together. The works in the List of Sources are grouped by languages. Following each title is found the abbreviation which has been used to refer to the same. The writer is deeply indebted to Professor Francis A. Wood for inspiration and generous criticism. r;2f):u)i) LIST OF SOURCES AND THEIR ABBREVIATIONS Aaseu, Ivar Norsk Ordboy. Christiania, 1873. (NorwA.) Antenrieth Pfalzisches Idiotikon. Kaiserslautern, 1899. (Pal.) Barr^re and Leland .4 Dictionary of Slany, Jargon and Cant. London, 1897. (NE. Slang.) Baner-CoUitz Waldeckisches Worterbnch. Norden and Leipzig, 1902. (Wald.) Behagel, Otto Heliand und Genesis. Halle a. S., 1910. (OS.) Berghaus, Heinrich Der Sprachschatz der Sassen. Brandenburg, 1880-83. (A-N.) (NLG. Berg.) Birlinger, A. LexikograpMsches. Schlesigcli. (Sil.) ZfdPh. XX. 238ff., 349ff., 487ff. Bj6rkman, C. G. Svensk-Engehk Ordbok. Stockholm, 1902. (Swed.) De Bo, L. L. Westvlaamsch Idioticon. Gent, 1892. (WFlem.) Boekenoogen, G. J. De Zaansche Volkstaal. Leiden, 1897. Bosworth-Tolier An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Oxford, 1882. (OE.) Cornelissen en Vervliet Idioticon van het Antiverpsch Dialect. Gent, 1899—1906. (Antw.) Crecelius, Wilhelm Oberhessisches Worterbnch. Darmstadt, 1897—99. (Heas.) Van Dale Qj-oot Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal. "s-Grayenhage en Leiden, 1914. (Du.) DeUit, Otto Die Mundart von Kleinschmalkalden. Schmalkalden, 1913. (KlSehmal.) Dialect Notes Published by the American Dialect Society. 1896. Diefenbach und Wiilcker Hoch- tmd niederdeutsches Wiirterbuch der mittleren %ind neueren Zeit. Basel, 1885. Dijkstra, Waling Friesch Woordenboek. Leeuwarden, 1900 — 11. (WFris.) Draaijer, W. Woordenboekje van het Deventersch Dialect. "s-Gravenhage, 1896. (Dev.) Espersen, J. C. S. Bornholmsk Ordbog. Kebenhavn, 1908. (Bomb.) VI LIST OF SOURCES AND THEIR ABBREVIATIONS Evensen, A. C. Foroysk Ordhok. (A-F.) Torshavn, 1906—08. (Far.) Falk, H. S. und Torp, Alf. Norwegisch-ddnisches etymologischea Worterbuch^. Heidelberg, 1910. (F. &T.) Farmer-Henly Slang and its Analogues, Past and Prese7it. London, 1890 — 1904. (Slang.) Feilberg, H. F. Bidrag til en Ordbog over Jyske Almuesmdl. Kjebenhavn, 1886 — . (Jut.) Feist, A. S. JEtymologisches Worterbuch der gotischen Sprache. Halle a. S., 1909. Fischer, Hermann Schwdbisches Worterbuch. Tubingen, 1901— 1915. (I -IV. A-N.) (Swab.) Follmann, Michael Ferdinand Worterbuch der deutsch-lothringischen Mundarten. Leipzig, 1909. (Lor.) Franck, J. Etymologisch Wordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal. Tweede Druk door N. Van Wijk. s-Gravenhage, 1912. Freudenthal, A. 0. Vdrdmdlet Ljud- och Formldra, Ordlista med Register, Sprdkprof. Helsingfors, 1889. (Swed. dial.) Freudenthal och Vendell Ordbok ofver Estldndsk-Svoiska Dialekterna. Helsingfors, 1886. (Swed. dial.) Frischbier, H. Preu^ischea Worterbuch. Berlin, 1882/83. (Pruss.) Fritzner, Johan Ordbog over det gamle Norsk Sprog. Kristiania, 1886. (ON.) Gallee, J. H. Woordenboek van het Geldersch-Overijselsch Dial. 's-Gravenhage, 1895. (Geld.) Grein-Kohler Sprachschatz der Angelsdchsischen Dichter. Heidelberg, 1912. (OE. Grein.) Haldorsen, Biern Lexicon islandico-latino-dayiicum. Havniae, 1814. (ON.) Hertel, L. Thilringer Sprachschatz. Weimar, 1895. (Thur.) Hintner, Val. Beitrdge zur tirolischen Dialektforschung. Der Defer egger Dialekt. Wien, 1878. (Tyrol.) Honig, Fritz Worterbuxih der Kolner Mundart. Koln, 1905. (Col.) Jakobsen, Jakob Etymologisk Ordbog over det Norrone Sprog pa Shetland. Kebenhavn, 1908-12. (A-Sj.) (Shet.) Jakobsen, Jakob Foer0ske Folkesagn og Mventyr. Kebenhavn, 1898—1901. (Far.) Jelinek, Franz Mittelhochdeutsches Worterbuch. Heidelberg, 1911. (MHG. Jel.) Jongeneel, J. Een Zuid-Limburgsch Taaleigen. Heerlen, 1884. (S. Limb.) Kalkar, 0. Ordbog til det celdre Danske Sprog 1300— 1700. Kebenhavn, 1881—. (MDan.) LIST OF SOURCES AND THEIR ABBREVIATIONS VII Kiscb, Gastav Vergleich. Worterbuch der Nosner und moadfr.-lux. Mundarten. Herraanns- stadt, 1905. (MFranc.) Klngp, Friedrich Etymologisches Worterbuch der deutschen Sprache*. Strassburg, 1915. Koolman, J. ten Doornkaat Worterhich der ostfriesischen Sprache. Norden, 1879—84. (EFris.) Larsen, A. Dansk-Norsk-Kngelsk Ordbog. Kebenhavn, 1897. (Dan.| Leihener, Erich Cronenberger Worterbuch. Marburg, 1908. (Cron.) Lexer, Matthias Kdmtisches Worterbttch. Leipzig, 1862. (Carin.) Lexer, Matthias Mittelhochdeutsches Taschenworterbuch. 1911. (MHG.) Ltibben-Walther Mittelniederdeutsches Handtcorterbuch. Norden and Leipzig, 1888. (MLG.) Martin, E. und Lienhart, H. Worterbuch der elsdssischen Mundarten. Strassbnrg, 1899 — 1907. (AIs.) Meisinger. Othmar Die Rappenauer Mundart. Heidelberg, 1901. (Rapp.) Molbeck, C. Dansk Dialect- Lexikon. Kiebenhavn, 1841. (DanM.) Molema, H. Worterbuch der Groningenschen Mundart im 19. Jahrhundert. Norden und Leipzig, 1888. (Gron.) Miiller-Fraureuth, Karl Worterbuch der obersdchsischen und erzgebirgischen Mundarten. Dresden, 1914. (UpSax.) Kegel, Karl Die Ruhlaer Mundart. Weimar, 1868. (Ruhl.) Richthofen, K. Altfriesisches Worterbuch. GOttingen, 1840—. (OFris.) Rietz, Johan Ernst Svenskt Dialekt-Lexikon. Lund, 1877. (SwedR.) RoB, Hans Norsk Ordbog. Tillaeg til "Norsk Ordbog" af Ivar Aasen. Christiania, 1895. (NorwR.) Schade, Oskar Altderdsches Worterbudi. Halle a. S., 1872—82. (OHG.) Schmeller, J. Andreas Bayerinches Worterbuch'^. Miinchen, 1872—77. (Bav.) Schmidt, Charles Worterbuch der Strassburger Mundart. Strassbnrg, 1896. (Strsbg.) Schmidt-Petersen Worterbuch und Sprachlehre der nordfriesischen Sprache nach der Mundart V071 Fbhr und Amrum. Hasum, 1912. (NFris.) •yill LIST OF SOURCES AND THEIR ABBREVIATIONS Sch6pf, J. B. Tirolisches Idiotikon. Innsbruck, 1866. (Tyrol.) Schnermans, L. W. Algemeen Vlaamsch Idioticon. Leuwen, 1865—70. (Flem.) Schnermans, L. W. Bijvoegsd an het Algemeen Vlaamsch Idioticon. Loren, 1883. (Flem.) Schnltze, Martin Idioticon der nord-thiiringischen Mundart. Nordhansen, 1874. (NThur.) Schumann, Colmar Der Wortschatz von Liibeck. Z. f. d. Wortf. Vol. 9. Strassburg, 1907. Schweizerisches Idiotikon. Worterbuch der schweizer-deutschen Sprache. Frauenfeld (I -VII. A -Sch.) 1881—1913. (Swiss) Siehenhurgisch-sdchsisches Worterbuch. Strassburg, 1908, (Transyl.) Siebs, Theodor Helgoland xmd seine Sprache. Cnxhaven, 1909. (Helg.) Siebs, Theodor Sylter Lustspiele. Greifswald, 1898. (Sylt.) Sipma, P. Phonology and Grammar of Modern West Frisian. Oxford U. Press. 1913. (WFris.) Skeat, W.W. An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. Oxford, 1898. Soderwall, K. F. Ordbok ofver svenska Medeltids-Spraket. Lund (1884— 1914, A -an). (MSwed.) Stratman, Franz Heinrich. A Middle-English Dictionary. Oxford, 1891. (ME.) Tamm, F. Etymologisk Svensk Ordbok. Uppsala, 1890 — 1905. Teirlinck, Is. Ztdd-Oostvlaandersch Idioticon. Gent, 1908 — 10. (SEFlem.) 7%c Century Dictionary Revised and Enlarged. New York, 1911. (NE.) The English Dialect Dictionary Edited by Joseph Wright. London, Oxford, and New York, 1898 ff. (E. dial.) Tnerlincki, J.F. Bijdrage tot een Hagelandsch Idioticon. Gent, 1886. (Hagel.) Unger-Khull Steirischer Wortschatz. Qraz, 1903. (Styr.) Vendell, Hermann Ordbok over de Ostsvenska Dialektema. Helsingfors, 1904. (Swed. dial.) Verdam, J. Middelnederlandsch Handtvoordenboek. 's-Gravenhage en Leiden, 1911. (MDo.) Vilmar, A. F. C. Idiotikon von Kurhessen. Marburg und Leipzig, 1868. (Hess.) Vilmar-Pfister Idiotikon von Hessen. Marburg, 1886. (Hess.) Wadstein, E. Kleinere altsdchsiache Denkmakr. Marburg und Leipzig, 1868. (OS. Wad.) UST OF SOURCES AND THEIR ABBREVIATIONS JX Weigand, F. Dattsches Worterbuch''. GieBen, 1909/10. (NHG.) Weinhold, Karl Beitrdge tu eineni schlesischen M'drterbuche. Wien, 1855. (Sil.) Woeste, Fr, Wdrterbtich der westfdlischen Mundart. Norden and Leipzig, 1882. (Westph.) Wdrt(rbiich der luxemburgischen Mundart. Luxemburg, 190G. (Lux.) Zoega, G. T. Islenzk-Ensk Ordbok. Reykjavik, 1904. (Icel.) TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1. Affected by the moon I 2. Bewitched 2 3. Affected by spirits 3 4. Mente captus 4 5. Struck 5 6. Tonched 8 7. Cracked 8 8. Streaked 9 9. Distracted 10 10. Crnshed 10 11. Burned 10 12. Injured 11 13. Twisted 11 14. Wrong end to 14 15. Disordered 15 16. Disturbed 16 17. Rattling 16 18. Loose 17 19. ToppUng 18 20. Robbed 19 21. Empty 20 22. Inflated 21 23. Without mind 22 24. Be off 23 25. Off the track 25 26. Aside 25 27. Out of, away from 26 28. Astrav 27 29. Flighty 29 30. Unrestrained 29 31. In a flurry 30 32. Turning 31 33. Confused 33 34. Brooding 34 35. Excited 34 36. Weak-minded 35 37. Stup^ed 36 38. Raving 38 39. Hazy, mistified 40 40. Intoxicated 40 41. Deficient in senses 41 42. Simple 41 Xn TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 43. Foolish 41 44. Not wise 42 45. Knowing little 4'd 46. Deceived 44 47. Gentle, fond 45 43. Flabby 46 49. Of strange appearance 47 50. Odd 48 51. Excessive 49 52. Sick 50 53. Afflicted by a sickness 50 54. Acting strangely 52 55. Speaking strangely 55 56. Rocking, wavering 56 57. Groping 56 58. Like the insane 57 59. Like an animal or person 58 60. Like a certain person 69 61. Pertaining to a certain person 59 62. Pertaining to a certain place 60 63. Pertaining to a circumstance 60 64. Not right 63 65. Foreign expressions 64 66. Unclassified 64 1. Affected by the moon 1. One group of words for insanity owes its origin to the belief that the moon affects the mind. The periodic recurrence of certain forms of insanity and frequent instances of somnambulism that seemed to be brought on by the bright light of the full moon gave rise to this belief. The great variety of derivative expressions and analogical formations in early dialects (see 1.05) make it probable that such expressions developed in Germanic independently of similiar words in Latin and Greek. Lat. lunaticus, however, has given NE. lunatic, MDu. lunaet, Du. hinatiek; Swiss lunig, Swab. ^?«w'5r insane ; lunatisch \exw\vvi, verriickt, NLG. luns (sc. zucht) Mondsucht. (NE. loony, luny 'crazy, daft, foolish' has been associated with loon the bird.) Compare also Du. lunamhnlisme lunacy, sleepwalking, and NE. seleniasis mental derangement, formerly thot to be caused by sleeping in the light of a tropical moon. 1.01. MHG. manic, MHG. Jel. nienig, Swiss monig, Tyrol, maenec, Swab, monig mondsiichtig, NE. moony simpleton, noodle; NE. mooned lunatic ; MHG. mcenisch, mondisch mondsiichtig, Hess, moendisch verriickt, albern, gewissermassen mondsiichtig ; NE. mooting {moon + ling) simpleton, fool, lunatic. 1.02. MDan. mdnegal insane at certain phases of the moon, mdnedgal- {en) lunatic, Dan. maavgal id. Similarly was formed DanM. stiernegal raving mad. Cf. Col. mondgeck 13.02; MHG. mdntobic 37.01; MLG. mdndorde 37.07. 1.03. Du. maanblind lunatic. Compare NE. moonflaw, moonmadness 12.03 NHG. mondnarr 13.13. 1.04. NE. moon-man lunatic. 1.05. OE. mon-seoc, NE. moon-sick, MHG. mdn-siichtic, NHG. mond- siichtig, Swiss mansUchtig, MLG. mdn-sek, Du maanziek, MDan. mdnesjug, Dan. maansyg insane. By the analogy of the word for month this thought gave OE. nionad-seoc, OHG. mdnod-siuh, MDan. mdnedsyg lunatic. Similarly were formed OS. mdnuth-wendig , MHG. mdn-rvendic, mondsiichtig, and OS. mdnoth-{h)wllig id., mdnothduldo geisteskrank. Cf. NE. moonstnick 5.2 1 . 2 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 1.06. NHG. mondscheinig, MLG, manschinich lunatic, Swab, mond- scheinig ubelgelaunt, mondsuchtig. Cf. Swab, mondschellig 35.10. 1.07. Swab, mondschweine Abnehmen.des Monds, Mondsucht. 1.08.* Icel. tunglsiiikr lunatic: tungl luminary, moon. See 52. Cf. I eel. tunglcerr 37.05. 2. Bewitched 2. Witchcraft is blamed for insanity in the following expressions. 2.01. Du. Zijt gij hehekst? Are you crazy? 2.02. ON. hamstoli crazy, bereft of one's reason (lit. robbed of one's magic skin). Compare ON. hamora insane, crazy, uncontrolled ; Icel. hamast be beside oneself, out of one's mind ; hamoda raging, insane : hamr skin. Cf. 27.06 hams-lauss, 2.03. MDan. have vceret under en hyld be crazy. (In some places in Skone they attribute all kinds of afflictions to lying under the hyld.) 2.04. Swed. alldeles forgjord out of one's mind, stark mad: forgjord bewitched, fated. 2.05. Icel. galinn enchanted, mad, frantic, Swed. galen, Bornh. galijn mad, insane, lunatic, MDan. galnes become insane, Dan. gaining madman, madcap; MDan. hovedgal distracted, intoxicated, 'N or wR.hovudgalning crazy person; MDan. hjcernegalen insane, Dan. dial, hiernegal quite crazy; NorwA. toppgalen raging mad, ^ornh.. vindgal id.; Dan. j?me(w(?e)^aZ stark mad; MDan. bindgalen id.; ON. raudagalinn, MDan. redegalen red-mad, quite mad; NorwR. rapandegalen \ raspe{nde)gal -^ Swed. riJstgalen ; MDan. ravgal, NorwR. ravgalen, Swed. dial, ravgalen id.; Dan. skrubgal mad as a March hare. Cf. Dan. maangal 1.02 and F. & T. 1. c. 294. From the same stem was formed Styr. begellter Irrsinniger. 2.06. Lux. en huet an de glschter potz gekuckt er hat den verstand verloren : potz Brunnen, 2.07. Shet. grandet bewitched, entirely silly, distracted : ON, granda injure, damage, Shet. granda bewitch. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 3 2.08. SwedR. kds insane person, kdsug bewitched, enchanted, in- sane; Swed. dial, fortjust frightened, mad, wild: Swed. IJusa enchant, charm, MDan. kjuse, kyse choose, bewitch, Hess, bekusd behext. 2.09. NLG. hiruchiig unruhig, wild (von Tieren), nicht recht bei Sinnen (von Menschen) : NHG. hernfev beschrien, incantatus. 2.10. E. dial, bejingoed crazy, out of one's senses: NE. jingo prob. mere piece of sonorous nonsense with an appearance of mysterious meaning. 2.11. MSwed. bansatter put under a ban, crazy, foolish, Swed. bann- satter put under a ban, possessed, crazy, Dan, dial, bandsad id. 3. Affected by spirits 3. Persons who lost their minds were referred to as being in- fluenced by or controlled by evil spirits: 3.01 to 3.07; or as being like or partaking of the nature of an evil spirit: 3.11 to 3.14; or as a demon or evil spirit 3.20 to 3.25. NE. possessed (controlled by some evil spirit or influence, demented, mad) goes back to late Latin writers. Compare NE. obsessed controlled by an evil spirit. Compare also Als. unselig zornig, vor Wut auBer sich. Lor. unselich auBer sich, zornig, rasend. toll, Swiss unselig toll, verwirrt, aufier sich, narrisch: MHG. imsaelec unselig, unglucklich, bosartig, verderbenbringend, gottlos. And compare the Greek stem in NE. demoniac pertaining to a demon or spirit, lunatic, Got. daimonareis Besessener. 3.01. E. dial, giddy mad with anger, furious, wild, ME. gidi mad, silly, OE. gydig mad, insane, foolish, stupid: NE. god. 3.02. MSwed. didflafvlder possessed, insane. 3.03. Ruhl. ganz des Teufels ganz toll und verdreht. Als. der ringt mit urn temvel er ist rasend, 3.04. Du. ben je leduireld? arc you crazy? 3.05. OHG. diubilsiuh, MHG. tiuvel-suhlic vom Teufel besesseu. Cf. 52 and 53. Swiss tiifel{s)suclt Krankheit, die dem Besessenen durch den Teufel zugeschrieben wird. Cf. 38.10 Icel. dioful-odr and 38.11 MHG. tuivel-uinn'c. 4 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 3.06. OE. feond-seoc fiend-sick, demoniac. Compare Dan. fanden plager, rider ham ihn plagt, reitet der Teufel, er ist verwirrt. 3.07. Swab, besessen verriickt, wiitend, zornig, Du. bezetm insane, enraged, Swed. besatt possessed by the devil, mad, frenzied, Far. djevulsettur possessed by devils. By analogy of zestig sixty, this gave Du. dial. hist bezestigd are you crazy? Likewise WFris, bisestere crazy by analogy of sester an old measure, 3.11. NE. elfish, ME. elvish distracted or bewitched by elves, OE. ilfig affected by elves, mad, frantic, MLG. elvisch im Kopfe verwirrt, geisteskrank, MDu. alven play, joke, be insane, MDan. elvevild, Dan. ellevild crack-brained. Cf. Hess, alpch einfaltiger Menscb, Einfaltspinsel. 3.12. ON. trylWr charmed, become mad, furious, Ice). tryWur crazy, deranged, wild, NorwA, trylla disturb, distract, make insane: ON. trylla enchant, turn into a "troll*, troll giant, fiend, demon. 3.13. Helg. potsi putzig, verriickt: MHG. butze Kobold. 3.14. Lux, benzech rasend, toll: bentz Teufel. 3.20. Hess, grasteufel ein Besessener. 3.21. NE. blue-devils depression of spirits, delirium tremens. 3.22. Pruss. spuken unstat umherwanken wie ein Spuk, unrichtig im Kopf sein. 3.23. Als. spiritus Weingeist: halbverriickter Mensch. 3.24. Icel. skiptingr changeling, one out of his senses. 3.25. Icel. purscUegr, pussalegr foolish, deprived of reason, NorwB. iussen silly, half crazy, NorwA. tusse fool, Dan. tosse fool: Icel. purs giant. OHG. duris Damon, Riese. Cf. F. & T. 1. c. 1275. 4. Mente captus 4. Closely related to the preceding class are words meaning 'attacked, seized, taken, mente captus*. The supernatural power to which the victim becomes subject is emphasized less, while the thot FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN OEKMANIC 5 of an attack is more prominent, as in NHG. raptua Verzuckung des Geistes, Unsinni^keit, Col. raples Eifer, fixe Idee, Verriicktheit, Wut, NHG. rapa plotzlicher Anfall von Verrucldlieit, NE. raphis outbreak of iincoutroilable violence in a melancholic person : Lat. raptm, rapen' seize, rob, plunder. Similarly NE. arreptitious seized, possessed, frantic, crackbrained, mad. Compare NE. acatalepsy weak understanding, mental deficiency. 4.01. MDu. het overcomt hem he becomes crazy. 4.02. Shet. on-kast attack of a sickness, bewitching, sudden loss of the senses or reason. 4.03. UpSax. es hat ihn er ist iibergeschnappt, Lor. dich hcit's du bist nicht recht bei Sinnen. 4.04. E. dial, gyte mad, out of one's senses : gyte contemptuous for child (obs. past pple of get). See dyte 37.03, hyte 54.20. 4.05. NE. elf-taken bewitched by elves. Cf. 3.11. 4.06. Als. wenn ihne der narren anpackt wenn er Anfalle von Geistes- storung bekommt. 4.07. Swed. anfdktas be possessed: MLG. vechten fechten, streiten. 4.08. E. dial, get fetched in the head become crazy or mad. 4.09. NHG. befangen blode, verlegen, unbeholfen, im Gemut be- fangen, wahnsinnig, S\ved. hefdngd insane, mad, cracky, absurd; E. dial. matter-fangled in incipient dotage, muddleheaded, confused; Swed. farter half crazy person; fayiig brain sick, underwitted. 4.10. OHG. firnoman besessen, Swab, sich vernehmen bis zur Ver- standesverwiiTung stiitzig werden. 4.11. OE. ge7-is raging, fury: gerisan seize, take. 5. Struck 5. Reference to the dazed condition of one struck on the head as well as the general thot of affliction and attack may be seen in a number of expressions meaning primarily 'shot', 'struck', or, more 2 6 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS mildly, 'touched' 6.01 to 6.03. Compare Lat. fatum foolish, simple, silly (from the base hhau strike, beat) from which comes NE. fatuous foolish, idiotic, demented, imbecile; E. dial, infatuate infatuated, mad, foolish. See Walde 1. c. 210. 5.01. NLG. abasig albern, aberwitzig : OFrench ahas Niederschlag, Platzregen. 5.02. Thur. Maps, UpSax. Mai^s leichter Schlag mit der Hand, An- flug von Geistesverwirrung. Cf. 48.06. 5.03. Col. nen liau eweg (fot) han halb verriickt, nicht bei Siunen sein: Col. hau Schlag, Hieb, Swab, einen hui haben liberspannt sein. 5.04. Als. hist uf {der) kopf glieit? bist du verriickt?: Swiss heien rammen. 5.05. Lor. geiukt nicht recht gescheit : Fr. /ogMer anriihren, schlagen, toque halb verdreht, verruckt. Compare WFlem. tukkezot quite crazy. 5.06. OE. gemynddrepen mind stroke, swoon, delirium ; drepan strike. 5.07. Pruss. er hat einen drahn weg er ist nicht recht bei Verstand: drahn Hieb, Schlag, StoB. 5.08. Als. apuff't verruckt: anhuffen heftig anstoBen. 5.09. E. dial, hilled distracted, half-mad : NE. hill work at or on with a bill, hoe, hack, chop, lop. 5.10. NLG. nurt leichter Anfall von Irrsiun, Raptus: wMr(;e« stoBen, stoBweise gieBen. 5.11. Swab, geschuckt geistig etwas anormal, wer einen Sparren zu viel hat, Rapp. geschukt verriickt: NHG. schuck StoB, Wurf. 5.12. Styr. gesclmtzt schvvachsinnig, halb verriickt, halb narrisch: NHG. schutzen mit pldtzlichem StoBe schwingen, scharf stofien. 5.13. Als. gschupft verriickt, Bav. verschipft id.. Swab, geschupft liberspannt, narrisch, verriickt: Als. schupfen stoBen, ruckweise bewegen. FOR MENTAL AliKRRATION IN GERMANIC 7 5.14. CariD. schalte Schalk, Narr, Niuiin; NHG. schalt StoB, Schwung. 5.15. NHG. geschossen verliebt, nilrrisch, verriickt, Pruss. geschossen iiberspannt, rappelkopfig, Swab, geschossen liboreilt, unbesonnen, nilrrisch, AIs. geschossen in gedankenloser Ubereiluiig, fahrig, niirrisch, verriickt, von Sinnen; Lor. geschossen en det- pelzkapp, A\s, gschossen in der ledernen pelzka2)p, gschossen mit der pelzkapp verriickt, Hess, mit der pelzkapype ge- schossen sein sicli narrisch anstellen; NHG. geschossenhaftig verriicld, Swab. geschossig im Kopf nicht ganz klar, UpSax. hirnschUssig unklar im Kopf, toll. Cf. AIs. gehickt uf der pelzkapp verriickt. See 12.01. 5.1G. Pruss. er hat einen schuss iveg er ist nicht bei gesunden Sinnen, Hess, {einen) schtss hahen ailbern, verkehrt, lappisch, NHG. er hat einen schiissy er ist ein schuss er ist ein narrischer, verruckter Mensch; Lor. geschuss verriickt, von Sinnen, Lor., AIs. halbgeschttss halbverriickt; schoshartel Geek, PossenreiBer : Barlholomaens, from which Lor. schosspatel Sonderling, halbnilrrischer Kerl. 5.17. NHG. schossel verriickter, alberner Mensch, Swab, geschossel Weib das nicht recht bei Sinnen, AIs. schossel Halbverriickter, geschossel Halbnarr, Lor. schossel Person die einen SchuB hat. Pal. schossel, schussel ein Halbverriickter, Col. scliottel albernes, tolles Frauenzimmer (influenced by Jewish schote), Pruss. schosel loddriger, alberner, dummer, halb- verriickter Mensch (influenced by schose Spasse, Fr. chose). 5.18. Flem. een steeksel weg hebben be deprived of one's reason or judgement, Hess, stich Riiuschchen, halbe Verriicktheit : Du. steek pricking, stab, thrust, puncture. 5.19. AIs. gestuch verriickter Kerl: stuchen stoCen. This word has been influenced by AIs. gestuss Spass, beschrankter, storrischer Mensch, hesiusst verriickt, which are of Jewish origin. 5.20. AIs. stilben Narrheiten, Anfalle von Verriicktheit, Hess, staupe Anfall einer leiblichen Krankheit oder der Narrheit, des Zornes u. dgl., UpSax. staiipe Anfall von Krankheit oder Narrheit: NHG. staupe groBe Rute zur offentlichen Ziichtigung, Schliige damit. 5.21. NE. moon-struck affected or regarded as affected in mind or health by the light of the moon, lunatic, crazed, dazed. Compare E. dial, facidty strucken deprived of the use of one's senses, weakened in intellect, NE. elf-stricken bewitched. Cf. 3.11. 2* y THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 5.22. Gron. hy hefn slag mit de meulnrou had he is not in his right mind, Flem, ein slag von den molen, slingeren, den sUngenneulen {iveg) hebben be crazy, slag om slinger zyn seines Verstandes verlustig seiu, Antw. ne[n) slag van de[n) meulen iveghebben id., halveslag half crazy (compare classes 13. and 32.), Icel. nu slaer i hofud a honum now he is losing his mind, NHG. vor den kopf geschlagen tovichi, unzurechnungs- fjihig, E, dial, be badly Ml with a harmsHck be half-witted (cf. 22.05). Stupidity is often expressed by a comparison to a stick : NE. slang broomstick awkward, dull, impotent, stupid person. 5.23. Contamination of Als. schmeckes Priigel, Schlage and meckel blodsinniger Mensch gave Als. geschmeckelt halb verriickt. 5.24. Hagel. in veeg eweg hdmme mad, insane: Du. veegf heavy blow. Du. hij heeft het weg he is crack-brained, he has his share, has caught cold, 6. Touched 6. A milder figure is given in words meaning 'touched'. 6.01. WFIem. eenen tik hebben be of unsound mind, getikt zijn id., Flem. eenen tik van den meulen hebben be crazy, NE. be touched id, 6.02. WPlem. gerocht in den koj) Crazy, insane: Du. raaken touch, hit, reach. 6.03. EFris. berurd getroffen (vom Schlage, Blitz usw.), unsinnig, i^erriickt. 7. Cracked 7. Expressions meaning "break" or "crack" compare the mind to a vessel or instrument. The starting point in their development pro- bably was the thot of a severe mental strain or pressure resulting in a break. Compare NE, a splitting headache and French avoir le coco fele. 7.01, Up, Sax. knackschddelig schadhaft, schwach im Kopfc: NHG. Knack Laut des Brechens, Bruch Ri6, 7.02. NLG. klikk, klikksch unklug, narrisch toll, MLG. klick toll, verriickt, zankisch: MEG. zerklicken zerschaWeD, zerbersten, NHG. M/cA-e?i rait einem klickenden Schall brechen. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 9 7.03. NE. (racked, E. slang cracked in the filbert impaired intellectu- ally, crazy, crack one's brains becoine crazy, brain-crack craze, NE. crackbrain[ed) one who is cracked or impaired intellectually; crazy ft'Uow, crack-skull^ E. dial, crackpot, cracky id. 7.04. NE. craze in the glaze of pottery, flaw, in general, insanity, crazed, crazy broken, impaired, deranged in intellect, demented, insane, care-crazed maddened by trouble or care: Swed. krasa 'crackle' originally 'break'. Compare NE. slang break the brains drive mad, NHG. sich den kopf Uber eticas brechen. 7.0.5. E. dial, nicked at or in the head rendered temporarily fooli.sh or insane: NE. nick cut slightly or irregularly, chap, crack. 7.06. Tyrol. Azn??-ws?gf kopfzerbrechend, toll, unsinnig, im kopf einen riss haben nicht recht gescheid sein, Styr. hirnrissig sinnlos, unsinnig, verriickt, toricht. 7.07. Swed. splittergalen stark mad, DanM. splittergali id., MDan,, Swed. splitt{er)rasande ganz toll. Cf. Dan. dial, rivgal raging mad: rive rend, toar. lacerate. See 2.05. 8. Streaked 8. When insanity is manifested only at certain times or under certain conditions it may be referred to by terms meaning 'striped, streaked **, or "spotted"'. 5.01. Swiss jdnisch toll, unsinnig: jan schraaler Streifen Landes. Compare joni Narrin. 8.02. Hess, streife Streifen, einen Streifen haben betrunken sein, ver- riickt sein, Antw. en streep weghebben more or less deranged in mind, Cf. 5.03. 5.07, 5.18 and 5.22. 8.03. Swab, gestreicht launisch, etwas narrisch, NE. slang streak mental peculiarity, NE. streak line, mark, trait, vein, turn of character or disposition, whim, as: (piet^ streak, yellow streak. 8.04. Als. gesprickelt gefleckt, buntscheckig, leicht angetrunken und darum nicht recht bci Sinnen. halb verriickt. 10 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 8.05. Swab, gespritzt iiberspannt, liochfahrend, empfiudlich, halb- narrisch, Als. gespritzt mit Sounensprossen bedeckt, ein wenig betrunken, halb verriickt. 0. Distracted 9. The figure 'distracted' 'pulled apart' suggests an incoherence of the mental processes. The word distracted has many variant forms : NE. astraught, extraugJit, ME. forstraught, NE. bestraught, strad disordered in intellect, deranged, mad, whence E. dial slrackle-hrain giddy, thoughtless person, simpleton, fool, strackled careless, heedless, distracted, mad, wild, strackling one who is distracted or deranged, giddy, foolish person. Compare French avoir le tfrognon, la hoide, detraquee be crazy. 9.01. Ba.y. aiiseinander seyn, toten verriickt, wahnsinnig sein, werden. 9.02. Dan. sonderrevethed distracted state, distraction. 9.03. NE. shatter-hrain{ed) {-pate, -wit) person of cracked brain or wandering wits, giddy, thotless person; scalterbrain one who is incapable of cerious connected thot, thotless, giddy, person. 10. Crushed 10. Words that developed from the meaning of "crushed' to 'crazy' at first described the helpless, flabby condition of the subject. For similar comparisons see 48. 10.01. EFris. kivatsch albern, dumm, unsinnig, verdreht, zerdriickt, zerschlagen, miirbe, elend. 10.02. Rap. fatsmckt alhern, toricht: NHG. zfcicken klemmen, kneifen. 10.03. Styr. zerdrascht nicht ganz bei Sinnen, etwas verriickt: drasch Schlag, Hieb. 10' 04. EFris. molum seiner Sinne nicht machtig, Da.nM. malm ver- wirrt, irrig im Kopf: Dan. male grind, crush. 11. Burned 11. Terms meaning 'burned' or 'singed' do not occur in the older periods and are most frequent in southwestern German dialects. It seems probable that they are new formations after the model of the French FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIf J I cerveau hrule hare brain, mail-cap. 'Hirnverbrannt' came into vogue in Germany after Heine used it. 11.01. NGH. hirnverhranhf verriickt, Swab, im hopfe verbrennt id., dem hretuits im kopf er ist njirrisch, Styr. brandeln etwas verriickt sein, brand leichte Geistesstorung, Carin. uugcbrenvt nicht recht bei Sinnen, verwirrt. Lower Austrian onbrend verwint im Kopfe, verriickt, audi verliebt. 11.02. Swab, besengt wiitend, rasend. Similarly the contrasting E expression, Wald. jmw en hunt dat heren ferfrdren Met, dan wart e dul. 12. Injured 12. Insanity is referred to as an injury by a variety of comparisons. Similar expressions could be formed at will and would be understood readily. 12.01. Strsg. gebickt halb verriickt, Als. {ge)bickt verriickt, SwedR. forpikkad raging, beside oneself, UpSax. dich pickts wohl? du bist nicht klug. Cf. NE, 7chafs eatin on you? Cf. 5. 15. also E, slang maggot-pate, - headed silly, whimsical person. For a different explanation of Swed. forpikkad, see Rietz 179. 12.02. Pruss. verbohrt nicht recht bei Sinnen, er ist im arschloch verbohrt {verbogen, verriickt, verkrempelt) er handelt, verdreht, unsinnig, Swiss en chrumm 'borets arscMoch verdrehter Mensch. Somewhat different is NHG. einem den geckcn bohren, sehneiden, losschneiden, siechen eigentlich ihn durch eine Operation davon befreien. See group 3. 12.03. NE. mad insane, foolish, OE. gemxded troubled in mind, mad, out of one's mind. E. dial. poUmad wrong in the head, crazy, mad or eager to the point of mental derangement, E. dial, mad-lock lunatic, mad fellow, madderim madness, folly (cf. ivuddrum 38. 10), NE. madbrained insane, NE. maddle rave, be delirious, be or become crazy: ON. meida injure, destroy. 12.04. Als, 's hern verschiittelt haben verriickt sein. 13. Twisted 13. Expressions for insanity that go back to the meaning 'turned*, 'twisted' are in reality descriptions of the sight, thought, speech and various actions of those afflicted. The same thot in a milder figure 12 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS is that of 'slanting', 'askew'. See 13. 21 and 13. 22 A stronger comparison is given in 'tangled', 'knotted'. See 13.31. 13.01. Du. gek, MDu. yec crazy, silly, foolish, NHG. geek Narr, Verriickter, MLG. geek thoricht, narrisch, Sylt. gek verriickt, narriscli, Swiss gdgg Narr. (By contamination with marionette doll, puppet, this gave mariag verriickt. Cf. Wood JEG. Phil. 11,314.) Sw^^i. naturliche gecken Verriickte, Col., Lux. geek Narr, NE. geek fool, dupe, gull : MLG. geek drehbarer Deckel eines Gefasses, die Stange, woran das Hauptsegel befestigt ist, verdrehtes gestortes Gehirn der Kalber. Cf. Weigand 1,641. 13.02. Du. dial, gek-oor fool, silly person, Du. aartsgek extremely silly person. Col. mondgeck mondsiichtig (cf. 1.02), Col. stabeleei geek total -verriickt. Du. stapelgek insane, WFris. stdbelgek wanton, wild, entirely crazy. Du. stapel crazy, Antw. dapel half crazy. Lor. stahel verriickt. (For another attempted connection see Follmann 1. c. 493.) Compare Cron. stapeldol, Flem. sfapelzot. Lux. stahel was contaminated by the French fou giving schtafu verriickter Mensch. (For another explanation see Lux. 1. c. 399.) Lux. steifgeckeeh ganz narrisch, Lor. stifgeekich ganz verriickt. 13.03. ON. garungr Narr, NorvvA. gaare fool, simpleton: Norw. gaare Jahrring in Holz. See F. & T. 293. 13.04. Swab, im him vergrattlet verriickt: sick vergrattlen sich ab- miihen, wobei der Korper alle moglichen gekrummten Stellungen au- nehmen muss, um etwas in die Hohe Gestelltes herabzuholen. 13.05. Du. dial, kriek crazy, silly, injured in mind: NE. cree/i: bend, corner, inlet, cove. 13.06. Swiss cherhahig werden verriickt werden, MLG. vorkert \\m- gekehrt, unrecht, verdreht, wahnsinnig. 13.07. NE. erank crook, bend, twist, vagary, one who is mentally wrong or eccentric, cranky silly, crazy, imbecile, mad, insane, E. dial. cranch silly, crazy, mad. 13.08. Pruss. verkrampelter kerl von einem Mann, der nicht recht bei Sinnen ist (see 1 2.02.) : Carin. krempe Bug, Kriimmung. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 13 13.09. Sylt. krUs verriickt: NHG. kraus (vou Haaren) viel ins Kunde gekriimmt oder geringelt (audi von Sinn und Gedanken) wirr oder hiuncnhaft, figensinnig, ME. o'osse madman. 13.10. E. dial, (urn one in the brain render one insane, or confused in intellect. 13.11. E. dial, have a ticist be something of a fool, have a tendency to insanity. 13.12. NHG. den verstand, den Kopf verdrehen^ Antw. verdraaid foolish, more or less crazy, Col. verdriht verdreht, verriickt, iibellaunig. Swab, ein verdrehter kopf Verriickter. Compare UpSax. meisseldrahtig schlecht gesponnen (von Garn), verwirrt, narrisch, erpicht auf etwas, verriickt. 13.13. NHG. narr im Widerspruch mit dem gesunden Verstande Handoliider, possenhafter Mensch, MHG. narre, OHG. narro Verruckter, Widersinniger, Lor. narr verriickter Mensch, halbnarr Halbverruckter, Swab, vihndrrisch ausgelassen, verriickt, Styr. narrentatel halbverruckter, verstandsloser Mensch, MLG. narre, Narr, NLG. narr Verriickter, MDu. narre, Du. nar foolish, silly, crazy, Icel. svefnorar Verriicktheit im Schlaf : This is to be connected with the root ner- 'turn, wind' which is also found in NHG. narhe, NE. narroiv. 13.14. NHG. verschrohen verdreht, iiberspannt, exaltiert, verriickt, Dan. forskruet eccentric, extravagant, high flown. 13.15. MLG. icrich verbogen, verdreht, wirrig, verriickt. 13.16. Flem. tcroed, ivroet mad, raging, insane: '^iiere-t to turn. For another explanation cf, Schuerman's Bijvoegsel 395. Cf. also Franck 807. 13.17. Swed. vriden twisted, turned; not quite right, not in one's right mind or senses, distracted. Cf. F. & T. 1396. 13.21. SwedR. hojsiger crazy: Swed hoja bend, inflect. 13.22. E. dial, skaiuie hairbrained : applies to one Avho acts as if in a delirium or on the borders of insanity from ON. skeifr askew, asquint. J 4 THE SEMANTIC DE\'ELOPMENT OF WORDS 13.23. E. dial, skewed distorted, out of the perpendicular, demented, acting like one deprived of reason, shew-ivhified weak-minded, having a mental twist: NE. skew having an oblique direction or position. 13.24. Als. nberztverch im kopf sin verruckt, verwirrt: zwerch. quer, verkehrt, OHG. chverah schrag, quer, Goth, pwairhs zornig. 13.31. Als. verhidelt verworren, zerzaust, irrsinnig: verhidein ver- wicklen, verwirren. 14. Wrong end to 14. Expressions meaning "wrong end to' were used facetiously to describe insane people. 14.06 to 14.10 have developed from the thot 'displaced'. A more violent disarrangement is suggested by figures meaning 'disordered', 15.01 — 15.11. 14.01. Swiss imderohskh, z' under ohsich (durch Kreuzung von under- iiber-sich auch binder -Uh-sicli) das Untere nach oben gekehrt, verwirrt, verstort, verruckt. Compare Als. gelt du hist mit dem kopf zerst das hett Jieral) du bist nicht bei klarem Verstand. 14.02. Swiss hinder fur ruckwarts, verkehrt, irr-, wahnsinnig, ver- riickt, verwirrt, vernarrt, albern, narrisch, Als. Mndenfiir, Mnterfur irr- sinnig, wahnsinnig, geisteskrank, zerstreut. Swab, hinterfiir verwirrt. narrisch, wahnsinnig, missgelaunt, Rap. hintafiia verkehrt, verruckt, Lux. hannevir Narr. 14.03. Swiss hindersich verkehrt, hindersich im grinn (Grimm) sin irrsinnig sein ; Swiss z'hinderletz geistesgestort ; Swiss zletzefiir verkehrt, geistig verstdrt, nicht ganz bei gesundem Verstand. 14.04. Swed. hakfram the wrong way, reversed; stupidly, sillily as if out of one's mind. 14.05. Swed. rubbad distracted, deranged, crazy: nihba displace, move; put out of one's place, dislocate. 14.06. MHG. den sin vertvandeln von Sinneu kommen, den Verstand verlieren. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 1 5 14.07. MDu. venvisselJ changed, exchanged, foolish, crazy, insane. 14.08. NHG. verrilckt von der Stelle weggesclioben ; toricht, ver- wirrt, irrsinnig, Als. verruckt, Swiss. Swab., verrukt, EFris. venukd, Lux. verrekt, Helg. ferrikt id., Dan. forrykl crazy, cracked, crack-brained, Swed, fnrryckt distracted, disordered, deranged, cracked, crazy, mad. 14.09. Swab, r^rso/i?/^)/!^ verdreht, (halb)narrisch ; aufgedunsen: Swab. verschitpfen wegstossen, wegschieben, MHG, verschu2)fen, verschieben. 15. Disordered 15. Closely related to the preceding group are words meaning 'disordered'. 15.01. NE. disordered deranged mentally or physically. 15.02. Swiss verhiirscht geistesverwirrt (von zeitweiser Storung oder von wirklicher Krankheit): hUrschen Unordnung machen, in Verwirrung bringen, verwicklen, eig. und bildl. 15.03. Icel. hrinlabr out of one's mind, crazy, silly: h'iala confuse, derange. 15.04. Lux. verjmist verriickt: jausen sausen. Association with 'schauss Halbnarr' and 'schaute, schote alberner, lacherlicher Narr' occurred. 15.05. Tryol. z'riift zornig, irrsinnig: 7i(tten wiihlen, in Unordnung bringen. 15.06. NE, deray derange, disorder, go wild, rage: disarray put into disorder. 15.07. UpSax. wireimisch nicht recht bei Sinnen: OHG. rtm Reihe, Ordnung. 15.08. OE. deranged unsettled in mind, insane. 15.09. Als. gschvttelt in der pelzkapp veriickt. Cf. 5.15. 15.10. NorwA. avskipast come out of order, become wild or crazy: ON. skipa draw up, place in order, arrange. This word lies close to the thot expressed in 23. Ig THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 15.11. MDan. siahelstedt confused, disordered of mind, put out of order: Dan sfahel pile, stack. 16. Disturbed 16. Words meaning disturbance, though commonly applied to mental states in a much milder sense, by litotes also attain the meaning 'crazy'. This is also illustrated by two borrowed French words: NE. commotion mental agitation, perturbation, disorder of mind, NE. disturhance emotion or disorder of the mind, agitation. 16.01. Du. getrouUeerd nicht bei gesundem Verstand: French trouhler disturb. Compare French trouhleraison geistesgestort. 16.02. Pruss. gestort in Betreff der Sinne, in Unordnung, wahn- sinnig, NHG. geistig gestort id.; NHG. verstoren den geistigen Zustand eines Menschen aus dem Gleichgewicht bringen, Als. verstori geistig ge- stort, Lor. verstert geistesabwesend, geistig umnachtet, auBer Fassung, Dan. forstyrret (i hovedet) distracted, deranged, light-headed. 16.03. ON. hugarsturlan insanity: Icel. sturla derange, disorder. 1 7. Rattling 17. The thot of the thumping and beating in the head has given a variety of words for insanity that mean 'make a noise'. Cf. Grimm DWB. Vm, 119. 17.01. NE. heeheaded crazy, flighty, Nfi. slang have a bee in the head {brain or bonnet) have queer ideas, be 'half-cracked', flighty, eccentric, crazy, bee-bonnetted id., E. dial, have a hive in ones head id. Compare French avoir une sauterelle dans la guitare, avoir un moustique dans la boite au-sel, avoir un hanneton dans le reservoir. 17.02. UpSax. einen vogel [piepynatz] (piep oderj^/eps) im kopfehahen Spuren von Geistesstorung zeigen; bei dem jnept's, er pie2)t es ist nicht ganz richtig bei ihm. 17.03. NHG. rappeln nicht recht im Kopf sein, Swab, rapplen id., Westpf. rappeln Getose, Gerausch machen, halbverriickt sein, EFris. rappeln riitteln, klappern, halbverriickt sein. Col. et rappelt im er scheint nicht recht bei sinnen zu sein, Pruss. rapplig nicht recht bei Sinnen, Als. FOR MENTAL ABEIiUATION IN GERMANIC I7 's mppelf ihm er ist verriickt, Lor. rahhel narrischer, verriickter Einfall, Swiss rapjyel vorubergeheiule Storung des geistigen Gleichgevvichts, An- fall von Verriicktheit, Narr, Verriickter. 17.04. Lor. sin radcliin snrrf (sin radel geht) er ist verriickt, cv hat en rddchin iil. 17.05. MDii. (Kilian) remelen wander in mind, trifle: rammelen rattle, clatter. 17.0G. Pruss. rasselig halbverriickt, iiberschnappt: rasseln rattle. 17.07. Flem. schateren, schouteren have attacks of insanity, sjuiferen id.. So. Limb, sjoiite {nmn) fool: MDu. schateren crash, tear apart noisily, burst into laughter. 17.08. NHG. schrulle bose Laune, fixe Idee, EFris. schrul{le) Anfall von Tollheit und Verriicktheit, NFris. skroll Schrulle, Anfall von Wahn- sinn, Pruss. schroUe wunderlicher Einfall, verkehrte Ansicht, fixe Idee, Anfall von Verriicktheit, MLG. schrul Anfall von Unsinn, toller oder libler Laune, Geld, schrol grimace, whim, crazy thot, MDan. skrul insane, Dan. skrullei crazy, crack-brained, DanM. skrol (sknd) not quite right, not in one's right mind: Du. schrollen unzufrieden sein, tadeln, schelten, NHG. scJirill im Tone durchdringend scharf. Cf. Weigand, 1. c. II, 794. 18. Loose 18. Words meaning 'loose' seem first to have been applied to the insane because of their loose and slovenly appearance. Dilapidation was associated with this idea. 18.10 — 18.12 give a specific adaptation of this figure. Expression 18.03 is very close to the preceding group. 18.01. Swiss us-sem alter (chon) nicht recht ordentlich zusammen- hangen, verruckt sein: etter Geflecht von Gerten oben an einem Zaun. 18.02. E. dial, untight (fig. of the mind) wandering, infirm. Compare Col. nit kapitelfass sin schlecht vorbereitet, nicht gauz bei Troste sein. 18.03. E. dial, shackle loose, daft, crazed. 18.04. DsiuM. hovedet sidder slort paa ham he is not bright, is hasty, fiery: Dan. slor slack, loose; WFlem. zijt gij slutsch de? said of one who does something that is crazy, WFlem. sluts loose, slack, WFlem. sluts, slutsch silly, crazy: MDu. slus loose. 13 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 18.10. Slang have a wheel loose [in one's head) be silly, crazy, Tyrol. das radl ist ihm dbgelaufen er ist narriscli geworden. 18.11. NHG. hei ihm ist eine schraube los er ist nicht ganz richtig (NHG. Schraube Verriicktheit), Col. bei dem ess en schruv los id., NE. slang have a screio loose {in one's head) id., Dan. have en skrue les be crack- brained, Swed. hava en skruf Ids, MDan. sknielos crazy, en {saer underlig) skrue an odd fellow, a queer chap. Compare NE. clang have a tile [slate] loose be slightly crazy, have lost a button, be a button short id., Flem. steeklos not having one's senses tight, somewhat crazy. 18.12. Flem. er is eene vijs aan los, er is eene vijs in zyn hoofd los- gesprongen, er hat seinen vollen Verstand nicht, from which: hij heeft het (his reason) of ze (his senses) niet vast i&. Cf. OE. unge wit fcBstness 2S, 12. 19. Toppling 19. 19.01 — 19.09 illustrate the development of meaning from "fall over" to "become crazy"'. This figure is taken from objects that are valueless in a fallen state or are spoiled in the fall. The comparison is made vividly in words for "fall into ruin": 19.11 — 19.13. 19.01. Jut. ga mver i et become crazy. 19.02. Swiss iiberhijen umfallen, umkippen, irrsinnig werden. 19.03. Swiss iiber-hiislet iibergeschnappt, geisteskrank : iiberhuselen sich iiberschlagen. Schweiz. Id. 1. c. II. 1750. 19.04. Swiss ilberhoschelet iibergeschnappt, verriickt. 19.05. Swiss Uherriiert verriickt, iibergeschnappt: Uberriieren iiber-, umwerfen, -rennen. 19.06. Thur. da solde me jo den ewerschlak (iTberschlag) kri den Verstand verlieren. 19.07. NHG. iiherschnappen verriickt werden, UpSax. iiber schnappen, Hess, iiber schnappen, Col. uvverschnappe, Mosel iwwerschnappn, Cron. yewer- snapen, Pruss. ilberschnappen, Wald. uowersnapen id.: original meaning was 'fall over with a snap'. See Weigand 1. c. II. 1101, iiberschnappen im eig. Sinne vom Schlofi 1691 bei Stieler, dann von der Stimme. FOR MENTAL AUESRATION JN GEllMANIC; jg 19.08. NE. his reason topples lie becomes crazy. 19.09. Swiss iihencerfen verriickt machen. 19.11. UpSax. kaduk kiiinklicli, liiiifiillig, verriickt: French caduc baufallig, hinfiillig. 19.12. Fris. dial, for fallen crazy. 19.13. MDu. riesen be deprived of one's reason, become silly or insane. MDu. verrisen id. OE. hreosan niederfallen, in Verfall geraten. Cf. Verwijs en Verdam Mnl.Wbk. VI. 1376. 19.14. Swab, vergagelen unsinnig, narrisch warden, verzweifeln: Swiss gaggelc[n) oline Dauer zurecht machen, bes. von Kindern, welche spielen oder das Tun der Erwachsenen nachahmen. 19.15. MDan. glepsk insane: ON. glepja cause to fail, confuse. 19.16. Swiss vertrUdelt wQTxviCki: NHG. fn«?eZ abgenutzte, unbrauch- bare Geratschaften, Kleidungsstiicke usw. 19.17. Swiss rams u-erden, sin korperlich, geistig Fiasko machen, eig. im Rams verlieren bezw. verlorcn haben, indem man keinen Stich macht. 20. Robbed 20. In the preceding groups of words in general, insanity has been referred to as an injury; in the following groups the underlying thought is a void, a deficiency. Group 20 gives words meaning 'deprivation'. 20.01. OX. vit-firring wit estrangement, insanity, madness; Icel. firra deprive one of a thing. 20.02. Antw. jets, wat mankeeren half crazy: French manquer fail, be lacking, miss. 20.03. Flem. missen become silly: Du. missen fail, fall short, lack. Compare Flem. die man mist (sc. verstand). 20.04. NHG. sinnberauht foolish, crazy, Swed. berova nagon forstdndet deprive anyone of reason, turn anyone's brain, berovad fomuftets bruk bereft of reason, Du. ran zijn verstand beroovd id. 20 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 20.05. Hess, smnverlissig der Sinne beraubt: MHG. verlustec Verlust erleidend, liabend. 20.06. NE. diswitted deprived of wits or understanding, demented. Compare E. dial, run between one and one's tvit be distracted with thinking too much of a thing. 20.07. NHG. entsinnen der Sinne berauben, MLG. entsinnet von Sinnen gekommen, Du. ontzind deprived of reason, MDu. ontsiyinet crazy, insane, raging. 20.08. ON. vit-stola wit-stolen, insane; hvgstoUnn id.; MSw. drom- siulin durch einen Traum beraubt, die Sinne von einem Traum entziickt. 20.09. MDu. versnodelt deprived of reason, simple, snodel common, silly: OE. hesnyddan rob. 21. Empty 21. This group gives words meaning "empty'. Closely related to these are words, which refer to the head as a room, house, etc. Group 22 gives expressions that mean inflated, hollow, empty. Com- pare NE. fool one deficient in, or destitute of, reason or intellect, a weak-minded or idiotic person, Icel. fol hot-tempered person, madman, Far. folskur half crazy, OPr. fol foolish, mad : Lat. follis belloAvs, wind bag, inflated ball. 21.01. NE. idle empty, vacant, wandering in mind, lightheaded, OE. Idel empty, useless vain, NE. idle-headed confused, foolish, distracted, delirious, idle-brained foolish, wandering, idle-pated idle-headed, foolish, Du. ijl useless, insignificant, silly, crazy, insane, ijlhoofdig delirious, raving, Antw. ijlloetersch crazy, insane. 21.02. MHG. oede leer, ode, arm, eitel, widerwartig, dumm, toricht. 21.03. Dan. hans hoved er donit he is addle-headed: torn empty. 21.04. E. dial, lear-headed empty-headed, leary or ?ary half-witted : ME. lere empty. 21.05. NE. slang have a vacant spot be crazy. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 21 21.06. NHG. wahnwitzig wahnsiunig, verruckt, iiberaus uuverniinftig, MHG. wanwitze leer an Veistand, unsinnig, MLG. wanwetisch halbnarriscli, wahnwilzig, ME. ivanwit, NE. ivamvitty lack of wit, foolish, Dan. vamvid insanity, mental derangement, lunacy, Norvvll. vanvita half crazy, Swed. vaU'Vett madness ; NHG. ivahnsinnig geistig gestort, MHG. ican-sinnic irr- sinnig, MLG. ivan-sinnick wahnsinnig, toll, WFris. ivaanzinnich crazy, insane, NFris. xvaansann crazy, Du. icaanzinnig insane, Swed. van-sinnig insane, mad, lunatic, out of one's mind, MSwed. vansinnogher, MDan. vatisindig id.: NHG. wahn leer, unverstandig. Cf. Weigand, 11.1199. Compare OE. wan-hygdig foolish, imprudent, thotless, careless, reckless, NHG. wdhnhirn a witless, brainless or senseless fellow; Sil. wanschaffen wahnwitzig, verruckt. 21.07. MLG. vorivosticheit Zustand der Verwiistung, Einode, Ver- lassenbeit. Fig. Wiistheit im Gehirn. 22. Inflated 22. The lack of mental faculties is also referred to as a vacuum or hollow. The thot in 22.05 'frothy' is closely related. 22.01. NE. slang apartments to let empty-headed, foolish, crazy, 22.02. Hess, dunsel ein aufgeblasenes, dabei noch albernes Weibs- leut: NHG. diinsen aufschwellen. 22.03. Col. ne fooz em kopp han nicht ganz gescheidt: fooz, foz Bauchwind. 22.04. Icel. fifl foolish, silly, insane: OE. fifal monster, Let. pamplys dickbauch, pampulis ein dicker, Lith. pamstu, pampati anschwelleu. Altho the giants were considered stupid, foolish in contrast to the nimble, ingenious elves, the meaning of Icel. fifl insane (Haldorsen 1, 211 f.) is not explained in this way, as F. & T., 222 suggest. 22.05. E. dial, harmy, hdivmy, halmy silly, weakminded, halfwitted, NE. slang barmy-brained silly, crazy : NE. barmy frothing like 'barm*, full of ferment, flightly, empty headed. 22.06. Pruss. bauschan Dummkopf, alberner Mensch, Taugenichts : NHG. bauschen wulstartig schwellen machen, and Pruss. schdn Abkiirz. fiir Christian. .3 22 the semantic development of words 23. Without mind 23. This group expresses the thot 'without mind', various negatives being used with a word for mind. 28.01. Lor. ka kopp han nicht bei Verstand sein. 28.02. OE. hygeleas {Grein 878) out of one's mind, foolish, fearful. 23.03. NHG. MrnlosigJceit Dummheit, Betaubung, Wahnsinn. 23.04. E. dial, dateless out of one's senses, crazed, insensible. Compare MDu. memoireloos senseless, beside oneself. 28.05. Du. zijn helul kmjtzijnhave lost one' sresison: belulinteWigence, understanding. 23.06. Du. hreinloos devoid of brain, insane, raging, NE. brainless devoid of brain, insane, mentally diseased, imbecile, foolish, irrational. 23.07. Icel. rddleysa madness, folly, foolislmes, rdd Rat, Beschluss, Icel. ekki meS fullu rddi not in his right senses or mind. 23.08. Icel. rmnulaus foolish, crazy, insane : Icel rcena consciousness. 23.09. WFlem. zijne zinne verliezen, missen^ in iets steken verriickt werden ; NE. lose one's head lose self-control, become confused or distracted. 23.10. OS. (St. Petrier Glossen) awitzon wahnsinuig sein. OHG. atvizzon id., MHG. abewitze Unverstand, Wahnsinn, whence NHG. abericitz mental derangement, craziness, madness, folly, MDu. averivittigh foolish, crazy, insane; Swiss abasinnig wahnsinnig, unsinnig. 28.11. NE. ivitless destitute of wit or understanding, foolish, insane, mad, OE. tmgewit madness, insanity, folly, stupidity, geivitleas witless, foolish, mad, insane, ON. vitlaiiss witless, foolish, mad, Icel. vitlaus mad, insane, crazy, foolish. Far. vitloysa Narrheit, Sinnlosigkeit, Verriicktheit, NorwA. vitlaus foolish, senseless, disordered in mind, insane. See Icel. vitskertur know little 45.06. 28.12. OE. ungewit madness, insanity, folly, stupidity, ungewit- fulness, ungewitfcestness madness, insanity. See 18.12. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 23 23.13. Compare Fruss. Er hat untie hiihnerhnck yesessen, als tier liehe goft den veistand austeilte. 23.14. MHG, ainnelos nicht bei Verstande, wahnsinnig, bewusstlos, toricht, MLG. sin(n)elos irrsinnig, bewusstlos, Swiss sinnlos von schwachem Gedachtnis, irrsinnig. geistesverwirrt, Tyrol, sinnlos unsinnig, von Sinnen, Icel. sinnidaus von Sinnen, Du. zinneloos senseless, crazy, insane, silly, MDu. sinloos insane. Compare WFlem. zijne zinnen verliezeti^ missen (see 20.03) in lets steken becomd crazy. NHG. den sinn, die sinne verlieren id. 23.15. MHG. Jel. unhesint obnmachtig, einfaltig, unsinnig, verriickt, Swiss unbesinnit geistig bescliriinkt oder gestort, MDu. ongesinnet insane, Swed. dial, usinnater furious, raging mad. 23.16. E. dial, imsensed stupefied as by excess of drink, insane, demented, delirious: sensed in possession of one's senses. 23.17. NHG. unsinnig absurd, nonsensical, insane, mad, NHG. unsinne Torbeit, Wabnsinn, Swiss unsinnig insane, crazy, Hess, unsinnig verriickt, rasend, MLG. un-sinnich unverstandig, rasend, toll, ohne Vernunft, wahn- sinnig, geisteskrank. Compare MDu. versinnich insane. 23.18. NE. hair and head an' thafs all said of one without brains or sense. Compare NE. slang have no milk in the cocoanut be crazy. 24. Be off 24. The comparison 'be off', 'away from* has given a number of expressions for insanity. The directness of some of these Germanic expressions indicate that they developed independently of Lat. amens, demens, French dement, NE. demented out of one's mind, insane (from which : NE. hemented id.). Compare NE. alienated mentally astray, demented. 24.01. Swiss er ist drahe ahe er hat den Verstand verloren, ab der materi (histori) chon vom Thema abkommen, das Delirium bekommen, Als. er isch ganz ab er ist vom Verstand, in Rausch oder Irrsinn, auch vor Freude, abreden irre reden, Lor. abgehen vor Wut ausser sich geraten, hingehen, sterben, Antw. af zijn be crazy, E. dial, o/f deranged in mind, insaiie, off it insane, mad, mistaken, gone off fool, simpleton, NE. slang off one's base foolish, crazy, off the hinges, off one's head, nut, chump, off at the knock ivith oneself, off the spot, dot, kadoova, onion, off one's rocker, 3» 24 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS id. off ones kerzipp was formed by analogy of the preceding group from go kerzip (see group 19.), /cer-prefix used in echoic forms which imitate the noise or effect produced by the falling of some heavy object zip sudden, sharp, hissing or sibilant sound such as that made by a flying bullet. Icel. ganga af vitinu rasend, verriickt werden, ganga af goflunum go out of one's senses. E. dial, awvish silly, dull, downish, mischievous: NE. ©/"^s^ inclined to keep aloof, distant, reserved. Cf. Wood JEGPh. XIll. 510. The meaning mischievous is due to confusion with ME. alvish elfish. Compare Jut. hon iva ren o law beside himself, and Flem. van zijnm senter zijn changes the figure. Compare Flem. uii den haak zijn. 24.02. NHG. abivitz Wahnsinn from OHG. awizzi, MSwed., Swed. a f vita crazy, MDan. afvittig id. See 23.10. 24.03. NHG. absimiigkeit Wahnsinn, MLG. afsinnicheit, MDu. af- sinnigheid, Dan. afsind, MSwed. afsinnoghet id., MDan. afsindig crazy. 24.04. MDu. ontdaen beside one's self with fear, anger, love, etc., raging, insane MDu. ontraed led astray, silly, deprived of one's reason: oniraken miss one's tools, reach one's tools with difficulty or not at all. 24.05. Swed. vara frdn fornuftet, forstandet, vettet have lost one's wits, be out of one's mind, Swed. vara ifran sina sinnen be out of one's senses or mind, Dan. gaa fra sig selv, gaa fra sans og samling lose one's senses entirely, gaa fra forstanden lose one's senses, wits, go out of one's mind, run mad, gaa fra snevsen go out of one's senses (Dan. dial, snevs Mund und Nase), vaere fra forstand be deranged, E, dial. from oneself beside one's self, out of one's mind. Icel. fra-vita insane, crazy, MDan. frasindig crazy. 24.06. NHG., Swiss von sinnen kommen die Sinnen verlieren, von sinnen hringen wahnsinnig machen, Antw. van zijn zinnen zijn [gaan, geraken) be, become crazy, Flem. er van zijn be bereft of reason. Cf. Flem. vail zijnen senter zijn id. 24.07. Flem. wegzijn sleep, have lost one's reason, WFlem. ivegzijn be insane, Pruss. er tear ganz weg er war auBer sich, besiunungslos, E.dial. away mad, unconscious, dead, aivd' in the head, aivay to the hills goae mad. Compare UpSax. nicht recht bei sich sein nicht ganz bei Sinnen sein. Swiss er ist nit hi-n-em selber nicht bei Sinnen, Als. nit bi sich nicht bei Verstand, besinnungslos. See 26. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN OEHMA.MC: 25 25. Off the track 25. Somewhat more precise is the figure 'off ihe track'. NE. delire go astray, err, wander in mind, be delirious or mad, rave, E. dial, deleerit gone mad, out of one's senses, from Lat. delirdre be deranged : lira furrow in plowing. NE. paraphrenia (in pathology) dis- order of mind, 25.08. gives a somewhat similar figure taken from sailors' terms. 25.01. MDu. itten, huten keer beside one's self, crazy, raging, foolish. 25.02. E. dial, agee crooked, awry, agitated, disturbed, slightly deranged, from agee on the side : gee call to a horse to move to one side. 25.03. MLG. t(yt den voiren huicen wander in mind : voire Furche. 25.04. NE. slang off one's trolley crazy. 25.05. Gron. loetensporig raving, delirious, having lost one's way. Compare hoetenhennis id. 25.06. NE. ree excited, esp. with drink, elated, crazy, delirious. Compare ree (now rare) a call to horses, usually a command to turn to the right. 25.07. Als. alnceg vom Wege abgelegen, er redet alweg sinnlos, verworren. in der Fieberhitze, MDu. onticeget aside the way, on the wrong trail, silly, deprived of reason. 25.08. WFris. rnei de holle (Kopf) oerstjur confused, insane, Du. overstuur (sea) tacked about, (fig.) ill-humored, dull, beside one's self, out of one's head. Cf. 14. 26. Aside 26. The figur<; of class 25 is defined more exactly in 26.01 to 26.04. 26.01. E. dial, aside near, by the side of, beside oneself, distracted, off" at the side, at side or at a side, deranged in mind, insane; beside one's wits, beside one's self out of one's wits, senses. 26.02. E. dial, by one's wit out of one's senses, by himself beside himself, deprived of his raeson, out of his mind. 26 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 26.03. NHG. beisinnig auBer sich, wahusinnig, SEFlem., WFlem. 'hijzinnig insane, crazy, Du. hijzinnig beside oneself, insane. 26.04. Lor. derneioen verriickt, irrsinnig, Hess, daneben sein bedenk- lich krank sein, geistesgestort sein. Lor. er isch nev'en am kopp kumm er ist verriickt geworden, Als. newen den kopf kummen irrsinnig warden, Swiss nebent sich reden im Pieber verwirrt reden. 27. Out of, away from 27. Words meaning 'out of, 'away from', are closely related to the thoto given in 25. In some sections the expressions aus deni hduschen sein is understood literally 'be out of the house for insane'. See Muller-Fraureuth 1. c. 1, 486. 27.0L NE. Old of one's head, demented, delirious, E. dial, out of one's reason{s) beside oneself, out of one's senses, NE. not in one's senses, right mind id., Swiss us dem sinn chon im Geiste zerriittet werdeu, MHG. uz den wiizen komen den Verstand, die Besinnung verlieren; NHG. ausser sich out of one's senses, out of one's wits, distracted, Als. tisser sich auUer sich, von Sinnen, verriickt, owen drussen, auBer sich, zornig, Icel. utan vid sig abstracted, beside oneself, Swed. utom sig beside one's self; beyond one's self; frantic, mad, Dan. ude af sig self {af glcede) he is beside himself, out of his mind (with Joy), Lux. ausser rand a band sin auBer sich sein, UpSax. aus der butt huppen auBer sich werden. The related figure in Swiss obenhinaus Verriickter approaches class 23. in meaning. 27.02. Du. uitzinnig thotless, foohsh, raging, WFlem. boetzinnig crazy, insane, Du. buiten zich zelven geraken get beside oneself. 27 03. MDu. orsinnich auBer sich, krankzinnig, Swed. ur-sinnig furious, frantic, frenzied, mad, OHG. ursinnig verriickt. 27.04. ON. orviti out of one's senses, frantic, Icel. or-vita out of one's senses, crazy, mad. Far. brvitigur confused in mind. 27.05. OHG. reben von Sinnen sein, rasen, MDu. reven talk foolish rave, be confused in mind, NE. rave be mad, be disordered mentally; OFrench reve Traum re-ex-vadere herausgehen. See Korting; Eym. Wb. d. Fr. Spr. 341 f. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 27 27.06. Icel. Juims-lauss distempered, furious, esp. used in Icel. of a person out of his mind from restlessness or passion, the metaphor from one who cannot recover his own skin and roves restlessly in reach of it. See 2.02. Cf. Vigfusson 237. Dan. visre mer ved at gaa vd af sit gode skiiid lose all patience, get quite beside oneself. 27.07. NHG. aussenn hause sein nicht recht bei sich, Swab, aus dem Hauschen lommen Up.Sax. atis'n heischen sein auBer sich, nicht bei sich sein, Cron. ut dem Jiysken zin in Wut sein oder die Geistesgegenwait verloren haben. Cf. Miiller-Fraureuth 1, 486, "aus dem Narrenhaus sein'. Pal. aus dem hdspele sein rappelen. 27.08. UpSax. er ist nicht recht zu hause, nich der heeme er ist nicht bei Verstand, WFlem. niet meer thiiis zijn seines Verstandes beraubt sein, verriickt sein, Wald. nit[t) te heime wesen nicht bei Sinnen sein. NE. slang nohody at home he is crazy, E. dial not all at home wanting in intellect. Pruss. sein oherstiihchen veryachtet, vermietet haben irtfi sein^ E. dial, not all there deranged in mind, insane. 27.09. A comparison with the sailors who were roving the seas to the west gave Du. buiten wesfen zijn be crazy, delirious, confused, senseless, have lost one's course, be out of one's way, be drunk. 28. Astray 28. The. thot 'be astray', "wander* is an apt way of referring to insanity. Any word having this meaning might be applied to the mind of the insane and not be felt a forced expression. Compare NE. aberration wandering of the intellect, mental derangement, from Lat. aberrare. 28.01. NGH. irre abgewichen vom rechten Weg, verirrt, geistig gestort, Swiss verirr[e)t irrsinnig, verriickt, g'veriret id., Swab, irrisch im Kopf verwirrt, irreredend, nicht bei Bewufitsein, NHG. verirrt id., Styr. verirrt irrsinnig, sinnverwirrt, betort, sinnlos, NHG. irrkopfisch verriickt, EFris. irrig in de koppe. 28.02. E. dial, taver wander vaguely or aimlessly, wander mentally Compare NHG. schiveife umher id. 28.03. E. dial, dander stroll, saunter, wander, wander in mind. 28 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 28.04. Got. (Iwahnon toricht, unsinnig, wahnsinnig sein, im Irrtum schweben, in die irre gehen, Du. bedwelmend depriving someone of his reason, render insane, MLG. dtvel, dtval irrsinnig, toricht, dweler Irrender, dtvel-wech Irrweg, NLG. Berg, dwelmern irre reden, still deliriren, OFris. dwalinge Irrtum, Irresein; OE. dwolung dotage, deliramentum : dwolian wander out of the way, err, E. dial, dwall wander in mind, talk inco- herently or deliriously. Compare NLG. appeldivalsch and appeldtmtsch sehr albern. 28.05. Swab, verfuhrt nicht wohl bei Sinnen. 28.06. MDan. forbistrelse confusion, madness, MDu. hijster distracted, Du. zinsverbijstering confusion of mind, Gron. verhiesierd crazy, NLG. ver- hiisiern verirren, rasen, stiirmen, unsinnig werden und machen, Thur Hester verstort. Cf. 31.06. 28.07. Swiss sich verluren, im verlorne reden delirieren, verloren be- sinnungslos, bewuBtlos, E. dial, lost imbecile, mad. 28.08. E. dial, ramble stray, rove, roam, talk incoherently, wander in delirium or in one's sleep. 28.09. E. dial, rove ramble, be delirious. 28.10. E. dial, run-a-head be delirious. Compare DanM. han leber i forvid id. 28.11. Liibeck icidloftig verriickt. 28.12. MLG. ivilden umherstreifen, irren, von Sinnen sein, NorwR. vildring madman, madcap, SwedR. hugge-vill deranged in mind, MS wed. villa lead astray, pp. confused, crazy, MDan. vilter crazy, Dan. vild confused, distracted; Far. heilavidbir, heilavillur deranged in mind; Swed. vettvilling madcap, giddy-head, shatter-brain ; NE. (at) wild crazy, distracted. 28.13. NE. icander ramble, rove, think or speak incoherently, rave, be delirious. 28.14. Dan. fjante fool, silly person, Dan. halvfjantet id.: Swed. dial. fjanta trip about, Norw. dial, fjanta go about, loiter. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 29 29. Flighty 29. Words for 'flighty' are applied to the insane because of their flying over all logic and all mental restraint. 29.01. E, dial, carried (up in the air) delirious, lightheaded, wandering in mind. Compare (h)airy flighty, lightheaded, NE. airy unsubstantial, vain, empty, unreal. 29.02. E. dial, heighty cheery, bright, (in the form hichtit) in great wrath, suggesting the idea of indignation approaching to frenzy; (thru the influence of hoity-toity this gave highty-tighty haughty, flighty, jaunty, whimsically inclined, slightly crazy. 29.03. Far. fukandi raging: ON. fjiika passing thru the air with great speed. 29.04. NE. flighty indulging in flights of imagination, humor, caprice, slightly delirious, wandering in mind, E, dial, flighty slightly deranged in intellect, light-headed, flighty-brained id., Dan. flyv{ende)gal in a towering passion (for gal cf. 2.05. Cf. F. &T. 243f.), Far. ./?;%a«dis very excited, raging, violent, E. dial, fly-hy-sky giddy, thotless, flightly person [fly-hy- night witch). 29.05. E. dial, floiced unsettled, crazy: flow skittish (as a young horse), untractable. 29.06. E. dial, light dizzy, giddy, light-headed, delirious: OE. leoht light, easy, trifling, inconsiderable. 29.07. NE. skip'hrain flighty, hairbrained. 30. Unrestrained 30. In expressions meaning 'uncontrolled', 'unrestrained', 'knowing no bounds' the comparison is often made with a horse or other animaL (Related figures are given in 30.09 not safe, 30.10 not guarded, in God's care.) 30.01. Als. kettenlos wie wahnsinnig tobend. 30.02. Swiss fiirkommen scheu werden. durchgehen, ausreissen, ver- riickt werden. 30 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 30.03. Gron. cleurloopen become confused, Helg. derlipem durch- gelaufen, d. h. verrvickt. Du. het loopt er met hem door he raves, is raging. Compare zijn versfand is op hoi he is crazy. 30.04. A special adaption of this thot is found in Bornh. vdralost unnoticed, unheeded, unattentive, senseless, deranged, one who has a screw loose: Dan. vare guard, care. 30.05. Styr. auf dem pfannenstiel sitzen geistesgestort sein. This is an allusion to the saying der die pfanne halt heim stiel, kehrt sie, wohin er ivill. 30.06. Als. nit ganz gehiir im kopf halb verriickt. 30.07. MDan. ikke vel forvaret not right in mind, Dan. han er ikke vel forvaret his head is not quite sound. 30.08. Flem. ons heere moet zijn getal hebhen said of a silly crazy person. Compare Lux. gotteskand irrsinniges Kind. 31. In A FLURRY 31. A lack of control over the members of the body is suggested by words that originally meant "be in a flurry'. A description of a more definite movement, 'back and forth' is given in 31.07. to 31.10. 31.01. Swab, gnspe iiberspannter Mensch: Swiss guspi flinke, zapplige, gewandte Person. 31.02. Swab, gispel iiberspannter, narrisch eingebildeter Mensch, Geek: Swiss gispeln flattern, sich leicht hin und her bewegen. 31.03. Swed. fjdssd be in a hurry, bustle, be crazy, NorwR. fjoss half crazy hustler; Swed. fjoskig crazy, crackbrained. 31.04. NLG. flirrig leichtfertig, kokett, albern: NHG. y^^VreJ^ im Zitter- licht, lichtblitzend auf und abschweben. 31.05. MDu. basende crazy, silly, insane, MLG. vorhasen von Sinnen bringen, verwirren, von Sinnen kommen, bestiirzt, verriickt werden, EFris. basen rasen, toben, unsinnig und irre reden, phantasieren, nament- lich im Fieber und Delirium, oder in heisser leidenschaftlicher Aufregung iiberhaupt, wo man seiner Sinne nicht machtig ist, NLG. Berg, basen FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 3 J irrsiimig gewordeu soin, naverbaseu, verriickt werden, den Verstand ver- lieren zuletzt, Norvw base exhaust oneself, make a noise, Swed. basa precipitate, approach blindly, MDan. bas uproar, MLG. vorbeseU verwirrt, wahiisiiuiig: E. dial, basel, bazzle to rush about, run in a hurried and laborious manner. Cf. F. &T. 53. Compare NLG.naver&e^erMnachverbessern. narerteUen weitererzahlen. 31.06. EFris. biske albernes, niirrisches, aufgeregtes, Madchen, das halbtoU und verriickt ist, EFris. bislender, biselender. Person, die sich toricht, albern, affectirt oder toll und verruckt geberdet: MDu. blsen wild umherlaufen (von Kiihen), OHG. bisa Nordwind. Cf. Fick 271. 31.07. Als. zipfelzinnig verwirrt, verworren im Kopf, Strsbg. zipfel- sinnig halb verriickt, WFris. tipelsinnich weakminded, subject to insanity: NHG. zipfel spitzes (hangendes) Ende einer Flache. eines Gegenstandes. Als. zipfeltdnzig ausser sich vor Freude, in groBter Aufregung, verruckt, 31.08. NHG. flabs einfaltiger Mensch, Col. flabbes lappischer, uarrischer Mensch, geflapp launig, nicht recht gescheid, verriickt, Lux. geflappt verriickt, narrisch, iibergeschnappt, Lor. gefluppt id., Hess, ge- flappt verriickt, narrisch, irrsinnig, NLG. geflappt, Cron. geflapt ein- faltig, albern, nicht ernst zu nehmen, flahes alberner, unbesonnener Mensch, WFlem. fiap, flabes lout, fool, NE. flipfap flighty person: NHG. flappe herabhiingende Unterlippe, offenstehender Mund. 31.09. MLG. lappe der iappisch ist, Laffe, Narr, Pruss. laps lappischer, alberner, uugehobelter Mensch, E. dial, lappen silly person, simpleton, fool: NHG. lappe herabhangendes Stiick Zeug. 31.10. Hess, verschu-obelt der Sinne nicht niilchtig und betaubt, wie wenn alles im Kopf kreist, schwowelicht toll, narrisch, verwirrt : WFlem. swobbelen splash, as by swinging something in the water. Compare Als. dir schwappelts du bist verriickt. 32. Turning 32. In expressions like "turning' the sensations supposed to be experienced as well as the actions of the insane are compared. 32.01. Pruss. kfis{e)lig verdreht, schwindelig, taumelnd, wirr, wild, unklar im Kopf. 32.02. NE. begigged infatuated, crazy: NE. gig something that whirls. 32 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS ■32.03. WFlem. toppezot as crazy as a top. Compare WPlem. zoo zot ah eene meulekensnoot, drilnoot, meulen. 32.04. Bav. taumisch; taumelig taumelig, schwindlicht, nicht recht bei Sinnen, toll, unverstandig: OHG. tumilon sich im Kreise drehen, auf- brausen, aufwallen, MHG. tumen kreisen, sich im Kreise bewegen. 32.05. Dan. hdlen crazy, foolish, Swed. dial, tulare half crazy person, SwedR. tollig crazy, silly, NorwA. tidlut confused, distracted in mind: Norw. tidl running in a circle. 32.06. Sil. drehnig, drdnig drehend, schwindlig, verdreht, verriickt. 32.07. SE. Flem. en droni (weeg) hen not well balanced, draaiachtig dizzy, somewhat crazy. Compare drouien gelijUn driUe. Compare also Wald, drehmann delirium (scherzh. Volksetymologie delirium tremens). 32.08. ON. ringladr confused, insane, whirled about, Icel. ringladur confused, crazy. 32.09. Dan, rundiosset mad as a March hare. 32.10. Carin. rad lum lafn verriickt sein; Lor. sin rddchin surrt, sin rddel geht, er hat en rddchin er ist verriickt. Compare NE. slang have wheels in the head id. Cf. 63.45. 32.11. F a.r. viiidandi {odur) quite crazy. 32.12. MHG. wirhelsuht fallende Krankheit, Wut, Wahnsinn, Pruss. wirbelsuchtig verriickt; Swiss wirbelsinnig wirblig, wirr im Kopfe, durch Larm, Widerspruch Halbverriickter (cf. 32.09), Swab, hirnwirhel ver- wirrter, verriickter Mensch, dem wirhelt's im hopf er ist narrisch : NHG. H'irhel fortgehende kreisformige Bewegung. 32.13. Flem. tdldenmder silly, thotless person: Du. wouteren roll. 32.14. Col. e geek schibheleidche alberner, verriickter Mensch: schibbe- leutche rollendes Kinderspielzeug, schibbele rollen, schiebend walzen. 32.15. NHG. sclucindel (Goethe, Orestes) Wahnsinn, Als. schwindel- him Narr, Narrin, NHG. schwindel-hirn, -geist, -kopf schwindelndes, taumelndes, wirres Gehirn : NHG. schwindel Schwachheit des Kopfes, daB die Sinne schwinden und alles sich zu drehen scheint. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 33 32.16. Swiss schicifbelsitinig frantic, mad: schtvirhel Wirbel, Scluvindel, Taumel. 32.17. Swed. dial, ta bakskru go crazy. 32.18. NHG. spinneii zu cinem Faden zieheu oder dreheu, (volks- tuinlich:) verriickt sein, NorvvR. spinngalen quite mad, Yax. spinnandi \A. 32.19. Lor. e spul han nicht recht bei trost sein: spid Spule, Spindel. 33. Confused 33. A group of words describing the confused state of mind of insane persons lias given terms for insanity. 33.01. From the French confus confounded, confused, jumbled together, indistinct, abashed has developed Swiss konfus, kumfus, kumpfiis verwirrt, bestiirzt, geistig gestort, Als. kumfus verwirrt, unklar, leicht geisteskrank. 33.02. EFris. divalje albernes, einfaltiges Madchen, dwatsch, dwatsk albern, sinnlos, verkehrt, widersinuig : Du. dot whirled knot, clue, knot. 33.03. E. dial, muffled puzzled, confused, bewildered, slightly insane. 33.04. E. dial, mumble jumble together, ravel, tangle, confuse, puzzle, wander mentally. 33.05. E. dial, raffly of weakened or confused intellect, wandering: E. dial, raffle confuse, perplex. 33.06. E. dial, ravel entangle, mix confusedly, wander in speech, speak incorherently. 33.07. UpSax. verivirrt verworren, verdreht, irre, verriickt, Wald. wire verwirrt, verriickt, Dan. aavdsforvirret crazy, insane, distracted, Swed. virrig crazy, crazed, addle-headed, Du. wargeestig, warhoofdig con- fused in mind ; Als. verwiirren id. : NHG. wirren unordentlich durch- einander kommen machen. 33.08. This thot has also given the following two formations suggestive of bees or insects. MDan. hjcernstwrmer insane person. 34 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 33.09. Swiss wimmelsinnig wirr im Kopf, verstort. Cf. 32.12. 83.10. NE. amazement astonishment, confusion or perplexity from a sudden impression of surprise, infatuation, madness, E. dial, mazery nonsense, foolery, madness, maze bewilder, puzzle, (adj.) mad, crazy, lunatic, mazy giddy, confused, wandering, maazed (for mazed) mad, crazy : ME. masen confuse, puzzle, OE. d-masod confused, confounded. 33.11. Swiss hops Interj. der tjberraschung, leicht berauscht, ein wenig verwirrt im Kopf, iiberspannt, verriickt, NHG. Interj., eig. Im- perativ von hopsen hiipfen, springen. Cf. Schweiz. Idiotikon 11, 1494. 34. Brooding 34. 'Pondering' and 'brooding' describe not only the cause of in- sanity but also the appearance of the afflicted. 34.01. This comparison lies at the basis of NE. slang have a matter on the brain be crazy about a matter. 34.02. Als. hindersinnen durch vieles Nachdenken den Verstand ver- lieren, Swiss hindersinnig nachdenklich, kopfhangerisch, spintisirend, triibsinnig, wahnsinnig; Frensen and Storm also use hintersinnig in this sense. 34.03. Als hinterdenken sich durch zu vieles Denken um den Ver- stand bringen, Strsbg. sich hinderdenJce id. 34.04. WFlem. diepzinnig seines Verstandes beraubt, wahnsinnig sein, SEFlem. diepzinnigaard thotful and doubting person, insane person. 34.05. Styr. verreiten verrechnen, durch angestrengtes und fort- wahrendes Nachsinnen um den Verstand kommen. 35. Excited 35. The general thot 'mental excitement' has given several ex- pressions for insanity. This is the ultimate explanation of Du. manie rage, certain disease of the mind, in which volition is not ruled by the reason, uncontrollable sickness, NLG. mani Wahnsinn, NE. mania mental derangement, characterized by delusions, great excitement and hallucinations from Gr. juavia (from the root mew-used to denote various, mental states or emotions). FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 35 35.01. SwedR. osken wilil, excited, confused, insane: ON. cesir in- citer, stirrer. 35.02. E. dial on the kevee possessing that flow of spirits that borders on derangement: French sur le qui vive on the alert. 35.03. Col. nen huh han eine verriickte oder heftige Laune haben : em huh sin erregt sein. 35.04. WFris. geastoptocMme mental excitement bordering on insanity. 35.05. Als. verzuckt wie auBer sich, in starker Gemiitsbewegung. Cf. class 14. 35.06. Norvv.R. driisinne insane anger : Norw. sinne anger, ex- citement. 35.07. Swiss hirnmiietig toll, wiitend: miietig sehr munter, 35.08. NE. ramage wild, untamed, unruly, violent, (of persons) furious , frenzied , crazed with drink , Scottish varnished furious , raging, crazy, 35.09. E, dial, raise excite, inflame, madden, vex, raised{like) ex- cited, inflamed, maddened, startled, having the appearance of mental derangement: NE. 7-aise cause to rise or stand up, stir-up, incite, excite. This thot lies back of the expression in E. dial, get it on the nerve be demented, it is on the nerve with such a one such a one is demented. Cf. NE. slang that gets on my nerve excites, disgusts me. 35.10. NHCt. schelligkeit Raserei, Wahnsinn, Als, schellig wahnsinnig, toll, Swab. hirnschelUg verriickt, mondscliellig iibel gelaunt, mondsiichtig (1.06), Tyrol, schellig aufgebracht, wild, unsinnig, Pruss. schellig wiitend, aufgebracht, unsinnig, tobend, MLG, schellich tobend, unsinnig, zornig, rasend, MDu. inschel{lich) raving, insane: NHG. schellen tonen. The development of this word was influenced by MHG. schellec (hase) er- schreckt aufspringend, wie auBer sich fliehend. 36. Weak-minded 36. The thot 'weak-minded' has developed into several expressions for insanity. Compare NE. phrenasthenia mental exhaustion to the point of mild insanity. 3g THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 36.01. Here belongs NE. dial, num-cumpus "fool' from Lat. won | compos mentis not of sound mind, not having the normal use of reason. 36.02. Icel. ged-veiki mental derangement, mental disease : ON. ged mind, veikr weak. y 36.03. NE. feeble-minded weak in mind, irresolute, lacking intelli- gence, idiotic. 36.04. Swed. sinnessvag feeble of mind, insane, cracky, Swed. svag weak-minded, feeble-minded, crazy, crazed, Dan. sindsvag disordered in mind, deranged, Dan. svagsindet imbecile, crazy. 37. Stupified 37. Under the general head "be stupefied', "be obfuscated' 'be in a maze' come a variety of words which express this confused state in different ways. 37.02 expresses it as a dulling of the senses ; 37.01 as in a passion; 37.03 — 37.12 as a drowsy state. 37.01. Swab, tobig wahnsinnig, MHG. Jel. tobe wahusinnigmachend, betaubend, MHG. ertoben von Sinneu kommen, OHG. topon, tobon rasend, wahnsinnig sein, MLG. doven toben, larmen, wahnsinnig sein, OS. (Wad) dovon nicht bei Verstande, geistesstumpf sein, MDu. doven rage, bo crazy, Bornh. toppuer crazy, insane, OE. dofung dotage, deliramentum: ON. dofna abgestumpft werden, seine Krafte verlieren, ON. dofiym schlaff, stumpf, trage. Cf. MHG. mdntobic mondsiichtig 1.02. 37.02. Als. taub toll (von Hunden), Swab. haupUaub geistesschwach, Swiss taubsinnig, wahnsinnig, taubsucht Sinnlosigkeit, (Anfall von) Geistes- storung, MHG. toup, taub, stumpfsinnig, unsinnig, narrisch, toll, OHG. toub empfindungslos, stumpfsinnig, taub, unsinnig, MDu. doof, insane person, deaf person, Du. (Kilian) dooven be insane. 37.03. Flem. verdutten make or become foolish, crazy, Du. (Kilian) doten, dutte7i be foolish, crazy, MDu. doten be insane, delirious. MLG. doten narrisch sein, NLG. Berg, dettsch, dofsch albern, einfaltig, dumra. Col. verdotsch befangen, verlegen, verwirrt, sinnverwirrt, beschrankt von Verstand, UpSax. tottig, tottlich, dreiiend, taumelig, verwirrt, halb ver- riickt, rasend, Styr. todlet, todelt, blode, schwachsinnig, halbverriickt, NE. dote be silly, deranged or out of one's wits, E. dial, doit dote, be FOR MENTAL AEBRRATION IN GERMANIC 37 crazy, silly, NE. slang dotty cracked, silly, E. dial, dotfle silly, crazy, stupid, NorwR. ovandottelege greatly confused, deranged; E. dial, dyte walk crazily, as one stupefied, Du. dutten doze; DanM, dvot crazy. Jut. dvot von Drehkrankheit leidend ; Icel. dotta nod from sleep, MHG. ft<se/j sich still verlialten. still trauern, Du. doteloor confusion, insanity. 37.04. NHG. toll der Sinne beraubt, unsinnig, wunderlich, wut- krank (von Hunden), Als. kuflentoll geil, verruckt, Lor. doll un daub des Verstandes und der Siiine beraubt, Swab, toll wiitend, verruckt, dumm, Col. doll verriickt. Lux. dol unsinnig, verdolt von Sinnen, MHG. tol toricht, unsinnig, toll, NLG. Berg, dull, diill toll, an der Hundswut leidend, MLG. vordullen von Sinnen kommen, auBer sich bringen, dul verstandesbenonimen, toricht, unverniinftig, OFris. dol toll in dolstrid, Du. dol crazy, insane, mad, Du. (Kilian) dolen be crazy, insane, mad, Antw. dul raging, angry, crazy, senseless, foolish, MSwed. dol confused, insane, NorwR. dolutt silly, half crazy, NE. doilt confused, stupid, crazed. E. dial, doyloch crazy person. 37.0."). NorwA. or dizzy, crazy, confused in mind, orar deprived- of senses, confused, NorwR. erje crazy, silly, Dan. er confused, giddy in the head. Jut. jersel confused in mind, SwedR. or demented, crazy, wild, confused in mind, Far. erur giddy, confused, crazy: OHG. wuorag miide, OE. tverig, NE. weary, Gr, aogog sleep. Cf. tunglcerr 1.08. 87.06. NHG. ddmeln nicht recht bei Sinnen, bei Verstande sein, Pruss. dammlech, ddmlich einfaltig, halb verruckt, albern, betaubt, wie schlaftrunken : Skr. tdmyati ermatten, betaubt werden. Walde-, 767. 37.07. Swab, torisch geisteskrank. Lor. dortich verdreht, toricht, verruckt, Als. tortig toricht, vernarrt, Pal. doricli, dordig toricht, MHG. torehtic, twreht toricht, narrisch, dumni, verruckt, Tyrol, torisch, toret wahnsinnig, eigensinnig, dumm, Thur. toricht toll (von Hunden), UpSax. toricht, teercht, teeret, tdrnt toll (besonders von Hunden) toll und toricht von Wahnsinn, MHG. tore, tor Tor, Narr, Irrsinniger, MHG. (Jel) torecht^ tcerecht verruckt, dumm, Bav. toret wahnsinnig, MLG. ddr(e) Tor, Geistes- kranker, Narr whence, MSwed. darisker silly, crazy, Swed. dare lunatic, madman, moonling, simpleton, MDan. dare fool, crazy person, NorwA. daare fool, silly or crazy person. 37.08. Pruss. daselig, ddselig dumm, albern, verdreht, verruckt; Pruss. das Halbschlummer, Betaubung, Triiumerei, Du. (Kilian) daesen an Wahnsinn leiden. 4 39 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 37.09. Sylt. dosig verriickt, EFris. desseg narrisch, toricht, verriickt, wunderlich, sonderbar, MLG. dosich (Verstandes) verwirrt, wahnsinnig, OE. dysig dizzy, foolish, unsound in mind, Holstein dusig duselig, wackelnd, Sinnen verwirrt, EFris. dosen confused, stupified ; NHG. dusel Schlummer, Betaubung, Taumel, das Irrereden, Verwirrung durch Fieber- hitze. 37.10. Du. de arme dwaas poor lunatic, MDu. dwaes foolish, crazy, EFris. divas unsinnig, narrisch, verkehrt, verriickt, toricht, MLG. dwasen Urisinn reden, kranksinnig sein, MHG. twds Tor, Narr, Bosewicht. 37.11. NE. moilher, moider, confuse, be delirious, E, dial, moither confuse, perplex, bewilder, worry, bother, talk incoherently, be delirious, wander or ramble in one's mind. 37.12. MLG. vorsuffen die Besinnung verlieren, bestiirzt, kleinmiitig Oder toll, narrisch werden, der Besinnung berauben, Du. suffen be insane, silly, distracted : ON. syfja become sleepy. 38. Raving 38. It was very natural to designate certain forms of insanity by terms for 'raving', 'raging'. 38.20 — 38.21 give the more precise figure of a storm. Compare Lat. raMo rave, rage, NHG. rabiat vor Wut, Eifer unsinnig werden, auDer sich, Tyrol, rabiat wiitend toll, Swiss rabiat wiitend, auBer sich vor Zorn, Styr. rabiat zornig, wiitend, toll, NE. rage madness, insanity, E. dial, radged furious, mad, Du. rage madness, raving. Cf. Walde 638. 38.01. MHG. muot-grimme wiitenden Sinnes: OE., OS. grimman wiiten, toben. 38.02. Swed. dial, gramsk wild, mad, raging: OE. gram angry, raging, hostile. 38.03. Westph. grillen Wut, Zorn, Tollheit, EFris. fergrelld auBer sich vor Zorn, Wut, Leidenschaft, Liebe. Compare Swiss grollen wunder- liche Laune, Schrulle, Groll. NHG. groll heimlicher, finsterer Zorn. 38.04. Dan. pisk{nde) gal, piskgal raving mad: NHG. peitsche whip. For gal cf. 2.05. 38.05. NE. furious filled with fury, passion, mad, insane, furihund furious, raging, mad < Lat. furere rage. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN OEEMANR 39 38.00. Styr. facldig zornig, wiitend, toll, aufgebracht : Tyrol, fnchtig uMwillig, zornig. 38.07. SwedR. hnsa shove, shove violently, go beside onself. 38.08. E. dial, ramping crazy longing: NE. ramp climb, rear or stand on the hind legs, as if in the act of climbing, (of persons) storm or rage with violent gestures. 38.09. NHG. rasen von Sinnen iind darum gewaltsam ungestiim Bein, MHG. rasen, wuten: toll, irrsinnig sein, EFris. rdsen ungestiim sein, von Sinnen sein, irre reden, phantasieren, MDu. rasen, razen rage, be mad, insane, Du. razend raging, mad, violently insane, Antw. raasdiy raging, mad, Du. dial, roazetig raging mad, NFris. rosen rasend, Swed. ras be furious, be beside onself, be mad, MSwed. rasande raging, mad, insane, MDan. rasen{de) wild, insane, NorwA., SwedR. rasgalen furious, frantic, half-mad, OE. rcesan worauf lossturmen, OE. ras Angriff, Sturm, Icel. rasa run violently. Cf. Weigand, 11, 530. This has given Swiss rdspidas drolliger Spottname fiir einen Verriickten, 38.10. NHG. tmtt wilde gewaltsame Aufregung, Lor. icidich wutend, toll, rasend, zornig, Als. wUetig wutend, von der Tollwut befallen, rasend, zornig, himwUtig verriickt, besessen, Strsbg. xviedi wiitig, wutend. Col. wode wiiten. Lux. mddech wutend, MHG. uiietic, tvuotic wutend, toll, un- sinnig, OHG. auot unsinnig, MLH. vorivoden wiitend werden, von Sinnen kommen, OS. wodmn wiiten, NE. wood mad, frantic, furious, tvede mad- ness, OE. uvd mad, insane, ME. hrain-uvd insane, Du. hiersenwoede raging, insanity, MDu. icoet Wahnsinn, ON. odr raging, insane SwedR. od raging, mad, NorwA. od passionate, wild, crazy, Icel. hand-bdur stark mad, raving, mad, Goth. 'icoJ)S wiitend, besessen. CF. ON. djijfulddr possessed of devil(s) ; E. dial, tvoodrum, woddram, wodroam, 7vuddnim furious, madness esp. used of a disease to which cattle are subject, which causes them to rush about furiously. Cf. madderirn 12.03. rum ned 50.06. 38.11. Styr. winnigkeit, ivinnsucht, Hundswut, Tollwut, Hundsivinn Hundswut, Tyrol. (Hintner) tcindick, Carin. windik (von Hunden) toll, wiitend, wasserscheu, Bav. winnig id., Tyrol, winnig wahnsinnig, rasend, zornig, MHG. iiinnec wiitend, rasend, toll: Goth, ivinnan leiden, OHG. winnan in heftiger Aufregung sein: wiiten, toben, heulen, streiten. sich abmiihen und abarbeiten. 38.12. SwedR. yr{skalla) confused in mind, delirious, wandering in mind. 4* 40 the semantic development of words 39. Hazy, mistified 39. Words meaning 'hazy' give readily understood terms for insanity, e. g. 'His mind is becoming clouded'. 39.01. E. dial, hazy dim, not seeing distinctly, muddled, crazy, weak in understanding. 39.02. Swed. tokig mad, insane, out of mind, foolish, cracky, antic, SwedR. smd-tokug not right, not quite sound in one's mind, Bornh. tokkaloser crazy, beside oneself, Swed. dial, gdrtokog quite crazy, stomi- tokig id., NorwR. tookaat silly, half-crazy, Dan. dial, tokket crazy, slovenly: Dan. taage Nebel. Cf. F. &. T. 1238. 39.03. Lor. getimberl verriickt; MHG. timber finster, dunkel, triib. Cf. Follmann 1. c. 202. 39.04. Carin. tamisch schwiudlicht, betaubt, narrisch, wahnsinnig, Styr. damisch, tamisch betaubt, verriickt, narrisch ; stocktamisch, schddel- tamisch id. : MHG. OHG. touni Dampf, Dunst. 39.05. Als. vernebelt verriickt. 39.06. NE. slang woozy confused, twisted : E. dial, ivoos vapor, OE. ivdse dirt, mire, mud or slime. 39.07. Bav. gestoben ausser sich, wahnsinnig, NHG. bestaubt be- rauscht, betrunken, benebelt. NE. muddy witted confused, muddled. 40. Intoxicated 40. As intoxication leads to a form of insanity, some words referring primarily to drunkenness, also denote insanity. In this way is explained NE. mattoid one who exhibits symptoms of mental de- generation, semi-insane person, crank < Ital. matto mad < Lat. matius drunk. 40.01. Pruss. miggengreifen, miggengripen Greifen nach Miicken, hoher Grad von Trunkenheit, Delirium, NHG. miickenfanger wer Miicken fangt, grilliger Mensch. 40.02. Pruss. schigger, schiggerig betrunken, unwohl, kranklich, elend, verriickt, nicht recht bei Sinnen from Hebrew schicker intoxicated, Cf. Frisch. 11. 271. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 4 j 40.03. UpSax. du musst dock een gefriihstiickt hamm du bist nicht gescheit, er hat zu viel gefriihstiicM er ist etwas betrunken. 41. Deficient in senses 41. Insanity is expressed as a deficiency in mental powers by speaking of the same as the "five'' senses. 41.01. EFris. he hett sin five nich recht hinander, nich alle hinander er ist nicht recht bei Trost, benimmt sich oder handelt unklug, Dan. han er ikke ved sine fulde fern he is not in his right senses or mind", Dan. gaa fra sine fern id., Flem. hij heeft zijne vijf zinnen niet er hat seinen Verstand nicht. Antw. hij heeft er vier an eenen krentekoeke, {beze(7i)koek) er liat seine fiinf Sinne nicht, ist nicht bei seinem vollen Verstand, Antw. ze alle vijf niet hehben id., Du. er loopt een van de vijf hij hem(te) spelen er ist nicht bei Trost, Gron. ze alle zeuven nijt hehben, NorwR. han har inte alle geitenn sine id. 41.02. Flem. Hij is niet wel hij den zijnen (sc. zinnen), hij de zijn (sc. verstand) lie is crazy. 42. Simple 42. Insanity is described by several figures as 'manifest', 'plain', 'simple'. Compare Westpf. sinipel verriickt, Col. zimpelche simple, crazy person. Flem. simpel insane, silly, E. dial, simple stupid, half-witted idiotic. 42.01. UpSax. ei(n)fdltig verriickt. 42.02. Bornh. oppendauader crazy, silly: oppendagad manifest. 42.03. WFris. sljucht even, flat and smooth, simple, foolish, silly, crazy. 43. Foolish 43. Closely related to the preceding group are words meaning 'dull', 'dense', 'stupid'. 43.10—43.12 come from a related thot of silly. 43.01. Pal. hibbes, hibs Stiiber, kleiner Rausch, Halbverrucktheit: Lat. hebes dull, stupid. 43.02. E. dial, hiamse awkward, unwieldly, half-witted, Jut. hjamsk, jamsk half crazy, MDan. hemsk silly, distracted, fearful: Icel. heimskr foolish, silly, 'homish'. 42 THE SEMANTIC DE\rELOPMENT OF WORDS 43.03. MHG. iumbe der unverstandige, torichte, dumm6, unerfahreae junge, der Sturame, WFris. dum mad, crazy, silly, NHG. dummsimiig ausser sich, verriickt, Tyrol, thumheit Wahnsinn. Compare MHG. rechter witze him klaren Verstaudes beraubt. 43.04. Dan. tompet crackbrained, crazy, DanM. lumpen crazy, foolish, confused; NFris. tompeg dumm, schwachsinnig, Sylt. tumpich verriickt. 43.05. UpSax. stupid iiberspannt, verdreht, unzurechuungsfahig, geistesgestort. 43.10. MDu. d/wapen, dwepen be foolish, silly, crazy, Swab, diippel dummer Kerl> French dupe Schwachkopf, NE. dippy crazy, weakmiuded. Als. tuppel Einfaltspinsel. 43.11. Du. zot fool, madman, Antw. kwaa{d)zot dangerously insane, Antw, polverzoi, Flem. kleuterzot, stekezot, stapelzot very crazy, MLG., MHG. sot Tor, Narr: French sot foolish. 43.12. E. dial, silli/ied silly, foolish, delirious, E. dial, silly frantic, ] mad, insane: NE. silly simph', harmless. 44. Not vrisK 44. 'Not to know' or 'not to be wise' has given a number of synonyms for crazy. The northern dialects express this thot more courteously by 'know little', and still more indirectly by 'of a thin mind'. 44.01. Wald. unklouk verriickt; Swed. han dr ej raft klok he is not quite sane, Dan. han er ikke rigtig klog he is not quite in his senses, 44.02. MDu. onvroet foolish, silly, confused, insane, mad, MHG. unvruot unweise, unverstandig, toricht, unklug. 44.03. MDu. ontwissen von der Weisheit, dem Verstand berauben, Pruss. sick niclit verwissen von Schreck oder tTberstiirzung so verwirrt sein, dass man nicht im vollen Besitze seiner Verstandeskrafte ist; Bav. unvewissen Unbewusstsein, Geistesabwesenheit; MLG. unwittich nicht bei Verstande, einfaltig, dumm, Swed. dr dti hite vettig? are you not in your right mind? 44.04. E. dial, no-wise foolish, thotless, insane, Grou. onwieze fool, madman, unwise, foolish, stupid, ignorant, NLG. Berg, awiis alberner, FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 43 dunimer Menscli, MHG, (D. & W., 3) umvys, amveyse, anwisig mad, insane, MLG. awisich toricht, narriscb, unsinnig, toll, Sylt. ek rocht ms verriickt, Du. betije niet wijs? are you out of your senses? Antw. 7iie(() welnrijs zijn not to have one's full reason. 44.05. NHG, nicht [rechi) gescheit a little cracked, Swiss im nimi nit ganz g'schid verriickt. 44.06. Swed. han (ir inle rdtt slug lie is not in his mind (or senses) : slug shrewd, astute, canny. 44.07. Als. hist breit uwer (Vsiirn bist halbverriickt. Compare Swab. speclx. auf der stirn dumm and NE. fathead. 44.08. WFris, healwiis dull, silly, foolish, Lux. halweriveis halbnarrisch, Bornli. halhystijng half crazy person. 45. Knowing littlk 45. A variation of the thot expressed by the figures in class 44 is seen in the following words meaning 'know little'. 45.01. Icel. fdrcFnn crazy, senseless: Icel. roina consciousness, one's senses. 45.02. NorwA. faavis silly, foolish, crazy, insane, NorwR. faavitug silly, half crazy. 45.03. Icel. fd-sinna distraction, want of reason, melancholy. 45.04. Swed. mindre vetande crazy, not sound of mind, non compos mentis. 45.05. NorwR. lettvita mit sehr wenig Verstand, narrisch, halb- verriickt: lett leicht. 45.06. ON. vit-skertr "short of wit', insane, Icel. vitskertur insane, crazy, deranged; Icel. skerda diminish. 45.07. ON. grannvitr thin-witted, silly; NFris. famvatt Dummkopf, Troddel, Blodsinniger, NorwR. timnvita of w^eak mind, subject to attacks of insanity, DanM. tyndJuernet weakminded, subject to attacks of melancholy or insanity. 44 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 46. Deceived 46. Words meaning 'delusion', 'fabrication' are given in the following group. Included are expressions for playfulness and trifle, 46.12, 46.14, 46.16, and 46.19. 46.01. Swiss alefdnzig zu losen Streichen geneigt, sich seltsani, mutwillig geberden, irrsinnig, verriickt, MHG. alefanz Betrug, schalkheit, den alefanz slahen eine betriigerische Manipulation beim Handel. Cf. von Bahder PBB. 22, 528. 46.02. E. dial, torrididdle bewildered, distracted, tarradiddled imposed upon as by lies, puzzled, bewildered, NE. tara an exclamation, diddle waste time in trifles, cheat, a swindle, deception. 46.03. E. dial, domeror madman: NE. dummerer cant name for a beggar who pretended to be dumb. 46.04. Nordhausen dich fippts du bist venuckt; Thur. fippern un- ablassig necken, reizen, zittern, flimmern, 46.05. NE. fop coxcomb, dandy, Carin. vopjper Unsinnigcr: Carin. foppn an ihn tauschen, belugen, aufziehen, Du. foppen cheat. Jeer, hoax, banter, MHG. fopperin eine die sich als wahnsinnig anstellt. Cf. Weigand, 1, 567 f. 46.06. Rhula fener lebhaft traumen, im Schlafe sprechen oder auf- stehen, im Fieber irre reden, Klschmal. funer irre reden (im Traum, Fieber oder Delirium); MHG. vienm zum Besten haben, betriigen, UpSax. fdnern irre reden, sich bewegen in epileptischen Zufallen, Verzuckungen. 46.07. Col. fiaus komischer, verriickter Einfall, Lacherlichkeit, Laune, NHG. seine fausen haben mondsiichtig sein : NHG. flause unrichtiges, irre- fiihrendes Vorgehen, Vorspiegelung, insbesondere schwankartige. Cf. Weigand 1.546. 46.08. MDu. verheent beside oneself, raging, senseless: MDu. henen enticed with a flute. 46.09. E. dial, leety deranged, mad: NE. leet, let on pretend, feign. 46.10. Du. hesuikerd very sweet, very flattering, (of persons) brought into a pleasant mood by flattery, crazy (in hen je hesuikerd?). FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 45 The development of this last usage is no doubt due to the influence of besuisd inconsiderate, rash, foolhardy, hairbrained. 46.11. NHG, waJin Erwartung, Hoffnung, Verdacht, unsichere Aii- nahme, Einbildung, Trugbild, fixe Ideen und Hallucinationen der Geistes- kranken, \'errucktheit, Wald. wane kiihn, toll, unsinnig, MDu. veruaent insane. Cf. 21.06. 46.12. Schnialkald. doherneckisch unsinnig, rasend, verriickt, UpSax, toberneckisch hirnverriickt, neck^sch tun albern, unsinnig sich verhalten: toben irre reden, neckisch spaBhaft, niirrisch, sonderbar, NHG. necken durch kleine mutwillige Handlungen oder mutwillige Worte reizen oder nur plagen. 46.13. Hess, fanzen Possen treiben, irre reden, wie im Trauni, im Fieber deliren, im Wahnsinn : Thur. fanzen Possen treiben, MHG. anvanz Betrug. Cf. 46.01. 46.14. SwedR. gant fool, madman, gan mad. out of one's mind, MDan. gante fool : Norw. dial, gant Scherz, dummes Zeug. Cf. P & T. 300. 46.15. Als. Idubi duramer SpaBmacher, Tolpel, halb verriickter Mensch: Swiss. Idubelen albern schwatzen, 46.16. Sil. taelsch albern, liippisch, toll, verriickt, verkehrt: NHG. ilahlen kindische Dinge reden und tun, verliebt tandeln. 46.17. OFris. derten unklug, verriickt: Du. dartel playful, sportive, frolicsome, wanton. 46.18. Pruss. fiselig zerstreut, albern, wild, auBer sich sein: flsd Kleinigkeit, Unbedeutendes. 46.19. Flem. hij speelt he dotes, is or becomes crazy, 47. Gentle, Fond 47. The following words have developed from the thot of 'gentle*, 'friendly' or 'fond' to that of insanity. 47.01. EFiis. albern albern, verriickt, unsinnig, lacherlich, unver- standig, unklug, Transyl, alber(n) einfaltig, ungeschickt, melancholisch, geisteskrank, NLG. Berg, albern albern, kinderhaft, kindisch, lacherlich, unsinnig, unverstandig, verriickt, OHG. o/rtwari gutig, freundlich, zugeneigt. 46 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 47.02. UpSax. kirre, kerre zahra, zutulich, verriickt: MHG. kilrye zahm. 47.03. NE. flaff simple, stupid, silly, insane, playful, frolicsome, Scottish daft delirious, stupid: ME. daft mild, gentle, stupid. 47.04. Als. (??rs still, ruhig, friedlich, sittsani, geistesgestort : French doucement gently, softly. 47.05. NE. nutty nut-like, having a taste like nuts; pleasant, rich, full of zest or flavor; amorous, fond, enthusiastic, queer, not right in the head. The use of the word nut as head and the analogy of words such as headish not right in the head, have influenced nutty. 48. Flabby. 48. Words denoting a soft mass primarily describe the flabby appearance of insane persons. Cf. 10, 18, 54. A great many words meaning ^lump', "stick' are used in the sense of simpleton. Most of these, however, stop short of the meaning as given in 48. 48.01. Sylt. kletsk verriickt: NHG. klatsch klatschender Schall oder Schlag, Fleck, Aachen kletsch Schlag, Klaps. 48.02. Antw. klavets half crazy, prating woman: Antw. klavats imitation of sound of a heavy blow, sudden fall. 48.03. Cron. knats verriickt, Col. knatschgeck ganz verriickt. Lux. knatschgeckech id.: NHG. knatschen, kmtscJien eine weiche Masse zerdriicken. 48.04. Pruss. dpfeldwatsch, appeldtvatscJi nicht recht bei Sinnen, divatsch narrisch, toricht, aberwitzig, unsinnig, toll, verriickt. 48.05. NHG. quatsch albern, narrisch, verdreht: qiiatsck Schallwort, den Laut quatsch hervorbringen oder von sich geben, lauten wie ein Schlag oder Tritt in Nasse. 48.06. UpSax. da hat jeder en gans anstdnd^gen klaps un extra noch drei punipse er ist nicht recht bei Verstande : pumpse dumpfes Gerausch infolge harten Aufschlagens. See 5.02, KOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN OERMANIC 47 48.07. E. dial, neivdling simpleton, demented persou: noodle strip or ball of dough made with wheat flour aud eggs and served in soup. 48.08. Tyrol, nolle, nole Narr, alberner Meusch, Swiss noil eiu- faltiger, blodsinniger Kerl, Narr: OHG. hnol Spitze, Gipfol, Scheitel. 48.09. E. dial, heepy fool, stupid person, melancholy person. Com- pare strike all of {on) a heap paralyze, prostrate mentally, cause to collapse, E. dial, asheaply senseless, stupid. NE. hyp, hyps, hip (hypo- chondriii morbid depression of spirits influenced the development of heepy. Cf. 53.05. 48.10. Styr. pritsch Narrheit, geistiges Gestortsein, Verriicktsein in gelindem MaBe; verriickter Mensch, Styr, prUsche flaches Holz zum Schlagen, Holzgestelle zum Ruhen, verilchtlich fiir Fraueuzimmer, Styr. gepritscht toricht, halb verriickt, narrisch. 48.11. WFlem. loefen foolish, silly fellow: MDu. lote name of variou-; instruments, consisting of a handle and an iron crosspiece with which to scrape or rake, whence Antw. halluit, balliit, kalv.t silly and half crazy woman, Flem. halloet, nialloefe, malloet id. 48.12. NorwR. staitrgalen ganz verriickt: Dan. stowr stake ; NorvvR. steingalen ganz verriickt. See 2.05. 48.13. Swed. stollig cracked, mad, silly, SwedR. storm-stolle arch- fool, violently insane person: OHG. stollo Gestell, Stiitze. 48.14. MDu. keyaert foolish, silly, Du. (Kilian) keyaerd Verriickter, Wahnsiuniger, Dummer: Du. kei stone, flint, een kei in het hoofd hebhen be stupid, stubborn, half-mad. The development of these meanings was assisted by association with keye a knight of the Arthur sage. Cf. V & V. Ill.i 1274. 48.15. SwedR. vamped crazy, silly, not in control of one's senses: vamp clumsy person. 49. Of strange appearan'ck 49. The following group gives words that describe the dress or appearance of the insane. Other expressions that primarily describe the appearance were given in classes 10, 18. 48. 48 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 49.01. ME. COX, coax, cokes simpleton, gull, dupe, fool: coxcomb comb of a cock, cap, resembling a cock's comb which licensed fools formerly wore, hence the fool himself. Compare Swiss zipfelkap narrische Person, Narrenkappe. 49.02. Swiss fosli Person in zerrissener Kleidung, auch eine iiber- haupt arme, von der Natur vernachlassigte, Geistesschwache. 49.03. E. dial, lirripoop silly, empty creature, old dotard: MLat. liripipium tippet of a hood, cord, shoe-lace, inner soleleather of shoes. See N.E.D.VI, 1,33. 49.04. Plem. hij lieeft een [oor) slinger he is somewhat cracked. This was derived from een slag van de slingeren, slingermeiilen hehhen 5.22. 50. Odd 50. By litotes words for 'strange' my attain the meaning 'crazy*. 50.01. E. dial, antic droll, grotesque, fantastic, crazy, frantic with excitement, mad, unmanageable: Ital. antico applied to grotesque work found among the ruins of Rome and ascribed to the ancients. Cf. N.E.D. I, 365. 50.02. Bornh. artier strange, comical, silly, crazy. 50.03. E. dial, unkid unknown, strange, odd, weird, uncanny, in- sane, horrid, ghastly: OE. uncydd not made known. Cf. Wright 1. c. VI, 313. 50.04. E. dial, queerly queer, odd, slightly demented, NE. slang queer in the attic intoxicated or cracked. 50.05. Pal. Jioschpes narrischer Kerl, Rapp. Jiospes verriickter, iiber- spannter Mensch, Ruhl. hosbes Dummkopf : Lat. hospes guest, stranger. 50.06. Slang mm ned fool, madman: rum odd, strange, queer. Cf. 88.10. 50.07. NFris. ivonnerk verriickt: iconner Wunder. Cf. MDu. venvisseld changed, silly, crazy 14.07. FOR MENTAL ABERKATION IN GERMANIC 49 50.08. Swiss selfsen geistig verwirrt, blod-, schwachsinnig : OHG. seltsdni seltsam, wundersani : unbekannt; selten. Cf. Schweiz, Idiod. Vir, 877. 50.09. E. dial, strange half-mad, delirious. 51. Excessive 51. Terms for excess describe not only the causes of insanity but also the actions of the afflicted. 51.01. Cf. MDu. exces van sinne Sinnesverriickung, Gewalttatigkeit; Fr. exces Uberschreitung. 51.02. RE. outratj pass beyond usual, established, or rational limits; hence, be extravagant or mad : ( Lat. ultra. 51.03. Swab, driiher hinaus kotnme geisteskrank werden, Swiss. uherenhommen verstort, wahnsinnig werden, Swiss, iiberhin si berauscht sein, verriickt sein, E. dial, talk over wander in delirium. 51.04. MHG. Jel. iiher-her uberausgewaltig, vornehm, iibermiitig, ausser sich. 51.05. Swiss iiberhimig irr-, wahnsinnig, (Anzengruber) uherhirnt verriickt; MDan, overvid derangement, insanity. 51.06. Swiss uberholzlen iibertreiben, uberspannen, iiberanstrengen ; geisteskrank machen ; holzen Holz fallen, geistige Arbeiten (wie eine Rede, Predigt, Schulaufgabe) mit Miihe und schwerfallig verrichten. 51.07. Swiss iihersinnig an Wahnsinn grenzend, unsinnig, verkehrt, Als. ahersinnt narrisch, MHG. Uhersinnic mit iiberspannten Gedanken, unvernunftig. By influence of nbersinnen, Mntersinnen, tiefsinnig etc., there was formed Als. widersinnen den Verstand verlieren, verriickt werden. 51.08. Als. iiberstudiert uberspannt, Pruss. iiberstudierter einer der zu viel studiert hat und dabei etwas iibergeschnappt ist. 51.09. NHG, uberspannt halbverriickt, geistig nicht ganz normal. 50 the semantic development of words 52. Sick 52. These terms meaning 'sickness' have been specialized to the meaning of insanity. In group 53 are given words for a particular sickness or ailment, 52.01. NE. addle empty, idle, vain, muddled, confused, unsound, crazy: OE, adl, adel disease, pain, languishing sickness, consumption. 52.02. Du. krankzmnig geisteskrank, toll, wahnsinnig, MDu. cranc- sinnich id., NHG. sinnekrank id., MLG, kranksinnich verstandesschwach ; Antw. ge soudt er kranke zinnen van krijgen that is enough to make one lose his mind. Compare Swab, der ist krank in seinem kopf er ist nicht recht gescheid, Du. krankhoofdig insane, Cron. gemyetskrank irr- sinnig, NHG. hirnkrank am Hirn krank, geisteskrank. 52.03. Swed. sjuk disordered (stomach, mind), NE. slang you must he sick i. e. crazy, foolish, MDu. besiect sick, insane, Swiss tufel{s)-sucht, MHG. tiuvel-siihtic vom Teufel besessen, MHG. hirn-suht Hirnkrankheit, Irrsinn, Swiss Mrnsucht, hauptsucht Hirnwut, Icel. tunglsjukur lunatic, moonstruck 1.08. 52.04. NE. "brainsick diseased in the brain or mind, addleheaded, mad, foolish, frantic, OFris. breinsecht, breasecht Gehirnkrankheit, NE. sick-brained mentally disordered. Cf. OE. gebrcecseoc epileptic, lunatiCj OE. feond-seoc fiend-sick, demoniac 3.06. 52.05. NE. moonsick lunatic, NHG. mondsUchtig id. MHG. mdnsiech mondsuchtig. Cf. 1, OE. ivan-seoe epileptic, frenzied, lunatic; OE. witseoc lunatic, possessed, Dan. sindsyg diseased in mind, deranged, Swed. sinnessjuk unsound of mind. 52.06. E. dial, pate-sore crazy. 53. Afflicted by a sickness 53. The name of a specific sickness may develop into a term for insanity by transference of meaning. Compare also the following in- definite allusions to insanity: Du. Mj kreeg het in het hoofd, SEPlem. hie heeH i zijn hovekorUer he is insane, Hagel jeverans iet va krijge be- come sick or insane from something. Westpf. se het et in den kopp kriegen sie ist verriickt geworden, UpSax. er hets in gehime [im kopfe) er ist FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 5 J goisteskrank, Lor. 's im hopp han am Kopfweh leideii, niclit inehr vollig bei Verstaud sein. 53.01. EFris. kollig hoclifahrend, auffahrend, zornig, toll, verriickt : French colique influenced by the following. 53.02. Dan. kulret cracked, crazy, Swed. kollrighet brainsickness, craziness, madness, MDau. ktilre become choleric, crazy, NLG. Berg. koUerig, kullerkoppsk den KoUer habend, seiner Sinne nicht machtig, unsinnig sein, Geld, kolder insanity of horses, EFris. hdler (von Menschen, }{indern, Schafen, selten von Pferden) Koller, Zorn, Zornausbruch, An- fall von Wut, Tobsucht oder Verriicktheit, Cron. holer zeitweiliges Sauf- delirium, Wald. kollern toll werden, Col. kollere wiiten, rasen, toben, Swab, kohkrig halb wiitend, halbverriickt, zornig aufgebracht, Swiss rholderer halbverriickter Mensch, MHG. kolre stille oder ausbrechende Wut, Bauchgrimmen, heftiger Schmerz in Gedarmen: Gr. Lat. cholera Galle. Gallensnchi, Mlat. colera innere Hitze und Erhitztes, verbranntes Blut im Korper, Aufbrausen im Gemiit, Zorn. Cf. Weigand, 1, 1095. 53.03. Du. quinckte, quinckt insanity, wandering of the mind, de- liracy : French quinte recurring attack of cough, fits, whim, humor, caprice. 53.04. Pruss. quesenkopf Hirnkrankheit der Schafe, narrischer, eigen- sinniger Mensch, Querkopf. Dan. hvcese Blasenwurra im Gehirn der Schafe, EFris. kicds-kop Querkopf, verruckter Kerl. The development of the last was influenced by EFris. dtcas^ unsinnig, narrisch, verkehrt, verriickt, toricht. 53.05. NE. hippy, hippisch < hypochondria morbid depression of mind or spirits, mental disorder characterized by morbid anxiety as to the patient's health. 53.06. Als. hest s grimmen? bist du verriickt?: grimmen Bauch- schmerzen, Leibschneiden. 53.07. Pruss. hornertoll verriickt, Flem. hoorndul, horendul id. 53.08. Pruss. diippel Drehkrankheit der Schafe, auch auf Menschen iibertragen, doch nur im Hohn : Verriicktheit. 53.09. Du. phrmesie insanity, MDu. frenesie id., NE. frantic frenzied person madman; frensy mad, delirious, Lat. phrenesis, Gr. qpQevtjoiQ inflammation of the brain. 52 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 53.10. Du. iveeru'olfsziekte kind of insanity. 53.11. UpSax. den spliin hahen geistig nicht ganz in Ordnung, Grimm D. Wb. er hat den spleen fixe Idee, SchruUe. 53.12. Du. (Kilian) verzwijmdheid hallucination, MDu. beitvijmt foolish, distracted: swij'm fainting, swoon. 54. Acting strangely 54. Terms for insanity are derived from words for unusual or striking actions, such as: stare 54.01 to 54.05, yawn, 54.12 to 54.14, walk strangely 54.20 to 54.29 etc, 54.01. NorwA. enast moved with wonder, joy, be disturbed in mind, rage, be senseless, enen crazy, senseless : ena look about in confusion or fright, stare wildly, snort (of frightened animals). 54.02. Hess. uherMppisch schielend, und zwar mit der Richtung der Augeusterne nach oben; verriickt, nicht recht bei Verstande, narrisch: MLG. kapen gaff en. 54.03. MHG. gief Tor Narr, MDu. glf id. NHG. gaffen offnen Mundes sehen. 54.04. Hess, sparreguckes wer einen Sparren zu viel oder zu wenig hat, im Oberstiibchen nicht recht ist: gucken schauen. Cf. 63.31. 54.05. E. dial, glop fool : glop stare stupidly, gaze openmouthed, look wildly, EPris. glupen klaffeu, offen stehen, gaffen, glotzen, OFris. glupa gucken. 54.06. Swiss iihersiinig von Abnormitaten des Gesichtsinnes, kurz- sichtig, alles iibersehend, ungeschickt, tappisch, schief, missmutig, stets iibelgelaunt, wunderlich, iiberspannt, geistiggestort. 54.10. Shet glinket silly, deranged, half crazy, glink grin foolishly, conduct oneself in a silly or deranged manner, Swed. dial, glina grin, laugh loudly. 54.11. Ruhla zahnefletscher alberner Mensch. 54.12. Swab, ginolf Narr. MHG. ginolf Narr: Swab, gineti gahnen. FOR MENTAL ABKRUATION IN GERMANIC 53 54.13. NE. yonnack fool, hare-brained fellow, NE. yaivnax stupid person, fool, Maulaffe; ymm gape, open the mouth wide. Cf. Wood Hesperia Ergaiiz. 1, 52. 54.14. NE. yaumups stupid person, fool, lazy, uncouth person: yawney lazy, stupid person, fool. Cf. Wood Hesperia Ergiinz. 1, 72. 54. 1 5. Swab, gestenmacher Grimassenschneid6r, halbverruckter Mensch. 54.20. Scottish hyte crazy, mad, E. dial, hyter-styte acting as if mad. in a state of madness ; Scottish hyter walk in tottering steps, work in a weak, unskillful manner. Cf. dyte 37.03, gyte 4.04. 54.21. Shet. hjimp(ef) (person) one who answers by starts or ab- ruptly, half crazy, disturbed in mind : NE. himp limp, hobble. 54.22. DanM. tontet silly, foolish, crazy: tonte, timte go with little, short steps and bent knees. 54.23. NorwA. tiislen weak, decrepit, deranged in mind: Norw. tusla go gently, walk with short steps. 54.24. Helg. hi es widehvadeli er ist verriickt; E. dial. ividdle-woMle waddle, totter in walking. 54.25. Antw. sukkel, soekel half crazy woman, sukkelee>% soekeleer half crazy person: Du. sukkelen loiter, drudge, lounge, crawl, suffer of a lingering disease. 54.26. Swab, hallegdng halbnarrischer Mensch, hallewatsch einfaltiger Mensch : Swab, hallen wiederhallen, NHG. watscheln schwankend gehen wie die Enten. 54.27. Swiss gilmpelhans verliebter Narr. Geek, Carin. gumpe, gumpl narrischer Mensch, Narr: Swiss gump Sprung. 54.28. SwedR. stomring one who toddles along, walks heavily, half-crazy person, wretch. 54.29. E. dial, tolling slow, inactive, decrepit, foolish, slightly demented, dazed: totle slouch about idly, dawdle, work slowly. 5 54 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 54.30. Shet. kirns silly, crazy, half deranged in mind, kinis one who makes hasty movements with the head or body, unrestrained, one who speaks by starts, silly, half-deranged. 54.31. Shet. hams{t) deranged, wild, odd, silly, Shet. hims(et) hjims one who makes sudden or hasty movements, is hasty, unrestrained, speaks by starts, is silly, half deranged. 54.32. MDan. kvcekker deranged person: OE. cwacian tremble, quake. 54.33. Swiss riittel eine Art fieberhafter Anfall von Wahnsinn: NHG. rutteln oft bewegen, schiitteln. 54.34. Swiss vergihlen ausser sich geraten, den Verstand verlieren, vor Angst, Sorge, Ungeduld vergehen, die Beine aufwarts oder aus- einander strecken, verrecken, verenden: Swiss, gaheln mit der Gabel arbeiten, mit den Armen oder Beinen absichtlich oder unwillkiirlich, lebhafte, lacherliche oder ungeschickte Bewegungen machen, gaukeln, viel oder einfaltig plaudern. 54.35. E. dial, shandy shy, reluctant, wild, romping, boisterous, visionary, empty-headed, crackbrained, half-crazy, slianny shy, bashful, shame-faced, half-wit, crackbrained person: shan bashful, shame-faced, shy, frightened, wild. Due to the influence of such words as 'E. dial scranny scramble, strive, contend, E. dial, strandy restive, passionate' there were formed the new words, E. dial, scranny crazy, mad, distracted, simple, foolish, bewildered and stranny demented, out of one's mind, beside oneself with pain, passion, etc. 54.36. E. dial, suck-hobba fool, idiot, moonstruck person: hohban cake made of dough and raisins baked in the form of a pastry. 54.37. E. dial, doiicher, dowsher inconsiderate, rash person, madman, rash, foolhardy: NorwR. duska tumble down, topple, fall suddenly, give a dull sound as from a heavy fall. 54.38. Dan. rusk out of one's senses, MDan. risk, rysk fast, violently, wild, crazy, Bornh. rysker, NorwR. rusk raging, insane, Swed. rysk out of cue's senses, SwedR. rysk wild, insane, crazy, inconsiderate; Norw. dial, rusk noise, uproar. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION LN GERMANIC 55. Speaking Strangely 55 55. The following group shows the development of meanmg fioin speaking strangely to insanity. Closely related to these is the group that originally referred to the feverish talk of tlie insane, 55.01. E. dial, lall be delirious: NE. call shout, utter loudly, cry out. 55.02. WFlera. dubbeltongig zwei Zungen habend, nicht rechtsinnig, wer einmal so, dann anders spricht. 55.03. UpSax. en kleen pappel {papps) hahen nicht ganz richtig iin Kopfe sein, pappel, papps dumnier Mensch: Bslv. pappel Papagey, Schw^atzer, pappeln scherzweise oder verachtlich reden. papps is due to UpSax. Maps 5.02. 48.06 and pieps 17.02. 55.04. E. dial, crying fever delirious, raving fever. 55.05. EFris. hei-krasje zornig, wild, wiitend, aufgebracht, ausser sich: hei interj. of joy. MLG. kraecz Widerrede, Geschrei. Cf. Koolman II, 60. Compare UpSax. e bischen he dumm, albern, nicht recht bei Trost Oder gescheit, einer der bloder Weise immer nur mit lie' fragt. (See Muller-Fraureuth 1. c 489.) 55.06. DanM. hvingal raging mad : hvin piercing shriek. Cf. 2.05 55.07. DanM. tordengal violently crazy: torden thunder. Cf. 2.05. 55.10. XHG. fabeln Fabeln machen, erdichten, narrisch reden, irre reden, Als., Lor. fabeln im Fieber phantasieren, irre reden. 55.11. Swed. fantisera (under feber) wander, be delirious, NHG phantasieren dem Spiel der Phantasie sich hingeben, im Fieber liegen, irre reden, faseln. 55.12. Bav. abreden irre reden, in der Fieberhitze reden, ainreden irre reden {ab und ain vielleicht aus einem alten A- entstanden). Swiss einreden delirieren, wahnwitzig sein, unsinnig sein. 55.13. E. dial, romance exaggerate, tell an untruth, be delirious. 55.14. E. dial, wowf wild, deranged, disordered in intellect, OE. woffian rave, blaspheme, woffung raving, blasphemy, insanity: wceflian Unsinn reden, Norw. vava id. 5* 56 the semantic development of words 56. Rocking, Wavering 56. A special group of words for strange actions is represented by terms for 'wavering', 'rocking'. 56.01. WFlera. pikepokken crazy person who continually rocks violently in a chair, 'pikepokken'. 56.02. Lor. flock-dortich ganzlich verriickt: MHG. vlokzen schwanken, flattern. Cf. Follmann ]. c. 167. 56.03. NE. slang have a rock too much be crazy. 56.04. Icel. vingladur confused, out of one's mind, giddy: Swed. vingla sway to and fro, wabble, pitch. 56.05. Scottish waver wave, be slightly delirious: NE. waver move up and down, or to and fro, quiver, falter, fail, be undetermined or irresolute, fluctuate. 56.06. NE. shuttlebrained scatterbrained, flighty, thotless, shuttlehead flighty, inconsiderate person. 56.07. Col. schlotterkopp einfaltiger, toller Mensch: NHG. schlottern unfest, lose, schlaff hin und herschwanken. Cf. class 31. 57. Geqpino 57. The following words owe their origin to the groping actions of the insane. 57.01. NorwA. tiimsen taciturn, disordered in mind, silly: Norw. tunta zoUweise ausmessen, tappen, tasteu, grapsen, nicht fortkommen. See F. &T. 1271. 57.02. Bornh. tdvelier silly, deranged, idiotic, disordered in mind: Swed. tdpig simple, Norw. dial, tcepa leicht beriihren, leise treten, tc^la tappend beriihrend. See F. & T 1237. 57.08. SwedR. fumma be silly, crazy, confused, trembling, Shet. fommis confused, deranged condition, NorwA. fumutt foolish, silly, Norw. dial, fuma hudeln, sich ungeschickt, plump benehmen. 57.04. NLG. fameln im Fieber irre reden, Hess, fanieln irre reden, wie im Delirium des Nervenfiebers, im Trauma, im Wahnsinn, unsicher, FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 57 zunial ira Dunkoln uach etwas herumtasten, UpSax. der hat en fimmel er ist nicht recht gescheit: NHG. fimmeln die eher reifenden miinii- lichen Hanfstengel besondeis ausrupfen, dann iiberhaupt tastend aus- suchen, herausklauben. 57.05. Swab, f'aslen dummes Zeug schwatzen, liigen, schwilrmen, im Wahnsinn reden, wahnsinnig sein oder tun : OHG. fason suchen, aufsucheii, aufspiireu. 58. Like the insane 58. Comparisons with insane persons by way of litotes develop new expressions for insanity. In 58.10 to 58.15 the comparison suggests contempt or disparagement. 58.01. Lor. en as dem a fait atis der hott gefal er ist verriickt. 58.02. Lor. du hisch em dortiche mann itver der hott geiuan du bist halb verriickt. 58.03. Rapp. er isch em nerische kheal sain primta er ist verruckt. Cf, Swiss, den hruder gefangen han narrisch sein. 58.10. Bornh. kaiolsker silly, beside oneself, Swiss. katoUsch eiu- faltig, dumm, narrisch, verruckt (e. g. es ist zam katoUsch werden). 58.11. NE. halokit giddy, thotless, foolish crazy: NE. halok light, thotless girl or young woman. 58.12. Swab, fanie narrischer, iiberspannter, phantastischer Mensch, Swab, fantel Halbnarr (Ital. fante boy, servant. 58.13. Als. hofotzig (derbes Wort) verruckt: votz cunnus, lieder- liche Dime. 58.14. Sylt. pofjerich verruckt, NFris. potjerig troddelig, dumm, schwachsinnig : NFris. potjer Tdpfer. 58.15. Cf. NLG. (Berg.) laaks, ladks lake, Idiot, Blodsinniger, Stumper in Kunst und Wissenschaft: Lat. laieus layman. 58 THE SEMANTIC DEXTILOPMENT OF WORDS 59. Like an animal or person 59. A great many names of animals or of persons with or without qualifying words are used in the sense of simpleton. Some expressions that have a somewhat stronger significance are given in the following groups. Group 59.01 — 59.10 gives those expressions derived from names of animals: 59.10 — 59.13 are derived from the actions of ani- mals. Group 60 gives those from names of persons. 59.01. Transyl. affich toricht, unbesonnen, geistesgestort, toll. 59.02. Du hen je hekokmeeuwd? : are you crazy? kokmeeutc(en) water- fowl that foretells storm by flying about. 59.03. Thur. kauz Eule, narrischer Kerl. 59.04. Cron. kalf Kalb, toller Mensch. 59.05. NHG. gauch einfaltiger, dummer Mensch, Narr, Schelm, MHG. gouch, OHG. gouh Kuckuck. Tor, Narr, Swiss, MHG. ergauchen verriickt, (zum Narren) warden. 59.06. NHG. hegel Stier, Narr, Querkopf, Westpf. Jiegel geflappter Mensch. 59.07. Du (Kilian) horselingh'e gad-fly, insanity, rage, strife. 59.08. NE. mad as a march hare, Pruss. verriickt vne ein marzlmse quite crazy. E. dial, mad as a curly very mad. 59.09. Lux. schofsgeckech verriickt, Anspielung auf die Drehkrank- heit der Schafe. Compare NHG. heschelt vor Liebe verriickt: MHG. schel{e) Hengst. Cf. NHG., MHG. schellich 35.10. 59.10. E. dial, cluckey crazy, weak-minded person. 59.11. Swab, taubentanzig verriickt. 59.12. Als. eiterbissig toll. 59.18. Swiss, russig, rUssig brunstig, wild, unbandig, ungesittet, unwirsch, nicht bei Sinnen. FOR MENTAI- ABERRATION' IN OKRMAtac 59 60. Like a certain person 60. Proper names have given the following expressions for insanity. 60.01. Swiss. appelc(apollonia niirrische Person, mari-appele halb narrischer Mensch, welcher dunim aufbraust (unter EiiifluB von lapjri). 60.02. Thur. kuri Nair: Gregorius. See Miiller-Fraureuth 1, 439. 60.03. UpSax. (der reene, hehere) kioi Unsinn, Wahnwitz, Schwindel, (von dem Schauspieler Edmund Kean als Darsteller des Sonderbaren). 60.04. Flem. hij klapt gelijk een hanne {(Johannes) unsinnig. 60.05. E. dial, tommy simpleton, fool, cousin tommy harmless, tomfool madman, vagrant, beggar. 60.06. Als. natTenfasi verriickter Mensch, Fasi^Gervasius. 60.07. Swiss, nazi Toller, Xazi(lgna,zius. 60.08. Swiss, noff einfaltiger Kerl, Narr. Compare da stehen wie St. Noff mil dem steinigen hoslatz. 60.09. Swiss, mirr geisteskranke Frauensperson, einfaltige Frauens- person, XdnHn: Nurr Familienname. This development of meaning was influenced by the word varr. 60.10. Du. ben je helazerd? [Lazarus) are you crazy? Gron. blst belotjet, heloazerd? id. (lat. Lazarus). Cf. Lor. schosspatel 5.15. 60.11. Pruss. irrlise Lise, die irre ist, verwirrtes, konfuses Frauenzimmer. 61. Pertaining to a certain person 61. Almost very district has its own expressions for insanity formed upon the name of the place at which an insane asylum is located, e. g. He escaped from, is ready to go to, Dunning. Kankaakee, Charenton, Hanwell, Colney Hatch, etc. 61.01. Antw. hij komt van geel, meet naar geel he is silly, crazy. 61.02. NE. bedlamite madman: the hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem used as an asylum for lunatics. Compare NE. slang bedlamripe, bedlammad, bedlamivitfed. gQ THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 62. Pertaining to a certain place 62. A certain circumstance, condition, game, or phrase may furnish a new expression for insanity. 62.01. NE. Slang abrahamman fool, madman: one of a class of beggars who feigned lunacy, originally a mendicant inmate of Bethlehem Hospital, London. 62.02. Flem. hij loopt met het hultje, Col. me'm holzcke laufe, NHG. mit der latte laufen be crazy. The figure is that of a blindfolded person in a game. See Wander D. Sp. Wb. II, 1805. 62.03. Swiss stifelsinnig wirr im Kopfe, halbverriickt vor Larm, Arger, Ungeduld, schwermiitig, mit einem Anflug von Geistesgestortheit. Entstellt aus stigelsinnig in stigelsinnig mid gatterldufig wirr, unruhig, lebhaft, verriickt. These words described originally the confusion and despair of one passing the sties and hedges separating fields. See Wander 1. c. IV, 855. 62.04. E. dial, northering wandering, sligthly deranged, incoherent. Derived from Shakespeare, Hamlet II, 2. "I am but mad north-north- west; when the mind is southerly" (only mad in one direction). 63. Pertaining to a circumstance 63. 'Not right', is expressed by a great variety of figures. In 63.01 to 63.04, the thought 'not right' is given more specifically. 63.10 — 63.15 express 'not finished, completed'. Another figure is that of being infested by insects or animals or being filled with trash. The words which compare a garret or upper vacant room lie close to group 21. 63.01. Swiss nid rechi im cliopf nicht bei gutem Verstande sein, Swiss es ist iinricJitig mit em id., Als. der ist nit recht, Als. eps net racht en ter eivre fen {hiihne) id., MHG. unrichtig unrecht, aus der Richtung gebracht, verriickt, E. dial, not right not sane, 7iot rightly garretted weak headed, foolish, Dan. ikke rigtig i hovedet not in one's right senses, Dan. dial, et rcet i ce huive deranged, distracted, NLG. Berg, hi em isH nig ganss richtig in't captool, Pruss. im oherstUbchen nicht richtig er ist irre oder betrunken. 63.02. Tyrol, gabig verkehrt launig, halbverriickt, whence Thur. Uhergebisch hochmiitig, iiberspannt. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC 0J 63.03. Swiss letz verkehrt, unrichtig, aufgeregt, verwirrt, ausser sich, wahnwitzig, letz im chopf, letzkopfig gedankenlos, verwirrt, verrQckt. Als. letz gndjt ungeschickt, unpractisch, narrisch. 63.04. E.Fris. mal{l) wirbelig, uuklug, toricht, toll, verriickt, hass- lich, schlimm, iibel, Helg. inol freudig, libermutig, verriickt, unartig, Sylt. mal bos, verriickt, MDu. mal maken deprive of reason or senses, Du. mal foolish, silly, ridiculous, unfavorable, dubious, MLG. mal ver- riickt, seltsam, wunderlicli : Lat. mains bad. See Francke 410. 63.05. E. dial, tvrong (in the head) deranged in intellect, insane, rang-heead lunatic, fool, NE. slang wrong in the upper story crazy. 63.06. NorwA. ikkje heil i hovudet not right in mind. 63.07. E. dial, not hisself out of his mind, mentally deranged, out of health, not in one's mind distracted with grief. 63.10. E. dial, not topped up of unsound mind. 63.11. E. dial, not thorough not wise, not sane. 63.12. NE. not perfect not sound, not of sound mind, not sane. 63.13. Pruss. nicht rtcht fix nicht recht bei Verstande. 63.14. E. dial, not quite finished weak of intellect, silly, half-crazed 63.15. Swab., NHG. nicht recht gehacken sein nicht recht gescheit, NE. haipoaked id. 63.16. Icel. ekki med ollum mjalla not in one's right senses. 63.20. Swiss einen kdfer im kopf {him) hdben nicht recht gescheit, iiberspannt sein, Als. er het e kdfer er ist nicht bei Sinnen, ist betrunken, Lor. dir isch e maikdfer in de schddel gegrawelt du bist von Sinnen, Swab. kdferig lebhaft, hitzig im Kopf, ganz toll. 63.21. Pruss. kaninchen im kopf hdben gestort, wahnsinnig sein. 63.22. Slang he [go) bughouse, bugs be crazy; cf. have a bee in one's bonnet 17.01 ; there are bats in his belfry he is crazy whence batty crazy; have rats in the upper story be crazy ; have a rat in the garret be slightly cracked. Compare Als. s fehlt ihm im hus er ist verriickt. ^2 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 63.23. Gron. 'n wandloes ten hop hehhen not to be in one's right mind. 63.24. Swiss chuder im chopf han verwirrt, narrisch sein. 63.25. NHG. ein hdkchen im kopfe haben nicht bei klarem Verstande sein. 63.26. Swab, griitze im kopf haben iiberspannt sein. Anspielung auf Grillen, Grimmen usw. liegt vor. 63.27. Lor. e leischlen se viel oder einen nit genuk lion verriickt sein, 63.28. UpSax. er hot su an klann schiefer er ist nicht ganz gescheit im Kopf. 63.29. Swiss en rafen /vil han im Kopf nicht ganz richtig sein. 63.30. Pruss. er hat einen schifer er ist nicht bei rechten Sinnen. Sil. einen schiefer zu viel haben etwas verdreht oder verriickt sein. NHG. {Adelung) einen schiefer zu viel haben etwas verdreht, verriickt sein. 63.31. Als. a sparren im kopf e sparren zu vil han verriickt sein. NHG. (Hans Sachs) ains sporn im kopff zu weng oder zu vil haben, NHG. einen sparren haben im Kopf nicht ganz richtig sein. Als. e sprossen (ze viel) han id., sparrengages iiberspannte, verriickte Person beiderlei Ge- schlechts, Cf. 54.04, 63.40. NE. Slang have one's wires crossed be crazy. 63.41. Lux. do misst en tonte gesoff hun da miisste man verriickt sein, Cron. du hes wal tente gezopen du bist wohl verriickt. 63.42. Als. du schmeckst nach terpentin du bist verriickt. 63.43. Lux. t huet em an d' fischt (Giebel) geregnet er hat den Ver- stand verloren. 63.44. NE. have lost a button {be a button short) be slightly crazy. Compare NE. slang go three buttons go crazy. 63.45. Swiss er hat e (s) redle z'vil {im chopf) er ist uberspannt, verriickt, es ist em es redli g'sprungen es ist nicht mehr richtig bei ihm im Oberstiibchen, Tyrol, das radl ist ihm abgelaufen er ist narrisch geworden. Cf. 39.10. FOR MENTAL ABERRATION IN GERMANIC g3 63.46. Lor. n- hnf en reif ze vil er ist verriickt. Lux. e ref zeviil {ze 7veinech) hun schwachsinnig sein. 63.47. Swab, der hat 12 mannlein und 11 stUhle (aber nur 11 sitze fur f;ie) er ist geistig gestort, Als. er het zwelf mdnnli im kimi und nvmmen elf stiiehl er ist verruckt. 63.48. NE. slang have a slate off be slightly deranged, E. dial. unslaied crazy, demented, mentally deranged. 63.49. Slang (Australian) be short of a sheet be crazy. Compare the following French phrases : avoir une araiguee dans le plafond, un boeuf gras dans le char, un cancrelat dans la boule, une grenouille dans I'aquarium, un hanneton dans le reservoir, une hirondelle dans le soliveau, une Marseillaise dans le Kiosque, une punaise dans le soufflet, des rats dans la tete, une sardine dans I'armoire a glace, une trichinne dans le jambonneau, un voyageur dans I'omnibus. 64. Not right 64. The mystery' popularly connected with insanity is reflected in many expressions for insanity. The vagueness of many comparisons such as giren in 63 is often offset by a gesture. Certain more or less euphonious foreign words have gained wide currency, even though they have no association with native words. 64.01. Pal. meschugge verruckt, Pruss. meschigge, meschugger, Rapp. meschtike, Swab, meschucke id., Lor. maschuke verruckt, narrisch, Als. schockebursch blodsinniger Mensch (Hebr. meschugah Irrtum. 64.02. Pal. schote einfaltiger, halbverriickter Mensch, Rapp. schoute, schoutepoorie, narrischer Mensch, Hess, schote, schoude, schode, schore Narr, Lor. halb-schoivde Halbverruckter, Als. schaute Verriickter, Narr: Hebr. schota irrend, Narr. 04 THE SEMANTIC DEVELOPMENT OF WORDS 64.03. Swab, beschole gutmiitiger Einfaltspinsel : Hebr. schalah sorg- los sein (Part, scholeh irrend). 64.04. Wald. bestusst halbverriickt, Als. stuss Halbnarr, bestusst ver- riickt, stussel iiberspannter Kerl: Rabbinic Hebrew schtuht. See Grecel 1, 825. Compare Lor. stutten verriickte Einfalle. 64.05. Als. mapull verriickt, geisteskrank: Arabic mabhul. See Martin- Leinhart 1. c. 1, 696. 64.06. Westpf. diewirk verriickt im Kopfe: Gipsy divjo wild, ver- wildert, toll, wiitend (Rudolf v. Sowa, Worterbuch des Dialekts der deut- schen Zigmner p. 25), MHG. diver ch schrag quer. 65, Foreign expressions. 65. Some expressions for insanity are qualified and in many cases stronger than the unqualified term. Cf. the comparisons involving litotes. ON. halfcerr half crazy, NorwA. halvgalen id., E. dial, half- away mad, Swed. dial, halbstossig, Jut. halbtontet, halvtjokket, halvfjottet, Swed. halftokig half crazy. Jut. halvtomling, halvfjolling, ON. halffifl half crazy person, Icel. halfbrjaladur half crazy, Swab, halb-verrukt id.; drei- viertelsnarr crazy person. 66. Unclassified 66. Unclassified expressions. 66.01. SwedR. dssed raging, mad. 66.02. E. dial, orril mad, frenzied. 66.03. E. dial, eum mad, distraught, beside oneself, uim mad, furious. 66.04. SwedR. geud fool, madman. 66.05. MLG. vortermen insanire. 66.06. Sylt. trat Narr. 66.07. Styr. drohweis wahnsinnig, narrisch, geistesgestort. Robert Noske, Spezialdruekerei fur Dissertationsdruck, Borna-Leipzlg. I RETURN TO the circulation desk of any ■^^ university of California Library or to the NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY Bidg 400. Richmond Field Station university of California Richmond, CA 94804-4698 --rntrs^^oy=e=^S:^. CMoohS may be recharged .V bringing ^Ss'and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date. FORM NO. DD6, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY BERKELEY, CA 94720
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i don't know
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Which nationality combines with 'auction', 'courage' and 'uncle' in referring to alternative/artificial versions?
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2nd Quarter, Language Arts 09 | Utah Electronic High School
2nd Quarter, Language Arts 09
0.0 Start Here (LA 9)
Course Description
Engage in attentive reading, writing, and listening through complex works of literature.
Perform critical reading of digital and printed material.
Build knowledge and demonstrate strong reasoning abilities.
These skills, in reading; writing; speaking; and listening, are the foundation for any purposeful expression in language
Class Overview
This is a one quarter (.25 credit) class in Utah State High School Language Arts.
WHAT THIS CLASS IS: This class is an open-entry, open-exit class. You can enroll at any time of the year, and finish the class as fast as you can get all the work done.
WHAT THIS CLASS IS NOT: This class is NOT an easy way to get your English credit without doing real work. You will be required to work and learn.
PREREQUISITES
At least 8th grade level reading and writing skills.
A computer with internet access.
A working e-mail address which you check regularly.
Word processing software to type your assignments. Microsoft Word is best.
Acrobat Reader, QuickTime reader, and a PowerPoint reader (all available free online).
How You Will Be Graded
You earn points for doing assignments in this class. Each assignment has a maximum number of points you can earn if you do an excellent job on that assignment. You must do all assignments. You can also submit a revised, improved version of an assignment to get more points for it. Your final grade is determined by your average on assignments, and how you do on the final test. The assignments and quizzes count 75%, and the final test counts 25%.
GRADING SCALE
D 60-69
No credit - below 60
As with all EHS classes, you must also pass a proctored final test at the end of the class. If you score below 60% on the final, you will fail the class and not earn credit. If you score at least 60% on the final test, your score on the final will be averaged with your scores for class assignments and quizzes to determine your grade in the class.
Final Test
When you have finished all the assignments you need for your credit, you will take the final test under the supervision of a proctor approved by the EHS. You must pass the final with at least 60% to pass the class.
About Homework
Grading rubrics will specify how you will be graded on each assignment submission.
Class plagiarism policy
Plagiarism is copying someone else's work, in any way, and failing to give credit to the original author. Plagiarism is unlawful and unethical, and against the EHS Honor Code.
How to turn in homework
IMPORTANT: always save a copy of all your homework on your own computer. Send in each assignment when it is requested in the course module section.
About Me assignment:
Getting to know you! Copy and paste the following questions between the rows of asterisks below into a word document and answer them accordingly.
*******************************************************************
In a numbered LIST, provide the following information:
1. What is your first and last name, parent(s) name(s), and contact information for both you and your parent(s)?
2. Where do you go to school?
3. What is your counselor's full name and email address/contact information?
4. What year will you graduate and have you read the EHS Honor Code and understand that this class needs to be finished within the 10 week limit?
In a few sentences, tell me about yourself being sure to answer the following questions in the process:
a. Tell me something about yourself.
b. Why are you taking this class and what do you expect to get out of it?
c. What is one word that best describes you?
By the way, here is the EHS honor code: "As a student of the Electronic High School, I agree to turn in my assignments in a timely manner, do my own work, not share my work with others, and treat all students, teachers, and staff with respect."
00.00 *Student-supplied Items for English 9 (LA 9)
Most readings and viewings for this class are available free online or at your school or public library. You can also find digital copies of these texts in the URLs found in this module section.
First quarter: The Odyssey
Second quarter: To Kill a Mockingbird
Third quarter: Romeo and Juliet, and one book chosen from the list in the class
Fourth quarter: one book chosen from the list in the class
The Odyssey
00.00 Start Here (LA 9)
Supplemental: Rutger's University presentation on plagiarism
Students need access to a robust internet connection and a modern web browser.
This class may also require the Apple QuickTime plug-in to view media.
For students using a school-issued Chromebook, ask your technical support folks to download the QuickTime plug-in and enable the plug-in for your Chromebook.
$0.00
07.00 Unit 7: Good Writing Techniques (LA 9)
Author Christopher Paul Curtis, 2014: Jeffrey Beall, WC, CC-BY-3.0
Unit 1: Getting Started
In this introductory unit you will work primarily on language skills, as outlined in the Utah State Core Curriculum for ninth grade English/Language Arts. You will review or familiarize yourself with rubrics, the six-trait model of evaluating writing, and the writing process. Topics in this unit include techniques that will help you improve your writing, sentence structure, clauses and phrases. There will be several short assignments and quizzes. You should expect this unit to take you anywhere from about three to twelve hours, depending on how much you already know, and how much you need to review.
The "big idea" behind most of the assignments in this class: Writers choose details, events and characters' words and actions to develop main ideas or themes; readers use details, examples and evidence to understand and infer main ideas or themes.
Class plagiarism policy:
Plagiarism is copying someone else's writing, either copying the exact words or copying the general organization, and paraphrasing some of the ideas. Copying someone else's sentences, phrases or ideas, and failing to give credit to the original author, is plagiarism.
In some papers it is appropriate to quote someone else's exact words, but when you do, that section needs to be set off in quotation marks or otherwise set apart, and the author identified either in a sentence, or in a parenthetical note. Then you need to supply a "works cited" list of sources at the bottom of your paper. This also applies when you use facts that are not common knowledge.
If you have not already done so, please review the information about plagiarism on the Start Here page and its links. Plagiarism is unlawful and unethical, and against the EHS Honor Code. If you turn in a plagiarized assignment, you will receive ONE warning. If the problem recurs, you may be dropped from the class with no credit.
07.01 Getting started (LA 9)
Wikimedia Commons, Tulane Public Relations, CC Attribution 2.0 GenericTo get started on this class, complete the "About Me" assignment. Then read through the "Start Here" information, and take the quiz on class policies.
07.01.01 Class policies quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 12 points possible 15 minutes
Read the information on the Start Here page and the Required Resources page first.
Then, go to your main class page and into Topic 3 to take this quiz. You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 90%. I want to make sure you understand how the class works!
If you haven't already, also click the link for the About Me assignment, and introduce yourself to me!
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.02 How papers are scored, rubrics and the writing process (LA 9)
Clarify how papers will be graded, and review terms used to discuss and evaluate writing:
"Writing is thinking on paper.": by Filosofias filosoficas, CC Attribution 3.0 Unported via WIkimedia Commons
Here is a brief summary of the "writing process". View the PowerPoint presentation or PDF for more information and click the link below this lesson to listen.
The WRITING PROCESS
begins with prewriting. This can include brainstorming, researching, outlining, and any other way of getting ideas and planning what you want to write.
The next step is often called drafting or composing. This is the part where you are actually writing, whether it is with pencil and paper, or on a computer.
Once you have gotten your writing 'on paper' (or on screen), it is time for revising. This is the step most people are tempted to skip, but the one on which many professional writers spend the most time. You should try different ways of organizing and improving your ideas: changing the order, adding details, cutting out what doesn't belong and improving word choice and sentence fluency--all to make your writing as powerful, clear and effective as possible.
After you are happy with the content of your writing and how you have put it together, the next step is editing. This is when you proofread and fix any conventions errors.
The next step is publishing, or sharing your writing so others can read it.
Rubrics
A rubric helps to define how the teacher will score your assignment, and what the expectations or benchmarks are for certain scores.
If you check the rubric as you revise an assignment, before you turn it in, you can improve your grade by making sure to include everything that is expected.
The rubric can also help the teacher score your paper more objectively, and help you understand why you received your score.
Utah Core standards
Most of the rubrics used in this class are based on the Utah Core guidelines for improving argumentative, expository and narrative writing. Along with the terms below from the Six-Trait system, make sure you understand the following:
significant
evidence
reflection
It may help you to look at sample standards that use Utah Core terminology. Here are examples of standards that use many of the terms above:
Category
Introduction & organization
Introduces precise, knowledgeable claim, establishes significance, distinguishes from opposing or alternate claims, and sets up logical organization of claims, counterclaims, reasons and evidence
Development of ideas and content
Develops claims and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplies most relevant data and evidence, points out strength and limitations in discipline-appropriate form, anticipating audience knowledge, concerns, biases and values, using credible sources
Development of relationships, cohesion and flow
Uses words, clauses and phrases, as well as varied syntax, to link major sections of the text, create cohesion and clarify the relationships between claims and reasons, claims and counterclaims, reasons and evidence.
Word choice, style and tone
Establish and maintain a smooth, formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms, vocabulary and conventions of the discipline for which they are writing
Conclusion
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented, while providing a sense of confident closure or resolution, beyond just repetition of earlier statements
Conventions and language skills
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Below is a very brief review of the SIX TRAITS system, which helps define some terms we will use in scoring and discussing your writing. For more information, see the PowerPoint or PDF about the six traits, and go to the Six Trait Writing web page.
1. Ideas & content - Are the ideas well-developed, with supporting details that are specific and concrete? [Instead of "Our kitchen is a wonderful place", which is general and abstract, write something like: - "The stained linoleum is curling up at the edges, and the cupboards need to be re-finished where my brother and I carved our initials the year I was ten, but the old stove always has a pot of chili simmering on top, or a sheet of oatmeal cookies baking in the oven." or - "When I get home from school, I can pop a frozen cheese pizza into the oven. I'd better remember to wipe up any crumbs, because my mom is really proud of the shiny new black granite countertop."]
2. Organization - Are the ideas in some kind of logical order? Does the order help you to understand the ideas, or does it just seem random? Check out the beginning--does the introduction help set up your expectations for the rest of the piece, and/or grab your attention? How about the end--does it just stop, or is there a sense of conclusion?
3. Voice - Does the writer's personality come through? Writing without voice seems generic as if any stereotypical teenager could have written it. It can also seem flat as if it might have been generated by a committee or a machine (or a textbook company!).
4. Sentence fluency - do the sentences flow smoothly if you read it out loud? Are they easy to follow and understand? Good writing includes sentences of varying length and construction. Common faults include short, choppy sentences; sentences that are so long and convoluted they are hard to understand; and non-sentences (fragments or run-ons).
5. Word choice - This is related to both voice and ideas. Are the words and vocabulary the best ones for the job? Nouns should be specific and concrete; verbs should be active and vivid. Generally, it's better to say "poodle" or "German shorthair" than "dog"; better to say "Honda Civic" or "Porsche" than "car" and better to say "waddled" or "leaped" or "slithered" than "went". Words should also be used accurately and precisely.
6. Conventions - Correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, etc.
Symbols I use to mark writing problems:
Wikimedia Commons, Mosborne01 image, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Generally, I will send you at least one or two comments along with your scores in the rubric for an assignment. If you want more detailed comments and corrections, let me know and I will go through your work line by line, using these symbols.
(There are traditional proofreading symbols, but they were invented to be written in by hand. I have adapted some for the computer keyboard, and created ways to use the keyboard symbols in proofreading.)
*/* Marks where a run-on sentence needs to be either divided into two separate sentences with a period (or question mark), or properly connected with a comma and/or conjunction.
{ } I use the curly brackets around an incomplete sentence (fragment). It either needs to be connected to a neighboring sentence, or revised so that it can stand on its own as a complete sentence.
/P New paragraph should start here.
^ ^ The “carrots” are around something you left out--often, a missing comma.
< > The pointy brackets are around something you SHOULD have left out--often, an extra comma or word.
Boldface If bold is an option, I try to boldface misspelled words. If I can’t use bold, I will underline or highlight.
Underlining: I underline or highlight words, parts of words, or sentences to draw your attention to them, for either positive or negative reasons. Often, I use underlining to mark awkward sentence structure, capitalization, grammar, or word-choice problems. I will sometimes put an explanatory comment in parentheses right after the underlined part.
NOTE: If I see the same mistake repeated over and over, I may not mark all of them. When I have marked several of the same kind of error, I expect you to take the initiative to check for more of that kind.
If you keep sending more papers with the same kinds of mistakes all quarter, I may begin taking off more points as the quarter goes on. The idea is supposed to be that you learn to do better by reading my comments and suggestions and making extra effort not to repeat past mistakes.
07.02.01 Quiz on rubrics and the writing process (LA 9)
computer-scored 12 points possible 15 minutes
This quiz covers the information in lesson 07.02. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 75%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.03 Good writing techniques: figurative language (English 9)
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Figurative Language
Non-literal comparisons – such as similes, metaphors and personification – add 'spice' to writing and can help paint a more vivid picture for the reader.
Figurative language
A simile uses "like," "as," or "than" to make a comparison between two things not normally considered alike.
The trees lined the driveway like an honor guard of soldiers standing at attention.
Her angry words were as sharp as knives cutting into his heart.
A metaphor implies a comparison (without using "like," "as," or "than") by suggesting that one thing IS something else that is not normally considered to be similar.
Mark is the black sheep of his family.
The lone cottonwood tree was a condominium for songbirds.
Personification attributes a characteristic normally associated with humans (or at least with animals) to a non-living entity.
The flood swallowed up the town.
The breezes were playing tag with the whispering leaves.
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration to make a point.
I haven't seen you in a million years.
Marisol cried till she thought her tears would fill an ocean.
A pun creates humor by playing on the different meanings of a word (or substituting different words that sound the same).
A horse is a very stable animal.
Atheism is a non-prophet institution
An oxymoron uses two seemingly-contradictory words together, often to creat humor and/or irony.
smallest giant
serious foolishness
(There are many other forms of figurative language, but these are some of the most common.)
More examples:
It seemed like we were moving through traffic as slowly as a California tourist driving through a herd of sheep. Meanwhile, the minutes galloped away from us like race horses being chased by a swarm of hornets. I could just imagine the coach, an angry bear on the sidelines, roaring at the other players about what he would do to me when I finally got there.
"...occasionally someone would lean forward and softly rearrange the logs on the fire so that the flames flapped upward more brightly, and the remains of the steaks sizzled briefly, like a nest of sleepy wasps." - Gerald Durrell, from The Whispering Land
Not a red rose or a satin heart. I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper. - Carol Ann Duffy, from "Valentine"
07.03.01 Good writing techniques - figurative language quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the information in lesson 07.03.
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73% to pass.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.04 Good writing techniques - magnify the moment (LA 9)
Writing Standard 3d: Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Magnified Moment
Blacksamson echinacea, close-up of the flower's central disk: Bernie, WMC, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Instead of 'speeding past' a moment, zoom in on it. Emphasize it by slowing down and looking carefully at each action, expanding it so that readers can make a movie of what is happening in their mind. Of course you don't want to focus in on EVERY moment and every detail--that would be boring, and it would take far too long--but a common problem in writing is failing to go beyond summarizing what happened.
This is a technique used primarily in narrative writing (though there may be a section of narrative in expository or argument, so it might appear there, too). It's about telling a story in an interesting way rather than just summarizing it.
Think of a radio sportscaster. If the announcer just said, "In the first inning, the home team had two hits and one run," not only would there have been a half hour of silence while all those things happened, but the audience wouldn't be able to picture the action. Choose the most important parts of your topic (if someone is stealing a base, the announcer isn't going to describe the advertising banners on the back fence), and give play-by-play detail.
To build a magnified moment, think of a time you remember vividly - something that seemed to happen in slow motion - and the details that go along with that memory. It's hard to say why we remember some things like this, as if they just happened the other day, while other things fade out of our memories altogether, or we barely remember the basic event. When you write, try to imagine the experience unfolding in time, split second by split second. Where is it happening? What was the character doing and thinking about? Include the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, motion, and textures as they give context to the event, and the character's emotional and physical feelings as well as thoughts and spoken words. You should be able to develop a paragraph or page of writing based on a brief event.
Examples:
Dad's tools thud the dirt. He drops, slides on his backside down the steep riverbank, digs his boots in to brake at the waterlip. A cow is turning in the water, its leg caught in the ropey set of a tree's exposed roots. We go in, one at either side. It tries to keep its head above the surge of ribbony water; strikes out at us but is too bound to be nimble - its head a rounded anvil twisted up to nose the air..... Dad leans his leg into the root that's locked the cow's shin and tries to budge the hoof out. I hold its head above water. The red eartag flicks at my wrist. Dad wants to lift its leg at a different angle, so I haul back its shoulder, the cow's head now submerged at my feet. It can still see me, up from its crooked eye, now enlarged under lucent water. (from "The River" by Andrew Slattery)
When all was ready, the man reached in his pocket for a second piece of birch-bark. He knew the bark was there, and, though he could not feel it with his fingers, he could hear its crisp rustling as he fumbled for it. Try as he would, he could not clutch hold of it. And all the time, in his consciousness, was the knowledge that each instant his feet were freezing. This thought tended to put him in a panic, but he fought against it and kept calm. He pulled on his mittens with his teeth, and threshed his arms back and forth, beating his hands with all his might against his sides. He did this sitting down, and he stood up to do it; and all the while the dog sat in the snow, its wolf-brush of a tail curled around warmly over its forefeet, its sharp wolf-ears pricked forward intently as it watched the man. And the man as he beat and threshed with his arms and hands, felt a great surge of envy as he regarded the creature that was warm and secure in its natural covering.
After a time he was aware of the first far-away signals of sensation in his beaten fingers. The faint tingling grew stronger till it evolved into a stinging ache that was excruciating, but which the man hailed with satisfaction. He stripped the mitten from his right hand and fetched forth the birch-bark. The exposed fingers were quickly going numb again. Next he brought out his bunch of sulphur matches. But the tremendous cold had already driven the life out of his fingers. In his effort to separate one match from the others, the whole bunch fell in the snow. He tried to pick it out of the snow, but failed. The dead fingers could neither touch nor clutch. He was very careful. He drove the thought of his freezing feet; and nose, and cheeks, out of his mind, devoting his whole soul to the matches. He watched, using the sense of vision in place of that of touch, and when he saw his fingers on each side the bunch, he closed them--that is, he willed to close them, for the wires were drawn, and the fingers did not obey. He pulled the mitten on the right hand, and beat it fiercely against his knee. Then, with both mittened hands, he scooped the bunch of matches, along with much snow, into his lap. (from "To Build a Fire" by Jack London)
[Background: Nagaina is a cobra, and Rikki-Tikki is a mongoose.] Nagaina gathered herself together and flung out at him. Rikki-tikki jumped up and backward. Again and again and again she struck, and each time her head came with a whack on the matting of the veranda and she gathered herself together like a watch spring.
Then Rikki-tikki danced in a circle to get behind her, and Nagaina spun round to keep her head to his head, so that the rustle of her tail on the matting sounded like dry leaves blown along by the wind. He had forgotten the egg. It still lay on the veranda, and Nagaina came nearer and nearer to it, till at last, while Rikki-tikki was drawing breath, she caught it in her mouth, turned to the veranda steps, and flew like an arrow down the path, with Rikki-tikki behind her. When the cobra runs for her life, she goes like a whip-lash flicked across a horse's neck. Rikki-tikki knew that he must catch her, or all the trouble would begin again. She headed straight for the long grass by the thorn-bush, and as he was running Rikki-tikki heard Darzee still singing his foolish little song of triumph. But Darzee's wife was wiser. She flew off her nest as Nagaina came along, and flapped her wings about Nagaina's head. If Darzee had helped they might have turned her, but Nagaina only lowered her hood and went on. Still, the instant's delay brought Rikki-tikki up to her, and as she plunged into the rat-hole where she and Nag used to live, his little white teeth were clenched on her tail, and he went down with her--and very few mongooses, however wise and old they may be, care to follow a cobra into its hole. It was dark in the hole; and Rikki-tikki never knew when it might open out and give Nagaina room to turn and strike at him. He held on savagely, and stuck out his feet to act as brakes on the dark slope of the hot, moist earth. (From "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling)
07.04.01 Good writing techniques - magnified moment quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the information in lesson 07.04.
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73% to pass.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.05 Writing a short essay (LA 9)
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions. Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Use appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).
In this set of assignments, you will write a short essay and practice using figurative language and the "magnify the moment" technique. You will follow the steps of the writing process from pre-writing through editing.
It seems to be human nature to think of the world as consisting of "us" and "them". We have many ways of doing this, in real life and in our imagination: humans and animals; friends and enemies; family members vs. those from outside our family; Americans and non-Americans; our race and other races; vampires and werewolves; various cultures... etc.
When "our" group is in charge, we often give ourselves rights or privileges denied to the other group. Regardless of whether "our" group is in power, we often imagine ourselves to be somehow better, nicer, smarter, cooler - superior - to others. It is easy to think of examples where this tendency has led to horrific consequences. However, for this assignment, you are going to be looking at how this way of thinking operates in your own life.
Think about the different groups of people you know so far in your life. Which groups are you part of ("us")? Which groups seem separate ("them")? Continue to the specific assignment instructions below.
07.05.01 Short essay pre-writing and first draft (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 30 minutes
This assignment has two parts: the pre-writing exercise, and the written draft. Please turn in both parts (the pre-writing lists and the first draft) together.
If you prefer to hand-write as you work, do that, and then type a copy to submit. Remember to create your assignment in a word processor, and save it to your computer, before pasting it into the assignment submission window or uploading your file.
A. Prewriting
1. Briefly name and describe at least eight groups of people (or ways of classifying people) in the area you live. You interact with people in different places: your home, your neighborhood, your school, maybe your church or sport or job. In each of those situations, you see different groups of people. Identify as many as you can! (5 points)
2. For the groups you identified in question 1, put them into three categories: (5 points)
Which groups do you definitely feel part of?
Which groups do you feel you are sort of on the fringe of - like you are partly or almost a member?
Which groups do you feel you are definitely NOT part of? why is this?
B. Draft
Then write a page (at least 200 words) that shows the reader you interacting with your own group, and with another group. Be SPECIFIC and CONCRETE. Somewhere in your essay, use the two techniques 'figurative language' and 'magnify the moment'. *Star the places where you use figurative language and magnified moment.
You might include dialogue, but be sure to include your actions and thoughts, showing the reader the differences in how you act with the two groups of people involved. (10 points)
This draft will be scored mainly on ideas and organization, but I may comment on other aspects to help you with revision and editing.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.05.02 Short essay, revised and edited (LA 9)
teacher-scored 28 points possible 30 minutes
Read over your teacher's feedback on the draft you submitted earlier of your essay before you finish and submit this assignment.
Again, this assignment has several parts:
A. Copy and paste in the first version of your short essay that you turned in earlier, without making any changes. Then, below that copy, paste in a second copy to use as you revise.
B. Revise the second copy of your essay.
Look especially at ideas, organization, and sentence structure.
Does it need more (or more specific/concrete) details? Do the details and ideas work together well, or should you delete some and choose different details to help the reader understand what you mean?
Does it need an introduction or conclusion? Are things in a logical order?
Are sentences clear? Do they flow smoothly if you read them out loud? Did you use different lengths and structures for your sentences?
Is there an example of figurative language? Did you "magnify the moment" for one section?
Make those changes (as needed) in the second copy.
This draft will be scored on ideas, organization, voice, word choice and sentence fluency.
The most common problem students have with revision is replacing general, abstract language with concrete, specific details or examples. Here is an example of "before" and "after" revision that might help you:
Before: too general and abstract:
With my partner, I am part of the debate squad at my high school. We spend a lot of time together preparing for competitions, and even sit beside each other in classes we both take.
After revision: more specific and concrete, magnifying the moment with actions:
I sit beside my debate partner Phil a lot: when we are in class together, when we are organizing our cases, and when we are in competition. We often have our heads together, speaking softly so others don't overhear our plans, but by now, halfway through the year, we know each other's ways of thinking so well that often a glance or brief gesture is enough. If he begins to get annoyed, I rest my hand on his leg for a minute to say, "Relax, it's not a problem." If I'm anxious about making a mistake, he flashes me that hint of a smile that means, "You're doing great." When we walk into a room to start a round in a tournament and write our names on the board for the judge, we both love to watch our opponents' looks of alarm as they realize who they are competing against.
C. Copy your revised essay and paste it in below the revision. You will use this (third) copy to edit your essay.
Now it's time to look at conventions. In this third copy of your writing, look for spelling, punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing, grammar, incomplete or run-on sentence errors, and fix them. This draft will be scored only on these conventions.
D. Answer the following questions:
1. What was most difficult for you about this assignment?
2. How did you deal with those difficulties?
3. How did you work on improving from your first draft as you revised and edited? (What processes did you use?)
4. What do you think could have helped you more?
When you submit this assignment, copy and paste all three versions of your essay, and the question answers, into the submission window.
Rubric for scoring revised, edited essay:
Ideas
4: This paper is clear and focused. It holds the reader's attention. At least eight relevant, specific concrete details and examples help the reader imagine the two groups of people, and work together to create a cohesive effect and "magnify the moment"
3: The writer is beginning to define the topic, even though development is still basic or general. At least three specific concrete details or examples give the reader clues about the groups, but some information is too general or abstract.
1: As yet, the paper creates no clear picture of the two groups. Information is general, abstract, or missing.
Organization
4: The organization enhances and showcases the central idea or theme. The order, structure, or presentation of information is compelling and moves the reader through the text. There is an identifiable introduction and conclusion.
3: The organizational structure is strong enough to move the reader through the text without too much confusion.
1: The writing lacks a clear sense of direction. Ideas, details, or events seem strung together in a loose or random fashion; there is no identifiable internal structure.
Voice
4: The writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is individual, compelling, and engaging. The reader gets a clear sense of the writer's personality.
3: The writer seems sincere but not fully engaged or involved. The result is pleasant or even personable, but not compelling.
1: The writer seems indifferent, uninvolved, or distanced from the topic and/or the audience.
Word choice
4: Words and vocabulary are the best ones for the job, and used accurately. There is at least one example of figurative language. Nouns are specific and concrete; verbs are active and vivid.
3: Fairly good use of words, but some word choices are weak or incorrectly used.
1: Too vague, abstract or generic; needs attention to connotation or even denotation.
Conventions
4: The writing demonstrates correct use of all writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing, grammar, sentence structure, etc)
3: The writing demonstrates correct use of most writing conventions, but has a number of errors that distract the reader.
1: The writing contains many errors in conventions, making it difficult to read.
Improvements of revision
4: The writing demonstrates significant improvements in content, organization, sentence structure and/or word choice, incorporating the teacher's suggestions and going beyond.
3: The writing demonstrates improvements in content, organization, and/or word choice, incorporating the teacher's suggestions.
1: Minimal changes or improvements over first draft.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.00 Unit 8: Reading skills (LA 9)
W.H. Drake illustration for "Rikki Tikki Tavi", 1895: WC, public domain
Unit 2: Reading skills
In this unit you will work primarily on reading skills, as outlined in the Utah State Core Curriculum for ninth grade English/Language Arts. Topics in this unit will help you practice and improve your reading comprehension. There will be several short assignments and quizzes, and one major reading assignment. You should expect this unit to take you anywhere from about two to twelve hours, depending on how much you already know, how fast you read, and how much you need to review.
"Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul."
– Joyce Carol Oates
08.01 Becoming Good Readers (LA 9)
By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, and literary nonfiction, in the grades 9–10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
Young readers: US government image, public domain
"There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book we read becomes luminous with manifold allusion." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Once upon a time (and I hope this was quite a long time ago, relative to your age), you were a beginner reader. You had to learn the very basics of how letters of our alphabet stand for sounds, and groups of letters stand for words. [Even before that, when you were so young you can't remember it, you were a beginner listener and talker, learning that the patterns in sounds you hear--or the signs you see, if you are not hearing--mean things.] As a beginner reader, you had to memorize or sound out each single word, and you often had a hard time making sense out of a sentence. Before long, though, you could read and understand most sentences, and most likely reading has now become an automatic skill--you do it without thinking about HOW you do it.
"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."
– Victor Hugo
We're going to take a few minutes now to think about how we read, and identify some skills that really good readers use. If you already have these skills, great! Whether or not you have been doing these things all along, being aware of how to use these strategies can improve your reading.
Before You Read Note: of course, this means before the first time you begin reading at the beginning of a new piece, but it can also apply to intermediate points in your reading - before you read the next paragraph, chapter, stanza, etc. Before you begin reading, you can already begin preparing to read well! I don't mean by choosing a quiet, well-lit, and/or comfortable spot to read in, although those factors certainly can help. I mean prepare yourself mentally:
Know the purpose for your reading. Finishing a novel to find out how it ends is different from reading a chapter in a science book to prepare for a test or reading a poem your best friend wants to hear your reaction to.
Look over the title, author, and any pictures or subtitles for clues about the subject matter.
Activate your prior knowledge. What do you already know about the subject matter or related topics?
While You're Reading
Read quickly enough that you don't lose the train of meaning. Don't get so stuck on some difficult point that you forget the main point. Don't move your lips or sub-vocalize ("say" each word to yourself) as you read silently--it will slow you down.
"See" what you're reading about. Make a mental movie of what you are reading. Imagine what things in the reading look, sound, smell, taste or feel like.
Draw connections and make comparisons between what you are reading and past experiences:
text to self: relate what you are reading to personal experiences and memories
text to text: relate what you are reading to other things you've already read, or to movies or TV shows you've seen
text to world: relate what you are reading to things you know about the world even if you haven't personally experienced them
Make predictions about what you expect to happen next, or what point you think the author is trying to make. As you read on, notice whether what you are reading supports your predictions, and if not, modify them.
Check your understanding. Try to keep a mental running summary of what you read. If you're not sure you understand, try one or more of these strategies to help:
Re-read the sentence or paragraph to see whether you just missed or misread something
Continue to read just a little longer to see whether the next paragraph or page clears up the problem.
If there is a word you don't know, try to figure it out using context, word structure or grammatical clues. If you still can't understand the word, either look it up, or make a note to look it up later.
Notice your questions about what is going on in the reading, and why the author wrote what or how s/he did.
Evaluate what you read. Does it make sense? Does it fit with what you already know or believe? If not, why not?
After You Read (Again, this may be after you have completely finished reading, or it may be when you have finished reading a section or chapter.)
Review, mentally, what you read. If you will be tested over the material, take this a step further, and write down what you remember, looking back over the reading as needed for details you forgot.
Discuss what you read with someone else, or write in a blog or journal about it.
Evaluate, again. Did you like it? Was it well-written? Was it convincing? Why or why not? How does it compare to other things you've read? What did the author do well, and what could have been better?
Two Aspects of Reading: Speed and Comprehension
When people talk about becoming better readers, they usually mean two things: reading faster, and understanding harder material.
If you want to learn to read faster, you should spend some time re-reading books you have read before. Being familiar with the story and main ideas will help you speed up. Also, double-check to make sure you aren't moving your lips or silently "saying" each word individually to yourself as you read - that will slow you down.
If you want to learn to understand harder material, you should read fairly short passages of more difficult pieces. Keep them short enough so that you don't get totally lost or frustrated, but hard enough to be challenging. (Some of the readings for this class are chosen with this in mind.)
08.01.01 Diction, connotation, style and tone (English 9)
Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. Analyze nuances in the meanings of words with similar denotations. Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking and listening at the college and career-readiness level
Thomas Jefferson: Rembrandt Peale, 1800, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Diction
Do you recognize this passage?
"When things get so balled up that the people of a country got to cut loose from some other country, and go it on their own hook, without asking no permission from nobody, excepting maybe God Almighty, then they ought to let everybody know why they done it, so that everybody can see they are not trying to put nothing over on nobody." (H.L. Mencken)
It's the beginning of the Declaration of Independence, in different words--that is, using different diction. Here is the original diction:
"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." (Thomas Jefferson)
Both versions mean roughly the same thing, but the effect is very different. The style of the first is (very) informal; the style of the second, formal.
Diction is closely allied with word choice. Like it or not, people will judge you by your diction, both spoken and written. If you always spoke in long formal sentences and used lots of multi-syllable words, most teenagers would probably think you were strange, and maybe stuck-up. Likewise, if you write using lots of slang, text-messaging abbreviations, and non-standard grammar, many adults (including potential employers, bosses and teachers) will probably think you are uneducated, and maybe even stupid.
Beyond that, making your ideas clear to other people requires that you choose your words carefully. The more precisely you use language, the greater chance there is that people will understand exactly what you mean.
Denotation
Denotation is what a word means--its dictionary definition(s). If words are listed as synonyms, they may have very similar denotations--but be careful, because they may still have very different connotations! Don't make the mistake of just substituting a random synonym to avoid repetition, or to try to raise your word choice score.
Connotation
Connotation is (according to my dictionary) "an association or idea SUGGESTED by a word IN ADDITION TO its primary meaning." A word's connotation is what the word implies, beyond the basic definition. Words with similar denotations may have different nuances of meaning. An example may help you understand this better. Consider all these words which mean "a female person":
woman, lady, girl, chick, babe, fox, gal, hag, granny, mother, mommy, hoochie, b***ch, girlfriend, honey, maid, lass, virgin, dowager, widow, nanny, teeny-bopper, governess, aunt, wife, mistress, old lady, valley girl, coed, princess, mammy, nun, witch, sorceress, siren, temptress, debutante, nursemaid....
... you can probably think of more. Now, the words on the list don't have EXACTLY the same denotations, but even if you put them into smaller groups with very similar denotations, the implications differ widely.
Some of these words have mostly positive connotations; some, mostly negative. "Woman" is probably the most nearly neutral.
Some of these words seem old-fashioned, and might imply that either the person using the word, or the person being named, was older. Some are in current use as slang, and imply youth, and a certain subculture.
Some of the words imply good looks, or the opposite. Some hint at the person's intelligence, character, relationships or social standing. Be careful about the connotations of the words you use. Connotations can make a sentence mean far more--or less.
Style and Tone
A writer's diction has a strong influence on three characteristics of his/her writing: voice, style and tone. Voice, you may remember from unit 7, has to do with the sense of the writer's personality coming through in the writing. Tone has to do with the attitude or mood of the piece. Style is a general term describing HOW the writer says what s/he says.
Tone
You might think of "tone" as describing the mood or feeling of the writing - is it spooky? suspenseful? peaceful? ironic? sarcastic? matter-of-fact? detached? humorous? respectful? condescending? didactic? One good definition of tone is that it is the writer's attitude toward the subject.
Style
Style is how the writer uses words, sentence structure, figurative language and organization. Style should be appropriate to the intended audience of the writing. One simple way of categorizing style is as formal or casual/informal. Formal is not necessarily better than casual - it just depends on the purpose of the writing. Think of how you dress differently for different occasions: old jeans and a t-shirt are better if you are doing yard work, but not if you are taking a date to an expensive restaurant and the prom.
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details:
Harriet Ann Jacobs as an older woman (1894): Public domain, WC
Themes, Literary and Otherwise
The word "theme" has many uses and meanings. In music, the theme is the main, basic melody, which is often repeated with slight variations throughout a song or longer piece of music. When your grandparents or great-grandparents went to school, the word "theme" meant what we would now usually call an essay: a written composition. In general use, 'theme' means the main subject or focus of an event, book, or movie; or a repeated idea: a 'motif'. For example, we might say that we are having a party with a pirate theme, a dance with a Halloween theme, or a conference on the theme of preventing child abuse.
However, in studying literature (and throughout this class), we will be using the literary definition of 'theme': a repeated, unifying idea that underlies a work of literature, stated in a complete sentence. [I hope you either groaned or rolled your eyes when you read that because if not, you probably weren't really paying attention. That definition is abstract and general, about as useful to most of us as a spare tire with no lug wrench or jack--but we're about to make it more concrete and specific.]
In Search of the Literary Theme: Guidelines
The theme is usually implied rather than stated. For most works of literature, you will need to use inference to determine themes. [Inference - 'reading between the lines'; using information in the text to figure out things the author didn't come right out and tell you] There are some exceptions. Aesop's fables end with a 'moral' that tells you the theme of the story. The poet John Keats was kind enough to put the theme of his poem "Endymion" in the first line ("A thing of beauty is a joy forever"). Mostly, though, you will have to work to figure out a theme.
A work of literature may have more than one, correct theme. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that just any theme you come up with is a correct one. You must be able to find evidence in the text to support the idea you think is the theme.
A theme is usually implied by multiple events, images or symbols in the text. That is, as in music, a theme and variations on the theme are repeated in a work of literature. You should be able to find several examples of evidence for the theme in your reading.
A literary theme is stated in a complete sentence. "Love" might be the theme for your prom, but it can't be a theme for a work of literature because it is just a word, not a complete sentence. "True love conquers all" could be a theme. "Love can be fatal," "Love is stronger than hate," "True love wants what is best for the loved one," or "Falling in love makes fools out of everyone" could be themes.
A theme is a generalized idea, not specific to a particular story or situation. "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind," by William Shakespeare is showing the theme that love is blind. "Harry Potter values his friends more than his life" is not a theme because it is specific to the Harry Potter books/movies.
Finding Evidence for a Theme
Let's look at a short excerpt from a book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet A Jacobs:
I had one brother, William, who was two years younger than myself—a bright, affectionate child. I had also a great treasure in my maternal grandmother, who was a remarkable woman in many respects. She was the daughter of a planter in South Carolina, who, at his death, left her mother and his three children free, with money to go to St. Augustine, where they had relatives. It was during the Revolutionary War; and they were captured on their passage, carried back, and sold to different purchasers. Such was the story my grandmother used to tell me; but I do not remember all the particulars.
She was a little girl when she was captured and sold to the keeper of a large hotel. I have often heard her tell how hard she fared during childhood. But as she grew older she evinced so much intelligence, and was so faithful, that her master and mistress could not help seeing it was for their interest to take care of such a valuable piece of property. She became an indispensable personage in the household, officiating in all capacities, from cook and wet nurse to seamstress. She was much praised for her cooking; and her nice crackers became so famous in the neighborhood that many people were desirous of obtaining them. In consequence of numerous requests of this kind, she asked permission of her mistress to bake crackers at night, after all the household work was done; and she obtained leave to do it, provided she would clothe herself and her children from the profits. Upon these terms, after working hard all day for her mistress, she began her midnight bakings, assisted by her two oldest children. The business proved profitable; and each year she laid by a little, which was saved for a fund to purchase her children.
Her master died, and the property was divided among his heirs. The widow had her dower in the hotel, which she continued to keep open. My grandmother remained in her service as a slave; but her children were divided among her master's children. As she had five, Benjamin, the youngest one, was sold, in order that each heir might have an equal portion of dollars and cents. There was so little difference in our ages that he seemed more like my brother than my uncle. He was a bright, handsome lad, nearly white; for he inherited the complexion my grandmother had derived from Anglo-Saxon ancestors. Though only ten years old, seven hundred and twenty dollars were paid for him. His sale was a terrible blow to my grandmother; but she was naturally hopeful, and she went to work with renewed energy, trusting in time to be able to purchase some of her children. She had laid up three hundred dollars, which her mistress one day begged as a loan, promising to pay her soon. The reader probably knows that no promise or writing given to a slave is legally binding; for, according to Southern laws, a slave, being property, can hold no property. When my grandmother lent her hard earnings to her mistress, she trusted solely to her honor. The honor of a slaveholder to a slave!
To this good grandmother I was indebted for many comforts....
It was her labor that supplied my scanty wardrobe. I have a vivid recollection of the linsey-woolsey dress given me every winter by Mrs. Flint. How I hated it! It was one of the badges of slavery.
While my grandmother was thus helping to support me from her hard earnings, the three hundred dollars she had lent her mistress were never repaid. When her mistress died, her son-in-law, Dr. Flint, was appointed executor. When grandmother applied to him for payment, he said the estate was insolvent, and the law prohibited payment. It did not, however, prohibit him from retaining the silver candelabra, which had been purchased with that money. I presume they will be handed down in the family, from generation to generation.
My grandmother's mistress had always promised her that, at her death, she should be free; and it was said that in her will she made good the promise. But when the estate was settled, Dr. Flint told the faithful old servant that, under existing circumstances, it was necessary she should be sold.
On the appointed day, the customary advertisement was posted up, proclaiming that there would be "a public sale of negroes, horses, &c." Dr. Flint called to tell my grandmother that he was unwilling to wound her feelings by putting her up at auction, and that he would prefer to dispose of her at private sale. My grandmother saw through his hypocrisy; she understood very well that he was ashamed of the job. She was a very spirited woman, and if he was base enough to sell her, when her mistress intended she should be free, she was determined the public should know it. She had for a long time supplied many families with crackers and preserves; consequently, "Aunt Marthy," as she was called, was generally known, and every body who knew her respected her intelligence and good character. Her long and faithful service in the family was also well known, and the intention of her mistress to leave her free. When the day of sale came, she took her place among the chattels, and at the first call she sprang upon the auction-block. Many voices called out, "Shame! Shame! Who is going to sell you, aunt Marthy? Don't stand there! That is no place for you." Without saying a word, she quietly awaited her fate. No one bid for her.
At last, a feeble voice said, "Fifty dollars." It came from a maiden lady, seventy years old, the sister of my grandmother's deceased mistress. She had lived forty years under the same roof with my grandmother; she knew how faithfully she had served her owners, and how cruelly she had been defrauded of her rights; and she resolved to protect her. The auctioneer waited for a higher bid; but her wishes were respected; no one bid above her. She could neither read nor write; and when the bill of sale was made out, she signed it with a cross. But what consequence was that, when she had a big heart overflowing with human kindness? She gave the old servant her freedom.
OK--what is the theme? To figure that out, I look for main ideas and repeated details while I read. The first time I read through it, I noticed the overall sense of determination, and the contrast between Harriet's grandmother and Dr. Flint, between her integrity and his lack of it. However, "determination" or "integrity" can't be the theme because neither of these is a complete sentence.
I read back through it again. "Free" and "slave" are repeated many times, but again, that can't be the theme because it is just a single word. There are also other contrasts-- the difference between kindness and cruelty, between the rights of slave-holders and the lack of rights of slaves, between what would have been justice and what actually happened.
A main idea from the excerpt is "Harriet's grandmother was a remarkable woman." However, that can't be a theme because it is specific to this particular story, not a generalized statement. How about this? "It takes both determination and luck to transcend one's circumstances." It's a complete sentence; it is a generalized statement. Can I support it with evidence from the text? Yes, there are multiple quotes I could use from the excerpt to support this statement.
Is it the only theme I could draw from this excerpt? No. I could find plenty of evidence in the text for "Slavery dehumanizes both the slave and the slave-holder" as well as "Character is more important than education." We could also support "People can take a stand, even in a small way, against injustice" with the reactions of the people at the auction.
Throughout this English 9 class, you will be reading for themes and main ideas, and looking for textual evidence to support your conclusions. In your writing, you will work on including evidence, in the form of specific details and examples, to create a theme or support a main idea.
Read the following selections.
(available online at the links below, or attached as a PDF; note that the PDF version of the Emerson excerpt contains only what you need to read; if you use the online version, scroll down to just below "(*) Landor: Pericles and Aspasia", and read from there to the end).
Look for clues to the themes of these works.
"Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes
"High Horse's Courting" from Black Elk Speaks by John G Neihardt
from "Behavior", from The Conduct of Life by Ralph Waldo Emerson (the essay excerpt, not the poem - if possible, use the PDF attachment version of this, at the top of the lesson)
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
The following quiz and assignments will refer to these readings.
"High Horse's Courting"
08.02.01 Questions on readings (LA 9)
teacher-scored 36 points possible 30 minutes
Camp Scene (Sioux): Alfred Jacob Miller, WC, public domain
Answer the following questions about the three readings. Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work using the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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A. "Mother to Son" by Hughes
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about the kind of advice parents give their children?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this story remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer. If you don't immediately see an obvious connection, think about the themes and how they might apply to your life or other stories.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene from the poem.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the poem?
Theme: What theme can you find in the poem (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
B. "High Horse's Courting" by John G Neihardt
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about native Americans, or about how parents treat boys who want to marry their daughters?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this story remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene from the story.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the story?
Theme: What theme can you find in the story (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
C. from "Behavior", from The Conduct of Life, by Emerson (the essay, not the poem)
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about manners and behavior?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this essay remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene or item from the essay.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the essay?
Theme: What theme can you find in the essay (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
D. "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about knights or stories about King Arthur?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this story remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene or item from the story.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the story?
Theme: What theme can you find in the story (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.02.02 Reading, theme and evidence quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the information in lesson 08.01, 08.02, and the three readings ("Mother and Son", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", "High Horse's Courting" and "Behavior" ).
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 70% to pass.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.03 "Reading" the movies (LA 9)
Reading: Literature Standard 1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Reading: Literature Standard 2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Crew members with dolly filming The Alamo (2004): Sean Devine, CC-BY-SA-3.0, WC
Films - movies, videos, DVDs, documentaries, TV shows, YouTube, commercials - are a huge part of our culture.
Most people today spend far more time watching films than reading books.
You may not have given much thought to how all this footage is created, but film-making is an art form, and film production is big business. Someone must come up with the concept for a new movie or show; someone must write the script; someone must decide where to place and focus the camera, and which shots to use in the finished film - just to name a few of the jobs involved. In this lesson, we will be looking at a few of the techniques and terms involved in creating a film.
Audio: the sound in a film
Cut: the end of a shot or take
Dolly shot (also called tracking shot): a shot in which the camera is moving along with the subject (for instance, the subject may be a cowboy galloping along on a horse, and the camera may be filming from a truck that is driving beside the horse).
Fade: a transition in which the shot goes from normal lighting into black (a fade out); or from black to normal lighting (a fade in).
High-angle shot: a shot with the camera looking down on the subject; opposite of a low-angle shot, when the camera is looking up at the subject.
Jump cut: a sudden transition between two shots that may surprise or confuse the viewer, or may move to a different time or place.
Match cut: a transition between two shots such that something at the beginning of the second shot "matches" something at the end of the first shot. This may be as obvious as a cut from a shot of a painting of a sunset to a shot of an actual sunset, or as subtle as a color, shape, action or idea that is part of both shots. Match cuts are any cuts that emphasizes spatio-temporal continuity and it is the basis for continuity editing. ... It is a cut within a scene that makes sense spatially. This can be between two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which an object in two shots graphically match.
Montage: a series of very short shots put together in a sequence.
Motif: like in other literature, a motif is a repeated word, phrase, image or idea related to a theme in the work.
Pan (panorama shot): a shot in which the camera rotates to the right or left (horizontally) to take in different parts of the surrounding area.
Rack focus: changing the focus of the camera to blur everything except one part of the picture, forcing the viewer to look at that one thing.
Scene: a shot or series of shots that work together to make one part of the story (sort of like a short chapter in a book).
Shot: the basic building block of a movie: a single continuous take from the time the camera is turned on to the time it is turned back off, with no interruptions.
Voice-over: narration spoken by someone off-screen (not one of the actors in the scene)
Wide-angle shot: a "long shot" in which a wide-angle lens keeps a large area all visible and in focus; you might think of this as the opposite of a close-up shot.
Zoom shot: zooming in means going from wide-angle to close-up, making the person or thing appear larger and closer (and fill up more of the screen); zooming out means going from close-up to wide-angle, making the person or thing appear smaller and farther away, showing more of the surrounding area.
How a film-maker uses these techniques can better tell a story, help us understand a topic, or persuade us to think or feel differently about the subject. In the next quiz, you will look for uses of some of these techniques in films or commercials you watch.
Begin by viewing at least the top five (required) links below to see some examples of the techniques.
Required: Match cuts - basic example
Watch at least the "required" links - the others are supplemental.
08.03.01 "Reading" the movies quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 25 minutes
This quiz covers the material from the lesson and viewings in lesson 08.03. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73%. You will need to be able to access YouTube to work on this quiz, so if it is blocked where you usually work on this class, you may need to find alternate internet access.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.04 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text; determine a theme; analyze how complex characters develop, interact, and advance the plot or theme.
Mockingbird in North Carolina: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, author released into public domain
For the rest of this class (second quarter), you will need a copy of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Before you begin, watch the title sequence of the 1962 movie (link below). Begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird. We will be looking at one section at a time in the lessons and assignments in unit 10. You might want to check the questions in assignment 10.03.01 now so that you can answer them as you read - or you can read straight through, and answer the questions later.
The questions and quizzes for To Kill a Mockingbird aren't due until unit 10, but I suggest you begin reading it now.
08.04 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Click the play arrow, or "Watch QuickTime 480p" near the top of the page to see the opening screens of the movie
Buy or borrow a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. You might be able to get started by looking at one of these on line.
09.00 Unit 9: Language skills (LA 9)
Copy readers in NY Times newspaper newsroom, 1942: WMC, US govt image, public domain
Unit 3: Language skills and conventions
In this unit you will work primarily on language skills and conventions, as outlined in the Utah State Core Curriculum for ninth grade English. Topics in this unit include punctuation (especially commas, semicolons and colons), frequently misspelled words, parts of speech, sentence structure, clauses and phrases. You should expect the work in this unit to take you roughly two to four hours of concentrated effort. There will be several short assignments and quizzes.
09.01 History of the English Language (LA 9)
Understand the complex history of the English language
The History of English
Why is spelling so difficult in English? One important reason is that our language is really an amalgam of several languages.
We open our mouths and out flow words whose ancestries we do not even know. We are walking lexicons. In a single sentence of idle chatter we preserve Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Norse: we carry a museum inside our heads, each day we commemorate peoples of whom we have never heard. -Penelope Lively, writer (b. 17 Mar 1933)
Indo-European
Many years ago (we're talking pre-history: thousands of years ago), a group of people lived in what is now central southeast Europe. Over a long period of time these people (whom scientists now call the Indo-Europeans) migrated both east, as far as India, and west, through Europe as far as what we now call England. Naturally they took their language with them. Most languages spoken today in Europe are descended from that ancient language. Therefore English (along with French, German, Latin, Sanskrit and many others) can be classified as an Indo-European language. Some examples of languages NOT in the Indo-European group include Finnish, Hungarian, and Chinese.
Invasions and Conquerors
William the Conqueror: Wikimedia Commons, unknown author, public domain
Once upon a time, not quite so long ago as the early Indo-European migration, but still thousands of years ago, most of the people living in England were what we now call Celts (their descendants include the Welsh and Irish). They were called the Britons. Their languages were part of the Indo-European group of languages, but split off from the others quite long ago, and therefore look quite strange to us. We don't speak Celtic today because over the past 4000 years, more or less, England was repeatedly invaded by Europeans who killed many of the Celts, and pushed the small remaining groups out of most of England.
The Romans invaded England about 2000 years ago, bringing with them their language, Latin. However, after a few generations, the Romans withdrew from England as the Roman empire collapsed. [Countries that were part of the Roman empire longer--like Spain, France and Italy--have languages descended more directly from Latin, the language of the Romans. Spanish, French and Italian are called "Romance" languages for that reason. ] Latin would eventually return to England when Christian missionaries converted the people of England--Latin was the language of the early Christian church. At that time, Latin and Greek were written with no punctuation AND no spaces between words. Perhaps this was why Old English was also written with no punctuation or spaces between words. (Here's a sample of what some might have looked like: "OnþyssumgearemanhalgodeþetmynsterætWestmynstreonCyldamæsse"... Translated, that would be "In this year the monastery at Westminster was hallowed on Childermas day....")
The earliest of the waves of invaders who stayed were Germanic peoples--the Angles & the Saxons--from northern Europe. They brought the language that developed into what we now call "Old English," which was very similar to Old German. Many of our basic, simple vocabulary words, like man, foot, mother, dog, or cow (along with many of our swear words) come from Germanic roots.
A later wave of invaders were the "Vikings" (Danes), Scandinavian people who spoke another Germanic language. For a while, England was divided into two sections: the south, where the Saxons (or Anglo-Saxons) lived and spoke Old English; and the north, where the Vikings spoke Old Norse. Eventually the two groups blended, and then they were invaded by William the Conqueror of the Normans, who spoke French.
For a couple hundred years, the kings of England spoke French as their native language! None of these languages pushed out Old English (or Middle English), but the English borrowed words from all the different languages and added them to the English vocabulary. So the word "cow" comes from old Germanic roots, but if we eat the cow, we call her meat "beef", from the French word for cow (boeuf). To us this seems perfectly normal, but in many languages there is only one word that names both the animal and its meat.
Science & Technology
As science and technology became major influences on culture & life, new words had to be invented for all the new discoveries and inventions. For centuries, Latin and Greek had been regarded as the languages of the highly educated, and used for communication between scientists of different countries. Many of the words created to describe scientific, medical and technological concepts were from Latin or Greek roots.
Pronunciation vs. Spelling
To complicate matters further, the way English is pronounced has changed a lot in the last 700 years. English vowels used to be pronounced much like other European vowels (a as in "father", e more or less like the vowel sound in "bay", i like "ee", o kind of between our current short & long o, and u like "oo" in "boo"). Letters that are now silent in words used to be pronounced. A common example of this is the word "knee". A few hundred years ago, people would have said it something like k-NAY-a.
Also a few hundred years ago, most people were either illiterate, or just barely knew how to read and write. People just spelled words like they sounded. There weren't any dictionaries, so there wasn't a "right" way to spell words. Then one of the kings decided that spelling should be standardized (everyone should spell words the same way). In the time since then, we have kept on using the same spelling even when some of the words aren't pronounced the same way as they used to be.
Today
How does all this affect us? Obviously it makes spelling and reading harder to learn. There is a bright side, though: we have one of the richest and most varied vocabularies in the world, with a wide choice of near-synonyms to help express exactly what we mean. Our language continues to change. A hundred years ago, there was no 'video' or 'pickup truck' or 'laser'. "Rap" had nothing to do with music, and "gay" was a synonym for 'happy'. In your lifetime, English will invent more new words to name new ideas, give old words new meanings, and borrow more words from other languages.
Required: Brief history of the English language
http://www.youtube.com/embed/H3r9bOkYW9s?wmode=transparent&r...
English: Word Origins, 941 To open this resource in SAS® Curriculum Pathways®: Go to: http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/login Enter the student user name: farm9the In the Quick Launch box, enter: 941 Do "Prepare" and "Identify" (follow the on-screen directions to see all the pages and play the video).
09.01.01 Quiz on the history of the English language (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Take the quiz on the history of English (link on the main class page). You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
09.01.02 Researching your name (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 30 minutes
Research on Your Name
You may think of research as just something you do in books or on the internet, but some research involves talking to real, live people. Whenever you get information directly from a person who has personal experience with the events or people, OR from a document or recording (like a diary, journal, editorial, news story, interview) written/spoken by such a person, you are using a "primary source". For this assignment, you will be using family members, if available, as primary sources.
Also use the links below to research the meanings and popularity of your first & middle names.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work using the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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USMC photo, public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Turn in answers (written in complete sentences) to the following questions, and note where you got your answers:
1. Ask family members how or why they chose your first and middle names. Write your answer to this question using at least one complex sentence. Have there been other people in your family, or friends of the family, who had either name? How are they related to you, and when did they live? What other names did they consider? Who was/were your source(s) for this information?
2. Using the internet or naming dictionary, find out: what your first and middle names mean what language or culture your first, middle and last names come from What sources did you use to find these answers? (Give book title, or internet site url's.)
3. Check the lists of the most popular baby names on the SSA website (link below) to see how your first and middle names rank. (If your exact name does not show up, look for similar names.)
(a) Where do your first & middle name fall on the list for the most recent year listed? (Like, are they 10th most popular, 549th, or what?)
(b) Where were they the year you were born?
(c) Where do they appear in a year before 1960?
4. Do you have nicknames? What are they, and how did you get them?
5. Try to find at least three famous real people who share your first, middle and/or last name. Write a sentence that includes all three. Then put your whole name, in quotes, into a Google search. Does it find anything about you? If so, what?
6. What do you like or not like about your name?
7. Try to find at least one movie, TV, game, or book character who shares your name (any of your names).
8. (Yes, I know this may be a long time in the future, but humor me and think about it for a few minutes now.) If you have children, what names do you think you might like for a girl? for a boy? Why?
9. Does your first name seem more formal or informal?
10. What kind of person do you think people would usually expect when they hear your first name? (Not what they think about YOU, but what they might imagine if they just heard the name.) Does it suggest a certain age, ethnic group, or personality traits?
11. Let's say you have to change your identity (maybe you are going into the witness protection program). You have to choose a new first, middle and last name. What name would you choose, and why? What kind of person does that name suggest?
12. What new information did you learn doing this assignment?
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
SSA Popularity of names by year or state
http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/bl_meaning.htm
09.02 Greek and Latin roots (LA 9)
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9–10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech.
A pair of Magdeburg hemispheres from 1870s: Adolphe Ganot, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Greek and Latin prefixes, roots and suffixes common in English
Many of our English words, especially in the fields of science and medicine, come from Greek or Latin. Some of the words got into our vocabulary 'by accident,' as people adopted and adapted from various languages. Some of them were deliberately constructed, created, by scientists and writers who needed to name a new concept or thing. If you know the meanings of some of the common prefixes, roots and suffixes, you can figure out what some unfamiliar words might mean.
Study the charts below before you do the quizzes on this material. Remember you can print out the lessons so you can refer to them as you work on the quizzes.
Prefix
09.02.01 Greek and Latin roots quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Take the quiz on Greek and Latin roots. Go to the class main page, and to Topic 3, to take this quiz. You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 66%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
09.02.02 Root word webs (LA 9)
teacher-scored 16 points possible 40 minutes
Root Word Webs
Choose TWO of the following Greek or Latin roots or prefixes:
mem... port ...fer ...act ...scrib... fract... uni... clud ...sur
Find at least SIX modern words that contain EACH of the TWO roots (that's at least twelve words in all). Make sure the words you choose really do use the original root, and don't just happen to have the same combination of letters. (Review lesson 09.02 for help on this, or use an online dictionary with information on word origins.)
For each of the two groups of words, create a word web around the original word part.
Illustrate visually--with pictures and diagrams--how the current meaning relates to the original root meaning (see examples).
Also include a brief definition of the word that includes the meaning of the original root.
If you do this on a computer, or scan it, you can attach it here (as a .doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, .jpg, or .gif) or e-mail the assignment. Otherwise, mail me a copy. You don't have to use a computer--you can draw the web by hand. If you want to use the computer, a good program to use for this assignment if you have it available is Inspiration (or Kidspiration). Powerpoint or Word can work, too.
Sample root word web
You don't have to use a computer--you can draw the web by hand. If you want to use the computer, a good program to use for this assignment if you have it available is Inspiration (or Kidspiration). Powerpoint or Word can work, too. A FREE website that can help you construct your web is in the URL's.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
Freemind (graphic organizer creator)
09.03 Spelling commonly misspelled words (LA 9)
Language Standard 2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Eng9205 Loose Talk poster: NARA, ca. 1944, public domaine
Why is English spelling so inconsistent and tricky? It ties back into the history of the English language.
"In spelling, the [English] language was assimilating the consequences of having a civil service of French scribes, who paid little attention to the traditions of English spelling that had developed in Anglo-Saxon times. Not only did French qu arrive, replacing Old English cw (as in queen), but ch replaced c (in words such as church--Old English cirice), sh and sch replaced sc (as in ship--Old English scip), and much more. Vowels were written in a great number of ways. Much of the irregularity of modern English spelling derives from the forcing together of Old English and French systems of spelling in the Middle Ages. People struggled to find the best way of writing English throughout the period. ... Even Caxton didn't help, at times. Some of his typesetters were Dutch, and they introduced some of their own spelling conventions into their work. That is where the gh in such words as ghost comes from.
"Any desire to standardize would also have been hindered by the ... Great English Vowel Shift, [which] took place in the early 1400s. Before the shift, a word like loud would have been pronounced 'lood'; name as 'nahm'; leaf as 'layf'; mice as 'mees'. ...
"The renewed interest in classical languages and cultures, which formed part of the ethos of the Renaissance, had introduced a new perspective into spelling: etymology. Etymology is the study of the history of words, and there was a widespread view that words should show their history in the way they were spelled. These weren't classicists showing off. There was a genuine belief that it would help people if they could 'see' the original Latin in a Latin-derived English word. So someone added a b to the word typically spelled det, dett, or dette in Middle English, because the source in Latin was debitum, and it became debt, and caught on. Similarly, an o was added to peple, because it came from populum: we find both poeple and people, before the latter became the norm. An s was added to ile and iland, because of Latin insula, so we now have island. There are many more such cases. Some people nowadays find it hard to understand why there are so many 'silent letters' of this kind in English. It is because other people thought they were helping." David Crystal, The Fight for English: How language pundits ate, shot, and left, Oxford, 2006, pp. 26-9.
Spelling
Yes, spelling can be a nuisance, but yes, it is important. Here are some general guidelines to help you become a better speller:
1) Learn some of the basic rules that work MOST of the time, for instance:
i before e except after c, or when sounded as "ay" as in neighbor or weigh
When you add a suffix to a word which ends with a single vowel followed by a single consonant, double the consonant (fit becomes fitted or fitting);
when you add a suffix that begins with a vowel to a word that ends in a silent e, drop the e and add the suffix (fade becomes fading or faded; fate becomes fated, or fateful).
For words that end in a consonant & y, change the y to i UNLESS the suffix begins with i (fry becomes frying or fries or fried).
2) Use the spell-check on your computer, but
3) Don't depend on ONLY the computer spell-check. Your computer doesn't know what word you meant to spell, only whether the words you used match a long list of possible words.
4) Ask a friend or family member who is a good speller to check your work.
5) Make a list of words you have trouble with, and work on learning one of them each day or week.
Common Words that Cause Spelling Errors (these will be on the quiz)
1) there refers to a place (here and there); they're is the contraction for "they are" (They're coming over later); their is the possessive of they, which is why the e comes before the i (Don't touch their fancy car.)
2)Two is the number 2 (I want two cookies); too may mean "also" (I want cake, too) or may add emphasis (It was too hot); to is a preposition or part of the infinitive (I want to go to the store.)
3) conscious means you know what is going on around you (you haven't been knocked out) - (He was conscious of them all staring at him); conscience is the part of your mind that tells you something is morally right or wrong. (Her conscience was bothering her because she had lied to her best friend.)
4) which is a pronoun referring to something (I couldn't decide which one to buy); witch is a woman with magical (often evil) powers. (The witch cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog.)
5) were is the past tense of "are" (They were sad); where refers to a place. (Where are we going?)
6) loose is the opposite of tight (The screw had worked loose and fallen off); lose is the verb related to lost. (I didn't want to lose my earring.)
7) all right is the only correct way to write this expression (there is no such word as "alright").
8) desert is a dry place (Cactus grow in the desert); dessert is the treat you eat after dinner. (We're having apple pie for dessert.) Note that the above two words break the usual pronunciation rule that in two syllable words, vowels followed by a single consonant are long, and vowels followed by a double consonant are short. Desert (pronounced like "dessert" with a long E in the first syllable) can also be a verb meaning to leave (I can't imagine how a mother could desert her children.)
9) everyday is always an adjective. (I wore my everyday clothes except to church.) If you mean something that happens day after day, you write every day. (I get up before noon every day.)
10) definitely means certainly (I definitely want to graduate from high school); defiantly means with defiance (The demonstrators shouted defiantly at the police.)
11) Pay attention to the difference between into and in to especially if preceded by "turned": Correct - The sorceress turned them into frogs. Possibly confusing - I turned into a parking lot. (Did you turn so as to arrive in a parking lot, or were you transformed from a human into flat asphalt?) Correct - He turned them in to the police. Incorrect: He turned them into the police. Correct - I went in to see what was going on. Correct - I was accepted into the club.
09.03.01 Spelling quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Take the spelling quiz. Go to the class main page, and to Topic 3, to take this quiz. You may take it multiple times, but you must score at least 66%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
09.04 Phrases and clauses (English 9)
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Use parallel structure.* b. Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
Defining Phrases and Clauses
"The Treasure Cave", 1911 illustration: N. C. Wyeth, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Phrase: a group of words (not containing both a subject and a verb) working together as one part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) in a sentence
Clause: a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb/predicate.
An independent clause may either be a complete sentence standing alone, or it may be part of larger sentence.
A dependent (or subordinate) clause must be part of a larger sentence that also includes an independent clause. Like a phrase, a dependent clause may function as a single part of speech (noun, adjective, adverb) in a sentence.
In this lesson we will continue our study of phrases and clauses. You may want to review "Phrases and Clauses as Sentence Parts" (link below) or information on parts of speech and parts of the sentence before you continue.
Why learn about phrases and clauses?
As a toddler, you first learned to understand and speak short, simple sentences. In the first few years of elementary school, you learned to read and write simple, relatively short sentences. By second or third grade, your writing might have sounded something like this:
Yesterday we went to the zoo. My mom drove. My best friend came. His name is Joe. We saw lots of animals. My favorite was the giraffe. Joe's favorite was the elephant. We went on the train. It was fun. We walked a lot. I got tired.
By that time, you were speaking in much longer, more complex sentences, and starting to read them, too. In the years since then, you have naturally begun to write in more complicated sentences--adding phrases and clauses--because that is what you are used to hearing and reading.
If you are gifted with language, you might continue to develop as a writer without ever knowing the technical explanations of how phrases and clauses work. In the same way, an exceptionally talented athlete might become a very good soccer player without ever having a coach, just by watching and playing.
However, most of us are not exceptional. Most of us can progress further, and learn faster, with the help of a coach who explains how to improve. That is the point of our lessons on phrases and clauses. We want to help you improve your sentences (and thereby all of your writing) by explicit instruction.
Good use of phrases and clauses can help you combine more ideas into fewer sentences, construct better transitions, and communicate the relationships between ideas more clearly.
Classifying phrases and clauses
There are many, overlapping ways to classify phrases and clauses. Think of classifying food: you could group foods by color, by nutritional value, by which meal of the day we usually eat them, by where they are produced, or by whether they are meats, fruits, vegetables, etc. A tomato could be classified in the 'red' group AND in the 'fruit' group (or, if you prefer, in the 'vegetable' group; I'm not going to get into that argument here!). The point is that we don't let it bother us that there are many ways of classifying food, and it doesn't need to bother us that phrases or clauses can also be classified various ways.
One way of classifying phrases and clauses is by function: which part of speech they are serving as in the sentence. Thus, we can have noun, verb, adverb, and adjective phrases (or clauses).
Another way is by the structure (the kinds and sequences of words). We may identify prepositional phrases, verbal phrases (of which there are three sub-types), absolute phrases, and others.
Note, though, that just like the tomato example, a particular phrase or clause may fit into more than one category. We'll get into more of the nitty-gritty of this later, but here we'll look at just one sentence as an example:
They hid the treasure in a cave. In this sentence, 'in a cave' is a prepositional phrase (by structure) AND an adverb phrase (by function--it tells WHERE the treasure was hidden).
Relative Clauses
A relative clause is a dependent (subordinate) clause that modifies a noun (so it's an adjective clause), as in this sentence:
The computer, which was over five years old, was slow. The relative clause is "which was over five years old".
When you have two separate sentences about the same thing, you can often combine them using a relative clause.
Philip bought an aquarium. The aquarium holds 55 gallons.
These may be combined like this: Philip bought an aquarium that holds 55 gallons. The relative clause is "that holds 55 gallons".
Relative clauses may be restrictive or nonrestrictive.
Restrictive (also sometimes called identifying or defining ) relative clauses do not have commas around them. A restrictive clause is one that provides necessary information to identify the person or thing begin described.
For example, let's say I have three nephews. If I then say, "I am going to visit my nephew who lives in Hawaii" the clause who lives in Hawaii is necessary to identify which of my three nephews I mean. It should NOT have commas before and after it.
Another example of a sentence containing a restrictive clause: A dog is an animal that wags its tail, barks at strangers, and sheds in your house.
Nonrestrictive (also called non-identifying or non-defining ) relative clauses DO have commas around them. A nonrestrictive clause is providing extra information, not necessary to identify the person or thing being described. Suppose I only have one niece. If I say "I am going to visit my niece, who lives in Washington," the clause who lives in Washington is not necessary to identify which niece I mean--it is extra information. It SHOULD have commas before and after it.
Another example of a sentence containing a nonrestrictive clause: My house, which is fairly small, is not expensive to heat.
Relative clauses usually start with "which" or "that" (if they are modifying things or animals), or "who" (if they are modifying people). They may also begin with "whom", "whose", "to whom", "of whom" , "where" ("in which", "at which"), "when ("in which", "on which") or "why" ("for which").
As a general rule, use "which" for nonrestrictive clauses (with commas) and "that" for restrictive clauses (without commas), if you are writing about things rather than people.
Parallel Clauses and Phrases
You may use more than one relative clause in a sentence, but if you do, check for parallelism:
Aunt Sheila wanted a pet that would be hypo-allergenic, that would always be quiet, and that would require little attention. I told her a snake would be perfect. [Three parallel restrictive clauses, italicized]
The tent, which had been old when we inherited it thirty years ago, and the sleeping bags, which could have been purchased on Antiques Road Show, were not suitable for a backpacking trip. [Two parallel non-restrictive clauses, italicized]
Remember that "parallel structure" means the two parallel elements (phrases or clauses) have similar structures and similar functions. You should be able to recognize parallel structure even if you can't necessarily identify the technical terms for the particular kind of phrase or clause involved.
This sentence from above uses three parallel phrases within a restrictive clause: A dog is an animal that wags its tail, barks at strangers, and sheds in your house.
A few more examples:
Morning is the part of the day that is after breakfast but before lunch.
I have a long way to go and a short time to get there.
Mark's sister can be either really annoying or really helpful.
Descending from the clouds, touching down on the runway, and disappearing toward the terminal, the plane was welcomed by a crowd of waiting family members.
My plans to eat a quick breakfast and make an early get away were foiled by the hurricane's arrival over night.
For more information and examples, see the links below.
09.04 Phrases and clauses (LA 9)
Supplemental: Clauses and phrases as sentence parts
http://grammar.about.com/od/pq/g/parallelstructureterm.htm
09.04.01 Phrases and clauses indicating cause and effect (LA 9)
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
Sunset shadow: Atmospheric optical effect caused by the shadow of Mount Rainier at sunset: Draxfelton, Wikimedia Commons, released into public domain by author
One common (and useful) function of phrases and clauses is to show a cause-effect relationship between ideas. As you might guess, you will often write about cause and effect in an argument essay.
Here is an example of a sentence involving a cause and effect: Jared was late because of the traffic. (It could equally well be written Because of the traffic, Jared was late.) Traffic CAUSED Jared to be late. "Because of the traffic" is a prepositional phrase. Since it tells WHY, it is also an adverb phrase.
We could also express a similar idea using a subordinate clause: Because there was so much traffic, Jared was late. (It could equally well be written Jared was late because there was so much traffic.
However, if we wrote Because Jared was late, there was so much traffic, that would mean something different.) "Because there was so much traffic" is an adverb clause (again, because it tells WHY something happened), and it is also a subordinate (dependent) clause.
Notice a punctuation issue here: When the phrase or dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence, you need a comma between it and the main clause. However, when the phrase or dependent clause comes at the end of the sentence (after the independent clause), you DON'T need a comma.
Words or phrases that are often used to signal cause-effect relationships include because, cause, since, if, then, so, thus, as a result, due to, therefore, consequently, in order to, hence, when, after, for this reason, which led to, for the purpose of, owing to, accordingly.... Note that SOME of these words are prepositions or subordinating conjunctions (that is, they will introduce a phrase or subordinate clause), but others are conjunctive adverbs (that is, they will introduce an independent clause that either stands alone as a sentence, or follows a semicolon in a compound sentence).
Since, by their nature, phrases or subordinate clauses that identify a cause answer the question "why?", they are adverb phrases or clauses.
09.04.02 Descriptive phrases and clauses (LA 9)
Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
Chestnut race horse, Japan: Chabata_k, Wikimedia Commons, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Another common function of phrases and clauses is to add description to a sentence.
Noun modifiers (answering questions like which one? what size? what color? and describing other qualities of a person, place or thing) are called adjectives (if they are single words) and adjective phrases or clauses (if they are multiple words working together).
Verb modifiers (answering questions like when? where? how? how much? or why? and describing other qualities of an action, another adverb, or an adjective) are called adverbs (if they are single words) and adverb phrases or clauses (if they are multiple words working together).
Let's look at examples.
Adjectives and adjective phrases and clauses
The chestnut horse was the crowd favorite. "Chestnut" is an adjective--it describes (modifies) 'horse', a noun, by answering the question 'which one' (or 'what color').
The horse, the color of a newly minted penny, was the crowd favorite."The color of a newly minted penny" is an adjective phrase--it describes (modifies) 'horse', a noun. See how the phrase acts like an adjective to describe the horse?
The horse, who was the color of a newly minted penny, was the crowd favorite."who was the color of a newly minted penny" is an adjective clause--it describes (modifies) 'horse,' a noun.
Note: In English, most of our adjectives come before the nouns they describe. However, most adjective phrases or clauses come immediately after the noun they describe, and in most cases are set off between commas. An adjective phrase too far from the noun it is supposed to modify can create confusion: "The body in the bed, which had been there for three years, was identified as the missing man." (Was it the body or the bed that had been there for three years? We can't be sure from this sentence.)
My younger sister is Sarah. "Younger" is an adjective--it describes (modifies) 'sister,' a noun.
My sister, in the yellow raincoat, is younger. "In the yellow raincoat" is an adjective phrase; it describes sister.
My sister who is younger is Sarah."Who is younger" is an adjective clause--it describes (modifies) 'sister,' a noun. See how the clause acts like an adjective to describe Sarah?
This brings up a punctuation issue (and yet another way to classify clauses!). If you have at least two sisters, the clause "who is younger" is necessary to identify WHICH sister you are talking about. In that case, no commas are used around the clause (technically, this is called a restrictive clause).
However, if you had only one sister, the clause "who is younger" is no longer necessary to identify which sister you mean--it is just extra information. In that case, there should be commas around the clause (technically, this is called a nonrestrictive clause).
More examples of sentences with restrictive clauses: The car that is following us is blue. [Implies that there are multiple cars around, but that the one following us is blue.] The fish that is chasing the others is the dominant male. My cousins who live in California are coming to visit. [You have other cousins, but it is the ones from California who are coming.]
More examples of sentences with nonrestrictive clauses: My car, which has a flat tire, has just been sitting in the driveway all week. [You've only got one car, so saying that it has a flat tire isn't necessary to identify which car you're talking about.] My parents, who can sometimes be a real pain, have been great lately. The big spruce tree, which had been there before the town was founded, blew down in the wind storm.
Adverbs and adverb phrases and clauses
We will arrive early. "Early" is an adverb. It modifies the verb (will arrive) by telling WHEN we will arrive.
We will arrive before the sun comes up over the mountains. "Before the sun comes up over the mountains" is an adverb clause. See how it serves the same purpose in the sentence--telling WHEN we will arrive--as the single adverb, early?
Note: In English, many adverbs can be moved to various places in the sentence without changing the meaning. The same is true of adverb phrases or clauses (unlike adjective phrases or clauses). You can sometimes use this as a test of whether a particular phrase or clause is acting as an adverb: if you can move it around in the sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence, it probably IS an adverb (or adverb phrase/clause).
There, I found my missing glove. "There" is an adverb telling WHERE you found the glove. Notice you could equally well say "I found my missing glove there."
Under the bed, I found my missing glove. "Under the bed" is an adverb phrase telling WHERE you found the glove. "I found my missing glove under the bed" means the same thing.
Punctuation note: Remember that an introductory phrase or clause generally requires a comma between it and the main clause of the sentence. If you put that same phrase or clause at the end of the sentence, it usually doesn't require a comma.
Margaret finished the book quickly. "Quickly" is an adverb telling HOW she finished the book. Notice you could equally well say "Quickly, Margaret finished the book" or "Margaret quickly finished the book."
Margaret finished the book by staying up all night reading. "By staying up all night reading" is an adverb phrase telling HOW she finished the book. Notice you could equally well say "By staying up all night reading, Margaret finished the book" or "Margaret, by staying up all night reading, finished the book."
In the section on cause and effect, we looked at many examples of adverb phrases or clauses that answered the question WHY? Here is one more: Because of the many pot holes in the freeway, it was closed for repair overnight. The adverb phrase could be moved:
The freeway was closed for repair overnight because of the many pot holes. OR The freeway, because of the many pot holes, was closed for repair overnight.
09.04.03 Phrases and clauses quiz (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 20 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the sections on phrases and clauses from the lesson. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.00 Unit 10: Narrative (LA 9)
Detail from "Grandfather Tells a Story": Albert Anker, 1884, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Basically, the purpose of narrative is to tell a story. A narrative may tell a true (nonfiction) story, or an invented (fiction) story, but the focus is on what happens.
As far as we know, story-telling is a uniquely human pursuit. No other animals seem to have enough language to tell stories, but we, as humans, all do it. When you talk to a friend, you tell them what you've been doing, or what has happened in your life since the last time you talked to them. That's an example of narrative.
Novels, biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, and some essays and poetry are narrative. Most plays, movies and TV shows are narrative in structure, also.
Here are a few terms to review:
Plot - what happens in the story; how events unfold
Characters - the people (or aliens, animals, gods, etc) who do things in the story
Protagonist - the main character or "hero" of the story
Antagonist - a character who opposes the protagonist
Setting - where and in what time period the story happens
Theme - remember from unit 2? A theme is like an underlying message or lesson about life you can infer from the story.
You should be finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird soon.
The major writing assignment is one scene from a story. You should expect the lessons and assignments in this unit to take you about 5-8 hours of concentrated work.
Again, remember our 'big idea': Writers choose details, events and characters' words and actions to develop main ideas or themes; readers use details, examples and evidence to infer main ideas or themes.
10.01 Literary terms review (LA 9)
Reading: Literature Standard 3 Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme. Reading: Literature Standard 5 Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise. Language Standard 6 Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level;
Literary terms: vocabulary and concepts used to discuss fiction [These are words you need to understand and use to write about fiction.]
Setting
The setting of a story is where and when it happens.
In some stories, the setting doesn't seem very important. Twilight is set in a small town in Washington state, but the author could have chosen a different town or a different state.
If you wanted to write a story about an American teenager growing up, focusing on relationships between the teen and family and friends, you could choose from thousands of places in the United States to set your story. However, if part of the plot depended on the teenager having a cell phone, you would have to set the story at a TIME after the late 1990's.
In other stories, the setting is key. For instance, the setting of "High Horse's Courting" is in the plains of North America, probably in the early 1800's. Obviously, the events in the story couldn't have taken place in New York City or in the Arctic Ocean. The adventures in "The Song of Hiawatha", The Lord of the Rings or The Perfect Storm are inextricably wound up in their settings.
Plot
The plot of a story is what happens - the events and actions. In a 'plot-driven' story, the action is the main focus.
The conflict is the problem or difficulty in the story. You may be familiar with classifying conflicts as one of these four types: the character against another person, the character against nature, the character against him/herself, or the character against fate (or God).
The climax is often the most exciting part, the turning point, and is usually near the end, when the main conflict is settled. Rising action is the part of the story between the beginning and the climax, and the events and complications leading up to the climax, where the 'the plot thickens.' Usually, in the process of trying to solve his or her problems, the main character gets into progressively worse situations as the story goes on.
The resolution is how the problem or conflict is solved (resolved). Falling action is the part of the story between the climax and the end--the winding down.
There may be one or more subplots - smaller or less important stories connected to the main story. Some (usually longer) stories contain parallel plots A story with parallel plots has two (or sometimes even more) main characters, and what is happening with both (all) main characters is equally (or almost equally) important. For example, a mystery might follow a serial killer, a detective working on the case, and the killer's next chosen victim in alternating chapters.
Suspense is the reader's doubt about what will happen or when it will happen. Usually the reader doesn't know how the story will turn out, and that is what creates suspense. If the writer tells us at the beginning of a story that a character is going to die, the suspense comes from wondering how or when.
A flashback is a way for a writer to show events that happened before the beginning of the story. For example, when Odysseus remembers leaving his wife and baby son, or when Katniss in The Hunger Games remembers how her sister got the cat, that is a brief flashback.
Foreshadowing is a hint about something that is going to happen later in the story. If a gun is mentioned early in the story, probably that is foreshadowing an event later that will involve someone shooting (or getting shot by) the gun. A discussion of death or funerals may foreshadow the death of one of the important characters. In some stories, there is a prophecy, or a character has a premonition that is an obvious example of foreshadowing, but often it is more subtle, and you might not notice it unless you read the story twice.
Francis Kirkman, WIkimedia Commons, public domain
Character
The characters are the "actors" in the story. Most often the characters are people, but they may be animals, aliens, toys, robots or whatever.
The protagonist is the main character, sometimes called the hero, though he or she may not behave heroically.
In many stories there is an antagonist - the "villain", the character who opposes the protagonist. The antagonist is often evil, but not necessarily so.
Round characters are characters who have detailed, complex personalities, and seem like real people. Flat characters are characters who are often stereotypical, and lack the complexity to make them seem real. Characters can also be classified as dynamic or static.
Dynamic characters change in the course of the story. Static characters stay the same.
A sympathetic character is one that you like, and probably identify with at least to some extent. Generally, the protagonist is a sympathetic character - otherwise, it would be hard for you to care what happens to him or her. In 'character-driven' stories, the characters and how they interact, change and develop are the main focus; the plot arises mainly out of choices made by the characters.
Point of View
Point of view in fiction has to do with who seems to be telling (narrating) the story.
If the story is told by "me" - as if a main character is telling the story - When I woke up that morning... - it is said to be in first person. Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is in first person.
If the story is told as if by an observer - When he woke up that morning... - it is in third person. The Odyssey, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," and most fiction are in third person.
If the person telling the story - the narrator - seems to only know what a single person could really know, we say the point of view is third person, limited.
If the person telling the story seems to be able to see into the minds of multiple characters, or be observing many places at once, we say the point of view is third person, omniscient.
Narrator
In most stories, most of the time, we as readers trust that the narrator is telling us the truth about the story. An unreliable narrator is one whose version of the story is not accurate. Depending on the circumstances, the narrator may be unreliable because s/he is deliberately sharing an inaccurate version of an event, or because s/he really doesn't know it isn't correct. One common instance of an unreliable narrator occurs when the narrator (or main character, in third person, limited point of view) is seriously ill, injured, mentally ill, very young or naive, or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, poison, or magic.
Other instances may not be so obvious. Probably you can think of a time when you heard someone say that so-and-so is ugly, disgusting, stuck-up, or rude--but you could see for yourself this was not the case. The person making the accusations may have believed what s/he said, but was 'blinded' by a dislike of so-and-so. In the same way, a character in a story may be presenting the 'truth' as s/he sees it, but be passing on his or her misconceptions or prejudices.
In general usage, when we say "unreliable", we are making a negative judgement about a person's character. That's NOT necessarily what is meant when we talk about an "unreliable narrator" in literature.
An unreliable narrator is one who either can't (or, more rarely, won't) explain the whole situation. For example, imagine this situation as a scene in a book:
Jonathan and Kari have been happily married for ten years and have a six-year-old daughter, Isabella. Jonathan has become addicted to prescription pain pills after being injured in an accident, but has managed to completely hide his addiction from his wife and daughter. He owes a lot of money to the drug dealer, who hires a mentally ill homeless man to go to the house one evening and hold Kari and Isabella at gun-point demanding money. A neighbor calls the police, who arrive and interrogate all four people, separately. If each of the four people got to tell this in their own chapter of the book, who will be a reliable narrator?
The homeless man doesn't know why Jonathan owes money to the dealer, and, more importantly, is delusional and believes Jonathan's mind is being controlled by an alien government that wants to take over more and more people's bodies. He (the homeless man) is an unreliable narrator because his "reality" is so far removed from the actual situation.
Kari is totally shocked and doesn't know what is going on. To her, this is a random act of attempted robbery committed against her family by a stranger. She thinks it must be a case of mistaken identity. She doesn't know enough about the situation to tell us the whole story, so she would not be a reliable narrator.
Isabella only understands that a strange man came into the house with a gun and started yelling at her parents until they were rescued by the police. She is an unreliable narrator even though she would be totally honest; she simply doesn't understand most of the situation.
Jonathan is the person in the story most likely to be a reliable narrator. He understands what happened and why it happened. If we see/hear the story from his point of view, we will probably get a pretty complete picture of what happened.
Dialogue
Dialogue is what the characters in the story say to each other. (In a play or movie, the dialogue is the actors' lines). In stories, it is the actual words spoken, and is put inside quotation marks to set it off from the narration. Most modern, realistic fiction contains lots of dialogue, and as a reader, you can find out quite a bit about a character from what s/he says, or what is said about her/him by other characters. Although in real life we engage in conversation all the time, it can be tricky to write dialogue that sounds natural, like what real people would say.
Theme
The theme of a work (refer back to our longer lesson on theme in the reading unit) is a main general idea, belief or truth about life, and is usually not stated explicitly, but must be inferred by observing what happens in the story. For instance, you might say that the theme of the Star Wars movies is 'good is more powerful than evil.' A work may have more than one theme. The moral of a fable is a simple sort of theme. Sometimes you can figure out the theme of a story by asking yourself "What would the author want me to learn about life from this story?"
A theme is more than just a single word ("love", "courage" or "equality"). The theme must express a message. For example, "love can overcome hate", "it takes courage to stand up for what you believe in", or "all people should be treated equally under the law" could be themes.
Symbols and symbolism
In literature, a symbol is an element in the story/poem that is doing "double duty" - it is both a concrete object, place or character, AND it also stands for some abstract idea. A couple examples from Robert Frost's poetry will help you understand.
In Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken", he says, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by..." The two roads in the poem are, first of all, real roads. We can picture a fork in the road, one going one way, the other going another way, in the woods in fall when the leaves are yellow. However, these roads also stand for something else - the decisions we make in life. The two roads are symbols.
In another of Frost's poems, "Fire and Ice", he starts out, "Some say the world will end in fire; some say, in ice." Again, these create images we can picture - the world burning up, maybe in atomic war or an explosion from the sun, or the world dark and cold, covered in ice. But the poem continues, "From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire..." and from that point on, it is clear that the "fire" and "ice" are also symbolic of hate, expressed in different ways.
10.01 Literary terms review (LA 9)
Supplemental: Dictionary of Literary Terms (click the letter of the word you want to look up)
10.01.01 Literary terms quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Go to Topic 3 of the main class page to take this quiz. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73%. Questions will cover literary terms and may refer back to earlier readings.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.02 Short background readings/viewings (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Pumping water by hand in 1942, Wilder, Tennessee: FDR Presidential Library, public domain
Read/view the selections about life in the Great Depression and in the segregated South, using the links below.
Note that most of these are expository writing - but will help you prepare for the time period you will be reading about in To Kill A Mockingbird.
Required: The Great Depression one page article and short video
10.02.01 Quiz on short readings (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.03 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text; determine a theme; analyze how complex characters develop, interact, and advance the plot or theme.
Mockingbird in North Carolina: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, author released into public domain
I hope you already began reading, when I put this lesson in unit 8 - but if you haven't started yet, now you really need to start!
For the rest of this class (second quarter), you will need a copy of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Before you begin, watch the title sequence of the 1962 movie (link below). Begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird. We will be looking at one section at a time in the following lessons and assignments.
10.03 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Click the play arrow, or "Watch QuickTime 480p" near the top of the page to see the opening screens of the movie
Buy or borrow a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. You might be able to get started by looking at one of these on line.
10.03.01 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 1-7 questions (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 45 minutes
This assignment is intended to help you make some useful notes about To Kill a Mockingbird.
You may want to try having a pad of small 'sticky notes' handy to stick on pages where there is an unfamiliar word, a good quote, or an example of evidence about the characters or theme, so you can easily find them again later.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer. Answer in complete sentences or paragraphs.
Complete the first questions when you have read the first chapter, save it, and then continue reading. When you have completed the whole assignment, submit your work.
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Please answer the following questions at the indicated point in your reading:
After you finish the first chapter:
1. What is your first impression of this book?
2. Who do you think will be the main character? Why?
3. What is the "point of view" for this story?
4. What is the setting (time and place)? Include three quotes about the setting, and the page numbers on which you found them.
When, in relation to the American Civil War and the end of slavery in the United States, is this happening?
5. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
6. Briefly describe the members of Scout's family (Scout and the three people who live in her house with her at the beginning of the book).
7. How can you connect characters or situations in this chapter to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first four chapters:
8. In what ways do Scout and Jem seem like real kids (or not)?
9. What is an example of a flashback from this section of the story? why is it included?
10. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
11. What do you predict will happen next?
12. How can you connect characters or situations in chapters 2-4 to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first seven chapters:
13. What is the general tone of the book up to this point? What creates that tone?
14. What are Jem, Dill, and Scout mainly focused on? why?
15. What is implied by the cement in the knot-hole?
16. What is your impression of Atticus at this point? Describe how you picture him, and who he might remind you of.
17. How did Jem, Scout and Dill each feel about "playing Boo Radley"? What evidence from the text implies their feelings, and what directly states their feelings?
Jem?
Scout?
Dill?
18. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
19. How can you connect characters or situations in chapters 5-7 to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 4 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.04 Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text; determine a theme; analyze how complex characters develop, interact, and advance the plot or theme.
The Arnold children, Washington, 1939: Dorothea Lange, Wikimedia Commons, Library of Congress, public domain
As you read this middle section of the book, watch for foreshadowing--hints of what is coming up later in the story. How do both the tone and focus gradually change? Watch the video of Atticus' speech after you have read through chapter 21 in the book. The trials of the "Scottsboro boys" happened when Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird was young. See the Scottsboro Timeline, linked below, to think about comparisons between the actual incidents and the story Lee wrote.
10.04 Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 8-21 (LA 9)
Atticus' speech, from 1962 movie of To Kill a Mockingbird
10.04.01 Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 8-21 questions (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 45 minutes
by SpeedyEJL, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported via Wikimedia Commons
This assignment is intended to help you make some useful notes about To Kill a Mockingbird. You may want to try having a pad of small 'sticky notes' handy to stick on pages where there is an unfamiliar word, a good quote, or an example of evidence about the characters or theme, so you can easily find them again later.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Answer in complete sentences or paragraphs. Questions six, thirteen and nineteen need at least a paragraph each. Complete each section when you have read those chapters, save it, and then continue reading. When you have completed the whole assignment, submit your work.
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Please answer the following questions at the indicated point in your reading:
After you finish chapter 11:
Why does Jem convince Atticus not to return the blanket that kept Scout warm the night of the fire? What can you infer about Jem, and about Boo Radley, from this incident?
What is the first indication of how the trial will affect their life?
How and why does the incident of the mad dog change Jem's view of his father?
Give at least two reasons why Atticus sends Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose.
What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first fifteen chapters:
How does Calpurnia explain to Scout why she speaks differently at church than at the children's house? What can you infer about Calpurnia from this?
How is the relationship between Scout and Jem changing? Give examples as evidence of this change.
How is the tone changing in this section of the book? Give at least two examples.
How much does Scout understand of what happens at the jail in chapter 15? Be specific, and use evidence from the text to justify your answer.
What can we infer about Atticus from the incidents in chapter 15?
What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first 21 chapters:
What are at least three things revealed at the trial that make it clear Tom Robinson was not the one who beat up Mayella?
What does Atticus suggest really happened to Mayella? why?
What is the worst thing implied about Mayella's father by Tom Robinson's testimony about something Mayella said? Quote the sentence that creates this implication.
How have events in this section changed or extended your impression of Atticus? Be specific.
What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 4 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.04.02 To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 22- 31 questions (LA 9)
teacher-scored 50 points possible 45 minutes
This assignment is intended to help you make some useful notes about To Kill a Mockingbird. You may want to try having a pad of small 'sticky notes' handy to stick on pages where there is an unfamiliar word, a good quote, or an example of evidence about the characters or theme, so you can easily find them again later.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer.
Answer in complete sentences or paragraphs. Complete each section when you have read the those chapters, save it, and then continue reading. When you have completed the whole assignment, submit your work.
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Please answer the following questions at the indicated point in your reading:
After you finish chapter 27 :
1. When does Scout begin to respect Aunt Alexandra, and why?
2. What is the town's reaction to Tom's death, and why?
3. What is the irony in Miss Gates' explanation of Hitler, and American democracy?
4. What three things happened (three things Ewell does) to suggest that Ewell still wants revenge on people involved in the trial?
5. What sentence at the end of chapter 27 foreshadows the upcoming event?
6. How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the last chapter:
7. Explain what happened on the way home from the pageant, as Scout experienced it.
8. Explain what Atticus initially thought had happened, and why he argued with the sheriff.
9. Explain what actually happened.
10. Why do Atticus and the sheriff agree that Bob Ewell fell on his knife?
11. What does Scout understand as she stands on Boo Radley's front porch?
12. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
13. How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
Retrospective: (each of these questions is worth 5 points)
14. Think back over the main events of the book. Which events would seem most important to Scout?
Which would seem most important to Jem?
to Atticus?
Explain your choices.
15. In what ways (at least three ways) does this story reflect or portray the time in which it happened?
How might things be different now?
16. Name an important theme from this book (remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement), and cite at least three pieces of evidence from the story to support that theme.
17. Why do you think the author chose to have Scout narrate the story, rather than one of the other characters?
Was Scout an "unreliable narrator"? Why or why not?
18. Make a list of at least four people from the book who are "round characters," and justify why you classify each of them as a round character. Use specific details from the book - at least three details per person.
19. Evaluate (what was good and bad?) this book in comparison to other books you have read.
What makes you feel it is better or worse than the other books you are comparing it to? Support your opinions with examples and evidence.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.04.03 To Kill a Mockingbird: quiz (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 25 points possible 15 minutes
Finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird before you take this quiz.
You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 72%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.05 Setting in narrative (LA 9)
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details. Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
T. Imai image, Wikimedia Commons, public domain (copyright expired)
Any story or event happens someWHERE and someTIME. The where and when of narrative are called the setting.
Many folk or fairy tales begin with some variation of "Once upon a time, in a land far away..." This helps set up the expectation that what happens in the story may be quite different from real life in the present day. On the other hand, if a story begins with Nathan's mother driving him to school in the morning, the reader will expect story events to be the sorts of things that might really happen. In a few cases, an author may choose to start a book or chapter with a heading like "Moscow, March 14th, 09:40," but in most cases, the exact time and place will not be explicitly stated.
In much fiction, the place is at least partially invented, anyway. The exact place and time may not be that important to the story. However, what the author shows (or chooses not to show) about the setting can have a big impact on the tone of a narrative, and may contribute to either suspense or surprise--sort of like the soundtrack of a movie may prepare you for something frightening, or lull you into thinking everything is safe. In stories of outdoor adventures or survival, the setting may be almost like a character in the narrative, as the protagonist must struggle against the forces of nature: dangerous weather, a mountain, or the ocean.
Darkness, bad weather, isolation, old buildings, and rugged terrain (especially in combination) can all contribute to an ominous tone. Light, pleasant weather, beautiful scenery, and familiar or well-kept buildings or landscapes tend to contribute to a peaceful, safe tone.
On the other hand, with just a couple of word choices (such as "seemed"), an author can reverse our expectations. Many accounts of the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001 include a description of how that day started out as a sunny, beautiful morning in New York, making the horrific events even more startling in contrast with the lovely weather.
In narratives set in a different culture or time period, details of the setting help us imagine a life we haven't experienced. Most of us, though, don't want to read through long descriptions, so a skillful writer slips details of the setting into the action and dialogue, and selects which details are important enough to include. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the time period (1930's) and the place (a southern state, which is to say, a former slave state) are integral to the story - it couldn't have happened in, say, Oregon in the 1980's. As we read the story, we develop an understanding of what it would have been like to live in the South during the Depression.
As readers, we can often infer important information from characters' interactions with elements of the setting. As you read, use details of the setting to help you imagine what it looks like, and what the characters see, hear, smell, taste or feel.
10.06 Narrative writing (English 9)
"A Good Joke", 1887: Alfred Stieglitz, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Harper Lee was not a "professional writer." To Kill a Mockingbird was the only book she ever wrote. Some of the details of the book's depiction of life in a small southern town were adapted from her memories of her own childhood. Harper Lee chose to write in first person, from the point of view of a young girl: Scout. Most of the story is made up of things a child would notice, and filtered through the understanding of a child (a very bright child, but a child, nonetheless). Lee had to imagine what it would have been like for a child to live through the events of the book.
For the next assignment, you are going to tell a story through the eyes of a child of about seven to ten years old. Maybe you remember what it was like to be that age, or maybe you have younger siblings, cousins or neighbors you can observe. You may want to look back at a couple chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird to try to figure out how Lee did it.
Be sure to make use of the tools of narrative: dialogue, exposition, description, and reflection.
dialogue: conversation between two or more characters. Remember that the characters' actual words are enclosed by quotation marks.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” said Jem pleasantly.
“I’m Charles Baker Harris,” he said. “I can read."
“So what?” I said.
exposition: telling what happens
Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence. She was a Graham from Montgomery; Atticus met her when he was first elected to the state legislature. He was middle-aged then, she was fifteen years his junior. Jem was the product of their first year of marriage; four years later I was born, and two years later our mother died from a sudden heart attack.
description: creating sensory "images" of places, people or things
Calpurnia was something else again. She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard.
The night was still. I could hear his breath coming easily beside me. Occasionally there was a sudden breeze that hit my bare legs, but it was all that remained of a promised windy night. This was the stillness before a thunderstorm.
reflection: the character's thoughts
I mumbled that I was sorry and retired meditating upon my crime. I never deliberately learned to read, but somehow I had been wallowing illicitly in the daily papers. In the long hours of church—was it then I learned? I could not remember not being able to read hymns. Now that I was compelled to think about it, reading was something that just came to me, as learning to fasten the seat of my union suit without looking around, or achieving two bows from a snarl of shoelaces.
10.06.01 Narrative writing: pre-writing and first draft (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 40 minutes
by US Nessie, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported via Wikimedia Commons
Begin working on a narrative piece that tells a story through the eyes of a younger child.
This may be mostly fictional, but base it partly on something you or a family member experienced. You will be writing in 'first person,' narrating the story from the point of view of the child, who may either be experiencing or observing the incident. It may be entirely realistic (like To Kill a Mockingbird), or it may contain elements of fantasy (like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight).
You will plan out an entire story, but you only need to write and submit your plan and then one scene (at least 400 words) from the story.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work by uploading your file, or pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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Prewriting
A. In just a few sentences, briefly summarize the main points (plot) of the story. If you prefer, you may put this in outline form.
B. Setting: where and when does this story happen? how do the time and place affect the story?
C. Brainstorm details: list at least twelve specific things the child might have noticed (smelled, tasted, heard, seen, thought or felt) about what happened.
D. Frame the story: (remember how Scout began her story by remembering Jem's broken arm? She was older, and looking back at her childhood.) Have your narrator begin by some kind of recollection, looking back, as a teenager, on the story s/he is going to tell about something that happened when s/he was younger. Write this opening, which you will use as the introductory paragraph for your story.
Composing
Have your narrator tell the story. Feel free to adapt the story to make it funnier, more exciting, scarier, or more interesting, but use your experiences to help make it seem real. Magnify the moment! Be sure to use dialogue and some of your brainstormed details (from B, above).
Remember, when writing dialogue, to start a new paragraph each time a different person speaks.
Incorrect:
"Are we going to the zoo?" asked Annabelle. "Yes," said Max. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
Correct:
"Are we going to the zoo?" asked Annabelle.
"Yes," said Max. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
Open with the introduction (from C, above). Then write at least three paragraphs in the body, and a conclusion (the end of the scene you are writing). Your draft needs to be at least 400 words long. It will be scored on ideas and organization, but I will also offer comments on other aspects to help you when you work on your revision.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.06.02 Narrative writing: revision (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 40 minutes
After you have read my feedback on your initial draft, revise your narrative piece that tells a story through the eyes of a younger child. For most writers, revision is the main work of writing. Harper Lee (with help from her agent and editor) worked on To Kill a Mockingbird for over two and a half years, revising and editing. According to the Wikipedia article on the book, she once got so frustrated she threw the manuscript out into a snowbank. (Remember, this was long before computers, so there wasn't a back-up copy on her hard drive somewhere!)
As you work on your revision, consider whether--
the introduction gives the reader enough background and creates some interest or suspense
you might want to change the order or add to your narrative--maybe including a flashback or some reflection.
more specific details could help make sections seem more vividly real
(if you haven't already) you need to "magnify the moment," so that you "show" the action rather than relating a summarized version through exposition.
you have at least eight lines of dialogue
good use of phrases and clauses smoothes the transitions and creates a cohesive whole
the tone, details, and word choice are consistent with the age and character of the narrator
the ending follows naturally from the events in the scene, and provides a sense of conclusion
Your draft will be scored according to this rubric. Use the rubric for additional guidance on revising your work.
Significant, substantive changes and improvements in ideas, organization, and/or word choice, style and tone
Some significant changes attempted
Few or no significant changes
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.06.03 Revise your scene for film (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 40 minutes
Reimagine your scene as a film scene.
You may need to review the information about film making from unit 8.
Imagine you are now the screenwriter and director in charge of creating a film scene from your story scene. You must use at least ten shots, but no more than twenty shots, in planning the filming for your scene. (No, you aren't going to have to actually film it.)
You will turn in the numbered list of shots and dialogue, including the following information for each shot:
the type of shot (wide-angle, close-up, panning, low-angle, high-angle, dolly, zoom, etc),
what the characters are doing during the shot,
who is saying what, and
the kind of transition to the next shot (at least three transitions must be something other than a basic cut)
Example:
Let's say my scene has two kids (Thomas and Marion) going into an animal shelter to choose a pet. These might be my first four shots:
1. Wide-angle shot of a city street outside an animal shelter, zooming in on Thomas and Marion as they approach the front door. They are talking, but we can't hear them because of the traffic noise. Cut to
2. Fairly wide-angle shot, panning to follow the two kids. From inside the animal shelter, we see Thomas and Marion entering as the door opens. They approach the receptionist, who meets them at the counter.
RECEPTIONIST: Hi, Thomas! Hi, Marion! Are you here to volunteer again today?
MARION: No - we get to choose a dog to foster. Mom -
THOMAS: (interrupting): We talked our mom into letting us foster one of the dogs. She dropped us off so we can choose one, and she'll be back in half an hour to do the paperwork.
RECEPTIONIST: That's great! Here, I'll take you back.
She leads them to another door, which she unlocks, and they start to step through. Match cut to
3. Low-angle shot, looking up at the door from the other side as they walk through. The camera is looking up at them from inside one of the dog cages, near the back. We see the backs of two small dogs standing up and barking at Thomas and Marion at the wire barrier. Marion reaches out one hand toward the dogs.
MARION: Look how cute!
Match cut to
4. Shot looking at the two dogs from outside the cage; rack focus draws the viewer from those two dogs to another dog, curled up in the back of the cage...
Category
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.00 Unit 11: Exposition (LA 9)
illustration for Hand-book to the Primates: Henry Ogg Forbes, 1897, public domain, WC
Exposition is writing that describes something, explains, or informs. Expository writing should examine, explain, and communicate ideas, processes, concepts and information clearly and accurately.
Expository writing includes
technical writing like the manuals that come with games or software
'how-to' writing like magazine articles about how to fly-fish, build a greenhouse, or make artisan bread
descriptive writing like a travel book, an article about the latest fashions, or information about a house for sale on a real estate website
books or articles about animals, nature, science, history, etc
scientific journal articles describing an experiment or study, and reporting the results
news reports about a current event
...and many other forms
By now you may have noticed that the three types/purposes of writing (argument, narrative and exposition) sometimes overlap, and that many pieces of writing include aspects of two (or all three). When you aren't sure how to classify a particular writing, ask yourself what the main purpose is--to argue, to tell a story, or to inform?
Novels, short stories, and biographies are usually narrative though they are likely to include sections of exposition. Arguments are also likely to contain some exposition, and sometimes some narrative. In the same way, expository writing may include some elements of narration or argument, but its main purpose is to inform.
DO NOT use phrasings like "In this essay/report I am going to write about...", or "I'm going to tell you about...", or "This essay will be about...." Instead, just go ahead with the important ideas straight out.
Techniques or organizational patterns often used in expository writing include description, instructions, information, cause and effect, problem and solution, comparison/contrast and extended definition. News articles are usually organized in the "inverted pyramid": starting with the main, basic facts (who, what, when, where, why and how), and adding more details and background information later in the article.
All expository writing - but especially description - needs to include specific, concrete details that help support the main idea (thesis, claim). Be sure to support vague, general or abstract ideas with specific, concrete examples and details. (This doesn't mean you should include every possible detail - choose the most interesting and relevant details to include.) As with all writing, try to build mainly with strong nouns and verbs. Use adjectives and adverbs when needed, but don't go overboard.
More about specific vs. general:
Consider the general word "animal" (a noun). If you are writing about a two-legged animal with feathers and wings that says "cock-a-doodle-do" in the mornings, you'd almost always be better off saying "rooster" - a more specific noun - instead of adding all the modifiers.
Specific vs. general nouns examples (in random order)
Specific nouns
More about concrete vs. abstract:
Remember the definition that a noun is a "person, place, thing or idea"? People, places and things are concrete - you can see, hear, smell, taste and/or touch them. Ideas are abstract - they exist in our minds. Even things like dragons and unicorns are considered concrete, even though they don't really exist, because if they did exist, they would be things you could see and touch.
Using some abstract words in your writing is fine, but be sure to support those ideas with concrete examples.
Abstract vs. concrete word examples (in random order):
Abstract nouns and modifiers
http://web.gccaz.edu/~mdinchak/ENG101/expository_writing.htm
11.01 Documenting your sources (LA 9)
Integrate information into written text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
Djembayz, Wikimedia Commons, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Expository and argumentative writing often require that you do some research to find information. Both for the sake of your readers (who may want to know where your information comes from), and for the sake of avoiding plagiarism, you need to properly reference and document your sources.
There are several common, standardized systems for exactly how to do this. Two of the most common are called APA and MLA. When your high school or college teacher assigns you to write a research paper, s/he will most likely tell you to use either APA style or MLA style. Many internet sites list all the rules and examples of how to use each of these styles of documentation. For our purposes in this class, we are going to use MLA style.
Be forewarned: you are probably going to think this stuff was invented by someone who had a sick obsession with detail, combined with a desire to torture students.
Get over it. You are NOT going to need to memorize any of the finer details, but you ARE going to need to be able to look at the rules and examples and apply them, to correctly cite your sources. This is a skill you are likely to need in your job and life (not necessarily doing MLA documentation, but being able to apply examples and detailed rules).
Very basically, there are two components to properly referencing your sources:
identifying facts, ideas or direct quotations within your text, to acknowledge that they are someone else's work
listing the bibliographic information in a "works cited" list at the end of your text, so that other people can find your sources and read them, too
Study the more detailed information at the required links, below, and the step-by-step example:
How to use the easybib.com website to create a citation:
Suppose I am citing information from the website at http://indians.org/articles/cherokee-indians.html -
I go to the website www.easybib.com and enter the url for the web page with this article, and then click Continue.
Since we can't find an author, we skip the Contributors section. (If there was an author/authors listed, I would fill that in.)
I notice that part of the website title was cut off, so I type in the "Cherokee Indians", which was missing.
To find the publisher/sponsor, I click the "About Us" link on the source page, and I find out that American Indian Heritage Foundation sponsors this web page, so I copy and paste that into the Publisher/sponsor box.
Since I don't see a date on the source page, I right-click the page and choose "view page info". That tells me the date the page was last modified, and I put that date into the "Electronically published" boxes.
Then I click "create citation". That gives me this correct citation: "Cherokee Indians." The History of the Cherokee Indians. American Indian Heritage Foundation, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 07 Mar. 2015.
Required: MLA formatting and general style guide
11.01.01 Practice with MLA style (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 40 minutes
Richard Wright, 1943: Gordon Parks, public domain, Library of Congress, WC
To practice using MLA documentation, you're going to start with how to cite some of the material you've already read. Look for a quotation or idea that has to do with integrity in each source.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work by pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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For each source, list
A. A sentence or section about integrity from that source (either a direct quote or a paraphrase).
B. What you would put right after that sentence for a correct MLA in-line citation. (Basically, this means the author's last name - or the beginning of the article title if no author was listed - followed by the page number where the quote was found, in parenthesis.)
C. How you would correctly list that source on a works cited page in MLA style (use easybib.com to help you create the citations).
1. Choose a quotation/idea about integrity from To Kill a Mockingbird. (A print book with a single author)
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
2. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from one of the readings in the links from unit 8.
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
3. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from "The Ethics of Living Jim Crow: An Autobiographical Sketch". (A story with one author - you'll find the link to this in lesson 10.02)
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
4. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from "A Sports Story of Character and Integrity" (website article with one author - link below)
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
5. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from "How to Be True to Your Word" (website article with one author - link below)
A. Quotation/idea:
C. Works cited list citation:
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
A sports story of character and integrity
https://experiencelife.com/article/how-to-be-true-to-your-wo...
11.02 Expository essay - extended definition (LA 9)
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Classical definition of knowledge: Szczepan, Wikimedia Commons, released into public domain by author
One common form of expository essay has to do with creating an extended definition of a (usually abstract) word or concept. As you may have noticed, dictionaries offer short definitions of words, but sometimes the dictionary definition itself seems pretty abstract and not all that helpful.
In writing an expository, extended definition essay, you use examples, analogies, and comparisons to help yourself and the reader reach a deeper understanding. You might also use illustrations, charts or other graphic elements to help the reader grasp and remember the ideas.
Required: Writing an extended definition essay
11.02.01 Expository writing quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover all topics and readings in unit 11. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 70%. You may refer to the lessons and readings while you are working on this quiz.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.02.02 Expository essay on integrity: pre-writing and composing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 35 points possible 50 minutes
Courtroom scene from To Kill a Mockingbird movie, 1962: Screenshot from movie, PD-US-no notice, WC
Begin working on an essay defining integrity.
What is integrity? Some of the readings this quarter all revolve at least partly around the issue of integrity, so you've already done quite a bit of "pre-writing" for this essay without even knowing that was what you were doing. In this expository essay, you will define and explain integrity, as a quality of human character, using examples from the readings and from your own experiences.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work by pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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Pre-writing
1. Using two different dictionaries (print or online), copy the dictionary definitions for integrity, and create a proper MLA citation for each:
A. Definition:
B. Definition:
Citation:
C. How is "integrity" related to other positive attributes - kindness, courage, and persistence - and how does it differ?
2. Using one of the two articles on integrity (linked in lesson 11.01), find two examples of integrity and one counter-example. You may copy exact quotes or paraphrase. Explain why each example illustrates integrity (or the lack thereof).
A. Example:
D. Citation:
5. From your own experiences, find two examples of integrity and one counter-example (someone NOT demonstrating integrity). You may ask your parents or friends for ideas, and you may copy exact quotes, or paraphrase. Explain why each example illustrates integrity (or the lack thereof).
A. Example:
C. Counter-example:
Composing - Decide how you want to organize your essay.
Compose your first draft: an introduction, at least two paragraphs in the body, and a conclusion.
You may (but don't have to) use one of the dictionary definitions as part of your introduction.
Use at least one example or counter-example from each of the readings in lesson 11.01, and from _To Kill a Mockingbird_, somewhere in the main part of your essay (no, you don't need to, and probably shouldn't, use every example you listed above).
Remember, though, that you are writing an essay, not just listing examples, so use the examples to illustrate your own ideas. Your draft needs to be at least 400 words long. It will be scored on ideas and organization, but I will also offer comments on other aspects to help you when you work on your revision.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.02.03 Expository essay: revision (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 50 minutes
After you have read my feedback on your initial draft, revise your essay defining integrity.
Copy your first draft of the essay into a word-processing document TWICE, with a line between the two copies. Leave the top one "as is." Do your revisions on the lower copy, save your work on your own computer, and then copy and paste the whole thing into the submission window for this assignment.
In this expository essay, you will define and explain integrity, using examples from the readings and from your own experiences. As you revise, ask yourself whether you have
the best, most relevant evidence, including specific examples from the readings and your own experience
explanations based on your own, best understanding
an organization and order that makes sense
transitions between paragraphs, sentences and ideas that help clarify relationships between the ideas, and support the reader's understanding of what you mean
a conclusion that shows the significance of integrity in our lives or in the world
Also add parenthetical (in-line) citations to quotes or paraphrases, MLA style, and a "works cited" page at the end.
Use the rubric below for further guidance in the revision process. Note that conventions will NOT be scored on this draft, though I may include comments on conventions to help you with your editing.
Category
Makes significant, substantive changes and improvements in ideas, organization and/or word choice/style over the first draft
Makes a few significant changes from the first draft
No significant changes in content
Conventions and language skills (not scored on this draft)
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Has few errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses variety in sentence length and structure
Has many errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage, interfering with the reader’s ability to follow the ideas
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.02.04 Expository essay: editing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 10 points possible 30 minutes
Edit your essay defining integrity.
Copy your revision of the essay into a word-processing document TWICE, with a line between the two copies. Leave the top one "as is."
Do your editing on the lower copy, save your work on your own computer, and then copy and paste the whole thing into the submission window for this assignment.
In this expository essay, you will define and explain integrity, using examples from the readings and from your own experiences. As you edit, ask yourself whether you have
correct spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and capitalization
correct sentence structure (no run-ons or fragments)
parallel structure where applicable
2 (does not meet standards)
Conventions and language skills
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Has few errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses variety in sentence length and structure
Has many errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage, interfering with the reader’s ability to follow the ideas
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.00 Unit 12: Argumentation (LA 9)
Martin Luther King Jr delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech: "Martin Luther King - March on Washington" by Unknown, NARA, cataloged under the ARC Identifier 542069.
An important 'big idea' we focus on in English 9: Writers choose details, evidence, events and characters' words and actions to develop main ideas, claims or themes; readers use details, examples and evidence to infer main ideas, claims or themes.
In unit twelve, you will consider important components of "argument," both in reading/listening and in writing/speaking.
The purpose of argument is to set forth claims, counterclaims, reasons, and relevant evidence in such a way as to determine and clarify the accuracy or truth of the matter. You should expect the lessons and assignments in this unit to take you about nine to eleven hours of concentrated work.
Some key concepts you need to understand in argument:
Fact vs. opinion:
A fact is a true piece of specific information (People die without oxygen; dogs are four-legged animals; sandstone is a sedimentary rock; the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776). A fact can be proven true (or false).
An opinion is somone's belief or feeling about a topic or thing. (Pizza tastes better with ranch dressing. Rap isn't really music. Teenagers should all be sent to work in coal mines.)
Logic: systematic reasoning; reaching a conclusion or judgment based on reasons, evidence, inference and/or established principles.
Ethos, Pathos and Logos:
Aristotle classified the techniques of rhetoric into three categories. Their Greek names are ethos, pathos and logos.
Ethos has to do with changing how you perceive the speaker/writer himself (or herself) and his/her credibility or authority.
Do you trust the speaker? Do you like him/her? Does s/he have a reputation for being honest and accurate? If you answer "yes" to those questions, you are more likely to be persuaded to agree with the speaker. An attractive, charismatic speaker who seems to have a strong belief in his/her message will persuade or motivate more listeners. If the speaker deliberately tries to use and improve his/her credibility as a way of persuading you, that is ethos. A person's style of writing or speaking can have a major effect on whether you believe what s/he is saying. In recent decades, many politicians running for president or other major offices have made a deliberate effort to seem more "folksy" or "down to earth" (think "Duck Dynasty") rather than more educated or sophisticated. Note that ethos is not about ethics (except in the limited sense that a speaker/writer might try to persuade you based on his/her ethical character). Ethos is about the speaker/writer trying to manipulate the audience to trust and agree, based on his/her character, expertise, or position of authority.
Pathos has to do with emotional reactions.
Appealing to listeners' concerns or hopes, the speaker tries to arouse fear, anger, shame, sorrow, happiness or sympathy, often using 'loaded language'--words calculated to 'push your buttons.' (If you're thinking of political speeches or commercial advertising, you're on the right track.) References to patriotism or loyalty to one's group; examples of wounded veterans, dying children, abused animals, or unemployed people losing their homes; or images of sexy models, happy families, beautiful scenery, or the trappings of wealth are all often used to manipulate viewers' and listeners' emotions. It is human nature to be easily swayed by emotion.
Logos has to do with logic, knowledge, reasons, and facts.
The use of statistics, scientific studies, cause-and-effect relationships, and parallels from history are all examples of logos. Note, however, that logos can be used to mislead as well as to impart accurate information. A speaker who is working from false premises will arrive at false conclusions, even using logic.
Logos should be the most important basis for persuasion, but generally, people are more easily persuaded by personal appeal and emotion. Why do you believe the things you do? Probably, in most cases, because your family members or friends believe those things.
In this class, we will use 'argumentation' to mean logos--the use of logic and evidence in communication. Just as a poet or fiction writer uses carefully-chosen specific details to shape and clarify a poem or story, a writer of argument uses facts, examples and evidence to shape and clarify the meaning.
How is argument different from persuasion?
The purpose of persuasion is to convince others of something (regardless of whether it is true). The purpose of argument is to determine and communicate the truth about something. That said, argument may sometimes be used as part of persuasion.
12.01 Letter from a Birmingham Jail (LA 9)
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1963 (both would later be assassinated in separate incidents): Wikimedia Commons, Abbie Rowe, National Park Service, public domain "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" is a modern classic of argument, and a window into the mind of a man who helped bring about major changes in American law and society. In "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King Jr. discusses actual events, choices and actions. His purpose is primarily to lay out the evidence supporting his position.
Before you read "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," review the Gettysburg Address and this excerpt from The Declaration of Independence:
"The Gettysburg Address" by President Abraham Lincoln, 1863
"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
from "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson, 1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
As you read "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (link below), consider what Martin Luther King Jr's arguments have in common with Jefferson's and Lincoln's, and how they differ.
Look for the examples and evidence King uses to support his arguments.
"Letter from a Birmingham Jail", 1963, by Martin Luther King, Jr.
12.01.01 Letter from a Birmingham Jail analysis (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 30 minutes
In the course of this assignment, you will need to locate or infer some of the authors' beliefs. Consider events, people's choices, and the consequences of those choices, along with explicit statements you may find.
There are many possible right answers to the questions, but there are also many possible wrong answers. You need to be able to justify your statements with evidence from the texts. Any answer that is right can be supported with evidence from the text.
I suggest you review the unit eight lesson on theme before completing this assignment.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work using the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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PreWriting
Locate and list at least two phrases, ideas or motifs from "The Gettysburg Address" that are used repeatedly during Lincoln's speech.
List a theme from "The Gettysburg Address" that expresses a belief about human rights. Remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement. Explain what evidence from the text you can find in support of that theme.
a.
Locate and list at least two phrases, ideas or motifs from the excerpt from "The Declaration of Independence" that are used repeatedly in the document.
List a theme from "The Declaration of Independence" that expresses a belief about human rights. Remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement. Explain what evidence from the text you can find in support of that theme.
a.
Locate and list at least six phrases, ideas or motifs from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" that are used repeatedly during the letter.
List three themes from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (either in your own words, or as direct quotations) that express a belief about human rights. Remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement. For each theme, explain what evidence from the text you can find in support of that theme.
a.
b.
c.
For which of the readings was it easier for you to identify themes? Why do you think that was?
How are the themes from "The Gettysburg Address" and "The Declaration of Independence" related to the themes from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"? Consider each of the themes specifically, and/or consider them as a group. Compare and/or contrast.
How do you think reading these three pieces together affected (or didn't affect) the themes you picked out?
In your own words, summarize the most important, main idea from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail".
How does Martin Luther King Jr. use ideas from "The Gettysburg Address" and/or "The Declaration of Independence" to support his claims?
Give an example from "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" of how King deals with a counterargument (an idea that opposes one of his claims, and how he responds).
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.01.02 Performance Assessment (LA 9)
In this quiz, you will do a close reading of several excerpts and identify commonalities. I encourage you to ask someone else to read the following selections and discuss them with you before you compose your answers to the quiz questions.
Excerpt from "Brown vs. the Board of Education" majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Earl Warren in 1954:
In approaching this problem, we cannot turn the clock back to 1868, when the Amendment was adopted, or even to 1896, when Plessy v. Ferguson was written. We must consider public education in the light of its full development and its present place in American life throughout the Nation. Only in this way can it be determined if segregation in public schools deprives these plaintiffs of the equal protection of the laws.
Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.
We come then to the question presented: Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does.
In Sweatt v. Painter, supra, in finding that a segregated law school for Negroes could not provide them equal educational opportunities, this Court relied in large part on "those qualities which are incapable of objective measurement but which make for greatness in a law school." In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, supra, the Court, in requiring that a Negro admitted to a white graduate school be treated like all other students, again resorted to intangible considerations: ". . . his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession." Such considerations apply with added force to children in grade and high schools. To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone. The effect of this separation on their educational opportunities was well stated by a finding in the Kansas case by a court which nevertheless felt compelled to rule against the Negro plaintiffs:
Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn. Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system.
Whatever may have been the extent of psychological knowledge at the time of Plessy v. Ferguson, this finding is amply supported by modern authority. Any language in Plessy v. Ferguson contrary to this finding is rejected.
We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. This disposition makes unnecessary any discussion whether such segregation also violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Arkansas National Guard denies entrance to black students at Central High School, September 4, 1957: Will Counts, Arkansas History Commission
Excerpt from Alabama Governor George Wallace's inaugural address, 1963:
"It is very appropriate that from this cradle of the Confederacy, this very heart of the great Anglo-Saxon Southland, that today we sound the drum for freedom as have our generations of forebears before us time and again down through history. Let us rise to the call for freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever...
Let us send this message back to Washington by our representatives who are with us today... that from this day we are standing up, and the heel of tyranny does not fit the neck of an upright man... that we intend to take the offensive and carry our fight for freedom across this nation, wielding the balance of power we know we possess in the Southland... that WE, not the insipid bloc voters of some sections will determine in the next election who shall sit in the White House of these United States... that from this day... from this hour... from this minute... we give the word of a race of honor that we will tolerate their boot in our face no longer... and let those certain judges put that in their opium pipes of power and smoke it for what it is worth."
12.01.02 Performance Assessment quiz (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 25 points possible 60 minutes
Note that this quiz is different from other quizzes in the class. It is longer and requires detailed, essay answers.
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 60%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.02 More about argument (LA 9)
Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
The readings and activities for this lesson will extend your understanding of argument.
“An argument is a set of reasons or evidence (premises) in support of a conclusion. An argument is not merely a statement of views, nor is an argument simply a dispute. Arguments are attempts to support certain views with reasons.” - Weston, Anthony. (1992) A Rulebook for Arguments
Notice, from this definition, that you could structure a simple argument something like this:
The reasons that I believe that ____________ is best include ______________, ______________ and __________________. (if you had three reasons for your view) OR
______________________ is good (or bad) because _____________________.
A few basics of logic
EHS image
Inductive logic works from specific cases, patterns, or examples to reach a general rule. The more specific cases you observe to support the general rule, the more likely it is that the rule is correct. However, with inductive logic there is a chance that the rule might not always be true. You probably haven't checked all the possibilities. Consider this example:
Back before there were long-distance communications or quick transportation, people who lived in the middle of Utah would have observed that in the cold part of the winter, water freezes. Puddles freeze, bowls of water left outside freeze, lakes freeze, even streams and rivers eventually freeze. This happens year after year, and people (using inductive logic) conclude that this is a universal rule: water freezes in cold winter weather. You and I know that this rule is generally true. However, one winter, someone travels north to the edge of the Great Salt Lake. What's this? A whole lake of water that isn't frozen in the dead of winter? Turns out our 'rule' needs to be revised: "Fresh water freezes in cold winter weather."
Deductive logic starts with a general rule (the premise) and applies it to a specific case.
A premise is a statement that has previously been determined to be true--often, something 'taken for granted.' In formal logic, the premise(s) must be explicitly stated, but in general use, in many discussions of politics, religion or other issues, the speaker/writer may leave some premises unspoken, assumed. In that case, you (as the reader, or listener) may need to question or infer the unspoken assumptions before you can evaluate the conclusions based on this logic.
When you evaluate a claim based on deduction, there are two separate issues you must consider: whether the premises are true, and whether the logic is valid.
Are the premises true?
Consider this example: Premises: All water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. The Great Salt Lake is water. Today the temperature is 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion: Today there will be ice on the Great Salt Lake. The logic is valid, BUT one of the premises is not true--salt water has a lower freezing point than fresh water. The conclusion is false.
Is the logic valid? Consider these examples:
1. Premises: All girls are human. John is human.
Conclusion: John must be a girl. The premises are true, BUT the logic is not valid. The premise didn't say "all humans are girls" or "only girls are humans"; it said "all girls are humans" The conclusion is false because it says John MUST be a girl, and we don't have enough information to know that.
2. Premises: Rabbits are afraid of dogs. Michael is afraid of dogs.
Conclusion: Michael must be a rabbit. Even if we say the premises are true, this logic is not valid. The premise doesn't say "ONLY rabbits are afraid of dogs." The conclusion is false. Robert MIGHT be a rabbit, but we don't have enough information to say he MUST be a rabbit.
Correlation and causation
Human beings all seem to be interested in finding out WHY things happen - looking for causes. When two things happen about the same time, we wonder whether one caused the other. We also have a natural tendency to look for patterns, to remember things that fit a pattern we've noticed, and forget things that don't fit the pattern.
In creating and evaluating arguments, it is very important to understand the difference between correlation and causation.
Causation: When one thing CAUSES another, we say that there is a causal relationship (not to be confused with a 'casual relationship'!), or that we have causation. Consider these examples:
1. When the temperature in the winter drops below freezing, the water in my dogs' outside water bowls freezes. These two things tend to happen about the same time. Is there a causal relationship? If so, what is it? (Yes, I know you're thinking "DUH!" but bear with me.)
Presuming that there IS a causal relationship, it could be one of two: The water freezing in the dog bowls causes the cold weather.... OR... The cold weather causes the water in the dog bowls to freeze. Of course, we know which is the correct relationship, but what if we didn't? Generally, a cause precedes an effect. If we observe carefully, we see that the weather gets cold before the water in the dish freezes, so probably cold weather causes the water to freeze, not the other way around.
2. For three days in a row, you miss the bus and your mom has to drive you to school. Your mom is annoyed with you those three days. Is there a causal relationship?
Well, if your mom is anything like my mom, yes! The reason (cause) that she is annoyed with you is that you were late and she had to take time to drive you to school. [Possibly this relationship goes both ways, if you were late deliberately to annoy your mom!]
Correlation: when two things tend to happen together, whether or not there is a causal relationship, we say they are correlated. Consider these examples:
1. Every year, there are about equal amounts of daylight and darkness. Also every year, there are about equal numbers of boy babies and girl babies born. Is there a causal relationship?
No. The relative numbers of boy and girl babies are not affected by the hours of light and darkness. This is correlation only.
2. For at least 60 years, research has noted that people who don't exercise are more likely to die relatively young. There is a correlation between not exercising and dying younger. Is there a causal relationship?
Yes. Additional research has determined that lack of exercise leaves our hearts and immune systems weaker, so that we don't live as long. This is both correlation AND causation.
3. We might also note that nearly all people who die of cancer slept in beds most of their lives. There is a correlation between sleeping in a bed and dying of cancer. Is there a causal relationship?
No. People who don't die of cancer also sleep in beds most of their lives. There is a correlation, but not causation.
Important: Correlation does NOT imply causation. When you notice a correlation between two things, that is a reason to ask whether there is a causal relationship, and how that might work; it is NOT a reason to ASSUME causation.
You may be thinking, "Those were all stupid examples. How is this important in the real world?" Here are just a couple examples of important real-life issues where we need to figure out whether causation or just correlation are at work:
1. Climate change/global warming: It has now been established beyond a reasonable doubt that the average temperature on Earth has gone up slightly over the past 300 years. Over the same time period, human populations and the burning of fossil fuels have increased dramatically. There is definitely a correlation between global temperatures and human-caused burning of fossil fuels. A huge debate going on internationally is over this question: Is there a causal relationship between human activities and global climate change?
The question is important because if we figure out the causes of climate change, we might reasonably try to take action against climate change. Without knowing causal relationships, any action we take is like a shot in the dark.
2. Economic problems: Over the years 2005 to 2011, various economic problems existed in the US (and to greater or lesser degrees, in many other countries); unemployment was up, the housing market crashed, national debt was up, the stock market was mostly down, health care costs were up. We can find correlations between these problems and other data: who was President, whether the Congress was controlled by Democrats or Republicans, the price of gold, money spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, total snow depth at Alta ski resort, illegal immigrants, global warming, UFO sightings, Super Bowl scores, the wolf population, the discovery of other Earth-like planets, the amount of government regulation, tax rates.... we could go on and on.
Clearly, many of the correlated events have no causal relationship with economic problems. Yet some of the correlated events must have causal relationships with the economic problems. Again, if we can sort out causes from effects and simple correlations, we can attempt to make changes that will bring improvement.
When you evaluate arguments, or when you develop arguments, you need to carefully consider issues of logic and causation.
Required: A List Of Fallacious Arguments (scroll down to read the explanations/examples)
http://www.youtube.com/user/PhilosophyFreak#p/c/48296651F7CF...
12.02.01 Inference and implication in argument (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone. Analyze in detail how an author’s ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter). Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.
Imply: to suggest indirectly (rather than state explicitly); to hint; to suggest that a conclusion necessarily follows from a prior statement (premise)
Infer: to figure out or guess by reasoning from evidence
Here is an excerpt from a famous essay written in 2001 by Anna Quindlen. It is a good example of inference. Notice how much she infers
[A Quilt of a Country is a commentary written by Pulitzer-prize winning author Anna Quindlen for 'Newsweek' following the devastation of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. The premise behind this article is that despite the diversity that can create a lot of problems within cities across America, diversity serves as a tribute to what makes America special.] http://study.com/academy/lesson/a-quilt-of-a-country-summary-analysis-quotes.html
# # #
http://www.oakparkusd.org/cms/lib5/CA01000794/Centricity/Domain/356/quil...
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Newsweek September 27, 2001. (2001)
America is an improbable idea. A mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, it is held together by a no-
tion, the notion that all men are created equal, though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better
than someone. “Of all the nations in the world, the United States was built in nobody’s image,” the historian Daniel
Boorstin wrote. That’s because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have
been one of its great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades. Out of many, one. That is the ideal.
Now let's break down this famous, heavily inferenced, quote.
America is an improbable idea, a mongrel nation built of ever changing disparate parts,
1. Disparate parts can also be a reference or inference to the melting pot notion that was described in the 1780's to describe the large population of immigrants.
it is held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal,
2. All men are created equal is a reference or inference to the second paragraph in the Declaration of Independence.
though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone. "Of all the nations in the
world, the United States was built in nobody's image," the historian Daniel Boorstin
wrote.
4. Inference to Whitney Otto's "How to Make an American Quilt"
Out of many, one. That is the ideal.
5. Inference to The 13-letter motto suggested in 1776 by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, E pluribus unum (Out of many, one)
# # #
Inference often depends on the reader being familiar with the situations or allusions the writer uses. For instance, most of us have experience with trying to walk or stand on a steep slope and/or on slippery ground (ice, snow, mud, sand). At the least, most of us have seen movies where a character is having trouble on steep, slippery ground. Without that experience, Edwards' points would not make much sense.
When you are making an argument, it is sometimes best to imply a point instead of stating it straight out. For instance, in a debate you shouldn't specifically say that your opponent is stupid... but you might imply that, indirectly. However, if you refer to an example, it's important to use examples your audience will be familiar with. If a person knows nothing about World War II, s/he won't likely get the point of a comparison to Hitler or Hiroshima.
When you are developing your argument, also be aware that your statements might imply something you didn't really want to imply; be careful to say precisely what you mean. Only use irony/sarcasm if you are sure your audience will take it the right way.
When you are trying to understand someone else's argument, it is often important to be able to infer more than what is openly stated. For instance, in recent election speeches or debates, if a speaker said it was important for a President, or senator, to have had military experience, you might reasonably wonder whether the speaker really meant that military experience is important, or to draw negative attention to another candidate for avoiding the draft, or to suggest that you shouldn't consider a particular woman candidate (yes, I know women can be in the military, but not many women of the age to be running for national office served in the military).
You should also pay attention to the difference between what the argument actually states, and what you infer; or to the possibility that the speaker/writer is being sarcastic or ironic, and actually means the opposite of what s/he says.
12.02.02 Figurative language in argument (LA 9)
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
Figurative language, or figures of speech, is what we call use of words or phrases when we aren't using them in the everyday, literal sense. Clear as mud? (Hah! That's an example of figurative language, right there!)
When you look at the examples, it will be easier. You use and hear figurative language all the time, even if you don't recognize the names of the specific types. Whether you are writing argument, description, or narrative, figurative language can make your writing (or speech) stronger. Many difficult concepts are easier to understand when they are explained figuratively, and arguments may be more persuasive or compelling when couched in figurative speech.
For examples of that, let's go back to "A Quilt Of A Country" by Anna Quindlen. These excerpts are from later in the article:
There is that Calvinist undercurrent in the American psyche that loves the difficult, the demanding, that sees mastering the impossible, whether it be prairie or subway, as a test of character, and so glories in the struggle of this fractured coalescing. And there is a grudging fairness among the citizens of the United States that eventually leads most to admit that, no matter what the English-only advocates try to suggest, the new immigrants are not so different from our own parents or grandparents. Leonel Castillo, former director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and himself the grandson of Mexican immigrants, once told the writer Studs Terkel proudly, "The old neighborhood Ma-Pa stores are still around. They are not Italian or Jewish or Eastern European any more. Ma and Pa are now Korean, Vietnamese, Iraqi, Jordanian, Latin American. They live in the store. They work seven days a week. Their kids are doing well in school. They're making it. Sound familiar?"
Tolerance is the word used most often when this kind of coexistence succeeds, but tolerance is a vanilla-pudding word, standing for little more than the allowance of letting others live unremarked and unmolested. Pride seems excessive, given the American willingness to endlessly complain about them, them being whoever is new, different, unknown or currently under suspicion. But patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth is as different as a dozen countries, and still be able to call it by one name. When photographs of the faces of all those who died in the World Trade Center destruction are assembled in one place, it will be possible to trace in the skin color, the shape of the eyes and the noses, the texture of the hair, a map of the world. These are the representatives of a mongrel nation that somehow, at times like this, has one spirit. Like many improbable ideas, when it actually works, it's a wonder.
These excerpts creates vivid images and a stronger reaction than if she had just said, "Our nation's tragedies join us together."
Specific types of figurative language
You have been introduced to some forms of figurative language earlier in your school experience. At the least, you should recognize metaphor, simile and personification:
Simile: making a comparison between two things not generally considered alike, using comparison words such as 'like', 'as', or 'than'.
"...his wrath towards you burns like fire;"
simile: His breath stank like rotten fish.
not a simile: His breath stank like my grandpa's breath. *Why is this not a simile?
simile: Sharon was as slender as a willow wand.
not a simile: Sharon was as slender as most other ballet dancers. *Why is this not a simile?
simile: The blizzard wind was more powerful than a D-9 Cat piling up the snow.
simile: Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead.
* The two starred sentences aren't similes because they are comparing things that we would expect to be more or less alike, NOT things we normally think of as quite different.
Metaphor: making an implied comparison between two things not generally considered alike, without using 'like', 'as', 'than' or other direct comparative words.
metaphor: The blizzard wind was a D-9 Cat piling up the snow.
not a metaphor: The horse's hoofbeats were like drumbeats on the boardwalk. *Why is this not a metaphor?
metaphor: The horse's hooves drummed a dance rhythm on the boardwalk.
not a metaphor: Lacrosse is soccer played with a stick. *Why is this not a metaphor?
metaphor: The lone tree is a sentinel at the end of the driveway.
metaphor: The bow of God's wrath is bent.
* The first starred sentence isn't a metaphor because it uses "like" to make the comparison, making it a simile. The second starred sentence isn't a metaphor because it is comparing things (two sports) that we would expect to be more or less alike, NOT things we normally think of as quite different.
Personification: referring to non-living things (or sometimes plants or animals) as if they could behave in human ways; you might consider this a sub-category of metaphor
personification: The sun smiled down on their picnic.
personification: The dog danced around, laughing at the treed cat.
personification: "... that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood."
not personification: "That parrot could sing like an opera star. *Why is this not personification?
*The parrot sentence has two problems: first, it might be considered a simile, since it uses "like" to make the comparison. More important, it might be a literal statement. We know that parrots can be trained to talk, so it may literally be true that the parrot sings like an opera star.
Analogy: an extended metaphor or simile that draws parallels between two specific pairs of things for the purpose of establishing a logical connection. The most basic form of an analogy follows the pattern "a is to b as c is to d" (these are often used on standardized tests). In argument, more complex analogies are used as evidence in support of a point. Examples of analogies:
Shoe is to foot as glove is to hand.
"...helping to train and equip host nation forces in the midst of an insurgency is akin to building an advanced aircraft while it is in flight, while it is being designed, and while it is being shot at. There is nothing easy about it." - General David Petraeus
Just as the complexity of something like a computer suggests that there must have been someone who designed it, so the complexity of the universe suggests that there must have been a designer.
A submarine can navigate using sonar, much as a bat navigates using echolocation.
"Sent to Davy Jones locker" (euphemism for death at sea): John Tenniel, Punch magazine, 1892, public domain
Euphemism: a more socially acceptable way of referring to something regarded as objectionable, private, offensive or hurtful. Euphemisms may change over time as expressions once considered too explicit become acceptable, or expressions once considered acceptable become offensive. Examples of euphemisms:
passed away, no longer with us, returned to his/her heavenly Father, left this life, gone ahead (all euphemisms for died)
let go, lost his job (fired)
not playing with a full deck, one brick shy of a load, nutty, not quite all there (crazy, mentally ill)
Hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration for effect; overstatement. Examples of hyperbole:
I was so hungry I could eat the whole cow.
He drove so fast, he broke the sound barrier on his way to the hospital.
Every person alive loves chocolate.
Understatement: a deliberate minimization. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole. The British have a reputation for understatement. Examples of understatement:
"across the pond" (meaning across the Atlantic ocean)
"a bit breezy" (referring to a hurricane)
"I'd prefer another option" (said by a person about to be hanged)
Oxymoron: an expression that appears to be or contain a contradiction in terms; a paradox. Technically, something only counts as an oxymoron if it was intended to be paradoxical (as opposed to being written or spoken that way accidentally or unintentionally). Examples of oxymorons:
Giant shrimp: by Takeaway, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported via Wikimedia Commons
dwarf giant, precise estimate, baggy tights, clear as mud, fairly unique, extremely moderate, less is more, original copy, living dead, deafening silence, bitter sweet
Not quite oxymorons: Sometimes people create contradictions intended to be humorous. Probably the most common example of this is jokes about "military intelligence", when the implication is that military and intelligent are mutually exclusive terms.
"Honest politician" and "educational television" are other examples of expressions that may be used ironically, to suggest that no politicians are honest, and no television shows are educational.
12.02.03 Argument in Poetry (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 20 minutes
We generally expect arguments to be presented in essays, articles or speeches, but argument can be communicated in other forms.
Read the poem "Just Keep Quiet and Nobody Will Notice" by Ogden Nash (use link below).
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself.
Then submit your work by pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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1. What are some of the apologies that the poem alludes to? List at least three details from the poem as evidence for your answer.
2. What are three examples of figurative language in this poem? Quote the examples, and identify what kind of figurative language they use.
a.
b.
c.
3. List two examples of ideas implied (not stated explicitly) in the poem, and how Nash implies them.
a.
b.
4. What is the poet's claim (conclusion) in this poem, in their own words? (Your answer to this question should be a direct quote from the poem.)
5. What is their evidence (reason) for this conclusion? (Again, use a direct quote from the poem.)
6. Now, in your own words (two or three sentences), summarize the argument (claim and evidence) this poem presents.
7. Do you concur with Nash's claim? Why or why not?
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
"Just Keep Quiet and Nobody Will Notice", poem by Nash
12.02.04 Quiz on argument (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 25 minutes
This quiz covers the material from lessons and readings in unit 12. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 70%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03 Write an argument essay (LA 9)
Jewish children in the Warsaw ghetto, Germany, about 1941: Unknown photographer, WC, public domain
As you begin work on your argument essay, as explained in the assignments below, keep in mind the goals of argument:
research the issue
12.03.01 Write an argument essay: pre-writing and research (LA 9)
teacher-scored 25 points possible 30 minutes
In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King articulated his dream that in the future, people would be judged by "the content of their character" rather than by things such as skin color, gender, religion, nationality, age, appearance, or other external factors. That is a big topic - too big for a short argument essay - so your assignment is to write about how one aspect of that dream has - or has not - been realized in the area where you live.
**Question 3 asks you to group people based on at least three criteria. Some criteria you might consider include age, gender, economic status, religion, education, hobbies or lifestyle, race, location, background, temperament, fitness, food preferences, style, looks... etc. Within each criteria, identify two or more groups (for example, if you were grouping people by the kind of music they like, your groups might include hard rock, ska, country, rap, classical, pop...).
Answer the questions below. Submit the questions and answers either by copy and paste, or as an attached document.
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A: Your community
1. Where do you live? Is it a city, small town, or rural area?
2. How many people live in your town/city? If you live outside any towns, how many people live in the nearest town?
3. How could you classify the people of your community into different groups? Consider at least three kinds of criteria for grouping them, with at least two groups for each criteria (see instructions above):
3a.
3c.
3d. Which groups are in the majority (that is, which groups have the most people)?
4. Which group(s) have the highest social status/prestige in the eyes of most people in your community?
5. Which group(s) may be looked down on in the eyes of most people in your community?
B: Character
6. What did King mean by "the content of their character"?
7. Give three reasons why judging others based on the content of their character is preferable to judging based on other factors.
a.
b.
c.
C: Your experiences (be honest, and think about these - don't just answer the way you think a person should)
8. When you meet someone new, what are the first things you notice?
9. When someone new meets you for the first time, what do you think they notice first about you?
10. List and explain three times when you have seen someone (or a group of people) being mean or rude to a person, in your community or school.
a.
b.
c.
11. In your experience, what are factors likely to cause someone to be treated badly? List at least five.
12. Which of the factors you listed for #11 would be part of "the content of their character"? Which would not?
13. Write two possible claims for your argument essay about whether King's dream of people being judged by the content of their character has - or has not - been realized in your community.
14. Research to find at least two quotations from other sources (your local newspaper might be a good source; they may have a website you could search) you could use either to support your claim, or to support a counter-argument. List the quotations and the sources here.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 8 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03.02 Write an argument essay: composing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 45 minutes
In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King articulated his dream that in the future, people would be judged by "the content of their character" rather than by things such as skin color, gender, religion, nationality or other external factors. That is a big topic - too big for a short argument essay - so your assignment is to write about how one aspect of that dream has - or has not - been realized in the area where you live.
Include personal experiences, but also bring in at least two quotations or information from other sources.
Remember you need to address a counterclaim in your essay.
The first draft (at least 300 words) will be scored mainly on ideas and organization.
Category
1 (does not meet standards)
Introduction & organization
Introduces precise, knowledgeable claim, establishes significance, distinguishes from opposing or alternate claims, and sets up logical organization of claims, counterclaims, reasons and evidence
Introduces claim and main reasons; distinguishes claim from counterclaims; sets up basic organization of claims, counter claims, reasons, evidence
Introduces topic, but may not make a clear claim or distinguish between claim and counterclaim
Development of ideas and content
Develops claims and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplies most relevant data and evidence, points out strength and limitations, anticipating audience knowledge, concerns, biases and values, using personal experiences, logic, information from research and readings, and figurative language
Develops claims and counter claims fairly, supplies data and evidence, pointing out strengths and limitations, anticipating audience questions and knowledge, using personal experiences, logic, information from research, and figurative language
Supplies reasoning and/or evidence about topic, but may not clearly support claim, or may not supply specific evidence
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 8 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03.03 Argument Essay: revising (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 30 minutes
After you have read my feedback on your initial draft, revise the first draft of your essay.
You may need to add more evidence, examples, or quotes (make sure to reference your sources); remember, you MUST include at least two quotations or facts from your research
cut out irrelevant information or weak evidence
improve the discussion of counterclaims (it is human nature to focus on what we believe, but for a good score, you need to fairly represent the opposing viewpoint, also)
create stronger transitions; clarify cause/effect, comparison, or other relationships
improve sentence structure or choice of words/phrases; and/or add to your introduction or conclusion.
Evaluate your essay based on the rubric to help you decide what you need to work on. This draft (at least 400 words) will be scored according to the following rubric:
Category
Important: Avoid plagiarism by crediting your sources, using MLA style.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 8 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03.04 Argument Essay: editing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 15 points possible 15 minutes
Edit your argument essay to correct all conventions errors (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, indenting, parallelism, and sentence structure).
Make sure you have credited your sources. (Review the information from the previous unit about MLA style citations.)
You need a "works cited" list at the end of your paper; include at least the author's name, article title and publication date for each source. Then, within the main part of your essay add in-text citations: wherever you use information from one of your sources, put the author's last name (or the first two or three words of the article title, if no author was listed) in parenthesis right after the sentence or section where you used the quotation or information from that source.
Wherever you used any direct quotes, put them in quotation marks (as well as using an in-text citation afterwards).
Submit the edited version to your teacher. This draft will be scored according to the following rubric:
Category
Uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses; no fragments or run-on sentences
Uses variety in sentence length and structure; less than three fragments or run-on sentences.
Errors in sentence structure make ideas hard to follow.
Conventions and language skills
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Has few errors in conventions, grammar or usage; uses variety in sentence length and structure
Has many errors in conventions, grammar or usage, interfering with the reader’s ability to follow the ideas
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 9 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.04 Preparing for Your Final Test (LA 9)
Go to the quiz link in Module 3 on the main class page to take your last quiz. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
This quiz covers all units in the class. It is sort of like a "mini final test" except that it doesn't have essay questions (your final will include three major essay questions as well as the multiple choice/matching type questions).
Be sure to submit your "Ready" assignment at least 24 hours before you need to take your final test.
12.04.01 Quiz: review for final test (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 25 minutes
This quiz covers the material from lessons and readings in the whole class, and is similar to the computer-scored part of the final test. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
The actual final test will be longer, and include some essay questions.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 9 of your enrollment date for this class.
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Dutch
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A 46-year-old British woman made the news in 2014 when in Croatia she was married to her?
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2nd Quarter, Language Arts 09 | Utah Electronic High School
2nd Quarter, Language Arts 09
0.0 Start Here (LA 9)
Course Description
Engage in attentive reading, writing, and listening through complex works of literature.
Perform critical reading of digital and printed material.
Build knowledge and demonstrate strong reasoning abilities.
These skills, in reading; writing; speaking; and listening, are the foundation for any purposeful expression in language
Class Overview
This is a one quarter (.25 credit) class in Utah State High School Language Arts.
WHAT THIS CLASS IS: This class is an open-entry, open-exit class. You can enroll at any time of the year, and finish the class as fast as you can get all the work done.
WHAT THIS CLASS IS NOT: This class is NOT an easy way to get your English credit without doing real work. You will be required to work and learn.
PREREQUISITES
At least 8th grade level reading and writing skills.
A computer with internet access.
A working e-mail address which you check regularly.
Word processing software to type your assignments. Microsoft Word is best.
Acrobat Reader, QuickTime reader, and a PowerPoint reader (all available free online).
How You Will Be Graded
You earn points for doing assignments in this class. Each assignment has a maximum number of points you can earn if you do an excellent job on that assignment. You must do all assignments. You can also submit a revised, improved version of an assignment to get more points for it. Your final grade is determined by your average on assignments, and how you do on the final test. The assignments and quizzes count 75%, and the final test counts 25%.
GRADING SCALE
D 60-69
No credit - below 60
As with all EHS classes, you must also pass a proctored final test at the end of the class. If you score below 60% on the final, you will fail the class and not earn credit. If you score at least 60% on the final test, your score on the final will be averaged with your scores for class assignments and quizzes to determine your grade in the class.
Final Test
When you have finished all the assignments you need for your credit, you will take the final test under the supervision of a proctor approved by the EHS. You must pass the final with at least 60% to pass the class.
About Homework
Grading rubrics will specify how you will be graded on each assignment submission.
Class plagiarism policy
Plagiarism is copying someone else's work, in any way, and failing to give credit to the original author. Plagiarism is unlawful and unethical, and against the EHS Honor Code.
How to turn in homework
IMPORTANT: always save a copy of all your homework on your own computer. Send in each assignment when it is requested in the course module section.
About Me assignment:
Getting to know you! Copy and paste the following questions between the rows of asterisks below into a word document and answer them accordingly.
*******************************************************************
In a numbered LIST, provide the following information:
1. What is your first and last name, parent(s) name(s), and contact information for both you and your parent(s)?
2. Where do you go to school?
3. What is your counselor's full name and email address/contact information?
4. What year will you graduate and have you read the EHS Honor Code and understand that this class needs to be finished within the 10 week limit?
In a few sentences, tell me about yourself being sure to answer the following questions in the process:
a. Tell me something about yourself.
b. Why are you taking this class and what do you expect to get out of it?
c. What is one word that best describes you?
By the way, here is the EHS honor code: "As a student of the Electronic High School, I agree to turn in my assignments in a timely manner, do my own work, not share my work with others, and treat all students, teachers, and staff with respect."
00.00 *Student-supplied Items for English 9 (LA 9)
Most readings and viewings for this class are available free online or at your school or public library. You can also find digital copies of these texts in the URLs found in this module section.
First quarter: The Odyssey
Second quarter: To Kill a Mockingbird
Third quarter: Romeo and Juliet, and one book chosen from the list in the class
Fourth quarter: one book chosen from the list in the class
The Odyssey
00.00 Start Here (LA 9)
Supplemental: Rutger's University presentation on plagiarism
Students need access to a robust internet connection and a modern web browser.
This class may also require the Apple QuickTime plug-in to view media.
For students using a school-issued Chromebook, ask your technical support folks to download the QuickTime plug-in and enable the plug-in for your Chromebook.
$0.00
07.00 Unit 7: Good Writing Techniques (LA 9)
Author Christopher Paul Curtis, 2014: Jeffrey Beall, WC, CC-BY-3.0
Unit 1: Getting Started
In this introductory unit you will work primarily on language skills, as outlined in the Utah State Core Curriculum for ninth grade English/Language Arts. You will review or familiarize yourself with rubrics, the six-trait model of evaluating writing, and the writing process. Topics in this unit include techniques that will help you improve your writing, sentence structure, clauses and phrases. There will be several short assignments and quizzes. You should expect this unit to take you anywhere from about three to twelve hours, depending on how much you already know, and how much you need to review.
The "big idea" behind most of the assignments in this class: Writers choose details, events and characters' words and actions to develop main ideas or themes; readers use details, examples and evidence to understand and infer main ideas or themes.
Class plagiarism policy:
Plagiarism is copying someone else's writing, either copying the exact words or copying the general organization, and paraphrasing some of the ideas. Copying someone else's sentences, phrases or ideas, and failing to give credit to the original author, is plagiarism.
In some papers it is appropriate to quote someone else's exact words, but when you do, that section needs to be set off in quotation marks or otherwise set apart, and the author identified either in a sentence, or in a parenthetical note. Then you need to supply a "works cited" list of sources at the bottom of your paper. This also applies when you use facts that are not common knowledge.
If you have not already done so, please review the information about plagiarism on the Start Here page and its links. Plagiarism is unlawful and unethical, and against the EHS Honor Code. If you turn in a plagiarized assignment, you will receive ONE warning. If the problem recurs, you may be dropped from the class with no credit.
07.01 Getting started (LA 9)
Wikimedia Commons, Tulane Public Relations, CC Attribution 2.0 GenericTo get started on this class, complete the "About Me" assignment. Then read through the "Start Here" information, and take the quiz on class policies.
07.01.01 Class policies quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 12 points possible 15 minutes
Read the information on the Start Here page and the Required Resources page first.
Then, go to your main class page and into Topic 3 to take this quiz. You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 90%. I want to make sure you understand how the class works!
If you haven't already, also click the link for the About Me assignment, and introduce yourself to me!
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.02 How papers are scored, rubrics and the writing process (LA 9)
Clarify how papers will be graded, and review terms used to discuss and evaluate writing:
"Writing is thinking on paper.": by Filosofias filosoficas, CC Attribution 3.0 Unported via WIkimedia Commons
Here is a brief summary of the "writing process". View the PowerPoint presentation or PDF for more information and click the link below this lesson to listen.
The WRITING PROCESS
begins with prewriting. This can include brainstorming, researching, outlining, and any other way of getting ideas and planning what you want to write.
The next step is often called drafting or composing. This is the part where you are actually writing, whether it is with pencil and paper, or on a computer.
Once you have gotten your writing 'on paper' (or on screen), it is time for revising. This is the step most people are tempted to skip, but the one on which many professional writers spend the most time. You should try different ways of organizing and improving your ideas: changing the order, adding details, cutting out what doesn't belong and improving word choice and sentence fluency--all to make your writing as powerful, clear and effective as possible.
After you are happy with the content of your writing and how you have put it together, the next step is editing. This is when you proofread and fix any conventions errors.
The next step is publishing, or sharing your writing so others can read it.
Rubrics
A rubric helps to define how the teacher will score your assignment, and what the expectations or benchmarks are for certain scores.
If you check the rubric as you revise an assignment, before you turn it in, you can improve your grade by making sure to include everything that is expected.
The rubric can also help the teacher score your paper more objectively, and help you understand why you received your score.
Utah Core standards
Most of the rubrics used in this class are based on the Utah Core guidelines for improving argumentative, expository and narrative writing. Along with the terms below from the Six-Trait system, make sure you understand the following:
significant
evidence
reflection
It may help you to look at sample standards that use Utah Core terminology. Here are examples of standards that use many of the terms above:
Category
Introduction & organization
Introduces precise, knowledgeable claim, establishes significance, distinguishes from opposing or alternate claims, and sets up logical organization of claims, counterclaims, reasons and evidence
Development of ideas and content
Develops claims and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplies most relevant data and evidence, points out strength and limitations in discipline-appropriate form, anticipating audience knowledge, concerns, biases and values, using credible sources
Development of relationships, cohesion and flow
Uses words, clauses and phrases, as well as varied syntax, to link major sections of the text, create cohesion and clarify the relationships between claims and reasons, claims and counterclaims, reasons and evidence.
Word choice, style and tone
Establish and maintain a smooth, formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms, vocabulary and conventions of the discipline for which they are writing
Conclusion
Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented, while providing a sense of confident closure or resolution, beyond just repetition of earlier statements
Conventions and language skills
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Below is a very brief review of the SIX TRAITS system, which helps define some terms we will use in scoring and discussing your writing. For more information, see the PowerPoint or PDF about the six traits, and go to the Six Trait Writing web page.
1. Ideas & content - Are the ideas well-developed, with supporting details that are specific and concrete? [Instead of "Our kitchen is a wonderful place", which is general and abstract, write something like: - "The stained linoleum is curling up at the edges, and the cupboards need to be re-finished where my brother and I carved our initials the year I was ten, but the old stove always has a pot of chili simmering on top, or a sheet of oatmeal cookies baking in the oven." or - "When I get home from school, I can pop a frozen cheese pizza into the oven. I'd better remember to wipe up any crumbs, because my mom is really proud of the shiny new black granite countertop."]
2. Organization - Are the ideas in some kind of logical order? Does the order help you to understand the ideas, or does it just seem random? Check out the beginning--does the introduction help set up your expectations for the rest of the piece, and/or grab your attention? How about the end--does it just stop, or is there a sense of conclusion?
3. Voice - Does the writer's personality come through? Writing without voice seems generic as if any stereotypical teenager could have written it. It can also seem flat as if it might have been generated by a committee or a machine (or a textbook company!).
4. Sentence fluency - do the sentences flow smoothly if you read it out loud? Are they easy to follow and understand? Good writing includes sentences of varying length and construction. Common faults include short, choppy sentences; sentences that are so long and convoluted they are hard to understand; and non-sentences (fragments or run-ons).
5. Word choice - This is related to both voice and ideas. Are the words and vocabulary the best ones for the job? Nouns should be specific and concrete; verbs should be active and vivid. Generally, it's better to say "poodle" or "German shorthair" than "dog"; better to say "Honda Civic" or "Porsche" than "car" and better to say "waddled" or "leaped" or "slithered" than "went". Words should also be used accurately and precisely.
6. Conventions - Correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, etc.
Symbols I use to mark writing problems:
Wikimedia Commons, Mosborne01 image, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Generally, I will send you at least one or two comments along with your scores in the rubric for an assignment. If you want more detailed comments and corrections, let me know and I will go through your work line by line, using these symbols.
(There are traditional proofreading symbols, but they were invented to be written in by hand. I have adapted some for the computer keyboard, and created ways to use the keyboard symbols in proofreading.)
*/* Marks where a run-on sentence needs to be either divided into two separate sentences with a period (or question mark), or properly connected with a comma and/or conjunction.
{ } I use the curly brackets around an incomplete sentence (fragment). It either needs to be connected to a neighboring sentence, or revised so that it can stand on its own as a complete sentence.
/P New paragraph should start here.
^ ^ The “carrots” are around something you left out--often, a missing comma.
< > The pointy brackets are around something you SHOULD have left out--often, an extra comma or word.
Boldface If bold is an option, I try to boldface misspelled words. If I can’t use bold, I will underline or highlight.
Underlining: I underline or highlight words, parts of words, or sentences to draw your attention to them, for either positive or negative reasons. Often, I use underlining to mark awkward sentence structure, capitalization, grammar, or word-choice problems. I will sometimes put an explanatory comment in parentheses right after the underlined part.
NOTE: If I see the same mistake repeated over and over, I may not mark all of them. When I have marked several of the same kind of error, I expect you to take the initiative to check for more of that kind.
If you keep sending more papers with the same kinds of mistakes all quarter, I may begin taking off more points as the quarter goes on. The idea is supposed to be that you learn to do better by reading my comments and suggestions and making extra effort not to repeat past mistakes.
07.02.01 Quiz on rubrics and the writing process (LA 9)
computer-scored 12 points possible 15 minutes
This quiz covers the information in lesson 07.02. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 75%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.03 Good writing techniques: figurative language (English 9)
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Figurative Language
Non-literal comparisons – such as similes, metaphors and personification – add 'spice' to writing and can help paint a more vivid picture for the reader.
Figurative language
A simile uses "like," "as," or "than" to make a comparison between two things not normally considered alike.
The trees lined the driveway like an honor guard of soldiers standing at attention.
Her angry words were as sharp as knives cutting into his heart.
A metaphor implies a comparison (without using "like," "as," or "than") by suggesting that one thing IS something else that is not normally considered to be similar.
Mark is the black sheep of his family.
The lone cottonwood tree was a condominium for songbirds.
Personification attributes a characteristic normally associated with humans (or at least with animals) to a non-living entity.
The flood swallowed up the town.
The breezes were playing tag with the whispering leaves.
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration to make a point.
I haven't seen you in a million years.
Marisol cried till she thought her tears would fill an ocean.
A pun creates humor by playing on the different meanings of a word (or substituting different words that sound the same).
A horse is a very stable animal.
Atheism is a non-prophet institution
An oxymoron uses two seemingly-contradictory words together, often to creat humor and/or irony.
smallest giant
serious foolishness
(There are many other forms of figurative language, but these are some of the most common.)
More examples:
It seemed like we were moving through traffic as slowly as a California tourist driving through a herd of sheep. Meanwhile, the minutes galloped away from us like race horses being chased by a swarm of hornets. I could just imagine the coach, an angry bear on the sidelines, roaring at the other players about what he would do to me when I finally got there.
"...occasionally someone would lean forward and softly rearrange the logs on the fire so that the flames flapped upward more brightly, and the remains of the steaks sizzled briefly, like a nest of sleepy wasps." - Gerald Durrell, from The Whispering Land
Not a red rose or a satin heart. I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper. - Carol Ann Duffy, from "Valentine"
07.03.01 Good writing techniques - figurative language quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the information in lesson 07.03.
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73% to pass.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.04 Good writing techniques - magnify the moment (LA 9)
Writing Standard 3d: Use precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture. Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
Magnified Moment
Blacksamson echinacea, close-up of the flower's central disk: Bernie, WMC, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Instead of 'speeding past' a moment, zoom in on it. Emphasize it by slowing down and looking carefully at each action, expanding it so that readers can make a movie of what is happening in their mind. Of course you don't want to focus in on EVERY moment and every detail--that would be boring, and it would take far too long--but a common problem in writing is failing to go beyond summarizing what happened.
This is a technique used primarily in narrative writing (though there may be a section of narrative in expository or argument, so it might appear there, too). It's about telling a story in an interesting way rather than just summarizing it.
Think of a radio sportscaster. If the announcer just said, "In the first inning, the home team had two hits and one run," not only would there have been a half hour of silence while all those things happened, but the audience wouldn't be able to picture the action. Choose the most important parts of your topic (if someone is stealing a base, the announcer isn't going to describe the advertising banners on the back fence), and give play-by-play detail.
To build a magnified moment, think of a time you remember vividly - something that seemed to happen in slow motion - and the details that go along with that memory. It's hard to say why we remember some things like this, as if they just happened the other day, while other things fade out of our memories altogether, or we barely remember the basic event. When you write, try to imagine the experience unfolding in time, split second by split second. Where is it happening? What was the character doing and thinking about? Include the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, motion, and textures as they give context to the event, and the character's emotional and physical feelings as well as thoughts and spoken words. You should be able to develop a paragraph or page of writing based on a brief event.
Examples:
Dad's tools thud the dirt. He drops, slides on his backside down the steep riverbank, digs his boots in to brake at the waterlip. A cow is turning in the water, its leg caught in the ropey set of a tree's exposed roots. We go in, one at either side. It tries to keep its head above the surge of ribbony water; strikes out at us but is too bound to be nimble - its head a rounded anvil twisted up to nose the air..... Dad leans his leg into the root that's locked the cow's shin and tries to budge the hoof out. I hold its head above water. The red eartag flicks at my wrist. Dad wants to lift its leg at a different angle, so I haul back its shoulder, the cow's head now submerged at my feet. It can still see me, up from its crooked eye, now enlarged under lucent water. (from "The River" by Andrew Slattery)
When all was ready, the man reached in his pocket for a second piece of birch-bark. He knew the bark was there, and, though he could not feel it with his fingers, he could hear its crisp rustling as he fumbled for it. Try as he would, he could not clutch hold of it. And all the time, in his consciousness, was the knowledge that each instant his feet were freezing. This thought tended to put him in a panic, but he fought against it and kept calm. He pulled on his mittens with his teeth, and threshed his arms back and forth, beating his hands with all his might against his sides. He did this sitting down, and he stood up to do it; and all the while the dog sat in the snow, its wolf-brush of a tail curled around warmly over its forefeet, its sharp wolf-ears pricked forward intently as it watched the man. And the man as he beat and threshed with his arms and hands, felt a great surge of envy as he regarded the creature that was warm and secure in its natural covering.
After a time he was aware of the first far-away signals of sensation in his beaten fingers. The faint tingling grew stronger till it evolved into a stinging ache that was excruciating, but which the man hailed with satisfaction. He stripped the mitten from his right hand and fetched forth the birch-bark. The exposed fingers were quickly going numb again. Next he brought out his bunch of sulphur matches. But the tremendous cold had already driven the life out of his fingers. In his effort to separate one match from the others, the whole bunch fell in the snow. He tried to pick it out of the snow, but failed. The dead fingers could neither touch nor clutch. He was very careful. He drove the thought of his freezing feet; and nose, and cheeks, out of his mind, devoting his whole soul to the matches. He watched, using the sense of vision in place of that of touch, and when he saw his fingers on each side the bunch, he closed them--that is, he willed to close them, for the wires were drawn, and the fingers did not obey. He pulled the mitten on the right hand, and beat it fiercely against his knee. Then, with both mittened hands, he scooped the bunch of matches, along with much snow, into his lap. (from "To Build a Fire" by Jack London)
[Background: Nagaina is a cobra, and Rikki-Tikki is a mongoose.] Nagaina gathered herself together and flung out at him. Rikki-tikki jumped up and backward. Again and again and again she struck, and each time her head came with a whack on the matting of the veranda and she gathered herself together like a watch spring.
Then Rikki-tikki danced in a circle to get behind her, and Nagaina spun round to keep her head to his head, so that the rustle of her tail on the matting sounded like dry leaves blown along by the wind. He had forgotten the egg. It still lay on the veranda, and Nagaina came nearer and nearer to it, till at last, while Rikki-tikki was drawing breath, she caught it in her mouth, turned to the veranda steps, and flew like an arrow down the path, with Rikki-tikki behind her. When the cobra runs for her life, she goes like a whip-lash flicked across a horse's neck. Rikki-tikki knew that he must catch her, or all the trouble would begin again. She headed straight for the long grass by the thorn-bush, and as he was running Rikki-tikki heard Darzee still singing his foolish little song of triumph. But Darzee's wife was wiser. She flew off her nest as Nagaina came along, and flapped her wings about Nagaina's head. If Darzee had helped they might have turned her, but Nagaina only lowered her hood and went on. Still, the instant's delay brought Rikki-tikki up to her, and as she plunged into the rat-hole where she and Nag used to live, his little white teeth were clenched on her tail, and he went down with her--and very few mongooses, however wise and old they may be, care to follow a cobra into its hole. It was dark in the hole; and Rikki-tikki never knew when it might open out and give Nagaina room to turn and strike at him. He held on savagely, and stuck out his feet to act as brakes on the dark slope of the hot, moist earth. (From "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling)
07.04.01 Good writing techniques - magnified moment quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the information in lesson 07.04.
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73% to pass.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.05 Writing a short essay (LA 9)
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Introduce a topic; organize complex ideas, concepts, and information to make important connections and distinctions. Develop the topic with well-chosen, relevant, and sufficient facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience’s knowledge of the topic. Use appropriate and varied transitions to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships among complex ideas and concepts. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented (e.g., articulating implications or the significance of the topic).
In this set of assignments, you will write a short essay and practice using figurative language and the "magnify the moment" technique. You will follow the steps of the writing process from pre-writing through editing.
It seems to be human nature to think of the world as consisting of "us" and "them". We have many ways of doing this, in real life and in our imagination: humans and animals; friends and enemies; family members vs. those from outside our family; Americans and non-Americans; our race and other races; vampires and werewolves; various cultures... etc.
When "our" group is in charge, we often give ourselves rights or privileges denied to the other group. Regardless of whether "our" group is in power, we often imagine ourselves to be somehow better, nicer, smarter, cooler - superior - to others. It is easy to think of examples where this tendency has led to horrific consequences. However, for this assignment, you are going to be looking at how this way of thinking operates in your own life.
Think about the different groups of people you know so far in your life. Which groups are you part of ("us")? Which groups seem separate ("them")? Continue to the specific assignment instructions below.
07.05.01 Short essay pre-writing and first draft (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 30 minutes
This assignment has two parts: the pre-writing exercise, and the written draft. Please turn in both parts (the pre-writing lists and the first draft) together.
If you prefer to hand-write as you work, do that, and then type a copy to submit. Remember to create your assignment in a word processor, and save it to your computer, before pasting it into the assignment submission window or uploading your file.
A. Prewriting
1. Briefly name and describe at least eight groups of people (or ways of classifying people) in the area you live. You interact with people in different places: your home, your neighborhood, your school, maybe your church or sport or job. In each of those situations, you see different groups of people. Identify as many as you can! (5 points)
2. For the groups you identified in question 1, put them into three categories: (5 points)
Which groups do you definitely feel part of?
Which groups do you feel you are sort of on the fringe of - like you are partly or almost a member?
Which groups do you feel you are definitely NOT part of? why is this?
B. Draft
Then write a page (at least 200 words) that shows the reader you interacting with your own group, and with another group. Be SPECIFIC and CONCRETE. Somewhere in your essay, use the two techniques 'figurative language' and 'magnify the moment'. *Star the places where you use figurative language and magnified moment.
You might include dialogue, but be sure to include your actions and thoughts, showing the reader the differences in how you act with the two groups of people involved. (10 points)
This draft will be scored mainly on ideas and organization, but I may comment on other aspects to help you with revision and editing.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
07.05.02 Short essay, revised and edited (LA 9)
teacher-scored 28 points possible 30 minutes
Read over your teacher's feedback on the draft you submitted earlier of your essay before you finish and submit this assignment.
Again, this assignment has several parts:
A. Copy and paste in the first version of your short essay that you turned in earlier, without making any changes. Then, below that copy, paste in a second copy to use as you revise.
B. Revise the second copy of your essay.
Look especially at ideas, organization, and sentence structure.
Does it need more (or more specific/concrete) details? Do the details and ideas work together well, or should you delete some and choose different details to help the reader understand what you mean?
Does it need an introduction or conclusion? Are things in a logical order?
Are sentences clear? Do they flow smoothly if you read them out loud? Did you use different lengths and structures for your sentences?
Is there an example of figurative language? Did you "magnify the moment" for one section?
Make those changes (as needed) in the second copy.
This draft will be scored on ideas, organization, voice, word choice and sentence fluency.
The most common problem students have with revision is replacing general, abstract language with concrete, specific details or examples. Here is an example of "before" and "after" revision that might help you:
Before: too general and abstract:
With my partner, I am part of the debate squad at my high school. We spend a lot of time together preparing for competitions, and even sit beside each other in classes we both take.
After revision: more specific and concrete, magnifying the moment with actions:
I sit beside my debate partner Phil a lot: when we are in class together, when we are organizing our cases, and when we are in competition. We often have our heads together, speaking softly so others don't overhear our plans, but by now, halfway through the year, we know each other's ways of thinking so well that often a glance or brief gesture is enough. If he begins to get annoyed, I rest my hand on his leg for a minute to say, "Relax, it's not a problem." If I'm anxious about making a mistake, he flashes me that hint of a smile that means, "You're doing great." When we walk into a room to start a round in a tournament and write our names on the board for the judge, we both love to watch our opponents' looks of alarm as they realize who they are competing against.
C. Copy your revised essay and paste it in below the revision. You will use this (third) copy to edit your essay.
Now it's time to look at conventions. In this third copy of your writing, look for spelling, punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing, grammar, incomplete or run-on sentence errors, and fix them. This draft will be scored only on these conventions.
D. Answer the following questions:
1. What was most difficult for you about this assignment?
2. How did you deal with those difficulties?
3. How did you work on improving from your first draft as you revised and edited? (What processes did you use?)
4. What do you think could have helped you more?
When you submit this assignment, copy and paste all three versions of your essay, and the question answers, into the submission window.
Rubric for scoring revised, edited essay:
Ideas
4: This paper is clear and focused. It holds the reader's attention. At least eight relevant, specific concrete details and examples help the reader imagine the two groups of people, and work together to create a cohesive effect and "magnify the moment"
3: The writer is beginning to define the topic, even though development is still basic or general. At least three specific concrete details or examples give the reader clues about the groups, but some information is too general or abstract.
1: As yet, the paper creates no clear picture of the two groups. Information is general, abstract, or missing.
Organization
4: The organization enhances and showcases the central idea or theme. The order, structure, or presentation of information is compelling and moves the reader through the text. There is an identifiable introduction and conclusion.
3: The organizational structure is strong enough to move the reader through the text without too much confusion.
1: The writing lacks a clear sense of direction. Ideas, details, or events seem strung together in a loose or random fashion; there is no identifiable internal structure.
Voice
4: The writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is individual, compelling, and engaging. The reader gets a clear sense of the writer's personality.
3: The writer seems sincere but not fully engaged or involved. The result is pleasant or even personable, but not compelling.
1: The writer seems indifferent, uninvolved, or distanced from the topic and/or the audience.
Word choice
4: Words and vocabulary are the best ones for the job, and used accurately. There is at least one example of figurative language. Nouns are specific and concrete; verbs are active and vivid.
3: Fairly good use of words, but some word choices are weak or incorrectly used.
1: Too vague, abstract or generic; needs attention to connotation or even denotation.
Conventions
4: The writing demonstrates correct use of all writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing, grammar, sentence structure, etc)
3: The writing demonstrates correct use of most writing conventions, but has a number of errors that distract the reader.
1: The writing contains many errors in conventions, making it difficult to read.
Improvements of revision
4: The writing demonstrates significant improvements in content, organization, sentence structure and/or word choice, incorporating the teacher's suggestions and going beyond.
3: The writing demonstrates improvements in content, organization, and/or word choice, incorporating the teacher's suggestions.
1: Minimal changes or improvements over first draft.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 1 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.00 Unit 8: Reading skills (LA 9)
W.H. Drake illustration for "Rikki Tikki Tavi", 1895: WC, public domain
Unit 2: Reading skills
In this unit you will work primarily on reading skills, as outlined in the Utah State Core Curriculum for ninth grade English/Language Arts. Topics in this unit will help you practice and improve your reading comprehension. There will be several short assignments and quizzes, and one major reading assignment. You should expect this unit to take you anywhere from about two to twelve hours, depending on how much you already know, how fast you read, and how much you need to review.
"Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul."
– Joyce Carol Oates
08.01 Becoming Good Readers (LA 9)
By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, and literary nonfiction, in the grades 9–10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.
Young readers: US government image, public domain
"There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book we read becomes luminous with manifold allusion." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Once upon a time (and I hope this was quite a long time ago, relative to your age), you were a beginner reader. You had to learn the very basics of how letters of our alphabet stand for sounds, and groups of letters stand for words. [Even before that, when you were so young you can't remember it, you were a beginner listener and talker, learning that the patterns in sounds you hear--or the signs you see, if you are not hearing--mean things.] As a beginner reader, you had to memorize or sound out each single word, and you often had a hard time making sense out of a sentence. Before long, though, you could read and understand most sentences, and most likely reading has now become an automatic skill--you do it without thinking about HOW you do it.
"To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."
– Victor Hugo
We're going to take a few minutes now to think about how we read, and identify some skills that really good readers use. If you already have these skills, great! Whether or not you have been doing these things all along, being aware of how to use these strategies can improve your reading.
Before You Read Note: of course, this means before the first time you begin reading at the beginning of a new piece, but it can also apply to intermediate points in your reading - before you read the next paragraph, chapter, stanza, etc. Before you begin reading, you can already begin preparing to read well! I don't mean by choosing a quiet, well-lit, and/or comfortable spot to read in, although those factors certainly can help. I mean prepare yourself mentally:
Know the purpose for your reading. Finishing a novel to find out how it ends is different from reading a chapter in a science book to prepare for a test or reading a poem your best friend wants to hear your reaction to.
Look over the title, author, and any pictures or subtitles for clues about the subject matter.
Activate your prior knowledge. What do you already know about the subject matter or related topics?
While You're Reading
Read quickly enough that you don't lose the train of meaning. Don't get so stuck on some difficult point that you forget the main point. Don't move your lips or sub-vocalize ("say" each word to yourself) as you read silently--it will slow you down.
"See" what you're reading about. Make a mental movie of what you are reading. Imagine what things in the reading look, sound, smell, taste or feel like.
Draw connections and make comparisons between what you are reading and past experiences:
text to self: relate what you are reading to personal experiences and memories
text to text: relate what you are reading to other things you've already read, or to movies or TV shows you've seen
text to world: relate what you are reading to things you know about the world even if you haven't personally experienced them
Make predictions about what you expect to happen next, or what point you think the author is trying to make. As you read on, notice whether what you are reading supports your predictions, and if not, modify them.
Check your understanding. Try to keep a mental running summary of what you read. If you're not sure you understand, try one or more of these strategies to help:
Re-read the sentence or paragraph to see whether you just missed or misread something
Continue to read just a little longer to see whether the next paragraph or page clears up the problem.
If there is a word you don't know, try to figure it out using context, word structure or grammatical clues. If you still can't understand the word, either look it up, or make a note to look it up later.
Notice your questions about what is going on in the reading, and why the author wrote what or how s/he did.
Evaluate what you read. Does it make sense? Does it fit with what you already know or believe? If not, why not?
After You Read (Again, this may be after you have completely finished reading, or it may be when you have finished reading a section or chapter.)
Review, mentally, what you read. If you will be tested over the material, take this a step further, and write down what you remember, looking back over the reading as needed for details you forgot.
Discuss what you read with someone else, or write in a blog or journal about it.
Evaluate, again. Did you like it? Was it well-written? Was it convincing? Why or why not? How does it compare to other things you've read? What did the author do well, and what could have been better?
Two Aspects of Reading: Speed and Comprehension
When people talk about becoming better readers, they usually mean two things: reading faster, and understanding harder material.
If you want to learn to read faster, you should spend some time re-reading books you have read before. Being familiar with the story and main ideas will help you speed up. Also, double-check to make sure you aren't moving your lips or silently "saying" each word individually to yourself as you read - that will slow you down.
If you want to learn to understand harder material, you should read fairly short passages of more difficult pieces. Keep them short enough so that you don't get totally lost or frustrated, but hard enough to be challenging. (Some of the readings for this class are chosen with this in mind.)
08.01.01 Diction, connotation, style and tone (English 9)
Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning or style, and to comprehend more fully when reading or listening. Analyze nuances in the meanings of words with similar denotations. Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking and listening at the college and career-readiness level
Thomas Jefferson: Rembrandt Peale, 1800, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Diction
Do you recognize this passage?
"When things get so balled up that the people of a country got to cut loose from some other country, and go it on their own hook, without asking no permission from nobody, excepting maybe God Almighty, then they ought to let everybody know why they done it, so that everybody can see they are not trying to put nothing over on nobody." (H.L. Mencken)
It's the beginning of the Declaration of Independence, in different words--that is, using different diction. Here is the original diction:
"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." (Thomas Jefferson)
Both versions mean roughly the same thing, but the effect is very different. The style of the first is (very) informal; the style of the second, formal.
Diction is closely allied with word choice. Like it or not, people will judge you by your diction, both spoken and written. If you always spoke in long formal sentences and used lots of multi-syllable words, most teenagers would probably think you were strange, and maybe stuck-up. Likewise, if you write using lots of slang, text-messaging abbreviations, and non-standard grammar, many adults (including potential employers, bosses and teachers) will probably think you are uneducated, and maybe even stupid.
Beyond that, making your ideas clear to other people requires that you choose your words carefully. The more precisely you use language, the greater chance there is that people will understand exactly what you mean.
Denotation
Denotation is what a word means--its dictionary definition(s). If words are listed as synonyms, they may have very similar denotations--but be careful, because they may still have very different connotations! Don't make the mistake of just substituting a random synonym to avoid repetition, or to try to raise your word choice score.
Connotation
Connotation is (according to my dictionary) "an association or idea SUGGESTED by a word IN ADDITION TO its primary meaning." A word's connotation is what the word implies, beyond the basic definition. Words with similar denotations may have different nuances of meaning. An example may help you understand this better. Consider all these words which mean "a female person":
woman, lady, girl, chick, babe, fox, gal, hag, granny, mother, mommy, hoochie, b***ch, girlfriend, honey, maid, lass, virgin, dowager, widow, nanny, teeny-bopper, governess, aunt, wife, mistress, old lady, valley girl, coed, princess, mammy, nun, witch, sorceress, siren, temptress, debutante, nursemaid....
... you can probably think of more. Now, the words on the list don't have EXACTLY the same denotations, but even if you put them into smaller groups with very similar denotations, the implications differ widely.
Some of these words have mostly positive connotations; some, mostly negative. "Woman" is probably the most nearly neutral.
Some of these words seem old-fashioned, and might imply that either the person using the word, or the person being named, was older. Some are in current use as slang, and imply youth, and a certain subculture.
Some of the words imply good looks, or the opposite. Some hint at the person's intelligence, character, relationships or social standing. Be careful about the connotations of the words you use. Connotations can make a sentence mean far more--or less.
Style and Tone
A writer's diction has a strong influence on three characteristics of his/her writing: voice, style and tone. Voice, you may remember from unit 7, has to do with the sense of the writer's personality coming through in the writing. Tone has to do with the attitude or mood of the piece. Style is a general term describing HOW the writer says what s/he says.
Tone
You might think of "tone" as describing the mood or feeling of the writing - is it spooky? suspenseful? peaceful? ironic? sarcastic? matter-of-fact? detached? humorous? respectful? condescending? didactic? One good definition of tone is that it is the writer's attitude toward the subject.
Style
Style is how the writer uses words, sentence structure, figurative language and organization. Style should be appropriate to the intended audience of the writing. One simple way of categorizing style is as formal or casual/informal. Formal is not necessarily better than casual - it just depends on the purpose of the writing. Think of how you dress differently for different occasions: old jeans and a t-shirt are better if you are doing yard work, but not if you are taking a date to an expensive restaurant and the prom.
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details:
Harriet Ann Jacobs as an older woman (1894): Public domain, WC
Themes, Literary and Otherwise
The word "theme" has many uses and meanings. In music, the theme is the main, basic melody, which is often repeated with slight variations throughout a song or longer piece of music. When your grandparents or great-grandparents went to school, the word "theme" meant what we would now usually call an essay: a written composition. In general use, 'theme' means the main subject or focus of an event, book, or movie; or a repeated idea: a 'motif'. For example, we might say that we are having a party with a pirate theme, a dance with a Halloween theme, or a conference on the theme of preventing child abuse.
However, in studying literature (and throughout this class), we will be using the literary definition of 'theme': a repeated, unifying idea that underlies a work of literature, stated in a complete sentence. [I hope you either groaned or rolled your eyes when you read that because if not, you probably weren't really paying attention. That definition is abstract and general, about as useful to most of us as a spare tire with no lug wrench or jack--but we're about to make it more concrete and specific.]
In Search of the Literary Theme: Guidelines
The theme is usually implied rather than stated. For most works of literature, you will need to use inference to determine themes. [Inference - 'reading between the lines'; using information in the text to figure out things the author didn't come right out and tell you] There are some exceptions. Aesop's fables end with a 'moral' that tells you the theme of the story. The poet John Keats was kind enough to put the theme of his poem "Endymion" in the first line ("A thing of beauty is a joy forever"). Mostly, though, you will have to work to figure out a theme.
A work of literature may have more than one, correct theme. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that just any theme you come up with is a correct one. You must be able to find evidence in the text to support the idea you think is the theme.
A theme is usually implied by multiple events, images or symbols in the text. That is, as in music, a theme and variations on the theme are repeated in a work of literature. You should be able to find several examples of evidence for the theme in your reading.
A literary theme is stated in a complete sentence. "Love" might be the theme for your prom, but it can't be a theme for a work of literature because it is just a word, not a complete sentence. "True love conquers all" could be a theme. "Love can be fatal," "Love is stronger than hate," "True love wants what is best for the loved one," or "Falling in love makes fools out of everyone" could be themes.
A theme is a generalized idea, not specific to a particular story or situation. "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind," by William Shakespeare is showing the theme that love is blind. "Harry Potter values his friends more than his life" is not a theme because it is specific to the Harry Potter books/movies.
Finding Evidence for a Theme
Let's look at a short excerpt from a book, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet A Jacobs:
I had one brother, William, who was two years younger than myself—a bright, affectionate child. I had also a great treasure in my maternal grandmother, who was a remarkable woman in many respects. She was the daughter of a planter in South Carolina, who, at his death, left her mother and his three children free, with money to go to St. Augustine, where they had relatives. It was during the Revolutionary War; and they were captured on their passage, carried back, and sold to different purchasers. Such was the story my grandmother used to tell me; but I do not remember all the particulars.
She was a little girl when she was captured and sold to the keeper of a large hotel. I have often heard her tell how hard she fared during childhood. But as she grew older she evinced so much intelligence, and was so faithful, that her master and mistress could not help seeing it was for their interest to take care of such a valuable piece of property. She became an indispensable personage in the household, officiating in all capacities, from cook and wet nurse to seamstress. She was much praised for her cooking; and her nice crackers became so famous in the neighborhood that many people were desirous of obtaining them. In consequence of numerous requests of this kind, she asked permission of her mistress to bake crackers at night, after all the household work was done; and she obtained leave to do it, provided she would clothe herself and her children from the profits. Upon these terms, after working hard all day for her mistress, she began her midnight bakings, assisted by her two oldest children. The business proved profitable; and each year she laid by a little, which was saved for a fund to purchase her children.
Her master died, and the property was divided among his heirs. The widow had her dower in the hotel, which she continued to keep open. My grandmother remained in her service as a slave; but her children were divided among her master's children. As she had five, Benjamin, the youngest one, was sold, in order that each heir might have an equal portion of dollars and cents. There was so little difference in our ages that he seemed more like my brother than my uncle. He was a bright, handsome lad, nearly white; for he inherited the complexion my grandmother had derived from Anglo-Saxon ancestors. Though only ten years old, seven hundred and twenty dollars were paid for him. His sale was a terrible blow to my grandmother; but she was naturally hopeful, and she went to work with renewed energy, trusting in time to be able to purchase some of her children. She had laid up three hundred dollars, which her mistress one day begged as a loan, promising to pay her soon. The reader probably knows that no promise or writing given to a slave is legally binding; for, according to Southern laws, a slave, being property, can hold no property. When my grandmother lent her hard earnings to her mistress, she trusted solely to her honor. The honor of a slaveholder to a slave!
To this good grandmother I was indebted for many comforts....
It was her labor that supplied my scanty wardrobe. I have a vivid recollection of the linsey-woolsey dress given me every winter by Mrs. Flint. How I hated it! It was one of the badges of slavery.
While my grandmother was thus helping to support me from her hard earnings, the three hundred dollars she had lent her mistress were never repaid. When her mistress died, her son-in-law, Dr. Flint, was appointed executor. When grandmother applied to him for payment, he said the estate was insolvent, and the law prohibited payment. It did not, however, prohibit him from retaining the silver candelabra, which had been purchased with that money. I presume they will be handed down in the family, from generation to generation.
My grandmother's mistress had always promised her that, at her death, she should be free; and it was said that in her will she made good the promise. But when the estate was settled, Dr. Flint told the faithful old servant that, under existing circumstances, it was necessary she should be sold.
On the appointed day, the customary advertisement was posted up, proclaiming that there would be "a public sale of negroes, horses, &c." Dr. Flint called to tell my grandmother that he was unwilling to wound her feelings by putting her up at auction, and that he would prefer to dispose of her at private sale. My grandmother saw through his hypocrisy; she understood very well that he was ashamed of the job. She was a very spirited woman, and if he was base enough to sell her, when her mistress intended she should be free, she was determined the public should know it. She had for a long time supplied many families with crackers and preserves; consequently, "Aunt Marthy," as she was called, was generally known, and every body who knew her respected her intelligence and good character. Her long and faithful service in the family was also well known, and the intention of her mistress to leave her free. When the day of sale came, she took her place among the chattels, and at the first call she sprang upon the auction-block. Many voices called out, "Shame! Shame! Who is going to sell you, aunt Marthy? Don't stand there! That is no place for you." Without saying a word, she quietly awaited her fate. No one bid for her.
At last, a feeble voice said, "Fifty dollars." It came from a maiden lady, seventy years old, the sister of my grandmother's deceased mistress. She had lived forty years under the same roof with my grandmother; she knew how faithfully she had served her owners, and how cruelly she had been defrauded of her rights; and she resolved to protect her. The auctioneer waited for a higher bid; but her wishes were respected; no one bid above her. She could neither read nor write; and when the bill of sale was made out, she signed it with a cross. But what consequence was that, when she had a big heart overflowing with human kindness? She gave the old servant her freedom.
OK--what is the theme? To figure that out, I look for main ideas and repeated details while I read. The first time I read through it, I noticed the overall sense of determination, and the contrast between Harriet's grandmother and Dr. Flint, between her integrity and his lack of it. However, "determination" or "integrity" can't be the theme because neither of these is a complete sentence.
I read back through it again. "Free" and "slave" are repeated many times, but again, that can't be the theme because it is just a single word. There are also other contrasts-- the difference between kindness and cruelty, between the rights of slave-holders and the lack of rights of slaves, between what would have been justice and what actually happened.
A main idea from the excerpt is "Harriet's grandmother was a remarkable woman." However, that can't be a theme because it is specific to this particular story, not a generalized statement. How about this? "It takes both determination and luck to transcend one's circumstances." It's a complete sentence; it is a generalized statement. Can I support it with evidence from the text? Yes, there are multiple quotes I could use from the excerpt to support this statement.
Is it the only theme I could draw from this excerpt? No. I could find plenty of evidence in the text for "Slavery dehumanizes both the slave and the slave-holder" as well as "Character is more important than education." We could also support "People can take a stand, even in a small way, against injustice" with the reactions of the people at the auction.
Throughout this English 9 class, you will be reading for themes and main ideas, and looking for textual evidence to support your conclusions. In your writing, you will work on including evidence, in the form of specific details and examples, to create a theme or support a main idea.
Read the following selections.
(available online at the links below, or attached as a PDF; note that the PDF version of the Emerson excerpt contains only what you need to read; if you use the online version, scroll down to just below "(*) Landor: Pericles and Aspasia", and read from there to the end).
Look for clues to the themes of these works.
"Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes
"High Horse's Courting" from Black Elk Speaks by John G Neihardt
from "Behavior", from The Conduct of Life by Ralph Waldo Emerson (the essay excerpt, not the poem - if possible, use the PDF attachment version of this, at the top of the lesson)
"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
The following quiz and assignments will refer to these readings.
"High Horse's Courting"
08.02.01 Questions on readings (LA 9)
teacher-scored 36 points possible 30 minutes
Camp Scene (Sioux): Alfred Jacob Miller, WC, public domain
Answer the following questions about the three readings. Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work using the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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A. "Mother to Son" by Hughes
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about the kind of advice parents give their children?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this story remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer. If you don't immediately see an obvious connection, think about the themes and how they might apply to your life or other stories.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene from the poem.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the poem?
Theme: What theme can you find in the poem (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
B. "High Horse's Courting" by John G Neihardt
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about native Americans, or about how parents treat boys who want to marry their daughters?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this story remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene from the story.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the story?
Theme: What theme can you find in the story (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
C. from "Behavior", from The Conduct of Life, by Emerson (the essay, not the poem)
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about manners and behavior?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this essay remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene or item from the essay.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the essay?
Theme: What theme can you find in the essay (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
D. "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight"
Prior knowledge: What did you already know about knights or stories about King Arthur?
Making connections: What personal experiences or other books/movies did this story remind you of, and why? [Note: I will not accept "none" as an answer.]
Seeing images: Describe the way you pictured one scene or item from the story.
Motifs: What actions, symbols or ideas were repeated in the story?
Theme: What theme can you find in the story (remember it should be a general statement about life, in a complete sentence)? What evidence supports this theme? (use direct quotes)
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.02.02 Reading, theme and evidence quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the information in lesson 08.01, 08.02, and the three readings ("Mother and Son", "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight", "High Horse's Courting" and "Behavior" ).
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 70% to pass.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.03 "Reading" the movies (LA 9)
Reading: Literature Standard 1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Reading: Literature Standard 2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Crew members with dolly filming The Alamo (2004): Sean Devine, CC-BY-SA-3.0, WC
Films - movies, videos, DVDs, documentaries, TV shows, YouTube, commercials - are a huge part of our culture.
Most people today spend far more time watching films than reading books.
You may not have given much thought to how all this footage is created, but film-making is an art form, and film production is big business. Someone must come up with the concept for a new movie or show; someone must write the script; someone must decide where to place and focus the camera, and which shots to use in the finished film - just to name a few of the jobs involved. In this lesson, we will be looking at a few of the techniques and terms involved in creating a film.
Audio: the sound in a film
Cut: the end of a shot or take
Dolly shot (also called tracking shot): a shot in which the camera is moving along with the subject (for instance, the subject may be a cowboy galloping along on a horse, and the camera may be filming from a truck that is driving beside the horse).
Fade: a transition in which the shot goes from normal lighting into black (a fade out); or from black to normal lighting (a fade in).
High-angle shot: a shot with the camera looking down on the subject; opposite of a low-angle shot, when the camera is looking up at the subject.
Jump cut: a sudden transition between two shots that may surprise or confuse the viewer, or may move to a different time or place.
Match cut: a transition between two shots such that something at the beginning of the second shot "matches" something at the end of the first shot. This may be as obvious as a cut from a shot of a painting of a sunset to a shot of an actual sunset, or as subtle as a color, shape, action or idea that is part of both shots. Match cuts are any cuts that emphasizes spatio-temporal continuity and it is the basis for continuity editing. ... It is a cut within a scene that makes sense spatially. This can be between two different objects, two different spaces, or two different compositions in which an object in two shots graphically match.
Montage: a series of very short shots put together in a sequence.
Motif: like in other literature, a motif is a repeated word, phrase, image or idea related to a theme in the work.
Pan (panorama shot): a shot in which the camera rotates to the right or left (horizontally) to take in different parts of the surrounding area.
Rack focus: changing the focus of the camera to blur everything except one part of the picture, forcing the viewer to look at that one thing.
Scene: a shot or series of shots that work together to make one part of the story (sort of like a short chapter in a book).
Shot: the basic building block of a movie: a single continuous take from the time the camera is turned on to the time it is turned back off, with no interruptions.
Voice-over: narration spoken by someone off-screen (not one of the actors in the scene)
Wide-angle shot: a "long shot" in which a wide-angle lens keeps a large area all visible and in focus; you might think of this as the opposite of a close-up shot.
Zoom shot: zooming in means going from wide-angle to close-up, making the person or thing appear larger and closer (and fill up more of the screen); zooming out means going from close-up to wide-angle, making the person or thing appear smaller and farther away, showing more of the surrounding area.
How a film-maker uses these techniques can better tell a story, help us understand a topic, or persuade us to think or feel differently about the subject. In the next quiz, you will look for uses of some of these techniques in films or commercials you watch.
Begin by viewing at least the top five (required) links below to see some examples of the techniques.
Required: Match cuts - basic example
Watch at least the "required" links - the others are supplemental.
08.03.01 "Reading" the movies quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 25 minutes
This quiz covers the material from the lesson and viewings in lesson 08.03. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73%. You will need to be able to access YouTube to work on this quiz, so if it is blocked where you usually work on this class, you may need to find alternate internet access.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
08.04 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text; determine a theme; analyze how complex characters develop, interact, and advance the plot or theme.
Mockingbird in North Carolina: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, author released into public domain
For the rest of this class (second quarter), you will need a copy of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Before you begin, watch the title sequence of the 1962 movie (link below). Begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird. We will be looking at one section at a time in the lessons and assignments in unit 10. You might want to check the questions in assignment 10.03.01 now so that you can answer them as you read - or you can read straight through, and answer the questions later.
The questions and quizzes for To Kill a Mockingbird aren't due until unit 10, but I suggest you begin reading it now.
08.04 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Click the play arrow, or "Watch QuickTime 480p" near the top of the page to see the opening screens of the movie
Buy or borrow a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. You might be able to get started by looking at one of these on line.
09.00 Unit 9: Language skills (LA 9)
Copy readers in NY Times newspaper newsroom, 1942: WMC, US govt image, public domain
Unit 3: Language skills and conventions
In this unit you will work primarily on language skills and conventions, as outlined in the Utah State Core Curriculum for ninth grade English. Topics in this unit include punctuation (especially commas, semicolons and colons), frequently misspelled words, parts of speech, sentence structure, clauses and phrases. You should expect the work in this unit to take you roughly two to four hours of concentrated effort. There will be several short assignments and quizzes.
09.01 History of the English Language (LA 9)
Understand the complex history of the English language
The History of English
Why is spelling so difficult in English? One important reason is that our language is really an amalgam of several languages.
We open our mouths and out flow words whose ancestries we do not even know. We are walking lexicons. In a single sentence of idle chatter we preserve Latin, Anglo-Saxon, Norse: we carry a museum inside our heads, each day we commemorate peoples of whom we have never heard. -Penelope Lively, writer (b. 17 Mar 1933)
Indo-European
Many years ago (we're talking pre-history: thousands of years ago), a group of people lived in what is now central southeast Europe. Over a long period of time these people (whom scientists now call the Indo-Europeans) migrated both east, as far as India, and west, through Europe as far as what we now call England. Naturally they took their language with them. Most languages spoken today in Europe are descended from that ancient language. Therefore English (along with French, German, Latin, Sanskrit and many others) can be classified as an Indo-European language. Some examples of languages NOT in the Indo-European group include Finnish, Hungarian, and Chinese.
Invasions and Conquerors
William the Conqueror: Wikimedia Commons, unknown author, public domain
Once upon a time, not quite so long ago as the early Indo-European migration, but still thousands of years ago, most of the people living in England were what we now call Celts (their descendants include the Welsh and Irish). They were called the Britons. Their languages were part of the Indo-European group of languages, but split off from the others quite long ago, and therefore look quite strange to us. We don't speak Celtic today because over the past 4000 years, more or less, England was repeatedly invaded by Europeans who killed many of the Celts, and pushed the small remaining groups out of most of England.
The Romans invaded England about 2000 years ago, bringing with them their language, Latin. However, after a few generations, the Romans withdrew from England as the Roman empire collapsed. [Countries that were part of the Roman empire longer--like Spain, France and Italy--have languages descended more directly from Latin, the language of the Romans. Spanish, French and Italian are called "Romance" languages for that reason. ] Latin would eventually return to England when Christian missionaries converted the people of England--Latin was the language of the early Christian church. At that time, Latin and Greek were written with no punctuation AND no spaces between words. Perhaps this was why Old English was also written with no punctuation or spaces between words. (Here's a sample of what some might have looked like: "OnþyssumgearemanhalgodeþetmynsterætWestmynstreonCyldamæsse"... Translated, that would be "In this year the monastery at Westminster was hallowed on Childermas day....")
The earliest of the waves of invaders who stayed were Germanic peoples--the Angles & the Saxons--from northern Europe. They brought the language that developed into what we now call "Old English," which was very similar to Old German. Many of our basic, simple vocabulary words, like man, foot, mother, dog, or cow (along with many of our swear words) come from Germanic roots.
A later wave of invaders were the "Vikings" (Danes), Scandinavian people who spoke another Germanic language. For a while, England was divided into two sections: the south, where the Saxons (or Anglo-Saxons) lived and spoke Old English; and the north, where the Vikings spoke Old Norse. Eventually the two groups blended, and then they were invaded by William the Conqueror of the Normans, who spoke French.
For a couple hundred years, the kings of England spoke French as their native language! None of these languages pushed out Old English (or Middle English), but the English borrowed words from all the different languages and added them to the English vocabulary. So the word "cow" comes from old Germanic roots, but if we eat the cow, we call her meat "beef", from the French word for cow (boeuf). To us this seems perfectly normal, but in many languages there is only one word that names both the animal and its meat.
Science & Technology
As science and technology became major influences on culture & life, new words had to be invented for all the new discoveries and inventions. For centuries, Latin and Greek had been regarded as the languages of the highly educated, and used for communication between scientists of different countries. Many of the words created to describe scientific, medical and technological concepts were from Latin or Greek roots.
Pronunciation vs. Spelling
To complicate matters further, the way English is pronounced has changed a lot in the last 700 years. English vowels used to be pronounced much like other European vowels (a as in "father", e more or less like the vowel sound in "bay", i like "ee", o kind of between our current short & long o, and u like "oo" in "boo"). Letters that are now silent in words used to be pronounced. A common example of this is the word "knee". A few hundred years ago, people would have said it something like k-NAY-a.
Also a few hundred years ago, most people were either illiterate, or just barely knew how to read and write. People just spelled words like they sounded. There weren't any dictionaries, so there wasn't a "right" way to spell words. Then one of the kings decided that spelling should be standardized (everyone should spell words the same way). In the time since then, we have kept on using the same spelling even when some of the words aren't pronounced the same way as they used to be.
Today
How does all this affect us? Obviously it makes spelling and reading harder to learn. There is a bright side, though: we have one of the richest and most varied vocabularies in the world, with a wide choice of near-synonyms to help express exactly what we mean. Our language continues to change. A hundred years ago, there was no 'video' or 'pickup truck' or 'laser'. "Rap" had nothing to do with music, and "gay" was a synonym for 'happy'. In your lifetime, English will invent more new words to name new ideas, give old words new meanings, and borrow more words from other languages.
Required: Brief history of the English language
http://www.youtube.com/embed/H3r9bOkYW9s?wmode=transparent&r...
English: Word Origins, 941 To open this resource in SAS® Curriculum Pathways®: Go to: http://www.sascurriculumpathways.com/login Enter the student user name: farm9the In the Quick Launch box, enter: 941 Do "Prepare" and "Identify" (follow the on-screen directions to see all the pages and play the video).
09.01.01 Quiz on the history of the English language (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Take the quiz on the history of English (link on the main class page). You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
09.01.02 Researching your name (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 30 minutes
Research on Your Name
You may think of research as just something you do in books or on the internet, but some research involves talking to real, live people. Whenever you get information directly from a person who has personal experience with the events or people, OR from a document or recording (like a diary, journal, editorial, news story, interview) written/spoken by such a person, you are using a "primary source". For this assignment, you will be using family members, if available, as primary sources.
Also use the links below to research the meanings and popularity of your first & middle names.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work using the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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USMC photo, public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Turn in answers (written in complete sentences) to the following questions, and note where you got your answers:
1. Ask family members how or why they chose your first and middle names. Write your answer to this question using at least one complex sentence. Have there been other people in your family, or friends of the family, who had either name? How are they related to you, and when did they live? What other names did they consider? Who was/were your source(s) for this information?
2. Using the internet or naming dictionary, find out: what your first and middle names mean what language or culture your first, middle and last names come from What sources did you use to find these answers? (Give book title, or internet site url's.)
3. Check the lists of the most popular baby names on the SSA website (link below) to see how your first and middle names rank. (If your exact name does not show up, look for similar names.)
(a) Where do your first & middle name fall on the list for the most recent year listed? (Like, are they 10th most popular, 549th, or what?)
(b) Where were they the year you were born?
(c) Where do they appear in a year before 1960?
4. Do you have nicknames? What are they, and how did you get them?
5. Try to find at least three famous real people who share your first, middle and/or last name. Write a sentence that includes all three. Then put your whole name, in quotes, into a Google search. Does it find anything about you? If so, what?
6. What do you like or not like about your name?
7. Try to find at least one movie, TV, game, or book character who shares your name (any of your names).
8. (Yes, I know this may be a long time in the future, but humor me and think about it for a few minutes now.) If you have children, what names do you think you might like for a girl? for a boy? Why?
9. Does your first name seem more formal or informal?
10. What kind of person do you think people would usually expect when they hear your first name? (Not what they think about YOU, but what they might imagine if they just heard the name.) Does it suggest a certain age, ethnic group, or personality traits?
11. Let's say you have to change your identity (maybe you are going into the witness protection program). You have to choose a new first, middle and last name. What name would you choose, and why? What kind of person does that name suggest?
12. What new information did you learn doing this assignment?
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
SSA Popularity of names by year or state
http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/bl_meaning.htm
09.02 Greek and Latin roots (LA 9)
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grades 9–10 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. Identify and correctly use patterns of word changes that indicate different meanings or parts of speech.
A pair of Magdeburg hemispheres from 1870s: Adolphe Ganot, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Greek and Latin prefixes, roots and suffixes common in English
Many of our English words, especially in the fields of science and medicine, come from Greek or Latin. Some of the words got into our vocabulary 'by accident,' as people adopted and adapted from various languages. Some of them were deliberately constructed, created, by scientists and writers who needed to name a new concept or thing. If you know the meanings of some of the common prefixes, roots and suffixes, you can figure out what some unfamiliar words might mean.
Study the charts below before you do the quizzes on this material. Remember you can print out the lessons so you can refer to them as you work on the quizzes.
Prefix
09.02.01 Greek and Latin roots quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Take the quiz on Greek and Latin roots. Go to the class main page, and to Topic 3, to take this quiz. You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 66%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 2 of your enrollment date for this class.
09.02.02 Root word webs (LA 9)
teacher-scored 16 points possible 40 minutes
Root Word Webs
Choose TWO of the following Greek or Latin roots or prefixes:
mem... port ...fer ...act ...scrib... fract... uni... clud ...sur
Find at least SIX modern words that contain EACH of the TWO roots (that's at least twelve words in all). Make sure the words you choose really do use the original root, and don't just happen to have the same combination of letters. (Review lesson 09.02 for help on this, or use an online dictionary with information on word origins.)
For each of the two groups of words, create a word web around the original word part.
Illustrate visually--with pictures and diagrams--how the current meaning relates to the original root meaning (see examples).
Also include a brief definition of the word that includes the meaning of the original root.
If you do this on a computer, or scan it, you can attach it here (as a .doc, .docx, .ppt, .pptx, .jpg, or .gif) or e-mail the assignment. Otherwise, mail me a copy. You don't have to use a computer--you can draw the web by hand. If you want to use the computer, a good program to use for this assignment if you have it available is Inspiration (or Kidspiration). Powerpoint or Word can work, too.
Sample root word web
You don't have to use a computer--you can draw the web by hand. If you want to use the computer, a good program to use for this assignment if you have it available is Inspiration (or Kidspiration). Powerpoint or Word can work, too. A FREE website that can help you construct your web is in the URL's.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
Freemind (graphic organizer creator)
09.03 Spelling commonly misspelled words (LA 9)
Language Standard 2 Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
Eng9205 Loose Talk poster: NARA, ca. 1944, public domaine
Why is English spelling so inconsistent and tricky? It ties back into the history of the English language.
"In spelling, the [English] language was assimilating the consequences of having a civil service of French scribes, who paid little attention to the traditions of English spelling that had developed in Anglo-Saxon times. Not only did French qu arrive, replacing Old English cw (as in queen), but ch replaced c (in words such as church--Old English cirice), sh and sch replaced sc (as in ship--Old English scip), and much more. Vowels were written in a great number of ways. Much of the irregularity of modern English spelling derives from the forcing together of Old English and French systems of spelling in the Middle Ages. People struggled to find the best way of writing English throughout the period. ... Even Caxton didn't help, at times. Some of his typesetters were Dutch, and they introduced some of their own spelling conventions into their work. That is where the gh in such words as ghost comes from.
"Any desire to standardize would also have been hindered by the ... Great English Vowel Shift, [which] took place in the early 1400s. Before the shift, a word like loud would have been pronounced 'lood'; name as 'nahm'; leaf as 'layf'; mice as 'mees'. ...
"The renewed interest in classical languages and cultures, which formed part of the ethos of the Renaissance, had introduced a new perspective into spelling: etymology. Etymology is the study of the history of words, and there was a widespread view that words should show their history in the way they were spelled. These weren't classicists showing off. There was a genuine belief that it would help people if they could 'see' the original Latin in a Latin-derived English word. So someone added a b to the word typically spelled det, dett, or dette in Middle English, because the source in Latin was debitum, and it became debt, and caught on. Similarly, an o was added to peple, because it came from populum: we find both poeple and people, before the latter became the norm. An s was added to ile and iland, because of Latin insula, so we now have island. There are many more such cases. Some people nowadays find it hard to understand why there are so many 'silent letters' of this kind in English. It is because other people thought they were helping." David Crystal, The Fight for English: How language pundits ate, shot, and left, Oxford, 2006, pp. 26-9.
Spelling
Yes, spelling can be a nuisance, but yes, it is important. Here are some general guidelines to help you become a better speller:
1) Learn some of the basic rules that work MOST of the time, for instance:
i before e except after c, or when sounded as "ay" as in neighbor or weigh
When you add a suffix to a word which ends with a single vowel followed by a single consonant, double the consonant (fit becomes fitted or fitting);
when you add a suffix that begins with a vowel to a word that ends in a silent e, drop the e and add the suffix (fade becomes fading or faded; fate becomes fated, or fateful).
For words that end in a consonant & y, change the y to i UNLESS the suffix begins with i (fry becomes frying or fries or fried).
2) Use the spell-check on your computer, but
3) Don't depend on ONLY the computer spell-check. Your computer doesn't know what word you meant to spell, only whether the words you used match a long list of possible words.
4) Ask a friend or family member who is a good speller to check your work.
5) Make a list of words you have trouble with, and work on learning one of them each day or week.
Common Words that Cause Spelling Errors (these will be on the quiz)
1) there refers to a place (here and there); they're is the contraction for "they are" (They're coming over later); their is the possessive of they, which is why the e comes before the i (Don't touch their fancy car.)
2)Two is the number 2 (I want two cookies); too may mean "also" (I want cake, too) or may add emphasis (It was too hot); to is a preposition or part of the infinitive (I want to go to the store.)
3) conscious means you know what is going on around you (you haven't been knocked out) - (He was conscious of them all staring at him); conscience is the part of your mind that tells you something is morally right or wrong. (Her conscience was bothering her because she had lied to her best friend.)
4) which is a pronoun referring to something (I couldn't decide which one to buy); witch is a woman with magical (often evil) powers. (The witch cast a spell to turn the prince into a frog.)
5) were is the past tense of "are" (They were sad); where refers to a place. (Where are we going?)
6) loose is the opposite of tight (The screw had worked loose and fallen off); lose is the verb related to lost. (I didn't want to lose my earring.)
7) all right is the only correct way to write this expression (there is no such word as "alright").
8) desert is a dry place (Cactus grow in the desert); dessert is the treat you eat after dinner. (We're having apple pie for dessert.) Note that the above two words break the usual pronunciation rule that in two syllable words, vowels followed by a single consonant are long, and vowels followed by a double consonant are short. Desert (pronounced like "dessert" with a long E in the first syllable) can also be a verb meaning to leave (I can't imagine how a mother could desert her children.)
9) everyday is always an adjective. (I wore my everyday clothes except to church.) If you mean something that happens day after day, you write every day. (I get up before noon every day.)
10) definitely means certainly (I definitely want to graduate from high school); defiantly means with defiance (The demonstrators shouted defiantly at the police.)
11) Pay attention to the difference between into and in to especially if preceded by "turned": Correct - The sorceress turned them into frogs. Possibly confusing - I turned into a parking lot. (Did you turn so as to arrive in a parking lot, or were you transformed from a human into flat asphalt?) Correct - He turned them in to the police. Incorrect: He turned them into the police. Correct - I went in to see what was going on. Correct - I was accepted into the club.
09.03.01 Spelling quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Take the spelling quiz. Go to the class main page, and to Topic 3, to take this quiz. You may take it multiple times, but you must score at least 66%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
09.04 Phrases and clauses (English 9)
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. a. Use parallel structure.* b. Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
Defining Phrases and Clauses
"The Treasure Cave", 1911 illustration: N. C. Wyeth, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Phrase: a group of words (not containing both a subject and a verb) working together as one part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb) in a sentence
Clause: a group of words that contains both a subject and a verb/predicate.
An independent clause may either be a complete sentence standing alone, or it may be part of larger sentence.
A dependent (or subordinate) clause must be part of a larger sentence that also includes an independent clause. Like a phrase, a dependent clause may function as a single part of speech (noun, adjective, adverb) in a sentence.
In this lesson we will continue our study of phrases and clauses. You may want to review "Phrases and Clauses as Sentence Parts" (link below) or information on parts of speech and parts of the sentence before you continue.
Why learn about phrases and clauses?
As a toddler, you first learned to understand and speak short, simple sentences. In the first few years of elementary school, you learned to read and write simple, relatively short sentences. By second or third grade, your writing might have sounded something like this:
Yesterday we went to the zoo. My mom drove. My best friend came. His name is Joe. We saw lots of animals. My favorite was the giraffe. Joe's favorite was the elephant. We went on the train. It was fun. We walked a lot. I got tired.
By that time, you were speaking in much longer, more complex sentences, and starting to read them, too. In the years since then, you have naturally begun to write in more complicated sentences--adding phrases and clauses--because that is what you are used to hearing and reading.
If you are gifted with language, you might continue to develop as a writer without ever knowing the technical explanations of how phrases and clauses work. In the same way, an exceptionally talented athlete might become a very good soccer player without ever having a coach, just by watching and playing.
However, most of us are not exceptional. Most of us can progress further, and learn faster, with the help of a coach who explains how to improve. That is the point of our lessons on phrases and clauses. We want to help you improve your sentences (and thereby all of your writing) by explicit instruction.
Good use of phrases and clauses can help you combine more ideas into fewer sentences, construct better transitions, and communicate the relationships between ideas more clearly.
Classifying phrases and clauses
There are many, overlapping ways to classify phrases and clauses. Think of classifying food: you could group foods by color, by nutritional value, by which meal of the day we usually eat them, by where they are produced, or by whether they are meats, fruits, vegetables, etc. A tomato could be classified in the 'red' group AND in the 'fruit' group (or, if you prefer, in the 'vegetable' group; I'm not going to get into that argument here!). The point is that we don't let it bother us that there are many ways of classifying food, and it doesn't need to bother us that phrases or clauses can also be classified various ways.
One way of classifying phrases and clauses is by function: which part of speech they are serving as in the sentence. Thus, we can have noun, verb, adverb, and adjective phrases (or clauses).
Another way is by the structure (the kinds and sequences of words). We may identify prepositional phrases, verbal phrases (of which there are three sub-types), absolute phrases, and others.
Note, though, that just like the tomato example, a particular phrase or clause may fit into more than one category. We'll get into more of the nitty-gritty of this later, but here we'll look at just one sentence as an example:
They hid the treasure in a cave. In this sentence, 'in a cave' is a prepositional phrase (by structure) AND an adverb phrase (by function--it tells WHERE the treasure was hidden).
Relative Clauses
A relative clause is a dependent (subordinate) clause that modifies a noun (so it's an adjective clause), as in this sentence:
The computer, which was over five years old, was slow. The relative clause is "which was over five years old".
When you have two separate sentences about the same thing, you can often combine them using a relative clause.
Philip bought an aquarium. The aquarium holds 55 gallons.
These may be combined like this: Philip bought an aquarium that holds 55 gallons. The relative clause is "that holds 55 gallons".
Relative clauses may be restrictive or nonrestrictive.
Restrictive (also sometimes called identifying or defining ) relative clauses do not have commas around them. A restrictive clause is one that provides necessary information to identify the person or thing begin described.
For example, let's say I have three nephews. If I then say, "I am going to visit my nephew who lives in Hawaii" the clause who lives in Hawaii is necessary to identify which of my three nephews I mean. It should NOT have commas before and after it.
Another example of a sentence containing a restrictive clause: A dog is an animal that wags its tail, barks at strangers, and sheds in your house.
Nonrestrictive (also called non-identifying or non-defining ) relative clauses DO have commas around them. A nonrestrictive clause is providing extra information, not necessary to identify the person or thing being described. Suppose I only have one niece. If I say "I am going to visit my niece, who lives in Washington," the clause who lives in Washington is not necessary to identify which niece I mean--it is extra information. It SHOULD have commas before and after it.
Another example of a sentence containing a nonrestrictive clause: My house, which is fairly small, is not expensive to heat.
Relative clauses usually start with "which" or "that" (if they are modifying things or animals), or "who" (if they are modifying people). They may also begin with "whom", "whose", "to whom", "of whom" , "where" ("in which", "at which"), "when ("in which", "on which") or "why" ("for which").
As a general rule, use "which" for nonrestrictive clauses (with commas) and "that" for restrictive clauses (without commas), if you are writing about things rather than people.
Parallel Clauses and Phrases
You may use more than one relative clause in a sentence, but if you do, check for parallelism:
Aunt Sheila wanted a pet that would be hypo-allergenic, that would always be quiet, and that would require little attention. I told her a snake would be perfect. [Three parallel restrictive clauses, italicized]
The tent, which had been old when we inherited it thirty years ago, and the sleeping bags, which could have been purchased on Antiques Road Show, were not suitable for a backpacking trip. [Two parallel non-restrictive clauses, italicized]
Remember that "parallel structure" means the two parallel elements (phrases or clauses) have similar structures and similar functions. You should be able to recognize parallel structure even if you can't necessarily identify the technical terms for the particular kind of phrase or clause involved.
This sentence from above uses three parallel phrases within a restrictive clause: A dog is an animal that wags its tail, barks at strangers, and sheds in your house.
A few more examples:
Morning is the part of the day that is after breakfast but before lunch.
I have a long way to go and a short time to get there.
Mark's sister can be either really annoying or really helpful.
Descending from the clouds, touching down on the runway, and disappearing toward the terminal, the plane was welcomed by a crowd of waiting family members.
My plans to eat a quick breakfast and make an early get away were foiled by the hurricane's arrival over night.
For more information and examples, see the links below.
09.04 Phrases and clauses (LA 9)
Supplemental: Clauses and phrases as sentence parts
http://grammar.about.com/od/pq/g/parallelstructureterm.htm
09.04.01 Phrases and clauses indicating cause and effect (LA 9)
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content. Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
Sunset shadow: Atmospheric optical effect caused by the shadow of Mount Rainier at sunset: Draxfelton, Wikimedia Commons, released into public domain by author
One common (and useful) function of phrases and clauses is to show a cause-effect relationship between ideas. As you might guess, you will often write about cause and effect in an argument essay.
Here is an example of a sentence involving a cause and effect: Jared was late because of the traffic. (It could equally well be written Because of the traffic, Jared was late.) Traffic CAUSED Jared to be late. "Because of the traffic" is a prepositional phrase. Since it tells WHY, it is also an adverb phrase.
We could also express a similar idea using a subordinate clause: Because there was so much traffic, Jared was late. (It could equally well be written Jared was late because there was so much traffic.
However, if we wrote Because Jared was late, there was so much traffic, that would mean something different.) "Because there was so much traffic" is an adverb clause (again, because it tells WHY something happened), and it is also a subordinate (dependent) clause.
Notice a punctuation issue here: When the phrase or dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence, you need a comma between it and the main clause. However, when the phrase or dependent clause comes at the end of the sentence (after the independent clause), you DON'T need a comma.
Words or phrases that are often used to signal cause-effect relationships include because, cause, since, if, then, so, thus, as a result, due to, therefore, consequently, in order to, hence, when, after, for this reason, which led to, for the purpose of, owing to, accordingly.... Note that SOME of these words are prepositions or subordinating conjunctions (that is, they will introduce a phrase or subordinate clause), but others are conjunctive adverbs (that is, they will introduce an independent clause that either stands alone as a sentence, or follows a semicolon in a compound sentence).
Since, by their nature, phrases or subordinate clauses that identify a cause answer the question "why?", they are adverb phrases or clauses.
09.04.02 Descriptive phrases and clauses (LA 9)
Use various types of phrases (noun, verb, adjectival, adverbial, participial, prepositional, absolute) and clauses (independent, dependent; noun, relative, adverbial) to convey specific meanings and add variety and interest to writing or presentations.
Chestnut race horse, Japan: Chabata_k, Wikimedia Commons, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Another common function of phrases and clauses is to add description to a sentence.
Noun modifiers (answering questions like which one? what size? what color? and describing other qualities of a person, place or thing) are called adjectives (if they are single words) and adjective phrases or clauses (if they are multiple words working together).
Verb modifiers (answering questions like when? where? how? how much? or why? and describing other qualities of an action, another adverb, or an adjective) are called adverbs (if they are single words) and adverb phrases or clauses (if they are multiple words working together).
Let's look at examples.
Adjectives and adjective phrases and clauses
The chestnut horse was the crowd favorite. "Chestnut" is an adjective--it describes (modifies) 'horse', a noun, by answering the question 'which one' (or 'what color').
The horse, the color of a newly minted penny, was the crowd favorite."The color of a newly minted penny" is an adjective phrase--it describes (modifies) 'horse', a noun. See how the phrase acts like an adjective to describe the horse?
The horse, who was the color of a newly minted penny, was the crowd favorite."who was the color of a newly minted penny" is an adjective clause--it describes (modifies) 'horse,' a noun.
Note: In English, most of our adjectives come before the nouns they describe. However, most adjective phrases or clauses come immediately after the noun they describe, and in most cases are set off between commas. An adjective phrase too far from the noun it is supposed to modify can create confusion: "The body in the bed, which had been there for three years, was identified as the missing man." (Was it the body or the bed that had been there for three years? We can't be sure from this sentence.)
My younger sister is Sarah. "Younger" is an adjective--it describes (modifies) 'sister,' a noun.
My sister, in the yellow raincoat, is younger. "In the yellow raincoat" is an adjective phrase; it describes sister.
My sister who is younger is Sarah."Who is younger" is an adjective clause--it describes (modifies) 'sister,' a noun. See how the clause acts like an adjective to describe Sarah?
This brings up a punctuation issue (and yet another way to classify clauses!). If you have at least two sisters, the clause "who is younger" is necessary to identify WHICH sister you are talking about. In that case, no commas are used around the clause (technically, this is called a restrictive clause).
However, if you had only one sister, the clause "who is younger" is no longer necessary to identify which sister you mean--it is just extra information. In that case, there should be commas around the clause (technically, this is called a nonrestrictive clause).
More examples of sentences with restrictive clauses: The car that is following us is blue. [Implies that there are multiple cars around, but that the one following us is blue.] The fish that is chasing the others is the dominant male. My cousins who live in California are coming to visit. [You have other cousins, but it is the ones from California who are coming.]
More examples of sentences with nonrestrictive clauses: My car, which has a flat tire, has just been sitting in the driveway all week. [You've only got one car, so saying that it has a flat tire isn't necessary to identify which car you're talking about.] My parents, who can sometimes be a real pain, have been great lately. The big spruce tree, which had been there before the town was founded, blew down in the wind storm.
Adverbs and adverb phrases and clauses
We will arrive early. "Early" is an adverb. It modifies the verb (will arrive) by telling WHEN we will arrive.
We will arrive before the sun comes up over the mountains. "Before the sun comes up over the mountains" is an adverb clause. See how it serves the same purpose in the sentence--telling WHEN we will arrive--as the single adverb, early?
Note: In English, many adverbs can be moved to various places in the sentence without changing the meaning. The same is true of adverb phrases or clauses (unlike adjective phrases or clauses). You can sometimes use this as a test of whether a particular phrase or clause is acting as an adverb: if you can move it around in the sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence, it probably IS an adverb (or adverb phrase/clause).
There, I found my missing glove. "There" is an adverb telling WHERE you found the glove. Notice you could equally well say "I found my missing glove there."
Under the bed, I found my missing glove. "Under the bed" is an adverb phrase telling WHERE you found the glove. "I found my missing glove under the bed" means the same thing.
Punctuation note: Remember that an introductory phrase or clause generally requires a comma between it and the main clause of the sentence. If you put that same phrase or clause at the end of the sentence, it usually doesn't require a comma.
Margaret finished the book quickly. "Quickly" is an adverb telling HOW she finished the book. Notice you could equally well say "Quickly, Margaret finished the book" or "Margaret quickly finished the book."
Margaret finished the book by staying up all night reading. "By staying up all night reading" is an adverb phrase telling HOW she finished the book. Notice you could equally well say "By staying up all night reading, Margaret finished the book" or "Margaret, by staying up all night reading, finished the book."
In the section on cause and effect, we looked at many examples of adverb phrases or clauses that answered the question WHY? Here is one more: Because of the many pot holes in the freeway, it was closed for repair overnight. The adverb phrase could be moved:
The freeway was closed for repair overnight because of the many pot holes. OR The freeway, because of the many pot holes, was closed for repair overnight.
09.04.03 Phrases and clauses quiz (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 20 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover the sections on phrases and clauses from the lesson. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.00 Unit 10: Narrative (LA 9)
Detail from "Grandfather Tells a Story": Albert Anker, 1884, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Basically, the purpose of narrative is to tell a story. A narrative may tell a true (nonfiction) story, or an invented (fiction) story, but the focus is on what happens.
As far as we know, story-telling is a uniquely human pursuit. No other animals seem to have enough language to tell stories, but we, as humans, all do it. When you talk to a friend, you tell them what you've been doing, or what has happened in your life since the last time you talked to them. That's an example of narrative.
Novels, biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, and some essays and poetry are narrative. Most plays, movies and TV shows are narrative in structure, also.
Here are a few terms to review:
Plot - what happens in the story; how events unfold
Characters - the people (or aliens, animals, gods, etc) who do things in the story
Protagonist - the main character or "hero" of the story
Antagonist - a character who opposes the protagonist
Setting - where and in what time period the story happens
Theme - remember from unit 2? A theme is like an underlying message or lesson about life you can infer from the story.
You should be finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird soon.
The major writing assignment is one scene from a story. You should expect the lessons and assignments in this unit to take you about 5-8 hours of concentrated work.
Again, remember our 'big idea': Writers choose details, events and characters' words and actions to develop main ideas or themes; readers use details, examples and evidence to infer main ideas or themes.
10.01 Literary terms review (LA 9)
Reading: Literature Standard 3 Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme. Reading: Literature Standard 5 Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise. Language Standard 6 Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level;
Literary terms: vocabulary and concepts used to discuss fiction [These are words you need to understand and use to write about fiction.]
Setting
The setting of a story is where and when it happens.
In some stories, the setting doesn't seem very important. Twilight is set in a small town in Washington state, but the author could have chosen a different town or a different state.
If you wanted to write a story about an American teenager growing up, focusing on relationships between the teen and family and friends, you could choose from thousands of places in the United States to set your story. However, if part of the plot depended on the teenager having a cell phone, you would have to set the story at a TIME after the late 1990's.
In other stories, the setting is key. For instance, the setting of "High Horse's Courting" is in the plains of North America, probably in the early 1800's. Obviously, the events in the story couldn't have taken place in New York City or in the Arctic Ocean. The adventures in "The Song of Hiawatha", The Lord of the Rings or The Perfect Storm are inextricably wound up in their settings.
Plot
The plot of a story is what happens - the events and actions. In a 'plot-driven' story, the action is the main focus.
The conflict is the problem or difficulty in the story. You may be familiar with classifying conflicts as one of these four types: the character against another person, the character against nature, the character against him/herself, or the character against fate (or God).
The climax is often the most exciting part, the turning point, and is usually near the end, when the main conflict is settled. Rising action is the part of the story between the beginning and the climax, and the events and complications leading up to the climax, where the 'the plot thickens.' Usually, in the process of trying to solve his or her problems, the main character gets into progressively worse situations as the story goes on.
The resolution is how the problem or conflict is solved (resolved). Falling action is the part of the story between the climax and the end--the winding down.
There may be one or more subplots - smaller or less important stories connected to the main story. Some (usually longer) stories contain parallel plots A story with parallel plots has two (or sometimes even more) main characters, and what is happening with both (all) main characters is equally (or almost equally) important. For example, a mystery might follow a serial killer, a detective working on the case, and the killer's next chosen victim in alternating chapters.
Suspense is the reader's doubt about what will happen or when it will happen. Usually the reader doesn't know how the story will turn out, and that is what creates suspense. If the writer tells us at the beginning of a story that a character is going to die, the suspense comes from wondering how or when.
A flashback is a way for a writer to show events that happened before the beginning of the story. For example, when Odysseus remembers leaving his wife and baby son, or when Katniss in The Hunger Games remembers how her sister got the cat, that is a brief flashback.
Foreshadowing is a hint about something that is going to happen later in the story. If a gun is mentioned early in the story, probably that is foreshadowing an event later that will involve someone shooting (or getting shot by) the gun. A discussion of death or funerals may foreshadow the death of one of the important characters. In some stories, there is a prophecy, or a character has a premonition that is an obvious example of foreshadowing, but often it is more subtle, and you might not notice it unless you read the story twice.
Francis Kirkman, WIkimedia Commons, public domain
Character
The characters are the "actors" in the story. Most often the characters are people, but they may be animals, aliens, toys, robots or whatever.
The protagonist is the main character, sometimes called the hero, though he or she may not behave heroically.
In many stories there is an antagonist - the "villain", the character who opposes the protagonist. The antagonist is often evil, but not necessarily so.
Round characters are characters who have detailed, complex personalities, and seem like real people. Flat characters are characters who are often stereotypical, and lack the complexity to make them seem real. Characters can also be classified as dynamic or static.
Dynamic characters change in the course of the story. Static characters stay the same.
A sympathetic character is one that you like, and probably identify with at least to some extent. Generally, the protagonist is a sympathetic character - otherwise, it would be hard for you to care what happens to him or her. In 'character-driven' stories, the characters and how they interact, change and develop are the main focus; the plot arises mainly out of choices made by the characters.
Point of View
Point of view in fiction has to do with who seems to be telling (narrating) the story.
If the story is told by "me" - as if a main character is telling the story - When I woke up that morning... - it is said to be in first person. Jacobs' Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl is in first person.
If the story is told as if by an observer - When he woke up that morning... - it is in third person. The Odyssey, "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," and most fiction are in third person.
If the person telling the story - the narrator - seems to only know what a single person could really know, we say the point of view is third person, limited.
If the person telling the story seems to be able to see into the minds of multiple characters, or be observing many places at once, we say the point of view is third person, omniscient.
Narrator
In most stories, most of the time, we as readers trust that the narrator is telling us the truth about the story. An unreliable narrator is one whose version of the story is not accurate. Depending on the circumstances, the narrator may be unreliable because s/he is deliberately sharing an inaccurate version of an event, or because s/he really doesn't know it isn't correct. One common instance of an unreliable narrator occurs when the narrator (or main character, in third person, limited point of view) is seriously ill, injured, mentally ill, very young or naive, or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, poison, or magic.
Other instances may not be so obvious. Probably you can think of a time when you heard someone say that so-and-so is ugly, disgusting, stuck-up, or rude--but you could see for yourself this was not the case. The person making the accusations may have believed what s/he said, but was 'blinded' by a dislike of so-and-so. In the same way, a character in a story may be presenting the 'truth' as s/he sees it, but be passing on his or her misconceptions or prejudices.
In general usage, when we say "unreliable", we are making a negative judgement about a person's character. That's NOT necessarily what is meant when we talk about an "unreliable narrator" in literature.
An unreliable narrator is one who either can't (or, more rarely, won't) explain the whole situation. For example, imagine this situation as a scene in a book:
Jonathan and Kari have been happily married for ten years and have a six-year-old daughter, Isabella. Jonathan has become addicted to prescription pain pills after being injured in an accident, but has managed to completely hide his addiction from his wife and daughter. He owes a lot of money to the drug dealer, who hires a mentally ill homeless man to go to the house one evening and hold Kari and Isabella at gun-point demanding money. A neighbor calls the police, who arrive and interrogate all four people, separately. If each of the four people got to tell this in their own chapter of the book, who will be a reliable narrator?
The homeless man doesn't know why Jonathan owes money to the dealer, and, more importantly, is delusional and believes Jonathan's mind is being controlled by an alien government that wants to take over more and more people's bodies. He (the homeless man) is an unreliable narrator because his "reality" is so far removed from the actual situation.
Kari is totally shocked and doesn't know what is going on. To her, this is a random act of attempted robbery committed against her family by a stranger. She thinks it must be a case of mistaken identity. She doesn't know enough about the situation to tell us the whole story, so she would not be a reliable narrator.
Isabella only understands that a strange man came into the house with a gun and started yelling at her parents until they were rescued by the police. She is an unreliable narrator even though she would be totally honest; she simply doesn't understand most of the situation.
Jonathan is the person in the story most likely to be a reliable narrator. He understands what happened and why it happened. If we see/hear the story from his point of view, we will probably get a pretty complete picture of what happened.
Dialogue
Dialogue is what the characters in the story say to each other. (In a play or movie, the dialogue is the actors' lines). In stories, it is the actual words spoken, and is put inside quotation marks to set it off from the narration. Most modern, realistic fiction contains lots of dialogue, and as a reader, you can find out quite a bit about a character from what s/he says, or what is said about her/him by other characters. Although in real life we engage in conversation all the time, it can be tricky to write dialogue that sounds natural, like what real people would say.
Theme
The theme of a work (refer back to our longer lesson on theme in the reading unit) is a main general idea, belief or truth about life, and is usually not stated explicitly, but must be inferred by observing what happens in the story. For instance, you might say that the theme of the Star Wars movies is 'good is more powerful than evil.' A work may have more than one theme. The moral of a fable is a simple sort of theme. Sometimes you can figure out the theme of a story by asking yourself "What would the author want me to learn about life from this story?"
A theme is more than just a single word ("love", "courage" or "equality"). The theme must express a message. For example, "love can overcome hate", "it takes courage to stand up for what you believe in", or "all people should be treated equally under the law" could be themes.
Symbols and symbolism
In literature, a symbol is an element in the story/poem that is doing "double duty" - it is both a concrete object, place or character, AND it also stands for some abstract idea. A couple examples from Robert Frost's poetry will help you understand.
In Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken", he says, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by..." The two roads in the poem are, first of all, real roads. We can picture a fork in the road, one going one way, the other going another way, in the woods in fall when the leaves are yellow. However, these roads also stand for something else - the decisions we make in life. The two roads are symbols.
In another of Frost's poems, "Fire and Ice", he starts out, "Some say the world will end in fire; some say, in ice." Again, these create images we can picture - the world burning up, maybe in atomic war or an explosion from the sun, or the world dark and cold, covered in ice. But the poem continues, "From what I've tasted of desire, I hold with those who favor fire..." and from that point on, it is clear that the "fire" and "ice" are also symbolic of hate, expressed in different ways.
10.01 Literary terms review (LA 9)
Supplemental: Dictionary of Literary Terms (click the letter of the word you want to look up)
10.01.01 Literary terms quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
Go to Topic 3 of the main class page to take this quiz. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73%. Questions will cover literary terms and may refer back to earlier readings.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.02 Short background readings/viewings (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.
Pumping water by hand in 1942, Wilder, Tennessee: FDR Presidential Library, public domain
Read/view the selections about life in the Great Depression and in the segregated South, using the links below.
Note that most of these are expository writing - but will help you prepare for the time period you will be reading about in To Kill A Mockingbird.
Required: The Great Depression one page article and short video
10.02.01 Quiz on short readings (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 15 points possible 10 minutes
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 73%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 3 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.03 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text; determine a theme; analyze how complex characters develop, interact, and advance the plot or theme.
Mockingbird in North Carolina: Ken Thomas, Wikimedia Commons, author released into public domain
I hope you already began reading, when I put this lesson in unit 8 - but if you haven't started yet, now you really need to start!
For the rest of this class (second quarter), you will need a copy of the book To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Before you begin, watch the title sequence of the 1962 movie (link below). Begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird. We will be looking at one section at a time in the following lessons and assignments.
10.03 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Click the play arrow, or "Watch QuickTime 480p" near the top of the page to see the opening screens of the movie
Buy or borrow a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. You might be able to get started by looking at one of these on line.
10.03.01 Begin Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 1-7 questions (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 45 minutes
This assignment is intended to help you make some useful notes about To Kill a Mockingbird.
You may want to try having a pad of small 'sticky notes' handy to stick on pages where there is an unfamiliar word, a good quote, or an example of evidence about the characters or theme, so you can easily find them again later.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer. Answer in complete sentences or paragraphs.
Complete the first questions when you have read the first chapter, save it, and then continue reading. When you have completed the whole assignment, submit your work.
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Please answer the following questions at the indicated point in your reading:
After you finish the first chapter:
1. What is your first impression of this book?
2. Who do you think will be the main character? Why?
3. What is the "point of view" for this story?
4. What is the setting (time and place)? Include three quotes about the setting, and the page numbers on which you found them.
When, in relation to the American Civil War and the end of slavery in the United States, is this happening?
5. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
6. Briefly describe the members of Scout's family (Scout and the three people who live in her house with her at the beginning of the book).
7. How can you connect characters or situations in this chapter to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first four chapters:
8. In what ways do Scout and Jem seem like real kids (or not)?
9. What is an example of a flashback from this section of the story? why is it included?
10. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
11. What do you predict will happen next?
12. How can you connect characters or situations in chapters 2-4 to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first seven chapters:
13. What is the general tone of the book up to this point? What creates that tone?
14. What are Jem, Dill, and Scout mainly focused on? why?
15. What is implied by the cement in the knot-hole?
16. What is your impression of Atticus at this point? Describe how you picture him, and who he might remind you of.
17. How did Jem, Scout and Dill each feel about "playing Boo Radley"? What evidence from the text implies their feelings, and what directly states their feelings?
Jem?
Scout?
Dill?
18. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
19. How can you connect characters or situations in chapters 5-7 to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 4 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.04 Reading To Kill a Mockingbird (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text; determine a theme; analyze how complex characters develop, interact, and advance the plot or theme.
The Arnold children, Washington, 1939: Dorothea Lange, Wikimedia Commons, Library of Congress, public domain
As you read this middle section of the book, watch for foreshadowing--hints of what is coming up later in the story. How do both the tone and focus gradually change? Watch the video of Atticus' speech after you have read through chapter 21 in the book. The trials of the "Scottsboro boys" happened when Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird was young. See the Scottsboro Timeline, linked below, to think about comparisons between the actual incidents and the story Lee wrote.
10.04 Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 8-21 (LA 9)
Atticus' speech, from 1962 movie of To Kill a Mockingbird
10.04.01 Reading To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 8-21 questions (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 45 minutes
by SpeedyEJL, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported via Wikimedia Commons
This assignment is intended to help you make some useful notes about To Kill a Mockingbird. You may want to try having a pad of small 'sticky notes' handy to stick on pages where there is an unfamiliar word, a good quote, or an example of evidence about the characters or theme, so you can easily find them again later.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Answer in complete sentences or paragraphs. Questions six, thirteen and nineteen need at least a paragraph each. Complete each section when you have read those chapters, save it, and then continue reading. When you have completed the whole assignment, submit your work.
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Please answer the following questions at the indicated point in your reading:
After you finish chapter 11:
Why does Jem convince Atticus not to return the blanket that kept Scout warm the night of the fire? What can you infer about Jem, and about Boo Radley, from this incident?
What is the first indication of how the trial will affect their life?
How and why does the incident of the mad dog change Jem's view of his father?
Give at least two reasons why Atticus sends Jem to read to Mrs. Dubose.
What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first fifteen chapters:
How does Calpurnia explain to Scout why she speaks differently at church than at the children's house? What can you infer about Calpurnia from this?
How is the relationship between Scout and Jem changing? Give examples as evidence of this change.
How is the tone changing in this section of the book? Give at least two examples.
How much does Scout understand of what happens at the jail in chapter 15? Be specific, and use evidence from the text to justify your answer.
What can we infer about Atticus from the incidents in chapter 15?
What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the first 21 chapters:
What are at least three things revealed at the trial that make it clear Tom Robinson was not the one who beat up Mayella?
What does Atticus suggest really happened to Mayella? why?
What is the worst thing implied about Mayella's father by Tom Robinson's testimony about something Mayella said? Quote the sentence that creates this implication.
How have events in this section changed or extended your impression of Atticus? Be specific.
What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 4 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.04.02 To Kill a Mockingbird: chapters 22- 31 questions (LA 9)
teacher-scored 50 points possible 45 minutes
This assignment is intended to help you make some useful notes about To Kill a Mockingbird. You may want to try having a pad of small 'sticky notes' handy to stick on pages where there is an unfamiliar word, a good quote, or an example of evidence about the characters or theme, so you can easily find them again later.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer.
Answer in complete sentences or paragraphs. Complete each section when you have read the those chapters, save it, and then continue reading. When you have completed the whole assignment, submit your work.
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Please answer the following questions at the indicated point in your reading:
After you finish chapter 27 :
1. When does Scout begin to respect Aunt Alexandra, and why?
2. What is the town's reaction to Tom's death, and why?
3. What is the irony in Miss Gates' explanation of Hitler, and American democracy?
4. What three things happened (three things Ewell does) to suggest that Ewell still wants revenge on people involved in the trial?
5. What sentence at the end of chapter 27 foreshadows the upcoming event?
6. How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
After you have finished the last chapter:
7. Explain what happened on the way home from the pageant, as Scout experienced it.
8. Explain what Atticus initially thought had happened, and why he argued with the sheriff.
9. Explain what actually happened.
10. Why do Atticus and the sheriff agree that Bob Ewell fell on his knife?
11. What does Scout understand as she stands on Boo Radley's front porch?
12. What words, or use of words, have you seen that may be unusual, interesting or unfamiliar to you? Include the phrase or sentence in which the word is used - at least three words, for full credit.
13. How can you connect characters or situations in these chapters to your own experiences, or other books or movies you've read/seen in the past? (5 points)
Retrospective: (each of these questions is worth 5 points)
14. Think back over the main events of the book. Which events would seem most important to Scout?
Which would seem most important to Jem?
to Atticus?
Explain your choices.
15. In what ways (at least three ways) does this story reflect or portray the time in which it happened?
How might things be different now?
16. Name an important theme from this book (remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement), and cite at least three pieces of evidence from the story to support that theme.
17. Why do you think the author chose to have Scout narrate the story, rather than one of the other characters?
Was Scout an "unreliable narrator"? Why or why not?
18. Make a list of at least four people from the book who are "round characters," and justify why you classify each of them as a round character. Use specific details from the book - at least three details per person.
19. Evaluate (what was good and bad?) this book in comparison to other books you have read.
What makes you feel it is better or worse than the other books you are comparing it to? Support your opinions with examples and evidence.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.04.03 To Kill a Mockingbird: quiz (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 25 points possible 15 minutes
Finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird before you take this quiz.
You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 72%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.05 Setting in narrative (LA 9)
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details. Analyze how an author’s choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.
T. Imai image, Wikimedia Commons, public domain (copyright expired)
Any story or event happens someWHERE and someTIME. The where and when of narrative are called the setting.
Many folk or fairy tales begin with some variation of "Once upon a time, in a land far away..." This helps set up the expectation that what happens in the story may be quite different from real life in the present day. On the other hand, if a story begins with Nathan's mother driving him to school in the morning, the reader will expect story events to be the sorts of things that might really happen. In a few cases, an author may choose to start a book or chapter with a heading like "Moscow, March 14th, 09:40," but in most cases, the exact time and place will not be explicitly stated.
In much fiction, the place is at least partially invented, anyway. The exact place and time may not be that important to the story. However, what the author shows (or chooses not to show) about the setting can have a big impact on the tone of a narrative, and may contribute to either suspense or surprise--sort of like the soundtrack of a movie may prepare you for something frightening, or lull you into thinking everything is safe. In stories of outdoor adventures or survival, the setting may be almost like a character in the narrative, as the protagonist must struggle against the forces of nature: dangerous weather, a mountain, or the ocean.
Darkness, bad weather, isolation, old buildings, and rugged terrain (especially in combination) can all contribute to an ominous tone. Light, pleasant weather, beautiful scenery, and familiar or well-kept buildings or landscapes tend to contribute to a peaceful, safe tone.
On the other hand, with just a couple of word choices (such as "seemed"), an author can reverse our expectations. Many accounts of the terrorist attack on September 11th, 2001 include a description of how that day started out as a sunny, beautiful morning in New York, making the horrific events even more startling in contrast with the lovely weather.
In narratives set in a different culture or time period, details of the setting help us imagine a life we haven't experienced. Most of us, though, don't want to read through long descriptions, so a skillful writer slips details of the setting into the action and dialogue, and selects which details are important enough to include. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the time period (1930's) and the place (a southern state, which is to say, a former slave state) are integral to the story - it couldn't have happened in, say, Oregon in the 1980's. As we read the story, we develop an understanding of what it would have been like to live in the South during the Depression.
As readers, we can often infer important information from characters' interactions with elements of the setting. As you read, use details of the setting to help you imagine what it looks like, and what the characters see, hear, smell, taste or feel.
10.06 Narrative writing (English 9)
"A Good Joke", 1887: Alfred Stieglitz, Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Harper Lee was not a "professional writer." To Kill a Mockingbird was the only book she ever wrote. Some of the details of the book's depiction of life in a small southern town were adapted from her memories of her own childhood. Harper Lee chose to write in first person, from the point of view of a young girl: Scout. Most of the story is made up of things a child would notice, and filtered through the understanding of a child (a very bright child, but a child, nonetheless). Lee had to imagine what it would have been like for a child to live through the events of the book.
For the next assignment, you are going to tell a story through the eyes of a child of about seven to ten years old. Maybe you remember what it was like to be that age, or maybe you have younger siblings, cousins or neighbors you can observe. You may want to look back at a couple chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird to try to figure out how Lee did it.
Be sure to make use of the tools of narrative: dialogue, exposition, description, and reflection.
dialogue: conversation between two or more characters. Remember that the characters' actual words are enclosed by quotation marks.
“Hey.”
“Hey yourself,” said Jem pleasantly.
“I’m Charles Baker Harris,” he said. “I can read."
“So what?” I said.
exposition: telling what happens
Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence. She was a Graham from Montgomery; Atticus met her when he was first elected to the state legislature. He was middle-aged then, she was fifteen years his junior. Jem was the product of their first year of marriage; four years later I was born, and two years later our mother died from a sudden heart attack.
description: creating sensory "images" of places, people or things
Calpurnia was something else again. She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard.
The night was still. I could hear his breath coming easily beside me. Occasionally there was a sudden breeze that hit my bare legs, but it was all that remained of a promised windy night. This was the stillness before a thunderstorm.
reflection: the character's thoughts
I mumbled that I was sorry and retired meditating upon my crime. I never deliberately learned to read, but somehow I had been wallowing illicitly in the daily papers. In the long hours of church—was it then I learned? I could not remember not being able to read hymns. Now that I was compelled to think about it, reading was something that just came to me, as learning to fasten the seat of my union suit without looking around, or achieving two bows from a snarl of shoelaces.
10.06.01 Narrative writing: pre-writing and first draft (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 40 minutes
by US Nessie, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported via Wikimedia Commons
Begin working on a narrative piece that tells a story through the eyes of a younger child.
This may be mostly fictional, but base it partly on something you or a family member experienced. You will be writing in 'first person,' narrating the story from the point of view of the child, who may either be experiencing or observing the incident. It may be entirely realistic (like To Kill a Mockingbird), or it may contain elements of fantasy (like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight).
You will plan out an entire story, but you only need to write and submit your plan and then one scene (at least 400 words) from the story.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work by uploading your file, or pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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Prewriting
A. In just a few sentences, briefly summarize the main points (plot) of the story. If you prefer, you may put this in outline form.
B. Setting: where and when does this story happen? how do the time and place affect the story?
C. Brainstorm details: list at least twelve specific things the child might have noticed (smelled, tasted, heard, seen, thought or felt) about what happened.
D. Frame the story: (remember how Scout began her story by remembering Jem's broken arm? She was older, and looking back at her childhood.) Have your narrator begin by some kind of recollection, looking back, as a teenager, on the story s/he is going to tell about something that happened when s/he was younger. Write this opening, which you will use as the introductory paragraph for your story.
Composing
Have your narrator tell the story. Feel free to adapt the story to make it funnier, more exciting, scarier, or more interesting, but use your experiences to help make it seem real. Magnify the moment! Be sure to use dialogue and some of your brainstormed details (from B, above).
Remember, when writing dialogue, to start a new paragraph each time a different person speaks.
Incorrect:
"Are we going to the zoo?" asked Annabelle. "Yes," said Max. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
Correct:
"Are we going to the zoo?" asked Annabelle.
"Yes," said Max. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
Open with the introduction (from C, above). Then write at least three paragraphs in the body, and a conclusion (the end of the scene you are writing). Your draft needs to be at least 400 words long. It will be scored on ideas and organization, but I will also offer comments on other aspects to help you when you work on your revision.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.06.02 Narrative writing: revision (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 40 minutes
After you have read my feedback on your initial draft, revise your narrative piece that tells a story through the eyes of a younger child. For most writers, revision is the main work of writing. Harper Lee (with help from her agent and editor) worked on To Kill a Mockingbird for over two and a half years, revising and editing. According to the Wikipedia article on the book, she once got so frustrated she threw the manuscript out into a snowbank. (Remember, this was long before computers, so there wasn't a back-up copy on her hard drive somewhere!)
As you work on your revision, consider whether--
the introduction gives the reader enough background and creates some interest or suspense
you might want to change the order or add to your narrative--maybe including a flashback or some reflection.
more specific details could help make sections seem more vividly real
(if you haven't already) you need to "magnify the moment," so that you "show" the action rather than relating a summarized version through exposition.
you have at least eight lines of dialogue
good use of phrases and clauses smoothes the transitions and creates a cohesive whole
the tone, details, and word choice are consistent with the age and character of the narrator
the ending follows naturally from the events in the scene, and provides a sense of conclusion
Your draft will be scored according to this rubric. Use the rubric for additional guidance on revising your work.
Significant, substantive changes and improvements in ideas, organization, and/or word choice, style and tone
Some significant changes attempted
Few or no significant changes
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 5 of your enrollment date for this class.
10.06.03 Revise your scene for film (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 40 minutes
Reimagine your scene as a film scene.
You may need to review the information about film making from unit 8.
Imagine you are now the screenwriter and director in charge of creating a film scene from your story scene. You must use at least ten shots, but no more than twenty shots, in planning the filming for your scene. (No, you aren't going to have to actually film it.)
You will turn in the numbered list of shots and dialogue, including the following information for each shot:
the type of shot (wide-angle, close-up, panning, low-angle, high-angle, dolly, zoom, etc),
what the characters are doing during the shot,
who is saying what, and
the kind of transition to the next shot (at least three transitions must be something other than a basic cut)
Example:
Let's say my scene has two kids (Thomas and Marion) going into an animal shelter to choose a pet. These might be my first four shots:
1. Wide-angle shot of a city street outside an animal shelter, zooming in on Thomas and Marion as they approach the front door. They are talking, but we can't hear them because of the traffic noise. Cut to
2. Fairly wide-angle shot, panning to follow the two kids. From inside the animal shelter, we see Thomas and Marion entering as the door opens. They approach the receptionist, who meets them at the counter.
RECEPTIONIST: Hi, Thomas! Hi, Marion! Are you here to volunteer again today?
MARION: No - we get to choose a dog to foster. Mom -
THOMAS: (interrupting): We talked our mom into letting us foster one of the dogs. She dropped us off so we can choose one, and she'll be back in half an hour to do the paperwork.
RECEPTIONIST: That's great! Here, I'll take you back.
She leads them to another door, which she unlocks, and they start to step through. Match cut to
3. Low-angle shot, looking up at the door from the other side as they walk through. The camera is looking up at them from inside one of the dog cages, near the back. We see the backs of two small dogs standing up and barking at Thomas and Marion at the wire barrier. Marion reaches out one hand toward the dogs.
MARION: Look how cute!
Match cut to
4. Shot looking at the two dogs from outside the cage; rack focus draws the viewer from those two dogs to another dog, curled up in the back of the cage...
Category
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.00 Unit 11: Exposition (LA 9)
illustration for Hand-book to the Primates: Henry Ogg Forbes, 1897, public domain, WC
Exposition is writing that describes something, explains, or informs. Expository writing should examine, explain, and communicate ideas, processes, concepts and information clearly and accurately.
Expository writing includes
technical writing like the manuals that come with games or software
'how-to' writing like magazine articles about how to fly-fish, build a greenhouse, or make artisan bread
descriptive writing like a travel book, an article about the latest fashions, or information about a house for sale on a real estate website
books or articles about animals, nature, science, history, etc
scientific journal articles describing an experiment or study, and reporting the results
news reports about a current event
...and many other forms
By now you may have noticed that the three types/purposes of writing (argument, narrative and exposition) sometimes overlap, and that many pieces of writing include aspects of two (or all three). When you aren't sure how to classify a particular writing, ask yourself what the main purpose is--to argue, to tell a story, or to inform?
Novels, short stories, and biographies are usually narrative though they are likely to include sections of exposition. Arguments are also likely to contain some exposition, and sometimes some narrative. In the same way, expository writing may include some elements of narration or argument, but its main purpose is to inform.
DO NOT use phrasings like "In this essay/report I am going to write about...", or "I'm going to tell you about...", or "This essay will be about...." Instead, just go ahead with the important ideas straight out.
Techniques or organizational patterns often used in expository writing include description, instructions, information, cause and effect, problem and solution, comparison/contrast and extended definition. News articles are usually organized in the "inverted pyramid": starting with the main, basic facts (who, what, when, where, why and how), and adding more details and background information later in the article.
All expository writing - but especially description - needs to include specific, concrete details that help support the main idea (thesis, claim). Be sure to support vague, general or abstract ideas with specific, concrete examples and details. (This doesn't mean you should include every possible detail - choose the most interesting and relevant details to include.) As with all writing, try to build mainly with strong nouns and verbs. Use adjectives and adverbs when needed, but don't go overboard.
More about specific vs. general:
Consider the general word "animal" (a noun). If you are writing about a two-legged animal with feathers and wings that says "cock-a-doodle-do" in the mornings, you'd almost always be better off saying "rooster" - a more specific noun - instead of adding all the modifiers.
Specific vs. general nouns examples (in random order)
Specific nouns
More about concrete vs. abstract:
Remember the definition that a noun is a "person, place, thing or idea"? People, places and things are concrete - you can see, hear, smell, taste and/or touch them. Ideas are abstract - they exist in our minds. Even things like dragons and unicorns are considered concrete, even though they don't really exist, because if they did exist, they would be things you could see and touch.
Using some abstract words in your writing is fine, but be sure to support those ideas with concrete examples.
Abstract vs. concrete word examples (in random order):
Abstract nouns and modifiers
http://web.gccaz.edu/~mdinchak/ENG101/expository_writing.htm
11.01 Documenting your sources (LA 9)
Integrate information into written text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.
Djembayz, Wikimedia Commons, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Expository and argumentative writing often require that you do some research to find information. Both for the sake of your readers (who may want to know where your information comes from), and for the sake of avoiding plagiarism, you need to properly reference and document your sources.
There are several common, standardized systems for exactly how to do this. Two of the most common are called APA and MLA. When your high school or college teacher assigns you to write a research paper, s/he will most likely tell you to use either APA style or MLA style. Many internet sites list all the rules and examples of how to use each of these styles of documentation. For our purposes in this class, we are going to use MLA style.
Be forewarned: you are probably going to think this stuff was invented by someone who had a sick obsession with detail, combined with a desire to torture students.
Get over it. You are NOT going to need to memorize any of the finer details, but you ARE going to need to be able to look at the rules and examples and apply them, to correctly cite your sources. This is a skill you are likely to need in your job and life (not necessarily doing MLA documentation, but being able to apply examples and detailed rules).
Very basically, there are two components to properly referencing your sources:
identifying facts, ideas or direct quotations within your text, to acknowledge that they are someone else's work
listing the bibliographic information in a "works cited" list at the end of your text, so that other people can find your sources and read them, too
Study the more detailed information at the required links, below, and the step-by-step example:
How to use the easybib.com website to create a citation:
Suppose I am citing information from the website at http://indians.org/articles/cherokee-indians.html -
I go to the website www.easybib.com and enter the url for the web page with this article, and then click Continue.
Since we can't find an author, we skip the Contributors section. (If there was an author/authors listed, I would fill that in.)
I notice that part of the website title was cut off, so I type in the "Cherokee Indians", which was missing.
To find the publisher/sponsor, I click the "About Us" link on the source page, and I find out that American Indian Heritage Foundation sponsors this web page, so I copy and paste that into the Publisher/sponsor box.
Since I don't see a date on the source page, I right-click the page and choose "view page info". That tells me the date the page was last modified, and I put that date into the "Electronically published" boxes.
Then I click "create citation". That gives me this correct citation: "Cherokee Indians." The History of the Cherokee Indians. American Indian Heritage Foundation, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 07 Mar. 2015.
Required: MLA formatting and general style guide
11.01.01 Practice with MLA style (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 40 minutes
Richard Wright, 1943: Gordon Parks, public domain, Library of Congress, WC
To practice using MLA documentation, you're going to start with how to cite some of the material you've already read. Look for a quotation or idea that has to do with integrity in each source.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work by pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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For each source, list
A. A sentence or section about integrity from that source (either a direct quote or a paraphrase).
B. What you would put right after that sentence for a correct MLA in-line citation. (Basically, this means the author's last name - or the beginning of the article title if no author was listed - followed by the page number where the quote was found, in parenthesis.)
C. How you would correctly list that source on a works cited page in MLA style (use easybib.com to help you create the citations).
1. Choose a quotation/idea about integrity from To Kill a Mockingbird. (A print book with a single author)
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
2. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from one of the readings in the links from unit 8.
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
3. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from "The Ethics of Living Jim Crow: An Autobiographical Sketch". (A story with one author - you'll find the link to this in lesson 10.02)
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
4. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from "A Sports Story of Character and Integrity" (website article with one author - link below)
A. Quotation/idea:
B. In-line citation:
C. Works cited list citation:
5. Choose a quotation or idea about integrity from "How to Be True to Your Word" (website article with one author - link below)
A. Quotation/idea:
C. Works cited list citation:
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
A sports story of character and integrity
https://experiencelife.com/article/how-to-be-true-to-your-wo...
11.02 Expository essay - extended definition (LA 9)
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Classical definition of knowledge: Szczepan, Wikimedia Commons, released into public domain by author
One common form of expository essay has to do with creating an extended definition of a (usually abstract) word or concept. As you may have noticed, dictionaries offer short definitions of words, but sometimes the dictionary definition itself seems pretty abstract and not all that helpful.
In writing an expository, extended definition essay, you use examples, analogies, and comparisons to help yourself and the reader reach a deeper understanding. You might also use illustrations, charts or other graphic elements to help the reader grasp and remember the ideas.
Required: Writing an extended definition essay
11.02.01 Expository writing quiz (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 10 minutes
This quiz will cover all topics and readings in unit 11. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 70%. You may refer to the lessons and readings while you are working on this quiz.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.02.02 Expository essay on integrity: pre-writing and composing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 35 points possible 50 minutes
Courtroom scene from To Kill a Mockingbird movie, 1962: Screenshot from movie, PD-US-no notice, WC
Begin working on an essay defining integrity.
What is integrity? Some of the readings this quarter all revolve at least partly around the issue of integrity, so you've already done quite a bit of "pre-writing" for this essay without even knowing that was what you were doing. In this expository essay, you will define and explain integrity, as a quality of human character, using examples from the readings and from your own experiences.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work by pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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Pre-writing
1. Using two different dictionaries (print or online), copy the dictionary definitions for integrity, and create a proper MLA citation for each:
A. Definition:
B. Definition:
Citation:
C. How is "integrity" related to other positive attributes - kindness, courage, and persistence - and how does it differ?
2. Using one of the two articles on integrity (linked in lesson 11.01), find two examples of integrity and one counter-example. You may copy exact quotes or paraphrase. Explain why each example illustrates integrity (or the lack thereof).
A. Example:
D. Citation:
5. From your own experiences, find two examples of integrity and one counter-example (someone NOT demonstrating integrity). You may ask your parents or friends for ideas, and you may copy exact quotes, or paraphrase. Explain why each example illustrates integrity (or the lack thereof).
A. Example:
C. Counter-example:
Composing - Decide how you want to organize your essay.
Compose your first draft: an introduction, at least two paragraphs in the body, and a conclusion.
You may (but don't have to) use one of the dictionary definitions as part of your introduction.
Use at least one example or counter-example from each of the readings in lesson 11.01, and from _To Kill a Mockingbird_, somewhere in the main part of your essay (no, you don't need to, and probably shouldn't, use every example you listed above).
Remember, though, that you are writing an essay, not just listing examples, so use the examples to illustrate your own ideas. Your draft needs to be at least 400 words long. It will be scored on ideas and organization, but I will also offer comments on other aspects to help you when you work on your revision.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.02.03 Expository essay: revision (LA 9)
teacher-scored 30 points possible 50 minutes
After you have read my feedback on your initial draft, revise your essay defining integrity.
Copy your first draft of the essay into a word-processing document TWICE, with a line between the two copies. Leave the top one "as is." Do your revisions on the lower copy, save your work on your own computer, and then copy and paste the whole thing into the submission window for this assignment.
In this expository essay, you will define and explain integrity, using examples from the readings and from your own experiences. As you revise, ask yourself whether you have
the best, most relevant evidence, including specific examples from the readings and your own experience
explanations based on your own, best understanding
an organization and order that makes sense
transitions between paragraphs, sentences and ideas that help clarify relationships between the ideas, and support the reader's understanding of what you mean
a conclusion that shows the significance of integrity in our lives or in the world
Also add parenthetical (in-line) citations to quotes or paraphrases, MLA style, and a "works cited" page at the end.
Use the rubric below for further guidance in the revision process. Note that conventions will NOT be scored on this draft, though I may include comments on conventions to help you with your editing.
Category
Makes significant, substantive changes and improvements in ideas, organization and/or word choice/style over the first draft
Makes a few significant changes from the first draft
No significant changes in content
Conventions and language skills (not scored on this draft)
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Has few errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses variety in sentence length and structure
Has many errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage, interfering with the reader’s ability to follow the ideas
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 6 of your enrollment date for this class.
11.02.04 Expository essay: editing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 10 points possible 30 minutes
Edit your essay defining integrity.
Copy your revision of the essay into a word-processing document TWICE, with a line between the two copies. Leave the top one "as is."
Do your editing on the lower copy, save your work on your own computer, and then copy and paste the whole thing into the submission window for this assignment.
In this expository essay, you will define and explain integrity, using examples from the readings and from your own experiences. As you edit, ask yourself whether you have
correct spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and capitalization
correct sentence structure (no run-ons or fragments)
parallel structure where applicable
2 (does not meet standards)
Conventions and language skills
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Has few errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage; uses variety in sentence length and structure
Has many errors in conventions, grammar, MLA style or usage, interfering with the reader’s ability to follow the ideas
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.00 Unit 12: Argumentation (LA 9)
Martin Luther King Jr delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech: "Martin Luther King - March on Washington" by Unknown, NARA, cataloged under the ARC Identifier 542069.
An important 'big idea' we focus on in English 9: Writers choose details, evidence, events and characters' words and actions to develop main ideas, claims or themes; readers use details, examples and evidence to infer main ideas, claims or themes.
In unit twelve, you will consider important components of "argument," both in reading/listening and in writing/speaking.
The purpose of argument is to set forth claims, counterclaims, reasons, and relevant evidence in such a way as to determine and clarify the accuracy or truth of the matter. You should expect the lessons and assignments in this unit to take you about nine to eleven hours of concentrated work.
Some key concepts you need to understand in argument:
Fact vs. opinion:
A fact is a true piece of specific information (People die without oxygen; dogs are four-legged animals; sandstone is a sedimentary rock; the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776). A fact can be proven true (or false).
An opinion is somone's belief or feeling about a topic or thing. (Pizza tastes better with ranch dressing. Rap isn't really music. Teenagers should all be sent to work in coal mines.)
Logic: systematic reasoning; reaching a conclusion or judgment based on reasons, evidence, inference and/or established principles.
Ethos, Pathos and Logos:
Aristotle classified the techniques of rhetoric into three categories. Their Greek names are ethos, pathos and logos.
Ethos has to do with changing how you perceive the speaker/writer himself (or herself) and his/her credibility or authority.
Do you trust the speaker? Do you like him/her? Does s/he have a reputation for being honest and accurate? If you answer "yes" to those questions, you are more likely to be persuaded to agree with the speaker. An attractive, charismatic speaker who seems to have a strong belief in his/her message will persuade or motivate more listeners. If the speaker deliberately tries to use and improve his/her credibility as a way of persuading you, that is ethos. A person's style of writing or speaking can have a major effect on whether you believe what s/he is saying. In recent decades, many politicians running for president or other major offices have made a deliberate effort to seem more "folksy" or "down to earth" (think "Duck Dynasty") rather than more educated or sophisticated. Note that ethos is not about ethics (except in the limited sense that a speaker/writer might try to persuade you based on his/her ethical character). Ethos is about the speaker/writer trying to manipulate the audience to trust and agree, based on his/her character, expertise, or position of authority.
Pathos has to do with emotional reactions.
Appealing to listeners' concerns or hopes, the speaker tries to arouse fear, anger, shame, sorrow, happiness or sympathy, often using 'loaded language'--words calculated to 'push your buttons.' (If you're thinking of political speeches or commercial advertising, you're on the right track.) References to patriotism or loyalty to one's group; examples of wounded veterans, dying children, abused animals, or unemployed people losing their homes; or images of sexy models, happy families, beautiful scenery, or the trappings of wealth are all often used to manipulate viewers' and listeners' emotions. It is human nature to be easily swayed by emotion.
Logos has to do with logic, knowledge, reasons, and facts.
The use of statistics, scientific studies, cause-and-effect relationships, and parallels from history are all examples of logos. Note, however, that logos can be used to mislead as well as to impart accurate information. A speaker who is working from false premises will arrive at false conclusions, even using logic.
Logos should be the most important basis for persuasion, but generally, people are more easily persuaded by personal appeal and emotion. Why do you believe the things you do? Probably, in most cases, because your family members or friends believe those things.
In this class, we will use 'argumentation' to mean logos--the use of logic and evidence in communication. Just as a poet or fiction writer uses carefully-chosen specific details to shape and clarify a poem or story, a writer of argument uses facts, examples and evidence to shape and clarify the meaning.
How is argument different from persuasion?
The purpose of persuasion is to convince others of something (regardless of whether it is true). The purpose of argument is to determine and communicate the truth about something. That said, argument may sometimes be used as part of persuasion.
12.01 Letter from a Birmingham Jail (LA 9)
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).
Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1963 (both would later be assassinated in separate incidents): Wikimedia Commons, Abbie Rowe, National Park Service, public domain "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" is a modern classic of argument, and a window into the mind of a man who helped bring about major changes in American law and society. In "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King Jr. discusses actual events, choices and actions. His purpose is primarily to lay out the evidence supporting his position.
Before you read "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," review the Gettysburg Address and this excerpt from The Declaration of Independence:
"The Gettysburg Address" by President Abraham Lincoln, 1863
"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
from "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson, 1776
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.
As you read "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (link below), consider what Martin Luther King Jr's arguments have in common with Jefferson's and Lincoln's, and how they differ.
Look for the examples and evidence King uses to support his arguments.
"Letter from a Birmingham Jail", 1963, by Martin Luther King, Jr.
12.01.01 Letter from a Birmingham Jail analysis (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 30 minutes
In the course of this assignment, you will need to locate or infer some of the authors' beliefs. Consider events, people's choices, and the consequences of those choices, along with explicit statements you may find.
There are many possible right answers to the questions, but there are also many possible wrong answers. You need to be able to justify your statements with evidence from the texts. Any answer that is right can be supported with evidence from the text.
I suggest you review the unit eight lesson on theme before completing this assignment.
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word-processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself. Then submit your work using the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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PreWriting
Locate and list at least two phrases, ideas or motifs from "The Gettysburg Address" that are used repeatedly during Lincoln's speech.
List a theme from "The Gettysburg Address" that expresses a belief about human rights. Remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement. Explain what evidence from the text you can find in support of that theme.
a.
Locate and list at least two phrases, ideas or motifs from the excerpt from "The Declaration of Independence" that are used repeatedly in the document.
List a theme from "The Declaration of Independence" that expresses a belief about human rights. Remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement. Explain what evidence from the text you can find in support of that theme.
a.
Locate and list at least six phrases, ideas or motifs from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" that are used repeatedly during the letter.
List three themes from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (either in your own words, or as direct quotations) that express a belief about human rights. Remember, a theme is a complete sentence that makes a general statement. For each theme, explain what evidence from the text you can find in support of that theme.
a.
b.
c.
For which of the readings was it easier for you to identify themes? Why do you think that was?
How are the themes from "The Gettysburg Address" and "The Declaration of Independence" related to the themes from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"? Consider each of the themes specifically, and/or consider them as a group. Compare and/or contrast.
How do you think reading these three pieces together affected (or didn't affect) the themes you picked out?
In your own words, summarize the most important, main idea from "Letter from a Birmingham Jail".
How does Martin Luther King Jr. use ideas from "The Gettysburg Address" and/or "The Declaration of Independence" to support his claims?
Give an example from "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" of how King deals with a counterargument (an idea that opposes one of his claims, and how he responds).
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.01.02 Performance Assessment (LA 9)
In this quiz, you will do a close reading of several excerpts and identify commonalities. I encourage you to ask someone else to read the following selections and discuss them with you before you compose your answers to the quiz questions.
Excerpt from "Brown vs. the Board of Education" majority opinion, written by Chief Justice Earl Warren in 1954:
In approaching this problem, we cannot turn the clock back to 1868, when the Amendment was adopted, or even to 1896, when Plessy v. Ferguson was written. We must consider public education in the light of its full development and its present place in American life throughout the Nation. Only in this way can it be determined if segregation in public schools deprives these plaintiffs of the equal protection of the laws.
Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.
We come then to the question presented: Does segregation of children in public schools solely on the basis of race, even though the physical facilities and other "tangible" factors may be equal, deprive the children of the minority group of equal educational opportunities? We believe that it does.
In Sweatt v. Painter, supra, in finding that a segregated law school for Negroes could not provide them equal educational opportunities, this Court relied in large part on "those qualities which are incapable of objective measurement but which make for greatness in a law school." In McLaurin v. Oklahoma State Regents, supra, the Court, in requiring that a Negro admitted to a white graduate school be treated like all other students, again resorted to intangible considerations: ". . . his ability to study, to engage in discussions and exchange views with other students, and, in general, to learn his profession." Such considerations apply with added force to children in grade and high schools. To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone. The effect of this separation on their educational opportunities was well stated by a finding in the Kansas case by a court which nevertheless felt compelled to rule against the Negro plaintiffs:
Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children. The impact is greater when it has the sanction of the law, for the policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn. Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system.
Whatever may have been the extent of psychological knowledge at the time of Plessy v. Ferguson, this finding is amply supported by modern authority. Any language in Plessy v. Ferguson contrary to this finding is rejected.
We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal. Therefore, we hold that the plaintiffs and others similarly situated for whom the actions have been brought are, by reason of the segregation complained of, deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment. This disposition makes unnecessary any discussion whether such segregation also violates the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Arkansas National Guard denies entrance to black students at Central High School, September 4, 1957: Will Counts, Arkansas History Commission
Excerpt from Alabama Governor George Wallace's inaugural address, 1963:
"It is very appropriate that from this cradle of the Confederacy, this very heart of the great Anglo-Saxon Southland, that today we sound the drum for freedom as have our generations of forebears before us time and again down through history. Let us rise to the call for freedom-loving blood that is in us and send our answer to the tyranny that clanks its chains upon the South. In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever...
Let us send this message back to Washington by our representatives who are with us today... that from this day we are standing up, and the heel of tyranny does not fit the neck of an upright man... that we intend to take the offensive and carry our fight for freedom across this nation, wielding the balance of power we know we possess in the Southland... that WE, not the insipid bloc voters of some sections will determine in the next election who shall sit in the White House of these United States... that from this day... from this hour... from this minute... we give the word of a race of honor that we will tolerate their boot in our face no longer... and let those certain judges put that in their opium pipes of power and smoke it for what it is worth."
12.01.02 Performance Assessment quiz (LA 9)
both teacher- and computer-scored 25 points possible 60 minutes
Note that this quiz is different from other quizzes in the class. It is longer and requires detailed, essay answers.
You may take this quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 60%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.02 More about argument (LA 9)
Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not.
The readings and activities for this lesson will extend your understanding of argument.
“An argument is a set of reasons or evidence (premises) in support of a conclusion. An argument is not merely a statement of views, nor is an argument simply a dispute. Arguments are attempts to support certain views with reasons.” - Weston, Anthony. (1992) A Rulebook for Arguments
Notice, from this definition, that you could structure a simple argument something like this:
The reasons that I believe that ____________ is best include ______________, ______________ and __________________. (if you had three reasons for your view) OR
______________________ is good (or bad) because _____________________.
A few basics of logic
EHS image
Inductive logic works from specific cases, patterns, or examples to reach a general rule. The more specific cases you observe to support the general rule, the more likely it is that the rule is correct. However, with inductive logic there is a chance that the rule might not always be true. You probably haven't checked all the possibilities. Consider this example:
Back before there were long-distance communications or quick transportation, people who lived in the middle of Utah would have observed that in the cold part of the winter, water freezes. Puddles freeze, bowls of water left outside freeze, lakes freeze, even streams and rivers eventually freeze. This happens year after year, and people (using inductive logic) conclude that this is a universal rule: water freezes in cold winter weather. You and I know that this rule is generally true. However, one winter, someone travels north to the edge of the Great Salt Lake. What's this? A whole lake of water that isn't frozen in the dead of winter? Turns out our 'rule' needs to be revised: "Fresh water freezes in cold winter weather."
Deductive logic starts with a general rule (the premise) and applies it to a specific case.
A premise is a statement that has previously been determined to be true--often, something 'taken for granted.' In formal logic, the premise(s) must be explicitly stated, but in general use, in many discussions of politics, religion or other issues, the speaker/writer may leave some premises unspoken, assumed. In that case, you (as the reader, or listener) may need to question or infer the unspoken assumptions before you can evaluate the conclusions based on this logic.
When you evaluate a claim based on deduction, there are two separate issues you must consider: whether the premises are true, and whether the logic is valid.
Are the premises true?
Consider this example: Premises: All water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below. The Great Salt Lake is water. Today the temperature is 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion: Today there will be ice on the Great Salt Lake. The logic is valid, BUT one of the premises is not true--salt water has a lower freezing point than fresh water. The conclusion is false.
Is the logic valid? Consider these examples:
1. Premises: All girls are human. John is human.
Conclusion: John must be a girl. The premises are true, BUT the logic is not valid. The premise didn't say "all humans are girls" or "only girls are humans"; it said "all girls are humans" The conclusion is false because it says John MUST be a girl, and we don't have enough information to know that.
2. Premises: Rabbits are afraid of dogs. Michael is afraid of dogs.
Conclusion: Michael must be a rabbit. Even if we say the premises are true, this logic is not valid. The premise doesn't say "ONLY rabbits are afraid of dogs." The conclusion is false. Robert MIGHT be a rabbit, but we don't have enough information to say he MUST be a rabbit.
Correlation and causation
Human beings all seem to be interested in finding out WHY things happen - looking for causes. When two things happen about the same time, we wonder whether one caused the other. We also have a natural tendency to look for patterns, to remember things that fit a pattern we've noticed, and forget things that don't fit the pattern.
In creating and evaluating arguments, it is very important to understand the difference between correlation and causation.
Causation: When one thing CAUSES another, we say that there is a causal relationship (not to be confused with a 'casual relationship'!), or that we have causation. Consider these examples:
1. When the temperature in the winter drops below freezing, the water in my dogs' outside water bowls freezes. These two things tend to happen about the same time. Is there a causal relationship? If so, what is it? (Yes, I know you're thinking "DUH!" but bear with me.)
Presuming that there IS a causal relationship, it could be one of two: The water freezing in the dog bowls causes the cold weather.... OR... The cold weather causes the water in the dog bowls to freeze. Of course, we know which is the correct relationship, but what if we didn't? Generally, a cause precedes an effect. If we observe carefully, we see that the weather gets cold before the water in the dish freezes, so probably cold weather causes the water to freeze, not the other way around.
2. For three days in a row, you miss the bus and your mom has to drive you to school. Your mom is annoyed with you those three days. Is there a causal relationship?
Well, if your mom is anything like my mom, yes! The reason (cause) that she is annoyed with you is that you were late and she had to take time to drive you to school. [Possibly this relationship goes both ways, if you were late deliberately to annoy your mom!]
Correlation: when two things tend to happen together, whether or not there is a causal relationship, we say they are correlated. Consider these examples:
1. Every year, there are about equal amounts of daylight and darkness. Also every year, there are about equal numbers of boy babies and girl babies born. Is there a causal relationship?
No. The relative numbers of boy and girl babies are not affected by the hours of light and darkness. This is correlation only.
2. For at least 60 years, research has noted that people who don't exercise are more likely to die relatively young. There is a correlation between not exercising and dying younger. Is there a causal relationship?
Yes. Additional research has determined that lack of exercise leaves our hearts and immune systems weaker, so that we don't live as long. This is both correlation AND causation.
3. We might also note that nearly all people who die of cancer slept in beds most of their lives. There is a correlation between sleeping in a bed and dying of cancer. Is there a causal relationship?
No. People who don't die of cancer also sleep in beds most of their lives. There is a correlation, but not causation.
Important: Correlation does NOT imply causation. When you notice a correlation between two things, that is a reason to ask whether there is a causal relationship, and how that might work; it is NOT a reason to ASSUME causation.
You may be thinking, "Those were all stupid examples. How is this important in the real world?" Here are just a couple examples of important real-life issues where we need to figure out whether causation or just correlation are at work:
1. Climate change/global warming: It has now been established beyond a reasonable doubt that the average temperature on Earth has gone up slightly over the past 300 years. Over the same time period, human populations and the burning of fossil fuels have increased dramatically. There is definitely a correlation between global temperatures and human-caused burning of fossil fuels. A huge debate going on internationally is over this question: Is there a causal relationship between human activities and global climate change?
The question is important because if we figure out the causes of climate change, we might reasonably try to take action against climate change. Without knowing causal relationships, any action we take is like a shot in the dark.
2. Economic problems: Over the years 2005 to 2011, various economic problems existed in the US (and to greater or lesser degrees, in many other countries); unemployment was up, the housing market crashed, national debt was up, the stock market was mostly down, health care costs were up. We can find correlations between these problems and other data: who was President, whether the Congress was controlled by Democrats or Republicans, the price of gold, money spent on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, total snow depth at Alta ski resort, illegal immigrants, global warming, UFO sightings, Super Bowl scores, the wolf population, the discovery of other Earth-like planets, the amount of government regulation, tax rates.... we could go on and on.
Clearly, many of the correlated events have no causal relationship with economic problems. Yet some of the correlated events must have causal relationships with the economic problems. Again, if we can sort out causes from effects and simple correlations, we can attempt to make changes that will bring improvement.
When you evaluate arguments, or when you develop arguments, you need to carefully consider issues of logic and causation.
Required: A List Of Fallacious Arguments (scroll down to read the explanations/examples)
http://www.youtube.com/user/PhilosophyFreak#p/c/48296651F7CF...
12.02.01 Inference and implication in argument (LA 9)
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone. Analyze in detail how an author’s ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter). Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.
Imply: to suggest indirectly (rather than state explicitly); to hint; to suggest that a conclusion necessarily follows from a prior statement (premise)
Infer: to figure out or guess by reasoning from evidence
Here is an excerpt from a famous essay written in 2001 by Anna Quindlen. It is a good example of inference. Notice how much she infers
[A Quilt of a Country is a commentary written by Pulitzer-prize winning author Anna Quindlen for 'Newsweek' following the devastation of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. The premise behind this article is that despite the diversity that can create a lot of problems within cities across America, diversity serves as a tribute to what makes America special.] http://study.com/academy/lesson/a-quilt-of-a-country-summary-analysis-quotes.html
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http://www.oakparkusd.org/cms/lib5/CA01000794/Centricity/Domain/356/quil...
Quindlen, Anna. “A Quilt of a Country.” Newsweek September 27, 2001. (2001)
America is an improbable idea. A mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, it is held together by a no-
tion, the notion that all men are created equal, though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better
than someone. “Of all the nations in the world, the United States was built in nobody’s image,” the historian Daniel
Boorstin wrote. That’s because it was built of bits and pieces that seem discordant, like the crazy quilts that have
been one of its great folk-art forms, velvet and calico and checks and brocades. Out of many, one. That is the ideal.
Now let's break down this famous, heavily inferenced, quote.
America is an improbable idea, a mongrel nation built of ever changing disparate parts,
1. Disparate parts can also be a reference or inference to the melting pot notion that was described in the 1780's to describe the large population of immigrants.
it is held together by a notion, the notion that all men are created equal,
2. All men are created equal is a reference or inference to the second paragraph in the Declaration of Independence.
though everyone knows that most men consider themselves better than someone. "Of all the nations in the
world, the United States was built in nobody's image," the historian Daniel Boorstin
wrote.
4. Inference to Whitney Otto's "How to Make an American Quilt"
Out of many, one. That is the ideal.
5. Inference to The 13-letter motto suggested in 1776 by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, E pluribus unum (Out of many, one)
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Inference often depends on the reader being familiar with the situations or allusions the writer uses. For instance, most of us have experience with trying to walk or stand on a steep slope and/or on slippery ground (ice, snow, mud, sand). At the least, most of us have seen movies where a character is having trouble on steep, slippery ground. Without that experience, Edwards' points would not make much sense.
When you are making an argument, it is sometimes best to imply a point instead of stating it straight out. For instance, in a debate you shouldn't specifically say that your opponent is stupid... but you might imply that, indirectly. However, if you refer to an example, it's important to use examples your audience will be familiar with. If a person knows nothing about World War II, s/he won't likely get the point of a comparison to Hitler or Hiroshima.
When you are developing your argument, also be aware that your statements might imply something you didn't really want to imply; be careful to say precisely what you mean. Only use irony/sarcasm if you are sure your audience will take it the right way.
When you are trying to understand someone else's argument, it is often important to be able to infer more than what is openly stated. For instance, in recent election speeches or debates, if a speaker said it was important for a President, or senator, to have had military experience, you might reasonably wonder whether the speaker really meant that military experience is important, or to draw negative attention to another candidate for avoiding the draft, or to suggest that you shouldn't consider a particular woman candidate (yes, I know women can be in the military, but not many women of the age to be running for national office served in the military).
You should also pay attention to the difference between what the argument actually states, and what you infer; or to the possibility that the speaker/writer is being sarcastic or ironic, and actually means the opposite of what s/he says.
12.02.02 Figurative language in argument (LA 9)
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
Figurative language, or figures of speech, is what we call use of words or phrases when we aren't using them in the everyday, literal sense. Clear as mud? (Hah! That's an example of figurative language, right there!)
When you look at the examples, it will be easier. You use and hear figurative language all the time, even if you don't recognize the names of the specific types. Whether you are writing argument, description, or narrative, figurative language can make your writing (or speech) stronger. Many difficult concepts are easier to understand when they are explained figuratively, and arguments may be more persuasive or compelling when couched in figurative speech.
For examples of that, let's go back to "A Quilt Of A Country" by Anna Quindlen. These excerpts are from later in the article:
There is that Calvinist undercurrent in the American psyche that loves the difficult, the demanding, that sees mastering the impossible, whether it be prairie or subway, as a test of character, and so glories in the struggle of this fractured coalescing. And there is a grudging fairness among the citizens of the United States that eventually leads most to admit that, no matter what the English-only advocates try to suggest, the new immigrants are not so different from our own parents or grandparents. Leonel Castillo, former director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and himself the grandson of Mexican immigrants, once told the writer Studs Terkel proudly, "The old neighborhood Ma-Pa stores are still around. They are not Italian or Jewish or Eastern European any more. Ma and Pa are now Korean, Vietnamese, Iraqi, Jordanian, Latin American. They live in the store. They work seven days a week. Their kids are doing well in school. They're making it. Sound familiar?"
Tolerance is the word used most often when this kind of coexistence succeeds, but tolerance is a vanilla-pudding word, standing for little more than the allowance of letting others live unremarked and unmolested. Pride seems excessive, given the American willingness to endlessly complain about them, them being whoever is new, different, unknown or currently under suspicion. But patriotism is partly taking pride in this unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth is as different as a dozen countries, and still be able to call it by one name. When photographs of the faces of all those who died in the World Trade Center destruction are assembled in one place, it will be possible to trace in the skin color, the shape of the eyes and the noses, the texture of the hair, a map of the world. These are the representatives of a mongrel nation that somehow, at times like this, has one spirit. Like many improbable ideas, when it actually works, it's a wonder.
These excerpts creates vivid images and a stronger reaction than if she had just said, "Our nation's tragedies join us together."
Specific types of figurative language
You have been introduced to some forms of figurative language earlier in your school experience. At the least, you should recognize metaphor, simile and personification:
Simile: making a comparison between two things not generally considered alike, using comparison words such as 'like', 'as', or 'than'.
"...his wrath towards you burns like fire;"
simile: His breath stank like rotten fish.
not a simile: His breath stank like my grandpa's breath. *Why is this not a simile?
simile: Sharon was as slender as a willow wand.
not a simile: Sharon was as slender as most other ballet dancers. *Why is this not a simile?
simile: The blizzard wind was more powerful than a D-9 Cat piling up the snow.
simile: Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead.
* The two starred sentences aren't similes because they are comparing things that we would expect to be more or less alike, NOT things we normally think of as quite different.
Metaphor: making an implied comparison between two things not generally considered alike, without using 'like', 'as', 'than' or other direct comparative words.
metaphor: The blizzard wind was a D-9 Cat piling up the snow.
not a metaphor: The horse's hoofbeats were like drumbeats on the boardwalk. *Why is this not a metaphor?
metaphor: The horse's hooves drummed a dance rhythm on the boardwalk.
not a metaphor: Lacrosse is soccer played with a stick. *Why is this not a metaphor?
metaphor: The lone tree is a sentinel at the end of the driveway.
metaphor: The bow of God's wrath is bent.
* The first starred sentence isn't a metaphor because it uses "like" to make the comparison, making it a simile. The second starred sentence isn't a metaphor because it is comparing things (two sports) that we would expect to be more or less alike, NOT things we normally think of as quite different.
Personification: referring to non-living things (or sometimes plants or animals) as if they could behave in human ways; you might consider this a sub-category of metaphor
personification: The sun smiled down on their picnic.
personification: The dog danced around, laughing at the treed cat.
personification: "... that keeps the arrow one moment from being made drunk with your blood."
not personification: "That parrot could sing like an opera star. *Why is this not personification?
*The parrot sentence has two problems: first, it might be considered a simile, since it uses "like" to make the comparison. More important, it might be a literal statement. We know that parrots can be trained to talk, so it may literally be true that the parrot sings like an opera star.
Analogy: an extended metaphor or simile that draws parallels between two specific pairs of things for the purpose of establishing a logical connection. The most basic form of an analogy follows the pattern "a is to b as c is to d" (these are often used on standardized tests). In argument, more complex analogies are used as evidence in support of a point. Examples of analogies:
Shoe is to foot as glove is to hand.
"...helping to train and equip host nation forces in the midst of an insurgency is akin to building an advanced aircraft while it is in flight, while it is being designed, and while it is being shot at. There is nothing easy about it." - General David Petraeus
Just as the complexity of something like a computer suggests that there must have been someone who designed it, so the complexity of the universe suggests that there must have been a designer.
A submarine can navigate using sonar, much as a bat navigates using echolocation.
"Sent to Davy Jones locker" (euphemism for death at sea): John Tenniel, Punch magazine, 1892, public domain
Euphemism: a more socially acceptable way of referring to something regarded as objectionable, private, offensive or hurtful. Euphemisms may change over time as expressions once considered too explicit become acceptable, or expressions once considered acceptable become offensive. Examples of euphemisms:
passed away, no longer with us, returned to his/her heavenly Father, left this life, gone ahead (all euphemisms for died)
let go, lost his job (fired)
not playing with a full deck, one brick shy of a load, nutty, not quite all there (crazy, mentally ill)
Hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration for effect; overstatement. Examples of hyperbole:
I was so hungry I could eat the whole cow.
He drove so fast, he broke the sound barrier on his way to the hospital.
Every person alive loves chocolate.
Understatement: a deliberate minimization. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole. The British have a reputation for understatement. Examples of understatement:
"across the pond" (meaning across the Atlantic ocean)
"a bit breezy" (referring to a hurricane)
"I'd prefer another option" (said by a person about to be hanged)
Oxymoron: an expression that appears to be or contain a contradiction in terms; a paradox. Technically, something only counts as an oxymoron if it was intended to be paradoxical (as opposed to being written or spoken that way accidentally or unintentionally). Examples of oxymorons:
Giant shrimp: by Takeaway, CC Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported via Wikimedia Commons
dwarf giant, precise estimate, baggy tights, clear as mud, fairly unique, extremely moderate, less is more, original copy, living dead, deafening silence, bitter sweet
Not quite oxymorons: Sometimes people create contradictions intended to be humorous. Probably the most common example of this is jokes about "military intelligence", when the implication is that military and intelligent are mutually exclusive terms.
"Honest politician" and "educational television" are other examples of expressions that may be used ironically, to suggest that no politicians are honest, and no television shows are educational.
12.02.03 Argument in Poetry (LA 9)
teacher-scored 20 points possible 20 minutes
We generally expect arguments to be presented in essays, articles or speeches, but argument can be communicated in other forms.
Read the poem "Just Keep Quiet and Nobody Will Notice" by Ogden Nash (use link below).
Copy and paste the section between the lines of asterisks into a word processing document on your computer. Complete your work, and save a copy for yourself.
Then submit your work by pasting it in to the assignment submission window for this assignment.
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1. What are some of the apologies that the poem alludes to? List at least three details from the poem as evidence for your answer.
2. What are three examples of figurative language in this poem? Quote the examples, and identify what kind of figurative language they use.
a.
b.
c.
3. List two examples of ideas implied (not stated explicitly) in the poem, and how Nash implies them.
a.
b.
4. What is the poet's claim (conclusion) in this poem, in their own words? (Your answer to this question should be a direct quote from the poem.)
5. What is their evidence (reason) for this conclusion? (Again, use a direct quote from the poem.)
6. Now, in your own words (two or three sentences), summarize the argument (claim and evidence) this poem presents.
7. Do you concur with Nash's claim? Why or why not?
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
"Just Keep Quiet and Nobody Will Notice", poem by Nash
12.02.04 Quiz on argument (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 25 minutes
This quiz covers the material from lessons and readings in unit 12. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 70%.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 7 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03 Write an argument essay (LA 9)
Jewish children in the Warsaw ghetto, Germany, about 1941: Unknown photographer, WC, public domain
As you begin work on your argument essay, as explained in the assignments below, keep in mind the goals of argument:
research the issue
12.03.01 Write an argument essay: pre-writing and research (LA 9)
teacher-scored 25 points possible 30 minutes
In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King articulated his dream that in the future, people would be judged by "the content of their character" rather than by things such as skin color, gender, religion, nationality, age, appearance, or other external factors. That is a big topic - too big for a short argument essay - so your assignment is to write about how one aspect of that dream has - or has not - been realized in the area where you live.
**Question 3 asks you to group people based on at least three criteria. Some criteria you might consider include age, gender, economic status, religion, education, hobbies or lifestyle, race, location, background, temperament, fitness, food preferences, style, looks... etc. Within each criteria, identify two or more groups (for example, if you were grouping people by the kind of music they like, your groups might include hard rock, ska, country, rap, classical, pop...).
Answer the questions below. Submit the questions and answers either by copy and paste, or as an attached document.
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A: Your community
1. Where do you live? Is it a city, small town, or rural area?
2. How many people live in your town/city? If you live outside any towns, how many people live in the nearest town?
3. How could you classify the people of your community into different groups? Consider at least three kinds of criteria for grouping them, with at least two groups for each criteria (see instructions above):
3a.
3c.
3d. Which groups are in the majority (that is, which groups have the most people)?
4. Which group(s) have the highest social status/prestige in the eyes of most people in your community?
5. Which group(s) may be looked down on in the eyes of most people in your community?
B: Character
6. What did King mean by "the content of their character"?
7. Give three reasons why judging others based on the content of their character is preferable to judging based on other factors.
a.
b.
c.
C: Your experiences (be honest, and think about these - don't just answer the way you think a person should)
8. When you meet someone new, what are the first things you notice?
9. When someone new meets you for the first time, what do you think they notice first about you?
10. List and explain three times when you have seen someone (or a group of people) being mean or rude to a person, in your community or school.
a.
b.
c.
11. In your experience, what are factors likely to cause someone to be treated badly? List at least five.
12. Which of the factors you listed for #11 would be part of "the content of their character"? Which would not?
13. Write two possible claims for your argument essay about whether King's dream of people being judged by the content of their character has - or has not - been realized in your community.
14. Research to find at least two quotations from other sources (your local newspaper might be a good source; they may have a website you could search) you could use either to support your claim, or to support a counter-argument. List the quotations and the sources here.
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Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 8 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03.02 Write an argument essay: composing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 45 minutes
In his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Martin Luther King articulated his dream that in the future, people would be judged by "the content of their character" rather than by things such as skin color, gender, religion, nationality or other external factors. That is a big topic - too big for a short argument essay - so your assignment is to write about how one aspect of that dream has - or has not - been realized in the area where you live.
Include personal experiences, but also bring in at least two quotations or information from other sources.
Remember you need to address a counterclaim in your essay.
The first draft (at least 300 words) will be scored mainly on ideas and organization.
Category
1 (does not meet standards)
Introduction & organization
Introduces precise, knowledgeable claim, establishes significance, distinguishes from opposing or alternate claims, and sets up logical organization of claims, counterclaims, reasons and evidence
Introduces claim and main reasons; distinguishes claim from counterclaims; sets up basic organization of claims, counter claims, reasons, evidence
Introduces topic, but may not make a clear claim or distinguish between claim and counterclaim
Development of ideas and content
Develops claims and counterclaims fairly and thoroughly, supplies most relevant data and evidence, points out strength and limitations, anticipating audience knowledge, concerns, biases and values, using personal experiences, logic, information from research and readings, and figurative language
Develops claims and counter claims fairly, supplies data and evidence, pointing out strengths and limitations, anticipating audience questions and knowledge, using personal experiences, logic, information from research, and figurative language
Supplies reasoning and/or evidence about topic, but may not clearly support claim, or may not supply specific evidence
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 8 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03.03 Argument Essay: revising (LA 9)
teacher-scored 24 points possible 30 minutes
After you have read my feedback on your initial draft, revise the first draft of your essay.
You may need to add more evidence, examples, or quotes (make sure to reference your sources); remember, you MUST include at least two quotations or facts from your research
cut out irrelevant information or weak evidence
improve the discussion of counterclaims (it is human nature to focus on what we believe, but for a good score, you need to fairly represent the opposing viewpoint, also)
create stronger transitions; clarify cause/effect, comparison, or other relationships
improve sentence structure or choice of words/phrases; and/or add to your introduction or conclusion.
Evaluate your essay based on the rubric to help you decide what you need to work on. This draft (at least 400 words) will be scored according to the following rubric:
Category
Important: Avoid plagiarism by crediting your sources, using MLA style.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 8 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.03.04 Argument Essay: editing (LA 9)
teacher-scored 15 points possible 15 minutes
Edit your argument essay to correct all conventions errors (spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, usage, indenting, parallelism, and sentence structure).
Make sure you have credited your sources. (Review the information from the previous unit about MLA style citations.)
You need a "works cited" list at the end of your paper; include at least the author's name, article title and publication date for each source. Then, within the main part of your essay add in-text citations: wherever you use information from one of your sources, put the author's last name (or the first two or three words of the article title, if no author was listed) in parenthesis right after the sentence or section where you used the quotation or information from that source.
Wherever you used any direct quotes, put them in quotation marks (as well as using an in-text citation afterwards).
Submit the edited version to your teacher. This draft will be scored according to the following rubric:
Category
Uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses; no fragments or run-on sentences
Uses variety in sentence length and structure; less than three fragments or run-on sentences.
Errors in sentence structure make ideas hard to follow.
Conventions and language skills
Has few or no errors in conventions, grammar or usage; uses parallel structure and variety in sentences, phrases and clauses
Has few errors in conventions, grammar or usage; uses variety in sentence length and structure
Has many errors in conventions, grammar or usage, interfering with the reader’s ability to follow the ideas
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 9 of your enrollment date for this class.
12.04 Preparing for Your Final Test (LA 9)
Go to the quiz link in Module 3 on the main class page to take your last quiz. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
This quiz covers all units in the class. It is sort of like a "mini final test" except that it doesn't have essay questions (your final will include three major essay questions as well as the multiple choice/matching type questions).
Be sure to submit your "Ready" assignment at least 24 hours before you need to take your final test.
12.04.01 Quiz: review for final test (LA 9)
computer-scored 20 points possible 25 minutes
This quiz covers the material from lessons and readings in the whole class, and is similar to the computer-scored part of the final test. You may take the quiz multiple times, but you must score at least 65%.
The actual final test will be longer, and include some essay questions.
Pacing: complete this by the end of Week 9 of your enrollment date for this class.
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i don't know
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VK (VKontakte), QZone, Orkut, and XING are (at 2014) international competitors of?
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Top International Social Networks You Didn’t Know Existed
Top International Social Networks You Didn’t Know Existed
Tags: Social Media • Social Networks
Given the increasingly global world of commerce in which we live, business owners still take a highly ethnocentric approach to social media. While it is estimated that 76% of businesses use social network sites to promote their business, a very small number use social networks that are popular outside their own nation of origin. That is because, in some cases, businesses are not capable of fulfilling orders internationally. But businesses who provide services that can be purchased internationally should make an effort to establish an international social media presence that can be maintained on various social networks that see heavy usage in other countries.
China
Because Facebook is banned in China, a number of regional sites have cropped up to fight for market share.
Sina Weibo
Literally translated to mean “New Wave Microblog,” Sina Weibo is a Chinese migroblogging website (akin to Twitter) in use by over 30% of Chinese Internet Users. Reported to have 368 million registered users in mid-2012, users post over 100 million messages every day. It’s heavily adopted by businesses: 5,000 businesses and 2,700 media organizations in China use Sina Weibo.
Unique Properties: Sina Weibo is heavily used by celebrities and popular figures: the top 100 users had over 485 million followers combined, an average of one million followers each. If you get big on Sina Weibo, you get -very- big.
Cons: Sina Weibo cooperates with the Chinese Government’s policy of internet censorship. Sina Weibo blacklists some keywords and the site does not support URL shortening services which can mask the identity of a site. Sina Weibo is estimated to employ 1,000 people specifically to monitor the massive influx of posts in compliance with censorship regulations.
Opportunities for Businesses: The most evident opportunity is to partner with one of Sina Weibo’s most popular celebrities on an endorsement deal, which easily allows a business to reach tens of millions of fans throughout the network. Advertising and media agencies with a presence in China, like MediaCom, can help implement a strategy like this.
Renren
Literally translated as “Everyone’s Website,” Renren is a Chinese remake of Facebook. With 160 million registered users and a total of 31 million active users monthly, Renren is one of the most popular Chinese social networks.
Unique Properties: On Renren, users earn “points” for activities like logging in, posting status messages, commenting, and receiving comments. As users earn points, their “level” on the site increases, which unlocks special emoticons, profile skins, and the ability to “go invisible” and view other users’ profiles without their knowledge. Renren also has a virtual currency, much like Facebook’s, which allows users to send gifts, exchange for social gaming perks, and advertise.
Opportunities for Businesses: To us, Renren seems to be an opportunity much like Facebook. Set up a profile for your business and begin interacting with customers and fans to generate engagement.
Douban
Douban is another large Chinese social network, with 53 million registered users as of 2001.
Cons: Douban exercises censorship in line with the Chinese Government’s policies. All content passed through Douban is censored. Experts are unsure whether or not Douban may be banned by the Chinese Government in 2013.
Unique Properties: Douban provides an online music, movie, and book database that users can utilize as a recommendation engine. It serves ratings and reviews for both registered and unregistered users. Douban has a high index among intellectuals discussing social issues.
Opportunities for Businesses: Particularly if your business is in the content industry, Douban provides an opportunity to reach new minds and start discussions about your content. It’s a must-have social network for music, book, or film publishers.
Qzone
A fast-growing social network with 597 million users and 150 million active users monthly, Qzone is typically used as a blogging and diary platform, much like LiveJournal.
Unique Properties: Part of the high loyalty of the platform is due to the popularity of the instant messaging tool, QQ, provided to users. Unfortunately, this is a one-to-one messaging platform, so opportunities for businesses to reach many users via the instant message tool are limited.
Opportunities for Businesses: If one could divise a way to build a loyal following, it would be a ripe opportunity to send customized instant messages to followers by the popular QQ tool.
Kaixin001
Ranking as the 13th most popular website in China, Kaixin is a social network that cannot be ignored.
Unique Properties: Kaixin001 offers a 1G online storage platform in addition to Facebook-like qualities. Be careful not to confuse Kaixin001 with other platforms named Kaixin in China, of which there are about a dozen, including some social networks that are imitations of the original.
Opportunities for Businesses: Unsure. Kaixin001 is more of a user-focused platform than a business-focused platform. They offer Apps, like online storage, social bookmarking, music, and quizzes that provide functionality. At the time of this writing, I’m not seeing a way to get involved heavily as a business, but that could change with new features. With the userbase that Kaixin001 has, it’s worth watching.
Russia
Russians have the highest social media usage rates in the world, averaging 9.8 hours per month, about twice the global average.
Vkontakte
An overt Facebook clone, Vkontakte offers many of the same features as Facebook and absolutely trounces Facebook’s market share in the country, with 54% of the Russian online population spending 20 minutes per day on average, compared with Facebook’s 24.7% market share and only 3 minutes a day on average.
Unique Properties: Since Vkontakte allows users to post streaming music or movies, this could explain why the social network is such an outlier when it comes to average time spent per day. Many users are passively using Vkontakte as a media distribution platform rather than actively engaging with the site. At any rate, media consumption means opportunities for advertising.
Opportunities for Businesses: We see two clear ways to establish a presence on Vkontakte. First, the obvious, businesses can set up a page for fans and make friends. Second, the high use of content means that, if your target audience closely aligns with Vkontakte’s user base, you could make some good advertising purchases here.
Odnoklassniki
With more than 45 million registered users and 10 million daily unique users, Odnoklassniki is a very popular social network in Russia. The name itself means “classmates,” a good indicator of the type of user they primarily service.
Unique Properties: Odnoklassniki has a a unique demographic, primarily men under the age of 35 with post-graduate educations earning less than $30,000 a year. The site ranks highly in former Soviet Bloc countries like Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.
Opportunities for Businesses: Limited. Since Facebook and Vkontakte have become more popular, Odnoklassniki’s declining market share hearkens back to MySpace a la 2003. Buyer beware before investing time or effort into building a presence here.
Latin America
Orkut
Hugely popular in Brazil, with 59.1% of Orkut’s users hailing from the country, Orkut provides a discussion platform with over 33 million active users.
Cons: Orkut is very prone to viruses. At least four major worms have propogated through Orkot in the last six years.
Unique Properties: Orkut is primarily a discussion and chatting site where users can create discussions (similar to Quora) that can be responded to by any user on the site.
Opportunities for Businesses: The discussion platform is great for customer engagement. We recommend that businesses that have customers in Brazil, India, and Japan establish an Orkut profile and begin creating customer-centric discussions.
Taringa!
Taringa, an Argentinian social networking site primarily concerned with link sharing, think Digg with profiles, is one of the largest social networking sites in Latin America.
Unique Properties: On Taringa, users are ranked according to the sum of their past contributions. Users increase their rank by receiving the equivalent of Likes on links that they submit. Users who consistently post content that is accepted by the community will be promoted through the ranks. The higher a user’s rank, the more Likes the user is able to give in a day.
Opportunities for Business: Establishing a profile and promoting links of companies and blogs that you support, as well as submitting your own links, can be a great source of inbound traffic.
Sonico
With reports of more than 20 million registered users, Sonico is a large social networking website in Latin America. On Sonico, users can add friends, manage their personal profile, upload photos and videos, organize events, or play games.
Opportunities for Business: Since Sonico is functionally a clone of Facebook, we recommend establishing a profile and promoting similar types of content to increase engagment and drive traffic back to your site.
Europe
Netlog
Netlog has over 94 million registered users and is popular throughout Europe as well as parts of the Middle East and Asia.
Unique Properties: Because Netlog’s demographic includes people from all over the world, the team at Netlog has established an intense localization algorithm that prioritizes results that are geotargeted and personalized for each member’s profile. This means that user searches typically return individuals local and within the same age range as the user searching.
Opportunities for Businesses: Best used as a personal networking site, Netlog provides few opportunities to market a brand but many opportunities for traditional sales tactics. Start meeting and greeting, tell people what you’re doing and why they need to hire you or purchase services from your business.
XING
XING is a professional social network, competing primarily with LinkedIn and European platform Viadeo. 90% of all pageviews on the XING platform come from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Opportunities for Businesses: Limited. XING has a very rigid no-spam policy, so it’s best used passively simply by setting up a profile and connecting with other users.
Southeast Asia
hi5
Hi5 is a social gaming platform owned by Tagged, a popular social gaming platform in America.
Unique Properties: Hi5 hosts cloned versions of many of the most popular Facebook games, and the main form of interaction on the site is playing games. This means that if your target audience is young and has a high proclivity to play online games, you might have an opportunity here.
Opportunities for Business: The best way to use the Hi5 social network is to buy advertising. Since most of the time users spend on the site is not viewing other users’ profiles or viewing status updates, your attempts to sell your product or service will be in vain. Instead, you can purchase homepage takeovers, skins, and branded virtual gifts. With the right budget and spending levels, you’ll be able to purchase in-game branded items that will help to support an integrated campaign.
Japan
mixi
Japan’s most popular social network with 2 million page views per day, registration on mixi is strictly controlled and requires the validation of a Japanese cellular phone number. Unfortunately, this puts the site out of reach of most Americans.
Opportunities for Businesses: Celebrities are very popular on mixi. The right way to attack this market is to partner with a media buying agency with connections to talent in the Japanese market and hire celebrity endorsers for your product.
South Korea
Cyworld
The most popular South Korean social networking platform, Cyworld has about 16 million monthly visitors. Unfortunately, this number is falling as its users convert to Facebook and Twitter. It is unlikely, but possible, that Cyworld will continue to shed users. Cyworld is very ingrained in South Korean culture: the term “cyholic” has entered the popular lexicon.
Unique Properties: In Cyworld, users can create avatars and apartments for themselves, rendered in a 2D isometric world, similar to The Sims.
Opportunities for Businesses: This would be an excellent opportunity for the right brand to purchase advertising in the form of branded clothes, accessories, or furniture that users could place on their avatar or in their virtual home. On Cyworld, members can form “clubs” and decorate the club space in the same way that they can their own home, providing another opportunity for branded placement. Celebrities are also popular on Cyworld, providing an opportunity for brand endorsement.
India
With a billion people and counting, India is expected to become the largest Facebook market in the world by 2015.
Ibibo
Roughly translated to “iBuild,” ibibo is a social networking service with about 4 million users, roughly 3% of the total Indian Internet population. By contrast, Facebook has about 63 million users in India. Ibibo is absolutely a supporting platform for reaching the Indian market: Facebook clearly dominates the region.
Honorable Mention: Orkut
Orkut was covered in detail in the Latin America section, but it also has a strong following among Indians.
Share your favorite social networking sites in the comments below.
Vkontakte is the best one.
Tricky Ntt
Good info. But I have to admit… Russian Odnoklassniki has its own specific, actually its deprived of free thiking and used for propoganda purposes. Many people has deleted their accounts recently because of flow of brainwashing sh#t
melinda
Nice compilation. Dint know about many!
http://about.me/DanielleKogan Danielle Kogan
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Which city in Brazil has (early-2000s) the longest beach garden in the world, the busiest container port in Latin America, and Pele's football club?
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Guide To Social Media Platforms For International Campaigns | Search Engine People
Guide To Social Media Platforms For International Campaigns
Home / Social Media Marketing /Guide To Social Media Platforms For International Campaigns
Guide To Social Media Platforms For International Campaigns
Lots of businesses are now seeing the power of international geo-targeting for their offerings, creating sub folders and designing landing pages for each market. Apple.com do a great job of this with a huge list of targeted subfolders, all created to market to that specific country.
brazil dubbed
social
media capital
of the universeThough companies are getting to grips with international SEO , very few tend to set up international social accounts and are missing out on strong marketing channels. China and Russia are the obvious regions worth exploring, both having rapidly expanding internet user growth and social media penetration. While Brazil has been dubbed "the new social media capital of the universe" with an estimated 79 Million people actively using social media. Though Facebook is the largest network in the world (as seen below), many countries have their own social networks with millions of users and open to Western brands and social media advertising.
Below is our guide to social media platforms in countries outside of the US with strong social media penetration.
United Kingdom
According to Office for National Statistics , Social networking is an increasingly popular activity in the UK with half the adult population actively using a social platform. This degree of popularity is illustrated by ONS' European survey results which reveal that the UK is one of the leading countries across the EU in terms of the take-up of social networking. The UK has the second highest proportion of social networkers in the EU - this is true for both social networking in general and social networking via a mobile device.
Below are the top social media platform in UK:
Facebook - Its growth period has clearly come to an end, with Comscore reporting an end of december 2013 user base of just over 31M. Although there are still approximately 2.5 million 13-17 year olds using the site. The largest demographic remains the 25-34 year olds, with just under 26% of all users falling into this age bracket.
Twitter - Twitters outgoing CEO announced a figure of 15m users in the UK last September. Growth remains steady with an estimated 15M users by the end of 2013. 80% of Twitter users in UK are active on mobiledevices
, the majority of these likely to be Smartphone users.
LinkedIn - LinkedIn, the business network had 10M+ active users in the UK by the end of 2013.
Pinterest - One of the biggest growers. Pinterest's growth has been steady in the UK from 200,000 users 2011/early 2012 to over two million, at July 2013.
Instagram - Instagram also continues to show good growth, with 200 million global users in late 2013
. Instagram have not released any UK specific data.
Snapchat and WhasApp are the newest platforms being talked about in 2014 - particularly amongst the youngest demographic (13-20).
China
In the recent social media infographics made by Go Globe , China has an estimated 597 million people active on social networks
. The data also shows that the largest section of China's social media users are aged 26 to 30 (30%). As a whole, 91 percent of Chinese netizens have social accounts
, which is way above the 67% in the US.
China's social media platforms are all monitored by The Great Firewall, known as the ' The Golden Shield Project '. Each social media platform in China has to manually monitor every piece of content being uploaded to ensure it complies with Chinese internet regulations.
"the self-censorship by content providers, who must make judgment calls on what needs to be censored in order to stay in the governments good graces, and self-censorship by users, who face the threat of being detained and punished for anti-government posts"
(Jason Q NG, Social Media Analyst)
Here's are the most popular social networks in China:
Tecent & Sina Weibo - In second and third place are the Twitter clones, Tencent Weibo and Sina Weibo . The latter gets most of the media attention, both in China and around the world.
Facebook clones - Four of the sites are a lot like Facebook. Tencents QZone, Tencents Pengyou, Renren, and Kaixin are all focused around a mix of social profiles, albums, buddies, and social gaming. These platforms have seen a decline over the past year as mobile test apps become popular. Qzone is now thought to be the 3rd largest social network in the world after Facebook and Youtube.
Wechat - The much talked about WeChat is like Whatsapp, and is one of a number of Asia-made messaging apps " like Line and KakaoTalk " that are battling to get onto the smartphones of young Chinese and Southeast Asian web users.
Youku Tudou - Video platform which now gets 500 millions uniques per month. The platform is similar to Youtube, but the content tends to be professionally produced.
All the above platforms offer paid promotion opportunities once official accounts have been created.
Russia
Based on online reports, Russia's online population has steadily grown to 56 million visitors
, with 85% of them using social media. The Kremlin is slowly getting a tighter grip on social media platforms as VK.com was used to arrange anti-Putin protests.
Here are the top 5 Russian social media platforms:
VKontakte (VK) - 49 Million active users and 239 Million accounts. VK is a Facebook like platform and is the second largest in Europe. VK.com is now owned by mail.ru and Putin friendly CEOs happy to give up user data.
Odnoklassniki - 37+ Million active users and 148 Million accounts, Similar to classmates.com connecting school friends
MoiMir - Brings together mail.ru custoners in one platform
LiveJournal - Blogging platform with 3 million active accounts
Rutube - The top video platform in Russia with and estimated 30 million unique visitors per month.
Facebook - 4th most used network. Russian parliament recently passed a bill to try and ban Tech firms from operating if they did not store their data in Russia. Once Putin took control of VK.com a huge amount of users shifted to Facebook, ironically for more privacy.
Twitter - 10 million users and growing rapidly in the main cities. Lots of Western brands are doing well in Russia on Twitter as show by Socialbakers stats
All the above platforms offer advertising to marketers. Contextual ads can be placed on these neworks via direct.Yandex
Brazil
Brazil was dubbed as "the social media capital of the universe" by the Wall Street Journal
. Brazil is undoubtedly an enticing prospect for companies seeking to expand and broaden their audience and an exciting market to watch. 79% of Brazilian Internet users (some 78 million people) are now on social media, according to a newly released report from analysts eMarkeer.
Facebook - Brazil already counts 65 million Facebook users , second only to the U.S. Its the worlds second-biggest user of Twitter (with 41.2 million tweeters and counting ) and the largest market outside the U.S. for YouTube . Meanwhile, a range of homegrown and foreign networks - from Google-owned Orkut to Ask.fm - keep social media users logged in for 9.7 hours a month, according to a 2013 comScore report . Plus ll signs indicate Brazil is just hitting its social stride. Average time spent on Facebook among Brazilians increased 208 percent last year , to 535 minutes per month. By comparison, global use declined by 2 percent during the same period.
LinkedIn- In October 2012 the professional networking site was reaching more than 10 million people in Brazil. In looking at the comScore numbers, LinkedIn went from 3.6 million total unique visitors in October 2011 to 9.6 million in October 2012, a gain of 166% in the Brazilian market
Orkut - Although suffered a huge drops, Orkut still one of the most visited social media site in Brazil. In October 2011, Okurt hits 39 millions views however in 2012 it only records 14.9m visits"thats 58% drop off while Facebook grew by 30% in Brazil between October 2011 and October 2012.
Twitter - Also drops significantly but still in #4 spot in terms of social media rank in Brazil. In October 2012 and had 9.2 million unique visitors from Brazil in that month, its dropped quite a bit compared to October 2011, when it had 13.3 million.
Ask.fm, Tumblr, Scribd and Pinterest Are Growing Strongly" Ask.fm has exploded in Brazil, with nearly 8 million unique visitors in October 2012. Its now the #5 social site in the country. Pinterest drew just 16,000 unique visitors from Brazil in October 2011 but has now pulling in 499,000 visitors a month. Overall it ranks at #21 among social sites in Brazil, but the growth is worth noting for social media marketers. Micro blogging site Tumblr went from 4 million total unique visitors in Brazil in October 2011 to 5.6 million the following year. Finally, document-sharing website Scribd went from 740,000 unique Brazilian visitors in October 2011 to more than 2 million in October 2012 according to Latin Link reports.
Japan
Japan is one of the few countries that had managed to keep local social networks more popular than Facebook, but now this is changing. Unlike Linkedin who started their Japanese services in October last year, Facebook had their Japanese version online back in 2008.
The local Market leader Mixi partnered Twitter in 2011 to compete against Facebook.
The following list looks at the top 6 social networks in Japan:
Mixi (25million). Launched in February 2004 is the biggest social networking site in Japan.
Facebook (16 million).Facebook has shown strong growth in Japan, with active users increasing to 16.7 million, 300 percent up from last year. Facebook has made progress recently as a business network among Japanese - rather than LinkedIn, which is popular overseas.
Gree (29 million). Gree has 190M user accounts globally, with overseas operations in nine countries. The social-network operator will offer user-support services in 14 languages starting next year.
Mobage 40 million. Mobage is a social mobile gaming platform with highly engaged users. It currently has three networks: Japan, China and West.
Twitter (30 million). Twitter's new "Lifeline" feature was launched in September in Japan - the first region in the world to receive the service that suggests which official government Twitter accounts should be followed if a disaster hits.
LINE (36 million). Launched in June 27, 2011, LINE is a cross-platform communication service and app, offered for free by Naver, from NHN Japan. The basic functionality allows users to send text messages and to make free calls with other users who have the app installed on their smartphones.
Along with the above countries, here are a few more with strong social media penetration among online users.
Spain
Social Media networks are popular in Spain with 41% penetration as seen in wearesocial's infographic. Of the 30 million people on the online in Spain, 69% of them use Facebook, followed by Youtube at 10% and Tuenti at 10% as well. As of June 2012 the Facebook users of Spain totalled over 16 million. Tuenti is also very popular in Spain, with their headquarters based in Madrid. Though a global network, Tuenti's main users are based in Spain with an estimated 10M+ active user base.
Germany
In December 2012, 46.4 million German internet users accessed a social networking site from a computer at least once during the month. The German Press Agency ( DPA ) recently published a snapshot of the social networking landscape in Germany using comScore MMX data and unsurprisingly, Facebook captures the majority of users with an audience of 38.6 million unique visitors.
Google Plus is in second position
with 5.6 million unique visitors, Xing is a close third with 4.2 million users and Stayfriends is fourth with 3.5 million unique users. Twitter is 5th in the rankings with 3.1 million German users and LinkedIn comes in 8th place with an audience of 2.7 million.
New Zealand
2.8 million people accessed a social media site in New Zealand during November 2013. This category reached 94.6 percent of the total Kiwi internet audience. Facebook was the clear leader with 1.95 million unique visitors; more than double that of LinkedIn who came in second place with an audience of 798,000 unique visitors. In the past 12 months, LinkedIn displayed a strong growth (53 percent) with its population growing from 520,000 in December 2012 to 798,000 in November 2013. Blogger ranked in third position with 559,000 unique visitors that month.
Analyzing the demographic profile of these social media sites in more detail shows that the professional networking platform, LinkedIn, attracted a large share of the older population with two thirds of their users over the age of 35 (68.6 percent), whilst more than half (55.3 percent) of Tumblr users are under 35. Facebook and Blogger share a similar audience composition, where the number of visitors aged 15-24 accounted for the largest segments of the Kiwi audience whereas people aged 55+ made up the biggest proportion of LinkedIn users in November 2013.
This post is written by Gareth James (@SEO_Doctor) on behalf of Visor Media, check out their blog for more great posts.
By Gareth James |2015-04-04T09:58:30+00:00October 6th, 2014| Social Media Marketing |Comments Off on Guide To Social Media Platforms For International Campaigns
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i don't know
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The region of Baltistan (also called Baltiyul) in the Karakoram mountains, south of K2, the world's second highest mountain, is in?
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Baltistan | བལྟིསྟན | بلتستان: Baltistan's Introduction.
Sunday
Baltistan's Introduction.
Baltistan (Urdu): بلتستان), also known as (Baltiyul) in the Balti Language , is a region in northern Pakistan and India, now called Gilgit Baltistan, bordering the xiangan Autonomous Region of China. It is situated in the Karakuram mountains just to the south of k2, the world's second highest mountain. It is an extremely mountainous region, with an average altitude of over 3,350 m (11,000 ft). It is inhabited principally by Balti Shia Ithna Ashri, of Tibetan descent who converted from tebatian Buddish prior to the 16th century. There is a small minority of Bahais in Baltistan.
Baltistan consisted of small independent valley states that were connected to each other through blood relationships of the rulers, called rajas, trade, common beliefs and strong cultural and language bonds. These states were subjugated by force by the Dogra rulers of Kashmir in the nineteenth century. In 1947 when India and Pakistan gained independence, Baltistan was still part of Kashmir. The people of Baltistan being predominantly Muslims revolted against the Dogra rulers and after a struggle lasting a year became independent. Along with Gilgit, it is now claimed by Pakistan as the region of Gilgit Baltistan. Its links with Kashmir as a subjugated people today continues to be an impediment in granting its population citizenship of Pakistan. The Kargil District of this region is located in the north of Indian Administrated Kashmir , while the districts of Skardu and Ganche, whose main town is Skardu, are located in the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan region. The region has the highest peaks of the Karakoram, including K2.
Geography:
Baltistan forms the west extremity of Tibet, whose natural limits here are the Indus from its abrupt southward bend in 74 45 E., and the mountains to the north and west, separating a comparatively peaceful Tibetan population from the fiercer Aryan tribes beyond. Muslim writers about the 16th century speak of Baltistan as Little Tibet, and of Ladakh as Great Tibet, thus ignoring the really Great Tibet altogether. The Balti call Gilgit a Tibet, and Dr Leitner says that the Chilasi call themselves But or Tibetans; but, althoug these districts may have been overrun by the Tibetans, or have received rulers of that race, the ethonological frontier coincides with the geographical one given. Baltistan is a mass of lofty mountains, the prevailing formation being gneiss. In the north is the Baltro Glaicer, the largest out of the arctic regions, 35 miles (56 km) long, contained between two ridges whose highest peaks to the south are 25,000 ft (7,600 m) and to the north 28,265 ft (8,615 m). The Indus, as in Lower Ladakh, runs in a narrow gorge, widening for nearly 20 m. after receiving the shyouk . The capital, skardu, a scattered collection of houses, stands here, perched on a rock 7,250 ft (2,210 m). above the sea. The house roofs are flat, occupied only in part by a second storey, the remaining space being devoted to drying airports, the chief staple of the main valley, which supports little cultivation. . 29 August 2009 the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan announced that the northern areas are a new province of Pakistan. and Gilgit city is its capital city. This province name is Gilgit-Baltistan.
Balti Language:
All people living in Baltistan are called Balti. The Greeks derived Byaltae froms-Balti, which in Tibetan means "water gorge." The historian ptolemy who was also a general in the army of Alexender The Great had named the region (Byaltae) in his book.] In fact Baltistan is the Persian translation of Baltiyul, “The Homeland of Balti”. The people belonging to Balti ethnicity are settled on both banks of the river Indus from Kargil (in the east) to Haramosh (in the west) and from Karakoram Range (in the north) to Deosai Planes (in the south). The Balti ethnicity is primarily Tibetan in origin, with some Darice admixture. However people migrated to this area in different periods of ancient times, on account of different reasons and after merging in the prevailing Tibetan society, gave birth to a new civilaization. All these multi racial groups speak Balti LAnguage, which is a branch of the ancient Tibetan language. However in some rural areas, the Sheen people still speak shina lanuage.
The Balti are a very forbearing, cheerful, and hospitable people.
There are several Balti communities located in Pakistan's urban areas further south, notably in Lahore , Islamabad , Quetta And In Karachi
Areas:
The present Balti language or Balti form of Tibetan language is spoken in the whole of Baltistan and it is said that Purki-dialect of Purig and Suru-Kartse valleys come in to the Balti group linguistically. However, at the moment nearly 0.4 million people living in Baltistan and about 0.1 million Baltis who live in different cities of Pakistan and working abroad speak Balti.
Evolution:
The Balti language has always been at a disadvantage. As mentioned earlier it had to change the script from the original to an artificial one (Persian) which never corresponded with the letters and requirements of the Balti with the result that it lost its standard and Tibetan originality. Its folk-literature is not yet available in written-shape; but continues to be orally transmitted. On the contrary the Balti has been quite promising in the sense of literature in category, aptitude and profundity. It is worth mention here that, despite all handicaps the Balti language has retained may honorific words like all the Tibetan dialects and many other languages.A man from Baltistan,"Ghulam Hassan Lobsang" has great contribution in Balti language.He is the first man who has written a Balti grammar (in Persian version) which of course, a milestone in Balti languge. Below are a few examples:
Ordinary Balti
Leg
Literature:
Though Balti has remained under adverse conditions, even then it has proved to be a very fertile language capable of creating several genres of folk and classical literature. We do not find any prose except proverbs (in hundreds) and some epics and sagas (such as those of King Kesar/Gesar, Rgyalucho-Lo-bZang and Rgyalu-Srasbu and some others), all in oral tradition. All other literature is in verse. Balti literature has adopted numerous persian styles of verse and vocables also wluch have amplified the beauty and melody of its poetry.
Nearly all the languages and dialects of the mountain region in the north of Pakistan including Pashtu, Khowar and Shina belong to the Indic or Iranian language families, but Balti is the only language which belongs to the Tibeto Bureman branch of the Sino-Tibetian group of languages. As such, it has nothing in common with neighboring languages except some loanwords absorbed as a result of linguistic contact. Although Balti is, at the moment, cut off from its sister languages of Ladakh but has 80-90% of nouns, pronouns, verbs and other literary and grammatical character in common. We can, however, term Balti and Bodhi of Ladakh as separate dialects, but not separate languages.
The major issue facing the development of Balti literature is its centuries-long isolation from Tibet, owing to political divisions and strong religious differences and even from its immediate neighbor Ladakh for the last 50 years. Separated from its linguistic kin, Balti is under pressure from more dominant languages such as Urdu. This is compounded by the lack of a suitable means of transcribing the language following the abandonment of its original Tibetan script. At the moment neither the Baltis have the awareness to revive their original script nor there is any institution which could restore it and persuade the people to use it again. Even if the script is revived, it would need modification to express certain Persian and Urdu phonemes that occur in common loanwords within Balti.
The Balti Literature may be categorised as under:
Rgya-glu: This can be categorised as a classical one in the folk-verses for its meaning or deepness. It contains romantic songs, elegies, advice, complaints and historical events etc.
Rtse-glu:This is a light type of poetry sung while dancing. In this kind of song, different topics and events of life, families and their social or cultural conditions, jokes, etc. are the subject matter.
Yurmi-glu: This is a song sung by the women while working or weeding in the fields. In such songs, women recollect their childhood, love and longing for her parents, pleasant or unpleasant experience or feelings about her husband or other relatives.
Ridagsi-glu: These are the songs composed in praise of mountain-goats of all sort. Some songs admire the beauty of wild-life, some depict motherhood in these animals for their kids and in some the poets lament the extinction of goats and sheep.
Bar-glu: Also called Deewan, this can be described as the medieval stage between the Rgya-glu and the modern poetry (glu). This type of poetry also involves romantic and other general experiences.
Glu: This can be described as the mGul-glu as it has only romantic feelings and flavour.
Hamd: This is the form of verses in praise of God.
Qaseeda: These are verses in praise of Muhammad (saww) and the twelve Imams (as), their family members according to Shia.
Marsia: Versed elegy commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (as) (the grandson of Muhammad (saww) , the 3rd Imam) in Karbala, other Imams, etc.
Noha: These are versed elegies sung with rhythm while the (Shiaite) mourners beat their chests. This category is also attributed to the martyrs of Karbala and other family members of Muhammad (saww).
Bahr-e-Taweel: These verses are in long metre and consist of several stanzas of 9 to 14 lines. In this poetry, generally, the mortality of life and other similar topics are explored in a mystic way.
Goshwara: This is similar to the Persian or Urdu "Masnavi" Narrative couplets. Usually the dignity and illustrious personalities and deeds of Muhammad and the Imams are narrated.
Ghazal: These are the odes of love and romance exactly on the principles of Persian and Urdu Ghazal and Nazm.
youq fangsay thalang paqzi na mandoq na mabour na
na drolbi laming yani si soq fangse chi thobtook
Sa-get-pi-glu: These are the songs praising or encouraging the farmers and agriculturists in modern time.
Milli-naghma: These are like Urdu Milli-naghmas.
Muhammad Ali Baig c ya gang ma bris pin.
Vocabulary:
The Balti language shares 90% of the vocabulary with the neighboring Ladakhi, as well as with Amdo and Kham dialect of North Eastern Tibet. However, they have adopted words from Shia, Burushakhsi and Persian with the process of Islamization.
References:
Hussainabadi, Mohamad Yusuf. Balti Zaban. 1990.
Read, A.F.C. Balti grammar.London:The Royal Asiatic society, 1934.
Sprigg, Richard Keith. Balti-English English-Balti dictionary. Richmond: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002.
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Pakistan
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What AA Milne children's book character is used as a metaphor in referring to someone who is pessimistic and gloomy?
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Balti people : Wikis (The Full Wiki)
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Balti
Burig , Dards , Ladakhis , Tibetans
The Balti are an ethnic group of Tibetan descent with some Dardic admixture located in Gilgit-Baltistan , Pakistan and Ladakh , a region in Jammu & Kashmir , India ; as well as scattered in Pakistan's major urban centres of Lahore , Karachi and Islamabad / Rawalpindi . The Balti language belongs to the Tibetan language family and is a sub-dialect of Ladakhi. [1] Balti , Ladakhi and Burig are mutually intelligible.
Contents
8 External links
History
Tibetan Khampa and Dardic tribes(sons of Darius ) came to Baltistan (called Baltiyul by locals) prior to civilisation, and these groups eventually settled down, creating the Balti people. It was believed that the Balti people came under the Sphere of influence from the kingdom of Zhang Zhung . Most of the rich and affluent Balti people are of Arabic descent.
The modern world Balti people, however, are not all from Tibetan stock. With the passage of time, many other tribes namely, Shins, Yashkuns (Dardic people), Kashmiris (called Khache in local language), Arabs (mostly Sayeds), Persian (Sufis) and Turks (especially Uygurs from central Asia) made their enroads to Baltistan and gradually merged with the local population. After second or third generation they became Baltis. Today, in Skardu(land of Sakas ), the capital of Baltistan region of Pakistan, the most hardened Baltis are outsiders namely Kashmiris or Dard tribes.
Baltistan came under the control of the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century. Under Tibetan cultural influence, the Bön and Animist Baltis began to adopt Tibetan Buddhism from Indian Buddhism . Religious artefacts such as the Gompas and Chörtens were erected, and Lamas played an important role in the lives of the Baltis.
History of Islam in Baltistan starts with arrival of Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamadani(A legendary Sufi Saint of the Muslim History) from Iran during 15th Century. He was followed by other Sufi legends afterwards, such asShah Syed Muhammad Noorbaksh & Syed Shansuddin Iraqi. Soon the whole region converted to Noorbakshi order of Islamic Sufism. During the start of 19th century, however, the predominant population converted to other Islamic schools of thought such as Shias and Sunnis. The pure Islamic (Noorkbakhsia)sect is still there. Today, the Baltis are; Shia' denomination (80%), Nurbakhshi (17%), and Sunni-Ahlehadith sect (3%). With the decline of power of Central Tibet during the 11th century, the Balti people came under the control of the local ruling families namely Maqpon in Skardu, Amacha in Shigar and Yabgo in Khaplu. They fostered a close relationship with Ladakh in the east. Similar linguistic and cultural characteristics of Baltiyul and Ladakh helped in forging an administrative unit that existed until 1948 when Balties revolted against the Dogras and joined Pakistan. The Dogra Maharajas of Jammu kept the administrative unit intact and converted it into a province called Ladakh Wazarat (a province composed of Baltistan, central Ladakh, Purik, Zanskar and Changthang areas). Skardo , capital of Baltiyul became the winter capital of province while Leh , capital of Central Ladakh became the summer capital. The province was divided into three districts namely Skardo, Leh and Kargil.
Culture
Centuries of Tibetan, Islamic and Indian influence have shaped the Balti culture into its modern form. Islam plays an important role in Balti culture.
Tibetan influence can be seen in its architecture, where houses with flat roof painted white and sloping inwards are built, and the most notable artifacts of the Balti/Ladakhi architecture include Kharpoche in Skardo, Khapulo Khar in Khapulo, Chakchan and Shigar Khanqah and Baltit fort of Hunza. Like the Ladakhi Muslim architectures, older mosques show a mix of Iranian and Tibetan architecture, although strong Iranian and modern influences can be seen in the newer mosques.
Little remains of the pre-Islamic Buddhist culture of Baltistan, largely destroyed and supplaced by the dominant Punjabi and Iranian culture which arrived with Islam; this can be evidenced in the near-extinction of traditional Balti festivals such as Mephang, Mindok Ltadmo and Srup Lha. Folk literature such as those of Lha Kesar and works of Ali Sher Khan Anchan prevail among the Balti literature, which has experienced a revival in recent years.
Although climatic conditions are harsh and inhospitable, the village people of Baltistan are among the most friendly and hospitable of mountain peoples in Pakistan. Evolved out of 106 years of slavery under the Dogra rulers and innumerable decades under local despotic Rajas, the predominant population of today’s Baltistan is religiously and ethnically homogeneous.
Baltistan is proud of her thousands of years of rich civilization. Her architecture, costumes, cuisines, festivals, dances, language, script and epics make her unique among her neighbors, especially within the contemporary Northern Areas. The local culture is a blend of that of Ladakhi and Islamic rituals. Since partition, the residents of Baltistan have remained essentially people of Baltistan’s soil. They are devout Muslims, and in effect including two generations borne since the annexation and occupation of Baltistan by India have never distanced themselves from the cultural and linguistic ties to what ninety percent of the Baltis regard as Ladakhi cultural and linguistic heritage.
Of late, modern Balti scholars such as Ghulam Hassan Lobsang, Ghulam Hassan Hasni, Syed Abbas Kazmi and Mohammad Senge Tshering Hasnain have contributed greatly to the re-discovery of the Balti culture. Plans for the excavation of an ancient monastery and the preservation of the Buddha rock are planned, as the Balti go through a process of merging their culture with those of their brethren in Ladakh.
Recently a book (Balti Tamlo) has been produced by Ghulam Hassan Hasni that contains 900 Balti/Ladakhi proverbs, idioms and expressions. Further, books have been written by authors including Hassan Lobsang on local Bon traditions and pre-Buddhist Baltiyul.
Lifestyle
Sandwiched between the Karakoram , the Himalayan and Ladakh mountain ranges, the Baltistan region is highly valued for its strategic geo-political location. Its trade routes in the past have served as economic lifelines for the inhabitants of this region, who bartered goods while visiting East Turkestan (Sinkiang), China , Central Asia, the Indian Sub-continent, Central Tibet and beyond. Today, the region is sandwiched between three nuclear powers of Asia: China in the north, India in the east and south, and Pakistan in west.
Baltistan contains some of the highest mountains and longest glaciers in the world. Further, the rivers and streams have formed numerous valleys over the course of time, which are inhabited and cultivated by the residents. Innumerable rivers and rivulets including Shyok, Siachen, Saltoro, Suru, Shingo and Shigar rivers, augment the mighty Indus River , which after bisecting Baltistan enters Gilgit . Glacial lakes are abundant in Baltistan and are of high touristic value. Baltistan possesses approximately fifty peaks with heights of more than 20,000 feet (6,100 m) above sea level. Mighty K2 - the second highest peak in the world at 8,611 meters in height – is situated here, overlooking the Shigar valley. The glaciers - the longest in the world outside the Polar Regions, reaching to a length of 90 kilometers – surround Baltistan in the north and west directions, separating her from China and Gilgit.
Baltistan has four seasons; a short spring, summer and autumn, with a longer winter. As winters approach, temperatures drop to –25 degrees Celsius in the residential villages and towns. Rainfall is less than 300 millimeters per annum as the region falls outside the monsoon zone. Vegetation is scarce in Baltistan and found only in areas fed by streams and rivulets. The Deosai Plains , also called Byarsa in Balti, around 5,400 square kilometers of sheer plateau at an elevation of 14,000 feet (4,300 m) from sea level, are a refuge for the most endangered wildlife species both flora and fauna, including the magnificent snow leopard .
Skardo , the urban capital of Baltistan, is located at 7,400 feet (2,300 m) above sea level. Formerly the capital of the Rajas of Skardo, it is the widest valley in the whole of Karakoram mountain belt, and is the site of the longest airplane runway at such an elevation. Skardo or Skardu is a major tourist attraction in Pakistan, attracting thousands of visitors and tourist both domestically and from abroad, notably by Europeans.
Several historical trade routes under utilization by Baltis for thousands of years open towards Leh, Kargil, Srinagar , Simla , Manali , Yarkand (to China through Karakoram Pass of India), and Tibet. However since the war between Pakistan and India in 1971, the local population hasn’t been able to access the trading regions in the east and north, which has had a significant impact on the local economy.
Subsequent political events in Pakistan, the unresolved status of Jammu and Kashmir, and red tapism in government policies and lack of federal funds considering Pakistan's current fiscal deficit have hampered development of this tourist friendly region. Baltistan has remained one of the most poverty stricken areas within Pakistan, a position further made difficult by the location of region and difficulties in reaching it by road. The establishment of a runway and the Karokoram Highway in cooperation with China has drastically improved the situation in the region but more needs to be done in order to bring the region at par with other parts of the country. Subsidized supplies from other parts of the country are still the bulk source of essential goods when the region is cut off for months due to avalanches and landslides affecting the only road linking Baltistan to rest of Pakistan. This road was only built in 1982, prior to which the only source of transportation to Baltistan (which has an area three times the size of the Kashmir Valley) was by air, and dependent on good weather. The government of Pakistan, has signed several agreements with China to the effect of establishing a Duty-Free Export zone in adjacent Gilgit with the subsequent establishment of industries and skills-training workshops, it is hoped that this development will help accelerate development in the region along with Skardu and other parts of Baltistan. The Agha Khan foundation is active in developmental projects in the region, and has initiated several projects such as water purification, educational and vocational training centres.
In recent years, many in the region have been yearning for greater political representation in the Federal Government of Pakistan.
The literacy ratio in Baltistan was very low, approximately 20 percent for males and 3 percent for females. In valleys like Basha, Braldo etc. female literacy was almost non-existent. Health facilities are severely limited and joblessness has compelled many to leave the region over the years. With the construction of the highway along the Indus river and its linkage with the Karakuram Highway has opened up this area and progress during the last twenty years has been rapid and visible. Aga Khan Rural Support Ptogramme (AKRSP) and Marafie Foundation has played a major role in progress of this area. While AKRSP contributed in social mobilization, infrastructure development and agriculture, Marafie Foundation invested in education and health. AKRSP also acted as catalyst for birth of thousands of active community based organizations working in the area in variety of fields. In the field of education the role of Marafie Foundation is a success story. A recent survey by AKRSP shows that the male education today stands at 70% and that of female at 35%. All this has resulted in increase in the per capita income which is now almost at par with the national per capita income.
Like the Ladakhis, the Balti are agriculturalists. However, being a mountainous region, availability of cultivable land is scarce. Subsistence farming and animal husbandry are the main sources of livelihood for the Baltis. They grow wheat, barley, millet and buckwheat, and raise goats and sheep for wool, and yaks for hair, meat, milk and skin. These animals are also traded for cash. Horticulture also forms a significant source of income for the Baltis. However, there is only an average of 2 acres (8,100 m2) of land per household available for cultivation. Security issues compel the villagers to store rations for both humans and animals, which is then utilized during the long winters. During the six or seven months of long winter, economic activities virtually cease to exist and people leave for Pakistan to seek job opportunities.
Balti staple cuisine includes Cha-phe (Tsampa), Ladakhi salt tea (Balti Cha), Marzan (cooked dough and yak butter); Thsodma (greens), Balay (Noodles cooked with meat), Thaltakh (Salty cake of refined flour mixed with eggs and butter) and Chuli-Chhu (apricot juice). Cereals are planted in late spring and at lands with elevations not above 2,500 m, particularly along the Indus (Sengge Chhu) and Shyok river.
During the years when it is relatively calm and peaceful, a modest number of tourists both local and international visit Baltistan, providing much needed financial support. The region lacks major industry. As permanent sources of job opportunities are lacking, thousands of people have left the region either temporarily or on a permanent basis to go to other parts of Pakistan and the Middle East.
The re-opening of roads eastwards linking Baltiyul with Ladakh and Kashmir would allow the local economy to improve and thousands of divided families of Ladakh and Baltistan to reunite. Per capita income, which is a quarter of national Pakistani average (US$ 120) may also increase as trade opportunities and tourism catch pace.
Religion
History of Islam in Baltistan starts with arrival of Ameer Kabeer Syed Ali Hamadani (A legendary Sufi Saint of the Muslim History) from Iran during 15th Century A.D. He was followed by other Sufi legends afterwards, such as Shah Syed Muhammad Noorbaksh (no historical record of these visits exists). Soon the whole region converted to Noorbakshi order of Islamic Sufism. The core edicts of this order of Sufism are as follows: complete elimination of all evil desires and immoralities of human nature from one’s self; total submission of one’s wills before Allah (by following the Qur'an and Sunnah) and finally love and peace for the whole mankind.
During the start of 19th century the predominant population converted to other Islamic schools of thought such as Shias and Sunnis. Today, the Baltis are; Shia' denomination (54%), Sufi Noorbakshi (43%)and Sunni sect (3%). Today, Noorbakshis are found in Baltistan and Ladakh regions of J&K, as well as a large number of Noorbakshis are native to Iran, Kurdistan and Central Asia.
Local Muslims, who converted from Bon-po and Tibetan Buddhism still retain many traits of pre-Islamic Bon and Lamaist rituals, which makes Islam of Baltistan and Ladakh unique from other Muslim societies. Swastika (Yung drung) sign is considered auspicious and is carved on wooden planks that can be seen in historical mosques and Khankas. Showing respect to Lha and Lhu (Bon Gods) is customary during many village rituals.
The Balti, who converted to Islam from Tibetan Buddhism in the 16th century, regard congregation in the Mosques and Khankah as an important religious ritual. The Khankahs are a kind of typical training school of Noorbakshi Sufis which was introduced by the early Sufi saints arrived in the region. The Sufi students gain spiritual purity ( tazkiah ) through these trainings (meditations and contemplations) under well-practiced spiritual guides, who have already attained certain degree of spirituality. Mosques in Baltistan are mainly built in the Tibetan style, though several mosques constructed have wood-finish and decorations of Iranian origin which can also be seen in Ladakh and Kargil . On every Friday, the men folk would generally attend the prayers sometime a little after noon. All Muslims will fast in the day during the month of the Ramadan, and a celebration will be held at the end of the celebration.
Small pockets of Bön and Tibetan Buddhist believers that amounted up to 3000 people are found in Kharmang valley of Baltistan [1] and in West Kargil . East Ladakh (Leh district and Zanskar) are predominantly Buddhist.
Script
Brahmi was used for written Balti between the 5th to 6th century. However, with the introduction of the Tibetan script under king Khri Getsung-Brtan in the 727 AD, Balti literature flourished. It remained in use until the 16th century, when the Persian script replaced the Balti script. However, Persian script is not appropriate for Balti language as it restricts accurate pronunciation of the words due to deformation in writing form.
In contemporary Baltiyul, youth like Senge Thsering, Bakir Posingpa, Hassan Shesrab, Raza Tassawor, Zakir Shukur, Taki Akhunzada Namgyal, Nisar Ali Machulo and many others are trying to reintroduce Tibetan/Ladakhi script so that the richness of the Balti language could be promoted and restored. Today one can see many signboards on shops and offices in Tibetan script, a project started by Senge Thsering and Bakir Posingpa in year 2000.
Baltistan Cultural Foundation is an organization trying level best to promote the indigenous script Yige. A primer has been produced by BCF that will be introduced in private schools. Plans are to send Balti teachers to Nepal to learn Tibetan script that could be then taught in local Balti schools. Friends are requested to send funds to BCF in order to support the vital financial arrangements required in this regard.
Baltis of Kargil have also initiated school projects where Yige (Ladakhi/Tibetan) script is taught at primary level to local students. Muslims of Kargil and Baltistan have started showing enthusiasm in reviving the indigenous Tibetan script and enhancing cultural ties of Ladakh and Baltistan.
The one and only organization that was establish in the 80s has been working for the betterment and publishing the true teachings of Shah Syed Muhammad Noorbakhsh R.A. This organization NYF Noorbakhshia Youth Federation is the most strongest organization which is based upon the youth of the Noorbakhshi community. NYF has hundereds of units in all over BALTISTAN,even in every big city of Pakistan. Every nit is interlinked with each other all the time. NYF is the organization which is truly performing its duties in mostly religious matters....
References
^ Balti grammar, by A. F. C. Read. London:The Royal Asiatic society, 1934.
See also
Three Cups of Tea , a book about an American who was involved in building schools in Baltistan
External links
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What sort of snake is named after a huge serpent killed by Apollo?
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Python | Greek mythology | Britannica.com
Greek mythology
Dionysus
Python, in Greek mythology , a huge serpent that was killed by the god Apollo at Delphi either because it would not let him found his oracle , being accustomed itself to giving oracles, or because it had persecuted Apollo’s mother, Leto , during her pregnancy. In the earliest account, the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, the serpent is nameless and female, but later it is male, as in Euripides’ Iphigenia Among the Taurians, and named Python (found first in the account of the 4th-century-bc historian Ephorus; Pytho was the old name for Delphi). Python was traditionally the child of Gaea (Earth) who had an oracle at Delphi before Apollo came. The Pythian Games held at Delphi were supposed to have been instituted by Apollo to celebrate his victory over Python.
Learn More in these related articles:
Apollo (Greek mythology)
in Greek religion, a deity of manifold function and meaning, after Zeus perhaps the most widely revered and influential of all the Greek gods. Though his original nature is obscure, from the time of Homer onward he was the god of divine distance, who sent or threatened from afar; the god who made...
Pythian Games
in ancient Greece, various athletic and musical competitions held in honour of Apollo, chiefly those at Delphi. The musicians’ contest there dated from very early times. In 582 bc it was made quadrennial, and athletic events including foot and chariot races were added in emulation of the...
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Date Published: December 06, 2007
URL: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Python-Greek-mythology
Access Date: January 16, 2017
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Huqiu, Tianchi, Pouchong, Longjing and Songluo are Chinese?
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Myths-Dreams-Symbols- Snake Symbolism
Draco, Hydra
Etymology
from Old English snaca, cognate with Middle Low German snake, from Old Norse snákr, snókr
Deities
Mercury, Cernunnos, Aesculapius, Hygiea, Sophia, Minerva, Demeter, Zeus, Ammon, Apollo, Eileithyia, Tiamat, Ishtar, Astarte, Ningishzida, Quetzalcoatl, Coatlicue
Folklore
It was once believed that if snakes were attacked they would swallow their young and not let them go until they reached a safe place. It was also believed that snakes could restore life to the dead or incarnate the soul of an ancestor. People kept snakes as pets in Greece, Rome and Crete as guardians and bringers of fertility and healing. It was also believed in ancient Greece that if a serpent licked your ears you would obtain the gift of prophecy. Cassandra and Helenus were said to be so gifted, because serpents licked their ears whilst asleep in the temple of Apollo. Snakes were also believed to be androgynous, and so represent self-creating deities and the generative power of the earth. It lives in holes in the ground and disappears into cracks in the ground, and hence are associated with the underworld. Being reptiles, they seem sinuous and mysterious, and as cold-blooded animals, they seem remote from human emotion. Snakes were associated with fertility, and it was anciently believed that snakes could have intercourse with women and make them pregnant. In some places it was believed that a snake's bite caused girls' first menstruation, and that women were more likely to have intercourse with serpents when menstruating. For thi reason women were not allowed to go to springs or into the bush during menstruation in case they became pregnant by the snake. (In other places the same legend is associated with fish.) If a spring is inhabited by a sacred snake, women may go there on purpose to become pregnant.
In the Punjab, the Mirasan people carried a snake made of dough from house to house at the end of August, and people made offerings of corn or dough to it. When all the houses had been visited, the dough snake was buried, and a small grave was erected over it. During the nine-day festival in September, the women would go to the grave to worship and make offerings of curds to the snake. What ws left over would be taken home and given to their children. In areas where there were a lot of real snakes, the curds would be carried into the forest and left there for the snakes. A member of the Mirasan tribe would not kill a snake, and its bite could not hurt them. If they found a dead snake, they would dress it and give it a full funeral.
The snake is associated with the Moon because of its ability to change or renew its skin, which is similar to the Moon's waxing and waning. Both the Moon and the snake are associated with immortality, and the legendary soma drink (which bestows immortality) is brewed from the Moon tree. The knowledge of it is given by the serpent which lives in the tree.
In a Chinese folktale, White Snake (bai she) turns herself into a beautiful young woman, falls in love with a young man, and makes him rich. A Buddhist monk persuades him that she is evil, and despite the fact that she is now carrying his child, they confine her to a pagoda. Eventually the son grows up to be a celebrated scholar, and returns to visit and honour his snake-mother.
In an old folk remedy, it was customary to wrap a snakeskin around the head as a cure for a headache. Folklore also held that the snake had a jewel in its head.
Mythology
According to Greek myth, Hermes made the caduceus by using his staff to separate two serpents that were fighting, so it symbolises peace. The two serpents also represent healing and poison, health and illness, binding and loosing, good and evil, fire and water, ascent and descent. Together, they represent equilibrium, wisdom, and fertility. In Alchemy, they are the masculine sulphur and the feminine quicksilver. They represent the powers of transformation, sleeping and waking, the dissolution and coagulation processes within the Great Work, the synthesis of opposites, and mediation between the upper and lower realms.
The caduceus also corresponds to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life (Ets Chaim), since the winged sun at the top can represent the Ain Soph, the left-hand snake is the Pillar of Severity, the staff is the Pillar of Clemency, and the right-hand snake is the Pillar of Mercy. Each of their coils about the staff delineates one of the Four Worlds (Aziluth, the World of Emanation; Beriah, the World of Creation; Yezirah, the World of Formation; and Asiyyah, the World of Action).
In Alchemy, the serpent was regarded as the embodiment of Fire:
"The body of the Serpent tells you it is a fierie substance, for a Serpent is full of heat and fire, which made the Egyptians esteem him divine: this appears by his quick motion without feet or finns, much like that of the Pulse, for his impetuous hot spirit shoots him on like a Squid. There is also another Analogie, for the Serpent receives his youth, so strong is his natural heat, and casts off his old skin. Truly the matter is a very Serpent, for she renews herself in a thousand ways."
(from "Magia Adamica" by Thomas Vaughan)
The serpent on a staff is the fixation of quicksilver, the sublimation of the vital force. A serpent passing through a circle is the alchemical fusion.
The Greeks and Romans regarded the serpent as a guardian spirit, and it was often depicted as such on their altars. At Athens, in the temple of Athena, they kept a serpent believed to be the reincarnation of Erichthonius in a cage, and it was called the guardian spirit of the temple. According to legend, Alexander the Great was fathered upon Olympia by Jupiter Ammon in the form of a snake. Snakes were also sacred to Demeter, with corn and poppies, because they were associated with initiation, and probably appeared in the Eleusinian Mysteries, possibly as part of a ritual of mystical union. The temple at Eleusis had a snake called Kychreus. They were also associated with saviour deities in the mystery religions (such as Orpheus). Demeter placed snakes at the river Styx after Poseidon had tricked her into mating with him in the form of a horse (she was a mare at the time); this may be symbolic of a distinction between fresh water and the salt sea, sacred to Poseidon. The snake was sacred to Zeus Cthonios. The python at Delphi was sacred to Apollo after he slew it; it was originally the attribute of the Earth Goddess. The shrine of Apollo at Spireus had a sacred snake which was tended by a naked virgin. The Pelasgians said that they were descended from the cosmic serpent Ophion and the goddess Eurynome (one of the Oceanids). The chimaera (see mythical animals) had a serpent's tail. Its mother was Echidne, a winter snake-goddess, and its father was Typhon, the storm-god. Typhon himself was a snake-headed giant. He was the god of storms, created by Hera in her rage at Athene being born from Zeus' forehead. He lived in a cave on Mount Parnassus. He was identified with Set when the Hyksos invaders colonised Egypt around 1320-1200 bce. He is sometimes confused with TyphÅus, the son of Gaea and Uranus, whose lower body consisted of coiled serpents. Snakes were often the personification of river deities, such as the River Acheloüs, which was a bull-headed snake, or capable of changing shape, first into a bull and then into a snake. Heracles wrestled with the snake, then it transformed itself into a bull, and he tore off one of its horns, which the nymphs threw into the river, where it became the Cornucopia (horn of plenty). Acheloüs was the son of Oceanus and Thetis and the brother of Nilus, according to Hesiod's Theogony. The Gorgons were the three daughters of Phorcys and his sister Ceto; they were winged monsters with serpents for hair. Euryale and Stheno were immortal, but Medusa was mortal, and was killed by Perseus. The winged horse, Pegasus, was born from her death-throes, though in some legends he was the result of her union with Poseidon. Medusa's head was then fixed to Athena's shield (which she had lent to Perseus), and he went on to kill the sea-serpent to which Andromeda was to be sacrificed. (The story is depicted in Edward Burne-Jones' Perseus Series, of which there are two versions, one in Southampton and one in Stuttgart.) According to one story, Medusa's hair was turned to serpents by Athene because she dared to claim equal beauty with her. Another Greek legend is that of Cadmus and Harmonia. Cadmus was sent by his father to look for his sister, who had been abducted by Zeus. On his journey, Cadmus stopped to make a libation to Zeus, and sent his companions in search of fresh water. Whilst drawing water from a spring in "an ancient forest which no axe had ever touched, and in the heart of it a cave, overgrownwith branches and osiers", they disturbed the serpent of Mars, "a creature with a wonderful golden crest" whose eyes flashed with fire and whose body was full of poison, and it slew them all. When Cadmus went in search of them, he encountered the snake and slew it too. Then Pallas appeared to him and told him to sow its teeth in the earth. He did so, and warriors came fully formed from the earth. Many of them slew each other, but Pallas prevailed upon the last five to stop, and with these, Cadmus founded the city of Thebes, where he was married to Harmonia, the daughter of Mars and Venus. After a while they left Thebes and went to Illyria, where they became King and Queen, and were eventually turned into great serpents. The probable meaning of this is that they became identified with Illyrian snake deities. In Libya, they honoured the goddess Lamia, and she had a cult with orgiastic priestesses. In later Greek legend, she became a queen of Libya who was loved by Zeus and had her offspring taken away by Hera, who was jealous. In medieval legend, she became the Lamiae, beautiful demonesses who seduced and vampirised travellers and devoured children. Women with serpent hair (the Gorgons and the Erinnyes) represent powers of magic and sorcery. The underworld goddess Hecate was sometimes depicted with the the head of a snake or with snakes in her hair. In the legend of Jason, the people of Colchis gave him serpents' teeth to sow in the earth, which sprang up and grew into fierce warriors, but Jason threw a stone amongst them, whereupon they all turned on each other and killed one another. The snake was also a phallic symbol, and was therefore associated with ithyphallic deities such as Priapus, Pan and Pallas in the temples of lunar goddesses. Pan was worshipped in the temples of Selene, and Pallas and Priapus were worshipped in the temple of Vesta, the Roman hearth goddess. The priestesses of the Moon goddess were sometimes virgins, and sometimes offered their sexuality to the goddess in the Sacred Marriage (hieros gamos). Snakes were also kept in the temple of the Moon goddess.
For the Romans, snakes were associated with saviour divinities and deities of fertility and healing. They are also an attribute of Minerva as goddess of wisdom. The serpent was an attribute of Hercules, so the Romans identified him with a number of Celtic deities whose attributes were also serpents.
In Scandinavian mythology, the World Serpent, Jörmungand, coils about the rim of Midgard, containing the ocean. The god Loki was the father of the Midgard Serpent, the Fenris Wolf, and the goddess Hel. For causing Balder's death, Loki was bound to a rock with a snake dripping venom above him, but his wife Sigyn sits beside him catching the drips in a bowl. The Dread Biter, Niðhögg, lives at the foot of the World Tree, gnawing at its root.
The Celts connected the serpent with the healing waters and the Goddess Brighid. The horned or ram-headed serpent is connected with the Horned God, and he is depicted holding a ram-headed serpent on the Gundestrup cauldron. A relief from Meigle in Perthshire, Scotland, shows a bull-horned god with serpentine legs, who is accompanied by a bear and either a wolf or an otter. A relief found at Cirencester also depicts an antlered god with his legs as serpents which rear up beside him and end in a ram's head either side of his face. This may be a Roman or Belgic import, but could equally well have orginated with the Dobunni (the full Roman name of Cirencester was Corinium Dobunnorum). There are several altars with boars and serpents carved on them dedicated to Vitiris, a northern Celtic deity, whose name may mean 'the Mighty One'. It is possible that the warrior god and the horned god were conceived of as two separate beings, but they are both associated with serpents. The goddess of the River Wharfe, Verbeia, may have been associated with snakes, as there is a relief of a goddess holding two snakes which has been identified with her. In any case, many aquatic cults incorporated the veneration of serpents. Borvo, the god of healing springs, is shown with a horned serpent rearing up at him. In the Mabinogion, in the story of the Lady of the Fountain, Owein witnesses a battle between a snake and a white lion. He kills the snake but takes the lion with him as a hunting companion. The Gaulish goddess Rosmerta was sometimes depicted with a caduceus, as she was the consort of Mercury in the synthesis of Roman and Celtic pantheons, especially in eastern Gaul. Epona was sometimes depicted with what appears to be a snake. A relief from Mavilly in France shows a snake coiling round an altar; on the other side is a goddess with two snakes in her left hand. Similarly, an altar found at Lypiatt Park in Gloucestershire has a snake carved in relief twining around it. A head wreathed in serpents represents fertility and protection. Snakes may also be malevolent in Celtic legend. In the epic of the Dindshenchas, there is a mighty snake which 'would have wasted all the cattle of the indolent hosts of Ireland by its doings', but that it was slain by the god Diancecht (the god of healing). It made three turns and sought to consume Diancecht, but he slew it. In the prose Dindshenchas, the warrior MacCecht slays Mechi, the son of the Morrigan (the raven and battle goddess). Mechi had three hearts with a serpent in each, which MacCecht burnt, scattering the ashes on the River Berba (now the River Barrow). Conall Cernach is regarded as the ancestor of the royal house of Dà l nAraide. He was a wandering champion, a warrior, headhunter, and guardian of boundaries. In the Táin Bó Fraich (Cattle Raid of Fraich) Conall Cernach, the hero of Ulster, attacked a castle guarded by a fearsome serpent, which submitted to him and slithered into his girdle. It was foretold that Conall Cernach would be able to destroy the fortress, which he does because his friend Fraech's wife and children are imprisoned within it. The acquiescence of the guardian serpent suggests that he may have been a deity similar to Cernunnos; the name is certainly similar.
In Slavonic mythology, the Syen are guardian spirits of the home who can enter the bodies of snakes, dogs, humans, and hens.
In France, the legendary lady Melusine had the form of a woman with two serpent tails. She appears in Irish, Scottish and French myth. In Poitou folklore, she was the wife of Raymond de Lusignan, whom she married on the condition that he never asked where she was on a Saturday, which was the day that she was transformed into a serpent. He eventually broke this condition, whereupon she grew wings and flew away weeping. This is a common theme in folklore, where the bride (or in some tales the groom) must retain an element of mystery for the marriage to be successful. In Basque legend, the husband of the goddess Mari is Sugaar, the serpent.
In Hinduism, essential spiritual energy is represented as the Kundalini, a white serpent lying coiled at the base of the spine in the muladhara-chakra. The adjective kundalin means circular, annulate, or coiled; kundalini is a feminine noun meaning serpent. The Kundalini lies dormant until it is awakened by yogic and/or spiritual practices. It then begins to ascend through the chakras, integrating the powers associated with each, until it reaches the highest point of awareness. The Kundalini is the primordial shakti, the sleeping serpent power of the psyche. Uncoiling the Kundalini serpent is to ascend to a mythical level of awareness, where enlightenment may be achieved. This process is analogous to the serpent shedding its skin, just as the Moon sheds her shadow. The Moon represents the light of immortal consciousness manifesting in the realm of space and time, and the kundalini reaching the sahasrara-padma (the crown chakra) is like the Full Moon, when its light is almost as powerful as the Sun's. The flickering tongue of the serpent shows the light within. The Kundalini is generally regarded as feminine, and a manifestation of the universal life force.
"The goddess is more subtle than the fibre of the lotus... She uncoils herself and raises Her head, and enters the royal road of the spine, piercing the mystic centres, until She reaches the brain. These things are not to be understood in a day... you taste Her nectar, and know that She is Life."
(a Tantric Yogini, quoted by Yeats-Brown in Bengal Lancer)
The serpent is also a manifestation of the fire god Agni, who is the fierce serpent; the dark serpent is the potentiality of fire. Vishnu rides on a cobra as the cosmic ocean, and sleeps on the coiled serpent of the waters. He is also accompanied by two nagas, with intertwined bodies, which represent the fertilised waters from which the Earth Goddess arises. Between incarnations he is cradled by the serpent Shesha, a thousand-headed serpent born from his mouth in his incarnation as Balarama, as he lay dying. The serpent also has a malefic aspect as Kaliya, which was vanquished by Krishna. He is often depicted dancing on the head of Kaliya. Another malefic serpent was Ahi, the throttler, a three-headed snake which was killed by Indra. Vritra, also slain by Indra, was another three-headed snake who imprisons the waters, causing drought, but may release them with his thunderbolt. The ruler of all snakes is the thousand-headed serpent Ananta, who represents infinity (his name means 'endless') and is coiled about the axis of the world, or floats on the Ocean of Milk, the mother of all life. Vishnu is sometimes depicted couched upon Ananta, and the serpent's energy gives him the impulse to dream the world into being. The sleep of Brahma is symbolised by two snakes, one with downward movement which represents the Divine Sleep, and one moving upward which represents the Divine Awakening. The lingam of Shiva is sometimes carved with a snake twining around it. The snake is one of the animals that supports the world in Hindu cosmology, along with the elephant, the tortoise, the bull, and the crocodile.
In Buddhism, the serpent is sometimes associated with the Buddha because he changed into a naga to heal the people. It is also one of the animals at the centre of the Round of Existence, where it represents anger.
In China, the serpent is a rain-bringer and a creator, and represents the fertilising power of the waters. It can also symbolise deceit, cunning, and sycophancy. It is the sixth animal of the Twelve Terrestrial Branches (the Chinese Zodiac). The brother and sister Fo-hi and Niu-kua are sometimes depicted as snakes with human heads, representing yin and yang. Hsuan-T'ien Shang-Ti (Supreme Lord of the Dark Heaven) is the enemy of evil spirits and demons, and the ruler of Water. He is depicted as a tall barefooted man with loose hair, standing on a turtle surrounded by a snake. From the period of the Warring States (500-250 bce) under the Chou Dynasty (1027-256 bce) comes a coiled bronze snake of 3½ turns, which closely resembles the sleeping kundalini serpent, which is also depicted as having 3½ turns. In the province of Guang-xi, there were believed to be snake deomns with human heads. If one of these called to you, it was best not to answer.
In Japan, the snake is the personification of Susanoo, the god of thunder and storms.
The rainbow is associated with the serpent in many cultures. In French, African, Indian, and indigenous American legends, the rainbow is a serpent which quenches its thirst in the sea. The African rainbow serpent encircles the Earth, and is a guardian of treasures. In Australia, the Rainbow Serpent can be male or female, and represents rain, water, and rivers, without which life could not be. Some areas regard the Rainbow Serpent as male, others as female. It causes rivers to flow to the sea, and is very important in the training of magicians. In Arnhem Land, the Rainbow Serpent is said to send a flood to destroy those who offend against the sacred lore. It is also associated with lightning. In the rites of the Fertility Mother in Arnhem Land, which take place just before the rainy season, you can hear the sound of the storm blowing through the Rainbow Serpent's horns. As the dancing and singing begins, it arches up into the sky. In the Kimberleys, it is associated with childbirth and the birth of spirit children. It is frequently depicted in Aborigine art. Some of their names for it are Julunggui, Yurlunggui, or Wonambi. There are also Rainbow Snake Women, the offspring of the Rainbow Serpent and crocodiles, who entice men to their deaths with sweet songs and honeyed words. Protection from them may be obtained from red ochre from caves, which represents the Earth Mother's menstrual blood. In Victoria, there is a goddess called Karakarook, who descended to earth to defend women who were attacked by snakes when they were out digging for yams. She killed the snakes with a huge stick till it broke, then gave the pieces to the women.
In Maori mythology, the snake represents earthly wisdom, a worker in the swamp. In Oceanic mythology, the snake was a creator of the world, and is also associated with pregnancy. One some islands it is believed that the Cosmic Serpent lives underground and will eventually destroy the world. In Melanesian myth, the goddess Walutahanga (Eight Fathoms) is a huge guardian serpent, the provider of edible plants. In Fiji, Ngendei or Ngendel is the supreme god, who holds up the earth, causes earthquakes, and is lord of the dead and the father of comets. He is portrayed as half-man, half-snake.
In Algonquin and other forest peoples' mythology, snakes and aquatic creatures are believed to communicate with the powers of the underworld. In Iroquois and Huron myth, the Big Water Snake devours humanity, but is slain by Hino the Thunder Spirit and his warriors. The Great Manitou takes the form a serpent with horns when transfixing the Dark Manitou in the form of a toad. Onnioni is a horned snake god of Huron mythology whose horn could pierce mountains and rocks. Warriors carried pieces of his horn into battle to give them courage.
Jeff King was a medicine man of the Navaho (Dineh) people, who died aged about 110 in 1964. He produced pollen paintings, which he said were derived from a stone carving outside a cave 'on the east slope of a certain mountain'. The carving (and the paintings) portrayed two intertwined snakes with the heads facing east and west (similar to the Inca carving described below). The carving was unfortunately destroyed by water.
Among the Hopi, snakes are regarded as vital messengers. In the snake dance, they carry prayers. Before the ceremony, snakes are gathered (regardless of whether they are venomous or not). They are ceremonially purified with water and smoke (smudging), given cornmeal, and then released below the mesa to carry the people's prayers. There is no snake katsina (spirit) but there is a snake yom (clan). It is absolutely forbidden to eat snakes among the Hopi.
In Aztec mythology, Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent, is a god of the air and the Sun. He was the founder of agriculture, metallurgy, and other arts, associated with the east, fertility, life, the sun, wind, water, rain, thunder and lightning. He was said to have invented the calendar. He was particularly associated with the maize plant, which is interesting in that the Navaho (Dineh) sand painting of the ascent of the spirit depicts a pollen path climbing a maize stalk, which is analogous to the ascent of the kundalini up the sushumna. It is possible that his association with the serpent had a similar significance. He was driven out of Mexico by a superior deity (who apparently vanquished him by means of alcohol), and set sail in his magic boat for the land of Tlapallan. He was said to have been tall, pale-skinned, with long flowing hair and a beard. Hence the arrival of the Spaniards was initially greeted with enthusiasm by the indigenous peoples of Mexico. Another snake deity was Coatlicue, a woman with a skirt of snakes, who is also an Earth Mother and a lunar goddess. The snake was also the White God whose black bowels are the clouds from which the rain falls. A bird of prey dismembering a snake represents the birth of humanity, which was born from the blood of the snake. In this myth the snake represents the original uniformity of matter, which is differentiated by the coming of light in the form of the solar bird of prey. An Aztec codex written in the year 15 ce depicts an altar with two intertwined snakes facing in opposite directions. In Mayan mythology, Ixchel was the lunar goddess of disastrous floods, portrayed with a snake on her head, and Kukulcan (the feathered snake whose path is the waters) gave the calendar to humanity and was the patron of craftsmen; he was later merged with Quetzalcoatl. In Toltec mythology, the sky is symbolised by the sun god looking out of the jaws of a snake. The Incas had a deity called Urcaguay, the guardian of underground treasures, who was portrayed as a big snake with a deer's head, with his tail decorated with little gold chains.
The Araucanian Indians of Chile have a legend that if you sleep in the forest overnight, Pihuechenyi the winged snake will suck your blood.
In Egyptian mythology, Apep was the snake god, the lord of the powers of darkness. Every night Apep menaced the boat of the sun god, called the Boat of a Million Years. The boat was defended by the good serpent Mehen, which lived in the bows of the boat. The sun can only rise in the morning thanks to powerful spells of Tehuti. Apep is a manifestation of Set, and hence the enemy of the sun god and of the dead, who cannot return to life unless he is defeated. He was portrayed as a huge serpent called the Roarer. He was said to have been slain by Ra at the foot of Nut's sacred sycamore at Heliopolis. He sometimes attacks the sun god during the day, causing eclipses. In another myth Apep is defeated and bound by Selkhet, the scorpion goddess, whose husband was Nekhebkau, an underworld snake god with the limbs of a man. Another underworld dweller was the snake goddess Sati, who preyed on the dead (not to be confused with Satet). The two serpents either side of the solar disk (as seen in the crown of Horus) represent the two serpent goddesses who banished the enemies of Ra. Another ally of the sun god was Uraeus, a flame-breathing asp who destroyed Ra's enemies. Heh, the revealer of wisdom, was a serpent goddess. The snake goddess Buto manifested as a cobra. She may be the same as the serpent goddess Uto, who was called 'great in magic'. Rennutet was the snake goddess of the harvest and the ruler of the month of Pharmuthi. Mafdet, the lynx goddess, was famed as a killer of serpents, the lynx being a solar creature and the snake watery or cthonic. In the western desert, the snake god Ash was honoured; he was sometimes depicted with three heads, of a lion, a snake, and a vulture. The Ogdoad of Hermopolis were the first eight living beings created by Thoth (Tehuti). The males were frogs and the females were serpents, brought into being by the sound of Tehuti's voice. In the Graeco-Roman period of Alexandria, the Egyptians honoured Agathodaimon (the good spirit), a serpent god of fortune.
In African mythology, the snake is a symbol of royalty. There is a cult of the sacred python, and snakes are associated with fertility, rain, the rainbow, and thunder and lightning. The snake can be an incarnation of an ancestor and a guardian of treasure. It is also a culture hero who taught humanity smithcraft and agriculture. At Benin, one of the gods was a snake god called Danh.
In Haitian voodoo, the god Simbi is the patron deity of springs, rain, and magicians. His symbol is a snake. Ti-Jean Petro may also be a snake god; he is one-footed or footless (see Tiamat below). His origins are indigenous American rather than African.
In Sumerian mythology, Tiamat, the footless one, was the serpent of darkness, the great dragon, and the primordial sea. She was slain by Marduk, and he made the earth from her remains. The goddess Ishtar was said to be covered with scales like a snake. Joseph Campbell suggests that the Sumerians knew of the mysteries represented by the kundalini and the caduceus. The libation vase of King Gudea of Lagash (circa 2000 bce) had as its ornamentation a high relief of two cherubim or lion-birds guarding the door of a shrine to the Mesopotamian serpent god Ningishzida manifesting as a pair of copulating vipers entwined around a rod. Ningishzida was the lord of the Tree of Life. The whole picture resembles both the caduceus of Greek mythology and the seven chakras on the sushumna. The serpent was the main emblem of Sabazios, and his priestesses dropped golden serpents through their robes to symbolise the god within their bosom. The goddess Nidaba had snakes rising from her shoulders. She was the goddess of writing, education, science and account keeping, as well as a corn goddess. Writing first occurred in the form of pictographs in the temple of Inanna in Uruk; women were scribes, poets, scholars, and the authors of religious texts. In Assyro-Babylonian myth, Ea is sometimes divided into Lakhmu and Lakhamu, male and female serpents giving birth to Anshar (the masculine principle or heaven) and Kishar (the feminine principle or earth). Lakhmu and Lakhamu were the offspring of Tiamat, and helped her in her battle against Marduk. Lakhmu was the personification of the primeval sediment, and was invoked on the completion of a building. Tiamat was the goddess of the salt sea, whilst Apsu, her consort, was the fresh waters of the land. Starhawk, in "Truth or Dare: Encounters with Power, Authority, and Mystery" shows how Mesopotamia was originally matrifocal, then gradually became more and more patriarchal with the emergence of warring city states competing for ever smaller areas of fertile land. During this process, the serpent goddesses of matrifocal antiquity became feared as manifestations of female power and mystery. An obvious example is the serpent of the Garden of Eden, but there is also the serpent of the forest called Khumbaba, slain by Gilgamesh. Ishtar is often depicted with a snake, and was viciously insulted by Gilgamesh in the "Epic of Gilgamesh". At the end of the epic, however, Gilgamesh has finally found the herb which bestows immortality, when it is stolen from him whilst he bathes by a serpent, who thereby gains the power to renew itself by shedding its skin.
"Gilgamesh must die. The snake, however, has always been the symbol of the Goddess... In the end, all kings must die, but the great energies of life have the power to renew themselves and rise again."
(Starhawk, op.cit., p.60)
The goddess Astarte (originally a Canaanite goddess) is depicted in an Egyptian relief standing on a lion, offering a lotus to the Egyptian god Min and serpents to the Canaanite god Reshef. Astarte was known to the Egyptians as Qodshu. Another snake goddess was Kadi, an Assyro-Babylonian deity worshipped at Der; she was portrayed as a snake with human breasts. The Dying God cults also depicted the god with serpents rising from his shoulders. In the Ophitic tradition, the Moon Goddess Cybele (whose consort was the dying god Attis) is engraved on their jewels offering a cup to a snake. In Canaan and Palestine, the serpent entwined upon a pole was worshipped as a god of healing, and also as a representation of the Earth Goddess. The symbolism of the Ophitic cults (from Greek ophis, a serpent) found its way into Christian tradition.
"the persistent ophitic tradition... of Christ in the image of a serpent: not only in illustration of the Savior's words to Nicodemus the Pharisee, likening himself to the serpent of bronze elevated by Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21, 5-9), but also in the Gnostic sense of an association of the messenger of salvation with the idea of the serpent in the Garden of Eden, who according to this way of inverting the orthodox interpretation, had been the first to attempt to release mankind from bondage to an unknowing god who had identified himself with the Absolute and thus blocked the way to the tree of eternal life."
from "The Inner Reaches of Outer Space: Metaphor as Myth and as Religion" by Joseph Campbell
In Gnosticism, the snake is the manifestation of Sophia, goddess of wisdom, and the giver of gnosis. An excellent novel on this subject is 'The Wild Girl' by Michèle Roberts. Sophia is both the dove of the Holy Spirit and the serpent of wisdom. Phanes, the winged serpent, represents the light of the world, knowledge and illumination. He is depicted with golden wings and the heads of a ram, bull, snake, and lion (the tetramorphs). In the Orphic Tradition, Phanes was the first the first being to be born from the Cosmic Egg; his name means "he who appears"and is connected with the word phenomenon. The snake was also a symbol of Christ in Manichaeism. In Ireland, the serpent in the garden of Eden was regarded as feminine, and was known as the Nathair Parrthuis (the serpent of paradise). There may have been links between the Celtic Church in Ireland and Gnostic beliefs, via the Coptic Church.
In Zoroastrianism, the serpent Azidahaka was the demon who cut the first mortal in two. The first mortal was called Yima. (This legend bears an odd resemblance to the legend of the dismemberment of Ymir, the first being, by Oðinn, Vili, and Vé.)
The Great Goddess is frequently depicted with serpents, especially in Crete where she holds a serpent in each hand, both as a protection of the household and as a phallic symbol. There seems to be some evidence that there was a serpent cult in Crete; certainly snake symbolism is widespread there. The Great Goddess is depicted on ancient coins seated under a tree and caressing the head of a snake. The snake also appears in the cult of Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. Serpents are associated with pregnancy in many mythologies, the serpent being regarded as the husband of all women. When associated with the Great Mother, the serpent takes on the connotations of secrecy, intuition, and mystery.
In Iranian mythology, the serpent is an aspect of Ahriman or Angra Mainyu, the Serpent of Darkness, the Liar. The snake Azi-dahak is the throttler, the enemy of the sun god. In Islam, the serpent is closely associated with life. It is called el-hayyah, and the word for life is el-hyat, whilst one of the names of God is El-Hay, which signifies the life-giving principle.
The serpent also twines around the cosmic tree in many mythologies. It is both the guardian of the tree, as in the legend of the Golden Fleece, and the initiator into its mysteries, as in the Kundalini serpent and the serpent of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Ultimately it symbolises energy rising from one level to another and transforming the individual in the process. It is also the cycles of dissolution and reintegration. On Yggdrasil, the World Tree, there are two serpents. Niðhögg lives in the underworld, the realm of the unmanifest, and represents the shadow self. Jörmungand lives in Midgard, and holds the ocean within his coils, maintaining order. In Hindu mythology, the churning of the primordial ocean occurred because the gods and demons had a tug of war with the serpent Vasuki, which was coiled around the world mountain (Mount Mandara). The churning of the ocean produced the liquid of immortality. The coiled serpent represents the cycles of manifestation. It sometimes appears (particularly in Orphic and Druidic mysteries) coiled round an egg, incubating the vital spirit. As the Ouroboros, it represents the waters encircling the earth. Two serpents twining round each other or biting each other's tails represent the ultimate unity of dualistic forces. Two snakes entwined represent Time and Fate. The serpent goddess Sarparajni is 'the mother of all that moves'.
Symbolism
Entwined snakes symbolise the dual creative forces within the world of forms. When twined round a staff, they form the caduceus, the staff of Hermes/Mercury. They are also a symbol of Asklepios, god of healing, because it was said that when old the serpent has the power of regenerating itself by casting its slough, which it was thought to do by squeezing itself between two rocks. It was also thought to have the ability to discover healing herbs. The two serpents on the staff represent illness and health, and the homeopathic properties of healing and poison. As snakes live underground, they are associated with the dead and the underworld, and are often depicted in funerary art, and associated with initiation. The snake can also represent the rays of the sun, its course across the heavens, and bolts of lightning. Most river deities are associated with snakes.
The serpent symbolised deity because it was believed to feed upon its own body, according to Plutarch, "even so all things spring from God, and will be resolved into deity again" (De Iside et Osiride). It also symbolised eternity, particularly in the form of the ouroboros, the serpent which forms a circle by holding its tail in its mouth. Serpents, large fish, and dragons all symbolise the Great Mother in her entwining and devouring aspect.
As a killer, the snake symbolises death and destruction. Since it renews its skin, it symbolises resurrection and life. When coiled, it represents the cycles of manifestation. It is both solar and lunar, and represents both light and darkness. The watchful, lidless eyes of the snake and other reptiles signify wisdom and awareness.
In Christianity the serpent generally represents evil, though it may represent wisdom: "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10, 16). It also symbolises subtlety: "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field" (Genesis 3, 1). Usually, however, the serpent represents the temptation of Eve and Adam to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In some stories, the snake is held to represent Paganism, as in the story that St Patrick banished all the snakes from Ireland. It also represents the devil as the tempter. Depicted beneath the cross of Christ, it represents Christ's triumph over the power of evil; crushed beneath the foot of the Virgin Mary, it is contrasted with the serpent of Eve. The early Christians called Christ 'the Good Serpent' because of his words to Nicodemus "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes in him may have eternal life" (John 3, 15). In the Book of Kells, the page illustrating Matthew 27:38 ("tunc crucifixerant cum eo duos latrones") is illuminated with twining serpents. A serpent twined around the Tree of life is beneficent; twined around the Tree of Knowledge, it is maleficent (unless in a Gnostic context). The chalice of St John is depicted with a serpent emerging from it, representing beneficent powers. At Monasterboice, Louth, Ireland, the Cross of Muiredach has carved upon it two interlocking serpents, one heading downward, the other upward. They enfold three human heads within their coils, and terminate in a human right hand reaching into a circle at the top, which resembles a halo or a solar disk. The carving is known as Dextra Dei, the right hand of God. According to the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, Jesus said, "The Pharisees and the Scribes have received the keys of Knowledge, they have hidden them. They did not enter, and they did not let those enter who wished. But you, become wise as serpents and innocent as doves." (Logion 39)
In Judaism, the snake represents evil, temptation, sin, sexual passion, and the souls of the damned in Sheol. Lightning is referred to as 'the crooked serpent' (Job 26, 13). The brazen serpent of Moses is regarded as a healing symbol. In Kabbalah, Adam Kadmon, the primordial man, is depicted holding a serpent by the neck.
In Egyptian art, sovereigns are depicted with the uraeus, the symbol of sovereignty, royalty, power, light, life and death, the eye of Ra, and the destruction of enemies. The uraeus, a cobra, represented the divine royal power and wisdom, whilst the coluber represented Set and Apep as the demon of darkness and the malefic aspect of the midday sun. A representation of the uraeus was worn on the front of the crown of Egypt. A snake with a lion's head gave protection from evil.
The thirteenth sign of the Zodiac is Ophiuchus, the serpent-bearer. The constellation lies slightly outside the ecliptic, and it is therefore uncertain whether or not it is part of the Zodiac. If the Western tradition used a lunar calendar, it might have been included.
As a cthonic creature, the serpent is traditionally an enemy of the solar birds, such as the eagle, crane, and heron. Birds are of the heavens and the realms of spirit, whereas snakes are earthy, representing the dynamism, urges, and energies of the element of Earth. Most lunar and cthonic deities can be represented as a snake, or have a snake as their attribute.
Poetry
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i don't know
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The Koa tree (Acacia Koa) is native and popular in which island group?
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Investing in Koa Forest Plantations | Hawaii Forest IndustryHawaii Forest Industry
Investing in Koa Forest Plantations
Investing in Koa Forest Plantations
April 2012
Hawai’i’s koa tree (Acacia koa) is a much beloved and venerated native tree which grows only in Hawai`i. For centuries Hawaiians have traditionally used the koa tree and its wood extensively to make objects ranging from canoes to personal ornaments. Its exquisite grain and endlessly varying colors make it one of the world’s most prized and expensive woods. Unfortunately, much of its native range has been converted to other uses, primarily grazing. The value of high quality koa lumber has created a strong demand for and pressure on the remaining koa forests. Planting koa trees to date has not kept pace with the use of the tree’s wood. This webpage is designed to encourage and inform potential planters and investors in koa plantations. Growing koa has numerous risks and pitfalls, however this gorgeous tree with its spectacular wood could be worth the risk if the planter or investor is fully informed.
There is currently strong interest in growing koa both for conservation and utilization. There has been substantial research conducted, which is ongoing, however there has been limited operational experience. The Hawai’i Forest Industry (HFIA) believes that growing koa is both environmentally and culturally the right thing to do and it can make financial sense, if the investor is well-informed on growing practices and very cautious with planting costs.
60-year old merchantable second growth Acacia koa tree. Ka`u, Hawai`i Island.
Example of prime mature koa tree, naturally seeded. Note sprawling nature of branches.
Forestry Investment 101
Millions of acres of timberland have been planted by or purchased internationally by Timber Investment Management Organizations (TIMOs) starting around 1980. The investors are primarily pension funds such as Hawai`i State Employee Retirement System and education trusts such as the Harvard Trust. As timber and timberland has become a well-known and accepted investment, and with billions of dollars in play, common methods of valuing these assets have become accepted. The most common metric is to calculate IRR (internal rate of return), which is similar to the interest rate on a bank account or bond. Elements of this calculation are:
Purchase price of the asset or planting cost of a new plantation;
Costs to hold or manage;
Income, normally from tree harvest. Income is the price of standing trees (stumpage) multiplied by volume of logs to be removed. Serious investors rely on current prices and do not speculate on future price changes; and
The selling price of the asset, if any, at the end of the investment period.
Return on investment is calculated like any other enterprise considering initial cost, cost to maintain, time elapsed, and return at the end.
The University of Hawai’i College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR) has developed an excellent worksheet to input your own estimated variables for a situation or property of interest.8 In today’s world, investors look for an interest rate around 6%. In strong financial markets rates can climb to 8%. If your calculated rates on a proposed investment vary from this range by much, it is a good idea to check the assumptions.
Note: Be careful, be informed. Globally there are bogus forestry investment schemes.7
Planting Koa
It is difficult to forecast koa economic planting outcomes because koa has never successfully been grown in a plantation through to successful harvest. However, it appears that with current koa pricing and careful attention to establishment costs, koa plantations can be economically viable.
Spacing
Typically trees are planted about ten feet apart, which will result in 440 trees per acre. Most of these planted trees will not survive to maturity. If a tree is planted 10 feet from the next tree, its branches can only grow out five feet until it is touching the next tree’s branches. Koa branches naturally grow much longer than this, giving koa its typical sprawling shape. Most of the planted trees will either die naturally or be crowded out by their neighbors. If this does not happen, they must be pre-commercially thinned by the grower. Otherwise growth will slow dramatically and few of the trees will reach usable size by the target harvest age. Typical growing prescriptions today call for stocking to be reduced to around 70 trees per acre (25 feet between trees) over time, so the remaining trees can grow large enough to be useable.2, 4, 5, 6
One-year-old koa seedling that received fertilization and both pre- and post-planting weed control.
Tree Planting
Koa can be planted in areas cleared of competing brush and grass and free of any grazing animals. If grazing animals are present the trees will almost certainly suffer extensive damage or be killed. Koa appreciates a little fertilizer and is environment specific. Best results are from seed collected in the area to be planted. When seed cannot be obtained from the intended planting site, the seed source should be from a location with as many of the same characteristics of the intended site as possible. (eg. elevation, soil type, rainfall)
Where to Plant
Koa does best at elevation above 2,500 feet. While all koa are subject to rusts, wilts, and insects, those planted at low elevation are especially vulnerable and complete plantation losses can occur. Koa likes moist soils and climates but can grow (at slower rates) in very rocky soils. Koa trees are intolerant of frost but may survive. 2, 4, 5
Planting and Growing Costs
Idol, Scowcroft et al.10 reports costs of $1,965 per acre ($4.91 per tree). Forest Solutions, a privately owned forest management group, sets establishment plus maintenance at $2,300 per acre ($5.22 per tree) based on their experience. These costs are for planting 400 – 450 trees per acre plus two or three years of maintenance. This cost of establishment does not include fencing, which can substantially increase the cost.
Maintenance Requirements
Planted trees will require one or two weed control treatments plus one or two pre commercial thinnings before maturity.
Pests
The major diseases and pests that affect koa are “ Koa wilt ,” Fusarium SPP, Xylosandrus twig borers and the koa moth. Koa does not recover well from physical injury such as broken branches or insect injury to top buds. Losses may include complete plantation mortality and disfiguring trees, resulting in no commercial value for the investment.2, 4, 5
Acacia koa wilt disease. Koa mortality shown most likely caused by vascular wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum.
Acacia koa wilt stain. Typical stain caused by the vascular wilt fungus Fusarium oxysporum.
Growth Rates and Time to Maturity
Measured growth rates of young natural stands and plantations are showing rates in maturing trees in the range of 150 to 250 board feet per acre per year. Forest land management should increase these “wild” yields, however but no data is available on such stands. Consensus between academics, forestry agency specialists and commercial foresters is that it is possible that there might be commercial use for koa trees as young as 35 years. The uncertainty stems from the fact that no plantation-grown koa trees have been grown to commercial maturity at this time. To test this hypothesis, the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest (PNW) Research Station and the Northern Research Station, University of Hawai`i, and the Hawai`i Forest Industry Association, with considerable contributions of time and equipment by saw miller Jay Warner, did a thorough technical analysis of lumber yields from logs harvested from three stands ranging in age between 31 and 36 in February of 2012. Results are not yet published, but three wood quality observations were made during the test:
There is a high portion of unusable or very low value “sapwood” on the outside of the logs. This wood is white, turning to dull yellow with brown flecks with aging. It is not recognizable as koa wood without a technical examination. There is no market currently for this wood.
The logs yield some classic “koa look” lumber.
Much of the lumber was an un-figured, un-distinctive brown color and included stain and other defects. There is no consensus yet on the market value of this type of wood.
Results should be published soon and will be posted on this page.
There is wide agreement among forestry professionals that a harvest age of between 45 -50 years should be achievable.1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Naturally seeded stands of koa can also do very well. The seed lives in the soil for long periods of time. Natural stands need soil disturbance so the trees can grow past grass and other competitors. Protection from grazing animals is also necessary. Natural stands often emerge very thick and can benefit from thinning and fertilization.
A natural stand of thirty-year old Acacia koa. Kona, Hawai`i.
Acacia koa tree in a fifteen-year old natural stand. Kapapala, Ka`u, Hawai`i.
Genetic Variability
Koa has highly variable genetics. Genetics can have great impact on wood quality, but is not yet well understood. Over time, genetics will be better understood and will present an opportunity for wood quality improvement.
Two fifteen-year old trees with very different colors of heart-wood.
Marketing the Crop
Value of Harvested Trees – Example
If typical plantation harvest ages settle out around age 45, this might yield gross volume of 9,000 board feet per acre (200 board feet per acre per year) before deductions for defect or sapwood. There is no reliable data for such deductions.
Thirty-year old Acacia koa wood from Kona, Hawai`i Island. Note unusable white sapwood and heart stain.
Current stumpage rates for mature koa are in the $4 per board foot range. No one knows whether the market will accept second growth lumber at the current price for the mature koa. Using an optimistic assumption that second growth trees will garner today’s prices for the older koa, then net stumpage in this example would be $36,000 per acre--$82 for each of our originally planted 440 trees per acre or around $514 for each of the remaining crop trees. Poor form (eg. branchiness and multiple stems) limits the amount of volume that can be economically harvested from koa stands.11
An alternative strategy would be to make modest harvests periodically and allow some trees to grow larger and older. A harvest of 1,000 board feet per acre once every five years starting at about age 35 would be sustainable, yielding perhaps $4,000 per acre once every five years.1, 5
Utilize the CTAHR calculator to use any assumption you care to make and find the economic yield.8 An example of current economics using one possible set of assumptions is located here:
EXAMPLE KOA ECONOMICS
Subsidies
There are several attractive subsidy programs.1 The National Academy of Science in a report authored by representatives of Stanford, University of Hawai`i and Harvard indicates that a koa plantation without subsidies would be worth a net present value of $453 per acre, while with subsidies it could be worth $1,661 per acre. Incentive Programs for forest landowners in Hawaii can also be found here .
Ongoing Research
There are several organizations currently researching Acacia koa, including the University Of Hawai’i College Of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the US Forest Service and the Tropical Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center. Anyone interested in Hawai’i forestry as an investment should follow the efforts of these and other scientific organizations.
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Hawaii
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24 Sussex Drive, and Harrington Lake in Gatineau Park are the official prime ministerial residences of which nation?
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Biochemical Characterization of Acacia koa for Commercial Value and Ecological Attributes - UNIV OF HAWAII
Source: UNIV OF HAWAII submitted to
BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ACACIA KOA FOR COMMERCIAL VALUE AND ECOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES & BIOSYSTEMS
Non Technical Summary
Acacia koa (koa) is the most valued timber wood of Hawaii. Koa wood products are highly valued for their attractive qualities in grain and color. The depletion of koa from native and remnant forests has resulted in the harvest of lower quality wood. In some parts of Hawaii koa forests are heavily infested with Fusarium wilt. This research will develop scientific methods for identifying biochemical qualities associated with wood color and disease resistance. Furthermore, identifying non-wood products as functional foods with neutraceutical properties will create a new paradigm for koa forestry as a value-added production system.
Animal Health Component
nutraceuticals
Goals / Objectives
1) Identification of flavonoid profiles of Acacia koa (koa). 2) Determination of the effects of flavonoids of A. koa in disease resistance. 3) Characterization of neutraceutical properties of phyllodes of A. koa.
Project Methods
1. Identification of flavonoid profiles of A. koa. From at least five healthy koa trees, basal bark and phyllodes will be collected. Subsequent to collection, all samples will be freeze-dried and stored at -20C in order to preserve chemical composition for further preparations. Flavonoid contents will be analyzed using methods described by Johnson et al. (1997). 2. Determination of the flavonoids of A. koa in disease resistance. The experiments of this objective will be designed to identify and monitor biochemicals, which promote healthy growth and production of koa. A bioassay will be performed to identify chemical compounds that inhibit growth of Fusarium and Cylindrocladium (Calonectria) isolates from wilt-symptomatic koa. The crude extracts of juvenile sapwood and HPLC-purified fractions from both resistant and sensitive accessions of koa will be assayed for antifungal activity. A Fusarium isolate collection taken from individual koa trees showing symptoms of wilt disease will be used for this assay. 3. Characterization of neutraceutical properties of the phyllodes of A. koa. The experiments of this objective will be designed to identify biochemicals with potential human health benefits. Collections will be made from 3-5 year-old koa trees established as germplasms on the islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. Mature green phyllodes will be collected. Subsequent to collection, all samples will be freeze-dried and stored at -20C in order to preserve chemical composition for further preparations. The crude extracts and total purified phenolics from mature green phyllodes will be assayed for antioxidant activities. To verify that koa phyllodes are safe for human consumption, standardized in vitro assays will be performed to determine toxic effects of crude phyllode extracts on human hepatic cell lines. HepG2 cell line, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, will be purchased from American Tissue Culture Collections.
Progress 11/01/05 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Acacia koa (koa) is a valuable tree legume endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. It is an ecosystem dominant tree in the forests of Hawaii and is a source for high-value timber. It is also considered to be an important canopy tree that provides watershed and habitat for other endemic species of Hawaii. In natural forests, large phenotypic differences among island types of koa are observed in seed size and shape, pubescence, phyllodes width and curvature, floral morphology and pigmentation, retention of juvenile leaves, and branch bark color. Microsatellite markers for studying genetic diversity in koa had not yet been developed. The aim of this research was to develop and use microsatellite markers to characterize koa in the Hawaiian Islands. Genomic DNA fragments of sizes 300-1000 bp were cloned and sequenced following enrichment for microsatellite motifs by PCR using seven oligo repeat primers in separate reactions. Among 96 sequences analyzed, 63 contained unique microsatellite motifs flanked by variable sequences. A dual PCR method involving a primer walking step was used to develop 15 primer pairs. Another 16 primer pairs were developed directly from the variable sequences on both sides of the microsatellite motifs within the same fragment. These 31 primer pairs were tested on 172 koa plants representing eleven populations collected from four of the major Hawaiian Islands. Nine of the primers that identified polymorphic microsatellite loci and three that detected unique alleles exclusively in some populations were used for genetic diversity studies of koa. Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling of the allelic phenotypic data revealed that koa from Kauai formed a clear distinct group from those of the neighboring islands of Oahu, Maui and Hawaii. The oldest of the four islands, Kauai, also had the most diverse populations of koa. PARTICIPANTS: Rudolph Fredua-Agyeman Daniel Adamski Richard Liao Clifford Morden Dulal Borthakur TARGET AUDIENCES: Researchers on Acacias PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The microsatellite markers developed in this study will be useful in koa breeding and improvement programs in the future. Many trees in plantation koa forests die due to wilt disease within a few years of plantation. In recent years, some koa provenances have been identified that appear to be resistant to wilt disease. In some crops, microsatellite loci linked to disease resistance have been identified after analyzing a large number of samples from disease resistant and susceptible plants. Microsatellite loci linked to genes conferring resistance to wilt disease may be identified and used as selectable markers in future koa improvement programs. The markers developed in this study may also be used to determine if the extent of genetic diversity in various koa plantation forests is similar to that found in the existing natural koa forests. These markers may be also useful for distinguishing koa from other acacias.
Publications
Fredua-Agyeman R, Adamski D, Liao RJ, Morden C, Borthakur D (2009) Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for analysis of population differentiation in the tree legume Acacia koa (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) in the Hawaiian Islands. Genome (in press). Fredua-Agyeman R (2008) Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for analysis of population differentiation in the tree legume Acacia koa. PhD dissertation submitted to the University of Hawaii in December 2008. Pp120
Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Acacia is a non-monophyletic genus encompassing over 1350 species. It is classified into three subgenera, Acacia, Aculeiferum, and Phyllodineae. A. koa and A. koaia are classified in the subgenus Phyllodineae, which also contains the largest number of species within the genus Acacia. A. koa and A. koaia have been debated to be two separate species based on morphological characteristics and habitat. Differences are evident in both phyllode size and shape, as well as seed alignment within the pod. The distinguishing features that differentiate A. koaia include narrow pods with longitudinal seeds, shorter phyllodes, and denser wood. Additionally, A. koaia usually grows in drier and more open habitats than A. koa, although a few populations have been found in mesic habitats. These differences may or may not be sufficient to define them as different species, with some scholars suggesting that subspecies classification is more appropriate. One of the objectives of this investigation was to apply molecular approaches to resolve discrepancies in this classification. Koa phyllodes were collected from the Big Island of Hawaii and Kauai. Sampling included representatives of koa based on morphological distinctions. Genomic DNA was extracted from these samples and used to amplify the ITS regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA with Acacia-specific primers for simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in nested PCR. Purified PCR products were then sequenced to determine the placement of A. koa within the genus phyllodineae. A. koa is closely related to the Australian acacias, and shows high homology with A. melanoxylon. Additionally, genotyping of polymorphic microsatellite loci was carried out to determine possible hybridization between koa populations. Allele variation was determined in koa for 8 microsatellite markers using total alleles found, mean number of alleles for polymorphic locus (AP), and unique alleles not found in other populations. The three populations surveyed were those displaying morphological characteristics of A. koa, A. koaia, and a hybrid type with mixed characteristics. Populations with hybrid phenotypic characteristics had the most total alleles (49), highest AP (6.1), and most unique alleles (12). A. koa had a higher AP (5.4) than the rare A. koaia (4.8). Using eight different microsatellite loci, 65 total alleles were observed, among which 26 were common to all, three were unique to A. koa, one was unique to A. koaia, and 12 were unique to the hybrids. Thirty-seven of these alleles were common between A. koa and A. koaia, whereas the numbers of common alleles between A. koa and the hybrids, and between A. koaia and the hybrids are 30 and 29, respectively. Thus, there is more commonality between A. koa and A. koaia than between either of them and the hybrids. It seems likely that natural cross pollination between A. koa and A. koaia gave rise to the hybrid, which evolved as a distinct new type through natural selection for several thousands years in the isolated environments of the Hawaiian islands. PARTICIPANTS: 1. Daniel Adamski (Graduate Student) 2. James Leary (Graduate student) 3. Sandro Jube (Graduate Student) 4. Rudolph Fredua-Agyeman (Graduate Student) 5. Nick Dudley, Forest Scientist, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center 6. Mel Jackson, Biochemist, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center 7. Ricelle A. Acob, Junior Researcher, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa 8. Dulal Borthakur, Professor, Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa Collaborators Robert L. James (Plant Pathologist, U.S. Forest Service) Mike Robinson, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (contact: Tel: 1-888-943-4335; email: [email protected]) Richard Wass, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (Contact: Tel: 808-933-6915 ext. 23; email: [email protected]) Training and Professional Development 1. Daniel Adamski, James Leary and Rudolph Fredua-Agyeman and Sandro Jube are trained on genetic characterization of trees. Daniel Adamski is writing his MS thesis on A. koa. 2. Undergraduate student Richard Liao received molecular biology methods through this project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Ranchers, conservationists, and land managers from the islands of the State of Hawaii who are involved in koa plantations are the target audience of this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Contrary to our expectations, we did not find a positive correlation between biochemical profiles of the koa pants with resistance to wilt. Therefore, we had to change some directions of the project. We concentrated genetic characterization of koa populations using microsatellite markers.
Impacts
Maintaining a supply of high quality koa is integral to the forest industry in Hawaii. The selection of high quality and disease resistant accessions will provide opportunities to successfully establish koa plantations in the future. Assessment of genetic variability will help maintain and select superior genotypes for breeding program.
Publications
Adamski DA, Fredua-Agyeman R, Leary JK, Dudley N, Borthakur D (2007) Taxonomic classification and genetic diversity of the nitrogen-fixing tree legumes Acacia koa and Acacia koaia, based on microsatellite markers. Poster number 41, presented at the 20th North American Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation Conference, held at Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, on July 10-14, 2007.
Adamski DA, Fredua-Agyeman R, Leary JK, Dudley N, Borthakur D (2007) Taxonomic classification and genetic diversity of Acacia koa and Acacia koaia, based on microsatellite markers. Poster number 9, presented at the 20th CTAHR Symposium, held at University of Hawaii, on April 5-6, 2007.
Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
In a preliminary trial, we used HPLC protocols to differentiate phytochemical extractions from three koa heartwood samples: (i) light blond, (ii) medium brown, and (iii) dark red. In this trial, polyphenolic profiles from each of the koa wood samples were generated at 280 nm. We found that as wood color progresses from light to dark, the profile changes markedly. Two peaks appear consistently throughout the three profiles at 8.9 min and 12.0 min. However, they increase in peak height and area as wood color intensifies, with the 8.9 min peak doubling in peak height from light to medium, and by 9.2 fold, from light to dark. These are likely candidate marker peaks for potential wood color prediction. The remainder of the peaks observed in the light and medium koa extracts are in relatively trace amounts. In contrast, the profile of the dark koa extract shows 5 major peaks including 8.9 and 12.0 min, but also including major peaks at 16.2, 31.8 and 38.6 min. Consequently, the latter three peaks may prove to be specific to dark wood color. This preliminary trial demonstrates that our HPLC protocol is very useful in characterizing wood color in koa and should be useful for characterizing sapwood phytochemical profiles. In a follow up study, ten samples of koa were supplied by James Leary in the form of shavings from the softwood and heartwood portions of five koa branches representing 5 different wood color intensities. These samples were collected from native stands on the island of Kauai. The polyphenolic contents corresponding to wood color was not evident in these samples. There could be a number of reasons for this, including differences in the age of the wood samples this time compared with those samples analyzed last time, or differences in the wood curing/drying process. One exception is the peak eluting at 36 minutes. This peak generally appeared to increase with a darkening of wood color, and so may be a chemical marker in these samples. Sapwood samples did not exhibit any significant polyphenolic content when subjected to HPLC at 280nm (not shown). The same heartwood samples were subjected to HPLC analysis with UV detection set at 365nm, specific for flavonol compounds. From these results there is no discernible pattern relating flavonol content with wood color. Sapwood samples were also ana;yzed for polyphenolic content and flavonol content. These data are not shown. No discernible peaks were observed in the sapwood samples; either polyphenolic or flavonol. Conclusions: The results of this study show that relating polyphenolic content and flavonol content may not be as straightforward as first thought. There are a number of wood preparation methodologies that need standardizing in order to make this comparison more valid. The samples from the earlier study, where a correlation was easily demonstrable were much older than the samples seen here. It is also possible that polyphenolics and flavonols are not correlated to wood color at all. Other compound classes may be better markers.
Impacts
Koa wilt is a serious epidemic infecting many of the native koa forests and plantations in Hawaii. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. koae as the main causal organism. Infection by this pathogen causes a vascular wilt disease that can be lethal to both young seedlings and mature trees Several other Fusarium species (i.e. F. solani) have also been routinely isolated from diseased koa seedlings and trees as well and may also contribute to the disease etiology. Furthermore, other pathogenic fungi, such as Calonectria ilicicola (= C.crotalaria; anamorph = Cylindrocladium parasiticum) and C. indusiata (= C. thea, anamorph = Cylindrocladium theae) which cause collar root rot and shoot blight, may also contribute to koa wilt. Field trials using different koa families suggest that genetic disposition can confer resistance to this disease in nature. In order for the koa forest industry to survive, it will be necessary to select for resistant accessions to be used in plantations. Juvenile koa are most susceptible to mortality from Fusarium wilt (Anderson 2002). Thus resistant accessions may have anti-fungal compounds accumulated within the young sapwood. Most recently, our team has identified seed families that appear to confer disease resistance. For this next fiscal year we will be focusing our attention ongenerating new information related to this success.
Publications
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i don't know
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The word gladiator derives from the Latin/Roman word for?
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The Gladiators
"Caladus, the Thracian, makes all the girls sigh."
(Slogan scrawled on a wall at Pompeii. Gladiators were often sex symbols)
The gladiators who fought in these games were mostly prisoners, slaves and criminals who trained long and hard in schools like the one Caesar built; although a few such fighters were paid volunteers. Some of the latter became involved because they had financial difficulties, and these events
offered generous prize money for the winners. Other volunteers were motivated by the physical challenge and appeal of danger or the prospect of becoming popular idols and sex symbols who could have their pick of pretty young women. Among the graffiti slogans still scrawled on walls at Pompeii, the famous Roman town preserved under a layer of volcanic ash, are: "Caladus, the Thracian, makes all the girls sigh," and "Crescens, the net fighter, holds the hearts of all the girls."
The terms "Thracian" and "net fighter" referred to the customary division of gladiators into various types and categories. Among the four main types that had evolved by the early Empire was the heavily armed
Samnite, later called a hoplomachus or secutor. (The Romans may have recognized these three as separate and distinct types, but any such distinctions are now unclear; all employed basically the same weapons and tactics.) A Samnite carried a sword or a lance, a scutum (the rectangular shield used by Roman legionary soldiers),a metal helmet, and protective armor on his right arm and left leg. Another type, the Thracian (so named because he resembled fighters from Thrace, a region of northern Greece), was not as elaborately armed. He wielded a curved short sword, the sica, and a small round shield, the parma.
A third kind of gladiator, the murmillo, or "fishman" (after the fish-shaped crest on his helmet), was apparently similar to a Samnite but less heavily armed. A murmillo customarily fought still another kind of warrior, the retiarius, or "net-man," who wore no armor at all. A retiarius attempted to ensnare his opponent in his net (or used the net to trip the other man) and then to stab him with a long, razor-sharp trident, or three-pronged spear.
In addition to the pairings of these main gladiator types, there were a number of special and off-beat types and pairings. These included equites, who fought on horseback using lances, swords, and/or lassoes; the essedarii, who confronted each other on chariots; and, perhaps the most bizarre of the lot, the andabatae, who grappled while blindfolded by massive helmets with no eyeholes. Women gladiators came into vogue under the emperors Nero and Domitian in thee late first century A.D. Evidence shows that Domitian sometimes pitted female fighters against male dwarves as well as against one another.
"We Who Are About to Die Salute You!"
On the eagerly anticipated day when munera were scheduled at the Colosseum or another amphitheater, the gladiators first entered the arena in a colorful parade known as the pompa. This was similar in some ways to the procession of the athletes on opening day of the modern Olympic Games.
They were usually accompanied by jugglers, acrobats, and other performers, and all kept time to marching music provided by musicians playing trumpets, flutes, drums, and sometimes a large hydraulic organ. (The organ probably also played during the actual fighting, producing the same effect as the background musical score of a movie.)
Following the pompa, the acrobats and other minor performers exited and the gladiators proceeded, in full public view, to draw lots, which decided who would fight whom. Then an official inspected their weapons to make sure they were sound and well sharpened. Finally, the gladiators soberly raised their weapons toward the highest-ranking official present (usually either the emperor or munerarius, the magistrate in charge of the spectacle) all recited the phrase, "Morituri te salutamus!" ("We who are about to die salute you!") After that, the first pairing began.
Having no rules or referees, the combat was invariably desperate and often savage. The spectators, like those at modern boxing matches and bullfights, reacted excitedly. Typical shouted phrases included "Verbera!" ("Strike!"), "Habet!" ("A hit!"), "iHoc habet!" ("Now he's done for! "), and "Ure!"
("Burn him up!").The fighting had several possible outcomes. If both warriors fought bravely and could not best each other, the munerarius declared the bout a draw and allowed them to leave the arena and fight another day. Sometimes both officials and spectators felt that the fighters were not giving it their all. Or one man turned and ran. "Officiosus fled on November 6 in the consulate of Drusus Caesar and M. Junius Norbanus," reads a Pompeian inscription. Such offenders were punished by whipping or branding with hot irons.
A more common outcome was when one gladiator went down wounded. He was allowed to raise one finger, a sign of appeal for mercy, after which the emperor or munerarius decided his fate, usually in accordance with the crowd's wishes. If the spectators desired a fighter spared, they either waved their handkerchiefs or pointed their thumbs downward, the signal for the victor to drop his or her sword. At the same time they shouted "Mitte! ("Spare him!") On the other hand, if the choice was
death, they Pressed their thumbs toward their own chests (symbolizing a sword through the heart) and yelled "lugula!" ("Cut his throat!").
Another possible outcome was when one fighter killed an opponent outright; and still another when the fallen combatant pretended to be dead. Few, if any, were successful at this ruse, for men dressed like the Etruscan demon Charun (a retained custom illustrating the games Etruscan roots) ran out and applied hot irons to the bodies. Any fakers exposed in this way promptly had their throats cut. Then young boys cleaned the bloodstains from the sand, and men dressed as the god Mercury (transporter of tile dead) whisked away the corpses, all in preparation for the next round of battles.
Test and pictures from Greek and Roman Sport by Don Nardo and from The Birth of Western Civilization
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Sword
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According to a study of international Wikipedia articles who did Massachusetts Institute of Technology judge the most famous person of all time (at 2014)?
|
The Gladiators
"Caladus, the Thracian, makes all the girls sigh."
(Slogan scrawled on a wall at Pompeii. Gladiators were often sex symbols)
The gladiators who fought in these games were mostly prisoners, slaves and criminals who trained long and hard in schools like the one Caesar built; although a few such fighters were paid volunteers. Some of the latter became involved because they had financial difficulties, and these events
offered generous prize money for the winners. Other volunteers were motivated by the physical challenge and appeal of danger or the prospect of becoming popular idols and sex symbols who could have their pick of pretty young women. Among the graffiti slogans still scrawled on walls at Pompeii, the famous Roman town preserved under a layer of volcanic ash, are: "Caladus, the Thracian, makes all the girls sigh," and "Crescens, the net fighter, holds the hearts of all the girls."
The terms "Thracian" and "net fighter" referred to the customary division of gladiators into various types and categories. Among the four main types that had evolved by the early Empire was the heavily armed
Samnite, later called a hoplomachus or secutor. (The Romans may have recognized these three as separate and distinct types, but any such distinctions are now unclear; all employed basically the same weapons and tactics.) A Samnite carried a sword or a lance, a scutum (the rectangular shield used by Roman legionary soldiers),a metal helmet, and protective armor on his right arm and left leg. Another type, the Thracian (so named because he resembled fighters from Thrace, a region of northern Greece), was not as elaborately armed. He wielded a curved short sword, the sica, and a small round shield, the parma.
A third kind of gladiator, the murmillo, or "fishman" (after the fish-shaped crest on his helmet), was apparently similar to a Samnite but less heavily armed. A murmillo customarily fought still another kind of warrior, the retiarius, or "net-man," who wore no armor at all. A retiarius attempted to ensnare his opponent in his net (or used the net to trip the other man) and then to stab him with a long, razor-sharp trident, or three-pronged spear.
In addition to the pairings of these main gladiator types, there were a number of special and off-beat types and pairings. These included equites, who fought on horseback using lances, swords, and/or lassoes; the essedarii, who confronted each other on chariots; and, perhaps the most bizarre of the lot, the andabatae, who grappled while blindfolded by massive helmets with no eyeholes. Women gladiators came into vogue under the emperors Nero and Domitian in thee late first century A.D. Evidence shows that Domitian sometimes pitted female fighters against male dwarves as well as against one another.
"We Who Are About to Die Salute You!"
On the eagerly anticipated day when munera were scheduled at the Colosseum or another amphitheater, the gladiators first entered the arena in a colorful parade known as the pompa. This was similar in some ways to the procession of the athletes on opening day of the modern Olympic Games.
They were usually accompanied by jugglers, acrobats, and other performers, and all kept time to marching music provided by musicians playing trumpets, flutes, drums, and sometimes a large hydraulic organ. (The organ probably also played during the actual fighting, producing the same effect as the background musical score of a movie.)
Following the pompa, the acrobats and other minor performers exited and the gladiators proceeded, in full public view, to draw lots, which decided who would fight whom. Then an official inspected their weapons to make sure they were sound and well sharpened. Finally, the gladiators soberly raised their weapons toward the highest-ranking official present (usually either the emperor or munerarius, the magistrate in charge of the spectacle) all recited the phrase, "Morituri te salutamus!" ("We who are about to die salute you!") After that, the first pairing began.
Having no rules or referees, the combat was invariably desperate and often savage. The spectators, like those at modern boxing matches and bullfights, reacted excitedly. Typical shouted phrases included "Verbera!" ("Strike!"), "Habet!" ("A hit!"), "iHoc habet!" ("Now he's done for! "), and "Ure!"
("Burn him up!").The fighting had several possible outcomes. If both warriors fought bravely and could not best each other, the munerarius declared the bout a draw and allowed them to leave the arena and fight another day. Sometimes both officials and spectators felt that the fighters were not giving it their all. Or one man turned and ran. "Officiosus fled on November 6 in the consulate of Drusus Caesar and M. Junius Norbanus," reads a Pompeian inscription. Such offenders were punished by whipping or branding with hot irons.
A more common outcome was when one gladiator went down wounded. He was allowed to raise one finger, a sign of appeal for mercy, after which the emperor or munerarius decided his fate, usually in accordance with the crowd's wishes. If the spectators desired a fighter spared, they either waved their handkerchiefs or pointed their thumbs downward, the signal for the victor to drop his or her sword. At the same time they shouted "Mitte! ("Spare him!") On the other hand, if the choice was
death, they Pressed their thumbs toward their own chests (symbolizing a sword through the heart) and yelled "lugula!" ("Cut his throat!").
Another possible outcome was when one fighter killed an opponent outright; and still another when the fallen combatant pretended to be dead. Few, if any, were successful at this ruse, for men dressed like the Etruscan demon Charun (a retained custom illustrating the games Etruscan roots) ran out and applied hot irons to the bodies. Any fakers exposed in this way promptly had their throats cut. Then young boys cleaned the bloodstains from the sand, and men dressed as the god Mercury (transporter of tile dead) whisked away the corpses, all in preparation for the next round of battles.
Test and pictures from Greek and Roman Sport by Don Nardo and from The Birth of Western Civilization
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i don't know
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Clarence Darrow (1857-1938), fictionalized by Tracey, Spacey, and Fonda among others, was a famous American libertarian and?
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The American April 2015 Issue 742 by Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. - issuu
issuu
STAR INTERVIEWS WHAT’S ON EATING OUT REVIEWS ARTS EDUCATION POLITICS AMERICAN SPORTS
Michael Urie
In London
Interviewed
On the Magna Carta Trail Part 1 London to Windsor NHL Trade Deadline MLB Season Preview
PLUS: OUR EXCLUSIVE US/UK SOCIAL GROUPS GUIDE
Watch the ACS film
Their moment of discovery At ACS International Schools we see student achievement as a personal experience. Our ethos inspires children to be open-minded and curious, capable of great accomplishments when encouraged and challenged. We realise this through exceptional teaching and a curriculum built on all four IB programmes, AP courses, and the AP Capstone Diploma. These best prepare our graduates to attend and succeed at many of the finest universities around the world. To find out more about us, and our world renowned programmes, please visit www.acs-schools.com. Alternatively call either ACS Cobham +44 (0)1932 869744, ACS Egham +44 (0)1784 430611, ACS Hillingdon +44 (0)1895 818402. ACS schools are non-sectarian and co-educational (day and boarding) for students 2 to 18 years of age.
The American ®
Issue 742 April 2015 PUBLISHED BY SP MEDIA FOR
Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. Old Byre House, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AW, UK Tel: +44 (0)1747 830520
Departments: News, Article ideas, Press releases: [email protected] Advertising & Promotions: [email protected] Subscriptions: [email protected] The Team: Michael Burland, Content Director + Motors, Music & Sport [email protected] Sabrina Sully, Content Director & Community Contact [email protected] Daniel Byway, Content Executive [email protected] Virginia E Schultz, Food & Drink (USA) [email protected] Michael M Sandwick, Food & Drink (UK) [email protected] Mary Bailey, Social [email protected] Alison Holmes, Politics [email protected] Jarlath O’Connell, Theater [email protected]
©2015 Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. Printed by Manson Group Ltd., www.mansongroup.co.uk ISSN 2045-5968 Main Cover: Michael Urie ©Joan Marcus; Circular Inset: Devan Dubnyk, Courtesy Minnesota Wild ©Bruce Kluckhohn; Square Inset: Magna Carta
@TheAmericanMag
M
odern Family, Ugly Betty, What’s Your Emergency, Buyer & Cellar... the link? Michael Urie, who’s on the London stage this month playing Barbra Streisand’s shop assistant and told us all about it - read our interview on page 26. We also talk to Oscar and Grammy winner Ryan ‘The Weary Kind’ Bingham about how music became his therapy after personal tragedy. There’s essential advice too, on child relocation, finding a dentist in Britain and UK property & loans, plus major features on the Magna Carta Trails, and the Underground Railroad which saved countless slaves. It’s all go in American sports this month too, with an MLB season preview, NHL trade deadline roundup, an analysis of Tiger Woods’ woes, the business behind the headlines of the America’s Cup and an American Formula 1 team based - where else? - in England. Enjoy your magazine,
Michael Burland, Content Director [email protected]
Among this month’s contributors
Mathew Barzun The US Ambassador spends a lot of time away from London meeting the people of the Britain. His new favorite city? Leeds in Yorkshire
Sir Robert Worcester As a run-up to his coverage of the next US Presidential election which starts here in the Fall, Sir Robert analyses a new biography of Hillary Clinton
Tameron McDougall The Partner at Tax Advisory Partnership has some great advice about expatriate property ownership and its American tax implications
Read The American online at www.theamerican.co.uk The entire contents of The American and www.theamerican.co.uk are protected by copyright and no part of it may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information in The American is accurate, the editor and publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or any loss arising from reliance on it. The views and comments of contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers.
April 2015 1
IN THIS ISSUE... 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
25
Magna Carta Trail: London to Windsor How To Run The London Marathon Live at Leeds? The Ambassador loves it Child Relocation - what you must know Choosing a new dentist in Britain UK Property Purchase and Loans Rethinking the Underground Railroad The Man Who (Nearly) Abducted George III
26 34 44 46 50 52 53
54
Michael Urie in London exclusive interview Ryan Bingham talks music and tragedy Ready for Hillary? Clinton dissected MLB Preview - Baseball is back NHL Trade Deadline - Fizzle over flash Tiger, Tiger - Woods’ worries America’s Cup - the Solent gets crowded Hass F1 - American team latest
4 News
NEWS Landlord Guilty Of Harassing Mildenhall US Tenants
A
landlord has been found guilty of harassing her American tenants living in Feltwell, near Mildenhall. It was a lesser offense than the original charge she faced of racially aggravated harrassment, and the jury took just under three hours to unanimously find her guilty. 74 year old Rosemary Hill was accused of sending Terri and Dwayne Scott e-mails and telephone calls which became increasingly ‘vitriolic and personal’. Sgt Scott, a USAF aircraft engineer at RAF Mildenhall informed Ipswich Crown Court that Hill’s calls in 2012 and 2013 led to anxiety, stress and depression. The family received telephone calls from Hill sometimes several times a day. She also made calls to Sgt Scott’s senior officer at Mildenhall. Hill’s tone became aggressive and confrontational.. The prosecution alleged that Hill could have been trying to hound the couple and their four children out of the property because she had other potential tenants willing to pay a higher rent lined up. Hill was subsequently told to pay a £2000 fine, contribute £2500 towards legal costs, and issued with a 10 year restraining order.
4 April 2015
New Head Gardener at American Museum
A
ndrew Cannell has been appointed as the new Head Gardener for the American Museum in Britain, situated in Bath. Originally from the Isle of Man, Andrew, who has previously worked for the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Trust, says he is very excited about working on the Museum’s gardens. Andrew’s wife, Melissa, a native of Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and his eight month old son, Rowan, plan to live in the Coach House on the Estate. We wish Andrew all the best in his new role!
Embassy IRS Office To Close
T
he Internal Revenue Service (IRS) service at the US Embassy in London is set to fully close no later than 30 June 2015, however they will be shutting down the taxpayer service sometime in late April. This is not a local decision. All taxpayer service activities are being closed in all overseas locations. Officers can be contacted for help until late April via telephone or the website london.usembassy. gov. However, for assistance, they recommend you instead call or fax the Philadelphia International Customer Service Site, which is open 17 hours a day Monday through Friday,
from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, at Tel: 001-267-941-1000 (not tollfree) - select the option for international callers Fax: 001-267-941-1055 (a response should be received within 10 -12 working days) Downloadable forms, publications, and answers to your federal tax questions can also be found at www.irs.gov. The website contains a wide array of tax topics, including information for international and military taxpayers. Forms can be ordered at 001-800-829-3676.
The American
Special Olivier Award for Spacey
A
merican actor Kevin Spacey is to be honored with a special Olivier Award for his outstanding contribution to The Old Vic. The 55 year old, famous for his current TV role in House of Cards and the movie American Beauty, has been The Old Vic’s artistic director for eleven years. He revived it as a cultural hotspot in London and leaves later this year following a swansong performance as Clarence Darrow (reviewed in this issue). Caro Newling, president of the Society of London Theatre, said, “His advocacy of London theatre has been a constant boon, and many of us will miss him as a valued colleague.”
PHOTOS: HUGO GLENDINNING
Baseball Comes to North West London
H
erts Baseball Club is launching a branch in North West London. The club has been based at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead since 1996 and is one of the biggest clubs in the UK with eight teams playing in the adult and youth leagues of the British Baseball Federation. “30 percent of our members are based in North West London,” said club President, Aspi Dimitrov,
“and we receive many enquiries from potential new members from that part of London, however many of them have not been able to start playing because the public transport connections from North West London to our ballpark in Hemel Hempstead are very poor. Currently there is no other club located in the North West quadrant of London which offers adult and
youth baseball so the natural progression for the club was to expand by establishing a branch in this densely-populated area.” The club’s new diamond is located at West Hendon Playing Fields. Events began in March with open sessions at Middlesex University and the adult and youth leagues commence in April and May. www.hertsbaseball.com
April 2015 5
List your event in The American: email [email protected] or call us on +44 (0)1747 830520
Highlights of The Month Ahead
There’s much more online at www.theamerican.co.uk Lines in the Ice: Seeking the Northwest Passage British Library, 96 Euston Road, London www.bl.uk to April 19 Early European maps of the region, Inuit accounts of the arrival of explorers, early Arctic photos and the history of the North Pole’s most famous resident - Santa!
Joyce DiDonato & New York Philharmonic American Season Barbican, Silk St., London EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk, 020 7638 8891 April 15 to 19 The Barbican’s 2014-15 Artist Spotlight focuses on American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, one of the most loved artists of the age. April 15th Joyce gives a masterclass for singers from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. April 17th, the culmination of Joyce’s Artist Spotlight, is also the opening concert in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s Barbican International Associate residency under conductor Alan Gilbert, showcasing late-Romantic music with Ravel’s Shéhérazade.
6 April 2015
Barnsley Goes Stateside Barnsley Museum, Town Hall, Church Street, Barnsley S70 2TA www.experience-barnsley.com April 1 to May 8 Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Barnsley’s exhibition highlights the town’s connections with the USA, including letters that were sent to Barnsley from emigrants and those fighting in the War of Independence. David Benoit at Pizza Express Live 10 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 3RW www.pizzaexpresslive.com April 24 The multiple Grammy nominated American artist performs his smooth jazz. American Museum in Britain Claverton Manor, Bath BA2 7BD www.americanmuseum.org The only museum outside the USA to showcase the nation’s decorative arts. The exhibitions ‘Spirit Hawk Eye’ and ‘Hatched, and Matched, Dispatched – & Patched!’ are joined by an Easter Yarn Bombing Trail, painting and spoonmaking workshops, and a Mariachi performance.
Shaun in the City London & Bristol www.shauninthecity.org.uk March 28 to May 25 Aardman Animation’s Shaun the Sheep (of Wallace & Gromit fame), makes many appearances in London from the end of March to May, as giant Shaun sculptures created by artists, celebrities and designers pop up across the city. The trail moves to Bristol from June to August, before being auctioned to raise money for sick children. Easter at Ulster American Folk Park Mellon Road, Castletown, Omagh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland BT78 5QU April 4 to 6 Storytelling sessions, old time music and all the fun of a spring-time hoe-down! Younger visitors can help feed the spring lambs and baby chicks. World Coal Carrying Championships Gawthorpe, Huddersfield, W. Yorks, HD5 www.gawthorpemaypole.org.uk April 6 At the 52nd Coal Carrying Championships, hardy souls from the young to the old compete in races carrying bags of coal. London Harness Horse Parade South of England Centre, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TL www.lhhp.co.uk April 6 Dating from 1904, the Parade originally promoted good welfare for London’s working horses. Now it’s an opportunity to see a selection of horses, donkeys, ponies and historic carriages.
Houses of Parliament
Visit one of the world’s most iconic buildings
parliament.uk/visiting 020 7219 4114
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Kirker Holidays provides carefully crafted tailor-made holidays to over 140 destinations. Each month we select a ‘Hotel of the Month’ - one of our favourite properties with an exclusive special offer.
Hotel of the Month Pavillon de la Reine **** Deluxe, Paris A historic, ivy-clad property with tranquil courtyards, the Pavillon de la Reine is set just off the elegant Place des Vosges – the oldest square in Paris. Each of the 54 bedrooms is beautifully furnished.
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The American
Hallaton Bottle Kicking Hallaton, Leicestershire LE16 8UE www.goleicestershire.com April 6 Started in 1770, this is a large scale version of soccer. Two village teams compete to get three kegs, into goals set a whopping 1 mile apart! Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race River Thames, London www.theboatrace.org April 11 Oxford and Cambridge Unviersities
participate in the latest chapter of a 160 year old rivalry. See website for details on the best places to watch the race.
WWE in London O2 Arena, Peninsula Sq, London SE10 0DX www.theo2.co.uk April 13 to 14 World Wrestling Entertainment’s flagship shows, WWE Raw and Smackdown, with a host of American wrestling talent. Who Do You Think You Are? Live NEC, Birmingham, West Midlands B40 1NT www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com April 16 to 18 Exhibitors provide services and information for those who wish to study and find out more about their ancestry. Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival www.shrewsburycartoonfestival.com April 18 The only event of its kind in the UK features giant cartoon creations, caricatures and workshops.
Introduction to London Programme www.stratcq.com [email protected] , 0208 682 9418
A series of illustrated talks and guided tours tailored to provide an enjoyable introduction to Britain’s national Institutions and to the British themselves. Aimed at those recently relocated to London or at people who just want to know more! Held one morning a week for six consecutive weeks in central London and presented by Camilla Seymour, a Blue Badge Guide. Topics include a short history of London; the role of Monarchy; the City of London; the Church of England; democracy at work and the legal system. Email or call for the full programme.
8 April 2015
Heffle Cuckoo Fair Goward Hall, Cade Street, Old Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9BU www.hefflecuckoofair.org.uk April 18 Cuckoo Fairs take place across the UK with the symbolic release of a cuckoo symbolising the beginning of Spring. Heffle Cuckoo Fair dates back to 1315. Harlem Globetrotters UK tour www.harlemglobetrotters.com April 18 to 26 The legendary basketball team returns to entertain at London’s Wembley Arena, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Sheffield. An Afternoon with Randy Edelman The Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, London NW1 www.thejazzcafelondon.com April 19
The award winning composer, in a special afternoon session, discusses his life and work, tells stories, takes part in a Q&A and plays some of his famous scores (Ghostbusters II, Kindergarten Cop, Shanghai Noon and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) on the piano.
St George’s Day/Shakespeare’s Day www.stgeorgesday.com April 23 Celebrate the Patron Saint of England. Events take place across the nation, with a festival in Trafalgar Square. It’s also the bard’s birthday and Stratford-upon-Avon has free street entertainment and a Grand Birthday Procession. Spring at The Ashmolean Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH www.ashmolean.org March 26 to August 31 Love Bites explores the themes of love through courtship, friendships and marriage in caricatures by James Gillray, whilst Great British Drawings features more than 100 of the Ashmolean’s best drawings by British artists including JMW Turner, Henry Moore, LS Lowry and more. A Mighty Night of Comedy Bush Hall, Uxbridge Road, London W12 7LJ www.bushhallmusic.co.uk April 24 American comedian Reginald D Hunter is joined by Sara Pascoe, Andrew Maxwell and Aisling Bea. London Marathon www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com April 26 Professional and fun-runners weave their way through the capital on their way to the finish line near Buckingham Palace. Annual Oyster Gathering Flushing Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 www.visitcornwall.com April 27 to April 29 Join the oyster men on their last weekend of the season, with seafood markets, specialist chefs and trips onto the water.
The City of London and Magna Carta: a history for you to discover. Free daily walks, exhibitions, light-shows, family fun and more. Discover a range of events to celebrate Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/mc800
The American
Magna Carta Trails London to Windsor A
s the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta approaches, The American looks at the trails which take you in a pursuit of the document’s history. The history of Magna Carta is entrenched in both British and American history, and for those looking to get out and about as Spring arrives there are plenty of places to visit which live and breathe the Great Charter’s legacy. The first trail we’re covering begins in the City of London and stretches to Windsor and Runnymede, where the sealing famously took place.
The City of London
During the early 1200s, the City of London was one of the key seats of power in England, the gateway to trade routes to the continent, the home of the merchants and the money. The City was vital in King John’s running feuds with the Barons, so much so that it is the only place named specifically in Magna Carta, and was later even awarded the right to elect its own Mayor (known today as the Lord Mayor). The City is the perfect place to begin exploring the Charter’s history. From June 1 to September 20, there will be free daily walks beginning at 11am at Blackfriars Station, which allow visitors to follow the story of King John through the City’s streets, taking in places of interest
10 April 2015
such as Temple and the Guildhall. Temple Church was one of King John’s headquarters in London during the feuds, where he was protected by the Knights Templars. The Church will be hosting a series of events this year, including a special production of Shakespeare’s King John between April 10 and 19. The Guildhall is home to the Heritage Gallery, an exhibition developed by the City of London Corporation, which showcases rarely seen artefacts including its 1215 Mayoral/London Charter on display until June 5. From June 6 to October 1 the Gallery will also display the City’s own 1297 Magna Carta. See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for talks, family events and festivals around the City and information on the City’s Magna Carta heritage.
More in London
The Society of Antiquaries has an extensive series of lectures on Magna Carta through May and June, as well as a free admission exhibition, Magna Carta Through the Ages (www.sal.org.uk/magna-carta) which explores the antiquarian interest in the Great Charter and includes copies of key documents. The British Library also hosts Law, Liberty, Legacy, a Magna Carta exhibition, until September 1. It features the Library’s copies of Magna Carta alongside Thomas Jefferson’s
handwritten copy of the US Declaration of Independence, and an original copy of the US Bill of Rights. The exhibition is being accompanied by lectures and other events. Also a special place to visit this year are the Houses of Parliament, which are celebrating both Magna Carta and the 750th anniversary of the Simon de Montfort Parliament. Specially commissioned Magna Carta banners are on show in Westminster Hall during the year – they can be seen at www.parliament.uk or as part of an audio or guided tour of the Houses.
Runnymede
By the time King John and the Barons met at Runnymede in June 1215, the country had been almost in a state of de facto civil war. The sealing of Magna Carta was a momentous occasion in English, American and World history, as the rule of law, liberty, democracy and freedom were entrenched in the Great Charter. Runnymede, the site
©CLIVE TOTMAN 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
of the sealing, is now a National Trust property, and home to the American Bar Association’s Magna Carta memorial. The memorial was unveiled by the ABA in 1957, and on June 15th 2015 will be the centrepiece of a big event celebrating the 800th anniversary. The site is open at most other times of the year, and includes a National Trust tea-room. Traveling from London, Runnymede is very accessible by public transport or by car. The nearest train station, Egham, is connected to the entrance by bus (First Bus, Route 71), and on site pay and display parking is available. For those traveling in groups wanting to experience travel in true British style, there are even special Routemaster Bus tours from London to Windsor and Runnymede (londonbyroutemaster.com)! Whilst at Runnymede, you can also visit the Kennedy Memorial, dedicated to John F Kennedy, a symbolic acre of land donated to the United States by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965.
anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon. Windsor will also be hosting a number of events for Magna Carta’s own celebrations. The Windsor & Royal Borough Museum has a number of events, including talks, art displays, exhibitions and a ‘Liber Tea’ event, one of the Houses of
Parliament’s promoted events to celebrate the anniversary of the Charter this year. Nearby Egham Museum will also host lectures on key subjects around the Charter’s history, including a pop up exhibition from June 1st to August 29th engaging the local community in the celebrations.
See www.theamerican.co.uk and click on Diary Dates for more Magna Carta events
©ANDREW BOWDEN
Top to Bottom: Temple Church London; The Guildhall, London; Magna Carta Memorial, Runnymede; Windsor Castle at Sunseet
©SMUCONLAW
The American
Not far from Runnymede is the Royal town of Windsor, a place full of English history and Royal connections. Windsor Castle is the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen, and is well worth a visit. This year, the Castle also celebrates another anniversary, the 200th
©DAVID ILIFF
The American
Running the London Marathon I
n this Tanager Talks, Kristopher Heck, one of the founders of Tanager Wealth Management (www.tanagerwealth.com) describes his experience running the London Marathon. Like many American expats living in London, the race had long been on Kris’s bucket list. After watching friends run and contributing to their efforts to raise money for charity, he decided it was now his turn to put his body on the line. I had always wanted to run the London Marathon. Ever since arriving in the UK in 2007 I had marveled at the sheer scale of the event and the massive support offered by the crowds. Deciding I needed a physical challenge, the marathon seemed the perfect event to shoot for. After securing a place to run in support of Refuge, the charity set up to fight domestic violence, I set up a 24 week training plan. With the help of Runmeter, an iPhone app that synched with my diary, I was able to find time to train despite an already full schedule that included starting up a new business. I quickly
12 April 2015
learned to appreciate the value of Runmeter and how it helped me create a plan and stick to it. This is really important in many areas of life but when training for a marathon it takes on added significance. If you start missing training runs you quickly lose stamina that has taken weeks to build up. Another important aspect was having the support of family, friends and business partners. There were many days when the legs were tired and my body was protesting. Without a push from my partner, or one of my colleagues, I may not have got up off the sofa or gone for that lunchtime 10k run. The day itself is something to experience as a runner. On the day, I had such a feeling of exhilaration for which nothing can prepare you. Lining up with 40,000 other runners was both scary and exciting. It took me 10 minutes before I even crossed the line to start, and all that time the atmosphere was gripping – six months of training behind you and only a few hours away from accomplishing the goal. Watch-
ing on TV or even on the roadside you cannot fully appreciate the thousands of volunteers who work so hard to make this event happen so successfully. What also makes the experience special are the 400,000 people who line the streets of London cheering you on – incredible. The run itself was hard. With a mile to go I was flagging, physically and mentally. However, as the last mile marker comes into view, with a large clock visible, reminding me of my target time, you begin to notice an increase in crowed noise as people urge runners on for the last mile. I was lifted and put in a final push to cross the finish line within my target time. Now I know that with a plan, appropriate training and support, and a pocketful of gummy bears, anyone can conquer a marathon.
Tanager supports The Anglo-American Charity Ltd and its US parent, the AngloAmerican Charitable Foundation, established in 2003 as dual qualified US-UK donor advised funds to facilitate transatlantic gifting. Find out more at www.anglo-americancharity.org
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The American
Live at Leeds... ...and across Britain, a new diplomacy is emerging, says US Ambassador Matthew Barzun
L
et me start with an admission. Until last year, my knowledge of Leeds was limited to The Who’s Live at Leeds album and the fact that it’s The Wedding Present’s home town. But then came a conversion. I took a trip up there. During my visit I met artists, activists, entrepreneurs and students at The Tetley contemporary arts centre who were so proud, inspired and animated as they described how their city had trans-
14 April 2015
formed itself from a 19th-century industrial powerhouse into a 21st century cultural and commercial capital. That same energy pervaded my whole stay, making it hard to leave. But when it was recently reported that I described Leeds as my favorite British city, some on social media wrote of their surprise, searching their emoticon libraries for the head scratch. Leeds? Really? Others were upset that I had apparently broken the first rule of diplo-
macy by singling out one city. Well, for the record, I didn’t actually say it was my favorite. As a father of twins I instinctively avoid that particular word. What I did say was that I love Leeds. Really. Don’t get me wrong, I love London too. I’m a believer in Samuel Johnson’s maxim. Yet we Americans often make the mistake of thinking that London equals the UK. Indeed, even when I tell locals that I like to travel outside of the capital, they mostly assume I mean
Britain is not just London, just as the United States is not New York
PHOTO: US EMBASSY LONDON
The American
to somewhere in the countryside. Visiting different towns and cities in the host country isn’t a radical concept, of course, and is part of the job. All ambassadors recognise the importance of peregrination. There is a general template for these visits, usually involving a talk at a university, meetings with MPs and local dignitaries, a look around a USowned company, and a stop-off at significant historic sites. But we have also added a new dimension: talent scouting. Essentially, we are looking for new diplomats. Just as we try to think and work outside of London, we are also trying to think and work outside of formal diplomacy. There are, for instance, many British people who have close ties to America or who simply take an interest in the US who we’re keen to connect with and empower. We want to propagate “ownership” of the special relationship — and that requires cross-country recruitment because, as we know, talent is distributed evenly but opportunity and attention not always so. Already we are seeing a rise in nominations for our flagship International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) coming from outside London. This is a project which helps young, mid-career-level Britons with outstanding potential to travel to the US to soak up American life. In 1967, the embassy arranged for Margaret Thatcher to visit 10 US cities. After she became prime
Leeds Town Hall
minister, she wrote in a letter to the embassy: “The whole tour was immensely valuable … it has left an indelible impression on my mind. Forever more I shall be a true friend of the United States.” History bore that commitment out. Recently, Tim Campbell, winner of The Apprentice and now chief executive of Bright Ideas Trust, traveled on an IVLP to explore entrepreneurship in four US cities. But my highest priority on these trips is talking to students from sixth-form colleges. Many of these young men and women are approaching the first general election in which they can vote. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the defining international events of their lives. And they are not afraid to speak their minds. So far I’ve been with 50 groups, and each session includes a survey of their views on the US, the special relationship, and foreign policy issues. This is followed by a conversation on what frustrates or concerns them about America – usually guns and health care. And for balance, we also discuss what inspires them – generally Nasa
PHOTO: RICK HARRISON
and technology. To keep alive and deepen those relationships, we have set up a programme called Beyond London. It involves groups of American diplomats – accompanied by British colleagues from the embassy – getting to know a city or area better by visiting regularly and maintaining ties with all those who make the place tick. Just as in politics and entertainment, the rules of diplomacy have changed. The forces that influence attitudes are no longer centrally controlled, and opinions are formed through an array of social interactions and media. We have to inspire people who share our enthusiasm. As true believers in the indispensable role our special relationship plays on the world stage, we at the embassy are not waiting for our audience to come to us. So, a final admission. When I talk about my love of Leeds – and Newcastle, Leicester, Bristol, Cardiff, Aberdeen and others – it is genuine, but it’s also strategic. I don’t just love the places. I need their people. More precisely, we at the embassy need their help. We Need Leeds.
April 2015 15
CHILD RELOCATION RELOCATION RELOCATION RELOCATION: the dilemmas of separated parents
A
nna Worwood, co-author of Relocation: A Practical Guide, and a Partner in the specialist Family Team at international law firm Penningtons Manches (www.penningtons.co.uk), examines the practicalities of moving with your children when parents are separated. It is not unusual for separated parents to encounter difficulties when parenting their children. Those difficulties can be even greater when you are an expatriate family and your former husband or wife wants to return home.
What is allowed?
If a family has established itself in England and has become habitually resident here it is not permitted for an unhappy parent who wants to return home to the USA to simply hop on a plane with the children. A parent who wishes to move with their child has to have written consent to the move from the other parent. There are parents who choose not to go through this process when they wish to leave the country with their child. These are cases of child abduction; if a parent removes a child from the country without the other parent’s consent, the removing parent can be ordered by the Court in the other country to return the child immediately and the parent who has abducted the child can
16 April 2015
face criminal charges, which can be very distressing for both parents and the child.
Reaching an agreement
The ideal way forward is for parents to agree the outcome between them. However, this is notoriously difficult in these cases. It is often difficult to find a middle ground; these cases tend to be “all or nothing” for each parent as regular contact during the week or at weekends is likely to be impossible. If a relocation is agreed, the parent remaining in England will need to focus on maximising holiday contact.
Approaching court proceedings
If an agreement cannot be reached and a court application has to be made for permission to relocate, the Court will expect to see extremely detailed plans. The Court will want to see that the applicant parent has a genuine motivation for wishing to relocate and that he or she is not trying to exclude the other parent from the child’s life. Each case is considered on its own circumstances, it may be that the children are at a crucial point in their education or they are old and mature enough to provide reasoned views for resisting a move. These “relocation” cases tend to fall into one of five categories, often with a degree of cross over between them. Whatever the category of
case, the Court must be satisfied that the proposed move is in the child’s best interests before sanctioning the move.
Types of cases
1. Going home cases After a relationship breakdown, a parent can feel isolated and unhappy, and have a strong desire to return to their home country. The Court is likely to need to consider that the way a parent is feeling may have an impact on the child’s welfare. The parent who wants to move will need to show details of their support network in their home country and often friends and family can help by producing statements explaining how they would support him or her and the child. 2. Specific opportunity cases If the reason for relocating is to pursue an opportunity or new job, the parent will need to provide clear evidence about the opportunity and explain how he or she and the child would benefit if the parent was able to take up the opportunity. The impact of not taking up the opportunity will also need to be explained. The court is likely to consider whether the move is necessary rather than just attractive. 3. New partner cases There are occasions when a move involves a new partner. In those cases, the Court will examine the nature and duration of the relation-
The American
IMAGE ŠTOMASZ WYSZOAMIRSKI/ISTOCKPHOTO
ship, including, how the couple met, how long they have known each other etc. The benefit of moving for the parent and child must be explained along with the effect that not being allowed to move will have on the parent and child. It may also be considered why the new partner cannot move to the UK. 4. Lifestyle cases Some moves are motivated by a desire to move to live in a more idyllic area, perhaps by the beach or
in the countryside. There may be a hope for a more relaxed lifestyle or a hope to send a child to a good local day school rather than board. 5. Get away cases It is very unusual for a relocation application to be based on the applicant’s explicit desire to get away from the other parent unless there is a real risk of harm by staying. Otherwise, an application brought on this basis is likely to be refused as the motivation would be
viewed as illegitimate.
Summary
Whatever the motivation for wishing to relocate, the applicant parent must have a comprehensive and detailed proposal for relocation and success can never be guaranteed. All cases need to be approached with absolute care and attention to detailed plans by experienced, specialist practitioners as so much rides on these crucial decisions.
April 2015 17
The American
Choosing a new Dentist C
hoosing a Dentist can be confusing and a bit daunting, especially when you have moved countries and loved your old dentist. James Goolnik, founder of the award-winning Bow Lane Dental group in the City of London (www.bowlanedental.com), has put together this handy list to help you narrow it down.
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Do you feel comfortable with the dentist? This may be a gut-instinct but do you feel they are listening to you and giving you bespoke advice related to your mouth and habits. You only have one set of teeth so be careful who you entrust them to. Is the practice well established? Experience and continuity of care can be very valuable. Will they be there next time you have your check-up? It takes time to build a relationship on both sides. They will get to know your mouth, what
materials work best in your mouth and how often to review you. Do they have a dental hygienist? With recent changes to the law you will probably see your dental hygienist more often than your dentist. Does the hygienist clean your mouth thoroughly? Do they guide you in what are the best oral hygiene aids for your mouth and encourage you in between appointments? Training and further education? Most dentists will have the basic qualification (BDS) but do they keep up to date with the latest techniques and materials? This is especially important if you are considering any extensive treatments such as veneers or dental implants. Membership to a recognizable institution such as the British or American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is an added advantage. Do Your Research: Go online and research dental practices in your area. Dentist
websites should list the dentist’s credentials, experience, a picture of them and increasingly videos.
Ask Questions
The most important thing to remember is to ask questions! Make a list of questions to ask before your appointment as you may forget. Good questions can be: How long will this last before it needs replacing? What guarantees do you offer? How do I access care outside office hours? Do you have experience with similar types of treatment? A proven track record speaks volumes about a dentist. Do not be afraid to ask to see examples of similar treatments carried out by THAT dentist. If you are considering crowns, bridge, veneers or implants ask to meet the laboratory technician that will be making your work. Cosmetic dentistry requires a true artist and for an artist to work they need to see their subject. They will want to see you to get the colour shade for your teeth and make sure your new smile matches your face, skin tone and age. Get referrals. Ask your relatives, colleagues and friends if they can recommend reliable dentists. Do your research on the internet once you get a list of candidates and call them for more information. Remember this is a relationship for life; if you do not feel comfortable, find someone else.
18 April 2015
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UK Property & Mortgage Exchange Rate Gains The nasty smell at the back of your mortgage, warns Tameron McDougall
T
he London housing market is booming again and inevitably this results in homes being sold and mortgages being repaid. Most UK taxpayers, including those who happen to be US citizens, will be aware of the Principal Private Residence rules that provide an exemption from UK tax on the sale of their main home in the UK. However, if you are a US citizen this may not be the end of the story. The IRS requires US persons to report their worldwide income and gains annually, regardless of where in the world they might be living. As a result, Americans residing in the UK need to consider not only HMRC’s view of the sale of their UK home but also the US tax consequences. As London Mayor, Boris Johnson discovered recently, when a US citizen (which he was by birth) sells their UK home, capital gains tax may nevertheless be due to the IRS. There are exemptions which can allow up to $250,000 of the resultant gain to be excluded from US tax (up to $500,000 for a joint return with a spouse) and Tax Advisory Partnership can advise on these. Qualification for exemption
20 April 2015
depends upon the amount of time the property has been owned and how long it has been used as the main home. It might seem bad enough that the UK will exempt the sale of the main family home and the IRS may continue to subject that sale to US tax but there may in fact be an additional sting in the tail for US taxpayers. This nasty smell at the back of your mortgage results from the repayment (or refinance) of a non-US dollar mortgage, which usually happens when a UK home is sold. With apologies for citing the technical references, section 988 of the Internal Revenue Code deals with foreign currency transactions and includes becoming a borrower under a foreign mortgage e.g. a GBP mortgage to buy a home in the UK. Under the US law predating Section 988, the borrowing and repayment of a mortgage loan is a separate transaction from the purchase and sale of the property. The repayment of the mortgage constitutes a closed and therefore, taxable transaction and as such there are usually tax consequences for a US person who redeems their
UK mortgage or indeed any other non-US dollar loan. Whilst the particular focus of this article has been on UK private residences, the type and location of the property is irrelevant and these foreign currency transaction rules will apply equally to mortgage loans used to buy investment property, holiday homes and commercial premises, wherever they are situated. Whether or not there is a US tax liability will depend on how the dollar has moved against the currency of the foreign mortgage. As a general rule, if the dollar cost of repaying the foreign loan has reduced between the time of the original borrowing and the time of the loan repayment, there will be a gain. Any capital repayments made during the life of the loan must also be considered and this can add further complication. Unfortunately, whilst a gain would be taxable, any resultant loss is not recognised for the purposes of these rules. This issue of taxable gains arising on redemption of a mortgage is not widely known and has been the source of many difficult conversations with clients. We have nothing
The American
but sympathy for those having to find funds to pay often unexpected liabilities, particularly where a property has been remortgaged to take advantage of falling interest rates but the property itself has not been sold. Often however, there are choices that can be made or planning put in place in anticipation of the sale of a home or the redemption of a mortgage. At Tax Advisory Partnership we regularly advise clients on legitimate ways to mitigate tax liabilities arising from section 988 gains or from the sale of their homes and other properties, as part of a wider review of their tax strategies. We would encourage anyone who is, or believes they might be, regarded as a US citizen, to take
advice well in advance of the sale of any property or the redemption of any non-US dollar mortgage or other loan. Similarly, historic transactions should be considered and disclosure made to the IRS if appropriate. At the very least we can help you understand whether and to what extent there may be a liability and what choices may be available in terms of planning or managing the process with the IRS. As with any lingering nasty smell, there is no real alternative other than to roll up your sleeves and tackle the problem before it gets worse. We are always happy to discuss specific issues with potential new US clients in confidence and without obligation.
Tameron McDougall is a partner at the Tax Advisory Partnership 14 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YT t: 020 7655 6957 e: [email protected] w: www.taxadvisorypartnership.com
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The American
Rethinking the Underground Railroad O
n the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the USA, Eric Foner examines the facts of the mythical Underground Railway. Every American with an interest in our history has heard of the underground railroad. While no one knows exactly when or where the term originated, by 1853 the New York Times could observe that “the ‘underground railroad’” had “come into very general use to describe
22 April 2015
the organized arrangements made in various sections of the country, to aid fugitives from slavery.” To what extent a clandestine network of agents in northern communities, with outposts in the South, actually existed has long been a point of dispute among historians. The first scholars to write about it presented a portrait of a highly organized system involving thousands of operatives and an network of stations and regularized
routes leading to Canada. In 1961, Larry Gara published The Liberty Line, which chided previous writers for legitimizing a “popular legend” that greatly exaggerated the underground railroad and emphasized the role of benevolent whites at the expense of escaping slaves and free black communities in the North. The idea of a highly-organized transportation system ferrying multitudes to freedom, he insisted, was a myth.
The Underground Railroad by Charles T Webber, 1893
COURTESY CINCINATTI ART MUSEUM
The American
Most historians quickly accepted Gara’s conclusions, a response that led to a long period of scholarly neglect of the underground railroad. Recently, however, historians have again directed attention to how antislavery activists carried out assistance to fugitive slaves. The picture that emerges is not of the secret, centralized, highly organized system with tunnels, codes, and clearly-defined routes and stations of popular lore, but of an interlocking series of local networks, each of whose fortunes rose and fell over time, but which together helped a substantial number of fugitives reach safety in the free states and Canada. The “underground railroad” was not a single entity, but an umbrella term for local groups that employed numerous methods to assist fugitives, some public and entirely legal, some flagrant violations of the law. Antislavery activists, white and black, hid runaway slaves and sent them on their way and on occasion violently rescued fugitives from the clutches of slave catchers, but they also defended fugitives in court and raised money to purchase their freedom. Running away, of course, constituted only one part of a spectrum of slave resistance that ranged from day-to-day contestation with owners and overseers to outright rebellion. But it had the strongest and most persistent impact on antebellum politics. At the most basic level, escapes from slavery gave the lie to proslavery propaganda about well-treated, contented slaves. The actions of fugitives and their allies, moreover, forced onto the center stage of national politics explosive questions about the extent to which the laws of slave states extended
The International Memorial to the Underground Railroad, Detroit
into the North, and the relationship of the federal government to slavery. The fugitive question emerged as a source of contention at the very founding of the republic - at the insistence of the South, the right of slaveowners to retrieve “persons held to labor” was written into the Constitution. The rising number of fugitives provided the immediate catalyst for the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which required private citizens to assist in the capture of runaways and overrode local laws and procedures that impeded their return. Effective enforcement of that law quickly became a source of deep resentment in much of the North. Ironically, when it came to fugitive slaves, the white South, usually vocal in defense of local rights, favored vigorous national action, while some northern states engaged in the nullification of federal law. My new book, Gateway to Freedom, focuses on New York City as a crucial nexus of the underground railroad, through which perhaps 3,000 slaves passed on
PHOTO: JASON PARIS
their way to freedom in the three decades before the Civil War. The book was inspired by the discovery of a remarkable document, hidden in plain sight in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Library of Columbia University - the Record of Fugitives. In 1855 and 1856, Sydney Howard Gay, an abolitionist editor in the city, meticulously recorded the arrival and experiences of well over two hundred men, women, and children at his office. The document is a treasure trove of information about how and why slaves escaped, who assisted them, and where they were sent from New York. (It has recently been digitized and, along with a transcript, can be examined online at exhibitions.cul.columbia. edu/exhibits/show/fugitives.) The fugitives Gay interviewed ran the gamut of occupations from field hands to domestic laborers and skilled urban craftsmen. Their escapes displayed remarkable ingenuity - they reached the North individually and in groups, on foot, by boat (some captains of coastal vessels were not averse to accepting money to hide escaping slaves
April 2015 23
The American
on their ships), in horse-drawn carriages appropriated from their owners, and by train. Of course the basic motive for running away was desire for freedom, but among the immediate reasons offered by the fugitives by far the most common was physical abuse. They told Gay stories replete with tales of frequent whippings and other brutality; their words of complaint included “great violence,” “badly treated,” “hard master,” “very severe,” and “a very cruel man.” Alongside the dramatic stories of individual escapes, the Record of Fugitives also contains insights into the operations of one key set of underground railroad networks. Gay noted nearly 50 fugitives who reached New York with the
WIN A COPY The OUP has kindly given us 10 copies of Gateway to Freedom to give away to readers of The American. Simply email your contact details by April 30 to [email protected] to be in with a chance of a free copy, or send them on a postcard to FREEDOM, The American, Old Byre House, Millbrook Lane, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AW, UK.
24 April 2015
assistance of a Quaker businessman, Thomas Garrett, in Wilmington, Delaware, and around 30 who escaped on the voyages from Virginia of a single ship, the City of Richmond. But far more common in the slave states was assistance from individuals unconnected with any network. Not surprisingly, fugitives tended to approach black persons, free and slave, for help in initiating or conducting their escapes. Once they crossed the Mason-Dixon line into Pennsylvania, fugitives encountered many individuals willing to help them on their way. Over half the fugitives who reached Gay’s office had been forwarded by train from Philadelphia by William Still, a black abolitionist who headed that city’s Vigilance Committee, as urban groups aiding fugitives were called. Gay then sent them on to upstate New York and Canada. Gay directed more fugitive slaves to Syracuse, half-way between Albany and the border with Canada, than to all other destinations combined. In Jermain Loguen, himself an escaped slave, Syracuse boasted one of the most effective underground railroad operatives in the entire North. In a city where antislavery sentiment predominated, his operations were flagrantly public. Sympathetic newspapers reported on the arrival of groups of runaways “at Loguen’s” and published annual reports on the number of fugitives who had passed through the city (200 in 1855 according to one account). Gay’s record ends in 1856, but fugitives continued to arrive in New York City. And the fugitive issue played a crucial role in the secession crisis of 1860. Even though few slaves reached the North from the state, the very first complaint
against the free states in South Carolina’s Declaration of the Causes of Secession had to do with obstruction of the return of fugitives. But the outbreak of the Civil War led quickly to the end of the underground railroad. The war fundamentally transformed the opportunities available to slaves seeking freedom. No longer did slaves have to reach the North or Canada to escape from bondage - they could now seek refuge with the Union army. Far more slaves - men, women, and children, of all ages - escaped to Union lines than had reached the free states and Canada during the preceding thirty years. Indeed, by the middle of the war many of the fugitives who had found refuge in Canada returned to the United States; some enlisted in the Union army. No one knows how many slaves managed to escape to freedom in the decades before the Civil War. Certainly, their numbers were not sufficient to undermine the institution of slavery; on the eve of the war the population in bondage had reached four million. But stripped of previous mythologies and distortions, the story of the underground railroad remains one with an extraordinary cast of characters and remarkable tales of heroism, courage, and sheer luck. Given the fraught nature of race relations in the United States today, the underground railroad is worth remembering as a moment when black and white Americans worked together in a just cause. Eric Foner is DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University and author of Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of America’s Fugitive Slaves, recently published in the UK by OUP.
The American
Stephen Sayre (1736-1818)
A
New Yorker in London proposed the kidnap and overthrow of George III, but became the first American to be incarcerated in the Tower of London, writes Gary Powell. London in the autumn of 1775 was a dangerous place for the significant American community living and trading in its midst. George III issued his Proclamation of Rebellion on August 23rd in response to increasing hostilities in the American colonies. He demanded that England’s population be aware of ‘diverse wicked and desperate persons’ and to report to the authorities any ‘traitorous conspiracies and attempts against us, our Crown and dignity’. History records the beginning of the War of Independence later that year and the Declaration of Independence followed in 1776. One such American, a merchant, city sheriff and close associate of the radical Lord Mayor of London John Wilkes (a great supporter of the American cause), was Stephen Sayre. Sayre, a farmer’s son from Long Island, New York, was ensconced in British society and enjoyed liberal passage around the city, rubbing shoulders with London’s fashionable society. He was a man of financial substance, able to afford a house in Cleveland Row, adjacent to St James’s Palace for his mistress, the English actress, singer and courtesan Sophia Baddeley (1745-86).
As winter 1775 approached tensions in London propagated as opposition to the British grew across the Atlantic. The State Opening of Parliament was due on 26th October; George III was to reaffirm his and his government’s commitment to the Proclamation of Rebellion. In a coffee house in Birchin Lane in the City of London (now EC3) Sayre met a fellow American, Lt Francis Richardson of the 1st Regiment of the Foot Guards, adjutant at the Tower of London. Richardson was astonished when Sayre proposed the kidnap of George III on his way to the State Opening, his incarceration in the Tower of London and forcible return to his dominions in Hanover; and that the plot had the backing of Mayor John Wilkes. Richardson, whose loyalties were more to the King than to the struggle in the American colonies, reported the plot to his commanding officer and then in turn to cabinet minister Lord Rochford. Richardson stated that the plot was at an advanced stage with bribes already paid to soldiers whose responsibility was the security of the monarchy, the government and London itself; Richardson’s part in the plot was to bribe the Tower garrison. Sayre was arrested at his Oxford Street home and became the first American to be incarcerated in the Tower of London.
Conspiritor? Sayre’s associate, the Lord Mayor of London John Wilkes in a satirical engraving by William Hogarth, above Sir William Beechey’s portrait of King George III
The state opening passed without incident, denials were issued by Wilkes and other alleged conspirators, using influence in the press to create a media frenzy. With no evidence to substantiate the claim and doubt over the character and motives of Richardson, Sayre was cleared and released and enjoyed a Georgian celebrity lifestyle. In 1777 he left England for France joining the United States diplomatic service. Sayre, who at one point faced the death penalty for treason, lived until the age of 82 years. Gary Powell is a retired London detective; he is the author of Square London, a social history of the London square. His latest book is Death in Disguise (History Press). He also conducts several walks around the darker side of London. garypowellauthor.co.uk
April 2015 25
The American
Michael Urie
You know him from Ugly Betty and Modern Family. Now Michael Lorenzo Urie is on the London stage playing Barbra Streisand’s shop assistant! The American caught up with him as he prepared for the marathon one-man show – and asked him about his great name...
M
y dad’s family came from Scotland. I actually worked in Scotland and the locals told me there’s a Ury House and a Urie Loch. That side of our family is a mystery to us because my dad’s father died when my dad was very young. I may look into it when I’m over there. I was sorta hoping to get on that show, Who Do You Think You Are? let them pay for it! My dad’s mother came to the US with her family and my dad’s father followed her, because he was in love with her. My mom’s maiden name was Bonazzi, she’s third generation American – her parents were both full-blown Italian and they grew up in New York and met there. My uncles were born in New York and they moved to Texas for work – they were in the construction business. I’m really more Texan than anything! You don’t sound very Texan. I know, I was raised by New York Italians. Then I went to Juilliard drama school when I was nineteen and whatever twang was left was stripped away. Michael Benjamin Washington was a year ahead of me in High School, I looked up to him so much because he’s an amazing actor. He didn’t get into Juilliard and I thought it must be the greatest school in the world if he didn’t get in, so I’d never get in. I then had the idea of being a drama teacher, but my grades weren’t great because I
26 April 2015
spent all my time building sets and rehearsing plays, so the teaching schools I applied to didn’t accept me. I decided to go to a community college which had a great theater program, really creative and modern. My teacher there urged me to audition for Juilliard, which I thought was crazy. Next thing I knew, I was in New York. The minute I got here I knew it was home – regardless of what I was doing, I wanted to be doing it here! Was that the family background? Maybe it’s in my genes! I like driving around the wide open spaces of Texas and I love nature and trees, but it makes sense for me in New York and Chicago and London – cities that thrive on pedestrians and mass transportation. I’m a creature of the urban! At Juilliard you won the John Houseman Prize for Excellence in Classical Theatre. Would you like to do more classical work? I would – I loved doing Shakespeare and Commedia. In fact I got Ugly Betty after a casting director saw me off-off-Broadway in a basement doing a Jacobean play, The Revenger’s Tragedy. It was a really cool production, very rock & roll and sexy and I played this evil, petulant Duke. He was the villain – well, they’re all terrible in that play – but I was very mean and bitchy and I looked like David Bowie. A casting
director stopped me after the show and said “I loved what you did.” I remember it well – actors always remember that kind of interaction – and I kept tabs on what he was working on. I saw a breakdown [information on a proposed show] for a tiny co-star part in a pilot he was shooting in New York and I thought it sounded similar to what he’d seen me doing. I told my agents to get me an appointment, but they didn’t want me playing a part that small as I had previously done one high profile series regular pilot thing that didn’t get picked up. I insisted so they did, and I got the job. And that was Ugly Betty. Is it true that Marc St James was not originally going to be a recurring character - Wilhelmina Slater, the villain played by Vanessa Williams, was going to have a different assistant in each episode? Yes, Marc was a great part, but only made greater by working with Vanessa. She could have kept me in the shadows, but as we were shooting she would say, stand closer to me and you’ll be in the shot. She noticed I was imitating her physicality, thought it was funny and asked me what else she could do that I could imitate. Between her and Silvio Horta, the creator, and Teri Weinberg the producer, and the directors we shaped the character, and Marc became an integral part
The American
Michael onstage in Buyer and Cellar PHOTO ©JOAN MARCUS
of the show. It was a game changing job for me. Were you friends offscreen too? I was so naïve, I assumed that always happened! We were so close. We’d have lunch together, and hang out after work - and at work! In a single-camera show like that, or a movie, there’s so much down time in which you could be on your own in your dressing room not talking to anybody, but we never did that. Some of that was because for America [who played Betty], Becki [Amanda], Ana Ortiz [Hilda], and little Mark Indelicato [Justin] it was our first big thing. We were not only learning the network television thing, but learning what it was like to go on set every day. It was like a real job – and actors don’t get that very often. Vanessa became our ‘fame teacher’ – how to walk red carpets, be photographed, take interviews, and how to treat the crew respectfully and have them love you. It became a wonderful group of 12 or so people who were different to each other (actors who are too similar can be tricky!), and liked each other, and loved what we were doing, and learned from each other. And the show was popular – that helps too. Silvio had two totally different worlds, the family in Queen’s and the bitches at Mode.
April 2015 27
PHOTO ©JOAN MARCUS
The American
We could have gone on for years because there were so many funny combinations. Anytime they put two characters together it was interesting – if I had a scene with Ashley Jensen, who played Christina the seamstress, it just wrote itself. Will there be more Ugly Bettys? I would love that. We all would. Actually I had lunch with Becki yesterday and I saw Silvio the other night – we miss working together sooo much. The problem is, the show has so many owners. It was a Colombian telenovela, then it was Disney and ABC, and Salma Hayek’s and Ben Silverman’s companies. There might be too many cooks for it to actually happen. But it lives on and people still find it – I get tweets every day from people discovering the show. You do a lot of theater work, smaller shows about serious topics as well as musicals like your Broadway debut, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, even your own web show, What’s Your Emergency? You’re also a television presenter, director and producer. If there was only one that you could do for the rest of your career, which would it be? I’m lucky in having options and I’m a big believer in following your nose. I get asked to present or host things a lot and my first instinct was, ‘I’m an actor, I don’t want to do that’, but if the universe is now telling me to be a host, why not try it? The first time I tried directing I co-
28 April 2015
directed a documentary which took years and years but it’s out now and it came out well. From that I got wrapped up in a group of people who trust me to be at the helm and, with various levels of success, I’ve been able to direct a feature film, a short film, and the web series. I love all of them, but live theater is on a totally different level, there’s a surge of creative energy. In Buyer and Cellar I’m on my own – and I’m in control of the night, the ebbs and flows of the energy and the pace. That’s also true with directing for the camera and editing. But if you put a gun to my head it would have to be acting on stage. Which is why you’re coming to London. How would you describe Buyer and Cellar? It’s a completely fictional play about a totally fictional guy who gets a job in the 100 percent real shops in Barbra Streisand’s basement, she really does have shops in her basement, it’s not a place people can actually go but it’s a street of antique, decorative shops where her collections live. There’s a dolls shop, an antiques shop, an antiques store and a ‘gift shoppe’. This guy doesn’t know what he’s been hired for, it’s not until Barbra starts shopping there that he realizes his job is not just inventory and working the floor, but also playing along with her - this is what Jonathan Tolins, the writer, has made up. It’s a fantasia on what it might be like to get to know Barbra
Streisand in an intimate way in her playground. The events in the play aren’t real, but all the references are, and they’re based on things she’s said and done. It was a big off-Broadway hit (in 2013 at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater) and you’ve done it for two years on and off. Are you a glutton for punishment? I enjoy it. It’s very hard work, and challenging mentally. It’s a hundred-minute monologue comedy so I have to keep hundreds of people interested and happy. There’s so much in it I have to keep their attention or they’ll miss something. The hardest part is the two hours before the show – my grumpiest and most depressed time, because my body knows that I’ll have to do all that and I’m saving my energy. Has one of those hundreds of people been Barbra? No, which I’m fine with! It would be so weird if she was there – for me, for her and really weird for the audience. I’m really excited about playing this show in London. I’m looking forward to taking a day trip or two and maybe seeing some other theater myself. Finally, what’s the best thing about being Michael Urie? I get to wear so many hats – like any actor I go from job to job but I have such variety in my work, from a Broadway musical to audio book narrator to live host to Shakespeare and television and direction... part of that is my own tenacity and part is the universe allowing me to. All I want to do is be in show business and I’m very, very satisfied. Buyer and Cellar runs until May 2 at The Menier Chocolate Factory, London.
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The American
Brew I
’ve never been down under so I was looking forward to some tucker at this Aussie restaurant. It’s a bit of a trek on foot, but Putney isn’t exactly the bush! Even in winter it’s a lovely walk on Lower Richmond Road. In summer it will be stupendous. Just off the road is a wonderful terrace. Chairs covered with sheep skin and beds with pillows and throws. Tempting, even for an old geezer like me, but not in February. Thankfully, the vibe was just as good inside. The staff was warm and friendly. Laid back Australian charm. I wanted to change into a swimsuit and flip-flops. There are some exciting things going on here. Wood fired ovens for pizza and bread, dry aging beef on site and of course, the coffee. Allpress espresso makes a damn fine brew indeed. The employees are all quite passionate about the quality of what they are serving. Rightly so. Breakfast is definitely the main focus of the place and is served all day. Even at dinner, it’s a good bet. Everything on the menu is based on
30 April 2015
Reviewed by Michael M Sandwick
Blueberry pancakes
162 – 164 Lower Richmond Road, London SW15 1LY
quality ingredients, served simply at reasonable prices. We chose from the dinner menu. There are only 3 starters so we decided to sample them all. It’s my job! Smoked edamame beans with lemon and Maldon salt (£4) were really fabulous. Simplicity at its best and where the kitchen shines. Smoked potato and bacon croquettes with BBQ dipping sauce (£5) were not as exciting as they sound. The smokiness didn’t come through but the dish was saved by the excellent barbecue sauce. Polenta crisps with aioli (£4) were also good, but what struck me was that all 3 dishes were essentially bar snacks. Great for sharing with cocktails or, in our case, a wonderful glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (£6). For a main I had The Hellfire Pizza: chorizo, king prawn, hot guindilla peppers, chilli butter, lemon and rocket (£7.50). The crust was exceptional. Crisp and light with the lovely taste of wood. There was however only one king prawn which went down my hatch with
the first slice. If 2 prawns isn’t in the budget, at least fry up the shells with the chilli butter to add that lovely taste to the rest of the pizza. A glass of light, delicious New Zealand Pinot Noir (£5.50) quickly removed all thoughts of prawns from my head. 42 day dry aged Aberdeen Angus NY cut sirloin, 300g was a triumph. A beautiful piece of meat, charred perfectly on the barbie. At £26 it was by far the most expensive item on the menu and worth every penny. Served with an exceptional £10 glass of Malbec, the only Australian wine on the menu, put this on the must have list. Desserts range from 50p for a blondie or brownie bite to £5 for ice cream with a slew of home baked cakes in between. We had the specials of the day, a decent crème brûlée and a heavenly tiramisu. Moist and oozing with coffee and cream. Top. I am definitely planning another trek. Next time in the summer for breakfast in bed and a brew from Oz!
Head Chef Jonathan Stephens
Reviewed by Michael M Sandwick
Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4HT www.stokeplace.co.uk
STOKE PLACE W
ho knew a weekend in the country was so accessible? 40 minutes from Paddington! A 30 minute train ride to Slough (20 if you’re lucky), 10 minutes in a taxi and boom. Country heaven with all the trimmings. Manor house, park, lake, booze, gourmet food, luxury 4 star accommodation…my idea of country! The entrance is very grand and the house, originally from 1690, a well preserved example of William and Mary style architecture. Two wings were added in the late 1760s after which the 26 acres of parkland was designed by the renowned landscape architect, Capability Brown. The sprawling lawns just cry out for a game of croquet! Inside, the house has been done up with modern furnishings. An interesting mix of old and new, but what the house gains in comfort, it loses in personality. Our deluxe suite was huge, with a four poster bed and a free standing bathtub in front of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the garden. The en-suite also had an enormous walk in shower. For such gorgeous bathing who needs the personality of 1690? There is quite a range of accommodation. Thirtynine rooms in all from £90-250/
night and many possibilities for meetings, events and especially weddings. We began the evening in the cosy bar with a couple G&T’s. I then had the pleasure of meeting Chef Jonathan Stephens. Young and talented, he cut his chops in South Africa and Germany before joining the kitchen at Stoke Place in 2009. Now he has deservedly taken over as head chef. Upon his advice we ordered the tasting menu (£70). 7 courses of delight. Stephens’ attention to detail makes his food both beautiful and surprising. More importantly, his execution is top. Chicken, fish and scallops were all cooked to the perfect degree of absolute succulence and every dish was plated meticulously. Monkfish wrapped in pancetta with wilted chard, clam dressing and bergamot sabayon was the winner if I had to choose one. It was the best example of Stephens’ ability to meld flavors together without any one domineering the others. Here there was sweet, savory, bitter, sour and umami all in one. Jackpot! The biggest surprises came with the chicken. Mayan gold barley casserole and salt baked turnip! I wouldn’t have thought either one
could excite me but they totally rocked. Turnip never had it so good and barley just pushed quinoa right off the chart! Very inventive. Also of note was a crumble deconstruction and a wonderful plate of cheese. The wine list is very extensive with something for every taste and pocket. I was impressed by the number of reasonably priced wines. We chose the flight of wines that were paired with the tasting menu. At £35 it is excellent value. From Champagne to port, all were good quality but there was one standout: Domaine Rijckaert Savagnin “Les Sarres” 2007. Full bodied, and multi layered with hints of butter and lots of citrus. The nose was extraordinary, the taste, exceptional. A “must have”! Get a bottle. Service throughout is excellent. Competence coupled with youth and genuine friendliness. I had the impression that everyone enjoys working there, creating a very relaxed atmosphere. The following morning began with an excellent full English, followed by a jaunt around the lake. Neither quite cleared our heads, so we headed back inside for a Bloody Mary. I love the country!
April 2015 31
Steve Golding’s Bollinger Champagne cured Severn and Wye smoked salmon
The American
Reviewed by Sabrina Sully Phil Howard’s Strawberry ripple soufflé ALL IMAGES ©ASCOT
©THE AMERICAN
High St, Ascot, Berks SL5 7HS www.ascot.co.uk/fine-dining-royal-ascot
Ascot Fine Dining H
orse racing at its finest, and now fine dining too. Although there’s racing here all year, the Royal Meeting at Ascot is the highlight of the British Season. Don a stunning outfit and eye-catching hat, and choose your chef. This year headlined by twice Michelin starred chefs, Michael Caines and Phil Howard each hosting a restaurant on all five days of the Royal Meeting. Raymond Blanc has designed an exclusive menu for the Private Boxes, and Angela Hartnett has created a picnic for Royal Enclosure guests in the Winning Post Gardens. Between them, the chefs involved hold seven Michelin stars. There are 12 restaurants to choose from, and the emphasis everywhere is food sourced as locally as possible. The broad range ensures there is a choice to suit all tastes and budgets. We met the chefs and sampled the menu - and yes, had a little flut-
32 April 2015
ter on the horses between courses. Raymond Blanc provided the delicious canapés, I especially enjoyed the mini beetroot tatin, which was washed down with a flute of Bollinger, Royal Ascot’s 2015 Official Champagne partner. Raymond Blanc has created the Private Boxes menu, having first visited Ascot as a guest of The Queen Mother, when he says he was inspired by a ladies hat to invent the plates with large rims! This was followed by Executive Head Chef Steve Golding’s Bollinger Champagne cured smoked salmon, with Exmoor Caviar jelly. Yes, you read that right - Exmoor Caviar who knew? And what caviar - the freshest and tastiest I’ve ever eaten - I’ve not sampled it in Russia (yet). The Champagne cure really works, it brings out the flavor of the salmon, and gives it life. I must just mention the little green blobs: they’re a
pure taste of summer, a silky fresh basil purée that complemented the salmon well. I’ll be trying this combination for myself this summer. The pairing of Bollinger Rosé worked well. I can never refuse a glass of Bolly! The Main of beef fillet with roasted shallots, celeriac puree, with a wild mushroom and red wine sauce was by Michael Caines. What can I say? A delicious hearty meal, after all that fresh air, cooked to perfection. It didn’t disappoint and neither did the glass of Chateau La Croix Ferrandat Saint Emilion 2011. Not to be outdone, the dessert was a triumph by Phil Howard, strawberry ripple soufflé with elderflower ice cream and raspberry coulis. Out of this world, probably because it contained blitzed slowcooked rice pudding, which gave it depth and who can beat elderflower ice cream? Britain is getting s-o-p-h-i-s-t-i-c-a-t-e-d!
The American
RECIPE courtesy of Ascot’s Steve Golding INGREDIENTS: Dover Sole 12 Dover sole fillets 1 egg 1 1/3 cups and 1tbs heavy cream Piment d’Espelette chilli powder Freshly ground salt and white pepper Cauliflower Cheese Puree 1 head cauliflower 2 cups milk 2 cups warm melted butter 2 egg yolks 2 tsp. lemon juice Tabasco sauce Freshly ground salt and white pepper Caper – Almond Gremolata 2 tbsp. tiny cauliflower florets reserved from cauliflower head 2 tbsp. chopped almonds 2 tbsp. Brunoised shallots 1 tbsp. chopped parsley 1 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 hardboiled egg, peeled Freshly ground salt & white pepper Potato Tempura 1 cup clarified butter 1 large russet potato, peeled Canola oil for frying Tempura batter Freshly ground salt and white pepper To Finish 1tbsp. butter, melted Freshly ground salt and white pepper METHOD: For the Dover Sole Trim the ends and sides of 8 sole fillets, squaring them off, and score the skin. Dice the trim and 4 remaining filets, place in a chilled food processor along with the egg, ¼ tsp pepper, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp piment d’Espelette and cream, to form a smooth mousse. Pass through a sieve and transfer to a piping bag. Chill in the fridge. Season the scored side of the fillets with salt, pepper and piment
Dover Sole Ballotine à La Polonaise d’Espelette. Horizontally lay 1 fillet seasoned side up on cling film, pipe a line of mousse across the top and lay a second fillet on top of this, seasoned side down with the thicker end meeting the thinner end at the bottom. Tightly roll fish to form a cylinder and tie off the ends. Repeat with the remaining fillets. For Cauliflower Puree and Gratin Cut 8 x 1 inch cubes of cauliflower and steam until tender. Let them cool before chilling in the fridge. Trim two tbsp. of cauliflower florets and save reserve for the gremolata. Chop and dice the remaining cauliflower and place in small saucepan. Add milk, 1 tbsp. salt and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. With a slotted spoon scoop the cauliflower out and blend with just enough cooking liquid to form a thick puree. Season again with salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce before passing through a sieve. Chill for 1 hour before serving, season cauliflower cubes and place on a baking sheet. Make hollandaise sauce with yolks, lemon juice and 2 tbsp. water and melted butter. Season to taste. For Caper- Almond Gremolata Combine all ingredients, except egg and seasoning. Separate egg yolk and white and press through a fine mess sieve. Reserve and chill in the fridge.
For Potato Tempura Melt clarified butter. Slice the potato lengthwise into 1/8 inch thick slices with a mandolin, and then cut into 8 x 1 inch triangles. Season triangles and submerge in butter, cook until tender. Drain and pat dry. Heat canola oil and coat potato in tempura batter, fry until golden brown and sprinkle with salt. For the glazed Romanesco Cut 12 x 1 inch florets and 2 tbsp. of ¼ inch florets. Boil in salted water for 3 minutes until tender - 15 seconds for the smaller florets. Chill in ice water and pat dry. Sauté with butter and chicken stock and heat through. Season to taste and keep warm. To Finish Heat cauliflower puree. Spoon hollandaise sauce over cauliflower cubes and boil until sauce has browned. Submerge fish into water bath 148 °F and cook for 9 minutes or until cooked. Remove fish, trim ends, remove plastic, season and brush with melted butter. Evenly divide gremolata, sprinkle of egg, and few tiny bits of romanesco into a neat layer on top of the fish. For each serving, spread cauliflower puree in a rectangular shape on serving plate, place fish on top, alternate romanesco, cauliflower gratin, and 2 pieces of potato tempura.
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Ryan Bingham “I was born a cowboy, way out west in New Mexico,” sings Ryan Bingham on his new album. Many country artists sing about the road and the Wild West, but Bingham has walked the walk and ridden the beast... the 34 year old spent years bull riding on the rodeo circuit, the sort of experience that creates songs like the Oscar-winning ‘The Weary Kind’, the song from Crazy Heart.
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yan grew up in Hobbs, a small town in south eastern New Mexico, an area where life revolves around ranches, farms and oil fields. His family moved around, crossing the border into west Texas and as far as Bakersfield, California. “I liked it well enough – it’s all I knew at the time. There was a lot of room to run around in but it’s pretty desolate, you definitely had to use your imagination. I moved around so much I was always the new kid in town – I guess I fell in with whatever crew would have me. I got tired of making the effort of making friends in every town, I stuck to myself. I got comfortable being on my own doing my own thing knowing that we’d be moving again sometime soon.” Music was something portable that he could take with him. He loved it, but he was a late starter as a musician. He didn’t start playing guitar until he was seventeen, or writing songs until his early twenties. “It took a while to get there but once I found it, it became pretty important to me, it filled that void in my life for sure. My mother bought me a guitar but I didn’t know how to play it, and I didn’t know any musicians. It wasn’t until we moved
34 April 2015
to Laredo, Texas, down on the border with Mexico, my neighbor showed me how to play a few songs and I took it from there. When I started writing songs it was a therapeutic thing, a way to get things off my chest, I didn’t have in mind that I would play them to people. It was simple stuff, songs with one or two chords, just thinking about what was going on in my life at that time and getting my troubles off my mind. Even if I couldn’t talk to someone about it, I could sing it out loud.” Texas gave the young Ryan a lot of inspirations: “My uncles turned me onto Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Lightnin’ Hopkins, people from that area.” In between playing came the rodeo riding, which led to Ryan’s music reaching an audience. “Yeah, that was a big part of getting into performing. The first people I ever played my songs for were my friends. On the weekends we’d load up a truck with three or four of us and head down the road to these rodeos. A lot of times we’d be in areas where you couldn’t pick up a radio station so I would sit in the back seat and play the guitar and make up songs about places we’d
been and where we were going. My buddies kept asking me to play the songs, and people would start coming around to parties and listen to these little songs. I never sat down with a piece of paper and try to craft songs about something, I always got more out of it when it was something that meant more to me. Even later on, it was ‘how is anybody supposed to believe what I’m singing if I don’t believe it myself? “There were so many bars and clubs to play in – open mics where you could do two or three songs. I feel fortunate to have gotten a start there, I don’t know if I could have done it anywhere else. I was still learning how to tune my guitar – I feel very grateful for the patience of a lot of those audiences! It was probably pretty rough but they would still encourage you.” The biographies say that Ryan self-released two albums, Wishbone Saloon and Dead Horses but he laughs and says, “I don’t know if you would call it self-released – it was just recording songs in a friend’s garage, making copies at home on the computer and giving them to my friends or selling them out of the trunk of the car.” But the experience and publicity led to a record-
The American
PHOTO COURTESY RYAN BINGHAM
ing deal with big time Americana label Lost Highway and two critically acclaimed albums, Mescalito, released in 2007 and two years later Roadhouse Sun. After that came a big break. Ryan collaborated with Grammywinning producer/musician T Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for the Jeff Bridges movie, Crazy Heart. He co-wrote & performed ‘The Weary Kind’, the theme song. How did that come about? “First I met the director Scott
Cooper, I guess he was a fan of one of my Lost Highway records. He called me up and he told me they were looking for some songwriters to contribute songs for the movie and would I like to take a shot at it? He gave me the script and I started working on some songs, and he introduced me to T Bone and the rest of the crew, and the rest is history! Hell, I was more or less just a kid touring around in a van playing these little clubs then all of a sudden I got to meet those guys and
play music with them. It was a great learning experience for sure.“ He learnt quick. That year Ryan won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award and a Grammy for ‘The Weary Kind’, plus the Americana Music Association Artist of the Year award. A quadruple whammy! Was it a life-changing experience, or at least a career changing one? “You know it’s funny, my life really didn’t change that much, but it was surreal at the time. It wasn’t like I was playing to thousands of
April 2015 35
people all of a sudden. Or making a whole lot of money either. I was straight back to touring around with the band. A lot more people heard my music, but a lot of them only heard ‘The Weary Kind’, they didn’t even know I had any other records. Despite movieland success, Ryan left Lost Highway and the band, and set up his own label, Axster Bingham Records with his wife Anna. Why mess with the formula? “There was a lot of rough stuff in my personal life. I lost both my parents. My mother passed away from mescalito, and after the Oscars my dad killed himself. The band had been on the road playing rough clubs for ten years and the guys were burned out. The guy that ran Lost Highway was retiring, it was part of Universal and it wasn’t going to carry on, so setting up my own label just came naturally – my wife had been doing a lot of the management already.” Tomorrowland, a more rock and roll album, was released. Like its predecessor, Junky Star, it came
36 April 2015
PHOTO COURTESY RYAN BINGHAM
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from the darkness that surrounded Ryan. Great songs, but he found them difficult to sing and he had to take time out, get help and seek a fresh start. It resulted in a new album written in an Airstream trailer in the LA mountains.
Fear and Saturday Night
Overall Fear and Saturday Night is the sound of a deep-thinking man who’s come to terms with tragedy and come out stronger, self-belief and sense of humor intact. “That’s where I am now, with the new album. I’m having fun with it. There’s still some darker stuff – I write about personal things – but I’m having fun with my wife, and we’re starting a new family, I feel I’m on the upswing now.” Highlights include the opening song, ‘Nobody Knows My Trouble.’ It is like The Grapes of Wrath, a sad on the road tale set off by a jaunty tune. “You can’t ignore the harsh realities of life,” says Ryan, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t be optimistic and hopeful. Look out the windshield and quit lookin’ in the
rear view mirror all the time.” ‘Broken Heart Tattoos’ sounds like Bruce Springsteen if he came from Texas – I wrote down “lullaby to an unborn child” before the interview, not knowing Ryan and Anna would be expecting a child this summer. Did they know that, when he wrote the song? “No, but we were talking about it.” ‘Top Shelf Drug’ teams ‘Helter Skelter’-style Beatles guitar with Billy Prestonesque electric piano, while ‘Island in the Sky’ is an uplifting, optimistic anthem – I bet audiences will love it live. ‘Adventures of You and Me’ proudly waves the Tex-Mex flag with accordion and references to the Texas Tornadoes and Flaco Jiménez, on a tale about a road trip from Texas to New York City and back. ‘My Diamond Is Too Rough’ is a ragged, dirty rocker in which no-one gives a damn, and ‘Radio’ is a Neil Young-ish lope. Finally, what’s the best thing about being Ryan Bingham? “The adventure!” TOUR DATES Ryan heads back to Europe in October with his band. He says, “We’ve been trying to come over to Europe for quite a while – it’s one of the main reasons I got into playing music, I really enjoy the travel and adventure part of it. I love the pace of things in Europe. My wife’s originally from Germany. I love the different food – and the short distances to travel.” After concerts in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands Ryan plays these UK and Irish dates: October 21st Bristol, Thekla; 22nd London, KOKO; 23rd Manchester, Gorilla; 24th Glasgow, Òran Mór; 26th Dublin, Ireland, Vicar Street.
The American
New York Blues Hall of Fame Opens to Brits & Americans, Seeks Permanent Home S
even months before he passed away in 2014, Blues guitar idol Johnny Winter was pictured holding a framed certificate, presented to him at BB King’s club in New York when he was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. This particular Blues Hall of Fame is a little different from its unassociated namesake, the Blues Hall of Fame run by America’s most famous Blues music organisation, the Blues Foundation. In both cases, recognition of this type can be a welcome icing on the cake of a musical career. Both organisations induct Americans and those of other nationalities. The three inductees to the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame this year are Atlanta’s Tommy Brown, Georgia’s Little Richard and British icon (from Surrey), Eric Clapton. However, there are differences that extend beyond ownership and locations. For example, the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame has a building, or soon will, as it opens between May 6 and 8 in Memphis. The New York Blues Hall of Fame as yet has no permanent home. Who they celebrate is also different. The Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame inducts household names. The New York equivalent does that, but also recognises people at all levels who have contributed to the Blues scene. The UK’s Blues Matters magazine (already a Blues Foundation ‘Keeping The Blues Alive’ award
winner) was inducted in 2014, and British DJs Dave Watkins (Frome FM, Blues & Roots), Kevin Hardy (KCOR, Main Street Blues), Kevin Beale (Channel Radio, Blues On The Marsh), and Gary Grainger (Bishop FM, The Blues Show) are all New York Blues Hall of Fame inductees. The latest New York Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony came on February 11, 2015, again at B.B. King’s in New York. Among those inducted was Mikey Merola (pictured below), guitarist with the City Boys Allstars, a thirteen-strong band that after a seventeen year time out has got together and has a critically acclaimed recent album
in Blinded By The Night with another coming soon. Fellow musician Michael Packer said, “As Ambassador and 2011 inductee to the NY Blues Hall of Fame it was an honor to induct Mikey G. Merola as a master blues artist and also perform a smokin’ version of ‘The Thrill has Gone’ with him at BB Kings Blues Club in NYC”. Keep an eye on the New York Blues Hall of Fame’s website to watch developments such as their quest for a permanent home, at www.newyorkblueshalloffame.org Report by Darren Weale PHOTO © AMY KERWIN
October April 2013 2015 37
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Sackler Wing, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD to June 7
Inventing Impressionism
Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN to May 31 Unbelievably this is the UK’s first major exhibition devoted to entrepreneurial art dealer Paul DurandRuel (1831-1922), recognising him as ‘the man who invented Impressionism’ and a founding father of the international art market as we know it today. It’s a feast of around 85 works, most of which he dealt, and a number of Impressionism’s greatest masterpieces never before seen in the UK, borrowed from key European and American collections he helped form, and from Japan. Durand-Ruel discovered Monet, Pissarro, Degas and Renoir in the early 1870s, buying their works when they were still largely ignored or ridiculed. Loyal friend and advocate of the Impressionists, he unwaveringly supported them financially and morally. Organised with the
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Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Durand-Ruel, 1910 Oil on canvas, 65 x 54 cm PRIVATE COLLECTION © DURAND-RUEL & CIE
Edgar Degas, The Ballet Class, c.1880 Oil on canvas, 82.2 x 76.8 cm © PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART, PENNSYLVANIA
Réunion des Musées Nationaux – Grand Palais partnering with the Musée d’Orsay, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For the first time in its 190 year history, the National Gallery has introduced membership, from as little as £50 per year. It offers free, unlimited entry to all exhibitions; invitations to a programme of after-hours events, special offers, an e-newsletter and an online magazine with behind-the-scenes features. Buy from www.nationalgallery.org.uk/membership-info, in the National Gallery (from any of the shops), or phone 020 7747 2850 or by post. Contact [email protected] for further information. Richard Diebenkorn, Cityscape #1, 1963 Oil on canvas, 153 x 128.3 cm
© THE RICHARD DIEBENKORN FOUNDATION 2014, COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
A UK retrospective of revered postwar US artist Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993). Over 50 works display his early 1950s Abstract Expressionism, then a surprising change of direction to figuration from the mid-1950s to 1960s and finally his late 60s return to abstraction looking at his famous Ocean Park series, of which the Boston Globe says “some of the most beautiful works of art created in America or anywhere else since the Second World War.” (There’s one hanging in the White House right now, by presidential request.) The seven meter sculpture Inflated Star and Wooden Star, 2014 in the Annenberg Courtyard (to May 17) is by American artist Frank Stella, another Hon RA. He’ll be in conversation with curator and Art Historian, Dr David Anfam, at the RA Schools Annual Lecture on May 11 at the Royal Institution London. The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York will have a major retrospective of his work in the Fall.
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Amedeo Modigliani, L’Amazone, 1909 Black crayon , 30.8 x 23.2 cms
IMAGE COURTESY OF RICHARD NATHANSON, LONDON
DON’T MISS ...
Love Bites: Caricatures by James Gillray & Great British Drawings
Henry Moore: Back to a Land
Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH to June 21 & August 31 respectively
On the bicentenary of his death, this takes a fresh look at James Gillray’s (1757–1815) caricatures, taking the theme of love in his pictures of courting, friendships and marriages, in the context of a canon of artists who have treated the subject of love, from Brancusi to Rubens. New College, Oxford, owns one of the world’s finest collections of Gillray’s work and is home to more than two thirds of Gillray’s 1100 engravings. With Great British Drawings the Ashmolean celebrates its position as one of the world’s leading collections of drawings and works on paper and builds on the popular 2013 Master Drawing exhibition. It features more than one hundred of the Ashmolean’s best drawings by British artists, charting the history of drawing and artistic development in Britain with work from JMW Turner, Rossetti, Millais, Holman Hunt, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, LS Lowry, Peter de Francia, and more.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield WF4 4LG March 7 - September 6
Modigliani - A Unique Artistic Voice
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, London N1 2AN April 15 – June 28 This exhibition focuses on modern Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani’s (1884-1920) works on paper, showing the spiritual and stylistic development of his portrayal of the human face and form through some 30 drawings, including many from the collection of Modigliani’s close friend Paul Alexandre, his only patron in the early years, along with other works on paper and paintings from private collections, including that of Eric Estorick. Among the works in crayon, ink and watercolor is the closest known study to Modigliani’s major painting L’Amazone of 1909. His obsessive search for an essential truth and character in his subjects is demonstrated in the successive studies for the painting. American sociologist and writer, Eric Estorick (1913-93) began collecting art when he married an English heiress and moved here after WWII. He became a full time art dealer in the 1950s, founding the Grosvenor Gallery, London in 1960. Tip: There’s a great little licensed Italian cafe here with seating in the garden. James Gillray, A Sphere Projecting Against a Plane, 1792, Hand-colored etching © COURTESY OF THE WARDEN AND SCHOLARS OF NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD / BRIDGEMAN IMAGES
Henry Moore, Large Two Forms, 1966-69 REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF THE HENRY MOORE FOUNDATION, PHOTO ©JONTY WILDE, COURTESY OF YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK
Produced in partnership with The Henry Moore Foundation, this major exhibition offers a fresh perspective of Henry Moore (1898–1986) displaying more than 120 works, and considering the artist’s profound relationship with land, something which was fundamental to his practice and fuelled his visual vocabulary. Born into a mining family in Castleford, West Yorkshire, Moore is one of the most important artists of the 20th century and was a founding patron of YSP. Here monumental sculptures, such as Large Two Forms (1966–69) and Large Reclining Figure (1983), are displayed against the beautiful and historic vistas of the Bretton Estate, experienced with the resident flock of sheep, an animal described by the artist as an ideal foil for the appreciation of his work, being exactly the right size and scale.
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Beautiful
The Carole King Musical Book by Douglas McGrath Aldwych Theatre, 49 Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF Reviewed by Jarlath O’Connell
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top class US creative team, led by director Marc Bruni, have replicated their deserved Broadway success with Beautiful and simply added a very talented London cast. Katie Brayben is a revelation in the title role. She goes beyond mere impersonation and brings an intelligence and sincerity to the character, which really delivers in the dramatic moments. Vocally she is simply astonishing. It would be a mistake to dismiss Beautiful as just another jukebox show. Yes, we have had far too many of these lately, but Douglas McGrath’s well judged book takes it in a new direction. He uses the Goffin and King songbook as the context for the personal story but the songs are never, mercifully, shoehorned into a narrative. Along the way we get a great insight too into the music business, at a time when it was really turning a corner. Beautiful is essentially a portrait of an artist. The gawky, musically precocious, teenager from Brooklyn never really wanted to be a performer and yet it is astonishing to consider that she was churning out hits at the age of 16. This was down to the unique support she received from bosses and colleagues in New York’s famed hits factory the
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PHOTO © BRINKHOFF MOEGENBURG
Katie Brayben as Carole King, Alan Morrissey as Gerry Goffin
Brill Building. She and Goffin, who coupled up quite quickly, suddenly hit a seam of pure pop gold. Her ordinariness always defined her, however. For her, the dream was a house in the suburbs but this was never enough for the wayward, troubled Goffin, sensitively portrayed here by Alan Morrissey. He needed the kinetic energy of the city, with its late-night clubs and girls and drugs to make him feel more alive. That happy ending in the ‘burbs was never going to happen. The story ends up therefore as Carole’s ‘romantic’ education and her realisation, by the time of Tapestry, that she didn’t need to be an adjunct to a man. With ‘Tapestry’ (an indulgence allowed only after shifting so many records) she crafted one of the greatest albums of all time, found her own voice and set a template for so many to follow. Dramatically the challenge here was how to make a good ordinary person interesting. McGrath stirs the mix by running the Goffin-King story in parallel with the story of their close friends and competitors, the songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. From the outset Brill Building boss Donnie Kirshner (Gary Trainor) had set the couples in competition, demanding for
example that they deliver overnight a new hit for The Shirelles. The Goffins won that one and that all night burst of creativity produced ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’. Although they were competitors the friendship between the two never waned and Lorna Want and Ian McIntosh give solid support here as another couple caught in this crazy maelstrom. Bruni’s staging avoids too many ‘eureka’ moments at the piano and he skilfully presents the songs emerging from their chrysalis before they get beefed up into full performances, cleverly choreographed by Josh Prince, in careful recreations of the original artists. We see the girl groups like The Shirelles (initially a bit snooty about ‘Will You Still Love Me’ dismissing it as too country) and The Chiffons. We meet The Drifters and see how ‘The Locomotion’ got started, turning the Goffin’s own babysitter into the overnight sensation called Little Eva. We also follow the trajectory of the great Mann/Weil songbook including their gigantic hit for the Righteous Brothers ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’. This show combines a goldplated songbook with a story which has heart. It is a total triumph.
The American Kevin Spacey as Clarence Darrow PHOTO © MANUEL HARLAN
By David W Rintels Old Vic Theatre, London Reviewed by Jarlath O’Connell
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larence Darow is Kevin Spacey’s swansong at the Old Vic and it showcases what makes the man so special. During his twelve-year reign in Waterloo Spacey has transformed a shaky ‘receiving house’ into a theatrical powerhouse that acts as a magnet for star talent in (mostly) well-chosen programmes. This play, originally staged on Broadway in 1974 with Henry Fonda, is a one-man show that any actor would relish, packed as it is with bravura speeches. Spacey premiered this production last May at the Old Vic and its 22 performances created a box-office frenzy. On top of his past triumphs, Spacey is now basking in the wider glory of his hit show House of Cards, which he created and stars in for Netflix. Like Olivier before him, the man is a one-man culture industry. Seduction is the key here. He entrances us from the very outset, even if he starts under a huge office desk fixing a drawer. The monologues, rather perfunctorily sewn together by Rintels, give us a rundown of the greatest hits in the career of the legendary crusading defence lawyer Clarence Darrow (1857-1938). Spacey uses
CLARENCE DARROW photos and mementos drawn from storage boxes to recount the tales and he avails of every opportunity provided by Thea Sharrock’s in-the-round staging, to connect with audience members by having them read or sitting among them or addressing them face-to-face discussing the art of jury selection. For Spacey it gives him an opportunity to relish getting up close and for us it’s a chance to see the glint in the eye of an actor at the top of his game. (One hopes, by the way, that Matthew Warchus, who takes over from Spacey, will retain the theater-in-the-round as it has been a huge improvement.) Actors can’t go wrong playing lawyers, and Darrow won over his juries, usually with the odds totally stacked against him, by using a thespian’s mixture of charm, guile and bullying. Darrow fashioned what was to become an American archetype - the lawyer for the little guy – who spoke with emotional conviction about the nobility of man and the threats to liberty posed by wealth and power. It set a template for so many screen lawyers to follow. Darrow is perhaps best remembered from his portrayal by Spencer Tracey in Inherit the Wind, when
he defended the teaching of the theory of evolution in Tennessee schools in the 1920s, in the notorious Scopes ‘Monkey’ Trial. Long before that showdown, however, he had made his name and shaped legal history by defending striking railway employees and miners against the excesses of the Robber Barons. He also helped those persecuted in ‘Red scares’ as well as the labor activists charged with bombing the then fiercely anti-union Los Angeles Times. Darrow was also ahead of his time in defending numerous wrongly accused African Americans facing death row. One particularly poignant case was of a family, on trumped up charges, who had all been driven from their home by a mob for daring to move into a white neighborhood. Spacey, a great raconteur, is in his element here and his achievement is to make this litany of labor and race relations’ cases come alive, particularly some of the great closing arguments, such as the one he made at the Leopold and Loeb trial. This piece is a salutary reminder of the importance of Darrow and what he stood for and it’s a fittingly noble end to Spacey’s tenure at the Old Vic.
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T
his challenging examination of the future of the internet and the downside of virtual reality raises many difficult questions however it leaves most of them up in the air. The play, by American writer Jennifer Haley, started life at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in LA and went on to win many prizes. It received its UK premiere at the Royal Court last summer and after a sell out run has transferred to the West End. At 1hr and 15 mins it is an intellectual amuse bouche. Set in 2050, the Nether follows an investigation into the complicated and disturbing morality of identity in the digital world, where everyone can be anyone, so long as they have an avatar. For many this virtual world of sensory delights is a blessed escape from the drabness of their “real world” and it represents a form of re-birth where they can feel more alive. One of the darker recesses of the Nether is the Hideaway, which has been set up by successful business-
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By Jennifer Haley Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG 0844 871 3051 Reviewed by Jarlath O’Connell
man Sims, played by a gruff Stanley Townsend. Here, in this curiously Victorian idyll, consenting adults can engage in role-play with a precocious little girl called Iris. Sims seems to be the stylish host to his customers but it is clear that the games are ultimately far from innocent. As the play begins Morris (Amanda Hale), an investigator employed by the Nether, is trying to dig up the truth about what goes on in this world and is attempting to close it down. She even resorts to sending an agent undercover to the virtual world. As well as Sims she also quizzes a retired science teacher Doyle (the great David Calder) who is so totally in thrall to this alternative universe that he is contemplating permanently crossing over, an option which is now humanly possible. Through the rather censorious voice of Morris we are presented with all the arguments about the ethics of eschewing the real world
and the impact on the human soul (if we have one!) of trying to live in a world where actions have no apparent consequences. Images create our reality she says and the Hideaway is dangerous because it fosters a culture of legitimisation of abuse. These are bracing arguments but from the mouth of Morris they often come across as shrill, when set against the libertarian counter arguments. Sims describes how the Hideaway saved him from a life of abusing real children. Is this a solution therefore? As Morris puts it, it is not because “In the end the world is still the place we have to learn to be”. Director Jeremy Herrin does a great job in marshalling this debate and a strong cast give it their all but the piece, despite its brevity, never catches fire. Having the abuse take place in a Lewis Carroll type universe may make it slightly more palatable for an audience but it ultimately undermines the potential power of the arguments. What elevates this production way beyond a sterile debate however is the sheer brilliance of Es Devlin’s designs. She fills the stage with the electronic world of screen immersion and then contrasts this sharply, by giving us real woods in the Victorian underworld. All of it stunningly lit by Paul Pyant. It perfectly encapsulates the play’s arguments about the pull of reality versus fantasy and is yet another example of the theatrical panache of Headlong, Jeremy Herrin’s company, which originated this with the Royal Court. This is a truly memorable production of a play, which though unsettling, ultimately gets lost in its own woods.
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Reviewed by Sabrina P Sully and Richard L Gale
Season of Fear
By Brian Freeman Paperback, 432 pages Quercus £7.99 ISBN 9781782068990
By Emily Winslow Hardback, 320 pages Allison & Busby, £19.99 ISBN 9780749018955
Florida, the election race for governor, just like 10 years ago. Then the leading candidate was assassinated along with a member of his team and a bystander. Now his widow is the leading candidate in the race. The leader of the far right guntoting Liberty Empire Alliance was blamed for her husband’s murder and is still in prison. But now the widow’s getting threats, is she safe? Step forward Cab Bolton, the son of her best friend, a successful film actress. He’s amazingly good looking, intelligent, rich, and a cop. Taking time out from his day job he starts to investigate and as Hurricane Chayla gets closer, and the anniversary of the first shooting approaches, the web gets more intricate, and the bodies pile up (as do the fish!). I first came across Brian Freeman’s work with Spilled Blood in 2013, which went on to win Best Hardcover Novel in the 2013 Thriller Awards. This thriller doesn’t disappoint, and he’s every bit as good as Harlan Coben, but with longer sentences. Extremely well written, the plot is intricate and surprising, the characters have depth - you care about them; and in this book the weather takes a star turn that builds the tension, and feeds the drama of the action. A little slow to start, it quickly becomes a page turner, a great vacation book for reading in stormy or sunny weather. Cab Bolton is a great character, from an earlier Freeman book, and in the course of this one quits the police and goes it alone. I’ll be looking out for the next Bolton iteration. SS
If coincidences cause you discomfort when reading mysteries, The Red House may test your nerve. However, simply accept that Emily Winslow’s novels are masterfullycrafted crimes of circumstance and you will be suitably rewarded. Her third novel (as with The Whole World and The Start of Everything before it) is not driven by the moustachetwirling machinations of planned murders, but by characters driven to desperate acts when fate conspires to unearth that which was buried – in the case of The Red House, literally. The bones begin to surface just three pages in, and the New England-raised author once again takes us on a dance through a pleasing maze of viewpoints, each character presenting their accounts. Her regular cops, Morris Keene (here invalided into retirement) and now-pregnant Chloe Frohmann are again woven into the tapestry, but it is young couple Maxwell and Imogen who find themselves unexpectedly drawn into events, Max quickly embedded in suspicious circumstances, and already suspicious of their own circumstances: is his fiancée actually his adopted sister, and why does he seem to recall Cambridge? Familial mysteries offer dizzying layers, and as present events are intermixed with half-memories and future hopes, the inner longings, logic and vulnerabilities of the participants are steadily revealed, as Winslow wrings every last satisfying twist from her characters. RG
The Exit
By Helen Fitzgerald Paperback, 320 pages Faber & Faber, £7.99 ISBN 978057128795 As with The Red House, half-remembered events and vulnerability are themes in Helen FitzGerald’s The Exit, as Facebook-obsessed 23-year Catherine submits to her mother’s suggestion and accepts work at the local care home. There she meets Rose, an 82 year-old children’s author who fluctuates between the present and a traumatic event from her childhood. Rose soon shares her misgivings about events in one of the other rooms. Is it just a manifestation of her dementia, or is something far darker afoot? FitzGerald’s track record as a crime writer is probably a clue that this isn’t merely a tale of reminiscences and the young connecting with the old. While the darkness and ending may not suit all, this book offers plenty for the reader to ponder long after the final chapter about people’s control over the details of their final moments, and about the ability of the healthy to cope with the care and frailty of loved ones. RG
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Ready for Hillary? Sir Robert Worcester, long-term American expat and founder of pollsters MORI, reviews and analyses Ready for Hillary? Portrait of a President in Waiting, a fascinating new book by the former British Ambassador to Washington, Lord Renwick.
I
s the world ready for Hillary Clinton as President of the United States of America? Is the United States ready for Hillary? These questions are well answered in this timely book, authored by the British Ambassador to Washington between 1991 and 1995, Robin Renwick, now Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG. The race to the White House has begun. Actually it never stops. As soon as a president is elected, the pollsters start asking American electors who they think will be the best candidates for the presidency. Aspirants ‘just happen’ to start raising their profile, visiting key states such as Iowa and New Hampshire (where most hopefuls’ dreams are ended). Time for a change? That’s the American way. Presidents are lucky to have two terms: of the last eight presidents, four did, four didn’t, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Bush #41. President Obama is just a year and a half from leaving office. Ambassador Renwick arrived in Washington to overlap with the Clintons, Bill and Hillary, for Clinton’s last two years, and as British Ambassadors do, had close contact with the President and First Lady, a very hands-on First Lady. Of course he’d been observing the Washington scene for many years and had seen presidents (and first ladies) come
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and go. He’d served in Washington earlier in his career (’81-’84) so the Washington scene was not new to him. And he’s been a close observer ever since. This has given Lord Renwick both access and perspective, probably as much as any diplomat gets, as most American presidents tend to consider the British as ‘one of us’ rather than ‘one of them’. They are relatively relaxed about seeing them socially, allowing easy access to their staff and advisors, and continue in many cases, to maintain contact after leaving office. Certainly this is the case here, and in chapter after chapter it shows. This book is no hagiography. Renwick is acutely critical of Hillary Clinton’s early years in the spotlight, with her relations with Congress, with the public, and most of all, with the media. She did not ‘play the game’ with much skill. He describes her during the Clinton years as a ‘disciplined northern workaholic, not devoid of charm, but rarely bothering to show it, not gregarious at all’, ‘better at argument and knowledge of the facts than any attempt at humour in her speaking’. In her early days in the West Wing, she blocked off the corridor which had allowed correspondents to have easy access to the press secretary’s office, which
did nothing to ease her somewhat spiky relations with the press. She was thought of by two key Senators whose support she needed as self-righteous and arrogant. She even upset potential funders of her campaign for the Senate once she and Bill left the White House. The turning point for her is ‘Reinventing Hillary’. She turned from being a First Lady to being a Senator; a major and unique transition. As a politician she learned fast, worked hard as she always had done, and soon learned that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, an old Southern truism. The experience of her first attempt at the presidency against Barak Obama was frustrating and embittering for her. She won her re-election campaign to hold her Senate seat by a two-thirds majority, and was seen by this to be a strong contender for the Democratic nomination, but Obama’s campaign both organizationally and personally was too tough to beat. When Obama won the Iowa caucus, open to anyone, not just registered Democratic voters, it showed a black man winning in a Midwestern state (in admittedly a strange system) could win the presidency. Hillary won New Hampshire, no surprise there, but the Obama fund raising and recruiting of volunteers through new media was too strong
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for her to get the nomination. When Obama nominated her to be the Secretary of State it became the making of yet another new Hillary. No longer the Senator, she became a strong team player, a valuable ally in fighting the internal wars and policy disputes, and became a cheer leader for the State Department staff. She even made peace between the State Department and the Department of Defense and made an ally of Bob Gates, the Defense Secretary. Hillary’s remake as roving ambassador for America, clocking up nearly a million air miles during her time in office, made international respect for her and for her office rise among her peer group. She found the job daunting but also personally rewarding, and while frustrating much of the time, had its moments. Certainly the transition to a person with charm and humor, while being a ‘hawk’ on foreign policy itself, won her friends around America’s allies if not its enemies. Robin Renwick’s tour of hotspots, Russia, Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Libya, Israel/Palestine, Africa and the rest, following Hillary’s travels, is instructive in itself, and benefit greatly from his long service in the Foreign Office and observation of foreign alignments and entanglements alike.
Look who’s just walked in...
His final two chapters deal with the questions raised at the outset. Britain is certainly ready to see the Anglophile that is Hillary in charge. Is the world ready for Hillary? The answer he argues is ‘Yes’. Is the USA? Yes, but by default. He believes that the Republicans should have the presidency by a landslide, but this coming presidential election will likely prove closer than it looks at the moment, even with the Republicans in disarray and the Democrats with a yet-to-be-
PHOTO: PETE SOUZA, WHITE HOUSE
announced front runner in Hillary. There is no-one in sight who can beat her both to the nomination and to the phone call from the Prime Minister offering his congratulations to the newly elected President of the United States. Ready for Hillary? is published by Biteback Publishing Ltd., 256 pps, ISBN: 9781849547888, £17.95. ebook: ISBN: 9781849548342, £8.39
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Baseball is Back! s’ Giancarlo Miami Marlin
O: CORN FA Stanton PHOT
RMER
T
he hot stove was absolutely smoking over the winter, with players moving all over the place, crazy contracts being signed, and even a new commissioner sitting down at the head of the Major League Baseball table for the first time in 23 years. Spring has officially sprung in Florida and Arizona with MLB teams reporting to camp, and it will soon be time to call “play ball”. So what’s it all mean? Who’s landed where? Who looks good, who needs more seasoning and who’s going nowhere fast? Jay Webster runs through the baseball gamut and looks at each team’s chances for the 2015 season.
American League East
Baltimore Orioles A year after surprising many in the baseball world by winning 96 games, the O’s won’t be sneaking up on anybody this year. The team suffered two substantial losses with the departure of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. With no significant additions, fans in Baltimore will be relying on their big three of Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Chris Davis to stay healthy (and clean) enough to post some monster numbers and carry the Orioles back to the post season. Toronto Blue Jays After teasing their fan base for the past two seasons, the Jays brought catcher extraordinaire Russell Martin back home to Canada and traded for one of the top third basemen in the league in Josh Donaldson. If nothing else, a line up with Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnaciòn at its heart has to be fun to watch. After a couple of misfires in recent seasons, this year is looking like a make or break year in Toronto. Boston Red Sox Following a disappointing 2014 campaign, the front office in Boston brought in veterans Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez to mix with upcoming youngsters like Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo and Xander Bogaerts. The reality is that
46 April 2015
quite a few things have to go right for Boston to challenge, including progress from the youngsters, Ramirez making the adjustment to life as a left fielder in the shadow of the Green Monster and Dustin Pedroia staying healthy. New York Yankees Speaking of question marks, there are more of them in Gotham this year than there are on the Riddler’s green suit. Is Didi Gregorius really Derek Jeter’s heir apparent? Can CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda stay healthy enough to anchor the rotation? Do the likes of Stephen Drew, Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira have any tread left on the tires? And oh yea, what about the whole Alex Rodriguez thing? As the Bronx Turns may be a soap opera of epic proportions in, but it’s bound to make scintillating viewing if nothing else. Tampa Bay Rays Joe Madden, Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce and Wil Meyers? Gone. It will be hard to replace so much offensive production and a manager with a proven track record of working with what he’s given. Evan Longoria is still in town, and pitching staff that includes Drew Smyly, Alex Cobb, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi give the folks on the Bay some reason for hope. Runs might be hard
to come by, though, which means the Rays are going to need every bit of that pitching to keep them in ballgames.
American League Central
Cleveland Indians While the Tribe have some issues defensively, they are loaded with young talent and pitching. Left fielder Michael Brantley, first baseman Carlos Santana, second baseman Jason Kipnis and catcher Yan Gomes are all coming into their primes. Add in some solid pitching from the likes of Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, the playoffs are a distinct possibility on the banks of the Cuyahoga. Detroit Tigers The last four AL Central titles have gone to the Motor City, and there’s no reason to think they won’t give it up this year without a fight. Max Scherzer has moved on to richer pastures, but David Price can step in. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez bring lots of punch at the plate, so plenty of offense and pitching to go around, though Justin Verlander could use a bounce-back year. Kansas City Royals The Royals brought small ball back into fashion
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while making their first World Series run since 1985, but the loss of James Shields, Billy Butler and Norichika Aoki will hurt The brass in KC will be hoping that Yordano Ventura is ready to be an ace and that there is still some magic left over from last year. Chicago White Sox Credit the front office on Chicago’s South Side for going out and bringing some talent to add to the likes of Chris Sale and Jose Abreu. Pitcher Jeff Samardzija, outfielder Melkey Cabrera and first baseman/DH Adam LaRoche are all upgrades, but there are still big holes at catcher, third base, second base and the back of the rotation. Minnesota Twins The Twins have the highest ranked farm system in baseball, which means it will be a few years before the talent starts to filter through to the big leagues. Look for baseball’s top prospect Byron Buxton to make it to Target Field this season, if he can stay healthy.
American League West
Los Angeles Angels After winning 98 games a year ago, MVP Mike Trout and the Halos will be looking to get back to the playoffs for a second straight year, but it’s hard to see them equalling last year’s win total. The rotation is solid, but Jeff Weaver and C.J. Wilson might not be what they once were, and the loss of second baseman Howie Kendrick will hurt. That doesn’t mean they aren’t the team to beat out west. Seattle Mariners The M’s brought in Nelson Cruz to add some muchneeded pop from the right side of the plate. Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager are rock solid at second and third base, respectively, and Felix Hernandez remains “King Felix”. It’s not too hard to see Seattle equalling or exceeding their 87 wins of a year ago to challenge for the division title. Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane is known as a gambler, and he rolled the proverbial dice once again, completely remaking a team that won 88 games and held on for a wild card berth. Shipping the team’s most valuable player, Josh Donaldson, to the Blue Jays for Brett Lawrie was a bit of a head scratcher, and with a whole slew of new faces taking the field, it’s hard to
know what to expect by the bay this time around. Houston Astros Evan Gattis and Jed Lowrie head to the Lone Star State, where the lineup has a lot of pop but whiffs a lot. Houston may not be as bad as they were a couple of years ago, but that’s not saying much. Texas Rangers The Rangers look to put an injury-filled season behind them and get banner years from Adrian Beltre and Prince Fielder, as well as contribution from newcomer Yovani Gallardo, who joins Yu Darvish and Derek Holland in the rotation.
National League East
Washington Nationals It’s World Series or bust this year in the Nation’s Capital. Not content to rest on their laurels after a 96-win season, the Nats gave pitcher Max Scherzer 210 million reasons to come to D.C. and join a rotation that was already one of the best in baseball. 100 wins is by no means out of the question for a team that, on paper anyway, has no real weaknesses. New York Mets After years of futility in Queens, the Mets are finally showing signs that they might be able to stay in contention for a post season berth. Matt Harvey returns from Tommy John surgery to join Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler in the rotation. A healthy David Wright and an encore performance from first baseman Luke Duda could lead to post season play in Citi Field come October. Miami Marlins The NL East was certainly the division of the big spenders, with the Marlins locking up Giancarlo Stanton with a $325 million contract extension. The hope is that he comes back from being hit in the face with a pitch late last season to once again be one of the most exciting players in the league.
There is hope in Miami this year, and a run at the wild card is not out of the question. Atlanta Braves As good as things are at the top of the division, they are bad at the bottom. The Braves officially shifted into rebuilding gear by jettisoning Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis for prospects and hope they are ready to compete by the time their new stadium opens in 2017. Philadelphia Phillies The Phils managed to unload Jimmy Rollins, and they’d be happy to move anything that’s not nailed down, including Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard to build for the future. But for now, things look bleak in Philly.
National League Central
Pittsburgh Pirates There is a lot to like about the Bucs. They have one of the best outfields in the game, led by MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen. They score a lot of runs, have great depth, play great defense and their pitching is sneaky good. The loss of catcher Russell Martin hurts, but maybe not as much as at first glance. The Pirates will be in the hunt once again, me hearties. St Louis Cardinals The Cards always seem to find ways to stay in the hunt, and there isn’t a lot of reason to expect differently this time around. Jason Heyward will be an upgrade in right field, and while they can’t afford drop-offs from veterans such as Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta, an infusion of young talent and a wealth of pitching depth should keep the Redbirds in the running for a fifth consecutive playoff berth. Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Madden and veteran pitcher Jon Lester come to Wrigleyville to join a host of top prospects such as Chris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler. The Cubbies are definitely getting closer and should be fun to watch this year, but a bit more seasoning might just be required. Milwaukee Brewers The Crew will rely heavily on Carlos Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy, a Ryan Braun comeback and improvement from shortstop Jean Segura. Even
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if all of those pieces come together, it’s hard to see the Brewers much above .500 at the end of the season. Cincinnati Reds The Reds are another team that has some talent with the likes of Johnny Cueto, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, but nothing to suggest they will be much better than average either.
National League West
LA Dodgers After winning the division last season, the Dodgers overhauled their lineup, parting ways with Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez, while bringing in Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick as defensive upgrades. Yasiel Puig is still electric, and rookie Joc Pederson will be one to watch in center field. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke are still the best one-two pitching punch in the game, and the Dodgers will be hoping to go a step farther than last season. San Diego Padres The Friars won the off season, bringing in outfielders Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Meyers, infielders Will Middlebrook and Clint Barmes, and their prime catch, right hander James Shields. The Padres will be better, but the question is how much better? San Francisco Giants We all know the Giants only win titles in evennumbered years (2010, 2012, 2014). Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse are gone. The Giants barely even made the playoffs last year before going on their amazing playoff run, and there were no significant upgrades in the off season. Pitching has always been a strength in San Fran. The good news is Madison Bumgarner takes the hill every fifth day, but there might be some concerns this year on the other four days. Colorado Rockies Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gomez remain topflight talents, but will they be anything more than trade bait come July? And the pitching? It’s a problem. Arizona Diamondbacks Apologies to the folks out in the desert, but the D-Backs are a mess these days, and aside from Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo, there isn’t a lot to see here.
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Clayton Kershaw of the LA Dodgers
PHOTO: KERSHAW MIFFED
Magna Carta Uncovered Anthony Arlidge and Igor Judge
2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the grant at Runnymede of Magna Carta. The story of how Magna Carta came into being, and has been interpreted since, and its impact on individual rights and constitutional developments has more twists and turns than any work of historical fiction.
Nov 2014 9781849465564 204pp Hbk RSP: ÂŁ25 Quote Ref CV5 to receive 20% discount
The authors bring their wide legal experience and forensic skills to uncover the original meaning of the liberties enshrined in Magna Carta, and to trace their development in later centuries up to the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America. By providing that the powers of the King were not unlimited, the Charter was groundbreaking, yet it was also a conservative document, following the form of Anglo-Saxon charters and seeking to return government to the ways of the Norman kings. This book tells the enthralling, ultimately inspirational, story of Magna Carta in a concise and readable fashion and will captivate laymen and lawyers alike. Anthony Arlidge has been a Queen’s Counsel for over 30 years. In 1990 he was called upon during a case to argue the meaning of clause 40 of Magna Carta. Igor Judge was a judge for 25 years and retired as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales in 2013.
Published by Hart Publishing. Website: www.hartpub.co.uk Hart Publishing Ltd. is registered in England No. 3307205 Hart Publishing Ltd. is an Imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc.
JAFFE & CO LLP AMERICAN TAX INTERNATIONAL US Expatriate Tax Services Established in 1981 and managed by Bruce L Jaffe, BA JD, we provide a full range of US and UK tax services for US expatriates residing in the UK and have over 55 years of cumulative experience preparing tax returns for US taxpayers. Please contact us today to see how we can help you. 020 8346 5237 www.jaffeandco.com [email protected] 54 Hendon Lane, London N3 1TT
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Fizzle Over Flash Buyers Opt For Restraint At NHL Trade Deadline, says Jeremy Lanaway
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n Monday, March 2nd, at 3pm (EST), business closed on the National Hockey League’s busiest trade deadline day in five years, solidifying 24 deals around 43 players and 21 draft picks - but ultimately resulting in more fizzle than flash. The dead calm on deadline day was produced in part by a handful of general managers who had already inked prominent deals in the weeks leading up to the deadline, eager to get out ahead of the pack, effecting an atmosphere of anti-climax on March 2nd that sports networks did their best to hype for fans. Despite the absence of marquee moves, deadline day divided the league into buyers and sellers, causing multiple roster ripples - the effects of which won’t be clear until the post-season. The biggest buyer on trade deadline day was the Anaheim Ducks, the team that many experts have blue-ribboned as the deadline’s top winner. The Ducks bolstered their blueline by acquiring James Wisniewski from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forwards Rene Bourque and William Karlsson (plus draft picks); and Simon Despres from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Ben Lovejoy (plus draft picks). The moves are expected to right the forward-favoring lean of the Ducks’ roster, providing veteran defenceman Francois Beauchemin with some much-needed support. The Ducks also added some defensive depth by dealing defenceman Eric
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Brewer to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the much younger blueliner Korbinian Holzer. The Ducks made some significant pre-deadline moves as well, trading the underachieving Dany Heatley (rightwing) to the Florida Panthers for Tomas Fleischmann (left-wing) on February 28th. Heatley, a former fifty-goal-scorer, failed to live up to lofty expectations in Anaheim, and with an offensive corps that already includes Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Getzlaf, and Andrew Cogliano, the Ducks could afford to cash in their chips on Heatley. On 24th February, the Ducks dealt grinder Devante Smith-Pelly (left-wing) to the Montreal Canadiens for fleet-skated Jiri Sekac (right-wing), a Czech prospect who is projected to add more speed and unpredictability to the Ducks’ attack. The Minnesota Wild are also going for broke this year, establishing themselves as another big buyer at the trade deadline. The Wild got the ball rolling way back on 14th January, dealing with their ongoing goalie uncertainty by picking up Devan Dubnyk from the Phoenix Coyotes for a third-round pick. After a disappointing tenure with the Edmonton Oilers and a so-so term with the Coyotes, Dubnyk was quick to establish himself as the Wild’s number-one backstop, compiling a remarkable record of eighteen wins and only four losses since signing with the club. The Wild know that if Dubnyk falters or succumbs to injury down the stretch,
their backup, Niklas Backstrom, a former Vezina Trophy finalist, has the skill set and experience to man the pipes in Dubnyk’s absence. On 24th February, the Wild started bolstering their skaters by trading with the Panthers, picking up left-winger Sean Bergenheim for a third-round pick. Bergenheim is a depth player, having amassed eighteen points in thirty-nine games with the Panthers before being shipped to St Paul. The Wild also traded for veteran defender Jordan Leopold, dealing Justin Falk to the Blue Jackets in return, a move that is expected to add secondary support to the team’s primary blueline presence, Ryan Suter. The Wild finished off their roster renovations by swapping a second-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for right-winger Chris Stewart, a big-bodied power-forward viewed by Wild GM Chuck Fletcher as a step in adding grit to the team - without sacrificing too much secondary scoring. Many expected Stewart to end up with the Boston Bruins, citing him as a perfect prototype of the Beantown model, but GM Peter Chiarelli clearly felt that the cost of adding Stewart to the Bruins’ roster was too dear. Others teams to establish themselves as buyers, albeit budgetwary ones, included the St Louis Blues, the Montreal Canadiens, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Bruins. The Blues strengthened their middle by acquiring veteran centreman Olli Jokinen from the
IMAGE ©BRUCE KLUCKHOHN 2015, COURTESY MINNESOTA WILD
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Maple Leafs for Joakim Lindstrom and a conditional sixth-round pick, and German centreman Marcel Goc from the Penguins (on 27th January) for Maxim Lapierre. The Blues also made one of the minor splashes on deadline day by trading for defenceman Zbynek Michalek, sending centreman Maxim Letunov to the Coyotes in return. The Blues, who currently hold the seventh spot in NHL standings, only four points behind the league-leading Ducks, hope that Michalek will push their alreadyimposing defence corps - a la Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, Carl Gunnarsson, Barret Jackman, and Ian Cole - over the top and make the team a true Cup contender. Speaking of Lord Stanley’s highly coveted mug, the Canadiens gave themselves the best chance of returning it to the Great White North, since they themselves won
Devan Dubnyk of The Minnesota Wild in action against the Edmonton Oilers
it back in 1993, by adding forwards Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn (from the Sabres for picks), and defenceman Jeff Petry (from the Oilers for picks). None of the picks, examined individually, have the sizzle to make the team an instant Cup-favorite, but taken collectively, they might pack enough punch to dispel the nagging criticism that the Canadiens, who presently sit second overall, are playing beyond their paygrade. The Blackhawks, always contenders, sought to lengthen their run of dominance by participating in the Coyotes’ fire sale, picking up centreman Antoine Vermette for defender Klas Dahlbeck. The Blackhawks further boosted their middle by trading for Andrew Desjardins, sending winger Ben Smith to the San Jose Sharks to uphold their end of the deal. A few days before the deadline, the
Blackhawks acquired defenceman Kimmo Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers. Pushing nearly forty years of age, Timonen will add an additional leadership voice to the Blackhawks’ dressing room, and his point-every-other-game offensive output is expected to buttress the squad’s secondary scoring. The Blackhawks, sitting in ninth spot overall with eighty-four points, have the rare luxury of a young roster with plenty of experience thanks to their recent Cup wins in 2010 and 2013. Can they beat the Los Angeles Kings in the race to become the only team to win three Stanley Cups in the same decade for the first time since the Oilers championship era of the 1980s? The Blackhawks’ moves on trade deadline day although understated in scope - are more likely to help than hinder their chances.
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Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright .... and not in a good way, suggests Darren Kilfara
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recently bought an IKEA loft bed for my son. The morning after I purchased it, I disassembled his old bed, tidied away the old toys and rubbish formerly under it, vacuumed the floor, painstakingly hauled the first two boxes of chipboard slabs upstairs, took a deep breath, and finally started building the new bed. After maybe 30 minutes of assembly, I realized I’d done everything backwards: the shelving unit I’d been working on was facing the wrong way, and I needed to start over. So I reluctantly started unscrewing everything…and in doing so, I carelessly allowed one upright plank to topple over, ripping two screws out of their sockets in a way which looked unrepairable. As a Tourette’s-like torrent of profanity escaped my lips, I thought I’d ruined everything. What a perfect metaphor for Tiger Woods’ golf game right now.
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A few weeks ago, a buddy emailed me to say, “You HAVE to write about Tiger. This may be the most astounding story of the last several decades if he’s really lost his fastball and can’t break 80 – he may not be able to even finish a round at Augusta like this.” In one sense, that is hyperbole: Tiger Woods is 39 years old, and many great golfers (Jones, Nelson, Palmer, Watson, Ballesteros…the list goes on) were washed up by age 39. Since 1960, the average and median age of major championship winners is 32 – the same age Tiger was when he last won a major – and less than 10% of all majors have been won by players over 40. And the recent examples of David Duval and Ian Baker-Finch prove that outstanding golfers do sometimes forget how to play golf well. Still, a whole generation of golf fans can’t remember a time when Tiger wasn’t golf’s true north,
and legendary sportsmen rarely collapse as quickly and comprehensively as Tiger seems to be. His back problems were foreseeable, if unfortunate, but his mind is degrading even faster than his body: his attempts to tear down, tidy up and retool his golf swing appear to have crumpled his previously adamantine self-belief, as most shockingly evidenced by the state of his short game. I know double-digit handicappers who chip and pitch better than Tiger does at present, and despite his protestations to the contrary, expert consensus and common sense both suggest the root cause is mental. And now, everyone from Butch Harmon (happy to help if asked) to Rocco Mediate (could fix Tiger “in a few minutes” but also thinks he should consult Lee Trevino) has advice for Tiger – and also pity, which is way worse. Is Tiger up for this fight? To
IMAGE ©DENELSON83
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extend my IKEA metaphor, although it took eight hours and I’m still sore even as I type this paragraph, I found a way to finish building that bed; of course, I had no real choice but to finish it. For a long time, we all thought Tiger had no choice either: he’d either catch Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors or die trying. But now his glutes aren’t firing, he’s on a self-imposed double-secret PGA Tour probation, and it seems he’d rather chill in the mountains with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn than fiendishly plot a comeback. Does Tiger know he’s started down the wrong road to recovery, and can he figure out how to step back and undo the damage before moving forward? Will he ever win another major, or indeed any other tournament? How much further will his world ranking drop before he next makes a cut? Does he even care anymore? Tiger’s shadow, however droopy, will continue to darken all of professional golf until some of these questions are answered.
Darren Kilfara formerly worked for Golf Digest magazine and is the author of A Golfer’s Education, a memoir of his junior year abroad as a student-golfer at the University of St. Andrews. His latest book, a novel called Do You Want Total War?, is also now available online at Amazon and elsewhere.
The International Sailing Federation’s official racing signal - offshore meaning: ‘follow this boat’ onshore meaning: ‘a notice to competitors has been posted’
Follow this boat - it’s more than just a boat, says Sabrina Sully
F
ormula 1 and the Americas Cup enjoy a great many technical and operational synergies, and are hoping for more (see our report in the October 14 issue), not least the latest news that Martin Whitmarsh, former CEO of the McLaren Group and Team Principal of McLaren’s F1 team, will join the British challenger shortly at their new team HQ in Portsmouth, as CEO for the 35th America’s Cup. Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) has raised the flag, and is coming together nicely, with Adrian Newey (who worked with Whitmarsh for nine years at McLaren) heading Red Bull Advanced Technologies, RBAT, who are providing simulation and math modelling skills to the awesome team of designers who make up BAR’s Technical Innovation Group (TIG) TIG is also backed by the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign to help attract the very best of British talent to the project, and to showcase British expertise overseas. Representatives from 20 world class British technology, design and engineering companies attended a forum on the TIG at the team’s sailing base in early March. More partners joining the TIG will be announced in the coming weeks. BAR are racingon behalf of The Royal Yacht Squadron, located in Cowes, Isle of Wight, just across the Solent from Portsmouth. The Squadron’s patron is the Queen, its
Admiral is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The Duchess of Cambridge is the patron of the 1851 Trust, the charity which BAR supports and which seeks to inspire and engage a new generation through sailing and the marine industry. Why 1851? It was the year of the Great Exhibition, a celebration of modern industrial science, technology and design, championed by Prince Albert. A syndicate of US businessmen brought a schooner called America to demonstrate their shipbuilding skills, which outclassed the British racing fleet of 1851, winning the first America’s Cup, and starting the America’s Cup Challenge. “We don’t underestimate the challenge ahead of us” Ben Ainslie commented, “over 162 years and 34 contests, Britain has never won it. We are a first time challenger, and only one challenger has ever won it at the first attempt.” It’s all gearing up to be exciting, and near enough to easily enjoy, with a race this year and next being held on the Solent. Portsmouth, the proud home of the Royal Navy, is mirroring the latter’s decline, so it looks like BAR shoulders not only Challenge hopes, but Portsmouth’s rejuvenation hopes but a new UK PLC strength and export hope as well. It’s going to get crowded in the Solent! Even if they don’t win the Cup (this time!).
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The American
W
hen this issue of The American is published, the start of the 2015 Formula One season will be at full throttle, but we here at the magazine are also looking ahead to 2016, and the impending arrival of Haas F1, the first American-led Formula One team in 30 years. As was revealed in last month’s issue, Haas F1 have now confirmed their acquisition of a base in Banbury, Oxfordshire, offering the team a base from which they can move equipment easily to and from European races. The team have also announced several high profile personnel signings which are cementing the team’s position ahead of 2016. Guenther Steiner, no stranger to Formula One, had already been confirmed as Team Principal for the new squad in 2014, and is now joined by Dave O’Neill as team manager, Rob Taylor as chief designer and Ben Agathangelou as chief aerodynamicist. O’Neill was previously Team Manager for the Jordan Formula One team between 1998 and 2005, a time of great success for the team, including their standout year in 1999 when they finished third in the Constructor’s Championship. Taylor, who has also worked for the likes of McLaren and Red Bull Racing, will be charged with design of the team’s 2016 car. Agathangelou, who arrives to Haas F1 from the Ferrari Formula One team, also brings a wealth of experience to the squad. Haas have confirmed that Taylor and Agathangelou have already designed the 60% scale model of the car that the team will race during the 2016 season, confirming that the squad is well on its way to competing next year. Speaking of the developments,
54 April 2015
HaasF1 update By Daniel M Byway
Steiner commented that “While there is still a lot of work to do, a lot has already been accomplished for Haas F1 Team to be competitive when we join the F1 grid in 2016”. Steiner went on to say that “Our technical partnership with Ferrari has allowed us to develop our car and our people at an exceptional pace. The way we’re going about our F1 team is new and different, but it’s working. We’re committed to our plan, we’re committed to F1 and, most importantly, we’re on
schedule. This time next year, our cars will have already been tested and we’ll be readying them for Melbourne.” With plenty of talk on the costs and difficulties of running a Formula One team, Haas F1 appear to be underlining the real potential of their project with a very professional approach to preparing for 2016. All that’s left to do now is start the rumours about which American driver will spearhead the team’s 2016 campaign!
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April 2015 57
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58 April 2015
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Ditchley Foundation Ditchley Park, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 4ER Tel 01608 677346 www.ditchley.co.uk [email protected]
International School of London in Surrey Old Woking Road, Woking GU22 8HY, 01483 750409, www.islsurrey.com [email protected]
Dwight School London Formerly North London International School 6 Friem Barnet Lane, London N11 3LX 020 8920 0600 [email protected] www.dwightlondon.org
Ithaca College London Centre 35 Harrington Gardens, London SW7. Tel. 020 7370 1166 www.ithaca.edu/london [email protected]
European Council of International Schools Executive Director: Jean K Vahey Fourth Floor, 146 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR 020 7824 7040 www.ecis.org [email protected]
Marymount International School, London Headmistress: Ms Sarah Gallagher George Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7PE 020 8949 0571 [email protected] www.marymountlondon.com
European-Atlantic Group PO Box 37431, London N3 2XP 020 8632 9253 [email protected] www.eag.org.uk
Missouri London Study Abroad Program 32 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU. 020 7373 7953. [email protected] www.umsl.edu/services/cis/
Florida State University London Study Centre Administrative Director: Kathleen Paul 99 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LH. 020 7813 3233 [email protected] www.international.fsu.edu/london Fordham University London Centre Academic Coordinator: Sabina Antal 23 Kensington Square, London W8 5HQ 020 7937 5023 [email protected] www.fordham.edu Fulbright (US-UK Educational) Commission Dir. of Advisory Service: Lauren Welch Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling Street, London SW8 5BN 020 7498 4010 www.fulbright.co.uk Halcyon London International School Co-educational International Baccalaureate (IB). 33 Seymour Place, London W1H 5AU +44 (0)20 7258 1169 , [email protected] halcyonschool.com
Regent’s University London Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NS. 020 7486 9605. www.regents.ac.uk [email protected]
Richmond, The American International University in London Queen’s Road, Richmond-upon Thames TW10 6JP Tel: +44 20 8332 9000, [email protected] www.richmond.ac.uk Schiller International University Royal Waterloo House, 51-55 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TX. Tel. 020 7928 1372 www.schillerlondon.ac.uk [email protected] Schiller International, Wickham Court School Layhams Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 9HW. Tel 0208 777 2942, [email protected] www.wickhamcourt.org.uk
Sotheby’s Institute of Art Postgraduate Art studies, plus day /evening courses 30 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EE Tel: 0207 462 3232, [email protected] www.sothebysinstitute.com Southbank International Schools Kensington and Hampstead for 3-11 year olds; Westminster campuses for 11-18 year olds. 020 7243 3803, [email protected] www.southbank.org Syracuse University London Program Faraday House, 48-51 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AE, sulondon.syr.edu TASIS England, American School Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Nr. Egham, Surrey TW20 8TE. 01932 565252, england.tasis.com [email protected] UKCISA - Council for International Education 9-17 St. Albans Place, London N1 0NX 020 7354 5210 www.ukcisa.org.uk University of Notre Dame London Program 1 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG 020 7484 7811, [email protected] http://international.nd.edu/about/notre-dameglobal-gateways/london-global-gateway Warnborough University International Office, Friars House, London SE1 8HB. Tel 020 7922 1200 www.warnborough.edu [email protected] Webster Graduate Studies Center Regent’s College, Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, London NW1 4NS, UK. 020 7487 7505, [email protected] www.webster.ac.uk Wroxton College Study Abroad with Fairleigh Dickinson University, Wroxton, Nr. Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 6PX 01295 730551, www.fdu.edu [email protected]
ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS Alliant International University (formerly United States International University) England Chapter Alumni Association Chapter President: Eric CK Chan [email protected] c/o Regents College London, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London, UK. www.alliant.edu Amherst College Bob Reichert, [email protected] Andover/Abbot Association of London Jeffrey Hedges ‘71, President 07968 513 631, [email protected] Association of MBAs Leo Stemp, Events Administrator Tel 020 7837 3375 (ext. 223), [email protected]
April 2015 59
The American
Babson College Frank de Jongh Swemer, 020 7932 7514 [email protected] Barnard College Club Hiromi Stone, President. 0207 935 3981, [email protected] Berkeley Club of London Geoff Kertesz [email protected] http://international.berkeley.edu/LondonClub www.facebook.com groups/223876564344656/ www.linkedin.com/groups/Berkeley-ClubLondon-4186104 Boston College Alumni Club UK Craig Zematis, President +44 7717 878968 [email protected] www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/BTN/cpages/ chapters/home.jsp?chapter=41&org=BTN Boston University Alumni Association of the UK Will Straughn, Snr International Development Officer, University Development and Alumni Relations, 43 Harrington Gardens, Kensington, London SW7 4JU 020 7244 2908 020 7373 7411 [email protected] Brandeis Alumni Club of Great Britain Joan Bovarnick, President http://alumni.brandeis.edu [email protected] Brown University Club of the United Kingdom President: Tugba Erem. Communication: Patrick Attie Alumni Club & Liaison: Vanessa Van Hoof Brown Club UK, Box 57100, London, EC1P 1RB [email protected] www.brownuk.org Bryn Mawr Club Lady Quinton, President. Wendy Tiffin, Secretary/Treasurer, 52 Lansdowne Gardens, London SW8 2EF [email protected] Claremont Colleges Alumni in London Hadley Beeman, [email protected] Colgate Club of London Stephen W Solomon ‘76, President 0207 349 0738 [email protected] Columbia Business School Alumni Club of London 6 Petersham Mews, London SW7 5NR www.cbsclublondon.org [email protected] Columbia University Club of London [email protected] www.alumniclubs.columbia.edu/london Cornell Club of London [email protected] www.alumni.cornell.edu/orgs/int/London Dartmouth College Club of London alumni.dartmouth.edu www.dartmouth.org
60 April 2015
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International [email protected],www.dkggb.org.uk
NYU Alumni Club in London Jodi Ekelchik, President [email protected] alumni.nyu.edu
Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity London Alumni Chapter. Ashok Arora, P O Box 1110, London W3 7ZB 020 8423 8231, [email protected] www.dspnet.org
NYU STERN UK Alumni Club www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/alumni [email protected] [email protected]
Delta Zeta International Sorority Alumna Club Sunny Eades 01543 490 312 [email protected] www.deltazeta.org
Ohio University Alumni UK & Ireland Frank Madden, 01753 855 360 [email protected] www.ohioalumni.org
Duke University Club of England [email protected], [email protected] www.dukealumni.com/alumni-communities/ regional-programs/groups/london
Penn Alumni Club of the UK w ww.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/UPN/cpages/ home.jsp?chapter=4&org=UPN [email protected]
Emory University Alumni Chapter of the UK Matthew Williams, Chapter Leader 079 8451 4119, [email protected] www.alumni.emory.edu
Penn State Alumni Association [email protected] www.alumni.psu.edu
Georgetown Alumni Club Alexa Fernandez, [email protected] [email protected] , alumni.georgetown.edu
The London Association of Phi Beta Kappa [email protected] www.pbkldn.org www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=5117368 @phibetakappaldn
Gettysburg College Alumni London Britt-Karin Oliver, [email protected] [email protected] www.gettysburg.edu/alumni2
Princeton Association (UK) [email protected] princeton.org.uk
Harvard Business School Club of London [email protected] www.hbsa.org.uk
Rice Alumni of London Kathy Wang 07912 560 177 a lumni.rice.edu [email protected], [email protected]
Harvard Club of the United Kingdom [email protected], [email protected] www.hcuk.org Indiana University Alumni club of England [email protected] www.alumni.indiana.edu/clubs/england
Skidmore College Alumni Club, London [email protected] w ww.skidmore.edu/alumni www.facebook.com/SkidmoreCollegeAlumni
KKG London Alumnae Association [email protected] w ww.kappakappagamma.org
Smith College Club of London [email protected] www.smithclubgb.org
LMU Loyola Marymount Alumni Club London Alumni Relations: [email protected] 310.338.4574 http://alumni.lmu.edu
Stanford Business School Alumni Assn. UK [email protected] alumni-gsb.stanford.edu/get/page/groups/ overview/?group_id=0038990048
Marymount University Alumni UK Chapter President: Mrs Suzanne Tapley, 35 Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7QT. 020 7581 3742 www.marymount.edu/alumni MIT Club of Great Britain [email protected] greatbritain.alumclub.mit.edu Mount Holyoke Club of Britain [email protected] sites.alumnae.mtholyoke.edu/wp/ukclub Notre Dame Club of London [email protected] http://london.undclub.org/
Syracuse University Alumni UK [email protected] sulondon.syr.edu/about/sualumniuk.html www.facebook.com/SUajlumniUK Texas Tech Alumni Association - London Chapter Scott Dewar 077754 35877 [email protected] www.texastechalumni.org/chapters Texas Exes UK (UKTE) England: Carra Kane 0778 660 7534 [email protected] Scotland: Corey Cripe [email protected] www.fornogoodreason.com/UKTEMain.htm
The American
Texas A&M Club London [email protected] www.aggienetwork.com/club-page/londn The John Adams Society [email protected] www.johnadamssociety.co.uk Tufts - London Tufts Alliance tuftsalumni.org [email protected] UConn Alumni Association uconnalumni.com [email protected] UMass Alumni Club UK President, Renu Singh, [email protected] umassalumni.com University of California 020 7079 0567 london.universityofcalifornia.edu [email protected] University of Chicago Alumni Association [email protected], w ww.uchicagouk.org University of Chicago Booth Alumni Association President: [email protected] www.chicagobooth.edu/alumni/clubs/uk University of Colorado Alumni alumni.colorado.edu/cu-in-london [email protected] University of Georgia Alumni Association 07919 057 538 [email protected] www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/index.php/site/ chapters/london_chapter
US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) Alumni UK Chapter www.usmma.edu/alumni [email protected] Facebook: Kings Point Alumni - London/United Kingdom USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter President: Tim Fox ‘97 [email protected] Facebook - USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter Vassar College Club Sara Hebblethwaite, President 020 8788 6910 [email protected] www.vassarclubuk.org Warnborough Worldwide Alumni Association 01227 762 107 www.wwaa.info/wwaa.htm [email protected] Washington University UK Alumni Club Steven Leof, [email protected] alumni.wustl.edu/Community/Pages/London.aspx www.facebook.com/groups/WUSTLLondon Wellesley College Club www.wellesley.edu/alumnae/groups/clubs/intlclubs/ wellesley_uk_club [email protected] Wharton Alumni Club of the UK 020-7447-8800 www.whartonclubuk.net Williams Club of Great Britain Ethan Kline: [email protected], alumni. [email protected], alumni.williams.edu Yale Club of London President, [email protected] Secretary [email protected] www.yale.org.uk
University of Illinois Alumni Club of the UK Amy Barklam BUS 1994, President, 07796 193 466 [email protected] www.uialumninetwork.org
Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae Kristin Morgan 07812 580949 [email protected] www.zetataualpha.org
University of North Carolina Alumni Club [email protected] alumni.unc.edu
CIVIL WAR SOCIETIES
University of Michigan Alumni Association 0788-784-0941, [email protected] alumni.umich.edu University of Rochester/Simon School UK Alumni Association Julie Bonne, 0118-956-5052, [email protected] [email protected], www.rochester.edu/alumni
SPORTS English Lacrosse Wenlock Way, Manchester M12 5DH 0843 658 5006 [email protected] www.englishlacrosse.co.uk British Baseball Federation / SoftballUK 5th Floor, Ariel House, 74a Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QJ 020 7453 7055 www.britishbaseball.org British Morgan Horse Society 01981 500488 [email protected] www.morganhorse.org.uk Ice Hockey UK 02920 263 441 [email protected] www.icehockeyuk.co.uk
Fundraising event?
Tweet @TheAmericanMag Infinity Elite Cheerleading (founded by CAC) 077 9132 0115 [email protected] www.facebook.com/InfinityAllstars Herts Baseball Club Adult & Little League Baseball www.hertsbaseball.com Lakenheath Barracudas Swim Club Open to all military affiliated families. [email protected] www.barracudas.moonfruit.com LondonSports American flag football, baseball, basketball and soccer, boys/girls, 4-15 all nationalities, new or experienced players. www.londonsports.com [email protected] London Warriors American Football Club [email protected] www.londonwarriorsafc.co.uk
American Civil War Round Table (UK) Civil War historical soc., [email protected] www.americancivilwar.org.uk Southern Skirmish Association (SoSkan) The oldest American Civil War Re-enacting Society outside the USA. [email protected] www.soskan.co.uk
ARTS
University of Southern California, USC Alumni Club of London Walter Ladwig, President [email protected] www.usclondonalumni.org
American Actors UK 07873 371 891 [email protected] www.americanactorsuk.com
University of Virginia Alumni Club of London uvaclubs.virginia.edu/group/uvaclub-of-london [email protected] 020 7368 8473
Savio(u)r Theatre Company Britain’s American theatre company www.saviourtheatrecompany.com
Has your group done something you’re proud of? Tell us email [email protected]
We rely on you to keep us informed. Every effort is made to ensure that these listings are correct but if your entry requires amendments please tell us. Send profiles, news or articles about your organization for possible publication in The American. email [email protected], tel +44(0)1747 830520 Twitter @TheAmericanMag
April 2015 61
The American To find out whether you’re eligible to advertise your products and services here, and for rates, call Sabrina Sully on +44 (0)1747 830520. You’ll reach Americans living in and visiting the UK as well as Britons who like American culture and products. Jaffe & Co., incorp. American Tax International
ACCOUNTANCY & TAX BDO LLP
JAFFE & CO LLP AMERICAN TAX INTERNATIONAL US Expatriate Tax Services
The UK member firm of the world’s fifth largest accountancy organisation. 55 Baker Street, London W1U 7EU 020 7486 5888 [email protected] www.bdo.uk.com
Comprehensive tax preparation and compliance service for US expatriates inbytheBruce UK and Europe. Established in 1981 and managed L Jaffe, BA JD, we provide a full range of US UK tax services for US America House, 54 and Hendon Lane, London N3expatriates 1TT residing in the UK and have over 55 years of cumulative 020 8346 5237 experience preparing tax returns for US taxpayers. daniel@jaff eandco.com www.jaffeandco.com Please contact us today to see how we can help you.
AmericanTaxHelp.com & Relis LLC 0 2 0 8 3 4 6- Koutoulas 5237 www.jaffeandco.com [email protected] 54 Hendon Lane, London N3 1TT
Burton Sweet
Suppliers of quality products and services hand-picked for you ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES Stephen T Taylor Your American stamp dealer in Britain since 1995. 5 Glenbuck Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6BS 020 8390 9357 [email protected] www.stephentaylor.co.uk
COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY Anji Holland and Associates
Holland Hypnotherapy Tax Return Preparation and compliance service for US Expatriates. Specialist in providing advice on UK/ US Tax interaction. Affordable Fixed Fees. Prospect House, 5 May Lane, Dursley, GL11 4JH 01453 542483 Contact Rachel Finch [email protected] www.burton-sweet.co.uk Twitter @burtonsweet www.linkedin.com/company/burton-sweet
Greenback Expat Tax Services
Expert preparation of US and UK taxes from our highly experienced CPAs, UK Chartered Accountant and IRS Enrolled Agents US Toll Free: +1 888-362-5032 www.greenbacktaxservices.com [email protected] www.facebook.com/greenbacktax www.youtube.com/GreenbackTaxServices
Certified Public Accountants specializing in tax planning and preparation, retirement planning and consulting for American expatriates and foreign nationals. Also offer a program to assist human resource professionals in serving the needs of the their expat employees. 1776 N. Pine Island Road, Suite 316, Plantation, Florida, USA 33322 +1 954-332-1345 [email protected] www.americantaxhelp.com
Montage Services, Inc.
For all your US tax needs in Europe: individual & corporate, international & domestic. Offices in San Francisco, Houston, London, Toronto and Berlin. 020 3004 6353 [email protected] www.montage-services.com
62 April 2015
Transitions Therapy
Psychotherapy & Counselling for Expatriate Individuals, Couples, Families & Adolescents. London, or via Skype. 07557 261432 [email protected] www.transitionstherapy.co.uk
Tax & Accounting Hub
DENTAL
H&R Block Expat Tax Services
One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, MO 64105 USA 1-816-504-1665 [email protected] expats.hrblock.com Our secure, remote service has a dedicated team which includes CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys, who focus on expat taxes and can handle all types of U.S. tax returns, including FATCA and FBAR.
For Stress, Anxiety, Depression Insomnia, Sleeping Disorders, IBS, Panic Attacks, Fears & Phobias, IVF, Natural Childbirth, OCD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Stop Smoking, Pain Control, Weight Management, Sport Motivation, Anger Management, and more Seymour Place, London W1 and Bath 07944 647 978 [email protected] www.hollandhypnotherapy.com
Bow Lane Dental Group
Professional service at affordable prices. Fixed fee U.S. Expatriate tax preparation service in London. Federal/ State, Foreign bank account/IRS audits response 152 Burford Wharf, 3 Cam Road, London, E15 2SS +44 (0)20 3286 6445. M: +44 (0)79 1439 3183 [email protected] www.taxandaccountinghub.com
For all you and your families dental needs visit the award winning Bow Lane Dental Group in the City of London. We have been making the City smile since 2001. www.bowlanedental.com 020 7236 3600 [email protected]
The American LEGAL
EDUCATION Castle Education Consultancy Ltd
Penningtons Manches LLP
Independent education consultancy that works with families on school and university search. 50 Scholars Drive, Penylan, Cardiff CF23 9FE 02920 214424 www.castleeducationconsultancy.co.uk [email protected]
FINANCIAL ADVICE
Family, international private wealth, immigration and residential property teams advise international families and expatriates on relocation, wealth management, tax, immigration and all aspects of family law. Abacus House, 33 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 8AR T: +44 (0) 20 7457 3000 F: +44 (0) 20 7457 3240 [email protected] www.penningtons.co.uk @penningtonslaw
REAL ESTATE RE/MAX Property Group
Notting Hill Gate Branch: 49 Cottesmore Court, Stanford Road, London W8 5QW 07511-895090 www.remax.co.uk
VISAS & IMMIGRATION US Visa Solutions - Law Office of Janice A. Flynn
MEDICAL
Tanager Wealth Management LLP
108 Medical Chambers
Integrated financial and investment advice for US expats living in the UK provided by US expats. Global account consolidation, UK/US savings and retirement planning together with investment advice. Contact us for a no obligation meeting or telephone conversation. 020 7871 8440 www.tanagerwealth.com [email protected] @tanagerwealth
INTERIOR DESIGN
108 Medical Chambers is a leading Consultant led and delivered independent out-patient and diagnostic centre with clinical teams specialising in breast disease, dermatology, groins and hernia surgery, colo-rectal problems, sports injuries and thyroid and ENT problems. 0207 563 1234 [email protected] www.108harleystreet.co.uk
NOTARIES
Rolando Luci
US-licensed immigration lawyers advising on US citizenship, green cards, visa and US entry issues. Honest, straightforward advice and a high level of bespoke service. Third Floor, 6 & 7 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8AD UK +44 (0)20 7092 6830 US +1 (312) 361-0581 [email protected] www.usvisasolutions.co.uk Twitter: FlynnUSVisaLaw
WEDDING PLANNING Extraordinary Days Events
Edward Young LLP Edward Young LLP (inc. Kober-Smith & Associates) is a full practice Notary Public in London. We can solve your problems. Full notary service. 9 Carlos Place London W1K 3AT (nr US Embassy) Appointment only. 00 44(0)20 7499 2605 [email protected] www.edwardyoung.co.uk
Luxury lighting, including American brands, some unique to the UK 01778 218121 www.rolandoluci.co.uk
SOLUTION 9
9
5
An American wedding planner in London creating elegant, sophisticated, and unique weddings in England. Bespoke services ranging from full service planning to day-of coordination. 020 7433 0300 [email protected] www.extraordinarydaysevents.com
Coee Break Answers
1.Frank Sinatra; 2. Jimi Hendrix; 3.b) American Independence; 4. The Boss; 5. Holy Loch; 6. Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick; 7. The Memphis Belle; 8. Liverpool; 9. a) Lisbon, Portugal; 10. The Hubble Telescope; 11. Ellis Island
April 2015 September 2013 63
The American
Way before Beatlemania, ‘Bobby soxers’ were the screaming teenage fans of which singer?
➋
Which American rock artist lived in an apartment next to the former residence of composer George Frederic Handel, in London?
➌
William Petty, the 2nd Earl of Shelburne, has a blue plaque in London which proclaims his support of what? a) Colonisation of America b) American Independence c) Abolition of Slavery
➍ ➎
What is the nickname of Bruce Springsteen?
➏
Benjamin Franklin once lived on Craven Street, London, but which well known American author also lived on the street for a short time in the mid 1800s? Hint: his name isn’t Ishmael. RAF/USAAF Bassingbourn in Hertfordshire was home to which well known US Flying Fortress?
➑
James Maury, a friend of George Washington, was America’s first Consul for which Northern English city?
➒
3
2 7
Which of these European cities is on the same time as London? a) Lisbon b) Minsk c) Berlin
1 4
2 9 5 3 6 2
Which former US Navy base was located near Dunoon, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland?
➐
8 2 1 4 7
7
It happened 25 years ago...
➓
April 24th, 1990: Which telescope, carried by the Discovery shuttle, launched from Cape Canaveral?
⓫
April 1890: America’s first Federal immigration station was constructed, where was it located?
It happened 150 years ago...
Quiz answers and Sudoku solution on page 63.
64 April 2015
Unleash your true potential What would it be like if you could ... Really understand what make you and others tick? Actually achieve the goals you have set? Rid yourself of those negative emotions that hold you back from reaching your dreams?
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Free to Read in Print or On Screen Every issue of the magazine now available online... IN PRINT: Pick a copy up from (among other places): The US Embassy in London and US Consulates The United/Continental and Virgin clubhouses at Heathrow Hotels around the UK The American Museum in Britain (near Bath) Automat American Brasserie, Dover Street, Mayfair, London Sports Bar & Grill Marylebone and Victoria All the organizations listed in back of the magazine, and USAFE bases see www.theamerican. co.uk for a full list Get a copy delivered to your home or workplace, the only thing we’ll ask you to pay for is the post and packing – call us on +44 (0)1747 830520. ON SCREEN: Read The American on your mobile device or computer at www.theamerican.co.uk – Click on the front cover image for the current issue, or on the MAGAZINE tab where you can read back issues too.
Silverstrands Jewellery
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Badain Jaran, Gobi, Lop, and Taklamakan are major Chinese what?
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The American April 2015 Issue 742 by Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. - issuu
issuu
STAR INTERVIEWS WHAT’S ON EATING OUT REVIEWS ARTS EDUCATION POLITICS AMERICAN SPORTS
Michael Urie
In London
Interviewed
On the Magna Carta Trail Part 1 London to Windsor NHL Trade Deadline MLB Season Preview
PLUS: OUR EXCLUSIVE US/UK SOCIAL GROUPS GUIDE
Watch the ACS film
Their moment of discovery At ACS International Schools we see student achievement as a personal experience. Our ethos inspires children to be open-minded and curious, capable of great accomplishments when encouraged and challenged. We realise this through exceptional teaching and a curriculum built on all four IB programmes, AP courses, and the AP Capstone Diploma. These best prepare our graduates to attend and succeed at many of the finest universities around the world. To find out more about us, and our world renowned programmes, please visit www.acs-schools.com. Alternatively call either ACS Cobham +44 (0)1932 869744, ACS Egham +44 (0)1784 430611, ACS Hillingdon +44 (0)1895 818402. ACS schools are non-sectarian and co-educational (day and boarding) for students 2 to 18 years of age.
The American ®
Issue 742 April 2015 PUBLISHED BY SP MEDIA FOR
Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. Old Byre House, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AW, UK Tel: +44 (0)1747 830520
Departments: News, Article ideas, Press releases: [email protected] Advertising & Promotions: [email protected] Subscriptions: [email protected] The Team: Michael Burland, Content Director + Motors, Music & Sport [email protected] Sabrina Sully, Content Director & Community Contact [email protected] Daniel Byway, Content Executive [email protected] Virginia E Schultz, Food & Drink (USA) [email protected] Michael M Sandwick, Food & Drink (UK) [email protected] Mary Bailey, Social [email protected] Alison Holmes, Politics [email protected] Jarlath O’Connell, Theater [email protected]
©2015 Blue Edge Publishing Ltd. Printed by Manson Group Ltd., www.mansongroup.co.uk ISSN 2045-5968 Main Cover: Michael Urie ©Joan Marcus; Circular Inset: Devan Dubnyk, Courtesy Minnesota Wild ©Bruce Kluckhohn; Square Inset: Magna Carta
@TheAmericanMag
M
odern Family, Ugly Betty, What’s Your Emergency, Buyer & Cellar... the link? Michael Urie, who’s on the London stage this month playing Barbra Streisand’s shop assistant and told us all about it - read our interview on page 26. We also talk to Oscar and Grammy winner Ryan ‘The Weary Kind’ Bingham about how music became his therapy after personal tragedy. There’s essential advice too, on child relocation, finding a dentist in Britain and UK property & loans, plus major features on the Magna Carta Trails, and the Underground Railroad which saved countless slaves. It’s all go in American sports this month too, with an MLB season preview, NHL trade deadline roundup, an analysis of Tiger Woods’ woes, the business behind the headlines of the America’s Cup and an American Formula 1 team based - where else? - in England. Enjoy your magazine,
Michael Burland, Content Director [email protected]
Among this month’s contributors
Mathew Barzun The US Ambassador spends a lot of time away from London meeting the people of the Britain. His new favorite city? Leeds in Yorkshire
Sir Robert Worcester As a run-up to his coverage of the next US Presidential election which starts here in the Fall, Sir Robert analyses a new biography of Hillary Clinton
Tameron McDougall The Partner at Tax Advisory Partnership has some great advice about expatriate property ownership and its American tax implications
Read The American online at www.theamerican.co.uk The entire contents of The American and www.theamerican.co.uk are protected by copyright and no part of it may be reproduced without written permission of the publishers. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information in The American is accurate, the editor and publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions or any loss arising from reliance on it. The views and comments of contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers.
April 2015 1
IN THIS ISSUE... 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
25
Magna Carta Trail: London to Windsor How To Run The London Marathon Live at Leeds? The Ambassador loves it Child Relocation - what you must know Choosing a new dentist in Britain UK Property Purchase and Loans Rethinking the Underground Railroad The Man Who (Nearly) Abducted George III
26 34 44 46 50 52 53
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Michael Urie in London exclusive interview Ryan Bingham talks music and tragedy Ready for Hillary? Clinton dissected MLB Preview - Baseball is back NHL Trade Deadline - Fizzle over flash Tiger, Tiger - Woods’ worries America’s Cup - the Solent gets crowded Hass F1 - American team latest
4 News
NEWS Landlord Guilty Of Harassing Mildenhall US Tenants
A
landlord has been found guilty of harassing her American tenants living in Feltwell, near Mildenhall. It was a lesser offense than the original charge she faced of racially aggravated harrassment, and the jury took just under three hours to unanimously find her guilty. 74 year old Rosemary Hill was accused of sending Terri and Dwayne Scott e-mails and telephone calls which became increasingly ‘vitriolic and personal’. Sgt Scott, a USAF aircraft engineer at RAF Mildenhall informed Ipswich Crown Court that Hill’s calls in 2012 and 2013 led to anxiety, stress and depression. The family received telephone calls from Hill sometimes several times a day. She also made calls to Sgt Scott’s senior officer at Mildenhall. Hill’s tone became aggressive and confrontational.. The prosecution alleged that Hill could have been trying to hound the couple and their four children out of the property because she had other potential tenants willing to pay a higher rent lined up. Hill was subsequently told to pay a £2000 fine, contribute £2500 towards legal costs, and issued with a 10 year restraining order.
4 April 2015
New Head Gardener at American Museum
A
ndrew Cannell has been appointed as the new Head Gardener for the American Museum in Britain, situated in Bath. Originally from the Isle of Man, Andrew, who has previously worked for the Royal Horticultural Society and the National Trust, says he is very excited about working on the Museum’s gardens. Andrew’s wife, Melissa, a native of Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, and his eight month old son, Rowan, plan to live in the Coach House on the Estate. We wish Andrew all the best in his new role!
Embassy IRS Office To Close
T
he Internal Revenue Service (IRS) service at the US Embassy in London is set to fully close no later than 30 June 2015, however they will be shutting down the taxpayer service sometime in late April. This is not a local decision. All taxpayer service activities are being closed in all overseas locations. Officers can be contacted for help until late April via telephone or the website london.usembassy. gov. However, for assistance, they recommend you instead call or fax the Philadelphia International Customer Service Site, which is open 17 hours a day Monday through Friday,
from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, at Tel: 001-267-941-1000 (not tollfree) - select the option for international callers Fax: 001-267-941-1055 (a response should be received within 10 -12 working days) Downloadable forms, publications, and answers to your federal tax questions can also be found at www.irs.gov. The website contains a wide array of tax topics, including information for international and military taxpayers. Forms can be ordered at 001-800-829-3676.
The American
Special Olivier Award for Spacey
A
merican actor Kevin Spacey is to be honored with a special Olivier Award for his outstanding contribution to The Old Vic. The 55 year old, famous for his current TV role in House of Cards and the movie American Beauty, has been The Old Vic’s artistic director for eleven years. He revived it as a cultural hotspot in London and leaves later this year following a swansong performance as Clarence Darrow (reviewed in this issue). Caro Newling, president of the Society of London Theatre, said, “His advocacy of London theatre has been a constant boon, and many of us will miss him as a valued colleague.”
PHOTOS: HUGO GLENDINNING
Baseball Comes to North West London
H
erts Baseball Club is launching a branch in North West London. The club has been based at Grovehill Ballpark in Hemel Hempstead since 1996 and is one of the biggest clubs in the UK with eight teams playing in the adult and youth leagues of the British Baseball Federation. “30 percent of our members are based in North West London,” said club President, Aspi Dimitrov,
“and we receive many enquiries from potential new members from that part of London, however many of them have not been able to start playing because the public transport connections from North West London to our ballpark in Hemel Hempstead are very poor. Currently there is no other club located in the North West quadrant of London which offers adult and
youth baseball so the natural progression for the club was to expand by establishing a branch in this densely-populated area.” The club’s new diamond is located at West Hendon Playing Fields. Events began in March with open sessions at Middlesex University and the adult and youth leagues commence in April and May. www.hertsbaseball.com
April 2015 5
List your event in The American: email [email protected] or call us on +44 (0)1747 830520
Highlights of The Month Ahead
There’s much more online at www.theamerican.co.uk Lines in the Ice: Seeking the Northwest Passage British Library, 96 Euston Road, London www.bl.uk to April 19 Early European maps of the region, Inuit accounts of the arrival of explorers, early Arctic photos and the history of the North Pole’s most famous resident - Santa!
Joyce DiDonato & New York Philharmonic American Season Barbican, Silk St., London EC2Y 8DS www.barbican.org.uk, 020 7638 8891 April 15 to 19 The Barbican’s 2014-15 Artist Spotlight focuses on American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, one of the most loved artists of the age. April 15th Joyce gives a masterclass for singers from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. April 17th, the culmination of Joyce’s Artist Spotlight, is also the opening concert in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s Barbican International Associate residency under conductor Alan Gilbert, showcasing late-Romantic music with Ravel’s Shéhérazade.
6 April 2015
Barnsley Goes Stateside Barnsley Museum, Town Hall, Church Street, Barnsley S70 2TA www.experience-barnsley.com April 1 to May 8 Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Barnsley’s exhibition highlights the town’s connections with the USA, including letters that were sent to Barnsley from emigrants and those fighting in the War of Independence. David Benoit at Pizza Express Live 10 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 3RW www.pizzaexpresslive.com April 24 The multiple Grammy nominated American artist performs his smooth jazz. American Museum in Britain Claverton Manor, Bath BA2 7BD www.americanmuseum.org The only museum outside the USA to showcase the nation’s decorative arts. The exhibitions ‘Spirit Hawk Eye’ and ‘Hatched, and Matched, Dispatched – & Patched!’ are joined by an Easter Yarn Bombing Trail, painting and spoonmaking workshops, and a Mariachi performance.
Shaun in the City London & Bristol www.shauninthecity.org.uk March 28 to May 25 Aardman Animation’s Shaun the Sheep (of Wallace & Gromit fame), makes many appearances in London from the end of March to May, as giant Shaun sculptures created by artists, celebrities and designers pop up across the city. The trail moves to Bristol from June to August, before being auctioned to raise money for sick children. Easter at Ulster American Folk Park Mellon Road, Castletown, Omagh, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland BT78 5QU April 4 to 6 Storytelling sessions, old time music and all the fun of a spring-time hoe-down! Younger visitors can help feed the spring lambs and baby chicks. World Coal Carrying Championships Gawthorpe, Huddersfield, W. Yorks, HD5 www.gawthorpemaypole.org.uk April 6 At the 52nd Coal Carrying Championships, hardy souls from the young to the old compete in races carrying bags of coal. London Harness Horse Parade South of England Centre, Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TL www.lhhp.co.uk April 6 Dating from 1904, the Parade originally promoted good welfare for London’s working horses. Now it’s an opportunity to see a selection of horses, donkeys, ponies and historic carriages.
Houses of Parliament
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The American
Hallaton Bottle Kicking Hallaton, Leicestershire LE16 8UE www.goleicestershire.com April 6 Started in 1770, this is a large scale version of soccer. Two village teams compete to get three kegs, into goals set a whopping 1 mile apart! Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race River Thames, London www.theboatrace.org April 11 Oxford and Cambridge Unviersities
participate in the latest chapter of a 160 year old rivalry. See website for details on the best places to watch the race.
WWE in London O2 Arena, Peninsula Sq, London SE10 0DX www.theo2.co.uk April 13 to 14 World Wrestling Entertainment’s flagship shows, WWE Raw and Smackdown, with a host of American wrestling talent. Who Do You Think You Are? Live NEC, Birmingham, West Midlands B40 1NT www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com April 16 to 18 Exhibitors provide services and information for those who wish to study and find out more about their ancestry. Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival www.shrewsburycartoonfestival.com April 18 The only event of its kind in the UK features giant cartoon creations, caricatures and workshops.
Introduction to London Programme www.stratcq.com [email protected] , 0208 682 9418
A series of illustrated talks and guided tours tailored to provide an enjoyable introduction to Britain’s national Institutions and to the British themselves. Aimed at those recently relocated to London or at people who just want to know more! Held one morning a week for six consecutive weeks in central London and presented by Camilla Seymour, a Blue Badge Guide. Topics include a short history of London; the role of Monarchy; the City of London; the Church of England; democracy at work and the legal system. Email or call for the full programme.
8 April 2015
Heffle Cuckoo Fair Goward Hall, Cade Street, Old Heathfield, East Sussex TN21 9BU www.hefflecuckoofair.org.uk April 18 Cuckoo Fairs take place across the UK with the symbolic release of a cuckoo symbolising the beginning of Spring. Heffle Cuckoo Fair dates back to 1315. Harlem Globetrotters UK tour www.harlemglobetrotters.com April 18 to 26 The legendary basketball team returns to entertain at London’s Wembley Arena, Manchester, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, Nottingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Sheffield. An Afternoon with Randy Edelman The Jazz Cafe, 5 Parkway, London NW1 www.thejazzcafelondon.com April 19
The award winning composer, in a special afternoon session, discusses his life and work, tells stories, takes part in a Q&A and plays some of his famous scores (Ghostbusters II, Kindergarten Cop, Shanghai Noon and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor) on the piano.
St George’s Day/Shakespeare’s Day www.stgeorgesday.com April 23 Celebrate the Patron Saint of England. Events take place across the nation, with a festival in Trafalgar Square. It’s also the bard’s birthday and Stratford-upon-Avon has free street entertainment and a Grand Birthday Procession. Spring at The Ashmolean Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH www.ashmolean.org March 26 to August 31 Love Bites explores the themes of love through courtship, friendships and marriage in caricatures by James Gillray, whilst Great British Drawings features more than 100 of the Ashmolean’s best drawings by British artists including JMW Turner, Henry Moore, LS Lowry and more. A Mighty Night of Comedy Bush Hall, Uxbridge Road, London W12 7LJ www.bushhallmusic.co.uk April 24 American comedian Reginald D Hunter is joined by Sara Pascoe, Andrew Maxwell and Aisling Bea. London Marathon www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com April 26 Professional and fun-runners weave their way through the capital on their way to the finish line near Buckingham Palace. Annual Oyster Gathering Flushing Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 www.visitcornwall.com April 27 to April 29 Join the oyster men on their last weekend of the season, with seafood markets, specialist chefs and trips onto the water.
The City of London and Magna Carta: a history for you to discover. Free daily walks, exhibitions, light-shows, family fun and more. Discover a range of events to celebrate Magna Carta’s 800th anniversary at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/mc800
The American
Magna Carta Trails London to Windsor A
s the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta approaches, The American looks at the trails which take you in a pursuit of the document’s history. The history of Magna Carta is entrenched in both British and American history, and for those looking to get out and about as Spring arrives there are plenty of places to visit which live and breathe the Great Charter’s legacy. The first trail we’re covering begins in the City of London and stretches to Windsor and Runnymede, where the sealing famously took place.
The City of London
During the early 1200s, the City of London was one of the key seats of power in England, the gateway to trade routes to the continent, the home of the merchants and the money. The City was vital in King John’s running feuds with the Barons, so much so that it is the only place named specifically in Magna Carta, and was later even awarded the right to elect its own Mayor (known today as the Lord Mayor). The City is the perfect place to begin exploring the Charter’s history. From June 1 to September 20, there will be free daily walks beginning at 11am at Blackfriars Station, which allow visitors to follow the story of King John through the City’s streets, taking in places of interest
10 April 2015
such as Temple and the Guildhall. Temple Church was one of King John’s headquarters in London during the feuds, where he was protected by the Knights Templars. The Church will be hosting a series of events this year, including a special production of Shakespeare’s King John between April 10 and 19. The Guildhall is home to the Heritage Gallery, an exhibition developed by the City of London Corporation, which showcases rarely seen artefacts including its 1215 Mayoral/London Charter on display until June 5. From June 6 to October 1 the Gallery will also display the City’s own 1297 Magna Carta. See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for talks, family events and festivals around the City and information on the City’s Magna Carta heritage.
More in London
The Society of Antiquaries has an extensive series of lectures on Magna Carta through May and June, as well as a free admission exhibition, Magna Carta Through the Ages (www.sal.org.uk/magna-carta) which explores the antiquarian interest in the Great Charter and includes copies of key documents. The British Library also hosts Law, Liberty, Legacy, a Magna Carta exhibition, until September 1. It features the Library’s copies of Magna Carta alongside Thomas Jefferson’s
handwritten copy of the US Declaration of Independence, and an original copy of the US Bill of Rights. The exhibition is being accompanied by lectures and other events. Also a special place to visit this year are the Houses of Parliament, which are celebrating both Magna Carta and the 750th anniversary of the Simon de Montfort Parliament. Specially commissioned Magna Carta banners are on show in Westminster Hall during the year – they can be seen at www.parliament.uk or as part of an audio or guided tour of the Houses.
Runnymede
By the time King John and the Barons met at Runnymede in June 1215, the country had been almost in a state of de facto civil war. The sealing of Magna Carta was a momentous occasion in English, American and World history, as the rule of law, liberty, democracy and freedom were entrenched in the Great Charter. Runnymede, the site
©CLIVE TOTMAN 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
of the sealing, is now a National Trust property, and home to the American Bar Association’s Magna Carta memorial. The memorial was unveiled by the ABA in 1957, and on June 15th 2015 will be the centrepiece of a big event celebrating the 800th anniversary. The site is open at most other times of the year, and includes a National Trust tea-room. Traveling from London, Runnymede is very accessible by public transport or by car. The nearest train station, Egham, is connected to the entrance by bus (First Bus, Route 71), and on site pay and display parking is available. For those traveling in groups wanting to experience travel in true British style, there are even special Routemaster Bus tours from London to Windsor and Runnymede (londonbyroutemaster.com)! Whilst at Runnymede, you can also visit the Kennedy Memorial, dedicated to John F Kennedy, a symbolic acre of land donated to the United States by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965.
anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon. Windsor will also be hosting a number of events for Magna Carta’s own celebrations. The Windsor & Royal Borough Museum has a number of events, including talks, art displays, exhibitions and a ‘Liber Tea’ event, one of the Houses of
Parliament’s promoted events to celebrate the anniversary of the Charter this year. Nearby Egham Museum will also host lectures on key subjects around the Charter’s history, including a pop up exhibition from June 1st to August 29th engaging the local community in the celebrations.
See www.theamerican.co.uk and click on Diary Dates for more Magna Carta events
©ANDREW BOWDEN
Top to Bottom: Temple Church London; The Guildhall, London; Magna Carta Memorial, Runnymede; Windsor Castle at Sunseet
©SMUCONLAW
The American
Not far from Runnymede is the Royal town of Windsor, a place full of English history and Royal connections. Windsor Castle is the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen, and is well worth a visit. This year, the Castle also celebrates another anniversary, the 200th
©DAVID ILIFF
The American
Running the London Marathon I
n this Tanager Talks, Kristopher Heck, one of the founders of Tanager Wealth Management (www.tanagerwealth.com) describes his experience running the London Marathon. Like many American expats living in London, the race had long been on Kris’s bucket list. After watching friends run and contributing to their efforts to raise money for charity, he decided it was now his turn to put his body on the line. I had always wanted to run the London Marathon. Ever since arriving in the UK in 2007 I had marveled at the sheer scale of the event and the massive support offered by the crowds. Deciding I needed a physical challenge, the marathon seemed the perfect event to shoot for. After securing a place to run in support of Refuge, the charity set up to fight domestic violence, I set up a 24 week training plan. With the help of Runmeter, an iPhone app that synched with my diary, I was able to find time to train despite an already full schedule that included starting up a new business. I quickly
12 April 2015
learned to appreciate the value of Runmeter and how it helped me create a plan and stick to it. This is really important in many areas of life but when training for a marathon it takes on added significance. If you start missing training runs you quickly lose stamina that has taken weeks to build up. Another important aspect was having the support of family, friends and business partners. There were many days when the legs were tired and my body was protesting. Without a push from my partner, or one of my colleagues, I may not have got up off the sofa or gone for that lunchtime 10k run. The day itself is something to experience as a runner. On the day, I had such a feeling of exhilaration for which nothing can prepare you. Lining up with 40,000 other runners was both scary and exciting. It took me 10 minutes before I even crossed the line to start, and all that time the atmosphere was gripping – six months of training behind you and only a few hours away from accomplishing the goal. Watch-
ing on TV or even on the roadside you cannot fully appreciate the thousands of volunteers who work so hard to make this event happen so successfully. What also makes the experience special are the 400,000 people who line the streets of London cheering you on – incredible. The run itself was hard. With a mile to go I was flagging, physically and mentally. However, as the last mile marker comes into view, with a large clock visible, reminding me of my target time, you begin to notice an increase in crowed noise as people urge runners on for the last mile. I was lifted and put in a final push to cross the finish line within my target time. Now I know that with a plan, appropriate training and support, and a pocketful of gummy bears, anyone can conquer a marathon.
Tanager supports The Anglo-American Charity Ltd and its US parent, the AngloAmerican Charitable Foundation, established in 2003 as dual qualified US-UK donor advised funds to facilitate transatlantic gifting. Find out more at www.anglo-americancharity.org
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The American
Live at Leeds... ...and across Britain, a new diplomacy is emerging, says US Ambassador Matthew Barzun
L
et me start with an admission. Until last year, my knowledge of Leeds was limited to The Who’s Live at Leeds album and the fact that it’s The Wedding Present’s home town. But then came a conversion. I took a trip up there. During my visit I met artists, activists, entrepreneurs and students at The Tetley contemporary arts centre who were so proud, inspired and animated as they described how their city had trans-
14 April 2015
formed itself from a 19th-century industrial powerhouse into a 21st century cultural and commercial capital. That same energy pervaded my whole stay, making it hard to leave. But when it was recently reported that I described Leeds as my favorite British city, some on social media wrote of their surprise, searching their emoticon libraries for the head scratch. Leeds? Really? Others were upset that I had apparently broken the first rule of diplo-
macy by singling out one city. Well, for the record, I didn’t actually say it was my favorite. As a father of twins I instinctively avoid that particular word. What I did say was that I love Leeds. Really. Don’t get me wrong, I love London too. I’m a believer in Samuel Johnson’s maxim. Yet we Americans often make the mistake of thinking that London equals the UK. Indeed, even when I tell locals that I like to travel outside of the capital, they mostly assume I mean
Britain is not just London, just as the United States is not New York
PHOTO: US EMBASSY LONDON
The American
to somewhere in the countryside. Visiting different towns and cities in the host country isn’t a radical concept, of course, and is part of the job. All ambassadors recognise the importance of peregrination. There is a general template for these visits, usually involving a talk at a university, meetings with MPs and local dignitaries, a look around a USowned company, and a stop-off at significant historic sites. But we have also added a new dimension: talent scouting. Essentially, we are looking for new diplomats. Just as we try to think and work outside of London, we are also trying to think and work outside of formal diplomacy. There are, for instance, many British people who have close ties to America or who simply take an interest in the US who we’re keen to connect with and empower. We want to propagate “ownership” of the special relationship — and that requires cross-country recruitment because, as we know, talent is distributed evenly but opportunity and attention not always so. Already we are seeing a rise in nominations for our flagship International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) coming from outside London. This is a project which helps young, mid-career-level Britons with outstanding potential to travel to the US to soak up American life. In 1967, the embassy arranged for Margaret Thatcher to visit 10 US cities. After she became prime
Leeds Town Hall
minister, she wrote in a letter to the embassy: “The whole tour was immensely valuable … it has left an indelible impression on my mind. Forever more I shall be a true friend of the United States.” History bore that commitment out. Recently, Tim Campbell, winner of The Apprentice and now chief executive of Bright Ideas Trust, traveled on an IVLP to explore entrepreneurship in four US cities. But my highest priority on these trips is talking to students from sixth-form colleges. Many of these young men and women are approaching the first general election in which they can vote. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the defining international events of their lives. And they are not afraid to speak their minds. So far I’ve been with 50 groups, and each session includes a survey of their views on the US, the special relationship, and foreign policy issues. This is followed by a conversation on what frustrates or concerns them about America – usually guns and health care. And for balance, we also discuss what inspires them – generally Nasa
PHOTO: RICK HARRISON
and technology. To keep alive and deepen those relationships, we have set up a programme called Beyond London. It involves groups of American diplomats – accompanied by British colleagues from the embassy – getting to know a city or area better by visiting regularly and maintaining ties with all those who make the place tick. Just as in politics and entertainment, the rules of diplomacy have changed. The forces that influence attitudes are no longer centrally controlled, and opinions are formed through an array of social interactions and media. We have to inspire people who share our enthusiasm. As true believers in the indispensable role our special relationship plays on the world stage, we at the embassy are not waiting for our audience to come to us. So, a final admission. When I talk about my love of Leeds – and Newcastle, Leicester, Bristol, Cardiff, Aberdeen and others – it is genuine, but it’s also strategic. I don’t just love the places. I need their people. More precisely, we at the embassy need their help. We Need Leeds.
April 2015 15
CHILD RELOCATION RELOCATION RELOCATION RELOCATION: the dilemmas of separated parents
A
nna Worwood, co-author of Relocation: A Practical Guide, and a Partner in the specialist Family Team at international law firm Penningtons Manches (www.penningtons.co.uk), examines the practicalities of moving with your children when parents are separated. It is not unusual for separated parents to encounter difficulties when parenting their children. Those difficulties can be even greater when you are an expatriate family and your former husband or wife wants to return home.
What is allowed?
If a family has established itself in England and has become habitually resident here it is not permitted for an unhappy parent who wants to return home to the USA to simply hop on a plane with the children. A parent who wishes to move with their child has to have written consent to the move from the other parent. There are parents who choose not to go through this process when they wish to leave the country with their child. These are cases of child abduction; if a parent removes a child from the country without the other parent’s consent, the removing parent can be ordered by the Court in the other country to return the child immediately and the parent who has abducted the child can
16 April 2015
face criminal charges, which can be very distressing for both parents and the child.
Reaching an agreement
The ideal way forward is for parents to agree the outcome between them. However, this is notoriously difficult in these cases. It is often difficult to find a middle ground; these cases tend to be “all or nothing” for each parent as regular contact during the week or at weekends is likely to be impossible. If a relocation is agreed, the parent remaining in England will need to focus on maximising holiday contact.
Approaching court proceedings
If an agreement cannot be reached and a court application has to be made for permission to relocate, the Court will expect to see extremely detailed plans. The Court will want to see that the applicant parent has a genuine motivation for wishing to relocate and that he or she is not trying to exclude the other parent from the child’s life. Each case is considered on its own circumstances, it may be that the children are at a crucial point in their education or they are old and mature enough to provide reasoned views for resisting a move. These “relocation” cases tend to fall into one of five categories, often with a degree of cross over between them. Whatever the category of
case, the Court must be satisfied that the proposed move is in the child’s best interests before sanctioning the move.
Types of cases
1. Going home cases After a relationship breakdown, a parent can feel isolated and unhappy, and have a strong desire to return to their home country. The Court is likely to need to consider that the way a parent is feeling may have an impact on the child’s welfare. The parent who wants to move will need to show details of their support network in their home country and often friends and family can help by producing statements explaining how they would support him or her and the child. 2. Specific opportunity cases If the reason for relocating is to pursue an opportunity or new job, the parent will need to provide clear evidence about the opportunity and explain how he or she and the child would benefit if the parent was able to take up the opportunity. The impact of not taking up the opportunity will also need to be explained. The court is likely to consider whether the move is necessary rather than just attractive. 3. New partner cases There are occasions when a move involves a new partner. In those cases, the Court will examine the nature and duration of the relation-
The American
IMAGE ŠTOMASZ WYSZOAMIRSKI/ISTOCKPHOTO
ship, including, how the couple met, how long they have known each other etc. The benefit of moving for the parent and child must be explained along with the effect that not being allowed to move will have on the parent and child. It may also be considered why the new partner cannot move to the UK. 4. Lifestyle cases Some moves are motivated by a desire to move to live in a more idyllic area, perhaps by the beach or
in the countryside. There may be a hope for a more relaxed lifestyle or a hope to send a child to a good local day school rather than board. 5. Get away cases It is very unusual for a relocation application to be based on the applicant’s explicit desire to get away from the other parent unless there is a real risk of harm by staying. Otherwise, an application brought on this basis is likely to be refused as the motivation would be
viewed as illegitimate.
Summary
Whatever the motivation for wishing to relocate, the applicant parent must have a comprehensive and detailed proposal for relocation and success can never be guaranteed. All cases need to be approached with absolute care and attention to detailed plans by experienced, specialist practitioners as so much rides on these crucial decisions.
April 2015 17
The American
Choosing a new Dentist C
hoosing a Dentist can be confusing and a bit daunting, especially when you have moved countries and loved your old dentist. James Goolnik, founder of the award-winning Bow Lane Dental group in the City of London (www.bowlanedental.com), has put together this handy list to help you narrow it down.
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Do you feel comfortable with the dentist? This may be a gut-instinct but do you feel they are listening to you and giving you bespoke advice related to your mouth and habits. You only have one set of teeth so be careful who you entrust them to. Is the practice well established? Experience and continuity of care can be very valuable. Will they be there next time you have your check-up? It takes time to build a relationship on both sides. They will get to know your mouth, what
materials work best in your mouth and how often to review you. Do they have a dental hygienist? With recent changes to the law you will probably see your dental hygienist more often than your dentist. Does the hygienist clean your mouth thoroughly? Do they guide you in what are the best oral hygiene aids for your mouth and encourage you in between appointments? Training and further education? Most dentists will have the basic qualification (BDS) but do they keep up to date with the latest techniques and materials? This is especially important if you are considering any extensive treatments such as veneers or dental implants. Membership to a recognizable institution such as the British or American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is an added advantage. Do Your Research: Go online and research dental practices in your area. Dentist
websites should list the dentist’s credentials, experience, a picture of them and increasingly videos.
Ask Questions
The most important thing to remember is to ask questions! Make a list of questions to ask before your appointment as you may forget. Good questions can be: How long will this last before it needs replacing? What guarantees do you offer? How do I access care outside office hours? Do you have experience with similar types of treatment? A proven track record speaks volumes about a dentist. Do not be afraid to ask to see examples of similar treatments carried out by THAT dentist. If you are considering crowns, bridge, veneers or implants ask to meet the laboratory technician that will be making your work. Cosmetic dentistry requires a true artist and for an artist to work they need to see their subject. They will want to see you to get the colour shade for your teeth and make sure your new smile matches your face, skin tone and age. Get referrals. Ask your relatives, colleagues and friends if they can recommend reliable dentists. Do your research on the internet once you get a list of candidates and call them for more information. Remember this is a relationship for life; if you do not feel comfortable, find someone else.
18 April 2015
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UK Property & Mortgage Exchange Rate Gains The nasty smell at the back of your mortgage, warns Tameron McDougall
T
he London housing market is booming again and inevitably this results in homes being sold and mortgages being repaid. Most UK taxpayers, including those who happen to be US citizens, will be aware of the Principal Private Residence rules that provide an exemption from UK tax on the sale of their main home in the UK. However, if you are a US citizen this may not be the end of the story. The IRS requires US persons to report their worldwide income and gains annually, regardless of where in the world they might be living. As a result, Americans residing in the UK need to consider not only HMRC’s view of the sale of their UK home but also the US tax consequences. As London Mayor, Boris Johnson discovered recently, when a US citizen (which he was by birth) sells their UK home, capital gains tax may nevertheless be due to the IRS. There are exemptions which can allow up to $250,000 of the resultant gain to be excluded from US tax (up to $500,000 for a joint return with a spouse) and Tax Advisory Partnership can advise on these. Qualification for exemption
20 April 2015
depends upon the amount of time the property has been owned and how long it has been used as the main home. It might seem bad enough that the UK will exempt the sale of the main family home and the IRS may continue to subject that sale to US tax but there may in fact be an additional sting in the tail for US taxpayers. This nasty smell at the back of your mortgage results from the repayment (or refinance) of a non-US dollar mortgage, which usually happens when a UK home is sold. With apologies for citing the technical references, section 988 of the Internal Revenue Code deals with foreign currency transactions and includes becoming a borrower under a foreign mortgage e.g. a GBP mortgage to buy a home in the UK. Under the US law predating Section 988, the borrowing and repayment of a mortgage loan is a separate transaction from the purchase and sale of the property. The repayment of the mortgage constitutes a closed and therefore, taxable transaction and as such there are usually tax consequences for a US person who redeems their
UK mortgage or indeed any other non-US dollar loan. Whilst the particular focus of this article has been on UK private residences, the type and location of the property is irrelevant and these foreign currency transaction rules will apply equally to mortgage loans used to buy investment property, holiday homes and commercial premises, wherever they are situated. Whether or not there is a US tax liability will depend on how the dollar has moved against the currency of the foreign mortgage. As a general rule, if the dollar cost of repaying the foreign loan has reduced between the time of the original borrowing and the time of the loan repayment, there will be a gain. Any capital repayments made during the life of the loan must also be considered and this can add further complication. Unfortunately, whilst a gain would be taxable, any resultant loss is not recognised for the purposes of these rules. This issue of taxable gains arising on redemption of a mortgage is not widely known and has been the source of many difficult conversations with clients. We have nothing
The American
but sympathy for those having to find funds to pay often unexpected liabilities, particularly where a property has been remortgaged to take advantage of falling interest rates but the property itself has not been sold. Often however, there are choices that can be made or planning put in place in anticipation of the sale of a home or the redemption of a mortgage. At Tax Advisory Partnership we regularly advise clients on legitimate ways to mitigate tax liabilities arising from section 988 gains or from the sale of their homes and other properties, as part of a wider review of their tax strategies. We would encourage anyone who is, or believes they might be, regarded as a US citizen, to take
advice well in advance of the sale of any property or the redemption of any non-US dollar mortgage or other loan. Similarly, historic transactions should be considered and disclosure made to the IRS if appropriate. At the very least we can help you understand whether and to what extent there may be a liability and what choices may be available in terms of planning or managing the process with the IRS. As with any lingering nasty smell, there is no real alternative other than to roll up your sleeves and tackle the problem before it gets worse. We are always happy to discuss specific issues with potential new US clients in confidence and without obligation.
Tameron McDougall is a partner at the Tax Advisory Partnership 14 Devonshire Square, London EC2M 4YT t: 020 7655 6957 e: [email protected] w: www.taxadvisorypartnership.com
tap into a wealth of tax knowledge London t: +44 (0)20 7655 6959 e: [email protected]
Leeds t: +44 (0)113 8272 410 e: [email protected]
www.taxadvisorypartnership.com
The American
Rethinking the Underground Railroad O
n the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the USA, Eric Foner examines the facts of the mythical Underground Railway. Every American with an interest in our history has heard of the underground railroad. While no one knows exactly when or where the term originated, by 1853 the New York Times could observe that “the ‘underground railroad’” had “come into very general use to describe
22 April 2015
the organized arrangements made in various sections of the country, to aid fugitives from slavery.” To what extent a clandestine network of agents in northern communities, with outposts in the South, actually existed has long been a point of dispute among historians. The first scholars to write about it presented a portrait of a highly organized system involving thousands of operatives and an network of stations and regularized
routes leading to Canada. In 1961, Larry Gara published The Liberty Line, which chided previous writers for legitimizing a “popular legend” that greatly exaggerated the underground railroad and emphasized the role of benevolent whites at the expense of escaping slaves and free black communities in the North. The idea of a highly-organized transportation system ferrying multitudes to freedom, he insisted, was a myth.
The Underground Railroad by Charles T Webber, 1893
COURTESY CINCINATTI ART MUSEUM
The American
Most historians quickly accepted Gara’s conclusions, a response that led to a long period of scholarly neglect of the underground railroad. Recently, however, historians have again directed attention to how antislavery activists carried out assistance to fugitive slaves. The picture that emerges is not of the secret, centralized, highly organized system with tunnels, codes, and clearly-defined routes and stations of popular lore, but of an interlocking series of local networks, each of whose fortunes rose and fell over time, but which together helped a substantial number of fugitives reach safety in the free states and Canada. The “underground railroad” was not a single entity, but an umbrella term for local groups that employed numerous methods to assist fugitives, some public and entirely legal, some flagrant violations of the law. Antislavery activists, white and black, hid runaway slaves and sent them on their way and on occasion violently rescued fugitives from the clutches of slave catchers, but they also defended fugitives in court and raised money to purchase their freedom. Running away, of course, constituted only one part of a spectrum of slave resistance that ranged from day-to-day contestation with owners and overseers to outright rebellion. But it had the strongest and most persistent impact on antebellum politics. At the most basic level, escapes from slavery gave the lie to proslavery propaganda about well-treated, contented slaves. The actions of fugitives and their allies, moreover, forced onto the center stage of national politics explosive questions about the extent to which the laws of slave states extended
The International Memorial to the Underground Railroad, Detroit
into the North, and the relationship of the federal government to slavery. The fugitive question emerged as a source of contention at the very founding of the republic - at the insistence of the South, the right of slaveowners to retrieve “persons held to labor” was written into the Constitution. The rising number of fugitives provided the immediate catalyst for the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, which required private citizens to assist in the capture of runaways and overrode local laws and procedures that impeded their return. Effective enforcement of that law quickly became a source of deep resentment in much of the North. Ironically, when it came to fugitive slaves, the white South, usually vocal in defense of local rights, favored vigorous national action, while some northern states engaged in the nullification of federal law. My new book, Gateway to Freedom, focuses on New York City as a crucial nexus of the underground railroad, through which perhaps 3,000 slaves passed on
PHOTO: JASON PARIS
their way to freedom in the three decades before the Civil War. The book was inspired by the discovery of a remarkable document, hidden in plain sight in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Library of Columbia University - the Record of Fugitives. In 1855 and 1856, Sydney Howard Gay, an abolitionist editor in the city, meticulously recorded the arrival and experiences of well over two hundred men, women, and children at his office. The document is a treasure trove of information about how and why slaves escaped, who assisted them, and where they were sent from New York. (It has recently been digitized and, along with a transcript, can be examined online at exhibitions.cul.columbia. edu/exhibits/show/fugitives.) The fugitives Gay interviewed ran the gamut of occupations from field hands to domestic laborers and skilled urban craftsmen. Their escapes displayed remarkable ingenuity - they reached the North individually and in groups, on foot, by boat (some captains of coastal vessels were not averse to accepting money to hide escaping slaves
April 2015 23
The American
on their ships), in horse-drawn carriages appropriated from their owners, and by train. Of course the basic motive for running away was desire for freedom, but among the immediate reasons offered by the fugitives by far the most common was physical abuse. They told Gay stories replete with tales of frequent whippings and other brutality; their words of complaint included “great violence,” “badly treated,” “hard master,” “very severe,” and “a very cruel man.” Alongside the dramatic stories of individual escapes, the Record of Fugitives also contains insights into the operations of one key set of underground railroad networks. Gay noted nearly 50 fugitives who reached New York with the
WIN A COPY The OUP has kindly given us 10 copies of Gateway to Freedom to give away to readers of The American. Simply email your contact details by April 30 to [email protected] to be in with a chance of a free copy, or send them on a postcard to FREEDOM, The American, Old Byre House, Millbrook Lane, East Knoyle, Salisbury SP3 6AW, UK.
24 April 2015
assistance of a Quaker businessman, Thomas Garrett, in Wilmington, Delaware, and around 30 who escaped on the voyages from Virginia of a single ship, the City of Richmond. But far more common in the slave states was assistance from individuals unconnected with any network. Not surprisingly, fugitives tended to approach black persons, free and slave, for help in initiating or conducting their escapes. Once they crossed the Mason-Dixon line into Pennsylvania, fugitives encountered many individuals willing to help them on their way. Over half the fugitives who reached Gay’s office had been forwarded by train from Philadelphia by William Still, a black abolitionist who headed that city’s Vigilance Committee, as urban groups aiding fugitives were called. Gay then sent them on to upstate New York and Canada. Gay directed more fugitive slaves to Syracuse, half-way between Albany and the border with Canada, than to all other destinations combined. In Jermain Loguen, himself an escaped slave, Syracuse boasted one of the most effective underground railroad operatives in the entire North. In a city where antislavery sentiment predominated, his operations were flagrantly public. Sympathetic newspapers reported on the arrival of groups of runaways “at Loguen’s” and published annual reports on the number of fugitives who had passed through the city (200 in 1855 according to one account). Gay’s record ends in 1856, but fugitives continued to arrive in New York City. And the fugitive issue played a crucial role in the secession crisis of 1860. Even though few slaves reached the North from the state, the very first complaint
against the free states in South Carolina’s Declaration of the Causes of Secession had to do with obstruction of the return of fugitives. But the outbreak of the Civil War led quickly to the end of the underground railroad. The war fundamentally transformed the opportunities available to slaves seeking freedom. No longer did slaves have to reach the North or Canada to escape from bondage - they could now seek refuge with the Union army. Far more slaves - men, women, and children, of all ages - escaped to Union lines than had reached the free states and Canada during the preceding thirty years. Indeed, by the middle of the war many of the fugitives who had found refuge in Canada returned to the United States; some enlisted in the Union army. No one knows how many slaves managed to escape to freedom in the decades before the Civil War. Certainly, their numbers were not sufficient to undermine the institution of slavery; on the eve of the war the population in bondage had reached four million. But stripped of previous mythologies and distortions, the story of the underground railroad remains one with an extraordinary cast of characters and remarkable tales of heroism, courage, and sheer luck. Given the fraught nature of race relations in the United States today, the underground railroad is worth remembering as a moment when black and white Americans worked together in a just cause. Eric Foner is DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University and author of Gateway to Freedom: The Hidden History of America’s Fugitive Slaves, recently published in the UK by OUP.
The American
Stephen Sayre (1736-1818)
A
New Yorker in London proposed the kidnap and overthrow of George III, but became the first American to be incarcerated in the Tower of London, writes Gary Powell. London in the autumn of 1775 was a dangerous place for the significant American community living and trading in its midst. George III issued his Proclamation of Rebellion on August 23rd in response to increasing hostilities in the American colonies. He demanded that England’s population be aware of ‘diverse wicked and desperate persons’ and to report to the authorities any ‘traitorous conspiracies and attempts against us, our Crown and dignity’. History records the beginning of the War of Independence later that year and the Declaration of Independence followed in 1776. One such American, a merchant, city sheriff and close associate of the radical Lord Mayor of London John Wilkes (a great supporter of the American cause), was Stephen Sayre. Sayre, a farmer’s son from Long Island, New York, was ensconced in British society and enjoyed liberal passage around the city, rubbing shoulders with London’s fashionable society. He was a man of financial substance, able to afford a house in Cleveland Row, adjacent to St James’s Palace for his mistress, the English actress, singer and courtesan Sophia Baddeley (1745-86).
As winter 1775 approached tensions in London propagated as opposition to the British grew across the Atlantic. The State Opening of Parliament was due on 26th October; George III was to reaffirm his and his government’s commitment to the Proclamation of Rebellion. In a coffee house in Birchin Lane in the City of London (now EC3) Sayre met a fellow American, Lt Francis Richardson of the 1st Regiment of the Foot Guards, adjutant at the Tower of London. Richardson was astonished when Sayre proposed the kidnap of George III on his way to the State Opening, his incarceration in the Tower of London and forcible return to his dominions in Hanover; and that the plot had the backing of Mayor John Wilkes. Richardson, whose loyalties were more to the King than to the struggle in the American colonies, reported the plot to his commanding officer and then in turn to cabinet minister Lord Rochford. Richardson stated that the plot was at an advanced stage with bribes already paid to soldiers whose responsibility was the security of the monarchy, the government and London itself; Richardson’s part in the plot was to bribe the Tower garrison. Sayre was arrested at his Oxford Street home and became the first American to be incarcerated in the Tower of London.
Conspiritor? Sayre’s associate, the Lord Mayor of London John Wilkes in a satirical engraving by William Hogarth, above Sir William Beechey’s portrait of King George III
The state opening passed without incident, denials were issued by Wilkes and other alleged conspirators, using influence in the press to create a media frenzy. With no evidence to substantiate the claim and doubt over the character and motives of Richardson, Sayre was cleared and released and enjoyed a Georgian celebrity lifestyle. In 1777 he left England for France joining the United States diplomatic service. Sayre, who at one point faced the death penalty for treason, lived until the age of 82 years. Gary Powell is a retired London detective; he is the author of Square London, a social history of the London square. His latest book is Death in Disguise (History Press). He also conducts several walks around the darker side of London. garypowellauthor.co.uk
April 2015 25
The American
Michael Urie
You know him from Ugly Betty and Modern Family. Now Michael Lorenzo Urie is on the London stage playing Barbra Streisand’s shop assistant! The American caught up with him as he prepared for the marathon one-man show – and asked him about his great name...
M
y dad’s family came from Scotland. I actually worked in Scotland and the locals told me there’s a Ury House and a Urie Loch. That side of our family is a mystery to us because my dad’s father died when my dad was very young. I may look into it when I’m over there. I was sorta hoping to get on that show, Who Do You Think You Are? let them pay for it! My dad’s mother came to the US with her family and my dad’s father followed her, because he was in love with her. My mom’s maiden name was Bonazzi, she’s third generation American – her parents were both full-blown Italian and they grew up in New York and met there. My uncles were born in New York and they moved to Texas for work – they were in the construction business. I’m really more Texan than anything! You don’t sound very Texan. I know, I was raised by New York Italians. Then I went to Juilliard drama school when I was nineteen and whatever twang was left was stripped away. Michael Benjamin Washington was a year ahead of me in High School, I looked up to him so much because he’s an amazing actor. He didn’t get into Juilliard and I thought it must be the greatest school in the world if he didn’t get in, so I’d never get in. I then had the idea of being a drama teacher, but my grades weren’t great because I
26 April 2015
spent all my time building sets and rehearsing plays, so the teaching schools I applied to didn’t accept me. I decided to go to a community college which had a great theater program, really creative and modern. My teacher there urged me to audition for Juilliard, which I thought was crazy. Next thing I knew, I was in New York. The minute I got here I knew it was home – regardless of what I was doing, I wanted to be doing it here! Was that the family background? Maybe it’s in my genes! I like driving around the wide open spaces of Texas and I love nature and trees, but it makes sense for me in New York and Chicago and London – cities that thrive on pedestrians and mass transportation. I’m a creature of the urban! At Juilliard you won the John Houseman Prize for Excellence in Classical Theatre. Would you like to do more classical work? I would – I loved doing Shakespeare and Commedia. In fact I got Ugly Betty after a casting director saw me off-off-Broadway in a basement doing a Jacobean play, The Revenger’s Tragedy. It was a really cool production, very rock & roll and sexy and I played this evil, petulant Duke. He was the villain – well, they’re all terrible in that play – but I was very mean and bitchy and I looked like David Bowie. A casting
director stopped me after the show and said “I loved what you did.” I remember it well – actors always remember that kind of interaction – and I kept tabs on what he was working on. I saw a breakdown [information on a proposed show] for a tiny co-star part in a pilot he was shooting in New York and I thought it sounded similar to what he’d seen me doing. I told my agents to get me an appointment, but they didn’t want me playing a part that small as I had previously done one high profile series regular pilot thing that didn’t get picked up. I insisted so they did, and I got the job. And that was Ugly Betty. Is it true that Marc St James was not originally going to be a recurring character - Wilhelmina Slater, the villain played by Vanessa Williams, was going to have a different assistant in each episode? Yes, Marc was a great part, but only made greater by working with Vanessa. She could have kept me in the shadows, but as we were shooting she would say, stand closer to me and you’ll be in the shot. She noticed I was imitating her physicality, thought it was funny and asked me what else she could do that I could imitate. Between her and Silvio Horta, the creator, and Teri Weinberg the producer, and the directors we shaped the character, and Marc became an integral part
The American
Michael onstage in Buyer and Cellar PHOTO ©JOAN MARCUS
of the show. It was a game changing job for me. Were you friends offscreen too? I was so naïve, I assumed that always happened! We were so close. We’d have lunch together, and hang out after work - and at work! In a single-camera show like that, or a movie, there’s so much down time in which you could be on your own in your dressing room not talking to anybody, but we never did that. Some of that was because for America [who played Betty], Becki [Amanda], Ana Ortiz [Hilda], and little Mark Indelicato [Justin] it was our first big thing. We were not only learning the network television thing, but learning what it was like to go on set every day. It was like a real job – and actors don’t get that very often. Vanessa became our ‘fame teacher’ – how to walk red carpets, be photographed, take interviews, and how to treat the crew respectfully and have them love you. It became a wonderful group of 12 or so people who were different to each other (actors who are too similar can be tricky!), and liked each other, and loved what we were doing, and learned from each other. And the show was popular – that helps too. Silvio had two totally different worlds, the family in Queen’s and the bitches at Mode.
April 2015 27
PHOTO ©JOAN MARCUS
The American
We could have gone on for years because there were so many funny combinations. Anytime they put two characters together it was interesting – if I had a scene with Ashley Jensen, who played Christina the seamstress, it just wrote itself. Will there be more Ugly Bettys? I would love that. We all would. Actually I had lunch with Becki yesterday and I saw Silvio the other night – we miss working together sooo much. The problem is, the show has so many owners. It was a Colombian telenovela, then it was Disney and ABC, and Salma Hayek’s and Ben Silverman’s companies. There might be too many cooks for it to actually happen. But it lives on and people still find it – I get tweets every day from people discovering the show. You do a lot of theater work, smaller shows about serious topics as well as musicals like your Broadway debut, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, even your own web show, What’s Your Emergency? You’re also a television presenter, director and producer. If there was only one that you could do for the rest of your career, which would it be? I’m lucky in having options and I’m a big believer in following your nose. I get asked to present or host things a lot and my first instinct was, ‘I’m an actor, I don’t want to do that’, but if the universe is now telling me to be a host, why not try it? The first time I tried directing I co-
28 April 2015
directed a documentary which took years and years but it’s out now and it came out well. From that I got wrapped up in a group of people who trust me to be at the helm and, with various levels of success, I’ve been able to direct a feature film, a short film, and the web series. I love all of them, but live theater is on a totally different level, there’s a surge of creative energy. In Buyer and Cellar I’m on my own – and I’m in control of the night, the ebbs and flows of the energy and the pace. That’s also true with directing for the camera and editing. But if you put a gun to my head it would have to be acting on stage. Which is why you’re coming to London. How would you describe Buyer and Cellar? It’s a completely fictional play about a totally fictional guy who gets a job in the 100 percent real shops in Barbra Streisand’s basement, she really does have shops in her basement, it’s not a place people can actually go but it’s a street of antique, decorative shops where her collections live. There’s a dolls shop, an antiques shop, an antiques store and a ‘gift shoppe’. This guy doesn’t know what he’s been hired for, it’s not until Barbra starts shopping there that he realizes his job is not just inventory and working the floor, but also playing along with her - this is what Jonathan Tolins, the writer, has made up. It’s a fantasia on what it might be like to get to know Barbra
Streisand in an intimate way in her playground. The events in the play aren’t real, but all the references are, and they’re based on things she’s said and done. It was a big off-Broadway hit (in 2013 at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater) and you’ve done it for two years on and off. Are you a glutton for punishment? I enjoy it. It’s very hard work, and challenging mentally. It’s a hundred-minute monologue comedy so I have to keep hundreds of people interested and happy. There’s so much in it I have to keep their attention or they’ll miss something. The hardest part is the two hours before the show – my grumpiest and most depressed time, because my body knows that I’ll have to do all that and I’m saving my energy. Has one of those hundreds of people been Barbra? No, which I’m fine with! It would be so weird if she was there – for me, for her and really weird for the audience. I’m really excited about playing this show in London. I’m looking forward to taking a day trip or two and maybe seeing some other theater myself. Finally, what’s the best thing about being Michael Urie? I get to wear so many hats – like any actor I go from job to job but I have such variety in my work, from a Broadway musical to audio book narrator to live host to Shakespeare and television and direction... part of that is my own tenacity and part is the universe allowing me to. All I want to do is be in show business and I’m very, very satisfied. Buyer and Cellar runs until May 2 at The Menier Chocolate Factory, London.
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The American
Brew I
’ve never been down under so I was looking forward to some tucker at this Aussie restaurant. It’s a bit of a trek on foot, but Putney isn’t exactly the bush! Even in winter it’s a lovely walk on Lower Richmond Road. In summer it will be stupendous. Just off the road is a wonderful terrace. Chairs covered with sheep skin and beds with pillows and throws. Tempting, even for an old geezer like me, but not in February. Thankfully, the vibe was just as good inside. The staff was warm and friendly. Laid back Australian charm. I wanted to change into a swimsuit and flip-flops. There are some exciting things going on here. Wood fired ovens for pizza and bread, dry aging beef on site and of course, the coffee. Allpress espresso makes a damn fine brew indeed. The employees are all quite passionate about the quality of what they are serving. Rightly so. Breakfast is definitely the main focus of the place and is served all day. Even at dinner, it’s a good bet. Everything on the menu is based on
30 April 2015
Reviewed by Michael M Sandwick
Blueberry pancakes
162 – 164 Lower Richmond Road, London SW15 1LY
quality ingredients, served simply at reasonable prices. We chose from the dinner menu. There are only 3 starters so we decided to sample them all. It’s my job! Smoked edamame beans with lemon and Maldon salt (£4) were really fabulous. Simplicity at its best and where the kitchen shines. Smoked potato and bacon croquettes with BBQ dipping sauce (£5) were not as exciting as they sound. The smokiness didn’t come through but the dish was saved by the excellent barbecue sauce. Polenta crisps with aioli (£4) were also good, but what struck me was that all 3 dishes were essentially bar snacks. Great for sharing with cocktails or, in our case, a wonderful glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc (£6). For a main I had The Hellfire Pizza: chorizo, king prawn, hot guindilla peppers, chilli butter, lemon and rocket (£7.50). The crust was exceptional. Crisp and light with the lovely taste of wood. There was however only one king prawn which went down my hatch with
the first slice. If 2 prawns isn’t in the budget, at least fry up the shells with the chilli butter to add that lovely taste to the rest of the pizza. A glass of light, delicious New Zealand Pinot Noir (£5.50) quickly removed all thoughts of prawns from my head. 42 day dry aged Aberdeen Angus NY cut sirloin, 300g was a triumph. A beautiful piece of meat, charred perfectly on the barbie. At £26 it was by far the most expensive item on the menu and worth every penny. Served with an exceptional £10 glass of Malbec, the only Australian wine on the menu, put this on the must have list. Desserts range from 50p for a blondie or brownie bite to £5 for ice cream with a slew of home baked cakes in between. We had the specials of the day, a decent crème brûlée and a heavenly tiramisu. Moist and oozing with coffee and cream. Top. I am definitely planning another trek. Next time in the summer for breakfast in bed and a brew from Oz!
Head Chef Jonathan Stephens
Reviewed by Michael M Sandwick
Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4HT www.stokeplace.co.uk
STOKE PLACE W
ho knew a weekend in the country was so accessible? 40 minutes from Paddington! A 30 minute train ride to Slough (20 if you’re lucky), 10 minutes in a taxi and boom. Country heaven with all the trimmings. Manor house, park, lake, booze, gourmet food, luxury 4 star accommodation…my idea of country! The entrance is very grand and the house, originally from 1690, a well preserved example of William and Mary style architecture. Two wings were added in the late 1760s after which the 26 acres of parkland was designed by the renowned landscape architect, Capability Brown. The sprawling lawns just cry out for a game of croquet! Inside, the house has been done up with modern furnishings. An interesting mix of old and new, but what the house gains in comfort, it loses in personality. Our deluxe suite was huge, with a four poster bed and a free standing bathtub in front of the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the garden. The en-suite also had an enormous walk in shower. For such gorgeous bathing who needs the personality of 1690? There is quite a range of accommodation. Thirtynine rooms in all from £90-250/
night and many possibilities for meetings, events and especially weddings. We began the evening in the cosy bar with a couple G&T’s. I then had the pleasure of meeting Chef Jonathan Stephens. Young and talented, he cut his chops in South Africa and Germany before joining the kitchen at Stoke Place in 2009. Now he has deservedly taken over as head chef. Upon his advice we ordered the tasting menu (£70). 7 courses of delight. Stephens’ attention to detail makes his food both beautiful and surprising. More importantly, his execution is top. Chicken, fish and scallops were all cooked to the perfect degree of absolute succulence and every dish was plated meticulously. Monkfish wrapped in pancetta with wilted chard, clam dressing and bergamot sabayon was the winner if I had to choose one. It was the best example of Stephens’ ability to meld flavors together without any one domineering the others. Here there was sweet, savory, bitter, sour and umami all in one. Jackpot! The biggest surprises came with the chicken. Mayan gold barley casserole and salt baked turnip! I wouldn’t have thought either one
could excite me but they totally rocked. Turnip never had it so good and barley just pushed quinoa right off the chart! Very inventive. Also of note was a crumble deconstruction and a wonderful plate of cheese. The wine list is very extensive with something for every taste and pocket. I was impressed by the number of reasonably priced wines. We chose the flight of wines that were paired with the tasting menu. At £35 it is excellent value. From Champagne to port, all were good quality but there was one standout: Domaine Rijckaert Savagnin “Les Sarres” 2007. Full bodied, and multi layered with hints of butter and lots of citrus. The nose was extraordinary, the taste, exceptional. A “must have”! Get a bottle. Service throughout is excellent. Competence coupled with youth and genuine friendliness. I had the impression that everyone enjoys working there, creating a very relaxed atmosphere. The following morning began with an excellent full English, followed by a jaunt around the lake. Neither quite cleared our heads, so we headed back inside for a Bloody Mary. I love the country!
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Steve Golding’s Bollinger Champagne cured Severn and Wye smoked salmon
The American
Reviewed by Sabrina Sully Phil Howard’s Strawberry ripple soufflé ALL IMAGES ©ASCOT
©THE AMERICAN
High St, Ascot, Berks SL5 7HS www.ascot.co.uk/fine-dining-royal-ascot
Ascot Fine Dining H
orse racing at its finest, and now fine dining too. Although there’s racing here all year, the Royal Meeting at Ascot is the highlight of the British Season. Don a stunning outfit and eye-catching hat, and choose your chef. This year headlined by twice Michelin starred chefs, Michael Caines and Phil Howard each hosting a restaurant on all five days of the Royal Meeting. Raymond Blanc has designed an exclusive menu for the Private Boxes, and Angela Hartnett has created a picnic for Royal Enclosure guests in the Winning Post Gardens. Between them, the chefs involved hold seven Michelin stars. There are 12 restaurants to choose from, and the emphasis everywhere is food sourced as locally as possible. The broad range ensures there is a choice to suit all tastes and budgets. We met the chefs and sampled the menu - and yes, had a little flut-
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ter on the horses between courses. Raymond Blanc provided the delicious canapés, I especially enjoyed the mini beetroot tatin, which was washed down with a flute of Bollinger, Royal Ascot’s 2015 Official Champagne partner. Raymond Blanc has created the Private Boxes menu, having first visited Ascot as a guest of The Queen Mother, when he says he was inspired by a ladies hat to invent the plates with large rims! This was followed by Executive Head Chef Steve Golding’s Bollinger Champagne cured smoked salmon, with Exmoor Caviar jelly. Yes, you read that right - Exmoor Caviar who knew? And what caviar - the freshest and tastiest I’ve ever eaten - I’ve not sampled it in Russia (yet). The Champagne cure really works, it brings out the flavor of the salmon, and gives it life. I must just mention the little green blobs: they’re a
pure taste of summer, a silky fresh basil purée that complemented the salmon well. I’ll be trying this combination for myself this summer. The pairing of Bollinger Rosé worked well. I can never refuse a glass of Bolly! The Main of beef fillet with roasted shallots, celeriac puree, with a wild mushroom and red wine sauce was by Michael Caines. What can I say? A delicious hearty meal, after all that fresh air, cooked to perfection. It didn’t disappoint and neither did the glass of Chateau La Croix Ferrandat Saint Emilion 2011. Not to be outdone, the dessert was a triumph by Phil Howard, strawberry ripple soufflé with elderflower ice cream and raspberry coulis. Out of this world, probably because it contained blitzed slowcooked rice pudding, which gave it depth and who can beat elderflower ice cream? Britain is getting s-o-p-h-i-s-t-i-c-a-t-e-d!
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RECIPE courtesy of Ascot’s Steve Golding INGREDIENTS: Dover Sole 12 Dover sole fillets 1 egg 1 1/3 cups and 1tbs heavy cream Piment d’Espelette chilli powder Freshly ground salt and white pepper Cauliflower Cheese Puree 1 head cauliflower 2 cups milk 2 cups warm melted butter 2 egg yolks 2 tsp. lemon juice Tabasco sauce Freshly ground salt and white pepper Caper – Almond Gremolata 2 tbsp. tiny cauliflower florets reserved from cauliflower head 2 tbsp. chopped almonds 2 tbsp. Brunoised shallots 1 tbsp. chopped parsley 1 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 hardboiled egg, peeled Freshly ground salt & white pepper Potato Tempura 1 cup clarified butter 1 large russet potato, peeled Canola oil for frying Tempura batter Freshly ground salt and white pepper To Finish 1tbsp. butter, melted Freshly ground salt and white pepper METHOD: For the Dover Sole Trim the ends and sides of 8 sole fillets, squaring them off, and score the skin. Dice the trim and 4 remaining filets, place in a chilled food processor along with the egg, ¼ tsp pepper, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp piment d’Espelette and cream, to form a smooth mousse. Pass through a sieve and transfer to a piping bag. Chill in the fridge. Season the scored side of the fillets with salt, pepper and piment
Dover Sole Ballotine à La Polonaise d’Espelette. Horizontally lay 1 fillet seasoned side up on cling film, pipe a line of mousse across the top and lay a second fillet on top of this, seasoned side down with the thicker end meeting the thinner end at the bottom. Tightly roll fish to form a cylinder and tie off the ends. Repeat with the remaining fillets. For Cauliflower Puree and Gratin Cut 8 x 1 inch cubes of cauliflower and steam until tender. Let them cool before chilling in the fridge. Trim two tbsp. of cauliflower florets and save reserve for the gremolata. Chop and dice the remaining cauliflower and place in small saucepan. Add milk, 1 tbsp. salt and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until tender. With a slotted spoon scoop the cauliflower out and blend with just enough cooking liquid to form a thick puree. Season again with salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce before passing through a sieve. Chill for 1 hour before serving, season cauliflower cubes and place on a baking sheet. Make hollandaise sauce with yolks, lemon juice and 2 tbsp. water and melted butter. Season to taste. For Caper- Almond Gremolata Combine all ingredients, except egg and seasoning. Separate egg yolk and white and press through a fine mess sieve. Reserve and chill in the fridge.
For Potato Tempura Melt clarified butter. Slice the potato lengthwise into 1/8 inch thick slices with a mandolin, and then cut into 8 x 1 inch triangles. Season triangles and submerge in butter, cook until tender. Drain and pat dry. Heat canola oil and coat potato in tempura batter, fry until golden brown and sprinkle with salt. For the glazed Romanesco Cut 12 x 1 inch florets and 2 tbsp. of ¼ inch florets. Boil in salted water for 3 minutes until tender - 15 seconds for the smaller florets. Chill in ice water and pat dry. Sauté with butter and chicken stock and heat through. Season to taste and keep warm. To Finish Heat cauliflower puree. Spoon hollandaise sauce over cauliflower cubes and boil until sauce has browned. Submerge fish into water bath 148 °F and cook for 9 minutes or until cooked. Remove fish, trim ends, remove plastic, season and brush with melted butter. Evenly divide gremolata, sprinkle of egg, and few tiny bits of romanesco into a neat layer on top of the fish. For each serving, spread cauliflower puree in a rectangular shape on serving plate, place fish on top, alternate romanesco, cauliflower gratin, and 2 pieces of potato tempura.
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The American
Ryan Bingham “I was born a cowboy, way out west in New Mexico,” sings Ryan Bingham on his new album. Many country artists sing about the road and the Wild West, but Bingham has walked the walk and ridden the beast... the 34 year old spent years bull riding on the rodeo circuit, the sort of experience that creates songs like the Oscar-winning ‘The Weary Kind’, the song from Crazy Heart.
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yan grew up in Hobbs, a small town in south eastern New Mexico, an area where life revolves around ranches, farms and oil fields. His family moved around, crossing the border into west Texas and as far as Bakersfield, California. “I liked it well enough – it’s all I knew at the time. There was a lot of room to run around in but it’s pretty desolate, you definitely had to use your imagination. I moved around so much I was always the new kid in town – I guess I fell in with whatever crew would have me. I got tired of making the effort of making friends in every town, I stuck to myself. I got comfortable being on my own doing my own thing knowing that we’d be moving again sometime soon.” Music was something portable that he could take with him. He loved it, but he was a late starter as a musician. He didn’t start playing guitar until he was seventeen, or writing songs until his early twenties. “It took a while to get there but once I found it, it became pretty important to me, it filled that void in my life for sure. My mother bought me a guitar but I didn’t know how to play it, and I didn’t know any musicians. It wasn’t until we moved
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to Laredo, Texas, down on the border with Mexico, my neighbor showed me how to play a few songs and I took it from there. When I started writing songs it was a therapeutic thing, a way to get things off my chest, I didn’t have in mind that I would play them to people. It was simple stuff, songs with one or two chords, just thinking about what was going on in my life at that time and getting my troubles off my mind. Even if I couldn’t talk to someone about it, I could sing it out loud.” Texas gave the young Ryan a lot of inspirations: “My uncles turned me onto Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and Lightnin’ Hopkins, people from that area.” In between playing came the rodeo riding, which led to Ryan’s music reaching an audience. “Yeah, that was a big part of getting into performing. The first people I ever played my songs for were my friends. On the weekends we’d load up a truck with three or four of us and head down the road to these rodeos. A lot of times we’d be in areas where you couldn’t pick up a radio station so I would sit in the back seat and play the guitar and make up songs about places we’d
been and where we were going. My buddies kept asking me to play the songs, and people would start coming around to parties and listen to these little songs. I never sat down with a piece of paper and try to craft songs about something, I always got more out of it when it was something that meant more to me. Even later on, it was ‘how is anybody supposed to believe what I’m singing if I don’t believe it myself? “There were so many bars and clubs to play in – open mics where you could do two or three songs. I feel fortunate to have gotten a start there, I don’t know if I could have done it anywhere else. I was still learning how to tune my guitar – I feel very grateful for the patience of a lot of those audiences! It was probably pretty rough but they would still encourage you.” The biographies say that Ryan self-released two albums, Wishbone Saloon and Dead Horses but he laughs and says, “I don’t know if you would call it self-released – it was just recording songs in a friend’s garage, making copies at home on the computer and giving them to my friends or selling them out of the trunk of the car.” But the experience and publicity led to a record-
The American
PHOTO COURTESY RYAN BINGHAM
ing deal with big time Americana label Lost Highway and two critically acclaimed albums, Mescalito, released in 2007 and two years later Roadhouse Sun. After that came a big break. Ryan collaborated with Grammywinning producer/musician T Bone Burnett on the soundtrack for the Jeff Bridges movie, Crazy Heart. He co-wrote & performed ‘The Weary Kind’, the theme song. How did that come about? “First I met the director Scott
Cooper, I guess he was a fan of one of my Lost Highway records. He called me up and he told me they were looking for some songwriters to contribute songs for the movie and would I like to take a shot at it? He gave me the script and I started working on some songs, and he introduced me to T Bone and the rest of the crew, and the rest is history! Hell, I was more or less just a kid touring around in a van playing these little clubs then all of a sudden I got to meet those guys and
play music with them. It was a great learning experience for sure.“ He learnt quick. That year Ryan won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice Award and a Grammy for ‘The Weary Kind’, plus the Americana Music Association Artist of the Year award. A quadruple whammy! Was it a life-changing experience, or at least a career changing one? “You know it’s funny, my life really didn’t change that much, but it was surreal at the time. It wasn’t like I was playing to thousands of
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people all of a sudden. Or making a whole lot of money either. I was straight back to touring around with the band. A lot more people heard my music, but a lot of them only heard ‘The Weary Kind’, they didn’t even know I had any other records. Despite movieland success, Ryan left Lost Highway and the band, and set up his own label, Axster Bingham Records with his wife Anna. Why mess with the formula? “There was a lot of rough stuff in my personal life. I lost both my parents. My mother passed away from mescalito, and after the Oscars my dad killed himself. The band had been on the road playing rough clubs for ten years and the guys were burned out. The guy that ran Lost Highway was retiring, it was part of Universal and it wasn’t going to carry on, so setting up my own label just came naturally – my wife had been doing a lot of the management already.” Tomorrowland, a more rock and roll album, was released. Like its predecessor, Junky Star, it came
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PHOTO COURTESY RYAN BINGHAM
The American
from the darkness that surrounded Ryan. Great songs, but he found them difficult to sing and he had to take time out, get help and seek a fresh start. It resulted in a new album written in an Airstream trailer in the LA mountains.
Fear and Saturday Night
Overall Fear and Saturday Night is the sound of a deep-thinking man who’s come to terms with tragedy and come out stronger, self-belief and sense of humor intact. “That’s where I am now, with the new album. I’m having fun with it. There’s still some darker stuff – I write about personal things – but I’m having fun with my wife, and we’re starting a new family, I feel I’m on the upswing now.” Highlights include the opening song, ‘Nobody Knows My Trouble.’ It is like The Grapes of Wrath, a sad on the road tale set off by a jaunty tune. “You can’t ignore the harsh realities of life,” says Ryan, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t be optimistic and hopeful. Look out the windshield and quit lookin’ in the
rear view mirror all the time.” ‘Broken Heart Tattoos’ sounds like Bruce Springsteen if he came from Texas – I wrote down “lullaby to an unborn child” before the interview, not knowing Ryan and Anna would be expecting a child this summer. Did they know that, when he wrote the song? “No, but we were talking about it.” ‘Top Shelf Drug’ teams ‘Helter Skelter’-style Beatles guitar with Billy Prestonesque electric piano, while ‘Island in the Sky’ is an uplifting, optimistic anthem – I bet audiences will love it live. ‘Adventures of You and Me’ proudly waves the Tex-Mex flag with accordion and references to the Texas Tornadoes and Flaco Jiménez, on a tale about a road trip from Texas to New York City and back. ‘My Diamond Is Too Rough’ is a ragged, dirty rocker in which no-one gives a damn, and ‘Radio’ is a Neil Young-ish lope. Finally, what’s the best thing about being Ryan Bingham? “The adventure!” TOUR DATES Ryan heads back to Europe in October with his band. He says, “We’ve been trying to come over to Europe for quite a while – it’s one of the main reasons I got into playing music, I really enjoy the travel and adventure part of it. I love the pace of things in Europe. My wife’s originally from Germany. I love the different food – and the short distances to travel.” After concerts in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands Ryan plays these UK and Irish dates: October 21st Bristol, Thekla; 22nd London, KOKO; 23rd Manchester, Gorilla; 24th Glasgow, Òran Mór; 26th Dublin, Ireland, Vicar Street.
The American
New York Blues Hall of Fame Opens to Brits & Americans, Seeks Permanent Home S
even months before he passed away in 2014, Blues guitar idol Johnny Winter was pictured holding a framed certificate, presented to him at BB King’s club in New York when he was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame. This particular Blues Hall of Fame is a little different from its unassociated namesake, the Blues Hall of Fame run by America’s most famous Blues music organisation, the Blues Foundation. In both cases, recognition of this type can be a welcome icing on the cake of a musical career. Both organisations induct Americans and those of other nationalities. The three inductees to the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame this year are Atlanta’s Tommy Brown, Georgia’s Little Richard and British icon (from Surrey), Eric Clapton. However, there are differences that extend beyond ownership and locations. For example, the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame has a building, or soon will, as it opens between May 6 and 8 in Memphis. The New York Blues Hall of Fame as yet has no permanent home. Who they celebrate is also different. The Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame inducts household names. The New York equivalent does that, but also recognises people at all levels who have contributed to the Blues scene. The UK’s Blues Matters magazine (already a Blues Foundation ‘Keeping The Blues Alive’ award
winner) was inducted in 2014, and British DJs Dave Watkins (Frome FM, Blues & Roots), Kevin Hardy (KCOR, Main Street Blues), Kevin Beale (Channel Radio, Blues On The Marsh), and Gary Grainger (Bishop FM, The Blues Show) are all New York Blues Hall of Fame inductees. The latest New York Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony came on February 11, 2015, again at B.B. King’s in New York. Among those inducted was Mikey Merola (pictured below), guitarist with the City Boys Allstars, a thirteen-strong band that after a seventeen year time out has got together and has a critically acclaimed recent album
in Blinded By The Night with another coming soon. Fellow musician Michael Packer said, “As Ambassador and 2011 inductee to the NY Blues Hall of Fame it was an honor to induct Mikey G. Merola as a master blues artist and also perform a smokin’ version of ‘The Thrill has Gone’ with him at BB Kings Blues Club in NYC”. Keep an eye on the New York Blues Hall of Fame’s website to watch developments such as their quest for a permanent home, at www.newyorkblueshalloffame.org Report by Darren Weale PHOTO © AMY KERWIN
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Sackler Wing, Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD to June 7
Inventing Impressionism
Sainsbury Wing, National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN to May 31 Unbelievably this is the UK’s first major exhibition devoted to entrepreneurial art dealer Paul DurandRuel (1831-1922), recognising him as ‘the man who invented Impressionism’ and a founding father of the international art market as we know it today. It’s a feast of around 85 works, most of which he dealt, and a number of Impressionism’s greatest masterpieces never before seen in the UK, borrowed from key European and American collections he helped form, and from Japan. Durand-Ruel discovered Monet, Pissarro, Degas and Renoir in the early 1870s, buying their works when they were still largely ignored or ridiculed. Loyal friend and advocate of the Impressionists, he unwaveringly supported them financially and morally. Organised with the
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Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Durand-Ruel, 1910 Oil on canvas, 65 x 54 cm PRIVATE COLLECTION © DURAND-RUEL & CIE
Edgar Degas, The Ballet Class, c.1880 Oil on canvas, 82.2 x 76.8 cm © PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART, PENNSYLVANIA
Réunion des Musées Nationaux – Grand Palais partnering with the Musée d’Orsay, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For the first time in its 190 year history, the National Gallery has introduced membership, from as little as £50 per year. It offers free, unlimited entry to all exhibitions; invitations to a programme of after-hours events, special offers, an e-newsletter and an online magazine with behind-the-scenes features. Buy from www.nationalgallery.org.uk/membership-info, in the National Gallery (from any of the shops), or phone 020 7747 2850 or by post. Contact [email protected] for further information. Richard Diebenkorn, Cityscape #1, 1963 Oil on canvas, 153 x 128.3 cm
© THE RICHARD DIEBENKORN FOUNDATION 2014, COURTESY SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
A UK retrospective of revered postwar US artist Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993). Over 50 works display his early 1950s Abstract Expressionism, then a surprising change of direction to figuration from the mid-1950s to 1960s and finally his late 60s return to abstraction looking at his famous Ocean Park series, of which the Boston Globe says “some of the most beautiful works of art created in America or anywhere else since the Second World War.” (There’s one hanging in the White House right now, by presidential request.) The seven meter sculpture Inflated Star and Wooden Star, 2014 in the Annenberg Courtyard (to May 17) is by American artist Frank Stella, another Hon RA. He’ll be in conversation with curator and Art Historian, Dr David Anfam, at the RA Schools Annual Lecture on May 11 at the Royal Institution London. The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York will have a major retrospective of his work in the Fall.
The American
Amedeo Modigliani, L’Amazone, 1909 Black crayon , 30.8 x 23.2 cms
IMAGE COURTESY OF RICHARD NATHANSON, LONDON
DON’T MISS ...
Love Bites: Caricatures by James Gillray & Great British Drawings
Henry Moore: Back to a Land
Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2PH to June 21 & August 31 respectively
On the bicentenary of his death, this takes a fresh look at James Gillray’s (1757–1815) caricatures, taking the theme of love in his pictures of courting, friendships and marriages, in the context of a canon of artists who have treated the subject of love, from Brancusi to Rubens. New College, Oxford, owns one of the world’s finest collections of Gillray’s work and is home to more than two thirds of Gillray’s 1100 engravings. With Great British Drawings the Ashmolean celebrates its position as one of the world’s leading collections of drawings and works on paper and builds on the popular 2013 Master Drawing exhibition. It features more than one hundred of the Ashmolean’s best drawings by British artists, charting the history of drawing and artistic development in Britain with work from JMW Turner, Rossetti, Millais, Holman Hunt, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Graham Sutherland, LS Lowry, Peter de Francia, and more.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield WF4 4LG March 7 - September 6
Modigliani - A Unique Artistic Voice
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art, 39a Canonbury Square, London N1 2AN April 15 – June 28 This exhibition focuses on modern Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani’s (1884-1920) works on paper, showing the spiritual and stylistic development of his portrayal of the human face and form through some 30 drawings, including many from the collection of Modigliani’s close friend Paul Alexandre, his only patron in the early years, along with other works on paper and paintings from private collections, including that of Eric Estorick. Among the works in crayon, ink and watercolor is the closest known study to Modigliani’s major painting L’Amazone of 1909. His obsessive search for an essential truth and character in his subjects is demonstrated in the successive studies for the painting. American sociologist and writer, Eric Estorick (1913-93) began collecting art when he married an English heiress and moved here after WWII. He became a full time art dealer in the 1950s, founding the Grosvenor Gallery, London in 1960. Tip: There’s a great little licensed Italian cafe here with seating in the garden. James Gillray, A Sphere Projecting Against a Plane, 1792, Hand-colored etching © COURTESY OF THE WARDEN AND SCHOLARS OF NEW COLLEGE, OXFORD / BRIDGEMAN IMAGES
Henry Moore, Large Two Forms, 1966-69 REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF THE HENRY MOORE FOUNDATION, PHOTO ©JONTY WILDE, COURTESY OF YORKSHIRE SCULPTURE PARK
Produced in partnership with The Henry Moore Foundation, this major exhibition offers a fresh perspective of Henry Moore (1898–1986) displaying more than 120 works, and considering the artist’s profound relationship with land, something which was fundamental to his practice and fuelled his visual vocabulary. Born into a mining family in Castleford, West Yorkshire, Moore is one of the most important artists of the 20th century and was a founding patron of YSP. Here monumental sculptures, such as Large Two Forms (1966–69) and Large Reclining Figure (1983), are displayed against the beautiful and historic vistas of the Bretton Estate, experienced with the resident flock of sheep, an animal described by the artist as an ideal foil for the appreciation of his work, being exactly the right size and scale.
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The American
Beautiful
The Carole King Musical Book by Douglas McGrath Aldwych Theatre, 49 Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF Reviewed by Jarlath O’Connell
A
top class US creative team, led by director Marc Bruni, have replicated their deserved Broadway success with Beautiful and simply added a very talented London cast. Katie Brayben is a revelation in the title role. She goes beyond mere impersonation and brings an intelligence and sincerity to the character, which really delivers in the dramatic moments. Vocally she is simply astonishing. It would be a mistake to dismiss Beautiful as just another jukebox show. Yes, we have had far too many of these lately, but Douglas McGrath’s well judged book takes it in a new direction. He uses the Goffin and King songbook as the context for the personal story but the songs are never, mercifully, shoehorned into a narrative. Along the way we get a great insight too into the music business, at a time when it was really turning a corner. Beautiful is essentially a portrait of an artist. The gawky, musically precocious, teenager from Brooklyn never really wanted to be a performer and yet it is astonishing to consider that she was churning out hits at the age of 16. This was down to the unique support she received from bosses and colleagues in New York’s famed hits factory the
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PHOTO © BRINKHOFF MOEGENBURG
Katie Brayben as Carole King, Alan Morrissey as Gerry Goffin
Brill Building. She and Goffin, who coupled up quite quickly, suddenly hit a seam of pure pop gold. Her ordinariness always defined her, however. For her, the dream was a house in the suburbs but this was never enough for the wayward, troubled Goffin, sensitively portrayed here by Alan Morrissey. He needed the kinetic energy of the city, with its late-night clubs and girls and drugs to make him feel more alive. That happy ending in the ‘burbs was never going to happen. The story ends up therefore as Carole’s ‘romantic’ education and her realisation, by the time of Tapestry, that she didn’t need to be an adjunct to a man. With ‘Tapestry’ (an indulgence allowed only after shifting so many records) she crafted one of the greatest albums of all time, found her own voice and set a template for so many to follow. Dramatically the challenge here was how to make a good ordinary person interesting. McGrath stirs the mix by running the Goffin-King story in parallel with the story of their close friends and competitors, the songwriting duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. From the outset Brill Building boss Donnie Kirshner (Gary Trainor) had set the couples in competition, demanding for
example that they deliver overnight a new hit for The Shirelles. The Goffins won that one and that all night burst of creativity produced ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow’. Although they were competitors the friendship between the two never waned and Lorna Want and Ian McIntosh give solid support here as another couple caught in this crazy maelstrom. Bruni’s staging avoids too many ‘eureka’ moments at the piano and he skilfully presents the songs emerging from their chrysalis before they get beefed up into full performances, cleverly choreographed by Josh Prince, in careful recreations of the original artists. We see the girl groups like The Shirelles (initially a bit snooty about ‘Will You Still Love Me’ dismissing it as too country) and The Chiffons. We meet The Drifters and see how ‘The Locomotion’ got started, turning the Goffin’s own babysitter into the overnight sensation called Little Eva. We also follow the trajectory of the great Mann/Weil songbook including their gigantic hit for the Righteous Brothers ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling’. This show combines a goldplated songbook with a story which has heart. It is a total triumph.
The American Kevin Spacey as Clarence Darrow PHOTO © MANUEL HARLAN
By David W Rintels Old Vic Theatre, London Reviewed by Jarlath O’Connell
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larence Darow is Kevin Spacey’s swansong at the Old Vic and it showcases what makes the man so special. During his twelve-year reign in Waterloo Spacey has transformed a shaky ‘receiving house’ into a theatrical powerhouse that acts as a magnet for star talent in (mostly) well-chosen programmes. This play, originally staged on Broadway in 1974 with Henry Fonda, is a one-man show that any actor would relish, packed as it is with bravura speeches. Spacey premiered this production last May at the Old Vic and its 22 performances created a box-office frenzy. On top of his past triumphs, Spacey is now basking in the wider glory of his hit show House of Cards, which he created and stars in for Netflix. Like Olivier before him, the man is a one-man culture industry. Seduction is the key here. He entrances us from the very outset, even if he starts under a huge office desk fixing a drawer. The monologues, rather perfunctorily sewn together by Rintels, give us a rundown of the greatest hits in the career of the legendary crusading defence lawyer Clarence Darrow (1857-1938). Spacey uses
CLARENCE DARROW photos and mementos drawn from storage boxes to recount the tales and he avails of every opportunity provided by Thea Sharrock’s in-the-round staging, to connect with audience members by having them read or sitting among them or addressing them face-to-face discussing the art of jury selection. For Spacey it gives him an opportunity to relish getting up close and for us it’s a chance to see the glint in the eye of an actor at the top of his game. (One hopes, by the way, that Matthew Warchus, who takes over from Spacey, will retain the theater-in-the-round as it has been a huge improvement.) Actors can’t go wrong playing lawyers, and Darrow won over his juries, usually with the odds totally stacked against him, by using a thespian’s mixture of charm, guile and bullying. Darrow fashioned what was to become an American archetype - the lawyer for the little guy – who spoke with emotional conviction about the nobility of man and the threats to liberty posed by wealth and power. It set a template for so many screen lawyers to follow. Darrow is perhaps best remembered from his portrayal by Spencer Tracey in Inherit the Wind, when
he defended the teaching of the theory of evolution in Tennessee schools in the 1920s, in the notorious Scopes ‘Monkey’ Trial. Long before that showdown, however, he had made his name and shaped legal history by defending striking railway employees and miners against the excesses of the Robber Barons. He also helped those persecuted in ‘Red scares’ as well as the labor activists charged with bombing the then fiercely anti-union Los Angeles Times. Darrow was also ahead of his time in defending numerous wrongly accused African Americans facing death row. One particularly poignant case was of a family, on trumped up charges, who had all been driven from their home by a mob for daring to move into a white neighborhood. Spacey, a great raconteur, is in his element here and his achievement is to make this litany of labor and race relations’ cases come alive, particularly some of the great closing arguments, such as the one he made at the Leopold and Loeb trial. This piece is a salutary reminder of the importance of Darrow and what he stood for and it’s a fittingly noble end to Spacey’s tenure at the Old Vic.
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his challenging examination of the future of the internet and the downside of virtual reality raises many difficult questions however it leaves most of them up in the air. The play, by American writer Jennifer Haley, started life at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in LA and went on to win many prizes. It received its UK premiere at the Royal Court last summer and after a sell out run has transferred to the West End. At 1hr and 15 mins it is an intellectual amuse bouche. Set in 2050, the Nether follows an investigation into the complicated and disturbing morality of identity in the digital world, where everyone can be anyone, so long as they have an avatar. For many this virtual world of sensory delights is a blessed escape from the drabness of their “real world” and it represents a form of re-birth where they can feel more alive. One of the darker recesses of the Nether is the Hideaway, which has been set up by successful business-
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By Jennifer Haley Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG 0844 871 3051 Reviewed by Jarlath O’Connell
man Sims, played by a gruff Stanley Townsend. Here, in this curiously Victorian idyll, consenting adults can engage in role-play with a precocious little girl called Iris. Sims seems to be the stylish host to his customers but it is clear that the games are ultimately far from innocent. As the play begins Morris (Amanda Hale), an investigator employed by the Nether, is trying to dig up the truth about what goes on in this world and is attempting to close it down. She even resorts to sending an agent undercover to the virtual world. As well as Sims she also quizzes a retired science teacher Doyle (the great David Calder) who is so totally in thrall to this alternative universe that he is contemplating permanently crossing over, an option which is now humanly possible. Through the rather censorious voice of Morris we are presented with all the arguments about the ethics of eschewing the real world
and the impact on the human soul (if we have one!) of trying to live in a world where actions have no apparent consequences. Images create our reality she says and the Hideaway is dangerous because it fosters a culture of legitimisation of abuse. These are bracing arguments but from the mouth of Morris they often come across as shrill, when set against the libertarian counter arguments. Sims describes how the Hideaway saved him from a life of abusing real children. Is this a solution therefore? As Morris puts it, it is not because “In the end the world is still the place we have to learn to be”. Director Jeremy Herrin does a great job in marshalling this debate and a strong cast give it their all but the piece, despite its brevity, never catches fire. Having the abuse take place in a Lewis Carroll type universe may make it slightly more palatable for an audience but it ultimately undermines the potential power of the arguments. What elevates this production way beyond a sterile debate however is the sheer brilliance of Es Devlin’s designs. She fills the stage with the electronic world of screen immersion and then contrasts this sharply, by giving us real woods in the Victorian underworld. All of it stunningly lit by Paul Pyant. It perfectly encapsulates the play’s arguments about the pull of reality versus fantasy and is yet another example of the theatrical panache of Headlong, Jeremy Herrin’s company, which originated this with the Royal Court. This is a truly memorable production of a play, which though unsettling, ultimately gets lost in its own woods.
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Reviewed by Sabrina P Sully and Richard L Gale
Season of Fear
By Brian Freeman Paperback, 432 pages Quercus £7.99 ISBN 9781782068990
By Emily Winslow Hardback, 320 pages Allison & Busby, £19.99 ISBN 9780749018955
Florida, the election race for governor, just like 10 years ago. Then the leading candidate was assassinated along with a member of his team and a bystander. Now his widow is the leading candidate in the race. The leader of the far right guntoting Liberty Empire Alliance was blamed for her husband’s murder and is still in prison. But now the widow’s getting threats, is she safe? Step forward Cab Bolton, the son of her best friend, a successful film actress. He’s amazingly good looking, intelligent, rich, and a cop. Taking time out from his day job he starts to investigate and as Hurricane Chayla gets closer, and the anniversary of the first shooting approaches, the web gets more intricate, and the bodies pile up (as do the fish!). I first came across Brian Freeman’s work with Spilled Blood in 2013, which went on to win Best Hardcover Novel in the 2013 Thriller Awards. This thriller doesn’t disappoint, and he’s every bit as good as Harlan Coben, but with longer sentences. Extremely well written, the plot is intricate and surprising, the characters have depth - you care about them; and in this book the weather takes a star turn that builds the tension, and feeds the drama of the action. A little slow to start, it quickly becomes a page turner, a great vacation book for reading in stormy or sunny weather. Cab Bolton is a great character, from an earlier Freeman book, and in the course of this one quits the police and goes it alone. I’ll be looking out for the next Bolton iteration. SS
If coincidences cause you discomfort when reading mysteries, The Red House may test your nerve. However, simply accept that Emily Winslow’s novels are masterfullycrafted crimes of circumstance and you will be suitably rewarded. Her third novel (as with The Whole World and The Start of Everything before it) is not driven by the moustachetwirling machinations of planned murders, but by characters driven to desperate acts when fate conspires to unearth that which was buried – in the case of The Red House, literally. The bones begin to surface just three pages in, and the New England-raised author once again takes us on a dance through a pleasing maze of viewpoints, each character presenting their accounts. Her regular cops, Morris Keene (here invalided into retirement) and now-pregnant Chloe Frohmann are again woven into the tapestry, but it is young couple Maxwell and Imogen who find themselves unexpectedly drawn into events, Max quickly embedded in suspicious circumstances, and already suspicious of their own circumstances: is his fiancée actually his adopted sister, and why does he seem to recall Cambridge? Familial mysteries offer dizzying layers, and as present events are intermixed with half-memories and future hopes, the inner longings, logic and vulnerabilities of the participants are steadily revealed, as Winslow wrings every last satisfying twist from her characters. RG
The Exit
By Helen Fitzgerald Paperback, 320 pages Faber & Faber, £7.99 ISBN 978057128795 As with The Red House, half-remembered events and vulnerability are themes in Helen FitzGerald’s The Exit, as Facebook-obsessed 23-year Catherine submits to her mother’s suggestion and accepts work at the local care home. There she meets Rose, an 82 year-old children’s author who fluctuates between the present and a traumatic event from her childhood. Rose soon shares her misgivings about events in one of the other rooms. Is it just a manifestation of her dementia, or is something far darker afoot? FitzGerald’s track record as a crime writer is probably a clue that this isn’t merely a tale of reminiscences and the young connecting with the old. While the darkness and ending may not suit all, this book offers plenty for the reader to ponder long after the final chapter about people’s control over the details of their final moments, and about the ability of the healthy to cope with the care and frailty of loved ones. RG
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Ready for Hillary? Sir Robert Worcester, long-term American expat and founder of pollsters MORI, reviews and analyses Ready for Hillary? Portrait of a President in Waiting, a fascinating new book by the former British Ambassador to Washington, Lord Renwick.
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s the world ready for Hillary Clinton as President of the United States of America? Is the United States ready for Hillary? These questions are well answered in this timely book, authored by the British Ambassador to Washington between 1991 and 1995, Robin Renwick, now Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG. The race to the White House has begun. Actually it never stops. As soon as a president is elected, the pollsters start asking American electors who they think will be the best candidates for the presidency. Aspirants ‘just happen’ to start raising their profile, visiting key states such as Iowa and New Hampshire (where most hopefuls’ dreams are ended). Time for a change? That’s the American way. Presidents are lucky to have two terms: of the last eight presidents, four did, four didn’t, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Bush #41. President Obama is just a year and a half from leaving office. Ambassador Renwick arrived in Washington to overlap with the Clintons, Bill and Hillary, for Clinton’s last two years, and as British Ambassadors do, had close contact with the President and First Lady, a very hands-on First Lady. Of course he’d been observing the Washington scene for many years and had seen presidents (and first ladies) come
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and go. He’d served in Washington earlier in his career (’81-’84) so the Washington scene was not new to him. And he’s been a close observer ever since. This has given Lord Renwick both access and perspective, probably as much as any diplomat gets, as most American presidents tend to consider the British as ‘one of us’ rather than ‘one of them’. They are relatively relaxed about seeing them socially, allowing easy access to their staff and advisors, and continue in many cases, to maintain contact after leaving office. Certainly this is the case here, and in chapter after chapter it shows. This book is no hagiography. Renwick is acutely critical of Hillary Clinton’s early years in the spotlight, with her relations with Congress, with the public, and most of all, with the media. She did not ‘play the game’ with much skill. He describes her during the Clinton years as a ‘disciplined northern workaholic, not devoid of charm, but rarely bothering to show it, not gregarious at all’, ‘better at argument and knowledge of the facts than any attempt at humour in her speaking’. In her early days in the West Wing, she blocked off the corridor which had allowed correspondents to have easy access to the press secretary’s office, which
did nothing to ease her somewhat spiky relations with the press. She was thought of by two key Senators whose support she needed as self-righteous and arrogant. She even upset potential funders of her campaign for the Senate once she and Bill left the White House. The turning point for her is ‘Reinventing Hillary’. She turned from being a First Lady to being a Senator; a major and unique transition. As a politician she learned fast, worked hard as she always had done, and soon learned that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, an old Southern truism. The experience of her first attempt at the presidency against Barak Obama was frustrating and embittering for her. She won her re-election campaign to hold her Senate seat by a two-thirds majority, and was seen by this to be a strong contender for the Democratic nomination, but Obama’s campaign both organizationally and personally was too tough to beat. When Obama won the Iowa caucus, open to anyone, not just registered Democratic voters, it showed a black man winning in a Midwestern state (in admittedly a strange system) could win the presidency. Hillary won New Hampshire, no surprise there, but the Obama fund raising and recruiting of volunteers through new media was too strong
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for her to get the nomination. When Obama nominated her to be the Secretary of State it became the making of yet another new Hillary. No longer the Senator, she became a strong team player, a valuable ally in fighting the internal wars and policy disputes, and became a cheer leader for the State Department staff. She even made peace between the State Department and the Department of Defense and made an ally of Bob Gates, the Defense Secretary. Hillary’s remake as roving ambassador for America, clocking up nearly a million air miles during her time in office, made international respect for her and for her office rise among her peer group. She found the job daunting but also personally rewarding, and while frustrating much of the time, had its moments. Certainly the transition to a person with charm and humor, while being a ‘hawk’ on foreign policy itself, won her friends around America’s allies if not its enemies. Robin Renwick’s tour of hotspots, Russia, Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Libya, Israel/Palestine, Africa and the rest, following Hillary’s travels, is instructive in itself, and benefit greatly from his long service in the Foreign Office and observation of foreign alignments and entanglements alike.
Look who’s just walked in...
His final two chapters deal with the questions raised at the outset. Britain is certainly ready to see the Anglophile that is Hillary in charge. Is the world ready for Hillary? The answer he argues is ‘Yes’. Is the USA? Yes, but by default. He believes that the Republicans should have the presidency by a landslide, but this coming presidential election will likely prove closer than it looks at the moment, even with the Republicans in disarray and the Democrats with a yet-to-be-
PHOTO: PETE SOUZA, WHITE HOUSE
announced front runner in Hillary. There is no-one in sight who can beat her both to the nomination and to the phone call from the Prime Minister offering his congratulations to the newly elected President of the United States. Ready for Hillary? is published by Biteback Publishing Ltd., 256 pps, ISBN: 9781849547888, £17.95. ebook: ISBN: 9781849548342, £8.39
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Baseball is Back! s’ Giancarlo Miami Marlin
O: CORN FA Stanton PHOT
RMER
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he hot stove was absolutely smoking over the winter, with players moving all over the place, crazy contracts being signed, and even a new commissioner sitting down at the head of the Major League Baseball table for the first time in 23 years. Spring has officially sprung in Florida and Arizona with MLB teams reporting to camp, and it will soon be time to call “play ball”. So what’s it all mean? Who’s landed where? Who looks good, who needs more seasoning and who’s going nowhere fast? Jay Webster runs through the baseball gamut and looks at each team’s chances for the 2015 season.
American League East
Baltimore Orioles A year after surprising many in the baseball world by winning 96 games, the O’s won’t be sneaking up on anybody this year. The team suffered two substantial losses with the departure of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis. With no significant additions, fans in Baltimore will be relying on their big three of Manny Machado, Adam Jones and Chris Davis to stay healthy (and clean) enough to post some monster numbers and carry the Orioles back to the post season. Toronto Blue Jays After teasing their fan base for the past two seasons, the Jays brought catcher extraordinaire Russell Martin back home to Canada and traded for one of the top third basemen in the league in Josh Donaldson. If nothing else, a line up with Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnaciòn at its heart has to be fun to watch. After a couple of misfires in recent seasons, this year is looking like a make or break year in Toronto. Boston Red Sox Following a disappointing 2014 campaign, the front office in Boston brought in veterans Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez to mix with upcoming youngsters like Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo and Xander Bogaerts. The reality is that
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quite a few things have to go right for Boston to challenge, including progress from the youngsters, Ramirez making the adjustment to life as a left fielder in the shadow of the Green Monster and Dustin Pedroia staying healthy. New York Yankees Speaking of question marks, there are more of them in Gotham this year than there are on the Riddler’s green suit. Is Didi Gregorius really Derek Jeter’s heir apparent? Can CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda stay healthy enough to anchor the rotation? Do the likes of Stephen Drew, Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira have any tread left on the tires? And oh yea, what about the whole Alex Rodriguez thing? As the Bronx Turns may be a soap opera of epic proportions in, but it’s bound to make scintillating viewing if nothing else. Tampa Bay Rays Joe Madden, Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce and Wil Meyers? Gone. It will be hard to replace so much offensive production and a manager with a proven track record of working with what he’s given. Evan Longoria is still in town, and pitching staff that includes Drew Smyly, Alex Cobb, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi give the folks on the Bay some reason for hope. Runs might be hard
to come by, though, which means the Rays are going to need every bit of that pitching to keep them in ballgames.
American League Central
Cleveland Indians While the Tribe have some issues defensively, they are loaded with young talent and pitching. Left fielder Michael Brantley, first baseman Carlos Santana, second baseman Jason Kipnis and catcher Yan Gomes are all coming into their primes. Add in some solid pitching from the likes of Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, the playoffs are a distinct possibility on the banks of the Cuyahoga. Detroit Tigers The last four AL Central titles have gone to the Motor City, and there’s no reason to think they won’t give it up this year without a fight. Max Scherzer has moved on to richer pastures, but David Price can step in. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez bring lots of punch at the plate, so plenty of offense and pitching to go around, though Justin Verlander could use a bounce-back year. Kansas City Royals The Royals brought small ball back into fashion
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while making their first World Series run since 1985, but the loss of James Shields, Billy Butler and Norichika Aoki will hurt The brass in KC will be hoping that Yordano Ventura is ready to be an ace and that there is still some magic left over from last year. Chicago White Sox Credit the front office on Chicago’s South Side for going out and bringing some talent to add to the likes of Chris Sale and Jose Abreu. Pitcher Jeff Samardzija, outfielder Melkey Cabrera and first baseman/DH Adam LaRoche are all upgrades, but there are still big holes at catcher, third base, second base and the back of the rotation. Minnesota Twins The Twins have the highest ranked farm system in baseball, which means it will be a few years before the talent starts to filter through to the big leagues. Look for baseball’s top prospect Byron Buxton to make it to Target Field this season, if he can stay healthy.
American League West
Los Angeles Angels After winning 98 games a year ago, MVP Mike Trout and the Halos will be looking to get back to the playoffs for a second straight year, but it’s hard to see them equalling last year’s win total. The rotation is solid, but Jeff Weaver and C.J. Wilson might not be what they once were, and the loss of second baseman Howie Kendrick will hurt. That doesn’t mean they aren’t the team to beat out west. Seattle Mariners The M’s brought in Nelson Cruz to add some muchneeded pop from the right side of the plate. Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager are rock solid at second and third base, respectively, and Felix Hernandez remains “King Felix”. It’s not too hard to see Seattle equalling or exceeding their 87 wins of a year ago to challenge for the division title. Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane is known as a gambler, and he rolled the proverbial dice once again, completely remaking a team that won 88 games and held on for a wild card berth. Shipping the team’s most valuable player, Josh Donaldson, to the Blue Jays for Brett Lawrie was a bit of a head scratcher, and with a whole slew of new faces taking the field, it’s hard to
know what to expect by the bay this time around. Houston Astros Evan Gattis and Jed Lowrie head to the Lone Star State, where the lineup has a lot of pop but whiffs a lot. Houston may not be as bad as they were a couple of years ago, but that’s not saying much. Texas Rangers The Rangers look to put an injury-filled season behind them and get banner years from Adrian Beltre and Prince Fielder, as well as contribution from newcomer Yovani Gallardo, who joins Yu Darvish and Derek Holland in the rotation.
National League East
Washington Nationals It’s World Series or bust this year in the Nation’s Capital. Not content to rest on their laurels after a 96-win season, the Nats gave pitcher Max Scherzer 210 million reasons to come to D.C. and join a rotation that was already one of the best in baseball. 100 wins is by no means out of the question for a team that, on paper anyway, has no real weaknesses. New York Mets After years of futility in Queens, the Mets are finally showing signs that they might be able to stay in contention for a post season berth. Matt Harvey returns from Tommy John surgery to join Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler in the rotation. A healthy David Wright and an encore performance from first baseman Luke Duda could lead to post season play in Citi Field come October. Miami Marlins The NL East was certainly the division of the big spenders, with the Marlins locking up Giancarlo Stanton with a $325 million contract extension. The hope is that he comes back from being hit in the face with a pitch late last season to once again be one of the most exciting players in the league.
There is hope in Miami this year, and a run at the wild card is not out of the question. Atlanta Braves As good as things are at the top of the division, they are bad at the bottom. The Braves officially shifted into rebuilding gear by jettisoning Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis for prospects and hope they are ready to compete by the time their new stadium opens in 2017. Philadelphia Phillies The Phils managed to unload Jimmy Rollins, and they’d be happy to move anything that’s not nailed down, including Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard to build for the future. But for now, things look bleak in Philly.
National League Central
Pittsburgh Pirates There is a lot to like about the Bucs. They have one of the best outfields in the game, led by MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen. They score a lot of runs, have great depth, play great defense and their pitching is sneaky good. The loss of catcher Russell Martin hurts, but maybe not as much as at first glance. The Pirates will be in the hunt once again, me hearties. St Louis Cardinals The Cards always seem to find ways to stay in the hunt, and there isn’t a lot of reason to expect differently this time around. Jason Heyward will be an upgrade in right field, and while they can’t afford drop-offs from veterans such as Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta, an infusion of young talent and a wealth of pitching depth should keep the Redbirds in the running for a fifth consecutive playoff berth. Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Madden and veteran pitcher Jon Lester come to Wrigleyville to join a host of top prospects such as Chris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Jorge Soler. The Cubbies are definitely getting closer and should be fun to watch this year, but a bit more seasoning might just be required. Milwaukee Brewers The Crew will rely heavily on Carlos Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy, a Ryan Braun comeback and improvement from shortstop Jean Segura. Even
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if all of those pieces come together, it’s hard to see the Brewers much above .500 at the end of the season. Cincinnati Reds The Reds are another team that has some talent with the likes of Johnny Cueto, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, but nothing to suggest they will be much better than average either.
National League West
LA Dodgers After winning the division last season, the Dodgers overhauled their lineup, parting ways with Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez, while bringing in Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick as defensive upgrades. Yasiel Puig is still electric, and rookie Joc Pederson will be one to watch in center field. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke are still the best one-two pitching punch in the game, and the Dodgers will be hoping to go a step farther than last season. San Diego Padres The Friars won the off season, bringing in outfielders Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Meyers, infielders Will Middlebrook and Clint Barmes, and their prime catch, right hander James Shields. The Padres will be better, but the question is how much better? San Francisco Giants We all know the Giants only win titles in evennumbered years (2010, 2012, 2014). Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse are gone. The Giants barely even made the playoffs last year before going on their amazing playoff run, and there were no significant upgrades in the off season. Pitching has always been a strength in San Fran. The good news is Madison Bumgarner takes the hill every fifth day, but there might be some concerns this year on the other four days. Colorado Rockies Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gomez remain topflight talents, but will they be anything more than trade bait come July? And the pitching? It’s a problem. Arizona Diamondbacks Apologies to the folks out in the desert, but the D-Backs are a mess these days, and aside from Paul Goldschmidt and Mark Trumbo, there isn’t a lot to see here.
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Clayton Kershaw of the LA Dodgers
PHOTO: KERSHAW MIFFED
Magna Carta Uncovered Anthony Arlidge and Igor Judge
2015 marks the 800th anniversary of the grant at Runnymede of Magna Carta. The story of how Magna Carta came into being, and has been interpreted since, and its impact on individual rights and constitutional developments has more twists and turns than any work of historical fiction.
Nov 2014 9781849465564 204pp Hbk RSP: ÂŁ25 Quote Ref CV5 to receive 20% discount
The authors bring their wide legal experience and forensic skills to uncover the original meaning of the liberties enshrined in Magna Carta, and to trace their development in later centuries up to the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America. By providing that the powers of the King were not unlimited, the Charter was groundbreaking, yet it was also a conservative document, following the form of Anglo-Saxon charters and seeking to return government to the ways of the Norman kings. This book tells the enthralling, ultimately inspirational, story of Magna Carta in a concise and readable fashion and will captivate laymen and lawyers alike. Anthony Arlidge has been a Queen’s Counsel for over 30 years. In 1990 he was called upon during a case to argue the meaning of clause 40 of Magna Carta. Igor Judge was a judge for 25 years and retired as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales in 2013.
Published by Hart Publishing. Website: www.hartpub.co.uk Hart Publishing Ltd. is registered in England No. 3307205 Hart Publishing Ltd. is an Imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc.
JAFFE & CO LLP AMERICAN TAX INTERNATIONAL US Expatriate Tax Services Established in 1981 and managed by Bruce L Jaffe, BA JD, we provide a full range of US and UK tax services for US expatriates residing in the UK and have over 55 years of cumulative experience preparing tax returns for US taxpayers. Please contact us today to see how we can help you. 020 8346 5237 www.jaffeandco.com [email protected] 54 Hendon Lane, London N3 1TT
The American
Fizzle Over Flash Buyers Opt For Restraint At NHL Trade Deadline, says Jeremy Lanaway
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n Monday, March 2nd, at 3pm (EST), business closed on the National Hockey League’s busiest trade deadline day in five years, solidifying 24 deals around 43 players and 21 draft picks - but ultimately resulting in more fizzle than flash. The dead calm on deadline day was produced in part by a handful of general managers who had already inked prominent deals in the weeks leading up to the deadline, eager to get out ahead of the pack, effecting an atmosphere of anti-climax on March 2nd that sports networks did their best to hype for fans. Despite the absence of marquee moves, deadline day divided the league into buyers and sellers, causing multiple roster ripples - the effects of which won’t be clear until the post-season. The biggest buyer on trade deadline day was the Anaheim Ducks, the team that many experts have blue-ribboned as the deadline’s top winner. The Ducks bolstered their blueline by acquiring James Wisniewski from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for forwards Rene Bourque and William Karlsson (plus draft picks); and Simon Despres from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Ben Lovejoy (plus draft picks). The moves are expected to right the forward-favoring lean of the Ducks’ roster, providing veteran defenceman Francois Beauchemin with some much-needed support. The Ducks also added some defensive depth by dealing defenceman Eric
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Brewer to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the much younger blueliner Korbinian Holzer. The Ducks made some significant pre-deadline moves as well, trading the underachieving Dany Heatley (rightwing) to the Florida Panthers for Tomas Fleischmann (left-wing) on February 28th. Heatley, a former fifty-goal-scorer, failed to live up to lofty expectations in Anaheim, and with an offensive corps that already includes Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Getzlaf, and Andrew Cogliano, the Ducks could afford to cash in their chips on Heatley. On 24th February, the Ducks dealt grinder Devante Smith-Pelly (left-wing) to the Montreal Canadiens for fleet-skated Jiri Sekac (right-wing), a Czech prospect who is projected to add more speed and unpredictability to the Ducks’ attack. The Minnesota Wild are also going for broke this year, establishing themselves as another big buyer at the trade deadline. The Wild got the ball rolling way back on 14th January, dealing with their ongoing goalie uncertainty by picking up Devan Dubnyk from the Phoenix Coyotes for a third-round pick. After a disappointing tenure with the Edmonton Oilers and a so-so term with the Coyotes, Dubnyk was quick to establish himself as the Wild’s number-one backstop, compiling a remarkable record of eighteen wins and only four losses since signing with the club. The Wild know that if Dubnyk falters or succumbs to injury down the stretch,
their backup, Niklas Backstrom, a former Vezina Trophy finalist, has the skill set and experience to man the pipes in Dubnyk’s absence. On 24th February, the Wild started bolstering their skaters by trading with the Panthers, picking up left-winger Sean Bergenheim for a third-round pick. Bergenheim is a depth player, having amassed eighteen points in thirty-nine games with the Panthers before being shipped to St Paul. The Wild also traded for veteran defender Jordan Leopold, dealing Justin Falk to the Blue Jackets in return, a move that is expected to add secondary support to the team’s primary blueline presence, Ryan Suter. The Wild finished off their roster renovations by swapping a second-round pick to the Buffalo Sabres for right-winger Chris Stewart, a big-bodied power-forward viewed by Wild GM Chuck Fletcher as a step in adding grit to the team - without sacrificing too much secondary scoring. Many expected Stewart to end up with the Boston Bruins, citing him as a perfect prototype of the Beantown model, but GM Peter Chiarelli clearly felt that the cost of adding Stewart to the Bruins’ roster was too dear. Others teams to establish themselves as buyers, albeit budgetwary ones, included the St Louis Blues, the Montreal Canadiens, the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Bruins. The Blues strengthened their middle by acquiring veteran centreman Olli Jokinen from the
IMAGE ©BRUCE KLUCKHOHN 2015, COURTESY MINNESOTA WILD
The American
Maple Leafs for Joakim Lindstrom and a conditional sixth-round pick, and German centreman Marcel Goc from the Penguins (on 27th January) for Maxim Lapierre. The Blues also made one of the minor splashes on deadline day by trading for defenceman Zbynek Michalek, sending centreman Maxim Letunov to the Coyotes in return. The Blues, who currently hold the seventh spot in NHL standings, only four points behind the league-leading Ducks, hope that Michalek will push their alreadyimposing defence corps - a la Alex Pietrangelo, Jay Bouwmeester, Carl Gunnarsson, Barret Jackman, and Ian Cole - over the top and make the team a true Cup contender. Speaking of Lord Stanley’s highly coveted mug, the Canadiens gave themselves the best chance of returning it to the Great White North, since they themselves won
Devan Dubnyk of The Minnesota Wild in action against the Edmonton Oilers
it back in 1993, by adding forwards Torrey Mitchell and Brian Flynn (from the Sabres for picks), and defenceman Jeff Petry (from the Oilers for picks). None of the picks, examined individually, have the sizzle to make the team an instant Cup-favorite, but taken collectively, they might pack enough punch to dispel the nagging criticism that the Canadiens, who presently sit second overall, are playing beyond their paygrade. The Blackhawks, always contenders, sought to lengthen their run of dominance by participating in the Coyotes’ fire sale, picking up centreman Antoine Vermette for defender Klas Dahlbeck. The Blackhawks further boosted their middle by trading for Andrew Desjardins, sending winger Ben Smith to the San Jose Sharks to uphold their end of the deal. A few days before the deadline, the
Blackhawks acquired defenceman Kimmo Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers. Pushing nearly forty years of age, Timonen will add an additional leadership voice to the Blackhawks’ dressing room, and his point-every-other-game offensive output is expected to buttress the squad’s secondary scoring. The Blackhawks, sitting in ninth spot overall with eighty-four points, have the rare luxury of a young roster with plenty of experience thanks to their recent Cup wins in 2010 and 2013. Can they beat the Los Angeles Kings in the race to become the only team to win three Stanley Cups in the same decade for the first time since the Oilers championship era of the 1980s? The Blackhawks’ moves on trade deadline day although understated in scope - are more likely to help than hinder their chances.
April 2015 51
Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright .... and not in a good way, suggests Darren Kilfara
I
recently bought an IKEA loft bed for my son. The morning after I purchased it, I disassembled his old bed, tidied away the old toys and rubbish formerly under it, vacuumed the floor, painstakingly hauled the first two boxes of chipboard slabs upstairs, took a deep breath, and finally started building the new bed. After maybe 30 minutes of assembly, I realized I’d done everything backwards: the shelving unit I’d been working on was facing the wrong way, and I needed to start over. So I reluctantly started unscrewing everything…and in doing so, I carelessly allowed one upright plank to topple over, ripping two screws out of their sockets in a way which looked unrepairable. As a Tourette’s-like torrent of profanity escaped my lips, I thought I’d ruined everything. What a perfect metaphor for Tiger Woods’ golf game right now.
52 April 2015
A few weeks ago, a buddy emailed me to say, “You HAVE to write about Tiger. This may be the most astounding story of the last several decades if he’s really lost his fastball and can’t break 80 – he may not be able to even finish a round at Augusta like this.” In one sense, that is hyperbole: Tiger Woods is 39 years old, and many great golfers (Jones, Nelson, Palmer, Watson, Ballesteros…the list goes on) were washed up by age 39. Since 1960, the average and median age of major championship winners is 32 – the same age Tiger was when he last won a major – and less than 10% of all majors have been won by players over 40. And the recent examples of David Duval and Ian Baker-Finch prove that outstanding golfers do sometimes forget how to play golf well. Still, a whole generation of golf fans can’t remember a time when Tiger wasn’t golf’s true north,
and legendary sportsmen rarely collapse as quickly and comprehensively as Tiger seems to be. His back problems were foreseeable, if unfortunate, but his mind is degrading even faster than his body: his attempts to tear down, tidy up and retool his golf swing appear to have crumpled his previously adamantine self-belief, as most shockingly evidenced by the state of his short game. I know double-digit handicappers who chip and pitch better than Tiger does at present, and despite his protestations to the contrary, expert consensus and common sense both suggest the root cause is mental. And now, everyone from Butch Harmon (happy to help if asked) to Rocco Mediate (could fix Tiger “in a few minutes” but also thinks he should consult Lee Trevino) has advice for Tiger – and also pity, which is way worse. Is Tiger up for this fight? To
IMAGE ©DENELSON83
The American
extend my IKEA metaphor, although it took eight hours and I’m still sore even as I type this paragraph, I found a way to finish building that bed; of course, I had no real choice but to finish it. For a long time, we all thought Tiger had no choice either: he’d either catch Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors or die trying. But now his glutes aren’t firing, he’s on a self-imposed double-secret PGA Tour probation, and it seems he’d rather chill in the mountains with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn than fiendishly plot a comeback. Does Tiger know he’s started down the wrong road to recovery, and can he figure out how to step back and undo the damage before moving forward? Will he ever win another major, or indeed any other tournament? How much further will his world ranking drop before he next makes a cut? Does he even care anymore? Tiger’s shadow, however droopy, will continue to darken all of professional golf until some of these questions are answered.
Darren Kilfara formerly worked for Golf Digest magazine and is the author of A Golfer’s Education, a memoir of his junior year abroad as a student-golfer at the University of St. Andrews. His latest book, a novel called Do You Want Total War?, is also now available online at Amazon and elsewhere.
The International Sailing Federation’s official racing signal - offshore meaning: ‘follow this boat’ onshore meaning: ‘a notice to competitors has been posted’
Follow this boat - it’s more than just a boat, says Sabrina Sully
F
ormula 1 and the Americas Cup enjoy a great many technical and operational synergies, and are hoping for more (see our report in the October 14 issue), not least the latest news that Martin Whitmarsh, former CEO of the McLaren Group and Team Principal of McLaren’s F1 team, will join the British challenger shortly at their new team HQ in Portsmouth, as CEO for the 35th America’s Cup. Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) has raised the flag, and is coming together nicely, with Adrian Newey (who worked with Whitmarsh for nine years at McLaren) heading Red Bull Advanced Technologies, RBAT, who are providing simulation and math modelling skills to the awesome team of designers who make up BAR’s Technical Innovation Group (TIG) TIG is also backed by the UK government’s GREAT Britain campaign to help attract the very best of British talent to the project, and to showcase British expertise overseas. Representatives from 20 world class British technology, design and engineering companies attended a forum on the TIG at the team’s sailing base in early March. More partners joining the TIG will be announced in the coming weeks. BAR are racingon behalf of The Royal Yacht Squadron, located in Cowes, Isle of Wight, just across the Solent from Portsmouth. The Squadron’s patron is the Queen, its
Admiral is HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The Duchess of Cambridge is the patron of the 1851 Trust, the charity which BAR supports and which seeks to inspire and engage a new generation through sailing and the marine industry. Why 1851? It was the year of the Great Exhibition, a celebration of modern industrial science, technology and design, championed by Prince Albert. A syndicate of US businessmen brought a schooner called America to demonstrate their shipbuilding skills, which outclassed the British racing fleet of 1851, winning the first America’s Cup, and starting the America’s Cup Challenge. “We don’t underestimate the challenge ahead of us” Ben Ainslie commented, “over 162 years and 34 contests, Britain has never won it. We are a first time challenger, and only one challenger has ever won it at the first attempt.” It’s all gearing up to be exciting, and near enough to easily enjoy, with a race this year and next being held on the Solent. Portsmouth, the proud home of the Royal Navy, is mirroring the latter’s decline, so it looks like BAR shoulders not only Challenge hopes, but Portsmouth’s rejuvenation hopes but a new UK PLC strength and export hope as well. It’s going to get crowded in the Solent! Even if they don’t win the Cup (this time!).
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W
hen this issue of The American is published, the start of the 2015 Formula One season will be at full throttle, but we here at the magazine are also looking ahead to 2016, and the impending arrival of Haas F1, the first American-led Formula One team in 30 years. As was revealed in last month’s issue, Haas F1 have now confirmed their acquisition of a base in Banbury, Oxfordshire, offering the team a base from which they can move equipment easily to and from European races. The team have also announced several high profile personnel signings which are cementing the team’s position ahead of 2016. Guenther Steiner, no stranger to Formula One, had already been confirmed as Team Principal for the new squad in 2014, and is now joined by Dave O’Neill as team manager, Rob Taylor as chief designer and Ben Agathangelou as chief aerodynamicist. O’Neill was previously Team Manager for the Jordan Formula One team between 1998 and 2005, a time of great success for the team, including their standout year in 1999 when they finished third in the Constructor’s Championship. Taylor, who has also worked for the likes of McLaren and Red Bull Racing, will be charged with design of the team’s 2016 car. Agathangelou, who arrives to Haas F1 from the Ferrari Formula One team, also brings a wealth of experience to the squad. Haas have confirmed that Taylor and Agathangelou have already designed the 60% scale model of the car that the team will race during the 2016 season, confirming that the squad is well on its way to competing next year. Speaking of the developments,
54 April 2015
HaasF1 update By Daniel M Byway
Steiner commented that “While there is still a lot of work to do, a lot has already been accomplished for Haas F1 Team to be competitive when we join the F1 grid in 2016”. Steiner went on to say that “Our technical partnership with Ferrari has allowed us to develop our car and our people at an exceptional pace. The way we’re going about our F1 team is new and different, but it’s working. We’re committed to our plan, we’re committed to F1 and, most importantly, we’re on
schedule. This time next year, our cars will have already been tested and we’ll be readying them for Melbourne.” With plenty of talk on the costs and difficulties of running a Formula One team, Haas F1 appear to be underlining the real potential of their project with a very professional approach to preparing for 2016. All that’s left to do now is start the rumours about which American driver will spearhead the team’s 2016 campaign!
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American School of Aberdeen Craigton Road, Cults, Aberdeen. 01224 861068 / 868927.
US Air Force Recruiting Office Bldg 239 Room 139, RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk IP28 8NF 01638-54-4942/1566 [email protected]
Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces Europe US Naval Forces Europe-Africa - US Sixth Fleet www.c6f.navy.mil, [email protected] Eighth Air Force Historical Society Gordon Richards/Michelle Strefford UK Office, The Croft, 26 Chapelwent Road, Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 9SD, 01440 704014 www.8thafhs.org Friends of the Eighth Newsletter (FOTE News) Chairman: Ron Mackay, 90 Elton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire, CW11 3NF, 01270 767669
58 April 2015
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Commander: Ernest Paolucci, 00 33 (0)1.42.50.96.34 24, rue Gerbert, 75015 Paris, France
Reserve Officers Association London Col. B.V. Balch, USAR, 72 Westmoreland Road, Barnes, London SW13 9RY [email protected] www.roa.org
British Patton Historical Society Kenn Oultram 01606 891303
Joint RAF Alconbury/Molesworth Retiree Affairs Office 423, ABG/RAO, Unit 5623, RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs., PE28 4DE, [email protected] 01480 843364 (Tues only 10:30-14:30)
Marine Corps League Detachment 1088, London, England. Commandant Mike Allen, Creek Cottage, 2 Pednormead End, Old Chesham, Buckinghamshire HP5 2JS [email protected] www.mcl-london-uk.org
Navy League of the United States, United Kingdom Council Council President: Steven G. Franck [email protected] www.navyleague.org
Bentwaters/Woodbridge Retirees’ Association President: Wylie Moore. 2 Coldfair Close, Knodishall, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 1UN. 01728 830281
USNA Alumni Association UK Chapter Pres: LCDR Tim Fox ’97, [email protected] Vice Pres: Miguel Sierra ’90, [email protected] M’ship: Bart O’Brien ’98, [email protected] Secretary: Matt Horan ’87, [email protected]
Military Officers’ Association of America www.moaa.org [email protected]
American Overseas Memorial Day Association To remember and honor the memory of those who gave their lives in World War I and II, whose final resting places are in Europe. [email protected], aomda.com
Madingley American Cemetery Cambridge The American Battle Monuments Commission Madingley Road, Coton, Cambridge CB23 7PH 01954-210350 www.madingleyamericancemetery.info [email protected]
Joint RAF Mildenhall/Lakenheath Retiree Affairs Office Co-Directors Dick Good & Jack Kramer Unit 8965, Box 30, RAF Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk, IP28 8NF 01638 542039 [email protected]
Retired Affairs Office, RAF Alconbury Serving Central England POC: Rex Keegan Alt. POC: Mike Depasquale 423 SVS/RAO, Unit 5585, Box 100, RAF Alconbury, Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 4DA. 01480 84 3364/3557 Office Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 10:30am–2:30pm [email protected]. Emergency no. 07986 887905
Benjamin Franklin House 36 Craven Street, London WC2N 5NF. 020 7839 2006 [email protected]
Boston University – London Graduate Programs Office 43 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU. 020 7244 6255, www.bu.edu/london
2nd Air Division Memorial Library The Forum, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1AW 01603 774747 www.2ndair.org.uk [email protected]
British American Educational Foundation Laurel Zimmermann, Executive Director BAEF, 520 Summit Avenue, Oradell, NJ 07649 USA (201) 2614438 www.baef.org
USAF Retiree Activities Office Director: Paul G Gumbert, CMSgt (USAF), Ret 422 ABG/CVR, Unit 5855, PSC 50, Box 3 RAF Croughton, Northants NN13 5XP 01280 708182 [email protected]
BUNAC Student Exchange Employment Program - Director: Callum Kennedy, 16 Bowling Green Lane, London EC1R 0QH. 020 7251 3472 www.bunac.org [email protected]
US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) UK Chapter President: Allison Bennett, [email protected] Facebook: Kings Point Alumni - London/United Kingdom
Butler University, Institute for Study Abroad 21 Pembridge Gardens, London W2 4EB 020 7792 8751 www.ifsa-butler.org/england-overview.html
The American
Centre Academy London 92 St John’s Hill, Battersea, London SW11 1SH Tel: 02077382344, [email protected] www.centreacademy.net
Harlaxton College UK Campus, University of Evansville, Harlaxton Manor, Grantham, Lincs. NG32 1AG. 01476 403000 harlaxton.ac.uk. Huron University USA in London 46-47 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4JP Tel +44 (0) 20 7636 5667 [email protected] www.huron.ac.uk
Centre Academy East Anglia Church Rd, Brettenham, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 7QR Tel: 01449736404 [email protected] www.centreacademy.net
Institute for the Study of the Americas Director: Professor James Dunkerley. Tel 020 7862 8879 [email protected] www.americas.sas.ac.uk
Central Bureau for Educational Visits Director: Peter Upton, The British Council , 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN, 020 7389 4004. Wales 029 2039 7346. Scotland 0131 447 8024. [email protected]
International School of Aberdeen 296 North Deeside Rd, Milltimber, Aberdeen, AB13 0AB 01224 732267 [email protected] www.isa.aberdeen.sch.uk
Council on International Educational Exchange Dr. Michael Woolf, 52 Portland Street, London WIV 1JQ Tel 020 7478 2000 www.ciee.org [email protected]
International School of London 139 Gunnersbury Avenue, London W3 8LG. 020 8992 5823, [email protected] www.islschools.org
Ditchley Foundation Ditchley Park, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxon OX7 4ER Tel 01608 677346 www.ditchley.co.uk [email protected]
International School of London in Surrey Old Woking Road, Woking GU22 8HY, 01483 750409, www.islsurrey.com [email protected]
Dwight School London Formerly North London International School 6 Friem Barnet Lane, London N11 3LX 020 8920 0600 [email protected] www.dwightlondon.org
Ithaca College London Centre 35 Harrington Gardens, London SW7. Tel. 020 7370 1166 www.ithaca.edu/london [email protected]
European Council of International Schools Executive Director: Jean K Vahey Fourth Floor, 146 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 9TR 020 7824 7040 www.ecis.org [email protected]
Marymount International School, London Headmistress: Ms Sarah Gallagher George Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7PE 020 8949 0571 [email protected] www.marymountlondon.com
European-Atlantic Group PO Box 37431, London N3 2XP 020 8632 9253 [email protected] www.eag.org.uk
Missouri London Study Abroad Program 32 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JU. 020 7373 7953. [email protected] www.umsl.edu/services/cis/
Florida State University London Study Centre Administrative Director: Kathleen Paul 99 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LH. 020 7813 3233 [email protected] www.international.fsu.edu/london Fordham University London Centre Academic Coordinator: Sabina Antal 23 Kensington Square, London W8 5HQ 020 7937 5023 [email protected] www.fordham.edu Fulbright (US-UK Educational) Commission Dir. of Advisory Service: Lauren Welch Battersea Power Station, 188 Kirtling Street, London SW8 5BN 020 7498 4010 www.fulbright.co.uk Halcyon London International School Co-educational International Baccalaureate (IB). 33 Seymour Place, London W1H 5AU +44 (0)20 7258 1169 , [email protected] halcyonschool.com
Regent’s University London Inner Circle, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4NS. 020 7486 9605. www.regents.ac.uk [email protected]
Richmond, The American International University in London Queen’s Road, Richmond-upon Thames TW10 6JP Tel: +44 20 8332 9000, [email protected] www.richmond.ac.uk Schiller International University Royal Waterloo House, 51-55 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8TX. Tel. 020 7928 1372 www.schillerlondon.ac.uk [email protected] Schiller International, Wickham Court School Layhams Road, West Wickham, Kent BR4 9HW. Tel 0208 777 2942, [email protected] www.wickhamcourt.org.uk
Sotheby’s Institute of Art Postgraduate Art studies, plus day /evening courses 30 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3EE Tel: 0207 462 3232, [email protected] www.sothebysinstitute.com Southbank International Schools Kensington and Hampstead for 3-11 year olds; Westminster campuses for 11-18 year olds. 020 7243 3803, [email protected] www.southbank.org Syracuse University London Program Faraday House, 48-51 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AE, sulondon.syr.edu TASIS England, American School Coldharbour Lane, Thorpe, Nr. Egham, Surrey TW20 8TE. 01932 565252, england.tasis.com [email protected] UKCISA - Council for International Education 9-17 St. Albans Place, London N1 0NX 020 7354 5210 www.ukcisa.org.uk University of Notre Dame London Program 1 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG 020 7484 7811, [email protected] http://international.nd.edu/about/notre-dameglobal-gateways/london-global-gateway Warnborough University International Office, Friars House, London SE1 8HB. Tel 020 7922 1200 www.warnborough.edu [email protected] Webster Graduate Studies Center Regent’s College, Regent’s Park, Inner Circle, London NW1 4NS, UK. 020 7487 7505, [email protected] www.webster.ac.uk Wroxton College Study Abroad with Fairleigh Dickinson University, Wroxton, Nr. Banbury, Oxfordshire OX15 6PX 01295 730551, www.fdu.edu [email protected]
ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS Alliant International University (formerly United States International University) England Chapter Alumni Association Chapter President: Eric CK Chan [email protected] c/o Regents College London, Inner Circle, Regents Park, London, UK. www.alliant.edu Amherst College Bob Reichert, [email protected] Andover/Abbot Association of London Jeffrey Hedges ‘71, President 07968 513 631, [email protected] Association of MBAs Leo Stemp, Events Administrator Tel 020 7837 3375 (ext. 223), [email protected]
April 2015 59
The American
Babson College Frank de Jongh Swemer, 020 7932 7514 [email protected] Barnard College Club Hiromi Stone, President. 0207 935 3981, [email protected] Berkeley Club of London Geoff Kertesz [email protected] http://international.berkeley.edu/LondonClub www.facebook.com groups/223876564344656/ www.linkedin.com/groups/Berkeley-ClubLondon-4186104 Boston College Alumni Club UK Craig Zematis, President +44 7717 878968 [email protected] www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/BTN/cpages/ chapters/home.jsp?chapter=41&org=BTN Boston University Alumni Association of the UK Will Straughn, Snr International Development Officer, University Development and Alumni Relations, 43 Harrington Gardens, Kensington, London SW7 4JU 020 7244 2908 020 7373 7411 [email protected] Brandeis Alumni Club of Great Britain Joan Bovarnick, President http://alumni.brandeis.edu [email protected] Brown University Club of the United Kingdom President: Tugba Erem. Communication: Patrick Attie Alumni Club & Liaison: Vanessa Van Hoof Brown Club UK, Box 57100, London, EC1P 1RB [email protected] www.brownuk.org Bryn Mawr Club Lady Quinton, President. Wendy Tiffin, Secretary/Treasurer, 52 Lansdowne Gardens, London SW8 2EF [email protected] Claremont Colleges Alumni in London Hadley Beeman, [email protected] Colgate Club of London Stephen W Solomon ‘76, President 0207 349 0738 [email protected] Columbia Business School Alumni Club of London 6 Petersham Mews, London SW7 5NR www.cbsclublondon.org [email protected] Columbia University Club of London [email protected] www.alumniclubs.columbia.edu/london Cornell Club of London [email protected] www.alumni.cornell.edu/orgs/int/London Dartmouth College Club of London alumni.dartmouth.edu www.dartmouth.org
60 April 2015
Delta Kappa Gamma Society International [email protected],www.dkggb.org.uk
NYU Alumni Club in London Jodi Ekelchik, President [email protected] alumni.nyu.edu
Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity London Alumni Chapter. Ashok Arora, P O Box 1110, London W3 7ZB 020 8423 8231, [email protected] www.dspnet.org
NYU STERN UK Alumni Club www.stern.nyu.edu/portal-partners/alumni [email protected] [email protected]
Delta Zeta International Sorority Alumna Club Sunny Eades 01543 490 312 [email protected] www.deltazeta.org
Ohio University Alumni UK & Ireland Frank Madden, 01753 855 360 [email protected] www.ohioalumni.org
Duke University Club of England [email protected], [email protected] www.dukealumni.com/alumni-communities/ regional-programs/groups/london
Penn Alumni Club of the UK w ww.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/UPN/cpages/ home.jsp?chapter=4&org=UPN [email protected]
Emory University Alumni Chapter of the UK Matthew Williams, Chapter Leader 079 8451 4119, [email protected] www.alumni.emory.edu
Penn State Alumni Association [email protected] www.alumni.psu.edu
Georgetown Alumni Club Alexa Fernandez, [email protected] [email protected] , alumni.georgetown.edu
The London Association of Phi Beta Kappa [email protected] www.pbkldn.org www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=5117368 @phibetakappaldn
Gettysburg College Alumni London Britt-Karin Oliver, [email protected] [email protected] www.gettysburg.edu/alumni2
Princeton Association (UK) [email protected] princeton.org.uk
Harvard Business School Club of London [email protected] www.hbsa.org.uk
Rice Alumni of London Kathy Wang 07912 560 177 a lumni.rice.edu [email protected], [email protected]
Harvard Club of the United Kingdom [email protected], [email protected] www.hcuk.org Indiana University Alumni club of England [email protected] www.alumni.indiana.edu/clubs/england
Skidmore College Alumni Club, London [email protected] w ww.skidmore.edu/alumni www.facebook.com/SkidmoreCollegeAlumni
KKG London Alumnae Association [email protected] w ww.kappakappagamma.org
Smith College Club of London [email protected] www.smithclubgb.org
LMU Loyola Marymount Alumni Club London Alumni Relations: [email protected] 310.338.4574 http://alumni.lmu.edu
Stanford Business School Alumni Assn. UK [email protected] alumni-gsb.stanford.edu/get/page/groups/ overview/?group_id=0038990048
Marymount University Alumni UK Chapter President: Mrs Suzanne Tapley, 35 Park Mansions, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7QT. 020 7581 3742 www.marymount.edu/alumni MIT Club of Great Britain [email protected] greatbritain.alumclub.mit.edu Mount Holyoke Club of Britain [email protected] sites.alumnae.mtholyoke.edu/wp/ukclub Notre Dame Club of London [email protected] http://london.undclub.org/
Syracuse University Alumni UK [email protected] sulondon.syr.edu/about/sualumniuk.html www.facebook.com/SUajlumniUK Texas Tech Alumni Association - London Chapter Scott Dewar 077754 35877 [email protected] www.texastechalumni.org/chapters Texas Exes UK (UKTE) England: Carra Kane 0778 660 7534 [email protected] Scotland: Corey Cripe [email protected] www.fornogoodreason.com/UKTEMain.htm
The American
Texas A&M Club London [email protected] www.aggienetwork.com/club-page/londn The John Adams Society [email protected] www.johnadamssociety.co.uk Tufts - London Tufts Alliance tuftsalumni.org [email protected] UConn Alumni Association uconnalumni.com [email protected] UMass Alumni Club UK President, Renu Singh, [email protected] umassalumni.com University of California 020 7079 0567 london.universityofcalifornia.edu [email protected] University of Chicago Alumni Association [email protected], w ww.uchicagouk.org University of Chicago Booth Alumni Association President: [email protected] www.chicagobooth.edu/alumni/clubs/uk University of Colorado Alumni alumni.colorado.edu/cu-in-london [email protected] University of Georgia Alumni Association 07919 057 538 [email protected] www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/index.php/site/ chapters/london_chapter
US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) Alumni UK Chapter www.usmma.edu/alumni [email protected] Facebook: Kings Point Alumni - London/United Kingdom USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter President: Tim Fox ‘97 [email protected] Facebook - USNA Alumni Association, UK Chapter Vassar College Club Sara Hebblethwaite, President 020 8788 6910 [email protected] www.vassarclubuk.org Warnborough Worldwide Alumni Association 01227 762 107 www.wwaa.info/wwaa.htm [email protected] Washington University UK Alumni Club Steven Leof, [email protected] alumni.wustl.edu/Community/Pages/London.aspx www.facebook.com/groups/WUSTLLondon Wellesley College Club www.wellesley.edu/alumnae/groups/clubs/intlclubs/ wellesley_uk_club [email protected] Wharton Alumni Club of the UK 020-7447-8800 www.whartonclubuk.net Williams Club of Great Britain Ethan Kline: [email protected], alumni. [email protected], alumni.williams.edu Yale Club of London President, [email protected] Secretary [email protected] www.yale.org.uk
University of Illinois Alumni Club of the UK Amy Barklam BUS 1994, President, 07796 193 466 [email protected] www.uialumninetwork.org
Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae Kristin Morgan 07812 580949 [email protected] www.zetataualpha.org
University of North Carolina Alumni Club [email protected] alumni.unc.edu
CIVIL WAR SOCIETIES
University of Michigan Alumni Association 0788-784-0941, [email protected] alumni.umich.edu University of Rochester/Simon School UK Alumni Association Julie Bonne, 0118-956-5052, [email protected] [email protected], www.rochester.edu/alumni
SPORTS English Lacrosse Wenlock Way, Manchester M12 5DH 0843 658 5006 [email protected] www.englishlacrosse.co.uk British Baseball Federation / SoftballUK 5th Floor, Ariel House, 74a Charlotte Street, London W1T 4QJ 020 7453 7055 www.britishbaseball.org British Morgan Horse Society 01981 500488 [email protected] www.morganhorse.org.uk Ice Hockey UK 02920 263 441 [email protected] www.icehockeyuk.co.uk
Fundraising event?
Tweet @TheAmericanMag Infinity Elite Cheerleading (founded by CAC) 077 9132 0115 [email protected] www.facebook.com/InfinityAllstars Herts Baseball Club Adult & Little League Baseball www.hertsbaseball.com Lakenheath Barracudas Swim Club Open to all military affiliated families. [email protected] www.barracudas.moonfruit.com LondonSports American flag football, baseball, basketball and soccer, boys/girls, 4-15 all nationalities, new or experienced players. www.londonsports.com [email protected] London Warriors American Football Club [email protected] www.londonwarriorsafc.co.uk
American Civil War Round Table (UK) Civil War historical soc., [email protected] www.americancivilwar.org.uk Southern Skirmish Association (SoSkan) The oldest American Civil War Re-enacting Society outside the USA. [email protected] www.soskan.co.uk
ARTS
University of Southern California, USC Alumni Club of London Walter Ladwig, President [email protected] www.usclondonalumni.org
American Actors UK 07873 371 891 [email protected] www.americanactorsuk.com
University of Virginia Alumni Club of London uvaclubs.virginia.edu/group/uvaclub-of-london [email protected] 020 7368 8473
Savio(u)r Theatre Company Britain’s American theatre company www.saviourtheatrecompany.com
Has your group done something you’re proud of? Tell us email [email protected]
We rely on you to keep us informed. Every effort is made to ensure that these listings are correct but if your entry requires amendments please tell us. Send profiles, news or articles about your organization for possible publication in The American. email [email protected], tel +44(0)1747 830520 Twitter @TheAmericanMag
April 2015 61
The American To find out whether you’re eligible to advertise your products and services here, and for rates, call Sabrina Sully on +44 (0)1747 830520. You’ll reach Americans living in and visiting the UK as well as Britons who like American culture and products. Jaffe & Co., incorp. American Tax International
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Comprehensive tax preparation and compliance service for US expatriates inbytheBruce UK and Europe. Established in 1981 and managed L Jaffe, BA JD, we provide a full range of US UK tax services for US America House, 54 and Hendon Lane, London N3expatriates 1TT residing in the UK and have over 55 years of cumulative 020 8346 5237 experience preparing tax returns for US taxpayers. daniel@jaff eandco.com www.jaffeandco.com Please contact us today to see how we can help you.
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Burton Sweet
Suppliers of quality products and services hand-picked for you ANTIQUES & COLLECTABLES Stephen T Taylor Your American stamp dealer in Britain since 1995. 5 Glenbuck Road, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6BS 020 8390 9357 [email protected] www.stephentaylor.co.uk
COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY Anji Holland and Associates
Holland Hypnotherapy Tax Return Preparation and compliance service for US Expatriates. Specialist in providing advice on UK/ US Tax interaction. Affordable Fixed Fees. Prospect House, 5 May Lane, Dursley, GL11 4JH 01453 542483 Contact Rachel Finch [email protected] www.burton-sweet.co.uk Twitter @burtonsweet www.linkedin.com/company/burton-sweet
Greenback Expat Tax Services
Expert preparation of US and UK taxes from our highly experienced CPAs, UK Chartered Accountant and IRS Enrolled Agents US Toll Free: +1 888-362-5032 www.greenbacktaxservices.com [email protected] www.facebook.com/greenbacktax www.youtube.com/GreenbackTaxServices
Certified Public Accountants specializing in tax planning and preparation, retirement planning and consulting for American expatriates and foreign nationals. Also offer a program to assist human resource professionals in serving the needs of the their expat employees. 1776 N. Pine Island Road, Suite 316, Plantation, Florida, USA 33322 +1 954-332-1345 [email protected] www.americantaxhelp.com
Montage Services, Inc.
For all your US tax needs in Europe: individual & corporate, international & domestic. Offices in San Francisco, Houston, London, Toronto and Berlin. 020 3004 6353 [email protected] www.montage-services.com
62 April 2015
Transitions Therapy
Psychotherapy & Counselling for Expatriate Individuals, Couples, Families & Adolescents. London, or via Skype. 07557 261432 [email protected] www.transitionstherapy.co.uk
Tax & Accounting Hub
DENTAL
H&R Block Expat Tax Services
One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, MO 64105 USA 1-816-504-1665 [email protected] expats.hrblock.com Our secure, remote service has a dedicated team which includes CPAs, enrolled agents, and tax attorneys, who focus on expat taxes and can handle all types of U.S. tax returns, including FATCA and FBAR.
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Bow Lane Dental Group
Professional service at affordable prices. Fixed fee U.S. Expatriate tax preparation service in London. Federal/ State, Foreign bank account/IRS audits response 152 Burford Wharf, 3 Cam Road, London, E15 2SS +44 (0)20 3286 6445. M: +44 (0)79 1439 3183 [email protected] www.taxandaccountinghub.com
For all you and your families dental needs visit the award winning Bow Lane Dental Group in the City of London. We have been making the City smile since 2001. www.bowlanedental.com 020 7236 3600 [email protected]
The American LEGAL
EDUCATION Castle Education Consultancy Ltd
Penningtons Manches LLP
Independent education consultancy that works with families on school and university search. 50 Scholars Drive, Penylan, Cardiff CF23 9FE 02920 214424 www.castleeducationconsultancy.co.uk [email protected]
FINANCIAL ADVICE
Family, international private wealth, immigration and residential property teams advise international families and expatriates on relocation, wealth management, tax, immigration and all aspects of family law. Abacus House, 33 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 8AR T: +44 (0) 20 7457 3000 F: +44 (0) 20 7457 3240 [email protected] www.penningtons.co.uk @penningtonslaw
REAL ESTATE RE/MAX Property Group
Notting Hill Gate Branch: 49 Cottesmore Court, Stanford Road, London W8 5QW 07511-895090 www.remax.co.uk
VISAS & IMMIGRATION US Visa Solutions - Law Office of Janice A. Flynn
MEDICAL
Tanager Wealth Management LLP
108 Medical Chambers
Integrated financial and investment advice for US expats living in the UK provided by US expats. Global account consolidation, UK/US savings and retirement planning together with investment advice. Contact us for a no obligation meeting or telephone conversation. 020 7871 8440 www.tanagerwealth.com [email protected] @tanagerwealth
INTERIOR DESIGN
108 Medical Chambers is a leading Consultant led and delivered independent out-patient and diagnostic centre with clinical teams specialising in breast disease, dermatology, groins and hernia surgery, colo-rectal problems, sports injuries and thyroid and ENT problems. 0207 563 1234 [email protected] www.108harleystreet.co.uk
NOTARIES
Rolando Luci
US-licensed immigration lawyers advising on US citizenship, green cards, visa and US entry issues. Honest, straightforward advice and a high level of bespoke service. Third Floor, 6 & 7 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8AD UK +44 (0)20 7092 6830 US +1 (312) 361-0581 [email protected] www.usvisasolutions.co.uk Twitter: FlynnUSVisaLaw
WEDDING PLANNING Extraordinary Days Events
Edward Young LLP Edward Young LLP (inc. Kober-Smith & Associates) is a full practice Notary Public in London. We can solve your problems. Full notary service. 9 Carlos Place London W1K 3AT (nr US Embassy) Appointment only. 00 44(0)20 7499 2605 [email protected] www.edwardyoung.co.uk
Luxury lighting, including American brands, some unique to the UK 01778 218121 www.rolandoluci.co.uk
SOLUTION 9
9
5
An American wedding planner in London creating elegant, sophisticated, and unique weddings in England. Bespoke services ranging from full service planning to day-of coordination. 020 7433 0300 [email protected] www.extraordinarydaysevents.com
Coee Break Answers
1.Frank Sinatra; 2. Jimi Hendrix; 3.b) American Independence; 4. The Boss; 5. Holy Loch; 6. Herman Melville, author of Moby-Dick; 7. The Memphis Belle; 8. Liverpool; 9. a) Lisbon, Portugal; 10. The Hubble Telescope; 11. Ellis Island
April 2015 September 2013 63
The American
Way before Beatlemania, ‘Bobby soxers’ were the screaming teenage fans of which singer?
➋
Which American rock artist lived in an apartment next to the former residence of composer George Frederic Handel, in London?
➌
William Petty, the 2nd Earl of Shelburne, has a blue plaque in London which proclaims his support of what? a) Colonisation of America b) American Independence c) Abolition of Slavery
➍ ➎
What is the nickname of Bruce Springsteen?
➏
Benjamin Franklin once lived on Craven Street, London, but which well known American author also lived on the street for a short time in the mid 1800s? Hint: his name isn’t Ishmael. RAF/USAAF Bassingbourn in Hertfordshire was home to which well known US Flying Fortress?
➑
James Maury, a friend of George Washington, was America’s first Consul for which Northern English city?
➒
3
2 7
Which of these European cities is on the same time as London? a) Lisbon b) Minsk c) Berlin
1 4
2 9 5 3 6 2
Which former US Navy base was located near Dunoon, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland?
➐
8 2 1 4 7
7
It happened 25 years ago...
➓
April 24th, 1990: Which telescope, carried by the Discovery shuttle, launched from Cape Canaveral?
⓫
April 1890: America’s first Federal immigration station was constructed, where was it located?
It happened 150 years ago...
Quiz answers and Sudoku solution on page 63.
64 April 2015
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Memphis, in Tennessee, USA, was named in 1819 after the ancient capital city of which modern day nation?
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Tennessee - U.S. States - HISTORY.com
Bird: Mockingbird
Interesting Facts
Future President Andrew Jackson founded the city of Memphis on May 22, 1819, along with John Overton and James Winchester. They named it after the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis—meaning “place of good abode”—which was located at the head of the Nile River Delta.
William Strickland, the engineer and architect of the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, died in 1854 during the building’s construction. At his request, he was entombed within the structure’s walls.
In 1878, a yellow fever epidemic swept through Memphis, claiming the lives of around 5,000 people. Although many neighboring towns and cities throughout the South established quarantines to prevent the disease from spreading, a majority of residents fled Memphis after news of the outbreak was first reported.
The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville began as a live music show called the “WSM Barn Dance” by announcer George Hay in 1925. One of the state’s most popular tourist attractions, it is also the longest-running radio show in U.S. history.
Twenty-four-year-old John Scopes was arrested and put on trial in 1925 for violating Tennessee state law by teaching Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution as part of his public high school curriculum. The “monkey trial,” as it became known, garnered national attention and publicized scientific evidence for evolution, but resulted in a guilty verdict for Scopes, who was fined $100. It was not until 1968 that the Supreme Court asserted that any law banning the teaching of evolution in public schools was unconstitutional.
In 1947, the Tennessee legislature adopted the tulip poplar as the state tree in recognition of its widespread use by 18th and 19th century pioneers in the construction of their homes and farms.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is America’s most visited national park, attracting more than 9.4 million people in 2010. Known as the “Salamander Capital of the World,” the park hosts the most diverse population of salamanders in the world: 30 different species.
Memphis, Tennessee, is home to Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former estate. It is one of the most visited private residences in America–second only to the White House.
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Memphis | Article about Memphis by The Free Dictionary
Memphis | Article about Memphis by The Free Dictionary
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Memphis
Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Acronyms , Wikipedia .
Memphis
(mĕm`fĭs), city (1990 pop. 610,337), seat of Shelby co., SW Tenn., on the Fourth, or Lower, Chickasaw Bluff above the Mississippi, at the mouth of the Wolf River; inc. 1826. A river port with excellent anchorages on the Wolf, Memphis is the largest city in the state, a port of entry, a rail and air distribution center, and a leading hardwood lumber, cotton, and livestock market. Its wide variety of manufactures includes textiles, consumer goods, paints, and automotive parts. A number of corporations have national headquarters in the city. Trans-Mississippi bridges connect Memphis with Arkansas.
De Soto De Soto, Hernando
, c.1500–1542, Spanish explorer. After serving under Pedro Arias de Ávila in Central America and under Francisco Pizarro in Peru, the dashing young conquistador was made governor of Cuba by Emperor Charles V, with the right to conquer Florida
..... Click the link for more information. is said to have crossed the Mississippi near the site of Memphis. The area was strategically important during the time of the British, French, and Spanish rivalries in the 18th cent. A U.S. fort was erected in 1797. The city was established (1819) by Andrew Jackson, Marcus Winchester, and John Overton. In the Civil War it fell, on June 6, 1862, to a Union force led by the elder Charles Henry Davis. Severe yellow-fever epidemics occurred in the 1870s, and thousands died. So many people fled the city that its charter had to be surrendered (1879); it was not restored until 1891. E. H. "Boss" Crump Crump, Edward Hull,
1876–1954, American politician, Democratic boss of Tennessee, b. near Holly Springs, Miss. At first (1905–9) a municipal administrator in Memphis, Tenn.
..... Click the link for more information. ruled Memphis from 1909 until his political hold was broken after 1948.
The city is the seat of the Univ. of Memphis, the Univ. of Tennessee Medical Units, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Rhodes College, Christian Brothers Univ., Le Moyne–Owen College, the Memphis Academy of Arts, Southern College of Optometry, and a technical institute. It has a natural history museum, a planetarium, an art gallery, a metalwork museum, a notable park system, botanical gardens, a zoo, an aquarium, a coliseum, a speedway, and Autozone Park, where minor league baseball games attract many to a resurgent downtown area. The National Basketball Association's Grizzlies play in FedExForum. The Mid-South Fairgrounds and the Memphis Cook Convention Center, which has sponsored major traveling art exhibits, are there. An annual week-long cotton carnival is held, and postseason college football games are played there each year.
A number of antebellum homes in the city have been restored. Memphis is associated with the development of early rock-and-roll and the blues, and Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley Presley, Elvis
(Elvis Aaron Presley), 1935–77, American popular singer, b. Tupelo, Miss. Exposed to gospel music from childhood, Presley began playing guitar before his adolescence.
..... Click the link for more information. , is one of the nation's largest tourist attractions. Beale St., another popular site, was made famous by W. C. Handy Handy, W. C.
(William Christopher Handy), 1873–1958, American songwriter and band leader, b. Florence, Ala. Largely self-taught, Handy began his career as a cornet player in a minstrel show in 1896, and later organized various small bands.
..... Click the link for more information. , the blues composer, and has been extensively restored. The National Civil Rights Museum is in the former Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated. The Pyramid, a 32-story glass-encased building, dominates the riverfront area. Nearby on a sandbar is Mud Island, a 52-acre amusement park.
Bibliography
See P. R. Coppock, Memphis Memoirs (1980); R. Biles, Memphis in the Great Depression (1986).
Memphis
(mĕm`fĭs), ancient city of Egypt, capital of the Old Kingdom (c.3100–c.2258 B.C.), at the apex of the Nile delta and 12 mi (18 km) from Cairo. It was reputedly founded by Menes Menes
, fl. 3200 B.C., king of ancient Egypt, of the first dynasty, the first Egyptian ruler for whom there are historical records. According to tradition, he seems to have united the southern and northern kingdoms and to have settled on a new capital, later known as Memphis.
..... Click the link for more information. , the first king of united Egypt. Its god was Ptah Ptah
, in Egyptian religion, great god of Memphis. He was one of the important gods of ancient Egypt and, according to Memphite theology, created the universe through the thought of his heart and the utterance of his tongue.
..... Click the link for more information. . The temple of Ptah, the palace of Apries Apries
, king of ancient Egypt (588–569 B.C.), of the XXVI dynasty; successor of Psamtik II. Apries sought to recover Syria and Palestine. He attacked Tyre and Sidon but failed (586 B.C.) to relieve the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.
..... Click the link for more information. , and two huge statues of Ramses II Ramses II
, Rameses II,
or Ramesses II
, d. 1225 B.C., king of ancient Egypt, of the XIX dynasty. The son of Seti I, Ramses was not the heir to the throne but usurped it from his brother. He reigned for 67 years (1292–1225 B.C.).
..... Click the link for more information. are among the most important monuments found at the site. The necropolis of Sakkara Sakkara
or Saqqara
, necropolis (burial place) of ancient Memphis, Egypt, 3 mi (5 km) from the Nile and on the border of the Libyan desert. Djoser (Zoser) had his famous step-pyramid, a precursor of the familiar straight-sided pyramid, built there in the III dynasty,
..... Click the link for more information. , near Memphis, was a favorite burial place for pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. A line of pyramids begins near the necropolis, extending for 20 mi (32 km) to Giza Giza,
Gizeh
, or Al Jizah
, city (1990 est. pop. 2,680,500), capital of Giza governorate, N Egypt, surburb of Cairo. It is a manufacturing and agricultural trade center. Products include textiles, cigarettes, and apparel.
..... Click the link for more information. . Memphis remained important during the long dominance by Thebes Thebes
, city of ancient Egypt. Luxor and Karnak now occupy parts of its site. The city developed at a very early date from a number of small villages, particularly one around modern Luxor (then called Epet), but remained relatively obscure until the rise of the Theban family
..... Click the link for more information. and became the seat of the Persian satraps (525 B.C.). Second only to Alexandria Alexandria,
Arabic Al Iskandariyah, city (1996 pop. 3,328,196), N Egypt, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is at the western extremity of the Nile River delta, situated on a narrow isthmus between the sea and Lake Mareotis (Maryut).
..... Click the link for more information. under the Ptolemies and under Rome, it finally declined with the founding of nearby Fustat by the Arabs, and its ruins were largely removed for building in the new city and, later, in Cairo Cairo
, Arab. Al Qahirah, city (1996 pop. 6,789,479), capital of Egypt and the Cairo governorate, NE Egypt, a port on the Nile River near the head of its delta, at the boundary of ancient Upper and Lower Egypt.
..... Click the link for more information. .
Memphis
(Greek; Egyptian, Men-nofer, after a “pyramid town”founded by the pharaoh Pepi I; originally known as White Walls, after the fortress beside which the city was founded), an ancient Egyptian city founded at the beginning of the third millennium B.C. on the border between Upper and Lower Egypt on the left bank of the Nile; located southwest of Cairo near the villages of Al Badrashayn and Mit Rahinah.
Memphis was an important religious, political, cultural, and artisan center of Egypt as well as the capital of the Old Kingdom (28th to 23rd centuries B.C.). With the rise of Alexandria (founded 332-331 B.C.) in Hellenistic times, Memphis lost its former importance. The ruins of a temple to the god Ptah (third millennium B.C.), a sphinx from the New Kingdom, two colossuses of Rameses II (late 14th century to mid-13th century B.C.), and the Serapeum have been preserved. The necropolises of Memphis, with pyramids and tombs of the kings and nobles, are located near present-day Giza (Gizeh), Saqqara, Abu Sir, and Dahshur.
REFERENCES
Badawi, A. Memphis als zweite Landeshauptstadt im Neuen Reich. Cairo, 1948.
Junker, H. Die politische Lehre von Memphis. Berlin, 1941.
Anthes, R. Mit Rahineh (1955). Philadelphia, 1959.
Memphis
a city in the southern USA, in the state of Tennessee. A port on the left bank of the Mississippi River, near the point where the Wolf River flows into it. Population, 623,500, with the suburban zone on the right bank of the Mississippi (in Arkansas)—770,100 (1970); about two-fifths of the population are Negroes.
Memphis is one of the most important economic centers in the South. About 60,000 workers are employed in the manufacturing industry. The leading brar ches of industry in Memphis are agricultural machinery, the production of structural elements, electrical engineering instruments, automobile construction (assembly and the production of trailers), and woodworking. Memphis is an important trading cer.ter and a major transportation junction. Cargoes of petroleum and cotton predominate in the city’s freight turnover (6-7 million tons a year).
Memphis
1. a port in SW Tennessee, on the Mississippi River: the largest city in the state; a major cotton and timber market; Memphis State University (1909). Pop.: 645 978 (2003 est.)
2. a ruined city in N Egypt, the ancient centre of Lower Egypt, on the Nile: administrative and artistic centre, sacred to the worship of Ptah
Memphis
The code name for Windows 98.
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Titicaca is the largest lake in?
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Lake Titicaca | lake, South America | Britannica.com
Lake Titicaca
Puno
Lake Titicaca, Spanish Lago Titicaca, the world’s highest lake navigable to large vessels, lying at 12,500 feet (3,810 metres) above sea level in the Andes Mountains of South America , astride the border between Peru to the west and Bolivia to the east. Titicaca is the second largest lake of South America (after Maracaibo). It covers some 3,200 square miles (8,300 square km) and extends in a northwest-to-southeast direction for a distance of 120 miles (190 km). It is 50 miles (80 km) across at its widest point. A narrow strait, Tiquina, separates the lake into two bodies of water. The smaller, in the southeast, is called Lake Huiñaymarca in Bolivia and Lake Pequeño in Peru; the larger, in the northwest, is called Lake Chucuito in Bolivia and Lake Grande in Peru.
An Aymara Indian poling a reed boat on Lake Titicaca, near the Bolivian shore. The Cordillera Real …
© Tony Morrison/South American Pictures
Lake Titicaca.
© Index Open
The meaning of the name Titicaca is uncertain, but it has been variously translated as Rock of the Puma or Crag of Lead. Titicaca lies between Andean ranges in a vast basin (about 22,400 square miles [58,000 square km] in area) that comprises most of the Altiplano (High Plateau) of the central Andes. In the snow-covered Cordillera Real on the northeastern (Bolivian) shore of the lake, some of the highest peaks in the Andes rise to heights of more than 21,000 feet (6,400 metres).
The lake averages between 460 and 600 feet (140 and 180 metres) in depth, but the bottom tilts sharply toward the Bolivian shore, reaching its greatest recorded depth of 920 feet (280 metres) off Isla Soto in the lake’s northeast corner.
More than 25 rivers empty their waters into Titicaca; the largest, the Ramis, draining about two-fifths of the entire Titicaca Basin, enters the northwestern corner of the lake. One small river , the Desaguadero , drains the lake at its southern end. This single outlet empties only 5 percent of the lake’s excess water; the rest is lost by evaporation under the fierce sun and strong winds of the dry Altiplano.
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Titicaca’s level fluctuates seasonally and over a cycle of years. During the rainy season (summer, from December to March) the level of the lake rises, normally to recede during the dry winter months. It was formerly believed that Titicaca was slowly drying up, but modern studies have seemed to refute this, indicating a more or less regular cycle of rise and fall.
Titicaca’s waters are limpid and only slightly brackish, with salinity ranging from 5.2 to 5.5 parts per 1,000. Surface temperatures average 56 °F (14 °C); from a thermocline at 66 feet (20 m) temperatures drop to 52 °F (11 °C) at the bottom. Analyses show measurable quantities of sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, calcium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate in the water.
Lake Titicaca’s fish life consists principally of two species of killifish ( Orestias)—a small fish, usually striped or barred with black—and a catfish (Trichomycterus). In 1939, and subsequently, trout were introduced into Titicaca. A large frog ( Telmatobius), which may reach a length of nearly a foot, inhabits the shallower regions of the lake.
Forty-one islands, some of them densely populated, rise from Titicaca’s waters. The largest, Titicaca Island (Spanish: Isla de Titicaca, also called Isla del Sol ), lies just off the tip of the Copacabana Peninsula in Bolivia.
Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia.
Jeremy Woodhouse—Digital Vision/Getty Images
Ruins on the lake’s bottom (where the remains of a temple were discovered in 2000), on its shore, and on the islands attest to the previous existence of one of the oldest civilizations known in the Americas. The chief site is at Tiwanaku , Bolivia, at the southern end of the lake. On Titicaca Island ruins of a temple mark the spot where, according to the tradition of the Incas (a Quechuan people of Peru who established an empire about 1100 ce), the legendary founders of the Inca dynasty , Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, were sent down to Earth by the Sun.
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The Aymara people living in the Titicaca Basin still practice their ancient methods of agriculture on stepped terraces that predate Inca times. They grow barley, quinoa (a type of pigweed that produces a small grain), and the potato , which originated on the Altiplano. The highest cultivated plot in the world was found near Titicaca—a field of barley growing at a height of 15,420 feet (4,700 metres) above sea level. At this elevation the grain never ripens, but the stalks furnish forage for llamas and alpacas, the American relatives of the camel that serve the Indians as beasts of burden and provide meat and wool. The lake plain is covered with vast numbers of pre-Columbian raised platform fields and ditches, now abandoned, which were constructed to improve drainage and enhance the region’s agricultural potential. This ancient system of reclamation has been revived in some areas in both Peru and Bolivia.
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The word dessert, a sweet pudding, derives from French (desservir) meaning to?
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Lake Titicaca Facts
Lake Titicaca Facts
By Tony Dunnell
Updated January 23, 2016.
Lake Titicaca is a stunning and inspiring place, a windswept, high altitude body of water surrounded by the impressive landscapes of the Peruvian Altiplano (Andean Plateau). Many visitors feel a spiritual connection here, or a palpable sense of the wonder of nature, a feeling that transcends their physical surroundings.
Here, however, we’ll be keeping one foot firmly on the ground (or maybe the shore) as we look at some of the most interesting facts about Lake Titicaca: the largest freshwater lake in South America and the highest navigable lake in the world.
Lake Titicaca in Numbers
Surface area -- 3,200 square miles (8,300 square km). For comparison, Lake Ontario has a surface area of 7,340 square miles.
Length -- As you can see from this map of Lake Titicaca , the lake stretches from the northwest to the southeast for a distance of about of 120 miles (190 km).
Width -- At its widest point, the lake measures about 50 miles (80 km).
Average depth -- 107 meters
Coordinates -- 15°45′S 69°25′W (roughly centered in the middle of the lake). See more maps showing the precise global and continental location of Lake Titicaca .
Lake Titicaca Past and Present
Age -- According to the UNESCO World Heritage Center, Lake Titicaca is one of less than twenty ancient lakes on Earth, and is believed to be approximately three million years old.
First human inhabitants -- The shores and islands of Lake Titicaca have been inhabited since ancient times, at least as far back as the origins of the first Andean societies. Notable societies to have inhabited the region include the Pukara, Tiwanaku, Colla Lupaka and Inca civilizations.
Current human inhabitants -- Lake Titicaca is split between Peru (west) and Bolivia (east). Major settlements on the shores of the lake include Puno in Peru and Copacabana in Bolivia.
Transport -- Numerous small passenger and fishing boats. The largest boat is the Manco Capac car float, owned by PeruRail.
Major islands -- Amantani, Taquile (Peru), Isla del Sol, Isla de la Luna, Suriki (Bolivia). Also the artificial floating islands of the Uros people, which are made of totora reeds.
Economy -- Fishing and tourism are both hugely important to the local economy.
Wildlife -- Lake Titicaca is home to 26 species of fish, as well as various aquatic bird species. Frogs, toads, and more than 20 species of freshwater snail also live in or around the lake.
Weather -- Lake Titicaca and the surrounding highland plateau experience cool to cold temperatures for most of the year. Wind coming off the lake can make things feel a lot colder.
Protected status -- Lake Titicaca is protected by Peruvian law (national reserve status). It was also designated as a Ramsar Site in 1998. Lake Titicaca is currently one of seven Peruvian sites waiting on UNESCO’s Tentative List ; if approved, it will become one of the official UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Peru .
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The 'Sandman' character in north European folklore, popularized/originated by Hans Christian Andersen, is said to help children?
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Project MUSE - Corporealizing Fairy Tales: The Body, the Bawdy, and the Carnivalesque in the Comic Book Fables
The Body, the Bawdy, and the Carnivalesque in the Comic Book Fables
Adam Zolkover (bio)
Abstract
Through a series of inversions of the structure and content of canonical European literary fairy tales, Bill Willingham’s comic book Fables functions, at once, as parody, commentary, and as an ongoing fairy tale in its own right. The classic fairy-tale characters of the Grimms and Charles Perrault are given corporeal form—given sexuality and sensuality in the comic’s pages—and through this transformation are reshaped into a refracting lens for the moral precepts of those collections. The result is a postmodern literary endeavor that is neither condemnation nor celebration of the material from which it draws, but something in between.
Historically, there has been little space in the discipline of folkloristics for the study of the American comic book. This was the case in 1980 when Alex Scobie wrote that folklorists “have not evinced the same degree of interest as has been shown by their colleagues in the social sciences” (70). And it is no less true today when, despite an expansion of folkloristics into the realm of popular culture, discussion of sequential art in print remains conspicuously sparse. Aside from Scobie’s “Comics and Folkliterature,” which appeared in Fabula in 1980, the only significant writing on the topic from a folkloristic perspective is Ronald Baker’s 1975 article in the Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, “Folklore Motifs in the Comic Books of Superheroes”. 1 Here, Baker comments on the replacement of märchen in the popular imagination with an array of mass-mediated entertainments, and then goes on to point out a set of confluences between folktale motifs and tropes from Golden Age superhero books. 2 The waxing of the latter, he suggests, makes up in part for the waning of the former. His article, and Scobie’s as well, provides little more than a few introductory remarks intended to lead us toward a more well developed interest in the topic. Unfortunately, however, folklorists have been reluctant to follow.
There are a number of significant reasons, as Scobie points, out, why this should be the case (70–72). Given the kinds of constraints in the past placed on folklorists engaging in the study of folklore in literature, as well as the broader [End Page 38] perception of comic books as marginal and even ultimately harmful, comics could hardly seem like an appealing subject to pursue. Richard M. Dorson’s proclamation in his 1957 article, “The Identification of Folklore in American Literature,” that authors engaging in the study of folklore and literature must be able to prove the orality and traditionality of folklore items and motifs in a given text, severely limits the horizons of scholarly inquiry into comic books. Comics, after all, tend to integrate and reinterpret folklore, or explicitly refer to literary renderings, especially of myths and folktales, leaving the role of oral influences either irrelevant or impossible to determine. And while criticism of Dorson’s methodology—explicitly from Daniel Hoffman, Alan Dundes, and Mary Ellen Brown in the 1960s and 1970s, and implicitly from literary scholars like Stephen Benson more recently—has been voluminous and persuasive, Dorson’s words do still loom large (Hoffman; Dundes, “Study of Folklore”; Lewis; Benson).
Further, prevailing attitudes toward comic books and their value, or lack thereof, in American culture seem to limit the possibilities for any kind of serious scholarly discussion of the subject at all. Between 1948 and 1954, psychologist Fredrick Wertham pressed and popularized his claim that comic books “are an important factor in causing juvenile delinquency”—that they are, in part at least, to blame for rising crime and declining morality among young people (Thrasher 195). Comics, he suggested, encourage racism, fascist leanings, and what he termed sexual deviancy, portraying crime, vigilante justice, and thinly veiled homoeroticism in their pages (Wertham). His arguments were (and still are) dismissed on a number of fronts, including by the comic book industry itself. But despite this, his views managed to gain such popularity that in a move similar to the 1930s introduction of the Hays Code for film, comic book producers were forced to institute their own set of governing guidelines—the Comics Code—in 1954. 3 Though comic books have made gains in their social acceptability since the 1980s, and especially since the turn of the millennium, the Wertham stigma has never fully abated. The result is that comic books tend to be perceived as a second-rate, second-tier genre of literature, hardly fitting for any academic study, much less study by a discipline already in some measure of distress.
This leads to a situation that is, on the whole, unfortunate. Because while folklorists have been paying little attention to comic books, comic book creators have been talking a great deal about folklore. In 2002 a comic book appeared to enormous critical acclaim starring characters out of the pages of classic literary fairy-tale collections. The book, Bill Willingham’s Fables, is among the current flagship titles of DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint—a line intended for mature readers that in the past has included well-known comics like Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and Grant Morrison’s Invisibles. The premise of Fables is that various characters from the fairy-tale and children’s literature canon have been forced out of their [End Page 39] homelands by a villain who is, at least through the first forty issues, unidentified; and they have been living secretly as refugees in New York for the past three hundred years. The stories themselves revolve around the day-to-day governing of the refugee community known as Fabletown. They star Snow White, who begins the series as the deputy mayor of the community; her assistant Boy Blue; Bigby, the Big Bad Wolf in a human guise, who starts out as the sheriff of Fable-town; and the erstwhile lover of many a female Fable, Prince Charming. Also in residence are Snow White’s sister—the perennial party girl Rose Red; her sometime boyfriend Jack o’ the Tales; the wealthy but lonely Bluebeard (deceased by the fourth story arc); Cinderella, who owns the Glass Slipper shoe store and moonlights as a spy; and several powerful old witches. Those individuals who for whatever reason cannot pass as Mundies (the Fables’ word for humans) live in Upstate New York on a farm that is magically warded against curious outsiders.
Fables is hardly the first comic book to utilize folklore in this fashion. Gaiman’s Sandman, which ran from 1988 until 1996, drew from an array of different mythological traditions, forming a metaphysical landscape of thought and emotion peopled by pantheons from around the world. Five years earlier, Walter Simonson drew on mythology as well, using his extensive knowledge of Norse myth and legend to reshape and reinvigorate the Marvel Comics title Thor. And more recently (1999–2005), Alan Moore, too, has done something similar with his title Promethea, dispensing nearly entirely with the conceit of an adventure story in favor of exploring cosmology through the lens of Kabbalah, ceremonial magick, and tarot (Moore and Williams). 4 The difference between these comics and Fables, obviously, is that Fables draws its subject matter from fairy-tale material rather than myth. In addition, however, whereas Gaiman and Moore seem interested in using folklore to explore issues of imagination and spirituality, and whereas Simonson is interested in using myth to enrich a pre-existing fictional landscape, Willingham’s Fables works in the opposite direction, using the comic book medium, at least in part, as a lens through which to comment on the fairy tales themselves.
The effectiveness of Fables, then, lies not in the mere presence of fairy-tale characters in a preestablished comic book taleworld. It cannot be usefully studied via the itemistic approach that has historically characterized scholarship on folklore in literature. Rather, the effectiveness of Fables lies in the way that characters are utilized both to tell a new and compelling story, and to reinterpret the sources from which they come. Willingham and his creative partners modify, distort, and integrate folklore in their work; they play with it and parody it; and ultimately, they transform it, coming out with a multivalent response to the fairy-tale genre as it is traditionally constructed that both aligns itself to other folkloric and literary representations and stands away from them, treating the genre with a subversive, parodic laughter. What Willingham presents here could be [End Page 40] aptly described as a fairy-tale pastiche—a postmodernist blending of elements from a variety of loci within fairy-tale discourse that serves at once as commentary, play, and a fairy tale in its own right.
Examining Fables with this in mind, then, the most striking feature of the series—the most conspicuous way in which Willingham and his cocreators attempt to reinterpret the genre—is through the corporealization and eroticization of fairy-tale characters. Characters in the Western fairy-tale canon—in the Buchmärchen and Kunstmärchen to which Willingham directly refers—ordinarily “lack physical and psychological depth” (Lüthi 12). There is not a complete dearth of character description; as Max Lüthi suggests, “individual narrators . . . may interject a word about the hero’s sorrow or joy” or the heroine’s appearance (13). But the terms of such descriptions are usually vague at best, and rarely either revealing of the character or integral to the story itself. In the Grimms’ rendition of “Snow White,” for example, the eponymous protagonist is, at the age of seven, described as “beautiful as the day is clear and more beautiful than the queen herself,” while her rival, the Queen, is “beautiful but proud and haughty” (Grimm and Grimm 196). Both statements are strongly suggestive, but only in the vaguest terms. And even the Grimms’ famous description of Snow White as “white as snow, as red as blood, and her hair as black as ebony”—a sentiment rich in simile—yields only the most general physical description. From these accounts, we know something of Snow White’s complexion, and that she is comely, but little else.
This is the case with other classic literary fairy tales as well. Charles Perrault, whose collection is much more explicit about the literary quality of the retellings than is that of the Grimms, provides physical and psychological descriptions that are no more specific. Perrault, in his version of “Cinderella,” writes at his most descriptive that when the “godmother then touched [Cinderella] with her wand . . . her clothes turned into cloth of gold and silver, all beset with jewels,” and that when she entered the ball, “there was immediately a profound silence. Everyone stopped dancing, and the violins ceased to play, so entranced was everyone with the singular beauties of the unknown newcomer” (80–82). This is strong language. It is a declaration of the beauty of the character in the narrative. It is not, however, a specific description. So difficult is it to envision a dress of gold and silver, and so vague are Cinderella’s singular beauties, that the reader is left to his or her own imagination to fill in the details. What is being evoked here, as it is with the Grimms’ “Snow White,” is a set of rhetorical conventions specific to fairy tales in print. And the overarching descriptive motif among those conventions is the abstract.
That said, even for scholars who are more generous than Lüthi in assigning depth to fairy-tale characters, information about their physical and psychological nature is always, at best, implied. Looking, for instance, at psychoanalytic [End Page 41] approaches to this same material, while it is possible to make suggestions about the mental state of characters and the symbolic nature of their interactions, the locus of such interpretations is always with the author and the reader, and not with the texts itself. As Francisco Vaz da Silva insists in his 2000 article “Bengt Holbek and the Study of Meanings in Fairy Tales,” fairy-tale characters, being literary, have no unconscious of their own and thus no capacity for the mental mechanisms proposed by psychoanalysis (5). Writers, readers, raconteurs, and listeners all have the capacity to project psychological depth onto them, but the characters themselves are incapable of projection. Thus, coming back to “Snow White,” we can say that the relationship between the protagonist and her stepmother—the compulsion of the Queen to be the most desirable—is a case of projection and Electral fantasy. We can say that Snow White, competing with her stepmother for her father’s attentions, projects her frustration onto the Queen, insisting that she is being oppressed because she cannot act out her desire. But the projection in this case is from the interpreter, and onto the text. Nowhere in the text is there explicit motivation attributed to either female character, and nowhere is there psychological commentary within the text. Even if we can accept the validity of a psychoanalytic approach, then, it does not negate Lüthi’s reading of the fairy-tale genre: based on descriptions within the texts, fairy-tale characters remain largely abstract.
Fables, on the other hand, presents an inversion: whereas fairy-tale characters tend to be flattened, stylized, stripped of all but the most essential references to the sensual and the psychic, the characters in Fables are emotionally complex, sexually explicit, and physically present. In their transition to the comic book page, they are fleshed out, corporealized. They are given form, drapery, adornment that at once marks them as contiguous with their fairy-tale selves, and lends them a verisimilitude that allows them to pass unquestioned into human society, both ours and the fictional New York of the series. And further, as part of that same transition, they are eroticized. Through dialogue, through plot transformations, and most significantly through sequential artistic rendering, they are given psychic depth—desire—that makes manifest that which was, at best, latent in the fairy tales from which these characters come. The dramatis personae of folk narrative are transformed in the comic. They are simultaneously capsized and preserved to produce a set of characters that have walked into the realist conventions of commercial American comic books, dragging their abstract past behind them.
This transformation, at its most basic level, is a matter of the way in which these characters inhabit their skins. Through characterization, storytelling, and artistic rendering, their fairy-tale identities are reinscribed again and again, even as they are transformed into something new. In part, this is a matter of the nature of the comic book medium, which leads to a situation in which characters, by [End Page 42] necessity, are imbued with a body on the page. They are drawn out—represented in pencil and pen and paint—given a solid, if symbolic, form that is recognizable among readers and producers as a body. At the same time, however, in order to make that body recognizable—in order to allow readers to associate it with a particular character—it must be given regalia that provide a means by which readers can perceive its specificity. In certain ways it is not unlike the previous use of character illustrations that pervade in fairy-tale collections from the Grimms and Andrew Lang, to George Webbe Dasent’s East o’ the Sun, West o’ the Moon, to Jack Zipes’s new editions of Laura Gonzenbach’s collection (Dasent; Grimm and Grimm; Zipes and Gonzenbach, Beautiful Angiola; Zipes and Gonzenbach, Robber with a Witch’s Head). The difference is that while other collections may include sketches or paintings depicting the occasional scene—while there may be character renderings that must be recognizable in a single instant extracted from a larger narrative—the illustrations in Fables provide a cinematic and sequential series of these sorts of depictions. And as a result, the reader comes to identify certain consistently rendered forms with certain characters, in effect, assigning to each a single body. In other words, Snow White is Snow White in the first issue and in the fortieth, while in a collection of fairy tales, if she is illustrated at all, her presence is only transitory—a snapshot—her image fleeting.
Snow White, in fact, presents an excellent example of corporealization in this sense. When we first meet the deputy mayor of Fabletown in the first issue of the series, even if we were to miss the nameplate prominently displayed on her desk, she would be almost immediately recognizable (Willingham, Fables: Legends 8). As she is illustrated, she evokes the famous description, quoted above, from the Grimms’ Kinder- und Hausmärchen. Her skin is very pale—nearly white as snow; her lips, whether through cosmetics or otherwise, are red as blood; and her hair is raven black. Further, the illustration evokes the iconic representation of Snow White from the 1937 Disney film. Though not a copy of Disney’s rendering, her chin, eyes, and lips are shaped very similarly. And she wears a sleeveless turtleneck in a shade of dark blue nearly identical to the color of her blouse in the film. Her garb, her mannerisms, and most strikingly her attitude have all been altered to fit the geography (New York), the time period (present day), and her position in the Fabletown government, but there is a definite, recognizable continuity with previous incarnations of the character.
And this makes her transformation, if anything, all the more striking. Whereas the Grimms’ and Disney’s portrayals of Snow White evoke an idealized patriarchal past, a Victorian silence about sexuality and a female passivity, in Fables she is active, contemporary, and very sexually present. In the Kinder- und Hausmärchen (as in the Disney film), in return for room and board among the dwarfs, Snow White is asked to perform almost all of the functions of a good [End Page 43] middle-class wife; she must “cook, make the beds, wash, sew, and knit,” and “keep everything neat and orderly” (Grimm and Grimm 199). Conspicuously absent from her list of tasks is sex. Conversely, in Fables the only mention of Snow White’s dwarven exile centers on its sexual aspect. In the same scene where we first meet Snow White, we find her in the heat of an argument with Beauty, of “Beauty and the Beast” fame. She tells Beauty that she cannot help with the couple’s financial problems—that they ultimately need to learn to manage money themselves—and in response, Beauty blurts out: “And just who is she to criticize anyone’s personal life, after what I heard about her tawdry little adventure with those seven dwarves?” (Willingham, Fables: Legends 12). On this the meeting between the two is abruptly ended, and in its aftermath Boy Blue addresses Beauty reprovingly. “Take my advice,” he tells her. “Some topics are best never brought up. Never discuss personal hygiene with a bridge troll. Never trade casserole recipes with a Black Forest witch. But above all, when talking to the deputy mayor—never mention the dwarves!” (Willingham, Fables: Legends 13). Continuity, then, is still maintained with previous incarnations of Snow White: central to the scene is a reference to her fairy-tale backstory, and its sexual implications remain taboo. But rather than making the taboo a matter of narrative silence, the creators of Fables use it as a narrative device: rather than avoiding it, the comic book is explicitly, and quite loudly, mum.
Transformation, however, does not take place only amid the maintenance of continuity. Through the creative use of tradition—through a playful reading of the literary fairy-tale canon—Snow White is transformed almost beyond the bounds of that tradition. Willingham and his cocreators seem at first to base Snow White exclusively on her depictions in the Disney film and Kinder- und Hausmärchen. Her physical appearance and certain aspects of her demeanor, as we have seen, directly reference those sources. The Snow White of tale type ATU 709, however, is not exclusively the source. As we find out early on in Fables’ first story arc, she is conflated with the Snow White of the Grimms’ “Snow White and Rose Red” (ATU 426)—clearly a different character in Kinder-und Hausmärchen (Willingham, Fables: Legends 16; Uther). The driving conflict in the first story arc of Fables, in fact, centers on the conflicted relationship between Snow White and Rose Red, and the manner and degree to which they remain close and have grown apart. The result is a kind of forking continuity in Snow White’s past in which she seems primarily to be the stepdaughter of an evil queen and the live-in companion of seven dwarfs, but in which she is also the daughter of a poor widow who aids in the metamorphosis of a bear into a prince. In practical terms, this means on the one hand that there is a degree to which character continuity is broken. But on the other hand, it allows for the further psychological development of the character through the exploration of her sororal relationship. [End Page 44]
Looking at Rose Red, we see a different way in which character continuity is maintained amid transformation. A lack of descriptive specificity in the Grimms’ telling of “Snow White and Rose Red” requires the creators of Fables to invent a set of new corporeal signifiers, even as she—more than almost any other character—is made emblematic of the corporealizing and eroticizing project of the series. In Kinder- und Hausmärchen, the only way in which the Grimms describe Rose Red is to say that “Snow White was more quiet and gentle” than her sister, “who preferred to run around in the meadows and fields, look for flowers, and catch butterflies” (Grimm and Grimm 475). There is no physical description of the character except, perhaps, inasmuch as her name implies the color of her hair. And with the exception of a single little-known West German film adaptation in 1955, Schneeweisschen und Rosenrot, there are no obvious texts on which the creators of Fables could base their rendering of the character (Kobler). The result is that Rose Red’s adornment in the comic book is an invention of the creators, not explicitly referential to any previous rendition, but still interested in maintaining fairy-tale continuity. Rose Red has red hair. She has a tattoo of a red rose over her right shoulder blade (Willingham, Fables: Legends 106). And she tends to wear either scarlet clothing or clothing printed with her eponymous flower (Fables: Legends 98–99; Fables: Animal Farm 6, 8–9). Her look here is different from Snow White’s in that it does not—cannot—allude to previous iconic representations. At the same time, however, it does establish her identity with readers of the series, maintaining some semblance of continuity with the character’s abstract past, even as it lends her corporeal form.
On the other hand, as with Snow White, even as the creators of Fables work to maintain a sense of continuity with Rose Red’s fairy-tale past, they transform her, making the physicality, the sensuality, the sexuality that is, at best, implicit in the fairy tale explicit here. And moreover, more than with Snow White, Rose Red’s transformation serves as a manifesto for the subversiveness of the series, making a statement not only about a single character, but also about the fairy-tale genre as a whole. This should be obvious just by looking at the manner of her illustration. Her red hair is short, bobbed, and brightly colored, giving the impression of a kind of sexual playfulness in her manner (Willingham, Fables: Legends 39, 48–49). She is drawn almost uniformly in stylish, revealing clothes—low-cut blouses or small T-shirts revealing her arms, her midriff, or both (Fables: Legends 39, 105–07; Fables: Animal Farm 9). And over and over throughout the course of the first ten issues, she is depicted consistently in flirtatious or amorous relations with the opposite sex, or in some state of undress or half-dress. In the first story arc she is depicted, in flashback, in bed with Prince Charming and then Bluebeard (Fables: Legends 37, 49). While in the second story arc she carries on a casual conversation with her sister before bedtime while in the process of removing her pants (Fables: Animal Farm 22–23). Not [End Page 45] every scene depicting Rose Red is explicitly erotic, but the consistent foregrounding of her body makes her eroticization difficult to forget.
Further, there is in fact an eroticism—or at least a frank sexuality—in Rose Red’s characterization. In the way that she is described and discussed by the other Fables, as well as in her own dialogue, she brings to the fore a great deal of the sexuality that is implicitly pervasive not only in “Snow White and Rose Red,” but in the fairy-tale genre as a whole. The Grimms’ description of Rose Red as a girl “who preferred to run around in the meadows and fields” is transformed—perhaps modernized—in Fables as an image of Rose Red as party girl (Grimm and Grimm 475). Snow White describes her as “the last of the dedicated party fiends”—“the original wild child” (Willingham, Fables: Legends 17). While the sheriff of Fabletown—Bigby—contrasts her to the more conservative Snow White, commenting that Rose Red “seems to have dedicated her life to doing whatever will cause [Snow] the most embarrassment” (Fables: Legends 20). And in her own dialogue, too, Rose Red’s sexuality, and the sexuality of fairy tales in general, emerges. In the second story arc, when faced with the prospect of sharing a bed with Snow White, in response to Snow White’s comment that it would hardly be the first time, the half-naked Rose Red replies: “I’ve since grown out of the habit of sleeping with girls—except for once every year or so, as a special birthday present for Jack” (Jack o’ the Tales, her longtime lover) (Fables: Animal Farm 32). Then almost immediately she follows it with the quip: “Relax, sis. You’re safe from me. Even if I could get beyond the incest thing, you’re not my type.” Here, then, she is open not only about her former proclivity for other women and the fact that she has helped enact at least one of her lover’s fantasies, but she also makes explicit the theme of incest, which has been theorized again and again as being an implicit aspect of the fairy-tale genre all along (see Dundes, “To Love My Father All”).
The depiction and characterization of other characters in Fables works in much the same way, though not always in a manner that is so well developed as with Snow White and Rose Red. The creators of Fables, for example, maintain the continuity of Goldilocks’s identity by associating her, at least when she is first introduced, with the three bears (Willingham, Fables: Animal Farm 29). She, too, is transformed, however, in her translation to the comic book page. Her proclivity for the material means of the smallest, the weakest—her fairy-tale declaration that the porridge and the bed of the smallest bear are “just right”—is reshaped here as a revolutionary Marxist attitude. And the sexual implication of sharing a bed with baby Boo Bear is made explicit when, in talking about the plight of speciesism among the Fables community, she comments: “Do you think I share your son’s bed only because it happens to be ‘just right’?” Boo’s father responds: “No, it’s because Papa’s li’l boo bear is hung like a —.” And cutting him off, she responds: “I do it because it’s a vital and powerful political statement. [End Page 46] It symbolizes the fact that . . . there is no superior species . . . bear, human, or hedgehog” (Fables: Animal Farm 31).
Her corporealization and eroticization are further evinced, later, when we find her in bed with Bluebeard. In a postcoital moment, the two of them speak casually while Bluebeard lounges stomach-down on the bed, and Goldilocks dresses herself. An empty bottle of champagne rests upside down in an ice bucket, and the two characters each have a flute, now mostly consumed (Willingham, Fables: Storybook Love 88–91). The casual state of undress here, as well as the conspicuous consumption (a sign of their sensuality, if not their sexuality) serves to solidify the pair as corporeal creatures. Any abstractness left over from their fairy-tale descriptions is roundly wiped away, leaving little to the imagination. Their nudity, the presence of the used paraphernalia of a romantic evening, and the setting of the scene in a candlelit bedroom all suggest the degree to which their corporealization is more than just a product of the fact of their illustration. It all suggests the degree to which they are given, if not psychological complexity, then at least some core sense of desire.
Even more tellingly, this is the case with Prince Charming, too. A type rather than a character in literary fairy tales, the Prince, in Fables, is given form and rounded out through an extrapolation from his two main features: he is the rescuer of many a maiden in distress, and he is indeed charming. The result of this combination is that though he does live up to his name—though he is recognizably contiguous with the male rescuer in fairy tales like “Snow White” and “Sleeping Beauty”—he possesses none of the desirable qualities that we would imagine in a fairy-tale hero. Rather, he possesses a transformed version of those qualities, his implicit sexuality becoming explicit, and as a corollary, an arrogant, abrasive personality emerging. Within the first three pages of Prince Charming’s introduction, he is already abed, having sex with a woman he has just met, who does not even know his name (Willingham, Fables: Legends 18). He possesses some coital prowess, and commenting about it while in the act, he exclaims: “I’ve always believed a truly accomplished nobleman should hone his cocksmanship every bit as much as his swordsmanship. In each case, one should know when it’s better to thrust or parry or bind. When it’s time to withdraw or riposte” (Fables: Legends 18). As with Rose Red, he makes an overt connection here that comments not only on his own character, but also on fairy tales in general. He links the sexual symbolism of fairy tales—swordsmanship—with his sexual reality—cocksmanship. And in doing so, he makes a statement about the relative corporeality—the transformed visual rhetoric—of fairy tales on the comic book page.
In reading Fables—in examining the manner in which it uses, comments upon, and transforms fairy-tale figures—a pattern begins to emerge that is replicated throughout every other aspect of the series. The corporeal transformations found here are one significant part of a complex of inversions and subversions [End Page 47] that constitute what Peter Stallybrass and Allon White might, in their Politics and Poetics of Transgression, describe as a world upside down. The abstractness inherent in the fairy-tale genre may be useful in the creation of a discursive space, separate from the conventions of everyday life, yet capable of serving as a critical mirror for values, hopes, complaints, and desires. But the physical and psychological concreteness of Fables serves as a critical mirror of that discursive space. Through the metamorphosis of fairy-tale characters—through the exploration of their physical and psychological depth—the creators of Fables generate a carnivalesque commentary, at once lighthearted and pointed, that exposes the rigidness and prescriptive moral didacticism of fairy-tale patriarchs like Perrault and the Brothers Grimm. At the same time, through their emphasis on maintaining continuity with fairy-tale antecedents, they acknowledge the value of that canon, bringing the folkloristic nature of these texts to the fore through a negotiation of the tension between creativity and traditional constraint.
The result is a narrative that, though it takes place in a fictionalized “real” New York, maintains its fairy-tale nature. It positions itself, quite literally, at the crossroads between a folkloristic and literary genealogy; we learn in the first issue of the series that the Fabletown apartment complex rests on the corner of Bullfinch and Kipling streets (Willingham, Fables: Legends 5). It is populated, as we have seen, by characters from the literary fairy-tale canon, from the pages of the Grimms and Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, and even (as we find out later in the series) the Arabian Nights. And though the series is not yet complete—though the full structure of the narrative is not yet apparent—it seems loosely to follow the fairy-tale form that Vladimir Propp lays out in his Morphology of the Folktale; it begins with an act of villainy and the establishment of a lack—the exile of the Fables community from their homelands—and will presumably end with the return of the heroes and the punishment of the villain.
But the fairy tale here is also recognizably inverted. The abstractness that Lüthi observes, as we have seen, is swept away in the transformation of fairy-tale characters to the comic book page. In addition, however, the roles of the various characters are complicated and reversed, with villains becoming heroes, victimizers being victimized. We find that characters like Prince Charming, Jack, and Goldilocks, heroes of their own fairy tales, are to a greater or lesser degree villainous in Fables, while if there is a single hero of the series, it is Bigby, the big bad wolf. And we find that a character like Bluebeard, who in his own narrative seduces, terrorizes, and murders wife after wife, here becomes the victim of a duplicitous marriage proposal, and is then murdered himself. 5 And further, though the series as a whole follows a loosely Proppian structure, that structure is reversed, at least in the first five issues: the act of villainy that provides the impetus for the series’ first story is a marriage proposal, while its resolution is not a wedding, but a marriage averted. The characters in Fables, perhaps because [End Page 48] of their added psychological depth, are too complex to fit neatly into any single role—they are allowed to mature as the series progresses, acting with kindness and cruelty, heroism and villainy in turn. But even in this sense the series presents an inversion of the strict roles mandated by the fairy-tale genre.
It seems fair to argue of Fables that the set of inversions presented in the series—the corporealization and eroticization of fairy-tale characters—is less about a subversion of the prescriptive morality presented in the classic canon than it is about the transformation of fairy-tale virgins into sluts. Certainly, looking at the history of the visual depiction of eroticized fairy tales, this has been the case often enough. But even in instances like Tex Avery’s 1943 short film Red Hot Riding Hood or his 1949 short Little Rural Riding Hood that are explicit about their objectifying intent, the elements of subversion and critique are not absent. That Avery’s films transform fairy-tale femmes into fairy-tale femmes fatales does not diminish the acuity of their commentary or the degree to which they subvert the moralizing content of the genre that they parody. And likewise, the fact that Fables literally objectifies its characters—gives them concrete form and sexually explicit behavior—does not diminish its critique. Examining the transformations present in the series and their relationship to the fairy-tale genre, we can see how Fables belongs as much to the postmodernist literary tradition of authors like John Barth, Angela Carter, and Margaret Atwood as it does to that of Tex Avery. And how, like works by these authors, it is capable of existing at once as parody, biting commentary, and a fairy tale in its own right.
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Sleep
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Gharara and kameez are a common combination of (What?) in the Indian sub-continent?
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Endicott Redux:
Healing Tales and The Snow Queen
Back in November , we profiled the work of multi-media artist Meg Fox, looking at the ways she and other writers and artists use fairy tale themes to discuss the difficult subject of child abuse. Now Meg has written to say that she's started a new blog specifically for this kind of work: Healing Through Visual, Literary and Performance Arts . The art above is one of the new pieces featured on the blog, based on The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen -- a writer we were speaking of just yesterday.
In an excellent essay titled "In Trance of Self," fiction writer and playwright Deborah Eisenberg discusses the young protagonists of The Snow Queen, looking at the ways that both Gerda and Kay claim our sympathy: "Who among us, like Gerda, has not been exiled from the familiar comforts of one's world by the departure or defection of a beloved?...Who has not been forced to accede to a longing that nothing but its object can allay? On the other hand, who has not experienced some measure or some element of Kay's despair? Who has not, at one time or another, been paralyzed and estranged as his appetite and affection for life leaches away....Who has not, at least briefly, retreated into a shining hermetic fortress from which the rest of the world appears frozen and colorless?...And who, withholding sympathy from his unworthy self, has not been ennobled by the sympathy of a loving friend?" (To read the full essay, seek out Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Women Writers Explore Their Favorite Fairy Tales , edited by Kate Bernheimer .)
In light of yesterday's discussion in the Comments section of the Hans Christian Andersen post, Eisenberg's description of Kay's experience caused me to think about Kay's story in a new way: as a metaphor for depression. I'd always viewed Kay as simply cut off from love, like a lover who has turned suddenly cold when his affection has been transferred to someone else. (Sandra Gilbert's Snow Queen poem cycle is a wonderful exploration of this interpretation.) And yet, another reading of the tale is that young Kay is cut off from life itself, from all feeling and all pleasure...which evokes the painful experience described by sufferers of clinical depression.
This is what I love about fairy tales -- that there are so many different ways to read them, some of which their various tellers and authors intended, and some of which perhaps they did not. They also contain much food for thought concerning the process of healing and transformation -- not only for those who are putting their lives back together after traumatic childhoods, but for everyone who has been scarred by life in one way or another.
Here's another essay in the Endicott archives on the healing power of myth and mythic fiction: The Dark of the Woods ; plus I'd like to recommend Midori's powerful Armless Maiden article once again.
I'd also like to list some memorable works of contemporary fiction inspired by The Snow Queen fairy tale -- starting with"The Snow Queen" by Patricia McKillip, an absolutely gorgeous short story published in the Snow White, Blood Red anthology, and Kelly Link's superb "Travels With the Snow Queen," published in Stranger Things Happen . Other good short stories: "The Tale of the Brother" by Emma Donoghue ( Kissing the Witch ), "In the Witch's Garden" by Naomi Kritzer (Realms of Fantasy magazine, October 2002), "The Lady in the Ice Garden" by Kara Dalkey ( Firebirds ), "Ice" by Francesca Lia Block ( The Rose and the Beast ), and "With the Snow Queen" by Joanne Greenberg ( With the Snow Queen ). (A.S. Byatt's fabulous story "Cold," in her collection Elementals: Stories of Fire and Ice , also plays with a bit of Snow Queen imagery, along with imagery from other fairy tales.)
The afore-mentioned Snow Queen cycle of poems by Sandra M. Gilbert can be found in her collection Blood Pressure , and Adrienne Rich's poem "The Snow Queen" can be found in The Fact of a Doorframe . The Snow Queen by Eileen Kernaghan is a gentle YA novel that brings elements of Scandinavian shamanism to Andersen's tale. The Ice Queen by Alice Hoffman is a magical contemporary novel that draws imagery from The Snow Queen, among other fairy tales. And, of course, there's The Snow Queen by Joan Vinge, a classic work of science fiction that draws on themes from the fairy tale.
You can read an annotated copy of Andersen's original tale over on the Surlalune Fairy Tale Pages , and also see Snow Queen illustrations from the 19th & early-20th centuries. The art in this post is by Meg Fox, Edmund Dulac, Arthur Rackham, Milo Winter, and W. Heath Robinson.
Children's Book Writers and Film
Saturday's post on Beatrix Potter has got me thinking about two other children's book writers whose lives got the movie treatment, turning them into men rather different than the men they actually were.
The film Hans Christian Andersen , made in 1952 and featuring Danny Kaye in the title role, turned this difficult, enormously complex man into a gentle, simplistic character. Andersen did indeed live a rags-to-riches story straight out of one of his own fairy tales; he was born to a poor family in Odense and died a wealthy man celebrated around the world (acclaimed, during his lifetime, for his adult novels and travel writing as well as his fairy tales). But his rise was not a straight-forward one, nor was his character. He lived at a time when wealth and achievement could not entirely erase the stigma of his working class origins; he also lived at a time when his sexual passion for men could not be openly acknowledged. Had Andersen been alive today, his life — and thus his art — would have been very different. As his biographer Jackie Wullschlaeger commented: "Without the enormous repression of his time, he could have declared himself to be a homosexual. Many people have asked me what would have become of him today. He might have taken anti-depressants and been happier, but then he would not have written his fairy tales" -- for his fairy tales, with their distinctive strain of tragedy, were drawn from the pain of Andersen's own experience.
Modern Mythic Art
Here's an unusual exhibition, running at the Galerie St. Etienne in New York City: Fairy Tale, Myth, and Fantasy: Approaches to Spirituality in Art . The show pulls together a wide range of Modernist, Outsider, and contemporary artists, including Emil Nolde, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Henry Dager, Minnie Evens, Leonard Baskin, and Kiki Smith.
Early modernists, say the curators, explored spirituality in their work to counter the materialism of modern society, although "an arcane formal vocabulary made their spirituality less than obvious to the uninitiated. Abstract art, in particular, was open to many interpretations, and as the twentieth century progressed, these interpretations veered away from the spiritual to focus on purely formal criteria....
"Despite its modern-day secularization, however, art-making is still tantamount to a spiritual practice, a way of understanding and giving meaning to one’s existence. The universal archetypes preserved in Judeo-Christian theology, older or non-Western mythologies and fairy tales form the basis for a common spiritual language that many artists have dipped into. The contemporary artist Kiki Smith, for example, gravitates to the more atavistic aspects of Catholicism: its visceral connections to the human body, the practical interventions of saints, and the embodiment of the sacred in animals and the natural environment.
"In Haiti, many artists are vodou priests, whose paintings document religious ceremonies or trance visions. In the far reaches of the former Soviet Union and the European continent, Eastern Orthodox Christianity merged with local history and folk tales to create a rich tradition that endured despite being opposed by the Communists. Vasilij Romanenkov, working as a gardener at a Moscow hotel, uses art to connect with the spiritual roots he left behind in his native Smolensk. The Serbian artist Ilija Bosilj-Basicevic, persecuted in succession by Austro-Hungarian occupiers, Croatian fascists, Nazis and Yugoslav Communists, sought respite in his own personal paradise, a parallel universe he called Ilijada.
"Greek mythology is one of the best known narrative traditions, drawn upon by artists as diverse as Lovis Corinth, Pablo Picasso and Leonard Baskin. Fairy tales form another common visual heritage, used by the Austrian artist Matthias Griebler, among others." The Paul Klee piece above, for example, is inspired by the fairytales of the German Romantic writer E.T.A. Hoffman. The show also includes examples of fantastical worlds created by "Outsider" artists such as Henry Darger.
The show runs until February 7th. Visit the Galerie St. Etienne website for more information.
The Sunday Poem
For our Sunday Poem we have another fabulous piece from the Poetry 180 website (which provides a poem a day for American high school students). The poem this time is " Gretel " by Andrea Hollander Budy, a chilling meditation on the Grimms fairy tale Hansel and Gretel . "A woman is born to this," writes the poet; "...She won't escape that oven."
Andrea Hollander Budy is the author of House Without a Dreamer (winner of the Nicholas Roerich Poetry Prize), The Other Life , and a lovely new collection, Woman in the Painting . She has won the Ellipsis Poetry Award, a D. H. Lawrence Fellowship from the Taos Writers' Conference, a Pushcart Prize, the WORDS Award in Poetry, the Porter Fund Award for Literary Excellence, the Panhandler Poetry Prize, and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Arkansas Arts Council. Her poems and essays have appeared in Poetry, The Georgia Review, Shenandoah, Five Points, The Kenyon Review, DoubleTake, Crazyhorse, and other journals.
The art above is by Arthur Rackham .
The Real Miss Potter
When I heard that a film was being made about Beatrix Potter , it seemed like a terrific idea to me -- for this famous children's book writer (and early environmentalist) led a fascinating life. The finished film, Miss Potter , is a disappointment, alas...and Anthony Lane has nailed the reasons why in his wonderfully acerbic review in The New Yorker. The film, he says, "lapses, during the longueurs, into glorious views of the Lake District, without noticing that Potter herself, though steeped in the countryside...took care to parcel it out in tempting glimpses on the page, in the crannies of her industrious narratives. The hills and fells led her not into Wordsworthian rapture but into a social comedy as concise, and often as acidic, as Jane Austen's." (Read the full article here .)
If you'd like to know more about Beatrix Potter, forget the film and read Linda Lear's engrossing new biography Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature , which Elizabeth Hand has reviewed in The Washington Post. "At her death in 1943," writes Hand, "the elderly Mrs. Heelis, nee Potter, left an estate valued at today's equivalent of 7 million pounds -- more than $13 million. Her influence on children's literature is almost incalculable and can be seen in works by Alison Utley, Margaret Wise Brown, Tasha Tudor, Robert Lawson and Margery Sharp, to name just a few. Not bad for an empire built on what her editors called 'the bunny book'.
"Yet Potter herself remains something of a mystery -- not surprising, perhaps, for someone who for 16 years kept a diary written in code and whose work dealt almost exclusively with the doings of small creatures whose fictional lives and homes were cunningly hidden in hedgerows, wainscots, woodlands, farmsteads and floorboards." (Read the full review here .)
Alice Hoffman's Skylight Confessions
"I read fairy tales early on," Alice Hoffman wrote a while back in an article for The Washington Post. "They terrified, delighted, disgusted and amazed me. They were far more grown-up than any other children's books I read, scarily so at times. Like most children, I could feel the disturbing aspects of the stories even if I couldn't intellectually understand or articulate their underlying meanings. Still, I knew. I thrilled to them. I learned.
Everything in them rang true: the unspoken sexuality (a woman loves a beast, a girl is nearly eaten by a wolf, a frog wishes to be the husband of a princess), the violence (bad mothers, absent fathers, foul murders), the greed (the house of candy, the cage of gold). I didn't realize it, of course, but the tales were allowing me to examine fear, anxiety, desire, sorrow. It was a dangerous world, but truer to reality than anything else we were allowed -- those safe books with their happy endings....
"Do people choose the art that inspires them -- do they think it over, decide they might prefer the fabulous to the real? For me, it was those early readings of fairy tales that made me who I was as a reader and, later on, as a storyteller."
In her many books for adults and teenagers, Hoffman has been a pioneer of contemporary American Magical Realism, writing mainstream novels that bristle with magic, folklore, and fairy tale allusions -- such as Practical Magic , The River King , The Probable Future , The Ice Queen , Green Angel , among others. Her latest book, Skylight Confessions , is a purely realist story about a fractured family in Connecticut, yet it's told using imagery and themes drawn from classic fairy tales. Here's a small bit of text from Part III of the novel (slightly edited in order to avoid a plot spoiler):
"The fairy tale Blanca was reading...was Hans My Hedgehog . Unloved children were everywhere in fairy tales; some survived, others did not. Hans was a sorrowful creature kept behind the stove because his father couldn't stand to see his offspring. Hans was not what his father had wanted, and so he ignored him, forgetting his disappointment, just as John Moody had forgotten his. Poor Sam had never done anything right in his father's eyes. If he'd had whiskers and a tail it would have been no different, no better and no worse."
For many centuries, fairy tales were primarily women's stories, passed down in the kitchen, the nursery, and by the fireside while the work of carding, spinning, and weaving was done. (We still speak of storytellers "spinning a yarn".) Women also played a large role in turning oral fairy tales into literary ones, particularly the "salon" writers of 17th century France, who first coined the name conte de fée, fairy tale. (You can read more about this here .) Alice Hoffman is one of a distinguished group of contemporary women writers (Kate Bernheimer, A.S. Byatt, Angela Carter, Susanna Clarke, Emma Donoghue, Carol Ann Duffy, Tanith Lee, Kelly Link, Sara Maitland, Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Donna Jo Napoli, Delia Sherman, Midori Snyder, Marina Warner, Jane Yolen and numerous others ) who are the direct descendants of the salonnières, carrying on the work of passing women's stories down through the centuries.
"My initial exposure to storytelling," says Hoffman, "even before I read fairy tales, came from the stories told to me by the most down-to-earth woman I knew -- my grandmother. The two of us might have been in the market or on the subway, we might have been walking down Jerome Avenue or drinking tea with cubes of sugar in her overheated apartment, but we were also in Russia. We were dropped into her childhood, stuck in a snowstorm, running for our lives. When I heard about the wolves that howled all night, about the rivers where the ice was so thick it didn't melt until May, about men who worked so hard that they sometimes slept for a month in the winter, like bears, I was hearing the deeper truth of my grandmother's life, the complex universe that she carried with her, a very personal once-upon-a-time. This was the beginning of my life in the world of storytelling. And, perhaps, it was not unlike the very start of storytelling itself."
To learn more about Alice Hoffman's work, visit her website , where you can read excerpts from her various books.
The art above is by Eleanor Vere Boyle and Ruth Sanderson . To see other fairy tale illustrations by women artists past and present, and to read about the history of women in fairy tales, visit Old Wives Tales in the Endicott gallery.
Snow Spiral on Swan Road
Snow in the desert? Strange but true. "It happens about once every five years or so," Stu Jenks writes from Arizona. "Warm moist air from Mexico collides with very cold air from the North, and bingo bango, we get snow on the valley floor of Tucson. The above image is of a dirt spiral just south of my apartment. Usually the spiral is kind of boring to look at, up close. (Works much better at a distance of a couple hundred yards from my bedroom window). But with a dusting of snow, the close up becomes quite fetching. This photo was taken a little after dawn on Monday."
More of Stu's spiral photographs can be seen on his website , his blog , and in the latest issue of the Mythic Passages web journal.
Kiki Smith: A Gathering
There are just a few weeks left now to see Kiki Smith: A Gathering: 1980 - 2005 at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. This show (which has been traveling around the U.S.) is the first full-scale American museum survey of the career of one of our most innovative artists -- and one whose work often falls into the realm of the mythic and fantastic.
Kiki Smith, the daughter of the post-war artist Tony Smith, was born in Germany in 1954 and raised in New Jersey in a household where Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko, and other artists were frequent visitors. Settling in New York after one year of art school, a three month course of Emergency Medical Technician
training focused her attention on the human body as a major source of inspiration for her art. Her interest in depicting the female form led, in turn, to an exploration of feminine figures in myth, folklore, and Biblical stories -- an exploration that ranged across many media, including sculpture, printmaking, and installation art.
The curators of the Whitney show have noted that the natural world also played a significant role in the development of Smith's art, "with may works based on landscape, the cosmos, and the historical and spiritual connections between humans and animals. Smith has incorporated birds extensively in her work, and has also turned her attention to a wide array of other creatures, frequently depicting wolves, deer, cats, owls, bats, mice and other animals drawn from the contexts of religion, literature, and folklore.
"More recently, Smith has explored storytelling as a subject matter, separating characters from their traditional narratives, as she weaves together elements from fairy tales, folklore and myths to create evocative pieces that invite multiple interpretations."
Visit the Whitney Museum website for more information on the artist and on the exhibition, which runs until February 11, 2007. You can also see a Flash Slide Show of the exhibition (and listen to commentary about it) on the Minneapolis Public Radio website, which profiled Smith's work when A Gathering was exhibited at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
I also recommend Kiki Smith: Prints, Books, & Things , a Flash Slide Show on the MoMA website, created for a previous exhibition of Smith's work. The slides are divided by subject: Early Screenprints, Anatomy, Self-portraits, Nature, and Feminine Contexts. About the latter topic, the curators write: "Smith's feminine subjects have ranged from Egyptian goddesses and classical Greek nymphs to Biblical figures and heroines in fairy tales, reflecting her voracious study of art and culture across continents and epics."
This description could also easily be applied to Marina Warner's work, which we profiled on this blog yesterday. So it should come as no surprise that Warner, along with Siri Engberg and Linda Noclin, wrote the text for the book that accompanies the Whitney exhibition: Kiki Smith: A Gathering (1980-2005) . Also available is Kiki Smith: Prints, Books, & Things , with text by Wendy Weitman. Both books are handsomely designed and presented.
Fairies and Phantasms
Speaking of Marina Warner (as we were yesterday), it always amazes me what this indefatigable woman produces each year by way of books, essays, lectures, and numerous other projects besides. Friends of Jane Yolen (another wildly prolific writer) used to speculate that Jane had a magic watch capable of stopping time, putting everyone else in suspended animation while she obtained a few extra hours for herself each day. It was the only way we could account for the amount (and quality) of her creative output. Clearly Ms. Warner has one of those watches too. (Now if I only knew where to find one myself...)
Among Warner's recent publications , I particularly recommend Phantasmagoria: Spirit Visions, Metaphors, Media --which I received as a Christmas present and recently devoured. In previous books, Warner had looked at the cultural history of fairy tales, the dark imagination, and mythic metamorphosis, among other subjects. Now she mediates on the spirit and the soul -- a broad subject indeed! As The Washington Post noted, "In these dense pages, she ranges from Platonic appearances to Philip K. Dick's replicants, from the camera obscura to the Internet; she cites the work of contemporary writers, artists and filmmakers on one page and the speculations of Renaissance polymaths and Victorian scientists on another. While Warner always writes clearly, she nonetheless demands attention: Her diction will test your vocabulary even as her anecdotes, illustrations and ideas will stretch your mind."
In Gothic Nightmares: Fuseli, Blake and the Gothic Imagination , Warner joins Christopher Frayling and Martin Myrone to examine the influence of Gothic literature and fantasy on visual art. It's an absolutely delicious look at these themes.
Warner has contributed a fabulous introductory essay to a new edition of The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies , an absolutely classic work about the fairy folklore of the Scottish highlands, collected by Robert Kirk in the 17th century, first published by Sir Walter Scott in 1815, and re-edited by Andrew Lang in 1893. Great stuff here.
Equally riveting are two essay collections published in the UK in 2004 that a lot of American readers seem to have missed: Fantastic Metamorphoses, Other Worlds , a terrific collection of essays (originally lectures) on the subject of metamorphoses -- from Ovid to the fantasies of Philip Pullman; and Signs and Wonders , essays exploring images of the miraculous in myth, religion, fantastic literature, fairy tales, and more.
And coming up soon is Monsters of Our Own Making: The Peculiar Pleasure of Fear , which will be released by the University of Kentucky Press next month. (I've already got my pre-order in....) Visit Warner's website for futher information on her publications, projects, lecture dates, book signings, and other news.
Memory Maps
The Radio Ballads project that we discussed yesterday reminded me of another ground-breaking interstitial arts project examining historical and contemporary life in Britain: Memory Maps . Created in collaboration by cultural historian (and fairy tale scholar) Marina Warner, the University of Essex, and the V&A Museum, Memory Maps is an internet-based project focused on the relationship between people and place.
In her introductory essay, Marina Warner writes: "A new genre of literature has been emerging strongly in recent years. It doesn't belong automatically on any particular shelf in a bookshop, or to a particular category in a library catalogue. Writers working in this vein are exploring people and places and the relations between them, and in order to do so they combine fiction, history, traveller's tales, autobiography, anecdote, aesthetics, antiquarianism, conversation, and memoir. Mapping memories involves listening in to other people's ghosts as well as your own....Memory Maps is a website designed to inspire and foster work which will continue this approach to writing by providing focal points of interest - catalysts of thought - in the form of paintings and artifacts, alongside databases about people and places."
The Memory Maps project begins in Essex, England, one of the oldest inhabited parts of the British Isles. The project organizers began by collecting images of Essex and asking a wide range of writers for their responses -- including poet & film-maker Ian Sinclair, ecological activist Ken Worpole, musician Billy Bragg, poet Angela Livingstone, novelists Michele Roberts and Lisa Appignanesi, and numerous others (with A.S. Byatt still to come). The project then invites you, the reader, to "respond and contribute, stitching new thoughts, dreams, history, and stories into the map."
The form of writing they are chiefly seeking, Warner explains, comes from an old, very English tradition "of the personal, even eccentric essay, the wide-ranging, meditation, and the anecdotal almanac.The precursors of Memory Maps include Robert Burton and The Anatomy of Melancholy; John Aubrey and Brief Lives; Sir Thomas Browne who investigated local beliefs and rituals, ancient and modern; Samuel Taylor Coleridge, most aleatory of English conversationalists on paper and in person; Thomas De Quincey, who forged a new kind of impassioned personal testamentary essay; and others: this is another zone of exploration.
"These earlier writers in the genre contributed to a definition of belonging, and an idea of Englishness in their time by inquiring into local customs and opinions, and eavesdropping on local anecdotes. Likewise in the Scottish Highlands, at the end of the seventeenth century, the minister Robert Kirk was equally keen to convey the special character of his parishioners' beliefs in 'the secret common-wealth of fairies', as he called his book of collected lore. Today, in a country braided from different peoples, cultures, and systems of thought, inquiry of this kind can draw out even more richly coloured and densely tangled strands...
"As the Memory Maps grow," Warner concludes, "they will go on connecting different people and places across time and in the present. Such an exchange between images and writings, past and present, memory and imagination, releases energy: the energy of stories."
Click here to learn more about Memory Maps , and how to contribute to the project yourself. And click here to listen to Billy Bragg's contribution, the song " A13, Trunk Road to the Sea ".
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i don't know
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According to a 2014 Time Magazine report what 'fingered' chocolate confectionery bar became the first to be sold in every market of the world?
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13 Most Influential Candy Bars of All Time
Milky Way
Mars, Inc.
When this bar debuted in 1923, it was the first to take inspiration from a real dessert: the milky way malted milkshake. (That’s right—it was not named after the galaxy.) Decades later, that same gimmick would spawn products like PowerBar’s Dulce de Leche-flavored snack and Kit Kat’s Strawberry Cheesecake bar in Japan.
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Baby Ruth
Nestlé
When this bar launched in 1921, its makers claimed it was named after President Grover Cleveland’s daughter Ruth (who had died 17 years earlier at the age of 12). But at that time, the more obvious association was with new Yankees star Babe Ruth, making this the first candy bar to profit from the success of a public figure—even though he wasn’t being compensated.
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Nestlé Crunch
Nestlé
Prior to this bar’s introduction in 1937, candy-bar fillings were somewhat rich: nuts, caramel, etc. By using dirt-cheap puffed rice, however, Nestle helped mainstream the notion that candy could be almost anything you put into chocolate—an idea that brought candy-bar prices down and spawned treats like Krackel and Thingamajig.
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Cadbury Milk Chocolate
Mondelēz International
The Cadbury family’s idyllic factory village in Birmingham, England—where these bars were created in 1897—helped inspire Milton S. Hershey’s own facility in Pennsylvania. “It was a sort of social utopia,” explains Deborah Cadbury, a family descendant and author of Chocolate Wars . “The Cadbury brothers as Quakers were the first to really look after their employees and provide pensions and security of employment and a living wage.” Although the Cadburys no longer own the company, its influence still looms large: its Dairy Milk and 5-Star bars are some of the world’s best-selling confections.
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Scharffen Berger
Bill Hogan—Chicago Tribune/MCT/Getty Images
The world’s first widely distributed “artisanal” chocolate bar, processed bean-to-bar with a preference for darker chocolate, launched in 1997, capitalizing on shifting tastes that demanded finer products made in smaller batches. Its success—Scharffen Berger was acquired by Hershey in 2005—“set the stage for the artisanal chocolate bar movement,” says Chocolate: The Sweet History author Beth Kimmerle, which spawned Mast Brothers’ black truffle bars , Vosges’ bacon chocolate bars and more.
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Grenada Chocolate
The Grenada Chocolate Company
Because chocolate bars are produced mostly in Europe and North America, the farmers that made them possible—by growing cacao in tropical climates—don’t get to reap the full rewards. Grenada Chocolate, founded in 1999 by an American ex-pat, aims to buck that trend: its cocoa beans are grown and processed into bars entirely within its home country, helping boost the economy and providing employment for locals. The model, described as “a true worker-owned co-operative” in the 2012 documentary Nothing Like Chocolate , has since been replicated by companies like Madécasse (in Madagascar) and Pacari (in Ecuador).
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Chicken Dinner
Joe Lacey from the book Classic Candy
This bar, which debuted in 1923, was the first chocolate bar to be marketed as nutritious; advertisements touted the nut-packed treats as “candy made good.” Though Sperry’s Chicken Dinner was discontinued in the 1960s, its success helped spawn the power bar industry, paving the way for brands like Clif and Luna, whose bars offer vitamins alongside hearty doses of chocolate, caramel and more.
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Snickers
Mars, Inc.
More than 80 years after its launch in 1930, this Mars bar is world’s best-selling international confection. And although it may not have revolutionized candy-bar taste or distribution, it’s unparalleled at selling itself: its star-studded ad campaign “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” helped sales hit around $3.5 billion in 2012, outpacing M&Ms, Reeses and Kit Kat. Also, says Kimmerle, it helps that Snickers offers the holy trinity of confection: nougat, caramel and peanuts—coated in chocolate, of course.
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Nestlé Milk Chocolate
Joe Lacey—candywrappermuseum.com
Prior to this bar’s introduction in 1875, bar-form cocoa was bitter, chewy and dark. And chocolatiers couldn’t sweeten it with regular milk, as the liquid invited mildew growth. By adding the condensed milk pioneered by Henri Nestlé for infant formula, however, Swiss chocolatier Daniel Peter solved that problem—his product was smoother, sweeter and had a longer shelf life. That breakthrough paved the way for almost every modern-day chocolate bar, including Hershey’s, Lindt and Godiva.
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Toblerone
Mondelēz International
This now-iconic triangular prism of chocolate, nougat, almonds and honey, which debuted in 1908, was the first flagship bar to debut with a filling, upending the traditional model. (That same year, Hershey’s launched a milk chocolate bar with almonds.) Today, Lacey calls the Swiss treat “a juggernaut in terms of the global candy market” and filling is standard in bars like Almond Joy, Mounds and Three Musketeers.
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Hershey’s Milk Chocolate
The Hershey Company
Nestlé may have invented milk chocolate, but Hershey’s made it mainstream. By building his factory right in the middle of dairy land—and using local milk to amp up production volume—Milton Hershey powered an unparalleled distribution network, says Sweet Tooth author Kate Hopkins, turning chocolate into an American obsession. Since its first bar debuted in 1900, Hershey’s has become one of the world’s most recognizable brands: its treats fed soldiers during World War II; its ad campaigns were revered; and now, there’s a $23.5 million museum dedicated to its legacy.
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Kit Kat
The Hershey Company
Beyond being the first candy bar to be marketed around sharing, which helped turn chocolate into a social snack, Kit Kat was also the first to gain a global following. Whereas Hershey’s and Cadbury cornered different markets with similar products, the wafer-filled Kit Kats launched in both Europe and the U.S. before entering Australia, Asia and Africa—paving the way for other blockbuster bars like Snickers and Butterfinger. Decades later, Kit Kat remains a global obsession: last year, Google’s Android announced its new operating system would be called “KitKat,” and in January, Tokyo welcomed the first all-Kit Kat store, featuring flavors like edamame soy bean, purple sweet potato and wasabi.
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Kit Kat
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The silk thread of a silkworm cocoon can be up to how many meteres long?
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Top Ten Best Candy Bars - TheTopTens®
Top Ten Best Candy Bars
The Top Ten
1 Twix
That was my favorite candy when I was a kid. Still is. You have to love the crunch and caramel in every Twix bar. MM
The Gods were angry at man. They saw the corruption, the evil, and the tyranny in our world. There was no good in our race so they planned to eradicate us off the planet. The future was bleak and as the black clouds of a raging tempest gathered overhead, one man knew he most prove our worth. The man worked tirelessly to show the good in man, he urged his people to assist in the production of something to symbolize good, but no one cared. They laughed and ignored his cries, while eating their bland chocolate bars. But this one man saw the only items worth living, caramel, chocolate, and cookies. He quickly produced the symbol of purity and love, named it "Twix" and offered it to the Gods. As they tasted his creation they smiled, and decided man is not all bad, and allowed us to live so twix may continue. So forget not the work our ancestor did to ensure our survival, eat a twix and you will be reminded of the inherent good in this world. Life is good. Twix. It's all in the mix.
Chocolate, caramel, biscuit = Twix - the best candy bar ever! - IceCream
Its gooey caramel mixed with the crunchy texture makes it even more heavenly
V 267 Comments
2 Kit-Kat
If you don't love this you're insane! BEST CANDY BAR EVER! It has so many flavors to choose from! Unlike any other candy bar you can choose from more flavors than every one!
Take a break take a kit kat! I never get tired of that commercial gotta love every kitkat from white to chunky.
I love Kit Kat. It's the best. I love the cookie inside just enough chocolate to hit the spot. I highly recommend to everyone to buy it. It's not too sweet. It's not bad in calories either. I really love the commercials on Kit Kat. It makes me go run out and get it. It catches my eye all the time. I really really do. I refuse to buy any other brand. Bite size is awesome too. I think Kit Kat should be number #1 not 3. I love you, Kit Kat.
Kit Kats have a taste that never goes out of style! It's a tasty treat that I always look forward to eating it's the BEST CANY BAR EVER!
V 226 Comments
3 Snickers
Love snickers. Once I had bought a pack of snickers; however my mother traded it with my aunt for dairy milk. I mean come on! - Scoobymad4
Best chocolate bar I don't know why Twix is number 1 Snickers should be number 1
Snicke is the best! I eat them none stop! They are bars of awesomeness! AMAZING. FLAVORFUL. Chocolate. Carmel. With last but, not least COOKIES!
You probably mean twix Snickers has chocolate and caramel and nougat.
I love Snickers because it's got that triple combo texture on the inside - Mcgillacuddy
V 203 Comments
4 Butterfinger
With other candy bars, you get tired of them and you start to crave cheese. But with Butterfinger, you just crave more Butterfinger. I always look at the empty wrapper and remember my wonderful candy bar. YUM!
this has always been my fav cb ever and I mean ever and I'm only a kid
Butterfinger is probably like the best one on here! Love 'em.
Always been my favorite. I think it is the most unique tasting, and of course like all good candy bars, its packaging is instantly recognizable. Butterfinger crisp was amazing, what happened to it? Oh well. Still love butterfinger!
V 95 Comments
5 Milky Way
Milky Way is the best! I love how the nougat melts into the caramel and chocolate. It makes the perfect candy bar. Nothing is better than the Milky Way!
It is creamy with caramel that melts in your! what could every taste better? milky way is number one on my list and it will number one soon on yours, try a milky way!
Its your favorite!
V 69 Comments
6 Hershey Bar
I LOVE HERSHEY! I love the dark chocolate type. It's the best! It's number 1 on my list.
I do not like any of these candy bars except for Hershey, Kit-Kat, and Crunch. But I like this one the best
- JustinBiebersGurl
I love Hershey's because of its amazing flavor. When it's fresh and cold, you could feel the little pieces of milk chocolate on your tongue giving you that rich, refreshing taste of hardened chocolate. This should be #1. It is also the largest chocolate manufacturer in the United States, so that's another reason why it should be #1.
Do you love Hershey Bar because if you gonna taste some today
V 91 Comments
7 3 Musketeers
Three musketeers taste so good I could marry them if I could choose one food to have for breakfast lunch and dinner I would diffidently pick three musketeers because I love the filling stuff inside and the chocolate outside and put together it taste even better it taste like heaven that is how much I like three musketeers I mean whoever invented them is a genius because they are so good if three musketeers didn't exist I don't know what I would do because I eat them when I am sad and lonely in kindergarten my would pack one in my lunch every day just to get me to actually go to school but the teacher took it away every day and she ate it she told my mom I was allowed to eat them in school but that was just so she could take them away and she could get free candy and she made me cry I never forgot that time
Chocolate overload! Perfect for chocoholics such as myself. I lost count of how many I ate during my college classes!
3 Musketeers VS. KIT KAT
3 musketeers is better than kit kat because so many people ate so many of them they can't keep track of how many they ate during college. . They melt in your mouth like your in a dream. They also are really tasty. Plus it has squishy chocolate inside.
The musketeers were my favorite since I first tried them. if you didn't try these, try, THEM; NOW!
V 53 Comments
8 Crunch
Absolutely DELICIOUS! I LOVE IT! Isn't number 1 on my list but is AWESOME out of all these candy bars. WOHOO! Wish it were ONE!
Gosh. BEST CANDY EVER, GUYS. HOW DID IT NOT MAKE TOP TEN? Oh my god. Just eat it. It ps absolutely amazing, yummy crsipies
Not too fancy not too much:)
just the right sized orginal chocolate snack for me!
Chinese people like it because it has rice
9 100 Grand
I don't always eat candy bars, but when I do, I prefer 100 Grand!
100 grands are amazing but the bar isn't very big so they definitely need to make the bar bigger or else they aren't going to have very good sales in the next couple of years
I first ate these in my kindergarten class. We were taking an AR (accelerated reader) test. After we finished the AR test, if we did well we would get a 100 grand bar. They put a little percent sign after the 100. It was like they were telling us we were 100% grand. It's one of my fondest memories (that have to do with chocolate).
They should be at #1 or #2 please everyone do this for me JDHFDGYIOSRFT7OF
V 38 Comments
10 Hershey's Cookies and Cream Bar
THIS IS so GOOD! If I could have a million at one time I would eat them non stop they are amazing and no candy beats it no matter what people say! This voting is crap unless you vote jerseys cookies and cream!
CREAMY AND SWEET, WHITE CHOCOLATE KICKS BUTT AND THE CRUNCHY OF THE COOKIE yum
Yuuuummm... by FAR my favorite chocolate bar... HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE THIS!
It's so good I wish I was eating like 100 right now
The Contenders
11 Mars Bar
Whoever posted this product must be from somewhere other than the United States, because Mars bars have been sold nationwide as Snickers Almond bars since 2000. Meanwhile, Mars bars are sold across the rest of the globe without nuts, identical to a Milky Way.
I still miss the American Mars Bar, as I prefer the look of the wrapper and the traditional name to the "Snickers Almond Bar". As for the black and red wrappered British Mars bar... it is superior to the Milky Way because of the quality of its chocolate. But then, that's really a matter of taste. Milky way is also a great bar.
Blows the Milky Way out of the water. Tastes so much sweeter, harder, and better.
I love mars bars
V 29 Comments
12 Reese's
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, the best candy ever. I cannot believe it isn't in the top 5. I'm Loving Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Truly scrumptious & delicious. My grown Children try to get me the biggest Reese's Cup they can find. One Year my Son bought me a Giant Reese's Peanut Butter Heart. My Son passed away in April 2012. I Loved him so much. I have two other grown Children & they are always trying to Find a bigger Reese's than the Heart, but they haven't found a Bigger one. How about a
Giant Reese's Egg or Rabbit for Easter.
Maybe people don't think this is a candy bar. That is the only reasonable expectation of why Reese's are so low. I love this sweet treat so much my oldest son has it for a name. My biggest problem when I go to pick out candy is if it's going to be cups or pieces, but it is always Reese's.
Reese's are the best you can get candy wise. The chocolate is wonderful and the inside has an unforgettable texture. If they put sticky peanut butter in there. It would NOT be anywhere as good as it is. Reese's for the win!
Literally the most amazing candy bar in the world!
V 69 Comments
13 Take 5
This is the best candy bar ever... It is the most underrated candy bar. They should be selling this candy bar in more stores, I can barely find them anywhere. This is like a hipster's dream come true, haha. Its like a combination of twix, kit kat, with a awesome pretzel inside that compliments the sweetness. BEST CANDY BAR EVER.
How have I not discovered this candy bar sooner. Mere words are not enough to describe how delicious this candy is.. And I'm not even a big candy bar fan. I'd heard of the candy before but assumed it was one of those nasty candy bars no one wants in their Halloween bag. I should be mad at the person who introduced me to how awesome and underrated these are.. because this realization will certainly add 2-5 lbs.
I used to work at an independent cinema. When we started selling this candy I lost it! Where had this delicious creation been all my life? It really has everything I'm looking for in a candy... Except for negative calories.
From the uk and visiting NYC discovered this bar. Amazing. How have I never discovered it before? Bought a pack of single minis home with me. Not sharing them.
V 38 Comments
14 Almond Joy
Coconut. Almonds. Chocolate. No rage, no hate, no conflict, just pure blissful joy. A fitting and honest name for a mass-produced delicacy in an attractive wrapper. This magical delight will bring about world peace and save the planet.
They are coconut almonds and chocolate all together they should be at least number ten
Cocoanut and Chocolate. It's simply the greatest candy bar there is. I am a huge cocoanut fan as I can eat a bag as is, but then add chocolate to it and suddenly I find myself in heaven. You all should too!
These are one of my favorite candies. I need an unlimited supply of these, seriously.
V 19 Comments
15 Baby Ruth
Are you kidding? This is the bar of choice for me, Sloth, Chunk and Babe Ruth. it's the best
Don't you know that Babe Ruth is the worst it has gotta be the last
How on Earth is this not top 25? Please vote this up to where it belongs... The Goonies are mad at you guys!
The baby Ruth bar should be the first on your list because it is the best Candy bar ever invented. I can't even believe that you would even write about the baby Ruth bar being 17th on your list. You should be ashamed of yourself. This website shouldn't even be a thing if you don't know what candy bars are good. Go Home and do your homework and research about candy bars!
Not only is it tasty, it functions as a funny joke if you put it in a pool.
V 26 Comments
16 Heath
Best chocolate ever. The crunch and sweetness of it is just so amazing and everyone should have it all of the time
I'm pretty sure this candy bar was sent from the gods. It's so delicious and yummy! It melts right in your mouth and has the awesome crunchy toffee. I think imma go eat Heath bar now.
Amazing bar. The English Toffee and creamy Milk Chocolate just blend together and make a heaven-like feeling in you mouth. By far the BEST tasting candy bar ever.
How did I not vote for this I'm such an idiot! Chocolate with dried up caramel. Need I say more?
V 20 Comments
17 Mr. Goodbar
The perfect candy bar. It should be number 1. I believe it would be more popular if they advertised it more. I never see commercials for Mr. Goodbar.
So good! Hershey, please promote this bar so people will realize it is amazing.
Most over looked of great candy bars. Should be in top 10 at least.
This bar used to be fantastic until Hershey cheapened out on the quality of its chocolate. It's now considered a "chocolatey" product. Interesting that they only cheaped out Goodbar and Krackle, and kept the recipe the same for Kit Kat, Hershey Bar, and others.
V 8 Comments
18 Toblerone
It might be one of the most expensive, but at the same time one of the finest and therefore the greatest chocolate you could EVER TASTE!
Yeah, Toblerone! Swiss chocolate just can't be beat. The best is with raisins and nuts.
My grandpa always used to buy me this. I was dead in the inside when he had passed away. Now I swear that I will always love this and that it will always be my fave chocolate ever
Toblerone white is the most amazing bar its top 3 on my list
19 PayDay
Salty sweet, nutritious, eat it slow, eat it fast, either way it hits the spot.
Peanuts! Yummy the caramel melts in your mouth and you chomp down on those delicious nuts
Easily the best if you like things a little nutty!
Solo good nothing can beat it
20 Whatchamacallit
Pure awesomeness
a thingamajig is a perfect combination of chocolate and nuts. Want a chocolate bar? Get a wachamacallit.
It tastes like a kit kat and a snickers had a baby
No other bar compares! I'm going to get one now! Mm
Every candy bar Hershey makes wrapped into one!
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i don't know
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The Weber and Tesla (standard international) measurement units apply to?
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Units: The International System
Using the Dictionary
The International System of Units (SI)
All systems of weights and measures, metric and non-metric, are linked through a network of international agreements supporting the International System of Units. The International System is called the SI, using the first two initials of its French name Système International d'Unités. The key agreement is the Treaty of the Meter (Convention du Mètre), signed in Paris on May 20, 1875. 48 nations have now signed this treaty, including all the major industrialized countries. The United States is a charter member of this metric club, having signed the original document back in 1875.
The SI is maintained by a small agency in Paris, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM, for Bureau International des Poids et Mesures), and it is updated every few years by an international conference, the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM, for Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures), attended by representatives of all the industrial countries and international scientific and engineering organizations. The 24th CGPM met in 2011; the next meeting will be in 2014. As BIPM states on its web site, "The SI is not static but evolves to match the world's increasingly demanding requirements for measurement."
At the heart of the SI is a short list of base units defined in an absolute way without referring to any other units. The base units are consistent with the part of the metric system called the MKS system . In all there are seven SI base units:
the meter for distance,
the mole for amount of substance, and
the candela for intensity of light.
Other SI units, called SI derived units , are defined algebraically in terms of these fundamental units. For example, the SI unit of force, the newton , is defined to be the force that accelerates a mass of one kilogram at the rate of one meter per second per second. This means the newton is equal to one kilogram meter per second squared, so the algebraic relationship is N = kg·m·s-2. Currently there are 22 SI derived units that have special names and symbols. They include:
the radian and steradian for plane and solid angles, respectively;
the newton for force and the pascal for pressure;
the joule for energy and the watt for power;
the degree Celsius for everyday measurement of temperature;
units for measurement of electricity: the coulomb (charge), volt (potential), farad (capacitance), ohm (resistance), and siemens (conductance);
units for measurement of magnetism: the weber (flux), tesla (flux density), and henry (inductance);
the lumen for flux of light and the lux for illuminance;
the hertz for frequency of regular events and the becquerel for rates of radioactivity and other random events;
the gray and sievert for radiation dose; and
the katal , a unit of catalytic activity used in biochemistry.
Future meetings of the CGPM may make additions to this list; the katal was added by the 21st CGPM in 1999.
In addition to the 29 base and derived units, the SI permits the use of certain additional units, including:
the traditional mathematical units for measuring angles ( degree , arcminute, and arcsecond );
the traditional units of civil time ( minute , hour , day , and year );
two metric units commonly used in ordinary life: the liter for volume and the tonne (metric ton) for large masses;
the logarithmic units bel and neper (and their multiples, such as the decibel ); and
three non-metric scientific units whose values represent important physical constants: the astronomical unit , the atomic mass unit or dalton , and the electronvolt .
The SI currently accepts the use of certain other metric and non-metric units traditional in various fields. These units are supposed to be "defined in relation to the SI in every document in which they are used," and "their use is not encouraged." These barely-tolerated units might well be prohibited by future meetings of the CGPM. They include:
the nautical mile and knot , units traditionally used at sea and in meteorology;
the are and hectare , common metric units of area;
the bar , a pressure unit, and its commonly-used multiples such as the millibar in meteorology and the kilobar in engineering;
the angstrom and the barn , units used in physics and astronomy.
The SI does not allow use of any units other than those listed above and their multiples. In particular, it does not allow use of any of the English traditional units (the horsepower, for example), nor does it allow the use of any of the algebraically-derived units of the former CGS system , such as the erg, gauss, poise, stokes, or gal. In addition, the SI does not allow use of other traditional scientific and engineering units, such as the torr, curie, calorie, or rem.
Certain scientific fields have defined units more or less compatible with the SI, but not part of the SI. The use of the jansky in astronomy is a good example. There is always the chance that future meetings of the CGPM could add these units to the SI, but for the present they are not approved.
For multiples of approved units, the SI includes a list of prefixes . This list has been extended several times, most recently by the 19th CGPM in 1991. Prefixes now range from yotta- at 1024 (one septillion) to yocto- at 10-24 (one septillionth). There seems to be some need for another extension, but this question has not been addressed at recent CGPM's. The SI does not allow these prefixes to be used for binary multiples, such as the use of "kilobit" to mean 1024 bits instead of 1000. For binary multiples a new list of special prefixes has been established by the International Electrotechnical Commission.
Each SI unit is represented by a symbol, not an abbreviation. The use of unit symbols is regulated by precise rules . These symbols are the same in every language of the world. However, the names of the units themselves vary in spelling according to national conventions. Therefore, it is correct for Americans to write meter and Germans to write Meter, and it is also correct for the British to write metre, Italians to write metro, and Poles to write metr. See Spelling of Metric Units for additional comments.
Return to the Dictionary Contents page .
You are welcome to email the author ([email protected]) with comments and suggestions.
All material in this folder is copyright 2012 by Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Permission is granted for personal use and for use by individual teachers in conducting their own classes. All other rights reserved. You are welcome to make links to this page, but please do not copy the contents of any page in this folder to another site. The material at this site will be updated from time to time.
Posted July 2000; last revised December 4, 2008.
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Magnetism
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The typical maximum permissable velocity of a paintball pellet is how many feet per second?
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Tesla Conversion Table - Magnetic Flux Density - Online Unit Converter
Tesla Conversion Factors - Magnetic Flux Density
All Magnetic Flux Density Conversion Tables
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i don't know
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Yahrzeit is a (what?) in Jewish culture?
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Yahrzeit: Remembering on the Anniversary of a Death - My Jewish Learning
Yahrzeit: Remembering on the Anniversary of a Death
When a Jewish Child Dies
Yahrzeit is a Yiddish word meaning anniversary of a death. It is the yearly anniversary of a loved one’s death (traditionally the anniversary of the Hebrew date , not the Gregorian date). Jews observe yahrzeit at home by lighting a special long-burning candle in memory of the deceased.
Yahrzeit candles are also known as yizkor candles, because they are also lit on behalf of loved ones on the four Jewish holidays (Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, Passover and Shavuot) that include a Yizkor , or Jewish memorial, service. These candles, often packaged inside glass jars, can be purchased at Judaica stores and online . Many supermarkets carry them as well.
It is customary the light the yahrzeit candle at sundown on the Hebrew anniversary (Jewish days begin at sundown, rather than midnight). To find out the Hebrew date of your loved one’s death, use this Hebrew calendar converter to convert dates from the Gregorian calendar to the Hebrew one and vice versa. When the yahrzeit falls on Shabbat, it is customary to light the yahrzeit candle before lighting Shabbat candles.
Traditionally, mourners keep the candle lit for the entire 25 hours from sundown on the eve of the yahrzeit to sunset on the day of the yahrzeit and allow it to burn itself out. If you are concerned about potential fire hazards, use an electric yahrzeit candle . Yahrzeit candles also are lit each day that shiva , the first seven days of mourning, is observed.
In the synagogue, yahrzeit is observed by reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish at services. Most synagogues maintain a memorial wall of plaques bearing the names of deceased members or deceased loved ones of current members. These plaques are often sold as a way of raising money for the congregation. Each year the plaque is illuminated on the day or week of the deceased’s yahrzeit.
Several websites, such as the National Jewish Memorial Wall and Virtual Yahrzeit maintain “virtual” walls and will send yahrzeit reminders for you free of charge. If you belong to a synagogue, you may be able to request annual reminders from the synagogue office.
Adapted with permission from Kavod v’Nichum , a nonprofit educational organization that promotes and assists the formation of bereavement committees and chevrah kadisha (Jewish burial society) groups in synagogues and communities throughout North America.
By MJL Staff | June 27, 2003
Yahrzeit is a Yiddish word meaning anniversary of a death. It is the yearly anniversary of a loved one’s death (traditionally the anniversary of the Hebrew date , not the Gregorian date). Jews observe yahrzeit at home by lighting a special long-burning candle in memory of the deceased.
Yahrzeit candles are also known as yizkor candles, because they are also lit on behalf of loved ones on the four Jewish holidays (Yom Kippur, Shemini Atzeret, Passover and Shavuot) that include a Yizkor , or Jewish memorial, service. These candles, often packaged inside glass jars, can be purchased at Judaica stores and online . Many supermarkets carry them as well.
It is customary the light the yahrzeit candle at sundown on the Hebrew anniversary (Jewish days begin at sundown, rather than midnight). To find out the Hebrew date of your loved one’s death, use this Hebrew calendar converter to convert dates from the Gregorian calendar to the Hebrew one and vice versa. When the yahrzeit falls on Shabbat, it is customary to light the yahrzeit candle before lighting Shabbat candles.
Traditionally, mourners keep the candle lit for the entire 25 hours from sundown on the eve of the yahrzeit to sunset on the day of the yahrzeit and allow it to burn itself out. If you are concerned about potential fire hazards, use an electric yahrzeit candle . Yahrzeit candles also are lit each day that shiva , the first seven days of mourning, is observed.
In the synagogue, yahrzeit is observed by reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish at services. Most synagogues maintain a memorial wall of plaques bearing the names of deceased members or deceased loved ones of current members. These plaques are often sold as a way of raising money for the congregation. Each year the plaque is illuminated on the day or week of the deceased’s yahrzeit.
Several websites, such as the National Jewish Memorial Wall and Virtual Yahrzeit maintain “virtual” walls and will send yahrzeit reminders for you free of charge. If you belong to a synagogue, you may be able to request annual reminders from the synagogue office.
Adapted with permission from Kavod v’Nichum , a nonprofit educational organization that promotes and assists the formation of bereavement committees and chevrah kadisha (Jewish burial society) groups in synagogues and communities throughout North America.
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Anniversary
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What religion is represented by the 'Om' symbol (ॐ and bigger below)?
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Yahrzeit and Yizkor - InterfaithFamily
Yahrzeit and Yizkor
Return to Guide to Death and Mourning for Interfaith Families
In many cultures, there are ways of remembering dead people who were important to us. In the United States, for example, families go to visit relatives who died in the military on Memorial Day. In Ashkenazi Jewish culture, there is a custom of lighting a candle on the anniversary, or in Yiddish , the yahrzeit , of the person's death. Some families also light a memorial candle when they do holiday candle-lighting before holidays when there is a memorial service, called Yizkor . Some people continue to light yahrzeit candles for the rest of their lives.
Visits to the graves of family members are an important part of Jewish folk culture. Some have the custom of visiting at the Jewish New Year. Jews of Eastern European origin usually leave a small stone on the headstone of the grave rather than flowers. Even after the year of mourning has ended, mourners continue to feel the loss of the person who has died, and Jewish cultural practices acknowledge this.
The Guide to Death and Mourning for Interfaith Families is also available as a downloadable PDF and Word document .
Having Jewish family origins in Germany or Eastern Europe. Hebrew for "time of [one] year," referring to the anniversary of the day of a relative's death. A language, literally meaning "Jewish," once widely used by Ashkenazi communities. It is influenced by German, Hebrew and Slavic languages, and is written with the Hebrew alphabet. It is comparable to the language of many Sephardi communities, Ladino. Hebrew for "remembrance," a memorial prayer service.
InterfaithFamily is the premier resource supporting interfaith couples exploring Jewish life and inclusive Jewish communities. We offer educational content; connections to welcoming organizations, professionals and programs; resources and trainings for organizations, clergy and other program providers; and our new InterfaithFamily/Your Community initiative providing coordinated comprehensive offerings in local communities.
If you have suggestions, please contact network at interfaithfamily dot com.
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i don't know
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The highest recorded bird strike by an aircraft is a?
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Highest ALT for bird strike? - PPRuNe Forums
PPRuNe Forums
Tech Log The very best in practical technical discussion on the web
Page 1 of 2
Posts: 100
Highest ALT for bird strike?
One possible cause that has been discussed recently involves a bird strike involving a passenger aircraft that recently lost both engines and crashed on approach.
What is the highest ALT that a bird strike could take out both engines in a passenger jet? I think the Sully incident in NYC was on takeoff at around 1 or 2 thousand feet; right?
Thx...
Age: 30
Posts: 49
A bit of googling finds How Fast and High Do Birds Fly? which suggests that migratory birds can typically be found around 5000 - 20000 feet, though I guess it likely depends on the concentrations of birds as to the chances of taking out both engines simultaneously?
Posts: 11
Google and Wikipedia, wonderful tools:
Bird strikes happen most often during takeoff or landing , or during low altitude flight. [7] However, bird strikes have also been reported at high altitudes, some as high as 6,000 m (20,000 ft) to 9,000 m (30,000 ft) above the ground. Bar-headed geese have been seen flying as high as 10,175 m (33,383 ft) above sea level. An aircraft over the C�te d'Ivoire collided with a R�ppell's Vulture at the astonishing altitude of 11,300 m (37,100 ft), the current record avian height. [8] The majority of bird collisions occur near or on airports (90%, according to the ICAO ) during takeoff, landing and associated phases. According to the FAA wildlife hazard management manual for 2005, less than 8% of strikes occur above 900 m (3,000 ft) and 61% occur at less than 30 m (100 ft).[ citation needed ]
J
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Vulture
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The old English words 'erst' and 'erstwhile' mean?
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Highest Recorded Birdstrike? - Airliners.net
Airliners.net
#1
Mon Dec 09, 2002 5:15 am
I have done searches of both the Internet and this forum. I can't seem to find a consistent answer.
There is an F.A.A file that mentions an aircraft striking a bearded vulture at 37,000 feet over Ivory Coast.
Other unsubstantiated accounts mention birdstrikes occurring at up to 43,000 feet.
Do any of you know for sure?
Thanks in advance,
Mon Dec 09, 2002 6:46 am
The highest officially-accepted altitude for a birdstrike is 37,000ft but there have been bird sightings at 54,000ft.
High-altitude strikes are quite rare. Approximately 78% of strikes occur below 1,000ft and only about 1% above 10,000ft.
Incidentally, birdstrike events are also believed to be under-reported by about 80%.
Mon Dec 09, 2002 11:13 am
Can anyone confirm this?
#4
Mon Dec 09, 2002 12:41 pm
At Pan Am, one of our 727's was hit at FL350 and put about a 4 foot by 3 foot hole in the leading edge of the wingroot (just about the area of the Kruger flaps, for those who know the area)...
As my Dad said at the time, "the damage wasn't done so much by the bird, but rather the oxygen mask and tank he was wearing at the time of the incident!"
MxCtrlr
Freight Dogs Anonymous - O.O.T.S.K.
DAMN! This SUCKS! I just had to go to the next higher age bracket in my profile! :-(
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i don't know
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The term pannier (e.g., motorbike side-box) derives from what sort of basket?
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Pedelec and E-Bike Magazine No. 8 by ExtraEnergy - issuu
ExtraEnergy The Pedelec and E-Bike Magazine
August 2013 € 5.90
AUSTRIA € 6.70 · SWITZERLAND 11.40 sFR BelgiUM, NETHerlandS, Luxemburg € 6.90
Are pedelecs really dangerous?
Advertise e-bikes and pedelecs advertising in extraenergy magazine
Do you sell or manufacture products in the e-mobility sector?
Advertise with ExtraEnergy and address your target audience directly.
Each issue of the magazine attracts ca. 40,000 pdf downloads and 40,000 views online.
The ExtraEnergy.org website has ca. 930,000 visitors and 5 million hits per year
ExtraEnergy Magazine is always placed first on the homepage of ExtraEnergy.org
hint: advertise with our combi-offer and banner ads are included! contact Sandra Winkler — email [email protected] — telephone 0366 46 27 094 www.extraenergy.org
CONTENTS
Contents
Editorial...................................................... 5 Stiftung Warentest & ADAC ................... 8 Stiftung Warentest & ExtraEnergy....12 The ideal legal framework.....................16 Meeting customer wishes ....................18 The toughest test: everyday use..........20 Testing by type........................................22 WLTM: my dream pedelec......................23 The characteristics chart.......................25 Test winners ............................................26 Urban Pedelecs.......................................28 Comfort Pedelecs...................................58 Leisure Pedelecs.....................................68 Transport Pedelecs................................86 Dealer directory......................................94 Overview table........................................98 Credits ....................................................100
FLYER · T7R Deluxe.................................30 GIANT · Twist Freedom 1.......................32 Kettler · Berlin Royal-e..........................34 Kettler · Obra Comfort..........................36 Kettler · Traveller-E Sport....................38 Kettler · Twin Ergo.................................40 MIFA · Cyco E.Bike...................................42 Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony............44 Saxonette · X-Road 1..............................46 VICTORIA · Mondeville...........................48 FLYER · Vollblut 500...............................50 Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S...........52 FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe................54 Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8.................56 Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27..................60 Grace · Easy..............................................62 Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R..............64 Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci........66 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive.................70 A2B · Shima..............................................72 Kettler · Layana-e Plus..........................74 Stromer · ST1...........................................76 Bulls · CrossRider....................................78 FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G........80 SCOTT · E-Aspect 910.............................82 FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE...84 Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +...............88 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid..............90 Sinus · B2..................................................92
ExtraEnergy.org 3
Editorial — PART ONE
Dear reader Are pedelecs safe?
battery safety standards and the EnergyBus interface standard. Both Many in Germany are now asking themselves this question: are bikes were developed as private industrial standards, but are currently part and pedelecs actually dangerous? Reading magazine reports and of the ISO/IEC or CENELEC harmonisation process. ExtraEnergy has also watching some of the television coverage from the last few weeks, the organised technical seminars since 1995 at which the subject of prodgist was all much the same: that pedelec riding is pretty much tan- uct safety has always formed a major part of proceedings. tamount to certain death. This impression was reinforced by pictures of broken handlebars, failed brakes, burning batteries and collapsed Safety through standards? frames. After 11 years of standards development, and current active participation in the IEC/ISO/TC69/JPT61851-3, DKE/GAK 353.0.9 and CLC/TC21X Which pedelecs are the best? committees, and leadership of a Working Group of the InternationIn reverse, this question effectively led to the foundation of ExtraEn- al Energy Agency (IEA) on the subject of pedelecs, I have come to realergy in 1992. Then, as now, the question was “which pedelec is the best ise that often 10 to 20 years can pass before harmonisation is impleon the market”. It was unquestionably the case that as with the bicycle, mented: from recognising a problem to an internationally recognised pedelecs had not come to an evolutionary peak, and nor were they par- standard. agons of perfection. It was in 1990 that Michael Kutter built the first pedelec, so pedelecs are a mere 23 years old. But since their start there This means that for a product which is developing as dynamically as are now several million on the road in Japan and Europe alone. the pedelec, manufacturers cannot simply refer to the relevant standards in the development of their products. Rather, they need to conUser safety has ALWAYS been a major issue sider and define the criteria which they will set for their product themfor ExtraEnergy. selves. This is no easy undertaking, especially because most pedelec The subject of safety has been examined intensively by ExtraEnergy manufacturers do not have a history of expertise in electrical technolfrom the start. This was given a new impetus through collaboration ogy, electronics, software, electrochemistry and electromagnetic comwith Deutschen Post AG, and the resulting development of the BATSO patibility. So from 2009 to 2011, ExtraEnergy worked with partners SLG
ExtraEnergy.org 5
Editorial — PART TWO
and velotech.de on defining the voluntary GS quality mark (standing for ‘geprüfte Sicherheit’ or ‘proven safety’). To date, no manufacturer has managed to meet every aspect of these requirements. This is further indication of how the pedelec is considerably more complex than most people think. The current loud clamour for a new pedelec quality standard is absurd, because it already exists. Those who are making these calls haven’t yet put in an appearance at the standards meetings.
The quest for absolute safety! Safety isn’t an absolute. One tragic example comes in the way that nowadays, many parents do not let their children ride independently to school because of safety concerns. Instead they are chauffeured passively to school in the “Taxi of Mum and Dad”. This does make the parents feel that their children are safer, but because of the usually chaotic traffic of parents delivering their kids, the situation is made even worse for children arriving on foot or by bike. Furthermore, chauffeured kids suffer from a lack of childhood exercise which, according to WHO statistics, leads to a reduction in lifespan of around eight years. Unfortunately we live in a world where these effects are increasingly evaluated separately. There are insurers responsible for dealing with traffic accidents, and other insurers for other aspects of life. The consquence is that car insurance does not see the risks from lack of exercise as relevant, and the health consequences will end up being handled separately by a different insurance scheme.
So who is responsible for safety? In the end it is down to market regulators, who are responsible for compliance with the relevant laws. These relevant laws apply to the technology, as a rule according to harmonised standards. If there is no applicable standard, then reference should be made to the closest applicable standard. Applicable standards are often not available: as a consequence things are sometimes required by law which do not add to user safety at all – and which might even made a product worse or less safe. One example is compulsory dynamos for pedelecs 25. This has now been overturned, but it has been replaced by a new rule which makes just as little sense. The officials who oversee these rules, who just a few years ago didn’t even know what a pedelec is, have now become the definitive ‘pedelec checkers’. Now they are tackling many things which could only have happened because of their long neglect of their oversight duties. A lack of regulation always penalises those who do stick to the rules and, because of the considerable effort and expense of conformity, have to sell their product at a higher price. Their competitors, who didn’t bother with the applicable regulations, escape scott free and take the profit.
ExtraEnergy, the advocate for customer satisfaction!
ten years or more until the standards and legal framework are relevant for pedelecs, and in tune with the latest technology. Over this period, ExtraEnergy will first focus on illuminating how well customer wishes are being met by means of testing, and second on participating in the standards setting process towards eventual harmonisation, which will form the basis of tomorrow’s laws. This is something that, for example, Stiftung Warentest, which was subsidised in 2013 by the German Ministry for Consumer Protection with around 3.5 million Euros of tax-payer money, could not manage. They also still take money from the car industry lobby and published a tendentious test, with the test methods not even made public. This means Stiftung Warentest can make no relevant contribution to improving the fundamentals of product development. Minister Frau Aigner should “tug at the leash” and withdraw the subsidy from Stiftung Warentest, because in this case Stiftung Warentest is working blatantly against the targets for cycling as transport which the national government has set down in the National Cycling Transport Plan 2020.
Medium-term, the pedelec could reach 30 – 50 % transport modal share! According to statistics from the Institute for Trade Research in Cologne, the pedelec already had a 34.2 % share of the German bicycle market in 2012. This proportion was significantly larger than the other segments: MTBs 14.9 %, hybrids 26.4 % and ‘others’ 24.5 %. The pedelec is well on the way to replacing the classic bike in relevance as a mode of transport. And yes – pedelecs need better standards. Until these exist and are enforced by market regulators, we must urge caution. However, not to ride pedelecs just because they’re still at the development stage is also not necessarily safer. According to the ZNS 2004 report, the risk of a serious head injury is highest in a car at 48 %. In second place are leisure activities at 26 %, then comes motorbike riding with 13 %, then workplace injuries with 9 %, then falls come in at 7 % before around 1 % each for cycling and walking.
How can I buy a safe pedelec? Ask for the GS and BATSO test marks. Make sure you are shown the CE marks and conformity declaration. Ask about the maximum permitted weight: if this isn’t appropriate for your body weight or your anticipated payloads, look for another bike. Take a thorough test ride – if it doesn’t all feel solid for you, move on and try the next pedelec. Unfortunately the source, brand or price are not necessarily good guides. What does help, however, is to buy from dealers and manufacturers with something to lose: their good name. Here there is at least the hope that safety and reliability will mostly be built in. I hope you enjoy reading this issue, and I wish you all safe and enjoyable riding!
ExtraEnergy has worked since 1992 to ensure that pedelecs match what customers demand. Safety, though, isn’t usually a customer demand it is a fundamental requirement which goes without saying for prod- Ihr Hannes Neupert ucts, including of course pedelecs. ExtraEnergy believes that it will be Chairman, ExtraEnergy e.V.
6 ExtraEnergy.org
Impressions from ISPO Bike 2013
ExtraEnergy.org 7
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
FAIL
The EMC test chamber of the SLG Institute in Hartmannsdorf near Chemnitz, with the test stand developed as part of the ExtraEnergy Test series from 2009.
Stiftung Warentest & ADAC ExtraEnergy’s verdict: defective! Text Hannes Neupert & Angela Budde
Unfortunately, it seems that fear-mongering was more of a priority than setting definitive product testing criteria. ExtraEnergy’s verdict on this test is “Defective”. When it comes to transparency, Stiftung Warentest and the ADAC must do better. As a consumer protection organisation, ExtraEnergy welcomes tough safety standards to keep consumers safe. ExtraEnergy has worked on this for 21 years. But these testing methods are unreproducible – as they were disclosed neither to readers nor to manufacturers. Simultaneous publication of the testing methodology and the results is essential for the relevance and authority of these tests. In this internet age, making a document with all the details available for download should be no problem.
To what extent were the test methods influenced by car lobbyists ADAC? The first pedelec test by the ADAC was conducted in December 2009 by testers from the ADAC alongside testers from ExtraEnergy and ExtraEnergy Testtechnik in Tanna. The results were, as is customary for tests from ExtraEnergy, focussed on customer market requirements. See the article “How Stiftung Warentest and ExtraEnergy do tests”. The results were generally positive, and so was the tone of the publicity from the ADAC. It does seem, however, that since that time the leadership of the ADAC have realised that the pedelec is a serious competitor 8 ExtraEnergy.org
to the car for transport. Is the pedelec no longer a weird novelty which it’s safe to write nicely about? Now it’s reports which emphasise the dangers which predominate. It all suggests that the ADAC are attempting to at least slow the trend away from the car and towards the pedelec, because the ADAC is now unable to stop it. If the ADAC were to report similarly critically about cars, it would have to crash test cars into trees at 100 km/h each year, publish the test results and warn the car industry that there is currently not a single car on the market in which you’d survive such a crash.
Ignoring customer wishes: coaster brakes marked down Checking that manufacturers are complying with standards is of course important. But it’s worth noting that not all standards are sensible. Complaints were made on several products that they used oldfashioned sidewall dynamos – but these were only fitted because German regulators required it! So here manufacturers were being criticised for following the law. ExtraEnergy is against mandatory dynamos for pedelecs on principle; instead ExtraEnergy advocates freedom to
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
LEFT Handlebars are no exception to the old mechanic's saying: "It's fine until it isn't!" In other words, at some point even the best components will give out. What matters for users is to know whether this situation occurs under the sort of loads encountered in daily use, or only at unrealistically high loadings far from reality and hence of little user relevance. Stiftung Warentest are still keeping this truly relevant information under their hat – could it be that they have something to hide? rIGHT Roller test stand trials at velotech.de in Schweinfurt simulate mechanical loadings equivalent to many years' pedelec use.
choose a lighting energy source for pedelecs, but also mandatory day- Various officials are responsible for overseeing CE conformity, but time running lights front and rear. See the article on “The ideal legal to date they have largely ignored the pedelec. The Stiftung Warentest framework”. and ADAC test will certainly ensure that pedelecs quickly become the focus of official attention. Currently, for example, the North RheinExtraEnergy decided, following the recommendation of its expert pan- Westfalia region is conducting targeted testing of pedelecs. As a result, el in January 2013, to withdraw from testing against safety-relevant around 1000 pedelecs have already had to be recalled because the imstandards and for legal conformity. Therefore ExtraEnergy will now porter had affixed a CE mark for which, after requests by officials, he concern itself exclusively with the satisfaction of customer require- could produce no documentary proof of conformity. ments in its tests. And this is something that the Stiftung Warentest and ADAC have neglected in their unsophisticated standards test.From Health & Safety officials in the North Rhein-Westfalia and Lower SaxExtraEnergy’s point of view they also made tendentious remarks – for ony regions now want to implement a “pedelec standard” intended to example criticising when a coaster brake was used. For some user prevent future failures and to increase consumer safety. “This standgroups this is an essential requirement, while other target audiences ard already exists,” Hannes Neupert (Chairman, ExtraEnergy e.V.) told would find it irritating. Yet of course it’s never been possible to man- them. “It’s called the GS Mark for pedelecs overall, and the BATSO test ufacture a product which simultaneously satisfies the needs of all pos- mark for batteries.” sible target audiences. This reinforces the conviction that ExtraEnergy is pursuing the correct course by leaving the field of testing for slavish A matter of politics conformity to institutions like Stiftung Warentest and the ADAC. And to Officials are now waking up and taking on the pedelecs issue. This government officials, whose job it actually is. could mean the eventual end of pedelecs. If correct procedure were followed, all pedelecs made in the last ten years would have to be recalled. Do we need new, tougher laws and standards? This would mean that in one fell swoop all of the dealers and manufacIf the cycle manufacturers had complied with the basic requirements turers would go bankrupt as they would be unable to fully refund cusderived from CE certification, then there probably wouldn’t have been tomers to the value of the returned pedelecs. For this reason ExtraEnso many pedelecs labelled ‘defective’ in the test. In that case Stiftung ergy is requesting that politicians provide a transition period of three Warentest could have spared itself the cost of the testing and just years, using this time to train the responsible officials and then to enwarned that incorrectly certified vehicles are not legal. force on a level playing field. ExtraEnergy.org 9
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
What do the Stiftung Warentest and ADAC test results mean for me as a customer? ✏✏ If mechanical dangers such as handlebar breakage or defective brakes were noted in the test results on the pedelec you own, you should go to your dealer for these items to be expertly checked and, if necessary, upgraded.
…and for me as a dealer? ✏ Remove from sale all pedelecs without correct CE certification and return them to the manufacturer if they are not prepared to rework them with a correct CE mark. ✏ For customers whose pedelecs do not, according to Stiftung Warentest, meet legal minimum requirements, accept returns for these gracefully or offer an exchange for another machine of similar value. Send the bike back to the manufacturer and claim back any financial damages from them. ✏ For future orders, make CE conformity of the product a condition of purchase. Favour products with the GS test mark when available.
…and for me as a manufacturer? ✏ Make sure all of your products have been tested for CE compliance by an independent testing institute, if not already done. ✏✏ Only supply products with CE marking. ✏✏ Implement the new BATSO and GS Mark developments. This would make expensive recalls and image damage through negative test results, like the current ones, very unlikely. ✏✏ Participate actively in drawing up new, meaningful standards. ✏✏ Invest your profits in quality, product safety and skilled staff, so that you’ll be well placed into the future to supply competitive products. What we need is good, concrete and well-founded proposals as to how product safety can be checked in the real world. In this regard Stiftung Warentest, as a tax-payer funded organisation, has a significant role to play. But this positive outcome could only play out when the proposThe GS Mark als are drawn up transparently for customers, dealers and manufacturThe GS Mark for pedelecs has existed since May 2010. Its testing crite- ers, are compulsory for all concerned, and provide concrete guidelines ria are largely based on suggestions from velotech.de GmbH in co-oper- on how to do business. ation with SLG (Prüf- und Zertifizierungs GmbH) and with ExtraEnergy e.V., and the criteria are founded on extremely extensive research con- Currently the around 1 million pedelec-25 riders in Germany are worducted in the framework of the ExtraEnergy Pedelec and E-Bike Tests in ried, and have been driven to go back to their supplying dealers to ask whether their pedelec is not in fact a dangerous and illegal emitter of 2009 and 2010. interference, which will soon break as they ride along and put them in hospital. The BATSO certificate for battery safety The private BATSO 01 safety standard for pedelec batteries has been published since 2007, and since 2010 the TÜV Rheinland has tested bat- Dealers have been made to consider whether they can really take on teries according to BATSO 01. Currently they first 16 battery packs have the responsibility of selling pedelecs. been successfully tested to the BATSO Standard and certified accordAnd we might also justifiably question whether officials will confiscate ingly: the list is available at www.BATSO.org. The BATSO certificate for batteries and the GS Mark for pedelecs are vol- 500,000 pedelecs because of their EMC emissions? untary. To date there is still not a single pedelec which has been certiQuestions and more questions. But no answers, not even if you downfied with the GS Mark. load the Stiftung Warentest Electric Bike Test report for € 2.50.
10 ExtraEnergy.org
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
GS Testing in brief The GS test criteria main points exceed legal requirements in several areas.
Basics d Testing for the award of a GS certificate may no longer be carried out by the manufacturer or importer. It must instead be contracted out to a testing institute notified as qualified for such tests by the ZLS (Zentralstelle der Länder für Sicherheitstechnik).
Mechanical safety d Basis: EN 15194 with reference to EN 14764 d Additional requirements: d Dynamic testing of complete pedelecs on rolling test stand with 120 kg total mass and pedal drive d Frame testing with horizontal forces +/- 800N d From total payload of over 250 kg a parking brake must be provided. d Requirements of the StVZO must be complied with. d Manufacturer must specify arrangements for towing trailers.
Electrical safety (inc. battery) d Basis: EN 15194 d Additional requirements: d Extra testing of electrical safety to EN 60335-1 where applicable, d In which the charging process is regarded as unattended use. d Battery testing to EC 62133 d Charger must be specified and is part of the testing.
Chemical safety d Basis: legal requirements d Additional requirements: d PAK in grips, shifters and saddle (for leather: DMF and chromium)
Manufacturing facility checks d Requirements from ZLS d Before the first award of a GS Mark to a manufacturer, an initial factory visit is to be conducted regarding technical and staff resources, goods inwards controls, production controls including in-process and end product checking. Product specific requirements must also be satisfied. The manufacturer must be in a position to implement and maintain high quality to the GS Mark standard in series production. d Following the award of a GS Mark, as a rule an annual reinspection of the manufacture of the GS-certified products should be carried out, at the location where the products are made, or if necessary at multiple production locations.
ExtraEnergy.org 11
ExtraEnergy Das Pedelec und E-Bike
ExtraEnergy Das Pedelec und
April 2010 ¡ 9,80 ₏
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Magazin
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unkt Sicherhe it
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Die Testberi
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chte
2011
09/2010 Die Testberichte 20
36 Pedelecs und 7 Roller im Test 192 Jahre Elektromagnetismus Elektroantriebe die Entwicklung geht weiter Lastentransport mit Pedelec und Anhänger Händlerverzeichnis
11 rĂźhjahr 20 erichte F tb s e T ie D
Die Testberi chte Juli 2010
20 Jahre ExtraEnergy 44 Räder im Test
How Stiftung Warentest and ExtraEnergy do tests Text  Hannes Neupert
One aim, two methods. The test of 16 pedelecs by Stiftung Warentest (StiWa – roughly, Germany’s “Goods Testing Foundation�) in their June 2013 issue was taken up enthusiastically by the media. But how does ExtraEnergy test, and how does Stiftung Warentest? Two pedelecs received “Good�, three “Satisfactory�, two “Acceptable� Essentially the Stiftung does not maintain its own laboratories, but and nine were judged “Defective�, due to weak brakes, frame or handle- tests with external partners who are sworn to secrecy. In their test a bar breakage, high levels of radio interference or transmission defects. striking number of themes cropped up which had developed over the last four years by ExtraEnergy and two partner product safety labs, SLG These results were generalised by the press and transformed into and velotech.de, for its own pedelec and e-bike testing. So alongside headlines which portrayed electric bikes as a safety risk. The Stiftung the current Stiftung test there already exists a second test, one not fiWarentest test showed one thing above all else: that pedelecs have ar- nanced by advertising, independent and safety minded. rived as central to society. Alongside any similarities, however, considerable differences in testing Stiftung Warentest is now looking seriously at the subject of pedelecs: methodology and how the verdicts were awarded remain, and deserve pedelecs have been classified as relevant to business. ExtraEnergy a more detailed explanation. takes this as a sign of success for their own work over the years.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
As early as 1993, ExtraEnergy requested a pedelec test from Stiftung Warentest. This was refused with the explanation that as a large test organisation they could only test commercially relevant products and not niche products, however great their potential. They would only consider doing such a test when at least 100,000 pedelecs were sold. That’s why ExtraEnergy started in 1993 with its own tests. Happily, Stiftung Warentest followed suit since 2001. Stiftung Warentest is a statesupported organisation whose remit is consumer protection, and products are tested for their functionality and value to users, as well as their environmental credentials. The aim is to “educate� consumers towards affordable, safe and healthy (purchase) behaviour. 12 ExtraEnergy.org
Stiftung Warentest did a quantitative evaluation. So it was determined beforehand how points were to be given, what the maximum possible points would be, and how many points would lead to an award of “Very Good�, “Good�, “Satisfactory� and “Defective�. But unfortunately what sort of bike would have achieved maximum marks, or in other words what the testers saw as the ideal pedelec, was not stated. ExtraEnergy does its evaluations qualitatively and dynamically. Verdicts are made relative to what’s on the market, and are additionally sorted by target user groups. Different user groups may have requirements which are distinctly different, so weighted requirements and applications form product groups. These categories are necessary be-
Stiftung Warentest vs. extraenergy
ratgeber – typentest ratgeber – typentest
Der Typentest Welches Pedelec passt zu mir? Der Typentest Welches Pedelec passt zu mir? Die wachsende Vielzahl von Elektrofahrrädern auf dem Markt 1 Wo entlang führt Ihre typische Fahrstrecke? macht die Suche nach dem besten Pedelec wichtiger und gleichzeitig immer schwieriger. Die Ansprüche sind vielfältig, die AngeboDie wachsende Vielzahl von Elektrofahrrädern auf dem Markt te differenzierter. Mit einer neuen Bewertungsmethode haben wir macht die Suche nach dem besten Pedelec wichtiger und gleichzeiim ExtraEnergy Test für Sie gefragt, welches Fahrzeug welche Wüntig immer schwieriger. Die Ansprüche sind vielfältig, die Angebosche am besten erfüllt. te differenzierter. Mit einer neuen Bewertungsmethode haben wir im ExtraEnergy Test für Sie gefragt, welches Fahrzeug welche WünElf Produktgruppen hat das Testteam dazu entwickelt. Da gibt es Easy sche am besten erfüllt. Pedelecs für elektromobile Städter, schnelle Pedelecs für Businesstypen oder Freizeit und Spaß Pedelecs in der Gruppe Sport und mehr. Die Elf Produktgruppen hat das Testteam dazu entwickelt. Da gibt es Easy Gruppen stehen alle für die gleichen Kundenwünsche an Pedelecs oder Pedelecs für elektromobile Städter, schnelle Pedelecs für Businesstypen E-Bikes, allerdings in unterschiedlicher Gewichtung nach Anforderunoder Freizeit und Spaß Pedelecs in der Gruppe Sport und mehr. Die gen und Einsatzzwecken. Zur besseren Übersicht, haben wir die einzelGruppen stehen alle für die gleichen Kundenwünsche an Pedelecs oder nen Typen in die vier Übergruppen Urban, Komfort, Freizeit und TransE-Bikes, allerdings in unterschiedlicher Gewichtung nach Anforderunport sortiert. Die Details der Typenbestimmung finden Sie auf Seite 60. gen und Einsatzzwecken. Zur besseren Übersicht, haben wir die einzelnen Typen in die vier Übergruppen Urban, Komfort, Freizeit und TransProduktgruPPen Übersicht port sortiert. Die Details der Typenbestimmung finden Sie auf Seite 60.
urban komFort ProduktgruPPen Übersicht Easy urban Business Falt Easy Business Freizeit Falt
City-Komfort komFort Holland Reha City-Komfort Holland transPort Reha
Tour Sport Wellness Tour Sport Wellness
transPort
Familie Lasten
testen sie selbst
Die Frage welches das beste Elektrorad für Sie ist, können nur Sie selbst beantworten. Tests geben Ihnen einen ersten Überblick, doch bevor Sie testen sie selbst sich auf die Produktberichte konzentrieren, testen Sie sich doch einmal Die Frage welches das beste Elektrorad für Sie ist, können nur Sie selbst selbst. beantworten. Tests geben Ihnen einen ersten Überblick, doch bevor Sie sich auf die Produktberichte konzentrieren, testen Sie sich doch einmal Fragen Sie sich, auf welchen Strecken Sie Ihr LEV am meisten fahren selbst. werden, ob zum Beispiel in der Stadt oder auf Strecken mit steilen Anstiegen? Welche Eigenschaften sind für Sie an Ihrem Elektrorad unverFragen Sie sich, auf welchen Strecken Sie Ihr LEV am meisten fahren zichtbar? Muss Ihr Display High Tech bieten oder reicht es Ihnen zu werden, ob zum Beispiel in der Stadt oder auf Strecken mit steilen Anwissen, wie lange die Batterie noch reicht? Beantworten Sie fünf Grundstiegen? Welche Eigenschaften sind für Sie an Ihrem Elektrorad unverfragen und finden Sie heraus, welcher Produkt Typ zu Ihnen passt. zichtbar? Muss Ihr Display High Tech bieten oder reicht es Ihnen zu wissen, wie lange die Batterie noch reicht? Beantworten Sie fünf GrundBei der Auswertung können Sie sich einfach anhand der Piktogramme fragen und finden Sie heraus, welcher Produkt Typ zu Ihnen passt. neben den Produktgruppen orientieren. Treffen mindestens drei Anforderungen zu, könnte Ihr Traum Pedelec in dieser Produktgruppe Bei der Auswertung können Sie sich einfach anhand der Piktogramme sein. Viel Spaß! neben den Produktgruppen orientieren. Treffen mindestens drei Anforderungen zu, könnte Ihr Traum Pedelec in dieser Produktgruppe sein. Viel Spaß!
1 Wo entlang führt Ihre typische Fahrstrecke?
Stadt
ExtraEnergy.org 53
ExtraEnergy.org 53
When comparing test methodologies and how the results are communicated, the background of the testing and publishing organisations should not be overlooked. ExtraEnergy e.V. is attempting with its testing to drive forwards the technical development of pedelecs which meet customer wishes and to help customers to find the currently available pedelec which best suits their requirements. Stiftung Warentest appears, by playing up the fear-factor, to be attempting to raise its circulation, and the ADAC seems to be attempting to keep its members firmly behind the wheels of their cars – or at least to slow down their conversion to riding pedelecs.
cause in a growing market with a wide variety of different vehicle types for a wide variety of different user groups, these cannot all be fairly compared directly without differentiation. Verdicts are awarded rather as in the Olympic Games. There, the best in any category gets a gold medal, even if another athlete from another category put in a much faster performance, or if the best on the day broke no record. Thus in the ExtraEnergy Test there is a test winner in every category of every test, and this sets the bar for the other pedelecs in this category. “Very Good” means a so-called “customer requirement satisfaction factor (KFactor)” of 8 to 10. A test verdict of “Good” is awarded from K-Factor 5. This methodology means that when tests are repeated, bikes can fall down the rankings. This is because a year later they may still have exactly the same absolute performance, but relative to other market offerings they will now be lower ranked, because newer, better products have appeared in the same category. Each type of evaluation has its justification. ExtraEnergy is however following its statutory objective of accelerating the development of Light Electric Vehicles. A market develops
best through satisfied customers, and these are realised through product comparisons which awards innovations with a high K-factor more highly than those vehicles with the best exam results but which do not necessarily fulfil important functions and so may disappoint customers.
Prototypes vs. series production
Often, pre-production vehicles are tested. In this way ExtraEnergy can help manufacturers to identify problem early and to fix them before series production. So over the last 21 years of testing, the association has contributed to a number of products being improved, or withdrawn, by the manufacturer before they reached the market.
One general difference between ExtraEnergy and Stiftung Warentest procedures is in the vehicles under test and how these are procured. The Stiftung always buys vehicles from the open market and publicises any defects, without giving the manufacturer a chance to remedy these if possible.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and they often reach similar results but with differing consequences. While the StiWa has now almost caused a panic about weak brakes on pedelecs, in its Autumn Test in 2010 ExtraEnergy was already addressing lack of braking on pedelecs. In the 2010 Autumn Test alone, deficiencies in braking powFor the ExtraEnergy Test, in contrast, produc- er were identified on 19 pedelecs. The manuers provide vehicles willingly, and they pay facturers were informed and 14 solved the isfor the test in advance through a fee. They sue to our full satisfaction. The other five were are shown the results in advance of publi- marked down, and this was published. cation and have the opportunity to address deficiencies. Among those who addressed the deficiencies was Cycle Union with the Kreidler Vitality. The If manufacturers refuse to address defects or company was informed by ExtraEnergy in Janto withdraw the product from market, natu- uary 2010 about the issues with the braking rally this will be published by ExtraEnergy. system in testing and so it was in a position to ExtraEnergy.org 13
Stiftung Warentest vs. extraenergy
20
address the problem before the first production and deliveries of this bike in February 2011.
the Stiftung Warentest report. For ExtraEnergy this is a calculated value, derived from comparing the rider’s pedal power and motor output to the power used on a reference bike without electric assist. For other defects, such as for example electromagnetic interference is- The range values determined by Stiftung Warentest are only rounded sues, improvements are unfortunately rather slower to come, because values and very much relative, because no information is given about this area is a hitherto unknown area for most cycle manufacturers, the test profile or even the assist mode used. It’s like testing a car and who are mostly highly skilled mechanically. not saying if you’ve tested the pulling power on hills. Because purely mechanical bikes do not need to carry a CE mark, the topic of CE conformity is also new territory for most manufacturers. On this subject ExtraEnergy has offered much advice on the need for correct CE declarations and this has induced many companies to conform to the regulations.
Verdict on the verdict Unfortunately, the Stiftung Warentest’s range measurements were carried out on a not very realistic test stand: see the article “Stiftung Warentest & ADAC – ExtraEnergy verdict: defective”. Range and power assist factor (U-factor) are still core criteria for most customers when choosing a pedelec. Yet U-factor was not measured in 14 ExtraEnergy.org
With some incomprehension ExtraEnergy has established that Stiftung Warentest has gone for blind trust in manufacturer claims of battery type. Indeed, all batteries are lithium-ion batteries, but details of battery chemistry, such as Li-Ion Mn or Li-Ion Mn-Ni-Co, are incomplete, and apparently given pretty much at random – and clearly not checked. Furthermore, these details are hardly relevant for customers. A joint weakness of both the Stiftung Warentest and ExtraEnergy tests is in the lack of authoritative verdicts on battery longevity and manufacturer warranty performance. Both factors are hard to measure, but both are important for users. ExtraEnergy will continue to work on further improving its tests.
Stiftung Warentest vs. extraenergy
EG-Konformitätserklärung EC Declaration of Conformity
This appendix of the Machinery Directive includes the necessary requirements for the conformity declaration.
This is what a valid EU conformity declaration looks like.
Relevant for chargers.
im Sinne der EG-Richtlinie 2006/42 /EG according to EC directive 2006/42 über Maschinen (Anhang II A) /EC on machinery (Annex II A) Name und Anschrift des Herstell ers ggf. Name und Anschrift seines Name and address of the manufac in der EU turer: niedergelassenen Bevollmächtigte n where appropriate his authoris ed representative in EU MUSTER GmbH MODEL IMPORTER Ltd. Ingenieurweg 7 Engineerstr. 100 99999 Musterhausen 100000 Modelcity
Diese Erklärung bezieht sich nur auf die Maschine in dem Zustand, in dem sie in Verkehr Endnutzer nachträglich angebrac gebracht wurde; vom hte Teile und/oder nachträglich vorgenommene Eingriffe bleiben Erklärung verliert ihre Gültigkei t, wenn das Produkt ohne Zustimmu unberücksichtigt. Die ng umgebaut oder verändert This declaration relates exclusive wird. ly to the machinery in the state in which it was placed on the components which are added market, and excludes and/or operations carried out subsequently by the final user. valid, if the product is modified The declaration is no more without agreement.
Hiermit erklären wir, dass die nachstehend beschriebene Maschin e / Anlage Herewith we declare, that the machinery described below Produktbezeichnung / product denomination: Musterteilmaschine Serien- / Typenbezeichnung / model/type: Style Maschinen-/Seriennummer / machinery / serial number: 007 Baujahr / Year of manufacture: 2010 allen einschlägigen Bestimmungen der Maschinenrichtlinie 2006/42 über elektromagnetische Verträgl /EG sowie der Richtlinie 2004/10 ichkeit entspricht. 8/EG Die Schutzziele der Richtlinie 2006/95/EG über elektrische Betriebsmittel werden eingeha is complying with all essentia lten. l requirements of the Machine ry Directive 2004/108/EC relating to electrom 2006/42/EC and Directive agnetic compatibility.. The safety objectives of the Directive 2006/95/EC relating to electrica l equipment are observed. Ggf.: Angewandte harmon isierte Normen / Where appropr iate: Harmonised Standards (Beispiel, muss für jede Maschin used e ermittelt werden! / Example to be identified for each machine !)
EN ISO 12100-1 Sicherheit von Maschinen 4/2004 Grundbegriffe / Safety of Machiner y - Basic concepts
EN 61000-6-4 9/2007
EN ISO 12100-2 Sicherheit von Maschinen 4/2004 Technische Leitsätze / Safety of Machinery - Technical principles
EN 61000-6-2 3/2006
Elektrische Ausrüstung von Maschine n Electrical equipment of machines
EMV – Fachgrundnorm: Störaussendung Industriebereiche EMC - Generic standard: Emission for industrial environments
EMV – Fachgrundnorm: Störfestigkeit Industriebereiche EMC - Generic standards: Immunity for industrial environments
Ggf.: Angewandte sonstige technische Normen und Spezifik ationen Other technical standards and specifications used:
.......
Managing Director, Technical Director etc …
ggf. Name, Anschrift und Kennnu mmer der benannten Stelle, das EG-Baumusterprüfverfah durchgeführt hat, sowie die Numme ren r Qualitätssicherungssystem genehm der EG-Baumusterprüfbescheinigung oder die das umfasse nde igt hat. where appropriate, the name, address and identification number the EC type-examination and of the notified body which the number of the EC type-exa carried out quality assurance system mination certificate or which approved the full
Bevollmächtigter für die Zusamm enstellung der relevanten technis The person authorised to compile chen Unterlagen (EU-Adresse) the relevant technical docume ntation (must be established within EU):
Muster GmbH Abteilung , Hr./Fr. Muster Musterstr. 99 99099 Musterstadt
________________________
Ort, Datum Place, Date
________________________
________________________ Name, Vorname und Funktion ______ des Unterzeichners surname, first name and function Unterschrift of signatory Signature h_2006-42
Konformitaetserklaerung_Masc
.DOC
ABOUT ExtraEnergy ✏✏ What is ExtraEnergy? ✏✏ How are the test bikes chosen? ExtraEnergy is a legal association. We have tested electric bikes since ExtraEnergy isn’t a state-funded institution: registration for the tests 1992 to help develop the current market and to publish comparative is voluntary for manufacturers, and involves a fee. We do also buy results. some so-called ‘bargain’ bikes so as to illustrate the ‘shadow side’ of the market – although there are sometimes positive surprises to be found here, too. ✏✏ Why comparative? For us what matters is not the objectively best pedelec, but the best pedelecs currently on the market for particular users. ✏✏ How is your independence guaranteed? The ‘deal’ is that what the manufacturer pays for is to be informed of any problems in advance, with the opportunity to remedy them, or ✏✏ So what does quality mean? For the test we do apply benchmarks as the ideal standard, but these to decide against publication. This can occur, for example, when we are relative, and appropriate to the intended use. The requirements or discover safety defects which result in a recall. Naturally we will only quality measures are weighted differently between product groups, so refrain from publishing this if the manufacturer takes action i.e. imenabling us to classify the vehicle types. proves the bike or withdraws it from the market. ✏✏ What does that mean for readers? It’s essential to be clear about your own circumstances and what you intend to use the bike for and where. The icons in the text and the classification into product groups should make it easier for you to get your bearings.
✏✏ What do the award stamps mean? Our award stamps are a verdict of quality. Bikes which carry these stamps have withstood our tests in Tanna on Tour, City and Hills circuits, and proven themselves as ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ pedelecs in our market comparisons.
ExtraEnergy.org 15
IDEal legal framework
The ideal legal framework according to ExtraEnergy Text Hannes Neupert
ExtraEnergy has closely followed the lawmaking process for over 21 years, and would like to see more proactive politics from legislators. Practical experience from Japan, China, the USA and Europa shows us that legislation can play a decisive role in market development. For some time now ExtraEnergy has lobbied for the repeal of mandatory dynamo rules. Another of our demands is the removal of the requirement for a driving license for using pedelecs with ‘push assist’. These two demands from ExtraEnergy were implemented in 2013 by the Federal Government. Further demands, which a proactive legislator would be most welcome to champion, are still outstanding:
1
NO DRIVE POWER LIMIT
…because power can also mean safety rather than danger if it is properly regulated. A cargo bike clearly needs more than 250 W of power. The current law, which permits 250 W nominal continuous rated power, is a farce anyway because it does not clearly state how exactly 250 W continuous rated power is to be defined, only that the manufacturer must proclaim this clearly on the motor nameplate. Some more cheeky manufacturers already have products on the market capable of 800 W continuous, but the motor nameplate still says 250 W.
er. This would mean that children could ride pedelecs at a younger age without riding dangerously fast. The same goes for unfit adults of any age, who in general have less riding experience. This type of regulation would be based on the case of conventional bicycles, where maximum speed is also linked to rider power. However, it would also mean that even not so fit people, even with cargo, could climb any hill at at least 15 km/h, thanks to the unlimited electrical power.
3
32 KM/H TOP SPEED FOR ALL PEDELECS or a 30 km/h urban speed limit for all road users.
→→ Power assist to max. 15 km/h at muscle power below 50 W →→ Power assist to max. 20 km/h at muscle power below 100 W →→ Power assist to max. 25 km/h at muscle power below 150 W →→ Power assist to max. 32 km/h at muscle power above 150 W
32 km/h is a figure which has international resonance. In the USA, for example, 20 mph is allowed, which converts to 32 km/h. And in many urban areas in Europe there are 30 km/h zones. If pedelec riders are to participate here as fully fledged road users this would make a considerable contribution to road safety, because equal speed would mean pedelec riders are less easily overlooked, and dangerous overtaking manoeuvres would be unnecessary. 32 km/h is a speed which would be perceived as very efficient and which would permit, in an area with good transport infrastructure, average riding speeds of around 25 km/h. This would make pedelecs a competitive form of transport for commuters with journeys up to at least 25 km.
Safe riding at higher speeds isn’t possible for everyone. On conventional bikes the speed is naturally limited by the physical capacity of the rider. Motors with rotation sensors remove this natural limit. Torque sensors retain the principle of speed determined by rider pow-
A blanket urban speed limit of 30 km/h for all traffic, including cyclists, would significantly reduce the potential for dangerous conflict between road users because overtaking manoeuvres would make much less sense.
2
TORQUE SENSORS COMPULSORY – ROTATION SENSOR PEDELECS BANNED
16 ExtraEnergy.org
NO LIMIT ON WHEEL, TRACK OR RIDER COUNT
8
ExtraEnergy believes that special four-wheeled cycles with their excellent stability, high transport capacity and high permissible payloads can play an important part for families, the elderly and also for commercial cargo carriers. Vehicles such as self-compensating trailers, handbikes (wheelchairs coupled to a hand-cranked front end) and many other special vehicles will enrich everyday life.
5
gesetzt NO DYNAMO COMPULSION BUT FREE CHOICE OF ENERGY SOURCE FOR LIGHTS
Unfortunately still not implemented is our demand for a compulsory daytime running light function.
6
NO MINIMUM LIGHTING POWER IN WATTS BUT A MINIMUM LIGHT OUTPUT INSTEAD
For example, 80 Lux for the front light instead of today’s 10 Lux and the option of incorporating indicators.
7
NO COMPULSORY HELMETS – BUT ENCOURAGEMENT OF HELMET WEARING WHERE THEIR USE IS APPROPRIATE
It might be possible to develop helmets which are suitable for pedelecs but which are significantly safer than current cycle helmets, while being better ventilated and lighter than motorbike helmets.
PUSH/START ASSIST TO 6 KM/H ALLOWED WITH NO LICENSE - FOR ALL PEDELECS
umgeset
zt
One demand unfortunately still not implemented is that start assist (for setting off) should only operate when two controls are operated simultaneously on the two handlebar grips. This would ensure that both hands are on the bars, and it would also rule out unintended operation of the start assist. Start assist should also cut out after five minutes of continuous operation, and only re-start after release and re-activation of the controls, with a one second delay, to discourage continuous riding with the start assist.
9
NO DRIVING LICENSE NEEDED AND NO AGE LIMITS
10
RIGHT TO USE CYCLE PATHS BUT NOT COMPULSION
11
12
CHARGE SOCKETS MUST COMPLY WITH THE ENERGYBUS STANDARD
The risks of riding a pedelec should in every case be born by compulsory personal third party insurance.
This would make charging with any EnergyBus compliant charger posProtective clothing such as helmets can be very sensible, but compul- sible. This is an important precondition for unified and future-proof sory use of helmets, as advocated from several quarters is, in the cur- infrastructure. rent environment at least, definitely not a productive move. It would put a damper on public acceptable of cycling for transport and so poBATTERY SALES BANNED tentially lead to more deaths, because many more people across EuBOTH SEPARATELY AND WITH PEDELECS rope die from lack of exercise than die in traffic. It’s possible to im- This is the only way to ensure that batteries are not treated as throwagine, as an alternative to helmets, ‘airbag vests’ which in the case of away items which need to be swapped out every two or three years, so an accident would inflate the rider into a sort of ‘Michelin man’. This increasing profits for dealers and manufacturers. Instead, this would would make more sense than a helmet which, while it can protect the ensure that batteries would be supplied to customers by the battery head, also increases the likelihood of severe neck injury. In any case we manufacturer or a battery hire company. Once they reach the end of can expect many more active safety technologies which could alter the their life they can be easily collected for efficient recycling which could entire safety paradigm. re-use the raw ingredients.
13
test ANALYSIS
Meeting customer wishes How ExtraEnergy evaluates Text Andreas Törpsch
The ExtraEnergy Test is designed as a comparative test. The qualities and ratings of any particular bike are set in the context of the others also in the current test. Instead of coming up with absolute ratings, current offerings are compared. The objective is not to come up with a universally applicable ‘verdict’ but to help cusAll pedelecs and e-bikes undergo the same test procedure. Each bike is equipped with measuring sensors and is ridden by each test rider at least once around each circuit. In the Ergonomics Test the evaluation is carried out by interested members of the public: 20 volunteer testers see how easily each pedelec can be heaved over a step, how easily the batteries are to change, and more, resulting finally in a subjective ranking for each of the ExtraEnergy product categories. Most of the product categories will seem familiar at first glance, and derived from ‘classic’ cycling categories such as city or touring bikes. But the categories in the ExtraEnergy Test are set with strict criteria. Minimum requirements for measured values such as range or speed are part of this, as are inclusion criteria such as a full chaincases or a particular payload capacity. These criteria are informed by ExtraEnergy’s many years of experience, and tempered with a dash of vision. In our considerations, the key factors are who will ride where, with which pedelec, and what will they need for this. Family pedelecs, for example, need a minimum payload rating of 110 kg, to permit mounting a child seat, and to offer a peak power assistance factor (taken as the ‘Hills’ UFactor) of at least 1. Behind this is the knowledge that families need pedelecs on which you can carry children and shopping. They must be easy to get moving without falling off and should offer reliable progress. As well as having minimum requirements and inclusion criteria, all product categories are assigned customer requirements. Customer requirements of a pedelec are in principle universal, although they are not all equally important to every user. So each requirement is given a weighting (Figure 1). To make these requirements, and how well they are satisfied, 18 ExtraEnergy.org
tomers to find, with the help of product groupings, the pedelec which is best matched to their needs. The sorting of the test bikes into categories is not done arbitrarily, but follows defined criteria and minimum requirements. Add in a dash of perspective and the test results are complete.
quantifiable, each is assigned to one or more relevant measured values. For range, the link to the measured range value is obvious, while peak assist power is expressed by the ‘Hills’ U-factor. So in the evaluation, the range on a touring bike is more significant than on an Easy Pedelec – and so it is given a correspondingly higher weighting.
Because the user and the intended use are closely interrelated, a little lateral thinking is sometimes required. For a Tour Pedelec it is not, as you might at first think, the range which is the most important aspect, but the ease of use. Because you have luggage with you on tour anyway, carrying a second battery as well is relatively easy. Also, most batteries
Customer desire
Battery price Serviceability Battery service life
High reliability
Drive system reliability
test ANALYSIS
are now sufficient for typical daily distances, which is recognised in the 40 km minimum range for a Tour Pedelec. Ease of use however is essential, because one of the main areas of application for a Tour Pedelec is cycle tourism. Inexperienced users need a hire bike which they can handle easily, and on which they can if necessary fix a small breakdown themselves.
customers this categorisation means easier decision making: once you are clear about your own priorities, it’s easy to see which bikes will best match your personal requirements.
ues, give points for each bicycle. These are normalised from 1 to 10. This normalization also simultaneously sets the ranking, expressed as a K factor, for customer (Kunde in German) requirement fulfilment. The best bike in every Leading up to the final test verdict, all values group is declared the test winner and receives are entered into a spreadsheet, via which the the top K factor of 10. All of the other pedelecs bikes are automatically sorted into product in the category are measured against this, and groups, bearing in mind the exclusion criteria are awarded the seal of approval which matchTo distinguish the 14 requirements clear- and minimum requirements. The weighted re- es their K factor. ly and to avoid arbitrary judgements, Extra- quirements, together with the measured valEnergy employs the ‘pair comparison’ methhigh reliability high assist power 10 od. Each customer requirement was compared with another, for each category. So for examlow maintenance high peak load assist ple we asked whether range for a touring bike 5 was more significant than high assist powlow purchase price high range er, and the responses were given values of 2 high quality (more important), 1 (equal) or 0 (less important). Going through each requirement gave easy to use high hillclimbing ability them all points, and these were summed to give the weighting, and hence the profile for that category. fast travel speed low noise There are a total of 12 product categories, which are divided into four overall sectors of Urban, Comfort, Leisure and Transport. For
High peak power assist High range High hill-climbing ability Fast travel speed Low rolling resistance Easy to transport High similarity to a bicycle Low noise Easy to use Low purchase price Low maintenance High reliability
Ranking
High assist power High assist power
easy to transport
More important Equally important Less important
low rolling resistance
high similarity to a bicycle
x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ExtraEnergy.org 19
ergonomiCS test
The toughest test: everyday use or: how to test a pedelec for yourself – fast! text Nora Manrtey
At first glance, buying a pedelec looks simple enough. You go to a shop, take a look around, sit on the bike, try one out if you like it, chat to the salesman a little, then glance down at the price… at
which point you decide you need to think about it. But really, you should have sat down to think a bit earlier, because a pedelec really is a lot more than just a bike with an electric motor.
In contrast to conventional bikes, electric bikes are complex products, whose performance cannot be summed up in single figure or component; instead they are a complex symbiosis of man and machine. The motor on a pedelec only assists Pedelecs are hybrid vewhen the rider is pedalling. So it is hicles combining muscle a hybrid vehicle combining muscle and Motor power and motor power, and overall performance depends on other factors too. As a user you could (but you don’t have to) get involved with details of the software setup, the compatibility of the components and component selection. But what really matters in everyday use is ride quality and practical ease of use.
moving the battery (if possible) is easy to do, and test the various mechanisms on other pedelecs and so learn more about your own preferences. With a new product like the pedelec, you need to get to know it a little before you can decide which is right for you.
RIDE, THEN DECIDE Everyday ease of use is fed into the ExtraEnergy verdicts via the ergonomics tests. Our testers set themselves to operate the test bikes, without instructions, but with a reYour preferences will port form. Various stationary obdepend on the product, stacles simulate everyday situabut also your lifestyle tions such as stairs or car boot sills, and other aspects give information about the intuitive usability of the bikes, for example how easy the battery is to remove or replace.
Influencing this are factors which don’t relate to the product at all, but to your own life circumstances. For example, when it comes to lifting tests, if your parking space is on ground level the vehicle doesn’t necessarily need to be light to carry; but if you live on the third floor, weight and ease of carrying could be critical. A short ride on a flat road is only enough to get a first impression of the handling. You can only really find out whether you want a longerterm relationship with the bike if The ergonomics tests you can go up and down a bit. A hill or even just a ramp can give an im- features questionnaires – not user manuals! pression of the power assist at peak loads. A couple of steps can be used for an extra carrying test. A good indicator of the rolling resistance of a bike is riding without the motor, because loss of power is always possible. Switching it off as you ride on a good surface will also show you how easy the display is to reach and operate.
You can do your own user testing using the questionnaire from the ExtraYou don’t have to actually take the pedelec to pieces in the bike shop, Energy Pedelec & E-Bike Test. If you are lucky enough to find a wide range but you should ask for a brief introduction to the technology or for of pedelecs at your dealer, you can also record your impressions and evalpermission to fiddle a little. So you could for example check that re- uate them back at home before you decide on your electric bike. d 20 ExtraEnergy.org
#
The evaluaTion uses marks from 1 (very good) To 6 (unsaTisfacTory). Below each question are comments which may help you with your evaluation.
d TEST STATION 1
BATTERY AND CHARGER – CONNECTING AND CHARGING
Battery removal (if possible): How easy is it to remove the battery? Is there a grip, for example? Does it slide out easily or need force? Can it jam? Lock (if present): How well does the lock operate? e.g. is the key easy to turn or does it catch, is there a clear ›locked‹ indication or marking… Find the charger for the battery: how clearly can the charger for this particular battery be identified? Is there for example a marking such as the brand name? Is the connector unique, or could different plugs fit? Battery replacement: How easily can the battery be replaced? Is replacing it easy? Is there a ›locked‹ indication? Is it clear how it should be put in place?
d TEST STATION 2
6
ADJUSTMENT – BEFORE YOU RIDE
Ergonomic adjustment: can the bike be adjusted to suit you personally? Can e.g. the handlebar be easily adjusted and seat height set, with or without tools, tight enough? Choose riding mode. Can the ride mode be selected easily? Is e.g. the display self-explanatory, easy to read, is it easy to find the on button?
d TEST STATION 6
4
LOADING BAY STEP – OBSTACLES AND TRANSPORT
Push the bike over a loading bay step: how easily does the bike travel over the edge? Is it for example light enough, are there places to hold it easily, does it catch anywhere…
d TEST STATION 5
3
STEPS – STORAGE AND USE
Carry the bike up the steps. How easy is it to carry the bike over the steps? Is it for example light enough, are there good grip locations, can it be stored in a stairway?
d TEST STATION 4
2
CAR CARRIER – TOURING
Car carrier: how easy is it to attach the bike to the car carrier? Is it for example light enough to roll or lift into place? Can the frame be easily secured?
d TEST STATION 3
1
TEST IT TRACK – TEST RIDE
Power assist on the flat: how well does the motor assist you as you ride? Does the power come evenly, too early, too late, smoothly? Power assist on hills: how well does the motor assist on an incline? Does the power come too late, too little, does it fade out? Ride quality with motor assist: how does the bike ride with power assist operating? Does it feel for example safe, pleasant, does it roll along easily? Ride quality without the motor: how does the bike ride overall without motor assist? Does it feel e.g. safe, is it easy rolling or heavy going, is there noticeable resistance? Drive noise: how is the motor noise? Is it e.g. too loud or barely audible, unpleasant or unobjectionable? Ease of use: how easy is the bike to operate as you ride? Is the display e.g. easy to reach, clear, can you switch off the motor as you ride? Parking: how securely does the bike stand up? Is the stand easily folded out (if fitted), does it wobble or hold the bike securely? Design / Style: How much do you like the overall look of the bike? A matter of taste… Fun factor: How much fun did the ride deliver for you overall? A matter of taste…
ExtraEnergy.org 21
TESTING BY TYPE
TESTING BY TYPE Which pedelec will suit me best? The sheer number of electric bikes on the market makes the hunt for the best pedelec ever more difficult, but also ever more necessary. The criteria are various, the bikes on offer ever more varied. With our evaluation methodology in the ExtraEnergy Test we have asked the questions for you: which bike will fulfil your requirements the best? Twelve product categories have been defined - or rather, have evolved over time. So there are Easy Pedelecs for urban e-mobility, fast pedelecs for business types or leisure, and fun pedelecs in the Sport category, and more. The categories all represent the same customer requirements of the pedelecs or e-bikes, but with differing weightings according to the category’s demands and applications. For extra clarity, the particular types are divided into four overall groups: Urban, Comfort, Leisure and Transport. You can find more details of how categories are determined on page 16.
PRODUCT CATEGORY OVERVIEW Urban
1 Where do you typically ride your bike?
City
Fast
4 How much luggage do you have to carry?
TEST FOR YOURSELF Only you can answer the question of which pedelec will be the best for you. Tests give a first overview, but before you start poring over product reports, you should really do some testing of your own. Ask yourself what sort of distances you would usually ride on your pedelec, and whether this is around town and/or with steep climbs involved? Which pedelec features are essential for you? Does your display need to give high tech info or is it enough for you to know how long the battery will last? Answer five basic questions and you will see which product type will suit you.
Hand luggage
Cargo
5 How easy to carry, or transport, must your vehicle be?
In this evaluation you can easily keep track using the pictograms alongside the product categories. If at least three requirements match, your perfect pedelec could lie in this product category. Enjoy! Pushable
22 ExtraEnergy.org
Easy to carry (folds)
PRODUCT CATEGORIES
WLTM: the perfect pedelec Not every pedelec will suit everyone: rather, a particular choice But you’re sure to find your perfect pedelec in our ‘lonely hearts may appeal to those with common interest or life circumstances. ads’ below; the icons will help you make a speedy selection.
Urban Business Pedelec
m
300
1 / Ra 25 km / Vmin 27 Load 90 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 20 km / Lights / Stand Load 90 kg / UB red spirit? I am always busy, Do you like things simple and uncomplicat- Looking for a kind and set high expectations for ed? Then I, as an Easy Pedelec, am your per- am well insured as a Business Pedelec, you can fect partner for the urban everyday. I’m fully myself. With me, cut and thrust of everyday law-abiding and look pretty much like a nor- be master of the business life. Price is no probmal bike. Take me with you and I’ll give you a travel and of the 28 lem: what matters is performance. d Page real boost. d Page 28
FOLDING + CompaCt Pedelec
d
Load 90 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 15 km / max. 22 kg Want flexibility and no strings attached? As a Folding Pedelec I fit into all sorts of lifestyles. Open relationships with other forms of transport are no problem. I’m happy to be with you around town and also love riding in a mobile home. d Page 28
Comfort – LEISURE
ClassiC Pedelec
d
Load 95 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 15 km / Lights / Stand Load 90 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 15 km / Lights / Stand Love the sweet city life, and crave comfort? Seeking a traditionally minded pedal-pal for As a City-Comfort Pedelec I’ll pamper you with companionable rides? As a Classic Pedelec, I full suspension and ease the strain of the little enjoy both city and countryside trips. My stresses of city life. Let’s go shopping together chain is well tucked away in a closed chaincase and my components are all of top or take a quick minibreak! d Page 60 quality. I have no problem carr ying passenge rs on my robust rear rack.d Page 60
d
Tour Pedelec
ier rack Load 110 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 40 km / Carr excurlove I ? Travelling companion required age. I lugg sions and longer tours, even with do you like to stop off for refuelling, but if up on rewant to do a longer ride, I can stock ble, solid serves. As a Tour Pedelec I am relia 70 and heavy duty. d Page
LEISURE – Transport
sport Pedelec
d
km / sporty Load 90 kg / UB 1.0 / Ra 15 Load 90 kg / UB 1.2 / Ra 15 km a Sports Pedelec you can Are you seeking a partner for the good times? Crave adventure? As ed. l and down, or at top spe As a Lifestyle Pedelec I’m pleasant to ride and ride me hard, uphil I’m and at gre fun, I look easy-going. I love getting out and about amid I’m powerful and . nd nature and enjoy short rides or city breaks - right on tre d Page 70 ideally together with you! d Page 70
d
familY Pedelec
Load 110 kg / UB 1 / Ra 30 km / Child-fri endly Au pair required? As a Family Pede lec I am highly reliable, communicative and seek a long-term relationship. I’ll take you to your appointments in one trip with no prob lems, even with heavy loads, trailers or child seats, and I’ll happily take your children to school or on outings. d Page 88
Ride terrain
max. payload min. range min. speed min. power assist level on hills
ExtraEnergy.org 23
BENCHMARK BIKE
Kalkhoff · Agattu
MEASUREMENTS RIDE PERFORMANCE: TOUR Ø - speed 19 km/h Rider power 168 W RIDE PERFORMANCE: HILLS Ø - speed 11 km/h Rider power 206 W RIDE PERFORMANCE: CITY Ø - speed Rider power
The benchmark or reference bike is a normal bicycle, so not fitted with any extra motor or battery. The model used was chosen because it is similar to many pedelecs in geometry and in components fitted. It is fitted for example with Shimano Nexus hub gears, which are also used on many of the pedelecs currently on the market. It has 28" wheels and Continental city tyres in an ‘average’ width. The benchmark bike
11 km/h 137 W
weighs 17.9 kg, so it is not exactly lightweight, although in its class it is not a particularly heavy model. Test riders have awarded the reference bike subjectively very good ride quality, and furthermore, even when the going got tougher for the test riders, all managed the steepest section of the test circuit, with a 15 % gradient, on this bike, without dismounting.
SPECIFICATION max. PAYLOAD 120 kg FRAME 28" Aluminium SIZES Low step: 28" 45, 50, 55 cm FORK RST Verso Adj GEARS Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gearing, twist grip brAKES R/R Conzept SL 4 finger V-brake WHEELS Rodi Freeway Alu hollow section rims f Shimano DH-3N20 hub dynamo, Nexus hub TYRES ContinentalCityRide42-622,reflective strips, puncture resist LIGHTS f B&M Lumotec Fly Halogen r Basta X-Ray Steady extras Height adjustable stand, ergonomic grips, alu rack Post Moderne suspension seatpost, angle adjust stem WEIGHT Overall PRICE Whole bike
17.9 kg € 499
Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstraße 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg 24 ExtraEnergy.org
Tel 044 71 96 60 Fax 047 71 96 64 48 45
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
Key points COMPARED
Key points compared Criteria for prioritising particular characteristics The 'Key Points' box on the test pages illustrates advantages and disadvantages schematically as plusses and minuses. The system sets clear lower and upper bounds and defined characteristics, which can be either pros (+) or cons (–), or sometimes both (+/–), in which case it is a ‘matter of taste’ and should be left to the individual customer.
Criteria for range »high« if Tour range ≥ 60 km and / or City range ≥ 30 km »low« if Tour range ≤ 35 km
Criteria for rating of the battery status display »On the bars, inaccurate« if there is an accurate display of battery charge status on the battery itself, but only a voltage-based, inaccurate display on the handlebars.
Criteria for power assist factor rating »high« if U-Factor for Tour, City and / or Hills ≥ 1.4
»inaccurate« if there is an accurate display of battery charge level neither on the handlebars nor on the battery itself.
Criteria for push assist rating + – positive/negative rating, because it is particularly helpful when setting off on bikes which are fitted with only a pedal rotation sensor, but on the other hand it is only legal to use for riders born before 1965 or who have at least a moped license. Criteria for payload rating »high« if payload ≥ 110 kg Criteria for weight rating »high« if total bike weight ≥ 27 kg »low« if total bike weight ≤ 22 kg Criteria for price rating »high« if total price > 2950 € »low« if total price < 800 € NOTE: This is not a rating of value for money, but purely an indicator of either high or low purchase price.
Drive noise level »loud« for a rating of > 3 in the ergonomics test »quiet« for a rating of ≥ 1.5 in the ergonomics test Other criteria + positive rating, if regenerative braking function present + positive rating, if remaining range readout present + positive rating, if one key is used for both bike lock and battery lock + – positive/negative rating, if license plate and insurance are compulsory + – positive/negative rating, if fitted with an LCD display. – negative rating, if all-weather equipment such as lighting, mudguards or carrier rack are absent. General notes Setting the criteria for rating particular characteristics of a bike is driven by the measured results of all of the bikes in the test. This can sometimes lead, for example, to a folding pedelec weighing 21 kg being ranked as a ‘light’ pedelec, although that is a rather high weight for a folding bike. So the evaluation is against the current field of test bikes, not against an ideal case.
ExtraEnergy.org 25
Test winners at a glance Congratulations from ExtraEnergy!
URBAN — Easy Pedelec — WINNER Kettler · Traveller-E Sport
URBAN — FOLDING/CompaCt Pedelec — WINNER Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8
COMFORT — ClassiC Pedelec — WINNER Grace · Easy 26 ExtraEnergy.org
URBAN — Business Pedelec — WINNEr FLYER · Vollblut 500
COMFORT — City-Comfort Pedelec — WINNER Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27
COMFORT — rehaB Pedelec — WINNER Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci
test WINNERS
LEISURE — Tour Pedelec — WINNER Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive
LEISURE — Sport offRoad Pedelec — WINNER Bulls · CrossRider
LEISURE— Sport Road Pedelec —WINNER Stromer · ST1
LEISURE — lifestyle Pedelec — WINNER A2B · Shima
The test results are shown in full on the following pages. Transport — FamiLY Pedelec — WINNER riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci ExtraEnergy.org 27
urban
high similarity to a bicycle easy to transport 28 ExtraEnergy.org
urban
Urban 19 test bikes in this category.
E-mobility is increasingly equated with urban mobility. Even if the buzzwords may make it seem over-hyped, the facts speak for themselves. Electric bikes are a perfect match for city mobility. Pedelecs are a new product employing innovative technology, and electric bikes encapsulate perfectly the transport and mobility needs of 21st century lifestyles. Most people live in cities or in their immediate vicinity. Life and work require flexibility and mobility, under ever greater time and space pressures.
5 test bikes in this category.
Pedelecs and e-bikes respond with their low purchase price (compared to cars), minimal parking space needs, and they offer a healthy and nimble alternative when it comes to getting around congested inner cities for short trips. The plain bicycle can do the same, too, but the pedelec can go faster, further and sweat-free.
lights, stand and mudguards. A good power assist system also makes shorter outings and city tours easy. “Effortless mobility” is the watchword for Easy Pedelec riders. The second product category, Folding Pedelecs, is a bit more specialist. Clearly they have to fold, and so offer the freedom of mixed-mode mobility. Commuters can combine their pedelecs with other means of transport such as bus, tram, train or of course car. Perfect for people who live out in the country and work in the city. Folding pedelecs must be easily carried, preferably with the battery in place, and this can then be charged in the office or at home. There were three of this type in the ExtraEnergy Test. All are qualified for modern, hybrid lifestyle use.
Given these advantages it’s no wonder that it’s into the Urban category grouping that the largest number of pedelecs are placed. With- If you’re the type to stay out in front, then in this, they are divided into various applica- you need to consider a Business Pedelec. Into tion areas. this category come the fast pedelecs, which provide assist up to 45 km/h. Top specificaEasy Pedelecs are designed for everyday ur- tion and performance even on hills, and high ban use. They look like normal bikes and ride range, are all attributes which may well come the same way, just easier. Use and specifica- at a price. Business class for business people. tion are uncomplicated but city-capable, with
All vehicles in the Urban category:
3 test bikes in this category.
FLYER · T7R Deluxe..........................................30 GIANT · Twist Freedom 1.................................32 Kettler · Berlin Royal-e....................................34 Kettler · Obra Comfort....................................36 Kettler · Traveller-E Sport...............................38 Kettler · Twin Ergo..........................................40 MIFA · Cyco E.Bike............................................42 Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony.......................44 Saxonette · X-Road 1......................................46 VICTORIA · Mondeville....................................48 FLYER · Vollblut 500.........................................50 Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S......................52 FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe...........................54 Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8...........................56
A2B · Shima...................................................... 72 Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE................84 Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci....................66 Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27............................60 Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R........................64 Kettler · Layana-e Plus....................................74 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Sinus · B2......................................................... 92 Stromer · ST1..................................................76 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70
ExtraEnergy.org 29
FLYER · T7R Deluxe
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 5
SUMMARY The Flyer T7R comes across as a reliable, distinctly classy companion for rides through town and country, with no serious flaws.
A pleasure! That phrase came up astonishingly frequently in the reports from test riders on the Flyer T7R Deluxe. And they hit the nail on the head. The relaxed riding position: a pleasure. The well-balanced feel of this low step-through bike with its secure straightline handling: a pleasure. The reliable mid mo-
30 ExtraEnergy.org
tor with its positive action: a pleasure. The ride comfort thanks to suspension, ergonomic grips and a comfortable saddle: a pleasure. The package is rounded off with a clear display, buttons in easy reach, a solid specification and acceptable battery life.
Key points + High range Tour/City + High power assist levels on Hills + Push assist + One key for both battery and frame locks + Coaster brake + Remaining range display – High overall weight – High price
Easy Pedelec
FLYER · T7R Deluxe MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
66.3 24.9 1.32
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.7 1.6 2.7 3.7 3.0 1.6 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.1 1.9 1.8
2.990.00 745.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Rotation, torque and speed sensors Battery 476Wh Li-Ion 36V 13.2 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes d W 50cm XS,S,M,L,XL Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NCX Light Lockout Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed w. coaster brake, twist shifter
contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
All new: instead of a charge level display with a few LEDs, there is a digital readout of charge level in percent. Not the most significant of innovations perhaps, but happily it has also retained the function which lets you check easily how much the battery is ageing: just hold the button for three seconds and the display shows the remaining absolute capacity.
Brakes Magura HS 33 hydraulic rim brakes, coaster brake Wheels Alex Rims DH 19 f Hub dynamo DH-3N30 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Marathon Plus 40-622 Lighting f Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ Fly T with daytime running light function r Toplight Flat extras Rear stand, push/starting assist, remaining range readout, angle adjustable stem, Speedlifter, suspension seatpost, keyed alike frame lock, ergonomic grips, coaster brake
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The battery is easy to remove and provides a good range, but it has become rather wide. Some test riders occasionally touched the battery case with their heels or shoes.
ExtraEnergy.org 31
GIANT · Twist Freedom 1
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary The Yamaha motor in the Giant goes to work with gusto, but around the cut-off limit in particular it behaves rather less than elegantly. As a bike the Twist Freedom is completely convincing, although the small battery won’t take you especially far.
Perhaps the most intriguing element of this chic pedelec is the drive system, because the Giant Twist’s frame hosts a brand new motor from Yamaha. With this model from the major Japanese corporation there’s now yet another global player alongside Panasonic, Bosch etc. with a mid motor system. And this motor turns out to be a real powerhouse – the measurements confirm it. It accelerates the Giant low step-through machine eagerly to the assist cut-off speed limit region around 25 km/h. Then, however, it cuts out rather abruptly, and so the Twist Freedom’s ride, especially around the assist limit region, is somewhat less than
32 ExtraEnergy.org
harmonious. Operating the motor, though, was easy: the rider can switch between three assist levels using two buttons, and a five step display shows battery status. There’s no cycle computer function with speed readout etc. But apart from that, this Giant was convincing all round. Riders felt good in the saddle thanks to decent comfort and a pleasant riding position. The low, central centre of gravity gives the Twist a well balanced character, and it reacts responsively to steering inputs. The specification, too, is all in order, especially given the rather affordable price point. Only for very extended rides might the Twist not be
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour, Hills and City circuits + High payloads permitted + – Simple control unit – Motor assist is non-harmonious at times – Low range overall
the most suitable, because with just 36.6 km measured on the Tour circuit, the Giant took last place in our test of 25 km/h electric bikes. It was also towards the back of the field for Hills and City riding.
Easy Pedelec
GIANT · Twist Freedom 1 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
36.6 25.9 1.97
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.7 2.2 2.9 2.6 3.3 2.8 2.8 1.8 1.9 2.7 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.0
2.199.90 499.90
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 146 kg Drive system 250W GIANT SyncDrive C Yamaha mid motor Sensor type Torque and speed sensors, gear sensor for motor RPM. Battery 324Wh Li-Ion Polymer 36V 9Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes GTS M50/L55/XL60cm LDS S46/M50/L55cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR-9V Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear, twist shifter Brakes Hydraulic rim brakes Magura HS 11 contact GIANT Deutschland GmbH Mettmanner Str. 25 · 40699 Erkrath
Tel 0049 211 99894-0 Fax 0049 211 99894-26
A mid motor from the inventors of the pedelec mid motor – Yamaha – with a centrally-positioned battery, drives the Twist Freedom. The lockable battery is also easily removed.
Wheels GIANT GX02 hollow section rims f Shimano DH-3N30 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Reflex 40-622 Lighting v Trelock Bike-i Uno LED with standlight function r Spanninga Plateo extras suspension seatpost, angle adjustable stem, centre stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.giant-bicycles.de
The user controls of the Giant Twist: simple but effective. The two ‘up and down’ buttons in the middle of the photo are easy to operate with your thumb, although the dainty on-off button on the edge of the casing might take a little more finding.
ExtraEnergy.org 33
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Berlin Royal-e Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 1
Summary As a seriously chic retro-cruiser with a well-considered design, the Berlin Royal-e is aimed squarely at style-conscious city cyclists. Motor, comfort and handling impressed. Overall a convincing test performance.
If it were not for the battery amid the diamond frame, this bike might have come from a different age. Kettler are going all out for retro appeal with the Berlin Royal-e. And this capital city cycle is a real eye-catcher: shiny chrome parts for handlebar, lights and seatpost, matched with brown leather on saddle and grips, all giving the matt black frame a classically elegant charm. Even the colour of the tyres fits seamlessly into the carefully considered design. A further visual highlight is the chic rear bag, an optional extra. But in just the first few metres of test riding, it’s clear that Kettler hasn’t simply revived a bike from yesteryear with the Berlin. In its commanding handling, relaxed riding position and especially the electric assist this retro bike is bang up to date. The Berlin Royal-e is driven by a reli-
34 ExtraEnergy.org
able and powerful Bosch mid motor which makes a major contribution to the fun ride; Kettler has tweaked the motor settings since the previous ExtraEnergy test. The drive now reacts noticeably more eagerly and powerfully. Nonetheless, this bike lends itself more to leisurely riding than to city sprinting – not least thanks to the rather high weight. Riding this 27.5 kg bike without motor assist is as you would expect an effort. The range of this retro e-bike is in order, though it was below the average in all of the test environments. Testers also criticised the braking performance: the roller brakes were working at their limits on such a heavy pedelec, especially when the rider was no lightweight. Furthermore, there is no suspension on the Berlin, although comfort wasn’t too lacking thanks to the com-
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour + Remaining range display + Push assist + Stylish design – Testers criticised braking performance – High weight
fortable saddle, ergonomically shaped leather grips and the high-volume tyres. Given appropriate inflation pressure these provided really respectable shock absorption – and not just on Berlin’s famously potholed streets.
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Berlin Royal-e MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
52.7 26.4 1.69
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.8 1.6 1.8 2.8 4.1 3.3 3.0 2.0 1.8 2.9 2.5 1.6 1.7 1.7
2.599.00 no information
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque, speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 50/55cm Fork rigid unicrown Transmission Shimano Nexus 8 speed, twist shifter Brakes Shimano roller brake BRIM81 contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
Colour co-ordinated: brown, black and silver are the repeated colour elements of the Kettler Berlin Royal-E.
Wheels Mach 1 Hollow section rims Neo 29er f Shimano Hub dynamo DH3 R35 r Shimano Nexus 8 with freewheel Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 55-622 Lighting f RetroStyle r Spanninga Pixeo extras Rear stand, push/start assist, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
Roller brakes, and the now no longer legally required hub dynamo. The roller brakes with their large heatsinks provide reliable braking, but are not as powerful as many rim or disk brakes. They were rated negatively for this by some test riders, but positively by others.
ExtraEnergy.org 35
Kettler · Obra Comfort
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary A comfy pedelec for the city circuit. Comfort, assist system and specification all contribute to a well rounded package with enough range for touring and commuting.
Get on and feel good: this low step-through bike invites you to take a comfy ride through the city. The backwards-swept handlebar provides a relaxed riding position, and ergonomic grips, suspension fork and saddle provide comfort to match. And the good specification, including a coaster brake, ensures safety. Moreover, the bike rolls along reliably: not
36 ExtraEnergy.org
a trace of nervousness. That also applies to the motor, which pushes smoothly and even gently, as is appropriate to the comfort theme. The Obra Comfort achieved respectable range: 67 km for Tour and almost 36 on Hills – few mid motors last as long. But without motor assist, the bike can only be ridden with some effort.
Key points + Good range for Tour, City + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Coaster brake – High overall weight
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Obra Comfort MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
66.9 24.1 1.21
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.8 1.9 3.2 4.3 3.5 2.2 2.1 2.5 3.2 1.8 2.0 1.9 2.1
2.749.00 no information
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system Panasonic mid motor 250 W Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 555 Wh Li-Ion 36 V 15.4 Ah, removable and lockable Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes D W 42, 45, 50, 55 cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR 8 V with lockout Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes, coaster brake contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
Exemplary easy to use controls: three buttons for the most important functions (on/ off, mode) plus a battery status display.
Wheels v/h Mach 1 hollow section rims 260 f Shimano hub dynamo DN3 N30 r Shimano Nexus hub gear with coaster brake Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Active 47-622 Lighting v B&M Lumotec Lyt T Senso Plus h B&M ToplightLine Plus extras Frame lock AXA keyed alike, angle adjustable stem, Speedlifter, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
A small but significant detail: the reinforced jockey wheel on the drive system which permits use of a coaster brake.
ExtraEnergy.org 37
Kettler · Traveller-E Sport
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 10 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 7
Summary Full throttle, full fun: Kettler’s Traveller-e Sport impresses with a powerful motor and top handling. Updating it has paid off – test winner!
It’s an old friend: the Traveller-e Sport previously swept the board in the last ExtraEnergy test, so Kettler didn’t have a particularly strong reason to change this sporty tourer. And so they declined the opportunity to fit the Traveller with the new Bosch ride computer with larger display and remote handlebar controls. But the motor does now operate
38 ExtraEnergy.org
more powerfully, with a matching reduction in battery life. The update has paid off: testers evaluated the ride quality even more highly than that of the already highly rated previous year’s model. Otherwise this pedelec impressed with a good specification and sleek design.
Key points + High range for Tour and City circuits + High power assist levels for Tour, on the Hills and in the City + Push assist + Remaining range display
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Traveller-E Sport MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.8 26.0 1.74
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.4 1.7 2.1 2.7 2.5 2.6 1.6 1.6 2.1 2.7 1.5 2.1 1.5
2.599.00 Unknown
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 51/55cm D T/W 47/53cm, 26" W 42cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NEX 4610 Transmission Shimano SLX 10-Gang, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Draco, hydraulic disks contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
Hydroforming is used to optimise the cable entry points on the downtube, and its joint with the headtube. Special Schwalbe tyres and Busch und Müller front light are just two examples of the high quality components on the Kettler Traveller E-Sport.
Wheels Mach1 Neo 29" f Shimano Sport hub dynamo Deore LX r SLX Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Plus Tour 40-622 Lighting f Busch &Müller Lumotec Lyt 10Nplus r integrated in the rear rack extras Suspension seatpost, angle adjustable stem, push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
The black of the Bosch drive stands in strong contrast to the white frame. Disk brakes front and rear ensure that the white frame won’t be quickly dirtied by brake block dust as it would with rim brakes.
ExtraEnergy.org 39
Kettler · Twin Ergo
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 9 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary High comfort meets long range: the Kettler Twin invites extended touring – and fully justifies its ‘ergo’ name.
A pedelec to relax on – the testers found few pedelecs as comfortable a ride as the Twin Ergo. The ergonomic grips, comfortable saddle and the swept-back handlebars are to thank for this, and the comfort doesn’t end there – thanks to suspension and easily adjustable stem. This distinctly heavy bike follows steer-
40 ExtraEnergy.org
ing input with aplomb and unruffled, while the motor drives evenly and smoothly, which all adds to the effect. Only on the hills could it have been a bit more powerful, but this does mean the batteries hold up well. Even in the hills they hold more than 32 km-worth of full power assist.
Key points + High range on Tour and City circuits + High power assist levels on Tour and for Hills + Comfortable + Coaster brake – High weight
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Twin Ergo MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
88.2 26.4 1.53
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 2.1 1.9 2.8 3.8 3.3 2.4 2.1 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.1 1.9 2.4
2.499.00 k.A.
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 555Wh Li-Ion 36V 15.4 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes W 47/53/57cm 26" 45cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR 7 V adjustable Transmission Shimano Nexus 7-speed, twist shifter Brakes f/r rim V-brakes XXL brake blocks & coaster brake contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
A saddle which should offer ergonomic advantages, with its central part removed. Not a new concept, but nicely implemented here. But how it matches your posterior is, as always with saddles, a matter of very personal taste which varies between test riders. So testing for yourself is more important than ever!
Wheels Mach1 hollow section rims 260 f Shimano hub dynamo DH 3 N20 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Continental CityRide 42-622 Lighting f Trelock Bike-I Uno r Trelock LS 613 Dual Flat extras Angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
Theft proofing as standard: Kettler has applied the registration identification sticker for CODE-No.com to one of the chainstays. Once you have registered successfully, anyone can check by SMS or via the QR code link whether this vehicle has been reported as stolen goods.
ExtraEnergy.org 41
MIFA · Cyco E.Bike
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 3
Summary This Aldi pedelec is no high flyer, especially because of the low range for hills and city, but in the context of the price it gave a generally creditable performance.
Many manufacturers won’t even sell you a spare battery for € 699. But Aldi will give you an entire pedelec – and not a bad one, at that. The workmanship on the frame is respectable, the cables are cleanly arranged, comfort is OK, and even the components make a positive impression. Exceptions are the basic V-brakes and the side-runner dynamo, but it does have
42 ExtraEnergy.org
a coaster brake. The simple front motor is slow to kick in, and distinctly audible when it does. And it won’t take you all that far: on the Hills and City circuits the Cyco was in last place in the test. The gear ratios also seemed a bit low. Service arrangements for repairs or other issues could also prove problematic.
Key points + High payload permitted + Low price + Coaster brake – Low range for City/Hills – Side-runner dynamo only – Noisy motor
Easy Pedelec
MIFA · Cyco E.Bike MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
61.6 24.6 1.28
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.4 1.9 2.9 2.8 3.3 2.6 2.9 2.9 3.1 3.3 3.6 2.3 2.4 2.9
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
699.00 279.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 150 kg Drive system 250W front hub motor Sensor type Rotation sensor Battery 360Wh Li-Ion 36V 10Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes W 46cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR8 Transmission Shimano Nexus 7-speed, twist shifter Brakes f/r Shimano V-Brake, coaster brake contact MIFA Mitteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG Kyselhäuser Str. 23 · 06526 Sangerhausen
Tel 0049 3464 5370 Fax 0049 3464 537300
Battery status display on the rear rack mounted battery shows charge level in five steps when you press the button (with the bike stationary).
Wheels Vuelta Airtec 3 f hub motor r Nexus hub gear Tyres Innova 40-622 Lighting f AXA Sprint 20 r Picadilly extras Suspension seatpost, centre stand, angle adjustable stem, frame lock, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.mifa.de
Exemplary cable routing via a frame tube section which functions as a cable channel. This makes it possible for the cable loom to be fitted in one piece with plugs pre-assembled. This also makes it easily accessed for repairs.
ExtraEnergy.org 43
Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary The Dover I360 Harmony makes a strong impression, and it’s capable of seriously long tours. Safe handling and automatic transmission make for an enjoyable ride.
This is pedelec high art: a bike with respectable range, a good range of gears and, not least, not especially heavy. That’s what Raleigh have achieved with the Dover I360 Harmony. The ingredients are a powerful Impulse mid motor with 540 Wh battery pack and high quality components, including the NuVinci Harmo-
44 ExtraEnergy.org
ny automatic hub gear transmission. Together with good comfort it combines to give an all-round relaxed rider experience, which the clean straight-line handling of the Dover complements perfectly. The motor lets your muscles play a full part on tour, where the battery holds up for a full 70 km range.
Key points + High range Tour/City + High power assist Tour/Hills + Push assist + Remaining range display + One key for both battery and frame locks – High price
Pedelec
Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
69.6 27.0 1.88
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
1.9 2.3 2.4 2.4 3.6 2.5 3.0 2.3 1.8 2.4 1.9 2.1 2.0 1.9
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.199.99 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V, 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 50/55/60 cm T 45/50/55 cm Fork Suspension forks: Verso III Magnesium, lockout Transmission NuVinci 360 Harmony stepless, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes contact Raleigh Univega GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 92340 Fax 0049 4471 9234240
An interesting idea: the pedelec’s computer displays the cost of the current trip. But it really needs more decimal places for the electricity cost alone. Unfortunately the more truly relevant costs such as battery replacement are not shown.
Wheels Rodi Scorpion f Shimano Alfine hub dynamo r NuVinci Tyres Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42-622 Lighting f Busch &Müller Lumotec Cyo RT daytime running light with sensor r B&M Toplight Flat Safe extras Frame lock keyed alike, angle adjustable stem, rear stand, suspension seatpost, push & start assist, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.raleigh-bikes.de
Control of the automatic hub gear is purely electronic, although it does use this small twist grip. The gear-changing functions could perhaps have been integrated with the main pedelec computer system.
ExtraEnergy.org 45
Saxonette · X-Road 1
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 4 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 2
Summary Saxonette has delivered a solid pedelec with the X-Road 1. But the motor responds somewhat slowly, and the battery is swiftly exhausted in Hills and City riding.
X-Road 1 – it could be the name of a spaceship. True, the Bafang rear motor doesn’t exactly accelerate this Saxonette pedelec like a rocket, but it nonetheless gives a respectable push – especially on the hills. But the motor reacts rather sluggishly – it cuts in with a slight delay and stays on noticeably too. Furthermore,
46 ExtraEnergy.org
it calls it a day once the large display shows 23 km/h. The small battery is placed unobtrusively behind the seatpost in a basket. Unusually, it’s secured only via a simple cable lock. When it comes to handling, the X-Road is agile, as the rider sits quite stretched-out. The wide tyres provide comfort.
Key points + High range for Tour + High power assist levels for Hills + Very compact battery pack + – 9 power assist levels – Motor cuts out early
Easy Pedelec
Saxonette · X-Road 1 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.1 23.9 1.18
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
4.0 2.6 3.5 2.4 3.3 2.6 2.3 3.7 2.4 2.7 2.3 3.0 2.9 2.3
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.240.00 560.00
bike data & contact Wheels AlexRims DA 16, 28" f Joytech r Motor Tyres Kenda 47-622 Lighting Spanninga Daryo, battery light extras Centre stand, angle adjustable stem, key-actuated battery shutdown, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bafang rear wheel motor Sensor type Cadence, speed sensors Battery 360Wh Li-Ion Polymer 36V 10Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 50cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NEX Transmission Shimano Altus 21-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Auriga hydraulic disks contact Colag AG Grubenstrasse 40 · CH-8045 Zürich
Tel 0041 43 2557755 Fax 0041 43 2557770
The front light can be easily removed and will continue to shine – powered by a small internal battery. This means that when parking the bike you should take the light with you for security, and don't forget to change the batteries regularly: neither of these exactly make the user’s life easier.
Mail [email protected] Web www.colag.ch
The Bafun hub motor is smaller in diameter than the disk brakes and gear cassette. The motor gave good assistance on hills but seemed to hold back somewhat on tour.
ExtraEnergy.org 47
VICTORIA · Mondeville
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary Oh, là là. Riding the splendid Mondeville, any rider feels magnificent. The motor puts in a respectable performance, but the small battery affects range.
Victoria’s bike-makers traditionally name their bikes after cities, and this time they’ve gone to France. Riders sit relaxed and upright on the Mondeville and the pedelec rides securely and with aplomb. The mid motor assists reliably and it shows its strengths especially while setting off. It does however, as is typical for
48 ExtraEnergy.org
mid-motors, sometimes tussle with the hub gearing, so gear-changes can be somewhat clunky. Without the motor the well specified Mondeville goes well, with the motor however it doesn’t go all that far. The reason? Victoria only stretched to the smaller 300 Wh Bosch battery pack.
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour and Hills + Push assist + Remaining range display + Superb handling + Comfort levels respectable – Available with 300 Wh battery only
Easy Pedelec
VICTORIA · Mondeville MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
41.8 25.8 1.43
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
1.8 1.5 1.9 2.4 3.2 3.0 2.2 1.6 2.1 2.6 2.6 1.6 2.0 2.0
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.299.00 k. A.
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 300Wh Li-Ion 36V 8.2Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes W 26" 45cm, 28" 48/53 cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NCX-D-LO Lite Transmission Shimano Alfine hub gear 8-speed, twist shifter Brakes Tektro Draco 2 hydraulic disks contact Hermann Hartje KG Deichstr. 120–122 · 27318 Hoya
Tel 0049 4251 811-500 Fax 0049 4251 811-159
On the bars is the larger Bosch pedelec computer with remote controls. Because the computer is easily removed, you should always take it with you when parking the bike – for which the size becomes something of a disadvantage, as it’s a little bulky for a trouser pocket.
Wheels RIGIDA Andra 10 f Shimano DH 3D35 r Alfine hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Energizer 47-559 Reflex Lighting f Trelock Uno 693 r Busch & Müller Line-Tec with standlight function extras Rear stand, push & start assist, angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.victoria-fahrrad.de
Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub gear with disk brake and chain tensioner. When changing gear uphill the mid motor’s power sometimes results in gear changes not taking place as quickly as expected.
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FLYER · Vollblut 500
Product category assignment Business Pedelec K-Factor 10 Sport Road Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary The Flyer Vollblut (‘Thoroughbred’) lives up to its name. Thanks to the powerful rear drive it’s a real racing steed, which took the test victory in the Business Pedelecs category. Power assist factor and speed are top notch.
The Vollblut: a pedigree racing steed, pure-bred for the racetrack. No wonder that rider expectations of an S-pedelec bearing such a grandiose name would be high: it should certainly have a sporty appearance and exhilarating acceleration to high speeds. To fulfil these expectations, Flyer has broken new ground with the Vollblut in two respects: for the first time the Swiss company are offering a Flyer pedelec not equipped with a rear motor but with a rear drive instead. And second, they have gone for the brand new rear motor from Panason-
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ic. And this really puts the spurs into the Vollblut: especially on the Tour circuit and on hills this S-pedelec accelerates remarkably eagerly. But to do this, the motor of the pre-production bike was strikingly loud in operation, especially for a rear drive. Flyer does promise that this issue will be resolved before its market launch at around the time of publication in ExtraEnergy Magazine. As on any racehorse the riding position is sportily stretched out on the Vollblut. In other ways too this racing steed is more sporty than comfortable, for ex-
Key points + High power assist Tour/Hills + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function + – Insurance compulsory – Low range for Tour – High price
ample with the hard saddle. A small drawback: the Vollblut can’t keep up high speed for long. But it should be plenty for commuters to gallop off to the office.
Business Pedelec
FLYER · Vollblut 500 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
33.5 36.9 2.05
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.5 2.2 2.2 3.0 3.7 3.3 2.5 2.8 2.5 2.7 4.4 2.3 2.3 2.2
3.990.00 795.00
bike data & contact Wheels Alex Rims Supra 28" f Shimano XT r Motor Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Pro 42-622 Lighting f Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ-Cyo T with daytime running light r Toplight flat extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, frame lock not keyed alike, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 500W Panasonic rear wheel motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 422Wh Li-Ion 48V 8.8Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 50cm S,M,L,XL Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NRX Transmission Shimano XT 30 speed, Rapidfire Brakes Hydraulic disks Shimano XT contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
New for Flyer is the hub motor and battery in the frame triangle. The powerful geared hub motor impressed with its pulling power, but at least on this pre-production bike the growling it made when starting off and when climbing at low speed was irritating.
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The control centre with start/push assist, bell, gear shifters and comfort grips.
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Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S
Product category assignment Business Pedelec K-Factor 5
Summary With or without motor assist the Xduro impresses with its great handling. Specification of the gears and brakes on the Trekking S is top quality.
This S-pedelec expresses its sporty nature immediately with its stretched-out riding position, hard saddle and rather reduced comfort. The motor also sets to work sports-style: the Xduro accelerates quickly up to around 40 km/h. Range is not high, but it’s sufficient for a fast commuter pedelec. With its well bal-
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anced handling and low weight the Xduro impresses with top notch ride quality, even without motor assist. Visually, the inverted motor looks good, but when it comes to power assist factor and speed in the Tour and Hills circuits it isn’t quite at the top of the test rankings.
Key points + Push assist + High range for City + High power assist levels for Tour + Remaining range display + Rides well without the motor + – Insurance compulsory – High price
Business Pedelec
Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
42.2 33.3 1.89
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 2.3 1.9 2.0 1.7 1.5 1.5 2.1 1.5 1.9 1.5
3.499.00 679.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 350W Bosch Mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 28" 48/52/56/60cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour Suntour HESC 45 HLO Transmission Shimano Deore XT 10-Gang, Rapidfire Brakes Magura MT4 Hydraulic disk brakes contact Winora-Staiger GmbH Max-Planck-Str. 6 · 97526 Sennfeld
Tel 0049 9721 6501-0 Fax 0049 9721 6501-45
The motor is mounted so that like a normal bike, ground clearance is set by the lowest point of the chainrings. This can be an advantage in uneven terrain.
Wheels Rodi T622 v/h Shimano Deore XT Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Pro 40-622 Reflex Lighting v B&M Lumotec IQ Cyo h Toplight Line Plus extras Lockout, Schiebe-Anfahrhilfe, Remaining range readout, Rear stand, extrem sichere Suspension forks:, Reverse Angel-Motor Concept, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.haibike.de
Distinctly a pedelec 45 – giveaways are the insurance identification plate and motorbike-style rear view mirror.
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FLYER · Eco R Deluxe FOLding bike
Product category assignment Folding/Compact Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 2
Summary Compact, agile and with ample assist comes this mighty mini from Switzerland. The bike is easy to fold and impressed in practical use.
Easy to fold: the Eco Deluxe can be folded up for transport by hand in just a few moments. Then unfold it and it’ll show what it can do. And that is to demonstrate – for a folding bike – an impressive turn of speed. The neatly integrated mid motor drives dependably, although it sometimes feels a bit uneven. It
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also fades out early at around 22 km/h. Without the motor the bike makes a more cumbersome impression, but with assist enabled it shows its agile nature with the steep steering angle, long stem and small wheels. The battery could last longer, however.
Key points + High power assist levels for City + Coaster brake + One key for both battery and frame locks + Coaster brake + Space saving + Low weight – Motor fades out early
Falt/Kompakt Pedelec
FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
45.0 22.7 1.33
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 1.7 1.6 3.0 3.8 3.5 1.8 2.1 2.8 2.9 2.4 2.1 3.9 2.2
2.590.00 545.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 288Wh Li-Ion 36V, 8Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes One frame size: 41cm Fork Rigid fork Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed with coaster brake, twist shifter contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
This Flyer folding bike can be folded simply and easily, and then returned to riding configuration, even by beginners – unfortunately not always the case with folding bikes.
Brakes V-brake, coaster brake Wheels WTB f Dahon r Nexus Hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-406 Lighting v Busch & Müller Lumotec Fly h Toplight Flat extras Suspension seatpost, folding frame and bars, folding pedals, keyed alike frame lock, centre stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The specification includes everything you need for a trusty companion, either for holidays or for everyday use. Well proven folding bike technology from Dahon is used in this pedelec, along with the mature Panasonic drive system.
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Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8
Product category assignment Folding/Compact Pedelec K-Factor 10 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary Safe handling, superb motor and respectable battery life: these ingredients cooked up a test win for this versatile mini bike in the Folding and Compact category.
The Sahel already made a good impression in the last issue of ExtraEnergy Magazine, and now the Cloppenburg-based company have sent the Compact version. This mini-bike rolls on 20” wheels and comes in a single frame size, but it fits a wide variety of rider sizes thanks to an extended seatpost and adjustable Speed-
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Lifter cockpit. The Sahel proved to have agile handling without feeling unsafe, and the motor drives this pedelec superbly even up steeper slopes, while battery life also seemed respectable. There isn’t any suspension, but the wide tyres absorb shocks well. Optionally available with a coaster brake.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + Riding position highly adjustable + High power assist levels for Tour + Space saving + Secure handling
Falt/Kompakt Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
62.7 26.8 1.57
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.0 1.6 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.3 1.5 2.1 1.6 2.2 2.3 1.9 1.9 1.6
2.599.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes uni X-Type 46cm 20" Fork rigid Urban Compact Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
The Kalkhoff Sahel Compact’s drive system is all in black, comprising a Daum mid motor and a Shimano 8-speed hub gear.
Wheels Rodi Web Compact f Shimano DH 3N30-A r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 55-406 Reflex Lighting Busch & Müller v Lyt Eco LED h Toplight Flat Safe safety rear light extras Folding pedals, Speedlifter, balloon tyres, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
Thanks to the SpeedLifter stem, this pedelec can be quickly and without tools be adjusted to the rider’s preferred handlebar height. And that’s not all: the SpeedLifter also permits tool-free turning of the bars for space-saving storage of this already quite compact bike, for example in a mobile home’s rear compartment.
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Comfort
Comfort 13 test bikes in this category.
Comfort means feeling good. Social scientists connect feelings of comfort directly with items which make life easier for people: that’s directly applicable to electric bikes, whose entire purpose in life is to make things easier. But in ExtraEnergy’s test there is more to the Comfort category than just the motor assistance which takes the uncomfortable peaks of exertion away from cycling. Specification and operation must also be comfortable, creating an all-round feel-good factor for the rider. That sounds a little fuzzy and rose-tinted, perhaps, not sharp and modern? Yet these bikes are anything but old fashioned.
2 test bikes in this category .
City-Comfort Pedelecs are intended for designconscious urbanites who want a smart and, of course, comfortable everyday vehicle. Without the hassles of jams and parking, a plush saddle, generous specification, self-explanatory controls and good suspension offer all the fun of cycling. The minimum specification includes, alongside a reliable drive system and ideally removable battery pack, mudguards, traffic-safe lighting, a stand and carrier rack. A City-Comfort Pedelec is the ideal vehicle for comfortable cycling through your daily routine. Whether it’s on journeys to
work, to school, to university, for going out or for shopping across the city and its suburbs, these electric bikes will carry their riders in comfort. If that still isn’t enough for you, you should consider a Classic Pedelec. Comfort here means peace of mind that you own a timeless and high quality product. The upright, comfortable riding position permits relaxed gliding along, even in a strong headwind. The ride sensation is reminiscent of a pampering at a luxury spa: as well as rolling along easily there’s moderate, even assistance and high range. Visually strongly inspired by Dutch bikes, these electric bikes are built to last ages with robust quality components. Closed chaincases, mudguards, good lights, stong and easy to use carrier racks plus solid stands are among the minimum requirements. The high qualifications for a Classic Pedelec come at a price, but in paying it you will have a trusty steed to last a lifetime.
All bikes in the Comfort category: Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27............................60 Grace · Easy.....................................................62 Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R........................64 Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci....................66
1 test bike in this category .
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 FLYER · T7R Deluxe..........................................30 FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe...........................54 GIANT · Twist Freedom 1................................. 32 Kettler · Obra Comfort....................................36 Kettler · Traveller-E Sport...............................38 Kettler · Twin Ergo..........................................40 Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony.......................44 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Sinus · B2......................................................... 92
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Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27
Product category assignment City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 10 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 10
Summary The Pro Connect rides almost exactly like a normal bike – a compliment for any pedelec. It’s the test winner in the City-Comfort category. The motor works superbly.
You could almost mistake the Pro Connect for a normal bike: for a start the rear drive operates so discreetly and silently that it’s hard to believe it's on. And then the bike rides so smoothly, even without electric assist. But it is a whole lot more fun with the boost, provided here by the new Xion drive, which im-
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pressed in every situation with plenty of assist power and good range. The comfortable riding position and high comfort levels also stood out. The elegant display is controlled via a useful remote control unit, which does however have rather small buttons.
Key points + High range on Tour and in the City + High power assist levels on Tour, in the City and in the Hills + Quiet motor + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function
City-Comfort Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
90.8 27.1 1.64
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.4 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.6 2.4 2.1 2.1 1.3 2.2 1.2 2.5 2.1 1.2
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.699.00 899.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Xion rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 558Wh Li-Ion 36V 15,5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 45/50/55 cm D 45/50 cm W 47/51/54 cm Fork Suspension forks: RST Verso 3 Magnesium, lockout Transmission Shimano Deore XT 27-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Avid Elixir 1, hydraulic disk brakes contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
Thanks to the hub motor in the rear wheel, the chain is stressed no more than on a normal bike, because it only needs to transmit muscle power – and this will give it an extended service life.
Wheels Rodi Web f Shimano DH-3D30 r Xion motor Tyres Continental Eco Contact 42-622 Lighting f Hermanns One S r B&M Toplight Flat Plus extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
A curious detail on the frame showing the maximum permitted speed. This proclamation is actually safety-relevant, because the rear drive can be damaged if you go faster.
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Grace · Easy
Product category assignment Classic Pedelec K-Factor 10 Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary Lovely, sleek and above all different: with the Easy, Grace demonstrates just how exciting a bike with electric assist can be, and it secures the test win in the Classic Pedelecs category. The rear motor operates quietly and smoothly.
If Grace’s engineers had a motto in mind as they developed the Easy, it would surely have been “Be different!”. Indeed, on many levels, this Grace stands apart from other pedelecs. The most striking difference is one you can’t see – there’s no battery pack! In fact, this is unobtrusively concealed in the downtube. Only the large BionX motor in the rear wheel gives away the fact that the Grace Easy isn’t just a normal bike. The second main difference to its competitors is the chain: again the Easy doesn’t have one! Instead pedal forces are transmitted to the rear wheel via a belt
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drive. And last but not least, the minimalism of this Grace pedelec is visually striking: no mudguards or carrier rack. You’ll also look in vain for suspension forks or a suspension seatpost, and not even ergonomic grips are fitted. All contribute to a sleek look which delights the purist’s eye, but it somewhat compromises comfort. The Easy does impress though when it comes to handling, revealing an agile character. The rear motor also impressed with such subtle operation that riders sometimes couldn’t believe the assist was operating – in a good way. That said, now and
Key points + Regenerative braking function + Sleek, appealing design + Interesting details in the specification + Low maintenance belt drive – High price
again it could perhaps have offered more push, especially on the hills. Range is respectable on the Tour circuit, although on the hills and in the city this Grace was among the less longer lasting test candidates.
Classic Pedelec
Grace · Easy MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
58.8 25.1 1.27
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.5 2.7 2.7 2.2 2.7 2.5 3.3 3.3 2.2 2.1 1.7 2.7 2.0 1.9
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.999.00 799.00
bike data & contact Wheels RYDE f KT hub r BionX motor Tyres Continental Eco Contact 42-622 Lighting Busch und Müller f Lumotec IQ LED r Toplight Mini extras Centre stand, Gates Carbondrive, regenerative braking function
Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W BionX rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 303Wh LiMn 48V, 6.3Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant M=49cm, L=54cm Fork rigid, aluminium Transmission Sram i-Motion 3-speed hub gear Brakes Magura MT4 hydraulic disk brakes contact Grace Wehrmühlenweg 8 · 16359 Biesenthal
Tel 0049 30 2325793-0 Fax 0049 30 2325793-99
The BionX-branded motor with integrated SRAM 3-speed hub gearing suffices for most riding situations – even if many customers wouldn’t expect just a three-speed gear in this price category. Grace has used an elaborate dropout to make replacing and tensioning the belt possible.
Mail [email protected] Web www.grace.de
Sleek handlebars and a removable display with detailed status information on the electrical system, plus all of the most significant ride status information as is typical of a cycle computer.
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Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R
Product category assignment Classic Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 5
Summary A stylish pedelec with a touch of nostalgia – that’s the Tasman Classic I8R from Kalkhoff. Motor response is very restrained, but the range is correspondingly very high.
A modern pedelec with the looks of yesteryear: that’s Kalkhoff ’s aim with the Tasman Classic. The blue-painted aluminium frame recalls the roadsters which enhanced many a historic street scene. The brown leather saddle with matching grips and the colour-matched balloon tyres complete the classic look. And
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also complementing the elegant appearance is the motor, which came across as rather restrained, but reliable and above all with great endurance. The Tasman’s handling felt relaxed, perhaps even sedate, with the high-volume tyres providing the comfort: there is no suspension and no ergonomic grips.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + High power assist levels for Tour + Coaster brake + One key for both battery and frame locks + Chic retro design – High overall weight
Classic Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
75.6 27.2 1.63
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 1.5 1.8 3.0 4.1 3.4 2.5 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.1 2.1 2.1
2.599.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes Tour 46/50/55 cm Fork rigid Urban Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 rim brake, coaster brake contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
All retro, yet state of the art technology. Schwalbe balloon tyres, Magura hydraulic brakes, a chrome front light and a hub dynamo – which is now no longer a legal requirement.
Wheels Concept hollow section rims f Shimano hub dynamo 3N30 r Shimano Nexus hub brake Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 50-622 Lighting v B&M Lyt Eco Led h B&M Toplight Flat Safe with standlight function extras Frame lock keyed alike, angle adjustable stem, rear stand, closed chaincase
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
The Daum mid motor is successfully concealed behind the sealed chaincase, which protects the chain from the weather and early failure through corrosion.
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Rehab Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci Product category assignment Rehab Pedelec K-Factor 10 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary This is a full-on rehabilitation device: it’s hard to think of a more relaxed ride than the Impulse Ergo. Kalkhoff has richly deserved the maximum points score for the Impulse Ergo, as it impressed convincingly across all aspects.
It’s not exactly a challenge to be the best bike in a category in which there is no competition. But in the case of the Kalkhoff Impulse Ergo NuVinci it’s not quite like that. Competitors would have a hard task in the Rehab Pedelecs category, because Kalkhoff have implemented a very clever and sensible idea: the extent of the motor assistance is controlled by the rider’s heart rate. The harder the rider is working, the harder the motor works to assist. This allows the heart rate to be controlled, or kept in a predetermined band. This makes a lot of sense for people who, after an operation for example, want to get out into the fresh air without overdoing it. But it’s also suitable for athletes who want to train in a
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very specific heart rate zone. The system consists of a chest band which transmits the rider’s heart rate to the pedelec, which displays it on a large and clear screen. By continuous adjustment of the assist level, the rider should be kept within the optimum pulse rate region. If the workload increases, for example on a long climb, the motor will increase its assistance. If, despite the electric assist, the maximum heart rate is exceeded, then a warning sounds. In testing the concept worked flawlessly, although it took some testers a little time to get used to it. It’s worth noting that the motor assist either minimally or not at all until the target heart rate is reached. The combination of heart rate controlled assist and
Key points + High power assist Tour/Hills + High range Tour/City + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Push assist – High price
automatic transmission is also well thought through, so the rider isn’t just always working at the same rate, he or she is also pedalling always at the same rate. It’s hard to imagine a more relaxed and simple way to ride. Complementing this practical concept is top level ride comfort thanks to an upright riding position, good suspension, and the grips and saddle are also very comfortable. The motor assisted powerfully, but despite this had good range.
Rehab Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.6 26.1 2.36
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.8 1.7 1.9 2.8 4.0 2.9 2.2 2.1 1.9 2.1 2.3 1.9 2.8 1.8
2.999.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors, controlled by heart rate Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 28" 50/55/60 cm T 28" 45/50/55 cm 26" 45cm Fork Suspension forks: RST Verso 3 Magnesium, lockout Transmission NuVinci Harmony stepless, twist shifter contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
This four-cornered fitness coach blows his whistle with a beep to inform the rider whenever his or her pulse isn’t in the target zone. Test riders had widely diverging opinions on how much sense this makes – it’s certainly a function which you need to learn to love.
Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes Wheels Rodi Scorpion hollow section rims f Shimano DH 3N30-A r NuVinci hub Tyres Continental Eco Contact 42-622 Lighting f Hermanns One S LED r B&M Toplight Flat Safe safety rear light extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, angle adjustable stem, power assist controlled by heart rate, suspension seatpost, frame lock keyed alike, ergonomic grips & saddle
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
Wearing the heart rate chest strap is necessary so that the Impulse Ergo system can monitor the rider’s pulse. Putting on and wearing a chest strap takes a bit of getting used to – it would be better if it were possible for the pulse measurement to be via an armband or wristwatch which would be easier to wear.
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LEISURE
Leisure 5 test bikes in this category.
4 test bikes in this category.
Leisure cycling is becoming ever more popular and the bikes for it ever more sophisticated. We’re not taking here about grim tours in a group of edgy riders. Instead, electric bikes bring people together on the bike and into the countryside. You can go further, faster, and be more relaxed. For some it’s touring, for others it’s trail riding which they have previously never managed, and now, thanks to pedelecs, find possible. A Tour Pedelec must withstand a payload of at least 110 kg and should have suitable mountings for touring panniers. If a rider weighs around 80 kg, that leaves 30 kg for the luggage, and that’s quickly reached with tents, water, clothing, gas cooker, and spare batteries. It’s easy to cover longer stretches without overexertion: you need to pedal, but you keep moving fast and easily, and the Tour Pedelec comes into its own for climbing hills. You sit in comfort and ideally fully suspended. Touring bikes with state of the art technology have good lighting systems, accurate display of battery capacity and battery (or batteries) with at least 40 km range. Optional rain, wind and spray protection is worth considering. Sport and electric bikes aren’t mutually exclusive. Quite the opposite: sport is even more fun with a motor. Just as in ‘normal’ sport, what matters in this category is power, speed, sporty chic and all-terrain ability. Young people, sporty types and trendsetters have found a new leisure and training device in the Sport
Pedelec, and don’t rule out everyday use, either. Power and a lively ride in any terrain, with high levels of power assist, are a must. Stong drives combined with distinctive and dynamic style deliver a positive image, fun and fitness. The most frequent question about the Lifestyle category: so what is a Lifestyle Pedelec? A Lifestyle Pedelec is designed for sporty leisure in which relaxation and fun are prioritised over sporty exertion. The image is comparable to that of a yoghurt with aloe vera – an everyday product with an extra feelgood factor. ExtraEnergy has naturally set requirements alongside the image and without a good drive system, especially on the hills, a quiet motor and agile ride quality no pedelec may join this category. Lifestyle Pedelecs are suitable for riders of all ages who are interested in electric bikes, who love to get out into the country and who at the same time want to do something for their health and fitness in a trendy yet gentle fashion.
All bikes in the Leisure category:
7 test bikes in this category.
Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70 A2B · Shima......................................................72 Kettler · Layana-e Plus....................................74 Stromer · ST1..................................................76 Bulls · CrossRider.............................................78 FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G...................80 SCOTT · E-Aspect 910......................................82 FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE...............84
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 FLYER · Vollblut 500.........................................50 Kettler · Berlin Royal-e....................................34 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Saxonette · X-Road 1......................................46 Sinus · B2......................................................... 92 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70
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Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive
Product category assignment Tour Pedelec K-Factor 10 Family Pedelec K-Factor 5 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary An unusually shaped frame, huge payload capacity, massive range and DualDrive gears: with this remarkable bike Utopia secures a test victory.
The unusually shaped frame makes it clear from the start that this pedelec is different. It’s a heavy bike, and the handling is relaxed. The front motor provides the assist cleanly and very dependably, although the power assist factors weren’t among the highest on test. That said, with its twin battery packs the Kranich (German for ‘Crane’) can fly a good dis-
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tance. The user controls look minimal, but they fulfil their purpose. Other components are top quality: Utopia is the only manufacturer in the test to opt for SRAM’s Dual-Drive, a combination of derailleur and hub gearing. Its high payload capacity makes this a very versatile vehicle.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + High payloads permitted + Push assist + Tunable motor controller – High overall weight – High price
Tour Pedelec
Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
117.3 25.1 1.28
5,8
inkl. 2 Akkus
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.7 2.2 2.5 2.9 3.5 3.1 1.7 3.0 2.2 2.1 1.8 2.8 1.8 2.0
5.203.00 740.00
je Akku
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 180 kg Drive system 250W Utopia Silent front hub motor Sensor type Cadence sensor and torque sensor with THUN X-Cell sensor integrated in bottom bracket Battery 892Wh Li-Ion Kobalt 36V 24.8Ah (2 off) Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Steel, CrMo Sizes CROSSFrame 54/59/65 cm Fork rigid steel CrMo Transmission Sram Dual Drive 27-speed, twist shifter contact Utopia velo GmbH Kreisstr. 134f · 66128 Saarbrücken
Tel 0049 681 97036 0 Fax 0049 681 9703611
Many design details mark the Utopia Kranich out as a well thought out touring bike. Pictured are many easily overlooked details which prove very relevant in use: voluminous tyres which together with the steel fork provide excellent shock absorption, front drive with anti-slip control which allows the bike to climb steps all by itself in push assist mode, and of course the second stand, which together with the main stand provides secure parking even with front low-rider panniers fitted.
Brakes Magura HS 11 hydraulic rim brakes Wheels BigBull f Motor, r DualDrive hub gear Tyres Schwalbe BigApple 55-622 Lighting f Busch & Müller IQ Cyo RN6 LED r Toplight Line plus extras Angle adjustable stem, Speedlifter, low rider rack, rear stand, push & start assist, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.utopia-velo.de
The SRAM DualDrive transmission provides a sufficiently wide range of ratios despite only having one chainring at the front. Another nice detail is the replaceable dropouts bolted to the frame.
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Lifestyle Pedelec
A2B · Shima
Product category assignment Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 10 Business Pedelec K-Factor 6 Sport Road Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary The powerful motor on the A2B Shima provides top class assistance. Combining a high price and extravagant design, it took test victory in the Lifestyle category.
The A2B Shima is striking: an extravagant design, technical flourishes, and the ride is funpacked. But to do it, this compact pedelec with 24” wheels weighs in at a full 32.3 kg. Yet it still goes with alacrity. The rear hub motor drives the Shima onwards stormingly, and for a commuter pedelec the range of al-
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most 44 km is respectable. The weighty battery does make for a rather heavy rear, and a correspondingly agile front end. The control unit is an eye-catcher, using a chip fob to start the bike. Using its twist-and-press knob as you ride is however a little cumbersome.
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour and in the City + Push assist + Compact dimensions + – Insurance compulsory – High overall weight – High price
Lifestyle Pedelec
A2B · Shima
MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
43.9 35.7 2.01
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.1 3.0 2.9 3.7 4.0 3.3 2.3 3.1 2.1 3.3 1.8 3.5 2.4 2.5
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.699.00 899.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 140 kg Drive system 500 W Ultramotor rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 630Wh Li-Ion 36V, 17.5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes Unisex 50cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NCX Transmission Shimano XT 8-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Dorado hydraulic disk brakes contact Hero Eco Ltd. Reichenberger Str. 124 · 10999 Berlin
Tel 0049 30 690040700 Fax 0049 30 690040712
The A2B from Hero ECO is driven by a powerful UltraMotor hub motor, and a force sensor built into the dropouts ensures that assist power is finely-modulated.
Wheels Rims: alu hollow section rims r: hub motor Tyres Kenda Krusader 24 x 2.35 Lighting f AXA Nano r Spanninga Pixeo extras Rear stand, angle adjustable stem, push & start assist
Mail [email protected] Web www.wearea2b.com
The battery is connected via an EnergyBus Beta connector, which disengages automatically as you pull the battery out.
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Kettler · Layana-e Plus
Product category assignment Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary If you’re looking for a chic, stylish pedelec for use around town and in the city, the Kettler Layana has much to recommend it. The motor assist is strong and long lasting.
Layana riders rise above the rest: the upright riding position gives a great view, and at the same time this pedelec rides along safe, relaxed and comfortable. Principally responsible for comfort are the wide balloon tyres, as there’s no suspension as such. The motor propels the Layana powerfully and harmoniously,
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especially at low pedalling rates, and also provides respectable endurance. The Lanaya also impresses with its consistently stylish appearance: it’s a chic and purposeful design right down to the colour-co-ordinated stitching on the leather grips.
Key points + High range on Tour and in the City + High power assist levels for Tour and in the Hills + Coaster brake + One key for both battery and frame locks – High weight
Lifestyle Pedelec
Kettler · Layana-e Plus MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.7 26.7 1.54
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.3 1.8 2.1 3.8 5.0 3.9 3.1 2.4 2.3 3.6 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.1
2.749.00 k.A.
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 555Wh Li-Ion 36V 15.4 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes D W 45/50cm Fork Unicrown rigid Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes, coaster brake contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
A feast for the eyes: cream-coloured Schwalbe Big Apple tyres combined with a retrochrome front light and violet aluminium frame. Although unfortunately disk brakes are missing: the Magura hydraulic rim brakes ensure that the first rain-shower will see those cream-coloured tyres besmirched with black brake dust which can only be removed with considerable painstaking effort.
Wheels Mach1 hollow section rims 260 f Shimano hub dynamo DH 3N30 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 55-622 balloon tyres Lighting f RetroStyle r Busch & Müller Toplight MiniPlus extras Balloon tyres (full suspension), angle adjustable stem, keyed alike frame lock, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
Colour highlights added by Kettler include the white AXA frame lock and the white/violet crankset on the well proven Panasonic mid motor.
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Stromer · ST1
Product category assignment Sport Road Pedelec K-Factor 10 Business Pedelec K-Factor 9
Summary Top class acceleration, sporty character and its unique appearance with built-in battery pack make the ST1 a dream bike for many commuters and test winner in the Sport Road category. The price is however also ‘sporty’.
The Stromer ST1 storms through the city with style and speed – and it looks the part too: a dream in black. It’s the battery pack, completely concealed within the appropriate voluminous downtube, which is mainly responsible for the Stromer’s unique, striking looks. But it isn’t just visually that this pedelec makes an impression. The powerful 500 Watt motor in the rear wheel also pleased the testers: it responds immediately, and accelerates this black Swiss bike in an instant up towards 45 km/h. In other respects, though, the system doesn’t make itself too apparent: despite its power the hub motor operates whis-
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Key points + High power assist Tour/Hills + Push assist + Regenerative braking function + High payloads permitted + Quiet drive system + – Insurance compulsory – High overall weight – High price
per quiet. The battery, built almost invisibly into the frame, delivered tested ranges of almost 50 km on the Tour circuit and 30 in the city. For such a powerful pedelec these scores are very acceptable. The battery can also be recharged to an extent by the motor as you go downhill, by converting braking energy back into electricity. The riding position is rath- forks and/or a suspension seatpost. You can er stretched out on this agile sports bike. The also opt for a less stretched out riding posihigh-volume tyres are principally responsible tion in the configurator. for comfort: the test bike had no suspension. That said, the specification of the ST1 can be chosen as you wish via an online configurator, so it could easily be equipped with suspension
Sport road Pedelec
Stromer · ST1
MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
48.3 35.2 2.01
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.0 2.0 2.0 2.7 3.0 2.7 2.3 1.7 1.7 2.3 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.7
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
4.240.00 1000.00
bike data & contact Wheels Alex FR-30 f Formula DC71 r hub motor Tyres Schwalbe Big Ben Stromer 55-559 Lighting f Supernova E3 r Busch & Müller Toplight Mini extras Centre stand, balloon tyres, push & start assist, regenerative braking function, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 140 kg Drive system 500W rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 522Wh Li-Ion 36V, 14.5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 20" 50cm Fork CarbonFork rigid Transmission Shimano Sora 9-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Magura MT2 hydraulic disk brakes contact myStromer AG Freiburgstrasse 798 · CH-3173 Oberwangen
Tel 0041 31 8482300 Fax 0041 31 8481015
The high-torque, gearless hub motor on the Stromer, with hydraulic disk brakes. The cable routing, with the connector under the neoprene sheath for weather sealing, could still be improved.
Mail [email protected] Web www.stromer.ch
On this Stromer the mudguards are mighty: made from sheet metal and so solid that, as pictured here, they can even take on structural roles. Not only the carrier rack but also the license plate holder are mounted via the mudguard.
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Bulls · CrossRider
Product category assignment Sport Offroad Pedelec K-Factor 10
Summary Riding on the Crossrider is a bundle of fun: Bulls has crossed a pure mountain bike with a powerful rear wheel motor – and at an attractive price. With its strong assist and very high range it takes the test victory for the Offroad Pedelec category.
Sporty, strong steed seeks cowboy for longterm collaboration. The Crossrider from Bulls demonstrates just how much fun a pedelec can deliver, combining as it does direct but always secure handling with a mightily powerful drive. The whisper-quiet rear hub motor drives the Bulls onwards majestically across the range of speeds – even steeply uphill. And thanks to its long-lasting battery pack, this pedelec can also carry its rider right across the prairie: scarcely another bike in the test lasted as long. Furthermore, the regenera-
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tion function means the motor can recharge the battery as you brake, too. Even without the motor assist, the Bulls shows its mettle: the large 29er tyres roll along well, and thanks to the well-spaced 24-speed derailleur gearing the bike remains fluid over smaller climbs. And despite all of this sporty nature the rider doesn’t have to skimp on comfort: the large tyres, ergonomic grips and suspension fork soak up the bumps from road and tracks alike. The hard racing saddle does however suggest the use of padded cycling shorts. The styling
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour and in the Hills + High range Tour/City + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function + Good ride quality, even with motor off
matches the aggressive image of the Bulls, while the tidy display with its smartphone styling also appealed. The buttons could however be somewhat easier to use, especially when the rider’s wearing gloves. The Crossrider is also suitable for asphalt cowboys: on request it is available with road tyres.
Sport offroad Pedelec
Bulls · CrossRider MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
89.8 28.2 1.84
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.0 3.4 2.2 2.7 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.7 1.4 1.9 1.9 3.2 2.2 1.8
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.699.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 115 kg Drive system 250W Green Mover rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 615Wh Li-Ion 36V, 17Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes MTB 45/50/55 cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NVX-DS-MLO Lockout Transmission Shimano Deore 24-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Auriga E-Comp hydraulic disk brakes contact ZEG Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft eG Longerichter Str. 2 · 50739 Köln
Tel 0049 221 179590 Fax 0049 221 1795974
The removable display with intuitive menu-driven operation is controlled by the remote buttons, located right next to the grip.
Wheels STYX Alu hollow section rims r: hub motor Tyres Semislic Vee Rubber 54-622 Lighting — extras Rear stand, remaining range readout, downhill assistant (regenerative braking), push & start assist, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.greenmover.de
The battery pack connects to both the charger and drive system via an EnergyBus Beta magnetic connector.
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FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G
Product category assignment Sport Offroad Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary With or without its very powerful power assist, the lightweight Focus Jarifa delivers a very satisfying ride in any situation. The long-lived battery pack gives this sporty mountain bike pedelec very high range figures.
La hermosa Jarifa, or the beautiful Jarifa, comes from a Spanish novel from the middle ages. Now beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, but what is more significant is the intrinsic quality. Here this is in evidence: Focus have sent a racy hardtail mountain bike with large 29er wheels in for testing. Bad news for skirt chasers: the Jarifa is already married – to an enormously powerful Xion-branded rear wheel motor. This whisper-quiet drive in the rear hub makes bike rides a real pleasure: it swings in eagerly behind the pedaller’s foot pressure and accelerates the Jarifa like
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the wind up to the assistance speed limit. It also reacts with the agility you’d expect from its MTB heritage, despite the heavy motor in the rear wheel. The rider sits quite stretched forward, and the round grips and hard saddle underline the sporty nature of the Jarifa. The large wheels with their wide knobbly tyres swallow pretty much any obstacle in their course, and the high quality suspension fork irons out uneven terrain superbly. Coming in at a seriously slim 22.2 kg and with 30 wellspaced derailleur gears the Jarifa keeps up its sporty progress even with the motor switched
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour, in the City and on Hills. + High range Tour/City + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function – High price
off. But there’s little reason to switch off, as the battery pack proved to last extremely well. The range can also be extended further by using the regeneration function, controlled via the tidy bike computer.
Sport Offroad Pedelec
FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
82.8 26.4 2.00
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.3 2.9 1.8 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.3 1.9 1.7 2.3 2.1 2.9 3.2 2.0
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.099.00 899.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Xion rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 558Wh Li-Ion 36V 15.5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H S=42/M=47/L=52 cm Fork Suspension forks: RockShox Recon Silver lockout with remote control Transmission Shimano XT 30-speed, Rapidfire contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
Well hidden, and not legible as you ride: a sticker informing you that this vehicle does not comply with German STVZO regulations and so is not permitted to be used on the road in traffic.
Brakes Shimano Deore BR-M596 hydraulic disk brakes Wheels Rodi Web f Concept Disc r Hub motor Tyres Continental Race King 55-622 Lighting — extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
The removable display with intuitive menu-driven operation is controlled by the remote buttons, located right next to the grip.
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SCOTT · E-Aspect 910
Product category assignment Sport Offroad Pedelec K-Factor 7
Summary With its new E-Aspect, Scott has come up with a dyed-in-the-wool sports pedelec on large 29er wheels. The perfectly-tuned drive system delivers plenty of push, and this lightweight e-mountainbike only just missed out on a very good award.
The Scott E-Aspect hints at hidden aggression, and not just in its appearance. This electric-assist mountainbike shows itself to be a feisty ride, whether on-road or off. The predominant impression of this 29er is that it is sporty, thanks also to the stripped-down look which helps the E-Aspect, at 21 kg, to its position as the lightest bike in the test. This Scott bike feels agile and manoeuvrable, without ever becoming flustered in its reactions. Even without motor assistance it is a very manageable ride – at least for a pedelec, and not for nothing did it bring home top marks in the ergonomics test for riding without the motor.
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But the real top marks come when the motor is running. The drive system is perfectly matched with a nine-speed derailleur transmission, and they drive the E-Aspect powerfully through the full speed range, while the battery pack delivers a respectable range. That said, the Scott isn’t quite at the top of the rankings when it comes to range and power assist factor on the Tour circuit. Nonetheless, the Bosch system works very efficiently, and riders who are not fixated on long range will find the Scott an attractive and very lightweight e-MTB. The wide 29er tyres and the 100 mm-travel suspension forks soak up prac-
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour, in the City and on Hills. + High range Tour/City + Low overall weight + Push assist + Remaining range display – High price
tically any impact, and they roll fuss-free over minor obstacles. With its sporty heritage the E-Aspect is no king of comfort, not helped by the stretched-out position, the hard saddle and round grips.
Sport offroad Pedelec
SCOTT · E-Aspect 910 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
66.6 26.9 1.59
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
1.5 1.3 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.6 2.5 1.7 1.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 2.1 1.3
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.999.00 679.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes MTB M 44cm/L 48cm/XL 53cm Fork Suspension forks: RockShox XC 32 with lockout Transmission Shimano XT 9-speed Rapidfire Brakes Hydraulic disk brakes Shimano BR-M 446 contact SCOTT Sports AG Niederlassung Deutschland Gutenbergstr. 27 · 85748 Garching-Hochbrück
Tel 0049 89 8987836-15 Fax 0049 89 8987836-50
Rather unusual on an MTB: a Pletscher stand – but for a pedelec, even in this category, perfectly acceptable. If you ride in a seriously sporty style you should be aware that the mid motor will mean that regular changes of chain and sprockets will be necessary (users typically report around every 3.000 km).
Wheels Syncros XC 49 f Formula CL51 r Shimano FH-M629 Tyres Schwalbe Rocket Ron 29x2,25 Lighting — extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand (optional), suspension forks with remotely-operated lockout
Mail [email protected] Web www.scott-sports.com
Seen against the slimline brake levers, the large buttons make the Bosch system controls look somewhat bulky.
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FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE
unrated
Summary Flyer supplied a superbly equipped offroad runabout. The motor and top class comfort delivered a highly enjoyable ride. Not rated because of the unregulated motor.
The X-Serie XT Deluxe sees Flyer launching an offroader on 27.5" tyres. This new wheel size is said to combine the advantages of manoeuvrable 26" wheels with the low rolling resistance of 29ers. And it works! This bike feels sporty, with agile but very secure handling. The motor, perfectly tuned to match the transmission, also impressed. It assisted powerful-
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ly yet harmoniously. That made for a highly enjoyable ride – especially because Flyer had sent the Swiss 250 Watt version with an unregulated motor for the test. But because this model is available only in Switzerland, ExtraEnergy has not given it a rating as it is not directly comparable.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + High power assist levels for Tour + Push assist + Remaining range display + High levels of rider comfort – High price
lifestyle Pedelec
FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
60.5 31.6 2.03
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.7 1.8 2.9 3.5 2.7 2.3 2.1 1.8 2.1 2.4 1.9 1.9 1.5
4.490.00 745.00
bike data & contact Wheels AlexRims FR30 f Shimano HB-M788 r FH-M785 Tyres Schwalbe Nobby Nic 57-584 Lighting — extras Rear shock unit RockShox Monarch, clipless pedals, push & start assist, remaining range readout, remotely operated lockout, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 476Wh Li-Ion 36V 13.2 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes D 46cm S, M, L Fork Suspension fork: RockShox Revelation Transmission Shimano XT10-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Hydraulic disk brakes Shimano XT contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
Combining full suspension and mid motor with a central battery doesn’t make for easy design. Looking at this you can fully understand how much thought the Flyer designers must have put into reaching a sensible solution.
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The well-proven Panasonic pedelec computer displays all of the vital details, and it is fixed to the bike – so there is no need to carry it with you when you park.
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high similarity to a bicycle easy to transport
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Transport
Transport 4 test bikes in this category
Family friendly pedelecs and cargo pedelecs have very similar requirements. For the drive system, what matters is not the highest speeds, but how well you can tackle climbs even with additional loads on board - and still enjoy the ride.
Cargo pedelecs, like any cargo bikes, are of distinctive appearance and are designed for safe transport of large loads or people (sometimes several). Unfortunately, they are still all too rare. It’s amazing really, because what could be a better application of an electric assist motor than to move really serious stuff by bike? What’s needed is pedelecs with powerful motors, especially under peak load, for example when climbing steep hills. 135 kg payload rating is the minimum, and they also need special stopping and parking equipment; otherwise the bike could tip over while being loaded, perhaps even trapping the rider beneath it. No test bikes in this category.
Cargo bikes can be put to work by courier companies or they can also serve as car replacements for large shopping loads. Experienced cargo pedelec riders appreciate the low maintenance and good price-performance ratio which these vehicles offer. No load is too heavy and no road too steep. Family pedelecs need to carry loads of a differ-
ent type. Surely nobody needs motor assist more than environmentally-conscious families who need to lug children and shopping to and fro. Clearly, payload rating (110 kg), safety and reliability are important for this category. It must be possible to fit childseats and trailers. The minimum range of 30 km will permit riding in stop-and-go traffic and shorter rides without risking empty batteries. A powerful drive system is essential: it will have the weight of an extra (small) person and all sorts of other miscellaneous luggage to make up for, so it will need a high level of peak power (a ‘Hills U-Factor’ of at least 1). Suspension, a road-safe specification and an easy to use operator interface with reliable battery level read-out will all make family life easier. Six bikes in this test qualified as family vehicles, two of which were awarded test certificates. So there’s still plenty to do when it comes to family matters.
All bikes, uncategorised: Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Sinus · B2.........................................................92 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70
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Family Pedelec
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe + Product category assignment Family Pedelec K-Factor 9 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 5
Summary With pleasant handling and high levels of comfort the Mandara makes a trusty companion. The motor matched the gearing perfectly. This Diamant pedelec missed out on winning this test category by just a hair’s breadth.
A long history: bikes have been made at Diamant in and around Chemnitz, Germany, since 1885. And with some success: Diamant racing bikes have taken their riders to victories including several road World Championships. And even almost 130 years since their foundation the brand, which since 2003 has been owned by global company Trek, stands for quality. This is exemplified not least in the Mandara Deluxe+. Visually this silver-grey, low step-through machine impresses immediately with its timeless elegance, and with colour contrasts on the seatpost clamp and handlebar ends it all makes for a striking appearance. The historic logo recalls the long tradition of the brand: the Diamant man smiles out at onlookers from the seatstays. But this pe-
88 ExtraEnergy.org
delec is by no means just a pretty face: on the road it proves to ride superbly – and that’s in practically every respect. It pampers the rider with high levels of comfort, provided by the relaxed riding position on the bike, and also through the strong specification with suspension fork, suspension seatpost and ergonomically-shaped grips. Complementing this comfort, the mid motor on this Diamant pedelec works truly harmoniously: it is perfectly tuned to the bike and to the 10-speed derailleur gears, and especially on the Tour circuit it propelled the bike powerfully and evenly. The well spaced gears, the well-behaved handling and the relatively not too excessive weight must all contribute to the ability of a Diamant rider to make fairly lively progress even with-
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour + High range in the City + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Push assist + High payloads permitted
out the motor. Overall then it is well suited for long touring rides or for urban use. The fact that the Mandara has been categorised nonetheless into the Transport test category is down to factors including the ease of use and high reliability. And thanks to its high maximum payload it is also ideally suited to be a family pedelec with a young passenger aboard as well via a childseat.
Family Pedelec
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe + MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
54.6 25.5 1.92
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.3 1.3 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.9 2.6 1.9 1.6 2.0 2.3 1.6 2.1 1.6
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.799.00 699.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 160,50 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminum Sizes D 26" 40cm, 28" 45/50/55 cm H 28" 50/55/60 cm Fork Suspension forks: Bontrager SPA, adjustable spring (30 mm) Transmission Shimano Deore LX 10-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Magura HS 11 hydraulic rim brakes contact TREK Fahrrad GmbH Stettbachstr. 2 · CH-8600 Dübendorf
Tel 0049 180 3507010 Fax 0049 180 3507015
Exemplary: the CE mark is clearly visible on this Diamant pedelec on the lower part of the frame. But bear in mind that this legally required mark does not in itself say anything about whether the regulations have been complied with. For this, only the CE Comformity Study which should be included with the user manual can help.
Wheels VUELTA Cut 19 f Shimano LX Dynamo r: Shimano LX Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Pro 40-622 Reflex puncture resistant Lighting Supernova E3 Pro h Hermanns Track with standlight function extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, frame lock keyed alike ('One-Key Concept'), ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.diamantrad.com
Hydraulic rim brakes, LED front light and suspension built into the steerer tube ensure safety and comfort on board the Diamant Mandara Deluxe +.
ExtraEnergy.org 89
Family Pedelec
riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci Product category assignment Family Pedelec K-Factor 10 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 8 Folding/Compact Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 3
Summary This very agile compact runabout in Ferrari red impressed with top class comfort and a superb drive system. Highly adjustable and easy to transport makes it the test winner! It’s true: when you first get onto the Kendu ly with the stepless transmission. Or the top you feel like a giant. But this runabout quickly class comfort achieved through full suspeninstils trust, and it impresses overall, too, as it sion, wide tyres, a relaxed riding position and scored highly enough to compete in no fewer comfortable grips. And the Kendu is pleasant than six of the 11 ExtraEnergy categories. Per- to ride even without the motor. Another adhaps it’s the motor, which does its job power- vantage is that this highly adjustable pedelec fully yet harmoniously, and teams up perfect- can be used by the whole family.
90 ExtraEnergy.org
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour + High payloads permitted + Push assist + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Easily transported, stem folds – High price
Family Pedelec
riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
47.7 25.8 1.71
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.2 1.4 1.9 2.4 3.4 2.9 1.6 1.9 1.8 2.4 2.5 1.6 1.8 1.7
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.798.90 699.00
bike data & contact Wheels Rims 20" f Shimano Deore XT r NuVinci 360 Tyres Schwalbe Big Ben 55-406, Reflex Lighting f B&M Lumotec CYO IQ LED r Toplight Flat Plus LED extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, stem/handlebar unit folds and rotatable via quick release, rear shock unit (X-fusion Glyde R-PV), closed chaincase, balloon tyres, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 150 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes universal 46cm Fork Suspension forks: Spinner Grind 20" Transmission NuVinci N360, twist shifter Brakes Tektro Dorado hydraulic disk brakes contact riese und müller GmbH Feldstrasse 16 · 64331 Weiterstadt
Tel 0049 6151 366860 Fax 0049 6151 3668620
The small wheels and voluminous tubing make for unusual proportions. Also of note is the stem, which is adjustable to the user’s preferred angle via a quick-release.
Mail [email protected] Web www.r-m.de
An imposing rear swing-arm packed with fine technology: the NuVinci stepless hub gear with disk brake, Bosch mid motor and a fully enclosed chain thanks to a Chainglider.
ExtraEnergy.org 91
Family Pedelec
Sinus · B2
Product category assignment Family Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 6 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary With the B2, Sinus has entered a remarkably fine low-stepthrough model into the pedelec race. This bike impressed all round in the test, and only on the hills was power a little lacking.
With its matt silver frame and red colour highlights the Sinus B2 has something about it – especially for a low step-through pedelec. And alongside the appearance, the mid motor also impressed with its very harmonious operation. On hills in particular, though, test riders would have liked to have had a little more
92 ExtraEnergy.org
assist power to hand. Overall though, the B2 had a pleasantly unflustered ride. That applies also to riding without the motor, and even downhill. Kudos too for the comfort: suspension, ergonomic grips and the comfortable saddle all combined to good effect with the relaxed, upright riding position.
Key points + High range Tour/City + High power assist levels for Tour + Push assist + High payloads permitted + Remaining range display + One key for both battery and frame locks
Family Pedelec
Sinus · B2
MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
60.2 25.5 1.49
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 1.5 1.9 2.6 3.1 3.3 2.1 1.8 2.3 3.1 2.2 1.6 2.1 2.2
2.199.00 699.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 140 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes Unitube 26" 46cm, Unitube 28" 46/50/54 cm H 48/52/56cm D 44/48/52cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NEX Transmission Shimano Nexus 7-speed, twist shifter contact Winora-Staiger GmbH Max-Planck-Str. 6 · 97526 Sennfeld
Tel 0049 9721 6501-0 Fax 0049 9721 6501-45
The large connector for the Bosch charger can at least never be mistakenly used with any other system. But we’re driven to ask whether any plug really has to be quite so bulky!
Brakes Magura HS 11 hydraulic rim brakes Wheels Ryde X-Pace v Shimano DH3N20, Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Reflex, 40-622 Lighting f B&M Lumotec LYT N r Toplight Flat Plus with standlight function extras Angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, frame lock keyed alike, push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.winora-group.de
Fine workmanship on the aluminium frame, on show here where the mid drive motor is mounted.
ExtraEnergy.org 93
Dealer directory sorted by (German) postcode
0
FW Front wheel hub motor MID Mid motor (crank drive)
TW Test winner RS Rotation sensor
TS Power or torque sensor ◊ Has 2 battery packs ExtraEnergy.org 99
CREDITS
ISSN 2190-3263 Publisher Test ExtraEnergy Test GmbH Editorial sections ExtraEnergy e.V. Koskauer Straße 100 • d-07922 Tanna, Germany 0049 36646 27094 · www.extraenergy.org Editorial Hannes Neupert, Sebastian Plog, Angela Budde, Sandra Winkler Translation to English Peter Eland www.electricbikemag.co.uk Authors Hannes Neupert, Felix Krakow, Angela Budde, Nora Manthey, Andreas Törpsch
Advertising sales Sandra Winkler — [email protected] Layout büro pluspunkt · Moritz Grünke www.bueropluspunkt.de Image credits Cover: Moritz Grünke Product category icons: Norbert Haller, Michael Burger Test bike product & detail images: Hannes Neupert, Sandra Winkler Additional images hovding.com, Hannes Neupert, Stiftung Warentest, Tobias Mindner, ExtraEnergy, Angela Budde, Susanne Brüsch
ExtraEnergy Magazine © ExtraEnergy Test GmbH and the authors 2013 100 ExtraEnergy.org
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Pedelec and E-Bike Magazine No. 8 by ExtraEnergy - issuu
ExtraEnergy The Pedelec and E-Bike Magazine
August 2013 € 5.90
AUSTRIA € 6.70 · SWITZERLAND 11.40 sFR BelgiUM, NETHerlandS, Luxemburg € 6.90
Are pedelecs really dangerous?
Advertise e-bikes and pedelecs advertising in extraenergy magazine
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Advertise with ExtraEnergy and address your target audience directly.
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CONTENTS
Contents
Editorial...................................................... 5 Stiftung Warentest & ADAC ................... 8 Stiftung Warentest & ExtraEnergy....12 The ideal legal framework.....................16 Meeting customer wishes ....................18 The toughest test: everyday use..........20 Testing by type........................................22 WLTM: my dream pedelec......................23 The characteristics chart.......................25 Test winners ............................................26 Urban Pedelecs.......................................28 Comfort Pedelecs...................................58 Leisure Pedelecs.....................................68 Transport Pedelecs................................86 Dealer directory......................................94 Overview table........................................98 Credits ....................................................100
FLYER · T7R Deluxe.................................30 GIANT · Twist Freedom 1.......................32 Kettler · Berlin Royal-e..........................34 Kettler · Obra Comfort..........................36 Kettler · Traveller-E Sport....................38 Kettler · Twin Ergo.................................40 MIFA · Cyco E.Bike...................................42 Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony............44 Saxonette · X-Road 1..............................46 VICTORIA · Mondeville...........................48 FLYER · Vollblut 500...............................50 Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S...........52 FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe................54 Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8.................56 Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27..................60 Grace · Easy..............................................62 Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R..............64 Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci........66 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive.................70 A2B · Shima..............................................72 Kettler · Layana-e Plus..........................74 Stromer · ST1...........................................76 Bulls · CrossRider....................................78 FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G........80 SCOTT · E-Aspect 910.............................82 FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE...84 Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +...............88 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid..............90 Sinus · B2..................................................92
ExtraEnergy.org 3
Editorial — PART ONE
Dear reader Are pedelecs safe?
battery safety standards and the EnergyBus interface standard. Both Many in Germany are now asking themselves this question: are bikes were developed as private industrial standards, but are currently part and pedelecs actually dangerous? Reading magazine reports and of the ISO/IEC or CENELEC harmonisation process. ExtraEnergy has also watching some of the television coverage from the last few weeks, the organised technical seminars since 1995 at which the subject of prodgist was all much the same: that pedelec riding is pretty much tan- uct safety has always formed a major part of proceedings. tamount to certain death. This impression was reinforced by pictures of broken handlebars, failed brakes, burning batteries and collapsed Safety through standards? frames. After 11 years of standards development, and current active participation in the IEC/ISO/TC69/JPT61851-3, DKE/GAK 353.0.9 and CLC/TC21X Which pedelecs are the best? committees, and leadership of a Working Group of the InternationIn reverse, this question effectively led to the foundation of ExtraEn- al Energy Agency (IEA) on the subject of pedelecs, I have come to realergy in 1992. Then, as now, the question was “which pedelec is the best ise that often 10 to 20 years can pass before harmonisation is impleon the market”. It was unquestionably the case that as with the bicycle, mented: from recognising a problem to an internationally recognised pedelecs had not come to an evolutionary peak, and nor were they par- standard. agons of perfection. It was in 1990 that Michael Kutter built the first pedelec, so pedelecs are a mere 23 years old. But since their start there This means that for a product which is developing as dynamically as are now several million on the road in Japan and Europe alone. the pedelec, manufacturers cannot simply refer to the relevant standards in the development of their products. Rather, they need to conUser safety has ALWAYS been a major issue sider and define the criteria which they will set for their product themfor ExtraEnergy. selves. This is no easy undertaking, especially because most pedelec The subject of safety has been examined intensively by ExtraEnergy manufacturers do not have a history of expertise in electrical technolfrom the start. This was given a new impetus through collaboration ogy, electronics, software, electrochemistry and electromagnetic comwith Deutschen Post AG, and the resulting development of the BATSO patibility. So from 2009 to 2011, ExtraEnergy worked with partners SLG
ExtraEnergy.org 5
Editorial — PART TWO
and velotech.de on defining the voluntary GS quality mark (standing for ‘geprüfte Sicherheit’ or ‘proven safety’). To date, no manufacturer has managed to meet every aspect of these requirements. This is further indication of how the pedelec is considerably more complex than most people think. The current loud clamour for a new pedelec quality standard is absurd, because it already exists. Those who are making these calls haven’t yet put in an appearance at the standards meetings.
The quest for absolute safety! Safety isn’t an absolute. One tragic example comes in the way that nowadays, many parents do not let their children ride independently to school because of safety concerns. Instead they are chauffeured passively to school in the “Taxi of Mum and Dad”. This does make the parents feel that their children are safer, but because of the usually chaotic traffic of parents delivering their kids, the situation is made even worse for children arriving on foot or by bike. Furthermore, chauffeured kids suffer from a lack of childhood exercise which, according to WHO statistics, leads to a reduction in lifespan of around eight years. Unfortunately we live in a world where these effects are increasingly evaluated separately. There are insurers responsible for dealing with traffic accidents, and other insurers for other aspects of life. The consquence is that car insurance does not see the risks from lack of exercise as relevant, and the health consequences will end up being handled separately by a different insurance scheme.
So who is responsible for safety? In the end it is down to market regulators, who are responsible for compliance with the relevant laws. These relevant laws apply to the technology, as a rule according to harmonised standards. If there is no applicable standard, then reference should be made to the closest applicable standard. Applicable standards are often not available: as a consequence things are sometimes required by law which do not add to user safety at all – and which might even made a product worse or less safe. One example is compulsory dynamos for pedelecs 25. This has now been overturned, but it has been replaced by a new rule which makes just as little sense. The officials who oversee these rules, who just a few years ago didn’t even know what a pedelec is, have now become the definitive ‘pedelec checkers’. Now they are tackling many things which could only have happened because of their long neglect of their oversight duties. A lack of regulation always penalises those who do stick to the rules and, because of the considerable effort and expense of conformity, have to sell their product at a higher price. Their competitors, who didn’t bother with the applicable regulations, escape scott free and take the profit.
ExtraEnergy, the advocate for customer satisfaction!
ten years or more until the standards and legal framework are relevant for pedelecs, and in tune with the latest technology. Over this period, ExtraEnergy will first focus on illuminating how well customer wishes are being met by means of testing, and second on participating in the standards setting process towards eventual harmonisation, which will form the basis of tomorrow’s laws. This is something that, for example, Stiftung Warentest, which was subsidised in 2013 by the German Ministry for Consumer Protection with around 3.5 million Euros of tax-payer money, could not manage. They also still take money from the car industry lobby and published a tendentious test, with the test methods not even made public. This means Stiftung Warentest can make no relevant contribution to improving the fundamentals of product development. Minister Frau Aigner should “tug at the leash” and withdraw the subsidy from Stiftung Warentest, because in this case Stiftung Warentest is working blatantly against the targets for cycling as transport which the national government has set down in the National Cycling Transport Plan 2020.
Medium-term, the pedelec could reach 30 – 50 % transport modal share! According to statistics from the Institute for Trade Research in Cologne, the pedelec already had a 34.2 % share of the German bicycle market in 2012. This proportion was significantly larger than the other segments: MTBs 14.9 %, hybrids 26.4 % and ‘others’ 24.5 %. The pedelec is well on the way to replacing the classic bike in relevance as a mode of transport. And yes – pedelecs need better standards. Until these exist and are enforced by market regulators, we must urge caution. However, not to ride pedelecs just because they’re still at the development stage is also not necessarily safer. According to the ZNS 2004 report, the risk of a serious head injury is highest in a car at 48 %. In second place are leisure activities at 26 %, then comes motorbike riding with 13 %, then workplace injuries with 9 %, then falls come in at 7 % before around 1 % each for cycling and walking.
How can I buy a safe pedelec? Ask for the GS and BATSO test marks. Make sure you are shown the CE marks and conformity declaration. Ask about the maximum permitted weight: if this isn’t appropriate for your body weight or your anticipated payloads, look for another bike. Take a thorough test ride – if it doesn’t all feel solid for you, move on and try the next pedelec. Unfortunately the source, brand or price are not necessarily good guides. What does help, however, is to buy from dealers and manufacturers with something to lose: their good name. Here there is at least the hope that safety and reliability will mostly be built in. I hope you enjoy reading this issue, and I wish you all safe and enjoyable riding!
ExtraEnergy has worked since 1992 to ensure that pedelecs match what customers demand. Safety, though, isn’t usually a customer demand it is a fundamental requirement which goes without saying for prod- Ihr Hannes Neupert ucts, including of course pedelecs. ExtraEnergy believes that it will be Chairman, ExtraEnergy e.V.
6 ExtraEnergy.org
Impressions from ISPO Bike 2013
ExtraEnergy.org 7
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
FAIL
The EMC test chamber of the SLG Institute in Hartmannsdorf near Chemnitz, with the test stand developed as part of the ExtraEnergy Test series from 2009.
Stiftung Warentest & ADAC ExtraEnergy’s verdict: defective! Text Hannes Neupert & Angela Budde
Unfortunately, it seems that fear-mongering was more of a priority than setting definitive product testing criteria. ExtraEnergy’s verdict on this test is “Defective”. When it comes to transparency, Stiftung Warentest and the ADAC must do better. As a consumer protection organisation, ExtraEnergy welcomes tough safety standards to keep consumers safe. ExtraEnergy has worked on this for 21 years. But these testing methods are unreproducible – as they were disclosed neither to readers nor to manufacturers. Simultaneous publication of the testing methodology and the results is essential for the relevance and authority of these tests. In this internet age, making a document with all the details available for download should be no problem.
To what extent were the test methods influenced by car lobbyists ADAC? The first pedelec test by the ADAC was conducted in December 2009 by testers from the ADAC alongside testers from ExtraEnergy and ExtraEnergy Testtechnik in Tanna. The results were, as is customary for tests from ExtraEnergy, focussed on customer market requirements. See the article “How Stiftung Warentest and ExtraEnergy do tests”. The results were generally positive, and so was the tone of the publicity from the ADAC. It does seem, however, that since that time the leadership of the ADAC have realised that the pedelec is a serious competitor 8 ExtraEnergy.org
to the car for transport. Is the pedelec no longer a weird novelty which it’s safe to write nicely about? Now it’s reports which emphasise the dangers which predominate. It all suggests that the ADAC are attempting to at least slow the trend away from the car and towards the pedelec, because the ADAC is now unable to stop it. If the ADAC were to report similarly critically about cars, it would have to crash test cars into trees at 100 km/h each year, publish the test results and warn the car industry that there is currently not a single car on the market in which you’d survive such a crash.
Ignoring customer wishes: coaster brakes marked down Checking that manufacturers are complying with standards is of course important. But it’s worth noting that not all standards are sensible. Complaints were made on several products that they used oldfashioned sidewall dynamos – but these were only fitted because German regulators required it! So here manufacturers were being criticised for following the law. ExtraEnergy is against mandatory dynamos for pedelecs on principle; instead ExtraEnergy advocates freedom to
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
LEFT Handlebars are no exception to the old mechanic's saying: "It's fine until it isn't!" In other words, at some point even the best components will give out. What matters for users is to know whether this situation occurs under the sort of loads encountered in daily use, or only at unrealistically high loadings far from reality and hence of little user relevance. Stiftung Warentest are still keeping this truly relevant information under their hat – could it be that they have something to hide? rIGHT Roller test stand trials at velotech.de in Schweinfurt simulate mechanical loadings equivalent to many years' pedelec use.
choose a lighting energy source for pedelecs, but also mandatory day- Various officials are responsible for overseeing CE conformity, but time running lights front and rear. See the article on “The ideal legal to date they have largely ignored the pedelec. The Stiftung Warentest framework”. and ADAC test will certainly ensure that pedelecs quickly become the focus of official attention. Currently, for example, the North RheinExtraEnergy decided, following the recommendation of its expert pan- Westfalia region is conducting targeted testing of pedelecs. As a result, el in January 2013, to withdraw from testing against safety-relevant around 1000 pedelecs have already had to be recalled because the imstandards and for legal conformity. Therefore ExtraEnergy will now porter had affixed a CE mark for which, after requests by officials, he concern itself exclusively with the satisfaction of customer require- could produce no documentary proof of conformity. ments in its tests. And this is something that the Stiftung Warentest and ADAC have neglected in their unsophisticated standards test.From Health & Safety officials in the North Rhein-Westfalia and Lower SaxExtraEnergy’s point of view they also made tendentious remarks – for ony regions now want to implement a “pedelec standard” intended to example criticising when a coaster brake was used. For some user prevent future failures and to increase consumer safety. “This standgroups this is an essential requirement, while other target audiences ard already exists,” Hannes Neupert (Chairman, ExtraEnergy e.V.) told would find it irritating. Yet of course it’s never been possible to man- them. “It’s called the GS Mark for pedelecs overall, and the BATSO test ufacture a product which simultaneously satisfies the needs of all pos- mark for batteries.” sible target audiences. This reinforces the conviction that ExtraEnergy is pursuing the correct course by leaving the field of testing for slavish A matter of politics conformity to institutions like Stiftung Warentest and the ADAC. And to Officials are now waking up and taking on the pedelecs issue. This government officials, whose job it actually is. could mean the eventual end of pedelecs. If correct procedure were followed, all pedelecs made in the last ten years would have to be recalled. Do we need new, tougher laws and standards? This would mean that in one fell swoop all of the dealers and manufacIf the cycle manufacturers had complied with the basic requirements turers would go bankrupt as they would be unable to fully refund cusderived from CE certification, then there probably wouldn’t have been tomers to the value of the returned pedelecs. For this reason ExtraEnso many pedelecs labelled ‘defective’ in the test. In that case Stiftung ergy is requesting that politicians provide a transition period of three Warentest could have spared itself the cost of the testing and just years, using this time to train the responsible officials and then to enwarned that incorrectly certified vehicles are not legal. force on a level playing field. ExtraEnergy.org 9
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
What do the Stiftung Warentest and ADAC test results mean for me as a customer? ✏✏ If mechanical dangers such as handlebar breakage or defective brakes were noted in the test results on the pedelec you own, you should go to your dealer for these items to be expertly checked and, if necessary, upgraded.
…and for me as a dealer? ✏ Remove from sale all pedelecs without correct CE certification and return them to the manufacturer if they are not prepared to rework them with a correct CE mark. ✏ For customers whose pedelecs do not, according to Stiftung Warentest, meet legal minimum requirements, accept returns for these gracefully or offer an exchange for another machine of similar value. Send the bike back to the manufacturer and claim back any financial damages from them. ✏ For future orders, make CE conformity of the product a condition of purchase. Favour products with the GS test mark when available.
…and for me as a manufacturer? ✏ Make sure all of your products have been tested for CE compliance by an independent testing institute, if not already done. ✏✏ Only supply products with CE marking. ✏✏ Implement the new BATSO and GS Mark developments. This would make expensive recalls and image damage through negative test results, like the current ones, very unlikely. ✏✏ Participate actively in drawing up new, meaningful standards. ✏✏ Invest your profits in quality, product safety and skilled staff, so that you’ll be well placed into the future to supply competitive products. What we need is good, concrete and well-founded proposals as to how product safety can be checked in the real world. In this regard Stiftung Warentest, as a tax-payer funded organisation, has a significant role to play. But this positive outcome could only play out when the proposThe GS Mark als are drawn up transparently for customers, dealers and manufacturThe GS Mark for pedelecs has existed since May 2010. Its testing crite- ers, are compulsory for all concerned, and provide concrete guidelines ria are largely based on suggestions from velotech.de GmbH in co-oper- on how to do business. ation with SLG (Prüf- und Zertifizierungs GmbH) and with ExtraEnergy e.V., and the criteria are founded on extremely extensive research con- Currently the around 1 million pedelec-25 riders in Germany are worducted in the framework of the ExtraEnergy Pedelec and E-Bike Tests in ried, and have been driven to go back to their supplying dealers to ask whether their pedelec is not in fact a dangerous and illegal emitter of 2009 and 2010. interference, which will soon break as they ride along and put them in hospital. The BATSO certificate for battery safety The private BATSO 01 safety standard for pedelec batteries has been published since 2007, and since 2010 the TÜV Rheinland has tested bat- Dealers have been made to consider whether they can really take on teries according to BATSO 01. Currently they first 16 battery packs have the responsibility of selling pedelecs. been successfully tested to the BATSO Standard and certified accordAnd we might also justifiably question whether officials will confiscate ingly: the list is available at www.BATSO.org. The BATSO certificate for batteries and the GS Mark for pedelecs are vol- 500,000 pedelecs because of their EMC emissions? untary. To date there is still not a single pedelec which has been certiQuestions and more questions. But no answers, not even if you downfied with the GS Mark. load the Stiftung Warentest Electric Bike Test report for € 2.50.
10 ExtraEnergy.org
Stiftung Warentest + ADAC
GS Testing in brief The GS test criteria main points exceed legal requirements in several areas.
Basics d Testing for the award of a GS certificate may no longer be carried out by the manufacturer or importer. It must instead be contracted out to a testing institute notified as qualified for such tests by the ZLS (Zentralstelle der Länder für Sicherheitstechnik).
Mechanical safety d Basis: EN 15194 with reference to EN 14764 d Additional requirements: d Dynamic testing of complete pedelecs on rolling test stand with 120 kg total mass and pedal drive d Frame testing with horizontal forces +/- 800N d From total payload of over 250 kg a parking brake must be provided. d Requirements of the StVZO must be complied with. d Manufacturer must specify arrangements for towing trailers.
Electrical safety (inc. battery) d Basis: EN 15194 d Additional requirements: d Extra testing of electrical safety to EN 60335-1 where applicable, d In which the charging process is regarded as unattended use. d Battery testing to EC 62133 d Charger must be specified and is part of the testing.
Chemical safety d Basis: legal requirements d Additional requirements: d PAK in grips, shifters and saddle (for leather: DMF and chromium)
Manufacturing facility checks d Requirements from ZLS d Before the first award of a GS Mark to a manufacturer, an initial factory visit is to be conducted regarding technical and staff resources, goods inwards controls, production controls including in-process and end product checking. Product specific requirements must also be satisfied. The manufacturer must be in a position to implement and maintain high quality to the GS Mark standard in series production. d Following the award of a GS Mark, as a rule an annual reinspection of the manufacture of the GS-certified products should be carried out, at the location where the products are made, or if necessary at multiple production locations.
ExtraEnergy.org 11
ExtraEnergy Das Pedelec und E-Bike
ExtraEnergy Das Pedelec und
April 2010 ¡ 9,80 ₏
E-Bike Magazin
Magazin
März 2013 5,90₏
¡ Schweiz 11,40sfr Österreich 6,70₏ e, Luxemburg 6,90₏ Belgien, Niederland
unkt Sicherhe it
Juli 2010 ¡ 25 ₏
Design
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ExtraEnergy Das Pedelec und E-Bike Magazin
Die Testberi
August 2012 5,90₏ Österreich 6,70₏ ¡ Schweiz 11,40sfr Belgien, Niederlande, Luxemburg 6,90₏
chte
2011
09/2010 Die Testberichte 20
36 Pedelecs und 7 Roller im Test 192 Jahre Elektromagnetismus Elektroantriebe die Entwicklung geht weiter Lastentransport mit Pedelec und Anhänger Händlerverzeichnis
11 rĂźhjahr 20 erichte F tb s e T ie D
Die Testberi chte Juli 2010
20 Jahre ExtraEnergy 44 Räder im Test
How Stiftung Warentest and ExtraEnergy do tests Text  Hannes Neupert
One aim, two methods. The test of 16 pedelecs by Stiftung Warentest (StiWa – roughly, Germany’s “Goods Testing Foundation�) in their June 2013 issue was taken up enthusiastically by the media. But how does ExtraEnergy test, and how does Stiftung Warentest? Two pedelecs received “Good�, three “Satisfactory�, two “Acceptable� Essentially the Stiftung does not maintain its own laboratories, but and nine were judged “Defective�, due to weak brakes, frame or handle- tests with external partners who are sworn to secrecy. In their test a bar breakage, high levels of radio interference or transmission defects. striking number of themes cropped up which had developed over the last four years by ExtraEnergy and two partner product safety labs, SLG These results were generalised by the press and transformed into and velotech.de, for its own pedelec and e-bike testing. So alongside headlines which portrayed electric bikes as a safety risk. The Stiftung the current Stiftung test there already exists a second test, one not fiWarentest test showed one thing above all else: that pedelecs have ar- nanced by advertising, independent and safety minded. rived as central to society. Alongside any similarities, however, considerable differences in testing Stiftung Warentest is now looking seriously at the subject of pedelecs: methodology and how the verdicts were awarded remain, and deserve pedelecs have been classified as relevant to business. ExtraEnergy a more detailed explanation. takes this as a sign of success for their own work over the years.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
As early as 1993, ExtraEnergy requested a pedelec test from Stiftung Warentest. This was refused with the explanation that as a large test organisation they could only test commercially relevant products and not niche products, however great their potential. They would only consider doing such a test when at least 100,000 pedelecs were sold. That’s why ExtraEnergy started in 1993 with its own tests. Happily, Stiftung Warentest followed suit since 2001. Stiftung Warentest is a statesupported organisation whose remit is consumer protection, and products are tested for their functionality and value to users, as well as their environmental credentials. The aim is to “educate� consumers towards affordable, safe and healthy (purchase) behaviour. 12 ExtraEnergy.org
Stiftung Warentest did a quantitative evaluation. So it was determined beforehand how points were to be given, what the maximum possible points would be, and how many points would lead to an award of “Very Good�, “Good�, “Satisfactory� and “Defective�. But unfortunately what sort of bike would have achieved maximum marks, or in other words what the testers saw as the ideal pedelec, was not stated. ExtraEnergy does its evaluations qualitatively and dynamically. Verdicts are made relative to what’s on the market, and are additionally sorted by target user groups. Different user groups may have requirements which are distinctly different, so weighted requirements and applications form product groups. These categories are necessary be-
Stiftung Warentest vs. extraenergy
ratgeber – typentest ratgeber – typentest
Der Typentest Welches Pedelec passt zu mir? Der Typentest Welches Pedelec passt zu mir? Die wachsende Vielzahl von Elektrofahrrädern auf dem Markt 1 Wo entlang führt Ihre typische Fahrstrecke? macht die Suche nach dem besten Pedelec wichtiger und gleichzeitig immer schwieriger. Die Ansprüche sind vielfältig, die AngeboDie wachsende Vielzahl von Elektrofahrrädern auf dem Markt te differenzierter. Mit einer neuen Bewertungsmethode haben wir macht die Suche nach dem besten Pedelec wichtiger und gleichzeiim ExtraEnergy Test für Sie gefragt, welches Fahrzeug welche Wüntig immer schwieriger. Die Ansprüche sind vielfältig, die Angebosche am besten erfüllt. te differenzierter. Mit einer neuen Bewertungsmethode haben wir im ExtraEnergy Test für Sie gefragt, welches Fahrzeug welche WünElf Produktgruppen hat das Testteam dazu entwickelt. Da gibt es Easy sche am besten erfüllt. Pedelecs für elektromobile Städter, schnelle Pedelecs für Businesstypen oder Freizeit und Spaß Pedelecs in der Gruppe Sport und mehr. Die Elf Produktgruppen hat das Testteam dazu entwickelt. Da gibt es Easy Gruppen stehen alle für die gleichen Kundenwünsche an Pedelecs oder Pedelecs für elektromobile Städter, schnelle Pedelecs für Businesstypen E-Bikes, allerdings in unterschiedlicher Gewichtung nach Anforderunoder Freizeit und Spaß Pedelecs in der Gruppe Sport und mehr. Die gen und Einsatzzwecken. Zur besseren Übersicht, haben wir die einzelGruppen stehen alle für die gleichen Kundenwünsche an Pedelecs oder nen Typen in die vier Übergruppen Urban, Komfort, Freizeit und TransE-Bikes, allerdings in unterschiedlicher Gewichtung nach Anforderunport sortiert. Die Details der Typenbestimmung finden Sie auf Seite 60. gen und Einsatzzwecken. Zur besseren Übersicht, haben wir die einzelnen Typen in die vier Übergruppen Urban, Komfort, Freizeit und TransProduktgruPPen Übersicht port sortiert. Die Details der Typenbestimmung finden Sie auf Seite 60.
urban komFort ProduktgruPPen Übersicht Easy urban Business Falt Easy Business Freizeit Falt
City-Komfort komFort Holland Reha City-Komfort Holland transPort Reha
Tour Sport Wellness Tour Sport Wellness
transPort
Familie Lasten
testen sie selbst
Die Frage welches das beste Elektrorad für Sie ist, können nur Sie selbst beantworten. Tests geben Ihnen einen ersten Überblick, doch bevor Sie testen sie selbst sich auf die Produktberichte konzentrieren, testen Sie sich doch einmal Die Frage welches das beste Elektrorad für Sie ist, können nur Sie selbst selbst. beantworten. Tests geben Ihnen einen ersten Überblick, doch bevor Sie sich auf die Produktberichte konzentrieren, testen Sie sich doch einmal Fragen Sie sich, auf welchen Strecken Sie Ihr LEV am meisten fahren selbst. werden, ob zum Beispiel in der Stadt oder auf Strecken mit steilen Anstiegen? Welche Eigenschaften sind für Sie an Ihrem Elektrorad unverFragen Sie sich, auf welchen Strecken Sie Ihr LEV am meisten fahren zichtbar? Muss Ihr Display High Tech bieten oder reicht es Ihnen zu werden, ob zum Beispiel in der Stadt oder auf Strecken mit steilen Anwissen, wie lange die Batterie noch reicht? Beantworten Sie fünf Grundstiegen? Welche Eigenschaften sind für Sie an Ihrem Elektrorad unverfragen und finden Sie heraus, welcher Produkt Typ zu Ihnen passt. zichtbar? Muss Ihr Display High Tech bieten oder reicht es Ihnen zu wissen, wie lange die Batterie noch reicht? Beantworten Sie fünf GrundBei der Auswertung können Sie sich einfach anhand der Piktogramme fragen und finden Sie heraus, welcher Produkt Typ zu Ihnen passt. neben den Produktgruppen orientieren. Treffen mindestens drei Anforderungen zu, könnte Ihr Traum Pedelec in dieser Produktgruppe Bei der Auswertung können Sie sich einfach anhand der Piktogramme sein. Viel Spaß! neben den Produktgruppen orientieren. Treffen mindestens drei Anforderungen zu, könnte Ihr Traum Pedelec in dieser Produktgruppe sein. Viel Spaß!
1 Wo entlang führt Ihre typische Fahrstrecke?
Stadt
ExtraEnergy.org 53
ExtraEnergy.org 53
When comparing test methodologies and how the results are communicated, the background of the testing and publishing organisations should not be overlooked. ExtraEnergy e.V. is attempting with its testing to drive forwards the technical development of pedelecs which meet customer wishes and to help customers to find the currently available pedelec which best suits their requirements. Stiftung Warentest appears, by playing up the fear-factor, to be attempting to raise its circulation, and the ADAC seems to be attempting to keep its members firmly behind the wheels of their cars – or at least to slow down their conversion to riding pedelecs.
cause in a growing market with a wide variety of different vehicle types for a wide variety of different user groups, these cannot all be fairly compared directly without differentiation. Verdicts are awarded rather as in the Olympic Games. There, the best in any category gets a gold medal, even if another athlete from another category put in a much faster performance, or if the best on the day broke no record. Thus in the ExtraEnergy Test there is a test winner in every category of every test, and this sets the bar for the other pedelecs in this category. “Very Good” means a so-called “customer requirement satisfaction factor (KFactor)” of 8 to 10. A test verdict of “Good” is awarded from K-Factor 5. This methodology means that when tests are repeated, bikes can fall down the rankings. This is because a year later they may still have exactly the same absolute performance, but relative to other market offerings they will now be lower ranked, because newer, better products have appeared in the same category. Each type of evaluation has its justification. ExtraEnergy is however following its statutory objective of accelerating the development of Light Electric Vehicles. A market develops
best through satisfied customers, and these are realised through product comparisons which awards innovations with a high K-factor more highly than those vehicles with the best exam results but which do not necessarily fulfil important functions and so may disappoint customers.
Prototypes vs. series production
Often, pre-production vehicles are tested. In this way ExtraEnergy can help manufacturers to identify problem early and to fix them before series production. So over the last 21 years of testing, the association has contributed to a number of products being improved, or withdrawn, by the manufacturer before they reached the market.
One general difference between ExtraEnergy and Stiftung Warentest procedures is in the vehicles under test and how these are procured. The Stiftung always buys vehicles from the open market and publicises any defects, without giving the manufacturer a chance to remedy these if possible.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and they often reach similar results but with differing consequences. While the StiWa has now almost caused a panic about weak brakes on pedelecs, in its Autumn Test in 2010 ExtraEnergy was already addressing lack of braking on pedelecs. In the 2010 Autumn Test alone, deficiencies in braking powFor the ExtraEnergy Test, in contrast, produc- er were identified on 19 pedelecs. The manuers provide vehicles willingly, and they pay facturers were informed and 14 solved the isfor the test in advance through a fee. They sue to our full satisfaction. The other five were are shown the results in advance of publi- marked down, and this was published. cation and have the opportunity to address deficiencies. Among those who addressed the deficiencies was Cycle Union with the Kreidler Vitality. The If manufacturers refuse to address defects or company was informed by ExtraEnergy in Janto withdraw the product from market, natu- uary 2010 about the issues with the braking rally this will be published by ExtraEnergy. system in testing and so it was in a position to ExtraEnergy.org 13
Stiftung Warentest vs. extraenergy
20
address the problem before the first production and deliveries of this bike in February 2011.
the Stiftung Warentest report. For ExtraEnergy this is a calculated value, derived from comparing the rider’s pedal power and motor output to the power used on a reference bike without electric assist. For other defects, such as for example electromagnetic interference is- The range values determined by Stiftung Warentest are only rounded sues, improvements are unfortunately rather slower to come, because values and very much relative, because no information is given about this area is a hitherto unknown area for most cycle manufacturers, the test profile or even the assist mode used. It’s like testing a car and who are mostly highly skilled mechanically. not saying if you’ve tested the pulling power on hills. Because purely mechanical bikes do not need to carry a CE mark, the topic of CE conformity is also new territory for most manufacturers. On this subject ExtraEnergy has offered much advice on the need for correct CE declarations and this has induced many companies to conform to the regulations.
Verdict on the verdict Unfortunately, the Stiftung Warentest’s range measurements were carried out on a not very realistic test stand: see the article “Stiftung Warentest & ADAC – ExtraEnergy verdict: defective”. Range and power assist factor (U-factor) are still core criteria for most customers when choosing a pedelec. Yet U-factor was not measured in 14 ExtraEnergy.org
With some incomprehension ExtraEnergy has established that Stiftung Warentest has gone for blind trust in manufacturer claims of battery type. Indeed, all batteries are lithium-ion batteries, but details of battery chemistry, such as Li-Ion Mn or Li-Ion Mn-Ni-Co, are incomplete, and apparently given pretty much at random – and clearly not checked. Furthermore, these details are hardly relevant for customers. A joint weakness of both the Stiftung Warentest and ExtraEnergy tests is in the lack of authoritative verdicts on battery longevity and manufacturer warranty performance. Both factors are hard to measure, but both are important for users. ExtraEnergy will continue to work on further improving its tests.
Stiftung Warentest vs. extraenergy
EG-Konformitätserklärung EC Declaration of Conformity
This appendix of the Machinery Directive includes the necessary requirements for the conformity declaration.
This is what a valid EU conformity declaration looks like.
Relevant for chargers.
im Sinne der EG-Richtlinie 2006/42 /EG according to EC directive 2006/42 über Maschinen (Anhang II A) /EC on machinery (Annex II A) Name und Anschrift des Herstell ers ggf. Name und Anschrift seines Name and address of the manufac in der EU turer: niedergelassenen Bevollmächtigte n where appropriate his authoris ed representative in EU MUSTER GmbH MODEL IMPORTER Ltd. Ingenieurweg 7 Engineerstr. 100 99999 Musterhausen 100000 Modelcity
Diese Erklärung bezieht sich nur auf die Maschine in dem Zustand, in dem sie in Verkehr Endnutzer nachträglich angebrac gebracht wurde; vom hte Teile und/oder nachträglich vorgenommene Eingriffe bleiben Erklärung verliert ihre Gültigkei t, wenn das Produkt ohne Zustimmu unberücksichtigt. Die ng umgebaut oder verändert This declaration relates exclusive wird. ly to the machinery in the state in which it was placed on the components which are added market, and excludes and/or operations carried out subsequently by the final user. valid, if the product is modified The declaration is no more without agreement.
Hiermit erklären wir, dass die nachstehend beschriebene Maschin e / Anlage Herewith we declare, that the machinery described below Produktbezeichnung / product denomination: Musterteilmaschine Serien- / Typenbezeichnung / model/type: Style Maschinen-/Seriennummer / machinery / serial number: 007 Baujahr / Year of manufacture: 2010 allen einschlägigen Bestimmungen der Maschinenrichtlinie 2006/42 über elektromagnetische Verträgl /EG sowie der Richtlinie 2004/10 ichkeit entspricht. 8/EG Die Schutzziele der Richtlinie 2006/95/EG über elektrische Betriebsmittel werden eingeha is complying with all essentia lten. l requirements of the Machine ry Directive 2004/108/EC relating to electrom 2006/42/EC and Directive agnetic compatibility.. The safety objectives of the Directive 2006/95/EC relating to electrica l equipment are observed. Ggf.: Angewandte harmon isierte Normen / Where appropr iate: Harmonised Standards (Beispiel, muss für jede Maschin used e ermittelt werden! / Example to be identified for each machine !)
EN ISO 12100-1 Sicherheit von Maschinen 4/2004 Grundbegriffe / Safety of Machiner y - Basic concepts
EN 61000-6-4 9/2007
EN ISO 12100-2 Sicherheit von Maschinen 4/2004 Technische Leitsätze / Safety of Machinery - Technical principles
EN 61000-6-2 3/2006
Elektrische Ausrüstung von Maschine n Electrical equipment of machines
EMV – Fachgrundnorm: Störaussendung Industriebereiche EMC - Generic standard: Emission for industrial environments
EMV – Fachgrundnorm: Störfestigkeit Industriebereiche EMC - Generic standards: Immunity for industrial environments
Ggf.: Angewandte sonstige technische Normen und Spezifik ationen Other technical standards and specifications used:
.......
Managing Director, Technical Director etc …
ggf. Name, Anschrift und Kennnu mmer der benannten Stelle, das EG-Baumusterprüfverfah durchgeführt hat, sowie die Numme ren r Qualitätssicherungssystem genehm der EG-Baumusterprüfbescheinigung oder die das umfasse nde igt hat. where appropriate, the name, address and identification number the EC type-examination and of the notified body which the number of the EC type-exa carried out quality assurance system mination certificate or which approved the full
Bevollmächtigter für die Zusamm enstellung der relevanten technis The person authorised to compile chen Unterlagen (EU-Adresse) the relevant technical docume ntation (must be established within EU):
Muster GmbH Abteilung , Hr./Fr. Muster Musterstr. 99 99099 Musterstadt
________________________
Ort, Datum Place, Date
________________________
________________________ Name, Vorname und Funktion ______ des Unterzeichners surname, first name and function Unterschrift of signatory Signature h_2006-42
Konformitaetserklaerung_Masc
.DOC
ABOUT ExtraEnergy ✏✏ What is ExtraEnergy? ✏✏ How are the test bikes chosen? ExtraEnergy is a legal association. We have tested electric bikes since ExtraEnergy isn’t a state-funded institution: registration for the tests 1992 to help develop the current market and to publish comparative is voluntary for manufacturers, and involves a fee. We do also buy results. some so-called ‘bargain’ bikes so as to illustrate the ‘shadow side’ of the market – although there are sometimes positive surprises to be found here, too. ✏✏ Why comparative? For us what matters is not the objectively best pedelec, but the best pedelecs currently on the market for particular users. ✏✏ How is your independence guaranteed? The ‘deal’ is that what the manufacturer pays for is to be informed of any problems in advance, with the opportunity to remedy them, or ✏✏ So what does quality mean? For the test we do apply benchmarks as the ideal standard, but these to decide against publication. This can occur, for example, when we are relative, and appropriate to the intended use. The requirements or discover safety defects which result in a recall. Naturally we will only quality measures are weighted differently between product groups, so refrain from publishing this if the manufacturer takes action i.e. imenabling us to classify the vehicle types. proves the bike or withdraws it from the market. ✏✏ What does that mean for readers? It’s essential to be clear about your own circumstances and what you intend to use the bike for and where. The icons in the text and the classification into product groups should make it easier for you to get your bearings.
✏✏ What do the award stamps mean? Our award stamps are a verdict of quality. Bikes which carry these stamps have withstood our tests in Tanna on Tour, City and Hills circuits, and proven themselves as ‘Good’ or ‘Very Good’ pedelecs in our market comparisons.
ExtraEnergy.org 15
IDEal legal framework
The ideal legal framework according to ExtraEnergy Text Hannes Neupert
ExtraEnergy has closely followed the lawmaking process for over 21 years, and would like to see more proactive politics from legislators. Practical experience from Japan, China, the USA and Europa shows us that legislation can play a decisive role in market development. For some time now ExtraEnergy has lobbied for the repeal of mandatory dynamo rules. Another of our demands is the removal of the requirement for a driving license for using pedelecs with ‘push assist’. These two demands from ExtraEnergy were implemented in 2013 by the Federal Government. Further demands, which a proactive legislator would be most welcome to champion, are still outstanding:
1
NO DRIVE POWER LIMIT
…because power can also mean safety rather than danger if it is properly regulated. A cargo bike clearly needs more than 250 W of power. The current law, which permits 250 W nominal continuous rated power, is a farce anyway because it does not clearly state how exactly 250 W continuous rated power is to be defined, only that the manufacturer must proclaim this clearly on the motor nameplate. Some more cheeky manufacturers already have products on the market capable of 800 W continuous, but the motor nameplate still says 250 W.
er. This would mean that children could ride pedelecs at a younger age without riding dangerously fast. The same goes for unfit adults of any age, who in general have less riding experience. This type of regulation would be based on the case of conventional bicycles, where maximum speed is also linked to rider power. However, it would also mean that even not so fit people, even with cargo, could climb any hill at at least 15 km/h, thanks to the unlimited electrical power.
3
32 KM/H TOP SPEED FOR ALL PEDELECS or a 30 km/h urban speed limit for all road users.
→→ Power assist to max. 15 km/h at muscle power below 50 W →→ Power assist to max. 20 km/h at muscle power below 100 W →→ Power assist to max. 25 km/h at muscle power below 150 W →→ Power assist to max. 32 km/h at muscle power above 150 W
32 km/h is a figure which has international resonance. In the USA, for example, 20 mph is allowed, which converts to 32 km/h. And in many urban areas in Europe there are 30 km/h zones. If pedelec riders are to participate here as fully fledged road users this would make a considerable contribution to road safety, because equal speed would mean pedelec riders are less easily overlooked, and dangerous overtaking manoeuvres would be unnecessary. 32 km/h is a speed which would be perceived as very efficient and which would permit, in an area with good transport infrastructure, average riding speeds of around 25 km/h. This would make pedelecs a competitive form of transport for commuters with journeys up to at least 25 km.
Safe riding at higher speeds isn’t possible for everyone. On conventional bikes the speed is naturally limited by the physical capacity of the rider. Motors with rotation sensors remove this natural limit. Torque sensors retain the principle of speed determined by rider pow-
A blanket urban speed limit of 30 km/h for all traffic, including cyclists, would significantly reduce the potential for dangerous conflict between road users because overtaking manoeuvres would make much less sense.
2
TORQUE SENSORS COMPULSORY – ROTATION SENSOR PEDELECS BANNED
16 ExtraEnergy.org
NO LIMIT ON WHEEL, TRACK OR RIDER COUNT
8
ExtraEnergy believes that special four-wheeled cycles with their excellent stability, high transport capacity and high permissible payloads can play an important part for families, the elderly and also for commercial cargo carriers. Vehicles such as self-compensating trailers, handbikes (wheelchairs coupled to a hand-cranked front end) and many other special vehicles will enrich everyday life.
5
gesetzt NO DYNAMO COMPULSION BUT FREE CHOICE OF ENERGY SOURCE FOR LIGHTS
Unfortunately still not implemented is our demand for a compulsory daytime running light function.
6
NO MINIMUM LIGHTING POWER IN WATTS BUT A MINIMUM LIGHT OUTPUT INSTEAD
For example, 80 Lux for the front light instead of today’s 10 Lux and the option of incorporating indicators.
7
NO COMPULSORY HELMETS – BUT ENCOURAGEMENT OF HELMET WEARING WHERE THEIR USE IS APPROPRIATE
It might be possible to develop helmets which are suitable for pedelecs but which are significantly safer than current cycle helmets, while being better ventilated and lighter than motorbike helmets.
PUSH/START ASSIST TO 6 KM/H ALLOWED WITH NO LICENSE - FOR ALL PEDELECS
umgeset
zt
One demand unfortunately still not implemented is that start assist (for setting off) should only operate when two controls are operated simultaneously on the two handlebar grips. This would ensure that both hands are on the bars, and it would also rule out unintended operation of the start assist. Start assist should also cut out after five minutes of continuous operation, and only re-start after release and re-activation of the controls, with a one second delay, to discourage continuous riding with the start assist.
9
NO DRIVING LICENSE NEEDED AND NO AGE LIMITS
10
RIGHT TO USE CYCLE PATHS BUT NOT COMPULSION
11
12
CHARGE SOCKETS MUST COMPLY WITH THE ENERGYBUS STANDARD
The risks of riding a pedelec should in every case be born by compulsory personal third party insurance.
This would make charging with any EnergyBus compliant charger posProtective clothing such as helmets can be very sensible, but compul- sible. This is an important precondition for unified and future-proof sory use of helmets, as advocated from several quarters is, in the cur- infrastructure. rent environment at least, definitely not a productive move. It would put a damper on public acceptable of cycling for transport and so poBATTERY SALES BANNED tentially lead to more deaths, because many more people across EuBOTH SEPARATELY AND WITH PEDELECS rope die from lack of exercise than die in traffic. It’s possible to im- This is the only way to ensure that batteries are not treated as throwagine, as an alternative to helmets, ‘airbag vests’ which in the case of away items which need to be swapped out every two or three years, so an accident would inflate the rider into a sort of ‘Michelin man’. This increasing profits for dealers and manufacturers. Instead, this would would make more sense than a helmet which, while it can protect the ensure that batteries would be supplied to customers by the battery head, also increases the likelihood of severe neck injury. In any case we manufacturer or a battery hire company. Once they reach the end of can expect many more active safety technologies which could alter the their life they can be easily collected for efficient recycling which could entire safety paradigm. re-use the raw ingredients.
13
test ANALYSIS
Meeting customer wishes How ExtraEnergy evaluates Text Andreas Törpsch
The ExtraEnergy Test is designed as a comparative test. The qualities and ratings of any particular bike are set in the context of the others also in the current test. Instead of coming up with absolute ratings, current offerings are compared. The objective is not to come up with a universally applicable ‘verdict’ but to help cusAll pedelecs and e-bikes undergo the same test procedure. Each bike is equipped with measuring sensors and is ridden by each test rider at least once around each circuit. In the Ergonomics Test the evaluation is carried out by interested members of the public: 20 volunteer testers see how easily each pedelec can be heaved over a step, how easily the batteries are to change, and more, resulting finally in a subjective ranking for each of the ExtraEnergy product categories. Most of the product categories will seem familiar at first glance, and derived from ‘classic’ cycling categories such as city or touring bikes. But the categories in the ExtraEnergy Test are set with strict criteria. Minimum requirements for measured values such as range or speed are part of this, as are inclusion criteria such as a full chaincases or a particular payload capacity. These criteria are informed by ExtraEnergy’s many years of experience, and tempered with a dash of vision. In our considerations, the key factors are who will ride where, with which pedelec, and what will they need for this. Family pedelecs, for example, need a minimum payload rating of 110 kg, to permit mounting a child seat, and to offer a peak power assistance factor (taken as the ‘Hills’ UFactor) of at least 1. Behind this is the knowledge that families need pedelecs on which you can carry children and shopping. They must be easy to get moving without falling off and should offer reliable progress. As well as having minimum requirements and inclusion criteria, all product categories are assigned customer requirements. Customer requirements of a pedelec are in principle universal, although they are not all equally important to every user. So each requirement is given a weighting (Figure 1). To make these requirements, and how well they are satisfied, 18 ExtraEnergy.org
tomers to find, with the help of product groupings, the pedelec which is best matched to their needs. The sorting of the test bikes into categories is not done arbitrarily, but follows defined criteria and minimum requirements. Add in a dash of perspective and the test results are complete.
quantifiable, each is assigned to one or more relevant measured values. For range, the link to the measured range value is obvious, while peak assist power is expressed by the ‘Hills’ U-factor. So in the evaluation, the range on a touring bike is more significant than on an Easy Pedelec – and so it is given a correspondingly higher weighting.
Because the user and the intended use are closely interrelated, a little lateral thinking is sometimes required. For a Tour Pedelec it is not, as you might at first think, the range which is the most important aspect, but the ease of use. Because you have luggage with you on tour anyway, carrying a second battery as well is relatively easy. Also, most batteries
Customer desire
Battery price Serviceability Battery service life
High reliability
Drive system reliability
test ANALYSIS
are now sufficient for typical daily distances, which is recognised in the 40 km minimum range for a Tour Pedelec. Ease of use however is essential, because one of the main areas of application for a Tour Pedelec is cycle tourism. Inexperienced users need a hire bike which they can handle easily, and on which they can if necessary fix a small breakdown themselves.
customers this categorisation means easier decision making: once you are clear about your own priorities, it’s easy to see which bikes will best match your personal requirements.
ues, give points for each bicycle. These are normalised from 1 to 10. This normalization also simultaneously sets the ranking, expressed as a K factor, for customer (Kunde in German) requirement fulfilment. The best bike in every Leading up to the final test verdict, all values group is declared the test winner and receives are entered into a spreadsheet, via which the the top K factor of 10. All of the other pedelecs bikes are automatically sorted into product in the category are measured against this, and groups, bearing in mind the exclusion criteria are awarded the seal of approval which matchTo distinguish the 14 requirements clear- and minimum requirements. The weighted re- es their K factor. ly and to avoid arbitrary judgements, Extra- quirements, together with the measured valEnergy employs the ‘pair comparison’ methhigh reliability high assist power 10 od. Each customer requirement was compared with another, for each category. So for examlow maintenance high peak load assist ple we asked whether range for a touring bike 5 was more significant than high assist powlow purchase price high range er, and the responses were given values of 2 high quality (more important), 1 (equal) or 0 (less important). Going through each requirement gave easy to use high hillclimbing ability them all points, and these were summed to give the weighting, and hence the profile for that category. fast travel speed low noise There are a total of 12 product categories, which are divided into four overall sectors of Urban, Comfort, Leisure and Transport. For
High peak power assist High range High hill-climbing ability Fast travel speed Low rolling resistance Easy to transport High similarity to a bicycle Low noise Easy to use Low purchase price Low maintenance High reliability
Ranking
High assist power High assist power
easy to transport
More important Equally important Less important
low rolling resistance
high similarity to a bicycle
x x x x x x x x x x x x x
ExtraEnergy.org 19
ergonomiCS test
The toughest test: everyday use or: how to test a pedelec for yourself – fast! text Nora Manrtey
At first glance, buying a pedelec looks simple enough. You go to a shop, take a look around, sit on the bike, try one out if you like it, chat to the salesman a little, then glance down at the price… at
which point you decide you need to think about it. But really, you should have sat down to think a bit earlier, because a pedelec really is a lot more than just a bike with an electric motor.
In contrast to conventional bikes, electric bikes are complex products, whose performance cannot be summed up in single figure or component; instead they are a complex symbiosis of man and machine. The motor on a pedelec only assists Pedelecs are hybrid vewhen the rider is pedalling. So it is hicles combining muscle a hybrid vehicle combining muscle and Motor power and motor power, and overall performance depends on other factors too. As a user you could (but you don’t have to) get involved with details of the software setup, the compatibility of the components and component selection. But what really matters in everyday use is ride quality and practical ease of use.
moving the battery (if possible) is easy to do, and test the various mechanisms on other pedelecs and so learn more about your own preferences. With a new product like the pedelec, you need to get to know it a little before you can decide which is right for you.
RIDE, THEN DECIDE Everyday ease of use is fed into the ExtraEnergy verdicts via the ergonomics tests. Our testers set themselves to operate the test bikes, without instructions, but with a reYour preferences will port form. Various stationary obdepend on the product, stacles simulate everyday situabut also your lifestyle tions such as stairs or car boot sills, and other aspects give information about the intuitive usability of the bikes, for example how easy the battery is to remove or replace.
Influencing this are factors which don’t relate to the product at all, but to your own life circumstances. For example, when it comes to lifting tests, if your parking space is on ground level the vehicle doesn’t necessarily need to be light to carry; but if you live on the third floor, weight and ease of carrying could be critical. A short ride on a flat road is only enough to get a first impression of the handling. You can only really find out whether you want a longerterm relationship with the bike if The ergonomics tests you can go up and down a bit. A hill or even just a ramp can give an im- features questionnaires – not user manuals! pression of the power assist at peak loads. A couple of steps can be used for an extra carrying test. A good indicator of the rolling resistance of a bike is riding without the motor, because loss of power is always possible. Switching it off as you ride on a good surface will also show you how easy the display is to reach and operate.
You can do your own user testing using the questionnaire from the ExtraYou don’t have to actually take the pedelec to pieces in the bike shop, Energy Pedelec & E-Bike Test. If you are lucky enough to find a wide range but you should ask for a brief introduction to the technology or for of pedelecs at your dealer, you can also record your impressions and evalpermission to fiddle a little. So you could for example check that re- uate them back at home before you decide on your electric bike. d 20 ExtraEnergy.org
#
The evaluaTion uses marks from 1 (very good) To 6 (unsaTisfacTory). Below each question are comments which may help you with your evaluation.
d TEST STATION 1
BATTERY AND CHARGER – CONNECTING AND CHARGING
Battery removal (if possible): How easy is it to remove the battery? Is there a grip, for example? Does it slide out easily or need force? Can it jam? Lock (if present): How well does the lock operate? e.g. is the key easy to turn or does it catch, is there a clear ›locked‹ indication or marking… Find the charger for the battery: how clearly can the charger for this particular battery be identified? Is there for example a marking such as the brand name? Is the connector unique, or could different plugs fit? Battery replacement: How easily can the battery be replaced? Is replacing it easy? Is there a ›locked‹ indication? Is it clear how it should be put in place?
d TEST STATION 2
6
ADJUSTMENT – BEFORE YOU RIDE
Ergonomic adjustment: can the bike be adjusted to suit you personally? Can e.g. the handlebar be easily adjusted and seat height set, with or without tools, tight enough? Choose riding mode. Can the ride mode be selected easily? Is e.g. the display self-explanatory, easy to read, is it easy to find the on button?
d TEST STATION 6
4
LOADING BAY STEP – OBSTACLES AND TRANSPORT
Push the bike over a loading bay step: how easily does the bike travel over the edge? Is it for example light enough, are there places to hold it easily, does it catch anywhere…
d TEST STATION 5
3
STEPS – STORAGE AND USE
Carry the bike up the steps. How easy is it to carry the bike over the steps? Is it for example light enough, are there good grip locations, can it be stored in a stairway?
d TEST STATION 4
2
CAR CARRIER – TOURING
Car carrier: how easy is it to attach the bike to the car carrier? Is it for example light enough to roll or lift into place? Can the frame be easily secured?
d TEST STATION 3
1
TEST IT TRACK – TEST RIDE
Power assist on the flat: how well does the motor assist you as you ride? Does the power come evenly, too early, too late, smoothly? Power assist on hills: how well does the motor assist on an incline? Does the power come too late, too little, does it fade out? Ride quality with motor assist: how does the bike ride with power assist operating? Does it feel for example safe, pleasant, does it roll along easily? Ride quality without the motor: how does the bike ride overall without motor assist? Does it feel e.g. safe, is it easy rolling or heavy going, is there noticeable resistance? Drive noise: how is the motor noise? Is it e.g. too loud or barely audible, unpleasant or unobjectionable? Ease of use: how easy is the bike to operate as you ride? Is the display e.g. easy to reach, clear, can you switch off the motor as you ride? Parking: how securely does the bike stand up? Is the stand easily folded out (if fitted), does it wobble or hold the bike securely? Design / Style: How much do you like the overall look of the bike? A matter of taste… Fun factor: How much fun did the ride deliver for you overall? A matter of taste…
ExtraEnergy.org 21
TESTING BY TYPE
TESTING BY TYPE Which pedelec will suit me best? The sheer number of electric bikes on the market makes the hunt for the best pedelec ever more difficult, but also ever more necessary. The criteria are various, the bikes on offer ever more varied. With our evaluation methodology in the ExtraEnergy Test we have asked the questions for you: which bike will fulfil your requirements the best? Twelve product categories have been defined - or rather, have evolved over time. So there are Easy Pedelecs for urban e-mobility, fast pedelecs for business types or leisure, and fun pedelecs in the Sport category, and more. The categories all represent the same customer requirements of the pedelecs or e-bikes, but with differing weightings according to the category’s demands and applications. For extra clarity, the particular types are divided into four overall groups: Urban, Comfort, Leisure and Transport. You can find more details of how categories are determined on page 16.
PRODUCT CATEGORY OVERVIEW Urban
1 Where do you typically ride your bike?
City
Fast
4 How much luggage do you have to carry?
TEST FOR YOURSELF Only you can answer the question of which pedelec will be the best for you. Tests give a first overview, but before you start poring over product reports, you should really do some testing of your own. Ask yourself what sort of distances you would usually ride on your pedelec, and whether this is around town and/or with steep climbs involved? Which pedelec features are essential for you? Does your display need to give high tech info or is it enough for you to know how long the battery will last? Answer five basic questions and you will see which product type will suit you.
Hand luggage
Cargo
5 How easy to carry, or transport, must your vehicle be?
In this evaluation you can easily keep track using the pictograms alongside the product categories. If at least three requirements match, your perfect pedelec could lie in this product category. Enjoy! Pushable
22 ExtraEnergy.org
Easy to carry (folds)
PRODUCT CATEGORIES
WLTM: the perfect pedelec Not every pedelec will suit everyone: rather, a particular choice But you’re sure to find your perfect pedelec in our ‘lonely hearts may appeal to those with common interest or life circumstances. ads’ below; the icons will help you make a speedy selection.
Urban Business Pedelec
m
300
1 / Ra 25 km / Vmin 27 Load 90 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 20 km / Lights / Stand Load 90 kg / UB red spirit? I am always busy, Do you like things simple and uncomplicat- Looking for a kind and set high expectations for ed? Then I, as an Easy Pedelec, am your per- am well insured as a Business Pedelec, you can fect partner for the urban everyday. I’m fully myself. With me, cut and thrust of everyday law-abiding and look pretty much like a nor- be master of the business life. Price is no probmal bike. Take me with you and I’ll give you a travel and of the 28 lem: what matters is performance. d Page real boost. d Page 28
FOLDING + CompaCt Pedelec
d
Load 90 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 15 km / max. 22 kg Want flexibility and no strings attached? As a Folding Pedelec I fit into all sorts of lifestyles. Open relationships with other forms of transport are no problem. I’m happy to be with you around town and also love riding in a mobile home. d Page 28
Comfort – LEISURE
ClassiC Pedelec
d
Load 95 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 15 km / Lights / Stand Load 90 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 15 km / Lights / Stand Love the sweet city life, and crave comfort? Seeking a traditionally minded pedal-pal for As a City-Comfort Pedelec I’ll pamper you with companionable rides? As a Classic Pedelec, I full suspension and ease the strain of the little enjoy both city and countryside trips. My stresses of city life. Let’s go shopping together chain is well tucked away in a closed chaincase and my components are all of top or take a quick minibreak! d Page 60 quality. I have no problem carr ying passenge rs on my robust rear rack.d Page 60
d
Tour Pedelec
ier rack Load 110 kg / UB 0.5 / Ra 40 km / Carr excurlove I ? Travelling companion required age. I lugg sions and longer tours, even with do you like to stop off for refuelling, but if up on rewant to do a longer ride, I can stock ble, solid serves. As a Tour Pedelec I am relia 70 and heavy duty. d Page
LEISURE – Transport
sport Pedelec
d
km / sporty Load 90 kg / UB 1.0 / Ra 15 Load 90 kg / UB 1.2 / Ra 15 km a Sports Pedelec you can Are you seeking a partner for the good times? Crave adventure? As ed. l and down, or at top spe As a Lifestyle Pedelec I’m pleasant to ride and ride me hard, uphil I’m and at gre fun, I look easy-going. I love getting out and about amid I’m powerful and . nd nature and enjoy short rides or city breaks - right on tre d Page 70 ideally together with you! d Page 70
d
familY Pedelec
Load 110 kg / UB 1 / Ra 30 km / Child-fri endly Au pair required? As a Family Pede lec I am highly reliable, communicative and seek a long-term relationship. I’ll take you to your appointments in one trip with no prob lems, even with heavy loads, trailers or child seats, and I’ll happily take your children to school or on outings. d Page 88
Ride terrain
max. payload min. range min. speed min. power assist level on hills
ExtraEnergy.org 23
BENCHMARK BIKE
Kalkhoff · Agattu
MEASUREMENTS RIDE PERFORMANCE: TOUR Ø - speed 19 km/h Rider power 168 W RIDE PERFORMANCE: HILLS Ø - speed 11 km/h Rider power 206 W RIDE PERFORMANCE: CITY Ø - speed Rider power
The benchmark or reference bike is a normal bicycle, so not fitted with any extra motor or battery. The model used was chosen because it is similar to many pedelecs in geometry and in components fitted. It is fitted for example with Shimano Nexus hub gears, which are also used on many of the pedelecs currently on the market. It has 28" wheels and Continental city tyres in an ‘average’ width. The benchmark bike
11 km/h 137 W
weighs 17.9 kg, so it is not exactly lightweight, although in its class it is not a particularly heavy model. Test riders have awarded the reference bike subjectively very good ride quality, and furthermore, even when the going got tougher for the test riders, all managed the steepest section of the test circuit, with a 15 % gradient, on this bike, without dismounting.
SPECIFICATION max. PAYLOAD 120 kg FRAME 28" Aluminium SIZES Low step: 28" 45, 50, 55 cm FORK RST Verso Adj GEARS Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gearing, twist grip brAKES R/R Conzept SL 4 finger V-brake WHEELS Rodi Freeway Alu hollow section rims f Shimano DH-3N20 hub dynamo, Nexus hub TYRES ContinentalCityRide42-622,reflective strips, puncture resist LIGHTS f B&M Lumotec Fly Halogen r Basta X-Ray Steady extras Height adjustable stand, ergonomic grips, alu rack Post Moderne suspension seatpost, angle adjust stem WEIGHT Overall PRICE Whole bike
17.9 kg € 499
Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstraße 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg 24 ExtraEnergy.org
Tel 044 71 96 60 Fax 047 71 96 64 48 45
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
Key points COMPARED
Key points compared Criteria for prioritising particular characteristics The 'Key Points' box on the test pages illustrates advantages and disadvantages schematically as plusses and minuses. The system sets clear lower and upper bounds and defined characteristics, which can be either pros (+) or cons (–), or sometimes both (+/–), in which case it is a ‘matter of taste’ and should be left to the individual customer.
Criteria for range »high« if Tour range ≥ 60 km and / or City range ≥ 30 km »low« if Tour range ≤ 35 km
Criteria for rating of the battery status display »On the bars, inaccurate« if there is an accurate display of battery charge status on the battery itself, but only a voltage-based, inaccurate display on the handlebars.
Criteria for power assist factor rating »high« if U-Factor for Tour, City and / or Hills ≥ 1.4
»inaccurate« if there is an accurate display of battery charge level neither on the handlebars nor on the battery itself.
Criteria for push assist rating + – positive/negative rating, because it is particularly helpful when setting off on bikes which are fitted with only a pedal rotation sensor, but on the other hand it is only legal to use for riders born before 1965 or who have at least a moped license. Criteria for payload rating »high« if payload ≥ 110 kg Criteria for weight rating »high« if total bike weight ≥ 27 kg »low« if total bike weight ≤ 22 kg Criteria for price rating »high« if total price > 2950 € »low« if total price < 800 € NOTE: This is not a rating of value for money, but purely an indicator of either high or low purchase price.
Drive noise level »loud« for a rating of > 3 in the ergonomics test »quiet« for a rating of ≥ 1.5 in the ergonomics test Other criteria + positive rating, if regenerative braking function present + positive rating, if remaining range readout present + positive rating, if one key is used for both bike lock and battery lock + – positive/negative rating, if license plate and insurance are compulsory + – positive/negative rating, if fitted with an LCD display. – negative rating, if all-weather equipment such as lighting, mudguards or carrier rack are absent. General notes Setting the criteria for rating particular characteristics of a bike is driven by the measured results of all of the bikes in the test. This can sometimes lead, for example, to a folding pedelec weighing 21 kg being ranked as a ‘light’ pedelec, although that is a rather high weight for a folding bike. So the evaluation is against the current field of test bikes, not against an ideal case.
ExtraEnergy.org 25
Test winners at a glance Congratulations from ExtraEnergy!
URBAN — Easy Pedelec — WINNER Kettler · Traveller-E Sport
URBAN — FOLDING/CompaCt Pedelec — WINNER Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8
COMFORT — ClassiC Pedelec — WINNER Grace · Easy 26 ExtraEnergy.org
URBAN — Business Pedelec — WINNEr FLYER · Vollblut 500
COMFORT — City-Comfort Pedelec — WINNER Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27
COMFORT — rehaB Pedelec — WINNER Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci
test WINNERS
LEISURE — Tour Pedelec — WINNER Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive
LEISURE — Sport offRoad Pedelec — WINNER Bulls · CrossRider
LEISURE— Sport Road Pedelec —WINNER Stromer · ST1
LEISURE — lifestyle Pedelec — WINNER A2B · Shima
The test results are shown in full on the following pages. Transport — FamiLY Pedelec — WINNER riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci ExtraEnergy.org 27
urban
high similarity to a bicycle easy to transport 28 ExtraEnergy.org
urban
Urban 19 test bikes in this category.
E-mobility is increasingly equated with urban mobility. Even if the buzzwords may make it seem over-hyped, the facts speak for themselves. Electric bikes are a perfect match for city mobility. Pedelecs are a new product employing innovative technology, and electric bikes encapsulate perfectly the transport and mobility needs of 21st century lifestyles. Most people live in cities or in their immediate vicinity. Life and work require flexibility and mobility, under ever greater time and space pressures.
5 test bikes in this category.
Pedelecs and e-bikes respond with their low purchase price (compared to cars), minimal parking space needs, and they offer a healthy and nimble alternative when it comes to getting around congested inner cities for short trips. The plain bicycle can do the same, too, but the pedelec can go faster, further and sweat-free.
lights, stand and mudguards. A good power assist system also makes shorter outings and city tours easy. “Effortless mobility” is the watchword for Easy Pedelec riders. The second product category, Folding Pedelecs, is a bit more specialist. Clearly they have to fold, and so offer the freedom of mixed-mode mobility. Commuters can combine their pedelecs with other means of transport such as bus, tram, train or of course car. Perfect for people who live out in the country and work in the city. Folding pedelecs must be easily carried, preferably with the battery in place, and this can then be charged in the office or at home. There were three of this type in the ExtraEnergy Test. All are qualified for modern, hybrid lifestyle use.
Given these advantages it’s no wonder that it’s into the Urban category grouping that the largest number of pedelecs are placed. With- If you’re the type to stay out in front, then in this, they are divided into various applica- you need to consider a Business Pedelec. Into tion areas. this category come the fast pedelecs, which provide assist up to 45 km/h. Top specificaEasy Pedelecs are designed for everyday ur- tion and performance even on hills, and high ban use. They look like normal bikes and ride range, are all attributes which may well come the same way, just easier. Use and specifica- at a price. Business class for business people. tion are uncomplicated but city-capable, with
All vehicles in the Urban category:
3 test bikes in this category.
FLYER · T7R Deluxe..........................................30 GIANT · Twist Freedom 1.................................32 Kettler · Berlin Royal-e....................................34 Kettler · Obra Comfort....................................36 Kettler · Traveller-E Sport...............................38 Kettler · Twin Ergo..........................................40 MIFA · Cyco E.Bike............................................42 Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony.......................44 Saxonette · X-Road 1......................................46 VICTORIA · Mondeville....................................48 FLYER · Vollblut 500.........................................50 Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S......................52 FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe...........................54 Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8...........................56
A2B · Shima...................................................... 72 Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE................84 Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci....................66 Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27............................60 Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R........................64 Kettler · Layana-e Plus....................................74 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Sinus · B2......................................................... 92 Stromer · ST1..................................................76 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70
ExtraEnergy.org 29
FLYER · T7R Deluxe
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 5
SUMMARY The Flyer T7R comes across as a reliable, distinctly classy companion for rides through town and country, with no serious flaws.
A pleasure! That phrase came up astonishingly frequently in the reports from test riders on the Flyer T7R Deluxe. And they hit the nail on the head. The relaxed riding position: a pleasure. The well-balanced feel of this low step-through bike with its secure straightline handling: a pleasure. The reliable mid mo-
30 ExtraEnergy.org
tor with its positive action: a pleasure. The ride comfort thanks to suspension, ergonomic grips and a comfortable saddle: a pleasure. The package is rounded off with a clear display, buttons in easy reach, a solid specification and acceptable battery life.
Key points + High range Tour/City + High power assist levels on Hills + Push assist + One key for both battery and frame locks + Coaster brake + Remaining range display – High overall weight – High price
Easy Pedelec
FLYER · T7R Deluxe MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
66.3 24.9 1.32
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.7 1.6 2.7 3.7 3.0 1.6 2.1 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.1 1.9 1.8
2.990.00 745.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Rotation, torque and speed sensors Battery 476Wh Li-Ion 36V 13.2 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes d W 50cm XS,S,M,L,XL Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NCX Light Lockout Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed w. coaster brake, twist shifter
contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
All new: instead of a charge level display with a few LEDs, there is a digital readout of charge level in percent. Not the most significant of innovations perhaps, but happily it has also retained the function which lets you check easily how much the battery is ageing: just hold the button for three seconds and the display shows the remaining absolute capacity.
Brakes Magura HS 33 hydraulic rim brakes, coaster brake Wheels Alex Rims DH 19 f Hub dynamo DH-3N30 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Marathon Plus 40-622 Lighting f Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ Fly T with daytime running light function r Toplight Flat extras Rear stand, push/starting assist, remaining range readout, angle adjustable stem, Speedlifter, suspension seatpost, keyed alike frame lock, ergonomic grips, coaster brake
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The battery is easy to remove and provides a good range, but it has become rather wide. Some test riders occasionally touched the battery case with their heels or shoes.
ExtraEnergy.org 31
GIANT · Twist Freedom 1
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary The Yamaha motor in the Giant goes to work with gusto, but around the cut-off limit in particular it behaves rather less than elegantly. As a bike the Twist Freedom is completely convincing, although the small battery won’t take you especially far.
Perhaps the most intriguing element of this chic pedelec is the drive system, because the Giant Twist’s frame hosts a brand new motor from Yamaha. With this model from the major Japanese corporation there’s now yet another global player alongside Panasonic, Bosch etc. with a mid motor system. And this motor turns out to be a real powerhouse – the measurements confirm it. It accelerates the Giant low step-through machine eagerly to the assist cut-off speed limit region around 25 km/h. Then, however, it cuts out rather abruptly, and so the Twist Freedom’s ride, especially around the assist limit region, is somewhat less than
32 ExtraEnergy.org
harmonious. Operating the motor, though, was easy: the rider can switch between three assist levels using two buttons, and a five step display shows battery status. There’s no cycle computer function with speed readout etc. But apart from that, this Giant was convincing all round. Riders felt good in the saddle thanks to decent comfort and a pleasant riding position. The low, central centre of gravity gives the Twist a well balanced character, and it reacts responsively to steering inputs. The specification, too, is all in order, especially given the rather affordable price point. Only for very extended rides might the Twist not be
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour, Hills and City circuits + High payloads permitted + – Simple control unit – Motor assist is non-harmonious at times – Low range overall
the most suitable, because with just 36.6 km measured on the Tour circuit, the Giant took last place in our test of 25 km/h electric bikes. It was also towards the back of the field for Hills and City riding.
Easy Pedelec
GIANT · Twist Freedom 1 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
36.6 25.9 1.97
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.7 2.2 2.9 2.6 3.3 2.8 2.8 1.8 1.9 2.7 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.0
2.199.90 499.90
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 146 kg Drive system 250W GIANT SyncDrive C Yamaha mid motor Sensor type Torque and speed sensors, gear sensor for motor RPM. Battery 324Wh Li-Ion Polymer 36V 9Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes GTS M50/L55/XL60cm LDS S46/M50/L55cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR-9V Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear, twist shifter Brakes Hydraulic rim brakes Magura HS 11 contact GIANT Deutschland GmbH Mettmanner Str. 25 · 40699 Erkrath
Tel 0049 211 99894-0 Fax 0049 211 99894-26
A mid motor from the inventors of the pedelec mid motor – Yamaha – with a centrally-positioned battery, drives the Twist Freedom. The lockable battery is also easily removed.
Wheels GIANT GX02 hollow section rims f Shimano DH-3N30 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Reflex 40-622 Lighting v Trelock Bike-i Uno LED with standlight function r Spanninga Plateo extras suspension seatpost, angle adjustable stem, centre stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.giant-bicycles.de
The user controls of the Giant Twist: simple but effective. The two ‘up and down’ buttons in the middle of the photo are easy to operate with your thumb, although the dainty on-off button on the edge of the casing might take a little more finding.
ExtraEnergy.org 33
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Berlin Royal-e Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 1
Summary As a seriously chic retro-cruiser with a well-considered design, the Berlin Royal-e is aimed squarely at style-conscious city cyclists. Motor, comfort and handling impressed. Overall a convincing test performance.
If it were not for the battery amid the diamond frame, this bike might have come from a different age. Kettler are going all out for retro appeal with the Berlin Royal-e. And this capital city cycle is a real eye-catcher: shiny chrome parts for handlebar, lights and seatpost, matched with brown leather on saddle and grips, all giving the matt black frame a classically elegant charm. Even the colour of the tyres fits seamlessly into the carefully considered design. A further visual highlight is the chic rear bag, an optional extra. But in just the first few metres of test riding, it’s clear that Kettler hasn’t simply revived a bike from yesteryear with the Berlin. In its commanding handling, relaxed riding position and especially the electric assist this retro bike is bang up to date. The Berlin Royal-e is driven by a reli-
34 ExtraEnergy.org
able and powerful Bosch mid motor which makes a major contribution to the fun ride; Kettler has tweaked the motor settings since the previous ExtraEnergy test. The drive now reacts noticeably more eagerly and powerfully. Nonetheless, this bike lends itself more to leisurely riding than to city sprinting – not least thanks to the rather high weight. Riding this 27.5 kg bike without motor assist is as you would expect an effort. The range of this retro e-bike is in order, though it was below the average in all of the test environments. Testers also criticised the braking performance: the roller brakes were working at their limits on such a heavy pedelec, especially when the rider was no lightweight. Furthermore, there is no suspension on the Berlin, although comfort wasn’t too lacking thanks to the com-
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour + Remaining range display + Push assist + Stylish design – Testers criticised braking performance – High weight
fortable saddle, ergonomically shaped leather grips and the high-volume tyres. Given appropriate inflation pressure these provided really respectable shock absorption – and not just on Berlin’s famously potholed streets.
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Berlin Royal-e MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
52.7 26.4 1.69
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.8 1.6 1.8 2.8 4.1 3.3 3.0 2.0 1.8 2.9 2.5 1.6 1.7 1.7
2.599.00 no information
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque, speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 50/55cm Fork rigid unicrown Transmission Shimano Nexus 8 speed, twist shifter Brakes Shimano roller brake BRIM81 contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
Colour co-ordinated: brown, black and silver are the repeated colour elements of the Kettler Berlin Royal-E.
Wheels Mach 1 Hollow section rims Neo 29er f Shimano Hub dynamo DH3 R35 r Shimano Nexus 8 with freewheel Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 55-622 Lighting f RetroStyle r Spanninga Pixeo extras Rear stand, push/start assist, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
Roller brakes, and the now no longer legally required hub dynamo. The roller brakes with their large heatsinks provide reliable braking, but are not as powerful as many rim or disk brakes. They were rated negatively for this by some test riders, but positively by others.
ExtraEnergy.org 35
Kettler · Obra Comfort
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary A comfy pedelec for the city circuit. Comfort, assist system and specification all contribute to a well rounded package with enough range for touring and commuting.
Get on and feel good: this low step-through bike invites you to take a comfy ride through the city. The backwards-swept handlebar provides a relaxed riding position, and ergonomic grips, suspension fork and saddle provide comfort to match. And the good specification, including a coaster brake, ensures safety. Moreover, the bike rolls along reliably: not
36 ExtraEnergy.org
a trace of nervousness. That also applies to the motor, which pushes smoothly and even gently, as is appropriate to the comfort theme. The Obra Comfort achieved respectable range: 67 km for Tour and almost 36 on Hills – few mid motors last as long. But without motor assist, the bike can only be ridden with some effort.
Key points + Good range for Tour, City + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Coaster brake – High overall weight
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Obra Comfort MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
66.9 24.1 1.21
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.8 1.9 3.2 4.3 3.5 2.2 2.1 2.5 3.2 1.8 2.0 1.9 2.1
2.749.00 no information
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system Panasonic mid motor 250 W Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 555 Wh Li-Ion 36 V 15.4 Ah, removable and lockable Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes D W 42, 45, 50, 55 cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR 8 V with lockout Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes, coaster brake contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
Exemplary easy to use controls: three buttons for the most important functions (on/ off, mode) plus a battery status display.
Wheels v/h Mach 1 hollow section rims 260 f Shimano hub dynamo DN3 N30 r Shimano Nexus hub gear with coaster brake Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Active 47-622 Lighting v B&M Lumotec Lyt T Senso Plus h B&M ToplightLine Plus extras Frame lock AXA keyed alike, angle adjustable stem, Speedlifter, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
A small but significant detail: the reinforced jockey wheel on the drive system which permits use of a coaster brake.
ExtraEnergy.org 37
Kettler · Traveller-E Sport
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 10 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 7
Summary Full throttle, full fun: Kettler’s Traveller-e Sport impresses with a powerful motor and top handling. Updating it has paid off – test winner!
It’s an old friend: the Traveller-e Sport previously swept the board in the last ExtraEnergy test, so Kettler didn’t have a particularly strong reason to change this sporty tourer. And so they declined the opportunity to fit the Traveller with the new Bosch ride computer with larger display and remote handlebar controls. But the motor does now operate
38 ExtraEnergy.org
more powerfully, with a matching reduction in battery life. The update has paid off: testers evaluated the ride quality even more highly than that of the already highly rated previous year’s model. Otherwise this pedelec impressed with a good specification and sleek design.
Key points + High range for Tour and City circuits + High power assist levels for Tour, on the Hills and in the City + Push assist + Remaining range display
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Traveller-E Sport MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.8 26.0 1.74
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.4 1.7 2.1 2.7 2.5 2.6 1.6 1.6 2.1 2.7 1.5 2.1 1.5
2.599.00 Unknown
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 51/55cm D T/W 47/53cm, 26" W 42cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NEX 4610 Transmission Shimano SLX 10-Gang, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Draco, hydraulic disks contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
Hydroforming is used to optimise the cable entry points on the downtube, and its joint with the headtube. Special Schwalbe tyres and Busch und Müller front light are just two examples of the high quality components on the Kettler Traveller E-Sport.
Wheels Mach1 Neo 29" f Shimano Sport hub dynamo Deore LX r SLX Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Plus Tour 40-622 Lighting f Busch &Müller Lumotec Lyt 10Nplus r integrated in the rear rack extras Suspension seatpost, angle adjustable stem, push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
The black of the Bosch drive stands in strong contrast to the white frame. Disk brakes front and rear ensure that the white frame won’t be quickly dirtied by brake block dust as it would with rim brakes.
ExtraEnergy.org 39
Kettler · Twin Ergo
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 9 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary High comfort meets long range: the Kettler Twin invites extended touring – and fully justifies its ‘ergo’ name.
A pedelec to relax on – the testers found few pedelecs as comfortable a ride as the Twin Ergo. The ergonomic grips, comfortable saddle and the swept-back handlebars are to thank for this, and the comfort doesn’t end there – thanks to suspension and easily adjustable stem. This distinctly heavy bike follows steer-
40 ExtraEnergy.org
ing input with aplomb and unruffled, while the motor drives evenly and smoothly, which all adds to the effect. Only on the hills could it have been a bit more powerful, but this does mean the batteries hold up well. Even in the hills they hold more than 32 km-worth of full power assist.
Key points + High range on Tour and City circuits + High power assist levels on Tour and for Hills + Comfortable + Coaster brake – High weight
Easy Pedelec
Kettler · Twin Ergo MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
88.2 26.4 1.53
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 2.1 1.9 2.8 3.8 3.3 2.4 2.1 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.1 1.9 2.4
2.499.00 k.A.
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 555Wh Li-Ion 36V 15.4 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes W 47/53/57cm 26" 45cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR 7 V adjustable Transmission Shimano Nexus 7-speed, twist shifter Brakes f/r rim V-brakes XXL brake blocks & coaster brake contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
A saddle which should offer ergonomic advantages, with its central part removed. Not a new concept, but nicely implemented here. But how it matches your posterior is, as always with saddles, a matter of very personal taste which varies between test riders. So testing for yourself is more important than ever!
Wheels Mach1 hollow section rims 260 f Shimano hub dynamo DH 3 N20 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Continental CityRide 42-622 Lighting f Trelock Bike-I Uno r Trelock LS 613 Dual Flat extras Angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
Theft proofing as standard: Kettler has applied the registration identification sticker for CODE-No.com to one of the chainstays. Once you have registered successfully, anyone can check by SMS or via the QR code link whether this vehicle has been reported as stolen goods.
ExtraEnergy.org 41
MIFA · Cyco E.Bike
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 3
Summary This Aldi pedelec is no high flyer, especially because of the low range for hills and city, but in the context of the price it gave a generally creditable performance.
Many manufacturers won’t even sell you a spare battery for € 699. But Aldi will give you an entire pedelec – and not a bad one, at that. The workmanship on the frame is respectable, the cables are cleanly arranged, comfort is OK, and even the components make a positive impression. Exceptions are the basic V-brakes and the side-runner dynamo, but it does have
42 ExtraEnergy.org
a coaster brake. The simple front motor is slow to kick in, and distinctly audible when it does. And it won’t take you all that far: on the Hills and City circuits the Cyco was in last place in the test. The gear ratios also seemed a bit low. Service arrangements for repairs or other issues could also prove problematic.
Key points + High payload permitted + Low price + Coaster brake – Low range for City/Hills – Side-runner dynamo only – Noisy motor
Easy Pedelec
MIFA · Cyco E.Bike MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
61.6 24.6 1.28
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.4 1.9 2.9 2.8 3.3 2.6 2.9 2.9 3.1 3.3 3.6 2.3 2.4 2.9
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
699.00 279.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 150 kg Drive system 250W front hub motor Sensor type Rotation sensor Battery 360Wh Li-Ion 36V 10Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes W 46cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour CR8 Transmission Shimano Nexus 7-speed, twist shifter Brakes f/r Shimano V-Brake, coaster brake contact MIFA Mitteldeutsche Fahrradwerke AG Kyselhäuser Str. 23 · 06526 Sangerhausen
Tel 0049 3464 5370 Fax 0049 3464 537300
Battery status display on the rear rack mounted battery shows charge level in five steps when you press the button (with the bike stationary).
Wheels Vuelta Airtec 3 f hub motor r Nexus hub gear Tyres Innova 40-622 Lighting f AXA Sprint 20 r Picadilly extras Suspension seatpost, centre stand, angle adjustable stem, frame lock, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.mifa.de
Exemplary cable routing via a frame tube section which functions as a cable channel. This makes it possible for the cable loom to be fitted in one piece with plugs pre-assembled. This also makes it easily accessed for repairs.
ExtraEnergy.org 43
Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary The Dover I360 Harmony makes a strong impression, and it’s capable of seriously long tours. Safe handling and automatic transmission make for an enjoyable ride.
This is pedelec high art: a bike with respectable range, a good range of gears and, not least, not especially heavy. That’s what Raleigh have achieved with the Dover I360 Harmony. The ingredients are a powerful Impulse mid motor with 540 Wh battery pack and high quality components, including the NuVinci Harmo-
44 ExtraEnergy.org
ny automatic hub gear transmission. Together with good comfort it combines to give an all-round relaxed rider experience, which the clean straight-line handling of the Dover complements perfectly. The motor lets your muscles play a full part on tour, where the battery holds up for a full 70 km range.
Key points + High range Tour/City + High power assist Tour/Hills + Push assist + Remaining range display + One key for both battery and frame locks – High price
Pedelec
Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
69.6 27.0 1.88
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
1.9 2.3 2.4 2.4 3.6 2.5 3.0 2.3 1.8 2.4 1.9 2.1 2.0 1.9
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.199.99 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V, 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 50/55/60 cm T 45/50/55 cm Fork Suspension forks: Verso III Magnesium, lockout Transmission NuVinci 360 Harmony stepless, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes contact Raleigh Univega GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 92340 Fax 0049 4471 9234240
An interesting idea: the pedelec’s computer displays the cost of the current trip. But it really needs more decimal places for the electricity cost alone. Unfortunately the more truly relevant costs such as battery replacement are not shown.
Wheels Rodi Scorpion f Shimano Alfine hub dynamo r NuVinci Tyres Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 42-622 Lighting f Busch &Müller Lumotec Cyo RT daytime running light with sensor r B&M Toplight Flat Safe extras Frame lock keyed alike, angle adjustable stem, rear stand, suspension seatpost, push & start assist, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.raleigh-bikes.de
Control of the automatic hub gear is purely electronic, although it does use this small twist grip. The gear-changing functions could perhaps have been integrated with the main pedelec computer system.
ExtraEnergy.org 45
Saxonette · X-Road 1
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 4 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 2
Summary Saxonette has delivered a solid pedelec with the X-Road 1. But the motor responds somewhat slowly, and the battery is swiftly exhausted in Hills and City riding.
X-Road 1 – it could be the name of a spaceship. True, the Bafang rear motor doesn’t exactly accelerate this Saxonette pedelec like a rocket, but it nonetheless gives a respectable push – especially on the hills. But the motor reacts rather sluggishly – it cuts in with a slight delay and stays on noticeably too. Furthermore,
46 ExtraEnergy.org
it calls it a day once the large display shows 23 km/h. The small battery is placed unobtrusively behind the seatpost in a basket. Unusually, it’s secured only via a simple cable lock. When it comes to handling, the X-Road is agile, as the rider sits quite stretched-out. The wide tyres provide comfort.
Key points + High range for Tour + High power assist levels for Hills + Very compact battery pack + – 9 power assist levels – Motor cuts out early
Easy Pedelec
Saxonette · X-Road 1 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.1 23.9 1.18
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
4.0 2.6 3.5 2.4 3.3 2.6 2.3 3.7 2.4 2.7 2.3 3.0 2.9 2.3
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.240.00 560.00
bike data & contact Wheels AlexRims DA 16, 28" f Joytech r Motor Tyres Kenda 47-622 Lighting Spanninga Daryo, battery light extras Centre stand, angle adjustable stem, key-actuated battery shutdown, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bafang rear wheel motor Sensor type Cadence, speed sensors Battery 360Wh Li-Ion Polymer 36V 10Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 50cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NEX Transmission Shimano Altus 21-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Auriga hydraulic disks contact Colag AG Grubenstrasse 40 · CH-8045 Zürich
Tel 0041 43 2557755 Fax 0041 43 2557770
The front light can be easily removed and will continue to shine – powered by a small internal battery. This means that when parking the bike you should take the light with you for security, and don't forget to change the batteries regularly: neither of these exactly make the user’s life easier.
Mail [email protected] Web www.colag.ch
The Bafun hub motor is smaller in diameter than the disk brakes and gear cassette. The motor gave good assistance on hills but seemed to hold back somewhat on tour.
ExtraEnergy.org 47
VICTORIA · Mondeville
Product category assignment Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary Oh, là là. Riding the splendid Mondeville, any rider feels magnificent. The motor puts in a respectable performance, but the small battery affects range.
Victoria’s bike-makers traditionally name their bikes after cities, and this time they’ve gone to France. Riders sit relaxed and upright on the Mondeville and the pedelec rides securely and with aplomb. The mid motor assists reliably and it shows its strengths especially while setting off. It does however, as is typical for
48 ExtraEnergy.org
mid-motors, sometimes tussle with the hub gearing, so gear-changes can be somewhat clunky. Without the motor the well specified Mondeville goes well, with the motor however it doesn’t go all that far. The reason? Victoria only stretched to the smaller 300 Wh Bosch battery pack.
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour and Hills + Push assist + Remaining range display + Superb handling + Comfort levels respectable – Available with 300 Wh battery only
Easy Pedelec
VICTORIA · Mondeville MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
41.8 25.8 1.43
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
1.8 1.5 1.9 2.4 3.2 3.0 2.2 1.6 2.1 2.6 2.6 1.6 2.0 2.0
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.299.00 k. A.
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 300Wh Li-Ion 36V 8.2Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes W 26" 45cm, 28" 48/53 cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NCX-D-LO Lite Transmission Shimano Alfine hub gear 8-speed, twist shifter Brakes Tektro Draco 2 hydraulic disks contact Hermann Hartje KG Deichstr. 120–122 · 27318 Hoya
Tel 0049 4251 811-500 Fax 0049 4251 811-159
On the bars is the larger Bosch pedelec computer with remote controls. Because the computer is easily removed, you should always take it with you when parking the bike – for which the size becomes something of a disadvantage, as it’s a little bulky for a trouser pocket.
Wheels RIGIDA Andra 10 f Shimano DH 3D35 r Alfine hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Energizer 47-559 Reflex Lighting f Trelock Uno 693 r Busch & Müller Line-Tec with standlight function extras Rear stand, push & start assist, angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.victoria-fahrrad.de
Shimano Alfine 8-speed hub gear with disk brake and chain tensioner. When changing gear uphill the mid motor’s power sometimes results in gear changes not taking place as quickly as expected.
ExtraEnergy.org 49
FLYER · Vollblut 500
Product category assignment Business Pedelec K-Factor 10 Sport Road Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary The Flyer Vollblut (‘Thoroughbred’) lives up to its name. Thanks to the powerful rear drive it’s a real racing steed, which took the test victory in the Business Pedelecs category. Power assist factor and speed are top notch.
The Vollblut: a pedigree racing steed, pure-bred for the racetrack. No wonder that rider expectations of an S-pedelec bearing such a grandiose name would be high: it should certainly have a sporty appearance and exhilarating acceleration to high speeds. To fulfil these expectations, Flyer has broken new ground with the Vollblut in two respects: for the first time the Swiss company are offering a Flyer pedelec not equipped with a rear motor but with a rear drive instead. And second, they have gone for the brand new rear motor from Panason-
50 ExtraEnergy.org
ic. And this really puts the spurs into the Vollblut: especially on the Tour circuit and on hills this S-pedelec accelerates remarkably eagerly. But to do this, the motor of the pre-production bike was strikingly loud in operation, especially for a rear drive. Flyer does promise that this issue will be resolved before its market launch at around the time of publication in ExtraEnergy Magazine. As on any racehorse the riding position is sportily stretched out on the Vollblut. In other ways too this racing steed is more sporty than comfortable, for ex-
Key points + High power assist Tour/Hills + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function + – Insurance compulsory – Low range for Tour – High price
ample with the hard saddle. A small drawback: the Vollblut can’t keep up high speed for long. But it should be plenty for commuters to gallop off to the office.
Business Pedelec
FLYER · Vollblut 500 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
33.5 36.9 2.05
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.5 2.2 2.2 3.0 3.7 3.3 2.5 2.8 2.5 2.7 4.4 2.3 2.3 2.2
3.990.00 795.00
bike data & contact Wheels Alex Rims Supra 28" f Shimano XT r Motor Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Pro 42-622 Lighting f Busch & Müller Lumotec IQ-Cyo T with daytime running light r Toplight flat extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, frame lock not keyed alike, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 500W Panasonic rear wheel motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 422Wh Li-Ion 48V 8.8Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 50cm S,M,L,XL Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NRX Transmission Shimano XT 30 speed, Rapidfire Brakes Hydraulic disks Shimano XT contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
New for Flyer is the hub motor and battery in the frame triangle. The powerful geared hub motor impressed with its pulling power, but at least on this pre-production bike the growling it made when starting off and when climbing at low speed was irritating.
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The control centre with start/push assist, bell, gear shifters and comfort grips.
ExtraEnergy.org 51
Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S
Product category assignment Business Pedelec K-Factor 5
Summary With or without motor assist the Xduro impresses with its great handling. Specification of the gears and brakes on the Trekking S is top quality.
This S-pedelec expresses its sporty nature immediately with its stretched-out riding position, hard saddle and rather reduced comfort. The motor also sets to work sports-style: the Xduro accelerates quickly up to around 40 km/h. Range is not high, but it’s sufficient for a fast commuter pedelec. With its well bal-
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anced handling and low weight the Xduro impresses with top notch ride quality, even without motor assist. Visually, the inverted motor looks good, but when it comes to power assist factor and speed in the Tour and Hills circuits it isn’t quite at the top of the test rankings.
Key points + Push assist + High range for City + High power assist levels for Tour + Remaining range display + Rides well without the motor + – Insurance compulsory – High price
Business Pedelec
Haibike · EQ XDURO Trekking S MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
42.2 33.3 1.89
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 2.3 1.9 2.0 1.7 1.5 1.5 2.1 1.5 1.9 1.5
3.499.00 679.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 350W Bosch Mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant 28" 48/52/56/60cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour Suntour HESC 45 HLO Transmission Shimano Deore XT 10-Gang, Rapidfire Brakes Magura MT4 Hydraulic disk brakes contact Winora-Staiger GmbH Max-Planck-Str. 6 · 97526 Sennfeld
Tel 0049 9721 6501-0 Fax 0049 9721 6501-45
The motor is mounted so that like a normal bike, ground clearance is set by the lowest point of the chainrings. This can be an advantage in uneven terrain.
Wheels Rodi T622 v/h Shimano Deore XT Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Pro 40-622 Reflex Lighting v B&M Lumotec IQ Cyo h Toplight Line Plus extras Lockout, Schiebe-Anfahrhilfe, Remaining range readout, Rear stand, extrem sichere Suspension forks:, Reverse Angel-Motor Concept, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.haibike.de
Distinctly a pedelec 45 – giveaways are the insurance identification plate and motorbike-style rear view mirror.
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FLYER · Eco R Deluxe FOLding bike
Product category assignment Folding/Compact Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 2
Summary Compact, agile and with ample assist comes this mighty mini from Switzerland. The bike is easy to fold and impressed in practical use.
Easy to fold: the Eco Deluxe can be folded up for transport by hand in just a few moments. Then unfold it and it’ll show what it can do. And that is to demonstrate – for a folding bike – an impressive turn of speed. The neatly integrated mid motor drives dependably, although it sometimes feels a bit uneven. It
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also fades out early at around 22 km/h. Without the motor the bike makes a more cumbersome impression, but with assist enabled it shows its agile nature with the steep steering angle, long stem and small wheels. The battery could last longer, however.
Key points + High power assist levels for City + Coaster brake + One key for both battery and frame locks + Coaster brake + Space saving + Low weight – Motor fades out early
Falt/Kompakt Pedelec
FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
45.0 22.7 1.33
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 1.7 1.6 3.0 3.8 3.5 1.8 2.1 2.8 2.9 2.4 2.1 3.9 2.2
2.590.00 545.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 288Wh Li-Ion 36V, 8Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes One frame size: 41cm Fork Rigid fork Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed with coaster brake, twist shifter contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
This Flyer folding bike can be folded simply and easily, and then returned to riding configuration, even by beginners – unfortunately not always the case with folding bikes.
Brakes V-brake, coaster brake Wheels WTB f Dahon r Nexus Hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Marathon Racer 40-406 Lighting v Busch & Müller Lumotec Fly h Toplight Flat extras Suspension seatpost, folding frame and bars, folding pedals, keyed alike frame lock, centre stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The specification includes everything you need for a trusty companion, either for holidays or for everyday use. Well proven folding bike technology from Dahon is used in this pedelec, along with the mature Panasonic drive system.
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Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8
Product category assignment Folding/Compact Pedelec K-Factor 10 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary Safe handling, superb motor and respectable battery life: these ingredients cooked up a test win for this versatile mini bike in the Folding and Compact category.
The Sahel already made a good impression in the last issue of ExtraEnergy Magazine, and now the Cloppenburg-based company have sent the Compact version. This mini-bike rolls on 20” wheels and comes in a single frame size, but it fits a wide variety of rider sizes thanks to an extended seatpost and adjustable Speed-
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Lifter cockpit. The Sahel proved to have agile handling without feeling unsafe, and the motor drives this pedelec superbly even up steeper slopes, while battery life also seemed respectable. There isn’t any suspension, but the wide tyres absorb shocks well. Optionally available with a coaster brake.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + Riding position highly adjustable + High power assist levels for Tour + Space saving + Secure handling
Falt/Kompakt Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Sahel Compact i8 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
62.7 26.8 1.57
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.0 1.6 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.3 1.5 2.1 1.6 2.2 2.3 1.9 1.9 1.6
2.599.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes uni X-Type 46cm 20" Fork rigid Urban Compact Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
The Kalkhoff Sahel Compact’s drive system is all in black, comprising a Daum mid motor and a Shimano 8-speed hub gear.
Wheels Rodi Web Compact f Shimano DH 3N30-A r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 55-406 Reflex Lighting Busch & Müller v Lyt Eco LED h Toplight Flat Safe safety rear light extras Folding pedals, Speedlifter, balloon tyres, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
Thanks to the SpeedLifter stem, this pedelec can be quickly and without tools be adjusted to the rider’s preferred handlebar height. And that’s not all: the SpeedLifter also permits tool-free turning of the bars for space-saving storage of this already quite compact bike, for example in a mobile home’s rear compartment.
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Comfort
Comfort 13 test bikes in this category.
Comfort means feeling good. Social scientists connect feelings of comfort directly with items which make life easier for people: that’s directly applicable to electric bikes, whose entire purpose in life is to make things easier. But in ExtraEnergy’s test there is more to the Comfort category than just the motor assistance which takes the uncomfortable peaks of exertion away from cycling. Specification and operation must also be comfortable, creating an all-round feel-good factor for the rider. That sounds a little fuzzy and rose-tinted, perhaps, not sharp and modern? Yet these bikes are anything but old fashioned.
2 test bikes in this category .
City-Comfort Pedelecs are intended for designconscious urbanites who want a smart and, of course, comfortable everyday vehicle. Without the hassles of jams and parking, a plush saddle, generous specification, self-explanatory controls and good suspension offer all the fun of cycling. The minimum specification includes, alongside a reliable drive system and ideally removable battery pack, mudguards, traffic-safe lighting, a stand and carrier rack. A City-Comfort Pedelec is the ideal vehicle for comfortable cycling through your daily routine. Whether it’s on journeys to
work, to school, to university, for going out or for shopping across the city and its suburbs, these electric bikes will carry their riders in comfort. If that still isn’t enough for you, you should consider a Classic Pedelec. Comfort here means peace of mind that you own a timeless and high quality product. The upright, comfortable riding position permits relaxed gliding along, even in a strong headwind. The ride sensation is reminiscent of a pampering at a luxury spa: as well as rolling along easily there’s moderate, even assistance and high range. Visually strongly inspired by Dutch bikes, these electric bikes are built to last ages with robust quality components. Closed chaincases, mudguards, good lights, stong and easy to use carrier racks plus solid stands are among the minimum requirements. The high qualifications for a Classic Pedelec come at a price, but in paying it you will have a trusty steed to last a lifetime.
All bikes in the Comfort category: Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27............................60 Grace · Easy.....................................................62 Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R........................64 Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci....................66
1 test bike in this category .
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 FLYER · T7R Deluxe..........................................30 FLYER · Faltrad Eco R Deluxe...........................54 GIANT · Twist Freedom 1................................. 32 Kettler · Obra Comfort....................................36 Kettler · Traveller-E Sport...............................38 Kettler · Twin Ergo..........................................40 Raleigh · Dover i360 Harmony.......................44 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Sinus · B2......................................................... 92
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Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27
Product category assignment City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 10 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 10
Summary The Pro Connect rides almost exactly like a normal bike – a compliment for any pedelec. It’s the test winner in the City-Comfort category. The motor works superbly.
You could almost mistake the Pro Connect for a normal bike: for a start the rear drive operates so discreetly and silently that it’s hard to believe it's on. And then the bike rides so smoothly, even without electric assist. But it is a whole lot more fun with the boost, provided here by the new Xion drive, which im-
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pressed in every situation with plenty of assist power and good range. The comfortable riding position and high comfort levels also stood out. The elegant display is controlled via a useful remote control unit, which does however have rather small buttons.
Key points + High range on Tour and in the City + High power assist levels on Tour, in the City and in the Hills + Quiet motor + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function
City-Comfort Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Pro Connect X27 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
90.8 27.1 1.64
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.4 2.0 1.9 2.2 2.6 2.4 2.1 2.1 1.3 2.2 1.2 2.5 2.1 1.2
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.699.00 899.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Xion rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 558Wh Li-Ion 36V 15,5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 45/50/55 cm D 45/50 cm W 47/51/54 cm Fork Suspension forks: RST Verso 3 Magnesium, lockout Transmission Shimano Deore XT 27-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Avid Elixir 1, hydraulic disk brakes contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
Thanks to the hub motor in the rear wheel, the chain is stressed no more than on a normal bike, because it only needs to transmit muscle power – and this will give it an extended service life.
Wheels Rodi Web f Shimano DH-3D30 r Xion motor Tyres Continental Eco Contact 42-622 Lighting f Hermanns One S r B&M Toplight Flat Plus extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
A curious detail on the frame showing the maximum permitted speed. This proclamation is actually safety-relevant, because the rear drive can be damaged if you go faster.
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Grace · Easy
Product category assignment Classic Pedelec K-Factor 10 Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary Lovely, sleek and above all different: with the Easy, Grace demonstrates just how exciting a bike with electric assist can be, and it secures the test win in the Classic Pedelecs category. The rear motor operates quietly and smoothly.
If Grace’s engineers had a motto in mind as they developed the Easy, it would surely have been “Be different!”. Indeed, on many levels, this Grace stands apart from other pedelecs. The most striking difference is one you can’t see – there’s no battery pack! In fact, this is unobtrusively concealed in the downtube. Only the large BionX motor in the rear wheel gives away the fact that the Grace Easy isn’t just a normal bike. The second main difference to its competitors is the chain: again the Easy doesn’t have one! Instead pedal forces are transmitted to the rear wheel via a belt
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drive. And last but not least, the minimalism of this Grace pedelec is visually striking: no mudguards or carrier rack. You’ll also look in vain for suspension forks or a suspension seatpost, and not even ergonomic grips are fitted. All contribute to a sleek look which delights the purist’s eye, but it somewhat compromises comfort. The Easy does impress though when it comes to handling, revealing an agile character. The rear motor also impressed with such subtle operation that riders sometimes couldn’t believe the assist was operating – in a good way. That said, now and
Key points + Regenerative braking function + Sleek, appealing design + Interesting details in the specification + Low maintenance belt drive – High price
again it could perhaps have offered more push, especially on the hills. Range is respectable on the Tour circuit, although on the hills and in the city this Grace was among the less longer lasting test candidates.
Classic Pedelec
Grace · Easy MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
58.8 25.1 1.27
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.5 2.7 2.7 2.2 2.7 2.5 3.3 3.3 2.2 2.1 1.7 2.7 2.0 1.9
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.999.00 799.00
bike data & contact Wheels RYDE f KT hub r BionX motor Tyres Continental Eco Contact 42-622 Lighting Busch und Müller f Lumotec IQ LED r Toplight Mini extras Centre stand, Gates Carbondrive, regenerative braking function
Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W BionX rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 303Wh LiMn 48V, 6.3Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H Diamant M=49cm, L=54cm Fork rigid, aluminium Transmission Sram i-Motion 3-speed hub gear Brakes Magura MT4 hydraulic disk brakes contact Grace Wehrmühlenweg 8 · 16359 Biesenthal
Tel 0049 30 2325793-0 Fax 0049 30 2325793-99
The BionX-branded motor with integrated SRAM 3-speed hub gearing suffices for most riding situations – even if many customers wouldn’t expect just a three-speed gear in this price category. Grace has used an elaborate dropout to make replacing and tensioning the belt possible.
Mail [email protected] Web www.grace.de
Sleek handlebars and a removable display with detailed status information on the electrical system, plus all of the most significant ride status information as is typical of a cycle computer.
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Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R
Product category assignment Classic Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 5
Summary A stylish pedelec with a touch of nostalgia – that’s the Tasman Classic I8R from Kalkhoff. Motor response is very restrained, but the range is correspondingly very high.
A modern pedelec with the looks of yesteryear: that’s Kalkhoff ’s aim with the Tasman Classic. The blue-painted aluminium frame recalls the roadsters which enhanced many a historic street scene. The brown leather saddle with matching grips and the colour-matched balloon tyres complete the classic look. And
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also complementing the elegant appearance is the motor, which came across as rather restrained, but reliable and above all with great endurance. The Tasman’s handling felt relaxed, perhaps even sedate, with the high-volume tyres providing the comfort: there is no suspension and no ergonomic grips.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + High power assist levels for Tour + Coaster brake + One key for both battery and frame locks + Chic retro design – High overall weight
Classic Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Tasman Classic i8R MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
75.6 27.2 1.63
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 1.5 1.8 3.0 4.1 3.4 2.5 1.9 2.3 2.5 2.5 2.1 2.1 2.1
2.599.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes Tour 46/50/55 cm Fork rigid Urban Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed hub gear, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 rim brake, coaster brake contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
All retro, yet state of the art technology. Schwalbe balloon tyres, Magura hydraulic brakes, a chrome front light and a hub dynamo – which is now no longer a legal requirement.
Wheels Concept hollow section rims f Shimano hub dynamo 3N30 r Shimano Nexus hub brake Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 50-622 Lighting v B&M Lyt Eco Led h B&M Toplight Flat Safe with standlight function extras Frame lock keyed alike, angle adjustable stem, rear stand, closed chaincase
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
The Daum mid motor is successfully concealed behind the sealed chaincase, which protects the chain from the weather and early failure through corrosion.
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Rehab Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci Product category assignment Rehab Pedelec K-Factor 10 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary This is a full-on rehabilitation device: it’s hard to think of a more relaxed ride than the Impulse Ergo. Kalkhoff has richly deserved the maximum points score for the Impulse Ergo, as it impressed convincingly across all aspects.
It’s not exactly a challenge to be the best bike in a category in which there is no competition. But in the case of the Kalkhoff Impulse Ergo NuVinci it’s not quite like that. Competitors would have a hard task in the Rehab Pedelecs category, because Kalkhoff have implemented a very clever and sensible idea: the extent of the motor assistance is controlled by the rider’s heart rate. The harder the rider is working, the harder the motor works to assist. This allows the heart rate to be controlled, or kept in a predetermined band. This makes a lot of sense for people who, after an operation for example, want to get out into the fresh air without overdoing it. But it’s also suitable for athletes who want to train in a
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very specific heart rate zone. The system consists of a chest band which transmits the rider’s heart rate to the pedelec, which displays it on a large and clear screen. By continuous adjustment of the assist level, the rider should be kept within the optimum pulse rate region. If the workload increases, for example on a long climb, the motor will increase its assistance. If, despite the electric assist, the maximum heart rate is exceeded, then a warning sounds. In testing the concept worked flawlessly, although it took some testers a little time to get used to it. It’s worth noting that the motor assist either minimally or not at all until the target heart rate is reached. The combination of heart rate controlled assist and
Key points + High power assist Tour/Hills + High range Tour/City + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Push assist – High price
automatic transmission is also well thought through, so the rider isn’t just always working at the same rate, he or she is also pedalling always at the same rate. It’s hard to imagine a more relaxed and simple way to ride. Complementing this practical concept is top level ride comfort thanks to an upright riding position, good suspension, and the grips and saddle are also very comfortable. The motor assisted powerfully, but despite this had good range.
Rehab Pedelec
Kalkhoff · Impulse Ergo NuVinci MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.6 26.1 2.36
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.8 1.7 1.9 2.8 4.0 2.9 2.2 2.1 1.9 2.1 2.3 1.9 2.8 1.8
2.999.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Impulse mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors, controlled by heart rate Battery 540Wh Li-Ion 36V 15Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 28" 50/55/60 cm T 28" 45/50/55 cm 26" 45cm Fork Suspension forks: RST Verso 3 Magnesium, lockout Transmission NuVinci Harmony stepless, twist shifter contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
This four-cornered fitness coach blows his whistle with a beep to inform the rider whenever his or her pulse isn’t in the target zone. Test riders had widely diverging opinions on how much sense this makes – it’s certainly a function which you need to learn to love.
Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes Wheels Rodi Scorpion hollow section rims f Shimano DH 3N30-A r NuVinci hub Tyres Continental Eco Contact 42-622 Lighting f Hermanns One S LED r B&M Toplight Flat Safe safety rear light extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, angle adjustable stem, power assist controlled by heart rate, suspension seatpost, frame lock keyed alike, ergonomic grips & saddle
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
Wearing the heart rate chest strap is necessary so that the Impulse Ergo system can monitor the rider’s pulse. Putting on and wearing a chest strap takes a bit of getting used to – it would be better if it were possible for the pulse measurement to be via an armband or wristwatch which would be easier to wear.
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LEISURE
Leisure 5 test bikes in this category.
4 test bikes in this category.
Leisure cycling is becoming ever more popular and the bikes for it ever more sophisticated. We’re not taking here about grim tours in a group of edgy riders. Instead, electric bikes bring people together on the bike and into the countryside. You can go further, faster, and be more relaxed. For some it’s touring, for others it’s trail riding which they have previously never managed, and now, thanks to pedelecs, find possible. A Tour Pedelec must withstand a payload of at least 110 kg and should have suitable mountings for touring panniers. If a rider weighs around 80 kg, that leaves 30 kg for the luggage, and that’s quickly reached with tents, water, clothing, gas cooker, and spare batteries. It’s easy to cover longer stretches without overexertion: you need to pedal, but you keep moving fast and easily, and the Tour Pedelec comes into its own for climbing hills. You sit in comfort and ideally fully suspended. Touring bikes with state of the art technology have good lighting systems, accurate display of battery capacity and battery (or batteries) with at least 40 km range. Optional rain, wind and spray protection is worth considering. Sport and electric bikes aren’t mutually exclusive. Quite the opposite: sport is even more fun with a motor. Just as in ‘normal’ sport, what matters in this category is power, speed, sporty chic and all-terrain ability. Young people, sporty types and trendsetters have found a new leisure and training device in the Sport
Pedelec, and don’t rule out everyday use, either. Power and a lively ride in any terrain, with high levels of power assist, are a must. Stong drives combined with distinctive and dynamic style deliver a positive image, fun and fitness. The most frequent question about the Lifestyle category: so what is a Lifestyle Pedelec? A Lifestyle Pedelec is designed for sporty leisure in which relaxation and fun are prioritised over sporty exertion. The image is comparable to that of a yoghurt with aloe vera – an everyday product with an extra feelgood factor. ExtraEnergy has naturally set requirements alongside the image and without a good drive system, especially on the hills, a quiet motor and agile ride quality no pedelec may join this category. Lifestyle Pedelecs are suitable for riders of all ages who are interested in electric bikes, who love to get out into the country and who at the same time want to do something for their health and fitness in a trendy yet gentle fashion.
All bikes in the Leisure category:
7 test bikes in this category.
Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70 A2B · Shima......................................................72 Kettler · Layana-e Plus....................................74 Stromer · ST1..................................................76 Bulls · CrossRider.............................................78 FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G...................80 SCOTT · E-Aspect 910......................................82 FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE...............84
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 FLYER · Vollblut 500.........................................50 Kettler · Berlin Royal-e....................................34 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Saxonette · X-Road 1......................................46 Sinus · B2......................................................... 92 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70
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Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive
Product category assignment Tour Pedelec K-Factor 10 Family Pedelec K-Factor 5 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary An unusually shaped frame, huge payload capacity, massive range and DualDrive gears: with this remarkable bike Utopia secures a test victory.
The unusually shaped frame makes it clear from the start that this pedelec is different. It’s a heavy bike, and the handling is relaxed. The front motor provides the assist cleanly and very dependably, although the power assist factors weren’t among the highest on test. That said, with its twin battery packs the Kranich (German for ‘Crane’) can fly a good dis-
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tance. The user controls look minimal, but they fulfil their purpose. Other components are top quality: Utopia is the only manufacturer in the test to opt for SRAM’s Dual-Drive, a combination of derailleur and hub gearing. Its high payload capacity makes this a very versatile vehicle.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + High payloads permitted + Push assist + Tunable motor controller – High overall weight – High price
Tour Pedelec
Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
117.3 25.1 1.28
5,8
inkl. 2 Akkus
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.7 2.2 2.5 2.9 3.5 3.1 1.7 3.0 2.2 2.1 1.8 2.8 1.8 2.0
5.203.00 740.00
je Akku
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 180 kg Drive system 250W Utopia Silent front hub motor Sensor type Cadence sensor and torque sensor with THUN X-Cell sensor integrated in bottom bracket Battery 892Wh Li-Ion Kobalt 36V 24.8Ah (2 off) Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Steel, CrMo Sizes CROSSFrame 54/59/65 cm Fork rigid steel CrMo Transmission Sram Dual Drive 27-speed, twist shifter contact Utopia velo GmbH Kreisstr. 134f · 66128 Saarbrücken
Tel 0049 681 97036 0 Fax 0049 681 9703611
Many design details mark the Utopia Kranich out as a well thought out touring bike. Pictured are many easily overlooked details which prove very relevant in use: voluminous tyres which together with the steel fork provide excellent shock absorption, front drive with anti-slip control which allows the bike to climb steps all by itself in push assist mode, and of course the second stand, which together with the main stand provides secure parking even with front low-rider panniers fitted.
Brakes Magura HS 11 hydraulic rim brakes Wheels BigBull f Motor, r DualDrive hub gear Tyres Schwalbe BigApple 55-622 Lighting f Busch & Müller IQ Cyo RN6 LED r Toplight Line plus extras Angle adjustable stem, Speedlifter, low rider rack, rear stand, push & start assist, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.utopia-velo.de
The SRAM DualDrive transmission provides a sufficiently wide range of ratios despite only having one chainring at the front. Another nice detail is the replaceable dropouts bolted to the frame.
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Lifestyle Pedelec
A2B · Shima
Product category assignment Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 10 Business Pedelec K-Factor 6 Sport Road Pedelec K-Factor 6
Summary The powerful motor on the A2B Shima provides top class assistance. Combining a high price and extravagant design, it took test victory in the Lifestyle category.
The A2B Shima is striking: an extravagant design, technical flourishes, and the ride is funpacked. But to do it, this compact pedelec with 24” wheels weighs in at a full 32.3 kg. Yet it still goes with alacrity. The rear hub motor drives the Shima onwards stormingly, and for a commuter pedelec the range of al-
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most 44 km is respectable. The weighty battery does make for a rather heavy rear, and a correspondingly agile front end. The control unit is an eye-catcher, using a chip fob to start the bike. Using its twist-and-press knob as you ride is however a little cumbersome.
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour and in the City + Push assist + Compact dimensions + – Insurance compulsory – High overall weight – High price
Lifestyle Pedelec
A2B · Shima
MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
43.9 35.7 2.01
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.1 3.0 2.9 3.7 4.0 3.3 2.3 3.1 2.1 3.3 1.8 3.5 2.4 2.5
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.699.00 899.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 140 kg Drive system 500 W Ultramotor rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 630Wh Li-Ion 36V, 17.5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes Unisex 50cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NCX Transmission Shimano XT 8-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Dorado hydraulic disk brakes contact Hero Eco Ltd. Reichenberger Str. 124 · 10999 Berlin
Tel 0049 30 690040700 Fax 0049 30 690040712
The A2B from Hero ECO is driven by a powerful UltraMotor hub motor, and a force sensor built into the dropouts ensures that assist power is finely-modulated.
Wheels Rims: alu hollow section rims r: hub motor Tyres Kenda Krusader 24 x 2.35 Lighting f AXA Nano r Spanninga Pixeo extras Rear stand, angle adjustable stem, push & start assist
Mail [email protected] Web www.wearea2b.com
The battery is connected via an EnergyBus Beta connector, which disengages automatically as you pull the battery out.
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Kettler · Layana-e Plus
Product category assignment Lifestyle Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary If you’re looking for a chic, stylish pedelec for use around town and in the city, the Kettler Layana has much to recommend it. The motor assist is strong and long lasting.
Layana riders rise above the rest: the upright riding position gives a great view, and at the same time this pedelec rides along safe, relaxed and comfortable. Principally responsible for comfort are the wide balloon tyres, as there’s no suspension as such. The motor propels the Layana powerfully and harmoniously,
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especially at low pedalling rates, and also provides respectable endurance. The Lanaya also impresses with its consistently stylish appearance: it’s a chic and purposeful design right down to the colour-co-ordinated stitching on the leather grips.
Key points + High range on Tour and in the City + High power assist levels for Tour and in the Hills + Coaster brake + One key for both battery and frame locks – High weight
Lifestyle Pedelec
Kettler · Layana-e Plus MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
64.7 26.7 1.54
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.3 1.8 2.1 3.8 5.0 3.9 3.1 2.4 2.3 3.6 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.1
2.749.00 k.A.
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 555Wh Li-Ion 36V 15.4 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes D W 45/50cm Fork Unicrown rigid Transmission Shimano Nexus 8-speed, twist shifter Brakes Magura HS11 hydraulic rim brakes, coaster brake contact Heinz Kettler GmbH & Co. KG Hauptstr. 28, 59469 Ense-Parsit
Tel 0049 2938 810 Fax 0049 2938 81910 00
A feast for the eyes: cream-coloured Schwalbe Big Apple tyres combined with a retrochrome front light and violet aluminium frame. Although unfortunately disk brakes are missing: the Magura hydraulic rim brakes ensure that the first rain-shower will see those cream-coloured tyres besmirched with black brake dust which can only be removed with considerable painstaking effort.
Wheels Mach1 hollow section rims 260 f Shimano hub dynamo DH 3N30 r Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Big Apple 55-622 balloon tyres Lighting f RetroStyle r Busch & Müller Toplight MiniPlus extras Balloon tyres (full suspension), angle adjustable stem, keyed alike frame lock, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kettler-bike.de
Colour highlights added by Kettler include the white AXA frame lock and the white/violet crankset on the well proven Panasonic mid motor.
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Stromer · ST1
Product category assignment Sport Road Pedelec K-Factor 10 Business Pedelec K-Factor 9
Summary Top class acceleration, sporty character and its unique appearance with built-in battery pack make the ST1 a dream bike for many commuters and test winner in the Sport Road category. The price is however also ‘sporty’.
The Stromer ST1 storms through the city with style and speed – and it looks the part too: a dream in black. It’s the battery pack, completely concealed within the appropriate voluminous downtube, which is mainly responsible for the Stromer’s unique, striking looks. But it isn’t just visually that this pedelec makes an impression. The powerful 500 Watt motor in the rear wheel also pleased the testers: it responds immediately, and accelerates this black Swiss bike in an instant up towards 45 km/h. In other respects, though, the system doesn’t make itself too apparent: despite its power the hub motor operates whis-
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Key points + High power assist Tour/Hills + Push assist + Regenerative braking function + High payloads permitted + Quiet drive system + – Insurance compulsory – High overall weight – High price
per quiet. The battery, built almost invisibly into the frame, delivered tested ranges of almost 50 km on the Tour circuit and 30 in the city. For such a powerful pedelec these scores are very acceptable. The battery can also be recharged to an extent by the motor as you go downhill, by converting braking energy back into electricity. The riding position is rath- forks and/or a suspension seatpost. You can er stretched out on this agile sports bike. The also opt for a less stretched out riding posihigh-volume tyres are principally responsible tion in the configurator. for comfort: the test bike had no suspension. That said, the specification of the ST1 can be chosen as you wish via an online configurator, so it could easily be equipped with suspension
Sport road Pedelec
Stromer · ST1
MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
48.3 35.2 2.01
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.0 2.0 2.0 2.7 3.0 2.7 2.3 1.7 1.7 2.3 1.0 2.0 1.0 1.7
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
4.240.00 1000.00
bike data & contact Wheels Alex FR-30 f Formula DC71 r hub motor Tyres Schwalbe Big Ben Stromer 55-559 Lighting f Supernova E3 r Busch & Müller Toplight Mini extras Centre stand, balloon tyres, push & start assist, regenerative braking function, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 140 kg Drive system 500W rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 522Wh Li-Ion 36V, 14.5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H 20" 50cm Fork CarbonFork rigid Transmission Shimano Sora 9-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Magura MT2 hydraulic disk brakes contact myStromer AG Freiburgstrasse 798 · CH-3173 Oberwangen
Tel 0041 31 8482300 Fax 0041 31 8481015
The high-torque, gearless hub motor on the Stromer, with hydraulic disk brakes. The cable routing, with the connector under the neoprene sheath for weather sealing, could still be improved.
Mail [email protected] Web www.stromer.ch
On this Stromer the mudguards are mighty: made from sheet metal and so solid that, as pictured here, they can even take on structural roles. Not only the carrier rack but also the license plate holder are mounted via the mudguard.
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Bulls · CrossRider
Product category assignment Sport Offroad Pedelec K-Factor 10
Summary Riding on the Crossrider is a bundle of fun: Bulls has crossed a pure mountain bike with a powerful rear wheel motor – and at an attractive price. With its strong assist and very high range it takes the test victory for the Offroad Pedelec category.
Sporty, strong steed seeks cowboy for longterm collaboration. The Crossrider from Bulls demonstrates just how much fun a pedelec can deliver, combining as it does direct but always secure handling with a mightily powerful drive. The whisper-quiet rear hub motor drives the Bulls onwards majestically across the range of speeds – even steeply uphill. And thanks to its long-lasting battery pack, this pedelec can also carry its rider right across the prairie: scarcely another bike in the test lasted as long. Furthermore, the regenera-
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tion function means the motor can recharge the battery as you brake, too. Even without the motor assist, the Bulls shows its mettle: the large 29er tyres roll along well, and thanks to the well-spaced 24-speed derailleur gearing the bike remains fluid over smaller climbs. And despite all of this sporty nature the rider doesn’t have to skimp on comfort: the large tyres, ergonomic grips and suspension fork soak up the bumps from road and tracks alike. The hard racing saddle does however suggest the use of padded cycling shorts. The styling
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour and in the Hills + High range Tour/City + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function + Good ride quality, even with motor off
matches the aggressive image of the Bulls, while the tidy display with its smartphone styling also appealed. The buttons could however be somewhat easier to use, especially when the rider’s wearing gloves. The Crossrider is also suitable for asphalt cowboys: on request it is available with road tyres.
Sport offroad Pedelec
Bulls · CrossRider MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
89.8 28.2 1.84
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
3.0 3.4 2.2 2.7 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.7 1.4 1.9 1.9 3.2 2.2 1.8
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.699.00 799.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 115 kg Drive system 250W Green Mover rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 615Wh Li-Ion 36V, 17Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes MTB 45/50/55 cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NVX-DS-MLO Lockout Transmission Shimano Deore 24-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Tektro Auriga E-Comp hydraulic disk brakes contact ZEG Zweirad-Einkaufs-Genossenschaft eG Longerichter Str. 2 · 50739 Köln
Tel 0049 221 179590 Fax 0049 221 1795974
The removable display with intuitive menu-driven operation is controlled by the remote buttons, located right next to the grip.
Wheels STYX Alu hollow section rims r: hub motor Tyres Semislic Vee Rubber 54-622 Lighting — extras Rear stand, remaining range readout, downhill assistant (regenerative braking), push & start assist, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.greenmover.de
The battery pack connects to both the charger and drive system via an EnergyBus Beta magnetic connector.
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FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G
Product category assignment Sport Offroad Pedelec K-Factor 8
Summary With or without its very powerful power assist, the lightweight Focus Jarifa delivers a very satisfying ride in any situation. The long-lived battery pack gives this sporty mountain bike pedelec very high range figures.
La hermosa Jarifa, or the beautiful Jarifa, comes from a Spanish novel from the middle ages. Now beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, but what is more significant is the intrinsic quality. Here this is in evidence: Focus have sent a racy hardtail mountain bike with large 29er wheels in for testing. Bad news for skirt chasers: the Jarifa is already married – to an enormously powerful Xion-branded rear wheel motor. This whisper-quiet drive in the rear hub makes bike rides a real pleasure: it swings in eagerly behind the pedaller’s foot pressure and accelerates the Jarifa like
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the wind up to the assistance speed limit. It also reacts with the agility you’d expect from its MTB heritage, despite the heavy motor in the rear wheel. The rider sits quite stretched forward, and the round grips and hard saddle underline the sporty nature of the Jarifa. The large wheels with their wide knobbly tyres swallow pretty much any obstacle in their course, and the high quality suspension fork irons out uneven terrain superbly. Coming in at a seriously slim 22.2 kg and with 30 wellspaced derailleur gears the Jarifa keeps up its sporty progress even with the motor switched
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour, in the City and on Hills. + High range Tour/City + Push assist + Remaining range display + Regenerative braking function – High price
off. But there’s little reason to switch off, as the battery pack proved to last extremely well. The range can also be extended further by using the regeneration function, controlled via the tidy bike computer.
Sport Offroad Pedelec
FOCUS · Jarifa 29R Premium 30G MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
82.8 26.4 2.00
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.3 2.9 1.8 2.4 2.5 2.2 2.3 1.9 1.7 2.3 2.1 2.9 3.2 2.0
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.099.00 899.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Xion rear wheel hub motor Sensor type Torque sensor Battery 558Wh Li-Ion 36V 15.5Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes H S=42/M=47/L=52 cm Fork Suspension forks: RockShox Recon Silver lockout with remote control Transmission Shimano XT 30-speed, Rapidfire contact Derby Cycle Werke GmbH Siemensstr. 1–3 · 49661 Cloppenburg
Tel 0049 4471 966250 Fax 0049 4471 96644845
Well hidden, and not legible as you ride: a sticker informing you that this vehicle does not comply with German STVZO regulations and so is not permitted to be used on the road in traffic.
Brakes Shimano Deore BR-M596 hydraulic disk brakes Wheels Rodi Web f Concept Disc r Hub motor Tyres Continental Race King 55-622 Lighting — extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.kalkhoff-bikes.de
The removable display with intuitive menu-driven operation is controlled by the remote buttons, located right next to the grip.
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SCOTT · E-Aspect 910
Product category assignment Sport Offroad Pedelec K-Factor 7
Summary With its new E-Aspect, Scott has come up with a dyed-in-the-wool sports pedelec on large 29er wheels. The perfectly-tuned drive system delivers plenty of push, and this lightweight e-mountainbike only just missed out on a very good award.
The Scott E-Aspect hints at hidden aggression, and not just in its appearance. This electric-assist mountainbike shows itself to be a feisty ride, whether on-road or off. The predominant impression of this 29er is that it is sporty, thanks also to the stripped-down look which helps the E-Aspect, at 21 kg, to its position as the lightest bike in the test. This Scott bike feels agile and manoeuvrable, without ever becoming flustered in its reactions. Even without motor assistance it is a very manageable ride – at least for a pedelec, and not for nothing did it bring home top marks in the ergonomics test for riding without the motor.
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But the real top marks come when the motor is running. The drive system is perfectly matched with a nine-speed derailleur transmission, and they drive the E-Aspect powerfully through the full speed range, while the battery pack delivers a respectable range. That said, the Scott isn’t quite at the top of the rankings when it comes to range and power assist factor on the Tour circuit. Nonetheless, the Bosch system works very efficiently, and riders who are not fixated on long range will find the Scott an attractive and very lightweight e-MTB. The wide 29er tyres and the 100 mm-travel suspension forks soak up prac-
Key points + High power assist levels on Tour, in the City and on Hills. + High range Tour/City + Low overall weight + Push assist + Remaining range display – High price
tically any impact, and they roll fuss-free over minor obstacles. With its sporty heritage the E-Aspect is no king of comfort, not helped by the stretched-out position, the hard saddle and round grips.
Sport offroad Pedelec
SCOTT · E-Aspect 910 MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
66.6 26.9 1.59
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
1.5 1.3 1.7 1.8 1.8 1.6 2.5 1.7 1.3 1.8 2.0 1.3 2.1 1.3
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.999.00 679.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 130 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes MTB M 44cm/L 48cm/XL 53cm Fork Suspension forks: RockShox XC 32 with lockout Transmission Shimano XT 9-speed Rapidfire Brakes Hydraulic disk brakes Shimano BR-M 446 contact SCOTT Sports AG Niederlassung Deutschland Gutenbergstr. 27 · 85748 Garching-Hochbrück
Tel 0049 89 8987836-15 Fax 0049 89 8987836-50
Rather unusual on an MTB: a Pletscher stand – but for a pedelec, even in this category, perfectly acceptable. If you ride in a seriously sporty style you should be aware that the mid motor will mean that regular changes of chain and sprockets will be necessary (users typically report around every 3.000 km).
Wheels Syncros XC 49 f Formula CL51 r Shimano FH-M629 Tyres Schwalbe Rocket Ron 29x2,25 Lighting — extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand (optional), suspension forks with remotely-operated lockout
Mail [email protected] Web www.scott-sports.com
Seen against the slimline brake levers, the large buttons make the Bosch system controls look somewhat bulky.
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FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE
unrated
Summary Flyer supplied a superbly equipped offroad runabout. The motor and top class comfort delivered a highly enjoyable ride. Not rated because of the unregulated motor.
The X-Serie XT Deluxe sees Flyer launching an offroader on 27.5" tyres. This new wheel size is said to combine the advantages of manoeuvrable 26" wheels with the low rolling resistance of 29ers. And it works! This bike feels sporty, with agile but very secure handling. The motor, perfectly tuned to match the transmission, also impressed. It assisted powerful-
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ly yet harmoniously. That made for a highly enjoyable ride – especially because Flyer had sent the Swiss 250 Watt version with an unregulated motor for the test. But because this model is available only in Switzerland, ExtraEnergy has not given it a rating as it is not directly comparable.
Key points + High range for Tour and in the City + High power assist levels for Tour + Push assist + Remaining range display + High levels of rider comfort – High price
lifestyle Pedelec
FLYER · X-Serie(650B) XT Deluxe SE MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
60.5 31.6 2.03
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.6 1.7 1.8 2.9 3.5 2.7 2.3 2.1 1.8 2.1 2.4 1.9 1.9 1.5
4.490.00 745.00
bike data & contact Wheels AlexRims FR30 f Shimano HB-M788 r FH-M785 Tyres Schwalbe Nobby Nic 57-584 Lighting — extras Rear shock unit RockShox Monarch, clipless pedals, push & start assist, remaining range readout, remotely operated lockout, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 120 kg Drive system 250W Panasonic mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 476Wh Li-Ion 36V 13.2 Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes D 46cm S, M, L Fork Suspension fork: RockShox Revelation Transmission Shimano XT10-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Hydraulic disk brakes Shimano XT contact Biketec AG Schwende 1 · CH-4950 Huttwill
Tel 0041 62959 5555 Fax 0041 62959 5566
Combining full suspension and mid motor with a central battery doesn’t make for easy design. Looking at this you can fully understand how much thought the Flyer designers must have put into reaching a sensible solution.
Mail [email protected] Web www.flyer.ch
The well-proven Panasonic pedelec computer displays all of the vital details, and it is fixed to the bike – so there is no need to carry it with you when you park.
ExtraEnergy.org 85
high similarity to a bicycle easy to transport
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Transport
Transport 4 test bikes in this category
Family friendly pedelecs and cargo pedelecs have very similar requirements. For the drive system, what matters is not the highest speeds, but how well you can tackle climbs even with additional loads on board - and still enjoy the ride.
Cargo pedelecs, like any cargo bikes, are of distinctive appearance and are designed for safe transport of large loads or people (sometimes several). Unfortunately, they are still all too rare. It’s amazing really, because what could be a better application of an electric assist motor than to move really serious stuff by bike? What’s needed is pedelecs with powerful motors, especially under peak load, for example when climbing steep hills. 135 kg payload rating is the minimum, and they also need special stopping and parking equipment; otherwise the bike could tip over while being loaded, perhaps even trapping the rider beneath it. No test bikes in this category.
Cargo bikes can be put to work by courier companies or they can also serve as car replacements for large shopping loads. Experienced cargo pedelec riders appreciate the low maintenance and good price-performance ratio which these vehicles offer. No load is too heavy and no road too steep. Family pedelecs need to carry loads of a differ-
ent type. Surely nobody needs motor assist more than environmentally-conscious families who need to lug children and shopping to and fro. Clearly, payload rating (110 kg), safety and reliability are important for this category. It must be possible to fit childseats and trailers. The minimum range of 30 km will permit riding in stop-and-go traffic and shorter rides without risking empty batteries. A powerful drive system is essential: it will have the weight of an extra (small) person and all sorts of other miscellaneous luggage to make up for, so it will need a high level of peak power (a ‘Hills U-Factor’ of at least 1). Suspension, a road-safe specification and an easy to use operator interface with reliable battery level read-out will all make family life easier. Six bikes in this test qualified as family vehicles, two of which were awarded test certificates. So there’s still plenty to do when it comes to family matters.
All bikes, uncategorised: Diamant · Mandara Deluxe +.........................88 riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci.........90 Sinus · B2.........................................................92 Utopia · Kranich Dual Drive............................70
ExtraEnergy.org 87
Family Pedelec
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe + Product category assignment Family Pedelec K-Factor 9 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 8 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 5
Summary With pleasant handling and high levels of comfort the Mandara makes a trusty companion. The motor matched the gearing perfectly. This Diamant pedelec missed out on winning this test category by just a hair’s breadth.
A long history: bikes have been made at Diamant in and around Chemnitz, Germany, since 1885. And with some success: Diamant racing bikes have taken their riders to victories including several road World Championships. And even almost 130 years since their foundation the brand, which since 2003 has been owned by global company Trek, stands for quality. This is exemplified not least in the Mandara Deluxe+. Visually this silver-grey, low step-through machine impresses immediately with its timeless elegance, and with colour contrasts on the seatpost clamp and handlebar ends it all makes for a striking appearance. The historic logo recalls the long tradition of the brand: the Diamant man smiles out at onlookers from the seatstays. But this pe-
88 ExtraEnergy.org
delec is by no means just a pretty face: on the road it proves to ride superbly – and that’s in practically every respect. It pampers the rider with high levels of comfort, provided by the relaxed riding position on the bike, and also through the strong specification with suspension fork, suspension seatpost and ergonomically-shaped grips. Complementing this comfort, the mid motor on this Diamant pedelec works truly harmoniously: it is perfectly tuned to the bike and to the 10-speed derailleur gears, and especially on the Tour circuit it propelled the bike powerfully and evenly. The well spaced gears, the well-behaved handling and the relatively not too excessive weight must all contribute to the ability of a Diamant rider to make fairly lively progress even with-
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour + High range in the City + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Push assist + High payloads permitted
out the motor. Overall then it is well suited for long touring rides or for urban use. The fact that the Mandara has been categorised nonetheless into the Transport test category is down to factors including the ease of use and high reliability. And thanks to its high maximum payload it is also ideally suited to be a family pedelec with a young passenger aboard as well via a childseat.
Family Pedelec
Diamant · Mandara Deluxe + MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
54.6 25.5 1.92
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.3 1.3 1.8 2.3 2.8 2.9 2.6 1.9 1.6 2.0 2.3 1.6 2.1 1.6
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
2.799.00 699.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 160,50 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminum Sizes D 26" 40cm, 28" 45/50/55 cm H 28" 50/55/60 cm Fork Suspension forks: Bontrager SPA, adjustable spring (30 mm) Transmission Shimano Deore LX 10-speed, Rapidfire Brakes Magura HS 11 hydraulic rim brakes contact TREK Fahrrad GmbH Stettbachstr. 2 · CH-8600 Dübendorf
Tel 0049 180 3507010 Fax 0049 180 3507015
Exemplary: the CE mark is clearly visible on this Diamant pedelec on the lower part of the frame. But bear in mind that this legally required mark does not in itself say anything about whether the regulations have been complied with. For this, only the CE Comformity Study which should be included with the user manual can help.
Wheels VUELTA Cut 19 f Shimano LX Dynamo r: Shimano LX Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Pro 40-622 Reflex puncture resistant Lighting Supernova E3 Pro h Hermanns Track with standlight function extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, frame lock keyed alike ('One-Key Concept'), ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.diamantrad.com
Hydraulic rim brakes, LED front light and suspension built into the steerer tube ensure safety and comfort on board the Diamant Mandara Deluxe +.
ExtraEnergy.org 89
Family Pedelec
riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci Product category assignment Family Pedelec K-Factor 10 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 8 Folding/Compact Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 3
Summary This very agile compact runabout in Ferrari red impressed with top class comfort and a superb drive system. Highly adjustable and easy to transport makes it the test winner! It’s true: when you first get onto the Kendu ly with the stepless transmission. Or the top you feel like a giant. But this runabout quickly class comfort achieved through full suspeninstils trust, and it impresses overall, too, as it sion, wide tyres, a relaxed riding position and scored highly enough to compete in no fewer comfortable grips. And the Kendu is pleasant than six of the 11 ExtraEnergy categories. Per- to ride even without the motor. Another adhaps it’s the motor, which does its job power- vantage is that this highly adjustable pedelec fully yet harmoniously, and teams up perfect- can be used by the whole family.
90 ExtraEnergy.org
Key points + High power assist levels for Tour + High payloads permitted + Push assist + One key for both battery and frame locks + Remaining range display + Easily transported, stem folds – High price
Family Pedelec
riese & müller · Kendu hybrid NuVinci MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
47.7 25.8 1.71
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance
2.2 1.4 1.9 2.4 3.4 2.9 1.6 1.9 1.8 2.4 2.5 1.6 1.8 1.7
PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
3.798.90 699.00
bike data & contact Wheels Rims 20" f Shimano Deore XT r NuVinci 360 Tyres Schwalbe Big Ben 55-406, Reflex Lighting f B&M Lumotec CYO IQ LED r Toplight Flat Plus LED extras Push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, stem/handlebar unit folds and rotatable via quick release, rear shock unit (X-fusion Glyde R-PV), closed chaincase, balloon tyres, ergonomic grips
Max permitted payload 150 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes universal 46cm Fork Suspension forks: Spinner Grind 20" Transmission NuVinci N360, twist shifter Brakes Tektro Dorado hydraulic disk brakes contact riese und müller GmbH Feldstrasse 16 · 64331 Weiterstadt
Tel 0049 6151 366860 Fax 0049 6151 3668620
The small wheels and voluminous tubing make for unusual proportions. Also of note is the stem, which is adjustable to the user’s preferred angle via a quick-release.
Mail [email protected] Web www.r-m.de
An imposing rear swing-arm packed with fine technology: the NuVinci stepless hub gear with disk brake, Bosch mid motor and a fully enclosed chain thanks to a Chainglider.
ExtraEnergy.org 91
Family Pedelec
Sinus · B2
Product category assignment Family Pedelec K-Factor 8 Easy Pedelec K-Factor 7 Tour Pedelec K-Factor 6 City-Comfort Pedelec K-Factor 4
Summary With the B2, Sinus has entered a remarkably fine low-stepthrough model into the pedelec race. This bike impressed all round in the test, and only on the hills was power a little lacking.
With its matt silver frame and red colour highlights the Sinus B2 has something about it – especially for a low step-through pedelec. And alongside the appearance, the mid motor also impressed with its very harmonious operation. On hills in particular, though, test riders would have liked to have had a little more
92 ExtraEnergy.org
assist power to hand. Overall though, the B2 had a pleasantly unflustered ride. That applies also to riding without the motor, and even downhill. Kudos too for the comfort: suspension, ergonomic grips and the comfortable saddle all combined to good effect with the relaxed, upright riding position.
Key points + High range Tour/City + High power assist levels for Tour + Push assist + High payloads permitted + Remaining range display + One key for both battery and frame locks
Family Pedelec
Sinus · B2
MEASURED VALUES & PRICES RIDE PERFORMANCE – TOUR Range (in km) Ø - Speed (in km je h) Power assist factor
60.2 25.5 1.49
2,5
5,8
ergonomietest Battery removal Unique charger identification Battery replacement Mounting to car carrier Ease of carrying (grip points on frame) Lifting over load sill (lifting the bike) Ergonomic adjustment Selecting ride mode Ride quality with motor assist Ride quality without motor Drive noise level Ease of use Stability when parked Design and appearance PRICE Price – complete bike (in €) Price – battery (in €)
1.9 1.5 1.9 2.6 3.1 3.3 2.1 1.8 2.3 3.1 2.2 1.6 2.1 2.2
2.199.00 699.00
bike data & contact Max permitted payload 140 kg Drive system 250W Bosch mid motor Sensor type Cadence, torque and speed sensors Battery 400Wh Li-Ion 36V, 11Ah Battery charge status display Accurate Frame Aluminium Sizes Unitube 26" 46cm, Unitube 28" 46/50/54 cm H 48/52/56cm D 44/48/52cm Fork Suspension forks: Suntour NEX Transmission Shimano Nexus 7-speed, twist shifter contact Winora-Staiger GmbH Max-Planck-Str. 6 · 97526 Sennfeld
Tel 0049 9721 6501-0 Fax 0049 9721 6501-45
The large connector for the Bosch charger can at least never be mistakenly used with any other system. But we’re driven to ask whether any plug really has to be quite so bulky!
Brakes Magura HS 11 hydraulic rim brakes Wheels Ryde X-Pace v Shimano DH3N20, Nexus hub gear Tyres Schwalbe Energizer Reflex, 40-622 Lighting f B&M Lumotec LYT N r Toplight Flat Plus with standlight function extras Angle adjustable stem, suspension seatpost, frame lock keyed alike, push & start assist, remaining range readout, rear stand, ergonomic grips
Mail [email protected] Web www.winora-group.de
Fine workmanship on the aluminium frame, on show here where the mid drive motor is mounted.
ExtraEnergy.org 93
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According to which religion did the prophets Nephi and Lehi lead people from Jerusalem across the sea to the Americas around 600BC?
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What happened to the ships of Nephi ? Did Mulek use them ? - Google Groups
What happened to the ships of Nephi ? Did Mulek use them ?
Showing 1-33 of 33 messages
It is time to leave the events in 1 Nephi, for what they were, the
fleeing of the last Jews with Jeremiah from Jerusalem and sailing back
with the fleet of Pharaoh Necho from the south of Egypt, Eritrea, to
the Caanite coast, still under Necho's sway.
When they arrived three years later, Necho had died and was replaced
by Pharaoh Apries and Egypt was tributary to Babylon. And the
Phoenician ports were under siege by Nebuchadnezzar.
So I expect that Lehi had his landfall (land of Lehi) in the same
pronounced save Phoenician port of Lycia further westwards in the
southwest coast of Anatolia,
Shortly after Lehi and Nephi arrived at the promised land, Lehi died
and Nephi struggled with his brothers for the leadership and Nephi had
to migrate to the land of Nephi.
The time of this migration was 547BC, the time of the Persian
expansion under Cyrus to Anatolia
and the conquest of the capital Sardis of Lydia under king Croesus.
This Persian anexation of Greek city states triggered a lot of
migration from Greek Thracian to the opposite coast of the Black Sea
in Russia, were also the Greek Jews settled, who were so abundant in
Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
To find the trek of Nephi in real history between those Thracian
migrations we should look to the
Thracian tribe of the Chalybes, famous gold and weapon smiths, of
Excalibur fame, who migrated over land from Greece through the
Anatolian planes to Pont, south of the Black Sea.
There was another Thracian migration by ship from Teos on the West
coast of Anatolia to Theodosia on the Crimea, on the north coast of
the Black Sea,were also the many Greek Jews, who where present in
Jerusalem at the time of Christ, went to and came from.
In Theodosia a ship from 600BC has been found.
Than we have the Mulekites, who never went to the promised land, but
went straight from captivity in Babylon to Zarahemla. Malk or Malik is
a Hebrew word for king used under the Babylonian Jews for king
Jehoyakin, the predecessor of Zedekiah, who ruled over the Babylonian
Jews from Nehardea.
They went over land and by ship from Babylon not to "the promised
land" but to Zarahemla, Tsarenheim,a clear indication that they were
Russian Jews coming from Babylonia. who went over land to the coast of
the Black Sea and sailed north to the Crimea.
It looks to me, that the elder Mormon brothers, who we find written
without vowels back as the Mermnades in Lydia, inherited the ships of
Lehi and did send Nephi crossing Anatolia by foot.
On Jul 7, 5:19 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
"What happened to the ships of Nephi ? Did Mulek use them ?"
Nephi only had one ship. Another reason to know that he
was not your Pharaoh Necho.
He sailed it across the Pacific, probably, and landed on
the west coast of the Amercas, certainly; Guatemala or El
Salvador, probably. The boat sat there until it fell apart.
Mulek came in a different boat. There isn't the slightest
chance that Mulek used the same boat. Which I assume means
you will take it as certain that he did.
> It is time to leave the events in 1 Nephi, for what they were, the
> fleeing of the last Jews with Jeremiah from Jerusalem and sailing back
> with the fleet of Pharaoh Necho from the south of Egypt, Eritrea, to
> the Caanite coast, still under Necho's sway.
How is it possible that you can still post this drivel after
a year of being informed of the facts, over and over and
over?
> When they arrived three years later, Necho had died and was replaced
> by Pharaoh Apries and Egypt was tributary to Babylon. And the
> Phoenician ports were under siege by Nebuchadnezzar.
> So I expect that Lehi had his landfall (land of Lehi) in the same
> pronounced save Phoenician port of Lycia further westwards in the
> southwest coast of Anatolia,
You are only 11,440 km off. I would have expected better
navigation from a Dutchman. Oh well, another legend
punctured for me...
> Shortly after Lehi and Nephi arrived at the promised land, Lehi died
> and Nephi struggled with his brothers for the leadership and Nephi had
> to migrate to the land of Nephi.
> The time of this migration was 547BC, the time of the Persian
> expansion under Cyrus to Anatolia
> and the conquest of the capital Sardis of Lydia under king Croesus.
>
> This Persian anexation of Greek city states triggered a lot of
> migration from Greek Thracian to the opposite coast of the Black Sea
> in Russia, were also the Greek Jews settled, who were so abundant in
> Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
>
> To find the trek of Nephi in real history between those Thracian
> migrations we should look to the
> Thracian tribe of the Chalybes, famous gold and weapon smiths, of
> Excalibur fame, who migrated over land from Greece through the
> Anatolian planes to Pont, south of the Black Sea.
This is the wrong continent, half way around the world from
where Nephi really was.
> There was another Thracian migration by ship from Teos on the West
> coast of Anatolia to Theodosia on the Crimea, on the north coast of
> the Black Sea,were also the many Greek Jews, who where present in
> Jerusalem at the time of Christ, went to and came from.
> In Theodosia a ship from 600BC has been found.
Gosh, what're the odds?
That it's Nephi's ship? Zero.
> Than we have the Mulekites, who never went to the promised land, but
> went straight from captivity in Babylon to Zarahemla.
Wrong again... The Mulekites came to America too. They were
not likely captives in Babylon since Nebuchadnezzar killed
all the sons of Zedekiah he could find. More likely, Mulek
was slipped out of Jerusalem before the seige came. How
they got to the sea, what ship they obtained, how they
came to sail it to America, are things we do not know.
They landed in the "land northward", Mexico maybe; found
the Jaredite ruins and bones and the last king Coriantumr;
they finally came southward to get away from all that and
settled in Zarahemla.
> a Hebrew word for king used under the Babylonian Jews for king
> Jehoyakin, the predecessor of Zedekiah, who ruled over the Babylonian
> Jews from Nehardea.
The consonants M-L-K are used in 20% of Jewish and Nephite
names from this period. It means king, yes. That's good, got
something right.
> They went over land and by ship from Babylon not to "the promised
> land" but to Zarahemla, Tsarenheim,a clear indication that they were
> Russian Jews coming from Babylonia. who went over land to the coast of
> the Black Sea and sailed north to the Crimea.
I think maybe it's your definition of "clear" that's the
problem.
> It looks to me, that the elder Mormon brothers, who we find written
> without vowels back as the Mermnades in Lydia, inherited the ships of
> Lehi and did send Nephi crossing Anatolia by foot.
Yumpin' Yiminy... one ship turns into several and is handed
over 1000 years later. That's some material they must have
made it out of
You were dropped on your head as a child weren't you?
Wood
> On 8 jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> > On Jul 7, 5:19 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> > "What happened to the ships of Nephi ? Did Mulek use them ?"
>
> > Nephi only had one ship. Another reason to know that he
> > was not your Pharaoh Necho.
>
> The same story in Ether talks about 8 ships.
>
> Herodotus is not clear about how many ships Pharao Necho did send
> around Africa.
> It sounds like one, but historians think he send his fleet
Comment Wikipedia
The Egyptian king Necho II, or -more properly- Wehimbre Nekao, was the
ruler of the kingdom along the Nile from 610 to 595 BCE. When he
started his reign, there were serious military problems on Egypt's
northeastern border. The Babylonians had taken the Assyrian capital
Nineveh (text) and were ready to punish Egypt for its support to the
Assyrian cause (cf. the biblical book 2 Kings 23.29). From a
Babylonian text, the Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle, we know that Necho was
campaigning in Syria from 609 until 605, when the Babylonian king
Nebuchadnezzar decisively defeated the Egyptians at Karchemiš (in
Syria). The Babylonian proceeded to subjugate the towns along the
Mediterranean coast. It is not entirely clear where and when the
border between Egypt and Babylonia was drawn: 2 Kings 24.7 implies
that Egypt retired to the Sinai desert and left the Palestine coast in
Babylonian hands; Herodotus 2.159 suggests that Gaza remained an
Egyptian stronghold.
However this may be, it is obvious that the pharaoh was in big
troubles for some time, and he seems to have considered the
possibility to attack southern Babylonia by sea. He ordered a canal to
be constructed between the Nile and the Red Sea, but discovered that
he was giving free access to his enemies too. Consequently, the canal
remained uncompleted until the Persians had taken over Egypt in the
last quarter of the sixth century.
The circumnavigation of Africa must somehow have been related to
Necho's defense projects. He asked for Phoenician assistance because
the Phoenicians (who lived in modern Lebanon) were excellent sailors
and had several colonies in the West, such as Carthage and the islet
of Mogador opposite modern Essaouira, which has been identified with
ancient Arambys. The Phoenicians must have been happy to help the
Egyptians, because they shared the Babylonian enemy. The following is
a possible reconstruction of their voyage.
They must have started their expedition in July, and they must have
reached the Horn of Africa after an uneventful trip, relying on the
northern wind. The Red Sea (which Herodotus calls 'Arabian Gulf') was
well known to their Egyptian pilots, because the Egyptians traded
incense with the Arabs of modern Yemen.
The Egyptian sources inform us also about the legendary country named
Pwanit or Punt, which is probably identical to Eretria and eastern
Ethiopia (more...). The first part of the expedition of the
Phoenicians covered known territories.
After they had passed Africa's most eastern shores, the northeast
monsoon -which started in October- sped up their journey, and in March
they must have reached the equator. The Agulhas Current must have
brought them through the Mozambique Channel and along the coast of
modern South Africa. Sailing on their westerly course, they must have
observed that they had the sun on their right. (Something that
Herodotus, who was unaware of the earth's spherical shape, was unable
to believe.) Something else must have fascinated these men, too: they
must have seen whales.
When they reached Cape Agulhas, they left the current that had helped
them to the south. At the same time, they encountered the contrary
South East trade winds. And they must have been surprised to discover
that here, on the southern hemisphere, the winter was already
approaching. However, they must happily have noticed that they had
started to go north. The plain behind Saint Helena Bay, 150 kilometers
north of modern Cape town, offered a fine opportunity to land. They
must have sowed their wheat in June, started to repair their ships,
and harvested in November.
The Benguela Current and the now favorable South East trade winds
brought the Phoenician sailors back to the hot equatorial regions, and
they will have experienced its effects in a most unpleasant way, when
they sailed along the Namibian coast, which is a waterless desert. It
took several weeks to reach a more fertile coast. In March, a new and
equally unpleasant surprise awaited them: they had been traveling on a
northerly course, but now, the coast curved to the west again. They
may have benefited from the westward Guinea Current, but not for long,
because it changes its direction during the spring. For weeks, they
were struggling against the wind and the current, only to reach -in
July- the African west coast, where they encountered the contrary
Canary Current and the North Eastern trade winds. But they must have
been relieved to find themselves rowing in a northerly direction
again.
Somehow they managed to beat against the wind and the current, and in
November they must have landed somewhere on the coast of modern
Mauritania, maybe at Bay of Arguin, where their Carthaginian
compatriots were to build the trading post of Kerne in the not too
distant future. The voyagers sowed their wheat, repaired their ships,
and waited for the next harvest. Maybe they made contact with the
Berber population; in that case, they may have learned that they could
obtain gold from the Bambouk region if they returned to the mouth of
the Senegal - something that the Carthaginian sailor Hanno probably
did.
In May, they brought their ships to the sea, and started to beat their
way up to along the Moroccan coast, where they discovered that they
had returned to the world they knew: the town on Mogador island was
occupied by Phoenicians. Having told the incredible story of their
trip to the southern hemisphere, and no doubt with new equipment, they
continued their voyage; soon they reached Phoenician towns like Lixus,
modern Cadiz and Malaga, and Carthage. They must have reached Egypt at
the end of the summer. Their expedition had lasted three full years.
This story, told by Herodotus, was generally questioned after the
famous geographer Ptolemy had said that it was impossible to
circumnavigate Africa. Another voyage was necessary to vindicate the
Phoenician claims. This trip was made in 1488, when Bartolomeus Diaz
reached the Cape of Good Hope.
On 8 jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 7, 5:19 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> "What happened to the ships of Nephi ? Did Mulek use them ?"
>
> Nephi only had one ship. Another reason to know that he
> was not your Pharaoh Necho.
>
> He sailed it across the Pacific, probably, and landed on
> the west coast of the Amercas, certainly; Guatemala or El
> Salvador, probably. The boat sat there until it fell apart.
> Mulek came in a different boat. There isn't the slightest
> chance that Mulek used the same boat. Which I assume means
> you will take it as certain that he did.
Is that the official LDS vieuw ?
Did not JS aired that idea ? 170 years ago ?
Was it not Thor Heyerdahl who proved 140year later with his Kon Tiki
expedition, that it was possible to float with Ocean Streams from the
Peruvian west Coast to China, but not the other way around.
Also the Inca king Tupac sailed from Peru till the Solomon Islands.
I believe that the ships used by Nephi to sail around Africa could
have been used by his brothers to sail from the Thracian port Teos in
West Anatolia to the Crimea after the fall of Lycia to Cyrus.
On 8 jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 7, 5:19 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:>
> > It is time to leave the events in 1 Nephi, for what they were, the
> > fleeing of the last Jews with Jeremiah from Jerusalem and sailing back
> > with the fleet of Pharaoh Necho from the south of Egypt, Eritrea, to
> > the Caanite coast, still under Necho's sway.
>
> How is it possible that you can still post this drivel after
> a year of being informed of the facts, over and over and
> over?
Actually I did not receive any historical fact from you proving an
oceancrossing by Jews in 600BC
While I came with the historical circumnavigation of Africa in the
same year.
But it is me, who propose to leave 1 Nephi and move to 2 Nephi
>
> > When they arrived three years later, Necho had died and was replaced
> > by Pharaoh Apries and Egypt was tributary to Babylon. And the
> > Phoenician ports were under siege by Nebuchadnezzar.
> > So I expect that Lehi had his landfall (land of Lehi) in the same
> > pronounced save Phoenician port of Lycia further westwards in the
> > southwest coast of Anatolia,
> You are only 11,440 km off.
Any historical record or archeological artifact proving your claim.?
>
> > Shortly after Lehi and Nephi arrived at the promised land, Lehi died
> > and Nephi struggled with his brothers for the leadership and Nephi had
> > to migrate to the land of Nephi.
> > The time of this migration was 547BC, the time of the Persian
> > expansion under Cyrus to Anatolia
> > and the conquest of the capital Sardis of Lydia under king Croesus.
>
> > This Persian anexation of Greek city states triggered a lot of
> > migration from Greek Thracian to the opposite coast of the Black Sea
> > in Russia, were also the Greek Jews settled, who were so abundant in
> > Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
>
> > To find the trek of Nephi in real history between those Thracian
> > migrations we should look to the
> > Thracian tribe of the Chalybes, famous gold and weapon smiths, of
> > Excalibur fame, who migrated over land from Greece through the
> > Anatolian planes to Pont, south of the Black Sea.
>
> This is the wrong continent, half way around the world from
> where Nephi really was.
The fall of Jerusalem and the circumnavigation of Africa in 600BC were
in the old world not in the new world.
>
> > There was another Thracian migration by ship from Teos on the West
> > coast of Anatolia to Theodosia on the Crimea, on the north coast of
> > the Black Sea,were also the many Greek Jews, who where present in
> > Jerusalem at the time of Christ, went to and came from.
> > In Theodosia a ship from 600BC has been found.
>
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Teos (Greek: Τέως) or Teo was a maritime city of Ionia, on a peninsula
between Chytrium and Myonnesus, colonized by Orchomenian Minyans,
Ionians, and Boeotians. The city is situated on a low hilly narrow
strip of land connecting two larger areas of land (isthmus). Teos
ranked among twelve cities comprising the Ionian League. It was a
member of the Lydian group of the Ionian League, one of the four
groups defined by Herodotus, based on the particular dialects of the
cities. It was the birthplace of Anacreon the poet, Hecateus the
historian, Protagoras the sophist, Scythinus the poet, Andron the
geographer, and Apellicon, the preserver of the works of Aristotle.
Teos was a flourishing seaport with two fine harbours until Cyrus the
Great invaded Lydia and Ionia (ca. 540 BC). The Teans found it prudent
to retire overseas, to the newly founded colonies of Abdera in Thrace
and Phanagoria on the Asian side of the Cimmerian Bosporus. The port
was revived by Antigonus Cyclops; and Epicurus reportedly studied
there under Nausiphanes, a disciple of Democritus. During the times of
the Roman emperors, the town was noted for its wine, a theatre and
Temple of Dionysus. These are positioned near the acropolis, which is
situated on a low hill and had fortifications by the sixth century.
A shipwreck near Tektaş, a small rock outcrop near Teos harbour, dates
from the Classical period (around the sixth to the fourth centuries
BC) and implies trading connections by sea with eastern Aegean
islands.
> That it's Nephi's ship? Zero.
The chanches to find Nephi's ships with the Russian Jews in the Crimea
is much more than the chances to find them with the Jewish Indians in
America. Even DNA will support it.
On 8 jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 7, 5:19 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> > Than we have the Mulekites, who never went to the promised land, but
> > went straight from captivity in Babylon to Zarahemla.
>
> Wrong again... The Mulekites came to America too.
Please give me the BoM verses stating that the Mulekites sailed to
"the promissed land"
Why the Nephites and Jaredites went in 600BC to the promised land in
so called America and the Mulekites to Zarahemlah, evidently no
promised land and not in America.
>They weren not likely captives in Babylon since Nebuchadnezzar killed
> all the sons of Zedekiah he could find.
According to your BYU whiz kids Mulek went in the belly of Zekiahs
wife to Babylon
> was slipped out of Jerusalem before the seige came. How
> they got to the sea, what ship they obtained, how they
> came to sail it to America, are things we do not know.
BECAUSE THEY DID NOT
> They landed in the "land northward",
Yes off course, they travlled over land from Babylon to the Black Sea
Coast and took the pontoon to the Crimea in the land Northwards Russia
Cyrus, the real king Coresh of the Bible and the first Coreantumr in
the BoM also had an abortive expedition to Russia and his army was
starved to dead on the pontic steppes.
> >... Malk or Malik is
> > a Hebrew word for king used under the Babylonian Jews for king
> > Jehoyakin, the predecessor of Zedekiah, who ruled over the Babylonian
> > Jews from Nehardea.
> The consonants M-L-K are used in 20% of Jewish and Nephite
> names from this period. It means king, yes. That's good, got
> something right.
> > They went over land and by ship from Babylon not to "the promised
> > land" but to Zarahemla, Tsarenheim,a clear indication that they were
> > Russian Jews coming from Babylonia. who went over land to the coast of
> > the Black Sea and sailed north to the Crimea.
> > It looks to me, that the elder Mormon brothers, who we find written
> > without vowels back as the Mermnades in Lydia, inherited the ships of
> > Lehi and did send Nephi crossing Anatolia by foot.
>
> Yumpin' Yiminy... one ship turns into several and is handed
> over 1000 years later. That's some material they must have
> made it out of
Do not understand that I made a wrong calculation
Were not the ships constructed in 600BC and was Nephis departure
onfoot not around 540BC
What happened 1000 years later ?
> You were dropped on your head as a child weren't you?
Yes that's why I am involved in the Mars and Venus missions.
Greetings from Colon, who is still angry, that you claim the discovery
of America 2000 years before him.
> It is time to leave the events in 1 Nephi, for what they were, the
> fleeing of the last Jews with Jeremiah from Jerusalem and sailing back
> with the fleet of Pharaoh Necho from the south of Egypt, Eritrea, to
> the Caanite coast, still under Necho's sway.
Legs off, fins on, metal tube through the back of its Necho so it can
breathe, little gold paint. Certainly, squire, a terrier makes a fine
fish!
On 8 Jul, 15:25, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> On 8 Jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote> >
>> More likely, Mulek
> > was slipped out of Jerusalem before the siege came. How
> > they got to the sea, what ship they obtained, how they
> > came to sail it to America, are things we do not know.
Like usual, before posting my thread, I have googled on Mulekites and
read what Wikipedia and Farms say about it and learned some remarkable
things.
1.The Mulekites are not mentionned in the BoM.
2. Mormons always wrongly say that "the promised land"was in America,
but although there are no "the promised land" verses in relation to
Mulek, Mormon writers insist without arguments or verses, that the
Mulekites too crossed the oceans to America.
3. The wives and daughters of Zedekiah were not killed or taken to
Babylon, but gathered in Mizpa around Gedalyah and were taken by
Ishmael Johanan and Jeremiah to the south of Egypt.
4. Mulek possibly traveled in the belly of his mother, a wife of
Zedekiah.
Now as I see 1 Nephi as the fleeing of the remnants of Judea for the
wrath of Nebukadnezar for the killing of Gedaliah or Laban, the
consequence of my own thinking is, that Mulek was on the ships of
Lehi, which finally dropped the Lamanites and Mulekites in the Crimea,
where they were discovered by the Nephites of king Mosiah 400 years
later.
"Nick Youngh" < [email protected] > wrote in message
news:ca1cf5d9-b4c5-44d7-8ce4-01fcffb4bbb6@t10g2000yqg.googlegroups.com...
> On 8 Jul, 15:25, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
>> On 8 Jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote> >
Snip
> 1.The Mulekites are not mentionned in the BoM.
I believe that you are correct that the word "Mulekite" does not appear in
the Book of Mormon. However the name "Mulek" does appear and the City of
Mulek is mentioned. The citizens of the City of Mulek would in our terms
perhaps be called "Mulekites" so what is your point in making the above
observation?
> 2. Mormons always wrongly say that "the promised land"was in America,
> but although there are no "the promised land" verses in relation to
> Mulek, Mormon writers insist without arguments or verses, that the
> Mulekites too crossed the oceans to America.
If Lehi and his people came to the Americas, and were here when they came
across the people who had come with Mulek, then it follows that Mulek came
to the Americas.
On 9 jul, 06:30, "Gene Fuller" < [email protected] > wrote:
> "Nick Youngh" < [email protected] > wrote in message
>
> > On 8 Jul, 15:25, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> >> On 8 Jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote> >
>
> > 1.The Mulekites are not mentionned in the BoM.
>
> I believe that you are correct that the word "Mulekite" does not appear in
> the Book of Mormon. However the name "Mulek" does appear and the City of
> Mulek is mentioned. The citizens of the City of Mulek would in our terms
> perhaps be called "Mulekites" so what is your point in making the above
> observation?
I did not make this observation, BYU scholars did, pointless like
usual, indeed, but it chocked me.
Another Jewish people in America, but not in the BoM.
>
> > 2. Mormons always wrongly say that "the promised land"was in America,
> > but although there are no "the promised land" verses in relation to
> > Mulek, Mormon writers insist without arguments or verses, that the
> > Mulekites too crossed the oceans to America.
>
> If Lehi and his people came to the Americas, and were here when they came
> across the people who had come with Mulek, then it follows that Mulek came
> to the Americas.
If America is "the promised land" and Mulek did not go there, but from
Babylon straight to Zarahemlah in the North, were they met
theNephites, than the Nephites did not go to America either, but to
the land in the north of Babylon, Crimea, where the Russian Jews
lived, Chazaria,Tsarenheim, Zarahemlah
Why you TBM cannot answer a simple question ?
What happened to the ships of Nephi ?
Why Mulek did not go to one of your promised lands.?
Just tell me what the BoM says about it
About the city of Mulek.
Malk means king in Hebrew
After the fall of Jerusalem there was a Jewish king in Babylonia,
Jehoyakin, who was king in Jerusalem before Zedekiah.
He lived as a king in Nehardea (Nehor in the BoM) in Babylonia also
called the "New Jerusalem".
There was the Malk Canal.
So the city of Mulek was Nehor, Nehardea in Babylonia.
Not to far north of it lies the Crimea of the Russian Jews, just on
the other site of the Black Sea, which was called
Chazaria.
On 9 jul, 10:39, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> On 9 jul, 06:30, "Gene Fuller" < [email protected] > wrote:
> > > 1.The Mulekites are not mentionned in the BoM.
>
> > I believe that you are correct that the word "Mulekite" does not appear in
> > the Book of Mormon. However the name "Mulek" does appear and the City of
> > Mulek is mentioned. The citizens of the City of Mulek would in our terms
> > perhaps be called "Mulekites" so what is your point in making the above
> > observation?
> About the city of Mulek.
> Malk means king in Hebrew
> After the fall of Jerusalem there was a Jewish king in Babylonia,
> Jehoyakin, who was king in Jerusalem before Zedekiah.
> He lived as a king in Nehardea (Nehor in the BoM) in Babylonia also
> called the "New Jerusalem".
> There was the Malk Canal.
> So the city of Mulek was Nehor, Nehardea in Babylonia.
> Not to far north of it lies the Crimea of the Russian Jews, just on
> the other site of the Black Sea, which was called
> Chazaria.- Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht niet weergeven -
>
> - Tekst uit oorspronkelijk bericht weergeven -
Help build the future of Wikipedia and its sister projects!
Read a letter from Jimmy Wales and Michael Snow. [Hide] [Help us with
translations!]
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nehardea or Nehardeah (Hebrew: נהרדעא) was a city of Babylonia,
situated at or near the junction of the Euphrates with the Nahr Malka
(also known as Nâr Sharri, Ar-Malcha, Nahr el-Malik , and King's
Canal), one of the earliest centers of Babylonian Judaism. As the seat
of the exilarch it traced its origin back to King Jehoiachin.
According to Sherira Gaon (Letter of Sherira Gaon, in Neubauer, M. J.
C. i. 26), Jehoiachin and his coexilarchs built a synagogue at
Nehardea, for the foundation of which they used earth and stones which
they had brought, in accordance with the words of Psalms cii. 17 (A.
V. 16), from Jerusalem (comp. a similar statement in regard to the
founding of the Jewish city of Ispahan, in Monatsschrift, 1873, pp.
129, 181). This was the synagogue called "Shaf we-Yatib," to which
there are several references dating from the third and fourth
centuries (R. H. 24b; Avodah Zarah 43b; Niddah 13a), and which Abaye
asserts (Meg. 29a) was the seat of the Shekhinah in Babylonia. The
Aaronic portion of the Jewish population of Nehardea was said to be
descended from the slaves of Pashur ben Immer, the contemporary of
King Jehoiachin (Kiddushin 70b).
On Jul 8, 6:10 am, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> On 8 jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> > On Jul 7, 5:19 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> > "What happened to the ships of Nephi ? Did Mulek use them ?"
>
> > Nephi only had one ship. Another reason to know that he
> > was not your Pharaoh Necho.
>
> > He sailed it across the Pacific, probably, and landed on
> > the west coast of the Amercas, certainly; Guatemala or El
> > Salvador, probably. The boat sat there until it fell apart.
> > Mulek came in a different boat. There isn't the slightest
> > chance that Mulek used the same boat. Which I assume means
> > you will take it as certain that he did.
>
> Is that the official LDS vieuw ?
> Did not JS aired that idea ? 170 years ago ?
> Was it not Thor Heyerdahl who proved 140year later with his Kon Tiki
> expedition, that it was possible to float with Ocean Streams from the
> Peruvian west Coast to China, but not the other way around.
If I remember correctly, what Thor proved was that it was
possible to sail from Peru to some of the Pacific islands
(not China) using ancient technology. There shouldn't be
any problem sailing any other direction tho. It's easier
to sail downwind with the current, but how to sail against
the wind has been known for thousands of years all over the
world. It's not really that hard; just steer to one side of
downwind until you reach the limit of what your boat and sail
configuration can do. That will usually be more than 90
degrees from downwind. You can tack back and forth thus
able to go in any direction at will. A really tubby boat
or raft might not be able to overcome an ocean current. But
most oceans with currents have other currents going other
directions too, so routes usually exist to go anywhere.
The problem is duration. To hop from island to island or
across a strait or along the coast is one thing. To cross
an ocean like the Atlantic or Pacific is quite another -
you have to carry water, food, and your boat has to float
for months, not soak up water like a balsa raft and sink.
Most of Thor's rafts were 99% waterlogged by the end of
the voyage.
> Also the Inca king Tupac sailed from Peru till the Solomon Islands.
>
> I believe that the ships used by Nephi to sail around Africa could
> have been used by his brothers to sail from the Thracian port Teos in
> West Anatolia to the Crimea after the fall of Lycia to Cyrus.
One ship, Nick. He only built one ship. You can imagine
anything you want, but the text he wrote says exactly one
ship with nothing to support the existence of more than one
ship.
On 9 jul, 16:16, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
NY> > I believe that the ships used by Nephi to sail around Africa
could
> > have been used by his brothers to sail from the Thracian port Teos in
> > West Anatolia to the Crimea after the fall of Lycia to Cyrus.
>
> One ship, Nick. He only built one ship. You can imagine
> anything you want, but the text he wrote says exactly one
> ship with nothing to support the existence of more than one
> ship.
The seajourney in Ether ;ooks the same as in 1 Nephi and there were 8
ships used.
On 9 jul, 18:21, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:.
>
> > One ship, Nick. He only built one ship. You can imagine
> > anything you want, but the text he wrote says exactly one
> > ship with nothing to support the existence of more than one
> > ship.
> The seatravel in Ether 2 is the same story as in 1 Nephi 18. Compare :
> THE CALLING
> > Ether 2:16 And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the manner
> > of barges which ye have hitherto built.
> >> 1Nephi 17:8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying:
> >> Thou shalt aconstruct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee,
> >> that I may carry thy people across these waters.
> THE SHIPBUILDING
> > Ether 2: 16 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did go to work and > also his brethren, and built barges after the manner which they had built according to the instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon > the water.
> > 17 And they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly
> > tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the
> > bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were
> > tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top
> > thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the
> > length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight
> > like unto a dish.
> > > 1Nepi18: 1 And it came to pass that they did aworship the Lord, and
> > >did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And
> > >the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work
> > > the timbers of the Schip.
> > >2 Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was
> > >learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men;
> > >but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me;
> > >wherefore, it was not after the manner of men.
> THE ORE, LIGHT, AIR AND TOOLS
> > Ether 2:19 And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we
> > steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save
> > it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.
> > 20 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt
> > make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt
> > suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it
> > be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the
> > hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.
> > Ether 3:1 AND it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of > the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the mount, >which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and >did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and >clear, even as transparent glass; and he did carry them in his hands upon >the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying:
> >4 And I know, O Lord, therefore touch these stones, with thy finger, and >prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine >forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light > while we shall cross the sea.
> > 6 And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these
> > words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the
> > stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from off the
> > eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and
> > it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the
> > brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with
> > fear.
> > Ether 6:2 For it came to pass after the Lord had prepared the stones which
> > the brother of Jared had carried up into the mount, the brother of
> > Jared came down out of the mount, and he did put forth the stones into
> > the vessels which were prepared, one in each end thereof; and behold,
> > they did give light unto the vessels.
> > 6:3 And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give
> > light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the
> > great waters in darkness.
> > >1Nephi 17: 9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find or >> to molten,that I may make atools to construct the ship after the manner
> > > which thou hast shown unto me?
> > > 10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to
> > > find ore, that I might make tools.
> > > 11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith
> > > to ablow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a
> > > bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two
> > > stones together that I might make fire.
> > > 16 And it came to pass that I did amake tools of the ore which I did
> > > molten out of the rock.
> MURMURRING BROTHERS
> > >1Nephi 17:17 And when my brethren saw that I was about to abuild
> a >> ship, they began to bmurmur against me, saying: Our brother is
> a fool, for >> he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also
> thinketh that he can cross these great waters.
> There are no verses in Ether of Murmering nor revolting brothers, but
> their complaints look like the complaints of the brother of Jared above
> against the Lord bout the ships specification. So Nephi possibly was
> not the brother of Jared but Jared himself and that his brother called
> him Lord, makes me think again, that Nephi was the son of Pharao and
> the Lord was Pharao Necho.
> THE SEATRAVEL
> > Ether 6:4 And it came to pass that when they had prepared all manner of
> > food, that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also food
> > for their flocks and herds, and whatsoever beast or animal or fowl
> > that they should carry with them--and it came to pass that when they
> > had done all these things they got aboard of their vessels or barges,
> > and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their
> > God.
> >> 1 Nephi 18:5 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came unto
> >> my father, that we should arise and go down into the ship.
> >> 6 And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all
> >> things, much fruits and ameat from the wilderness, and honey in
> >>abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had
> >> commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and
> >> our bseeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one
> >>according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down into the cship,
> >> with our wives and our children.
> THE STORM
> > Ether 6:5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should
> > be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised
> > land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the
> > wind.
> >> 1 Nephi18:13 insomuch that there arose a great astorm, yea, a great and >>terrible tempest, and we were bdriven back upon the waters for the space of
> >> three days; and they began to be frightened exceedingly lest they
> >> should be drowned in the sea; nevertheless they did not loose me.
> >> 14 And on the fourth day, which we had been driven back, the tempest
> >> began to be exceedingly sore.
> Ether 6:6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the
> depths
> > of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them,
> and
> > also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the
> > fierceness of the wind.
> > 6:7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there
> > was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like
> unto
> > a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah;
> therefore
> > when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto
> the
> > Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the
> waters.
> >>1Nephi 18:15 And it came to pass that we were about to be swallowed up >> in the depths of the sea. And after we had been driven back upon the >> waters for the space of four days, my brethren began to asee that the
> >> judgments of God were upon them, and that they must perish save that
> >> they should repent of their iniquities; wherefore, they came unto me,
> > >and loosed the bands which were upon my wrists, and behold they had
> > >swollen exceedingly; and also mine ankles were much swollen, and great
> > >was the soreness thereof.
> THE STUDY WINDS
> > Ether 6:8 And it came to pass that the wind did never cease to blow towards
> > the promised land while they were upon the waters; and thus they were
> > driven forth before the wind.
> >> 1 Nephi18: 8 And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, >> had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded
> >>us, we did put forth into the asea and were driven forth before the
> >>wind towards the promised land.
> THE TRAVELTIME
> > Ether 6:11 And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four
> > days upon the water.
> > Ether 6:12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land.
> >> 1Nephi 18: 23 And it came to pass that after we had sailed for the space of
> >> many days *we did arrive at the apromised land; and we went forth upon
> >> the land, and did pitch our tents; and we did call it the promised
> >> land.
> PLANTING AND HARVESTING
> > Ether 6:13 And it came to pass that they went forth upon the face of the
> > land, and began to till the earth.
> >>.1Nephi 18: 24 And it came to pass that we did begin to till the earth, and >> we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our aseeds into the earth,
> >> which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to pass
> >> that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in
> >> abundance.
> By just putting the verses of Nephi and Ether togrther it will be
> obvious to everybody that these two stories about a seajourney are the
> same.
> However some stories in 1 Nephi are not mentionned in Ether, like the
> murmurrings of Nephi's brothers and the story of the compass Liahona,
> which I earlier indentified as a armillar globe.
> > > On 3 jul, 19:06, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> > > > Notice how the two were far different! For starters, Jared
> > > > and his people built EIGHT boats, Nephi built ONE. One is
> > > > far different from Eight.
> > > Sharp observation, I have posted before on ARM a atudy how many barges
> > > there were in Nephi 1, Ether 8, Necho 1 and the story of the Manassah
> > > tribe shipwrecked in India 7.
> > On 28 jan, 04:57, [email protected] (Nancy) wrote:
>
> > > All of the remnant of Manasseh(some 8000 +) has returned to Israel
> > > several years ago (and yes! from India)
>
> > "The Bene Israel" believe that their forefathers arrived in India
> > before the destruction of the second temple. The accepted version is
> > that their forefathers were sailing in a commercial ship from the
> > Land
> > of Israel to India. The ship wrecked near the coast of Konkan. From
> > the ship survived 14 people, seven men and seven women. They swam
> > towards the land and arrived at the village called Navgaon.
>
> On 1 feb 2008, 16:04, NickYoungh < [email protected] > wrote:>
>
> > Earlier I pointed out to the similaries of the seatravel of Neph iand
> > the historical "circumnavigation of Africa", as described by
> > Herodotus
> > in his "Historieën", both around 600bC
>
> > So now we have 4 stories of oceancrossing around 600bC: Ether,Nephi,Necho and Bene Israël, from which I say that all 4 are the same.
> > So let us see, if we can get some information out of the differences.
>
> > First the amount of ships: Ether said 8, Bene Israël say 7 commercial
> >shipsnaufragiated on the Coast of India, Nephi is not clear and as
> > far as I know Pharao Necho did send only one navy ship.
> > Two stories end up in Israël, one in Egypt and one in India with
> > seven.
> > Secondly the quareling brothers:Nephi mentions 4 quarrels
> > -during the trip alongsite the Nile;
> > -on the ship when they crossed the equator and one after the
> > landfall.
> > -The "Bene Israël"do not talk about a revolt, but there is another
> > Jewish tribe in northern India"the Bnei Manashe";
> > -Ether has no brother rift related to shipping, but only after the
> > burial of Jared, which is very similar to the dead ofNephi.
> > -And Necho was replaced during the circum-navigation of Africa.
>
> > Thirdly there was the impossible Mormon compass Liahona in Nephi
> > only,> which I earlier indentified as an armillarglobe, which seem to have
> > roots in Egypt and India.
>
> > So let us try to distill a conclusion out of these differences.
> > All have storms, so it is plausible that the revolt took place when
> > they crossed the equator and the armilliarglobe did not recognise the
> > starsigns anymore and the ships drifted apart in the storms. The
> > commercial shipsof the Beni Israël never crossed the equator on
> > their> way to India, as they do not mention a direction problem.and the one
> > naval ship of Necho, Jared and Nephi continued south, without working
> > star compass and rounded the stormcape where they saw the sun in the
> > north, continuing to the equator where the armilliar globe started to
> > start working again.-
Nick, you need to have a look at these threads, like this one, for
example. Eighteen posts, and twelve of them are from you, sometimes
five or more in a row. If that isn't a sign that you're obsessive, what
is it?
| Eighty percent of the people in the world are fools |
| and the rest of us are in danger of contamination. |
| -Horace Vandergelder |
On 10 jul, 06:25, [email protected] wrote:
> Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> Nick, you need to have a look at these threads, like this one, for
> example. Eighteen posts, and twelve of them are from you, sometimes
> five or more in a row. If that isn't a sign that you're obsessive, what
> is it?
I did not write this onr , for sure
------------------------------------------------------
> | Eighty percent of the people in the world are fools |
> | and the rest of us are in danger of contamination. |
> | -Horace Vandergelder |
quoting Einstein does not make you look smart.
where are the BoM verses, that Mulek went to "the promised land " or
Amerika in your opinion ?
On Jul 9, 10:32 am, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> > By just putting the verses of Nephi and Ether togrther it will be
> > obvious to everybody that these two stories about a seajourney are the
> > same.
> > However some stories in 1 Nephi are not mentionned in Ether, like the
> > murmurrings of Nephi's brothers and the story of the compass Liahona,
> > which I earlier indentified as a armillar globe.
You misidentify everything. If that's your goal, you are at
least 99% successful, which is pretty high. Most people don't
reach their goals that thoroughly. If it's not your goal, then
maybe you have reached some other goal. If you don't have a
goal then maybe we could suggest a goal for you?
Wood
On 8 jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> > Than we have the Mulekites, who never went to the promised land, but
> > went straight from captivity in Babylon to Zarahemla.
>
> Wrong again... The Mulekites came to America too. They were
> not likely captives in Babylon since Nebuchadnezzar killed
> all the sons of Zedekiah he could find. More likely, Mulek
> was slipped out of Jerusalem before the seige came.
(Mormon moderated sextion Wikipedia)
Biblical evidence does not preclude the existence of another son of
King Zedekiah. In fact, recent evidence brought to light by non-LDS
scholars indicates otherwise:
The first clue of the existence and escape of Mulek, son of Zedekiah,
can be found in 2 Kings 25:1-10, which reports that Nebuchadrezzar
and "all his host" scattered "all the men" and "all [the king's] army"
and burnt "all the houses of Jerusalem," and with "all the army" they
destroyed the walls. In the midst of all this, however, 2 Kings 25:7
omits the word all when it reports only that "the sons" of Zedekiah
were killed, leaving open the question whether all of his sons were
slain.[1]
There is a clear distinction here between using the clarifier "all" in
reference to the other subjects and not using it when talking about
the sons of Zedekiah. It is not necessary that the author write "all
but one" when referring to the death of the other sons.
On 10 jul, 23:48, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 9, 10:32 am, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> > > By just putting the verses of Nephi and Ether togrther it will be
> > > obvious to everybody that these two stories about a seajourney are the
> > > same.
> > > However some stories in 1 Nephi are not mentionned in Ether, like the
> > > murmurrings of Nephi's brothers and the story of the compass Liahona,
> > > which I earlier indentified as a armillar globe.
>
> You misidentify everything. If that's your goal, you are at
> least 99% successful, which is pretty high.
look here for a photo or modelhttp:// www.stanleylondon.com/armcelestglobe.htm
On Jul 10, 4:56 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> On 8 jul, 04:57, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> > > Than we have the Mulekites, who never went to the promised land, but
> > > went straight from captivity in Babylon to Zarahemla.
>
> > Wrong again... The Mulekites came to America too. They were
> > not likely captives in Babylon since Nebuchadnezzar killed
> > all the sons of Zedekiah he could find. More likely, Mulek
> > was slipped out of Jerusalem before the seige came.
>
> Biblical evidence does not preclude the existence of another son of
> King Zedekiah. In fact, recent evidence brought to light by non-LDS
> scholars indicates otherwise:
> The first clue of the existence and escape of Mulek, son of Zedekiah,
> can be found in 2 Kings 25:1-10, which reports that Nebuchadrezzar
> and "all his host" scattered "all the men" and "all [the king's] army"
> and burnt "all the houses of Jerusalem," and with "all the army" they
> destroyed the walls. In the midst of all this, however, 2 Kings 25:7
> omits the word all when it reports only that "the sons" of Zedekiah
> were killed, leaving open the question whether all of his sons were
> slain.[1]
A quick look at 2K 25 shows this seems to be true.
v.4 KL-ANShY "all men"
v.5 KhYL-KShDYM "army Chaldees" (KL- "=all" not present altho
nuanced)
v.7 BNY TzDKYHO "sons Zedekiah" (KL- "=all" not present)
v.9 KL-BKhY YRUShLM "all houses Jerusalem"
v.9 KL-BYKh GDOL "all house great"
v.10 KL-KhYL KShDYM "all army Chaldees" (see the difference v.5)
> There is a clear distinction here between using the clarifier "all" in
> reference to the other subjects and not using it when talking about
> the sons of Zedekiah. It is not necessary that the author write "all
> but one" when referring to the death of the other sons.
I think there is a tradition here that the Bible is true,
true, 100% true every word, and this tradition infiltrates
every essay, book, and discussion. A more reasonable point of
view is that the Bible is real, it is genuine historical
records. Of course there will be errors and language problems.
This does not prevent it from containing true facts. But the
idea that it is absolutely perfect is contradicted by the
Bible itself in a thousand places. So there's no real value
in scrutinizing a passage that says "the king's sons" and
trying to guess whether the scribes meant to write "ALL
the king's sons" or what.
It's remarkable that they did not, but I don't think we
can reason from it too heavily.
It's not likely that they knew about Mulek. He and his
party departed, they did not likely send any message back
saying they got away OK. That would invite the armies to
chase after them. No, they just wanted to escape, and not
let ANYONE - friend or foe - know they escaped. The best
information the Jewish scribes likely had was that they
didn't know what happened to Mulek.
As the captive Jews in Babylon kept their records, it
appears they deliberately scrambled things a bit. There
apparently were descendants of Zedekiah still alive, and
the scribes didn't want to make it clear in their records
who they were; it might get them killed. So there's another
reason we don't find any clear accounting of Zedekiah's
sons. The genealogies in Matthew and Luke for instance are
well muddled.
On 11 jul, 17:22, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
A more reasonable point of view is that the Bible is real, it is
genuine historical records.
Like the BOM are historical records of exiled Jews in the Diaspora
But I do not think, that Mulek was a son of Zedekiah.
Mulek according to you and me, means king and Zedekiah had no sons who
became king.
But there was allready a Jewidh king in Babylon before Zedekiah
arrived there, Jehoyakim, his younger nephew, who was deported a few
years earlier, but remained the king of the Jews and was on the
Babylonean food ration list.
As I copied earlier, that the origin of the Russian Jews in the land
north of Babylon date from the first Babylonean Jews, who were
obedient to king Jehoyakin, It sounds plausible that the Russian Jews
were called "king man" Mulekites.
Those Jews from Jehoyakim reached Russia as traders from Babylonia
over land to Armenia and from there by small boats across the black
sea to the Crimea
Moreover as there are no BoM verses telling that the Mulekites went to
"the promissed land", which Mormons wrongly say was in America, but
from Babylon to Zarahemlah, there is no reason to think that the
Mulekites went as far as America.
The Nephite Jews in the BoM were Israelian Jews and the Mulekites were
Russian Jews of later Chazaria ob the Crimea.
Zarahemla - Tsarenheim.
Another proof that the BoM is true and happened in real, but in the
old world not in the new world.
> On 11 jul, 17:22, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>>
> A more reasonable point of view is that the Bible is real, it is
> genuine historical records.
Is the creation of the earth in six days considered a genuine historical
record?
On 11 jul, 22:14, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> On 11 jul, 17:22, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> But I do not think, that Mulek was a son of Zedekiah.
> Mulek according to you and me, means king and Zedekiah had no sons who
> became king.
> But there was allready a Jewidh king in Babylon before Zedekiah
> arrived there, Jehoyakim, his younger nephew, who was deported a few
> years earlier, but remained the king of the Jews and was on the
> Babylonean food ration list.
Jeconiah (Hebrew: יְכָנְיָה [jəχonjoː], meaning "God will fortify
(his people)"; Greek: Ιεχονιας; Latin: Joachin), also known as Coniah
and as Jehoiachin (Hebrew: יְהֹויָכִין [jəhoːjɔːxiːn]; Greek:
Ιεχονιας; Latin: Joachin), was a king of Judah.
According to 2 Kings 24:8, he became king upon the death of his
father, Jehoiakim, at the age of eighteen and reigned for only three
months and ten days.[1] However, most Hebrew versions, some Septuagint
manuscripts and Syriac versions of 2 Chronicles 36:9 give the age when
he became king as eight, compared with other versions which give it as
eighteen (e.g., 2 Chronicles 36:9). The Vulgate has the discrepancy,
which the Challenor note in the Douay-Rheims Bible reconciles the
discrepancy: "He was associated by his father to the kingdom, when he
was but eight years old; but after his father's death, when he reigned
alone, he was eighteen years old."[2] Edwin Thiele dates Jeconiah's
short reign to 598/597 BC.[3] He was deposed by the Babylonians at the
end of the first siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BC,
after which Jeconiah, his household, and many of the elite and
craftsmen of Judah were exiled to Babylon.
Babylonian records, called Jehoiachin's Rations Tablets, written in
Cuneiform and dating to 592 BC mention him and his five sons as
recipients of food ration in Babylon,[4] though it would have been
difficult for him to have had five sons in the time frame attributed
to him.
Jeconiah was a contemporary of the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
Jeconiah reigned for three months and ten days,[1] and was deposed by
the Babylonians at the end of the first siege of Jerusalem by
Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BC, when Jeconiah, his household, and many of
the elite and craftsmen of Judah were exiled to Babylon.
The Babylonians installed Jeconiah's uncle, Zedekiah, as king of Judah
in his place; while Jeconiah was taken to Babylon and compelled to
remain there. In Babylon, the deported Jews continued to regard
Jeconiah as the legitimate king of Judah, and later would be regarded
as the first of the exilarchs.
Cuneiform records dated to 592 BC mention Jeconiah ("Ia-'-ú-kinu") and
his five sons as recipients of food rations in Babylon as evidenced by
Jehoiachin's Rations Tablets, which are 6th century BC tablets
excavated from Babylon near the Ishtar Gate.[4] He was still called
king while in captivity.
Dates in the book of Ezekiel are given according to the year of
captivity of Jeconiah, and Ezekiel never mentions by name his
successor, Zedekiah.
"Zootal" < [email protected] > wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> On 11 jul, 17:22, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>>>
>> A more reasonable point of view is that the Bible is real, it is
>> genuine historical records.
> Is the creation of the earth in six days considered a genuine historical
> record?
I am sure you are familiar with the Articles of Faith
The Articles of Faith 1:8
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated
correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
My understanding of the word "translated" as used here, would include every
step from the originally inspired word, which we have no proven copy of, all
the way to the current translations.
On 12 jul, 05:27, "Gene Fuller" < [email protected] > wrote:
> >> On 11 jul, 17:22, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> >> A more reasonable point of view is that the Bible is real, it is
> >> genuine historical records.
> > Is the creation of the earth in six days considered a genuine historical
> > record?
> I am sure you are familiar with the Articles of Faith
No, are they conform the BoM ?
>
> The Articles of Faith 1:8
> 8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated
> correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Translated words of God ? Which language does he speak ?
How could historical records be the words of God ?
Mormon Historians agree on that ?
Please stay on topic.
My question in this thread is, what happened to the ships of Nephi. ?
And my point is that Mulek means king and there was a historical king
of the Babylonian Jews, king Jeconiah, the younger nephew of Zedekiah.
who was exiled to Babylonia a few years before Zedekiah.
He was the first exilarch
On Jul 11, 2:14 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> On 11 jul, 17:22, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> A more reasonable point of view is that the Bible is real, it is
> genuine historical records.
> Like the BOM are historical records of exiled Jews in the Diaspora
>
> But I do not think, that Mulek was a son of Zedekiah.
Helaman 6:10) Now the land south was called Lehi and the
land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of
Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north,
and Lehi into the land south.
Helaman 8:21) And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was
destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not
slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold
that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven
out of the land of Jerusalem? ...
> Mulek according to you and me, means king and Zedekiah had no sons who
> became king.
So? How does that tell us whether he had a son named King?
> But there was allready a Jewidh king in Babylon before Zedekiah
> arrived there, Jehoyakim, his younger nephew, who was deported a few
> years earlier, but remained the king of the Jews and was on the
> Babylonean food ration list.
Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
> As I copied earlier, that the origin of the Russian Jews in the land
> north of Babylon date from the first Babylonean Jews, who were
> obedient to king Jehoyakin, It sounds plausible that the Russian Jews
> were called "king man" Mulekites.
Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
> Those Jews from Jehoyakim reached Russia as traders from Babylonia
> over land to Armenia and from there by small boats across the black
> sea to the Crimea
Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
> Moreover as there are no BoM verses telling that the Mulekites went to
> "the promissed land",
Helaman 6:10) Now the land south was called Lehi and the
land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of
Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north,
and Lehi into the land south.
Helaman 8:21) And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was
destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not
slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold
that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven
out of the land of Jerusalem? ...
>...which Mormons wrongly say was in America, but
> from Babylon to Zarahemlah, there is no reason to think that the
> Mulekites went as far as America.
Helaman 6:10) Now the land south was called Lehi and the
land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of
Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north,
and Lehi into the land south.
Helaman 8:21) And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was
destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not
slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold
that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven
out of the land of Jerusalem? ...
> The Nephite Jews in the BoM were Israelian Jews and the Mulekites were
> Russian Jews of later Chazaria ob the Crimea.
No.
> Another proof that the BoM is true and happened in real, but in the
> old world not in the new world.
No.
On 12 jul, 23:50, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 11, 2:14 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> > But I do not think, that Mulek was a son of Zedekiah.
Mulek means king, not a name, but a title
(Wikipedia)
Nehardea or Nehardeah (Hebrew: נהרדעא) was a city of Babylonia,
situated at or near the junction of the Euphrates with the Nahr Malka
(also known as Nâr Sharri, Ar-Malcha, Nahr el-Malik , and King's
Canal), one of the earliest centers of Babylonian Judaism.
> Helaman 6:10) Now the land south was called Lehi and the
> land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of
> Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north,
> and Lehi into the land south.
As I explained before the land Lehi was the same pronounced Lycia in
the south east of Anatolia
The kings land Mulek was the Crimea in the north of the Russian, ex
Babylonean Jews.
> Helaman 8:21) And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was
> destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not
> slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold
> that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven
> out of the land of Jerusalem? ...
All it says is that the sons of Zedekiah were slain and his little
nephew Jehoiakin, the king, not.
>
> > Mulek according to you and me, means king and Zedekiah had no sons who
> > became king.
> So? How does that tell us whether he had a son named King?
> He had no son, but a lottle nephew who was king before him.
> > But there was allready a Jewidh king in Babylon before Zedekiah
> > arrived there, Jehoyakim, his younger nephew, who was deported a few
> > years earlier, but remained the king of the Jews and was on the
> > Babylonean food ration list.
> Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
It does, Jehoyakim was the historical Mulek, the king of the
Babylonean Jews in Nehardea
Nahr el Malik (the kings Canal)
> > As I copied earlier, that the origin of the Russian Jews in the land
> > north of Babylon date from the first Babylonean Jews, who were
> > obedient to king Jehoyakin, It sounds plausible that the Russian Jews
> > were called "king man" Mulekites.
>
> Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
Mulek was the historical king of the Babylonian and so Russian Jews
Malik Jeconiah
> > Those Jews from Jehoyakim reached Russia as traders from Babylonia
> > over land to Armenia and from there by small boats across the black
> > sea to the Crimea
> Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
Mulek was the historical king Jeconiah of the Babylonean Jews.
> > Zarahemla - Tsarenheim.Chazaria
> > Another proof that the BoM is true and happened in real, but in the
> > old world not in the new world.
> No.
Why you do not honestly say, that you do not want any historical proof
of the BoM. ?
On Jul 13, 2:37 am, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> On 12 jul, 23:50, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
>
> > On Jul 11, 2:14 pm, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> > > But I do not think, that Mulek was a son of Zedekiah.
>
> Mulek means king, not a name, but a title
I'd say in this case it is just a name. The Nephites called
him Mulek. He was never their king. There's no clear words
that he was the king of the Mulekites either. The only king
we know they had was named Zarahemla.
> (Wikipedia)
> Nehardea or Nehardeah (Hebrew: נהרדעא) was a city of Babylonia,
> situated at or near the junction of the Euphrates with the Nahr Malka
> (also known as Nâr Sharri, Ar-Malcha, Nahr el-Malik , and King's
> Canal), one of the earliest centers of Babylonian Judaism.
Irrelevant, Nick, wrong continent.
> > Helaman 6:10) Now the land south was called Lehi and the
> > land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of
> > Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north,
> > and Lehi into the land south.
>
> As I explained before the land Lehi was the same pronounced Lycia in
> the south east of Anatolia
No. The land of Lehi was on the west coast of America. Study
Alma 22 carefully and draw the map.
> The kings land Mulek was the Crimea in the north of the Russian, ex
> Babylonean Jews.
I believe you know this, too.
So why do you continue to post it here? Over and over and
over and over and over and over and over and over and over
and over and over and over and over and over and over and
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> > Helaman 8:21) And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was
> > destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not
> > slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold
> > that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven
> > out of the land of Jerusalem? ...
>
> All it says is that the sons of Zedekiah were slain and his little
> nephew Jehoiakin, the king, not.
Mulek was the son of Zedekiah. So Mulek's children were
also, descendents of Zedekiah.
> > > Mulek according to you and me, means king and Zedekiah had no sons who
> > > became king.
> > So? How does that tell us whether he had a son named King?
> > He had no son, but a lottle nephew who was king before him.
Nick, how do you know such things? I don't think you were
there. The only record about Mulek is the Book of Mormmon,
and what it says is the opposite of what you say. Are you
claiming to have received revelations?
> > > But there was allready a Jewidh king in Babylon before Zedekiah
> > > arrived there, Jehoyakim, his younger nephew, who was deported a few
> > > years earlier, but remained the king of the Jews and was on the
> > > Babylonean food ration list.
> > Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
>
> It does, Jehoyakim was the historical Mulek, the king of the
> Babylonean Jews in Nehardea
> Nahr el Malik (the kings Canal)
Rubbish
> > > As I copied earlier, that the origin of the Russian Jews in the land
> > > north of Babylon date from the first Babylonean Jews, who were
> > > obedient to king Jehoyakin, It sounds plausible that the Russian Jews
> > > were called "king man" Mulekites.
>
> > Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
>
> Mulek was the historical king of the Babylonian and so Russian Jews
> Malik Jeconiah
No. Mulek escaped the Babylonian seige of Jerusalem and came
to the Americas.
Why don't you jump on a plane and come see this great land?
I kind of think this whole thing of yours goes like this:
We know everything,
And we don't know about this,
So it can't be anything.
The ancient Christians knew about the Americas, which they
called Antichthonia after the more ancient Greek speculation.
They said it was inhabited by another covenant people of God,
which would be entirely accurate - the Nephites.
> > > Those Jews from Jehoyakim reached Russia as traders from Babylonia
> > > over land to Armenia and from there by small boats across the black
> > > sea to the Crimea
> > Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
>
> Mulek was the historical king Jeconiah of the Babylonean Jews.
Not in the slightest, Nick.
...
> > > The Nephite Jews in the BoM were Israelian Jews and the Mulekites were
> > > Russian Jews of later Chazaria ob the Crimea.
> > No.
On 14 jul, 03:34, Woody Brison < [email protected] > wrote:
> On Jul 13, 2:37 am, Nick Youngh < [email protected] > wrote:
> > Mulek means king, not a name, but a title
>
> I'd say in this case it is just a name. The Nephites called
> him Mulek. He was never their king. There's no clear words
> that he was the king of the Mulekites either. The only king
> we know they had was named Zarahemla.
A few postings ago we both agreed that Mulek, Malik means king.
Zarahemlah was a king in the BoM 400 years later.
Could not trace him yet between Inca and Aztec tulers
Will try the exilarchs in Babylon and Russia now.
Any suggestion ? Zerubabel ?
> > Nehardea or Nehardeah (Hebrew: נהרדעא) was a city of Babylonia,
> > situated at or near the junction of the Euphrates with the Nahr Malka
> > (also known as Nâr Sharri, Ar-Malcha, Nahr el-Malik , and King's
> > Canal), one of the earliest centers of Babylonian Judaism.
>
I will stop posting once and a while historical evidence of the BoM.
> > > Helaman 8:21) And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was
> > > destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not
> > > slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold
> > > that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven
> > > out of the land of Jerusalem? ...
>
> > All it says is that the sons of Zedekiah were slain and his little
> > nephew Jehoiakin, the king, not.
>
> Mulek was the son of Zedekiah. So Mulek's children were
> also, descendents of Zedekiah.
In the Bible also there is doubt, who was the father, may be
grandfather of Jeconiah
Children and daughters of Israel etc.
As long as we cannot read the original golden plates in its original
language we are not sure.
> > > > Mulek according to you and me, means king and Zedekiah had no sons who
> > > > became king.
> Nick, how do you know such things? I don't think you were
> there. The only record about Mulek is the Book of Mormmon,
> and what it says is the opposite of what you say. Are you
> claiming to have received revelations?
No there are Babylonian cuiniform tables stating a Malik ruling the
exiled Jews and receiving food rations..
> > > > But there was allready a Jewish king in Babylon before Zedekiah
> > > > arrived there, Jehoyakim, his younger nephew, who was deported a few
> > > > years earlier, but remained the king of the Jews and was on the
> > > > Babylonean food ration list.
> > > Interesting, but has no bearing on Mulek.
>
> > It does, Jehoyakim was the historical Mulek, the king of the
> > Babylonean Jews in Nehardea
> > Nahr el Malik (the kings Canal)
>
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Mormonism
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Which US office equipment corporation renamed itself (1961) after its branded photocopying technology, from Greek meaning 'dry'?
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Lamanites No More: DNA and Lost Ties to Father Lehi | Mormons in Transition
Lamanites No More: DNA and Lost Ties to Father Lehi
Lamanites No More: DNA and Lost Ties to Father Lehi
By:
Copyright © 2004 Institute for Religious Research. All rights reserved.
Introduction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) teaches that the literary work dictated by Joseph Smith – known as the Book of Mormon – is an ancient historical record that recounts the origins of Native American peoples. Groups of migrating Hebrews left Israel, traveled to the Americas and:
"After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians” (Introduction to the Book of Mormon – every English edition since 1981).
"If we don’t know who the Lamanites are, how can the Book of Mormon promise to bring them back? It’s an identity crisis for many of us that [must] be understood."
According to noted Mormon sociologist and historian Armand L. Mauss,
Since the very founding of the church in 1830, Mormons had believed that North American Indians were Lamanites, described by the Book of Mormon as literal Israelites, the seed of Abraham, who would flock to the church as lost sheep responding to the voice of the true Shepherd of Israel and would actually take the initiative in building a New Jerusalem on the American continent. 1
Mormon leaders over the years have also taught that these supposed Book of Mormon people called Lamanites are the ancestors of Native American peoples from Alaska to Argentina as well as the native inhabitants of the Polynesian islands. 2 Thus, Mormon leaders have taught that millions of modern-day Native Americans and Polynesians are direct descendants of Hebrews who migrated to the New World and as such they are also Lamanites, since they descended from the last surviving people mentioned in the Book of Mormon by the same name. 3
However, the Book of Mormon story is challenged on multiple scientific fronts. There is no credible evidence that a small band of migrating Israelites populated the Americas with millions of people, generated an iron-age culture, built many buildings, and fought massive wars with thousands of casualties. To the contrary, for nearly 100 years archaeologists, biologists and linguists have presented evidence that: “physical similarities, cultural and linguistic ties and archeological and molecular data all indicate a Siberian/Asiatic origin for Native Americans, not a Hebrew one.” 4
In addition, DNA studies used to trace the ancestry of Native American peoples support the conclusions of scientists in other fields and together the evidence raises serious questions about the veracity of the Book of Mormon and the historical and theological authenticity of the Mormon faith in general.
In the past, Mormon Church leaders have ignored the issues, and encouraged troubled members to wait for more revelation or additional scientific discoveries that would support the Book of Mormon story. More recently these challenges have received significant media attention and in turn, Mormon Church leaders have deferred to Mormon scholars and apologists to provide a response. Many of these apologists, rather than supporting traditional views, are arguing that the traditional Mormon understanding about Book of Mormon geography and the identity of the Lamanites is wrong. Mormons who become aware of this issue are forced to grapple with the implications for their faith. For example, the March 2004 Sunstone related the angst of a young Peruvian student named José, who attended a presentation on DNA and Book of Mormon at BYU:
He told the audience and panelists how he grew up believing he was Lamanite and now felt ‘overwhelmed with the surprise coming from science … We don’t know where the Book of Mormon took place. We don’t know where the Lamanites are. If we don’t know who the Lamanites are, how can the Book of Mormon promise to bring them back? It’s an identify crisis for many of us that [must] be understood’ (“Reframing the Book of Mormon”, Sunstone 131 [March 2004], p. 19.)
This issue and the ever-heightening awareness among Mormon people of the problems it raises, presents unique opportunities for Mormon-related apologetics and ministry. This paper will survey the relevant data, evaluate the Mormon apologetic responses, and suggest guidelines for effective ministry to Mormons.
Starting with the Common Ground
Mormon apologists and scholars agree with their non-Mormon counterparts on the basic facts and scientific evidence. For example, there is general agreement that:
DNA studies done to determine the genetic background of American Indians do not support the traditional Mormon teaching that Amerindians are of primarily Hebrew descent.
Many Mormon leaders, including Mormon Prophets and Apostles, have held and taught views regarding both the geography and people of the Book of Mormon that scientific evidences show to be false.
Many Mormon people today continue to hold the erroneous and scientifically unsustainable views taught by their leaders.
There is then, significant common ground when it comes to the scientific data. The facts are not the issue, but rather how one relates the scientific evidence to what past and present Mormon leaders have taught.
A Question of Revelation
The Mormons response to this information will depend in part on how he understands latter-day revelation. Is the Mormon Church a religion in flux, continually changing and adapting to the latest cultural or scientific developments? Is revelation a man-to-God issue where a person experiences ‘truth’ in subjective ways only they can define and apply? Within this framework the teachings of the Church’s living prophets and apostles need not be considered absolute truth, but rather guiding principles for today that not surprisingly may lose their relevance tomorrow as knowledge increases and circumstances change. Examples of how this has already happened in Mormon history include: the 1890 Manifesto disavowing polygamy, the 1978 granting of priesthood to blacks, and the 1990 revision of Mormon temple ceremonies. The Mormon Church is then a Church with truth, and a source of helpful, personal revelation, but should not be held to a standard of providing objective, unchanging spiritual truths.
If this is how the Mormon Church and the teachings of its leaders are viewed then few things should trouble the average Mormon when it comes issues of science and truth – DNA evidence has simply showed that past prophetic teachings on the subject of the Lamanites is in error and such teachings are no longer relevant for today. A new understanding of the Book of Mormon and new teaching from the Brethren will soon emerge that take into account the latest scientific findings. 5
However, if the Mormon Church is the only true church on the face of the earth and the only source for God-given modern-day revelation, and if indeed it is the only religion with authority and ability to bring man into a right relationship with God, then the teachings of these divinely inspired prophets and apostles are both absolutely true and absolutely essential for all people. Since the claimed source for such teaching is God Himself, any error in the teaching of Mormon leaders undermines the credibility of their claim to speak in His name.
What must be understood at the outset is that no faith community can have it both ways. Either there is God-to-man revelation with objective content coming through divinely appointed and inspired leaders or there is not. The Mormon Church has canonized the assertion that the Lord will never allow the Prophet to lead others astray (D&C Declaration I). The question is: Has he? Can official teachings and Scriptural interpretations be set aside or deemed erroneous without invalidating the authority of those making them? This is crucial to the discussion of scientific evidence and the Book of Mormon.
This paper brings together the three critical components that relate to Mormon revelation in the context of DNA studies pertinent to the Book of Mormon. It is divided into three parts. Part One will look at official Mormon teaching on the subject of the Lamanites and how it has been embraced by the membership, especially in Latin America and the Polynesian islands.
Part Two will provide a brief summary of the relevant data regarding DNA studies related to the ethnic origins of Native Americans and Polynesians, including statements from scientists like Thomas Murphy, Dennis O’Rourke and Simon Southerton, as well as a synopsis of the genetic data provided by Southerton in his recent book, Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church, (Signature Books, 2004). This data provides additional support for the view that the Book of Mormon is fictitious and that both Joseph Smith in his day and the Mormon Church today are advancing spurious claims when they present it as an historical record of actual peoples.
Part Three will explore the resulting tensions and conflicts between traditional Mormon teaching and the scientific data. It will also survey some of the Mormon scholarly defenses to this new challenge and examine their validity and relevance.
In the conclusion I will offer suggestions on how this issue can be used to engage Mormon people in fresh, frank dialogue regarding:
the model of truth and revelation one employs within his worldview
the level of confidence one should have in the Book of Mormon and the truth test used to validate it
the reliability of Mormon leaders, from Joseph Smith to Gordon B. Hinckley
the integrity of Mormon proselytizing among Native Americans and Polynesians
Context and backdrop
For the past 175 years the Mormon Church has taught that Native Americans from Alaska to Argentina were direct descendants of the Book of Mormon Lamanites. This has been done in both official and unofficial contexts. Since the early 1850s Mormons speculated that Polynesians were also descendants of Lehi. This received prophetic approval with Brigham Young’s 1858 declaration that “Those islanders, and the natives of this country are of the House of Israel, of the seed of Abraham” (Addison Pratt, cited by Simon Southerton, Losing a Lost Tribe, p. 49). This belief in an ancestral link of Native American peoples and Polynesians to the Israelite protagonists of the Book of Mormon story persists among the vast majority of Mormons to this day. While some Mormon leaders and scholars have taught otherwise, their positions have not gained wide acceptance. 6
Part 1: Book of Mormon History according to the Mormon Church
Official Mormon Teaching
Official Mormon teaching is found in various sources including Scriptures, Church curriculum and official Church publications featuring quotes from the highest ecclesiastical leaders. Following are direct quotes from the sources unless otherwise indicated, arranged in chronological order. Some Mormon apologists will argue that only the four standard works should be considered official and normative teaching. The answer to this objection is found in the Student Manual for Religion 333, published by the Mormon Church regarding the words of the Living Prophets:
Prophets have the right to personal opinions. Not every word they speak should be thought of as an official interpretation or pronouncement. However, their discourses to the Saints and their official writings should be considered products of their prophetic calling and should be heeded.
… The prophet does not have to say “Thus saith the Lord” to give us scripture. (Teachings of the Living Prophets: Student Manual for Religion 333, copyright 1982, Corporation of the President, Church of JCLDS, p. 21).
This manual also cites Elder Ezra Taft Benson’s BYU devotional talk titled, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophets,” in which he says:
Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. The living prophet has the power of TNT. By that I mean "Today's News Today." …. Therefore, the most important reading we can do is any of the words of the prophet contained each week in the Church Section of the Deseret News, and any words of the prophet contained each month in our Church magazines. (“Fourteen Fundamentals In Following The Prophets,” President Ezra Taft Benson, BYU Devotional Assembly Tuesday, February 26, 1980, 10:00 a.m.) 7
Thus, a prophet’s words, published in church magazines become for the Mormon membership, “the most important reading we can do.”
Term “Lamanite” Defined
President Spencer W. Kimball:
The term Lamanite includes all Indians and Indian mixtures, such as the Polynesians, the Guatemalans, the Peruvians, as well as the Sioux, the Apache, the Mohawk, the Navajo, and others. It is a large group of great people. (“Of Royal Blood,” Ensign, July 1971, p. 7)
Ethnic origins of the Lamanites – or – Were the Lamanites really direct blood descendants of the Hebrews?
From the Book of Mormon
“And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.” (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 30:4)
Joseph Smith
According to Joseph Smith, an angel sent from God told him that Native Americans were “literal descendants of Abraham.”
When I was about 17 years old I saw another vision of angels in the night season after I had retired to bed I had not been asleep, … all at once the room was illuminated above the brightness of the sun an angel appeared before me … he said unto me I am a messenger sent from God, be faithful and keep his commandments in all things, he told me of a sacred record which was written on plates of gold, I saw in the vision the place where they were deposited, he said the Indians were the literal descendants of Abraham (The Papers of Joseph Smith, Vol. 2, Journal, 1832-1842, edited by Dean C. Jessee, Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, copyright 1992 Corporation of the President, pp. 69-70, emphasis added).
At the grove President [Joseph] Smith addressed the Indians at some length, upon what the Lord had revealed to him concerning their forefathers, and recited to them the promises contained in the Book of Mormon respecting themselves. … How their hearts must have glowed as they listened to the prophet relate the story of their forefathers—their rise and fall; and the promises held out to them of redemption from their fallen state! (B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2:88-89, 1957)
President John Taylor
President Taylor renewed missionary labors among the Lamanites following a revelation he claimed to receive in October of 1882. The revelation stated in part:
Thus saith the Lord to the Twelve, and to the Priesthood and people of my Church: … proceed forthwith and call to your aid any assistance that you may require from among the Seventies to assist you in your labors in introducing and maintaining the gospel among the Lamanites throughout the land (Revelation to John Taylor, 13 October 1882, section 83:1,6, in Unpublished Revelations, compiled by Fred Colier, 1979, p. 138).
Sociologist and historian, Armand L. Mauss, notes that a few days following this revelation, President Taylor elaborated on its meaning in a letter in which he stated:
The work of the Lord amongst the Lamanites must not be postponed if we desire to retain the approval of God. Thus far we have been content to simply baptize them and then let them run wild again; but this must continue no longer; the same devoted effort; the same care in instructing; the same organization of the Priesthood, must be introduced and maintained among the house of Lehi … 8
Thus in the case of both Joseph Smith and President Taylor, the identity of Native Americans as Lamanites descended from Abraham and Lehi, is linked to direct revelation from God.
Elder Spencer W. Kimball (Apostle, President)
And Lehi and his family became the ancestors of all of the Indian and Mestizo tribes in North and South and Central America and in the islands of the sea (“Of Royal Blood,” Ensign, July 1971, p. 7, emphasis added).
M. Dallas Burnett
The CJCLDS is unique in its theological and philosophical understanding of the peoples in the Americas known as Indians and of the inhabitants of the Pacific Islands. These people are a remnant of the House of Jacob and descendants of Lehi, an Israelite who left Jerusalem and came to the Americas around 600 B.C. (“Lamanites and the Church,” Ensign, July 1971, p. 11).
Harold Brown
The redemption of the Lamanite as a remnant of scattered Israel, in accordance with Book of Mormon prophecy, is one of the vital responsibilities and opportunities of the restored church (“What Is a Lamanite?” Ensign, Sept. 1972, p. 62ff).
Elder Mark E. Petersen (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles)
As the ancient Israelites suffered a dispersion which sprinkled them among all the nations, so the descendants of Laman and Lemuel [sons of Lehi] were sifted over the vast areas of the western hemisphere. They are found from pole to pole (Children of Promise, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1981, p. 31; emphasis added).
What is the Book of Mormon?, missionary pamphlet published by Mormon Church in 1982, p. 3.
Lehi’s people and Mulek’s people eventually merged and became one nation, the ancestors of the American Indians. The Book of Mormon is the ancient history of this people, telling of their wars, movements, kings, and their religion—which was the religion of Israel, for these people were Israelites and practiced the law of Moses.
Elder Ted E. Brewerton (G.A)
Many migratory groups came to the Americas, but none was as important as the three mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The blood of these people flows in the veins of the Blackfoot and the Blood Indians of Alberta, Canada; in the Navajo and the Apache of the American Southwest; the Inca of western South America; the Aztec of Mexico; the Maya of Guatemala; and in other Native American groups in the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific islands. These choice native people recognize the truth of the Book of Mormon, which was recorded for them by their own ancestors. (“The Book of Mormon: A Sacred Ancient Record,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 30ff).
President Gordon B. Hinckley
President Hinckley next visited Lima, Peru, where he met with missionaries and held two conferences attended by a total of 28,000 Latter-day Saints. …President Hinckley recognized the Book of Mormon heritage of his listeners in Lima: “As I look into your faces, I think of Father Lehi, whose sons and daughters you are. I think he must be shedding tears today, tears of love and gratitude. … This is but the beginning of the work in Peru. This work of the Almighty will go on and grow and grow.” (“God’s Holy Work” in Peru, in “News of the Church,” Ensign, Feb. 1997, 73).
President Gordon B. Hinckley
“I sense a great spirit of gratitude for this new temple,” remarked President Hinckley. “The Saints have waited a very, very long time.” He continued: “It has been a very interesting thing to see the descendants of Father Lehi in the congregations that have gathered in the temple. So very many of these people have the blood of Lehi in their veins, and it is just an intriguing thing to see their tremendous response and their tremendous interest.” (Remarks at the dedication of the Guayaquil, Ecuador temple, reported in “News of the Church,” Ensign, Oct. 1999, p. 74)
President Gordon B. Hinckley
The Cochabamba Bolivia Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley in four sessions on 30 April 2000. In his dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley said: “This nation is named for Simón Bolívar, the great liberator of much of South America, who died the year Thy restored Church was organized. May the incomparable principle of democracy be preserved forever in this republic. We remember before Thee the sons and daughters of Father Lehi. Wilt Thou keep Thine ancient promises in their behalf. Lift from their shoulders the burdens of poverty and cause the shackles of darkness to fall from their eyes. May they rise to the glories of the past. May they recognize their Redeemer and be faithful and true Saints of the Most High.” (Remarks at the dedication of the Cochabamba, Bolivia temple, reported in “News of the Church,” Ensign, July, 2000, p. 74)
Lamanite geographic expansion – Were the Lamanites a small grouping of people confined to a limited geographic region?
Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith — History, 1:34, Joseph Smith relates that “[Moroni] said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from which they sprang.”
Joseph Smith (1834)
In June of 1834 Joseph Smith identified a skeleton found in an Indian burial mound in Illinois as that of a Lamanite warrior named Zelph. The Zelph incident is especially significant in that Smith claimed to have made the identification by divine revelation:
... the visions of the past being opened to my understanding by the Spirit of the Almighty, I discovered the person whose skeleton was before us was a white Lamanite, a large, thick-set man, and a man of God. His name was Zelph ... who was known from the Hill Cumorah, or eastern sea to the Rocky mountains (History of the Church, 7 vols. (Deseret Book Co., 1946), II:79,80. See also, Times and Seasons, Vol. 6, no. 20 (Jan. 1846), p. 1076, which states that the Illinois burial mounds were “thrown up by the ancient inhabitants of this county, Nephites, Lamanites &c.” and that “He [Zelph] was killed in battle, by the arrow found among his ribs, during the last great struggle of the Lamanites and Nephites.”
Perhaps one of the most extended critiques and outright rejection of the limited geography theory for the Book of Mormon comes from 10th Mormon President and Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith in three volume work, Doctrines of Salvation, (Bookcraft, SLC, 1956). The following quotes are excerpted from over eight pages devoted to this subject. Expanded excerpts are found in the supplemental material at the end of this paper which includes a link to this material online.
Joseph Fielding Smith
Speculation About Book of Mormon Geography. Within recent years there has arisen among certain students of the Book of Mormon a theory to the effect that within the period covered by the Book of Mormon, the Nephites and Lamanites were confined almost entirely within the borders of the territory comprising Central America and the southern portion of Mexico—the isthmus of Tehauntepec probably being the "narrow neck" of land spoken of in the Book of Mormon rather than the isthmus of Panama (p. 233).
Locale Of Cumorah, Ramah, And Ripliancum. This modernistic theory of necessity, in order to be consistent, must place the waters of Ripliancum and the Hill Cumorah some place within the restricted territory of Central America, notwithstanding the teachings of the Church to the contrary for upwards of 100 years. (p. 233, emphasis added)
Early Brethren Locate Cumorah In Western New York … the Prophet Joseph Smith himself is on record, definitely declaring the present hill called Cumorah to be the exact hill spoken of in the Book of Mormon. …. In the face of this evidence coming from the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer, we cannot say that the Nephites and Lamanites did not possess the territory of the United States and that the Hill Cumorah is in Central America. Neither can we say that the great struggle which resulted in the destruction of the Nephites took place in Central America. (pp. 234, 239-240. emphasis in original)
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, Lesson 40: “Then Will I Gather Them In”, Purpose, p. 177ff, copyright 2004 Intellectual Reserve —
The Savior prophesies of the temporal gathering of the house of Israel. Have a class member read 3 Nephi 16:16 and 3 Nephi 20:14 aloud. According to these verses, what specific promise did the Lord extend to the Nephites? (They would be given the lands of the Americas as an inheritance. See also 2 Nephi 1:5–7.)” emphasis added.
Letter from First Presidency regarding Hill Cumorah location, October 16, 1990 —
Brother S — inquired about the location of the Hill Cumorah mentioned in the Book of Mormon, where the last battle between the Nephites and Lamanites took place.
The Church has long maintained, as attested to by references in the writings of General Authorities, that the Hill Cumorah in western New York state is the same as referenced in the Book of Mormon.
Note: This is significant in that it expands the Book of Mormon lands at least to upstate New York where the final battle took place, making it impossible to limit Book of Mormon geography to a small region of Central America. (Copy of letter on file at Institute for Religious Research)
“The Lamanites (Introduction)”, Ensign, July 1971, p. 5 — “Most members of the Church know that the Lamanites, who consist of the Indians of all the Americas as well as the islanders of the Pacific, are a people with a special heritage.”
Spencer W. Kimball (Apostle, President)
Now the Lamanites number about sixty million; they are in all of the states of America from Tierra del Fuego [Southern Argentina] all the way up to Point Barrows [Alaska], and they are in nearly all the islands of the sea from Hawaii south to southern New Zealand (“Of Royal Blood,” Ensign, July 1971, p. 7)
President Spencer W. Kimball
This process of redeeming the Lamanite people has been far from easy, especially for the Lamanites themselves. For a thousand years after the closing of the Book of Mormon record, these people wandered in spiritual darkness and were scattered upon the American continents and the isles of the sea. … When Columbus came, these descendants of the Book of Mormon peoples and those with whom they had mixed numbered in the millions and covered the islands of the Pacific and the Americas from Point Barrow to Tierra del Fuego.
… So, my appeal today is for the Lamanites, all the Lamanites, the Mexicans, the Polynesians, the Indians, to live the commandments of God and prove themselves worthy of this choice land. (First Presidency Message “Our Paths Have Met Again,” Ensign, Dec. 1975, p. 2 ff)
This is the beginning of a great fulfillment of prophecy and promise that the gospel message would be carried back to these people, ideally by messengers of their own great Lamanite heritage. …. The Missionary Department informs us that more and more Lamanite young men are accepting mission calls. There have been more stakes and wards organized in Lamanite areas. … Much more must be done, and the magnitude of Lamanite work in the heart of Central and South America largely still awaits us. (“First Presidency Message "The Uttermost Parts of the Earth" Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, July 1979, p. 2ff.).
Elder Ballard
Elder Ballard made this reference to the work that would be done among the Lamanites in the South American lands: —“And we also pray that we may see the beginning of the fulfillment of thy promises contained in the Book of Mormon to the Indians of this land, who are descendants of Lehi, millions of whom reside in this country, who have long been downtrodden and borne many afflictions and suffered because of sin and transgression, even as the prophets of the Book of Mormon did foretell. …(Cited by Dean L. Larsen, “Mingled Destinies: The Lamanites and the Latter-day Saints,” Ensign, Dec. 1975, p. 8)
Genetic connection of Lamanites with indigenous peoples of the Americas
Spencer W. Kimball
At the October 1960 Mormon General Conference, then Apostle Spencer W. Kimball linked the Native Americans to Book of Mormon prophecies regarding the day of the Lamanites found in 2 Nephi 30:3-6, which states:
[3]And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth [Book of Mormon], and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed. [Native Americans]
[4] And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.
[5] And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.
[6] And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white and delightsome people. [Note: About 22 years after Kimball’s General Conference address, this Book of Mormon passage was changed to read “pure and delightsome.”]
Apostle Kimball, alluding to this Mormon prophecy, proclaimed the following in his discourse titled “The Day of the Lamanites”:
I saw a striking contrast in the progress of the Indian people today ... they are fast becoming a white and delightsome people ... The day of the Lamanites is nigh. For years they have been growing delightsome, and they are now becoming white and delightsome, as they were promised. The children in the home placement program in Utah are often lighter than their brothers and sisters in the hogans on the reservation.
At one meeting a father and mother and their sixteen-year-old daughter were present, the little member girl - sixteen - sitting between the dark father and mother, and it was evident she was several shades lighter than her parents - on the same reservation, in the same hogan, subject to the same sun and wind and weather... These young members of the Church are changing to whiteness and to delightsomeness. One white elder joked that he and his companion were donating blood regularly to the hospital in the hope that the process might be accelerated.
… Not only the southwest Indians, but Lamanites in general, are facing an open door to education, culture, refinement, progress, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church has spent its millions in Hawaii and New Zealand and other islands to provide schools for the young Lehites. Surely no descendants need go now without an education, and schools (Spencer W. Kimball, "The Day of the Lamanites," Improvement Era, Dec. 1960, pp. 922-923, 925, emphasis added).
M. Dallas Burnett
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is unique in its theological and philosophical understanding of the peoples in the Americas known as Indians and of the inhabitants of the Pacific islands. These people are a remnant of the House of Jacob and descendants of Lehi, an Israelite who left Jerusalem and came to the Americas around 600 B.C. Found in the Book of Mormon, a record of revelations received by these ancient peoples, are great promises for the Lamanites (“Lamanites and the Church,” Ensign, July 1971, p. 11ff.)
Spencer W. Kimball
With pride I tell those who come to my office that a Lamanite is a descendant of one Lehi who left Jerusalem six hundred years before Christ and with his family crossed the mighty deep and landed in America. And Lehi and his family became the ancestors of all of the Indian and Mestizo tribes in North and South and Central America and in the islands of the sea, for in the middle of their history there were those who left America in ships of their making and went to the islands of the sea. (page 7)
My brothers and sisters, you belong to a great race. Your father is Joseph who was sold into Egypt, the virtuous man who went to prison rather than yield to the seduction of a queen. Your father was Jacob, the father of twelve sons. You came through one of them. One of the great prophets of all times, your father, was Isaac. Another great prophet, your father, was Abraham, than whom there were no greater ones. Abraham was a great man who walked and talked with God. He is your father back those many generations. Be proud of him and know that you are of royal blood; with your royal blood you can achieve, rising to the top. (page 10).
There are no blessings, of all the imaginable ones, to which you are not entitled—you, the Lamanites—when you are righteous. You are of royal blood, the children of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Lehi (“Of Royal Blood,” Ensign, July 1971, p. 10).
Harold Brown
The redemption of the Lamanite as a remnant of scattered Israel, in accordance with Book of Mormon prophecy, is one of the vital responsibilities and opportunities of the restored church
As the gospel is taught in various nations of the Americas and on the Pacific islands, missionary programs for Lamanite and mestizo segments of the population might well be adapted to the language and the ethnic position of the descendants of Father Lehi in each nation. Missionary work in Bolivia, for instance, is done in Spanish and in two Indian languages, Quechua and Aymará (“What Is a Lamanite?” Ensign, Sept. 1972, 62ff).
Boyd K. Packer (Senior Apostle over Lamanite affairs) 9
There are more than 60 million people of Lamanite extraction. It is no accident that the Church now prospers among them in Mexico, Central and South America, in the islands of the sea, and among the Indian tribes of North America. (“President Spencer W. Kimball: No Ordinary Man,” Ensign, Mar. 1974, 3ff).
In contrast to the relatively few in North America who could claim Lamanite lineage (1.3 million), Packer pointed to the many millions in Mexico, Yucatan, Guatemala, and throughout South America: “In all … there are seventy-five million six hundred thousand who share in your [Native American Lamanite] birthright, of whom thrity-one million nine hundred ninety thousand are pure Indians.” (Address given during proceedings of the annual Indian Week at BYU, cited by Armand L. Mauss, All Abraham’s Children, p. 96).
The Mormon Church teaching manual, Gospel Principles links the conversion of Native Americans to the coming of Jesus Christ when it states:
The Lord said that when his coming was near, the Lamanites would become a righteous and respected people. He said, “Before the great day of the Lord shall come, … the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose” (D&C 49:24). Great numbers of Lamanites in North and South America and the South Pacific are now receiving the blessings of the gospel. (Gospel Principles, 1997 edition, p. 268.)
Elder Gene R. Cook (First Quorum of the Seventy
My family and I are presently living in South America among the Lamanites — the children of Lehi, the people of the Book of Mormon, a people of great promise. For a number of years we have been witnesses to spiritual miracles among that people:
1. We have seen thousands converted to the Lord who had his law put into their minds and written in their hearts (see Heb. 8:10).
2. We have seen them organized into numerous stakes of Zion.
3. We have truly seen them “blossom as the rose” as prophecy has been fulfilled through them (see D&C 49:24). (Gene R. Cook, “Miracles among the Lamanites,” Ensign, Nov. 1980, 67.)
Elder Cook makes reference to an important prophetic Mormon scripture, Doctrine and Covenants 49:24, which says, "But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as a rose." Native American converts in North, South and Central America have been told repeatedly that since they are Lamanites, their conversion to Mormonism is a fulfillment of this Scripture, giving them not only special historical identity, but a prophetic one as well.
Modern Day Lamanites Embrace Their ‘Identity’
The September 1920 Improvement Era carried the conversion story of a prominent Mexican Mormon named Margarito Bautista. The heading of the article identified him as, “M. Bautista, a Descendant of Father Lehi.” It is clear from his testimony that the Mormon teaching of Israelite heritage in Native American people resonated with him, as Margarito wrote,
As a literal descendant of our Father Lehi, I feel in my soul that the gospel which was once known among my people but [was] taken away on account of transgression has been restored again to mankind. I feel that the Book of Mormon is one of the most glorious books on earth” (“A Faith Promoting Experience, Improvement Era 23 [September 1920]: 978-84, cited by Thomas W. Murphy, “Other Mormon Histories: Lamanite Subjectivity in Mexico,” Journal of Mormon History, 26:2 [Fall 2000], pp. 190-191.).
This perspective continues today among Mormon Latino membership. Thomas Murphy relates his experience in a priesthood meeting in Antigua, Guatemala:
Luis, (a pseudonym) was teaching a lesson on the Abrahamic Covenant. In the midst of the discussion Luis turned to me and explained that what distinguished Latin American Mormons from Anglo-American Mormons was the fact that the former were direct descendants of Abraham through the peoples of the Book of Mormon, while ‘los americanos’ or ‘los anglos’ were adopted into the Abrahamic covenant. This view was echoed by others in the group, and subsequent discussions indicated that a similar view was held by many Latin Americans.” (Thomas W. Murphy, “Reinventing Mormonism: Guatemala as Harbinger of the Future?”, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 29:1 [Spring 1996], pp. 178-179).
In my own travels to eight different Latin American countries in the past five years I’ve experienced similar incidents in both private conversations as well as public settings such as Mormon Temple open houses, wherein Native American or mestizo Mormons proudly spoke of their Lamanite identity and the unique connection this gives them to the Book of Mormon and the Mormon Church. There can be little doubt this has been an effective and oft-employed selling point in Mormon proselytizing among Native Americans in Latin America. When the Mormon Prophet tells members throughout the Americas that they are modern-day Lamanites, they seize upon this as an aspect of their identity that sets them apart. They have something the privileged, envied gringos do not:
a biblical identity as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph
a unique American identity as descendants of a race of people visited by Jesus Christ himself after his crucifixion and resurrection, with its accompanying ethnic link to Book of Mormon peoples (and they have the dark skin as proof) and,
a prophetic identity as they are the people whose conversion to Mormonism will signal the second coming of Jesus Christ.
This Lamanite identity has been a source of Amerindian pride for Latino Mormons in a Caucasian-dominated Church. But this identity is in jeopardy given the current scientific data.
Part 2: Relevant Scientific Facts and Data
This section will briefly review the implications of the following facts:
There is general scientific consensus on these points
DNA studies can determine ethnic history
The question for today’s Mormons, especially those of Native American ancestry is, should they really be considering themselves Lamanites? Is this an authentic ethnic heritage they have a reason to be proud of, or have they been led astray and proselytized under false pretenses?
Genetic and ethnic links can be traced along both paternal and maternal genetic lines. The mapping is done using mitochondrial DNA (for maternal lines) and Y chromosome DNA (for paternal lines), grouping people by unique DNA lineages. According to Simon G. Southerton, senior research scientist with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Canberra, Australia, “Mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA are particularly useful for studying human population because they remain remarkably intact from generation to generation.” (Southerton, 2004, p. 67).
Along maternal lines, DNA research done with over 7000 Native Americans from about 175 different groups showed that maternal lineages among Native Americans predominantly fall into four lines, designated A, B, C and D. All four of these are found in moderate frequencies in Asian populations, but are absent in all others. Therefore, 96.5% of Native Americans from Alaska to Southern Argentina show predominant Asian ancestry.
Paternal studies focus on molecular distinctives of the Y chromosome. Among Native Americans the most prevalent Y chromosome lineage has been designated Q. Once again, when compared with Asian, European and Middle Eastern Y chromosome types, Q is rare in either European or Middle Eastern populations but appear with moderate frequency in Asian populations. The Q lineage of the Y chromosome is present in 90% of South American Indians and about 75% of North American Indians, once again demonstrating the predominant Asian background of Native Americans (Southerton, 2004, pp. 88-93).
While not accepting it as conclusive, Mormon scholars acknowledge the legitimacy and efficacy of DNA studies for determining a person or group’s ethnic history. Sorenson gives the example of how DNA testing was used to confirm that a group of black South Africans known as the Lemba people were of Jewish origin. The group, which included Jewish priests, migrated first to Yemen and then to Southern Africa over 2000 years ago (Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 9:2, p. 70). Southerton found it notable that Sorenson acknowledges the persistence of these DNA markers in a group of people nearly 3000 years removed from their ethnic Semitic origin, yet is skeptical of its ability to do the same for a more recent Jewish ancestry in the Americas (Southerton, 2004, p. 190).
Indigenous peoples of the Americas lack Semitic or Hebraic genetic traces
Southerton states:
While apologists have long accepted the fact that other groups outside of the Book of Mormon record made their way to the New World, few apologists would have predicted that the Lamanite influence would be virtually undetectable. The accumulating DNA data has provided the first quantitative measures of an Israelite presence in the New World gene pool and it is slim to none (Southerton, 2004, p. 202).
Mongolian/Northern Asian ethnic descent clearly established.
DNA studies have only served to confirm the Northern Asian link to Native Americans. It has long been recognized that there are strong physical resemblances, as Southerton summarizes:
The two groups share morphological features characteristic of Mongoloid peoples such as straight black hair, prominent cheek bones, spare body hair, reddish to brown skin, relatively flat faces and the Mongoloid sacral spot (Crawford 1998). Other frequently shared traits are darkly colored eyes, the Mongoloid eye fold, and dental characteristics such as shovel-shaped incisors. (Southerton, 2004, p. 79).
Statements from the scientists
Dr. David Glenn Smith, Molecular anthropologist:
There is a comprehensive, widespread consensus among anthropologists today from all sub-disciplines of anthropology that the homeland of Native Americans is east Asia. … Characteristics of Jewish populations that are the most prominent in defining Jewishness are absent generally in Native American populations … If you look at genes that are most commonly found in Native American populations and those that are most commonly found in Jewish populations they don’t coincide at all. To my knowledge there is not any compelling evidence for a connection between Jewish populations and Native American populations based on genetics. … There is simply no close connections mitochondrially between any Jewish population that I am aware and any Native American population that I’m aware of. (From interview conducted by Living Hope Ministries found at http://www.mscbc.org/dna_sci.htm )
Randall Shortridge, Ph.D., Molecular Biologist
The overwhelming evidence negates the claim, the Book of Mormon claim, that the American Indian represents a genealogical descendant from Israel. (DNA v. the Book of Mormon video transcript, p. 11)
Dr. Dennis O'Rourke, Molecular Geneticist
The molecular data, the DNA data, indicate the closest affinities of contemporary Native American populations are with populations in east Asia and central Asia. I think it is true that there is a scientific consensus that the original peoples that came to the Americas came from Asia. (Living Hope Ministries interview found at http://www.mscbc.org/dna_sci.htm ).
Thomas Murphy, Mormon Anthropologist
As a Mormon anthropologist I have a serious problem with the Book of Mormon representations of American Indians, not only does it claim that Lamanites are principal ancestors of the American Indians but throughout the text it repeatedly refers to them as Israelites, descendants of Joseph, as descendants of the biblical patriarchs, of Abraham, those repeated references to an ancient Israelite connection have been clearly invalidated by scientific research into the genes of American Indians. … What is most significant about the genetic research and its applicability to the Book of Mormon is that it validates what we already knew from other scientific disciplines. From biological anthropology more generally, we knew a long time ago that American Indians resembled Asians and particularly the people from the regions around Mongolia, and Siberia more than they did any other peoples. Archeologically we knew that there were similarities between the cultures of north east Asia and those of the early Americans … We also knew based on the linguistic evidence that American Indians shared a common ancestry with at least some of the north east Asians and Siberians so we had all this other evidence from scientific disciplines as diverse as linguistics, archaeology and human biology all showing us an Asian origin of the American Indians. Now the genetic data confirms what we already knew from that other material. (Interview quoted at: http://www.mscbc.org/dna_sci.htm
Simon Southerton, Molecular Biologist, former Mormon Bishop
It was during my second year as a bishop that I stumbled upon DNA research on Native Americans and became quite concerned with what I was reading because as a plant molecular biologist I dealt with DNA all the time. I was extracting DNA from plants and cloning genes, sequencing DNA and I was very familiar with the fundamental technology that was used in these research papers on native Americans and I very quickly over a couple of weeks discovered that in excess of 99% of Native Americans were clearly descended from Asian ancestors. I was a Latter-day Saint that hadn’t been exposed to any research so threatening to my beliefs, and I was deeply, deeply shocked to find that research and DNA evidence that I understood particularly well would so fundamentally challenge the beliefs that I had. And I for several weeks lived with two completely contradictory beliefs in my brain. On the one side I was deeply committed to a belief in the Book of Mormon and to the beliefs of the church which taught that the Native Americans were principally descended from the Lamanites who were derived from Israel. But on the other hand I was faced with DNA research which I had a high degree of confidence in, which completely and utterly contradicted my beliefs. I knew without a doubt that greater than 99% of Native Americans were undoubtedly related to Siberians and not to the Lamanites, to Israelites. And it was only after two weeks that I was able to sort of come to terms with the problem here and that was that the only alternative was that the Book of Mormon beliefs that I had were just not right. And the only way that I could honestly confront this research was to say to my leaders from now on I cannot serve as a bishop because I’m so deeply troubled by some research that I’ve come across. (DNA v. the Book of Mormon, video transcript, pp. 26-27).
Simon Southerton, Molecular Biologist, former Mormon Bishop
If the Y-chromosomes all come from Asia and the mitochondrial genomes all come from Asia, then the only explanation for where all the rest of the chromosomes come from is Asia. That is a very scientifically valid explanation; it’s the only explanation. In excess of a hundred and fifty tribes have been tested now, these are scattered all over north and central and south America, even to Greenland. And from the survey in excess of five and a half thousand individuals have been involved and have been tested, from those five and a half thousand… 99.4 percent of Native Americans have a mitochondrial DNA lineage that originated in Asia. There can be no question, 99.4%. The other 0.6% have either a European or an African mitochondrial lineage. The very tiny minority of European and African lineages that they do find came after Columbus.” (DNA v. the Book of Mormon, video transcript, p. 17-18).
Part 3: Mormon Responses to the DNA Challenge
This section examines ways Mormon apologists and scholars have attempted to defend the Book of Mormon. There has been no “official” response from the Mormon Church regarding the DNA research, Native Americans and the implications for the Book of Mormon, other than the statement posted on the Mormon.org website under the heading “Mistakes in the News” which states:
DNA and the Book of Mormon
Various media outlets, 11 November 2003
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is exactly what it claims to be — a record of God’s dealings with peoples of ancient America and a second witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. The strongest witness of the Book of Mormon is to be obtained by living the Christ-centered principles contained in its pages and by praying about its truthfulness.
Recent attacks on the veracity of the Book of Mormon based on DNA evidence are ill considered. Nothing in the Book of Mormon precludes migration into the Americas by peoples of Asiatic origin. The scientific issues relating to DNA, however, are numerous and complex. Those interested in a more detailed analysis of those issues are referred to the resources below.
There are links to five articles, four of which have been published in the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, a publication of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies [FARMS] at Brigham Young University. The articles are the basis for understanding the Mormon response to the DNA challenge.
For each article I will look at the foundational statements or arguments set forth to counter the DNA challenge to the Book of Mormon and provide observations and critiques on the Mormon defense proposed.
"Before DNA" (John L. Sorenson and Matthew Roper, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, 2003). In this article the authors argue for a comparatively small population of Nephites occupying a limited section of Mesoamerica and surrounded by a much larger non-Semitic population. The presence of non-Israelite peoples can be assumed, even though they are not mentioned, because the small group of people mentioned in 2 Nephi 5 would not have had the ability to build temples, put together an army or engage in wars. Since the Book of Mormon attributes such things to the Nephites, this must mean that their small group was surrounded by much larger groups of people. These people then joined with the Nephites in order to help them accomplish all the tasks that are mentioned in the Book of Mormon. In the process of intermarriage, all traces of Jewish ancestry were lost.
It is very interesting to note defenders of the Book of Mormon utilizing the same arguments to support the Book of Mormon’s historicity and it’s authenticity that critics of Mormonism have used for the past several decades to discredit it. 10 Yet, in their appeal to a new understanding of Book of Mormon history, Mormon apologists who seek to defuse DNA-based criticism, provide interpretations that run counter to the explanations and defenses of the Book of Mormon given in materials published by the Mormon Church. For example, Sorenson and Roper argue that the Nephites had to have been surrounded by other peoples with whom they joined forces, otherwise it is not feasible that they would be able to build a temple “like unto Solomon.” Sorenson and Roper state, “So few men could not have put up much of a temple.” (p. 14) And yet in the Book of Mormon Student Manual for Religion classes 121 and 122, published by the Mormon Church in 1989, the argument advanced is that the temple of Solomon was not so big, and that “it was quite possible for a small number of Nephites to erect a temple as large as that erected by Solomon, omitting the costly ornamentations.” (BOM Student Manual, p. 26).
Another example of the Sorenson-Roper attempt to rewrite Book of Mormon history is where they state that early Mormon leaders “did not read the text carefully on matters of doctrine.” The result is that “no statement shows that anyone read the scripture closely enough to grasp the fact that the plates Mormon gave to Moroni were never buried in the hill of the final Nephite battle.” (emphasis added, p. 10). It would appear that Mormon leaders are still not “reading the scripture closely enough” given the following statement by Elder Mark Peterson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until his death in 1984:
Moroni’s father was commander of the armies of this ancient people, known as Nephites. His name was Mormon. The war of which we speak took place here in America some four hundred years after Christ. (See Mormon 6.)
As the fighting neared its end, Mormon gathered the remnant of his forces about a hill which they called Cumorah, located in what is now the western part of the state of New York.
Their enemies, known as Lamanites, came against them on this hill. … Then he spoke of other leaders serving with him in the Nephite army, all of whom had fallen with the forces under their command. He accounted for about a quarter of a million Nephite soldiers killed in that final encounter at Cumorah.
… At the time Mormon recorded the details of this dreadful tragedy, he said that only twenty-four remained alive of all the men, women, and children of the Nephites. These surviving few were themselves killed the next day—with one exception, Moroni, whom the Lord spared to close up the written record.
When finished with the record, Moroni was to hide it up in that same Hill Cumorah which was their battlefield. It would come forth in modern times as the Book of Mormon, named after Moroni’s father, the historian who compiled it. (Mark E. Petersen, “The Last Words of Moroni,” Ensign, Nov. 1978, 57ff, emphasis added).
Sorenson and Roper are in essence saying, “Our highest spiritual leaders and our primary teaching manuals have been wrong for over 150 years. Presidents, Prophets and Apostles have been in error and have been leading Mormon people astray for the entire history of the Church up until the present.” Will the Mormon Church’s spiritual leadership defer to the apologists and academicians? Given the articles provided on the official Mormon website, it would appear to some degree they already have. I’m guessing there will be no more Ensign articles on the Lamanites, nor will presentations to Hispanic members or speeches given in a Latin American context refer to those present as descendants of Lehi who have the blood of Abraham in their veins. Nor is it likely that future Dedicatory prayers will praise those in attendance as “sons and daughters of Father Lehi.” Slowly, yet deliberately, church manuals, magazines and General Conference speeches will be revised to exclude any connection between Book of Mormon Lamanites and Amerindian peoples living today. Such references undermine the limited geography theory and therefore have ever decreasing usefulness as the Mormon Church attempts to salvage Book of Mormon credibility by adopting a limited geography model.
What is notable is that both Mormon and non-Mormon writers find glaring problems with proposed limited geography theories. Mormon writer Earl M. Wunderli provides an extensive and detailed critique of the Limited geography theory advocated by Sorenson and others. His rejection of it is based primarily on internal evidence from the Book of Mormon and he draws the following conclusions in a recent Dialogue article:
Sorenson and other Mormon scholars have recognized that the traditional hemispheric model no longer works, but their solution of a limited geography model does not work either. Sorenson’s model requires contorting terminology and text to make a case riven by esoteric complication. His model wanders far afield from what the Book of Mormon straightforwardly describes. It solves many problems with the hemispheric model but only at great cost to the Book of Mormon’s internal reliability as scripture, as a book that presumably means what it says (Earl M. Wunderli, “Critique of a Limited Geography for the Book of Mormon Events,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, v. 35:3 [Fall 2002], p. 197).
As of this writing I could find no response by Mormon apologists to Wunderli’s detailed 36-page critique.
Mormon researcher and writer, Brent Metcalf, also provides a cogent analysis of the problems raised by the new apologetic defenses suggested by Roper and Sorenson, noting that “Such theories turn traditional understandings of Book of Mormon lands and peoples, including Joseph Smith’s revelations, on their head.” (Metcalfe, Sunstone 131 (March 2004), p. 20. In his article, “Reinventing Lamanite Identity,” Metcalfe provides evidence from the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith himself that the Mormon apologists’ novel interpretations are unsupported and unwarranted. For example he cites the Mormon Scripture, Joseph Smith – History, v. 34 which says that the Book of Mormon plates contain “an account of the former inhabitants of this [the North American] continent, and the source from whence they sprang.” Metcalfe concludes that:
apologetic scholars have an arduous task ahead of them. They have yet to explain cogently why all the Book of Mormon characters—God included—seemingly know nothing about the hordes of indigenous peoples that the revisionist theories require; … and why their word should count more than that of Mormon prophets on the one hand, and that of secular scholars on the other (Metcalfe, p. 23).
"DNA and the Book of Mormon: A Phylogenetic Perspective" (Michael F. Whiting, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, 2003). Applying DNA studies to the Book of Mormon assumes the validity of the “global colonization hypothesis”.
The local colonization hypothesis is more limited in scope, includes many more complicating factors from a genetic perspective, is much more difficult to investigate by way of DNA evidence, and, in my view and that of Book of Mormon scholars, is a more accurate interpretation of the Lamanite lineage history. This hypothesis suggests that when the three colonizing parties came to the New World, the land was already occupied in whole or in part by people of an unknown genetic heritage. (Whiting, p. 31).
Whiting’s operating premise then is that the Book of Mormon peoples were of such a small number and found in such a limited geographical area that “there is no expectation that the descendants of the Lamanites should have any specific type of genetic signal, since their genetic signal was easily mixed and swamped out by other inhabitants of unknown genetic origin.” (Whiting, p. 31). He later states that according to the local colonization hypothesis, “the Lamanite lineage did not populate the whole North and South American continent.” (Whiting, p. 33). Given his starting point, Whiting’s argument is logical, scientifically sound and accurately relates the difficulties such a scenario would cause for even finding Lamanite genes. He does not debate that “Native Americans have a preponderance of genes that carry a genetic signature for Asian origination” (p. 35), and he acknowledges:
There is no statement within the text of the Book of Mormon identifying who these descendants might be, though later commentators and church leaders have associated them with the Native Americans and/or inhabitants of South and Central America. The introduction to the Book of Mormon states that the Lamanites were the “principal ancestors of the American Indians,” but this, again, is commentary not present in the original text and was based on the best knowledge of the time. (Whiting, p. 34).
However, this is a limited disclosure at best and a somewhat misleading since other Latter-day Scriptures and Mormon sources do identify the Lamanites. For example, the previously cited statement in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith — History, 1:34, where Joseph Smith relates that “[Moroni] said there was a book deposited, written upon gold plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent, and the source from which they sprang.” In the early Mormon publication, Times and Seasons, (March 1, 1842) III:707, Joseph Smith described the Book of Mormon as "the history of ancient America . . . from its first settlement by a colony that came from the tower of Babel [the Jaredites].” A later Mormon publication, a brochure distributed at the Hill Cumorah pageant, states: About A.D. 421 Moroni, the last survivor of a great civilization that inhabited the Americas from 600 B.C. to A.D. 420, buried in this hill a set of gold plates on which he recorded the history of his people” (“Welcome to Historic Mormon Country”).
These descriptions, provided by the founding Mormon Prophet 11 and current leaders of the Church he established, do not seem to fit with a limited geography hypothesis that now acknowledges the first inhabitants of the Americas were from Northern Asia thousands of years before the Jaredite landing, and which limits Book of Mormon peoples to a small 400 mile stretch of Central America. It also seems to too casually brush aside the Book of Mormon Introduction statement, as if no one of any spiritual authority had anything to do with the statement published in every English-language Book of Mormon since 1981. It also ignores the fact that Mormon prophets and presidents refer extensively to Book of Mormon passages to support their teachings on the identity and ultimate salvation of the Native Americans they’ve identified as Lamanites: For example, Spencer W. Kimball’s article, “Of Royal Blood,” in the Ensign, of July 1971, contained 10 references to Mormon Scriptures that pertained to the Lamanites. The article itself was adapted from an address he gave at the Lamanite Youth Conference on April 24, 1971 in Salt Lake City.
One can accept Whiting’s thesis and limit the Book of Mormon peoples and events to a small, barely discernable cultural blip on the radar screen of history and to some degree salvage the Book of Mormon from the ravages of DNA studies. But doing so requires acceptance of an arbitrary interpretation of Book of Mormon passages that touch on the extent of Book of Mormon geographical expansion. The limited geography / local colonization hypothesis requires a series of assumptions that go contrary to the natural reading of the Book of Mormon—witness the hemispheric geography understanding propagated by generations of Mormon leaders. Also, adopting a limited geography for the Book of Mormon comes at the cost of rejecting both the teachings of the Prophets of the Mormon Church and their interpretations of Mormon Scriptures.
"A Few Thoughts from a Believing Scientist" (John M. Butler, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, 2003, pp. 36-37) Butler’s primary point is stated early on in his short article. The Book of Mormon does not provide sufficient information on the biological backgrounds of Ishamel’s wife and the wives of his two sons (who would have provided the mitochondrial DNA lineages of the Nephites and Lamanites).
Thus we are left without enough information from the Book of Mormon record itself to identify definitively an appropriate genetic source population that could be used to calibrate the claims of the Book of Mormon. Likewise, we do not have sufficient information to declare the Book of Mormon not true” (p. 36).
Nor, according to Butler, is it possible to know if there is any genetic tie to the biblical patriarchs via Y chromosome male lineage.
… it is unclear whether or not these [Lehi’s] offspring would also have Manasseh, Joseph, Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham in their patrilineage” (p. 36).
After rehearsing other Book of Mormon ambiguities, Butler is content to settle for a scientific stalemate.
Thus, we are left where we started (and where I believe the Lord intended us to be)—in the realm of faith. A spiritual witness is the only way to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Although DNA studies have made links between Native Americans and Asians, these studies in no way invalidate the Book of Mormon despite the loud voices of detractors. (p. 37).
It appears Butler’s intent is to reassure the Mormon faithful that one can be a DNA scientist and still be “believing.” However, one wonders what or whom Butler believes. The Book of Mormon is indeed lacking certain lineage details, yet how necessary are they, in light of the proclamations of the living prophets? Should Mormon people believe Spencer W. Kimball when he is quoted in The Ensign of July 1971, pp. 7ff saying,
The term Lamanite includes all Indians and Indian mixtures, such as the Polynesians, the Guatemalans, the Peruvians, as well as the Sioux, the Apache, the Mohawk, the Navajo, and others. It is a large group of great people. (p. 7)
… There are no blessings, of all the imaginable ones, to which you are not entitled—you, the Lamanites—when you are righteous. You are of royal blood, the children of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Lehi (page 10).
In an attempt to leave the door open for other populations in the new world at the arrival of Lehi, Butler also questions the complete annihilation of the supposed Jaredite nation as related in the Book of Mormon. He suggests that Ether’s prophecy only relates to Coriantumr’s household, leaving open the possibility that breakaway groups of Jaredite descent would have not participated in the battle and would have survived. And yet, even a cursory reading of Ether chapters 13-15 makes it clear that while Coriantumr and all his household were to repent to avoid destruction, if they did not the people would be destroyed for “every soul should be destroyed save it were Coriantumr” (Ether 13:20-21).
There is no repentance, and war rages over the whole face of the land (v. 25) which lasts for years resulting in the deaths of millions of men as well as their wives and children and culminates in a final battle. Prior to this final battle, for four years the Jaredite people gather together “that they might get all who were upon the face of the land” (Ether 15:14). Once the people are gathered there is one final six-day battle at the Hill Ramah where everyone is killed except Coriantumr.
It is interesting that the Book of Mormon explains “and it was that same hill where my father Mormon did hide up the records unto the Lord, which were sacred” 12 (Ether 15:11). The Book of Mormon Index entry for Ramah, Hill reads: “Jaredite name for Hill Cumorah” thus unequivocally linking the two names to the same geographic location. Is it possible that current Mormon Church leaders, who have put the link to Butler’s article on their website, do not care if rank and file members follow Butler’s lead and call into question both the clear reading of his faith’s scriptures as well as the teachings of his church’s highest ecclesiastical leaders?
Accepting a limited geography/local colonization hypothesis requires a series of assumptions that go contrary to the natural reading of the Book of Mormon, a reading both assumed and taught by generations of Mormon leaders. Further, these assumptions are dictated by apologetic necessity.
"Who Are the Children of Lehi?" (D. Jeffrey Meldrum and Trent D. Stephens, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 12, no. 1, 2003, pp. 38-51.) This article forthrightly acknowledges the biological and cultural connection between New World and Asian populations, and cites genetic studies that conclude that “the origins of 99.6 percent of Native Americans are accounted for now by the five haplogroups: A,B,C,D, and X” and that the data gathered, “in concert with archaeological and anthropological studies, have largely confirmed the scientific hypothesis that northeast Asia is the primary source of the majority of the early inhabitants of the Americas” (p. 42).
The authors acknowledge that the hypothesis that all Native Americans are of Middle Eastern (Semitic) origins is advocated by people who accept the Book of Mormon, but admit this hypothesis is refuted by the genetic data (pp. 42-43). Like the previously cited apologists, Meldrum and Stephens also propose a limited scope and setting for the Book of Mormon:
The Book of Mormon is the account of a small group of people who lived on the American continent, interacting to some degree with the indigenous population but relatively isolated from the general historical events occurring elsewhere in the Americas (p. 44.)
Meldrum and Stephens concede that the assumption that all Native Americans are Lehi’s direct descendants “seems to have been held by many early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is still held by most today” (p. 40). Where has this view come from? According to the authors, “A superficial consideration of the Book of Mormon account has led to misconceptions about its scope and context” (p. 40). Unfortunately, what is left unsaid is where these “misconceptions” and “assumptions” originated. As shown previously, most Mormons today hold these views because they came from the teachings of their highest spiritual leaders. (See, for example, the 1990 letter from the First Presidency on the location of the Hill Cumorah.)
A unique contribution by Meldrum and Stephens is the idea that from Lehi there arose Nephite and Lamanite ‘cultures’ as opposed to ethnic groups. The Lamanites in particular should be understood as a cultural-political-religious group, not one defined by lineage (p. 39). The authors draw concepts from a book by Richard Dawkins entitled The Selfish Gene, in which he proposes the existence of a non-genetic replicating entity he calls a meme (rhymes with ‘cream’). Cultures and peoples are connected non-genetically by shared experiences or ideas passed on through social human interaction and imitation. The authors cite Dawson’s examples of memes as “tunes, ideas, catch-phrases, clothes, fashions, ways of making pots or of building arches” (p. 47). This concept is likened to those of ‘covenant’ and ‘kinship’ as social and religious unifying factors. These effectively render genetic connections irrelevant. According to Meldrum and Stephens,
The data suggest that a small colony under the leadership of Nephi established kinship within the fabric of a larger resident population. In effect, it was a situation of ‘them and us’—Lamanites and Nephites. The Nephites were the believers, while the Lamanites were everyone else (see for example Jacob 1:14; Alma 3:11). This perception differs little from the concept of “Jew and Gentile,” the latter term encompassing all non Jews. With final destruction of the Nephite kinship, all who remained in the Americas were “Lamanites. … All Native Americans are in fact descended from these “Lamanites”—these “Gentiles” of the record of Nephi’s people (p. 51).
While gutting the term Lamanite of any ethnic significance removes the indicting sting of DNA evidence contra the Book of Mormon, it in turn raises an important question. If since the close of the Book of Mormon everyone is a Lamanite, then Lamanite is no longer a valid ethnic identity or category. But if Lamanite is not an ethnic category connected to Hebrews who immigrated to the Western Hemisphere, then what hope is there of fulfilling the Book of Mormon prophecies that a Hebrew remnant would be gathered in the last days? As seen previously in this paper, Mormon Presidents, Apostles and General Authorities have spoken repeatedly of Lamanite conversions from all over the world as a fulfillment of Book of Mormon prophecies. These prophecies, which refer to the “gathering of Israel” (3 Nephi 21) the “remnant of our seed” (2 Nephi 30:3-4; D&C 19:26-27), and “the Day of the Lamanite” (Helaman 15:11-16), depend to a large degree on the identification of Lamanites as the Jewish remnant that is to be gathered. Mormon Church study manuals which provide interpretations of these prophecies given by modern-day prophets continue to teach this.
For example, The Book of Mormon Student Manual, Religion 121 and 122, from 1989, provides this commentary under the heading Helaman 15. “The Day of the Lamanite,”
The day of the Lamanite is here and the gospel brings opportunity. Millions from steep hillsides of Andean ranges and market their produce with llamas and burros. .. Millions in Ecuador, Chile and Bolivia serve in menial labor … Millions through North America are deprived, untrained, and achieving less than their potential. …The brighter day has dawned. The scattering has been accomplished – the gathering is in process. May the Lord bless us all as we become nursing parents unto our Lamanite brethren and hasten the fulfillment of the great promises made to them. (Spencer W. Kimball, cited in The Book of Mormon Student Manual, Religion 121 and 122, p. 111).
All such Book of Mormon prophetic interpretations are rendered null and void if, as Meldrum and Stephens suggest, “all who remained in the Americas were ‘Lamanites.’”
Like Butler previously, Meldrum and Stephens conclude that “the veracity of the claims of the Book of Mormon lies beyond the ken of modern DNA research” and that the “final implications of the book, as a witness of the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith and as another testament of the divinity of Jesus Christ, remain within the realm of faith and individual testimony” (p. 51).
"Does DNA Evidence Refute the Book of Mormon?" (Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Ph.D., 16 November 2003). In this 70+ page article (including over 10 pages of resource and bibliographic material) Mormon apologist Lindsay presents a dizzying array of quotes, sources and commentary pertaining to DNA studies. 13 His conclusions are similar to those of other Mormon scholar-apologists, to wit, the evidence is too complex, confusing and uncertain to allow us to be able to draw any negative conclusions about the Book of Mormon:
It is clear that the origins of the Americas are more complicated than previously thought. This applies not only to scientists, but to those who accept the Book of Mormon. Just as scientific progress requires abandoning old errant assumptions, increased knowledge of the Americas and improved understanding of the Book of Mormon text itself shows that many Latter-day Saints have incorrectly assumed that the Americas were a vacuum prior to Lehi’s arrival, and that Lehi’s group provided the primary genetic source for all Native Americas. These errant assumptions should be abandoned, but since the text does not make such claims, all we need abandon is our misunderstanding, not a sacred volume of scripture that is indeed an authentic ancient text.
Lindsay, like the apologists before him, concedes significant ground on “old errant assumptions” regarding the Book of Mormon, and yet like the aforementioned writers, makes no attempt to determine or identify where such ideas originated; ideas that now need to be abandoned. Lindsey also declares the Book of Mormon to be “an authentic ancient text” which in itself is a judgment of an historical, scientific nature.
Resultant Tensions and Conflicts
Scientific facts run counter to official teachings. Each of the articles provided on the official Mormon website frankly admit that the scientific evidence runs counter to traditional teachings. As Leavitt, Marshall and Crandall state in their article in a recent Dialogue, “Clearly, many Mormon leaders have taught the hemispheric model, so it should be no surprise that this is the scenario accepted by the majority of church members.” (“The Search for the Seed of Lehi, Leavitt, et. al., Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 36:4 (Winter 2003), p. 137). Millions of Latter-day Saints have understood and embraced the clear teachings of their most trusted spiritual leaders and now a broad spectrum of objectively collected, carefully studied scientific data shows these leaders have been wrong. According to Mormon scholar Trent Stephens (Ph.D., professor of anatomy and embryology at Idaho State University) writing in the March 2004 issue of Sunstone magazine, there are four ways that people may react to the data regarding Native Americans and the Book of Mormon:
One—The data refute the historic authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Therefore, belief in the book is unfounded and should be abandoned.
Two—The data may be ignored. In spite of the data, people may continue to believe that the Book of Mormon is true and that all pre-Columbian Native Americans were descended from people of Middle Eastern decent.
Three—People may take a wait-and-see attitude. Future data may exonerate their belief that the Book of Mormon is true and that all pre-Columbian Native Americans were descended from Middle Eastern populations.
Four—The Book of Mormon story is still true. However, the data refute the notion that all pre-Columbian Native Americans were descended from people of Middle Eastern descent. (Trent D. Stephens, Ph.d., “Now What?”, Sunstone, Issue 131 (March 2004), p. 26-27).
Stephens acknowledges that “Rejecting the authenticity of the Book of Mormon because its story is not supported by scientific evidence may be the most practical and rational choice” (p. 27). However, none of the above will likely be attractive options to faithful Mormons. On the one hand, those who accept the science and begin a journey of reflection and exploration will likely find this path leads to diminishing confidence in the Mormon Church and its claim to divine authority. Their tensions will be immediate and acute but will likely lead to ultimate spiritual and intellectual freedom as they pursue, encounter and embrace the truth.
On the other hand, those who ignore or set aside the facts in an effort to continue following the spiritual leadership of the Mormon Church, may well find themselves with less immediate tension, but are likely to face increasing amounts of cognitive dissonance that results in a death of their spiritual and intellectual balance and integrity.
In either case, those of us who are evangelical Christians need to be willing to come alongside Latter-day Saints who find themselves struggling with the tensions. After all, we can relate to the faithful Mormon’s desire for deep spirituality and worthiness before God the Father, and can encourage them to continue to move toward the God of Truth even while they move away from the errors of Mormonism.
Current scholarly explanations undermine historic teachings of Mormon spiritual leaders. As this article has shown and Southerton explains:
Most Mormon apologists now accept that Native Americans are principally descended from Siberian ancestors who migrated across the Bering Strait thousands of years before Lehi arrived and that the descendants of Lehi made up an infinitesimally smaller proportion of the New World Populations. However, this change in perspective has not been granted the church’s blessing in any official way.
… There is the further problem for apologists that in trying to rescue the Book of Mormon from science, they have had to reject the clear pronouncements of every church president from Joseph Smith to the present. (Southerton, 2004, p. 202).
Mormon people are now faced with a new tension. To whom will they listen in order to gain a true theological understanding and framework of Mormon history and scriptures? Do they follow the General Authorities or the apologists? What does it mean for the concept of “modern-day revelation” when the Mormon Church’s spiritual leaders begin deferring to apologists and scientists?
When Mormon missionaries seek to convert Native Americans in Mexico or Chile, do they take their cues from past General Conference talks or the latest FARMS articles? When a Mormon is called to teach the Gospel Doctrine class at his ward, and is given the Book of Mormon study manual, does he perpetuate the “errant assumptions” contained in the manual produced by the Church, or does he go with factually true material provided by the church scholars, knowing this material contradicts the manual and the general understanding of the members in his class?
Compared with the last 20 years, current articles available at LDS.org indicate a fairly radical change in the Mormon Church’s response to scientific challenges to the Book of Mormon. On July 29, 1979 the Church section of the Deseret News contained the following blunt editorial regarding new theories of Book of Mormon geography:
The geography of the Book of Mormon has intrigued some readers of that volume ever since its publication. But why worry about it?
Efforts to pinpoint certain places from what is written in the book are fruitless because the record does not give evidence of such locations in terms of our modern geography.
… To guess where Zarahemla stood can in no wise add to anyone’s faith. But to raise doubts in people’s minds about the location of the Hill Cumorah, and thus challenge the words of the prophets concerning the place where Moroni buried the records, is most certainly harmful.
…Why not leave hidden the things that the Lord has hidden? If he wants the geography of the Book of Mormon revealed, He will do so through His prophet, and not through some writer who wishes to enlighten the world despite his utter lack of inspiration on the point. (Deseret News, Church section, week ending July 29, 1979, p. 16)
In the Church News, week ending May 9, 1992, p. 14, an article appeared titled, “Sacred Text is a book of doctrine, not geography,” which cited various Mormon leaders and concluded:
It is folly to associate oneself with any peculiar notion… Such ventures in thought are merely guesses, and such speculation leads to confusion. … [If] the time comes, or that it is expedient for the saints to have this information, it will come to them through the regularly established source, the prophet, seer, and revelator, the Presiding High Priest of the Church and no one else.”
It appears times have changed, and the ‘prophetic’ leaders of the Mormon Church are now willing to let the scholars provide the necessary information to church members and a watching world. In doing so they have relegated Book of Mormon Lamanites to a small, culturally imperceptible corner of Mesoamerica and stripped this identity from thousands of Native Americans and Polynesians proselytized to the Mormon faith. For some like José, the Peruvian Mormon quoted at the beginning of this paper, this is an identity-shattering development. A July 26, 2004 USA Today article titled “DNA Research and Mormon scholars changing basic beliefs” stated:
…some church members who have always understood themselves in light of Mormon teachings about the people known as Lamanites are suffering identity crisis.
“It’s very difficult. It is almost traumatizing,” said Jose Aloayza, a Midvale attorney who likened facing this new reality to staring into a spiritual abyss.
“Its that serious, that real,” said Aloayza, a Peruvian native born into the church and still a member. “I’m almost here feeling I need an apology. Our prophets should have known better. That’s the feeling I get.”
The challenge will be to help these people evaluate their commitment to the Mormon Church apart from their commitment to a God who reveals Himself in Scripture and who desires them to be in relationship with Himself through His son Jesus Christ. There is already a segment within Mormonism, who, in being honest with the scientific data regarding the Book of Mormon, have decided this also disqualifies the Bible and the Judeo-Christian faith in general on the same grounds. Articles such as Trent D. Stephens’ “Now What”, Brent Lee Metcalfe’s “Reinventing Lamanite Identity, and Thomas Murphy’s “Inventing Galileo,” in (Sunstone, March 2004), as well as Robert Price’s “Joseph Smith in the Book of Mormon” (Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 36:4 (Winter 2003), pp. 89-96) all draw parallels between the Book of Mormon and the Bible as Scriptures that are better taken on faith, and are best left out of the realm of scientific discovery.
It is understandable that Mormon writers would draw such parallels, especially since there is so little serious biblical scholarship to draw from within the Mormon community. However, jettisoning the Bible into the same quicksand of unreliability, unverifiability and implausibility that has engulfed the Book of Mormon, is both unreasonable and unwarranted. The Bible has withstood scientific scrutiny and, unlike the Book of Mormon, is supported by ample objective historical, literary and cultural evidence. 14
As evangelical Christians, committed to the authority of the Bible, our challenge is to strike a balance between faith and reason for the questioning Mormon that avoids mere rationalism yet highlights the need for faith founded on objective truth.
We need to be compassionately bold, engaging Mormon people in fresh, frank dialogue regarding several points:
1. The model of truth and revelation one employs within his worldview. We need to ask the question, “Is there absolute truth, unchanging and unalterable because its source is the unchanging, perfect character and nature of God Himself?” We should not assume a Mormon shares that point of view. I spoke to a Mormon missionary sister, a convert from Russia, on serving her mission here in the USA, who assured me as long as a person was true to what they believed, and followed that sincerely, God would accept them. The content was not as important as their sincerity. Neither of her two American companions made any attempt to counter or correct that point of view. It may be necessary to challenge the Mormon’s truth paradigm before the differences between her Mormon belief and biblical truth even matter to her. We can ask questions that help the Mormon see the mutual exclusivity of absolute and relative truth and help them move toward the need for a reliable, objective source for absolute truth. Once they recognize their need for a source, the Bible becomes the natural point of reference for evaluating other truth claims, since it is historically prior to any of the other Latter-day scriptures. This may also be the time to point them toward resources that affirm the reliability and historical authenticity of the Bible so they can divest themselves of the wrong perceptions they’ve received at the hands of their church.
2. The level of confidence one should have in the Book of Mormon and the truth test used to validate it. Rather than attacking the issue of the Book of Mormon’s authenticity head-on, it may be profitable to ask the Mormon to look at the issue from your point of view as a seriously interested, discerning outsider. Given Jesus’ warning concerning false prophets, and the apostolic injunctions to “test all things”, “test the spirits” and watch out for “false teachers” with “destructive heresies”, 15 does she accept you are justified in investigating the data relevant to the claims made by and for the Book of Mormon? If so you can slowly work through areas of concern to you, raising questions and sharing conclusions that you can preface with the phrase, “Can you see how in light of this evidence, a person might naturally or logically conclude …” ? You are not asking them to come to that conclusion or even agree with your conclusion, but rather grant you the benefit of a reasoning and discerning mind.
3. The reliability of Mormon leaders, from Joseph Smith to Gordon B. Hinckley. This area is potentially more volatile, but like the previous topic, does not need to be the subject of a frontal assault. Instead, questions like: “What content does Gordon B. Hinckley provide for the Mormon Church that is unique or different from what a pastor of a large evangelical church (or my pastor/minister) provides for his congregation? What new revelation have you benefited from during the last general conference?
4. The integrity of Mormon proselytizing among Native Americans and Polynesians. This is where material in this paper can be most useful. It may be wise to first find out how conversant the Mormon is with the subject. Are they aware there has been controversy? Did they know that Mormon bishops and other church leaders have left the church over this subject? In there understanding, who are the Lamanites and how far did they expand? Do Native American peoples today have the blood of Lehi? What would they think of a Mormon scholar who openly declared that the Mormon spiritual leaders have been teaching error regarding the hemispheric model and Lamanite identity? How would you feel if you were a Quechua or Mayan Mormon convert and believed what you’d been told by the current prophet regarding your Lamanite ancestry, only to find out that articles on the Church website by Mormon scholars say none of it is true? Is it significant that non-Mormon scholars and scientists have been right about Native Americans for over 100 years while the majority of Mormon prophets and apostles have been wrong?
Conclusions:
One cannot avoid the revelations of Joseph Smith and the clear teachings of nearly every other Mormon President regarding Book of Mormon peoples, their historical setting and ethnic heritage. Nor should one turn a blind eye to the vast array of scientific evidence that challenges these teachings. Mormon people who value the truth are faced with a daunting challenge to evaluate the prophetic claims of their religious leaders. In like manner, evangelical Christian who love the truth and care about their Mormon neighbor are challenged to use this truth as a brightly lit torch to dispel the darkness rather than as a club to bludgeon error.
— Joel B. Groat
http://www.lds.org/newsroom/mistakes/0,15331,3885-1-18078,00.html
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Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, 1956, p. 232-43 — Where Is The Hill Cumorah? What follows is a more complete citation of Mormon President Joseph Fielding Smith’s frank critique of the limited geography theory. It can be found online in an even more complete citation provided by Jerald and Sandra Tanner here:
http://www.utlm.org/onlineresources/cumorah.htm
Speculation About Book Of Mormon Geography. Within recent years there has arisen among certain students of the Book of Mormon a theory to the effect that within the period covered by the Book of Mormon, the Nephites and Lamanites were confined almost entirely within the borders of the territory comprising Central America and the southern portion of Mexico—the isthmus of Tehauntepec probably being the "narrow neck" of land spoken of in the Book of Mormon rather than the isthmus of Panama.
This theory is founded upon the assumption that it was impossible for the colony of Lehi's to multiply and fill the hemisphere within the limits of 1,000 years, or from the coming of Lehi from Jerusalem to the time of the destruction of the Nephites at the Hill Cumorah. Moreover, they claim that the story in the Book of Mormon of the migrations, building of cities, and the wars and contentions, preclude the possibility of the people spreading over great distances such as we find within the borders of North and South America....
Locale Of Cumorah, Ramah, And Ripliancum. This modernistic theory of necessity, in order to be consistent, must place the waters of Ripliancum and the Hill Cumorah some place within the restricted territory of Central America, notwithstanding the teachings of the Church to the contrary for upwards of 100 years. …
Early Brethren Locate Cumorah In Western New York. … the Prophet Joseph Smith himself is on record, definitely declaring the present hill called Cumorah to be the exact hill spoken of in the Book of Mormon.
Nephite And Jaredite Wars In Western New York. In the face of this evidence coming from the Prophet Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer, we cannot say that the Nephites and Lamanites did not possess the territory of the United States and that the Hill Cumorah is in Central America. Neither can we say that the great struggle which resulted in the destruction of the Nephites took place in Central America. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, 1956, p. 232-43)
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FAIR attack on Thomas Murphy
(The Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research)
The following is from the Summary portion of an article by Allen Wyatt titled, "Motivaton, Behavoir, and Dissension," published on the FAIR website. It is cited here as an example of some of the the ad-hominem attacks and personal invectives Murphy has been subject to. For the full article see link below.
Murphy's reply immediately follows this excerpt.
Whatever the future holds for Mr. Murphy, his behind the-scenes behavior clearly indicates that he is not an innocent scholar being sacrificed at the hands of the oppressive Mormon Church for his intellectual integrity— that is a media persona carefully fostered by his supporters and activist friends. He is not a neutral academic observer whose professional views place him, à la Galileo, on the religious sacrificial altar. Nor is Mr. Murphy a patient scholar who has tried to work with and within the structure of the Church. His behavior leading up to the announcement of his disciplinary council indicates he is a willing, active supporter of and conspirator with those who would like to see the Church of Jesus Christ destroyed. Of course, you won’t hear that information from Mr. Murphy or any of those working behind the scenes to support him; such Oz-like machinations were not meant to be part of the manipulation of the media that they have pulled off. Fortunately, the very strengths of the Internet that enable the conspiracy of disinformation to occur also leave the indelible footprints carefully documented in this paper.
Mr. Murphy’s actions show he is all too willing to broadcast his ecclesiastical differences through the media, when he knows that the Church will not reciprocate for reasons of confidentiality. Mr. Murphy has placed himself at odds with the Church of Jesus Christ and taken specific steps to aid those who have a mission to tear down the Church. While attempting to claim the moral high ground of academic integrity, he has failed to notice that his bedfellows gave up any legitimate claim to that position long ago.
Murphy’s reply of problems in the Wyatt article:
What did he get wrong?
1. Wyatt claimed that racism, sexism, and homophobia in the church are far afield from my area of specialty. I am a cultural anthropologist specializing in ethnicity, folk biology, and religion. Racism and sexism in the church have been a central concern of my research for the past decade. I have been publishing articles on the subject in peer reviewed journals since 1996. …
2. Wyatt suggests that my approach is "akin to anti-Semitism" and by implication that I am an anti-Mormon. It is precisely this dichotomous view of the world, one as simply black and white, that I hoped to challenge by agreeing to be interviewed by Living Hope Ministries. I hope to show viewers that one could be a Mormon and still think critically. One of the most empowering moments for me as a college student was when a member of my bishopric told me that he believed the Book of Mormon was a nineteenth century document. Finally, I felt that I could be a Mormon and a critical thinker at the same time. By challenging such simplistic views of the world I hope to provide similar inspiration for young Mormons wrestling with the same sorts of questions, ones that are inevitable in today's college classrooms.
3. Wyatt claims that I am seeking alliances with people who want to destroy the church. A more accurate statement would be that I seek alliances with everyone who is willing to pursue the truth.
Wyatt did not tell his readers that last August, when I was interviewed by Living Hope Ministries, that I also sought alliances with FAIR. I asked Scott Gordon, President of FAIR, if he would be willing to host a panel of scholars to discuss the DNA evidence no matter where the evidence might lead. He said, no, that only those who began and ended with the assumption the Book of Mormon was an ancient document would be welcome at FAIR. The difference between FAIR and Living Hope Ministries is that the latter group sought all perspectives on the issue, thus I was included in their presentation but have not been included at FAIR. Incidentally, Trent Stephens, a Mormon biologist at Idaho State University, is also interviewed by Living Hope Ministries in the same video.
Wyatt is also likely unaware of other alliances I have sought. Well before my association with Living Hope Ministries I invited Scott Woodward or another representative of the Molecular Genealogy Research Group to come to Edmonds Community College, at our expense, to give a presentation about their project. He never replied to the invitation. Alternatively, we invited Pearl Duncan, the first African American to trace her genealogy back to Africa, to speak on our campus.
I have offered to co-sponsor a forum with FARMS on DNA and the Book of Mormon. This offer has included raising at least half the money to bring leading genetic researchers in the field, Book of Mormon, and Native American scholars to the Edmonds Community College campus for the forum. Bill Hamblin expressed no interest but said he would forward the offer to other researchers associated with FARMS. So far, they have not replied to the offer.
4. Wyatt claimed that my actions were the "the moral equivalent of a Jewish person aiding and abetting anti-Semitic groups." I see them quite differently. I see them as the moral equivalent of loving your enemies. By showing an openness and willingness to confront the most difficult questions from within Mormonism, we can show people that they have nothing to fear from Mormons.
5. The small stipend I received from Mormon Scripture Studies did not come from critics of the Mormon Church. It came ultimately from an active Mormon member who prefers to remain anonymous. Using Mormon Scripture Studies as a medium of exchange allowed him or her to preserve anonymity.
6. Steven Clark did not leak my story to the press. After I had expressed my intention to go public, Ron Priddis of Signature Books forwarded my letter to Richard Ostling of the Associated Press who forwarded it to Patty Henetz. Ultimately, I must take full responsibility for my desire to go public and for agreeing to the interview. I did so because I believe that the best way to deal with ecclesiastical abuse is to expose it.
7. Wyatt claims that the Mormon Church would not respond to my statements through the media. Actually, they did so twice that I am aware of. From Salt Lake City, the church issued a statement noting that I had written a number of other articles that were critical of the church besides the one in American Apocrypha. While that is true my stake president appeared to be unaware of those other publications when he called me in for an interview. Matt Latimer, my stake president, also sent a letter to the press expressing his concern for my emotional well-being and a desire to avoid publicity as a reason for indefinitely postponing the disciplinary council.
I hope that these statements help clear the air. I appreciate Wyatt taking the time to investigate my case but wish he would correct his factual errors and avoid trying to demonize me. As Mormons we should aspire to a higher standard. FAIR would provide a much greater service to the Mormon community if it would sponsor and encourage honest and open exploration of the most difficult issues facing Mormons today. It could start doing so by actually dealing truthfully with the serious problems that the genetic data pose for both hemispheric and limited geographic models of the Book of Mormon.
My best,
Notes
1. Armand L. Mauss, All Abraham’s Children: Changing Mormon Conceptions of Race and Lineage, University of Illinois Press, 1993, p. 115.
2. For example, Spencer W. Kimball, 12th Mormon president, stated, “Now the Lamanites number about sixty million; they are in all of the states of America from Tierra del Fuego [Southern Argentina] all the way up to Point Barrows [Alaska], and they are in nearly all the islands of the sea from Hawaii south to southern New Zealand (“Of Royal Blood,” Ensign, July 1971, p. 7).
3. Sandra Tanner has written a good summary of the Book of Mormon story in the Salt Lake City Messenger, Issue 103, November 2004. The whole issue is dedicated to the subject of the Lamanites and includes information on the 19th century historical context as well as some of Joseph Smith’s revelations concerning Native American peoples. It also traces Mormon teaching on this subject from Smith's day up through the present.
4. Leavitt, Marshall and Crandall, “The Search for the Seed of Lehi: How Defining Alternative Models Helps in the Interpretation of Genetic Data,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, 36:4, Winter 2003, p. 134.
5. There is growing evidence this is indeed the case but this will be dealt with toward the end of this study.
6. In past years some Mormon scholars and leaders have recognized that the popular Mormon teaching is untenable. Among those are John L. Sorenson who advocated a limited geography view in his book, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, (Deseret Book, 1985), and Mormon Apostle Dallin Oaks who claims to have been introduced to this theory in a BYU class in the early 1950s. Oaks explains:
For me, this obvious insight goes back over forty years to the first class I took in the Book of Mormon at BYU. … Here I was introduced to the idea that the Book of Mormon is not a history of all of the people who have lived on the continents of North and South America in all ages of the earth. Up to that time, I had assumed that it was. If that were the claim of the Book of Mormon, any piece of historical, archaeological, or linguistic evidence to the contrary would weigh in against the Book of Mormon, and those who rely exclusively on scholarship would have a promising position to argue.
In contrast, if the Book of Mormon only purports to be an account of a few peoples who inhabited a portion of the Americas during a few millennia in the past, the burden of argument changes drastically. It is no longer a question of all versus none; it is a question of some versus none. (“The Historicity of the Book of Mormon,” given at FARMS annual dinner 10/29/93, online at: http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=transcripts&id=30 ). To my knowledge no one has tried to reconcile Elder Oaks views with the teachings of Mormon Prophets and Presidents to the contrary.
7. The full text of this presentation by Elder Benson can be found online here: Fourteen Fundamentals Speech .
Some confusion regarding what is authoritative revelation is inevitable given statements like the following from the 10th Mormon Prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith:
It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. My words, and the teachings of any other member of the Church, high or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have this matter clear. We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man's doctrine. (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.3, pp. 203).
8. Armand L. Mauss, All Abraham’s Children: Changing Mormon Conceptions of Race and Lineage, University of Illinois Press, 1993, p. 66.
9. Mauss, p. 96.
10. Arguments like the diversity of languages, the inability of a small group of immigrants to populate and settle the North and South American continents in such short time and the Asian rather than Semitic ethnic ancestry evident in the great majority of Native American peoples, all troubled early Mormon historian and apologist B.H. Roberts in the early 1920s. Critics of the Mormon Church recognized the inherent problems of the hemispheric model of Book of Mormon history and culture and were quick to point out the problems raised by science. Yet Roberts was loath to employ a limited geographic model in order to solve these problems because to do so would go beyond what a natural reading of the Book of Mormon allowed (Studies of the Book of Mormon, p. 92-93). For example, Roberts writes:
Can we answer that the Nephites and the people of Mulek – really constituting one people – occupied a very much more restricted area of the American Continents than has heretofore been supposed, and that this fact (assumed here for the argument) would leave the rest of the continents – by far the greater part of them say – to be inhabited by other races, speaking other tongues, developing other cultures, and making, though absolutely unknown to Book of Mormon people, other histories? … To this answer there would be the objection that if such other races or tribes existed then the Book of Mormon is silent about them. .. To make this seem possible the area occupied by the Nephites and Lamanites would have to be extremely limited, much more limited, I fear, than the Book of Mormon would admit of our assuming” (Roberts, pp. 92-93).
11. For additional documented examples of statements by Joseph Smith regarding Book of Mormon geography see Luke Wilson’s paper, “Does Archaeology Support the Book of Mormon? A survey of the evidence”, 1992, pp. 6-10, available in print form from IRR or online here: The Scientific Search for Nephite Remains .
12. This lesser know battle at Hill Ramah / Cumorah (like that of the Nephites and Lamanites that would follow) also was said to involve great numbers of people— men, women and children— all outfitted with “weapons of war, having shields, and breastplates, and headplates, and being clothed after the manner of war” (Ether 15:14-15). So we have not one, but two massive battles fought in the same location with hundreds of thousands of casualties, weapons and war gear – all vanished without a trace.
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i don't know
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A normal human eye can distinguish approximately how many different colours/colors?
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How many colors and shades can the human eye distinguish in a single scene? - Photography Stack Exchange
How many colors and shades can the human eye distinguish in a single scene?
up vote 18 down vote favorite
4
How many distinct colors, shades, hues, and tints can the average person distinguish in a single scene? In other words, what's the theoretical bit-depth required to be sure of recording a photograph with all of the visual information a human would perceive?
I've seen answers ranging from 200,000 to 20,000,000, and it's hard to sort out authority. And the term "color" is ambiguous — is just hue meant, or are differences in saturation and lightness also included?
I'm sure there's been statistics collected for the "Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue Test." Here's a crappy online version which I am sure is affected by monitor calibration: xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77&Lang=en – Eruditass Mar 30 '11 at 1:48
up vote 19 down vote accepted
+100
When discussing the number of colors perceptible to the human eye, I tend to refer to the 2.4 million colors of the CIE 1931 XYZ color space. It is a fairly solid, scientifically founded number, although I do admit it may be limited in context. I think it may be possible for the human eye to be sensitive to 10-100 million distinct "colors" when referring to both chromaticity and luminosity.
I'll base my answer on the work done by CIE, which began in the 1930's, and progressed again in the 1960's, with some algorithmic and accuracy improvements to formula over the last couple decades. When it comes to the arts, including photography and print, I think that the work done by the CIE is particularly relevant, as it is the basis of color correction and modern mathematical color models and color space conversion.
The CIE, or Commission internationale de l'éclairage , in 1931 established the " CIE 1931 XYZ color space ". This color space was a plot of full purity color, mapped from 700nm (near-infrared red) through 380nm (near-UV), and progressed through all the wavelengths of "visible" light. This color space is based on human vision, which is a tri-stimulus created by the three types of cones in our eyes: short, medium and long wavelength cones, which map to 420-440nm, 530-540nm, and 560-580nm wavelengths. These wavelengths correspond to blue, green, and yellow-red (or orangish-red) primary colors. (The red cones are a bit unique, in that their sensitivity has two peaks, the primary one in the 560-580nm range, and also a second one in the 410-440nm range. This double peaked sensitivity indicates that our "red" cones may actually be "magenta" cones in terms of actual sensitivity.) The tristimulus response curves are derived from a 2° field of view of the fovea, where our cones are most concentrated and our color vision, under medium to high lighting intensity, is at its greatest.
The actual CIE 1931 color space is mapped from XYZ tristimulus values, which are generated from red, green, and blue derivatives, which are based on actual red, green, and blue color values (additive model.) The XYZ tristimulus values are adjusted for a "standard illuminant", which is normally a sunlight balanced white of 6500K (although the original CIE 1931 color space was created for three standardized illuminants A 2856K, B 4874K and C 6774K), and weighted according to a "standard observer" (based on that 2° foveal field of view.) The standard CIE 1931 XYZ color plot is horshoe-shaped and filled with a "chromaticity" diagram of pure 'colors', covering the hue range from 700nm through 380nm, and ranging in saturation from 0% centered at the white point to 100% along the periphery. This is a "chromaticity" plot, or color without regard to intensity (or color at maximum intensity, to be most accurate.) This color plot, according to some studies (references pending), represents about 2.38 million colors that the human eye can detect under moderately high intensity lighting approximately the same color temperature and brightness of daylight (not sunlight, which is closer to 5000k, but sunlight + blue sky light, about 6500k.)
So, can the human eye detect only 2.4 million colors? According to the work done by the CIE in the 1930's, under a specific illuminant that equates to the intensity and color temperature of daylight, when factoring in only the 2° of cones concentrated in the fovea of our eyes, then it seems we can indeed see 2.4 million colors.
The CIE specifications are limited in scope, however. They do not account for varying levels of illumination, illuminants of differing intensity or color temperature, or the fact that we have more cones spread across at least a 10° area of our retinas around the fovea. They also do not account for the fact that peripheral cones seem to be more sensitive to blues than the cones concentrated in the fovea (which are primarily red and green cones).
Refinements to the CIE chromaticity plots were made in the '60's and again in 1976, which refined the "standard observer" to include a full 10° color sensitive spot in our retinas. These refinements to CIE's standards have never come into much use, and the extensive color sensitivity research that has been done in relation to CIE's work has been largely limited to the original CIE 1931 XYZ color space and chromaticity plot.
Given the limitation of color sensitivity to only a 2° spot in the fovea, there is a strong likelihood that we can see more than 2.4 million colors, particularly extending into the blues and violets. This is corroborated by the 1960's refinements to CIE color spaces .
Tone, perhaps better labeled luminosity (the brightness or intensity of a color), is another aspect of our vision. Some models blend chromaticity and luminosity together, while others distinctly separate the two. The human eye contains a retina composed of both cones..."color" sensitive devices, as well as rods, which are color-agnostic but sensitive to changes in luminosity. The human eye has about 20 times as many rods (94 million) as it does cones (4.5 million). Rods are also about 100 times as sensitive to light as cones, capable of detecting a single photon. Rods seem to be most sensitive to the blueish-green wavelengths of light (around 500nm), and have lower sensitivities to reddish and near-UV wavelengths. It should be noted that a rods sensitivity is cumulative, so the longer one observes a static scene, the clearer the levels of luminosity in that scene will be perceived by the mind. Rapid changes in a scene, or panning motion, will reduce the ability to differentiate fine tonal gradation.
Given the rod's far greater sensitivity to light, it seems logical to conclude that humans have a finer, and distinct, sensitivity to variations in light intensity than they do to changes in hue and saturation when one observes a static scene for a time. Exactly how this factors into our perception of color and how it affects the number of colors we can see, I can't exactly say. A simple test of tonal sensitivity can be done on a clear day's evening, just as the sun sets. The blue sky can range from near white-blue to deep dark midnight blue. While the hue of such a sky covers a very small range, the tonal grade is immense and very fine. Observing such a sky, one can see an infinitely smooth change from bright white-blue to sky blue to dark midnight blue.
Studies unrelated to CIE work have indicated a wide range of "maximum colors" that the human eye can perceive. Some have an upper limit of 1 million colors, while others have an upper limit of 10 million colors. More recent studies have shown that some women have a unique fourth cone type, an "orange" cone, that could possibly extend their sensitivity to 100 million, however that study counted both chromaticity and luminosity in their calculation of "color".
That ultimately begs the question, can we separate chromaticity from luminosity when determining "color"? Do we prefer to define the term "color" to mean the hue, saturation, and luminosity of the light we perceive? Or is it better to separate the two, keep chromaticity distinct from luminosity? How many levels of intensity can the eye really see, vs. how many distinct differences in chromaticity? I am not sure these questions have actually been answered in a scientific way yet.
Another aspect of color perception involves contrast. It is easy to perceive a difference in two things when they contrast well with each other. When trying to visually determine how many "colors" one sees when looking at varying shades of red, it can be rather difficult to tell if two similar shades are different or not. However, compare a shade of red with a shade of green, and the difference is very clear. Compare that shade of green in sequence with each shade of red, and the eye can more easily pick up the differences in the red shades in peripheral relation to each other as well as in contrast with the green. These factors are all facets of the vision of our mind, which is a far more subjective device than the eye itself (which makes it hard to scientifically gauge color perception beyond the scope of the eye itself.) Given a setting with appropriate contrast, one may be able to detect far more distinct colors in context than a setting without any contrast at all.
up vote 2 down vote
A couple of points.
The one million discriminable colors, even if true, at best applies to ideal laboratory conditions. In the real world, the number is doubtless going to be much, much smaller. You can safely ignore all this talk about millions of colors.
In photography, the dynamic range is a tiny fraction of the scene dynamic range, so you can’t produce many of the colors anyway. All technology lists the range of color production drastically. Especially prints.
The number of bits needed depends on much more than the number of colors. Color space is not linear (see Weber’s Law, Fechner’s Law, McAdam ellipses, etc) , so you can’t simply break color space up into a series of equal size steps based on the number of bits. You will always need many more bits than the number of colors suggests. 24 bits produces 16 million colors, but it still doesn’t produce good images. You need at least 10 or 12 bits per color to create smooth gradients of without banding.
answered Apr 3 '11 at 11:00
user4574
up vote 1 down vote
"#3 is a matter of encoding. You never need more bits than the size of the data."
For practical purposes, you are incorrect. The nonlinear response of the eye and of most display devices ensures that most of the levels at the high and low end will be wasted. Many of the color levels will produce indistinguishable colors. There some ways around this with specialized equipment that maps high resolution data on top 8 bits, but having done it, I found that it is not worth the trouble.
answered Apr 5 '11 at 12:39
user4574
up vote 0 down vote
To give you an idea: Most monitors claim to be able to display roughly 16 million colors. Cheaper panels are actually 6 bits/channel only, and use dithering to mix out the 16 million. This is actually noticeable! (some use animated dithering, there you might see it as a slight flickering effect) True 24 bits (8/channel) is in my opinion really needed for nice smooth color transitions.
"Which in turn raises the question: are formats which use 48 bits, 16 per channel, actually way bigger than necessary?"
It depends on what you want to use it for. Just for displaying on the screen, yes. But if you want to work with the image or as an input format, no.
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ten million
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Nociceptive, Neuropathic, Phantom, Psychogenic, and Incident are types of what?
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handprint : light and the eye
light and the eye
Sight is the sense organ of radiant energy. It evolved in relation to the materials that absorb, reflect or refract solar radiation. Its sense modality is light, presented in experience as luminance, color and objects in three dimensional space.
Since ancient times the eye has been an icon for our consciousness and seeing the metaphor for intelligence and with good biological justification. The order Primates, which includes humans, have in common binocular vision and a greatly expanded visual cortex for the processing of visual information. Vision is a primate's dominant sensory domain.
The eye is an attractive study for two reasons. It is self contained, which means that all the pieces of the puzzle are found within a single organ. It is also a sublime mechanism, with parts that resemble a camera lens, a daylight filter, an aperture control, and a CMOS image sensor.
However the true organ of vision is not the eye but the brain. By the time it enters awareness , color is really a complex judgment experienced as a sensation. The tissue encapsulated by the eye is an outpost of brain neurons that scan the world and record the basic luminance, contrast and movement in an optical image. The large visual cortex at the back of the brain, in tandem with many other brain areas, does the work of conceptualizing and visualizing a world of colors and objects around us.
The visual tasks of image enhancement and interpretation are described in the pages on the structure of vision . This page starts with the physical attributes of light, the optical structure of the eye, the responses of photoreceptor cells to light (including the trichromatic foundation of vision and its unmistakable icon, the chromaticity diagram ), and the specific ways the eye is adapted to meet the visual challenges created by the physical world.
light: the spectrum we can see
The nuclear fusion occuring within the sun produces a massive flow of radiation into space. Scientists describe this radiation both as cycles or waves in an electromagnetic field and as tiny quantum packets of energy (photons).
color vision
why 3 badly spaced cones?
The distance between the peaks in one cycle of an electromagnetic wave is its wavelength (symbol λ), measured in nanometers (billionths of a meter). The number of wave peaks within a standard distance is the wavenumber, the reciprocal of wavelength (1/λ), which must be multiplied by 10 million to yield waves per centimeter. Thus, a wavelength of 500 nm equals a wavenumber of 1/500*107 or 20,000 waves per centimeter.
Light waves increase in frequency (number of cycles per second) as the radiation increases in energy ; "short" wavelength, high frequency light has roughly twice the energy of "long" wavelength, low frequency light.
Frequency is a constant property of light at a given energy. When light passes through a transmitting (translucent or transparent) material, the speed of light and the corresponding wavelength of light are reduced somewhat, although the frequency of the light remains unchanged. This produces the characteristic refraction or "bending" of light as the light waves cross the boundary between different media, such as air and water or air and glass.
The ratio between the speed of light in air and its speed through a transmitting medium which determines the amount of bending produced in the light beam is the refractive index of the medium. The baseline wavelength and speed of light are usually measured in air at the earth's surface.
Describing Light & Color. Light is the electromagnetic radiation that stimulates the eye. This stimulation depends on both energy (frequency, expressed as wavelength) and quantity of light (number of photons).
the visible electromagnetic spectrum
spectrum colors as produced by a diffraction grating (IR = infrared, UV = ultraviolet); for a discussion of spectral color reproduction on a computer monitor, see the Rendering Spectra page by Andrew Young
The figure shows the visible spectrum on a wavelength scale, roughly as it appears in sunlight reflected from a diffraction grating (such as a compact disc), which produces an equal spacing of light wavelengths. (A rainbow or glass prism produces an equal spacing of wavenumbers, which compresses the "blue" end of the spectrum.) Outside the visible range, electromagnetic radiation at higher energies (wavelengths shorter than 380 nanometers) is called ultraviolet and includes xrays and gamma rays. Lower energy radiation (at wavelengths longer than about 800 nm) is called infrared or heat; at still lower frequencies (longer wavelengths) are microwaves, television waves and radio waves.
Notice the very gradual falloff in luminosity at the near infrared (IR) end of the spectrum, and the relatively sharper falloff toward ultraviolet (UV). At the earth's surface, the absorbing effects of the the ozone layer and lower atmosphere significantly filter short wavelength radiation below 450 nm and block all radiation below 320 nm. In addition, most wavelengths below 500 nm are blocked from reaching the retina by the transparent yellow tint in the adult lens and a protective yellow pigment layer on the retina. But in noon daylight there is as much energy in long wavelength (heat) radiation as there is in light, so the gradual falloff in perceptible "red" light is due to weaker visual sensitivity in longer wavelengths.
Thus, the range of light wavelengths is somewhat arbitrary. Photometric standards for the visible wavelengths at daylight levels of illumination are from 360 nm at the near ultraviolet end to 830 nm at the near infrared. However under normal viewing conditions, the effective visual limits are between 400 nm to 700 nm, as shown in most diagrams on this site. Yet it is possible to see wavelengths down to 380 nm or up to 900 nm if the light is bright enough or viewed in near darkness.
Within the spectrum, the spectral hues do not have clear boundaries, but appear to shade continuously from one hue to the next across color bands of unequal width. It is easier to locate the center of these color categories than the edges; the approximate wavelength location of basic color categories (including cyan or blue green) is shown in the figure (above). Note the fairly sharp transitions from "blue" to "cyan" and from "green" to "yellow," and the narrow span of "cyan" and "yellow" (which can appear white in a rainbow).
I use quotation marks to refer to spectral colors because light itself has no color. Color is fundamentally a complex judgment experienced as a sensation . It is not an objective feature of the physical world but it is not an illusion, either. A single wavelength of the spectrum or monochromatic light, seen as an isolated, bright light in a dark surround, creates the perception of a recognizable hue; but the same light wavelength can change color if it is viewed in a different context . For example, long wavelength or "red" light can, in the right setting, appear red, scarlet, crimson, pink, maroon, brown, gray or even black! Similarly, in all the diagrams or illustrations of color vision (including the chromaticity diagram ), spectrum colors are only symbols for the different wavelengths of light.
Despite all that, the abstract wavelength numbers are conveniently made more interpretable by the use of standard hue categories. I've summarized below the hue terminology adopted throughout this site. It uses the six primary hue categories red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, with blends indicated by compound names in which the first hue is a tint or bias in the second hue: blue violet indicates a violet leaning toward blue.
spectral hue categories
R
red
Note: Hue boundaries rounded to the nearest 10 nm. Spectral hue boundaries are arbitrary, due to the gradual blending of one hue into the next, the shifts in hue boundaries produced by luminance changes, individual differences in color perception, and language variation in the number and meaning of hue categories. "c" means "complement of" [wavelength] for extraspectral hues (mixtures of "orange red" and "blue violet" light).
Sources: complementary hues from Wyszecki & Stiles (1982); hue boundaries from my own CIECAM spectral hue scaling of watercolor pigments, Munsell hue categories and spectral wavelengths.
These labels are only guidelines. In addition to the context factors mentioned above, the hue boundaries will appear to shift as the luminance (brightness) of the spectrum increases; individual differences in color perception create substantial disagreement in the location of color boundaries, or the location of "pure" colors such as the unique hues (red, yellow, green and blue); and the location of boundaries will change with the number of hue categories used and the meaning assigned to them (especially across different languages or cultures).
Variations in Natural Light. Radiation from the sun that does get through the atmosphere and is visible to our eyes can be described in three ways:
Sunlight is light coming directly from the sun the image of the sun's disk or a shaft of sunlight into a darkened room. The solar color changes significantly across the day and depends on the angle of the sun above the horizon, the altitude of the viewer above sea level, the season, the geographical location and the amount of water vapor, dust and smoke in the air. The sun itself is so brilliant that it overwhelms color vision, making color judgments unreliable, but if the noon sun were dimmed sufficiently, its color would appear a pale greenish yellow (not the deep yellow of schoolroom paintings). This color appears in the positive afterimage of sunlight reflected off a car windshield.
Skylight refers to the blue light of the sky as viewed from a location in complete shade, for example the light entering through a north facing window. It results from the scattering of short wavelength light by air molecules. This scattering is slightly stronger from the northern sky, opposite the generally southern origin of sunlight. The illuminance contribution of skylight is significant: though much dimmer than the sun's disk, the visible area of the sky is approximately 100,000 times larger, which is why daylight shadows are clearly illuminated and we can read a summer novel in deep shade.
Daylight is the combined light of sun and sky, for example as reflected from an unshaded sheet of white paper illuminated outdoors. Significant color shifts occur in daylight, depending on geography, season and time of day, but it is unchanged by scattered clouds or overcast: these only dim the light and diffuse it.
The most accurate way to describe these color changes in natural light is by means of a spectral power distribution (SPD). This is a measurement of the radiance or radiant power (energy per second) of light within a small interval of the spectrum (such as 570-575 nm for wavelengths). Usually the power within each wavelength or wavenumber interval is shown as a proportion of a standard wavelength or maximum power, given an arbitrary value of 100, which creates a relative SPD.
Many relative SPDs have been published as standard illuminants, which are spectral templates used to model the characteristics of natural light and to describe artificial light sources and light filters. Two of these, the standard noon daylight illuminant (D65) and noon sunlight illuminant (D55), are shown below, along with the SPDs for north skylight and sunset light. (The numbers associated with the illuminants indicate the closest matching correlated color temperature of the light.)
spectral variations in natural light
standardized relative spectral power distributions for daylight phases across the visible spectrum, normalized to equal power at 560 nm, with the correlated color temperature (CCT) of each profile (Wyszecki & Stiles, 1982)
The most interesting of these templates is D65, the noon daylight illuminant. This SPD is useful in color vision research because it is perceived as a balanced "white" illumination across a wide range of illumination levels rain or shine, we perceive daylight as "white" light, provided the sun is not near the horizon. This is the first of many facts that confirm our color vision is not an abstract and impartial color sensor but is a living system that anticipates the range of natural surface colors as they appear under natural illumination .
The noon north skylight illuminant is in contrast strongly skewed toward the "blue" wavelengths, and this "in the shade" illumination appears distinctly blue to the eye. Noon sunlight (D55) has a nearly flat distribution and appears to be a yellowish or pinkish white when the eye is adapted to noon daylight.
When the sun is lower in the sky at sunrise or sunset, sunlight must pass sideways through a much longer and denser section of the earth's atmosphere, which scatters most of the "blue" and "green" wavelengths to produce a distinctly yellow or red hue. (Sunlight is also reddened by dust storms, ash from volcanic eruptions or the smoke from large fires.) This lends morning or late afternoon light a strong yellow or red bias, climaxing in the deep orange of sunrise or sunset. Morning light has a softer, rosier color, in part because the cooler night air has a higher relative humidity that produces long wavelength filtering morning fogs or mists, and in part because the drop in temperature abates daytime winds and convection currents, allowing dust and smoke to settle out of the atmosphere.
Thus, the illumination that reveals our world is not constant but varies across a broad swath of tints from cool blues to warm yellows and reds. The eye is adapted to minimize the distorting effect that these color changes in the light have on the color appearance of objects.
Finally, the eye is adapted to function across illumination levels from 0.001 lux (starry night) to more than 100,000 lux (noon daylight), which makes us functional day or night. Moonlight has the same spectral power distribution as daylight, though much reduced in intensity, so the D65 illuminant stands for the daylight and nighttime extremes of natural light experience. However, our color experience of light and objects changes dramatically within that illumination range, as the eye changes from trichromatic photopic vision to monochromatic scotopic vision .
design of the eye
The eye is a marvel of biological adaptation to a specific function. In large part this adaptation is successful because it separates visual tasks into four levels of structure: the optical eye, the retina, the photoreceptor cells, and the photopigment molecules.
wavelengths of light
"red" light has a longer wavelength (lower frequency) than "blue" light
The Optical Eye. At the largest scale, the eye is essentially a camera (diagram at right, top), equipped with a lens to focus light onto a photosensitive surface in its dark interior, in the same way a camera focuses light onto film.
The camera analogy primarily applies to the eye's front end. The lens and its transparent covering, the cornea, act as a compound lens to focus the image. The cornea's optical shape is maintained by gentle internal pressure from the aqueous humor between the cornea and lens. The cornea does most of the work in focusing light, as we discover when we swim underwater without a face mask. (Light is refracted or focused by the change in density between air and the liquid filled cornea; immersing the eye in water eliminates this light bending difference.) Because it is essential to vision, the cornea is protected by the bony brow, nose and cheek ridges nearby, and the eye's extreme sensitivity to touch.
The lens is a flexible, transparent body, with a naturally rounded shape that is stretched along its front surface, like a trampoline canvas in its frame, by the constant tension of zonule fibers around its circumference. This tension flattens the lens for midrange and distance vision. To focus on nearby objects (closer than 5 meters), the ciliary muscles encircling the lens contract to close the opening spanned by the zonule fibers, which slackens the tension around the lens and allows it to resume its rounded shape, shortening the focal length. As people grow older, the lens hardens and does not return to its rounded shape when the ciliary muscles contract, producing the age related farsightedness called presbyopia.
The aperture into the eye or pupil is fringed by a light sensitive iris, spread over the front of the lens, which acts as a diaphragm to adjust the pupil from a minimum diameter of 2mm up to a maximum of 5mm (in the elderly) to 8mm (in young adults). This produces a change in pupil area from about 3.5 mm2 to 20 to 35 mm2, which provides an 87% to 95% reduction in the amount of light entering the eye. However, this represents a tiny fraction of the total range of illmination the eye can handle. Additional changes in luminance adaptation occur in the retina and brain across a span of several minutes; the iris makes prompt, momentary adjustments to changes in light intensity within the same light environment.
The pupillary reflex is controlled by intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) that contain an invertebrate photopigment (melanopsin). These cells respond to light sluggishly, are less sensitive to variations in light (although they do adapt to light), and connect directly to thalamic and brainstem visual centers. They do not contribute to the visual image but regulate important light reflexes the circadian rhythm, contraction of the iris, and melatonin suppression.
The rest of the eye is wrapped in a tough external coating of translucent white sclera, which attaches by tendons to muscles that rotate the eye within the recessed bony eye socket. The rounded shape is maintained by internal pressure from the transparent, jellylike vitreous humor. (Excessive intraocular pressure can cause glaucoma or damage to the optic nerve.) The inner surface of the iris and sclera are covered with a pigmented, black membrane (the choroid) that (1) prevents unfocused light from shining through the sides of the eye, and (2) prevents light that enters the pupil from reflecting inside of the eye. This pigment is lacking in albinos, causing light that is tinged the red of retinal blood vessels to reflect back out through the pupil.
three levels of structure in the eye
Prereceptoral Filtering. Several parts of the eye act as filters to block short wavelength "violet" light from reaching the retina. The most important of these are the cornea, lens, and macular pigment (right).
The cornea is nearly transparent to light except at very short wavelengths, where it filters up to 40% of incident light.
The lens is the principal source of prereceptoral filtering. Colorless at birth, it gradually yellows and darkens with age: the lens of an 80 year old filters out approximately twice as much short wavelength light as the lens of a 20 year old. In an adult the lens blocks at least 25% of incoming light at wavelengths below 450 nm and 50% or more at wavelengths below 430 nm. Removal of the lens in a cataract operation causes a significant increase in light sensitivity below 400 nm, called aphakic vision.
Finally, the fovea is veiled by a small patch of yellow macular pigment, which appears as a slight darkening of healthy retinal tissue. The macular pigment filters out 25% or more of light between 430 nm to 500 nm.
In the average adult, the combined ocular media screen out half or more of incident light at wavelengths below 490 nm and nearly all light below 400 nm. However, prereceptoral filtering varies significantly across age or ethnic groups and across individuals within any group. It has the largest effect under intense light (small pupil size and high photopigment bleaching ).
Prereceptoral filtering is important because it reduces chromatic aberration in the foveal image, and shields the delicate retinal cells from the extremely damaging effects of near ultraviolet light the same wavelengths that sunburn skin and fade inks or paints.
Retina. The optics of the eye serve one purpose: to focus an image on the light sensitive retina, a paper thin layer of nerve tissue covering most of the inner surface of the eye (middle diagram at right, above ). With a surface area the size of a silver dollar, and a total volume no larger than a pea, the retina is nothing like photographic film. It is actually an incredibly compact and powerful computer, a dense network of about 200 million layered and highly specialized nerve cells. About half of these are photoreceptor cells that capture the light information; the other half are secondary cells that integrate and recode the photoreceptor outputs before sending them on to the brain. The retina is also woven throughout with tiny blood vessels that nourish the continuously active retinal tissue and give it the red color we sometimes see staring back at us in flash photographs.
prereceptoral filtering in an adult eye
adapted from Packer & Willams (2003)
The visual center of the eye is marked by a slight depression in the retina less than 2mm wide, the fovea centralis (the Latin fovea means "small pit"). The fovea specializes in the perception of contrasty edges at an extremely high level of detail within a visual field approximately 1.5° wide the width of three full moons or of a US quarter held 34 inches from the eye. The fovea is slightly displaced from the visual axis (the focal point behind the lens) away from the nasal side of each eye, which locates the fovea under the image of relatively close, centrally fixated objects.
The foveal pit is created by thinning and spreading apart the synaptic bodies, secondary cells and retinal support cells (nerves and blood vessels) that form a blanket of tissue over the photoreceptors. This enhances image clarity and partly shields the fovea from light scattered inside the eye.
Neighboring photoreceptors throughout the retina, but especially in the fovea, interact with each other to interpret color and contrast in the optical image, via the secondary cells with "colorful" names such as midget ganglion and parasol cell. These connector cells group cones and rods into center/surround receptive fields that sharpen edges and contrast based on the relative proportions of stimulation received by all the cells in a group. Finally, the secondary cells transform outputs from the three classes of cone into contrasting opponent channels of color and luminance information. These processing steps occur in the retina, rather than in the brain, because the transformed opponent signals can be transmitted through the optic nerve with much less "noise" or error than the individual cone outputs.
Signals from the secondary cells are transmitted through individual nerve tracts that are bundled together as the optic nerve, which exits the eye (along with internal blood vessels) through a hole in the retina and sclera. This creates the optic disc or blind spot, a point in the visual field where there are no photoreceptors.
recognizing the blind spot
cover your left eye with one hand, then move your head toward and away from your computer screen, at a distance of about 12 to 14 inches, while staring at the "X" at left; the blind spot will cause the black dot at right to disappear from view
The blind spot occurs in the peripheral visual field , where visual acuity is very poor. It is not normally noticeable because the mind fills in and completes forms we glimpse in peripheral vision, and in this process fills in the vacant area: outside the foveal field, vision is more of a cognitive construction than an optical report.
Photoreceptor Cells. Vision begins at the third level of scale, the photoreceptor cells. These light receptors are easily the most complex sensory cells we have. There are two basic types (illustrated above ): the roughly 100 million rods adapted for dim light and night vision, and the 6 million or so cones that perceive daylight luminance, contrast and color. The cones in turn come in three types or spectral classes, discussed below .
The names rod and cone originated in early anatomical studies, when it was noted that the outer segments of the cell types tended to have a cylindrical or conical shape. In fact most photoreceptors are difficult to classify by appearance alone and their form changes depending on their location in the retina.
Both cell types have essentially the same structure. The cell body contains the nucleus and metabolic functions, which supports an outer segment containing around 1000 separate layers of fat molecules (formed as separate disks in the rods or as folds of a single membrane in the cones); embedded in each layer are up to 10,000 light sensitive photopigment molecules . An inner segment between the cell body and outer segment continually produces new photopigment molecules and passes them into newly formed layers of the outer segment. The layers slowly migrate from the junction with the inner segment to the tip of the outer segment: the photoreceptors grow continuously, like hair. At the opposite end of the cell, electrical impulses created when light strikes the photopigments are sent from the synaptic body to the retina's neural network.
All photoreceptor cells are arranged with the tips of the light sensitive outer segments resting against a thin pigment epithelium covering the inner surface of the choroid . The choroid's dense black pigment prevents light from reflecting back into the photoreceptors, and its smooth surface allows even alignment of the receptor tips where an image can be precisely focused. The cells of the pigment epithelium also break down the oldest layers of the outer segment as these grow into it.
To preserve the alignment against the eye wall, the irregular and relatively thick layers of photoreceptor cell bodies, secondary cells, nerve connections and retinal blood vessels are layered over the cones rather than underneath them. We don't see the shadows cast by this tissue layer because it never moves, and constant stimuli are completely filtered from images by the brain. (The reason we can see motes in our eyes is because these float in the vitreous humor.)
ophthalmologist's view of the back of the eye (fundus)
The distribution of photoreceptor cells varies considerably from the center to edge of the retina and is different for cones and rods (diagram at right). The central fovea consists of the foveola, roughly 0.35° visual angle (0.1 millimeters) wide, containing a central bouquet of just two classes of cones (L and M, described below ), shown as a red spike in the diagram; roughly half of all L and M cones in the retina are packed into the foveal area.
Compared to cones in the peripheral retina, the foveal cones are extremely thin and elongated they might better be called "straws" than cones (diagram right). The thinness makes possible an extremely dense, approximately hexagonal packing of cones (side by side), and eases somewhat the need for precise focusing in depth (front to back). There are anywhere from 160,000 to 250,000 cones per square millimeter in the central fovea an average cell spacing of about 2.5 to 2 microns, which equals the eye's maximum possible optical resolution. This density rapidly thins to about 50,000 cones per square millimeter at the foveal border (roughly 1° visual angle or 0.3 mm from the center), then declines steadily to about 5,000 cones per square millimeter in the retinal periphery.
The cylindrical length of the foveal cone outer segment is aligned exactly parallel to the direction of incoming light from the center of the lens, which increases the probability that one of these photons will strike one of the 10 million or so photopigment molecules each photoreceptor contains. As a result the foveal photoreceptors are over four times more sensitive to light arriving from the center of the pupil opening than obliquely from the outer edge (the Stiles Crawford effect). This mutes the effect of random light scattering inside the eye or between cones, and somewhat reduces the sideways "blue" chromatic aberration in the image. In addition, the photoreceptor cell walls appear to act as a waveguide, channeling light waves along the cell length.
The third class of daylight photoreceptor, the S cones, is completely absent from the central fovea but rapidly increases toward the foveal border, until it reaches a peak density of over 2000 cones per square millimeter at about 1° visual angle (0.3 mm) from the foveal center. Then the density of S cones declines to about 500 per square millimeter in the peripheral retina.
All the peripheral cones become fatter and less densely packed, and the spacing between them increases, along the sides of the eye. This reduces optical resolution and light sensitivity where the curved surface of the retina makes it impossible for the lens to provide a crisply focused image. The cells respond instead to movement and to luminance or color contrast; our mind supplies the appearance of peripheral shapes in space.
The dim light sensitive rods are excluded from the fovea (out to about 1° visual angle from the center), which causes roughly a 2° wide central blind spot under very low light levels. (This can be seen if you try to read a newspaper headline under moonlight.) However the rods are closely packed between the extrafoveal cones, and this packing reaches a peak density of up to 150,000 rods per square millimeter in a ring at about 5 mm (17° visual angle) from the center of the fovea. (This can be seen at night by looking to one side of a very dim star or nebula; the object becomes significantly brighter.) The density of rods then declines steadily to about 80,000 per square millimeter in the extreme periphery. The density of both rods and cones is slightly higher on the nasal side of the retina, to provide enhanced peripheral vision. The diagram also shows the location of the blind spot where both rods and cones are absent.
Photopigment Molecules. In the outer segment of the photoreceptor cells is the fourth and smallest level of scale, the photopigment molecules. These are the actual transducers of light, the mechanism that translates light energy into biological response.
Each photoreceptor generates a baseline signal through the continuous transport of sodium ions (Na+) out of the inner segment of the cell and the import of potassium ions (K+) from outside. At the same time, sodium ions can enter the outer segment via small pores. The resulting ion imbalance produces a small, steady electric current of about 40 millivolts across the cell body when it is not exposed to light. As a result, the rods and cones produce a continuous signal (the dark current) even when they are not stimulated. To create a nerve impulse, light reduces this baseline photoreceptor current.
distribution and size of
photoreceptors in the retina
left eye shown; (top) cone and rod densities by perimetric angle from optical axis; (bottom) relative dimensions of cones and rods
(from Wyszecki & Stiles, 1982)
Each photopigment molecule consists of two parts: a short chromophore (light sensitive) molecule derived from vitamin A (retinal) and a gangly protein backbone (opsin) consisting of seven helical structures joined as a long string. The helices are folded into a single fatty layer of the outer segment, forming a gap; the chromophore is able to fit inside and attach to this opening because it assumes a specific molecular shape (11-cis retinal). This complex of retinal and opsin molecules is generically called rhodopsin (right).
When the chromophore is struck by a photon of the right quantum energy or wavelength, it instantly changes shape (a photoisomerization to all-trans retinal) which detaches it from the backbone. As a result the opsin molecule also changes shape and in its new form acts as a catalyst to other enzymes in the outer segment, which briefly close the nearby sodium ion (Na+) pores of the cone outer membrane. This changes the baseline electrical current across the cell body, which alters the concentration of a neurotransmitter (glutamate) between the cone synaptic body and the retinal secondary cells. As the number of absorbed photons increases, the secretion of neurotransmitter decreases.
Rhodopsins strongly absorb light, which gives them a characteristic dark, opaque color called visual purple. The photoisomerization causes a bleaching from purple to transparent yellow, which allows light to pass deeper into the outer segment and strike photopigment molecules below. After photoisomerization, the pigment is regenerated or reassembled from the bleached components. Less than 1% of the total amount of bleached photopigment in a cone is regenerated each second; yet even during daylight, only about 50% of the photopigment is bleached at any time.
This is the transduction process by which the retina translates light energy into nerve impulses: light strikes the chromophore, which detaches from the photopigment, which transforms the backbone, which causes an enzyme chemical cascade, which changes the ion permeability of the cell walls, which alters the electric charge of the cell, which alters its baseline synaptic activity, which changes the pattern of activity among secondary cells in the retina. The entire sequence, from photon absorption to nerve output, is completed within 50 microseconds (millionths of a second).
At the fovea, human vision performs near the theoretical limits for an optical system. A person with normal eyesight under daylight illumination can distinguish the separate lines in a grating of black and white lines 1mm wide viewed from a distance of 7 meters. The finest camera of similar aperture and focal length cannot do any better.
Outside the fovea, the eye gets by with crude optics and a yellowed, chromatically aberrated and badly focused image. These shortcomings are compensated for by the complex structure of the visual field , by continual, exploratory eye movements , and by extensive image enhancement and cognitive interpretation (including memory) applied of the flow of images from the eye. Vision requires two eyes and two thirds of our brain to function as effectively as it does.
This section relies in particular on the chapter "Light, the Retinal Image, and Photoreceptors" by Orrin Packer and David Williams in The Science of Color (2nd ed.) edited by Steven Shevell (Optical Society of America, 2003).
three plus one light receptors
Now let's examine the unique properties of the three classes of daylight color photoreceptors, the cones, and the dim light photoreceptors, the rods.
Four Types of Photopigment. Each class of photoreceptor contains a specific type of rhodopsin, which determines how the photoreceptor responds to light. In humans (and many vertebrates) the chromophore molecule is retinal , so all photopigment differences arise in the opsin backbone. This backbone determines the ability of the photopigment, and the photoreceptor cell that contains it, to respond to light.
All animal photopigments evolved from a common opsin ancestor and are chemically very similar. However different species , and different individuals within a species, carry genes for different amino acid sequences within the basic opsin backbone. These amino acid substitutions change the sensitivity of the photopigment to light.
three types of human opsin molecules
colored circles show the amino acid differences in molecular structure from previous molecule (S is compared to rhodopsin [not shown], M to S, and L to M)
The amino acid differences in the common opsin backbone of human photopigments are shown above. They identify four spectral classes of human photoreceptors:
three dimensional model of rhodopsin
after Pogozheva, Lomize & Mosberg (1997) and Saji (2003)
scotopic or dim light adapted rods (denoted by V' and containing the photopigment rhodopsin), most sensitive to "green" wavelengths at around 505 nm
short wavelength or S cones, containing cyanolabe and most sensitive to "blue violet" wavelengths at around 445 nm.
medium wavelength or M cones, containing chlorolabe and most sensitive to "green" wavelengths at around 540 nm
long wavelength or L cones, containing the photopigment erythrolabe and most sensitive to "greenish yellow" wavelengths at around 565 nm
As the figure shows, there is a large number of differences between rhodopsin (taken as baseline) and the S photopigment, and a similarly large number of differences between the S and M photopigments. In contrast, the M and L photopigments are nearly identical.
Photopigments do not catch light particles the way a bucket catches rain. Even if a photon strikes a photopigment molecule, the probability that the visual pigment will photoisomerize depends on the wavelength (energy) of the light. Each photopigment is most likely to react to light at its wavelength of peak sensitivity. Other wavelengths (or frequencies) also cause the photopigment to react, but this is less likely to happen and so requires on average a larger number of photons (greater light intensity) to occur.
Measuring Photoreceptor Light Sensitivity. The relationship between photopigment chemistry and light sensitivity was anticipated by 19th century visual researchers, and was demonstrated when the rod photopigment (then called visual purple) was extracted from dissected retinas and shown to bleach readily in light.
Over a century later, methods were developed to measure the bleaching of cone and rod photopigments to specific light wavelengths, which produces a relative sensitivity curve across the spectrum for each type of photopigment or cone. As the curve gets higher, the probability increases that the photopigment will be bleached (and the photoreceptor cell will respond) at that wavelength.
The photopigment absorption curves shown below were measured in about 150 intact cones from surgically removed human eyes, held in a tiny glass tube and illuminated from the side by a thin beam of monochromatic (single wavelength) light (a technique called microspectrophotometry). They closely resemble the recordings of single cones in monkey retinas and the absorption curves of genetically manufactured photopigment molecules. These curves have been normalized the sensitivity at each wavelength is expressed as a proportion of the maximum sensitivity, which is assigned a value of 1.0.
human photopigment absorption curves
curves normalized to equal peak absorptance (1.0) on a linear vertical scale; wavelength of peak absorptance in italics, number of photoreceptors measured for each curve at base of curve; data from Dartnall, Bowmaker & Mollon (1983)
Four kinds of spectra were obtained with four distinct absorptance peaks at 420, 495, 530 and 560 nm. As expected from the photopigment molecular structure , the L and M photopigments have a similar peak and span within the spectrum, and both differ significantly from the location of the S cone curve. The fourth (rod) photopigment, rhodopsin, fits in between.
The photoisomerization curves should describe color vision if each type of cone contains only one kind of photopigment and if the intensity of the photoreceptor response is proportional to the quantity of photoisomerized pigment. In fact, these curves do not correspond to human color matching responses, especially for the L cones . So we have to shift attention to the cones as they respond in an intact (living) retina.
It is impractical to measure cone responses in live human retinas, so methods have been contrived since the late 19th century to measure them by indirect methods. Within the past few decades, genetic identification of the specific opsin types expressed in individual photopigments has produced an increasingly accurate picture.
The most reliable data on cone sensitivity curves or cone fundamentals actually comes from a different experimental method, also first used in the 19th century: color matching experiments . In this approach, viewers match the color of a test wavelength by a mixture of three "primary" lights. These matches are performed by normal trichromats and by carefully screened dichromats ("colorblind" subjects) who lack one of the L, M or S photopigments entirely or carry L and M photopigments that are very similar . Differences between the dichromats allow measurement of either the L or M light response without any contribution from the other type of cone. These measurements are then used to transform the color matching functions of normal subjects into cone fundamentals that match the separate curves found in dichromats. Adjustments must also be made to compensate for the prereceptoral filtering of short wavelength light by the lens and macular pigment. Alternate techniques, including measurement of nerve signals from individual human cones or rhesus monkey cones, have been used to confirm and clarify the color matching data.
Because the cones are unequally distributed across the retina, it matters how large (visual angle) and where (centrally or peripherally) the color stimulus appears in the visual field different presentations of color stimuli will produce different color matching functions. The standard alternatives are a 2° (foveal) or 10° (wide field) presentation of color areas centered in the field of view. Compared to 2° curves, the 10° L and M curves are elevated by 10% to 40% in the "green" to "violet" wavelengths. For reasons explained here , the 10° curves are used throughout this site.
The cone fundamentals seem to imply that cone sensitivities are fixed, like the speed of a photographic film. They are not: cone sensitivity depends on light intensity, and the curves below describe the average response under moderate levels of retinal illuminance. The absolute level of all sensitivities changes as part of light adaptation , and the relative sensitivities change during chromatic adaptation .
Five Views of the Cone Fundamentals. Let's now look at five types of presentation using recent estimates of 10 degree, quantal cone fundamentals by Andrew Stockman and Lindsay Sharpe (2000).
1. Linear Normalized Cone Fundamentals. This is the most common textbook presentation of cone response sensitivities. The response at each wavelength is shown as a proportion of the peak response, which is set equal to 1.0 on a linear vertical scale. This produces the three similar (but not identical) curves shown below.
normalized cone sensitivity functions
the Stockman & Sharpe (2000) 10° quantal cone fundamentals, normalized to equal peak values of 1.0 on a linear vertical scale
This presentation is in some respects misleading, because it distorts the functional relationships between light wavelength (energy), cone sensitivity and color perception. However, comparison with the photopigment absorption curves above identifies three obvious differences between the shape and peak sensitivity of the photopigment and cone fundamentals:
The L cone has a noticeably broader or wider curve than the S and M cones; the S cone has a narrower response profile than either the M or L cones.
Compared to the photopigments, the cone peak sensitivities have been shifted toward long wavelengths, by 5 nm (L cone) to 25 nm (S cone).
The short wavelength "tails" of the photopigment curves have been lowered so that the response below 500 nm falls toward zero. As the effects of prereceptoral filtering have been removed, this implies that increased S outputs are opposed to the L and M outputs : at short wavelengths, the S cone suppresses the L and M cone sensitivity.
Overall, human spectral sensitivity is split into two parts : a peaked short wavelength sensitivity centered on "blue violet" (445 nm), and a broad long wavelength sensitivity centered around "yellow green" (~560 nm), with a trough of minimum sensitivity in "middle blue" (475 to 485 nm).
2. Log Normalized Cone Fundamentals. A problem with the linear normalized cone fundamentals is that they emphasize the overall "peak" shape of the curves; as a result they do not adequately display the "tails" or extreme low values. The solution is to present the normalized curves on a log vertical scale, as shown below. Each unit of the log sensitivity scale is 10 times smaller than the unit before, which "zooms in" on the very low sensitivities. (Cone fundamentals are most often tablulated in log normalized form, as it is easy to convert these curves into any other format.)
log normalized cone sensitivity functions
the Stockman & Sharpe (2000) 10° quantal cone fundamentals, normalized to equal peak values of 1.0 on a log vertical scale
These curves provide three additional insights:
Each type of cone responds to a wide range of light wavelengths; in fact, the measurable sensitivity of the L and M cones extends over the entire visible spectrum, although the sensitivity of the M cone is very low in the near infrared.
The L and M response curves largely overlap one another and this overlap significantly limits the maximum saturation of hues in the "yellow" through "green" wavelengths.
The S cone responds to only half the spectrum, from "yellow green" to "violet"; perception of monochromatic "yellow green" to "red" hues depends entirely on the balance between L and M outputs.
3. Log Population Weighted Cone Fundamentals. The previous two formats imply that the different photopigments or cone spectral classes are represented in the retina in equal numbers. This is not true, which suggests the cone fundamentals should be weighted (shifted up or down in relation to each other) to more accurately represent their proportional contribution to color vision.
The peak values of each cone are set equal to the proportion of that cone in the total number of cones in the retina. The probability that a cone will respond is weighted by the probability that a photon will strike that cone type. The population proportions used here are approximately those of the 10° retinal anatomy: 63% L cones, 31% M cones, and 6% S cones. (There is reliable evidence that these proportions differ significantly from one person to the next.)
population weighted log cone sensitivity functions
the Stockman & Sharpe (2000) 10° quantal cone sensitivity functions on a log vertical scale (1.0 = total cumulative response by all three cones); area of 50% or more optical density of macular pigment and adult lens shown in yellow; from Stockman, Sharpe & Fach (1999)
Taking into account both the individual response sensitivities of the three cone classes and their proportional numbers in the retina, we see that a random photon of equal energy or "white" light is most likely to produce a response in an L cone at any wavelength above 445 nm. In contrast, the M cones have only 40% of the L cone response probability across all wavelengths, and the S cones only one tenth of that. Thus, a single photon is roughly 25 times more likely to produce a response in an L than an S cone.
4. Linear Population Weighted Cone Fundamentals. The log scale is useful to show the very low values of cone fundamentals, in the "tails" of the curve, but it gives an unfamiliar view of the overall shape of the population weighted curves. Represented on a linear scale, the curves reveal the response probabilities more directly.
population weighted linear cone sensitivity functions
the Stockman & Sharpe (2000) 10° quantal cone fundamentals on a linear vertical scale, scaled to reflect L, M and S cone proportions in the retina (1.0 = total cumulative response by all three cones)
This is probably the most accurate picture of the proportional response probabilities of the three cone classes in relation to each other, to different wavelengths of light, and to our overall visual acuity. We glean a few more insights:
The L and M cones produce nearly all the information acquired by the retina; the L cones account for most of the retinal signal at nearly all wavelengths. When we recall that the fovea contains half the total number of L and M cones in the retina, the curves indicate the dominant importance of foveal responses in color vision.
The linear scale emphasizes that each cone responds primarily to light near its wavelength of maximum sensitivity (the three white lines in the spectrum band). A single photon at a cone's peak sensitivity has a visual impact equivalent to 10,000 or more photons at the "tails" or low sensitivity ends of the curve.
As a result, our eyes are most sensitive to "yellow green" wavelengths around the middle of the spectrum: yellows and greens are the most luminous colors in a prism spectrum or rainbow. In fact, most of our light sensitivity lies between 500 nm to 620 nm roughly from "blue green" to "scarlet".
The sensitivities of the L and M cones are well contrasted through the "red" to "yellow green" parts of the spectrum, but become very similar through the "blue green" to "blue violet" parts of the spectrum. The S cones break the tie in wavelengths below ~525 nm.
5. Equal Area Cone Fundamentals. The population weighted curves are a physiological representation of visual sensitivity: the cones are weighted by their proportional numbers in the retina. But individual cone outputs have unequal importance or "voting strength" in determining color sensations because they flow into common pathways or channels of color information. These channels have a weight or importance of their own, which defines the perceptual importance of the cone classes in brightness and color perception.
A plausible assumption adopted in colorimetry is that each type of cone contributes equally in the perception of a pure white or achromatic color. This means that the cone fundamentals do not represent individual photoreceptors, but classes or types of cones as a group. Each class is given equal perceptual weight in the visual system.
In this type of display, the peak of each sensitivity curve is scaled up or down so that the area under each curve (equivalent to the total response sensitivity of each type of cone, pooled across all cones) is the same; these curves are usually presented on a linear vertical scale.
equal area cone sensitivity functions
the Stockman & Sharpe (2000) 10° cone fundamentals rescaled so that the area under each curve equals 10 on a linear scale
These equal area cone sensitivity curves have an important and specific technical role in colorimetry : to model the changes in cone sensitivities that occur in each class of cone during chromatic adaptation .
This equal area presentation of cone fundamentals should not be confused with the most commonly used model of visual sensitivity based on equal area weighting: the curves of standard color matching functions . These are superficially similar to cone fundamentals, and can be derived from the cone fundamentals by a mathematical transformation, but they do not represent specific photoreceptors or color channels in the visual system.
The large differences in peak elevations (especially when compared to the population weighted cone fundamentals) imply that the S cone outputs must be heavily weighted in the visual system far out of proportion to their numbers in the retina. This turns out to be true. In addition, the proportionally small overlap between the S cone curve and the L and M curves implies that short wavelength ("violet") is handled as a separate chromatic channel and is perceptually the most chromatic or saturated.
We might also suspect that the L and M cones have a different functional role in color vision from the S cones, because they have very similar response profiles across the spectrum and lower response weights than the S cones. And this also is true: the L and M cones are responsible for brightness/lightness perception, provide extreme visual acuity, and respond more quickly to temporal or spatial changes in the image; the S cones contribute primarily to chromatic (color) perceptions.
photopic & scotopic vision
The separate L, M and S cone fundamentals do not directly answer a more basic question: what is the eye's overall sensitivity to light? How much radiant power must a light emit before we can see it? The answer still depends on the wavelength of the light, but it also depends on the total intensity or energy of the illumination the difference between daylight and darkness.
Daylight (Photopic) Sensitivity. At illumination levels above 10 lux or so, corresponding to daylight levels of illuminance from twilight to noon daylight, the cones primarily define the luminance or brightness of a light or surface. This is photopic vision, and it is functioning whenever we see two or more different hues.
Photopic sensitivity was one of the first visual attributes that 19th century psychophysicists attempted to measure. A plausible early approach was heterochromatic brightness matching, in which viewers adjust the brightness (radiance) of a monochromatic (single wavelength) light until it visually matched the brightness of a "white" light standard; after this was done across the entire spectrum, it yielded a curve of overall light sensitivity. Unfortunately, colored light is not perceived the same as "white" light: hue purity increases the sensation of brightness, making saturated lights appear brighter than a "white" light of equal luminance.
Various methods have been tried to get around the problem. The most reliable is flicker photometry, which cancels the chromatic component in a monochromatic light by flickering it on and off so rapidly that it appears to fuse into a steady, desaturated, half bright stimulus, which is then adjusted to the "white" light standard. The diagram shows results from six different measurement techniques, listed in the key in descending order of reliability, to show the extent of the problems.
a passel of photopic sensitivity functions
luminous efficiency measured using six different techniques (from Wyszecki & Stiles, 1982)
The underlying problem, it turns out, is not in the measurement but in the theory: the diagram is not a picture of measurement problems but of visual adaptability. The brightness sensation is a dynamic response by different types of photoreceptors adjusting to different visual contexts. Overall light sensitivity varies across different luminance levels , light mixtures and dominant colors; it varies depending on how it is measured. So it cannot be pinned down as a single curve, as can be done with the four types of photoreceptors.
Even so, the curve is useful in many practical applications. So the international standards body for color measurement methods, the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (or CIE ) cut the Gordion knot and adopted a photopic sensitivity function [denoted V(λ), which means "a curve of the luminous efficiency value V at each wavelength λ"]. This curve was based on early (up to 1924) sets of diverse 2° color matching functions weighted to reproduce, at the corresponding wavelengths, the apparent brightness of the three rgb primary lights used in the color matching studies. This standard curve locates the main light sensitivity in the "green" center of the spectrum between 500 nm to 610 nm, and places the peak photopic sensitivity at 555 nm though as you see above, this peak is more of a plateau.
The V(λ) luminosity function equivalently represents the relative luminous efficacy of radiant energy, the light stimulating power of equal watts at each wavelength. In this guise it is the basis of modern photometry as deployed in photographic light meters and digital camera image sensors. An electronic sensor measures the radiance within small sections of the visible spectrum, then weights each section by its luminous efficacy; the total across the spectrum matches to a good approximation the light's luminance or apparent brightness to the human eye when the light is viewed in isolation. Here is the curve on a log vertical scale, with its partner the scoptopic sensitivity function [denoted V'(λ) and discussed in the next section].
photopic & scoptopic sensitivity functions
CIE 1951 scotopic luminous efficiency and CIE 1964 wide field (10°) photopic luminous efficiency, relative to peak photopic sensitivity on log vertical scale; relative peak sensitivities from Kaiser & Boynton (1996)
Unfortunately, photopic sensitivity has remained a moving target. All measurements include the prereceptoral filtering in brightness judgments, which complicates measurement in the "blue" and "violet" wavelengths. Subsequent research also showed that the CIE 1924 curve underestimated photopic sensitivity in the "blue" wavelengths, so the curve has been twice corrected by Judd (1951) and Vos (1978). This modified Judd-Vos luminosity function is usually denoted VM(λ) M for modified.
Meanwhile a consensus emerged that the S cones do not contribute substantially to brightness perception. This means the photopic luminosity function is more accurately defined as a weighted combination of the L and M cone sensitivity curves . Paradoxically, when more realistic corrections for lens and macular density are added, these newer estimates increase even further the estimated photopic sensitivity to short wavelength light, despite exclusion of the S cone from the curve.
The diagram below presents the updated 2° luminosity function [denoted V*(λ)] and the companion 10° luminosity function by Stockman & Sharpe, normalized on a linear scale. The modified 1978 Judd-Vos curve (VMλ) and the 1951 scotopic curve [V'(λ)] are included for comparison. The new curves are based on the Stockman & Sharpe L and M cone fundamentals that best fit flicker photometric data for 40 viewers; the L cones have a 50% greater weight than the M cones and the S cones are given zero weight. These curves put the peak photopic sensitivity at 545 nm, but with a flattened peak due to the averaged values of variant L photopigments .
photopic & scoptopic luminosity functions
photopic functions based on the 2° and 10° quantal cone fundamentals of Sharpe, Stockman, Jagla & Jägle (2005), shown with the CIE 1951 scotopic function and the Judd-Vos 1978 photopic function; all curves normalized to equal peak sensitivity on a linear vertical scale
These curves show that short wavelength or "blue" light has a greater luminous efficiency under scotopic than photopic vision. They show that differences among the photopic curves are confined almost entirely to the short wavelengths, and that there is a greater "blue" response in wide field than foveal color perception. Finally, they show that long wavelength or "red" light strongly stimulates the photopic function but the scotopic very little. This is why submariners and astronomers dark adapt under red light: it keeps the foveal cones functional (for detail vision) while dark adapting the rods. Both cones and rods respond near the maximum to "green" wavelengths, regardless of luminance. This is why emergency response vehicles are now painted a light yellow green instead of the traditional red the yellow green is much easier to see, especially in dim light.
Dim Light (Scotopic) Sensitivity. The diagrams above also show the CIE 1951 scotopic sensitivity function [denoted V'(λ)] which describes human light sensitivity under dark adaptation at illuminances below 0.1 lux. This is approximately the amount of light available under a half moon at night.
At these very low illuminance levels the cones cannot respond to light and the rods completely define our visual experience. There are seven peculiarities of rod based or scotopic vision:
All rods contain the same photopigment, rhodopsin, so rods lack the photopigment variety necessary for color vision. We become functionally colorblind except for isolated points of higher luminance, such as distant traffic lights or the planet Mars, that are bright enough to stimulate the cones.
Rod signals do not transmit within separate nerve pathways: they feed into the same channels used by the cones. These channels are segregated into contrasting red/green and yellow/blue opponent contrasts . As a result, rods can produce faint color sensations at very low chroma and lightness contrast.
Peak sensitivity is around 505 nm or "blue green". As natural light around sunset is shifted toward red, the rods start to dark adapt while still exposed to long wavelength ("red") light.
However, rod sensations of "white" usually appear faint blue (matching about 480 nm) and not blue green.
There are roughly 100 million rods in the human retina, yet they are completely absent from the fovea at the center of the visual field where daylight visual resolution is highest. We cannot read even large print text under scotopic vision, or recognize very small objects, because the fovea shuts down.
There are about 16 rods for every cone in the eye, but there are only about 1 million separate nerve pathways from each eye to the brain. This means that the average pathway must carry information from 6 cones and 100 rods! This pooling of so many rod outputs in a single signal considerably reduces scotopic visual resolution and means, despite their huge numbers, that rod visual acuity is only about 1/20th that of the cones.
Like the cones, the rods are more widely spaced and larger in diameter toward the edges of the retina, but they also form a densely packed ring at about a 20° visual angle around the fovea. This is why we can see very faint stars or lights at night if we look to one side, rather than directly at, their location.
Mesopic Light Sensitivity. The rods strongly affect color perception under moderately low illumination by mixing with or tinting the color responses of the still active cones. This mesopic vision typically appears in illuminances from 0.1 to 10 lux, for example during the 45 minutes or so after sunset (for a viewer outdoors and shielded from artificial light).
Because the rod and cone outputs are pooled in shared nerve pathways in mesopic vision, the photopic luminosity curve shifts toward blue and long wavelength hues become darker. Bright yellow, ochre and umber fuse into a single grayish tan, greens and blues appear as a single "grue" (green blue) color, and reds become a warm, dark gray. This Purkinje shift (named for the Bohemian scientist who described it in 1825) is easiest to see in large areas of color extending outside the visual field of the rodless fovea. It is quite noticeable if you look at a familiar, brightly colored art print, hawaiian shirt or flower bed in fading twilight as your eyes become adapted to the dark.
In daylight illumination the rod signals are near maximum, which causes a ceiling effect that makes the rods insensitive to light contrast. (This is due to a response compression of the rod outputs, and not to photopigment depletion by light.) The rod signals therefore disappear in the same way cone outputs do in a ganzfeld effect .
Even so, rods remain active in daylight, even under very bright levels of illuminance. They can affect color appearance by a process called rod intrusion , which desaturates colors, especially at long ("red") wavelengths, in large field or peripheral vision, and under moderate to low levels of illumination.
The Color & Vision Research Laboratories at UC San Diego provide a comprehensive online library of data relating to photopigments, cone fundamentals, colorimetry and visual responses.
trichromatic mixtures
The premise that millions of distinct colors can arise from the stimulation of three different color receptors is called the three color or trichromatic theory of color vision, first proposed in the 18th century. It is the foundation of modern colorimetry , the prediction of perceived color matches from the physical measurement of lights or surfaces.
The cone sensitivity curves show the probability that individual L, M or S cones will respond to light at different wavelengths. But they do not offer a very clear picture of how the cones work together or how the mind "triangulates" from the separate cone outputs to identify specific colors.
We obtain this picture by charting the proportion of cone outputs in the perception of a specific color. This results in a literal triangle, the trilinear mixing triangle, that contains all possible colors of light.
Any diagram that shows how the L, M and S cones combine to create color perceptions must also define a specific geometry of color . This geometry changes, depending on how the cone signals are combined. The relationships among cone outputs, the method for calculating the outputs that produce a specific color sensation, and the "shape" of color in the mind, are all aspects of the same problem.
Principle of Univariance. A key feature of photoreceptor signals is that they represent light as a contrast or change to a continuous baseline signal of about 40 millivolts, even in darkness (hence the name dark current ). A change in photoreceptor excitation is transmitted as a more or less change in this baseline signal. This single type of photoreceptor response to any and all light stimulation is termed the principle of univariance.
Now, the rate of photoisomerization in the photopigment depends on two completely separate dimensions of the light stimulus: (1) the quantity of light incident on the retina or (2) the relative sensitivity of the photopigment to the light wavelength(s).
As a result, a change in the photoreceptor signal can be caused by two very different changes in the light. The cone or rod output decreases as the light gets brighter or as the light frequency gets closer to the frequency of its peak sensitivity; and the output increases as the light becomes dimmer or farther from its peak sensitivity.
the principle of univariance
a single L cone responds with the same "more" or "less" signals to changes in light frequency or light intensity
Thus there are two kinds of ambiguity in the response of individual photoreceptors to light (diagram, above):
A single type of cone cannot distinguish changes in wavelength (hue) from changes in radiance (intensity). Alternating between equally bright "green" and "red" wavelengths (B), or modulating a single "green" wavelength of light between bright and dim (C), will produce an identical change in the output of a solitary L cone.
Some changes in light produce no cone response. Alternating between equally bright "blue" and "orange" wavelengths (A), or between a dim "green" and proportionately bright "red" light (D), would not change the output of that solitary L cone.
However, what the cones cannot do individually they can achieve as a team. The principle of univariance means that color must be defined by the combined response of all three cone types.
The Cone Excitation Space. To visualize the color creating relationships among the separate L, M and S cones, they are used to define a three dimensional space. In this cone excitation space each dimension represents the separate and independent excitation or outputs produced in each type of cone.
The standard method to illustrate cone behavior is to combine the three cone responses produced by monochromatic lights from short (390 nm) to long (750 nm) wavelengths. This is done by plotting the cone fundamentals at each wavelength as points in the cone excitation space.
For example (diagram, right), at a wavelength of 500 nm, the L cone sensitivity is 0.44, M is 0.64 and S is 0.09. Those three numbers locate the combined cone excitation to monochromatic light at 500 nm. When similar points are plotted for all visible wavelengths, they define a curved path of cone excitations to monochromatic (maximally saturated) lights called the spectrum locus.
a normalized cone excitation space
the spectrum locus (red dots) plotted in three dimensions defined by the normalized cone fundamentals L, M and S; V is the photopic luminous efficiency function
We still can recognize in this curve the basic features of the normalized L, M and S cone fundamentals. All points at wavelengths below ~400 nm or above ~700 nm are at the origin (0 on all dimensions) which means those wavelengths are invisible they produce no cone excitations. The L cone reaches its maximum response at around 565 nm, the M cone at around 540 nm, and the S cone at around 445 nm. But now we see them in dynamic combination. The V* luminosity function (green line in diagram) is the sum L+M of the normalized L and M outputs, so it forms a diagonal from the origin and in the L,M plane. The contrast between the L and M outputs (LM) forms the opposing diagonal.
We can also find the location of any complex color, if we know the cone excitations it produces. The white point (wp) produced by an equal energy illuminant is found as the total area under each cone fundamental divided by the sum of all three fundamental areas: L = 0.44, M = 0.37, and S = 0.19. The extraspectral mixtures of "red" and "violet" extend as a line between the "red" and "violet" lights used to mix them in the diagram, between 620 nm and 445 nm.
reading cone responses to a
500 nm monochromatic light
If we turn this diagram to look at it sideways, we see that the boundary of color space is geometrically irregular. No simple geometrical shape can describe the spectrum locus. It forms a roughly elliptical outline when viewed from one side (diagram, right) but a double lobed or pinched shape when viewed along the luminance diagonal (diagram, above). This double lobed shape reappears in the spectrum locus of color models, such as CIELAB or CIECAM , that contrast colors with a white surface.
This double lobed shape occurs because the spectrum locus is bent at a 90° angle along a line from the origin to approximately 525 nm ("middle green", purple line in diagrams above and right). The vertical half, comprising all wavelengths below 525 nm that produce a significant S cone response, sticks upward like a shark fin. The rest of the spectrum locus wavelengths above 525 nm where the S cone response is effectively zero lies completely flat on the L,M plane.
As a result of this bend, the color space is inherently curved. For example, mixing the wavelengths 575 nm and 475 nm in the right proportions will produce a "white" light. Therefore the mixing line between them must pass through the achromatic white point: but this can only be done with a curve (diagram, right). Moreover, the shape of this curve changes as we mix different pairs of complementary wavelengths. The curvature of chromaticity plane stretched inside the closed spectrum locus is geometrically irregular, too.
The diagram demonstrates how the L and M cones operate in tandem to define luminance. For lights below 525 nm, luminance is defined by the projection of the spectrum locus into the L,M plane (dotted line in diagram, right). But if we set aside luminance perception defined by the L+M diagonal, then color perception is divided into two parts:
at wavelengths above 525 nm, changes in the relative excitation of the L and M cones define the color response; the S cones are silent.
at wavelengths below 525 nm, the relative L,M excitations are approximately the same as they are at 525 nm (the dotted line and purple line are equivalent) so it is the relative excitation of the independent S cone that defines the color response.
This two part geometry is the photoreceptor foundation for the opponent geometry of color appearance.
A final observation is that the white point is not located on the luminosity function. This simply demonstrates that white is not the same as bright. The perception of white is a form of color sensation, whereas the perception of bright is a unique intensity sensation. The cone excitation space implies that a "bright" stimulus produces more than two times the cone excitation of a "white" surface, and therefore visual "white" always has a lower luminosity than visual "bright" under the same viewing conditions.
The Chromaticity Plane. Reweighting the cone fundamentals, for example by doubling the M cone response or by using equal area or population weighted cone fundamentals, changes the relative length of the dimensions but does not alter the fundamentally curved and irregular geometry of the cone excitation space.
However, we get a radically different color space through a different approach. By removing variations in the brightness of different wavelengths, we flatten the curvature of the three dimensional spectrum locus. This is done by normalizing on the total cone excitation, or dividing the excitation in each cone by the stimulation produced in all cones:
brightness (B) = L + M + S
If we divide the excitation produced in each cone type (Lc, Mc and Sc) by this amount, we get the relative proportion of the color sensation that is separately contributed by each of the three cone types. This is the chromaticity of the color:
chromaticity (C) = L/B, M/B, S/B.
The previous example only described a single wavelength of light, so we simply sum the cone excitations at that single "blue green" wavelength:
brightnessλ=500 =
0.54, 0.38, 0.08
Note that standard of brightness here is panchromatic because it includes all three cones. We do not divide by the luminosity function (V), which is a weighted sum of L+M without the S cones.
side view of the cone excitation space
This procedure radically transforms the color space in two ways (diagram, right): (1) it uncouples the "red" and "violet" ends of the spectrum locus, which were previously joined at the origin (zero values) because they are both very "dark" hues; (2) it projects the spectrum locus onto the plane surface of an equilateral triangle (blue) whose corners are located at the three maximum values for the three cones. The three dimensional spectrum locus has been flattened into two dimensions, and the original banana shaped color space has been transformed into something resembling a right triangle. If we define the L, M and S dimensions as the response each cone relative to its maximum response, then a line from the origin to the white point (wp) forms an achromatic gray scale.
It is customary to display this transformed spectrum locus so that the triangle plane is perpendicular to view. In this orientation it forms a trilinear mixing triangle or a Maxwell triangle, after the 19th century English physicist James Clerk Maxwell who first used it.
The trilinear mixing triangle does not represent differences in brightness or lightness between colors, only differences in chromaticity (hue and hue purity). Chromaticity is the "color" in color, separate from its lightness or brightness. For this reason, the area within the mixing triangle that is enclosed by the bowed spectrum locus (and a line connecting the extreme short and long wavelengths) is called a chromaticity diagram.
This figure offers many fundamental insights into the geometry of color and is worth patient study.
a trilinear mixing triangle and chromaticity diagram
any possible combination of three cone outputs can be represented as a unique point within the triangle; the range of physically possible colors is contained inside the spectrum locus
Each corner of the triangle represents the color that would be perceived by the maximum excitation of a single L, M or S cone without any excitation in the other two cones. The sides of the triangle represent shared excitations between just two cone types, with no contribution from the third. Any location inside the triangle represents a color that results from the stimulation of all three types of cone.
The mixture proportions for each cone are shown along the triangle sides. By definition every trilinear mixture must sum to 100%, so a mixture of 50% S and 38% L (color a) must contain 12% M (by subtraction: 1005038 = 12). Therefore just two chromaticity values uniquely specify every color in a chromaticity diagram.
The point where all three primaries contribute in proportions equal to their perceptual weight is the white point. The white point changes its location within the chromaticity diagram depending on how the three cone outputs are weighted; the diagram shows them weighted proportional to the areas under the normalized cone fundamentals (44%, 37%, 19%).
The chromaticities of monochromatic (single wavelength) lights define the spectrum locus, the trace of the most intense colors physically possible. The line of "red" and "blue" mixtures between 400 nm and 700 nm, which includes magenta and purple, is called the purple line.
As explained above , spectral hues at wavelengths above ~525 nm are defined only by the relative proportion of L and M outputs; they lie on the straight line L/M base of the equilateral triangle. Hues below 525 nm are produced by a roughly constant ratio of L and M outputs, so are distinguished only by the relative percentage of S cone excitation.
All mixtures of two real colors of light (such as colors a and b) define a straight mixing line across the chromaticity space. All colors produced by the mixture of those two colors of light must lie along the mixing line.
The hue purity or chroma of a color is defined as the length of the mixing line between the color and the white point. It is obvious that monochromatic hues do not have equal hue purity: spectral "yellow" appears rather pale or whitish because it is close to the white point, and spectral "violet" has the highest chroma because it is far away.
All mixtures outside the spectrum locus and purple line are cone proportions that cannot be produced by any physical light or surface. They are physically impossible or unrealizable colors. This gray area shows that about half of the unique combinations of cone outputs cannot be produced by any physical stimulus. It also shows that these colors especially "green" primary would appear more saturated than any spectral light.
This has nothing to do with the purity of light: it is due to the overlap in cone fundamentals across the spectrum (especially between the L and M cones), and to the random, side by side mixture of L, M and S cones within the retina. As a result any light that stimulates one cone also stimulates one or both remaining types of cones. We are physiologically prevented from seeing a "pure" cone output, and therefore we never see a pure primary color.
Very large color differences can be produced by very small differences in cone outputs. For example, the change from "white" to pure "yellow" occurs with a change in L and S cone outputs of less than 20%; all green mixtures are produced by changes of less than 30% in the L and M cone outputs.
The chromaticity distance between unique "green" (~500 nm) and unique "blue" (~450 nm) is extremely large and represents almost the entire range of S cone outputs. For this reason the appearance and measurement of blue hues are sensitive to the location of the white point and are variable across different color models .
color space defined as cone excitations as a proportion of total cone excitations (brightness)
A color appearance does not reveal the cone proportions that created it. In every green color the M cone outputs are less than 60% of the total; all possible colors contain at least 10% of the L outputs; most of the possible cone output combinations result in various flavors of blue.
Finally, chromaticity diagrams are highly sensitive to assumptions made about how cones combine or are weighted in perception, or how the dimensions are rotated to present the chromaticity diagram to view. The two examples at right show the CIE Yxy chromaticity diagram (top) that has long been a standard in colorimetry but does not describe color differences accurately (for example, it makes "green" the most saturated spectral hue and gives it the largest perceptual area); and the CIE 1976 UCS chromaticity diagram (bottom), in which the measurement dimensions have been manipulated to represent, as accurately as feasible in a two dimensional diagram, the relative saturation of spectral hues (as their distance from the white point) and the perceptual difference between two similar colors as the chromaticity distance between them in the diagram.
10° (wide field) and 2° (foveal) chromaticity diagrams
The diagram above shows the change in the chromaticity diagram that occurs if cone fundamentals are weighted so that the area under each curve represents the cone populations for a 10° retinal area (which includes 6% or more S cones) or a 2° retinal area (which includes less than 1% S cones). The foveal weighting produces a substantial reduction in the "blue" response range and shifts the white point almost to the LM border.
When using a chromaticity diagram, keep in mind that it has mathematically and rather mechanically removed the perceptual effect of brightness. Because the luminance of a "red" or "violet" monochromatic or single wavelength light appears quite dim in comparison to a "green" light, when all lights are the same radiant intensity, the "red" and "violet" lights would have to be substantially increased in power to produce a perceptual match to the chromaticity diagram. A chromaticity diagram therefore does not accurately describe, for example, the perception of relative color intensity in a solar spectrum, where the visible wavelengths have roughly similar radiance .
The interactive tutorial on color perception hosted by the Brown University Computer Science Department includes a java applet that models the additive mixture of three "primary" colors.
constraints on color vision
To conclude this page, let's consider how our visual capabilities are adapted to perception of radiant energy in the world. By comparing our visual capabilities to those of other animals, we can understand how we benefit from three cones, rather than two or four, and why our cones are tuned to specific wavelengths and not others.
variety in chromaticity diagrams
(top) CIE Yxy diagram, with the xyz "primaries" rotated to match a maxwell triangle; (bottom) CIE UCS diagram, with a primary triangle imputed
Standard Assumptions. An assumption made in most studies of animal vision is that photopigment absorption curves conform to a common shape, for example Dartnall's standard shape (right), which is plotted around the pigment's peak value on a wavenumber scale. This common shape arises from the backbone opsin molecule structure.
Variations in the opsin amino acid sequence only shift the wavenumber of peak sensitivity up or down the spectrum; this does not change the basic shape of the curve, though it becomes slightly broader in longer wavelengths. (We have already seen this template similarity in the human photopigment curves .) It is also assumed that each class of photoreceptor contains only one kind of photopigment, and that the principle of univariance describes the photopigment's response to light.
These three assumptions allow a basic understanding of animal visual systems without painstaking measurement of photopigment or cone response curves. Dartnall's standard shape does not adequately describe human color vision, especially the L photopigment absorptance, but idealized curves are adequate to illustrate the important constraints on color vision.
Monochromatic Vision. The rudimentary form of vision requires a single receptor cell (V). For maximum sensitivity this receptor should respond to wavelengths somewhere in the 300 nm to 1000 nm area of the spectrum where solar radiance at the earth's surface is most intense.
This kind of visual system, which is common in lower vertebrates, codes light along a single luminosity dimension that can only distinguish light from dark. Monochromatic vision can include a mechanism for light adaptation that allows the eye to function across large changes in overall illumination, and it can detect movement, shapes, surface textures and depth. But it cannot easily distinguish between the emitted brightness of lights and the reflected lightness of surfaces, or objects from near or similarly reflecting backgrounds. It also cannot perceive color: changes in hue from "green" toward either "red" or "blue" will appear as luminance changes from light to dark. Nevertheless, all vertebrates have at least this basic visual capability, which suggests that luminance variations are the dominant visual information available from the environment.
Humans experience monochromatic vision at night, under scotopic or dark adapted vision when only a single type of photoreceptor (the rods) is active, and under monochromatic illumination such as the red light lamps used by astronomers.
a single cone visual system
response curve of human rods with maximum sensitivity at 505 nm
As only one receptor is involved, the key constraint has to do with the receptor sensitivity peak and breadth within the span of solar radiation. For purely technical reasons the peak solar radiation seems to shift in a range between roughly 500 nm to 900 nm, depending on whether the radiation is summed within wavelength or frequency intervals, and is measured as energy or photon counts; and the noon sunlight curve is rather flat throughout this range. So the solar peak is a poor criterion for comparison. Instead we can consider a "window" of atmospheric transparency or minimum light filtering as measured at the earth's surface, which provides a stable frame of reference.
dartnall's standard shape
expressed on a wavelength scale at a peak value of 505 nm
The major causes of light absorption or scattering in our atmosphere are air molecules (including the ozone layer), dust or smoke, and water vapor. As the diagrams at right show, there is an especially close correspondence between the human visual span and the wavelengths of minimum water absorptance, including liquid and water vapor and the large bead of mostly water, the vitreous humor, that inflates the eye and sits between the pupil and retina. Human light sensitivity is located on the "uphill" side of this lowest point, away from UV radiation and toward the infrared side of the light window. All vertebrates have inherited visual pigments that evolved in fishes, which may explain why our pigments are tuned to these wavelengths.
A second possible constraint is the range of chemical variation in photopigments, for example as expressed in all known animal photopigments. The figure below shows the wavelengths of maximum sensitivity for the four human photopigments in relation to animal photopigments with the lowest and highest peak sensitivities from 350 nm (in some birds and insects) to 630 nm (in some fish). This puts the outer boundaries of animal light sensitivity between 300 nm to 800 nm. Human vision is in the middle of the range that other animals have found useful.
human visual pigments within span of known animal visual pigments
A third constraint has to do with the span of visual pigment sensitivity, because the sensitivity curves must overlap to create the "triangulation" of color. For Dartnall's standard shape at 50% absorptance, this implies a spacing (peak to peak) of roughly 100 nm. If we include the "tail" responses at either end of the spectrum, a three cone system could cover a wavelength span of about 400 nm.
The fourth and last constraint is more subtle but equally important: avoiding useless or harmful radiation.
At wavelengths below 500 nm (near UV), electromagnetic energy becomes potent enough to destroy photopigment molecules and, within a decade or so, to yellow the eye's lens. Many birds and insects have receptors sensitive to UV wavelengths, but these animals have relatively short life spans and die before UV damage becomes significant. Large mammals, in contrast, live longer and accumulate a greater exposure to UV radiation, so their eyes must adapt to filter out or compensate for the damaging effects of UV light. In humans these adaptations include the continual regeneration of receptor cells and the prereceptoral filtering of UV light by the lens and macular pigment.
At the other extreme, wavelengths above 800 nm are heat, which is less informative about daylight object attributes: it is dimmer than shorter wavelengths, is heavily absorbed by liquid water or water vapor, and lacks the nuanced spectral variations that can be interpreted as color. In mammals, the visual system's heat sensitivity would have to be shielded from the animal's own body heat at wavelengths longer than 1400 nm, and the very long photopigment molecules (or artificial dyes) necessary to absorb radiation in wavelengths between 800 nm to 1400 nm are known to oxidize or decompose readily. These complications make long wavelength energy more trouble than it is worth.
On balance, then, it seems that animal vision is limited at the wavelength extremes as much as it is anchored by a radiance peak or an inherited range of photopigment possibilities.
Dichromatic Vision. How do animals utilize this limited span of light? Many mammals are equipped with a two cone photopic visual system: one cone shifted into the "yellow green" wavelengths, the other shifted toward the "blue" end of the spectrum, with substantial overlap between the two sensitivity curves in the "green" middle. These Y and B cones make up what John Mollon calls the old color system. They enable the eye to distinguish between light radiating in the long versus short wavelengths.
light within the absorptance spectrum of water
(from Segelstein, 1981)
and the transmission curve of pure water, by depth
(from Soffer & Lynch, 1999)
A two cone system can distinguish differences in wavelength patterns from total luminance, which means hue can be perceived separate from lightness. The efficient way to do this is to combine the two cone responses to determine a brightness quantity, but to difference or subtract the cone outputs to define a hue contrast (diagram, right). That is, the sum Y+B creates a "supercone" that has the same univariant response to hue as the V cone, while the difference YB contrasts stimulation at opposite ends of the light spectrum.
The difference output is called an opponent coding of the separate cone outputs. It is difficult to overstate the importance of opponent responses in color vision, beginning with the opponent dimensions important to hue sensation but including many other contrast mechanisms discussed in a later page .
Primates have retained the backbone of this mammalian vision as the y/b opponent function (diagram, below). This opponent function is created from the outputs of two separate cone systems, which requires a bimodal shape in the overall visual response, with a sensitivity peak in the short and long wavelengths (diagram, right). The "white" point of this function, where the Y (L+M) and B outputs are equal, is located around 485 to 495 nm ("cyan"). Like the "yellow" point that marks equal outputs from L and M cone sensitivity curves, this cyan "white" marks the point of equal outputs from the Y and B color receptors. Again like "yellow", "cyan" light has a relatively low hue purity and tinting strength compared to the "blue" or "red" spectrum extremes. Unlike "yellow", however, "cyan" is visually dimmer than the "yellow green" response peak of the V cone because the S cones do not significantly contribute to luminance perception.
a two cone visual system
the human y/b opponent (contrast) function with peak sensitivities at 445 and 560 nm, a white point at 495 nm and macular masking of "blue" response
This contrast between short and long wavelength light persists in human color vision as the warm/cool color contrast . This is the most general chromatic contrast in color perception, and it appears to have a strong influence on the development and use of color terms in almost all languages.
What determines the placement of the two peak sensitivities? J. Lythgoe and J. Partridge demonstrated that a two cone visual system adapted to the green leaves, twigs and brown soil litter of forest habitats gets the greatest chromatic contrast when the peak sensitivities are located between 420 nm to 450 nm (B) and 510 nm to 580 nm (Y). These ranges include the peak sensitivities of the primate y/b opponent function shown above, and primates evolved in forest habitats.
Metamerism & Colorblindness. There are two important limitations to a visual system based on two partly overlapping sensitivity curves. The first is that very different distributions of light wavelengths will be perceived as the same color, and this occurs among both chromatic ("colored") and achromatic ("white") color sensations. This problem is called metamerism. Dissimilar spectral distributions that produce the same color sensation are called metamers . A two cone system is especially susceptible to metameric confusions.
Metamers occur whenever the two cones are stimulated in the same relative proportions. The most glaring examples include colors perceived as white, when the cone stimulations are 50:50. As the spectral reflectance curves below illustrate, this can occur in reflectance patterns that appear as dissimilar as gray, green or magenta in trichromatic vision.
metamers for white (or gray) in a two cone visual system
spectral reflectance curves for gray (top), magenta (middle) or green (bottom) would appear indistinguishable in a two cone visual system
Parallel problems occur whenever surface color differences produce similar proportional responses in the cones for example, between greens and reds, or purples and blues or when the illumination changes color without changing proportional cone responses. These greatly expand the possible metameric confusions.
These problems characterize human dichromatic vision or colorblindness in which typically either the L or M cones are absent. These folks see an unusually large number of material metamers in the everyday world, and large color differences often appear to them quite subtle. Dichromats are easily confused by yellows and browns, or by blue greens and purples, especially across surfaces of similar lightness. Yellow loses its characteristic lightness, and they commonly see an achromatic or "white" color in the spectrum located at the "cyan" balance point between 490 nm to 500 nm.
The second limitation in a two cone system is that perception of saturation or hue intensity cannot be easily disentangled from lightness. There are only two possible combinations of two cone outputs: adding them together to define brightness, or contrasting them to define hue. There is no third combination to uniquely define saturation.
Despite that, some studies show that human dichromats do see saturation differences, especially at the spectrum ends, but with only half the acuity of trichromats. To do this, the visual system probably uses lightness contrast to estimate chroma, by comparing the lightness of a surface to the lightness of the brightest surface in view. A process called lightness induction performs this contrast judgment in human trichromatic vision. This is how we can see the difference in a achromatic surface between a dark (gray) color and a dimly lit (white) color; in red to yellow green surface colors, where S cone response can be effectively zero, the same contrast causes surfaces to appear dark (brown) rather than dimly lit (orange). (This is explained further in the section on unsaturated color zones .)
separating luminance from hue responses in two cones
defined as the sum and difference
of the L and M outputs
bimodal human visual response
based on the Smith & Pokorny
normalized cone fundamentals
A two cone system seems optimally defined to provide a new function chromatic adaptation to the shifts in daylight phases of natural light, from the slightly blue, cool light of noon to the ruddy, warm light of sunset. These changes in lighting significantly shift the apparent hue of surface colors: around sunset a white surface will appear yellow or orange. In human trichromats and dichromats alike, the separate cone sensitivities can be adjusted to increase the B response to compensate for the reduced "blue" light, and decrease the Y (trichromatic L+M) response to compensate for the increased "red" light (right), which should restore the white point to its accustomed location.
However, color perception in dichromats is significantly affected by luminance contrast dichromats perceive colors of light to grow redder as they get dimmer. This goes in the opposite direction to a compensatory increased sensitivity of the Y receptors, and probably complicates the perception of warm surface colors across changes in the intensity or chromaticity of the illumination.
Trichromatic Vision. Finally, all primates monkeys, apes and humans acquired a second set of contrasting receptor cells: the L and M cones, which evolved from a genetic alteration in the mammalian Y cone.
There is only a small difference between the L and M cones in molecular structure and overlapping spectral absorptance curves , but it is enough to create what Mollon calls the new color system. This defines hue contrasts between middle wavelength ("green") light and long wavelength ("red") light. These cells are also linked in a contrast or opponent relationship that defines the r/g opponent function .
a second two cone visual system
the human r/g opponent (contrast) function with peak sensitivities at 530 and 610 nm, a white point at 575 nm and macular masking of "blue" response
The main benefit of trichromacy is that it creates a unique combination of cone responses for each spectral wavelength and unambiguous hue perception. This enhances object recognition when surfaces are similar in lightness or are randomly shadowed, as under foliage. It also substantially improves the ability to separate the color of light from the color of surfaces, because illuminant metamerism is also reduced; color constancy is greatly improved.
spectral contrast between
(blue sky) light
(from Wyszecki & Stiles, 1982)
A second important trichromatic benefit is that it reduces metameric colors to various flavors of gray around the white point and into dull blues and purples (diagram at right). As a result the number of physical metameric matches is radically reduced, as anyone who has tried to match household paint colors has found out. In fact, excluding trivial variations, there are no possible metameric emittance profiles under an equal energy "white" light source for any color at moderate to high saturation. In effect, saturation is a kind of perceptual confidence that hue accurately symbolizes the spectral composition of a color.
Near grays, besides generating a very large number of metameric surface colors, are also most susceptible to color change by subtractive mixture with the light source color change the emittance profile of the light, and the surface color changes as well. Metamers that appear identical under noon daylight often scatter into visually different colors under late afternoon light (or interior incandescent light) as the white point shifts from blue to yellow, and this chromaticity scatter is typically elongated in the red to green direction discriminated by the r/g contrast (diagram at right). This is a particular problem for automotive manufacturers, who must choose different plastic, fabric and paint materials to get a color match and identical color changes across different phases of natural light .
chromaticity of metameric colors in light mixtures
and the scatter of illuminant
shifted achromatic metamers (from Wyszecki & Stiles, 1982)
What explains the location of the r/g opponent balance or "white" point at around 575 nm ("yellow")? This is the approximate spectral direction of both the chromaticity shifts in natural daylight and the approximate hue of the prereceptoral filters . As a result, changes in the angle of sunlight from morning to late afternoon, and the gradual darkening of the lens across age, produce no perceptible change the r/g contrast and hence no color change that cannot be handled by adaptation of the y/b balance. By the time sunlight acquires a golden or deep yellow appearance it has begun to shift off the y/b axis toward red: the r/g balance then registers a change and surface colors show the tint of the light.
Another intriguing explanation for this "yellow" balance point appears in the reflectance curves of 1270 color samples from the Munsell Book of Color . The curves at right show 10 colors of identical saturation and value, equally spaced around the hue circle. All the curves seem to inflect in a small region centered on 575 nm; which means comparative information about the reflectance curves is minimal at that point.
This r/g balance point is insensitive to chromaticity for the same reason that a lever is not imbalanced by weight placed over the fulcrum. Placing the "yellow" balance point at an area of minimal reflectance information makes color vision maximally sensitive to relative "green" and "red" changes in surface colors, and permits hue resolution into the "red" end of the spectrum, where the S cones provide no response, as the relative proportion of L and M response.
Why Not 4 or More Cones? The final query is: why don't we have four or more cones? Why stop with only three?
reflectance curves for standard Munsell hue samples at constant lightness and saturation
from Kuehni (2003)
We can exclude the possibility that the obstacle is evolution of new photopigments. Molecular genetics has identified 10 variations in the human L and M photopigments, which create two clusters of similar peak responses around 530 nm and 555 nm (right). Males are also split roughly 50/50 by a single amino acid polymorphism (serine for alanine) that shifts the peak sensitivity in 5 of these variants, including the normal male L photopigment, by about 4 nm. Finally, it is genetically possible for about 50% of females to express a fourth "red" photopigment; and some individuals carry genes for only one type of L and M photopigment while others carry multiple (different) versions. These many combinations can significantly affect trichromatic responses or cause colorblindness . However it is still assumed that cones contain only one kind of photopigment or that cones with chemically similar photopigments output to common nerve pathways. Thus, cones and nerve pathways are the fundamental units of trichromatic vision, not the photopigments.
There are twelve unique ways to sum or contrast three cone outputs to define hue: our vision uses six contrasts , plus a single luminance sum. This requires a unique nerve pathway for seven different signals; similar outputs in a four cone system would require at least 15 contrast and luminance pathways.
There are roughly one million nerve tracts from the eye to the brain, and each tract carries information from roughly six cones and 100 rods. This suggests nerve pathways are a resource that must be conserved. A four channel chromatic system would, at minimum, double this load, grossly decreasing the granularity in the retinal information or requiring an increase in neural processing in the retina and bandwidth in the optic nerve.
Evolution could arrive at a more complex visual system, but it would require modifying a visual cortex specialized to receive and interpret the three cone outputs; adding a fourth cone would mean reengineering the brain as well. These costs far outweigh any adaptive advantage that four cones could produce.
Why 3 Badly Spaced Cones? Evolutionary considerations lead to a more basic question: is color really what our visual system is adapted to perceive? From a design perspective, the most interesting question is not why we have three rather than four cones, but why the three cone fundamentals are so unevenly spaced along the spectrum and unequally represented (63% L, 31% M and 6% S) in the retina. Our acuity to differences in color (hue and saturation) would substantially improve, and our visible spectrum would significantly expand, if the cone sensitivity curves were more evenly spaced and the retinal cone proportions were better balanced.
multiple L and M photopigments identified in the human retina
curves from Backhaus, Kliegl & Werner (1998); peak wavelengths from Merbs & Nathans (1992); lines connect serine/alanine polymorphisms
The answer appears in an important optical problem that arises when a large eye is made sensitive to a wide span of the spectrum: chromatic aberration. When light passes through a lens, "blue" wavelengths are refracted (bent) more strongly than "red" wavelengths, causing the "blue" image to focus at a point in front of the "red" image (diagram at right). This causes overlapping, fuzzy colored fringes in a focused image, especially around the edges of intricate light and dark patterns, such as branches and leaves seen against the sky (right). Chromatic aberration seriously degrades visual acuity, as does a related optical problem, spherical aberration, caused by the somewhat round exterior of the cornea.
Manufactured optical instruments solve this problem with a sandwich of lenses, the simplest consisting of a convex and concave doublet, one cancelling the chromatic aberration of the other. Animal lenses are always convex (bulging), and an achromatic doublet requires a rather long focal length (proportionally much longer than the diameter of an eye), so the doublet solution is not feasible in a large eye. However, the "red" wavelengths require less optical bending to come into focus, which means "yellow" light requires less precise optics, especially in bright daylight, when the aperture of the eye is small relative to its focal length and the eye essentially becomes a "pinhole" camera.
Evolution tackled chromatic aberration not with complex lenses but with several new adaptations, some of them unique, that substantially reduce the effects of "blue" and "violet" wavelengths in the fovea and the eye as a whole:
A cornea that is more spherical at its center than around its circumference, reducing spherical aberration at the edges.
A cornea, lens and eye diameter (focal length) that produce the most precise image in the "yellow" wavelengths, where optical demands are less extreme.
The prereceptoral filtering in the lens and macular pigment, and in the yellow tint of bleached photopigment, which combine to filter out more than half the "blue" and "violet" light below 470 nm.
A strong directional sensitivity to light incident on the fovea (the Stiles Crawford effect), created by the uniform alignment of photopigment in the outer segment discs; this causes the photopigment to react less strongly to light coming from the side, which is predominantly scattered "blue" wavelengths.
An overwhelming population (roughly 94%) of L and M receptors, and a close spacing between their sensitivity peaks, which limits the requirement for precise focusing to the "yellow green" wavelengths.
A sparse representation by S receptors in the eye (6% of total), which substantially reduces their contribution to spatial contrast, and the nearly complete elimination of S cones from the fovea, where sharp focus is critical.
Separation of luminosity (contrast) information and color information into separate neural channels, to minimize the impact of color on contrast quality.
Neural filtering of signals by the L and M cones within in the fovea that suppresses color information in detailed, contrasty textures.
Neural filtering higher in the visual system to eliminate chromatic aberration from conscious visual experience, and which can (after a period of adjustment) even eliminate blurring that is artificially induced by distorting prisms or eyeglasses.
These many adaptations enable the fovea to be extremely effective at edge discrimination , even in strong contrasts of light and dark; they also enhance image clarity when the eyes are stereoscopically combined, greatly improving depth perception.
Minimizing chromatic aberration has profound benefits for modern humans, as it makes possible the crisp pattern recognition we require to read text, or the acute depth perception necessary to aim weapons or catch a prey. But what about early primates? They were small bodied tree dwellers, who had to "read" the outlines of tree limbs intertwined in space and judge how far to leap to "catch" the branch of escape or the bough of dangling food. You can see this capability in the amazing fearlessness with which all primates scramble and leap across large distances between tree limbs high above the ground, where a single misjudgment can cause crippling injury or death. Those are stakes that evolution can latch onto.
There is a minor downside to a strong selective pressure toward visual acuity and lack of selective pressure toward color discrimination: colorblindness . Because the genes for both the L and M photopigments are located next to each other on the X chromosome, the lack of duplicate opsin genes in XY males causes frequent variations in the L and M photopigments that make them chemically similar or identical and can make the 25 nm separation between them disappear. The result is various forms of dichromacy that affect about 5% of the population, nearly all of them males.
This "red green colorblindness" is caused either by missing L cones (protanopia, in 2% of males) or M cones (deuteranopia, in 6% of males). (Lack of S cones or tritanopia occurs in less than 0.01% of the population.) These conditions can be diagnosed using very simple perceptual tests, such as the Ishihara color disks . Remarkably, many men do not discover (are not told) that they are colorblind until their teenage years, which strongly suggests yet again that hue discrimination is not essential for most life tasks. (For more on color vision deficiencies, see this page .)
chromatic aberration in a simple lens
"red" and "green" light are focused
far behind "blue" light
chromatic aberration and life among the trees
A currently popular evolutionary explanation for LM discrimination is that it assists the detection of red fruit among green foliage, the "cherries in the leaves" hypothesis (photos, right). But it can also be interpreted as a chromatic contrast designed to minimize the effects of chromatic aberration around a yellow balance point, so that red and green darken equally around the yellow focus.
Edge detection and depth perception based on patterns in light and dark has taken evolutionary priority over any problems involving hue discrimination, and it is on these visual stimuli that culture, social consensus and communication really depend. A telling illustration comes in a map of the busiest areas of the human brain: the integrating connections between the visual and language areas.
a map of the busiest areas of the human brain
after Hagmann P, Cammoun L, Gigandet X, Meuli R, Honey CJ, et al. (2008)
We find this edge and pattern imperative carried into our art and documents etchings, woodcuts, monochrome wash and charcoal or pen drawings, printed text, fabric patterns and vegetable weaves all art that appeals entirely to the eye's monochrome perception of pattern and line. Nor is this a matter of simple drawings from simple tools. Even with all our printing and reproduction technologies, text and engineering drawings still exclude varied colors to increase the legibility and interpretability of the document.
As we say: "to see" means "to understand", and to understand means to see clearly, not colorfully.
The fundamental reference for all things luminous, chromatic and colorimetric is Color Science: Concepts and Methods, Quantitative Data and Formulæ (2nd edition) by Günter Wyszecki and W.S. Stiles (John Wiley: 1982), nearly encyclopedic but showing its age. The best overview of color vision that I have seen compact, informative and up to date, though emphasizing basic perceptual processes and colorimetry is The Science of Color (2nd edition) edited by Steven Shevell (Optical Society of America, 2003). I'm especially partial to the overview of experimental methods and evidence in Human Color Vision (2nd edition) by Peter Kaiser and Robert Boynton (Optical Society of America, 1994). Peter Kaiser also has authored a lucid web site on The Joys of Vision . Color Vision: Perspectives from Different Disciplines (de Grutyer, 1998), edited by Werner Backhaus, Reinhold Kliegl & John Werner contains a variety of interesting chapters, including a study of Monet's aging eyes.
The premier review of color and color vision as it relates to printing, photography and analog video is The Reproduction of Colour (6th ed.) by R.W.G. Hunt (John Wiley: 2004). Introduction to Color Imaging Science by Hsien-Che Lee (Cambridge University Press: 2005) is actually an in depth discussion of color topics relevant to color imaging technologies, including digital imaging. A text with similar topical coverage as Hunt but less formal theory is Billmeyer and Saltzman's Principles of Color Technology (3rd ed.) by Roy S. Berns (Wiley Interscience: 2000).
Seeing the Light: Optics in Nature, Photography, Color, Vision and Holography by David Falk, Dieter Brill & David Stork (John Wiley: 1986) is an eclectic but very pragmatic and well illustrated traversal of almost every known color phenomenon relevant to modern imaging technologies. Color for Science, Art and Technology edited by Kurt Nassau (North Holland: 1997) is a miscellany of rather unusual chapters on color, such as "The Fifteen Causes of Color", "Color in Abstract Painting", "Organic and Inorganic Pigments", and "The Biological and Therapeutic Effects of Light".
A short, conversational introduction to color, with emphasis on the issues vexing to cognitive theories, is C.L. Hardin's Color for Philosophers: Unweaving the Rainbow (Hackett, 1988). A smattering of interesting essays, including John Mollon's chapter old and new color subsystems, is available in Color: Art and Science, edited by Trevor Lamb and Janine Bourriau (Cambridge University Press, 1995.) To remedy the misperception that visual processes are well understood and uncontroversial, see for example James Fulton's web site on the Processes of Animal Vision .
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i don't know
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In psychology the (positive) 'Pygmalion effect' and opposite (negative) 'Golem effect' influence people by?
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Management Secrets: Pygmalion and Galatea Effects
By Susan M. Heathfield
Updated September 20, 2016
Your expectations of employees and their expectations of themselves are the key factors in how well people perform at work. Known as the Pygmalion effect and the Galatea effect, respectively, the power of expectations cannot be overestimated.
These are the fundamental principles you can apply to performance expectations and potential performance improvement at work.
The Pygmalion Effect: The Power of the Manager's Expectations
You can summarize the Pygmalion effect, often known as the power of expectations, by considering:
Every supervisor has expectations of the people who report to him.
Supervisors communicate these expectations consciously or unconsciously.
People pick up on, or consciously or unconsciously read, these expectations from their supervisor.
People perform in ways that are consistent with the expectations they have picked up on from the supervisor.
The Pygmalion effect was described by J. Sterling Livingston in the September/October 1988 Harvard Business Review. "The way managers treat their subordinates is subtly influenced by what they expect of them," Livingston said in his article, Pygmalion in Management.
The Pygmalion effect enables staff to excel in response to the manager’s message that they are capable of success and expected to succeed. The Pygmalion effect can also undermine staff performance when the subtle communication from the manager tells them the opposite.
These cues are often subtle.
As an example, the supervisor fails to praise a staff person's performance as frequently as he praises others. The supervisor talks less to a particular employee.
Livingston went on to say about the supervisor, "If he is unskilled, he leaves scars on the careers of the young men (and women), cuts deeply into their self-esteem and distorts their image of themselves as human beings.
But if he is skillful and has high expectations of his subordinates, their self-confidence will grow , their capabilities will develop and their productivity will be high . More often than he realizes, the manager is Pygmalion."
Can you imagine how performance will improve if your supervisors communicate positive thoughts about people to people? If the supervisor actually believes that every employee has the ability to make a positive contribution at work, the telegraphing of that message, either consciously or unconsciously, will positively affect employee performance.
And, the effect of the supervisor gets even better than this. When the supervisor holds positive expectations about people, she helps individuals improve their self-concept and thus, self-esteem. People believe they can succeed and contribute and their performance rises to the level of their own expectations.
The Galatea Effect: The Power of Self-expectations
Even more powerful than the Pygmalion effect, the Galatea effect is a compelling factor in employee performance. The manager who can assist employees to believe in themselves and in their efficacy has harnessed a powerful performance improvement tool.
I'm sure you've heard of the words, self-fulfilling prophecy. Applied as the Galatea effect, these words mean that the individual's opinion about his ability and his self-expectations about his performance largely determine his performance.
If an employee thinks she can succeed, she will likely succeed.
Consequently, any actions the supervisor can take that increase the employee's feelings of positive self-worth, will help the employee's performance improve.
I don't mean to over-simplify this concept. Many other factors also contribute to the level of an employee's performance including your company culture , the employee's life experiences, education, family support and relationships with coworkers. However, positive supervision is one of the key factors that keeps good employees on the job.
These are ways in which you can encourage positive, powerful self-expectations in employees.
Provide opportunities for the employee to experience increasingly challenging assignments . Make sure she succeeds at each level before moving forward.
Enable the employee to participate in potentially successful projects that bring continuous improvement to the workplace.
Provide one-to-one coaching with the employee . This coaching should emphasize improving what the employee does well rather than focusing on the employee's weaknesses.
Provide developmental opportunities that reflect what the employee is interested in learning.
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Expectation
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The informal German military term 'sitzkrieg' refers to what feature of war?
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A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior. Although examples of such prophecies can be found in literature as far back as ancient Greece and ancient India , it is 20th-century sociologist Robert K. Merton who is credited with coining the expression "self-fulfilling prophecy" and formalizing its structure and consequences. In his book Social Theory and Social Structure , Merton defines self-fulfilling prophecy in the following terms: e.g. when Roxanna falsely believes her marriage will fail, her fears of such failure actually cause the marriage to fail.
The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the original false conception come 'true'. This specious validity of the self-fulfilling prophecy perpetuates a reign of error. For the prophet will cite the actual course of events as proof that he was right from the very beginning. [1]
In other words, a positive or negative prophecy, strongly held belief, or delusion —declared as truth when it is actually false—may sufficiently influence people so that their reactions ultimately fulfill the once-false prophecy.
Contents
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Merton's concept of the self-fulfilling prophecy stems from the Thomas theorem , which states that "If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences." [2] According to Thomas, people react not only to the situations they are in, but also, and often primarily, to the way they perceive the situations and to the meaning they assign to these perceptions. Therefore, their behaviour is determined in part by their perception and the meaning they ascribe to the situations they are in, rather than by the situations themselves. Once people convince themselves that a situation really has a certain meaning, regardless of whether it actually does, they will take very real actions in consequence.
Merton took the concept a step further and applied it to recent social phenomena. In his book Social Theory and Social Structure, he conceives of a bank run at the fictional Last National Bank , over which Cartwright Millingville presides. It is a typical bank, and Millingville has run it honestly and quite properly. As a result, like all banks, it has some liquid assets (cash), but most of its assets are invested in various ventures. Then one day, a large number of customers come to the bank at once—the exact reason is never made clear. Customers, seeing so many others at the bank, begin to worry. False rumours spread that something is wrong with the bank and more customers rush to the bank to try to get some of their money out while they still can. The number of customers at the bank increases, as does their annoyance and excitement, which in turn fuels the false rumours of the bank's insolvency and upcoming bankruptcy , causing more customers to come and try to withdraw their money. At the beginning of the day—the last one for Millingville's bank—the bank was not insolvent. But the rumour of insolvency caused a sudden demand of withdrawal of too many customers, which could not be answered, causing the bank to become insolvent and declare bankruptcy. Merton concludes this example with the following analysis:
The parable tells us that public definitions of a situation (prophecies or predictions) become an integral part of the situation and thus affect subsequent developments. This is peculiar to human affairs. It is not found in the world of nature, untouched by human hands. Predictions of the return of Halley's comet do not influence its orbit. But the rumoured insolvency of Millingville's bank did affect the actual outcome. The prophecy of collapse led to its own fulfilment. [1]
Merton concluded that the only way to break the cycle of self-fulfilling prophecy is by redefining the propositions on which its false assumptions are originally based.
In economic "expectations models" of inflation, peoples' expectations of future inflation lead them to spend more today and demand higher nominal interest rates for any savings, since they expect that prices will be rising. This demand for higher nominal interest rates and increased spending in the present, in turn, create inflationary pressure and can cause inflation even if the expectations of future inflation are unfounded. The expectations theory of inflation played a large role in Paul Volcker 's actions during his tenure as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve in combating the " stagflation " of the 1970s.
Philosopher Karl Popper called the self-fulfilling prophecy the Oedipus effect:
One of the ideas I had discussed in The Poverty of Historicism was the influence of a prediction upon the event predicted. I had called this the "Oedipus effect", because the oracle played a most important role in the sequence of events which led to the fulfilment of its prophecy. … For a time I thought that the existence of the Oedipus effect distinguished the social from the natural sciences. But in biology, too—even in molecular biology—expectations often play a role in bringing about what has been expected. [3]
An early precursor of the concept appears in Edward Gibbon 's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire : "During many ages, the prediction, as it is usual, contributed to its own accomplishment" (chapter I, part II).
Applications
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Examples abound in studies of cognitive dissonance theory and the related self-perception theory ; people will often change their attitudes to come into line with what they profess publicly.
In the United States the concept was broadly and consistently applied in the field of public education reform, following the " War on Poverty ". Theodore Brameld noted: "In simplest terms, education already projects and thereby reinforces whatever habits of personal and cultural life are considered to be acceptable and dominant." [4] The effects of teacher attitudes, beliefs and values, affecting their expectations have been tested repeatedly. [5]
The phenomenon of the "inevitability of war" is a self-fulfilling prophecy that has received considerable study. [6]
The idea is similar to that discussed by the philosopher William James as The Will to Believe . But James viewed it positively, as the self-validation of a belief. Just as, in Merton's example, the belief that a bank is insolvent may help create the fact, so too on the positive side, confidence in the bank's prospects may help brighten them. A more Jamesian example: a swain, convinced that the fair maiden must love him, may prove more effective in his wooing than he would had his initial prophecy been defeatist.
There is extensive evidence of "Interpersonal Expectation Effects" where the seemingly private expectations of individuals can predict the outcome of the world around them. The mechanisms by which this occurs are also reasonably well understood: it is simply that our own expectations change our behaviour in ways we may not notice and correct. In the case of the "Interpersonal Expectation Effects", others pick up on non-verbal behaviour which affects their attitudes. A famous example includes a study where teachers were told arbitrarily that random students were "going to blossom". Oddly, those random students actually ended the year with significantly greater improvements. [7]
Other specific examples discussed in psychology include:
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In Canadian hockey, junior league players are selected based on skill, motor coordination, physical maturity, and other individual merit criteria. However, psychologist Robert Barnsley showed that in any elite group of hockey players, 40% are born between January and March, versus the approximately 25% as would be predicted by statistics. The explanation is that in Canada, the eligibility cutoff for age-class hockey is January 1, and the players who are born in the first months of the year are older by 9–12 months, which at the preadolescent age of selection (nine or ten) manifests into an important physical advantage. The selected players are exposed to higher levels of coaching, play more games, and have better teammates. These factors make them actually become the best players, fulfilling the prophecy, while the real selection criterion was age. [8] The same relative age effect has been noticed in Belgian soccer after 1997, when the start of the selection year was changed from August 1 to January 1. [9]
Stereotype Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
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This specific form of self-fulfilling prophecy is very common as it can take on many forms. This type would imply that the expectancy for a party to act a certain way based on race, religion, gender and much more, would eventually lead to said party imitating the stereotype. [10]
Literature, media, and the arts
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In literature, self-fulfilling prophecies are often used as plot devices . They have been used in stories for millennia, but have gained a lot of popularity recently in the science fiction genre. They are typically used ironically, with the prophesied events coming to pass due to the actions of one trying to prevent the prophecy. They are also sometimes used as comic relief.
Classical
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Many myths, legends and fairy tales make use of this motif as a central element of narratives that are designed to illustrate inexorable fate , fundamental to the Hellenic world-view. [11] In a common motif, a child, whether newborn or not yet conceived, is prophesied to cause something that those in power do not want to happen. This may be the death of the powerful person; in more light-hearted versions, it is often the marriage of a poor or lower-class child to his own. The events come about, nevertheless, as a result of the actions taken to prevent them: frequently child abandonment sets the chain of events in motion.
Greek
Oedipus in the arms of Phorbas .
The best known example from Greek legend is that of Oedipus . Warned that his child would one day kill him, Laius abandoned his newborn son Oedipus to die, but Oedipus was found and raised by others, and thus in ignorance of his true origins. When he grew up, Oedipus was warned that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Believing his foster parents were his real parents, he left his home and travelled to Greece, eventually reaching the city where his biological parents lived. There, he got into a fight with a stranger, his real father, killed him and married his widow, Oedipus's real mother.
Although the legend of Perseus opens with the prophecy that he will kill his grandfather Acrisius , and his abandonment with his mother Danaë , the prophecy is only self-fulfilling in some variants. In some, he accidentally spears his grandfather at a competition—an act that could have happened regardless of Acrisius 's response to the prophecy. In other variants, his presence at the games is explained by his hearing of the prophecy, so that his attempt to evade it does cause the prophecy to be fulfilled. In still others, Acrisius is one of the wedding guests when Polydectes tried to force Danaë to marry him, and when Perseus turns them to stone with the Gorgon 's head; as Polydectes fell in love with Danaë because Acrisius abandoned her at sea, and Perseus killed the Gorgon as a consequence of Polydectes's attempt to get rid of Danaë's son so that he could marry her, the prophecy fulfilled itself in these variants.
Greek historiography provides a famous variant: when the Lydian king Croesus asked the Delphic Oracle if he should invade Persia, the response came that if he did, he would destroy a great kingdom. Assuming this meant he would succeed, he attacked—but the kingdom he destroyed was his own. [12] In such an example, the prophecy prompts someone to action because he is led to expect a favorable result; but he achieves another, disastrous result which nonetheless fulfills the prophecy.
People do not necessarily have to unsuccessfully avoid a prophecy in order for the prophecy to be self-fulfilling. For example, when it was predicted that Zeus would overthrow his father, Cronos , and usurp his throne as King of the Gods, he actively waged war against him in a direct attempt to fulfill this prophecy. This makes the prophecy a self-fulfilling one because it was the prophecy itself that gave Zeus the inspiration to do it in the first place.
Roman
Romulus and Remus feeding from a wolf.
The story of Romulus and Remus is another example. According to legend, a man overthrew his brother, the king. He then ordered that his two nephews, Romulus and Remus, be drowned, fearing that they would someday kill him like he did to his brother. The boys were placed in a basket and thrown in the Tiber River . A wolf found the babies and she raised them. Later, a shepherd found the twins and named them Romulus and Remus. As teenagers, they found out who they were. They killed their uncle, fulfilling the prophecy.
Arabic
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A variation of the self-fulfilling prophecy is the self-fulfilling dream, which dates back to medieval Arabic literature . Several tales in the One Thousand and One Nights , also known as the Arabian Nights, use this device to foreshadow what is going to happen, as a special form of literary prolepsis Template:Dn . A notable example is " The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream ", in which a man is told in his dream to leave his native city of Baghdad and travel to Cairo , where he will discover the whereabouts of some hidden treasure. The man travels there and experiences misfortune after losing belief in the prophecy, ending up in jail, where he tells his dream to a police officer. The officer mocks the idea of foreboding dreams but takes quiet note of the prisoner's dream. The officer convinces the prisoner that to follow your dreams is fool hardy, to which he agrees and returns to Baghdad, where the officer discovers great treasures buried underneath his home. This is a story of what would have been had the man followed through on his self-fulfilling prophecy and ignored naysayers. A variant of this story later appears in English folklore as the " Pedlar of Swaffham ". [13]
Another variation of the self-fulfilling prophecy can be seen in " The Tale of Attaf ", where Harun al-Rashid consults his library (the House of Wisdom ), reads a random book, "falls to laughing and weeping and dismisses the faithful vizier " Ja'far ibn Yahya from sight. Ja'far, "disturbed and upset flees Baghdad and plunges into a series of adventures in Damascus , involving Attaf and the woman whom Attaf eventually marries." After returning to Baghdad, Ja'far reads the same book that caused Harun to laugh and weep, and discovers that it describes his own adventures with Attaf. In other words, it was Harun's reading of the book that provoked the adventures described in the book to take place. This is an early example of reverse causality . [14] In the 12th century, this tale was translated into Latin by Petrus Alphonsi and included in his Disciplina Clericalis. In the 14th century, a version of this tale also appears in the Gesta Romanorum and Giovanni Boccaccio 's The Decameron . [15]
Indian
File:Radhakrishna manor.JPG
Self-fulfilling prophecies appear in classical Sanskrit literature . In the story of Krishna in the Indian epic Mahabharata , the ruler of the Mathura kingdom, Kamsa afraid of a prophecy that predicted his death at the hands of his sister Devaki 's son, had her cast into prison where he planned to kill all of her children at birth. After killing the first six children, and Devaki's apparent miscarriage of the seventh, Krishna (the eighth son) took birth. As his life was in danger he was smuggled out to be raised by his foster parents Yashoda and Nanda in the village of Gokula . Years later, Kamsa learned about the child's escape and kept sending various demons to put an end to him. The demons were defeated at the hands of Krishna and his brother Balarama . Krishna as a young man returned to Mathura to overthrow his uncle, and Kamsa was eventually killed by his nephew Krishna. It was due to Kamsa's attempts to prevent the prophecy that led to it coming true, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
Russian
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Oleg of Novgorod was a Varangian prince who ruled of the Rus people during the early tenth century. As old East Slavic chronicles say it was prophesied by the pagan priests that Oleg would take death from his stallion. To avoid this he sent the horse away. Many years later he asked where his horse was, and was told it had died. He asked to see the remains and was taken to the place where the bones lay. When he touched the horse's skull with his boot a snake slithered from the skull and bit him. Oleg died, thus fulfilling the prophecy. In the Primary Chronicle , Oleg is known as the Prophet, ironically referring to the circumstances of his death. The story was romanticized by Alexander Pushkin in his celebrated ballad "The Song of the Wise Oleg". In Scandinavian traditions, this legend lived on in the saga of Orvar-Odd .
European Fairy Tales
Many fairy tales, such as The Devil With the Three Golden Hairs , The Fish and the Ring , The Story of Three Wonderful Beggars , or The King Who Would Be Stronger Than Fate , revolve about a prophecy that a poor boy will marry a rich girl (or, less frequently, a poor girl a rich boy). [16] This is story type 930 in the Aarne-Thompson classification scheme. The girl's father's efforts to prevent it are the reason why the boy ends up marrying her.
Another fairy tale occurs with older children. In The Language of the Birds , a father forces his son to tell him what the birds say: that the father would be the son's servant. In The Ram , the father forces his daughter to tell him her dream: that her father would hold an ewer for her to wash her hands in. In all such tales, the father takes the child's response as evidence of ill-will and drives the child off; this allows the child to change so that the father will not recognize his own offspring later and so offer to act as the child's servant.
In some variants of Sleeping Beauty , such as Sun, Moon, and Talia , the sleep is not brought about by a curse, but a prophecy that she will be endangered by flax (or hemp) results in the royal order to remove all the flax or hemp from the castle, resulting in her ignorance of the danger and her curiosity.
Shakespeare
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Shakespeare 's Macbeth is another classic example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The three witches give Macbeth a prophecy that Macbeth will eventually become king, but afterwards, the offspring of his best friend will rule instead of his own. Macbeth tries to make the first half true while trying to keep his bloodline on the throne instead of his friend's. Spurred by the prophecy, he kills the king and his friend, something he, arguably, never would have done before. In the end, the evil actions he committed to avoid his succession by another's bloodline get him killed in a revolution.
The later prophecy by the first apparition of the witches that Macbeth should "Beware Macduff" is also a self-fulfilling prophecy. If Macbeth had not been told this, then he might not have regarded Macduff as a threat. Therefore he would not have killed Macduff's family, and Macduff would not have sought revenge and killed Macbeth.
New Thought / New Age
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The law of attraction is a typical example of self-fulfilling prophecy. It is the name given to the belief that "like attracts like" and that by focusing on positive or negative thoughts, one can bring about positive or negative results. A clear relation of the beliefs (feedback) in mind affecting someone intentions to make the expected result happen. Believers selectively see the results obey their thought or law and ignore others results.
Modern
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Some "Force Visions" in the Star Wars universe are self-fulfilling prophecies. For example, the plot of the 2005 film Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was based around a self-fulfilling prophecy. The main character, Anakin Skywalker , has a premonitory dream about the death of his wife, Padmé Amidala . He searches for a way to save her and, in desperation, allies himself with the evil Sith . However, it is Anakin's turn to evil that ends up killing Padmé. It is only when he meets with his son that he actually fulfills the prophecy of destroying the Sith.
In the 2006 Indian film Krrish , a modern take on the story of Krishna , the antagonist Dr. Arya builds an advanced computer that could predict the future. After seeing his own future death at the hands of the protagonist Krrish, he goes looking for him to hunt him down. Krrish's friend Kristian is shot dead by Dr. Arya when he is mistaken for Krrish. After finding his friend dead, Krrish becomes intent on getting revenge against Dr. Arya, and eventually kills him, exactly as the computer predicted. Dr. Arya's attempt to prevent his death led to it becoming true.
The 1999 movie The Matrix heavily incorporates the idea of self-fulfilling prophecies. One recognizable scene that directly references to it is when Morpheus takes Neo to see the Oracle . When Neo walks in to speak to the Oracle, she says "I'd ask you to sit down, but you're not going to anyway. And don't worry about the vase." Neo answers "What vase?" and turns around to see what she could be talking about, but in doing so knocks over and breaks a vase that was sitting on a counter next to him. Neo apologizes and the Oracle reminds him not to worry about it. Neo asks how she knew, to which the Oracle responds, "What's really going to bake your noodle later on is: would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything?"
In the 1995 film Twelve Monkeys Bruce Willis’ character Cole is sent back in time from the year 2035 to prevent a holocaust of the world's population. Throughout the film we see a flashback from Cole's childhood in which a man is seen to be shot dead by security in an airport. During the course of the film we discover that every act Cole makes to stop the man presumed responsible for the holocaust, in fact enables the appearance of the real responsible one, unknown in the future world. In the final reel of the film it is revealed that Cole himself is the man he saw being shot in the airport as a child, while the man responsible for the cause of the holocaust escapes undetected.
In the 1988 movie Willow , warned that Elora Danan's birth will lead to her destruction, the evil Queen Bavmorda orders the baby killed; however, her attempts to achieve this result in her own destruction.
In the 2002 film Minority Report , based on a short story by Philip K. Dick , a prophecy is made when John Anderton discovers that the Precrime department predicts that he will murder a certain person, who is a complete stranger to him, in 36 hours. In trying to find his target in order to find out what is happening, John Anderton almost fulfills the prophecy when he discovers evidence that points to this person as the one who kidnapped his son years before. In the end, he does fulfill the prophecy when it turns out that the man was going to be murdered accidentally all along.
In the 2003 film Paycheck (also a Philip K. Dick story), Michael Jennings (Ben Affleck) creates a machine that sees into the future. He sees an apocalypse that he discovers only comes about through his knowledge of it , and his potential attempts to avoid it.
In the movie Premonition (2007), Linda Hanson ( Sandra Bullock ) acts on premonitions and thus causes the critical event to happen.
In the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda , Master Shifu hears a prophecy that his nemesis Tai Lung will escape from prison. Despite being warned that "one often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it", Shifu dispatches a messenger to warn the prison guards. In doing so, the messenger drops a feather, which Tai Lung then uses to escape.
The sequel, Kung Fu Panda 2, also features one. The Soothsayer predicted that Lord Shen would be defeated by a warrior of black and white. Lord Shen responded by massacring the pandas, causing Po to come to the Valley of Peace.
In the movie The Chronicles of Riddick (2004), the Lord Marshal of the Necromongers hears a prophecy that a young Furyan child would eventually cause his downfall. In an effort to prevent this, he tries to kill all of the Furyan people, and ends up causing the main character, Riddick, to seek revenge on him.
Other
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In the Black Sabbath song " Iron Man ", the lyrics tell the story of a man who time travels into the future of the world, and sees the apocalypse. When going back in time trying to warn the world, he is turned into iron by a magnetic field. Unable to speak, he is ignored and mocked by the other people. This causes Iron Man to become angry, and have his revenge on mankind, causing the destruction seen in his vision. [17]
In The Lord of the Rings , Galadriel takes Frodo and Sam to look in the "Mirror of Galadriel". They see a number of visions in the Mirror, and Sam, in particular, is distressed by seeing his father evicted from their home, so he considers abandoning his mission in order to return to the Shire . Galadriel reminds him that "the Mirror shows many things, and some have not yet come to pass. Some never come to be, unless those who behold the visions turn aside from their paths to prevent them." [emphasis not in original]
In Harry Potter , Lord Voldemort heard a prophecy (made by Sybill Trelawney to Dumbledore) that a boy born at the end of July, whose parents had defied Voldemort thrice and survived, would have the power to defeat Lord Voldemort. Because of this prophecy, Lord Voldemort sought out Harry Potter (believing him to be the boy spoken of) and tried to kill him. His parents died protecting him, and when Voldemort tried to cast a killing curse on Harry, it rebounded and took away most of his strength, and gave Harry Potter a unique ability and connection with the Dark Lord. Voldemort came back to power; however, Harry Potter eventually defeated and killed him.
In Lost , Locke is told by many people during his lifetime that he is special and he is destined for great things, and he would eventually become leader of the Others . This in turn makes Locke believe he is special since others seem to think so. It turns out that Locke time traveled and told others this, leaving them with the impression that he was indeed special and destined for greatness, despite some skepticism from Richard Alpert thinking there is nothing special about him. This prophecy turns out to be true, but Locke becomes a tragic hero in the process since he is killed and replaced by Jacob's nemesis . The Others follow this new faux Locke believing he rose from the dead.
Also in Lost , Sayid attempts to kill young Ben Linus, because as an adult he will become a manipulative monster. However, Sayid's attempt to kill Ben only results in the boy being healed by the Others, which causes Ben to "lose his innocence" and grow up to become the manipulative monster that inspired Sayid to shoot him as a boy.
The British comedy Red Dwarf plays frequently with this notion. In season eight, a self-fulfilling prophecy started by the words " Rimmer will die in forty seconds of a heart attack from the shock of being told he's going to have a heart attack". In the Season 1 episode "Future Echoes", Lister learns that Cat will break a tooth. Believing that he can prevent this, he tackles Cat to stop him from biting a robotic fish. In the collision, he breaks Cat's tooth.
Several classic episodes of The Twilight Zone used self-fulfilling prophecies. One example is " What's in the Box ", in which a man sees himself on television killing his wife because he had an affair. He tries to confess to his wife, but ends up killing her in the ugly fight the confession triggers. Another episode of an occurrence of a self-fulfilling prophecy happens in the episode " A Most Unusual Camera " in which several petty criminals find a camera that takes pictures of the future. They then try to avoid their demise as was photographed, but in their effort of self-preservation they end up killing each other and themselves.
On the Disney Channel children's television show That's So Raven , a psychic teenager often makes predictions and accidentally fulfills them in an effort to stop them.
On the Fairly Oddparents episode "The Secret origin of Denzel Crocker!", Timmy goes back in time to stop Crocker from losing Cosmo and Wanda. At Crocker's speech, Cosmo pulls the switch making the entire crowd hear Timmy telling Denzel about the future. This causes him to lose his fairies, causing the future.
Most of the predictions in the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are self-fulfilling. Most notably, in the final episode of the first season of Buffy the escape of the vampire The Master and the heroine's temporary death occur entirely because she learns that they have been predicted.
In the season one Charmed episodes "Dead Man Dating" and "Deja Vu All Over Again", there are a pair of self-fulfilling prophecies. Although the former example isn't quite self-fulfilling (as Phoebe manages to save him), it has the same circular pattern: Phoebe has a premonition of a man being run over by a car; it's because of her pestering attempts to save him that he winds up in the middle of the road. And in the latter, Phoebe has a premonition of Andy Trudeau being killed by a demon. Through the sisters' attempt to save him, he winds up being killed. The self-fulfilling prophecy becomes more important in the show's sixth season , when the Elder Gideon learns of a future where the Charmed Ones' son Wyatt Halliwell will turn evil and rule the world; although Gideon attempts to kill Wyatt before he can become evil, the Charmed Ones learn that Gideon's attacks will traumatise Wyatt and turn him to evil as he loses faith in good to protect him (Until Leo manages to stop Gideon).
In Being Human the arch of season three focuses on Lia's prophecy that Mitchell will be killed by a werewolf . This leads Mitchell to desperately search for a way to fight the prophecy. In the final episode of season three, it is revealed that Lia made it up to drive a wedge between Mitchell and his friends George and Nina, both of whom are werewolves (Although Mitchell ended up suspecting new werewolves rather than his friends). Ultimately Mitchell commits suicide with George's aid, thus fulfilling the 'prophecy' that he would be killed by a werewolf.
There have been several incidences of self-fulfilling prophecy in the series Merlin . One notable example occurs in the fifth episode of season three, in which the hero Merlin has a vision that Morgana is going to kill King Uther Pendragon . Merlin attempts to stop the prophecy from coming true lead to Morgana accidentally falling down the stairs and fatally injuring herself. In his grief then Uther reveals that Morgana is in fact his daughter. Unable to bear everyone's grief, Merlin uses his magic to cure Morgana. However Morgana, having overheard Uther's confession, attempts to kill him for lying to her and is only stopped by Merlin's swift intervention. Another example occurs in the tenth episode of the same season where Morgana has visions in which she sees Guinevere becoming Queen of Camelot. In order to prevent her visions from coming true, she plots to have Gwen branded a witch and burnt at the stake. However as the events unfold Morgana's attempts to prevent the future ultimately solidify it, as Arthur and Guinevere come to realise how deeply they love each other and resolve to one day marry.
The Oracle from the webcomic The Order of the Stick is depicted as testing the health of his clients' hearts before revealing anything, a procedure he adopted after being sued by the family of a past client, to whom he said "You're going to have a heart attack as soon as I finish telling you that you're going to have a heart attack," which caused the client to have a heart attack from the fright of it.
In The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss , the main character Kvothe meets a malicious oracle tree called Cthaeh, which sees all possible futures and tells visitors whatever is necessary to send that visitor down the path of the worst possible future, always resulting in a self-fulfilling prophecy.
In the game Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time , the main antagonist, Larkeicus, worked to try and prevent the disappearance of all of the worlds crystals in the past, which be believed was caused by a shockwave in the sky during the present age of the game. To counteract and stop this event from happening, he fashions a tower to climb to the point where the schockwave occurs. However, through the actions of Sherlotta and the game's protagonist, a Crystal Core is made and shattered, which ultimately is the cause of the shockwave that caused the disappearance of the crystals in the past. Thus, Larkeicus unwittingly ensured the disappearance of the crystals by building the tower in the first place and instigating that events that led up to the destruction of the Crystal Core, as without the tower, the shockwave would have never occurred in the sky as he predicted.
See also
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i don't know
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What internet vulnerability 'bug' was announced (in April 2014) to have existed in 17% of the world's web servers since end-2011?
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April « 2014 « Skilled Bail Bonds Process | Orange County Fl Bail Bond
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CAPTCHAs Are Becoming Security Theater
CAPTCHAs are a time-worn way for humans to tell computers that we are human. They are those little boxes filled with distorted text that we’ve been told humans can decipher, but computers—the bad guys’ computers—cannot. So, Watson-be-damned, we enter the letters and gain access to whatever is behind the veil, leaving the bad bots steaming outside the pearly, CAPTCHA’d gates. As Google’s ReCAPTCHA website puts it: “Tough on bots, easy on humans.”
It is a satisfying display of human superiority built into the daily experience of the web. And, BONUS, you’re often helping do optical character recognition on old books at the same time. Take that, Machines, you don’t even have any books. But then along comes Google today noting, in a showily short and breezy blog post, that their machines can beat ReCAPTCHAs 99% of the time. “Turns out that this new algorithm can also be used to read CAPTCHA puzzles—we found that it can decipher the hardest distorted text puzzles from reCAPTCHA with over 99 percent accuracy,” writes Google product manager Vinay Shet. “This shows that the act of typing in the answer to a distorted image should not be the only factor when it comes to determining a human versus a machine.”
But that’s not even the most galling thing. That’s reserved for the next paragraph. “Last year, we announced that we’ve significantly reduced our dependence on text distortions as the main differentiator between human and machine,” Shet continues, “and instead perform advanced risk analysis.”So, we’ve been proudly typing away the whole time, proving we were human, and Google knew that all along. In an earlier post, Shet described their process in general terms: Google has begun “actively considering the user’s entire engagement with the CAPTCHA—before, during and after they interact with it. That means that today the distorted letters serve less as a test of humanity and more as a medium of engagement to elicit a broad range of cues that characterize humans and bots.” Now, we go on typing into the box, but our revolved visual systems—some of the most sophisticated in the animal kingdom—are no longer all that necessary. What we once did to assure Google that we were still human has become security theater. The only audience that we need to perform our humanity for is ourselves.
SOURCE : theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/04/captchas-are-becoming-security-theater/360786/
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Not Legal Immigrants
Concerning Randy Camacho’s comments that wee should eliminate word “illegal” from our vocabulary (Plugged In, Viewpoints, Sunday). Ask Arizona citizens in the southernmost part of the state how they see “not” legal immigration affecting them. Ask them if they have had their property littered, damaged and robbed by these “not” legal people looking for a path to bypass the “legal” immigration system.
Ask them if their real-estate property values are decreasing because of this constant onslaught of dreamers hoping for a better life or drug smugglers working to deliver another load. Ask them if they think we should pay for these “not” legal people who come here to avail themselves of our free goods and services at the expense of the American taxpayers. And ask them if they live their lives in fear from these “not” legal criminals.
If the words “illegal immigrant” indicates something offensive, then use “not” legal immigrant to clearly define who they are.Also, let’s support laws that stop all “not” legal immigration activity at the border to maintain our sovereign state in the United States of America.
SOURCE : azcentral.com/story/opinion/letters/2014/04/14/just-call-them-not-legal-immigrants/7721915/
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Need a National Change Your Passwords Day
Heartbleed, the major flaw that left passwords and other user information vulnerable to hackers this week, wasn’t the first security flaw to affect the Internet. And it won’t be the last. Security failures, hacks, leaks, and vulnerability discoveries are inevitable. As is the typical reaction: When news of a hack surfaces, we worry, and then some of us spring to action, generally changing passwords on affected accounts — especially if the affected sites force us to. But you should change your passwords regularly, even if you aren’t facing down a flaw like Heartbleed. What we need is a National Change Your Passwords Day so you don’t forget. Here’s why.
Known unknowns and unknown unknowns – One thing Heartbleed has shown us is that there are hacks and attacks, which sometimes we hear about and react to, and then there are the more worrisome discoveries of security flaws, which are worse. Heartbleed was a discovery, not an attack. A team of security engineers discovered a flaw in a version of common software, OpenSSL, that many major sites (and many more minor ones) use to protect and encrypt users’ data. This flaw had existed for over two years; it was only now discovered.
The discovery of this flaw doesn’t necessarily mean that bad guys have been exploiting it, and it doesn’t point to any specific attacks. Rather, it means that if anyone else (like, say,the NSA) also discovered this bug between the time when it was first included in the software, and when the Heartbleed discovery team told the world about it, they could have been using it to access or attack your data. There is no way to completely protect yourself from threats you don’t know about. But you can and should take precautions. The most obvious precaution: Limiting your exposure to individual hacks by making sure you have a unique and strong password for each different online account. I can’t stress enough how important it is to have different passwords for different accounts. It’s more important than having strong (unguessable) passwords, in fact. The only reasonable way to manage all these different passwords is with a password manager. I wrote a primer on these apps back in February. Since changing a lot of passwords is a colossal pain the neck (and I mean massively inconvenient), even with a good password manager to help you, perhaps it’d be best if you set aside a big chunk of time to do it. Like, a day. Maybe, in fact, a day off from work. A paid day off from work. Hey, I can dream. And keeping people (more) secure will actually save the country money, at least compared to the potential economic catastrophe of a real, pervasive, and exploited breakdown in Internet security.
Another thing you might want to do is enable two-factor authentication (also called two-step authentication) on sites that support it, like Google and Dropbox. Two-factor authentication makes it much more difficult to sign on to an account unless you have the account owner’s smartphone with you, on which a second, always-changing password (the second factor or step) is displayed. We’ll have more on two-factor authentication in a future article. So when is this new National Change Your Passwords Day? I’d propose we use the transition from Standard to Daylight time as the day for this, since more clocks are setting themselves these days and we have all that extra time to mind our technology. In fact, we should do password resets more than once a year, so let’s make it a twice-yearly holiday and use the transition from Daylight to Standard, too.
So what’s been stolen? Maybe nothing. Maybe a lot – So here’s the bad news: Even regularly changing your passwords won’t completely protect you from unknown theft of your personal data. It protects you a bit more, but not completely. It can take just microseconds for a hacker’s system to exploit a security flaw on a service you use. But the more often you change your locks, the less likely a stolen key will to work in them. If you’ve been hacked, and then you change your password, you’re protecting yourself against future intrusion into your account. That’s very good and necessary. But the digital goods you want to protect may already have been stolen. In particular, your credit card numbers are vulnerable, if you save those numbers in online accounts. You think it’s inconvenient to change passwords? Try changing credit card numbers. You can’t just call your issuers and ask for new cards just to be safe. You can report your card stolen, in which case they’ll immediately deactivate your existing card send you a new one. That might take a few days, and of course any automatic payments set up on that card will fail the next time they come due. And let’s not talk about trying to change other financially-relevant data, like a social security number. (Although if an online or commerce site other than a financial institution asks for a social security number, you would be wise to wonder why.) The good news when it comes to Heartbleed (yes, there is some), is that, as far as we know, no actual banks or brokerages used the OpenSSL software that Heartbleed attacked.
A bit more on password managers – Once more, with feeling: A password manager can improve your online security while also removing a lot of the hassle of keeping different passwords. However, password managers themselves are protected by passwords, which means they could potentially become vulnerable to a Heartbleed-like vulnerability. The good news (again!) is that of the three password managers I recommend — Lastpass, 1Password, and Dashlane — none are directly vulnerable to the Heartbleed flaw. I say, “directly” because Lastpass and 1Password both have some small exposure. Lastpass uses OpenSSL to transmit data, but it encrypts the data before the OpenSSL software sees it, so Lastpass claims they’re not vulnerable to Heartblleed attacks. 1Password has a slight possibility of a flaw if you use its synchronizing service, 1PasswordAnywhere, with Dropbox to keep your passwords in sync across devices. If you’re in that camp, there’s a small chance that a possible Heartbleed vulnerability on Dropbox could allow an attacker to replace your 1Password sync file with a malicious version of your file, causing havoc across your 1Password account (while not actually stealing your passwords). So if you are using one of these password managers, you might want to read their blog posts about Heartbleed. Here they are: Lastpass | 1Password | Dashlane. The main takeway: As part of the Hearbleed password panic, it’s a good idea to change your most important passwords now, starting with your password manager, if you have one. And then change it again, perhaps the next time National Change Your Passwords Day rolls around and you’re changing all your other critical passwords. And if you don’t have a password manager, get one now.
SOURCE : yahoo.com/tech/we-need-a-national-change-your-passwords-day-82301322882.html
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Netherlands – No Longer Download Copyrighted Movies & Music
The European Court of Justice has ruled that citizens in the Netherlands can no longer download copyrighted movies and music without paying for them and without breaking the law. The court ruled that the current system of a privacy levy is unlawful. Downloading pirated films and music is popular the world over, and in the Netherlands an estimated one-third of the population is at it. Unlike most other countries, in the Netherlands it’s not a criminal offense. This is because the Dutch introduced a system where consumers pay a “piracy levy” to compensate rights holders when they buy writeable media with storage capacity, such as hard drives and smartphones.
Until Thursday’s ruling, anyone buying a smartphone, tablet, computer or laptop pays a 5 euro charge to cover the cost of home copying. But in a landmark ruling in a case brought by several electronic stores and manufactures, the European Court of Justice has said the system is illegal. The electronics companies had successfully argued that the levy made their products more expensive. The judgment said that the levy puts copyright holders at an unfair advantage as well as being a threat to the internal Dutch market. “The objective of proper support for the dissemination of culture may not be achieved by sacrificing strict protection of copyright or by tolerating illegal forms of distribution of counterfeited or pirated works,” it read. The court concluded that the Dutch levy system encourages the distribution of counterfeit and pirated works.
The court also concluded that decriminalizing file sharing punished those who brought their films and music from authorized retailers as they are double paying on the devices and media they record onto. The Dutch government has confirmed the court’s ruling and has posted a statement on its website saying that downloading copyrighted material for personal use is banned with immediate effect. However, copyright holders may be worse off as it will result in millions of euros of lost revenue through the piracy levy, which would doubtless be very hard to match through legal sales in movies and music, which are in decline in many places in the world. From now in it will only be legal to copy material onto a hard drive that has been bought legally. The judgment is likely to affect other European countries where downloading copyrighted works in also permitted like Switzerland.
SOURCE : rt.com/news/copyright-pirated-films-music-724/
Orange County FL Bail Bond
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts today denied allegations in a lawsuit filed by families of children with developmental disorders that the company has caused them suffering and violated the American With Disabilities Act. The 57-count complaint (read it here), filed last week, seeks damages, injunctive relief, and declaratory relief for violations of the ADA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. ”Disney Parks have an unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive and accessible environment for all our guests,” a Disney Parks and Resorts spokesperson said today. “We fully comply with all ADA requirements and believe that the legal claims are without merit.” The scathing legal action filed by 16 children and young adults with autism and other developmental disorders and their guardians and parents contends that Disney’s recently implemented Disability Access Service violates federal and state law and is completely unsuited to the needs of individuals with such special needs. Disney disagrees. “Our Disability Access Service is designed for guests who, due to certain disabilities, cannot tolerate extended wait times at attractions. In circumstances where the service might not meet guests needs, we work individually with guests to ensure we are able to accommodate them,” said the company in a statement.
The 176-page complaint also alleges that, at the same time Disney moved to the DAS system last October, the Parks and Resorts division created a secret ”Magic List” program that could actually help solve a lot of their concerns. “The Magic List is a secret list of persons to whom Disney will automatically extend, without the stigma of a ‘Disability’ card, and without a mandatory photograph, and without the newly-ingrained disrespect of Disney employees, five immediate-entry, no-appointment ride passes,” says the April 3 filing in federal court. “The Magic List does not perfectly accommodate the special needs of all persons with cognitive impairments, but it is considerably better than the recklessly inadequate DAS card,” it adds. “Disney is withholding the existence of the ‘Magic List’ from the broader community of families in which someone has a cognitive impairment. By doing so, Disney continues to deter families from visiting the Parks or making plans to do so.” While Disney has a Make-A-Wish Foundation program that provides front-of-the-line access among other privileges, the “Magic List” the plaintiffs allege seems to be something very different. A WDPR spokesperson denied to Deadline any knowledge of the so-called Magic List.
Introduced last fall as a replacement for the longstanding Guest Assistance Card program in an effort to curb scams — such as well-heeled patrons hiring disabled individuals to travel around Disneyland and other parks with them so they could get on rides without waiting — the new system now results in long waits for rides and often results in “meltdown behaviors,” the plaintiffs claim. The complaint also says that once-helpful staff is now inadequate and “robotic” in dealing with such disorders, resulting in various cases of breach of contract and emotional distress. “Disney’s knowledge is so extensive, and Disney’s new Disability Access Service is so obviously discriminatory and so outrageously contrary to Disney’s own knowledge of such guests’ special needs, that it is inconceivable that the Disability Access Service’s discriminatory impact upon Plaintiffs is an accident,” says the filing from lawyers Andy Dogali of Tampa, FL and Eugene Feldman of Hermosa Beach, CA. It was different at Disney’s six stateside parks and resorts before the change, plaintiffs and their families say. “The Plaintiff parents and guardians uniformly acknowledge that, prior to about October 9, 2013, taking their child to the Disney Parks was one of the few experiences, if not the only experience, which would bring obvious joy to their disabled child for many hours in a row, a notion very uncommon outside Disney’s magical worlds,” says the complaint. “Prior to October of 2013, Disney’s system for accommodating disabled persons’ special needs was universally enjoyed and appreciated by the community of persons touched by cognitive impairments.”
SOURCE : deadline.com/2014/04/disney-parks-lawsuit-autism/
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HeartBleed Bug Logo
The discovery of a significant flaw in software that was supposed to provide extra protection for thousands of websites has thrown the tech world into chaos as experts scrambled to understand the scope of the vulnerability. On Tuesday, Tumblr, which is owned by Yahoo, became the largest website to disclose that it had been hit by the “Heartbleed Bug” and urged users to change not just the password for its site but for all others as well. But signaling just how much uncertainty and confusion surrounds the glitch, security experts warned that such a gesture might actually be useless because if a site has not fixed the problem hackers could just as easily steal the new password. Although security analysts wouldn’t go as far as telling users to stay off the Internet completely, they said users should avoid doing anything sensitive like online banking. If it’s necessary to go online, check to see whether a service has said whether they are affected or whether they have fixed the problem. “The scope of this is immense,” said Kevin Bocek, vice president of security strategy and threat intelligence for Venafi, a Salt Lake City cybersecurity company. “And the consequences are still scary. I’ve talked about this like a ‘Mad Max’ moment. It’s a bit of anarchy right now. Because we don’t know right now who has the keys and certificates on the Internet right now.”
“Heartbleed Bug” is a vulnerability in something called OpenSSL, a technology used to provide encryption of an estimated 66% of all servers on the public Internet. OpenSSL is an open source code that is developed and maintained by a community of developers, rather than by a single company. While such jargon is unfamiliar to average users, most people online have likely seen the green padlock icon in the address bar of their browser, followed by “https” that indicates that the OpenSSL added security has been enabled. The vulnerability was discovered separately last week by Neel Mehta, a security researcher at Google, and a team of security engineers at Codenomicon, a security website that has since created a website with information about Heartbleed.
“Heartbleed is like finding a faulty car part used in nearly every make and model, but you can’t recall the Internet and all the data you put out on it,” said Jonathan Sander, vice president of research and technology for Stealthbits Technologies, a cybersecurity firm in Hawthorne, NJ. It appears the bug was introduced into OpenSSL by a simple programming mistake that then got pushed out as websites around the world updated the version of OpenSSL they were running. After the discovery last week, news spread quickly around the Web on Tuesday as the implications became clearer. As Tumblr made its announcement, security experts found numerous “exploits” or simple pieces of software widely available online that any hacker could grab and use to attack sites left vulnerable by Heartbleed. By running such exploits, a hacker could in just a few seconds download countless emails, passwords, user IDs and much other personal information. “It’s a very simple script,” said Chris Eng, vice president of research at application security testing firm Veracode. “And there’s still a lot of websites out there that are vulnerable.” An updated version of OpenSSL has been issued, and sites can use that to fix the bug. In addition to updating OpenSSL, sites will need to update many pieces of their security protocols known as keys and certificates that help them confirm the identity of users.
But Internet users are now facing a dilemma: How do they know they can trust a site? Because hackers may have gotten so much personal and website security information, experts are worried they can use that to create fake copies or “spoofs” of real sites that will induce users to disclose even more information.”Avoid things like online banking and avoid sensitive sites if you’re not sure,” said Andrew Storms, director of DevOps at CloudPassage. “Some people will see it as overkill. But I think that’s the simplest guidance. If you can hold off doing something online for a couple days, then you should.”
SOURCE : latimes.com/business/la-fi-web-vulnerability-20140409,0,3935723.story#ixzz2yMRNLQBj
Bail Bondsman In Orlando Fl
Another former Georgia ethics staffer sends word she is planning a lawsuit against the ethics commission. Former staffer Elisabeth Murray-Obertein plans to file her own lawsuit against the agency, according to her attorney, Cheryl Legare. The news comes days after a jury sided with Stacey Kalberman, the commission’s former director, in a lawsuit claiming she was forced out for too aggressively investigating a complaint stemming from Gov. Nathan Deal’s 2010 campaign.
It would be the fourth whistle-blower case filed against the embattled agency, and an unwelcome development for a governor facing re-election against opponents who have taken up ethics as a mantra. Deal on Monday abandoned his attempts to distance himself from the agency and instead called for a “comprehensive” overhaul.
Former staffers Sherilyn Streicker and John Hair have filed similar lawsuits that are now winding their way through the courts. Neither is on the trial calendar yet, though, and they may not make it that far. As noted earlier, several jurors polled after the Kalberman case openly questioned why state attorneys didn’t settle before bringing to trial. Murray-Obertein’s case could prove more complicated than some of the others. She was the commission’s top lawyer and, in sworn testimony, accused director Holly LaBerge of bragging that Deal “owes” for making the most serious complaints against him go away.
SOURCE : politics.blog.ajc.com/2014/04/08/another-lawsuit-from-ex-ethics-staffer-is-in-the-works/
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Heartbleed
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The society-persuasion theory adopted by US and UK governments based on the 2008 Thaler & Sunstein book of the same name is called?
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memory leak • Page 1 • Tag • The Register
Time to SIP from Cisco's patch pool, to fix a memory leak
Cisco's urging SIP users to patch their software, after discovering a remotely-exploitable denial-of-service vector in a memory leak. The issue was discovered while resolving a customer support issue, the company says. Since the same code is used across multiple systems, sysadmins need to check their vulnerability if they're …
Bug-hunt turns up vuln in LibreSSL
Updated Code reviewers looking over a mail daemon have turned up a couple of reasonably serious bugs in the Libre SSL code base – and along the way provided a handy illustration of the deep interdependencies between software. What they've found is that there's a companion memory leak (CVE-2015-5333) and buffer overflow (CVE-2015-5334 …
Awoogah: Get ready to patch 'severe' bug in OpenSSL this Thursday
Sysadmins and anyone else with systems running OpenSSL code: a new version of the open-source crypto library will be released this week to "fix a single security defect classified as 'high' severity." The bug, we're told, will be addressed in versions 1.0.2d and 1.0.1p of the software. The vulnerability does not affect the 1.0 …
Facebook: Your code sucks, and we don't even have to run it to tell
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BOFH : Getting to the brown, nutty heart of the water cooler matter
Episode 6 "..and so we just mix all the ingredients together like this, tip it out onto a surface like so, and roll it into a roughly cylindrical shape. Now we just push in the extras and then pop it into the freezer for a few hours till it's nice and hard and easy to handle. And we're done," the PFY says with a flourish. I can't …
The Reg's review of 2014: Naked JLaw selfies, Uber and monkey madness
Facebook buying WhatsApp for nearly as much as Hewlett-Packard spent on Compaq in 2001? Well, 2014 was the year of the selfie, after all. Just don't let that snapshot of your bits get hacked. Leaked naked smartphone pics weren't this year's only embarrassing public spectacles: Microsoft's CEO put his foot in his mouth on women …
Admins! Never mind POODLE, there're NEW OpenSSL bugs to splat
Poodle If you're using the popular OpenSSL open source cryptography library, you have more to worry about than the recently disclosed POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption) vulnerability, project devs have warned. In addition to patching two POODLE-related bugs, new releases of OpenSSL issued on Wednesday also close …
Amazon carefully stitches up Heartbleed OpenSSL hole
Amazon is working to patch "Heartbleed" memory-leak vulnerablities in its Amazon Web Services hosting infrastructure. The mammoth cloud company confirmed on Tuesday that it has dealt with some of the parts of its infrastructure that were vulnerable to the nasty OpenSSL 1.0.1 bug nicknamed "Heartbleed" that was disclosed on …
Running OpenSSL? Patch now to fix CRITICAL bug
Sysadmins using the OpenSSL cryptographic library have an urgent job: patching a memory leak vulnerability that could reveal user IDs and passwords. Dubbed “Heartbleed”, the vulnerability was discovered by Google Security's Neel Mehta and announced by CloudFlare. As the terse OpenSSL advisory states: “A missing bounds check …
New Flash vuln exploited (again). Adobe posts emergency fix (again)
Adobe has released an update to address critical flaws in its Flash Player software, one of which is being actively targeted in the wild. The company said that the Windows and Mac OS X builds of Flash Player 12.0.0.44 and earlier, and Flash Player 11.2.202.336 and earlier for Linux, must be upgraded to fix a trio of bugs. Adobe …
Cisco goes public with major vulns
Users of Cisco's Unified Communications Manager, UCM instant messaging and presence, and Prime Central hosted collaboration system need to get busy with patches, after the Borg announced denial-of-service vulnerabilities across all three platforms. UCM 7.1, Cisco advises, has an improper error handling vulnerability that can be …
Virtualisation: just a lot of extra software licences?
A colleague of mine recently remarked that x86 virtualisation makes no sense to any organisation that is cost conscious. I am an early adopter of virtualisation and wanted to know what he meant. “When using virtualisation, you are paying for far more software licences than you would if you were to take the time to implement …
Virgin Media finally offers network options on SuperHub
Virgin Media has finally issued an update for its SuperHub box that allows its customers to configure custom network set-ups with the kit. The latest firmware upgrade (R30) comes seven months after VM debuted SuperHub, which was immediately hampered by stability issues and slow connections. Many customers grumbled about the …
Apachesourcers claw out major Tomcat revision
One of the Apache Software Foundation's earliest projects has seen its first major update in four years, with the twin goals of easing development and boosting performance. Tomcat 7.0 has been updated to fully implement Java Servlet 3.0, JavaServer Pages (JSP) 2.2, and Expression Language (EL) 2.2 to improve support for …
Lucid Lynx fights 'major' X-Server memory leak
Update The Ubuntu 10.04 release candidate contains a "major" X-Server memory leakage bug that "causes the computer to get slower and slower over time." According to a bug report, the problem can cause system instability after "a day or two uptime" - depending on memory quantity and usage. Developers have proposed a fix, but it's …
IBM claims patents promote open-source love
Open source and software patents are generally regarded as two things that go together like peanut butter and a punch to the face*. Open-source advocates talk of vague, badly written US patents lurking in the system, waiting only to pounce on unsuspecting devs and condemn them to 1,001 years litigation. Open sourcers actively …
Microsoft gets personal on Windows 7 "show stopper" bug
Microsoft has gotten personal in responding to reports of a "show stopper" bug in Windows 7 capable of delaying the planned roll-out, which starts Thursday. The company has blamed a chip-set controller issue rather than a critical bug in the Windows 7 chkdsk /r tool that could cause a memory leak capable of causing your PC to …
Virtualization rocks - but who cares beyond consolidation?
Reader Workshop The feedback on virtualization experiences from those participating so far in our latest online workshop has been generally very positive. A main focus of the comments has been on server consolidation and the cost savings that come with it, and some of the results achieved seem pretty impressive: We're running about 15 VMs …
IBM unveils nano-projector based VirtuaHuman with 1TB of memory
April Fools Don Eigler – a researcher famous for spelling I-B-M with individual atoms – stunned the world once again today by revealing on his blog that a creature known as Robert Scoble is really a research project. A few years back, IBM researchers started to think more and more about the potential rise of so-called virtual worlds …
Mozilla reaches stage 4 of Firefox 3 beta endurance test
The fourth beta release of Firefox 3 is available for download today from Mozilla. Grab it here if you're feeling adventurous. Remember it's a beta, so beware of rushing to code where angels fear to thread. The browser's latest build boasts several improvements over previous beta releases, including a speed boost, full-page …
Beyond the valley of the drolls
Stob There's another of those lists of supposedly amusing/sage/cute adages going around, bouncing from blog to email, accumulating fresh contributions and occasional edits and doing all the meme-ish things that memes do. This one differs from all the others that you have deleted irritably from your email inbox in that it includes a …
Intel Wi-Fi update ate my CPU cycles
Security researchers have identified performance problems with a recent wireless driver security update from Intel. Vulnerabilities in Centrino device drivers for Windows and Intel's PROSet management software prompted a security update three weeks ago. The initial update weighed in at more than 100MB, though Intel did produce …
How the US military chivvied up Microsoft
Divine intervention, or simply a divine coincidence? Long suffering Tablet PC users weary of unscheduled reboots didn't mind too much last week. Over a year after it came to light, and months after we highlighted the issue, Microsoft finally issued a patch for the memory leak that caused the problem. One pundit called it "the …
Miracle in Redmond! Tablet PC memory bug fixed
Microsoft has finally issued a patch for a notorious bug in the Tablet PC edition of Windows XP. The bug is a memory leak in the default digitizer that ships with the system, and has been irking users for over a year. The digitizer process gradually ate up all available system memory, grinding the machine to a halt, and …
Reboot daily, Tablet users advised
Microsoft has publicly acknowledged the Tablet PC bug that eats up the computer's memory until the machine crashes. The out of control memory leak remains unchecked while Redmond's Red Adairs grapple to put a lid on the blow-out. But there's no word yet of exactly when a fix will be issued. "Progress is being made and there'll …
Tablet PC bug 'fills computer with ink'
A major bug in the Tablet PC version of Windows eats up all the memory in your computer until it crashes. Redmond has yet to acknowledge the problem with a public disclosure about the issue - or even offer a feeble blogshrug [*]. The culprit is the application Tabtip.exe, the site Tablet PC Talk confirms - "The program Tabtip. …
BOFH: Hooking the IT vending piranha
Episode 2 So we've been dragged into Beancounter land after a change in purchasing policy means that absolutely all kit is now going to be bought by the IT Purchasing bloke in accounts to make sure that we get the absolute best deal that we POSSIBLY could ever get. Which means: we're going to get royally screwed by the vendors. As any …
Borland JBuilder 7
Review VERDICT: It's laden with features, but at version 7 JBuilder faces stiff competition from leaner, more modular alternatives. SPECIFICATIONS: Written in Java and runs on JDK 1.3.1 and anywhere that JDK runs. Supports Windows NT 4, 2000 or XP, Red Hat Linux, Solaris on UltraSPARC II or higher and Mac OS X. PRICE: £2,149 ( …
Registry hack turns XP Pro into server, vice versa
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Serious Outlook hole patched
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MS firewall is holier than the Pope
Updated Microsoft's much vaunted first security product has become the subject of three separate security problems. Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) server 2000, which was positioned by Microsoft as a credible alternative to corporate firewalls, has become the subject of two denial of service and one cross site scripting flaws …
Four new ways to stuff someone's Win machine
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Exploits for several million Microsoft servers posted
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Foster is Pentium 4 Doppelganger
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DoJ's ‘Punch’ beats MS' ‘Judy’
MS on Trial Computer scientist Professor Edward Felten from Princeton was recently deposed prior to his appearance as a rebuttal witness for the DoJ in the Microsoft trial. In many ways the Steve and Steve Show -- Steve Holtzman for the DoJ and Steve Holley of Sullivan & Cromwell for Microsoft -- was like a Punch and Judy show, and there …
Allchin takes a beating over video
We conclude the story of last week's dramatic events when Microsoft was caught faking a demonstration to the court. (Full Video Transcript) Jim Allchin, bruised by David Boies' relentless cross examination, went into a rehearsed redirect examination from Stephen Holley. Allchin probably had a poor lunch, since he had spent most …
MacOS 8.5.1 fixes bug Apple claimed wasn't a problem
Apple is preparing an update for MacOS 8.5, due to ship early next year, but possibly in line to appear later this month. The new release, MacOS 8.5.1 interestingly appears to solve a problem that Apple had previously denied existed, despite numerous complaints from users. Since the release of 8.5, many Mac owners have informed …
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i don't know
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What is the technical genus category of lemons, oranges, limes?
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Principal Dwarf Lemon Varieties - Dwarf Citrus Trees, Meyer Lemon, Kieffer Lime, Oranges – Order Online – Four Winds Growers
Swansea, Massachusetts
Principal Lemon Varieties
While most people will prefer either the mild flavor of Meyer or the classic taste of Eureka, we also offer some unusual varieties for those who wish to experiment.
Improved Meyer Lemon
The gourmet lemon. "Improved" refers to the California state tested, virus-free clone, a collaborative discovery of Joe Grimshaw and Four Winds founder Floyd Dillon in the early 1950's. Very juicy; not as tart as Eureka. Prolific bearer nearly year-round; heaviest in winter. Mature fruit takes on a golden hue. Learn more.
Eureka Lemon
Produces large crops of lemons annually. Bears all year. This is the common market variety lemon. Easy to espalier, and fewer thorns than other traditional lemons.
Lisbon Lemon
Fruit quite similar to Eureka. Thornier, dense foliage. Ample year-round crop. Good producer in hot inland regions. Somewhat more resistant to cold than Eureka once established.
Variegated Pink Lemon
Distinctive green and yellow variegated foliage. Lemons have pink flesh, clear juice and acidic lemon flavor. Fuchsia colored new growth and flower buds. Excellent landscape tree prized more for interesting variegated foliage than for fruit quality and quantity.
Ponderosa Lemon
Extra large fruit of this citron-lemon hybrid are a favorite among collectors of novelty citrus. Fragrant blooms produce gigantic lemons with many seeds. Tree tends to be thorny and rangy with an open habit. Needs pruning to control shape.
Yen Ben Lemon
Similar to Lisbon, this variety is the primary cultivar produced in New Zealand for the Japanese export market. It is smooth skinned with a thin rind and low numbers of seeds. Produces abundantly throughout the year with over 60% of harvestable fruit developing in winter.
Other lemon varieties:
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Citrus
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'Simnel' refers to a traditional Easter (what?), originating in medieval England?
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Lemon
Morton, J. 1987. Lemon. p. 160168. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.
Lemon
Other Uses
The leading acid citrus fruit, because of its very appealing color, odor and flavor, the lemon, Citrus limon Burm. f. (syns. C. limonium Risso, C. limonia Osbeck, C. medica var. limonium Brandis), is known in Italy as limone; in most Spanish-speaking areas as limón, limón agria, limón real, or limón francés; in German as limonen; in French as citrónnier; in Dutch as citroen. In Haiti, it is limon France; in Puerto Rico, limon amarillo. In the Netherlands Antilles, lamoentsji, or lamunchi, are locally applied to the lime, not to the lemon as strangers suppose. The lemon is not grown there.
Several lemon-like fruits are domestically or commercially regarded as lemons wherever they are grown and, accordingly, must be discussed under this heading. These include: Rough lemon (C. jambhiri Lush.), Sweet lemon (C. limetta Risso), 'Meyer' (lemon X mandarin hybrid); 'Perrine' (lime X lemon hybrid); 'Ponderosa' (presumed lemon X citron hybrid), qq.v. under "Varieties".
Plate XX: MEYER LEMON, possibly Citrus limon × C. reticulata
Description
The true lemon tree reaches 10 to 20 ft (3-6 m) in height and usually has sharp thorns on the twigs. The alternate leaves, reddish when young, become dark-green above, light-green below; are oblong, elliptic or long-ovate, 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 in (6.25-11.25 cm) long, finely toothed, with slender wings on the petioles. The mildly fragrant flowers may be solitary or there may be 2 or more clustered in the leaf axils. Buds are reddish; the opened flowers have 4 or 5 petals 3/4 in (2 cm) long, white on the upper surface (inside), purplish beneath (outside), and 20-40 more or less united stamens with yellow anthers. The fruit is oval with a nipple-like protuberance at the apex; 2 3/4 to 4 3/4 in (7 -12 cm) long; the peel is usually light-yellow though some lemons are variegated with longitudinal stripes of green and yellow or white; it is aromatic, dotted with oil glands; 1/4 to 3/8 in (6-10 mm) thick; pulp is pale-yellow, in 8 to 10 segments, juicy, acid. Some fruits are seedless, most have a few seeds, elliptic or ovate, pointed, smooth, 3/8 in (9.5 mm) long, white inside.
Origin and Distribution
The true home of the lemon is unknown, though some have linked it to northwestern India. It is supposed to have been introduced into southern Italy in 200 A.D. and to have been cultivated in Iraq and Egypt by 700 A.D. It reached Sicily before 1000 and China between 760 and 1297 A.D. Arabs distributed it widely in the Mediterranean region between 1000 and 1150 A.D. It was prized for its medicinal virtues in the palace of the Sultan of Egypt and Syria in the period 1174-1193 A.D. Christopher Columbus carried lemon seeds to Hispaniola in 1493. The Spaniards may have included lemons among the fruits they introduced to St. Augustine. They were grown in California in the years 1751-1768. Lemons were reported to be increasingly planted in northeastern Florida in 1839. Because of heavy imports from Sicily, commercial culture in Florida and California was begun soon after 1870 and grew to the point where 140,000 boxes were being shipped out of Florida alone. The small Florida industry was set back by a freeze in 1886, the susceptibility of the lemon to scab, and the unfavorable climate for curing the fruit, and also competition from California. Following the devastating freeze of 1894-95, commercial lemon culture was abandoned in Florida. Not until 1953 was interest in lemon-growing revived in Central Florida to take advantage of the demand for frozen concentrate and for natural cold-press lemon oil. At that time, Florida was importing lemons from Italy for processing. Plantings grew to 8,700 acres by 1975. Freezes caused 50% reduction by 1980. Still, in 1984, Florida exported $2 million worth of lemons.
In the meantime, Arizona had developed lemon orchards, though on a smaller scale than California. In the 1956-57 season, California produced 11 million gallons (42 million liters) of frozen lemon concentrate while Florida's output was still very small. California and Arizona became the leading sources of lemons in the western hemisphere. In recent years, California has produced nearly double the crop that can be profitably marketed fresh or processed. Foreign competition has increased and many California growers have destroyed their lemon groves or topworked the trees to oranges, but new cultural techniques making summer production possible may reverse the trend.
Guatemala has in the past 2 decades developed commercial lemon culture, primarily to produce the peel oil for its essential oil industry and secondarily for the purpose of dehydrating the fruit and preparing a powder for reconstituting into juice. Southern Mexico, too, is now a major grower of lemons, also primarily for lemon peel oil. Lemons are rarely grown for the fresh fruit market in Latin America. In South America, Argentina leads in lemon culture with Chile a distant second. Among the world's leading lemon growers and exporters are Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, South Africa and Australia. Lemons can be grown only at medium and high elevations in the Philippines.
Fig 41: Lemons: 'Ponderosa', perhaps a lemon X citron hybrid (left); 'Lisbon'-type commercial lemons (Citrus limon) (center); and rough lemon (C. jambhiri) (right).
Varieties
With the resumption of lemon-growing in Florida, workers at the Citrus Experiment Station, Lake Alfred, began a search for the most suitable cultivars, whether in dooryards, or in the United States Department of Agriculture planting at Orlovista, or the Lake Alfred collection. By late 1950, 200 selections had been brought together from various parts of the United States. Of these, 40 were budded onto 30-year-old grapefruit trees on rough lemon rootstock on the Minute Maid property at Avon Park. Two selections grown elsewhere were included in the studies-evaluation for thorniness, cold-and disease-susceptibility, sizes, juiciness, flavor, number of segments and seeds, yields, and quality of peel oil. The majority of the selections were judged undesirable; only a few showed promise for processing and fresh fruit marketing purposes. For processing, 'Villafranca' rated highest, followed by 'Eustis', 'Bearss', 'Perkin' and 'Avon'. Any of these, properly harvested and cured would be suitable for marketing fresh. Libby, McNeil & Libby, when planning for their lemon orchard at Babson Park, Florida, about 1948, tested varieties from all major lemon-producing areas of the world and chose 'Bearss' as rating highest in quality and quantity of juice, which was their chief concern at the time. In 1960, they added marketing of the fresh fruit and found the 'Bearss' equally desirable for this purpose.
The following are brief descriptions of most of the better known cultivars of true lemons and of lemon-like fruits that are accepted as lemons in home or commercial usage, and a few of the lesser-known.
'Armstrong' ('Armstrong Seedless')a sport discovered in a private grove at Riverside, California, about 1909. Patented in 1936 by Armstrong Nurseries. Resembles 'Eureka' except that it usually bears seedless or near-seedless fruits. If planted among other lemon trees will occasionally have a few seeds.
'Avon'first noticed as a budded tree in Arcadia, Florida. A budded tree propagated from the original specimen around 1934 was planted in the Alpine Grove in Avon Park; it produced heavy crops of fruits highly suitable for frozen concentrate. It, therefore, became the source of budwood for commercial propagation by Ward's Nursery beginning in 1940.
'Bearss' ('Sicily', but not the original introduction by Gen. Sanford in 1875, which has disappeared)a seedling believed to have been planted in 1892, discovered in the Bearss grove near Lutz, Florida, about 1952. Closely resembles 'Lisbon'. It is highly susceptible to scab and greasy spot and oil spotting. The tree is vigorous and tends to produce too many water sprouts. Nevertheless, it has been propagated commercially by Libby, McNeill & Libby since 1953 because the peel is rich in oil. It constitutes 20% of Brazil's lemon/lime crop. ,
'Berna' ('Bernia', 'Vema', 'Vernia')oval to broad-elliptic, with pronounced nipple, short neck; peel somewhat rough, medium-thick, becoming thinner in summer, tightly clinging. Seeds generally few or absent. Ripens mostly in winter; fruits keep well on tree until summer but become too large. Tree is vigorous, large, prolific. This is the leading cultivar of Spain and important in Algeria and Morocco. It is too much like the 'Lisbon' to be of value in California. In Florida, it has been found deficient in acid, low in juice, and too subject to scab.
'Eureka'originated from seed taken from an Italian lemon (probably the 'Lunario') and planted in Los Angeles in 1858; selected in 1877 and budwood propagated by Thomas Garey who named it 'Garey's Eureka'. The fruit is elliptic to oblong or rarely obovate, with moderately protruding nipple at apex, a low collar at the base; peel yellow, longitudinally ridged, slightly rough because of sunken oil glands, medium-thick, tightly clinging; pulp greenish-yellow, in about 10 segments, fine-grained, tender, juicy, very acid. Fruits often borne in large terminal clusters unprotected by the foliage. Bears all year but mostly late winter, spring and early summer when the demand for lemons is high. Tree of medium size, almost thornless, early-bearing, prolific; not especially vigorous, cold-sensitive, not insect-resistant; relatively short-lived. Not suitable for Florida. Grown commercially in Israel. One of the 2 leading cultivars of California, though now being superseded by clonal selections with more vigor, e.g., 'Allen', 'Cascade', 'Cook', and 'Ross'. 'Lambert Eureka' is a chance seedling found in 1940 on the property of Horace Lambert in New South Wales. It is vigorous and productive.
'Femminello Ovale'one of the oldest Italian varieties; short-elliptic with low, blunt nipple; slightly necked or rounded at base; of medium size; peel yellow, finely pitted, medium-smooth, medium-thick, tightly clinging; pulp in about 10 segments, tender, juicy, very acid, of excellent quality, with few, mostly undeveloped, seeds. Fruits all year but mainly in late winter and spring; ships and stores well. The tree is almost thornless, medium-to very-vigorous, but highly susceptible to mal secco disease. This is the leading cultivar in Italy, accounting for 3/4 of the total lemon production, and 1/5 of the crop is processed as single-strength juice.
'Genoa'introduced into California from Genoa, Italy, in 1875. Almost identical to 'Eureka'; ovoid or ovate-oblong with blunt nipple at apex; base rounded or slightly narrowed; of medium size; peel yellow, medium-thick, tightly clinging; pulp in 10-12 segments, melting, medium-juicy, with 29 to 51 seeds which are light-brown within. Tree is shrubby, nearly trunk-less, spreading, very thorny, cold-hardy. Grown commercially in India, Chile and Argentina.
'Harvey'of unknown parentage; was found by Harvey Smith on the property of George James in Clearwater, Florida. Fruit much like 'Eureka'. Tree highly cold-tolerant, compatible with several rootstocks. Commercially propagated by Glen St. Mary Nurseries Company, near Jacksonville, Florida, since 1943.
'Interdonato' ('Special')a lemon X citron hybrid that originated on property of a Colonel Interdonato, Sicily, around 1875; oblong, cylindrical, with conical, pointed nipple at apex, short neck or collar at base; large; peel yellow, smooth, glossy, thin, tightly clinging; pulp greenish-yellow, in 8 or 9 segments, crisp, juicy, very acid, faintly bitter. Very few seeds. Earliest in season; mostly fall and early winter. Tree vigorous, usually thornless, medium-resistant to mal secco; of medium yield; accounts for 5% of Italy's crop.
'Lisbon' (perhaps the same as 'Portugal' in Morocco and Algeria)originated in Portugal, possibly as a selection of 'Gallego'; reached Australia in 1824; first catalogued in Massachusetts in 1843; introduced into California about 1849 and catalogued there in 1853; introduced into California from Australia in 1874 and again in 1875. Fruit almost identical to 'Eureka'; elliptical to oblong, prominently nippled at apex, base faintly necked; peel yellow, barely rough, faintly pitted, sometimes slightly ribbed, medium-thick, tightly clinging; pulp pale greenish-yellow, in about 10 segments, fine-grained, tender, juicy, very acid, with few or no seeds. Main crop in February, second crop in May. Fruit is borne inside the canopy, sheltered from extremes of heat and cold. Tree large, vigorous, thorny, prolific, resistant to cold, heat, wind. Not well adapted to Florida. It is low-yielding and short-lived in India. Surpasses 'Eureka' in California. Has given rise to a number of clonal selections, particularly 'Frost', originated by H. B. Frost at the Citrus Research Station, Riverside, California in .1917 and released about 1950; also 'Prior Lisbon' and the more vigorous 'Monroe Lisbon'.
'Meyer'a hybrid, possibly lemon X mandarin orange; introduced into the United States as S.P.I. #23028, by the agricultural explorer, Frank N. Meyer, who found it growing as an ornamental pot-plant near Peking, China, in 1908; obovate, elliptical or oblong, round at the base, occasionally faintly necked and furrowed or lobed; apex rounded or with short nipple; of medium size, 2 1/4 to 3 in (5.7-7.5 cm) wide and 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 in (6.25-9 cm) high; peel light-orange with numerous small oil glands, 1/8 to 1/4 in (3-6 mm) thick; pulp pale orange-yellow, usually in 10 segments with tender walls, melting, juicy, moderately acid with medium lemon flavor; seeds small, 8 to 12. Tends to be everbearing but fruits mostly from December to April. Tree small, with few thorns, prolific, cold-resistant; produces few water sprouts, and is only moderately subject to greasy spot and oil spotting. It is easily and commonly grown from cuttings. Does well on sweet orange and rough lemon rootstocks; is not grafted onto sour orange because it is a carrier of a virulent strain of tristeza. Grown for home use in California; in Florida, both for home use and to some extent commercially for concentrate though the product must be enhanced by the addition of peel oil from true lemons, since that from 'Meyer' peel is deficient in flavoring properties. Has been fairly extensively planted in Texas and in Queensland, Australia, and New Zealand.
'Monachello' (Moscatello')suspected of being a lemon X citron hybrid; elliptical, with small nipple and no neck, merely tapered at apex and base; medium-small; peel yellow, smooth except for large, sunken oil glands, thin, clinging very tightly; pulp in 10 segments, tender, not very juicy, not sharply acid. Bears all year but mainly winter and spring. Tree not vigorous, slow-growing, almost thornless, with abundant, large leaves; bears medium-well, resistant to mal secco, and has been extensively planted in Italy in areas where the disease is common.
'Nepali Oblong' (Assam', 'Pat Nebu')originated in Assam; fruit resembles citron in some aspects; long-elliptic to oblong-obovate, with wide, short nipple; medium-large; peel greenish-yellow, smooth, glossy, medium-thick; pulp greenish-yellow in 11 segments, fine-grained, very juicy, of medium acidity, with few or no seeds. Everbearing. Tree large, vigorous, spreading, medium-thorny, prolific; foliage resembles that of the citron. Commercial in India.
'Nepali Round'of Indian origin; round, without distinct nipple; juicy; seedless. Tree large, vigorous, compact, nearly thornless, medium-prolific. Successfully cultivated in South India.
'Perrine'a Mexican lime X 'Genoa' lemon hybrid created by Dr. Walter Swingle and colleagues in 1909, but still a fairly typical lemon; it is lemon-shaped, with small nipple at apex, necked at base; of medium size; peel pale lemon-yellow, smooth, slightly ridged, thin, tough; pulp pale greenish-yellow, in 10 to 12 segments having thin walls; tender, very juicy, with slightly lime-like flavor but acidity more like lemon; seeds usually 4 to 6, occasionally as many as 12, long-pointed. Everbearing. Tree cold-sensitive but less so than the lime; resistant to wither tip and scab but prone to gummosis and other bark diseases. In the early 1930's, was extensively planted in southern Florida on rough lemon rootstock, but no longer grown.
'Ponderosa' ('Wonder'; 'American Wonder')a chance seedling, possibly of lemon/citron parentage, grown by George Bowman, Hagerstown, Maryland around 1886 or 1887; appeared in nursery catalogs in 1900 and 1902; obovate, lumpy and faintly ribbed, slightly necked at base; large, 3 1/2 to 4 1/8 in (9-11 cm) wide, 3 1/2 to 4 3/4 in (9-12 cm) high; peel light orange-yellow, with medium-large oil glands, flush or slightly depressed; 3/8 to 1/2 in (1-1.25 cm) thick; pulp pale-green, in 10 to 13 segments with thick walls; juicy, acid; seeds of medium size, 30 to 40 or more, brown within. Everbearing. Tree small, moderately thorny; buds and flowers white or barely tinged with red-purple. More sensitive to cold than true lemons. Grown for home use and as a curiosity in California and Florida and in small-scale commercial plantings since 1948. Rather widely cultivated as an indoor potted plant in temperate regions.
'Rosenberger'a clone found in a grove of 'Lisbon' and 'Villafranca' trees at Upland, California; was planted in the Rosenberger orchard and gained recognition as a superior cultivar. Tree closely resembles that of 'Villafranca'. Fruit is somewhat like 'Lisbon' but is shorter and broader and less tapered at base. Tree vigorous and prolific. Became popular in California in the 1960's.
'Rough Lemon' ('Florida Rough'; French'; 'Mazoe'; Jamberi')perhaps a lemon X citron hybrid, but has been given the botanical name of C. jambhiri Lush. Believed to have originated in northern India, where it grows wild; carried in 1498 or later by Portuguese explorers to southeastern Africa where it became naturalized along the Mazoe River; soon taken to Europe, and brought by Spaniards to the New World; is naturalized in the West Indies and Florida; oblate, rounded or oval, base flat to distinctly necked, apex rounded with a more or less sunken nipple; of medium size, averaging 2 3/4 in,(7 cm) wide, 2 1/2 (6.25 cm) high; peel lemon-yellow to orange-yellow, rough and irregular, with large oil glands, often ribbed; 3/16 to 3/8 in (5-10 mm) thick; pulp lemon-yellow, usually in 10 segments, medium-juicy, medium-acid, with moderate lemon odor and flavor; seeds small, 10 to 15, brownish within. Reproduces true from seeds, which are 96% to 100% nucellar. Tree large, very thorny; new growth slightly tinged with red; buds and flowers with red-purple. The scant pulp and juice limit the rough lemon to home use. It is appreciated as a dooryard fruit tree in Hawaii and in other tropical and subtropical areas where better lemons are not available. The tree has been of great importance as a rootstock for the sweet orange, mandarin orange and grapefruit. It is not now used as a rootstock for lemon in Florida because of its susceptibility to "blight" (young tree decline). It is also prone to Alternaria leaf spot (A1ternaria citri) in the nursery, to foot rot (Phytophthora parasitica). Incidence varies with the clone and certain clones show significant resistance. In trials at Lake Alfred, 3 atypical clones showed immunity to leaf spot, while a typical rough lemon clone, 'Nelspruit 15', from South African seed, proved highly resistant to leaf spot and also extremely cold tolerant.
'Santa Teresa'an old tree discovered to be disease-free in a 'Fermminello Ovale' orchard in Italy that had been devastated by mal secco. Budded trees from the original specimen were being commonly planted in the 1960's wherever the disease was prevalent in Italy.
Sweet Lemon (C. limetta Risso)a general name for certain non-acid lemons or limettas, favored in the Mediterranean region, In India, they are grown in the Nilgiris, Malabar and other areas. The fruits are usually insipid, occasionally subacid or acid. The seeds are white within and the tree is large, resembling that of the orange. One cultivar, called 'Dorshapo' after the plant explorers, Dorsett, Shamel and Popenoe, who introduced it from Brazil in 1914, resembles the 'Eureka' in most respects except for the lack of acidity. Another, called 'Millsweet', apparently was introduced into California from Mexico and planted in a mission garden. It was reproduced at the old University of California Experiment Station at Pomona. Neither is of any commercial value.
'Villafranca'believed to have originated in Sicily; introduced into Sanford, Florida, from Europe around 1875 and later into California. Closely resembles 'Eureka'; of medium size. Tree is more vigorous, larger, more densely foliaged, and more thorny than 'Eureka' but becomes thornless with age. One strain is everbearing; another fruits heavily in summer. This was the leading lemon cultivar in Florida for many years; is cultivated commercially in Israel; is low-yielding and short-lived in India. It is little grown in California but has given rise to certain selections that are of importance, particularly 'Galligan Lisbon' and 'Corona Foothill Eureka'.
Fig. 42: Flowers of the lemon (Citrus limon) are larger and showier than those of the orange.
Climate
Because of its more or less continuous state of growth, the lemon is more sensitive to cold than the orange and less able to recover from cold injury. The tree is defoliated at 22º to 24º F (-5.56º-4.44º C). A temperature drop to 20º F (-6.67º C) will severely damage the wood unless there has been a fortnight of near-freezing weather to slow down growth. Flowers and young fruits are killed by 29º F (-1.67º C) and nearly mature fruits are badly damaged below 28º F (-2.22º C). On the other hand, the lemon attains best quality in coastal areas with summers too cool for proper ripening of oranges and grapefruit. Therefore, the lemon has a relatively limited climatic range. In Florida, lemons are produced commercially as far north as Ft. Pierce on the East Coast and Ruskin on the West Coast. The 'Meyer' lemon, as a dooryard tree, can be grown wherever oranges thrive, even as far west as Pensacola.
The fruits are scarred and the tree readily defoliated by winds, and benefit by the protection of windbreaks.
Lemons are grown in both dry and humid atmospheres, the latter being a disadvantage mainly in the processes of curing and storing. Over a large lemon-growing region in California, annual rainfall varies from 25 to 125 cm. In long, dry periods, the lemon must be irrigated.
Soil
The lemon tree has the reputation of tolerating very infertile, very poor soil. In Florida, groves are mostly on sand. In California, excellent growth is maintained on silty clay loam of high water-holding capacity. In Guatemala, recommended soils are sand, clay and sandy-clay-deep, with high permeability and good drainage. Black soils are also suitable if not lying over calcareous subsoil. Ph should be between 5.5 and 6.5. If acidity is high, it is necessary to apply lime to achieve the optimum level.
Propagation
The rough lemon is widely grown from seed. The 'Meyer' lemon is easily reproduced by rooting large cuttings in the nursery and planting them directly in the grove. They fruit 2 to 3 years sooner than budded trees and have a long life, remaining in full production for over 30 years, perhaps much longer.
In Florida, commercial lemons have been budded onto 'rough lemon', sweet orange, and 'Cleopatra' mandarin rootstocks. More recent practices are the utilization of sour orange, Volkamer lemon (C. volkameriana), and alemow (C. macrophylla Wester, an old Philippine lemon/ pummelo hybrid). The latter is employed in California on soils containing an excess of soluble salts and boron. If citranges are used as rootstocks for 'Eureka', bud union crease will kill the tree.
Culture
Lemon trees should be spaced 25 ft (7.6 in) apart each way. If crowded or "hedged", production declines. The trees must be pruned when young and kept below 10 or 12 ft (3-3.6 m) in height. They are cut back severely after 12 years or replaced. Weeds must be controlled but lemon trees are very sensitive to herbicides.
In Florida, fertilizing may be done 3 times a year between mid-November and the end of April, at the gradually increasing rate of 4 to 10 lbs (1.8-4.5 kg) per tree up to an age of 50 years. Nitrogen and potash are given in equal amounts under normal soil conditions. A nutritional spray with copper added is applied after spring bloom. Fertilizer and irrigation programs should be varied according to the desired goal: fresh fruit marketing or processing. High nitrogen steps up yield and peel oil content but also results in more scab infection and poor curing. Potash increases acidity. Heavy irrigation increases yield and peel oil, scab infection, size of fruit and accelerates maturity.
In California, foliar spraying of urea is preferred over ground application of nitrogen which can lead to accumulations of salts and also contamination of groundwater. Leaf analyses are made to determine the nitrogen requirements of each cultivar for maximum yield. 'Eureka', in a 6-year test, showed no response to increased levels of nitrogen. In New Zealand, mature trees (15 to 20 years old) are given 25 to 30 lbs (11.3-13.6 kg) of complete mixed fertilizer annually, also heavy dressings of organic manure or mulch.
In Sicily, growers have, for over 50 years, made a practice of withholding water in summer-for 35 to 60 days-until the trees begin to wilt. Then the trees are heavily irrigated and given high nitrogen fertilizer which induces a second bloom in August or early September, producing a crop the following summer when lemons are scarce and prices are high. This system, called the "Verdelli process", was adopted on a little over 1,000 acres (405 ha) in California in 1983. Adequate bloom did not occur on sandy or shallow soils, but 80% of the plantings on gradually dehydrating, fine-textured soil bloomed well. Nearly $3 million was expected from this extra crop of summer lemons in the Central Valley and the Riverside area in 1984. New horticultural techniques are needed to overcome the handicaps of higher use of fertilizer, increased insect and fungus problems, effects of moisture stress on fruit quality, and low temperature hazard to immature fruits in winter.
In 1965, a team of California horticulturists initiated experimental trellis culture of 'Prior Lisbon' lemon on C. macrophylla rootstock. It was found that the labor of training, and repeated pruning either manually or by machine hedging and topping, was excessive and uneconomic.
Guatemalan and Mexican growers interplant short-term crops such as beans, cassava, yautía (Xanthosoma), in the rainy season, and tomatoes and peppers during the winter when the lemon trees will be irrigated and fertilized.
Harvesting and Handling
The marketability of lemons depends on the stage at which they are picked. Italian lemons for export are harvested as early as possible and are naturally "cured" in transit. In early days, California and Florida lemons were allowed to remain on the trees until they became too large. It was realized that early picking is necessary and California and Arizona adopted the practices of picking at any time after the fruits reach a 25 % juice content, and using rings to gauge the commercially acceptable size, and repeated spot-picking with clippers. Mechanical picking is impossible with lemons. The fruits are highly prone to oil spotting (oleocellosis) and cannot be handled roughly nor picked wet.
Formerly, Florida lemons were picked from mid-July to October for shipping fresh, and the balance in November was harvested for processing. Lemons under 2 1/8 in (5.4 cm) are too immature to attain proper quality for marketing and fruits over 2 1/2 in (6.25 cm) are too large. Manual spot-picking has been commonly practiced, but some producers have found it too costly, and are harvesting the entire crop at one time and grading for fresh sale or processing in the packing-house, discarding all undersized fruits. The lemons, after sorting according to color, washing and coating with a fungicide and a thin layer of wax are stored (cured) until ready for shipping.
Yield
Lemon tree yields vary considerably with the cultivar, the location and weather conditions. A yield of 3 boxes per tree is commercially satisfactory in Florida. In India, a 6-year-old tree bore 966 fruits and, at 9 years of age, had produced a total of 3,173 fruits.
Storage
Florida's climate is unfavorable for long-term curing. It has been claimed that a 10-day curing period is adequate and degreening of Florida fruit is not needed. A major producer keeps the newly harvested fruits for 48 hours at 60º F (15.56º C) and 95% humidity, then passes them through a pre-grading procedure to eliminate all that are unusable. The usable fruits are then treated with fungicide against stem-end rot and returned to the curing room. Those harvested early in the season need 3 weeks to color-up, the last may require less than a week. Finally, the fruits are washed, given a second fungicidal treatment, dried, waxed and packed.
Generally, lemons are cured at 56º to 58º F (13.33º-14.4º C)and 85-90% relative humidity. Green fruits may be held for 4 months or more, while the peel becomes yellow and thinner, the pulp juicier (6-80%) and the proportion of soluble solids higher (7-24%). Sometimes the degreening process is hastened by exposing the fruit to ethylene gas, ethephon, or silane, but this practice tends to stimulate decay, mainly through the shedding of the "button" (stem stub), the absence of which allows entry of Diplodia natalensis, Phomopsis citri, or Alternaria mycelium. Various auxins have been studied to determine which can be applied before storage to prevent button loss without delaying degreening. In 1982, Israeli investigators reported that decay losses from degreening procedures can be greatly reduced (from over 50% to 6.3%) by packaging the fruits in 10 micrometer-thick high-density polyethylene. This treatment makes it possible to store lemons with minimum damage for as long as 6 months.
In the past, New Zealand lemons for storage have been individually wrapped in diphenyl-treated paper after washing and dipping in a 200 ppm solution of 2,4,5-T and then waxing. The fruits were marketable after storing for 4 months at room temperature. Lemons can be kept for weeks in the home refrigerator if placed in a jar with a tight-fitting lid to prevent loss of moisture.
Lemons for export from Florida to Hawaii and Arizona must be fumigated with methyl bromide because of possible infestation by the Caribbean fruit fly. For sale within the state, other methods must be employed.
Pests and Diseases
In Southeast Asia, many species of ants attack the root system and the farmer times the opening of the water gates so as to force the ants to the surface of the beds, where he burns them with fire.
One of the 3 most serious arthropod pests of the lemon and other citrus trees in California is California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii. In the southern part of the state it is under biological control but it requires applications of pesticides in the San Joaquin Valley. In Florida, rust mites, purple mites and purple scale may at times be troublesome but they are all controllable with appropriate sprays.
Young lemon trees in California sometimes require protection from wild rabbits.
Diseases are the greater challenges. In Florida, the main lemon diseases are scab (Elsinoe fawcetti) on fruit, leaves and twigs; anthracnose of fruit (stylar-end-rot), leaves and twigs caused by both Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Glomerella cingulata; greasy spot (Mycosphaerella citri or Cercospora citri-grisea); and gummosis (Diaporthe citri). The latter organism also causes melanose and die-back, and stem-end rot. Stem-end rot may also arise from attack by Botryosphaeria ribis and Diplodia natalensis.
Other lemon diseases recorded in Florida are branch knot (Sphaeropsis tumefaciens), damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani), leaf spot (Mycosphaerella horii, AIternaria citri, and Catenularia sp.; algal leaf spot or green scurf (Cephaleuros virescens); tar spot (Cercospora gigantea); felt fungus (Septobasidium pseudopedicellatum); charcoal root rot (Macrophomia phaseolina); root rot (Fusarium oxysporum, Pythium ultimum, and Phytophthora parasitica; heart rot and wood rot (Fomes applanatus and Ganoderma sessilis); crinkly leaf and exocortis viruses; and green mold (Penicillium digitatum); blue mold (P. italicum); and pink mold (P. roseum). In 1955, the lemon budwood certification program was begun to provide virus-free stock for growers.
Red algae infests lemon trees and causes much dieback unless controlled with copper fungicide in the summer. Zinc deficiency causes stunting of twigs, reduced flowering, premature dropping of fruit, and yellow bands along the leaf veins. Manganese deficiency is evidenced by interveinal chlorosis and subsequent necrosis, shedding of leaves, flowers and young fruit. In India, fruit cracking occurs when dry periods are followed by heavy rains. Cracking can be largely avoided by frequent light irrigation during the dry period and early picking.
Stored lemons are subject to the stem-end rots and the molds listed above. The albedo may show small dark sunken areas even though this defect is not visible externally. Cultivars differ in their ability to resist decay.
Food Uses
Slices of lemon are served as a garnish on fish or meat or with iced or hot tea, to be squeezed for the flavorful juice. In Colombia, lemon soup is made by adding slices of lemon to dry bread roll that has been sautéed in shortening until soft and then sieved. Sugar and a cup of wine are added and the mixture brought to a boil, and then served.
Lemon juice, fresh, canned, concentrated and frozen, or dehydrated and powdered, is primarily used for lemonade, in carbonated beverages, or other drinks. It is also used for making pies and tarts, as a flavoring for cakes, cookies, cake icings, puddings, sherbet, confectionery, preserves and pharmaceutical products. A few drops of lemon juice, added to cream before whipping, gives stability to the whipped cream.
Lemon peel can be candied at home and is preserved in brine and supplied to manufacturers of confectionery and baked goods. It is the source of lemon oil, pectin and citric acid. Lemon oil, often with terpenes and sesquiterpenes removed, is added to frozen or otherwise processed lemon juice to enrich the flavor. It is much employed as a flavoring for hard candies.
Food Value Per 100 g of Edible Portion*
Fruit (fresh, peeled)
129 mg
*Analyses of true lemons, as marketed.
"Lemon Peel Oil consists mainly of terpenes, particularly limonene, also gamma terpinene and beta-phellandrene. There are small amounts of sesquiterpenes and aldehydes. Among the aliphatic aldehydes are n-octyl aldehyde, n-nonyl aldehyde, and citral.
Toxicity
The thorns of the lemon tree inflict painful punctures and scratches. Lemon peel oil may cause contact dermatitis, chronic in those who handle, cut and squeeze lemons daily. Parts of the body touched by contaminated hands may show severe reactions after exposure to the sun. People that suck lemons may suffer irritation and eruptions around the mouth. The wood of lemon trees and its saw-dust may induce skin reactions in sensitive woodworkers.
Other Uses
Lemon juice is valued in the home as a stain remover, and a slice of lemon dipped in salt can be used to clean copper-bottomed cooking pots. Lemon juice has been used for bleaching freckles and is incorporated into some facial cleansing creams.
Lemon peel oil is much used in furniture polishes, detergents, soaps and shampoos. It is important in perfume blending and especially in colognes.
Petitgrain oil (up to 50% citral), is distilled from the leaves, twigs and immature fruits of the lemon tree in West Africa, North Africa and Italy. With terpenes removed, it is greatly prized in colognes and floral perfumes.
Lemon peel, dehydrated, is marketed as cattlefeed.
Lemonade, when applied to potted plants, has been found to keep their flowers fresh longer than normal. But it cannot be used on chrysanthemums without turning their leaves brown.
Wood: The wood is fine-grained, compact, and easy to work. In Mexico, it is carved into chessmen, toys, small spoons, and other articles.
Medicinal Uses: Lemon juice is widely known as a diuretic, antiscorbutic, astringent, and febrifuge. In Italy, the sweetened juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue. Lemon juice in hot water has been widely advocated as a daily laxative and preventive of the common cold, but daily doses have been found to erode the enamel of the teeth. Prolonged use will reduce the teeth to the level of the gums. Lemon juice and honey, or lemon juice with salt or ginger, is taken when needed as a cold remedy. It was the juice of the Mediterranean sweet lemon, not the lime, that was carried aboard British sailing ships of the 18th Century to prevent scurvy, though the sailors became known as "limeys".
Oil expressed from lemon seeds is employed medicinally. The root decoction is taken as a treatment for fever in Cuba; for gonorrhea in West Africa. An infusion of the bark or of the peel of the fruit is given to relieve colic.
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i don't know
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A codicil is a supplementary text which alters what sort of legal document?
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How to Change a Last Will and Testament | Legalbeagle.com
How to Change a Last Will and Testament
By eHow Legal Editor
When circumstances pertinent to the terms of a Last Will and Testament change, as they sometimes do, making changes to the document is appropriate. While it is not mandatory to hire an attorney familiar with Probate or Estate Planning to make the changes in the Wiill, there are steps a testator (someone who dies with a will) should take to ensure the amendments are properly expressed and inserted to avoid confusion among beneficiaries after your death.
Finding a Probate or Estate Planning Lawyer
It's a good idea to ask knowledgeable and trusted family members or friends if they know of an experienced probate or estate planning lawyer they could recommend. Word of mouth is a valuable reference.
If you have an established professional relationship with a particular lawyer, contact them to see if they are knowledgeable about the kind of help you need. If they do not handle estate planning, ask if they can recommend a trustworthy attorney to help you.
Searching the Yellow Pages or other telephone directories to find attorneys with experience in estate planning is another way to find a lawyer. When you call their office, ask how the attorney bills their clients. Will you be charged an hourly or flat rate for the job? While some attorneys are hesitant to discuss their fee arrangements over the telephone, some are willing to do so. Also, ask whether the initial consultation is free or not. Be sure to take notes which you can refer back to in the future.
Search online to find lawyers in your area who handle wills and estates. Online ads often contain more detailed information than phone book ads. Still, a call to the lawyer's office is an important step in finding someone you trust. Even the way the secretary responds to your phone call will reveal a lot about the lawyer you are considering to hire.
Local and state bar associations also maintain lists of lawyers experienced in various areas of law. Some even have lawyer referral services, a useful service for clients who need legal assistance but do not know where to turn. Many bar associations offer these legal references free of charge.
What to do After Finding a Lawyer
After making an appointment to see the lawyer, create a detailed list of the changes you wish to make in your Last Will and Testament.
Depending on how complicated the changes are, the lawyer might advise you that what you really need is an entirely new Last Will and Testament document. If the changes are minor, the attorney will advise you about creating a Codicil to the existing document. A codicil is a legal document that allows a testator (a person who dies with a valid Will) to make minor changes to their existing Will so that an entirely new Last Will and Testament does not need to be created.
The codicil must be drawn up as formally as the original Will. Be sure the codicil makes a reference to the date the original Will was signed and includes clear language describing the minor changes the codicil makes to the original Will.
In most states, it is necessary to bring at least one witness with you when the Codicil (or original Will) is signed. This witness should be at least the age of majority in your state, which is usually 18 years old. They also can not have any personal interest in the Will. That means the witness can not be someone who will inherit money or property from the Will or codicil.
It is generally a good idea to leave the original will and codicil with your lawyer for safekeeping, although you might want to keep a copy for your records. Law offices with estate planning lawyers usually maintain fire-proof safes to protect these important and irreplaceable documents.
Changing a Will Without a Lawyer
If the original Will is in your possession, you can draw up your own codicil.
Type the changes you wish to make to the Will. Run spell check to ensure the text is clear and concise. There should be no ambiguities as to what your intentions are to prevent family feuds after you die.
Secure the necessary number of witnesses according to the laws of your state.
Sign and date the document in front of the witnesses.
Have the witnesses also sign and date the document, and include their addresses and other pertinent contact information required of witnesses in your state. If these witnesses cannot be located upon your death, but their presence is required by a Probate Court, the Probate Court could rule their signatures invalid. If their signatures are ruled invalid, the Will or codicil could then also be ruled void. If that happens, instead of dying testate and your assets distributed according to your stated wishes, state laws take over and your assets get distributed according to your state's laws.
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Will
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What word has noun/verb meanings for an island, a promontory, wine, organic soil, thinking, and a fabric used in bookbinding?
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Special features - definition of Special features by The Free Dictionary
Special features - definition of Special features by The Free Dictionary
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Special+features
(sŭp′lə-mənt)
n.
1. Something added to complete a thing, make up for a deficiency, or extend or strengthen the whole.
2. A section added to a book or document to give further information or to correct errors.
3. A separate section devoted to a special subject inserted into a periodical, such as a newspaper.
tr.v. (-mĕnt′) sup·ple·ment·ed, sup·ple·ment·ing, sup·ple·ments
To provide or form a supplement to.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin supplēmentum, from supplēre, to complete; see supply.]
sup′ple·men·tar′i·ty (-târ′ĭ-tē) n.
sup′ple·men′ta·ry (-mĕn′tə-rē, -trē), sup′ple·men′tal (-mĕn′tl) adj.
sup′ple·men·ta′tion (-mĕn-tā′shən) n.
supplement
n
1. an addition designed to complete, make up for a deficiency, etc
2. (Journalism & Publishing) a section appended to a publication to supply further information, correct errors, etc
3. (Journalism & Publishing) a magazine or section inserted into a newspaper or periodical, such as one with colour photographs issued every week
4. (Mathematics) geometry
a. either of a pair of angles whose sum is 180°
b. an arc of a circle that when added to another arc forms a semicircle. Abbreviation: sup or supp
vb
(tr) to provide a supplement to, esp in order to remedy a deficiency
[C14: from Latin supplēmentum, from supplēre to supply1]
ˌsupplemenˈtation n
(n. ˈsʌp lə mənt; v. -ˌmɛnt)
n.
1. something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or reinforce or extend a whole.
2. something added to or issued after a publication, as a book or periodical, that supplies further information or treats special subjects.
3. the quantity by which an angle or an arc falls short of 180° or a semicircle.
v.t.
4. to complete, add to, or extend by a supplement.
5. to form a supplement or addition to.
[1350–1400; < Latin supplēmentum= supplē(re) to fill with additional amounts + -mentum -ment ]
sup`ple•men•ta′tion, n.
sup′ple•ment`er, n.
syn: See complement.
supplement
A supplement is a separate publication, related to a basic publication and prepared for purposes of promulgating additional information or summaries, and may include extracts from the basic publication.
supplement
I will have been supplementing
you will have been supplementing
he/she/it will have been supplementing
we will have been supplementing
you will have been supplementing
they will have been supplementing
Past Perfect Continuous
matter - written works (especially in books or magazines); "he always took some reading matter with him on the plane"
back matter , end matter - written matter following the main text of a book
appendix - supplementary material that is collected and appended at the back of a book
continuation , sequel - a part added to a book or play that continues and extends it
2.
increment , increase - the amount by which something increases; "they proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare"
3.
accessory , add-on , appurtenance
auto accessory - an accessory for an automobile
constituent , element , component - an artifact that is one of the individual parts of which a composite entity is made up; especially a part that can be separated from or attached to a system; "spare components for cars"; "a component or constituent element of a system"
computer accessory - an accessory for a computer; "when you add in all the computer accessories you are going to need the computer gets pretty expensive"
fitting - a small and often standardized accessory to a larger system
trimmings , fixings - the accessories that normally accompany (something or some activity); "an elaborate formal dinner with all the fixings"; "he bought a Christmas tree and trimmings to decorate it"
Verb
1.
supplement - add as a supplement to what seems insufficient; "supplement your diet"
add - make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of; "We added two students to that dorm room"; "She added a personal note to her letter"; "Add insult to injury"; "Add some extra plates to the dinner table"
vitaminise , vitaminize - add vitamins as a supplement; "vitaminized processed foods"
eke out , fill out - supplement what is thought to be deficient; "He eked out his meager pay by giving private lessons"; "Braque eked out his collages with charcoal"
leverage - supplement with leverage; "leverage the money that is already available"
supplement - serve as a supplement to; "Vitamins supplemented his meager diet"
2.
supplement - serve as a supplement to; "Vitamins supplemented his meager diet"
supplement - add as a supplement to what seems insufficient; "supplement your diet"
constitute , make up , comprise , be , represent - form or compose; "This money is my only income"; "The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance"; "These constitute my entire belonging"; "The children made up the chorus"; "This sum represents my entire income for a year"; "These few men comprise his entire army"
3.
supplement - add to the very end; "He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language"
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i don't know
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A fourteen year ban (for mental health reasons) on what was lifted, experimentally, by China in 2014?
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China's Game Console Ban Lifted: How Will PS4, Xbox One Make Money with So Much Piracy in the Country? : US News : Latin Post
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This week China's government has lifted a 14-year old ban on devices. These devices included game consoles like our popular Xboxes , PlayStations and Wii devices. You see, in China, the government believed that these video games created a "negative effect on the mental health of its youth ." Guess they changed their minds because as of now, China welcomes the popular game consoles Americans know so well.
Just because the Chinese government had such a ban on our generation did not mean that the consoles and games were not being sold illegally or "bootlegged." This is where Microsoft, SONY and Nintendo will find a problem in sales. Yes, the ban is off, but kids are probably going to continue buying games for $1.65 from their usual bootlegger, instead of the $60 an average game goes for.
Zhang Yang has sold Xboxes, Wiis and PlayStations at his Beijing shop for as long as the devices have been available. "The consoles that Zhang sells are smuggled into China, modified or 'cracked' to play pirated games," which has kept his shop up and running. Another problem that games corporation face are that Chinese gamers have became accustomed to playing free games on their PCs and mobiles through out the years. You cannot miss something you have never had.
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"Console vendors will need to incorporate a business model for a piracy-rich environment," said Lisa Hanson, a U.S. based Managing Director at Niko Partners , a research firm focused on Asian games market. "They need to understand who the gamers are, what they demand, what are they not getting out of the current PC game experience that they could from a console game," Hanson added.
So while it is easy to sell Call of Duty to kids anywhere else in the world, a very carefully thought out marketing plan must teach Chinese kids how to appreciate the game. Something to also think about is how to convince parents in China to purchase the consoles and games for their "positive shield minded" kids. Have you seen that episode of South Park where Cartman organizes an entire Black Friday troop filled with betrayal and lies in order to get their hands on a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One? (Hilarious, by the way). Yeah... That's how obsessed gamers can really get.
Good luck to game consoles in their new journey into success in the strict Chinese Market.
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Video game console
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Popular in Indian subcontinental cuisine, gram flour is made from?
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Grand Theft Console: Pirates steal video game riches in China
Grand Theft Console: Pirates steal video game riches in China
Paul Carsten, Sophie Knight and Malathi Nayak
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The Xbox One controller is pictured during a press event unveiling Microsoft's new Xbox in Redmond, Washington in this May 21, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Nick Adams/Files
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By Paul Carsten, Sophie Knight and Malathi Nayak
BEIJING/TOKYO/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - For the past five years, Zhang Yang has sold Xboxes, Wiis and PlayStations at his Beijing shop, but the Chinese merchant is a thorn in the side of video game console makers now allowed into the world's third biggest market.
The consoles that Zhang sells are smuggled into China because they are illegal, although that may change after the government lifted a 14-year-old ban on the devices this week.
But most have been modified, or "cracked", to play pirated games which can go for less than 10 yuan ($1.65) compared with $60 for the latest licensed titles.
The proliferation of these bootlegged games, along with China's reputation for weak intellectual property rights, means console makers Microsoft Corp, Sony Corp and Nintendo Co Ltd will lose out on lucrative royalties from software sales.
Combine that with the fact that most Chinese gamers prefer to play free games on their PCs and mobiles anyway, and the decision to lift the ban on console sales presents a challenge, rather than a big opportunity.
"Console vendors will need to incorporate a business model for a piracy-rich environment," said Lisa Hanson, a U.S.-based managing director at Niko Partners, a research firm focused on the Asian games market.
"They need to understand who the gamers are, what they demand, what are they not getting out of the current PC game experience that they could from a console game," she said.
LITTLE CONSOLATION
China banned video game consoles in 2000, citing the games' negative effect on the mental health of its youth. That has resulted in a whole generation growing up without a PlayStation, Wii or Xbox and fuelled the popularity of alternative ways to play.
The absence of consoles means PC games dominate two-thirds of China's video game market, which saw revenue growth of almost 40 percent last year and which trails the United States and Japan in size.
Mobile and browser games are also extremely popular, in line with a global trend that has seen the console market shrinking.
To get around losing revenues to rampant piracy, video game providers in China offer a free-to-play, or "freemium" business model, where players get games for nothing but are offered to buy in-game items such as weapons and extra lives.
"It's a business model China basically championed and invented and it basically eradicated the risk of piracy: just give away everything but if you want to do well you got to pay," said David Gibson, senior research analyst of games and IT at Macquarie Securities in Tokyo.
Console makers, however, operate differently and that makes piracy an even bigger concern. Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft all declined to give details about how they would tackle video game piracy in China.
Sony PlayStations, however, have better security than their competitors and are more difficult to modify for pirated games, so piracy is less of a threat to their business.
Currently, companies get, on average, a 30 percent cut from game developers, industry analysts say. Software, services and royalties accounted for about 40 percent of the sales revenue of both Nintendo and Sony's video games division in financial 2012, the companies' financial statements shows.
Microsoft does not break down its Xbox revenues, but said it generates money from its Xbox Live, which allows online multiplayer gaming, as well as games sales.
The consoles themselves make little profit. Sony and Microsoft sold their older PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 models at cost price for years, and companies only cut down costs later in a console's life cycle to bring down the price.
When asked about China, Nintendo's public relations manager, Yasuhiro Minagawa, said the company had no plans to enter the market now. "We have no plans or schedule to put out our products in China at the current time," he said.
Sony also sounded a note of caution. "We do recognise that China is a promising market, and we will continue to study the possibility," Satoshi Nakajima, a company spokesman, told Reuters this week.
Microsoft declined to comment on specific plans for console gaming in China. Instead, Ralph Haupter, Microsoft's Greater China chief executive, highlighted the company's partnership with Chinese technology firm BesTV New Media Co Ltd, with which Microsoft invested $237 million in "family games and related services" last year.
"Our local partnership with BesTV combines our strengths in entertainment and technology to foster a new development ecosystem within China," he told Reuters.
YEARS OF BATTLE
China's government is cracking down on piracy, but counterfeiting of everything from luxury goods to software remains rife.
China's illegal software market was worth nearly $9 billion in 2011. In the same year, 77 percent of personal computers in China had pirated software installed, according to a May 2012 report by the Business Software Alliance, a trade group which monitors intellectual property rights infringement.
Microsoft has battled Chinese software piracy for years. In 2012, Chinese state media reported Microsoft had lodged an official complaint against a number of large government-owned corporations, saying as much as nine out of 10 of their Windows service client software was unlicensed.
The lifting of the games console ban shouldn't impact Zhang's business, said the Beijing game merchant, adding that he barely gets any customers anyway.
"We don't have very big profits, so the business isn't too successful," said Zhang, playing a game at his stall in the starkly lit basement of tech mall Bainaohui.
"It's my passion, not my most important business." ($1 = 6.0512 Chinese yuan)
(Editing by Miral Fahmy)
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i don't know
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German physician Franz Mesmer's (1734-1815) 'animal magnetism' theory is considered foundational in the development of?
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Mesmer - definition of Mesmer by The Free Dictionary
Mesmer - definition of Mesmer by The Free Dictionary
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Mesmer
Mes·mer
(mĕz′mər, mĕs′-), Franz 1734-1815.
Austrian physician who developed the theory of animal magnetism and treated many patients until his theory was discredited (1784) by a French medical commission.
Mes•mer
Franz or Friedrich Anton, 1733–1815, Austrian physician.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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mesmerize
References in classic literature ?
Having heard us to an end, the Count proceeded to relate a few anecdotes, which rendered it evident that prototypes of Gall and Spurzheim had flourished and faded in Egypt so long ago as to have been nearly forgotten, and that the manoeuvres of Mesmer were really very contemptible tricks when put in collation with the positive miracles of the Theban savans, who created lice and a great many other similar things.
View in context
Previously, Mesmer served as Publisher and Director of School Programs at Pearson Education's Learning Network, where he led the development of the K-12 Teacher Network for the delivery of online state-aligned curriculum, professional development and student assessments.
Questar Assessment, Inc. Appoints Educational Publishing Leader Steve Mesmer to Senior Vice President of Business Development and Program Management
Chapters examine ripple effects from Swedenborg's metaphysical insights, including discussions of Franz Anton Mesmer and animal magnetism, the Marquis de Puysegur and the alternate-consciousness paradigm, and transformations that continued to rework America after the shift described as the "Covert" Enlightenment came to a close.
The Covert Enlightenment
Blue Venus is the newest poetry collection by Lisa Russ Spaar (winner of the Rona Jaffe Award for Emerging Women writers and Director of the MFA program in Creative Writing, University of Virginia) and one that continues the theme of insomnia by exploring the sleeplessness of such fascinating personalities as Virginia Woolf, Dorothy Wordsworth, Thomas Merton, the great hypnotist Mesmer, and others.
Blue Venus
It was of works by Gustav Mesmer, a German born in 1903, who was obsessed by flying and the creation of flying machines.
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Hypnosis
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What original Mrs Beeton sandwich filling did the Royal Society of Chemistry propose in 2014 as the most economically enjoyable?
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He received a good and varied education, which
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i don't know
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Derived from ecclesiastical Latin, the term genuflexion/genuflection refers to bending which part of the body?
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Glossary of Episcopal terms
Glossary of Episcopal terms
The version of the Book of Common Prayer in use in the Episcopal
Church.
The superior of a monastery.
Ablutions
The cleansing of the chalices, paten and other vessels after the
administration of the Eucharist.
The remission of sins pronounced by a priest. See “reconciliation”
and “sacrament.”
A response of praise at the beginning of the Eucharist.
Acolyte
Originally a minor clerical order but now a group of lay people
who assist priests in the service. Acolytes can be children, teens, or
adults.
The season of the church year in which we prepare for Christmas.
It begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Its liturgical color is
purple or blue.
The table on which are placed the vessels for holding the bread,
wine and water used in the Eucharist.
Altar cross
A cross that stands upon the altar or hangs above it.
Altar guild
A lay group that maintains and prepares the altar and its
furnishings for services.
The rail or kneelers where the people kneel or stand to receive
Communion.
From the Hebrew for “verily,” “it is so” or “I agree.” Response
said or sung at the end of prayers and some hymns and anthems.
Anglican
The word simply means “English.” Members of the Anglican
Communion, including the Episcopal Church, are those that derived their
origins from The Church of England, which split from the Roman church in the
16th century.
An assembly of churches throughout the world, including the
Episcopal Church, which derived their origins from The Church of England and
that are in communion with it.
Anthem
Sacred vocal music sung by a choir.
Archbishop
A bishop who heads a group of dioceses or a national church. The
Episcopal Church does not have an archbishop; its chief bishop is called the
presiding bishop.
The primate of The Church of England, who is acknowledged as the
spiritual, but not governing, head of the Anglican Communion. He is not an
Anglican “pope” but is considered “first among equals” by other heads of
Anglican Communion churches.
A priest on a bishop’s staff who has some administrative duties.
Ascension
The feast commemorating the ascension of Christ to glory. This
feast is 40 days after Easter and always occurs on a Thursday.
Ash Wednesday
The day that marks the beginning of Lent, a period of spiritual
discipline, fasting and moderation in preparation for Holy Week and Easter.
In the Ash Wednesday service, ashes are placed on the foreheads of
parishioners by the priest.
A prayer sung or said on behalf of the people by the celebrant or
officiant at liturgical celebrations. Pronounced with the stress on the
first syllable.
A series of niches, as in a wall or other structure, for the
repose of cremated remains.
The members of a local church; those who are eligible to receive
communion.
Used in ancient times for executions. Christ was executed on a
cross, or crucified, and the cross became a universal symbol of
Christianity.
In church architecture, the main intersection of aisles at the
front of the church; if viewed from above, the aisles form a large cross.
Sometimes the altar is located at the crossing. In a service, crossing
refers to a hand gesture of making a cross pattern on one’s body; also a
gesture made by a priest or bishop over a congregation or upon a person for
a blessing, at death or at baptism.
Crozier
A staff resembling a shepherd’s crook carried by bishops and
abbots as a symbol of office.
Crucifer
A person in a religious procession who bears the cross and who
leads the procession into the church.
Crucifix
A Christian symbol; a cross with a likeness of the body of Christ
on it.
Glass pottery or metal containers for the wine and water used at
the Eucharist.
Vestment worn by a deacon. Corresponds to the priest’s chasuble.
See “vestments.”
The initial level of ordination in the Episcopal Church and other
apostolic-succession churches. In some protestant churches, it is a lay
order, but in the Episcopal Church, it is a clerical order. Deacons
represent the church in the world and, by tradition, the Gospel is read by
the deacon if one is on the staff of a church or chapel. See “diaconate.”
Dean
A title used for the resident clergyman of a cathedral; also used
for the chief academic officer of a college or seminary. If the dean is
ordained, the title “The Very Reverend” is used.
Diaconate
The state of being a deacon.
Diocese
A unit of church organization; the spiritual domain under a
bishop. A diocese may contain many parishes and churches.
Dismissal
Words said or sung by a deacon or priest at the conclusion of the
Eucharist. An example: “Let us go forth in the name of Christ.” The answer
from the people is: “Thanks be to God.” During the 50 days of Easter,
alleluias are added.
Words said or sung in praise of the Holy Trinity.
Easter
The season of the church year, in March or April, when the
resurrection of Christ is celebrated; the liturgical color of Easter is
white or gold. See “Good Friday.”
Epiphany
One of the seasons of the church year; Jan. 6; a feast celebrating
the visit of the wise men, or Magi, to the infant Jesus; the end of the
Christmas season.
From Greek, meaning “government by an overseer.” See “episcopos.”
Episcopos
The Greek word from which the English word “bishop” is derived.
Epistle
A reading from the New Testament other than from the Gospels.
Epistle side
The right side of a church when facing the altar. See “gospel
side.”
A “good gift” or thanksgiving; the sacrament synonymous with Holy
Communion, the Lord’s Supper or Mass, the act of following the Lord’s
commandment of consuming the consecrated elements of bread and wine, the
body and blood of Christ.
Eulogy
A speech or homily in praise of a deceased person; brief remarks
about the deceased at a funeral. See “requiem.”
Evensong
An evening worship service, often featuring a choir.
Father
A familiar way of referring to a male ordained priest. Formally,
he should be referred to as “the Reverend.” A female priest may be referred
to as Mother, depending on her preference.
Feast
A day of celebration associated with the life of Christ or a
saint.
Communion in which the music is provided by instruments other than
the organ, such as a guitar; a less-formal service that may incorporate
contemporary music.
A basin for water used in Holy Baptism. The Episcopal Church
usually practices baptism by “sprinkling” rather than by full immersion.
Fraction
The point during the Eucharist when the bread is broken; the
priest says, “Alleluia, Christ our passover is sacrificed for us,” and the
people respond, “Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia.” The word
Alleluia is usually omitted during Advent and Lent.
Frontal
A covering for the altar, usually of the same material as the
vestments or of the liturgical color of the season or feast. The altar cloth
is spread over the frontal. See “altar”.
Genuflection
The bending of the right knee when reverencing the altar and at
other times of solemn reverence. Episcopalians sometimes bow instead of
genuflecting.
Latin; a liturgical hymn having the verse form of the Psalms.
Good Friday
The Friday before Easter; observed as the anniversary of the
crucifixion of Christ. See “Easter.”
Gospel
Any reading from Matthew, Mark, Luke or John in the New Testament.
Gospel side
The left side of the church facing the altar. See “epistle side.”
Gradual procession
The movement of the deacon or celebrant to the place of the
proclamation of the Gospel.
The major prayer of the Eucharist beginning with the salutation
and preface and concluding with the Lord’s Prayer.
Holy orders
The sacrament of ordination, which marks the entry of the
candidate into the ordained ministry. The orders of bishops, priests and
deacons are termed holy orders.
Holy water
Water blessed by a bishop or priest.
Holy Week
The period from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.
Homily
The Eucharistic bread. From the Latin word for sacrifice. See
“Eucharist” and “wafer.”
All the bishops of the Episcopal church sitting as a legislative
and judiciary body of the church.
House of Deputies
The lay and presbyter delegates to the General Convention sitting
as a legislative body.
Sacred words set to music; church vocal music involving the
congregation and distinguished from the psalm or anthem; sacred poetry set
to music and sung during the liturgy.
Incarnation
The Christian doctrine that Christ took human form from his human
mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was at once fully human and fully God.
Incense
Powder burned in a small dish or pot; used during the service or
in the procession to recall one of the three gifts of the wise men to the
Christ child.
The hymn, psalm, or anthem sung (or said) at the entrance of the
ministers at the Eucharist.
The assistant to the senior warden, who is the chair of the
vestry, the governing body of a parish church. See “senior warden” and
“vestry.”
A cushioned pullout or fold-down stool at a pew onto which the
people kneel for prayer.
The nonordained members of a church; ordained members are referred
to as clergy.
A ceremony during the Eucharist at which the celebrant washes his
or her hands. From the Latin “lavare”or”I shall wash.”
Lay
From the Greek laios, meaning “the people.”
Lay minister
One who is not ordained but who works closely with a church or
religious program.
A nonordained person who reads part of a church service, who reads
the prayers and who also may administer the chalice at the Eucharist.
Lectionary
The series of biblical readings used in the church throughout the
year.
The 40-day period of fasting and meditation following Ash
Wednesday; ends on Palm Sunday. See “Ash Wednesday” and “Palm Sunday.”
Liturgy
A word that means “the work of the people;” generally refers to
the full text of the words of a worship service or any ritual order for
holding a church service.
The Song of Mary. Luke 1:46-55.
Mass
Synonymous with the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper or Holy
Communion; the holy meal of bread and wine. See “Eucharist.”
Maundy Thursday
The Thursday of Holy Week; the name is from the Latin word
“mandatum” and refers to Christ’s commandment concerning foot-washing; the
day on which the first Lord’s Supper was celebrated. See “Eucharist.”
Morning Prayer
A morning worship service without communion.
Most Reverend, The
The way of addressing the primate or archbishop of an autonomous
member church of the Anglican Communion.
Narthex
An enclosed space at the entry to the nave of a church; in some
churches, it is called the vestibule.
Nave
The main part of a church where the people sit, called the
sanctuary in some denominations. It is derived from the Latin word for ship,
as in some churches the beams of the roof resemble the beams and timbers in
the sides of a ship.
Nun
A woman who takes vows of poverty, obedience and chastity and who
lives in a convent.
The Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32) normally used as one of the
canticles at Evening Prayer and Compline; also used at Candlemas.
Oblations
Offerings to God at the Eucharist.
Offertory
The presentation, reception, preparation and offering of the gifts
at the beginning of The Holy Communion, the second part of the Eucharist.
Offertory sentence
A passage of scripture that may be said or sung at the beginning
or during the Offertory.
At the Eucharist, the presentation of the bread, wine, and other
gifts by members of the congregation.
Officiant
A person who officiates at the daily offices and other rites.
Ordination
A special service for inducting a person into holy orders; the
ritual that makes a person a priest or deacon.
Ordo
A list of offices and feasts of the church for each day of the
year. From the Latin word for order.
Pall
A stiffened square of linen placed over the chalice to keep
objects from falling into the wine. The term also may refer to the cloth
covering the casket or urn during the Burial of the Dead.
Palm Sunday
The Sunday before Easter. In an Episcopal Church, members of the
congregation carry real palms during the service; in some churches, palms
from one year are saved, dried and burned to make ashes used at the next
year’s Ash Wednesday service. From the palm branches strewn in Christ’s way
on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. See “Ash Wednesday.”
Parish
The group of people of a certain area organized into a local
church; sometimes the word also refers to the geographic region around a
church.
A gathering place for a local congregation.
Paschal candle
A large white candle decorated with a cross and other symbols. It
is lighted at the beginning of the Great Vigil of Easter and burns for all
services during the 50 days of Easter. At other times, it may be kept near
the Baptismal Font and lighted for baptisms. It also may be placed near the
casket or urn during Burial of the Dead.
Passover
A Jewish festival commemorating the escape of the Jews from Egypt.
Paten
A plate usually made of pottery precious metal and used to carry
the bread at the Eucharist.
Peace, The
A ritual in the Episcopal Church in which members of the
congregation, including the clergy, greet one another. The priest says: “The
Peace of the Lord be always with you,” and the congregation responds: “And
also with you.” Immediately after, the people shake hands or embrace and bid
each other peace.
The feast on the seventh Sunday after Easter commemorating the
descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles; also called Whitsunday; from the
Latin pentecoste, literally, “50th day.” The liturgical color of Pentecost
Sunday is red; the color of the season after Pentecost, the longest season
of the church year and commonly called “ordinary time,” is green.
Postulant
A person admitted by the bishop into the formal preparation for
the ordained ministry. See “ordination.”
Prie-dieu
An individual kneeling bench with shelf.
Priest
The ordained minister of a Roman Catholic, Episcopal or Orthodox
church; one who administers the sacraments. In the Episcopal Church, priests
may be male or female and may marry.
Procession
The line of choir members, clergy and others walking down the
aisle of a church to begin a service. See “recession.”
Proper
The scripture readings and collect appointed for the day or
occasion. See “collect.”
A portion from the ancient Jewish hymn book found in scripture
(the Book of Psalms) and in the Book of Common Prayer.
Pulpit
A raised platform used for the sermon or homily.
Purificator
A linen cloth used for cleansing the chalice during the ablutions
or for wiping the chalice during the administration of communion. See
“ablutions.”
A container for the reserved host; especially a small round metal
receptacle used to carry the Eucharist to the sick. See “Eucharist” and
“host.”
The line of choir members, clergy and others walking out of the
church after a service. See “procession.”
Reconciliation
The sacrament through which one may confess one’s sins in the
presence of a priest and receive absolution; commonly called confession. See
“absolution.”
The priest or minister of a local church or parish; the head
priest of a parish.
The residence of a rector.
Requiem
A funeral or memorial service. A High Requiem Mass is a funeral
service with communion and singing of parts of the service. See “eulogy.”
Right Reverend
A way of addressing a bishop of a diocese.
Rosary
A string of beads anchored by a cross and used for prayer. An
Anglican rosary has 33 beads – one for each year of Christ’s life on Earth –
divided into four “weeks” of seven beads.
Sacrament
A rite through which we receive God’s grace. In the Episcopal
Church, the “essential” sacraments are Baptism and Eucharist. The catechism
describes the sacraments as “outward and visible signs of inward and
spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we
receive that grace.” Other sacramental rites include matrimony, confession,
unction, confirmation, and holy orders.
Sacristy
The room near the altar where priests vest, or dress, for the
service; the room where the communion vessels, vestments and other
liturgical objects are kept.
The portion of a church at the head of the chancel around the
altar; the space immediately around the altar. See “nave.”
Sanctus
The acclamation “Holy, holy, holy …” sung or said at the
conclusion of the preface of the Great Thanksgiving.
Sanctus bell
A bell or set of bells in the sanctuary rung or struck during the
sanctus, elevations, and at other times.
See
The ecclesiastical residence of a bishop; the see of our diocese
is Jacksonville.
A student in a seminary.
Seminary
An academic institution for the study of theology.
Senior warden
The chairman of the vestry, the lay governing board of a local
church. See “junior warden” and “vestry.”
Sexton
One who is in charge of a church building or grounds; the head of
maintenance and custodial services.
The tracing on one’s forehead, chest and shoulders of the outline
of the cross.
See “Way of the Cross.”
Wafer
The bread part of the Eucharist; an unleavened, thin cracker
imprinted with a cross. See “Eucharist.”
Way of the Cross
A Procession with stations commemorating the Passion and Death of
Our Lord Jesus Christ. Also called the Stations of the Cross. The classical
stations correspond to 15 events that occurred in the last 24 hours Jesus
was on the earth, beginning with his condemnation to death and ending with
his resurrection.
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Knee
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'The Old Lady of Threadneedle Street' is a nickname for?
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P - Paranormal Investigation and Research Group
P
http://tinyurl.com/yezz88p
This is just a test to see if I have it all plugged in properly. It should still open a window though.
Forums Links
“P”
Pact ink: The specially prepared ink that a contract with the devil must be written in, otherwise the contract is invalid. Various recipes exist. Detailed instructions are rare. The basic recipe is the same as that for Iron gall ink.
Pagan: Originally meant as a derogatory term for those who lived in the country side implying that they were backwards in their beliefs since many of them worshipped nature gods and goddesses and had not accepted the newer, hence perceived as better, Christian faith. Today it commonly refers to any of a wide variety of neo-nature based faiths. [From the Latin “peasent“].
Palatine Light: A phantom ship seen off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island in North Atlantic waters. Various stories detail the origins of the phenomenon but, agree that it was a ship that was burned on the water with passengers aboard by either a mad Captain or pirates. The phantom was occasionally reported by residents of Block Island in the late 18th early 19th centuries and came to be interpreted as a harbinger of stormy weather. During the 19th century, it was believed by many Block Islanders that the Palatine Light had been sent by G-d to punish the wicked men who murdered the ships passengers and crew and that when the last pirate had dies, the lights would be seen no more. Reports of the lights continue in to the present day. These lights may be related to Ignis Fatuus phenomena.
Palmistry: The art of foretelling a person's future by reading the lines and features on their hand.
Pandemonium: "City of all demons" From the Greek, Greek pan- + daimōn evil spirit and the suffix "ium" to denote reference to a city. The capitol of Hell in the epic poem "Paradice Lost" by: Milton. Commonly used to infer that a place/thing is in total disorder or hectic.
Pantheism: From the Greek "Pan" meaning "All" and "Theos" meaning "gods"1). A doctrine that identifies G-d with the whole universe and all of its associated phenomena, in other words there is no G-d as such, but the combined force and laws which are manifested in the existing universe constitute G-d. 2). The worship or belief in a wide variety of gods and or goddesses.
Parakinesis: Psychokinesis though touches but not enough to explain the distance and trajectory of an object.
Paranormal Dream: Dreams in which the dream imagery provides paranormal knowledge.
Paranormal: Literally, “beyond normal.” Derived from the Latin word ‘Para’ which means beyond parapsychology literally means beyond psychology. Term applied to any phenomenon which in one or more respects exceeds the limits of what is deemed physically possible on current scientific assumptions; often used as a synonym for “psychic,” “parapsychological,” “attibutable to psi,” or even “miraculous” (although shorn of religious overtones). [From the Greek para, “beside, beyond,” + normal]
Parapsychology: Called psychobiophysics in Brazil and psychotronics in Czechoslovakian; German psychologist Max Dessoir coined the term in 1889 to replace the term psychical. The term is Greek and means, “outside psychology,” and is an umbrella term used to describe anomalistic phenomena that cannot be readily explained in the context of conventional science including. Some parapsychologists now prefer the term paraphysics. Term coined in German by Max Dessoir (1889) and adopted by J. B. Rhine in English to refer to the scientific study of paranormal or ostensibly paranormal phenomena, that is, psi; except in Britain, the term has largely superseded the older expression “psychical research;” used by some to refer to the experimental approach to the field. [From the Greek para, “beside, beyond,” + psychology, derived from the Greek psyche, “soul, mind,” + logos “rational discussion”].
Pareidolia: A psychological phenomenon involving a vague and random stimulus (often an image or sound) being perceived as significant. Common examples include seeing images of animals or faces in clouds, the man in the moon, and hearing hidden messages on records played in reverse. The word comes from the Greek para- ("beside", "with", or "alongside"—meaning, in this context, something faulty or wrong ((as in paraphasia, disordered speech)) and eidolon ("image"; the diminutive of eidos ("image", "form", "shape"). Pareidolia is a type of apophenia.
Carl Sagan hypothesized that as a survival technique, human beings are "hard-wired" from birth to identify the human face. This allows people to use only minimal details to recognize faces from a distance and in poor visibility but can also lead them to interpret random images or patterns of light and shade as being faces. A 2009 magnetoencephalography study found that objects incidentally perceived as faces evoke an early (165 ms) activation in the ventral fusiform cortex, at a time and location similar to that evoked by faces, whereas other common objects do not evoke such activation. This activation is similar to a slightly earlier peak at 130 ms seen for images of real faces. The authors suggest that face perception evoked by face-like objects is a relatively early process, and not a late cognitive reinterpretation phenomenon.
The human mind is pattern seeking and will make faces out of abstract pixels in photographs and voices out of strange noises that appear on audio recordings. Think of an inkblot test.
Parsley: A plant associated with death, the dead and ghosts. The ancient Greeks and Romans considered parsley to be sacred to the dead and placed it on graves. In the Celtic cultures, parsley acquired a reputation for bad luck due to it's association with the dead. In the lore of Devon, England, it is considered unlucky to transplant it as it will cause the death of a family member and the devil would be able to take control of the garden. It is also regarded as unlucky to be given parsley. It is also considered a remedy for those who are unfortunate enough to witness the "Wild Hunt" which results in blindness, swelling of the head and even death. All one needs to do is ask one of the ghosts for a bit of parsley to prevent an ill effects of the vision.
"Planting parsley was also considered dangerous for women, as they were thought to be certain to become pregnant. It's said to go to the Devil and back seven times before it germinates unless you sow it on Good Friday (as I will be sowing some today) in which case, it is supposed to germinate on the third day. Casting aside the obvious religious embellishments, it's good advice. By now, the soil has warmed, day length is increasing and the moon phase is probably helpful. (Additional information, in red, provided by: Helen Wood).
Past-Life Memories: Mental images that are believed to be memories of previous lives.
PAST-LIFE REGRESSION: A process in which a hypnotized person is mentally “taken back” (or “regressed”) by the hypnotist to one or more apparent previous life-times, thus suggesting reincarnation.
Paroptic Vision: Coined by Jules Romains to describe the ability to perceive written words and colors without having contact with the page.
Pazuzu: The Assyrian and Babylonian demon of the southwest wind known for bringing famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Recent research suggests Pazuzu may have been associated with a cold, northeasterly wind. Pazuzu, the king of the demons of the wind, and son of the god Hanbi and was said to be invoked in amulets which combat the powers of the malicious goddess, and hated rival, Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Although Pazuzu is, himself, an evil spirit, he drives away other evil spirits, thus protecting humans against plagues and misfortunes.
Pelesit: (Malaysian Folklore) A dark spirit revered by shamans in Malay culture. Pelesit is commonly associated with the grasshopper due to it's ability to turn itself into a green sharp pointed-headed grasshopper. The master keeps his pelesit in a small bottle and offers it his own blood every full moon. It should always be taken care of and fed constantly because if not, the demon will soon create havoc among the local inhabitants of its master's village, especially after the master's death. The Pelesit is reared as a shield for protection, guidance, and most probably as a weapon to harm other people. It is the female version of Hantu Raya which confers great power on the owner. According to Saka, pelesit must always have a continuous master and therefore must be pass down from one generation to the next. Typically the owner, the Bomoh (shaman), uses the spirit in an exploitative way for monetary gain. The pelesit is first used to attack someone randomly, then the same Bomoh will be called to exorcise the so-called demon inside the victim (while the spectators have no idea that the bomoh is playing tricks on them). Later, a certain amount of money is given to the bomoh as a token of appreciation. (See also: "Hantu Raya", Polang" and "Toyol").
Pele: Hawaii's fierce goddess of the volcano has been seen off and on in ghostly form for centuries. She is said to make her home in the crater of a volcano where she presides over a family of fire gods. When an eruption is about to occur, she is believed to come down from the volcano and warn the islanders. Many aspects of this entity are similar to the "Phantom Hitch-hikers" and "Lady in white" phenomena of urban legends. She is said to punish those who remove rocks from her volcano because she sees them as her children. Her wrath can be averted by making offerings to her such as roasted chicken and gin.
Pendulum: An object suspended by a thread. Movements of a pendulum are often used by dowsers to locate objects or answer questions.
Pentagram: A five-pointed star, ancient symbol of good luck and protection. Displayed with one point up, it is the most common emblem of Witchcraft. When displayed inverted (two points up), it MAY represent negative magic (or Satanism), but not necessarily; some traditions of Wicca (chiefly British) use it as a POSITIVE symbol of advanced rank.
Percipient: A term used by parapsychologists to indicate the subject of supposed paranormal experiences. Broadly speaking, someone who perceives or who has a perception-like experience, in particular, the person who experiences or “receives” an extrasensory influence or impression; also one who is tested for ESP ability. Compare Agent. [From the Latin percipiens (percipientis), derived from percipere, “to receive, understand”]
Percipience, Collective: A paranormal event observed by more than one individual.
Perispirit: A term used in Spiritism, founded by Allan Kardec, to describe a spiritual body, or ghost.
Periwinkle: A trailing evergreen plant believed to have powers pertaining to ghosts, witches and bewitchment. In France, it is believed to ward off evil spirits. Hung over a door, it is said to keep out both witches and spirits. It is effective in the exorcism of demon. In Welsh superstition, if one plucks periwinkle off of a grave, they will be haunted by the dead in their dreams for one year. In order for the plants magical powers to be effective, it must be harvested on the 1st, 9th, 11th and 13th night of the moon, The harvester must be pure and clean when performing this act as well.
Persination: The alleged process where a medium takes on the emotions, behavior, characteristics and mannerisms of a deceased person, but is still conscious of their own identity.
Personification of Death: a sentient entity is a concept that has existed in many societies since the beginning of history. In English, death is often given the name the "Grim Reaper" and from the 15th century onwards came to be shown as a skeletal figure carrying a large scythe and clothed in a black cloak with a hood. It is also given the name of the Angel of Death (Hebrew: מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת Malach HaMavet) stemming from the Bible. In some cases, the Grim Reaper is able to actually cause the victim's death, leading to tales that he can be bribed, tricked, or outwitted in order to retain one's life. Other beliefs hold that the Spectre of Death is only a psychopomp, serving to sever the last ties between the soul and the body, and to guide the deceased to the next world without having any control over the fact of the victim's death. In most cultures, "Death" is personified in male form although it is perceived as a female character by some cultures such as with eastern European Slavs.
Petermännchen: (German Folklore) A household spirit who is said to live in the Schwerin Castle in Schwerin, Mecklenburg, Germany. The legend states that when Christianity first came to the Schwerin area a pagan god, who was worshiped at the site of the present Schwerin castle, fled leaving his servants, the spirits. Eventually these spirits also departed, except for one: Petermännchen, who would not leave his post. Other legends surrounding the ghost have him once working in the tunnels as a blacksmith. The diminutive spirit, maybe only a few feet tall, is often described as carrying many keys, roaming through the vaults and tunnels underneath the castle, unlocking doors as he goes. Other descriptions of Petermännchen have him carrying a lantern and a sword or dagger. Petermännchen has also been described as appearing in numerous forms over the years, sometimes as an old man with a white, flowing beard extended down to his waist. On another occasions Petermännchen woud have a cavalier look with a stylish moustache, wearing a waistcoat, riding boots with spurs and a feathered hat. Petermännchen is said to be the keeper and watchman of the castle, rewarding those who are honest and good. Conversely the spirit will punish or drive away thieves and intruders. To do so Petermännchen will cause a nuisance or play pranks. The spirit is said to make crashing and banging noises at night. Petermännchen is also said to have woken soldiers who fell asleep on their night-watch in order to save them from being punished.
Petrosomatoglyph: (From the Greek p?t?a - petra ("stone"), s?µa - soma ("body"), and glyphein ("to carve"). An image of parts of a human or animal body incised in rock. Many were created by Celtic peoples, such as the Picts, Scots, Irish, Cornish, Cumbrians, Bretons and Welsh. These representations date from the Early Middle Ages; others of uncertain purpose date back to megalithic times. They were an important form of symbolism, used in religious and secular ceremonies, such as the crowning of kings. Some are regarded as artifacts linked to saints and folklore heroes, such as King Arthur.The word comes Feet are the most common; however, knees, elbows, hands, head, fingers, etc., are also found. The term petrosomatoglyph should not be confused with petroglyph, which covers all incised representations of living or non-living things, or with pictograph, which is an image drawn or painted on a rock face, and both of which contribute to the wider and more general category of rock art. Petroforms, or patterns and shapes such as labyrinths and mazes made by many large rocks and boulders in rows over the ground, are also quite different. Stylised representations of parts of the body are often open to dispute and are therefore on the fringes of acceptability as identifiable petrosomatoglyphs. Natural objects, such as rock crystals and rock formations which look like petrosomatoglyphs, whole animals, plants, etc., are collectively called "mimeoliths".
Phantasm: An imagined apparition or spector. Existing only as energy form.
Phantasmagoria: A ghost making machine used for popular entertainment from the late 18th century through the 19th century. The device, developed by a Belgian optician, named "E. G. Robertson" in the 1790's, projected convincing figures before an audience. At the time, many felt that the machine produced extremely realistic and believable depictions of ghosts and demons. So much so that at one point, shortly following the French Revolution, people were so convinced of the reality of his shows that police temporarily halted the proceedings, believing that Robertson had the power to bring Louis XVI back to life.
Phantasmagoria Theatre: A once-popular show where ghost-like forms were projected on stage with performers.
Phantom: A general term for a ghost or spirit.
Phantomania: Paralysis that occurs when someone is under attack from supernatural or preternatural forces, also known as psychic paralysis.
Phenomenology: An approach to research that aims to describe and clarify a person's own experience and understanding of an event or phenomenon.
Phantom Calls From The Dead: Many phone calls from the dead seem to be random and occasional occurrences that happen with out explanation. The great majority are exchanges between person whore shared a close emotional tie while both parties were living such as spouses, parents and children, siblings and occasionally friends and other relatives. Most seem to be "intention calls", initiated by the deceased to impart a message such as a farewell upon death, a warning of impending danger or information that the living may need to complete a specific task.
Persons who have reported phantom calls claim that the voices heard sound exactly the same as when the deceased was still living; furthermore, the voices may use pet names and words. With most calls, the ring sounds normal but has also been reported to seem "flat" or slightly abnormal. The connection is generally reported to be poor with a great deal of static while the voices of others may sometimes be heard as well. In many cases, the voice fades or trails off and may simply repeat the same phrase over and over such as "Hello, are you there?". An odd attribute to phantom calls is that if the receiver knows that the caller is dead, the calls are generally shorter, lasting only seconds or maybe minute but, if the receiver is unaware of the callers passing, the calls have been reported to last for up to a half hour.
In several cases studied, the deceased callers make a reference to an anonymous "they" who have allowed the communication and caution that there is little time to talk. These remarks have lead many to believe that these calls are not only difficult but, not necessarily desirable.
Phantom Monks: Ghosts of monks and other ecclesiastical persona that haunt various religious sites and buildings built on former religious sites. Some are said to be the spirits of the faithful who suffered violent deaths for their faith during times of persecution. Others are believed to apparently wish to remain at beloved sites in spirit. Some phantom monks are seen walking alone or in processions while others are heard chanting, singing and even speaking to visitors.
Phantom Nuns: Ghosts allegedly belonging to women of the church who met violent ends, either as victims of persecution or because the were punished for some transgression. Phantom nuns haunt religious buildings or buildings built on the former site of religious institutions. Many cases have ben documented in England.
Phantom Ships: This folklore of the sea can be found in virtually every culture and every age. Most a re linked to disasters and shipwrecks. They usually appear at the scene of the disaster and may reenact their wrecks, especially on stormy nights.
Phantom Travelers: Ghosts of humans and animals that haunt travel routes, stations and vehicles. Phantom Travelers are universal in folklore and legend. They are associated with tragedies that have occurred in the course of travel; with the lure of romance of travel; and the strong emotions of meetings and partings. The tradition of traveling phantom tales is an old one and has been documented as far back as the 1600's in Europe and Russia. Legends often grow up around phantom travelers. One of the more interesting type of phantom traveler is the specter who appears real to the casual observer. Some hauntings include no visual apparitions but, only sounds, lights, sensations and smells.
Phillip Experiment, The: Conducted in the early 1970’s by The Toronto Society of Psychical Research. The purpose of the experiment was to see if a fictitious historical character could manifest itself through the group’s efforts of concentration. They named the ghost Phillip and gave the ghost a personality and a complete background, even drawing a portrait to make him seem more real. The 8 members in the group also memorized the fictional biography and studied the period in which Phillip was supposed to have lived. The séances proved nothing for many months until 1973 when Phillip began to communicate. He first came through as a solid rap on the table. In the months that followed, the group discovered that when they asked questions and using 1 knock as “yes” and 2 as “no”, they could actually have an intelligent conversation with their ghost. The experiment came to a strange end when one member of the group broke ranks and stated aloud in a reply to Phillip that “we only made you up, you know.” All communications stopped. Once denied that Phillip was real, he ceased to exist.
Phoenix: (Various Cultures) In ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, the phoenix is a mythical bird and associated with the Egyptian sun-god Re and the Greek Phoibos (Apollo). According to the Greeks the bird lives in Arabia, nearby a cool well. Each morning at dawn, it would bathe in the water and sing such a beautiful song, that the sun-god stops his chariot to listen. There exists only one phoenix at the time. When it felt its death approaching (every 500 or 1461 years), it would build a nest of aromatic wood and set it on fire, and was consumed by the flames. When it was burned, a new phoenix sprang forth from the pyre. It then embalmed the ashes of its predecessor in an egg of myrrh and flew with it to Heliopolis ("city of the sun"). There it would deposit the egg on the altar of the sun god. In Egypt is was usually depicted as a heron, but in the classic literature as a peacock, or an eagle. The phoenix symbolizes immortality, resurrection, and life after death. In that aspect it was often placed on sarcophagi. It is associated with the Egyptian Benu, the Garuda of the Hindus, and the Chinese Feng-huang. According to Arabic tradition, the phoenix consumed itself by fire every 500 years, and a new, young phoenix sprang from its ashes. In the mythology of ancient Egypt,the phoenix represented the sun,which dies at night and is reborn in the morning. It is equated with Bennu, the Sun Bird, emblem of Ra. The phoenix of Chinese legend is called Fung-hwang or Fum-hwang and is one of the Four Spiritually Endowed presiding over the destinies of China. It originated from fire (was born in the "Hill of the Sun's Halo") and has its body inscribed with the Five Cardinal Virtues. In Japan it appears as Ho-ho and announces the coming of a new era. Early Christian tradition adopted the phoenix as a symbol of both immortality and resurrection. In both ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, the phoenix is a fabulously beautiful bird thought to be the servant of God. Ancient Chinese, Sumerian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Incan, and Aztec mythology all tell of this uniquely immortal bird. It lived close to a cool well. It had brilliant gold and reddish-purple feathers, and was as large or larger than an eagle. Each morning at dawn, it would bathe in the water and sing such a beautiful song that the sun god would stop his chariot to listen. There only existed one phoenix at a time, and it was always male. Some writers believed its life cycle was as long as 12,954 years. When it felt it's death approaching, it would build a nest and set it on fire, and jump in to be consumed by flames. When it was burned, a new phoenix sprang forth from the pyre. The long life of the phoenix, and its dramatic rebirth from its own ashes, made it a symbol of immortality and spiritual rebirth.
Phonology: The science of speech sounds, including phonetics and phonemics.
Phone-voyance: Termed by Vincent N. Turvey to describe the alleged ability to perceive visual information over the phone.
Phosphenes: The points of light that many claim to see behind the eyelids when they shut thier eyes really tightly.
Phrenology: The reading of character and mental ability from the shape of a person's skull.
Physical Mediumship: The production of paranormal physical phenomena lights, sounds, materialization, elongation, levitation, etc. by a medium. Physical medium ship often but not always involves a state of trance.
Picture Test: Mediumistic test in which a communicator predicts that a sitter will soon come into contact with or in possession of a picture or a painting. In many such tests, the communicator claims that he or she will help the bring this about.
Pillan, The: (Mapuche mythology) (of Mapudungun origin; singular pillán and plural pillanes in Spanish) is a powerful and respected male spirit. According to the legend the Pillan are good spirits, but they can also cause disasters, since they also punish (or they allow the wekufe to punish) with drought or flood, earthquakes, or diseases. The Antu is the most powerful Pillan, who governs the others. In the Mapuche tradition, a man that follows the laws of the admapu can also become a Pillan after death. The Mapuche perform a ngillatun ceremony for the Pillan, for the latter to grant benefits to the people, and to thank them for their gifts. The Pillan have been described as spirits that live in the Wenumapu (a spiritual world of good), and those that inhabit the earth generally live inside the volcanoes. (Example: Osorno and Quetrupillán Volcano). The accompanying female spirits of the Pillan are the Wangulen spirits.
Pithecanthrope: Coined by Gustac Geley to describe an animal visible through a materialization medium.
Pizoelectricity: Also called ball of light (BOL) phenomenon; a mysterious natural phenomenon appearing in every country under a number of titles including ignis fatuus ("fools fire"), will-o'-the-wisp, corpse candles, corpse fire, hobby lanterns, spooklights, ghost lights, cemetery lights, etc. They are balls of plasma light that frequent deserted places. If they are encountered in family cemeteries, locals believe they prelude a death in the family. The scientific name for these anomalies is piezoelectricity. There are due to ribbons of crystal placed under seismic stress.
PK: Psycho kinesis or PK is referred to as expressive psi, or mind over matter.
Placebo: An inactive treatment often given to a control group.
Placement Test: A test for PK in which the subject attempts to influence the place in which dice or other objects land.
Planchette: (French: Little Board") There are two definitions:
(1) A device patented in 1853, (although probably dating to the ancient Greeks), by French spiritualist "M. Planchette" which is intended to facilitate communication with the spirits of the dead. The planchette consists of a thin heart shaped wooden or plastic platform, usually with three legs. Two of the legs are on wheels and the third is a pencil, pen or other writing instrument. The users place their fingers lightly on the planchette and invite a spirit to guide their movements to write out a message or draw pictures. In this fashion, the dead are said to be able to communicate with the living. The Greek philospher Pythagoas was said to hold seances at which a "mystic table", mounted on wheels, moved to point to signs inscribed on a stone slab. (See also: Psychography)
(2) A similar device is copywritten in the United States as "A accessory to the amazing oracle ouija for facilitating communication with spirits". Before Ouija became the most popular spirit board, the planchette was generally refered to by its users as an "indicator".
Plant Psi: ESP exhibited by plants.
Pneumatographers: A direct writer.
Pocomania: A Jamaican spiritist religion
Pocong: (Malaysian/Indonesian Folklore) A ghost that is said to be the soul of a dead person trapped in their suit.The pocong suit (shroud) is used by Muslims to cover the body of the dead person. They cover the dead body with white fabric called mori and tie the clothing over the head, under the feet, and on the neck. According to the native beliefs, the soul of a dead person will stay on the earth for 40 days after the death. When the ties aren't released after 40 days, the body is said to jump out from the grave to warn people that the soul need the bonds to be released. After the ties are released, the soul will leave the earth and never show up anymore. Because of the tie under the feet, the ghost can't walk. This causes the pocong to hop.
Polong: (Malaysian Folklore) A spirit created by magic. Polong are said to be created from the blood of a murdered person and this blood is put into a bottle for one to two weeks before the spirit is invoked with incantations and magic spells. After two weeks, the owner will start to hear sounds coming out of the bottle that resemble the sound of a crying baby. By then he should cut his finger and drain the blood into the bottle to feed the demon. This is the sign of allegiance and of loyalty to serve the master. The blood which feeds the demon is said to have tied both parties together: one as Master and the other as the servant. Like the Hantu Raya and Toyol, a Polong is an invisible ghost that can be used by a black magic practitioner to harm someone. Polong has almost a similar role as Pelesit, furious when not fed and will start to harm society. Normally the owner will keep the Polong inside the bottle but unleashes it when needed. People who have been attacked by Polong are left with bruises, a few markings and almost always have blood coming out of their mouths. During possession, a Polong will not listen to anyone except its owner. The owner will come and pretentiously exorcise the demon in order to get money from people. But in some cases a polong which is "sent out" by its owner refuses to free the body that it has attacked. In fact it goes a step further by causing more suffering to the victim. At this stage a Bomoh (shaman) or spiritual leader such as an imam or a priest is called to cast out the polong. Many of them know that the polong is easily weakened by black pepper seeds (mixed with oil and few cloves of garlic). Normally, the shaman will place the seeds on certain parts of the body to cast off the polong. If he is a Muslim, this may be followed by Quranic recitations. The tormented polong will cry and plead, asking for the recitations to cease. It will then confess to the shaman the name of its master. However, it is not uncommon for the polong to name some other person to misguide the shaman. Hence, the admission must be taken cautiously.(See also: "Hantu Raya", "Pelesit" and "Toyol").
Poltergeist: German for “noisy spirit.” Most parapsychologists now use the phrase recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK) because it appears the physical manifestations are unconscious manifestations of inner turmoil. A poltergeist can imitate a haunting in many ways, including phantom footsteps, unexplained cold spots, inexplicable electrical problems, mysterious disappearance of items, foul odors with no discernable source, strange rapping, popping or scratching noises, movement of furniture, scribbles that no one will admit to, discarnate voices or animal sounds, etc.; apparitions are rare in poltergeist cases.
-Assaultive Poltergeist: Described as a phantom presence biting, scratching, pinching, pulling hair, pushing, etc. and are often called “demonic.”
-Fire Poltergeist: Baffling outbreaks of small fires is not unheard of in poltergeist cases, but the damage is usually minimal because the fires seem to extinguish as soon as they start.
-Liquid Poltergeist: The unexplainable poltergeist flow of fluid that mysteriously cumulates in homes but cannot be accredited to leaking pipes is not unheard of. Accumulation and even falling rain inside a house usually leaves no moisture on the ceiling or walls.
-Proto-poltergeist: Hans Bender named this division for the unexplained electronic disturbances created in poltergeist cases.
-Talking Poltergeist: A poltergeist that seems to have its own voice.
Pooka: See "Puca".
Popobawa: (also Popo Bawa), The name of an evil spirit which is believed by residents to have first appeared on the Tanzanian island of Pemba. In 1995 it was the focus of a major outbreak of collective hysteria or panic which spread from Pemba to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar archipelago, and across to Dar es Salaam and other urban centres on the East African coast. Popobawa has since joined the global pantheon of occult beings, a development fuelled by journalists’ reports and the dissemination of these on the internet. [You can find an artists impression of what a Popobawa might look like on our page featuring cryptids and creatures of folklore HERE .]
Popol Vuh: [From the Quiché Maya, meaning: "Book of the Community" : popol, together, common house (from pop, to gather, join) + vuh, paper, book.] An epic first written down in the sixteenth century but probably based on older traditional material, describing the cosmogony, mythology, and history of the Quiché Maya of Guatemala. The Mayan document provides valuable information on ancient Maya mythology and culture. It was written between 1554 and 1558 in the Quiche language using Spanish letters. It tells of the creation of man, the acts of the gods, and the origin and history of the Quiche people and also gives a chronology of their kings. The book was discovered early in the 18th century by Francisco Jiménez, a parish priest in the Guatemalan highlands, who copied out the original, now lost, and translated it into Spanish.
Possessed Possessions: Objects that seem to have spirit attachments that create problems for the owners of the objects. They can be any object including clothing , artwork, stones, houses, machines etc. The ability of spirits to inhabit an object is well known in the folklore of many cultures. Cursed objects, such as "fetishes" and "Poppets" can be endowed with presences using ritual magic. Spirits are said to be housed, contained or even trapped in objects, the accidental release of troublesome or evil spirits is a theme in folklore and mythology such as "Pandoras Box". If the owner of a particular object dies a violent or tragic death, an attachment may occur.Some objects may not become active until they are brought to a specific place or handled by a specific person. The energies of the place or the unique field of consciousness of people with in the house hold may be factors in whether or not a spirit attachment becomes active.
Possession: Refers to cases in which a person's body is apparently taken over by another personality or entity.
Posthumous Letters: Letters allegedly from the deceased.
Prayer: A sincere attempt to communicate with a spiritual being or power.
Prayer Power: Using prayers to produce a desired result. For example, in an experiment reported in autumn 2001 in a Korean hospital, groups in Australia, Canada and the US prayed for some patients undergoing IVF treatment in Seoul without their knowledge. The treatment was much more successful than it was for the control group of mothers who weren't prayed for.
Pre-disasters Syndrome: Growing unease the closer time progresses to a future tragedy.
Pre-existence: Belief that the personality or soul exists prior to birth.
Precognitive dreams: To have dreams of events incidents before they happen.
Precognition: Literally, “prior knowledge;” also called proscopy in Russia; knowing something before it actually happens.
Prediction: Foretelling the future.
Preferential Effect: An observation that test subjects do better when they are aloud to pick the test for psychic facilities.
Premonition: A “vision” about a future crisis or disaster. A feeling or impression that something is about to happen, especially something ominous or dire, yet about which no normal information is available. See Precognition. [From the Latin præ, “prior to,” + monitio, “warning”]
Presentiment: An emotional response that can only be described as precognitive, such as a feeling of dread before impending disaster.
Preta: प्रेत (Sanskrit) or Peta (Pāli), Chinese: Èguǐ 饿鬼, Tibetan: yi.dvags, ไทย: เปรต,: The name for a type of supernatural being described in Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, and Jain texts that undergoes more than human suffering, particularly an extreme degree of hunger and thirst. They are often translated into English as "hungry ghosts", from the Chinese, which in turn is derived from later Indian sources generally followed in Mahayana Buddhism. In early sources such as the Petavatthu, they are much more varied. The descriptions below apply mainly in this narrower context.
Pretas are believed to have been jealous or greedy people in a previous life. As a result of their karma, they are afflicted with an insatiable hunger for a particular substance or object. Traditionally, this is something repugnant or humiliating, such as human corpses or feces, though in more recent stories, it can be anything, however bizarre.
Pretas are invisible to the human eye, but some believe they can be discerned by humans in certain mental states. They are described as human-like, but with sunken, mummified skin, narrow limbs, enormously distended bellies and long, thin necks. This appearance is a metaphor for their mental situation: they have enormous appetites, signified by their gigantic bellies, but a very limited ability to satisfy those appetites, symbolized by their slender necks.
Pretas are often depicted in Japanese art (particularly that from the Heian period) as emaciated human beings with bulging stomachs and inhumanly small mouths and throats. They are frequently shown licking up spilled water in temples or accompanied by demons representing their personal agony. Alternately, they may be shown as balls of smoke or fire.
Pretas dwell in the waste and desert places of the earth, and vary in situation according to their past karma. Some of them can eat a little, but find it very difficult to find food or drink. Others can find food and drink, but find it very difficult to swallow. Others find that the food they eat seems to burst into flames as they swallow it. Others, if they see something edible or drinkable and desire it, it withers or dries up before their eyes. As a result, they are always hungry.
In addition to hunger, pretas suffer from immoderate heat and cold; they find that even the moon scorches them in the summer, while the sun freezes them in the winter.
The sufferings of the pretas often resemble those of the dwellers in Naraka, and the two types of being are easily confused. The simplest distinction is that beings in Naraka are confined to their subterranean world, while pretas are free to move about.
Project Blue Book: A often criticized series of systematic studies of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) conducted by the United States Air Force (U.S.A.F.). Started in 1952, it was the second revival of such a study. A termination order was given for the study in December 1969, and all activity under its auspices ceased in January 1970. The two main goals of the project were 1). To determine if UFO's were a threat to national security of the United States and 2). Scientifically analyze UFO related data. By the time Project Blue Book ended, it had collected 12,618 UFO reports, and concluded that most of them were misidentifications of natural phenomena (clouds, stars, etc.) or conventional aircraft. The UFO reports were archived and are available under the Freedom of Information Act, but names and other personal information of all witnesses have been changed. many believe Project Blue Book to be a part of a larger cover up of evidence to conceal the existence of Extra-Terrestrial Life.
Pseudopod: A “false limb” created from so-called ectoplasm produced by a physical medium.
Psi: From the twenty-third letter of the Greek alphabet, meaning, “mind/soul,” parapsychologists use this to designate what seems to be psychic phenomena, and is usually divided into two categories:
-Psi-Gamma: Also called passive psi; cognitive paranormal abilities such as extrasensory perception and remote viewing.
-Psi-Kappa: Also called active psi; seemingly uncanny abilities such as psychokinesis.
Experiments in psi have created two terms to describe evidence:
-Psi-hitting: Achieving higher than chance results in a parapsychological test.
-Psi-missing: Achieving lower than chance results in a parapsychological test.
The setting has also been noted to affect the outcome of experiments:
-Psi-conducive: An environment that has a positive impact on the test subject and results in higher than average test scores.
-Psi-inhibiting: An environment that has a negative impact on the test subject and results in lower than average test scores.
Other terms used in parapsychology:
-An-Psi: Shortened from Animal Psi, used to describe animals that allegedly have psychic abilities, such as birds fleeing before a natural disaster, dogs warning owners of impending health problems, etc.
-Post-psi Distress Syndrome (PPDS): Coined by Sharon Solfuin to describe the psychological impact terrifying psychic events can have on a person.
-Proximal Psi: Called psi-field hypothesis by William G. Roll; observation that “psychic forces” are better received the closer the sensitive is to the source.
-Psi-afferentation: A term coined by Doctor Vernon M. Neppe to describe anomalous phenomena that seem to indicate extrasensory perception.
-Psi-mediated Instrumental Response (PMIR): A theory proposed Rex G. Stanford to explain clairvoyance without conscious awareness to fulfill life’s needs. For instance, changing travel plans at the last minute because of a “feeling” only to find out the percipient could have been in an accident.
-Psi-related Experience: An experience that is believed to be paranormal without question.
-Psi-trailing: Amazing capacity some animals have allowing them to travel long distances to be reunited with families.
-Psi Dexterity: A phrase coined by term was coined by Elsie Anna Grace to describe success in a test that indicates an earthbound spirit providing assistance to a test subject.
-Psi Experimenter Effect: An instance where it seems the experimenter somehow affects the outcome of a test subjects stores.
-Theta Psi: Also called super-psi, hints at psi abilities, such as telepathy, in discarnate entities.
-Transcendent Psi: A psychic experience that leaves the percipient more spiritual.
Presence: A subjective feeling that a person, animal or discarnate entity is present.
Process research: Research that aims to investigate factors affecting psi.
Proof research: Research that aims to demonstrate the existence of psi.
Prophecy: 1. A prediction, usually resulting from a sense of spiritual revelation. 2. The ability to receive prophetic revelations.
Proxy Sitter: A person representing someone else who could not attend a séance to rule out the possibility of telepathy.
Proxy Sitting: A séance in which another person sits in on behalf of the person receiving a communication.
PSI (Ψ) : A general blanket term, proposed by B. P. Wiesner and seconded by R. H. Thouless (1942), and used either as a noun or adjective to identify paranormal processes and paranormal causation; the two main categories of psi are psi-gamma (paranormal cognition; extrasensory perception) and psi-kappa (paranormal action; psychokinesis), although the purpose of the term “psi” is to suggest that they might simply be different aspects of a single process, rather than distinct and essentially different processes. Strictly speaking “psi” also applies to survival of death. Some thinkers prefer to use “psi” as a purely descriptive term for anomalous outcomes, as suggested by Palmer (1986, p. l39), who defines it as “a correspondence between the cognitive or physiological activity of an organism and events in its external environment that is anomalous with respect to generally accepted basic limiting principles of nature such as those articulated by C. D. Broad.” [From the Greek, psi, twenty-third letter of the Greek alphabet; from the Greek psyche, “mind, soul”]
Psi-Mediated Instrumental Response: Theory put forward by Rex Stanford that psi activity is used to serve an organism's needs.
Psyche: Generally refers to the mind.
Psychedelic: Literally "revealing mind". A class of plants and drugs that can produce florid altered states of consciousness.
Psychic: A person who has frequent experiences with extrasensory perception and is often credited with the ability to see into the future.
-Anapsychic: Receiving clear visions.
-Catapsychic: Receiving fragmented visions.
Parapsychic: A term used by psychical researcher Joseph Banks Rhine to indicate a high-scoring subject in psychic tests.
Psychic Archaeology: The use of alleged psychic facilities to locate archaeological digs and to “read” items unearthed.
Psychic Attack: An attack that can either be physical or mental by a spirit.
Psychic Body: Also called nervengeist in Germany; the vessel that contains the soul and resembles a living person. Spiritualists believe that this shell is what parapsychologists call residual haunting apparitions.
Psychic Contagion: An idea that is mysteriously transferred cumulating in mass hysteria.
Psychic Cold: This is a situation where one feels unnaturally cold. There are two types of psychic cold. The first a spirit is materializing and draws energy from the environment. This results in a lowering of ambient temperature. The second type the materializing spirit will draw energy from people that are present. The people will feel cold but the thermometer will not register a lowering of ambient temperature.
Psychic Detective: A self-proclaimed psychic that uses their facilities to help police in investigations; this term has replaced paragnost.
Psychic Diagnosis: The alleged ability to receive information about someone’s health problems via extrasensory perception; usually used in placed of x-ray clairvoyance.
Psychic Dream: A dream that seemingly contains information about future events, usually divided into three categories:
-Displaced Psychic Dream: These dreams usually contain precognitive information but it seems the person, place and/or times are completely wrong.
-Literal Psychic Dream: These dreams are very vivid, analytical and the dreamer tends to be aware that they are indeed precognitive.
-Symbolic Psychic Dreams: Dreams that contain information in the future, only the message is wrapped into dream symbolism and is very hard to discern.
Psychic Echo: Also called phantoms en masse; a group of apparitions or a scene from the past.
Psychic Force: Also called exo-neural action of the brain by Sir William Crookes, odic force by Baron Carl von Reichenbach and ectenic force by Marc Thury; a “nervous atmosphere” emanating from the physical body that is thought to be responsible for psychokinesis. It was proposed that this field sometimes congealed to form ectoplasm.
Psychic Healing: Also called parapsychosomatic; healing allegedly done with the power of another’s mind alone.
-Absent Psychic Healing: Also called remote healing; healing not done in the presence of the patient.
Psychic Imprint: An energy field which assumes the appearance of a person. This usually occurs because of the residue or severe emotional energy, which is imprinted into the environment because of a tragic event.
Psychic Noise: Coined by Douglas G. to describe interference with supposed psychic abilities because of the interference of rational thinking.
Psychic Pathology of Everyday Life: Proposed by Doctor Jule Eisenbud and describes slip-of-the-tongue statements that turns out to be seemingly precognitive in nature.
Psychic Photography: General term used to refer to paranormal photographic images.
Psychic Profiler: A self-proclaimed psychic who works with the police by providing specific details about a suspect.
Psychic Research: The study of alleged psychic facilities. Including ESP, hauntings, ghosts, etc.
Psychic Rod: Coined by William Jackson Crawford. He theorized that an invisible force he called a “psychic rod,” issued from a physical medium in order to move objects in the environment.
PSYCHIC SURGERY: A form of psychic healing practiced particularly in the Philippines, in which diseased tissue are said to be removed without the use of surgical instruments, and bleeding, infection, and the like, are inhibited paranormally. The term is also used of surgery in which the surgeon operates while in a trance, as performed by J. Arigo and other Brazilian exponents of this practice, usually using unsterilized knives as scalpels.
Psychic Threads: Microscopic threads that allegedly issue from the fingers of a medium and are accredited with physical phenomena during a séance. These fibers are almost invisible, flame-retardant and seal together again when cut.
Psychical: Pertaining to the spirit world.
Psychic Surgery: A form of faith healing where a practitioner allegedly makes an incision removes matter and seals the wound with mental abilities alone.
Psychobolie: The belief that the “evil eye” is actually malicious psychokinesis.
Psychokinesis (PK): Also called psychoenergetics in Russia; the term was coined in 1914 by American author-publisher Henry Holt and adopted by his friend, American parapsychologist Joseph Banks Rhine and is more favored than the previous term telekinesis (“mind movement”), which was coined in 1890 by British psychical researcher Frederic William Henry Myers. This is the alleged ability to move objects with the mind. Rhine divided this ability into two separate classifications:
-Macro-PK: Also called directly observable psychokinesis; Psychokinetic effects that can be seen with the naked eye.
-Micro-PK: Subtle psychokinetic influence that influences seemingly random events, such as causing dice to roll to high numbers.
Other terms used by parapsychologists:
-Collective Psychokinesis: Coined by Count Agenor de Gasparin coined this phrase in 1854; supposed psychokinesis by a group to perform what is known as table tipping, when a spirit allegedly moves a table during a séance.
-Domestic Psychokinesis: Psychokinesis in a home setting.
-Isolated Spontaneous Psychokinesis (ISPK): Also non-recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis, spontaneous psychokinesis and psi-efferentation by Doctor Vernon M. Neppe; an isolated incident of alleged psychokinesis.
-Psychokinesis on Living Targets (PK-LT): Also called bio-PK and direct mental influence on living systems (DMILS).
-Psychokinesis on Moving Targets (PK-MT): Tests where subjects are encouraged to slow down a moving object, deflect its trajectory, etc.
-Retroactive Psychokinesis (Retro-PK): A strange occurrence where items are influenced after the test subject has left the area.
-Static Psychokinesis (Static-PK): Alleged movement of stationary objects by the power of the mind alone.
-Psychokinesis Party: A gathering of individuals with the expressed purpose of creating feats of mind-over-matter, especially spoon-bending.
-Psychokinetic Metal-bending (PK-MB): Seemingly paranormal ability to bend metal through mind power alone.
-Psychokinetic Placement: An attempt by test subjects to direct objects to a certain location using only their minds.
Psychomanteum: (sometimes spelled as psychomantium, and often called "mirror gazing") A mirrored room, specially set up to communicate with the spiritual realm. Reflective objects or surfaces, such as blood or water, were considered a conduit to the spiritual world in ancient times. It is believed that by sitting in a darkened room like this may cause the mind to hallucinate an apparition. See also: “Catoptromancy”
Psychometry: Also called psychoscopy by W. H. E. Tenhaeff and token-object reading; Greek for “soul measure” and coined by Joseph Rodes Buchanan and is the alleged ability to receive impressions or past events from physical objects. The practice of gaining paranormal insights or knowledge from a physical object which is used as a focus. (See also “Object Reading”).
Psychometric Premonition: A form of clairvoyance where sensitive individuals allegedly receives future knowledge when in contact with an object.
Psychopannychism: Literally, “soul sleep;” the belief that after death the soul slumbers.
Psychophony: Founder of Spiritism, Allan Kardec, uses this term to describe a spirit using a mediums voice to speak.
Psychopomps (from the Greek word ψυχοπομπός (psychopompos), literally meaning the "guide of souls") are creatures, spirits, angels, or deities in many religions whose responsibility is to escort newly-deceased souls to the afterlife. Their role is not to judge the deceased, but simply provide safe passage. Frequently depicted on funerary art, psychopomps have been associated at different times and in different cultures with horses, Whip-poor-wills, ravens, dogs, crows, owls, sparrows, cuckoos, harts and Yamatoots. Today it is common to find reports of deceased relatives, Moses, Abraham and Jesus as psychopomps. In Jungian psychology, the psychopomp is a mediator between the unconscious and conscious realms. It is symbolically personified in dreams as a wise man (or woman), or sometimes as a helpful animal. In many cultures, the shaman also fulfills the role of the psychopomp. This may include not only accompanying the soul of the dead, but also vice versa: to help at birth, to introduce the newborn child's soul to the world. This also accounts for the contemporary title of "midwife to the dying," which is another form of psychopomp work. (See also: Death Bed Visions)
Psychorrhagic Diathesis: A term used to describe a person who for no reason lets their soul wander about without any consciousness of doing so.
PSYCHOTRONICS: Czech term for “parapsychology” (excluding the study of survival), but embracing certain phenomena that are not now generally accepted as parapsychological. According to (the late) Larissa Vilenskaya (1983, p. 107), the term was first pro-posed with the analogy of “bionics” in mind, to refer to “the field dealing with the construction of devices capable of enhancing and/or reproducing certain psi phenomena (such as psychokinesis in the case of ‘psychotronic generators’ developed by Robert Pavlita) and later embraced some other phenomena.” [Dale & White, 1977]
Puca/Pooka: (Irish Folklore) A mythical supernatural creature which often assumes the guise of a malevolent horse. Known as a spirit that is both helpful and mischievous. The Puca has the helpful characteristics of the household brownie and the mischievous characteristics of the Bogey and the Bucca. The Puca is a shape shifter and is often seen in the form of a black animal or a black half-animal. When he is so inclined, he favors humans by enabling them to understand the speech of animals and by protecting them from evil spirits. If treated well, the house Pucas will clean up the house during the night and also do yard work. Ungrateful people incur the Pucas wrath. He also bedevils grave robbers. Although folklore indicates that Puca is an individual, he also seems to have the ability to bi-locate.
Puck: (English folklore) Similar to the Irish Puca, a household spirit with a malicious nature who was often associated with the devil. Puck is also known as "Robin Goodfellow", described in the literature as the child of a human girl and a fairy. Robin Goodfellow has the ability to shape shift into animals and enjoys playing tricks on humans. He also performs household chores in return for milk or cream and bread or cake. Although folklore indicates that Puck is an individual, he also seems to have the ability to bi-locate.
Pukwudgies: (Wampanoag Folklore) Troll-like creatures that haunt the forests of New England. Standing between 66 cm and one meter tall, his features mirror those of the Native American in the area, but the nose, fingers and ears are enlarged and the skin is described as being gray and or washed-out, smooth and at times has been known to glow. Pukwudgies can appear and disappear at will and are said to be able to transform into other animals. They have possession of magical, poison arrows that can kill and can create fire at will. They are known to lure people to cliffs and push them off to their death. They use ball of lights to entice new victims in the woods so they may kidnap or kill them.
Pulvinarium: A room in an ancient Roman temple in which was set out the couch (pulivar) for the gods at a special religious feast.
Pyramid Power: Belief that pyramid shapes can produce paranormal effects.
Pyrogenesis: The alleged ability to control, ignite and extinguish fire using the mind alone.
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i don't know
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What popular East Asian food means 'bean curdled'?
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Basic Foods in Southeast Asia : Recipes and Cooking : Food Network
Basic Foods in Southeast Asia
Basic Foods in Southeast Asia
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Banh mi: A take on the French casse-croûte (meaning "break crust," or sandwich), this Southeast Asian lunch favorite is made with a small baguette, split open lengthwise and filled with pickled carrots and daikon, fresh lettuce, cilantro, chili sauce and Vietnamese bologna, pâté and/or grilled lemongrass-flavored sliced pork.
Basic Marinade: The delicious, authentic combination of equal parts palm sugar and fish sauce with grated garlic and lemongrass is used as a marinade for all sorts of proteins. Pork chops or chicken thighs, for example, are marinated for about 20 minutes, and then grilled and served with lime or lemon wedges on the side.
Cabbage Salad: Popularly referred to as "Asian coleslaw," this refreshing shredded green cabbage salad is seasoned with fish sauce, sugar and freshly squeezed lime juice, and garnished with crushed peanuts and cilantro, mint or Thai basil leaves. Add leftover shredded or sliced roast chicken or pork, or steamed shrimp for a more filing version of the recipe.
Coconut Tapioca Soup: This sweet coconut soup with tapioca pearls is often consumed as a snack or at the end of a wedding or birthday dinner. Served hot, at room temperature, or chilled, it is delicious topped with yellow corn kernels, or diced banana, taro root or sweet potato, and garnished with a light sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.
Curries: Coconut milk-based for the most part, curries play an important role in Southeast Asian cuisines. Ranging from mild to intensely hot and spicy, they often start with melting coconut butter and stir-frying a spice paste—commonly lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, garlic, turmeric and galangal with dry spices including coriander, cumin and fenugreek — followed by meat or vegetables. Coconut milk and occasionally stock is then added, and reduced until slightly thickened. Curries are often served with long-grain white rice, sticky short-grain rice or French baguette.
Green Papaya Salad (or Green Mango Salad): Unripe green papaya or mango are often used like vegetables. Here either fruit is shredded or finely julienned and dressed in a sweet lime and fish sauce dressing. In a pinch, use readily-available and hard-to-the-touch mango.
Nuoc cham: A sweet lime and fish sauce dipping sauce with sliced, chopped or minced fresh garlic and chilies, this ubiquitous table condiment is enjoyed throughout Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. It is great for dipping spring rolls and all sorts of lettuce-wrapped grilled meats and seafood. It is also a delicious alternative to classic salad dressings.
Peanut Sauce: One of the most popular dipping sauces in Southeast Asia is made with dry roasted, unsalted peanuts, Hoisin sauce, fish sauce and coconut milk. Significant regional variations exist, for example the sauce can also be enhanced with garlic, shallots, chilies and red curry paste.
Pickled vegetables: A cucumber, daikon, and carrot mix that is drained using salt, and marinated in sugar-sweetened rice vinegar. This is often had at the beginning of a meal to whet the appetite; or served as a vegetable main course over rice with a grilled protein such as fish, squid or pork.
Raw Beef Salad: The beef here is more accurately spice-and-salt-cured rather than strictly raw. A specialty item, it is fragrant with fish sauce, or fish paste (prahok) combined with palm sugar, and tamarind. Loaded with fresh Thai basil, fresh mung bean sprouts, and sprinkled with crushed roasted peanuts; the beef is thinly sliced and mixed in.
Rice Noodle Soups (K'way teao): Street food vendors' classic rice noodles soups are popular in many parts of Southeast Asia. Boiled, the noodles are set afloat a steaming beef, chicken, or pork-based broth, which is sometimes served separately on the side. The noodles are topped with thinly sliced beef, shrimp, squid or pork, or a combination of proteins, a handful of fresh mung bean sprouts are added. Garnished with fried shallots, or garlic oil, freshly torn herbs such as Thai basil or cilantro, and drizzled with freshly squeezed lime juice, these soups were originally considered breakfast or snack fare. Nowadays they are enjoyed throughout the day as a single dish meal.
Satay: These grilled, skewered morsels are very much like shish-kebobs. Often flavored in an herb and spice paste combining fish sauce, palm sugar, lemongrass, garlic and dry spices including turmeric, cumin, coriander, for example, the cubed or ground meat or seafood is grilled and served with chili sauce, nuoc cham or a peanut-based dipping sauce.
Sour Soups: Sour soups are enjoyed throughout Southeast Asia. The souring ingredients are often lime, calamansi (a citrus fruit about the size of a key lime), green star fruit (carambola) or green mango. The broth is generally clear, much like a French consumé, and sometimes enhanced with fragrant ingredients such as Thai basil, kaffir limes leaves, galangal and lemongrass.
Spring Rolls: These deep-fried morsels are often made using rice paper, thin wheat flour wrappers, or thin lacy crepes. Filled with all sorts of vegetables and proteins, some versions are served with nuoc cham, while other versions are served with sweet soy sauce called kecap manis, and still others with rice vinegar for dipping.
Stir-fried Leafy Greens: Seasoned lightly with fish sauce and the occasional pinch of sugar, leafy greens such as water spinach or mustard cabbage are often had stir-fried in pork fat or oil, and flavored with garlic.
Summer Rolls: Also referred to as "salad rolls" or "fresh spring rolls," these deliciously refreshing rolls of shrimp, lettuce, carrot, cucumber and mint, wrapped in softened, delicate rice paper make for a wonderful appetizer. The technique is easy to learn, and you can replace the traditional protein of shrimp with shredded or sliced leftover chicken, pork or tofu, for example. These are often served with peanut sauce or nuoc cham garnished with ground peanuts. Serve summer rolls as an appetizer, especially as your guests wait to be called to the table for a family-style meal.
Table Salad: Served alongside grilled meats or seafood, a table salad consists of cooked rice vermicelli drizzled with fried scallion oil, shredded carrots, sliced cucumber, fresh mint and tender lettuce leaves. To eat, a little of each ingredient, including a morsel of grilled protein, is wrapped in a lettuce leaf and dipped in nuoc cham.
On TV
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Tofu
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How many 'states' (variations) are possible in a single 7-segment electronic/digital numeral display (as used in calculators, etc)?
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How To Cook Tofu With Vegetables Stir Fry Vegetarian Recipes Most popular Asian Food - YouTube
How To Cook Tofu With Vegetables Stir Fry Vegetarian Recipes Most popular Asian Food
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Published on May 16, 2015
Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is a component in East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines.[3][4] There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu that has been processed in some way. Tofu is bought or made to be soft, firm, or extra firm. Tofu has a subtle flavor and can be used in savory and sweet dishes. It is often seasoned or marinated to suit the dish.
Tofu originated in Han dynasty China some 2,000 years ago.[5] Chinese legend ascribes its invention to prince Liu An (179–122 BC). Tofu and its production technique were introduced into Korea[when?] and then Japan[6][7][8] during the Nara period (710–794). Some scholars believe tofu arrived in Vietnam during the 10th and 11th century.[9] It spread into other parts of East Asia as well.[10] This spread probably coincided with the spread of Buddhism because it is an important source of protein in the vegetarian diet of East Asian Buddhism.[6] Li Shizhen in the Ming Dynasty described a method of making tofu in the Compendium of Materia Medica.[11]
Tofu has a low calorie count and relatively large amounts of protein. It is high in iron, and depending on the coagulants used in manufacturing (e.g. calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate), it can have higher calcium or magnesium content.
The term tofu by extension can be used in similarly textured curdled dishes that do not use soy products at all, such as "almond tofu" (almond jelly), tamago-dōfu (ja) (egg), goma-dōfu (ja) (sesame), or peanut tofu (Chinese 落花生豆腐 luòhuāshēng dòufu and Okinawan jīmāmi-dōfu
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Category
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i don't know
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What form of breadcrumbed fried food, often containing mashed potato, is named from French 'to crunch'?
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About: Croquette
About: Croquette
An Entity of Type : Food , from Named Graph : http://dbpedia.org , within Data Space : dbpedia.org
A croquette is a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes or ground meat (veal, beef, chicken, or turkey), shellfish, fish, cheese, vegetables, and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer, or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, e.g. sautéed onions, mushrooms, or boiled eggs (Scotch eggs). The croquette is usually shaped into a cylinder, disk, or oval shape, and then deep-fried. The croquette (from the French croquer, "to crunch") gained worldwide popularity, both as a delicacy and as a fast food.
Property
Als Kroketten, Kroketts oder Croquettes (frz.) bezeichnet man in der Küche aus verschiedenen Grundmassen zubereitete, panierte und frittierte rollen-, birnen-, kugel- oder dreiecksförmige Formlinge.
(de)
La croqueta es una porción de masa hecha con un picadillo de diversos ingredientes que ligado con bechamel, se reboza en huevo y pan rallado y se fríe en aceite abundante. Suele tener forma redonda u ovalada.
(es)
La croquette est un mets répandu dans de nombreux pays d'Europe et du monde, où elle peut être consommée comme entrée, plat d’accompagnement, grignotine ou plat principal.
(fr)
De kroket is een gefrituurd gerecht.
(nl)
クロケット（仏: croquette。[krɔkɛt] クロケッ、コケットゥ）とは、小さな丸い揚げ物料理である。主な材料はマッシュポテト、挽き肉（子牛肉、牛肉、鶏肉、またはシチメンチョウ）、魚介類、野菜、および白パン、鶏卵、タマネギ、香辛料とハーブ、ワイン、牛乳またはこれらの組合わせであり、具入りの場合もあり、パン粉で包むことが多い 。クロケットは通常円筒形または円盤型であり、揚げて作る。クロケット（フランス語で「バリバリ音を立てて咬む」ことを意味する動詞クロケ「croquer」より）はフランス発祥であり、料理とファストフードの両方として世界的に普及している。 フランスの大事典ではクロケットの初出文献は1740年（元文5年）との記載がある。しかし、イギリスの英語文献にクロケットが登場するのは1706年（宝永3年）。この両者の年代には34年の間があり、クロケットの起源説には謎がある。（参考「おいしいコロッケ大百科」）
(ja)
Krokiet – potrawa, która składa się z zapiekanego naleśnika z farszem. Do sporządzenia krokietów konieczne jest wykonanie farszu. Najprostszy farsz wykonać można z drobno posiekanej kiszonej kapusty z dodatkiem zasmażonej (na brązowo) na maśle posiekanej cebuli, przyprawionej pieprzem. Inne rodzaje farszu to: Po rozsmarowaniu farszu naleśnik zawija się i układa w rodzaj koperty, tak aby farsz nie wypadł, a następnie obtacza się w jajku z mąką i tartej bułce. Tak przygotowane krokiety smaży się na patelni na niezbyt głębokim oleju, do momentu, aż zbrązowieją ze wszystkich stron. Krokiety spożywa się osobno lub też popija się je czerwonym barszczem.
(pl)
O croquete é um tipo de salgado ou acepipe recheado de carne desfiada, normalmente bovina, mas pode ser preparado com aves ou peixes. Muito popular no Brasil e em Portugal, de origem provavelmente holandesa[carece de fontes] é encontrado em suas variações em vários lugares do mundo. São encontradas receitas com carne moída, frango, camarão, bacalhau, sardinha, atum, salmão, entre outros. Também são encontradas variações com queijo e vegetais como aspargos, batata e cenoura.
(pt)
Крокеты (от фр. croquer, кусать) — кулинарное блюдо цилиндрической или округлой формы из мясного фарша или овощей, обваленных в сухарях и обжаренных во фритюре. Вместо сухарей иногда используется картофельное пюре. Крокеты изначально появились во Франции. В дальнейшем приобрели мировую популярность и как деликатес, и как промышленно производимый фастфуд. Часто выступает в качестве гарнира.
(ru)
A croquette is a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes or ground meat (veal, beef, chicken, or turkey), shellfish, fish, cheese, vegetables, and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer, or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, e.g. sautéed onions, mushrooms, or boiled eggs (Scotch eggs). The croquette is usually shaped into a cylinder, disk, or oval shape, and then deep-fried. The croquette (from the French croquer, "to crunch") gained worldwide popularity, both as a delicacy and as a fast food. Mashed potato-filled croquettes are often served as a side dish in winter holiday meals, such as Christmas. In fast food cuisine, varieties exist without potatoes, but with cheese, beef, or goulash, often in a filling based on béchamel sauce.
(en)
Als Kroketten, Kroketts oder Croquettes (frz.) bezeichnet man in der Küche aus verschiedenen Grundmassen zubereitete, panierte und frittierte rollen-, birnen-, kugel- oder dreiecksförmige Formlinge.
(de)
La croqueta es una porción de masa hecha con un picadillo de diversos ingredientes que ligado con bechamel, se reboza en huevo y pan rallado y se fríe en aceite abundante. Suele tener forma redonda u ovalada.
(es)
La croquette est un mets répandu dans de nombreux pays d'Europe et du monde, où elle peut être consommée comme entrée, plat d’accompagnement, grignotine ou plat principal.
(fr)
De kroket is een gefrituurd gerecht.
(nl)
O croquete é um tipo de salgado ou acepipe recheado de carne desfiada, normalmente bovina, mas pode ser preparado com aves ou peixes. Muito popular no Brasil e em Portugal, de origem provavelmente holandesa[carece de fontes] é encontrado em suas variações em vários lugares do mundo. São encontradas receitas com carne moída, frango, camarão, bacalhau, sardinha, atum, salmão, entre outros. Também são encontradas variações com queijo e vegetais como aspargos, batata e cenoura.
(pt)
Крокеты (от фр. croquer, кусать) — кулинарное блюдо цилиндрической или округлой формы из мясного фарша или овощей, обваленных в сухарях и обжаренных во фритюре. Вместо сухарей иногда используется картофельное пюре. Крокеты изначально появились во Франции. В дальнейшем приобрели мировую популярность и как деликатес, и как промышленно производимый фастфуд. Часто выступает в качестве гарнира.
(ru)
クロケット（仏: croquette。[krɔkɛt] クロケッ、コケットゥ）とは、小さな丸い揚げ物料理である。主な材料はマッシュポテト、挽き肉（子牛肉、牛肉、鶏肉、またはシチメンチョウ）、魚介類、野菜、および白パン、鶏卵、タマネギ、香辛料とハーブ、ワイン、牛乳またはこれらの組合わせであり、具入りの場合もあり、パン粉で包むことが多い 。クロケットは通常円筒形または円盤型であり、揚げて作る。クロケット（フランス語で「バリバリ音を立てて咬む」ことを意味する動詞クロケ「croquer」より）はフランス発祥であり、料理とファストフードの両方として世界的に普及している。フランスの大事典ではクロケットの初出文献は1740年（元文5年）との記載がある。しかし、イギリスの英語文献にクロケットが登場するのは1706年（宝永3年）。この両者の年代には34年の間があり、クロケットの起源説には謎がある。（参考「おいしいコロッケ大百科」）
(ja)
Krokiet – potrawa, która składa się z zapiekanego naleśnika z farszem.Do sporządzenia krokietów konieczne jest wykonanie farszu. Najprostszy farsz wykonać można z drobno posiekanej kiszonej kapusty z dodatkiem zasmażonej (na brązowo) na maśle posiekanej cebuli, przyprawionej pieprzem.Inne rodzaje farszu to:Po rozsmarowaniu farszu naleśnik zawija się i układa w rodzaj koperty, tak aby farsz nie wypadł, a następnie obtacza się w jajku z mąką i tartej bułce. Tak przygotowane krokiety smaży się na patelni na niezbyt głębokim oleju, do momentu, aż zbrązowieją ze wszystkich stron.
(pl)
A croquette is a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes or ground meat (veal, beef, chicken, or turkey), shellfish, fish, cheese, vegetables, and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer, or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, e.g. sautéed onions, mushrooms, or boiled eggs (Scotch eggs). The croquette is usually shaped into a cylinder, disk, or oval shape, and then deep-fried. The croquette (from the French croquer, "to crunch") gained worldwide popularity, both as a delicacy and as a fast food.
(en)
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Croquette
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Name the controversial arm-gesture associated with French-Cameroonian comedian Dieudonne M'bala M'bala?
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About: Croquette
About: Croquette
An Entity of Type : Food , from Named Graph : http://dbpedia.org , within Data Space : dbpedia.org
A croquette is a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes or ground meat (veal, beef, chicken, or turkey), shellfish, fish, cheese, vegetables, and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer, or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, e.g. sautéed onions, mushrooms, or boiled eggs (Scotch eggs). The croquette is usually shaped into a cylinder, disk, or oval shape, and then deep-fried. The croquette (from the French croquer, "to crunch") gained worldwide popularity, both as a delicacy and as a fast food.
Property
Als Kroketten, Kroketts oder Croquettes (frz.) bezeichnet man in der Küche aus verschiedenen Grundmassen zubereitete, panierte und frittierte rollen-, birnen-, kugel- oder dreiecksförmige Formlinge.
(de)
La croqueta es una porción de masa hecha con un picadillo de diversos ingredientes que ligado con bechamel, se reboza en huevo y pan rallado y se fríe en aceite abundante. Suele tener forma redonda u ovalada.
(es)
La croquette est un mets répandu dans de nombreux pays d'Europe et du monde, où elle peut être consommée comme entrée, plat d’accompagnement, grignotine ou plat principal.
(fr)
De kroket is een gefrituurd gerecht.
(nl)
クロケット（仏: croquette。[krɔkɛt] クロケッ、コケットゥ）とは、小さな丸い揚げ物料理である。主な材料はマッシュポテト、挽き肉（子牛肉、牛肉、鶏肉、またはシチメンチョウ）、魚介類、野菜、および白パン、鶏卵、タマネギ、香辛料とハーブ、ワイン、牛乳またはこれらの組合わせであり、具入りの場合もあり、パン粉で包むことが多い 。クロケットは通常円筒形または円盤型であり、揚げて作る。クロケット（フランス語で「バリバリ音を立てて咬む」ことを意味する動詞クロケ「croquer」より）はフランス発祥であり、料理とファストフードの両方として世界的に普及している。 フランスの大事典ではクロケットの初出文献は1740年（元文5年）との記載がある。しかし、イギリスの英語文献にクロケットが登場するのは1706年（宝永3年）。この両者の年代には34年の間があり、クロケットの起源説には謎がある。（参考「おいしいコロッケ大百科」）
(ja)
Krokiet – potrawa, która składa się z zapiekanego naleśnika z farszem. Do sporządzenia krokietów konieczne jest wykonanie farszu. Najprostszy farsz wykonać można z drobno posiekanej kiszonej kapusty z dodatkiem zasmażonej (na brązowo) na maśle posiekanej cebuli, przyprawionej pieprzem. Inne rodzaje farszu to: Po rozsmarowaniu farszu naleśnik zawija się i układa w rodzaj koperty, tak aby farsz nie wypadł, a następnie obtacza się w jajku z mąką i tartej bułce. Tak przygotowane krokiety smaży się na patelni na niezbyt głębokim oleju, do momentu, aż zbrązowieją ze wszystkich stron. Krokiety spożywa się osobno lub też popija się je czerwonym barszczem.
(pl)
O croquete é um tipo de salgado ou acepipe recheado de carne desfiada, normalmente bovina, mas pode ser preparado com aves ou peixes. Muito popular no Brasil e em Portugal, de origem provavelmente holandesa[carece de fontes] é encontrado em suas variações em vários lugares do mundo. São encontradas receitas com carne moída, frango, camarão, bacalhau, sardinha, atum, salmão, entre outros. Também são encontradas variações com queijo e vegetais como aspargos, batata e cenoura.
(pt)
Крокеты (от фр. croquer, кусать) — кулинарное блюдо цилиндрической или округлой формы из мясного фарша или овощей, обваленных в сухарях и обжаренных во фритюре. Вместо сухарей иногда используется картофельное пюре. Крокеты изначально появились во Франции. В дальнейшем приобрели мировую популярность и как деликатес, и как промышленно производимый фастфуд. Часто выступает в качестве гарнира.
(ru)
A croquette is a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes or ground meat (veal, beef, chicken, or turkey), shellfish, fish, cheese, vegetables, and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer, or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, e.g. sautéed onions, mushrooms, or boiled eggs (Scotch eggs). The croquette is usually shaped into a cylinder, disk, or oval shape, and then deep-fried. The croquette (from the French croquer, "to crunch") gained worldwide popularity, both as a delicacy and as a fast food. Mashed potato-filled croquettes are often served as a side dish in winter holiday meals, such as Christmas. In fast food cuisine, varieties exist without potatoes, but with cheese, beef, or goulash, often in a filling based on béchamel sauce.
(en)
Als Kroketten, Kroketts oder Croquettes (frz.) bezeichnet man in der Küche aus verschiedenen Grundmassen zubereitete, panierte und frittierte rollen-, birnen-, kugel- oder dreiecksförmige Formlinge.
(de)
La croqueta es una porción de masa hecha con un picadillo de diversos ingredientes que ligado con bechamel, se reboza en huevo y pan rallado y se fríe en aceite abundante. Suele tener forma redonda u ovalada.
(es)
La croquette est un mets répandu dans de nombreux pays d'Europe et du monde, où elle peut être consommée comme entrée, plat d’accompagnement, grignotine ou plat principal.
(fr)
De kroket is een gefrituurd gerecht.
(nl)
O croquete é um tipo de salgado ou acepipe recheado de carne desfiada, normalmente bovina, mas pode ser preparado com aves ou peixes. Muito popular no Brasil e em Portugal, de origem provavelmente holandesa[carece de fontes] é encontrado em suas variações em vários lugares do mundo. São encontradas receitas com carne moída, frango, camarão, bacalhau, sardinha, atum, salmão, entre outros. Também são encontradas variações com queijo e vegetais como aspargos, batata e cenoura.
(pt)
Крокеты (от фр. croquer, кусать) — кулинарное блюдо цилиндрической или округлой формы из мясного фарша или овощей, обваленных в сухарях и обжаренных во фритюре. Вместо сухарей иногда используется картофельное пюре. Крокеты изначально появились во Франции. В дальнейшем приобрели мировую популярность и как деликатес, и как промышленно производимый фастфуд. Часто выступает в качестве гарнира.
(ru)
クロケット（仏: croquette。[krɔkɛt] クロケッ、コケットゥ）とは、小さな丸い揚げ物料理である。主な材料はマッシュポテト、挽き肉（子牛肉、牛肉、鶏肉、またはシチメンチョウ）、魚介類、野菜、および白パン、鶏卵、タマネギ、香辛料とハーブ、ワイン、牛乳またはこれらの組合わせであり、具入りの場合もあり、パン粉で包むことが多い 。クロケットは通常円筒形または円盤型であり、揚げて作る。クロケット（フランス語で「バリバリ音を立てて咬む」ことを意味する動詞クロケ「croquer」より）はフランス発祥であり、料理とファストフードの両方として世界的に普及している。フランスの大事典ではクロケットの初出文献は1740年（元文5年）との記載がある。しかし、イギリスの英語文献にクロケットが登場するのは1706年（宝永3年）。この両者の年代には34年の間があり、クロケットの起源説には謎がある。（参考「おいしいコロッケ大百科」）
(ja)
Krokiet – potrawa, która składa się z zapiekanego naleśnika z farszem.Do sporządzenia krokietów konieczne jest wykonanie farszu. Najprostszy farsz wykonać można z drobno posiekanej kiszonej kapusty z dodatkiem zasmażonej (na brązowo) na maśle posiekanej cebuli, przyprawionej pieprzem.Inne rodzaje farszu to:Po rozsmarowaniu farszu naleśnik zawija się i układa w rodzaj koperty, tak aby farsz nie wypadł, a następnie obtacza się w jajku z mąką i tartej bułce. Tak przygotowane krokiety smaży się na patelni na niezbyt głębokim oleju, do momentu, aż zbrązowieją ze wszystkich stron.
(pl)
A croquette is a small breadcrumbed fried food roll containing, usually as main ingredients, mashed potatoes or ground meat (veal, beef, chicken, or turkey), shellfish, fish, cheese, vegetables, and mixed with béchamel or brown sauce, and soaked white bread, egg, onion, spices and herbs, wine, milk, beer, or any of the combination thereof, sometimes with a filling, e.g. sautéed onions, mushrooms, or boiled eggs (Scotch eggs). The croquette is usually shaped into a cylinder, disk, or oval shape, and then deep-fried. The croquette (from the French croquer, "to crunch") gained worldwide popularity, both as a delicacy and as a fast food.
(en)
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i don't know
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Tarja Halonen, Martti Ahtisaari, and Mauno Koivisto have been presidents of Suomi - known in western language as?
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Republic of Finland | The Countries Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
The Republic of Finland is a parliamentary democracy in Europe .
Contents
[ show ]
History
Finland's nearly 700-year association with the Kingdom of Sweden began in 1154 with the introduction of Christianity by Sweden's King Eric. During the ensuing centuries, Finland played an important role in the political life of the Swedish-Finnish realm, and Finnish soldiers often predominated in Swedish armies. Finns also formed a significant proportion of the first "Swedish" settlers in 17th-century America.
Following Finland's incorporation into Sweden in the 12th century, Swedish became the dominant language, although Finnish recovered its predominance after a 19th-century resurgence of Finnish nationalism. Publication in 1835 of the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala--a collection of traditional myths and legends--first stirred the nationalism that later led to Finland's independence from Russia.
In 1809, Finland was conquered by the armies of Czar Alexander I and thereafter remained an autonomous grand duchy connected with the Russian Empire until the end of 1917. On December 6, 1917, shortly after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, Finland declared its independence. In 1918, the country experienced a brief but bitter civil war that colored domestic politics for many years. During World War II, Finland fought the Soviet Union twice--in the Winter War of 1939-40 and again in the Continuation War of 1941-44. This was followed by the Lapland War of 1944-45, when Finland fought against the Germans as they withdrew their forces from northern Finland.
During the Continuation War (1941-1944) Finland was a co-belligerent with Germany. However, Finnish Jews were not persecuted. Of the approximately 500 Jewish refugees who arrived in Finland, eight were handed over to the Germans, for which Finland submitted an official apology in 2000. Also during the war, approximately 2,600 Soviet prisoners of war were exchanged for 2,100 Finnish prisoners of war from Germany. In 2003, the Simon Wiesenthal Center submitted an official request for a full-scale investigation by the Finnish authorities of the prisoner exchange. It was established there were about 70 Jews among the extradited prisoners. However, none was extradited as a result of ethnic background or religious belief.
Treaties signed in 1947 and 1948 with the Soviet Union included obligations and restraints on Finland vis-a-vis the U.S.S.R. as well as territorial concessions by Finland; both have been abrogated by Finland since the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union (see Foreign Relations). [1]
Government
Finland has a mixed presidential/parliamentary system with executive powers divided between the president, who has primary responsibility for national security and foreign affairs, and the prime minister, who has primary responsibility for all other areas, including EU issues. Under the constitution that took effect in March 2000, the established practice for managing foreign policy is that the president keeps in close touch with the prime minister, the minister for foreign affairs, and other ministers responsible for foreign relations. Constitutional changes strengthened the prime minister--who must enjoy the confidence of the parliament (Eduskunta)--at the expense of the president. Finns enjoy individual and political freedoms, and suffrage is universal at 18. The country's population is relatively ethnically homogeneous. Immigration to Finland has significantly increased over the past decade, although the foreign-born population, only 2.9% of the total population (December 2009), is still much lower than in any other EU country. Few tensions exist between the Finnish-speaking majority and the Swedish-speaking minority.
President and cabinet
Elected for a 6-year term, the president:
Handles foreign policy, except for certain international agreements and decisions of peace or war, which must be submitted to parliament, and EU relations, which are handled by the prime minister;
Is commander in chief of the armed forces and has wide decree and appointive powers;
May initiate legislation, block legislation by pocket veto, and call extraordinary parliamentary sessions; and
Appoints the prime minister and the rest of the cabinet (Council of State). The Council of State is made up of the prime minister and ministers for the various departments of the central government as well as an ex officio member, the Chancellor of Justice. Ministers are not obliged to be members of the Eduskunta and need not be formally identified with any political party.
The president may, upon proposal of the prime minister and after having heard the parliamentary groups, order parliament to be dissolved, and a new election held.
Parliament
Constitutionally, the 200-member, unicameral Eduskunta is the supreme authority in Finland. It may alter the constitution, bring about the resignation of the Council of State, and override presidential vetoes; its acts are not subject to judicial review. Legislation may be initiated by the president, the Council of State, or one of the Eduskunta members.
The Eduskunta is elected on the basis of proportional representation. All persons 18 or older, except military personnel on active duty and a few high judicial officials, are eligible for election. The regular parliamentary term is 4 years; however, the president may dissolve the Eduskunta and order new elections at the request of the prime minister and after consulting the speaker of parliament.
Judicial system
The judicial system is divided between courts with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and special courts with responsibility for litigation between the public and the administrative organs of the state. Finnish law is codified. Although there is no writ of habeas corpus or bail, the maximum period of pretrial detention has been reduced to 4 days. The Finnish court system consists of local courts, regional appellate courts, a Supreme Court, and a Supreme Administrative Court.
Administrative divisions
As of January 1, 2010, Finland is divided into six Regional State Administrative Agencies; namely Etelä-Suomi, Itä-Suomi, Lounais-Suomi, Länsi- ja Sisä-Suomi, Pohjois-Suomi, Lappi) plus Åland – replacing the old division of six provinces . Finland has 20 regions, the regions are divided into 72 sub-regions and the sub-regions are divided into 342 municipalities. Fifteen Centers for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centers) form part of the government’s reform project for regional administration. The tasks and services of the former Employment and Economic Centers, Regional Environmental Centers, Road Districts, and State Provincial Offices’ departments for transport and communications and for education and culture have been pooled in the ELY Centers. They manage the regional implementation and development tasks of the state administration, and are tasked with promoting regional competitiveness, well-being and sustainable development, as well as curbing climate change.
The island province of Aland is located near the 60th parallel between Sweden and Finland. It enjoys local autonomy and demilitarized status by virtue of an international convention of 1921, implemented most recently by the Act on Aland Self-Government of 1951. The islands are further distinguished by the fact that they are entirely Swedish-speaking. Government is vested in the provincial council, which consists of 30 delegates elected directly by Aland's citizens.
Military
Finland's defense forces consist of 13,000 active duty personnel (9000 army; 2,000 navy; and 2000 air force). The country's defense budget equals about 1.3% of GDP. There is universal male conscription under which all men serve from six to 12 months. As of 1995, women were permitted to serve as volunteers. A reserve force ensures that Finland can field 350,000 trained military personnel in case of need. [2]
Politics
Finland's proportional representation system encourages a multitude of political parties and has resulted in many coalition governments. Political activity by communists was legalized in 1944, and although four major parties have dominated the postwar political arena, none now has a majority position. In March 2007 parliamentary elections, the Center Party (Keskusta), traditionally representing rural interests, kept its position as the largest party, getting 23.1% of the votes. The Conservative Party's support increased by 3.7 percentage points, the most of all parties, and it received 22.3% of all votes, making it the second largest political party in the country. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) suffered a defeat in these elections and fell to third position among the larger parties, receiving 21.4% of the votes. Of the other parties, the True Finns, the Green League, and the Swedish People's Party were able to gain seats in parliament. The Center then formed a four-party governing coalition with the Conservatives, the Swedish People's Party, and the Greens. The Conservative Party received the portfolios of foreign minister, finance minister, and defense minister, among others, and became an important participant again after a long absence. [3]
Foreign Policy
Finland's basic foreign policy goal from the end of the Continuation War with the U.S.S.R. in 1944 until 1991 was to avoid great-power conflicts and to build mutual confidence with the Soviet Union. Although the country was culturally, socially, and politically Western, Finns realized they must live in peace with the U.S.S.R. and take no action that might be interpreted as a security threat. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up dramatic new possibilities for Finland and has resulted in the Finns actively seeking greater participation in Western political and economic structures. Finland joined the European Union in 1995.
Relations With the Soviet Union and With Russia
The principal architect of the post-1944 foreign policy of neutrality was J.K. Paasikivi, who was President from 1946 to 1956. Urho Kekkonen, President from 1956 until 1981, further developed this policy, stressing that Finland should be an active rather than a passive neutral. This policy is now popularly known as the "Paasikivi-Kekkonen Line."
Finland and the U.S.S.R. signed a peace treaty at Paris in February 1947 limiting the size of Finland's defense forces and providing for the cession to the Soviet Union of the Petsamo area on the Arctic coast, the Karelian Isthmus in southeastern Finland, and other territory along the former eastern border. Another provision, terminated in 1956, leased the Porkkala area near Helsinki to the U.S.S.R. for use as a naval base and gave free access to this area across Finnish territory.
The 1947 treaty also called for Finland to pay to the Soviet Union reparations of 300 million gold dollars (amounting to an estimated $570 million in 1952, the year the payments ended). Although an ally of the Soviet Union in World War II, the United States was not a signatory to this treaty because it had not been at war with Finland.
In April 1948, Finland signed an Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance with the Soviet Union. Under this mutual assistance pact, Finland was obligated--with the aid of the Soviet Union, if necessary--to resist armed attacks by Germany or its allies against Finland or against the U.S.S.R. through Finland. At the same time, the agreement recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts. This agreement was renewed for 20 years in 1955, in 1970, and again in 1983 to the year 2003, although the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the agreement's abrogation.
The Finns responded cautiously in 1990-91 to the decline of Soviet power and the U.S.S.R.'s subsequent dissolution. They unilaterally abrogated restrictions imposed by the 1947 and 1948 treaties, joined in voicing Nordic concern over the coup against Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and gave increasing unofficial encouragement to Baltic independence.
At the same time, by replacing the Soviet-Finnish mutual assistance pact with treaties on general cooperation and trade, Finns put themselves on an equal footing while retaining a friendly bilateral relationship. Finland now is boosting cross-border commercial ties and touting its potential as a commercial gateway to Russia. It has reassured Russia that it will not raise claims for Finnish territory seized by the U.S.S.R. and continues to reaffirm the importance of good bilateral relations.
Multilateral Relations
Finnish foreign policy emphasizes its participation in multilateral organizations. Finland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the EU in 1995. As noted, the country also is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace as well as a member in the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. As a NATO partner, Finland has 178 military troops and 39 civil crisis management experts in Afghanistan (November 2010) serving with a Swedish-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in the province of Mazar-e-Sharif, working to create a secure environment for reconstruction in northern Afghanistan.
Finland is well represented in the UN civil service in proportion to its population and belongs to several of its specialized and related agencies. Finnish troops have participated in UN peacekeeping activities since 1956, and the Finns continue to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. Finland is an active participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in early 1995 assumed the co-chairmanship of the OSCE's Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Finland chaired the OSCE in 2008 and was part of the Chairmanship Troika in 2009.
Cooperation with the other Scandinavian countries also is important to Finland, and it has been a member of the Nordic Council since 1955. Under the council's auspices, the Nordic countries have created a common labor market and have abolished immigration controls among themselves. The council also serves to coordinate social and cultural policies of the participating countries and has promoted increased cooperation in many fields.
In addition to the organizations already mentioned, Finland became a member of the following organizations: Bank for International Settlements, 1930; International Monetary Fund, 1948; International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 1948; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), 1950; International Finance Corporation, 1956; International Development Association, 1960; European Free Trade Association, 1961; Asian Development Bank, 1966; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 1969; Inter-American Development Bank, 1977; African Development Bank, 1982; Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, 1988; the Council of Europe, 1989; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in Central and Eastern Europe, 1991; World Trade Organization, 1995; and INTELSAT, 1999. Finland entered Stage Three of EMU (the European Monetary Union) in 1999. All the Nordic countries, including Finland, joined the Schengen area in March 2001. [4]
Economy
Finland has a highly industrialized, free-market economy with a per capita output equal to that of other western economies such as France, Germany, Sweden, or the U.K. The largest sector of the economy is services (65.5%), followed by manufacturing and refining (31.6%). Primary production is at 2.9%.
The Finnish economy had made enormous strides since the severe recession of the early 1990s. Finland successfully joined the euro zone and outperformed euro-area partners in terms of economic growth and public finance. Following a period of sustained and robust growth, the Finnish economy suddenly slowed in the wake of the international financial crisis. GDP growth shrank from 0.9% in 2008 to -8% in 2009 (the sharpest contraction since Finland gained independence from Russia in 1917). Exports declined 32%, and unemployment climbed to 8.2%.
In 2010 the Finnish economy recovered from the 2009 financial crisis better than most forecasts predicted. GDP growth for 2010 is projected to be 3.2%, growth of 2.9% is projected for 2011 and 2.7% for 2012. The unemployment rate for 2010 is projected to be 8.4% and as the economy recovers forecasts predict a drop to 7.4% in 2012. At the end of 2010 the inflation rose to more than 2%. During 2011, inflation is expected to accelerate to 2.4%, mainly due to tax changes and international price pressures in the raw materials (Ministry of Finance estimates 12/20/2010).
Exports of goods and services contribute over 37.4% of Finland's GDP. Metals and engineering (including electronics) and timber (including pulp and paper) are Finland's main industries. The United States is Finland's third most important trading partner outside of Europe. With a 3.4% share of imports in 2009, the United States was Finland's ninth-largest supplier. Major exports from the United States to Finland continue to be machinery, telecommunications equipment and parts, metalliferous ores, road vehicles and transport equipment, computers, peripherals and software, electronic components, chemicals, medical equipment, and some agricultural products. The primary competition for American companies comes from Russia, Germany, Sweden, and China. The main export items from Finland to the United States are electronics, machinery, ships and boats, paper and paperboard, refined petroleum products, telecommunications equipment and parts. In 2009, the United States was Finland's third-largest customer after the EU (55.6%), and Russia (9%). However, trade is only part of the totality: the 10 biggest Finnish companies in the United States have a combined turnover that is three times the value of Finland's total exports to the United States. About 2.0% of the Finnish GDP comes from exports to the United States.
Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imported raw materials, energy, and some components for its manufactured products. Farms tend to be small, but farmers own sizable timber stands that are harvested for supplementary income in winter. The country's main agricultural products are dairy, meat, and grains. Finland's EU accession has accelerated the process of restructuring and downsizing of this sector. [5]
Demographics
The origins of the Finnish people are still a matter of conjecture, although many scholars argue that their original home was in what is now west-central Siberia. The Finns arrived in their present territory thousands of years ago, pushing the indigenous Lapps into the more remote northern regions. Finnish and Lappish--the language of Finland's small Lapp minority--both are Finno-Ugric languages and are in the Uralic rather than the Indo-European family. [6]
President
Kaarlo Ståhlberg ( ₩ ) (July 27, 1919 - March 1, 1925)
Lauri Relander ( ₩ ) (March 1, 1925 - March 1, 1931)
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud ( ₩ ) (March 1, 1931 - March 1, 1937)
Kyösti Kallio ( ₩ ) (March 1, 1937 - December 19, 1940)
Risto Ryti ( ₩ ) (December 19, 1940 - August 4, 1944)
Carl Gustaf Mannerheim ( ₩ ) (August 4, 1944 - March 11, 1946)
Juho Paasikivi ( ₩ ) (March 11, 1946 - March 1, 1956)
Urho Kekkonen ( ₩ ) (March 1, 1956 - January 27, 1982)
Mauno Koivisto ( ₩ ) (January 27, 1982 - March 1, 1994)
Martti Ahtisaari ( ₩ ) (March 1, 1994 - March 1, 2000)
Tarja Halonen ( ₩ ) (March 1, 2000 - )
Prime minister
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud ( ₩ ) (November 27, 1917 - May 27, 1918)
Juho Kusti Paasikivi ( ₩ ) (May 27, 1918 - November 26, 1918)
Lauri Ingman ( ₩ ) (November 26, 1918 - April 17, 1919)
Kaarlo Castrén ( ₩ ) (April 17, 1919 - August 15, 1919)
Juho Vennola ( ₩ ) (August 15, 1919 - March 15, 1920)
Rafael Erich ( ₩ ) (March 15, 1920 - April 9, 1921)
Juho Heikki Vennola ( ₩ ) (April 9, 1921 - June 2, 1922)
Kaarlo Cajander ( ₩ ) (June 2, 1922 - November 14, 1922)
Kyösti Kallio ( ₩ ) (November 14, 1922 - January 18, 1924)
Kaarlo Cajander ( ₩ ) (January 18, 1924 - May 31, 1924)
Lauri Ingman ( ₩ ) (May 31, 1924 - March 31, 1925)
Antti Tulenheimo ( ₩ ) (March 31, 1925 - December 31, 1925)
Kyösti Kallio ( ₩ ) (December 31, 1925 - December 13, 1926)
Väinö Tanner ( ₩ ) (December 13, 1926 - December 17, 1927)
Juho Emil Sunila ( ₩ ) (December 17, 1927 - December 22, 1928)
Oskari Mantere ( ₩ ) (December 22, 1928 - August 16, 1929)
Kyösti Kallio ( ₩ ) (August 16, 1929 - July 6, 1930)
Pehr Evind Svinhufvud ( ₩ ) (July 6, 1930 - February 16, 1931)
Juho Heikki Vennola ( ₩ ) (February 16, 1931 - March 21, 1931)
Juho Sunila ( ₩ ) (March 21, 1931 - December 14, 1932)
Toivo Mikael Kivimäki ( ₩ ) (December 14, 1932 - October 7, 1936)
Kyösti Kallio ( ₩ ) (October 7, 1936 - March 12, 1937)
Kaarlo Cajander ( ₩ ) (March 12, 1937 - December 1, 1939)
Risto Ryti ( ₩ ) (December 1, 1939 - December 21, 1940)
Karl Walden ( ₩ ) (December 21, 1940 - January 3, 1941)
Johan Rangell ( ₩ ) (January 3, 1941 - March 5, 1943)
Edwin Linkomies ( ₩ ) (March 5, 1943 - August 8, 1944)
Verner Hackzell ( ₩ ) (August 8, 1944 - September 21, 1944)
Jonas Castrén ( ₩ ) (September 21, 1944 - November 17, 1944)
Juho Kusti Paasikivi ( ₩ ) (November 17, 1944 - March 26, 1946)
Mauno Pekkala ( ₩ ) (March 26, 1946 - July 29, 1948)
Karl August Fagerholm ( ₩ ) (July 29, 1948 - March 17, 1950)
Urho Kekkonen ( ₩ ) (March 17, 1950 - November 17, 1953)
Sakari Tuomioja ( ₩ ) (November 17, 1953 - May 5, 1954)
Gustaf Törngren ( ₩ ) (May 5, 1954 - October 20, 1954)
Urho Kekkonen ( ₩ ) (October 20, 1954 - February 17, 1956)
Karl Fagerholm ( ₩ ) (February 17, 1956 - May 27, 1957)
Väinö Sukselainen ( ₩ ) (May 27, 1957 - November 29, 1957)
Rainer von Fieandt ( ₩ ) (November 29, 1957 - April 26, 1958)
Reino Kuuskoski ( ₩ ) (April 26, 1958 - August 29, 1958)
Karl August Fagerholm ( ₩ ) (August 29, 1958 - January 13, 1959)
Väinö Sukselainen ( ₩ ) (January 13, 1959 - May 19, 1961)
Vihtori Luukka ( ₩ ) (May 19, 1961 - July 14, 1961)
Martti Miettunen ( ₩ ) (July 14, 1961 - April 13, 1962)
Ahti Karjalainen ( ₩ ) (April 13, 1962 - December 18, 1963)
Reino Ragnar Lehto ( ₩ ) (December 18, 1963 - September 12, 1964)
Johannes Virolainen ( ₩ ) (September 12, 1964 - May 27, 1966)
Kustaa Paasio ( ₩ ) (May 27, 1966 - March 22, 1968)
Mauno Koivisto ( ₩ ) (March 22, 1968 - May 14, 1970)
Teuvo Aura ( ₩ ) (May 14, 1970 - July 15, 1970)
Ahti Karjalainen ( ₩ ) (July 15, 1970 - October 29, 1971)
Teuvo Aura ( ₩ ) (October 29, 1971 - February 23, 1972)
Kustaa Paasio ( ₩ ) (February 23, 1972 - September 4, 1972)
Kalevi Sorsa ( ₩ ) (September 4, 1972 - June 13, 1975)
Keijo Liinamaa ( ₩ ) (June 13, 1975 - November 30, 1975)
Martti Miettunen ( ₩ ) (November 30, 1975 - May 15, 1977)
Kalevi Sorsa ( ₩ ) (May 15, 1977 - May 26, 1979)
Mauno Koivisto ( ₩ ) (May 26, 1979 - January 27, 1982)
Eino Uusitalo ( ₩ ) (January 27, 1982 - February 19, 1982)
Kalevi Sorsa ( ₩ ) (February 19, 1982 - April 30, 1987)
Harri Holkeri ( ₩ ) (April 30, 1987 - April 26, 1991)
Esko Aho ( ₩ ) (April 26, 1991 - April 13, 1995)
Paavo Lipponen ( ₩ ) (April 13, 1995 - April 17, 2003)
Anneli Jäätteenmäki ( ₩ ) (April 17, 2003 - June 24, 2003)
Matti Vanhanen ( ₩ ) (June 24, 2003 - June 22, 2010)
Mari Kiviniemi ( ₩ ) (June 22, 2010 - )
Nation
↑ The United States Department of State - Background Note
↑ The United States Department of State - Background Note
↑ The United States Department of State - Background Note
↑ The United States Department of State - Background Note
↑ The United States Department of State - Background Note
↑ The United States Department of State - Background Note
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Finland
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Where in 2014 became the last European territory to decriminalize sex between men?
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Important places in Helsinki / Finland | De Architectura
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Kulttuuritalo is one of Aalto’s major works and his first public building in the metropolitan area. Aalto first sketched Kulttuuritalo on a pack of cigarettes. When it was built in 1958, it looked exactly the same as in the first version!
He achieves the free-form curves of the concert hall walls using wedge-shaped bricks, arranged variously with their shorter edge facing inside or outside the wall. The impact of the solid brick walls must be seen in the context of what had gone before. In Finland, the National-Romanics had used wood and granite to show closeness to Finnish nature, while the modern movement (as elsewhere) used more abstract white plaster surfaces (which did not wear well particularly in the Finnish climate). Aalto’s red brick was therefore a bigger statement than it now seems: a man-made material that keeps its individuality and local personality.
(As Aalto described it,
An ordinary wall brick is a seemingly primitive object. If properly made, refining materials obtained from the earth itself, using them in the right way, and linking them to the whole correctly, the brick, however, forms the basic unit of the most precious monuments built by humankind; similarly, the brick is the basic element of social comfort in a giving environment.)
The House of Culture is reinforced concrete framed. The wholeness is governed by the asymmetrical Aalto auditorium made of red bricks and coppery sheet metal roof. The wide fan-like form originates in the idea of having a space that would not seem empty.
One half of the asymmetrical auditorium creates a feeling of intimacy and privacy, whereas the other half creates a feeling of an enormous and breathtaking space. To solve the problem in having a free of form brick structure, Aalto designed – for Kulttuuritalo in particular – a wedge-shaped brick that is considered as the gem of Aalto’s red brick phase in the 50s.
sources:
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Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto was a Finnish architect and designer. His work includes architecture, furniture, textiles and glassware. Aalto’s early career runs in parallel with the rapid economic growth and industrialization of Finland during the first half of the twentieth century and many of his clients were industrialists. The span of his career, from the 1920s to the 1970s, is reflected in the styles of his work, ranging from Nordic Classicism of the early work, to a rational International StyleModernism during the 1930s to a more organic modernist style from the 1940s onwards. Although he is sometimes regarded as among the first and most influential architects of Nordic modernism, he also completed his first public buildings, the Jyväskylä Workers’ Club in 1925, the Jyväskylä Defence Corps building in 1926 and the Seinajoki Defence Corp building in 1924-29. Aalto also entered several architectural competitions for prestigious state public buildings, both in Finland and abroad, including the two competitions for the Finnish Parliamentary building in 1923 and 1924, the extension to the University of Helsinki in 1931, and the building to house the League of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The shift in Aalto’s design approach from classicism to modernism is epitomised by the Viipuri Library (1927–35), which went through a transformation from an originally classical competition entry proposal to the completed high-modernist building. Yet his humanistic approach is in full evidence in the library: the interior displays natural materials, warm colours, and undulating lines. Aalto’s early experiments with wood and his move away from a purist modernism would be tested in built form with the commission to design Villa Mairea. He built many houses, too, the design of the house is a synthesis of numerous stylistic influences, from traditional Finnish vernacular to purist modernism, as well as influences from English and Japanese architecture . The early 1960s and 1970s (up until his death in 1976) were marked by key works in Helsinki, in particular the huge town plan for the void in centre of Helsinki adjacent to Toolo Bay and the vast railway yards , and marked on the edges by significant buildings such as the National Museum and the main railway station, both by Eliel Saarinen. In his town plan Aalto proposed a line of separate marble-clad buildings fronting the bay which would house various cultural institutions, including a concert hall, opera, museum of architecture and headquarters for the Finnish academy. Aalto’s career spans the changes in style from Nordic Classicism to purist International Style Modernism to a more personal, synthetic and idiosyncratic Modernism. Aalto’s wide field of design activity ranges from the large scale of city planning and architecture to interior design, furniture and glassware design and painting.
ARTEK
Artek is a Finnish furniture company. It was founded in December 1935 by architect Alvar Aalto and his wife Aino Aalto, visual arts promoter Maire Gullichsen and art historian Nils-Gustav Hahl. The founders chose a non-Finnish name, the neologism Artek was meant to manifest the desire to combine art and technology. This echoed a main idea of the International Style movement, especially the Bauhaus, to emphasize the technical expertise in production and quality of materials, instead of historical-based, eclectic or frivolous ornamentation.The original aim of the venture was to promote the furniture and glassware of Alvar Aalto and Aino Aalto, and to produce furnishings for their building. Artek also have their own in-house designers, the most well-known of the being Ben af Schulten . From the very beginning of his career Alvar Aalto experimented with materials, especially wood, and even applied for patents for the bending of wood as applied in his furniture designs and as acoustic screens in his buildings. The Aaltos designed several different types of furniture and lamps for the Paimio Sanatorium (1929-33). The best known of the furniture pieces is his cantilevered birch wood Paimio Chair, which was specifically designed for tuberculosis patients to sit in for long hours each day. Aalto argued that the angle of the back of the chair was the perfect angle for the patient to breathe most easily. The design of the chair may have been influenced by Marcel Breuer’s metal Wassily Chair , though Aalto was generally negative towards metal furniture. [3] The degree of bending of the wood tested the technical limits of that time. The chair is part of the permanent collections at the MoMA in New York and the Finnish Design Museum.
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The Railway Station is the main landmark in central Helsinki and the most important point of public transport. The station is used by approximately 200,000 passengers per day, making it Finland’s most-visited building. The station also hosts the Rautatientori metro station.
The first Railway Station in Helsinki was built in 1860 and, as the popularity of railways grew, the station turned out to be too small. A contest was organised with the intention of producing plans for a new station and it was won by Eliel Saarinen, with a pure national romanticist design. Saarinen abandoned romanticism altogether and re-designed the station completely.
The new design was finished in 1909 and the station was opened in 1919. The clock tower side of the station was damaged in a fire on 14 June 1950.
The Railway Station is a later form of Art Nouveau architecture (Jugend) that were most popular during 1890–1910. Although Art Nouveau was replaced by 20th-century modernist styles, it is considered now as an important transition between the Historicism of Neoclassicism and modernism.
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The House of Culture is to the north of Helsinki’s city center, a short walk to the east of the main Mannerheimintie road. The exterior is visible directly from the road.
The House of Culture was build for the Finnish Communist Party, in the 1950s. The year of completion of the building, 1958, marked the high point of their electoral success. ‘
It serves as a centre for the cultural work of various trade-union organizations. The building comprises three distinct parts: offices, lecture and conference rooms, a concert hall. The office part has five storeys with 110 offices, meeting rooms and two flats. In the lecture and conference room section are a lecture hall, study rooms, discussion rooms, a library and a records room. The hall, with 1500 seats and a stage 200 sq m, is primarily intended for concerts, but is also used for lectures. The constert hall is very famous for it’s acoustics and many artists have performed in there.
The House of Culture in Helsinki is Aalto in his ‘red brick period’. The impact of the solid brick walls must be seen in the context of what had gone before. In Finland, the National-Romanics had used wood and granite to show closeness to Finnish nature, while the modern movement (as elsewhere) used white plaster surfaces, which did not wear well particularly in the Finnish climate. It was a man-made material that keeps its individuality and local personality.
Aalto said that an ordinary wall brick is a seemingly primitive object. If properly made, the brick, however, forms the basic unit of the most precious monuments built by humankind; similarly, the brick is the basic element of social comfort in a giving environment.
The building has Roman elements thanks to the presence of bricks that surrounding the structure. In fact, the brick was invented by them with the processing of mortar.
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Temppeliaukio Church is a Lutheran church designed by two architect brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1968. It´s situated in the Töölö neighborhood of Helsinki, in the heart of the city. It is also known as the Church in a Rock.
The plans for the Temppeliaukio/Tempelplatsen (Temple square) was started in early the 1930’s when a plot of land was selected for the building and a competition for the design was announced. The winner of the first competition was J. S. Siren, but his plan was interrupted because of the World War II in 1939. After the war, there was another architectural competition, which was won by Timo Suomalainen and Tuomo Suomalainen in 1961. Construction finally began in February 1968, and the rock-temple was completed for consecration in September 1969.
The interior was excavated and built out of solid rock and a natural light enters through the glazed dome. The dome is an element of classic style and it dominates all the building but it’s conceived in perfectly contemporary style. There are the iconic rock walls that are not included in the original competition entry, but were included by the Suomalainen brothers later on. It has an excellent acoustic quality which is created by the rough, virtually unworked rock surfaces. In fact the church is used frequently as a concert venue due to its outstanding acoustics.
The Temppeliaukio church is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city; half a million people visit it annually.
The main thing that makes the church even more unique, is that the church doesn’t have any bells, but an audio track composed by Taneli Kuusisto. The track is played via loudspeakers on the exterior wall.
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The Helsinki Olympic Stadium is situated in the Töölö district near from the center of Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is known for olympics games of 1952.The stadium was also the venue for the first World Athletics Championships in 1983 as well as for the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. It hosted both the 1971 European Athletics Championships and the European Athletics Championships in 1994. It will once again be the venue for the championships in 2012. It is also used for home matches of the Finland national football team.
http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/artikkeli/Yleisurheilun+EM-is%C3%A4nnyys+tarjolla+Helsingille+2012/1135250614729
here there is an image of the stadium.
Construction of the Olympic Stadium began in 1934 and it was completed in 1938. The Olympic was designed in functionalistic style by the architects Yrjö Lindegren and Toivo Jäntti (Do you know them??).
The stadium was completely modernized in 1990–1994 and also renovated just before the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. It can host over 70,000 spectator places in the olympics game of 1952. Nowadays the stadium has 40,600 spectator places. During concerts, depending on the size of the stage, the capacity is 45,000–50,000.
The tower of the stadium, a distinct landmark with a height of 72.71 metres, is open for visitors and offers impressive views over Helsinki.
The 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Olympic Games hosted in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium was the main motif for a one of the first Finnish euro silver commemorative coins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adVLizQ2mdk (a concert of Bon Jovi)
Have you ever been there? I can´t wait to see it and I would really like to see a match between Finland and Italy!! 😀
Bye Bye, Andrea.
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Kiasma is a contemporary art museum located on Mannerheimintie in Helsinki, Finland. The construction was started in 1996 and it was opened in 1998, The museum exhibits the contemporary art collection of the Finnish National Gallery founded in 1990. Its central goal is to make contemporary art better known and strengthen its status.
There was a competition to design the museum that was held in 1992 and was meant for architects from the Nordics and Baltic countries. In 1993 the work “chiasma” was selected from 516 competitors and won the American architect Steven Holl.
STEVEN HOLL
Steven Holl is an American architect and watercolorist, perhaps best known for the 1998 Kiasma Contemporary Art Museum in Helsinki, Finland, the 2003 Simmons Hall at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the celebrated 2007 Bloch Building addition to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, and the praised 2009 Linked Hybrid mixed-use complex in Beijing, China.
Holl won first prize in the Amerika-Gedenkbibliothek International Library Design Competition in 1988, an expansion and renovation of the American Memorial Library in Berlin. In February, 1989 Holl’s work was exhibited in a solo show at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. MoMA later purchased twenty-five works by Holl for the museum’s permanent collection. In the 1992 competition for a new contemporary arts museum in Helsinki, Finland, Holl’s entry, entitled “Chiasma,” won first prize out of more than five hundred international entries.
Link to kiasma picture by Dima, i am not sure i have anything to add to this text 😀 good work!
maybe just something about collections in Kiasma,
Collections
The collections of the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma comprise more than 8000 works of art, primarily from Finland or neighbouring countries.
The collections serve both as a memory and a framework for contemporary art. Works of art are acquired in widening geographical circles, although the focus remains on art from Finland and the neighbouring regions.
http://www.google.it/imgres?imgurl=http://www.finlandiatalo.fi/midcom-serveattachmentguid-ce3ce1ff5ebec08a8366b3b0d817826b/toolonlahti.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.finlandiatalo.fi/en/visitors/about-the-finlandia-hall/&h=330&w=530&sz=59&tbnid=IWFkP3C9ArI2UM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=121&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dfinlandia%2Bhall%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=finlandia+hall&usg=__CW8by9XI_9GOjV5JWcQ7DzLNOQo=&docid=mfaHot_QEMjQTM&hl=fi&sa=X&ei=0Pj0UJj8GOiM4AS_1oCwAw&ved=0CFcQ9QEwBg&dur=1250
Finlandia Hall is a concert hall with a congress wing in Helsinki in Töölönlahti bay that was designed by Alvar Aalto.
The first thing that we can see is that the building’s exterior is characterized by a great horizontal mass of the building and the towering auditorium that rises above it. The wall’s material is Carrara marble and copper roofs. But the marble isn’t only outside because it continues in the interior, and it’s enriched by details in hardwoods and ceramic.
Other features of this imposing structure are asymmetricity, acoustical wall structures and the contrast between the marble balconies and blue walls in the concert hall interior.
For this building Aalto was inspirated to the form of the Greek theatre, but the acustical was fine for the classical oratories and not for the concerts.
They started to build Finlandia hall in 1967 and it was finally completed in 1971, so it took 4 years to build it. The first concert took place on 2nd of December 1971. But the congress wing was completed only in 1975.
It was opened just in time for the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, during which the heads of state from thirty-two countries visited Helsinki.
And exactly the Helsinki Final Act was signed at Finlandia Hall.
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The National Library of Finland is the foremost research library in Finland. Administratively the library is part of the University of Helsinki. Until 1 August 2006, it was known as the Helsinki University Library. In addition to being the most important of the libraries of the University of Helsinki, the National Library is responsible for storing the Finnish cultural heritage. By Finnish law, the National Library is entitled to receive copies of all printed matter, as well as audiovisual materials excepting films, produced in Finland of for distribution in Finland. These copies are then distributed by the Library to its own national collection and to reserve collections of five other university libraries. Also, the National Library has the obligation to collect and preserve materials published on the Internet.
Here’s a picture:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:National_Library_of_Finland.jpg
In 2011 the National Library of Finland welcomed a total of 166,300 customers. The library collections, the largest in Finland, comprised about 109 kilometres of shelf space. The collections included a total of some three million books and periodicals. Approximately 7.6 million pages of digitised material were viewed over the web. Some 224 million files were harvested for the Finnish Web Archive, which currently contains a total of 718 million files.
Today, the library is responsible for the collection, description, preservation and accessibility of Finland’s printed national heritage and the unique collections under its care. In short, the library completes the statutory duties required of a library in Finland.
The library holds an almost complete collection of literature published in Finland or relating to Finland (“the Fennica collection”)and extensive collections of other humanities literature. In 2011 the library collections icluded a total of some three million books and periodicals. The online archive contained 718 million files.
I like books and libraries so I can’t wait to vist it 😀
See you all very soon!
Source:Tourist Link
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In the National Library, ít´s quite easy to see the classical influences. The facade is a rimender of the acients Greek and Roman temples because of the columns and pillars that have a Corinthian capital.
The Library moved from Turku to Helsinki after it burned down.
Jugend” is the name used to represent the Finnish National Romantic
movement in the European Art Nouveau movements.
Jugend flourished in the early years of the 20th century when Finland was
struggling to obtain its independence from Russia. During this important
Finnish historical period Jugend, like some of the Art Nouveau movements,
tried to do something really modern and, at the same time, rooted in its
national style. Finnish Art Nouveau was influenced by the Kalevala, which
is the national epic of Finland. The Kalevala was published in 1835 and is
a collection of Finnish folklore compiled by Elias Lönnrot from Finnish
and Karelian oral folklore and mythology.
Villa Hvitträsk is an excellent example of Finland’s National Romantic
style. It was created by Eliel Saarinen and his partners Herman Gesellius
and Armas Lindgren. It was Saarinen’s delightful home for his own family
and it was built between 1901 and 1904.
The villa contains many characteristics of Jugendstil (the Germanic and
Scandinavian version of Art Nouveau) and blends traditional Finnish
building materials, methods and spirit with the philosophy of John Ruskin
and William Morris and their English Arts and Crafts Movement.
The medieval quality of the structures recalls the settings in the
Kalevala reinterpreting the past but in the most avant garde manner.
Saarinen, Gesellius, and Lindgren carefully crafted buildings of stone,
plaster, shingles, and logs that are completely at ease with their heavily
forested and rocky surroundings.
Now the Villa Hvitträsk is a house monument which represents Arts and
Crafts design in Finland.
Have you ever visited Villa Hvitträsk? What do you think about it? Is
there the typical mistery of the Kalevala epic poem?
If you have never been there and you want to see the villa, watch this
nice video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZsHgYYqYhg
CLASSIC ELEMENT:
All elements of Villa Hvitträsk derives from the Romantic style but the only one classic element could be the cupola ,built between 1901 and 1904, destroyed in 1922 by a major fire.
Photo by Alessandra Camilli
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Uspenski Cathedral is the biggest Orthodox building in western Europe; Aleksei Gornostajev planned it but only six months after his death the Cathedral was built (between1862 and 1868).
Someone says that the name comes from a Russian word and others thinks that it comes from a slavic one but in both the case it means dormition, in fact the church is dedicated to the mother of Jesus, Mary, because is believed that she didn’t die but she fell in a deep sleep before that she reached the sky. The interior of the church is inspired by Byzantine canons and the domes are covered with 22 carat gold and they have been nicknamed “sipulit”(onions). Located on Katajanokka Hill, the Uspenski Cathedral offers a terrific view of the capital.
How we´ve said before the church is based on Byzantine canons so the Classic influece it´s not too evident but Byzantine art come from the Classic one.
sources: http://finlandia.ilreporter.com/uspenski-la-cattedrale-ortodossa-di-helsinki/ http://www.guidafinlandia.it/helsinki/chiese-helsinki/chiese-helsinki/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R74zz-3Rcrs
Jenna:
This Cathedral is also really famous turist attract. There goes every year about half a million tourists . There is a lot of icons inside of the Cathedral. There have been used lot of gold to the decorations. Cathedral looks from the outside that there have been used slavic tradition but in inside there is influence from Bysantine tradition. In orthodox sacraments men should stand on the left and women on the right. That there wouldnt be any distractions.
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This is the public library of Vyborg, designed by a finnish architect Alvar Aalto. He won the design competition for Viipuri Library with a proposal that was marked by Nordic Classicism. The final decision on the construction of the library was taken in 1933, but the site had been changed, and Aalto had had to make new drawings. In its final form it represented International Modernism. The library was inaugurated in 1935. The building was renovated in 1955 after the Second World War.
The library consisted of reading rooms in the shape of an amphitheater, a small auditorium and offices. The building is made of reinforced concrete but it was completely whitewashed.
The rooms had different heights; in reading rooms were placed skylights funnel-shaped in the attics to prevent direct radiation of the sun and do not use opaque glass, at night the rooms were illuminated with spotlights retractable. The small auditorium had a wavy ceiling, made of strips of wood red, the shape of the ceiling was such because the acoustics were optimal whatever be the position of the speaker.
Have you ever visited it?
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The Campus of Politecnico, situated in the area of Espoo in Otaniemi, is the biggest campus of the Aalto University and also the most important among the other ones, in fact the University is deciding to move its operations in the area of Otaniemi.
It’s a modern building complex, made between the 1964 and the 1969: it has some libraries linked to the other main constructions of the institute; the main building, the entrance of Otahalli sport (building for the Olympics) and other buildings were planned by the architect Alvar Aalto, while the old dormitories, the Mökki Servin restaurant and the Otaniemi chapel were planned by Heikki Siren and his wife Kaija; Dipoli was planned by Reima Pietilä and Raili Paatelainen; the structure of the building is made in renforced concrete.
This campus is specialised in technology, one of the three faculties of the Aalto University, but it’s also known as one of the best campus in the world for its chemistry department. This polytechnic hosts lot’s of organizations where there are many opportunities to do in the pastimes of the students. “The aim is to create a vibrant and interactive research and studying environment where work, studying, recreational activities and everyday life will naturally be connected to each other.”(phrase taken by the following site: http://www.aalto.fi/en/about/campuses/ )
Moreover, another goal of the polytechnic is to take part of the best ten polytechnics in Europe.
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The Ateneum is one of the most important museums in Finland. It is situated in the centre of Helsinki at the Rautatientori square. It presents the biggest and the most important collections of classical art in Finland and you can also admire a fine collection of international art which includes the works of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin.
In the past in the Ateneum building there was the Finnish Academy of Fine Art and University of Art and Design Helsinki. This building is owned by Senate Properties.
The Ateneum museum was designed by Theodor Höijer. The facade is decorated with statues and reliefs which contain a lot of symbols, you can admire busts of three famous classical artist: the architect Bramante, the painter Raphael and the sculptor Phidias (you can see them in the second floor of the façade)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ateneum_Busts.jpg
In the third floor, you can observe four “caryatids” (sculptures female which were used as an architectural support like a column) , these sculptures symbolize the four classical art forms: architecture, painting, sculpting and music.
In the façade you can admire a collage of sculptures in which the Goddess of Art blesses the products of different art form. All the statues were built by Carl Sjostrand.
In the second floor windows you can see several reliefs by Ville Vallegren representing finnish and international artist.
It houses the largest collections of art in Finland with more than 20,000 works of art from 1750s to the 1959s.
I saw the virtual tour of this museum on internet and I liked it, because it is classical and modern in the same time, the structure of the building is classical but it houses also modern’s works. In my opinion, it is a good and beautiful thing.
here the virtual tour: http://helsinki.arounder.com/it/musei-storici/ateneum-art-museum/stairs.html
I can’t wait to visit it.
Have you ever visited this museum? Did you like it? 😀
Giada
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Beside all of these sculptures front of the Ateneum building, in the entrance there is a triangle decorated with golden letters that announce in Latin that „In harmony small things grow.“
In addition to Ateneum’s own Finnish art collection, they own some international works as well. For example, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Paul Cézanne, Fernand Léger and Marc Chagall’s drawings. Most of the works are either donated or bought.
Besides to their own art collections there have always been many varied exhibitions in Ateneum.The most popular and followed exhibition was of Picasso between the years 2009 and 2010 since almost 315, 000 people visited Ateneum during that exhibition.
And a last but not least fact: Ateneum owns more than 4,300 paintings and over 750 sculptures.
-Eliis 🙂
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Alvar Aalto’s first building built in Helsinki was his own home and architecture studio. Aalto’s home is a great example of his design principles of using natural light, breaking down barriers between indoor and outdoor space and the importance of scale, circulation and flow in architecture.
When Alvar Alto and his wife Aino left their home in Turku and moved in with their two children in 1936, the building was also a workplace and studio until the mid-50s when a larger studio was constructed nearby. Alvar’s first wife and collaborator, Aino, died in 1949. When Alvar married architect Elissa in 1952, she also contributed design work to the home and office. Completed in 1936, the home at Riihitie 20 would be Aalto’s primary residence until his death in 1976 and his second wife, Elissa’s, residence until her death in 1994. The home remained in the Aalto family until 1998 when ownership was passed to the Alvar Aalto foundation. After 2 years of conservation efforts ending in 2002, the cozy family home is open as a museum. While I was photographing the home after our tour, Dwell Editor in Chief Sam Grawe was compiling a post on Aalto’s designs for lamps and lighting.
Classic elements : Before moving to the modernism in the late 1920s he started to a classical education and his first desing is called Nordic Classicism, a style that had been a reaction to the previous dominant style of National Romanticism.
kisses Eleonora
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Helsinki Cathedral is the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. The church was originally built in 1830-1852 as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicolas of Russia. It was also known as St. Nicolas’ Church until the independence of Finland in 1917. Originally the church was Orthodox.
Here, you can see a picture 😀
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Lutheran_Cathedral_Helsinki_edit.jpg
Green Dome is surrounded by four smaller domes, the building is made in neoclassical style. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel as the climax of his Senate Square layout: it is surrounded by other, smaller buildings designed by him. The church’s plan is a Greek cross. Today the church doesn’t apply to Engel’s original design.
The cathedral was built on the site of the smaller Ulrika Eleonora Church, which was dedicated to its patroness, Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden. It was constructed on Senate Square in the early 2000s. Helsinki old church was built between 1824 and 1826 in nearby Kamppi to serve the parish while the Ulrika Eleonora Church was being demolished and until the consecration of the new cathedral.
Today, the cathedral is one of Helsinki’s most popular tourist attractions. More than 350,000 people visit the church each year, some attend religious events, but mostly as tourists. The church is in regular use for services of worship and special events such as weddings, concerts and opening for religious events, for example Lucia Parade which is celebrated in on the 13th of December.
the influence of the cathedral is neo-classical. The columns, with gables and Corinthian capitals, remind of Greek and Roman temples. You can see it in the picture:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Pantheon_rome_2005may.jpg (Pantheon)
I look forward to seeing you and i can’t wait to visit this monument too because it’s very fascinating!!
Kisses Carolina, see u soon..!
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Reima Pietilä was born on 25 of August 1923 and died on 26 of August 1993 and he was a Finnish architect, and a professor of architecture at the University of Oulu from 1973 to 1979. He did most of his work together with his wife Raili Pietilä , who was born on 15 of August 1926. They have a daughter, Annukka Pietilä (born 1963), who is also a qualified architect.
Reima Pietilä’s life and his career have been quoted in the writings of British architectural historian-critics Roger Connah and Malcolm Quantrill. One of his most famous works is the Student Union building Dipoli (1961–66) at Helsinki University of Technology, in Oteniemi. It is a conference center for the students. The building is characterized from its huge boulders, copper-sheated walls and concrete roof, reads as a primeval shelter and and the primal cave.
Another Reima’s work is the building of Mäntyniemi, one of the three official residences of the President of Finland besides the Presidential Place and Kultaranta. It is located by the sea. Construction started in September 1989 and was completed in 1993. Four Finnish presidents have lived there: Mauno Koivisto, Martti Ahtisaari, Tarja Halonen, and the incumbent Sauli Niinistö. Steps lead down from the main reception room to a waterfront terrace.
A major exhibition of the work of Reima and Raili Pietilä was held in 2008 (from 27 February to 25 May) at the Museum of Finnish Architecture in Helsinki, titled Raili and Reima Pietilä. Challenging Modern Architecture.
kisses Chiara
http://www.tpk.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=167728&nodeid=44837&culture=en-US
CLASSICAL ELEMENTS:
In Dipoli there is a strong connection between nature and the built environment. In fact, the forest seems to penetrate the building and in doing so the building disappears as a separate entity and morphs with its environment. These elements recall the balance between man and nature of classical world.
In Mantyniemi the use of the granite could be connected with the classical world’s materials.
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The National Museum of Finland presents Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present day.
The building was designed by architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen and the appearance reflects Finland’s medieval churches and castles.
The architecture belongs to national romanticism and the most part of the interior to art nouveau.
Inside, permanent exhibitions of the National Museum are divided into six parts.
The museum was opened to the public in 1916 and was named the Finnish National Museum after Finland’s independence in 1917. The museum was opened in 2000 after renovations.
In 2006 there was an explosion accident in the Silver Room caused by a gas pipe leak.
You can se here a picture 🙂 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helsinki_Kansallismuseo_2006.jpg
You can read more here: http://www.nba.fi/en/nationalmuseum
I really like that structure and I can’t wait to visit it! 😀
Do you like it too? Have you ever visited it?
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Lars Sonck was a Finnish architect whose buildings show the influence of a neo-romanesque style. In 1908-1912 he designed a Lutheran church: the Kallio Church. In this church there is a change from National Romantic style to Art Nouveau.
The Kallio Church is a grey granite building situated at the end of the longest street of Helsinki. With this church Lars Sonck realised his ambition to design a church that would dominate the scenery of its location.
Lars Sonck also built a house that became a museum, it was the house of Aino and Jean Sibelius, this museum is called Ainola.
Inside the church you can see interesting details like a crucifix and
relief made by sculptor Hannes Autere.
In 1990 the church got an urn cemetery where urns are temporarily
preserved and then transferred into a special stone grave under the
church. This practice restored the old tradition of burying the dead under
the church floor.
Kallio Church is also known as a centre for organ music in Helsinki
because of its excellent acoustics. The church has two organs: one in
French Romantic style and the other one in Baroque style. These organs
have been played by the best known international organists.
When the weather is good, you can see Estonia from the tower.
Here you can watch a nice video. The bells of the tower play a melody composed by Jean Sibelius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7SWcrOyAHk”
and here you can watch a video that talks about the church: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU6O05ZVwu4
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The Kallio Church is located in the district of Kallio in Helsinki. The church is characterized by the use of Finnish materials, solid shapes on the walls and the nature themed decoration, roses, lilies and laurel wreaths. It is the only church in Finland with both Baroque and French Romantic organs. The church hall was originally planned for 1,600 seats, though the seating capacity reaches nowadays up to about 1,100 seats. The present stone altar dates back to 1986 and was designed by Tauno Kivinen. The church textiles were changed recently (in 2009) and they have been designed by Sarah Rastas.
Laura
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The Töölö Church was designed by Georg Hilding Ekelund (1893-1984), an important Finnish architect. His career was wide: he designed public housing areas, he planned towns, public buildings, factories and churches.
Like many other Finnish architects, he was interested in anonymous Italian architecture. In 1921-22 he went on a tour of Italy and he published the sketches produced on that tour under the title of ”Italia la bella” in The Finnish Architectural Review. From 1927 to 1941 he taught at Helsinki University of Technology and was Professor of Architecture from 1950 to 1958. From 1931 to 1934 he was editor-in-chief of the Finnish architects’ journal Arkkitehti. His career as an architect spans the change in styles in Finland from the Nordic Classicism of the 1920s to the Modernism of the 1970s. The Töölö Church is one of his major works.
You can see it in this picture: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Toolo_church-Helsinki1.jpg
This is a Lutheran church built by Hilding Ekelund in 1930 in the Classicism of the 1920s. The church has a capacity of 500 people. In my opinion the classical elements that can be seen in the church are the arches, the columns and the parish building which has the shape of a Classical temple.
Do you agree with me? Can you see any other classical elements?
Does the church remind you any buildings you saw in Rome?
According to you what are Ekelund’s most beautiful works?
You can find interesting information about the architect here: http://www.mfa.fi/architect?apid=3131
Instead it is difficult to find information about the church.
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i don't know
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Colombian Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927-2014) and Chilean Pablo Neruda (1904-73) are famous South American?
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Gabriel Garcia Marquez facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Gabriel Garcia Marquez
COPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group, Inc.
Gabriel Jose García Márquez: 1928—: Author, journalist
One of the most influential novelists of the twentieth century, Gabriel García Márquez was a key figure in the Latin American literary renaissance of the 1960s and 1970s. His novel One Hundred Years of Solitude was read throughout the world, selling millions of copies and introducing enthusiastic readers across the globe to the genre of "magical realism." A prolific journalist as well as a novelist and short story writer, García Márquez has reported from several world capitals and remained active through the 1990s as publisher of the Colombian news magazine Cambio.
A Childhood Steeped in Myth
García Márquez was born on March 6, 1928, in Aracataca, Colombia , a small town on the Caribbean coast to which his mother's family had moved after her father, Colonel Nicolas Marquez Mejfa, had killed a man in a duel. The oldest child of 11 siblings, García Márquez grew up in Aracataca with his maternal grandparents, who nurtured the budding writer's imagination with fascinating stories of local history and family events. The Colonel reminisced frequently about his youth during the country's civil wars, while the boy's grandmother, who claimed to converse with ghosts and spirits, recounted family legends and became the boy's "source of the magical, superstitious and supernatural view of reality," as García Márquez described it in a New York Times Book Review piece quoted in Dictionary of Hispanic Biography.
Among the more memorable family stories was that of García Márquez's parents' courtship. "This history of their forbidden love was one of the wonders of my youth," he wrote in "Seranade," a piece published in New Yorker. So impassioned were his parents' accounts of the affair, he observed, that when he attempted to write about the subject in his novel Love in the Time of Cholera "I couldn't distinguish between life and poetry." It was the Colonel who disapproved of Gabriel Eligio Garcia as a suitor for his daughter, Luisa Santiaga; the young telegraph operator had a reputation as a womanizer and had been born out of wedlock to a fourteen-year-old girl who went on to have six other children by three different men. "It is surprising that Colonel Marquez was so disquieted by this irregular conduct," García Márquez wrote, "when the Colonel himself had fathered, in addition to his three official children, nine more by different mothers, both before and after his marriage, and all of them were welcomed by his wife as if they were her own." Gabriel Eligio Garcia was also a political conservative—the party against whom the Colonel had fought in the civil wars—and had few financial prospects. After a passionate courtship that included violin serenades, exile, and even the purchase of a revolver by which Gabriel Eligio Garcia hoped to protect himself from the Colonel's wrath, the couple eloped. When Luisa Santiaga announced her first pregnancy, however, her parents welcomed her and her husband back to Aracataca, where the writer was born in his grandparents' house. García Márquez grew up with ten younger siblings and also has several half siblings from his father's extramarital affairs.
At a Glance . . .
Born March 6, 1928, in Aracataca, Colombia; son of Gabriel Eligio Garcia (a telegraph operator) and Luisa Santiaga Marquez Iguaran; married Mercedes Barcha, 1958; children: two sons. Education: Universidad nacional de Colombia, 1947-48; Universidad de Cartagena , 1948-49.
Career: Began career as a journalist, 1947; reporter for Universal, Cartegena, Colombia, late 1940s, El heraldo, Baranquilla, Colombia, 1950-52, and El espectador, Bogota, Colombia, until 1955; freelance journalist in Paris , London, and Caracas , Venezuela , 1956-58; worked for Momento magazine, Caracas, 1958-59; helped form Prensa Latina news agency, Bogota, 1959, and worked as its correspondent in Havana , Cuba , and New York City, 1961; writer, 1965–; Fundacion Habeas, founder, 1979, president, 1979–.
Memberships: American Academy of Arts and Letters (honorary fellow).
Awards: Colombian Association of Writers and Artists Award, 1954; Premio Literario Esso (Colombia), 1961; Chianciano Award (Italy), 1969; Prix de Meilleur Livre Etranger ( France ); 1969, Romulo Gallegos prize (Venezuela), 1971; honorary doctorate, Columbia University, 1971; Books Abroad/Neustadt International Prize for Literature, 1972; Nobel Prize for Literature, 1982; Los Angeles Times Book Prize for fiction, 1988; Serfin Prize, 1989.
Address: Home— P.O. Box 20736, Mexico City D.F., Mexico.
When García Márquez was seven, his grandfather died and the boy returned to his parents in Bogota, the country's capital. During his adolescence the boy developed a love of literature, with such works as Franz Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" inspiring him to dream of becoming a writer. First, though, he planned to obtain a law degree. He entered the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in 1947, the same year he published his first short story in El Espectador. In 1948 the country erupted in violence after the assassination of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan and the university was damaged by fire and subsequently closed. García Márquez then transferred to the Universidad de Cartagena. There he began writing journalistic pieces for El Universal, and also met Ramon Vinyes, who introduced him to the works of Virginia Woolf and William Faulkner. García Márquez abandoned his legal studies in 1949 and moved back to the Caribbean region, to the town of Barranquilla.
Success as a Journalist
During his two years in Barranquilla, García Márquez worked for El heraldo, the local paper, writing a regular column that included short stories, fragments, and essays about current issues. He then moved on to a job as correspondent for the Bogota paper El Espectador, writing film criticism and investigative reports. In the mid-1950s García Márquez moved to Europe , an environment he considered more amenable to his leftist political views than was the regime in his native country. In Paris, where he was based, he continued reporting for El Espectador and also for another Colombian paper, El Independiente. He also continued to write fiction, publishing his first novel, Leaf Storm, in 1955 and completing the novel El coronel no tiene quien le escriba in 1957. Though he sometimes lived in poverty during these years, particularly after the Colombian government shut down El Independiente and left him without a regular income, García Márquez later noted that his European exile was worthwhile for the fresh perspective it gave him on Latin America .
In 1957 the young journalist moved back to Latin America to help a friend, Plinio Apuleye Mendoza, edit the weekly magazine Momento in Caracas, Venezuela. The following year, García Márquez returned to Barranquilla to marry his childhood sweetheart, Mercedes Barcha Pardo, the daughter of a local pharmacist. Soon afterward, García Márquez and Mendoza resigned from Momento to protest its tacit support of U.S. foreign policy. The pair traveled to Cuba to document the aftermath of Castro's revolution, and signed on with the new government's news agency, Prensa Latina, to establish branch offices in Bogota and eventually in New York City. In 1961 García Márquez quit Prensa Latina and moved to Mexico City, where he managed to support his family by writing screenplays and doing editorial and advertising work.
Wrote Critically Acclaimed Novel
Though García Márquez continued a steady production of novellas and short stories during these years, he did not achieve prominence as a writer of fiction until the publication in 1967 of his landmark novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude. Based on the author's childhood memories of Aracataca, the novel recounts the founding of the fictional town of Macondo by Jose Arcadio Buendia, and its subsequent rise and fall through several generations from the 1820s to the 1920s. Blending historical events with surrealism and fantasy, the novel includes such characters as Colonel Aureliano Buendia, fomentor of 32 political rebellions and father of 17 illegitimate sons; matriarch Ursula Buendia, who witnesses the town's eventual decline; and the old gypsy scribe, Melquiades, whose mysterious manuscripts are revealed as the novel's text. The complex saga of Macondo and the Buendias, many critics noted, suggests the labyrinthine history of Latin America itself.
The novel caused an immediate sensation, selling out its entire first Spanish printing within one week. So heavy was demand for the book that its publisher could scarcely keep enough copies in print. Critics hailed it as a monumental achievement; Chilean Nobel laureate poet Pablo Neruda was quoted in Time as calling the book "the greatest revelation in the Spanish language since the Don Quixote of Cervantes." One Hundred Years of Solitude went on to sell more than 20 million copies worldwide and to be translated into more than 30 languages. It is widely considered the most popular and influential example of magical realism, a literary style that incorporates supernatural or surreal elements within a realistic narrative. As Faulkner had done with the American South, García Márquez had created in Macondo a world of mythic dimensions.
The success of One Hundred Years of Solitude enabled García Márquez to focus full-time on his own writing. In 1975 he published the novel The Autumn of the Patriarch, about a tyrant who has held political power for so long that no one can remember his predecessor. After that, however, he vowed not to release any additional fiction until Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was removed from office. Though Pinochet was not ousted until 1989, García Márquez published the novel Cronica de una meuerte anunciada in 1982. Considered by some critics to be the author's best work, it tells the story of brothers who plot to kill their sister's husband when, after discovering on his wedding night that his bride is not a virgin, he returns her to her family.
Won Nobel Prize
In 1982 García Márquez was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. The Swedish Academy, in bestowing the prize, cited not only the author's narrative gifts but also his demonstrated commitment to social justice. Indeed, the problems of poverty and oppression were the theme of the laureate's acceptance speech. Citing figures that documented thousands of violent deaths and millions of involuntary exiles linked to the political turmoil in Latin America during the 1970s, García Márquez commented that the reality of his native continent nourished in him an "insatiable creativity, full of sorrow and beauty," and made it necessary for Latin Americans to "ask but little of imagination, for our crucial problem has been a lack of conventional means to render our lives believable." Implying that Latin America's cultural remoteness has made it difficult for European and North American countries to sympathize with the leftist political agendas of many of its inhabitants, he went on to ask "Why is the originality so readily granted us in literature so mistrustfully denied us in our difficult attempts at social change?"
Criticizing wealthy countries that have "accumulated powers of destruction such as to annihilate, a hundred times over, not only all the human beings that have existed to this day, but also the totality of all living beings that have ever drawn breath on this planet of misfortune," García Márquez ended on a note of hope: "We, the inventors of tales, who will believe anything, feel entitled to believe that it is not yet too late to engage in the creation of … a new and sweeping utopia of life, where no one will be able to decide for others how they die, where love will prove true and happiness be possible, and where the races condemned to one hundred years of solitude will have, at last and forever, a second opportunity on earth."
Special Access to World Leaders
García Márquez decided to use his Nobel Prize money to start a newspaper. Yet that venture never materialized, because the author was not satisfied that the independent editorial voice he sought would be respected. Sixteen years later, however, he realized his dream to go back to journalism when he bought the Colombian newsmagazine Cambio in 1999. "Journalism is the only trade that I like," he commented in the New York Times, "and I have always regarded myself as a journalist." The magazine had been struggling, but after García Márquez's purchase its circulation and ad revenues skyrocketed. The writer's international prominence, many observers noted, allowed him access to world leaders who were not always eager to speak to other reporters. "Anyone he calls will pick up the phone," said his American editor, Ash Green, in an Associated Press article. Among the friends and associates about whom García Márquez has written in Cambio are Cuban president Fidel Castro, Colombian industrialist Julio Mario Santo Domingo, and U.S. President Bill Clinton , who had once impressed the writer by reciting long passages of Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury by heart. When Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky was revealed, García Márquez defended the president, according to New York Times reporter Larry Rohter, by asking "Is it fair that this rare example of the human species must squander his historic destiny just because he couldn't find a safe place to make love?"
García Márquez's reentry into journalism was not without significant risks. Unlike the more neutral American press, the Colombian media take "a strong position in defense of a democratic state rather than observing from an impartial perch," as Washington Post writer Scott Wilson pointed out. "Reporting in Colombia, particularly by Colombians," Wilson noted, "has long been a perilous vocation. But mounting violence, combined with the weakness of public institutions and the blurry line between journalism and advocacy in a country at war with itself, have increasingly placed journalists high on the list of targets." In the first ten months of 2001, nine journalist were killed in Colombia and dozens received death threats. Despite such dangers, García Márquez continued actively reporting on his country's decades-long war between Marxist guerillas and government forces, as well as on controversial issues in other parts of Latin America.
Among García Márquez's political books from this period are Clandestine in Chile : The Adventures of Miguel Littin, a nonfiction account of filmmaker Littin's return to Pinochet's Chile after a period of self-imposed exile. The Chilean government, outraged by the book's content, ordered some 15,000 copies of it burned. In 1997 García Márquez published News of a Kidnapping, based on his investigation of Colombian drug cartels and their destructive influence on that nation's social fabric. "News of a Kidnapping not only provides a fascinating anatomy of 'one episode in the biblical holocaust that has been consuming Colombia for more than 20 years,'" wrote Michiko Kakutani in the New York Times, "but also offers the reader new insights into the surreal history of Mr. García Márquez's native country. Indeed, the reader is reminded by this book that the magical realism employed by Mr. García Márquez and other Latin American novelists is in part a narrative strategy for grappling with a social reality so hallucinatory, so irrational that it defies ordinary naturalistic description."
Through the 1980s and 1990s, García Márquez continued to strengthen his reputation as a literary master with publication of the novels Love in the Time of Cholera, based partially on the story of his parents' courtship; The General in His Labyrinth, a fictional account of the final months in the life of nineteenth-century South American revolutionary Simon Bolivar; and Of Love and Other Demons, inspired by the author's recollection of a tomb excavation he had witnessed in 1949, when a centuries-old skeleton of a young girl was discovered with living hair flowing from the skull. García Márquez used this image to create the character of Sierva Maria De Todos Los Angeles, a girl in touch with both the Spanish and the African legacies of her Caribbean heritage. When she is bitten by a mad dog, the area bishop orders an exorcism, but the priest charged with performing the rite falls in love with the girl. As with many of García Márquez's earlier novels, Of Love and Other Demons was hailed for its symbolic commentary on Latin American history. As Times Literary Supplement contributor Michael Kerrigan observed, "To excavate the historic vault in which his people lie buried is, for García Márquez, an act not of desecration but of liberation."
Since the summer of 1999, when he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer, García Márquez has lived in relative seclusion, focusing his attention on completing a planned three-volume memoir. He was quoted in a CNN.com report as hailing his diagnosis as an "enormous stroke of luck" that forced him to put aside less urgent projects. The first volume of the memoir will cover the author's family background and his early life. The second will focus on his writing career, and the third will examine his relationships with world leaders.
Selected Writings
COPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group Inc.
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel García Márquez (born 1928) was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, and journalist whose works earned him the reputation of being the greatest living writer of Castilian in Spain and Latin America.
Born in Aracata, Magdalena, Gabriel García Márquez received his early education and baccalaureate degree from the Liceo Nacional of Zipaquirá in 1946. That year he started working as a newspaper editor for El Universal in Cartagena. In 1948 he moved to Barranquilla, where he was editor of El Heraldo until 1952. Then he became editor of the liberal newspaper El Espectador in Bogotá during repressive eras of the conservative dictators Laureano Gómez and his successor, General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla.
Between 1955 and 1960 several short stories and a novella had begun to establish García Márquez's fame in the Spanish-speaking world. La hojarasca (1955), a short novel, is set, like his later works, in the mythical town of Macondo in the swampy coastal area of northeastern Colombia known as the Ciénaga. The story reflects the changes the 20th century wrought in the life of this sleepy country town. Much of García Márquez's work centers on funerals. In La hojarasca mourners who knew the dead man in life contemplate the past, each from his own point of view. In three monologues these persons—an old colonel, his daughter Isabel, and Isabel's son—tell their story. The dead man, a doctor and former friend of the colonel, had committed suicide. The narrators do not entirely explain the motives of the suicide, but in the course of each story much of the past history of the village of Macondo is revealed. A strong premonition of imminent, relentless, and inevitable doom for Macondo permeates the novel.
Macondo and the Buendía family were further developed in El coronel no tiene quien le escriba (1961; Nobody Writes to the Colonel and Other Stories). The next short stories, Los funerales de la Mama Grande (1962), strengthened the growing reputation of García Márquez. The publication of Cien años de soledad (1967; One Hundred Years of Solitude) constituted something of a literary phenomenon when it sold over 100,000 copies in 15 editions in Buenos Aires in 1969.
The story of Cien años de soledad depicts the rise and fall of a village as seen in the lives of five generations of one family—an almost biblical pentateuch—ending appropriately with flood and drought, climaxed by cyclonic winds of final destruction, which comes as the last living Buendía deciphers the ancient prophecies of doom and learns that "races condemned to 100 years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth." The setting of this novel is a microcosm for Colombia, and through extension, both South America and the rest of the world. Pablo Neruda, the most famous Chilean poet, called Cien años de soledad, "the greatest revelation in the Spanish language since the Don Quixote of Cervantes." This novel is generally considered García Márquez's masterpiece.
García Márquez considered his next novel, El otono del patriarca (1975; The Autumn of the Patriarch), "a perfect integration of journalism and literature." García Márquez continued to write novels, short stories, essays, and film scripts. In 1982 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature. In 1983, he wrote the film script Erendira adapted from his 1972 novella La increible y triste historia de la candida Erendira y su abuela desalmada (Innocent Erendira and Her Heartless Grandmother). García Márquez's other famous novel, El amor en los tiempos del colera (Love in the Time of Cholera) was written in 1985 (with an English translation published in 1988). This novel is an exploration of the manifestations of love and the relationship between aging, death, and decay. After Cholera he published the novels Elgeneral en su laber into (1989; The General in His Labyrinth, 1990), Doce cuentos peregrinos (1992; Strange Pilgrims, 1993), and Love and Other Demons (1994).
García Márquez's fictional blend of history, politics, social realism, and fantasy has given rise to the term "magical realism." The use of magical realism was often imitated by other Latin American authors, most notably, Isabel Allende. His need to tell the story drives García Márquez's writing. In the July 1997 issue of Harper's, García Márquez writes, "the best story is not always the first one but rather the one that is told better." Because of his storytelling ability, García Márquez has assured himself a place in history as the greatest Latin American writer of the 20th century.
Further Reading
Critical interpretations of Gabriel García Márquez's work can be found in the series Contemporary Literary Criticism, Gale, Volume 2, 1974; Volume 3, 1975; Volume 8, 1978; Volume 10, 1979; Volume 15, 1980; Volume 27, 1984; Volume 47, 1988; and Volume 55, 1989. Interviews with García Márquez appeared in PMLA: Publications of the Modern Language Association, March 1989; Variety, March 25-31, 1996; World Policy Journal, Summer 1996; and Booklist, March 15, 1997. □
Cite this article
The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.
Copyright The Columbia University Press
Gabriel García Márquez (gäbrēĕl´ gärsē´ä mär´kās), 1927–2014, Colombian novelist, short-story writer, and journalist, b. Aracataca. Widely considered one of the great Latin American masters of narrative and one of the finest literary stylists of the 20th cent., García Márquez won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. Drawing on his own history and that of his family, town, and nation and reflecting the influence of writers such as Jorges Luis Borges , Miguel Angel Asturias , and Alejo Carpentier , his fiction focuses on the physical and moral travail of coastal Colombia, which is given universal meaning in his books. He began his literary career while a law student in Barranquilla, earning a sparse living writing for local newspapers while also publishing stories in local magazines. He left Colombia in the late 1950s and subsequently lived in many places, from 1961 on mainly in Mexico City.
His two masterpieces One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967, tr. 1970), his best-known work and the one that vaulted him to international fame, and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985, tr. 1988), present his central themes of violence, solitude, time, memory, and the overwhelming human need for love. García Márquez's style marks a high point in Latin American magic realism ; it is rich and lucid, mixing reality and fantasy. Among his 15 other works of fiction are Leaf Storm and Other Stories (1955, tr. 1972), No One Writes to the Colonel and Other Stories (1958, tr. 1968), Innocent Erendira and Other Stories (1972, tr. 1978), The Autumn of the Patriarch (1975, tr. 1976), The General in His Labyrinth (1989, tr. 1990), Of Love and Other Demons (1994, tr. 1995), and Memories of My Melancholy Whores (2004, tr. 2005). His nonfiction work News of a Kidnapping (1996, tr. 1997) chronicles drug-related abductions in Colombia. Living to Tell the Tale (2002, tr. 2003) is the first volume of a projected three-volume autobiography that García Márquez did not complete.
See P. A. Mendoza, The Fragrance of Guava: Conversations with Gabriel Garcia Márquez (1982); biography by G. Martin (2009); I. Stavans, Gabriel García Márquez: The Early Years (2010); studies by G. R. McMurray, ed. (1987), B. McGuirle and R. A. Cardwell, ed. (1987), J. Ortega, ed. (1988), K. McNerney (1989), M. Wood (1990), H. Oberhelman (1991), M. Bell (1993), R. Fiddian, ed. (1995), J. Mellen (2000), C. Kline (2002), H. Bloom, ed. (rev. ed. 2007), and P. Swanson, ed. (2010).
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The Youngest Doll (Latin American Women Writers) by Rosario Ferre: A gentle maiden aunt who has been victimized for years unexpectedly retaliates through her talent for making life-sized dolls filled with honey. “The Youngest Doll,” based on a family anecdote, is a stunning literary expression of Rosario Ferrs feminist and social concerns. It is...
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What Terry Nation concept was produced by scientist Davros from the indigenous Kaleds of the planet Skaro?
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Daleks
There is also a Dalek picture gallery
Who are they?
The Daleks are
little green blobs in bonded polycarbide armour
, perceived by the general public to be the Doctor's greatest foe, and their "pepperpot" design has become a cultural icon. Created by mad scientist Davros on the planet Skaro, the Daleks have attempted to conquer the universe and exterminate all other creatures numerous times. The Doctor has stopped their plans on numerous occasions.
Popular Myths:
'
The Daleks Can't Climb Stairs
' - In the 1966 story The Chase, Daleks are seen upstairs when they arrived in a time machine which was clearly downstairs. By 1985's Revelation of the Daleks, effects technology was sufficiently advanced to show a hovering Dalek, and they were seen to climb stairs in 1988's Remembrance of the Daleks.
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They were designed like pepperpots
' - Dalek Designer Raymond Cusick actually based his design around a man seated on a chair, only ever using a pepperpot to demonstrate how it would move.
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They were named after a set of encyclopedias
' - At the time, writer Terry Nation told the press that he named them after an encyclopedia labelled DAL-LEK, but in fact he simply made up the name.
'
Terry Nation was the Creator of the Daleks
' - Although writer Terry Nation owns most of the rights to the Daleks, and his estate insists that he is credited as their creator, in fact all he did was write a script (which I'm told was heavily edited) and think up the name. Their distinctive design was entirely the creation of Raymond Cusick, who never received a penny of the royalties collected for Dalek appearances.
Dalek Timeline
The Parting of the Ways
Dalek Biology
The Daleks are the mutated remains of a race known as the Kaleds. A Kaled scientist called Davros predicted this final form whilst the bulk of the Kaled people were still humanoid. He altered the Kaleds, removing emotions such as love and pity, and cementing hate, making them see all other lifeforms as inferior. The resultant mutations are tentacled creatures, dependant on the travel machines designed by Davros. However, these travel machines - made of Dalekanium and Bonded Polycarbide armour are very powerful. Equiped with energy weapons which can exterminate almost anything living with a single shot, and plunger-like arms which can be adapted to a variety of uses, the Daleks are powerful fighting machines - their only weak point being the eyepiece. Daleks are inseperable from their casing, although they are not cyborgs. Despite appearances, Daleks can climb stairs by use of rocket packs.
There have, however, been more than one species of Dalek. After Davros was resurrected, he twice tried to create another race of Daleks in his image. These Daleks varied considerably from the original Daleks - having, for example, prosthetic arms attached. However, the casing/travel machine closely resembled the classic design, apart from a difference in colour. The Daleks in the era of the Last Time War had a different appearance from earlier Daleks, both inside and outside. Their casings were gold-coloured, and had advanced personal force-fields. The Daleks themselves had turned from a greenish colour to blue, and had rather less pronounced tentacles. The Emperor Dalek who survived the Time War had also created a new race of Daleks, forced by circumstance to use human cells as the basis for a new Dalek race.
Dalek Culture and Psychology
Daleks exist for one primary purpose: to exterminate all lesser lifeforms. They see everything that isn't a Dalek to be inferior, although they will often keep other species to use as slave labour. This has occasionally been represented as the religious rite-of-exterminating-everything-that-isn't-a-Dalek. Daleks are soldiers first, other things later. Although they do have scientists and technicians, everything is slaved to the quest to dominate the universe.
The Daleks (or at least those from before the Last Great Time War) have a hierachical command structure. At the top of the pyramid is the Dalek Prime, later known as the Emperor Dalek. The Emperor was the last survivor of the original batch of Daleks created by Davros, and ruled supreme. All the other ranks of Daleks have casings colour-coded to indicate their rank. Below the Emperor are the Gold Daleks, the generals of the Dalek race. Below the Gold Daleks are the Black Daleks - essentially field commanders, capable of considerable levels of independant thought. Below them are the red Daleks, able to think for themselves to a certain extent, the blue Daleks who serve as technicians and scientists, and the grey Daleks - the footsoldiers of the Dalek army.
The Daleks created by Davros after his resurrection had white casings, instead of any of the colours usesd by the other Daleks. They installed him as the Emperor Dalek, and portrayed the Dalek Prime's Daleks as Renegade Daleks - a naming convention which at least some of the Renegade Daleks adhered to. Little is known about the specifics of Imperial Dalek culture. However, it is likely that whilst the Renegades considered only the descendants of the original Daleks to be true Daleks, the Imperial Daleks took any creation of Davros to be a true Dalek.
During the era of the Last Time War, the Daleks altered their design and their technology. Every War-era Dalek had gold casing, even the footsoldiers. It is likely that the Dalek Emperor realised that a greater level of independant thought was necessary to defeat the Time Lords, and the Daleks of this era were geniuses, despite being lost without orders to follow.
The Daleks created by the Emperor after he survived the Time War went mad, the Emperor went mad - believing that it was God, indestructible, immortal, and perhaps even all-powerful. The Daleks he created from human tissue also went mad, maintaining Dalek ideology, but knowing that they are half-human. They worshipped the Emperor as God, and developed the concept of blasphemy for the first time in Dalek history.
Dalek Technology
The key item of Dalek technology is the casing, evolved from the Mark 7 Travel Machines built by Davros. The casings are made out of Bonded Polycarbide Armour (aka Dalekanium). The eyestalk of the casing clearly bestows superior vision to the Dalek creature, and the plunger-shaped attachment functions as a flexible and adaptable limb. Dalek Guns are extremely powerful, a single shot being enough to kill almost any sentient being, although many species have developed armour capable of resisting Dalek guns. The technology of the casings has changed over the years. The first Daleks to emerge from the bunker in which the first Daleks were entombed created a city on the surface of Skaro, and ran on static electricity which was fed through the floor of the city, and were incapacitated if they were removed from the floor. Those occupying Earth during the 22nd Century had dishes on their backs, and received power from those. Later models of Dalek casing had their own internal power supply. Numerous models of Daleks have some degree of hover technology.
There have been numerous variations on Dalek armour, including marine Daleks - streamlined for solely underwater operations, being torpedo-shaped with their eyes at the front and have their gunstick and a grappling arm parallel to their bodies. Spider Daleks are like normal Daleks, but their lower body can be split up into eight legs, allowing them greater maneouverability in certain environments. Spiders have much weaker armour at the joints than conventional Daleks. Strider Daleks are, effectively, extremely large Spider Daleks - being ten times larger than a standard Dalek. Special Weapons Daleks have replaced all their appendages with a single massive gun, capable of blowing several Daleks into pieces with a single shot.
By the era of the Last Great Time War, Dalek technology had moved on even further - Daleks now had force-fields. Whereas previous versions of Daleks could be destroyed by well-placed Bastic Bullets or the like, these Daleks stopped such bullets from even getting close to the casing. Their propulsion systems not only added hover ability, but enabled independant space travel. These Daleks could use the DNA [or maybe Biodata] of a time traveller to regenerate their bodies and their casings just by virtue of the traveller touching the casing.
Dalek travel technology varied over time. However, Dalek spaceships were consistently designed in a saucer shape, and hoverbouts allowed individual Daleks to travel without using up their own power source. The Daleks also developed time travel capabilities. Time Corridors allowed limited transport between one era and another. However, the Daleks also developed a couple of time machines that resembled the TARDISES of the Time Lords - though they were not used extensively. It is not known how advanced their time travel technology had become by the time they vanished to fight the Last Great Time War, but it must have been approaching the level used by the Time Lords themselves.
The Daleks were also experts in biological warfare, and used (or attempted to use) biological weapons on numerous occasions.
Dalek History
The Planet Skaro produced two sentient races, the Kaleds (sometimes known as the Dals) and the Thals who engaged in a thousand-year war. Some of the weapons used in the war caused mutations in both races, the mutants being cast out into the wilderness of Skaro. A gifted, but insane, Kaled scientist called Davros predicted the course these mutations would ultimately take on the Kaleds, and created mutants resembling this end result, devising a travel machine in which they could continue to live. However, he began removing some of the kinder emotions from them, emphasising hate and a disdain for the unlike.
Davros and his creations, the Daleks, were directly responsible for the destruction of the majority of both the Daleks and the Thals, despite the fact that the Time Lords had sent the Fourth Doctor to interfere in the creation of the Daleks. However, the Doctor did manage to entomb the Daleks for a thousand years, and destroy their gestation chamber, meaning that they had to start again with the task of creating new Daleks. Although the Daleks exterminated their creator, the Doctor's warnings about the future of the Daleks prompted him to install devices which would later prove to have saved his life.
When the Daleks eventually emerged from their entombment, the first group of Daleks either built or took over a city on the planet's surface. These Daleks confined themselves to this city, drawing their power from physical contact with its floors. These Daleks were rendered inactive by the first Doctor in his first encounter with the species, and a group of Thals, who had mutated into blond, blue-eyed humanoids, took over the city. The Thals obviously learnt from the Dalek technology, as they left Skaro when the rest of the Daleks emerged from hiding.
The Daleks developed space travel and became conquerors. By the late 21st Century, Earth time, Dalek forces had become scattered around the edge of Mutters' Spiral, with the aim of building up a decent galactic powerbase. Meanwhile, Dalek forces left behind on Skaro were beginning to think about putting together a Dalek Galactic empire of their own. Dalek technology at this time was very much based on static electricity.
By the mid-22nd Century, Earth time, the forces in Mutters' Spiral attacked several planets known to the newly expanding race called humanity. In time this mysterious "Black Fleet" would attack humanity's native solar system, beginning in 2157. The Dalek occupation of Earth would last for ten years. The Daleks also invaded Mars, Earth's neighbouring planet. Mars had once been ruled by a race called the Ice Warriors, until the humans had invaded the planet. A small group of Ice Warriors hiding on Mars contacted the Daleks, offering them a deal - return Mars to the Ice Warriors, and they would give the Daleks an ancient device known as the Ssor-arr duss Ssethissi, which translates as "Godengine". The Godengine would - amongst other things - allow the Daleks to pilot a planet through space, as long as its magnetic core was extracted. The Daleks would spend the rest of their occupation of Earth trying to remove its core, even though they lost contact with those Ice Warriors.
The Dalek occupation of Mars was defeated when the humans engineered a virus that could eat through the wires in the Dalek casings. Their plan to extract Earth's core was defeated by the first Doctor, and Earth was liberated by the arrival of a colonial warship named Dauntless on the same day. Humanity proceeded to win their war against the Daleks, who retreated from that sector of space, at least for the time being. Meanwhile, they continued a war against the Thals. It was probably during this era that they first discovered the Ogrons, an ape-like species with little brains, but much muscle, and began using them as slaves.
However, the Daleks had left behind a large number of Dalek artefacts on Earth. One of these contained a Dalek factory, which could turn out an army of Daleks if it was only connected to a power source. The machinations of the Master and a local power struggle almost reactivated this artefact. However, the intervention of the Eighth Doctor and his grandaughter Susan, who the first Doctor had left on Earth after the invasion, defeated this Dalek force.
In 2540, the Daleks again interfered in Earth's sphere of influence, allying with the Time Lord known as the Master, they and their Ogron slaves attempted to disrupt a peace conference between the Earth Empire and the Draconian Empire. The intervention of the Third Doctor revealed their interference and provoked a war between the Daleks and an alliance of these two Empires. Immediately following this, the Doctor traced the Daleks to a planet called Spiridon, where they had hidden an army of Daleks and had been experimenting with technology that might make them invisible. The Doctor allied with a party of Thals who had been dispatched to investigate the Dalek presence and destroyed both the Dalek army and the experiments.
Humanity and their Draconian allies again beat the Daleks, though there was a second Dalek war later in the century. It was probably during this second Dalek war that the Daleks released a space plague that could only be cured with the rare element Parrinium. The Daleks discovered that a supply of Parrinium was available on the planet Exxilon, and attempted to secure the supply. Their attempts to do this were defeated by the Third Doctor, who helped some human Marine Space Corps to secure a supply to fight the plague.
At some point after losing this second Dalek war, the Daleks began to discover the secrets of time travel. Their first use of the technology was an attempt to reverse their defeats at the hands of humanity. They travelled back in time to invade Earth in the mid-21st Century, a hundred years before their original invasion. Their arrival triggered a temporal paradox which meant that Earth was devastated by a 20th Century war caused by humans who had used stolen Dalek time travel technology to try to prevent the war from happening. This alternate timeline was erased by the actions of the Third Doctor, who had been exiled to Earth at the time and place that triggered this global war.
The Daleks' grasp of time travel technology had advanced considerably by the human year 4000, when they developed time machines almost on a level with the Time Lords' own TARDISes. Their first use of this technology was to send a crew to chase and exterminate the first Doctor, in revenge for the damage he had done to their cause. The Doctor, however, defeated the Daleks sent after him.
Their next and, indeed, final use of these powerful timeships came as part of a complicated plot launched in the year 4000AD, when they attempted to destroy the Galactic Federation - a political entity consisting of numerous species which had stepped into the chaos caused by the rapid collapse of the Earth Empire approximately a thousand years earlier. Their planned weapon, the Time Destructor, was sabotaged and turned against them by the first Doctor. The plot caused a major war between the Daleks and the Federation, and the Federation won.
At some point after this, the Daleks took notice of something that they had discovered during their occupation of Earth in the 22nd Century. Records existed that said that their creator Davros had used a Gallifreyan device called the Hand of Omega, found on Earth in 1963, to destroy Skaro's sun. The Dalek Prime decided to enact a series of complicated plots in order to ensure that Skaro was not destroyed, but the Daleks' previous experience of time travel had shown that changing recorded history could not be done. Therefore, he decided to ensure that Davros would be revived and fooled into destroying a planet he believed to be Skaro, rather than destroying Skaro itself.
The details of this plot are not clearly laid out, but Davros was revived on a planet which the Thals believed to be called Antalin, and which the Dalek Prime later claimed was a constructed world. However, the world on which Davros was revived had radiation levels similar to that which Skaro possessed, whilst the "Skaro" the Dalek Prime managed to preserve had no radiation at all. Some have theorised that the Dalek Prime actually moved the Daleks to a new Skaro, managing to alter Thal records about the position of their homeworld in the process. Another factor in this deception was the approach of a race known as the Collectors, who even the Daleks were reluctant to face.
When the Daleks revived Davros, they convinced him that they had been at war with a robotic race known as the Movellans for centuries, and that both sides had been locked in a stalemate situation by their battle computers. The Dalek Prime would later claim that the Movellans were created by the Daleks - possibly for the purpose of fooling Davros. The Daleks said that they wanted Davros to break the impasse. However, the intervention of the Fourth Doctor led to Davros becoming a prisoner of the humans.
90 years later, the Daleks attempted to rescue Davros, claiming that they need him to find an antidote to an anti-Dalek virus created by the Movellans. Their plan also involved giving him access to time travel technology, secretly hoping that he would find the Hand of Omega in Earth's past, and use it to destroy the planet he believed to be Skaro. They also had a plan to invade Gallifrey using duplicates of the fifth Doctor. However, the Doctor's intervention again defeated them.
At some point after this, Davros set himself up as "The Great Healer" on a human-controlled planet called Nekros. He intended to breed a new species of Dalek from the corpses of humans sent to a place called Tranquil Repose. He also made money by selling their remains as meat to other planets. However, his reign at Tranquil Repose was interrupted by an investigation from members of the Order of Oberon, the arrival of the Sixth Doctor, and his being handed over to the Daleks.
After this, Davros did succeed in building his own army of Daleks, recasting himself as the Emperor Dalek, his "Imperial" Daleks fought a war with the "Renegade" Daleks, and appeared to win. It was after that that he finally traced the Hand of Omega to Earth in the year 1963. He personally travelled back in time to that era to retrieve the Hand, though he would remain on his spacecraft whilst in that timezone. A small force of Renegade Daleks attempted to retrieve the Hand themselves, but the intervention of the Seventh Doctor ensured that all of the Renegades were destroyed. The Doctor also goaded Davros into using the Hand on Skaro's sun (or at least the sun around which the planet he believed was Skaro orbited), causing it to go supernova, destroying Davros's ship, along with all of his faction of Daleks who were in Skaro's Star System.
This was not the end for Davros, though. He somehow survived in an escape pod. When a party of space scavengers recovered it, they were intercepted by "Renegade" Daleks. Davros, along with the Eighth Doctor - who just happened to be onboard, and a party of Thal troops, who had also intercepted the ship, were taken to the planet Skaro (or at least the planet the Dalek Prime called Skaro). The Dalek Prime planned to try Davros and, by doing so, ensure that any Daleks who supported him were found and eliminated. Civil war broke out, and the Dalek Prime's troops were victorious, with Davros being put into a disintegrator.
During this incident, the Dalek Prime hid a Dalek factory onboard the Doctor's TARDIS. Whilst leaving "Skaro", the Doctor discovered this factory, and jettisoned it into the Vortex. It arrived on a planet called Vulcan, where early human colonists discovered it, and were tricked into activating it. However,the intervention of the second Doctor shut down the factory and destroyed all the Daleks.
At some point after this, the Daleks attempted to use their knowledge of time travel to identify "the human factor" from 19th Century humans, knowing that the humans had beaten them far too many times in the past, and to implant "the Dalek factor" into humanity, thus making them less able to beat the Daleks. The intervention of the Second Doctor meant that three Daleks were implanted with the human factor, and started a Dalek civil war.
When the civil war had finished, the Daleks again became the biggest threat in the universe. But then they just vanished from history, travelling into the vortex in order to fight the last great Time War against the Time Lords. The war ended when the Doctor managed to destroy the Dalek fleet, but he also destroyed the Time Lords' home planet. He thought that there were no other survivors. However, at least two Daleks did survive.
One of these Daleks, an ordinary soldier, fell through time to the 1960s. Crashlanding on Earth, its power was drained, and it was a prisoner of various human institutions until the year 2012, when it encountered the ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler. When Rose touched its casing, her time-traveller biodata allowed it to regenerate itself, and it attempted to exterminate everybody in the compound, However Rose had corrupted the Dalek, and it eventually committed suicide.
The other Dalek to survive was the Emperor Dalek. It arrived in the far future of humanity, and manipulated humanity behind the scenes, keeping their technology backward and harvesting the scum of humanity (the prisoners, the refugees, the dispossessed, the reality TV contestants ;), nurturing selected cells to breed a new race of Daleks. The Emperor believed himself to be God, and the new Daleks shared his delusion, becoming his worshippers. Eventually, he launched an attack on Earth, but was stopped when the ninth Doctor's companion Rose Tyler became all-powerful and wiped him and his Daleks out of existence.
Copyright
Doctor Who is both copyrighted and trademarked by the BBC. The rights to various characters and alien races from the series are owned by the writers who created them. In particular, the Daleks are owned by the estate of Terry Nation. No infringement of any copyright is intended by any part of this site. All credited material on this site is copyright © the named author. All other material is copyright © Stephen Gray The Whoniverse site logo was created by Tom Hey . The drop-down menus were created from templates on CSS Play . You may not reproduce any material from this site without permission from the relevant author(s).
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Dalek
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What's the western name of the least densely populated country in the world, (national language 'Kalaallit Nunaat'), with capital city Nuuk?
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalek
Profiles
The Daleks /ˈdɑːlɛks/ are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants principally portrayed in the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who . The Daleks were conceived by science-fiction writer Terry Nation and first appeared in the 1963 Doctor Who serial The Daleks , in the shells designed by Raymond Cusick .
Drawing inspirations from the real-life example of the Nazis , the Daleks are merciless and pitiless cyborg aliens bent on conquest of the universe and the extermination of what they see as inferior races; their catchphrase , "Exterminate!", is a well-recognised reference in British popular culture. Within the programme's narrative, the Daleks were engineered by the scientist Davros throughout the final years of a thousand-year war between his people, the Kaleds, and their enemies the Thals . With a few Kaleds already badly mutated and damaged by nuclear war , Davros genetically modified the Kaleds and integrated them with a tank -like, robotic shell, removing their every emotion apart from hate. His creations soon came to view themselves as the supreme race in the universe, intent on purging the universe of all non-Dalek life. Collectively they're the greatest enemies of Doctor Who's protagonist, the Time Lord known as The Doctor . Later in the programme's history, the Daleks acquired time travel technology and engaged the Time Lords in a brutal Time War affecting most of the universe, with battles taking place across all of history. They are among the show's most popular villains and their various returns to the series over the years have typically been widely reported in the television press.
Creation
The Daleks were created by writer Terry Nation and designed by BBC designer Raymond Cusick . [2] They were introduced in December 1963 in the second Doctor Who serial, colloquially known as The Daleks . They became an immediate and huge hit with viewers, featuring in a large number of subsequent serials and two 1960s motion pictures. They have become as synonymous with Doctor Who as the Doctor himself, and their behaviour and catchphrases are now part of British popular culture . "Hiding behind the sofa whenever the Daleks appear" has been cited as an element of British cultural identity; [3] and a 2008 survey indicated that nine out of ten British children were able to identify a Dalek correctly. [4] In 1999 a Dalek photographed by Lord Snowdon appeared on a postage stamp celebrating British popular culture. [5] In 2010, readers of science-fiction magazine SFX voted the Dalek as the all-time greatest monster, beating competition including Japanese movie monster Godzilla and J. R. R. Tolkien 's Gollum , of The Lord of the Rings . [6]
Entry into popular culture
As early as one year after first appearing on Doctor Who, the Daleks had become popular enough to be recognised even by non-viewers. In December 1964 editorial cartoonist Leslie Gilbert Illingworth published a cartoon in the Daily Mail captioned "THE DEGAULLEK", caricaturing French President Charles de Gaulle arriving at a NATO meeting as a Dalek with de Gaulle's prominent nose. [7]
The word "Dalek" has entered major dictionaries, including the Oxford English Dictionary , which defines "Dalek" as "a type of robot appearing in 'Dr. Who' [ sic ], a B.B.C. Television science-fiction programme; hence used allusively." But English-speakers at times use the term metaphorically to describe people, usually authority figures, who act like robots unable to break from their programming. For example, John Birt , the Director-General of the BBC from 1992 to 2000, was publicly called a "croak-voiced Dalek" by playwright Dennis Potter in the MacTaggart Lecture at the 1993 Edinburgh Television Festival . [8]
Physical characteristics
Externally, Daleks resemble human-sized pepper shakers [2] with a single mechanical eyestalk mounted on a rotating dome, a gun mount containing an energy weapon ("gunstick" or " death ray "), and a telescopic manipulator arm usually tipped by an appendage resembling a sink plunger . Daleks have been known to use their plungers to interface with technology, crush a man's skull by suction, measure the intelligence of a subject, and extract information from a man's mind. Dalek casings are made of a bonded polycarbide material dubbed "dalekanium" by a member of the human resistance in The Dalek Invasion of Earth and by the Cult of Skaro in " Daleks in Manhattan ".
The lower half of a Dalek's shell is covered with hemispherical protrusions, or "Dalek bumps", which are shown in the episode " Dalek " to be spheres embedded in the casing. Both the BBC-licensed Dalek Book (1964) and The Doctor Who Technical Manual (1983) describe these items as being part of a sensory array, whilst in the 2005 series episode "Dalek", they're integral to a Dalek's self-destruct mechanism. Their armour has a forcefield that evaporates most bullets and resists most types of energy weapons. The forcefield seems to be concentrated around the Dalek's midsection (where the mutant is located), as normally ineffective firepower can be concentrated on the eyestalk to blind a Dalek. Daleks have a quite limited visual field, with no peripheral sight at all, and are relatively easy to hide from in fairly exposed places. Their own energy weapons are capable of destroying them. Their weapons fire a beam that has electrical tendencies, is capable of propagating through water, and might be a form of plasma . The eyepiece is a Dalek's most vulnerable spot; impairing its vision often leads to a blind, panicked firing of its weapon while exclaiming "My vision is impaired; I can't see!" Russell T Davies subverted the catchphrase in his 2008 episode " The Stolen Earth ", in which a Dalek vaporises a paintball that has blocked its vision while proclaiming "My vision is not impaired!"
The creature inside the mechanical casing is soft and repulsive in appearance and vicious in temperament. The first-ever glimpse of a Dalek mutant, in The Daleks , was a claw peeking out from under a Thal cloak after it had been removed from its casing. The mutants' actual appearance has varied, but often adheres to the Doctor's description of the species in Remembrance of the Daleks as "little green blobs in bonded polycarbide armour ". [9] In Resurrection of the Daleks a Dalek creature, separated from its casing, attacks and severely injures a human soldier; in Revelation of the Daleks, there are two Dalek factions (Imperial and Renegade) and the creatures inside have a different appearance in each case, one resembling the amorphous creature from Resurrection, the additional the crab-like creature from the original Dalek serial. As the creature inside is rarely seen on screen, a common misconception exists that Daleks are wholly mechanical robots. In the new series Daleks are retconned to be mollusc -like in appearance, with small tentacles, one or two eyes, and an exposed brain.
Daleks' voices are electronic; when out of its casing the mutant is only able to squeak. Once the mutant is removed, the casing itself can be entered and operated by humanoids; for example, in The Daleks , Ian Chesterton ( William Russell ) enters a Dalek shell to masquerade as a guard as part of an escape plan.
For a large number of years it was assumed that, due to their design and gliding motion, Daleks were unable to climb stairs, and that this was a simple way of escaping them. A well-known cartoon from Punch pictured a group of Daleks at the foot of a flight of stairs with the caption, "Well, this certainly buggers our plan to conquer the Universe". [10] In a scene from the serial Destiny of the Daleks , the Doctor and companions escape from Dalek pursuers by climbing into a ceiling duct. The Fourth Doctor calls down, "If you're supposed to be the superior race of the universe, why don't you try climbing after us?" The Daleks generally make up for their general lack of mobility with overwhelming firepower; a joke among Doctor Who fans goes, "Real Daleks don't climb stairs; they level the building." [11] Dalek mobility has improved over the history of the series: in their first appearance, The Daleks, they were capable of movement only on the conductive metal floors of their city; in The Dalek Invasion of Earth a Dalek emerges from the waters of the River Thames , indicating that they not only had become freely mobile, but are amphibious ; Planet of the Daleks showed that they could ascend a vertical shaft by means of an external anti-gravity mat placed on the floor, Revelation of the Daleks showed Davros in his life-support chair and one of his Daleks hovering and Remembrance of the Daleks depicted them as capable of hovering up a flight of stairs. Despite this, journalists covering the series frequently refer to the Daleks' supposed inability to climb stairs; characters escaping up a flight of stairs in the 2005 episode "Dalek" made the same joke, and were shocked when the Dalek began to hover up the stairs after uttering the phrase "ELEVATE", in a similar manner to their normal phrase "EXTERMINATE". The new series depicts the Daleks as fully capable of flight, even space flight.
Prop details
The non-humanoid shape of the Dalek did much to enhance the creatures' sense of menace. A lack of familiar reference points differentiated them from the traditional " bug-eyed monster " of science fiction, which Doctor Who creator Sydney Newman had wanted the show to avoid. The unsettling Dalek form, coupled with their alien voices, made a large number of believe that the props were wholly mechanical and operated by remote control.
The Daleks were actually controlled from inside by short operators who had to manipulate their eyestalks, domes, and arms, as well as flashing the lights on their heads in sync with the actors supplying their voices. The Dalek cases were built in two pieces; an operator would step into the lower section, and then the top would be secured. The operators looked out between the cylindrical louvres just beneath the dome, which were lined with mesh to conceal their faces.
In addition to being hot and cramped the Dalek casings additionally muffled external sounds, making it difficult for operators to hear the director's commands or studio dialogue. John Scott Martin , a Dalek operator from the original series, said that Dalek operation was a challenge: "You had to have about six hands: one to do the eyestalk, one to do the lights, one for the gun, another for the smoke canister underneath, yet another for the sink plunger. If you were related to an octopus then it helped."
For Doctor Who's 21st-century revival the Dalek casings retain the same overall shape and dimensional proportions of previous Daleks, although a large number of details have been re-designed to give the Dalek a heavier and more solid look. Changes include a larger, more pointed base; a glowing eyepiece; an all-over metallic-brass finish (specified by Davies); thicker, nailed strips on the "neck" section; a housing for the eyestalk pivot; and significantly larger dome lights. The new prop made its on-screen debut in the 2005 episode "Dalek". These Dalek casings use a short operator inside the housing while the 'head' and eyestalk are operated via remote control. A third person, Nicholas Briggs , supplies the voice in their various appearances. In the 2010 season a new, larger model appeared in several colours representing different parts of the Dalek command hierarchy.
Movement
Terry Nation's original plan was for the Daleks to glide across the floor. Early versions of the Daleks rolled on nylon castors, propelled by the operator's feet. Although castors were adequate for the Daleks' debut serial, which was shot entirely at the BBC's Lime Grove Studios , for The Dalek Invasion of Earth Terry Nation wanted the Daleks to be filmed on the streets of London. To enable the Daleks to travel smoothly on location, designer Spencer Chapman built the new Dalek shells around miniature tricycles with sturdier wheels, which were hidden by enlarged fenders fitted below the original base. [3] The uneven flagstones of Central London caused the Daleks to rattle as they moved and it wasn't possible to remove this noise from the final soundtrack. A small parabolic dish was added to the rear of the prop's casing to explain why these Daleks, unlike the ones in their first serial, weren't dependent on static electricity drawn up from the floors of the Dalek city for their motive power.
Later versions of the prop had more efficient wheels and were once again simply propelled by the seated operators' feet, but they remained so heavy that when going up ramps they often had to be pushed by stagehands out of camera shot. The difficulty of operating all the prop's parts at once contributed to the occasionally jerky Dalek movements. This problem has largely been eradicated with the advent of the "new series" version, as its remotely controlled dome and eyestalk allow the operator to concentrate on the smooth movement of the Dalek and its arms. [3]
Voices
The staccato delivery, harsh tone, and rising inflexion of the Dalek voice were initially developed by voice actors Peter Hawkins and David Graham , who would vary the pitch and speed of the lines according to the emotion needed. Their voices were further processed electronically by Brian Hodgson at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop . Although the exact sound-processing devices used have varied, the original 1963 effect used equalisation to boost the mid-range of the actor's voice, then subjected it to ring modulation with a 30 Hz sine wave . The distinctive harsh grating vocal timbre this produced has remained the pattern for all Dalek voices after (with the exception of those in the 1985 serial Revelation of the Daleks , for which director Graeme Harper deliberately used less distortion). [3]
Besides Hawkins and Graham, notable voice actors for the Daleks have included Roy Skelton , who first voiced the Daleks in the 1967 storey The Evil of the Daleks and went on to provide voices for five additional Dalek serials including Planet of the Daleks , and for the one-off anniversary special The Five Doctors . Michael Wisher , the actor who originated the role of Dalek creator Davros in Genesis of the Daleks , provided Dalek voices for that same story, as well as for Frontier in Space , Planet of the Daleks , and Death to the Daleks . Other Dalek voice actors include Royce Mills (three stories), Brian Miller (two stories), and Oliver Gilbert and Peter Messaline (one story). John Leeson , who performed the voice of K9 in several Doctor Who stories, and Davros actors Terry Molloy and David Gooderson additionally contributed supporting voices for various Dalek serials.
Since 2005, the Dalek voice in the television series has been provided by Nicholas Briggs , speaking into a microphone connected to a voice modulator. Briggs had previously provided Dalek and additional alien voices for Big Finish Productions audio plays . In a 2006 BBC Radio interview, Briggs said that when the BBC asked him to do the voice for the new television series, they instructed him to bring his own analogue ring modulator that he had used in the audio plays. The BBC's sound department had changed to a digital platform and couldn't adequately create the distinctive Dalek sound with their modern equipment. Briggs went as far as to bring the voice modulator to the actors' readings of the scripts.
Construction
Manufacturing the props was expensive. In scenes where a large number of Daleks had to appear, a few of them would be represented by wooden replicas ( Destiny of the Daleks ) or life-size photographic enlargements in the early black-and-white episodes ( The Daleks , The Dalek Invasion of Earth , and The Power of the Daleks ). [4] In storeys involving armies of Daleks, the BBC effects team even turned to using commercially available toy Daleks, manufactured by Louis Marx & Co and Herts Plastic Moulders Ltd. Examples of this can be observed in the serials The Power of the Daleks, The Evil of the Daleks, and Planet of the Daleks. Judicious editing techniques additionally gave the impression that there were more Daleks than were actually available, such as using a split screen in "The Parting of the Ways".
Four fully functioning props were commissioned for the first serial "The Daleks" in 1963, and were constructed from BBC plans by Shawcraft Engineering. [4] These became known in fan circles as "Mk I Daleks" . Shawcraft were additionally commissioned to construct approximately 20 Daleks for the two Dalek movies in 1965 and 1966 (see ). Some of these movie props filtered back to the BBC and were seen in the televised serials, notably The Chase, which was aired before the first movie's debut. [4] The remaining props not bought by the BBC were either donated to charity or given away as prizes in competitions. [5]
The BBC's own Dalek props were reused a large number of times, with components of the original Shawcraft "Mk I Daleks" surviving right through to their final classic series appearance in 1988. [5] But years of storage and repainting took their toll. By the time of the Sixth Doctor 's Revelation of the Daleks new props were being manufactured out of fibreglass . These models were lighter and more affordable to construct than their predecessors. These newer models were slightly bulkier in appearance around the mid-shoulder section, and additionally had a redesigned skirt section which was more vertical at the back. Other minor changes were made to the design due to these new construction methods, including altering the fender and incorporating the arm boxes, collars, and slats into a single fibreglass moulding. These props were repainted in grey for the Seventh Doctor serial Remembrance of the Daleks and designated as " Renegade Daleks "; another redesign, painted in cream and gold, became the " Imperial Dalek " faction. [5]
New Dalek props were built for the twenty-first century version of Doctor Who. The first, which appeared alone in the 2005 episode " Dalek ", was built by modelmaker Mike Tucker . Additional Dalek props based on Tucker's master were subsequently built out of fibreglass by Cardiff -based Specialist Models. [20]
Development
Wishing to create an alien creature that didn't look like a "man in a suit", Terry Nation stated in his script for the first Dalek serial that they should have no legs. He was additionally inspired by a performance by the Georgian National Ballet , in which dancers in long skirts appeared to glide across the stage. For a large number of of the shows, the Daleks were operated by retired ballet dancers wearing black socks while sitting inside the Dalek. Raymond Cusick (who died on 21 February 2013) [5] was given the task of designing the Daleks when Ridley Scott , then a designer for the BBC, proved unavailable after having been initially assigned to their debut serial. An account in Jeremy Bentham's Doctor Who—The Early Years (1986) says that after Nation wrote the script, Cusick was given only an hour to come up with the design for the Daleks, and was inspired in his initial sketches by a pepper shaker on a table. Cusick himself, however, states that he based it on a man seated in a chair, and only used the pepper shaker to demonstrate how it might move. [5]
In 1964 Nation told a Daily Mirror reporter that the Dalek name came from a dictionary or encyclopaedia volume, the spine of which read "Dal – Lek" (or, according to another version, "Dal – Eks"). He later admitted that this book and the origin of the Dalek name was completely fictitious, and that anyone bothering to cheque out his storey would have found him out. The name had in reality simply rolled off his typewriter. Later, Nation was pleasantly surprised to discover that in Serbo-Croatian the word "dalek" means "far", or "distant". [3]
Nation grew up throughout World War II, and remembered the fear caused by German bombings. He consciously based the Daleks on the Nazis , conceiving the species as faceless, authoritarian figures dedicated to conquest and complete conformity. [6] The allusion is most obvious in the Dalek storeys penned by Nation, in particular The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964) and Genesis of the Daleks (1975). [6] [6] [6]
Prior to writing the first Dalek serial, Nation was chief scriptwriter for comedian Tony Hancock . The two had a falling out, and Nation either resigned or was fired. [6] When Hancock left the BBC, he worked on several series proposals, one of which was called From Plip to Plop, a comedic history of the world which would have ended with a nuclear apocalypse, the survivors being reduced to living in dustbin-like robot casings and eating radiation to stay alive. According to biographer Cliff Goodwin, when Hancock saw the Daleks, he allegedly shouted at the screen, "That bloody Nation—he's stolen my robots!"
The naming of early Doctor Who storeys is complex and at times controversial. [23] [7] The first Dalek serial is called, variously, The Survivors (the pre-production title), The Mutants (its official title at the time of production and broadcast, later taken by another unrelated story ), Beyond the Sun (used on a few production documentation), The Dead Planet (the on-screen title of the serial's first episode), or simply The Daleks . [23]
The instant appeal of the Daleks caught the BBC off guard, and transformed Doctor Who from a Saturday tea-time children's educational programme to a must-watch national phenomenon. Children were alternately frightened and fascinated by the alien look of the monsters, and the Doctor Who production office was inundated by letters and calls asking about the creatures. Newspaper articles focused attention on the series and the Daleks, further enhancing their popularity.
Nation jointly owned the intellectual property rights to the Daleks with the BBC, and the money-making concept proved nearly impossible to sell to anyone else; he was dependent on the BBC wanting to produce storeys featuring the creatures. Several attempts to market the Daleks outside of the series were unsuccessful. [7] [7] Since Nation's death in 1997, his share of the rights is now administered by his former agent, Tim Hancock. [24]
Early plans for what eventually became the 1996 Doctor Who television movie included radically redesigned Daleks whose cases unfolded like spiders' legs. [7] The concept for these " Spider Daleks " was abandoned, but picked up again in several Doctor Who spin-offs .
When the new series was announced, a large number of fans hoped the Daleks would return once more to the programme. [26] [7] The Nation estate however demanded levels of creative control over the Daleks' appearances and scripts that were unacceptable to the BBC. [28] Eventually the Daleks were cleared to seem in the first series. [24] [29]
Fictional history
Dalek in-universe history has seen a large number of retroactive changes , which have caused continuity problems. When the Daleks first appeared, they were presented as the descendants of the Dals, mutated after a brief nuclear war between the Dal and Thal races 500 years ago. This race of Daleks is destroyed when their power supply is wrecked. Notwithstanding when they reappear in The Dalek Invasion of Earth , they have conquered Earth in the twenty-second century. Later storeys saw them develop time travel and a space empire. In 1975, Terry Nation revised the Daleks' origins in Genesis of the Daleks, where the Dals were now called Kaleds (of which "Daleks" is an anagram ), and the Dalek design was attributed to one man, the crippled Kaled chief scientist and evil genius, Davros. Instead of a short nuclear exchange, the Kaled-Thal war was portrayed as a thousand-year-long war of attrition , fought with nuclear , biological and chemical weapons which caused widespread mutations among the Kaled race. Davros experimented on living Kaled cells to find the ultimate mutated form of the Kaled species and placed the subjects in tank -like "travel machines" whose design was based on his own life-support chair.
Genesis of the Daleks marked a new era for the depiction of the species, with most of their previous history either forgotten or barely referred to again. [30] Future storeys in the original Doctor Who series, which followed a rough story arc , would additionally focus more on Davros, much to the dissatisfaction of a few fans who felt that the Daleks should take centre stage rather than merely fitting minions of their creator. Davros made his last televised appearance for 20 years in Remembrance of the Daleks, which depicted a civil war between two factions of Daleks. One faction, the "Imperial Daleks", were loyal to Davros, who had become their Emperor, whilst the other, the "Renegade Daleks", followed a black Supreme Dalek. By the end of the story, both factions have been wiped out and the Doctor has tricked them into destroying Skaro, though Davros escapes.
A single Dalek appeared in " Dalek ", written by Robert Shearman , which was broadcast on BBC One on 30 April 2005. This Dalek appeared to be the sole Dalek survivor of the Time War which had destroyed both the Daleks and the Time Lords. A Dalek Emperor returned at the end of the 2005 series, having rebuilt the Dalek race with genetic material harvested from human subjects. It saw itself as a god, and the new Daleks were shown worshipping it. These Daleks and their fleet were destroyed in " The Parting of the Ways ". The 2006 season finale " Army of Ghosts "/" Doomsday " featured a squad of four Dalek survivors from the old Empire, known as the Cult of Skaro , led by a black Dalek known as " Sec ", that had survived the Time War by escaping into the Void between dimensions. They emerged, along with the Genesis Ark, a Time Lord prison vessel containing millions of Daleks, at Canary Wharf due to the actions of the Torchwood Institute and Cybermen from a parallel world . This resulted in a Cyberman-Dalek clash in London, which was resolved when the Tenth Doctor caused both groups to be sucked back into the Void. The Cult survived by utilising an "emergency temporal shift" to escape.
These four Daleks - Sec, Jast, Thay and Caan - returned in the two-part storey " Daleks in Manhattan "/" Evolution of the Daleks ", in which whilst stranded in 1930s New York, they set up a base in the partially built Empire State Building and attempt to rebuild the Dalek race. To this end, Dalek Sec merges with a human being to become a Human/Dalek hybrid. The Cult then set about creating "Human Daleks" by "formatting" the brains of a few thousand captured humans, with the intention of producing hybrids which remain fully human in appearance but with Dalek minds. Dalek Sec, however, starts to become so human that he changes the DNA to make the hybrids more human. This angers the rest of the Cult, resulting in mutiny and the death of Sec, Thay and Jast as well as the wiping out of all the hybrids. This leaves Dalek Caan as the last Dalek in existence. When the Doctor makes Caan realise that he's the last of his kind, Caan uses emergency temporal shift and escapes once more.
The Daleks returned in the 2008 season's two-part finale, " The Stolen Earth "/" Journey's End ", accompanied once again by their creator Davros. The storey reveals that Caan's temporal shift sent him into the Time War whence he rescued Davros, in the process gaining the ability to see the future at the cost of his own sanity. Davros has created a new race using his own body's cells. The episode depicts a Dalek invasion of Earth, which with additional planets is taken to the Medusa Cascade, led by a red Supreme Dalek, who has kept Caan and Davros imprisoned in "The Vault", a section of the Dalek flagship, the Crucible. Davros and the Daleks plan to destroy reality itself with a "reality bomb" for which they need the stolen planets. The plan fails due to the interference of Donna Noble , a companion of the Doctor, and Caan himself, who has been manipulating events to destroy the Daleks after realising the severity of the atrocities they have committed. The Daleks returned in the 2010 episode " Victory of the Daleks ", the third episode of the series; Daleks who escaped the destruction of Davros' empire fell back in time and, by chance, managed to retrieve the "Progenitor". [31] This is a tiny apparatus which contains 'original' Dalek DNA. The activation of the Progenitor results in the creation of a "new paradigm" of Daleks. The New Paradigm Daleks deem their creators inferior and exterminate them; their creators make no resistance to this, deeming themselves inferior as well. They are organised into different roles (drone, scientist, strategists, supreme and eternal), which are identifiable with colour-coded armour instead of the identification plates under the eyestalk used by their predecessors. They escape the Doctor at the end of the episode via time travel with the intent to rebuild their Empire. [8]
The Daleks only appeared briefly in subsequent finales " The Pandorica Opens "/" The Big Bang " (2010) as Steven Moffat decided to "give them a rest" and stated "There's a problem with the Daleks. They are the most famous of the Doctor's adversaries and the most frequent, which means they're the most reliably defeatable enemies in the universe." [8] They next appear in " Asylum of the Daleks " (2012), where the Daleks are shown to have greatly increased numbers and have a Parliament; in addition to the traditional "modern" Daleks, several designs from both the original and new series appear. All record of the Doctor is removed from their collective consciousness at the end of the episode. The Daleks then appear in the fiftieth Anniversary special " The Day of the Doctor ", where they're seen being defeated in the Time War . In " The Time of the Doctor ", the Daleks are one of the races that travel to Trenzalore and besiege it for centuries to stop the Doctor from releasing the Time Lords. Due to converting Tasha Lem into a Dalek puppet, they regain knowledge of the Doctor. In the end, they're the only enemy left, the others having retreated or been destroyed and nearly kill the near-death Doctor before the Time Lords intervene and grant him a new regeneration cycle. The Doctor then uses his regeneration energy to obliterate the Daleks on the planet.
The Twelfth Doctor 's first encounter with the Daleks is in his second full episode, " Into the Dalek ". A beleaguered ship of the "Combined Galactic Resistance" has discovered a broken Dalek that has turned "good", desiring to kill all additional Daleks. The Doctor, Clara and a team of soldiers are miniaturised and enter the Dalek, which the Doctor names Rusty. They repair the damage, but accidentally restore it to its original nature, causing it to go on the rampage and alert the Dalek fleet to the whereabouts of the rebel ship. Notwithstanding the Doctor manages to return Rusty to its previous state by linking his mind with the Dalek's: Rusty shares the Doctor's view of the universe's beauty, but additionally his deep hatred of the Daleks. Rusty destroys the additional Daleks and departs the ship, determined to track down and bring an end to the Dalek race.
Dalek culture
Daleks have little, if any, individual personality, ostensibly no emotions additional than hatred and anger, and a strict command structure in which they're conditioned to obey superiors' orders without question. Dalek speech is characterised by repeated phrases, and by orders given to themselves and to others. [8] Unlike the stereotypical emotionless robots often found in science fiction, Daleks are often angry; author Kim Newman has described the Daleks as behaving "like toddlers in perpetual hissy fits", gloating when in power and flying into rage when thwarted. [8] They tend to be excitable and will repeat the same word or phrase over and over again in heightened emotional states, most famously "Exterminate! Exterminate!"
In terms of their behaviour, Daleks are extremely aggressive, and seem driven by an instinct to attack. This instinct is so strong that Daleks have been depicted fighting the urge to kill or even attacking when unarmed. The Fifth Doctor characterises this impulse by saying, "However you respond [to Daleks] is seen as an act of provocation." The fundamental feature of Dalek culture and psychology is an unquestioned belief in the superiority of the Dalek race, and their default directive is to destroy all non-Dalek life-forms. Other species are either to be exterminated immediately or enslaved and then exterminated once they're no longer useful.
The Dalek obsession with their own superiority is illustrated by the schism between the Renegade and Imperial Daleks seen in Revelation of the Daleks and Remembrance of the Daleks: the two factions each consider the additional to be a perversion notwithstanding the relatively minor differences between them. This intolerance of any "contamination" within themselves is additionally shown in "Dalek", The Evil of the Daleks and in the Big Finish Productions audio play The Mutant Phase . This superiority complex is the basis of the Daleks' ruthlessness and lack of compassion. This is shown in extreme in " Victory of the Daleks ", where the new, pure Daleks destroy their creators, impure Daleks, with the latters' consent. It is nearly impossible to negotiate or reason with a Dalek, a single-mindedness that makes them dangerous and not to be underestimated. The Eleventh Doctor ( Matt Smith ) is later puzzled in the "Asylum of the Daleks" as to why the Daleks don't just kill the sequestered ones that have "gone wrong". Although the Asylum is subsequently obliterated, the Prime Minister of the Daleks explains that "it is offensive to us to destroy such divine hatred", and the Doctor is sickened at the revelation that hatred is actually considered beautiful by the Daleks.
Dalek society is depicted as one of extreme scientific and technological advancement; the Third Doctor states that "it was their inventive genius that made them one of the greatest powers in the universe." Notwithstanding their reliance on logic and machinery is additionally a strategic weakness which they recognise, and thus use more emotion-driven species as agents to compensate for these shortcomings.
Although the Daleks aren't known for their regard for due process , they have taken at least two enemies back to Skaro for a "trial", rather than killing them immediately. The first was their creator, Davros, in Revelation of the Daleks, and the second was the renegade Time Lord known as the Master in the 1996 television movie. The reasons for the Master's trial, and why the Doctor would be asked to retrieve the Master's remains, have never been explained on screen. The Doctor Who Annual 2006 implies that the trial might have been due to a treaty signed between the Time Lords and the Daleks. [8] The framing device for the I, Davros audio plays is a Dalek trial to determine if Davros should be the Daleks' leader once more. [8]
Spin-off novels contain several tongue-in-cheek mentions of Dalek poetry, and an anecdote about an opera based upon it, which was lost to posterity when the entire cast was exterminated on the opening night. Two stanzas are given in the novel The Also People by Ben Aaronovitch. In an alternative timeline portrayed in the Big Finish Productions audio adventure The Time of the Daleks , the Daleks show a fondness for the works of Shakespeare . A similar idea was satirised by comedian Frankie Boyle in the BBC comedy quiz programme Mock the Week ; he gave the fictional Dalek poem "Daffodils; EXTERMINATE DAFFODILS!" as an "unlikely line to hear in Doctor Who".
Because the Doctor has defeated the Daleks so often, he has become their collective arch-enemy and they have standing orders to capture or exterminate him on sight. In later fiction, the Daleks know the Doctor as "Ka Faraq Gatri" ("Bringer of Darkness" or "Destroyer of Worlds"), and "The Oncoming Storm". Both the Ninth Doctor ( Christopher Eccleston ) and Rose Tyler ( Billie Piper ) suggest that the Doctor is one of the few beings the Daleks fear. In " Doomsday ", Rose notes that while the Daleks see the extermination of five million Cybermen as "pest control", "one Doctor" visibly un-nerves them (to the point they physically recoil). To his indignant surprise, in "Asylum of the Daleks", the Eleventh Doctor ( Matt Smith ) learns that the Daleks have designated him as "The Predator".
As the Doctor escapes the Asylum (with companions Amy and Rory), a Dalek-converted-human (Oswin Oswald) prisoner provides critical assistance, which culminates in completely deleting the Doctor from the Dalek hive-consciousness (the PathWeb), thus wiping the slate entirely blank. Notwithstanding this was reversed in " The Time of the Doctor ", when the Daleks regained knowledge of the Doctor through the memory of an old acquaintance of the Doctor, Tasha Lem.
Measurements
A rel is a Dalek and Kaled unit of measurement. It was usually a measurement of time , with a duration of slightly more than one second, as mentioned in " Doomsday ", " Evolution of the Daleks " and " Journey's End ", counting down to the ignition of the reality bomb. (One earth minute most likely equals about 50 rels.) Notwithstanding in a few comic books it was additionally used as a unit of velocity . Finally, in a few cases it was used as a unit of hydroelectric energy (not to be confused with a vep, the unit used to measure artificial sunlight).
The rel was first used in the non-canonical feature film Daleks – Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. , soon after appearing in early Doctor Who comic books.
Licensed appearances
Two Doctor Who movies starring Peter Cushing featured the Daleks as the main villains: Dr. Who and the Daleks , and Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD , based on the television serials The Daleks and The Dalek Invasion of Earth, respectively. The movies weren't direct remakes; for example, the Doctor in the Cushing films was a human inventor called "Dr. Who" who built a time-travelling device named Tardis, instead of a mysterious alien who stole a device called "the TARDIS".
Four books focusing on the Daleks were published in the 1960s. The Dalek Book (1964, written by Terry Nation and David Whitaker ), The Dalek World (1965, written by Nation and Whitaker) and The Dalek Outer Space Book (1966, by Nation and Brad Ashton) were all hardcover books formatted like annuals , containing text storeys and comics about the Daleks, along with fictional information (sometimes based on the television serials, additional times made up for the books). Nation additionally published The Dalek Pocketbook and Space-Travellers Guide, which collected articles and features treating the Daleks as if they were real. Four more annuals were published in the 1970s by World Distributors under the title Terry Nation's Dalek Annual (with cover dates 1976–1979, but published 1975–1978). Two original novels by John Peel , War of the Daleks (1997) and Legacy of the Daleks (1998), were released as part of the Eighth Doctor Adventures series of Doctor Who novels. A novella, The Dalek Factor by Simon Clark , was published in 2004, and two books featuring the Daleks and the Tenth Doctor ( I am a Dalek by Gareth Roberts , 2006, and Prisoner of the Daleks by Trevor Baxendale , 2009) have been released as part of the New Series Adventures .
Nation authorised the publication of the comic strip The Daleks in the comic TV Century 21 in 1965. The weekly one-page strip, written by Whitaker but credited to Nation, featured the Daleks as protagonists and "heroes", and continued for two years, from their creation of the mechanised Daleks by the humanoid Dalek scientist, Yarvelling, to their eventual discovery in the ruins of a crashed space-liner of the co-ordinates for Earth , which they proposed to invade. Although much of the material in these strips directly contradicted what was shown on television, a few concepts like the Daleks using humanoid duplicates and the design of the Dalek Emperor did show up later on in the programme.
At the same time, a Doctor Who strip was additionally being published in TV Comic . Initially, the strip didn't have the rights to use the Daleks, so the First Doctor battled the "Trods" instead, cone-shaped robotic creatures that ran on static electricity. By the time the Second Doctor appeared in the strip in 1967 the rights issues had been resolved, and the Daleks began making appearances starting in The Trodos Ambush (TVC #788-#791), where they massacred the Trods. The Daleks additionally made appearances in the Third Doctor -era Dr. Who comic strip that featured in the combined Countdown / TV Action comic throughout the early 1970s. [34]
Other licenced appearances have included a number of stage plays (see below) and television adverts for Wall's "Sky Ray" ice lollies (1966), Weetabix breakfast cereal (1977), Kit Kat chocolate bars (2001), [35] and the ANZ Bank (2005). [37] In 2003, Daleks additionally appeared in UK billboard ads for Energizer batteries, alongside the slogan "Are You Power Mad?" [35]
Other major appearances
The Dalek Generation by Nicholas Briggs (New Series Adventures), published April 2013
Other appearances
Non-Doctor Who television and film
Daleks have made cameo appearances in television programmes and films unrelated to Doctor Who from the 1960s to the present day.
Dalek toys are seen in a department store in "Death at Bargain Prices", a 1965 episode of the fantasy/thriller series The Avengers , which like Doctor Who was created by Sydney Newman, although broadcast on the rival ITV network. [38]
During the 1992 Christmas special of the comedy series Mr. Bean , the title character uses children's toys to play out a bizarre nativity scene in which a Dalek exterminates a tiny lamb and a tyrannosaurus rex. [39]
Two to three purple toy Daleks are additionally seen in the background of an episode of the American children's cartoon Rugrats . [40]
In the television special The Red Dwarf A–Z , two Daleks are shown (under "E" for "Exterminate") arguing that all Earth television is human propaganda, and the works more commonly attributed to William Shakespeare and Ludwig van Beethoven were actually written by Daleks, although they deny having written " Mandy " by Barry Manilow ; subsequently, one of them remarks that the "change the bulb" joke from the episode " Legion " was funny, and is promptly exterminated by the additional for the crime of "not behaving like a true Dalek". [41]
In the 2004 series of Coupling , written by Steven Moffat (who was later to write for and produce Doctor Who), a Dalek appears in the second episode of season four. [42] This was voiced by Nicholas Briggs , [43] who later went on to provide Dalek voices for the series proper from 2005 onwards. (Terry Nation's original Dalek rights deal with the BBC had been negotiated by his then agent Beryl Vertue , later Moffat's mother-in-law.) [44]
In the film Looney Tunes: Back in Action , the secret military base, Area 52, detains a number of monsters and robots from old sci-fi films; among those are a few Daleks, who upon release by Marvin the Martian , proceed to attack while spouting their catchphrases. [35] [45]
A Dalek appeared alongside Darth Vader , Ming the Merciless , a Klingon , the Sixth Doctor and a 1980s Cyberman in a 2003 episode of the British motoring programme Top Gear , to see who was "Master of the Universe" with a lap around their test track in a racing modified Honda Civic . [47] The Dalek couldn't get into the car, so it exterminated the additional drivers (with the exception of the Klingon and the Doctor; who had apparently fled beforehand as they weren't present); the Cyberman was eventually declared the winner by the hosts. [48]
In the final episode of the 2007 series of The Vicar of Dibley , Dawn French 's character gets married, supported by two Dalek bridesmaids.
In a 2009 episode of the American sitcom Better Off Ted , a deactivated Dalek is spotted in the sub-basement where the supposed "Robot Farm" is located. [49]
In a December 2009 episode ("Party Animals") of the British children's television series Shaun the Sheep , one of the sheep is dressed as a crude version of a Dalek trying to get up a few stairs but failing because of the suit.
In 2010, a Dalek was a "guest" on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson sitting off to the side and keeping a watchful eye on Ferguson. It never spoke, but occasionally moved around. This was a lead-up to having Matt Smith as a real guest on the show.
On May 4, 2011, the popular animated television show, South Park aired its 211th episode, #1502 entitled " Funnybot " featuring a new character, "Funnybot". Funnybot was designed by the Germans to prove that they were a funny people, contrary to what the students of South Park Elementary had to say about them. What the Germans created looked in a few ways similar to a Dalek, and in the end lived up to its appearance, albeit with Gatling guns in lieu of a death ray. [50]
In the children's book Animalia by Graeme Base, a Dalek appears on the pages with objects starting with the letter D. [51]
The December 9, 2012 episode of The Simpsons entitled " The Day the Earth Stood Cool ," an outline of a Dalek can be seen on the bottom drawer of T-Rex's dresser when Bart discovers his action figures.
On September 2, 2013, the Daleks made an appearance in the sketch "Doctor Who's Line is it Anyway?", on the Cartoon Network show MAD .
Comic books
In The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume III: Century 1969, a Dalek can be seen throughout a psychedelic hallucination by Mina Murray
Music
Daleks have been referred to or associated in a large number of musical compositions.
The first known musical reference to Daleks is the 1964 novelty single "I'm Gonna Spend My Christmas with a Dalek" by the Go-Go's , released throughout the 1960s' " Dalekmania " fad.
Dalek voices were sampled and recreated in the 1988 novelty single " Doctorin' the Tardis " by The Timelords (who later performed as the KLF ),
Daleks were additionally sampled by the German electronic band Rotersand in their 2005 single "Exterminate Annihilate Destroy". [53]
Many additional musicians have mentioned Daleks in lyrics, including: the Clash , in " Remote Control " ("Repression—gonna be a Dalek / Repression—I am a robot / Repression—I obey."); [54] the Creatures , in "Weathercade" ("The Dalek drones are drowning"); [55] Martin Gordon in "Her Daddy Was a Dalek, Her Mummy Was a Non-Stick Frying Pan" from his album "The Joy of More Hogwash" [56] and the Supernaturals , in "Smile" ("I feel like a Dalek inside/ Everything's gone grey but used to be so black and white"). [57] The trock band Chameleon Circuit 's eponymous album features a song called Exterminate, Regenerate; which illustrates the conflict between the Doctor and the Daleks. Bands have even incorporated Daleks into their names: Dalek I Love You , a synthpop band active for over ten years from the late 1970s to the beginning of the 1990s, and instrumental surf-rock trio Dalek Beach Party, whose 1992 EP featured the song "Exterminate! Exterminate!" [58]
Dalek is additionally mentioned and pictured in the Doc Brown vs Doctor Who. Epic Rap Battles of History Season 2, being summoned by Brown to exterminate the Tenth Doctor.
Samples of Dalek voices uttering the phrases "the prisoners have escaped" and "exterminate them" appear in the song "Shakespeare's Tacklebox" by the Australian band Spiderbait on their 1993 debut LP "ShaShaVaGlava". [59]
Politics
At the 1966 Conservative Party conference in Blackpool , delegate Hugh Dykes publicly compared the Labour government's Defence Secretary Denis Healey to the creatures. "Mr. Healey is the Dalek of defence, pointing a metal finger at the armed forces and saying 'I will eliminate you'."
In a British Government Parliamentary Debate in the House of Commons on 12 February 1968, the then Minister of Technology Tony Benn mentioned the Daleks throughout a reply to a question from the Labour MP Hugh Jenkins concerning the Concorde aircraft project. In the context of the dangers of solar flares , he said, "Because we're exploring the frontiers of technology, a few people think Concorde will be avoiding solar flares like Dr. Who avoiding Daleks. It isn't like this at all." [60]
Daleks have been used in political cartoons to caricature: Douglas Hurd , as the 'Douglek', in Private Eye's Dan Dire – Pilot of the Future ; Tony Benn , [62] John Birt , [63] Tony Blair [64] [65] (also portrayed as Davros ), [66] Alastair Campbell , [64] Alec Douglas-Home , [67] Charles de Gaulle , Peter Mandelson , [64] Mark Thompson . [68]
Magazine covers
Daleks have appeared on magazine covers promoting Doctor Who after the "Dalekmania" fad of the 1960s. Radio Times has featured the Daleks on its cover several times, beginning with the 21–27 November 1964 issue which promoted The Dalek Invasion of Earth. [69] Other magazines additionally used Daleks to attract readers' attention, including Girl Illustrated.
In April 2005, Radio Times created a special cover to commemorate both the return of the Daleks to the screen in " Dalek " and the forthcoming general election . [70] This cover recreated a scene from The Dalek Invasion of Earth in which the Daleks were seen crossing Westminster Bridge , with the Houses of Parliament in the background. The cover text read "VOTE DALEK!" In a 2008 contest sponsored by the Periodical Publishers Association , this cover was voted the best British magazine cover of all time. [71] In 2013 it was voted "Cover of the century" by the Professional Publishers Association . [72] The 2010 UK general election campaign additionally prompted a collector's set of three near-identical covers of the Radio Times on 17 April with exactly the same headline but with the newly redesigned Daleks in their primary colours representing the three main political parties, Red being Labour, Blue as Conservative and Yellow as Liberal Democrats.
Parodies
Daleks have been the subject of a large number of parodies , including Spike Milligan 's " Pakistani Dalek " sketch in his comedy series Q , and Victor Lewis-Smith 's "Gay Daleks". [73] Occasionally the BBC has used the Daleks to parody additional subjects: in 2002, BBC Worldwide published the Dalek Survival Guide, a parody of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbooks . Comedian Eddie Izzard has an extended stand-up routine about Daleks, which was included in his 1993 stand-up show " Live at the Ambassadors ". [74] The Daleks made two brief appearances in a pantomime version of Aladdin at the Birmingham Hippodrome which starred Torchwood star John Barrowman in the lead role. [76] A joke-telling robot, possessing a Dalek-like boom, and loosely modelled after the Dalek, additionally appeared in the South Park episode " Funnybot ", even spouting out "exterminate". [77] A Dalek can additionally be seen in the background at timepoints 1:13 and 1:17 in the Sam & Max animated series episode The Trouble With Gary. In the Community parody of Doctor Who called Inspector Spacetime, they're referred to as Blorgons.
Merchandising
The BBC approached Walter Tuckwell, a New Zealand-born entrepreneur who was handling product merchandising for additional BBC shows, and asked him to do the same for the Daleks and Doctor Who. Tuckwell created a glossy sales brochure that sparked off a Dalek craze, dubbed "Dalekmania" by the press, which peaked in 1965.
Toys and models
The first Dalek toys were released in 1965 as part of the "Dalekmania" craze. These included battery-operated, friction drive and "Rolykins" Daleks from Louis Marx & Co. , as well as models from Cherilea, Herts Plastic Moulders Ltd and Cowan, de Groot Ltd, and "Bendy" Daleks made by Newfeld Ltd. At the height of the Daleks' popularity, in addition to toy replicas, there were Dalek board games and activity sets, slide projectors for children and even Dalek playsuits made from PVC. Collectible cards, stickers, toy guns, music singles, punching bags and a large number of additional items were additionally produced in this period. Dalek toys released in the 1970s included a new version of Louis Marx's battery-operated Dalek (1974), a "talking Dalek" from Palitoy (1975) and a Dalek board game (1975) and Dalek action figure (1977), both from Denys Fisher . [78] From 1988 to 2002, Dapol released a line of Dalek toys in conjunction with its Doctor Who action figure series.
In 1984, Sevans Models released a self-assembly model kit for a one-fifth scale Dalek, which Doctor Who historian David Howe has described as "the most accurate model of a Dalek ever to be released". Comet Miniatures released two Dalek self-assembly model kits in the 1990s.
In 1992, Bally released a Doctor Who pinball machine which prominently featured the Daleks both as a primary playfield feature and as a motorised toy in the topper. [79]
Bluebird Toys produced a Dalek-themed Doctor Who playset in 1998.
Beginning in 2000, Product Enterprise (who later operated under the names "Iconic Replicas" and "Sixteen 12 Collectibles") produced various Dalek toys. These included one-inch (2.5 cm) Dalek "Rolykins" (based on the Louis Marx toy from 1965); push-along "talking" 7-inch (17.8 cm) Daleks; 2½-inch (6.4 cm) Dalek "Rollamatics" with a pull back and release mechanism; and a one-foot (30.5 cm) remote control Dalek.
In 2005 Character Options was granted the "Master Toy License" for the revived Doctor Who series, including the Daleks. Their product lines have included 5-inch (12.7 cm) static/push-along and radio controlled Daleks, radio controlled 12-inch (30.5 cm) versions and radio controlled 18-inch (45.7 cm) / 1:3 scale variants. The 12-inch remote control Dalek won the 2005 award for Best Electronic Toy of the Year from the Toy Retailers Association . Some versions of the 18-inch model included semi-autonomous and voice command-features. In 2008, the company acquired a licence to produce 5-inch (12.7 cm) Daleks of the various "classic series" variants. For the fifth revived series, both Ironside (Post-Time war Daleks in camouflage khaki), Drone (new, red) and, later, Strategist Daleks (new, blue) were released as both RC Infrared Battle Daleks and action figures.
Video games
Licensed Doctor Who games featuring Daleks include 1984's The Key to Time, a text adventure game for the Sinclair ZX Spectrum . [81] Daleks additionally appeared in minor roles or as thinly disguised versions in other, minor games throughout the 80s, but didn't feature as central adversaries in a licenced game until 1992, when Admiral Software published Dalek Attack . [82] The game allowed the player to play various Doctors or companions, running them through several environments to defeat the Daleks. [82] [86] In 1997 the BBC released a PC game entitled Destiny of the Doctors which additionally featured the Daleks, among additional adversaries.
Unauthorized games featuring Daleks continued to seem through the 1990s and 2000s, including Dalek-based modifications of Dark Forces , Quake , and Half-Life , and even more recently, a mod of Halo: Combat Evolved ; a large number of of these can be found online, including an Adobe Flash game, Dalek:Dissolution Earth. [88] In 1998 QWho, a modification for Quake, featured the Daleks as adversaries. This additionally formed the basis of TimeQuake, a total conversion written in 2000 which included additional Doctor Who monsters such as Sontarans . [89] An Additional unauthorised game is DalekTron, a based on Robotron: 2084 written to coincide with the 2005 series. [90]
One authorised online game is The Last Dalek, a Flash game created by New Media Collective for the BBC. It is based on the 2005 episode "Dalek" and can be played at the official BBC Doctor Who website. [92] The Doctor Who website additionally features another game, Daleks vs Cybermen (also known as Cyber Troop Control Interface), based on the 2006 episode "Doomsday"; in this game, the player controls troops of Cybermen which must fight Daleks as well as Torchwood Institute members. [94]
On 5 June 2010, the BBC released the first of four official computer games on its website, 'Doctor Who: The Adventure Games', which are intended as part of the official TV series adventures. In the first of these, 'The City of the Daleks', the Doctor in his eleventh incarnation and Amy Pond must stop the Daleks re-writing time and reviving Skaro, their homeland.
They additionally appear in the Nintendo DS and Wii games Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth and Doctor Who: Return to Earth .
Several Daleks appear in the iOS game The Mazes of Time [95] as rare enemies the player faces, appearing only in the first and final levels.
The robot model 883 in the game Paradroid for the Commodore 64 looks like a Dalek. The game was later ported to additional platforms, and several free software clones have been developed since, among them Freedroid Classic. Based on this game is a Diablo style role-playing game called Freedroid RPG where several Dalek-like robots appear. The base version is called Dalex, its powerful, but slow weapon, the Exterminator, is additionally available to the player.
Full-size reproductions
Dalek fans have been building life-size reproduction Daleks for a large number of years. [97] The BBC and Terry Nation estate officially disapprove of self-built Daleks, but usually intervene only if attempts are made to trade unlicensed Daleks and Dalek components commercially, or if it is considered that actual or intended use might damage the BBC's reputation or the Doctor Who/Dalek brand. [99] The Crewe , Cheshire-based company "This Planet Earth" is the only business which has been licenced by the BBC and the Terry Nation Estate to produce full-size TV Dalek replicas, and by Canal+ Image UK Ltd. to produce full size Movie Dalek replicas commercially. [100] [101]
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i don't know
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Stadium, French's, Händlmaier, and Maille make what, commonly from the Sinapis alba and Brassica juncea plants?
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Mustard (condiment)
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Mustard (condiment)
Mustard seeds (top left) may be ground (top right) to make different kinds of mustard. These four mustards are: a simple table mustard with turmeric coloring (center left), a Bavarian sweet mustard (center right), a Dijon mustard (lower left), and a coarse French mustard made mainly from black mustard seeds (lower right).
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant (white/ yellow mustard, Sinapis alba ; brown/ Indian mustard, Brassica juncea ; or black mustard, B. nigra ).
The whole, ground, cracked, or bruised mustard seeds are mixed with water, vinegar, lemon juice , wine, or other liquids, salt, and often other flavorings and spices , to create a paste or sauce ranging in color from bright yellow to dark brown. The taste of mustard ranges from sweet to spicy. [1]
Commonly paired with meats and cheeses, mustard is added to sandwiches, salads, hamburgers, corn dogs , and hot dogs . It is also used as an ingredient in many dressings , glazes , sauces, soups, and marinades . As a cream or as individual seeds, mustard is used as a condiment in the cuisine of India and Bangladesh , the Mediterranean , northern and southeastern Europe , Asia, the Americas, and Africa, [2] making it one of the most popular and widely used spices and condiments in the world.
Contents
12 External links
Etymology
The English word “mustard” derives from the Anglo-Norman mustarde and Old French mostarde (Modern French is moutarde). The first element is ultimately from Latin mustum, (“ must “, young wine) – the condiment was originally prepared by making the ground seeds into a paste with must. The second element comes also from Latin ardens, (hot, flaming). It is first attested in English in the late 13th century, though it is found as a surname a century earlier. [3]
History
Archeological excavations in the Indus Valley (Indian Subcontinent) have revealed that mustard was cultivated there. That civilization existed until about 1800 BC. [4]
The Romans were probably the first to experiment with the preparation of mustard as a condiment. They mixed unfermented grape juice (the must) with ground mustard seeds (called sinapis) to make “burning must”, mustum ardens — hence “must ard”. [5] A recipe for mustard appears in De re coquinaria , the anonymously compiled Roman cookbook from the late 4th or early 5th century; the recipe calls for a mixture of ground mustard, pepper , caraway , lovage , grilled coriander seeds, dill , celery , thyme , oregano , onion , honey , vinegar , fish sauce , and oil , and was intended as a glaze for spit-roasted boar . [6]
The Romans likely exported mustard seed to Gaul , and by the 10th century, monks of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris absorbed the mustard-making knowledge of Romans and began their own production. [7] The first appearance of mustard makers on the royal registers in Paris dates back to 1292. [8] Dijon , France, became a recognized center for mustard making by the 13th century. [9] The popularity of mustard in Dijon is evidenced by written accounts of guests consuming 320 litres (70 imp gal) of mustard creme in a single sitting at a gala held by the Duke of Burgundy in 1336. [10] In 1777, one of the most famous Dijon mustard makers, Grey-Poupon , was established as a partnership between Maurice Grey, a mustard maker with a unique recipe containing white wine; and Auguste Poupon, his financial backer. [11] Their success was aided by the introduction of the first automatic mustard-making machine. [11] In 1937, Dijon mustard was granted an Appellation d’origine contrôlée . [7] Due to its long tradition of mustard making, Dijon is regarded as the mustard capital of the world. [9]
The early use of mustard as a condiment in England is attested from the year 1390 in the book The Forme of Cury which was written by King Richard II’s master cooks. It was prepared in the form of mustard balls — coarse-ground mustard seed combined with flour and cinnamon , moistened, rolled into balls, and dried — which were easily stored and combined with vinegar or wine to make mustard paste as needed. [12] The town of Tewkesbury was well known for its high-quality mustard balls, originally made with ground mustard mixed with horseradish and dried for storage, [13] which were then exported to London and other parts of the country, and are even mentioned in William Shakespeare ‘s play King Henry the Fourth, Part II . [14]
The use of mustard as a hot dog condiment was first said to be seen in the US at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair , when the bright-yellow French’s mustard was introduced by the R.T. French Company. [15]
Culinary uses
Source: USDA Nutrient Database
Mustard is most often used at the table as a condiment on cold meats. It is also used as an ingredient in mayonnaise , vinaigrette , marinades, and barbecue sauce . Mustard is also a popular accompaniment to hot dogs, pretzels , and bratwurst . In the Netherlands and northern Belgium it is commonly used to make mustard soup; which includes mustard, cream, parsley , garlic and pieces of salted bacon . Mustard as an emulsifier can stabilize a mixture of two or more immiscible liquids, such as oil and water. Added to Hollandaise sauce , mustard can inhibit curdling . [16]
Nutritional value
The amounts of various nutrients in mustard seed are to be found in the USDA National Nutrient Database.[17] As a condiment, mustard averages approximately 5 calories per teaspoon. [16] Some of the many vitamins and nutrients found in mustard seeds are selenium and omega 3 fatty acid . [18]
Preparation
The many varieties of prepared mustards have a wide range of strengths and flavors, depending on the variety of mustard seed and the preparation method. The basic taste and “heat” of the mustard are determined largely by seed type, preparation and ingredients. [19] [20] Preparations from the white mustard plant ( Sinapis alba ) have a less pungent flavor than preparations of black mustard ( Brassica nigra ) or brown Indian mustard ( Brassica juncea ). The temperature of the water and concentration of acids such as vinegar also determine the strength of a prepared mustard; hotter liquids and stronger acids denature the enzymes that make the strength-producing compounds. Thus, “hot” mustard is made with cold water, whereas using hot water produces a milder condiment, all else being equal. [21]
Mustard oil can be extracted from the chaff and meal of the seed.
Flavors
The mustard plant ingredient itself has a sharp, hot, pungent flavor.
Mixing ground mustard seeds with water causes a chemical reaction between two compounds in the seed: the enzyme myrosinase and various glucosinolates such as sinigrin , myrosin , and sinalbin . The myrosinase enzyme turns the glucosinolates into various isothiocyanate compounds known generally as mustard oil . The concentrations of different glucosinolates in mustard plant varieties, and the different isothiocyanates that are produced, make different flavors and intensities.
allyl isothiocyanate and 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate are responsible for the sharp hot pungent sensation in mustards and in horseradish , wasabi , and garlic . This is because it stimulates the heat and acidity sensing TRPV ion channel TRPV1 on nociceptors (pain sensing nerve cell) in the mouth and nasal passages. The heat of prepared mustard can dissipate with time. [22] This is due to gradual chemical break-up of 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate.
Sulforaphane , phenethyl isothiocyanate , benzyl isothiocyanate create milder and less pungent intensities and flavors as when found in broccoli, brussels sprouts, watercress , and cabbages.
The sulfoxide unit in sulforaphane is structurally similar to a thiol which yields onion or garlic-like odors.
Prepared mustard condiment may also have ingredients giving salty, sour (vinegar), and sweet flavors. Turmeric is often added to commercially prepared mustards, mainly to give them a yellow color.
Storage and shelf life
Prepared mustard is sold in glass jars, plastic bottles, or metal squeeze tubes. [23] Because of its antibacterial properties, mustard does not require refrigeration for safety; it will not grow mold, mildew, or harmful bacteria. [24] Mustard can last indefinitely without becoming inedible or harmful, though it may dry out, lose flavor, or brown from oxidation . [24] Mixing in a small amount of wine or vinegar may improve dried-out mustard. Some types of prepared mustard stored for a long time may separate, which can be corrected by stirring or shaking. If stored unrefrigerated for a long time, mustard can acquire a bitter taste.
When whole mustard seeds are wetted and crushed, an enzyme is activated that releases pungent sulphurous compounds; but they quickly evaporate. An acidic liquid, such as wine or vinegar, produces a longer-lasting paste. [25] However, even then prepared mustard loses its pungency over time; the loss can be slowed by keeping a sealed container (opaque or in the dark) in a cool place or refrigerator. [26]
Varieties
Yellow Romanian mustard (mustar)
Locations renowned for their mustard include Dijon (medium-strength) and Meaux in France; Norwich (very hot) and Tewkesbury , famed for its mustard , in the United Kingdom; and Düsseldorf (hot) and Bavaria in Germany. They vary in the subsidiary spices and in the preparation of the mustard seeds. The mustard husks may be ground with the seeds, or winnowed away after the initial crushing; “whole-grain mustard” retains some unground or partially ground mustard seeds. Bavarian sweet mustard contains very little acid, substituting copious amounts of sugar for preservation. The Tecuci mustard from Romania is a sweet variety very popular in Eastern Europe and is suitable for barbecued meats such as mititei . Sometimes prepared mustard is simmered to moderate its bite, and sometimes it is aged. Irish mustard is a whole-grain mustard blended with whiskey , stout (commonly Guinness ), or honey .
Home preparation
Hot table mustard may easily be prepared by the home cook by mixing “powdered mustard” (ground mustard seed, turmeric and wheat flour) to the desired consistency with water or an acidic liquid such as wine, vinegar, or beer, and leaving to stand for ten minutes. [27] It is usually prepared immediately before a meal; mustard prepared with water, in particular, is more pungent but deteriorates rapidly. [25]
American yellow mustard
A bottle of American yellow mustard
The most commonly used mustard in the United States – and tied with Dijon in Canada – is American mustard sold as “yellow mustard” (although most prepared mustards are yellow) and commonly referred to as just “mustard”. A very mild prepared mustard colored bright yellow from turmeric powder, it was supposedly introduced in 1904 by George J. French as “cream salad mustard”. American mustard is regularly used to top hot dogs, sandwiches, pretzels and hamburgers . It is also an ingredient of many potato salads , barbecue sauces , and salad dressings . It is commonly referred to as “hot dog”, “ball park”, “yellow”, “sunshine” or “prepared” mustard for these applications.
Spicy brown/deli-style mustard
Spicy brown mustard is also commonly used in the United States. The seeds are coarsely ground, giving it a speckled brownish-yellow appearance. In general, it is spicier than American mustard. Some “Deli-style” mustard incorporates horseradish which actually makes it a little spicier than spicy brown. A variety popular in Louisiana is called Creole mustard . Typically Creole mustard is much coarser than Spicy Brown.
Beer mustard
Beer mustard, which uses beer instead of vinegar, allegedly originated in the 20th century somewhere in the United States Midwest and has remained a popular local condiment. [28]
Dijon mustard
Dijon Mustard Exported to Bulgaria
Dijon mustard originated in 1856, when Jean Naigeon of Dijon replaced the usual ingredient of vinegar with verjuice , the acidic “green” juice of unripe grapes. [29] Most mustards from Dijon today contain white wine rather than verjuice.
“Dijon mustard” is not a protected food name . While mustard factories still operate in Dijon and adjoining towns, most mustard described as “Dijon” is manufactured elsewhere. Even that produced in France is made almost exclusively from Canadian mustard seed.
Whole-grain mustard
In whole-grain mustard, also known as granary mustard, the seeds are mixed whole with other ingredients. Different flavors and strengths can be achieved through different blends of mustard seed species. Groningen mustard is an example of a mustard with partially ground grains.
English mustard
Along with Karashi , English mustard is one of the hottest in the world. It is bright yellow in color with a thicker consistency than the mild American mustard. The most famous brand of English mustard is Colman’s , who first produced their variety in 1814 as a powder in their yellow tin. William Taylor, based in Newport Pagnell was the first person to sell English mustard in a ready prepared format in 1830.
French mustard
This dark brown, mild and tangy/sweet mustard, despite its name, is not French in origin. Also it is not to be confused with French’s mustard. “French” mustard is particular to the UK and was invented by Colman’s in 1936. It became a popular accompaniment to steak in particular. Colman’s ceased production of French mustard in 2001 after Unilever , who now own Colman’s, were ordered to stop selling it by the EU, following its takeover of rival mustard-maker Amora Maille in 2000. [30] Many British supermarkets still offer their own version of French mustard.
Honey mustard
Honey mustard, as its name suggests, is a blend of mustard and honey, typically mixed in a 1:1 ratio. [31] It is commonly used both on sandwiches, and as a dip for finger foods such as chicken strips . It can also be combined with vinegar or olive oil to make a salad dressing.
Combinations of English mustard with honey or Demerara sugar are used in British cuisine to coat grilled lamb cutlets or pork chops.
Hot pepper mustard
Chili peppers of various strengths are used to make a variety of mustards more piquant than plain mustard. Peppers or hot sauce made from peppers are added to mustards of different base styles such as yellow mustard, brown mustard or spirited mustards.
Fruit mustards
Fruit and mustard have been combined since the Lombard creation of mostarda di frutta in the 14th century. [10] Large chunks of fruit preserved in a sweet, hot mustard syrup were served with meat and game , and were said to be a favorite of the Dukes of Milan . Traditional variations of fruit mustards include apple mustard (traditional in Mantua and very hot), quince mostarda (or mostarda vicentina, mild and with a jam-like appearance) and cherry mustard. In various areas of Italy, the term mostarda refers to sweet condiments made with fruit, vegetables and mosto, grape juice that gets simmered until syrupy.
Hot mustard
The term hot mustard is used for mustards prepared to bring out the natural piquancy of the mustard seeds. [22] This is enhanced by using pungent black or brown mustard seeds rather than the white mustard seeds used to make mild mustards. [22] [32]
Russian mustard is a sharp, strong hot mustard, prepared from an Indian mustard seed and high acid (~6-9%) distilled white vinegar, with salt, sugar, and vegetable oil. Mustard flour is diluted with hot water in Russia, resulting in more efficient allyl isothiocyanate production and thus a sharper taste. Indian mustard has less heat-sensitive glucosinolates , so hot water does not reduce the pungency.
Spirited mustards
Spirited mustards are made with alcoholic spirits . Variations include Arran mustards with whisky , brandied peach mustard, cognac mustard, Irish “pub” mustard with whiskey , and Jack Daniel’s mustard.
Sweet mustard
Sweet mustard is from Bavaria, made from kibbled mustard seed and sweetened with sugar, apple sauce or honey. It is typically served with Weißwurst or Leberkäse . Weisswurstsenf, mustard for weisswursts, is the most frequent name for this sweet mustard. There are regional differences within Bavaria toward the combination of sweet mustard and Leberkäse. Other types of sweet mustards are known in Austria and Switzerland .
Notable mustard brands and manufacturers
Finland
Stadium Mustard
Indian subcontinent
Brown mustard is a spice that was cultivated in the Indus Valley Civilization and is one of the important spices used in the Indian subcontinent today. Kasundi is a popular Bengali spicy relish of mustard. There are many different kinds of Kasundi available. It is used during regular meals and with a variety of fruits and street food.
Allergies
A strong mustard can make the eyes water, and sting the tongue, palate, and throat. Home-made mustards may be hotter and more intensely flavored than most commercial preparations. [33]
Any part of the mustard plant can also, rarely, cause allergic reactions in some people, including anaphylaxis . Since 2005, pre-packed food in the European Union must show on its label if it contains mustard. [34]
See also
|
Mustard
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The creamy cherimoya/chirimoya fruit with a soft cactus-like skin is also known as the '(what?) apple'?
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Mustard (condiment) - WOW.com
Mustard (condiment)
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_(condiment)
Updated: 2016-12-26T04:22Z
Mustard seeds (top left) may be ground (top right) to make different kinds of mustard. These four mustards are: a simple table mustard with turmeric coloring (center left), a Bavarian sweet mustard (center right), a Dijon mustard (lower left), and a coarse French mustard made mainly from black mustard seeds (lower right).
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant (white/ yellow mustard, Sinapis alba ; brown/ Indian mustard, Brassica juncea ; or black mustard, B. nigra ).
The whole, ground, cracked, or bruised mustard seeds are mixed with water, vinegar, lemon juice , wine, or other liquids, salt, and often other flavorings and spices , to create a paste or sauce ranging in color from bright yellow to dark brown. The taste of mustard ranges from sweet to spicy. [1]
Commonly paired with meats and cheeses, mustard is added to sandwiches, salads, hamburgers, corn dogs , and hot dogs . It is also used as an ingredient in many dressings , glazes , sauces, soups, and marinades . As a cream or as individual seeds, mustard is used as a condiment in the cuisine of India and Bangladesh , the Mediterranean , northern and southeastern Europe , Asia, the Americas, and Africa, [2] making it one of the most popular and widely used spices and condiments in the world.[ citation needed ]
Contents
12 External links
Etymology
The English word "mustard" derives from the Anglo-Norman mustarde and Old French mostarde (Modern French is moutarde). The first element is ultimately from Latin mustum, (" must ", young wine) – the condiment was originally prepared by making the ground seeds into a paste with must. The second element comes also from Latin ardens, (hot, flaming). It is first attested in English in the late 13th century, though it is found as a surname a century earlier. [3]
History
Archeological excavations in the Indus Valley (Indian Subcontinent) have revealed that mustard was cultivated there. That civilization existed until about 1800 BC. [4]
The Romans were probably the first to experiment with the preparation of mustard as a condiment. They mixed unfermented grape juice (the must) with ground mustard seeds (called sinapis) to make "burning must", mustum ardens — hence "must ard". [5] A recipe for mustard appears in De re coquinaria , the anonymously compiled Roman cookbook from the late 4th or early 5th century; the recipe calls for a mixture of ground mustard, pepper , caraway , lovage , grilled coriander seeds, dill , celery , thyme , oregano , onion , honey , vinegar , fish sauce , and oil , and was intended as a glaze for spit-roasted boar . [6]
The Romans likely exported mustard seed to Gaul , and by the 10th century, monks of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris absorbed the mustard-making knowledge of Romans and began their own production. [7] The first appearance of mustard makers on the royal registers in Paris dates back to 1292. [8] Dijon , France, became a recognized center for mustard making by the 13th century. [9] The popularity of mustard in Dijon is evidenced by written accounts of guests consuming 320 litres (70 imp gal) of mustard creme in a single sitting at a gala held by the Duke of Burgundy in 1336. [10] In 1777, one of the most famous Dijon mustard makers, Grey-Poupon , was established as a partnership between Maurice Grey, a mustard maker with a unique recipe containing white wine; and Auguste Poupon, his financial backer. [11] Their success was aided by the introduction of the first automatic mustard-making machine. [11] In 1937, Dijon mustard was granted an Appellation d'origine contrôlée . [7] Due to its long tradition of mustard making, Dijon is regarded as the mustard capital of the world. [9]
The early use of mustard as a condiment in England is attested from the year 1390 in the book The Forme of Cury which was written by King Richard II's master cooks. It was prepared in the form of mustard balls — coarse-ground mustard seed combined with flour and cinnamon , moistened, rolled into balls, and dried — which were easily stored and combined with vinegar or wine to make mustard paste as needed. [12] The town of Tewkesbury was well known for its high-quality mustard balls, originally made with ground mustard mixed with horseradish and dried for storage, [13] which were then exported to London and other parts of the country, and are even mentioned in William Shakespeare 's play King Henry the Fourth, Part II . [14]
The use of mustard as a hot dog condiment was first said to be seen in the US at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair , when the bright-yellow French's mustard was introduced by the R.T. French Company. [15]
Culinary uses
Source: USDA Nutrient Database
Mustard is most often used at the table as a condiment on cold meats.[ citation needed ] It is also used as an ingredient in mayonnaise , vinaigrette , marinades, and barbecue sauce . Mustard is also a popular accompaniment to hot dogs, pretzels , and bratwurst . In the Netherlands and northern Belgium it is commonly used to make mustard soup; which includes mustard, cream, parsley , garlic and pieces of salted bacon . Mustard as an emulsifier can stabilize a mixture of two or more immiscible liquids, such as oil and water. Added to Hollandaise sauce , mustard can inhibit curdling . [16]
Nutritional value
The amounts of various nutrients in mustard seed are to be found in the USDA National Nutrient Database . [17] As a condiment, mustard averages approximately 5 calories per teaspoon. [16] Some of the many vitamins and nutrients found in mustard seeds are selenium and omega 3 fatty acid . [18]
Preparation
The many varieties of prepared mustards have a wide range of strengths and flavors, depending on the variety of mustard seed and the preparation method. The basic taste and "heat" of the mustard are determined largely by seed type, preparation and ingredients. [19] [20] Preparations from the white mustard plant ( Sinapis alba ) have a less pungent flavor than preparations of black mustard ( Brassica nigra ) or brown Indian mustard ( Brassica juncea ). The temperature of the water and concentration of acids such as vinegar also determine the strength of a prepared mustard; hotter liquids and stronger acids denature the enzymes that make the strength-producing compounds. Thus, "hot" mustard is made with cold water, whereas using hot water produces a milder condiment, all else being equal. [21]
Mustard oil can be extracted from the chaff and meal of the seed.
Flavors
The mustard plant ingredient itself has a sharp, hot, pungent flavor.
Mixing ground mustard seeds with water causes a chemical reaction between two compounds in the seed: the enzyme myrosinase and various glucosinolates such as sinigrin , myrosin , and sinalbin . The myrosinase enzyme turns the glucosinolates into various isothiocyanate compounds known generally as mustard oil . The concentrations of different glucosinolates in mustard plant varieties, and the different isothiocyanates that are produced, make different flavors and intensities.
allyl isothiocyanate and 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate are responsible for the sharp hot pungent sensation in mustards and in horseradish , wasabi , and garlic . This is because it stimulates the heat and acidity sensing TRPV ion channel TRPV1 on nociceptors (pain sensing nerve cell) in the mouth and nasal passages. The heat of prepared mustard can dissipate with time. [22] This is due to gradual chemical break-up of 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate.
Sulforaphane , phenethyl isothiocyanate , benzyl isothiocyanate create milder and less pungent intensities and flavors as when found in broccoli, brussels sprouts, watercress , and cabbages.
The sulfoxide unit in sulforaphane is structurally similar to a thiol which yields onion or garlic-like odors.
Prepared mustard condiment may also have ingredients giving salty, sour (vinegar), and sweet flavors. Turmeric is often added to commercially prepared mustards, mainly to give them a yellow color.
Storage and shelf life
Prepared mustard is sold in glass jars, plastic bottles, or metal squeeze tubes. [23] Because of its antibacterial properties, mustard does not require refrigeration for safety; it will not grow mold, mildew, or harmful bacteria. [24] Mustard can last indefinitely without becoming inedible or harmful, though it may dry out, lose flavor, or brown from oxidation . [24] Mixing in a small amount of wine or vinegar may improve dried-out mustard. Some types of prepared mustard stored for a long time may separate, which can be corrected by stirring or shaking. If stored unrefrigerated for a long time, mustard can acquire a bitter taste.[ citation needed ]
When whole mustard seeds are wetted and crushed, an enzyme is activated that releases pungent sulphurous compounds; but they quickly evaporate. An acidic liquid, such as wine or vinegar, produces a longer-lasting paste. [25] However, even then prepared mustard loses its pungency over time; the loss can be slowed by keeping a sealed container (opaque or in the dark) in a cool place or refrigerator. [26]
Varieties
Yellow Romanian mustard (mustar)
Locations renowned for their mustard include Dijon (medium-strength) and Meaux in France; Norwich (very hot) and Tewkesbury , famed for its mustard , in the United Kingdom; and Düsseldorf (hot) and Bavaria in Germany. They vary in the subsidiary spices and in the preparation of the mustard seeds. The mustard husks may be ground with the seeds, or winnowed away after the initial crushing; "whole-grain mustard" retains some unground or partially ground mustard seeds. Bavarian sweet mustard contains very little acid, substituting copious amounts of sugar for preservation. The Tecuci mustard from Romania is a sweet variety very popular in Eastern Europe and is suitable for barbecued meats such as mititei . Sometimes prepared mustard is simmered to moderate its bite, and sometimes it is aged. Irish mustard is a whole-grain mustard blended with whiskey , stout (commonly Guinness ), or honey .
Home preparation
Hot table mustard may easily be prepared by the home cook by mixing "powdered mustard" (ground mustard seed, turmeric and wheat flour) to the desired consistency with water or an acidic liquid such as wine, vinegar, or beer, and leaving to stand for ten minutes. [27] It is usually prepared immediately before a meal; mustard prepared with water, in particular, is more pungent but deteriorates rapidly. [25]
American yellow mustard
A bottle of American yellow mustard
The most commonly used mustard in the United States – and tied with Dijon in Canada – is American mustard sold as "yellow mustard" (although most prepared mustards are yellow) and commonly referred to as just "mustard". A very mild prepared mustard colored bright yellow from turmeric powder, it was supposedly introduced in 1904 by George J. French as "cream salad mustard". American mustard is regularly used to top hot dogs, sandwiches, pretzels and hamburgers . It is also an ingredient of many potato salads , barbecue sauces , and salad dressings . It is commonly referred to as "hot dog", "ball park", "yellow", "sunshine" or "prepared" mustard for these applications.
Spicy brown/deli-style mustard
Spicy brown mustard is also commonly used in the United States. The seeds are coarsely ground, giving it a speckled brownish-yellow appearance. In general, it is spicier than American mustard. Some "Deli-style" mustard incorporates horseradish which actually makes it a little spicier than spicy brown. A variety popular in Louisiana is called Creole mustard . Typically Creole mustard is much coarser than Spicy Brown.
Beer mustard
Beer mustard, which uses beer instead of vinegar, allegedly originated in the 20th century somewhere in the United States Midwest and has remained a popular local condiment. [28]
Dijon mustard
Main article: Dijon mustard
Dijon mustard originated in 1856, when Jean Naigeon of Dijon replaced the usual ingredient of vinegar with verjuice , the acidic "green" juice of unripe grapes. [29] Most mustards from Dijon today contain white wine rather than verjuice.
"Dijon mustard" is not a protected food name . While mustard factories still operate in Dijon and adjoining towns, most mustard described as "Dijon" is manufactured elsewhere. Even that produced in France is made almost exclusively from Canadian mustard seed.[ citation needed ]
Whole-grain mustard
In whole-grain mustard, also known as granary mustard, the seeds are mixed whole with other ingredients. Different flavors and strengths can be achieved through different blends of mustard seed species. Groningen mustard is an example of a mustard with partially ground grains.
English mustard
Along with Karashi , English mustard is one of the hottest in the world. It is bright yellow in color with a thicker consistency than the mild American mustard. The most famous brand of English mustard is Colman's , who first produced their variety in 1814 as a powder in their yellow tin. William Taylor, based in Newport Pagnell was the first person to sell English mustard in a ready prepared format in 1830.
French mustard
This dark brown, mild and tangy/sweet mustard, despite its name, is not French in origin. Also it is not to be confused with French's mustard. "French" mustard is particular to the UK and was invented by Colman's in 1936. It became a popular accompaniment to steak in particular. Colman's ceased production of French mustard in 2001 after Unilever , who now own Colman's, were ordered to stop selling it by the EU, following its takeover of rival mustard-maker Amora Maille in 2000. [30] Many British supermarkets still offer their own version of French mustard.
Honey mustard
Honey mustard, as its name suggests, is a blend of mustard and honey, typically mixed in a 1:1 ratio. [31] It is commonly used both on sandwiches, and as a dip for finger foods such as chicken strips . It can also be combined with vinegar or olive oil to make a salad dressing.
Combinations of English mustard with honey or Demerara sugar are used in British cuisine to coat grilled lamb cutlets or pork chops.
Hot pepper mustard
Chili peppers of various strengths are used to make a variety of mustards more piquant than plain mustard. Peppers or hot sauce made from peppers are added to mustards of different base styles such as yellow mustard, brown mustard or spirited mustards.
Fruit mustards
Fruit and mustard have been combined since the Lombard creation of mostarda di frutta in the 14th century. [10] Large chunks of fruit preserved in a sweet, hot mustard syrup were served with meat and game , and were said to be a favorite of the Dukes of Milan . Traditional variations of fruit mustards include apple mustard (traditional in Mantua and very hot), quince mostarda (or mostarda vicentina, mild and with a jam-like appearance) and cherry mustard. In various areas of Italy, the term mostarda refers to sweet condiments made with fruit, vegetables and mosto, grape juice that gets simmered until syrupy.
Hot mustard
The term hot mustard is used for mustards prepared to bring out the natural piquancy of the mustard seeds. [22] This is enhanced by using pungent black or brown mustard seeds rather than the white mustard seeds used to make mild mustards. [22] [32]
Russian mustard is a sharp, strong hot mustard, prepared from an Indian mustard seed and high acid (~6-9%) distilled white vinegar, with salt, sugar, and vegetable oil. Mustard flour is diluted with hot water in Russia, resulting in more efficient allyl isothiocyanate production and thus a sharper taste. Indian mustard has less heat-sensitive glucosinolates , so hot water does not reduce the pungency.
Spirited mustards
Spirited mustards are made with alcoholic spirits . Variations include Arran mustards with whisky , brandied peach mustard, cognac mustard, Irish "pub" mustard with whiskey , and Jack Daniel's mustard.[ citation needed ]
Sweet mustard
Sweet mustard is from Bavaria, made from kibbled mustard seed and sweetened with sugar, apple sauce or honey. It is typically served with Weißwurst or Leberkäse . Weisswurstsenf, mustard for weisswursts, is the most frequent name for this sweet mustard. There are regional differences within Bavaria toward the combination of sweet mustard and Leberkäse. Other types of sweet mustards are known in Austria and Switzerland .
Notable mustard brands and manufacturers
Stadium Mustard
Indian subcontinent
Brown mustard is a spice that was cultivated in the Indus Valley Civilization and is one of the important spices used in the Indian subcontinent today[ citation needed ]. Kasundi is a popular Bengali spicy relish of mustard. There are many different kinds of Kasundi available. It is used during regular meals and with a variety of fruits and street food.
Allergies
A strong mustard can make the eyes water, and sting the tongue, palate, and throat. Home-made mustards may be hotter and more intensely flavored than most commercial preparations. [33]
Any part of the mustard plant can also, rarely, cause allergic reactions in some people, including anaphylaxis . Since 2005, pre-packed food in the European Union must show on its label if it contains mustard. [34]
See also
|
i don't know
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Anaximander (c.600-550BC), Tabula Rogeriana (1154), Waldseemüller (1507) and Mercator (1569) are notable?
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Early world maps - The Full Wiki
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Imago Mundi Baylonian map, the oldest known world map, 6th century BCE Babylonia .
Early world maps cover depictions of the world from the Iron Age to the Age of Discovery and the emergence of modern geography (9th century BCE to 16th century CE).
Contents
Main article: Babylonian Map of the World
The oldest known world maps date back to ancient Babylonia from the 9th century BC. [1] The best known Babylonian world map, however, is the Imago Mundi of the 6th century BC. [2] The map as reconstructed by Eckhard Unger shows Babylon on the Euphrates , surrounded by a circular landmass showing Assyria , Armenia [citation needed] and several cities, in turn surrounded by a "bitter river" ( Oceanus ), with seven islands arranged around it so as to form a seven-pointed star. The accompanying text mentions seven outer regions beyond the encircling ocean. The descriptions of five of them have survived [3] :
the third island is where "the winged bird ends not his flight," i.e., cannot reach.
on the fourth island "the light is brighter than that of sunset or stars": it lay in the northwest, and after sunset in summer was practically in semi-obscurity.
The fifth island, due north, lay in complete darkness, a land "where one sees nothing," and "the sun is not visible."
the sixth island, "where a horned bull dwells and attacks the newcomer"
the seventh island lay in the east and is "where the morning dawns."
In contrast to the Imago Mundi, an earlier Babylonian world map dating back to the 9th century BC depicted Babylon as being further north from the center of the world, though it is not certain what that center was supposed to represent. [4]
Anaximander (c. 610-546 BCE)
Reconstruction of Anaximander's map
Anaximander (died ca. 546 BC) is credited with having created one of the first Greek maps of the world, which was circular in form and showed the known lands of the world grouped around the Aegean Sea at the center. This was all surrounded by the ocean.
Hecataeus of Miletus (c. 550-476 BCE)
Reconstruction of Hecataeus' map
Hecataeus of Miletus (died ca. 476 BC) is credited with a work entitled Ges Periodos ("Travels round the Earth" or "World Survey'), in two books each organized in the manner of a periplus , a point-to-point coastal survey. One on Europe , is essentially a periplus of the Mediterranean, describing each region in turn, reaching as far north as Scythia . The other book, on Asia , is arranged similarly to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea of which a version of the 1st century AD survives. Hecataeus described the countries and inhabitants of the known world, the account of Egypt being particularly comprehensive; the descriptive matter was accompanied by a map , based upon Anaximander ’s map of the earth, which he corrected and enlarged. The work only survives in some 374 fragments, by far the majority being quoted in the geographical lexicon Ethnika compiled by Stephanus of Byzantium .
Eratosthenes (276-194 BCE)
1883 reconstruction of Eratosthenes ' map [5]
Eratosthenes (276-194 BC) drew an improved world map, incorporating information from the campaigns of Alexander the Great and his successors. Asia became wider, reflecting the new understanding of the actual size of the continent. Eratosthenes was also the first geographer to incorporate parallels and meridians within his cartographic depictions.
Posidonius (c.150-130 BCE)
1628 reconstruction of Posidonius ideas about the positions of continents (many details couldn't have been known by Posidonius)
Main article: Posidonius
Posidonius of Apameia (c. 135 BCE - 51 BCE), a Greek stoic philosopher [6] that traveled throughout the Roman world and beyond and was a celebrated polymath throughout the Greco-Roman world, like Aristotle and Eratosthenes . His work "about the ocean and the adjacent areas", was an overall representation of geographical questions to show how all the forces had an effect on each other and applied also to human life. He measured the Earth 's circumference by reference to the position of the star Canopus . His measure of 240,000 stadia translates to 24,000 miles, close to the actual circumference of 24,901 miles. [7] He was informed in his approach by Eratosthenes, who a century earlier used the elevation of the sun at different latitudes. Both men's figures for the Earth's circumference were uncannily accurate, aided in part in each case by mutually compensating errors in measurement. Ptolemy discussed and favored this revised figure of Posidonius over Eratosthenes in his Geographia, and during the Middle Ages scholars divided into two camps regarding the circumference of the earth, identified with Eratosthenes' calculation on the one hand and Posidonius' 180,000-stadium measure on the other.
Ptolemy (c.150)
Main article: Ptolemy world map
The Ptolemy world map is a map based on the description of the world contained in Ptolemy 's book Geographia , written Circa 150 . Although authentic maps of Ptolemy have never been found, the Geographia contains thousands of references to various parts of the old world, with coordinates for most, which seem to have influenced early Islamic maps, and allowed European cartographers to reconstruct Ptolemy's world view when an ancient Greek manuscript was translated into Latin around 1300.
Tabula Peutingeriana (4th century)
The Tabula Peutingeriana (Peutinger table) is an itinerarium showing the cursus publicus , the road network in the Roman Empire . It is a 13th century copy of an original map dating from the 4th century, covering Europe , parts of Asia ( India ) and North- Africa . The map is named after Konrad Peutinger , a German 15-16th century humanist and antiquarian. The map was discovered in a library in Worms by Conrad Celtes , who was unable to publish his find before his death, and bequeathed the map in 1508 to Peutinger. It is conserved at the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek , Hofburg , Vienna.
Tabula Peutingeriana , from Iberia in the west, to India in the east.
Middle Ages
World map by Cosmas Indicopleustes
Around 550 Cosmas Indicopleustes wrote the copiously illustrated Christian Topography , a work partly based on his personal experiences as a merchant on the Red Sea and Indian Ocean in the early 6th century. Though his cosmogony is refuted by modern science, he has given a historic description of India and Sri Lanka during of the 6th century, which is invaluable to historians. Cosmas seems to have personally visited the Kingdom of Axum in modern Ethiopia and Eritrea , India and Sri Lanka . In 522 CE, he visited the Malabar Coast (South India). A major feature of his Topography is Cosmas' worldview that the world is flat , and that the heavens form the shape of a box with a curved lid, a view he took from unconventional interpretations of Christian scripture . Cosmas aimed to prove that pre-Christian geographers had been wrong in asserting that the earth was spherical and that it was in fact modelled on the tabernacle, the house of worship described to Moses by God during the Jewish Exodus from Egypt.
Isidore of Sevilla T and O map (c.636)
From a 12th-century copy of Etymologiae
Main article: T and O map
The medieval T and O maps originate with the description of the world in the Etymologiae of Isidore of Sevilla (died 636). This qualitative and conceptual type of medieval cartography represents only the top-half of a spherical Earth. [8] It was presumably tacitly considered a convenient projection of the inhabited portion of the world known in Roman and Medieval times (that is, the northern temperate half of the globe). The T is the Mediterranean , dividing the three continents , Asia , Europe and Africa , and the O is the surrounding Ocean . Jerusalem was generally represented in the center of the map. Asia was typically the size of the other two continents combined. Because the sun rose in the east, Paradise (the Garden of Eden) was generally depicted as being in Asia, and Asia was situated at the top portion of the map.
Ibn Hawqal (10th century)
Main article: Ibn Hawqal
Ibn Hawqal was an Arab scientist of the 10th century who developed a world map, based on his own travel experience and probably the works of Ptolemy. Another such cartographer was Al-Istakhri . [9]
Anglo-Saxon Cotton world map (c. 1040)
Tracing of the Anglo-Saxon 'Cotton' world map
This map appears in a copy of a classical work on geography, the Latin version by Priscian of the Periegesis, that was among the manuscripts in the Cotton library (MS. Tiberius B.V., fol. 56v), now in the British Library . It is not intended purely as an illustration to that work, for it contains much material gathered from other sources, including some which would have been the most up-to-date available, although it is based on a distant Roman original (similar to the source of another 11th century world map , illustrating an edition of Isidore of Seville)- on which the network of lines appears to indicate the boundaries of imperial provinces. The date of drawing was formerly estimated at about AD 992-994, based on suggested links to the journey of Archbishop Sigeric of Canterbury from Rome [10] but more recent analysis indicates that, although the information was revised about that time, the map was probably drawn between 1025 and 1050. [11] Like the later map by al-Idrisi (see below) this map is clearly outside the largely symbolic early medieval mapping tradition, but equally it is not based on the famous Ptolemaic co-ordinate system. East is at the top, but Jerusalem is not in the centre, and the Garden of Eden is nowhere to be seen. Unusually, all the waterways of Africa, not just the Red Sea, are depicted in red (mountains are green). The depiction of the far East is ambitious, including India and Taprobane (Sri Lanka)- the latter depicted according to the exaggerated classical conception of its size. Unsurprisingly, Britain itself is depicted in some detail. Great Britain, unusually by medieval standards, is shown as one island, albeit with an exaggerated Cornish promontory, and Mona, Ireland and the many Scottish islands are all indicated. The cartographer is slightly confused by Iceland, depicting it both by a version of its classical name 'Thule', north-west of Britain, and as 'Island', logically linked with Scandinavia.
Beatus Mappa Mundi (1050)
Main article: Beatus of Liébana
Beatus of Liébana (c. 730 - 798) was a Spanish monk and theologian . He corresponded with Alcuin , and took part in the Adoptionist controversy, criticizing the views of Felix of Urgel and Elipandus of Toledo . He is best remembered today as the author of his Commentary on the Apocalypse , published in 776. The Commentary also contained one of the oldest Christian world maps. Although the original manuscript and map has not survived, copies of the map survives in several of the extant manuscripts.
Mahmud al-Kashgari (1072)
Map from Mahmud al-Kashgari 's Diwanu Lughat at-Turk, with 11th-century distribution of Turkic tribes
Qarakhanid Uyghur scholar Mahmud al-Kashgari compiled a "Compendium of the languages of the Turks" in the 11th century. The manuscript is illustrated with a "Turkocentric" world map, oriented with east (or rather, perhaps, the direction of midsummer sunrise) on top, centered on the ancient city of Balasagun in what is now Kyrgyzstan , showing the Caspian Sea to the north, and Iraq , Azerbaijan , Yemen and Egypt to the west, China and Japan to the east, Hindustan , Kashmir , Gog and Magog to the south. Conventional symbols are used throughout- blue lines for rivers, red lines for mountain ranges etc. The world is shown as encircled by the ocean. [12] . The map is now kept at the Pera Museum in Istanbul.
Al-Idrisi Tabula Rogeriana (1154)
Tabula Rogeriana , 1154, shown upside-down. In the original manuscript, north was at the bottom and south at the top.
Main article: Tabula Rogeriana
The Arab geographer , Muhammad al-Idrisi , incorporated the knowledge of Africa , the Indian Ocean and the Far East gathered by Arab merchants and explorers with the information inherited from the classical geographers to create the most accurate map of the world at the time. It remained the most accurate world map for the next three centuries. [13] The Tabula Rogeriana was drawn by Al-Idrisi in 1154 for the Norman King Roger II of Sicily , after a stay of eighteen years at his court, where he worked on the commentaries and illustrations of the map. The map, written in Arabic, shows the Eurasian continent in its entirety, but only shows the northern part of the African continent. On the work of al-Idrisi, S. P. Scott commented:
"The compilation of Edrisi marks an era in the history of science . Not only is its historical information most interesting and valuable, but its descriptions of many parts of the earth are still authoritative. For three centuries geographers copied his maps without alteration. The relative position of the lakes which form the Nile, as delineated in his work, does not differ greatly from that established by Baker and Stanley more than seven hundred years afterwards, and their number is the same. The mechanical genius of the author was not inferior to his erudition. The celestial and terrestrial planisphere of silver which he constructed for his royal patron was nearly six feet in diameter, and weighed four hundred and fifty pounds; upon the one side the zodiac and the constellations, upon the other-divided for convenience into segments-the bodies of land and water, with the respective situations of the various countries, were engraved." [13]
Hereford Mappa Mundi (1300)
Main article: Hereford Mappa Mundi
The Hereford Mappa Mundi is a detailed mappa mundi based on the T and O map style, dating to ca. 1300. The map is signed by one "Richard of Haldingham or Lafford ". Drawn on a single sheet of vellum , it measures 158 cm by 133 cm. The writing is in black ink, with additional red and gold, and blue or green for water (with the Red Sea coloured red). The captions demonstrate clearly the multiple functions of these large medieval maps, conveying a mass of information on Biblical subjects and general history, in addition to geography.
Da Ming Hun Yi Tu world map (1389)
Main article: Da Ming Hun Yi Tu
China developed sophisticated mapping techniques at about the same time as ancient Rome, and never lost them, so by the "medieval" period the country had been mapped with considerable detail and accuracy (see Chinese geography ). When European mapping techniques caught up again at about AD 1300, Islamic contacts were able to supply new maps of the Mediterranean area to China, via the communication routes in the Mongol empire , and these prompted Chinese scholars to create world maps, with China at the centre and Europe, half-way round the globe, depicted very small and horizontally compressed at the edge. Significantly, Africa was also mapped from an Indian Ocean perspective, showing the Cape of Good Hope area, which Europeans would not visit until much later. The first examples, made in the 1320s, are lost, so the earliest survivor is the elaborate, colourful Da Ming Hun Yi Tu, painted on 17 sq. m. of silk in 1389 for the first Ming emperor.
Kangnido world map (1402)
Main article: Kangnido
The Kangnido (the full Hanja name means "Map of Integrated Lands and Regions of Historical Countries and Capitals") [14] is a map of the world made in Korea in 1402. Created under the supervision of Korean officials as part of a cultural project of the newly founded Joseon Dynasty , [15] it is the most familiar example of the known-world maps based on Chinese cartographic techniques with additional input from western sources, via Islamic scholarship in the Mongol Empire . Superficially similar to the Da Ming Hun Yi Tu (which has been less well known in the West because it is kept in closed archive storage) the Kangnido shows its Korean origin in the enlargement of that country, and incorporates vastly improved (though wrongly positioned, scaled and oriented) mapping of Japan. Elsewhere, the map betrays a decorative rather than practical purpose, particularly in the portrayal of river systems, which form unnatural loops rarely seen on Chinese maps. Nonetheless, it is considered as "superior to anything produced in Europe prior to the end of the fifteenth century". [16]
De Virga world map (1411-1415)
De Virga world map (1411–1415)
Main article: De Virga world map
The De Virga world map was made by Albertinus de Virga between 1411 and 1415. Albertin de Virga, a Venetian, is also known for a 1409 map of the Mediterranean, also made in Venice. The world map is circular, drawn on a piece of parchment 69.6x44 cm. It consists of the map itself, about 44 cm in diameter, and an extension containing a calendar and two tables.
Bianco world map (1436)
Main article: Bianco world map
Andrea Bianco's atlas of 1436 comprises ten leaves of vellum , measuring 29 X 38 cm., in an 18th century binding. The first leaf contains a description of the Rule of Marteloio for resolving the course, with the "circle and square", two tables and two other diagrams. The next eight leaves contain various navigation charts. The ninth leaf contains a circular world map measuring 25 cm in circumference. And the final leaf contains the Ptolemaic world map on Ptolemy's first projection, with graduation. Some believe Bianco's maps were the first to correctly portray the coast of Florida, as a macro-peninsula is attached to a large island labeled Antillia . Bianco also collaborated with Fra Mauro on the Fra Mauro world map of 1459.
Genoese map (1457)
Main article: Genoese map
The Genoese map of 1457 is a world map that relied extensively on the account of the traveler to Asia Niccolo da Conti , rather than the usual source of Marco Polo . [17] The author is unknown, but is a more modern development than the Fra Mauro world map , less intricate a complete, with fairly good proportions given to each continents. The map depicts the main landmarks of the time: Prester John in Africa, the Great Khan in China, "Xilam" (Ceylom) and Sumatra, and the design of a three-masted European ship in the Indian Ocean , something which had not occurred, suggesting that a sealane was a possibility. [18]
Fra Mauro world map (1459)
Main article: Fra Mauro map
The Fra Mauro map was made between 1457 and 1459 by the Venetian monk Fra Mauro . It is a circular planisphere drawn on parchment and set in a wooden frame, about 2 meters in diameter. The original world map was made by Fra Mauro and his assistant Andrea Bianco, a sailor-cartographer, under a commission by king Afonso V of Portugal . The map was completed on April 24, 1459, and sent to Portugal , but did not survive to the present day. Fra Mauro died the next year while he was making a copy of the map for the Seignory of Venice, and the copy was completed by Andrea Bianco.
Behaim's Erdapfel globe (1492)
Main article: Erdapfel
The Erdapfel ( German : earth apple) produced by Martin Behaim in 1492 is considered to be the oldest surviving terrestrial globe . It is constructed of a metal ball overlaid with a map painted by Georg Glockendon . The Americas are not included yet, as Columbus returned to Spain no sooner than March 1493. It shows a rather enlarged Eurasian continent and an empty ocean between Europe and Asia. Interestingly, the Caribbean islands may already be represented as well, even before Colombus's return, under the name of the mythical St. Brendan's Island . Japan and Asian islands are disproportionately large.The idea to call the globe "apple" may be related to the Reichsapfel ("Imperial Apple", Globus cruciger ) which was also kept in Nuremberg along with the Imperial Regalia ( Reichskleinodien ). In 1907, it was transferred to the Germanic Museum in Nuremberg .
After 1492
Main article: Map of Juan de la Cosa
The Juan de la Cosa , a Spanish cartographer, explorer and conquistador , born in Santoña in the northern autonomous region of Cantabria , made several maps of which the only survivor is the Mappa Mundi of 1500. It is the first known European cartographic representation of the Americas . It is now in the Museo Naval in Madrid . Reproductions of it are given by Humboldt in his Atlas géographique et physique.
Cantino world map (1502)
Main article: Cantino planisphere
The Cantino planisphere or Cantino world map is the earliest surviving map showing Portuguese discoveries in the east and west. It is named after Alberto Cantino, an agent for the Duke of Ferrara , who successfully smuggled it from Portugal to Italy in 1502. It shows the islands of the Caribbean and the Florida coastline, as well as Africa, Europe and Asia. The map is particularly notable for portraying a fragmentary record of the Brazilian coast, discovered in 1500 by Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral (he correctly conjectured that he had landed on part of a continent previously unknown to Europeans) and subsequently explored by Gonçalo Coelho and Amerigo Vespucci .
Caverio Map (c.1505)
Main article: Caverio map
The Caverio Map , also known as Caveri Map or Canerio Map, is a map drawn by Nicolay de Caveri , circa 1505 . It is hand drawn on parchment and coloured, being composed of ten sections or panels, measuring 2.25 by 1.15 metres. Historians believe that this undated map signed with "Nicolay de Caveri Januensis" was completed in 1504-05. It was probably either made in Lisbon by the Genoese Canveri, or copied by him in Genoa from the very similar Cantino map . It shows the east coast of North America with surprising detail and was one of the primary sources used to make the Waldseemüller map in 1507. Caverio map is currently at Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris.
Waldseemüller and Ringmann map (1507)
Main article: Waldseemüller map
The cartographers Martin Waldseemüller and Matthias Ringmann from southern Germany, supported by the mapping friend René II, Duke of Lorraine , collected map data over several years, including information on the most recent discoveries, to build up a new collective work of geography and cartography. Along with a book they further incorporated, for the first time in history, the name America on a map, holding the strong opinion that it was a new continent that Amerigo Vespucci had discovered on his voyage and not only a few smaller islands as Christopher Columbus did in the West Indies . The great richness and high grade of detail of the resulting map speak for themselves.
Piri Reis map (1513)
Main article: Piri Reis map
The Piri Reis map is a famous world map created by 16th century Ottoman Turkish admiral and cartographer Piri Reis . The surviving third of the map shows part of the western coasts of Europe and North Africa with reasonable accuracy, and the coast of Brazil is also easily recognizable. Various Atlantic islands including the Azores and Canary Islands are depicted, as is the mythical island of Antillia . The map is noteworthy for its apparent south-eastward extension of the American continent to depict a southern landmass that some controversially claim is evidence for early awareness of the existence of Antarctica . Alternatively, it has been suggested that this is actually a record of the coast as far as Cape Horn , explored secretly by Portuguese navigators before 1507 (when it appeared on the Waldseemüller map ) and bent south-eastward simply to fit on the parchment.
Pietro Coppo map (1520)
Map of Pietro Coppo, Venice , 1520
One of the last world maps to feature the "Dragon's Tail" extending southwards from the far eastern extremity of Asia, the last vestige of Ptolemy's landlocked depiction of the Indian Ocean, nearly 1,500 years earlier.
Diogo Ribeiro map (1527)
World Map by Diogo Ribeiro , "Propoganda map" (1529), Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana
Diogo Ribeiro , a Portuguese cartographer working for Spain, made what is considered the first scientific world map: the 1527 Padrón real , the first world map based on empiric latitude observations. There are 6 copies attributed to Ribeiro, including at the Weimar Grand Ducal Library (1527 Mundus Novus) and at the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana , in Vatican City (1529 Propoganda Map or Carta Universal). [19] The layout of the map (Mapamundi) is strongly influenced by the information obtained during the Magellan- Elcano trip around the world. Diogo's map delineates very precisely the coasts of Central and South America . However, neither Australia nor Antarctica appear, and the Indian subcontinent is too small. The map shows, for the first time, the real extension of the Pacific Ocean . It also shows, for the first time, the North American coast as a continuous one (probably influenced by the Esteban Gómez 's exploration in 1525). It also shows the demarcation of the Treaty of Tordesillas .
Mercator world map (1569)
Mercator world map Nova et Aucta Orbis Terrae Descriptio ad Usum Navigatium Emendate (1569)
Flemish geographer and cartographer Gerardus Mercator world map of 1569 introduced a cylindrical map projection that became the standard map projection knownd as Mercator projection . It was a large planisphere measuring 202 by 124 cm, printed in eighteen separate sheets. While the linear scale is constant in all directions around any point, thus preserving the angles and the shapes of small objects (which makes the projection conformal ), the Mercator projection distorts the size and shape of large objects, as the scale increases from the Equator to the poles, where it becomes infinite. The name and explanations given by Mercator to his world map (Nova et Aucta Orbis Terrae Descriptio ad Usum Navigatium Emendate: "new and augmented description of Earth corrected for the use of navigation") show that it was expressly conceived for the use of marine navigation. The development of the Mercator projection represented a major breakthrough in the nautical cartography of the 16th century.
"Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" by Abraham Ortelius (1570)
1570 Abraham Ortelius Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
The Theatrum Orbis Terrarum or "Theatre of the World") is considered to be the first true modern atlas . Written by Abraham Ortelius and originally printed on May 20, 1570, in Antwerp , it consisted of a collection of uniform map sheets and sustaining text bound to form a book for which copper printing plates were specifically engraved. The Ortelius atlas is sometimes referred to as the summary of sixteenth-century cartography . Many of his atlas' maps were based upon sources that no longer exist or are extremely rare. Ortelius appended a unique source list (the "Catalogus Auctorum") identifying the names of contemporary cartographers, some of whom would otherwise have remained obscure. Three Latin editions of this (besides a Dutch , a French and a German edition) appeared before the end of 1572; twenty-five editions came out before Ortelius' death in 1598; and several others were published subsequently, for the atlas continued to be in demand till about 1612. This is the world map from this atlas.
See also
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History of cartography - GIS Wiki | The GIS Encyclopedia
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The oldest original cartographic artifact in the Library of Congress: a nautical chart of the Mediterranean Sea - second quarter of the fourteenth century
Cartography (from Greek χάϝτης chartis, "map"; and γϝάφειν graphein, "write"), or mapmaking, has been an integral part of the human story for a long time, possibly up to 8,000 years. [1] From cave paintings to ancient maps of Babylon, Greece, and Asia, through the Age of Exploration, and on into the twenty-first century, people have created and used maps as the essential tools to help them define, explain, and navigate their way through the world. According to some scholars, mapping represented a significant step forward in the intellectual development of human beings and it serves as a record of the advancement of knowledge of the human race, which could be passed from members of one generation to those that follow in the development of culture. Maps began as two dimensional drawings. Although that remains the nature of most maps, modern graphics have enabled projections beyond that.
Contents
15 External links
Earliest known maps
The earliest known maps are of the heavens, not the earth. Dots dating to 16,500 BCE found on the walls of the Lascaux caves map out part of the night sky, including the three bright stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair (the Summer Triangle asterism), as well as the Pleiades star cluster. The Cuevas de El Castillo in Spain contain a dot map of the Corona Borealis constellation dating from 12,000 BCE. [2] [3] [4]
Cave painting and rock carvings used simple visual elements that may have aided in recognizing landscape features, such as hills or dwellings. [5] A map-like representation of a mountain, river, valleys and routes around Pavlov in the Czech Republic has been dated to 25,000 BP, and a 14,000 BP polished chunk of sandstone from a cave in Spanish Navarre may represent similar features superimposed on animal etchings, although it may also represent a spiritual landscape, or simple incisings. [6] [7]
Another ancient picture that resembles a map was created in the late 7th millennium BCE in Çatalhöyük, Anatolia , modern Turkey. This wall painting may represent a plan of this Neolithic village; [8] however, recent scholarship has questioned the identification of this painting as a map. [9]
Whoever visualized the Çatalhöyük "mental map" may have been encouraged by the fact that houses in Çatalhöyük were clustered together and were entered via flat roofs. Therefore, it was normal for the inhabitants to view their city from a bird's eye view. Later civilizations followed the same convention; today, almost all maps are drawn as if we are looking down from the sky instead of from a horizontal or oblique perspective. The logical advantage of such a perspective is that it provides a view of a greater area, conceptually. There are exceptions: one of the "quasi-maps" of the Minoan civilization on Crete, the “House of the Admiral” wall painting, dating from c. 1600 BCE , shows a seaside community in an oblique perspective.
Ancient Near East
Maps in Ancient Babylonia were made by using accurate surveying techniques. [10] For example, a 7.6 × 6.8 cm clay tablet found in 1930 at Ga-Sur, near contemporary Kirkuk, shows a map of a river valley between two hills. Cuneiform inscriptions label the features on the map, including a plot of land described as 354 iku (12 hectares) that was owned by a person called Azala. Most scholars date the tablet to the twenty-fifth to twenty-fourth century BCE; Leo Bagrow dissents with a date of 3800 BCE. Hills are shown by overlapping semicircles, rivers by lines, and cities by circles. The map also is marked to show the cardinal directions . [1]
An engraved map from the Kassite period (fourteenth–twelfth centuries BCE) of Babylonian history shows walls and buildings in the holy city of Nippur. [11]
In contrast, the Babylonian World Map , the earliest surviving map of the world (), is a symbolic, not a literal representation. It deliberately omits peoples such as the Persians and Egyptians, who were well known to the Babylonians. The area shown is depicted as a circular shape surrounded by water, which fits the religious image of the world in which the Babylonians believed.
Examples of maps from ancient Egypt are quite rare, however, those that have survived show an emphasis on geometry and well developed surveying techniques, perhaps stimulated by the need to re-establish the exact boundaries of properties after the annual Nile floods. The Turin Papyrus Map, dated , shows the mountains east of the Nile where gold and silver were mined, along with the location of the miners' shelters, wells, and the road network that linked the region with the mainland. Its originality can be seen in the map's inscriptions, its precise orientation, and the use of color.
Ancient Greece
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Early Greek Literature
In reviewing the literature of early geography and early conceptions of the earth, all sources lead to Homer, who is considered by many (Strabo, Kish, and Dilke) as the founding father of Geography. Regardless of the doubts about Homer's existence, one thing is certain: he never was a mapmaker. The enclosed map, which represents the conjectural view of the Homeric world, was never created by him. It is an imaginary reconstruction of the world as Homer described it in his two poems the Iliad and the Odyssey. It is worth mentioning that each of these writings involves strong geographic symbolism. They can be seen as descriptive pictures of life and warfare in the Bronze Age and the illustrated plans of real journeys. Thus, each one develops a philosophical view of the world, which makes it possible to show this information in the form of a map.
The depiction of the earth conceived by Homer, which was accepted by the early Greeks, represents a circular flat disk surrounded by a constantly moving stream of Ocean (Brown, 22), an idea which would be suggested by the appearance of the horizon as it is seen from a mountaintop or from a seacoast. Homer's knowledge of the Earth was very limited. He and his Greek contemporaries knew very little of the earth beyond Egypt as far south as the Libyan desert, the south-west coast of Asia Minor, and the northern boundary of the Greek homeland. Furthermore, the coast of the Black Sea was only known through myths and legends that circulated during his time. In his poems there is no mention of Europe and Asia as geographical concepts (Thompson, 21), and no mention of the Phoenicians either (Thompson, 40). This seems strange if we recall that the origin of the name Oceanus, a term used by Homer in his poems, belonged to the Phoenicians (Thomson, 27). That is why the big part of Homer's world that is portrayed on this interpretive map represents lands that border on the Aegean Sea. It is worth noting that even through Greeks believed that they were in the middle of the earth, they also thought that the edges of the world's disk were inhabited by savage, monstrous barbarians and strange animals and monsters; Homer's Odyssey mentions a great many of them.
Additional statements about ancient geography may be found in Hesiod's poems, probably written during the eighth century BCE (Kirsh, 1). Through the lyrics of Works and Days and Theogony he shows to his contemporaries some definite geographical knowledge. He introduces the names of such rivers as Nile, Ister (Danube), the shores of the Bosporus, and the Euxine (Black Sea), the coast of Gaul, the island of Sicily, and a few other regions and rivers (Keane, 6–7). His advanced geographical knowledge not only had predated Greek colonial expansions, but also was used in the earliest Greek world maps, produced by Greek mapmakers such as Anaximander and Hecataeus of Miletus.
Early Greek maps
Further information: Ancient Greek geography
In classical antiquity, maps were drawn by Anaximander, Hecataeus of Miletus, Herodotus, Eratosthenes, and Ptolemy using both observations by explorers and a mathematical approach.
Early steps in the development of intellectual thought in ancient Greece belonged to Ionians from their well-known city of Miletus in Asia Minor. Miletus was placed favourably to absorb aspects of Babylonian knowledge and to profit from the expanding commerce of the Mediterranean. The earliest ancient Greek who is said to have constructed a map of the world is Anaximander of Miletus (), pupil of Thales. He believed that the earth was a cylindrical form, like a stone pillar and suspended in space. [12] The inhabited part of his world was circular, disk-shaped, and presumably located on the upper surface of the cylinder (Brown, 24).
Apparently, Anaximander was the first ancient Greek to draw a map of the known world. It is for this reason that he is considered by many to be the first mapmaker (Dilke, 23). A scarcity of archaeological and written evidence prevents us from giving any assessment of his map. What we may presume is that he portrayed land and sea in a map form. Unfortunately, any definite geographical knowledge that he included in his map is lost as well. Although the map has not survived, Hecataeus of Miletus (550–475 BCE) produced another map fifty years later that he claimed was an improved version of the map of his illustrious predecessor.
The world according to Hekatæus, 500 BCE
Hecatæus's map describes the earth as a circular plate with an encircling Ocean and Greece in the centre of the world. This was a very popular contemporary Greek worldview, derived originally from the Homeric poems. Also, similar to many other early maps in antiquity his map has no scale. As units of measurements, this map used "days of sailing" on the sea and "days of marching" on dry land (Goode, 2). The purpose of this map was to accompany Hecatæus's geographical work that was called Periodos Ges, or Journey Round the World (Dilke, 24). Periodos Ges was divided into two books, "Europe" and "Asia", with the latter including Libya, the name of which was an ancient term for all of the known Africa.
The work follows the assumption of the author that the world was divided into two continents, Asia and Europe. He depicts the line between the Pillars of Hercules through the Bosporus, and the Don River as a boundary between the two. Hecatæus is the first known writer who thought that the Caspian flows into the circumference ocean—an idea that persisted long into the Hellenic period. He was particularly informative on the Black Sea, adding many geographic places that already were known to Greeks through the colonization process. To the north of the Danube, according to Hecatæus, were the Rhipæan (gusty) Mountains, beyond which lived the Hyperboreans—peoples of the far north. Hecatæus depicted the origin of the Nile River at the southern circumference ocean. His view of the Nile seems to have been that it came from the southern circumference ocean. This assumption helped Hecatæus solve the mystery of the annual flooding of the Nile. He believed that the waves of the ocean were a primary cause of this occurrence (Tozer, 63). It is worth mentioning that a similar map based upon one designed by Hecataeus was intended to aid political decision-making. According to Herodotus, it was engraved upon a bronze tablet and was carried to Sparta by Aristagoras during the revolt of the Ionian cities against Persian rule from 499 to 494 BCE.
The world according to Anaximenes,
Anaximenes of Miletus (6th century BCE), who studied under Anaximander, rejected the views of his teacher regarding the shape of the earth and instead, he visualized the earth as a rectangular form supported by compressed air. What is interesting here is that his incorrect idea about the shape of the world somehow persisted in the form of how the contemporary maps are presented today. Most current maps are limited to this rectangular shape (i.e. border of the map (neatline), computer screen, or document page).
Pythagoras of Samos (c.560-480 BCE) speculated about the notion of a spherical earth with a central fire at its core. He is also credited with the introduction of a model that divides a spherical earth into five zones. One hot, two temperate, and two cold—northern and southern. It seems likely that he illustrated his division in the form of a map, however, no evidence of this has survived to the present.
Scylax, a sailor, made a record of his Mediterranean voyages c.515 BCE. This is the earliest known set of Greek periploi, or sailing instructions, which became the basis for many future mapmakers, especially in the medieval period. [13]
The way in which the geographical knowledge of the Greeks advanced from the previous assumptions of the Earth's shape was through Herodotus and his conceptual view of the world. This map also did not survive and many have speculated that it was never produced. A possible reconstruction of his map is displayed below.
The world according to Herodotus, 440 BCE
Herodotus traveled very extensively, collecting information and documenting his findings in his books on Europe, Asia, and Libya. He also combined his knowledge with what he learned from the people he met. Herodotus wrote his Histories in the mid-400s BCE. Although his work was dedicated to the story of long struggle of the Greeks with the Persian Empire, Herodotus also included everything he knew about the geography, history, and peoples of the world. Thus, his work provides a detailed picture of the known world of the fifth century BCE.
Herodotus rejected the prevailing view of most fifth century maps that the earth is a circular plate surrounded by Ocean. In his work he describes the earth as an irregular shape with oceans surrounding only Asia and Africa. He introduces names such as the Atlantic Sea and the Erythrean Sea. He also divided the world into three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. He depicted the boundary of Europe as the line from the Pillars of Hercules through the Bosporus and the area between Caspian Sea and Indus River. He regarded the Nile as the boundary between Asia and Africa. He speculated that the extent of Europe was much greater than was assumed at the time and left Europe's shape to be determined by future research.
In the case of Africa, he believed that, except for the small stretch of land in the vicinity of Suez, the continent was in fact surrounded by water. However, he definitely disagreed with his predecessors and contemporaries about its presumed circular shape. He based his theory on the story of Pharaoh Necho II, the ruler of Egypt between 609 and 594 BCE, who had sent Phoenicians to circumnavigate Africa. Apparently, it took them three years, but they certainly did prove his idea. He speculated that the Nile River started as far west as the Ister River in Europe and cut Africa through the middle. He was the first writer to assume that the Caspian Sea was separated from other seas and he recognised northern Scythia as one of the coldest inhabited lands in the world.
Similar to his predecessors, Herodotus also made mistakes. He accepted a clear distinction between the civilized Greeks in the centre of the earth and the barbarians on the world's edges. In his Histories we can see very clearly that he believed that the world became stranger and stranger when one traveled away from Greece, until one reached the ends of the earth, where humans behaved as savages.
Spherical Earth and Meridians
Whereas a number of previous Greek philosophers presumed the earth to be spherical, Aristotle (384–322 BCE) is the one to be credited with proving the Earth's sphericity. Those arguments may be summarized as follows:
The lunar eclipse is always circular
Ships seem to sink as they move away from view and pass the horizon
Some stars can be seen only from certain parts of the Earth.
A vital contribution to mapping the reality of the world came with a scientific estimate of the circumference of the earth. This event has been described as the first scientific attempt to give geographical studies a mathematical basis. The man credited for this achievement was Eratosthenes (275–195 BCE). As described by George Sarton, historian of science, “there was among them [Eratosthenes's contemporaries] a man of genius but as he was working in a new field they were too stupid to recognize him” (Noble, 27). His work, including On the Measurement of the Earth and Geographica, has only survived in the writings of later philosophers such as Cleomedes and Strabo . He was a devoted geographer who set out to reform and perfect the map of the world. Eratosthenes argued that accurate mapping, even if in two dimensions only, depends upon the establishment of accurate linear measurements. He was able to calculate the circumference of the Earth within 0.5 percent accuracy by calculating the heights of shadows on different parts of the Egypt at a given time. The first in Alexandria, the other further up the Nile, where reports of a well into which the sun shone only at midsummer, long existed. Proximity to the equator being the dynamics creating the effect. He had the distance between the two shadows calculated and then their height. From this he determined the difference in angle between the two points and calculated how large a circle would be made by adding in the rest of the degrees to 360. His great achievement in the field of cartography was the use of a new technique of charting with meridians , his imaginary north–south lines, and parallels , his imaginary west–east lines. [14] These axis lines were placed over the map of the earth with their origin in the city of Rhodes and divided the world into sectors. Then, Eratosthenes used these earth partitions to reference places on the map. He also was the first person to divide Earth correctly into five climatic regions: a torrid zone across the middle, two frigid zones at extreme north and south, and two temperate bands in between. He was also the first person to use the word " geography ".
Claudius Ptolemy (90–168 CE) thought that, with the aid of astronomy and mathematics, the earth could be mapped very accurately. Ptolemy revolutionized the depiction of the spherical earth on a map by using perspective projection , and suggested precise methods for fixing the position of geographic features on its surface using a coordinate system with parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude . [5] [15]
Ptolemy's eight-volume atlas Geographia is a prototype of modern mapping and GIS . It included an index of place-names, with the latitude and longitude of each place to guide the search, scale, conventional signs with legends, and the practice of orienting maps so that north is at the top and east to the right of the map—a universal custom today.
Yet with all his important innovations, however, Ptolemy was not infallible. His most important error was a miscalculation of the circumference of the earth. He believed that Eurasia covered 180° of the globe, which convinced Christopher Columbus to sail across the Atlantic to look for a simpler and faster way to travel to India. Had Columbus known that the true figure was much greater, it is conceivable that he would never have set out on his momentous voyage.
Roman Empire
5th century Roman road map
In 2007, the Tabula Peutingeriana, a 12th century replica of a 5th century map, was placed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register and displayed to the public for the first time. Although well preserved and believed to be an accurate copy of an authentic original, the scroll media it is on is so delicate now it must be protected at all times from exposure to daylight. [16]
China
Main article: Chinese geography
Earliest extant maps from the Qin State
The earliest known maps to have survived in China date to the 4th century BCE. [17] In 1986, seven ancient Chinese maps were found in an archeological excavation of a Qin State tomb in what is now Fangmatian, Dangchuan Xian, in the vicinity of Tianshui City, Gansu province. [17] Before this find, the earliest extant maps that were known came from the Mawangdui excavation in 1973, which found three maps on silk dated to the 2nd century BCE in the early Han Dynasty. [17] [18] The 4th century BCE maps from the State of Qin were drawn with black ink on wooden blocks. [19] These blocks fortunately survived in soaking conditions due to underground water that had seeped into the tomb; the quality of the wood had much to do with their survival. [19] After two years of slow-drying techniques, the maps were fully restored. [19]
The territory shown in the seven Qin maps overlap each other. [20] The maps display tributary river systems of the Jialing River in Sichuan province, in a total measured area of 107 by 68 km. [20] The maps featured rectangular symbols encasing character names for the locations of administrative counties. [20] Rivers and roads are displayed with similar line symbols; this makes interpreting the map somewhat difficult, although the labels of rivers placed in order of stream flow are helpful to modern day cartographers. [21] These maps also feature locations where different types of timber can be gathered, while two of the maps state the distances in mileage to the timber sites. [18] In light of this, these maps are perhaps the oldest economic maps in the world since they predate Strabo's economic maps. [18]
Earliest geographical writing
In China, the earliest known geographical Chinese writing dates back to the 5th century BCE, during the beginning of the Warring States (481–221 BCE). [22] This was the 'Yu Gong' ('Tribute of Yu') chapter of the book Shu Jing (Classic of History). The book describes the traditional nine provinces, their kinds of soil, their characteristic products and economic goods, their tributary goods, their trades and vocations, their state revenues and agricultural systems, and the various rivers and lakes listed and placed accordingly. [22] The nine provinces in the time of this geographical work was very small in terrain size compared to what modern China occupies today. In fact, its description pertained to areas of the Yellow River, the lower valleys of the Yangtze, with the plain between them and the Shandong Peninsula, and to the west the most northern parts of the Wei River and the Han River were known (along with the southern parts of modern day Shanxi province). [22]
Earliest known reference to a map, or 'tu'
The oldest reference to a map in China comes from the 3rd century BCE. [23] This was the event of 227 BCE where Crown Prince Dan of Yan had his assassin Jing Ke visit the court of the ruler of the State of Qin, who would become Qin Shi Huang (r. 221–210 BCE). Jing Ke was to present the ruler of Qin with a district map painted on a silk scroll, rolled up and held in a case where he hid his assassin's dagger. [23] Handing to him the map of the designated territory was the first diplomatic act of submitting that district to Qin rule. [23] Instead he attempted to kill Qin, an assassination plot that failed. From then on maps are frequently mentioned in Chinese sources. [24]
Han Dynasty and period of division
The three Han Dynasty maps found at Mawangdui differ from the earlier Qin State maps. While the Qin maps place the cardinal direction of north at the top of the map, the Han maps are orientated with the southern direction at the top. [18] The Han maps are also more complex, since they cover a much larger area, employ a large number of well-designed map symbols, and include additional information on local military sites and the local population. [18] The Han maps also note measured distances between certain places, but a formal graduated scale and rectangular grid system for maps would not be used—or at least described in full—until the 3rd century (see Pei Xiu below). [25] Among the three maps found at Mawangdui was a small map representing the tomb area where it was found, a larger topographical map showing the Han's borders along the subordinate Kingdom of Changsha and the Nanyue kingdom (of northern Vietnam and parts of modern Guangdong and Guangxi), and a map which marks the positions of Han military garrisons that were employed in an attack against Nanyue in 181 BCE. [26]
An early text that mentioned maps was the Rites of Zhou. [23] Although attributed to the era of the Zhou Dynasty, its first recorded appearance was in the libraries of Prince Liu De (), and was compiled and commented on by Liu Xin in the 1st century CE. It outlined the use of maps that were made for governmental provinces and districts, principalities, frontier boundaries, and even pinpointed locations of ores and minerals for mining facilities. [23] Upon the investiture of three of his sons as feudal princes in 117 BCE, Emperor Wu of Han had maps of the entire empire submitted to him. [27]
From the 1st century CE onwards, official Chinese historical texts contained a geographical section (Diliji), which was often an enormous compilation of changes in place-names and local administrative divisions controlled by the ruling dynasty, descriptions of mountain ranges, river systems, taxable products, etc. [28] From the time of the 5th century BCE Shu Jing forward, Chinese geographical writing provided more concrete information and less legendary element. This example can be seen in the 4th chapter of the Huainanzi (Book of the Master of Huainan), compiled under the editorship of Prince Liu An in 139 BCE during the Han Dynasty (202 BCE–202 CE). The chapter gave general descriptions of topography in a systematic fashion, given visual aids by the use of maps (di tu) due to the efforts of Liu An and his associate Zuo Wu. [29] In Chang Chu's Hua Yang Guo Chi (Historical Geography of Szechuan) of 347 CE, not only rivers, trade routes, and various tribes were described, but it also wrote of a 'Ba Jun Tu Jing' ('Map of Szechuan'), which had been made much earlier in 150 CE. [30]
Local mapmaking such as the one of Szechuan mentioned above, became a widespread tradition of Chinese geographical works by the 6th century, as noted in the bibliography of the Sui Shu. [31] It is during this time of the Southern and Northern Dynasties that the Liang Dynasty (502–557 CE) cartographers also began carving maps into stone steles (alongside the maps already drawn and painted on paper and silk). [32]
Pei Xiu, the 'Ptolemy of China'
In the year 267, a Pei Xiu (224–271) was appointed as the Minister of Works by Emperor Wu of Jin, the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty. Pei is best known for his work in cartography. Although map making and use of the grid existed in China before him, [33] he was the first to mention a plotted geometrical grid and graduated scale displayed on the surface of maps to gain greater accuracy in the estimated distance between different locations. [34] Pei outlined six principles that should be observed when creating maps, two of which included the rectangular grid and the graduated scale for measuring distance. [35] Historians compare him to the Greek Ptolemy for his contributions in cartography. [36] However, Howard Nelson states that, although the accounts of earlier cartographic works by the inventor and official Zhang Heng (78–139) are somewhat vague and sketchy, there is ample written evidence that Pei Xiu derived the use of the rectangular grid reference from the maps of Zhang Heng. [37] Robert Temple also asserts that Zhang created a mathematical reference grid for maps before Pei Xiu. [38]
Later Chinese ideas about the quality of maps made during the Han Dynasty and before stem from the assessment given by Pei Xiu, which was not a positive one. [39] Pei Xiu noted that the extant Han maps at his disposal were of little use since they featured too many inaccuracies and exaggerations in measured distance between locations. [39] However, the Qin State maps and Mawangdui maps of the Han era were far superior in quality than those examined by Pei Xiu. [39] It was not until the 20th century that Pei Xiu's 3rd century assessment of earlier maps' dismal quality would be overturned and disproven. The Qin and Han maps did have a degree of accuracy in scale and pinpointed location, but the major improvement in Pei Xiu's work and that of his contemporaries was expressing topographical elevation on maps. [40]
Sui and Tang dynasties
In the year 605, during the Sui Dynasty (581–618), the Commercial Commissioner Pei Ju (547–627) created a famous geometrically gridded map. [32] In 610 CE Emperor Yang of Sui ordered government officials from throughout the empire to document in gazetteers the customs, products, and geographical features of their local areas and provinces, providing descriptive writing and drawing them all onto separate maps, which would be sent to the imperial secretariat in the capital city. [31] [41]
The Tang Dynasty (618–907) also had its fair share of cartographers, including the works of Xu Jingzong in 658 CE, Wang Mingyuan in 661 CE, and Wang Zhongsi in 747 CE. [32] Arguably the greatest geographer and cartographer of the Tang period was Jia Dan (730–805), whom Emperor Dezong of Tang entrusted in 785 to complete a map of China with her recently former inland colonies of Central Asia, the massive and detailed work completed in 801 CE, called the Hai Nei Hua Yi Tu (Map of both Chinese and Barbarian Peoples within the (Four) Seas). [32] The map was 30 ft long and 33 ft (10 m) high in dimension, mapped out on a grid scale of 1-inch (25 mm) equaling 100 li (unit) (the Chinese equivalent of the mile/kilometer). [32] Jia Dan is also known for having described the Persian Gulf region with great detail, along with lighthouses that were erected at the mouth of the Persian Gulf by the medieval Iranians in the Abbasid period (refer to article on Tang Dynasty for more).
Song Dynasty
During the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE) Emperor Taizu of Song ordered Lu Duosun in 971 CE to update and 're-write all the Tu Jing in the world', which would seem to be a daunting task for one individual, who was sent out throughout the provinces to collect texts and as much data as possible. [31] With the aid of Song Zhun, the massive work was completed in 1010 CE, with some 1566 chapters. [31] The later Song Shi historical text stated (Wade-Giles spelling):
“
Yuan Hsieh (d. +1220) was Director-General of governmental grain stores. In pursuance of his schemes for the relief of famines he issued orders that each pao (village) should prepare a map which would show the fields and mountains, the rivers and the roads in fullest detail. The maps of all the pao were joined together to make a map of the tu (larger district), and these in turn were joined with others to make a map of the hsiang and the hsien (still larger districts). If there was any trouble about the collection of taxes or the distribution of grain, or if the question of chasing robbers and bandits arose, the provincial officials could readily carry out their duties by the aid of the maps. [31]
”
The Yu Ji Tu, or Map of the Tracks of Yu Gong, carved into stone in 1137, located in the Stele Forest of Xian. This 3 ft (0.91 m) squared map features a graduated scale of 100 li for each rectangular grid. China's coastline and river systems are clearly defined and precisely pinpointed on the map. Yu Gong is in reference to the Chinese deity described in the geographical chapter of the Classic of History, dated 5th century BCE.
Like the earlier Liang Dynasty stone-stele maps (mentioned above), there were large and intricately carved stone stele maps of the Song period. For example, the 3 ft (0.91 m) squared stone stele map of an anonymous artist in 1137 CE, following the grid scale of 100 li squared for each grid square. [42] What is truly remarkable about this map is the incredibly precise detail of coastal outlines and river systems in China (refer to Needham's Volume 3, Plate LXXXI for an image). The map shows 500 settlements and a dozen rivers in China, and extends as far as Korea and India. On the reverse, a copy of a more ancient map uses grid coordinates in a scale of 1:1,500,000 and shows the coastline of China with great accuracy. [43]
The famous 11th century scientist and polymath statesman Shen Kuo (1031–1095) was also a geographer and cartographer. [44] His largest atlas included twenty three maps of China and foreign regions that were drawn at a uniform scale of 1:900,000. [45] Shen also created a three dimensional raised-relief map using sawdust, wood, beeswax, and wheat paste, while representing the topography and specific locations of a frontier region to the imperial court. [45] Shen Kuo's contemporary, Su Song (1020–1101), was a cartographer who created detailed maps in order to resolve a territorial border dispute between the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty. [46]
Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties
The Da Ming hunyi tu map, dating from about 1390, is in multicolour. The horizontal scale is 1:820,000 and the vertical scale is 1:1,060,000. [43]
In 1579, Luo Hongxian published the Guang Yutu atlas, including more than 40 maps, a grid system, and a systematic way of representing major landmarks such as mountains, rivers, roads and borders. The Guang Yutu incorporates the discoveries of naval explorer Zheng He 's 15th century voyages along the coasts of China, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. [43]
From the 16th and 17th centuries, several examples survive of maps focused on cultural information. Gridlines are not used on either Yu Shi's Gujin xingsheng zhi tu (1555) or Zhang Huang's Tushu bian (1613); instead, illustrations and annotations show mythical places, exotic foreign peoples, administrative changes and the deeds of historic and legendary heroes. [43] Also in the 17th century, an edition of a possible Tang Dynasty map shows clear topographical contour lines. [47] Although topographic features were part of maps in China for centuries, a Fujian county official Ye Chunji (1532–1595) was the first to base county maps using on-site topographical surveying and observations. [48]
The Korean made Kangnido based on two Chinese maps, which describes the Old World.
India
The pundit (explorer) cartographer Nain Singh Rawat (19th century CE) received a Royal Geographical Society gold medal in 1876.
Main article: Cartography of India
Early forms of cartography in India included legendary paintings; maps of locations described in Indian epic poetry, for example the Ramayana. [49] These works contained descriptions of legendary places, and often even described the nature of the mythological inhabitants of a particular location. [49]
The Indians made maps related to both their holy scriptures, the Puranas, and for astronomy. [49] Indian cartographic traditions also covered the locations of the Pole star , and other constellations of use. [50] These charts may have been in use by the beginning of the Common Era for purposes of navigation. [50]
Detailed maps of considerable length describing the locations of settlements, sea shores, rivers, and mountains were also made. [49] The 8th century scholar Bhavabhuti conceived paintings which indicated geographical regions. [51]
European scholar Francesco I reproduced a number of ancient Indian maps in his magnum opus La Cartografia Antica dell India. [51] Out these maps, two have been reproduced using a manuscript of Lokaprakasa, originally compiled by the polymath Ksemendra (Kashmir, 11th century CE), as a source. [51] The other manuscript, used as a source by Francesco I, is titled Samgrahani. [51] The early volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica also described cartographic charts made by the Dravidian people of India. [50]
Maps from the Ain-e-Akbari, a Mughal document detailing India's history and traditions, contain references to locations indicated in earlier Indian cartographic traditions. [51] Another map describing the kingdom of Nepal, four feet in length and about two and a half feet in breadth, was presented to Warren Hastings. [49] In this map the mountains were elevated above the surface, and several geographical elements were indicated in different colors. [49]
Islamic cartography
Main article: Geography in medieval Islam
In the Middle Ages, Muslim scholars continued and advanced on the mapmaking traditions of earlier cultures. Most used Ptolemy's methods; but they also took advantage of what explorers and merchants learned in their travels across the Muslim world, from Spain to India to Africa, and beyond in trade relationships with China, and Russia. [13]
An important influence in the development of cartography was the patronage of the Abbasid caliph, al-Ma'mun, who reigned from 813 to 833. He commissioned several geographers to remeasure the distance on earth that corresponds to one degree of celestial meridian. Thus his patronage resulted in the refinement of the definition of the mile used by Arabs (mīl in Arabic) in comparison to the stadion used by Greeks. These efforts also enabled Muslims to calculate the circumference of the earth. Al-Mamun also commanded the production of a large map of the world, which has not survived, [52] though it is known that its map projection type was based on Marinus of Tyre rather than Ptolemy. [53] The first terrestrial globe of the Old World was also constructed in the Muslim world during the Middle Ages, [54] by Muslim astronomers and geographers working under Caliph al-Ma'mun in the 9th century. [55] His most famous geographer was Muhammad ibn Mūsĝ al-Khwĝrizmī (see Book on the appearance of the Earth below).
Also in the 9th century, the Persian mathematician and geographer, Habash al-Hasib al-Marwazi, employed the use spherical trigonometry and map projection methods in order to convert polar coordinates to a different coordinate system centred on a specific point on the sphere, in this the Qibla, the direction to Mecca. [56] Abū Rayhĝn Bīrūnī (973–1048) later developed ideas which are seen as an anticipation of the polar coordinate system. [57] Around 1025 CE, he was the first to describe a polar equi- azimuthal equidistant projection of the celestial sphere . [58]
In the early tenth century, Abū Zayd al-Balkhī, originally from Balkh, founded the "Balkhī school" of terrestrial mapping in Baghdad. The geographers of this school also wrote extensively of the peoples, products, and customs of areas in the Muslim world, with little interest in the non-Muslim realms. [52] The "Balkhī school", which included geographers such as Estakhri, al-Muqaddasi and Ibn Hawqal, produced world atlases , each one featuring a world map and twenty regional maps. [59]
Suhrĝb, a late tenth century Muslim geographer, accompanied a book of geographical coordinates with instructions for making a rectangular world map, with equirectangular projection or cylindrical cylindrical equidistant projection. [52] The earliest surviving rectangular coordinate map is dated to the 13th century and is attributed to Hamdallah al-Mustaqfi al-Qazwini, who based it on the work of Suhrĝb. The orthogonal parallel lines were separated by one degree intervals, and the map was limited to Asia and Central Asia. The earliest surviving world maps based on a rectangular coordinate grid are attributed to al-Mustawfi in the 14th or 15th century (who used invervals of ten degrees for the lines), and to Hafiz-i-Abru (d. 1430). [60]
Ibn Battuta (1304–1368?) wrote "Rihlah" (Travels) based on three decades of journeys, covering more than 120,000 km through northern Africa, southern Europe, and much of Asia.
Regional cartography
Islamic regional cartography is usually categorized into three groups: that produced by the "Balkhī school", the type devised by Muhammad al-Idrisi, and the type that are uniquely foundin the Book of curiosities. [61]
The maps by the Balkhī schools were defined by political, not longitudinal boundaries and covered only the Muslim world. In these maps the distances between various "stops" (cities or rivers) were equalized. The only shapes used in designs were verticals, horizontals, 90-degree angles, and arcs of circles; unnecessary geographical details was eliminated. This approach is similar to that used in subway maps, most notable used in the "London Underground Tube Map" in 1931 by Harry Beck. [61]
Al-Idrīsī defined his maps differently. He considered the extent of the known world to be 160° in longitude, and divided the region into ten parts, each 16° wide. In terms of latitude, he portioned the known world into seven 'climes', determined by the length of the longest day. In his maps, many dominant geographical features can be found. [61]
The Tabula Rogeriana, drawn by Muhammad al-Idrisi for Roger II of Sicily in 1154. Note that the north is at the bottom, and so the map appears "upside down" compared to modern cartographic conventions.
Part of the Piri Reis map (1513) showing Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.
Surviving fragment of the first World Map of Piri Reis (1513) showing parts of the Americas.
Book on the appearance of the Earth
Muhammad ibn Mūsĝ al-Khwĝrizmī's Kitĝb ṣūrat al-Arḝ ("Book on the appearance of the Earth") was completed in 833. It is a revised and completed version of Ptolemy's Geography, consisting of a list of 2402 coordinates of cities and other geographical features following a general introduction. [62]
Al-Khwĝrizmī, Al-Ma'mun's most famous geographer, corrected Ptolemy's gross overestimate for the length of the Mediterranean Sea [63] (from the Canary Islands to the eastern shores of the Mediterranean); Ptolemy overestimated it at 63 degrees of longitude , while al-Khwarizmi almost correctly estimated it at nearly 50 degrees of longitude. Al-Ma'mun's geographers "also depicted the Atlantic and Indian Oceans as open bodies of water, not land-locked seas as Ptolemy had done." [55] Al-Khwarizmi thus set the Prime Meridian of the Old World at the eastern shore of the Mediterranean, 10–13 degrees to the east of Alexandria (the prime meridian previously set by Ptolemy) and 70 degrees to the west of Baghdad. Most medieval Muslim geographers continued to use al-Khwarizmi's prime meridian. [63] Other prime meridians used were set by Abū Muhammad al-Hasan al-Hamdĝnī and Habash al-Hasib al-Marwazi at Ujjain, a centre of Indian astronomy, and by another anynomous writer at Basra. [64]
Tabula Rogeriana
Main article: Tabula Rogeriana
The Arab geographer , Muhammad al-Idrisi, produced his medieval atlas, Tabula Rogeriana or The Recreation for Him Who Wishes to Travel Through the Countries, in 1154. He incorporated the knowledge of Africa, the Indian Ocean and the Far East gathered by Arab merchants and explorers with the information inherited from the classical geographers to create the most accurate map of the world in pre-modern times. [65] With funding from Roger II of Sicily (1097–1154), al-Idrisi drew on the knowledge collected at the University of Cordoba and paid draftsmen to make journeys and map their routes. The book describes the earth as a sphere with a circumference of 22,900 miles (36,900 km) but maps it in 70 rectangular sections. Notable features include the correct dual sources of the Nile, the coast of Ghana and mentions of Norway. Climate zones were a chief organizational principle. A second and shortened copy from 1192 called Garden of Joys is known by scholars as the Little Idrisi. [13]
On the work of al-Idrisi, S. P. Scott commented:
"The compilation of Edrisi marks an era in the history of science . Not only is its historical information most interesting and valuable, but its descriptions of many parts of the earth are still authoritative. For three centuries geographers copied his maps without alteration. The relative position of the lakes which form the Nile, as delineated in his work, does not differ greatly from that established by Baker and Stanley more than seven hundred years afterwards, and their number is the same. The mechanical genius of the author was not inferior to his erudition. The celestial and terrestrial planisphere of silver which he constructed for his royal patron was nearly six feet in diameter, and weighed four hundred and fifty pounds; upon the one side the zodiac and the constellations, upon the other—divided for convenience into segments—the bodies of land and water, with the respective situations of the various countries, were engraved." [65]
Piri Reis map
Main article: Piri Reis map
The Ottoman cartographer Piri Reis published navigational maps in his Kitab-ı Bahriye. The work includes an atlas of charts for small segments of the mediterranean, accompanied by sailing instructions covering the sea. In the second version of the work, he included a map of the Americas. [66] The Piri Reis map drawn by the Ottoman cartographer Piri Reis in 1513, is the oldest surviving map to show the Americas. [67] [68] [69] His map of the world was considered the most accurate in the 16th century.
Pacific Islands
The Polynesian peoples who explored and settled the Pacific islands in the first two millenniums AD used maps to navigate across large distances. A surviving map from the Marshall Islands uses sticks tied in a grid with palm strips representing wave and wind patterns, with shells attached to show the location of islands. [70] Other maps were created as needed using temporary arrangements of stones or shells. [71]
Early European maps
The Gough Map, a road map of 14th century Britain
Medieval maps in Europe were mainly symbolic in form along the lines of the much earlier Babylonian World Map . Known as Mappa Mundi (cloth of the world) these maps were circular or symmetrical cosmological diagrams representing the Earth's single land mass as disk-shaped and surrounded by ocean. [5]
Roger Bacon's investigations of map projections and the appearance of portolano and then portolan charts for plying the European trade routes were rare innovations of the period.
In the Renaissance, with the rediscovery of classical works, maps became more like surveys once again, while the discovery of the Americas by Europeans and the subsequent effort to control and divide those lands revived interest in scientific mapping methods. Peter Whitfield, the author of several books on the history of maps, credits European mapmaking as a factor in the global spread of western power: "Men in Seville, Amsterdam or London had access to knowledge of America, Brazil, or India, while the native peoples knew only their own immediate environment" (Whitfield).
Notable cartographers of the Age of Exploration
Nautical chart by Portuguese cartographer Pedro Reinel (), one of the first based on astronomical observations and to depict a scale of latitudes.
15th century: The monk Nicolaus Germanus added the first new maps to Ptolemy's Geographia . [5]
c. 1485: Portuguese cartographer Pedro Reinel made the oldest known signed Portuguese nautical chart.
1492: German merchant Martin Behaim (1459–1507) made the oldest surviving terrestrial globe, but it lacked the Americas. [5]
1492: Cartographer Jorge de Aguiar made the oldest known signed and dated Portuguese nautical chart.
1500: Spanish cartographer, explorer and conquistador Juan de la Cosa made several maps of which the only survivor is the Mappa Mundi of 1500. It is the first known European cartographic representation of the Americas.
1502: Unknown Portuguese cartographer made the Cantino planisphere, the first nautical chart to implicitly represent latitudes.
1504: Portuguese cartographer Pedro Reinel made the oldest known nautical chart with a scale of latitudes.
1507: Martin Waldseemüller's World Map was the first to use the term America for the Western continents (after explorer Amerigo Vespucci ). [5]
1513: Turkish admiral Piri Reis prepares his world map, noteworthy for its depiction of a southern landmass that some controversially claim is evidence for early awareness of the existence of Antarctica.
1519 : Portuguese cartographers Lopo Homem, Pedro Reinel and Jorge Reinel made the group of maps known today as the Miller Atlas or Lopo Homem - Reinéis Atlas.
1569: Gerardus Mercator (1512–1594) was a Flemish cartographer who in his quest to make the world “look right” on the maps developed new projection (called Mercator projection ) using mathematical formulas. From then on, the image of the world that he produced on his map from 1569 becomes a conventional view of the world that we are accustomed today. It is worth noting that scientists at the US Geological Survey have designed the Space Oblique Mercator Projection, based on the Mercator's projection, which allows mapping from satellites with very little distortion.
1570: Antwerp cartographer Abraham Ortelius published the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas. [5]
1608: Captain John Smith published a map of Virginia's coastline. [72]
1670s: The astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini began work on the first modern topographic map in France. It was completed in 1789 or 1793 by his grandson Cassini de Thury. [73] [74]
1715: Herman Moll published the Beaver Map, one of the most famous early maps of North America, which he copied from a 1698 work by Nicolas de Fer
1763–1767: Captain James Cook mapped Newfoundland.
Modern cartography
The Greenwich prime meridian became the international standard reference for cartographers in 1884.
In the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries, explorers mapped trails and army engineers surveyed government lands. Two agencies were established to provide more detailed, large-scale mapping. They were the U.S. Geological Survey and the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (now the National Geodetic Survey under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association).
During the 1900s, maps became more abundant due to improvements in printing and photography that made production cheaper and easier. Airplanes made it possible to photograph large areas at a time. Also, since the mid-1990s, the use of computers in mapmaking has helped to store, sort, and arrange data for mapping in order to create map projections. [75]
Technological changes
In cartography, technology has continually changed in order to meet the demands of new generations of mapmakers and map users. The first maps were manually constructed with brushes and parchment and therefore varied in quality and were limited in distribution. The advent of the compass , printing press, telescope, sextant , quadrant and vernier allowed for the creation of far more accurate maps and the ability to make accurate reproductions.
Advances in photochemical technology, such as the lithographic and photochemical processes , have allowed for the creation of maps that have fine details, do not distort in shape and resist moisture and wear. This also eliminated the need for engraving which further shortened the time it takes to make and reproduce maps.
In the mid to late 20th century advances in electronic technology have led to a new revolution in cartography. Specifically computer hardware devices such as computer screens, plotters, printers, scanners (remote and document) and analytic stereo plotters along with visualization, image processing, spatial analysis and database software, have democratized and greatly expanded the making of maps, particularly with their ability to produce maps that show slightly different features, without engraving a new printing plate. See also digital raster graphic and History of web mapping.
See also
↑ history
References
This article includes a list of references or external links , but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations . Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate .
(March 2009)
Bagrow, L., revised by R.A. Skelton (1986). History of Cartography. Transaction Publishers.
Brook, Timothy. (1998). The Confusions of Pleasure: Commerce and Culture in Ming China. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-22154-0 (Paperback).
Crawford, P.V. 1973 The perception of graduated squares as cartographic symbols. Cartographic Journal 10, no.2:85–88.
Edney, Matthew H., and Mary S. Pedley, eds. (in preparation) Cartography in the European Enlightenment. Volume 4 of The History of Cartography. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.
ESRI. 2004. ESRI Cartography: Capabilities and Trends. Redlands, CA. White Paper
Hansen, Valerie. (2000). The Open Empire: A History of China to 1600. New York & London: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0393973743 .
Hargett, James M. "Song Dynasty Local Gazetteers and Their Place in The History of Difangzhi Writing," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies (Volume 56, Number 2, 1996): 405–442.
Harley, J. B., and David Woodward , eds. (1987) Cartography in Prehistoric, Ancient, and Medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. Volume 1 of The History of Cartography. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-31633-5 .
Harley, J. B., and David Woodward, eds. (1992) Cartography in the Traditional Islamic and South Asian Societies. Volume 2, Book 1 of The History of Cartography. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-31635-1 .
Harley, J. B., and David Woodward, eds. (1994) Cartography in the Traditional East and Southeast Asian Societies. Volume 2, Book 2 of The History of Cartography. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-31637-8 .
Harley, J. B., and David Woodward, eds. (1998) Cartography in the Traditional African, American, Arctic, Australian, and Pacific Societies. Volume 2, Book 3 of The History of Cartography. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-90728-7 .
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Hsu, Mei-ling. "The Qin Maps: A Clue to Later Chinese Cartographic Development," Imago Mundi (Volume 45, 1993): 90–100.
Imus, D., and Dunlavey, P. 2002. Back to the Drawing Board: Cartography vs the Digital Workflow. MT. Hood, Oregon.
Jeer, S. 1997. Traditional Color Coding for Land Uses. American Planning Association. pp. 4–5
Kain, Roger J. P., ed. (in preparation) Cartography in the Nineteenth Century. Volume 5 of The History of Cartography. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.
MacEachren, A.M. (1994). Some Truth with Maps: A Primer on Symbolization & Design. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University . ISBN.
MacEachren, A.M. (1995). How Maps Work. New York: The Guilford Press. ISBN.
"Map Imitations" in Detecting the Truth: Fakes, Forgeries and Trickery , a virtual museum exhibition at Library and Archives Canada
Monmonier, Mark (1991). How to Lie with Maps. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-53421-9 .
Monmonier, Mark (1993). Mapping It Out. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN.
Monmonier, Mark, ed. (in preparation) Cartography in the Twentieth Century. Volume 6 of The History of Cartography. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press.
Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 3, Mathematics and the Sciences of the Heavens and the Earth. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd.
Nelson, Howard. "Chinese Maps: An Exhibition at the British Library," The China Quarterly (Number 58, 1974): 357–362.
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External links
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Learn and talk about Cheating in bridge, Cheating, Contract bridge
Definition[ edit ]
Unlike games such as chess which provide perfect information to the competitors, bridge is a game of imperfect information, and the exact contents of the partner's and the opponents' hand remain unknown until late in the play. Players are only entitled to act upon information conveyed by calls made and cards played, along with the visible contents of their own hand (and dummy's hand when exposed). Unauthorized information (UI) (Law 16) is any information that a player obtains by means of:
Partner's remarks, questions, mannerisms, hesitation and similar,
Information from calls and plays which were legally withdrawn and/or substituted as a consequence of that side's infraction (the non-offending side may use this information),
Overhearing remarks at other tables or seeing a wrong card.
Law 16 of the Laws of Duplicate Bridge states that Players are authorized to base their calls and plays on information from legal calls and plays and from mannerisms of opponents. To base a call or play on other extraneous information may be an infraction of law.
Highest bridge ethics, expected from the top players, require that the players take extra steps neither to convey nor to act on any unauthorized information. However, as the stakes in terms of prize money, sponsor money and ranking are often high, throughout the history of the game there have been a number of players who have used illegal methods in order to gain an advantage over their opponents.
Law 73 states:
The gravest possible offence is for a partnership to exchange information through pre-arranged methods of communication other than those sanctioned in these laws.
— Law 73.B.2
and any deliberate act or behavior which conveys or obtains information other than by those means prescribed by the rules of the game constitutes cheating and is subject to sanctions by the governing bodies.
Apart from unlawful exchange of information, other forms of cheating include: viewing the opponents' cards in a board prior to their arrival at the table, altering the records as to the results of a board; in certain games, it may include illicit shuffling to deal favourable cards to oneself or one's partner, marking cards so as to make their denomination and or rank apparent only to the perpetrator, etc.
Certain errors or omissions by players which are inadvertent or purely procedural in nature, known as irregularities, are subject to correction by the tournament director in a manner prescribed by the Laws and the governing bodies; this may include a procedural penalty. Similarly, the tournament director may impose a procedural penalty for any one or any repeated violation of the code of conduct for ethical behaviour (rudeness, coffee housing, etc.).
Related terms[ edit ]
Alcatraz coup – An illegal deliberate maneuver designed to gain information from the opponents by failing to follow suit during play. Imagine the dummy and declarer hold A J x and K 10 x respectively, needing all tricks. The Jack is called from dummy and declarer revokes, pitching a card of another suit. If the Left Hand Opponent produces the Queen, declarer immediately announces the "careless error" and instead plays the King, then finessing the opponent out of the Queen. But if the Left Hand Opponent plays low, the naughty declarer again quickly corrects the revoke playing low, since the finesse is assured. [2]
Chicago Convention – An illegal (tongue-in-cheek) convention used against one's opponents to claim a fouled hand. For instance while playing rubber bridge, one dishonest player picks up a hand without values and through prior secret agreement, recites a phrase such as, "How is your aunt in Chicago?" Partner may reply with a coded negative phrase such as, "She died last week." (meaning both players have bad hands). One conspirator will then say, "I only have only 12 cards," to which the other conspirator will say, "and I have 14 cards!" The players then quickly throw their cards together on the table so their opponents' are unaware of the treachery. Also known as the 12-14 Convention. [3]
Coffeehousing – A player may not perform extraneous or overt actions with the express purpose of frustrating or distracting a player. Some unscrupulous players use various emotional hooks, snapping cards, drumming fingers on table, inducing FUD: Fear-Uncertainty-Doubt, false flattery, sarcasm, embarrassment, greed, etc. Better known as "coffee housing", such misdeeds include making improper remarks, gestures, hesitations or the like, with the intention to confuse or mislead opponents (Law 73). After numerous deliberate opponent hesitations, Charles Goren advised a perpetrator, "Madam, that second hesitation certainly was an overbid!" Similarly, George Kaufman once retorted to his opponents, "Let's have a review of the bidding again, with all the inflections."
Irregularities – A breach of procedure, as described in the Laws and Proprieties, in bidding or play. If one is available, a director should be called to the table to make a ruling.
Bridge governing bodies have established procedures for the reporting of cheating allegation and their investigation.
World Bridge Federation anti-doping regulations[ edit ]
The WBF is recognised as an International Sports Federation by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and has incorporated the IOC anti-doping regulations into its constitution and by-laws. The anti-doping regulations as published in the General Conditions of Contest are mandatory and refusal to take a drug test is subject to penalties. The regulations allow for participants to take prescription medication if prior notice is given to the laboratories. [4]
Notable incidents[ edit ]
Willard S. Karn, 1933[ edit ]
Willard S. Karn was ranked the number one American bridge player in 1932 by Shepard Barclay, a bridge writer for The New York Herald Tribune. [5] He was a member of the famous Four Horsemen, a team formed a year earlier, headed by his playing partner and captain P. Hal Sims and with Oswald Jacoby and David Burnstine as the other team members. Karn also played for high stakes in New York rubber bridge clubs, including the Crockford Club which was owned by Ely Culbertson .
The growing popularity of contract bridge in the early 1930s gave rise to intense rivalry among many of the competing and self-anointed bridge authorities, formerly of Whist and Auction Bridge renown, including the emergence of Ely Culbertson as the brash interloper. The Four Horsemen dominated the US national tournament scene in 1931 and 1932 thereby providing considerable support and sway to Hal Sims' methods and public profile to Culbertson's chagrin. [6]
Early in 1933, the Crockford Club (Ely Culbertson) hired card detective Mickey MacDougall to watch Karn for cheating. Posing as a waiter, MacDougall claimed that Karn would interleave high and low cards when gathering a trick before his turn to deal. When shuffling, Karn would use a false pull-through shuffle, crimp the deck before offering the cut and restore the deck with a hidden return cut before dealing favorable cards to his side in their rubber games. [7] Karn refuted the accusation but nevertheless resigned from the club and withdrew from competitive and social play.
In 1938, Karn brought a one million dollar defamation suit against Culbertson, six others and Crockford Inc. (the Crockford Club of New York), accusing them of spreading rumors and conspiring to remove him from the bridge world. [8] [9] In an eventual 1941 decision, the judge ruled against any monetary awards but found Karn has been wrongly accused, and required the defendants to write apologies to Karn. [5]
Karl Schneider, 1937-1957[ edit ]
Hans Jellinek, 1937[ edit ]
In 1937, an international tournament in Budapest had eighteen teams entered; the America team, composed of Ely Culbertson, Josephine Culbertson, Charles Vogelhofer and Helen Sobel, met the Austrian team of Karl Schneider, Hans Jellinek, Walter Herbert and Carl von Bluhdorn in the finals. Austria won to become World Champions, but post-mortem analysis suggested that Schneider–Jellinek had exchanged illegal signals. [10]
In his 1945 book, Why You Lose at Bridge [11] S. J. Simon referenced the Austrian team playing the British team the following year and noted the "devastating leads" made by the Austrians, alluding to their cheating on the choice of opening leads. [10]
Players who cheat are regularly more successful in opening leads than are their opponents. Sixty-five years later, the verdict of history must be that the Austrians should be disqualified and the Americans were entitled to reign as world champions.
— Alan Truscott , The New York Times Bridge Book (2002), page 74.
Jean Besse, 1954[ edit ]
The French were to play the Americans at the 1954 international contest but since it was a European-based championship, France was entitled to add two non-French players to their team; they chose Karl Schneider of Austria and Jean Besse of Switzerland.
Before the match, Schneider told Besse, "You know, we've got to help each other." Besse knew exactly what that meant and refused indignantly.
— Alan Truscott , The New York Times Bridge Book (2002), page 138.
Max Reithoffer, 1957[ edit ]
In 1957 Austrian pair Karl Schneider and Max Reithoffer were found by the Swiss team member Jaime Ortiz-Patiño to hold their cards in peculiar positions based on their Ace holding. Reithoffer was the President of the Austrian Federation hosting the actual tournament. After the accusation was discreetly presented without a formal inquiry, the pair agreed never to play in a major tournament again. [12] Victor Mollo wrote of the 1957 incident and he and his publisher were sued but settled out-of-court. [3] [12]
Accusation by Adam Meredith, c1950s[ edit ]
Adam Meredith was a fearlessly honest [13] British bridge professional who played rubber bridge for stakes and tournament bridge as a member of the British international team. In his 1968 book The Bridge Immortals, Victor Mollo wrote:
Some years ago, Adam Meredith created a precedent by declining to play for Britain at an international tournament, because he was convinced that two of the participants from the Continent were cheats. Other players, British and Continental, thought as he did and applauded him for his stand, but all played—except Meredith.
— Victor Mollo [14]
Franck Bodier and Pierre Figeac, 1954[ edit ]
In the 1950s, Frenchmen Franck Bodier and Pierre Figeac were winning virtually every major competition they entered. Under observation at the 1954 European Championships in Montreux, Switzerland and after too perfect a performance in making opening leads, they were summoned before a tournament committee. They resigned from the French Federation and "disappeared from the game". [3] [15]
Accusation by Tobias Stone, 1958[ edit ]
The 1958 Bermuda Bowl was held in Como, Italy. The Italian team was leading and, as was usual at the time, were holding their hands over their heads so that kibitzers could see them and follow the action. However, Tobias Stone claimed that the Italians were holding their hands aloft only when they were strong but lower when weak. The officials asked the Italians, who felt insulted by the insinuation, to keep their hands low at all times. [3] [16]
Back in the United States after having lost by a large margin, Stone continued to accuse the Italians of cheating and the Italians threatened a lawsuit. The American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) censured Stone and barred him from international play for one year owing to his "conduct unbecoming a representative of the American Contract Bridge League." Stone sued the ACBL for $25,000 in damages for defamation and asked the court to set aside the one-year ban. A petition by one hundred prominent players moved the ACBL to drop the ban and Stone dropped the lawsuit. [16]
Analysis of the boards played at the match was undertaken by Charles Goren and also by Edgar Kaplan together with Alfred Sheinwold . Kaplan and Sheinwold concluded that it was impossible to prove either side of the issue. Goren was unconvinced that the Italians cheated and felt that the Americans did not do well because they were distracted by the thoughts of being cheated; Goren publicly apologised to the Italians. [16]
Claude Delmouly and Gerard Bourchtoff, 1960[ edit ]
Claude Delmouly ( fr ) and Gerard Bourchtoff were members of the French national team that won the World Team Olympiad in Turin, Italy in 1960. Months later they were accused by Simone Albarran, widow of Pierre Albarran , of using signals at another event prior to Turin to show hand strength. Specifically, it was alleged that they used an illegal signal known as ‘l’ascenseur’ in French (‘the lift’ in English and ‘the elevator’ in American) in which the user holds his cards opposite his chest with maximum values, opposite his belt with minimum values and in between when in between.
A committee of the French Federation found the trail too cold to reach any conclusion but suspended both the accused and the accuser for failing to report the incident in a timely manner. The suspension was appealed by Mme Albarran and she won a nominal one sou in damages. [17] [18]
Bermuda Bowl, 1963[ edit ]
The 1963 Bermuda Bowl was held in St. Vincent, Italy with the Americans and Italians in the finals. An anonymous letter written in Italian was delivered to the American coach John Gerber . He secured a translator to read it aloud, but asked the translator to stop after the first paragraph, to deliver the letter to Italian captain Carl'Alberto Perroux , and to explain that Gerber had heard only the first paragraph. The writer had accused the Blue Team of cheating by signaling with the positioning of their cigarettes. After reading the letter to his team, Perroux suggested that the match be played with screens running across the tables (12 years before modern screens were introduced), but Gerber would have none of it. The goodwill engendered by this exchange inspired Perroux and his team to present their championship trophies to Gerber and the American team in what was described as the greatest act of sportsmanship in bridge history. [19]
The winning Italian team members were Massimo D'Alelio, Giorgio Belladonna, Eugenio Chiardia, Pietro Forquet, Benito Garozzo, Camillo Pabis Ticci.
The string of Blue Team victories was also followed by some cheating allegations—mainly against "lesser" team members and none against Belladonna–Avarelli, Garozzo–Forquet, or Garozzo–Belladonna). [20] [21]
Terence Reese and Boris Schapiro, 1949-1965[ edit ]
Terrence Reese and Boris Schapiro were among the world's best partnerships between 1948 and 1965. [22]
Early incidents[ edit ]
Having been on the team in 1948 when Britain won the European Teams title, Reese and Schapiro were invited in late 1949 to play on the next British team but were disinvited four months later without explanation.
According to Alan Truscott , during the trials for the 1950[ verification needed ] British team, Reese and Schapiro were in the lead when Maurice Harrison-Gray withdrew, asking for an inquiry into Reese and Schapiro's performance; his request was refused and he was reprimanded and barred for one year from international play. [22] However, Gray led the British team to victory in the 1950 European Championship, and captained it in the 1950 Bermuda Bowl. [23] Other sources suggest that Gray withdrew from international play because of disagreements with the British Bridge League over the running of the game. [24]
Rumors about the British pair resulted in Edgar Kaplan being designated to keep an eye on Reese and Schapiro during the 1955 Bermuda Bowl in New York; Kaplan found nothing. [22]
At the 1960 championship held in Turin, Eric Murray told Reese "your opponents are quite convinced they were being cheated". Don Oakie of the USA also identified suspicious mannerisms but was asked to keep quiet to avoid embarrassment. Harold Franklin was asked to pass the information to the British Bridge League; he did not do this but did tell Reese that there were suspicions. Reese and Scapiro did not participate on British teams again until 1964 in New York when they lost a semi-final to Italy. [22]
Bermuda Bowl, 1965[ edit ]
Main article: Terence Reese and the Buenos Aires affair
At the Buenos Aires Bermuda Bowl, Reese and Schapiro were accused of signaling information about their heart holdings and were found guilty by the World Bridge Federation appointed committee. The WBF did not announce a penalty, deferring to the British Bridge League. Instead, the BBL established a formal inquiry into the matter and ultimately found that the case against Reese and Schapiro was not proven to the required standard of proof.
Henry Itkin and Kenny Rhodes, 1971[ edit ]
When confronted, Henry Itkin and Kenny Rhodes confessed to illegally exchanging information about suit holdings at a Washington sectional. [25] They received a lifetime ban with a review available after five years.
Manoppo brothers, 1974[ edit ]
Suspicions about Indonesian brothers M.F. Manoppo and F.E. Manoppo were raised by the Australians after the brothers won three consecutive Far East Championships. An investigation of their "astonishing" performance and "incredible" leads in 600 deals by a WBF committee found 75 cases of suspect leads. The brothers were barred from playing together for life and were suspended for a "long period". [3] [26]
Facchini-Zucchelli 1974 and 1975[ edit ]
Monte Carlo 1974[ edit ]
The final standings of Monte Carlo contest in June 1974 were reported in Le Bridgeur as follows: [27]
1. Facchini–Zuchelli (Italy), 253,45%
2. Cohen–Katz (USA), 251,94%
3. Belladonna–Garozzo (Italy), 248,13%
4. Teverini–Vives (France), 241,02%
5. Mr et Me Gandini (Italy), 239,28%
6. Russel–Sontag (USA), 239,33%
7. Chagas–Assumpçao (Brasil), 239,12%
In his 1977 book The Bridge Bum [28] Alan Sontag writes as follows:
The Garozzo–Belladonna partnership was rumored, through 1973, never to have lost a pairs event (when they were finally defeated in Monte Carlo in 1974 there was evidence that the victors were cheating)
— Alan Sontag, The Bridge Bum, page 15.
Bermuda Bowl 1975[ edit ]
At the 1975 Bermuda Bowl, Facchini and Zucchelli were accused of communicating by means of foot tapping under the table. A committee was unable to find specific correlation between the foot movements observed and the bidding or play of the hands, a factor usually considered essential to conclusive proof of cheating. [29]
The event was subsequently won by the Italian team of Giorgio Belladonna , Benito Bianchi , Pietro Forquet , Benito Garozzo , Dano De Falco , Arturo Franco .
In the aftermath of their mischief, boards now run beneath the table. [30]
An editorial by Eric Milnes in Bridge Magazine complimented the Italian team on their success in the 1975 Bermuda Bowl, but continued:
What a pity it is that these happenings should have been soured by yet another accusation of cheating, this time against the Italian pair Facchini and Zucchelli. Bidding screens were of course being used, so the accusation now was that the pair were communicating by playing "footsy-footsy" under the table. The matter was reported to the World Bridge Federation authorities, who, in an almost unanimous vote, threw out the accusation. They rather spoilt the effect of this, however, by reprimanding the two Italians for "improper conduct with respect to actions of Mr. Zucchini moving his feet unnaturally and touching his partner's feet during the auction and before the opening lead". Well, now, what does this mean? Either the Italians cheated or they didn't. Very well, then. For what are they being reprimanded?
Two points arise. The first is a well-known fact: that eye-witnesses, as every police force in the world will tell you, are unreliable, and when they are told in advance what to look for they are doubly unreliable. The second point is that players have mannerisms. They are not automatons. One of the best and most respected players in America taps his foot in moments of stress. Others cross and uncross their legs. Others again fiddle with their pencils. The Italian – and this is a matter of record; he was under observation for it in England last year – shuffles his feet about. Is this a cause for reprimand?
These events might perhaps have not assumed so much importance had it not been for the prologue to the Championship. The villain of the piece is one Alfred (Freddie) Sheinwold, a man hitherto regarded with respect and indeed affection everywhere, who wrote articles in the Californian publication 'Popular Bridge' in which he attacked the ethics and behaviour of the Italians in a series of astonishing innuendos which have proved to be without foundation. Then – wait for it – the Americans actually selected this man as non-playing captain of the American team. The Italians were outraged. The European Bridge Federation requested the Americans to reconsider. The Americans refused. The wind was sown, but fortunately the whirlwind turned out to be no more than a tiny tornado, through which the Italian ship was able to sail not, perhaps, without hurt, but with its flag still flying.
It is time that all this nonsense was stopped, for, unless it is, there is bound to be a schism sooner or later in the World Bridge Federation.
— Eric Miles,
Leandro Burgay 1976[ edit ]
Also known as 'The Burgay Tapes'
Months prior to the 1976 Bermuda Bowl, Leandro Burgay, a leading Italian expert in the 70s, claimed that he had had a telephone conversation with Benito Bianchi, Pietro Forquet 's partner in both the 1973 and 1974 Italian World Championship victories, during which Bianchi had discussed signaling methods, using placement of cigarettes in the ashtray or in the mouth, which he used with Forquet. [31]
Burgay gave a tape of the conversation to the Italian Bridge Federation (FIB). Bianchi ultimately admitted that it was he who was recorded but that the tape had been doctored and that the discussion only concerned how such a cheating method would be possible, not that it had occurred. Luigi Firpo, president of the FIB suspended Burgay for six years and Bianchi for six months. After Burgay threatened civil action, his suspension was reduced to eighteen months and Bianchi's suspension was rescinded. Until that point, the matter had been dealt with internally by the FIB, but became it a public scandal days before the start of the 1976 Bermuda Bowl when the incident hit the newspapers.
Even though Burgay was not a member of the current Italian team, Forquet was and the World Bridge Federation decided it was necessary to take some action but there was little they could do before the tournament and simply requested the FIB to conduct an investigation. The FIB claimed to have already conducted an investigation but the WBF wanted a written report.
A year later at the 1977 Bermuda Bowl in Manila, there was no evidence of the promised FIB investigation and the WBF proposed to suspend the FIB from membership in the world organization but instead, gave the FIB another year to address the matter.
Before the 1978 Olympiad in New Orleans, a new slate of officials was elected by the FIB who were able to satisfy the WBF that the required investigation had been performed. It is reported that the tape was lost and "no transcript exists." [32] The threat of suspension was lifted. [33]
Richard Katz and Larry T. Cohen, 1977[ edit ]
Also known as 'The Houston Affair'
During the January 1977 North American Team Trials, an allegation of improper communication between partners Richard H. Katz and Larry T. Cohen , two members of the John Gerber team, was made. Tournament officials investigated and resulted in ACBL President Louis Gurvich announcing that Katz and Cohen had resigned from their team and from the ACBL. Reduced to three members, the Gerber team was forced to forfeit.
When newspaper articles quoted "reliable sources" as saying that the pair had been guilty of serious infractions against the proprieties of bridge, Katz and Cohen filed a $44 million lawsuit alleging defamation of character, interference with business interests, false accusations of cheating, coerced withdrawal from the trials and forced resignation from the ACBL. [34] They demanded that they be reinstated as ACBL members and that the trials resume. Katz and Cohen later filed another suit accusing the ACBL of violation of federal antitrust actions. [32]
An out-of-court settlement was reached on February 23, 1982 where it was agreed as follows:
Katz and Cohen would be readmitted to the ACBL except that they would not to play as a partnership.
Katz and Cohen could make application to play together again on or after March 1, 1984.
Commercial Union Assurance Company, insurer of the ACBL, would pay for costs and attorneys’ fees incurred with respect to the lawsuit: Katz and Cohen to receive $75,000.
The lawsuit was dismissed with mutual release of all claims.
The ACBL defended the decision in its monthly magazine with the following statement:
This case was unique in that Katz–Cohen resigned from membership in the ACBL rather than face charges of improper communication and certain ejection from the ACBL should these charges be sustained. No matter how one may feel as to whether there was or was not improper communication, the fact remains that because of their resignations no evidentiary presentation of this charge was ever made.
Those who were of the opinion that Katz and Cohen were guilty of exchanging information improperly have retained that opinion. I doubt that a resolution by a trial would have changed it, especially since that question would not have been the most relevant issue in the trial. Those who were on the other side were also vehement on behalf of Katz and Cohen – it is equally likely that their opinion would not have been changed by a trial.
This matter has been before the ACBL Board of Directors for five years. Management has been continually required to furnish information to all lawyers. Katz and Cohen, by their resignations, have not been members of the ACBL nor have they played in ACBL-sanctioned events for five years. Estimates were that the trial would take five to eight weeks. A judge in Los Angeles County, therefore, made a most strenuous effort to dispose of this case without a trial.
The basic position of the ACBL through all negotiations was that Katz and Cohen should not play together as a pair. Katz and Cohen would not accept this restriction. When there was movement by Katz and Cohen toward acceptance of restriction, this basic concession made it possible to find a ground whereby they could be considered for readmission. On Feb. 23, 1982, Katz and Cohen were re-admitted, but they agreed not to play together. The Katz-Cohen lawsuit alleged a number of causes of action, all of which were terminated by this settlement. Payment of the plaintiffs’ legal fees was made by the insurance company alone, a result of negotiations between the insurance company and the plaintiffs. No payments to the plaintiffs were made by the ACBL. (The amount of remuneration to the ACBL for legal fees is in litigation at this writing.)
Is this settlement a precedent-setting case for any future lawsuit? Absolutely not! Each case will be dealt with individually.
— James Zimmerman, ACBL President, Bridge Bulletin, April 1982
Steve Sion and Alan Cokin, 1979[ edit ]
As members of the Sternberg team, Steve Sion and Alan Cokin had come under suspicion because of unusual bids and leads and were subsequently under observation at the 1979 spring NABC in Norfolk and at the Grand National Finals in Atlanta the same summer. It was concluded that they were using improper pre-arranged communication, a contravention of Law 73.b.2, by signaling their distribution, especially about short suits, by the way they placed their pencils on the table after writing down the contract. [3] [35] [36] Both confessed (according to Wolff but deemed unproven by others) and the ACBL barred the pair from ACBL play for five years and vacated their win at Norfolk.
After five years, both players applied for and were granted reinstatement, with certain stipulations, the most important of which was that they would not be allowed to play as a partnership. Since that time, Cokin has devoted himself to overcoming this blemish on his record by helping others to become better bridge players and by playing the game strictly according to the rules. However, Sion became involved in another serious proprieties case in 1997 and was once again expelled. [37] this time for life [35]
Aftermath
It remains a point of contention as to whether or not the title won by the Sternberg team at Norfolk should be vacated by the ACBL. Despite a timely request by the second-place finishers (the Hann team) for a Committee, none was held. [38] [39] [40]
The Bridge World July 1984 editorial raised the matter again in connection with an issue of Sion–Cokin being on a team with potential to represent the USA in an upcoming Bermuda Bowl.
Moses Ma et al, 1984[ edit ]
Five players, all students from the area of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and active in the bridge club at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were suspended by the ACBL for cheating by passing illegal signals at the July 1984 NABC in Washington D.C. [41] [42]
Captain Moses Ma was from Cambridge as was Rajan Batta and Fadi Farah; other members were Philips Santosa of Boston and Bhaskaram Jayant Ishwar of Somerville, Mass.
Soren Godtfredsen and Sorin Lupan, 1990[ edit ]
The 88-percent instant match point scoring by Soren Godtfredsen and Sorin Lupan was so remarkable, far exceeding any previous score in this or any other comparable event, that it was deemed necessary to verify it before confirming it in the official standings. [43]
Tony Haworth, 1999[ edit ]
In 1999, Tony Haworth, a Welsh international player, was found to have introduced prepared decks of cards into a duplicate bridge competition. There was no suggestion that anyone else had been involved in or knew of it. [44] [45] [46]
On November 23, 1999, the Welsh Bridge Union (WBU) released a statement reporting findings made by the WBU Laws & Ethics Committee on November 12, 1999: [47]
"That on four separate occasions during the 1999 Welsh Foursomes, Mr A Haworth substituted for the cards provided by the organisers a pack of cards prepared by himself and dealt from such prepared pack, contrary to Law 6 of the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge; and that on each occasion the resulting deal was played in the match."
"That such conduct by Mr Haworth amounted to unfair play, and as such constituted an offence under clause VIIIB(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Welsh Bridge Union."
"That Mr Haworth had admitted the offence, and in answer to questioning had indicated that nobody else had had knowledge of his actions."
The Committee imposed a suspension from membership of the WBU for ten years starting November 23, 1999. They also made provision for publication of their findings and for notification of relevant bridge organisations. [48]
One of the hands introduced into the Welsh Foursomes on September 11, 1999 proved to be identical to a hand played by Howarth in the Welsh Cup Final on May 25, 1998. The bidding and play too were identical on the two occasions. [49]
Since expiry of the suspension, Haworth has resumed involvement in duplicate bridge. [50]
John Blubaugh, 2000[ edit ]
"The American Contract Bridge League made a brief announcement about a conduct matter during the recent Spring Nationals in Kansas City, Mo. It said that John Blubaugh, a bridge teacher and professional player from Bowling Green, Ind., had been suspended for 18 months and placed on probation for five years after that."
— Excerpt from NY Times article by Alan Truscott - April 2, 2001
The league said it had evidence that Blubaugh had given his partner a specific card when he was the dealer at several tournaments. League officials had taken videotapes that were used by the Ethical Oversight Committee and the league's board in deciding the matter. He denied the charges and said that his shuffling appeared clumsy because of an accident years ago that damaged the nerves in the hand.
He sued the league for $3 million in damages, claiming that the suspension was wrongful and had effectively ended a career in which he hired himself to weaker players for tournament play. The Court granted summary judgment against him; this was upheld by the Circuit Court of Appeals, and Blubaugh was not granted cert by the US Supreme Court. [51]
Disa Eythorsdottir, 2002[ edit ]
Eythorsdottir was stripped of a silver medal at the 2002 world championships in Montreal for refusing to take a drug test covering substances banned by the IOC . [52] [53] [54]
Eythorsdottir claims she was on a prescription diet drug connected with a back condition. She had asked the authorities if the drug was banned. She did not have a certificate to cover the prescription. [55]
Andrea Buratti and Massimo Lanzarotti, 2005[ edit ]
Also known as 'The Tenerife Affair'
In 2005, Italian professional players Andrea Buratti and Massimo Lanzarotti were playing the Israeli team in the Swiss-system qualifying section of the European Transnational Teams Championship in Tenerife and their team needed a convincing win into the knockouts. Early in the match, Ilan Bareket, 35, of the Israeli team, summoned an official and claimed that Lanzarotti as dummy had looked at Bareket's hand and had secretly conveyed information about the cards to Buratti with a finger signal. [56]
The crucial piece of information – that Bareket had three of the remaining four trumps – was allegedly given by Lanzarotti placing three fingers of his right hand over his left wrist as he rested his arms on the table. Buratti subsequently played "against the odds" – a risky course of action without knowing opponents' hands – and won, helping to provide his team with a 25-2 victory. [57] [58]
Before an appeals committee, Lanzarotti denied looking into Bareket's hand and said the sight in his left eye was so poor that he would not have been able to distinguish the red honors anyway. Buratti stated that the Israelis had asked a lot of questions, which made declarer think that the trumps were breaking badly. He continued that the first two boards had been bad and they needed a big victory, so he had intentionally played against the percentage.
The appeals committee found declarer's explanations unconvincing and that his line of play had been influenced by dummy's behaviour. The committee ruled that Buratti and Lanzarotti were disqualified from the team event, and the match score was adjusted to 18-0 victory points in favor of the Israeli team. [59]
In November 2005, Buratti and Lanzarotti were expelled by ACBL. In March 2011, the two applied to the ACBL for readmission but were denied. [60]
Ken Gee, 2007[ edit ]
Canadian Ken Gee, a professional playing with clients and other professionals, was suspended for repeatedly looking at the opponent's hands in boards yet to be played before the opponents arrived at the table. Testimony of such conduct spanned the period from about August 2006 through to the Fall NABC in San Francisco November 2007.
In July 2008, ACBL's Ethical Oversight Committee gave Gee
a 13-month suspension to the end of December 2009, allowing for some 'time served' after his removal from the Fall NABC, November 27, 2007.
five years probation
loss of all masterpoints received from July 31, 2007 to December 31, 2007
Under automatic appeal in November 2008, the Appeals and Charges Committee
increased the suspension period to 18 months to the end of May 2009 notwithstanding that the ACBL disciplinary guidelines recommend a suspension period of two years up to including expulsion for actively seeking information about a board before it is played.
lifetime probabtion
loss of all masterpoints, titles and awards received from July 31, 2006 to December 2007
Gee claimed he suffered from a medical condition related to distress over recent deaths of two family members. [61] [62]
Michael Elinescu and Entscho Wladow, 2013[ edit ]
Play for the d'Orsi Senior Bowl , named for WBF Past President Ernesto d'Orsi, was held in Bali, Indonesia, in September 2013.
In the early rounds, non-playing captain Donna Compton anticipated that her USA team might end up playing against the Germans and was scouting their playing sessions in order to better coach her team about them. Intrigued by reports that the Germans were renowned for their eccentric bidding [63] and their ability to find unique winning opening leads, Compton asked that the Germans be monitored; she was denied for lack of proof that anything was amiss. Team member Eddie Wold played against the Germans in the Finals and determined that they coughed at the beginning of the auction and at the beginning of play. He made a record of the coughing timing and frequency, suspecting some kind of coded information was being exchanged and wrote down the times and frequency of the coughs and passed the information to Donna Compton. [64]
Presented with Wold's record, officials wanted more information. Team USA were to play the Germans. Overnight, Compton analysed the cough record against the hands that had been played and broke the code. At the same time, and without wanting to know Compton’s keys to the coughing code, the officials had reconsidered and advised her that they would place a monitor with the Germans and video tape them but on condition that the decision to do so be withheld from Compton’s team. [64]
After the penultimate set, the monitor concluded that the Germans were cheating by means of their cough signals but due process obliged that they would continue to play so that more hands would solidify the proof. The Germans 'won' and Compton was assured that the matter would be resolved after the tournament close. [64]
Compton submitted a Formal Letter Requesting Inquiry and Formal Complaint with the Exhibits to the WBF on October 4, 2013. Meanwhile, the WBF wanted more evidence and knew the Doctors would be playing in the Cavendish a couple of weeks after the Championships. They asked officials to track their coughs and compare them with the hand records. 19 out of 19 hands recorded matched the coughing code providing corroborating evidence from a separate tournament. [64]
Ultimately a formal committee hearing in Dallas in January 2014 found Elinescu and Wladow guilty of reprehensible conduct. The Disciplinary Commission imposed the following sanctions upon them: [65]
Michael Elinescu and Entscho Wladow shall be banned from playing together in any WBF organised championship or competition for life;
Michael Elinescu and Entscho Wladow shall be each individually banned from playing in a WBF organised championship or competition for a period of 10 years;
Under appeal, a decision on 16 July 2014 of the WBF Appeal Tribunal ruled as follows:
Germany results to be disqualified from the 2013 d'Orsi Seniors Trophy;
Germany is stripped from any placement in the 2013 d'Orsi Seniors Trophy;
The Gold Medals are revoked from Germany and all the members of the German Seniors Team and have to be returned to the WBF together with the d’Orsi Trophy and its Replicas;
The title of World Champion is revoked from Germany and all the members of the German Seniors Team;
The WBF Master Points awarded to any member of the German Seniors Team are removed,
The final ranking of the 2013 d'Orsi Seniors Trophy is modified, elevating the teams which finished second (USA2), third (Poland) and fourth (France) to respectively first, second and third, awarding them the relevant Medals, Titles, Trophies,Replicas and WBF Master Points [66]
The doctors refused to return the gold medals and replacement ones were made by the WBF and awarded to USA2. [67]
Mike Passell, 2015[ edit ]
In February 2015, Mike Passell played in a bracketed Swiss at the Palmetto Regional. Sitting North, he had tossed a board on the floor after a poor result and sometime during the next hand he claimed [68] to have noticed a card sitting face down next to a pocket and inserted it. He stated that thinking it prudent to make sure the board was correct before the opponents took the boards to the other table, he counted the cards and found 14 in one hand and 12 in another, so he moved the extra card, which he thought was the one that had fallen out and had replaced. When results were compared, the opponents discussed the hand and there was a discrepancy with which hand held the Jack of Spades and a low diamond. The opponents went to Passell where he stated what had occurred; subsequently, the matter was reported to the tournament director. The opponents had won 2 IMPs on the board but thought that more were possible had the board not been fouled. [69]
Passell was requested to attend a meeting in Chicago during the summer Nationals of the ACBL Ethical Oversight Committee (EOC). While there were differences in the recollection of some the details of the event by the players involved, [70] Passell was found guilty of, among other things, [71] of "prearranging a deal or part thereof", which carries with it a mandatory penalty of 13 months probation and 25% of total masterpoints. He was found not guilty of cheating but believed the public statement by the ACBL read like he was found guilty of cheating and given a lenient sentence; he appealed.
In November 2015, the ACBL Appeals and Charges committee upheld the finding of the Ethical Oversight Committee that Passell had violated sections 3.1, 3.7, and 3.20 of the ACBL's Code of Disciplinary Regulations. According to a joint statement by the ACBL and Passell, [72]
the EOC listed only an ethical violation (but not cheating). These findings were affirmed by the Appeals and Charges Committee
— Daily Bulletin, 27 November 2016.
Passell admitted to fouling the board and failing to call the tournament director immediately. However, the Appeals and Charges Committee amended the section under which the sentencing guidelines applied [73] and replaced the previous sentencing decision with a 14-day suspension starting December 20, 2015 and forfeiture of the 15.40 masterpoints earned at the event.
Boye Brogeland campaign against cheating, 2015[ edit ]
See also: Boye Brogeland anti-cheating campaign
In August 2015 at the Chicago NABC, Norwegian player Boye Brogeland lost a match on appeal against the Israeli players Lotan Fisher and Ron Schwartz , his former teammates at previous North American Bridge Championships . Brogeland reviewed the BBO records for the match and became convinced that they were using illegal methods to exchange information about their hands.He went on to publicly accuse Schwartz and Fisher via a website posting. [74]
The initiative garnered support from others and Brogeland received tips that other top players were also cheating. Brogeland with others investigated these tips and Israel, Monaco, and Germany subsequently withdrew from the 2015 Bermuda Bowl. A pair from Poland had their credentials withdrawn at the last minute for the Bermuda Bowl.
Lotan Fisher and Ron Schwartz, 2015[ edit ]
Main article: Fisher and Schwartz cheating allegation
In August 2015, Boye Brogeland 's team (Richard Schwartz, [75] Allan Graves, Boye Brogeland, Espen Lindqvist, Huub Bertens , Daniel Korbel) lost in the quarter-finals of the Spingold to Jimmy Cayne 's team ( James Cayne , Michael Seamon , Lotan Fisher , Ron Schwartz , Alfredo Versace , Lorenzo Lauria ) by 1 IMP following an appeal that lost his team 2 IMPs. [76] The appeal involved Lotan Fisher and Ron Schwartz , Brogeland's teammates from the previous year when they won the Spingold . [77] Brogeland spent the following day reviewing the Vugraph records from the quarter-final and concluded that Fisher and Schwartz were cheating and later that month created a web site and publicly accused them of cheating. [78] [74] [79] [80]
In September 2015, Per-Ola Cullin, a Swedish international bridge player, postulated a code that Fisher and Schwartz placed the board after removing it from the bidding tray in particular locations to indicate strength in a suit. [81] The analysis was based on video from the European Bridge Team Championship in Croatia in 2014.
Both the European Bridge League and the Israel Bridge Federation conducted an investigation into the allegations. The Israel Bridge Federation hearings also includes an allegation related to coughing. On September 5, 2015, Israel withdrew its team for the upcoming Bermuda Bowl in Bali. [82] They were replaced by Sweden.
In May 2016 three Israeli experts announced what they believe is a refinement to the Cullin code. The experts include Dr. Netzer Zeidenberg , a computer scientist and Amir Levin , Israel's 2003 bridge champion. Fisher and Schwartz responded, "We are innocent of any crime and we will fight for our innocence. We already successfully passed a polygraph that proved that we are innocent." [83]
Fisher and Schwartz were subsequently banned from all European Bridge League events in May 2016 by its Disciplinary Commission for a period of five years, and banned from playing as a partnership for life. [84] The Committee's full report was released on May 18, 2016 as the Decision of the European Bridge League Disciplinary Committee . [85]
As of July 2016 [update] , the Israel Bridge Federation hearings are on-going.
On July 28, 2016, the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) announced that its Ethical Oversight Committee (chair: Jon Brissman ; other members: Cheri Bjerkan , Dennis Clerkin , Lesley Davis , Bruce Ferguson , Bob Glasson , Hendrik Sharples and Eddie Wold ) had unanimously found Fisher and Schwartz guilty both of collusive cheating and of giving false information to the ACBL about previous disciplinary convictions. In consequence, Fisher and Schwartz were expelled from the ACBL, and all their masterpoints , titles, ranks and privileges declared forfeit. Further, their partners and teammates were subject to mandatory forfeiture of all masterpoints, titles and ranks earned during the four years preceding the final of the 2015 Spingold Trophy . [86] On July 29, 2016, the ACBL clarified and corrected that announcement: forfeiture by partners and teammates applied only to events in which they had played with Fisher or Schwartz, and only to the four years preceding the date of the decision; namely, July 27, 2016. [87]
Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes, 2015[ edit ]
Main article: Fantoni and Nunes cheating allegation
Fulvio Fantoni and Claudio Nunes are professional bridge players originally from Italy, but since 2011 playing for Monaco . In 2015, they were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world respectively. [88]
In September 2015, they were publicly accused of cheating by orienting a played card to show a missing high honour (Ace, King, Queen) in the led suit at the European Bridge Championship in 2014. Three separate investigations were conducted, one by the Italian Bridge Federation ( it ) (FIGB), one by the European Bridge League (EBL) and one by the American Contract Bridge League .
On March 19, 2016, the FIGB banned the pair for three years. The FIGB hearing also investigated cheating by Fantoni and Nunes against Italy in the finals of the Bermuda Bowl in 2013 using the same method. Fantoni and Nunes appealed this ruling to both the FIGB and Italian Olympic Committee; the appeals were rejected.
On July 18, 2016, the European Bridge League (EBL) banned each from play for five years and as a partnership for life. [89]
On July 26, 2016, the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) expelled them from their league and stripped them of all related masterpoints , titles, ranks and privileges. [90]
Alex Smirnov and Josef Piekarek, 2015[ edit ]
In September 2015, Brogeland received an anonymous tip about cheating by a top German pair Josef Piekarek - Alex Smirnov . Faced with the evidence, Piekarek and Smirnov decided to come forward and confess with the following statement: [91]
Josef Piekarek and I are aware of the "whispers" circulating about our ethical conduct, and we are sorry to say there is some truth to them. We regret that in the past as a partnership we committed some ethical violations. This morning we informed our Federation and our teammates, and we have all agreed that the German team should withdraw from the Bermuda Bowl.
Josef and I have voluntarily agreed never again to play competitive bridge together and to take two years off from playing competitive bridge. We hope that after such a time has elapsed, that we might be welcomed back into the competitive bridge playing community.
— Alex Smirnov, a member of the German Open Team, Bridge Winners website, September 19, 2015
On September 22, 2015, Germany withdrew from the Bermuda Bowl [92] and were replaced by France.
In June 2016, Smirnov and Piekarek were banned from all European Bridge League events by its Disciplinary Commission for a period of four years, and banned from playing as a partnership for life. [93]
Cezary Balicki and Adam Żmudziński, 2015[ edit ]
In September 2015, Brogeland also received an anonymous tip about the Polish pair Cezary Balicki – Adam Żmudziński relating to the placement of bidding cards during the auction.
On 26 September 2015, one day before play was due to start, the World Bridge Federation Credentials Committee withdrew the invitation to Balicki and Żmudziński to play in the 2015 Bermuda Bowl in Chennai , India, without giving a reason. [94]
In several articles titled "The Videos Shout: Balicki-Zmudzinski", posted in October and November 2015, Kit Woolsey published extensive evidence cross-checked by a panel of experts, that they used narrow or wide placement of cards from the bidding box to communicate the relative strength of their hand. [95]
On May 30, 2016, the EBL announced that "EBL President Yves Aubry has taken the decision to refer this case to the EBL Disciplinary Commission as the pair is suspected of committing infractions of the laws of Bridge".
Fictional[ edit ]
Fictional instances of cheating in bridge include:
articles by Edgar Kaplan - one of the most ethical players and authors in the game
Editorial: Huddle Muddle, February 1970
Editorial: Huddle Muddle II, March 1972
Editorial: Tell-tale Rattle, May 1973. Johnny Crawford addresses the ACBL Board of Governors on the subject of cheating.
That Old Black Magic (title ?), an article or series of articles by Edgar Kaplan in The Bridge World during the 50s or 60s condemning what is sometimes called "hesitation relay".
March 1975:
Editorial on the 'Foot Soldiers' incident in the January 1975 Bermuda Bowl.
Also contains an article (page 33) titled "Challenge the Champs" wherein the challengers are Zucchelli and Facchini; they win the competition against Sion-Merrill and are declared the champions.
July 1984: editorial question regarding Sion and Cokin representing the USA in the Bermuda Bowl. Also raises question as to why the ACBL did not conduct a score-adjustment hearing requested by Hann's team regarding the Goren Trophy win by Sion/Cokin/Sternberg/Weichsel/Sontag team at the 1979 National Men's Team.
November 1984: Hooks and Crooks - the '84 Spingold. The article recounts events related to Moses Ma team withdrawal.
November 2003: High-tech Cheating by Richard Aronson, pages 23–25.
August 2015: Another Sad Episode. Editorial, pages 2–4. The coughing German doctors.
September 2015: Eerily Similar. Editorial, pages 2–3. Commentary on the Italian Team Championship of 2015. Accusations made against Fantoni-Nunes; they were acquitted in a court case heard by a Sports Judge. Discussion on doing "something highly erratic that is remarkably fortunate."
October 2015: Stop Press, page 5. Report that Brogeland, Graves, Lindqvist and Schwartz renounce three national titles owing to "a cheating pair".
November 2015: The Horror Show Continues - Editorial.
December 2015: An Obstinate Problem - Editorial.
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Electorate population explosion BY MYLES HUME
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The Rangitata electorate has seen one of biggest population rises in the South Island, but that is set to cause headaches when the new electorate boundaries are drawn. Statistics New Zealand yesterday released new electorates and electorate population data, the first set of information to be distributed from this year’s census. The figures show since the last census in 2006, the Rangitata electorate population has risen 7 per cent from 60,388 to 64,142. Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew said that would force the electorate boundaries to be changed again as the population exceeded the South Island’s 59,679 quota by more than the 5 per cent plus or minus threshold. “Population growth is positive for the districts, but when it comes to my electorate the boundaries will need to change,
so the provisional boundaries will be released on the 21st of November,” she said. “I know that is often unsettling for people who think they might be on the edge, it can be frustrating to find yourself in one electorate one year and in another the next, but everyone will have a chance to submit on the provisional boundaries,” she said. Although it may cause some concern for residents on the fringe, Ms Goodhew said officials responsible for drawing up the new Rangitata electorate boundaries would also find themselves with “a few headaches”. Under the Electoral Act the South Island can only have 16 seats, meaning the Rangitata electorate will need to extend into either Selwyn or Waitaki, who have both experienced 14 and 9 per cent growth respectively.
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What patrol car?
A man arrested for stealing a police patrol car over the weekend has admitted he didn’t realise what type of vehicle it was – despite its flashing light. Waikato police prevention manager, inspector Paul Carpenter said the 34-year-old owned up to the Hamilton theft at the weekend. “The man has been interviewed by police and admitted taking the patrol car from a Mahoe St address about 7.15am on Saturday, and abandoning it at Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa,� he said. “Despite the car being a marked patrol vehicle and its flashing lights, the offender told officers he didn’t realise it was a police car until he was driving it away and heard the police radio in use.�
3
The Walking Dead brings life
NEWS LETTERS WORLD BUSINESS RURAL YOUR PLACE HERITAGE SPORT PUZZLES FAMILY NOTICES WEATHER TELEVISION
Woolly protesters
When the cotton mill closed, the rural Georgia town of Grantville began a slow transformation into a ghost town. Residents fled. Storefronts faded. Buildings decayed. It became the perfect modern-day set for humans and “walkers� (zombies) to attack one another. That’s how the hugely popular TV show The Walking Dead ended up coming to town and bringing new life to Grantville.
Shepherds led a flock of 2000 sheep through Madrid yesterday in defence of ancient grazing, droving and migration rights increasingly threatened by urban sprawl and modern agricultural practices. Tourists were surprised to see downtown traffic cut to permit the ovine parade to bleat — bells clanking — across some of Madrid’s most upmarket urban settings. Since at least 1273, shepherds have had the right to use droving routes that wind across land that was once open fields and woodland before Madrid mushroomed to the great metropolis it is today.
5
Quote of the day “Don’t ever go on a diet. Just don’t. Walk away. Diets are the spawn of Satan� – British actress Emma Thompson.
Crocs on the menu Crocodiles were once so abundant along the salty rim of southern Jamaica that images of their toothy jaws and spiny armour crown the tropical island’s coat of arms and are stenciled on the bumpers of military vehicles. Now, the big reptiles are increasingly difficult to spot, and not just because they blend into swampy backgrounds. These days, a growing taste for crocodile meat and even eggs in Jamaica has conservationists worried that the reptiles might be wiped from the wild altogether, although they’ve been protected by law since 1971.
WHAT’S ON â–
Old New World, Ashburton Art Gallery: A photographic study of the changing face of small town New Zealand. Wellington poet and photographer Mary Macpherson has spent seven years travelling around the country documenting the changing face of small town New Zealand. Mary’s exhibition is at the Ashburton Art Gallery and runs until November 10.
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P1-9 P10-11 P12 P13 P14-16 P17 P18 P19-28 P25 P26 P26 P27
On the couch: The Rise of the Nazi Party, The History Channel, 8.30pm. This documentary series tells the true story of the rise of the Nazis. It reveals how the National Socialists exploited the economic turmoil of their time and went on to lead their nation into a nightmare of brutality, genocide and military defeat. Rated: M.
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Out of town: The Magical Mystery Tour - The Body Festival, NASDA Theatre, 130 Madras Street, Christchurch. Chant et Danse, Christchurch’s premier cabaret company proudly presents for your entertainment, The Magical Mystery Tour. Get set for a racy journey into the world of song and dance – plus a few other surprises! Starts: 9pm.
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On the horizon: Muddy Good Run, Rakaia, 20 October 2013. Get ready to take on a gruelling course that combines cross-country running with crawling, leaping and wading your way through a variety of challenging mud and water obstacles.
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■ PRIVY COUNCIL RULING
Lundy to get a retrial Mark Lundy’s murder convictions have been quashed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. In a decision that was released at 9pm last night, the board unanimously decided that Mr Lundy’s appeal should be allowed; that the convictions should be quashed; that Mr Lundy should stand trial again on the charges of murder as soon as possible; and until then, and subject to any decision of the High Court of New Zealand on the question of bail, Mr Lundy should remain in custody. His legal team went to the
Mark Lundy
Privy Council in June this year in a bid to clear his name over the deaths of his wife Christine, and daughter Amber, in Palmerston North in 2000.
He’s currently serving a minimum prison sentence of 20 years. During the appeal it was argued by Lundy’s lawyer that he’d suffered a substantial miscarriage of justice. It centred on the brain tissue found on one of Lundy’s shirts, tampering of a computer, and timing of the deaths. The Privy Council has the authority to uphold convictions or quash them. If they are quashed, a retrial could be ordered or the case could be sent back to the Court of Appeal. - APNZ
POLL RESULT Yesterday’s result Q: Who should be the next Mayor of Ashburton? (Results as at 9pm last night)
31%
Plan of attack formed BY MICHELLE NELSON [email protected]
PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 071013-TM-017
Holiday programme in full swing Brie Rudolph, 9, kept out of the cold weather at the Hit Play Holiday programme, held at Allenton Primary School yesterday. The group of 19 children was immersed in making marionette
3 TH 201 0 2 ER OB T C
puppets for much of the day, along with other arts and crafts projects. Today they will join forces with Bunnings team members to make dog kennels, which will be sold on Trade Me – with pro-
ceeds going to the SPCA. Wednesday will be dry ice experiments day, and on Thursday sandcastle wars are on the agenda in conjunction with a Christchurch holiday programme.
Progress on a programme to deal with a noxious black grass incursion in Mid Canterbury gained traction at a public meeting on Thursday. About 30 arable farmers met with representatives from the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) and PGG Wrightson who imported the fescue seed contaminated with black grass seed. While being transported from Tinwald to a seed cleaning plant near Methven in June a quantity of the seed blew out of the unsecured boxes. Black grass, also known as slender meadow fox tail, is an invasive plant that affects winter crops in Europe. It has the potential to decimate Mid Canterbury’s lucrative small seed and cereal industry. Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury grain and seed chairperson David Clark said there was frank discussion between farmers who were rightfully aggrieved and the importers, but everyone was united in their focus to deal with the
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incursion. FAR has developed a matrix which maps out high, medium and low risk areas, based on the behaviour of the plant. “It’s most likely to strike on bare ground or where cows pugged the ground up on the roadsides. “We will also concentrate on the paddocks the cows walked into, and an area where soil was moved during road works,” Mr Clark said. These areas will be subject to a selective spray regime, which will kick off this month and continue for three years. In an effort to halt the spread of the weed, a rogueing programme will continue for up to five years. “The response is based on the best scientific research we can muster, primarily done by FAR but also using research conducted in the UK where they are well practised in dealing with black grass,” Mr Clark said. An operations manager will soon be appointed to manage the incursion response. Another stakeholders meeting will be held next week.
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News 4
Mass vaccinations to begin By Myles HuMe
[email protected]
Most Mid Canterbury parents are expected to vaccinate their children against hepatitis A as a two-week vaccination programme begins today. Up to 1500 Mid Canterbury children between one and four years old will today begin a mass vaccination programme, that will see temporary clinics set up in Ashburton, Methven and Rakaia until October 23. The first clinic will open at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre at 9.15am today, and many early childhood providers are expecting most of their parents to vaccinate their children. Ashburton Baptist Early Learning Centre supervisor Steph Moses said there had been “a big response” with many parents looking to attend Wednesday’s clinic, while other children had already been immunised. “We have had about 110 children who are going and two that won’t be,” she said. “Parents have been anxious to get information about the vaccinations and when the clinic are. They have shown a very good response and have been quick to get their forms in.” She said early childhood providers were not responsible for taking children to the clinic, it was up to parents to make decisions over their child’s health. Phoenix Preschool manager Jo MacAskill said the majority of youngsters at her centre were also getting vaccinated, however some were still undecided. While other early childhood providers had strongly urged parents to vaccinate, Ms MacAskill said it was “completely up to the parent”. “Usually parents are looking into what the side-affects are
Ashburton police arrested a local man for disorderly behaviour about 3am on Saturday. He will appear in Ashburton District Court next week.
Domestic violence Ashburton police attended a domestic violence incident on Saturday and another family violence case about 8.30am on Sunday.
Intentional damage Ashburton police will investigate after a car was intentionally damaged about 4am on Saturday in Ashburton.
19-year-old arrested A 19-year-old Ashburton man was arrested about 2.30am on Saturday for disorderly behaviour and resisting police arrest. He will appear in Ashburton District Court on Monday.
Drink driving Ashburton mother Claire Cook will be vaccinating her son Ryan, 2, (right) against hepatitis A this week, while her other son Tom, 10 months, may be vaccinated after he turns one. PhOTO TeTsurO MiTOMO 071013-TM-036
and weighing up the positives with that. “Vaccination is a really personal choice and it’s really important it is kept that way for parents.” Recently Early Childhood Council chief executive Peter Reynolds stopped short of strongly recommending the vaccination, saying parents should make a “responsible decision” for the safety of the children. Ashburton mother Claire Cook said she had weighed up vaccinating her two-year-old son Ryan, but decided “vaccination was the best way to keep him safe”. “It gives him life-long immunity and I’m pro-vaccination anyway so in the end it wasn’t too hard a decision to make,” Mrs Cook said.
VACCINATION DATES, TIMES, VENUES ■ Tuesday 8 October 9.15am - 6pm Ashburton Trust Event Centre 211A Wills St Ashburton ■ Wednesday 9 October 9.15am - 6pm Ashburton Trust Event Centre 211A Wills St Ashburton ■ Tuesday 15 October 9.15am - 6pm St David’s Union Church 48 Allens Rd Ashburton ■ Wednesday 16 October 9.15am - 6pm St David’s Union Church 48 Allens Rd Ashburton ■ Wednesday 23 October 9.30am - 12.30pm Mt Hutt Memorial Hall Methven ■ Wednesday 23 October 2.15pm - 4.15pm Rakaia Memorial Hall Rakaia Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Alistair Humphrey said the vaccination campaign follows an outbreak which has led to 28 confirmed cases, but he hoped vaccinating preschoolers would prevent it from spreading further.
“This hepatitis A outbreak continues to infiltrate, spreading silently through the Ashburton preschool community,” he said. “Without a mass vaccination it’s possible the current epidemic could last for several years.”
■ BAIN MURDERS
Experts reject gunpowder marks claim Fingerprint and firearms experts have rejected claims Robin Bain had gunpowder marks on his fingers, police say. Claims were made on TV3’s 3rd Degree programme in June that the marks shown in photographs were made by loading the rifle’s magazine. But police said scientific analysis by fingerprint and firearms experts did not support that conclusion. Police have released an analysis of fingerprints taken from Robin Bain plus a report on testing of the gun used in the Bain homicides. Fingerprint experts examined the original post mortem fingerprint forms taken at the
Disorderly behaviour
The disputed marks on Robin Bain’s fingers
mortuary and compared those to the marks in photographs of Robin Bain’s thumb and forefinger. That examination confirmed features in the fingerprints corresponded accurately with the marks shown in the photographs, police said yesterday. The experts concluded that
this was strongly indicative that the marks shown in the photographs were the result of minor superficial damage to the skin surface. Tests were also carried out by an ESR firearms expert on the weapon used in the Bain homicides, aiming to replicate the marks shown in the photographs. The scientist’s opinion was although there appeared to be a pair of lines on Mr Bain’s thumb that could have resulted from loading a magazine cartridge, there was considerable doubt that the shape, dimensions and colour of the marks on Mr Bain’s thumb were consistent with marks made as a re-
sult of loading a cartridge into a magazine, police said. “These tests have been carried out using accredited experts in controlled conditions with access to the original exhibits and in the presence of Mr Bain’s advocates,” assistant commissioner Malcolm Burgess said. “The most likely explanation for the marks in the photographs would seem to be preexisting damage or injury to the skin on Robin Bain’s thumb. “I am satisfied that this scientific analysis shows the marks highlighted by the 3rd Degree programme are anything but the ‘game changer evidence’ the programme claimed,” Mr Burgess said. - APNZ
An 18-year-old Ashburton man was arrested after he was caught driving with an excess breath alcohol limit of 355mcg about 2.30am on Saturday. He will appear in court next week.
Home entered A Burnett Street garage was entered however Ashburton police believe nothing was taken. Inquiries are continuing into the incident.
Roundabout crash A two-car smash at the Walnut Avenue and East Street roundabout ended without injury after a driver of a vehicle failed to give way. Ashburton police said the crash was minor.
Car broken into A car parked on Rapley Street was broken into overnight on Saturday, however it appears nothing was taken.
Drink driving A 35-year-old Ashburton man was found with an excess breath alcohol limit of 840mcg after he was pulled over on Emersons Road by Ashburton police about 11.30pm on Saturday. He will appear in court on Monday.
Logging truck rolls A logging truck rolled on a Far North road yesterday afternoon. Emergency services were alerted to the fully laden truck rollover at Waiharara, north of Kaitaia, about 3pm. The driver of the logging truck was temporarily trapped and Kaitaia fire brigade volunteers helped him from the cab before he was taken to hospital with minor neck injuries. A crane was used to right the logging truck. - APNZ
Woman injured in fall An elderly woman has been injured after slipping down a 2-metre bank on a farm yesterday. The 72-yearold fractured a thigh bone in the fall, which happened about noon at the property in Sherenden, Hawke’s Bay. She was airlifted by the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter to Hawke’s Bay regional Hospital. - APNZ
News Tuesday, October 8, 2013
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■ DATA SHARING
Big Brother is watching you BY NICHOLAS JONES Millions of pieces of private information about New Zealanders are being shared between state departments - and the Government is planning to vastly increase the number of agencies involved, a Herald investigation has discovered. The personal details already shared include names, birthdates, incomes, tax numbers, citizenship details, travel plans, ACC claims, home addresses and phone numbers. But the number of deals to share information about hundreds of thousands of Kiwis could more than double, with over 30 new agreements be-
tween agencies being explored. Belt-tightening during tough economic times and inaction on child abuse cases are main drivers for the push to share more - and the Government insists it can be trusted to protect New Zealanders’ privacy. However, it comes during a low ebb in public confidence in government information handling, after several breaches. Civil liberties campaigners, the Privacy Commissioner and the Government all recognise that increasing data matching and sharing agreements amplifies the room for error. “There is the problem of controlling access ... the greater the number of people who have eyes
on [private information], the greater the chance of it being improperly disclosed,” said Michael Bott, a lawyer and member of the Council for Civil Liberties. The Government has now altered the information-sharing provisions in the Privacy Act. Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff, whose office gave its approval to the new provisions and will play a vital watchdog role over them, said there were important reasons behind the change. The recession had focused attention on how to conduct government business more efficiently. The first information-sharing deal under the new guide-
lines, which came into effect last week, will mean Kiwis living overseas who haven’t paid taxes, child support or student loan repayments can be tracked by the taxman through the address they give when they renew their passport. Another factor is concern for the vulnerable, including children. After the death of Rotorua 3-year-old Nia Glassie, Ms Shroff called for the sharing of information about at-risk children, and for “privacy” not to be used as an excuse or obstacle. Ms Shroff ’s office at present has indications of 32 potential new agreements. A spokeswoman said not all would come to fruition. - APNZ
■ REGENT GOES DIGITAL
Theatre moves with the times BY MYLES HUME
[email protected]
Three dimensional movies and enhanced quality picture will be the result of a $250,000 transformation in the projector room of Ashburton’s Regent Theatre. Servers, 3D glasses and projectors are in transit from all over the world awaiting their trip to Ashburton that will see them replace the traditional film reel projectors for digital technology in the theatre’s two cinemas. The revamp is set to come into effect about October 23, with owners David and Donna Favel saying it was about “moving with the times” in the modern-day cinema industry, while bolstering their chances of securing some of the latest box office hits. Recently the theatre failed in its bid to show the movie Planes when it was released because there were only four copies of 35mm film available in New Zealand, but if they had had digital projectors it would have been a different story. “It’s about improving accessibility, recently we couldn’t get our hands on a film and people went elsewhere to watch it be-
Regent Cinema owner David Favel is excited about swapping the traditional film projectors for the latest in digital technology later this month. PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 071013-TM-011
fore we got it, we will be able to offer a current product more often,” Mrs Favel said. Mr Favel said the theatre continued to attract movie-goers from as far afield as Rolleston, and with 3D technology he hoped it would reel in more
business. The new digital projector system will see racks with a server and high quality projectors take the place of the giant reels and projector, being able to offer film at a faster frame rate per second.
“So when the likes of the next Hobbit movie comes out, customers will notice a significant difference,” Mr Favel said. Mr and Mrs Favel expect to have the new digital system installed within the next fortnight.
Ashburton Guardian 5
Technology causes rethink BY MYLES HUME
[email protected]
Mid Canterbury schools are having to rethink their rules around technology, as electronic devices begin to play a vital role in the classroom. Some Mid Canterbury schools are already considering making electronic devices such as iPads and laptops compulsory in the classroom from next year, while some IT experts believe it will only be five years before every child in the district begins to bring their own device to school. That’s why Mid Canterbury Fibre Connected Schools (MCFCS) regional support coordinator Trudy Hulme says the organisation and schools are being “proactive rather than reactive” to the changing classroom landscape by holding workshops and meetings to discuss policies around the use of devices in school. “Pupils can come to school with a smart phone now and if they can’t access a website because of limits set by the school, they can log on to their 3G and look it up, so this is not about making policies around the ‘nots’ it’s about developing responsible use edict.” Ms Hulme said the challenge now was for schools to create a safe environment as technology and the knowledge around it increased. She said Mid Canterbury schools were in a comfortable position after being one of 10 exclusive groups to be granted Ministry of Education funding for a trial which allows IT professional development courses and other initiatives for teachers in Mid Canterbury. That provided opportunities such as the two cyber safety courses that will help “develop cyber safety in schools, classrooms and homes as well as schools seeking assistance with their school-wide ‘bring your own device’ programme”. Sessions will be held on October 22 for school staff, and for parents later in the day.
News 6
Number of applicants disappoints By Myles HuMe
[email protected]
Mid Canterbury principals are facing an underwhelming response to fill teaching positions, as several jobs open up in the district’s schools. Claims that up to 80 teachers are vying for one job in New Zealand schools are not ringing true in Mid Canterbury, as the district’s schools look to replace departing staff before the year’s end. The Education Gazette shows there are seven Mid Canterbury schools advertising 10 jobs, which include a teaching principal position at Mayfield School, secondary school subject teacher job and full-time primary school roles. A Ministry of Education report released this week showed school jobs were becoming harder to land with 220.5 full-time equivalent vacancies in state and state-integrated schools at the start of the 2013 school year - well down from the 2006-2009 period. Some schools had almost 100 applicants for positions at their schools as graduates and teachers compete for jobs across the country. Ashburton Christian School principal Tim Kuipers has advertised for two full-time permanent roles for teaching new entrants to Year 6 and a job for teaching Years 7 to 10. He said applications closed yesterday and when he spoke to the Guardian just 10 appli-
Constable Todd Martin’s blood covers the bonnet of a police car.
Tim Kuipers
cations across both jobs had been submitted. “I have to say the calibre of applicants have been good, but there have been a low number of applications come in,” he said. “It would be nice to have a few more so we can compare but maybe because we are a special character school, that could narrow down the field a bit.” Methven Primary principal Chris Murphy is looking for a literacy leader, a specialised role that he too, has struggled to fill. It is his third time advertising for the job. “It’s been a lot harder than I anticipated, I thought we would have had more applications but we haven’t and I don’t know why.” While some applicants have not been suitable for the job, Mr Murphy was surprised experienced applicants from closing Christchurch schools had put their hand up.
MAKING LIFE EAS I E R
Officer was ‘taken by surprise’ By HeatHer Mccracken A colleague of the Auckland constable stabbed in the face yesterday morning has praised his commitment to his work. Todd Martin, community constable for Mission Bay and St Heliers, was last night in a stable condition at Auckland City Hospital after surgery. Mr Martin was attacked with a long-bladed knife while responding to reports of a man being threatening and abusive. Mission Bay police station volunteer Sam Gibson said Mr Martin is a “very good” officer who has worked in the area for several years. “He really understands the job and has a good rapport with the local community.” Mr Gibson was shocked when another volunteer phoned him yesterday morning with the news. “It’s something you don’t expect to happen, but it’s always a possibility.” Mr Martin is stationed at
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Newmarket and has been in the police for nine years. He was stabbed while talking to a man on Hapimana Rd, which leads from Tamaki Drive to the MJ Savage Memorial Park overlooking the Hauraki Gulf about 10.20am. He was with two other officers. All were wearing stabproof vests. Acting Auckland commander, Inspector Jim Wilson said Mr Martin was “taken completely by surprise”. “Without any warning whatsoever the suspect then drew a knife and stabbed him in the face,” Mr Wilson said. “At that stage there was no indication he would become violent, he certainly wasn’t aggressive at that stage and it would appear that he took the officer completely by surprise.” Mr Wilson said the suspect then turned his attention to the other officers, one of whom was armed with a Taser. “They backed off, and it was at that stage then he turned
and ran off across the park into some bushes.” Another officer at a cordon on Patteson Rd saw the suspect riding a bicycle 25 minutes later. “He thought that [he] was likely to escape so he called upon the [man] to surrender. [He] was clearly intent on leaving the area so the officer pushed him off his bicycle before Tasering him.” Mr Wilson said there was a real fear that someone else could be harmed. “This is about as serious as it can possibly get, when an officer is actually stabbed,” he said. As well as the knife, the alleged offender was carrying tools in a bag which could have been used as a weapon, including a hammer, police said. Mr Wilson said the incident did not indicate a need for police to carry firearms on routine duties. “There was no time to deploy the Taser so there wouldn’t have been any time to deploy the firearm at that stage.” - APNZ
‘Multiple failings’ in impaired man’s care By Patrice Dougan
Folding wooden and aluminium walking sticks. Spare rubber ends for walking sticks. An extensive range of health equipment and home aids can be sourced on request. Enquires on all aspects of home aids are welcome.
photo new Zealand herald
An intellectually impaired man was mistreated by caregivers at a respite facility, highlighting “multiple failings” in his care. The 21-year-old, known as Mr A, was pushed and pulled out of a chair and given a ‘time out’ for coughing, and on other occasions his epilepsy medication was not administered properly. Health and Disability Commissioner Anthony Hill found the facility had failed the man and breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers’
Rights in several respects. Mr A was described as vulnerable in Mr Hill’s report, with the mental understanding of a 5-year-old. He also had difficulty in communicating, and needed help taking medication to help control his severe epilepsy. While he normally lived at home with his family, Mr A began spending five nights a month at an NZCare Group facility from June 2008. However, his mother was concerned about the care he received from May 2010 to September 2011. During this time one community support worker, Mr
C, pushed Mr A’s hand to his mouth when he did not cover it while coughing. When Mr A tried to pull his hand away, Mr C pulled him off his chair and pushed him into his room for time out. Mr A’s mother told the commission that, following the incident, her son often mentioned Mr C’s name and said that he did not want to return to the facility. On other occasions a support worker, Ms D, did not give him his medication. In his ruling Mr Hill said the facility had failed Mr A in a number of areas, including staff training and
medication management. He recommended the facility and the two care workers make written apologies to the young man and his family. Mr Hill also said that while the care home had made a number of changes to improve staff training, that it should take additional steps to improve the services it provides to its clients. NZCare Group director Peter Hausmann said he accepted the findings. “We have apologised to the client and his family for the substandard support received at our respite service,” he said. - APNZ
News Tuesday, October 8, 2013
www.guardianonline.co.nz
In brief Police dog recovering A police dog stabbed after tracking a suspect near Whangarei has returned home and is recovering well. Gus sustained a punctured lung during a struggle with a man armed with a knife early last Thursday. He was flown to Auckland for emergency treatment and was on a machine to help him breathe. - APNZ
Withdrawal rejected A mayoral candidate’s bid to withdraw from the race has been rejected by electoral officials. Dave Macpherson said he no longer wanted to challenge for the chains and prefers to support Ewan Wilson’s campaign instead. However, Hamilton electoral officer Jude Pani says candidates may not withdraw without good reason unless they become incapacitated.
Crash victim named A man killed when his car hit a tree as he drove home from work early yesterday has been named by police as Ryan Neil Rush, 33, of Mangakakahi. Rotorua police said early indications were that Mr Rush’s car slid into a tree when he over-corrected his steering after going onto grass off Hamurana Rd about 5.20am. - APNZ
Berms unmowed The Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is reviewing its decision to stop mowing berms amid concerns about the effects on property owners. The change of heart follows controversy about unmown berms in Auckland. - APNZ
Whale buried A 30-tonne pygmy blue whale has been buried after washing up dead on a beach near Palmerston North on Saturday. People fishing near Himatangi Beach spotted the giant bobbing just offshore and contacted DoC. The carcass was in an advanced state of decomposition. - APNZ
Death inquiry A man’s death in Phillipstown is being investigated by police. Officers called to a house on Olliviers Rd about 10.45pm on Sunday by an occupant found a man in his 50s dead inside. A scene examination is under way and a post-mortem was carried out yesterday afternoon. - APNZ
Guilty to smuggling Two brothers have pleaded guilty to smuggling six live scorpions into New Zealand. James and Matthew Grant from the Queenstown Lakes District were charged with various breaches under the Biosecurity Act 1993. A third man facing charges did not enter a plea. - APNZ
Peeper jailed A peeping tom who spied on women and girls in public toilets across Auckland has been jailed for 19 months and two weeks. Luke Tyron Day, 25, was sentenced in Auckland District Court yesterday on numerous charges including taking photographs of women while they were on the toilet, indecent acts intended to insult, unlawfully being in buildings and assault. - APNZ
Ashburton Guardian 7
Spin-offs for trades courses By Myles HuMe
[email protected]
Aoraki Polytechnic could see a slice of the $18.9 million invested in CPIT for trade-based courses. Aoraki Polytechnic, which has a campus in Ashburton and transports local students to Timaru each day, has been in talks with Canterbury Polytechnic and Institute of Technology (CPIT) over collaboration opportunities. The polytechnic has already signed an agreement to work with Lincoln University and is also considering a deal with Otago Polytechnic.
Last week, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce revealed plans to inject $18.9m into CPIT “to enable it to further expand its trades training capacity as part of its campus rebuild following the Canterbury earthquakes”. “The expansion means that CPIT will be able to take on an additional 400 equivalent fulltime students or up to 1000 student places each year, through until 2018,” Mr Joyce said. Figures from the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) show building apprentices are
in high demand, with a total of 1356 apprentices on the books in Canterbury and a 39 per cent increase in new training builders in the year to April with 405 new sign ups. Aoraki Polytechnic acting chief executive Alex Cabrera would not rule out seeing potential spin-offs from the investment. “I think this announcement is very positive, we have a good relationship with CPIT. “I have been working with CPIT on collaboration opportunities and we will be articulating that over the coming weeks,” he said.
And with plans to hone in on trade-based courses at the tertiary institution, it could be a big carrot for Mid-South Canterbury’s biggest tertiary provider. “Trades are a very important focus for the sector, and for Aoraki next year trades is one of the key focal areas,” Mr Cabrera said. “The demand for qualified tradespeople is going to be there for many years, we are not just talking construction trades, but also things like irrigation and engineering, which are so important to the economic growth of the region.”
■ COURT
Guilty verdicts in major drug case Lithuanian national Rokas Karpavicius was yesterday found guilty of importing an LSDladen Harry Potter book into New Zealand and money laundering, but not guilty of conspiracy and other drugs charges. A jury in the High Court at Auckland returned its verdicts last evening after deliberating for eight and a half hours. They found Karpavicius, who the Crown had alleged was the head of an international drug syndicate, guilty of three counts of money laundering and of importing a Class A controlled drug, but not guilty of conspiracy to import a Class A controlled drug and not guilty of two counts of importing a Class B controlled drug. The jury could not reach decisions on two other charges of importing a Class B controlled drug, which relate to the alleged importation of granite statues containing large quantities of MDMA, or ecstasy. Justice Graham Lang dis-
Rokas Karpavicius
photo new zealand herald
charged the jury on those two charges. During his trial, which began last Monday, the Crown alleged that Karpavicius supplied large quantities of drugs to the New Zealand market in collaboration with notorious Auckland criminal Ronald Terrence Brown and others. His fingerprints were found on a Harry Potter book which had LSD concealed in the spine,
the court was told. Because of the vast sums of money being made, the Crown said Karpavicius employed cash mules to launder his drug money in order to get it back to Europe. The jury was played coded phone conversations between Karpavicius, Brown and their associates which the Crown alleged showed a criminal conspiracy at work.
But Karpavicius’ lawyer, Graeme Newell, said there was no hard evidence to link his client to the charges. Any discussions around money between him and Brown were in relation to Karpavicius helping Brown invest his money in Europe, he said. Karpavicius was arrested late last year and taken into police custody in Latvia as he travelled to Turkey. A “red notice” posted by Interpol had alerted Latvian authorities to the serious drugs charges he faced in New Zealand. Detectives from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand flew to Latvia to collect and extradite him. Karpavicius, who was remanded in custody, will appear before the court again later this month when the Crown is expected to decide whether or not to proceed on the two charges the jury could not decide on. He will be sentenced next month. - APNZ
Forced to circle An Air Force plane carrying 117 passengers, including Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, had to circle for two and a half hours before landing at Antartica in bad weather last night. The Boeing 757 with 11 crew members on board made its final approach below the usual instrument height before landing about 5pm in what the Air Force described as “challenging” conditions. C H E CAir KO Air Component Commander, Commodore UT O U R Mike Yardley, praised Defence Force TA Bpersonnel L O I D for the safe landing. F U L L O F D E A L SallIadN “Our pilots are wellTtrained to cope with OMO R R O W S and verse events, including weather deterioration PA P E R ! emergency landings.” The passengers included 94 personnel supporting the US Antarctic Programme, 16 Antarctica New Zealand passengers, and seven NZ Defence Force personnel. - APNZ
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North Island to gain extra electorate By Myles HuMe
[email protected]
The South Island has become home for another 33,872 people since 2006, but the number of electorates will not change. Yesterday, Statistics New Zealand released 2013 census data for the number of electorates and electorate populations in New Zealand since 2006, which highlighted a 214,101 total population increase to 4,242,048 this year. The North Island experienced the biggest growth, with its general population increasing by 176,673 people, a 6.6 per cent rise, forcing authorities to make room
for another electorate. The South Island saw a 3.7 per cent rise to 954,871 people, but under the Electoral Act the 16 seats assigned to the south is not allowed to increase, prompting a headache for those setting new boundaries where a cluster of electorates have had influxes. The increase in population means at the general election next year there will be a total of 71 electorates, with 48 in the north and 16 in the south while the number of Maori electorates will stay at seven. Government statistician Liz MacPherson said the population had not increased
as much compared with recent years. “This means that, on average, the population has grown by about 31,000 people per year since the last census in 2006. “This was slower growth than between 2001 and 2006, when the population grew by an average of about 58,000 per year,” Government Statistician Liz MacPherson said. “Adding this new electorate means there will be one less list seat in the 120-seat parliament – excluding any overhang seats.” Provisional electorate boundaries will be released on November 21.
Hackers steal ‘significant sums’
■ COURT
By PaTrice Dougan
Trial over unborn baby’s death begins By Teuila FuaTai A taxi driver has gone on trial in connection with a crash that caused his pregnant wife to lose her unborn baby. Bililigne Gebretsadik, 41 (above), was arrested after a crash at a three-road intersection in Newtown, Wellington in June 2012. Gebretsadik was driving his wife Seble Cherie at the time. She was 31 weeks pregnant and injured in the collision. The couple’s baby died following an emergency caesarean. He has denied one charge of careless driving causing death, and two charges of careless driving causing injury. The hearing, before Judge Tom Broadmore at Wellington District Court, heard confusion around multiple sets of traffic light may have been a factor in the crash. First witness Sheronika Singh, who driving the other vehicle involved in the accident, told the court she had a green light to pass through the intersection of Adelaide Rd, John St and Riddiford St. However, in a recorded interview with police just over a month after the crash, Mrs Singh was previously unsure about
which light she was looking at. In the interview excerpt, played in court during crossexamination, Mrs Singh was presented with photos of the intersection which had several sets of traffic lights on it. She was asked by the officer in charge of the case, detective sergeant Martin Todd, to identify which light signals she had been looking at. “I think I was looking at that one. I’m not 100 per cent sure I’m sorry,” she replied. The video also showed Mrs Singh being surprised to learn there were at least three sets of lights she could have been looking at for the intersection. Despite this, the mother-oftwo maintained she would have been looking at the traffic light set closest to her, rather than those further down Adelaide Rd. Gebretsadik’s lawyer Kerrin Eckersley also asked Mrs Singh about a comment she allegedly made immediately after the accident about seeing a red light and being unable to stop. “I don’t remember or recall that,” Mrs Singh said. The trial has been set down for several days. Ms Cherie is expected to give evidence later this week. - APNZ
Hackers have stolen “significant sums of money” from businesses on Auckland’s North Shore in the past couple of months, police say. The companies, who regularly order goods from China and have dealt with their suppliers for many years, received emails asking for the usual payment to be made into a different bank account. When the businesses questioned the suppliers via email to query the change, they received confirmation the details
were correct. “In both cases, the email accounts belonging to the Chinese suppliers have been hacked,” said Detective Chris Blake, from the North Shore police CIB. “The confirmation email is also a fraudulent message that has again been sent by hackers who have accessed the Chinese email account.” The crime only emerges several weeks later when the Chinese suppliers contact the New Zealand businesses to question why they haven’t been paid. Mr Blake said business own-
ers should not be embarrassed about being over cautious when dealing with overseas suppliers. “Even if you’ve dealt with the same company for many years, don’t be afraid to phone and ring the person you always deal with if you get a request that slightly differs from your usual routine with that company,” he said. “We want to prevent any more Kiwi business owners from becoming victims of this type of crime, and so we’d urge people to phone their suppliers, rather than email.” - APNZ
■ COURT
Man left assault victim for dead By greyMouTH sTar A man who left his victim for dead after repeatedly smashing him over the head with a wheelbrace in Hokitika has been jailed for six years and 11 months. Simon James Willis, 27, attacked the unnamed man last month after being told he’d stolen money and tobacco from his mother. Willis and an associate were given a key belonging to the victim and directions to his house. They picked him up, and, on the pretext of going somewhere private to smoke cannabis, drove him to a track that runs parallel to the sea. There, Willis got out and confronted the man about the alleged theft before punching him about the face and bashing him over the head several times with the wheelbrace. He and his friend then left the victim unconscious but breathing where he fell. The Crown and defence lawyer Richard Bodle both recom-
mended a starting point of five to six years in prison. But Judge Alastair Garland told them to think again during last Friday’s hearing at the Greymouth District Court. “I have seen the x-rays ... all the fractures to his skull. This was clearly a very serious attack - he was fortunate that he did not die,” Judge Garland said. The victim received extensive facial and nasal fractures, deep lacerations to his to his forehead and internal swelling and haemorrhaging. He was still on ACC and had suffered long-term physical and emotional consequences. “He believes that you intended to kill him and leave his body in the river, and that has been playing on his mind ever since,” Judge Garland told Willis. “He has poor sight in his left eye, is easily startled, suffers panic attacks and dizziness.” Mr Bodle said Willis had been co-operative with police, making a full and frank admission.
“He absolutely and thoroughly regrets what he did. If he could turn back the clock he would.” Willis admitted a charge of committing grievous bodily harm while armed with a weapon. He was also sentenced on charges of assault and careless driving. The assault related to a punch-up on a fishing boat. Willis was a temporary hand on the boat when he took exception to being told by a more qualified deckhand to work in the freezer. The other man, while slicing up bait, had his back to him when Willis king hit him, leaving him with a swollen face, double vision and cuts and bruising. Willis told police it had been a reactionary backhand blow and was not intended to injure. He was disqualified from driving for two years on the careless use charge after he lost control at an intersection, allowing his vehicle to crash through an expensive art deco fence. - APNZ
News Tuesday, October 8, 2013
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Ashburton Guardian 9
Mid Canty stars clean up at music awards By GaBrielle Stuart [email protected]
It might be something in the water, or it could just be extraordinary amounts of hard work and passion – but young Mid Cantabrians have once again proved themselves country music stars, cleaning out the Oamaru Whitestone Country Music Awards over the weekend. Sixteen-year-old Amelia James took home trophies from every category she entered in the competition, as well as taking first place overall as well as an award for most entertaining performance. Meanwhile Ashburton’s Ocean Waitokia took out the top awards in the junior section, despite performing from a wheelchair, after a hip operation last month. Ladybank teacher Barbara Thomas has taught both girls, and said that more than 150 contestants performed this year and competition was tough. She began teaching Amelia when she was just seven years old, and said that the singer was one of the best talents she had seen in the district. “She’s the total package. She looks good, she sings beautifully and she has that presence when she performs. She owns the stage. “More than that, she’s really humble. That’s a side I see as a teacher, and she hasn’t let her success go to her head. She’s always willing to learn, and to acknowledge the people behind her.” In Amelia’s home the trophies fill every available ledge, and simply storing them is close to becoming a problem if she
OCEAN SHINES Ashburton’s young performer Ocean Waitokia juggled both a guitar and a wheelchair when she took out the junior section of the Whitestone Country Music Awards. Look out for the full story in tomorrow’s Guardian. keeps up her winning streak. But winning isn’t the focus for the young singer – it’s getting up on the stage and simply performing that lights her up. “Performing is the best. You stand up there and you feel like you’ve touched every person in the room.” In the local country music scene she has already been noticed for her success, and with competition fierce she has rivals as well as strong friends. “There’s a lot of friendly competition, and some that isn’t so friendly. But I try to use that to improve myself. Without competition you never get better.” She’s definitely up for competition, with her eyes firmly set on the Tamworth Country Music festival in January next year, where she will spend 10 days studying under some of the top names in country music, and another 10 days performing at the festival. That’s still months away, and for now the focus for the Ashburton College student is firmly on looming NCEA exams – but music is never far from her mind. “Music has always been it for me. From as early as I can remember, there has never been anything else.”
Ashburton’s country music golden girl Amelia James worked her magic once again over the weekend, sweeping the trophy table at the Whitestone Country Music Awards in Oamaru. Photo tetsuro MitoMo 071013-tM-044
300,000 ACC claims for children Detention for fraud By Patrice DouGan
Parents know that if there’s trouble to be found, kids will probably find it. So it’s no surprise that some of that trouble will lead to injury, and ACC has revealed more than 300,000 claims were lodged last year for children. Out of a total 1.7 million ACC claims, 334,141 were made for children from newborns up to 14-years-old. Boys outdid girls, with 188,529 claims compared to the girls’ 145,612. Many of the children’s injuries were minor, with the majority (152,600) being soft tissue injuries such as bruises, strains
and sprains. Cuts, puncture wounds and stings resulted in 98,100 claims to ACC. After these, the most common injuries were fractures and dislocations (36,700). Other injuries included: dental (around 13,700 claims), burns with around 7600, foreign bodies in eyes with around 5400 claims, and concussion (around 5300). ACC’s general manager of insurance and prevention services, John Beaglehole, said many minor injuries happen in the context of everyday play and are simply a part of growing up. “Most kids love running and jumping around, which are all part of a healthy lifestyle,” he
said. “In fact, kids need to take some risks in order to learn. But at the same time, there are things you can do to help prevent injuries.” How you do this will depend on your child’s age. “With preschoolers, it’s basically up to parents and caregivers to manage their risks, by checking their environment and through good supervision,” Mr Beaglehole said. “As kids get older, you still need to set boundaries, but it’s also about helping them start to learn to manage risk sensibly themselves. That means talking to them about risks and being a good role model.” - APNZ
A Whangarei woman who stole more than $123,000 in taxpayers’ money over 15 years will serve her sentence from home. Sherie Apetera, 35, appeared for sentencing in the Whangarei District Court last week on seven charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage, six of dishonestly using a document and one of obtaining pecuniary advantage. The mother-of-three fraudulently claimed $94,851 in domestic purposes benefit and $28,567 in accommodation supplement from July 12, 1997, to August 26, 2012, while living in a relationship as well as working. Her lawyer, Kelly Johnson,
initially asked Judge Greg Davis to adjourn sentencing so Ms Apetera could arrange for someone to look after her children if she was sent to jail. Mr Johnson later submitted a letter of support from the Women’s Refuge and asked for a sentence of home detention. The judge said Apetera completed numerous Work and Income forms between 1998 and 2012 but failed to specify that she was living in a relationship and working. Judge Davis said it was not a case of an oversight or a slip on her part, but was premeditated. She was ordered to serve 12 months’ home detention and to stay away from alcohol or drugs. - APNZ
Opinion 10
Too often in the line of fire Michelle Nelson CHIEF REPORTER
P
olice officers coming under attack in the line of duty seems almost a weekly affair now. The most recent attack occurred yesterday in Auckland, where a police officer was stabbed in the face during a discussion with a man on the street. The offender then turned his attention to the officer’s two colleagues – who were able to evade him. A fourth officer was able to deploy a taser and the man was eventually subdued. Such stories are becoming all too common and demonstrate an increasing lack of respect for those charged with keeping us safe. Last week a police dog survived after being stabbed, and last month an officer was brutally attacked in south Auckland. But the problem doesn’t only exist in big cities. Here in Mid Canterbury our rural police officers often find themselves in risky situations when required to deal with offenders alone in remote areas. A man appeared in the Ashburton District Court last week charged with failing to supply a blood sample for analysis. He was found asleep in the backseat of his vehicle which had run off the road and down a bank in a rural area. When approached by a sole police officer, he kicked the torch out of the officer’s hand, spat, abused and threatened to kill him. Recently police officers across New Zealand and Australia recognised those among their ranks who lost their lives in the call of duty on Police Remembrance Day. But they are not alone when it comes to putting their lives on the line, frontline emergency response officers from St John, paramedics and firefighters also encounter trouble when trying to do their jobs. Most of us will at one point or another require the assistance of police or an emergency response officer of some form. They do a great job in Mid Canterbury, in a district where they are often acquainted with the victims they are called to assist. Let’s not make it more difficult by behaving in an obstructive and threatening manner.
YOUR VIEW Lavender Day success On behalf of Age Concern Ashburton we would like to thank the public of Ashburton for their generous support for our local Lavender Day Street Appeal on Friday. Your generosity enables us to continue with the ongoing work of Age Concern Ashburton. Thanks also to the many Volunteers who manned the various sites around town throughout the day. Your help is much appreciated. Jeanette Tarbotton President, Age Concern Ashburton
Cycling series We would like to correct an error in the Guardian’s report on round 6 of the Benchmark
CRUMB
Elite Cycling series, held on Saturday. The two teams entered in this series are not run by the Tinwald Cycling Club but are run by a few enthusiastic club members, ably supported by committed sponsors and their representatives. We do, however, wish to thank the Guardian and its sports staff for the coverage given to our teams, individuals and the series over the past six months. Of particular note, and irrespective of which trade team they represented, the three races in round 6 were won by cyclists from the Mid-South Canterbury Centre. B. McClelland
Dodgy trading Sergeant Janine Bowden hits the nail on the head “Facebook
by David Fletcher
sale pages are very loose and not regulated as well as other sites” can only be controlled so much, so get rid of them. You will never stop dodgy trades! (Text messages)
Poor picks Sports person no good at picking racehorses! (Text message)
Elections I hope all those who have complained about and protested against decisions made by our council have cast their vote. If change is what you really want then that must start at the top with a vote for Russell Ellis for mayor! No good complaining after the event because that won’t change a thing. (Text message)
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Sorry seems to be the hardest word
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ho’d want to be one of the 30 Greenpeace activists cooped up in a Russian jail facing piracy charges? Of course, it isn’t their fault that they were arrested trying to illegally board a Russian drilling rig. Greenpeace meant no harm so it’s a complete over-reaction, or rather, that’s the current line. But wait a minute. Piracy has cost lives off Somalia and the number one prize seems to have been those large oil tankers. In the Gulf of Mexico not too long ago, did not a rig cause a heap of environmental and economic problems? Okay, that wasn’t the result of piracy but it shows how volatile these rigs can be. It is why having a bunch of unwelcome people trying to get onboard is not a recipe for a happy outcome. So where do hijinks, no matter how well intended, cross the line? This is serious because the path Greenpeace is on could one day see an activist met with deadly force. The prospect of serious jail time is bad enough, but as we saw in Washington after a sick woman rammed barricades near the White House, it could get a whole lot worse. I need to be clear that I support the right of legal protest. It is part of our free society and while I may disagree at times with the subject, legal protest is about having confidence in the strength of your argument. It is about winning on the
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Greenpeace activists demonstrate in front of the Russian consulate general in Hong Kong recently. The activists protested against the rulings of a Russian court that led to the jailing of the environmental group’s activists for a protest near an oil platform in the Arctic. photo ap
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field just like the All Blacks did in South Africa. Once you step outside the law two wrongs don’t make a right. Since I am in an industry periodically singled out for ‘direct action’ I am not sure breaking the law works. We’ve seen a ship boarding and buildings scaled without permission. Greenpeace even tried to blame PKE for deforestation in Borneo. Thankfully, Kiwi commonsense kicked in since PKE is recycling a waste by-product from the palm oil business and palm oil is in everything from shampoo to instant noodles. Blaming a recycled by-product like PKE was oddly like blaming plastic recyclers for driving the demand for oil. We have also seen a very different treatment of illegal protest. Here, it is generally a wet bus ticket but in Russia, Greenpeace’s irresistible force has
slammed into Russia’s immovable object. Russians know their post-communism recovery is down to minerals from oil to diamonds. Since President Putin recently faced down President Obama over Syria he is not one to be easily swayed by the odd protest. Remember the furore over the band Pussy Riot and law changes ahead of next year’s Winter Games in Sochi? Putin well knows that many countries in Western Europe depend on Russian gas. While some citizens in those countries may feel sympathy for the Arctic 30 they also want to be warm and cook meals. I don’t know what the solution is but talking is a good first step. As is the ability to admit you were wrong because bravado won’t win anyone over. That’s something our industry has learned the hard way as some of our past farming
practices were not good environmentally. At least we know that, we have evolved and we are embracing solutions. Best of all it is working like with Lake Rotorua’s stunning improvement. Through the likes of the Sustainable Dairying Water Accord we are getting a roll-on as farmers use their payouts to retire debt and invest back into their farm environment. Even in the Horizons Region, where compliance is now 93 per cent, the council seems to be moving from an adversarial policing approach to a more constructive coaching role. If Greenpeace said sorry to Russia for its activists trying to board the rig then things may work out for the better. Sadly, Elton John’s Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word, is probably the answer.
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■ AL-QAEDA
In brief
Kerry defends Libya ‘kidnap’ By Karl MalaKunas US Secretary of State John Kerry says the capture of an alleged al-Qaeda operative in Libya in a daring US raid was legal despite Tripoli demanding answers about the “kidnap”. Abu Anas al-Libi was captured on Saturday. He was indicted in connection with the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and has a $US5 million FBI bounty on his head. It was one of two US raids at the weekend, with US Navy Seals also storming an al-Shabab stronghold in the southern Somali port of Barawe, although the success of that assault was unclear. The operation to capture Libi drew fury from the Libyan government, which said it was unauthorised and described it as a “kidnap”. But Kerry yesterday defended the operation as within the law. “With respect to Abu Anas al-Libi, he is a key al-Qaeda figure, and he is a legal and an appropriate target for the US military,” Kerry told reporters on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Indonesia. He added that Libi had committed “acts of terror” and had been “appropriately indicted by courts of law, by the legal process”. “The United States of America is going to do everything in its power that is legal and appropriate in order to enforce the law and protect our security,” he said. But when asked whether the United States had informed Libya before the raid, Kerry refused to say. “We don’t get into the specifics of our communications with a foreign government on any kind of operation of this kind,” he said. Libi was taken to a US Navy warship in the region after the raid and was being questioned there, a US official said.
Lightning kills 32 At least 32 people including nine children were killed over the weekend by lightning strikes in the eastern Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand, officials have said. “About 24 people including seven children were killed Saturday and Sunday by bolts of lightning across Bihar,” State Disaster Management Minister Renu Kumari Kushwaha said. In neighbouring Jharkhand, eight people including two children died, Puran Mahto, an official in the state’s Dhanbad district said. - AFP
Bali on a high A decade ago, Bali’s famed white sand beaches and popular shopping areas were deserted as visitors scared off by terrorism shunned the “island of the Gods.” The dark cloud of the suicide bombings that killed 202 tourists in 2002 lingered for years, decimating one of Asia’s top tourist destinations. But the Hindu-dominated resort island has worked to overcome that image and is sending a message to the world this week that it’s now on a Bali high by hosting leaders and more than 8000 delegates, business people and journalists at the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. “We have to move on,” said Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika. “Many international events in Bali have restored confidence of the Balinese.” - AP
Big plane buy-up
John Kerry isn’t the most popular visitor to Indonesia, as these demonstrators would testify. ap photo
Libi, 49, had been indicted in the US federal court in New York for allegedly playing a key role in bombings that left more than 200 dead as well as plots to attack US forces. The Tripoli operation ended a 13-year manhunt for Libi, whose given name is Nazih Abdul Hamed al-Raghie. FBI and CIA agents assisted US troops in the raid, US media reported. His arrest paves the way for
his extradition to New York to face trial. Citing surveillance camera footage, Libi’s son, Abdullah al-Raghie, said his father had been seized by masked gunmen armed with pistols, and that some of them were Libyans. He claimed that the Libyan government was implicated in his father’s disappearance, a claim Tripoli vehemently denies. Defence Secretary Chuck
Hagel said yesterday the operations sent “a strong message to the world that the United States will spare no effort to hold terrorists accountable”. “We will continue to maintain relentless pressure on terrorist groups that threaten our people or our interests, and we will conduct direct action against them, if necessary, that is consistent with our laws and our values,” he added. - AFP
■ PAKISTAN
Schoolgirls’ secret support for Malala By EMManuEl Duparcq In Malala Yousufzai’s home town in Pakistan, school friends hope to see her win the Nobel Peace Prize this week. But they dream in secret, under pressure from a society deeply ambivalent about the teenage activist. Malala (left), who survived
being shot by the Taliban on October 9 last year, has become a global ambassador for education, feted by celebrities and politicians around the western world. But in northwest Pakistan’s Swat valley, a deeply conservative area fearful of foreign influence encroaching on the traditions of its society, many
regard her with suspicion and even contempt. Malala is among the favourites for the Nobel, which will be awarded on Friday. She has become one of the most famous teenagers in the world, attracting support from the likes of Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Bono and Gordon Brown. - AFP
Japan Airlines has announced it is ordering 31 Airbus A350 planes in a deal valued at $US9.5 billion ($A10.10 billion) and which challenges Boeing’s dominance in the Japanese market as it struggles with its troubled Dreamliner. The carrier said it had signed a purchase agreement for 18 long-haul A350-900s and 13 A350-1000s, with an option to buy another 25 aircraft. - AFP
If in doubt - pay up If any federal politician has doubts about entitlements they’ve claimed from Australian taxpayers they should pay them back, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says. Mr Abbott himself has in the last couple of days paid back more than $1700 he claimed seven years ago for attending the weddings of two colleagues. He’s repaid the $1094 claimed for a trip to rural Victoria to see former frontbencher Sophie Mirabella get married and $609 for attending then MP Peter Slipper’s wedding, both in 2006. “When the controversy arose after the Michael Smith wedding I remembered that some seven years ago I had been to a couple of weddings,” he told reporters in Bali yesterday. - AAP
Madoff staff on trial Jury selection begins Tuesday in the New York fraud trial of five former employees of imprisoned Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff. The trial of Madoff’s longtime secretary and other backoffice workers is expected to unfold over five months in federal court in Manhattan. Madoff is serving a 150year prison sentence. Prosecutors say the defendants played critical roles in helping Madoff conceal a fraud that squandered nearly $20b.
Business www.guardianonline.co.nz
Telecom won’t charge extra for 4G
“
Mobile data is the fastest growing revenue stream for us
6.2 per cent in August to 384 megabytes from a month earlier, And that was up 63 per cent from the same period a year earlier, according to Telecom figures. “Mobile data is the fastest growing revenue stream for us,” Quin told a conference call from Auckland, without commenting on Telecom’s targets for average revenue per user (ARPU). Telecom had 1.82 million mobile customers as at June 30 with an ARPU of $33.55. Of that, $15.52 was data. The company has gone through a radical overhaul this year into a data-driven and mobile-focused telecommunica-
Port may lift payout
tions operator. That’s against a backdrop of falling retail prices for telecommunication services. Chief operating officer David Havercroft said initial 4G customers will be using its existing 1800 megahertz spectrum. Later the company will look at how best to use the 700 MHz spectrum being auctioned by the government and which is
Guardian Shares & Investments Compiled by
into force on October 1. A report on electronic card transactions for September is also due on Wednesday, followed by the BNZ-BusinesssNZ PMI of manufacturing activity on Thursday and the food price index on Friday. In Australia yesterday, markets were closed in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia for Labour Day. Today, traders will be eyeing the NAB Business Confidence report for signs of a rebound, alongside a pickup in the ANZ job advertisements data. An Australian government report out Thursday may show the participation rate increased in September after falling in recent months, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 5.8 per cent. Traders have recently pulled back their expectations for Reserve Bank of Australia interest rate cuts. They are pricing in just 5 basis points of cuts to Australia’s benchmark rate over the coming year, compared with expectations for a 13 basis point reduction on September 30, according to the Overnight Swap Curve. Today, traders will also be eyeing a Markit Economics and HSBC report on Chinese services activity for September, for an indication of how Asia’s largest economy is tracking. - APNZ
NZX 50 constituents Company CODE
Buy price
A2 Corp ATM 68 149 Air NZ AIR 508 AMP AMP 3425 ANZ Banking Gr ANZ 93.5 Argosy Prop Tr ARG 330 Auckland Intl Apt AIA 271 Chorus CNU 530 Contact Energy CEN Diligent BM Services DIL 573 161 DNZ Prop Fund DNZ 995 Ebos Gr EBO 368 F&P Healthcare FPH 936 Fletcher Building FBU 0 Fonterra Sh’ders Fund FSF 425 Freightways FRE 101.5 Goodman Prop Tr GMT 56.5 Guinness Peat Gr GPG Hallenstein Glasson HLG 488 85 Heartland NZ HNZ 251 Infratil IFT 355 Kathmandu Hldgs KMD 108 Kiwi Prop Tr KIP 1160 Mainfreight MFT 310 Metlifecare MET 145 Michael Hill Intl MHI Mighty River Power MRP 224 342 Nuplex Ind NPX 80 NZ Oil & Gas NZO 123 NZX NZX 170 Oceana Gold OGC 1395 Port Tauranga POT 99.5 Precinct Properties PCT 131 Prop For Ind PFI 101 Pumpkin Patch PPL 284 Restaurant Brands RBD 699 Ryman Healthcare RYM 160 Skellerup SKL 615 Sky Network TV SKT 411 Sky City SKC 302 Steel & Tube STU Summerset Gr Hldgs SUM 308 230 Telecom NZ TEL 181 Tower TWR 459 Trade Me TME 705 TrustPower TPW 260 Vector VCT 135 Vital Hlth Prop Tr VHP 367 Warehouse Gr WHS 3660 Westpac Banking WBC 1871 Xero XRO
Sell price
69 149.5 529 3500 94 333 274 534 575 162 1000 370 938 0 428 102 57.5 492 86 251.5 358 108.5 1167 312 146 225 344 80.5 124 173 1400 100 132.5 102 288 701 161 620 415 312 311 230.5 185 460 706 261 137 370 3800 1872
At close of trading on Monday, October 7, 2013
Last Daily Volume sale move ’000s
69 149.5 510 3425 93.5 332.5 273 533 575 161.5 995 368 937 708 428 101.5 57.5 490 86 251 355 108 1160 310 146 224 344 80.5 124 171 1390 100 131 101 284 701 160 620 415 302 308 230 181 460 705 261 136 370 3639 1872
+1 –0.5 –10 –85 – +2.5 +1 +3 – –1 – – –9 +5 –4 – +0.5 +5 +2 +1 – –1 – +2 – –2 –1 +1.5 –1 –5 – – –1.5 – –1 +2 +2 +2 +5 +1 +3 –0.5 +1 –3 –1 –3 – –2 –46 +2
4,239.5 1,022.1 2.426 1.696 848.14 1,037.1 854.67 382.23 128.4 165.39 39.33 176.37 1,052.4 44.9 41.86 472.25 263.32 16.9 929.73 338.68 349.25 754.15 5.781 395.68 27.21 2,521.5 13.09 65.37 108.77 75.08 11.93 840.21 58.35 28.25 36.3 1,043.9 55.21 1,176.7 749.61 43.25 174.34 2,512.2 160.17 207.63 74.18 86.77 112.64 41.15 174.11 350.38
NZX 50 index last 4 weeks 4800 4758 4716 4674 4632 4590
4/10 7/10
down of government services last week after Congress failed to agree on the Federal budget. “As the stalemate between Republicans and Democrats continues, the shutdown is now in its sixth day meaning that the markets are getting nervous that agreement may not be reached to raise the US$16.7 trillion debt limit, spurring investors to exit US dollars and its assets,” Bancorp Treasury said in a note yesterday. “The closer we get, the more nervous markets will get, which could cause significant volatility in the week ahead.” On Thursday morning New Zealand time, traders will be eyeing the Federal Reserve’s minutes from its last meeting in September for further detail on the central bank’s unexpected decision not to start tapering its US$85 billion a month bondbuying programme. Also on Thursday, the Bank of England is expected to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.5 per cent. In New Zealand this week, the focus will be on today’s NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion which is expected to show confidence improved in the third quarter. On Wednesday, the latest release of house price data by state valuer Quotable Value will be eyed for any early signs of a pullback ahead of high debt lending restrictions which came
NEW ZEALAND SHARE MARKET
Source: NZX
27/9
Kiwi range-bound until US government impasse resolved The New Zealand dollar may be range-bound this week, ending largely unchanged, as investors wait on the sidelines for the US government to end its deadlock. The local currency may trade between 81.50 US cents and 84.50 cents this week, according to a BusinessDesk survey of 10 traders and strategists. Six expect the currency to be largely unchanged with only a slight bias either way, while two expect it to decline and two expect a gain. The kiwi recently traded at 83.06 US cents from 83.12 cents at 8am in Wellington this morning. Investors are sitting on their hands as they await the outcome of US government talks on a budget impasse, as the October 17 deadline looms for Congress to raise the government’s debt ceiling or risk an historic default, which would likely cause global market volatility. The currency “will be pretty neutral on the week,” said Tim Kelleher, head of institutional FX sales in New Zealand at ASB Bank. “I expect the US dollar to stay weak on the back of the US government problems and then the kiwi will just edge up slightly. There’s nothing else really this week to drive us at all.” US economic data, including a key employment report, has been delayed following a partial shut-
Port of Tauranga, New Zealand’s largest export port, may increase its dividend payout ratio and make additional capital payments to investors as cash flows return to normal levels after a period of higher spending, according to Craigs Investment Partners. The company will probably spend an average $48 million a year over 2012-16 to complete its expansion plans, Arie Dekker, an analyst at Craigs said. Beyond 2016, the company will probably revert to its pattern of around $20 million of capital expenditure a year, Dekker said. - APNZ
more economical to operate outside major cities. Telecom’s shares fell 0.4 per cent to $2.295 yesterday, and have increased 1.3 per cent this year. The stock is rated an average ‘hold’ based on 10 analyst recommendations compiled by Reuters, with a median target price of $2.28. - APNZ
■ EXCHANGE RATE
By tina Morrison
The prospect of direct Emirates flights between Auckland and Dubai - which would become one of the world’s longest commercial aviation routes - has been talked up by Foreign Minister Murray McCully. Speaking after the arrival of the airline’s first Airbus A380 service from Dubai to Auckland via Brisbane last week, the minister said he had floated the idea of a direct link between the two cities with the carrier’s chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. “He didn’t say, ‘We’ll do it next week’, but he didn’t say ‘no’ either,” McCully said. - APNZ
20/9
Telecom Corp, the country’s biggest telecommunications operator, is looking to latch on to rapidly growing data usage with the launch of its 4G mobile services next month. The Auckland-based company will open its long-term evolution mobile network, as the technology is known, on November 12 to customers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on 4G-capable devices at no entry cost, it said in a statement. The launch is part of Telecom’s drive to capitalise on growing data usage on mobile devices, which now accounts for about 46 per cent of an average customer’s monthly spend. Telecom Retail chief executive Chris Quin said the company is targeting data usage rather than straight customer numbers in the roll-out of 4G. The company’s average data use per mobile customer rose
Auckland-Dubai direct
Source: BNZ As at 4pm October 7, 2013
Country
Australia Canada China Euro Fiji Great Britain Japan Samoa South Africa Thailand United States
TT buy
0.8901 0.8676 5.4004 0.6234 1.5745 0.5256 82.21 1.9915 8.4398 26.35 0.8429
TT sell
0.8692 0.8397 4.7476 0.6003 1.4665 0.5091 79.03 1.7211 8.1345 25.12 0.8176
Disclaimer: NZX and MetService have endeavoured to ensure the correctness of the information; neither NZX, MetService related companies, nor this newspaper, nor any of their respective employees or agents make any representation as to its accuracy or reliability nor will they, to the extent permitted by law, be liable for any loss arising in any way from, or in connection with, errors or omissions in any information provided (including responsibility to any person by reason of negligence). Please note: All products and services are subject to change without notice.
Rural 14
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
www.guardianonline.co.nz
US shut-down a ‘huge reminder’ The budgetary deadlock, the Kiwi dollar.” But there is a fixed date which has sections of the United States Government looming which seems the fisshutting down, should serve cal equivalent of M.A.D; muas a warning to New Zealand tual assured destruction. On farmers to run conservative October 17, the United States farm budgets, an industry is expected to hit its debt ceiling, which means for the first spokesperson cautions. “Following record milk time in history the United price forecasts and increases States will default on its debt. “If this happens we will in the ANZ Commodity Index across the primary indus- be looking at a Global Financial Crisis Mark tries, farmers may be II. When it last very bullish about struck during the the current 2013/14 2008/9 season it put season,” Federated a scythe through all Farmers vice-presfarm budgets. While ident Dr William I am hoping cooler Rolleston said. heads will prevail, it “The optimism is is a poker match bemost welcome since ing played for the the ANZ Commodhighest of stakes,” ity Index has hit its Dr Rolleston said. third highest lev“Certainly the US el. Meat and fibre Treasury Secretary farmers will be reDr William has put things starklieved to see the inRolleston ly in a letter to Conternational price of gress. wool increase 13 per “It is a huge reminder cent in a month. Yet it is right across the primary board, that we do not know what is from red meat to apples and around the corner as the 2013 logs, we just seem to be in an late summer drought proved. “Agricultural debt is up over export sweet spot.” Dr Rolleston warned against $2 billion on 2012 and while taking on debt, in anticipation the drought will be a big factor in its growth, it is clear of the outstanding forecasts. “We need to send a word of we need a good year to regain caution given events in the US some headroom. “While we urge farmers to took a turn for the worse last week. In the short-term, we be cautious with their cheque can possibly expect the shut- books, critical productive indown will put a floor under vestment is still vital.”
RURAL WOMEN REPORTS Provincial
Either way it’s 20k – this campaign has been running in Ashburton for the past two months. In a bid to get drivers to slow down, 30 school buses in Mid Canterbury have been fitted with illuminated flashing 20km/h signs – the legal limit when passing a stationary school bus or travelling towards one that has stopped. Our national president, Liz Evans, says 23 school children have been killed in New Zealand during the past 25 years when crossing the road to or from school buses, and another 47 have been seriously injured. Mid Canterbury highway patrol will be out enforcing this new law, and as there has been this comprehensive educational campaign, they will be highly disappointed to see any offences occur. With the recent windstorm,
the community is urged to look out for their neighbours. Farmers are often reluctant to ask for help, some will be under stress, and emotional support is available to families, also financial or personal matters, we are only a telephone call away. Bev Bagrie Provincial president
Anama
Retired Allenton School teacher Moyra Whiting told Anama Rural Women of a life begun in Edinburgh, then growing up on North Canterbury farms, moving around many Southland districts as a teacher and living in Pitcairn Island and Britain among many other adventures. Mrs Whiting continues her life-long interest in music by supplying resthome residents with instruments, castanets, bells, tri-
angles etc, so all can make music together when she pays her regular visits. A substantial Lions grant gave her the start towards buying the instruments and Anama women added a further donation after hearing her talk at their September meeting at Lake Hood. The branch also gave a donation to the national bursary fund for students in remote areas. Catering for the Mayfield Lions tea at the beginning of September was, as always, smoothly run and appreciated by the recipients. Members were reminded of Women’s Suffrage Day this month celebrating 120 years since New Zealand women became the first in the world to get the right to vote. The branch’s turn to deliver meals on wheels tomorrow requires seven cars and drivers, a commitment which is becoming
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Helping out on the farm
Ashburton Guardian 15
MARKET REPORT LAMB
A youngster helps shift a mob of ewes and lambs during school holidays near Mt Somers. photo tetsuro mitomo 041013-tm-019
The gradual up swell in frozen lamb prices has continued across virtually all cuts. There have also been reports of very good prices being achieved for the Christmas chilled trade, for which processing will now be starting. In the UK, Kantar World Panel data show that consumer spending on lamb was lower than last year during the peak of summer, although not enough to be of concern. In the four weeks to August 18 overall expenditure on lamb was down by 5 per cent, which has largely been attributed to the hot weather. Understandably, roasting joint sales struggled in the heat, with leg sales volumes down 5 per cent year-on-year and shoulders down 21 per cent. In contrast, purchasing of steak and chops was 4 per cent higher, which is a common trend during warm periods.
BEEF
more difficult for smaller groups to meet, and the regional meeting is in Rakaia on October 15.
Winchmore
What a great district we live in, when were heard Alison Donald from St John Shuttle Service speak about the wonderful service they provide for anyone needing to go to appointments in Christchurch for medical reasons. Twenty-two people were selected as volunteer drivers to take people to medical appointments in Christchurch in a Transit Van sponsored by Four Square Supermarkets. Training was given and tests undertaken to make sure volunteers were suitable. This service began last year on the March 4 with a slow start but quickly built up to be a very popular service. Nine passengers can be taken in
the bus but extras on any given day can be taken by the Presbyterian Support Vehicle. During August this year 85 people were transported to 18 different venues in the city travelling 3722km. This service is not only for all ages. No charge is made but a suggested donation of $20 is appreciated. Bookings for the bus should be made as soon as the appointment date is known. Alison and her colleagues are all volunteers and unpaid. The donations given by the passengers covers the fuel but any maintenance on the bus is paid for by Four Square. Alison also spoke of another service she is involved with Caring Caller Service. This is when a person is matched up with a volunteer who will ring them each day or maybe every few days purely for a chat and company. It is all on a first name basis and the
Muck Spreading
recipient is usually in a different town. What a caring community we are part of when we compare to the happenings each day in other parts of the world. Prior to our speaker, Trish Small conducted our meeting; members were thanked for assistance in various projects and events during the past weeks. Arrangements were finalised for a catering luncheon the branch is undertaking and the proceeds of this will be given to the Rural Women NZ Prostate Cancer Fundraising Project. Our next meeting will be held at the home of Gwenda and Jack and partners are invited, to hear Alison and Donald Shearer talk about 100 on a cruise ship. All are encouraged to attend as from past experiences Alison and Donald always give a very entertaining talk.
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In Canterbury there has been a definite shift to a feed barley premium over feed wheat. This is due to a combination of the assumed shorter supply of barley, and a preference by dairy farmers for barley has meant that the usual feed wheat premium has been eroded. Feed wheat prices have remained relatively steady in the past fortnight, and feed barley prices have continued to strengthen. There now are indications that while feed barley supply will be tight towards the end of the year, there is likely to be unsold feed wheat and undelivered contracts of feed wheat carried into 2014. The fact that the feed wheat price has held with the feed barley price so far has been due to sellers refusing to sell at lower prices but it now looks as though feed wheat will have to be sold at a discount in order for it to move. Though supply is becoming tighter there won’t be a spike in prices while there is still plenty of undelivered grain in storage. The damage to irrigators in the Canterbury region has also been a driver of demand for some prompt grain delivery.
Mark Love
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Beef processing plants around the country are slowly starting to get into gear for the new season. Throughput remains relatively low but numbers should now start steadily increasing in both islands through until the end of the year. US domestic production is now well below year-ago and fiveyear average levels as the easing of drought conditions finally allows cow-calf operators to start retaining cows and rebuilding their herds. But despite the lower production the US domestic 90CL cow price has continued softening, raising concerns that there may be underlying demand issues. So far imported beef prices have remained firm, but if demand is in fact weaker, that may change when volumes out of NZ start to lift in the coming months.
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Rural 16
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Selling, buying or investing in rural properties? Call the rural team at Ray White today for advice. Mid Canterbury Real Estate Ltd Licensed Sales Person (REAA 2008)
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Market Price Trends Week beginning October 7, 2013
L A M B ($) Including 1 kg Shorn Pelt this week 13.0kg YL SI 13.5kg YM SI 15.0kg YM SI 15.0kg YM NI 15.0kg YM Market Indicator 17.5kg YX SI 19.0kg YX SI 19.0kg YX NI 21.0kg YX SI 21.0kg YX NI 23.0kg YX SI
last 4 weeks 3 months week ago ago
1 year ago
46.11 66.43 85.37 85.86 61.58 98.84 106.55 109.20 116.83 120.75 119.01 46.11
45.02 65.30 84.11 84.33 61.03 97.37 104.95 107.26 115.06 118.60 117.08 46.11
44.89 64.88 83.64 85.11 62.93 96.83 104.37 108.25 114.41 119.70 116.36 46.11
38.10 57.43 75.36 75.83 62.10 87.17 93.88 96.50 102.82 106.71 103.67 46.11
48.15 68.71 87.66 84.45 61.66 101.51 109.43 107.11 120.00 118.44 134.07 46.11
6.72
67.43
57.68
Lincoln Uni boosts land-based degrees Lincoln University has marked a number of significant events. On October 1, the university launched its new portfolio of bachelor’s degrees all of which are now focused on knowledge and expertise that creates careers in the land-based industries, globally. The new portfolio retains flagships such as the Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture), and introduces new degrees such as the Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing and the Bachelor of Environment and Society. All the new majors have a very clear focus on the land-based sector. “These changes reinforce what this university exists to do, which is to help feed the world, protect the future and live well. “Our reform has seen us reduce the number of majors within our degrees from 42 to 24 (43 per cent). We have narrowed our focus and deepened our capacity to be world class where it really counts, in the land-based industries,” says Professor Sheelagh Matear, assistant vice-chancellor, Academic Programmes and Student Experience. The reform has the explicit support of over 40 significant employers representing most ofGuardian the dairy and red meat indusAshburton tries, and leading agritechnology compa-
nies across fertilisers, genetics, feed and equipment, as well as most banks, many regional councils and iwi. “If you want a rewarding career or good job in the landbased industries then qualifying with a Lincoln University degree is your essential first step,” says Professor Matear. Lincoln University also announced its acceptance of an invitation from the Euroleague for Life Sciences – an elite group of seven European universities – as New Zealand’s only participating institution in the League (ELLS). Only two non-European countries are represented: New Zealand and China (through the China Agricultural University in Beijing). ELLS includes European universities from Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands and Poland. The universities include wellknown and respected institutions such as Wageningen from the Netherlands and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria. Lincoln University is now reviewing its pre-degree and postgraduate qualifications, also to reduce the breadth and deepen the focus on the land-based industries. Its growing specialisation has led to Lincoln University entering the global Quarter Page quality score rankings for the first time.
B E E F (c/ kg) 416 * 437 407 * 270 * 311 303 **
382 395 388
5450 5830 6470 5580 14460
5110 5620 6130 5490 14050
4020 4140 3960 4870 11560
W O O L Data: WSI Fine (21 microns) Medium (25 microns) Medium (27 microns) Medium (29 microns) Coarse (35 microns) Coarse (37 microns) Coarse (39 microns) 2nd Shear (37 microns-85mm) Lamb (31 micron-75mm)
W H E A T ($NZ/Tonne) ASW (Aus standard White) NZ Free (12.5% protein)
DAIRY PRODUCT PRICES Butter (NZ$/tonne) Skim Milk powder Whole Milk Powder Cheddar Cheese Casein
4940 5530 6270 5300 13500
4900 5160 5370 5650 6030 6270 * 5250 5410 13500 * 14010
4465 4735 4862 5057 12107
Prices are indicative only. They are compiled from an assessment of sales made worldwide on one-off basis in US $. Quota market sales and contracts are excluded. The prices are then converted to $NZ/t FOB at current exchange rates.
OVERSEAS
MEAT
UK PM Lamb (p/kg) CIF US Bull (USc/lb) CIF US Cow (USc/lb) CIF Venison Bone-in leg (E/Kg)
PRICES 395 203 193 6.40
390 194 184 6.40
Note: * denotes a new low/high for season.
0.813 0.518 0.626 2.89
Authorised by Kevin Ferris, 243 Budden Rd, RD5, Te Awamutu
Your place www.guardianonline.co.nz
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
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Charlie and Maysie show off their best sides Jessie Pitney, 8, and Bess Skilling were snapped at the Port FM Pet Day with their canine pals Charlie (left) and Maysie. PhoTo TeTsuro MiToMo 210913-TM-108
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to make puppets 1Learning 2 Regent Cinema goes digital 7Children8vaccinated 6 and many more 6 9 7 2 1 Go to guardianonline.co.nz 9 8 6 to check out the new 3 4 photo 7 galleries. 8 6 2 8 9 YESTERDAY’S 4 ANSWERS
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EASY SUDOKU
Lamb patties with pita bread
2 9
800g Quality Mark lamb mince 1 small onion, grated 2 t ground cumin ½ C dried breadcrumbs 1 egg, lightly beaten Salt and pepper to season Oil for cooking Pita pockets (or other flat bread), hummus and tabouli to serve ■ Place the lamb mince, onion, cumin, breadcrumbs, egg and a little salt and pepper in a large bowl. Using your hand bring the mixture together and knead lightly until combined. ■ Shape mixture into about 24 small patties, flatten each slightly. ■ Add enough oil to a mediumsized, heavy based frypan to come one-third of the way up
17
TOP 5 ONLINE
Test yourself with the Guardian’s weekday quiz
1 – The park in Tinwald is named...? a. George Glasey Park b. George Glassey Park c. George Glarsey Park 2 - What does ‘tamahine’ mean in Maori? a. Son b. Daughter c. Sister 3 – Which bird appears on a NZ ten dollar note? a. Whio b. Koreru c. Tui 4 – What is the normal number of adult human teeth? a. 30 b. 32 c. 34 5 - The doctor accused of causing Michael Jackson’s death through a drug overdose is...? a. Albert Dennis b. Hubert Jefferson c. Conrad Murray 6 - What were Aztec emperors likely to drink? a. Beer b. Tea c. Chocolate 7 - Homer’s Iliad is about a war in...? a. Troy b. Greece c. Sicily 8 – What nickname does the Mid Canterbury rugby team share with an EPL team? a. The Tigers b. The Gunners c. The Hammers
Ashburton Guardian
the side of the pan. ■ Heat the oil over a moderatelyhigh heat. ■ Cook the patties in batches over a medium-high heat, until golden and cooked through ■ Drain on absorbent paper. Al-
low the oil to reheat between batches. ■ Serve warm or cold in pita pockets with hummus and tabouli.
Recipe courtesy New Zealand Beef and Lamb www.recipes.co.nz
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Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Top – The Wingfield fork bearing the name of Madden’s Tearooms in Ashburton Left – Thought to be during the 1945 ‘big snow’ this shows Madden’s staff with the daily bread. By this stage Madden’s had a bakery in Cass Street.
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A fork with stories to tell By Kathleen Stringer
T
his rather unimpressive fork must have many stories to tell. It belonged to a long-serving restaurant and tearooms Madden’s. This business was located in the Montgomery Building (East Street), which appears to have been in constant use as an eatery (either owned by a fruiter or as a tearooms/confectioners) since 1878. On July 4, 1908, Stephen Madden took over the business of H Bushell, and advertised himself as pastry cook, confectioner and having a restaurant and tearooms. In mentioning that the entire premises had been redecorated he assured readers of the Ashburton Guardian that no trouble would be spared to ensure the comfort and convenience of patrons. Madden, a Catholic, was involved in a number of community activities, including providing, free of charge, a large selection of food for the Peace Celebrations in 1919. In 1931 he enlarged the business, moving the tearooms upstairs.
East Street showing Madden’s building in the background.
I am unsure when the fork was manufactured; it would appear that the company who made it originated in Sheffield
in 1751 as Wingfield and Rowbottom and were still trading under that name before World War One. This fork, however,
bears the single word Wingfield. Maddens tearooms was still operating until the 1960s. Part
of the premises was later used by A. G. Wells Electrical from 1959. The building was demolished in 2012.
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Ashburton Guardian 19
In brief All eyes on SBW View or purchase photos online guardianonline.co.nz
With another NRL grand final winners’ medal in his possession, Sonny Bill Williams appears to be on the brink of announcing a return to rugby union. The New Zealand Professional Boxing Association heavyweight title holder also has a $1.3 million winner-takes-all invitation to fight either Joseph Parker or Afa Tatupu within six months and it is understood that he has made himself unavailable for the Kiwis’ World Cup campaign which starts this month - their squad will be announced in Auckland this morning. Williams had promised to reveal his intentions after the grand final, but said afterwards he would reveal his next destination within a fortnight. - APNZ
Century gets Ferns home The White Ferns snatched a dramatic one-run victory in their opening one-dayer against the West Indies at Sabina Park in Kingston yesterday. Having won the toss and opted to bat, Suzie Bates constructed a well-made 110 to give the White Ferns a total of 225-8. In reply, the West Indies looked to be cruising at 212-6 and needed just 14 runs from 30 balls but a late flurry of wickets allowed the White Ferns back into the match, before claiming the final dismissal in the last over to grab victory. - APNZ
Mumbai takes T20 title
Ashburton adult ministock driver Craig Butterick cruises along the straight to take the chequered flag at the Ashburton Speedway on Sunday. Photo tetsuro MitoMo 061013-tM-266
Dirt flies as speedway titles decided By Jonathan Leask
[email protected]
Two titles were up for grabs in the Ashburton Speedway’s second meet of the new season on Sunday. The six shooters and C grade had their Mid Canterbury titles on offer and the other grades were battling for points towards the season totals in what was a good day of racing. “The fields weren’t as great but there was still some pretty good racing,” Ashburton Speedway’s Lance Maher said. “The weather was good, and we had a great crowd come in
to see some very close races.” The Mid Canterbury six shooter title was a four car race that went right to the wire. Mathew Anderson was on track for the win but ran into engine problems at the end of race two and was unable to finish race three, leaving Kris Jemmett to claim the title from Grant Harkess in second and Jeremy Wright third. The C grade title was also up for grabs and closely contested with one point separating winner Dion Glastonbury and runner-up Grant Benns, with Simon Whiting third.
The sidecars put on an impressive display that had Clinton Warwood and Paul Auton claim a clean sweep of the four races. The best racing of the day was in the production cars with three drivers battling for the win on the day, but Dave Allan and Ron Koole finished tied for the honour on 80 points with Ellis Jellyman a point back in second. “All four races were finished within a car length of the top two drivers in all three races. It was very close.” Criag Butterick collected
a good haul of points for his season tally winning the adult ministocks ahead of Emma Burnip, while Hamish Trethowan and Nathan Schroeder were third equal. Jason Fletcher took out the stockcars while local driver Blaine Johnson had his first drive in a new car and the “nervous” driver managed to finish second, with Dylan Robb third. The speedway’s next race day is November 3 before the big day in December when they host the final round of the DHL Saloon Speedweek.
Warm welcome expected Last time Nissan contested the Bathurst 1000, winning driver Jim Richards famously described the booing Mount Panorama fans as a “pack of arseholes”. Yet Richards’ co-driver in that rainsoaked triumph 21 years ago, five-time touring car champion Mark Skaife, is confident Nissan will be welcomed back to the Mount Panorama with open arms by the fans this week. Rarely do Holden and Ford fans see eye to eye in V8s but they came together as one to vent at Skaife and Richards on the podium after their dominant Nissan dubbed Godzilla sealed back-toback Bathurst crowns in 1992. - AAP
Smith attacks the fans
Franchitti crash mars Houston Grand Prix Australia’s Will Power managed to avoid a horror last-lap crash at the Houston Grand Prix to clinch his second IndyCar victory of the season yesterday. Power held off New Zealand driver and now series leader Scott Dixon (right) for a majority of race two of the Houston double-header, having jumped ahead of the Kiwi on an early restart. But the Penske pilot’s
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell helped power the Mumbai Indians to a 33run win over the Rajasthan Royals to claim their second Champions League Twenty20 title. Maxwell blasted 37 runs from 14 balls in the tournament final in Delhi yesterday, joining Rohit Sharma (33 from 14) to lift the Indians’ total to 6-202. Shane Watson’s Royals failed to respond, bowled out for 169. - AAP
efforts were overshadowed by an accident involving four-time IndyCar series champion Dario Franchitti on the final lap. Franchitti’s car went airborne and slammed into the safety fencing before coming to a halt in the middle of the street circuit track. The Scotsman was stretchered off the track and taken by ambulance to the nearby Houston hospital. Race officials
said Franchitti was “awake and alert” but did not go into details on his injuries. Despite losing out to Power, Dixon’s second-place finish was enough to shoot him ahead of Power’s team-mate Helio Castroneves on the season’s standings by 25 points. Dixon will now be chasing his third IndyCar title at the last race of the season in Fontana, California, on October 20. - AAP
Former Sydney Roosters coach Brian Smith has hit out at fans for booing Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans when he was presented with the Clive Churchill medal after the NRL grand final. Smith, who coached new premiers the Roosters in their previous grand final in 2010, said the crowd’s reaction was disrespectful and demeaning to Cherry-Evans just the third player from the losing team to be handed the man-of-thematch honour in 27 years. “Booing the referees is always childish but booing the best player of the match as he receives his award on centre stage is downright disrespectful and very bad form,” Smith wrote on his blog yesterday. - AAP
Sport 20 Ashburton Guardian
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■ WORLD OF FOOTBALL
Women’s football A new women’s summer football league will start up at next Tuesday at Ashburton’s Argyle Park. It’s a social league where women get the chance to play without the men getting the way. The league is open to all women, from 14th grade to seniors, of all skill levels, from beginners on up. The league coincides with school terms, running every Tuesday with games from 6pm to 7:30pm. For further information contact Geoffrey (027 588 1082), Mary (021 163 6708) or Shun (021 257 4642).
Arsenal goes top Arsene Wenger hailed Jack Wilshere’s character as the midfielder put a testing week behind him by scoring the goal which sent Arsenal back to the top of the Premier League. England international Wilshere was reprimanded by his manager after pictures emerged of him with a cigarette outside a London nightclub. Yet he responded by scoring his first league goal in over three years to earn a 1-1 draw at West Brom yesterday as the Gunners climbed above Liverpool by virtue of having scored more goals. “He is an honest guy and when he is wrong he knows it,” Wenger said. - AFP
Chelsea downs Norwich Eden Hazard and close-season signing Willian came off the bench to score decisive goals as Chelsea won 3-1 at Norwich City to climb to third place. “He was injured in the week and the kid made himself available to try to help, and when he came on he gave us a push,” Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said of Willian. The two late goals elevated Chelsea to third place, two points beneath Arsenal and Liverpool. Southampton continued their fine start to the season by winning 2-0 at home to Swansea City, which sent Mauricio Pochettino’s side to the dizzying heights of fourth place. - AFP
PSG still unbeaten Paris Saint-Germain hit back from a goal down and being reduced to 10 men to beat bitter rivals Marseille 2-1 yesterday and move onto the shoulders of Ligue 1 leaders Monaco. The defending French soccer champions trailed to a first-half penalty scored by Ghana’s Andre Ayew. They also had Thiago Motta red-carded for a foul which led to the spot-kick. But Maxwell levelled on the stroke of halftime before skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic slotted home a second-half penalty to silence the Stade Velodrome crowd and preserve PSG’s unbeaten start to the season. - AFP
Hamburg charging Hamburg has powered out of the Bundesliga’s bottom three with a stunning 5-0 win at Nuremberg to give Bert van Marwijk his first victory as their coach. Germany Under-21 striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga needed just eight second half minutes to claim his first Bundesliga hat-trick in a devastating spell as Hamburg put four goals in the net in just 14 minutes. “It’s great to get the hat-trick, but it’s more important that things went so well for the team,” said Lasogga, who claimed the fastest away hat-trick in Bundesliga history. - AFP
The battle for air supremacy: Spurs and Hammers players vie for possession during yesterday’s Premier League match. ap photo
Shock loss a wake up call By Steven GriffithS Andre Villas-Boas admitted Tottenham’s shock 3-0 defeat against West Ham will serve as a major wake-up call to his players. Villas-Boas’s side paid the price for a lacklustre display as they slumped to just their second English Premier League defeat of the season and their first loss against the Hammers at White Hart Lane since April 1999. After being tipped as poten-
Results
English Premier League West Bromwich Albion 1 (Yacob 42) Arsenal 1 (Wilshere 63) Tottenham Hotspur 0 West Ham 3 (Reid 66, Vaz Te 72, Morrison 79) Southampton 2 (Lallana 19, Rodriguez 83) Swansea 0 Norwich City 1 (Pilkington 68) Chelsea 3 (Oscar 4, Hazard 85, Willian 86) Sunderland 1 (Gardner 5) Manchester United 2 (Januzaj 55, 61) Cardiff City 1 (Odemwingie 58) Newcastle United 2 (Remy 30, 38) Liverpool 3 (Suarez 13, Sturridge 17, Gerrard 38 pen) Crystal Palace 1 (Gayle 77) Hull City 0 Aston Villa 0 Fulham 1 (D Bent 83) Stoke City 0 Manchester City 3 (Negredo 17, Aguero 45, Howard 69 og) Everton 1 (Lukaku 16) Leading Goalscorers - 6: Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) 5: Loic Remy (Newcastle United) 4: Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal), Christian Benteke (Aston Villa), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Yaya Toure
tial title contenders following their strong start to the campaign, this was a significant setback for Tottenham. They struggled to cope with Sam Allardyce’s astute gameplan as the West Ham manager sent out his team without a central striker, opting instead to pack six players in midfield in a bid to stifle Tottenham’s supply lines to Jermain Defoe. The plan worked perfectly as frustrated Spurs succumbed to second-half goals from New Zealand defender Winston
Reid and Ricardo Vaz Te, before Ravel Morrison ran from inside his own half to seal the points with a fine solo strike. “It is a defeat, we don’t like it, but it’s a wake-up call and we have to react. “I trust the team to do it,” Villas-Boas said. “It is not for me to speak about the strategy of West Ham. “They have done very well defensively this season, but their goals were nothing related to that strategy.
“We were about to go to four strikers to get more firepower, but they managed to score the second. “I don’t want to undermine their strategy but I don’t think it surprised us.” Villas-Boas is adamant the defeat shouldn’t be too discouraging for Spurs and he added: “We can’t undermine what we have been doing until now. “The team spirit is good and they will come back in the right frame of mind to bounce back.” - AFP
(Manchester City)
29, Toni 56, Jorginho 90+3) Sampdoria 2 (Sansone 41, Eder 90+3 pen) Torino 2 (Immobile 66, Cerci 76 pen) Napoli 4 (Pandev 3, Inler 26, Callejon 54, Hamsik 83) Livorno 0 Udinese 2 (Danilo 33, Di Natale 53) Cagliari 0 Catania 1 (Barrientos 59) Genoa 1 (Legrottaglie 87 og) Parma 3 (Palladino 32, Rosi 70, Cassano 76) Sassuolo 1 (Berardi 45+6 pen) Send-offs: (Mirante 48 - Parma, Magnanelli 88 - Sassuolo) Played on Saturday Internazionale 0 Roma 3 (Totti 18, 40pen, Florenzi 44) Sendoffs: (Balzaretti 79 - Roma) Chievo 0 Atalanta 1 (Moralez 16)
90) Stade de Reims 1 (Oniangue 30) Guingamp 2 (Sorbon 47, Yatabare 70) Rennes 0 Send-offs: (Oliveira 64 - Rennes) Lille 3 (Souare 17, Gueye 57, S Kalou 70) Ajaccio AC 0 Monaco 2 (Ferreira-Carrasco 15, Ocampos 87) Saint-Etienne 1 (Hamouma 49) Played on Friday SC Bastia 4 (Boudebouz 6, Khazri 23 pen, Krasic 59, Romaric 79) Lorient 1 (Coutadeur 32)
Spanish First Division Spanish First Division results: Athletic Bilbao 1 (Mikel Rico 76) Valencia 1 (Banega 43 pen) Getafe CF 3 (Pedro Leon 16, 22, Colunga 27) Betis 1 (Rafa 51 og) Sevilla 2 (Gameiro 6, Rakitic 90+3) Almeria 1 (Rodri 23) Atletico Madrid 2 (Diego Costa 42, 62) Celta de Vigo 1 (Nolito 71) Barcelona 4 (Sanchez 14, 64, Xavi 52, Neymar 70) Valladolid 1 (Guerra 10) Levante 2 (Baba 57, El Zhar 86) Real Madrid 3 (Ramos 61, Morata 90, C Ronaldo 90+4) Rayo Vallecano 1 (Viera 89 pen) Real Sociedad 0 Elche CF 2 (Corominas 40, 74) Espanyol 1 (Bifouma 66) Sendoffs: (Sanchez 88 - Espanyol) Leading goalscorers: 6: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 5: Pedro (Barcelona), Rodri (Almeria)
Italian First Division Juventus 3 (Pirlo 15, Giovinco 69, Chiellini 75) AC Milan 2 (Muntari 1, 90) Send-offs: (Mexes 74 - AC Milan) Lazio 0 Fiorentina 0 Bologna 1 (Diamanti 52 pen) Verona 4 (Cacciatore 22, Iturbe
French First Division Marseille 1 (A Ayew 34 pen) Paris SaintGermain 2 (Maxwell 45, Ibrahimovic 66 pen) Send-offs: (Motta 31 - Paris SaintGermain) Girondins Bordeaux 4 (Saivet 21 pen, Jussie 38, Tidiane Diabate 70, 89) Sochaux 1 (Contout 17) Montpellier 5 (Montano 16, 68, Mounier 45, Cabella 59 pen, 66) Lyon 1 (Lacazette 47) Send-offs: (Gonalons 83 - Lyon) Played on Saturday Nantes 3 (F Djordjevic 2, 34, Djilobodji 65) Evian Thonon Gaillard FC0 Toulouse 1 (Ben Yedder 34) Nice 0 Valenciennes 1 (Enza Yamissi
Bundesliga results Freiburg 1 (Hofler 85) Eintracht Frankfurt 1 (Gunter 64 og) Sendoffs: (Flum 90 - Eintracht Frankfurt) Nurnberg 0 Hamburg 5 (van der Vaart 17, Lasogga 59, 62, 67, Arslan 74) Bayer Leverkusen 1 (Sam 31) Bayern Munich 1 (Kroos 30) Schalke 4 (K Boateng 16 pen, Szalai 28, 78, Meyer 86) FC Augsburg 1 (Molders 10) Send-offs: (Klavan 15 - FC Augsburg) Mainz 2 (Choupo-Moting 82, Malli 90+2) Hoffenheim 2 (Volland 14, Firmino 22) Borussia Monchengladbach2 (Kruse 81 pen, Raffael 86) Borussia Dortmund 0 Send-offs: (Hummels 80 - Borussia Dortmund) Vfl Wolfsburg 0 Eintracht Braunschweig2 (Bellarabi 30, Kumbela 86) VfB Stuttgart 1 Werder Bremen 1
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Tuesday, October 8, 2013
■ MELBOURNE
Mixed fortunes for Cambridge stable It’s a case of the good news tempered by the bad news for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young at the Melbourne spring carnival. While all is extremely well with their $A1 million Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) hope El Roca, the same can’t unfortunately be said for his stablemate Sangster. His immediate future is up in the air after tailing the field home in Saturday’s Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. “He was very jarred up and has quite sore feet,” Busuttin said. “We were expecting a similar run to Silent Achiever (sixth) and then we would have been
right on target for the Caulfield Cup. “That might be out now and we could look at the Moonee Valley Cup on Cox Plate day or we could even bring him home – we’ll have to wait and see how he does over the next 10 days.” Three-year-old El Roca has lifted the camp’s spirits, however, with his progress toward Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas. “He’s thriving and we’re really happy with him,” Busuttin said. “He’ll have a gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday to give him another look around the track.” Successful on debut at Taupo in August, El Roca earned an Australian call-up after winning
the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes at his next appearance. He lost his perfect record when second to Éclair Big Bang in the Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude when jockey Craig Newitt, in Busuttin’s words, got “itchy before the turn and could have held him up a bit more.” “Craig will stick with the horse and I think he’ll be very hard to beat,” Busuttin said. “He’s proved he’s up to them and probably should have won last time. “We’ll hope for a good barrier and then be able to sit fourth or fifth and attack from there.” – NZ Racing Desk.
Jockey Craig Newitt
Boss chasing ride on Ruud Awakening bourne on Monday, but he was suspended on Saturday so we had a last-minute change of tack,” said Albert Bosma, who manages the Ruud Awakening syndicate. “Glen rang up for the ride and he will gallop her in company on the course proper and then we’ll hear what he has to say.” Provided she works to everyone’s satisfaction, Ruud Awak-
ening will run in the $A250,000 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) this weekend. New Zealand’s champion two-year-old of last season, she opened her Melbourne spring campaign in encouraging fashion at Flemington last month when she finished fifth over 1100 metres. “We were really pleased with her after that,” Bosma said. “She
In brief Guineas in sight Atlante became the latest threeyear-old from the Cambridge yard of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman to stake a claim for a trip to Riccarton following his stylish win at Avondale yesterday. At Waipa the previous day it was the turn of Sakhee’s Soldier to press his claims with a runaway six length maiden victory. “Atlante has always showed us that he’s got plenty of ability and he’s a bit light on experience, but he’s on track now and Sakhee’s Soldier was also very impressive.”
Way In weighs in
■ CAULFIELD
Glen Boss has emerged as a frontrunner to partner Ruud Awakening if she runs at Caulfield this Saturday. The premier Melbourne jockey will be aboard the Stephen Marsh-trained filly in a track gallop at Flemington on Tuesday morning, after which plans will be confirmed. “Craig Williams was to have ridden her in a trial at Cran-
Ashburton Guardian 21
had to carry 58kg in that race and her work since had been super.” However, connections were left deflated after Ruud Awakening turned in a lack-lustre effort in the Gr.3 Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley where she could beat only one runner. Subsequent vet tests failed to find any answer for her below-par performance. - NZ Racing Desk.
Cambridge filly Way In claimed the first New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Bonus at Avondale yesterday. On debut, the Shaune Ritchie-trained two-yearold defeated Daytime Robbery and Kschessinska to take home an $8000 bonus. “I don’t train many two-year-old winners, so it was a thrill for me,” said Ritchie. “She will head to the Wellesley Stakes at Wellington now and she’s also eligible for the Karaka Million so if she runs a place at Wellington we would make a plan to get her there.”
Treve takes the Arc Treve maintained her perfect record when she thumped the Japanese challenger Orfevre by five lengths in the Gr.1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Unbeaten in five starts, she romped home in the hands of Thierry Jarnet who gained the mount after a broken ankle robbed Frankie Dettori of the ride. Treve was bred by her father Alec and sold by him for what was reportedly a seven figure sum after she had triumphed in the French Oaks.
M20 Christchurch dogs Today at Addington Raceway
Christchurch Greyhound Racing Club Venue: Adding- 2 Forbury Park Raceway (R) 2.55pm SPEEDPRINT 2 45423 Noggin nwtd .......................................J Allen 6 82343 Miss Sweet 18.81 P & ................... B Conner 3 68211 Jibbajabba Jewel 31.02................C Roberts 7 32835 Dyna Groll nwtd ...........................C Roberts ton Raceway Meeting Date: 08 Oct 2013 NZ Meeting SHOP SPRINT C3, 310m number: 20 1 64522 Austin Wana nwtd .....................J McInerney 4 72754 Know Solution 30.99 .................... L Waretini 8 44113 Wandy Grant 18.36 ....................... G Cleeve 1 Addington Raceway (R) 2.46pm ACTIVE ELEC- 2 67336 Homebush Cruden 18.64 ..........J McInerney 5 74F56 Stich Up 30.81 S &..........................B Evans 9 77646 Hot Mango 18.21 A &.........................Seque 3 24513 Embee Dee nwtd ......................J McInerney 6 65233 Car Bootle nwtd ........................ M Robinson 10 87464 Gitcha Easy nwtd W & ...................... Nissen TRICAL CHRISTCHURCH STAKES C1, 520m 1 11 Pedro Force 31.03 J & ....................D Fahey 4 35185 Blickling Bridge 18.62 J & ......................May 7 16443 Opawa Tania 31.10 L & ...................... Wales 5 Addington Raceway (R) 3.24pm SPEIGHT’S 2 45374 Moon And Sea 31.23 .........................J Allen 5 75433 Cawbourne Plunge nwtd ...........J McInerney 8 6F883 Thrilling Jonah nwtd ........................ M Grant SPRINT C1, 295m 9 668x4 Sonic Duffer 30.70 ........................ G Cleeve 1 27218 Thiago nwtd ...............................D Stapleton 3 37315 Cawbourne Polly 30.87 ................... M Grant 6 11111 Cawbourne Dasher nwtd W & ........... Nissen 10 7x678 Belisconi nwtd M &............................Jopson 2 18783 Bee Ostee 17.65 ..............................B Shaw 4 52466 Gay Thorley nwtd ......................J McInerney 7 44111 Sophie’s Terra 18.47 C & ................... Fagan 5 63635 Bank Roller 30.67 .............................M Flipp 8 46226 Mr. Big Stuff 18.63 M & .....................Jopson 4 Forbury Park Raceway (R) 3.15pm BRAMWELLS 3 77646 Homebush Nos nwtd .................J McInerney 4 16767 Thanks Louise 17.47 M & ...............P Binnie 6 58768 Secret Sarah 31.03 S & ..................B Evans 9 32142 Hetfield nwtd ................................C Roberts SCAFFOLDING SPRINT C4, 310m 5 83558 Black Tank nwtd L G & ................ SJA Stone 7 24465 Nom De Plume 31.19................R Blackburn 10 33442 Know Fault 18.79 .......................... G Cleeve 1 62137 Taieri Plains 18.36 C &....................... Fagan 6 57682 Hear Hare Here 17.60 P & .................Doody 8 37754 Know Taste 30.85.......................... G Cleeve 3 Addington Raceway (R) 3.06pm YALDHURST HO- 2 87446 Ramrada nwtd..............................C Roberts 7 32136 John Dory 17.58........................J McInerney 3 62432 Wandy Chick 18.38 ....................... G Cleeve 9 668x4 Sonic Duffer 30.70 ........................ G Cleeve TEL STAKES C1, 520m 4 37426 Homebush Edith 18.37 .............J McInerney 8 36111 Yabba Yabba 17.37 H &.......................Taylor 10 18877 Opawa Chill 31.17 L & ....................... Wales 1 24652 Waimak Dave nwtd ...................J McInerney 5 84282 Jumpin’ Julia nwtd .....................J McInerney 9 58666 Party Rock nwtd S & .......................B Evans
M9
10 16867 Teevee Gidget 17.88 .........................M Flipp
6 Forbury Park Raceway (R) 3.33pm RACING AGAIN TUESDAY 22ND OCTOBER DASH C5, 310m 1 31416 Attack Wide nwtd .......................... G Cleeve 2 13112 Stirling Dann nwtd C & ....................... Fagan 3 52467 Jennings 18.57...........................D Stapleton 4 66234 Not A Know nwtd .........................A Waretini 5 25313 Bugsy Bangles 18.45 .......................B Shaw 6 26435 Mr. Whippy nwtd W & ........................ Nissen 7 63737 Know Jealousy 18.33 .................... G Cleeve 8 12211 Ronrose Hill 18.56 M & .........................J Hill 9 15531 Drysdale nwtd .....................................A Lee 10 88531 Homebush Churro 18.80 ...........J McInerney
LEGEND: fsdt - First Start Here nwd - No Win this Distance fstd - First Start This Distance 31 13 - Best Winning Time This Track
Otago dogs
Today at Forbury Park Raceway
Otago Greyhound Racing Club Venue: Forbury Park 3 12.47pm ROOFING SOLUTIONS STAKES C1, 545m 6 56452 Okuku Bobo 19.01 C & ...................... Fagan 2 18627 Adulterous 32.68 ..........................C Roberts Raceway Meeting Date: 08 Oct 2013 NZ Meeting num- 1 71442 Opawa Natty nwtd L & ....................... Wales 7 45524 Hazza’s Lad 18.91 .....................D Stapleton 3 55372 Homebush Iris 32.33 .................J McInerney ber: 9 Doubles: 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; 9 and 2 8688x Miss Ozark nwtd ............................J Guthrie 8 17314 Cawbourne Porshe nwtd W & ........... Nissen 4 65785 No Undies Sundy 32.35 ............J McInerney 10; 11 and 12 Trebles: 1, 2 and 3; 4, 5 and 6; 7, 8 and 3 77153 Pukeko Express 34.14 ...................B Healey 9 46334 Sam’s Flyin Norm nwtd ..............D Stapleton 5 38646 Flying Moe nwtd ...............................B Shaw 9; 10, 11 and 12 4 86672 Autumn Spirit 33.63 ...........................J Allen 10 24888 Merely A Dream 18.95 ...............D Stapleton 6 56862 Banbit nwtd ......................................B Shaw 1 12.11pm (NZT) BRIAN BAGLEY DRIVER LICENS- 5 61146 Tanto’s Whisper 33.68 ....................J Guthrie 6 1.41pm KEYOSK SERVICE BAR SPRINT C2, 310m 7 62754 Tepirita Rita nwtd .............................B Shaw 6 513 Opawa Zara nwtd J &......................D Fahey 1 64266 Finger Pop nwtd ........................J McInerney 8 17571 Cover To Cover 32.74.................D Stapleton ING SPRINT C0, 310m 1 65732 Zulu Deb nwtd ..............................C Roberts 7 51288 Scotsome Power nwtd M & ...............Jopson 2 66553 Okuku Wee Man nwtd C & ................. Fagan 9 83886 Should Be Carlos 33.06 ............J McInerney 2 44646 Uno Nosey nwtd J & ..............................May 8 75763 Gypsy Hunter nwtd ....................D Stapleton 3 87714 Max’s Lad nwtd ..........................D Stapleton 10 67688 Opawa Midnight 32.99 S & .............B Evans 3 62351 Opawa Hog nwtd L & ......................... Wales 9 71578 Pukeko Raptor 33.19 .....................B Healey 4 55241 Hazza’s Got Swag 19.21............D Stapleton 9 2.35pm GROUP 2 FAR SOUTH CHALLENGE FI4 8626 Tepirita Snoop nwtd .........................B Shaw 10 35765 Opawa Cassidy nwtd L & ................... Wales 5 6x675 As Far As 18.78 ...........................M Roberts NAL C5f, 545m 5 53222 Vienna nwtd ...............................D Stapleton 4 1.05pm GREEN ISLAND BARBER STKS C1/2, 545m 6 34542 Wellywood nwtd W &......................... Nissen 1 48414 Homebush Chopper 32.18 ........J McInerney 6 8x858 Another Warning nwtd..................... K Kilsby 1 24522 Rob’s Mate 32.55 M &...........................J Hill 7 28564 Theokoles nwtd ..........................D Stapleton 2 12211 Palucka 32.23 J & ...........................D Fahey 7 52528 Bit Perusa nwtd .........................J McInerney 2 43662 Opawa Marg 32.53 A & ......................Seque 8 12173 Sheza Gamble nwtd W & .................. Nissen 3 62445 Admire nwtd A & ................................Seque 8 56466 Zee Brugge nwtd.......................J McInerney 3 21643 Chill Out Ralph 32.31 L & .................. Wales 9 33535 Iva Cunning Plan nwtd ........................A Lee 4 64234 Rodriguez nwtd ...................................A Lee 9 F Toby’s Terra nwtd C &......................... Fagan 4 68x25 Opawa Peekay 32.90 L &................... Wales 10 77388 Vitalize 18.72 J & ...................................May 5 13113 Russell Hart 32.10 ....................J McInerney 10 4 Red Hot Fury nwtd M &.....................Jopson 5 43134 Opawa Stretch nwtd J &..................D Fahey 7 1.59pm BROCKLEBANKS DRY CLEANERS STKS 6 15743 Opawa Swede 32.47 J &.................D Fahey 7 87412 Know Attempt 33.14...................... G Cleeve 2 12.29pm WWW.GREYHOUNDSASPETS.ORG.NZ 6 45135 Botany Kevin nwtd.....................J McInerney C2/3, 545m 7 26144 Rocky Baxter nwtd ....................J McInerney 1 66617 Opawa Webby nwtd L & ..................... Wales 8 34322 Know Class 32.01 ......................... G Cleeve C0, 545m 1 7x882 Opawa Carlos nwtd L & ..................... Wales 8 71614 Pukeko Prowler nwtd .....................B Healey 2 65445 Bob’s Eye 32.59 ........................J McInerney 9 25525 Raw Energy 31.85 ....................J McInerney 2 86344 Joey’s Secret nwtd .....................D Stapleton 9 47366 Botany Seaton nwtd ..................J McInerney 3 26175 Opawa Style 32.98 L & ...................... Wales 10 16158 Charlie’s Choice nwtd A &..................Seque 3 84475 Homebush Marlow nwtd ...........J McInerney 10 55877 Shadow Wolf 33.17 ........................J Guthrie 4 17387 Wandy On In 33.54 .....................D Kingston 10 2.55pm SPEEDPRINT SHOP SPRINT C3, 310m 4 67345 Opawa Lauren nwtd L &..................... Wales 5 1.24pm ST KILDA VETERINARY CENTRE SPRINT 5 54431 Opulent 32.82 A &..............................Seque 1 64522 Austin Wana nwtd .....................J McInerney 5 88533 Shez Keen nwtd ................................S Keen C1, 310m 6 21483 Cawbourne Kesha 32.36...........J McInerney 2 67336 Homebush Cruden 18.64 ..........J McInerney 6 Aussie Enforcer nwtd .......................B Shaw 1 77373 Que Tee Chicks nwtd M & .................Jopson 7 77563 Lincoln Flyer nwtd ........................C Roberts 3 24513 Embee Dee nwtd ......................J McInerney 7 46 Magdalene nwtd M & ........................Jopson 2 22734 Mamalulu nwtd C & ............................ Fagan 8 87577 Noisy Leo nwtd .........................J McInerney 4 35185 Blickling Bridge 18.62 J & ......................May 8 466 Tepirita Zita nwtd B & ....................... T Shaw 3 67424 Flirt With Me nwtd M & ......................Jopson 9 47366 Botany Seaton nwtd ..................J McInerney 5 75433 Cawbourne Plunge nwtd ...........J McInerney 9 Cee Ach Gee nwtd ...........................B Shaw 4 21348 Cawbourne Tomcat nwtd W & ........... Nissen 8 2.17pm PRYDE ENGINEERING STAKES C4, 545m 6 11111 Cawbourne Dasher nwtd W & ........... Nissen 10 87555 Smoochy Jewel nwtd ...................C Roberts 5 15231 Sandi Claws 18.42 ............................S Keen 1 77676 Speedy Kazza nwtd ..................J McInerney 7 44111 Sophie’s Terra 18.47 C & ................... Fagan
8 46226 Mr. Big Stuff 18.63 M & .....................Jopson 9 32142 Hetfield nwtd ................................C Roberts 10 33442 Know Fault 18.79 .......................... G Cleeve 11 3.15pm BRAMWELLS SCAFFOLDING SPRINT C4, 310m 1 62137 Taieri Plains 18.36 C &....................... Fagan 2 87446 Ramrada nwtd..............................C Roberts 3 62432 Wandy Chick 18.38 ....................... G Cleeve 4 37426 Homebush Edith 18.37 .............J McInerney 5 84282 Jumpin’ Julia nwtd .....................J McInerney 6 82343 Miss Sweet 18.81 P & ................... B Conner 7 32835 Dyna Groll nwtd ...........................C Roberts 8 44113 Wandy Grant 18.36 ....................... G Cleeve 9 77646 Hot Mango 18.21 A &.........................Seque 10 87464 Gitcha Easy nwtd W & ...................... Nissen 12 3.33pm RACING AGAIN TUESDAY 22ND OCTOBER DASH C5, 310m 1 31416 Attack Wide nwtd .......................... G Cleeve 2 13112 Stirling Dann nwtd C & ....................... Fagan 3 52467 Jennings 18.57...........................D Stapleton 4 66234 Not A Know nwtd .........................A Waretini 5 25313 Bugsy Bangles 18.45 .......................B Shaw 6 26435 Mr. Whippy nwtd W & ........................ Nissen 7 63737 Know Jealousy 18.33 .................... G Cleeve 8 12211 Ronrose Hill 18.56 M & .........................J Hill 9 15531 Drysdale nwtd .....................................A Lee 10 88531 Homebush Churro 18.80...........J McInerney LEGEND: fsdt - First Start Here nwd - No Win this Distance fstd - First Start This Distance 31 13 - Best Winning Time This Track
Sport 22 Ashburton Guardian
In brief Big sprint from Herewini Aaron Herewini improved on last week’s fourth place to win the Tinwald Cycling Club’s 32km handicap race on Frasers Road on Sunday. Herewini and his comarkers found the front in the final fast return leg of the race. The group swelled to be 25 strong with all riders in with a winning chance leading into the final kilometre. Herewini pulled out his trademark sprint to hold out Ross Templeton who had to settle for second. Tony Ward took time honours riding the course in 49.38 minutes. Jenna Borthwick swapped running shoes for the bike and had immediate success winning the junior 16km handicap event. Ben Sutton took second and set the fastest time. Next week the club will contest a 38km handicap event around the Wakanui-Hakatere course.
Birds lead the way A large contingent of Mid Canterbury riders have made their presence felt at the Marlborough Area one star show, led by Rakaia sister-act Kimberley and Jaimee Bird. After finishing second at South Canterbury North Otago last weekend, Jaimee Bird and Showtym Image proved too strong in the Pony Grand Prix sealing the honours with the only clear round. Ten started in the Junior Rider, and Kimberley Bird and Ngahiwi Summer flew home clear in 40.63 to nab her first junior win. Zoe Shore also had a successful weekend taking out the Amateur Rider with Boulevard II, as well as the quinella in the South Island Foxhunter Hack Qualifier. The Horse Grand Prix was won by Ashburton’s Anna Redmond and Up To Date.
Presidents Cup to US For a moment on the final day of the Presidents Cup, Adam Scott and his International team dared to dream. While a win against the highly-ranked American team slipped away relatively early during the singles yesterday, the prospect of an improbable tie loomed large late until Tiger Woods managed to finish off South African Richard Sterne on the 18th green. His 1-up victory at Muirfield Village was enough for the Americans to clinch the Presidents Cup for an eighth time in 10 attempts, with the hosts winning 18.5 to 15.5. - AAP
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Results
■ Bridge
Ashburton Bridge Club October 4 Monday Evening – Duplicate N/S 1 J Browne and S Lyons, 2 H Blee and F Williamson, 3 B Leighton and J Lovett E/W 1 B Blair and M Jones, 2 M Bruce and P Wise, 3 G Baker and Joyce Johnson Tuesday Evening – A Ladder: N/S 1 J Fechney and M Holdaway 2 M Buckland and J Edmond, 3 A Blain and I Donaldson. E/W 1= A Maude and M Moore and J Knight and B Smith, 3 T and M Small Wednesday Afternoon - Valetta Trophy N/S 1 M Buckland and B Smith, 2 S Rosevear and M Stowell, 3 P Fergus and R Kyle E/W 1 T Downward and J Irwin, 2 A Gilbert and S Harris, 3 B McIlraith and M Moore Thursday Evening – Duplicate: N/S 1 T Downward and B Smith, 2 V Palmer and M Stowell, 3 A Maude and M Moore. E/W 1 P Jowers and B Turton, 2 K Robb and J Wright, 3 J de Jong and A Rooney
Birdie Jackpot: # 14; Nett Eagles: # 7 October 6 The annual County Stroke match was a Tinwald benefit with both teams winning their sections. Women’s section Tinwald team of Joyce van der Heide, Jacquie Beardsley, Amanda Gray and Wendy Stevenson with a combined nett score of 282. In the Men’s section the Tinwald team of Chris Hart, Dave Gill, Peter Marshall and Bruce Collins won with a combined nett score of 276. The Combined winners of the Mayors Trophy were Tinwald. Individual winners were: Women’s section – Wendy Bruce 88-21=67, Alison Grant 96-28=68. In the Men’s section – Bruce Collins 81-16=65 on countback from Adrian Hopwood 75-10=65. Nearest Pins: Woman – Jan Guilford. Man Marty Hickman. Twos: Jan Guilford, Helen Argyle, Adrian Hopwood and Brent MacGregor.
Mayfield Golf Club
9 Hole Division October 3, Stroke and Stableford Ladies: Stroke 1st Jill Ludemann 60:19:41 Stableford 1st Tessa Gallagher with 15 Men 1st Ray Thompson 54:15:39 with 15 stbf. Nearest the Pins: Greg Sim Builders and Excavators 2nd Shot No. 2 – Tessa Ashburton Golf Club Gallagher, Mayfield Transport No. 5 – Nelson Building Society Friday night Judy Fielder teams Mayfield Ladies Golf October 4: Top Team – Roaring Pride, 92, Val Cartney, Ina Divers, M Pawsey, Clarrie September 3 Galway. Top Man – Bruce Leighton 31.5; Stableford Teams Town v Country Town Team Won 31.66, Trish Corbett, Lal Top Lady – Ina Divers. Men: Fairlie Flyers 86.5; Coastal Sharks Mulligan, Pat Wilson, Jillian Lake, Edna Ralston and Marilyn Cross Marilyn Cross/ 86; Gabites Sloggers 86; Bulldogs 85. Mixed: Just the Hounds 89.5; Mikes Mob Hasting McLeod/Property Brokers 2nd 86.5; Country Classics 86. Ladies: Pink Shot 2&11, 0-30 Lal Mulligan, 31-40+ Edna Ralston Tees 86.5; Lovely Ladies 84.5. Nearest Pins: Templeton Motors – Ron ALT nearest the pin 5&14 Joan Stocker Carlson; Paul May Motors – Carl O’Neill; Marjory Murdoch Players of the day HelMac & Maggies – Tony Bennett; BP Ash- en Rapsey and Margaret Read burton – Janette Montgomery. Gabites October 1: LGU 6th Putting 6th Handicap Lucky Player - Wendy Bruce; BP Lucky 0-20 Jan Clucas 89-17-71 c/b Betty WilPlayer – Carl O’Neill. Twos – G Jones, G son 91-19-72 21-29, Lal Mulligan 110-28-82, Adrienne Hopping 107-23-84. 30-40+, Jansen, R Carlson. Johnny Wright 108-35-73, Joan Stocker Ashburton Golf Club 106-32-74, Helen Rapsey 110-34-76. Putts; October 5 Trish Corbett 27, Jan Clucas 27, Pat WilWinners in the Watson Cup matches son 27 ALT nearest the Pin, Not Struck were: L Hunt & M Green, B Ferriman & T Marilyn Cross/Hasting McLeod Property Molloy, E Chilton & B Leighton, C Steyn & Brokers 2nd shot 2&11 0-29,Betty Wilson, P van Vollenhoven. 30-40+ Johnny Wright Marjory Murdoch In the Newton Trophy the winners were: Player of the Day, Johnny Wright L Stoddart & P Huggins, A Baird & G Bellamy, W Doak & D Prebble, K Smith & T O’Reilly. In the Stableford round held for other Ashburton Racing Pigeon Club players results were: Brian Edmondston October 5 Masterton Pairs Cup 43pts, Jamie Stone 42pts, Gordon Craw- 5 Flyers – 10 Birds. Winners Flying Time: ford 41 pts; John Dudley, George Brown 5 hours, 52 minutes & 30 seconds. 1st: and Ron Carlson all 40pts. M. Davidson 1300.885m.p.m; 2nd: R. Nearest The Pins: Robbies Bar & Bistro: Cornwall 1250.848m.p.m; 3rd: L. Quinn Ian Rive, Braided Rivers: Derek Prebble, 1148.018m.p.m Rothburys Insurance: Gordon Crawford, Netherby Meats: Adrian Hopwood, Ro- Ashburton Racing Pigeon Club billiards (Nearest pin #18): Kevin Smith, October 5 Charming Thai Restaurant (Longest Putt Masterton 5 FLYERS – 44 BIRDS #9) Tong King. Twos: John Baird, Jamie Stone, Ian Rive, Winners Flying Time: 5 hours, 47 minutes & 43 seconds Miti Daniel and Adrian Hopwood.
■ Golf
■ Pigeon racing
1st: R. Cornwall 1324.445m.p.m; 2: L. Quinn 1308.395m.p.m; 3: M. Davidson 1306.450m.p.m; 4: M. Davidson 1296.528m.p.m; 5: L. Quinn 1295.980m.p.m; 6 R. Cornwall 1294.778m.p.m.
South Island Under 65kg Cup Tournament Mid Canterbury 29 v South Canterbury 33, Mid Canterbury 31 v Nelson Bays 62,Mid Canterbury 21 v Otago Invitation 19, Winner – Nelson Bays, 2nd - South Canterbury, 3rd – Mid Canterbury, 4th – Otago Invitation Mid Canterbury Rugby South Island Under 48kg Cup TournaMid Canterbury Representative Rugby ment October 5 Mid Canterbury 17 v South Canterbury 26, Heartland Championship Mid Canterbury 5 v Nelson Bays 31, Mid The Trust Ashburton Mid Canterbury 44 v Canterbury 31 v North Otago 14, Winner – Thames Valley 11, Nelson Bays, 2nd – South Canterbury, 3rd Mid Canterbury Rugby Mid Canterbury, 4th North Otago Mid Canterbury Representative Rugby Tournament South Island Under 18 Tournament Quarter Finals: Otago Metro 10 v. Nelson Ashburton District Rifle Club Bays 3, North Otago 16 v. Canterbury October 6 Metro Dev 20, Southland 27 v. Marlbor- 500 Yards ough 11, Mid Canterbury 0 v. Canterbury Peter Newman 50.8, 50.5, 100.13, Tim Metro 87 Webb 50.4, 49.7, 99.11, John Miller 49.2, Plate: South Canterbury 25 v. Canterbury 50.7, 99.9, Darian Miller 48.4, 50.8, 98.12, Country 27, Otago Country 7 v. Canter- Brian Hawksby 47.2, 50.2, 97.4, John bury Metro Cavaliers 19; Fleming 48.4, 46.3, 94.7, Murray Cook Semi Finals: Otago Metro 12 v. Canter- 45.2, 46.3, 91.5. bury Metro Dev 12 (Otago qualify for fi- F Class, Joey Meldrum 60, 60, 120, and nal by scoring more tries in tournament), Mike Naber 56, 58, 114. Southland 20 v. Canterbury Metro 19; Bowl Semi Finals: Nelson Bays 33 v. North Otago 10, Marlborough 40 v. Mid ESNZ Marlborough Area Jumping Canterbury 10; Plate Semi Final: Canterbury Country 41 Fruitfed Supplies 1* Show v. Otago Country 25, South Canterbury October 5 & 6 Fruit Fed Horse Grand Prix – Anna Red36 v. Canterbury Metro Cavaliers 5; 11 v 12th –Canterbury Metro Cavaliers 27 v mond (Ashburton) Up To Date, 1; Brad Cunningham (Christchurch) Kiwi Crusher, Otago Country 24; 9th & 10th Canterbury Country 18 v South 2. Mighty Mix Country TV Pony Grand Prix– Canterbury 3; 7th v 8th – North Otago 31 v Mid Can- Jaimee Bird (Rakaia) Showtym Image, 1; Molly Buist-Brown (Christchurch) Miss Mae terbury 3; 5th & 6th Nelson Bays 24 v Marlborough West, 2; Rohan Tennekoon (West Melton) JB’s High Caliber, 3; Jaimee Bird (Rakaia) 0; Play Offs: Canterbury Metro 20 v Canter- World Whisper, 4; Molly Buist-Brown (Christchurch) Pull The Trigger II, 5; Sarah bury Metro Dev 3; Parkes (Blenheim) Tallyho Maestro, 6. Final: Otago Metro 12 v Southland 22; Big Bale Contractors Telford Young Rider South Island Under 16 Tournament Quarter Finals : Otago Country 0 v. Can- Series – Rose Alfeld (Weedons) Capprera, terbury Metro 34, Otago Metro 23 v. 1; Emma Pilcher (Blenheim) Snazzy Az, 2. South Canterbury 8, Mid Canterbury 11 v. Mikes Mower KiwiSpan Junior Rider - KimCanterbury Country 23, Southland 23 v. berley Bird (Rakaia) Ngahiwi Summer, 1; Jessica Sonne (Blenheim) Mimoa, 2; GeorNelson Bays 0; Plate: West Coast 17 v. Marlborough 26, gia Urquhart (Fairlie) Quickstep NZPH, 3; Jack Ford (Kaikoura) Sirocco Abba Dabba, Buller 10 v. North Otago 20; Semi Finals: Canterbury Metro 46 v. Ota- 4; Sarah Parkes (Blenheim) Real McCoy go Metro 6, Southland 23 v. Canterbury NZPH, 5; Kayla James (Christchurch) Scenario, 6. Country 20; Bowl Semi Finals: Otago Country 20 v. Awatere River Wine Company Caledonian South Canterbury 15, Nelson Bays 24 v. Amateur Rider – Zoe Shore (Ashburton) Boulevard II, 1; Lynley Wilson (Takaka) Mid Canterbury 3; Plate Semi Final: Marlborough 39 v. North Zactac Brave, 2; Taryn Hume (Richmond) Kings Blessing, 3. Otago 12, West Coast 24 v. Buller 7; 11TH & 12TH – North Otago 24 v Buller 20; Rhonda Stewart Harcourts South Island 9th & 10th: Marlborough 0 v West Coast Foxhunter Hack Qualifier 1.10m – Zoe Shore (Ashburton) Boulevard II, 1; Zoe Shore 7; 7TH & 8Th – South Canterbury 21 v Mid (Ashburton) Burberry, 2; Sophie Williams (Motueka) Eyes Wyd Open, 3; Louis VavaCanterbury 3; 5th & 6th Otago Country 24 v Nelson sour (Marlborough) Viking SL, 4. Mighty Mix South Island Foxhunter Pony Bays 16; Play Offs: Otago Metro 29 v Canterbury Qualifier 1m – Jaimee Bird (Rakaia) World Whisper, 1; Lucy Askin (Ashburton) Totem, Country 22; Final: Canterbury Metro 54 v Southland 2; Rohan Tennekoon (West Melton) JB’s High Caliber, 3; Kaitlin Feast (West Melton) 3; Code Spree, 4.
■ Rugby
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ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
Allenton’s Murray Smallridge rolls up in the Lowry Cup qualifying at the Allenton Bowling Club on Sunday. Photo tetsuro MitoMo 061013-tM-021
Challengers aplenty for Lowry Cup By Jonathan Leask
[email protected]
There will be a new winner of the Lowry Cup at the finals at the Hampstead Bowling Club this Sunday. From the 36 who turned out for qualifying at the weekend only 15 advanced to the knockout finals for the prestigious singles title but defending champion Darren Turner couldn’t make it through to defend his title. The man he beat, Roger Gutberlet, did advance with the former
2004-05 winner. Four-time winner Peter Collins is also lining up the 2013-14 title but the former winners are outnumbered by bowlers looking to get their hands on the coveted cup for the first time. Murray Smallridge and Tony Inwood have also fallen at the final hurdle in the last few years, with Inwood a losing semi-finalist twice in the last three seasons. Recent runner up Craig Carter is among the players looking for a first Lowry Cup win and his Methven clubmate Simon Fleet-
wood has qualified for his first finals appearance. The cut-throat nature of the cup competition was also evident in that only four five players returned from last year’s finals day with Brent Mayson, Dion Kiddey, Gutberlet, Smallridge, and Inwood back for another knockout session on Sunday. Only one of the 15 players is guaranteed to advance to the quarter-finals courtesy of a bye in the first round to get one step closer to the hotly contested cup.
Draws
■ Bowls
Allenton Bowling Club Friday Triples October 11 The following skips have entered teams R Anstiss, N. Atkinson, T. Blain, B. Brasell, R. Cockburn, G. Crack, G. Eder, M. Grice, B. Harper, B. Harrison,R. Herriot, B. Holdom, D. Kiddey, C. Leech, A. MacDonald, E. Maw, A. McIntosh, J. McLay, B. Neilson, M. Reid, Jo Ryk, Judie Ryk, B. Saussey, N. Sharplin, G. Taylor, A. Waddell, T. Watson, W. Watson, B. White, B. Williams - 12.30pm start (whites to be worn), Inquiries to Judie Ryk phone 3087907
Allenton Bowling Club Anama Tray – Aussie Pairs October 14 The following skips have entered teams M. Anderson, R. Bennett, B. Brasell, J. Cartwright, G. Eder, B. Harrison, D. Hastings, R. Herriot, B. Holdom, A. MacKenzie, B. Mayson, M. Middleton, G. Sparks, M. Quinn, J. Ryk, B. White Inquiries to Bob Holdom 3072226
Representative team Rep Team to play South Canterbury Triangular Singles: J. Nowell, R. Greaney Fours: G. Bishop, A. Crawford, P. Whinham, M. Anderson; C. Carter, B. White, M. Smallridge, Joe Ryk Triples: M. Smallridge, Joe Ryk, M. Ander-
The Trust Ashburton Mid Canterbury v son; R. Greaney, P. Whinham, J. Nowell Pairs: G. Bishop, A. Crawford; C. Carter, W. Buller, Westport, 2.30pm White.
■ Golf Ashburton Golf Club October 12 Semifinals Watson and Newton Cups and Stableford Round for those not in the match play. The draw for Watson Cup and Newton Trophy matches off #1 Tee is: 12.00 L Hunt & M Green vs B Ferriman & T Molloy; 12.06 E Chilton & B Leighton vs C Steyn & P van Vollenhoven; 12.12 L Stoddart & P Huggins vs A Baird & G Bellamy; 12.18 W Doak & D Prebble vs K Smith & T O’Reilly. Starting Time: Morning 8.00am; Afternoon Report at 11.30 for an 12noon start. Saturday Starters: Morning Colin Divers and George Brown; Afternoon Brian Nuttall and Bill Doak Results Paddy Bradford and Ross Chatterton. October 13: The annual Interprovincial Representative matches between Canterbury and Aorangi will be held. As these are over 36 holes and involve a large number of players the Course will be closed for all other golf on that day. 12noon.
■ Rugby Mid Canterbury Rugby Mid Canterbury Representative Rugby October 12 Heartland Championship
■ Tennis
Mid Canterbury Junior Tennis Round 1 October 12 B Grade - played at ATTC 9am sharp start Duty Team Allenton Green Allenton Green v Allenton Maroon; Tinwald v Hampstead; Rakaia Rebels v Hindalong Wildcats; Methven White v Methven Purple. Junior A start time 9am sharp Pool A: Allenton v Dorie A Black at Allenton; Tinwald Blue v Hampstead at Tinwald; Southern v Methven Jade at ATTC. Pool B: Rakaia Boyz v Dorie A Red at Dorie School; Wakanui v Hampstead Crusaders at Hampstead; Tinwald Sky v Methven Silver at ATTC. Junior B start time 10:45am Allenton v Dorie B at Dorie Hall; Hinds Smash v Hampstead at Hampstead; Methven Green v Methven Blue at Methven Domain. Junior C start time 9am sharp Pool A: Allenton Blue v Dorie C at Dorie Hall; Tinwald Pink v Methven Gold at Methven Domain; Tinwakham v Methven Red at Wakanui Pool B: Hinds Stingers v Longbeach at Hinds; Rakaia Rascals v Methven Orange at Mt Hutt College; Bye – Allenton Charcoal. Please phone any defaults through to Mid Canterbury Junior Tennis 308 3020 as soon as possible.
ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
ASIAN nurse 24 - Special JAPANESE fantasy doll, service in and out calls, small and petite excellent Ashburton. Ph 022 414 3494. service, private location. in/out calls till late. Phone 022 416 1992. FOR SALE A MUST HAVE!!! A Smart SAMXXX, 39yr, busty, Slice grater from Kitchen pics on Kapers to achieve restaurant blonde, No looking meals without leaving justgirls.co.nz. home! Slices, juliennes and texts/blocked numbers. Ph grates 4 different thicknesses, 027 435 1020. without having to change over any removable blades. DO YOU HAVE A HARD TO BUY FOR MALE? Just arrived back instore Galileo Thermometers. These are the most beautiful weather apparatus ever. Instore at The China Shop in the Arcade Burnett Street. SPRING / SUMMER entertaining? At The China Shop we have two beautiful jug and tumbler sets made by Royal Doulton. Get yours now at our fantastic price $127.00. We are in The Arcade on Burnett Street. THE ORIGINAL STEAM free milk frother. Aero latte is the simple way to froth milk for the perfect cappuccino, milkshake and hot chocolate. Get yours now for only $29.99 from Kitchen Kapers The Arcade.
RURAL TRADING POST
SPORTS DRAWS AND RESULTS
308-1095
GRUBBER TINES, POINTS, BOLTS AND NUTS - suits all makes at McMullan Enterprises 126 Dobson Street 308 2059. ATS Suppliers. P.T.O. SHAFTS COMPLETE - assorted sizes and lengths at McMullan Enterprises 126 Dobson Street 308 2059. ATS Suppliers. TRACTOR tyres - 2 only Goodyear and Ford rims. Size 16.9x14x30. Good condition $1000. Ph 027 565 9196.
TRADES, SERVICES
4 TINT-A-WINDOW solar protective films, UV block, fade, heat and glare control, privacy and safety films for glass. FREE quotes - 20 years local service. Bill Breukelaar - phone 0800 368 468. www.tintawindow.co.nz CERAMIC tiles - tile quality guaranteed - Tile Warehouse selection available at Redmonds Furnishing and Flooring, Burnett Street.
TO LET: House 2-3 bedroom, lounge, kitchen, garage, shed, log fire. No dogs. Allenton. Ph 308 3201 or 027 452 3107.
Guardian Classifieds 307 7900
Birthday Greetings Brought to you by Kitchen Kapers.
Nicholas Robins Happy 6th Birthday Nick, Have a fantastic day. Lots of love and snuggles Mum, Dad, George, Angus and Poppy. xxxx Nicholas Robins Happy 6th Birthday to our darling wee Nicholas, all our love Jen and Tayla. xxx Amalia Conny Worsfold Happy Birthday our little princess from your German Family, Conny, Hansgeorge, Oma, Katharina, Michael, Jenny. Amalia Conny Worsfold Have a wonderful 6th Birthday and lots of love from Mutti Beatrice. Haiven Waititi Happy 5th Birthday honey, love you truck loads, have a great day. Love from Mum, Harmony and Hailow. xoxo Birthday Greetings are free for those aged 12 and under only. Free birthday greetings must be received at least two working days before date of insertion otherwise there is no guarantee that it will appear on the day requested. Photos will be available at our ground floor office for collection after notice has appeared in the paper.
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Guardian Job Vacancies Call the Guardian for all your classified requirements. 307 7900
ACCOMMODATION, RENTAL
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
REAL ESTATE
Daily Events Your opportunity to tell Mid Canterbury of your next event or meeting Daily Events is a FREE DAILY LISTING of MID CANTERBURY EVENTS to be held in the immediate future by non-commercial organisations. To arrange for events to be published in Daily Events, clip this form, fill in the applicable details and hand in to our ground floor office on Burnett Street or post to: Ashburton Guardian, P.O. Box 77, Ashburton 7740, to reach us no later than 12 noon, 3 (three) working days prior to the first publication. CONDITIONS: 1. Telephoned information NOT accepted. 2. Forms MUST be signed by an authorised representative of the organisation concerned. 3. A separate form MUST be submitted for each future event and may be lodged with the Guardian as far in advance as desired. For example: A club which meets monthly may submit, say, 12 separate forms simultaneously – one pertaining to each meeting scheduled over the following 12 months. 4. The organisation acknowledges that no responsibility for errors or omissions will be accepted by the Guardian Company.
BLOCK LETTERS PLEASE Day of event. .................................................................................................................... Date of event .................................................................................................................... Starting time .................................................................................................................... Name of organisation...................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................... Nature of event (Use maximum of 6 words)
2 1 2 Ashburton 212-7 King Street Ashburton Falcon Drive
3
2
3A1F2I Ashburton 67 Elizabeth Street
Appealing - Secure Section - Close to School Relax in the Warm Elegance Lots of Home Sunlight and Privacy ThisPositioned three bedroom home has open kitchen/living area with thoughtfully atan the rearplan is this low * Three bedrooms french doors out toTown a sunny terrace. maintenance house with two bedrooms, one * Sun filled Living and Dining Room with sliding door access to rear patio. Open plan * Separate Lounge kitchen/dining/lounge with access private and * Established Tranquil Gardens Double garage plus large storage area onto aa well fenced section must add beautifully planted garden and courtyard. Good Deadline private treaty ending 1st November 2013 appeal for buyers. garaging. Deadline private treaty ending 25 Octo(unless soldFor prior) Sale $283,500 ber 2013 (unless sold prior) View by appointment
...........................................................................................................................................
Not for publication I hereby authorise publication of the above information on behalf of the organisation concerned. Name ................................................................................................................................. (Block letters)
Ashburton Office 03 307 8317
OPEN HOME Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited LICENSED (REAA 2008) Wed 9 Oct 5:15pm - 5:45pm
Deadline private treaty 25 October 2013 (unless sold prior)
Deadline private treaty 1st November 2013 (unless sold prior)
rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20302 Jill Quaid 027 437 6755 [email protected]
rwashburton.co.nz/AHB20308 Jill Quaid 027 437 6755 [email protected]
........................................................................................................................................... Venue ................................................................................................................................
OPEN HOME Wed 9 Oct 12.30am-1.00pm
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Address ............................................................................................................................. Contact phs .............................................(day) ...................................................(evenings) Signature ...................................................................................................................................
T 03 307 8317 E [email protected] 96 Tancred Street Ashburton Mid Canterbury Real Estate Limited Licensed REAA (2008)
Guardian ASHBURTON
Our news, online, all the time.
Ashburton
Ashburton
793 metre square (more or less) Rectangular section next to the park on Cambridge street. CV $101,000
Potential for investment or build your own new home. 1872m2 (more or less freehold land. Application to District Council for 4 allotment subdivision, subject to resource consent. Owner states "he will consider all offers"
$110,000 View by appointment, 48a Cambridge Street rwashburton.co.nz /AHB20138
For Sale View by appointment, 71 Cambridge Street rwashburton.co.nz / AHB20076
Daily Events Tuesday
9.30am ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH. Walking group meets outside church, 48 Allens Road, Allenton. 9.30am - 12noon. ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH. Children’s holiday programme, 48 Allens Road, Allenton. 9.45am ASHBURTON MEN’S PROBUS CLUB. Ashburton Monthly meeting with guest speaker. Senior
LICENSED Cameron (REAA 2008) Street. Centre,
10.00am ASHBURTON NEWCOMERS SOCIAL GROUP. Coffee morning, all welcome. NOSH Cafe, Ashford Village, West Street. 10.00am WAIREKA CROQUET CLUB. Golf croquet singles, the domain, Philip Street, Ashburton. 10.00am METHVEN HERITAGE CENTRE. Allenton
LICENSED (REAA 2008) Closed today. New Zealand and Agriculture Encounter, interactive fun for all ages. Art Exhibition, 12noon - 3.00pm Momentum by Angela Mole. Main Street, ASHBURTON JUSTICE OF THE PEACE Methven. ASSOCIATION (INC).
10.30am ASHBURTON PUBLIC LIBRARY. Crafts with Wastebusters for children 7 plus. Childrens library, Havelock Street. 11.00am - 3.00pm TE HUB. Seeds, seedlings, workshops, Enviro centre. 35 Dobson Street West, Biograins building.
Tranquil living at Carters Estate has many added benefits. 2000m2 Lower priced sites are few and far between. sections with post/rail fences,key pad access to your property. Flat building platform. Tennis court and pavilion, two hole chip and putt,ASHBURTON manicured BAPTIST CHURCH. Rear site provides good privacy.HERITAGE CENTRE. METHVEN grounds. Plenty of space and privacy. Close to Shopping centre, New Zealand and Agriculture Encounter, Second time around op shop. Ashburton Medical centre, Primary school, and stroll to College. Owners invite offers! 9.00am - 4.00pm $450,000 $95,000 interactive fun for all ages. Art exhibition by Baptist Church, Cnr Cass and Havelock BUDGET SERVICE ViewASHBURTON by appointment, 28aADVISORY Carters Road rwashburton.co.nz / View by appointment, 39 Clark Street rwashburton.co.nz / Angela Mole, Main Street, Methven. Streets. AHB20185 AHB20039
Wednesday
INC. For free budget advice and workshop enquiries. Phone 307-0496. 60 Cass Street, Consultancy House.
LICENSED (REAA 2008) 10.00am ST STEPHENS ANGLICAN CHURCH. Holy Communion, Park Street.
9.30am SPORT MID CANTERBURY. Walking group. Meet outside the Community Pool, Walnut Avenue.
10.00am WAIREKA CROQUET CLUB. Tasmanian Doubles. Waireka Croquet Club, the Domain, Philip Street.
9.30am - 1.00pm
Ashburton
Ashburton
Signing centre. Community house, rear of Westpac Bank, 122 Tancred Street. 12.50pm M.S.A. PETANQUE. Come and try Petanque, everyone welcome. Racecourse Road. 1.00pm - 3.00pm ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSEUM. Cameron Street.
10.00am - 7.00pm ASHBURTON ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM. Open, all welcome. Baring Square East. LICENSED (REAA 2008) 12.50pm 10.00am - 3.00pm WAIREKA CROQUET CLUB. ASHBURTON AVIATION MUSEUM. Association Croquet. Waireka Croquet Club, Classic aircraft on display including DC3. the Domain, Philip Street. Ashburton Airport, Seafield Road. 10.00am - 4.00pm ASHBURTON DISTRICT FAMILY HISTORY GROUP. Open for research, non members welcome. Upstairs in the old Polytech building, 254
1.30pm WAIREKA CROQUET CLUB. Golf Croquet. Waireka Croquet Club, the Domain, Philip Street.
Classic aircraft on display including DC 3. Ashburton airport, Seafield Road. 1.30pm ASHBURTON SENIOR CITIZENS INC. Social afternoon, sales table, raffles etc. Senior Centre, Cameron Street. 1.30pm R.S.A. CARDS “500” R.S.A. Cox Street. 7.30pm - 9.30pm MID CANTERBURY BADMINTON. Great fun, everyone welcome, racquets provided. Sports hall, 35 Tancred Street. 7.00pm GLENYS’ DANCE GROUP. Sequence dancing, Pipe Band hall, Creek Road. 7.00pm - 9.30pm MID CANTERBURY LINE DANCERS. Learn to line dance 7pm, followed by beginner/intermediate (8pm - 9pm). Phone 307 -7138 a/h. Tinwald hall, Graham Street. 7.30pm ST DAVID’S UNION CHURCH. Real women walking group. Leaves from 48 Allens Road, Allenton.
Puzzles Tuesday, October 8, 2013
www.guardianonline.co.nz CRYPTIC ACROSS 1. Not thinking well of pad is wrong, showing case is true (12) 8. At the moment liked to be for the motion (2,6) 9. Illness is indefinite when it hasn’t begun (4) 11. Sort of stage wear for bishop (5) 12. Sufficient reason for them to remain at bottom of coffee pot (7) 13. The correct mark that’s annoying to the sheepish (4) 15. Come across a setback as it will be so plentiful (4) 19. Fail to play heart to heart, Irene, guests have demonstrated (7) 20. It’s gone, like tea-break, the conclusion being unfinished (5) 22. The foot where the French are concerned is in black and white (4) 23. With some fuss Academician half-bleeds at being so cute (8) 24. Where the hammer comes down in a neat event? (6,6)
DILBERT
18
16
DOWN 2. Gather one will be at home with iron, right? (5) 3. It’s coming to be in the church calendar (6) 4. Make up one’s mind to take it and get soaked? (6) 5. There’s part for her in having been true in halves (7) 6. Agrees it’s difficult for an ape to work in an American garage (6-6) 7. This, a minor PC change, is distrustful of mankind (12) 10. Loudly heading one beast and another (3)
14. Where sisters take part in music on venturesome basis (7) 16. Some time in the past a green light was given to it (3) 17. Thus led a thousand astray, but not often (6) 18. Grave attendant may be the one to bring tidings (6) 21. Set of figures albeit difficult with one missing (5)
17
20
25
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across 1. Belief 8. Rails 9. Dancers 11. Mariners 12. Strew 15. Fads 16. Arm 17. Nova 19. Pence 21. Popinjay 24. Nestled 25. Largo 26. Radish Down 2. Exact 3. Increase 4. Firm 5. Braid 6. Fire 7. Isis 10. Samaritan 12. Safe 13. Infected 14. Pave 18. Annoy 20. Cress 21. Pale 22. Part 23. Year
8
9
Ashburton Guardian
QUICK Across 1. Racy 3. Reliable 9. Pioneer 10. Frame 11. Undetectable 13. Ensued 15. Emerge 17. Combinations 20. Karma 21. Inroads 22. Per annum 23. Asks Down 1. Raptures 2. Crowd 4. Enrich 5. Inflammatory 6. Brawler 7. Ever 8. Feather-brain 12. Persists 14. Scourer 16. In lieu 18. Orals 19. Skip
21
QUICK ACROSS 1. Catching up (7) 5. More accurate or honest (5) 8. Chances (13) 9. Spoil (3) 10. Arranged as a table (9) 12. Uncertainties (6) 13. Position (6) 15. Personifying (9) 16. Promissory note (1,1,1) 18. Large landmasses (13) 20. Inhabit (5) 21. Exhibit (7)
DOWN 1. Despondency (5) 2. Unflappable (13) 3. Annoyed (9) 4. Dirty (6) 5. New Zealand songbird (3) 6. Not deliberate (13) 7. Remains (7) 11. Parties in a lawsuit (9) 12. Clothed (7) 14. Suggested (6) 17. Take back, verbally (5) 19. Lubricate (3)
GARFIELD
office spot......all you need for the office 605 East Street, Ashburton Ph: (03) 308 1868 www.officespot.co.nz
Hayley and Carol, the experts to help you with all your stationery needs. ALL PUZZLES © THE PUZZLE COMPANY
SUDOKU Fill the grid so that every column, every row and 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
8/10
YOUR STARS by Forecasters
ARIES (MAR 21 – APR 20) Your financial desires and expectations are in safe hands, with a cosmic shift today from the ‘what’ to the ‘when, where and how’. TAURUS (APR 20 – MAY 21) As your financial desires and expectations kick in, there’s a chance to give money matters a much needed shot in the arm from today. GEMINI (MAY 21 – JUNE 22) Just days after Saturday’s New Moon gave romantic forces a kick start Venus’ return to your relationship sector gives your relationships a boost. CANCER (JUNE 22 – JULY 24) Regardless of income and professional forces already developing, it’s clear that this year nothing less than a balance between work and play will do. LEO (JULY 24 – AUG 23) Venus, planet of love returns to your romantic sector today, opening the door to the most fun, playful and romantically charged months of the year. VIRGO (AUG 23 – SEP 23) There is more than enough support to continue what you started, especially now that you know what you want and need from your communications. LIBRA (SEP 23 – OCT 23) Venus’ departure from your income sector today will leave you with some clear desires and expectations, but this is far from the end of the story. SCORPIO (OCT 23 – NOV 24) Just days before Mars’ departure from your career sector and next week’s lunar eclipse in your work sector, things start to move on the income front. SAGITTARIUS (NOV 24 – DEC 21) While your birthday month and new solar year won’t kick off until the 22nd November, already your heart is ready to start moving on. CAPRICORN (DEC 21 – JAN 20) It’s from today that you’ll find a lot of pleasure and solace from those moments where you get to put out the ‘do not disturb’ sign. AQUARIUS (JAN 20 – FEB 19) Venus shifts her attention to your personal life today, with her return to a social and serendipitous part of chart bringing a fun element into play. PISCES (FEB 19 – MAR 20) Things are already building behind the scenes on the work and income fronts as a new sense of professional resolve and confidence kicks in today.
www.thepuzzlecompany.co.nz
Guardian
Family Notices 26 Ashburton Guardian DEATHS
JAMISON, Raymond John – On October 5, 2013 at Coldstream Hospital, Ashburton. Loved husband of Fay. Dearly loved father and father in law of Andrew and Maria, and Jo. Loved grandad of Jorja, and Zac. Loved brother and brother in law of Betty and Vic Chambers, Shirley and the late Bob, John and the late Agnes, the late Dorothy, Grace, Bill, and Lorna. Messages to 81 Princes Street, Ashburton 7700. At Ray’s request a private cremation has been held. A Memorial Service will be held. Details to follow. Paterson’s Funeral Services, FDANZ, Ashburton
O’NEILL, Patrick Michael (Paddy) – On October 5 at Christchurch Hospital. A much loved and respected friend and work mate to all at Ealing Pastures, Paddy will be hugely missed by each and everyone of us and we will treasure all the happy memories we have shared over the past 13 years. “A true friend to so many forever in our hearts.” Please note all late death notices or notices sent outside ordinary office hours must be emailed to:
[email protected]
to ensure publication. During office hours notices may also be sent to:
O’NEILL, Patrick Michael (Paddy) – On October 5, 2013 at [email protected] Christchurch Hospital. Dearly Any queries loved brother and brother in please contact law of Brian and Gaye. A 0800 wonderful and loved uncle of ASHBURTON Simon and Carmel, Timothy (0800-274-287). and Rebecca and Hamish and Lina. “May he rest in peace.”
Guardian Classifieds
FZL: 1000m, rising overnight
THURSDAY
Rain and snow setting in about the divide in the morning, with heavy falls developing. High cloud elsewhere. Northwesterlies rising to severe gale in exposed places.
Showers. Southwest winds.
Geneva Hobart Hong Kong Honolulu Islamabad Jakarta Johannesburg Kuala Lumpur London Los Angeles Madrid Melbourne Moscow Nadi New Delhi
25 18 28 17 27 31 28 34 20 31 34 38 15 15 18
cloudy fine fine showers fine rain thunder showers rain fine fine fine rain showers fine
10 7 24 24 24 25 12 25 10 14 10 10 8 23 24
New York Paris Perth Rarotonga Rome San Francisco Seoul Singapore Stockholm Sydney Taipei Tel Aviv Tokyo Washington Zurich
16 18 29 28 35 33 27 33 19 19 22 20 12 29 35
rain fine showers showers thunder fine rain thunder rain fine drizzle fine cloudy fine cloudy
Tides, Sun, Moon and Fishing m am 3 3
6
19 Oct 12:39 pm www.ofu.co.nz
9:01
Rise 6:50 am Set 7:51 pm
Bad fishing
Set 12:27 am Rise 10:14 am
Last quarter
Maori Fishing Guide by Bill Hohepa
For the very latest weather information, including Weather Warnings, visit metservice.com
20 19 23 28 23 21 21 32 17 22 30 31 27 21 15
River Levels
Phone 307 6466 Mobile 0274 508 191 13 Robinson Street, (old Spray Marks site) Riverside Industrial Estate, Ashburton
2.96
Rakaia Fighting Hill (NIWA) at 12:00 pm, yesterday 235.1 Nth Ashburton at 12:00 pm, yesterday
12.1
Sth Ashburton at 9:15 am, yesterday
12.5
Rangitata Klondyke at 1:00 pm, yesterday
117.3
Waitaki Kurow at 9:00 am, yesterday
206.8
Source: Environment Canterbury
Ashburton Airport Temperature °C At 4pm 9.5 15.0 Max to 4pm 8.9 Minimum 9.1 Grass minimum Rainfall mm 0.0 16hr to 4pm October to date 1.2 Avg Oct to date 13 2013 to date 657.6 526 Avg year to date Wind km/h SE 13 At 4pm Strongest gust NW 46 Time of gust 5:06am
© Copyright Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited 2013
Great range of pavers also available
cumecs
Selwyn Whitecliffs (NIWA) at 12:00 pm, yesterday
Canterbury Readings
0
14 12 14 23 15 11 18 24 12 13 25 16 20 9 12
19 12 19 10 20 10 20 8 14 8 14 7 12 6 13 6 9 5 10 3 12 2 11 5 11 2
Palmerston North few showers
10 10 23 10 17 18 20 26 3 24 25 28 7 14 11
overnight max low
Rain turning to snow, chance heavy falls of snow north of the Rakaia river. Wind at 1000m: SE developing, and rising to 40 km/h in the evening. Wind at 2000m: NW 40 km/h gradually tending E. Snow, with heavy falls at first, easing to a few showers in the afternoon. Wind at 1000m: SE 45 km/h dying out towards evening and NW developing. Wind at 2000m: E 45 km/h dying away in the afternoon and W 35 km/h developing.
SATURDAY
NZ Today
Canterbury High Country
Rain with some heavy falls, and snow about the foothills, easing to a few showers in the afternoon. Southerlies dying away towards evening.
Adelaide Amsterdam Bangkok Berlin Brisbane Cairns Cairo Calcutta Canberra Colombo Darwin Dubai Dublin Edinburgh Frankfurt
rain
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
Tomorrow, a low should move across the North Island, with southerlies in its wake. The flow is expected to turn strong westerly on Thursday. A trough moves onto the South Island on Friday and then across the North Island on Saturday, followed by southwesterlies.
mainly isolated cloudy drizzle drizzle few showers fine showers clearing showers
FRIDAY
SUN PROTECTION ALERT
TOMORROW
Like Neumanns Tyres, the Ashburton Guardian is a family owned business offering a unique service to the residents of Mid Canterbury. Over the years, the Guardian has made strategic changes required to keep up with the growth of the media and printing industry. Being Mid Canterbury’s only local daily newspaper, the Ashburton Guardian has the majority of Ashburton’s news readers and this makes it well worth advertising our business with them. Neumanns Tyres acknowledges the working bond it has had with the Ashburton Guardian since 1945. Without the Ashburton Guardian’s provision of balanced views, local news and valued advertising, our community would not be Alan N the thriving and go ahead Neum eumann community it is today. a
1
Ashburton Guardian 27
SKY SPORT 1
6am Breakfast The Breakfast team presents news, interviews, weather and information. 9am Good Morning 10am Ellen 3 11am House Gift Noon One News 0 12:30 Emmerdale PGR Rachel visits Sam; Moira and Chas drink to John; Samson is sulky about being in trouble. 0 1:30 Come Dine With Me 2pm May The Best House Win PGR Four sets of home-owners are invited to judge one another’s houses based on interior design, homeliness, comfort and hospitality. 3pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 3:55 Te Karere 2 0 4:25 Ellen With guest LL Cool J. 5:25 Millionaire – Hot Seat 0 6pm One News 0 7pm Seven Sharp 0 7:30 Dynamo – Magician Impossible Dynamo travels to Miami, where he makes himself disappear. 0 8:30 F Wild About New Zealand Gus explores Hauraki Marine Park, a new park that challenges the traditional rules by taking steps towards balancing conservation, commerce and recreation. 0 9:30 Scandal AO 0 10:25 One News Tonight 0 10:55 Major Crimes AO 0
6am Creflo Dollar 6:30 Buzzy Bee And Friends 3 0 6:35 Tiki Tour 0 7am Stitch! 3 0 7:25 The Penguins Of Madagascar 3 0 7:55 Slugterra 0 8:20 Franklin 3 0 8:40 Mike The Knight 3 0 8:50 Fireman Sam 3 0 9am Infomercials 10:30 Neighbours 3 0 11am Home And Away 3 0 11:30 Shortland Street PGR 3 0 Noon The Nine Lives Of Chloe King PGR 1pm Jeremy Kyle PGR 2pm Bethenny 3pm Melissa And Joey 3 0 3:30 The League Of Super Evil 3 0 4pm Mako Mermaids 0 4:30 The Erin Simpson Show 4:59 Horace In Slow Motion 3 5pm America’s Funniest Home Videos 3 0 5:30 Home And Away 0 6pm Friends 3 0 6:30 Neighbours 0 7pm Shortland Street PGR Kylie faces a difficult choice; Emma may have bitten off more than she can chew; Rachel and Chris must think fast. 0 7:30 The Amazing Race 3 0 8:30 The Mentalist AO 0 9:30 F Embarrassing Fat Bodies AO The doctors meet patients with food phobias and calorie addictions. 0 10:30 Body of Proof AO 0
6am 3 News – Firstline 8:30 Infomercials 10:30 The Shopping Channel 11:30 Entertainment Tonight 3 Noon 3 News 12:30 Everybody Loves Raymond 30 1pm Dr Phil PGR 3 2pm The Dr Oz Show PGR 3 3pm F Top Chef – All Stars PGR 3 4pm Rachael Ray 3 A look at products that offer an alternative to plastic surgery; a tour of the Rachael Ray studio. 5pm Entertainment Tonight 5:25 Jamie’s 15-Minute Meals 3 Jamie makes beef kofta curry, fluffy rice, beans, and peas, and spring frittata, tomato toasts, watercress, and pea salad. 0 6pm 3 News 7pm Campbell Live 7:30 The Block NZ PGR The makeover of the master bedroom and en suite continues; the Walk the Plank Challenge; Pete and Andy get their haircuts. 0 8:35 Best of Grand Designs 3 0 9:40 Hawaii Five-0 AO A dirty cop from Danny’s past comes to Hawaii to seek revenge against him and his family for allegedly ruining his life. 0 10:35 Nightline
6am Sesame Street 3 6:55 Pingu 3 7am Sticky TV Holiday Edition 7:05 BeyWheelz 3 7:30 Beyblade – Metal Fury 3 8am Sticky TV Holiday Edition 8:30 Planet Sheen 3 9am Ready, Steady, Wiggles 9:15 Peppa Pig 3 9:25 Tree Fu Tom 3 9:50 Humf 3 9:55 Infomercials 2pm Sesame Street 3 2:55 Peppa Pig 3 3pm Sticky TV Featuring – Wonder Pets and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 4:30 Four Live 6pm Sabrina – The Teenage Witch 3 0 6:30 Futurama 3
6:30 The Crowd Goes Wild 3 An irreverent daily sports and entertainment show. 7am Deal Or No Deal 3 Game show hosted by Andrew O’Keefe that gives contestants the opportunity to win up to $200,000. 7:30 Home Shopping Noon The Doctors PGR 1pm The Jeff Probst Show 1:55 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? UK 3 2:55 Millionaire – Hot Seat 3 3:25 Nigella Feasts 3 Aromatic lamb meatballs. 4pm The Late Show With David Letterman 3 5pm Deal Or No Deal 3 5:30 Prime News 6pm Deal Or No Deal 6:30 Millionaire – Hot Seat
7pm The Simpsons PGR 3 0 7:30 F Australia’s Next Top Model PGR The season finale; performances by Rudimental and Cirque De Soleil. 8:30 M Bridget Jones’s Diary AO 3 2001 Romantic Comedy. A single woman in her thirties decides to improve her life and chronicle the efforts in a diary. Renee Zellwegger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth. 0 10:30 The Real Housewives of New York City PGR 3
7pm The Crowd Goes Wild 7:30 60 Minutes PGR 3 8:30 M Universal Soldier – The Return AO 1999 Action. Luc Deveraux is now a technical advisor on a topsecret government project, but the supercomputer controlling the soldiers has an agenda of its own. JeanClaude Van Damme, Michael Jai White, Heidi Schanz. 10:25 The Crowd Goes Wild 3
6am Golf – Presidents Cup 8am Golf – European PGA Tour (Highlights) Seve Trophy – Day Four. 9am Football – Arsenal TV West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal. Noon Rugby – ITM Cup (Highlights) Canterbury v Counties Manukau. 12:30 Rugby – ITM Cup (Highlights) Taranaki v Tasman. 1pm Rugby League – NRL (Replay) Grand Final – Roosters v Sea Eagles. 3:30 Motorsport – Nascar Sprint Cup Series (Highlights) Hollywood Casino 400. 4:30 Motorsport – Nascar Nationwide Series (Highlights) 5:30 Football League Show 6pm Motorsport – FIA Formula One Championship (Highlights) 6:30 Motorcycling – Superbike World Championship (Highlights) 7pm Motorsport – FIA World Rally Championship (Highlights) Rally France Event. From Strasbourg, France. 8pm Rugby – ITM Cup Week A weekly roundup of all the action in the ITM Cup. 8:30 L Re:Union 9:30 Darts – World Grand Prix (Replay) Coverage of day one from City West Hotel in Dublin, Ireland.
11:50 Law And Order UK AO 3 Matt and Ronnie hunt the duo responsible for a nightclub shooting. 12:50 Te Karere 3 News and current affairs from a Maori perspective. 2 0 1:30 Infomercials 5:35 Te Karere 3 2 0
11:30 Zero Hour AO 12:30 The Protector AO 3 1:30 Infomercials 2:30 Army Wives PGR 3 0 3:15 Huge PGR 4:05 Anderson Live PGR 5:05 The Erin Simpson Show 3 5:30 Infomercials
11:15 Chicago Fire AO Cruz feels guilty over Flaco’s death, and turns to Casey; Shay recovers from head trauma. 0 12:15 Infomercials 5am Joyce Meyer 5:30 Infomercials
11:30 Excused AO Dating show in which singles looking for love try to win dates before being eliminated from contention. Midnight Infomercials
11pm The Late Show With David Letterman 3 A late-night comedy and talk show. Midnight Home Shopping 1:30 The Crowd Goes Wild 3 An irreverent daily sports and entertainment show. 2am Home Shopping
2:30 Re:Union (Replay) 3:30 Rugby – ITM Cup (Highlights) Bay of Plenty v Waikato. 4am Rugby – ITM Cup (Highlights) North Harbour v Otago. 4:30 Rugby – ITM Cup (Highlights) Wellington v Auckland. 5am Rugby – ITM Cup (Highlights) 5:30 Rugby – ITM Cup (Highlights)
CHOICE TV 6am Benny Hinn 6:30 Love Your Garden A team of experts visits some of Britain’s most beautiful domestic gardens. 7:30 Trish’s French Country Kitchen 8am My Kitchen Top chefs provide a look into their home kitchens, and reveal what they like to cook for their friends and family. 8:30 Make My Home Bigger 9am Coast 10am The London Market 11am Oddities 11:30 Secret Meat Business Noon Bath Crashers 12:30 Spice Trail 1:30 Days Of Our Lives PGR 2:30 Combat Hospital PGR A fictional series about the only military hospital providing advanced surgical care in southern Afghanistan. 3:30 Make My Home Bigger 4pm Heaven’s Kitchen At Large Handy hints and even a few secrets to get the most from organic food. 5pm Better Homes And Gardens 6pm My Kitchen 6:30 House Crashers 7pm Auction Hunters 7:30 Location, Location, Location 8:30 House Wreck Rescue 9:30 Fantasy Homes In The City 10:30 Celebrity Juice AO 11pm Auction Hunters 11:30 Combat Hospital PGR
WEDNESDAY
12:30 Benny Hinn 1am Better Homes And Gardens 2am House Wreck Rescue 3am Spice Trail 4am Celebrity Juice AO 4:30 My Kitchen 5am Heaven’s Kitchen At Large Handy hints and even a few secrets to get the most from organic food.
MAORI TV 10am Korero Mai 3 2 11am Toku Reo 3 Noon Korero Mai 3 2 1pm Toku Reo 3 2pm Korero Mai 3 2 3pm Warrant Of Fitness 3 A health information series from a Maori perspective. 3:30 Guardians Of The Legend 3 Based on the children’s book, an animated series that retells some of the world’s oldest and most heroic stories. 4pm Pukoro 2
THE BOX 6am NYPD Blue MVLS 6:50 The Simpsons PG 7:15 Hardcore Pawn PG 7:40 America’s Funniest Home Videos PG 8:05 My Name Is Earl PG 8:30 My Name Is Earl PG 8:55 24 MVLS 9:45 Law And Order MV 10:35 CSI – Miami MV 11:25 CSI – New York MV 12:15 Da Vinci’s Demons 18VLS 1:20 NYPD Blue MVLS 2:20 My Name Is Earl PG 2:45 My Name Is Earl PG 3:10 24 MVLS 4pm Hardcore Pawn PG 4:30 The Simpsons PG 5pm Law And Order MV 6pm America’s Funniest Home Videos PG 6:30 The Simpsons PG 7pm Pawn Stars PG 7:30 CSI – Miami MV 8:30 CSI MV 9:30 SVU MV 10:30 Law And Order MV 11:30 CSI – Miami MV
WEDNESDAY
12:30 24 MVLS 1:20 My Name Is Earl PG 1:45 My Name Is Earl PG 2:10 NYPD Blue MVLS 3:05 CSI MV 3:55 SVU MV 4:45 24 MVLS 5:35 America’s Funniest Home Videos PG
SKY SPORT 2 4:30 Pukana 2 5pm Toi Whakaari 3 2 5:30 Te Kaea 3 2 6pm Nga Pari Karangaranga O Te Motu 3 Te Urewera. 6:30 Ako 3 7pm Te Kaea 3 2 7:30 Journey To The West 8:30 M Bigger Stronger Faster PGR 2008 Documentary. 10:30 Both Worlds 11pm Tagata Pasifika 11:30 Te Kaea 3 2 Midnight Closedown
DISCOVERY 6am Destroyed In Seconds PG 6:30 American Guns M 7:30 Man v Wild PG Alaskan Mountain Range. 8:30 Deadliest Catch PG Alien Abduction. 9:30 Mythbusters PG 10:30 Strip The City PG Ice City – Toronto. 11:30 Mythbusters PG 12:30 A Haunting M 1:30 Dates From Hell M 2pm Dates From Hell M 2:30 Auction Kings PG 3pm Auction Hunters PG 3:30 American Guns M 4:30 Deadliest Catch PG 5:30 Mythbusters PG 6:30 Bering Sea Gold PG 7:30 Car v Wild PG 8:30 Dirty Jobs Down Under PG 9:30 Auction Hunters PG 10pm Auction Hunters PG 10:30 I Was Murdered M 11pm Stalked – Someone’s Watching M 11:30 Fatal Encounters M
WEDNESDAY
12:30 American Guns M 1:30 Car v Wild PG 2:30 Dirty Jobs Down Under PG 3:30 Dirty Jobs PG 4:30 Beyond Survival With Les Stroud PG 5:30 Time Warp PG
Australia's Next Top Model 7:30pm on FOUR
SKY MOVIES
Bridget Jones's Diary 8:30pm on FOUR
MOVIES GREATS
6:35 Freshman Father PG 2010 Drama. Andrew Seeley, Brittney Irvin, Ryan McDonald. 8:05 Another Earth MVS 2011 Drama. Brit Marling, William Mapother. 9:40 Ironclad 16V 2011 Action. Paul Giamatti, Jason Flemyng. 11:40 Pitch Perfect MLS 2012 Comedy. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson. 1:30 Made… The Movie PG 2010 Comedy. Cyrina Fiallo, Rachel Skarsten. 2:55 Possessed By Evil MV 2011 Horror. Rebecca Romijn, David Cubitt. 4:25 Good Deeds MLS 2012 Drama. Tyler Perry, Thandie Newton. 6:15 Battleship MVL 2012 Action. 8:30 The Three Stooges PGV 2012 Comedy. 10:05 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy MVL 2011 Drama.
8:05 What Lies Beneath MVL 2000 Thriller. Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer. 10:15 The Watcher 16VL 2000 Thriller. Marisa Tomei, Keanu Reeves, James Spader. 11:50 Pirates Of The Caribbean – At World’s End MV 2007 Action. Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom. 2:35 What Lies Beneath MVL 2000 Thriller. Harrison Ford, Michelle Pfeiffer. 4:45 Circle Of Friends M 1995 Drama. Minnie Driver, Chris O’Donnell, Geraldine O’Rawe. 6:25 National Treasure 2 – Book Of Secrets PGV 2007 Action. Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger. 8:30 The Runaways 16LS 2010 Drama. 10:20 The Astronaut’s Wife MS 1999 Sci-fi.
12:15 Wrong Turn 4 – Bloody Beginnings 18VS 2011 Horror. 1:45 Made… The Movie PG 2010 Comedy. 3:10 Possessed By Evil MV 2011 Horror. 4:40 Wrong Turn 4 – Bloody Beginnings 18VS 2011 Horror.
12:10 Sky Special – The Hobbit World Premiere PG 2012 12:40 Circle Of Friends M 1995 Drama. 2:20 National Treasure 2 – Book Of Secrets PGV 2007 Adventure. 4:25 The Runaways 16LS 2010 Drama.
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0 Closed captions; 3 Repeat; 2 Maori Language. RATINGS: 16 Approved for persons 16 years or over; 18 Approved for persons 18 years or over; AO Adults only; C Content may offend; L Language may offend; M Suitable for mature audiences; PG/PGR Parental guidance recommended for young viewers; S Sexual content may offend; V Contains violence. Local Radio: NewsTalk ZB 873AM/98.1FM FM Classic Hits ZEFM 92.5; Port FM Local 94.9, 98.9 and 106.1
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6am L Baseball – MLB Detroit Tigers v Oakland A’s. 9:30 Cricket – Champions League Twenty20 (Highlights) Final. 10:30 Rugby League – Holden Cup (Highlights) Grand Final – Panthers U20 v Warriors U20. 11am Rugby League – NRL (Highlights) Grand Final – Roosters v Sea Eagles. 11:30 Rugby – International (Replay) South Africa v New Zealand. 1:30 Rugby League – NRL (Highlights) Grand Final – Roosters v Sea Eagles. 2pm Rugby – International (Highlights) Argentina v Australia. 2:30 L Baseball – MLB LA Dodgers v Atlanta Braves. 6pm Rugby – International (Highlights) South Africa v New Zealand. 6:30 Rugby League – Holden Cup (Replay) Grand Final – Panthers U20 v Warriors U20. 8:30 Boxing – Fight Night Wladimir Klitschko v Alexander Povetkin. 10:30 Boxing – Fight Night Anthony Joshua v Emanuele Leo.
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12:30 Cricket – Champions League Twenty20 (Highlights) Final. 1:30 Motorsport – Nascar Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400. 2:30 Motorcycling – Superbike World Championship (Highlights) 3am Motorsport – IndyCar Series (Highlights) Grand Prix of Houston – Race One. 3:30 Motorsport – IndyCar Series (Highlights) Grand Prix of Houston – Race Two. 4am Boxing – Fight Night Anthony Joshua v Emanuele Leo.
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28 Ashburton Guardian
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i don't know
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What medieval defensive feature is named from the French for sliding door?
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Castle Defense Architecture
Castle Defenses
Castle Defense Architecture
The medieval castle was used as a weapon unto itself and its defending garrison of soldiers exploited every possible advantage. The castle's main weapon was obvious in its medieval architecture. Stone curtain walls that were constructed anywhere between 20 and 40 feet high and 7 to 20 feet thick were made more formidable with protecting. Curtain walls were raised even higher as improvements were made in medieval siege engines, but enemy miners could then attack the castle's foundation.
Medieval engineers were used during castle construction to design the stronghold to better prevent attacks from any blind angles or potential flanking positions. Attacking armies liked cover, so the surrounding land near the castle would often be cleared, and vulnerable approaches would be heavily fortified.
Most castles had unique designs and exploited their natural surroundings, and most Middle Age fortifications used a variety of architecture devices to improve their defense.
Towers were often the last section of a castle to fall during an attack, and defending garrisons protected them at all cost. Medieval castle towers came in several shapes: circular, semi-circular, and square. In addition to being prime lookout posts and firing positions for archers, these towers were used in other capacities, such as storehouses and prisons. Medieval towers were often constructed to include merlons, which are hollow spaces through which archers could fire arrows. Other weapons of choice included stones and Greek fire (which was a generic name for any burning liquid made from molten metal or oil), all of which could also be dropped on attackers. Returning crusaders brought back designs influenced by Moorish architecture, and by the late 1100s towers incorporated curved, Arab-like features. This curved architecture made it more difficult for miners to sabotage the foundation.
Castle moats could either be wet or dry. There were times when the unavailability of water or persistent droughts forced castle architects to build dry moats. Moats were used defensively from the earliest medieval castles throughout the Middle Ages. Using strategic moats were often the castle's first way of defending against an attacking army.
The castle's most vulnerable point was often the front door. Portcullises and castle drawbridges were used to provide defense. Made almost exclusively of wood, drawbridges could be removed by hand before an attack or pulled up by soldiers using either ropes or chains.
Gatehouses were impressive, and often rose several stories high. They also contained both living quarters for soldiers and the devices that controlled heavy, protective, grilled gates called portcullises. These sliding doors were usually made of thick timber, and when available, covered with some kind of iron plating. Defending armies were able to shoot arrows through the holes. Larger castles might feature several of these doors that would be used to trap attacking soldiers in narrow, winding hallways. From atop these passageways, the defending army would be poised to drop stones or Greek Fire, and launch arrows through hard to see "murder holes" carved in the ceiling.
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Portcullis
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Agulhas, Kuroshio, Benguela, Canary and Humboldt are?
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The Parts of a Medieval Castle
Definitions and Terms: The Parts of a Medieval Castle
A Medieval castle was a very complex structure and there are lots of things about them that you will recognize. But there are also parts of a medieval castle that you never heard of or maybe heard of but don't really know what they are! Here are some definitions, explanations and drawings of many of the parts of Medieval Castles.
Arrow Loops - These were slots in the walls and structures that were used to shoot arrows through. They came in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.
Ashlar - Blocks of smooth square stone. They can be of any kind of stone. It is the technique of closely joining them together. A good example of Ashlar can be seen in Bodiam castle.
Bailey: This is a courtyard or open space surrounded by walls.The walls that make up the Bailey are also considered to be part of the Bailey. A castle could have several. Sometimes they were called the upper bailey and lower bailey or the west bailey and east bailey.
Barbican: A stone structure that protected the gate of a castle. Think of it as a gatehouse. It usually had a small tower on each side of the gate where guards could stand watch.
Barmkin: A yard surrounded by a defensive wall
Bartizan: A small turret at the corner of a tower or wall. It is usually at the top but not always.
Bastion: A tower or turret projecting from a wall or at the junction of two walls
Battlements: These are the structures at the tops of the walls surrounding a castle. Picture what you have seen in the movies where archers are at the top of the wall and firing arrows between open slots down on the attackers. These shapes at the top (Where the archers position themselves for battle) are called battlements. They are also referred to as crenellations. For several centuries a license was required in order to fortify a building and make it more castle-like. This was called a crenellation license
Buttress: A masonry projection used as additional support for walls. Notre Dame Cathedral is a good examlple of the use of Buttresses.
Corbel - A stone projection from a wall. It supports the weight of a battlement. I have pictures and more here
Courtyard - The open area with the curtain walls of a castle.
Curtain Wall - The stone walls around a castle.
Drawbridge - This was a wooden bridge in front of the main gate of the castle. In the early centuries of castles it was moved horizontal to the ground and in the later centuries it was built so it could raise up in a hinged fashion.
Dungeon - A deep dark cell typically underground and underneath a castle. This is a derivative of the word Dunjon.
Donjon - this is an old word for a great tower or a keep.
Embrasure - An opening in a parapet wall.
GateHouse - A strongly built and fortified main entrance to a castle. It often has a guard house and or living quarters.
Hall or GreatHall - This is the major building inside th walls of a castle.
Hoarding: a covered wooden gallery above a tower the floor had slats or slots to allow defenders to drop object on besiegers. They could also drop liquids and projectiles.
Keep - This definition changed slightly over the centuries of castle building. In the early years of stone castle building the Keep was a standalone structure that could be defended and often square in shape. Over the centuries these structures were improved upon and built around. Thus a castle was made that was a larger and more complex structure. The main tower that this was built around was still called the Keep and it was usually the tallest and strongest structure in the castle. It was also used as the last line of defense during siege or attack.
Machicolations - The openings between the corbels of a parapet. They form areas that stick out along the top of the wall and defenders inside the castle can drop items like boiling oil and rocks onto attackers. I have pictures and more information about machicolations here: About Machicolations
Moat: A Body of water surrounding the outer wall of a castle. It was often around 5 to 15 feet deep and it was sometimes within the outer wall -between the outer wall and the inner wall. The primary purpose of the moat wasn't to stop attackers it was to stop tunnelers. Tunneling under a castle was an effective means of collapsing the walls or infiltrating it. A moat would cause any tunnel to collapse.
Motte And Bailey: This isn't part of a castle it is the predecessor to the castle. A Motte and Bailey was an early form of castle where a large mound of dirt was built up then a wooden fortification was placed on top. This wooden fortification was in the shape of a timber fence that formed a circle like a crown at the top of the mound. The Mound is the motte, and the timber fence and the space it enclosed is the Bailey.
Murder Hole: An opening in the roof of a gateway over an entrance. Used to drop projectiles or other things onto the besiegers.
Oriel Window - A window or set of windows that stick out from a building. Think of bay windows. They were made of stone or wood and often times had corbels underneath to support them. I have more, including pics here: What is an Oriel Window
Oubliette: A deep pit reached by a trap door at the top. Prisoners were kept in it.
Palisade: A defenisive fence
Portcullis - This is a metal or wood grate that was dropped vertically just inside the main gate to the castle.
Postern - A small gate at the back of a castle. Often considered to be a "Back Door".
Rampart: Picture the battlements in the previous definition. The battlements are the top sections of the outer wall of the castle. Now to access these battlements the archers would stand on a walk way that was a wall in it's own right. This walkway is built right up against the outer wall and is called the Rampart.
Shouldered Arch: This is a style of arch building with stone. The arch itself can be straight or arched an on each side is a corbel (shoulder) for support. I have more about this including a picture here: What is a shouldered Arch?
Ward - The area inside the walls of a castle. Often also called the Courtyard.
Yett: Iron gates at the entrance of a castle
Want to learn more about Castle walls? I have a video about them right here:
Medieval History Books )
The great walled castles of the medieval world continue to fascinate the modern world. Today, the remains of medieval forts and walls throughout Europe are popular tourist sites. Unlike many other books on castles, The Medieval Fortress is unique in its comprehensive treatment of these architectural wonders from a military perspective. The Medieval Fortress includes an analysis of the origins and evolution of castles and other walled defenses, a detailed description of their major components, and the reasons for their eventual decline. The authors, acclaimed fortification experts J.E. and H.W. Kaufmann, explain how the military strategies and weapons used in the Middle Ages led to many modifications of these structures. All of the representative types of castles and fortifications are discussed, from the British Isles, Ireland, France, Germany, Moorish Spain, Italy, as far east as Poland and Russia, as well as Muslim and Crusader castles in the Middle East. Over 200 photographs and 300 extraordinarily detailed technical drawings, plans, and sketches by Robert M. Jurga accompany and enrich the main text.
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i don't know
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Technically the avocado ('fruit' of the avocado tree) is a?
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What kind of fruit is avocado?
Question: What kind of fruit is the avocado?
Answer: A single-seeded berry.
Question: Why a berry?
Answer: For reasons that are discussed below.
A fruit is the matured ovary of a flower. Basically, it consists of the ovary wall, or pericarp, which encloses one or more seeds (see figure right). The pericarp is differentiated into three layers of tissues: the outer layer is exocarp, which commonly is called the skin or rind. The middle layer is mesocarp which, generally,makes up the bulk of the pericarp. The inner layer is endocarp which, in some fruits is tough, leathery or hard, in other fruits is soft or fleshy.
All fruits may be classified into two broad categories: dry, and fleshy. The avocado falls into the latter category.
There are two main classes of fleshy fruits: drupes and berries. Drupes are characterized by having a fleshy mesocarp but a tough-leathery or bony endocarp. They are said to have "stones" or "pits" rather than seeds (example: peaches). Also, a drupe usually has only a single seed. Berries, to the contrary, are characterized by having a fleshy endocarp, as well as mesocarp, and may have more than one seed.
If one examines an avocado fruit cut longitudinally, as above, he sees that the exocarp is the skin or rind. It may be vary thin as in Mexican race avocados or thick and almost woody as in some of the large Guatemalan race fruits. The mesocarp is fleshy and makes up the bulk of the pericarp. The endocarp is thin, often not well differentiated from the mesocarp, and sometimes imperceptible. In some soft ripe avocados, it may adhere to the outer seed coat when the seed coat when the seed is removed from the fruit,giving the seed a sort of frosty appearance.
Now, if we go back to the introductory questions we can see why the answer to what kind of fruit is it? and why is it a berry? is: because it fits all the botanical criteria for that class of fruits.
Source:
W. B. Storey. What Kind of Fruit is the Avocado? California Avocado Society Yearbook 1973-74. Pages 70-71.
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Berry
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From the Greek root word for a pointed pillar, what is the technical term for the division sign ( ÷ ) ?
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Avocados - Organic Authority
Avocados
Season for Avocado: April – September
Avocados Described
Sometimes called the Alligator Pear for its rough-textured skin, the avocado is a rich & creamy fruit native to the tropics and subtropics – technically a big ol’ berry. It’s buttery texture and mild, faintly nut-esque flavor make for a healthy fat to be reckoned with. The fruit’s name comes from ahuacatl which is the Nahuatl word for “testicle,” most likely a reference to the avocado’s shape. The Aztecs revere the avocado as the “ fertility frui t.” At the market, you’re most likely to come face-to-face with one of two varieties: the bumpy, almost black Haas or the smooth green Fuerte (means strong in Spanish).
How to Buy and Store Avocados
An avocado is ripe – ready for your indulgence – when it feels slightly soft to the touch but shows no dark sunken spots or cracks. You may also buy a firmer avocado and ripen it in a paper bag or a fruit basket in your home, usually within a few days. Don’t put an avocado into the fridge until it’s ripe, and then it will last up to a week once refrigerated. If you use a portion and wish to save the rest for later use, sprinkle some lemon juice over the exposed flesh to prevent browning which happens pretty quickly and wrap in cellophane.
Tree-ripened avocados are known for better flavor and the way you can tell is if the avo has a longer neck, as opposed to being more round in shape.
How to Cook Avocados
Quite often you might find the best way to eat an avocado is sliced in half, sprinkled with a dash of salt, and enjoyed with the help of a spoon. More often, you might be found bogarting a tub of guacamole. But the awesome avocado – as we’ve dubbed it – can be used in a multitude of unique ways. Sliced avocado can be topped on just about anything and be a winner: garnishing soups , spread on bread just like butter, over a salad or ceviche. Avocado also makes a creamy base for dressings .
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i don't know
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Which occupation traditionally used 'walla' (in the US), 'rhubarb' (UK), and 'gaya' (Japan)?
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ISSUE 54, VOLUME 4, JUNE 2014 ART 71 ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014
BEAUTY 84 Advantages & Disadvantages of Perfumes and Colognes 86 New at Layla Harmony 88 Summer Skin Schedule
ENTERTAINMENT 98 June Movie Releases 101 Top Music Charts
INTERVIEW 16 Abdoulraouf AlWazzan 54 Khadijah Kamel AlHarmi 68 Thuraya Al-Baqasami 70 Brian Kenny 72 Rhonda McKenzie 78 Infusion - Patty Marotte 90 Hiba AlMansour 110 Sarah Al Enzi 122 Abdulla Ashkanani
KIDS 166 Kids Pages
FASHION 126 Fashion News 130 ZOUCH Fashion 134 A Grunge Affair 138 What's Trending This Summer?
FEATURE 20 What Amazing, Ridiculous, Complex Creatures We Are 22 Which Came First, The Chicken or The Egg?! 24 الطريق نحو النجاح 26 How Making Films or TV Series Comes to Life 28 You Don't Know What You've Got 'Till It's Gone! 30 Calling All Dads 32 Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran 46 Getting Creative With The 3 "R"s 102 12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
FITNESS
50 Ramadan and Nutrition 52 Travelling This Summer?
FOOD
76 Nat Bakes... With Love
HEALTH
36 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) 39 العالج الطبيعي 40 Fathers - Integral to Healthy Families 44 "Theraphy?" But My Child is Still Young!
LITERATURE 100 Short Stories by Nadia AlHassan 104 Poetry by Nada Faris 105 Arabic Poetry by Tassnim 106 June 2014 Book Releases 108 The Upcoming Summer
NUTRITION 42 Soccer 58 Eat Healthy This Ramadan
REGULARS 78 Green in The City
60 One-On-One with Kinda AlFaris 64 Tea with T 66 City Guide 82 Nat 's Kitchen Tales... With Love 96 Know About Your Birthstone 107 CP Book Club by Nada Soliman 140 Events 154 Press
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TECHNOLOGY 114 Cool New Gadgets 116 TECH Updates & News
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We have made it to June, the mid-point of 2014, when all are looking forward for Ramadan and getting ready or already have started summer vacations. June is such an interesting month with so many things happening around that it made difficult for us to content with one theme and ignore the rest so we decided to cover as much around us as possible to provide you with the interesting aspects about all the main things. The first theme which has been covered is with reference to ‘World Environment Day’ where my old friend Paul Turnbridge has come with a very special article on page 46 and it is a must read. It will provide us with all the information that how we can contribute in making our environment better. Our new team member Hamad J. AlKulaib, who has recently joined the CityPages team is also up to the task and in persistent manner and will be writing about the green world every month. His first article is available in this issue and will keep regularly promoting the green life. Father’s day which is being celebrated on 15th June has also been specially focused in this issue and the CityPages team members have expressed their feelings and gratitude in the form of words for this precious relation. Our team member Abdulaziz Al-Khamis has brought for you the top twelve movies related to fathers on page 102. As I mentioned in my opening line that Ramadan ‘The month of blessings’ is coming in June so special articles about this month are a must read in this issue. Although many articles are available in this issue but my favorite is Abdullah Shams AlDeen’s article ‘Scientific miracles of Quaran’. I will strongly recommend this article for our readers on page 32. Last but not the least Foot Ball World Cup is also staring from 12th June and it is impossible to ignore such an event. While maintaining this fever CityPages Special focus on this event will provide you with the best and interesting writing about it. Our team member Sandra Bakhamian in her segment City Guide has brough for you Rio De Janeiro and in her illustration you can find Brazil. Kinda AL-Faris’s segment ‘One –On-One with KInda’ is the bumper surprise of June issue. Who does not know Kuwait’s legend footballer Jassim Al Yaqoub. While making the fever rise interview of Jassim Al Yaqoub is most appropriate at this time of the year. We are honored to be the first magazine that was granted access to his museum. The entrance into it took us back to the memories of 1982 World Cup when Kuwait participated in the event. Our New Segment Nat’s Kitchen tales… with love is another segment for international cuisine lovers. Every month you will have something amazing and different from the different parts of the world. The segment has kicked off this month with Brazilian food which you can enjoy while watching matches. Our cover interview is with Hiba AlMansour from Kuwait’s major book stores ‘That Al Salasil’. She has in detail discussed the ‘Power of paper in the digital world’. A must read interview. As always CityPages met with many interesting people during for this issue who are valued contributors in their respective fields. Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan is one of them. His contributions in Warba Insurance are really worth mentioning. We met with Abdulla Ashkanani the owner of Piel De Tore Kuwait on the occasion of their first anniversary. We have brought for you the details of Sara Al Enzi at the head quarter of Ooredoo telecom, previously known as Wataniya telecom. Meeting with Patty Marotte of Infusions was a very interesting and inspiring experience. Thuraya Al- Baqsami’s interview is in fact a tribute to Sheaffer pens. Khadija Kamil a young Kuwaiti lady is helping people achieve their fitness goals. There are so many other interesting regular feature and articles waiting for you inside. Let’s keep the fingers crossed and wait for the new soccer champs.
Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor
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DISCLAIMER
Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait. All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. 10 citypageskuwait.com Copyright © June 2014
On the Cover: Hiba AlMansour Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi
June, 2014
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Hello Our Beautiful Readers!
Dear CityPages Readers,
With the advent of June we are already at the verge of ending the first half of the year. Like work the heat
The World Cup season has commenced! This is
is also at its best. Actually this is the time of the year
the time when TV sets are sold out and people are
when we all need to sit back and carefully examine our new year’s resolutions. We need to check that where we have reached with the promises which
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we committed with ourselves at the start of the year. Take advantage of this full bloomed heat, stay
shopping for potato chips and popcorn instead of groceries. Go figure the fervor. Our issue of course is dedicated to the season and
at home at just check the progress which we were
to celebrate in spirit of this I am interviewing the
supposed to do during the first 6 months of the
legendary Kuwaiti soccer player Jassim Yaqoub.
year.
What a truly kind and gentle man he is yet an icon.
Football World Cup is knocking at the door and
CityPages
your CityPages is bringing for you the interesting
Ramadan is at our door, and in this heat I think we
details about it. Other than the football you will
may be earning extra points this year. I hope that
find so many interesting things in the June issue
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which are not only worth reading but also worth remembering. I can assure you that you will enjoy reading the special articles which we have brought for you with reference to Father’s day as well.
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I will not disclose all the secrets of June issue as I
everyone takes care of themselves in this energy sapping heat wave that has hit Kuwait. Finally, to all you wonderful fathers out there, what a lovely job you’re doing Happy Fathers Day!
know that the suspense always creates interest. Grab your copy today and enjoy the read and as usual keep us posted with valued feedback. FOR ADVERTISING E-mail: [email protected]
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June, 2014
15
by: Abdalla AlMuzaini
From passion to success, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan was determined to excel with everything he worked on. Quitting was never a given option to Abdulraouf, and that was forced to his strength of mind since childhood. Kuwait was going through a reconstruction phase to fix all the destructions that occurred during the Iraqi invasion. New Infrastructure was being built in the country and part of the reconstruction was the introduction of the Internet to Kuwait in 1995. The Internet was something new to the people, where people still didn’t know what is Internet, and what is the difference between the internet and a computer! That to Abdulraouf was “eye-catching!” and set him off to the beginning of his journey…. At the age of 18, the starting point of his passion flickered upon Abdulraouf’ s eyes when the English teacher assigned an essay to be written, and one of his class mates submitted his essay ‘Printed on Paper.’ This was an illuminating realization, which resulted in Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s personal feeling of elation and wonder! It was right there shining before Abdulraouf’s eyes like a pot of gold, and he knew what he wanted… He wanted a computer. Al-Wazzan not just only wanted to do all his essays on the computer, but all College marketing campaigns as well. His wish came true when Abdulraouf’s father got him his first Personal Computer.
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Through this PC, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s exploration started to get deeper, leading him to work on Microsoft Front Page, and Photoshop. The “First Online Magazine in Kuwait” – was created by Al-Wazzan and his friend Waleed Bandar. Abdulraouf knew that there was so much to learn and discover from the Personal Computer and positioned his complete focus towards the field of Information Technology (IT). “IRC Club” was the first Internet Café to open by Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan and his family in 1997 using DSL, unlike other Internet Cafés who were still using Dial Up. At the “IRC Club” is where Abdulraouf learnt all about technical Networking. From that spark of wonder, to a passion, Abdulraouf wanted more…. A greater and bigger career, leading him to pursuing his education at The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) granting him a Diploma in Computer Programming. After leaving PAAET in the year 2000, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan went job hunting. At that time, anyone who wanted to work must have a permission letter from the military, which Abdulraouf didn’t have. This was a struggle to Abdulraouf as he wanted to work but the letter of approval was his only prerequisite. With no other choice, Abdulraouf applied to serve the Kuwaiti army, but was requested to serve an additional year as he was late in joining. Finding a way around it, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan joined the Kuwaiti Air Force as a volunteer with minimum condition of five years to serve. The reason
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Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan From Passion to Success
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of him joining the Air Force was not for the love of flying but for the mere fact that there was an open vacancy for a position as an IT Network Administrator. Al-Wazzan took up this role for a period of four years till he got promoted to become the IT Team Leader at the Kuwaiti Air Force. As the IT Team Leader, Abdulraouf developed a new version of the HR System; added at least 60% of new features, automated the process, and made it paperless which was a ‘time-cutter’ and resulted in an increase in efficiency. Respective of the minimum requirement to serve for five years as a volunteer, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan continued serving for a total period of eight years. Eight years of active contribution, Abdulraouf realized it was time for him to spread his wings and fly away. It was essential to Al-Wazzan to continue his path of learning more about IT, taking more tasks and responsibilities, and reaching to hire positions with better job offers. Abdulraouf is back again with his job hunting, and after three months of 18
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searching, Al-Wazzan finally gets a call for a job interview. In 2008, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan officially joins ZAIN IT Department as a Data Base Administrator (DBA). Within his year and a half at ZAIN full of IT responsibilities, AlWazzan was involved in six main critical, major enterprise, and successful IT Projects: • The new numbering plan of adding the 8th digit to the ZAIN phone numbers (which impacted entire Kuwait’s users of ZAIN) as a Project Technical Team Member. • The Archiving System as a Project Manager. • The initiator and owner of the project to standardize ZAIN user’s access. • The upgrade of the Client Relation Management for Telecommunication Business Solution (TABS) as the User Acceptance Test (UAT) owner. • The upgrade of the E-Business Website as
the Infrastructure owner. • The Data Warehouse project as the Infrastructure owner. Driven by determination and goals of leadership, is when Abdulraouf decided to look into something greater and shift from the technical IT routine, to the course of IT Management. Of course, like any father is, Al-Wazzan’s father was concerned about Abdulraouf’s decision; as he was leaving a huge enterprise sized company such as ZAIN and going to the Insurance industry which was very uncommon. Stubborn and committed to his goals as he was, Al-Wazzan had already taken his decision to move to Warba Insurance where he had already been offered a managerial position. Warba Insurance at that time had a vision of restructuring its IT department and business solutions, and that’s when Abdulraouf joined to lead and deliver this vision to reality. Proving himself to the management
of Warba, Al-Wazzan was immediately promoted as the IT Manager, and by 2011, Warba Insurance officially had a fullfledged IT infrastructure, highest of its kind where no other Insurance businesses has today. With the planning, Al-Wazzan and his technical decisions, managed to save 60% of cost and this was such a great and successful achievement that it got published as a Regional Case Study by Microsoft, and could be read on www. microsoft.com
Subsequently, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan engaged his heavy experience of his Photoshop with his daily activities to market Warba Insurance in the Kuwaiti market. Successfully, Al-Wazzan played a key role in the rebranding of Warba Insurance’s corporate identity, and initiated the Social Media campaigns in 2011. Because of Abdulraouf’s hard work, commitments and achievements, Al-Wazzan got promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM) responsible for the IT and Marketing department.
which is taking place as IT has become the backbone of the business. The question is how he did it… How did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan take on Warba Insurance back in 2009 where IT was still in its early stages, to where it is today, almost 100% IT driven, cost saving, and a money making entity? Abdulraouf explained, “IT Managers should map themselves to the business goals of the decision makers. It is simply a negotiation to convince the management to invest in IT in order to achieve the Objective, Mission, and Vision of the company.”
Today, Warba Insurance is the first Insurance Company to start social media, and became the leaders in the Insurance sector in comparison to their competitors who also started to rebrand to keep up with Warba.
After his passion-able career jumps from the Internet Café to the Kuwaiti Air force and from ZAIN to Warba Insurance, I needed to know, did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan finally reach his goals reaching to a top level executive and becoming well known in the IT industry? He simply smiled back at me and said “Abdalla, IT was a passion which started back in 1994, and today I have reached to an AGM position but that is not enough for me; you see, you can be a CEO but still be an employee. I would say that reaching my optimal goal is becoming a business owner of my own, as my dream is clear for me now… There is a lack of understanding towards the importance of IT, and would like to start a firm focused on IT consultancy & Management to help serve the Kuwaiti market.”
By the year 2015, it is predicted that, Warba Insurance will be saving enormous operational costs due to the automation
Abdulraouf is finally practicing what he’s been preaching for years, and is looking to make Kuwait a better place, using IT.
June, May, 2014
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T
he ground is heart-stoppingly far away. Our amygdala recognises clear and present danger, heartbeat increases by a factor of three, blood pressure rockets, saliva seems to just not be there any more and the urge to really be somewhere else is almost overmastering. We are almost literally scared to death, experiencing massive surges of adrenalin, noradrenalin and growth hormone. In milliseconds, our hypothalamus pumps corticotropin-releasing hormone, triggering the pituitary to pump out adrenocorticotropin which in turn persuades the adrenal glands near our kidneys to start producing cortisol. Paraphrasing the above, after a very short time our adrenals feel like a couple of squeezed oranges as adrenalin rushes headlong into our bloodstream. Breathing is short, hard and fast as blood pumps manically. If you're old enough to remember, your whole body feels as if it's the starship Enterprise, shields at ten per cent, fending off an all-out Klingon attack. "She cannae take much more, Captain!" ...There's not much point in diverting precious energy for digesting when every joule might be needed just to survive. Pupils dilate, increasing movement perception, to see into the shadows where the bogeymen hide.... No, you haven't inadvertently slipped into a parallel universe and there won't be a test tomorrow on the biology of fear. We are, of course, talking about skydiving. About to leap heedlessly from an aircraft and experience an acceleration of almost ten metres per second per second meaning that we get to go really, really quickly. Mother Earth rushes to embrace us. Awfully fast. For all the adrenalin junkies, anybody who is reading this who can remember their first jump, I'd bet money that you're smiling right now. Whether or not we decide to jump out of the aeroplane depends upon our overcoming the entirely natural fear of dying horribly, but... why bother? What is it that motivates otherwise quite normal, well-balanced people to override a perfectly reasonable natural protection mechanism? Because we like it. That's why. This cascade of biochemical changes as a result of perceived risk is, I am told, experienced as high arousal together with unpleasant anxiety, which seems to be a little bit paradoxical. So, we ask ourselves again, the question is not whether we would go parachuting, but why? Even if we could conjure an answer, it ain't quite as simple as "we like it." A wilderness camper might grab a baseball bat to chase away a bear intent on foraging but the same guy with the baseball bat is afraid to stand up to his boss, both activities being fraught with danger but of two very different kinds. To paraphrase Orwell, all risk is not created equal. Research seems to indicate that we subject ourselves to quite a number of risk-taking activities of various kinds and, what a surprise, our risk-taking behaviour is governed by our genetics. Freud would have said "when in doubt, blame the mother", in our day we'd argue "when in doubt, blame the gene", which, if we think about it, is another way of saying exactly the same thing. If we stay with Uncle Sigmund for a moment longer, he might have told us in those soothing sessions on his leather couch that our risk-taking behaviour was illogical, beyond reason and we should stop it immediately since we obviously have suicidal tendencies. Hedge fund managers and other fledgling wolves of Wall Street, please take note. You'll no doubt be relieved to hear that we've come a long way since Sigmund's sofa and I think you've
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read enough amateur shrink-speak for one day. When I was a child, my mother used to remind me with monotonous regularity that 'curiosity killed the cat'. Perhaps she meant only to discourage me from stealing the car before I was tall enough to see over the steering wheel. Maddeningly, she then took me to the library where I borrowed books whose titles began with "The Adventures Of...", which positively encouraged me to undertake derring-do, rescue a few distressed damsels, single-handedly fight my way through squadrons of bad guys and generally place myself in harm's way to the general approbation of all and sundry. In other words, she gave with one hand and took away with the other. I don't think she liked me very much. It didn't really dampen my enthusiasm for dangerous behaviour, maternal wrath or feline homicide notwithstanding and over the years I've been involved in more than a few squeezed oranges moments. See above if you've forgotten. It's fortunate, however, that as we get older, our risk perception skills get better and the increased information flow that we enjoy in our, let's say, maturer years, tends to discourage us from doing stuff which, let's be honest, is batshit crazy. I no longer duck under the barrier when the ski run says it's closed - they didn't really mean it, it looked OK from the bottom - besides which, the piste is absolutely empty. It's only when you get halfway down, notice that it's steep and impossibly gnarly, covered in sheet ice and the bumps are the size of Buicks, that you realise that they might have had a point in closing it after all. Being now retired, sort of, you might therefore imagine me to be a benevolently becardiganed, avuncular figure gently pottering among the geraniums, days of risk and adventure being no more than a distant memory. To all my friends who are reading this, please stop howling immediately. I recently took up a new sport, scuba diving, cavorting with the fishes, dolphins, turtles and so forth on the ocean floor. Once you've mastered the art of neutral buoyancy so you stop bouncing up and down like a demented trampolinist, the wonders of the deep unroll before your eyes like a magic carpet. Strange creatures, some with teeth, glide effortlessly past. Octopi do what they do - it really is quite hard to explain how the eightfold synchrony actually works. Fantastic fish painted like rainbows graze in the coral. Sometimes, they might even have a friendly nibble on your wetsuit, which can be a little bit unnerving. There are a couple of downsides, touching really is a no-no because stingy thingies can put you in hospital. Also, you do rather have to know what you're doing in tight spaces and, moreover, have to be able to hang about for extended periods with heavy weights. It's like the gym, but wetter. A while back, after a three day diving trip to the Red Sea, I trudged wearily out of the airport, flapping an exhausted hand to a kindly taxi driver and feeling a bit, well, elderly, to be honest. My joints hurt and I momentarily cursed Jacques Cousteau for not inventing scuba gear that weighs on land in excess of twenty-five kilograms, which felt to me a bit like carrying my mother-in-law out of the surf. Fortunately, I have no pictures of my knees momentarily giving way as I hauled my hippopotamine carcass out of the forgiving water on to the beach, gravitationally challenged, cutting my foot on shard-sharp shingle in the process, being gently helped landward by a muscular Swiss instructor. Archimedes did have a point; history does not relate whether he himself was helped out of his bath by a muscular Greek slave who omitted to clothe his master before he ran manically into the street, thereby subjecting him to the catcalls
What amazing, ridiculous, complex creatures we are by: John MacArthur
and hissing of the local citizenry to whom his discoveries meant little. So, why have you been subjected to my little adventure diary? Because it illustrates a point. We don't stop taking the odd risk just because we've left childhood behind. It's actually quite good for us, as it happens, in small doses, a bit like exercise. Now, please don't for a moment imagine that you should suggest to your grandchildren that what you'd really like for your seventy-fifth birthday is a course of skydiving lessons or a bungee jump. And, if your bowels turn to water at the thought of doing something which might kill you, for "risk" read "exercise". Standing up is better than sitting down. Take a walk - you'll get all the adrenalin rush you need trying to cross the road in this country. If you're a corporate drone, you might make them buy you a stand-up desk. Churchill and Hemingway both had one, both risking varicose veins and coronary atherosclerosis. There's a growing body of medical evidence that asserts that hours of uninterrupted sitting can be surprisingly bad for your health but standing is a bit risky too. If you own the company, you could even get yourself the ultimate in work-life multitasking, a treadmill desk. Now, these will serve several purposes. One being that you have to actually walk to go nowhere - a bit like this story, really - and simultaneously type on your laptop which is just out of reach and is actually hazardous because you can't get the positioning software right in the brain and you might well fall...oh, dear, it's all getting very complicated and dangerous. Apparently, you can get one that simulates snowboarding as well. See - instant adrenalin rush, right there at work. Just like skydiving really.
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Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?!
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he saying goes that “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”. We have heard it over and over again; a phrase that is certainly much older than the Women's Movement of the 1960s. Yes! We have heard it a million times throughout the decades, believed in it and used it in many situations. But have we really thought about its origin? How exactly did we come to believe it and make it a “universal truth”? The meaning of the saying clearly declares that a great/successful man wouldn’t be so without support from the woman in his life. Well, my question to all women and to myself is: would a woman be supportive of an unsupportive or a mistreating man? Would she feed his ambitions, inspire him to take risks, provide him with self-confidence? I answered NO! And would a man be good to a woman who always demean his aspiration and mock his vision? The answer is again, NO! The question thus arises, which came first: the chicken or the egg? X that can't come without Y, or Y that can't come without X? Regardless of the sex, man or woman, I believe any human would never give a genuine smile to a hurtful face, present a
Sherihan A. Hassabo Sherihan A. Hassabo is a passionate writer who started expressing her opinion about controversial subjects when she was 14. When she is not directing events, she likes to investigate the interesting relationships' controversy in our Eastern society. Every month, and from real life experience; Sherihan will share a story, an idea, opinion, or a simple advice for men and women to live happily ever after.
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helping hand to biting teeth, stand behind someone else to support his success if they know for sure that, if the tables are turned, the other person wouldn’t do exactly the same. It is not a question of giving and caring, it is human nature which drives us all; men and women. Giving it the slightest thought, we should come to realize that while some facts need to be altered, there are definitely new facts that we need to derive from the existing ones: there has to be a saying “Behind every great woman there’s a great man”, and “Behind every unsuccessful man there’s an unsuccessful woman”... and so on. Let’s be fair and think it over before we merely repeat it!
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الطريقنحوالنجاح
طبيعة
النفس تحب النجاح في حياتها سواء على الصعيد الشخصي أو الوظيفي أو المالي أو جميع جوانب الحياة .للنجاح لذة جميلة من اعتاد عليه ال يمكنه التخلي عنه ،فتراه يقفز من قمة الى قمة ليحقق النجاح الذي اعتاد عليه وأصبح اسلوب حياته. في تجربة بسيطة مع مجموعة من المتدربين في احدى دوراتي ،اخترت شخصين واخرجتهم من القاعة ،أغلقنا عين أحدهم الذي عليه أن يصل لمكان جلوسه وهو يتلقى توجيهات الشخص اآلخر ،دون علمهم ما سيجري داخل القاعة ،و المتدربين في داخل القاعة عليهم تشتيت تركيز ذلك الشخص والعمل على عكس توجيهات الشخص المساعد .وحين دخل الشخص للقاعة توقع أن يستمع فقط لتوجيهات الصديق المساعد ،لكنه تفاجأ بازعاج في القاعة مما أدى لتعثره وتغيير طريقه، والشخص المساعد توقف عن التوجيهات فور سماع اإلزعاج ،لكنه تدارك الموقف قبل سقوط صديقه فأعاد توجيهه حتى وصل لمكانه الصحيح. الفكرة من هذا التمرين ليست بإزعاج الشخص أو احداث الفوضى ،بل هي فكرة أرغب بتوصيلها لمن حولي ،وهي أنك حين تضع أولى خطواتك نحو النجاح لتحقق هدفك ،ستواجه تحديات الحياة أو يتوجه لك المحبطين والمزعجين ( ليشلوا) حركتك أو يعيقوا تواصلك ،فهدفهم تعطيلك وغايتهم فشلك ،انتبه أن توجه تركيزك لهم فقط تجاههلهم. بعد أيام من أدائي لهذا التمرين تعرضت لموقف مشابه حين بدأت بتحقيق هدف جديد ،ابتسمت وقلت هذا هو التمرين وحان التطبيق ،وفع ً ال تجاهلت ما حدث وكأنه شيء لم يحدث وفع ً ال انتهى الموقف ونجحت في التمرين.
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Nour AlZaabi
Nour holds a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Marketing and is a Member at The Kuwait Economic Society and British Council Entrepreneur Network in Kuwait. Stay tuned for her articles and features in the CityPages magazine.
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How Making Film or Tv Series Comes To Life Available online on Pinterest.com
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ince I’ve been back in Kuwait, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Kuwait’s award-winning film director and producer Walid Al-Awadi as he films a mini-series. I’ve watched and learned what it takes to bring a film or television series come to life. It’s not easy and takes a lot of discipline, plus a team you can count on around you. Here’s how it happens… Development:It all starts with an idea. Mind you, that idea can take years to come to fruition. You’ll have to make your idea come to life with a proper script. Script writing is a skill, so be prepared to spend the time working on your writing or finding a capable scriptwriter. Be prepared for numerous edits and rewrites. You’ll have to think about character development and the story you will tell. When you think you are done, you aren’t. You’ll rewrite again and again; and that’s only part of development. Unless you will be spending your own money to make the feature, you’ll have to pitch your idea successfully to convince someone to spend money to take it to the next step. Pre-Production:Ok, so now you have the script and financing, you’ll need to start getting the production together. This is a critical time and can take months. It is essential to make sure everyone has the same vision for the end product. You’ll be creating story boards, production boards, setting the budget, getting your team together: executive producer, director, producer, editor, and camera department (director of photography, lighting and sound crew, and the like). Now is also the time to start casting actors, finding costume and set designers, makeup artists, and scouting locations for filming. Your producer will also handle things
Laila Al-Qatami Laila holds a BS in Journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder and a MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. She was a former spokesperson for the Arab-American community through the largest grassroots Arab-American organization based in Washington, DC. Laila is a Specialist in the image of Arabs and Muslims in US media, films, and popular culture.
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like securing equipment, transportation, comes to life. catering, and so many other details. You will also start sequencing where and how you will film your story. You will outline everything, Distribution:Ok, so you have the film made, you must also find a distribution channel and yes, do more rewrites. otherwise, no one will ever see it. Not everyone will jump at the chance, so you will Filming:The time this takes depends on have to knock on many doors. Some might what is the length of program or film you open, close, then open; it takes patience and are creating. The days are long and you’ll good negotiation. Once you have agreed be working hard. It can takes hours to film with the distributor about where/when it will just one scene, and it might not even make it air, and who will retain the rights, you start into the final version. All actors are different the publicity phase of promoting your work and you’ll have to manage what happens on before, during, and after it is shown. set, in addition to the actual filming. Is the lighting right, is the sound clear, did you get Then, your next idea hits you, and you start the right shot? Oh and you’ll probably rewrite all over again. some things along the way. Post-Production:This process connects everything together, putting the film together from the footage. This requires editing, sound, special effects, color correction and money, lots of money. This is where it all
June, 2014
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You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone! Available online on Pinterest.com by: Paul Turnbridge
E
ver since I started thinking about writing something for Fathers’ Day, a tune has been going over and over in my mind. Most readers may be too young to remember the classic by Joni Mitchell entitled “Big Yellow Taxi” but please check it out online if you want a retro musical treat. Anyway, the lyric which repeats in my head resonates “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” which, I guess, is where I claim my association with Fathers’ Day. Let me explain… My father was born in England in 1915. He grew up in a very different world to the one in which we live today … few cars; no television; taking a weekly bath in a large tin tub on the kitchen floor, sharing the bathwater with the rest of the family; none of the modern kitchen gadgetry yet invented. He lived through an era 28
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of great change! He had worked in the offices at GWR (Great Western Railway) which was one of the earliest of the pre-nationalised UK railway companies, until the onset of World War 2. He served his country as an officer in the Royal Artillery regiment and, after the war, remained in military service and met my mother at a T.A. camp at which he was Adjutant. By the time I arrived in 1958, he had married, had a daughter, been moved to several postings (with family in tow) and had finally been assigned a permanent position in the Ministry of Defense in London’s Whitehall. My father was a traditional man with oldfashioned values. For example, he would never even go shopping without wearing collar, tie and jacket! It was his belief that his role was to be the provider for the family, and he achieved that well. We were never
financially wealthy, but we were comfortable and never lacked for anything we needed. Yet we were rich in so many other ways … my sister and I grew up in a loving home. Our parents were there whenever we needed them; they spent time with us – reading to us when we were little, and teaching us the basics before providing us with the best-possible education. They taught us to be independent, yet never stopped loving and supporting us – even when we thought we knew better and did things against their advice or wishes. Yet I haven’t really celebrated Fathers’ Day since my father died some 20 years ago – not because I don’t love, respect and appreciate what my father did for me, but because I don’t really want to think about him not being here any longer. What would I not give to have him back even for just one week?
Of course I have many wonderful memories and a whole heap of photos (some of which are reproduced here) and, when I get together with my mother and sister, we still remember some of the daft things dad used to do to make us laugh. My father was strict and serious when it was needed, but he was also a good judge, a fair man and a great source of fun and laughter. Ours was a happy home. I think it was around 8 years before he died that my father developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Since retiring from work, he and mum had started to enjoy their leisurely new life. They had moved away from London to a new home in a beautiful part of England, and had travelled for some lovely holidays together, and my father spent a lot of his time creating his beloved gardens. But then he became more absent-minded and his character seemed to change. At first, we thought it was just dementure … but the progression to Alzheimer’s was unfairly rapid and unexpected. Communication became difficult and often, when I visited, he did not even know who I was. It was like my father was there….but he wasn’t really my father….he was not the man any of us knew. Even now – 20 years on – I get upset when I think back to those awful last years. He deserved better! His ultimate death was a release for him. As a typically generous gesture, at the onset of the disease, my father had agreed that upon his death he would donate his brain for medical research to St. Mary’s Hospital in London, where they lead the research into cures that will benefit future Alzheimer’s sufferers. By this act, he left his final footprint. This has been a very personal account which, at times, has been difficult to write. But why should I be surprised by that? After all, our fathers are personal to each of us. We all have unique memories and relationships with our family members, and we need to hold on to those. I loved my father (and still do) but it wasn’t until he was no longer around that I realized just how much he meant to me. I now know that I didn’t appreciate him enough when he was alive; I now know that there are so many conversations we should have had, but never did; and I know now that I will never again have the opportunities I once had to just be with him. Most of you will be able to value the presence of your fathers right now, and I urge you not to let any opportunity slip past. Take it from someone who knows from experience … you really don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone! (Written in memory of Major Victor R. Tunbridge – a true Gentleman, and a Gentle Man.) June, 2014
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Calling All Dads: You Matter Too!
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rowing up in the Middle East, moms are always seen as the anchor of the house, the most significant figure, the caring one, the one person you turn to when things go wrong and the one who puts every ones needs first and hers at the bottom. Of course this is all true (especially in my mother’s case!) but what about all the great fathers out there too? In our house we were always puzzled by the notorious Mother’s day celebrated in March and so we decided to call it Family day. That is until my sister and I moved to the US and realized that there are two days equally important, a day to celebrate your mom and another one dedicated to your dad in June! For the longest time, mothers have been revered, respected, and admired. After all, we moms, go through 9 months of pregnancy (which I found were actually 10 when I was pregnant but that's a whole different story for another article), changes in our bodies physically and emotionally, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, child rearing, giving up our careers and all the other sacrifices we make to be mothers. But wait a second; right by our sides are men, who have equally gone through many changes to be fathers too, to hold our hands through it all and those little hands of our children too. Most of what we as moms go through would not be possible if it wasn't for the wonderful husbands standing beside us each step of the way. These husbands are the wonderful fathers to our kids who so lovingly take care of many of parenthood’s many responsibilities too. To all the dads out there, as we celebrate you on your special day, let me remind you as to why you matter and how important your presence is to your family: 1.Dads play an important role in children’s development from birth all the way through adulthood. Research has shown that children with involved fathers do better socially and academically than kids with no relationship (or a distant relationship) with their fathers. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, children
Zahra Taqi Zahra is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop her a line on her email: [email protected] or find her on FB: http://www.facebook. com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @ MilestonesCoach
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with fathers who take the time to ask about what they learned at school and their dayto-day social activities and relationships do better in school than kids whose dads do not provide that kind of interest or input. 2.Dads and their boys: Fathers play an important role in their son’s lives as they model to them what it is like to be a man, how to be responsible, caring and how to be a loving husband and a good father. According to Christine Langlois, author of “Raising Great Kids”, boys who grow up with involved dads are less likely to get in trouble with the law as they get older. 3.Dads and their daughters: Fathers play a very important role in their daughters’ lives. Daughters who have a strong and healthy relationship with their dads tend to be more confident and self assured, independent and confident. Also studies show that girls who have a strong bond with their fathers tend to have less mental health problems later in life. Another important role for fathers when it comes to their daughters is the example they set for them in regards to men (i.e. husbands). 4.Dads bring on the adventure!: Many moms are cautious when it comes to their kids being adventurous, erring on the side of caution and some times discouraging their kids of partaking in certain activities according to Langlois. Dads on the other hand tend
Available online on Pinterest.com to believe that their kids are physically able which leads to children overcoming challenges and therefore having a higher self esteem. Simple things like asking your kids what they learned at school that day, reading to them, asking about their dayto-day activities can lead to kids being more academically successful. When a dad exhibits a commitment to his family, he models a responsible behavior to his own children. Also, children with supportive fathers, usually have less problems and are better able to get along with others and have better control over their emotions. There you have it Dads! You matter too just as much as any mom out there. Moms do put in a lot of hard work and oh so much love to their families, but so do you, and you ROCK at it! So, to all the wonderfully involved and supportive fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day to you all! May you continue to support your spouses and your families, build wonderfully strong relationships with them and reap the benefits of all the hard work. And to the two most amazing dads in my life, my dad and my kids’ dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work, Happy Father’s Day you two! “Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!” By Lydia Child.
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Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran Available online on Pinterest.com Sahih International Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
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t is only natural that on the month where the Quran was revealed, that it should take center stage in the minds and inhabiting the consciousness of its believers. Darting through it cover to cover void of real meaning most likely defies the purpose. A diligent pondering of simply a few of the Quran’s verses concerning everything that consists in our metaphysical universe can be just as fruitful.
A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.)
Ramadan has always been a month of invigorating spiritual, physical and mental replenishment. Yes, a heightened sense of moral awareness tends to wash over some while tiny seeds of empathy begin to sprout in the hearts of others. Some people you might know appear facially unrecognizable, a sudden alteration in personality and perhaps some genuine “Ramadan Resolutions” towards battling ones inner destructive desires. So let us attempt to enhance the blissful energy by reflecting on several of scientific statements in the Quran.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (21:30)
More than 1,400 years ago in what was a backwater of civilization in the deserts of Arabia, an illiterate Arab produces scientific statements that scientists discovered just yesterday, relatively speaking, all while doing so in a linguistically superior form to any known Arabic text. People at the time were devoid of science, there were no telescopes, microscopes or anything even close to powerful technology we have today. Conceptions of nature and the universe were based on superstition and myth. Arabs believed the earth was flat and that mountains supported the sky above. Within this backdrop, the Quran was revealed containing many scientific facts on topics ranging from the origins of the universe to remarkably accurate descriptions of each stage of human embryonic development. Many of these facts could not be fully appreciated at the time, only recently have we as a species developed the technological means to marvel on its accuracies.
The Origins of The Universe and Its Expansion The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of hot dense smoke. This is one of the undisputed principles of modern cosmology. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (41:11)
The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this identical smoke, they formed and separated from each other.
Sahih International Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? In the previous verse, the Arabic words ratq and fataq are used. The word ratq can be translated into “entity”, “sewn to”, “joined together” or “closed up”. The meanings of these translations all circulate around something that is mixed and that has a separate and distinct existence. The verb “fataq” is translated into “We unstitched” “We clove them asunder” “We separated” or “We have opened them”. These meanings imply that something comes into being by an action of splitting or tearing apart. The sprouting of a seed from the soil is a good example of a similar illustration of the meaning of the verb fataq. With the introduction of the Big Bang theory, it soon became clear to Muslim scholars that the details mentioned with regards to the theory go identically hand in hand with the description of the creation of the universe in verse 30 of the 21st Surah of the Quran. The theory states that all the matter in the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point; that exploded and brought about the beginning of the universe, matches what is mentioned in the verse that the heaven and Earth (thus the universe) where all once joined together at a single point, and then split apart. Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.
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He said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:1) impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few Sahih International years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this By the sky and the night comer. is the case.” “Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:2) hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin,” he Sahih International added. And what can make you know what is the night comer? In 1916, Albert Einstein formulated his General Theory of Relativity that indicated that the universe must be either expanding or contracting. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:3) Confirmation of the expanding-universe theory finally came in 1929 at the Sahih International hands of the well known American astronomer Edwin Hubble. It is the piercing star. Allah (SWT) communicates this phenomenon through prophet Mohammed (PBUH)1,400 years ago: The Arabic word "Thuqb" means a hole; "Thaqeb" means the one who makes the hole. The Quran is describing a knocking star that makes a piercing hole. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (51:47) Again, how could an illiterate man who lived 1,400 years ago (or anyone at that time) have known that a star can make a piercing hole let alone a knocking sound?
Sahih International
Furthermore, Allah (SWT) also takes a mighty oath on the grandness of black And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] holes describing them as invisible celestial bodies that move and sweep like expander. vacuums: Yet, astonishingly well before telescopes were even invented and well before Hubble published his Law, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite this verse of the Quran to his companions that ultimately stated that the universe is expanding. At the time of the revelation of the Quran, the word “space” was not known, and people used the word “heaven” or “sky” to refer to what lies above the Earth. In the above verse, the word heaven or sky is referring to space and the known universe. The verse points out that space and the entire universe happens to be expanding, just as Hubble’s Law states. It is nothing short of a miracle that the Quran mentioned such a fact many centuries before the invention of the first telescope, at a time when there was primitive to no knowledge in science. This is more so considering that, like many people in his time and place, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) happened to be illiterate and simply could not have been aware of such profound ideas on his own.
Pulsar Stars and Black Holes Neutron stars are remnants of exploded stars. As more matter falls into a neutron star its mass increases; and as its mass increases its gravity increases. A point will be reached where gravity would have grown so much that not even light could escape, thus a black hole forms. Most neutron stars discovered today are in the form of radio pulsars. They are called radio pulsars because they emit radio waves, as well as insanely bright gamma ray bursts shooting from each end like towers or in Arabic “burooj” (which God takes an oath on swearing by the heavens and its “burooj” that can mean bright stars and also grand bright towers.)
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:15) Sahih International So I swear by the retreating stars .
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:16) Sahih International Those that run [their courses] and disappear. “Running Sweepers” or Black holes haven't been detected until in 1971, a satellite pinpointed the exact location of a black hole in the constellation Cygnus. Scientists believe that some regions of space exert such powerful gravity that they act like gigantic vacuum cleaners, sucking in any matter that comes too close. No matter what the matter is, may it be a comet, a planet, or even a cloud of gas would be crushed to an infinite density and disappear forever. The gravity is so intense that it alters space and even time, slowing down time and stretching out space. Not even light can escape the fierce gravitational pull, so they remain black and invisible. That is the reason behind their description in the verse as 'celestial bodies that disappear, the running sweepers’. Simply marvelous description of the unseen.
Human Embryonic Development
Connecting a radio telescope to a loud speaker you would in fact be able to hear a pulsar. Pulsars sound like someone persistently knocking in a rhythmic pattern.
In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) describes in precise visual detail the stages of human embryonic development, 1,400 years before modern day scientists 'discovered' important information on creation of man and his development only with aid of recent highly advanced machines.
Today we can hear a pulsars knocking and if matter continues to fall into this pulsar a black hole will eventually form. The Quran describes a star by "the one who knocks" [translated “night comer” he who knocks at night] and says that it is "the one who makes a hole”:
Sahih International
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:12)
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:13) Sahih International Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:14)
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Sahih International Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators.
Next in that verse from the Qur'an comes the Arabic word Mudghah (translated as lump of flesh) can refer to a "chewed substance". If someone was to take a piece of gum and chew it to leave teeth marks down the side it would look as the developing spine, of the embryo chewed. The picture displayed shows the resemblance of the embryos somites with chew marks. Suspension of an Embryo during the early stages in the womb of the mother. (About 15 days old) The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6mm.
The Arabic word Alaqah (translated clinging clot) literally has three meanings: •Leech •Suspended or clinging thing •Blood clot. When we compare a leech to an embryo in the alaqah phase, we find much similarity between the two. It is also noteworthy that the embryo at this phase obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, just like the leech, which feeds on the blood of other organisms. Using the word alaqah again to say the embryo is suspended within the womb, due to it's size at this stage. It's attached to the side by the umbilical cord but otherwise it's just hanging and leaning on nothing. Now, the word alaqah also compares our embryo to a blood clot. Why is that? Well, the embryo will not have any circulation until about three weeks into the pregnancy. And also have large amounts of blood flowing to it, making the embryo at this stage appearing similar to a blood clot, externally. So, the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage. Abdullah Y. Shams Al-Deen Abdullah is a graduate with a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University at Northridge - Los Angeles, California. Abdullah was a columnist for the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in America, Nebras E-zine for almost 4 years covering a wide range of topics from the oil industry and technology to sports and culture. An investigative Journalist at heart, researching and presenting intriguing, inspirational and important topics that otherwise do not find the light of day gives his great satisfaction. Follow Abdullah on Instagram: @a_shamsideen
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How is this possible? If Antoine Van Leeuwenhoek was the first scientist to observe human sperm cells using an improved microscope in 1677, how can this be explained? It was mistakenly believed that the sperm cell contained a miniature-preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the uterus, similar to an episode on Family Guy. These are only but a few prime examples of certain scientific accuracies that could not have been known by anyone at the time, let alone an illiterate man in a world of myths and superstition. Only recently, in a scientific and highly developed age, have we been able to grasp the full grandeur of the scientific miracles found in the Quran.
To be continued …
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
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ince its discovery in 2012, MERS has terrified the world with its mysterious origins and high fatality rate. MERS, which stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since killed more than 173 people out of 571 confirmed cases in the past few years– almost a third of those infected. It is related to the common cold as well as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which caused widespread panic during an outbreak in 2003. According to the World Health Organization, cases of MERS have been reported in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and United States etc. The World Health Organization has called MERS a "threat to the entire world" as scientists struggle to understand the mysterious disease. MERS causes an acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, a cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia has often been recorded in victims and MERS has also caused kidney failure. The origin of the disease is unknown, recent research has
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linked camels to the virus after the animals were found to carry the virus in their blood. Saudi Arabia has issued a health warning to anyone handling camels over MERS, advising them to limit contact, wash their hands and wear face masks and gloves. The risk of transmission from person to person seems very low but there are fears the virus could mutate to a more contagious strain. Air travel, of course, can also accelerate the spread of a disease around the world, especially if those carrying the bug take a flight before they’re aware they have it and then spread it others at their destination. In the past, airports have deployed special scanners at gate areas to detect passengers with a high fever before they board. It’s not clear if MERS poses enough of a threat to air passengers to warrant such measures at this point. The World Health Organization is recommending increased vigilance in the Middle East and airports and infectious controls to stop the disease spreading where it is found. However, no travel or trade restrictions have yet been imposed but they are a possibility if the infection rate worsens.
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
Is there a vaccine against MERS? What is the treatment?
What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?
No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel corona virus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
What are the symptoms of MERS? A typical case of MERS consists of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding on examination. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Some patients have had organ failure, especially of the kidneys, or septic shock. Approximately 27% of patients with MERS have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with such chronic diseases as diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease.
How do people get MERS? It is not yet understood exactly how people become infected with MERS. In some cases, the virus appears to pass from an infected person to another person in close contact. This has been seen among family members, patients, and healthcare workers. Recently, there have been an increased number of reports of health care associated infections. In some communities, people have become ill but no potential source of infection has been found. It is possible that these persons were infected by exposure to an animal or perhaps another source or person.
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How can I help protect myself? Corona viruses are fairly fragile, surviving outside the body for only about 24 hours. They are easily destroyed by detergents and cleaning agents. It is advised that people help protect themselves by taking everyday preventive actions such as:
Countries with Lab-Confirmed MERS Cases
•Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer/ wipes. One such brand is SEPTONA; the refreshing wet wipes SEPTONA Cotton Care for the hands offer deep and soft cleanness whenever needed. They contain alcohol and act against viruses. They are now available in supermarkets and BOOTS PHARMACIES all over Kuwait including the Airport branch. These wipes are suitable for daily use at home, in the car, in the office and especially during travel e.g. after handling money, after riding in a taxi, after touching escalators in a shopping mall, wiping down restaurant tables and toilet seats in public places etc.
• Saudi Arabia • United Arab Emirates (UAE) • Qatar • Oman • Jordan • Kuwait • Yemen • Lebanon
•Furthermore, SEPTONA Medi care antibacterial wet wipes with 70% alcohol is very effective against MERS virus. The 70% alcohol denat in the wipes is an antibacterial agent with quick action and extra effectiveness against the MERS, as well as most common viruses and germs. These wipes are used to disinfect injuries and surfaces, and not to be used on hands and mouth.
Countries in the Arabian Peninsula with Cases
Countries Cases • • • • • • • • • •
with
Travel-associated
United Kingdom (UK) France Tunisia Italy Malaysia Turkey Greece Egypt United States of America (USA) Netherlands
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash. •Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. •Avoid close contact, such as sharing cups or sharing eating utensils, with sick people. •Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
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Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877
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العالج الطبيعي Available online on Pinterest.com
تم
تجديد قسم الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل فى مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى تحت اشراف األستاذ الدكتور /محمد زكريا (دكتوراه الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل و عضو هيئة التدريس بجامعة عين شمس) و تم تجهيزه بأحدث و سائل العالج العالمية فى هذا التخصص
ويقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات المتميزة : تشخيص و عالج جميع األمراض الروماتيزمية • العالج الطبيعى للعديد من األمراض :خشونة • المفاصل و بخاصة الركبتين -األنزالق الغضروفى القطنى و العنقى -االم الظهر و الرقبة بأسبابها المختلفة -التهاب األعصاب الطرفية -التهاب العصب السابع (ابو الوجه) -التهابات األوتار -التهابات و االم المفاصل المختلفة -مسمار القدم -الجلطات الدماغية و الشلل النصفى و شلل الطرفين السفليين -الشلل الدماغى فى األطفال – تشوهات و اعوجاج العمود الفقرى فى األطفال و البالغين -العالج الطبيعى ما بعد عمليات جراحات العظام و األعصاب و العمود الفقرى • تأهيل الرياضيين • تشخيص و عالج اصابات المالعب المختلفة • الحقن المفصلى لعالج التهاب المفاصل و حقن األوتار. ويتوفر فى القسم أحدث أجهزة العالج الطبيعى المطابقة ألحدث المعايير العالمية فى هذا المجال: الموجات الصوتية -الموجات القصيرة -الكهرباء العالجية بأنواعها المختلفة -الليزر العالجى -شمع برافين- كمادات باردة و ساخنة و تيارات باردة -اجهزة مساج- جهاز عجل الكتف -جيم متكامل. و من أحدث األجهزة التى توجد فى القسم جهاز األنودين لعالج التهاب األعصاب الطرفية للقدمين و اليدين و من المعروف ان هذا األلتهاب يصيب مرضى السكرى بنسبة كبيرة و يتسبب فى احساس بالخدار و الوخز فى اليدين و القدمين و يمتد تصاعديا ليصيب األجزاء الباقية من األطراف العلوية و السفلية بصورة تدريجية .و يتميز حهاز األانودين بنتائجه الممتازة فى عالج هذا األلتهاب. كما يتوفر ايضا جهاز الموجات التصادمية و هو من أحدث األجهزة فى عالج التهاب األوتار حول المفاصل و فى عالج الشوكة العظمية (مسمار القدم) و يتميز بنتائجه الممتازة مما يجنب المريض الحقن الموضعى لألوتار أو مسمار القدم باستخدام عقار الكورتيزون. ويقوم بتنفيذ الجلسات العالجية فريق متخصص من الفنيين على أعلى مستوى من الكفاءة و التدريب تحت األشراف الطبى المباشر من الدكتور محمد زكريا كما يقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات األخرى مثل: المساج لعضالت الجسم المختلفة ألزالة التوتر وألرتخاء العضالت -جلسات التخسيس الموضعى لتخسيس أماكن محددة من الجسم و جلسات اذابة الدهون و عالج 39
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السليوليت وجلسات شد الترهالت خاصة بعد العمليات الجراحية للسمنة. Dr. Mohammad Ali Zakaria
و حرصا من مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى على راحة مرضاه المميزين قام القسم بالتعاقد مع شركة جلوب ميد للتأمين الطبى و الشركات التابعة لها ألستقبال المرضى الخاضعين للتغطية التأمينية.
& MD Physical Medicine Rheumatology Rehabilitation. Staff Member, Ain Shams University Specialized Boushahri Polyclinic
Hotline: 66129444 Tel : 1888877 Ext:170
FATHERS Integral to Healthy Families
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Sometimes Dads may feel a little left out during the pregnancy and birth of their child. After all, during the first 9 months all the “action� is happening in mom! But fathers who spend time close to their wife during pregnancy undergo critical changes as well, that only continue once the baby is born. These changes ensure that Dad will be a committed protector and provider and play a critical role in helping a new infant develop emotional and social behaviors through healthy bonding. Once born, baby's hormonal control systems and brain synapses begin to permanently organize according to the human interactions she experiences. Unneeded brain receptors and neural pathways are disposed of, while those appropriate to the given environment are enhanced. Fathers, you are essential to this new environment!
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Oxytocin: A Bonding Hormone Oxytocin is a chemical released in the brain providing health benefits and promoting bonding patterns that create desire for further contact with the individuals inciting its release. We tend to talk a lot about oxytocin in the mother, but father’s also have a significant role to play. For example, mother’s tend to prefer whichever male is closest during periods of high oxytocin release (pregnancy and labor!) In addition, prolonged high oxytocin in mother, father, or baby also promotes lower blood pressure and reduced heart rate as well as certain kinds of artery repair, actually reducing lifelong risk of heart disease. Persistent regular body contact and other nurturing acts by parents produce a constant, elevated level of oxytocin in the infant, which in turn provides a valuable reduction in the infant's stress-hormone responses, and the resulting high or low level of oxytocin will control the permanent organization of the stress-handling portion of the baby's brain -- promoting lasting "securely attached" or "insecure" characteristics in the adolescent and adult. (Insecure characteristics include anti-social behavior, aggression, difficulty forming lasting bonds with a mate, mental illness, and poor handling of stress). When an infant does not receive regular oxytocin-producing responsive care, babies can develop permanent brain changes that lead to elevated responses to stress throughout life, such as higher blood pressure and heart rate. It has also been shown that a live-in father's oxytocin levels rise toward the end of his mate's pregnancy. When the father spends significant amounts of time in contact with his infant, oxytocin encourages him to become more involved in the ongoing care in a self-perpetuating cycle. Oxytocin in the father also increases his interest in physical (not necessarily sexual) contact with the mother, encouraging the father to become more interested in being a devoted and satisfied part of the family picture –all through his involvement with the baby.
Vasopressin & Protection Although present and active during bonding in the mother and infant, vasopressin plays a much bigger role in the father. This hormone promotes brain reorganization toward paternal behaviors when the male is cohabitating with the pregnant mother. The father becomes more dedicated to his mate and expresses behaviors of protection. Released in response to nearness and touch, vasopressin promotes bonding between
the father and the mother, helps the father recognize and bond to his baby, and makes him want to be part of the family, rather than alone. It has gained a reputation as the "monogamy hormone." Dr. Theresa Crenshaw, author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust, says, "Testosterone wants to prowl, vasopressin wants to stay home." She also describes vasopressin as tempering the man's sexual drive (not sexual functioning).
healthy mother and baby. You can foster healthy development by supporting your wife as she becomes a new mother and by providing frequent skin-to-skin contact, holding, and facial cues for your baby. Play, smile, soothe, cuddle, bathe, and rock. Even if you feel new or clumsy as a new father, all your efforts will help you to become a better father, and contribute to the healthy development of your child.
Vasopressin reinforces the father's testosterone-promoted protective inclination regarding his mate and child, but tempers his aggression, making him more reasonable and less extreme. By promoting more rational and less capricious thinking, this hormone induces a sensible paternal role, providing stability as well as vigilance.
Fathers, you are so important for healthy families. Thank you for all that you do!
Prolactin & Behavior Prolactin is released in all healthy people during sleep, helping to maintain reproductive organs and immune function. Prolactin promotes care giving behaviors and, over time, directs brain reorganization to favor these behaviors. Father's prolactin levels begin to elevate during mother's pregnancy, but most of the rise in the male occurs after many days of cohabitation with the infant. As a result of hormonally orchestrated brain reorganization during parenthood, prolactin release patterns are altered. It has been shown that fathers release prolactin in response to intruder threats, whereas childless males do not. Elevated prolactin levels in both the nursing mother and the involved father cause some reduction in their testosterone levels as well, which in turn reduces their libidos (but not their sexual functioning). Their fertility can be reduced for a time as well. This reduction in sexual activity and fertility is entirely by design for the benefit of the infant, allowing for ample parental attention and energy. When the father is intimately involved with the infant along with the mother, there should be some accord between the desires of the two, and oxytocin and other chemicals provide for heightened bonding and nonsexual interest in each other, which serves to retain a second devoted caretaker for the infant.
Fatherhood Fathers, you are already essential to a
Sarah Paksima
Sarah Paksima is a Board Member of BirthKuwait and a Doula, Childbirth Educator.
BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait
June, 2014
Soccer Available online on Pinterest.com
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occer is a moderately intense type of sports that requires the elite athletes to perform their best in order to outcompete their opponent. To perform well, optimum nutrition becomes crucial in supporting the athletes’ performance, training and recovery period. What are the nutritional requirements for soccer players? How much and what do they need to consume on the daily basis? Eating with a purpose, and also with enjoyment--that’s what nutrition for soccer is all about! Good food is not only one of life’s pleasures; it is also a powerful tool for helping you to be a better soccer player. Eating the right foods at the right times can help you train at your best so you can then compete at your best. General nutrition guidelines: Energy: relatively high energy expenditure sport Carbohydrate: 6g/kg/day; 8-10 /kg/day during training and competition Protein 1.4-1.7g/kg/day Fat: remainder of Kcal with an emphasis on heart-healthy fats Energy intake Energy expenditure is high in training and games. A 75-kg male soccer player may expend more than 1,500 kcal in a game. Many players, both males and females do not consume an adequate energy intake and this can lead to early onset of fatigue and poor nutrient intake. Calculating your calorie needs To estimate your resting metabolic rate (RMR) that is the amount of calories you need to simply breathe, pump blood and
Zain Al Abdeen Qasem
Community & Clinical Dietitian at Diet Care Zain holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Jordan University of Science and Technology and completed his internship at Jordan University Hospital. He also has a certificate in HACCP. Zain offers a wide range of services at Diet Care such as wellness, weight management, sport nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs; personalized for each and every client needs and wants.
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live. Multiply your weight by 10 calories per pound (or 22 calories per kilogram). Add more calories for daily activity apart from your training and other purposeful exercise.
•50% X RMR if you are moderately active throughout the day. •30-40% if you are sedentary. •60-70% if you are very active. To lose weight target 80% to 90% of total calorie needed. So what does a soccer player eat? Breakfast:cold cereals, oatmeal and other hot cereals, bagels, english muffins, pancakes, french toast with syrup, jam, honey, and fruit juice. Lunch: sandwiches (with the bread being the "meat " of the sandwich), fruit, thickcrust, pizza, hearty broth-based soups with noodles or rice. Dinner:pasta, potato, or rice entrées; veggies, breads, juice, fruit. Snacks:flavored yogurt, pretzels, crackers, fig bars, frozen yogurt, dry cereal, energy bars, simple biscuit-type cookies, animal crackers, canned and fresh fruits, juice. Fluid intake: Players should consume fluid early and at regular intervals during the game. Needs are especially high in hot ,humid conditions, carbohydrate/electrolyte solutions been beneficial during the game. Water or sport drinks? Water is an adequate fluid replacer during soccer sessions that less than 60 minutes. Particularly if you have fueled-up with a pre-exercise snack. Sport drinks are helpful during training sessions and games that last longer than 60 to 90 minutes or on multiple game days; they replace both water and some carbohydrates. On the long run, balanced dietary habits must be emphasized for soccer players. As discussed above, proper energy, carbohydrates along with fluid intake are essential for the players to succeed on the field. If a player does not have a healthy diet, they will not be able to train as hard, And will be more susceptible to tiredness. Thus, NUTRITION is one of the most important components for optimal performance.
“Therapy?” But my child is still young! FSRI Counselor presents what parents need to know about child therapy and a guide for effective treatment Parents often find it difficult to accept that their child requires therapy because of behavioural problems or difficulties in learning, especially when this is recommended by the school or a professional party. “We associate the idea of therapy with a mistake that we as parents could have committed, or an issue that can’t be solved. This is why parents become defensive to the idea that their child needs therapy,” explains Resha Erheim, M.Ed., Bilingual Counselor at Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), Kuwait’s not-forprofit multidisciplinary physical and cognitive rehabilitation center for children and adults. Erheim adds, “It is important for parents to accept that therapy is a step to finding a solution to what is affecting their child. This is the first step towards their child’s wellbeing”. Parents then have a primordial role to play during their child’s treatment. “They become co-therapists during the process,” says Erheim.
Erheim lays out four steps parents can help their child get a more effective treatment. Step 1: Collaborate with the therapist during the therapy While parents can have strong opinions to what their child needs, it is important to consider therapy as a collaborative effort between parents and the therapist, where everyone works as a team. Research has shown that parental involvement in a child’s treatment improves the efficacy of therapy. “Cooperation and support is a critical aspect to the success of treatment. Together with the therapist, the best way to support the overall treatment of the child is to set and define the roles and responsibilities of each parent at home”, says Erheim. Step 2: Build a mutually trusting relationship with the therapist Erheim says, “A therapist’s aim is to help the child, and also to guide parents in helping their child, not to take sides with the school Resha Erheim Resha Erheim (B.A., M.Ed., C.C.C.) is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Counselling from University of Ottawa, Canada, and has completed an honors Bachelor degree in psychology from York University in Toronto. Erheim provides counseling services to children, adults and couples. Her counseling experience lies in short-term counseling, crisis intervention and group counseling, working with cases from depression, addiction, anger, marital/relationship problems, grief, trauma, self-esteem issues, and others. Erheim speaks both Arabic and English
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or any professional party.” When a child starts the therapy process, parents must prioritize sharing their concerns, thoughts and daily routine. “Information like this is essential to building the treatment plan, and parents should be comfortable in knowing they will not be judged for their role as a parent. The key is to trust the therapy process and the therapist, it may take time, but it will definitely take a lot of effort,” adds Erheim. Sharing concerns also includes discussing issues or a miscommunication without casting blame, and, together with the therapist, place solutions. Step 3:Focus on supporting your child’s therapy process outside the planned sessions Therapy sessions are effective faster when parents set a routine at home, give psychological support, and provide a stable environment as a whole. “Establish a routine at home, then note your child’s responses and involve the therapist in the process. In addition, encourage mutual respect in communication with your child and avoid “you” statements that blame the child for misbehaving, and instead use “I” statements to show the child the correct behaviour and guide them through the change. Parents are also encouraged to model the behaviour they want their child to adopt.
“You are your child’s first and most important teacher. If you want a polite, self-managed child, you must be a well-mannered and self-regulated person yourself,” says Erheim. Therapists encourage parents to increase positive interaction with their child, for example by offering praise when the child does well, and also by paying positive attention to the child and spending quality time in engaging activities. Step 4: Be open to the therapist’s suggestions for new parenting skills No parent wants to be told what to do. When a therapist brings along suggestions, parents need to listen first, without defensiveness or counter arguments. This point supports the trust that has been built with the therapist. Erheim says, “Don’t misinterpret a therapist’s suggestions, they are not here to undermine your role as parents. On the contrary, accept the feedback with openness and flexibility knowing that the intent is to improve your child’s behavior. Give suggestions a try, as they may often yield good results.” “Parenting can be stressful, and you need the support too. Allocate time for yourself to do things you enjoy, or partake in your own supportive counseling as well. Sometimes parents’ personal issues shadow and affect their child’s behaviour”, concludes Erheim.
June, 2014
Getting Creative with the 3 “R”s
Available online on Pinterest.com
by: Paul Turnbridge
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or many years, the 3 “R”s were the basics taught in schools – Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. (It always did seem a little contrived, but the concept worked). Moving forwards a few years, and with ever-increasing concerns over misuse of the earth’s precious resources, the 3 “R”s have been transformed into more ecolologically-conscious terminology – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. It all seems fairly straightforward and quite sensible, of course. Reducing consumption of certain products can reduce wastage, costs of disposal, and the need to over-manufacture. Just one example of this is the never-ending supply of carrier bags provided free-of-charge by supermarkets. I fail to understand why, when visiting any of the supermarkets in Kuwait, I have my shopping packed into two hundred separate carrier bags, when I could have managed with just ten – of course I exaggerate, but you get the point. The idea of supermarkets providing re-useable carrier bags, and even heavy-duty plastic baskets, as has become the norm in many Western European countries, has not yet reached these shores and I must confess that, rather than taking the initiative to supply my own reuseable carriers for my shopping expeditions, I succumb to this wasteful use of bags as much as the next shopper in the checkout queue! Reusing products can have the same effects as reducing consumption, and of course by reusing things will naturally reduce consumption in any case. I have already touched on the idea of using reuseable carriers for shopping, but there are many more products that can be used more than once. Let’s take plastic water bottles as a prime example here – would it not make sense to refill the small bottle you carry everywhere with you in the summer heat, rather than to keep buying new bottles and throwing them away once empty? We have become a throwaway society, where it has become too easy to simply discard items 46
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when they no longer have a prime use for us. Which brings me neatly to a 4th “R” that is so often forgotten – “Repair”. So often, when electrical and mechanical appliances go wrong, we are told that is it easier and cheaper to simply discard the old and buy a replacement, than it is to repair. Whilst my mother used to darn socks to prolong their effective use, such thrift is a rare commodity in modern times, in which we simply throw away and buy new! And so we reach what, for me, is the most exciting of the “R”s. Whilst Reducing and Reusing are both practical and sensible, they are also quite boring and do not set the pulse racing. But “Recycling” is where it gets fun; it provides an opportunity to get creative! In simple terms, recycling means taking something and giving it a whole new purpose. Avid gardeners amongst you will doubtless be brimming with ideas for quirky and stylish plant pots – why not grow seasonal flowers in a pair of old boots? Or bring on seedlings in empty, washed food tins? What about using shredded newspaper as a mulch?
There are countless ideas that have already been successfully executed, and a lot of websites exist to pass these on – I shall list just three of these at the end of this article. Of course, you will likely find some fun ideas from the Internet that you will want to copy for yourself, but the real fun will be to think “outside the box” for yourself and create your own recycled object. Why not set yourself a challenge to create something useful yet unique? (And then tell us all about it?!) So, check out one or more of the following and get your own creative juices flowing….. www.facebook.com/1millionrecyclingideas www.pinterest.com/styleitchic/recyclingideas www.scoop.it/t/recycling-ideas And over to you … now it’s your turn to have fun and get inventive!
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The Professionals in Optics and Hearing Care - Sharq
- Kuwait City
Urban Desert Living with a Green Twist
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ustainability advocates and the plethora of labels this civilization conjured toward people concerned about our natural balance: are just as selfish and greedy as their capitalist driven counterparts. The difference is the latter has a self-imposed ignorant notion that the world's resources are infinite while history and science has shown the opposite to be true with undeniable clarity. We all have seen this to be true with our own eyes and in our measly lifetime, if not, a simple question to the previous generation is proof 48
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of the drastic changes the world’s resources, diversity and miracles of bioengineering has endured. This change is universal and is not limited to a certain environment. Nations and borders have nurtured the illusion of independence but the simple fact is we have one world, one planet. A local urban legend that Kuwaiti Zubaidi (silver pomfret) is better than Iranian Zubaidi, When the fact is the only difference is handling and time shipments wait at the border control effecting quality, they are otherwise exact in every way.
Our children will inherit what we give them so, I for one am greedy for the ability to hand down a sustainable world; I do not want generations to come to see me as the stupid generation that had a chance but did not act. I am not worried about earth as a planet; it has proven itself to handle mass extinction only to jump back up better than ever as it balances the systems that are in place. Granted it takes thousands of years but if you compare that to the earth’s age, a very small part. My main concern is humans living in a stable sustaining world, as I am sure you are. In this series, we will use human greed as positive driving force towards a better tomorrow and a great today too.
Living in Kuwait and battling our environment to grow my own food taught me to befriend it rather than force what is otherwise not natural. We have extreme seasons but have a stability in where we dwell. So, I started growing indoors during the summer rather than outdoors, this proved to be sustainable and carbon saving on the long run. Controlled environments have the benefit of consistent growth and production. You will be saving the world resources by growing your own instead of relying on imports. In addition to the exclusivity of having the best fresh teas, garnishes, spices and ingredients a scissor away from your kitchen. The security of knowing that the herbs you use only have the best ingredient in to have the best out in an immature food regulation locale.
Now, are you green greedy enough to grow your own herbs in the comfort of your kitchen?
Recipe for the micro Kitchen herb Farm nA daylight source – use 6500K (cool white cfl bulbs) or a bright window (note: most of Kuwait's homes are fitted with tinted 80-90% windows so windowsill light is not enough to sustain growth). nYour choice of herbs - some herbs thrive outdoors like rosemary, sage and other. For your indoor garden, choose herbs that would not like stevia raubidina (sugar plant) the chive family, honey sage, lemon verbena or any you like that can't survive our summer heat.
Chocolate Mint
nA good preferably organic liquid plant food or potting mix.
Thyme
nDecorative porous ceramic pots nScissors nPatience and tender loving care.
Creeping Rosemary
Make your own or buy ready made potting soil
Available online on Pinterest.com
Choose porous ceramic pots June, 2014
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Ramadan and Nutrition
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ith the holy month of Ramadan coming up , hydration and nutrition are of key importance. The human body is adaptive, it will adapt to whatever you put it through, but what needs to be kept in mind is that although your body stores nutrients, it will eventually run out. The body is like a machine that needs to be fueled regularly. There are a few things that I believe need to be kept in mind during this month. When breaking your fast, please think about what you’re eating. I know it’s extremely tempting when you sit on the table with all that food and you haven’t eaten all day. But remember, you haven’t eaten all day, do you really want to shock your system by eating nonstop from the moment you break your fast
Maha AlRashed
Maha AlRashed is a CHEK Certified Exercise Coach and a regular contributor for CityPages magazine.
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until the moment you go to sleep? I doubt that your body can handle that for an entire month. Ideally, a person would break his fast by having a few dates (to bring their sugar levels up), and some water; once you’ve done that, take a few minutes and let that feeling sink in. Then move on to your soups and salads and if you have waited 20 minutes after breaking your fast, then that would be more than enough of a meal for you. Perhaps a few hours later you will realize that you are still a little hungry, you can go ahead and start with all the main course foods. Switching to a grazing diet would be the way to go, eat small meals more regularly rather than indulging in one large meal a day and moving straight to the caffeinated drinks and sugar loading. Just because you are fasting it doesn’t mean that you should neglect your healthy lifestyle. In fact, I believe that your healthy lifestyle should be maintained throughout the month in order for you to deal with the heat and lack of food more easily. May this coming month be one of great blessings for you, just remember to stay healthy!
Available online on Pinterest.com
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Traveling this summer? These holiday fit tips will keep you looking beach-body beautiful right through to the end
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t’s 4am on a blisteringly cold Tuesday morning in good ol' London town and for someone who should be partying like it’s 1999 as I’m on holiday with the family, I’m trying my best to eat my oats and whey protein in the quietest manner possible so as to not wake up the rest of my family. Yes, you heard me. 4am. Oats and whey. Why? To fuel myself for my 6am gym workout as the rest of my day will be spent traipsing around Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge whilst endearingly irritating my poor mother. The last 8 days of my vacay has pretty much run along to a similar tune. I’m awake several hours before the rest of my family to get my workout sorted before joining in on the family festivities. As the French say; vouloir, c’est pouvoir, or in plain English, where there’s a will, there’s a way. According to an article published on Gulfnews.com, Kuwaitis spent approximately USD$5.2 billion in 2013 on their summer vacations. That’s a lot of travel for a little country. As summer 2014 looms around the corner, there’s no reason why your fitness routine Reshmi Revi Certified Professional Trainer
Reshmi Revi is the Deputy General Manager for MultiWorks Personal Training. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and passionate about fitness! Follow her on Instagram @Q8MissFit
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should go on leave too. I usually would advise be deemed cardiovascular-worthy. Hence my clients to enjoy their vacation whilst still go for a swim, take a jog in the park, rent a being semi-active. This ensures: kayak, try out that complimentary fencing class or abseil in that leisure center that has -that they don’t lose all their fitness and the awesome climbing wall. Just be active. health gains after months of hard work and And if you don’t want to do it alone, bring a healthy eating. friend with you. #funinnumbers -that they’re still mindful of their food consumption while abroad (hey, I’m pretty sure one would feel less guilty eating that donut knowing they got a good workout earlier on that morning).
Light at night
Over the years, I’ve taught myself to eat clean. Hence none of them fried, greasy, cheesy or overly sweet stuff. 5 meals a day, a protein component in every meal and depending -that they don’t have to start back from on the time of the day and the timing of my square one, post-holiday. workouts, I will also cycle my starchy carbs Here are a couple of fit holiday tips that will and good fats. see you active and tummy trim! However when I’m on holiday, I’m a bit more relaxed with my food consumption. If I want KISS (Keep It Short and Sweet) to eat a burger or try that cheesecake for You’re on holiday hence I’m not asking you example, I most definitely will. The difference to live at the gym while on vacay. Keep your is that I will ensure that whatever I’m having workouts short but high on the intensity is eaten before 6pm just so that my body has factor. A non-stop circuit for 40-45minutes ample time to break it down and hopefully would suffice. When I’m abroad, I like doing burn it. Seeing I’m also a bit of a nutrition killing but short circuits that focuses on my narcissist, I’ll treat myself to this once every peripheral heart action or PHA. Circuits that couple of days. For meals after 6pm, I make are PHA-based can be physically demanding sure I’m getting a good hearty portion of and are big calorie burners. PHA training protein be it grilled steak, fish or chicken, lots basically sees one alternating upper and of green veggies and salads with very light lower body exercises. For example a superset dressing and ample water to stay hydrated. (so non-stop) of squats (lower body), bench presses (upper body), deadlifts (lower body), Happily ever after pull-ups (upper body) and burpees (upper The most important aspect of your holiday is and lower). See what I mean? that you should have fun and enjoy yourself. If you’re finding it challenging eating clean or Take a hike, buddy! working out during your trip or if it’s making If you don’t plan on stepping foot in the you unhappy then khalas, don’t be overly gym while on vacay, try participating in an strict or too hard on yourself. Scale it back. activity of some sort. Walking around is great For my new clients, I usually tell them to try however you need to partake in an activity out one activity for example every 4-5 days where your heart rate is elevated for it to and to keep their dinners light.
June, 2014
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Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi
Helping People Achieve Their Fitness Targets Through Pilates Being fit and healthy is all the rage these days and for good reason. Science continues to provide conclusive evidence in support of exercise and its many benefits to your long and short-term well being. As such, people of all ages are looking for direction on what exactly they should be doing to make the most of their time at the gym. Making a decision to get fit and healthy is the easy part. The hard bit comes in actually doing the exercise and sticking to it. If only working out was as easy as finding the excuses not to do any. This is where Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi; a certified fitness instructor, certified nutritionist for exercise and certified STOTT PILATES instructor, comes in. She is also the owner of Fitnessity – health and fitness studio. Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi enjoys passing on the skills she has learnt to benefit others. She is passionate about exercise, sports and seeing people achieve their fitness targets. CityPages recently sat down with Khadijah for an exclusive interview. Read on to know more about this busy mom, entrepreneur and fitness star.
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share? No weaknesses, I always struggle to balance between work and family and both are dear to me.
When things get difficult how do you stay motivated? I look for new courses in London to escape the hectic routine life in Kuwait, though the trip itself gets hectic. I lived in London for 8 years and London is the city that inspires me. However, I am attached to my children so my trips cannot be longer than ten days.
What has been your most proud moment? When my children excel in sports. I am also usually very proud of my children when I return home from a busy day and see them completing their school work independently as they feel responsible towards school work.
The 3 Keys to success according to you:
Please introduce yourself to our and with a valid license to teach sports but I could not find this in Kuwait. Therefore, readers: Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi. I am a certified fitness instructor, certified STOTT PILATES instructor; the only certified STOTT PILATES instructor in Kuwait, a certified nutritionist for exercise and a wife and mother of three.
Tell us about your education: I have graduated with double majors in Political Science and Communications from the Richmond-The American International University in London. I then continued my study in London to become a fitness instructor. I am a certified fitness instructor (zumba, aerobics, spinning, weight lifting, kettlebells, circuit training), certified STOTT PILATES instructor, and certified nutritionist for exercise; I write food diaries for a healthy weight and better health; designed for healthy individuals.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to your current role/job? Was it always your dream career? All my life, my parents always included sports in our lives. Whether it was basket ball, squash, ballet, swimming, horse riding, or ice skating, our days always included sports. We lived in London for 8 years and no matter what the circumstances were, I was very active in sports. When I moved to Kuwait, it was very hard for me to find a health club or a gym of similar standards as in UK. In many parts of the world, the fitness instructor is certified 56
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I decided to study health and fitness even though I had a lot in my plate; I was married, a mother of two young children, and I had a full time job at Wataniya Telecom working under the directions of General Manager. When the work load increased, I decided to resign from Wataniya Telecom to focus on my passions i.e. sports and studying health and fitness. I had to travel for training courses to London and Dubai and sit exams too.
Now that you are so busy, how do you manage your time? Do you have an average day? I work 7 to 10 hours daily, except for weekends. I taught my children to do their homework without the help of us; the mom and the dad. However, the most important time for me with my children is during bed time. I make sure to be at home most nights to read books to my children, to talk to them and to put them to sleep. I guess, it’s time management from my side and of course, I cannot do all without the help of my beloved nanny and a housekeeper.
Your biggest strength:
-Passion (I love what I do, and I believe in it.) -Hard work -The support of my husband, my family, and the support of the members of Fitnessity; my health and fitness studio
The most inspiring woman according to you: My mother. My mother shaped my personality. My mother always filled our days with sports. I also have lovely memories of my mother in the kitchen every day either baking, or preparing healthy and fresh food for me and my siblings, even though she was working full time. My mother taught me at a very young age, to be responsible, and to always have something useful to do.
Your favourite quote: “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”
Your biggest achievement so far: Having Fitnessity - health and fitness studio and my children’s love for sports.
What would you like to achieve further? I want to continue my education in health and fitness, and to expand.
Your biggest fear: Loss, but my faith in God is strong.
My strength... I am determined.
Your weakness or have you made any mistakes along the way that you can
Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
June, 2014
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Eat Healthy this Ramadan
Available online on Pinterest.com Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sanaa holds Masters of Clinical Dietetics from University of Queensland, Australia and is a Clinical dietitian at Hadi Hospital. Sanaa is a also a blogger and very active on Instagram. Read more from Sanaa at: Blog: www.fit-n-fancy.com , Instagram: Sanaa_dietitian
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F
asting during the month of Ramadan is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that benefits us in many ways. A fasting person learns to appreciate the value of food as well as learns to have discipline in his/her life. Fasting is known to improve one’s health, but at the same time has the potential to worsen your health if not followed correctly. It is advisable that a person who has been fasting should still eat mindfully during nonfasting hours or upon opening the fast, which
involves paying attention to the quantity and quality (type) of food. Since your daily intake during the month of Ramadan is limited around 2 main meals per day (plus snacks), it is vital you put efforts to incorporate foods from all food groups. nBreads, cereals and other grain products (Choose Complex Carbohydrates) nFruits
and Vegetables
cheese and yoghurt
/ Sugar
feast. 1.Following the Prophets traditions, open your fast with 2 – 3 dates and a glass of water. This will provide you with the muchneeded instant burst of energy along with hydration. 2.You may follow this up with a bowl of lentil/ bean soup. Dinner: Ideally once you have opened your fast and performed prayers you may then eat dinner. This will give you approximately 10 – 15 minutes from the time you opened your fast to when you start eating dinner. Again do not treat this meal as a feast.
Guide to Eating during Ramadan Divide your food intake into two meals and two snacks in between and after. Suhoor (the pre- dawn meal); Iftaar (the evening snack which breaks the day’s fast); followed by Dinner. Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal should be a healthy balanced meal that will keep you full for longer and also provide enough energy during the fasting hours. Include the following: 1.Complex carbohydrates which are rich in fiber. These foods are slow-digesting food (Low GI) which help maintain normal blood sugar and satisfies your appetite without piling on excess calories. Examples: Pita bread, Oats, Multigrain / wholegrain breads and cereal, Natural Museli, Barley, Brown or Basmati Rice, Quinoa, beans and lentils. 2.Include a serve of protein in this meal which also helps your stomach feel satisfied. Examples of a serve of protein source include 65g cooked lean meats such as beef or lamb, 80g cooked lean chicken, 100 gram cooked fish fillet, 1 – 2 eggs; If Alternatives to meat sources (if you are vegetarian) includes handful (~30g) of nuts and seeds, almond butter, peanut butter, tahini , 1 cup (150g) cooked lentils or beans, 1 cup Low fat milk / yoghurt or 30g cheese. 3.Just like a breakfast, this meal should be your largest meal. Iftar: The meal which break’s the day’s fast. Treat this as a moderate snack and not a
1.Follow the healthy plate model: ½ plate covered with vegetables/salad; ¼ carbohydrates (e.g rice, pasta, and sweet potato) and ¼ with protein rich food (e.g. chicken, lamb, fish, lentils, and beef) 2.Eat slowly and chew very well which will help you pace yourself. It is a common practice to eat large amounts of food quickly after long day of fasting, but remember this is where you need to be mindful of the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose to eat. Eating slowly will also give your stomach the time to relay the message to your brain saying it is full. 3.Pay attention to the cooking method. Avoid deep frying, frying or using excessive oil while cooking your meal. Choose to grilling, bake, boil, steam or stir fry your meal. 4.Instead of treating yourself with sweets that are high in sugar and fat, opt for a piece of fruit first. If you are still craving something sweet, stick to a small portion. Snack: It is natural to feel hungry within couple of hours after dinner. It is important to make healthy choices by again sticking to the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose. Below are a few ideas 1. Low fat yoghurt ( 150 – 200g) 2.Fruit smoothie with 1 teaspoon of chia seed 3.Ricotta or cottage cheese with cucumber or baby carrots 4.¼ cup hummus with baby carrots or celery sticks 5. 1 cup low fat milk 6.Handful of nuts
During the whole month of Ramadan Do 1.Drink as much water as possible 8 to 12 cups. ( I also tend to drink barley water) 2.Walk for 30 minutes a day. If you want to walk after iftaar, wait 1 – 2 hours after your meal before engaging in physical activity. 3.Incorporate foods that are mentioned in the Holy Quran and as Prophetic traditions as these also correspond to modern healthy eating guidelines. These include milk, dates, lamb (lean), oats, fruits & vegetables such as olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes as well as pulses such as lentils.
During the whole month of Ramadan Avoid 1.Fried/fatty foods and food high in refined sugar such as french fries, traditional sweets and pastries and fried snacks. These food are empty calorie food which are high in calories and are nutrient deficient. These foods also increase sluggishness and fatigue during Ramadan. 2.Sleeping immediately after iftar and ideally after suhoor if possible, wait for 1 -2 hour before sleeping to allow your food to digest. 3.Avoid caffeine based drinks such tea, coffee or cola during sahoor and iftaar. These drinks are diuretics which will make increase water loss through urination. This in turn can potentially cause dehydration during your fasting hours. Avoid drinking tea at sahoor and right after iftaar as it can potentially interfere with valuable nutrient absorption such as iron. 4. Overeating at either sahoor or iftaar if you want to experience health benefits of fasting and prevent gaining excess weight.
Ramadan Kareem!
7. 1 – 2 pieces of fresh fruit 8. Whole-grain tuna/salad sandwich
June, 2014
Champion of a 110 goals for Kuwait
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hen my Editor in Chief sent me the brief that I would be visiting the museum and interviewing Jassim Yaqoob at his home the name rang familiar, I wondered for a couple of days if it would be the Jassim whom I know to be the Kuwaiti soccer legend. So I arrived at his house and was greeted by his son, I thought to myself Kinda, you really need to start getting the names of people right. The brief was to take a tour of “a museum at Jassim Yaqoubs home� so I assumed that I would be interviewing an art collector by the same name. But when I came down the stairs and walked into the basement I was pleasantly surprised to see that it indeed WAS no other than our beloved soccer legend standing there to greet me. As it turns out, Jassim and his son set up a museum of all the memorabilia related to his years in football in the basement of their large home, and what a treasure trove 60
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it is! The tour was incredibly exciting and brought chills to my spine. His trophies, his gold plated soccer shoes, pictures and accolades fill the walls with Kuwaiti history, of wonderful days gone by which only a few of us had the pleasure to experience. For all of you who don’t know, Jassim Yaqoub is a Kuwaiti first soccer player who played in the FIFA World Cup in 1982, scoring some of the most memorable goals for the Kuwaiti team. He has played against legends, and cohorted with the international soccer greats. He was born in 1952 in Kuwait, and played from his days as a young boy, but contrary to what his other football mates did which was to move on to holding down day jobs, he continued with the sport eventually playing professionally with the Kuwait soccer team which in those days, was heavily backed by the ruling family and sport enthusiasts. He enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the sport, and raised Kuwait’s profile exponentially, still leaving an indelible mark on the sport of soccer even after all these years. Jassim is now retired, however is in the process of further curating his museum which everyone must have the chance to see at least once, for not only is his museum about his career in football, but also recorded moments from Kuwait past that will forever live on in his home, and provides history automatically saved and preserved for the future generations of youth. 62
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Anyone whose dream it is to one day represent Kuwait on the worldwide arena of soccer should try to catch a glimpse of the myriad trophies, rewards and accolades that Mr. Yaqoub earned. They may be the driver behind the decision of one or two hopefuls to follow a natural calling toward the sport. When asked, his advice is to always carry on with your calling, to persevere and not think of the consequences but rather the rewards. For us at CityPages this interview has to be one of the most memorable, and I am proud and honored to have met this superhuman by the name of Jassim Yaqoub.
To find out how to visit the museum, contact us at CityPages. June, 2014
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don’t think I say this enough: I am blessed to have the parents I have. I know it’s Fathers Day this month, but I would like to show my appreciation for both of my parents. They are occasionally a packaged deal but what I love the most about them is their ability to completely remain their own person and hold their own ground with their own freedom. I’m an only child, which automatically means “selfish” to most people unless you’ve met my mother. She taught me diligence pays off and that nothing in life comes without effort. She has made me earn everything that I have wanted in life –and rightfully so. She has been a true matriarch taking in her mother to live with us and also being the main caretaker of my other grandmother. My father taught me how to be patient and loving. He, as an agriculturalist and also the first person to grow strawberries in Kuwait (how cool?!), understands that to grow, one must provide living beings with time and energy. My parents provided a nurturing environment, watering the seed they planted, and always pushed me to do my best. One of the best things they have ever done for me was letting me make my own decisions. When I chose to hold onto my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian and was met with ridicule, they stood by my side the entire time. When I was having issues with funding from the Ministry of Higher Education for veterinary school, my mother started working again after twenty-five years of not working (and she is rocking her job – boss lady!) to help my father fund my goal. My father spends countless days chasing ghosts at ministries in order to get my paperwork well… in order. What I love the most about them is that they are great parents: they are strict but they are also capable of having fun. Seeing photos of them when they
were younger, I always think of how I would’ve loved to be their best friend (I also see how similar we are). But even now! We have an iMessage group chat peppered with witty banter that always puts a smile on my face. They send me photos of themselves hanging out with their friends, of things they see that are interesting, things they read, and they are always laughing. They are constantly the center of attention when I invite my friends over. To me, they have evolved from authority figures to best friends who I can trust with my dreams, darkest thoughts, insecurities, and secrets and would never judge me but will always want the best for me. It wasn’t always this easy, we have had our fair share of rough times, but finding effective modes of communication and listening instead of just hearing has helped. Instead of attacking the other person with “you did this” we talk about how actions made us feel. Exposing your truths to the people you place upon pedestals (and vice versa) is as nerve wrecking as a high rise tight rope walk: you don’t know if you will fall but if you get to the other side (and you will) it’s worth it. I am eternally grateful for them. I don’t think I tell them this enough but I love them and without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I attribute everything to their auras and upbringing and I am forever indebted to them. Their capacity to openly and unconditionally love anyone who walks into their life is an inspiration. I am constantly bathed in their adoration and respect, which is centering and motivating and coaxes me to blossom. But I mean, look how awesome and quirky we are! (Two separate graduation photos: one was highschool graduation, the other was my bachelors graduation, and hopefully the third will be in 2016!)
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Rio De Janeiro Where to Stay
From Marilyn Monroe to Nelson Mandela, Copacabana Palace Hotel have been welcoming the rich and famous since 1923. Overlooking the Copacabana beach, the hotel offers 245 rooms traditionally decorated, with original artworks, three luxurious categories of suites. Choose between the pool ocean view suite, the avenue city view suites, or deluxe one-bedroom suites. Discover the glamorous penthouse suites with a private terrace, the finest view and an exclusive use of a private swimming pool and bar. Close to Arpoador and Ipanema beaches, Hotel Fasano has become one of the most stylish and luxurious hotels of South America, with elegant interior, a white marble pool on the roof, an Italian restaurant and a private beach, it’s the perfect getaway. Popping-up for one year only, from January to December 2014, The Guesthouse Maria Santa Teresa has only six rooms. With bossa nova and barbecues around the pool, DJs and musicians from all over the world, Maria Santa Teresa has big ambitions for its yearlong series of events.
With the world cup approaching, Rio is definitely where you want to be!
Beaches
Famous Copacabana extends for 4.5km along Rio's coast. Ipanema is Rio's richest and chicest beach. Other popular beaches within and near the city include Pepino, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Arpoador.
What to See FAVELAS Travellers are increasingly paying visits to the hillside slums known as favelas. Rio has 600 of these; they are picturesque at night, and fascinating. FOOTBALL Do not miss a guided visit to one of the big matches at Maracanã Stadium. CARNIVAL Dance the night away to the samba! The fabulous carnival takes place in February, but don’t despair! Rio is always up to dance. Nights of beauty, fun and dance are waiting for you all year long. CORCOVADO From Corcovado, you will be spoilt for breathtaking views. Head to the top of Corcovado, the 750m mountain peak home to the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Rio de Janeiro. From here you will see that Rio is divided into two zones, norte (north) and sul (south).
What To Do
HANG GLIDING: The Ti’a Moana guarantees an unforgettable experience, sailing around Bora Bora, Taha’a, Raitea and Huahine. ART LOVERS: You can visit the Museu de Arte de Rio, Movimento and the Bhering Factory, abandoned German iron and steel construction now taken over by a flock of artists and divided into workshops
SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN:
At sunset, take the two cable cars which climb 396m above Rio and the Guanabara bay to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Do not Miss
Fly to Iguassu, 1200km away from Rio de Janeiro, and transfer to the only resort located inside Brazil's Iguassu National Park, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. By boat or by helicopter, discover the Iguazu falls and the amazing animals, birds and plants that make this an area of extraordinary biodiversity. Located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu falls are made of more than two hundred single falls.
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Thuraya Al-Baqasami
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ince her childhood, Award winning Artist and Writer Thuraya Al-Baqasami has been fascinated with the Sheaffer pen. Her dream started with only the wish to have one of her own, but grew into creating a whole new use for the luxurious line of pens. After graduating with a Masters degree from the Arts Institute of Surikov in Moscow, Thuraya went on to win a plethora of awards across the globe including the “Prize for Art Activities” from the European Union of Arts in Prague in 2001, the “Novo Prize” in Hungary in 2010, the “Al Qurain Festival Prize” in Kuwait in 2013 and the “Arab Women Award” in 2014, among many more. Thuraya accomplished her next great achievement as she collaborated with the official distributor of Sheaffer Pens in Kuwait to create an entire collection of artwork using the pens as the only tool. Thuraya AlBaqasami recently sat with CityPages and shared details about the experience and her personal journey with Sheaffer Pens.
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How did you come to know about Sheaffer pens? I came to know about Sheaffer pens from my father, he would always place one in the pocket of his dishdasha. From that moment I wished I would grow up quickly so I could own such a fabulous pen. How did you obtain your first Sheaffer pen? The first time I received a Sheaffer pen was as a prize from the Ministry of Education in Kuwait. In those days Sheaffer pens were given as valuable prizes to outstanding students, by excelling at the subject of art I was able to earn on of these prizes. What were your feelings at that time? It was really amazing. My long time wish was
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by: Mohammad Altaf and Chlesha Rhodes
My Journey with Sheaffer Pens Journey with Sheaffer Pens� come about? As I mentioned before, the idea came from How did you get the idea to use Sheaffer Mr. Akeel. He wanted to create an art gallery using writing tools. I found the project very pens in art? interesting so we collaborated and made the Actually, it was Mr. Akeel Behbehani who exhibition happen. came up with the idea to create a gallery of artwork created with writing instruments. It was a great opportunity to explore the artistic How much time did it take to arrange the capabilities of Sheaffer pens. exhibition and how many paintings did you prepare for this exhibition? What quality of this pen made you want I met with Mr. Akeel Behbehani in March 2014 and after that it almost took three to use it in the art? Although Sheaffer pens are used for writing, months to complete and display all the art they are very nice for drawing and sketching pieces. I alone prepared 70 paintings for this as well. They never miss while working exhibition.
fulfilled. I was full of pride and joy.
Europe for a few months and Sheaffer will be accompanying me in every place and the journey will continue. Sheaffer has a wide variety of pens, which one is your favorite? Although all the Sheaffer pens are very good and my favorite, my most favorite of all is the calligraphy set with assorted ink colors.
What is your message for our readers? I would like to encourage the people and private companies to come forward and support artists like Yaqoub Behebhani Company. Most companies support with them and they provide such a smooth sporting events, but I think it's time for more experience. Do you have future plans to continue companies to help and promote the local working with Sheaffer pen? talent so that Kuwait talent can be recognized How did the idea for the exhibition “My Yes I do, in fact I am currently traveling to internationally. June, 2014
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Please describe to us the producing the Sheaffer pens?
factory
Sheaffer produces its instruments at various locations around the world, all under the supervision of Sheaffer employees and ensuring the highest quality standards are followed.
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Tell us about your working experience with the Behbehani Group in Kuwait? How did it start and how long has been the association going for?
We are fortunate to have a distributing partner in Kuwait and the professionalism and focus on developing the Sheaffer brand in this market has been excellent. Events such as tonight’s demonstrate a creative vision to highlight what can be achieved with our instruments in the hands of a talented Artist and shows pens are not just for writing. We have been working with Behbehani group since about 2008 and look forward to many more years together. How important is the quality of a pen in the writing process?
Owning a quality instrument allows the user to enjoy both better balance in the hand as well as a smooth writing experience, both of which can only help the writing process. Which are some of your most popular models?
Brian Kenny
International Sales Manager, Sheaffer Pen The Gift Collection is a popular range across the globe as it provides an excellent variety of styles, finishes and price points which appeal to all consumers, for personal use or as a gift. How do you see the future existence of writing instruments during the age of digital technology.
At Sheaffer, we believe that electronic devices and the pen can live side-byside and prosper. Sheaffer although of course a writing instrument, is marketed as ‘The Gift that Matters’. With one hundred years of history behind the brand, a Sheaffer gift (whether for another or for oneself) is timeless. Of course as the needs of our consumers 70
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Over the years the designs have changed to reflect the latest styles, trends, and of course the ever-changing needs of our consumers. As you can imagine, over 100 years we have developed many ranges!.No matter how our designs evolve over the years, however, we endeavour always to remain true to the Sheaffer values of quality and innovation espoused by our founder Walter A. Sheaffer; we continue to incorporate traditional Sheaffer elements, and this can be seen in the current collection. For example, today both the thoroughly modern and architectural Sheaffer How have your designs evolved over the Taranis as well as the more classicyears? What major changes do you see in looking Sheaffer Sagaris have hints of the technique or design in the current day the Sheaffer Triumph, first introduced in models? the 1940s.
and technology evolves, so do our products. For example, Sheaffer now offers a ballpoint with stylus for touchscreen electronic devices as well as a leather tablet case. Beyond adapting our products to modern needs, we believe it is vital to continue to encourage and inspire written expression and communication both in its traditional form and in other creative ways. The works created by Mrs Thuraya Al-Baqsami are an excellent example of this.
ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014 CREATE.SHARE.INSPIRE
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EUSE by EN V. and Zain was repositioned last year from an annual event in which the ARTronauts and BHCK always participated to an ongoing social development program which, includes activities such as art competitions and educational roadshows, workshops, online environmental campaigns and community events. One of the first activities launched, as part of the program was the “REUSE Recycled Art Competition”. Two-hundred and eighty-six students from eight local schools and universities competed with each other to create the best works made entirely out of scrap / recycled materials, and the top 50 pieces were displayed as an exhibit in The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th 2014. Almost 3,000 people voted for their favorite piece on-site, with an estimated 7,000 people engaged at the exhibit by close to 20 volunteers mostly ARTronauts and BHCK students. This year’s REUSE Recycled Art Competition, our first public activity since participating in REUSE as a sustained social program, held as an exhibit at The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th, 2014. Several schools and universities across Kuwait have participated in this exciting competition, including ARTronauts, (BHCK), (KES), (BSK), (UAS), (KAS), (FAIPS), and (AUK). While creating art, students were showcasing the many innovative ways of reusing recyclables. The purpose of the exhibit was to redefine recycling in Kuwait, by reintroducing residents to the importance of waste reduction. A grand prize was to be awarded to the most creative and well-produced exhibited work. The winner(s) will be determined through public voting at the exhibit. 286 entries were made for the REUSE competition by students from eight local schools and universities, but only the top 50 entries were invited to participate in the final stage of the competition, which was held at the Avenues Mall. ARTronauts submitted 5 pieces and BHCK submitted nine pieces created by students as entries for the competition that promotes environmental and social design. The artworks were created from reused or repurposed materials, and
were nominated to participate in REUSE based on a competition held at BHCK in December. The BHCK and ARTronauts, led by Lecturer Roma Soni of the Department of Art and Design and supported by submitted entries created by the following students: Artronauts: Alaa Khalifa Alia Al Qabandi Mohammed Ali Al Zuhaili SLecturer Mr. Constantinos Predaris 1.Amani Talal Al Mutairi “Cocktail Time”: Paper Dress 2.Jumana Waleed Al Mawaizeri Transitional Space – Architectural model 3. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “Butterflies”: Framed work 4. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “The three”: Framed work 5.Sarah Mohammed Hubaidah “Mechanical”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 6.Zeenab Ebrahim Bu-Abbas (4th place) “Floating Pool”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 7.Fatima Sulaiman Hussain Abbas “Traditional Roots”: Transitional Space – Architectural model
TA Ms. Alaa Khalifa 8.Kholoud Khalifa Ghayad Al Dalmani - Paper clock 10. Shouq Jaafar Ali Haidar - Side lamp magazine Lecturer Roma Soni’s 11. Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush “Floral Reflections”: Accessory Lecturer Nessreen’s Students 12. Muneerah Rashed AL-Ajmi Newspaper 13.Ms. Lisa Winstanley - Blue bottles Lecturer Reem Al Zamel Lecturer Deena Al Khazendar Volunteers Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush Yousra Ali Suleiman Shorouq Raheif Haider "This is the third year that ARTronauts and BHCK participated in our REUSE competition, and we have come to count on them as partners in our mission to promote environmental awareness and education in Kuwait," said Elisa Franceschinis, programs director at en.v. "We are always impressed by the creativity of BHCK students as well as by the commitment of their professors.” Way to go ARTronauts! Way to go BHCK! June, 2014
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Rhonda McKenzie Witty, Free-spirited artist bringing imagination to life Art can be defined as many things: expression, creativity, imagination. For Artist Rhonda McKenzie it is not just what appears on a canvas, it is a living entity that moves and feels as the artist does. Since age 5 she has been moved by her artistry, allowing her creative nature to lead her. With music and life as her fuel, Rhonda creates fresh, excitingly unique pieces for all to enjoy. CityPages recently sat with Rhonda McKenzie as she shared details about her creative process, influences, inspiration and much more. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started? I’ve been an artist my whole life! Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of“artist-ness”, art by the age of 5.
Where do you get inspiration? “artist-ness”, art by the age of 5. Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept What is the most challenging part about them and do whatever the idea wants until it being an artist? is completed.
What is the most challenging part about being an artist? Maybe being disciplined.
Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins!
What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led. The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the next step in whatever the idea wants. Either way, I allow the process to do its thing and it lets me know when it is finished—never the other way around.
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Maybe being disciplined. What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led.
The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the How long have you been an artist and next step in whatever the idea wants. Either how did you get started? way, I allow the process to do its thing and it I’ve been an artist my whole life! lets me know when it is finished—never the Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of- other way around.
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Allow whatever it is I am doing to be in charge of the process. When this happens, new ideas are free to present themselves and come thru as pleasant surprises and that is the creative process.
Where do you get inspiration? Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept them and do whatever the idea wants until it is completed. Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins! Music however, is the essential fuel and it’s gotta be loud! For the Heads Up series it was late 60s and 70s rock, Hendrix, Joplin, The Zombies, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Stones, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Bowie—that sort of thing—the whole Woodstock, Hyde Park, Monterey, Pinkpop, Glastonbury, Hair (the musical obviously), music festivals—the whole bare foot in the park with some art deco kind of feeling. What is your workspace like? Bright, open, messy, tidy, colourful, paintbrushes, paints, framed artwork of various sizes, photo samples everywhere, coloured paper, pens, scraps, exacto-knives, ladybugs, toy cars, some sofas, cushions and sometimes a cluttered floor and table during the process. What methods and materials have you 74
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enjoyed working with the most? The simple ‘Drawing with a Black Marker repeatedly Method’. I can do this anytime. I keep a little sketchbook in my handbag and a pen or marker and draw or jot down anything that comes to mind at any time. What would you say is your strongest skill and how have you honed it? Drawing-cartooning-designing and the honing comes from that well known: “A thousand hours of practise”—if it can be measured in such ways. Yeah that and eating. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your work? My parents who are big art and textile collectors, love all kinds of music and are extremely creative, especially my Mum. My parents are interested in EVERYTHING. They encouraged me. How has your style changed over the years? It’s gotten more defined rather than changed in that I have a definite style. It’s my own. I feel free and do it without thinking. What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition? Feeling. When I feel it, then what I’m doing becomes real. It’s not a piece of paper or some lines or a painting, it, the art, the thing it is actually lives, breathes and moves just like the artist did, does and feels. How do you choose the subject of your painting? I rarely if ever do. The subject chooses me. Unless of course I am being commissioned to create something specific but even then, I do not know how the request, the ‘how’, the process will express itself and I like the notknowing. It feels so good. It’s free. How do you keep your ideas fresh?
Do you ever experience creative blocks? I did once a long time ago and I thought I was going mental! No matter what I drew and how hard I tried, it looked all wrong. This went on for over a year I think, maybe 2 years even! Then one day like the jedi, out of nowhere “it” returned. When I think back, I was under a lot of stress and in a totally different environment—maybe that was why I couldn’t perform. Nothing like that has ever happened since. If nothing is happening, if I’m not creating anything new, I know it will. How durable are your finished pieces? Indestructible! Framing is good armour! Do you do anything in particular to seal your art? That’s my newest project, finding the right something to seal a recent project, a series of heads called “Heads Up” where I have worked in a style and with materials that I’ve never worked with before and in order to maintain the bold colours I need to find a spray or some sealant. Otherwise my original art work is kept in direct lighting only when necessary. What’s been your greatest artistic success? That’s an ongoing experience which is any and every time people feel happy or smile when they see my artwork because that’s how I feel when I am creating—exhilarated, happy and free. What’s the last thing that made you say ‘wow’? This magazine, CityPages! And you know that’s the truth. How can our readers see your work or buy? www.rhondamckenzie.wix.com/ramcko [email protected] Tweet me at [email protected] There’s a small collection at Better Books in Salmiya And! They can contact CityPages of course! Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Keep up the funkyfreshcooleclectic scene you call CityPages—love it!
June, 2014
NAT BAKES WITH
A Story of Food, Passion, and Dreams Come True by: Chlesha Rhodes
“When you do something that you love it should never be a task, it should always be a labor of love”, said owner Natalie Van Rooyen, of the new modern yet rustic styled bakery Nat Bakes...With Love, as she shared her awe-inspiring journey into the world of culinary arts.
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ove has always been a key ingredient in Natalie's relationship with food since her childhood. Growing up in her South African home her family never had much, but out of all the hardships she had to endure she can always recall consistently waking up to a house full of wonderfully delicious smells, having a hot scrumptious meal and enjoying a table full of desserts surrounded by loved ones. Now Natalie is passing on that same feeling of love, comfort, and happiness to every guest that walks into the new Nat Bakes...With Love bakery.
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Ever since age 10, when she baked her own birthday cake after encouragement from her mom, Natalie has had an intense passion for baking. “It was a natural talent”, she said as she recalled cooking and baking along side her mom as a child, making cherished family recipes that have been passed on through generations. It was this upbringing that taught Natalie that food is about more than just eating to survive, but about enjoyment, sharing, and of course love. Although food was a very common topic in the Van Rooyen household, Natalie took it a step further to become more knowledgeable and experienced in the art of baking. Despite this fact, she did not immediately pursue it as a career. In the
midst of working for a company whose lifespan was unstable at best, as a hobby Natalie would bake cupcakes for her coworkers who gave her exemplary complements. It wasn't until 2010 that a dear friend and co-worker convinced Natalie that her talent and passion for baking needed to be shared. After the two sat and brainstormed all the wacky name ideas, finally the concept of Nat Bakes...With Love struck a cord, and the vision was born.
beautifully crafted cupcakes are made fresh and moist with a little bit of sassy-humor in every name, like Natalie's favorite Vanilla Vixen and the Raunchy Red Velvet. Beating all the odds, the obstacles, and challenging moments, Natalie and her partner personally invested their time and labor to build the perfect team and bring the vision to life. From choosing the location to finding the perfect wallpaper that finally brought the whole concept together, it has been a Natalie's vision encompassed a whimsical world where people journey that Natalie says she is grateful for everyday. can walk in and “go back to their childhood”. In this fantastical yet sophisticated wonderland, guests can expect to be wowed by the boisterously colorful artwork, homey feel, and delicious “When I'm in the kitchen it's my happy place... and the smells that hug your nose as you enter. additional joy and satisfaction I get from people enjoying what “I just want customers to be happy.. even if it's just for that I put out, it just makes me extremely happy. If that's all that I five minutes where your coming to pick up a dozen cupcakes, ever do with my life, I'm blessed and I'm happy and I couldn't or a cookie, or anything. The music, the smells, the feeling, ask for anything else.. because it's everything.” everything should just be happiness”, she explained. After running a successful home bakery business for four years, Natalie's vision has been brought to fruition in her new Salmiyah location. Nat Bakes will bring traditional South African desserts along with both sweet and savory Van Rooyen family recipes; like their unique Banana Pudding and their Goat Cheese with Caramelized Onion Pastries, filled with layers of flavor that are prevalent in every bite. Everything is made from scratch, from their mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies to their customized cakes made to order. Their
Nat Bakes... With Love will be opening its doors for a spectacular grand opening on 15 June, welcoming all to come experience the difference the “Nat Bakes way”: with freshness, creativity, thoughtfulness, and exclusive desserts like their famous Crack Pie. If you're looking for a place to try something new, head to Block 3, Street 5, House 23 in Salmiyah, choose your treat and take a bite... “and know that it was made with love”.
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Infusions
Creating infused culinary gems to accent both the palate and table There is no substitute for loving what you do, for pouring your heart into everything you create and that is what Infusions is all about. In what began as a way for Patty Marotte, founder of Infusions, to promote and support healthy food culture with the use of natural food ingredients and at the same time do something she was passionate about, over the past few years Patty has created a brand with global following. Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. The mere thought of oils and butters infused with the essence of savory herbs is enough to make the taste buds swoon. When packaged into pretty glass bottles or jars with a label, they make a perfect gift that anyone is sure to enjoy. Patty makes each one herself and takes the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but also the last touch of layering the herbs for pleasant visual effects. Recently, CityPages had a pleasure to meet the very capable and hard-working, Patty Marotte, who tells us how and when she got the idea of starting Infusions, challenges she had to face and her best seller products.
Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery.
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What is Infusions? Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more often.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery. What is Infusions?
and how to enhance the flavors of prepared dishes at an early age because my father and I cooked together as a hobby. Until now it is my passion and I am still learning on daily basis! These products I have been doing for home use for years and when the onset the food movement in Kuwait, I thought to myself my items have found a home other than my kitchen. Where are your products available for our readers to buy? Currently, I sell my items online through our IG account. They can be found at most Shakshooka events, which I consider to be my start of exposure. Next year, I look forward to participating in more markets/ exhibitions. Recently, I was blessed to have an opportunity provided by Chef Firas Al-Zaid to showcase my products at Little Ruby’s Sharq branch in a project called the Community Corner. In the near future, projects include a healthy foodshop opening soon in Salmiya and the launch of www.Yazli.com; which is an app that will enhance the IG shopping experience.
Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more Tell us more about how you use social media to develop your often. client base: How and when did you get the idea of starting Infusions? Well, honestly I wouldn’t be anywhere without social media! It is how I played with the idea of Infusions after I realized the food culture started to change in Kuwait and when I saw more people interested in natural products and the increasing availability of organic food items in supermarkets. The items I make are an accumulation of a lifetime of learning, as I learned about what ingredients to blend 80
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I got to collaborate with you guys at City Pages. It was through the interactions of IG and Twitter that I was able to gain exposure and meet people who are a part of the food movements in Kuwait and do some research. Social media is how I knew about the various markets. I initially attended as a supporter but at the same time I observed. I
was able to assess peoples’ feedback on a particular event based on their comments and interactions between key figures in the various industries. As an individual through my personal account I met people over last few years that shared similar interests and topics such as family activities, events for causes, where was a good place to eat, sharing recipes, referrals where to buy quality food products, and advice on healthy lifestyle choices. I started to research the kind of items available on social media and I realized there was a small opening in the food movement that I could help fill and do my part to keep it growing. This I feel was prelude to my client pool because all those individuals were my first supporters when I started Infusions. Can you name a few of your unique products? I would say the infused olive oil is the most unique because it is not mass produced like the ones you see in supermarkets. In the Infusions’ olive oils you can see the herbs and spices used. I make each one myself and take the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but the last touch of layering the herbs for visual effect. Each bottle is different and unique. They are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and artisanal by all means. Another unique product is my artisanal spice jars…people mistake them for sand art but they are quality spices layered nicely in one convenient jar to use in cooking. Just spoon and mix! Which are some of your best sellers? Italiano olive oil seems to be catching the people’s attention and is sold the most. Other popular items are our Pomegranate Zaatar spread and Honey butter. How often do you introduce new products and what is the process of developing a new product? I would say on a monthly basis I introduce a new product. Before I started Infusions I made a list of all products that I know how to do, then I categorized them into “currently use” and “past used” items. I started the business on 2 products; flavored butters and infused olive oils which were on my “currently use” list. Then I go to my “past used” list and start experimenting with the product but revamping it, researching better techniques, making samples and sending to new and old customers for feedback. If I get good reviews I launch it on the IG account. All my products must have 3 things: function, aesthetics, and beneficial to health in some form. How is starting a food business different from other forms of entrepreneurship? I think starting a food business is different because we have to be careful not to succumb to the common food items that lack creativity but sell because it is a familiar food item. So, I do it Infusion style! A perfect example of this would be my “mabooch” series, typical Kuwaiti condiment found everywhere. However, ours are different because I give them a personality and function. I name the chili pepper used and its benefits as an ingredient. I look for unique chili peppers and play with flavors, like my orange Habanero mabooch infused with coconut and pineapple juice instead of lemon. Serrano green chilies blend well with garlic and red Cayenne peppers are perfect with ginger. Have u ever seen purple mabooch? Stay tuned and you will!
What peculiar challenges does a small food business-owner face? The most peculiar challenge in a small food business is sanitary issues. Other challenges are ensuring that everything is up to standard and hygienic, making sure packaging, utensils, and ingredients are not just in good condition but also sterilized properly. An example of that would be why I do not use fresh garlic in the final product of an olive oil out of the fear of spoilage and build-up of bacteria! I use fresh garlic during the infusing process but in the end product I use sanitized dehydrated garlic free of any contamination. What motivates you? Good health. Plain and simple. I was diagnosed many years back with a condition that can be mostly controlled through good eating habits and an active lifestyle. I love my family and I want them to live a long healthy life so I make sure our kitchen is filled with quality food products. My motivation for my customers is the same as my family: I wish them good health and I want to be a part of that process that they can attain it. What is the one thing you hate doing but still force yourself to do every week? INVENTORY! Such a crucial aspect of a business but I grit my teeth when I have to do it. I do not like anything with numbers. What do you think is the biggest threat to the success of small businesses in Kuwait? The biggest threat to the success of a small business in Kuwait is being a fad, as Kuwaitis say ‘habba’. Being a bright shiny shooting star then fall to your end in darkness in a short period of time. What are your future plans? My future plan for Infusions is to open a little gourmet food shop where my products will be available for purchase. I will also use the store to conduct workshops on spices and herbs and their benefits. I would love a platform to teach international simple dishes. One of my dreams since I was a teenager was to learn a local authentic dish from each country then have this cool recipe book called IbnBatuta’sTravels. I also want to participate in more activities with groups that are collectively working to teach people how to choose healthier food and lead an active lifestyle. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: My message to CityPages is, I am deeply grateful and honored to be heard on this platform. I have always liked CityPages since its inception because of the English being the main language used.The events, stories, and editorials are always current and relevant. Keep up the great work and thanks for featuring local people and their talents. It keeps the sense of community alive.
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The FIFA World Cup is upon us, so what better way to start this segment than with a taste of Brasil. These recipes are very easy to follow, with simple ingredients… and great to serve at gatherings, or upcoming football matches with friends. Enjoy… with love! EMPANADAS
DOUGH RECIPE (Baked Empanadas)
In Spanish “Empanar” means to bread, or coated in bread crumbs, empanadas are moreish pastries, filled with either savory or sweet fillings, anything from minced beef, chicken, cheese to fruit based yumminess. Here we will show you how to make the baked version which is very popular all over South America.
INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 1 large egg beaten lightly with 1/4 t. water (for glaze… also known as egg wash – gives pastries a nice golden brown finish )
Filling Recipe – Caramelized Onion with Turkey Ham and Cheddar Cheese. INGREDIENTS: n2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced nSalt and pepper to taste n½ cup of balsamic vinegar n¼ cup of brown sugar n1 cup of chopped turkey ham nDiced cheddar cheese cubes Method - dough nSift the flour, then sift it again with the salt, baking powder, and sugar, and set aside. In a large bowl, using a hand or electric mixer, mix the cream cheese and butter together until well blended. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. nLightly flour your work surface. nDivide the dough into four pieces (keep the pieces you aren't using in the refrigerator until you
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need them) and use a floured rolling pin to roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thick. nCut the dough into circles, with a cookie cutter or small bowl. nSize the circle according to how large you want your empanadas. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. Method – Filling nSauté onions in hot olive oil, until light brown and semi cooked. nAdd salt and pepper to taste nAdd balsamic vinegar and cook for 5 minutes nAdd brown sugar and cook until sugar is dissolved and sauce is slightly sticky and reduced. nLeave to cool. nAdd 1 teaspoon of caramelized onions, a few cubes of turkey ham and cheddar cheese in center of rolled out empanada dough and fold over to make a half circle. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. nPreheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). nPlace the pastries on a lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart, brush with the egg wash, and bake until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. nThey can be made ahead of time, refrigerated, and reheated in a 180 degree (350 degrees Fahrenheit ) oven for 4 to 6 minutes.
one country at a time!
Brigadeiros
This is a great Brazilian sweet that is like a bonbon and extremely scrumptious and delicious called brigadeiro! This is a great type of sweet that is loved all over Brazil by children and adults alike. This easy treat is great to serve at social gatherings or to simply have on the table at all times. INGREDIENTS: n3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder n1 can sweetened condensed milk n1 tablespoon butter n2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa for dusting nChocolate sprinkles for decoration Method: nIn a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk. nCook, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls and roll in cocoa, then chocolate sprinkles. nPlace in small cupcake liners, and serve immediately or refrigerate until desired. nMakes 20 pieces June, 2014
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Advantages and Disadvantages of perfumes and colognes
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erfume is a product innovated for both men and women to make them cool and fresh. Over the past few years people have been going crazy to search and get different types of delightful perfumes and colognes. Perfumes are the fragrances that are made from both natural and artificial commodities. Fragrance oil specifically produced from flowers, fruit tree blossom and woods. Aroma oils have no aromatherapy healing properties. Perfume and cologne are packed in different sizes. There are hundreds of brands of odor and thousands of scents available nowadays in the world. They are synthetic essential oils. With as many varieties of scents as natural essential oils they are perfect for combining with aroma, cold compress soap, creams, lotions, body lotions, body sprays, shower ASAMA Perfumes
The creative method gave ASAMA Perfumes the time and the opportunity to craft fragrances while working with the highest quality ingredients in a bottle and using Arabic and Western scents as a unique concept point for the fragrances. They welcome your comments at [email protected] Follow them on Instagram and Twitter @ ASAMAPerfumes
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gels, and hand soaps. By testing on your skin you will be able to know exactly how does it smell on your skin, but you cannot try out too many different types of aroma simply because all the perfume that you try after the first one will mix with the first one and you would not get the correct smell of those fragrances. Buying cologne can be a very hard decision, especially when you are buying that for your friend or lover. Different people will have different choice of odor. Also each fragrance will produce a different scent on various types of skin. Therefore, when buying perfume you need to do some good research and try it out before you make the final decision. There is some small sample called vial on card or vial mini as well, those bottles are usually for trial. It is a good idea for you to get those trial first to test it out before going ahead buying a big bottle. Now, there are advantages and disadvantages of these two methods of testing. Designers believe that the advantage of odors combined using oils is that they are
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guaranteed to last longer than other aromas, and just as body oils are applied directly to the skin, perfume oils are readily absorbed by the skin. Care needs to be taken when applying them as they may stain clothing. Feminine colognes have usually extra floral categories. Light and fresh character of citrus notes is often combined with more feminine scents to create Citrus Fragrance. These are the refreshing fragrances for the energetic, sporty woman, and are appropriate for office wear, day wear, or warm evening wear. As well as, serves as an ideal summer floral especially for warm or humid climate. Scents in this family include jasmine, gardenia tangerine, freesia, orange flower, and moon flowers. This category also has base scents of sandalwood, musk, amber, and apricot. Although this actually a sub category of the floral family it is extensive enough to give proper recognition. The perfumes in this family can be worn during the daytime and a night on the town, due to the combination of exotic floras, spices, and essences.
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by:
New at Layla Harmony E
very woman’s dream is to have and keep beautiful hair. Our culture highly values lustrous hair that are thick and shiny. Unfortunately, our environment subjects women to extreme conditions that reflect negativity on the natural state of hair. There are external and internal factors that play critical roles on our hair. External factors affecting hair growth include: Sun bathing, hot water, humidity, hair coloring & dying (specially lower quality products), shampoos, nylon or plastic brushes, style of combing and harsh brushing.
lAvoid
harsh hair combing. comb your hair when it is wet. lTo start untangling your hair from end to the roots. lDivide your hair into a medium strands. lUse hair-type specific products: shampoo, cream, mask, serum, mask, ampoules. lDon’t use on daily basis hair foam, gel or spray. lDon’t wash your hair every day. lDon’t
The new treatment offered by our spa aims to reduce the oily scalp On the other hand, there are internal factors that include: stress, and hair dandruff problem by using the violet rays massage with extreme diet, pregnancy, some medicines, and lack of oxygenation, high frequency machine using special tools and combs (quartz). thyroid gland issues and other hormonal imbalances. The course of treatment consists of 10 sessions A combination of these factors results in hair loss, dandruff, oily hair, l2 sessions: Hair treatment with essential oils. l3 sessions: High frequency with scalp massage. dryness etc. We would like to present you with some advice to reduce the side l5 sessions: Dermo roller with specialized hair products. effects, the unfavorable consequences and maintain the benefit of our treatments. Guaranteed effective results are provided by our spa treatments. lAvoid
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using plastic or nylon brushes.
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Our staff is experienced and highly efficient.
June, 2014
Summer Skin Schedule
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Available online on Pinterest.com ith every skin being different and changing over time, the derma.cosmetics brand has developed products for every skin type and for every season. With the harsh summers setting in, your skin’s moisture level is compromised by the insufficient moisture in the air caused by air conditioning, excessive sweating or drying out from exposure to the sun. Your skin becomes dry and taut while it frequently flakes, peels and itches. The protective barrier of your skin is weakened.
For this reason, Dr. med. Christine Schrammek dermatological skincare HYDRATING series contains the innovative active ingredient Ectoine, a substance that not only hydrates the skin but also binds moisture in the skin. Additionally, it protects the skin against damage caused by environmental factors such as stress, UV radiation, dryness, heat and cold. With the concept of “skin has many faces” we customize your skin care as your skin demands to result in a fresh, dewy and radiant complexion. BEAUTY 101 RULE: Daily cleansing and skin care routines should always include the throat and décolleté!
SUPER SOFT CLEANSER:
Soothing, moisturizing night care that supports the cell's own repairing and protecting mechanisms. Skin-identical lipids help to stabilize the skin's barrier function and reduce loss of moisture. Apply after cleansing.
HERBAL CARE LOTION:
HYDRA FORCE DAY CREAM:
MOISTURE INTENSE AMPOULE:
Skin is intensively moisturized by the creamy consistency. The unique ingredients support the skin's ability to preserve moisture and counteract aging. Apply after cleansing.
Light, refreshing fluid for sensitive eye area that reduces puffiness. Effective on fine lines & wrinkles. Gently pat on mornings and nights. Free of fragrances, coloring agents, without mineral oils, without parabens.
This moisture booster rebalances moisture deficits in the skin. Synergistic blend of hyaluronic acid supports reductions of wrinkles caused by dryness. Without perfume oils and parabens. Use as a 7 day spa treatment at home.
HYDRA FORCE MASK:
Anisaa New LaFem Salon & Beauty Co.
Anisaa is an Aesthetic Consultant and Trainer with New Lafem Salon & Beauty Co. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram at: @lafemsalonq8
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HYDRA FORCE NIGHT CREAM:
Cleansing milk with valuable oils. Gently cleanses and prevents the skin from dryingout. PH-neutral and excellently suitable to remove eye makeup. Use mornings and nights.
Soothing and balancing effect with herbal extracts. Dab on after cleansing mornings and nights. Free of parabens. For extra freshness keep Herbal Care Lotion in the fridge!
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ON THIS FATHER’S DAY “THE MEN’S SKIN CARE” AT A GLANCE
The moisture complex from oat and soyalecithin in the mask supplies the skin with extra moisture. Due to intensive hydration the skin obtains a firm appearance. Combats feelings of tautness and fine lines from dryness.
As men’s skin produces more sebum twice as much sebum as women’s skin, men are more prone to skin impurities. This can be combated by thoroughly cleansing the skin every day with PURE SKIN CLEANSING FOAM which clears the skin from any dirt and grime. Daily shaving can cause skin redness, irritation, ingrown and razor burns, for thisGEL SUPER PURIFIANT a refreshing clarifying antibacterial gel offers cooling effect due to the peppermint and camphor. At the same time a deep-acting face mask like theACTIVE CLEARING MASK should be used that will free the skin of excess sebum and skin impurities and will give the skin an anti-inflammatory effect. The star product for all types of skin is the BLEMISH BALM HONEY a special product for blotchy, irritated and impure skin that conceals the blemishes and relieves any inflamed skin. It also helps to soothe any redness after shaving especially for those who have sensitive skin. For the eyes only, HI PERFECTION EYE CREAM - HYDRA FORCE EYE FLUID helps to reduce the dark circles and treat puffiness. For luxury care BEAUTY POWER AMPOULES offer instant glow and radiance. Enjoy Healthy Skin this Father's Day!
New LAFEM Salon & Beauty Co. Salmiya - Hamad AlMubarak Street, Block 9, Bldg. 33, 1st Floor
Tel.: 2 5 7 2 2 5 0 7 / 8 - 6 6 7 3 3 2 2 2 - 6 6 7 1 1 1 4 0 EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR & TRAINER - KUWAIT
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lafemsalonq8
Hiba Al Mansour Believes in the power of paper in a digital world
Over the last few years, the digital revolution is having an impact on bookstores. Fewer and fewer bookstores have survived the onslaught of online retailing. Through the trials and tribulations that come with an evolving book industry many intrepid bookstores continue to succeed and even grow. One such is That Al Salasil. Despite enormous competition from online retailers That Al Salasil has remained a vital resource for book lovers in the community. We thought it would be illuminating to talk with Hiba Al Mansour, business development manager at That Al Salasil, a family owned business since 1972. Hiba provides insight about her strategies for thriving, and talks about the history of That Al Salasil and the secret to its success.
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
"We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and Gulf history."
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Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Hiba Al Mansour and I am a business development manager at That Al Salasil. I am an optimistic and workaholic person who is in love with travelling.
opportunity to the readers to meet them in person. We announce such events through different media such as, radio, newspapers and social media, inviting our loyal customers and public figures.
Tell us about your education: I have completed my schooling in public schools of Kuwait and graduated from College of Business Administration (CBA) with a degree in accounting.
What is the hardest part about the bookstore business currently? It’s a slow business, as we live in a digital age and people lead a fast pace life, they don’t have time to sit and read like before.
What is the history of That Al Salasil bookstore? How long has it been in business? What would you say is the secret to its success? It is a family owned business which started in 1972. My father is a book lover and enjoys the time he spends reading all kinds of books. He understands the fact that books enrich our minds, enhance our life experiences and relieve stress. He is passionate about it and when you love and believe in your business it grows more and more.
Do you encourage browsers to sit in the store and read? Do you have some comfortable sitting areas? One of the main goals of THAT AL SALASIL is to encourage reading so we offer comfortable seating areas in our stores to let our customers enjoy any book they browse or even visit us daily till they finish whatever they were reading. In fact, our bookstore branch at The Avenues is famous for its huge and comfortable seating area.
What has been the most surprising aspect of the A recent trend in bookstores is the presence of bookstore business? a small café or coffee shop, if space permits. Do I am surprised at the number of serious readers you have any such plans? out there who still want to buy paperback books We do have a place for it and we are working on it. despite the increasing popularity of e-books and understand that they have physical beauty, provenance and are collectibles. Speaking of kids, do you encourage children's reading events? What in your opinion is the biggest strength of Yes, we do organize a lot of activities for the kids and we host them all year round. your bookstore? We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in What are some of your future plans? Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both Our main aim is to continue building up our in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and collection of both fiction and non-fiction books to Gulf history. become the best bookstore in Kuwait and Middle East. What types of books are most popular with your customers? Name a book that you have recently read and All kinds of novels are more in demand. would like to recommend to our readers? “1919”, it is Ahmed Mourad’s newly published Do you recommend books to your customers at novel. Ahmed Mourad was nominated for The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF); one of the bookstore? Yes, we have sections in the bookstore with a tag the most prestigious and important literary prizes “we recommend” that we believe are the books in the Arab world. worth reading. What are some of your hobbies? How many different books are on your shelves Travelling, taking adventurous trips to new places, at any given time? discovering all about their culture and rituals and Let’s put it this way, we have more than 8 thousands learning form it. I also like to learn new languages. titles at the bookstore. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Tell us about the author events you often host First, I would like to thank you for visiting us here at and how people can know about them? the bookstore. Secondly, I know it’s cliché to say it Yes, we support all local writers and host special but “life is full of possibilities you only need to focus events at our store to launch their books and give an to acquire it”. 94
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
JUNE BIRTHSTONE IS the PEARL By: Oussama T. Hussein Giving a piece of jewelry containing a birthstone gem will bring the wearer with good luck and protection. Monthly birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calendar. What is the Birth stone for June? The following old poem provides the answer! "Who comes with summer to this earth And owes to June her hour of birth A pearl should wear against her skin Who's innocence many a heart shall win." ." Properties of the Pearl
Zodiac Sign
For those who were born in the month of June the Pearl is the traditional birthstone. The June birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Pearl is associated - loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the June Birthstone Pearl are modesty, chastity and purity. The healing properties of the June birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the heart, spleen, stomach, intestine & ulcer problems. The Pearl is also used to enhance personal integrity.
The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The June birthstone of the Pearl is considered to be the birthstone for Gemini (The sign of the Twins) and relate to those born between May 21 - June 21. The Zodiac sign of Gemini also responds to Emerald, Alexandrite, Agate and the Ruby.
Color of the Pearl
The traditional color associated with the Pearl is the milky white color and was strongly favored as a popular gem in Victorian jewelry. Pearls come in a wide variety of colors ranging from white to black. The popular June Birthstone of the Pearl is found in the following The color of a pearl might be classed as white, silver, cream-colored, countries: gold, green, blue or black. Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, the South Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia
Where are Pearls found?
Tropical Zodiac
Sign
Definition of the Pearl: The word Pearl is derived from the Latin word "pirum" which means "pear" which reflects the shape of the gem. A smooth lustrous round structure having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found inside the shell of a mollusk such as a clam or oyster. It is formed due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with precious stones. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks whilst imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks but with human intervention (an irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow). A good sized pearl can take between five to eight years to form, which is usually the entire life of the oyster or mollusk. The cost depends on the size and the coating, or “nacre”, on a real pearl which gives it its iridescence. 96
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Director: Doug Guillermo Director: Limandel Toro
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aksel Hennie, Ian McShane, Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt, Rebecca Ferguson
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Charlotte Riley, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way
Genres: Action, Adventure, Period
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Action, Epic
Synopsis: Everyone knows the legend of
Synopsis: Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise) is an
Hercules and his twelve labors. Our story begins after the labors, and after the legend… Haunted by a sin from his past, Hercules has become a mercenary. Along with five faithful companions, he travels ancient Greece selling his services for gold and using his legendary reputation to intimidate enemies. But when the benevolent ruler of Thrace and his daughter seek Hercules' help to defeat a savage and terrifying warlord, Hercules finds that in order for good to triumph and justice to prevail... he must again become the hero he once was... he must embrace his own myth... he must be Hercules
officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again.
TAMMY
THINK LIKE A MAN TOO
Director: Ben Falcone
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
THE ROVER
Director:Josh James Wan Director: Boone
Director: David Michod
Starring: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese C. Hartwig, Ella Wahlestedt, Jason GrayStanford, Cassius Willis
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Willem Dafoe, Laura Dern, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Lotte Verbeek
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Guy Pearce, Scoot McNairy, Anthony Hayes, David Field, Gillian Jones
Genres: Adventure
Synopsis: Story of teens who receive
Synopsis: A teenage girl stricken with
Synopsis: The Rover is set in a world ten
cancer falls for a boy in her support group and the two form a bond as they deal with their illnesses. Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them -- and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
years following the collapse of the western economic system, where Australia’s mineral resources have drawn the desperados and dangerous to its shores. With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce), who travels the desolate towns and roads of the Australian outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him.
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
TRANSFORMERS 4: AGE OF EXTINCTION
mysterious messages on their cell phones.
But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
22 JUMP STREET
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Mark Duplass, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates
Starring: Kevin Hart, Terrence Jenkins, Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, Gary Owen, Regina Hall
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts, Wyatt Russell
Genres: Comedy
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Sequel
Genres: Adventure, Action, Sequel
Synopsis: Tammy (McCarthy) is having a
Synopsis: The couples are back together
Synopsis: Officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and
Synopsis: Continuing the story of how
Synopsis: The film begins after an epic
bad day. She's totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint, and instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house.
It's time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she's broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Sarandon), is her only option—with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs.
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EDGE OF TOMORROW
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for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some various situations that threaten to derail the big event.
Jenko (Channing Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college, but when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership.
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz,
Gary Oldman, Judy Greer
Brenton Thwaites, Jack Reynor, Stanley
ultra-intelligent simian Caesar presides over the fall of human civilization.
battle that left a great city torn, but with the
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.
a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt
world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
Travel Made Easy HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller
Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen
Genres: Family, Fantasy, 3D, Sequel
Genres: Comedy, Family, Animation
Synopsis: The heroic Viking Hiccup and
Synopsis: Planes: Fire & Rescue features a
his faithful dragon Toothless must protect the peace -- and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago. The first movie took us into a war between fire-breathing dragons and Vikings, but when a boy named Hiccup impossibly befriended a dragon named Toothless, their friendship changed their world forever. Dragons 2, the second film of this fantastic epic trilogy continues the story about a man named Hiccup and a dragon named Toothless, and flies into theaters in summer of 2014.
JERSEY BOYS
Director: Jon Favreau, Clint Eastwood Starring: Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, Mike Doyle, Johnny Cannizzaro, Christopher Walken, John Lloyd Young
quirky crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous air attack team, including spirited super scooper Lil’ Dipper (voice of Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.
AND SO IT GOES
Director: Rob Reiner Starring: Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton, Frankie Valli
Genres: Musical, Adaptation
Synopsis: Frank Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy
Synopsis: A self-centered realtor enlists
DeVito and Nick Massi go from blue-collar wrong side of the track origins to become American pop sensations, selling 175 million records worldwide before they are 30 years old.
the help of his neighbor when he's suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he never knew existed. There are a million reasons not to like realtor Oren Little, and that's just the way he likes it. Willfully obnoxious to anyone who might cross his path, he wants nothing more than to sell one last house and retire in peace and quiet -- until his estranged son suddenly drops off a granddaughter (Sterling Jerins) he never knew existed and turns his life upside-down. Clueless about how to care for a sweet, abandoned nine-year-old, he pawns her off on his determined and lovable neighbor Leah and tries to resume his life uninterrupted. But little by little, Oren stubbornly learns to open his heart - to his family, to Leah, and to life itself.
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Whether you are arriving, departing or transiting at Kuwait International Airport, Hala Kuwait is there to make your journey easy. From the moment you get to the airport, our team is there to take care of your every need whether it is using our Fast Track immigration, dedicated check in area, Pearl Lounge, private transportation, or our Meet & Assist Service to guide you every step of the way.
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Member of the National Aviation Services Group
The English Woman In Saudi Arabia
"Hi,"
she said in a broken english accent. I didn't want to look at her, I was too afraid to tell you the truth, I was new to the country and a little scared. "I don't mean to bother you dear, but you look rather lost and it is odd to find a blue-eyed woman with blonde hair in our country. Are you okay?" she asked in a concerned tone. I didn't know whether to reply or just keep quiet, my heart started to beat fast and I felt dizzy and weak. I came all the way to Saudi Arabia to find the man that I had fallen in love with back in England. What on earth was I thinking?
to sob. The woman approached me and hugged me, although I couldn't see her face, as it was covered, her big brown eyes gave me comfort. "I am here to look for this Saudi man, his name is Yousef. I have known him for a long time, he studied with me in college back in my country. But he left to come back here, he asked me to come with him but I couldn't," I sighed. "My parents refused. But after months of him gone, I just couldn't live without him," I whispered, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited for the woman to respond, I did not know what to expect. Would she be angry? I knew this was an Islamic country and as a 20 year old English woman, running away to Saudi Arabia to be reunited with her true love, was I looked around the airport and started not exactly an appropiate story to tell. to panic. I was the only woman that was uncovered and every man that passed me "First of all," she said in a low voice. "You must gave me a look. "Oh no," I cried. "What have I take this scarf and cover your hair." At first I done?" I put my hands to my face and started was a bit hesitant, I followed her eyes as she was looking around at the men staring at me, Nadia AlHassan so I did what I was told. Could I trust her? I had never been in the Middle East, I knew no arabic whatsoever and my family had no idea where I was. But, I had no other choice but to Nadia Al-Hassan is a student in Ireland, studying trust her. Journalism. She is passionate about writing stories and poetry. Nadia loves helping people with her stories. She believes that words are beautiful and powerful.
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From the way he dressed, to the way he spoke. "He was tall, so handsome and gentle," I said with a smile on my face, remembering all our memories together. "He had soft dark brown eyes and a warm smile. Oh, his eyelashes were so beautiful! Thick and long, every womans dream to have," I laughed. I could not see what her face expression was but I somehow knew that she was smiling too. "Do you think I'm foolish to have come all the way here?" I asked. She shook her head and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Love makes us do crazy things, but it does not make us foolish," she replied. I continued with my story, I told her how I met him and how he taught me all about Islam too. "I was intrigued, I wanted to know more about his culture and his religion. He would sit down every evening with me in the college library and teach me all about Islam. I started to want to know more and more, It sounded like such a beautiful religion."
Just as I was telling her about how my mother and father and how they did everything they could to keep me away from him and how I lost all hope, I heard a familiar voice behind "Tell me about this man called Yousef," she me. "Kate," he said. I turned around and there said. We sat for an hour as I described him. he was, handsome as ever, standing.
TOP MUSIC CHARTS DJ Raven Fancy
1
American Authors Eric Church Nicki Minaj Lorde
Coldplay
Disclosure 5 Seconds Of Summer Shakira & Rihanna
June, 2014
Photography by: @abdullah_hamadah at @seventyseven_kw studio
12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
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A man’s relationship with his father is one of the most important relationships in his life. Dad is supposed to teach us the manly arts, to always be there as lifelong mentors who lovingly guide us into manhood. At least that’s what every boy hopes for. Of course in real life the relationship between father and son is rarely so simple. A son yearns for the love and respect of his dad and doesn’t always get it. Or he worships his father, only to find out later he wasn’t such a good guy. Or his dad is indeed the real deal, but he exits his son’s life too soon. It’s no wonder that a relationship so fraught with hope and yearning, drama and resentment, joy and regret has often translated into cinematic gold. Men don’t typically cry at movies, but when we do, nine times out of ten the scene involves a father and his kids. Father-themed flicks are guaranteed to make us laugh, get misty-eyed, and feel a little introspective about our own dads, and if we have kids ourselves, how we measure up as fathers. I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of the very best movies about fatherhood that the world of cinema has to offer.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch is the man. Pillar of integrity, fighter of racial injustice, humble sharpshooter, and, of course, world’s greatest dad. As a widower he could have shipped his kids off to a relative, but he was absolutely devoted to them. He was kind, protective, and incredibly patient with his two kids, Jem and Scout. And most importantly, he taught his children by example. I find the relationship between Atticus and his daughter to be particularly endearing. If I ever have a daughter, I hope my relationship with her can be like the one Atticus had with his little girl. No wonder the American Film Institute called Atticus the “greatest movie hero of the 20th century.” Of course you can’t top the book itself, but the film version measures up pretty well. Gregory Peck was given some very large shoes to fill, and he did so admirably.
Big Fish
Big Fish is a weird movie. Weird in a good way, though. It was directed by Tim Burton, hence the weirdness. Big Fish focuses on the strained relationship between a father and son–Ed and Will Bloom. Ed is a man who loves to tell (possibly fictitious) stories about his past. Ed’s son, Will, thinks his dad is full of it and can’t stand his tall tales. Will feels he cannot trust his father and eventually stops talking to him for several years. But when Will finds out his dad is dying, he returns home to begin a journey that will lead him to learn who is father really is, a process that allows him to come to peace with his dad. The end of Big Fish is awesome. I won’t spoil it for you. Watch it.
Field of Dreams
To what lengths would a man go for a chance at reconciliation? If it’s for your (dead) father, most of us would do anything. As a young man, Ray Kinsella had a strained relationship with his dad and had once refused to play catch with him, a decision he has regretted ever since. Now grown up, with his father passed away, Ray has become an Iowa farmer. A voice tells him, “If you build it, he will come,” and Ray obeys by building a baseball diamond in his cornfield. The voice continues to guide Ray, and after a series of mysterious and supernatural events, he is able to make amends by playing a simple game of catch with his dead father. Man. That catch scene gets me every time.
The Godfather
At its core, The Godfather is about one man’s struggle to accept and eventually live up to the legacy his father has left him (even if that legacy isn’t the most noble and honorable one). You can gleam a lot of great insights about fatherhood from watching the entire trilogy. My favorite comes from Don Corleone: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Be a man. Spend some time with those kiddos. And don’t forget the cannoli.
Father of the Bride
It’s the moment any man with a daughter looks forward to with both happiness and sadness: his little girl’s wedding. You’ve probably seen the 1991 re-make ofFather of the Bride with Steve Martin. Sure, it’s funny, but it’s nowhere near as good as the 1950 original starring Spencer Tracy and a young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. At least, I don’t think so. There’s nothing profound or deep about this film. It’s just a fun, family comedy about the relationship between a man and his daughter. Spencer Tracy rocks it in this movie. One of his best performances.
Road to Perdition
As we mentioned in the introduction, sometimes the relationship between father and son can be pretty complicated. That complexity is at the root of the dark, Depression-era gangster film, Road to Perdition. Every boy wants to grow up to be like his dad, but what if your dad isn’t such a good guy? Tom Hanks plays mob bodyguard and hitman, Michael Sullivan, who must protect his son from his former boss (with whom he had his own almost father/son relationship) and his boss’ son, who has killed the rest of Sullivan’s family. On a mission of revenge, Sullivan draws his son into a life of crime, but hopes he will take a different path in life. It’s a bloody, complicated, and father/son relationshippacked movie; as Hanks puts it, “If you’re a man, and you’ve got offspring…emotionally, it’s devastating.”
The Pursuit of Happyness
An uplifting film based on the true story of now multi-millionaire Chris Gardner's one-year struggle with homelessness while raising his son by himself and working to land a full-time job. The Pursuit of Happynessshows the lengths a father will go for his children. What makes this movie even more emotionally captivating is that Chris Gardner and his son, little Chris, are played by real-life father and son, Will and Jaden Smith.
Parenthood
If you’re a fan of the ABC television comedy, Parenthood, then watch the movie that inspired the show. Like the show, Parenthood the movie focuses on different branch-offs of the same family. And like the show, the movie does a good job showcasing the (often humorous) struggles of being a parent in our crazy modern world. While it’s an ensemble film, Steve Martin’s character Gil Buckman takes center stage. Gil’s a father who’s driven to be the best dad he can be because of his dissatisfaction with his own childhood. Gil’s earnestness to be a good dad often crosses the line into neuroticism, but during the course of the film he learns to mellow out. I really like this film (and the show). Unlike a lot of comedies built on outrageous setups and low-brow gags, Parenthood tries to stay as true to real life as possible. When you watch it, you laugh because you can relate with the characters and their problems.
Boyz ‘N the Hood
Laurence Fishburne plays Furious Styles (what an awesome name), a hard-nosed father trying to raise his rebellious son, Tre, on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Furious gives his son plenty of tough love but also provides him a good example of what it means to be a father, and more importantly, a good man. Boyz ‘N the Hood teaches us that there’s nothing like the influence of a father to mold a boy into a man who does the right thing.
Finding Nemo
A movie about fatherhood that you can watch with your kids. Marlin’s a widower father who loses his wife and 400 of his children (he’s a fish) in a vicious barracuda attack. His only child to survive is Nemo, a headstrong little clown fish who’s frustrated by his father’s neurotic over-protectiveness. Despite Marlin’s best efforts to look out for Nemo, he gets lost and the rest of the movie is dedicated to, well, finding Nemo. Marlin’s love for his son transcends species. Even us human dads can relate to this computeranimated fish.
Paper Moon
Starring real-life dad and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O’Neil,Paper Moon follows Moses and Addie Pray, a father-daughter duo who grift in Depression-Era Kansas. Moses isn’t really an ideal father-figure. He scams old widows out of money by pretending to be a Bible salesman who recently sold their deceased husband an expensive, personalized Bible. But the daddy-daughter relationship between Moses and Addie is awfully charming. Paper Moon is a fun, comedy-filled movie that you can watch with your own little partner in crime.
My Life
My Life is perhaps the best and most underrated movie about fatherhood ever made. Michael Keaton plays Bob Ivanovich, a man who discovers that he has terminal cancer soon after his wife gets pregnant. Knowing he won’t be around to raise his little boy, Bob makes home movies of himself that his son can watch as he grows up. In some of the videos, Bob reads bedtime stories and in others, which will be shown when his son is older, Bob teaches important man skills likehow to shave and how to shake hands. As Bob approaches his death, he also begins to reconcile with his own father,
Abdulaziz AlKhamis Abdulaziz is a Kuwaiti Film Maker, Visual Artist and a Script Writer. He graduated from the UK, with a passion to mix art and visuals. June, 2014
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Poetry by Nada Faris Available online on Pinterest.com Behind the Scenes
What’s holding you back, when I’d surrendered my heel?
Had you taken a moment to peer into your brain you would have squinted and then held your breath, but since you illuminate every cobweb with bright intent you soldier on speaking so-called altruism. Hold on. Swerve the spotlight of this theatrical display behind the scenes, where deserted boxes packed with real events gather dust and insects.
The expanse of time, odorless, forgetful, stretching long and wide, will sooth, will heal the scar spurting blood and broken promises smelling like your shampoo, and phony compliments. Paragon of Decomposition She thinks she is so pure, so she cleans herself, thoroughly washing out every blemish until she forgets what it means to be human, pulsating with emotions, blood bubbling with hemoglobin, bones, meat, nerves, germs, and mistakes.
Expanse of Time
Regrets and heartaches aren't mere temperaments, but conditions upon which humanity is staked.
Rip the scab with fingers dripping my scent, let white turn red, turn drab. No tears translucent will dribble and blend in your brew of fragility, staining,
She’d codify her demise with rituals sanitarily emanating qualities associated with divinity she thinks she owns, or rather, hopes and pretends she does.
fleeting as fugitives, slipping in and out of memories, leaving clues of your trespassing, mercurial, piercing details as needles poking and pulling threads, weaving knots with failed expectations and dread, never to unravel. Nada Faris Nada Faris is a Kuwaiti who writes poetry, articles, and fiction in English. Her latest book, Before Young Adult Fiction, is a collection of short, award-winning articles, poems, and short stories that shaped her writing voice. Reach her at: www.nadafaris.com or @nadafaris
Photo by Greg Bal 104
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Avoiding blisters, and the rumbling under her skin, of physical sin calling, she studies sermons so she could teach others about the miracle of her powers, her self-imposed dictatorship of desire, lolled at will to earn her honors, for unlike you and me, she is no mediocrity with filthy flaws.
And unlike Christ who died for love, (can you smell the foul blood on a forsaken prophet of mercy thickening still with treason and loss?) she laves her arms until she levitates, until she glows, until a halo hovers above and crowns her skull, and names her holier than the Lord. She’d rather die alone, than vulgar, suffering from pain or trauma, for she is perfection personified in human form.
Introspection While soaping my body I bellow in disgust at something I’ve washed, you’ve touched, with indifference; how is it now that I foam the soap to cover it up, and scrub as if to get it out entirely, and why does my heart beat faster when I, after forgetting, remember it there, gloating, taunting, and why do I feel the need to ask you for an opinion or a degree of distaste, (be honest now) and don’t, simultaneously, don’t tell me what I already know, in the magazine, on the TV, on billboards, on faces of family members, (be honest now) and don’t, please.
رفق ًا بنومي...
Dream Ceremony أشكرك... ألنك دون أن تدري أشعلت الربيع في داخلي وملئتني دروبًا ملونة واحتفاالت صاخبة جيل من اشكرك ألنك أسكرت قلمي بعد ٍ االنتكاسات ّ رششت السكر على ذاكرتي ،فأصبحت و لذيذ ًة جدا كرائحة الكعك في بالدي... ِ أزهرت على قصائدي ُرمانًا شكرًا ألنك َ وخوخًا وألقيت الفراشات على جملي الثكلى، فأينعت... بش ْه ِد ُق َب َ شكرا ألنك ز ّينت صوتي َ لك
المؤجلة، َ تشكيل زوايا قلبي بما يليق دت وأع َ َ بانتظارنا...
حب رسمتُ ها على ُدرجي بعض و ُ قلوب ٍ ِ المدرسي، هي أيضًا َ لك فخذها...
فخ ْذها زوايا وامأل برائحتك زُهد المكان القلب لك ُ ْ الدمعُ الغافي على وسائدي وتعمد بمطر الحنين ّ ُ الزنبقة (الـ)زرعتُ ها على شرفتي لتحيا بك و المشتاق وارتباكه بوداعة ومشط ِ ِ لك ...فخذها.. ُحلمي... أشعاري ورسائلي الما اكتملت بعد وانزع بقايا االنتظار عن ِّصبا كتفي ُ العاطلة عن العمل أقالمي متمرس على رخام الوقت كطفل و احبي ٍ ٍ ُ تراتيل أحالمي وداعة اسمي وردد بكل ما أوتيت من ٍ ّ و ُ كل صلواتي المتمردةُ َ ، لك فخذها... أحب ِك.. صمت بصمت، واهتف ٍ ٍ مطبقُ : ٍ ُق َبلي الخجلى دفاتر طفولتي المذعورة ُ
لكن أرجوك ببطء ، اخطي ٍ ببطء أكثر ... ٍ ُ أخاف أن أصحو مراس َم الحلم.... فس ُد ُحضو ُر َك ِ في ِ ُ
Tassnim Hassoun
Tassnim is an accounts specialist. She has been writing poetry and short stories since she was twelve and currently is in the process of writing a book, needless to say she loves reading. Additionally Tassnim is a gym and nutrition junky.
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JUNE Book Releases
Summer is a time when many people like to read books that take them to other places (even if, in reality, they are stuck at home). Thrillers and romance are always big sellers, and this look at anticipated June releases has plenty of both!
Written in My Own Heart'sBlood' Diana Gabaldon
The release of Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, the latest book in the very popular Outlander series, has been rescheduled twice. Finally, the release date is here! Fans of the seven previous novels in the series will surely devour this 800+ page continuation of the story. If you prefer to fill your beach bag with romance rather than action, this is the series for you.
China Dolls Lisa See
Lisa See is beloved for her stories about Chinese and Chinese-American women, such asSnow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls. China Dolls is the story of three Chinese-American young women in San Fransisco in 1938. They are from very different backgrounds, but become best friends. As war looms, they face various trials and must rely on each other.
The Silkworm
Robert Galbraith
When word got out that Robert Galbraith is actually a pen name for J.K. Rowling, Galbraith's first novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, became an instant bestseller. That's how it got our attention, but after reading it, we were glad that it did. The second novel in this new detective series is due out just in time for summer vacation. Rowling/Galbraith fans won't want to miss Silkworm.
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Herman Koch is the bestselling author of The Dinner. In his newest novel, a medical procedure performed by a doctor to the stars goes horribly wrong, and an actor dies. The doctor and actor's families spent the summer before together on the Mediterranean, and a violent incident there may be the key to understanding the actor's death. This is a psychological thriller.
Mr. Mercedes Stephen King
If you love suspense, you can't go wrong with Stephen King. In Mr. Mercedes -- a summer thriller if ever there was one -- King tells the story of a man who has already committed one violent act and is threatening something worse. When Brady Hartfield plowed through a crowd in a stolen Mercedes, he killed eight people and escaped. Still at large, he is threatening another act that could kill or maim thousands. A retired policeman and two allies are in a race to stop him.
That Night
Chevy Stevens
That Night is the story of Toni, a 34 year old woman who was convicted of murdering her younger sister when she was a teenager. She is on parole and wants to move on with her life, but circumstances are making that difficult. She may need to find out what truly happened that night and prove her innocence before she can move on.
An Untamed State
The Vacationers
Roxane Gay's short stories and essays have gained her attention and made her debut novel, An Untamed State, one of the most buzzed about debuts of early 2014. An Untamed State is billed as a page turner that you won't want to put down, but sounds like it is best for those with thicker skin. This is the story of a Haitian-born woman who returns to Haiti with her American husband and baby. She is kidnapped and sexually tortured for almost two weeks. Much of the novel deals with the psychological aftermath and ways her life falls apart after her release.
The Vacationers starts at the airport and ends with the plane ride home
Roxane Gay
Herman Koch
Emma Straub
after two weeks of vacation in Mallorca. During that time, the Post family and some close friends work through family secrets, rivalries and tensions. Emma Straub keeps the pages turning in this summery story.
BOOK CLUB
A woman's Work IS Never DONE T
his book is a great gift to give to a friend as a birthday gift, as I did with my best friend. It is written by my favorite gift books' author Helen Exley. She is well known for having many gift books under different titles that are very popular, such as; To My Great Friend, The Baby Blessing, Little Things Mean A lot and many more. Her business of gift books started as a family initiative that was meant to give people a meaningful gift that friends and family members could share amongst each others. Now Helen's gift books are widely popular. What is special about her gift books is that they are tiny books that can be easily carried in your pocket, they don't consist of many pages which makes it very easy to read, it has a collection of selected quotations by many authors that is relevant to the topic (title of the book) and a collaboration with a caricature artist to make it fun to look at over and over again. In this book Helen wanted to share the never ending works of a woman; she got quotations related to women as, mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, working ladies and many more. In this specific gift book she collaborated with caricature artist Rowan Barnes Murphy who is well known in that field. Here are examples of some of the quotes that were included in the mini book: "All mothers are physically handicapped. They have only two hands." – Author Unknown
"Just as every human being believes he has a novel in him, so every uxorious husband believes his wife has a cookery book in her." – Alice Thomas Ellis (1912-2005) "The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents." – John J. Plomp You could find Helen Exley's gift books at the gift shops stores as well as co-ops at affordable price, I also recommend that you read it before you gift it to your friend, it is always a good read.
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Nada Soliman
[email protected]
Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author.
June, 2014
THE UPCOMING SUMMER
S
ummer is every student’s favorite part of the year, because it’s the time where students relax from all the stress of the final exams and get an abundant amount of free time as reward for their hard work. They spend this 3-month’s vacation leisurely having fun, and enjoying themselves. Some travel to other countries, and others lay back everyday watching TV, playing videogames, or hang out with their family and friends. Summer is, at the beginning, every student’s paradise. But gradually, and after doing all of what they had in mind, it becomes a bore; merely some time to waste before school/ college starts again. Because it becomes Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Adnan is studying Theoretical Physics at the college of Sciences and Technology in Kuwait University. His Hobbies include Anime, manga, heavy metal, jazz, gaming, writing, and reading. In Writing field he is into Reviews, critiques, essays, plays, and short short-stories. Adnan can be contacted by email: [email protected]
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repetitive really soon. Work (or in students’ case: study) is supplementary to our happiness. That’s why we tend to crave going back to school after long breaks. Sadly in Kuwait, students don’t recognize their full potentials. Accomplishments during this vacation are scarce. Most people focus on how to have fun the following day, and that is a major waste of time. Summer is the best time for doing projects. Sure, we should have fun in summer, but summer is all about productivity and creativity, that's why it’s important to consider having a plan for the upcoming summer, and the ones that come after, so that we all could be helpful members in our society. Besides, what's more fun than having a list of achievements crossed out? Imagine all the things you could come up with in 90 days of free time. Think of all the possibilities. Surely, we all have hobbies, and we all like challenges, so why not challenge ourselves (or our friends) to do the greatest
things this summer? You can start practicing on your guitar, or start writing a story. You can arrange a book-reading contest with your friends or family, or you can learn about new topics you weren’t enlightened on. You can practice drawing and sketching, or start a new club with special activities. The choices are endless, the time is abundant, and recreational activities are variant, and only you can decide how this summer turns out in the end. After all, you are the one behind your final decision: This summer can be your best yet, or just another passing vacation. We may have hard times, or some problems with family or such, but we always rise after, and make the best of our time. So ask yourself this: “What’s going to happen this summer?” Will you let it pass, or will you make the best of it? Good luck on your exams, and have a nice productive fun summer vacation!
June, 2014
Wataniya is Now Ooredoo CityPages Meets Sarah Al Enzi at Ooredoo
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
CityPages meets Sarah Al Enzi the Junior Sales Executive – Sales/Retail at Ooredoo for 2.5 years. Sarah holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administrations from Kuwait University. At Ooredoo, her tasks includes: Listening to customers to aid in finding the right bundle of services & products to comply with their needs, selling & marketing the company's products & services to them, providing the customers with information & building loyalty, and acting as a liaison between the company & the market. In our meeting with Sarah we wanted to know more about the transition of Wataniya telecom to Ooredoo and why the name "Ooredoo"?
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. citypageskuwait.com
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it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. June, 2014
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. They expect more from us now. They want more tailored services and products that fit better with their lifestyles. And More than that, they wanted us to listen to what they want and provide it to them. We have promised ourselves to be Caring, Connecting and Challenging. We want to care for our customers and for what matters to them. We want to connect with them, and listen to what they want. We also want to add some challenge so that they always ask us for more, because that’s how we will develop and innovate.
After the studies done by Ooredoo Group on choosing an Arabic name, why the name “Ooredoo”? The group wanted an Arabic name that represents its Arabic identity across all countries it operates in and it also wanted a name that reflect what customers wants are. Therefore, the name “Ooredoo” was chosen, which in English means “I want.” By this name we give chances to our customers to tell us what they want. Ooredoo is the word that every customer normally says when coming to a branch; “I want” fast internet, “I want” personalized services, and much more. We encourage our customers to tell us what they want so we can continue to innovate and develop more services.
How is the vision of Ooredoo affecting your deliverables to customers? Ooredoo’s vision is all about enriching people's lives in Kuwait. To enrich people’s lives means we want to serve them by not only providing them with telecom services, but also by helping them grow in their communities within Kuwait and supporting them reach their potential to contribute to human growth. This is what makes us different than other telecoms in Kuwait. We are a communitybased company which makes us responsible of contributing to the social development of the communities within Kuwait. We want to enable youth, champion women and empower entrepreneurs and small businesses.
What opportunities does Ooredoo give to young ambitious Kuwaitis like you? With my experience in the Sales Division, I believe that Ooredoo definitely sees potential in Kuwaiti youth. The company believes in their great skills and abilities as there are many young enthusiastic and passionate Kuwaitis working now in different divisions in the company. Ooredoo provides different job opportunities for graduates as well as experienced Kuwaitis. This comes from the company’s vision as it believes in enabling youth and helping them grow. The company also provides continuous training and growth opportunities within it. What we learned from Ooredoo as employees is that it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. 112
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Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
to add to your wishlist
An Amazon Fire TV, Digital Paper System, and more amazing must-haves
Nendo Cubic Rubber Band Our favorite design this month is a cubic rubber band. The shape does two things: It makes the band easier to pick up and gives it a firmer grip. We still haven’t found the best way to shoot it, though.
Rhythm Downlight Led Astronauts on the ISS see 15 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. So to help them get into some kind of routine, scientists researched the optimum wavelength of light for suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin. Blue light proved best, which is why Lighting Science’s new Rhythm Downlight bulb uses blasts of blue to keep you alert, followed by a relaxing tune when you need to rest.
Ryno The Ryno looks like the love child of a motorcycle and a unicycle. But unlike either, there’s little balancing required: A gyroscope and accelerometers help keep a rider upright. Leaning forward accelerates the electric bike to speeds up to 10 mph.
Moog Theremini Hitting the right note on a theremin is surprisingly difficult. So Moog added pitch control to its latest model. With the control turned up, it’s impossible to play a wrong note. Lessen it, and there’s room for vibrato.
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Flir One The Flir One is a thermal imaging device for an iPhone. It detects infrared energy from 32°F to 212°F. Uses include seeing in the dark, locating heat loss, and cheating at hide-and-seek.
Digital Paper System Sony’s new Digital Paper System wants to liberate your office from its dependence on dead trees with an E-ink tablet. This low-power device lasts three weeks between charges, lets you edit, create and annotate documents, and at 6.6mm thick is thinner than your average notepad. When you’re done working you can upload your files to the cloud via Wi-Fi or save them to an SD card.
Crescent Switchblade This multi-tool has four interchangeable heads—three blades and a plier—for various activities, such as shingle work and cutting wires.
Htc One (M8)
Click And Grow Smart Herb Garden
Regular readers will remember the Lytro camera we tested in issue 251, which lets you change the focus of a picture after it's been taken. Two years later, the HTC One (M8) is the first smartphone to mimic this feature, using two lenses at the rear of the phone to do the job. This means if you’ve accidentally focused your photo on a lamp post rather than the landscape behind it, you can correct the error when you get home.
If astronauts can grow plants in space, then you can grow them right here on terra firma. Inspired by NASA technology, this miniature garden helps you grow healthy plants indoors. You simply add some water to the specially designed solution – which is full of the optimum O2 and nitrate levels for growth – and then leave the smart pot and light to work their magic.
Amazon Fire Tv Another nail in the coffin for broadcast telly, Fire TV brings streaming services such as Netflix, iPlayer and, of course, Amazon Instant Video to your TV. But unlike other streamers, it also offers streaming videogames and a dedicated games controller. And with Amazon’s purchasing power you can bet they’ll be able to offer access to most on-demand TV before the year’s out.
Feddz Electric Bike An electric motor takes up a lot less space than a petrol one. This battery-driven scooter uses the extra room to let its rider carry much more than they could on a typical motorbike. Where the fuel tank and engine would have been there are now 23 litres of storage space. Fully loaded and charged, it’ll offer a range of 70km – enough for most commutes – and will even charge your smartphone en route. June, 2014
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.تقنيات الثمانيات تعود للحياة
وهي إحدى عمالقة التقنية اليابانية أنها قامت وبشكلSony صرحت ١٤٨ مستقل بتطوير شريط تسجيل مغناطيسي بسعة تخزين تيرابايت١٨٥ وهذا يعني القدرة على تخزين،جيجابايت لكل إنش مربع فيلم بلوراي٣٧٠٠ بمعنى آخر يمكنك تخزين.في شريط كاسيت واحد IBM بشريط كاسيت واحد فقط! هذا اإلنجاز تم بالتعاون مع شركة هذه التقنية، حتى اآلن.والتي ساهمت بقياس كثافة التسجيل مصممة لتخزين البيانات اإلحتياطية للشركات الكبرى والحواسيب نحن نعتقد أنه ستكون هناك منافسة.)Supercomputer( الخارقة على توفيرSony كبيرة مع شركات التقنية األخرى والتي ستجبر لم تعلن عن موعد طرحSony شركة.هذه التقنية للمستهلك الحقًا ولكن عندما يحصل ذلك سيكون بمثابة انتصار،الشريط في األسواق .لحقبة الثمانينات
80's Technology Returns to Life The giant Japanese technology company Sony announced that they have dependently developed a soft magnetic tape technology with areal recording density of 148GB/in2. This means it will be able to record (185TB) worth of storage in a single tape. In other words, you can store 3700 blurays in one simple cartridge. This breakthrough comes with the help of IBM corporation who assisted them with the measurement of the recording density. It's designed for long-term industrial-sized data backup. For now, this technology is designed to work with supercomputers. We think there will be a huge competition between other technology companies that will force Sony to bring this technology to the consumer later on. Sony wouldn’t say when this tape will hit the market, but when it does it will be a victory to the 80's era.
Yousif AlSaeed Saad Almseikan A burger lover who works as a Computer Technician during the day. Saad has a curious mind that likes to discover everything new that's related to computers, hardware, gadgets and technology. You'll most probably find him holding a burger while playing with a new gadget. He is 27 years old, loves Mixed Martial Arts. Music is what keeps him going especially Rock & Roll.
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Yousif holds a BSc. in Information Technology & Computing Degree and is a Teacher and Software Developer. He loves sharing the latest technology news and gadgets with people. Yousif believes that behind everything in the tech-world is a great story. He spends most of his time reading technology blogs and self development.
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The End of Apple vs. Google Lawsuit. Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist between the two major companies. They also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. In 2010 Motorola Mobility (Owned by Google) accused Apple of infringing several patent while Apple said they violated its patents regarding smartphones features. Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012 for 12.5$ billion. This year Google decided to sell the Motorola Mobility to Lenovo but it will keep the majority of Motorola's patent portfolio.
Third Time is a Charm. Microsoft Suface Pro 3. After two runs on the tablet business, Microsoft gets the hang of it. With this edition, they introduce a lighter and thinner tablet with great features and a stunning screen (2160 x 1440pix ). They even threw a pen with it to make it user-friendly. It comes with redesigned kickstand that allows you to set it at any angle (between 22 - 150 degrees). Also, it has a new 5mm ultra-thin keyboard with backlit .You can pre-order it now starting from 799$ - 1949$ and it ships on August 31st.
The World's Most Valuable Brands are Tech Companies Google got the 1st rank with a value of 159$ billion after beating Apple which slipped to 2nd rank. IBM remain in the 3rd place followed by Microsoft in the 4th ( was 7th ). Facebook is in the 21st place ( was 31st ). Samsung is in the 29th place ( was 30th ). Oracle is in the 45th place ( was 36th ). HP is in the 49th ( was 54th ). The first 4 companies leading this chart are technology companies and their value surpass 500$ billion. How long will these companies hold and lead the chart?!
The Second Worst Data Breach in History More than 145 millions accounts compromised! eBay said that hackers raided its network three months ago. The company advised its users to change their passwords immediately. eBay said "We don't know that they decrypted the passwords because it would not be easy to do.�. These records contain passwords, email addresses, mailing addresses, date of birth and other personal information, but no financial data (credit cards information). The biggest data breach was in October 2013 when a hacker accessed Adobe System and collected information that belongs to 152 million user accounts.
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Samsung New Health SAMI Sensor & SIMBAND Mock-up. Samsung introduced Samsung Architecture Multimodal Interaction or "SAMI" Sensor & SIMBAND with open software, open hardware and mechanical as well. Its a mock-up to help inspire future partners. Samsung's goal is to converge the IT technology with health and wellness. The new era after the wearable gears is "Wearable Sensors". Young Sohn, the president and chief strategy officer of Samsung says: we should know about our bodies as much as we know about our cars for instance. He says, that our aim that someday you have sensors that know much more about your body. Samsung working with Interuniversity MicroElectronics Centre “IMEC" and University of California San Francisco to start the dialog between tech and health. Its a beginning of a new health era that will help us to take care of ourself and our body. Its a great initiative from Samsung and its worth a shout out.
LG G3: The Next Smartphone From LG. After a lot of rumours and gossips regarding the G3, LG officially announced their G3. A metallic skin, an arc design and a 5.5 inch Quad HD display ( 2560 x 1440 ) with a pixel density of 538ppi. 13MP Camera and dual flash. 3000mAh removable battery and a smart keyboard with adjustable height and adaptive keyboard. Its running the latest Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. And definitely it will be coming with 4G/LTE. "Knock Code" feature allow you to access your phone with a simple knock pattern on your screen. "Smart Security� to help you maintain and securing your data when your phone is shared, misplaced or stolen. From what they are saying and how the phone looks, we are sure its going to be a great breakthrough in their smartphone business. 118
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Apple WWDC 2014. What is your app!? An App can open things that you might not know about before. 9 million registered developers. 300 million visitor a week for the app store with 75 billion downloaded apps so far. that is a fraction of what this conference is about. Apple CEO Mr.Tim Cook introduced a new OS X that is going to work seamlessly together with iOS. The new OS X Yosemite will be more friendly to users. With new user interface inspired by iOS 7 and whole new features, user can receive or make calls right from his mac without touching his iPhone. Moreover, user can send SMS/ iMessages, send audio notes too. You can instantly connect to the internet “Instant Hotspot” with just view clicks on your Mac. The new "iCloud Drive” is a new feature to your iCloud account. Now you can create folders and upload any type of files to use it with your iOS apps or your Windows. Now your Mac and your iOS devices know what each other is doing, this “Handoff” feature allows you to start something on you Mac and pick it up on another iOS instantly and vice versa. And now you can send up to 5GB attachment with your email, even if the recipient server have a size limitation, the Mail will use the “Mail Drop” feature to send the attachment file to the iCloud server and give the recipient a secure link for it. But if both of users using Mail in the Mac, then no need for that feature. And a lot of amazing features with this update we can`t elaborate on them all. iOS 8, its all about the software and what`s under the user interface, is the big deal. Apple gives the developers rich access and lots of tools. Now, apps can communicate with each other. For example, you don’t need to open and edit documents using more apps, and to share documents between apps without creating unnecessary copies. There are a lot of new changes and features to the new iOS, its to simply and to make us create our natural experience the way we want it. Starting from the Photo app that make you discover and search your moments, event and specific dates. The design, new notification centre, new widget bar, new automatic photo enhancer, smart keyboard, the whole new "family sharing" feature which we think its really amazing. moreover, new Health app and health kit to make your activity tracker, heart rate monitor, and other health and fitness apps talk to each other. A spotlight search can now search wikipedia, places nearby trending news and much more in a single search bar. What Apple did to developers? Well, they did a lot. With the new SDK they gave the developers the advantages to use the
iCloud, Touch ID, and more to integrates with their apps. With more than 4000 new APIs they give the developers a deeperthan-ever access to iOS capabilities. Starting from Sharing Option, Photo Editing, Custom Action, Notification Centre, Documents to the amazing kits they already releasing like PhotoKit, HomeKit, HealthKit and CloudKit. They didn’t forget the Gaming generation. They are adding the SceneKit to render the games in 3D and a new technology called “Metal” that allow them to squeeze the maximum performance from the A7 chip. Last but not least, they introduce a new programming language, oh yes they did. It`s called Swift. This what they have to say about it: "Swift is an innovative new programming language for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch. Writing code is interactive and fun, the syntax is concise yet expressive, and apps run lightning-fast and it works side-by-side with Objective-C.” Finally, with 97% overall satisfaction for iOS7. iOS 8, Apple`s Giant release so far and we bet its the best integration between the iOS and OS X till this date.
June, 2014
تطورات شركة أبل
تستعد
شركة آبل رسميًا لالعالن رسميًا في السنوي مؤتمرها للمطورين WWDC 2014عن منصة Smart ، Homeحيث تعمل آبل على جعل iOSيتحكم بالمنازل واألعمال الداخلية بداخله ،حيث تسمح بتغيير اعدادات األجهزة االستهالكيه الموجودة في المنزل المتصلة بشبكة االنترنت لكل مستخدمي هواتف ال iPhoneولوحيات ال . iPadوأيضًا يمكنك التحكم في االضاءة داخل وخارج المنزل ، وبامكانك تفعيل أجهزة االنذار عند مغادرة المنزل . من ناحية أخرى شركة جوجل لديها منصة مشابهة لها التي تحمل اسم . Android@Home
تم مؤخرًا تسريب مجموعة من الصور ذات الجودة العالية التي ستتميز بها هاتف iPhone 6الحديث وأيضًا فيديو لنموذج وهمي للجيل القادم من هاتف .iPhoneمن مميزاته سوف تكون شاشة االيفون أكبر بحجم 4.7انش باالضافة الى النحافة التي اضافها جماالً وسوف تكون الحواف للهاتف مدورة، وبالطبع كعادتها سيأتي هيكل الهاتف مصنوعًا أصبحت التكنولوجيا أيضًا ليس بمتناول اليد فقط من االلمنيوم الفاخر .لمشاهدة الفيديو لنموذج بل أيضًا للتحكم بمقتنياتنا ،أسعدني هذا التصريح االيفون المقبل عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة حيث يمكن للمسافرون بالتحكم بالمنزل حيث السريع -: خاصية االنذار لها دور هام في حماية منازلنا .أصبحت تطورات شركة آبل تتنافس بجدارة للوصول الى الصدارة حيث قامت بترويج الجهاز اللوحي iPad Air وقامت بنشر اعالنين يوضح فيها المهام االساسية الستخدام الجهاز ،على سبيل المثال :المساعدة على سهولة التنقل بين البلدان ،ومساعدة أيضًا ضعاف السمع على الكتابة واستغالل مواهبهم .أردت أن أشارككم لمشاهدة االعالنين عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة السريع -:
Faisal Ben Dhofari General manager / Owner Click integrated Media Solutions Faisal Ben Dhofari
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Abdulla Ashkanani An entrepreneurial spirit
Translating a European brand in a foreign land Abdulla Ashkanani, partner and general manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait, is a young, motivated and hard-working Kuwaiti with a strong entrepreneurial drive. Abdulla has entrepreneurship deeply rooted in his genes. His grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate, his father was a jeweler and also worked in real estate. Being hailed from a family with strong business background and wanting to tap into fashion retail with a will to build a company off of the simple idea of doing things his own way, owner Abdulla Ashkanani opened up the doors to the Piel De Toro Kuwait store in 2013. You may have thought that the recent rise of clothing label Piel De Toro Kuwait came out of nowhere, but the Spain-based collective has been bubbling overseas for years. This unique Spanish fashion brand has created itself a niche on the international market due to its high level of creativity, quality and the manner in which it interprets the latest trends. Abdulla and his wife Reem Behbehani; who is also the marketing and PR manager of the company, are focused on taking the label to the next level. CityPages caught up with Abdulla Ashkanani to get his thoughts on the state of fashion, challenges his business had to face and how he is setting the pace for the future.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our reader: My name is Abdulla Ashkanani, and I am a partner and General Manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait. I am also a Vice President of Business Development in the private sector. Tell us about your education: I hold a bachelors degree in finance from Kuwait University. My international work experience allowed me to tap into some cultures and languages. I speak a little Spanish in addition to Danish, Arabic and English of course. So it all came in handy with this business. How and when did the idea of opening the Piel de Toro store in Kuwait come up? Our first vacation home was in Spain in 1978. So my parents took us there on a yearly basis. I feel very connected to Spain and its culture. So back in 2012, while on one of my visits to Spain with my brother, we spotted Piel De Toro and decided to take the chance and bring it to Kuwait. Upon arriving to Kuwait, we contacted the brand owners, who were very excited to the idea, and things developed quite rapidly from then. What was your previous experience in fashion retail? I come from a family with a lot of business background. My grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate. My father was a jeweler, and also worked in real estate. As you can see, our family is fairly new to fashion retail. I think this is might be one of the reasons I took on the challenge to expand our family business and tap into this market. How was the initial response? The initial response was amazing. Those who visit Spain know the brand, and are very excited to see it in Kuwait. Those who were newly introduced to the brand quickly became loyal customers. It is wonderful to see our costumers returning often to update their wardrobe. What are some of the challenges that you had to face and how did you overcome them? It is crucial to any business to understand the market and what customers want. It was a challenge at the beginning being a European brand, with bold colors and smaller sizes, but we swiftly learned to adjust to the local taste. The language barrier is always an obstacle since not too many Spanish people speak English fluently. Nonetheless, the brand owners were very supportive since the launch and are excited to see this project work; especially that this is the first store for Piel De Toro in the Middle East. I’m sure the other challenges we faced are shared by most start ups in Kuwait – ranging from finding the right sales team to bureaucracy and lengthy paperwork cycles.
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Now, you have completed a year in Kuwait. How would you describe the success and experience for the brand in Kuwait within this year? I believe that Piel De Toro is becoming the next big thing in the fashion retail market. Our customers are very proud to be seen wearing Piel De Toro and their support for the brand is what keeps us going. I also believe that Piel De Toro is now becoming a recognized and competing brand amongst the retail fashion brands in Kuwait. Your wife is also involved in running the business. How do you think this has helped you succeed? I was looking for a marketing and PR manager to handle all related aspects of this business, and I have interviewed a few candidates for this position. Unfortunately, I was not satisfied. I truly believe that this position is the face of Piel De Toro, and it required someone with a passion for fashion alongside the academic background. I was hesitant at the beginning, but I could not find a better candidate than my wife Reem Behbehani. She is both passionate and dedicated. Reem holds a bachelors degree in Finance as well, and is currently doing her MBA with a concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. My wife has probably had more experience in the fashion retail having had her own line of accessories, and doing a bit of fashion and weddings-related blogging on the side too. Besides raising our 3 adorable kids, she is an event planner and a window designer. My wife has been with me from the start, and knows almost everything about the history of Piel De Toro Kuwait. She is socially very active too which made it easier for us to plan and execute events, and reach out to the social media, as well as our loyal customers. How often does the new collection arrive at the store? We generally have 3-4 major shipments arrive to Kuwait every year. Usually, our winter collection arrives to Kuwait during September, and our major summer collection arrives in February. We carry a wide selection of men, ladies, and children apparel at very competitive prices. A very successful line for us in the past year has been the “like-daddy” collection. Kids love to dress up like their role models, and we give them just that! Are there any specific designs that you have the brand made for Kuwait market? Yes, there were a few designs that were specifically made for Kuwait during last winter collection, and we hope to see more during the upcoming months. The franchise owners love to hear our feedback, and work hard to provide us with what customers are looking for. What differentiates Piel de Toro from other brands in the same category?
Piel de Toro represents the Andalucian lifestyle. It projects the colors and energy of southern Spain. 90% of all of our apparel are made in Spain, and this positions us strongly in the market for excellent designs, fabrics and finish. What does wearing Piel de Toro mean? It means you’re happy and proud. You radiate with youthful energy, pride (represented by the Andalucían horse), and bravery (represented by the bull). Do you have any customer loyalty scheme in place at the store? We constantly find ways to reward our returning customers; whether through events or special promotions. We are also working with the mother company on developing a special loyalty program to further benefit our base of clientele. What are some of your future plans? We are working on expanding the brand within Kuwait and the GCC markets. We hope to see another location in the region during 2014 inshalah. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I would really like to thank CityPages for celebrating with us our 1st anniversary, and giving us a great coverage for the event. Thank you for this interview. Our Piel De Toro family congratulates you on your recent completion of 50 amazing issues. We are proud of your achievements and the trail you leave for others to follow. Many more years of success! inshalah.
June, 2014
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Radisson Blu Hotel - @radissonbluhotelkuwait
Red Carpet Collection 2014 Sixty-seven dazzling creations
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he romance between Chopard and the Cannes Film Festival has blossomed continuously since 1998, the year Chopard became the Official Partner of the world’s most renowned film festival. Since the 60th anniversary of the Festival in 2007, Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard, has annually created an original Haute Joaillerie collection intended to exalt the beauty of the actresses for their red carpet appearance: the Red Carpet Collection. Each spring, the famous “Red Carpet” of the Festival is the showcase of 126
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dazzling new creations with Chopard taking up the extraordinary challenge of introducing a number of high jewellery pieces equal to the number of Cannes Film Festival editions. For this year, the 67th edition, 67 unique creations inspired by the glamour and the voluptuous beauty of the actresses who lit up the heyday Italian cinema of the 1950’s and 1960’s will be unveiled. As a preview, Chopard is presenting at Baselworld two magnificent pair of earrings, the first composed of diamond briolettes and emeralds, the second one of amethysts
and diamonds, as well as the leading model of the collection, the Riviera jewellery set composed of a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings, radiating a fascinating aura of opulent seduction. The Red Carpet Collection 2014 will once again testify to Chopard’s considerable talents in the field of Haute Joaillerie: a full range of talented and experienced artisans in the workshops of Chopard mingle timehonoured techniques and cutting-edge technologies to craft these unique creations.
Swarovski Women’s Watch Collection 2014 Combining a rich jewelry heritage, a spirit for innovation and the high precision of Swiss watch making, Swarovski offers impeccable timepieces infused with an inimitable touch of glamour. Be it for everyday wear or for special occasions, the watch collection
Hamilton’s latest high-flyer A Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition takes to the skies In the Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition, sophisticated design houses a drift-angle calculator to satisfy the technical and aesthetic demands of all aviation enthusiasts. Proudly rooted in Hamilton’s century-long heritage of aviation firsts, this timepiece is a codeshare of horological fascination and contemporary styling. This special limited edition will be sought after by pilots and wannabe pilots the world over.
comprises pieces that reflect Swarovski’s esthetic codes, expert crystal faceting, and a true passion for the detail. Swarovski unveils at Baselword three new lines for 2014 as well as re-colorings of many popular designs.
Calvin Klein bold Iconic. Sophisticated. Calvin Klein bold. A classic timepiece that celebrates the refined luxury of the Calvin Klein brand. First launched in 2007, the remarkable Calvin Klein bold is now redesigned for both men and women. The black leather strap style is paired with either a polished stainless steel or PVD gold case and black or silver dial. The polished stainless steel bracelet style is offered with a polished and brushed stainless steel case and black, silver, dark blue or light blue dial. Two chronograph options, one with the black leather strap and one with the polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet, are also available. Each watch is enhanced by a “Calvin Klein” logo at 12 o’clock and features superluminova hour and minute hands that subtly illuminate in the dark for convenience.
Gent style is water resistant to 5 bar. Gent chronograph style is water resistant to 10 bar. June, 2014
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BANANA REPUBLIC AND MARIMEKKO ANNOUNCE LIMITED-EDITION CAPSULE COLLECTION FOR SUMMER 2014 Banana Republic Marimekko Collection Brings a Pop of Color to her Summer Wardrobe
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9 POST BEACH: 1.Dolce & Gabbana tee 110k.d 2.Givenchy T 170k.d 3.Alexander
McQueen T 80k.d 4.PRPS skinny jeans 310k.d 5.Alexander McQueen scarf 60k.d 6.Jacob Cohen slim jeans 130k.d 7.Converse sneakers 40k.d 8.Golden Goose Deluxe Brand sneakers 120k.d 9.Christian Louboutin loafers 385k.d
THE BRAND:
sneakers
Price: High top 280k.d / Low top 220k.d
Zouch is about men's fashion, giving insight on what, how and when to wear. Think of Zouch as your personal fashion consultant. This page relates to all men of all ages as a helping tool to dress with style and edge. Find your own individual style as we push boundaries for you. Rest assured we will keep you updated with all the latest fashion news, men's trends and lots more. Instagram: @zouchfashion Twitter: @zouchfashion Facebook: Facebook.com/zouchfashion June, 2014
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VICTORIA’S SECRET ANGEL KARLIE KLOSS REVEALS THE NEW LOOK OF VICTORIA’S SECRET HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss unveiled the new look of Heavenly, Victoria’s Secret’s original Angel fragrance. The stunning Supermodel is the face of the brand’s newest campaign. The iconic fragrance she knows and loves has been reinvented. For the first time, Heavenly debuts a sleek new bottle shape and features a jeweled Angel wing charm embedded in the cap. With notes of White Musk, Sandalwood, Vanilla and White Peony, this gorgeous fragrance is heaven scent. The award-winning scent received the prestigious FiFi Fragrance Foundation Award for “Fragrance of the Year” in 2000. Since its debut, there have been more Heavenly Eau de Parfum bottles sold in the U.S. than any other fragrance. “We’re giving our customer an all-new reason to love our Heavenly fragrance,” said Sharen Jester Turney, president and chief executive officer of Victoria’s Secret. “It’s been our best-selling fragrance since it launched in 1999 and now our customer is going to covet the exquisite new bottle design just as much as the Heavenly scent inside.”
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High Jewelry Timepieces “I want to see this stone have grace and beauty and form.” – Mr. Harry Winston
Known as the King of Diamonds, Harry Winston’s life was devoted to celebrating the rarity and beauty of these extraordinary stones. Throughout his lifetime, it is estimated that more than a third of the world’s most important diamonds passed through his hands. Often purchased as rough, several of these spectacular stones were cut, polished and transformed into legends under Mr. Winston’s watchful eye. He reveled in the process of watching a rough stone evolve into a remarkable gem, and took pride in his ability to successfully determine a diamond’s final destined shape by simply holding the stone in his hands. Mr. Winston was particularly fond of fancy-shaped gems, whether featured alone in the striking silhouette of a large solitaire, or as numerous stones combined to create a Winston cluster motif. In this year’s extraordinary new collection of High Jewelry Timepieces, we honor Mr. Winston’s fascination with a diamond’s finished form. Each stunning creation takes its cues from the timeless beauty of fancy-shaped stones, and marries the House’s time-honored techniques in fine jewelry craftsmanship with the traditions of fine Swiss watch making. June, 2014
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A Grunge Affair D espite my bi-polar attitude towards fashion, (meaning my style evolves constantly based on my mood and whatever is tickling my fashion pickle at the time), anyone who knows me would agree that Grunge is my thing. My love for grunge, mainly 90’s inspired grunge with a contemporary touch (a mouthful I know), has evidently grown over the years. I love the effortlessly cool and badass look of it; I love how it’s so… street, for lack of better words. 90’s grunge is an era that brought us 80’s-90’s kids Kurt Kobain, Doc Martins, and Nirvana. All those factors obviously influenced the fashion world when it comes to street style and casual clothing. Hair was messy, t shirts worn out and/or a little too short, and shoes bulky and very rock and roll. Because grunge is so casual, I’m going to stay away from talking about high fashion and going to focus on high street clothing. We have recently seen a great amount of contemporary clothing and grunge influence in fashion for the past few years. So many high street shops like Zara, Topshop and H&M really give into the grunge theme; I love that because I always find something I can use to mix and match with other contemporary designers. Because fashion is so versatile and has no rules (obviously— wouldn’t be fun anymore), many fashion
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lovers like to mix grunge with bohemian or very clean minimalist contemporary clothing. Personally, because I can never make up my mind about what I like best, I find myself always changing it up. My grunge outfits usually consist of ripped jeans, plain v-neck tees, biker boots/doc martins/converse, heavy eye liner, and a lot of rings. I usually go for nude or dark colors for bags; mostly black actually. I also love 90’s style crop tops and tapered high wasted jeans as well, which are normally blue or grey acid wash. When I want to clean up the look a bit more but still keep it edgy and cool, I usually keep the colors and print minimal, so plain white, grey, and black usually, but I still add on the grungy accessories to add a bit of “character”, so to speak, to my outfits. For this look I love to mix my metals and go for plain statement necklaces. I also pay more attention to the cut and style of my clothes so it remains modern, and I almost always rock black nails—only because I think it’s timeless and very chic. Grunge is definitely not boring, and is so easy to pull off when done right. But of course with everything in life, always remember not to go overboard so it doesn’t end up looking too gothic- unless that’s your thing in which case, all the power to you!
Talah Al Abdulaaly Talah is a 23 years young and an avid fashion lover. Her heart lies in fashion, and everything that comes with it. She enjoys writing about it, buying it, styling it, and the list goes on. Living in London, one of the worlds fashion hot spots, for around 5 years gave her the chance to channel her passion even more. She met people from the industry, worked closely with a designer, gained some styling experience, and most importantly, got to be inspired from the ever so urban street style almost everywhere she went.
June, 2014
first produc t to breaking carbon ultra-lightweight
Oakley Ignites Relationship with Scuderia Ferrari
hat goes into the i cars.
in ma terials and craftsmanship represented by both fiber and titanium, it features Scuderia Ferrari red dly distinguishes the collec tion.
The partnership be tween Oakley and Scuderia Ferrari is a deep alliance be tween two brands with a rich heritage of engineering and technical excellence. As the multi-year partnership develops, the companies will share design philosophies and engineering insights even further, enabling greater collaboration and innova tion across a range of areas. With the partnership agreement, Oakley is the Official Licensee in eyewear, as well as the Official Supplier to Scuderia Ferrari. The team’s drivers will carry the Oakley logo on their helme ts throughout the season. The Scuderia Ferrari Carbon Blade™, part of the Scuderia Ferrari collection, is the first product created to celebra te this partnership.
بايليس تطلقتشكيلة جديدة لموسم الصيف تشكيلةجديدةملوسمالصيفتش،العالمة الرائدة في مجال مبيعات األحذية بالتجزئة جلميع أفراد العائلة، تطلقبايليس: وستتوفرالتشكيلة اجلديدةلدىجميع محالتبايليس في الكويت.ملباقة متنوعةمن الصنادل واحلقائب بتصاميم عصرية . مايو27 ابتدا ًءمن وتعكسهذهالتشكيلةالتزامبايليساملتواصل باجلودة العاليةوقدرتهاعلىتلبيةمتطلباتزبائنهاوتعزيزمكانتهاكوجهةأساس باإلضافة إلىاالكسسواراتبتصاميممميزةبأف،يةلألحذيةاملريحة املالئمة لإلستخدام اليوميوتلك اخلاصة باملناسبات اخملتلفة .ضالألسعارجلميعأفرادالعائلة
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Tory Burch Fall 2014 “The inspiration starts with the armor my parents collected. The references are subtle, whether in the mix of textures (woven, quilted, pleated) or in the tapestry brocades and florals. The focus is on clean, strong silhouettes with bold embellishments. Accessories reflect the mood — belts with chain details, lace-up ghillie heels and muffs.” — Tory Burch
GET SUMMER-READY WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER AQUA RANGE Why settle for less when you can get flawless makeup results this summer no matter how hot or humid it is. MAKE UP FOR EVER brings you the summer must-haves for a perfect and longlasting makeup. Its award-winning Aqua range offers you a wide range of colorful products for a fresh and lively summer. Combining long-wear and easy application, Aqua Range is ideal for women who want quick-to-apply makeup that is both flawless and very long-lasting. Guaranteed waterproof, it offers maximum resistance to water and rubbing to provide unique staying power on the face, eyes and lips. The intense pigments hold up perfectly all day long, and all night too to perfect your makeup style!
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What’s Trending Sizzling Stripes
Fashionable Florals Patterns, prints and pastels are in this season, and nothing represents this time of year better than flowers! This year, panning between extremes, floral prints go from subtle to brassy, and modern to nineties. With mixes of colours from greys to pinks, orange and blues, this year turn your summer into a full floral fantasy. First on our list of fashionable florals is the perfect clutch for the summer. Easily transitioned from day to night, the Zulu Clutch is a hot item of the summer with its burst of colour. Also both versatile and fun, the clutch is perfect with a pair of jeans or dressed up for a night out with your girlfriends.
Next on the fashionable floral list is Max&Co.’s SS14’s floral collection, all so uniquely different but one of the same - hot! Beginning with what us girls love and adore, shoes and bags. Available in two different colours, passionate pink or youthful yellow, the Albero tote and Albinoni canvas sneakers come in a fashion for women of different style.
WEEKEND BY MAXMARA - Giudy, striped cotton and linen blend twill Bermuda shorts They say stripes are not flattering, but this summer has proven that wrong. With horizontal and vertical stripes in all shapes, colours and style hitting the runway and shops from casual to luxurious, the ‘nautical’ look has never been more chic. Casual chic is in, and nobody does casual like Weekend by MaxMara. With the perfect apparel that is both comfortable and chic, their SS14 collection focus on the beach and is dedicated to all shades of blue, and stripes of all types. With a fresh perspective on formal outerwear, a favorite of this season is the Giudy shorts. Dressed up in a button-up, or down in a tee, these sizzling striped shorts are a hot trend of the summer and needed in your closet.
JIMMY CHOO - Zulu, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Clutch Bag With hot bags, must always come shoes. Styled in the same burst of colour print is the classic Demi Slip-on. Channelling a luxe sportswear vibe, the trainers are an effortless weekend favorite.
SHOE(S): MAX&CO. - Albinoni, Floral Print Canvas Sneakers
JIMMY CHOO - Demi, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Slip On Trainers
MAX&CO. - Fair, Jacquard Pique Dress While nautical themed thin blue and white stripes are in and seen in dresses, shirts, shorts, skirts and shoes, so are thick, coloured stripes. Dresses are one of the staple pieces that represent summer, but this year the addition of the Shirtdress is something to note. This SS14, Max&Co. has the perfect combination of colour, cut and stripes found in their Fair Dress. So perfect, that the same print is found in a t-shirt, dress and A-line overcoat. 138
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TOTE BAG(S): MAX & CO. - Albero, Floral Print Canvas Tote Bag
Different florals at Max&Co. also calls for different style.This season, pretty pastel florals are represented through the clothing of the collection. Starting with their signature dress, the Corolla is a top trending item of the season. Perfect for a day out with its cooling fabric texture and simple cut, and great with sandals or slip-ons and a summer hat.
JIMMY CHOO - Nyssa, Green, White and Pallisander Snake Print and Vachetta Leather Flat Sandals While stripes and sandals may not be in their forte, Jimmy Choo’s SS14 collection embodies the trend in a simple, subtle way. With distinct stripes of colour found in its cut and colour, the Nyssa Sandal is the perfect incorporation of stripes into your style, and sandals that can be worn throughout the day.
MAX&Co. - Bellini, Floral Print Silk Satin Corolla Dress
this Summer? While summer time may mean shorts, pants are still in and something enjoyed by all women in Kuwait. With a different take on repeated floral patterns, Max&Co.’s Fila pants are the exact bottoms you need on a hot summer day when you want something pretty on. With a fastening invisible zip on the side, they are slim fit, allowing you to layer a t-shirt underneath without worry about looking frumpy.
Flat is Back Now lets talk about the shift of heels into flats this Spring and Summer season. This season, we’ve seen it all on the runways rom ballets to sandals with a twist of luxury. With clean lines and mixing materials, Jimmy Choo has developed a collection made for the season using matte black python, antique brushed gold leather, pointed toes, gold, leopard, studs, straps and snakeskin.
JIMMY CHOO - Harlow, Neon Flame MAX&Co. - Fila, Crêpe De Chine Palazzo Pants
JIMMY CHOO - Beach
JIMMY CHOO - Tabitha, Neon Flame
June, 2014
From the 3 Al Essa Fashion Show for 2014 Ramadan Collection at AlHamra Mall
From the Aubade Jewelry Opening Event
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At the First Anniversary of Cavalli Caffe in Kuwait
At Diet Care's "My Life Concept' And The Reveal Of Its New Logo Event
June, 2014
For more details please visit any of our stores or contact us on @Caribou_social 148
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@Caribou_social
Caribou_social
At the Opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Exhibition and preview of its 2014 New Fine Watchmaking Collection
At Elie Tahari Boutique in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary and Reveal its Very Limited EDITION 1974 Collection
June, 2014
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At the Tracktionoff Event with the Kuwait Red Bull Champion Mubarak AlRumaidhi
At the Porsche Media Event at Harvey Nichols Celebrating the Success of the Launch of the Porsche Macan in Kuwait.
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At the First Year Anniversary of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa Kuwait
At the Grand Opening of LeSilla Boutique at AlHamra Luxury Center
June, 2014
At the Summer and Ramadan 2014 Collection Launch Event at TRUCCO Kuwait
At the Reopening Event of OYSHO Avenues Store
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At the Asrar Alansari Book Signing Event at That AlSalasel
At Piel De Toro Kuwait's 1st Anniversary Event
CONTACT US FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF YOUR EVENTS [email protected]
June, 2014
CONIC showcases ‘THE ICON’ collection at Fashion Forward
FROM THE PRESS
Gulf Bank Sponsors Q8hoops Project Charity Basketball Tournament for Kuwait Center for Autism
Moisturisation has never been so cool! Treat yourself to the frostiest hydration with The Body Shop’s new Body Sorbets!
The Body Shop is pleased to launch Body Sorbets, an industry first cool body moisturiser infused with juicy fruity scents! The breakthrough sorbet texture instantly melts into skin for a frosty burst of fresh moisture. It is light, fast absorbing, leaves skin instantly moisturised and offers up to 24 hours of hydration. The sorbets are available in five scents: Strawberry, Satsuma, Mango, Moringa and Pink Grapefruit. They will allow The Body Shop lovers to fight the scorching heat this summer and to enjoy the frosted moisture sensation which will leave them feeling fresh and fruity all day long! The Sorbet contains cooling Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera that comes from Guatemala. The aloe leaves are hand-harvested, hand-washed and hand-filleted within 12 hours to preserve the freshness of the gel. The Body Shop’s trade generates vital income for the farmers of the El Progreso region and has helped to supply educational materials to over 100 schools.
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Showcasing for the very first time at Fashion Forward (FFWD), ICONIC unveiled ‘THE ICON’ a capsule collection of key pieces that would very easily translate from catwalk to wardrobe. To celebrate this special collection, ICONIC hosted a Selfie party inspired by the worldwide phenomenon that is selfies and ‘THE ICON’ was launched in a unique fashion presentation. ICONIC was also the only highstreet label that featured in the interesting line up for Day 1 at the FFWD. To set the mood and do justice to the theme, the venue had mirror like reflecting walls that formed the main stage. For the fashion presentation there were island like podiums that were set in three different locations with reflecting surfaces. The models strutted on the podium to a fabulous music mix which also saw a model break into an impromptu jig creating excitement. The roaring party saw the guests taking selfies against the reflecting walls with #myiconicselfie which appeared live as they posted on special selfie screens that were set up at the venue. Inspired by the idea of being in love and expressing yourself as someone who defines beauty and loves to be the center of attention, ‘THE ICON’ is inspired by the latest catwalk trends from the Autumn Winter collections across the world and is a blend of the best styles for the season.
Gulf Bank concluded its sponsorship of the Q8hoops Charity Basketball Tournament, which was organized on behalf of the Kuwait Center for Autism to raise awareness of Autism in Kuwait. The game took place at the Kuwait Basketball Arena in Kaifan between four teams whereby all the basketball players from the Kuwait Center for Autism participated. After an exciting grand finale between the Q8hoops team and the Kuwait Center for Autism team, Hadeel Al Fadhli, Senior ManagerCorporate Communications, representing Gulf Bank, presented commemorative medals to the winning team members. Beforehand, the enthusiastic crowd was entertained by three knock-out games, a hoop-shooting contest between sponsoring companies and a guest knock-out game with Kuwait National Team players, who also played a 3 point and dunk competition. Gulf Bank’s involvement in the tournament was to help encourage greater understanding of Autism in the wider community, and what it really means to children, young people and their families. This latest initiative was to support World Autism Awareness Day, which took place on the 2nd April, and was part of the Autism Awareness Month, which is marked in April each year and recognized around the world through special events and awareness-raising activities. Q8Hoops is a basketball-based project that offers a variety of services such as basketball skills development, personal basketball training, group basketball training, basketball events and camps. Based in Kuwait and established in 2011, the main goal of Q8Hoops is to provide the latest and most advanced basketball skills training, strength and conditioning, injury reduction, nutrition tips, and drills to aid players in increasing their basketball potential. Q8Hoops organizers attended various basketball skills and conditioning camps and training in the United States and they have trained alongside some of the best in the world.
Marvel’s Super-Hero, Spider-Man, Swings Into The Crowd At Fantasy World A perfect summer getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” Collection Continuing the Fight Against Heart Disease in Children Starbucks Intorduces The All New Caramel Crunch Frappuccino® For The First Time In The Region We are delighted to announce that once again in 2014, we will be joining forces with globally renowned actress and model, Ms Inès Sastre, and that together we will be fighting the scourge of heart disease, particularly in women and children, through our support to the World Heart Federation (WHF). Inès will once again be Frédérique Constant’s Female Charity Ambassador, a role she so graciously and effectively filled in 2013. This will be the second consecutive year that Frédérique Constant will be honoured to support the WHF’s “Hearts of Children” campaign. This year, our support takes the form of a US $75,000 donation to the WHF, in addition to the design and creation of a new Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection of watches. Four new watches, each uniquely beautiful Rose gold, diamonds and mother of pearl catch the eye. These are the central features of the four new models in the 2014 Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection. Two of the watches in this new collection are powered by the accurate and reliable FC-303 calibre movement, and the two others by the FC-310, both featuring 26 jewels, automatic winding and a 38 hours of power reserve. The rose gold plated rotor is decorated with the World Heart Federation logo and beautiful sunray bridges, as well as the delicately engraved “Hearts of Children.” The bezel of each model is set with 48 sparkling diamonds, totalling 0.74 carat. Even more diamonds are used as indexes, set on a vanilla dial with a guilloché World Heart Federation logo at its centre, and surrounded by a delicate mother of pearl on the outer ring. The case diameter is 34 mm, and with a depth of just 9.9 mm, this watch will sit comfortably on the most feminine of wrists. Each model offers hours, minutes and seconds functions. In addition, on the FC-303 models, the date is also displayed at 6 o’clock. All have a sapphire crystal see-through case back, and are water resistant to 60 meters. Finally, each watch will come with a dazzling metal bracelet – either rose gold plated or bi-coloured stainless steel and rose gold plated - with butterfly folding buckle, and all models will be presented in a uniquely designed, WHF heart-shaped gift box. Two of the new models, the FC310WHF2PD2B3 and the FC310WHF2PD4B3, also feature Frederique Constant’s signature Double Heart Beat opening at the 12 o’clock position.
Fantasy World, the ultimate destination for kids and Kuwait’s first specialty toy-based store recently concluded an exciting event where visitors and customers received a rare air of “Hollywood” excitement where they hosted the appearance of Marvel’s all-time ultimate superhero, Spider-Man! Held over a three day event at selected Fantasy World stores, children’s favorite and the legendary superhero joined the crowd for an exclusive meet & greet with the kids and families where everyone got a chance to meet up-close with their hero and take pictures with him while enjoying fun-filled activities such as face-painting and exciting in-store surprises for customers! Commenting on Marvel’s officially approved Spider-Man’s appearance at Fantasy World toy stores, Yousef Haddad, Marketing Manager at Fantasy World said, “We are pleased to see the turn-out of the three day appearance of SpiderMan at Fantasy World and happy that a lot of fans utilized the opportunity to meet their favorite Marvel super-hero in person. The excitement and energy amid the customers is a positive indication on how much family entertainment and family time is valued amongst us all and has truly encouraged us to host more events that center around the children’s world as we strongly believe that all kids deserve nothing but the best”. With its inviting store atmosphere and state-ofthe-art technology and modern layout, Fantasy World has successfully built itself to be a leading retailer in the toy industry and a favorite of all families and children in Kuwait. The store hosts an exclusive range of toys and items namely; boys, girls, early years, amazing minds, tweens lifestyle, outdoor and sports including hot sellers from their private labels. Moreover, the store also has a brand new section dedicated for high tech items called the, “tech bar” that displays a range of items compatible with iPhone and iPads as well as Android operated mobile phones and tablets. Built to offer an unmatched personal experience along with a friendly staff service where children can find the hottest and most exciting collection of toys in a fun-filled environment, Fantasy World stores can be visited at Second AvenueThe Avenues, Souk Sharq and Al Bustan Mall and its flagship store at Al Rai.
Starbucks is welcoming this summer season with the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino. For the first time in the region, customers will enjoy the perfect blend of caramel, hazelnut and chocolate chips all in one delicious cold beverage, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate, guaranteed to quench that hot summer thirst. This all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino is definitely the beverage for Caramel connoisseurs and for any sweet tooth. Rana Shaheen, regional communications and CSR manager of Starbucks Coffee MENA, said: “Starbucks is committed to continuously presenting its customers with new and refreshing beverages that complement their day. During this season, people constantly have a mental image of the perfect cool beverage that will melt the summer heat away from the very first sip. Starbucks is turning that image into a reality with this all new Frappuccino beverage, and not only will it tune down the heat of a sweltering day, but it will also leave customers with an unforgettable taste.” Starbucks is also bringing back an all-time favourite this summer: the Strawberry and Cream Frappuccino, a refreshing beverage with a sweet and fruity twist. The unique Tribute Blend coffee will also be featured throughout this season. With the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino and the returning favourite, customers can turn any hot day into a summer joy.
This summer Marina Hotel Kuwait is the hot spot to cool down with friends and family as it rolls out itsmuch awaited summer package. The package comes along with a number of benefits to make this summer relaxed, luxurious and memorable.You are invited to enjoy this summer in style in the midst of absolute pampering and leisure with a resortfeel ambience through its wonderful facilities away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Break the daily routine and enjoy some peace of mind with an outstanding getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait; a destination to experience a pleasant summer away from the regular city life. The all-inclusive Marina Hotel package promises real joy under the sun with its secluded private beach and three pools: lap pool, kids’ pool and family pool with the Marina Waves pool bar. Guests can relax in their rooms, all overlooking the beautiful Gulf Sea, starting from KD 88NET. The package provides free access to the hotel's many facilities: the Coral Reef Health Club, the squash court, beach and pool area. Complete your idyllic stay at any of the hotel's two fabulous restaurants well-known for its delicious international cuisine: ‘The Six Palms’ and the ‘Atlantis.’ For mouth-watering delicacies, indulge in international, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes from a scrumptious array of menu choices in a tranquil music setting. In close proximityto the Marina Mall and Marina Crescent, guests can enjoy a complete holiday with easy access to their favorite shopping and hang out destinationsmaking it ideal for family leisure. The hotel is dedicated to focus on individual guest’s needs and offer the highest standard of service. Marina Hotel offers the pleasures of graceful living and indulgent amenities including a fitness centre and excellent choice of restaurants. Rooms and suites at the Hotel combine intimacy, comfort, exclusivity with personalized service and attention to details. Head towards Marina Hotel and benefit from all the enticing offers. The summer package offer promises guests absolute comfort and leisure in one spotwith quick access to its various amenities. For more information, please visit our website: www.marinahotel.com
June, 2014
داماس تطلق مهرجان األعراس األضخم في الكويت
Sami Bader’s top diet tips services.
Baume & Mercier timepiece is the perfect gift for a new graduate
للمرة الثانية أربعة أيام مذهلة من Bimba Y Lola
Graduation day is a significant milestone in one’s life that paves the way for a promising future. As the graduate prepares to take their first step into the real world, their near and dear ones are filled with immense pride and delight. What better way to convey this happiness than by gifting the new graduate a special gift that encapsulates the essence of this celebration? With this thought in mind, illustrious Swiss watchmaker, Baume & Mercier presents the perfect graduation gift in the form of a Capeland timepiece. Inspired by a model initially launched in 1948, this chronograph is the flagship model of the Capeland collection and impresses with its 44 mm-diameter steel case with a balanced and dynamic design. Water-resistant to 50 meters, this timepiece is driven by a finely-crafted automatic mechanical caliber (La Joux Perret 8120) that is visible through a transparent sapphire case-back. Chic and elegant, it is proposed with a sun satin-finished blue dial, snailed black counters and a date aperture. It also features two graduated scales: one tachymetric and the other telemetric highlighted by red markings. This sophisticated and sporty timepiece is worn with a black alligator strap closed by a triple adjustable folding clasp with security push-pieces. A stylishly clever gift, Baume & Mercier’s Capeland is the ideal token to make graduation day even more special for the one who is ready to take on the world!
قامت شركة داغر أند كو بتلبية رغبة زبائنها الكرام Bimba Y Lola بتنظيم احلدث للمرة الثانية مبتجر الكائن مبجمع األوملبيا وعليه مت عرض تشكيلة بأسعار مميزةوخصومات2013 كبيرة من منتجات وعروض مذهلة كمبادرة شكر وتقدير لزبائنها وقام بحضور،الكرام ليستمر احلدث ملدة أربعة أيام احلدث مجموعة من مسئولي الشركة باإلضافة وباإلضافة إلى جتهيز جو،إلى ممثلي وسائل اإلعالم ترحيبي خاص حتت أنغام املوسيقى احلية إلضافة .الشعور بالتميز
With the initiation of Mr. Sami Bader’s all new dietary services, we can all achieve a diversified human physical infrastructure! Sami Bader’s dietary services have revolutionized the idea of ‘Dieting’. While we have had diet tips that occasionally ensure a short term weight loss, while on the other hand, Mr. Sami’s diet tips ensure a long term output of a balanced and well maintained weight and an organized lifestyle. The diet tips service will provide the users with unique tips based on seasons, as well as personal diet aims. These tips are provided to a large fraction of individuals of different age groups. Not only does this grandeur service provide stupendous results, which are complied with the straightjacket guidelines of the IDA (International Dietetic Association), but it also categorizes a wide variety of those individuals respective to their preferences and essentials. In addition to that, there are distinct and diverse programs for different sorts of conditions, such as ‘Diabetes’, ‘Kidney malfunctions’, ‘Pregnancy & Lactation’, ‘Post-bariatric surgeries’, ‘Gluten intolerance’, ‘Specific Doctor referrals’, and concluding the list with ‘ Aggressive Cholesterol treatment’, which is the only food program based on the latest scientific research to help improve cholesterol levels. Sami’s diet menu comprises of a pool of mouthwatering, and healthy Oriental, Asian, MiddleEastern, European and American cuisine, that are suitable to the appropriate standards of healthy cooking. The subscription service has been launched in Kuwait by ‘Simatel’, a leading telecom marketing service provider. The service will be available for only 500 fils/week with 30 diet contents per week, said a spokesperson from Simatel. ‘Simatel’ is a Kuwait based telecom marketing service provider with presence throughout the Middle East. Simatel provides business to consumer marketing service through telecom operators. Sami is a well-renowned clinical dietician, as well as a respectable member of the Clinical Community Dietician GM, who is currently offering daily magnificent diet tips. He studied in KMBS (Kuwait Maastricht Business School), along with ‘Purdue University’- West Lafayette, IN. You can now subscribe through all 3 mobile carriers,Zain, Viva and Wataniya, by sending an SMS to the following numbers: Zain users can send “D” to the Short code 92270 For Wataniya, Kuwait users can send “D or ” ت to Short code1629 Lastly, Viva Kuwait users can send “D or ” تto Short code55091
شركة اجملوهرات والساعات، أطلقت داماس: "مهرجان،الرائدة في منطقة الشرق األوسط الذي يعتبر أضخم معرض،األعراس" اجلديد لألعراس تطلقه الشركة حصريا ً للمجتمع وميثل إطالق أطقم مجوهرات فاخرة،الكويتي حيث قامت داماس،مخصصة للعرائس للمجوهرات بتصميم تلك األطقم الفاخرة ملواكبة النمو في صناعة مجوهرات األعراس في الذي ميتد، وخالل فترة املهرجان.السوق الكويتي لدى متاجر داماس في2014 طوال شهر مايو ،كل من مجمع الراية التجاري ومجمع الصاحلية سيتمكن العمالء من مشاهدة تشكيلة واسعة من أطقم األعراس املذهلة واحلصول على عروض .خاصة لدى الشراء ً التي تضم قطعا،صممت هذه اجملموعة األنيقة إلرضاء كافة األذواق،فريدة ومتقنة من اجملوهرات وجتسيد األناقة املعاصرة الدائمة للعروس إن مجموعة اجملوهرات.الكويتية في يومها املميز اخلاصة باألعراس واملناسبات ستتخطى كافة .توقعات العمالء في الكويت سيقوم موظفو داماس ذوي اخلبرة،وعالوة على ذلك العالية واملدربني على فهم احتياجات العرائس ،ومساعدتهن في اختيار اجملوهرات املناسبة لهن بتقدمي النصائح للعرائس ومساعدتهن في انتقاء أنواع املاس واألحجار الكرمية والآللئ املناسبة لهن .والتي تنسجم مع فساتني زفافهن طاملا اشتهرت داماس على مدار تاريخها البارز بأنها رائدة في اجلمال وتصميم اجملوهرات الفريدة ومن املتوقع أن.على مستوى الشرق األوسط يشهد هذا احلدث إقباال ً واسعا ً من عشاق املوضة وسيستحوذ،وأصحاب الذوق الرفيع في الكويت .على اهتمام وإعجاب كافة الزوار
June, 2014
BBS students showcase their young talents at the 2014 High School Art Show
National Aviation Services (NAS) launches mobile phone app
ACK Crowned Champions of the UCC Football League
The National Aviation Services (NAS) has published a mobile phone app called “NAS Airports”. This free application is compatible with iPads, iphone and Android devices. It currently covers Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Kigali, Sharm El Sheikh, & Kabul International Airport, as well as “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services Using “NAS Airports” you can: •Receive live flight information updates (Departure & Arrival) •Complete passenger check-in and seat selection procedure from your mobile device •Receive local and global travel and duty free promotions •Book airport “Lounge” services and enjoy fast internet, comfortable waiting area, delicious buffet, kids play area and much more. •Book airport “Meet & Assist” services for arriving and departing passengers to expedite their travel process, provide assistant to elderly and minors, greet guests, and assist with visa processing •Trace lost luggage •Get directions to airport •And now for the introductory stage, you can enjoy a 25 % discount on “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services from your mobile Simply download the app by searching for “NAS Airports” or by using the links below: Apple store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ nas-airports/id862302584?mt=8 Google play: https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=com.nascorporate.p6659aa
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The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) has won the 2014 University Championship Cup (UCC) Football League title outperforming teams from participating universities, including Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and the Arab Open University (AOU). The UCC Football League is a competitive tournament whereby participating university teams face each other in a grueling schedule over several months with the leader crowned Champion and holder of the cup until the following season. On this victorious occasion, the Student Activities Center’s Coordinator, Mr. Basel Dana, stated: “I would like to congratulate our students on winning the league! It’s very rewarding after all their hard work and efforts. They truly have made ACK proud with this achievement and I wish them all the success in their path towards winning the UCC cup again.” ACK’s football team will now begin preparations for the next season of the UCC Football League, with the keen desire to retain the Championship and keep the cup on ACK’s campus.
Under the patronage of renowned Kuwaiti artist, Anglophone poet, and Kuwait University Professor, Dr. Shurooq Amin, the High School art department at Al Bayan Bilingual School (BBS), hosted its annual art show for High School students from 6 May until 8 May. Held at the BBS Hawally campus, the show was put together as a High School art class project, where students were required to reflect on what they had learnt in class and create their own pieces using their imagination, creativity and different art techniques. Participating students showcased 200 of their contemporary art pieces that highlighted various art techniques such as pottery, charcoal, melting wax, graphic design and photography. Students also had the honor to receive first-hand critique on their work from Dr. Amin and a number of local artists who attended the show. Dr. Amin has earned several prestigious titles for her work including being named one of Kuwait's 45 most inspirational people by Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah in her book, The Alchemy of Wisdom, one of Kuwait's 50 Stars by Layalina Magazine, and one of the five top artists from the Middle East today by Your Middle East Journal in 2012. She also received the Artist of the Year title in the 2013 by the Arab Woman Awards, Kuwait chapter. High School art teacher at BBS, Ms. Rihab Al Assadi, said: “By putting together this art show, we want to provide students with an opportunity to explore and express themselves, and to address their interests, concerns and feelings in a fun and healthy environment.” Dr. Amin was pleased to see the level of commitment students put forth while working on their projects. “It was a pleasure being part of this art show, and to be able to witness the artistic side of our youth today, which was clearly reflected in all of their wonderful creations." She added: “Being here brings back so much nostalgia. I remember when I first started my journey as a young artist; I used to love getting my work viewed by my professors and by others fellow artists. I’d like to recognize all the students who took part in this exhibition for their hard work and dedication, and I hope to see them grow in to some of Kuwait’s great future artists .” The exhibition was attended by a number of other local artists in addition to BBS parents, students and staff. The guests enjoyed their evening in an ambience filled with live music played by students.
Seventeen inspirational women recognized at the Arab Woman Award
The seventeen winners of the Arab Woman Awards 2014 were honored at a glittering ceremony paying tribute to inspirational Arab women in Kuwait. The exclusive by-invitation only red carpet event was held at the Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers and was presented by leading Kuwaiti organisation - the Trafalgar Company. The glamorous high-profile event was attended by the winners and their families, VIP members of society as well as media and film personalities including; Egyptian actress Dalia El Beheri and Egyptian TV personality Wajdy Al Hakim. The awards ceremony was hosted by famous Kuwaiti actor Mohamed Al-Mansour.
Address of Hospitality and Original Taste
24747789 - 24747798 : تلفون. الدور السابع- برج امللتقى, دوار املخفر:الفروانية
Farwaniya: Police Station Roundabout, AlMultaqa Tower, 7th Floor. Tel: 24847789 - 24747798
@aghakuwait
@agha_kuwait June, 2014
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IKEA holds anniversary dinner for coworkers to celebrate 30 years in Kuwait Asha’s Scores a Perfect 10!
Splash launches FIFA inspired collection
Be amazed with “Samsonite Firelite”: The latest collection of CURV’s Series
Samsonite, the world’s leading luggage brand for more than 100 years proudly present its latest innovation from CURV’s Series: Samsonite Firelite. Hardside’s lugauge made from CURV, an innovation , exclusively from Propex, Germany for its lightweight but strong and endure to pressure under low temperature. Designed for extreme sporty looks inspired from seashells shape with colorful tones of Chili Red, Deep Blue and Charcoal Black, the luggage also comes with highly efficiency functions including TSA Combination Lock and 360 degrees spinner wheels.This exciting new Curv collection has again pushed the boundaries of the luggage world. Made in Europe, this unique, dynamic and strong design features a water resistant PU coated zipper and a functional interior with a bottom lowered elastic cross ribbons and a top fully lined divider. Inspired by extreme sports lifestyles, the Firelite shell is eye-catching, modern and effortlessly absorbs heavy shocks during travel - a case which compliments your active lifestyle and is as rugged and energetic as you are. Firelite is now available at Samsonite stores at The Avenues , Al Hamra Luxury center,360 Mall,Marina Mall
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IKEA Kuwait held an anniversary dinner for all the coworkers of the IKEA store at the Crowne Plaza Baraka Ballroom on Sunday, May 18, 2014, to conclude the celebrations of their 30th anniversary in Kuwait. The event topped off month-long celebrations marking three decades since IKEA Kuwait opened its doors and began providing well-designed, good quality home furnishing solutions to homes across the country. In addition to commemorating 30 years of Swedish furniture being offered to the many, the event also honored coworkers that have been with IKEA for 10 and 20 years, and even a few who have been part of the IKEA Kuwait family since their very first store opened in Shuwaikh on April 24, 1984. Commenting on the closing celebration event, IKEA Kuwait Store Manager Ahmad Al Humaidhi said: “We want to commemorate this special time with all our coworkers and to thank them for all these years of hard work and dedication and for helping to make IKEA Kuwait a success. Our coworkers have been a core driver in building IKEA Kuwait into a brand for the many people of Kuwait, and this is what we celebrate tonight.” The evening included thank you speeches from Al Humaidhi and SYH Retail CEO Marino Maganto, followed by the honoring of IKEA Kuwait’s long-time coworkers, fun activities, giveaways, and lucky draws for tablets and vacation getaways. Also speaking on the celebration, Maganto shared his sentiments, stating: “We wanted to thank our coworkers with something special and memorable. They are very passionate about what they do, they love IKEA, so we want to ensure they know how valuable they are to the brand”
Asha’s, the innovative Indian restaurant known for serving the finest contemporary Indian cuisine, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Kuwait. Having opened its first restaurant at Marina Crescent, Asha’s has successfully grown through the years adding two more venues in Kuwait at 1st Avenue -The Avenues and Spoons. Today, Asha’s is a name that is synonymous with great food quality and brilliant service. Its vibrant blend of contemporary Indian cuisine and rich interiors, assures its customers of a unique and wonderful dining experience. Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian singer who founded Asha’s, says: “I am thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of Asha’s in Kuwait in partnership with M.H. Alshaya Co., which operates the brand here. I have visited Kuwait many times and have always been impressed by the positive response to our menu. Kuwaitis really understand global food and we are delighted to have been serving them India’s finest cuisine for a decade.” With a wide array of mouth-watering choices on the menu, guests are truly spoilt for choice at Asha’s. Be it the mocktails, the starters or the main courses, every unique item is created using only the freshest ingredients. Asha Bhosle has taken a special interest in contributing to the menu with a select choice of her own recipes. The dishes on offer reflect the very best of Indian cuisine, and Asha’s, with its innovative style and sophistication, promises to take guests through a truly memorable dining experience. The vision of Asha’s, to be limitless in its cultural appeal and timeless in its ethos, has been proven over the past decade. The restaurant remains as popular today as it was on the day its doors first opened. Ensuring that Asha’s keeps up with the times, and due to demand by its guests, Asha’s also delivers to Salwa, Salmiya and Rumaithiya.
It’s that time again when frenzy takes over football fans across the world. The FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil will see scores of fans supporting their favorite teams. Splash has introduced its special line for the event with a range of apparel and accessories that will ensure you support your teams in style. The range will be available under the Kappa and SPL Active labels for the top 8 countriesGermany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, England, Portugal, Netherlands and Italy for both men and women. You can choose from a variety of T-shirts, shorts, vests, tracks, knit dresses and three-quarter pants. Add a dash of accessories like bags, water bottles, caps, wrist bands, scarves, socks, sunglasses and chains to complete your look for the games. Visit Splash at all Centrepoint Stores and the Avenues Mall to explore the FIFA Collections.
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Warba Bank named Best New Bank in the Middle East for 2014
Warba Bank has been named, according to Banker Middle East Magazine, the “best new bank in the Middle East” from among a number of newly established banks in the Middle east. The award was presented at the annual gala dinner organized by Banker Middle East to honor more than 200 financial institutions across 55 categories in the banking sector in the Middle East. Banker Middle East awards honor the best performance of financial institutions across the MENA region. Final winners were selected by a jury panel of independent industry think-tank. Warba Bank is always keen to enhance the level of customer service, and cater to customers’ financing and investment needs by introducing a number of Sharia compliant banking products and services. Commenting on this event, Jassar Al Jassar, Vice Chairman & CEO at Warba Bank, said: “We are very proud of winning this prestigious award. Actually, the award is added to our previous achievements, and reflects Warba’s growing businesses and focus on developing and expanding its customers base, satisfying customers’ banking needs, and seizing the new opportunities of growth in terms of corporate and retail financing, while satisfying customers and shareholders. This wouldn’t be achievable without God’s support, then the hard work of our Board of Directors, and employees, as well as the support of our customers.” Al Jassar continued: “The bank is striving to bolster its position as an Islamic Bank through expanding its branches network to reach a total of seven branches spread across all areas of Kuwait, to bring our services closer to our customers. Further, new branches will be launched in the near future. In addition, we seek to attract a wider segment of customers, and enhance the role and effectiveness of the Call Centre by means of upgrading its systems and training its personnel to be able to deal with customers more professionally and provide them with a unique service.” Al Jassar added: “We continue to make every effort to improve this promising institution through adopting the highest standards of efficiency across all banking transactions. We also look to expand our customer base and seize new opportunities to develop both corporate and retail financing sectors with a view to support our local economy. At the same time, we aim to enhance our relationship with our corporate and retail customers, providing them innovative Sharia compliant banking solutions, while working closely with owners of large, medium and small scale companies and institutions with a view to help them achieve their goals and to be familiar with all their commercial and banking needs. Indeed, we commit ourselves to helping them and ensuring their success. Consequently, the volume of our financing portfolio showed a growth of 120%, reaching KD 273 million as at the end of the first Quarter of the year 2014 compared to the same period of 2013.” Al Jassar concluded: “Warba Bank is committed to supporting Kuwaitization and makes tangible contributions to the process of developing and training Kuwaiti professionals. The Bank exceeded the Kuwaitization percentage of 60 per cent, and achieved a Kuwaitization percentage of 80 per cent in specific divisions such as corporate and retail financing divisions.”
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Transform yourself this summer with ICONIC SUMMER ’14 collection
Update your summer wardrobe with Iconic Summer 14 collection for women and men. The women’s collection focuses on three covetable trends Sports Chic, Retro Romance and New Boho. The Iconic Summer ’14 collection for men is an embodiment of casual elegance, sophistication and attitude of the by-gone era. SPORTS CHIC: The sports trend goes luxe by moving from the simple, clinical looks of previous seasons to take on a more luxurious, glamorous edgy feel. Expect minimal and simple relaxed silhouettes with textured surfaces in pieces like shift dresses with soft shoulders. RETRO ROMANCE: Summer without flowers doesn’t seem complete does it? The collection showers romance in the air by flirting with overtly feminine looks, incorporating a pretty palette of pastels with a bouquet of floral prints. Pure white, sunshine yellow, yves klein blue, mint green are the prominent shades used lavishly over lace and guipure fabrics. NEW BOHO: The evergreen carefree trend of the Nature Girl explores updated festival looks with 1970s influences drawn into the mix. Festival trend staples include maxi dresses, full length skirts that will create a casual vibe and bypasses the usual hippy boho aspects. The 2014 men collection will showcase three key trends that will ensure you look effortlessly stylish this season. 50’s RETURN (MONOCHROME): Channel the inner chic retro man in you as you relive the fond memories of the 1950s with influences coming from the highways and byways of the USA. Think bad boys, early rockers, 50s B-movies, all mixed in with retro monotone floral and geo prints and clean tailoring. Achieve this trendsetting look in fabrics like new polkas, satin shirt, micro ginghams, jacket weights and embroidery. CRUISE RESORT: The nautical trend is a statement that continues to linger and provides fashion an everlasting look that only evolves every season. This commercial, preppy-nautical trend brings together several of the season’s key fabrics like natural linens- wovens/ jerseys, slubby canvas, smooth cottons, jacquard knits and wovens. Prints like florals, preppy spots and stripes and silhouettes form an easy and cohesive casual smart look. REMINISCE: Embrace the carefree outlook of a nomad and incorporate the rustic elegance in preppy summer smart casualwear enhanced with a refined, tailored aesthetic. From bold neo geo patterns, updated through textural applications and decorative geometric repeats, this is an ideal 70’s summer holiday look. Earthy tones dominate the trend that reflects the influence of nature with shades of sand and beige with summer olives. Add to it a bright palette of vermilion orange and bright yellow which adds to the glory of summer. Head over to ICONIC and shop our latest Summer collection available at The Avenues, The Mall, Level 1.
DHL Express Named ‘Best Employer in the Middle East’
DHL Express, the world’s largest Express network, celebrated a major milestone when the company was named the ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East and North Africa for 2014 by Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc. Renowned for its focus and commitment to its human resources, DHL Express MENA proudly received the auspicious award at an exclusive ceremony held at The One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai. The award was received by Mr. Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express Middle East & North Africa and was attended by over 200 industry leaders from across the region; including senior management from Aon Hewitt – the award creators - members of the judging panel, CEOs and HR specialists. Launched over a decade ago, the ‘Best Employers Middle East Awards is the culmination of extensive studies conducted by Aon Hewitt that measure and compare employee engagement, performance and satisfaction across 500 participating organizations spanning cross industry in the Middle East region. This year, ten companies were shortlisted as Best Employers across MENA, with four DHL Express offices from around the region making it to the top five positions and securing top honours for DHL Express MENA as ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East. Nour Suliman, CEO, DHL Express MENA, said “I applaud the efforts and dedication of our employees who are the key drivers and the reason behind this award. This is the second year in a row that DHL Express makes it to the top of the 10 Best Employers in the region, and we are extremely proud that our people genuinely consider this organization a family, and truly consider DHL as the best place to work.” “Our people are the heart of our organization, our greatest asset, and the main force behind the company’s success. Every time we are pronounced the best employer I know that the reason for that is the incredible effort and dedication of the fabulous men and women that make DHL the great place it is today,” said Suliman. This year, Aon Hewitt collected and analyzed view points and data from a sample of 30,000 employees representing a 60,000plus workforce as well as inputs from HR leaders and Business Heads from companies across the region spanning 18 industries. Following rigorous analysis and evaluation of the participating companies by an experienced panel of judges, DHL’s offices bagged five out of the ten Best Employer awards, placing DHL Express MENA in pole position as the Best Employer in the Middle East. Upon receiving the award, Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express MENA, stated “I humbly commend the commitment and salute the hard work of the DHL team; we are fortunate to be surrounded with highly dedicated professionals that successfully work together towards one common goal while sharing the same sense of purpose and values.” “Focus, results, respect and appreciation are the key drivers of DHL’s global HR philosophy that has so far been key to make the company thrive. I therefore, would like to thank DHL’s employees for making all this happen, this is their award,” he added.
Under the theme of “Less Stressful Life” with health and wellbeing OYSHO Hosts Kuwait Media In A Yoga Event
Driven by its commitment to spread the awareness about the health and wellbeing lifestyle concept through its bundle of hip and stylish gym wear, OYSHO organized a yoga event for Kuwait media and gifted them the true meaning of relaxation. The event, held at Flex Resorts was spent in total tranquility with both bodies and minds floating in a deep peaceful meditation which have greatly helped in communicating OYSHO theme of wellbeing mentally and physically. After the yoga session, the guests savored a healthy lunch. “Our guests really had the chance to get over their hectic life schedule while embracing the positive energy in a relaxed calm atmosphere”, said Luma/ OYSHO Brand Manager “we are proud to guide our customers into a new concept of healthy living through our new collection marked with distinguished gym wear designs customized to match different styles and choices. As part of our social engagement, we are committed to lead the way and motivate our youngsters to follow a new lifestyle by taking care of their look and enjoy their life while eliminating the barrier of body types”. Featuring stunning colors, seamless sartorial detail and a touch of retro style, the new SS14 collection offers, with its various prints and motivational quotes, encouragement to explore and lead a healthy and less stressful life.
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1. What do I need to add to 36 to make 100? 2. How many metres in a 1/4 of 1 kilometre? 3. What is 1 less than 4950? 4. How many degrees in one whole turn? 5. 32+8 = 6. Which of these fractions is greater than one half? 7. What is 135 cm in metres? 8. An angle of less than 90 degrees is called 9. -7 + 9 = ? 10. How many right angles are there in 1 whole complete turn?
meter 35cm, 8. acute, 9. 2, 10. 4
ANSWERS: 1. 64, 2. 250meters, 3. 4949, 4. 360, 5. 40, 6. 5/8, 7. 1
FUN RIDDLES
1. who is silent in the parliament 2. What does an Island and the letter T have in common? 3. What do you call a fish without an eye? 4. What part of the Turkey has the most feathers? 5. What's the only room from which no one can enter or leave 6. What demands an answer, but asks no questions. 7.Why do Chinese men eat more rice than Japanese men do 8.A cat had three kittens: January, March and May. What was the mother's name.
ANSWERS:1. The Letter 'A', 2. They're both in the middle of wa'T'er, 3. fsh, 4. The Outside, 5. Mushroom, 6. Telephone, 7. There are more Chinese men than Japanese men., 8. What - It stated 'WHAT' was the mothers name 166
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Jumbled Words 1 . A DY 2. GDLA 3. SGBU 4. LNGO 5. WYH 6. SETT 7. SKUN 8. EXNT 9. SYK 1 0 . R OW M 11. NETT 12. FORG
= = = = = = = = = = = =
ANSWERS: 1.DAY, 2.GLAD, 3.BUGS, 4.LONG, 5.WHY, 6.TEST, 7.SUNK, 8.NEXT, 9.SKY, 10.WORM, 11.TENT, 12.FROG
MATHS QUIZ
Interesting Animal Facts
• Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives. • The blue whale can produce the loudest sound of any animal. At 188 decibels, the noise can be detected over 800 kilometres away. • Horses and cows sleep while standing up. • Giant Arctic jellyfish have tentacles that can reach over 36 metres in length. • Locusts have leg muscles that are about 1000 times more powerful than an equal weight of human muscle. • Hummingbirds are so agile and have such good control that they can fly backwards. • Instead of bones, sharks have a skeleton made from cartilage. • Insects such as bees, mosquitoes and cicadas make noise by rapidly moving their wings. • The horn of a rhinoceros is made from compacted hair rather than bone or another substance. • Sharks lay the biggest eggs in the world. • Even when a snake has its eyes closed, it can still see through its eyelids. • Unlike humans, sheep have four stomachs, each one helps them digest the food they eat. • Despite the white, fluffy appearance of Polar Bears fur, it actually has black skin. • As well as being a famous Looney Tunes character, the Tasmanian Devil is a real animal that is only found in the wild in Tasmania, Australia. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.
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JUNE HOROSCOPES Change seems to have rocked our world in the last few months, but in June you have the opportunity to slow down and regroup. Mercury turns retrograde on June 7, and Neptune slows down for a nap on June 9. With these two stars of communication and creativity standing still, your mind could work overtime. That project that had been shelved could suddenly seem to have possibilities. The Sagittarius Full Moon on June 12 gives you the bounce to try one more time. A New Moon in Cancer June 27 puts on its "I mean business" hat. Any adversaries will know to stand back.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
The June 12 Full Moon expands your horizons, widens your world, and maybe blows your mind. Keep some control so you'll recognize yourself afterward. Don't be afraid to blunder into a great learning experience. June 19 and June 20 are powerful days for you. If your critical mind takes a break on June 19, your instincts could take up the slack. You may be supercharged to the point of hyper on June 20, so do something physically demanding. Your family position gets a boost under the June 27 New Moon. Start something new that makes you happy, and conclude or decide something that makes everyone glad.
TAURUS
VIRGO (March 21 - April 19)
Your powers of critical thinking will get a big boost on June 7. You can make things perfect and correct many minor errors. Fully embrace your discriminatory powers. The June 12 Full Moon shines on your family and home environment. Try to keep things quiet, don't force anything, and let the magic of the night provide its comfort and blessings. If there's friction with friends before June 27, the New Moon brings you a chance to shift things around socially and make some new friends and different alliances. Satisfy yourself and let the chips fall where they may.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
The June 12 Full Moon is all yours. Be prepared to shine and attract attention. There's no point in being shy or not speaking up. Be nice about it all. You could be drawn into someone else's affairs just before the New Moon on June 27. Anything you do to help will only benefit you and your family in the long run, but don't get nervous about the preconceived notions of anyone else. The day after the New Moon, June 28, watch for a special personalized blessing, pop of good luck, or simply a chance to do a very good deed.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Let the June 12 Full Moon boost your self-confidence and sense of security. Don't hide from people, but expect to do your best work and thinking out of sight and out of the minds of others. There's less criticism that way. June 14 could be a busy and emotionally intense day. Stay cool and calm, and refuse to get rattled. A love interest or romantic involvement could appear close to home at the June 27 New Moon. If a friend of a friend of a sibling has a crush on you, don't be surprised (or rude). Roll with it if it appeals to you.
GEMINI
(September 23 - October 22)
(January 20 - February 18)
Big love is possible at the June 12 Full Moon - so is a generous new lover. Be on guard since these things rarely come without strings attached. You should be able to communicate and network more effectively starting June 20. Try to keep it toned down, though. Avoid getting chatty or overbearing. You can charm your way into almost anything on June 24. Control your temper and impatience on June 25. Money matters are highlighted at the June 27 New Moon. You might have more resources (and fewer problems) at home than you realized. Don't let anyone or anything spook you.
June 7 and June 8 are powerful, if not easy, days. Self-motivation and energy could spike, but you'll still be able to slow down the pace of life to suit yourself. The June 12 Full Moon could whet your curiosity and set you exploring something that interested you before but has since been dropped or forgotten. If work or office life gets a bit rocky before June 27, the New Moon lets you touch up any rough spots with co-workers or superiors. You could even make a major change in career direction. Don't be brash, but don't be anxious, either.
It's a hot social scene at the June 12 Full Moon. People are going to want to be with you. Don't have so much fun that you're exhausted the next day, however. June 16 and 17 could be a roller-coaster ride. Be mentally sharp and bright on June 16, but don't be surprised if you're washed away on a tide of emotion the next day. The June 27 New Moon is a great time to start a bunch of small but significant changes or additions to your work routine or diet. Be good to yourself in a million little ways.
CANCER
(October 23 - November 21)
(March 21 - April 19)
Try to stick close to home at the June 12 Full Moon. Good things will find you there and tend to last. Don't wait idly - keep busy in the meantime. The Sun enters your sign on June 21 and brings the first day of summer with it. Feel comfortable in your own skin no matter what's happening in the world around you. It's a fresh, powerful New Moon for you on June 27. If you've needed to project a stronger selfimage of your choosing, you can do it now. Just remember to include your roots and background. citypageskuwait.com
You could be the center of attention for the first few days of the month, so look good, behave well, and see if you can't gain some extra respect and good memories out of it. Cravings for big fun might rock your world at the June 12 Full Moon, or perhaps it will be an explosion of creativity. Either way, it won't be boring. The June 27 New Moon lets you make some personal changes and start a new approach to an old problem without a lot of people interfering with you. You don't have to tell anyone about anything unless you really trust them.
(April 20 - May 20)
People might make a lot of demands on you during the June 12 Full Moon. Do what you can, accept graciously what is offered in exchange, and then let it go. You may feel less secure and grounded from June 21 through June 23. Keep track of your wallet, phone, and keys, and relax. This won't last long. Siblings (or a few close friends) could descend on you during the June 27 New Moon. Watch your Ps and Qs a few days before. Be well situated and ready to jump in and turn a new corner in a relationship.
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LEO (July 23 - August 22)
June 9 and June 10 could pack a punch that brings to a head something that most people have been avoiding. You may not like it either, but the resolution will be well worth it. Have your finances in order or at least in hand - for the June 12 Full Moon, since this lunation affects your money and material possessions. Think no surprises, and perhaps an opportunity or two for increase. The June 27 New Moon might drag you out of seclusion and push you more into the public. Step up, be yourself, and maybe make some new contacts.
The June 12 Full Moon brings extra light into your work and career efforts. Act generously but speak modestly for the best and most longlasting results. June 18 could be profoundly touchy-feely. Be generous but respectful about hugs. The June 27 New Moon opens doors and provides lots of opportunities for fun and creativity. Psychodrama could peak, too, especially with family, so try to minimize or completely skip that part. Not getting scared or feeling inferior can help. The last few days of the month set you up to do great things for someone else and earn massive karmic brownie points.
*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @ SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted
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HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz 1.What is a quarter of three-quarters? 2.Technically the avocado ('fruit' of the avocado tree) is a: Berry; Tuba; Nut; or Fungus?
Test Your Vocabulary crude means : 1. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
3.From the Greek root word for a pointed pillar, what is the technical term for the division sign ( ÷ ) ?
2. belonging to an early stage of technical development
4.Which occupation traditionally used 'walla' (in the US), 'rhubarb' (UK), and 'gaya' (Japan)?
4. capable of fitting a particular situation or use
7.Crepuscular creatures are mainly active in: Sunlight; Moonlight; Twilight; or Darkness?
ANSWER: Is it gross? Unsophisticated? Totally tasteless and positively offensive? Then you can describe it as crude.
6.SS Ancon was the first ship to navigate what single-vowelled passage on 15 August 1914?
Crude is not rude when it’s used to describe unprocessed oil, which it first was associated with in 1865. From the Latin crudo, meaning "rough, raw,"crude today can be used to describe anything or anyone that's unrefined and rough around the edges. So don’t be too insulted by the large-nosed portrait that cartoonist made for you. It’s just a quick,crude drawing meant to be funny.
5.The medical vasodilatory compound and recreational drug C5H11ONO is more commonly known as: Crack cocaine; LSD; Amyl nitrite; or Speed?
3. tending to become more severe or wider in scope
8. A low-cost 'ratoon' crop (for example of sugar-cane or rice) grows from/on: Windblown seeds; Stubble after cropping; Flooded land; or Astroturf? 9.The two traditional symbols used to indicate treble and bass clefs in musical notation are respectively based on: G and F; P and L; T and B; S and E?
Choose the Right Symbol
10.What high quality gravity/capillary-fed implement was traditionally ruby-tipped gold, and is nowadays usually iridium-tipped stainless-steel? 11.The first almanacs, made in Babylon/Iraq c.750BC, originally listed: Important people; Recipes; Prayers; or Planetary movements?
What mathematical symbol can be put between 5 and 9, to get a number bigger than 5 and smaller than 9?
12.What common mineral's name (technically silica or SiO2) derives from old PolishGerman 'kwardy', meaning 'hard'? 13.AgustaWestland, Bell, Oboronprom and Sikorsky are notable makers of: Solar panels; Helicopters; Telecomms systems; or Nuclear reactors? 14.The particle physics unit of reactionary particle decay is: Strangeness; Weirdness; Oddness; or Bafflement? 15.What product 'brand' from the Gamay is traditionally released the third Thursday of November each year?
17.Analepsis is more commonly known as a what in a play/story/film: Credits; Flashback; Sex scene; or Intermission?
JUMBLED WORDS I M T I L
18.What invention of the Greenland Inuit is also derogatory slang for an outdoor hobbyist who observes or collects things?
S A L C H
19.Baroque (a dramatic heavily detailed style of art form) began in: 500BC Athens; 1200s Paris; 1600s Rome; or 1800s Rio de Janeiro?
B U D E O L
20.A thin middle section of a wooden chair-back, particularly old and carved, is called a: Spit; Splint; Sprout; or Splat?
S E N U U R
citypageskuwait.com
L O F R A M ANSWERS: LIMIT, CLASH, DOUBLE, UNSURE, FORMAL
ANSWERS: 1.Three sixteenths (or 0.1875 - to calculate fractions of fractions, multiply the top digits [i.e., 1 x 3 = 3] and then the bottom digits [i.e., 4 x 4 = 16] to give 3/16ths ), 2. Berry, 3. Obelus (from the ancient Greek root word equating to obelisk), 4. Actor (the words uttered randomly by a group to create the background murmur of a crowd), 5. Amyl Nitrite, 6. Panama Canal, 7. Twilight (dawn or dusk - from Latin crepusculum, twilight), 8. Stubble after cropping ('ratoon' is from old Spanish retono, sprout), 9. G and F, 10. Fountain pen, 11. Planetary movements, 12. Quartz, 13. Helicopters, 14. Strangeness, 15. Beaujolais Nouveau (French wine from the gamay grape and Beaujolais region), 16. Artworks, 17. Flashback, 18. Anorak (anoraq in Greenland Kalaallisut language), 19. 1600s Rome, 20. Splat (an old-English, meaning 'split up')
170
ANSWER: A Decimal Point - 5.9 works nicely
16.The German Bauhaus institution famously combined building design with: Gardens; Artworks; Energy systems; or Water?
ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ *
ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺰﺭ : إزاﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ اﳉﺴﻢ ﳉﻤﻴﻊ أﻧﻮاع اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . ﻧﺤﺖ اﳉﺴﻢ و ﻧﻘﻞ اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺗﺼﻐﻴﺮ ﺣﺠﻢ اﻷﻧﻒ ورﺳﻤﻪ ﻣﻦ دون ﺟﺮاﺣﻪ . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻮﻻدة . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت اﻟـ Stretch Marksﺑﺈﺳﺘﺨﺪاماﻟﻜﺎرﺑﻮﻛﺴﻲ ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ .
ﺗﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻟﻮن اﻟﺒﺸﺮة و ﻛﺎﻣﻞ اﳉﺴﻢ . ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ اﳌﻴﺰو ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﻨﻀﺎرة و ﺷﺪ اﳉﻠﺪ وﺣﺮق اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺟﻠﺴﺎت اﻟـ VillaShape IIﻟﺘﻨﺴﻴﻖ اﻟﻘﻮاموﺷﺪ اﻟﺘﺮﻫﻼت . -ﻋﻼج آﺛﺎر اﳊﺒﻮب واﻟﻨﺪﺑﺎت .
اﻟﺘﺨﻠﺺ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺐ اﻟﺸﺒﺎب ﺑﺸﻜﻞ داﺋﻢ . ﻋﻼﺟﺎت ﺗﺴﺎﻗﻂ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ و ﺗﻜﺜﻴﻔﻪ و زراﻋﺔ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ .ﻋﻼج اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺒﺔ . إﺑﺮ اﻟﺒﻮﺗﻮﻛﺲ ﻟﺸﺪ اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . -إﺑﺮ اﻟﻔﻴﻠﻴﺮ )رﺳﻢ اﻟﺸﻔﺎﻳﻒ( .
اﳉﻠﺪﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ -اﻟﻠﻴﺰر واﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻞ -ﻃﺐ اﻷﺳﻨﺎن -اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻدة -ﻃﺐ اﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﺔ -اﻟﻔﺤﻮﺻﺎت اﺨﻤﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ
ﻣﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﻔﻨﻄﺎس اﻟﺘﺠﺎري
I want to check the scores Welcome to the network that helps you grow and achieve your wants ooredoo.com.kw
WATANIYA IS NOW OOREDOO
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Actor
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The medical vasodilatory compound and recreational drug C5H11ONO is more commonly known as?
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LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION
summer’14
مجمع االفنيوز The Mall - Mezanine ميزانني- ذا مول The Avenues mall. Phase 3 High Street هاي سرتيت The Mall – High Street Mezzanine Phone: 22200650 22200650 :هاتف Shop Nº 140A The Avenues mall
Fifth Ring Rd Telephone: 22200650 KUWAIT
@TRUCCOKW
Jabriya - Tel:. +965 25353248 - Fax: +965 25353249
شركــة سبــــا آنــد مــــــور
Opening Soon at Symphony Mall, Salmiya
NAIL CARE
متخصصون في تجهيز الصالونات ومراكز التجميل والمعاهد الصحية
ISSUE 54, VOLUME 4, JUNE 2014 ART 71 ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014
BEAUTY 84 Advantages & Disadvantages of Perfumes and Colognes 86 New at Layla Harmony 88 Summer Skin Schedule
ENTERTAINMENT 98 June Movie Releases 101 Top Music Charts
INTERVIEW 16 Abdoulraouf AlWazzan 54 Khadijah Kamel AlHarmi 68 Thuraya Al-Baqasami 70 Brian Kenny 72 Rhonda McKenzie 78 Infusion - Patty Marotte 90 Hiba AlMansour 110 Sarah Al Enzi 122 Abdulla Ashkanani
KIDS 166 Kids Pages
FASHION 126 Fashion News 130 ZOUCH Fashion 134 A Grunge Affair 138 What's Trending This Summer?
FEATURE 20 What Amazing, Ridiculous, Complex Creatures We Are 22 Which Came First, The Chicken or The Egg?! 24 الطريق نحو النجاح 26 How Making Films or TV Series Comes to Life 28 You Don't Know What You've Got 'Till It's Gone! 30 Calling All Dads 32 Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran 46 Getting Creative With The 3 "R"s 102 12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
FITNESS
50 Ramadan and Nutrition 52 Travelling This Summer?
FOOD
76 Nat Bakes... With Love
HEALTH
36 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) 39 العالج الطبيعي 40 Fathers - Integral to Healthy Families 44 "Theraphy?" But My Child is Still Young!
LITERATURE 100 Short Stories by Nadia AlHassan 104 Poetry by Nada Faris 105 Arabic Poetry by Tassnim 106 June 2014 Book Releases 108 The Upcoming Summer
NUTRITION 42 Soccer 58 Eat Healthy This Ramadan
REGULARS 78 Green in The City
60 One-On-One with Kinda AlFaris 64 Tea with T 66 City Guide 82 Nat 's Kitchen Tales... With Love 96 Know About Your Birthstone 107 CP Book Club by Nada Soliman 140 Events 154 Press
164 Say Cheez with CityPages 168 Horoscopes 170 Homework for GrownUps
TECHNOLOGY 114 Cool New Gadgets 116 TECH Updates & News
118 Bonus TECH Updates & News 120 تطورات شركة أبل
Dear Readers… Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief
Jameel Arif
Muhammed Altaf Sr. Sales Manager
Claudia Farias
Content Supervisor
Tanya Burns
Creative Director Graphic Designers Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi Contributing Team Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Mohammad Al-Sharrah Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Nadia Al-Hassan Abdalla AlMuzaini Nada Soliman Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Nada Faris Ahmed Al-Ragum Nour Al-Zaabi Ali - DJ RAVEN Oussama T. Hussein ARTRONAUTS ASAMA Perfumes Reshmi Revi BirthKuwait Sanaa Abdul Hamid Dr. Nazia Nausheen Sandra Bakhamian Eng. Homoud AlMuhareb Sherihan A. Hassabo Faisal Al-Dhofari Talah Alabdulaaly Khaled Al-Zawawi Layla Harmony Zahra Ashkanani Maha Al-Rashed Zahra Taqi Photography Team Abdulaziz AlSoraya Shahbaz Hussain Abdulaziz AlShayaji Abdullah Hamadah Ahmad Emad Othman AlMishaan Natalia Sitcai Bulk Distribution Team V. Rajan S. V. Gopal
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We have made it to June, the mid-point of 2014, when all are looking forward for Ramadan and getting ready or already have started summer vacations. June is such an interesting month with so many things happening around that it made difficult for us to content with one theme and ignore the rest so we decided to cover as much around us as possible to provide you with the interesting aspects about all the main things. The first theme which has been covered is with reference to ‘World Environment Day’ where my old friend Paul Turnbridge has come with a very special article on page 46 and it is a must read. It will provide us with all the information that how we can contribute in making our environment better. Our new team member Hamad J. AlKulaib, who has recently joined the CityPages team is also up to the task and in persistent manner and will be writing about the green world every month. His first article is available in this issue and will keep regularly promoting the green life. Father’s day which is being celebrated on 15th June has also been specially focused in this issue and the CityPages team members have expressed their feelings and gratitude in the form of words for this precious relation. Our team member Abdulaziz Al-Khamis has brought for you the top twelve movies related to fathers on page 102. As I mentioned in my opening line that Ramadan ‘The month of blessings’ is coming in June so special articles about this month are a must read in this issue. Although many articles are available in this issue but my favorite is Abdullah Shams AlDeen’s article ‘Scientific miracles of Quaran’. I will strongly recommend this article for our readers on page 32. Last but not the least Foot Ball World Cup is also staring from 12th June and it is impossible to ignore such an event. While maintaining this fever CityPages Special focus on this event will provide you with the best and interesting writing about it. Our team member Sandra Bakhamian in her segment City Guide has brough for you Rio De Janeiro and in her illustration you can find Brazil. Kinda AL-Faris’s segment ‘One –On-One with KInda’ is the bumper surprise of June issue. Who does not know Kuwait’s legend footballer Jassim Al Yaqoub. While making the fever rise interview of Jassim Al Yaqoub is most appropriate at this time of the year. We are honored to be the first magazine that was granted access to his museum. The entrance into it took us back to the memories of 1982 World Cup when Kuwait participated in the event. Our New Segment Nat’s Kitchen tales… with love is another segment for international cuisine lovers. Every month you will have something amazing and different from the different parts of the world. The segment has kicked off this month with Brazilian food which you can enjoy while watching matches. Our cover interview is with Hiba AlMansour from Kuwait’s major book stores ‘That Al Salasil’. She has in detail discussed the ‘Power of paper in the digital world’. A must read interview. As always CityPages met with many interesting people during for this issue who are valued contributors in their respective fields. Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan is one of them. His contributions in Warba Insurance are really worth mentioning. We met with Abdulla Ashkanani the owner of Piel De Tore Kuwait on the occasion of their first anniversary. We have brought for you the details of Sara Al Enzi at the head quarter of Ooredoo telecom, previously known as Wataniya telecom. Meeting with Patty Marotte of Infusions was a very interesting and inspiring experience. Thuraya Al- Baqsami’s interview is in fact a tribute to Sheaffer pens. Khadija Kamil a young Kuwaiti lady is helping people achieve their fitness goals. There are so many other interesting regular feature and articles waiting for you inside. Let’s keep the fingers crossed and wait for the new soccer champs.
Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor
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DISCLAIMER
Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait. All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. 10 citypageskuwait.com Copyright © June 2014
On the Cover: Hiba AlMansour Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi
June, 2014
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Hello Our Beautiful Readers!
Dear CityPages Readers,
With the advent of June we are already at the verge of ending the first half of the year. Like work the heat
The World Cup season has commenced! This is
is also at its best. Actually this is the time of the year
the time when TV sets are sold out and people are
when we all need to sit back and carefully examine our new year’s resolutions. We need to check that where we have reached with the promises which
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we committed with ourselves at the start of the year. Take advantage of this full bloomed heat, stay
shopping for potato chips and popcorn instead of groceries. Go figure the fervor. Our issue of course is dedicated to the season and
at home at just check the progress which we were
to celebrate in spirit of this I am interviewing the
supposed to do during the first 6 months of the
legendary Kuwaiti soccer player Jassim Yaqoub.
year.
What a truly kind and gentle man he is yet an icon.
Football World Cup is knocking at the door and
CityPages
your CityPages is bringing for you the interesting
Ramadan is at our door, and in this heat I think we
details about it. Other than the football you will
may be earning extra points this year. I hope that
find so many interesting things in the June issue
@citypageskuwait
which are not only worth reading but also worth remembering. I can assure you that you will enjoy reading the special articles which we have brought for you with reference to Father’s day as well.
@citypageskuwait
I will not disclose all the secrets of June issue as I
everyone takes care of themselves in this energy sapping heat wave that has hit Kuwait. Finally, to all you wonderful fathers out there, what a lovely job you’re doing Happy Fathers Day!
know that the suspense always creates interest. Grab your copy today and enjoy the read and as usual keep us posted with valued feedback. FOR ADVERTISING E-mail: [email protected]
FOR PRESS COVERAGE & PRESS RELEASES E-mail: [email protected]
TO INVITE CITYPAGES TEAM TO YOUR EVENTS E-mail: [email protected]
See you in the next issue.
Till the next issue.
Abeer M. Alabduljalil Managing Editor
Kinda Al Faris Executive Editor
CityPages accepts unsolicited ar ticles (1000 words or less) in English or Arabic. Submissions may be sent to:
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in .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx format. CityPages will notify the author upon acceptance but will not entertain inquiries. 14
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The Avenues 22597145 • Al-Kout Mall 22979032 • The Gate Mall 22056134 • Tanagra, Fanar complex 25717893 loccitane-me.com
June, 2014
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by: Abdalla AlMuzaini
From passion to success, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan was determined to excel with everything he worked on. Quitting was never a given option to Abdulraouf, and that was forced to his strength of mind since childhood. Kuwait was going through a reconstruction phase to fix all the destructions that occurred during the Iraqi invasion. New Infrastructure was being built in the country and part of the reconstruction was the introduction of the Internet to Kuwait in 1995. The Internet was something new to the people, where people still didn’t know what is Internet, and what is the difference between the internet and a computer! That to Abdulraouf was “eye-catching!” and set him off to the beginning of his journey…. At the age of 18, the starting point of his passion flickered upon Abdulraouf’ s eyes when the English teacher assigned an essay to be written, and one of his class mates submitted his essay ‘Printed on Paper.’ This was an illuminating realization, which resulted in Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s personal feeling of elation and wonder! It was right there shining before Abdulraouf’s eyes like a pot of gold, and he knew what he wanted… He wanted a computer. Al-Wazzan not just only wanted to do all his essays on the computer, but all College marketing campaigns as well. His wish came true when Abdulraouf’s father got him his first Personal Computer.
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Through this PC, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s exploration started to get deeper, leading him to work on Microsoft Front Page, and Photoshop. The “First Online Magazine in Kuwait” – was created by Al-Wazzan and his friend Waleed Bandar. Abdulraouf knew that there was so much to learn and discover from the Personal Computer and positioned his complete focus towards the field of Information Technology (IT). “IRC Club” was the first Internet Café to open by Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan and his family in 1997 using DSL, unlike other Internet Cafés who were still using Dial Up. At the “IRC Club” is where Abdulraouf learnt all about technical Networking. From that spark of wonder, to a passion, Abdulraouf wanted more…. A greater and bigger career, leading him to pursuing his education at The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) granting him a Diploma in Computer Programming. After leaving PAAET in the year 2000, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan went job hunting. At that time, anyone who wanted to work must have a permission letter from the military, which Abdulraouf didn’t have. This was a struggle to Abdulraouf as he wanted to work but the letter of approval was his only prerequisite. With no other choice, Abdulraouf applied to serve the Kuwaiti army, but was requested to serve an additional year as he was late in joining. Finding a way around it, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan joined the Kuwaiti Air Force as a volunteer with minimum condition of five years to serve. The reason
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Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan From Passion to Success
June, 2014
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of him joining the Air Force was not for the love of flying but for the mere fact that there was an open vacancy for a position as an IT Network Administrator. Al-Wazzan took up this role for a period of four years till he got promoted to become the IT Team Leader at the Kuwaiti Air Force. As the IT Team Leader, Abdulraouf developed a new version of the HR System; added at least 60% of new features, automated the process, and made it paperless which was a ‘time-cutter’ and resulted in an increase in efficiency. Respective of the minimum requirement to serve for five years as a volunteer, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan continued serving for a total period of eight years. Eight years of active contribution, Abdulraouf realized it was time for him to spread his wings and fly away. It was essential to Al-Wazzan to continue his path of learning more about IT, taking more tasks and responsibilities, and reaching to hire positions with better job offers. Abdulraouf is back again with his job hunting, and after three months of 18
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searching, Al-Wazzan finally gets a call for a job interview. In 2008, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan officially joins ZAIN IT Department as a Data Base Administrator (DBA). Within his year and a half at ZAIN full of IT responsibilities, AlWazzan was involved in six main critical, major enterprise, and successful IT Projects: • The new numbering plan of adding the 8th digit to the ZAIN phone numbers (which impacted entire Kuwait’s users of ZAIN) as a Project Technical Team Member. • The Archiving System as a Project Manager. • The initiator and owner of the project to standardize ZAIN user’s access. • The upgrade of the Client Relation Management for Telecommunication Business Solution (TABS) as the User Acceptance Test (UAT) owner. • The upgrade of the E-Business Website as
the Infrastructure owner. • The Data Warehouse project as the Infrastructure owner. Driven by determination and goals of leadership, is when Abdulraouf decided to look into something greater and shift from the technical IT routine, to the course of IT Management. Of course, like any father is, Al-Wazzan’s father was concerned about Abdulraouf’s decision; as he was leaving a huge enterprise sized company such as ZAIN and going to the Insurance industry which was very uncommon. Stubborn and committed to his goals as he was, Al-Wazzan had already taken his decision to move to Warba Insurance where he had already been offered a managerial position. Warba Insurance at that time had a vision of restructuring its IT department and business solutions, and that’s when Abdulraouf joined to lead and deliver this vision to reality. Proving himself to the management
of Warba, Al-Wazzan was immediately promoted as the IT Manager, and by 2011, Warba Insurance officially had a fullfledged IT infrastructure, highest of its kind where no other Insurance businesses has today. With the planning, Al-Wazzan and his technical decisions, managed to save 60% of cost and this was such a great and successful achievement that it got published as a Regional Case Study by Microsoft, and could be read on www. microsoft.com
Subsequently, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan engaged his heavy experience of his Photoshop with his daily activities to market Warba Insurance in the Kuwaiti market. Successfully, Al-Wazzan played a key role in the rebranding of Warba Insurance’s corporate identity, and initiated the Social Media campaigns in 2011. Because of Abdulraouf’s hard work, commitments and achievements, Al-Wazzan got promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM) responsible for the IT and Marketing department.
which is taking place as IT has become the backbone of the business. The question is how he did it… How did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan take on Warba Insurance back in 2009 where IT was still in its early stages, to where it is today, almost 100% IT driven, cost saving, and a money making entity? Abdulraouf explained, “IT Managers should map themselves to the business goals of the decision makers. It is simply a negotiation to convince the management to invest in IT in order to achieve the Objective, Mission, and Vision of the company.”
Today, Warba Insurance is the first Insurance Company to start social media, and became the leaders in the Insurance sector in comparison to their competitors who also started to rebrand to keep up with Warba.
After his passion-able career jumps from the Internet Café to the Kuwaiti Air force and from ZAIN to Warba Insurance, I needed to know, did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan finally reach his goals reaching to a top level executive and becoming well known in the IT industry? He simply smiled back at me and said “Abdalla, IT was a passion which started back in 1994, and today I have reached to an AGM position but that is not enough for me; you see, you can be a CEO but still be an employee. I would say that reaching my optimal goal is becoming a business owner of my own, as my dream is clear for me now… There is a lack of understanding towards the importance of IT, and would like to start a firm focused on IT consultancy & Management to help serve the Kuwaiti market.”
By the year 2015, it is predicted that, Warba Insurance will be saving enormous operational costs due to the automation
Abdulraouf is finally practicing what he’s been preaching for years, and is looking to make Kuwait a better place, using IT.
June, May, 2014
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T
he ground is heart-stoppingly far away. Our amygdala recognises clear and present danger, heartbeat increases by a factor of three, blood pressure rockets, saliva seems to just not be there any more and the urge to really be somewhere else is almost overmastering. We are almost literally scared to death, experiencing massive surges of adrenalin, noradrenalin and growth hormone. In milliseconds, our hypothalamus pumps corticotropin-releasing hormone, triggering the pituitary to pump out adrenocorticotropin which in turn persuades the adrenal glands near our kidneys to start producing cortisol. Paraphrasing the above, after a very short time our adrenals feel like a couple of squeezed oranges as adrenalin rushes headlong into our bloodstream. Breathing is short, hard and fast as blood pumps manically. If you're old enough to remember, your whole body feels as if it's the starship Enterprise, shields at ten per cent, fending off an all-out Klingon attack. "She cannae take much more, Captain!" ...There's not much point in diverting precious energy for digesting when every joule might be needed just to survive. Pupils dilate, increasing movement perception, to see into the shadows where the bogeymen hide.... No, you haven't inadvertently slipped into a parallel universe and there won't be a test tomorrow on the biology of fear. We are, of course, talking about skydiving. About to leap heedlessly from an aircraft and experience an acceleration of almost ten metres per second per second meaning that we get to go really, really quickly. Mother Earth rushes to embrace us. Awfully fast. For all the adrenalin junkies, anybody who is reading this who can remember their first jump, I'd bet money that you're smiling right now. Whether or not we decide to jump out of the aeroplane depends upon our overcoming the entirely natural fear of dying horribly, but... why bother? What is it that motivates otherwise quite normal, well-balanced people to override a perfectly reasonable natural protection mechanism? Because we like it. That's why. This cascade of biochemical changes as a result of perceived risk is, I am told, experienced as high arousal together with unpleasant anxiety, which seems to be a little bit paradoxical. So, we ask ourselves again, the question is not whether we would go parachuting, but why? Even if we could conjure an answer, it ain't quite as simple as "we like it." A wilderness camper might grab a baseball bat to chase away a bear intent on foraging but the same guy with the baseball bat is afraid to stand up to his boss, both activities being fraught with danger but of two very different kinds. To paraphrase Orwell, all risk is not created equal. Research seems to indicate that we subject ourselves to quite a number of risk-taking activities of various kinds and, what a surprise, our risk-taking behaviour is governed by our genetics. Freud would have said "when in doubt, blame the mother", in our day we'd argue "when in doubt, blame the gene", which, if we think about it, is another way of saying exactly the same thing. If we stay with Uncle Sigmund for a moment longer, he might have told us in those soothing sessions on his leather couch that our risk-taking behaviour was illogical, beyond reason and we should stop it immediately since we obviously have suicidal tendencies. Hedge fund managers and other fledgling wolves of Wall Street, please take note. You'll no doubt be relieved to hear that we've come a long way since Sigmund's sofa and I think you've
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read enough amateur shrink-speak for one day. When I was a child, my mother used to remind me with monotonous regularity that 'curiosity killed the cat'. Perhaps she meant only to discourage me from stealing the car before I was tall enough to see over the steering wheel. Maddeningly, she then took me to the library where I borrowed books whose titles began with "The Adventures Of...", which positively encouraged me to undertake derring-do, rescue a few distressed damsels, single-handedly fight my way through squadrons of bad guys and generally place myself in harm's way to the general approbation of all and sundry. In other words, she gave with one hand and took away with the other. I don't think she liked me very much. It didn't really dampen my enthusiasm for dangerous behaviour, maternal wrath or feline homicide notwithstanding and over the years I've been involved in more than a few squeezed oranges moments. See above if you've forgotten. It's fortunate, however, that as we get older, our risk perception skills get better and the increased information flow that we enjoy in our, let's say, maturer years, tends to discourage us from doing stuff which, let's be honest, is batshit crazy. I no longer duck under the barrier when the ski run says it's closed - they didn't really mean it, it looked OK from the bottom - besides which, the piste is absolutely empty. It's only when you get halfway down, notice that it's steep and impossibly gnarly, covered in sheet ice and the bumps are the size of Buicks, that you realise that they might have had a point in closing it after all. Being now retired, sort of, you might therefore imagine me to be a benevolently becardiganed, avuncular figure gently pottering among the geraniums, days of risk and adventure being no more than a distant memory. To all my friends who are reading this, please stop howling immediately. I recently took up a new sport, scuba diving, cavorting with the fishes, dolphins, turtles and so forth on the ocean floor. Once you've mastered the art of neutral buoyancy so you stop bouncing up and down like a demented trampolinist, the wonders of the deep unroll before your eyes like a magic carpet. Strange creatures, some with teeth, glide effortlessly past. Octopi do what they do - it really is quite hard to explain how the eightfold synchrony actually works. Fantastic fish painted like rainbows graze in the coral. Sometimes, they might even have a friendly nibble on your wetsuit, which can be a little bit unnerving. There are a couple of downsides, touching really is a no-no because stingy thingies can put you in hospital. Also, you do rather have to know what you're doing in tight spaces and, moreover, have to be able to hang about for extended periods with heavy weights. It's like the gym, but wetter. A while back, after a three day diving trip to the Red Sea, I trudged wearily out of the airport, flapping an exhausted hand to a kindly taxi driver and feeling a bit, well, elderly, to be honest. My joints hurt and I momentarily cursed Jacques Cousteau for not inventing scuba gear that weighs on land in excess of twenty-five kilograms, which felt to me a bit like carrying my mother-in-law out of the surf. Fortunately, I have no pictures of my knees momentarily giving way as I hauled my hippopotamine carcass out of the forgiving water on to the beach, gravitationally challenged, cutting my foot on shard-sharp shingle in the process, being gently helped landward by a muscular Swiss instructor. Archimedes did have a point; history does not relate whether he himself was helped out of his bath by a muscular Greek slave who omitted to clothe his master before he ran manically into the street, thereby subjecting him to the catcalls
What amazing, ridiculous, complex creatures we are by: John MacArthur
and hissing of the local citizenry to whom his discoveries meant little. So, why have you been subjected to my little adventure diary? Because it illustrates a point. We don't stop taking the odd risk just because we've left childhood behind. It's actually quite good for us, as it happens, in small doses, a bit like exercise. Now, please don't for a moment imagine that you should suggest to your grandchildren that what you'd really like for your seventy-fifth birthday is a course of skydiving lessons or a bungee jump. And, if your bowels turn to water at the thought of doing something which might kill you, for "risk" read "exercise". Standing up is better than sitting down. Take a walk - you'll get all the adrenalin rush you need trying to cross the road in this country. If you're a corporate drone, you might make them buy you a stand-up desk. Churchill and Hemingway both had one, both risking varicose veins and coronary atherosclerosis. There's a growing body of medical evidence that asserts that hours of uninterrupted sitting can be surprisingly bad for your health but standing is a bit risky too. If you own the company, you could even get yourself the ultimate in work-life multitasking, a treadmill desk. Now, these will serve several purposes. One being that you have to actually walk to go nowhere - a bit like this story, really - and simultaneously type on your laptop which is just out of reach and is actually hazardous because you can't get the positioning software right in the brain and you might well fall...oh, dear, it's all getting very complicated and dangerous. Apparently, you can get one that simulates snowboarding as well. See - instant adrenalin rush, right there at work. Just like skydiving really.
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Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?!
T
he saying goes that “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”. We have heard it over and over again; a phrase that is certainly much older than the Women's Movement of the 1960s. Yes! We have heard it a million times throughout the decades, believed in it and used it in many situations. But have we really thought about its origin? How exactly did we come to believe it and make it a “universal truth”? The meaning of the saying clearly declares that a great/successful man wouldn’t be so without support from the woman in his life. Well, my question to all women and to myself is: would a woman be supportive of an unsupportive or a mistreating man? Would she feed his ambitions, inspire him to take risks, provide him with self-confidence? I answered NO! And would a man be good to a woman who always demean his aspiration and mock his vision? The answer is again, NO! The question thus arises, which came first: the chicken or the egg? X that can't come without Y, or Y that can't come without X? Regardless of the sex, man or woman, I believe any human would never give a genuine smile to a hurtful face, present a
Sherihan A. Hassabo Sherihan A. Hassabo is a passionate writer who started expressing her opinion about controversial subjects when she was 14. When she is not directing events, she likes to investigate the interesting relationships' controversy in our Eastern society. Every month, and from real life experience; Sherihan will share a story, an idea, opinion, or a simple advice for men and women to live happily ever after.
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helping hand to biting teeth, stand behind someone else to support his success if they know for sure that, if the tables are turned, the other person wouldn’t do exactly the same. It is not a question of giving and caring, it is human nature which drives us all; men and women. Giving it the slightest thought, we should come to realize that while some facts need to be altered, there are definitely new facts that we need to derive from the existing ones: there has to be a saying “Behind every great woman there’s a great man”, and “Behind every unsuccessful man there’s an unsuccessful woman”... and so on. Let’s be fair and think it over before we merely repeat it!
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الطريقنحوالنجاح
طبيعة
النفس تحب النجاح في حياتها سواء على الصعيد الشخصي أو الوظيفي أو المالي أو جميع جوانب الحياة .للنجاح لذة جميلة من اعتاد عليه ال يمكنه التخلي عنه ،فتراه يقفز من قمة الى قمة ليحقق النجاح الذي اعتاد عليه وأصبح اسلوب حياته. في تجربة بسيطة مع مجموعة من المتدربين في احدى دوراتي ،اخترت شخصين واخرجتهم من القاعة ،أغلقنا عين أحدهم الذي عليه أن يصل لمكان جلوسه وهو يتلقى توجيهات الشخص اآلخر ،دون علمهم ما سيجري داخل القاعة ،و المتدربين في داخل القاعة عليهم تشتيت تركيز ذلك الشخص والعمل على عكس توجيهات الشخص المساعد .وحين دخل الشخص للقاعة توقع أن يستمع فقط لتوجيهات الصديق المساعد ،لكنه تفاجأ بازعاج في القاعة مما أدى لتعثره وتغيير طريقه، والشخص المساعد توقف عن التوجيهات فور سماع اإلزعاج ،لكنه تدارك الموقف قبل سقوط صديقه فأعاد توجيهه حتى وصل لمكانه الصحيح. الفكرة من هذا التمرين ليست بإزعاج الشخص أو احداث الفوضى ،بل هي فكرة أرغب بتوصيلها لمن حولي ،وهي أنك حين تضع أولى خطواتك نحو النجاح لتحقق هدفك ،ستواجه تحديات الحياة أو يتوجه لك المحبطين والمزعجين ( ليشلوا) حركتك أو يعيقوا تواصلك ،فهدفهم تعطيلك وغايتهم فشلك ،انتبه أن توجه تركيزك لهم فقط تجاههلهم. بعد أيام من أدائي لهذا التمرين تعرضت لموقف مشابه حين بدأت بتحقيق هدف جديد ،ابتسمت وقلت هذا هو التمرين وحان التطبيق ،وفع ً ال تجاهلت ما حدث وكأنه شيء لم يحدث وفع ً ال انتهى الموقف ونجحت في التمرين.
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Nour AlZaabi
Nour holds a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Marketing and is a Member at The Kuwait Economic Society and British Council Entrepreneur Network in Kuwait. Stay tuned for her articles and features in the CityPages magazine.
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How Making Film or Tv Series Comes To Life Available online on Pinterest.com
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ince I’ve been back in Kuwait, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Kuwait’s award-winning film director and producer Walid Al-Awadi as he films a mini-series. I’ve watched and learned what it takes to bring a film or television series come to life. It’s not easy and takes a lot of discipline, plus a team you can count on around you. Here’s how it happens… Development:It all starts with an idea. Mind you, that idea can take years to come to fruition. You’ll have to make your idea come to life with a proper script. Script writing is a skill, so be prepared to spend the time working on your writing or finding a capable scriptwriter. Be prepared for numerous edits and rewrites. You’ll have to think about character development and the story you will tell. When you think you are done, you aren’t. You’ll rewrite again and again; and that’s only part of development. Unless you will be spending your own money to make the feature, you’ll have to pitch your idea successfully to convince someone to spend money to take it to the next step. Pre-Production:Ok, so now you have the script and financing, you’ll need to start getting the production together. This is a critical time and can take months. It is essential to make sure everyone has the same vision for the end product. You’ll be creating story boards, production boards, setting the budget, getting your team together: executive producer, director, producer, editor, and camera department (director of photography, lighting and sound crew, and the like). Now is also the time to start casting actors, finding costume and set designers, makeup artists, and scouting locations for filming. Your producer will also handle things
Laila Al-Qatami Laila holds a BS in Journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder and a MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. She was a former spokesperson for the Arab-American community through the largest grassroots Arab-American organization based in Washington, DC. Laila is a Specialist in the image of Arabs and Muslims in US media, films, and popular culture.
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like securing equipment, transportation, comes to life. catering, and so many other details. You will also start sequencing where and how you will film your story. You will outline everything, Distribution:Ok, so you have the film made, you must also find a distribution channel and yes, do more rewrites. otherwise, no one will ever see it. Not everyone will jump at the chance, so you will Filming:The time this takes depends on have to knock on many doors. Some might what is the length of program or film you open, close, then open; it takes patience and are creating. The days are long and you’ll good negotiation. Once you have agreed be working hard. It can takes hours to film with the distributor about where/when it will just one scene, and it might not even make it air, and who will retain the rights, you start into the final version. All actors are different the publicity phase of promoting your work and you’ll have to manage what happens on before, during, and after it is shown. set, in addition to the actual filming. Is the lighting right, is the sound clear, did you get Then, your next idea hits you, and you start the right shot? Oh and you’ll probably rewrite all over again. some things along the way. Post-Production:This process connects everything together, putting the film together from the footage. This requires editing, sound, special effects, color correction and money, lots of money. This is where it all
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You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone! Available online on Pinterest.com by: Paul Turnbridge
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ver since I started thinking about writing something for Fathers’ Day, a tune has been going over and over in my mind. Most readers may be too young to remember the classic by Joni Mitchell entitled “Big Yellow Taxi” but please check it out online if you want a retro musical treat. Anyway, the lyric which repeats in my head resonates “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” which, I guess, is where I claim my association with Fathers’ Day. Let me explain… My father was born in England in 1915. He grew up in a very different world to the one in which we live today … few cars; no television; taking a weekly bath in a large tin tub on the kitchen floor, sharing the bathwater with the rest of the family; none of the modern kitchen gadgetry yet invented. He lived through an era 28
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of great change! He had worked in the offices at GWR (Great Western Railway) which was one of the earliest of the pre-nationalised UK railway companies, until the onset of World War 2. He served his country as an officer in the Royal Artillery regiment and, after the war, remained in military service and met my mother at a T.A. camp at which he was Adjutant. By the time I arrived in 1958, he had married, had a daughter, been moved to several postings (with family in tow) and had finally been assigned a permanent position in the Ministry of Defense in London’s Whitehall. My father was a traditional man with oldfashioned values. For example, he would never even go shopping without wearing collar, tie and jacket! It was his belief that his role was to be the provider for the family, and he achieved that well. We were never
financially wealthy, but we were comfortable and never lacked for anything we needed. Yet we were rich in so many other ways … my sister and I grew up in a loving home. Our parents were there whenever we needed them; they spent time with us – reading to us when we were little, and teaching us the basics before providing us with the best-possible education. They taught us to be independent, yet never stopped loving and supporting us – even when we thought we knew better and did things against their advice or wishes. Yet I haven’t really celebrated Fathers’ Day since my father died some 20 years ago – not because I don’t love, respect and appreciate what my father did for me, but because I don’t really want to think about him not being here any longer. What would I not give to have him back even for just one week?
Of course I have many wonderful memories and a whole heap of photos (some of which are reproduced here) and, when I get together with my mother and sister, we still remember some of the daft things dad used to do to make us laugh. My father was strict and serious when it was needed, but he was also a good judge, a fair man and a great source of fun and laughter. Ours was a happy home. I think it was around 8 years before he died that my father developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Since retiring from work, he and mum had started to enjoy their leisurely new life. They had moved away from London to a new home in a beautiful part of England, and had travelled for some lovely holidays together, and my father spent a lot of his time creating his beloved gardens. But then he became more absent-minded and his character seemed to change. At first, we thought it was just dementure … but the progression to Alzheimer’s was unfairly rapid and unexpected. Communication became difficult and often, when I visited, he did not even know who I was. It was like my father was there….but he wasn’t really my father….he was not the man any of us knew. Even now – 20 years on – I get upset when I think back to those awful last years. He deserved better! His ultimate death was a release for him. As a typically generous gesture, at the onset of the disease, my father had agreed that upon his death he would donate his brain for medical research to St. Mary’s Hospital in London, where they lead the research into cures that will benefit future Alzheimer’s sufferers. By this act, he left his final footprint. This has been a very personal account which, at times, has been difficult to write. But why should I be surprised by that? After all, our fathers are personal to each of us. We all have unique memories and relationships with our family members, and we need to hold on to those. I loved my father (and still do) but it wasn’t until he was no longer around that I realized just how much he meant to me. I now know that I didn’t appreciate him enough when he was alive; I now know that there are so many conversations we should have had, but never did; and I know now that I will never again have the opportunities I once had to just be with him. Most of you will be able to value the presence of your fathers right now, and I urge you not to let any opportunity slip past. Take it from someone who knows from experience … you really don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone! (Written in memory of Major Victor R. Tunbridge – a true Gentleman, and a Gentle Man.) June, 2014
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Calling All Dads: You Matter Too!
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rowing up in the Middle East, moms are always seen as the anchor of the house, the most significant figure, the caring one, the one person you turn to when things go wrong and the one who puts every ones needs first and hers at the bottom. Of course this is all true (especially in my mother’s case!) but what about all the great fathers out there too? In our house we were always puzzled by the notorious Mother’s day celebrated in March and so we decided to call it Family day. That is until my sister and I moved to the US and realized that there are two days equally important, a day to celebrate your mom and another one dedicated to your dad in June! For the longest time, mothers have been revered, respected, and admired. After all, we moms, go through 9 months of pregnancy (which I found were actually 10 when I was pregnant but that's a whole different story for another article), changes in our bodies physically and emotionally, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, child rearing, giving up our careers and all the other sacrifices we make to be mothers. But wait a second; right by our sides are men, who have equally gone through many changes to be fathers too, to hold our hands through it all and those little hands of our children too. Most of what we as moms go through would not be possible if it wasn't for the wonderful husbands standing beside us each step of the way. These husbands are the wonderful fathers to our kids who so lovingly take care of many of parenthood’s many responsibilities too. To all the dads out there, as we celebrate you on your special day, let me remind you as to why you matter and how important your presence is to your family: 1.Dads play an important role in children’s development from birth all the way through adulthood. Research has shown that children with involved fathers do better socially and academically than kids with no relationship (or a distant relationship) with their fathers. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, children
Zahra Taqi Zahra is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop her a line on her email: [email protected] or find her on FB: http://www.facebook. com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @ MilestonesCoach
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with fathers who take the time to ask about what they learned at school and their dayto-day social activities and relationships do better in school than kids whose dads do not provide that kind of interest or input. 2.Dads and their boys: Fathers play an important role in their son’s lives as they model to them what it is like to be a man, how to be responsible, caring and how to be a loving husband and a good father. According to Christine Langlois, author of “Raising Great Kids”, boys who grow up with involved dads are less likely to get in trouble with the law as they get older. 3.Dads and their daughters: Fathers play a very important role in their daughters’ lives. Daughters who have a strong and healthy relationship with their dads tend to be more confident and self assured, independent and confident. Also studies show that girls who have a strong bond with their fathers tend to have less mental health problems later in life. Another important role for fathers when it comes to their daughters is the example they set for them in regards to men (i.e. husbands). 4.Dads bring on the adventure!: Many moms are cautious when it comes to their kids being adventurous, erring on the side of caution and some times discouraging their kids of partaking in certain activities according to Langlois. Dads on the other hand tend
Available online on Pinterest.com to believe that their kids are physically able which leads to children overcoming challenges and therefore having a higher self esteem. Simple things like asking your kids what they learned at school that day, reading to them, asking about their dayto-day activities can lead to kids being more academically successful. When a dad exhibits a commitment to his family, he models a responsible behavior to his own children. Also, children with supportive fathers, usually have less problems and are better able to get along with others and have better control over their emotions. There you have it Dads! You matter too just as much as any mom out there. Moms do put in a lot of hard work and oh so much love to their families, but so do you, and you ROCK at it! So, to all the wonderfully involved and supportive fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day to you all! May you continue to support your spouses and your families, build wonderfully strong relationships with them and reap the benefits of all the hard work. And to the two most amazing dads in my life, my dad and my kids’ dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work, Happy Father’s Day you two! “Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!” By Lydia Child.
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Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran Available online on Pinterest.com Sahih International Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
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t is only natural that on the month where the Quran was revealed, that it should take center stage in the minds and inhabiting the consciousness of its believers. Darting through it cover to cover void of real meaning most likely defies the purpose. A diligent pondering of simply a few of the Quran’s verses concerning everything that consists in our metaphysical universe can be just as fruitful.
A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.)
Ramadan has always been a month of invigorating spiritual, physical and mental replenishment. Yes, a heightened sense of moral awareness tends to wash over some while tiny seeds of empathy begin to sprout in the hearts of others. Some people you might know appear facially unrecognizable, a sudden alteration in personality and perhaps some genuine “Ramadan Resolutions” towards battling ones inner destructive desires. So let us attempt to enhance the blissful energy by reflecting on several of scientific statements in the Quran.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (21:30)
More than 1,400 years ago in what was a backwater of civilization in the deserts of Arabia, an illiterate Arab produces scientific statements that scientists discovered just yesterday, relatively speaking, all while doing so in a linguistically superior form to any known Arabic text. People at the time were devoid of science, there were no telescopes, microscopes or anything even close to powerful technology we have today. Conceptions of nature and the universe were based on superstition and myth. Arabs believed the earth was flat and that mountains supported the sky above. Within this backdrop, the Quran was revealed containing many scientific facts on topics ranging from the origins of the universe to remarkably accurate descriptions of each stage of human embryonic development. Many of these facts could not be fully appreciated at the time, only recently have we as a species developed the technological means to marvel on its accuracies.
The Origins of The Universe and Its Expansion The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of hot dense smoke. This is one of the undisputed principles of modern cosmology. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (41:11)
The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this identical smoke, they formed and separated from each other.
Sahih International Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? In the previous verse, the Arabic words ratq and fataq are used. The word ratq can be translated into “entity”, “sewn to”, “joined together” or “closed up”. The meanings of these translations all circulate around something that is mixed and that has a separate and distinct existence. The verb “fataq” is translated into “We unstitched” “We clove them asunder” “We separated” or “We have opened them”. These meanings imply that something comes into being by an action of splitting or tearing apart. The sprouting of a seed from the soil is a good example of a similar illustration of the meaning of the verb fataq. With the introduction of the Big Bang theory, it soon became clear to Muslim scholars that the details mentioned with regards to the theory go identically hand in hand with the description of the creation of the universe in verse 30 of the 21st Surah of the Quran. The theory states that all the matter in the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point; that exploded and brought about the beginning of the universe, matches what is mentioned in the verse that the heaven and Earth (thus the universe) where all once joined together at a single point, and then split apart. Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.
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He said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:1) impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few Sahih International years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this By the sky and the night comer. is the case.” “Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:2) hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin,” he Sahih International added. And what can make you know what is the night comer? In 1916, Albert Einstein formulated his General Theory of Relativity that indicated that the universe must be either expanding or contracting. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:3) Confirmation of the expanding-universe theory finally came in 1929 at the Sahih International hands of the well known American astronomer Edwin Hubble. It is the piercing star. Allah (SWT) communicates this phenomenon through prophet Mohammed (PBUH)1,400 years ago: The Arabic word "Thuqb" means a hole; "Thaqeb" means the one who makes the hole. The Quran is describing a knocking star that makes a piercing hole. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (51:47) Again, how could an illiterate man who lived 1,400 years ago (or anyone at that time) have known that a star can make a piercing hole let alone a knocking sound?
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Furthermore, Allah (SWT) also takes a mighty oath on the grandness of black And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] holes describing them as invisible celestial bodies that move and sweep like expander. vacuums: Yet, astonishingly well before telescopes were even invented and well before Hubble published his Law, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite this verse of the Quran to his companions that ultimately stated that the universe is expanding. At the time of the revelation of the Quran, the word “space” was not known, and people used the word “heaven” or “sky” to refer to what lies above the Earth. In the above verse, the word heaven or sky is referring to space and the known universe. The verse points out that space and the entire universe happens to be expanding, just as Hubble’s Law states. It is nothing short of a miracle that the Quran mentioned such a fact many centuries before the invention of the first telescope, at a time when there was primitive to no knowledge in science. This is more so considering that, like many people in his time and place, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) happened to be illiterate and simply could not have been aware of such profound ideas on his own.
Pulsar Stars and Black Holes Neutron stars are remnants of exploded stars. As more matter falls into a neutron star its mass increases; and as its mass increases its gravity increases. A point will be reached where gravity would have grown so much that not even light could escape, thus a black hole forms. Most neutron stars discovered today are in the form of radio pulsars. They are called radio pulsars because they emit radio waves, as well as insanely bright gamma ray bursts shooting from each end like towers or in Arabic “burooj” (which God takes an oath on swearing by the heavens and its “burooj” that can mean bright stars and also grand bright towers.)
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:15) Sahih International So I swear by the retreating stars .
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:16) Sahih International Those that run [their courses] and disappear. “Running Sweepers” or Black holes haven't been detected until in 1971, a satellite pinpointed the exact location of a black hole in the constellation Cygnus. Scientists believe that some regions of space exert such powerful gravity that they act like gigantic vacuum cleaners, sucking in any matter that comes too close. No matter what the matter is, may it be a comet, a planet, or even a cloud of gas would be crushed to an infinite density and disappear forever. The gravity is so intense that it alters space and even time, slowing down time and stretching out space. Not even light can escape the fierce gravitational pull, so they remain black and invisible. That is the reason behind their description in the verse as 'celestial bodies that disappear, the running sweepers’. Simply marvelous description of the unseen.
Human Embryonic Development
Connecting a radio telescope to a loud speaker you would in fact be able to hear a pulsar. Pulsars sound like someone persistently knocking in a rhythmic pattern.
In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) describes in precise visual detail the stages of human embryonic development, 1,400 years before modern day scientists 'discovered' important information on creation of man and his development only with aid of recent highly advanced machines.
Today we can hear a pulsars knocking and if matter continues to fall into this pulsar a black hole will eventually form. The Quran describes a star by "the one who knocks" [translated “night comer” he who knocks at night] and says that it is "the one who makes a hole”:
Sahih International
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:12)
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:13) Sahih International Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:14)
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Sahih International Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators.
Next in that verse from the Qur'an comes the Arabic word Mudghah (translated as lump of flesh) can refer to a "chewed substance". If someone was to take a piece of gum and chew it to leave teeth marks down the side it would look as the developing spine, of the embryo chewed. The picture displayed shows the resemblance of the embryos somites with chew marks. Suspension of an Embryo during the early stages in the womb of the mother. (About 15 days old) The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6mm.
The Arabic word Alaqah (translated clinging clot) literally has three meanings: •Leech •Suspended or clinging thing •Blood clot. When we compare a leech to an embryo in the alaqah phase, we find much similarity between the two. It is also noteworthy that the embryo at this phase obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, just like the leech, which feeds on the blood of other organisms. Using the word alaqah again to say the embryo is suspended within the womb, due to it's size at this stage. It's attached to the side by the umbilical cord but otherwise it's just hanging and leaning on nothing. Now, the word alaqah also compares our embryo to a blood clot. Why is that? Well, the embryo will not have any circulation until about three weeks into the pregnancy. And also have large amounts of blood flowing to it, making the embryo at this stage appearing similar to a blood clot, externally. So, the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage. Abdullah Y. Shams Al-Deen Abdullah is a graduate with a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University at Northridge - Los Angeles, California. Abdullah was a columnist for the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in America, Nebras E-zine for almost 4 years covering a wide range of topics from the oil industry and technology to sports and culture. An investigative Journalist at heart, researching and presenting intriguing, inspirational and important topics that otherwise do not find the light of day gives his great satisfaction. Follow Abdullah on Instagram: @a_shamsideen
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How is this possible? If Antoine Van Leeuwenhoek was the first scientist to observe human sperm cells using an improved microscope in 1677, how can this be explained? It was mistakenly believed that the sperm cell contained a miniature-preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the uterus, similar to an episode on Family Guy. These are only but a few prime examples of certain scientific accuracies that could not have been known by anyone at the time, let alone an illiterate man in a world of myths and superstition. Only recently, in a scientific and highly developed age, have we been able to grasp the full grandeur of the scientific miracles found in the Quran.
To be continued …
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
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ince its discovery in 2012, MERS has terrified the world with its mysterious origins and high fatality rate. MERS, which stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since killed more than 173 people out of 571 confirmed cases in the past few years– almost a third of those infected. It is related to the common cold as well as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which caused widespread panic during an outbreak in 2003. According to the World Health Organization, cases of MERS have been reported in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and United States etc. The World Health Organization has called MERS a "threat to the entire world" as scientists struggle to understand the mysterious disease. MERS causes an acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, a cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia has often been recorded in victims and MERS has also caused kidney failure. The origin of the disease is unknown, recent research has
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linked camels to the virus after the animals were found to carry the virus in their blood. Saudi Arabia has issued a health warning to anyone handling camels over MERS, advising them to limit contact, wash their hands and wear face masks and gloves. The risk of transmission from person to person seems very low but there are fears the virus could mutate to a more contagious strain. Air travel, of course, can also accelerate the spread of a disease around the world, especially if those carrying the bug take a flight before they’re aware they have it and then spread it others at their destination. In the past, airports have deployed special scanners at gate areas to detect passengers with a high fever before they board. It’s not clear if MERS poses enough of a threat to air passengers to warrant such measures at this point. The World Health Organization is recommending increased vigilance in the Middle East and airports and infectious controls to stop the disease spreading where it is found. However, no travel or trade restrictions have yet been imposed but they are a possibility if the infection rate worsens.
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
Is there a vaccine against MERS? What is the treatment?
What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?
No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel corona virus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
What are the symptoms of MERS? A typical case of MERS consists of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding on examination. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Some patients have had organ failure, especially of the kidneys, or septic shock. Approximately 27% of patients with MERS have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with such chronic diseases as diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease.
How do people get MERS? It is not yet understood exactly how people become infected with MERS. In some cases, the virus appears to pass from an infected person to another person in close contact. This has been seen among family members, patients, and healthcare workers. Recently, there have been an increased number of reports of health care associated infections. In some communities, people have become ill but no potential source of infection has been found. It is possible that these persons were infected by exposure to an animal or perhaps another source or person.
Available online on Pinterest.com
How can I help protect myself? Corona viruses are fairly fragile, surviving outside the body for only about 24 hours. They are easily destroyed by detergents and cleaning agents. It is advised that people help protect themselves by taking everyday preventive actions such as:
Countries with Lab-Confirmed MERS Cases
•Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer/ wipes. One such brand is SEPTONA; the refreshing wet wipes SEPTONA Cotton Care for the hands offer deep and soft cleanness whenever needed. They contain alcohol and act against viruses. They are now available in supermarkets and BOOTS PHARMACIES all over Kuwait including the Airport branch. These wipes are suitable for daily use at home, in the car, in the office and especially during travel e.g. after handling money, after riding in a taxi, after touching escalators in a shopping mall, wiping down restaurant tables and toilet seats in public places etc.
• Saudi Arabia • United Arab Emirates (UAE) • Qatar • Oman • Jordan • Kuwait • Yemen • Lebanon
•Furthermore, SEPTONA Medi care antibacterial wet wipes with 70% alcohol is very effective against MERS virus. The 70% alcohol denat in the wipes is an antibacterial agent with quick action and extra effectiveness against the MERS, as well as most common viruses and germs. These wipes are used to disinfect injuries and surfaces, and not to be used on hands and mouth.
Countries in the Arabian Peninsula with Cases
Countries Cases • • • • • • • • • •
with
Travel-associated
United Kingdom (UK) France Tunisia Italy Malaysia Turkey Greece Egypt United States of America (USA) Netherlands
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash. •Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. •Avoid close contact, such as sharing cups or sharing eating utensils, with sick people. •Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
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Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877
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العالج الطبيعي Available online on Pinterest.com
تم
تجديد قسم الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل فى مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى تحت اشراف األستاذ الدكتور /محمد زكريا (دكتوراه الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل و عضو هيئة التدريس بجامعة عين شمس) و تم تجهيزه بأحدث و سائل العالج العالمية فى هذا التخصص
ويقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات المتميزة : تشخيص و عالج جميع األمراض الروماتيزمية • العالج الطبيعى للعديد من األمراض :خشونة • المفاصل و بخاصة الركبتين -األنزالق الغضروفى القطنى و العنقى -االم الظهر و الرقبة بأسبابها المختلفة -التهاب األعصاب الطرفية -التهاب العصب السابع (ابو الوجه) -التهابات األوتار -التهابات و االم المفاصل المختلفة -مسمار القدم -الجلطات الدماغية و الشلل النصفى و شلل الطرفين السفليين -الشلل الدماغى فى األطفال – تشوهات و اعوجاج العمود الفقرى فى األطفال و البالغين -العالج الطبيعى ما بعد عمليات جراحات العظام و األعصاب و العمود الفقرى • تأهيل الرياضيين • تشخيص و عالج اصابات المالعب المختلفة • الحقن المفصلى لعالج التهاب المفاصل و حقن األوتار. ويتوفر فى القسم أحدث أجهزة العالج الطبيعى المطابقة ألحدث المعايير العالمية فى هذا المجال: الموجات الصوتية -الموجات القصيرة -الكهرباء العالجية بأنواعها المختلفة -الليزر العالجى -شمع برافين- كمادات باردة و ساخنة و تيارات باردة -اجهزة مساج- جهاز عجل الكتف -جيم متكامل. و من أحدث األجهزة التى توجد فى القسم جهاز األنودين لعالج التهاب األعصاب الطرفية للقدمين و اليدين و من المعروف ان هذا األلتهاب يصيب مرضى السكرى بنسبة كبيرة و يتسبب فى احساس بالخدار و الوخز فى اليدين و القدمين و يمتد تصاعديا ليصيب األجزاء الباقية من األطراف العلوية و السفلية بصورة تدريجية .و يتميز حهاز األانودين بنتائجه الممتازة فى عالج هذا األلتهاب. كما يتوفر ايضا جهاز الموجات التصادمية و هو من أحدث األجهزة فى عالج التهاب األوتار حول المفاصل و فى عالج الشوكة العظمية (مسمار القدم) و يتميز بنتائجه الممتازة مما يجنب المريض الحقن الموضعى لألوتار أو مسمار القدم باستخدام عقار الكورتيزون. ويقوم بتنفيذ الجلسات العالجية فريق متخصص من الفنيين على أعلى مستوى من الكفاءة و التدريب تحت األشراف الطبى المباشر من الدكتور محمد زكريا كما يقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات األخرى مثل: المساج لعضالت الجسم المختلفة ألزالة التوتر وألرتخاء العضالت -جلسات التخسيس الموضعى لتخسيس أماكن محددة من الجسم و جلسات اذابة الدهون و عالج 39
June, 2014
السليوليت وجلسات شد الترهالت خاصة بعد العمليات الجراحية للسمنة. Dr. Mohammad Ali Zakaria
و حرصا من مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى على راحة مرضاه المميزين قام القسم بالتعاقد مع شركة جلوب ميد للتأمين الطبى و الشركات التابعة لها ألستقبال المرضى الخاضعين للتغطية التأمينية.
& MD Physical Medicine Rheumatology Rehabilitation. Staff Member, Ain Shams University Specialized Boushahri Polyclinic
Hotline: 66129444 Tel : 1888877 Ext:170
FATHERS Integral to Healthy Families
Available online on Pinterest.com
Sometimes Dads may feel a little left out during the pregnancy and birth of their child. After all, during the first 9 months all the “action� is happening in mom! But fathers who spend time close to their wife during pregnancy undergo critical changes as well, that only continue once the baby is born. These changes ensure that Dad will be a committed protector and provider and play a critical role in helping a new infant develop emotional and social behaviors through healthy bonding. Once born, baby's hormonal control systems and brain synapses begin to permanently organize according to the human interactions she experiences. Unneeded brain receptors and neural pathways are disposed of, while those appropriate to the given environment are enhanced. Fathers, you are essential to this new environment!
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Oxytocin: A Bonding Hormone Oxytocin is a chemical released in the brain providing health benefits and promoting bonding patterns that create desire for further contact with the individuals inciting its release. We tend to talk a lot about oxytocin in the mother, but father’s also have a significant role to play. For example, mother’s tend to prefer whichever male is closest during periods of high oxytocin release (pregnancy and labor!) In addition, prolonged high oxytocin in mother, father, or baby also promotes lower blood pressure and reduced heart rate as well as certain kinds of artery repair, actually reducing lifelong risk of heart disease. Persistent regular body contact and other nurturing acts by parents produce a constant, elevated level of oxytocin in the infant, which in turn provides a valuable reduction in the infant's stress-hormone responses, and the resulting high or low level of oxytocin will control the permanent organization of the stress-handling portion of the baby's brain -- promoting lasting "securely attached" or "insecure" characteristics in the adolescent and adult. (Insecure characteristics include anti-social behavior, aggression, difficulty forming lasting bonds with a mate, mental illness, and poor handling of stress). When an infant does not receive regular oxytocin-producing responsive care, babies can develop permanent brain changes that lead to elevated responses to stress throughout life, such as higher blood pressure and heart rate. It has also been shown that a live-in father's oxytocin levels rise toward the end of his mate's pregnancy. When the father spends significant amounts of time in contact with his infant, oxytocin encourages him to become more involved in the ongoing care in a self-perpetuating cycle. Oxytocin in the father also increases his interest in physical (not necessarily sexual) contact with the mother, encouraging the father to become more interested in being a devoted and satisfied part of the family picture –all through his involvement with the baby.
Vasopressin & Protection Although present and active during bonding in the mother and infant, vasopressin plays a much bigger role in the father. This hormone promotes brain reorganization toward paternal behaviors when the male is cohabitating with the pregnant mother. The father becomes more dedicated to his mate and expresses behaviors of protection. Released in response to nearness and touch, vasopressin promotes bonding between
the father and the mother, helps the father recognize and bond to his baby, and makes him want to be part of the family, rather than alone. It has gained a reputation as the "monogamy hormone." Dr. Theresa Crenshaw, author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust, says, "Testosterone wants to prowl, vasopressin wants to stay home." She also describes vasopressin as tempering the man's sexual drive (not sexual functioning).
healthy mother and baby. You can foster healthy development by supporting your wife as she becomes a new mother and by providing frequent skin-to-skin contact, holding, and facial cues for your baby. Play, smile, soothe, cuddle, bathe, and rock. Even if you feel new or clumsy as a new father, all your efforts will help you to become a better father, and contribute to the healthy development of your child.
Vasopressin reinforces the father's testosterone-promoted protective inclination regarding his mate and child, but tempers his aggression, making him more reasonable and less extreme. By promoting more rational and less capricious thinking, this hormone induces a sensible paternal role, providing stability as well as vigilance.
Fathers, you are so important for healthy families. Thank you for all that you do!
Prolactin & Behavior Prolactin is released in all healthy people during sleep, helping to maintain reproductive organs and immune function. Prolactin promotes care giving behaviors and, over time, directs brain reorganization to favor these behaviors. Father's prolactin levels begin to elevate during mother's pregnancy, but most of the rise in the male occurs after many days of cohabitation with the infant. As a result of hormonally orchestrated brain reorganization during parenthood, prolactin release patterns are altered. It has been shown that fathers release prolactin in response to intruder threats, whereas childless males do not. Elevated prolactin levels in both the nursing mother and the involved father cause some reduction in their testosterone levels as well, which in turn reduces their libidos (but not their sexual functioning). Their fertility can be reduced for a time as well. This reduction in sexual activity and fertility is entirely by design for the benefit of the infant, allowing for ample parental attention and energy. When the father is intimately involved with the infant along with the mother, there should be some accord between the desires of the two, and oxytocin and other chemicals provide for heightened bonding and nonsexual interest in each other, which serves to retain a second devoted caretaker for the infant.
Fatherhood Fathers, you are already essential to a
Sarah Paksima
Sarah Paksima is a Board Member of BirthKuwait and a Doula, Childbirth Educator.
BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait
June, 2014
Soccer Available online on Pinterest.com
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occer is a moderately intense type of sports that requires the elite athletes to perform their best in order to outcompete their opponent. To perform well, optimum nutrition becomes crucial in supporting the athletes’ performance, training and recovery period. What are the nutritional requirements for soccer players? How much and what do they need to consume on the daily basis? Eating with a purpose, and also with enjoyment--that’s what nutrition for soccer is all about! Good food is not only one of life’s pleasures; it is also a powerful tool for helping you to be a better soccer player. Eating the right foods at the right times can help you train at your best so you can then compete at your best. General nutrition guidelines: Energy: relatively high energy expenditure sport Carbohydrate: 6g/kg/day; 8-10 /kg/day during training and competition Protein 1.4-1.7g/kg/day Fat: remainder of Kcal with an emphasis on heart-healthy fats Energy intake Energy expenditure is high in training and games. A 75-kg male soccer player may expend more than 1,500 kcal in a game. Many players, both males and females do not consume an adequate energy intake and this can lead to early onset of fatigue and poor nutrient intake. Calculating your calorie needs To estimate your resting metabolic rate (RMR) that is the amount of calories you need to simply breathe, pump blood and
Zain Al Abdeen Qasem
Community & Clinical Dietitian at Diet Care Zain holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Jordan University of Science and Technology and completed his internship at Jordan University Hospital. He also has a certificate in HACCP. Zain offers a wide range of services at Diet Care such as wellness, weight management, sport nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs; personalized for each and every client needs and wants.
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live. Multiply your weight by 10 calories per pound (or 22 calories per kilogram). Add more calories for daily activity apart from your training and other purposeful exercise.
•50% X RMR if you are moderately active throughout the day. •30-40% if you are sedentary. •60-70% if you are very active. To lose weight target 80% to 90% of total calorie needed. So what does a soccer player eat? Breakfast:cold cereals, oatmeal and other hot cereals, bagels, english muffins, pancakes, french toast with syrup, jam, honey, and fruit juice. Lunch: sandwiches (with the bread being the "meat " of the sandwich), fruit, thickcrust, pizza, hearty broth-based soups with noodles or rice. Dinner:pasta, potato, or rice entrées; veggies, breads, juice, fruit. Snacks:flavored yogurt, pretzels, crackers, fig bars, frozen yogurt, dry cereal, energy bars, simple biscuit-type cookies, animal crackers, canned and fresh fruits, juice. Fluid intake: Players should consume fluid early and at regular intervals during the game. Needs are especially high in hot ,humid conditions, carbohydrate/electrolyte solutions been beneficial during the game. Water or sport drinks? Water is an adequate fluid replacer during soccer sessions that less than 60 minutes. Particularly if you have fueled-up with a pre-exercise snack. Sport drinks are helpful during training sessions and games that last longer than 60 to 90 minutes or on multiple game days; they replace both water and some carbohydrates. On the long run, balanced dietary habits must be emphasized for soccer players. As discussed above, proper energy, carbohydrates along with fluid intake are essential for the players to succeed on the field. If a player does not have a healthy diet, they will not be able to train as hard, And will be more susceptible to tiredness. Thus, NUTRITION is one of the most important components for optimal performance.
“Therapy?” But my child is still young! FSRI Counselor presents what parents need to know about child therapy and a guide for effective treatment Parents often find it difficult to accept that their child requires therapy because of behavioural problems or difficulties in learning, especially when this is recommended by the school or a professional party. “We associate the idea of therapy with a mistake that we as parents could have committed, or an issue that can’t be solved. This is why parents become defensive to the idea that their child needs therapy,” explains Resha Erheim, M.Ed., Bilingual Counselor at Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), Kuwait’s not-forprofit multidisciplinary physical and cognitive rehabilitation center for children and adults. Erheim adds, “It is important for parents to accept that therapy is a step to finding a solution to what is affecting their child. This is the first step towards their child’s wellbeing”. Parents then have a primordial role to play during their child’s treatment. “They become co-therapists during the process,” says Erheim.
Erheim lays out four steps parents can help their child get a more effective treatment. Step 1: Collaborate with the therapist during the therapy While parents can have strong opinions to what their child needs, it is important to consider therapy as a collaborative effort between parents and the therapist, where everyone works as a team. Research has shown that parental involvement in a child’s treatment improves the efficacy of therapy. “Cooperation and support is a critical aspect to the success of treatment. Together with the therapist, the best way to support the overall treatment of the child is to set and define the roles and responsibilities of each parent at home”, says Erheim. Step 2: Build a mutually trusting relationship with the therapist Erheim says, “A therapist’s aim is to help the child, and also to guide parents in helping their child, not to take sides with the school Resha Erheim Resha Erheim (B.A., M.Ed., C.C.C.) is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Counselling from University of Ottawa, Canada, and has completed an honors Bachelor degree in psychology from York University in Toronto. Erheim provides counseling services to children, adults and couples. Her counseling experience lies in short-term counseling, crisis intervention and group counseling, working with cases from depression, addiction, anger, marital/relationship problems, grief, trauma, self-esteem issues, and others. Erheim speaks both Arabic and English
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or any professional party.” When a child starts the therapy process, parents must prioritize sharing their concerns, thoughts and daily routine. “Information like this is essential to building the treatment plan, and parents should be comfortable in knowing they will not be judged for their role as a parent. The key is to trust the therapy process and the therapist, it may take time, but it will definitely take a lot of effort,” adds Erheim. Sharing concerns also includes discussing issues or a miscommunication without casting blame, and, together with the therapist, place solutions. Step 3:Focus on supporting your child’s therapy process outside the planned sessions Therapy sessions are effective faster when parents set a routine at home, give psychological support, and provide a stable environment as a whole. “Establish a routine at home, then note your child’s responses and involve the therapist in the process. In addition, encourage mutual respect in communication with your child and avoid “you” statements that blame the child for misbehaving, and instead use “I” statements to show the child the correct behaviour and guide them through the change. Parents are also encouraged to model the behaviour they want their child to adopt.
“You are your child’s first and most important teacher. If you want a polite, self-managed child, you must be a well-mannered and self-regulated person yourself,” says Erheim. Therapists encourage parents to increase positive interaction with their child, for example by offering praise when the child does well, and also by paying positive attention to the child and spending quality time in engaging activities. Step 4: Be open to the therapist’s suggestions for new parenting skills No parent wants to be told what to do. When a therapist brings along suggestions, parents need to listen first, without defensiveness or counter arguments. This point supports the trust that has been built with the therapist. Erheim says, “Don’t misinterpret a therapist’s suggestions, they are not here to undermine your role as parents. On the contrary, accept the feedback with openness and flexibility knowing that the intent is to improve your child’s behavior. Give suggestions a try, as they may often yield good results.” “Parenting can be stressful, and you need the support too. Allocate time for yourself to do things you enjoy, or partake in your own supportive counseling as well. Sometimes parents’ personal issues shadow and affect their child’s behaviour”, concludes Erheim.
June, 2014
Getting Creative with the 3 “R”s
Available online on Pinterest.com
by: Paul Turnbridge
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or many years, the 3 “R”s were the basics taught in schools – Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. (It always did seem a little contrived, but the concept worked). Moving forwards a few years, and with ever-increasing concerns over misuse of the earth’s precious resources, the 3 “R”s have been transformed into more ecolologically-conscious terminology – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. It all seems fairly straightforward and quite sensible, of course. Reducing consumption of certain products can reduce wastage, costs of disposal, and the need to over-manufacture. Just one example of this is the never-ending supply of carrier bags provided free-of-charge by supermarkets. I fail to understand why, when visiting any of the supermarkets in Kuwait, I have my shopping packed into two hundred separate carrier bags, when I could have managed with just ten – of course I exaggerate, but you get the point. The idea of supermarkets providing re-useable carrier bags, and even heavy-duty plastic baskets, as has become the norm in many Western European countries, has not yet reached these shores and I must confess that, rather than taking the initiative to supply my own reuseable carriers for my shopping expeditions, I succumb to this wasteful use of bags as much as the next shopper in the checkout queue! Reusing products can have the same effects as reducing consumption, and of course by reusing things will naturally reduce consumption in any case. I have already touched on the idea of using reuseable carriers for shopping, but there are many more products that can be used more than once. Let’s take plastic water bottles as a prime example here – would it not make sense to refill the small bottle you carry everywhere with you in the summer heat, rather than to keep buying new bottles and throwing them away once empty? We have become a throwaway society, where it has become too easy to simply discard items 46
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when they no longer have a prime use for us. Which brings me neatly to a 4th “R” that is so often forgotten – “Repair”. So often, when electrical and mechanical appliances go wrong, we are told that is it easier and cheaper to simply discard the old and buy a replacement, than it is to repair. Whilst my mother used to darn socks to prolong their effective use, such thrift is a rare commodity in modern times, in which we simply throw away and buy new! And so we reach what, for me, is the most exciting of the “R”s. Whilst Reducing and Reusing are both practical and sensible, they are also quite boring and do not set the pulse racing. But “Recycling” is where it gets fun; it provides an opportunity to get creative! In simple terms, recycling means taking something and giving it a whole new purpose. Avid gardeners amongst you will doubtless be brimming with ideas for quirky and stylish plant pots – why not grow seasonal flowers in a pair of old boots? Or bring on seedlings in empty, washed food tins? What about using shredded newspaper as a mulch?
There are countless ideas that have already been successfully executed, and a lot of websites exist to pass these on – I shall list just three of these at the end of this article. Of course, you will likely find some fun ideas from the Internet that you will want to copy for yourself, but the real fun will be to think “outside the box” for yourself and create your own recycled object. Why not set yourself a challenge to create something useful yet unique? (And then tell us all about it?!) So, check out one or more of the following and get your own creative juices flowing….. www.facebook.com/1millionrecyclingideas www.pinterest.com/styleitchic/recyclingideas www.scoop.it/t/recycling-ideas And over to you … now it’s your turn to have fun and get inventive!
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The Professionals in Optics and Hearing Care - Sharq
- Kuwait City
Urban Desert Living with a Green Twist
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ustainability advocates and the plethora of labels this civilization conjured toward people concerned about our natural balance: are just as selfish and greedy as their capitalist driven counterparts. The difference is the latter has a self-imposed ignorant notion that the world's resources are infinite while history and science has shown the opposite to be true with undeniable clarity. We all have seen this to be true with our own eyes and in our measly lifetime, if not, a simple question to the previous generation is proof 48
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of the drastic changes the world’s resources, diversity and miracles of bioengineering has endured. This change is universal and is not limited to a certain environment. Nations and borders have nurtured the illusion of independence but the simple fact is we have one world, one planet. A local urban legend that Kuwaiti Zubaidi (silver pomfret) is better than Iranian Zubaidi, When the fact is the only difference is handling and time shipments wait at the border control effecting quality, they are otherwise exact in every way.
Our children will inherit what we give them so, I for one am greedy for the ability to hand down a sustainable world; I do not want generations to come to see me as the stupid generation that had a chance but did not act. I am not worried about earth as a planet; it has proven itself to handle mass extinction only to jump back up better than ever as it balances the systems that are in place. Granted it takes thousands of years but if you compare that to the earth’s age, a very small part. My main concern is humans living in a stable sustaining world, as I am sure you are. In this series, we will use human greed as positive driving force towards a better tomorrow and a great today too.
Living in Kuwait and battling our environment to grow my own food taught me to befriend it rather than force what is otherwise not natural. We have extreme seasons but have a stability in where we dwell. So, I started growing indoors during the summer rather than outdoors, this proved to be sustainable and carbon saving on the long run. Controlled environments have the benefit of consistent growth and production. You will be saving the world resources by growing your own instead of relying on imports. In addition to the exclusivity of having the best fresh teas, garnishes, spices and ingredients a scissor away from your kitchen. The security of knowing that the herbs you use only have the best ingredient in to have the best out in an immature food regulation locale.
Now, are you green greedy enough to grow your own herbs in the comfort of your kitchen?
Recipe for the micro Kitchen herb Farm nA daylight source – use 6500K (cool white cfl bulbs) or a bright window (note: most of Kuwait's homes are fitted with tinted 80-90% windows so windowsill light is not enough to sustain growth). nYour choice of herbs - some herbs thrive outdoors like rosemary, sage and other. For your indoor garden, choose herbs that would not like stevia raubidina (sugar plant) the chive family, honey sage, lemon verbena or any you like that can't survive our summer heat.
Chocolate Mint
nA good preferably organic liquid plant food or potting mix.
Thyme
nDecorative porous ceramic pots nScissors nPatience and tender loving care.
Creeping Rosemary
Make your own or buy ready made potting soil
Available online on Pinterest.com
Choose porous ceramic pots June, 2014
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Ramadan and Nutrition
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ith the holy month of Ramadan coming up , hydration and nutrition are of key importance. The human body is adaptive, it will adapt to whatever you put it through, but what needs to be kept in mind is that although your body stores nutrients, it will eventually run out. The body is like a machine that needs to be fueled regularly. There are a few things that I believe need to be kept in mind during this month. When breaking your fast, please think about what you’re eating. I know it’s extremely tempting when you sit on the table with all that food and you haven’t eaten all day. But remember, you haven’t eaten all day, do you really want to shock your system by eating nonstop from the moment you break your fast
Maha AlRashed
Maha AlRashed is a CHEK Certified Exercise Coach and a regular contributor for CityPages magazine.
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until the moment you go to sleep? I doubt that your body can handle that for an entire month. Ideally, a person would break his fast by having a few dates (to bring their sugar levels up), and some water; once you’ve done that, take a few minutes and let that feeling sink in. Then move on to your soups and salads and if you have waited 20 minutes after breaking your fast, then that would be more than enough of a meal for you. Perhaps a few hours later you will realize that you are still a little hungry, you can go ahead and start with all the main course foods. Switching to a grazing diet would be the way to go, eat small meals more regularly rather than indulging in one large meal a day and moving straight to the caffeinated drinks and sugar loading. Just because you are fasting it doesn’t mean that you should neglect your healthy lifestyle. In fact, I believe that your healthy lifestyle should be maintained throughout the month in order for you to deal with the heat and lack of food more easily. May this coming month be one of great blessings for you, just remember to stay healthy!
Available online on Pinterest.com
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Traveling this summer? These holiday fit tips will keep you looking beach-body beautiful right through to the end
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t’s 4am on a blisteringly cold Tuesday morning in good ol' London town and for someone who should be partying like it’s 1999 as I’m on holiday with the family, I’m trying my best to eat my oats and whey protein in the quietest manner possible so as to not wake up the rest of my family. Yes, you heard me. 4am. Oats and whey. Why? To fuel myself for my 6am gym workout as the rest of my day will be spent traipsing around Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge whilst endearingly irritating my poor mother. The last 8 days of my vacay has pretty much run along to a similar tune. I’m awake several hours before the rest of my family to get my workout sorted before joining in on the family festivities. As the French say; vouloir, c’est pouvoir, or in plain English, where there’s a will, there’s a way. According to an article published on Gulfnews.com, Kuwaitis spent approximately USD$5.2 billion in 2013 on their summer vacations. That’s a lot of travel for a little country. As summer 2014 looms around the corner, there’s no reason why your fitness routine Reshmi Revi Certified Professional Trainer
Reshmi Revi is the Deputy General Manager for MultiWorks Personal Training. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and passionate about fitness! Follow her on Instagram @Q8MissFit
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should go on leave too. I usually would advise be deemed cardiovascular-worthy. Hence my clients to enjoy their vacation whilst still go for a swim, take a jog in the park, rent a being semi-active. This ensures: kayak, try out that complimentary fencing class or abseil in that leisure center that has -that they don’t lose all their fitness and the awesome climbing wall. Just be active. health gains after months of hard work and And if you don’t want to do it alone, bring a healthy eating. friend with you. #funinnumbers -that they’re still mindful of their food consumption while abroad (hey, I’m pretty sure one would feel less guilty eating that donut knowing they got a good workout earlier on that morning).
Light at night
Over the years, I’ve taught myself to eat clean. Hence none of them fried, greasy, cheesy or overly sweet stuff. 5 meals a day, a protein component in every meal and depending -that they don’t have to start back from on the time of the day and the timing of my square one, post-holiday. workouts, I will also cycle my starchy carbs Here are a couple of fit holiday tips that will and good fats. see you active and tummy trim! However when I’m on holiday, I’m a bit more relaxed with my food consumption. If I want KISS (Keep It Short and Sweet) to eat a burger or try that cheesecake for You’re on holiday hence I’m not asking you example, I most definitely will. The difference to live at the gym while on vacay. Keep your is that I will ensure that whatever I’m having workouts short but high on the intensity is eaten before 6pm just so that my body has factor. A non-stop circuit for 40-45minutes ample time to break it down and hopefully would suffice. When I’m abroad, I like doing burn it. Seeing I’m also a bit of a nutrition killing but short circuits that focuses on my narcissist, I’ll treat myself to this once every peripheral heart action or PHA. Circuits that couple of days. For meals after 6pm, I make are PHA-based can be physically demanding sure I’m getting a good hearty portion of and are big calorie burners. PHA training protein be it grilled steak, fish or chicken, lots basically sees one alternating upper and of green veggies and salads with very light lower body exercises. For example a superset dressing and ample water to stay hydrated. (so non-stop) of squats (lower body), bench presses (upper body), deadlifts (lower body), Happily ever after pull-ups (upper body) and burpees (upper The most important aspect of your holiday is and lower). See what I mean? that you should have fun and enjoy yourself. If you’re finding it challenging eating clean or Take a hike, buddy! working out during your trip or if it’s making If you don’t plan on stepping foot in the you unhappy then khalas, don’t be overly gym while on vacay, try participating in an strict or too hard on yourself. Scale it back. activity of some sort. Walking around is great For my new clients, I usually tell them to try however you need to partake in an activity out one activity for example every 4-5 days where your heart rate is elevated for it to and to keep their dinners light.
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Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi
Helping People Achieve Their Fitness Targets Through Pilates Being fit and healthy is all the rage these days and for good reason. Science continues to provide conclusive evidence in support of exercise and its many benefits to your long and short-term well being. As such, people of all ages are looking for direction on what exactly they should be doing to make the most of their time at the gym. Making a decision to get fit and healthy is the easy part. The hard bit comes in actually doing the exercise and sticking to it. If only working out was as easy as finding the excuses not to do any. This is where Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi; a certified fitness instructor, certified nutritionist for exercise and certified STOTT PILATES instructor, comes in. She is also the owner of Fitnessity – health and fitness studio. Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi enjoys passing on the skills she has learnt to benefit others. She is passionate about exercise, sports and seeing people achieve their fitness targets. CityPages recently sat down with Khadijah for an exclusive interview. Read on to know more about this busy mom, entrepreneur and fitness star.
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share? No weaknesses, I always struggle to balance between work and family and both are dear to me.
When things get difficult how do you stay motivated? I look for new courses in London to escape the hectic routine life in Kuwait, though the trip itself gets hectic. I lived in London for 8 years and London is the city that inspires me. However, I am attached to my children so my trips cannot be longer than ten days.
What has been your most proud moment? When my children excel in sports. I am also usually very proud of my children when I return home from a busy day and see them completing their school work independently as they feel responsible towards school work.
The 3 Keys to success according to you:
Please introduce yourself to our and with a valid license to teach sports but I could not find this in Kuwait. Therefore, readers: Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi. I am a certified fitness instructor, certified STOTT PILATES instructor; the only certified STOTT PILATES instructor in Kuwait, a certified nutritionist for exercise and a wife and mother of three.
Tell us about your education: I have graduated with double majors in Political Science and Communications from the Richmond-The American International University in London. I then continued my study in London to become a fitness instructor. I am a certified fitness instructor (zumba, aerobics, spinning, weight lifting, kettlebells, circuit training), certified STOTT PILATES instructor, and certified nutritionist for exercise; I write food diaries for a healthy weight and better health; designed for healthy individuals.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to your current role/job? Was it always your dream career? All my life, my parents always included sports in our lives. Whether it was basket ball, squash, ballet, swimming, horse riding, or ice skating, our days always included sports. We lived in London for 8 years and no matter what the circumstances were, I was very active in sports. When I moved to Kuwait, it was very hard for me to find a health club or a gym of similar standards as in UK. In many parts of the world, the fitness instructor is certified 56
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I decided to study health and fitness even though I had a lot in my plate; I was married, a mother of two young children, and I had a full time job at Wataniya Telecom working under the directions of General Manager. When the work load increased, I decided to resign from Wataniya Telecom to focus on my passions i.e. sports and studying health and fitness. I had to travel for training courses to London and Dubai and sit exams too.
Now that you are so busy, how do you manage your time? Do you have an average day? I work 7 to 10 hours daily, except for weekends. I taught my children to do their homework without the help of us; the mom and the dad. However, the most important time for me with my children is during bed time. I make sure to be at home most nights to read books to my children, to talk to them and to put them to sleep. I guess, it’s time management from my side and of course, I cannot do all without the help of my beloved nanny and a housekeeper.
Your biggest strength:
-Passion (I love what I do, and I believe in it.) -Hard work -The support of my husband, my family, and the support of the members of Fitnessity; my health and fitness studio
The most inspiring woman according to you: My mother. My mother shaped my personality. My mother always filled our days with sports. I also have lovely memories of my mother in the kitchen every day either baking, or preparing healthy and fresh food for me and my siblings, even though she was working full time. My mother taught me at a very young age, to be responsible, and to always have something useful to do.
Your favourite quote: “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”
Your biggest achievement so far: Having Fitnessity - health and fitness studio and my children’s love for sports.
What would you like to achieve further? I want to continue my education in health and fitness, and to expand.
Your biggest fear: Loss, but my faith in God is strong.
My strength... I am determined.
Your weakness or have you made any mistakes along the way that you can
Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
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Eat Healthy this Ramadan
Available online on Pinterest.com Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sanaa holds Masters of Clinical Dietetics from University of Queensland, Australia and is a Clinical dietitian at Hadi Hospital. Sanaa is a also a blogger and very active on Instagram. Read more from Sanaa at: Blog: www.fit-n-fancy.com , Instagram: Sanaa_dietitian
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F
asting during the month of Ramadan is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that benefits us in many ways. A fasting person learns to appreciate the value of food as well as learns to have discipline in his/her life. Fasting is known to improve one’s health, but at the same time has the potential to worsen your health if not followed correctly. It is advisable that a person who has been fasting should still eat mindfully during nonfasting hours or upon opening the fast, which
involves paying attention to the quantity and quality (type) of food. Since your daily intake during the month of Ramadan is limited around 2 main meals per day (plus snacks), it is vital you put efforts to incorporate foods from all food groups. nBreads, cereals and other grain products (Choose Complex Carbohydrates) nFruits
and Vegetables
cheese and yoghurt
/ Sugar
feast. 1.Following the Prophets traditions, open your fast with 2 – 3 dates and a glass of water. This will provide you with the muchneeded instant burst of energy along with hydration. 2.You may follow this up with a bowl of lentil/ bean soup. Dinner: Ideally once you have opened your fast and performed prayers you may then eat dinner. This will give you approximately 10 – 15 minutes from the time you opened your fast to when you start eating dinner. Again do not treat this meal as a feast.
Guide to Eating during Ramadan Divide your food intake into two meals and two snacks in between and after. Suhoor (the pre- dawn meal); Iftaar (the evening snack which breaks the day’s fast); followed by Dinner. Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal should be a healthy balanced meal that will keep you full for longer and also provide enough energy during the fasting hours. Include the following: 1.Complex carbohydrates which are rich in fiber. These foods are slow-digesting food (Low GI) which help maintain normal blood sugar and satisfies your appetite without piling on excess calories. Examples: Pita bread, Oats, Multigrain / wholegrain breads and cereal, Natural Museli, Barley, Brown or Basmati Rice, Quinoa, beans and lentils. 2.Include a serve of protein in this meal which also helps your stomach feel satisfied. Examples of a serve of protein source include 65g cooked lean meats such as beef or lamb, 80g cooked lean chicken, 100 gram cooked fish fillet, 1 – 2 eggs; If Alternatives to meat sources (if you are vegetarian) includes handful (~30g) of nuts and seeds, almond butter, peanut butter, tahini , 1 cup (150g) cooked lentils or beans, 1 cup Low fat milk / yoghurt or 30g cheese. 3.Just like a breakfast, this meal should be your largest meal. Iftar: The meal which break’s the day’s fast. Treat this as a moderate snack and not a
1.Follow the healthy plate model: ½ plate covered with vegetables/salad; ¼ carbohydrates (e.g rice, pasta, and sweet potato) and ¼ with protein rich food (e.g. chicken, lamb, fish, lentils, and beef) 2.Eat slowly and chew very well which will help you pace yourself. It is a common practice to eat large amounts of food quickly after long day of fasting, but remember this is where you need to be mindful of the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose to eat. Eating slowly will also give your stomach the time to relay the message to your brain saying it is full. 3.Pay attention to the cooking method. Avoid deep frying, frying or using excessive oil while cooking your meal. Choose to grilling, bake, boil, steam or stir fry your meal. 4.Instead of treating yourself with sweets that are high in sugar and fat, opt for a piece of fruit first. If you are still craving something sweet, stick to a small portion. Snack: It is natural to feel hungry within couple of hours after dinner. It is important to make healthy choices by again sticking to the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose. Below are a few ideas 1. Low fat yoghurt ( 150 – 200g) 2.Fruit smoothie with 1 teaspoon of chia seed 3.Ricotta or cottage cheese with cucumber or baby carrots 4.¼ cup hummus with baby carrots or celery sticks 5. 1 cup low fat milk 6.Handful of nuts
During the whole month of Ramadan Do 1.Drink as much water as possible 8 to 12 cups. ( I also tend to drink barley water) 2.Walk for 30 minutes a day. If you want to walk after iftaar, wait 1 – 2 hours after your meal before engaging in physical activity. 3.Incorporate foods that are mentioned in the Holy Quran and as Prophetic traditions as these also correspond to modern healthy eating guidelines. These include milk, dates, lamb (lean), oats, fruits & vegetables such as olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes as well as pulses such as lentils.
During the whole month of Ramadan Avoid 1.Fried/fatty foods and food high in refined sugar such as french fries, traditional sweets and pastries and fried snacks. These food are empty calorie food which are high in calories and are nutrient deficient. These foods also increase sluggishness and fatigue during Ramadan. 2.Sleeping immediately after iftar and ideally after suhoor if possible, wait for 1 -2 hour before sleeping to allow your food to digest. 3.Avoid caffeine based drinks such tea, coffee or cola during sahoor and iftaar. These drinks are diuretics which will make increase water loss through urination. This in turn can potentially cause dehydration during your fasting hours. Avoid drinking tea at sahoor and right after iftaar as it can potentially interfere with valuable nutrient absorption such as iron. 4. Overeating at either sahoor or iftaar if you want to experience health benefits of fasting and prevent gaining excess weight.
Ramadan Kareem!
7. 1 – 2 pieces of fresh fruit 8. Whole-grain tuna/salad sandwich
June, 2014
Champion of a 110 goals for Kuwait
Available online on Pinterest.com
W
hen my Editor in Chief sent me the brief that I would be visiting the museum and interviewing Jassim Yaqoob at his home the name rang familiar, I wondered for a couple of days if it would be the Jassim whom I know to be the Kuwaiti soccer legend. So I arrived at his house and was greeted by his son, I thought to myself Kinda, you really need to start getting the names of people right. The brief was to take a tour of “a museum at Jassim Yaqoubs home� so I assumed that I would be interviewing an art collector by the same name. But when I came down the stairs and walked into the basement I was pleasantly surprised to see that it indeed WAS no other than our beloved soccer legend standing there to greet me. As it turns out, Jassim and his son set up a museum of all the memorabilia related to his years in football in the basement of their large home, and what a treasure trove 60
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it is! The tour was incredibly exciting and brought chills to my spine. His trophies, his gold plated soccer shoes, pictures and accolades fill the walls with Kuwaiti history, of wonderful days gone by which only a few of us had the pleasure to experience. For all of you who don’t know, Jassim Yaqoub is a Kuwaiti first soccer player who played in the FIFA World Cup in 1982, scoring some of the most memorable goals for the Kuwaiti team. He has played against legends, and cohorted with the international soccer greats. He was born in 1952 in Kuwait, and played from his days as a young boy, but contrary to what his other football mates did which was to move on to holding down day jobs, he continued with the sport eventually playing professionally with the Kuwait soccer team which in those days, was heavily backed by the ruling family and sport enthusiasts. He enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the sport, and raised Kuwait’s profile exponentially, still leaving an indelible mark on the sport of soccer even after all these years. Jassim is now retired, however is in the process of further curating his museum which everyone must have the chance to see at least once, for not only is his museum about his career in football, but also recorded moments from Kuwait past that will forever live on in his home, and provides history automatically saved and preserved for the future generations of youth. 62
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Anyone whose dream it is to one day represent Kuwait on the worldwide arena of soccer should try to catch a glimpse of the myriad trophies, rewards and accolades that Mr. Yaqoub earned. They may be the driver behind the decision of one or two hopefuls to follow a natural calling toward the sport. When asked, his advice is to always carry on with your calling, to persevere and not think of the consequences but rather the rewards. For us at CityPages this interview has to be one of the most memorable, and I am proud and honored to have met this superhuman by the name of Jassim Yaqoub.
To find out how to visit the museum, contact us at CityPages. June, 2014
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don’t think I say this enough: I am blessed to have the parents I have. I know it’s Fathers Day this month, but I would like to show my appreciation for both of my parents. They are occasionally a packaged deal but what I love the most about them is their ability to completely remain their own person and hold their own ground with their own freedom. I’m an only child, which automatically means “selfish” to most people unless you’ve met my mother. She taught me diligence pays off and that nothing in life comes without effort. She has made me earn everything that I have wanted in life –and rightfully so. She has been a true matriarch taking in her mother to live with us and also being the main caretaker of my other grandmother. My father taught me how to be patient and loving. He, as an agriculturalist and also the first person to grow strawberries in Kuwait (how cool?!), understands that to grow, one must provide living beings with time and energy. My parents provided a nurturing environment, watering the seed they planted, and always pushed me to do my best. One of the best things they have ever done for me was letting me make my own decisions. When I chose to hold onto my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian and was met with ridicule, they stood by my side the entire time. When I was having issues with funding from the Ministry of Higher Education for veterinary school, my mother started working again after twenty-five years of not working (and she is rocking her job – boss lady!) to help my father fund my goal. My father spends countless days chasing ghosts at ministries in order to get my paperwork well… in order. What I love the most about them is that they are great parents: they are strict but they are also capable of having fun. Seeing photos of them when they
were younger, I always think of how I would’ve loved to be their best friend (I also see how similar we are). But even now! We have an iMessage group chat peppered with witty banter that always puts a smile on my face. They send me photos of themselves hanging out with their friends, of things they see that are interesting, things they read, and they are always laughing. They are constantly the center of attention when I invite my friends over. To me, they have evolved from authority figures to best friends who I can trust with my dreams, darkest thoughts, insecurities, and secrets and would never judge me but will always want the best for me. It wasn’t always this easy, we have had our fair share of rough times, but finding effective modes of communication and listening instead of just hearing has helped. Instead of attacking the other person with “you did this” we talk about how actions made us feel. Exposing your truths to the people you place upon pedestals (and vice versa) is as nerve wrecking as a high rise tight rope walk: you don’t know if you will fall but if you get to the other side (and you will) it’s worth it. I am eternally grateful for them. I don’t think I tell them this enough but I love them and without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I attribute everything to their auras and upbringing and I am forever indebted to them. Their capacity to openly and unconditionally love anyone who walks into their life is an inspiration. I am constantly bathed in their adoration and respect, which is centering and motivating and coaxes me to blossom. But I mean, look how awesome and quirky we are! (Two separate graduation photos: one was highschool graduation, the other was my bachelors graduation, and hopefully the third will be in 2016!)
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Rio De Janeiro Where to Stay
From Marilyn Monroe to Nelson Mandela, Copacabana Palace Hotel have been welcoming the rich and famous since 1923. Overlooking the Copacabana beach, the hotel offers 245 rooms traditionally decorated, with original artworks, three luxurious categories of suites. Choose between the pool ocean view suite, the avenue city view suites, or deluxe one-bedroom suites. Discover the glamorous penthouse suites with a private terrace, the finest view and an exclusive use of a private swimming pool and bar. Close to Arpoador and Ipanema beaches, Hotel Fasano has become one of the most stylish and luxurious hotels of South America, with elegant interior, a white marble pool on the roof, an Italian restaurant and a private beach, it’s the perfect getaway. Popping-up for one year only, from January to December 2014, The Guesthouse Maria Santa Teresa has only six rooms. With bossa nova and barbecues around the pool, DJs and musicians from all over the world, Maria Santa Teresa has big ambitions for its yearlong series of events.
With the world cup approaching, Rio is definitely where you want to be!
Beaches
Famous Copacabana extends for 4.5km along Rio's coast. Ipanema is Rio's richest and chicest beach. Other popular beaches within and near the city include Pepino, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Arpoador.
What to See FAVELAS Travellers are increasingly paying visits to the hillside slums known as favelas. Rio has 600 of these; they are picturesque at night, and fascinating. FOOTBALL Do not miss a guided visit to one of the big matches at Maracanã Stadium. CARNIVAL Dance the night away to the samba! The fabulous carnival takes place in February, but don’t despair! Rio is always up to dance. Nights of beauty, fun and dance are waiting for you all year long. CORCOVADO From Corcovado, you will be spoilt for breathtaking views. Head to the top of Corcovado, the 750m mountain peak home to the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Rio de Janeiro. From here you will see that Rio is divided into two zones, norte (north) and sul (south).
What To Do
HANG GLIDING: The Ti’a Moana guarantees an unforgettable experience, sailing around Bora Bora, Taha’a, Raitea and Huahine. ART LOVERS: You can visit the Museu de Arte de Rio, Movimento and the Bhering Factory, abandoned German iron and steel construction now taken over by a flock of artists and divided into workshops
SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN:
At sunset, take the two cable cars which climb 396m above Rio and the Guanabara bay to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Do not Miss
Fly to Iguassu, 1200km away from Rio de Janeiro, and transfer to the only resort located inside Brazil's Iguassu National Park, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. By boat or by helicopter, discover the Iguazu falls and the amazing animals, birds and plants that make this an area of extraordinary biodiversity. Located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu falls are made of more than two hundred single falls.
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Thuraya Al-Baqasami
S
ince her childhood, Award winning Artist and Writer Thuraya Al-Baqasami has been fascinated with the Sheaffer pen. Her dream started with only the wish to have one of her own, but grew into creating a whole new use for the luxurious line of pens. After graduating with a Masters degree from the Arts Institute of Surikov in Moscow, Thuraya went on to win a plethora of awards across the globe including the “Prize for Art Activities” from the European Union of Arts in Prague in 2001, the “Novo Prize” in Hungary in 2010, the “Al Qurain Festival Prize” in Kuwait in 2013 and the “Arab Women Award” in 2014, among many more. Thuraya accomplished her next great achievement as she collaborated with the official distributor of Sheaffer Pens in Kuwait to create an entire collection of artwork using the pens as the only tool. Thuraya AlBaqasami recently sat with CityPages and shared details about the experience and her personal journey with Sheaffer Pens.
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How did you come to know about Sheaffer pens? I came to know about Sheaffer pens from my father, he would always place one in the pocket of his dishdasha. From that moment I wished I would grow up quickly so I could own such a fabulous pen. How did you obtain your first Sheaffer pen? The first time I received a Sheaffer pen was as a prize from the Ministry of Education in Kuwait. In those days Sheaffer pens were given as valuable prizes to outstanding students, by excelling at the subject of art I was able to earn on of these prizes. What were your feelings at that time? It was really amazing. My long time wish was
Available online on Pinterest.com
by: Mohammad Altaf and Chlesha Rhodes
My Journey with Sheaffer Pens Journey with Sheaffer Pens� come about? As I mentioned before, the idea came from How did you get the idea to use Sheaffer Mr. Akeel. He wanted to create an art gallery using writing tools. I found the project very pens in art? interesting so we collaborated and made the Actually, it was Mr. Akeel Behbehani who exhibition happen. came up with the idea to create a gallery of artwork created with writing instruments. It was a great opportunity to explore the artistic How much time did it take to arrange the capabilities of Sheaffer pens. exhibition and how many paintings did you prepare for this exhibition? What quality of this pen made you want I met with Mr. Akeel Behbehani in March 2014 and after that it almost took three to use it in the art? Although Sheaffer pens are used for writing, months to complete and display all the art they are very nice for drawing and sketching pieces. I alone prepared 70 paintings for this as well. They never miss while working exhibition.
fulfilled. I was full of pride and joy.
Europe for a few months and Sheaffer will be accompanying me in every place and the journey will continue. Sheaffer has a wide variety of pens, which one is your favorite? Although all the Sheaffer pens are very good and my favorite, my most favorite of all is the calligraphy set with assorted ink colors.
What is your message for our readers? I would like to encourage the people and private companies to come forward and support artists like Yaqoub Behebhani Company. Most companies support with them and they provide such a smooth sporting events, but I think it's time for more experience. Do you have future plans to continue companies to help and promote the local working with Sheaffer pen? talent so that Kuwait talent can be recognized How did the idea for the exhibition “My Yes I do, in fact I am currently traveling to internationally. June, 2014
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Please describe to us the producing the Sheaffer pens?
factory
Sheaffer produces its instruments at various locations around the world, all under the supervision of Sheaffer employees and ensuring the highest quality standards are followed.
Available online on Pinterest.com
Tell us about your working experience with the Behbehani Group in Kuwait? How did it start and how long has been the association going for?
We are fortunate to have a distributing partner in Kuwait and the professionalism and focus on developing the Sheaffer brand in this market has been excellent. Events such as tonight’s demonstrate a creative vision to highlight what can be achieved with our instruments in the hands of a talented Artist and shows pens are not just for writing. We have been working with Behbehani group since about 2008 and look forward to many more years together. How important is the quality of a pen in the writing process?
Owning a quality instrument allows the user to enjoy both better balance in the hand as well as a smooth writing experience, both of which can only help the writing process. Which are some of your most popular models?
Brian Kenny
International Sales Manager, Sheaffer Pen The Gift Collection is a popular range across the globe as it provides an excellent variety of styles, finishes and price points which appeal to all consumers, for personal use or as a gift. How do you see the future existence of writing instruments during the age of digital technology.
At Sheaffer, we believe that electronic devices and the pen can live side-byside and prosper. Sheaffer although of course a writing instrument, is marketed as ‘The Gift that Matters’. With one hundred years of history behind the brand, a Sheaffer gift (whether for another or for oneself) is timeless. Of course as the needs of our consumers 70
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Over the years the designs have changed to reflect the latest styles, trends, and of course the ever-changing needs of our consumers. As you can imagine, over 100 years we have developed many ranges!.No matter how our designs evolve over the years, however, we endeavour always to remain true to the Sheaffer values of quality and innovation espoused by our founder Walter A. Sheaffer; we continue to incorporate traditional Sheaffer elements, and this can be seen in the current collection. For example, today both the thoroughly modern and architectural Sheaffer How have your designs evolved over the Taranis as well as the more classicyears? What major changes do you see in looking Sheaffer Sagaris have hints of the technique or design in the current day the Sheaffer Triumph, first introduced in models? the 1940s.
and technology evolves, so do our products. For example, Sheaffer now offers a ballpoint with stylus for touchscreen electronic devices as well as a leather tablet case. Beyond adapting our products to modern needs, we believe it is vital to continue to encourage and inspire written expression and communication both in its traditional form and in other creative ways. The works created by Mrs Thuraya Al-Baqsami are an excellent example of this.
ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014 CREATE.SHARE.INSPIRE
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EUSE by EN V. and Zain was repositioned last year from an annual event in which the ARTronauts and BHCK always participated to an ongoing social development program which, includes activities such as art competitions and educational roadshows, workshops, online environmental campaigns and community events. One of the first activities launched, as part of the program was the “REUSE Recycled Art Competition”. Two-hundred and eighty-six students from eight local schools and universities competed with each other to create the best works made entirely out of scrap / recycled materials, and the top 50 pieces were displayed as an exhibit in The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th 2014. Almost 3,000 people voted for their favorite piece on-site, with an estimated 7,000 people engaged at the exhibit by close to 20 volunteers mostly ARTronauts and BHCK students. This year’s REUSE Recycled Art Competition, our first public activity since participating in REUSE as a sustained social program, held as an exhibit at The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th, 2014. Several schools and universities across Kuwait have participated in this exciting competition, including ARTronauts, (BHCK), (KES), (BSK), (UAS), (KAS), (FAIPS), and (AUK). While creating art, students were showcasing the many innovative ways of reusing recyclables. The purpose of the exhibit was to redefine recycling in Kuwait, by reintroducing residents to the importance of waste reduction. A grand prize was to be awarded to the most creative and well-produced exhibited work. The winner(s) will be determined through public voting at the exhibit. 286 entries were made for the REUSE competition by students from eight local schools and universities, but only the top 50 entries were invited to participate in the final stage of the competition, which was held at the Avenues Mall. ARTronauts submitted 5 pieces and BHCK submitted nine pieces created by students as entries for the competition that promotes environmental and social design. The artworks were created from reused or repurposed materials, and
were nominated to participate in REUSE based on a competition held at BHCK in December. The BHCK and ARTronauts, led by Lecturer Roma Soni of the Department of Art and Design and supported by submitted entries created by the following students: Artronauts: Alaa Khalifa Alia Al Qabandi Mohammed Ali Al Zuhaili SLecturer Mr. Constantinos Predaris 1.Amani Talal Al Mutairi “Cocktail Time”: Paper Dress 2.Jumana Waleed Al Mawaizeri Transitional Space – Architectural model 3. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “Butterflies”: Framed work 4. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “The three”: Framed work 5.Sarah Mohammed Hubaidah “Mechanical”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 6.Zeenab Ebrahim Bu-Abbas (4th place) “Floating Pool”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 7.Fatima Sulaiman Hussain Abbas “Traditional Roots”: Transitional Space – Architectural model
TA Ms. Alaa Khalifa 8.Kholoud Khalifa Ghayad Al Dalmani - Paper clock 10. Shouq Jaafar Ali Haidar - Side lamp magazine Lecturer Roma Soni’s 11. Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush “Floral Reflections”: Accessory Lecturer Nessreen’s Students 12. Muneerah Rashed AL-Ajmi Newspaper 13.Ms. Lisa Winstanley - Blue bottles Lecturer Reem Al Zamel Lecturer Deena Al Khazendar Volunteers Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush Yousra Ali Suleiman Shorouq Raheif Haider "This is the third year that ARTronauts and BHCK participated in our REUSE competition, and we have come to count on them as partners in our mission to promote environmental awareness and education in Kuwait," said Elisa Franceschinis, programs director at en.v. "We are always impressed by the creativity of BHCK students as well as by the commitment of their professors.” Way to go ARTronauts! Way to go BHCK! June, 2014
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Rhonda McKenzie Witty, Free-spirited artist bringing imagination to life Art can be defined as many things: expression, creativity, imagination. For Artist Rhonda McKenzie it is not just what appears on a canvas, it is a living entity that moves and feels as the artist does. Since age 5 she has been moved by her artistry, allowing her creative nature to lead her. With music and life as her fuel, Rhonda creates fresh, excitingly unique pieces for all to enjoy. CityPages recently sat with Rhonda McKenzie as she shared details about her creative process, influences, inspiration and much more. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started? I’ve been an artist my whole life! Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of“artist-ness”, art by the age of 5.
Where do you get inspiration? “artist-ness”, art by the age of 5. Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept What is the most challenging part about them and do whatever the idea wants until it being an artist? is completed.
What is the most challenging part about being an artist? Maybe being disciplined.
Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins!
What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led. The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the next step in whatever the idea wants. Either way, I allow the process to do its thing and it lets me know when it is finished—never the other way around.
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Maybe being disciplined. What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led.
The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the How long have you been an artist and next step in whatever the idea wants. Either how did you get started? way, I allow the process to do its thing and it I’ve been an artist my whole life! lets me know when it is finished—never the Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of- other way around.
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Allow whatever it is I am doing to be in charge of the process. When this happens, new ideas are free to present themselves and come thru as pleasant surprises and that is the creative process.
Where do you get inspiration? Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept them and do whatever the idea wants until it is completed. Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins! Music however, is the essential fuel and it’s gotta be loud! For the Heads Up series it was late 60s and 70s rock, Hendrix, Joplin, The Zombies, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Stones, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Bowie—that sort of thing—the whole Woodstock, Hyde Park, Monterey, Pinkpop, Glastonbury, Hair (the musical obviously), music festivals—the whole bare foot in the park with some art deco kind of feeling. What is your workspace like? Bright, open, messy, tidy, colourful, paintbrushes, paints, framed artwork of various sizes, photo samples everywhere, coloured paper, pens, scraps, exacto-knives, ladybugs, toy cars, some sofas, cushions and sometimes a cluttered floor and table during the process. What methods and materials have you 74
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enjoyed working with the most? The simple ‘Drawing with a Black Marker repeatedly Method’. I can do this anytime. I keep a little sketchbook in my handbag and a pen or marker and draw or jot down anything that comes to mind at any time. What would you say is your strongest skill and how have you honed it? Drawing-cartooning-designing and the honing comes from that well known: “A thousand hours of practise”—if it can be measured in such ways. Yeah that and eating. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your work? My parents who are big art and textile collectors, love all kinds of music and are extremely creative, especially my Mum. My parents are interested in EVERYTHING. They encouraged me. How has your style changed over the years? It’s gotten more defined rather than changed in that I have a definite style. It’s my own. I feel free and do it without thinking. What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition? Feeling. When I feel it, then what I’m doing becomes real. It’s not a piece of paper or some lines or a painting, it, the art, the thing it is actually lives, breathes and moves just like the artist did, does and feels. How do you choose the subject of your painting? I rarely if ever do. The subject chooses me. Unless of course I am being commissioned to create something specific but even then, I do not know how the request, the ‘how’, the process will express itself and I like the notknowing. It feels so good. It’s free. How do you keep your ideas fresh?
Do you ever experience creative blocks? I did once a long time ago and I thought I was going mental! No matter what I drew and how hard I tried, it looked all wrong. This went on for over a year I think, maybe 2 years even! Then one day like the jedi, out of nowhere “it” returned. When I think back, I was under a lot of stress and in a totally different environment—maybe that was why I couldn’t perform. Nothing like that has ever happened since. If nothing is happening, if I’m not creating anything new, I know it will. How durable are your finished pieces? Indestructible! Framing is good armour! Do you do anything in particular to seal your art? That’s my newest project, finding the right something to seal a recent project, a series of heads called “Heads Up” where I have worked in a style and with materials that I’ve never worked with before and in order to maintain the bold colours I need to find a spray or some sealant. Otherwise my original art work is kept in direct lighting only when necessary. What’s been your greatest artistic success? That’s an ongoing experience which is any and every time people feel happy or smile when they see my artwork because that’s how I feel when I am creating—exhilarated, happy and free. What’s the last thing that made you say ‘wow’? This magazine, CityPages! And you know that’s the truth. How can our readers see your work or buy? www.rhondamckenzie.wix.com/ramcko [email protected] Tweet me at [email protected] There’s a small collection at Better Books in Salmiya And! They can contact CityPages of course! Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Keep up the funkyfreshcooleclectic scene you call CityPages—love it!
June, 2014
NAT BAKES WITH
A Story of Food, Passion, and Dreams Come True by: Chlesha Rhodes
“When you do something that you love it should never be a task, it should always be a labor of love”, said owner Natalie Van Rooyen, of the new modern yet rustic styled bakery Nat Bakes...With Love, as she shared her awe-inspiring journey into the world of culinary arts.
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ove has always been a key ingredient in Natalie's relationship with food since her childhood. Growing up in her South African home her family never had much, but out of all the hardships she had to endure she can always recall consistently waking up to a house full of wonderfully delicious smells, having a hot scrumptious meal and enjoying a table full of desserts surrounded by loved ones. Now Natalie is passing on that same feeling of love, comfort, and happiness to every guest that walks into the new Nat Bakes...With Love bakery.
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Ever since age 10, when she baked her own birthday cake after encouragement from her mom, Natalie has had an intense passion for baking. “It was a natural talent”, she said as she recalled cooking and baking along side her mom as a child, making cherished family recipes that have been passed on through generations. It was this upbringing that taught Natalie that food is about more than just eating to survive, but about enjoyment, sharing, and of course love. Although food was a very common topic in the Van Rooyen household, Natalie took it a step further to become more knowledgeable and experienced in the art of baking. Despite this fact, she did not immediately pursue it as a career. In the
midst of working for a company whose lifespan was unstable at best, as a hobby Natalie would bake cupcakes for her coworkers who gave her exemplary complements. It wasn't until 2010 that a dear friend and co-worker convinced Natalie that her talent and passion for baking needed to be shared. After the two sat and brainstormed all the wacky name ideas, finally the concept of Nat Bakes...With Love struck a cord, and the vision was born.
beautifully crafted cupcakes are made fresh and moist with a little bit of sassy-humor in every name, like Natalie's favorite Vanilla Vixen and the Raunchy Red Velvet. Beating all the odds, the obstacles, and challenging moments, Natalie and her partner personally invested their time and labor to build the perfect team and bring the vision to life. From choosing the location to finding the perfect wallpaper that finally brought the whole concept together, it has been a Natalie's vision encompassed a whimsical world where people journey that Natalie says she is grateful for everyday. can walk in and “go back to their childhood”. In this fantastical yet sophisticated wonderland, guests can expect to be wowed by the boisterously colorful artwork, homey feel, and delicious “When I'm in the kitchen it's my happy place... and the smells that hug your nose as you enter. additional joy and satisfaction I get from people enjoying what “I just want customers to be happy.. even if it's just for that I put out, it just makes me extremely happy. If that's all that I five minutes where your coming to pick up a dozen cupcakes, ever do with my life, I'm blessed and I'm happy and I couldn't or a cookie, or anything. The music, the smells, the feeling, ask for anything else.. because it's everything.” everything should just be happiness”, she explained. After running a successful home bakery business for four years, Natalie's vision has been brought to fruition in her new Salmiyah location. Nat Bakes will bring traditional South African desserts along with both sweet and savory Van Rooyen family recipes; like their unique Banana Pudding and their Goat Cheese with Caramelized Onion Pastries, filled with layers of flavor that are prevalent in every bite. Everything is made from scratch, from their mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies to their customized cakes made to order. Their
Nat Bakes... With Love will be opening its doors for a spectacular grand opening on 15 June, welcoming all to come experience the difference the “Nat Bakes way”: with freshness, creativity, thoughtfulness, and exclusive desserts like their famous Crack Pie. If you're looking for a place to try something new, head to Block 3, Street 5, House 23 in Salmiyah, choose your treat and take a bite... “and know that it was made with love”.
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Infusions
Creating infused culinary gems to accent both the palate and table There is no substitute for loving what you do, for pouring your heart into everything you create and that is what Infusions is all about. In what began as a way for Patty Marotte, founder of Infusions, to promote and support healthy food culture with the use of natural food ingredients and at the same time do something she was passionate about, over the past few years Patty has created a brand with global following. Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. The mere thought of oils and butters infused with the essence of savory herbs is enough to make the taste buds swoon. When packaged into pretty glass bottles or jars with a label, they make a perfect gift that anyone is sure to enjoy. Patty makes each one herself and takes the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but also the last touch of layering the herbs for pleasant visual effects. Recently, CityPages had a pleasure to meet the very capable and hard-working, Patty Marotte, who tells us how and when she got the idea of starting Infusions, challenges she had to face and her best seller products.
Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery.
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What is Infusions? Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more often.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery. What is Infusions?
and how to enhance the flavors of prepared dishes at an early age because my father and I cooked together as a hobby. Until now it is my passion and I am still learning on daily basis! These products I have been doing for home use for years and when the onset the food movement in Kuwait, I thought to myself my items have found a home other than my kitchen. Where are your products available for our readers to buy? Currently, I sell my items online through our IG account. They can be found at most Shakshooka events, which I consider to be my start of exposure. Next year, I look forward to participating in more markets/ exhibitions. Recently, I was blessed to have an opportunity provided by Chef Firas Al-Zaid to showcase my products at Little Ruby’s Sharq branch in a project called the Community Corner. In the near future, projects include a healthy foodshop opening soon in Salmiya and the launch of www.Yazli.com; which is an app that will enhance the IG shopping experience.
Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more Tell us more about how you use social media to develop your often. client base: How and when did you get the idea of starting Infusions? Well, honestly I wouldn’t be anywhere without social media! It is how I played with the idea of Infusions after I realized the food culture started to change in Kuwait and when I saw more people interested in natural products and the increasing availability of organic food items in supermarkets. The items I make are an accumulation of a lifetime of learning, as I learned about what ingredients to blend 80
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I got to collaborate with you guys at City Pages. It was through the interactions of IG and Twitter that I was able to gain exposure and meet people who are a part of the food movements in Kuwait and do some research. Social media is how I knew about the various markets. I initially attended as a supporter but at the same time I observed. I
was able to assess peoples’ feedback on a particular event based on their comments and interactions between key figures in the various industries. As an individual through my personal account I met people over last few years that shared similar interests and topics such as family activities, events for causes, where was a good place to eat, sharing recipes, referrals where to buy quality food products, and advice on healthy lifestyle choices. I started to research the kind of items available on social media and I realized there was a small opening in the food movement that I could help fill and do my part to keep it growing. This I feel was prelude to my client pool because all those individuals were my first supporters when I started Infusions. Can you name a few of your unique products? I would say the infused olive oil is the most unique because it is not mass produced like the ones you see in supermarkets. In the Infusions’ olive oils you can see the herbs and spices used. I make each one myself and take the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but the last touch of layering the herbs for visual effect. Each bottle is different and unique. They are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and artisanal by all means. Another unique product is my artisanal spice jars…people mistake them for sand art but they are quality spices layered nicely in one convenient jar to use in cooking. Just spoon and mix! Which are some of your best sellers? Italiano olive oil seems to be catching the people’s attention and is sold the most. Other popular items are our Pomegranate Zaatar spread and Honey butter. How often do you introduce new products and what is the process of developing a new product? I would say on a monthly basis I introduce a new product. Before I started Infusions I made a list of all products that I know how to do, then I categorized them into “currently use” and “past used” items. I started the business on 2 products; flavored butters and infused olive oils which were on my “currently use” list. Then I go to my “past used” list and start experimenting with the product but revamping it, researching better techniques, making samples and sending to new and old customers for feedback. If I get good reviews I launch it on the IG account. All my products must have 3 things: function, aesthetics, and beneficial to health in some form. How is starting a food business different from other forms of entrepreneurship? I think starting a food business is different because we have to be careful not to succumb to the common food items that lack creativity but sell because it is a familiar food item. So, I do it Infusion style! A perfect example of this would be my “mabooch” series, typical Kuwaiti condiment found everywhere. However, ours are different because I give them a personality and function. I name the chili pepper used and its benefits as an ingredient. I look for unique chili peppers and play with flavors, like my orange Habanero mabooch infused with coconut and pineapple juice instead of lemon. Serrano green chilies blend well with garlic and red Cayenne peppers are perfect with ginger. Have u ever seen purple mabooch? Stay tuned and you will!
What peculiar challenges does a small food business-owner face? The most peculiar challenge in a small food business is sanitary issues. Other challenges are ensuring that everything is up to standard and hygienic, making sure packaging, utensils, and ingredients are not just in good condition but also sterilized properly. An example of that would be why I do not use fresh garlic in the final product of an olive oil out of the fear of spoilage and build-up of bacteria! I use fresh garlic during the infusing process but in the end product I use sanitized dehydrated garlic free of any contamination. What motivates you? Good health. Plain and simple. I was diagnosed many years back with a condition that can be mostly controlled through good eating habits and an active lifestyle. I love my family and I want them to live a long healthy life so I make sure our kitchen is filled with quality food products. My motivation for my customers is the same as my family: I wish them good health and I want to be a part of that process that they can attain it. What is the one thing you hate doing but still force yourself to do every week? INVENTORY! Such a crucial aspect of a business but I grit my teeth when I have to do it. I do not like anything with numbers. What do you think is the biggest threat to the success of small businesses in Kuwait? The biggest threat to the success of a small business in Kuwait is being a fad, as Kuwaitis say ‘habba’. Being a bright shiny shooting star then fall to your end in darkness in a short period of time. What are your future plans? My future plan for Infusions is to open a little gourmet food shop where my products will be available for purchase. I will also use the store to conduct workshops on spices and herbs and their benefits. I would love a platform to teach international simple dishes. One of my dreams since I was a teenager was to learn a local authentic dish from each country then have this cool recipe book called IbnBatuta’sTravels. I also want to participate in more activities with groups that are collectively working to teach people how to choose healthier food and lead an active lifestyle. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: My message to CityPages is, I am deeply grateful and honored to be heard on this platform. I have always liked CityPages since its inception because of the English being the main language used.The events, stories, and editorials are always current and relevant. Keep up the great work and thanks for featuring local people and their talents. It keeps the sense of community alive.
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The FIFA World Cup is upon us, so what better way to start this segment than with a taste of Brasil. These recipes are very easy to follow, with simple ingredients… and great to serve at gatherings, or upcoming football matches with friends. Enjoy… with love! EMPANADAS
DOUGH RECIPE (Baked Empanadas)
In Spanish “Empanar” means to bread, or coated in bread crumbs, empanadas are moreish pastries, filled with either savory or sweet fillings, anything from minced beef, chicken, cheese to fruit based yumminess. Here we will show you how to make the baked version which is very popular all over South America.
INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 1 large egg beaten lightly with 1/4 t. water (for glaze… also known as egg wash – gives pastries a nice golden brown finish )
Filling Recipe – Caramelized Onion with Turkey Ham and Cheddar Cheese. INGREDIENTS: n2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced nSalt and pepper to taste n½ cup of balsamic vinegar n¼ cup of brown sugar n1 cup of chopped turkey ham nDiced cheddar cheese cubes Method - dough nSift the flour, then sift it again with the salt, baking powder, and sugar, and set aside. In a large bowl, using a hand or electric mixer, mix the cream cheese and butter together until well blended. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. nLightly flour your work surface. nDivide the dough into four pieces (keep the pieces you aren't using in the refrigerator until you
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need them) and use a floured rolling pin to roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thick. nCut the dough into circles, with a cookie cutter or small bowl. nSize the circle according to how large you want your empanadas. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. Method – Filling nSauté onions in hot olive oil, until light brown and semi cooked. nAdd salt and pepper to taste nAdd balsamic vinegar and cook for 5 minutes nAdd brown sugar and cook until sugar is dissolved and sauce is slightly sticky and reduced. nLeave to cool. nAdd 1 teaspoon of caramelized onions, a few cubes of turkey ham and cheddar cheese in center of rolled out empanada dough and fold over to make a half circle. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. nPreheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). nPlace the pastries on a lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart, brush with the egg wash, and bake until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. nThey can be made ahead of time, refrigerated, and reheated in a 180 degree (350 degrees Fahrenheit ) oven for 4 to 6 minutes.
one country at a time!
Brigadeiros
This is a great Brazilian sweet that is like a bonbon and extremely scrumptious and delicious called brigadeiro! This is a great type of sweet that is loved all over Brazil by children and adults alike. This easy treat is great to serve at social gatherings or to simply have on the table at all times. INGREDIENTS: n3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder n1 can sweetened condensed milk n1 tablespoon butter n2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa for dusting nChocolate sprinkles for decoration Method: nIn a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk. nCook, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls and roll in cocoa, then chocolate sprinkles. nPlace in small cupcake liners, and serve immediately or refrigerate until desired. nMakes 20 pieces June, 2014
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Advantages and Disadvantages of perfumes and colognes
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erfume is a product innovated for both men and women to make them cool and fresh. Over the past few years people have been going crazy to search and get different types of delightful perfumes and colognes. Perfumes are the fragrances that are made from both natural and artificial commodities. Fragrance oil specifically produced from flowers, fruit tree blossom and woods. Aroma oils have no aromatherapy healing properties. Perfume and cologne are packed in different sizes. There are hundreds of brands of odor and thousands of scents available nowadays in the world. They are synthetic essential oils. With as many varieties of scents as natural essential oils they are perfect for combining with aroma, cold compress soap, creams, lotions, body lotions, body sprays, shower ASAMA Perfumes
The creative method gave ASAMA Perfumes the time and the opportunity to craft fragrances while working with the highest quality ingredients in a bottle and using Arabic and Western scents as a unique concept point for the fragrances. They welcome your comments at [email protected] Follow them on Instagram and Twitter @ ASAMAPerfumes
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gels, and hand soaps. By testing on your skin you will be able to know exactly how does it smell on your skin, but you cannot try out too many different types of aroma simply because all the perfume that you try after the first one will mix with the first one and you would not get the correct smell of those fragrances. Buying cologne can be a very hard decision, especially when you are buying that for your friend or lover. Different people will have different choice of odor. Also each fragrance will produce a different scent on various types of skin. Therefore, when buying perfume you need to do some good research and try it out before you make the final decision. There is some small sample called vial on card or vial mini as well, those bottles are usually for trial. It is a good idea for you to get those trial first to test it out before going ahead buying a big bottle. Now, there are advantages and disadvantages of these two methods of testing. Designers believe that the advantage of odors combined using oils is that they are
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guaranteed to last longer than other aromas, and just as body oils are applied directly to the skin, perfume oils are readily absorbed by the skin. Care needs to be taken when applying them as they may stain clothing. Feminine colognes have usually extra floral categories. Light and fresh character of citrus notes is often combined with more feminine scents to create Citrus Fragrance. These are the refreshing fragrances for the energetic, sporty woman, and are appropriate for office wear, day wear, or warm evening wear. As well as, serves as an ideal summer floral especially for warm or humid climate. Scents in this family include jasmine, gardenia tangerine, freesia, orange flower, and moon flowers. This category also has base scents of sandalwood, musk, amber, and apricot. Although this actually a sub category of the floral family it is extensive enough to give proper recognition. The perfumes in this family can be worn during the daytime and a night on the town, due to the combination of exotic floras, spices, and essences.
LL
by:
New at Layla Harmony E
very woman’s dream is to have and keep beautiful hair. Our culture highly values lustrous hair that are thick and shiny. Unfortunately, our environment subjects women to extreme conditions that reflect negativity on the natural state of hair. There are external and internal factors that play critical roles on our hair. External factors affecting hair growth include: Sun bathing, hot water, humidity, hair coloring & dying (specially lower quality products), shampoos, nylon or plastic brushes, style of combing and harsh brushing.
lAvoid
harsh hair combing. comb your hair when it is wet. lTo start untangling your hair from end to the roots. lDivide your hair into a medium strands. lUse hair-type specific products: shampoo, cream, mask, serum, mask, ampoules. lDon’t use on daily basis hair foam, gel or spray. lDon’t wash your hair every day. lDon’t
The new treatment offered by our spa aims to reduce the oily scalp On the other hand, there are internal factors that include: stress, and hair dandruff problem by using the violet rays massage with extreme diet, pregnancy, some medicines, and lack of oxygenation, high frequency machine using special tools and combs (quartz). thyroid gland issues and other hormonal imbalances. The course of treatment consists of 10 sessions A combination of these factors results in hair loss, dandruff, oily hair, l2 sessions: Hair treatment with essential oils. l3 sessions: High frequency with scalp massage. dryness etc. We would like to present you with some advice to reduce the side l5 sessions: Dermo roller with specialized hair products. effects, the unfavorable consequences and maintain the benefit of our treatments. Guaranteed effective results are provided by our spa treatments. lAvoid
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using plastic or nylon brushes.
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Our staff is experienced and highly efficient.
June, 2014
Summer Skin Schedule
W
Available online on Pinterest.com ith every skin being different and changing over time, the derma.cosmetics brand has developed products for every skin type and for every season. With the harsh summers setting in, your skin’s moisture level is compromised by the insufficient moisture in the air caused by air conditioning, excessive sweating or drying out from exposure to the sun. Your skin becomes dry and taut while it frequently flakes, peels and itches. The protective barrier of your skin is weakened.
For this reason, Dr. med. Christine Schrammek dermatological skincare HYDRATING series contains the innovative active ingredient Ectoine, a substance that not only hydrates the skin but also binds moisture in the skin. Additionally, it protects the skin against damage caused by environmental factors such as stress, UV radiation, dryness, heat and cold. With the concept of “skin has many faces” we customize your skin care as your skin demands to result in a fresh, dewy and radiant complexion. BEAUTY 101 RULE: Daily cleansing and skin care routines should always include the throat and décolleté!
SUPER SOFT CLEANSER:
Soothing, moisturizing night care that supports the cell's own repairing and protecting mechanisms. Skin-identical lipids help to stabilize the skin's barrier function and reduce loss of moisture. Apply after cleansing.
HERBAL CARE LOTION:
HYDRA FORCE DAY CREAM:
MOISTURE INTENSE AMPOULE:
Skin is intensively moisturized by the creamy consistency. The unique ingredients support the skin's ability to preserve moisture and counteract aging. Apply after cleansing.
Light, refreshing fluid for sensitive eye area that reduces puffiness. Effective on fine lines & wrinkles. Gently pat on mornings and nights. Free of fragrances, coloring agents, without mineral oils, without parabens.
This moisture booster rebalances moisture deficits in the skin. Synergistic blend of hyaluronic acid supports reductions of wrinkles caused by dryness. Without perfume oils and parabens. Use as a 7 day spa treatment at home.
HYDRA FORCE MASK:
Anisaa New LaFem Salon & Beauty Co.
Anisaa is an Aesthetic Consultant and Trainer with New Lafem Salon & Beauty Co. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram at: @lafemsalonq8
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HYDRA FORCE NIGHT CREAM:
Cleansing milk with valuable oils. Gently cleanses and prevents the skin from dryingout. PH-neutral and excellently suitable to remove eye makeup. Use mornings and nights.
Soothing and balancing effect with herbal extracts. Dab on after cleansing mornings and nights. Free of parabens. For extra freshness keep Herbal Care Lotion in the fridge!
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ON THIS FATHER’S DAY “THE MEN’S SKIN CARE” AT A GLANCE
The moisture complex from oat and soyalecithin in the mask supplies the skin with extra moisture. Due to intensive hydration the skin obtains a firm appearance. Combats feelings of tautness and fine lines from dryness.
As men’s skin produces more sebum twice as much sebum as women’s skin, men are more prone to skin impurities. This can be combated by thoroughly cleansing the skin every day with PURE SKIN CLEANSING FOAM which clears the skin from any dirt and grime. Daily shaving can cause skin redness, irritation, ingrown and razor burns, for thisGEL SUPER PURIFIANT a refreshing clarifying antibacterial gel offers cooling effect due to the peppermint and camphor. At the same time a deep-acting face mask like theACTIVE CLEARING MASK should be used that will free the skin of excess sebum and skin impurities and will give the skin an anti-inflammatory effect. The star product for all types of skin is the BLEMISH BALM HONEY a special product for blotchy, irritated and impure skin that conceals the blemishes and relieves any inflamed skin. It also helps to soothe any redness after shaving especially for those who have sensitive skin. For the eyes only, HI PERFECTION EYE CREAM - HYDRA FORCE EYE FLUID helps to reduce the dark circles and treat puffiness. For luxury care BEAUTY POWER AMPOULES offer instant glow and radiance. Enjoy Healthy Skin this Father's Day!
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Hiba Al Mansour Believes in the power of paper in a digital world
Over the last few years, the digital revolution is having an impact on bookstores. Fewer and fewer bookstores have survived the onslaught of online retailing. Through the trials and tribulations that come with an evolving book industry many intrepid bookstores continue to succeed and even grow. One such is That Al Salasil. Despite enormous competition from online retailers That Al Salasil has remained a vital resource for book lovers in the community. We thought it would be illuminating to talk with Hiba Al Mansour, business development manager at That Al Salasil, a family owned business since 1972. Hiba provides insight about her strategies for thriving, and talks about the history of That Al Salasil and the secret to its success.
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
"We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and Gulf history."
June, 2014
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Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Hiba Al Mansour and I am a business development manager at That Al Salasil. I am an optimistic and workaholic person who is in love with travelling.
opportunity to the readers to meet them in person. We announce such events through different media such as, radio, newspapers and social media, inviting our loyal customers and public figures.
Tell us about your education: I have completed my schooling in public schools of Kuwait and graduated from College of Business Administration (CBA) with a degree in accounting.
What is the hardest part about the bookstore business currently? It’s a slow business, as we live in a digital age and people lead a fast pace life, they don’t have time to sit and read like before.
What is the history of That Al Salasil bookstore? How long has it been in business? What would you say is the secret to its success? It is a family owned business which started in 1972. My father is a book lover and enjoys the time he spends reading all kinds of books. He understands the fact that books enrich our minds, enhance our life experiences and relieve stress. He is passionate about it and when you love and believe in your business it grows more and more.
Do you encourage browsers to sit in the store and read? Do you have some comfortable sitting areas? One of the main goals of THAT AL SALASIL is to encourage reading so we offer comfortable seating areas in our stores to let our customers enjoy any book they browse or even visit us daily till they finish whatever they were reading. In fact, our bookstore branch at The Avenues is famous for its huge and comfortable seating area.
What has been the most surprising aspect of the A recent trend in bookstores is the presence of bookstore business? a small café or coffee shop, if space permits. Do I am surprised at the number of serious readers you have any such plans? out there who still want to buy paperback books We do have a place for it and we are working on it. despite the increasing popularity of e-books and understand that they have physical beauty, provenance and are collectibles. Speaking of kids, do you encourage children's reading events? What in your opinion is the biggest strength of Yes, we do organize a lot of activities for the kids and we host them all year round. your bookstore? We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in What are some of your future plans? Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both Our main aim is to continue building up our in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and collection of both fiction and non-fiction books to Gulf history. become the best bookstore in Kuwait and Middle East. What types of books are most popular with your customers? Name a book that you have recently read and All kinds of novels are more in demand. would like to recommend to our readers? “1919”, it is Ahmed Mourad’s newly published Do you recommend books to your customers at novel. Ahmed Mourad was nominated for The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF); one of the bookstore? Yes, we have sections in the bookstore with a tag the most prestigious and important literary prizes “we recommend” that we believe are the books in the Arab world. worth reading. What are some of your hobbies? How many different books are on your shelves Travelling, taking adventurous trips to new places, at any given time? discovering all about their culture and rituals and Let’s put it this way, we have more than 8 thousands learning form it. I also like to learn new languages. titles at the bookstore. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Tell us about the author events you often host First, I would like to thank you for visiting us here at and how people can know about them? the bookstore. Secondly, I know it’s cliché to say it Yes, we support all local writers and host special but “life is full of possibilities you only need to focus events at our store to launch their books and give an to acquire it”. 94
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
JUNE BIRTHSTONE IS the PEARL By: Oussama T. Hussein Giving a piece of jewelry containing a birthstone gem will bring the wearer with good luck and protection. Monthly birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calendar. What is the Birth stone for June? The following old poem provides the answer! "Who comes with summer to this earth And owes to June her hour of birth A pearl should wear against her skin Who's innocence many a heart shall win." ." Properties of the Pearl
Zodiac Sign
For those who were born in the month of June the Pearl is the traditional birthstone. The June birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Pearl is associated - loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the June Birthstone Pearl are modesty, chastity and purity. The healing properties of the June birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the heart, spleen, stomach, intestine & ulcer problems. The Pearl is also used to enhance personal integrity.
The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The June birthstone of the Pearl is considered to be the birthstone for Gemini (The sign of the Twins) and relate to those born between May 21 - June 21. The Zodiac sign of Gemini also responds to Emerald, Alexandrite, Agate and the Ruby.
Color of the Pearl
The traditional color associated with the Pearl is the milky white color and was strongly favored as a popular gem in Victorian jewelry. Pearls come in a wide variety of colors ranging from white to black. The popular June Birthstone of the Pearl is found in the following The color of a pearl might be classed as white, silver, cream-colored, countries: gold, green, blue or black. Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, the South Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia
Where are Pearls found?
Tropical Zodiac
Sign
Definition of the Pearl: The word Pearl is derived from the Latin word "pirum" which means "pear" which reflects the shape of the gem. A smooth lustrous round structure having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found inside the shell of a mollusk such as a clam or oyster. It is formed due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with precious stones. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks whilst imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks but with human intervention (an irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow). A good sized pearl can take between five to eight years to form, which is usually the entire life of the oyster or mollusk. The cost depends on the size and the coating, or “nacre”, on a real pearl which gives it its iridescence. 96
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Director: Doug Guillermo Director: Limandel Toro
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aksel Hennie, Ian McShane, Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt, Rebecca Ferguson
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Charlotte Riley, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way
Genres: Action, Adventure, Period
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Action, Epic
Synopsis: Everyone knows the legend of
Synopsis: Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise) is an
Hercules and his twelve labors. Our story begins after the labors, and after the legend… Haunted by a sin from his past, Hercules has become a mercenary. Along with five faithful companions, he travels ancient Greece selling his services for gold and using his legendary reputation to intimidate enemies. But when the benevolent ruler of Thrace and his daughter seek Hercules' help to defeat a savage and terrifying warlord, Hercules finds that in order for good to triumph and justice to prevail... he must again become the hero he once was... he must embrace his own myth... he must be Hercules
officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again.
TAMMY
THINK LIKE A MAN TOO
Director: Ben Falcone
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
THE ROVER
Director:Josh James Wan Director: Boone
Director: David Michod
Starring: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese C. Hartwig, Ella Wahlestedt, Jason GrayStanford, Cassius Willis
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Willem Dafoe, Laura Dern, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Lotte Verbeek
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Guy Pearce, Scoot McNairy, Anthony Hayes, David Field, Gillian Jones
Genres: Adventure
Synopsis: Story of teens who receive
Synopsis: A teenage girl stricken with
Synopsis: The Rover is set in a world ten
cancer falls for a boy in her support group and the two form a bond as they deal with their illnesses. Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them -- and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
years following the collapse of the western economic system, where Australia’s mineral resources have drawn the desperados and dangerous to its shores. With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce), who travels the desolate towns and roads of the Australian outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him.
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
TRANSFORMERS 4: AGE OF EXTINCTION
mysterious messages on their cell phones.
But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
22 JUMP STREET
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Mark Duplass, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates
Starring: Kevin Hart, Terrence Jenkins, Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, Gary Owen, Regina Hall
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts, Wyatt Russell
Genres: Comedy
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Sequel
Genres: Adventure, Action, Sequel
Synopsis: Tammy (McCarthy) is having a
Synopsis: The couples are back together
Synopsis: Officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and
Synopsis: Continuing the story of how
Synopsis: The film begins after an epic
bad day. She's totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint, and instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house.
It's time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she's broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Sarandon), is her only option—with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs.
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EDGE OF TOMORROW
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for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some various situations that threaten to derail the big event.
Jenko (Channing Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college, but when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership.
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz,
Gary Oldman, Judy Greer
Brenton Thwaites, Jack Reynor, Stanley
ultra-intelligent simian Caesar presides over the fall of human civilization.
battle that left a great city torn, but with the
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.
a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt
world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
Travel Made Easy HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller
Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen
Genres: Family, Fantasy, 3D, Sequel
Genres: Comedy, Family, Animation
Synopsis: The heroic Viking Hiccup and
Synopsis: Planes: Fire & Rescue features a
his faithful dragon Toothless must protect the peace -- and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago. The first movie took us into a war between fire-breathing dragons and Vikings, but when a boy named Hiccup impossibly befriended a dragon named Toothless, their friendship changed their world forever. Dragons 2, the second film of this fantastic epic trilogy continues the story about a man named Hiccup and a dragon named Toothless, and flies into theaters in summer of 2014.
JERSEY BOYS
Director: Jon Favreau, Clint Eastwood Starring: Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, Mike Doyle, Johnny Cannizzaro, Christopher Walken, John Lloyd Young
quirky crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous air attack team, including spirited super scooper Lil’ Dipper (voice of Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.
AND SO IT GOES
Director: Rob Reiner Starring: Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton, Frankie Valli
Genres: Musical, Adaptation
Synopsis: Frank Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy
Synopsis: A self-centered realtor enlists
DeVito and Nick Massi go from blue-collar wrong side of the track origins to become American pop sensations, selling 175 million records worldwide before they are 30 years old.
the help of his neighbor when he's suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he never knew existed. There are a million reasons not to like realtor Oren Little, and that's just the way he likes it. Willfully obnoxious to anyone who might cross his path, he wants nothing more than to sell one last house and retire in peace and quiet -- until his estranged son suddenly drops off a granddaughter (Sterling Jerins) he never knew existed and turns his life upside-down. Clueless about how to care for a sweet, abandoned nine-year-old, he pawns her off on his determined and lovable neighbor Leah and tries to resume his life uninterrupted. But little by little, Oren stubbornly learns to open his heart - to his family, to Leah, and to life itself.
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Whether you are arriving, departing or transiting at Kuwait International Airport, Hala Kuwait is there to make your journey easy. From the moment you get to the airport, our team is there to take care of your every need whether it is using our Fast Track immigration, dedicated check in area, Pearl Lounge, private transportation, or our Meet & Assist Service to guide you every step of the way.
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The English Woman In Saudi Arabia
"Hi,"
she said in a broken english accent. I didn't want to look at her, I was too afraid to tell you the truth, I was new to the country and a little scared. "I don't mean to bother you dear, but you look rather lost and it is odd to find a blue-eyed woman with blonde hair in our country. Are you okay?" she asked in a concerned tone. I didn't know whether to reply or just keep quiet, my heart started to beat fast and I felt dizzy and weak. I came all the way to Saudi Arabia to find the man that I had fallen in love with back in England. What on earth was I thinking?
to sob. The woman approached me and hugged me, although I couldn't see her face, as it was covered, her big brown eyes gave me comfort. "I am here to look for this Saudi man, his name is Yousef. I have known him for a long time, he studied with me in college back in my country. But he left to come back here, he asked me to come with him but I couldn't," I sighed. "My parents refused. But after months of him gone, I just couldn't live without him," I whispered, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited for the woman to respond, I did not know what to expect. Would she be angry? I knew this was an Islamic country and as a 20 year old English woman, running away to Saudi Arabia to be reunited with her true love, was I looked around the airport and started not exactly an appropiate story to tell. to panic. I was the only woman that was uncovered and every man that passed me "First of all," she said in a low voice. "You must gave me a look. "Oh no," I cried. "What have I take this scarf and cover your hair." At first I done?" I put my hands to my face and started was a bit hesitant, I followed her eyes as she was looking around at the men staring at me, Nadia AlHassan so I did what I was told. Could I trust her? I had never been in the Middle East, I knew no arabic whatsoever and my family had no idea where I was. But, I had no other choice but to Nadia Al-Hassan is a student in Ireland, studying trust her. Journalism. She is passionate about writing stories and poetry. Nadia loves helping people with her stories. She believes that words are beautiful and powerful.
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From the way he dressed, to the way he spoke. "He was tall, so handsome and gentle," I said with a smile on my face, remembering all our memories together. "He had soft dark brown eyes and a warm smile. Oh, his eyelashes were so beautiful! Thick and long, every womans dream to have," I laughed. I could not see what her face expression was but I somehow knew that she was smiling too. "Do you think I'm foolish to have come all the way here?" I asked. She shook her head and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Love makes us do crazy things, but it does not make us foolish," she replied. I continued with my story, I told her how I met him and how he taught me all about Islam too. "I was intrigued, I wanted to know more about his culture and his religion. He would sit down every evening with me in the college library and teach me all about Islam. I started to want to know more and more, It sounded like such a beautiful religion."
Just as I was telling her about how my mother and father and how they did everything they could to keep me away from him and how I lost all hope, I heard a familiar voice behind "Tell me about this man called Yousef," she me. "Kate," he said. I turned around and there said. We sat for an hour as I described him. he was, handsome as ever, standing.
TOP MUSIC CHARTS DJ Raven Fancy
1
American Authors Eric Church Nicki Minaj Lorde
Coldplay
Disclosure 5 Seconds Of Summer Shakira & Rihanna
June, 2014
Photography by: @abdullah_hamadah at @seventyseven_kw studio
12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
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Available online on Pinterest.com
A man’s relationship with his father is one of the most important relationships in his life. Dad is supposed to teach us the manly arts, to always be there as lifelong mentors who lovingly guide us into manhood. At least that’s what every boy hopes for. Of course in real life the relationship between father and son is rarely so simple. A son yearns for the love and respect of his dad and doesn’t always get it. Or he worships his father, only to find out later he wasn’t such a good guy. Or his dad is indeed the real deal, but he exits his son’s life too soon. It’s no wonder that a relationship so fraught with hope and yearning, drama and resentment, joy and regret has often translated into cinematic gold. Men don’t typically cry at movies, but when we do, nine times out of ten the scene involves a father and his kids. Father-themed flicks are guaranteed to make us laugh, get misty-eyed, and feel a little introspective about our own dads, and if we have kids ourselves, how we measure up as fathers. I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of the very best movies about fatherhood that the world of cinema has to offer.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch is the man. Pillar of integrity, fighter of racial injustice, humble sharpshooter, and, of course, world’s greatest dad. As a widower he could have shipped his kids off to a relative, but he was absolutely devoted to them. He was kind, protective, and incredibly patient with his two kids, Jem and Scout. And most importantly, he taught his children by example. I find the relationship between Atticus and his daughter to be particularly endearing. If I ever have a daughter, I hope my relationship with her can be like the one Atticus had with his little girl. No wonder the American Film Institute called Atticus the “greatest movie hero of the 20th century.” Of course you can’t top the book itself, but the film version measures up pretty well. Gregory Peck was given some very large shoes to fill, and he did so admirably.
Big Fish
Big Fish is a weird movie. Weird in a good way, though. It was directed by Tim Burton, hence the weirdness. Big Fish focuses on the strained relationship between a father and son–Ed and Will Bloom. Ed is a man who loves to tell (possibly fictitious) stories about his past. Ed’s son, Will, thinks his dad is full of it and can’t stand his tall tales. Will feels he cannot trust his father and eventually stops talking to him for several years. But when Will finds out his dad is dying, he returns home to begin a journey that will lead him to learn who is father really is, a process that allows him to come to peace with his dad. The end of Big Fish is awesome. I won’t spoil it for you. Watch it.
Field of Dreams
To what lengths would a man go for a chance at reconciliation? If it’s for your (dead) father, most of us would do anything. As a young man, Ray Kinsella had a strained relationship with his dad and had once refused to play catch with him, a decision he has regretted ever since. Now grown up, with his father passed away, Ray has become an Iowa farmer. A voice tells him, “If you build it, he will come,” and Ray obeys by building a baseball diamond in his cornfield. The voice continues to guide Ray, and after a series of mysterious and supernatural events, he is able to make amends by playing a simple game of catch with his dead father. Man. That catch scene gets me every time.
The Godfather
At its core, The Godfather is about one man’s struggle to accept and eventually live up to the legacy his father has left him (even if that legacy isn’t the most noble and honorable one). You can gleam a lot of great insights about fatherhood from watching the entire trilogy. My favorite comes from Don Corleone: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Be a man. Spend some time with those kiddos. And don’t forget the cannoli.
Father of the Bride
It’s the moment any man with a daughter looks forward to with both happiness and sadness: his little girl’s wedding. You’ve probably seen the 1991 re-make ofFather of the Bride with Steve Martin. Sure, it’s funny, but it’s nowhere near as good as the 1950 original starring Spencer Tracy and a young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. At least, I don’t think so. There’s nothing profound or deep about this film. It’s just a fun, family comedy about the relationship between a man and his daughter. Spencer Tracy rocks it in this movie. One of his best performances.
Road to Perdition
As we mentioned in the introduction, sometimes the relationship between father and son can be pretty complicated. That complexity is at the root of the dark, Depression-era gangster film, Road to Perdition. Every boy wants to grow up to be like his dad, but what if your dad isn’t such a good guy? Tom Hanks plays mob bodyguard and hitman, Michael Sullivan, who must protect his son from his former boss (with whom he had his own almost father/son relationship) and his boss’ son, who has killed the rest of Sullivan’s family. On a mission of revenge, Sullivan draws his son into a life of crime, but hopes he will take a different path in life. It’s a bloody, complicated, and father/son relationshippacked movie; as Hanks puts it, “If you’re a man, and you’ve got offspring…emotionally, it’s devastating.”
The Pursuit of Happyness
An uplifting film based on the true story of now multi-millionaire Chris Gardner's one-year struggle with homelessness while raising his son by himself and working to land a full-time job. The Pursuit of Happynessshows the lengths a father will go for his children. What makes this movie even more emotionally captivating is that Chris Gardner and his son, little Chris, are played by real-life father and son, Will and Jaden Smith.
Parenthood
If you’re a fan of the ABC television comedy, Parenthood, then watch the movie that inspired the show. Like the show, Parenthood the movie focuses on different branch-offs of the same family. And like the show, the movie does a good job showcasing the (often humorous) struggles of being a parent in our crazy modern world. While it’s an ensemble film, Steve Martin’s character Gil Buckman takes center stage. Gil’s a father who’s driven to be the best dad he can be because of his dissatisfaction with his own childhood. Gil’s earnestness to be a good dad often crosses the line into neuroticism, but during the course of the film he learns to mellow out. I really like this film (and the show). Unlike a lot of comedies built on outrageous setups and low-brow gags, Parenthood tries to stay as true to real life as possible. When you watch it, you laugh because you can relate with the characters and their problems.
Boyz ‘N the Hood
Laurence Fishburne plays Furious Styles (what an awesome name), a hard-nosed father trying to raise his rebellious son, Tre, on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Furious gives his son plenty of tough love but also provides him a good example of what it means to be a father, and more importantly, a good man. Boyz ‘N the Hood teaches us that there’s nothing like the influence of a father to mold a boy into a man who does the right thing.
Finding Nemo
A movie about fatherhood that you can watch with your kids. Marlin’s a widower father who loses his wife and 400 of his children (he’s a fish) in a vicious barracuda attack. His only child to survive is Nemo, a headstrong little clown fish who’s frustrated by his father’s neurotic over-protectiveness. Despite Marlin’s best efforts to look out for Nemo, he gets lost and the rest of the movie is dedicated to, well, finding Nemo. Marlin’s love for his son transcends species. Even us human dads can relate to this computeranimated fish.
Paper Moon
Starring real-life dad and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O’Neil,Paper Moon follows Moses and Addie Pray, a father-daughter duo who grift in Depression-Era Kansas. Moses isn’t really an ideal father-figure. He scams old widows out of money by pretending to be a Bible salesman who recently sold their deceased husband an expensive, personalized Bible. But the daddy-daughter relationship between Moses and Addie is awfully charming. Paper Moon is a fun, comedy-filled movie that you can watch with your own little partner in crime.
My Life
My Life is perhaps the best and most underrated movie about fatherhood ever made. Michael Keaton plays Bob Ivanovich, a man who discovers that he has terminal cancer soon after his wife gets pregnant. Knowing he won’t be around to raise his little boy, Bob makes home movies of himself that his son can watch as he grows up. In some of the videos, Bob reads bedtime stories and in others, which will be shown when his son is older, Bob teaches important man skills likehow to shave and how to shake hands. As Bob approaches his death, he also begins to reconcile with his own father,
Abdulaziz AlKhamis Abdulaziz is a Kuwaiti Film Maker, Visual Artist and a Script Writer. He graduated from the UK, with a passion to mix art and visuals. June, 2014
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Poetry by Nada Faris Available online on Pinterest.com Behind the Scenes
What’s holding you back, when I’d surrendered my heel?
Had you taken a moment to peer into your brain you would have squinted and then held your breath, but since you illuminate every cobweb with bright intent you soldier on speaking so-called altruism. Hold on. Swerve the spotlight of this theatrical display behind the scenes, where deserted boxes packed with real events gather dust and insects.
The expanse of time, odorless, forgetful, stretching long and wide, will sooth, will heal the scar spurting blood and broken promises smelling like your shampoo, and phony compliments. Paragon of Decomposition She thinks she is so pure, so she cleans herself, thoroughly washing out every blemish until she forgets what it means to be human, pulsating with emotions, blood bubbling with hemoglobin, bones, meat, nerves, germs, and mistakes.
Expanse of Time
Regrets and heartaches aren't mere temperaments, but conditions upon which humanity is staked.
Rip the scab with fingers dripping my scent, let white turn red, turn drab. No tears translucent will dribble and blend in your brew of fragility, staining,
She’d codify her demise with rituals sanitarily emanating qualities associated with divinity she thinks she owns, or rather, hopes and pretends she does.
fleeting as fugitives, slipping in and out of memories, leaving clues of your trespassing, mercurial, piercing details as needles poking and pulling threads, weaving knots with failed expectations and dread, never to unravel. Nada Faris Nada Faris is a Kuwaiti who writes poetry, articles, and fiction in English. Her latest book, Before Young Adult Fiction, is a collection of short, award-winning articles, poems, and short stories that shaped her writing voice. Reach her at: www.nadafaris.com or @nadafaris
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Avoiding blisters, and the rumbling under her skin, of physical sin calling, she studies sermons so she could teach others about the miracle of her powers, her self-imposed dictatorship of desire, lolled at will to earn her honors, for unlike you and me, she is no mediocrity with filthy flaws.
And unlike Christ who died for love, (can you smell the foul blood on a forsaken prophet of mercy thickening still with treason and loss?) she laves her arms until she levitates, until she glows, until a halo hovers above and crowns her skull, and names her holier than the Lord. She’d rather die alone, than vulgar, suffering from pain or trauma, for she is perfection personified in human form.
Introspection While soaping my body I bellow in disgust at something I’ve washed, you’ve touched, with indifference; how is it now that I foam the soap to cover it up, and scrub as if to get it out entirely, and why does my heart beat faster when I, after forgetting, remember it there, gloating, taunting, and why do I feel the need to ask you for an opinion or a degree of distaste, (be honest now) and don’t, simultaneously, don’t tell me what I already know, in the magazine, on the TV, on billboards, on faces of family members, (be honest now) and don’t, please.
رفق ًا بنومي...
Dream Ceremony أشكرك... ألنك دون أن تدري أشعلت الربيع في داخلي وملئتني دروبًا ملونة واحتفاالت صاخبة جيل من اشكرك ألنك أسكرت قلمي بعد ٍ االنتكاسات ّ رششت السكر على ذاكرتي ،فأصبحت و لذيذ ًة جدا كرائحة الكعك في بالدي... ِ أزهرت على قصائدي ُرمانًا شكرًا ألنك َ وخوخًا وألقيت الفراشات على جملي الثكلى، فأينعت... بش ْه ِد ُق َب َ شكرا ألنك ز ّينت صوتي َ لك
المؤجلة، َ تشكيل زوايا قلبي بما يليق دت وأع َ َ بانتظارنا...
حب رسمتُ ها على ُدرجي بعض و ُ قلوب ٍ ِ المدرسي، هي أيضًا َ لك فخذها...
فخ ْذها زوايا وامأل برائحتك زُهد المكان القلب لك ُ ْ الدمعُ الغافي على وسائدي وتعمد بمطر الحنين ّ ُ الزنبقة (الـ)زرعتُ ها على شرفتي لتحيا بك و المشتاق وارتباكه بوداعة ومشط ِ ِ لك ...فخذها.. ُحلمي... أشعاري ورسائلي الما اكتملت بعد وانزع بقايا االنتظار عن ِّصبا كتفي ُ العاطلة عن العمل أقالمي متمرس على رخام الوقت كطفل و احبي ٍ ٍ ُ تراتيل أحالمي وداعة اسمي وردد بكل ما أوتيت من ٍ ّ و ُ كل صلواتي المتمردةُ َ ، لك فخذها... أحب ِك.. صمت بصمت، واهتف ٍ ٍ مطبقُ : ٍ ُق َبلي الخجلى دفاتر طفولتي المذعورة ُ
لكن أرجوك ببطء ، اخطي ٍ ببطء أكثر ... ٍ ُ أخاف أن أصحو مراس َم الحلم.... فس ُد ُحضو ُر َك ِ في ِ ُ
Tassnim Hassoun
Tassnim is an accounts specialist. She has been writing poetry and short stories since she was twelve and currently is in the process of writing a book, needless to say she loves reading. Additionally Tassnim is a gym and nutrition junky.
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JUNE Book Releases
Summer is a time when many people like to read books that take them to other places (even if, in reality, they are stuck at home). Thrillers and romance are always big sellers, and this look at anticipated June releases has plenty of both!
Written in My Own Heart'sBlood' Diana Gabaldon
The release of Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, the latest book in the very popular Outlander series, has been rescheduled twice. Finally, the release date is here! Fans of the seven previous novels in the series will surely devour this 800+ page continuation of the story. If you prefer to fill your beach bag with romance rather than action, this is the series for you.
China Dolls Lisa See
Lisa See is beloved for her stories about Chinese and Chinese-American women, such asSnow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls. China Dolls is the story of three Chinese-American young women in San Fransisco in 1938. They are from very different backgrounds, but become best friends. As war looms, they face various trials and must rely on each other.
The Silkworm
Robert Galbraith
When word got out that Robert Galbraith is actually a pen name for J.K. Rowling, Galbraith's first novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, became an instant bestseller. That's how it got our attention, but after reading it, we were glad that it did. The second novel in this new detective series is due out just in time for summer vacation. Rowling/Galbraith fans won't want to miss Silkworm.
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Herman Koch is the bestselling author of The Dinner. In his newest novel, a medical procedure performed by a doctor to the stars goes horribly wrong, and an actor dies. The doctor and actor's families spent the summer before together on the Mediterranean, and a violent incident there may be the key to understanding the actor's death. This is a psychological thriller.
Mr. Mercedes Stephen King
If you love suspense, you can't go wrong with Stephen King. In Mr. Mercedes -- a summer thriller if ever there was one -- King tells the story of a man who has already committed one violent act and is threatening something worse. When Brady Hartfield plowed through a crowd in a stolen Mercedes, he killed eight people and escaped. Still at large, he is threatening another act that could kill or maim thousands. A retired policeman and two allies are in a race to stop him.
That Night
Chevy Stevens
That Night is the story of Toni, a 34 year old woman who was convicted of murdering her younger sister when she was a teenager. She is on parole and wants to move on with her life, but circumstances are making that difficult. She may need to find out what truly happened that night and prove her innocence before she can move on.
An Untamed State
The Vacationers
Roxane Gay's short stories and essays have gained her attention and made her debut novel, An Untamed State, one of the most buzzed about debuts of early 2014. An Untamed State is billed as a page turner that you won't want to put down, but sounds like it is best for those with thicker skin. This is the story of a Haitian-born woman who returns to Haiti with her American husband and baby. She is kidnapped and sexually tortured for almost two weeks. Much of the novel deals with the psychological aftermath and ways her life falls apart after her release.
The Vacationers starts at the airport and ends with the plane ride home
Roxane Gay
Herman Koch
Emma Straub
after two weeks of vacation in Mallorca. During that time, the Post family and some close friends work through family secrets, rivalries and tensions. Emma Straub keeps the pages turning in this summery story.
BOOK CLUB
A woman's Work IS Never DONE T
his book is a great gift to give to a friend as a birthday gift, as I did with my best friend. It is written by my favorite gift books' author Helen Exley. She is well known for having many gift books under different titles that are very popular, such as; To My Great Friend, The Baby Blessing, Little Things Mean A lot and many more. Her business of gift books started as a family initiative that was meant to give people a meaningful gift that friends and family members could share amongst each others. Now Helen's gift books are widely popular. What is special about her gift books is that they are tiny books that can be easily carried in your pocket, they don't consist of many pages which makes it very easy to read, it has a collection of selected quotations by many authors that is relevant to the topic (title of the book) and a collaboration with a caricature artist to make it fun to look at over and over again. In this book Helen wanted to share the never ending works of a woman; she got quotations related to women as, mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, working ladies and many more. In this specific gift book she collaborated with caricature artist Rowan Barnes Murphy who is well known in that field. Here are examples of some of the quotes that were included in the mini book: "All mothers are physically handicapped. They have only two hands." – Author Unknown
"Just as every human being believes he has a novel in him, so every uxorious husband believes his wife has a cookery book in her." – Alice Thomas Ellis (1912-2005) "The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents." – John J. Plomp You could find Helen Exley's gift books at the gift shops stores as well as co-ops at affordable price, I also recommend that you read it before you gift it to your friend, it is always a good read.
Available online on Pinterest.com
Nada Soliman
[email protected]
Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author.
June, 2014
THE UPCOMING SUMMER
S
ummer is every student’s favorite part of the year, because it’s the time where students relax from all the stress of the final exams and get an abundant amount of free time as reward for their hard work. They spend this 3-month’s vacation leisurely having fun, and enjoying themselves. Some travel to other countries, and others lay back everyday watching TV, playing videogames, or hang out with their family and friends. Summer is, at the beginning, every student’s paradise. But gradually, and after doing all of what they had in mind, it becomes a bore; merely some time to waste before school/ college starts again. Because it becomes Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Adnan is studying Theoretical Physics at the college of Sciences and Technology in Kuwait University. His Hobbies include Anime, manga, heavy metal, jazz, gaming, writing, and reading. In Writing field he is into Reviews, critiques, essays, plays, and short short-stories. Adnan can be contacted by email: [email protected]
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repetitive really soon. Work (or in students’ case: study) is supplementary to our happiness. That’s why we tend to crave going back to school after long breaks. Sadly in Kuwait, students don’t recognize their full potentials. Accomplishments during this vacation are scarce. Most people focus on how to have fun the following day, and that is a major waste of time. Summer is the best time for doing projects. Sure, we should have fun in summer, but summer is all about productivity and creativity, that's why it’s important to consider having a plan for the upcoming summer, and the ones that come after, so that we all could be helpful members in our society. Besides, what's more fun than having a list of achievements crossed out? Imagine all the things you could come up with in 90 days of free time. Think of all the possibilities. Surely, we all have hobbies, and we all like challenges, so why not challenge ourselves (or our friends) to do the greatest
things this summer? You can start practicing on your guitar, or start writing a story. You can arrange a book-reading contest with your friends or family, or you can learn about new topics you weren’t enlightened on. You can practice drawing and sketching, or start a new club with special activities. The choices are endless, the time is abundant, and recreational activities are variant, and only you can decide how this summer turns out in the end. After all, you are the one behind your final decision: This summer can be your best yet, or just another passing vacation. We may have hard times, or some problems with family or such, but we always rise after, and make the best of our time. So ask yourself this: “What’s going to happen this summer?” Will you let it pass, or will you make the best of it? Good luck on your exams, and have a nice productive fun summer vacation!
June, 2014
Wataniya is Now Ooredoo CityPages Meets Sarah Al Enzi at Ooredoo
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
CityPages meets Sarah Al Enzi the Junior Sales Executive – Sales/Retail at Ooredoo for 2.5 years. Sarah holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administrations from Kuwait University. At Ooredoo, her tasks includes: Listening to customers to aid in finding the right bundle of services & products to comply with their needs, selling & marketing the company's products & services to them, providing the customers with information & building loyalty, and acting as a liaison between the company & the market. In our meeting with Sarah we wanted to know more about the transition of Wataniya telecom to Ooredoo and why the name "Ooredoo"?
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. citypageskuwait.com
Available online on Pinterest.com
it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. June, 2014
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. They expect more from us now. They want more tailored services and products that fit better with their lifestyles. And More than that, they wanted us to listen to what they want and provide it to them. We have promised ourselves to be Caring, Connecting and Challenging. We want to care for our customers and for what matters to them. We want to connect with them, and listen to what they want. We also want to add some challenge so that they always ask us for more, because that’s how we will develop and innovate.
After the studies done by Ooredoo Group on choosing an Arabic name, why the name “Ooredoo”? The group wanted an Arabic name that represents its Arabic identity across all countries it operates in and it also wanted a name that reflect what customers wants are. Therefore, the name “Ooredoo” was chosen, which in English means “I want.” By this name we give chances to our customers to tell us what they want. Ooredoo is the word that every customer normally says when coming to a branch; “I want” fast internet, “I want” personalized services, and much more. We encourage our customers to tell us what they want so we can continue to innovate and develop more services.
How is the vision of Ooredoo affecting your deliverables to customers? Ooredoo’s vision is all about enriching people's lives in Kuwait. To enrich people’s lives means we want to serve them by not only providing them with telecom services, but also by helping them grow in their communities within Kuwait and supporting them reach their potential to contribute to human growth. This is what makes us different than other telecoms in Kuwait. We are a communitybased company which makes us responsible of contributing to the social development of the communities within Kuwait. We want to enable youth, champion women and empower entrepreneurs and small businesses.
What opportunities does Ooredoo give to young ambitious Kuwaitis like you? With my experience in the Sales Division, I believe that Ooredoo definitely sees potential in Kuwaiti youth. The company believes in their great skills and abilities as there are many young enthusiastic and passionate Kuwaitis working now in different divisions in the company. Ooredoo provides different job opportunities for graduates as well as experienced Kuwaitis. This comes from the company’s vision as it believes in enabling youth and helping them grow. The company also provides continuous training and growth opportunities within it. What we learned from Ooredoo as employees is that it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. 112
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Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
to add to your wishlist
An Amazon Fire TV, Digital Paper System, and more amazing must-haves
Nendo Cubic Rubber Band Our favorite design this month is a cubic rubber band. The shape does two things: It makes the band easier to pick up and gives it a firmer grip. We still haven’t found the best way to shoot it, though.
Rhythm Downlight Led Astronauts on the ISS see 15 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. So to help them get into some kind of routine, scientists researched the optimum wavelength of light for suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin. Blue light proved best, which is why Lighting Science’s new Rhythm Downlight bulb uses blasts of blue to keep you alert, followed by a relaxing tune when you need to rest.
Ryno The Ryno looks like the love child of a motorcycle and a unicycle. But unlike either, there’s little balancing required: A gyroscope and accelerometers help keep a rider upright. Leaning forward accelerates the electric bike to speeds up to 10 mph.
Moog Theremini Hitting the right note on a theremin is surprisingly difficult. So Moog added pitch control to its latest model. With the control turned up, it’s impossible to play a wrong note. Lessen it, and there’s room for vibrato.
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Flir One The Flir One is a thermal imaging device for an iPhone. It detects infrared energy from 32°F to 212°F. Uses include seeing in the dark, locating heat loss, and cheating at hide-and-seek.
Digital Paper System Sony’s new Digital Paper System wants to liberate your office from its dependence on dead trees with an E-ink tablet. This low-power device lasts three weeks between charges, lets you edit, create and annotate documents, and at 6.6mm thick is thinner than your average notepad. When you’re done working you can upload your files to the cloud via Wi-Fi or save them to an SD card.
Crescent Switchblade This multi-tool has four interchangeable heads—three blades and a plier—for various activities, such as shingle work and cutting wires.
Htc One (M8)
Click And Grow Smart Herb Garden
Regular readers will remember the Lytro camera we tested in issue 251, which lets you change the focus of a picture after it's been taken. Two years later, the HTC One (M8) is the first smartphone to mimic this feature, using two lenses at the rear of the phone to do the job. This means if you’ve accidentally focused your photo on a lamp post rather than the landscape behind it, you can correct the error when you get home.
If astronauts can grow plants in space, then you can grow them right here on terra firma. Inspired by NASA technology, this miniature garden helps you grow healthy plants indoors. You simply add some water to the specially designed solution – which is full of the optimum O2 and nitrate levels for growth – and then leave the smart pot and light to work their magic.
Amazon Fire Tv Another nail in the coffin for broadcast telly, Fire TV brings streaming services such as Netflix, iPlayer and, of course, Amazon Instant Video to your TV. But unlike other streamers, it also offers streaming videogames and a dedicated games controller. And with Amazon’s purchasing power you can bet they’ll be able to offer access to most on-demand TV before the year’s out.
Feddz Electric Bike An electric motor takes up a lot less space than a petrol one. This battery-driven scooter uses the extra room to let its rider carry much more than they could on a typical motorbike. Where the fuel tank and engine would have been there are now 23 litres of storage space. Fully loaded and charged, it’ll offer a range of 70km – enough for most commutes – and will even charge your smartphone en route. June, 2014
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.تقنيات الثمانيات تعود للحياة
وهي إحدى عمالقة التقنية اليابانية أنها قامت وبشكلSony صرحت ١٤٨ مستقل بتطوير شريط تسجيل مغناطيسي بسعة تخزين تيرابايت١٨٥ وهذا يعني القدرة على تخزين،جيجابايت لكل إنش مربع فيلم بلوراي٣٧٠٠ بمعنى آخر يمكنك تخزين.في شريط كاسيت واحد IBM بشريط كاسيت واحد فقط! هذا اإلنجاز تم بالتعاون مع شركة هذه التقنية، حتى اآلن.والتي ساهمت بقياس كثافة التسجيل مصممة لتخزين البيانات اإلحتياطية للشركات الكبرى والحواسيب نحن نعتقد أنه ستكون هناك منافسة.)Supercomputer( الخارقة على توفيرSony كبيرة مع شركات التقنية األخرى والتي ستجبر لم تعلن عن موعد طرحSony شركة.هذه التقنية للمستهلك الحقًا ولكن عندما يحصل ذلك سيكون بمثابة انتصار،الشريط في األسواق .لحقبة الثمانينات
80's Technology Returns to Life The giant Japanese technology company Sony announced that they have dependently developed a soft magnetic tape technology with areal recording density of 148GB/in2. This means it will be able to record (185TB) worth of storage in a single tape. In other words, you can store 3700 blurays in one simple cartridge. This breakthrough comes with the help of IBM corporation who assisted them with the measurement of the recording density. It's designed for long-term industrial-sized data backup. For now, this technology is designed to work with supercomputers. We think there will be a huge competition between other technology companies that will force Sony to bring this technology to the consumer later on. Sony wouldn’t say when this tape will hit the market, but when it does it will be a victory to the 80's era.
Yousif AlSaeed Saad Almseikan A burger lover who works as a Computer Technician during the day. Saad has a curious mind that likes to discover everything new that's related to computers, hardware, gadgets and technology. You'll most probably find him holding a burger while playing with a new gadget. He is 27 years old, loves Mixed Martial Arts. Music is what keeps him going especially Rock & Roll.
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Yousif holds a BSc. in Information Technology & Computing Degree and is a Teacher and Software Developer. He loves sharing the latest technology news and gadgets with people. Yousif believes that behind everything in the tech-world is a great story. He spends most of his time reading technology blogs and self development.
Available online on Pinterest.com
The End of Apple vs. Google Lawsuit. Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist between the two major companies. They also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. In 2010 Motorola Mobility (Owned by Google) accused Apple of infringing several patent while Apple said they violated its patents regarding smartphones features. Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012 for 12.5$ billion. This year Google decided to sell the Motorola Mobility to Lenovo but it will keep the majority of Motorola's patent portfolio.
Third Time is a Charm. Microsoft Suface Pro 3. After two runs on the tablet business, Microsoft gets the hang of it. With this edition, they introduce a lighter and thinner tablet with great features and a stunning screen (2160 x 1440pix ). They even threw a pen with it to make it user-friendly. It comes with redesigned kickstand that allows you to set it at any angle (between 22 - 150 degrees). Also, it has a new 5mm ultra-thin keyboard with backlit .You can pre-order it now starting from 799$ - 1949$ and it ships on August 31st.
The World's Most Valuable Brands are Tech Companies Google got the 1st rank with a value of 159$ billion after beating Apple which slipped to 2nd rank. IBM remain in the 3rd place followed by Microsoft in the 4th ( was 7th ). Facebook is in the 21st place ( was 31st ). Samsung is in the 29th place ( was 30th ). Oracle is in the 45th place ( was 36th ). HP is in the 49th ( was 54th ). The first 4 companies leading this chart are technology companies and their value surpass 500$ billion. How long will these companies hold and lead the chart?!
The Second Worst Data Breach in History More than 145 millions accounts compromised! eBay said that hackers raided its network three months ago. The company advised its users to change their passwords immediately. eBay said "We don't know that they decrypted the passwords because it would not be easy to do.�. These records contain passwords, email addresses, mailing addresses, date of birth and other personal information, but no financial data (credit cards information). The biggest data breach was in October 2013 when a hacker accessed Adobe System and collected information that belongs to 152 million user accounts.
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Samsung New Health SAMI Sensor & SIMBAND Mock-up. Samsung introduced Samsung Architecture Multimodal Interaction or "SAMI" Sensor & SIMBAND with open software, open hardware and mechanical as well. Its a mock-up to help inspire future partners. Samsung's goal is to converge the IT technology with health and wellness. The new era after the wearable gears is "Wearable Sensors". Young Sohn, the president and chief strategy officer of Samsung says: we should know about our bodies as much as we know about our cars for instance. He says, that our aim that someday you have sensors that know much more about your body. Samsung working with Interuniversity MicroElectronics Centre “IMEC" and University of California San Francisco to start the dialog between tech and health. Its a beginning of a new health era that will help us to take care of ourself and our body. Its a great initiative from Samsung and its worth a shout out.
LG G3: The Next Smartphone From LG. After a lot of rumours and gossips regarding the G3, LG officially announced their G3. A metallic skin, an arc design and a 5.5 inch Quad HD display ( 2560 x 1440 ) with a pixel density of 538ppi. 13MP Camera and dual flash. 3000mAh removable battery and a smart keyboard with adjustable height and adaptive keyboard. Its running the latest Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. And definitely it will be coming with 4G/LTE. "Knock Code" feature allow you to access your phone with a simple knock pattern on your screen. "Smart Security� to help you maintain and securing your data when your phone is shared, misplaced or stolen. From what they are saying and how the phone looks, we are sure its going to be a great breakthrough in their smartphone business. 118
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Apple WWDC 2014. What is your app!? An App can open things that you might not know about before. 9 million registered developers. 300 million visitor a week for the app store with 75 billion downloaded apps so far. that is a fraction of what this conference is about. Apple CEO Mr.Tim Cook introduced a new OS X that is going to work seamlessly together with iOS. The new OS X Yosemite will be more friendly to users. With new user interface inspired by iOS 7 and whole new features, user can receive or make calls right from his mac without touching his iPhone. Moreover, user can send SMS/ iMessages, send audio notes too. You can instantly connect to the internet “Instant Hotspot” with just view clicks on your Mac. The new "iCloud Drive” is a new feature to your iCloud account. Now you can create folders and upload any type of files to use it with your iOS apps or your Windows. Now your Mac and your iOS devices know what each other is doing, this “Handoff” feature allows you to start something on you Mac and pick it up on another iOS instantly and vice versa. And now you can send up to 5GB attachment with your email, even if the recipient server have a size limitation, the Mail will use the “Mail Drop” feature to send the attachment file to the iCloud server and give the recipient a secure link for it. But if both of users using Mail in the Mac, then no need for that feature. And a lot of amazing features with this update we can`t elaborate on them all. iOS 8, its all about the software and what`s under the user interface, is the big deal. Apple gives the developers rich access and lots of tools. Now, apps can communicate with each other. For example, you don’t need to open and edit documents using more apps, and to share documents between apps without creating unnecessary copies. There are a lot of new changes and features to the new iOS, its to simply and to make us create our natural experience the way we want it. Starting from the Photo app that make you discover and search your moments, event and specific dates. The design, new notification centre, new widget bar, new automatic photo enhancer, smart keyboard, the whole new "family sharing" feature which we think its really amazing. moreover, new Health app and health kit to make your activity tracker, heart rate monitor, and other health and fitness apps talk to each other. A spotlight search can now search wikipedia, places nearby trending news and much more in a single search bar. What Apple did to developers? Well, they did a lot. With the new SDK they gave the developers the advantages to use the
iCloud, Touch ID, and more to integrates with their apps. With more than 4000 new APIs they give the developers a deeperthan-ever access to iOS capabilities. Starting from Sharing Option, Photo Editing, Custom Action, Notification Centre, Documents to the amazing kits they already releasing like PhotoKit, HomeKit, HealthKit and CloudKit. They didn’t forget the Gaming generation. They are adding the SceneKit to render the games in 3D and a new technology called “Metal” that allow them to squeeze the maximum performance from the A7 chip. Last but not least, they introduce a new programming language, oh yes they did. It`s called Swift. This what they have to say about it: "Swift is an innovative new programming language for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch. Writing code is interactive and fun, the syntax is concise yet expressive, and apps run lightning-fast and it works side-by-side with Objective-C.” Finally, with 97% overall satisfaction for iOS7. iOS 8, Apple`s Giant release so far and we bet its the best integration between the iOS and OS X till this date.
June, 2014
تطورات شركة أبل
تستعد
شركة آبل رسميًا لالعالن رسميًا في السنوي مؤتمرها للمطورين WWDC 2014عن منصة Smart ، Homeحيث تعمل آبل على جعل iOSيتحكم بالمنازل واألعمال الداخلية بداخله ،حيث تسمح بتغيير اعدادات األجهزة االستهالكيه الموجودة في المنزل المتصلة بشبكة االنترنت لكل مستخدمي هواتف ال iPhoneولوحيات ال . iPadوأيضًا يمكنك التحكم في االضاءة داخل وخارج المنزل ، وبامكانك تفعيل أجهزة االنذار عند مغادرة المنزل . من ناحية أخرى شركة جوجل لديها منصة مشابهة لها التي تحمل اسم . Android@Home
تم مؤخرًا تسريب مجموعة من الصور ذات الجودة العالية التي ستتميز بها هاتف iPhone 6الحديث وأيضًا فيديو لنموذج وهمي للجيل القادم من هاتف .iPhoneمن مميزاته سوف تكون شاشة االيفون أكبر بحجم 4.7انش باالضافة الى النحافة التي اضافها جماالً وسوف تكون الحواف للهاتف مدورة، وبالطبع كعادتها سيأتي هيكل الهاتف مصنوعًا أصبحت التكنولوجيا أيضًا ليس بمتناول اليد فقط من االلمنيوم الفاخر .لمشاهدة الفيديو لنموذج بل أيضًا للتحكم بمقتنياتنا ،أسعدني هذا التصريح االيفون المقبل عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة حيث يمكن للمسافرون بالتحكم بالمنزل حيث السريع -: خاصية االنذار لها دور هام في حماية منازلنا .أصبحت تطورات شركة آبل تتنافس بجدارة للوصول الى الصدارة حيث قامت بترويج الجهاز اللوحي iPad Air وقامت بنشر اعالنين يوضح فيها المهام االساسية الستخدام الجهاز ،على سبيل المثال :المساعدة على سهولة التنقل بين البلدان ،ومساعدة أيضًا ضعاف السمع على الكتابة واستغالل مواهبهم .أردت أن أشارككم لمشاهدة االعالنين عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة السريع -:
Faisal Ben Dhofari General manager / Owner Click integrated Media Solutions Faisal Ben Dhofari
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Abdulla Ashkanani An entrepreneurial spirit
Translating a European brand in a foreign land Abdulla Ashkanani, partner and general manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait, is a young, motivated and hard-working Kuwaiti with a strong entrepreneurial drive. Abdulla has entrepreneurship deeply rooted in his genes. His grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate, his father was a jeweler and also worked in real estate. Being hailed from a family with strong business background and wanting to tap into fashion retail with a will to build a company off of the simple idea of doing things his own way, owner Abdulla Ashkanani opened up the doors to the Piel De Toro Kuwait store in 2013. You may have thought that the recent rise of clothing label Piel De Toro Kuwait came out of nowhere, but the Spain-based collective has been bubbling overseas for years. This unique Spanish fashion brand has created itself a niche on the international market due to its high level of creativity, quality and the manner in which it interprets the latest trends. Abdulla and his wife Reem Behbehani; who is also the marketing and PR manager of the company, are focused on taking the label to the next level. CityPages caught up with Abdulla Ashkanani to get his thoughts on the state of fashion, challenges his business had to face and how he is setting the pace for the future.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our reader: My name is Abdulla Ashkanani, and I am a partner and General Manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait. I am also a Vice President of Business Development in the private sector. Tell us about your education: I hold a bachelors degree in finance from Kuwait University. My international work experience allowed me to tap into some cultures and languages. I speak a little Spanish in addition to Danish, Arabic and English of course. So it all came in handy with this business. How and when did the idea of opening the Piel de Toro store in Kuwait come up? Our first vacation home was in Spain in 1978. So my parents took us there on a yearly basis. I feel very connected to Spain and its culture. So back in 2012, while on one of my visits to Spain with my brother, we spotted Piel De Toro and decided to take the chance and bring it to Kuwait. Upon arriving to Kuwait, we contacted the brand owners, who were very excited to the idea, and things developed quite rapidly from then. What was your previous experience in fashion retail? I come from a family with a lot of business background. My grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate. My father was a jeweler, and also worked in real estate. As you can see, our family is fairly new to fashion retail. I think this is might be one of the reasons I took on the challenge to expand our family business and tap into this market. How was the initial response? The initial response was amazing. Those who visit Spain know the brand, and are very excited to see it in Kuwait. Those who were newly introduced to the brand quickly became loyal customers. It is wonderful to see our costumers returning often to update their wardrobe. What are some of the challenges that you had to face and how did you overcome them? It is crucial to any business to understand the market and what customers want. It was a challenge at the beginning being a European brand, with bold colors and smaller sizes, but we swiftly learned to adjust to the local taste. The language barrier is always an obstacle since not too many Spanish people speak English fluently. Nonetheless, the brand owners were very supportive since the launch and are excited to see this project work; especially that this is the first store for Piel De Toro in the Middle East. I’m sure the other challenges we faced are shared by most start ups in Kuwait – ranging from finding the right sales team to bureaucracy and lengthy paperwork cycles.
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Now, you have completed a year in Kuwait. How would you describe the success and experience for the brand in Kuwait within this year? I believe that Piel De Toro is becoming the next big thing in the fashion retail market. Our customers are very proud to be seen wearing Piel De Toro and their support for the brand is what keeps us going. I also believe that Piel De Toro is now becoming a recognized and competing brand amongst the retail fashion brands in Kuwait. Your wife is also involved in running the business. How do you think this has helped you succeed? I was looking for a marketing and PR manager to handle all related aspects of this business, and I have interviewed a few candidates for this position. Unfortunately, I was not satisfied. I truly believe that this position is the face of Piel De Toro, and it required someone with a passion for fashion alongside the academic background. I was hesitant at the beginning, but I could not find a better candidate than my wife Reem Behbehani. She is both passionate and dedicated. Reem holds a bachelors degree in Finance as well, and is currently doing her MBA with a concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. My wife has probably had more experience in the fashion retail having had her own line of accessories, and doing a bit of fashion and weddings-related blogging on the side too. Besides raising our 3 adorable kids, she is an event planner and a window designer. My wife has been with me from the start, and knows almost everything about the history of Piel De Toro Kuwait. She is socially very active too which made it easier for us to plan and execute events, and reach out to the social media, as well as our loyal customers. How often does the new collection arrive at the store? We generally have 3-4 major shipments arrive to Kuwait every year. Usually, our winter collection arrives to Kuwait during September, and our major summer collection arrives in February. We carry a wide selection of men, ladies, and children apparel at very competitive prices. A very successful line for us in the past year has been the “like-daddy” collection. Kids love to dress up like their role models, and we give them just that! Are there any specific designs that you have the brand made for Kuwait market? Yes, there were a few designs that were specifically made for Kuwait during last winter collection, and we hope to see more during the upcoming months. The franchise owners love to hear our feedback, and work hard to provide us with what customers are looking for. What differentiates Piel de Toro from other brands in the same category?
Piel de Toro represents the Andalucian lifestyle. It projects the colors and energy of southern Spain. 90% of all of our apparel are made in Spain, and this positions us strongly in the market for excellent designs, fabrics and finish. What does wearing Piel de Toro mean? It means you’re happy and proud. You radiate with youthful energy, pride (represented by the Andalucían horse), and bravery (represented by the bull). Do you have any customer loyalty scheme in place at the store? We constantly find ways to reward our returning customers; whether through events or special promotions. We are also working with the mother company on developing a special loyalty program to further benefit our base of clientele. What are some of your future plans? We are working on expanding the brand within Kuwait and the GCC markets. We hope to see another location in the region during 2014 inshalah. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I would really like to thank CityPages for celebrating with us our 1st anniversary, and giving us a great coverage for the event. Thank you for this interview. Our Piel De Toro family congratulates you on your recent completion of 50 amazing issues. We are proud of your achievements and the trail you leave for others to follow. Many more years of success! inshalah.
June, 2014
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Radisson Blu Hotel - @radissonbluhotelkuwait
Red Carpet Collection 2014 Sixty-seven dazzling creations
T
he romance between Chopard and the Cannes Film Festival has blossomed continuously since 1998, the year Chopard became the Official Partner of the world’s most renowned film festival. Since the 60th anniversary of the Festival in 2007, Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard, has annually created an original Haute Joaillerie collection intended to exalt the beauty of the actresses for their red carpet appearance: the Red Carpet Collection. Each spring, the famous “Red Carpet” of the Festival is the showcase of 126
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dazzling new creations with Chopard taking up the extraordinary challenge of introducing a number of high jewellery pieces equal to the number of Cannes Film Festival editions. For this year, the 67th edition, 67 unique creations inspired by the glamour and the voluptuous beauty of the actresses who lit up the heyday Italian cinema of the 1950’s and 1960’s will be unveiled. As a preview, Chopard is presenting at Baselworld two magnificent pair of earrings, the first composed of diamond briolettes and emeralds, the second one of amethysts
and diamonds, as well as the leading model of the collection, the Riviera jewellery set composed of a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings, radiating a fascinating aura of opulent seduction. The Red Carpet Collection 2014 will once again testify to Chopard’s considerable talents in the field of Haute Joaillerie: a full range of talented and experienced artisans in the workshops of Chopard mingle timehonoured techniques and cutting-edge technologies to craft these unique creations.
Swarovski Women’s Watch Collection 2014 Combining a rich jewelry heritage, a spirit for innovation and the high precision of Swiss watch making, Swarovski offers impeccable timepieces infused with an inimitable touch of glamour. Be it for everyday wear or for special occasions, the watch collection
Hamilton’s latest high-flyer A Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition takes to the skies In the Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition, sophisticated design houses a drift-angle calculator to satisfy the technical and aesthetic demands of all aviation enthusiasts. Proudly rooted in Hamilton’s century-long heritage of aviation firsts, this timepiece is a codeshare of horological fascination and contemporary styling. This special limited edition will be sought after by pilots and wannabe pilots the world over.
comprises pieces that reflect Swarovski’s esthetic codes, expert crystal faceting, and a true passion for the detail. Swarovski unveils at Baselword three new lines for 2014 as well as re-colorings of many popular designs.
Calvin Klein bold Iconic. Sophisticated. Calvin Klein bold. A classic timepiece that celebrates the refined luxury of the Calvin Klein brand. First launched in 2007, the remarkable Calvin Klein bold is now redesigned for both men and women. The black leather strap style is paired with either a polished stainless steel or PVD gold case and black or silver dial. The polished stainless steel bracelet style is offered with a polished and brushed stainless steel case and black, silver, dark blue or light blue dial. Two chronograph options, one with the black leather strap and one with the polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet, are also available. Each watch is enhanced by a “Calvin Klein” logo at 12 o’clock and features superluminova hour and minute hands that subtly illuminate in the dark for convenience.
Gent style is water resistant to 5 bar. Gent chronograph style is water resistant to 10 bar. June, 2014
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BANANA REPUBLIC AND MARIMEKKO ANNOUNCE LIMITED-EDITION CAPSULE COLLECTION FOR SUMMER 2014 Banana Republic Marimekko Collection Brings a Pop of Color to her Summer Wardrobe
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9 POST BEACH: 1.Dolce & Gabbana tee 110k.d 2.Givenchy T 170k.d 3.Alexander
McQueen T 80k.d 4.PRPS skinny jeans 310k.d 5.Alexander McQueen scarf 60k.d 6.Jacob Cohen slim jeans 130k.d 7.Converse sneakers 40k.d 8.Golden Goose Deluxe Brand sneakers 120k.d 9.Christian Louboutin loafers 385k.d
THE BRAND:
sneakers
Price: High top 280k.d / Low top 220k.d
Zouch is about men's fashion, giving insight on what, how and when to wear. Think of Zouch as your personal fashion consultant. This page relates to all men of all ages as a helping tool to dress with style and edge. Find your own individual style as we push boundaries for you. Rest assured we will keep you updated with all the latest fashion news, men's trends and lots more. Instagram: @zouchfashion Twitter: @zouchfashion Facebook: Facebook.com/zouchfashion June, 2014
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VICTORIA’S SECRET ANGEL KARLIE KLOSS REVEALS THE NEW LOOK OF VICTORIA’S SECRET HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss unveiled the new look of Heavenly, Victoria’s Secret’s original Angel fragrance. The stunning Supermodel is the face of the brand’s newest campaign. The iconic fragrance she knows and loves has been reinvented. For the first time, Heavenly debuts a sleek new bottle shape and features a jeweled Angel wing charm embedded in the cap. With notes of White Musk, Sandalwood, Vanilla and White Peony, this gorgeous fragrance is heaven scent. The award-winning scent received the prestigious FiFi Fragrance Foundation Award for “Fragrance of the Year” in 2000. Since its debut, there have been more Heavenly Eau de Parfum bottles sold in the U.S. than any other fragrance. “We’re giving our customer an all-new reason to love our Heavenly fragrance,” said Sharen Jester Turney, president and chief executive officer of Victoria’s Secret. “It’s been our best-selling fragrance since it launched in 1999 and now our customer is going to covet the exquisite new bottle design just as much as the Heavenly scent inside.”
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High Jewelry Timepieces “I want to see this stone have grace and beauty and form.” – Mr. Harry Winston
Known as the King of Diamonds, Harry Winston’s life was devoted to celebrating the rarity and beauty of these extraordinary stones. Throughout his lifetime, it is estimated that more than a third of the world’s most important diamonds passed through his hands. Often purchased as rough, several of these spectacular stones were cut, polished and transformed into legends under Mr. Winston’s watchful eye. He reveled in the process of watching a rough stone evolve into a remarkable gem, and took pride in his ability to successfully determine a diamond’s final destined shape by simply holding the stone in his hands. Mr. Winston was particularly fond of fancy-shaped gems, whether featured alone in the striking silhouette of a large solitaire, or as numerous stones combined to create a Winston cluster motif. In this year’s extraordinary new collection of High Jewelry Timepieces, we honor Mr. Winston’s fascination with a diamond’s finished form. Each stunning creation takes its cues from the timeless beauty of fancy-shaped stones, and marries the House’s time-honored techniques in fine jewelry craftsmanship with the traditions of fine Swiss watch making. June, 2014
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A Grunge Affair D espite my bi-polar attitude towards fashion, (meaning my style evolves constantly based on my mood and whatever is tickling my fashion pickle at the time), anyone who knows me would agree that Grunge is my thing. My love for grunge, mainly 90’s inspired grunge with a contemporary touch (a mouthful I know), has evidently grown over the years. I love the effortlessly cool and badass look of it; I love how it’s so… street, for lack of better words. 90’s grunge is an era that brought us 80’s-90’s kids Kurt Kobain, Doc Martins, and Nirvana. All those factors obviously influenced the fashion world when it comes to street style and casual clothing. Hair was messy, t shirts worn out and/or a little too short, and shoes bulky and very rock and roll. Because grunge is so casual, I’m going to stay away from talking about high fashion and going to focus on high street clothing. We have recently seen a great amount of contemporary clothing and grunge influence in fashion for the past few years. So many high street shops like Zara, Topshop and H&M really give into the grunge theme; I love that because I always find something I can use to mix and match with other contemporary designers. Because fashion is so versatile and has no rules (obviously— wouldn’t be fun anymore), many fashion
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lovers like to mix grunge with bohemian or very clean minimalist contemporary clothing. Personally, because I can never make up my mind about what I like best, I find myself always changing it up. My grunge outfits usually consist of ripped jeans, plain v-neck tees, biker boots/doc martins/converse, heavy eye liner, and a lot of rings. I usually go for nude or dark colors for bags; mostly black actually. I also love 90’s style crop tops and tapered high wasted jeans as well, which are normally blue or grey acid wash. When I want to clean up the look a bit more but still keep it edgy and cool, I usually keep the colors and print minimal, so plain white, grey, and black usually, but I still add on the grungy accessories to add a bit of “character”, so to speak, to my outfits. For this look I love to mix my metals and go for plain statement necklaces. I also pay more attention to the cut and style of my clothes so it remains modern, and I almost always rock black nails—only because I think it’s timeless and very chic. Grunge is definitely not boring, and is so easy to pull off when done right. But of course with everything in life, always remember not to go overboard so it doesn’t end up looking too gothic- unless that’s your thing in which case, all the power to you!
Talah Al Abdulaaly Talah is a 23 years young and an avid fashion lover. Her heart lies in fashion, and everything that comes with it. She enjoys writing about it, buying it, styling it, and the list goes on. Living in London, one of the worlds fashion hot spots, for around 5 years gave her the chance to channel her passion even more. She met people from the industry, worked closely with a designer, gained some styling experience, and most importantly, got to be inspired from the ever so urban street style almost everywhere she went.
June, 2014
first produc t to breaking carbon ultra-lightweight
Oakley Ignites Relationship with Scuderia Ferrari
hat goes into the i cars.
in ma terials and craftsmanship represented by both fiber and titanium, it features Scuderia Ferrari red dly distinguishes the collec tion.
The partnership be tween Oakley and Scuderia Ferrari is a deep alliance be tween two brands with a rich heritage of engineering and technical excellence. As the multi-year partnership develops, the companies will share design philosophies and engineering insights even further, enabling greater collaboration and innova tion across a range of areas. With the partnership agreement, Oakley is the Official Licensee in eyewear, as well as the Official Supplier to Scuderia Ferrari. The team’s drivers will carry the Oakley logo on their helme ts throughout the season. The Scuderia Ferrari Carbon Blade™, part of the Scuderia Ferrari collection, is the first product created to celebra te this partnership.
بايليس تطلقتشكيلة جديدة لموسم الصيف تشكيلةجديدةملوسمالصيفتش،العالمة الرائدة في مجال مبيعات األحذية بالتجزئة جلميع أفراد العائلة، تطلقبايليس: وستتوفرالتشكيلة اجلديدةلدىجميع محالتبايليس في الكويت.ملباقة متنوعةمن الصنادل واحلقائب بتصاميم عصرية . مايو27 ابتدا ًءمن وتعكسهذهالتشكيلةالتزامبايليساملتواصل باجلودة العاليةوقدرتهاعلىتلبيةمتطلباتزبائنهاوتعزيزمكانتهاكوجهةأساس باإلضافة إلىاالكسسواراتبتصاميممميزةبأف،يةلألحذيةاملريحة املالئمة لإلستخدام اليوميوتلك اخلاصة باملناسبات اخملتلفة .ضالألسعارجلميعأفرادالعائلة
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Tory Burch Fall 2014 “The inspiration starts with the armor my parents collected. The references are subtle, whether in the mix of textures (woven, quilted, pleated) or in the tapestry brocades and florals. The focus is on clean, strong silhouettes with bold embellishments. Accessories reflect the mood — belts with chain details, lace-up ghillie heels and muffs.” — Tory Burch
GET SUMMER-READY WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER AQUA RANGE Why settle for less when you can get flawless makeup results this summer no matter how hot or humid it is. MAKE UP FOR EVER brings you the summer must-haves for a perfect and longlasting makeup. Its award-winning Aqua range offers you a wide range of colorful products for a fresh and lively summer. Combining long-wear and easy application, Aqua Range is ideal for women who want quick-to-apply makeup that is both flawless and very long-lasting. Guaranteed waterproof, it offers maximum resistance to water and rubbing to provide unique staying power on the face, eyes and lips. The intense pigments hold up perfectly all day long, and all night too to perfect your makeup style!
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What’s Trending Sizzling Stripes
Fashionable Florals Patterns, prints and pastels are in this season, and nothing represents this time of year better than flowers! This year, panning between extremes, floral prints go from subtle to brassy, and modern to nineties. With mixes of colours from greys to pinks, orange and blues, this year turn your summer into a full floral fantasy. First on our list of fashionable florals is the perfect clutch for the summer. Easily transitioned from day to night, the Zulu Clutch is a hot item of the summer with its burst of colour. Also both versatile and fun, the clutch is perfect with a pair of jeans or dressed up for a night out with your girlfriends.
Next on the fashionable floral list is Max&Co.’s SS14’s floral collection, all so uniquely different but one of the same - hot! Beginning with what us girls love and adore, shoes and bags. Available in two different colours, passionate pink or youthful yellow, the Albero tote and Albinoni canvas sneakers come in a fashion for women of different style.
WEEKEND BY MAXMARA - Giudy, striped cotton and linen blend twill Bermuda shorts They say stripes are not flattering, but this summer has proven that wrong. With horizontal and vertical stripes in all shapes, colours and style hitting the runway and shops from casual to luxurious, the ‘nautical’ look has never been more chic. Casual chic is in, and nobody does casual like Weekend by MaxMara. With the perfect apparel that is both comfortable and chic, their SS14 collection focus on the beach and is dedicated to all shades of blue, and stripes of all types. With a fresh perspective on formal outerwear, a favorite of this season is the Giudy shorts. Dressed up in a button-up, or down in a tee, these sizzling striped shorts are a hot trend of the summer and needed in your closet.
JIMMY CHOO - Zulu, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Clutch Bag With hot bags, must always come shoes. Styled in the same burst of colour print is the classic Demi Slip-on. Channelling a luxe sportswear vibe, the trainers are an effortless weekend favorite.
SHOE(S): MAX&CO. - Albinoni, Floral Print Canvas Sneakers
JIMMY CHOO - Demi, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Slip On Trainers
MAX&CO. - Fair, Jacquard Pique Dress While nautical themed thin blue and white stripes are in and seen in dresses, shirts, shorts, skirts and shoes, so are thick, coloured stripes. Dresses are one of the staple pieces that represent summer, but this year the addition of the Shirtdress is something to note. This SS14, Max&Co. has the perfect combination of colour, cut and stripes found in their Fair Dress. So perfect, that the same print is found in a t-shirt, dress and A-line overcoat. 138
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TOTE BAG(S): MAX & CO. - Albero, Floral Print Canvas Tote Bag
Different florals at Max&Co. also calls for different style.This season, pretty pastel florals are represented through the clothing of the collection. Starting with their signature dress, the Corolla is a top trending item of the season. Perfect for a day out with its cooling fabric texture and simple cut, and great with sandals or slip-ons and a summer hat.
JIMMY CHOO - Nyssa, Green, White and Pallisander Snake Print and Vachetta Leather Flat Sandals While stripes and sandals may not be in their forte, Jimmy Choo’s SS14 collection embodies the trend in a simple, subtle way. With distinct stripes of colour found in its cut and colour, the Nyssa Sandal is the perfect incorporation of stripes into your style, and sandals that can be worn throughout the day.
MAX&Co. - Bellini, Floral Print Silk Satin Corolla Dress
this Summer? While summer time may mean shorts, pants are still in and something enjoyed by all women in Kuwait. With a different take on repeated floral patterns, Max&Co.’s Fila pants are the exact bottoms you need on a hot summer day when you want something pretty on. With a fastening invisible zip on the side, they are slim fit, allowing you to layer a t-shirt underneath without worry about looking frumpy.
Flat is Back Now lets talk about the shift of heels into flats this Spring and Summer season. This season, we’ve seen it all on the runways rom ballets to sandals with a twist of luxury. With clean lines and mixing materials, Jimmy Choo has developed a collection made for the season using matte black python, antique brushed gold leather, pointed toes, gold, leopard, studs, straps and snakeskin.
JIMMY CHOO - Harlow, Neon Flame MAX&Co. - Fila, Crêpe De Chine Palazzo Pants
JIMMY CHOO - Beach
JIMMY CHOO - Tabitha, Neon Flame
June, 2014
From the 3 Al Essa Fashion Show for 2014 Ramadan Collection at AlHamra Mall
From the Aubade Jewelry Opening Event
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At the First Anniversary of Cavalli Caffe in Kuwait
At Diet Care's "My Life Concept' And The Reveal Of Its New Logo Event
June, 2014
For more details please visit any of our stores or contact us on @Caribou_social 148
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Caribou_social
At the Opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Exhibition and preview of its 2014 New Fine Watchmaking Collection
At Elie Tahari Boutique in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary and Reveal its Very Limited EDITION 1974 Collection
June, 2014
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At the Tracktionoff Event with the Kuwait Red Bull Champion Mubarak AlRumaidhi
At the Porsche Media Event at Harvey Nichols Celebrating the Success of the Launch of the Porsche Macan in Kuwait.
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At the First Year Anniversary of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa Kuwait
At the Grand Opening of LeSilla Boutique at AlHamra Luxury Center
June, 2014
At the Summer and Ramadan 2014 Collection Launch Event at TRUCCO Kuwait
At the Reopening Event of OYSHO Avenues Store
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At the Asrar Alansari Book Signing Event at That AlSalasel
At Piel De Toro Kuwait's 1st Anniversary Event
CONTACT US FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF YOUR EVENTS [email protected]
June, 2014
CONIC showcases ‘THE ICON’ collection at Fashion Forward
FROM THE PRESS
Gulf Bank Sponsors Q8hoops Project Charity Basketball Tournament for Kuwait Center for Autism
Moisturisation has never been so cool! Treat yourself to the frostiest hydration with The Body Shop’s new Body Sorbets!
The Body Shop is pleased to launch Body Sorbets, an industry first cool body moisturiser infused with juicy fruity scents! The breakthrough sorbet texture instantly melts into skin for a frosty burst of fresh moisture. It is light, fast absorbing, leaves skin instantly moisturised and offers up to 24 hours of hydration. The sorbets are available in five scents: Strawberry, Satsuma, Mango, Moringa and Pink Grapefruit. They will allow The Body Shop lovers to fight the scorching heat this summer and to enjoy the frosted moisture sensation which will leave them feeling fresh and fruity all day long! The Sorbet contains cooling Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera that comes from Guatemala. The aloe leaves are hand-harvested, hand-washed and hand-filleted within 12 hours to preserve the freshness of the gel. The Body Shop’s trade generates vital income for the farmers of the El Progreso region and has helped to supply educational materials to over 100 schools.
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Showcasing for the very first time at Fashion Forward (FFWD), ICONIC unveiled ‘THE ICON’ a capsule collection of key pieces that would very easily translate from catwalk to wardrobe. To celebrate this special collection, ICONIC hosted a Selfie party inspired by the worldwide phenomenon that is selfies and ‘THE ICON’ was launched in a unique fashion presentation. ICONIC was also the only highstreet label that featured in the interesting line up for Day 1 at the FFWD. To set the mood and do justice to the theme, the venue had mirror like reflecting walls that formed the main stage. For the fashion presentation there were island like podiums that were set in three different locations with reflecting surfaces. The models strutted on the podium to a fabulous music mix which also saw a model break into an impromptu jig creating excitement. The roaring party saw the guests taking selfies against the reflecting walls with #myiconicselfie which appeared live as they posted on special selfie screens that were set up at the venue. Inspired by the idea of being in love and expressing yourself as someone who defines beauty and loves to be the center of attention, ‘THE ICON’ is inspired by the latest catwalk trends from the Autumn Winter collections across the world and is a blend of the best styles for the season.
Gulf Bank concluded its sponsorship of the Q8hoops Charity Basketball Tournament, which was organized on behalf of the Kuwait Center for Autism to raise awareness of Autism in Kuwait. The game took place at the Kuwait Basketball Arena in Kaifan between four teams whereby all the basketball players from the Kuwait Center for Autism participated. After an exciting grand finale between the Q8hoops team and the Kuwait Center for Autism team, Hadeel Al Fadhli, Senior ManagerCorporate Communications, representing Gulf Bank, presented commemorative medals to the winning team members. Beforehand, the enthusiastic crowd was entertained by three knock-out games, a hoop-shooting contest between sponsoring companies and a guest knock-out game with Kuwait National Team players, who also played a 3 point and dunk competition. Gulf Bank’s involvement in the tournament was to help encourage greater understanding of Autism in the wider community, and what it really means to children, young people and their families. This latest initiative was to support World Autism Awareness Day, which took place on the 2nd April, and was part of the Autism Awareness Month, which is marked in April each year and recognized around the world through special events and awareness-raising activities. Q8Hoops is a basketball-based project that offers a variety of services such as basketball skills development, personal basketball training, group basketball training, basketball events and camps. Based in Kuwait and established in 2011, the main goal of Q8Hoops is to provide the latest and most advanced basketball skills training, strength and conditioning, injury reduction, nutrition tips, and drills to aid players in increasing their basketball potential. Q8Hoops organizers attended various basketball skills and conditioning camps and training in the United States and they have trained alongside some of the best in the world.
Marvel’s Super-Hero, Spider-Man, Swings Into The Crowd At Fantasy World A perfect summer getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” Collection Continuing the Fight Against Heart Disease in Children Starbucks Intorduces The All New Caramel Crunch Frappuccino® For The First Time In The Region We are delighted to announce that once again in 2014, we will be joining forces with globally renowned actress and model, Ms Inès Sastre, and that together we will be fighting the scourge of heart disease, particularly in women and children, through our support to the World Heart Federation (WHF). Inès will once again be Frédérique Constant’s Female Charity Ambassador, a role she so graciously and effectively filled in 2013. This will be the second consecutive year that Frédérique Constant will be honoured to support the WHF’s “Hearts of Children” campaign. This year, our support takes the form of a US $75,000 donation to the WHF, in addition to the design and creation of a new Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection of watches. Four new watches, each uniquely beautiful Rose gold, diamonds and mother of pearl catch the eye. These are the central features of the four new models in the 2014 Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection. Two of the watches in this new collection are powered by the accurate and reliable FC-303 calibre movement, and the two others by the FC-310, both featuring 26 jewels, automatic winding and a 38 hours of power reserve. The rose gold plated rotor is decorated with the World Heart Federation logo and beautiful sunray bridges, as well as the delicately engraved “Hearts of Children.” The bezel of each model is set with 48 sparkling diamonds, totalling 0.74 carat. Even more diamonds are used as indexes, set on a vanilla dial with a guilloché World Heart Federation logo at its centre, and surrounded by a delicate mother of pearl on the outer ring. The case diameter is 34 mm, and with a depth of just 9.9 mm, this watch will sit comfortably on the most feminine of wrists. Each model offers hours, minutes and seconds functions. In addition, on the FC-303 models, the date is also displayed at 6 o’clock. All have a sapphire crystal see-through case back, and are water resistant to 60 meters. Finally, each watch will come with a dazzling metal bracelet – either rose gold plated or bi-coloured stainless steel and rose gold plated - with butterfly folding buckle, and all models will be presented in a uniquely designed, WHF heart-shaped gift box. Two of the new models, the FC310WHF2PD2B3 and the FC310WHF2PD4B3, also feature Frederique Constant’s signature Double Heart Beat opening at the 12 o’clock position.
Fantasy World, the ultimate destination for kids and Kuwait’s first specialty toy-based store recently concluded an exciting event where visitors and customers received a rare air of “Hollywood” excitement where they hosted the appearance of Marvel’s all-time ultimate superhero, Spider-Man! Held over a three day event at selected Fantasy World stores, children’s favorite and the legendary superhero joined the crowd for an exclusive meet & greet with the kids and families where everyone got a chance to meet up-close with their hero and take pictures with him while enjoying fun-filled activities such as face-painting and exciting in-store surprises for customers! Commenting on Marvel’s officially approved Spider-Man’s appearance at Fantasy World toy stores, Yousef Haddad, Marketing Manager at Fantasy World said, “We are pleased to see the turn-out of the three day appearance of SpiderMan at Fantasy World and happy that a lot of fans utilized the opportunity to meet their favorite Marvel super-hero in person. The excitement and energy amid the customers is a positive indication on how much family entertainment and family time is valued amongst us all and has truly encouraged us to host more events that center around the children’s world as we strongly believe that all kids deserve nothing but the best”. With its inviting store atmosphere and state-ofthe-art technology and modern layout, Fantasy World has successfully built itself to be a leading retailer in the toy industry and a favorite of all families and children in Kuwait. The store hosts an exclusive range of toys and items namely; boys, girls, early years, amazing minds, tweens lifestyle, outdoor and sports including hot sellers from their private labels. Moreover, the store also has a brand new section dedicated for high tech items called the, “tech bar” that displays a range of items compatible with iPhone and iPads as well as Android operated mobile phones and tablets. Built to offer an unmatched personal experience along with a friendly staff service where children can find the hottest and most exciting collection of toys in a fun-filled environment, Fantasy World stores can be visited at Second AvenueThe Avenues, Souk Sharq and Al Bustan Mall and its flagship store at Al Rai.
Starbucks is welcoming this summer season with the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino. For the first time in the region, customers will enjoy the perfect blend of caramel, hazelnut and chocolate chips all in one delicious cold beverage, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate, guaranteed to quench that hot summer thirst. This all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino is definitely the beverage for Caramel connoisseurs and for any sweet tooth. Rana Shaheen, regional communications and CSR manager of Starbucks Coffee MENA, said: “Starbucks is committed to continuously presenting its customers with new and refreshing beverages that complement their day. During this season, people constantly have a mental image of the perfect cool beverage that will melt the summer heat away from the very first sip. Starbucks is turning that image into a reality with this all new Frappuccino beverage, and not only will it tune down the heat of a sweltering day, but it will also leave customers with an unforgettable taste.” Starbucks is also bringing back an all-time favourite this summer: the Strawberry and Cream Frappuccino, a refreshing beverage with a sweet and fruity twist. The unique Tribute Blend coffee will also be featured throughout this season. With the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino and the returning favourite, customers can turn any hot day into a summer joy.
This summer Marina Hotel Kuwait is the hot spot to cool down with friends and family as it rolls out itsmuch awaited summer package. The package comes along with a number of benefits to make this summer relaxed, luxurious and memorable.You are invited to enjoy this summer in style in the midst of absolute pampering and leisure with a resortfeel ambience through its wonderful facilities away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Break the daily routine and enjoy some peace of mind with an outstanding getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait; a destination to experience a pleasant summer away from the regular city life. The all-inclusive Marina Hotel package promises real joy under the sun with its secluded private beach and three pools: lap pool, kids’ pool and family pool with the Marina Waves pool bar. Guests can relax in their rooms, all overlooking the beautiful Gulf Sea, starting from KD 88NET. The package provides free access to the hotel's many facilities: the Coral Reef Health Club, the squash court, beach and pool area. Complete your idyllic stay at any of the hotel's two fabulous restaurants well-known for its delicious international cuisine: ‘The Six Palms’ and the ‘Atlantis.’ For mouth-watering delicacies, indulge in international, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes from a scrumptious array of menu choices in a tranquil music setting. In close proximityto the Marina Mall and Marina Crescent, guests can enjoy a complete holiday with easy access to their favorite shopping and hang out destinationsmaking it ideal for family leisure. The hotel is dedicated to focus on individual guest’s needs and offer the highest standard of service. Marina Hotel offers the pleasures of graceful living and indulgent amenities including a fitness centre and excellent choice of restaurants. Rooms and suites at the Hotel combine intimacy, comfort, exclusivity with personalized service and attention to details. Head towards Marina Hotel and benefit from all the enticing offers. The summer package offer promises guests absolute comfort and leisure in one spotwith quick access to its various amenities. For more information, please visit our website: www.marinahotel.com
June, 2014
داماس تطلق مهرجان األعراس األضخم في الكويت
Sami Bader’s top diet tips services.
Baume & Mercier timepiece is the perfect gift for a new graduate
للمرة الثانية أربعة أيام مذهلة من Bimba Y Lola
Graduation day is a significant milestone in one’s life that paves the way for a promising future. As the graduate prepares to take their first step into the real world, their near and dear ones are filled with immense pride and delight. What better way to convey this happiness than by gifting the new graduate a special gift that encapsulates the essence of this celebration? With this thought in mind, illustrious Swiss watchmaker, Baume & Mercier presents the perfect graduation gift in the form of a Capeland timepiece. Inspired by a model initially launched in 1948, this chronograph is the flagship model of the Capeland collection and impresses with its 44 mm-diameter steel case with a balanced and dynamic design. Water-resistant to 50 meters, this timepiece is driven by a finely-crafted automatic mechanical caliber (La Joux Perret 8120) that is visible through a transparent sapphire case-back. Chic and elegant, it is proposed with a sun satin-finished blue dial, snailed black counters and a date aperture. It also features two graduated scales: one tachymetric and the other telemetric highlighted by red markings. This sophisticated and sporty timepiece is worn with a black alligator strap closed by a triple adjustable folding clasp with security push-pieces. A stylishly clever gift, Baume & Mercier’s Capeland is the ideal token to make graduation day even more special for the one who is ready to take on the world!
قامت شركة داغر أند كو بتلبية رغبة زبائنها الكرام Bimba Y Lola بتنظيم احلدث للمرة الثانية مبتجر الكائن مبجمع األوملبيا وعليه مت عرض تشكيلة بأسعار مميزةوخصومات2013 كبيرة من منتجات وعروض مذهلة كمبادرة شكر وتقدير لزبائنها وقام بحضور،الكرام ليستمر احلدث ملدة أربعة أيام احلدث مجموعة من مسئولي الشركة باإلضافة وباإلضافة إلى جتهيز جو،إلى ممثلي وسائل اإلعالم ترحيبي خاص حتت أنغام املوسيقى احلية إلضافة .الشعور بالتميز
With the initiation of Mr. Sami Bader’s all new dietary services, we can all achieve a diversified human physical infrastructure! Sami Bader’s dietary services have revolutionized the idea of ‘Dieting’. While we have had diet tips that occasionally ensure a short term weight loss, while on the other hand, Mr. Sami’s diet tips ensure a long term output of a balanced and well maintained weight and an organized lifestyle. The diet tips service will provide the users with unique tips based on seasons, as well as personal diet aims. These tips are provided to a large fraction of individuals of different age groups. Not only does this grandeur service provide stupendous results, which are complied with the straightjacket guidelines of the IDA (International Dietetic Association), but it also categorizes a wide variety of those individuals respective to their preferences and essentials. In addition to that, there are distinct and diverse programs for different sorts of conditions, such as ‘Diabetes’, ‘Kidney malfunctions’, ‘Pregnancy & Lactation’, ‘Post-bariatric surgeries’, ‘Gluten intolerance’, ‘Specific Doctor referrals’, and concluding the list with ‘ Aggressive Cholesterol treatment’, which is the only food program based on the latest scientific research to help improve cholesterol levels. Sami’s diet menu comprises of a pool of mouthwatering, and healthy Oriental, Asian, MiddleEastern, European and American cuisine, that are suitable to the appropriate standards of healthy cooking. The subscription service has been launched in Kuwait by ‘Simatel’, a leading telecom marketing service provider. The service will be available for only 500 fils/week with 30 diet contents per week, said a spokesperson from Simatel. ‘Simatel’ is a Kuwait based telecom marketing service provider with presence throughout the Middle East. Simatel provides business to consumer marketing service through telecom operators. Sami is a well-renowned clinical dietician, as well as a respectable member of the Clinical Community Dietician GM, who is currently offering daily magnificent diet tips. He studied in KMBS (Kuwait Maastricht Business School), along with ‘Purdue University’- West Lafayette, IN. You can now subscribe through all 3 mobile carriers,Zain, Viva and Wataniya, by sending an SMS to the following numbers: Zain users can send “D” to the Short code 92270 For Wataniya, Kuwait users can send “D or ” ت to Short code1629 Lastly, Viva Kuwait users can send “D or ” تto Short code55091
شركة اجملوهرات والساعات، أطلقت داماس: "مهرجان،الرائدة في منطقة الشرق األوسط الذي يعتبر أضخم معرض،األعراس" اجلديد لألعراس تطلقه الشركة حصريا ً للمجتمع وميثل إطالق أطقم مجوهرات فاخرة،الكويتي حيث قامت داماس،مخصصة للعرائس للمجوهرات بتصميم تلك األطقم الفاخرة ملواكبة النمو في صناعة مجوهرات األعراس في الذي ميتد، وخالل فترة املهرجان.السوق الكويتي لدى متاجر داماس في2014 طوال شهر مايو ،كل من مجمع الراية التجاري ومجمع الصاحلية سيتمكن العمالء من مشاهدة تشكيلة واسعة من أطقم األعراس املذهلة واحلصول على عروض .خاصة لدى الشراء ً التي تضم قطعا،صممت هذه اجملموعة األنيقة إلرضاء كافة األذواق،فريدة ومتقنة من اجملوهرات وجتسيد األناقة املعاصرة الدائمة للعروس إن مجموعة اجملوهرات.الكويتية في يومها املميز اخلاصة باألعراس واملناسبات ستتخطى كافة .توقعات العمالء في الكويت سيقوم موظفو داماس ذوي اخلبرة،وعالوة على ذلك العالية واملدربني على فهم احتياجات العرائس ،ومساعدتهن في اختيار اجملوهرات املناسبة لهن بتقدمي النصائح للعرائس ومساعدتهن في انتقاء أنواع املاس واألحجار الكرمية والآللئ املناسبة لهن .والتي تنسجم مع فساتني زفافهن طاملا اشتهرت داماس على مدار تاريخها البارز بأنها رائدة في اجلمال وتصميم اجملوهرات الفريدة ومن املتوقع أن.على مستوى الشرق األوسط يشهد هذا احلدث إقباال ً واسعا ً من عشاق املوضة وسيستحوذ،وأصحاب الذوق الرفيع في الكويت .على اهتمام وإعجاب كافة الزوار
June, 2014
BBS students showcase their young talents at the 2014 High School Art Show
National Aviation Services (NAS) launches mobile phone app
ACK Crowned Champions of the UCC Football League
The National Aviation Services (NAS) has published a mobile phone app called “NAS Airports”. This free application is compatible with iPads, iphone and Android devices. It currently covers Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Kigali, Sharm El Sheikh, & Kabul International Airport, as well as “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services Using “NAS Airports” you can: •Receive live flight information updates (Departure & Arrival) •Complete passenger check-in and seat selection procedure from your mobile device •Receive local and global travel and duty free promotions •Book airport “Lounge” services and enjoy fast internet, comfortable waiting area, delicious buffet, kids play area and much more. •Book airport “Meet & Assist” services for arriving and departing passengers to expedite their travel process, provide assistant to elderly and minors, greet guests, and assist with visa processing •Trace lost luggage •Get directions to airport •And now for the introductory stage, you can enjoy a 25 % discount on “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services from your mobile Simply download the app by searching for “NAS Airports” or by using the links below: Apple store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ nas-airports/id862302584?mt=8 Google play: https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=com.nascorporate.p6659aa
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The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) has won the 2014 University Championship Cup (UCC) Football League title outperforming teams from participating universities, including Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and the Arab Open University (AOU). The UCC Football League is a competitive tournament whereby participating university teams face each other in a grueling schedule over several months with the leader crowned Champion and holder of the cup until the following season. On this victorious occasion, the Student Activities Center’s Coordinator, Mr. Basel Dana, stated: “I would like to congratulate our students on winning the league! It’s very rewarding after all their hard work and efforts. They truly have made ACK proud with this achievement and I wish them all the success in their path towards winning the UCC cup again.” ACK’s football team will now begin preparations for the next season of the UCC Football League, with the keen desire to retain the Championship and keep the cup on ACK’s campus.
Under the patronage of renowned Kuwaiti artist, Anglophone poet, and Kuwait University Professor, Dr. Shurooq Amin, the High School art department at Al Bayan Bilingual School (BBS), hosted its annual art show for High School students from 6 May until 8 May. Held at the BBS Hawally campus, the show was put together as a High School art class project, where students were required to reflect on what they had learnt in class and create their own pieces using their imagination, creativity and different art techniques. Participating students showcased 200 of their contemporary art pieces that highlighted various art techniques such as pottery, charcoal, melting wax, graphic design and photography. Students also had the honor to receive first-hand critique on their work from Dr. Amin and a number of local artists who attended the show. Dr. Amin has earned several prestigious titles for her work including being named one of Kuwait's 45 most inspirational people by Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah in her book, The Alchemy of Wisdom, one of Kuwait's 50 Stars by Layalina Magazine, and one of the five top artists from the Middle East today by Your Middle East Journal in 2012. She also received the Artist of the Year title in the 2013 by the Arab Woman Awards, Kuwait chapter. High School art teacher at BBS, Ms. Rihab Al Assadi, said: “By putting together this art show, we want to provide students with an opportunity to explore and express themselves, and to address their interests, concerns and feelings in a fun and healthy environment.” Dr. Amin was pleased to see the level of commitment students put forth while working on their projects. “It was a pleasure being part of this art show, and to be able to witness the artistic side of our youth today, which was clearly reflected in all of their wonderful creations." She added: “Being here brings back so much nostalgia. I remember when I first started my journey as a young artist; I used to love getting my work viewed by my professors and by others fellow artists. I’d like to recognize all the students who took part in this exhibition for their hard work and dedication, and I hope to see them grow in to some of Kuwait’s great future artists .” The exhibition was attended by a number of other local artists in addition to BBS parents, students and staff. The guests enjoyed their evening in an ambience filled with live music played by students.
Seventeen inspirational women recognized at the Arab Woman Award
The seventeen winners of the Arab Woman Awards 2014 were honored at a glittering ceremony paying tribute to inspirational Arab women in Kuwait. The exclusive by-invitation only red carpet event was held at the Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers and was presented by leading Kuwaiti organisation - the Trafalgar Company. The glamorous high-profile event was attended by the winners and their families, VIP members of society as well as media and film personalities including; Egyptian actress Dalia El Beheri and Egyptian TV personality Wajdy Al Hakim. The awards ceremony was hosted by famous Kuwaiti actor Mohamed Al-Mansour.
Address of Hospitality and Original Taste
24747789 - 24747798 : تلفون. الدور السابع- برج امللتقى, دوار املخفر:الفروانية
Farwaniya: Police Station Roundabout, AlMultaqa Tower, 7th Floor. Tel: 24847789 - 24747798
@aghakuwait
@agha_kuwait June, 2014
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IKEA holds anniversary dinner for coworkers to celebrate 30 years in Kuwait Asha’s Scores a Perfect 10!
Splash launches FIFA inspired collection
Be amazed with “Samsonite Firelite”: The latest collection of CURV’s Series
Samsonite, the world’s leading luggage brand for more than 100 years proudly present its latest innovation from CURV’s Series: Samsonite Firelite. Hardside’s lugauge made from CURV, an innovation , exclusively from Propex, Germany for its lightweight but strong and endure to pressure under low temperature. Designed for extreme sporty looks inspired from seashells shape with colorful tones of Chili Red, Deep Blue and Charcoal Black, the luggage also comes with highly efficiency functions including TSA Combination Lock and 360 degrees spinner wheels.This exciting new Curv collection has again pushed the boundaries of the luggage world. Made in Europe, this unique, dynamic and strong design features a water resistant PU coated zipper and a functional interior with a bottom lowered elastic cross ribbons and a top fully lined divider. Inspired by extreme sports lifestyles, the Firelite shell is eye-catching, modern and effortlessly absorbs heavy shocks during travel - a case which compliments your active lifestyle and is as rugged and energetic as you are. Firelite is now available at Samsonite stores at The Avenues , Al Hamra Luxury center,360 Mall,Marina Mall
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IKEA Kuwait held an anniversary dinner for all the coworkers of the IKEA store at the Crowne Plaza Baraka Ballroom on Sunday, May 18, 2014, to conclude the celebrations of their 30th anniversary in Kuwait. The event topped off month-long celebrations marking three decades since IKEA Kuwait opened its doors and began providing well-designed, good quality home furnishing solutions to homes across the country. In addition to commemorating 30 years of Swedish furniture being offered to the many, the event also honored coworkers that have been with IKEA for 10 and 20 years, and even a few who have been part of the IKEA Kuwait family since their very first store opened in Shuwaikh on April 24, 1984. Commenting on the closing celebration event, IKEA Kuwait Store Manager Ahmad Al Humaidhi said: “We want to commemorate this special time with all our coworkers and to thank them for all these years of hard work and dedication and for helping to make IKEA Kuwait a success. Our coworkers have been a core driver in building IKEA Kuwait into a brand for the many people of Kuwait, and this is what we celebrate tonight.” The evening included thank you speeches from Al Humaidhi and SYH Retail CEO Marino Maganto, followed by the honoring of IKEA Kuwait’s long-time coworkers, fun activities, giveaways, and lucky draws for tablets and vacation getaways. Also speaking on the celebration, Maganto shared his sentiments, stating: “We wanted to thank our coworkers with something special and memorable. They are very passionate about what they do, they love IKEA, so we want to ensure they know how valuable they are to the brand”
Asha’s, the innovative Indian restaurant known for serving the finest contemporary Indian cuisine, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Kuwait. Having opened its first restaurant at Marina Crescent, Asha’s has successfully grown through the years adding two more venues in Kuwait at 1st Avenue -The Avenues and Spoons. Today, Asha’s is a name that is synonymous with great food quality and brilliant service. Its vibrant blend of contemporary Indian cuisine and rich interiors, assures its customers of a unique and wonderful dining experience. Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian singer who founded Asha’s, says: “I am thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of Asha’s in Kuwait in partnership with M.H. Alshaya Co., which operates the brand here. I have visited Kuwait many times and have always been impressed by the positive response to our menu. Kuwaitis really understand global food and we are delighted to have been serving them India’s finest cuisine for a decade.” With a wide array of mouth-watering choices on the menu, guests are truly spoilt for choice at Asha’s. Be it the mocktails, the starters or the main courses, every unique item is created using only the freshest ingredients. Asha Bhosle has taken a special interest in contributing to the menu with a select choice of her own recipes. The dishes on offer reflect the very best of Indian cuisine, and Asha’s, with its innovative style and sophistication, promises to take guests through a truly memorable dining experience. The vision of Asha’s, to be limitless in its cultural appeal and timeless in its ethos, has been proven over the past decade. The restaurant remains as popular today as it was on the day its doors first opened. Ensuring that Asha’s keeps up with the times, and due to demand by its guests, Asha’s also delivers to Salwa, Salmiya and Rumaithiya.
It’s that time again when frenzy takes over football fans across the world. The FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil will see scores of fans supporting their favorite teams. Splash has introduced its special line for the event with a range of apparel and accessories that will ensure you support your teams in style. The range will be available under the Kappa and SPL Active labels for the top 8 countriesGermany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, England, Portugal, Netherlands and Italy for both men and women. You can choose from a variety of T-shirts, shorts, vests, tracks, knit dresses and three-quarter pants. Add a dash of accessories like bags, water bottles, caps, wrist bands, scarves, socks, sunglasses and chains to complete your look for the games. Visit Splash at all Centrepoint Stores and the Avenues Mall to explore the FIFA Collections.
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Warba Bank named Best New Bank in the Middle East for 2014
Warba Bank has been named, according to Banker Middle East Magazine, the “best new bank in the Middle East” from among a number of newly established banks in the Middle east. The award was presented at the annual gala dinner organized by Banker Middle East to honor more than 200 financial institutions across 55 categories in the banking sector in the Middle East. Banker Middle East awards honor the best performance of financial institutions across the MENA region. Final winners were selected by a jury panel of independent industry think-tank. Warba Bank is always keen to enhance the level of customer service, and cater to customers’ financing and investment needs by introducing a number of Sharia compliant banking products and services. Commenting on this event, Jassar Al Jassar, Vice Chairman & CEO at Warba Bank, said: “We are very proud of winning this prestigious award. Actually, the award is added to our previous achievements, and reflects Warba’s growing businesses and focus on developing and expanding its customers base, satisfying customers’ banking needs, and seizing the new opportunities of growth in terms of corporate and retail financing, while satisfying customers and shareholders. This wouldn’t be achievable without God’s support, then the hard work of our Board of Directors, and employees, as well as the support of our customers.” Al Jassar continued: “The bank is striving to bolster its position as an Islamic Bank through expanding its branches network to reach a total of seven branches spread across all areas of Kuwait, to bring our services closer to our customers. Further, new branches will be launched in the near future. In addition, we seek to attract a wider segment of customers, and enhance the role and effectiveness of the Call Centre by means of upgrading its systems and training its personnel to be able to deal with customers more professionally and provide them with a unique service.” Al Jassar added: “We continue to make every effort to improve this promising institution through adopting the highest standards of efficiency across all banking transactions. We also look to expand our customer base and seize new opportunities to develop both corporate and retail financing sectors with a view to support our local economy. At the same time, we aim to enhance our relationship with our corporate and retail customers, providing them innovative Sharia compliant banking solutions, while working closely with owners of large, medium and small scale companies and institutions with a view to help them achieve their goals and to be familiar with all their commercial and banking needs. Indeed, we commit ourselves to helping them and ensuring their success. Consequently, the volume of our financing portfolio showed a growth of 120%, reaching KD 273 million as at the end of the first Quarter of the year 2014 compared to the same period of 2013.” Al Jassar concluded: “Warba Bank is committed to supporting Kuwaitization and makes tangible contributions to the process of developing and training Kuwaiti professionals. The Bank exceeded the Kuwaitization percentage of 60 per cent, and achieved a Kuwaitization percentage of 80 per cent in specific divisions such as corporate and retail financing divisions.”
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Transform yourself this summer with ICONIC SUMMER ’14 collection
Update your summer wardrobe with Iconic Summer 14 collection for women and men. The women’s collection focuses on three covetable trends Sports Chic, Retro Romance and New Boho. The Iconic Summer ’14 collection for men is an embodiment of casual elegance, sophistication and attitude of the by-gone era. SPORTS CHIC: The sports trend goes luxe by moving from the simple, clinical looks of previous seasons to take on a more luxurious, glamorous edgy feel. Expect minimal and simple relaxed silhouettes with textured surfaces in pieces like shift dresses with soft shoulders. RETRO ROMANCE: Summer without flowers doesn’t seem complete does it? The collection showers romance in the air by flirting with overtly feminine looks, incorporating a pretty palette of pastels with a bouquet of floral prints. Pure white, sunshine yellow, yves klein blue, mint green are the prominent shades used lavishly over lace and guipure fabrics. NEW BOHO: The evergreen carefree trend of the Nature Girl explores updated festival looks with 1970s influences drawn into the mix. Festival trend staples include maxi dresses, full length skirts that will create a casual vibe and bypasses the usual hippy boho aspects. The 2014 men collection will showcase three key trends that will ensure you look effortlessly stylish this season. 50’s RETURN (MONOCHROME): Channel the inner chic retro man in you as you relive the fond memories of the 1950s with influences coming from the highways and byways of the USA. Think bad boys, early rockers, 50s B-movies, all mixed in with retro monotone floral and geo prints and clean tailoring. Achieve this trendsetting look in fabrics like new polkas, satin shirt, micro ginghams, jacket weights and embroidery. CRUISE RESORT: The nautical trend is a statement that continues to linger and provides fashion an everlasting look that only evolves every season. This commercial, preppy-nautical trend brings together several of the season’s key fabrics like natural linens- wovens/ jerseys, slubby canvas, smooth cottons, jacquard knits and wovens. Prints like florals, preppy spots and stripes and silhouettes form an easy and cohesive casual smart look. REMINISCE: Embrace the carefree outlook of a nomad and incorporate the rustic elegance in preppy summer smart casualwear enhanced with a refined, tailored aesthetic. From bold neo geo patterns, updated through textural applications and decorative geometric repeats, this is an ideal 70’s summer holiday look. Earthy tones dominate the trend that reflects the influence of nature with shades of sand and beige with summer olives. Add to it a bright palette of vermilion orange and bright yellow which adds to the glory of summer. Head over to ICONIC and shop our latest Summer collection available at The Avenues, The Mall, Level 1.
DHL Express Named ‘Best Employer in the Middle East’
DHL Express, the world’s largest Express network, celebrated a major milestone when the company was named the ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East and North Africa for 2014 by Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc. Renowned for its focus and commitment to its human resources, DHL Express MENA proudly received the auspicious award at an exclusive ceremony held at The One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai. The award was received by Mr. Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express Middle East & North Africa and was attended by over 200 industry leaders from across the region; including senior management from Aon Hewitt – the award creators - members of the judging panel, CEOs and HR specialists. Launched over a decade ago, the ‘Best Employers Middle East Awards is the culmination of extensive studies conducted by Aon Hewitt that measure and compare employee engagement, performance and satisfaction across 500 participating organizations spanning cross industry in the Middle East region. This year, ten companies were shortlisted as Best Employers across MENA, with four DHL Express offices from around the region making it to the top five positions and securing top honours for DHL Express MENA as ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East. Nour Suliman, CEO, DHL Express MENA, said “I applaud the efforts and dedication of our employees who are the key drivers and the reason behind this award. This is the second year in a row that DHL Express makes it to the top of the 10 Best Employers in the region, and we are extremely proud that our people genuinely consider this organization a family, and truly consider DHL as the best place to work.” “Our people are the heart of our organization, our greatest asset, and the main force behind the company’s success. Every time we are pronounced the best employer I know that the reason for that is the incredible effort and dedication of the fabulous men and women that make DHL the great place it is today,” said Suliman. This year, Aon Hewitt collected and analyzed view points and data from a sample of 30,000 employees representing a 60,000plus workforce as well as inputs from HR leaders and Business Heads from companies across the region spanning 18 industries. Following rigorous analysis and evaluation of the participating companies by an experienced panel of judges, DHL’s offices bagged five out of the ten Best Employer awards, placing DHL Express MENA in pole position as the Best Employer in the Middle East. Upon receiving the award, Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express MENA, stated “I humbly commend the commitment and salute the hard work of the DHL team; we are fortunate to be surrounded with highly dedicated professionals that successfully work together towards one common goal while sharing the same sense of purpose and values.” “Focus, results, respect and appreciation are the key drivers of DHL’s global HR philosophy that has so far been key to make the company thrive. I therefore, would like to thank DHL’s employees for making all this happen, this is their award,” he added.
Under the theme of “Less Stressful Life” with health and wellbeing OYSHO Hosts Kuwait Media In A Yoga Event
Driven by its commitment to spread the awareness about the health and wellbeing lifestyle concept through its bundle of hip and stylish gym wear, OYSHO organized a yoga event for Kuwait media and gifted them the true meaning of relaxation. The event, held at Flex Resorts was spent in total tranquility with both bodies and minds floating in a deep peaceful meditation which have greatly helped in communicating OYSHO theme of wellbeing mentally and physically. After the yoga session, the guests savored a healthy lunch. “Our guests really had the chance to get over their hectic life schedule while embracing the positive energy in a relaxed calm atmosphere”, said Luma/ OYSHO Brand Manager “we are proud to guide our customers into a new concept of healthy living through our new collection marked with distinguished gym wear designs customized to match different styles and choices. As part of our social engagement, we are committed to lead the way and motivate our youngsters to follow a new lifestyle by taking care of their look and enjoy their life while eliminating the barrier of body types”. Featuring stunning colors, seamless sartorial detail and a touch of retro style, the new SS14 collection offers, with its various prints and motivational quotes, encouragement to explore and lead a healthy and less stressful life.
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1. What do I need to add to 36 to make 100? 2. How many metres in a 1/4 of 1 kilometre? 3. What is 1 less than 4950? 4. How many degrees in one whole turn? 5. 32+8 = 6. Which of these fractions is greater than one half? 7. What is 135 cm in metres? 8. An angle of less than 90 degrees is called 9. -7 + 9 = ? 10. How many right angles are there in 1 whole complete turn?
meter 35cm, 8. acute, 9. 2, 10. 4
ANSWERS: 1. 64, 2. 250meters, 3. 4949, 4. 360, 5. 40, 6. 5/8, 7. 1
FUN RIDDLES
1. who is silent in the parliament 2. What does an Island and the letter T have in common? 3. What do you call a fish without an eye? 4. What part of the Turkey has the most feathers? 5. What's the only room from which no one can enter or leave 6. What demands an answer, but asks no questions. 7.Why do Chinese men eat more rice than Japanese men do 8.A cat had three kittens: January, March and May. What was the mother's name.
ANSWERS:1. The Letter 'A', 2. They're both in the middle of wa'T'er, 3. fsh, 4. The Outside, 5. Mushroom, 6. Telephone, 7. There are more Chinese men than Japanese men., 8. What - It stated 'WHAT' was the mothers name 166
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Jumbled Words 1 . A DY 2. GDLA 3. SGBU 4. LNGO 5. WYH 6. SETT 7. SKUN 8. EXNT 9. SYK 1 0 . R OW M 11. NETT 12. FORG
= = = = = = = = = = = =
ANSWERS: 1.DAY, 2.GLAD, 3.BUGS, 4.LONG, 5.WHY, 6.TEST, 7.SUNK, 8.NEXT, 9.SKY, 10.WORM, 11.TENT, 12.FROG
MATHS QUIZ
Interesting Animal Facts
• Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives. • The blue whale can produce the loudest sound of any animal. At 188 decibels, the noise can be detected over 800 kilometres away. • Horses and cows sleep while standing up. • Giant Arctic jellyfish have tentacles that can reach over 36 metres in length. • Locusts have leg muscles that are about 1000 times more powerful than an equal weight of human muscle. • Hummingbirds are so agile and have such good control that they can fly backwards. • Instead of bones, sharks have a skeleton made from cartilage. • Insects such as bees, mosquitoes and cicadas make noise by rapidly moving their wings. • The horn of a rhinoceros is made from compacted hair rather than bone or another substance. • Sharks lay the biggest eggs in the world. • Even when a snake has its eyes closed, it can still see through its eyelids. • Unlike humans, sheep have four stomachs, each one helps them digest the food they eat. • Despite the white, fluffy appearance of Polar Bears fur, it actually has black skin. • As well as being a famous Looney Tunes character, the Tasmanian Devil is a real animal that is only found in the wild in Tasmania, Australia. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.
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JUNE HOROSCOPES Change seems to have rocked our world in the last few months, but in June you have the opportunity to slow down and regroup. Mercury turns retrograde on June 7, and Neptune slows down for a nap on June 9. With these two stars of communication and creativity standing still, your mind could work overtime. That project that had been shelved could suddenly seem to have possibilities. The Sagittarius Full Moon on June 12 gives you the bounce to try one more time. A New Moon in Cancer June 27 puts on its "I mean business" hat. Any adversaries will know to stand back.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
The June 12 Full Moon expands your horizons, widens your world, and maybe blows your mind. Keep some control so you'll recognize yourself afterward. Don't be afraid to blunder into a great learning experience. June 19 and June 20 are powerful days for you. If your critical mind takes a break on June 19, your instincts could take up the slack. You may be supercharged to the point of hyper on June 20, so do something physically demanding. Your family position gets a boost under the June 27 New Moon. Start something new that makes you happy, and conclude or decide something that makes everyone glad.
TAURUS
VIRGO (March 21 - April 19)
Your powers of critical thinking will get a big boost on June 7. You can make things perfect and correct many minor errors. Fully embrace your discriminatory powers. The June 12 Full Moon shines on your family and home environment. Try to keep things quiet, don't force anything, and let the magic of the night provide its comfort and blessings. If there's friction with friends before June 27, the New Moon brings you a chance to shift things around socially and make some new friends and different alliances. Satisfy yourself and let the chips fall where they may.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
The June 12 Full Moon is all yours. Be prepared to shine and attract attention. There's no point in being shy or not speaking up. Be nice about it all. You could be drawn into someone else's affairs just before the New Moon on June 27. Anything you do to help will only benefit you and your family in the long run, but don't get nervous about the preconceived notions of anyone else. The day after the New Moon, June 28, watch for a special personalized blessing, pop of good luck, or simply a chance to do a very good deed.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Let the June 12 Full Moon boost your self-confidence and sense of security. Don't hide from people, but expect to do your best work and thinking out of sight and out of the minds of others. There's less criticism that way. June 14 could be a busy and emotionally intense day. Stay cool and calm, and refuse to get rattled. A love interest or romantic involvement could appear close to home at the June 27 New Moon. If a friend of a friend of a sibling has a crush on you, don't be surprised (or rude). Roll with it if it appeals to you.
GEMINI
(September 23 - October 22)
(January 20 - February 18)
Big love is possible at the June 12 Full Moon - so is a generous new lover. Be on guard since these things rarely come without strings attached. You should be able to communicate and network more effectively starting June 20. Try to keep it toned down, though. Avoid getting chatty or overbearing. You can charm your way into almost anything on June 24. Control your temper and impatience on June 25. Money matters are highlighted at the June 27 New Moon. You might have more resources (and fewer problems) at home than you realized. Don't let anyone or anything spook you.
June 7 and June 8 are powerful, if not easy, days. Self-motivation and energy could spike, but you'll still be able to slow down the pace of life to suit yourself. The June 12 Full Moon could whet your curiosity and set you exploring something that interested you before but has since been dropped or forgotten. If work or office life gets a bit rocky before June 27, the New Moon lets you touch up any rough spots with co-workers or superiors. You could even make a major change in career direction. Don't be brash, but don't be anxious, either.
It's a hot social scene at the June 12 Full Moon. People are going to want to be with you. Don't have so much fun that you're exhausted the next day, however. June 16 and 17 could be a roller-coaster ride. Be mentally sharp and bright on June 16, but don't be surprised if you're washed away on a tide of emotion the next day. The June 27 New Moon is a great time to start a bunch of small but significant changes or additions to your work routine or diet. Be good to yourself in a million little ways.
CANCER
(October 23 - November 21)
(March 21 - April 19)
Try to stick close to home at the June 12 Full Moon. Good things will find you there and tend to last. Don't wait idly - keep busy in the meantime. The Sun enters your sign on June 21 and brings the first day of summer with it. Feel comfortable in your own skin no matter what's happening in the world around you. It's a fresh, powerful New Moon for you on June 27. If you've needed to project a stronger selfimage of your choosing, you can do it now. Just remember to include your roots and background. citypageskuwait.com
You could be the center of attention for the first few days of the month, so look good, behave well, and see if you can't gain some extra respect and good memories out of it. Cravings for big fun might rock your world at the June 12 Full Moon, or perhaps it will be an explosion of creativity. Either way, it won't be boring. The June 27 New Moon lets you make some personal changes and start a new approach to an old problem without a lot of people interfering with you. You don't have to tell anyone about anything unless you really trust them.
(April 20 - May 20)
People might make a lot of demands on you during the June 12 Full Moon. Do what you can, accept graciously what is offered in exchange, and then let it go. You may feel less secure and grounded from June 21 through June 23. Keep track of your wallet, phone, and keys, and relax. This won't last long. Siblings (or a few close friends) could descend on you during the June 27 New Moon. Watch your Ps and Qs a few days before. Be well situated and ready to jump in and turn a new corner in a relationship.
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LEO (July 23 - August 22)
June 9 and June 10 could pack a punch that brings to a head something that most people have been avoiding. You may not like it either, but the resolution will be well worth it. Have your finances in order or at least in hand - for the June 12 Full Moon, since this lunation affects your money and material possessions. Think no surprises, and perhaps an opportunity or two for increase. The June 27 New Moon might drag you out of seclusion and push you more into the public. Step up, be yourself, and maybe make some new contacts.
The June 12 Full Moon brings extra light into your work and career efforts. Act generously but speak modestly for the best and most longlasting results. June 18 could be profoundly touchy-feely. Be generous but respectful about hugs. The June 27 New Moon opens doors and provides lots of opportunities for fun and creativity. Psychodrama could peak, too, especially with family, so try to minimize or completely skip that part. Not getting scared or feeling inferior can help. The last few days of the month set you up to do great things for someone else and earn massive karmic brownie points.
*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @ SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted
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HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz 1.What is a quarter of three-quarters? 2.Technically the avocado ('fruit' of the avocado tree) is a: Berry; Tuba; Nut; or Fungus?
Test Your Vocabulary crude means : 1. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
3.From the Greek root word for a pointed pillar, what is the technical term for the division sign ( ÷ ) ?
2. belonging to an early stage of technical development
4.Which occupation traditionally used 'walla' (in the US), 'rhubarb' (UK), and 'gaya' (Japan)?
4. capable of fitting a particular situation or use
7.Crepuscular creatures are mainly active in: Sunlight; Moonlight; Twilight; or Darkness?
ANSWER: Is it gross? Unsophisticated? Totally tasteless and positively offensive? Then you can describe it as crude.
6.SS Ancon was the first ship to navigate what single-vowelled passage on 15 August 1914?
Crude is not rude when it’s used to describe unprocessed oil, which it first was associated with in 1865. From the Latin crudo, meaning "rough, raw,"crude today can be used to describe anything or anyone that's unrefined and rough around the edges. So don’t be too insulted by the large-nosed portrait that cartoonist made for you. It’s just a quick,crude drawing meant to be funny.
5.The medical vasodilatory compound and recreational drug C5H11ONO is more commonly known as: Crack cocaine; LSD; Amyl nitrite; or Speed?
3. tending to become more severe or wider in scope
8. A low-cost 'ratoon' crop (for example of sugar-cane or rice) grows from/on: Windblown seeds; Stubble after cropping; Flooded land; or Astroturf? 9.The two traditional symbols used to indicate treble and bass clefs in musical notation are respectively based on: G and F; P and L; T and B; S and E?
Choose the Right Symbol
10.What high quality gravity/capillary-fed implement was traditionally ruby-tipped gold, and is nowadays usually iridium-tipped stainless-steel? 11.The first almanacs, made in Babylon/Iraq c.750BC, originally listed: Important people; Recipes; Prayers; or Planetary movements?
What mathematical symbol can be put between 5 and 9, to get a number bigger than 5 and smaller than 9?
12.What common mineral's name (technically silica or SiO2) derives from old PolishGerman 'kwardy', meaning 'hard'? 13.AgustaWestland, Bell, Oboronprom and Sikorsky are notable makers of: Solar panels; Helicopters; Telecomms systems; or Nuclear reactors? 14.The particle physics unit of reactionary particle decay is: Strangeness; Weirdness; Oddness; or Bafflement? 15.What product 'brand' from the Gamay is traditionally released the third Thursday of November each year?
17.Analepsis is more commonly known as a what in a play/story/film: Credits; Flashback; Sex scene; or Intermission?
JUMBLED WORDS I M T I L
18.What invention of the Greenland Inuit is also derogatory slang for an outdoor hobbyist who observes or collects things?
S A L C H
19.Baroque (a dramatic heavily detailed style of art form) began in: 500BC Athens; 1200s Paris; 1600s Rome; or 1800s Rio de Janeiro?
B U D E O L
20.A thin middle section of a wooden chair-back, particularly old and carved, is called a: Spit; Splint; Sprout; or Splat?
S E N U U R
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L O F R A M ANSWERS: LIMIT, CLASH, DOUBLE, UNSURE, FORMAL
ANSWERS: 1.Three sixteenths (or 0.1875 - to calculate fractions of fractions, multiply the top digits [i.e., 1 x 3 = 3] and then the bottom digits [i.e., 4 x 4 = 16] to give 3/16ths ), 2. Berry, 3. Obelus (from the ancient Greek root word equating to obelisk), 4. Actor (the words uttered randomly by a group to create the background murmur of a crowd), 5. Amyl Nitrite, 6. Panama Canal, 7. Twilight (dawn or dusk - from Latin crepusculum, twilight), 8. Stubble after cropping ('ratoon' is from old Spanish retono, sprout), 9. G and F, 10. Fountain pen, 11. Planetary movements, 12. Quartz, 13. Helicopters, 14. Strangeness, 15. Beaujolais Nouveau (French wine from the gamay grape and Beaujolais region), 16. Artworks, 17. Flashback, 18. Anorak (anoraq in Greenland Kalaallisut language), 19. 1600s Rome, 20. Splat (an old-English, meaning 'split up')
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ANSWER: A Decimal Point - 5.9 works nicely
16.The German Bauhaus institution famously combined building design with: Gardens; Artworks; Energy systems; or Water?
ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ *
ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺰﺭ : إزاﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ اﳉﺴﻢ ﳉﻤﻴﻊ أﻧﻮاع اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . ﻧﺤﺖ اﳉﺴﻢ و ﻧﻘﻞ اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺗﺼﻐﻴﺮ ﺣﺠﻢ اﻷﻧﻒ ورﺳﻤﻪ ﻣﻦ دون ﺟﺮاﺣﻪ . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻮﻻدة . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت اﻟـ Stretch Marksﺑﺈﺳﺘﺨﺪاماﻟﻜﺎرﺑﻮﻛﺴﻲ ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ .
ﺗﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻟﻮن اﻟﺒﺸﺮة و ﻛﺎﻣﻞ اﳉﺴﻢ . ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ اﳌﻴﺰو ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﻨﻀﺎرة و ﺷﺪ اﳉﻠﺪ وﺣﺮق اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺟﻠﺴﺎت اﻟـ VillaShape IIﻟﺘﻨﺴﻴﻖ اﻟﻘﻮاموﺷﺪ اﻟﺘﺮﻫﻼت . -ﻋﻼج آﺛﺎر اﳊﺒﻮب واﻟﻨﺪﺑﺎت .
اﻟﺘﺨﻠﺺ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺐ اﻟﺸﺒﺎب ﺑﺸﻜﻞ داﺋﻢ . ﻋﻼﺟﺎت ﺗﺴﺎﻗﻂ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ و ﺗﻜﺜﻴﻔﻪ و زراﻋﺔ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ .ﻋﻼج اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺒﺔ . إﺑﺮ اﻟﺒﻮﺗﻮﻛﺲ ﻟﺸﺪ اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . -إﺑﺮ اﻟﻔﻴﻠﻴﺮ )رﺳﻢ اﻟﺸﻔﺎﻳﻒ( .
اﳉﻠﺪﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ -اﻟﻠﻴﺰر واﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻞ -ﻃﺐ اﻷﺳﻨﺎن -اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻدة -ﻃﺐ اﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﺔ -اﻟﻔﺤﻮﺻﺎت اﺨﻤﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ
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Crepuscular creatures are mainly active in?
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behavior - Diurnal, crepuscular, nocturnal, matutinal, vespertine; what do these mean and how do they impact my pet's life? - Pets Stack Exchange
Diurnal, crepuscular, nocturnal, matutinal, vespertine; what do these mean and how do they impact my pet's life?
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A recent answer listed all of these and said the group a pet falls in could impact how they behave: diurnal, crepuscular, nocturnal, matutinal, vespertine.
What do all of these mean and how do they impact my pets life and behavior?
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Diurnal by definition means of or during the day. Animals that are diurnal are active during the day. Though times of activity of an animal are in relevance to the animal, as in it is to its advantage, it can act against it when this animal is a pet. Pets are usually diurnal, which is generally great for them since mostly humans are also diurnal, so their carers will have time for them, at least partially during the day. However, in the wild, diurnal animals have the advantage of, sometimes, direct sun exposure( for example turtles which use it for vitamin D3 synthesis) , and more importantly, a very good visibility. Animals that mainly rely on vision to hunt for food are usually diurnal. Diurnal prey have the advantage of easily spotting predators from a distance. Diurnal animals predominantly have colored and vivid vision.
Crepuscular means of Twilight. Crepuscular animals are active during twilight. Twilight is the illumination of the earth's lower atmosphere when the sun itself is not directly visible. Usually Crepuscular predators are active during twilight because their prey is active during that time, and they still have a decent amount of light to hunt and forage(guinea pigs). On the other hand, crepuscular prey can use this light to easily spot and avoid predators(rabbits). In addition to the that, in the wild, predators are generally least occurring during those times. This creates a state of a self regulating oscillating equilibrium. When a prey population increases due to their crepuscular habit, predators will have more food thus increasing their population , which in turn decreases the prey, then the predators decrease, increasing the prey, and so on. Being crepuscular serves them well as pets when their owners are rather busy during the day; the owners are unavailable when the pet itself is inactive. Below is a diagram to show the times and duration of a twilight.
Nocturnal means done or active during the night. Nocturnal animals are usually more vulnerable to predation, so keeping active only during the night makes them somewhat "invisible"(mice). Nocturnal predators usually have a sensitive sight and/or do not rely on visible light to see(infrared vision). They can also have very well developed senses of smell and hearing.These animals are usually appropriate for pet owners who stay up late, and are ready to provide for them then. Usually you could only stay up late if you wake up late, which is quite a common trend. So a small number of these animals may prove to be surprisingly appropriate pets for some.
Matutinal means of or occurring in the morning. Matutinal organisms wake up before diurnal organisms so they have the advantage of consuming resources without competition. Matutinal animals are mostly bees, though lets just suppose a dog is Matutinal, then it'd be suitable for early wakers, who do not just wake up and rush to their job, but actually have time to care for them, at least briefly. Matutinal organisms become active during dawn, thus, they share active states with crepuscular animals at dawn.
Vespertine means relating or occurring in the evening. Vespertine organisms are similar to Nocturnal organisms. Both are awake at similar times so some share very close relations, as some nocturnal species are active in the evening but continue throughout the night. Vespertine organisms get to be active before most Nocturnal organisms so they can consume some resources before competition from the latter. Vespertine animals as pets are suitable for people who are unavailable during the day and return at early night. Vespertine organisms become active at dusk, thus, they share the active states with crepuscular animals at dusk.
vespertine and matutinal species are commonly considered as special cases of being crepuscular
Note: the existence of pets of these activity times were assumed, some maybe void of pets or at least a very minute amount of them are considered pets.
The bottom line is that us humans have the capability of being either of those, and based on what we are (what are lifestyles are) we choose our pets accordingly. Though this may seem like a cluster of vectors that cancel out, it's actually a very intricate and accurate cycle that keeps this planet going, but then humans come in...
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These terms all fall under various sleep clocks that animals may follow. Sleep patterns for almost all species are monitored by the light given off the by the sun. If you've ever woken up early in the winter and noticed you get tired much earlier than you do when waking up the same time in the summer, you've experienced the sun's effects on daily life. Since humans are generally diurnal, the sun sets our body clock. When the sun is out, we feel less groggy then we do when it goes down.
Of course, all of these terms are general and many animals are hard to classify. Various animals illustrate multiple behaviors and there's numerous conflicts as to whether some animals are either x or y. Humans, for example, aren't always diurnal. Behavioral adaptation allows us to change our body clock when needed. The health detriments of changing your natural clock, though, are probably not so good.
Onto animals and pets. Like in the answer you reference in the question, the image below sets a general guideline of the various sleeping clocks, where the x-axis is time, defined by light in the environment. The location of the word defines during which time of day that the animal is most active.
Species most active during dawn are matutinal. Not many pets exclusively follow this clock. In fact, mostly insects and plants are observed to follow this pattern
Species most active during dusk are vespertine. As with matutinal species, mostly insects and plants follow this pattern.
Species most active during both dawn and dusk (or twilight), are crepuscular. You could call crepuscular species both matutinal and vespertine. Some examples of crepuscular animals are skunks, fireflies, and deer. Pets generally considered crepuscular are dogs, cats, rabbits, and hamsters. As @Critters notes in the comments, sometimes hamsters are considered nocturnal. I again stress the difficulty in classifying some animals such as crepuscular versus nocturnal animals at some points. See the Wikipedia page for more examples.
Species most active during daytime are diurnal. Humans, for example, are diurnal. There's a bit of controversy over whether house cats/dogs are diurnal or crepuscular, as some are most active all day, and some only twilight.
Species most active during nighttime are nocturnal. An example of a nocturnal pet might be a ferret.
Though not in the diagram above, species whose activity is uniformly spread across the day are cathemeral.
Generally, these sleep patterns are defined for each individual animal at an early age. This explains why a feral dog may have a hard time adjusting sleeping patterns such as a crepuscular and diurnal one, rather than a dog's natural pattern which is nocturnal. However, all animals can adjust due to adaptation. It's just important to recognize which type of sleep cycle your dog is naturally on and to provide your pet with enough sleep. People have various lifestyles, and as such, some have nocturnal dogs, some have diurnal dogs, and some have crepuscular dogs. It's also worthy to note that "nocturnal dogs" aren't different than "diurnal dogs" in any way except for their sleeping pattern (i.e., one breed isn't considered more nocturnal than another).
In terms of animal behavior, these sleep cycles affect each animal as you'd expect they would. Animals like dogs and cats are more adaptable than others, but most likely still require the same amount of sleep as other dogs and cats not on the same cycle as theirs. At this point it's worthwhile to point out the difference in behaviorism and ethology. Ethology is considered to be an animal's behavior in an observed setting, where behaviorism is changed. So (and I'm not 100% I'm using these terms correctly), dogs are ethologically nocturnal but they've adjusted to be generally crepuscular and diurnal animals. In nature, most animals adjust to what suits them best (i.e., there's an evolutionary reason owls and wolves are nocturnal compared to skunks which are crepuscular. It mainly has to do with diet, predators, prey, etc...)
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Twilight
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Magically Surprising Examples of Crepuscular Animals
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Magically Surprising Examples of Crepuscular Animals
Despite there being several examples of crepuscular animals on the planet, this concept is not as popular as diurnal or nocturnal behavior. That might have something to do with the fact that several crepuscular species are often confused for nocturnal species.
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Fast fact
The term crepuscular is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, meaning twilight.
On the basis of the time of the day when they are active, animals are classified into three categories: (i) nocturnal (active at night),
(ii) diurnal (active during the daytime),
(iii) crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk).
Of the three, crepuscular is perhaps the least-popular category, which comes as a surprise, considering that it has some of the most popular animals to its credit; the domestic cat being one of them.
Crepuscular Species
Crepuscular animals are species that are primarily active at dawn and dusk, i.e., the twilight hours. These animals are often confused for nocturnal animals, as their activity peaks in the evening, which is roughly about the same time when nocturnal species are preparing themselves for hunting, or early morning, which is when their nocturnal counterparts are returning from hunting. Crepuscular animals do not stay out after nightfall. Nor are they seen active during the daytime, like diurnal animals. These animals sleep at night, and lie low during the daytime.
Within the crepuscular group, there are matutinal animals, which are active at dawn, and vespertine animals, which are active at dusk. While the term matutinal is derived from the Latin word mātūtīnus, meaning 'pertaining to the morning', vespertine is derived from the Latin word vesper, meaning evening.
Mongolian Gerbil
Examples of matutinal animals include bees, gerbils, etc. On the other hand, the vespertine group mainly comprises insects, such as moths and flies, and species of bats and owls that primarily feed on these insects. Most crepuscular species, however, are active both at dawn and dusk. They are known to have a bimodal activity pattern. These include rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets, etc.
Crepuscular behavior in animals is believed to be an anti-predator adaption. As most predators are active during the wee hours of the night or peak hours of the day, it's safe to step out at dusk or dawn when predators are either back into their dwelling or are yet to get at their active best. Diurnal animals, which are used to broad daylight, have a tough time trying to spot prey in low light conditions typical to twilight. That makes it easier for crepuscular animals to evade them.
Hamsters are known to display crepuscular traits in the wild, spending the entire day underground to avoid predators, leaving their burrows only about an hour before sunset, and returning to safety at nightfall.
Some species display crepuscular or diurnal behavior, depending on factors like competition with other species in their habitat, prey availability, etc.
Short-eared Owl
An apt example in this case is the short-eared owl found on the Galapagos Islands. On islands where it shares its native habitat with Galapagos hawks and buzzards, the species displays crepuscular behavior. In contrast, on islands on which its competitors are absent, it displays a diurnal behavior.
The common nighthawk hunts at dusk, retires to its nest at night, and resumes hunting at dawn. The crepuscular behavior of this species can be attributed to the fact that, most insects that it preys on are themselves crepuscular in nature. Similarly, species like American woodcocks and owls are most active at dawn and dusk.
Bobcat
Another example of a crepuscular predator will be the bobcat. This species is known to be active for about 3 - 4 hours in the evening, and 3 - 4 hours in morning. Even jaguars, which are usually classified as nocturnal species, are most active around dawn and dusk because of easy prey availability.
In deserts, crepuscular behavior is an adaptation that helps different species survive the soaring temperatures during the day and freezing conditions prevailing at night.
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
The list of crepuscular animals in the desert includes species like desert cottontails, black-tailed jackrabbits, Mongolian gerbils, etc. The western diamondback rattlesnake, which is nocturnal in summer, switches to crepuscular or diurnal behavior in spring and fall. Also interesting is the case of kangaroo rats, which are known to display crepuscular activity on a full moon night.
Crepuscular Plants
Not just animals, but even plants are crepuscular in nature. With so many examples of crepuscular animals, we shouldn't be surprised by species of plants evolving to make the most of the pollination opportunities these animals bring along.
Morning Glory
In plants, the morning glory and primrose are apt examples of crepuscular species; the former being a matutinal plant, while the latter, a vespertine plant.
The fact that cats are crepuscular may come as a surprise for some people, especially because we are used to seeing them active throughout the day. This behavior of cats can be attributed to the presence of humans around them, as they are known to adjust their sleeping habits in accordance to that of their owners'.
Abhijit Naik
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i don't know
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The first almanacs, made in Babylon/Iraq c.750BC, originally listed?
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CitypagesKuwait June 2014 online by CityPages Kuwait (page 170) - issuu
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HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz 1.What is a quarter of three-quarters? 2.Technically the avocado ('fruit' of the avocado tree) is a: Berry; Tuba; Nut; or Fungus?
Test Your Vocabulary crude means : 1. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
3.From the Greek root word for a pointed pillar, what is the technical term for the division sign ( ÷ ) ?
2. belonging to an early stage of technical development
4.Which occupation traditionally used 'walla' (in the US), 'rhubarb' (UK), and 'gaya' (Japan)?
4. capable of fitting a particular situation or use
7.Crepuscular creatures are mainly active in: Sunlight; Moonlight; Twilight; or Darkness?
ANSWER: Is it gross? Unsophisticated? Totally tasteless and positively offensive? Then you can describe it as crude.
6.SS Ancon was the first ship to navigate what single-vowelled passage on 15 August 1914?
Crude is not rude when it’s used to describe unprocessed oil, which it first was associated with in 1865. From the Latin crudo, meaning "rough, raw,"crude today can be used to describe anything or anyone that's unrefined and rough around the edges. So don’t be too insulted by the large-nosed portrait that cartoonist made for you. It’s just a quick,crude drawing meant to be funny.
5.The medical vasodilatory compound and recreational drug C5H11ONO is more commonly known as: Crack cocaine; LSD; Amyl nitrite; or Speed?
3. tending to become more severe or wider in scope
8. A low-cost 'ratoon' crop (for example of sugar-cane or rice) grows from/on: Windblown seeds; Stubble after cropping; Flooded land; or Astroturf? 9.The two traditional symbols used to indicate treble and bass clefs in musical notation are respectively based on: G and F; P and L; T and B; S and E?
Choose the Right Symbol
10.What high quality gravity/capillary-fed implement was traditionally ruby-tipped gold, and is nowadays usually iridium-tipped stainless-steel? 11.The first almanacs, made in Babylon/Iraq c.750BC, originally listed: Important people; Recipes; Prayers; or Planetary movements?
What mathematical symbol can be put between 5 and 9, to get a number bigger than 5 and smaller than 9?
12.What common mineral's name (technically silica or SiO2) derives from old PolishGerman 'kwardy', meaning 'hard'? 13.AgustaWestland, Bell, Oboronprom and Sikorsky are notable makers of: Solar panels; Helicopters; Telecomms systems; or Nuclear reactors? 14.The particle physics unit of reactionary particle decay is: Strangeness; Weirdness; Oddness; or Bafflement? 15.What product 'brand' from the Gamay is traditionally released the third Thursday of November each year?
17.Analepsis is more commonly known as a what in a play/story/film: Credits; Flashback; Sex scene; or Intermission?
JUMBLED WORDS I M T I L
18.What invention of the Greenland Inuit is also derogatory slang for an outdoor hobbyist who observes or collects things?
S A L C H
19.Baroque (a dramatic heavily detailed style of art form) began in: 500BC Athens; 1200s Paris; 1600s Rome; or 1800s Rio de Janeiro?
B U D E O L
20.A thin middle section of a wooden chair-back, particularly old and carved, is called a: Spit; Splint; Sprout; or Splat?
S E N U U R
citypageskuwait.com
L O F R A M ANSWERS: LIMIT, CLASH, DOUBLE, UNSURE, FORMAL
ANSWERS: 1.Three sixteenths (or 0.1875 - to calculate fractions of fractions, multiply the top digits [i.e., 1 x 3 = 3] and then the bottom digits [i.e., 4 x 4 = 16] to give 3/16ths ), 2. Berry, 3. Obelus (from the ancient Greek root word equating to obelisk), 4. Actor (the words uttered randomly by a group to create the background murmur of a crowd), 5. Amyl Nitrite, 6. Panama Canal, 7. Twilight (dawn or dusk - from Latin crepusculum, twilight), 8. Stubble after cropping ('ratoon' is from old Spanish retono, sprout), 9. G and F, 10. Fountain pen, 11. Planetary movements, 12. Quartz, 13. Helicopters, 14. Strangeness, 15. Beaujolais Nouveau (French wine from the gamay grape and Beaujolais region), 16. Artworks, 17. Flashback, 18. Anorak (anoraq in Greenland Kalaallisut language), 19. 1600s Rome, 20. Splat (an old-English, meaning 'split up')
170
ANSWER: A Decimal Point - 5.9 works nicely
16.The German Bauhaus institution famously combined building design with: Gardens; Artworks; Energy systems; or Water?
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planetary movements
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AgustaWestland, Bell, Oboronprom and Sikorsky are notable makers of?
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Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait. All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. 10 citypageskuwait.com Copyright © June 2014
On the Cover: Hiba AlMansour Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi
June, 2014
Free Copies of CityPages are Available at:
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Hello Our Beautiful Readers!
Dear CityPages Readers,
With the advent of June we are already at the verge of ending the first half of the year. Like work the heat
The World Cup season has commenced! This is
is also at its best. Actually this is the time of the year
the time when TV sets are sold out and people are
when we all need to sit back and carefully examine our new year’s resolutions. We need to check that where we have reached with the promises which
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we committed with ourselves at the start of the year. Take advantage of this full bloomed heat, stay
shopping for potato chips and popcorn instead of groceries. Go figure the fervor. Our issue of course is dedicated to the season and
at home at just check the progress which we were
to celebrate in spirit of this I am interviewing the
supposed to do during the first 6 months of the
legendary Kuwaiti soccer player Jassim Yaqoub.
year.
What a truly kind and gentle man he is yet an icon.
Football World Cup is knocking at the door and
CityPages
your CityPages is bringing for you the interesting
Ramadan is at our door, and in this heat I think we
details about it. Other than the football you will
may be earning extra points this year. I hope that
find so many interesting things in the June issue
@citypageskuwait
which are not only worth reading but also worth remembering. I can assure you that you will enjoy reading the special articles which we have brought for you with reference to Father’s day as well.
@citypageskuwait
I will not disclose all the secrets of June issue as I
everyone takes care of themselves in this energy sapping heat wave that has hit Kuwait. Finally, to all you wonderful fathers out there, what a lovely job you’re doing Happy Fathers Day!
know that the suspense always creates interest. Grab your copy today and enjoy the read and as usual keep us posted with valued feedback. FOR ADVERTISING E-mail: [email protected]
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Till the next issue.
Abeer M. Alabduljalil Managing Editor
Kinda Al Faris Executive Editor
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The Avenues 22597145 • Al-Kout Mall 22979032 • The Gate Mall 22056134 • Tanagra, Fanar complex 25717893 loccitane-me.com
June, 2014
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by: Abdalla AlMuzaini
From passion to success, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan was determined to excel with everything he worked on. Quitting was never a given option to Abdulraouf, and that was forced to his strength of mind since childhood. Kuwait was going through a reconstruction phase to fix all the destructions that occurred during the Iraqi invasion. New Infrastructure was being built in the country and part of the reconstruction was the introduction of the Internet to Kuwait in 1995. The Internet was something new to the people, where people still didn’t know what is Internet, and what is the difference between the internet and a computer! That to Abdulraouf was “eye-catching!” and set him off to the beginning of his journey…. At the age of 18, the starting point of his passion flickered upon Abdulraouf’ s eyes when the English teacher assigned an essay to be written, and one of his class mates submitted his essay ‘Printed on Paper.’ This was an illuminating realization, which resulted in Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s personal feeling of elation and wonder! It was right there shining before Abdulraouf’s eyes like a pot of gold, and he knew what he wanted… He wanted a computer. Al-Wazzan not just only wanted to do all his essays on the computer, but all College marketing campaigns as well. His wish came true when Abdulraouf’s father got him his first Personal Computer.
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Through this PC, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s exploration started to get deeper, leading him to work on Microsoft Front Page, and Photoshop. The “First Online Magazine in Kuwait” – was created by Al-Wazzan and his friend Waleed Bandar. Abdulraouf knew that there was so much to learn and discover from the Personal Computer and positioned his complete focus towards the field of Information Technology (IT). “IRC Club” was the first Internet Café to open by Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan and his family in 1997 using DSL, unlike other Internet Cafés who were still using Dial Up. At the “IRC Club” is where Abdulraouf learnt all about technical Networking. From that spark of wonder, to a passion, Abdulraouf wanted more…. A greater and bigger career, leading him to pursuing his education at The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) granting him a Diploma in Computer Programming. After leaving PAAET in the year 2000, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan went job hunting. At that time, anyone who wanted to work must have a permission letter from the military, which Abdulraouf didn’t have. This was a struggle to Abdulraouf as he wanted to work but the letter of approval was his only prerequisite. With no other choice, Abdulraouf applied to serve the Kuwaiti army, but was requested to serve an additional year as he was late in joining. Finding a way around it, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan joined the Kuwaiti Air Force as a volunteer with minimum condition of five years to serve. The reason
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Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan From Passion to Success
June, 2014
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of him joining the Air Force was not for the love of flying but for the mere fact that there was an open vacancy for a position as an IT Network Administrator. Al-Wazzan took up this role for a period of four years till he got promoted to become the IT Team Leader at the Kuwaiti Air Force. As the IT Team Leader, Abdulraouf developed a new version of the HR System; added at least 60% of new features, automated the process, and made it paperless which was a ‘time-cutter’ and resulted in an increase in efficiency. Respective of the minimum requirement to serve for five years as a volunteer, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan continued serving for a total period of eight years. Eight years of active contribution, Abdulraouf realized it was time for him to spread his wings and fly away. It was essential to Al-Wazzan to continue his path of learning more about IT, taking more tasks and responsibilities, and reaching to hire positions with better job offers. Abdulraouf is back again with his job hunting, and after three months of 18
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searching, Al-Wazzan finally gets a call for a job interview. In 2008, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan officially joins ZAIN IT Department as a Data Base Administrator (DBA). Within his year and a half at ZAIN full of IT responsibilities, AlWazzan was involved in six main critical, major enterprise, and successful IT Projects: • The new numbering plan of adding the 8th digit to the ZAIN phone numbers (which impacted entire Kuwait’s users of ZAIN) as a Project Technical Team Member. • The Archiving System as a Project Manager. • The initiator and owner of the project to standardize ZAIN user’s access. • The upgrade of the Client Relation Management for Telecommunication Business Solution (TABS) as the User Acceptance Test (UAT) owner. • The upgrade of the E-Business Website as
the Infrastructure owner. • The Data Warehouse project as the Infrastructure owner. Driven by determination and goals of leadership, is when Abdulraouf decided to look into something greater and shift from the technical IT routine, to the course of IT Management. Of course, like any father is, Al-Wazzan’s father was concerned about Abdulraouf’s decision; as he was leaving a huge enterprise sized company such as ZAIN and going to the Insurance industry which was very uncommon. Stubborn and committed to his goals as he was, Al-Wazzan had already taken his decision to move to Warba Insurance where he had already been offered a managerial position. Warba Insurance at that time had a vision of restructuring its IT department and business solutions, and that’s when Abdulraouf joined to lead and deliver this vision to reality. Proving himself to the management
of Warba, Al-Wazzan was immediately promoted as the IT Manager, and by 2011, Warba Insurance officially had a fullfledged IT infrastructure, highest of its kind where no other Insurance businesses has today. With the planning, Al-Wazzan and his technical decisions, managed to save 60% of cost and this was such a great and successful achievement that it got published as a Regional Case Study by Microsoft, and could be read on www. microsoft.com
Subsequently, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan engaged his heavy experience of his Photoshop with his daily activities to market Warba Insurance in the Kuwaiti market. Successfully, Al-Wazzan played a key role in the rebranding of Warba Insurance’s corporate identity, and initiated the Social Media campaigns in 2011. Because of Abdulraouf’s hard work, commitments and achievements, Al-Wazzan got promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM) responsible for the IT and Marketing department.
which is taking place as IT has become the backbone of the business. The question is how he did it… How did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan take on Warba Insurance back in 2009 where IT was still in its early stages, to where it is today, almost 100% IT driven, cost saving, and a money making entity? Abdulraouf explained, “IT Managers should map themselves to the business goals of the decision makers. It is simply a negotiation to convince the management to invest in IT in order to achieve the Objective, Mission, and Vision of the company.”
Today, Warba Insurance is the first Insurance Company to start social media, and became the leaders in the Insurance sector in comparison to their competitors who also started to rebrand to keep up with Warba.
After his passion-able career jumps from the Internet Café to the Kuwaiti Air force and from ZAIN to Warba Insurance, I needed to know, did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan finally reach his goals reaching to a top level executive and becoming well known in the IT industry? He simply smiled back at me and said “Abdalla, IT was a passion which started back in 1994, and today I have reached to an AGM position but that is not enough for me; you see, you can be a CEO but still be an employee. I would say that reaching my optimal goal is becoming a business owner of my own, as my dream is clear for me now… There is a lack of understanding towards the importance of IT, and would like to start a firm focused on IT consultancy & Management to help serve the Kuwaiti market.”
By the year 2015, it is predicted that, Warba Insurance will be saving enormous operational costs due to the automation
Abdulraouf is finally practicing what he’s been preaching for years, and is looking to make Kuwait a better place, using IT.
June, May, 2014
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T
he ground is heart-stoppingly far away. Our amygdala recognises clear and present danger, heartbeat increases by a factor of three, blood pressure rockets, saliva seems to just not be there any more and the urge to really be somewhere else is almost overmastering. We are almost literally scared to death, experiencing massive surges of adrenalin, noradrenalin and growth hormone. In milliseconds, our hypothalamus pumps corticotropin-releasing hormone, triggering the pituitary to pump out adrenocorticotropin which in turn persuades the adrenal glands near our kidneys to start producing cortisol. Paraphrasing the above, after a very short time our adrenals feel like a couple of squeezed oranges as adrenalin rushes headlong into our bloodstream. Breathing is short, hard and fast as blood pumps manically. If you're old enough to remember, your whole body feels as if it's the starship Enterprise, shields at ten per cent, fending off an all-out Klingon attack. "She cannae take much more, Captain!" ...There's not much point in diverting precious energy for digesting when every joule might be needed just to survive. Pupils dilate, increasing movement perception, to see into the shadows where the bogeymen hide.... No, you haven't inadvertently slipped into a parallel universe and there won't be a test tomorrow on the biology of fear. We are, of course, talking about skydiving. About to leap heedlessly from an aircraft and experience an acceleration of almost ten metres per second per second meaning that we get to go really, really quickly. Mother Earth rushes to embrace us. Awfully fast. For all the adrenalin junkies, anybody who is reading this who can remember their first jump, I'd bet money that you're smiling right now. Whether or not we decide to jump out of the aeroplane depends upon our overcoming the entirely natural fear of dying horribly, but... why bother? What is it that motivates otherwise quite normal, well-balanced people to override a perfectly reasonable natural protection mechanism? Because we like it. That's why. This cascade of biochemical changes as a result of perceived risk is, I am told, experienced as high arousal together with unpleasant anxiety, which seems to be a little bit paradoxical. So, we ask ourselves again, the question is not whether we would go parachuting, but why? Even if we could conjure an answer, it ain't quite as simple as "we like it." A wilderness camper might grab a baseball bat to chase away a bear intent on foraging but the same guy with the baseball bat is afraid to stand up to his boss, both activities being fraught with danger but of two very different kinds. To paraphrase Orwell, all risk is not created equal. Research seems to indicate that we subject ourselves to quite a number of risk-taking activities of various kinds and, what a surprise, our risk-taking behaviour is governed by our genetics. Freud would have said "when in doubt, blame the mother", in our day we'd argue "when in doubt, blame the gene", which, if we think about it, is another way of saying exactly the same thing. If we stay with Uncle Sigmund for a moment longer, he might have told us in those soothing sessions on his leather couch that our risk-taking behaviour was illogical, beyond reason and we should stop it immediately since we obviously have suicidal tendencies. Hedge fund managers and other fledgling wolves of Wall Street, please take note. You'll no doubt be relieved to hear that we've come a long way since Sigmund's sofa and I think you've
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read enough amateur shrink-speak for one day. When I was a child, my mother used to remind me with monotonous regularity that 'curiosity killed the cat'. Perhaps she meant only to discourage me from stealing the car before I was tall enough to see over the steering wheel. Maddeningly, she then took me to the library where I borrowed books whose titles began with "The Adventures Of...", which positively encouraged me to undertake derring-do, rescue a few distressed damsels, single-handedly fight my way through squadrons of bad guys and generally place myself in harm's way to the general approbation of all and sundry. In other words, she gave with one hand and took away with the other. I don't think she liked me very much. It didn't really dampen my enthusiasm for dangerous behaviour, maternal wrath or feline homicide notwithstanding and over the years I've been involved in more than a few squeezed oranges moments. See above if you've forgotten. It's fortunate, however, that as we get older, our risk perception skills get better and the increased information flow that we enjoy in our, let's say, maturer years, tends to discourage us from doing stuff which, let's be honest, is batshit crazy. I no longer duck under the barrier when the ski run says it's closed - they didn't really mean it, it looked OK from the bottom - besides which, the piste is absolutely empty. It's only when you get halfway down, notice that it's steep and impossibly gnarly, covered in sheet ice and the bumps are the size of Buicks, that you realise that they might have had a point in closing it after all. Being now retired, sort of, you might therefore imagine me to be a benevolently becardiganed, avuncular figure gently pottering among the geraniums, days of risk and adventure being no more than a distant memory. To all my friends who are reading this, please stop howling immediately. I recently took up a new sport, scuba diving, cavorting with the fishes, dolphins, turtles and so forth on the ocean floor. Once you've mastered the art of neutral buoyancy so you stop bouncing up and down like a demented trampolinist, the wonders of the deep unroll before your eyes like a magic carpet. Strange creatures, some with teeth, glide effortlessly past. Octopi do what they do - it really is quite hard to explain how the eightfold synchrony actually works. Fantastic fish painted like rainbows graze in the coral. Sometimes, they might even have a friendly nibble on your wetsuit, which can be a little bit unnerving. There are a couple of downsides, touching really is a no-no because stingy thingies can put you in hospital. Also, you do rather have to know what you're doing in tight spaces and, moreover, have to be able to hang about for extended periods with heavy weights. It's like the gym, but wetter. A while back, after a three day diving trip to the Red Sea, I trudged wearily out of the airport, flapping an exhausted hand to a kindly taxi driver and feeling a bit, well, elderly, to be honest. My joints hurt and I momentarily cursed Jacques Cousteau for not inventing scuba gear that weighs on land in excess of twenty-five kilograms, which felt to me a bit like carrying my mother-in-law out of the surf. Fortunately, I have no pictures of my knees momentarily giving way as I hauled my hippopotamine carcass out of the forgiving water on to the beach, gravitationally challenged, cutting my foot on shard-sharp shingle in the process, being gently helped landward by a muscular Swiss instructor. Archimedes did have a point; history does not relate whether he himself was helped out of his bath by a muscular Greek slave who omitted to clothe his master before he ran manically into the street, thereby subjecting him to the catcalls
What amazing, ridiculous, complex creatures we are by: John MacArthur
and hissing of the local citizenry to whom his discoveries meant little. So, why have you been subjected to my little adventure diary? Because it illustrates a point. We don't stop taking the odd risk just because we've left childhood behind. It's actually quite good for us, as it happens, in small doses, a bit like exercise. Now, please don't for a moment imagine that you should suggest to your grandchildren that what you'd really like for your seventy-fifth birthday is a course of skydiving lessons or a bungee jump. And, if your bowels turn to water at the thought of doing something which might kill you, for "risk" read "exercise". Standing up is better than sitting down. Take a walk - you'll get all the adrenalin rush you need trying to cross the road in this country. If you're a corporate drone, you might make them buy you a stand-up desk. Churchill and Hemingway both had one, both risking varicose veins and coronary atherosclerosis. There's a growing body of medical evidence that asserts that hours of uninterrupted sitting can be surprisingly bad for your health but standing is a bit risky too. If you own the company, you could even get yourself the ultimate in work-life multitasking, a treadmill desk. Now, these will serve several purposes. One being that you have to actually walk to go nowhere - a bit like this story, really - and simultaneously type on your laptop which is just out of reach and is actually hazardous because you can't get the positioning software right in the brain and you might well fall...oh, dear, it's all getting very complicated and dangerous. Apparently, you can get one that simulates snowboarding as well. See - instant adrenalin rush, right there at work. Just like skydiving really.
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Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?!
T
he saying goes that “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”. We have heard it over and over again; a phrase that is certainly much older than the Women's Movement of the 1960s. Yes! We have heard it a million times throughout the decades, believed in it and used it in many situations. But have we really thought about its origin? How exactly did we come to believe it and make it a “universal truth”? The meaning of the saying clearly declares that a great/successful man wouldn’t be so without support from the woman in his life. Well, my question to all women and to myself is: would a woman be supportive of an unsupportive or a mistreating man? Would she feed his ambitions, inspire him to take risks, provide him with self-confidence? I answered NO! And would a man be good to a woman who always demean his aspiration and mock his vision? The answer is again, NO! The question thus arises, which came first: the chicken or the egg? X that can't come without Y, or Y that can't come without X? Regardless of the sex, man or woman, I believe any human would never give a genuine smile to a hurtful face, present a
Sherihan A. Hassabo Sherihan A. Hassabo is a passionate writer who started expressing her opinion about controversial subjects when she was 14. When she is not directing events, she likes to investigate the interesting relationships' controversy in our Eastern society. Every month, and from real life experience; Sherihan will share a story, an idea, opinion, or a simple advice for men and women to live happily ever after.
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helping hand to biting teeth, stand behind someone else to support his success if they know for sure that, if the tables are turned, the other person wouldn’t do exactly the same. It is not a question of giving and caring, it is human nature which drives us all; men and women. Giving it the slightest thought, we should come to realize that while some facts need to be altered, there are definitely new facts that we need to derive from the existing ones: there has to be a saying “Behind every great woman there’s a great man”, and “Behind every unsuccessful man there’s an unsuccessful woman”... and so on. Let’s be fair and think it over before we merely repeat it!
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الطريقنحوالنجاح
طبيعة
النفس تحب النجاح في حياتها سواء على الصعيد الشخصي أو الوظيفي أو المالي أو جميع جوانب الحياة .للنجاح لذة جميلة من اعتاد عليه ال يمكنه التخلي عنه ،فتراه يقفز من قمة الى قمة ليحقق النجاح الذي اعتاد عليه وأصبح اسلوب حياته. في تجربة بسيطة مع مجموعة من المتدربين في احدى دوراتي ،اخترت شخصين واخرجتهم من القاعة ،أغلقنا عين أحدهم الذي عليه أن يصل لمكان جلوسه وهو يتلقى توجيهات الشخص اآلخر ،دون علمهم ما سيجري داخل القاعة ،و المتدربين في داخل القاعة عليهم تشتيت تركيز ذلك الشخص والعمل على عكس توجيهات الشخص المساعد .وحين دخل الشخص للقاعة توقع أن يستمع فقط لتوجيهات الصديق المساعد ،لكنه تفاجأ بازعاج في القاعة مما أدى لتعثره وتغيير طريقه، والشخص المساعد توقف عن التوجيهات فور سماع اإلزعاج ،لكنه تدارك الموقف قبل سقوط صديقه فأعاد توجيهه حتى وصل لمكانه الصحيح. الفكرة من هذا التمرين ليست بإزعاج الشخص أو احداث الفوضى ،بل هي فكرة أرغب بتوصيلها لمن حولي ،وهي أنك حين تضع أولى خطواتك نحو النجاح لتحقق هدفك ،ستواجه تحديات الحياة أو يتوجه لك المحبطين والمزعجين ( ليشلوا) حركتك أو يعيقوا تواصلك ،فهدفهم تعطيلك وغايتهم فشلك ،انتبه أن توجه تركيزك لهم فقط تجاههلهم. بعد أيام من أدائي لهذا التمرين تعرضت لموقف مشابه حين بدأت بتحقيق هدف جديد ،ابتسمت وقلت هذا هو التمرين وحان التطبيق ،وفع ً ال تجاهلت ما حدث وكأنه شيء لم يحدث وفع ً ال انتهى الموقف ونجحت في التمرين.
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Nour AlZaabi
Nour holds a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Marketing and is a Member at The Kuwait Economic Society and British Council Entrepreneur Network in Kuwait. Stay tuned for her articles and features in the CityPages magazine.
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How Making Film or Tv Series Comes To Life Available online on Pinterest.com
S
ince I’ve been back in Kuwait, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Kuwait’s award-winning film director and producer Walid Al-Awadi as he films a mini-series. I’ve watched and learned what it takes to bring a film or television series come to life. It’s not easy and takes a lot of discipline, plus a team you can count on around you. Here’s how it happens… Development:It all starts with an idea. Mind you, that idea can take years to come to fruition. You’ll have to make your idea come to life with a proper script. Script writing is a skill, so be prepared to spend the time working on your writing or finding a capable scriptwriter. Be prepared for numerous edits and rewrites. You’ll have to think about character development and the story you will tell. When you think you are done, you aren’t. You’ll rewrite again and again; and that’s only part of development. Unless you will be spending your own money to make the feature, you’ll have to pitch your idea successfully to convince someone to spend money to take it to the next step. Pre-Production:Ok, so now you have the script and financing, you’ll need to start getting the production together. This is a critical time and can take months. It is essential to make sure everyone has the same vision for the end product. You’ll be creating story boards, production boards, setting the budget, getting your team together: executive producer, director, producer, editor, and camera department (director of photography, lighting and sound crew, and the like). Now is also the time to start casting actors, finding costume and set designers, makeup artists, and scouting locations for filming. Your producer will also handle things
Laila Al-Qatami Laila holds a BS in Journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder and a MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. She was a former spokesperson for the Arab-American community through the largest grassroots Arab-American organization based in Washington, DC. Laila is a Specialist in the image of Arabs and Muslims in US media, films, and popular culture.
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like securing equipment, transportation, comes to life. catering, and so many other details. You will also start sequencing where and how you will film your story. You will outline everything, Distribution:Ok, so you have the film made, you must also find a distribution channel and yes, do more rewrites. otherwise, no one will ever see it. Not everyone will jump at the chance, so you will Filming:The time this takes depends on have to knock on many doors. Some might what is the length of program or film you open, close, then open; it takes patience and are creating. The days are long and you’ll good negotiation. Once you have agreed be working hard. It can takes hours to film with the distributor about where/when it will just one scene, and it might not even make it air, and who will retain the rights, you start into the final version. All actors are different the publicity phase of promoting your work and you’ll have to manage what happens on before, during, and after it is shown. set, in addition to the actual filming. Is the lighting right, is the sound clear, did you get Then, your next idea hits you, and you start the right shot? Oh and you’ll probably rewrite all over again. some things along the way. Post-Production:This process connects everything together, putting the film together from the footage. This requires editing, sound, special effects, color correction and money, lots of money. This is where it all
June, 2014
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You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone! Available online on Pinterest.com by: Paul Turnbridge
E
ver since I started thinking about writing something for Fathers’ Day, a tune has been going over and over in my mind. Most readers may be too young to remember the classic by Joni Mitchell entitled “Big Yellow Taxi” but please check it out online if you want a retro musical treat. Anyway, the lyric which repeats in my head resonates “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” which, I guess, is where I claim my association with Fathers’ Day. Let me explain… My father was born in England in 1915. He grew up in a very different world to the one in which we live today … few cars; no television; taking a weekly bath in a large tin tub on the kitchen floor, sharing the bathwater with the rest of the family; none of the modern kitchen gadgetry yet invented. He lived through an era 28
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of great change! He had worked in the offices at GWR (Great Western Railway) which was one of the earliest of the pre-nationalised UK railway companies, until the onset of World War 2. He served his country as an officer in the Royal Artillery regiment and, after the war, remained in military service and met my mother at a T.A. camp at which he was Adjutant. By the time I arrived in 1958, he had married, had a daughter, been moved to several postings (with family in tow) and had finally been assigned a permanent position in the Ministry of Defense in London’s Whitehall. My father was a traditional man with oldfashioned values. For example, he would never even go shopping without wearing collar, tie and jacket! It was his belief that his role was to be the provider for the family, and he achieved that well. We were never
financially wealthy, but we were comfortable and never lacked for anything we needed. Yet we were rich in so many other ways … my sister and I grew up in a loving home. Our parents were there whenever we needed them; they spent time with us – reading to us when we were little, and teaching us the basics before providing us with the best-possible education. They taught us to be independent, yet never stopped loving and supporting us – even when we thought we knew better and did things against their advice or wishes. Yet I haven’t really celebrated Fathers’ Day since my father died some 20 years ago – not because I don’t love, respect and appreciate what my father did for me, but because I don’t really want to think about him not being here any longer. What would I not give to have him back even for just one week?
Of course I have many wonderful memories and a whole heap of photos (some of which are reproduced here) and, when I get together with my mother and sister, we still remember some of the daft things dad used to do to make us laugh. My father was strict and serious when it was needed, but he was also a good judge, a fair man and a great source of fun and laughter. Ours was a happy home. I think it was around 8 years before he died that my father developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Since retiring from work, he and mum had started to enjoy their leisurely new life. They had moved away from London to a new home in a beautiful part of England, and had travelled for some lovely holidays together, and my father spent a lot of his time creating his beloved gardens. But then he became more absent-minded and his character seemed to change. At first, we thought it was just dementure … but the progression to Alzheimer’s was unfairly rapid and unexpected. Communication became difficult and often, when I visited, he did not even know who I was. It was like my father was there….but he wasn’t really my father….he was not the man any of us knew. Even now – 20 years on – I get upset when I think back to those awful last years. He deserved better! His ultimate death was a release for him. As a typically generous gesture, at the onset of the disease, my father had agreed that upon his death he would donate his brain for medical research to St. Mary’s Hospital in London, where they lead the research into cures that will benefit future Alzheimer’s sufferers. By this act, he left his final footprint. This has been a very personal account which, at times, has been difficult to write. But why should I be surprised by that? After all, our fathers are personal to each of us. We all have unique memories and relationships with our family members, and we need to hold on to those. I loved my father (and still do) but it wasn’t until he was no longer around that I realized just how much he meant to me. I now know that I didn’t appreciate him enough when he was alive; I now know that there are so many conversations we should have had, but never did; and I know now that I will never again have the opportunities I once had to just be with him. Most of you will be able to value the presence of your fathers right now, and I urge you not to let any opportunity slip past. Take it from someone who knows from experience … you really don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone! (Written in memory of Major Victor R. Tunbridge – a true Gentleman, and a Gentle Man.) June, 2014
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Calling All Dads: You Matter Too!
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rowing up in the Middle East, moms are always seen as the anchor of the house, the most significant figure, the caring one, the one person you turn to when things go wrong and the one who puts every ones needs first and hers at the bottom. Of course this is all true (especially in my mother’s case!) but what about all the great fathers out there too? In our house we were always puzzled by the notorious Mother’s day celebrated in March and so we decided to call it Family day. That is until my sister and I moved to the US and realized that there are two days equally important, a day to celebrate your mom and another one dedicated to your dad in June! For the longest time, mothers have been revered, respected, and admired. After all, we moms, go through 9 months of pregnancy (which I found were actually 10 when I was pregnant but that's a whole different story for another article), changes in our bodies physically and emotionally, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, child rearing, giving up our careers and all the other sacrifices we make to be mothers. But wait a second; right by our sides are men, who have equally gone through many changes to be fathers too, to hold our hands through it all and those little hands of our children too. Most of what we as moms go through would not be possible if it wasn't for the wonderful husbands standing beside us each step of the way. These husbands are the wonderful fathers to our kids who so lovingly take care of many of parenthood’s many responsibilities too. To all the dads out there, as we celebrate you on your special day, let me remind you as to why you matter and how important your presence is to your family: 1.Dads play an important role in children’s development from birth all the way through adulthood. Research has shown that children with involved fathers do better socially and academically than kids with no relationship (or a distant relationship) with their fathers. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, children
Zahra Taqi Zahra is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop her a line on her email: [email protected] or find her on FB: http://www.facebook. com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @ MilestonesCoach
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with fathers who take the time to ask about what they learned at school and their dayto-day social activities and relationships do better in school than kids whose dads do not provide that kind of interest or input. 2.Dads and their boys: Fathers play an important role in their son’s lives as they model to them what it is like to be a man, how to be responsible, caring and how to be a loving husband and a good father. According to Christine Langlois, author of “Raising Great Kids”, boys who grow up with involved dads are less likely to get in trouble with the law as they get older. 3.Dads and their daughters: Fathers play a very important role in their daughters’ lives. Daughters who have a strong and healthy relationship with their dads tend to be more confident and self assured, independent and confident. Also studies show that girls who have a strong bond with their fathers tend to have less mental health problems later in life. Another important role for fathers when it comes to their daughters is the example they set for them in regards to men (i.e. husbands). 4.Dads bring on the adventure!: Many moms are cautious when it comes to their kids being adventurous, erring on the side of caution and some times discouraging their kids of partaking in certain activities according to Langlois. Dads on the other hand tend
Available online on Pinterest.com to believe that their kids are physically able which leads to children overcoming challenges and therefore having a higher self esteem. Simple things like asking your kids what they learned at school that day, reading to them, asking about their dayto-day activities can lead to kids being more academically successful. When a dad exhibits a commitment to his family, he models a responsible behavior to his own children. Also, children with supportive fathers, usually have less problems and are better able to get along with others and have better control over their emotions. There you have it Dads! You matter too just as much as any mom out there. Moms do put in a lot of hard work and oh so much love to their families, but so do you, and you ROCK at it! So, to all the wonderfully involved and supportive fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day to you all! May you continue to support your spouses and your families, build wonderfully strong relationships with them and reap the benefits of all the hard work. And to the two most amazing dads in my life, my dad and my kids’ dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work, Happy Father’s Day you two! “Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!” By Lydia Child.
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Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran Available online on Pinterest.com Sahih International Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
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t is only natural that on the month where the Quran was revealed, that it should take center stage in the minds and inhabiting the consciousness of its believers. Darting through it cover to cover void of real meaning most likely defies the purpose. A diligent pondering of simply a few of the Quran’s verses concerning everything that consists in our metaphysical universe can be just as fruitful.
A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.)
Ramadan has always been a month of invigorating spiritual, physical and mental replenishment. Yes, a heightened sense of moral awareness tends to wash over some while tiny seeds of empathy begin to sprout in the hearts of others. Some people you might know appear facially unrecognizable, a sudden alteration in personality and perhaps some genuine “Ramadan Resolutions” towards battling ones inner destructive desires. So let us attempt to enhance the blissful energy by reflecting on several of scientific statements in the Quran.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (21:30)
More than 1,400 years ago in what was a backwater of civilization in the deserts of Arabia, an illiterate Arab produces scientific statements that scientists discovered just yesterday, relatively speaking, all while doing so in a linguistically superior form to any known Arabic text. People at the time were devoid of science, there were no telescopes, microscopes or anything even close to powerful technology we have today. Conceptions of nature and the universe were based on superstition and myth. Arabs believed the earth was flat and that mountains supported the sky above. Within this backdrop, the Quran was revealed containing many scientific facts on topics ranging from the origins of the universe to remarkably accurate descriptions of each stage of human embryonic development. Many of these facts could not be fully appreciated at the time, only recently have we as a species developed the technological means to marvel on its accuracies.
The Origins of The Universe and Its Expansion The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of hot dense smoke. This is one of the undisputed principles of modern cosmology. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (41:11)
The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this identical smoke, they formed and separated from each other.
Sahih International Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? In the previous verse, the Arabic words ratq and fataq are used. The word ratq can be translated into “entity”, “sewn to”, “joined together” or “closed up”. The meanings of these translations all circulate around something that is mixed and that has a separate and distinct existence. The verb “fataq” is translated into “We unstitched” “We clove them asunder” “We separated” or “We have opened them”. These meanings imply that something comes into being by an action of splitting or tearing apart. The sprouting of a seed from the soil is a good example of a similar illustration of the meaning of the verb fataq. With the introduction of the Big Bang theory, it soon became clear to Muslim scholars that the details mentioned with regards to the theory go identically hand in hand with the description of the creation of the universe in verse 30 of the 21st Surah of the Quran. The theory states that all the matter in the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point; that exploded and brought about the beginning of the universe, matches what is mentioned in the verse that the heaven and Earth (thus the universe) where all once joined together at a single point, and then split apart. Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.
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He said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:1) impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few Sahih International years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this By the sky and the night comer. is the case.” “Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:2) hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin,” he Sahih International added. And what can make you know what is the night comer? In 1916, Albert Einstein formulated his General Theory of Relativity that indicated that the universe must be either expanding or contracting. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:3) Confirmation of the expanding-universe theory finally came in 1929 at the Sahih International hands of the well known American astronomer Edwin Hubble. It is the piercing star. Allah (SWT) communicates this phenomenon through prophet Mohammed (PBUH)1,400 years ago: The Arabic word "Thuqb" means a hole; "Thaqeb" means the one who makes the hole. The Quran is describing a knocking star that makes a piercing hole. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (51:47) Again, how could an illiterate man who lived 1,400 years ago (or anyone at that time) have known that a star can make a piercing hole let alone a knocking sound?
Sahih International
Furthermore, Allah (SWT) also takes a mighty oath on the grandness of black And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] holes describing them as invisible celestial bodies that move and sweep like expander. vacuums: Yet, astonishingly well before telescopes were even invented and well before Hubble published his Law, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite this verse of the Quran to his companions that ultimately stated that the universe is expanding. At the time of the revelation of the Quran, the word “space” was not known, and people used the word “heaven” or “sky” to refer to what lies above the Earth. In the above verse, the word heaven or sky is referring to space and the known universe. The verse points out that space and the entire universe happens to be expanding, just as Hubble’s Law states. It is nothing short of a miracle that the Quran mentioned such a fact many centuries before the invention of the first telescope, at a time when there was primitive to no knowledge in science. This is more so considering that, like many people in his time and place, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) happened to be illiterate and simply could not have been aware of such profound ideas on his own.
Pulsar Stars and Black Holes Neutron stars are remnants of exploded stars. As more matter falls into a neutron star its mass increases; and as its mass increases its gravity increases. A point will be reached where gravity would have grown so much that not even light could escape, thus a black hole forms. Most neutron stars discovered today are in the form of radio pulsars. They are called radio pulsars because they emit radio waves, as well as insanely bright gamma ray bursts shooting from each end like towers or in Arabic “burooj” (which God takes an oath on swearing by the heavens and its “burooj” that can mean bright stars and also grand bright towers.)
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:15) Sahih International So I swear by the retreating stars .
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:16) Sahih International Those that run [their courses] and disappear. “Running Sweepers” or Black holes haven't been detected until in 1971, a satellite pinpointed the exact location of a black hole in the constellation Cygnus. Scientists believe that some regions of space exert such powerful gravity that they act like gigantic vacuum cleaners, sucking in any matter that comes too close. No matter what the matter is, may it be a comet, a planet, or even a cloud of gas would be crushed to an infinite density and disappear forever. The gravity is so intense that it alters space and even time, slowing down time and stretching out space. Not even light can escape the fierce gravitational pull, so they remain black and invisible. That is the reason behind their description in the verse as 'celestial bodies that disappear, the running sweepers’. Simply marvelous description of the unseen.
Human Embryonic Development
Connecting a radio telescope to a loud speaker you would in fact be able to hear a pulsar. Pulsars sound like someone persistently knocking in a rhythmic pattern.
In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) describes in precise visual detail the stages of human embryonic development, 1,400 years before modern day scientists 'discovered' important information on creation of man and his development only with aid of recent highly advanced machines.
Today we can hear a pulsars knocking and if matter continues to fall into this pulsar a black hole will eventually form. The Quran describes a star by "the one who knocks" [translated “night comer” he who knocks at night] and says that it is "the one who makes a hole”:
Sahih International
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:12)
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:13) Sahih International Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:14)
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Sahih International Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators.
Next in that verse from the Qur'an comes the Arabic word Mudghah (translated as lump of flesh) can refer to a "chewed substance". If someone was to take a piece of gum and chew it to leave teeth marks down the side it would look as the developing spine, of the embryo chewed. The picture displayed shows the resemblance of the embryos somites with chew marks. Suspension of an Embryo during the early stages in the womb of the mother. (About 15 days old) The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6mm.
The Arabic word Alaqah (translated clinging clot) literally has three meanings: •Leech •Suspended or clinging thing •Blood clot. When we compare a leech to an embryo in the alaqah phase, we find much similarity between the two. It is also noteworthy that the embryo at this phase obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, just like the leech, which feeds on the blood of other organisms. Using the word alaqah again to say the embryo is suspended within the womb, due to it's size at this stage. It's attached to the side by the umbilical cord but otherwise it's just hanging and leaning on nothing. Now, the word alaqah also compares our embryo to a blood clot. Why is that? Well, the embryo will not have any circulation until about three weeks into the pregnancy. And also have large amounts of blood flowing to it, making the embryo at this stage appearing similar to a blood clot, externally. So, the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage. Abdullah Y. Shams Al-Deen Abdullah is a graduate with a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University at Northridge - Los Angeles, California. Abdullah was a columnist for the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in America, Nebras E-zine for almost 4 years covering a wide range of topics from the oil industry and technology to sports and culture. An investigative Journalist at heart, researching and presenting intriguing, inspirational and important topics that otherwise do not find the light of day gives his great satisfaction. Follow Abdullah on Instagram: @a_shamsideen
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How is this possible? If Antoine Van Leeuwenhoek was the first scientist to observe human sperm cells using an improved microscope in 1677, how can this be explained? It was mistakenly believed that the sperm cell contained a miniature-preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the uterus, similar to an episode on Family Guy. These are only but a few prime examples of certain scientific accuracies that could not have been known by anyone at the time, let alone an illiterate man in a world of myths and superstition. Only recently, in a scientific and highly developed age, have we been able to grasp the full grandeur of the scientific miracles found in the Quran.
To be continued …
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
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ince its discovery in 2012, MERS has terrified the world with its mysterious origins and high fatality rate. MERS, which stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since killed more than 173 people out of 571 confirmed cases in the past few years– almost a third of those infected. It is related to the common cold as well as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which caused widespread panic during an outbreak in 2003. According to the World Health Organization, cases of MERS have been reported in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and United States etc. The World Health Organization has called MERS a "threat to the entire world" as scientists struggle to understand the mysterious disease. MERS causes an acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, a cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia has often been recorded in victims and MERS has also caused kidney failure. The origin of the disease is unknown, recent research has
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linked camels to the virus after the animals were found to carry the virus in their blood. Saudi Arabia has issued a health warning to anyone handling camels over MERS, advising them to limit contact, wash their hands and wear face masks and gloves. The risk of transmission from person to person seems very low but there are fears the virus could mutate to a more contagious strain. Air travel, of course, can also accelerate the spread of a disease around the world, especially if those carrying the bug take a flight before they’re aware they have it and then spread it others at their destination. In the past, airports have deployed special scanners at gate areas to detect passengers with a high fever before they board. It’s not clear if MERS poses enough of a threat to air passengers to warrant such measures at this point. The World Health Organization is recommending increased vigilance in the Middle East and airports and infectious controls to stop the disease spreading where it is found. However, no travel or trade restrictions have yet been imposed but they are a possibility if the infection rate worsens.
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
Is there a vaccine against MERS? What is the treatment?
What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?
No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel corona virus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
What are the symptoms of MERS? A typical case of MERS consists of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding on examination. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Some patients have had organ failure, especially of the kidneys, or septic shock. Approximately 27% of patients with MERS have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with such chronic diseases as diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease.
How do people get MERS? It is not yet understood exactly how people become infected with MERS. In some cases, the virus appears to pass from an infected person to another person in close contact. This has been seen among family members, patients, and healthcare workers. Recently, there have been an increased number of reports of health care associated infections. In some communities, people have become ill but no potential source of infection has been found. It is possible that these persons were infected by exposure to an animal or perhaps another source or person.
Available online on Pinterest.com
How can I help protect myself? Corona viruses are fairly fragile, surviving outside the body for only about 24 hours. They are easily destroyed by detergents and cleaning agents. It is advised that people help protect themselves by taking everyday preventive actions such as:
Countries with Lab-Confirmed MERS Cases
•Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer/ wipes. One such brand is SEPTONA; the refreshing wet wipes SEPTONA Cotton Care for the hands offer deep and soft cleanness whenever needed. They contain alcohol and act against viruses. They are now available in supermarkets and BOOTS PHARMACIES all over Kuwait including the Airport branch. These wipes are suitable for daily use at home, in the car, in the office and especially during travel e.g. after handling money, after riding in a taxi, after touching escalators in a shopping mall, wiping down restaurant tables and toilet seats in public places etc.
• Saudi Arabia • United Arab Emirates (UAE) • Qatar • Oman • Jordan • Kuwait • Yemen • Lebanon
•Furthermore, SEPTONA Medi care antibacterial wet wipes with 70% alcohol is very effective against MERS virus. The 70% alcohol denat in the wipes is an antibacterial agent with quick action and extra effectiveness against the MERS, as well as most common viruses and germs. These wipes are used to disinfect injuries and surfaces, and not to be used on hands and mouth.
Countries in the Arabian Peninsula with Cases
Countries Cases • • • • • • • • • •
with
Travel-associated
United Kingdom (UK) France Tunisia Italy Malaysia Turkey Greece Egypt United States of America (USA) Netherlands
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash. •Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. •Avoid close contact, such as sharing cups or sharing eating utensils, with sick people. •Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
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Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877
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العالج الطبيعي Available online on Pinterest.com
تم
تجديد قسم الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل فى مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى تحت اشراف األستاذ الدكتور /محمد زكريا (دكتوراه الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل و عضو هيئة التدريس بجامعة عين شمس) و تم تجهيزه بأحدث و سائل العالج العالمية فى هذا التخصص
ويقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات المتميزة : تشخيص و عالج جميع األمراض الروماتيزمية • العالج الطبيعى للعديد من األمراض :خشونة • المفاصل و بخاصة الركبتين -األنزالق الغضروفى القطنى و العنقى -االم الظهر و الرقبة بأسبابها المختلفة -التهاب األعصاب الطرفية -التهاب العصب السابع (ابو الوجه) -التهابات األوتار -التهابات و االم المفاصل المختلفة -مسمار القدم -الجلطات الدماغية و الشلل النصفى و شلل الطرفين السفليين -الشلل الدماغى فى األطفال – تشوهات و اعوجاج العمود الفقرى فى األطفال و البالغين -العالج الطبيعى ما بعد عمليات جراحات العظام و األعصاب و العمود الفقرى • تأهيل الرياضيين • تشخيص و عالج اصابات المالعب المختلفة • الحقن المفصلى لعالج التهاب المفاصل و حقن األوتار. ويتوفر فى القسم أحدث أجهزة العالج الطبيعى المطابقة ألحدث المعايير العالمية فى هذا المجال: الموجات الصوتية -الموجات القصيرة -الكهرباء العالجية بأنواعها المختلفة -الليزر العالجى -شمع برافين- كمادات باردة و ساخنة و تيارات باردة -اجهزة مساج- جهاز عجل الكتف -جيم متكامل. و من أحدث األجهزة التى توجد فى القسم جهاز األنودين لعالج التهاب األعصاب الطرفية للقدمين و اليدين و من المعروف ان هذا األلتهاب يصيب مرضى السكرى بنسبة كبيرة و يتسبب فى احساس بالخدار و الوخز فى اليدين و القدمين و يمتد تصاعديا ليصيب األجزاء الباقية من األطراف العلوية و السفلية بصورة تدريجية .و يتميز حهاز األانودين بنتائجه الممتازة فى عالج هذا األلتهاب. كما يتوفر ايضا جهاز الموجات التصادمية و هو من أحدث األجهزة فى عالج التهاب األوتار حول المفاصل و فى عالج الشوكة العظمية (مسمار القدم) و يتميز بنتائجه الممتازة مما يجنب المريض الحقن الموضعى لألوتار أو مسمار القدم باستخدام عقار الكورتيزون. ويقوم بتنفيذ الجلسات العالجية فريق متخصص من الفنيين على أعلى مستوى من الكفاءة و التدريب تحت األشراف الطبى المباشر من الدكتور محمد زكريا كما يقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات األخرى مثل: المساج لعضالت الجسم المختلفة ألزالة التوتر وألرتخاء العضالت -جلسات التخسيس الموضعى لتخسيس أماكن محددة من الجسم و جلسات اذابة الدهون و عالج 39
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السليوليت وجلسات شد الترهالت خاصة بعد العمليات الجراحية للسمنة. Dr. Mohammad Ali Zakaria
و حرصا من مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى على راحة مرضاه المميزين قام القسم بالتعاقد مع شركة جلوب ميد للتأمين الطبى و الشركات التابعة لها ألستقبال المرضى الخاضعين للتغطية التأمينية.
& MD Physical Medicine Rheumatology Rehabilitation. Staff Member, Ain Shams University Specialized Boushahri Polyclinic
Hotline: 66129444 Tel : 1888877 Ext:170
FATHERS Integral to Healthy Families
Available online on Pinterest.com
Sometimes Dads may feel a little left out during the pregnancy and birth of their child. After all, during the first 9 months all the “action� is happening in mom! But fathers who spend time close to their wife during pregnancy undergo critical changes as well, that only continue once the baby is born. These changes ensure that Dad will be a committed protector and provider and play a critical role in helping a new infant develop emotional and social behaviors through healthy bonding. Once born, baby's hormonal control systems and brain synapses begin to permanently organize according to the human interactions she experiences. Unneeded brain receptors and neural pathways are disposed of, while those appropriate to the given environment are enhanced. Fathers, you are essential to this new environment!
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Oxytocin: A Bonding Hormone Oxytocin is a chemical released in the brain providing health benefits and promoting bonding patterns that create desire for further contact with the individuals inciting its release. We tend to talk a lot about oxytocin in the mother, but father’s also have a significant role to play. For example, mother’s tend to prefer whichever male is closest during periods of high oxytocin release (pregnancy and labor!) In addition, prolonged high oxytocin in mother, father, or baby also promotes lower blood pressure and reduced heart rate as well as certain kinds of artery repair, actually reducing lifelong risk of heart disease. Persistent regular body contact and other nurturing acts by parents produce a constant, elevated level of oxytocin in the infant, which in turn provides a valuable reduction in the infant's stress-hormone responses, and the resulting high or low level of oxytocin will control the permanent organization of the stress-handling portion of the baby's brain -- promoting lasting "securely attached" or "insecure" characteristics in the adolescent and adult. (Insecure characteristics include anti-social behavior, aggression, difficulty forming lasting bonds with a mate, mental illness, and poor handling of stress). When an infant does not receive regular oxytocin-producing responsive care, babies can develop permanent brain changes that lead to elevated responses to stress throughout life, such as higher blood pressure and heart rate. It has also been shown that a live-in father's oxytocin levels rise toward the end of his mate's pregnancy. When the father spends significant amounts of time in contact with his infant, oxytocin encourages him to become more involved in the ongoing care in a self-perpetuating cycle. Oxytocin in the father also increases his interest in physical (not necessarily sexual) contact with the mother, encouraging the father to become more interested in being a devoted and satisfied part of the family picture –all through his involvement with the baby.
Vasopressin & Protection Although present and active during bonding in the mother and infant, vasopressin plays a much bigger role in the father. This hormone promotes brain reorganization toward paternal behaviors when the male is cohabitating with the pregnant mother. The father becomes more dedicated to his mate and expresses behaviors of protection. Released in response to nearness and touch, vasopressin promotes bonding between
the father and the mother, helps the father recognize and bond to his baby, and makes him want to be part of the family, rather than alone. It has gained a reputation as the "monogamy hormone." Dr. Theresa Crenshaw, author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust, says, "Testosterone wants to prowl, vasopressin wants to stay home." She also describes vasopressin as tempering the man's sexual drive (not sexual functioning).
healthy mother and baby. You can foster healthy development by supporting your wife as she becomes a new mother and by providing frequent skin-to-skin contact, holding, and facial cues for your baby. Play, smile, soothe, cuddle, bathe, and rock. Even if you feel new or clumsy as a new father, all your efforts will help you to become a better father, and contribute to the healthy development of your child.
Vasopressin reinforces the father's testosterone-promoted protective inclination regarding his mate and child, but tempers his aggression, making him more reasonable and less extreme. By promoting more rational and less capricious thinking, this hormone induces a sensible paternal role, providing stability as well as vigilance.
Fathers, you are so important for healthy families. Thank you for all that you do!
Prolactin & Behavior Prolactin is released in all healthy people during sleep, helping to maintain reproductive organs and immune function. Prolactin promotes care giving behaviors and, over time, directs brain reorganization to favor these behaviors. Father's prolactin levels begin to elevate during mother's pregnancy, but most of the rise in the male occurs after many days of cohabitation with the infant. As a result of hormonally orchestrated brain reorganization during parenthood, prolactin release patterns are altered. It has been shown that fathers release prolactin in response to intruder threats, whereas childless males do not. Elevated prolactin levels in both the nursing mother and the involved father cause some reduction in their testosterone levels as well, which in turn reduces their libidos (but not their sexual functioning). Their fertility can be reduced for a time as well. This reduction in sexual activity and fertility is entirely by design for the benefit of the infant, allowing for ample parental attention and energy. When the father is intimately involved with the infant along with the mother, there should be some accord between the desires of the two, and oxytocin and other chemicals provide for heightened bonding and nonsexual interest in each other, which serves to retain a second devoted caretaker for the infant.
Fatherhood Fathers, you are already essential to a
Sarah Paksima
Sarah Paksima is a Board Member of BirthKuwait and a Doula, Childbirth Educator.
BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait
June, 2014
Soccer Available online on Pinterest.com
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occer is a moderately intense type of sports that requires the elite athletes to perform their best in order to outcompete their opponent. To perform well, optimum nutrition becomes crucial in supporting the athletes’ performance, training and recovery period. What are the nutritional requirements for soccer players? How much and what do they need to consume on the daily basis? Eating with a purpose, and also with enjoyment--that’s what nutrition for soccer is all about! Good food is not only one of life’s pleasures; it is also a powerful tool for helping you to be a better soccer player. Eating the right foods at the right times can help you train at your best so you can then compete at your best. General nutrition guidelines: Energy: relatively high energy expenditure sport Carbohydrate: 6g/kg/day; 8-10 /kg/day during training and competition Protein 1.4-1.7g/kg/day Fat: remainder of Kcal with an emphasis on heart-healthy fats Energy intake Energy expenditure is high in training and games. A 75-kg male soccer player may expend more than 1,500 kcal in a game. Many players, both males and females do not consume an adequate energy intake and this can lead to early onset of fatigue and poor nutrient intake. Calculating your calorie needs To estimate your resting metabolic rate (RMR) that is the amount of calories you need to simply breathe, pump blood and
Zain Al Abdeen Qasem
Community & Clinical Dietitian at Diet Care Zain holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Jordan University of Science and Technology and completed his internship at Jordan University Hospital. He also has a certificate in HACCP. Zain offers a wide range of services at Diet Care such as wellness, weight management, sport nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs; personalized for each and every client needs and wants.
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live. Multiply your weight by 10 calories per pound (or 22 calories per kilogram). Add more calories for daily activity apart from your training and other purposeful exercise.
•50% X RMR if you are moderately active throughout the day. •30-40% if you are sedentary. •60-70% if you are very active. To lose weight target 80% to 90% of total calorie needed. So what does a soccer player eat? Breakfast:cold cereals, oatmeal and other hot cereals, bagels, english muffins, pancakes, french toast with syrup, jam, honey, and fruit juice. Lunch: sandwiches (with the bread being the "meat " of the sandwich), fruit, thickcrust, pizza, hearty broth-based soups with noodles or rice. Dinner:pasta, potato, or rice entrées; veggies, breads, juice, fruit. Snacks:flavored yogurt, pretzels, crackers, fig bars, frozen yogurt, dry cereal, energy bars, simple biscuit-type cookies, animal crackers, canned and fresh fruits, juice. Fluid intake: Players should consume fluid early and at regular intervals during the game. Needs are especially high in hot ,humid conditions, carbohydrate/electrolyte solutions been beneficial during the game. Water or sport drinks? Water is an adequate fluid replacer during soccer sessions that less than 60 minutes. Particularly if you have fueled-up with a pre-exercise snack. Sport drinks are helpful during training sessions and games that last longer than 60 to 90 minutes or on multiple game days; they replace both water and some carbohydrates. On the long run, balanced dietary habits must be emphasized for soccer players. As discussed above, proper energy, carbohydrates along with fluid intake are essential for the players to succeed on the field. If a player does not have a healthy diet, they will not be able to train as hard, And will be more susceptible to tiredness. Thus, NUTRITION is one of the most important components for optimal performance.
“Therapy?” But my child is still young! FSRI Counselor presents what parents need to know about child therapy and a guide for effective treatment Parents often find it difficult to accept that their child requires therapy because of behavioural problems or difficulties in learning, especially when this is recommended by the school or a professional party. “We associate the idea of therapy with a mistake that we as parents could have committed, or an issue that can’t be solved. This is why parents become defensive to the idea that their child needs therapy,” explains Resha Erheim, M.Ed., Bilingual Counselor at Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), Kuwait’s not-forprofit multidisciplinary physical and cognitive rehabilitation center for children and adults. Erheim adds, “It is important for parents to accept that therapy is a step to finding a solution to what is affecting their child. This is the first step towards their child’s wellbeing”. Parents then have a primordial role to play during their child’s treatment. “They become co-therapists during the process,” says Erheim.
Erheim lays out four steps parents can help their child get a more effective treatment. Step 1: Collaborate with the therapist during the therapy While parents can have strong opinions to what their child needs, it is important to consider therapy as a collaborative effort between parents and the therapist, where everyone works as a team. Research has shown that parental involvement in a child’s treatment improves the efficacy of therapy. “Cooperation and support is a critical aspect to the success of treatment. Together with the therapist, the best way to support the overall treatment of the child is to set and define the roles and responsibilities of each parent at home”, says Erheim. Step 2: Build a mutually trusting relationship with the therapist Erheim says, “A therapist’s aim is to help the child, and also to guide parents in helping their child, not to take sides with the school Resha Erheim Resha Erheim (B.A., M.Ed., C.C.C.) is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Counselling from University of Ottawa, Canada, and has completed an honors Bachelor degree in psychology from York University in Toronto. Erheim provides counseling services to children, adults and couples. Her counseling experience lies in short-term counseling, crisis intervention and group counseling, working with cases from depression, addiction, anger, marital/relationship problems, grief, trauma, self-esteem issues, and others. Erheim speaks both Arabic and English
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or any professional party.” When a child starts the therapy process, parents must prioritize sharing their concerns, thoughts and daily routine. “Information like this is essential to building the treatment plan, and parents should be comfortable in knowing they will not be judged for their role as a parent. The key is to trust the therapy process and the therapist, it may take time, but it will definitely take a lot of effort,” adds Erheim. Sharing concerns also includes discussing issues or a miscommunication without casting blame, and, together with the therapist, place solutions. Step 3:Focus on supporting your child’s therapy process outside the planned sessions Therapy sessions are effective faster when parents set a routine at home, give psychological support, and provide a stable environment as a whole. “Establish a routine at home, then note your child’s responses and involve the therapist in the process. In addition, encourage mutual respect in communication with your child and avoid “you” statements that blame the child for misbehaving, and instead use “I” statements to show the child the correct behaviour and guide them through the change. Parents are also encouraged to model the behaviour they want their child to adopt.
“You are your child’s first and most important teacher. If you want a polite, self-managed child, you must be a well-mannered and self-regulated person yourself,” says Erheim. Therapists encourage parents to increase positive interaction with their child, for example by offering praise when the child does well, and also by paying positive attention to the child and spending quality time in engaging activities. Step 4: Be open to the therapist’s suggestions for new parenting skills No parent wants to be told what to do. When a therapist brings along suggestions, parents need to listen first, without defensiveness or counter arguments. This point supports the trust that has been built with the therapist. Erheim says, “Don’t misinterpret a therapist’s suggestions, they are not here to undermine your role as parents. On the contrary, accept the feedback with openness and flexibility knowing that the intent is to improve your child’s behavior. Give suggestions a try, as they may often yield good results.” “Parenting can be stressful, and you need the support too. Allocate time for yourself to do things you enjoy, or partake in your own supportive counseling as well. Sometimes parents’ personal issues shadow and affect their child’s behaviour”, concludes Erheim.
June, 2014
Getting Creative with the 3 “R”s
Available online on Pinterest.com
by: Paul Turnbridge
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or many years, the 3 “R”s were the basics taught in schools – Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. (It always did seem a little contrived, but the concept worked). Moving forwards a few years, and with ever-increasing concerns over misuse of the earth’s precious resources, the 3 “R”s have been transformed into more ecolologically-conscious terminology – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. It all seems fairly straightforward and quite sensible, of course. Reducing consumption of certain products can reduce wastage, costs of disposal, and the need to over-manufacture. Just one example of this is the never-ending supply of carrier bags provided free-of-charge by supermarkets. I fail to understand why, when visiting any of the supermarkets in Kuwait, I have my shopping packed into two hundred separate carrier bags, when I could have managed with just ten – of course I exaggerate, but you get the point. The idea of supermarkets providing re-useable carrier bags, and even heavy-duty plastic baskets, as has become the norm in many Western European countries, has not yet reached these shores and I must confess that, rather than taking the initiative to supply my own reuseable carriers for my shopping expeditions, I succumb to this wasteful use of bags as much as the next shopper in the checkout queue! Reusing products can have the same effects as reducing consumption, and of course by reusing things will naturally reduce consumption in any case. I have already touched on the idea of using reuseable carriers for shopping, but there are many more products that can be used more than once. Let’s take plastic water bottles as a prime example here – would it not make sense to refill the small bottle you carry everywhere with you in the summer heat, rather than to keep buying new bottles and throwing them away once empty? We have become a throwaway society, where it has become too easy to simply discard items 46
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when they no longer have a prime use for us. Which brings me neatly to a 4th “R” that is so often forgotten – “Repair”. So often, when electrical and mechanical appliances go wrong, we are told that is it easier and cheaper to simply discard the old and buy a replacement, than it is to repair. Whilst my mother used to darn socks to prolong their effective use, such thrift is a rare commodity in modern times, in which we simply throw away and buy new! And so we reach what, for me, is the most exciting of the “R”s. Whilst Reducing and Reusing are both practical and sensible, they are also quite boring and do not set the pulse racing. But “Recycling” is where it gets fun; it provides an opportunity to get creative! In simple terms, recycling means taking something and giving it a whole new purpose. Avid gardeners amongst you will doubtless be brimming with ideas for quirky and stylish plant pots – why not grow seasonal flowers in a pair of old boots? Or bring on seedlings in empty, washed food tins? What about using shredded newspaper as a mulch?
There are countless ideas that have already been successfully executed, and a lot of websites exist to pass these on – I shall list just three of these at the end of this article. Of course, you will likely find some fun ideas from the Internet that you will want to copy for yourself, but the real fun will be to think “outside the box” for yourself and create your own recycled object. Why not set yourself a challenge to create something useful yet unique? (And then tell us all about it?!) So, check out one or more of the following and get your own creative juices flowing….. www.facebook.com/1millionrecyclingideas www.pinterest.com/styleitchic/recyclingideas www.scoop.it/t/recycling-ideas And over to you … now it’s your turn to have fun and get inventive!
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The Professionals in Optics and Hearing Care - Sharq
- Kuwait City
Urban Desert Living with a Green Twist
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ustainability advocates and the plethora of labels this civilization conjured toward people concerned about our natural balance: are just as selfish and greedy as their capitalist driven counterparts. The difference is the latter has a self-imposed ignorant notion that the world's resources are infinite while history and science has shown the opposite to be true with undeniable clarity. We all have seen this to be true with our own eyes and in our measly lifetime, if not, a simple question to the previous generation is proof 48
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of the drastic changes the world’s resources, diversity and miracles of bioengineering has endured. This change is universal and is not limited to a certain environment. Nations and borders have nurtured the illusion of independence but the simple fact is we have one world, one planet. A local urban legend that Kuwaiti Zubaidi (silver pomfret) is better than Iranian Zubaidi, When the fact is the only difference is handling and time shipments wait at the border control effecting quality, they are otherwise exact in every way.
Our children will inherit what we give them so, I for one am greedy for the ability to hand down a sustainable world; I do not want generations to come to see me as the stupid generation that had a chance but did not act. I am not worried about earth as a planet; it has proven itself to handle mass extinction only to jump back up better than ever as it balances the systems that are in place. Granted it takes thousands of years but if you compare that to the earth’s age, a very small part. My main concern is humans living in a stable sustaining world, as I am sure you are. In this series, we will use human greed as positive driving force towards a better tomorrow and a great today too.
Living in Kuwait and battling our environment to grow my own food taught me to befriend it rather than force what is otherwise not natural. We have extreme seasons but have a stability in where we dwell. So, I started growing indoors during the summer rather than outdoors, this proved to be sustainable and carbon saving on the long run. Controlled environments have the benefit of consistent growth and production. You will be saving the world resources by growing your own instead of relying on imports. In addition to the exclusivity of having the best fresh teas, garnishes, spices and ingredients a scissor away from your kitchen. The security of knowing that the herbs you use only have the best ingredient in to have the best out in an immature food regulation locale.
Now, are you green greedy enough to grow your own herbs in the comfort of your kitchen?
Recipe for the micro Kitchen herb Farm nA daylight source – use 6500K (cool white cfl bulbs) or a bright window (note: most of Kuwait's homes are fitted with tinted 80-90% windows so windowsill light is not enough to sustain growth). nYour choice of herbs - some herbs thrive outdoors like rosemary, sage and other. For your indoor garden, choose herbs that would not like stevia raubidina (sugar plant) the chive family, honey sage, lemon verbena or any you like that can't survive our summer heat.
Chocolate Mint
nA good preferably organic liquid plant food or potting mix.
Thyme
nDecorative porous ceramic pots nScissors nPatience and tender loving care.
Creeping Rosemary
Make your own or buy ready made potting soil
Available online on Pinterest.com
Choose porous ceramic pots June, 2014
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Ramadan and Nutrition
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ith the holy month of Ramadan coming up , hydration and nutrition are of key importance. The human body is adaptive, it will adapt to whatever you put it through, but what needs to be kept in mind is that although your body stores nutrients, it will eventually run out. The body is like a machine that needs to be fueled regularly. There are a few things that I believe need to be kept in mind during this month. When breaking your fast, please think about what you’re eating. I know it’s extremely tempting when you sit on the table with all that food and you haven’t eaten all day. But remember, you haven’t eaten all day, do you really want to shock your system by eating nonstop from the moment you break your fast
Maha AlRashed
Maha AlRashed is a CHEK Certified Exercise Coach and a regular contributor for CityPages magazine.
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until the moment you go to sleep? I doubt that your body can handle that for an entire month. Ideally, a person would break his fast by having a few dates (to bring their sugar levels up), and some water; once you’ve done that, take a few minutes and let that feeling sink in. Then move on to your soups and salads and if you have waited 20 minutes after breaking your fast, then that would be more than enough of a meal for you. Perhaps a few hours later you will realize that you are still a little hungry, you can go ahead and start with all the main course foods. Switching to a grazing diet would be the way to go, eat small meals more regularly rather than indulging in one large meal a day and moving straight to the caffeinated drinks and sugar loading. Just because you are fasting it doesn’t mean that you should neglect your healthy lifestyle. In fact, I believe that your healthy lifestyle should be maintained throughout the month in order for you to deal with the heat and lack of food more easily. May this coming month be one of great blessings for you, just remember to stay healthy!
Available online on Pinterest.com
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Traveling this summer? These holiday fit tips will keep you looking beach-body beautiful right through to the end
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t’s 4am on a blisteringly cold Tuesday morning in good ol' London town and for someone who should be partying like it’s 1999 as I’m on holiday with the family, I’m trying my best to eat my oats and whey protein in the quietest manner possible so as to not wake up the rest of my family. Yes, you heard me. 4am. Oats and whey. Why? To fuel myself for my 6am gym workout as the rest of my day will be spent traipsing around Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge whilst endearingly irritating my poor mother. The last 8 days of my vacay has pretty much run along to a similar tune. I’m awake several hours before the rest of my family to get my workout sorted before joining in on the family festivities. As the French say; vouloir, c’est pouvoir, or in plain English, where there’s a will, there’s a way. According to an article published on Gulfnews.com, Kuwaitis spent approximately USD$5.2 billion in 2013 on their summer vacations. That’s a lot of travel for a little country. As summer 2014 looms around the corner, there’s no reason why your fitness routine Reshmi Revi Certified Professional Trainer
Reshmi Revi is the Deputy General Manager for MultiWorks Personal Training. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and passionate about fitness! Follow her on Instagram @Q8MissFit
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should go on leave too. I usually would advise be deemed cardiovascular-worthy. Hence my clients to enjoy their vacation whilst still go for a swim, take a jog in the park, rent a being semi-active. This ensures: kayak, try out that complimentary fencing class or abseil in that leisure center that has -that they don’t lose all their fitness and the awesome climbing wall. Just be active. health gains after months of hard work and And if you don’t want to do it alone, bring a healthy eating. friend with you. #funinnumbers -that they’re still mindful of their food consumption while abroad (hey, I’m pretty sure one would feel less guilty eating that donut knowing they got a good workout earlier on that morning).
Light at night
Over the years, I’ve taught myself to eat clean. Hence none of them fried, greasy, cheesy or overly sweet stuff. 5 meals a day, a protein component in every meal and depending -that they don’t have to start back from on the time of the day and the timing of my square one, post-holiday. workouts, I will also cycle my starchy carbs Here are a couple of fit holiday tips that will and good fats. see you active and tummy trim! However when I’m on holiday, I’m a bit more relaxed with my food consumption. If I want KISS (Keep It Short and Sweet) to eat a burger or try that cheesecake for You’re on holiday hence I’m not asking you example, I most definitely will. The difference to live at the gym while on vacay. Keep your is that I will ensure that whatever I’m having workouts short but high on the intensity is eaten before 6pm just so that my body has factor. A non-stop circuit for 40-45minutes ample time to break it down and hopefully would suffice. When I’m abroad, I like doing burn it. Seeing I’m also a bit of a nutrition killing but short circuits that focuses on my narcissist, I’ll treat myself to this once every peripheral heart action or PHA. Circuits that couple of days. For meals after 6pm, I make are PHA-based can be physically demanding sure I’m getting a good hearty portion of and are big calorie burners. PHA training protein be it grilled steak, fish or chicken, lots basically sees one alternating upper and of green veggies and salads with very light lower body exercises. For example a superset dressing and ample water to stay hydrated. (so non-stop) of squats (lower body), bench presses (upper body), deadlifts (lower body), Happily ever after pull-ups (upper body) and burpees (upper The most important aspect of your holiday is and lower). See what I mean? that you should have fun and enjoy yourself. If you’re finding it challenging eating clean or Take a hike, buddy! working out during your trip or if it’s making If you don’t plan on stepping foot in the you unhappy then khalas, don’t be overly gym while on vacay, try participating in an strict or too hard on yourself. Scale it back. activity of some sort. Walking around is great For my new clients, I usually tell them to try however you need to partake in an activity out one activity for example every 4-5 days where your heart rate is elevated for it to and to keep their dinners light.
June, 2014
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Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi
Helping People Achieve Their Fitness Targets Through Pilates Being fit and healthy is all the rage these days and for good reason. Science continues to provide conclusive evidence in support of exercise and its many benefits to your long and short-term well being. As such, people of all ages are looking for direction on what exactly they should be doing to make the most of their time at the gym. Making a decision to get fit and healthy is the easy part. The hard bit comes in actually doing the exercise and sticking to it. If only working out was as easy as finding the excuses not to do any. This is where Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi; a certified fitness instructor, certified nutritionist for exercise and certified STOTT PILATES instructor, comes in. She is also the owner of Fitnessity – health and fitness studio. Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi enjoys passing on the skills she has learnt to benefit others. She is passionate about exercise, sports and seeing people achieve their fitness targets. CityPages recently sat down with Khadijah for an exclusive interview. Read on to know more about this busy mom, entrepreneur and fitness star.
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share? No weaknesses, I always struggle to balance between work and family and both are dear to me.
When things get difficult how do you stay motivated? I look for new courses in London to escape the hectic routine life in Kuwait, though the trip itself gets hectic. I lived in London for 8 years and London is the city that inspires me. However, I am attached to my children so my trips cannot be longer than ten days.
What has been your most proud moment? When my children excel in sports. I am also usually very proud of my children when I return home from a busy day and see them completing their school work independently as they feel responsible towards school work.
The 3 Keys to success according to you:
Please introduce yourself to our and with a valid license to teach sports but I could not find this in Kuwait. Therefore, readers: Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi. I am a certified fitness instructor, certified STOTT PILATES instructor; the only certified STOTT PILATES instructor in Kuwait, a certified nutritionist for exercise and a wife and mother of three.
Tell us about your education: I have graduated with double majors in Political Science and Communications from the Richmond-The American International University in London. I then continued my study in London to become a fitness instructor. I am a certified fitness instructor (zumba, aerobics, spinning, weight lifting, kettlebells, circuit training), certified STOTT PILATES instructor, and certified nutritionist for exercise; I write food diaries for a healthy weight and better health; designed for healthy individuals.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to your current role/job? Was it always your dream career? All my life, my parents always included sports in our lives. Whether it was basket ball, squash, ballet, swimming, horse riding, or ice skating, our days always included sports. We lived in London for 8 years and no matter what the circumstances were, I was very active in sports. When I moved to Kuwait, it was very hard for me to find a health club or a gym of similar standards as in UK. In many parts of the world, the fitness instructor is certified 56
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I decided to study health and fitness even though I had a lot in my plate; I was married, a mother of two young children, and I had a full time job at Wataniya Telecom working under the directions of General Manager. When the work load increased, I decided to resign from Wataniya Telecom to focus on my passions i.e. sports and studying health and fitness. I had to travel for training courses to London and Dubai and sit exams too.
Now that you are so busy, how do you manage your time? Do you have an average day? I work 7 to 10 hours daily, except for weekends. I taught my children to do their homework without the help of us; the mom and the dad. However, the most important time for me with my children is during bed time. I make sure to be at home most nights to read books to my children, to talk to them and to put them to sleep. I guess, it’s time management from my side and of course, I cannot do all without the help of my beloved nanny and a housekeeper.
Your biggest strength:
-Passion (I love what I do, and I believe in it.) -Hard work -The support of my husband, my family, and the support of the members of Fitnessity; my health and fitness studio
The most inspiring woman according to you: My mother. My mother shaped my personality. My mother always filled our days with sports. I also have lovely memories of my mother in the kitchen every day either baking, or preparing healthy and fresh food for me and my siblings, even though she was working full time. My mother taught me at a very young age, to be responsible, and to always have something useful to do.
Your favourite quote: “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”
Your biggest achievement so far: Having Fitnessity - health and fitness studio and my children’s love for sports.
What would you like to achieve further? I want to continue my education in health and fitness, and to expand.
Your biggest fear: Loss, but my faith in God is strong.
My strength... I am determined.
Your weakness or have you made any mistakes along the way that you can
Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
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Eat Healthy this Ramadan
Available online on Pinterest.com Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sanaa holds Masters of Clinical Dietetics from University of Queensland, Australia and is a Clinical dietitian at Hadi Hospital. Sanaa is a also a blogger and very active on Instagram. Read more from Sanaa at: Blog: www.fit-n-fancy.com , Instagram: Sanaa_dietitian
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asting during the month of Ramadan is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that benefits us in many ways. A fasting person learns to appreciate the value of food as well as learns to have discipline in his/her life. Fasting is known to improve one’s health, but at the same time has the potential to worsen your health if not followed correctly. It is advisable that a person who has been fasting should still eat mindfully during nonfasting hours or upon opening the fast, which
involves paying attention to the quantity and quality (type) of food. Since your daily intake during the month of Ramadan is limited around 2 main meals per day (plus snacks), it is vital you put efforts to incorporate foods from all food groups. nBreads, cereals and other grain products (Choose Complex Carbohydrates) nFruits
and Vegetables
cheese and yoghurt
/ Sugar
feast. 1.Following the Prophets traditions, open your fast with 2 – 3 dates and a glass of water. This will provide you with the muchneeded instant burst of energy along with hydration. 2.You may follow this up with a bowl of lentil/ bean soup. Dinner: Ideally once you have opened your fast and performed prayers you may then eat dinner. This will give you approximately 10 – 15 minutes from the time you opened your fast to when you start eating dinner. Again do not treat this meal as a feast.
Guide to Eating during Ramadan Divide your food intake into two meals and two snacks in between and after. Suhoor (the pre- dawn meal); Iftaar (the evening snack which breaks the day’s fast); followed by Dinner. Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal should be a healthy balanced meal that will keep you full for longer and also provide enough energy during the fasting hours. Include the following: 1.Complex carbohydrates which are rich in fiber. These foods are slow-digesting food (Low GI) which help maintain normal blood sugar and satisfies your appetite without piling on excess calories. Examples: Pita bread, Oats, Multigrain / wholegrain breads and cereal, Natural Museli, Barley, Brown or Basmati Rice, Quinoa, beans and lentils. 2.Include a serve of protein in this meal which also helps your stomach feel satisfied. Examples of a serve of protein source include 65g cooked lean meats such as beef or lamb, 80g cooked lean chicken, 100 gram cooked fish fillet, 1 – 2 eggs; If Alternatives to meat sources (if you are vegetarian) includes handful (~30g) of nuts and seeds, almond butter, peanut butter, tahini , 1 cup (150g) cooked lentils or beans, 1 cup Low fat milk / yoghurt or 30g cheese. 3.Just like a breakfast, this meal should be your largest meal. Iftar: The meal which break’s the day’s fast. Treat this as a moderate snack and not a
1.Follow the healthy plate model: ½ plate covered with vegetables/salad; ¼ carbohydrates (e.g rice, pasta, and sweet potato) and ¼ with protein rich food (e.g. chicken, lamb, fish, lentils, and beef) 2.Eat slowly and chew very well which will help you pace yourself. It is a common practice to eat large amounts of food quickly after long day of fasting, but remember this is where you need to be mindful of the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose to eat. Eating slowly will also give your stomach the time to relay the message to your brain saying it is full. 3.Pay attention to the cooking method. Avoid deep frying, frying or using excessive oil while cooking your meal. Choose to grilling, bake, boil, steam or stir fry your meal. 4.Instead of treating yourself with sweets that are high in sugar and fat, opt for a piece of fruit first. If you are still craving something sweet, stick to a small portion. Snack: It is natural to feel hungry within couple of hours after dinner. It is important to make healthy choices by again sticking to the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose. Below are a few ideas 1. Low fat yoghurt ( 150 – 200g) 2.Fruit smoothie with 1 teaspoon of chia seed 3.Ricotta or cottage cheese with cucumber or baby carrots 4.¼ cup hummus with baby carrots or celery sticks 5. 1 cup low fat milk 6.Handful of nuts
During the whole month of Ramadan Do 1.Drink as much water as possible 8 to 12 cups. ( I also tend to drink barley water) 2.Walk for 30 minutes a day. If you want to walk after iftaar, wait 1 – 2 hours after your meal before engaging in physical activity. 3.Incorporate foods that are mentioned in the Holy Quran and as Prophetic traditions as these also correspond to modern healthy eating guidelines. These include milk, dates, lamb (lean), oats, fruits & vegetables such as olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes as well as pulses such as lentils.
During the whole month of Ramadan Avoid 1.Fried/fatty foods and food high in refined sugar such as french fries, traditional sweets and pastries and fried snacks. These food are empty calorie food which are high in calories and are nutrient deficient. These foods also increase sluggishness and fatigue during Ramadan. 2.Sleeping immediately after iftar and ideally after suhoor if possible, wait for 1 -2 hour before sleeping to allow your food to digest. 3.Avoid caffeine based drinks such tea, coffee or cola during sahoor and iftaar. These drinks are diuretics which will make increase water loss through urination. This in turn can potentially cause dehydration during your fasting hours. Avoid drinking tea at sahoor and right after iftaar as it can potentially interfere with valuable nutrient absorption such as iron. 4. Overeating at either sahoor or iftaar if you want to experience health benefits of fasting and prevent gaining excess weight.
Ramadan Kareem!
7. 1 – 2 pieces of fresh fruit 8. Whole-grain tuna/salad sandwich
June, 2014
Champion of a 110 goals for Kuwait
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hen my Editor in Chief sent me the brief that I would be visiting the museum and interviewing Jassim Yaqoob at his home the name rang familiar, I wondered for a couple of days if it would be the Jassim whom I know to be the Kuwaiti soccer legend. So I arrived at his house and was greeted by his son, I thought to myself Kinda, you really need to start getting the names of people right. The brief was to take a tour of “a museum at Jassim Yaqoubs home� so I assumed that I would be interviewing an art collector by the same name. But when I came down the stairs and walked into the basement I was pleasantly surprised to see that it indeed WAS no other than our beloved soccer legend standing there to greet me. As it turns out, Jassim and his son set up a museum of all the memorabilia related to his years in football in the basement of their large home, and what a treasure trove 60
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it is! The tour was incredibly exciting and brought chills to my spine. His trophies, his gold plated soccer shoes, pictures and accolades fill the walls with Kuwaiti history, of wonderful days gone by which only a few of us had the pleasure to experience. For all of you who don’t know, Jassim Yaqoub is a Kuwaiti first soccer player who played in the FIFA World Cup in 1982, scoring some of the most memorable goals for the Kuwaiti team. He has played against legends, and cohorted with the international soccer greats. He was born in 1952 in Kuwait, and played from his days as a young boy, but contrary to what his other football mates did which was to move on to holding down day jobs, he continued with the sport eventually playing professionally with the Kuwait soccer team which in those days, was heavily backed by the ruling family and sport enthusiasts. He enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the sport, and raised Kuwait’s profile exponentially, still leaving an indelible mark on the sport of soccer even after all these years. Jassim is now retired, however is in the process of further curating his museum which everyone must have the chance to see at least once, for not only is his museum about his career in football, but also recorded moments from Kuwait past that will forever live on in his home, and provides history automatically saved and preserved for the future generations of youth. 62
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Anyone whose dream it is to one day represent Kuwait on the worldwide arena of soccer should try to catch a glimpse of the myriad trophies, rewards and accolades that Mr. Yaqoub earned. They may be the driver behind the decision of one or two hopefuls to follow a natural calling toward the sport. When asked, his advice is to always carry on with your calling, to persevere and not think of the consequences but rather the rewards. For us at CityPages this interview has to be one of the most memorable, and I am proud and honored to have met this superhuman by the name of Jassim Yaqoub.
To find out how to visit the museum, contact us at CityPages. June, 2014
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don’t think I say this enough: I am blessed to have the parents I have. I know it’s Fathers Day this month, but I would like to show my appreciation for both of my parents. They are occasionally a packaged deal but what I love the most about them is their ability to completely remain their own person and hold their own ground with their own freedom. I’m an only child, which automatically means “selfish” to most people unless you’ve met my mother. She taught me diligence pays off and that nothing in life comes without effort. She has made me earn everything that I have wanted in life –and rightfully so. She has been a true matriarch taking in her mother to live with us and also being the main caretaker of my other grandmother. My father taught me how to be patient and loving. He, as an agriculturalist and also the first person to grow strawberries in Kuwait (how cool?!), understands that to grow, one must provide living beings with time and energy. My parents provided a nurturing environment, watering the seed they planted, and always pushed me to do my best. One of the best things they have ever done for me was letting me make my own decisions. When I chose to hold onto my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian and was met with ridicule, they stood by my side the entire time. When I was having issues with funding from the Ministry of Higher Education for veterinary school, my mother started working again after twenty-five years of not working (and she is rocking her job – boss lady!) to help my father fund my goal. My father spends countless days chasing ghosts at ministries in order to get my paperwork well… in order. What I love the most about them is that they are great parents: they are strict but they are also capable of having fun. Seeing photos of them when they
were younger, I always think of how I would’ve loved to be their best friend (I also see how similar we are). But even now! We have an iMessage group chat peppered with witty banter that always puts a smile on my face. They send me photos of themselves hanging out with their friends, of things they see that are interesting, things they read, and they are always laughing. They are constantly the center of attention when I invite my friends over. To me, they have evolved from authority figures to best friends who I can trust with my dreams, darkest thoughts, insecurities, and secrets and would never judge me but will always want the best for me. It wasn’t always this easy, we have had our fair share of rough times, but finding effective modes of communication and listening instead of just hearing has helped. Instead of attacking the other person with “you did this” we talk about how actions made us feel. Exposing your truths to the people you place upon pedestals (and vice versa) is as nerve wrecking as a high rise tight rope walk: you don’t know if you will fall but if you get to the other side (and you will) it’s worth it. I am eternally grateful for them. I don’t think I tell them this enough but I love them and without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I attribute everything to their auras and upbringing and I am forever indebted to them. Their capacity to openly and unconditionally love anyone who walks into their life is an inspiration. I am constantly bathed in their adoration and respect, which is centering and motivating and coaxes me to blossom. But I mean, look how awesome and quirky we are! (Two separate graduation photos: one was highschool graduation, the other was my bachelors graduation, and hopefully the third will be in 2016!)
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Rio De Janeiro Where to Stay
From Marilyn Monroe to Nelson Mandela, Copacabana Palace Hotel have been welcoming the rich and famous since 1923. Overlooking the Copacabana beach, the hotel offers 245 rooms traditionally decorated, with original artworks, three luxurious categories of suites. Choose between the pool ocean view suite, the avenue city view suites, or deluxe one-bedroom suites. Discover the glamorous penthouse suites with a private terrace, the finest view and an exclusive use of a private swimming pool and bar. Close to Arpoador and Ipanema beaches, Hotel Fasano has become one of the most stylish and luxurious hotels of South America, with elegant interior, a white marble pool on the roof, an Italian restaurant and a private beach, it’s the perfect getaway. Popping-up for one year only, from January to December 2014, The Guesthouse Maria Santa Teresa has only six rooms. With bossa nova and barbecues around the pool, DJs and musicians from all over the world, Maria Santa Teresa has big ambitions for its yearlong series of events.
With the world cup approaching, Rio is definitely where you want to be!
Beaches
Famous Copacabana extends for 4.5km along Rio's coast. Ipanema is Rio's richest and chicest beach. Other popular beaches within and near the city include Pepino, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Arpoador.
What to See FAVELAS Travellers are increasingly paying visits to the hillside slums known as favelas. Rio has 600 of these; they are picturesque at night, and fascinating. FOOTBALL Do not miss a guided visit to one of the big matches at Maracanã Stadium. CARNIVAL Dance the night away to the samba! The fabulous carnival takes place in February, but don’t despair! Rio is always up to dance. Nights of beauty, fun and dance are waiting for you all year long. CORCOVADO From Corcovado, you will be spoilt for breathtaking views. Head to the top of Corcovado, the 750m mountain peak home to the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Rio de Janeiro. From here you will see that Rio is divided into two zones, norte (north) and sul (south).
What To Do
HANG GLIDING: The Ti’a Moana guarantees an unforgettable experience, sailing around Bora Bora, Taha’a, Raitea and Huahine. ART LOVERS: You can visit the Museu de Arte de Rio, Movimento and the Bhering Factory, abandoned German iron and steel construction now taken over by a flock of artists and divided into workshops
SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN:
At sunset, take the two cable cars which climb 396m above Rio and the Guanabara bay to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Do not Miss
Fly to Iguassu, 1200km away from Rio de Janeiro, and transfer to the only resort located inside Brazil's Iguassu National Park, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. By boat or by helicopter, discover the Iguazu falls and the amazing animals, birds and plants that make this an area of extraordinary biodiversity. Located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu falls are made of more than two hundred single falls.
Bon voyage! 66
Thuraya Al-Baqasami
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ince her childhood, Award winning Artist and Writer Thuraya Al-Baqasami has been fascinated with the Sheaffer pen. Her dream started with only the wish to have one of her own, but grew into creating a whole new use for the luxurious line of pens. After graduating with a Masters degree from the Arts Institute of Surikov in Moscow, Thuraya went on to win a plethora of awards across the globe including the “Prize for Art Activities” from the European Union of Arts in Prague in 2001, the “Novo Prize” in Hungary in 2010, the “Al Qurain Festival Prize” in Kuwait in 2013 and the “Arab Women Award” in 2014, among many more. Thuraya accomplished her next great achievement as she collaborated with the official distributor of Sheaffer Pens in Kuwait to create an entire collection of artwork using the pens as the only tool. Thuraya AlBaqasami recently sat with CityPages and shared details about the experience and her personal journey with Sheaffer Pens.
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How did you come to know about Sheaffer pens? I came to know about Sheaffer pens from my father, he would always place one in the pocket of his dishdasha. From that moment I wished I would grow up quickly so I could own such a fabulous pen. How did you obtain your first Sheaffer pen? The first time I received a Sheaffer pen was as a prize from the Ministry of Education in Kuwait. In those days Sheaffer pens were given as valuable prizes to outstanding students, by excelling at the subject of art I was able to earn on of these prizes. What were your feelings at that time? It was really amazing. My long time wish was
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by: Mohammad Altaf and Chlesha Rhodes
My Journey with Sheaffer Pens Journey with Sheaffer Pens� come about? As I mentioned before, the idea came from How did you get the idea to use Sheaffer Mr. Akeel. He wanted to create an art gallery using writing tools. I found the project very pens in art? interesting so we collaborated and made the Actually, it was Mr. Akeel Behbehani who exhibition happen. came up with the idea to create a gallery of artwork created with writing instruments. It was a great opportunity to explore the artistic How much time did it take to arrange the capabilities of Sheaffer pens. exhibition and how many paintings did you prepare for this exhibition? What quality of this pen made you want I met with Mr. Akeel Behbehani in March 2014 and after that it almost took three to use it in the art? Although Sheaffer pens are used for writing, months to complete and display all the art they are very nice for drawing and sketching pieces. I alone prepared 70 paintings for this as well. They never miss while working exhibition.
fulfilled. I was full of pride and joy.
Europe for a few months and Sheaffer will be accompanying me in every place and the journey will continue. Sheaffer has a wide variety of pens, which one is your favorite? Although all the Sheaffer pens are very good and my favorite, my most favorite of all is the calligraphy set with assorted ink colors.
What is your message for our readers? I would like to encourage the people and private companies to come forward and support artists like Yaqoub Behebhani Company. Most companies support with them and they provide such a smooth sporting events, but I think it's time for more experience. Do you have future plans to continue companies to help and promote the local working with Sheaffer pen? talent so that Kuwait talent can be recognized How did the idea for the exhibition “My Yes I do, in fact I am currently traveling to internationally. June, 2014
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Please describe to us the producing the Sheaffer pens?
factory
Sheaffer produces its instruments at various locations around the world, all under the supervision of Sheaffer employees and ensuring the highest quality standards are followed.
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Tell us about your working experience with the Behbehani Group in Kuwait? How did it start and how long has been the association going for?
We are fortunate to have a distributing partner in Kuwait and the professionalism and focus on developing the Sheaffer brand in this market has been excellent. Events such as tonight’s demonstrate a creative vision to highlight what can be achieved with our instruments in the hands of a talented Artist and shows pens are not just for writing. We have been working with Behbehani group since about 2008 and look forward to many more years together. How important is the quality of a pen in the writing process?
Owning a quality instrument allows the user to enjoy both better balance in the hand as well as a smooth writing experience, both of which can only help the writing process. Which are some of your most popular models?
Brian Kenny
International Sales Manager, Sheaffer Pen The Gift Collection is a popular range across the globe as it provides an excellent variety of styles, finishes and price points which appeal to all consumers, for personal use or as a gift. How do you see the future existence of writing instruments during the age of digital technology.
At Sheaffer, we believe that electronic devices and the pen can live side-byside and prosper. Sheaffer although of course a writing instrument, is marketed as ‘The Gift that Matters’. With one hundred years of history behind the brand, a Sheaffer gift (whether for another or for oneself) is timeless. Of course as the needs of our consumers 70
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Over the years the designs have changed to reflect the latest styles, trends, and of course the ever-changing needs of our consumers. As you can imagine, over 100 years we have developed many ranges!.No matter how our designs evolve over the years, however, we endeavour always to remain true to the Sheaffer values of quality and innovation espoused by our founder Walter A. Sheaffer; we continue to incorporate traditional Sheaffer elements, and this can be seen in the current collection. For example, today both the thoroughly modern and architectural Sheaffer How have your designs evolved over the Taranis as well as the more classicyears? What major changes do you see in looking Sheaffer Sagaris have hints of the technique or design in the current day the Sheaffer Triumph, first introduced in models? the 1940s.
and technology evolves, so do our products. For example, Sheaffer now offers a ballpoint with stylus for touchscreen electronic devices as well as a leather tablet case. Beyond adapting our products to modern needs, we believe it is vital to continue to encourage and inspire written expression and communication both in its traditional form and in other creative ways. The works created by Mrs Thuraya Al-Baqsami are an excellent example of this.
ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014 CREATE.SHARE.INSPIRE
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EUSE by EN V. and Zain was repositioned last year from an annual event in which the ARTronauts and BHCK always participated to an ongoing social development program which, includes activities such as art competitions and educational roadshows, workshops, online environmental campaigns and community events. One of the first activities launched, as part of the program was the “REUSE Recycled Art Competition”. Two-hundred and eighty-six students from eight local schools and universities competed with each other to create the best works made entirely out of scrap / recycled materials, and the top 50 pieces were displayed as an exhibit in The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th 2014. Almost 3,000 people voted for their favorite piece on-site, with an estimated 7,000 people engaged at the exhibit by close to 20 volunteers mostly ARTronauts and BHCK students. This year’s REUSE Recycled Art Competition, our first public activity since participating in REUSE as a sustained social program, held as an exhibit at The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th, 2014. Several schools and universities across Kuwait have participated in this exciting competition, including ARTronauts, (BHCK), (KES), (BSK), (UAS), (KAS), (FAIPS), and (AUK). While creating art, students were showcasing the many innovative ways of reusing recyclables. The purpose of the exhibit was to redefine recycling in Kuwait, by reintroducing residents to the importance of waste reduction. A grand prize was to be awarded to the most creative and well-produced exhibited work. The winner(s) will be determined through public voting at the exhibit. 286 entries were made for the REUSE competition by students from eight local schools and universities, but only the top 50 entries were invited to participate in the final stage of the competition, which was held at the Avenues Mall. ARTronauts submitted 5 pieces and BHCK submitted nine pieces created by students as entries for the competition that promotes environmental and social design. The artworks were created from reused or repurposed materials, and
were nominated to participate in REUSE based on a competition held at BHCK in December. The BHCK and ARTronauts, led by Lecturer Roma Soni of the Department of Art and Design and supported by submitted entries created by the following students: Artronauts: Alaa Khalifa Alia Al Qabandi Mohammed Ali Al Zuhaili SLecturer Mr. Constantinos Predaris 1.Amani Talal Al Mutairi “Cocktail Time”: Paper Dress 2.Jumana Waleed Al Mawaizeri Transitional Space – Architectural model 3. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “Butterflies”: Framed work 4. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “The three”: Framed work 5.Sarah Mohammed Hubaidah “Mechanical”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 6.Zeenab Ebrahim Bu-Abbas (4th place) “Floating Pool”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 7.Fatima Sulaiman Hussain Abbas “Traditional Roots”: Transitional Space – Architectural model
TA Ms. Alaa Khalifa 8.Kholoud Khalifa Ghayad Al Dalmani - Paper clock 10. Shouq Jaafar Ali Haidar - Side lamp magazine Lecturer Roma Soni’s 11. Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush “Floral Reflections”: Accessory Lecturer Nessreen’s Students 12. Muneerah Rashed AL-Ajmi Newspaper 13.Ms. Lisa Winstanley - Blue bottles Lecturer Reem Al Zamel Lecturer Deena Al Khazendar Volunteers Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush Yousra Ali Suleiman Shorouq Raheif Haider "This is the third year that ARTronauts and BHCK participated in our REUSE competition, and we have come to count on them as partners in our mission to promote environmental awareness and education in Kuwait," said Elisa Franceschinis, programs director at en.v. "We are always impressed by the creativity of BHCK students as well as by the commitment of their professors.” Way to go ARTronauts! Way to go BHCK! June, 2014
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Rhonda McKenzie Witty, Free-spirited artist bringing imagination to life Art can be defined as many things: expression, creativity, imagination. For Artist Rhonda McKenzie it is not just what appears on a canvas, it is a living entity that moves and feels as the artist does. Since age 5 she has been moved by her artistry, allowing her creative nature to lead her. With music and life as her fuel, Rhonda creates fresh, excitingly unique pieces for all to enjoy. CityPages recently sat with Rhonda McKenzie as she shared details about her creative process, influences, inspiration and much more. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started? I’ve been an artist my whole life! Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of“artist-ness”, art by the age of 5.
Where do you get inspiration? “artist-ness”, art by the age of 5. Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept What is the most challenging part about them and do whatever the idea wants until it being an artist? is completed.
What is the most challenging part about being an artist? Maybe being disciplined.
Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins!
What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led. The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the next step in whatever the idea wants. Either way, I allow the process to do its thing and it lets me know when it is finished—never the other way around.
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Maybe being disciplined. What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led.
The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the How long have you been an artist and next step in whatever the idea wants. Either how did you get started? way, I allow the process to do its thing and it I’ve been an artist my whole life! lets me know when it is finished—never the Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of- other way around.
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Allow whatever it is I am doing to be in charge of the process. When this happens, new ideas are free to present themselves and come thru as pleasant surprises and that is the creative process.
Where do you get inspiration? Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept them and do whatever the idea wants until it is completed. Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins! Music however, is the essential fuel and it’s gotta be loud! For the Heads Up series it was late 60s and 70s rock, Hendrix, Joplin, The Zombies, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Stones, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Bowie—that sort of thing—the whole Woodstock, Hyde Park, Monterey, Pinkpop, Glastonbury, Hair (the musical obviously), music festivals—the whole bare foot in the park with some art deco kind of feeling. What is your workspace like? Bright, open, messy, tidy, colourful, paintbrushes, paints, framed artwork of various sizes, photo samples everywhere, coloured paper, pens, scraps, exacto-knives, ladybugs, toy cars, some sofas, cushions and sometimes a cluttered floor and table during the process. What methods and materials have you 74
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enjoyed working with the most? The simple ‘Drawing with a Black Marker repeatedly Method’. I can do this anytime. I keep a little sketchbook in my handbag and a pen or marker and draw or jot down anything that comes to mind at any time. What would you say is your strongest skill and how have you honed it? Drawing-cartooning-designing and the honing comes from that well known: “A thousand hours of practise”—if it can be measured in such ways. Yeah that and eating. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your work? My parents who are big art and textile collectors, love all kinds of music and are extremely creative, especially my Mum. My parents are interested in EVERYTHING. They encouraged me. How has your style changed over the years? It’s gotten more defined rather than changed in that I have a definite style. It’s my own. I feel free and do it without thinking. What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition? Feeling. When I feel it, then what I’m doing becomes real. It’s not a piece of paper or some lines or a painting, it, the art, the thing it is actually lives, breathes and moves just like the artist did, does and feels. How do you choose the subject of your painting? I rarely if ever do. The subject chooses me. Unless of course I am being commissioned to create something specific but even then, I do not know how the request, the ‘how’, the process will express itself and I like the notknowing. It feels so good. It’s free. How do you keep your ideas fresh?
Do you ever experience creative blocks? I did once a long time ago and I thought I was going mental! No matter what I drew and how hard I tried, it looked all wrong. This went on for over a year I think, maybe 2 years even! Then one day like the jedi, out of nowhere “it” returned. When I think back, I was under a lot of stress and in a totally different environment—maybe that was why I couldn’t perform. Nothing like that has ever happened since. If nothing is happening, if I’m not creating anything new, I know it will. How durable are your finished pieces? Indestructible! Framing is good armour! Do you do anything in particular to seal your art? That’s my newest project, finding the right something to seal a recent project, a series of heads called “Heads Up” where I have worked in a style and with materials that I’ve never worked with before and in order to maintain the bold colours I need to find a spray or some sealant. Otherwise my original art work is kept in direct lighting only when necessary. What’s been your greatest artistic success? That’s an ongoing experience which is any and every time people feel happy or smile when they see my artwork because that’s how I feel when I am creating—exhilarated, happy and free. What’s the last thing that made you say ‘wow’? This magazine, CityPages! And you know that’s the truth. How can our readers see your work or buy? www.rhondamckenzie.wix.com/ramcko [email protected] Tweet me at [email protected] There’s a small collection at Better Books in Salmiya And! They can contact CityPages of course! Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Keep up the funkyfreshcooleclectic scene you call CityPages—love it!
June, 2014
NAT BAKES WITH
A Story of Food, Passion, and Dreams Come True by: Chlesha Rhodes
“When you do something that you love it should never be a task, it should always be a labor of love”, said owner Natalie Van Rooyen, of the new modern yet rustic styled bakery Nat Bakes...With Love, as she shared her awe-inspiring journey into the world of culinary arts.
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ove has always been a key ingredient in Natalie's relationship with food since her childhood. Growing up in her South African home her family never had much, but out of all the hardships she had to endure she can always recall consistently waking up to a house full of wonderfully delicious smells, having a hot scrumptious meal and enjoying a table full of desserts surrounded by loved ones. Now Natalie is passing on that same feeling of love, comfort, and happiness to every guest that walks into the new Nat Bakes...With Love bakery.
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Ever since age 10, when she baked her own birthday cake after encouragement from her mom, Natalie has had an intense passion for baking. “It was a natural talent”, she said as she recalled cooking and baking along side her mom as a child, making cherished family recipes that have been passed on through generations. It was this upbringing that taught Natalie that food is about more than just eating to survive, but about enjoyment, sharing, and of course love. Although food was a very common topic in the Van Rooyen household, Natalie took it a step further to become more knowledgeable and experienced in the art of baking. Despite this fact, she did not immediately pursue it as a career. In the
midst of working for a company whose lifespan was unstable at best, as a hobby Natalie would bake cupcakes for her coworkers who gave her exemplary complements. It wasn't until 2010 that a dear friend and co-worker convinced Natalie that her talent and passion for baking needed to be shared. After the two sat and brainstormed all the wacky name ideas, finally the concept of Nat Bakes...With Love struck a cord, and the vision was born.
beautifully crafted cupcakes are made fresh and moist with a little bit of sassy-humor in every name, like Natalie's favorite Vanilla Vixen and the Raunchy Red Velvet. Beating all the odds, the obstacles, and challenging moments, Natalie and her partner personally invested their time and labor to build the perfect team and bring the vision to life. From choosing the location to finding the perfect wallpaper that finally brought the whole concept together, it has been a Natalie's vision encompassed a whimsical world where people journey that Natalie says she is grateful for everyday. can walk in and “go back to their childhood”. In this fantastical yet sophisticated wonderland, guests can expect to be wowed by the boisterously colorful artwork, homey feel, and delicious “When I'm in the kitchen it's my happy place... and the smells that hug your nose as you enter. additional joy and satisfaction I get from people enjoying what “I just want customers to be happy.. even if it's just for that I put out, it just makes me extremely happy. If that's all that I five minutes where your coming to pick up a dozen cupcakes, ever do with my life, I'm blessed and I'm happy and I couldn't or a cookie, or anything. The music, the smells, the feeling, ask for anything else.. because it's everything.” everything should just be happiness”, she explained. After running a successful home bakery business for four years, Natalie's vision has been brought to fruition in her new Salmiyah location. Nat Bakes will bring traditional South African desserts along with both sweet and savory Van Rooyen family recipes; like their unique Banana Pudding and their Goat Cheese with Caramelized Onion Pastries, filled with layers of flavor that are prevalent in every bite. Everything is made from scratch, from their mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies to their customized cakes made to order. Their
Nat Bakes... With Love will be opening its doors for a spectacular grand opening on 15 June, welcoming all to come experience the difference the “Nat Bakes way”: with freshness, creativity, thoughtfulness, and exclusive desserts like their famous Crack Pie. If you're looking for a place to try something new, head to Block 3, Street 5, House 23 in Salmiyah, choose your treat and take a bite... “and know that it was made with love”.
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Infusions
Creating infused culinary gems to accent both the palate and table There is no substitute for loving what you do, for pouring your heart into everything you create and that is what Infusions is all about. In what began as a way for Patty Marotte, founder of Infusions, to promote and support healthy food culture with the use of natural food ingredients and at the same time do something she was passionate about, over the past few years Patty has created a brand with global following. Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. The mere thought of oils and butters infused with the essence of savory herbs is enough to make the taste buds swoon. When packaged into pretty glass bottles or jars with a label, they make a perfect gift that anyone is sure to enjoy. Patty makes each one herself and takes the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but also the last touch of layering the herbs for pleasant visual effects. Recently, CityPages had a pleasure to meet the very capable and hard-working, Patty Marotte, who tells us how and when she got the idea of starting Infusions, challenges she had to face and her best seller products.
Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery.
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What is Infusions? Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more often.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery. What is Infusions?
and how to enhance the flavors of prepared dishes at an early age because my father and I cooked together as a hobby. Until now it is my passion and I am still learning on daily basis! These products I have been doing for home use for years and when the onset the food movement in Kuwait, I thought to myself my items have found a home other than my kitchen. Where are your products available for our readers to buy? Currently, I sell my items online through our IG account. They can be found at most Shakshooka events, which I consider to be my start of exposure. Next year, I look forward to participating in more markets/ exhibitions. Recently, I was blessed to have an opportunity provided by Chef Firas Al-Zaid to showcase my products at Little Ruby’s Sharq branch in a project called the Community Corner. In the near future, projects include a healthy foodshop opening soon in Salmiya and the launch of www.Yazli.com; which is an app that will enhance the IG shopping experience.
Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more Tell us more about how you use social media to develop your often. client base: How and when did you get the idea of starting Infusions? Well, honestly I wouldn’t be anywhere without social media! It is how I played with the idea of Infusions after I realized the food culture started to change in Kuwait and when I saw more people interested in natural products and the increasing availability of organic food items in supermarkets. The items I make are an accumulation of a lifetime of learning, as I learned about what ingredients to blend 80
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I got to collaborate with you guys at City Pages. It was through the interactions of IG and Twitter that I was able to gain exposure and meet people who are a part of the food movements in Kuwait and do some research. Social media is how I knew about the various markets. I initially attended as a supporter but at the same time I observed. I
was able to assess peoples’ feedback on a particular event based on their comments and interactions between key figures in the various industries. As an individual through my personal account I met people over last few years that shared similar interests and topics such as family activities, events for causes, where was a good place to eat, sharing recipes, referrals where to buy quality food products, and advice on healthy lifestyle choices. I started to research the kind of items available on social media and I realized there was a small opening in the food movement that I could help fill and do my part to keep it growing. This I feel was prelude to my client pool because all those individuals were my first supporters when I started Infusions. Can you name a few of your unique products? I would say the infused olive oil is the most unique because it is not mass produced like the ones you see in supermarkets. In the Infusions’ olive oils you can see the herbs and spices used. I make each one myself and take the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but the last touch of layering the herbs for visual effect. Each bottle is different and unique. They are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and artisanal by all means. Another unique product is my artisanal spice jars…people mistake them for sand art but they are quality spices layered nicely in one convenient jar to use in cooking. Just spoon and mix! Which are some of your best sellers? Italiano olive oil seems to be catching the people’s attention and is sold the most. Other popular items are our Pomegranate Zaatar spread and Honey butter. How often do you introduce new products and what is the process of developing a new product? I would say on a monthly basis I introduce a new product. Before I started Infusions I made a list of all products that I know how to do, then I categorized them into “currently use” and “past used” items. I started the business on 2 products; flavored butters and infused olive oils which were on my “currently use” list. Then I go to my “past used” list and start experimenting with the product but revamping it, researching better techniques, making samples and sending to new and old customers for feedback. If I get good reviews I launch it on the IG account. All my products must have 3 things: function, aesthetics, and beneficial to health in some form. How is starting a food business different from other forms of entrepreneurship? I think starting a food business is different because we have to be careful not to succumb to the common food items that lack creativity but sell because it is a familiar food item. So, I do it Infusion style! A perfect example of this would be my “mabooch” series, typical Kuwaiti condiment found everywhere. However, ours are different because I give them a personality and function. I name the chili pepper used and its benefits as an ingredient. I look for unique chili peppers and play with flavors, like my orange Habanero mabooch infused with coconut and pineapple juice instead of lemon. Serrano green chilies blend well with garlic and red Cayenne peppers are perfect with ginger. Have u ever seen purple mabooch? Stay tuned and you will!
What peculiar challenges does a small food business-owner face? The most peculiar challenge in a small food business is sanitary issues. Other challenges are ensuring that everything is up to standard and hygienic, making sure packaging, utensils, and ingredients are not just in good condition but also sterilized properly. An example of that would be why I do not use fresh garlic in the final product of an olive oil out of the fear of spoilage and build-up of bacteria! I use fresh garlic during the infusing process but in the end product I use sanitized dehydrated garlic free of any contamination. What motivates you? Good health. Plain and simple. I was diagnosed many years back with a condition that can be mostly controlled through good eating habits and an active lifestyle. I love my family and I want them to live a long healthy life so I make sure our kitchen is filled with quality food products. My motivation for my customers is the same as my family: I wish them good health and I want to be a part of that process that they can attain it. What is the one thing you hate doing but still force yourself to do every week? INVENTORY! Such a crucial aspect of a business but I grit my teeth when I have to do it. I do not like anything with numbers. What do you think is the biggest threat to the success of small businesses in Kuwait? The biggest threat to the success of a small business in Kuwait is being a fad, as Kuwaitis say ‘habba’. Being a bright shiny shooting star then fall to your end in darkness in a short period of time. What are your future plans? My future plan for Infusions is to open a little gourmet food shop where my products will be available for purchase. I will also use the store to conduct workshops on spices and herbs and their benefits. I would love a platform to teach international simple dishes. One of my dreams since I was a teenager was to learn a local authentic dish from each country then have this cool recipe book called IbnBatuta’sTravels. I also want to participate in more activities with groups that are collectively working to teach people how to choose healthier food and lead an active lifestyle. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: My message to CityPages is, I am deeply grateful and honored to be heard on this platform. I have always liked CityPages since its inception because of the English being the main language used.The events, stories, and editorials are always current and relevant. Keep up the great work and thanks for featuring local people and their talents. It keeps the sense of community alive.
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The FIFA World Cup is upon us, so what better way to start this segment than with a taste of Brasil. These recipes are very easy to follow, with simple ingredients… and great to serve at gatherings, or upcoming football matches with friends. Enjoy… with love! EMPANADAS
DOUGH RECIPE (Baked Empanadas)
In Spanish “Empanar” means to bread, or coated in bread crumbs, empanadas are moreish pastries, filled with either savory or sweet fillings, anything from minced beef, chicken, cheese to fruit based yumminess. Here we will show you how to make the baked version which is very popular all over South America.
INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 1 large egg beaten lightly with 1/4 t. water (for glaze… also known as egg wash – gives pastries a nice golden brown finish )
Filling Recipe – Caramelized Onion with Turkey Ham and Cheddar Cheese. INGREDIENTS: n2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced nSalt and pepper to taste n½ cup of balsamic vinegar n¼ cup of brown sugar n1 cup of chopped turkey ham nDiced cheddar cheese cubes Method - dough nSift the flour, then sift it again with the salt, baking powder, and sugar, and set aside. In a large bowl, using a hand or electric mixer, mix the cream cheese and butter together until well blended. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. nLightly flour your work surface. nDivide the dough into four pieces (keep the pieces you aren't using in the refrigerator until you
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need them) and use a floured rolling pin to roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thick. nCut the dough into circles, with a cookie cutter or small bowl. nSize the circle according to how large you want your empanadas. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. Method – Filling nSauté onions in hot olive oil, until light brown and semi cooked. nAdd salt and pepper to taste nAdd balsamic vinegar and cook for 5 minutes nAdd brown sugar and cook until sugar is dissolved and sauce is slightly sticky and reduced. nLeave to cool. nAdd 1 teaspoon of caramelized onions, a few cubes of turkey ham and cheddar cheese in center of rolled out empanada dough and fold over to make a half circle. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. nPreheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). nPlace the pastries on a lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart, brush with the egg wash, and bake until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. nThey can be made ahead of time, refrigerated, and reheated in a 180 degree (350 degrees Fahrenheit ) oven for 4 to 6 minutes.
one country at a time!
Brigadeiros
This is a great Brazilian sweet that is like a bonbon and extremely scrumptious and delicious called brigadeiro! This is a great type of sweet that is loved all over Brazil by children and adults alike. This easy treat is great to serve at social gatherings or to simply have on the table at all times. INGREDIENTS: n3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder n1 can sweetened condensed milk n1 tablespoon butter n2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa for dusting nChocolate sprinkles for decoration Method: nIn a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk. nCook, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls and roll in cocoa, then chocolate sprinkles. nPlace in small cupcake liners, and serve immediately or refrigerate until desired. nMakes 20 pieces June, 2014
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Advantages and Disadvantages of perfumes and colognes
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erfume is a product innovated for both men and women to make them cool and fresh. Over the past few years people have been going crazy to search and get different types of delightful perfumes and colognes. Perfumes are the fragrances that are made from both natural and artificial commodities. Fragrance oil specifically produced from flowers, fruit tree blossom and woods. Aroma oils have no aromatherapy healing properties. Perfume and cologne are packed in different sizes. There are hundreds of brands of odor and thousands of scents available nowadays in the world. They are synthetic essential oils. With as many varieties of scents as natural essential oils they are perfect for combining with aroma, cold compress soap, creams, lotions, body lotions, body sprays, shower ASAMA Perfumes
The creative method gave ASAMA Perfumes the time and the opportunity to craft fragrances while working with the highest quality ingredients in a bottle and using Arabic and Western scents as a unique concept point for the fragrances. They welcome your comments at [email protected] Follow them on Instagram and Twitter @ ASAMAPerfumes
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gels, and hand soaps. By testing on your skin you will be able to know exactly how does it smell on your skin, but you cannot try out too many different types of aroma simply because all the perfume that you try after the first one will mix with the first one and you would not get the correct smell of those fragrances. Buying cologne can be a very hard decision, especially when you are buying that for your friend or lover. Different people will have different choice of odor. Also each fragrance will produce a different scent on various types of skin. Therefore, when buying perfume you need to do some good research and try it out before you make the final decision. There is some small sample called vial on card or vial mini as well, those bottles are usually for trial. It is a good idea for you to get those trial first to test it out before going ahead buying a big bottle. Now, there are advantages and disadvantages of these two methods of testing. Designers believe that the advantage of odors combined using oils is that they are
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guaranteed to last longer than other aromas, and just as body oils are applied directly to the skin, perfume oils are readily absorbed by the skin. Care needs to be taken when applying them as they may stain clothing. Feminine colognes have usually extra floral categories. Light and fresh character of citrus notes is often combined with more feminine scents to create Citrus Fragrance. These are the refreshing fragrances for the energetic, sporty woman, and are appropriate for office wear, day wear, or warm evening wear. As well as, serves as an ideal summer floral especially for warm or humid climate. Scents in this family include jasmine, gardenia tangerine, freesia, orange flower, and moon flowers. This category also has base scents of sandalwood, musk, amber, and apricot. Although this actually a sub category of the floral family it is extensive enough to give proper recognition. The perfumes in this family can be worn during the daytime and a night on the town, due to the combination of exotic floras, spices, and essences.
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by:
New at Layla Harmony E
very woman’s dream is to have and keep beautiful hair. Our culture highly values lustrous hair that are thick and shiny. Unfortunately, our environment subjects women to extreme conditions that reflect negativity on the natural state of hair. There are external and internal factors that play critical roles on our hair. External factors affecting hair growth include: Sun bathing, hot water, humidity, hair coloring & dying (specially lower quality products), shampoos, nylon or plastic brushes, style of combing and harsh brushing.
lAvoid
harsh hair combing. comb your hair when it is wet. lTo start untangling your hair from end to the roots. lDivide your hair into a medium strands. lUse hair-type specific products: shampoo, cream, mask, serum, mask, ampoules. lDon’t use on daily basis hair foam, gel or spray. lDon’t wash your hair every day. lDon’t
The new treatment offered by our spa aims to reduce the oily scalp On the other hand, there are internal factors that include: stress, and hair dandruff problem by using the violet rays massage with extreme diet, pregnancy, some medicines, and lack of oxygenation, high frequency machine using special tools and combs (quartz). thyroid gland issues and other hormonal imbalances. The course of treatment consists of 10 sessions A combination of these factors results in hair loss, dandruff, oily hair, l2 sessions: Hair treatment with essential oils. l3 sessions: High frequency with scalp massage. dryness etc. We would like to present you with some advice to reduce the side l5 sessions: Dermo roller with specialized hair products. effects, the unfavorable consequences and maintain the benefit of our treatments. Guaranteed effective results are provided by our spa treatments. lAvoid
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using plastic or nylon brushes.
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Our staff is experienced and highly efficient.
June, 2014
Summer Skin Schedule
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Available online on Pinterest.com ith every skin being different and changing over time, the derma.cosmetics brand has developed products for every skin type and for every season. With the harsh summers setting in, your skin’s moisture level is compromised by the insufficient moisture in the air caused by air conditioning, excessive sweating or drying out from exposure to the sun. Your skin becomes dry and taut while it frequently flakes, peels and itches. The protective barrier of your skin is weakened.
For this reason, Dr. med. Christine Schrammek dermatological skincare HYDRATING series contains the innovative active ingredient Ectoine, a substance that not only hydrates the skin but also binds moisture in the skin. Additionally, it protects the skin against damage caused by environmental factors such as stress, UV radiation, dryness, heat and cold. With the concept of “skin has many faces” we customize your skin care as your skin demands to result in a fresh, dewy and radiant complexion. BEAUTY 101 RULE: Daily cleansing and skin care routines should always include the throat and décolleté!
SUPER SOFT CLEANSER:
Soothing, moisturizing night care that supports the cell's own repairing and protecting mechanisms. Skin-identical lipids help to stabilize the skin's barrier function and reduce loss of moisture. Apply after cleansing.
HERBAL CARE LOTION:
HYDRA FORCE DAY CREAM:
MOISTURE INTENSE AMPOULE:
Skin is intensively moisturized by the creamy consistency. The unique ingredients support the skin's ability to preserve moisture and counteract aging. Apply after cleansing.
Light, refreshing fluid for sensitive eye area that reduces puffiness. Effective on fine lines & wrinkles. Gently pat on mornings and nights. Free of fragrances, coloring agents, without mineral oils, without parabens.
This moisture booster rebalances moisture deficits in the skin. Synergistic blend of hyaluronic acid supports reductions of wrinkles caused by dryness. Without perfume oils and parabens. Use as a 7 day spa treatment at home.
HYDRA FORCE MASK:
Anisaa New LaFem Salon & Beauty Co.
Anisaa is an Aesthetic Consultant and Trainer with New Lafem Salon & Beauty Co. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram at: @lafemsalonq8
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HYDRA FORCE NIGHT CREAM:
Cleansing milk with valuable oils. Gently cleanses and prevents the skin from dryingout. PH-neutral and excellently suitable to remove eye makeup. Use mornings and nights.
Soothing and balancing effect with herbal extracts. Dab on after cleansing mornings and nights. Free of parabens. For extra freshness keep Herbal Care Lotion in the fridge!
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ON THIS FATHER’S DAY “THE MEN’S SKIN CARE” AT A GLANCE
The moisture complex from oat and soyalecithin in the mask supplies the skin with extra moisture. Due to intensive hydration the skin obtains a firm appearance. Combats feelings of tautness and fine lines from dryness.
As men’s skin produces more sebum twice as much sebum as women’s skin, men are more prone to skin impurities. This can be combated by thoroughly cleansing the skin every day with PURE SKIN CLEANSING FOAM which clears the skin from any dirt and grime. Daily shaving can cause skin redness, irritation, ingrown and razor burns, for thisGEL SUPER PURIFIANT a refreshing clarifying antibacterial gel offers cooling effect due to the peppermint and camphor. At the same time a deep-acting face mask like theACTIVE CLEARING MASK should be used that will free the skin of excess sebum and skin impurities and will give the skin an anti-inflammatory effect. The star product for all types of skin is the BLEMISH BALM HONEY a special product for blotchy, irritated and impure skin that conceals the blemishes and relieves any inflamed skin. It also helps to soothe any redness after shaving especially for those who have sensitive skin. For the eyes only, HI PERFECTION EYE CREAM - HYDRA FORCE EYE FLUID helps to reduce the dark circles and treat puffiness. For luxury care BEAUTY POWER AMPOULES offer instant glow and radiance. Enjoy Healthy Skin this Father's Day!
New LAFEM Salon & Beauty Co. Salmiya - Hamad AlMubarak Street, Block 9, Bldg. 33, 1st Floor
Tel.: 2 5 7 2 2 5 0 7 / 8 - 6 6 7 3 3 2 2 2 - 6 6 7 1 1 1 4 0 EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR & TRAINER - KUWAIT
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Hiba Al Mansour Believes in the power of paper in a digital world
Over the last few years, the digital revolution is having an impact on bookstores. Fewer and fewer bookstores have survived the onslaught of online retailing. Through the trials and tribulations that come with an evolving book industry many intrepid bookstores continue to succeed and even grow. One such is That Al Salasil. Despite enormous competition from online retailers That Al Salasil has remained a vital resource for book lovers in the community. We thought it would be illuminating to talk with Hiba Al Mansour, business development manager at That Al Salasil, a family owned business since 1972. Hiba provides insight about her strategies for thriving, and talks about the history of That Al Salasil and the secret to its success.
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
"We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and Gulf history."
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Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Hiba Al Mansour and I am a business development manager at That Al Salasil. I am an optimistic and workaholic person who is in love with travelling.
opportunity to the readers to meet them in person. We announce such events through different media such as, radio, newspapers and social media, inviting our loyal customers and public figures.
Tell us about your education: I have completed my schooling in public schools of Kuwait and graduated from College of Business Administration (CBA) with a degree in accounting.
What is the hardest part about the bookstore business currently? It’s a slow business, as we live in a digital age and people lead a fast pace life, they don’t have time to sit and read like before.
What is the history of That Al Salasil bookstore? How long has it been in business? What would you say is the secret to its success? It is a family owned business which started in 1972. My father is a book lover and enjoys the time he spends reading all kinds of books. He understands the fact that books enrich our minds, enhance our life experiences and relieve stress. He is passionate about it and when you love and believe in your business it grows more and more.
Do you encourage browsers to sit in the store and read? Do you have some comfortable sitting areas? One of the main goals of THAT AL SALASIL is to encourage reading so we offer comfortable seating areas in our stores to let our customers enjoy any book they browse or even visit us daily till they finish whatever they were reading. In fact, our bookstore branch at The Avenues is famous for its huge and comfortable seating area.
What has been the most surprising aspect of the A recent trend in bookstores is the presence of bookstore business? a small café or coffee shop, if space permits. Do I am surprised at the number of serious readers you have any such plans? out there who still want to buy paperback books We do have a place for it and we are working on it. despite the increasing popularity of e-books and understand that they have physical beauty, provenance and are collectibles. Speaking of kids, do you encourage children's reading events? What in your opinion is the biggest strength of Yes, we do organize a lot of activities for the kids and we host them all year round. your bookstore? We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in What are some of your future plans? Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both Our main aim is to continue building up our in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and collection of both fiction and non-fiction books to Gulf history. become the best bookstore in Kuwait and Middle East. What types of books are most popular with your customers? Name a book that you have recently read and All kinds of novels are more in demand. would like to recommend to our readers? “1919”, it is Ahmed Mourad’s newly published Do you recommend books to your customers at novel. Ahmed Mourad was nominated for The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF); one of the bookstore? Yes, we have sections in the bookstore with a tag the most prestigious and important literary prizes “we recommend” that we believe are the books in the Arab world. worth reading. What are some of your hobbies? How many different books are on your shelves Travelling, taking adventurous trips to new places, at any given time? discovering all about their culture and rituals and Let’s put it this way, we have more than 8 thousands learning form it. I also like to learn new languages. titles at the bookstore. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Tell us about the author events you often host First, I would like to thank you for visiting us here at and how people can know about them? the bookstore. Secondly, I know it’s cliché to say it Yes, we support all local writers and host special but “life is full of possibilities you only need to focus events at our store to launch their books and give an to acquire it”. 94
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
JUNE BIRTHSTONE IS the PEARL By: Oussama T. Hussein Giving a piece of jewelry containing a birthstone gem will bring the wearer with good luck and protection. Monthly birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calendar. What is the Birth stone for June? The following old poem provides the answer! "Who comes with summer to this earth And owes to June her hour of birth A pearl should wear against her skin Who's innocence many a heart shall win." ." Properties of the Pearl
Zodiac Sign
For those who were born in the month of June the Pearl is the traditional birthstone. The June birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Pearl is associated - loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the June Birthstone Pearl are modesty, chastity and purity. The healing properties of the June birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the heart, spleen, stomach, intestine & ulcer problems. The Pearl is also used to enhance personal integrity.
The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The June birthstone of the Pearl is considered to be the birthstone for Gemini (The sign of the Twins) and relate to those born between May 21 - June 21. The Zodiac sign of Gemini also responds to Emerald, Alexandrite, Agate and the Ruby.
Color of the Pearl
The traditional color associated with the Pearl is the milky white color and was strongly favored as a popular gem in Victorian jewelry. Pearls come in a wide variety of colors ranging from white to black. The popular June Birthstone of the Pearl is found in the following The color of a pearl might be classed as white, silver, cream-colored, countries: gold, green, blue or black. Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, the South Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia
Where are Pearls found?
Tropical Zodiac
Sign
Definition of the Pearl: The word Pearl is derived from the Latin word "pirum" which means "pear" which reflects the shape of the gem. A smooth lustrous round structure having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found inside the shell of a mollusk such as a clam or oyster. It is formed due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with precious stones. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks whilst imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks but with human intervention (an irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow). A good sized pearl can take between five to eight years to form, which is usually the entire life of the oyster or mollusk. The cost depends on the size and the coating, or “nacre”, on a real pearl which gives it its iridescence. 96
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Director: Doug Guillermo Director: Limandel Toro
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aksel Hennie, Ian McShane, Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt, Rebecca Ferguson
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Charlotte Riley, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way
Genres: Action, Adventure, Period
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Action, Epic
Synopsis: Everyone knows the legend of
Synopsis: Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise) is an
Hercules and his twelve labors. Our story begins after the labors, and after the legend… Haunted by a sin from his past, Hercules has become a mercenary. Along with five faithful companions, he travels ancient Greece selling his services for gold and using his legendary reputation to intimidate enemies. But when the benevolent ruler of Thrace and his daughter seek Hercules' help to defeat a savage and terrifying warlord, Hercules finds that in order for good to triumph and justice to prevail... he must again become the hero he once was... he must embrace his own myth... he must be Hercules
officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again.
TAMMY
THINK LIKE A MAN TOO
Director: Ben Falcone
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
THE ROVER
Director:Josh James Wan Director: Boone
Director: David Michod
Starring: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese C. Hartwig, Ella Wahlestedt, Jason GrayStanford, Cassius Willis
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Willem Dafoe, Laura Dern, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Lotte Verbeek
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Guy Pearce, Scoot McNairy, Anthony Hayes, David Field, Gillian Jones
Genres: Adventure
Synopsis: Story of teens who receive
Synopsis: A teenage girl stricken with
Synopsis: The Rover is set in a world ten
cancer falls for a boy in her support group and the two form a bond as they deal with their illnesses. Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them -- and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
years following the collapse of the western economic system, where Australia’s mineral resources have drawn the desperados and dangerous to its shores. With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce), who travels the desolate towns and roads of the Australian outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him.
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
TRANSFORMERS 4: AGE OF EXTINCTION
mysterious messages on their cell phones.
But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
22 JUMP STREET
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Mark Duplass, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates
Starring: Kevin Hart, Terrence Jenkins, Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, Gary Owen, Regina Hall
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts, Wyatt Russell
Genres: Comedy
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Sequel
Genres: Adventure, Action, Sequel
Synopsis: Tammy (McCarthy) is having a
Synopsis: The couples are back together
Synopsis: Officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and
Synopsis: Continuing the story of how
Synopsis: The film begins after an epic
bad day. She's totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint, and instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house.
It's time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she's broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Sarandon), is her only option—with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs.
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EDGE OF TOMORROW
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for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some various situations that threaten to derail the big event.
Jenko (Channing Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college, but when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership.
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz,
Gary Oldman, Judy Greer
Brenton Thwaites, Jack Reynor, Stanley
ultra-intelligent simian Caesar presides over the fall of human civilization.
battle that left a great city torn, but with the
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.
a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt
world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
Travel Made Easy HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller
Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen
Genres: Family, Fantasy, 3D, Sequel
Genres: Comedy, Family, Animation
Synopsis: The heroic Viking Hiccup and
Synopsis: Planes: Fire & Rescue features a
his faithful dragon Toothless must protect the peace -- and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago. The first movie took us into a war between fire-breathing dragons and Vikings, but when a boy named Hiccup impossibly befriended a dragon named Toothless, their friendship changed their world forever. Dragons 2, the second film of this fantastic epic trilogy continues the story about a man named Hiccup and a dragon named Toothless, and flies into theaters in summer of 2014.
JERSEY BOYS
Director: Jon Favreau, Clint Eastwood Starring: Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, Mike Doyle, Johnny Cannizzaro, Christopher Walken, John Lloyd Young
quirky crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous air attack team, including spirited super scooper Lil’ Dipper (voice of Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.
AND SO IT GOES
Director: Rob Reiner Starring: Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton, Frankie Valli
Genres: Musical, Adaptation
Synopsis: Frank Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy
Synopsis: A self-centered realtor enlists
DeVito and Nick Massi go from blue-collar wrong side of the track origins to become American pop sensations, selling 175 million records worldwide before they are 30 years old.
the help of his neighbor when he's suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he never knew existed. There are a million reasons not to like realtor Oren Little, and that's just the way he likes it. Willfully obnoxious to anyone who might cross his path, he wants nothing more than to sell one last house and retire in peace and quiet -- until his estranged son suddenly drops off a granddaughter (Sterling Jerins) he never knew existed and turns his life upside-down. Clueless about how to care for a sweet, abandoned nine-year-old, he pawns her off on his determined and lovable neighbor Leah and tries to resume his life uninterrupted. But little by little, Oren stubbornly learns to open his heart - to his family, to Leah, and to life itself.
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The English Woman In Saudi Arabia
"Hi,"
she said in a broken english accent. I didn't want to look at her, I was too afraid to tell you the truth, I was new to the country and a little scared. "I don't mean to bother you dear, but you look rather lost and it is odd to find a blue-eyed woman with blonde hair in our country. Are you okay?" she asked in a concerned tone. I didn't know whether to reply or just keep quiet, my heart started to beat fast and I felt dizzy and weak. I came all the way to Saudi Arabia to find the man that I had fallen in love with back in England. What on earth was I thinking?
to sob. The woman approached me and hugged me, although I couldn't see her face, as it was covered, her big brown eyes gave me comfort. "I am here to look for this Saudi man, his name is Yousef. I have known him for a long time, he studied with me in college back in my country. But he left to come back here, he asked me to come with him but I couldn't," I sighed. "My parents refused. But after months of him gone, I just couldn't live without him," I whispered, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited for the woman to respond, I did not know what to expect. Would she be angry? I knew this was an Islamic country and as a 20 year old English woman, running away to Saudi Arabia to be reunited with her true love, was I looked around the airport and started not exactly an appropiate story to tell. to panic. I was the only woman that was uncovered and every man that passed me "First of all," she said in a low voice. "You must gave me a look. "Oh no," I cried. "What have I take this scarf and cover your hair." At first I done?" I put my hands to my face and started was a bit hesitant, I followed her eyes as she was looking around at the men staring at me, Nadia AlHassan so I did what I was told. Could I trust her? I had never been in the Middle East, I knew no arabic whatsoever and my family had no idea where I was. But, I had no other choice but to Nadia Al-Hassan is a student in Ireland, studying trust her. Journalism. She is passionate about writing stories and poetry. Nadia loves helping people with her stories. She believes that words are beautiful and powerful.
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From the way he dressed, to the way he spoke. "He was tall, so handsome and gentle," I said with a smile on my face, remembering all our memories together. "He had soft dark brown eyes and a warm smile. Oh, his eyelashes were so beautiful! Thick and long, every womans dream to have," I laughed. I could not see what her face expression was but I somehow knew that she was smiling too. "Do you think I'm foolish to have come all the way here?" I asked. She shook her head and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Love makes us do crazy things, but it does not make us foolish," she replied. I continued with my story, I told her how I met him and how he taught me all about Islam too. "I was intrigued, I wanted to know more about his culture and his religion. He would sit down every evening with me in the college library and teach me all about Islam. I started to want to know more and more, It sounded like such a beautiful religion."
Just as I was telling her about how my mother and father and how they did everything they could to keep me away from him and how I lost all hope, I heard a familiar voice behind "Tell me about this man called Yousef," she me. "Kate," he said. I turned around and there said. We sat for an hour as I described him. he was, handsome as ever, standing.
TOP MUSIC CHARTS DJ Raven Fancy
1
American Authors Eric Church Nicki Minaj Lorde
Coldplay
Disclosure 5 Seconds Of Summer Shakira & Rihanna
June, 2014
Photography by: @abdullah_hamadah at @seventyseven_kw studio
12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
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A man’s relationship with his father is one of the most important relationships in his life. Dad is supposed to teach us the manly arts, to always be there as lifelong mentors who lovingly guide us into manhood. At least that’s what every boy hopes for. Of course in real life the relationship between father and son is rarely so simple. A son yearns for the love and respect of his dad and doesn’t always get it. Or he worships his father, only to find out later he wasn’t such a good guy. Or his dad is indeed the real deal, but he exits his son’s life too soon. It’s no wonder that a relationship so fraught with hope and yearning, drama and resentment, joy and regret has often translated into cinematic gold. Men don’t typically cry at movies, but when we do, nine times out of ten the scene involves a father and his kids. Father-themed flicks are guaranteed to make us laugh, get misty-eyed, and feel a little introspective about our own dads, and if we have kids ourselves, how we measure up as fathers. I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of the very best movies about fatherhood that the world of cinema has to offer.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch is the man. Pillar of integrity, fighter of racial injustice, humble sharpshooter, and, of course, world’s greatest dad. As a widower he could have shipped his kids off to a relative, but he was absolutely devoted to them. He was kind, protective, and incredibly patient with his two kids, Jem and Scout. And most importantly, he taught his children by example. I find the relationship between Atticus and his daughter to be particularly endearing. If I ever have a daughter, I hope my relationship with her can be like the one Atticus had with his little girl. No wonder the American Film Institute called Atticus the “greatest movie hero of the 20th century.” Of course you can’t top the book itself, but the film version measures up pretty well. Gregory Peck was given some very large shoes to fill, and he did so admirably.
Big Fish
Big Fish is a weird movie. Weird in a good way, though. It was directed by Tim Burton, hence the weirdness. Big Fish focuses on the strained relationship between a father and son–Ed and Will Bloom. Ed is a man who loves to tell (possibly fictitious) stories about his past. Ed’s son, Will, thinks his dad is full of it and can’t stand his tall tales. Will feels he cannot trust his father and eventually stops talking to him for several years. But when Will finds out his dad is dying, he returns home to begin a journey that will lead him to learn who is father really is, a process that allows him to come to peace with his dad. The end of Big Fish is awesome. I won’t spoil it for you. Watch it.
Field of Dreams
To what lengths would a man go for a chance at reconciliation? If it’s for your (dead) father, most of us would do anything. As a young man, Ray Kinsella had a strained relationship with his dad and had once refused to play catch with him, a decision he has regretted ever since. Now grown up, with his father passed away, Ray has become an Iowa farmer. A voice tells him, “If you build it, he will come,” and Ray obeys by building a baseball diamond in his cornfield. The voice continues to guide Ray, and after a series of mysterious and supernatural events, he is able to make amends by playing a simple game of catch with his dead father. Man. That catch scene gets me every time.
The Godfather
At its core, The Godfather is about one man’s struggle to accept and eventually live up to the legacy his father has left him (even if that legacy isn’t the most noble and honorable one). You can gleam a lot of great insights about fatherhood from watching the entire trilogy. My favorite comes from Don Corleone: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Be a man. Spend some time with those kiddos. And don’t forget the cannoli.
Father of the Bride
It’s the moment any man with a daughter looks forward to with both happiness and sadness: his little girl’s wedding. You’ve probably seen the 1991 re-make ofFather of the Bride with Steve Martin. Sure, it’s funny, but it’s nowhere near as good as the 1950 original starring Spencer Tracy and a young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. At least, I don’t think so. There’s nothing profound or deep about this film. It’s just a fun, family comedy about the relationship between a man and his daughter. Spencer Tracy rocks it in this movie. One of his best performances.
Road to Perdition
As we mentioned in the introduction, sometimes the relationship between father and son can be pretty complicated. That complexity is at the root of the dark, Depression-era gangster film, Road to Perdition. Every boy wants to grow up to be like his dad, but what if your dad isn’t such a good guy? Tom Hanks plays mob bodyguard and hitman, Michael Sullivan, who must protect his son from his former boss (with whom he had his own almost father/son relationship) and his boss’ son, who has killed the rest of Sullivan’s family. On a mission of revenge, Sullivan draws his son into a life of crime, but hopes he will take a different path in life. It’s a bloody, complicated, and father/son relationshippacked movie; as Hanks puts it, “If you’re a man, and you’ve got offspring…emotionally, it’s devastating.”
The Pursuit of Happyness
An uplifting film based on the true story of now multi-millionaire Chris Gardner's one-year struggle with homelessness while raising his son by himself and working to land a full-time job. The Pursuit of Happynessshows the lengths a father will go for his children. What makes this movie even more emotionally captivating is that Chris Gardner and his son, little Chris, are played by real-life father and son, Will and Jaden Smith.
Parenthood
If you’re a fan of the ABC television comedy, Parenthood, then watch the movie that inspired the show. Like the show, Parenthood the movie focuses on different branch-offs of the same family. And like the show, the movie does a good job showcasing the (often humorous) struggles of being a parent in our crazy modern world. While it’s an ensemble film, Steve Martin’s character Gil Buckman takes center stage. Gil’s a father who’s driven to be the best dad he can be because of his dissatisfaction with his own childhood. Gil’s earnestness to be a good dad often crosses the line into neuroticism, but during the course of the film he learns to mellow out. I really like this film (and the show). Unlike a lot of comedies built on outrageous setups and low-brow gags, Parenthood tries to stay as true to real life as possible. When you watch it, you laugh because you can relate with the characters and their problems.
Boyz ‘N the Hood
Laurence Fishburne plays Furious Styles (what an awesome name), a hard-nosed father trying to raise his rebellious son, Tre, on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Furious gives his son plenty of tough love but also provides him a good example of what it means to be a father, and more importantly, a good man. Boyz ‘N the Hood teaches us that there’s nothing like the influence of a father to mold a boy into a man who does the right thing.
Finding Nemo
A movie about fatherhood that you can watch with your kids. Marlin’s a widower father who loses his wife and 400 of his children (he’s a fish) in a vicious barracuda attack. His only child to survive is Nemo, a headstrong little clown fish who’s frustrated by his father’s neurotic over-protectiveness. Despite Marlin’s best efforts to look out for Nemo, he gets lost and the rest of the movie is dedicated to, well, finding Nemo. Marlin’s love for his son transcends species. Even us human dads can relate to this computeranimated fish.
Paper Moon
Starring real-life dad and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O’Neil,Paper Moon follows Moses and Addie Pray, a father-daughter duo who grift in Depression-Era Kansas. Moses isn’t really an ideal father-figure. He scams old widows out of money by pretending to be a Bible salesman who recently sold their deceased husband an expensive, personalized Bible. But the daddy-daughter relationship between Moses and Addie is awfully charming. Paper Moon is a fun, comedy-filled movie that you can watch with your own little partner in crime.
My Life
My Life is perhaps the best and most underrated movie about fatherhood ever made. Michael Keaton plays Bob Ivanovich, a man who discovers that he has terminal cancer soon after his wife gets pregnant. Knowing he won’t be around to raise his little boy, Bob makes home movies of himself that his son can watch as he grows up. In some of the videos, Bob reads bedtime stories and in others, which will be shown when his son is older, Bob teaches important man skills likehow to shave and how to shake hands. As Bob approaches his death, he also begins to reconcile with his own father,
Abdulaziz AlKhamis Abdulaziz is a Kuwaiti Film Maker, Visual Artist and a Script Writer. He graduated from the UK, with a passion to mix art and visuals. June, 2014
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Poetry by Nada Faris Available online on Pinterest.com Behind the Scenes
What’s holding you back, when I’d surrendered my heel?
Had you taken a moment to peer into your brain you would have squinted and then held your breath, but since you illuminate every cobweb with bright intent you soldier on speaking so-called altruism. Hold on. Swerve the spotlight of this theatrical display behind the scenes, where deserted boxes packed with real events gather dust and insects.
The expanse of time, odorless, forgetful, stretching long and wide, will sooth, will heal the scar spurting blood and broken promises smelling like your shampoo, and phony compliments. Paragon of Decomposition She thinks she is so pure, so she cleans herself, thoroughly washing out every blemish until she forgets what it means to be human, pulsating with emotions, blood bubbling with hemoglobin, bones, meat, nerves, germs, and mistakes.
Expanse of Time
Regrets and heartaches aren't mere temperaments, but conditions upon which humanity is staked.
Rip the scab with fingers dripping my scent, let white turn red, turn drab. No tears translucent will dribble and blend in your brew of fragility, staining,
She’d codify her demise with rituals sanitarily emanating qualities associated with divinity she thinks she owns, or rather, hopes and pretends she does.
fleeting as fugitives, slipping in and out of memories, leaving clues of your trespassing, mercurial, piercing details as needles poking and pulling threads, weaving knots with failed expectations and dread, never to unravel. Nada Faris Nada Faris is a Kuwaiti who writes poetry, articles, and fiction in English. Her latest book, Before Young Adult Fiction, is a collection of short, award-winning articles, poems, and short stories that shaped her writing voice. Reach her at: www.nadafaris.com or @nadafaris
Photo by Greg Bal 104
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Avoiding blisters, and the rumbling under her skin, of physical sin calling, she studies sermons so she could teach others about the miracle of her powers, her self-imposed dictatorship of desire, lolled at will to earn her honors, for unlike you and me, she is no mediocrity with filthy flaws.
And unlike Christ who died for love, (can you smell the foul blood on a forsaken prophet of mercy thickening still with treason and loss?) she laves her arms until she levitates, until she glows, until a halo hovers above and crowns her skull, and names her holier than the Lord. She’d rather die alone, than vulgar, suffering from pain or trauma, for she is perfection personified in human form.
Introspection While soaping my body I bellow in disgust at something I’ve washed, you’ve touched, with indifference; how is it now that I foam the soap to cover it up, and scrub as if to get it out entirely, and why does my heart beat faster when I, after forgetting, remember it there, gloating, taunting, and why do I feel the need to ask you for an opinion or a degree of distaste, (be honest now) and don’t, simultaneously, don’t tell me what I already know, in the magazine, on the TV, on billboards, on faces of family members, (be honest now) and don’t, please.
رفق ًا بنومي...
Dream Ceremony أشكرك... ألنك دون أن تدري أشعلت الربيع في داخلي وملئتني دروبًا ملونة واحتفاالت صاخبة جيل من اشكرك ألنك أسكرت قلمي بعد ٍ االنتكاسات ّ رششت السكر على ذاكرتي ،فأصبحت و لذيذ ًة جدا كرائحة الكعك في بالدي... ِ أزهرت على قصائدي ُرمانًا شكرًا ألنك َ وخوخًا وألقيت الفراشات على جملي الثكلى، فأينعت... بش ْه ِد ُق َب َ شكرا ألنك ز ّينت صوتي َ لك
المؤجلة، َ تشكيل زوايا قلبي بما يليق دت وأع َ َ بانتظارنا...
حب رسمتُ ها على ُدرجي بعض و ُ قلوب ٍ ِ المدرسي، هي أيضًا َ لك فخذها...
فخ ْذها زوايا وامأل برائحتك زُهد المكان القلب لك ُ ْ الدمعُ الغافي على وسائدي وتعمد بمطر الحنين ّ ُ الزنبقة (الـ)زرعتُ ها على شرفتي لتحيا بك و المشتاق وارتباكه بوداعة ومشط ِ ِ لك ...فخذها.. ُحلمي... أشعاري ورسائلي الما اكتملت بعد وانزع بقايا االنتظار عن ِّصبا كتفي ُ العاطلة عن العمل أقالمي متمرس على رخام الوقت كطفل و احبي ٍ ٍ ُ تراتيل أحالمي وداعة اسمي وردد بكل ما أوتيت من ٍ ّ و ُ كل صلواتي المتمردةُ َ ، لك فخذها... أحب ِك.. صمت بصمت، واهتف ٍ ٍ مطبقُ : ٍ ُق َبلي الخجلى دفاتر طفولتي المذعورة ُ
لكن أرجوك ببطء ، اخطي ٍ ببطء أكثر ... ٍ ُ أخاف أن أصحو مراس َم الحلم.... فس ُد ُحضو ُر َك ِ في ِ ُ
Tassnim Hassoun
Tassnim is an accounts specialist. She has been writing poetry and short stories since she was twelve and currently is in the process of writing a book, needless to say she loves reading. Additionally Tassnim is a gym and nutrition junky.
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JUNE Book Releases
Summer is a time when many people like to read books that take them to other places (even if, in reality, they are stuck at home). Thrillers and romance are always big sellers, and this look at anticipated June releases has plenty of both!
Written in My Own Heart'sBlood' Diana Gabaldon
The release of Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, the latest book in the very popular Outlander series, has been rescheduled twice. Finally, the release date is here! Fans of the seven previous novels in the series will surely devour this 800+ page continuation of the story. If you prefer to fill your beach bag with romance rather than action, this is the series for you.
China Dolls Lisa See
Lisa See is beloved for her stories about Chinese and Chinese-American women, such asSnow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls. China Dolls is the story of three Chinese-American young women in San Fransisco in 1938. They are from very different backgrounds, but become best friends. As war looms, they face various trials and must rely on each other.
The Silkworm
Robert Galbraith
When word got out that Robert Galbraith is actually a pen name for J.K. Rowling, Galbraith's first novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, became an instant bestseller. That's how it got our attention, but after reading it, we were glad that it did. The second novel in this new detective series is due out just in time for summer vacation. Rowling/Galbraith fans won't want to miss Silkworm.
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Herman Koch is the bestselling author of The Dinner. In his newest novel, a medical procedure performed by a doctor to the stars goes horribly wrong, and an actor dies. The doctor and actor's families spent the summer before together on the Mediterranean, and a violent incident there may be the key to understanding the actor's death. This is a psychological thriller.
Mr. Mercedes Stephen King
If you love suspense, you can't go wrong with Stephen King. In Mr. Mercedes -- a summer thriller if ever there was one -- King tells the story of a man who has already committed one violent act and is threatening something worse. When Brady Hartfield plowed through a crowd in a stolen Mercedes, he killed eight people and escaped. Still at large, he is threatening another act that could kill or maim thousands. A retired policeman and two allies are in a race to stop him.
That Night
Chevy Stevens
That Night is the story of Toni, a 34 year old woman who was convicted of murdering her younger sister when she was a teenager. She is on parole and wants to move on with her life, but circumstances are making that difficult. She may need to find out what truly happened that night and prove her innocence before she can move on.
An Untamed State
The Vacationers
Roxane Gay's short stories and essays have gained her attention and made her debut novel, An Untamed State, one of the most buzzed about debuts of early 2014. An Untamed State is billed as a page turner that you won't want to put down, but sounds like it is best for those with thicker skin. This is the story of a Haitian-born woman who returns to Haiti with her American husband and baby. She is kidnapped and sexually tortured for almost two weeks. Much of the novel deals with the psychological aftermath and ways her life falls apart after her release.
The Vacationers starts at the airport and ends with the plane ride home
Roxane Gay
Herman Koch
Emma Straub
after two weeks of vacation in Mallorca. During that time, the Post family and some close friends work through family secrets, rivalries and tensions. Emma Straub keeps the pages turning in this summery story.
BOOK CLUB
A woman's Work IS Never DONE T
his book is a great gift to give to a friend as a birthday gift, as I did with my best friend. It is written by my favorite gift books' author Helen Exley. She is well known for having many gift books under different titles that are very popular, such as; To My Great Friend, The Baby Blessing, Little Things Mean A lot and many more. Her business of gift books started as a family initiative that was meant to give people a meaningful gift that friends and family members could share amongst each others. Now Helen's gift books are widely popular. What is special about her gift books is that they are tiny books that can be easily carried in your pocket, they don't consist of many pages which makes it very easy to read, it has a collection of selected quotations by many authors that is relevant to the topic (title of the book) and a collaboration with a caricature artist to make it fun to look at over and over again. In this book Helen wanted to share the never ending works of a woman; she got quotations related to women as, mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, working ladies and many more. In this specific gift book she collaborated with caricature artist Rowan Barnes Murphy who is well known in that field. Here are examples of some of the quotes that were included in the mini book: "All mothers are physically handicapped. They have only two hands." – Author Unknown
"Just as every human being believes he has a novel in him, so every uxorious husband believes his wife has a cookery book in her." – Alice Thomas Ellis (1912-2005) "The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents." – John J. Plomp You could find Helen Exley's gift books at the gift shops stores as well as co-ops at affordable price, I also recommend that you read it before you gift it to your friend, it is always a good read.
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Nada Soliman
[email protected]
Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author.
June, 2014
THE UPCOMING SUMMER
S
ummer is every student’s favorite part of the year, because it’s the time where students relax from all the stress of the final exams and get an abundant amount of free time as reward for their hard work. They spend this 3-month’s vacation leisurely having fun, and enjoying themselves. Some travel to other countries, and others lay back everyday watching TV, playing videogames, or hang out with their family and friends. Summer is, at the beginning, every student’s paradise. But gradually, and after doing all of what they had in mind, it becomes a bore; merely some time to waste before school/ college starts again. Because it becomes Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Adnan is studying Theoretical Physics at the college of Sciences and Technology in Kuwait University. His Hobbies include Anime, manga, heavy metal, jazz, gaming, writing, and reading. In Writing field he is into Reviews, critiques, essays, plays, and short short-stories. Adnan can be contacted by email: [email protected]
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repetitive really soon. Work (or in students’ case: study) is supplementary to our happiness. That’s why we tend to crave going back to school after long breaks. Sadly in Kuwait, students don’t recognize their full potentials. Accomplishments during this vacation are scarce. Most people focus on how to have fun the following day, and that is a major waste of time. Summer is the best time for doing projects. Sure, we should have fun in summer, but summer is all about productivity and creativity, that's why it’s important to consider having a plan for the upcoming summer, and the ones that come after, so that we all could be helpful members in our society. Besides, what's more fun than having a list of achievements crossed out? Imagine all the things you could come up with in 90 days of free time. Think of all the possibilities. Surely, we all have hobbies, and we all like challenges, so why not challenge ourselves (or our friends) to do the greatest
things this summer? You can start practicing on your guitar, or start writing a story. You can arrange a book-reading contest with your friends or family, or you can learn about new topics you weren’t enlightened on. You can practice drawing and sketching, or start a new club with special activities. The choices are endless, the time is abundant, and recreational activities are variant, and only you can decide how this summer turns out in the end. After all, you are the one behind your final decision: This summer can be your best yet, or just another passing vacation. We may have hard times, or some problems with family or such, but we always rise after, and make the best of our time. So ask yourself this: “What’s going to happen this summer?” Will you let it pass, or will you make the best of it? Good luck on your exams, and have a nice productive fun summer vacation!
June, 2014
Wataniya is Now Ooredoo CityPages Meets Sarah Al Enzi at Ooredoo
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
CityPages meets Sarah Al Enzi the Junior Sales Executive – Sales/Retail at Ooredoo for 2.5 years. Sarah holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administrations from Kuwait University. At Ooredoo, her tasks includes: Listening to customers to aid in finding the right bundle of services & products to comply with their needs, selling & marketing the company's products & services to them, providing the customers with information & building loyalty, and acting as a liaison between the company & the market. In our meeting with Sarah we wanted to know more about the transition of Wataniya telecom to Ooredoo and why the name "Ooredoo"?
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. citypageskuwait.com
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it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. June, 2014
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. They expect more from us now. They want more tailored services and products that fit better with their lifestyles. And More than that, they wanted us to listen to what they want and provide it to them. We have promised ourselves to be Caring, Connecting and Challenging. We want to care for our customers and for what matters to them. We want to connect with them, and listen to what they want. We also want to add some challenge so that they always ask us for more, because that’s how we will develop and innovate.
After the studies done by Ooredoo Group on choosing an Arabic name, why the name “Ooredoo”? The group wanted an Arabic name that represents its Arabic identity across all countries it operates in and it also wanted a name that reflect what customers wants are. Therefore, the name “Ooredoo” was chosen, which in English means “I want.” By this name we give chances to our customers to tell us what they want. Ooredoo is the word that every customer normally says when coming to a branch; “I want” fast internet, “I want” personalized services, and much more. We encourage our customers to tell us what they want so we can continue to innovate and develop more services.
How is the vision of Ooredoo affecting your deliverables to customers? Ooredoo’s vision is all about enriching people's lives in Kuwait. To enrich people’s lives means we want to serve them by not only providing them with telecom services, but also by helping them grow in their communities within Kuwait and supporting them reach their potential to contribute to human growth. This is what makes us different than other telecoms in Kuwait. We are a communitybased company which makes us responsible of contributing to the social development of the communities within Kuwait. We want to enable youth, champion women and empower entrepreneurs and small businesses.
What opportunities does Ooredoo give to young ambitious Kuwaitis like you? With my experience in the Sales Division, I believe that Ooredoo definitely sees potential in Kuwaiti youth. The company believes in their great skills and abilities as there are many young enthusiastic and passionate Kuwaitis working now in different divisions in the company. Ooredoo provides different job opportunities for graduates as well as experienced Kuwaitis. This comes from the company’s vision as it believes in enabling youth and helping them grow. The company also provides continuous training and growth opportunities within it. What we learned from Ooredoo as employees is that it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. 112
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Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
to add to your wishlist
An Amazon Fire TV, Digital Paper System, and more amazing must-haves
Nendo Cubic Rubber Band Our favorite design this month is a cubic rubber band. The shape does two things: It makes the band easier to pick up and gives it a firmer grip. We still haven’t found the best way to shoot it, though.
Rhythm Downlight Led Astronauts on the ISS see 15 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. So to help them get into some kind of routine, scientists researched the optimum wavelength of light for suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin. Blue light proved best, which is why Lighting Science’s new Rhythm Downlight bulb uses blasts of blue to keep you alert, followed by a relaxing tune when you need to rest.
Ryno The Ryno looks like the love child of a motorcycle and a unicycle. But unlike either, there’s little balancing required: A gyroscope and accelerometers help keep a rider upright. Leaning forward accelerates the electric bike to speeds up to 10 mph.
Moog Theremini Hitting the right note on a theremin is surprisingly difficult. So Moog added pitch control to its latest model. With the control turned up, it’s impossible to play a wrong note. Lessen it, and there’s room for vibrato.
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Flir One The Flir One is a thermal imaging device for an iPhone. It detects infrared energy from 32°F to 212°F. Uses include seeing in the dark, locating heat loss, and cheating at hide-and-seek.
Digital Paper System Sony’s new Digital Paper System wants to liberate your office from its dependence on dead trees with an E-ink tablet. This low-power device lasts three weeks between charges, lets you edit, create and annotate documents, and at 6.6mm thick is thinner than your average notepad. When you’re done working you can upload your files to the cloud via Wi-Fi or save them to an SD card.
Crescent Switchblade This multi-tool has four interchangeable heads—three blades and a plier—for various activities, such as shingle work and cutting wires.
Htc One (M8)
Click And Grow Smart Herb Garden
Regular readers will remember the Lytro camera we tested in issue 251, which lets you change the focus of a picture after it's been taken. Two years later, the HTC One (M8) is the first smartphone to mimic this feature, using two lenses at the rear of the phone to do the job. This means if you’ve accidentally focused your photo on a lamp post rather than the landscape behind it, you can correct the error when you get home.
If astronauts can grow plants in space, then you can grow them right here on terra firma. Inspired by NASA technology, this miniature garden helps you grow healthy plants indoors. You simply add some water to the specially designed solution – which is full of the optimum O2 and nitrate levels for growth – and then leave the smart pot and light to work their magic.
Amazon Fire Tv Another nail in the coffin for broadcast telly, Fire TV brings streaming services such as Netflix, iPlayer and, of course, Amazon Instant Video to your TV. But unlike other streamers, it also offers streaming videogames and a dedicated games controller. And with Amazon’s purchasing power you can bet they’ll be able to offer access to most on-demand TV before the year’s out.
Feddz Electric Bike An electric motor takes up a lot less space than a petrol one. This battery-driven scooter uses the extra room to let its rider carry much more than they could on a typical motorbike. Where the fuel tank and engine would have been there are now 23 litres of storage space. Fully loaded and charged, it’ll offer a range of 70km – enough for most commutes – and will even charge your smartphone en route. June, 2014
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.تقنيات الثمانيات تعود للحياة
وهي إحدى عمالقة التقنية اليابانية أنها قامت وبشكلSony صرحت ١٤٨ مستقل بتطوير شريط تسجيل مغناطيسي بسعة تخزين تيرابايت١٨٥ وهذا يعني القدرة على تخزين،جيجابايت لكل إنش مربع فيلم بلوراي٣٧٠٠ بمعنى آخر يمكنك تخزين.في شريط كاسيت واحد IBM بشريط كاسيت واحد فقط! هذا اإلنجاز تم بالتعاون مع شركة هذه التقنية، حتى اآلن.والتي ساهمت بقياس كثافة التسجيل مصممة لتخزين البيانات اإلحتياطية للشركات الكبرى والحواسيب نحن نعتقد أنه ستكون هناك منافسة.)Supercomputer( الخارقة على توفيرSony كبيرة مع شركات التقنية األخرى والتي ستجبر لم تعلن عن موعد طرحSony شركة.هذه التقنية للمستهلك الحقًا ولكن عندما يحصل ذلك سيكون بمثابة انتصار،الشريط في األسواق .لحقبة الثمانينات
80's Technology Returns to Life The giant Japanese technology company Sony announced that they have dependently developed a soft magnetic tape technology with areal recording density of 148GB/in2. This means it will be able to record (185TB) worth of storage in a single tape. In other words, you can store 3700 blurays in one simple cartridge. This breakthrough comes with the help of IBM corporation who assisted them with the measurement of the recording density. It's designed for long-term industrial-sized data backup. For now, this technology is designed to work with supercomputers. We think there will be a huge competition between other technology companies that will force Sony to bring this technology to the consumer later on. Sony wouldn’t say when this tape will hit the market, but when it does it will be a victory to the 80's era.
Yousif AlSaeed Saad Almseikan A burger lover who works as a Computer Technician during the day. Saad has a curious mind that likes to discover everything new that's related to computers, hardware, gadgets and technology. You'll most probably find him holding a burger while playing with a new gadget. He is 27 years old, loves Mixed Martial Arts. Music is what keeps him going especially Rock & Roll.
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Yousif holds a BSc. in Information Technology & Computing Degree and is a Teacher and Software Developer. He loves sharing the latest technology news and gadgets with people. Yousif believes that behind everything in the tech-world is a great story. He spends most of his time reading technology blogs and self development.
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The End of Apple vs. Google Lawsuit. Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist between the two major companies. They also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. In 2010 Motorola Mobility (Owned by Google) accused Apple of infringing several patent while Apple said they violated its patents regarding smartphones features. Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012 for 12.5$ billion. This year Google decided to sell the Motorola Mobility to Lenovo but it will keep the majority of Motorola's patent portfolio.
Third Time is a Charm. Microsoft Suface Pro 3. After two runs on the tablet business, Microsoft gets the hang of it. With this edition, they introduce a lighter and thinner tablet with great features and a stunning screen (2160 x 1440pix ). They even threw a pen with it to make it user-friendly. It comes with redesigned kickstand that allows you to set it at any angle (between 22 - 150 degrees). Also, it has a new 5mm ultra-thin keyboard with backlit .You can pre-order it now starting from 799$ - 1949$ and it ships on August 31st.
The World's Most Valuable Brands are Tech Companies Google got the 1st rank with a value of 159$ billion after beating Apple which slipped to 2nd rank. IBM remain in the 3rd place followed by Microsoft in the 4th ( was 7th ). Facebook is in the 21st place ( was 31st ). Samsung is in the 29th place ( was 30th ). Oracle is in the 45th place ( was 36th ). HP is in the 49th ( was 54th ). The first 4 companies leading this chart are technology companies and their value surpass 500$ billion. How long will these companies hold and lead the chart?!
The Second Worst Data Breach in History More than 145 millions accounts compromised! eBay said that hackers raided its network three months ago. The company advised its users to change their passwords immediately. eBay said "We don't know that they decrypted the passwords because it would not be easy to do.�. These records contain passwords, email addresses, mailing addresses, date of birth and other personal information, but no financial data (credit cards information). The biggest data breach was in October 2013 when a hacker accessed Adobe System and collected information that belongs to 152 million user accounts.
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Samsung New Health SAMI Sensor & SIMBAND Mock-up. Samsung introduced Samsung Architecture Multimodal Interaction or "SAMI" Sensor & SIMBAND with open software, open hardware and mechanical as well. Its a mock-up to help inspire future partners. Samsung's goal is to converge the IT technology with health and wellness. The new era after the wearable gears is "Wearable Sensors". Young Sohn, the president and chief strategy officer of Samsung says: we should know about our bodies as much as we know about our cars for instance. He says, that our aim that someday you have sensors that know much more about your body. Samsung working with Interuniversity MicroElectronics Centre “IMEC" and University of California San Francisco to start the dialog between tech and health. Its a beginning of a new health era that will help us to take care of ourself and our body. Its a great initiative from Samsung and its worth a shout out.
LG G3: The Next Smartphone From LG. After a lot of rumours and gossips regarding the G3, LG officially announced their G3. A metallic skin, an arc design and a 5.5 inch Quad HD display ( 2560 x 1440 ) with a pixel density of 538ppi. 13MP Camera and dual flash. 3000mAh removable battery and a smart keyboard with adjustable height and adaptive keyboard. Its running the latest Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. And definitely it will be coming with 4G/LTE. "Knock Code" feature allow you to access your phone with a simple knock pattern on your screen. "Smart Security� to help you maintain and securing your data when your phone is shared, misplaced or stolen. From what they are saying and how the phone looks, we are sure its going to be a great breakthrough in their smartphone business. 118
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Apple WWDC 2014. What is your app!? An App can open things that you might not know about before. 9 million registered developers. 300 million visitor a week for the app store with 75 billion downloaded apps so far. that is a fraction of what this conference is about. Apple CEO Mr.Tim Cook introduced a new OS X that is going to work seamlessly together with iOS. The new OS X Yosemite will be more friendly to users. With new user interface inspired by iOS 7 and whole new features, user can receive or make calls right from his mac without touching his iPhone. Moreover, user can send SMS/ iMessages, send audio notes too. You can instantly connect to the internet “Instant Hotspot” with just view clicks on your Mac. The new "iCloud Drive” is a new feature to your iCloud account. Now you can create folders and upload any type of files to use it with your iOS apps or your Windows. Now your Mac and your iOS devices know what each other is doing, this “Handoff” feature allows you to start something on you Mac and pick it up on another iOS instantly and vice versa. And now you can send up to 5GB attachment with your email, even if the recipient server have a size limitation, the Mail will use the “Mail Drop” feature to send the attachment file to the iCloud server and give the recipient a secure link for it. But if both of users using Mail in the Mac, then no need for that feature. And a lot of amazing features with this update we can`t elaborate on them all. iOS 8, its all about the software and what`s under the user interface, is the big deal. Apple gives the developers rich access and lots of tools. Now, apps can communicate with each other. For example, you don’t need to open and edit documents using more apps, and to share documents between apps without creating unnecessary copies. There are a lot of new changes and features to the new iOS, its to simply and to make us create our natural experience the way we want it. Starting from the Photo app that make you discover and search your moments, event and specific dates. The design, new notification centre, new widget bar, new automatic photo enhancer, smart keyboard, the whole new "family sharing" feature which we think its really amazing. moreover, new Health app and health kit to make your activity tracker, heart rate monitor, and other health and fitness apps talk to each other. A spotlight search can now search wikipedia, places nearby trending news and much more in a single search bar. What Apple did to developers? Well, they did a lot. With the new SDK they gave the developers the advantages to use the
iCloud, Touch ID, and more to integrates with their apps. With more than 4000 new APIs they give the developers a deeperthan-ever access to iOS capabilities. Starting from Sharing Option, Photo Editing, Custom Action, Notification Centre, Documents to the amazing kits they already releasing like PhotoKit, HomeKit, HealthKit and CloudKit. They didn’t forget the Gaming generation. They are adding the SceneKit to render the games in 3D and a new technology called “Metal” that allow them to squeeze the maximum performance from the A7 chip. Last but not least, they introduce a new programming language, oh yes they did. It`s called Swift. This what they have to say about it: "Swift is an innovative new programming language for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch. Writing code is interactive and fun, the syntax is concise yet expressive, and apps run lightning-fast and it works side-by-side with Objective-C.” Finally, with 97% overall satisfaction for iOS7. iOS 8, Apple`s Giant release so far and we bet its the best integration between the iOS and OS X till this date.
June, 2014
تطورات شركة أبل
تستعد
شركة آبل رسميًا لالعالن رسميًا في السنوي مؤتمرها للمطورين WWDC 2014عن منصة Smart ، Homeحيث تعمل آبل على جعل iOSيتحكم بالمنازل واألعمال الداخلية بداخله ،حيث تسمح بتغيير اعدادات األجهزة االستهالكيه الموجودة في المنزل المتصلة بشبكة االنترنت لكل مستخدمي هواتف ال iPhoneولوحيات ال . iPadوأيضًا يمكنك التحكم في االضاءة داخل وخارج المنزل ، وبامكانك تفعيل أجهزة االنذار عند مغادرة المنزل . من ناحية أخرى شركة جوجل لديها منصة مشابهة لها التي تحمل اسم . Android@Home
تم مؤخرًا تسريب مجموعة من الصور ذات الجودة العالية التي ستتميز بها هاتف iPhone 6الحديث وأيضًا فيديو لنموذج وهمي للجيل القادم من هاتف .iPhoneمن مميزاته سوف تكون شاشة االيفون أكبر بحجم 4.7انش باالضافة الى النحافة التي اضافها جماالً وسوف تكون الحواف للهاتف مدورة، وبالطبع كعادتها سيأتي هيكل الهاتف مصنوعًا أصبحت التكنولوجيا أيضًا ليس بمتناول اليد فقط من االلمنيوم الفاخر .لمشاهدة الفيديو لنموذج بل أيضًا للتحكم بمقتنياتنا ،أسعدني هذا التصريح االيفون المقبل عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة حيث يمكن للمسافرون بالتحكم بالمنزل حيث السريع -: خاصية االنذار لها دور هام في حماية منازلنا .أصبحت تطورات شركة آبل تتنافس بجدارة للوصول الى الصدارة حيث قامت بترويج الجهاز اللوحي iPad Air وقامت بنشر اعالنين يوضح فيها المهام االساسية الستخدام الجهاز ،على سبيل المثال :المساعدة على سهولة التنقل بين البلدان ،ومساعدة أيضًا ضعاف السمع على الكتابة واستغالل مواهبهم .أردت أن أشارككم لمشاهدة االعالنين عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة السريع -:
Faisal Ben Dhofari General manager / Owner Click integrated Media Solutions Faisal Ben Dhofari
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Abdulla Ashkanani An entrepreneurial spirit
Translating a European brand in a foreign land Abdulla Ashkanani, partner and general manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait, is a young, motivated and hard-working Kuwaiti with a strong entrepreneurial drive. Abdulla has entrepreneurship deeply rooted in his genes. His grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate, his father was a jeweler and also worked in real estate. Being hailed from a family with strong business background and wanting to tap into fashion retail with a will to build a company off of the simple idea of doing things his own way, owner Abdulla Ashkanani opened up the doors to the Piel De Toro Kuwait store in 2013. You may have thought that the recent rise of clothing label Piel De Toro Kuwait came out of nowhere, but the Spain-based collective has been bubbling overseas for years. This unique Spanish fashion brand has created itself a niche on the international market due to its high level of creativity, quality and the manner in which it interprets the latest trends. Abdulla and his wife Reem Behbehani; who is also the marketing and PR manager of the company, are focused on taking the label to the next level. CityPages caught up with Abdulla Ashkanani to get his thoughts on the state of fashion, challenges his business had to face and how he is setting the pace for the future.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our reader: My name is Abdulla Ashkanani, and I am a partner and General Manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait. I am also a Vice President of Business Development in the private sector. Tell us about your education: I hold a bachelors degree in finance from Kuwait University. My international work experience allowed me to tap into some cultures and languages. I speak a little Spanish in addition to Danish, Arabic and English of course. So it all came in handy with this business. How and when did the idea of opening the Piel de Toro store in Kuwait come up? Our first vacation home was in Spain in 1978. So my parents took us there on a yearly basis. I feel very connected to Spain and its culture. So back in 2012, while on one of my visits to Spain with my brother, we spotted Piel De Toro and decided to take the chance and bring it to Kuwait. Upon arriving to Kuwait, we contacted the brand owners, who were very excited to the idea, and things developed quite rapidly from then. What was your previous experience in fashion retail? I come from a family with a lot of business background. My grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate. My father was a jeweler, and also worked in real estate. As you can see, our family is fairly new to fashion retail. I think this is might be one of the reasons I took on the challenge to expand our family business and tap into this market. How was the initial response? The initial response was amazing. Those who visit Spain know the brand, and are very excited to see it in Kuwait. Those who were newly introduced to the brand quickly became loyal customers. It is wonderful to see our costumers returning often to update their wardrobe. What are some of the challenges that you had to face and how did you overcome them? It is crucial to any business to understand the market and what customers want. It was a challenge at the beginning being a European brand, with bold colors and smaller sizes, but we swiftly learned to adjust to the local taste. The language barrier is always an obstacle since not too many Spanish people speak English fluently. Nonetheless, the brand owners were very supportive since the launch and are excited to see this project work; especially that this is the first store for Piel De Toro in the Middle East. I’m sure the other challenges we faced are shared by most start ups in Kuwait – ranging from finding the right sales team to bureaucracy and lengthy paperwork cycles.
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Now, you have completed a year in Kuwait. How would you describe the success and experience for the brand in Kuwait within this year? I believe that Piel De Toro is becoming the next big thing in the fashion retail market. Our customers are very proud to be seen wearing Piel De Toro and their support for the brand is what keeps us going. I also believe that Piel De Toro is now becoming a recognized and competing brand amongst the retail fashion brands in Kuwait. Your wife is also involved in running the business. How do you think this has helped you succeed? I was looking for a marketing and PR manager to handle all related aspects of this business, and I have interviewed a few candidates for this position. Unfortunately, I was not satisfied. I truly believe that this position is the face of Piel De Toro, and it required someone with a passion for fashion alongside the academic background. I was hesitant at the beginning, but I could not find a better candidate than my wife Reem Behbehani. She is both passionate and dedicated. Reem holds a bachelors degree in Finance as well, and is currently doing her MBA with a concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. My wife has probably had more experience in the fashion retail having had her own line of accessories, and doing a bit of fashion and weddings-related blogging on the side too. Besides raising our 3 adorable kids, she is an event planner and a window designer. My wife has been with me from the start, and knows almost everything about the history of Piel De Toro Kuwait. She is socially very active too which made it easier for us to plan and execute events, and reach out to the social media, as well as our loyal customers. How often does the new collection arrive at the store? We generally have 3-4 major shipments arrive to Kuwait every year. Usually, our winter collection arrives to Kuwait during September, and our major summer collection arrives in February. We carry a wide selection of men, ladies, and children apparel at very competitive prices. A very successful line for us in the past year has been the “like-daddy” collection. Kids love to dress up like their role models, and we give them just that! Are there any specific designs that you have the brand made for Kuwait market? Yes, there were a few designs that were specifically made for Kuwait during last winter collection, and we hope to see more during the upcoming months. The franchise owners love to hear our feedback, and work hard to provide us with what customers are looking for. What differentiates Piel de Toro from other brands in the same category?
Piel de Toro represents the Andalucian lifestyle. It projects the colors and energy of southern Spain. 90% of all of our apparel are made in Spain, and this positions us strongly in the market for excellent designs, fabrics and finish. What does wearing Piel de Toro mean? It means you’re happy and proud. You radiate with youthful energy, pride (represented by the Andalucían horse), and bravery (represented by the bull). Do you have any customer loyalty scheme in place at the store? We constantly find ways to reward our returning customers; whether through events or special promotions. We are also working with the mother company on developing a special loyalty program to further benefit our base of clientele. What are some of your future plans? We are working on expanding the brand within Kuwait and the GCC markets. We hope to see another location in the region during 2014 inshalah. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I would really like to thank CityPages for celebrating with us our 1st anniversary, and giving us a great coverage for the event. Thank you for this interview. Our Piel De Toro family congratulates you on your recent completion of 50 amazing issues. We are proud of your achievements and the trail you leave for others to follow. Many more years of success! inshalah.
June, 2014
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Radisson Blu Hotel - @radissonbluhotelkuwait
Red Carpet Collection 2014 Sixty-seven dazzling creations
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he romance between Chopard and the Cannes Film Festival has blossomed continuously since 1998, the year Chopard became the Official Partner of the world’s most renowned film festival. Since the 60th anniversary of the Festival in 2007, Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard, has annually created an original Haute Joaillerie collection intended to exalt the beauty of the actresses for their red carpet appearance: the Red Carpet Collection. Each spring, the famous “Red Carpet” of the Festival is the showcase of 126
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dazzling new creations with Chopard taking up the extraordinary challenge of introducing a number of high jewellery pieces equal to the number of Cannes Film Festival editions. For this year, the 67th edition, 67 unique creations inspired by the glamour and the voluptuous beauty of the actresses who lit up the heyday Italian cinema of the 1950’s and 1960’s will be unveiled. As a preview, Chopard is presenting at Baselworld two magnificent pair of earrings, the first composed of diamond briolettes and emeralds, the second one of amethysts
and diamonds, as well as the leading model of the collection, the Riviera jewellery set composed of a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings, radiating a fascinating aura of opulent seduction. The Red Carpet Collection 2014 will once again testify to Chopard’s considerable talents in the field of Haute Joaillerie: a full range of talented and experienced artisans in the workshops of Chopard mingle timehonoured techniques and cutting-edge technologies to craft these unique creations.
Swarovski Women’s Watch Collection 2014 Combining a rich jewelry heritage, a spirit for innovation and the high precision of Swiss watch making, Swarovski offers impeccable timepieces infused with an inimitable touch of glamour. Be it for everyday wear or for special occasions, the watch collection
Hamilton’s latest high-flyer A Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition takes to the skies In the Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition, sophisticated design houses a drift-angle calculator to satisfy the technical and aesthetic demands of all aviation enthusiasts. Proudly rooted in Hamilton’s century-long heritage of aviation firsts, this timepiece is a codeshare of horological fascination and contemporary styling. This special limited edition will be sought after by pilots and wannabe pilots the world over.
comprises pieces that reflect Swarovski’s esthetic codes, expert crystal faceting, and a true passion for the detail. Swarovski unveils at Baselword three new lines for 2014 as well as re-colorings of many popular designs.
Calvin Klein bold Iconic. Sophisticated. Calvin Klein bold. A classic timepiece that celebrates the refined luxury of the Calvin Klein brand. First launched in 2007, the remarkable Calvin Klein bold is now redesigned for both men and women. The black leather strap style is paired with either a polished stainless steel or PVD gold case and black or silver dial. The polished stainless steel bracelet style is offered with a polished and brushed stainless steel case and black, silver, dark blue or light blue dial. Two chronograph options, one with the black leather strap and one with the polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet, are also available. Each watch is enhanced by a “Calvin Klein” logo at 12 o’clock and features superluminova hour and minute hands that subtly illuminate in the dark for convenience.
Gent style is water resistant to 5 bar. Gent chronograph style is water resistant to 10 bar. June, 2014
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BANANA REPUBLIC AND MARIMEKKO ANNOUNCE LIMITED-EDITION CAPSULE COLLECTION FOR SUMMER 2014 Banana Republic Marimekko Collection Brings a Pop of Color to her Summer Wardrobe
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9 POST BEACH: 1.Dolce & Gabbana tee 110k.d 2.Givenchy T 170k.d 3.Alexander
McQueen T 80k.d 4.PRPS skinny jeans 310k.d 5.Alexander McQueen scarf 60k.d 6.Jacob Cohen slim jeans 130k.d 7.Converse sneakers 40k.d 8.Golden Goose Deluxe Brand sneakers 120k.d 9.Christian Louboutin loafers 385k.d
THE BRAND:
sneakers
Price: High top 280k.d / Low top 220k.d
Zouch is about men's fashion, giving insight on what, how and when to wear. Think of Zouch as your personal fashion consultant. This page relates to all men of all ages as a helping tool to dress with style and edge. Find your own individual style as we push boundaries for you. Rest assured we will keep you updated with all the latest fashion news, men's trends and lots more. Instagram: @zouchfashion Twitter: @zouchfashion Facebook: Facebook.com/zouchfashion June, 2014
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VICTORIA’S SECRET ANGEL KARLIE KLOSS REVEALS THE NEW LOOK OF VICTORIA’S SECRET HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss unveiled the new look of Heavenly, Victoria’s Secret’s original Angel fragrance. The stunning Supermodel is the face of the brand’s newest campaign. The iconic fragrance she knows and loves has been reinvented. For the first time, Heavenly debuts a sleek new bottle shape and features a jeweled Angel wing charm embedded in the cap. With notes of White Musk, Sandalwood, Vanilla and White Peony, this gorgeous fragrance is heaven scent. The award-winning scent received the prestigious FiFi Fragrance Foundation Award for “Fragrance of the Year” in 2000. Since its debut, there have been more Heavenly Eau de Parfum bottles sold in the U.S. than any other fragrance. “We’re giving our customer an all-new reason to love our Heavenly fragrance,” said Sharen Jester Turney, president and chief executive officer of Victoria’s Secret. “It’s been our best-selling fragrance since it launched in 1999 and now our customer is going to covet the exquisite new bottle design just as much as the Heavenly scent inside.”
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High Jewelry Timepieces “I want to see this stone have grace and beauty and form.” – Mr. Harry Winston
Known as the King of Diamonds, Harry Winston’s life was devoted to celebrating the rarity and beauty of these extraordinary stones. Throughout his lifetime, it is estimated that more than a third of the world’s most important diamonds passed through his hands. Often purchased as rough, several of these spectacular stones were cut, polished and transformed into legends under Mr. Winston’s watchful eye. He reveled in the process of watching a rough stone evolve into a remarkable gem, and took pride in his ability to successfully determine a diamond’s final destined shape by simply holding the stone in his hands. Mr. Winston was particularly fond of fancy-shaped gems, whether featured alone in the striking silhouette of a large solitaire, or as numerous stones combined to create a Winston cluster motif. In this year’s extraordinary new collection of High Jewelry Timepieces, we honor Mr. Winston’s fascination with a diamond’s finished form. Each stunning creation takes its cues from the timeless beauty of fancy-shaped stones, and marries the House’s time-honored techniques in fine jewelry craftsmanship with the traditions of fine Swiss watch making. June, 2014
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A Grunge Affair D espite my bi-polar attitude towards fashion, (meaning my style evolves constantly based on my mood and whatever is tickling my fashion pickle at the time), anyone who knows me would agree that Grunge is my thing. My love for grunge, mainly 90’s inspired grunge with a contemporary touch (a mouthful I know), has evidently grown over the years. I love the effortlessly cool and badass look of it; I love how it’s so… street, for lack of better words. 90’s grunge is an era that brought us 80’s-90’s kids Kurt Kobain, Doc Martins, and Nirvana. All those factors obviously influenced the fashion world when it comes to street style and casual clothing. Hair was messy, t shirts worn out and/or a little too short, and shoes bulky and very rock and roll. Because grunge is so casual, I’m going to stay away from talking about high fashion and going to focus on high street clothing. We have recently seen a great amount of contemporary clothing and grunge influence in fashion for the past few years. So many high street shops like Zara, Topshop and H&M really give into the grunge theme; I love that because I always find something I can use to mix and match with other contemporary designers. Because fashion is so versatile and has no rules (obviously— wouldn’t be fun anymore), many fashion
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lovers like to mix grunge with bohemian or very clean minimalist contemporary clothing. Personally, because I can never make up my mind about what I like best, I find myself always changing it up. My grunge outfits usually consist of ripped jeans, plain v-neck tees, biker boots/doc martins/converse, heavy eye liner, and a lot of rings. I usually go for nude or dark colors for bags; mostly black actually. I also love 90’s style crop tops and tapered high wasted jeans as well, which are normally blue or grey acid wash. When I want to clean up the look a bit more but still keep it edgy and cool, I usually keep the colors and print minimal, so plain white, grey, and black usually, but I still add on the grungy accessories to add a bit of “character”, so to speak, to my outfits. For this look I love to mix my metals and go for plain statement necklaces. I also pay more attention to the cut and style of my clothes so it remains modern, and I almost always rock black nails—only because I think it’s timeless and very chic. Grunge is definitely not boring, and is so easy to pull off when done right. But of course with everything in life, always remember not to go overboard so it doesn’t end up looking too gothic- unless that’s your thing in which case, all the power to you!
Talah Al Abdulaaly Talah is a 23 years young and an avid fashion lover. Her heart lies in fashion, and everything that comes with it. She enjoys writing about it, buying it, styling it, and the list goes on. Living in London, one of the worlds fashion hot spots, for around 5 years gave her the chance to channel her passion even more. She met people from the industry, worked closely with a designer, gained some styling experience, and most importantly, got to be inspired from the ever so urban street style almost everywhere she went.
June, 2014
first produc t to breaking carbon ultra-lightweight
Oakley Ignites Relationship with Scuderia Ferrari
hat goes into the i cars.
in ma terials and craftsmanship represented by both fiber and titanium, it features Scuderia Ferrari red dly distinguishes the collec tion.
The partnership be tween Oakley and Scuderia Ferrari is a deep alliance be tween two brands with a rich heritage of engineering and technical excellence. As the multi-year partnership develops, the companies will share design philosophies and engineering insights even further, enabling greater collaboration and innova tion across a range of areas. With the partnership agreement, Oakley is the Official Licensee in eyewear, as well as the Official Supplier to Scuderia Ferrari. The team’s drivers will carry the Oakley logo on their helme ts throughout the season. The Scuderia Ferrari Carbon Blade™, part of the Scuderia Ferrari collection, is the first product created to celebra te this partnership.
بايليس تطلقتشكيلة جديدة لموسم الصيف تشكيلةجديدةملوسمالصيفتش،العالمة الرائدة في مجال مبيعات األحذية بالتجزئة جلميع أفراد العائلة، تطلقبايليس: وستتوفرالتشكيلة اجلديدةلدىجميع محالتبايليس في الكويت.ملباقة متنوعةمن الصنادل واحلقائب بتصاميم عصرية . مايو27 ابتدا ًءمن وتعكسهذهالتشكيلةالتزامبايليساملتواصل باجلودة العاليةوقدرتهاعلىتلبيةمتطلباتزبائنهاوتعزيزمكانتهاكوجهةأساس باإلضافة إلىاالكسسواراتبتصاميممميزةبأف،يةلألحذيةاملريحة املالئمة لإلستخدام اليوميوتلك اخلاصة باملناسبات اخملتلفة .ضالألسعارجلميعأفرادالعائلة
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Tory Burch Fall 2014 “The inspiration starts with the armor my parents collected. The references are subtle, whether in the mix of textures (woven, quilted, pleated) or in the tapestry brocades and florals. The focus is on clean, strong silhouettes with bold embellishments. Accessories reflect the mood — belts with chain details, lace-up ghillie heels and muffs.” — Tory Burch
GET SUMMER-READY WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER AQUA RANGE Why settle for less when you can get flawless makeup results this summer no matter how hot or humid it is. MAKE UP FOR EVER brings you the summer must-haves for a perfect and longlasting makeup. Its award-winning Aqua range offers you a wide range of colorful products for a fresh and lively summer. Combining long-wear and easy application, Aqua Range is ideal for women who want quick-to-apply makeup that is both flawless and very long-lasting. Guaranteed waterproof, it offers maximum resistance to water and rubbing to provide unique staying power on the face, eyes and lips. The intense pigments hold up perfectly all day long, and all night too to perfect your makeup style!
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What’s Trending Sizzling Stripes
Fashionable Florals Patterns, prints and pastels are in this season, and nothing represents this time of year better than flowers! This year, panning between extremes, floral prints go from subtle to brassy, and modern to nineties. With mixes of colours from greys to pinks, orange and blues, this year turn your summer into a full floral fantasy. First on our list of fashionable florals is the perfect clutch for the summer. Easily transitioned from day to night, the Zulu Clutch is a hot item of the summer with its burst of colour. Also both versatile and fun, the clutch is perfect with a pair of jeans or dressed up for a night out with your girlfriends.
Next on the fashionable floral list is Max&Co.’s SS14’s floral collection, all so uniquely different but one of the same - hot! Beginning with what us girls love and adore, shoes and bags. Available in two different colours, passionate pink or youthful yellow, the Albero tote and Albinoni canvas sneakers come in a fashion for women of different style.
WEEKEND BY MAXMARA - Giudy, striped cotton and linen blend twill Bermuda shorts They say stripes are not flattering, but this summer has proven that wrong. With horizontal and vertical stripes in all shapes, colours and style hitting the runway and shops from casual to luxurious, the ‘nautical’ look has never been more chic. Casual chic is in, and nobody does casual like Weekend by MaxMara. With the perfect apparel that is both comfortable and chic, their SS14 collection focus on the beach and is dedicated to all shades of blue, and stripes of all types. With a fresh perspective on formal outerwear, a favorite of this season is the Giudy shorts. Dressed up in a button-up, or down in a tee, these sizzling striped shorts are a hot trend of the summer and needed in your closet.
JIMMY CHOO - Zulu, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Clutch Bag With hot bags, must always come shoes. Styled in the same burst of colour print is the classic Demi Slip-on. Channelling a luxe sportswear vibe, the trainers are an effortless weekend favorite.
SHOE(S): MAX&CO. - Albinoni, Floral Print Canvas Sneakers
JIMMY CHOO - Demi, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Slip On Trainers
MAX&CO. - Fair, Jacquard Pique Dress While nautical themed thin blue and white stripes are in and seen in dresses, shirts, shorts, skirts and shoes, so are thick, coloured stripes. Dresses are one of the staple pieces that represent summer, but this year the addition of the Shirtdress is something to note. This SS14, Max&Co. has the perfect combination of colour, cut and stripes found in their Fair Dress. So perfect, that the same print is found in a t-shirt, dress and A-line overcoat. 138
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TOTE BAG(S): MAX & CO. - Albero, Floral Print Canvas Tote Bag
Different florals at Max&Co. also calls for different style.This season, pretty pastel florals are represented through the clothing of the collection. Starting with their signature dress, the Corolla is a top trending item of the season. Perfect for a day out with its cooling fabric texture and simple cut, and great with sandals or slip-ons and a summer hat.
JIMMY CHOO - Nyssa, Green, White and Pallisander Snake Print and Vachetta Leather Flat Sandals While stripes and sandals may not be in their forte, Jimmy Choo’s SS14 collection embodies the trend in a simple, subtle way. With distinct stripes of colour found in its cut and colour, the Nyssa Sandal is the perfect incorporation of stripes into your style, and sandals that can be worn throughout the day.
MAX&Co. - Bellini, Floral Print Silk Satin Corolla Dress
this Summer? While summer time may mean shorts, pants are still in and something enjoyed by all women in Kuwait. With a different take on repeated floral patterns, Max&Co.’s Fila pants are the exact bottoms you need on a hot summer day when you want something pretty on. With a fastening invisible zip on the side, they are slim fit, allowing you to layer a t-shirt underneath without worry about looking frumpy.
Flat is Back Now lets talk about the shift of heels into flats this Spring and Summer season. This season, we’ve seen it all on the runways rom ballets to sandals with a twist of luxury. With clean lines and mixing materials, Jimmy Choo has developed a collection made for the season using matte black python, antique brushed gold leather, pointed toes, gold, leopard, studs, straps and snakeskin.
JIMMY CHOO - Harlow, Neon Flame MAX&Co. - Fila, Crêpe De Chine Palazzo Pants
JIMMY CHOO - Beach
JIMMY CHOO - Tabitha, Neon Flame
June, 2014
From the 3 Al Essa Fashion Show for 2014 Ramadan Collection at AlHamra Mall
From the Aubade Jewelry Opening Event
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At the First Anniversary of Cavalli Caffe in Kuwait
At Diet Care's "My Life Concept' And The Reveal Of Its New Logo Event
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For more details please visit any of our stores or contact us on @Caribou_social 148
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@Caribou_social
Caribou_social
At the Opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Exhibition and preview of its 2014 New Fine Watchmaking Collection
At Elie Tahari Boutique in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary and Reveal its Very Limited EDITION 1974 Collection
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At the Tracktionoff Event with the Kuwait Red Bull Champion Mubarak AlRumaidhi
At the Porsche Media Event at Harvey Nichols Celebrating the Success of the Launch of the Porsche Macan in Kuwait.
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At the First Year Anniversary of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa Kuwait
At the Grand Opening of LeSilla Boutique at AlHamra Luxury Center
June, 2014
At the Summer and Ramadan 2014 Collection Launch Event at TRUCCO Kuwait
At the Reopening Event of OYSHO Avenues Store
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At the Asrar Alansari Book Signing Event at That AlSalasel
At Piel De Toro Kuwait's 1st Anniversary Event
CONTACT US FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF YOUR EVENTS [email protected]
June, 2014
CONIC showcases ‘THE ICON’ collection at Fashion Forward
FROM THE PRESS
Gulf Bank Sponsors Q8hoops Project Charity Basketball Tournament for Kuwait Center for Autism
Moisturisation has never been so cool! Treat yourself to the frostiest hydration with The Body Shop’s new Body Sorbets!
The Body Shop is pleased to launch Body Sorbets, an industry first cool body moisturiser infused with juicy fruity scents! The breakthrough sorbet texture instantly melts into skin for a frosty burst of fresh moisture. It is light, fast absorbing, leaves skin instantly moisturised and offers up to 24 hours of hydration. The sorbets are available in five scents: Strawberry, Satsuma, Mango, Moringa and Pink Grapefruit. They will allow The Body Shop lovers to fight the scorching heat this summer and to enjoy the frosted moisture sensation which will leave them feeling fresh and fruity all day long! The Sorbet contains cooling Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera that comes from Guatemala. The aloe leaves are hand-harvested, hand-washed and hand-filleted within 12 hours to preserve the freshness of the gel. The Body Shop’s trade generates vital income for the farmers of the El Progreso region and has helped to supply educational materials to over 100 schools.
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Showcasing for the very first time at Fashion Forward (FFWD), ICONIC unveiled ‘THE ICON’ a capsule collection of key pieces that would very easily translate from catwalk to wardrobe. To celebrate this special collection, ICONIC hosted a Selfie party inspired by the worldwide phenomenon that is selfies and ‘THE ICON’ was launched in a unique fashion presentation. ICONIC was also the only highstreet label that featured in the interesting line up for Day 1 at the FFWD. To set the mood and do justice to the theme, the venue had mirror like reflecting walls that formed the main stage. For the fashion presentation there were island like podiums that were set in three different locations with reflecting surfaces. The models strutted on the podium to a fabulous music mix which also saw a model break into an impromptu jig creating excitement. The roaring party saw the guests taking selfies against the reflecting walls with #myiconicselfie which appeared live as they posted on special selfie screens that were set up at the venue. Inspired by the idea of being in love and expressing yourself as someone who defines beauty and loves to be the center of attention, ‘THE ICON’ is inspired by the latest catwalk trends from the Autumn Winter collections across the world and is a blend of the best styles for the season.
Gulf Bank concluded its sponsorship of the Q8hoops Charity Basketball Tournament, which was organized on behalf of the Kuwait Center for Autism to raise awareness of Autism in Kuwait. The game took place at the Kuwait Basketball Arena in Kaifan between four teams whereby all the basketball players from the Kuwait Center for Autism participated. After an exciting grand finale between the Q8hoops team and the Kuwait Center for Autism team, Hadeel Al Fadhli, Senior ManagerCorporate Communications, representing Gulf Bank, presented commemorative medals to the winning team members. Beforehand, the enthusiastic crowd was entertained by three knock-out games, a hoop-shooting contest between sponsoring companies and a guest knock-out game with Kuwait National Team players, who also played a 3 point and dunk competition. Gulf Bank’s involvement in the tournament was to help encourage greater understanding of Autism in the wider community, and what it really means to children, young people and their families. This latest initiative was to support World Autism Awareness Day, which took place on the 2nd April, and was part of the Autism Awareness Month, which is marked in April each year and recognized around the world through special events and awareness-raising activities. Q8Hoops is a basketball-based project that offers a variety of services such as basketball skills development, personal basketball training, group basketball training, basketball events and camps. Based in Kuwait and established in 2011, the main goal of Q8Hoops is to provide the latest and most advanced basketball skills training, strength and conditioning, injury reduction, nutrition tips, and drills to aid players in increasing their basketball potential. Q8Hoops organizers attended various basketball skills and conditioning camps and training in the United States and they have trained alongside some of the best in the world.
Marvel’s Super-Hero, Spider-Man, Swings Into The Crowd At Fantasy World A perfect summer getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” Collection Continuing the Fight Against Heart Disease in Children Starbucks Intorduces The All New Caramel Crunch Frappuccino® For The First Time In The Region We are delighted to announce that once again in 2014, we will be joining forces with globally renowned actress and model, Ms Inès Sastre, and that together we will be fighting the scourge of heart disease, particularly in women and children, through our support to the World Heart Federation (WHF). Inès will once again be Frédérique Constant’s Female Charity Ambassador, a role she so graciously and effectively filled in 2013. This will be the second consecutive year that Frédérique Constant will be honoured to support the WHF’s “Hearts of Children” campaign. This year, our support takes the form of a US $75,000 donation to the WHF, in addition to the design and creation of a new Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection of watches. Four new watches, each uniquely beautiful Rose gold, diamonds and mother of pearl catch the eye. These are the central features of the four new models in the 2014 Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection. Two of the watches in this new collection are powered by the accurate and reliable FC-303 calibre movement, and the two others by the FC-310, both featuring 26 jewels, automatic winding and a 38 hours of power reserve. The rose gold plated rotor is decorated with the World Heart Federation logo and beautiful sunray bridges, as well as the delicately engraved “Hearts of Children.” The bezel of each model is set with 48 sparkling diamonds, totalling 0.74 carat. Even more diamonds are used as indexes, set on a vanilla dial with a guilloché World Heart Federation logo at its centre, and surrounded by a delicate mother of pearl on the outer ring. The case diameter is 34 mm, and with a depth of just 9.9 mm, this watch will sit comfortably on the most feminine of wrists. Each model offers hours, minutes and seconds functions. In addition, on the FC-303 models, the date is also displayed at 6 o’clock. All have a sapphire crystal see-through case back, and are water resistant to 60 meters. Finally, each watch will come with a dazzling metal bracelet – either rose gold plated or bi-coloured stainless steel and rose gold plated - with butterfly folding buckle, and all models will be presented in a uniquely designed, WHF heart-shaped gift box. Two of the new models, the FC310WHF2PD2B3 and the FC310WHF2PD4B3, also feature Frederique Constant’s signature Double Heart Beat opening at the 12 o’clock position.
Fantasy World, the ultimate destination for kids and Kuwait’s first specialty toy-based store recently concluded an exciting event where visitors and customers received a rare air of “Hollywood” excitement where they hosted the appearance of Marvel’s all-time ultimate superhero, Spider-Man! Held over a three day event at selected Fantasy World stores, children’s favorite and the legendary superhero joined the crowd for an exclusive meet & greet with the kids and families where everyone got a chance to meet up-close with their hero and take pictures with him while enjoying fun-filled activities such as face-painting and exciting in-store surprises for customers! Commenting on Marvel’s officially approved Spider-Man’s appearance at Fantasy World toy stores, Yousef Haddad, Marketing Manager at Fantasy World said, “We are pleased to see the turn-out of the three day appearance of SpiderMan at Fantasy World and happy that a lot of fans utilized the opportunity to meet their favorite Marvel super-hero in person. The excitement and energy amid the customers is a positive indication on how much family entertainment and family time is valued amongst us all and has truly encouraged us to host more events that center around the children’s world as we strongly believe that all kids deserve nothing but the best”. With its inviting store atmosphere and state-ofthe-art technology and modern layout, Fantasy World has successfully built itself to be a leading retailer in the toy industry and a favorite of all families and children in Kuwait. The store hosts an exclusive range of toys and items namely; boys, girls, early years, amazing minds, tweens lifestyle, outdoor and sports including hot sellers from their private labels. Moreover, the store also has a brand new section dedicated for high tech items called the, “tech bar” that displays a range of items compatible with iPhone and iPads as well as Android operated mobile phones and tablets. Built to offer an unmatched personal experience along with a friendly staff service where children can find the hottest and most exciting collection of toys in a fun-filled environment, Fantasy World stores can be visited at Second AvenueThe Avenues, Souk Sharq and Al Bustan Mall and its flagship store at Al Rai.
Starbucks is welcoming this summer season with the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino. For the first time in the region, customers will enjoy the perfect blend of caramel, hazelnut and chocolate chips all in one delicious cold beverage, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate, guaranteed to quench that hot summer thirst. This all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino is definitely the beverage for Caramel connoisseurs and for any sweet tooth. Rana Shaheen, regional communications and CSR manager of Starbucks Coffee MENA, said: “Starbucks is committed to continuously presenting its customers with new and refreshing beverages that complement their day. During this season, people constantly have a mental image of the perfect cool beverage that will melt the summer heat away from the very first sip. Starbucks is turning that image into a reality with this all new Frappuccino beverage, and not only will it tune down the heat of a sweltering day, but it will also leave customers with an unforgettable taste.” Starbucks is also bringing back an all-time favourite this summer: the Strawberry and Cream Frappuccino, a refreshing beverage with a sweet and fruity twist. The unique Tribute Blend coffee will also be featured throughout this season. With the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino and the returning favourite, customers can turn any hot day into a summer joy.
This summer Marina Hotel Kuwait is the hot spot to cool down with friends and family as it rolls out itsmuch awaited summer package. The package comes along with a number of benefits to make this summer relaxed, luxurious and memorable.You are invited to enjoy this summer in style in the midst of absolute pampering and leisure with a resortfeel ambience through its wonderful facilities away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Break the daily routine and enjoy some peace of mind with an outstanding getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait; a destination to experience a pleasant summer away from the regular city life. The all-inclusive Marina Hotel package promises real joy under the sun with its secluded private beach and three pools: lap pool, kids’ pool and family pool with the Marina Waves pool bar. Guests can relax in their rooms, all overlooking the beautiful Gulf Sea, starting from KD 88NET. The package provides free access to the hotel's many facilities: the Coral Reef Health Club, the squash court, beach and pool area. Complete your idyllic stay at any of the hotel's two fabulous restaurants well-known for its delicious international cuisine: ‘The Six Palms’ and the ‘Atlantis.’ For mouth-watering delicacies, indulge in international, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes from a scrumptious array of menu choices in a tranquil music setting. In close proximityto the Marina Mall and Marina Crescent, guests can enjoy a complete holiday with easy access to their favorite shopping and hang out destinationsmaking it ideal for family leisure. The hotel is dedicated to focus on individual guest’s needs and offer the highest standard of service. Marina Hotel offers the pleasures of graceful living and indulgent amenities including a fitness centre and excellent choice of restaurants. Rooms and suites at the Hotel combine intimacy, comfort, exclusivity with personalized service and attention to details. Head towards Marina Hotel and benefit from all the enticing offers. The summer package offer promises guests absolute comfort and leisure in one spotwith quick access to its various amenities. For more information, please visit our website: www.marinahotel.com
June, 2014
داماس تطلق مهرجان األعراس األضخم في الكويت
Sami Bader’s top diet tips services.
Baume & Mercier timepiece is the perfect gift for a new graduate
للمرة الثانية أربعة أيام مذهلة من Bimba Y Lola
Graduation day is a significant milestone in one’s life that paves the way for a promising future. As the graduate prepares to take their first step into the real world, their near and dear ones are filled with immense pride and delight. What better way to convey this happiness than by gifting the new graduate a special gift that encapsulates the essence of this celebration? With this thought in mind, illustrious Swiss watchmaker, Baume & Mercier presents the perfect graduation gift in the form of a Capeland timepiece. Inspired by a model initially launched in 1948, this chronograph is the flagship model of the Capeland collection and impresses with its 44 mm-diameter steel case with a balanced and dynamic design. Water-resistant to 50 meters, this timepiece is driven by a finely-crafted automatic mechanical caliber (La Joux Perret 8120) that is visible through a transparent sapphire case-back. Chic and elegant, it is proposed with a sun satin-finished blue dial, snailed black counters and a date aperture. It also features two graduated scales: one tachymetric and the other telemetric highlighted by red markings. This sophisticated and sporty timepiece is worn with a black alligator strap closed by a triple adjustable folding clasp with security push-pieces. A stylishly clever gift, Baume & Mercier’s Capeland is the ideal token to make graduation day even more special for the one who is ready to take on the world!
قامت شركة داغر أند كو بتلبية رغبة زبائنها الكرام Bimba Y Lola بتنظيم احلدث للمرة الثانية مبتجر الكائن مبجمع األوملبيا وعليه مت عرض تشكيلة بأسعار مميزةوخصومات2013 كبيرة من منتجات وعروض مذهلة كمبادرة شكر وتقدير لزبائنها وقام بحضور،الكرام ليستمر احلدث ملدة أربعة أيام احلدث مجموعة من مسئولي الشركة باإلضافة وباإلضافة إلى جتهيز جو،إلى ممثلي وسائل اإلعالم ترحيبي خاص حتت أنغام املوسيقى احلية إلضافة .الشعور بالتميز
With the initiation of Mr. Sami Bader’s all new dietary services, we can all achieve a diversified human physical infrastructure! Sami Bader’s dietary services have revolutionized the idea of ‘Dieting’. While we have had diet tips that occasionally ensure a short term weight loss, while on the other hand, Mr. Sami’s diet tips ensure a long term output of a balanced and well maintained weight and an organized lifestyle. The diet tips service will provide the users with unique tips based on seasons, as well as personal diet aims. These tips are provided to a large fraction of individuals of different age groups. Not only does this grandeur service provide stupendous results, which are complied with the straightjacket guidelines of the IDA (International Dietetic Association), but it also categorizes a wide variety of those individuals respective to their preferences and essentials. In addition to that, there are distinct and diverse programs for different sorts of conditions, such as ‘Diabetes’, ‘Kidney malfunctions’, ‘Pregnancy & Lactation’, ‘Post-bariatric surgeries’, ‘Gluten intolerance’, ‘Specific Doctor referrals’, and concluding the list with ‘ Aggressive Cholesterol treatment’, which is the only food program based on the latest scientific research to help improve cholesterol levels. Sami’s diet menu comprises of a pool of mouthwatering, and healthy Oriental, Asian, MiddleEastern, European and American cuisine, that are suitable to the appropriate standards of healthy cooking. The subscription service has been launched in Kuwait by ‘Simatel’, a leading telecom marketing service provider. The service will be available for only 500 fils/week with 30 diet contents per week, said a spokesperson from Simatel. ‘Simatel’ is a Kuwait based telecom marketing service provider with presence throughout the Middle East. Simatel provides business to consumer marketing service through telecom operators. Sami is a well-renowned clinical dietician, as well as a respectable member of the Clinical Community Dietician GM, who is currently offering daily magnificent diet tips. He studied in KMBS (Kuwait Maastricht Business School), along with ‘Purdue University’- West Lafayette, IN. You can now subscribe through all 3 mobile carriers,Zain, Viva and Wataniya, by sending an SMS to the following numbers: Zain users can send “D” to the Short code 92270 For Wataniya, Kuwait users can send “D or ” ت to Short code1629 Lastly, Viva Kuwait users can send “D or ” تto Short code55091
شركة اجملوهرات والساعات، أطلقت داماس: "مهرجان،الرائدة في منطقة الشرق األوسط الذي يعتبر أضخم معرض،األعراس" اجلديد لألعراس تطلقه الشركة حصريا ً للمجتمع وميثل إطالق أطقم مجوهرات فاخرة،الكويتي حيث قامت داماس،مخصصة للعرائس للمجوهرات بتصميم تلك األطقم الفاخرة ملواكبة النمو في صناعة مجوهرات األعراس في الذي ميتد، وخالل فترة املهرجان.السوق الكويتي لدى متاجر داماس في2014 طوال شهر مايو ،كل من مجمع الراية التجاري ومجمع الصاحلية سيتمكن العمالء من مشاهدة تشكيلة واسعة من أطقم األعراس املذهلة واحلصول على عروض .خاصة لدى الشراء ً التي تضم قطعا،صممت هذه اجملموعة األنيقة إلرضاء كافة األذواق،فريدة ومتقنة من اجملوهرات وجتسيد األناقة املعاصرة الدائمة للعروس إن مجموعة اجملوهرات.الكويتية في يومها املميز اخلاصة باألعراس واملناسبات ستتخطى كافة .توقعات العمالء في الكويت سيقوم موظفو داماس ذوي اخلبرة،وعالوة على ذلك العالية واملدربني على فهم احتياجات العرائس ،ومساعدتهن في اختيار اجملوهرات املناسبة لهن بتقدمي النصائح للعرائس ومساعدتهن في انتقاء أنواع املاس واألحجار الكرمية والآللئ املناسبة لهن .والتي تنسجم مع فساتني زفافهن طاملا اشتهرت داماس على مدار تاريخها البارز بأنها رائدة في اجلمال وتصميم اجملوهرات الفريدة ومن املتوقع أن.على مستوى الشرق األوسط يشهد هذا احلدث إقباال ً واسعا ً من عشاق املوضة وسيستحوذ،وأصحاب الذوق الرفيع في الكويت .على اهتمام وإعجاب كافة الزوار
June, 2014
BBS students showcase their young talents at the 2014 High School Art Show
National Aviation Services (NAS) launches mobile phone app
ACK Crowned Champions of the UCC Football League
The National Aviation Services (NAS) has published a mobile phone app called “NAS Airports”. This free application is compatible with iPads, iphone and Android devices. It currently covers Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Kigali, Sharm El Sheikh, & Kabul International Airport, as well as “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services Using “NAS Airports” you can: •Receive live flight information updates (Departure & Arrival) •Complete passenger check-in and seat selection procedure from your mobile device •Receive local and global travel and duty free promotions •Book airport “Lounge” services and enjoy fast internet, comfortable waiting area, delicious buffet, kids play area and much more. •Book airport “Meet & Assist” services for arriving and departing passengers to expedite their travel process, provide assistant to elderly and minors, greet guests, and assist with visa processing •Trace lost luggage •Get directions to airport •And now for the introductory stage, you can enjoy a 25 % discount on “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services from your mobile Simply download the app by searching for “NAS Airports” or by using the links below: Apple store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ nas-airports/id862302584?mt=8 Google play: https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=com.nascorporate.p6659aa
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The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) has won the 2014 University Championship Cup (UCC) Football League title outperforming teams from participating universities, including Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and the Arab Open University (AOU). The UCC Football League is a competitive tournament whereby participating university teams face each other in a grueling schedule over several months with the leader crowned Champion and holder of the cup until the following season. On this victorious occasion, the Student Activities Center’s Coordinator, Mr. Basel Dana, stated: “I would like to congratulate our students on winning the league! It’s very rewarding after all their hard work and efforts. They truly have made ACK proud with this achievement and I wish them all the success in their path towards winning the UCC cup again.” ACK’s football team will now begin preparations for the next season of the UCC Football League, with the keen desire to retain the Championship and keep the cup on ACK’s campus.
Under the patronage of renowned Kuwaiti artist, Anglophone poet, and Kuwait University Professor, Dr. Shurooq Amin, the High School art department at Al Bayan Bilingual School (BBS), hosted its annual art show for High School students from 6 May until 8 May. Held at the BBS Hawally campus, the show was put together as a High School art class project, where students were required to reflect on what they had learnt in class and create their own pieces using their imagination, creativity and different art techniques. Participating students showcased 200 of their contemporary art pieces that highlighted various art techniques such as pottery, charcoal, melting wax, graphic design and photography. Students also had the honor to receive first-hand critique on their work from Dr. Amin and a number of local artists who attended the show. Dr. Amin has earned several prestigious titles for her work including being named one of Kuwait's 45 most inspirational people by Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah in her book, The Alchemy of Wisdom, one of Kuwait's 50 Stars by Layalina Magazine, and one of the five top artists from the Middle East today by Your Middle East Journal in 2012. She also received the Artist of the Year title in the 2013 by the Arab Woman Awards, Kuwait chapter. High School art teacher at BBS, Ms. Rihab Al Assadi, said: “By putting together this art show, we want to provide students with an opportunity to explore and express themselves, and to address their interests, concerns and feelings in a fun and healthy environment.” Dr. Amin was pleased to see the level of commitment students put forth while working on their projects. “It was a pleasure being part of this art show, and to be able to witness the artistic side of our youth today, which was clearly reflected in all of their wonderful creations." She added: “Being here brings back so much nostalgia. I remember when I first started my journey as a young artist; I used to love getting my work viewed by my professors and by others fellow artists. I’d like to recognize all the students who took part in this exhibition for their hard work and dedication, and I hope to see them grow in to some of Kuwait’s great future artists .” The exhibition was attended by a number of other local artists in addition to BBS parents, students and staff. The guests enjoyed their evening in an ambience filled with live music played by students.
Seventeen inspirational women recognized at the Arab Woman Award
The seventeen winners of the Arab Woman Awards 2014 were honored at a glittering ceremony paying tribute to inspirational Arab women in Kuwait. The exclusive by-invitation only red carpet event was held at the Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers and was presented by leading Kuwaiti organisation - the Trafalgar Company. The glamorous high-profile event was attended by the winners and their families, VIP members of society as well as media and film personalities including; Egyptian actress Dalia El Beheri and Egyptian TV personality Wajdy Al Hakim. The awards ceremony was hosted by famous Kuwaiti actor Mohamed Al-Mansour.
Address of Hospitality and Original Taste
24747789 - 24747798 : تلفون. الدور السابع- برج امللتقى, دوار املخفر:الفروانية
Farwaniya: Police Station Roundabout, AlMultaqa Tower, 7th Floor. Tel: 24847789 - 24747798
@aghakuwait
@agha_kuwait June, 2014
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IKEA holds anniversary dinner for coworkers to celebrate 30 years in Kuwait Asha’s Scores a Perfect 10!
Splash launches FIFA inspired collection
Be amazed with “Samsonite Firelite”: The latest collection of CURV’s Series
Samsonite, the world’s leading luggage brand for more than 100 years proudly present its latest innovation from CURV’s Series: Samsonite Firelite. Hardside’s lugauge made from CURV, an innovation , exclusively from Propex, Germany for its lightweight but strong and endure to pressure under low temperature. Designed for extreme sporty looks inspired from seashells shape with colorful tones of Chili Red, Deep Blue and Charcoal Black, the luggage also comes with highly efficiency functions including TSA Combination Lock and 360 degrees spinner wheels.This exciting new Curv collection has again pushed the boundaries of the luggage world. Made in Europe, this unique, dynamic and strong design features a water resistant PU coated zipper and a functional interior with a bottom lowered elastic cross ribbons and a top fully lined divider. Inspired by extreme sports lifestyles, the Firelite shell is eye-catching, modern and effortlessly absorbs heavy shocks during travel - a case which compliments your active lifestyle and is as rugged and energetic as you are. Firelite is now available at Samsonite stores at The Avenues , Al Hamra Luxury center,360 Mall,Marina Mall
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IKEA Kuwait held an anniversary dinner for all the coworkers of the IKEA store at the Crowne Plaza Baraka Ballroom on Sunday, May 18, 2014, to conclude the celebrations of their 30th anniversary in Kuwait. The event topped off month-long celebrations marking three decades since IKEA Kuwait opened its doors and began providing well-designed, good quality home furnishing solutions to homes across the country. In addition to commemorating 30 years of Swedish furniture being offered to the many, the event also honored coworkers that have been with IKEA for 10 and 20 years, and even a few who have been part of the IKEA Kuwait family since their very first store opened in Shuwaikh on April 24, 1984. Commenting on the closing celebration event, IKEA Kuwait Store Manager Ahmad Al Humaidhi said: “We want to commemorate this special time with all our coworkers and to thank them for all these years of hard work and dedication and for helping to make IKEA Kuwait a success. Our coworkers have been a core driver in building IKEA Kuwait into a brand for the many people of Kuwait, and this is what we celebrate tonight.” The evening included thank you speeches from Al Humaidhi and SYH Retail CEO Marino Maganto, followed by the honoring of IKEA Kuwait’s long-time coworkers, fun activities, giveaways, and lucky draws for tablets and vacation getaways. Also speaking on the celebration, Maganto shared his sentiments, stating: “We wanted to thank our coworkers with something special and memorable. They are very passionate about what they do, they love IKEA, so we want to ensure they know how valuable they are to the brand”
Asha’s, the innovative Indian restaurant known for serving the finest contemporary Indian cuisine, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Kuwait. Having opened its first restaurant at Marina Crescent, Asha’s has successfully grown through the years adding two more venues in Kuwait at 1st Avenue -The Avenues and Spoons. Today, Asha’s is a name that is synonymous with great food quality and brilliant service. Its vibrant blend of contemporary Indian cuisine and rich interiors, assures its customers of a unique and wonderful dining experience. Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian singer who founded Asha’s, says: “I am thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of Asha’s in Kuwait in partnership with M.H. Alshaya Co., which operates the brand here. I have visited Kuwait many times and have always been impressed by the positive response to our menu. Kuwaitis really understand global food and we are delighted to have been serving them India’s finest cuisine for a decade.” With a wide array of mouth-watering choices on the menu, guests are truly spoilt for choice at Asha’s. Be it the mocktails, the starters or the main courses, every unique item is created using only the freshest ingredients. Asha Bhosle has taken a special interest in contributing to the menu with a select choice of her own recipes. The dishes on offer reflect the very best of Indian cuisine, and Asha’s, with its innovative style and sophistication, promises to take guests through a truly memorable dining experience. The vision of Asha’s, to be limitless in its cultural appeal and timeless in its ethos, has been proven over the past decade. The restaurant remains as popular today as it was on the day its doors first opened. Ensuring that Asha’s keeps up with the times, and due to demand by its guests, Asha’s also delivers to Salwa, Salmiya and Rumaithiya.
It’s that time again when frenzy takes over football fans across the world. The FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil will see scores of fans supporting their favorite teams. Splash has introduced its special line for the event with a range of apparel and accessories that will ensure you support your teams in style. The range will be available under the Kappa and SPL Active labels for the top 8 countriesGermany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, England, Portugal, Netherlands and Italy for both men and women. You can choose from a variety of T-shirts, shorts, vests, tracks, knit dresses and three-quarter pants. Add a dash of accessories like bags, water bottles, caps, wrist bands, scarves, socks, sunglasses and chains to complete your look for the games. Visit Splash at all Centrepoint Stores and the Avenues Mall to explore the FIFA Collections.
June, 2014
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Warba Bank named Best New Bank in the Middle East for 2014
Warba Bank has been named, according to Banker Middle East Magazine, the “best new bank in the Middle East” from among a number of newly established banks in the Middle east. The award was presented at the annual gala dinner organized by Banker Middle East to honor more than 200 financial institutions across 55 categories in the banking sector in the Middle East. Banker Middle East awards honor the best performance of financial institutions across the MENA region. Final winners were selected by a jury panel of independent industry think-tank. Warba Bank is always keen to enhance the level of customer service, and cater to customers’ financing and investment needs by introducing a number of Sharia compliant banking products and services. Commenting on this event, Jassar Al Jassar, Vice Chairman & CEO at Warba Bank, said: “We are very proud of winning this prestigious award. Actually, the award is added to our previous achievements, and reflects Warba’s growing businesses and focus on developing and expanding its customers base, satisfying customers’ banking needs, and seizing the new opportunities of growth in terms of corporate and retail financing, while satisfying customers and shareholders. This wouldn’t be achievable without God’s support, then the hard work of our Board of Directors, and employees, as well as the support of our customers.” Al Jassar continued: “The bank is striving to bolster its position as an Islamic Bank through expanding its branches network to reach a total of seven branches spread across all areas of Kuwait, to bring our services closer to our customers. Further, new branches will be launched in the near future. In addition, we seek to attract a wider segment of customers, and enhance the role and effectiveness of the Call Centre by means of upgrading its systems and training its personnel to be able to deal with customers more professionally and provide them with a unique service.” Al Jassar added: “We continue to make every effort to improve this promising institution through adopting the highest standards of efficiency across all banking transactions. We also look to expand our customer base and seize new opportunities to develop both corporate and retail financing sectors with a view to support our local economy. At the same time, we aim to enhance our relationship with our corporate and retail customers, providing them innovative Sharia compliant banking solutions, while working closely with owners of large, medium and small scale companies and institutions with a view to help them achieve their goals and to be familiar with all their commercial and banking needs. Indeed, we commit ourselves to helping them and ensuring their success. Consequently, the volume of our financing portfolio showed a growth of 120%, reaching KD 273 million as at the end of the first Quarter of the year 2014 compared to the same period of 2013.” Al Jassar concluded: “Warba Bank is committed to supporting Kuwaitization and makes tangible contributions to the process of developing and training Kuwaiti professionals. The Bank exceeded the Kuwaitization percentage of 60 per cent, and achieved a Kuwaitization percentage of 80 per cent in specific divisions such as corporate and retail financing divisions.”
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Transform yourself this summer with ICONIC SUMMER ’14 collection
Update your summer wardrobe with Iconic Summer 14 collection for women and men. The women’s collection focuses on three covetable trends Sports Chic, Retro Romance and New Boho. The Iconic Summer ’14 collection for men is an embodiment of casual elegance, sophistication and attitude of the by-gone era. SPORTS CHIC: The sports trend goes luxe by moving from the simple, clinical looks of previous seasons to take on a more luxurious, glamorous edgy feel. Expect minimal and simple relaxed silhouettes with textured surfaces in pieces like shift dresses with soft shoulders. RETRO ROMANCE: Summer without flowers doesn’t seem complete does it? The collection showers romance in the air by flirting with overtly feminine looks, incorporating a pretty palette of pastels with a bouquet of floral prints. Pure white, sunshine yellow, yves klein blue, mint green are the prominent shades used lavishly over lace and guipure fabrics. NEW BOHO: The evergreen carefree trend of the Nature Girl explores updated festival looks with 1970s influences drawn into the mix. Festival trend staples include maxi dresses, full length skirts that will create a casual vibe and bypasses the usual hippy boho aspects. The 2014 men collection will showcase three key trends that will ensure you look effortlessly stylish this season. 50’s RETURN (MONOCHROME): Channel the inner chic retro man in you as you relive the fond memories of the 1950s with influences coming from the highways and byways of the USA. Think bad boys, early rockers, 50s B-movies, all mixed in with retro monotone floral and geo prints and clean tailoring. Achieve this trendsetting look in fabrics like new polkas, satin shirt, micro ginghams, jacket weights and embroidery. CRUISE RESORT: The nautical trend is a statement that continues to linger and provides fashion an everlasting look that only evolves every season. This commercial, preppy-nautical trend brings together several of the season’s key fabrics like natural linens- wovens/ jerseys, slubby canvas, smooth cottons, jacquard knits and wovens. Prints like florals, preppy spots and stripes and silhouettes form an easy and cohesive casual smart look. REMINISCE: Embrace the carefree outlook of a nomad and incorporate the rustic elegance in preppy summer smart casualwear enhanced with a refined, tailored aesthetic. From bold neo geo patterns, updated through textural applications and decorative geometric repeats, this is an ideal 70’s summer holiday look. Earthy tones dominate the trend that reflects the influence of nature with shades of sand and beige with summer olives. Add to it a bright palette of vermilion orange and bright yellow which adds to the glory of summer. Head over to ICONIC and shop our latest Summer collection available at The Avenues, The Mall, Level 1.
DHL Express Named ‘Best Employer in the Middle East’
DHL Express, the world’s largest Express network, celebrated a major milestone when the company was named the ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East and North Africa for 2014 by Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc. Renowned for its focus and commitment to its human resources, DHL Express MENA proudly received the auspicious award at an exclusive ceremony held at The One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai. The award was received by Mr. Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express Middle East & North Africa and was attended by over 200 industry leaders from across the region; including senior management from Aon Hewitt – the award creators - members of the judging panel, CEOs and HR specialists. Launched over a decade ago, the ‘Best Employers Middle East Awards is the culmination of extensive studies conducted by Aon Hewitt that measure and compare employee engagement, performance and satisfaction across 500 participating organizations spanning cross industry in the Middle East region. This year, ten companies were shortlisted as Best Employers across MENA, with four DHL Express offices from around the region making it to the top five positions and securing top honours for DHL Express MENA as ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East. Nour Suliman, CEO, DHL Express MENA, said “I applaud the efforts and dedication of our employees who are the key drivers and the reason behind this award. This is the second year in a row that DHL Express makes it to the top of the 10 Best Employers in the region, and we are extremely proud that our people genuinely consider this organization a family, and truly consider DHL as the best place to work.” “Our people are the heart of our organization, our greatest asset, and the main force behind the company’s success. Every time we are pronounced the best employer I know that the reason for that is the incredible effort and dedication of the fabulous men and women that make DHL the great place it is today,” said Suliman. This year, Aon Hewitt collected and analyzed view points and data from a sample of 30,000 employees representing a 60,000plus workforce as well as inputs from HR leaders and Business Heads from companies across the region spanning 18 industries. Following rigorous analysis and evaluation of the participating companies by an experienced panel of judges, DHL’s offices bagged five out of the ten Best Employer awards, placing DHL Express MENA in pole position as the Best Employer in the Middle East. Upon receiving the award, Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express MENA, stated “I humbly commend the commitment and salute the hard work of the DHL team; we are fortunate to be surrounded with highly dedicated professionals that successfully work together towards one common goal while sharing the same sense of purpose and values.” “Focus, results, respect and appreciation are the key drivers of DHL’s global HR philosophy that has so far been key to make the company thrive. I therefore, would like to thank DHL’s employees for making all this happen, this is their award,” he added.
Under the theme of “Less Stressful Life” with health and wellbeing OYSHO Hosts Kuwait Media In A Yoga Event
Driven by its commitment to spread the awareness about the health and wellbeing lifestyle concept through its bundle of hip and stylish gym wear, OYSHO organized a yoga event for Kuwait media and gifted them the true meaning of relaxation. The event, held at Flex Resorts was spent in total tranquility with both bodies and minds floating in a deep peaceful meditation which have greatly helped in communicating OYSHO theme of wellbeing mentally and physically. After the yoga session, the guests savored a healthy lunch. “Our guests really had the chance to get over their hectic life schedule while embracing the positive energy in a relaxed calm atmosphere”, said Luma/ OYSHO Brand Manager “we are proud to guide our customers into a new concept of healthy living through our new collection marked with distinguished gym wear designs customized to match different styles and choices. As part of our social engagement, we are committed to lead the way and motivate our youngsters to follow a new lifestyle by taking care of their look and enjoy their life while eliminating the barrier of body types”. Featuring stunning colors, seamless sartorial detail and a touch of retro style, the new SS14 collection offers, with its various prints and motivational quotes, encouragement to explore and lead a healthy and less stressful life.
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1. What do I need to add to 36 to make 100? 2. How many metres in a 1/4 of 1 kilometre? 3. What is 1 less than 4950? 4. How many degrees in one whole turn? 5. 32+8 = 6. Which of these fractions is greater than one half? 7. What is 135 cm in metres? 8. An angle of less than 90 degrees is called 9. -7 + 9 = ? 10. How many right angles are there in 1 whole complete turn?
meter 35cm, 8. acute, 9. 2, 10. 4
ANSWERS: 1. 64, 2. 250meters, 3. 4949, 4. 360, 5. 40, 6. 5/8, 7. 1
FUN RIDDLES
1. who is silent in the parliament 2. What does an Island and the letter T have in common? 3. What do you call a fish without an eye? 4. What part of the Turkey has the most feathers? 5. What's the only room from which no one can enter or leave 6. What demands an answer, but asks no questions. 7.Why do Chinese men eat more rice than Japanese men do 8.A cat had three kittens: January, March and May. What was the mother's name.
ANSWERS:1. The Letter 'A', 2. They're both in the middle of wa'T'er, 3. fsh, 4. The Outside, 5. Mushroom, 6. Telephone, 7. There are more Chinese men than Japanese men., 8. What - It stated 'WHAT' was the mothers name 166
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Jumbled Words 1 . A DY 2. GDLA 3. SGBU 4. LNGO 5. WYH 6. SETT 7. SKUN 8. EXNT 9. SYK 1 0 . R OW M 11. NETT 12. FORG
= = = = = = = = = = = =
ANSWERS: 1.DAY, 2.GLAD, 3.BUGS, 4.LONG, 5.WHY, 6.TEST, 7.SUNK, 8.NEXT, 9.SKY, 10.WORM, 11.TENT, 12.FROG
MATHS QUIZ
Interesting Animal Facts
• Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives. • The blue whale can produce the loudest sound of any animal. At 188 decibels, the noise can be detected over 800 kilometres away. • Horses and cows sleep while standing up. • Giant Arctic jellyfish have tentacles that can reach over 36 metres in length. • Locusts have leg muscles that are about 1000 times more powerful than an equal weight of human muscle. • Hummingbirds are so agile and have such good control that they can fly backwards. • Instead of bones, sharks have a skeleton made from cartilage. • Insects such as bees, mosquitoes and cicadas make noise by rapidly moving their wings. • The horn of a rhinoceros is made from compacted hair rather than bone or another substance. • Sharks lay the biggest eggs in the world. • Even when a snake has its eyes closed, it can still see through its eyelids. • Unlike humans, sheep have four stomachs, each one helps them digest the food they eat. • Despite the white, fluffy appearance of Polar Bears fur, it actually has black skin. • As well as being a famous Looney Tunes character, the Tasmanian Devil is a real animal that is only found in the wild in Tasmania, Australia. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.
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JUNE HOROSCOPES Change seems to have rocked our world in the last few months, but in June you have the opportunity to slow down and regroup. Mercury turns retrograde on June 7, and Neptune slows down for a nap on June 9. With these two stars of communication and creativity standing still, your mind could work overtime. That project that had been shelved could suddenly seem to have possibilities. The Sagittarius Full Moon on June 12 gives you the bounce to try one more time. A New Moon in Cancer June 27 puts on its "I mean business" hat. Any adversaries will know to stand back.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
The June 12 Full Moon expands your horizons, widens your world, and maybe blows your mind. Keep some control so you'll recognize yourself afterward. Don't be afraid to blunder into a great learning experience. June 19 and June 20 are powerful days for you. If your critical mind takes a break on June 19, your instincts could take up the slack. You may be supercharged to the point of hyper on June 20, so do something physically demanding. Your family position gets a boost under the June 27 New Moon. Start something new that makes you happy, and conclude or decide something that makes everyone glad.
TAURUS
VIRGO (March 21 - April 19)
Your powers of critical thinking will get a big boost on June 7. You can make things perfect and correct many minor errors. Fully embrace your discriminatory powers. The June 12 Full Moon shines on your family and home environment. Try to keep things quiet, don't force anything, and let the magic of the night provide its comfort and blessings. If there's friction with friends before June 27, the New Moon brings you a chance to shift things around socially and make some new friends and different alliances. Satisfy yourself and let the chips fall where they may.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
The June 12 Full Moon is all yours. Be prepared to shine and attract attention. There's no point in being shy or not speaking up. Be nice about it all. You could be drawn into someone else's affairs just before the New Moon on June 27. Anything you do to help will only benefit you and your family in the long run, but don't get nervous about the preconceived notions of anyone else. The day after the New Moon, June 28, watch for a special personalized blessing, pop of good luck, or simply a chance to do a very good deed.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Let the June 12 Full Moon boost your self-confidence and sense of security. Don't hide from people, but expect to do your best work and thinking out of sight and out of the minds of others. There's less criticism that way. June 14 could be a busy and emotionally intense day. Stay cool and calm, and refuse to get rattled. A love interest or romantic involvement could appear close to home at the June 27 New Moon. If a friend of a friend of a sibling has a crush on you, don't be surprised (or rude). Roll with it if it appeals to you.
GEMINI
(September 23 - October 22)
(January 20 - February 18)
Big love is possible at the June 12 Full Moon - so is a generous new lover. Be on guard since these things rarely come without strings attached. You should be able to communicate and network more effectively starting June 20. Try to keep it toned down, though. Avoid getting chatty or overbearing. You can charm your way into almost anything on June 24. Control your temper and impatience on June 25. Money matters are highlighted at the June 27 New Moon. You might have more resources (and fewer problems) at home than you realized. Don't let anyone or anything spook you.
June 7 and June 8 are powerful, if not easy, days. Self-motivation and energy could spike, but you'll still be able to slow down the pace of life to suit yourself. The June 12 Full Moon could whet your curiosity and set you exploring something that interested you before but has since been dropped or forgotten. If work or office life gets a bit rocky before June 27, the New Moon lets you touch up any rough spots with co-workers or superiors. You could even make a major change in career direction. Don't be brash, but don't be anxious, either.
It's a hot social scene at the June 12 Full Moon. People are going to want to be with you. Don't have so much fun that you're exhausted the next day, however. June 16 and 17 could be a roller-coaster ride. Be mentally sharp and bright on June 16, but don't be surprised if you're washed away on a tide of emotion the next day. The June 27 New Moon is a great time to start a bunch of small but significant changes or additions to your work routine or diet. Be good to yourself in a million little ways.
CANCER
(October 23 - November 21)
(March 21 - April 19)
Try to stick close to home at the June 12 Full Moon. Good things will find you there and tend to last. Don't wait idly - keep busy in the meantime. The Sun enters your sign on June 21 and brings the first day of summer with it. Feel comfortable in your own skin no matter what's happening in the world around you. It's a fresh, powerful New Moon for you on June 27. If you've needed to project a stronger selfimage of your choosing, you can do it now. Just remember to include your roots and background. citypageskuwait.com
You could be the center of attention for the first few days of the month, so look good, behave well, and see if you can't gain some extra respect and good memories out of it. Cravings for big fun might rock your world at the June 12 Full Moon, or perhaps it will be an explosion of creativity. Either way, it won't be boring. The June 27 New Moon lets you make some personal changes and start a new approach to an old problem without a lot of people interfering with you. You don't have to tell anyone about anything unless you really trust them.
(April 20 - May 20)
People might make a lot of demands on you during the June 12 Full Moon. Do what you can, accept graciously what is offered in exchange, and then let it go. You may feel less secure and grounded from June 21 through June 23. Keep track of your wallet, phone, and keys, and relax. This won't last long. Siblings (or a few close friends) could descend on you during the June 27 New Moon. Watch your Ps and Qs a few days before. Be well situated and ready to jump in and turn a new corner in a relationship.
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LEO (July 23 - August 22)
June 9 and June 10 could pack a punch that brings to a head something that most people have been avoiding. You may not like it either, but the resolution will be well worth it. Have your finances in order or at least in hand - for the June 12 Full Moon, since this lunation affects your money and material possessions. Think no surprises, and perhaps an opportunity or two for increase. The June 27 New Moon might drag you out of seclusion and push you more into the public. Step up, be yourself, and maybe make some new contacts.
The June 12 Full Moon brings extra light into your work and career efforts. Act generously but speak modestly for the best and most longlasting results. June 18 could be profoundly touchy-feely. Be generous but respectful about hugs. The June 27 New Moon opens doors and provides lots of opportunities for fun and creativity. Psychodrama could peak, too, especially with family, so try to minimize or completely skip that part. Not getting scared or feeling inferior can help. The last few days of the month set you up to do great things for someone else and earn massive karmic brownie points.
*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @ SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted
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HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz 1.What is a quarter of three-quarters? 2.Technically the avocado ('fruit' of the avocado tree) is a: Berry; Tuba; Nut; or Fungus?
Test Your Vocabulary crude means : 1. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
3.From the Greek root word for a pointed pillar, what is the technical term for the division sign ( ÷ ) ?
2. belonging to an early stage of technical development
4.Which occupation traditionally used 'walla' (in the US), 'rhubarb' (UK), and 'gaya' (Japan)?
4. capable of fitting a particular situation or use
7.Crepuscular creatures are mainly active in: Sunlight; Moonlight; Twilight; or Darkness?
ANSWER: Is it gross? Unsophisticated? Totally tasteless and positively offensive? Then you can describe it as crude.
6.SS Ancon was the first ship to navigate what single-vowelled passage on 15 August 1914?
Crude is not rude when it’s used to describe unprocessed oil, which it first was associated with in 1865. From the Latin crudo, meaning "rough, raw,"crude today can be used to describe anything or anyone that's unrefined and rough around the edges. So don’t be too insulted by the large-nosed portrait that cartoonist made for you. It’s just a quick,crude drawing meant to be funny.
5.The medical vasodilatory compound and recreational drug C5H11ONO is more commonly known as: Crack cocaine; LSD; Amyl nitrite; or Speed?
3. tending to become more severe or wider in scope
8. A low-cost 'ratoon' crop (for example of sugar-cane or rice) grows from/on: Windblown seeds; Stubble after cropping; Flooded land; or Astroturf? 9.The two traditional symbols used to indicate treble and bass clefs in musical notation are respectively based on: G and F; P and L; T and B; S and E?
Choose the Right Symbol
10.What high quality gravity/capillary-fed implement was traditionally ruby-tipped gold, and is nowadays usually iridium-tipped stainless-steel? 11.The first almanacs, made in Babylon/Iraq c.750BC, originally listed: Important people; Recipes; Prayers; or Planetary movements?
What mathematical symbol can be put between 5 and 9, to get a number bigger than 5 and smaller than 9?
12.What common mineral's name (technically silica or SiO2) derives from old PolishGerman 'kwardy', meaning 'hard'? 13.AgustaWestland, Bell, Oboronprom and Sikorsky are notable makers of: Solar panels; Helicopters; Telecomms systems; or Nuclear reactors? 14.The particle physics unit of reactionary particle decay is: Strangeness; Weirdness; Oddness; or Bafflement? 15.What product 'brand' from the Gamay is traditionally released the third Thursday of November each year?
17.Analepsis is more commonly known as a what in a play/story/film: Credits; Flashback; Sex scene; or Intermission?
JUMBLED WORDS I M T I L
18.What invention of the Greenland Inuit is also derogatory slang for an outdoor hobbyist who observes or collects things?
S A L C H
19.Baroque (a dramatic heavily detailed style of art form) began in: 500BC Athens; 1200s Paris; 1600s Rome; or 1800s Rio de Janeiro?
B U D E O L
20.A thin middle section of a wooden chair-back, particularly old and carved, is called a: Spit; Splint; Sprout; or Splat?
S E N U U R
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L O F R A M ANSWERS: LIMIT, CLASH, DOUBLE, UNSURE, FORMAL
ANSWERS: 1.Three sixteenths (or 0.1875 - to calculate fractions of fractions, multiply the top digits [i.e., 1 x 3 = 3] and then the bottom digits [i.e., 4 x 4 = 16] to give 3/16ths ), 2. Berry, 3. Obelus (from the ancient Greek root word equating to obelisk), 4. Actor (the words uttered randomly by a group to create the background murmur of a crowd), 5. Amyl Nitrite, 6. Panama Canal, 7. Twilight (dawn or dusk - from Latin crepusculum, twilight), 8. Stubble after cropping ('ratoon' is from old Spanish retono, sprout), 9. G and F, 10. Fountain pen, 11. Planetary movements, 12. Quartz, 13. Helicopters, 14. Strangeness, 15. Beaujolais Nouveau (French wine from the gamay grape and Beaujolais region), 16. Artworks, 17. Flashback, 18. Anorak (anoraq in Greenland Kalaallisut language), 19. 1600s Rome, 20. Splat (an old-English, meaning 'split up')
170
ANSWER: A Decimal Point - 5.9 works nicely
16.The German Bauhaus institution famously combined building design with: Gardens; Artworks; Energy systems; or Water?
ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ *
ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺰﺭ : إزاﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ اﳉﺴﻢ ﳉﻤﻴﻊ أﻧﻮاع اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . ﻧﺤﺖ اﳉﺴﻢ و ﻧﻘﻞ اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺗﺼﻐﻴﺮ ﺣﺠﻢ اﻷﻧﻒ ورﺳﻤﻪ ﻣﻦ دون ﺟﺮاﺣﻪ . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻮﻻدة . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت اﻟـ Stretch Marksﺑﺈﺳﺘﺨﺪاماﻟﻜﺎرﺑﻮﻛﺴﻲ ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ .
ﺗﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻟﻮن اﻟﺒﺸﺮة و ﻛﺎﻣﻞ اﳉﺴﻢ . ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ اﳌﻴﺰو ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﻨﻀﺎرة و ﺷﺪ اﳉﻠﺪ وﺣﺮق اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺟﻠﺴﺎت اﻟـ VillaShape IIﻟﺘﻨﺴﻴﻖ اﻟﻘﻮاموﺷﺪ اﻟﺘﺮﻫﻼت . -ﻋﻼج آﺛﺎر اﳊﺒﻮب واﻟﻨﺪﺑﺎت .
اﻟﺘﺨﻠﺺ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺐ اﻟﺸﺒﺎب ﺑﺸﻜﻞ داﺋﻢ . ﻋﻼﺟﺎت ﺗﺴﺎﻗﻂ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ و ﺗﻜﺜﻴﻔﻪ و زراﻋﺔ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ .ﻋﻼج اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺒﺔ . إﺑﺮ اﻟﺒﻮﺗﻮﻛﺲ ﻟﺸﺪ اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . -إﺑﺮ اﻟﻔﻴﻠﻴﺮ )رﺳﻢ اﻟﺸﻔﺎﻳﻒ( .
اﳉﻠﺪﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ -اﻟﻠﻴﺰر واﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻞ -ﻃﺐ اﻷﺳﻨﺎن -اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻدة -ﻃﺐ اﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﺔ -اﻟﻔﺤﻮﺻﺎت اﺨﻤﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ
ﻣﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﻔﻨﻄﺎس اﻟﺘﺠﺎري
I want to check the scores Welcome to the network that helps you grow and achieve your wants ooredoo.com.kw
WATANIYA IS NOW OOREDOO
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i don't know
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What invention of the Greenland Inuit is also derogatory slang for an outdoor hobbyist who observes or collects things?
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LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION
summer’14
مجمع االفنيوز The Mall - Mezanine ميزانني- ذا مول The Avenues mall. Phase 3 High Street هاي سرتيت The Mall – High Street Mezzanine Phone: 22200650 22200650 :هاتف Shop Nº 140A The Avenues mall
Fifth Ring Rd Telephone: 22200650 KUWAIT
@TRUCCOKW
Jabriya - Tel:. +965 25353248 - Fax: +965 25353249
شركــة سبــــا آنــد مــــــور
Opening Soon at Symphony Mall, Salmiya
NAIL CARE
متخصصون في تجهيز الصالونات ومراكز التجميل والمعاهد الصحية
ISSUE 54, VOLUME 4, JUNE 2014 ART 71 ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014
BEAUTY 84 Advantages & Disadvantages of Perfumes and Colognes 86 New at Layla Harmony 88 Summer Skin Schedule
ENTERTAINMENT 98 June Movie Releases 101 Top Music Charts
INTERVIEW 16 Abdoulraouf AlWazzan 54 Khadijah Kamel AlHarmi 68 Thuraya Al-Baqasami 70 Brian Kenny 72 Rhonda McKenzie 78 Infusion - Patty Marotte 90 Hiba AlMansour 110 Sarah Al Enzi 122 Abdulla Ashkanani
KIDS 166 Kids Pages
FASHION 126 Fashion News 130 ZOUCH Fashion 134 A Grunge Affair 138 What's Trending This Summer?
FEATURE 20 What Amazing, Ridiculous, Complex Creatures We Are 22 Which Came First, The Chicken or The Egg?! 24 الطريق نحو النجاح 26 How Making Films or TV Series Comes to Life 28 You Don't Know What You've Got 'Till It's Gone! 30 Calling All Dads 32 Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran 46 Getting Creative With The 3 "R"s 102 12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
FITNESS
50 Ramadan and Nutrition 52 Travelling This Summer?
FOOD
76 Nat Bakes... With Love
HEALTH
36 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) 39 العالج الطبيعي 40 Fathers - Integral to Healthy Families 44 "Theraphy?" But My Child is Still Young!
LITERATURE 100 Short Stories by Nadia AlHassan 104 Poetry by Nada Faris 105 Arabic Poetry by Tassnim 106 June 2014 Book Releases 108 The Upcoming Summer
NUTRITION 42 Soccer 58 Eat Healthy This Ramadan
REGULARS 78 Green in The City
60 One-On-One with Kinda AlFaris 64 Tea with T 66 City Guide 82 Nat 's Kitchen Tales... With Love 96 Know About Your Birthstone 107 CP Book Club by Nada Soliman 140 Events 154 Press
164 Say Cheez with CityPages 168 Horoscopes 170 Homework for GrownUps
TECHNOLOGY 114 Cool New Gadgets 116 TECH Updates & News
118 Bonus TECH Updates & News 120 تطورات شركة أبل
Dear Readers… Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief
Jameel Arif
Muhammed Altaf Sr. Sales Manager
Claudia Farias
Content Supervisor
Tanya Burns
Creative Director Graphic Designers Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi Contributing Team Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Mohammad Al-Sharrah Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Nadia Al-Hassan Abdalla AlMuzaini Nada Soliman Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Nada Faris Ahmed Al-Ragum Nour Al-Zaabi Ali - DJ RAVEN Oussama T. Hussein ARTRONAUTS ASAMA Perfumes Reshmi Revi BirthKuwait Sanaa Abdul Hamid Dr. Nazia Nausheen Sandra Bakhamian Eng. Homoud AlMuhareb Sherihan A. Hassabo Faisal Al-Dhofari Talah Alabdulaaly Khaled Al-Zawawi Layla Harmony Zahra Ashkanani Maha Al-Rashed Zahra Taqi Photography Team Abdulaziz AlSoraya Shahbaz Hussain Abdulaziz AlShayaji Abdullah Hamadah Ahmad Emad Othman AlMishaan Natalia Sitcai Bulk Distribution Team V. Rajan S. V. Gopal
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We have made it to June, the mid-point of 2014, when all are looking forward for Ramadan and getting ready or already have started summer vacations. June is such an interesting month with so many things happening around that it made difficult for us to content with one theme and ignore the rest so we decided to cover as much around us as possible to provide you with the interesting aspects about all the main things. The first theme which has been covered is with reference to ‘World Environment Day’ where my old friend Paul Turnbridge has come with a very special article on page 46 and it is a must read. It will provide us with all the information that how we can contribute in making our environment better. Our new team member Hamad J. AlKulaib, who has recently joined the CityPages team is also up to the task and in persistent manner and will be writing about the green world every month. His first article is available in this issue and will keep regularly promoting the green life. Father’s day which is being celebrated on 15th June has also been specially focused in this issue and the CityPages team members have expressed their feelings and gratitude in the form of words for this precious relation. Our team member Abdulaziz Al-Khamis has brought for you the top twelve movies related to fathers on page 102. As I mentioned in my opening line that Ramadan ‘The month of blessings’ is coming in June so special articles about this month are a must read in this issue. Although many articles are available in this issue but my favorite is Abdullah Shams AlDeen’s article ‘Scientific miracles of Quaran’. I will strongly recommend this article for our readers on page 32. Last but not the least Foot Ball World Cup is also staring from 12th June and it is impossible to ignore such an event. While maintaining this fever CityPages Special focus on this event will provide you with the best and interesting writing about it. Our team member Sandra Bakhamian in her segment City Guide has brough for you Rio De Janeiro and in her illustration you can find Brazil. Kinda AL-Faris’s segment ‘One –On-One with KInda’ is the bumper surprise of June issue. Who does not know Kuwait’s legend footballer Jassim Al Yaqoub. While making the fever rise interview of Jassim Al Yaqoub is most appropriate at this time of the year. We are honored to be the first magazine that was granted access to his museum. The entrance into it took us back to the memories of 1982 World Cup when Kuwait participated in the event. Our New Segment Nat’s Kitchen tales… with love is another segment for international cuisine lovers. Every month you will have something amazing and different from the different parts of the world. The segment has kicked off this month with Brazilian food which you can enjoy while watching matches. Our cover interview is with Hiba AlMansour from Kuwait’s major book stores ‘That Al Salasil’. She has in detail discussed the ‘Power of paper in the digital world’. A must read interview. As always CityPages met with many interesting people during for this issue who are valued contributors in their respective fields. Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan is one of them. His contributions in Warba Insurance are really worth mentioning. We met with Abdulla Ashkanani the owner of Piel De Tore Kuwait on the occasion of their first anniversary. We have brought for you the details of Sara Al Enzi at the head quarter of Ooredoo telecom, previously known as Wataniya telecom. Meeting with Patty Marotte of Infusions was a very interesting and inspiring experience. Thuraya Al- Baqsami’s interview is in fact a tribute to Sheaffer pens. Khadija Kamil a young Kuwaiti lady is helping people achieve their fitness goals. There are so many other interesting regular feature and articles waiting for you inside. Let’s keep the fingers crossed and wait for the new soccer champs.
Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor
[email protected]
DISCLAIMER
Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait. All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. 10 citypageskuwait.com Copyright © June 2014
On the Cover: Hiba AlMansour Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi
June, 2014
Free Copies of CityPages are Available at:
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Hello Our Beautiful Readers!
Dear CityPages Readers,
With the advent of June we are already at the verge of ending the first half of the year. Like work the heat
The World Cup season has commenced! This is
is also at its best. Actually this is the time of the year
the time when TV sets are sold out and people are
when we all need to sit back and carefully examine our new year’s resolutions. We need to check that where we have reached with the promises which
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we committed with ourselves at the start of the year. Take advantage of this full bloomed heat, stay
shopping for potato chips and popcorn instead of groceries. Go figure the fervor. Our issue of course is dedicated to the season and
at home at just check the progress which we were
to celebrate in spirit of this I am interviewing the
supposed to do during the first 6 months of the
legendary Kuwaiti soccer player Jassim Yaqoub.
year.
What a truly kind and gentle man he is yet an icon.
Football World Cup is knocking at the door and
CityPages
your CityPages is bringing for you the interesting
Ramadan is at our door, and in this heat I think we
details about it. Other than the football you will
may be earning extra points this year. I hope that
find so many interesting things in the June issue
@citypageskuwait
which are not only worth reading but also worth remembering. I can assure you that you will enjoy reading the special articles which we have brought for you with reference to Father’s day as well.
@citypageskuwait
I will not disclose all the secrets of June issue as I
everyone takes care of themselves in this energy sapping heat wave that has hit Kuwait. Finally, to all you wonderful fathers out there, what a lovely job you’re doing Happy Fathers Day!
know that the suspense always creates interest. Grab your copy today and enjoy the read and as usual keep us posted with valued feedback. FOR ADVERTISING E-mail: [email protected]
FOR PRESS COVERAGE & PRESS RELEASES E-mail: [email protected]
TO INVITE CITYPAGES TEAM TO YOUR EVENTS E-mail: [email protected]
See you in the next issue.
Till the next issue.
Abeer M. Alabduljalil Managing Editor
Kinda Al Faris Executive Editor
CityPages accepts unsolicited ar ticles (1000 words or less) in English or Arabic. Submissions may be sent to:
[email protected]
in .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx format. CityPages will notify the author upon acceptance but will not entertain inquiries. 14
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The Avenues 22597145 • Al-Kout Mall 22979032 • The Gate Mall 22056134 • Tanagra, Fanar complex 25717893 loccitane-me.com
June, 2014
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by: Abdalla AlMuzaini
From passion to success, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan was determined to excel with everything he worked on. Quitting was never a given option to Abdulraouf, and that was forced to his strength of mind since childhood. Kuwait was going through a reconstruction phase to fix all the destructions that occurred during the Iraqi invasion. New Infrastructure was being built in the country and part of the reconstruction was the introduction of the Internet to Kuwait in 1995. The Internet was something new to the people, where people still didn’t know what is Internet, and what is the difference between the internet and a computer! That to Abdulraouf was “eye-catching!” and set him off to the beginning of his journey…. At the age of 18, the starting point of his passion flickered upon Abdulraouf’ s eyes when the English teacher assigned an essay to be written, and one of his class mates submitted his essay ‘Printed on Paper.’ This was an illuminating realization, which resulted in Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s personal feeling of elation and wonder! It was right there shining before Abdulraouf’s eyes like a pot of gold, and he knew what he wanted… He wanted a computer. Al-Wazzan not just only wanted to do all his essays on the computer, but all College marketing campaigns as well. His wish came true when Abdulraouf’s father got him his first Personal Computer.
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Through this PC, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s exploration started to get deeper, leading him to work on Microsoft Front Page, and Photoshop. The “First Online Magazine in Kuwait” – was created by Al-Wazzan and his friend Waleed Bandar. Abdulraouf knew that there was so much to learn and discover from the Personal Computer and positioned his complete focus towards the field of Information Technology (IT). “IRC Club” was the first Internet Café to open by Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan and his family in 1997 using DSL, unlike other Internet Cafés who were still using Dial Up. At the “IRC Club” is where Abdulraouf learnt all about technical Networking. From that spark of wonder, to a passion, Abdulraouf wanted more…. A greater and bigger career, leading him to pursuing his education at The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) granting him a Diploma in Computer Programming. After leaving PAAET in the year 2000, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan went job hunting. At that time, anyone who wanted to work must have a permission letter from the military, which Abdulraouf didn’t have. This was a struggle to Abdulraouf as he wanted to work but the letter of approval was his only prerequisite. With no other choice, Abdulraouf applied to serve the Kuwaiti army, but was requested to serve an additional year as he was late in joining. Finding a way around it, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan joined the Kuwaiti Air Force as a volunteer with minimum condition of five years to serve. The reason
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Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan From Passion to Success
June, 2014
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of him joining the Air Force was not for the love of flying but for the mere fact that there was an open vacancy for a position as an IT Network Administrator. Al-Wazzan took up this role for a period of four years till he got promoted to become the IT Team Leader at the Kuwaiti Air Force. As the IT Team Leader, Abdulraouf developed a new version of the HR System; added at least 60% of new features, automated the process, and made it paperless which was a ‘time-cutter’ and resulted in an increase in efficiency. Respective of the minimum requirement to serve for five years as a volunteer, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan continued serving for a total period of eight years. Eight years of active contribution, Abdulraouf realized it was time for him to spread his wings and fly away. It was essential to Al-Wazzan to continue his path of learning more about IT, taking more tasks and responsibilities, and reaching to hire positions with better job offers. Abdulraouf is back again with his job hunting, and after three months of 18
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searching, Al-Wazzan finally gets a call for a job interview. In 2008, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan officially joins ZAIN IT Department as a Data Base Administrator (DBA). Within his year and a half at ZAIN full of IT responsibilities, AlWazzan was involved in six main critical, major enterprise, and successful IT Projects: • The new numbering plan of adding the 8th digit to the ZAIN phone numbers (which impacted entire Kuwait’s users of ZAIN) as a Project Technical Team Member. • The Archiving System as a Project Manager. • The initiator and owner of the project to standardize ZAIN user’s access. • The upgrade of the Client Relation Management for Telecommunication Business Solution (TABS) as the User Acceptance Test (UAT) owner. • The upgrade of the E-Business Website as
the Infrastructure owner. • The Data Warehouse project as the Infrastructure owner. Driven by determination and goals of leadership, is when Abdulraouf decided to look into something greater and shift from the technical IT routine, to the course of IT Management. Of course, like any father is, Al-Wazzan’s father was concerned about Abdulraouf’s decision; as he was leaving a huge enterprise sized company such as ZAIN and going to the Insurance industry which was very uncommon. Stubborn and committed to his goals as he was, Al-Wazzan had already taken his decision to move to Warba Insurance where he had already been offered a managerial position. Warba Insurance at that time had a vision of restructuring its IT department and business solutions, and that’s when Abdulraouf joined to lead and deliver this vision to reality. Proving himself to the management
of Warba, Al-Wazzan was immediately promoted as the IT Manager, and by 2011, Warba Insurance officially had a fullfledged IT infrastructure, highest of its kind where no other Insurance businesses has today. With the planning, Al-Wazzan and his technical decisions, managed to save 60% of cost and this was such a great and successful achievement that it got published as a Regional Case Study by Microsoft, and could be read on www. microsoft.com
Subsequently, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan engaged his heavy experience of his Photoshop with his daily activities to market Warba Insurance in the Kuwaiti market. Successfully, Al-Wazzan played a key role in the rebranding of Warba Insurance’s corporate identity, and initiated the Social Media campaigns in 2011. Because of Abdulraouf’s hard work, commitments and achievements, Al-Wazzan got promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM) responsible for the IT and Marketing department.
which is taking place as IT has become the backbone of the business. The question is how he did it… How did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan take on Warba Insurance back in 2009 where IT was still in its early stages, to where it is today, almost 100% IT driven, cost saving, and a money making entity? Abdulraouf explained, “IT Managers should map themselves to the business goals of the decision makers. It is simply a negotiation to convince the management to invest in IT in order to achieve the Objective, Mission, and Vision of the company.”
Today, Warba Insurance is the first Insurance Company to start social media, and became the leaders in the Insurance sector in comparison to their competitors who also started to rebrand to keep up with Warba.
After his passion-able career jumps from the Internet Café to the Kuwaiti Air force and from ZAIN to Warba Insurance, I needed to know, did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan finally reach his goals reaching to a top level executive and becoming well known in the IT industry? He simply smiled back at me and said “Abdalla, IT was a passion which started back in 1994, and today I have reached to an AGM position but that is not enough for me; you see, you can be a CEO but still be an employee. I would say that reaching my optimal goal is becoming a business owner of my own, as my dream is clear for me now… There is a lack of understanding towards the importance of IT, and would like to start a firm focused on IT consultancy & Management to help serve the Kuwaiti market.”
By the year 2015, it is predicted that, Warba Insurance will be saving enormous operational costs due to the automation
Abdulraouf is finally practicing what he’s been preaching for years, and is looking to make Kuwait a better place, using IT.
June, May, 2014
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T
he ground is heart-stoppingly far away. Our amygdala recognises clear and present danger, heartbeat increases by a factor of three, blood pressure rockets, saliva seems to just not be there any more and the urge to really be somewhere else is almost overmastering. We are almost literally scared to death, experiencing massive surges of adrenalin, noradrenalin and growth hormone. In milliseconds, our hypothalamus pumps corticotropin-releasing hormone, triggering the pituitary to pump out adrenocorticotropin which in turn persuades the adrenal glands near our kidneys to start producing cortisol. Paraphrasing the above, after a very short time our adrenals feel like a couple of squeezed oranges as adrenalin rushes headlong into our bloodstream. Breathing is short, hard and fast as blood pumps manically. If you're old enough to remember, your whole body feels as if it's the starship Enterprise, shields at ten per cent, fending off an all-out Klingon attack. "She cannae take much more, Captain!" ...There's not much point in diverting precious energy for digesting when every joule might be needed just to survive. Pupils dilate, increasing movement perception, to see into the shadows where the bogeymen hide.... No, you haven't inadvertently slipped into a parallel universe and there won't be a test tomorrow on the biology of fear. We are, of course, talking about skydiving. About to leap heedlessly from an aircraft and experience an acceleration of almost ten metres per second per second meaning that we get to go really, really quickly. Mother Earth rushes to embrace us. Awfully fast. For all the adrenalin junkies, anybody who is reading this who can remember their first jump, I'd bet money that you're smiling right now. Whether or not we decide to jump out of the aeroplane depends upon our overcoming the entirely natural fear of dying horribly, but... why bother? What is it that motivates otherwise quite normal, well-balanced people to override a perfectly reasonable natural protection mechanism? Because we like it. That's why. This cascade of biochemical changes as a result of perceived risk is, I am told, experienced as high arousal together with unpleasant anxiety, which seems to be a little bit paradoxical. So, we ask ourselves again, the question is not whether we would go parachuting, but why? Even if we could conjure an answer, it ain't quite as simple as "we like it." A wilderness camper might grab a baseball bat to chase away a bear intent on foraging but the same guy with the baseball bat is afraid to stand up to his boss, both activities being fraught with danger but of two very different kinds. To paraphrase Orwell, all risk is not created equal. Research seems to indicate that we subject ourselves to quite a number of risk-taking activities of various kinds and, what a surprise, our risk-taking behaviour is governed by our genetics. Freud would have said "when in doubt, blame the mother", in our day we'd argue "when in doubt, blame the gene", which, if we think about it, is another way of saying exactly the same thing. If we stay with Uncle Sigmund for a moment longer, he might have told us in those soothing sessions on his leather couch that our risk-taking behaviour was illogical, beyond reason and we should stop it immediately since we obviously have suicidal tendencies. Hedge fund managers and other fledgling wolves of Wall Street, please take note. You'll no doubt be relieved to hear that we've come a long way since Sigmund's sofa and I think you've
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read enough amateur shrink-speak for one day. When I was a child, my mother used to remind me with monotonous regularity that 'curiosity killed the cat'. Perhaps she meant only to discourage me from stealing the car before I was tall enough to see over the steering wheel. Maddeningly, she then took me to the library where I borrowed books whose titles began with "The Adventures Of...", which positively encouraged me to undertake derring-do, rescue a few distressed damsels, single-handedly fight my way through squadrons of bad guys and generally place myself in harm's way to the general approbation of all and sundry. In other words, she gave with one hand and took away with the other. I don't think she liked me very much. It didn't really dampen my enthusiasm for dangerous behaviour, maternal wrath or feline homicide notwithstanding and over the years I've been involved in more than a few squeezed oranges moments. See above if you've forgotten. It's fortunate, however, that as we get older, our risk perception skills get better and the increased information flow that we enjoy in our, let's say, maturer years, tends to discourage us from doing stuff which, let's be honest, is batshit crazy. I no longer duck under the barrier when the ski run says it's closed - they didn't really mean it, it looked OK from the bottom - besides which, the piste is absolutely empty. It's only when you get halfway down, notice that it's steep and impossibly gnarly, covered in sheet ice and the bumps are the size of Buicks, that you realise that they might have had a point in closing it after all. Being now retired, sort of, you might therefore imagine me to be a benevolently becardiganed, avuncular figure gently pottering among the geraniums, days of risk and adventure being no more than a distant memory. To all my friends who are reading this, please stop howling immediately. I recently took up a new sport, scuba diving, cavorting with the fishes, dolphins, turtles and so forth on the ocean floor. Once you've mastered the art of neutral buoyancy so you stop bouncing up and down like a demented trampolinist, the wonders of the deep unroll before your eyes like a magic carpet. Strange creatures, some with teeth, glide effortlessly past. Octopi do what they do - it really is quite hard to explain how the eightfold synchrony actually works. Fantastic fish painted like rainbows graze in the coral. Sometimes, they might even have a friendly nibble on your wetsuit, which can be a little bit unnerving. There are a couple of downsides, touching really is a no-no because stingy thingies can put you in hospital. Also, you do rather have to know what you're doing in tight spaces and, moreover, have to be able to hang about for extended periods with heavy weights. It's like the gym, but wetter. A while back, after a three day diving trip to the Red Sea, I trudged wearily out of the airport, flapping an exhausted hand to a kindly taxi driver and feeling a bit, well, elderly, to be honest. My joints hurt and I momentarily cursed Jacques Cousteau for not inventing scuba gear that weighs on land in excess of twenty-five kilograms, which felt to me a bit like carrying my mother-in-law out of the surf. Fortunately, I have no pictures of my knees momentarily giving way as I hauled my hippopotamine carcass out of the forgiving water on to the beach, gravitationally challenged, cutting my foot on shard-sharp shingle in the process, being gently helped landward by a muscular Swiss instructor. Archimedes did have a point; history does not relate whether he himself was helped out of his bath by a muscular Greek slave who omitted to clothe his master before he ran manically into the street, thereby subjecting him to the catcalls
What amazing, ridiculous, complex creatures we are by: John MacArthur
and hissing of the local citizenry to whom his discoveries meant little. So, why have you been subjected to my little adventure diary? Because it illustrates a point. We don't stop taking the odd risk just because we've left childhood behind. It's actually quite good for us, as it happens, in small doses, a bit like exercise. Now, please don't for a moment imagine that you should suggest to your grandchildren that what you'd really like for your seventy-fifth birthday is a course of skydiving lessons or a bungee jump. And, if your bowels turn to water at the thought of doing something which might kill you, for "risk" read "exercise". Standing up is better than sitting down. Take a walk - you'll get all the adrenalin rush you need trying to cross the road in this country. If you're a corporate drone, you might make them buy you a stand-up desk. Churchill and Hemingway both had one, both risking varicose veins and coronary atherosclerosis. There's a growing body of medical evidence that asserts that hours of uninterrupted sitting can be surprisingly bad for your health but standing is a bit risky too. If you own the company, you could even get yourself the ultimate in work-life multitasking, a treadmill desk. Now, these will serve several purposes. One being that you have to actually walk to go nowhere - a bit like this story, really - and simultaneously type on your laptop which is just out of reach and is actually hazardous because you can't get the positioning software right in the brain and you might well fall...oh, dear, it's all getting very complicated and dangerous. Apparently, you can get one that simulates snowboarding as well. See - instant adrenalin rush, right there at work. Just like skydiving really.
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Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?!
T
he saying goes that “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”. We have heard it over and over again; a phrase that is certainly much older than the Women's Movement of the 1960s. Yes! We have heard it a million times throughout the decades, believed in it and used it in many situations. But have we really thought about its origin? How exactly did we come to believe it and make it a “universal truth”? The meaning of the saying clearly declares that a great/successful man wouldn’t be so without support from the woman in his life. Well, my question to all women and to myself is: would a woman be supportive of an unsupportive or a mistreating man? Would she feed his ambitions, inspire him to take risks, provide him with self-confidence? I answered NO! And would a man be good to a woman who always demean his aspiration and mock his vision? The answer is again, NO! The question thus arises, which came first: the chicken or the egg? X that can't come without Y, or Y that can't come without X? Regardless of the sex, man or woman, I believe any human would never give a genuine smile to a hurtful face, present a
Sherihan A. Hassabo Sherihan A. Hassabo is a passionate writer who started expressing her opinion about controversial subjects when she was 14. When she is not directing events, she likes to investigate the interesting relationships' controversy in our Eastern society. Every month, and from real life experience; Sherihan will share a story, an idea, opinion, or a simple advice for men and women to live happily ever after.
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helping hand to biting teeth, stand behind someone else to support his success if they know for sure that, if the tables are turned, the other person wouldn’t do exactly the same. It is not a question of giving and caring, it is human nature which drives us all; men and women. Giving it the slightest thought, we should come to realize that while some facts need to be altered, there are definitely new facts that we need to derive from the existing ones: there has to be a saying “Behind every great woman there’s a great man”, and “Behind every unsuccessful man there’s an unsuccessful woman”... and so on. Let’s be fair and think it over before we merely repeat it!
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الطريقنحوالنجاح
طبيعة
النفس تحب النجاح في حياتها سواء على الصعيد الشخصي أو الوظيفي أو المالي أو جميع جوانب الحياة .للنجاح لذة جميلة من اعتاد عليه ال يمكنه التخلي عنه ،فتراه يقفز من قمة الى قمة ليحقق النجاح الذي اعتاد عليه وأصبح اسلوب حياته. في تجربة بسيطة مع مجموعة من المتدربين في احدى دوراتي ،اخترت شخصين واخرجتهم من القاعة ،أغلقنا عين أحدهم الذي عليه أن يصل لمكان جلوسه وهو يتلقى توجيهات الشخص اآلخر ،دون علمهم ما سيجري داخل القاعة ،و المتدربين في داخل القاعة عليهم تشتيت تركيز ذلك الشخص والعمل على عكس توجيهات الشخص المساعد .وحين دخل الشخص للقاعة توقع أن يستمع فقط لتوجيهات الصديق المساعد ،لكنه تفاجأ بازعاج في القاعة مما أدى لتعثره وتغيير طريقه، والشخص المساعد توقف عن التوجيهات فور سماع اإلزعاج ،لكنه تدارك الموقف قبل سقوط صديقه فأعاد توجيهه حتى وصل لمكانه الصحيح. الفكرة من هذا التمرين ليست بإزعاج الشخص أو احداث الفوضى ،بل هي فكرة أرغب بتوصيلها لمن حولي ،وهي أنك حين تضع أولى خطواتك نحو النجاح لتحقق هدفك ،ستواجه تحديات الحياة أو يتوجه لك المحبطين والمزعجين ( ليشلوا) حركتك أو يعيقوا تواصلك ،فهدفهم تعطيلك وغايتهم فشلك ،انتبه أن توجه تركيزك لهم فقط تجاههلهم. بعد أيام من أدائي لهذا التمرين تعرضت لموقف مشابه حين بدأت بتحقيق هدف جديد ،ابتسمت وقلت هذا هو التمرين وحان التطبيق ،وفع ً ال تجاهلت ما حدث وكأنه شيء لم يحدث وفع ً ال انتهى الموقف ونجحت في التمرين.
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Nour AlZaabi
Nour holds a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Marketing and is a Member at The Kuwait Economic Society and British Council Entrepreneur Network in Kuwait. Stay tuned for her articles and features in the CityPages magazine.
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How Making Film or Tv Series Comes To Life Available online on Pinterest.com
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ince I’ve been back in Kuwait, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Kuwait’s award-winning film director and producer Walid Al-Awadi as he films a mini-series. I’ve watched and learned what it takes to bring a film or television series come to life. It’s not easy and takes a lot of discipline, plus a team you can count on around you. Here’s how it happens… Development:It all starts with an idea. Mind you, that idea can take years to come to fruition. You’ll have to make your idea come to life with a proper script. Script writing is a skill, so be prepared to spend the time working on your writing or finding a capable scriptwriter. Be prepared for numerous edits and rewrites. You’ll have to think about character development and the story you will tell. When you think you are done, you aren’t. You’ll rewrite again and again; and that’s only part of development. Unless you will be spending your own money to make the feature, you’ll have to pitch your idea successfully to convince someone to spend money to take it to the next step. Pre-Production:Ok, so now you have the script and financing, you’ll need to start getting the production together. This is a critical time and can take months. It is essential to make sure everyone has the same vision for the end product. You’ll be creating story boards, production boards, setting the budget, getting your team together: executive producer, director, producer, editor, and camera department (director of photography, lighting and sound crew, and the like). Now is also the time to start casting actors, finding costume and set designers, makeup artists, and scouting locations for filming. Your producer will also handle things
Laila Al-Qatami Laila holds a BS in Journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder and a MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. She was a former spokesperson for the Arab-American community through the largest grassroots Arab-American organization based in Washington, DC. Laila is a Specialist in the image of Arabs and Muslims in US media, films, and popular culture.
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like securing equipment, transportation, comes to life. catering, and so many other details. You will also start sequencing where and how you will film your story. You will outline everything, Distribution:Ok, so you have the film made, you must also find a distribution channel and yes, do more rewrites. otherwise, no one will ever see it. Not everyone will jump at the chance, so you will Filming:The time this takes depends on have to knock on many doors. Some might what is the length of program or film you open, close, then open; it takes patience and are creating. The days are long and you’ll good negotiation. Once you have agreed be working hard. It can takes hours to film with the distributor about where/when it will just one scene, and it might not even make it air, and who will retain the rights, you start into the final version. All actors are different the publicity phase of promoting your work and you’ll have to manage what happens on before, during, and after it is shown. set, in addition to the actual filming. Is the lighting right, is the sound clear, did you get Then, your next idea hits you, and you start the right shot? Oh and you’ll probably rewrite all over again. some things along the way. Post-Production:This process connects everything together, putting the film together from the footage. This requires editing, sound, special effects, color correction and money, lots of money. This is where it all
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You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone! Available online on Pinterest.com by: Paul Turnbridge
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ver since I started thinking about writing something for Fathers’ Day, a tune has been going over and over in my mind. Most readers may be too young to remember the classic by Joni Mitchell entitled “Big Yellow Taxi” but please check it out online if you want a retro musical treat. Anyway, the lyric which repeats in my head resonates “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” which, I guess, is where I claim my association with Fathers’ Day. Let me explain… My father was born in England in 1915. He grew up in a very different world to the one in which we live today … few cars; no television; taking a weekly bath in a large tin tub on the kitchen floor, sharing the bathwater with the rest of the family; none of the modern kitchen gadgetry yet invented. He lived through an era 28
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of great change! He had worked in the offices at GWR (Great Western Railway) which was one of the earliest of the pre-nationalised UK railway companies, until the onset of World War 2. He served his country as an officer in the Royal Artillery regiment and, after the war, remained in military service and met my mother at a T.A. camp at which he was Adjutant. By the time I arrived in 1958, he had married, had a daughter, been moved to several postings (with family in tow) and had finally been assigned a permanent position in the Ministry of Defense in London’s Whitehall. My father was a traditional man with oldfashioned values. For example, he would never even go shopping without wearing collar, tie and jacket! It was his belief that his role was to be the provider for the family, and he achieved that well. We were never
financially wealthy, but we were comfortable and never lacked for anything we needed. Yet we were rich in so many other ways … my sister and I grew up in a loving home. Our parents were there whenever we needed them; they spent time with us – reading to us when we were little, and teaching us the basics before providing us with the best-possible education. They taught us to be independent, yet never stopped loving and supporting us – even when we thought we knew better and did things against their advice or wishes. Yet I haven’t really celebrated Fathers’ Day since my father died some 20 years ago – not because I don’t love, respect and appreciate what my father did for me, but because I don’t really want to think about him not being here any longer. What would I not give to have him back even for just one week?
Of course I have many wonderful memories and a whole heap of photos (some of which are reproduced here) and, when I get together with my mother and sister, we still remember some of the daft things dad used to do to make us laugh. My father was strict and serious when it was needed, but he was also a good judge, a fair man and a great source of fun and laughter. Ours was a happy home. I think it was around 8 years before he died that my father developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Since retiring from work, he and mum had started to enjoy their leisurely new life. They had moved away from London to a new home in a beautiful part of England, and had travelled for some lovely holidays together, and my father spent a lot of his time creating his beloved gardens. But then he became more absent-minded and his character seemed to change. At first, we thought it was just dementure … but the progression to Alzheimer’s was unfairly rapid and unexpected. Communication became difficult and often, when I visited, he did not even know who I was. It was like my father was there….but he wasn’t really my father….he was not the man any of us knew. Even now – 20 years on – I get upset when I think back to those awful last years. He deserved better! His ultimate death was a release for him. As a typically generous gesture, at the onset of the disease, my father had agreed that upon his death he would donate his brain for medical research to St. Mary’s Hospital in London, where they lead the research into cures that will benefit future Alzheimer’s sufferers. By this act, he left his final footprint. This has been a very personal account which, at times, has been difficult to write. But why should I be surprised by that? After all, our fathers are personal to each of us. We all have unique memories and relationships with our family members, and we need to hold on to those. I loved my father (and still do) but it wasn’t until he was no longer around that I realized just how much he meant to me. I now know that I didn’t appreciate him enough when he was alive; I now know that there are so many conversations we should have had, but never did; and I know now that I will never again have the opportunities I once had to just be with him. Most of you will be able to value the presence of your fathers right now, and I urge you not to let any opportunity slip past. Take it from someone who knows from experience … you really don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone! (Written in memory of Major Victor R. Tunbridge – a true Gentleman, and a Gentle Man.) June, 2014
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Calling All Dads: You Matter Too!
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rowing up in the Middle East, moms are always seen as the anchor of the house, the most significant figure, the caring one, the one person you turn to when things go wrong and the one who puts every ones needs first and hers at the bottom. Of course this is all true (especially in my mother’s case!) but what about all the great fathers out there too? In our house we were always puzzled by the notorious Mother’s day celebrated in March and so we decided to call it Family day. That is until my sister and I moved to the US and realized that there are two days equally important, a day to celebrate your mom and another one dedicated to your dad in June! For the longest time, mothers have been revered, respected, and admired. After all, we moms, go through 9 months of pregnancy (which I found were actually 10 when I was pregnant but that's a whole different story for another article), changes in our bodies physically and emotionally, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, child rearing, giving up our careers and all the other sacrifices we make to be mothers. But wait a second; right by our sides are men, who have equally gone through many changes to be fathers too, to hold our hands through it all and those little hands of our children too. Most of what we as moms go through would not be possible if it wasn't for the wonderful husbands standing beside us each step of the way. These husbands are the wonderful fathers to our kids who so lovingly take care of many of parenthood’s many responsibilities too. To all the dads out there, as we celebrate you on your special day, let me remind you as to why you matter and how important your presence is to your family: 1.Dads play an important role in children’s development from birth all the way through adulthood. Research has shown that children with involved fathers do better socially and academically than kids with no relationship (or a distant relationship) with their fathers. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, children
Zahra Taqi Zahra is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop her a line on her email: [email protected] or find her on FB: http://www.facebook. com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @ MilestonesCoach
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with fathers who take the time to ask about what they learned at school and their dayto-day social activities and relationships do better in school than kids whose dads do not provide that kind of interest or input. 2.Dads and their boys: Fathers play an important role in their son’s lives as they model to them what it is like to be a man, how to be responsible, caring and how to be a loving husband and a good father. According to Christine Langlois, author of “Raising Great Kids”, boys who grow up with involved dads are less likely to get in trouble with the law as they get older. 3.Dads and their daughters: Fathers play a very important role in their daughters’ lives. Daughters who have a strong and healthy relationship with their dads tend to be more confident and self assured, independent and confident. Also studies show that girls who have a strong bond with their fathers tend to have less mental health problems later in life. Another important role for fathers when it comes to their daughters is the example they set for them in regards to men (i.e. husbands). 4.Dads bring on the adventure!: Many moms are cautious when it comes to their kids being adventurous, erring on the side of caution and some times discouraging their kids of partaking in certain activities according to Langlois. Dads on the other hand tend
Available online on Pinterest.com to believe that their kids are physically able which leads to children overcoming challenges and therefore having a higher self esteem. Simple things like asking your kids what they learned at school that day, reading to them, asking about their dayto-day activities can lead to kids being more academically successful. When a dad exhibits a commitment to his family, he models a responsible behavior to his own children. Also, children with supportive fathers, usually have less problems and are better able to get along with others and have better control over their emotions. There you have it Dads! You matter too just as much as any mom out there. Moms do put in a lot of hard work and oh so much love to their families, but so do you, and you ROCK at it! So, to all the wonderfully involved and supportive fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day to you all! May you continue to support your spouses and your families, build wonderfully strong relationships with them and reap the benefits of all the hard work. And to the two most amazing dads in my life, my dad and my kids’ dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work, Happy Father’s Day you two! “Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!” By Lydia Child.
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Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran Available online on Pinterest.com Sahih International Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
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t is only natural that on the month where the Quran was revealed, that it should take center stage in the minds and inhabiting the consciousness of its believers. Darting through it cover to cover void of real meaning most likely defies the purpose. A diligent pondering of simply a few of the Quran’s verses concerning everything that consists in our metaphysical universe can be just as fruitful.
A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.)
Ramadan has always been a month of invigorating spiritual, physical and mental replenishment. Yes, a heightened sense of moral awareness tends to wash over some while tiny seeds of empathy begin to sprout in the hearts of others. Some people you might know appear facially unrecognizable, a sudden alteration in personality and perhaps some genuine “Ramadan Resolutions” towards battling ones inner destructive desires. So let us attempt to enhance the blissful energy by reflecting on several of scientific statements in the Quran.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (21:30)
More than 1,400 years ago in what was a backwater of civilization in the deserts of Arabia, an illiterate Arab produces scientific statements that scientists discovered just yesterday, relatively speaking, all while doing so in a linguistically superior form to any known Arabic text. People at the time were devoid of science, there were no telescopes, microscopes or anything even close to powerful technology we have today. Conceptions of nature and the universe were based on superstition and myth. Arabs believed the earth was flat and that mountains supported the sky above. Within this backdrop, the Quran was revealed containing many scientific facts on topics ranging from the origins of the universe to remarkably accurate descriptions of each stage of human embryonic development. Many of these facts could not be fully appreciated at the time, only recently have we as a species developed the technological means to marvel on its accuracies.
The Origins of The Universe and Its Expansion The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of hot dense smoke. This is one of the undisputed principles of modern cosmology. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (41:11)
The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this identical smoke, they formed and separated from each other.
Sahih International Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? In the previous verse, the Arabic words ratq and fataq are used. The word ratq can be translated into “entity”, “sewn to”, “joined together” or “closed up”. The meanings of these translations all circulate around something that is mixed and that has a separate and distinct existence. The verb “fataq” is translated into “We unstitched” “We clove them asunder” “We separated” or “We have opened them”. These meanings imply that something comes into being by an action of splitting or tearing apart. The sprouting of a seed from the soil is a good example of a similar illustration of the meaning of the verb fataq. With the introduction of the Big Bang theory, it soon became clear to Muslim scholars that the details mentioned with regards to the theory go identically hand in hand with the description of the creation of the universe in verse 30 of the 21st Surah of the Quran. The theory states that all the matter in the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point; that exploded and brought about the beginning of the universe, matches what is mentioned in the verse that the heaven and Earth (thus the universe) where all once joined together at a single point, and then split apart. Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.
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He said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:1) impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few Sahih International years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this By the sky and the night comer. is the case.” “Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:2) hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin,” he Sahih International added. And what can make you know what is the night comer? In 1916, Albert Einstein formulated his General Theory of Relativity that indicated that the universe must be either expanding or contracting. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:3) Confirmation of the expanding-universe theory finally came in 1929 at the Sahih International hands of the well known American astronomer Edwin Hubble. It is the piercing star. Allah (SWT) communicates this phenomenon through prophet Mohammed (PBUH)1,400 years ago: The Arabic word "Thuqb" means a hole; "Thaqeb" means the one who makes the hole. The Quran is describing a knocking star that makes a piercing hole. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (51:47) Again, how could an illiterate man who lived 1,400 years ago (or anyone at that time) have known that a star can make a piercing hole let alone a knocking sound?
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Furthermore, Allah (SWT) also takes a mighty oath on the grandness of black And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] holes describing them as invisible celestial bodies that move and sweep like expander. vacuums: Yet, astonishingly well before telescopes were even invented and well before Hubble published his Law, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite this verse of the Quran to his companions that ultimately stated that the universe is expanding. At the time of the revelation of the Quran, the word “space” was not known, and people used the word “heaven” or “sky” to refer to what lies above the Earth. In the above verse, the word heaven or sky is referring to space and the known universe. The verse points out that space and the entire universe happens to be expanding, just as Hubble’s Law states. It is nothing short of a miracle that the Quran mentioned such a fact many centuries before the invention of the first telescope, at a time when there was primitive to no knowledge in science. This is more so considering that, like many people in his time and place, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) happened to be illiterate and simply could not have been aware of such profound ideas on his own.
Pulsar Stars and Black Holes Neutron stars are remnants of exploded stars. As more matter falls into a neutron star its mass increases; and as its mass increases its gravity increases. A point will be reached where gravity would have grown so much that not even light could escape, thus a black hole forms. Most neutron stars discovered today are in the form of radio pulsars. They are called radio pulsars because they emit radio waves, as well as insanely bright gamma ray bursts shooting from each end like towers or in Arabic “burooj” (which God takes an oath on swearing by the heavens and its “burooj” that can mean bright stars and also grand bright towers.)
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:15) Sahih International So I swear by the retreating stars .
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:16) Sahih International Those that run [their courses] and disappear. “Running Sweepers” or Black holes haven't been detected until in 1971, a satellite pinpointed the exact location of a black hole in the constellation Cygnus. Scientists believe that some regions of space exert such powerful gravity that they act like gigantic vacuum cleaners, sucking in any matter that comes too close. No matter what the matter is, may it be a comet, a planet, or even a cloud of gas would be crushed to an infinite density and disappear forever. The gravity is so intense that it alters space and even time, slowing down time and stretching out space. Not even light can escape the fierce gravitational pull, so they remain black and invisible. That is the reason behind their description in the verse as 'celestial bodies that disappear, the running sweepers’. Simply marvelous description of the unseen.
Human Embryonic Development
Connecting a radio telescope to a loud speaker you would in fact be able to hear a pulsar. Pulsars sound like someone persistently knocking in a rhythmic pattern.
In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) describes in precise visual detail the stages of human embryonic development, 1,400 years before modern day scientists 'discovered' important information on creation of man and his development only with aid of recent highly advanced machines.
Today we can hear a pulsars knocking and if matter continues to fall into this pulsar a black hole will eventually form. The Quran describes a star by "the one who knocks" [translated “night comer” he who knocks at night] and says that it is "the one who makes a hole”:
Sahih International
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:12)
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:13) Sahih International Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:14)
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Sahih International Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators.
Next in that verse from the Qur'an comes the Arabic word Mudghah (translated as lump of flesh) can refer to a "chewed substance". If someone was to take a piece of gum and chew it to leave teeth marks down the side it would look as the developing spine, of the embryo chewed. The picture displayed shows the resemblance of the embryos somites with chew marks. Suspension of an Embryo during the early stages in the womb of the mother. (About 15 days old) The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6mm.
The Arabic word Alaqah (translated clinging clot) literally has three meanings: •Leech •Suspended or clinging thing •Blood clot. When we compare a leech to an embryo in the alaqah phase, we find much similarity between the two. It is also noteworthy that the embryo at this phase obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, just like the leech, which feeds on the blood of other organisms. Using the word alaqah again to say the embryo is suspended within the womb, due to it's size at this stage. It's attached to the side by the umbilical cord but otherwise it's just hanging and leaning on nothing. Now, the word alaqah also compares our embryo to a blood clot. Why is that? Well, the embryo will not have any circulation until about three weeks into the pregnancy. And also have large amounts of blood flowing to it, making the embryo at this stage appearing similar to a blood clot, externally. So, the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage. Abdullah Y. Shams Al-Deen Abdullah is a graduate with a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University at Northridge - Los Angeles, California. Abdullah was a columnist for the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in America, Nebras E-zine for almost 4 years covering a wide range of topics from the oil industry and technology to sports and culture. An investigative Journalist at heart, researching and presenting intriguing, inspirational and important topics that otherwise do not find the light of day gives his great satisfaction. Follow Abdullah on Instagram: @a_shamsideen
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How is this possible? If Antoine Van Leeuwenhoek was the first scientist to observe human sperm cells using an improved microscope in 1677, how can this be explained? It was mistakenly believed that the sperm cell contained a miniature-preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the uterus, similar to an episode on Family Guy. These are only but a few prime examples of certain scientific accuracies that could not have been known by anyone at the time, let alone an illiterate man in a world of myths and superstition. Only recently, in a scientific and highly developed age, have we been able to grasp the full grandeur of the scientific miracles found in the Quran.
To be continued …
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
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ince its discovery in 2012, MERS has terrified the world with its mysterious origins and high fatality rate. MERS, which stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since killed more than 173 people out of 571 confirmed cases in the past few years– almost a third of those infected. It is related to the common cold as well as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which caused widespread panic during an outbreak in 2003. According to the World Health Organization, cases of MERS have been reported in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and United States etc. The World Health Organization has called MERS a "threat to the entire world" as scientists struggle to understand the mysterious disease. MERS causes an acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, a cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia has often been recorded in victims and MERS has also caused kidney failure. The origin of the disease is unknown, recent research has
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linked camels to the virus after the animals were found to carry the virus in their blood. Saudi Arabia has issued a health warning to anyone handling camels over MERS, advising them to limit contact, wash their hands and wear face masks and gloves. The risk of transmission from person to person seems very low but there are fears the virus could mutate to a more contagious strain. Air travel, of course, can also accelerate the spread of a disease around the world, especially if those carrying the bug take a flight before they’re aware they have it and then spread it others at their destination. In the past, airports have deployed special scanners at gate areas to detect passengers with a high fever before they board. It’s not clear if MERS poses enough of a threat to air passengers to warrant such measures at this point. The World Health Organization is recommending increased vigilance in the Middle East and airports and infectious controls to stop the disease spreading where it is found. However, no travel or trade restrictions have yet been imposed but they are a possibility if the infection rate worsens.
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
Is there a vaccine against MERS? What is the treatment?
What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?
No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel corona virus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
What are the symptoms of MERS? A typical case of MERS consists of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding on examination. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Some patients have had organ failure, especially of the kidneys, or septic shock. Approximately 27% of patients with MERS have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with such chronic diseases as diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease.
How do people get MERS? It is not yet understood exactly how people become infected with MERS. In some cases, the virus appears to pass from an infected person to another person in close contact. This has been seen among family members, patients, and healthcare workers. Recently, there have been an increased number of reports of health care associated infections. In some communities, people have become ill but no potential source of infection has been found. It is possible that these persons were infected by exposure to an animal or perhaps another source or person.
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How can I help protect myself? Corona viruses are fairly fragile, surviving outside the body for only about 24 hours. They are easily destroyed by detergents and cleaning agents. It is advised that people help protect themselves by taking everyday preventive actions such as:
Countries with Lab-Confirmed MERS Cases
•Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer/ wipes. One such brand is SEPTONA; the refreshing wet wipes SEPTONA Cotton Care for the hands offer deep and soft cleanness whenever needed. They contain alcohol and act against viruses. They are now available in supermarkets and BOOTS PHARMACIES all over Kuwait including the Airport branch. These wipes are suitable for daily use at home, in the car, in the office and especially during travel e.g. after handling money, after riding in a taxi, after touching escalators in a shopping mall, wiping down restaurant tables and toilet seats in public places etc.
• Saudi Arabia • United Arab Emirates (UAE) • Qatar • Oman • Jordan • Kuwait • Yemen • Lebanon
•Furthermore, SEPTONA Medi care antibacterial wet wipes with 70% alcohol is very effective against MERS virus. The 70% alcohol denat in the wipes is an antibacterial agent with quick action and extra effectiveness against the MERS, as well as most common viruses and germs. These wipes are used to disinfect injuries and surfaces, and not to be used on hands and mouth.
Countries in the Arabian Peninsula with Cases
Countries Cases • • • • • • • • • •
with
Travel-associated
United Kingdom (UK) France Tunisia Italy Malaysia Turkey Greece Egypt United States of America (USA) Netherlands
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash. •Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. •Avoid close contact, such as sharing cups or sharing eating utensils, with sick people. •Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
June, 2014
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Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877
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العالج الطبيعي Available online on Pinterest.com
تم
تجديد قسم الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل فى مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى تحت اشراف األستاذ الدكتور /محمد زكريا (دكتوراه الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل و عضو هيئة التدريس بجامعة عين شمس) و تم تجهيزه بأحدث و سائل العالج العالمية فى هذا التخصص
ويقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات المتميزة : تشخيص و عالج جميع األمراض الروماتيزمية • العالج الطبيعى للعديد من األمراض :خشونة • المفاصل و بخاصة الركبتين -األنزالق الغضروفى القطنى و العنقى -االم الظهر و الرقبة بأسبابها المختلفة -التهاب األعصاب الطرفية -التهاب العصب السابع (ابو الوجه) -التهابات األوتار -التهابات و االم المفاصل المختلفة -مسمار القدم -الجلطات الدماغية و الشلل النصفى و شلل الطرفين السفليين -الشلل الدماغى فى األطفال – تشوهات و اعوجاج العمود الفقرى فى األطفال و البالغين -العالج الطبيعى ما بعد عمليات جراحات العظام و األعصاب و العمود الفقرى • تأهيل الرياضيين • تشخيص و عالج اصابات المالعب المختلفة • الحقن المفصلى لعالج التهاب المفاصل و حقن األوتار. ويتوفر فى القسم أحدث أجهزة العالج الطبيعى المطابقة ألحدث المعايير العالمية فى هذا المجال: الموجات الصوتية -الموجات القصيرة -الكهرباء العالجية بأنواعها المختلفة -الليزر العالجى -شمع برافين- كمادات باردة و ساخنة و تيارات باردة -اجهزة مساج- جهاز عجل الكتف -جيم متكامل. و من أحدث األجهزة التى توجد فى القسم جهاز األنودين لعالج التهاب األعصاب الطرفية للقدمين و اليدين و من المعروف ان هذا األلتهاب يصيب مرضى السكرى بنسبة كبيرة و يتسبب فى احساس بالخدار و الوخز فى اليدين و القدمين و يمتد تصاعديا ليصيب األجزاء الباقية من األطراف العلوية و السفلية بصورة تدريجية .و يتميز حهاز األانودين بنتائجه الممتازة فى عالج هذا األلتهاب. كما يتوفر ايضا جهاز الموجات التصادمية و هو من أحدث األجهزة فى عالج التهاب األوتار حول المفاصل و فى عالج الشوكة العظمية (مسمار القدم) و يتميز بنتائجه الممتازة مما يجنب المريض الحقن الموضعى لألوتار أو مسمار القدم باستخدام عقار الكورتيزون. ويقوم بتنفيذ الجلسات العالجية فريق متخصص من الفنيين على أعلى مستوى من الكفاءة و التدريب تحت األشراف الطبى المباشر من الدكتور محمد زكريا كما يقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات األخرى مثل: المساج لعضالت الجسم المختلفة ألزالة التوتر وألرتخاء العضالت -جلسات التخسيس الموضعى لتخسيس أماكن محددة من الجسم و جلسات اذابة الدهون و عالج 39
June, 2014
السليوليت وجلسات شد الترهالت خاصة بعد العمليات الجراحية للسمنة. Dr. Mohammad Ali Zakaria
و حرصا من مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى على راحة مرضاه المميزين قام القسم بالتعاقد مع شركة جلوب ميد للتأمين الطبى و الشركات التابعة لها ألستقبال المرضى الخاضعين للتغطية التأمينية.
& MD Physical Medicine Rheumatology Rehabilitation. Staff Member, Ain Shams University Specialized Boushahri Polyclinic
Hotline: 66129444 Tel : 1888877 Ext:170
FATHERS Integral to Healthy Families
Available online on Pinterest.com
Sometimes Dads may feel a little left out during the pregnancy and birth of their child. After all, during the first 9 months all the “action� is happening in mom! But fathers who spend time close to their wife during pregnancy undergo critical changes as well, that only continue once the baby is born. These changes ensure that Dad will be a committed protector and provider and play a critical role in helping a new infant develop emotional and social behaviors through healthy bonding. Once born, baby's hormonal control systems and brain synapses begin to permanently organize according to the human interactions she experiences. Unneeded brain receptors and neural pathways are disposed of, while those appropriate to the given environment are enhanced. Fathers, you are essential to this new environment!
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Oxytocin: A Bonding Hormone Oxytocin is a chemical released in the brain providing health benefits and promoting bonding patterns that create desire for further contact with the individuals inciting its release. We tend to talk a lot about oxytocin in the mother, but father’s also have a significant role to play. For example, mother’s tend to prefer whichever male is closest during periods of high oxytocin release (pregnancy and labor!) In addition, prolonged high oxytocin in mother, father, or baby also promotes lower blood pressure and reduced heart rate as well as certain kinds of artery repair, actually reducing lifelong risk of heart disease. Persistent regular body contact and other nurturing acts by parents produce a constant, elevated level of oxytocin in the infant, which in turn provides a valuable reduction in the infant's stress-hormone responses, and the resulting high or low level of oxytocin will control the permanent organization of the stress-handling portion of the baby's brain -- promoting lasting "securely attached" or "insecure" characteristics in the adolescent and adult. (Insecure characteristics include anti-social behavior, aggression, difficulty forming lasting bonds with a mate, mental illness, and poor handling of stress). When an infant does not receive regular oxytocin-producing responsive care, babies can develop permanent brain changes that lead to elevated responses to stress throughout life, such as higher blood pressure and heart rate. It has also been shown that a live-in father's oxytocin levels rise toward the end of his mate's pregnancy. When the father spends significant amounts of time in contact with his infant, oxytocin encourages him to become more involved in the ongoing care in a self-perpetuating cycle. Oxytocin in the father also increases his interest in physical (not necessarily sexual) contact with the mother, encouraging the father to become more interested in being a devoted and satisfied part of the family picture –all through his involvement with the baby.
Vasopressin & Protection Although present and active during bonding in the mother and infant, vasopressin plays a much bigger role in the father. This hormone promotes brain reorganization toward paternal behaviors when the male is cohabitating with the pregnant mother. The father becomes more dedicated to his mate and expresses behaviors of protection. Released in response to nearness and touch, vasopressin promotes bonding between
the father and the mother, helps the father recognize and bond to his baby, and makes him want to be part of the family, rather than alone. It has gained a reputation as the "monogamy hormone." Dr. Theresa Crenshaw, author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust, says, "Testosterone wants to prowl, vasopressin wants to stay home." She also describes vasopressin as tempering the man's sexual drive (not sexual functioning).
healthy mother and baby. You can foster healthy development by supporting your wife as she becomes a new mother and by providing frequent skin-to-skin contact, holding, and facial cues for your baby. Play, smile, soothe, cuddle, bathe, and rock. Even if you feel new or clumsy as a new father, all your efforts will help you to become a better father, and contribute to the healthy development of your child.
Vasopressin reinforces the father's testosterone-promoted protective inclination regarding his mate and child, but tempers his aggression, making him more reasonable and less extreme. By promoting more rational and less capricious thinking, this hormone induces a sensible paternal role, providing stability as well as vigilance.
Fathers, you are so important for healthy families. Thank you for all that you do!
Prolactin & Behavior Prolactin is released in all healthy people during sleep, helping to maintain reproductive organs and immune function. Prolactin promotes care giving behaviors and, over time, directs brain reorganization to favor these behaviors. Father's prolactin levels begin to elevate during mother's pregnancy, but most of the rise in the male occurs after many days of cohabitation with the infant. As a result of hormonally orchestrated brain reorganization during parenthood, prolactin release patterns are altered. It has been shown that fathers release prolactin in response to intruder threats, whereas childless males do not. Elevated prolactin levels in both the nursing mother and the involved father cause some reduction in their testosterone levels as well, which in turn reduces their libidos (but not their sexual functioning). Their fertility can be reduced for a time as well. This reduction in sexual activity and fertility is entirely by design for the benefit of the infant, allowing for ample parental attention and energy. When the father is intimately involved with the infant along with the mother, there should be some accord between the desires of the two, and oxytocin and other chemicals provide for heightened bonding and nonsexual interest in each other, which serves to retain a second devoted caretaker for the infant.
Fatherhood Fathers, you are already essential to a
Sarah Paksima
Sarah Paksima is a Board Member of BirthKuwait and a Doula, Childbirth Educator.
BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait
June, 2014
Soccer Available online on Pinterest.com
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occer is a moderately intense type of sports that requires the elite athletes to perform their best in order to outcompete their opponent. To perform well, optimum nutrition becomes crucial in supporting the athletes’ performance, training and recovery period. What are the nutritional requirements for soccer players? How much and what do they need to consume on the daily basis? Eating with a purpose, and also with enjoyment--that’s what nutrition for soccer is all about! Good food is not only one of life’s pleasures; it is also a powerful tool for helping you to be a better soccer player. Eating the right foods at the right times can help you train at your best so you can then compete at your best. General nutrition guidelines: Energy: relatively high energy expenditure sport Carbohydrate: 6g/kg/day; 8-10 /kg/day during training and competition Protein 1.4-1.7g/kg/day Fat: remainder of Kcal with an emphasis on heart-healthy fats Energy intake Energy expenditure is high in training and games. A 75-kg male soccer player may expend more than 1,500 kcal in a game. Many players, both males and females do not consume an adequate energy intake and this can lead to early onset of fatigue and poor nutrient intake. Calculating your calorie needs To estimate your resting metabolic rate (RMR) that is the amount of calories you need to simply breathe, pump blood and
Zain Al Abdeen Qasem
Community & Clinical Dietitian at Diet Care Zain holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Jordan University of Science and Technology and completed his internship at Jordan University Hospital. He also has a certificate in HACCP. Zain offers a wide range of services at Diet Care such as wellness, weight management, sport nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs; personalized for each and every client needs and wants.
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live. Multiply your weight by 10 calories per pound (or 22 calories per kilogram). Add more calories for daily activity apart from your training and other purposeful exercise.
•50% X RMR if you are moderately active throughout the day. •30-40% if you are sedentary. •60-70% if you are very active. To lose weight target 80% to 90% of total calorie needed. So what does a soccer player eat? Breakfast:cold cereals, oatmeal and other hot cereals, bagels, english muffins, pancakes, french toast with syrup, jam, honey, and fruit juice. Lunch: sandwiches (with the bread being the "meat " of the sandwich), fruit, thickcrust, pizza, hearty broth-based soups with noodles or rice. Dinner:pasta, potato, or rice entrées; veggies, breads, juice, fruit. Snacks:flavored yogurt, pretzels, crackers, fig bars, frozen yogurt, dry cereal, energy bars, simple biscuit-type cookies, animal crackers, canned and fresh fruits, juice. Fluid intake: Players should consume fluid early and at regular intervals during the game. Needs are especially high in hot ,humid conditions, carbohydrate/electrolyte solutions been beneficial during the game. Water or sport drinks? Water is an adequate fluid replacer during soccer sessions that less than 60 minutes. Particularly if you have fueled-up with a pre-exercise snack. Sport drinks are helpful during training sessions and games that last longer than 60 to 90 minutes or on multiple game days; they replace both water and some carbohydrates. On the long run, balanced dietary habits must be emphasized for soccer players. As discussed above, proper energy, carbohydrates along with fluid intake are essential for the players to succeed on the field. If a player does not have a healthy diet, they will not be able to train as hard, And will be more susceptible to tiredness. Thus, NUTRITION is one of the most important components for optimal performance.
“Therapy?” But my child is still young! FSRI Counselor presents what parents need to know about child therapy and a guide for effective treatment Parents often find it difficult to accept that their child requires therapy because of behavioural problems or difficulties in learning, especially when this is recommended by the school or a professional party. “We associate the idea of therapy with a mistake that we as parents could have committed, or an issue that can’t be solved. This is why parents become defensive to the idea that their child needs therapy,” explains Resha Erheim, M.Ed., Bilingual Counselor at Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), Kuwait’s not-forprofit multidisciplinary physical and cognitive rehabilitation center for children and adults. Erheim adds, “It is important for parents to accept that therapy is a step to finding a solution to what is affecting their child. This is the first step towards their child’s wellbeing”. Parents then have a primordial role to play during their child’s treatment. “They become co-therapists during the process,” says Erheim.
Erheim lays out four steps parents can help their child get a more effective treatment. Step 1: Collaborate with the therapist during the therapy While parents can have strong opinions to what their child needs, it is important to consider therapy as a collaborative effort between parents and the therapist, where everyone works as a team. Research has shown that parental involvement in a child’s treatment improves the efficacy of therapy. “Cooperation and support is a critical aspect to the success of treatment. Together with the therapist, the best way to support the overall treatment of the child is to set and define the roles and responsibilities of each parent at home”, says Erheim. Step 2: Build a mutually trusting relationship with the therapist Erheim says, “A therapist’s aim is to help the child, and also to guide parents in helping their child, not to take sides with the school Resha Erheim Resha Erheim (B.A., M.Ed., C.C.C.) is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Counselling from University of Ottawa, Canada, and has completed an honors Bachelor degree in psychology from York University in Toronto. Erheim provides counseling services to children, adults and couples. Her counseling experience lies in short-term counseling, crisis intervention and group counseling, working with cases from depression, addiction, anger, marital/relationship problems, grief, trauma, self-esteem issues, and others. Erheim speaks both Arabic and English
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or any professional party.” When a child starts the therapy process, parents must prioritize sharing their concerns, thoughts and daily routine. “Information like this is essential to building the treatment plan, and parents should be comfortable in knowing they will not be judged for their role as a parent. The key is to trust the therapy process and the therapist, it may take time, but it will definitely take a lot of effort,” adds Erheim. Sharing concerns also includes discussing issues or a miscommunication without casting blame, and, together with the therapist, place solutions. Step 3:Focus on supporting your child’s therapy process outside the planned sessions Therapy sessions are effective faster when parents set a routine at home, give psychological support, and provide a stable environment as a whole. “Establish a routine at home, then note your child’s responses and involve the therapist in the process. In addition, encourage mutual respect in communication with your child and avoid “you” statements that blame the child for misbehaving, and instead use “I” statements to show the child the correct behaviour and guide them through the change. Parents are also encouraged to model the behaviour they want their child to adopt.
“You are your child’s first and most important teacher. If you want a polite, self-managed child, you must be a well-mannered and self-regulated person yourself,” says Erheim. Therapists encourage parents to increase positive interaction with their child, for example by offering praise when the child does well, and also by paying positive attention to the child and spending quality time in engaging activities. Step 4: Be open to the therapist’s suggestions for new parenting skills No parent wants to be told what to do. When a therapist brings along suggestions, parents need to listen first, without defensiveness or counter arguments. This point supports the trust that has been built with the therapist. Erheim says, “Don’t misinterpret a therapist’s suggestions, they are not here to undermine your role as parents. On the contrary, accept the feedback with openness and flexibility knowing that the intent is to improve your child’s behavior. Give suggestions a try, as they may often yield good results.” “Parenting can be stressful, and you need the support too. Allocate time for yourself to do things you enjoy, or partake in your own supportive counseling as well. Sometimes parents’ personal issues shadow and affect their child’s behaviour”, concludes Erheim.
June, 2014
Getting Creative with the 3 “R”s
Available online on Pinterest.com
by: Paul Turnbridge
F
or many years, the 3 “R”s were the basics taught in schools – Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. (It always did seem a little contrived, but the concept worked). Moving forwards a few years, and with ever-increasing concerns over misuse of the earth’s precious resources, the 3 “R”s have been transformed into more ecolologically-conscious terminology – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. It all seems fairly straightforward and quite sensible, of course. Reducing consumption of certain products can reduce wastage, costs of disposal, and the need to over-manufacture. Just one example of this is the never-ending supply of carrier bags provided free-of-charge by supermarkets. I fail to understand why, when visiting any of the supermarkets in Kuwait, I have my shopping packed into two hundred separate carrier bags, when I could have managed with just ten – of course I exaggerate, but you get the point. The idea of supermarkets providing re-useable carrier bags, and even heavy-duty plastic baskets, as has become the norm in many Western European countries, has not yet reached these shores and I must confess that, rather than taking the initiative to supply my own reuseable carriers for my shopping expeditions, I succumb to this wasteful use of bags as much as the next shopper in the checkout queue! Reusing products can have the same effects as reducing consumption, and of course by reusing things will naturally reduce consumption in any case. I have already touched on the idea of using reuseable carriers for shopping, but there are many more products that can be used more than once. Let’s take plastic water bottles as a prime example here – would it not make sense to refill the small bottle you carry everywhere with you in the summer heat, rather than to keep buying new bottles and throwing them away once empty? We have become a throwaway society, where it has become too easy to simply discard items 46
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when they no longer have a prime use for us. Which brings me neatly to a 4th “R” that is so often forgotten – “Repair”. So often, when electrical and mechanical appliances go wrong, we are told that is it easier and cheaper to simply discard the old and buy a replacement, than it is to repair. Whilst my mother used to darn socks to prolong their effective use, such thrift is a rare commodity in modern times, in which we simply throw away and buy new! And so we reach what, for me, is the most exciting of the “R”s. Whilst Reducing and Reusing are both practical and sensible, they are also quite boring and do not set the pulse racing. But “Recycling” is where it gets fun; it provides an opportunity to get creative! In simple terms, recycling means taking something and giving it a whole new purpose. Avid gardeners amongst you will doubtless be brimming with ideas for quirky and stylish plant pots – why not grow seasonal flowers in a pair of old boots? Or bring on seedlings in empty, washed food tins? What about using shredded newspaper as a mulch?
There are countless ideas that have already been successfully executed, and a lot of websites exist to pass these on – I shall list just three of these at the end of this article. Of course, you will likely find some fun ideas from the Internet that you will want to copy for yourself, but the real fun will be to think “outside the box” for yourself and create your own recycled object. Why not set yourself a challenge to create something useful yet unique? (And then tell us all about it?!) So, check out one or more of the following and get your own creative juices flowing….. www.facebook.com/1millionrecyclingideas www.pinterest.com/styleitchic/recyclingideas www.scoop.it/t/recycling-ideas And over to you … now it’s your turn to have fun and get inventive!
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The Professionals in Optics and Hearing Care - Sharq
- Kuwait City
Urban Desert Living with a Green Twist
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ustainability advocates and the plethora of labels this civilization conjured toward people concerned about our natural balance: are just as selfish and greedy as their capitalist driven counterparts. The difference is the latter has a self-imposed ignorant notion that the world's resources are infinite while history and science has shown the opposite to be true with undeniable clarity. We all have seen this to be true with our own eyes and in our measly lifetime, if not, a simple question to the previous generation is proof 48
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of the drastic changes the world’s resources, diversity and miracles of bioengineering has endured. This change is universal and is not limited to a certain environment. Nations and borders have nurtured the illusion of independence but the simple fact is we have one world, one planet. A local urban legend that Kuwaiti Zubaidi (silver pomfret) is better than Iranian Zubaidi, When the fact is the only difference is handling and time shipments wait at the border control effecting quality, they are otherwise exact in every way.
Our children will inherit what we give them so, I for one am greedy for the ability to hand down a sustainable world; I do not want generations to come to see me as the stupid generation that had a chance but did not act. I am not worried about earth as a planet; it has proven itself to handle mass extinction only to jump back up better than ever as it balances the systems that are in place. Granted it takes thousands of years but if you compare that to the earth’s age, a very small part. My main concern is humans living in a stable sustaining world, as I am sure you are. In this series, we will use human greed as positive driving force towards a better tomorrow and a great today too.
Living in Kuwait and battling our environment to grow my own food taught me to befriend it rather than force what is otherwise not natural. We have extreme seasons but have a stability in where we dwell. So, I started growing indoors during the summer rather than outdoors, this proved to be sustainable and carbon saving on the long run. Controlled environments have the benefit of consistent growth and production. You will be saving the world resources by growing your own instead of relying on imports. In addition to the exclusivity of having the best fresh teas, garnishes, spices and ingredients a scissor away from your kitchen. The security of knowing that the herbs you use only have the best ingredient in to have the best out in an immature food regulation locale.
Now, are you green greedy enough to grow your own herbs in the comfort of your kitchen?
Recipe for the micro Kitchen herb Farm nA daylight source – use 6500K (cool white cfl bulbs) or a bright window (note: most of Kuwait's homes are fitted with tinted 80-90% windows so windowsill light is not enough to sustain growth). nYour choice of herbs - some herbs thrive outdoors like rosemary, sage and other. For your indoor garden, choose herbs that would not like stevia raubidina (sugar plant) the chive family, honey sage, lemon verbena or any you like that can't survive our summer heat.
Chocolate Mint
nA good preferably organic liquid plant food or potting mix.
Thyme
nDecorative porous ceramic pots nScissors nPatience and tender loving care.
Creeping Rosemary
Make your own or buy ready made potting soil
Available online on Pinterest.com
Choose porous ceramic pots June, 2014
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Ramadan and Nutrition
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ith the holy month of Ramadan coming up , hydration and nutrition are of key importance. The human body is adaptive, it will adapt to whatever you put it through, but what needs to be kept in mind is that although your body stores nutrients, it will eventually run out. The body is like a machine that needs to be fueled regularly. There are a few things that I believe need to be kept in mind during this month. When breaking your fast, please think about what you’re eating. I know it’s extremely tempting when you sit on the table with all that food and you haven’t eaten all day. But remember, you haven’t eaten all day, do you really want to shock your system by eating nonstop from the moment you break your fast
Maha AlRashed
Maha AlRashed is a CHEK Certified Exercise Coach and a regular contributor for CityPages magazine.
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until the moment you go to sleep? I doubt that your body can handle that for an entire month. Ideally, a person would break his fast by having a few dates (to bring their sugar levels up), and some water; once you’ve done that, take a few minutes and let that feeling sink in. Then move on to your soups and salads and if you have waited 20 minutes after breaking your fast, then that would be more than enough of a meal for you. Perhaps a few hours later you will realize that you are still a little hungry, you can go ahead and start with all the main course foods. Switching to a grazing diet would be the way to go, eat small meals more regularly rather than indulging in one large meal a day and moving straight to the caffeinated drinks and sugar loading. Just because you are fasting it doesn’t mean that you should neglect your healthy lifestyle. In fact, I believe that your healthy lifestyle should be maintained throughout the month in order for you to deal with the heat and lack of food more easily. May this coming month be one of great blessings for you, just remember to stay healthy!
Available online on Pinterest.com
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Traveling this summer? These holiday fit tips will keep you looking beach-body beautiful right through to the end
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t’s 4am on a blisteringly cold Tuesday morning in good ol' London town and for someone who should be partying like it’s 1999 as I’m on holiday with the family, I’m trying my best to eat my oats and whey protein in the quietest manner possible so as to not wake up the rest of my family. Yes, you heard me. 4am. Oats and whey. Why? To fuel myself for my 6am gym workout as the rest of my day will be spent traipsing around Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge whilst endearingly irritating my poor mother. The last 8 days of my vacay has pretty much run along to a similar tune. I’m awake several hours before the rest of my family to get my workout sorted before joining in on the family festivities. As the French say; vouloir, c’est pouvoir, or in plain English, where there’s a will, there’s a way. According to an article published on Gulfnews.com, Kuwaitis spent approximately USD$5.2 billion in 2013 on their summer vacations. That’s a lot of travel for a little country. As summer 2014 looms around the corner, there’s no reason why your fitness routine Reshmi Revi Certified Professional Trainer
Reshmi Revi is the Deputy General Manager for MultiWorks Personal Training. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and passionate about fitness! Follow her on Instagram @Q8MissFit
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should go on leave too. I usually would advise be deemed cardiovascular-worthy. Hence my clients to enjoy their vacation whilst still go for a swim, take a jog in the park, rent a being semi-active. This ensures: kayak, try out that complimentary fencing class or abseil in that leisure center that has -that they don’t lose all their fitness and the awesome climbing wall. Just be active. health gains after months of hard work and And if you don’t want to do it alone, bring a healthy eating. friend with you. #funinnumbers -that they’re still mindful of their food consumption while abroad (hey, I’m pretty sure one would feel less guilty eating that donut knowing they got a good workout earlier on that morning).
Light at night
Over the years, I’ve taught myself to eat clean. Hence none of them fried, greasy, cheesy or overly sweet stuff. 5 meals a day, a protein component in every meal and depending -that they don’t have to start back from on the time of the day and the timing of my square one, post-holiday. workouts, I will also cycle my starchy carbs Here are a couple of fit holiday tips that will and good fats. see you active and tummy trim! However when I’m on holiday, I’m a bit more relaxed with my food consumption. If I want KISS (Keep It Short and Sweet) to eat a burger or try that cheesecake for You’re on holiday hence I’m not asking you example, I most definitely will. The difference to live at the gym while on vacay. Keep your is that I will ensure that whatever I’m having workouts short but high on the intensity is eaten before 6pm just so that my body has factor. A non-stop circuit for 40-45minutes ample time to break it down and hopefully would suffice. When I’m abroad, I like doing burn it. Seeing I’m also a bit of a nutrition killing but short circuits that focuses on my narcissist, I’ll treat myself to this once every peripheral heart action or PHA. Circuits that couple of days. For meals after 6pm, I make are PHA-based can be physically demanding sure I’m getting a good hearty portion of and are big calorie burners. PHA training protein be it grilled steak, fish or chicken, lots basically sees one alternating upper and of green veggies and salads with very light lower body exercises. For example a superset dressing and ample water to stay hydrated. (so non-stop) of squats (lower body), bench presses (upper body), deadlifts (lower body), Happily ever after pull-ups (upper body) and burpees (upper The most important aspect of your holiday is and lower). See what I mean? that you should have fun and enjoy yourself. If you’re finding it challenging eating clean or Take a hike, buddy! working out during your trip or if it’s making If you don’t plan on stepping foot in the you unhappy then khalas, don’t be overly gym while on vacay, try participating in an strict or too hard on yourself. Scale it back. activity of some sort. Walking around is great For my new clients, I usually tell them to try however you need to partake in an activity out one activity for example every 4-5 days where your heart rate is elevated for it to and to keep their dinners light.
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Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi
Helping People Achieve Their Fitness Targets Through Pilates Being fit and healthy is all the rage these days and for good reason. Science continues to provide conclusive evidence in support of exercise and its many benefits to your long and short-term well being. As such, people of all ages are looking for direction on what exactly they should be doing to make the most of their time at the gym. Making a decision to get fit and healthy is the easy part. The hard bit comes in actually doing the exercise and sticking to it. If only working out was as easy as finding the excuses not to do any. This is where Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi; a certified fitness instructor, certified nutritionist for exercise and certified STOTT PILATES instructor, comes in. She is also the owner of Fitnessity – health and fitness studio. Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi enjoys passing on the skills she has learnt to benefit others. She is passionate about exercise, sports and seeing people achieve their fitness targets. CityPages recently sat down with Khadijah for an exclusive interview. Read on to know more about this busy mom, entrepreneur and fitness star.
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share? No weaknesses, I always struggle to balance between work and family and both are dear to me.
When things get difficult how do you stay motivated? I look for new courses in London to escape the hectic routine life in Kuwait, though the trip itself gets hectic. I lived in London for 8 years and London is the city that inspires me. However, I am attached to my children so my trips cannot be longer than ten days.
What has been your most proud moment? When my children excel in sports. I am also usually very proud of my children when I return home from a busy day and see them completing their school work independently as they feel responsible towards school work.
The 3 Keys to success according to you:
Please introduce yourself to our and with a valid license to teach sports but I could not find this in Kuwait. Therefore, readers: Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi. I am a certified fitness instructor, certified STOTT PILATES instructor; the only certified STOTT PILATES instructor in Kuwait, a certified nutritionist for exercise and a wife and mother of three.
Tell us about your education: I have graduated with double majors in Political Science and Communications from the Richmond-The American International University in London. I then continued my study in London to become a fitness instructor. I am a certified fitness instructor (zumba, aerobics, spinning, weight lifting, kettlebells, circuit training), certified STOTT PILATES instructor, and certified nutritionist for exercise; I write food diaries for a healthy weight and better health; designed for healthy individuals.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to your current role/job? Was it always your dream career? All my life, my parents always included sports in our lives. Whether it was basket ball, squash, ballet, swimming, horse riding, or ice skating, our days always included sports. We lived in London for 8 years and no matter what the circumstances were, I was very active in sports. When I moved to Kuwait, it was very hard for me to find a health club or a gym of similar standards as in UK. In many parts of the world, the fitness instructor is certified 56
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I decided to study health and fitness even though I had a lot in my plate; I was married, a mother of two young children, and I had a full time job at Wataniya Telecom working under the directions of General Manager. When the work load increased, I decided to resign from Wataniya Telecom to focus on my passions i.e. sports and studying health and fitness. I had to travel for training courses to London and Dubai and sit exams too.
Now that you are so busy, how do you manage your time? Do you have an average day? I work 7 to 10 hours daily, except for weekends. I taught my children to do their homework without the help of us; the mom and the dad. However, the most important time for me with my children is during bed time. I make sure to be at home most nights to read books to my children, to talk to them and to put them to sleep. I guess, it’s time management from my side and of course, I cannot do all without the help of my beloved nanny and a housekeeper.
Your biggest strength:
-Passion (I love what I do, and I believe in it.) -Hard work -The support of my husband, my family, and the support of the members of Fitnessity; my health and fitness studio
The most inspiring woman according to you: My mother. My mother shaped my personality. My mother always filled our days with sports. I also have lovely memories of my mother in the kitchen every day either baking, or preparing healthy and fresh food for me and my siblings, even though she was working full time. My mother taught me at a very young age, to be responsible, and to always have something useful to do.
Your favourite quote: “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”
Your biggest achievement so far: Having Fitnessity - health and fitness studio and my children’s love for sports.
What would you like to achieve further? I want to continue my education in health and fitness, and to expand.
Your biggest fear: Loss, but my faith in God is strong.
My strength... I am determined.
Your weakness or have you made any mistakes along the way that you can
Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
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Eat Healthy this Ramadan
Available online on Pinterest.com Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sanaa holds Masters of Clinical Dietetics from University of Queensland, Australia and is a Clinical dietitian at Hadi Hospital. Sanaa is a also a blogger and very active on Instagram. Read more from Sanaa at: Blog: www.fit-n-fancy.com , Instagram: Sanaa_dietitian
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F
asting during the month of Ramadan is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that benefits us in many ways. A fasting person learns to appreciate the value of food as well as learns to have discipline in his/her life. Fasting is known to improve one’s health, but at the same time has the potential to worsen your health if not followed correctly. It is advisable that a person who has been fasting should still eat mindfully during nonfasting hours or upon opening the fast, which
involves paying attention to the quantity and quality (type) of food. Since your daily intake during the month of Ramadan is limited around 2 main meals per day (plus snacks), it is vital you put efforts to incorporate foods from all food groups. nBreads, cereals and other grain products (Choose Complex Carbohydrates) nFruits
and Vegetables
cheese and yoghurt
/ Sugar
feast. 1.Following the Prophets traditions, open your fast with 2 – 3 dates and a glass of water. This will provide you with the muchneeded instant burst of energy along with hydration. 2.You may follow this up with a bowl of lentil/ bean soup. Dinner: Ideally once you have opened your fast and performed prayers you may then eat dinner. This will give you approximately 10 – 15 minutes from the time you opened your fast to when you start eating dinner. Again do not treat this meal as a feast.
Guide to Eating during Ramadan Divide your food intake into two meals and two snacks in between and after. Suhoor (the pre- dawn meal); Iftaar (the evening snack which breaks the day’s fast); followed by Dinner. Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal should be a healthy balanced meal that will keep you full for longer and also provide enough energy during the fasting hours. Include the following: 1.Complex carbohydrates which are rich in fiber. These foods are slow-digesting food (Low GI) which help maintain normal blood sugar and satisfies your appetite without piling on excess calories. Examples: Pita bread, Oats, Multigrain / wholegrain breads and cereal, Natural Museli, Barley, Brown or Basmati Rice, Quinoa, beans and lentils. 2.Include a serve of protein in this meal which also helps your stomach feel satisfied. Examples of a serve of protein source include 65g cooked lean meats such as beef or lamb, 80g cooked lean chicken, 100 gram cooked fish fillet, 1 – 2 eggs; If Alternatives to meat sources (if you are vegetarian) includes handful (~30g) of nuts and seeds, almond butter, peanut butter, tahini , 1 cup (150g) cooked lentils or beans, 1 cup Low fat milk / yoghurt or 30g cheese. 3.Just like a breakfast, this meal should be your largest meal. Iftar: The meal which break’s the day’s fast. Treat this as a moderate snack and not a
1.Follow the healthy plate model: ½ plate covered with vegetables/salad; ¼ carbohydrates (e.g rice, pasta, and sweet potato) and ¼ with protein rich food (e.g. chicken, lamb, fish, lentils, and beef) 2.Eat slowly and chew very well which will help you pace yourself. It is a common practice to eat large amounts of food quickly after long day of fasting, but remember this is where you need to be mindful of the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose to eat. Eating slowly will also give your stomach the time to relay the message to your brain saying it is full. 3.Pay attention to the cooking method. Avoid deep frying, frying or using excessive oil while cooking your meal. Choose to grilling, bake, boil, steam or stir fry your meal. 4.Instead of treating yourself with sweets that are high in sugar and fat, opt for a piece of fruit first. If you are still craving something sweet, stick to a small portion. Snack: It is natural to feel hungry within couple of hours after dinner. It is important to make healthy choices by again sticking to the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose. Below are a few ideas 1. Low fat yoghurt ( 150 – 200g) 2.Fruit smoothie with 1 teaspoon of chia seed 3.Ricotta or cottage cheese with cucumber or baby carrots 4.¼ cup hummus with baby carrots or celery sticks 5. 1 cup low fat milk 6.Handful of nuts
During the whole month of Ramadan Do 1.Drink as much water as possible 8 to 12 cups. ( I also tend to drink barley water) 2.Walk for 30 minutes a day. If you want to walk after iftaar, wait 1 – 2 hours after your meal before engaging in physical activity. 3.Incorporate foods that are mentioned in the Holy Quran and as Prophetic traditions as these also correspond to modern healthy eating guidelines. These include milk, dates, lamb (lean), oats, fruits & vegetables such as olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes as well as pulses such as lentils.
During the whole month of Ramadan Avoid 1.Fried/fatty foods and food high in refined sugar such as french fries, traditional sweets and pastries and fried snacks. These food are empty calorie food which are high in calories and are nutrient deficient. These foods also increase sluggishness and fatigue during Ramadan. 2.Sleeping immediately after iftar and ideally after suhoor if possible, wait for 1 -2 hour before sleeping to allow your food to digest. 3.Avoid caffeine based drinks such tea, coffee or cola during sahoor and iftaar. These drinks are diuretics which will make increase water loss through urination. This in turn can potentially cause dehydration during your fasting hours. Avoid drinking tea at sahoor and right after iftaar as it can potentially interfere with valuable nutrient absorption such as iron. 4. Overeating at either sahoor or iftaar if you want to experience health benefits of fasting and prevent gaining excess weight.
Ramadan Kareem!
7. 1 – 2 pieces of fresh fruit 8. Whole-grain tuna/salad sandwich
June, 2014
Champion of a 110 goals for Kuwait
Available online on Pinterest.com
W
hen my Editor in Chief sent me the brief that I would be visiting the museum and interviewing Jassim Yaqoob at his home the name rang familiar, I wondered for a couple of days if it would be the Jassim whom I know to be the Kuwaiti soccer legend. So I arrived at his house and was greeted by his son, I thought to myself Kinda, you really need to start getting the names of people right. The brief was to take a tour of “a museum at Jassim Yaqoubs home� so I assumed that I would be interviewing an art collector by the same name. But when I came down the stairs and walked into the basement I was pleasantly surprised to see that it indeed WAS no other than our beloved soccer legend standing there to greet me. As it turns out, Jassim and his son set up a museum of all the memorabilia related to his years in football in the basement of their large home, and what a treasure trove 60
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it is! The tour was incredibly exciting and brought chills to my spine. His trophies, his gold plated soccer shoes, pictures and accolades fill the walls with Kuwaiti history, of wonderful days gone by which only a few of us had the pleasure to experience. For all of you who don’t know, Jassim Yaqoub is a Kuwaiti first soccer player who played in the FIFA World Cup in 1982, scoring some of the most memorable goals for the Kuwaiti team. He has played against legends, and cohorted with the international soccer greats. He was born in 1952 in Kuwait, and played from his days as a young boy, but contrary to what his other football mates did which was to move on to holding down day jobs, he continued with the sport eventually playing professionally with the Kuwait soccer team which in those days, was heavily backed by the ruling family and sport enthusiasts. He enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the sport, and raised Kuwait’s profile exponentially, still leaving an indelible mark on the sport of soccer even after all these years. Jassim is now retired, however is in the process of further curating his museum which everyone must have the chance to see at least once, for not only is his museum about his career in football, but also recorded moments from Kuwait past that will forever live on in his home, and provides history automatically saved and preserved for the future generations of youth. 62
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Anyone whose dream it is to one day represent Kuwait on the worldwide arena of soccer should try to catch a glimpse of the myriad trophies, rewards and accolades that Mr. Yaqoub earned. They may be the driver behind the decision of one or two hopefuls to follow a natural calling toward the sport. When asked, his advice is to always carry on with your calling, to persevere and not think of the consequences but rather the rewards. For us at CityPages this interview has to be one of the most memorable, and I am proud and honored to have met this superhuman by the name of Jassim Yaqoub.
To find out how to visit the museum, contact us at CityPages. June, 2014
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don’t think I say this enough: I am blessed to have the parents I have. I know it’s Fathers Day this month, but I would like to show my appreciation for both of my parents. They are occasionally a packaged deal but what I love the most about them is their ability to completely remain their own person and hold their own ground with their own freedom. I’m an only child, which automatically means “selfish” to most people unless you’ve met my mother. She taught me diligence pays off and that nothing in life comes without effort. She has made me earn everything that I have wanted in life –and rightfully so. She has been a true matriarch taking in her mother to live with us and also being the main caretaker of my other grandmother. My father taught me how to be patient and loving. He, as an agriculturalist and also the first person to grow strawberries in Kuwait (how cool?!), understands that to grow, one must provide living beings with time and energy. My parents provided a nurturing environment, watering the seed they planted, and always pushed me to do my best. One of the best things they have ever done for me was letting me make my own decisions. When I chose to hold onto my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian and was met with ridicule, they stood by my side the entire time. When I was having issues with funding from the Ministry of Higher Education for veterinary school, my mother started working again after twenty-five years of not working (and she is rocking her job – boss lady!) to help my father fund my goal. My father spends countless days chasing ghosts at ministries in order to get my paperwork well… in order. What I love the most about them is that they are great parents: they are strict but they are also capable of having fun. Seeing photos of them when they
were younger, I always think of how I would’ve loved to be their best friend (I also see how similar we are). But even now! We have an iMessage group chat peppered with witty banter that always puts a smile on my face. They send me photos of themselves hanging out with their friends, of things they see that are interesting, things they read, and they are always laughing. They are constantly the center of attention when I invite my friends over. To me, they have evolved from authority figures to best friends who I can trust with my dreams, darkest thoughts, insecurities, and secrets and would never judge me but will always want the best for me. It wasn’t always this easy, we have had our fair share of rough times, but finding effective modes of communication and listening instead of just hearing has helped. Instead of attacking the other person with “you did this” we talk about how actions made us feel. Exposing your truths to the people you place upon pedestals (and vice versa) is as nerve wrecking as a high rise tight rope walk: you don’t know if you will fall but if you get to the other side (and you will) it’s worth it. I am eternally grateful for them. I don’t think I tell them this enough but I love them and without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I attribute everything to their auras and upbringing and I am forever indebted to them. Their capacity to openly and unconditionally love anyone who walks into their life is an inspiration. I am constantly bathed in their adoration and respect, which is centering and motivating and coaxes me to blossom. But I mean, look how awesome and quirky we are! (Two separate graduation photos: one was highschool graduation, the other was my bachelors graduation, and hopefully the third will be in 2016!)
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Rio De Janeiro Where to Stay
From Marilyn Monroe to Nelson Mandela, Copacabana Palace Hotel have been welcoming the rich and famous since 1923. Overlooking the Copacabana beach, the hotel offers 245 rooms traditionally decorated, with original artworks, three luxurious categories of suites. Choose between the pool ocean view suite, the avenue city view suites, or deluxe one-bedroom suites. Discover the glamorous penthouse suites with a private terrace, the finest view and an exclusive use of a private swimming pool and bar. Close to Arpoador and Ipanema beaches, Hotel Fasano has become one of the most stylish and luxurious hotels of South America, with elegant interior, a white marble pool on the roof, an Italian restaurant and a private beach, it’s the perfect getaway. Popping-up for one year only, from January to December 2014, The Guesthouse Maria Santa Teresa has only six rooms. With bossa nova and barbecues around the pool, DJs and musicians from all over the world, Maria Santa Teresa has big ambitions for its yearlong series of events.
With the world cup approaching, Rio is definitely where you want to be!
Beaches
Famous Copacabana extends for 4.5km along Rio's coast. Ipanema is Rio's richest and chicest beach. Other popular beaches within and near the city include Pepino, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Arpoador.
What to See FAVELAS Travellers are increasingly paying visits to the hillside slums known as favelas. Rio has 600 of these; they are picturesque at night, and fascinating. FOOTBALL Do not miss a guided visit to one of the big matches at Maracanã Stadium. CARNIVAL Dance the night away to the samba! The fabulous carnival takes place in February, but don’t despair! Rio is always up to dance. Nights of beauty, fun and dance are waiting for you all year long. CORCOVADO From Corcovado, you will be spoilt for breathtaking views. Head to the top of Corcovado, the 750m mountain peak home to the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Rio de Janeiro. From here you will see that Rio is divided into two zones, norte (north) and sul (south).
What To Do
HANG GLIDING: The Ti’a Moana guarantees an unforgettable experience, sailing around Bora Bora, Taha’a, Raitea and Huahine. ART LOVERS: You can visit the Museu de Arte de Rio, Movimento and the Bhering Factory, abandoned German iron and steel construction now taken over by a flock of artists and divided into workshops
SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN:
At sunset, take the two cable cars which climb 396m above Rio and the Guanabara bay to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Do not Miss
Fly to Iguassu, 1200km away from Rio de Janeiro, and transfer to the only resort located inside Brazil's Iguassu National Park, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. By boat or by helicopter, discover the Iguazu falls and the amazing animals, birds and plants that make this an area of extraordinary biodiversity. Located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu falls are made of more than two hundred single falls.
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Thuraya Al-Baqasami
S
ince her childhood, Award winning Artist and Writer Thuraya Al-Baqasami has been fascinated with the Sheaffer pen. Her dream started with only the wish to have one of her own, but grew into creating a whole new use for the luxurious line of pens. After graduating with a Masters degree from the Arts Institute of Surikov in Moscow, Thuraya went on to win a plethora of awards across the globe including the “Prize for Art Activities” from the European Union of Arts in Prague in 2001, the “Novo Prize” in Hungary in 2010, the “Al Qurain Festival Prize” in Kuwait in 2013 and the “Arab Women Award” in 2014, among many more. Thuraya accomplished her next great achievement as she collaborated with the official distributor of Sheaffer Pens in Kuwait to create an entire collection of artwork using the pens as the only tool. Thuraya AlBaqasami recently sat with CityPages and shared details about the experience and her personal journey with Sheaffer Pens.
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How did you come to know about Sheaffer pens? I came to know about Sheaffer pens from my father, he would always place one in the pocket of his dishdasha. From that moment I wished I would grow up quickly so I could own such a fabulous pen. How did you obtain your first Sheaffer pen? The first time I received a Sheaffer pen was as a prize from the Ministry of Education in Kuwait. In those days Sheaffer pens were given as valuable prizes to outstanding students, by excelling at the subject of art I was able to earn on of these prizes. What were your feelings at that time? It was really amazing. My long time wish was
Available online on Pinterest.com
by: Mohammad Altaf and Chlesha Rhodes
My Journey with Sheaffer Pens Journey with Sheaffer Pens� come about? As I mentioned before, the idea came from How did you get the idea to use Sheaffer Mr. Akeel. He wanted to create an art gallery using writing tools. I found the project very pens in art? interesting so we collaborated and made the Actually, it was Mr. Akeel Behbehani who exhibition happen. came up with the idea to create a gallery of artwork created with writing instruments. It was a great opportunity to explore the artistic How much time did it take to arrange the capabilities of Sheaffer pens. exhibition and how many paintings did you prepare for this exhibition? What quality of this pen made you want I met with Mr. Akeel Behbehani in March 2014 and after that it almost took three to use it in the art? Although Sheaffer pens are used for writing, months to complete and display all the art they are very nice for drawing and sketching pieces. I alone prepared 70 paintings for this as well. They never miss while working exhibition.
fulfilled. I was full of pride and joy.
Europe for a few months and Sheaffer will be accompanying me in every place and the journey will continue. Sheaffer has a wide variety of pens, which one is your favorite? Although all the Sheaffer pens are very good and my favorite, my most favorite of all is the calligraphy set with assorted ink colors.
What is your message for our readers? I would like to encourage the people and private companies to come forward and support artists like Yaqoub Behebhani Company. Most companies support with them and they provide such a smooth sporting events, but I think it's time for more experience. Do you have future plans to continue companies to help and promote the local working with Sheaffer pen? talent so that Kuwait talent can be recognized How did the idea for the exhibition “My Yes I do, in fact I am currently traveling to internationally. June, 2014
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Please describe to us the producing the Sheaffer pens?
factory
Sheaffer produces its instruments at various locations around the world, all under the supervision of Sheaffer employees and ensuring the highest quality standards are followed.
Available online on Pinterest.com
Tell us about your working experience with the Behbehani Group in Kuwait? How did it start and how long has been the association going for?
We are fortunate to have a distributing partner in Kuwait and the professionalism and focus on developing the Sheaffer brand in this market has been excellent. Events such as tonight’s demonstrate a creative vision to highlight what can be achieved with our instruments in the hands of a talented Artist and shows pens are not just for writing. We have been working with Behbehani group since about 2008 and look forward to many more years together. How important is the quality of a pen in the writing process?
Owning a quality instrument allows the user to enjoy both better balance in the hand as well as a smooth writing experience, both of which can only help the writing process. Which are some of your most popular models?
Brian Kenny
International Sales Manager, Sheaffer Pen The Gift Collection is a popular range across the globe as it provides an excellent variety of styles, finishes and price points which appeal to all consumers, for personal use or as a gift. How do you see the future existence of writing instruments during the age of digital technology.
At Sheaffer, we believe that electronic devices and the pen can live side-byside and prosper. Sheaffer although of course a writing instrument, is marketed as ‘The Gift that Matters’. With one hundred years of history behind the brand, a Sheaffer gift (whether for another or for oneself) is timeless. Of course as the needs of our consumers 70
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Over the years the designs have changed to reflect the latest styles, trends, and of course the ever-changing needs of our consumers. As you can imagine, over 100 years we have developed many ranges!.No matter how our designs evolve over the years, however, we endeavour always to remain true to the Sheaffer values of quality and innovation espoused by our founder Walter A. Sheaffer; we continue to incorporate traditional Sheaffer elements, and this can be seen in the current collection. For example, today both the thoroughly modern and architectural Sheaffer How have your designs evolved over the Taranis as well as the more classicyears? What major changes do you see in looking Sheaffer Sagaris have hints of the technique or design in the current day the Sheaffer Triumph, first introduced in models? the 1940s.
and technology evolves, so do our products. For example, Sheaffer now offers a ballpoint with stylus for touchscreen electronic devices as well as a leather tablet case. Beyond adapting our products to modern needs, we believe it is vital to continue to encourage and inspire written expression and communication both in its traditional form and in other creative ways. The works created by Mrs Thuraya Al-Baqsami are an excellent example of this.
ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014 CREATE.SHARE.INSPIRE
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EUSE by EN V. and Zain was repositioned last year from an annual event in which the ARTronauts and BHCK always participated to an ongoing social development program which, includes activities such as art competitions and educational roadshows, workshops, online environmental campaigns and community events. One of the first activities launched, as part of the program was the “REUSE Recycled Art Competition”. Two-hundred and eighty-six students from eight local schools and universities competed with each other to create the best works made entirely out of scrap / recycled materials, and the top 50 pieces were displayed as an exhibit in The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th 2014. Almost 3,000 people voted for their favorite piece on-site, with an estimated 7,000 people engaged at the exhibit by close to 20 volunteers mostly ARTronauts and BHCK students. This year’s REUSE Recycled Art Competition, our first public activity since participating in REUSE as a sustained social program, held as an exhibit at The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th, 2014. Several schools and universities across Kuwait have participated in this exciting competition, including ARTronauts, (BHCK), (KES), (BSK), (UAS), (KAS), (FAIPS), and (AUK). While creating art, students were showcasing the many innovative ways of reusing recyclables. The purpose of the exhibit was to redefine recycling in Kuwait, by reintroducing residents to the importance of waste reduction. A grand prize was to be awarded to the most creative and well-produced exhibited work. The winner(s) will be determined through public voting at the exhibit. 286 entries were made for the REUSE competition by students from eight local schools and universities, but only the top 50 entries were invited to participate in the final stage of the competition, which was held at the Avenues Mall. ARTronauts submitted 5 pieces and BHCK submitted nine pieces created by students as entries for the competition that promotes environmental and social design. The artworks were created from reused or repurposed materials, and
were nominated to participate in REUSE based on a competition held at BHCK in December. The BHCK and ARTronauts, led by Lecturer Roma Soni of the Department of Art and Design and supported by submitted entries created by the following students: Artronauts: Alaa Khalifa Alia Al Qabandi Mohammed Ali Al Zuhaili SLecturer Mr. Constantinos Predaris 1.Amani Talal Al Mutairi “Cocktail Time”: Paper Dress 2.Jumana Waleed Al Mawaizeri Transitional Space – Architectural model 3. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “Butterflies”: Framed work 4. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “The three”: Framed work 5.Sarah Mohammed Hubaidah “Mechanical”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 6.Zeenab Ebrahim Bu-Abbas (4th place) “Floating Pool”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 7.Fatima Sulaiman Hussain Abbas “Traditional Roots”: Transitional Space – Architectural model
TA Ms. Alaa Khalifa 8.Kholoud Khalifa Ghayad Al Dalmani - Paper clock 10. Shouq Jaafar Ali Haidar - Side lamp magazine Lecturer Roma Soni’s 11. Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush “Floral Reflections”: Accessory Lecturer Nessreen’s Students 12. Muneerah Rashed AL-Ajmi Newspaper 13.Ms. Lisa Winstanley - Blue bottles Lecturer Reem Al Zamel Lecturer Deena Al Khazendar Volunteers Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush Yousra Ali Suleiman Shorouq Raheif Haider "This is the third year that ARTronauts and BHCK participated in our REUSE competition, and we have come to count on them as partners in our mission to promote environmental awareness and education in Kuwait," said Elisa Franceschinis, programs director at en.v. "We are always impressed by the creativity of BHCK students as well as by the commitment of their professors.” Way to go ARTronauts! Way to go BHCK! June, 2014
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Rhonda McKenzie Witty, Free-spirited artist bringing imagination to life Art can be defined as many things: expression, creativity, imagination. For Artist Rhonda McKenzie it is not just what appears on a canvas, it is a living entity that moves and feels as the artist does. Since age 5 she has been moved by her artistry, allowing her creative nature to lead her. With music and life as her fuel, Rhonda creates fresh, excitingly unique pieces for all to enjoy. CityPages recently sat with Rhonda McKenzie as she shared details about her creative process, influences, inspiration and much more. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started? I’ve been an artist my whole life! Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of“artist-ness”, art by the age of 5.
Where do you get inspiration? “artist-ness”, art by the age of 5. Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept What is the most challenging part about them and do whatever the idea wants until it being an artist? is completed.
What is the most challenging part about being an artist? Maybe being disciplined.
Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins!
What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led. The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the next step in whatever the idea wants. Either way, I allow the process to do its thing and it lets me know when it is finished—never the other way around.
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Maybe being disciplined. What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led.
The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the How long have you been an artist and next step in whatever the idea wants. Either how did you get started? way, I allow the process to do its thing and it I’ve been an artist my whole life! lets me know when it is finished—never the Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of- other way around.
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Allow whatever it is I am doing to be in charge of the process. When this happens, new ideas are free to present themselves and come thru as pleasant surprises and that is the creative process.
Where do you get inspiration? Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept them and do whatever the idea wants until it is completed. Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins! Music however, is the essential fuel and it’s gotta be loud! For the Heads Up series it was late 60s and 70s rock, Hendrix, Joplin, The Zombies, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Stones, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Bowie—that sort of thing—the whole Woodstock, Hyde Park, Monterey, Pinkpop, Glastonbury, Hair (the musical obviously), music festivals—the whole bare foot in the park with some art deco kind of feeling. What is your workspace like? Bright, open, messy, tidy, colourful, paintbrushes, paints, framed artwork of various sizes, photo samples everywhere, coloured paper, pens, scraps, exacto-knives, ladybugs, toy cars, some sofas, cushions and sometimes a cluttered floor and table during the process. What methods and materials have you 74
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enjoyed working with the most? The simple ‘Drawing with a Black Marker repeatedly Method’. I can do this anytime. I keep a little sketchbook in my handbag and a pen or marker and draw or jot down anything that comes to mind at any time. What would you say is your strongest skill and how have you honed it? Drawing-cartooning-designing and the honing comes from that well known: “A thousand hours of practise”—if it can be measured in such ways. Yeah that and eating. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your work? My parents who are big art and textile collectors, love all kinds of music and are extremely creative, especially my Mum. My parents are interested in EVERYTHING. They encouraged me. How has your style changed over the years? It’s gotten more defined rather than changed in that I have a definite style. It’s my own. I feel free and do it without thinking. What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition? Feeling. When I feel it, then what I’m doing becomes real. It’s not a piece of paper or some lines or a painting, it, the art, the thing it is actually lives, breathes and moves just like the artist did, does and feels. How do you choose the subject of your painting? I rarely if ever do. The subject chooses me. Unless of course I am being commissioned to create something specific but even then, I do not know how the request, the ‘how’, the process will express itself and I like the notknowing. It feels so good. It’s free. How do you keep your ideas fresh?
Do you ever experience creative blocks? I did once a long time ago and I thought I was going mental! No matter what I drew and how hard I tried, it looked all wrong. This went on for over a year I think, maybe 2 years even! Then one day like the jedi, out of nowhere “it” returned. When I think back, I was under a lot of stress and in a totally different environment—maybe that was why I couldn’t perform. Nothing like that has ever happened since. If nothing is happening, if I’m not creating anything new, I know it will. How durable are your finished pieces? Indestructible! Framing is good armour! Do you do anything in particular to seal your art? That’s my newest project, finding the right something to seal a recent project, a series of heads called “Heads Up” where I have worked in a style and with materials that I’ve never worked with before and in order to maintain the bold colours I need to find a spray or some sealant. Otherwise my original art work is kept in direct lighting only when necessary. What’s been your greatest artistic success? That’s an ongoing experience which is any and every time people feel happy or smile when they see my artwork because that’s how I feel when I am creating—exhilarated, happy and free. What’s the last thing that made you say ‘wow’? This magazine, CityPages! And you know that’s the truth. How can our readers see your work or buy? www.rhondamckenzie.wix.com/ramcko [email protected] Tweet me at [email protected] There’s a small collection at Better Books in Salmiya And! They can contact CityPages of course! Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Keep up the funkyfreshcooleclectic scene you call CityPages—love it!
June, 2014
NAT BAKES WITH
A Story of Food, Passion, and Dreams Come True by: Chlesha Rhodes
“When you do something that you love it should never be a task, it should always be a labor of love”, said owner Natalie Van Rooyen, of the new modern yet rustic styled bakery Nat Bakes...With Love, as she shared her awe-inspiring journey into the world of culinary arts.
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ove has always been a key ingredient in Natalie's relationship with food since her childhood. Growing up in her South African home her family never had much, but out of all the hardships she had to endure she can always recall consistently waking up to a house full of wonderfully delicious smells, having a hot scrumptious meal and enjoying a table full of desserts surrounded by loved ones. Now Natalie is passing on that same feeling of love, comfort, and happiness to every guest that walks into the new Nat Bakes...With Love bakery.
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Ever since age 10, when she baked her own birthday cake after encouragement from her mom, Natalie has had an intense passion for baking. “It was a natural talent”, she said as she recalled cooking and baking along side her mom as a child, making cherished family recipes that have been passed on through generations. It was this upbringing that taught Natalie that food is about more than just eating to survive, but about enjoyment, sharing, and of course love. Although food was a very common topic in the Van Rooyen household, Natalie took it a step further to become more knowledgeable and experienced in the art of baking. Despite this fact, she did not immediately pursue it as a career. In the
midst of working for a company whose lifespan was unstable at best, as a hobby Natalie would bake cupcakes for her coworkers who gave her exemplary complements. It wasn't until 2010 that a dear friend and co-worker convinced Natalie that her talent and passion for baking needed to be shared. After the two sat and brainstormed all the wacky name ideas, finally the concept of Nat Bakes...With Love struck a cord, and the vision was born.
beautifully crafted cupcakes are made fresh and moist with a little bit of sassy-humor in every name, like Natalie's favorite Vanilla Vixen and the Raunchy Red Velvet. Beating all the odds, the obstacles, and challenging moments, Natalie and her partner personally invested their time and labor to build the perfect team and bring the vision to life. From choosing the location to finding the perfect wallpaper that finally brought the whole concept together, it has been a Natalie's vision encompassed a whimsical world where people journey that Natalie says she is grateful for everyday. can walk in and “go back to their childhood”. In this fantastical yet sophisticated wonderland, guests can expect to be wowed by the boisterously colorful artwork, homey feel, and delicious “When I'm in the kitchen it's my happy place... and the smells that hug your nose as you enter. additional joy and satisfaction I get from people enjoying what “I just want customers to be happy.. even if it's just for that I put out, it just makes me extremely happy. If that's all that I five minutes where your coming to pick up a dozen cupcakes, ever do with my life, I'm blessed and I'm happy and I couldn't or a cookie, or anything. The music, the smells, the feeling, ask for anything else.. because it's everything.” everything should just be happiness”, she explained. After running a successful home bakery business for four years, Natalie's vision has been brought to fruition in her new Salmiyah location. Nat Bakes will bring traditional South African desserts along with both sweet and savory Van Rooyen family recipes; like their unique Banana Pudding and their Goat Cheese with Caramelized Onion Pastries, filled with layers of flavor that are prevalent in every bite. Everything is made from scratch, from their mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies to their customized cakes made to order. Their
Nat Bakes... With Love will be opening its doors for a spectacular grand opening on 15 June, welcoming all to come experience the difference the “Nat Bakes way”: with freshness, creativity, thoughtfulness, and exclusive desserts like their famous Crack Pie. If you're looking for a place to try something new, head to Block 3, Street 5, House 23 in Salmiyah, choose your treat and take a bite... “and know that it was made with love”.
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Infusions
Creating infused culinary gems to accent both the palate and table There is no substitute for loving what you do, for pouring your heart into everything you create and that is what Infusions is all about. In what began as a way for Patty Marotte, founder of Infusions, to promote and support healthy food culture with the use of natural food ingredients and at the same time do something she was passionate about, over the past few years Patty has created a brand with global following. Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. The mere thought of oils and butters infused with the essence of savory herbs is enough to make the taste buds swoon. When packaged into pretty glass bottles or jars with a label, they make a perfect gift that anyone is sure to enjoy. Patty makes each one herself and takes the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but also the last touch of layering the herbs for pleasant visual effects. Recently, CityPages had a pleasure to meet the very capable and hard-working, Patty Marotte, who tells us how and when she got the idea of starting Infusions, challenges she had to face and her best seller products.
Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery.
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What is Infusions? Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more often.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery. What is Infusions?
and how to enhance the flavors of prepared dishes at an early age because my father and I cooked together as a hobby. Until now it is my passion and I am still learning on daily basis! These products I have been doing for home use for years and when the onset the food movement in Kuwait, I thought to myself my items have found a home other than my kitchen. Where are your products available for our readers to buy? Currently, I sell my items online through our IG account. They can be found at most Shakshooka events, which I consider to be my start of exposure. Next year, I look forward to participating in more markets/ exhibitions. Recently, I was blessed to have an opportunity provided by Chef Firas Al-Zaid to showcase my products at Little Ruby’s Sharq branch in a project called the Community Corner. In the near future, projects include a healthy foodshop opening soon in Salmiya and the launch of www.Yazli.com; which is an app that will enhance the IG shopping experience.
Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more Tell us more about how you use social media to develop your often. client base: How and when did you get the idea of starting Infusions? Well, honestly I wouldn’t be anywhere without social media! It is how I played with the idea of Infusions after I realized the food culture started to change in Kuwait and when I saw more people interested in natural products and the increasing availability of organic food items in supermarkets. The items I make are an accumulation of a lifetime of learning, as I learned about what ingredients to blend 80
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I got to collaborate with you guys at City Pages. It was through the interactions of IG and Twitter that I was able to gain exposure and meet people who are a part of the food movements in Kuwait and do some research. Social media is how I knew about the various markets. I initially attended as a supporter but at the same time I observed. I
was able to assess peoples’ feedback on a particular event based on their comments and interactions between key figures in the various industries. As an individual through my personal account I met people over last few years that shared similar interests and topics such as family activities, events for causes, where was a good place to eat, sharing recipes, referrals where to buy quality food products, and advice on healthy lifestyle choices. I started to research the kind of items available on social media and I realized there was a small opening in the food movement that I could help fill and do my part to keep it growing. This I feel was prelude to my client pool because all those individuals were my first supporters when I started Infusions. Can you name a few of your unique products? I would say the infused olive oil is the most unique because it is not mass produced like the ones you see in supermarkets. In the Infusions’ olive oils you can see the herbs and spices used. I make each one myself and take the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but the last touch of layering the herbs for visual effect. Each bottle is different and unique. They are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and artisanal by all means. Another unique product is my artisanal spice jars…people mistake them for sand art but they are quality spices layered nicely in one convenient jar to use in cooking. Just spoon and mix! Which are some of your best sellers? Italiano olive oil seems to be catching the people’s attention and is sold the most. Other popular items are our Pomegranate Zaatar spread and Honey butter. How often do you introduce new products and what is the process of developing a new product? I would say on a monthly basis I introduce a new product. Before I started Infusions I made a list of all products that I know how to do, then I categorized them into “currently use” and “past used” items. I started the business on 2 products; flavored butters and infused olive oils which were on my “currently use” list. Then I go to my “past used” list and start experimenting with the product but revamping it, researching better techniques, making samples and sending to new and old customers for feedback. If I get good reviews I launch it on the IG account. All my products must have 3 things: function, aesthetics, and beneficial to health in some form. How is starting a food business different from other forms of entrepreneurship? I think starting a food business is different because we have to be careful not to succumb to the common food items that lack creativity but sell because it is a familiar food item. So, I do it Infusion style! A perfect example of this would be my “mabooch” series, typical Kuwaiti condiment found everywhere. However, ours are different because I give them a personality and function. I name the chili pepper used and its benefits as an ingredient. I look for unique chili peppers and play with flavors, like my orange Habanero mabooch infused with coconut and pineapple juice instead of lemon. Serrano green chilies blend well with garlic and red Cayenne peppers are perfect with ginger. Have u ever seen purple mabooch? Stay tuned and you will!
What peculiar challenges does a small food business-owner face? The most peculiar challenge in a small food business is sanitary issues. Other challenges are ensuring that everything is up to standard and hygienic, making sure packaging, utensils, and ingredients are not just in good condition but also sterilized properly. An example of that would be why I do not use fresh garlic in the final product of an olive oil out of the fear of spoilage and build-up of bacteria! I use fresh garlic during the infusing process but in the end product I use sanitized dehydrated garlic free of any contamination. What motivates you? Good health. Plain and simple. I was diagnosed many years back with a condition that can be mostly controlled through good eating habits and an active lifestyle. I love my family and I want them to live a long healthy life so I make sure our kitchen is filled with quality food products. My motivation for my customers is the same as my family: I wish them good health and I want to be a part of that process that they can attain it. What is the one thing you hate doing but still force yourself to do every week? INVENTORY! Such a crucial aspect of a business but I grit my teeth when I have to do it. I do not like anything with numbers. What do you think is the biggest threat to the success of small businesses in Kuwait? The biggest threat to the success of a small business in Kuwait is being a fad, as Kuwaitis say ‘habba’. Being a bright shiny shooting star then fall to your end in darkness in a short period of time. What are your future plans? My future plan for Infusions is to open a little gourmet food shop where my products will be available for purchase. I will also use the store to conduct workshops on spices and herbs and their benefits. I would love a platform to teach international simple dishes. One of my dreams since I was a teenager was to learn a local authentic dish from each country then have this cool recipe book called IbnBatuta’sTravels. I also want to participate in more activities with groups that are collectively working to teach people how to choose healthier food and lead an active lifestyle. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: My message to CityPages is, I am deeply grateful and honored to be heard on this platform. I have always liked CityPages since its inception because of the English being the main language used.The events, stories, and editorials are always current and relevant. Keep up the great work and thanks for featuring local people and their talents. It keeps the sense of community alive.
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The FIFA World Cup is upon us, so what better way to start this segment than with a taste of Brasil. These recipes are very easy to follow, with simple ingredients… and great to serve at gatherings, or upcoming football matches with friends. Enjoy… with love! EMPANADAS
DOUGH RECIPE (Baked Empanadas)
In Spanish “Empanar” means to bread, or coated in bread crumbs, empanadas are moreish pastries, filled with either savory or sweet fillings, anything from minced beef, chicken, cheese to fruit based yumminess. Here we will show you how to make the baked version which is very popular all over South America.
INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 1 large egg beaten lightly with 1/4 t. water (for glaze… also known as egg wash – gives pastries a nice golden brown finish )
Filling Recipe – Caramelized Onion with Turkey Ham and Cheddar Cheese. INGREDIENTS: n2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced nSalt and pepper to taste n½ cup of balsamic vinegar n¼ cup of brown sugar n1 cup of chopped turkey ham nDiced cheddar cheese cubes Method - dough nSift the flour, then sift it again with the salt, baking powder, and sugar, and set aside. In a large bowl, using a hand or electric mixer, mix the cream cheese and butter together until well blended. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. nLightly flour your work surface. nDivide the dough into four pieces (keep the pieces you aren't using in the refrigerator until you
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need them) and use a floured rolling pin to roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thick. nCut the dough into circles, with a cookie cutter or small bowl. nSize the circle according to how large you want your empanadas. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. Method – Filling nSauté onions in hot olive oil, until light brown and semi cooked. nAdd salt and pepper to taste nAdd balsamic vinegar and cook for 5 minutes nAdd brown sugar and cook until sugar is dissolved and sauce is slightly sticky and reduced. nLeave to cool. nAdd 1 teaspoon of caramelized onions, a few cubes of turkey ham and cheddar cheese in center of rolled out empanada dough and fold over to make a half circle. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. nPreheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). nPlace the pastries on a lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart, brush with the egg wash, and bake until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. nThey can be made ahead of time, refrigerated, and reheated in a 180 degree (350 degrees Fahrenheit ) oven for 4 to 6 minutes.
one country at a time!
Brigadeiros
This is a great Brazilian sweet that is like a bonbon and extremely scrumptious and delicious called brigadeiro! This is a great type of sweet that is loved all over Brazil by children and adults alike. This easy treat is great to serve at social gatherings or to simply have on the table at all times. INGREDIENTS: n3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder n1 can sweetened condensed milk n1 tablespoon butter n2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa for dusting nChocolate sprinkles for decoration Method: nIn a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk. nCook, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls and roll in cocoa, then chocolate sprinkles. nPlace in small cupcake liners, and serve immediately or refrigerate until desired. nMakes 20 pieces June, 2014
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Advantages and Disadvantages of perfumes and colognes
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erfume is a product innovated for both men and women to make them cool and fresh. Over the past few years people have been going crazy to search and get different types of delightful perfumes and colognes. Perfumes are the fragrances that are made from both natural and artificial commodities. Fragrance oil specifically produced from flowers, fruit tree blossom and woods. Aroma oils have no aromatherapy healing properties. Perfume and cologne are packed in different sizes. There are hundreds of brands of odor and thousands of scents available nowadays in the world. They are synthetic essential oils. With as many varieties of scents as natural essential oils they are perfect for combining with aroma, cold compress soap, creams, lotions, body lotions, body sprays, shower ASAMA Perfumes
The creative method gave ASAMA Perfumes the time and the opportunity to craft fragrances while working with the highest quality ingredients in a bottle and using Arabic and Western scents as a unique concept point for the fragrances. They welcome your comments at [email protected] Follow them on Instagram and Twitter @ ASAMAPerfumes
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gels, and hand soaps. By testing on your skin you will be able to know exactly how does it smell on your skin, but you cannot try out too many different types of aroma simply because all the perfume that you try after the first one will mix with the first one and you would not get the correct smell of those fragrances. Buying cologne can be a very hard decision, especially when you are buying that for your friend or lover. Different people will have different choice of odor. Also each fragrance will produce a different scent on various types of skin. Therefore, when buying perfume you need to do some good research and try it out before you make the final decision. There is some small sample called vial on card or vial mini as well, those bottles are usually for trial. It is a good idea for you to get those trial first to test it out before going ahead buying a big bottle. Now, there are advantages and disadvantages of these two methods of testing. Designers believe that the advantage of odors combined using oils is that they are
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guaranteed to last longer than other aromas, and just as body oils are applied directly to the skin, perfume oils are readily absorbed by the skin. Care needs to be taken when applying them as they may stain clothing. Feminine colognes have usually extra floral categories. Light and fresh character of citrus notes is often combined with more feminine scents to create Citrus Fragrance. These are the refreshing fragrances for the energetic, sporty woman, and are appropriate for office wear, day wear, or warm evening wear. As well as, serves as an ideal summer floral especially for warm or humid climate. Scents in this family include jasmine, gardenia tangerine, freesia, orange flower, and moon flowers. This category also has base scents of sandalwood, musk, amber, and apricot. Although this actually a sub category of the floral family it is extensive enough to give proper recognition. The perfumes in this family can be worn during the daytime and a night on the town, due to the combination of exotic floras, spices, and essences.
LL
by:
New at Layla Harmony E
very woman’s dream is to have and keep beautiful hair. Our culture highly values lustrous hair that are thick and shiny. Unfortunately, our environment subjects women to extreme conditions that reflect negativity on the natural state of hair. There are external and internal factors that play critical roles on our hair. External factors affecting hair growth include: Sun bathing, hot water, humidity, hair coloring & dying (specially lower quality products), shampoos, nylon or plastic brushes, style of combing and harsh brushing.
lAvoid
harsh hair combing. comb your hair when it is wet. lTo start untangling your hair from end to the roots. lDivide your hair into a medium strands. lUse hair-type specific products: shampoo, cream, mask, serum, mask, ampoules. lDon’t use on daily basis hair foam, gel or spray. lDon’t wash your hair every day. lDon’t
The new treatment offered by our spa aims to reduce the oily scalp On the other hand, there are internal factors that include: stress, and hair dandruff problem by using the violet rays massage with extreme diet, pregnancy, some medicines, and lack of oxygenation, high frequency machine using special tools and combs (quartz). thyroid gland issues and other hormonal imbalances. The course of treatment consists of 10 sessions A combination of these factors results in hair loss, dandruff, oily hair, l2 sessions: Hair treatment with essential oils. l3 sessions: High frequency with scalp massage. dryness etc. We would like to present you with some advice to reduce the side l5 sessions: Dermo roller with specialized hair products. effects, the unfavorable consequences and maintain the benefit of our treatments. Guaranteed effective results are provided by our spa treatments. lAvoid
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using plastic or nylon brushes.
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Our staff is experienced and highly efficient.
June, 2014
Summer Skin Schedule
W
Available online on Pinterest.com ith every skin being different and changing over time, the derma.cosmetics brand has developed products for every skin type and for every season. With the harsh summers setting in, your skin’s moisture level is compromised by the insufficient moisture in the air caused by air conditioning, excessive sweating or drying out from exposure to the sun. Your skin becomes dry and taut while it frequently flakes, peels and itches. The protective barrier of your skin is weakened.
For this reason, Dr. med. Christine Schrammek dermatological skincare HYDRATING series contains the innovative active ingredient Ectoine, a substance that not only hydrates the skin but also binds moisture in the skin. Additionally, it protects the skin against damage caused by environmental factors such as stress, UV radiation, dryness, heat and cold. With the concept of “skin has many faces” we customize your skin care as your skin demands to result in a fresh, dewy and radiant complexion. BEAUTY 101 RULE: Daily cleansing and skin care routines should always include the throat and décolleté!
SUPER SOFT CLEANSER:
Soothing, moisturizing night care that supports the cell's own repairing and protecting mechanisms. Skin-identical lipids help to stabilize the skin's barrier function and reduce loss of moisture. Apply after cleansing.
HERBAL CARE LOTION:
HYDRA FORCE DAY CREAM:
MOISTURE INTENSE AMPOULE:
Skin is intensively moisturized by the creamy consistency. The unique ingredients support the skin's ability to preserve moisture and counteract aging. Apply after cleansing.
Light, refreshing fluid for sensitive eye area that reduces puffiness. Effective on fine lines & wrinkles. Gently pat on mornings and nights. Free of fragrances, coloring agents, without mineral oils, without parabens.
This moisture booster rebalances moisture deficits in the skin. Synergistic blend of hyaluronic acid supports reductions of wrinkles caused by dryness. Without perfume oils and parabens. Use as a 7 day spa treatment at home.
HYDRA FORCE MASK:
Anisaa New LaFem Salon & Beauty Co.
Anisaa is an Aesthetic Consultant and Trainer with New Lafem Salon & Beauty Co. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram at: @lafemsalonq8
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HYDRA FORCE NIGHT CREAM:
Cleansing milk with valuable oils. Gently cleanses and prevents the skin from dryingout. PH-neutral and excellently suitable to remove eye makeup. Use mornings and nights.
Soothing and balancing effect with herbal extracts. Dab on after cleansing mornings and nights. Free of parabens. For extra freshness keep Herbal Care Lotion in the fridge!
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ON THIS FATHER’S DAY “THE MEN’S SKIN CARE” AT A GLANCE
The moisture complex from oat and soyalecithin in the mask supplies the skin with extra moisture. Due to intensive hydration the skin obtains a firm appearance. Combats feelings of tautness and fine lines from dryness.
As men’s skin produces more sebum twice as much sebum as women’s skin, men are more prone to skin impurities. This can be combated by thoroughly cleansing the skin every day with PURE SKIN CLEANSING FOAM which clears the skin from any dirt and grime. Daily shaving can cause skin redness, irritation, ingrown and razor burns, for thisGEL SUPER PURIFIANT a refreshing clarifying antibacterial gel offers cooling effect due to the peppermint and camphor. At the same time a deep-acting face mask like theACTIVE CLEARING MASK should be used that will free the skin of excess sebum and skin impurities and will give the skin an anti-inflammatory effect. The star product for all types of skin is the BLEMISH BALM HONEY a special product for blotchy, irritated and impure skin that conceals the blemishes and relieves any inflamed skin. It also helps to soothe any redness after shaving especially for those who have sensitive skin. For the eyes only, HI PERFECTION EYE CREAM - HYDRA FORCE EYE FLUID helps to reduce the dark circles and treat puffiness. For luxury care BEAUTY POWER AMPOULES offer instant glow and radiance. Enjoy Healthy Skin this Father's Day!
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Hiba Al Mansour Believes in the power of paper in a digital world
Over the last few years, the digital revolution is having an impact on bookstores. Fewer and fewer bookstores have survived the onslaught of online retailing. Through the trials and tribulations that come with an evolving book industry many intrepid bookstores continue to succeed and even grow. One such is That Al Salasil. Despite enormous competition from online retailers That Al Salasil has remained a vital resource for book lovers in the community. We thought it would be illuminating to talk with Hiba Al Mansour, business development manager at That Al Salasil, a family owned business since 1972. Hiba provides insight about her strategies for thriving, and talks about the history of That Al Salasil and the secret to its success.
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
"We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and Gulf history."
June, 2014
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Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Hiba Al Mansour and I am a business development manager at That Al Salasil. I am an optimistic and workaholic person who is in love with travelling.
opportunity to the readers to meet them in person. We announce such events through different media such as, radio, newspapers and social media, inviting our loyal customers and public figures.
Tell us about your education: I have completed my schooling in public schools of Kuwait and graduated from College of Business Administration (CBA) with a degree in accounting.
What is the hardest part about the bookstore business currently? It’s a slow business, as we live in a digital age and people lead a fast pace life, they don’t have time to sit and read like before.
What is the history of That Al Salasil bookstore? How long has it been in business? What would you say is the secret to its success? It is a family owned business which started in 1972. My father is a book lover and enjoys the time he spends reading all kinds of books. He understands the fact that books enrich our minds, enhance our life experiences and relieve stress. He is passionate about it and when you love and believe in your business it grows more and more.
Do you encourage browsers to sit in the store and read? Do you have some comfortable sitting areas? One of the main goals of THAT AL SALASIL is to encourage reading so we offer comfortable seating areas in our stores to let our customers enjoy any book they browse or even visit us daily till they finish whatever they were reading. In fact, our bookstore branch at The Avenues is famous for its huge and comfortable seating area.
What has been the most surprising aspect of the A recent trend in bookstores is the presence of bookstore business? a small café or coffee shop, if space permits. Do I am surprised at the number of serious readers you have any such plans? out there who still want to buy paperback books We do have a place for it and we are working on it. despite the increasing popularity of e-books and understand that they have physical beauty, provenance and are collectibles. Speaking of kids, do you encourage children's reading events? What in your opinion is the biggest strength of Yes, we do organize a lot of activities for the kids and we host them all year round. your bookstore? We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in What are some of your future plans? Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both Our main aim is to continue building up our in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and collection of both fiction and non-fiction books to Gulf history. become the best bookstore in Kuwait and Middle East. What types of books are most popular with your customers? Name a book that you have recently read and All kinds of novels are more in demand. would like to recommend to our readers? “1919”, it is Ahmed Mourad’s newly published Do you recommend books to your customers at novel. Ahmed Mourad was nominated for The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF); one of the bookstore? Yes, we have sections in the bookstore with a tag the most prestigious and important literary prizes “we recommend” that we believe are the books in the Arab world. worth reading. What are some of your hobbies? How many different books are on your shelves Travelling, taking adventurous trips to new places, at any given time? discovering all about their culture and rituals and Let’s put it this way, we have more than 8 thousands learning form it. I also like to learn new languages. titles at the bookstore. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Tell us about the author events you often host First, I would like to thank you for visiting us here at and how people can know about them? the bookstore. Secondly, I know it’s cliché to say it Yes, we support all local writers and host special but “life is full of possibilities you only need to focus events at our store to launch their books and give an to acquire it”. 94
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
JUNE BIRTHSTONE IS the PEARL By: Oussama T. Hussein Giving a piece of jewelry containing a birthstone gem will bring the wearer with good luck and protection. Monthly birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calendar. What is the Birth stone for June? The following old poem provides the answer! "Who comes with summer to this earth And owes to June her hour of birth A pearl should wear against her skin Who's innocence many a heart shall win." ." Properties of the Pearl
Zodiac Sign
For those who were born in the month of June the Pearl is the traditional birthstone. The June birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Pearl is associated - loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the June Birthstone Pearl are modesty, chastity and purity. The healing properties of the June birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the heart, spleen, stomach, intestine & ulcer problems. The Pearl is also used to enhance personal integrity.
The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The June birthstone of the Pearl is considered to be the birthstone for Gemini (The sign of the Twins) and relate to those born between May 21 - June 21. The Zodiac sign of Gemini also responds to Emerald, Alexandrite, Agate and the Ruby.
Color of the Pearl
The traditional color associated with the Pearl is the milky white color and was strongly favored as a popular gem in Victorian jewelry. Pearls come in a wide variety of colors ranging from white to black. The popular June Birthstone of the Pearl is found in the following The color of a pearl might be classed as white, silver, cream-colored, countries: gold, green, blue or black. Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, the South Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia
Where are Pearls found?
Tropical Zodiac
Sign
Definition of the Pearl: The word Pearl is derived from the Latin word "pirum" which means "pear" which reflects the shape of the gem. A smooth lustrous round structure having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found inside the shell of a mollusk such as a clam or oyster. It is formed due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with precious stones. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks whilst imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks but with human intervention (an irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow). A good sized pearl can take between five to eight years to form, which is usually the entire life of the oyster or mollusk. The cost depends on the size and the coating, or “nacre”, on a real pearl which gives it its iridescence. 96
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Director: Doug Guillermo Director: Limandel Toro
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aksel Hennie, Ian McShane, Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt, Rebecca Ferguson
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Charlotte Riley, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way
Genres: Action, Adventure, Period
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Action, Epic
Synopsis: Everyone knows the legend of
Synopsis: Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise) is an
Hercules and his twelve labors. Our story begins after the labors, and after the legend… Haunted by a sin from his past, Hercules has become a mercenary. Along with five faithful companions, he travels ancient Greece selling his services for gold and using his legendary reputation to intimidate enemies. But when the benevolent ruler of Thrace and his daughter seek Hercules' help to defeat a savage and terrifying warlord, Hercules finds that in order for good to triumph and justice to prevail... he must again become the hero he once was... he must embrace his own myth... he must be Hercules
officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again.
TAMMY
THINK LIKE A MAN TOO
Director: Ben Falcone
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
THE ROVER
Director:Josh James Wan Director: Boone
Director: David Michod
Starring: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese C. Hartwig, Ella Wahlestedt, Jason GrayStanford, Cassius Willis
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Willem Dafoe, Laura Dern, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Lotte Verbeek
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Guy Pearce, Scoot McNairy, Anthony Hayes, David Field, Gillian Jones
Genres: Adventure
Synopsis: Story of teens who receive
Synopsis: A teenage girl stricken with
Synopsis: The Rover is set in a world ten
cancer falls for a boy in her support group and the two form a bond as they deal with their illnesses. Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them -- and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
years following the collapse of the western economic system, where Australia’s mineral resources have drawn the desperados and dangerous to its shores. With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce), who travels the desolate towns and roads of the Australian outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him.
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
TRANSFORMERS 4: AGE OF EXTINCTION
mysterious messages on their cell phones.
But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
22 JUMP STREET
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Mark Duplass, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates
Starring: Kevin Hart, Terrence Jenkins, Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, Gary Owen, Regina Hall
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts, Wyatt Russell
Genres: Comedy
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Sequel
Genres: Adventure, Action, Sequel
Synopsis: Tammy (McCarthy) is having a
Synopsis: The couples are back together
Synopsis: Officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and
Synopsis: Continuing the story of how
Synopsis: The film begins after an epic
bad day. She's totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint, and instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house.
It's time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she's broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Sarandon), is her only option—with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs.
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EDGE OF TOMORROW
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for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some various situations that threaten to derail the big event.
Jenko (Channing Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college, but when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership.
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz,
Gary Oldman, Judy Greer
Brenton Thwaites, Jack Reynor, Stanley
ultra-intelligent simian Caesar presides over the fall of human civilization.
battle that left a great city torn, but with the
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.
a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt
world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
Travel Made Easy HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller
Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen
Genres: Family, Fantasy, 3D, Sequel
Genres: Comedy, Family, Animation
Synopsis: The heroic Viking Hiccup and
Synopsis: Planes: Fire & Rescue features a
his faithful dragon Toothless must protect the peace -- and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago. The first movie took us into a war between fire-breathing dragons and Vikings, but when a boy named Hiccup impossibly befriended a dragon named Toothless, their friendship changed their world forever. Dragons 2, the second film of this fantastic epic trilogy continues the story about a man named Hiccup and a dragon named Toothless, and flies into theaters in summer of 2014.
JERSEY BOYS
Director: Jon Favreau, Clint Eastwood Starring: Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, Mike Doyle, Johnny Cannizzaro, Christopher Walken, John Lloyd Young
quirky crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous air attack team, including spirited super scooper Lil’ Dipper (voice of Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.
AND SO IT GOES
Director: Rob Reiner Starring: Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton, Frankie Valli
Genres: Musical, Adaptation
Synopsis: Frank Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy
Synopsis: A self-centered realtor enlists
DeVito and Nick Massi go from blue-collar wrong side of the track origins to become American pop sensations, selling 175 million records worldwide before they are 30 years old.
the help of his neighbor when he's suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he never knew existed. There are a million reasons not to like realtor Oren Little, and that's just the way he likes it. Willfully obnoxious to anyone who might cross his path, he wants nothing more than to sell one last house and retire in peace and quiet -- until his estranged son suddenly drops off a granddaughter (Sterling Jerins) he never knew existed and turns his life upside-down. Clueless about how to care for a sweet, abandoned nine-year-old, he pawns her off on his determined and lovable neighbor Leah and tries to resume his life uninterrupted. But little by little, Oren stubbornly learns to open his heart - to his family, to Leah, and to life itself.
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Whether you are arriving, departing or transiting at Kuwait International Airport, Hala Kuwait is there to make your journey easy. From the moment you get to the airport, our team is there to take care of your every need whether it is using our Fast Track immigration, dedicated check in area, Pearl Lounge, private transportation, or our Meet & Assist Service to guide you every step of the way.
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The English Woman In Saudi Arabia
"Hi,"
she said in a broken english accent. I didn't want to look at her, I was too afraid to tell you the truth, I was new to the country and a little scared. "I don't mean to bother you dear, but you look rather lost and it is odd to find a blue-eyed woman with blonde hair in our country. Are you okay?" she asked in a concerned tone. I didn't know whether to reply or just keep quiet, my heart started to beat fast and I felt dizzy and weak. I came all the way to Saudi Arabia to find the man that I had fallen in love with back in England. What on earth was I thinking?
to sob. The woman approached me and hugged me, although I couldn't see her face, as it was covered, her big brown eyes gave me comfort. "I am here to look for this Saudi man, his name is Yousef. I have known him for a long time, he studied with me in college back in my country. But he left to come back here, he asked me to come with him but I couldn't," I sighed. "My parents refused. But after months of him gone, I just couldn't live without him," I whispered, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited for the woman to respond, I did not know what to expect. Would she be angry? I knew this was an Islamic country and as a 20 year old English woman, running away to Saudi Arabia to be reunited with her true love, was I looked around the airport and started not exactly an appropiate story to tell. to panic. I was the only woman that was uncovered and every man that passed me "First of all," she said in a low voice. "You must gave me a look. "Oh no," I cried. "What have I take this scarf and cover your hair." At first I done?" I put my hands to my face and started was a bit hesitant, I followed her eyes as she was looking around at the men staring at me, Nadia AlHassan so I did what I was told. Could I trust her? I had never been in the Middle East, I knew no arabic whatsoever and my family had no idea where I was. But, I had no other choice but to Nadia Al-Hassan is a student in Ireland, studying trust her. Journalism. She is passionate about writing stories and poetry. Nadia loves helping people with her stories. She believes that words are beautiful and powerful.
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From the way he dressed, to the way he spoke. "He was tall, so handsome and gentle," I said with a smile on my face, remembering all our memories together. "He had soft dark brown eyes and a warm smile. Oh, his eyelashes were so beautiful! Thick and long, every womans dream to have," I laughed. I could not see what her face expression was but I somehow knew that she was smiling too. "Do you think I'm foolish to have come all the way here?" I asked. She shook her head and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Love makes us do crazy things, but it does not make us foolish," she replied. I continued with my story, I told her how I met him and how he taught me all about Islam too. "I was intrigued, I wanted to know more about his culture and his religion. He would sit down every evening with me in the college library and teach me all about Islam. I started to want to know more and more, It sounded like such a beautiful religion."
Just as I was telling her about how my mother and father and how they did everything they could to keep me away from him and how I lost all hope, I heard a familiar voice behind "Tell me about this man called Yousef," she me. "Kate," he said. I turned around and there said. We sat for an hour as I described him. he was, handsome as ever, standing.
TOP MUSIC CHARTS DJ Raven Fancy
1
American Authors Eric Church Nicki Minaj Lorde
Coldplay
Disclosure 5 Seconds Of Summer Shakira & Rihanna
June, 2014
Photography by: @abdullah_hamadah at @seventyseven_kw studio
12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
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Available online on Pinterest.com
A man’s relationship with his father is one of the most important relationships in his life. Dad is supposed to teach us the manly arts, to always be there as lifelong mentors who lovingly guide us into manhood. At least that’s what every boy hopes for. Of course in real life the relationship between father and son is rarely so simple. A son yearns for the love and respect of his dad and doesn’t always get it. Or he worships his father, only to find out later he wasn’t such a good guy. Or his dad is indeed the real deal, but he exits his son’s life too soon. It’s no wonder that a relationship so fraught with hope and yearning, drama and resentment, joy and regret has often translated into cinematic gold. Men don’t typically cry at movies, but when we do, nine times out of ten the scene involves a father and his kids. Father-themed flicks are guaranteed to make us laugh, get misty-eyed, and feel a little introspective about our own dads, and if we have kids ourselves, how we measure up as fathers. I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of the very best movies about fatherhood that the world of cinema has to offer.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch is the man. Pillar of integrity, fighter of racial injustice, humble sharpshooter, and, of course, world’s greatest dad. As a widower he could have shipped his kids off to a relative, but he was absolutely devoted to them. He was kind, protective, and incredibly patient with his two kids, Jem and Scout. And most importantly, he taught his children by example. I find the relationship between Atticus and his daughter to be particularly endearing. If I ever have a daughter, I hope my relationship with her can be like the one Atticus had with his little girl. No wonder the American Film Institute called Atticus the “greatest movie hero of the 20th century.” Of course you can’t top the book itself, but the film version measures up pretty well. Gregory Peck was given some very large shoes to fill, and he did so admirably.
Big Fish
Big Fish is a weird movie. Weird in a good way, though. It was directed by Tim Burton, hence the weirdness. Big Fish focuses on the strained relationship between a father and son–Ed and Will Bloom. Ed is a man who loves to tell (possibly fictitious) stories about his past. Ed’s son, Will, thinks his dad is full of it and can’t stand his tall tales. Will feels he cannot trust his father and eventually stops talking to him for several years. But when Will finds out his dad is dying, he returns home to begin a journey that will lead him to learn who is father really is, a process that allows him to come to peace with his dad. The end of Big Fish is awesome. I won’t spoil it for you. Watch it.
Field of Dreams
To what lengths would a man go for a chance at reconciliation? If it’s for your (dead) father, most of us would do anything. As a young man, Ray Kinsella had a strained relationship with his dad and had once refused to play catch with him, a decision he has regretted ever since. Now grown up, with his father passed away, Ray has become an Iowa farmer. A voice tells him, “If you build it, he will come,” and Ray obeys by building a baseball diamond in his cornfield. The voice continues to guide Ray, and after a series of mysterious and supernatural events, he is able to make amends by playing a simple game of catch with his dead father. Man. That catch scene gets me every time.
The Godfather
At its core, The Godfather is about one man’s struggle to accept and eventually live up to the legacy his father has left him (even if that legacy isn’t the most noble and honorable one). You can gleam a lot of great insights about fatherhood from watching the entire trilogy. My favorite comes from Don Corleone: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Be a man. Spend some time with those kiddos. And don’t forget the cannoli.
Father of the Bride
It’s the moment any man with a daughter looks forward to with both happiness and sadness: his little girl’s wedding. You’ve probably seen the 1991 re-make ofFather of the Bride with Steve Martin. Sure, it’s funny, but it’s nowhere near as good as the 1950 original starring Spencer Tracy and a young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. At least, I don’t think so. There’s nothing profound or deep about this film. It’s just a fun, family comedy about the relationship between a man and his daughter. Spencer Tracy rocks it in this movie. One of his best performances.
Road to Perdition
As we mentioned in the introduction, sometimes the relationship between father and son can be pretty complicated. That complexity is at the root of the dark, Depression-era gangster film, Road to Perdition. Every boy wants to grow up to be like his dad, but what if your dad isn’t such a good guy? Tom Hanks plays mob bodyguard and hitman, Michael Sullivan, who must protect his son from his former boss (with whom he had his own almost father/son relationship) and his boss’ son, who has killed the rest of Sullivan’s family. On a mission of revenge, Sullivan draws his son into a life of crime, but hopes he will take a different path in life. It’s a bloody, complicated, and father/son relationshippacked movie; as Hanks puts it, “If you’re a man, and you’ve got offspring…emotionally, it’s devastating.”
The Pursuit of Happyness
An uplifting film based on the true story of now multi-millionaire Chris Gardner's one-year struggle with homelessness while raising his son by himself and working to land a full-time job. The Pursuit of Happynessshows the lengths a father will go for his children. What makes this movie even more emotionally captivating is that Chris Gardner and his son, little Chris, are played by real-life father and son, Will and Jaden Smith.
Parenthood
If you’re a fan of the ABC television comedy, Parenthood, then watch the movie that inspired the show. Like the show, Parenthood the movie focuses on different branch-offs of the same family. And like the show, the movie does a good job showcasing the (often humorous) struggles of being a parent in our crazy modern world. While it’s an ensemble film, Steve Martin’s character Gil Buckman takes center stage. Gil’s a father who’s driven to be the best dad he can be because of his dissatisfaction with his own childhood. Gil’s earnestness to be a good dad often crosses the line into neuroticism, but during the course of the film he learns to mellow out. I really like this film (and the show). Unlike a lot of comedies built on outrageous setups and low-brow gags, Parenthood tries to stay as true to real life as possible. When you watch it, you laugh because you can relate with the characters and their problems.
Boyz ‘N the Hood
Laurence Fishburne plays Furious Styles (what an awesome name), a hard-nosed father trying to raise his rebellious son, Tre, on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Furious gives his son plenty of tough love but also provides him a good example of what it means to be a father, and more importantly, a good man. Boyz ‘N the Hood teaches us that there’s nothing like the influence of a father to mold a boy into a man who does the right thing.
Finding Nemo
A movie about fatherhood that you can watch with your kids. Marlin’s a widower father who loses his wife and 400 of his children (he’s a fish) in a vicious barracuda attack. His only child to survive is Nemo, a headstrong little clown fish who’s frustrated by his father’s neurotic over-protectiveness. Despite Marlin’s best efforts to look out for Nemo, he gets lost and the rest of the movie is dedicated to, well, finding Nemo. Marlin’s love for his son transcends species. Even us human dads can relate to this computeranimated fish.
Paper Moon
Starring real-life dad and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O’Neil,Paper Moon follows Moses and Addie Pray, a father-daughter duo who grift in Depression-Era Kansas. Moses isn’t really an ideal father-figure. He scams old widows out of money by pretending to be a Bible salesman who recently sold their deceased husband an expensive, personalized Bible. But the daddy-daughter relationship between Moses and Addie is awfully charming. Paper Moon is a fun, comedy-filled movie that you can watch with your own little partner in crime.
My Life
My Life is perhaps the best and most underrated movie about fatherhood ever made. Michael Keaton plays Bob Ivanovich, a man who discovers that he has terminal cancer soon after his wife gets pregnant. Knowing he won’t be around to raise his little boy, Bob makes home movies of himself that his son can watch as he grows up. In some of the videos, Bob reads bedtime stories and in others, which will be shown when his son is older, Bob teaches important man skills likehow to shave and how to shake hands. As Bob approaches his death, he also begins to reconcile with his own father,
Abdulaziz AlKhamis Abdulaziz is a Kuwaiti Film Maker, Visual Artist and a Script Writer. He graduated from the UK, with a passion to mix art and visuals. June, 2014
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Poetry by Nada Faris Available online on Pinterest.com Behind the Scenes
What’s holding you back, when I’d surrendered my heel?
Had you taken a moment to peer into your brain you would have squinted and then held your breath, but since you illuminate every cobweb with bright intent you soldier on speaking so-called altruism. Hold on. Swerve the spotlight of this theatrical display behind the scenes, where deserted boxes packed with real events gather dust and insects.
The expanse of time, odorless, forgetful, stretching long and wide, will sooth, will heal the scar spurting blood and broken promises smelling like your shampoo, and phony compliments. Paragon of Decomposition She thinks she is so pure, so she cleans herself, thoroughly washing out every blemish until she forgets what it means to be human, pulsating with emotions, blood bubbling with hemoglobin, bones, meat, nerves, germs, and mistakes.
Expanse of Time
Regrets and heartaches aren't mere temperaments, but conditions upon which humanity is staked.
Rip the scab with fingers dripping my scent, let white turn red, turn drab. No tears translucent will dribble and blend in your brew of fragility, staining,
She’d codify her demise with rituals sanitarily emanating qualities associated with divinity she thinks she owns, or rather, hopes and pretends she does.
fleeting as fugitives, slipping in and out of memories, leaving clues of your trespassing, mercurial, piercing details as needles poking and pulling threads, weaving knots with failed expectations and dread, never to unravel. Nada Faris Nada Faris is a Kuwaiti who writes poetry, articles, and fiction in English. Her latest book, Before Young Adult Fiction, is a collection of short, award-winning articles, poems, and short stories that shaped her writing voice. Reach her at: www.nadafaris.com or @nadafaris
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Avoiding blisters, and the rumbling under her skin, of physical sin calling, she studies sermons so she could teach others about the miracle of her powers, her self-imposed dictatorship of desire, lolled at will to earn her honors, for unlike you and me, she is no mediocrity with filthy flaws.
And unlike Christ who died for love, (can you smell the foul blood on a forsaken prophet of mercy thickening still with treason and loss?) she laves her arms until she levitates, until she glows, until a halo hovers above and crowns her skull, and names her holier than the Lord. She’d rather die alone, than vulgar, suffering from pain or trauma, for she is perfection personified in human form.
Introspection While soaping my body I bellow in disgust at something I’ve washed, you’ve touched, with indifference; how is it now that I foam the soap to cover it up, and scrub as if to get it out entirely, and why does my heart beat faster when I, after forgetting, remember it there, gloating, taunting, and why do I feel the need to ask you for an opinion or a degree of distaste, (be honest now) and don’t, simultaneously, don’t tell me what I already know, in the magazine, on the TV, on billboards, on faces of family members, (be honest now) and don’t, please.
رفق ًا بنومي...
Dream Ceremony أشكرك... ألنك دون أن تدري أشعلت الربيع في داخلي وملئتني دروبًا ملونة واحتفاالت صاخبة جيل من اشكرك ألنك أسكرت قلمي بعد ٍ االنتكاسات ّ رششت السكر على ذاكرتي ،فأصبحت و لذيذ ًة جدا كرائحة الكعك في بالدي... ِ أزهرت على قصائدي ُرمانًا شكرًا ألنك َ وخوخًا وألقيت الفراشات على جملي الثكلى، فأينعت... بش ْه ِد ُق َب َ شكرا ألنك ز ّينت صوتي َ لك
المؤجلة، َ تشكيل زوايا قلبي بما يليق دت وأع َ َ بانتظارنا...
حب رسمتُ ها على ُدرجي بعض و ُ قلوب ٍ ِ المدرسي، هي أيضًا َ لك فخذها...
فخ ْذها زوايا وامأل برائحتك زُهد المكان القلب لك ُ ْ الدمعُ الغافي على وسائدي وتعمد بمطر الحنين ّ ُ الزنبقة (الـ)زرعتُ ها على شرفتي لتحيا بك و المشتاق وارتباكه بوداعة ومشط ِ ِ لك ...فخذها.. ُحلمي... أشعاري ورسائلي الما اكتملت بعد وانزع بقايا االنتظار عن ِّصبا كتفي ُ العاطلة عن العمل أقالمي متمرس على رخام الوقت كطفل و احبي ٍ ٍ ُ تراتيل أحالمي وداعة اسمي وردد بكل ما أوتيت من ٍ ّ و ُ كل صلواتي المتمردةُ َ ، لك فخذها... أحب ِك.. صمت بصمت، واهتف ٍ ٍ مطبقُ : ٍ ُق َبلي الخجلى دفاتر طفولتي المذعورة ُ
لكن أرجوك ببطء ، اخطي ٍ ببطء أكثر ... ٍ ُ أخاف أن أصحو مراس َم الحلم.... فس ُد ُحضو ُر َك ِ في ِ ُ
Tassnim Hassoun
Tassnim is an accounts specialist. She has been writing poetry and short stories since she was twelve and currently is in the process of writing a book, needless to say she loves reading. Additionally Tassnim is a gym and nutrition junky.
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JUNE Book Releases
Summer is a time when many people like to read books that take them to other places (even if, in reality, they are stuck at home). Thrillers and romance are always big sellers, and this look at anticipated June releases has plenty of both!
Written in My Own Heart'sBlood' Diana Gabaldon
The release of Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, the latest book in the very popular Outlander series, has been rescheduled twice. Finally, the release date is here! Fans of the seven previous novels in the series will surely devour this 800+ page continuation of the story. If you prefer to fill your beach bag with romance rather than action, this is the series for you.
China Dolls Lisa See
Lisa See is beloved for her stories about Chinese and Chinese-American women, such asSnow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls. China Dolls is the story of three Chinese-American young women in San Fransisco in 1938. They are from very different backgrounds, but become best friends. As war looms, they face various trials and must rely on each other.
The Silkworm
Robert Galbraith
When word got out that Robert Galbraith is actually a pen name for J.K. Rowling, Galbraith's first novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, became an instant bestseller. That's how it got our attention, but after reading it, we were glad that it did. The second novel in this new detective series is due out just in time for summer vacation. Rowling/Galbraith fans won't want to miss Silkworm.
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Herman Koch is the bestselling author of The Dinner. In his newest novel, a medical procedure performed by a doctor to the stars goes horribly wrong, and an actor dies. The doctor and actor's families spent the summer before together on the Mediterranean, and a violent incident there may be the key to understanding the actor's death. This is a psychological thriller.
Mr. Mercedes Stephen King
If you love suspense, you can't go wrong with Stephen King. In Mr. Mercedes -- a summer thriller if ever there was one -- King tells the story of a man who has already committed one violent act and is threatening something worse. When Brady Hartfield plowed through a crowd in a stolen Mercedes, he killed eight people and escaped. Still at large, he is threatening another act that could kill or maim thousands. A retired policeman and two allies are in a race to stop him.
That Night
Chevy Stevens
That Night is the story of Toni, a 34 year old woman who was convicted of murdering her younger sister when she was a teenager. She is on parole and wants to move on with her life, but circumstances are making that difficult. She may need to find out what truly happened that night and prove her innocence before she can move on.
An Untamed State
The Vacationers
Roxane Gay's short stories and essays have gained her attention and made her debut novel, An Untamed State, one of the most buzzed about debuts of early 2014. An Untamed State is billed as a page turner that you won't want to put down, but sounds like it is best for those with thicker skin. This is the story of a Haitian-born woman who returns to Haiti with her American husband and baby. She is kidnapped and sexually tortured for almost two weeks. Much of the novel deals with the psychological aftermath and ways her life falls apart after her release.
The Vacationers starts at the airport and ends with the plane ride home
Roxane Gay
Herman Koch
Emma Straub
after two weeks of vacation in Mallorca. During that time, the Post family and some close friends work through family secrets, rivalries and tensions. Emma Straub keeps the pages turning in this summery story.
BOOK CLUB
A woman's Work IS Never DONE T
his book is a great gift to give to a friend as a birthday gift, as I did with my best friend. It is written by my favorite gift books' author Helen Exley. She is well known for having many gift books under different titles that are very popular, such as; To My Great Friend, The Baby Blessing, Little Things Mean A lot and many more. Her business of gift books started as a family initiative that was meant to give people a meaningful gift that friends and family members could share amongst each others. Now Helen's gift books are widely popular. What is special about her gift books is that they are tiny books that can be easily carried in your pocket, they don't consist of many pages which makes it very easy to read, it has a collection of selected quotations by many authors that is relevant to the topic (title of the book) and a collaboration with a caricature artist to make it fun to look at over and over again. In this book Helen wanted to share the never ending works of a woman; she got quotations related to women as, mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, working ladies and many more. In this specific gift book she collaborated with caricature artist Rowan Barnes Murphy who is well known in that field. Here are examples of some of the quotes that were included in the mini book: "All mothers are physically handicapped. They have only two hands." – Author Unknown
"Just as every human being believes he has a novel in him, so every uxorious husband believes his wife has a cookery book in her." – Alice Thomas Ellis (1912-2005) "The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents." – John J. Plomp You could find Helen Exley's gift books at the gift shops stores as well as co-ops at affordable price, I also recommend that you read it before you gift it to your friend, it is always a good read.
Available online on Pinterest.com
Nada Soliman
[email protected]
Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author.
June, 2014
THE UPCOMING SUMMER
S
ummer is every student’s favorite part of the year, because it’s the time where students relax from all the stress of the final exams and get an abundant amount of free time as reward for their hard work. They spend this 3-month’s vacation leisurely having fun, and enjoying themselves. Some travel to other countries, and others lay back everyday watching TV, playing videogames, or hang out with their family and friends. Summer is, at the beginning, every student’s paradise. But gradually, and after doing all of what they had in mind, it becomes a bore; merely some time to waste before school/ college starts again. Because it becomes Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Adnan is studying Theoretical Physics at the college of Sciences and Technology in Kuwait University. His Hobbies include Anime, manga, heavy metal, jazz, gaming, writing, and reading. In Writing field he is into Reviews, critiques, essays, plays, and short short-stories. Adnan can be contacted by email: [email protected]
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repetitive really soon. Work (or in students’ case: study) is supplementary to our happiness. That’s why we tend to crave going back to school after long breaks. Sadly in Kuwait, students don’t recognize their full potentials. Accomplishments during this vacation are scarce. Most people focus on how to have fun the following day, and that is a major waste of time. Summer is the best time for doing projects. Sure, we should have fun in summer, but summer is all about productivity and creativity, that's why it’s important to consider having a plan for the upcoming summer, and the ones that come after, so that we all could be helpful members in our society. Besides, what's more fun than having a list of achievements crossed out? Imagine all the things you could come up with in 90 days of free time. Think of all the possibilities. Surely, we all have hobbies, and we all like challenges, so why not challenge ourselves (or our friends) to do the greatest
things this summer? You can start practicing on your guitar, or start writing a story. You can arrange a book-reading contest with your friends or family, or you can learn about new topics you weren’t enlightened on. You can practice drawing and sketching, or start a new club with special activities. The choices are endless, the time is abundant, and recreational activities are variant, and only you can decide how this summer turns out in the end. After all, you are the one behind your final decision: This summer can be your best yet, or just another passing vacation. We may have hard times, or some problems with family or such, but we always rise after, and make the best of our time. So ask yourself this: “What’s going to happen this summer?” Will you let it pass, or will you make the best of it? Good luck on your exams, and have a nice productive fun summer vacation!
June, 2014
Wataniya is Now Ooredoo CityPages Meets Sarah Al Enzi at Ooredoo
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
CityPages meets Sarah Al Enzi the Junior Sales Executive – Sales/Retail at Ooredoo for 2.5 years. Sarah holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administrations from Kuwait University. At Ooredoo, her tasks includes: Listening to customers to aid in finding the right bundle of services & products to comply with their needs, selling & marketing the company's products & services to them, providing the customers with information & building loyalty, and acting as a liaison between the company & the market. In our meeting with Sarah we wanted to know more about the transition of Wataniya telecom to Ooredoo and why the name "Ooredoo"?
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. citypageskuwait.com
Available online on Pinterest.com
it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. June, 2014
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. They expect more from us now. They want more tailored services and products that fit better with their lifestyles. And More than that, they wanted us to listen to what they want and provide it to them. We have promised ourselves to be Caring, Connecting and Challenging. We want to care for our customers and for what matters to them. We want to connect with them, and listen to what they want. We also want to add some challenge so that they always ask us for more, because that’s how we will develop and innovate.
After the studies done by Ooredoo Group on choosing an Arabic name, why the name “Ooredoo”? The group wanted an Arabic name that represents its Arabic identity across all countries it operates in and it also wanted a name that reflect what customers wants are. Therefore, the name “Ooredoo” was chosen, which in English means “I want.” By this name we give chances to our customers to tell us what they want. Ooredoo is the word that every customer normally says when coming to a branch; “I want” fast internet, “I want” personalized services, and much more. We encourage our customers to tell us what they want so we can continue to innovate and develop more services.
How is the vision of Ooredoo affecting your deliverables to customers? Ooredoo’s vision is all about enriching people's lives in Kuwait. To enrich people’s lives means we want to serve them by not only providing them with telecom services, but also by helping them grow in their communities within Kuwait and supporting them reach their potential to contribute to human growth. This is what makes us different than other telecoms in Kuwait. We are a communitybased company which makes us responsible of contributing to the social development of the communities within Kuwait. We want to enable youth, champion women and empower entrepreneurs and small businesses.
What opportunities does Ooredoo give to young ambitious Kuwaitis like you? With my experience in the Sales Division, I believe that Ooredoo definitely sees potential in Kuwaiti youth. The company believes in their great skills and abilities as there are many young enthusiastic and passionate Kuwaitis working now in different divisions in the company. Ooredoo provides different job opportunities for graduates as well as experienced Kuwaitis. This comes from the company’s vision as it believes in enabling youth and helping them grow. The company also provides continuous training and growth opportunities within it. What we learned from Ooredoo as employees is that it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. 112
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Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
to add to your wishlist
An Amazon Fire TV, Digital Paper System, and more amazing must-haves
Nendo Cubic Rubber Band Our favorite design this month is a cubic rubber band. The shape does two things: It makes the band easier to pick up and gives it a firmer grip. We still haven’t found the best way to shoot it, though.
Rhythm Downlight Led Astronauts on the ISS see 15 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. So to help them get into some kind of routine, scientists researched the optimum wavelength of light for suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin. Blue light proved best, which is why Lighting Science’s new Rhythm Downlight bulb uses blasts of blue to keep you alert, followed by a relaxing tune when you need to rest.
Ryno The Ryno looks like the love child of a motorcycle and a unicycle. But unlike either, there’s little balancing required: A gyroscope and accelerometers help keep a rider upright. Leaning forward accelerates the electric bike to speeds up to 10 mph.
Moog Theremini Hitting the right note on a theremin is surprisingly difficult. So Moog added pitch control to its latest model. With the control turned up, it’s impossible to play a wrong note. Lessen it, and there’s room for vibrato.
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Flir One The Flir One is a thermal imaging device for an iPhone. It detects infrared energy from 32°F to 212°F. Uses include seeing in the dark, locating heat loss, and cheating at hide-and-seek.
Digital Paper System Sony’s new Digital Paper System wants to liberate your office from its dependence on dead trees with an E-ink tablet. This low-power device lasts three weeks between charges, lets you edit, create and annotate documents, and at 6.6mm thick is thinner than your average notepad. When you’re done working you can upload your files to the cloud via Wi-Fi or save them to an SD card.
Crescent Switchblade This multi-tool has four interchangeable heads—three blades and a plier—for various activities, such as shingle work and cutting wires.
Htc One (M8)
Click And Grow Smart Herb Garden
Regular readers will remember the Lytro camera we tested in issue 251, which lets you change the focus of a picture after it's been taken. Two years later, the HTC One (M8) is the first smartphone to mimic this feature, using two lenses at the rear of the phone to do the job. This means if you’ve accidentally focused your photo on a lamp post rather than the landscape behind it, you can correct the error when you get home.
If astronauts can grow plants in space, then you can grow them right here on terra firma. Inspired by NASA technology, this miniature garden helps you grow healthy plants indoors. You simply add some water to the specially designed solution – which is full of the optimum O2 and nitrate levels for growth – and then leave the smart pot and light to work their magic.
Amazon Fire Tv Another nail in the coffin for broadcast telly, Fire TV brings streaming services such as Netflix, iPlayer and, of course, Amazon Instant Video to your TV. But unlike other streamers, it also offers streaming videogames and a dedicated games controller. And with Amazon’s purchasing power you can bet they’ll be able to offer access to most on-demand TV before the year’s out.
Feddz Electric Bike An electric motor takes up a lot less space than a petrol one. This battery-driven scooter uses the extra room to let its rider carry much more than they could on a typical motorbike. Where the fuel tank and engine would have been there are now 23 litres of storage space. Fully loaded and charged, it’ll offer a range of 70km – enough for most commutes – and will even charge your smartphone en route. June, 2014
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.تقنيات الثمانيات تعود للحياة
وهي إحدى عمالقة التقنية اليابانية أنها قامت وبشكلSony صرحت ١٤٨ مستقل بتطوير شريط تسجيل مغناطيسي بسعة تخزين تيرابايت١٨٥ وهذا يعني القدرة على تخزين،جيجابايت لكل إنش مربع فيلم بلوراي٣٧٠٠ بمعنى آخر يمكنك تخزين.في شريط كاسيت واحد IBM بشريط كاسيت واحد فقط! هذا اإلنجاز تم بالتعاون مع شركة هذه التقنية، حتى اآلن.والتي ساهمت بقياس كثافة التسجيل مصممة لتخزين البيانات اإلحتياطية للشركات الكبرى والحواسيب نحن نعتقد أنه ستكون هناك منافسة.)Supercomputer( الخارقة على توفيرSony كبيرة مع شركات التقنية األخرى والتي ستجبر لم تعلن عن موعد طرحSony شركة.هذه التقنية للمستهلك الحقًا ولكن عندما يحصل ذلك سيكون بمثابة انتصار،الشريط في األسواق .لحقبة الثمانينات
80's Technology Returns to Life The giant Japanese technology company Sony announced that they have dependently developed a soft magnetic tape technology with areal recording density of 148GB/in2. This means it will be able to record (185TB) worth of storage in a single tape. In other words, you can store 3700 blurays in one simple cartridge. This breakthrough comes with the help of IBM corporation who assisted them with the measurement of the recording density. It's designed for long-term industrial-sized data backup. For now, this technology is designed to work with supercomputers. We think there will be a huge competition between other technology companies that will force Sony to bring this technology to the consumer later on. Sony wouldn’t say when this tape will hit the market, but when it does it will be a victory to the 80's era.
Yousif AlSaeed Saad Almseikan A burger lover who works as a Computer Technician during the day. Saad has a curious mind that likes to discover everything new that's related to computers, hardware, gadgets and technology. You'll most probably find him holding a burger while playing with a new gadget. He is 27 years old, loves Mixed Martial Arts. Music is what keeps him going especially Rock & Roll.
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Yousif holds a BSc. in Information Technology & Computing Degree and is a Teacher and Software Developer. He loves sharing the latest technology news and gadgets with people. Yousif believes that behind everything in the tech-world is a great story. He spends most of his time reading technology blogs and self development.
Available online on Pinterest.com
The End of Apple vs. Google Lawsuit. Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist between the two major companies. They also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. In 2010 Motorola Mobility (Owned by Google) accused Apple of infringing several patent while Apple said they violated its patents regarding smartphones features. Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012 for 12.5$ billion. This year Google decided to sell the Motorola Mobility to Lenovo but it will keep the majority of Motorola's patent portfolio.
Third Time is a Charm. Microsoft Suface Pro 3. After two runs on the tablet business, Microsoft gets the hang of it. With this edition, they introduce a lighter and thinner tablet with great features and a stunning screen (2160 x 1440pix ). They even threw a pen with it to make it user-friendly. It comes with redesigned kickstand that allows you to set it at any angle (between 22 - 150 degrees). Also, it has a new 5mm ultra-thin keyboard with backlit .You can pre-order it now starting from 799$ - 1949$ and it ships on August 31st.
The World's Most Valuable Brands are Tech Companies Google got the 1st rank with a value of 159$ billion after beating Apple which slipped to 2nd rank. IBM remain in the 3rd place followed by Microsoft in the 4th ( was 7th ). Facebook is in the 21st place ( was 31st ). Samsung is in the 29th place ( was 30th ). Oracle is in the 45th place ( was 36th ). HP is in the 49th ( was 54th ). The first 4 companies leading this chart are technology companies and their value surpass 500$ billion. How long will these companies hold and lead the chart?!
The Second Worst Data Breach in History More than 145 millions accounts compromised! eBay said that hackers raided its network three months ago. The company advised its users to change their passwords immediately. eBay said "We don't know that they decrypted the passwords because it would not be easy to do.�. These records contain passwords, email addresses, mailing addresses, date of birth and other personal information, but no financial data (credit cards information). The biggest data breach was in October 2013 when a hacker accessed Adobe System and collected information that belongs to 152 million user accounts.
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Samsung New Health SAMI Sensor & SIMBAND Mock-up. Samsung introduced Samsung Architecture Multimodal Interaction or "SAMI" Sensor & SIMBAND with open software, open hardware and mechanical as well. Its a mock-up to help inspire future partners. Samsung's goal is to converge the IT technology with health and wellness. The new era after the wearable gears is "Wearable Sensors". Young Sohn, the president and chief strategy officer of Samsung says: we should know about our bodies as much as we know about our cars for instance. He says, that our aim that someday you have sensors that know much more about your body. Samsung working with Interuniversity MicroElectronics Centre “IMEC" and University of California San Francisco to start the dialog between tech and health. Its a beginning of a new health era that will help us to take care of ourself and our body. Its a great initiative from Samsung and its worth a shout out.
LG G3: The Next Smartphone From LG. After a lot of rumours and gossips regarding the G3, LG officially announced their G3. A metallic skin, an arc design and a 5.5 inch Quad HD display ( 2560 x 1440 ) with a pixel density of 538ppi. 13MP Camera and dual flash. 3000mAh removable battery and a smart keyboard with adjustable height and adaptive keyboard. Its running the latest Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. And definitely it will be coming with 4G/LTE. "Knock Code" feature allow you to access your phone with a simple knock pattern on your screen. "Smart Security� to help you maintain and securing your data when your phone is shared, misplaced or stolen. From what they are saying and how the phone looks, we are sure its going to be a great breakthrough in their smartphone business. 118
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Apple WWDC 2014. What is your app!? An App can open things that you might not know about before. 9 million registered developers. 300 million visitor a week for the app store with 75 billion downloaded apps so far. that is a fraction of what this conference is about. Apple CEO Mr.Tim Cook introduced a new OS X that is going to work seamlessly together with iOS. The new OS X Yosemite will be more friendly to users. With new user interface inspired by iOS 7 and whole new features, user can receive or make calls right from his mac without touching his iPhone. Moreover, user can send SMS/ iMessages, send audio notes too. You can instantly connect to the internet “Instant Hotspot” with just view clicks on your Mac. The new "iCloud Drive” is a new feature to your iCloud account. Now you can create folders and upload any type of files to use it with your iOS apps or your Windows. Now your Mac and your iOS devices know what each other is doing, this “Handoff” feature allows you to start something on you Mac and pick it up on another iOS instantly and vice versa. And now you can send up to 5GB attachment with your email, even if the recipient server have a size limitation, the Mail will use the “Mail Drop” feature to send the attachment file to the iCloud server and give the recipient a secure link for it. But if both of users using Mail in the Mac, then no need for that feature. And a lot of amazing features with this update we can`t elaborate on them all. iOS 8, its all about the software and what`s under the user interface, is the big deal. Apple gives the developers rich access and lots of tools. Now, apps can communicate with each other. For example, you don’t need to open and edit documents using more apps, and to share documents between apps without creating unnecessary copies. There are a lot of new changes and features to the new iOS, its to simply and to make us create our natural experience the way we want it. Starting from the Photo app that make you discover and search your moments, event and specific dates. The design, new notification centre, new widget bar, new automatic photo enhancer, smart keyboard, the whole new "family sharing" feature which we think its really amazing. moreover, new Health app and health kit to make your activity tracker, heart rate monitor, and other health and fitness apps talk to each other. A spotlight search can now search wikipedia, places nearby trending news and much more in a single search bar. What Apple did to developers? Well, they did a lot. With the new SDK they gave the developers the advantages to use the
iCloud, Touch ID, and more to integrates with their apps. With more than 4000 new APIs they give the developers a deeperthan-ever access to iOS capabilities. Starting from Sharing Option, Photo Editing, Custom Action, Notification Centre, Documents to the amazing kits they already releasing like PhotoKit, HomeKit, HealthKit and CloudKit. They didn’t forget the Gaming generation. They are adding the SceneKit to render the games in 3D and a new technology called “Metal” that allow them to squeeze the maximum performance from the A7 chip. Last but not least, they introduce a new programming language, oh yes they did. It`s called Swift. This what they have to say about it: "Swift is an innovative new programming language for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch. Writing code is interactive and fun, the syntax is concise yet expressive, and apps run lightning-fast and it works side-by-side with Objective-C.” Finally, with 97% overall satisfaction for iOS7. iOS 8, Apple`s Giant release so far and we bet its the best integration between the iOS and OS X till this date.
June, 2014
تطورات شركة أبل
تستعد
شركة آبل رسميًا لالعالن رسميًا في السنوي مؤتمرها للمطورين WWDC 2014عن منصة Smart ، Homeحيث تعمل آبل على جعل iOSيتحكم بالمنازل واألعمال الداخلية بداخله ،حيث تسمح بتغيير اعدادات األجهزة االستهالكيه الموجودة في المنزل المتصلة بشبكة االنترنت لكل مستخدمي هواتف ال iPhoneولوحيات ال . iPadوأيضًا يمكنك التحكم في االضاءة داخل وخارج المنزل ، وبامكانك تفعيل أجهزة االنذار عند مغادرة المنزل . من ناحية أخرى شركة جوجل لديها منصة مشابهة لها التي تحمل اسم . Android@Home
تم مؤخرًا تسريب مجموعة من الصور ذات الجودة العالية التي ستتميز بها هاتف iPhone 6الحديث وأيضًا فيديو لنموذج وهمي للجيل القادم من هاتف .iPhoneمن مميزاته سوف تكون شاشة االيفون أكبر بحجم 4.7انش باالضافة الى النحافة التي اضافها جماالً وسوف تكون الحواف للهاتف مدورة، وبالطبع كعادتها سيأتي هيكل الهاتف مصنوعًا أصبحت التكنولوجيا أيضًا ليس بمتناول اليد فقط من االلمنيوم الفاخر .لمشاهدة الفيديو لنموذج بل أيضًا للتحكم بمقتنياتنا ،أسعدني هذا التصريح االيفون المقبل عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة حيث يمكن للمسافرون بالتحكم بالمنزل حيث السريع -: خاصية االنذار لها دور هام في حماية منازلنا .أصبحت تطورات شركة آبل تتنافس بجدارة للوصول الى الصدارة حيث قامت بترويج الجهاز اللوحي iPad Air وقامت بنشر اعالنين يوضح فيها المهام االساسية الستخدام الجهاز ،على سبيل المثال :المساعدة على سهولة التنقل بين البلدان ،ومساعدة أيضًا ضعاف السمع على الكتابة واستغالل مواهبهم .أردت أن أشارككم لمشاهدة االعالنين عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة السريع -:
Faisal Ben Dhofari General manager / Owner Click integrated Media Solutions Faisal Ben Dhofari
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Abdulla Ashkanani An entrepreneurial spirit
Translating a European brand in a foreign land Abdulla Ashkanani, partner and general manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait, is a young, motivated and hard-working Kuwaiti with a strong entrepreneurial drive. Abdulla has entrepreneurship deeply rooted in his genes. His grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate, his father was a jeweler and also worked in real estate. Being hailed from a family with strong business background and wanting to tap into fashion retail with a will to build a company off of the simple idea of doing things his own way, owner Abdulla Ashkanani opened up the doors to the Piel De Toro Kuwait store in 2013. You may have thought that the recent rise of clothing label Piel De Toro Kuwait came out of nowhere, but the Spain-based collective has been bubbling overseas for years. This unique Spanish fashion brand has created itself a niche on the international market due to its high level of creativity, quality and the manner in which it interprets the latest trends. Abdulla and his wife Reem Behbehani; who is also the marketing and PR manager of the company, are focused on taking the label to the next level. CityPages caught up with Abdulla Ashkanani to get his thoughts on the state of fashion, challenges his business had to face and how he is setting the pace for the future.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our reader: My name is Abdulla Ashkanani, and I am a partner and General Manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait. I am also a Vice President of Business Development in the private sector. Tell us about your education: I hold a bachelors degree in finance from Kuwait University. My international work experience allowed me to tap into some cultures and languages. I speak a little Spanish in addition to Danish, Arabic and English of course. So it all came in handy with this business. How and when did the idea of opening the Piel de Toro store in Kuwait come up? Our first vacation home was in Spain in 1978. So my parents took us there on a yearly basis. I feel very connected to Spain and its culture. So back in 2012, while on one of my visits to Spain with my brother, we spotted Piel De Toro and decided to take the chance and bring it to Kuwait. Upon arriving to Kuwait, we contacted the brand owners, who were very excited to the idea, and things developed quite rapidly from then. What was your previous experience in fashion retail? I come from a family with a lot of business background. My grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate. My father was a jeweler, and also worked in real estate. As you can see, our family is fairly new to fashion retail. I think this is might be one of the reasons I took on the challenge to expand our family business and tap into this market. How was the initial response? The initial response was amazing. Those who visit Spain know the brand, and are very excited to see it in Kuwait. Those who were newly introduced to the brand quickly became loyal customers. It is wonderful to see our costumers returning often to update their wardrobe. What are some of the challenges that you had to face and how did you overcome them? It is crucial to any business to understand the market and what customers want. It was a challenge at the beginning being a European brand, with bold colors and smaller sizes, but we swiftly learned to adjust to the local taste. The language barrier is always an obstacle since not too many Spanish people speak English fluently. Nonetheless, the brand owners were very supportive since the launch and are excited to see this project work; especially that this is the first store for Piel De Toro in the Middle East. I’m sure the other challenges we faced are shared by most start ups in Kuwait – ranging from finding the right sales team to bureaucracy and lengthy paperwork cycles.
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Now, you have completed a year in Kuwait. How would you describe the success and experience for the brand in Kuwait within this year? I believe that Piel De Toro is becoming the next big thing in the fashion retail market. Our customers are very proud to be seen wearing Piel De Toro and their support for the brand is what keeps us going. I also believe that Piel De Toro is now becoming a recognized and competing brand amongst the retail fashion brands in Kuwait. Your wife is also involved in running the business. How do you think this has helped you succeed? I was looking for a marketing and PR manager to handle all related aspects of this business, and I have interviewed a few candidates for this position. Unfortunately, I was not satisfied. I truly believe that this position is the face of Piel De Toro, and it required someone with a passion for fashion alongside the academic background. I was hesitant at the beginning, but I could not find a better candidate than my wife Reem Behbehani. She is both passionate and dedicated. Reem holds a bachelors degree in Finance as well, and is currently doing her MBA with a concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. My wife has probably had more experience in the fashion retail having had her own line of accessories, and doing a bit of fashion and weddings-related blogging on the side too. Besides raising our 3 adorable kids, she is an event planner and a window designer. My wife has been with me from the start, and knows almost everything about the history of Piel De Toro Kuwait. She is socially very active too which made it easier for us to plan and execute events, and reach out to the social media, as well as our loyal customers. How often does the new collection arrive at the store? We generally have 3-4 major shipments arrive to Kuwait every year. Usually, our winter collection arrives to Kuwait during September, and our major summer collection arrives in February. We carry a wide selection of men, ladies, and children apparel at very competitive prices. A very successful line for us in the past year has been the “like-daddy” collection. Kids love to dress up like their role models, and we give them just that! Are there any specific designs that you have the brand made for Kuwait market? Yes, there were a few designs that were specifically made for Kuwait during last winter collection, and we hope to see more during the upcoming months. The franchise owners love to hear our feedback, and work hard to provide us with what customers are looking for. What differentiates Piel de Toro from other brands in the same category?
Piel de Toro represents the Andalucian lifestyle. It projects the colors and energy of southern Spain. 90% of all of our apparel are made in Spain, and this positions us strongly in the market for excellent designs, fabrics and finish. What does wearing Piel de Toro mean? It means you’re happy and proud. You radiate with youthful energy, pride (represented by the Andalucían horse), and bravery (represented by the bull). Do you have any customer loyalty scheme in place at the store? We constantly find ways to reward our returning customers; whether through events or special promotions. We are also working with the mother company on developing a special loyalty program to further benefit our base of clientele. What are some of your future plans? We are working on expanding the brand within Kuwait and the GCC markets. We hope to see another location in the region during 2014 inshalah. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I would really like to thank CityPages for celebrating with us our 1st anniversary, and giving us a great coverage for the event. Thank you for this interview. Our Piel De Toro family congratulates you on your recent completion of 50 amazing issues. We are proud of your achievements and the trail you leave for others to follow. Many more years of success! inshalah.
June, 2014
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Radisson Blu Hotel - @radissonbluhotelkuwait
Red Carpet Collection 2014 Sixty-seven dazzling creations
T
he romance between Chopard and the Cannes Film Festival has blossomed continuously since 1998, the year Chopard became the Official Partner of the world’s most renowned film festival. Since the 60th anniversary of the Festival in 2007, Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard, has annually created an original Haute Joaillerie collection intended to exalt the beauty of the actresses for their red carpet appearance: the Red Carpet Collection. Each spring, the famous “Red Carpet” of the Festival is the showcase of 126
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dazzling new creations with Chopard taking up the extraordinary challenge of introducing a number of high jewellery pieces equal to the number of Cannes Film Festival editions. For this year, the 67th edition, 67 unique creations inspired by the glamour and the voluptuous beauty of the actresses who lit up the heyday Italian cinema of the 1950’s and 1960’s will be unveiled. As a preview, Chopard is presenting at Baselworld two magnificent pair of earrings, the first composed of diamond briolettes and emeralds, the second one of amethysts
and diamonds, as well as the leading model of the collection, the Riviera jewellery set composed of a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings, radiating a fascinating aura of opulent seduction. The Red Carpet Collection 2014 will once again testify to Chopard’s considerable talents in the field of Haute Joaillerie: a full range of talented and experienced artisans in the workshops of Chopard mingle timehonoured techniques and cutting-edge technologies to craft these unique creations.
Swarovski Women’s Watch Collection 2014 Combining a rich jewelry heritage, a spirit for innovation and the high precision of Swiss watch making, Swarovski offers impeccable timepieces infused with an inimitable touch of glamour. Be it for everyday wear or for special occasions, the watch collection
Hamilton’s latest high-flyer A Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition takes to the skies In the Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition, sophisticated design houses a drift-angle calculator to satisfy the technical and aesthetic demands of all aviation enthusiasts. Proudly rooted in Hamilton’s century-long heritage of aviation firsts, this timepiece is a codeshare of horological fascination and contemporary styling. This special limited edition will be sought after by pilots and wannabe pilots the world over.
comprises pieces that reflect Swarovski’s esthetic codes, expert crystal faceting, and a true passion for the detail. Swarovski unveils at Baselword three new lines for 2014 as well as re-colorings of many popular designs.
Calvin Klein bold Iconic. Sophisticated. Calvin Klein bold. A classic timepiece that celebrates the refined luxury of the Calvin Klein brand. First launched in 2007, the remarkable Calvin Klein bold is now redesigned for both men and women. The black leather strap style is paired with either a polished stainless steel or PVD gold case and black or silver dial. The polished stainless steel bracelet style is offered with a polished and brushed stainless steel case and black, silver, dark blue or light blue dial. Two chronograph options, one with the black leather strap and one with the polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet, are also available. Each watch is enhanced by a “Calvin Klein” logo at 12 o’clock and features superluminova hour and minute hands that subtly illuminate in the dark for convenience.
Gent style is water resistant to 5 bar. Gent chronograph style is water resistant to 10 bar. June, 2014
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BANANA REPUBLIC AND MARIMEKKO ANNOUNCE LIMITED-EDITION CAPSULE COLLECTION FOR SUMMER 2014 Banana Republic Marimekko Collection Brings a Pop of Color to her Summer Wardrobe
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9 POST BEACH: 1.Dolce & Gabbana tee 110k.d 2.Givenchy T 170k.d 3.Alexander
McQueen T 80k.d 4.PRPS skinny jeans 310k.d 5.Alexander McQueen scarf 60k.d 6.Jacob Cohen slim jeans 130k.d 7.Converse sneakers 40k.d 8.Golden Goose Deluxe Brand sneakers 120k.d 9.Christian Louboutin loafers 385k.d
THE BRAND:
sneakers
Price: High top 280k.d / Low top 220k.d
Zouch is about men's fashion, giving insight on what, how and when to wear. Think of Zouch as your personal fashion consultant. This page relates to all men of all ages as a helping tool to dress with style and edge. Find your own individual style as we push boundaries for you. Rest assured we will keep you updated with all the latest fashion news, men's trends and lots more. Instagram: @zouchfashion Twitter: @zouchfashion Facebook: Facebook.com/zouchfashion June, 2014
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VICTORIA’S SECRET ANGEL KARLIE KLOSS REVEALS THE NEW LOOK OF VICTORIA’S SECRET HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss unveiled the new look of Heavenly, Victoria’s Secret’s original Angel fragrance. The stunning Supermodel is the face of the brand’s newest campaign. The iconic fragrance she knows and loves has been reinvented. For the first time, Heavenly debuts a sleek new bottle shape and features a jeweled Angel wing charm embedded in the cap. With notes of White Musk, Sandalwood, Vanilla and White Peony, this gorgeous fragrance is heaven scent. The award-winning scent received the prestigious FiFi Fragrance Foundation Award for “Fragrance of the Year” in 2000. Since its debut, there have been more Heavenly Eau de Parfum bottles sold in the U.S. than any other fragrance. “We’re giving our customer an all-new reason to love our Heavenly fragrance,” said Sharen Jester Turney, president and chief executive officer of Victoria’s Secret. “It’s been our best-selling fragrance since it launched in 1999 and now our customer is going to covet the exquisite new bottle design just as much as the Heavenly scent inside.”
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High Jewelry Timepieces “I want to see this stone have grace and beauty and form.” – Mr. Harry Winston
Known as the King of Diamonds, Harry Winston’s life was devoted to celebrating the rarity and beauty of these extraordinary stones. Throughout his lifetime, it is estimated that more than a third of the world’s most important diamonds passed through his hands. Often purchased as rough, several of these spectacular stones were cut, polished and transformed into legends under Mr. Winston’s watchful eye. He reveled in the process of watching a rough stone evolve into a remarkable gem, and took pride in his ability to successfully determine a diamond’s final destined shape by simply holding the stone in his hands. Mr. Winston was particularly fond of fancy-shaped gems, whether featured alone in the striking silhouette of a large solitaire, or as numerous stones combined to create a Winston cluster motif. In this year’s extraordinary new collection of High Jewelry Timepieces, we honor Mr. Winston’s fascination with a diamond’s finished form. Each stunning creation takes its cues from the timeless beauty of fancy-shaped stones, and marries the House’s time-honored techniques in fine jewelry craftsmanship with the traditions of fine Swiss watch making. June, 2014
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A Grunge Affair D espite my bi-polar attitude towards fashion, (meaning my style evolves constantly based on my mood and whatever is tickling my fashion pickle at the time), anyone who knows me would agree that Grunge is my thing. My love for grunge, mainly 90’s inspired grunge with a contemporary touch (a mouthful I know), has evidently grown over the years. I love the effortlessly cool and badass look of it; I love how it’s so… street, for lack of better words. 90’s grunge is an era that brought us 80’s-90’s kids Kurt Kobain, Doc Martins, and Nirvana. All those factors obviously influenced the fashion world when it comes to street style and casual clothing. Hair was messy, t shirts worn out and/or a little too short, and shoes bulky and very rock and roll. Because grunge is so casual, I’m going to stay away from talking about high fashion and going to focus on high street clothing. We have recently seen a great amount of contemporary clothing and grunge influence in fashion for the past few years. So many high street shops like Zara, Topshop and H&M really give into the grunge theme; I love that because I always find something I can use to mix and match with other contemporary designers. Because fashion is so versatile and has no rules (obviously— wouldn’t be fun anymore), many fashion
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lovers like to mix grunge with bohemian or very clean minimalist contemporary clothing. Personally, because I can never make up my mind about what I like best, I find myself always changing it up. My grunge outfits usually consist of ripped jeans, plain v-neck tees, biker boots/doc martins/converse, heavy eye liner, and a lot of rings. I usually go for nude or dark colors for bags; mostly black actually. I also love 90’s style crop tops and tapered high wasted jeans as well, which are normally blue or grey acid wash. When I want to clean up the look a bit more but still keep it edgy and cool, I usually keep the colors and print minimal, so plain white, grey, and black usually, but I still add on the grungy accessories to add a bit of “character”, so to speak, to my outfits. For this look I love to mix my metals and go for plain statement necklaces. I also pay more attention to the cut and style of my clothes so it remains modern, and I almost always rock black nails—only because I think it’s timeless and very chic. Grunge is definitely not boring, and is so easy to pull off when done right. But of course with everything in life, always remember not to go overboard so it doesn’t end up looking too gothic- unless that’s your thing in which case, all the power to you!
Talah Al Abdulaaly Talah is a 23 years young and an avid fashion lover. Her heart lies in fashion, and everything that comes with it. She enjoys writing about it, buying it, styling it, and the list goes on. Living in London, one of the worlds fashion hot spots, for around 5 years gave her the chance to channel her passion even more. She met people from the industry, worked closely with a designer, gained some styling experience, and most importantly, got to be inspired from the ever so urban street style almost everywhere she went.
June, 2014
first produc t to breaking carbon ultra-lightweight
Oakley Ignites Relationship with Scuderia Ferrari
hat goes into the i cars.
in ma terials and craftsmanship represented by both fiber and titanium, it features Scuderia Ferrari red dly distinguishes the collec tion.
The partnership be tween Oakley and Scuderia Ferrari is a deep alliance be tween two brands with a rich heritage of engineering and technical excellence. As the multi-year partnership develops, the companies will share design philosophies and engineering insights even further, enabling greater collaboration and innova tion across a range of areas. With the partnership agreement, Oakley is the Official Licensee in eyewear, as well as the Official Supplier to Scuderia Ferrari. The team’s drivers will carry the Oakley logo on their helme ts throughout the season. The Scuderia Ferrari Carbon Blade™, part of the Scuderia Ferrari collection, is the first product created to celebra te this partnership.
بايليس تطلقتشكيلة جديدة لموسم الصيف تشكيلةجديدةملوسمالصيفتش،العالمة الرائدة في مجال مبيعات األحذية بالتجزئة جلميع أفراد العائلة، تطلقبايليس: وستتوفرالتشكيلة اجلديدةلدىجميع محالتبايليس في الكويت.ملباقة متنوعةمن الصنادل واحلقائب بتصاميم عصرية . مايو27 ابتدا ًءمن وتعكسهذهالتشكيلةالتزامبايليساملتواصل باجلودة العاليةوقدرتهاعلىتلبيةمتطلباتزبائنهاوتعزيزمكانتهاكوجهةأساس باإلضافة إلىاالكسسواراتبتصاميممميزةبأف،يةلألحذيةاملريحة املالئمة لإلستخدام اليوميوتلك اخلاصة باملناسبات اخملتلفة .ضالألسعارجلميعأفرادالعائلة
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Tory Burch Fall 2014 “The inspiration starts with the armor my parents collected. The references are subtle, whether in the mix of textures (woven, quilted, pleated) or in the tapestry brocades and florals. The focus is on clean, strong silhouettes with bold embellishments. Accessories reflect the mood — belts with chain details, lace-up ghillie heels and muffs.” — Tory Burch
GET SUMMER-READY WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER AQUA RANGE Why settle for less when you can get flawless makeup results this summer no matter how hot or humid it is. MAKE UP FOR EVER brings you the summer must-haves for a perfect and longlasting makeup. Its award-winning Aqua range offers you a wide range of colorful products for a fresh and lively summer. Combining long-wear and easy application, Aqua Range is ideal for women who want quick-to-apply makeup that is both flawless and very long-lasting. Guaranteed waterproof, it offers maximum resistance to water and rubbing to provide unique staying power on the face, eyes and lips. The intense pigments hold up perfectly all day long, and all night too to perfect your makeup style!
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What’s Trending Sizzling Stripes
Fashionable Florals Patterns, prints and pastels are in this season, and nothing represents this time of year better than flowers! This year, panning between extremes, floral prints go from subtle to brassy, and modern to nineties. With mixes of colours from greys to pinks, orange and blues, this year turn your summer into a full floral fantasy. First on our list of fashionable florals is the perfect clutch for the summer. Easily transitioned from day to night, the Zulu Clutch is a hot item of the summer with its burst of colour. Also both versatile and fun, the clutch is perfect with a pair of jeans or dressed up for a night out with your girlfriends.
Next on the fashionable floral list is Max&Co.’s SS14’s floral collection, all so uniquely different but one of the same - hot! Beginning with what us girls love and adore, shoes and bags. Available in two different colours, passionate pink or youthful yellow, the Albero tote and Albinoni canvas sneakers come in a fashion for women of different style.
WEEKEND BY MAXMARA - Giudy, striped cotton and linen blend twill Bermuda shorts They say stripes are not flattering, but this summer has proven that wrong. With horizontal and vertical stripes in all shapes, colours and style hitting the runway and shops from casual to luxurious, the ‘nautical’ look has never been more chic. Casual chic is in, and nobody does casual like Weekend by MaxMara. With the perfect apparel that is both comfortable and chic, their SS14 collection focus on the beach and is dedicated to all shades of blue, and stripes of all types. With a fresh perspective on formal outerwear, a favorite of this season is the Giudy shorts. Dressed up in a button-up, or down in a tee, these sizzling striped shorts are a hot trend of the summer and needed in your closet.
JIMMY CHOO - Zulu, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Clutch Bag With hot bags, must always come shoes. Styled in the same burst of colour print is the classic Demi Slip-on. Channelling a luxe sportswear vibe, the trainers are an effortless weekend favorite.
SHOE(S): MAX&CO. - Albinoni, Floral Print Canvas Sneakers
JIMMY CHOO - Demi, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Slip On Trainers
MAX&CO. - Fair, Jacquard Pique Dress While nautical themed thin blue and white stripes are in and seen in dresses, shirts, shorts, skirts and shoes, so are thick, coloured stripes. Dresses are one of the staple pieces that represent summer, but this year the addition of the Shirtdress is something to note. This SS14, Max&Co. has the perfect combination of colour, cut and stripes found in their Fair Dress. So perfect, that the same print is found in a t-shirt, dress and A-line overcoat. 138
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TOTE BAG(S): MAX & CO. - Albero, Floral Print Canvas Tote Bag
Different florals at Max&Co. also calls for different style.This season, pretty pastel florals are represented through the clothing of the collection. Starting with their signature dress, the Corolla is a top trending item of the season. Perfect for a day out with its cooling fabric texture and simple cut, and great with sandals or slip-ons and a summer hat.
JIMMY CHOO - Nyssa, Green, White and Pallisander Snake Print and Vachetta Leather Flat Sandals While stripes and sandals may not be in their forte, Jimmy Choo’s SS14 collection embodies the trend in a simple, subtle way. With distinct stripes of colour found in its cut and colour, the Nyssa Sandal is the perfect incorporation of stripes into your style, and sandals that can be worn throughout the day.
MAX&Co. - Bellini, Floral Print Silk Satin Corolla Dress
this Summer? While summer time may mean shorts, pants are still in and something enjoyed by all women in Kuwait. With a different take on repeated floral patterns, Max&Co.’s Fila pants are the exact bottoms you need on a hot summer day when you want something pretty on. With a fastening invisible zip on the side, they are slim fit, allowing you to layer a t-shirt underneath without worry about looking frumpy.
Flat is Back Now lets talk about the shift of heels into flats this Spring and Summer season. This season, we’ve seen it all on the runways rom ballets to sandals with a twist of luxury. With clean lines and mixing materials, Jimmy Choo has developed a collection made for the season using matte black python, antique brushed gold leather, pointed toes, gold, leopard, studs, straps and snakeskin.
JIMMY CHOO - Harlow, Neon Flame MAX&Co. - Fila, Crêpe De Chine Palazzo Pants
JIMMY CHOO - Beach
JIMMY CHOO - Tabitha, Neon Flame
June, 2014
From the 3 Al Essa Fashion Show for 2014 Ramadan Collection at AlHamra Mall
From the Aubade Jewelry Opening Event
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At the First Anniversary of Cavalli Caffe in Kuwait
At Diet Care's "My Life Concept' And The Reveal Of Its New Logo Event
June, 2014
For more details please visit any of our stores or contact us on @Caribou_social 148
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Caribou_social
At the Opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Exhibition and preview of its 2014 New Fine Watchmaking Collection
At Elie Tahari Boutique in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary and Reveal its Very Limited EDITION 1974 Collection
June, 2014
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At the Tracktionoff Event with the Kuwait Red Bull Champion Mubarak AlRumaidhi
At the Porsche Media Event at Harvey Nichols Celebrating the Success of the Launch of the Porsche Macan in Kuwait.
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At the First Year Anniversary of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa Kuwait
At the Grand Opening of LeSilla Boutique at AlHamra Luxury Center
June, 2014
At the Summer and Ramadan 2014 Collection Launch Event at TRUCCO Kuwait
At the Reopening Event of OYSHO Avenues Store
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At the Asrar Alansari Book Signing Event at That AlSalasel
At Piel De Toro Kuwait's 1st Anniversary Event
CONTACT US FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF YOUR EVENTS [email protected]
June, 2014
CONIC showcases ‘THE ICON’ collection at Fashion Forward
FROM THE PRESS
Gulf Bank Sponsors Q8hoops Project Charity Basketball Tournament for Kuwait Center for Autism
Moisturisation has never been so cool! Treat yourself to the frostiest hydration with The Body Shop’s new Body Sorbets!
The Body Shop is pleased to launch Body Sorbets, an industry first cool body moisturiser infused with juicy fruity scents! The breakthrough sorbet texture instantly melts into skin for a frosty burst of fresh moisture. It is light, fast absorbing, leaves skin instantly moisturised and offers up to 24 hours of hydration. The sorbets are available in five scents: Strawberry, Satsuma, Mango, Moringa and Pink Grapefruit. They will allow The Body Shop lovers to fight the scorching heat this summer and to enjoy the frosted moisture sensation which will leave them feeling fresh and fruity all day long! The Sorbet contains cooling Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera that comes from Guatemala. The aloe leaves are hand-harvested, hand-washed and hand-filleted within 12 hours to preserve the freshness of the gel. The Body Shop’s trade generates vital income for the farmers of the El Progreso region and has helped to supply educational materials to over 100 schools.
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Showcasing for the very first time at Fashion Forward (FFWD), ICONIC unveiled ‘THE ICON’ a capsule collection of key pieces that would very easily translate from catwalk to wardrobe. To celebrate this special collection, ICONIC hosted a Selfie party inspired by the worldwide phenomenon that is selfies and ‘THE ICON’ was launched in a unique fashion presentation. ICONIC was also the only highstreet label that featured in the interesting line up for Day 1 at the FFWD. To set the mood and do justice to the theme, the venue had mirror like reflecting walls that formed the main stage. For the fashion presentation there were island like podiums that were set in three different locations with reflecting surfaces. The models strutted on the podium to a fabulous music mix which also saw a model break into an impromptu jig creating excitement. The roaring party saw the guests taking selfies against the reflecting walls with #myiconicselfie which appeared live as they posted on special selfie screens that were set up at the venue. Inspired by the idea of being in love and expressing yourself as someone who defines beauty and loves to be the center of attention, ‘THE ICON’ is inspired by the latest catwalk trends from the Autumn Winter collections across the world and is a blend of the best styles for the season.
Gulf Bank concluded its sponsorship of the Q8hoops Charity Basketball Tournament, which was organized on behalf of the Kuwait Center for Autism to raise awareness of Autism in Kuwait. The game took place at the Kuwait Basketball Arena in Kaifan between four teams whereby all the basketball players from the Kuwait Center for Autism participated. After an exciting grand finale between the Q8hoops team and the Kuwait Center for Autism team, Hadeel Al Fadhli, Senior ManagerCorporate Communications, representing Gulf Bank, presented commemorative medals to the winning team members. Beforehand, the enthusiastic crowd was entertained by three knock-out games, a hoop-shooting contest between sponsoring companies and a guest knock-out game with Kuwait National Team players, who also played a 3 point and dunk competition. Gulf Bank’s involvement in the tournament was to help encourage greater understanding of Autism in the wider community, and what it really means to children, young people and their families. This latest initiative was to support World Autism Awareness Day, which took place on the 2nd April, and was part of the Autism Awareness Month, which is marked in April each year and recognized around the world through special events and awareness-raising activities. Q8Hoops is a basketball-based project that offers a variety of services such as basketball skills development, personal basketball training, group basketball training, basketball events and camps. Based in Kuwait and established in 2011, the main goal of Q8Hoops is to provide the latest and most advanced basketball skills training, strength and conditioning, injury reduction, nutrition tips, and drills to aid players in increasing their basketball potential. Q8Hoops organizers attended various basketball skills and conditioning camps and training in the United States and they have trained alongside some of the best in the world.
Marvel’s Super-Hero, Spider-Man, Swings Into The Crowd At Fantasy World A perfect summer getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” Collection Continuing the Fight Against Heart Disease in Children Starbucks Intorduces The All New Caramel Crunch Frappuccino® For The First Time In The Region We are delighted to announce that once again in 2014, we will be joining forces with globally renowned actress and model, Ms Inès Sastre, and that together we will be fighting the scourge of heart disease, particularly in women and children, through our support to the World Heart Federation (WHF). Inès will once again be Frédérique Constant’s Female Charity Ambassador, a role she so graciously and effectively filled in 2013. This will be the second consecutive year that Frédérique Constant will be honoured to support the WHF’s “Hearts of Children” campaign. This year, our support takes the form of a US $75,000 donation to the WHF, in addition to the design and creation of a new Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection of watches. Four new watches, each uniquely beautiful Rose gold, diamonds and mother of pearl catch the eye. These are the central features of the four new models in the 2014 Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection. Two of the watches in this new collection are powered by the accurate and reliable FC-303 calibre movement, and the two others by the FC-310, both featuring 26 jewels, automatic winding and a 38 hours of power reserve. The rose gold plated rotor is decorated with the World Heart Federation logo and beautiful sunray bridges, as well as the delicately engraved “Hearts of Children.” The bezel of each model is set with 48 sparkling diamonds, totalling 0.74 carat. Even more diamonds are used as indexes, set on a vanilla dial with a guilloché World Heart Federation logo at its centre, and surrounded by a delicate mother of pearl on the outer ring. The case diameter is 34 mm, and with a depth of just 9.9 mm, this watch will sit comfortably on the most feminine of wrists. Each model offers hours, minutes and seconds functions. In addition, on the FC-303 models, the date is also displayed at 6 o’clock. All have a sapphire crystal see-through case back, and are water resistant to 60 meters. Finally, each watch will come with a dazzling metal bracelet – either rose gold plated or bi-coloured stainless steel and rose gold plated - with butterfly folding buckle, and all models will be presented in a uniquely designed, WHF heart-shaped gift box. Two of the new models, the FC310WHF2PD2B3 and the FC310WHF2PD4B3, also feature Frederique Constant’s signature Double Heart Beat opening at the 12 o’clock position.
Fantasy World, the ultimate destination for kids and Kuwait’s first specialty toy-based store recently concluded an exciting event where visitors and customers received a rare air of “Hollywood” excitement where they hosted the appearance of Marvel’s all-time ultimate superhero, Spider-Man! Held over a three day event at selected Fantasy World stores, children’s favorite and the legendary superhero joined the crowd for an exclusive meet & greet with the kids and families where everyone got a chance to meet up-close with their hero and take pictures with him while enjoying fun-filled activities such as face-painting and exciting in-store surprises for customers! Commenting on Marvel’s officially approved Spider-Man’s appearance at Fantasy World toy stores, Yousef Haddad, Marketing Manager at Fantasy World said, “We are pleased to see the turn-out of the three day appearance of SpiderMan at Fantasy World and happy that a lot of fans utilized the opportunity to meet their favorite Marvel super-hero in person. The excitement and energy amid the customers is a positive indication on how much family entertainment and family time is valued amongst us all and has truly encouraged us to host more events that center around the children’s world as we strongly believe that all kids deserve nothing but the best”. With its inviting store atmosphere and state-ofthe-art technology and modern layout, Fantasy World has successfully built itself to be a leading retailer in the toy industry and a favorite of all families and children in Kuwait. The store hosts an exclusive range of toys and items namely; boys, girls, early years, amazing minds, tweens lifestyle, outdoor and sports including hot sellers from their private labels. Moreover, the store also has a brand new section dedicated for high tech items called the, “tech bar” that displays a range of items compatible with iPhone and iPads as well as Android operated mobile phones and tablets. Built to offer an unmatched personal experience along with a friendly staff service where children can find the hottest and most exciting collection of toys in a fun-filled environment, Fantasy World stores can be visited at Second AvenueThe Avenues, Souk Sharq and Al Bustan Mall and its flagship store at Al Rai.
Starbucks is welcoming this summer season with the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino. For the first time in the region, customers will enjoy the perfect blend of caramel, hazelnut and chocolate chips all in one delicious cold beverage, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate, guaranteed to quench that hot summer thirst. This all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino is definitely the beverage for Caramel connoisseurs and for any sweet tooth. Rana Shaheen, regional communications and CSR manager of Starbucks Coffee MENA, said: “Starbucks is committed to continuously presenting its customers with new and refreshing beverages that complement their day. During this season, people constantly have a mental image of the perfect cool beverage that will melt the summer heat away from the very first sip. Starbucks is turning that image into a reality with this all new Frappuccino beverage, and not only will it tune down the heat of a sweltering day, but it will also leave customers with an unforgettable taste.” Starbucks is also bringing back an all-time favourite this summer: the Strawberry and Cream Frappuccino, a refreshing beverage with a sweet and fruity twist. The unique Tribute Blend coffee will also be featured throughout this season. With the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino and the returning favourite, customers can turn any hot day into a summer joy.
This summer Marina Hotel Kuwait is the hot spot to cool down with friends and family as it rolls out itsmuch awaited summer package. The package comes along with a number of benefits to make this summer relaxed, luxurious and memorable.You are invited to enjoy this summer in style in the midst of absolute pampering and leisure with a resortfeel ambience through its wonderful facilities away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Break the daily routine and enjoy some peace of mind with an outstanding getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait; a destination to experience a pleasant summer away from the regular city life. The all-inclusive Marina Hotel package promises real joy under the sun with its secluded private beach and three pools: lap pool, kids’ pool and family pool with the Marina Waves pool bar. Guests can relax in their rooms, all overlooking the beautiful Gulf Sea, starting from KD 88NET. The package provides free access to the hotel's many facilities: the Coral Reef Health Club, the squash court, beach and pool area. Complete your idyllic stay at any of the hotel's two fabulous restaurants well-known for its delicious international cuisine: ‘The Six Palms’ and the ‘Atlantis.’ For mouth-watering delicacies, indulge in international, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes from a scrumptious array of menu choices in a tranquil music setting. In close proximityto the Marina Mall and Marina Crescent, guests can enjoy a complete holiday with easy access to their favorite shopping and hang out destinationsmaking it ideal for family leisure. The hotel is dedicated to focus on individual guest’s needs and offer the highest standard of service. Marina Hotel offers the pleasures of graceful living and indulgent amenities including a fitness centre and excellent choice of restaurants. Rooms and suites at the Hotel combine intimacy, comfort, exclusivity with personalized service and attention to details. Head towards Marina Hotel and benefit from all the enticing offers. The summer package offer promises guests absolute comfort and leisure in one spotwith quick access to its various amenities. For more information, please visit our website: www.marinahotel.com
June, 2014
داماس تطلق مهرجان األعراس األضخم في الكويت
Sami Bader’s top diet tips services.
Baume & Mercier timepiece is the perfect gift for a new graduate
للمرة الثانية أربعة أيام مذهلة من Bimba Y Lola
Graduation day is a significant milestone in one’s life that paves the way for a promising future. As the graduate prepares to take their first step into the real world, their near and dear ones are filled with immense pride and delight. What better way to convey this happiness than by gifting the new graduate a special gift that encapsulates the essence of this celebration? With this thought in mind, illustrious Swiss watchmaker, Baume & Mercier presents the perfect graduation gift in the form of a Capeland timepiece. Inspired by a model initially launched in 1948, this chronograph is the flagship model of the Capeland collection and impresses with its 44 mm-diameter steel case with a balanced and dynamic design. Water-resistant to 50 meters, this timepiece is driven by a finely-crafted automatic mechanical caliber (La Joux Perret 8120) that is visible through a transparent sapphire case-back. Chic and elegant, it is proposed with a sun satin-finished blue dial, snailed black counters and a date aperture. It also features two graduated scales: one tachymetric and the other telemetric highlighted by red markings. This sophisticated and sporty timepiece is worn with a black alligator strap closed by a triple adjustable folding clasp with security push-pieces. A stylishly clever gift, Baume & Mercier’s Capeland is the ideal token to make graduation day even more special for the one who is ready to take on the world!
قامت شركة داغر أند كو بتلبية رغبة زبائنها الكرام Bimba Y Lola بتنظيم احلدث للمرة الثانية مبتجر الكائن مبجمع األوملبيا وعليه مت عرض تشكيلة بأسعار مميزةوخصومات2013 كبيرة من منتجات وعروض مذهلة كمبادرة شكر وتقدير لزبائنها وقام بحضور،الكرام ليستمر احلدث ملدة أربعة أيام احلدث مجموعة من مسئولي الشركة باإلضافة وباإلضافة إلى جتهيز جو،إلى ممثلي وسائل اإلعالم ترحيبي خاص حتت أنغام املوسيقى احلية إلضافة .الشعور بالتميز
With the initiation of Mr. Sami Bader’s all new dietary services, we can all achieve a diversified human physical infrastructure! Sami Bader’s dietary services have revolutionized the idea of ‘Dieting’. While we have had diet tips that occasionally ensure a short term weight loss, while on the other hand, Mr. Sami’s diet tips ensure a long term output of a balanced and well maintained weight and an organized lifestyle. The diet tips service will provide the users with unique tips based on seasons, as well as personal diet aims. These tips are provided to a large fraction of individuals of different age groups. Not only does this grandeur service provide stupendous results, which are complied with the straightjacket guidelines of the IDA (International Dietetic Association), but it also categorizes a wide variety of those individuals respective to their preferences and essentials. In addition to that, there are distinct and diverse programs for different sorts of conditions, such as ‘Diabetes’, ‘Kidney malfunctions’, ‘Pregnancy & Lactation’, ‘Post-bariatric surgeries’, ‘Gluten intolerance’, ‘Specific Doctor referrals’, and concluding the list with ‘ Aggressive Cholesterol treatment’, which is the only food program based on the latest scientific research to help improve cholesterol levels. Sami’s diet menu comprises of a pool of mouthwatering, and healthy Oriental, Asian, MiddleEastern, European and American cuisine, that are suitable to the appropriate standards of healthy cooking. The subscription service has been launched in Kuwait by ‘Simatel’, a leading telecom marketing service provider. The service will be available for only 500 fils/week with 30 diet contents per week, said a spokesperson from Simatel. ‘Simatel’ is a Kuwait based telecom marketing service provider with presence throughout the Middle East. Simatel provides business to consumer marketing service through telecom operators. Sami is a well-renowned clinical dietician, as well as a respectable member of the Clinical Community Dietician GM, who is currently offering daily magnificent diet tips. He studied in KMBS (Kuwait Maastricht Business School), along with ‘Purdue University’- West Lafayette, IN. You can now subscribe through all 3 mobile carriers,Zain, Viva and Wataniya, by sending an SMS to the following numbers: Zain users can send “D” to the Short code 92270 For Wataniya, Kuwait users can send “D or ” ت to Short code1629 Lastly, Viva Kuwait users can send “D or ” تto Short code55091
شركة اجملوهرات والساعات، أطلقت داماس: "مهرجان،الرائدة في منطقة الشرق األوسط الذي يعتبر أضخم معرض،األعراس" اجلديد لألعراس تطلقه الشركة حصريا ً للمجتمع وميثل إطالق أطقم مجوهرات فاخرة،الكويتي حيث قامت داماس،مخصصة للعرائس للمجوهرات بتصميم تلك األطقم الفاخرة ملواكبة النمو في صناعة مجوهرات األعراس في الذي ميتد، وخالل فترة املهرجان.السوق الكويتي لدى متاجر داماس في2014 طوال شهر مايو ،كل من مجمع الراية التجاري ومجمع الصاحلية سيتمكن العمالء من مشاهدة تشكيلة واسعة من أطقم األعراس املذهلة واحلصول على عروض .خاصة لدى الشراء ً التي تضم قطعا،صممت هذه اجملموعة األنيقة إلرضاء كافة األذواق،فريدة ومتقنة من اجملوهرات وجتسيد األناقة املعاصرة الدائمة للعروس إن مجموعة اجملوهرات.الكويتية في يومها املميز اخلاصة باألعراس واملناسبات ستتخطى كافة .توقعات العمالء في الكويت سيقوم موظفو داماس ذوي اخلبرة،وعالوة على ذلك العالية واملدربني على فهم احتياجات العرائس ،ومساعدتهن في اختيار اجملوهرات املناسبة لهن بتقدمي النصائح للعرائس ومساعدتهن في انتقاء أنواع املاس واألحجار الكرمية والآللئ املناسبة لهن .والتي تنسجم مع فساتني زفافهن طاملا اشتهرت داماس على مدار تاريخها البارز بأنها رائدة في اجلمال وتصميم اجملوهرات الفريدة ومن املتوقع أن.على مستوى الشرق األوسط يشهد هذا احلدث إقباال ً واسعا ً من عشاق املوضة وسيستحوذ،وأصحاب الذوق الرفيع في الكويت .على اهتمام وإعجاب كافة الزوار
June, 2014
BBS students showcase their young talents at the 2014 High School Art Show
National Aviation Services (NAS) launches mobile phone app
ACK Crowned Champions of the UCC Football League
The National Aviation Services (NAS) has published a mobile phone app called “NAS Airports”. This free application is compatible with iPads, iphone and Android devices. It currently covers Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Kigali, Sharm El Sheikh, & Kabul International Airport, as well as “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services Using “NAS Airports” you can: •Receive live flight information updates (Departure & Arrival) •Complete passenger check-in and seat selection procedure from your mobile device •Receive local and global travel and duty free promotions •Book airport “Lounge” services and enjoy fast internet, comfortable waiting area, delicious buffet, kids play area and much more. •Book airport “Meet & Assist” services for arriving and departing passengers to expedite their travel process, provide assistant to elderly and minors, greet guests, and assist with visa processing •Trace lost luggage •Get directions to airport •And now for the introductory stage, you can enjoy a 25 % discount on “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services from your mobile Simply download the app by searching for “NAS Airports” or by using the links below: Apple store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ nas-airports/id862302584?mt=8 Google play: https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=com.nascorporate.p6659aa
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The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) has won the 2014 University Championship Cup (UCC) Football League title outperforming teams from participating universities, including Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and the Arab Open University (AOU). The UCC Football League is a competitive tournament whereby participating university teams face each other in a grueling schedule over several months with the leader crowned Champion and holder of the cup until the following season. On this victorious occasion, the Student Activities Center’s Coordinator, Mr. Basel Dana, stated: “I would like to congratulate our students on winning the league! It’s very rewarding after all their hard work and efforts. They truly have made ACK proud with this achievement and I wish them all the success in their path towards winning the UCC cup again.” ACK’s football team will now begin preparations for the next season of the UCC Football League, with the keen desire to retain the Championship and keep the cup on ACK’s campus.
Under the patronage of renowned Kuwaiti artist, Anglophone poet, and Kuwait University Professor, Dr. Shurooq Amin, the High School art department at Al Bayan Bilingual School (BBS), hosted its annual art show for High School students from 6 May until 8 May. Held at the BBS Hawally campus, the show was put together as a High School art class project, where students were required to reflect on what they had learnt in class and create their own pieces using their imagination, creativity and different art techniques. Participating students showcased 200 of their contemporary art pieces that highlighted various art techniques such as pottery, charcoal, melting wax, graphic design and photography. Students also had the honor to receive first-hand critique on their work from Dr. Amin and a number of local artists who attended the show. Dr. Amin has earned several prestigious titles for her work including being named one of Kuwait's 45 most inspirational people by Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah in her book, The Alchemy of Wisdom, one of Kuwait's 50 Stars by Layalina Magazine, and one of the five top artists from the Middle East today by Your Middle East Journal in 2012. She also received the Artist of the Year title in the 2013 by the Arab Woman Awards, Kuwait chapter. High School art teacher at BBS, Ms. Rihab Al Assadi, said: “By putting together this art show, we want to provide students with an opportunity to explore and express themselves, and to address their interests, concerns and feelings in a fun and healthy environment.” Dr. Amin was pleased to see the level of commitment students put forth while working on their projects. “It was a pleasure being part of this art show, and to be able to witness the artistic side of our youth today, which was clearly reflected in all of their wonderful creations." She added: “Being here brings back so much nostalgia. I remember when I first started my journey as a young artist; I used to love getting my work viewed by my professors and by others fellow artists. I’d like to recognize all the students who took part in this exhibition for their hard work and dedication, and I hope to see them grow in to some of Kuwait’s great future artists .” The exhibition was attended by a number of other local artists in addition to BBS parents, students and staff. The guests enjoyed their evening in an ambience filled with live music played by students.
Seventeen inspirational women recognized at the Arab Woman Award
The seventeen winners of the Arab Woman Awards 2014 were honored at a glittering ceremony paying tribute to inspirational Arab women in Kuwait. The exclusive by-invitation only red carpet event was held at the Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers and was presented by leading Kuwaiti organisation - the Trafalgar Company. The glamorous high-profile event was attended by the winners and their families, VIP members of society as well as media and film personalities including; Egyptian actress Dalia El Beheri and Egyptian TV personality Wajdy Al Hakim. The awards ceremony was hosted by famous Kuwaiti actor Mohamed Al-Mansour.
Address of Hospitality and Original Taste
24747789 - 24747798 : تلفون. الدور السابع- برج امللتقى, دوار املخفر:الفروانية
Farwaniya: Police Station Roundabout, AlMultaqa Tower, 7th Floor. Tel: 24847789 - 24747798
@aghakuwait
@agha_kuwait June, 2014
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IKEA holds anniversary dinner for coworkers to celebrate 30 years in Kuwait Asha’s Scores a Perfect 10!
Splash launches FIFA inspired collection
Be amazed with “Samsonite Firelite”: The latest collection of CURV’s Series
Samsonite, the world’s leading luggage brand for more than 100 years proudly present its latest innovation from CURV’s Series: Samsonite Firelite. Hardside’s lugauge made from CURV, an innovation , exclusively from Propex, Germany for its lightweight but strong and endure to pressure under low temperature. Designed for extreme sporty looks inspired from seashells shape with colorful tones of Chili Red, Deep Blue and Charcoal Black, the luggage also comes with highly efficiency functions including TSA Combination Lock and 360 degrees spinner wheels.This exciting new Curv collection has again pushed the boundaries of the luggage world. Made in Europe, this unique, dynamic and strong design features a water resistant PU coated zipper and a functional interior with a bottom lowered elastic cross ribbons and a top fully lined divider. Inspired by extreme sports lifestyles, the Firelite shell is eye-catching, modern and effortlessly absorbs heavy shocks during travel - a case which compliments your active lifestyle and is as rugged and energetic as you are. Firelite is now available at Samsonite stores at The Avenues , Al Hamra Luxury center,360 Mall,Marina Mall
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IKEA Kuwait held an anniversary dinner for all the coworkers of the IKEA store at the Crowne Plaza Baraka Ballroom on Sunday, May 18, 2014, to conclude the celebrations of their 30th anniversary in Kuwait. The event topped off month-long celebrations marking three decades since IKEA Kuwait opened its doors and began providing well-designed, good quality home furnishing solutions to homes across the country. In addition to commemorating 30 years of Swedish furniture being offered to the many, the event also honored coworkers that have been with IKEA for 10 and 20 years, and even a few who have been part of the IKEA Kuwait family since their very first store opened in Shuwaikh on April 24, 1984. Commenting on the closing celebration event, IKEA Kuwait Store Manager Ahmad Al Humaidhi said: “We want to commemorate this special time with all our coworkers and to thank them for all these years of hard work and dedication and for helping to make IKEA Kuwait a success. Our coworkers have been a core driver in building IKEA Kuwait into a brand for the many people of Kuwait, and this is what we celebrate tonight.” The evening included thank you speeches from Al Humaidhi and SYH Retail CEO Marino Maganto, followed by the honoring of IKEA Kuwait’s long-time coworkers, fun activities, giveaways, and lucky draws for tablets and vacation getaways. Also speaking on the celebration, Maganto shared his sentiments, stating: “We wanted to thank our coworkers with something special and memorable. They are very passionate about what they do, they love IKEA, so we want to ensure they know how valuable they are to the brand”
Asha’s, the innovative Indian restaurant known for serving the finest contemporary Indian cuisine, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Kuwait. Having opened its first restaurant at Marina Crescent, Asha’s has successfully grown through the years adding two more venues in Kuwait at 1st Avenue -The Avenues and Spoons. Today, Asha’s is a name that is synonymous with great food quality and brilliant service. Its vibrant blend of contemporary Indian cuisine and rich interiors, assures its customers of a unique and wonderful dining experience. Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian singer who founded Asha’s, says: “I am thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of Asha’s in Kuwait in partnership with M.H. Alshaya Co., which operates the brand here. I have visited Kuwait many times and have always been impressed by the positive response to our menu. Kuwaitis really understand global food and we are delighted to have been serving them India’s finest cuisine for a decade.” With a wide array of mouth-watering choices on the menu, guests are truly spoilt for choice at Asha’s. Be it the mocktails, the starters or the main courses, every unique item is created using only the freshest ingredients. Asha Bhosle has taken a special interest in contributing to the menu with a select choice of her own recipes. The dishes on offer reflect the very best of Indian cuisine, and Asha’s, with its innovative style and sophistication, promises to take guests through a truly memorable dining experience. The vision of Asha’s, to be limitless in its cultural appeal and timeless in its ethos, has been proven over the past decade. The restaurant remains as popular today as it was on the day its doors first opened. Ensuring that Asha’s keeps up with the times, and due to demand by its guests, Asha’s also delivers to Salwa, Salmiya and Rumaithiya.
It’s that time again when frenzy takes over football fans across the world. The FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil will see scores of fans supporting their favorite teams. Splash has introduced its special line for the event with a range of apparel and accessories that will ensure you support your teams in style. The range will be available under the Kappa and SPL Active labels for the top 8 countriesGermany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, England, Portugal, Netherlands and Italy for both men and women. You can choose from a variety of T-shirts, shorts, vests, tracks, knit dresses and three-quarter pants. Add a dash of accessories like bags, water bottles, caps, wrist bands, scarves, socks, sunglasses and chains to complete your look for the games. Visit Splash at all Centrepoint Stores and the Avenues Mall to explore the FIFA Collections.
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Warba Bank named Best New Bank in the Middle East for 2014
Warba Bank has been named, according to Banker Middle East Magazine, the “best new bank in the Middle East” from among a number of newly established banks in the Middle east. The award was presented at the annual gala dinner organized by Banker Middle East to honor more than 200 financial institutions across 55 categories in the banking sector in the Middle East. Banker Middle East awards honor the best performance of financial institutions across the MENA region. Final winners were selected by a jury panel of independent industry think-tank. Warba Bank is always keen to enhance the level of customer service, and cater to customers’ financing and investment needs by introducing a number of Sharia compliant banking products and services. Commenting on this event, Jassar Al Jassar, Vice Chairman & CEO at Warba Bank, said: “We are very proud of winning this prestigious award. Actually, the award is added to our previous achievements, and reflects Warba’s growing businesses and focus on developing and expanding its customers base, satisfying customers’ banking needs, and seizing the new opportunities of growth in terms of corporate and retail financing, while satisfying customers and shareholders. This wouldn’t be achievable without God’s support, then the hard work of our Board of Directors, and employees, as well as the support of our customers.” Al Jassar continued: “The bank is striving to bolster its position as an Islamic Bank through expanding its branches network to reach a total of seven branches spread across all areas of Kuwait, to bring our services closer to our customers. Further, new branches will be launched in the near future. In addition, we seek to attract a wider segment of customers, and enhance the role and effectiveness of the Call Centre by means of upgrading its systems and training its personnel to be able to deal with customers more professionally and provide them with a unique service.” Al Jassar added: “We continue to make every effort to improve this promising institution through adopting the highest standards of efficiency across all banking transactions. We also look to expand our customer base and seize new opportunities to develop both corporate and retail financing sectors with a view to support our local economy. At the same time, we aim to enhance our relationship with our corporate and retail customers, providing them innovative Sharia compliant banking solutions, while working closely with owners of large, medium and small scale companies and institutions with a view to help them achieve their goals and to be familiar with all their commercial and banking needs. Indeed, we commit ourselves to helping them and ensuring their success. Consequently, the volume of our financing portfolio showed a growth of 120%, reaching KD 273 million as at the end of the first Quarter of the year 2014 compared to the same period of 2013.” Al Jassar concluded: “Warba Bank is committed to supporting Kuwaitization and makes tangible contributions to the process of developing and training Kuwaiti professionals. The Bank exceeded the Kuwaitization percentage of 60 per cent, and achieved a Kuwaitization percentage of 80 per cent in specific divisions such as corporate and retail financing divisions.”
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Transform yourself this summer with ICONIC SUMMER ’14 collection
Update your summer wardrobe with Iconic Summer 14 collection for women and men. The women’s collection focuses on three covetable trends Sports Chic, Retro Romance and New Boho. The Iconic Summer ’14 collection for men is an embodiment of casual elegance, sophistication and attitude of the by-gone era. SPORTS CHIC: The sports trend goes luxe by moving from the simple, clinical looks of previous seasons to take on a more luxurious, glamorous edgy feel. Expect minimal and simple relaxed silhouettes with textured surfaces in pieces like shift dresses with soft shoulders. RETRO ROMANCE: Summer without flowers doesn’t seem complete does it? The collection showers romance in the air by flirting with overtly feminine looks, incorporating a pretty palette of pastels with a bouquet of floral prints. Pure white, sunshine yellow, yves klein blue, mint green are the prominent shades used lavishly over lace and guipure fabrics. NEW BOHO: The evergreen carefree trend of the Nature Girl explores updated festival looks with 1970s influences drawn into the mix. Festival trend staples include maxi dresses, full length skirts that will create a casual vibe and bypasses the usual hippy boho aspects. The 2014 men collection will showcase three key trends that will ensure you look effortlessly stylish this season. 50’s RETURN (MONOCHROME): Channel the inner chic retro man in you as you relive the fond memories of the 1950s with influences coming from the highways and byways of the USA. Think bad boys, early rockers, 50s B-movies, all mixed in with retro monotone floral and geo prints and clean tailoring. Achieve this trendsetting look in fabrics like new polkas, satin shirt, micro ginghams, jacket weights and embroidery. CRUISE RESORT: The nautical trend is a statement that continues to linger and provides fashion an everlasting look that only evolves every season. This commercial, preppy-nautical trend brings together several of the season’s key fabrics like natural linens- wovens/ jerseys, slubby canvas, smooth cottons, jacquard knits and wovens. Prints like florals, preppy spots and stripes and silhouettes form an easy and cohesive casual smart look. REMINISCE: Embrace the carefree outlook of a nomad and incorporate the rustic elegance in preppy summer smart casualwear enhanced with a refined, tailored aesthetic. From bold neo geo patterns, updated through textural applications and decorative geometric repeats, this is an ideal 70’s summer holiday look. Earthy tones dominate the trend that reflects the influence of nature with shades of sand and beige with summer olives. Add to it a bright palette of vermilion orange and bright yellow which adds to the glory of summer. Head over to ICONIC and shop our latest Summer collection available at The Avenues, The Mall, Level 1.
DHL Express Named ‘Best Employer in the Middle East’
DHL Express, the world’s largest Express network, celebrated a major milestone when the company was named the ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East and North Africa for 2014 by Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc. Renowned for its focus and commitment to its human resources, DHL Express MENA proudly received the auspicious award at an exclusive ceremony held at The One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai. The award was received by Mr. Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express Middle East & North Africa and was attended by over 200 industry leaders from across the region; including senior management from Aon Hewitt – the award creators - members of the judging panel, CEOs and HR specialists. Launched over a decade ago, the ‘Best Employers Middle East Awards is the culmination of extensive studies conducted by Aon Hewitt that measure and compare employee engagement, performance and satisfaction across 500 participating organizations spanning cross industry in the Middle East region. This year, ten companies were shortlisted as Best Employers across MENA, with four DHL Express offices from around the region making it to the top five positions and securing top honours for DHL Express MENA as ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East. Nour Suliman, CEO, DHL Express MENA, said “I applaud the efforts and dedication of our employees who are the key drivers and the reason behind this award. This is the second year in a row that DHL Express makes it to the top of the 10 Best Employers in the region, and we are extremely proud that our people genuinely consider this organization a family, and truly consider DHL as the best place to work.” “Our people are the heart of our organization, our greatest asset, and the main force behind the company’s success. Every time we are pronounced the best employer I know that the reason for that is the incredible effort and dedication of the fabulous men and women that make DHL the great place it is today,” said Suliman. This year, Aon Hewitt collected and analyzed view points and data from a sample of 30,000 employees representing a 60,000plus workforce as well as inputs from HR leaders and Business Heads from companies across the region spanning 18 industries. Following rigorous analysis and evaluation of the participating companies by an experienced panel of judges, DHL’s offices bagged five out of the ten Best Employer awards, placing DHL Express MENA in pole position as the Best Employer in the Middle East. Upon receiving the award, Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express MENA, stated “I humbly commend the commitment and salute the hard work of the DHL team; we are fortunate to be surrounded with highly dedicated professionals that successfully work together towards one common goal while sharing the same sense of purpose and values.” “Focus, results, respect and appreciation are the key drivers of DHL’s global HR philosophy that has so far been key to make the company thrive. I therefore, would like to thank DHL’s employees for making all this happen, this is their award,” he added.
Under the theme of “Less Stressful Life” with health and wellbeing OYSHO Hosts Kuwait Media In A Yoga Event
Driven by its commitment to spread the awareness about the health and wellbeing lifestyle concept through its bundle of hip and stylish gym wear, OYSHO organized a yoga event for Kuwait media and gifted them the true meaning of relaxation. The event, held at Flex Resorts was spent in total tranquility with both bodies and minds floating in a deep peaceful meditation which have greatly helped in communicating OYSHO theme of wellbeing mentally and physically. After the yoga session, the guests savored a healthy lunch. “Our guests really had the chance to get over their hectic life schedule while embracing the positive energy in a relaxed calm atmosphere”, said Luma/ OYSHO Brand Manager “we are proud to guide our customers into a new concept of healthy living through our new collection marked with distinguished gym wear designs customized to match different styles and choices. As part of our social engagement, we are committed to lead the way and motivate our youngsters to follow a new lifestyle by taking care of their look and enjoy their life while eliminating the barrier of body types”. Featuring stunning colors, seamless sartorial detail and a touch of retro style, the new SS14 collection offers, with its various prints and motivational quotes, encouragement to explore and lead a healthy and less stressful life.
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1. What do I need to add to 36 to make 100? 2. How many metres in a 1/4 of 1 kilometre? 3. What is 1 less than 4950? 4. How many degrees in one whole turn? 5. 32+8 = 6. Which of these fractions is greater than one half? 7. What is 135 cm in metres? 8. An angle of less than 90 degrees is called 9. -7 + 9 = ? 10. How many right angles are there in 1 whole complete turn?
meter 35cm, 8. acute, 9. 2, 10. 4
ANSWERS: 1. 64, 2. 250meters, 3. 4949, 4. 360, 5. 40, 6. 5/8, 7. 1
FUN RIDDLES
1. who is silent in the parliament 2. What does an Island and the letter T have in common? 3. What do you call a fish without an eye? 4. What part of the Turkey has the most feathers? 5. What's the only room from which no one can enter or leave 6. What demands an answer, but asks no questions. 7.Why do Chinese men eat more rice than Japanese men do 8.A cat had three kittens: January, March and May. What was the mother's name.
ANSWERS:1. The Letter 'A', 2. They're both in the middle of wa'T'er, 3. fsh, 4. The Outside, 5. Mushroom, 6. Telephone, 7. There are more Chinese men than Japanese men., 8. What - It stated 'WHAT' was the mothers name 166
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Jumbled Words 1 . A DY 2. GDLA 3. SGBU 4. LNGO 5. WYH 6. SETT 7. SKUN 8. EXNT 9. SYK 1 0 . R OW M 11. NETT 12. FORG
= = = = = = = = = = = =
ANSWERS: 1.DAY, 2.GLAD, 3.BUGS, 4.LONG, 5.WHY, 6.TEST, 7.SUNK, 8.NEXT, 9.SKY, 10.WORM, 11.TENT, 12.FROG
MATHS QUIZ
Interesting Animal Facts
• Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives. • The blue whale can produce the loudest sound of any animal. At 188 decibels, the noise can be detected over 800 kilometres away. • Horses and cows sleep while standing up. • Giant Arctic jellyfish have tentacles that can reach over 36 metres in length. • Locusts have leg muscles that are about 1000 times more powerful than an equal weight of human muscle. • Hummingbirds are so agile and have such good control that they can fly backwards. • Instead of bones, sharks have a skeleton made from cartilage. • Insects such as bees, mosquitoes and cicadas make noise by rapidly moving their wings. • The horn of a rhinoceros is made from compacted hair rather than bone or another substance. • Sharks lay the biggest eggs in the world. • Even when a snake has its eyes closed, it can still see through its eyelids. • Unlike humans, sheep have four stomachs, each one helps them digest the food they eat. • Despite the white, fluffy appearance of Polar Bears fur, it actually has black skin. • As well as being a famous Looney Tunes character, the Tasmanian Devil is a real animal that is only found in the wild in Tasmania, Australia. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.
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JUNE HOROSCOPES Change seems to have rocked our world in the last few months, but in June you have the opportunity to slow down and regroup. Mercury turns retrograde on June 7, and Neptune slows down for a nap on June 9. With these two stars of communication and creativity standing still, your mind could work overtime. That project that had been shelved could suddenly seem to have possibilities. The Sagittarius Full Moon on June 12 gives you the bounce to try one more time. A New Moon in Cancer June 27 puts on its "I mean business" hat. Any adversaries will know to stand back.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
The June 12 Full Moon expands your horizons, widens your world, and maybe blows your mind. Keep some control so you'll recognize yourself afterward. Don't be afraid to blunder into a great learning experience. June 19 and June 20 are powerful days for you. If your critical mind takes a break on June 19, your instincts could take up the slack. You may be supercharged to the point of hyper on June 20, so do something physically demanding. Your family position gets a boost under the June 27 New Moon. Start something new that makes you happy, and conclude or decide something that makes everyone glad.
TAURUS
VIRGO (March 21 - April 19)
Your powers of critical thinking will get a big boost on June 7. You can make things perfect and correct many minor errors. Fully embrace your discriminatory powers. The June 12 Full Moon shines on your family and home environment. Try to keep things quiet, don't force anything, and let the magic of the night provide its comfort and blessings. If there's friction with friends before June 27, the New Moon brings you a chance to shift things around socially and make some new friends and different alliances. Satisfy yourself and let the chips fall where they may.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
The June 12 Full Moon is all yours. Be prepared to shine and attract attention. There's no point in being shy or not speaking up. Be nice about it all. You could be drawn into someone else's affairs just before the New Moon on June 27. Anything you do to help will only benefit you and your family in the long run, but don't get nervous about the preconceived notions of anyone else. The day after the New Moon, June 28, watch for a special personalized blessing, pop of good luck, or simply a chance to do a very good deed.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Let the June 12 Full Moon boost your self-confidence and sense of security. Don't hide from people, but expect to do your best work and thinking out of sight and out of the minds of others. There's less criticism that way. June 14 could be a busy and emotionally intense day. Stay cool and calm, and refuse to get rattled. A love interest or romantic involvement could appear close to home at the June 27 New Moon. If a friend of a friend of a sibling has a crush on you, don't be surprised (or rude). Roll with it if it appeals to you.
GEMINI
(September 23 - October 22)
(January 20 - February 18)
Big love is possible at the June 12 Full Moon - so is a generous new lover. Be on guard since these things rarely come without strings attached. You should be able to communicate and network more effectively starting June 20. Try to keep it toned down, though. Avoid getting chatty or overbearing. You can charm your way into almost anything on June 24. Control your temper and impatience on June 25. Money matters are highlighted at the June 27 New Moon. You might have more resources (and fewer problems) at home than you realized. Don't let anyone or anything spook you.
June 7 and June 8 are powerful, if not easy, days. Self-motivation and energy could spike, but you'll still be able to slow down the pace of life to suit yourself. The June 12 Full Moon could whet your curiosity and set you exploring something that interested you before but has since been dropped or forgotten. If work or office life gets a bit rocky before June 27, the New Moon lets you touch up any rough spots with co-workers or superiors. You could even make a major change in career direction. Don't be brash, but don't be anxious, either.
It's a hot social scene at the June 12 Full Moon. People are going to want to be with you. Don't have so much fun that you're exhausted the next day, however. June 16 and 17 could be a roller-coaster ride. Be mentally sharp and bright on June 16, but don't be surprised if you're washed away on a tide of emotion the next day. The June 27 New Moon is a great time to start a bunch of small but significant changes or additions to your work routine or diet. Be good to yourself in a million little ways.
CANCER
(October 23 - November 21)
(March 21 - April 19)
Try to stick close to home at the June 12 Full Moon. Good things will find you there and tend to last. Don't wait idly - keep busy in the meantime. The Sun enters your sign on June 21 and brings the first day of summer with it. Feel comfortable in your own skin no matter what's happening in the world around you. It's a fresh, powerful New Moon for you on June 27. If you've needed to project a stronger selfimage of your choosing, you can do it now. Just remember to include your roots and background. citypageskuwait.com
You could be the center of attention for the first few days of the month, so look good, behave well, and see if you can't gain some extra respect and good memories out of it. Cravings for big fun might rock your world at the June 12 Full Moon, or perhaps it will be an explosion of creativity. Either way, it won't be boring. The June 27 New Moon lets you make some personal changes and start a new approach to an old problem without a lot of people interfering with you. You don't have to tell anyone about anything unless you really trust them.
(April 20 - May 20)
People might make a lot of demands on you during the June 12 Full Moon. Do what you can, accept graciously what is offered in exchange, and then let it go. You may feel less secure and grounded from June 21 through June 23. Keep track of your wallet, phone, and keys, and relax. This won't last long. Siblings (or a few close friends) could descend on you during the June 27 New Moon. Watch your Ps and Qs a few days before. Be well situated and ready to jump in and turn a new corner in a relationship.
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LEO (July 23 - August 22)
June 9 and June 10 could pack a punch that brings to a head something that most people have been avoiding. You may not like it either, but the resolution will be well worth it. Have your finances in order or at least in hand - for the June 12 Full Moon, since this lunation affects your money and material possessions. Think no surprises, and perhaps an opportunity or two for increase. The June 27 New Moon might drag you out of seclusion and push you more into the public. Step up, be yourself, and maybe make some new contacts.
The June 12 Full Moon brings extra light into your work and career efforts. Act generously but speak modestly for the best and most longlasting results. June 18 could be profoundly touchy-feely. Be generous but respectful about hugs. The June 27 New Moon opens doors and provides lots of opportunities for fun and creativity. Psychodrama could peak, too, especially with family, so try to minimize or completely skip that part. Not getting scared or feeling inferior can help. The last few days of the month set you up to do great things for someone else and earn massive karmic brownie points.
*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @ SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted
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HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz 1.What is a quarter of three-quarters? 2.Technically the avocado ('fruit' of the avocado tree) is a: Berry; Tuba; Nut; or Fungus?
Test Your Vocabulary crude means : 1. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
3.From the Greek root word for a pointed pillar, what is the technical term for the division sign ( ÷ ) ?
2. belonging to an early stage of technical development
4.Which occupation traditionally used 'walla' (in the US), 'rhubarb' (UK), and 'gaya' (Japan)?
4. capable of fitting a particular situation or use
7.Crepuscular creatures are mainly active in: Sunlight; Moonlight; Twilight; or Darkness?
ANSWER: Is it gross? Unsophisticated? Totally tasteless and positively offensive? Then you can describe it as crude.
6.SS Ancon was the first ship to navigate what single-vowelled passage on 15 August 1914?
Crude is not rude when it’s used to describe unprocessed oil, which it first was associated with in 1865. From the Latin crudo, meaning "rough, raw,"crude today can be used to describe anything or anyone that's unrefined and rough around the edges. So don’t be too insulted by the large-nosed portrait that cartoonist made for you. It’s just a quick,crude drawing meant to be funny.
5.The medical vasodilatory compound and recreational drug C5H11ONO is more commonly known as: Crack cocaine; LSD; Amyl nitrite; or Speed?
3. tending to become more severe or wider in scope
8. A low-cost 'ratoon' crop (for example of sugar-cane or rice) grows from/on: Windblown seeds; Stubble after cropping; Flooded land; or Astroturf? 9.The two traditional symbols used to indicate treble and bass clefs in musical notation are respectively based on: G and F; P and L; T and B; S and E?
Choose the Right Symbol
10.What high quality gravity/capillary-fed implement was traditionally ruby-tipped gold, and is nowadays usually iridium-tipped stainless-steel? 11.The first almanacs, made in Babylon/Iraq c.750BC, originally listed: Important people; Recipes; Prayers; or Planetary movements?
What mathematical symbol can be put between 5 and 9, to get a number bigger than 5 and smaller than 9?
12.What common mineral's name (technically silica or SiO2) derives from old PolishGerman 'kwardy', meaning 'hard'? 13.AgustaWestland, Bell, Oboronprom and Sikorsky are notable makers of: Solar panels; Helicopters; Telecomms systems; or Nuclear reactors? 14.The particle physics unit of reactionary particle decay is: Strangeness; Weirdness; Oddness; or Bafflement? 15.What product 'brand' from the Gamay is traditionally released the third Thursday of November each year?
17.Analepsis is more commonly known as a what in a play/story/film: Credits; Flashback; Sex scene; or Intermission?
JUMBLED WORDS I M T I L
18.What invention of the Greenland Inuit is also derogatory slang for an outdoor hobbyist who observes or collects things?
S A L C H
19.Baroque (a dramatic heavily detailed style of art form) began in: 500BC Athens; 1200s Paris; 1600s Rome; or 1800s Rio de Janeiro?
B U D E O L
20.A thin middle section of a wooden chair-back, particularly old and carved, is called a: Spit; Splint; Sprout; or Splat?
S E N U U R
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L O F R A M ANSWERS: LIMIT, CLASH, DOUBLE, UNSURE, FORMAL
ANSWERS: 1.Three sixteenths (or 0.1875 - to calculate fractions of fractions, multiply the top digits [i.e., 1 x 3 = 3] and then the bottom digits [i.e., 4 x 4 = 16] to give 3/16ths ), 2. Berry, 3. Obelus (from the ancient Greek root word equating to obelisk), 4. Actor (the words uttered randomly by a group to create the background murmur of a crowd), 5. Amyl Nitrite, 6. Panama Canal, 7. Twilight (dawn or dusk - from Latin crepusculum, twilight), 8. Stubble after cropping ('ratoon' is from old Spanish retono, sprout), 9. G and F, 10. Fountain pen, 11. Planetary movements, 12. Quartz, 13. Helicopters, 14. Strangeness, 15. Beaujolais Nouveau (French wine from the gamay grape and Beaujolais region), 16. Artworks, 17. Flashback, 18. Anorak (anoraq in Greenland Kalaallisut language), 19. 1600s Rome, 20. Splat (an old-English, meaning 'split up')
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ANSWER: A Decimal Point - 5.9 works nicely
16.The German Bauhaus institution famously combined building design with: Gardens; Artworks; Energy systems; or Water?
ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ *
ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺰﺭ : إزاﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ اﳉﺴﻢ ﳉﻤﻴﻊ أﻧﻮاع اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . ﻧﺤﺖ اﳉﺴﻢ و ﻧﻘﻞ اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺗﺼﻐﻴﺮ ﺣﺠﻢ اﻷﻧﻒ ورﺳﻤﻪ ﻣﻦ دون ﺟﺮاﺣﻪ . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻮﻻدة . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت اﻟـ Stretch Marksﺑﺈﺳﺘﺨﺪاماﻟﻜﺎرﺑﻮﻛﺴﻲ ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ .
ﺗﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻟﻮن اﻟﺒﺸﺮة و ﻛﺎﻣﻞ اﳉﺴﻢ . ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ اﳌﻴﺰو ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﻨﻀﺎرة و ﺷﺪ اﳉﻠﺪ وﺣﺮق اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺟﻠﺴﺎت اﻟـ VillaShape IIﻟﺘﻨﺴﻴﻖ اﻟﻘﻮاموﺷﺪ اﻟﺘﺮﻫﻼت . -ﻋﻼج آﺛﺎر اﳊﺒﻮب واﻟﻨﺪﺑﺎت .
اﻟﺘﺨﻠﺺ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺐ اﻟﺸﺒﺎب ﺑﺸﻜﻞ داﺋﻢ . ﻋﻼﺟﺎت ﺗﺴﺎﻗﻂ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ و ﺗﻜﺜﻴﻔﻪ و زراﻋﺔ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ .ﻋﻼج اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺒﺔ . إﺑﺮ اﻟﺒﻮﺗﻮﻛﺲ ﻟﺸﺪ اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . -إﺑﺮ اﻟﻔﻴﻠﻴﺮ )رﺳﻢ اﻟﺸﻔﺎﻳﻒ( .
اﳉﻠﺪﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ -اﻟﻠﻴﺰر واﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻞ -ﻃﺐ اﻷﺳﻨﺎن -اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻدة -ﻃﺐ اﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﺔ -اﻟﻔﺤﻮﺻﺎت اﺨﻤﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ
ﻣﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﻔﻨﻄﺎس اﻟﺘﺠﺎري
I want to check the scores Welcome to the network that helps you grow and achieve your wants ooredoo.com.kw
WATANIYA IS NOW OOREDOO
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LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION
summer’14
مجمع االفنيوز The Mall - Mezanine ميزانني- ذا مول The Avenues mall. Phase 3 High Street هاي سرتيت The Mall – High Street Mezzanine Phone: 22200650 22200650 :هاتف Shop Nº 140A The Avenues mall
Fifth Ring Rd Telephone: 22200650 KUWAIT
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Jabriya - Tel:. +965 25353248 - Fax: +965 25353249
شركــة سبــــا آنــد مــــــور
Opening Soon at Symphony Mall, Salmiya
NAIL CARE
متخصصون في تجهيز الصالونات ومراكز التجميل والمعاهد الصحية
ISSUE 54, VOLUME 4, JUNE 2014 ART 71 ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014
BEAUTY 84 Advantages & Disadvantages of Perfumes and Colognes 86 New at Layla Harmony 88 Summer Skin Schedule
ENTERTAINMENT 98 June Movie Releases 101 Top Music Charts
INTERVIEW 16 Abdoulraouf AlWazzan 54 Khadijah Kamel AlHarmi 68 Thuraya Al-Baqasami 70 Brian Kenny 72 Rhonda McKenzie 78 Infusion - Patty Marotte 90 Hiba AlMansour 110 Sarah Al Enzi 122 Abdulla Ashkanani
KIDS 166 Kids Pages
FASHION 126 Fashion News 130 ZOUCH Fashion 134 A Grunge Affair 138 What's Trending This Summer?
FEATURE 20 What Amazing, Ridiculous, Complex Creatures We Are 22 Which Came First, The Chicken or The Egg?! 24 الطريق نحو النجاح 26 How Making Films or TV Series Comes to Life 28 You Don't Know What You've Got 'Till It's Gone! 30 Calling All Dads 32 Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran 46 Getting Creative With The 3 "R"s 102 12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
FITNESS
50 Ramadan and Nutrition 52 Travelling This Summer?
FOOD
76 Nat Bakes... With Love
HEALTH
36 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) 39 العالج الطبيعي 40 Fathers - Integral to Healthy Families 44 "Theraphy?" But My Child is Still Young!
LITERATURE 100 Short Stories by Nadia AlHassan 104 Poetry by Nada Faris 105 Arabic Poetry by Tassnim 106 June 2014 Book Releases 108 The Upcoming Summer
NUTRITION 42 Soccer 58 Eat Healthy This Ramadan
REGULARS 78 Green in The City
60 One-On-One with Kinda AlFaris 64 Tea with T 66 City Guide 82 Nat 's Kitchen Tales... With Love 96 Know About Your Birthstone 107 CP Book Club by Nada Soliman 140 Events 154 Press
164 Say Cheez with CityPages 168 Horoscopes 170 Homework for GrownUps
TECHNOLOGY 114 Cool New Gadgets 116 TECH Updates & News
118 Bonus TECH Updates & News 120 تطورات شركة أبل
Dear Readers… Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief
Jameel Arif
Muhammed Altaf Sr. Sales Manager
Claudia Farias
Content Supervisor
Tanya Burns
Creative Director Graphic Designers Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi Contributing Team Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Mohammad Al-Sharrah Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Nadia Al-Hassan Abdalla AlMuzaini Nada Soliman Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Nada Faris Ahmed Al-Ragum Nour Al-Zaabi Ali - DJ RAVEN Oussama T. Hussein ARTRONAUTS ASAMA Perfumes Reshmi Revi BirthKuwait Sanaa Abdul Hamid Dr. Nazia Nausheen Sandra Bakhamian Eng. Homoud AlMuhareb Sherihan A. Hassabo Faisal Al-Dhofari Talah Alabdulaaly Khaled Al-Zawawi Layla Harmony Zahra Ashkanani Maha Al-Rashed Zahra Taqi Photography Team Abdulaziz AlSoraya Shahbaz Hussain Abdulaziz AlShayaji Abdullah Hamadah Ahmad Emad Othman AlMishaan Natalia Sitcai Bulk Distribution Team V. Rajan S. V. Gopal
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We have made it to June, the mid-point of 2014, when all are looking forward for Ramadan and getting ready or already have started summer vacations. June is such an interesting month with so many things happening around that it made difficult for us to content with one theme and ignore the rest so we decided to cover as much around us as possible to provide you with the interesting aspects about all the main things. The first theme which has been covered is with reference to ‘World Environment Day’ where my old friend Paul Turnbridge has come with a very special article on page 46 and it is a must read. It will provide us with all the information that how we can contribute in making our environment better. Our new team member Hamad J. AlKulaib, who has recently joined the CityPages team is also up to the task and in persistent manner and will be writing about the green world every month. His first article is available in this issue and will keep regularly promoting the green life. Father’s day which is being celebrated on 15th June has also been specially focused in this issue and the CityPages team members have expressed their feelings and gratitude in the form of words for this precious relation. Our team member Abdulaziz Al-Khamis has brought for you the top twelve movies related to fathers on page 102. As I mentioned in my opening line that Ramadan ‘The month of blessings’ is coming in June so special articles about this month are a must read in this issue. Although many articles are available in this issue but my favorite is Abdullah Shams AlDeen’s article ‘Scientific miracles of Quaran’. I will strongly recommend this article for our readers on page 32. Last but not the least Foot Ball World Cup is also staring from 12th June and it is impossible to ignore such an event. While maintaining this fever CityPages Special focus on this event will provide you with the best and interesting writing about it. Our team member Sandra Bakhamian in her segment City Guide has brough for you Rio De Janeiro and in her illustration you can find Brazil. Kinda AL-Faris’s segment ‘One –On-One with KInda’ is the bumper surprise of June issue. Who does not know Kuwait’s legend footballer Jassim Al Yaqoub. While making the fever rise interview of Jassim Al Yaqoub is most appropriate at this time of the year. We are honored to be the first magazine that was granted access to his museum. The entrance into it took us back to the memories of 1982 World Cup when Kuwait participated in the event. Our New Segment Nat’s Kitchen tales… with love is another segment for international cuisine lovers. Every month you will have something amazing and different from the different parts of the world. The segment has kicked off this month with Brazilian food which you can enjoy while watching matches. Our cover interview is with Hiba AlMansour from Kuwait’s major book stores ‘That Al Salasil’. She has in detail discussed the ‘Power of paper in the digital world’. A must read interview. As always CityPages met with many interesting people during for this issue who are valued contributors in their respective fields. Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan is one of them. His contributions in Warba Insurance are really worth mentioning. We met with Abdulla Ashkanani the owner of Piel De Tore Kuwait on the occasion of their first anniversary. We have brought for you the details of Sara Al Enzi at the head quarter of Ooredoo telecom, previously known as Wataniya telecom. Meeting with Patty Marotte of Infusions was a very interesting and inspiring experience. Thuraya Al- Baqsami’s interview is in fact a tribute to Sheaffer pens. Khadija Kamil a young Kuwaiti lady is helping people achieve their fitness goals. There are so many other interesting regular feature and articles waiting for you inside. Let’s keep the fingers crossed and wait for the new soccer champs.
Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor
[email protected]
DISCLAIMER
Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait. All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. 10 citypageskuwait.com Copyright © June 2014
On the Cover: Hiba AlMansour Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi
June, 2014
Free Copies of CityPages are Available at:
Hawally - Zawya Center
Hello Our Beautiful Readers!
Dear CityPages Readers,
With the advent of June we are already at the verge of ending the first half of the year. Like work the heat
The World Cup season has commenced! This is
is also at its best. Actually this is the time of the year
the time when TV sets are sold out and people are
when we all need to sit back and carefully examine our new year’s resolutions. We need to check that where we have reached with the promises which
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we committed with ourselves at the start of the year. Take advantage of this full bloomed heat, stay
shopping for potato chips and popcorn instead of groceries. Go figure the fervor. Our issue of course is dedicated to the season and
at home at just check the progress which we were
to celebrate in spirit of this I am interviewing the
supposed to do during the first 6 months of the
legendary Kuwaiti soccer player Jassim Yaqoub.
year.
What a truly kind and gentle man he is yet an icon.
Football World Cup is knocking at the door and
CityPages
your CityPages is bringing for you the interesting
Ramadan is at our door, and in this heat I think we
details about it. Other than the football you will
may be earning extra points this year. I hope that
find so many interesting things in the June issue
@citypageskuwait
which are not only worth reading but also worth remembering. I can assure you that you will enjoy reading the special articles which we have brought for you with reference to Father’s day as well.
@citypageskuwait
I will not disclose all the secrets of June issue as I
everyone takes care of themselves in this energy sapping heat wave that has hit Kuwait. Finally, to all you wonderful fathers out there, what a lovely job you’re doing Happy Fathers Day!
know that the suspense always creates interest. Grab your copy today and enjoy the read and as usual keep us posted with valued feedback. FOR ADVERTISING E-mail: [email protected]
FOR PRESS COVERAGE & PRESS RELEASES E-mail: [email protected]
TO INVITE CITYPAGES TEAM TO YOUR EVENTS E-mail: [email protected]
See you in the next issue.
Till the next issue.
Abeer M. Alabduljalil Managing Editor
Kinda Al Faris Executive Editor
CityPages accepts unsolicited ar ticles (1000 words or less) in English or Arabic. Submissions may be sent to:
[email protected]
in .rtf, .pdf, .doc, and .docx format. CityPages will notify the author upon acceptance but will not entertain inquiries. 14
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The Avenues 22597145 • Al-Kout Mall 22979032 • The Gate Mall 22056134 • Tanagra, Fanar complex 25717893 loccitane-me.com
June, 2014
15
by: Abdalla AlMuzaini
From passion to success, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan was determined to excel with everything he worked on. Quitting was never a given option to Abdulraouf, and that was forced to his strength of mind since childhood. Kuwait was going through a reconstruction phase to fix all the destructions that occurred during the Iraqi invasion. New Infrastructure was being built in the country and part of the reconstruction was the introduction of the Internet to Kuwait in 1995. The Internet was something new to the people, where people still didn’t know what is Internet, and what is the difference between the internet and a computer! That to Abdulraouf was “eye-catching!” and set him off to the beginning of his journey…. At the age of 18, the starting point of his passion flickered upon Abdulraouf’ s eyes when the English teacher assigned an essay to be written, and one of his class mates submitted his essay ‘Printed on Paper.’ This was an illuminating realization, which resulted in Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s personal feeling of elation and wonder! It was right there shining before Abdulraouf’s eyes like a pot of gold, and he knew what he wanted… He wanted a computer. Al-Wazzan not just only wanted to do all his essays on the computer, but all College marketing campaigns as well. His wish came true when Abdulraouf’s father got him his first Personal Computer.
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Through this PC, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan’s exploration started to get deeper, leading him to work on Microsoft Front Page, and Photoshop. The “First Online Magazine in Kuwait” – was created by Al-Wazzan and his friend Waleed Bandar. Abdulraouf knew that there was so much to learn and discover from the Personal Computer and positioned his complete focus towards the field of Information Technology (IT). “IRC Club” was the first Internet Café to open by Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan and his family in 1997 using DSL, unlike other Internet Cafés who were still using Dial Up. At the “IRC Club” is where Abdulraouf learnt all about technical Networking. From that spark of wonder, to a passion, Abdulraouf wanted more…. A greater and bigger career, leading him to pursuing his education at The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET) granting him a Diploma in Computer Programming. After leaving PAAET in the year 2000, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan went job hunting. At that time, anyone who wanted to work must have a permission letter from the military, which Abdulraouf didn’t have. This was a struggle to Abdulraouf as he wanted to work but the letter of approval was his only prerequisite. With no other choice, Abdulraouf applied to serve the Kuwaiti army, but was requested to serve an additional year as he was late in joining. Finding a way around it, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan joined the Kuwaiti Air Force as a volunteer with minimum condition of five years to serve. The reason
Available online on Pinterest.com
Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan From Passion to Success
June, 2014
17
of him joining the Air Force was not for the love of flying but for the mere fact that there was an open vacancy for a position as an IT Network Administrator. Al-Wazzan took up this role for a period of four years till he got promoted to become the IT Team Leader at the Kuwaiti Air Force. As the IT Team Leader, Abdulraouf developed a new version of the HR System; added at least 60% of new features, automated the process, and made it paperless which was a ‘time-cutter’ and resulted in an increase in efficiency. Respective of the minimum requirement to serve for five years as a volunteer, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan continued serving for a total period of eight years. Eight years of active contribution, Abdulraouf realized it was time for him to spread his wings and fly away. It was essential to Al-Wazzan to continue his path of learning more about IT, taking more tasks and responsibilities, and reaching to hire positions with better job offers. Abdulraouf is back again with his job hunting, and after three months of 18
citypageskuwait.com
searching, Al-Wazzan finally gets a call for a job interview. In 2008, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan officially joins ZAIN IT Department as a Data Base Administrator (DBA). Within his year and a half at ZAIN full of IT responsibilities, AlWazzan was involved in six main critical, major enterprise, and successful IT Projects: • The new numbering plan of adding the 8th digit to the ZAIN phone numbers (which impacted entire Kuwait’s users of ZAIN) as a Project Technical Team Member. • The Archiving System as a Project Manager. • The initiator and owner of the project to standardize ZAIN user’s access. • The upgrade of the Client Relation Management for Telecommunication Business Solution (TABS) as the User Acceptance Test (UAT) owner. • The upgrade of the E-Business Website as
the Infrastructure owner. • The Data Warehouse project as the Infrastructure owner. Driven by determination and goals of leadership, is when Abdulraouf decided to look into something greater and shift from the technical IT routine, to the course of IT Management. Of course, like any father is, Al-Wazzan’s father was concerned about Abdulraouf’s decision; as he was leaving a huge enterprise sized company such as ZAIN and going to the Insurance industry which was very uncommon. Stubborn and committed to his goals as he was, Al-Wazzan had already taken his decision to move to Warba Insurance where he had already been offered a managerial position. Warba Insurance at that time had a vision of restructuring its IT department and business solutions, and that’s when Abdulraouf joined to lead and deliver this vision to reality. Proving himself to the management
of Warba, Al-Wazzan was immediately promoted as the IT Manager, and by 2011, Warba Insurance officially had a fullfledged IT infrastructure, highest of its kind where no other Insurance businesses has today. With the planning, Al-Wazzan and his technical decisions, managed to save 60% of cost and this was such a great and successful achievement that it got published as a Regional Case Study by Microsoft, and could be read on www. microsoft.com
Subsequently, Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan engaged his heavy experience of his Photoshop with his daily activities to market Warba Insurance in the Kuwaiti market. Successfully, Al-Wazzan played a key role in the rebranding of Warba Insurance’s corporate identity, and initiated the Social Media campaigns in 2011. Because of Abdulraouf’s hard work, commitments and achievements, Al-Wazzan got promoted to Assistant General Manager (AGM) responsible for the IT and Marketing department.
which is taking place as IT has become the backbone of the business. The question is how he did it… How did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan take on Warba Insurance back in 2009 where IT was still in its early stages, to where it is today, almost 100% IT driven, cost saving, and a money making entity? Abdulraouf explained, “IT Managers should map themselves to the business goals of the decision makers. It is simply a negotiation to convince the management to invest in IT in order to achieve the Objective, Mission, and Vision of the company.”
Today, Warba Insurance is the first Insurance Company to start social media, and became the leaders in the Insurance sector in comparison to their competitors who also started to rebrand to keep up with Warba.
After his passion-able career jumps from the Internet Café to the Kuwaiti Air force and from ZAIN to Warba Insurance, I needed to know, did Abdulraouf Al-Wazzan finally reach his goals reaching to a top level executive and becoming well known in the IT industry? He simply smiled back at me and said “Abdalla, IT was a passion which started back in 1994, and today I have reached to an AGM position but that is not enough for me; you see, you can be a CEO but still be an employee. I would say that reaching my optimal goal is becoming a business owner of my own, as my dream is clear for me now… There is a lack of understanding towards the importance of IT, and would like to start a firm focused on IT consultancy & Management to help serve the Kuwaiti market.”
By the year 2015, it is predicted that, Warba Insurance will be saving enormous operational costs due to the automation
Abdulraouf is finally practicing what he’s been preaching for years, and is looking to make Kuwait a better place, using IT.
June, May, 2014
19
T
he ground is heart-stoppingly far away. Our amygdala recognises clear and present danger, heartbeat increases by a factor of three, blood pressure rockets, saliva seems to just not be there any more and the urge to really be somewhere else is almost overmastering. We are almost literally scared to death, experiencing massive surges of adrenalin, noradrenalin and growth hormone. In milliseconds, our hypothalamus pumps corticotropin-releasing hormone, triggering the pituitary to pump out adrenocorticotropin which in turn persuades the adrenal glands near our kidneys to start producing cortisol. Paraphrasing the above, after a very short time our adrenals feel like a couple of squeezed oranges as adrenalin rushes headlong into our bloodstream. Breathing is short, hard and fast as blood pumps manically. If you're old enough to remember, your whole body feels as if it's the starship Enterprise, shields at ten per cent, fending off an all-out Klingon attack. "She cannae take much more, Captain!" ...There's not much point in diverting precious energy for digesting when every joule might be needed just to survive. Pupils dilate, increasing movement perception, to see into the shadows where the bogeymen hide.... No, you haven't inadvertently slipped into a parallel universe and there won't be a test tomorrow on the biology of fear. We are, of course, talking about skydiving. About to leap heedlessly from an aircraft and experience an acceleration of almost ten metres per second per second meaning that we get to go really, really quickly. Mother Earth rushes to embrace us. Awfully fast. For all the adrenalin junkies, anybody who is reading this who can remember their first jump, I'd bet money that you're smiling right now. Whether or not we decide to jump out of the aeroplane depends upon our overcoming the entirely natural fear of dying horribly, but... why bother? What is it that motivates otherwise quite normal, well-balanced people to override a perfectly reasonable natural protection mechanism? Because we like it. That's why. This cascade of biochemical changes as a result of perceived risk is, I am told, experienced as high arousal together with unpleasant anxiety, which seems to be a little bit paradoxical. So, we ask ourselves again, the question is not whether we would go parachuting, but why? Even if we could conjure an answer, it ain't quite as simple as "we like it." A wilderness camper might grab a baseball bat to chase away a bear intent on foraging but the same guy with the baseball bat is afraid to stand up to his boss, both activities being fraught with danger but of two very different kinds. To paraphrase Orwell, all risk is not created equal. Research seems to indicate that we subject ourselves to quite a number of risk-taking activities of various kinds and, what a surprise, our risk-taking behaviour is governed by our genetics. Freud would have said "when in doubt, blame the mother", in our day we'd argue "when in doubt, blame the gene", which, if we think about it, is another way of saying exactly the same thing. If we stay with Uncle Sigmund for a moment longer, he might have told us in those soothing sessions on his leather couch that our risk-taking behaviour was illogical, beyond reason and we should stop it immediately since we obviously have suicidal tendencies. Hedge fund managers and other fledgling wolves of Wall Street, please take note. You'll no doubt be relieved to hear that we've come a long way since Sigmund's sofa and I think you've
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read enough amateur shrink-speak for one day. When I was a child, my mother used to remind me with monotonous regularity that 'curiosity killed the cat'. Perhaps she meant only to discourage me from stealing the car before I was tall enough to see over the steering wheel. Maddeningly, she then took me to the library where I borrowed books whose titles began with "The Adventures Of...", which positively encouraged me to undertake derring-do, rescue a few distressed damsels, single-handedly fight my way through squadrons of bad guys and generally place myself in harm's way to the general approbation of all and sundry. In other words, she gave with one hand and took away with the other. I don't think she liked me very much. It didn't really dampen my enthusiasm for dangerous behaviour, maternal wrath or feline homicide notwithstanding and over the years I've been involved in more than a few squeezed oranges moments. See above if you've forgotten. It's fortunate, however, that as we get older, our risk perception skills get better and the increased information flow that we enjoy in our, let's say, maturer years, tends to discourage us from doing stuff which, let's be honest, is batshit crazy. I no longer duck under the barrier when the ski run says it's closed - they didn't really mean it, it looked OK from the bottom - besides which, the piste is absolutely empty. It's only when you get halfway down, notice that it's steep and impossibly gnarly, covered in sheet ice and the bumps are the size of Buicks, that you realise that they might have had a point in closing it after all. Being now retired, sort of, you might therefore imagine me to be a benevolently becardiganed, avuncular figure gently pottering among the geraniums, days of risk and adventure being no more than a distant memory. To all my friends who are reading this, please stop howling immediately. I recently took up a new sport, scuba diving, cavorting with the fishes, dolphins, turtles and so forth on the ocean floor. Once you've mastered the art of neutral buoyancy so you stop bouncing up and down like a demented trampolinist, the wonders of the deep unroll before your eyes like a magic carpet. Strange creatures, some with teeth, glide effortlessly past. Octopi do what they do - it really is quite hard to explain how the eightfold synchrony actually works. Fantastic fish painted like rainbows graze in the coral. Sometimes, they might even have a friendly nibble on your wetsuit, which can be a little bit unnerving. There are a couple of downsides, touching really is a no-no because stingy thingies can put you in hospital. Also, you do rather have to know what you're doing in tight spaces and, moreover, have to be able to hang about for extended periods with heavy weights. It's like the gym, but wetter. A while back, after a three day diving trip to the Red Sea, I trudged wearily out of the airport, flapping an exhausted hand to a kindly taxi driver and feeling a bit, well, elderly, to be honest. My joints hurt and I momentarily cursed Jacques Cousteau for not inventing scuba gear that weighs on land in excess of twenty-five kilograms, which felt to me a bit like carrying my mother-in-law out of the surf. Fortunately, I have no pictures of my knees momentarily giving way as I hauled my hippopotamine carcass out of the forgiving water on to the beach, gravitationally challenged, cutting my foot on shard-sharp shingle in the process, being gently helped landward by a muscular Swiss instructor. Archimedes did have a point; history does not relate whether he himself was helped out of his bath by a muscular Greek slave who omitted to clothe his master before he ran manically into the street, thereby subjecting him to the catcalls
What amazing, ridiculous, complex creatures we are by: John MacArthur
and hissing of the local citizenry to whom his discoveries meant little. So, why have you been subjected to my little adventure diary? Because it illustrates a point. We don't stop taking the odd risk just because we've left childhood behind. It's actually quite good for us, as it happens, in small doses, a bit like exercise. Now, please don't for a moment imagine that you should suggest to your grandchildren that what you'd really like for your seventy-fifth birthday is a course of skydiving lessons or a bungee jump. And, if your bowels turn to water at the thought of doing something which might kill you, for "risk" read "exercise". Standing up is better than sitting down. Take a walk - you'll get all the adrenalin rush you need trying to cross the road in this country. If you're a corporate drone, you might make them buy you a stand-up desk. Churchill and Hemingway both had one, both risking varicose veins and coronary atherosclerosis. There's a growing body of medical evidence that asserts that hours of uninterrupted sitting can be surprisingly bad for your health but standing is a bit risky too. If you own the company, you could even get yourself the ultimate in work-life multitasking, a treadmill desk. Now, these will serve several purposes. One being that you have to actually walk to go nowhere - a bit like this story, really - and simultaneously type on your laptop which is just out of reach and is actually hazardous because you can't get the positioning software right in the brain and you might well fall...oh, dear, it's all getting very complicated and dangerous. Apparently, you can get one that simulates snowboarding as well. See - instant adrenalin rush, right there at work. Just like skydiving really.
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Which came first, the Chicken or the Egg?!
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he saying goes that “Behind every great man there’s a great woman”. We have heard it over and over again; a phrase that is certainly much older than the Women's Movement of the 1960s. Yes! We have heard it a million times throughout the decades, believed in it and used it in many situations. But have we really thought about its origin? How exactly did we come to believe it and make it a “universal truth”? The meaning of the saying clearly declares that a great/successful man wouldn’t be so without support from the woman in his life. Well, my question to all women and to myself is: would a woman be supportive of an unsupportive or a mistreating man? Would she feed his ambitions, inspire him to take risks, provide him with self-confidence? I answered NO! And would a man be good to a woman who always demean his aspiration and mock his vision? The answer is again, NO! The question thus arises, which came first: the chicken or the egg? X that can't come without Y, or Y that can't come without X? Regardless of the sex, man or woman, I believe any human would never give a genuine smile to a hurtful face, present a
Sherihan A. Hassabo Sherihan A. Hassabo is a passionate writer who started expressing her opinion about controversial subjects when she was 14. When she is not directing events, she likes to investigate the interesting relationships' controversy in our Eastern society. Every month, and from real life experience; Sherihan will share a story, an idea, opinion, or a simple advice for men and women to live happily ever after.
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helping hand to biting teeth, stand behind someone else to support his success if they know for sure that, if the tables are turned, the other person wouldn’t do exactly the same. It is not a question of giving and caring, it is human nature which drives us all; men and women. Giving it the slightest thought, we should come to realize that while some facts need to be altered, there are definitely new facts that we need to derive from the existing ones: there has to be a saying “Behind every great woman there’s a great man”, and “Behind every unsuccessful man there’s an unsuccessful woman”... and so on. Let’s be fair and think it over before we merely repeat it!
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الطريقنحوالنجاح
طبيعة
النفس تحب النجاح في حياتها سواء على الصعيد الشخصي أو الوظيفي أو المالي أو جميع جوانب الحياة .للنجاح لذة جميلة من اعتاد عليه ال يمكنه التخلي عنه ،فتراه يقفز من قمة الى قمة ليحقق النجاح الذي اعتاد عليه وأصبح اسلوب حياته. في تجربة بسيطة مع مجموعة من المتدربين في احدى دوراتي ،اخترت شخصين واخرجتهم من القاعة ،أغلقنا عين أحدهم الذي عليه أن يصل لمكان جلوسه وهو يتلقى توجيهات الشخص اآلخر ،دون علمهم ما سيجري داخل القاعة ،و المتدربين في داخل القاعة عليهم تشتيت تركيز ذلك الشخص والعمل على عكس توجيهات الشخص المساعد .وحين دخل الشخص للقاعة توقع أن يستمع فقط لتوجيهات الصديق المساعد ،لكنه تفاجأ بازعاج في القاعة مما أدى لتعثره وتغيير طريقه، والشخص المساعد توقف عن التوجيهات فور سماع اإلزعاج ،لكنه تدارك الموقف قبل سقوط صديقه فأعاد توجيهه حتى وصل لمكانه الصحيح. الفكرة من هذا التمرين ليست بإزعاج الشخص أو احداث الفوضى ،بل هي فكرة أرغب بتوصيلها لمن حولي ،وهي أنك حين تضع أولى خطواتك نحو النجاح لتحقق هدفك ،ستواجه تحديات الحياة أو يتوجه لك المحبطين والمزعجين ( ليشلوا) حركتك أو يعيقوا تواصلك ،فهدفهم تعطيلك وغايتهم فشلك ،انتبه أن توجه تركيزك لهم فقط تجاههلهم. بعد أيام من أدائي لهذا التمرين تعرضت لموقف مشابه حين بدأت بتحقيق هدف جديد ،ابتسمت وقلت هذا هو التمرين وحان التطبيق ،وفع ً ال تجاهلت ما حدث وكأنه شيء لم يحدث وفع ً ال انتهى الموقف ونجحت في التمرين.
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Nour AlZaabi
Nour holds a Master in Business Administration and a Bachelor in Marketing and is a Member at The Kuwait Economic Society and British Council Entrepreneur Network in Kuwait. Stay tuned for her articles and features in the CityPages magazine.
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How Making Film or Tv Series Comes To Life Available online on Pinterest.com
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ince I’ve been back in Kuwait, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside Kuwait’s award-winning film director and producer Walid Al-Awadi as he films a mini-series. I’ve watched and learned what it takes to bring a film or television series come to life. It’s not easy and takes a lot of discipline, plus a team you can count on around you. Here’s how it happens… Development:It all starts with an idea. Mind you, that idea can take years to come to fruition. You’ll have to make your idea come to life with a proper script. Script writing is a skill, so be prepared to spend the time working on your writing or finding a capable scriptwriter. Be prepared for numerous edits and rewrites. You’ll have to think about character development and the story you will tell. When you think you are done, you aren’t. You’ll rewrite again and again; and that’s only part of development. Unless you will be spending your own money to make the feature, you’ll have to pitch your idea successfully to convince someone to spend money to take it to the next step. Pre-Production:Ok, so now you have the script and financing, you’ll need to start getting the production together. This is a critical time and can take months. It is essential to make sure everyone has the same vision for the end product. You’ll be creating story boards, production boards, setting the budget, getting your team together: executive producer, director, producer, editor, and camera department (director of photography, lighting and sound crew, and the like). Now is also the time to start casting actors, finding costume and set designers, makeup artists, and scouting locations for filming. Your producer will also handle things
Laila Al-Qatami Laila holds a BS in Journalism from University of Colorado at Boulder and a MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University. She was a former spokesperson for the Arab-American community through the largest grassroots Arab-American organization based in Washington, DC. Laila is a Specialist in the image of Arabs and Muslims in US media, films, and popular culture.
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like securing equipment, transportation, comes to life. catering, and so many other details. You will also start sequencing where and how you will film your story. You will outline everything, Distribution:Ok, so you have the film made, you must also find a distribution channel and yes, do more rewrites. otherwise, no one will ever see it. Not everyone will jump at the chance, so you will Filming:The time this takes depends on have to knock on many doors. Some might what is the length of program or film you open, close, then open; it takes patience and are creating. The days are long and you’ll good negotiation. Once you have agreed be working hard. It can takes hours to film with the distributor about where/when it will just one scene, and it might not even make it air, and who will retain the rights, you start into the final version. All actors are different the publicity phase of promoting your work and you’ll have to manage what happens on before, during, and after it is shown. set, in addition to the actual filming. Is the lighting right, is the sound clear, did you get Then, your next idea hits you, and you start the right shot? Oh and you’ll probably rewrite all over again. some things along the way. Post-Production:This process connects everything together, putting the film together from the footage. This requires editing, sound, special effects, color correction and money, lots of money. This is where it all
June, 2014
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You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone! Available online on Pinterest.com by: Paul Turnbridge
E
ver since I started thinking about writing something for Fathers’ Day, a tune has been going over and over in my mind. Most readers may be too young to remember the classic by Joni Mitchell entitled “Big Yellow Taxi” but please check it out online if you want a retro musical treat. Anyway, the lyric which repeats in my head resonates “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” which, I guess, is where I claim my association with Fathers’ Day. Let me explain… My father was born in England in 1915. He grew up in a very different world to the one in which we live today … few cars; no television; taking a weekly bath in a large tin tub on the kitchen floor, sharing the bathwater with the rest of the family; none of the modern kitchen gadgetry yet invented. He lived through an era 28
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of great change! He had worked in the offices at GWR (Great Western Railway) which was one of the earliest of the pre-nationalised UK railway companies, until the onset of World War 2. He served his country as an officer in the Royal Artillery regiment and, after the war, remained in military service and met my mother at a T.A. camp at which he was Adjutant. By the time I arrived in 1958, he had married, had a daughter, been moved to several postings (with family in tow) and had finally been assigned a permanent position in the Ministry of Defense in London’s Whitehall. My father was a traditional man with oldfashioned values. For example, he would never even go shopping without wearing collar, tie and jacket! It was his belief that his role was to be the provider for the family, and he achieved that well. We were never
financially wealthy, but we were comfortable and never lacked for anything we needed. Yet we were rich in so many other ways … my sister and I grew up in a loving home. Our parents were there whenever we needed them; they spent time with us – reading to us when we were little, and teaching us the basics before providing us with the best-possible education. They taught us to be independent, yet never stopped loving and supporting us – even when we thought we knew better and did things against their advice or wishes. Yet I haven’t really celebrated Fathers’ Day since my father died some 20 years ago – not because I don’t love, respect and appreciate what my father did for me, but because I don’t really want to think about him not being here any longer. What would I not give to have him back even for just one week?
Of course I have many wonderful memories and a whole heap of photos (some of which are reproduced here) and, when I get together with my mother and sister, we still remember some of the daft things dad used to do to make us laugh. My father was strict and serious when it was needed, but he was also a good judge, a fair man and a great source of fun and laughter. Ours was a happy home. I think it was around 8 years before he died that my father developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Since retiring from work, he and mum had started to enjoy their leisurely new life. They had moved away from London to a new home in a beautiful part of England, and had travelled for some lovely holidays together, and my father spent a lot of his time creating his beloved gardens. But then he became more absent-minded and his character seemed to change. At first, we thought it was just dementure … but the progression to Alzheimer’s was unfairly rapid and unexpected. Communication became difficult and often, when I visited, he did not even know who I was. It was like my father was there….but he wasn’t really my father….he was not the man any of us knew. Even now – 20 years on – I get upset when I think back to those awful last years. He deserved better! His ultimate death was a release for him. As a typically generous gesture, at the onset of the disease, my father had agreed that upon his death he would donate his brain for medical research to St. Mary’s Hospital in London, where they lead the research into cures that will benefit future Alzheimer’s sufferers. By this act, he left his final footprint. This has been a very personal account which, at times, has been difficult to write. But why should I be surprised by that? After all, our fathers are personal to each of us. We all have unique memories and relationships with our family members, and we need to hold on to those. I loved my father (and still do) but it wasn’t until he was no longer around that I realized just how much he meant to me. I now know that I didn’t appreciate him enough when he was alive; I now know that there are so many conversations we should have had, but never did; and I know now that I will never again have the opportunities I once had to just be with him. Most of you will be able to value the presence of your fathers right now, and I urge you not to let any opportunity slip past. Take it from someone who knows from experience … you really don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone! (Written in memory of Major Victor R. Tunbridge – a true Gentleman, and a Gentle Man.) June, 2014
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Calling All Dads: You Matter Too!
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rowing up in the Middle East, moms are always seen as the anchor of the house, the most significant figure, the caring one, the one person you turn to when things go wrong and the one who puts every ones needs first and hers at the bottom. Of course this is all true (especially in my mother’s case!) but what about all the great fathers out there too? In our house we were always puzzled by the notorious Mother’s day celebrated in March and so we decided to call it Family day. That is until my sister and I moved to the US and realized that there are two days equally important, a day to celebrate your mom and another one dedicated to your dad in June! For the longest time, mothers have been revered, respected, and admired. After all, we moms, go through 9 months of pregnancy (which I found were actually 10 when I was pregnant but that's a whole different story for another article), changes in our bodies physically and emotionally, labor, delivery, breastfeeding, child rearing, giving up our careers and all the other sacrifices we make to be mothers. But wait a second; right by our sides are men, who have equally gone through many changes to be fathers too, to hold our hands through it all and those little hands of our children too. Most of what we as moms go through would not be possible if it wasn't for the wonderful husbands standing beside us each step of the way. These husbands are the wonderful fathers to our kids who so lovingly take care of many of parenthood’s many responsibilities too. To all the dads out there, as we celebrate you on your special day, let me remind you as to why you matter and how important your presence is to your family: 1.Dads play an important role in children’s development from birth all the way through adulthood. Research has shown that children with involved fathers do better socially and academically than kids with no relationship (or a distant relationship) with their fathers. According to a study done at the University of Illinois, children
Zahra Taqi Zahra is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop her a line on her email: [email protected] or find her on FB: http://www.facebook. com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @ MilestonesCoach
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with fathers who take the time to ask about what they learned at school and their dayto-day social activities and relationships do better in school than kids whose dads do not provide that kind of interest or input. 2.Dads and their boys: Fathers play an important role in their son’s lives as they model to them what it is like to be a man, how to be responsible, caring and how to be a loving husband and a good father. According to Christine Langlois, author of “Raising Great Kids”, boys who grow up with involved dads are less likely to get in trouble with the law as they get older. 3.Dads and their daughters: Fathers play a very important role in their daughters’ lives. Daughters who have a strong and healthy relationship with their dads tend to be more confident and self assured, independent and confident. Also studies show that girls who have a strong bond with their fathers tend to have less mental health problems later in life. Another important role for fathers when it comes to their daughters is the example they set for them in regards to men (i.e. husbands). 4.Dads bring on the adventure!: Many moms are cautious when it comes to their kids being adventurous, erring on the side of caution and some times discouraging their kids of partaking in certain activities according to Langlois. Dads on the other hand tend
Available online on Pinterest.com to believe that their kids are physically able which leads to children overcoming challenges and therefore having a higher self esteem. Simple things like asking your kids what they learned at school that day, reading to them, asking about their dayto-day activities can lead to kids being more academically successful. When a dad exhibits a commitment to his family, he models a responsible behavior to his own children. Also, children with supportive fathers, usually have less problems and are better able to get along with others and have better control over their emotions. There you have it Dads! You matter too just as much as any mom out there. Moms do put in a lot of hard work and oh so much love to their families, but so do you, and you ROCK at it! So, to all the wonderfully involved and supportive fathers out there, Happy Father’s Day to you all! May you continue to support your spouses and your families, build wonderfully strong relationships with them and reap the benefits of all the hard work. And to the two most amazing dads in my life, my dad and my kids’ dad, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work, Happy Father’s Day you two! “Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him father!” By Lydia Child.
June, 2014
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Scientific Miracles of The Holy Quran Available online on Pinterest.com Sahih International Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
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t is only natural that on the month where the Quran was revealed, that it should take center stage in the minds and inhabiting the consciousness of its believers. Darting through it cover to cover void of real meaning most likely defies the purpose. A diligent pondering of simply a few of the Quran’s verses concerning everything that consists in our metaphysical universe can be just as fruitful.
A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.)
Ramadan has always been a month of invigorating spiritual, physical and mental replenishment. Yes, a heightened sense of moral awareness tends to wash over some while tiny seeds of empathy begin to sprout in the hearts of others. Some people you might know appear facially unrecognizable, a sudden alteration in personality and perhaps some genuine “Ramadan Resolutions” towards battling ones inner destructive desires. So let us attempt to enhance the blissful energy by reflecting on several of scientific statements in the Quran.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (21:30)
More than 1,400 years ago in what was a backwater of civilization in the deserts of Arabia, an illiterate Arab produces scientific statements that scientists discovered just yesterday, relatively speaking, all while doing so in a linguistically superior form to any known Arabic text. People at the time were devoid of science, there were no telescopes, microscopes or anything even close to powerful technology we have today. Conceptions of nature and the universe were based on superstition and myth. Arabs believed the earth was flat and that mountains supported the sky above. Within this backdrop, the Quran was revealed containing many scientific facts on topics ranging from the origins of the universe to remarkably accurate descriptions of each stage of human embryonic development. Many of these facts could not be fully appreciated at the time, only recently have we as a species developed the technological means to marvel on its accuracies.
The Origins of The Universe and Its Expansion The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of hot dense smoke. This is one of the undisputed principles of modern cosmology. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (41:11)
The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this identical smoke, they formed and separated from each other.
Sahih International Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? In the previous verse, the Arabic words ratq and fataq are used. The word ratq can be translated into “entity”, “sewn to”, “joined together” or “closed up”. The meanings of these translations all circulate around something that is mixed and that has a separate and distinct existence. The verb “fataq” is translated into “We unstitched” “We clove them asunder” “We separated” or “We have opened them”. These meanings imply that something comes into being by an action of splitting or tearing apart. The sprouting of a seed from the soil is a good example of a similar illustration of the meaning of the verb fataq. With the introduction of the Big Bang theory, it soon became clear to Muslim scholars that the details mentioned with regards to the theory go identically hand in hand with the description of the creation of the universe in verse 30 of the 21st Surah of the Quran. The theory states that all the matter in the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point; that exploded and brought about the beginning of the universe, matches what is mentioned in the verse that the heaven and Earth (thus the universe) where all once joined together at a single point, and then split apart. Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany.
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He said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:1) impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few Sahih International years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this By the sky and the night comer. is the case.” “Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:2) hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin,” he Sahih International added. And what can make you know what is the night comer? In 1916, Albert Einstein formulated his General Theory of Relativity that indicated that the universe must be either expanding or contracting. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (86:3) Confirmation of the expanding-universe theory finally came in 1929 at the Sahih International hands of the well known American astronomer Edwin Hubble. It is the piercing star. Allah (SWT) communicates this phenomenon through prophet Mohammed (PBUH)1,400 years ago: The Arabic word "Thuqb" means a hole; "Thaqeb" means the one who makes the hole. The Quran is describing a knocking star that makes a piercing hole. Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (51:47) Again, how could an illiterate man who lived 1,400 years ago (or anyone at that time) have known that a star can make a piercing hole let alone a knocking sound?
Sahih International
Furthermore, Allah (SWT) also takes a mighty oath on the grandness of black And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] holes describing them as invisible celestial bodies that move and sweep like expander. vacuums: Yet, astonishingly well before telescopes were even invented and well before Hubble published his Law, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to recite this verse of the Quran to his companions that ultimately stated that the universe is expanding. At the time of the revelation of the Quran, the word “space” was not known, and people used the word “heaven” or “sky” to refer to what lies above the Earth. In the above verse, the word heaven or sky is referring to space and the known universe. The verse points out that space and the entire universe happens to be expanding, just as Hubble’s Law states. It is nothing short of a miracle that the Quran mentioned such a fact many centuries before the invention of the first telescope, at a time when there was primitive to no knowledge in science. This is more so considering that, like many people in his time and place, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) happened to be illiterate and simply could not have been aware of such profound ideas on his own.
Pulsar Stars and Black Holes Neutron stars are remnants of exploded stars. As more matter falls into a neutron star its mass increases; and as its mass increases its gravity increases. A point will be reached where gravity would have grown so much that not even light could escape, thus a black hole forms. Most neutron stars discovered today are in the form of radio pulsars. They are called radio pulsars because they emit radio waves, as well as insanely bright gamma ray bursts shooting from each end like towers or in Arabic “burooj” (which God takes an oath on swearing by the heavens and its “burooj” that can mean bright stars and also grand bright towers.)
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:15) Sahih International So I swear by the retreating stars .
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (81:16) Sahih International Those that run [their courses] and disappear. “Running Sweepers” or Black holes haven't been detected until in 1971, a satellite pinpointed the exact location of a black hole in the constellation Cygnus. Scientists believe that some regions of space exert such powerful gravity that they act like gigantic vacuum cleaners, sucking in any matter that comes too close. No matter what the matter is, may it be a comet, a planet, or even a cloud of gas would be crushed to an infinite density and disappear forever. The gravity is so intense that it alters space and even time, slowing down time and stretching out space. Not even light can escape the fierce gravitational pull, so they remain black and invisible. That is the reason behind their description in the verse as 'celestial bodies that disappear, the running sweepers’. Simply marvelous description of the unseen.
Human Embryonic Development
Connecting a radio telescope to a loud speaker you would in fact be able to hear a pulsar. Pulsars sound like someone persistently knocking in a rhythmic pattern.
In the Holy Quran, Allah (SWT) describes in precise visual detail the stages of human embryonic development, 1,400 years before modern day scientists 'discovered' important information on creation of man and his development only with aid of recent highly advanced machines.
Today we can hear a pulsars knocking and if matter continues to fall into this pulsar a black hole will eventually form. The Quran describes a star by "the one who knocks" [translated “night comer” he who knocks at night] and says that it is "the one who makes a hole”:
Sahih International
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:12)
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:13) Sahih International Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging.
Allah (SWT) states in the Quran: (23:14)
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Sahih International Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators.
Next in that verse from the Qur'an comes the Arabic word Mudghah (translated as lump of flesh) can refer to a "chewed substance". If someone was to take a piece of gum and chew it to leave teeth marks down the side it would look as the developing spine, of the embryo chewed. The picture displayed shows the resemblance of the embryos somites with chew marks. Suspension of an Embryo during the early stages in the womb of the mother. (About 15 days old) The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6mm.
The Arabic word Alaqah (translated clinging clot) literally has three meanings: •Leech •Suspended or clinging thing •Blood clot. When we compare a leech to an embryo in the alaqah phase, we find much similarity between the two. It is also noteworthy that the embryo at this phase obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, just like the leech, which feeds on the blood of other organisms. Using the word alaqah again to say the embryo is suspended within the womb, due to it's size at this stage. It's attached to the side by the umbilical cord but otherwise it's just hanging and leaning on nothing. Now, the word alaqah also compares our embryo to a blood clot. Why is that? Well, the embryo will not have any circulation until about three weeks into the pregnancy. And also have large amounts of blood flowing to it, making the embryo at this stage appearing similar to a blood clot, externally. So, the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage. Abdullah Y. Shams Al-Deen Abdullah is a graduate with a B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from California State University at Northridge - Los Angeles, California. Abdullah was a columnist for the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in America, Nebras E-zine for almost 4 years covering a wide range of topics from the oil industry and technology to sports and culture. An investigative Journalist at heart, researching and presenting intriguing, inspirational and important topics that otherwise do not find the light of day gives his great satisfaction. Follow Abdullah on Instagram: @a_shamsideen
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How is this possible? If Antoine Van Leeuwenhoek was the first scientist to observe human sperm cells using an improved microscope in 1677, how can this be explained? It was mistakenly believed that the sperm cell contained a miniature-preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the uterus, similar to an episode on Family Guy. These are only but a few prime examples of certain scientific accuracies that could not have been known by anyone at the time, let alone an illiterate man in a world of myths and superstition. Only recently, in a scientific and highly developed age, have we been able to grasp the full grandeur of the scientific miracles found in the Quran.
To be continued …
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
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ince its discovery in 2012, MERS has terrified the world with its mysterious origins and high fatality rate. MERS, which stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since killed more than 173 people out of 571 confirmed cases in the past few years– almost a third of those infected. It is related to the common cold as well as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which caused widespread panic during an outbreak in 2003. According to the World Health Organization, cases of MERS have been reported in countries like Jordan, Lebanon, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, and United States etc. The World Health Organization has called MERS a "threat to the entire world" as scientists struggle to understand the mysterious disease. MERS causes an acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, a cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia has often been recorded in victims and MERS has also caused kidney failure. The origin of the disease is unknown, recent research has
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linked camels to the virus after the animals were found to carry the virus in their blood. Saudi Arabia has issued a health warning to anyone handling camels over MERS, advising them to limit contact, wash their hands and wear face masks and gloves. The risk of transmission from person to person seems very low but there are fears the virus could mutate to a more contagious strain. Air travel, of course, can also accelerate the spread of a disease around the world, especially if those carrying the bug take a flight before they’re aware they have it and then spread it others at their destination. In the past, airports have deployed special scanners at gate areas to detect passengers with a high fever before they board. It’s not clear if MERS poses enough of a threat to air passengers to warrant such measures at this point. The World Health Organization is recommending increased vigilance in the Middle East and airports and infectious controls to stop the disease spreading where it is found. However, no travel or trade restrictions have yet been imposed but they are a possibility if the infection rate worsens.
WHAT YOU MUST KNOW
Is there a vaccine against MERS? What is the treatment?
What is Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)?
No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available. Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel corona virus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.Corona viruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
What are the symptoms of MERS? A typical case of MERS consists of fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is a common finding on examination. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Some patients have had organ failure, especially of the kidneys, or septic shock. Approximately 27% of patients with MERS have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with such chronic diseases as diabetes, cancer, and chronic lung disease.
How do people get MERS? It is not yet understood exactly how people become infected with MERS. In some cases, the virus appears to pass from an infected person to another person in close contact. This has been seen among family members, patients, and healthcare workers. Recently, there have been an increased number of reports of health care associated infections. In some communities, people have become ill but no potential source of infection has been found. It is possible that these persons were infected by exposure to an animal or perhaps another source or person.
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How can I help protect myself? Corona viruses are fairly fragile, surviving outside the body for only about 24 hours. They are easily destroyed by detergents and cleaning agents. It is advised that people help protect themselves by taking everyday preventive actions such as:
Countries with Lab-Confirmed MERS Cases
•Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and help young children do the same. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer/ wipes. One such brand is SEPTONA; the refreshing wet wipes SEPTONA Cotton Care for the hands offer deep and soft cleanness whenever needed. They contain alcohol and act against viruses. They are now available in supermarkets and BOOTS PHARMACIES all over Kuwait including the Airport branch. These wipes are suitable for daily use at home, in the car, in the office and especially during travel e.g. after handling money, after riding in a taxi, after touching escalators in a shopping mall, wiping down restaurant tables and toilet seats in public places etc.
• Saudi Arabia • United Arab Emirates (UAE) • Qatar • Oman • Jordan • Kuwait • Yemen • Lebanon
•Furthermore, SEPTONA Medi care antibacterial wet wipes with 70% alcohol is very effective against MERS virus. The 70% alcohol denat in the wipes is an antibacterial agent with quick action and extra effectiveness against the MERS, as well as most common viruses and germs. These wipes are used to disinfect injuries and surfaces, and not to be used on hands and mouth.
Countries in the Arabian Peninsula with Cases
Countries Cases • • • • • • • • • •
with
Travel-associated
United Kingdom (UK) France Tunisia Italy Malaysia Turkey Greece Egypt United States of America (USA) Netherlands
•Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze then throw the tissue in the trash. •Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. •Avoid close contact, such as sharing cups or sharing eating utensils, with sick people. •Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs.
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Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877
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العالج الطبيعي Available online on Pinterest.com
تم
تجديد قسم الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل فى مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى تحت اشراف األستاذ الدكتور /محمد زكريا (دكتوراه الطب الطبيعى و الروماتيزم و التأهيل و عضو هيئة التدريس بجامعة عين شمس) و تم تجهيزه بأحدث و سائل العالج العالمية فى هذا التخصص
ويقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات المتميزة : تشخيص و عالج جميع األمراض الروماتيزمية • العالج الطبيعى للعديد من األمراض :خشونة • المفاصل و بخاصة الركبتين -األنزالق الغضروفى القطنى و العنقى -االم الظهر و الرقبة بأسبابها المختلفة -التهاب األعصاب الطرفية -التهاب العصب السابع (ابو الوجه) -التهابات األوتار -التهابات و االم المفاصل المختلفة -مسمار القدم -الجلطات الدماغية و الشلل النصفى و شلل الطرفين السفليين -الشلل الدماغى فى األطفال – تشوهات و اعوجاج العمود الفقرى فى األطفال و البالغين -العالج الطبيعى ما بعد عمليات جراحات العظام و األعصاب و العمود الفقرى • تأهيل الرياضيين • تشخيص و عالج اصابات المالعب المختلفة • الحقن المفصلى لعالج التهاب المفاصل و حقن األوتار. ويتوفر فى القسم أحدث أجهزة العالج الطبيعى المطابقة ألحدث المعايير العالمية فى هذا المجال: الموجات الصوتية -الموجات القصيرة -الكهرباء العالجية بأنواعها المختلفة -الليزر العالجى -شمع برافين- كمادات باردة و ساخنة و تيارات باردة -اجهزة مساج- جهاز عجل الكتف -جيم متكامل. و من أحدث األجهزة التى توجد فى القسم جهاز األنودين لعالج التهاب األعصاب الطرفية للقدمين و اليدين و من المعروف ان هذا األلتهاب يصيب مرضى السكرى بنسبة كبيرة و يتسبب فى احساس بالخدار و الوخز فى اليدين و القدمين و يمتد تصاعديا ليصيب األجزاء الباقية من األطراف العلوية و السفلية بصورة تدريجية .و يتميز حهاز األانودين بنتائجه الممتازة فى عالج هذا األلتهاب. كما يتوفر ايضا جهاز الموجات التصادمية و هو من أحدث األجهزة فى عالج التهاب األوتار حول المفاصل و فى عالج الشوكة العظمية (مسمار القدم) و يتميز بنتائجه الممتازة مما يجنب المريض الحقن الموضعى لألوتار أو مسمار القدم باستخدام عقار الكورتيزون. ويقوم بتنفيذ الجلسات العالجية فريق متخصص من الفنيين على أعلى مستوى من الكفاءة و التدريب تحت األشراف الطبى المباشر من الدكتور محمد زكريا كما يقدم القسم العديد من الخدمات األخرى مثل: المساج لعضالت الجسم المختلفة ألزالة التوتر وألرتخاء العضالت -جلسات التخسيس الموضعى لتخسيس أماكن محددة من الجسم و جلسات اذابة الدهون و عالج 39
June, 2014
السليوليت وجلسات شد الترهالت خاصة بعد العمليات الجراحية للسمنة. Dr. Mohammad Ali Zakaria
و حرصا من مستوصف بوشهرى التخصصى على راحة مرضاه المميزين قام القسم بالتعاقد مع شركة جلوب ميد للتأمين الطبى و الشركات التابعة لها ألستقبال المرضى الخاضعين للتغطية التأمينية.
& MD Physical Medicine Rheumatology Rehabilitation. Staff Member, Ain Shams University Specialized Boushahri Polyclinic
Hotline: 66129444 Tel : 1888877 Ext:170
FATHERS Integral to Healthy Families
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Sometimes Dads may feel a little left out during the pregnancy and birth of their child. After all, during the first 9 months all the “action� is happening in mom! But fathers who spend time close to their wife during pregnancy undergo critical changes as well, that only continue once the baby is born. These changes ensure that Dad will be a committed protector and provider and play a critical role in helping a new infant develop emotional and social behaviors through healthy bonding. Once born, baby's hormonal control systems and brain synapses begin to permanently organize according to the human interactions she experiences. Unneeded brain receptors and neural pathways are disposed of, while those appropriate to the given environment are enhanced. Fathers, you are essential to this new environment!
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Oxytocin: A Bonding Hormone Oxytocin is a chemical released in the brain providing health benefits and promoting bonding patterns that create desire for further contact with the individuals inciting its release. We tend to talk a lot about oxytocin in the mother, but father’s also have a significant role to play. For example, mother’s tend to prefer whichever male is closest during periods of high oxytocin release (pregnancy and labor!) In addition, prolonged high oxytocin in mother, father, or baby also promotes lower blood pressure and reduced heart rate as well as certain kinds of artery repair, actually reducing lifelong risk of heart disease. Persistent regular body contact and other nurturing acts by parents produce a constant, elevated level of oxytocin in the infant, which in turn provides a valuable reduction in the infant's stress-hormone responses, and the resulting high or low level of oxytocin will control the permanent organization of the stress-handling portion of the baby's brain -- promoting lasting "securely attached" or "insecure" characteristics in the adolescent and adult. (Insecure characteristics include anti-social behavior, aggression, difficulty forming lasting bonds with a mate, mental illness, and poor handling of stress). When an infant does not receive regular oxytocin-producing responsive care, babies can develop permanent brain changes that lead to elevated responses to stress throughout life, such as higher blood pressure and heart rate. It has also been shown that a live-in father's oxytocin levels rise toward the end of his mate's pregnancy. When the father spends significant amounts of time in contact with his infant, oxytocin encourages him to become more involved in the ongoing care in a self-perpetuating cycle. Oxytocin in the father also increases his interest in physical (not necessarily sexual) contact with the mother, encouraging the father to become more interested in being a devoted and satisfied part of the family picture –all through his involvement with the baby.
Vasopressin & Protection Although present and active during bonding in the mother and infant, vasopressin plays a much bigger role in the father. This hormone promotes brain reorganization toward paternal behaviors when the male is cohabitating with the pregnant mother. The father becomes more dedicated to his mate and expresses behaviors of protection. Released in response to nearness and touch, vasopressin promotes bonding between
the father and the mother, helps the father recognize and bond to his baby, and makes him want to be part of the family, rather than alone. It has gained a reputation as the "monogamy hormone." Dr. Theresa Crenshaw, author of The Alchemy of Love and Lust, says, "Testosterone wants to prowl, vasopressin wants to stay home." She also describes vasopressin as tempering the man's sexual drive (not sexual functioning).
healthy mother and baby. You can foster healthy development by supporting your wife as she becomes a new mother and by providing frequent skin-to-skin contact, holding, and facial cues for your baby. Play, smile, soothe, cuddle, bathe, and rock. Even if you feel new or clumsy as a new father, all your efforts will help you to become a better father, and contribute to the healthy development of your child.
Vasopressin reinforces the father's testosterone-promoted protective inclination regarding his mate and child, but tempers his aggression, making him more reasonable and less extreme. By promoting more rational and less capricious thinking, this hormone induces a sensible paternal role, providing stability as well as vigilance.
Fathers, you are so important for healthy families. Thank you for all that you do!
Prolactin & Behavior Prolactin is released in all healthy people during sleep, helping to maintain reproductive organs and immune function. Prolactin promotes care giving behaviors and, over time, directs brain reorganization to favor these behaviors. Father's prolactin levels begin to elevate during mother's pregnancy, but most of the rise in the male occurs after many days of cohabitation with the infant. As a result of hormonally orchestrated brain reorganization during parenthood, prolactin release patterns are altered. It has been shown that fathers release prolactin in response to intruder threats, whereas childless males do not. Elevated prolactin levels in both the nursing mother and the involved father cause some reduction in their testosterone levels as well, which in turn reduces their libidos (but not their sexual functioning). Their fertility can be reduced for a time as well. This reduction in sexual activity and fertility is entirely by design for the benefit of the infant, allowing for ample parental attention and energy. When the father is intimately involved with the infant along with the mother, there should be some accord between the desires of the two, and oxytocin and other chemicals provide for heightened bonding and nonsexual interest in each other, which serves to retain a second devoted caretaker for the infant.
Fatherhood Fathers, you are already essential to a
Sarah Paksima
Sarah Paksima is a Board Member of BirthKuwait and a Doula, Childbirth Educator.
BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait
June, 2014
Soccer Available online on Pinterest.com
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occer is a moderately intense type of sports that requires the elite athletes to perform their best in order to outcompete their opponent. To perform well, optimum nutrition becomes crucial in supporting the athletes’ performance, training and recovery period. What are the nutritional requirements for soccer players? How much and what do they need to consume on the daily basis? Eating with a purpose, and also with enjoyment--that’s what nutrition for soccer is all about! Good food is not only one of life’s pleasures; it is also a powerful tool for helping you to be a better soccer player. Eating the right foods at the right times can help you train at your best so you can then compete at your best. General nutrition guidelines: Energy: relatively high energy expenditure sport Carbohydrate: 6g/kg/day; 8-10 /kg/day during training and competition Protein 1.4-1.7g/kg/day Fat: remainder of Kcal with an emphasis on heart-healthy fats Energy intake Energy expenditure is high in training and games. A 75-kg male soccer player may expend more than 1,500 kcal in a game. Many players, both males and females do not consume an adequate energy intake and this can lead to early onset of fatigue and poor nutrient intake. Calculating your calorie needs To estimate your resting metabolic rate (RMR) that is the amount of calories you need to simply breathe, pump blood and
Zain Al Abdeen Qasem
Community & Clinical Dietitian at Diet Care Zain holds a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from Jordan University of Science and Technology and completed his internship at Jordan University Hospital. He also has a certificate in HACCP. Zain offers a wide range of services at Diet Care such as wellness, weight management, sport nutrition and healthy lifestyle programs; personalized for each and every client needs and wants.
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live. Multiply your weight by 10 calories per pound (or 22 calories per kilogram). Add more calories for daily activity apart from your training and other purposeful exercise.
•50% X RMR if you are moderately active throughout the day. •30-40% if you are sedentary. •60-70% if you are very active. To lose weight target 80% to 90% of total calorie needed. So what does a soccer player eat? Breakfast:cold cereals, oatmeal and other hot cereals, bagels, english muffins, pancakes, french toast with syrup, jam, honey, and fruit juice. Lunch: sandwiches (with the bread being the "meat " of the sandwich), fruit, thickcrust, pizza, hearty broth-based soups with noodles or rice. Dinner:pasta, potato, or rice entrées; veggies, breads, juice, fruit. Snacks:flavored yogurt, pretzels, crackers, fig bars, frozen yogurt, dry cereal, energy bars, simple biscuit-type cookies, animal crackers, canned and fresh fruits, juice. Fluid intake: Players should consume fluid early and at regular intervals during the game. Needs are especially high in hot ,humid conditions, carbohydrate/electrolyte solutions been beneficial during the game. Water or sport drinks? Water is an adequate fluid replacer during soccer sessions that less than 60 minutes. Particularly if you have fueled-up with a pre-exercise snack. Sport drinks are helpful during training sessions and games that last longer than 60 to 90 minutes or on multiple game days; they replace both water and some carbohydrates. On the long run, balanced dietary habits must be emphasized for soccer players. As discussed above, proper energy, carbohydrates along with fluid intake are essential for the players to succeed on the field. If a player does not have a healthy diet, they will not be able to train as hard, And will be more susceptible to tiredness. Thus, NUTRITION is one of the most important components for optimal performance.
“Therapy?” But my child is still young! FSRI Counselor presents what parents need to know about child therapy and a guide for effective treatment Parents often find it difficult to accept that their child requires therapy because of behavioural problems or difficulties in learning, especially when this is recommended by the school or a professional party. “We associate the idea of therapy with a mistake that we as parents could have committed, or an issue that can’t be solved. This is why parents become defensive to the idea that their child needs therapy,” explains Resha Erheim, M.Ed., Bilingual Counselor at Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), Kuwait’s not-forprofit multidisciplinary physical and cognitive rehabilitation center for children and adults. Erheim adds, “It is important for parents to accept that therapy is a step to finding a solution to what is affecting their child. This is the first step towards their child’s wellbeing”. Parents then have a primordial role to play during their child’s treatment. “They become co-therapists during the process,” says Erheim.
Erheim lays out four steps parents can help their child get a more effective treatment. Step 1: Collaborate with the therapist during the therapy While parents can have strong opinions to what their child needs, it is important to consider therapy as a collaborative effort between parents and the therapist, where everyone works as a team. Research has shown that parental involvement in a child’s treatment improves the efficacy of therapy. “Cooperation and support is a critical aspect to the success of treatment. Together with the therapist, the best way to support the overall treatment of the child is to set and define the roles and responsibilities of each parent at home”, says Erheim. Step 2: Build a mutually trusting relationship with the therapist Erheim says, “A therapist’s aim is to help the child, and also to guide parents in helping their child, not to take sides with the school Resha Erheim Resha Erheim (B.A., M.Ed., C.C.C.) is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She holds a Master's degree in Educational Counselling from University of Ottawa, Canada, and has completed an honors Bachelor degree in psychology from York University in Toronto. Erheim provides counseling services to children, adults and couples. Her counseling experience lies in short-term counseling, crisis intervention and group counseling, working with cases from depression, addiction, anger, marital/relationship problems, grief, trauma, self-esteem issues, and others. Erheim speaks both Arabic and English
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or any professional party.” When a child starts the therapy process, parents must prioritize sharing their concerns, thoughts and daily routine. “Information like this is essential to building the treatment plan, and parents should be comfortable in knowing they will not be judged for their role as a parent. The key is to trust the therapy process and the therapist, it may take time, but it will definitely take a lot of effort,” adds Erheim. Sharing concerns also includes discussing issues or a miscommunication without casting blame, and, together with the therapist, place solutions. Step 3:Focus on supporting your child’s therapy process outside the planned sessions Therapy sessions are effective faster when parents set a routine at home, give psychological support, and provide a stable environment as a whole. “Establish a routine at home, then note your child’s responses and involve the therapist in the process. In addition, encourage mutual respect in communication with your child and avoid “you” statements that blame the child for misbehaving, and instead use “I” statements to show the child the correct behaviour and guide them through the change. Parents are also encouraged to model the behaviour they want their child to adopt.
“You are your child’s first and most important teacher. If you want a polite, self-managed child, you must be a well-mannered and self-regulated person yourself,” says Erheim. Therapists encourage parents to increase positive interaction with their child, for example by offering praise when the child does well, and also by paying positive attention to the child and spending quality time in engaging activities. Step 4: Be open to the therapist’s suggestions for new parenting skills No parent wants to be told what to do. When a therapist brings along suggestions, parents need to listen first, without defensiveness or counter arguments. This point supports the trust that has been built with the therapist. Erheim says, “Don’t misinterpret a therapist’s suggestions, they are not here to undermine your role as parents. On the contrary, accept the feedback with openness and flexibility knowing that the intent is to improve your child’s behavior. Give suggestions a try, as they may often yield good results.” “Parenting can be stressful, and you need the support too. Allocate time for yourself to do things you enjoy, or partake in your own supportive counseling as well. Sometimes parents’ personal issues shadow and affect their child’s behaviour”, concludes Erheim.
June, 2014
Getting Creative with the 3 “R”s
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by: Paul Turnbridge
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or many years, the 3 “R”s were the basics taught in schools – Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic. (It always did seem a little contrived, but the concept worked). Moving forwards a few years, and with ever-increasing concerns over misuse of the earth’s precious resources, the 3 “R”s have been transformed into more ecolologically-conscious terminology – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. It all seems fairly straightforward and quite sensible, of course. Reducing consumption of certain products can reduce wastage, costs of disposal, and the need to over-manufacture. Just one example of this is the never-ending supply of carrier bags provided free-of-charge by supermarkets. I fail to understand why, when visiting any of the supermarkets in Kuwait, I have my shopping packed into two hundred separate carrier bags, when I could have managed with just ten – of course I exaggerate, but you get the point. The idea of supermarkets providing re-useable carrier bags, and even heavy-duty plastic baskets, as has become the norm in many Western European countries, has not yet reached these shores and I must confess that, rather than taking the initiative to supply my own reuseable carriers for my shopping expeditions, I succumb to this wasteful use of bags as much as the next shopper in the checkout queue! Reusing products can have the same effects as reducing consumption, and of course by reusing things will naturally reduce consumption in any case. I have already touched on the idea of using reuseable carriers for shopping, but there are many more products that can be used more than once. Let’s take plastic water bottles as a prime example here – would it not make sense to refill the small bottle you carry everywhere with you in the summer heat, rather than to keep buying new bottles and throwing them away once empty? We have become a throwaway society, where it has become too easy to simply discard items 46
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when they no longer have a prime use for us. Which brings me neatly to a 4th “R” that is so often forgotten – “Repair”. So often, when electrical and mechanical appliances go wrong, we are told that is it easier and cheaper to simply discard the old and buy a replacement, than it is to repair. Whilst my mother used to darn socks to prolong their effective use, such thrift is a rare commodity in modern times, in which we simply throw away and buy new! And so we reach what, for me, is the most exciting of the “R”s. Whilst Reducing and Reusing are both practical and sensible, they are also quite boring and do not set the pulse racing. But “Recycling” is where it gets fun; it provides an opportunity to get creative! In simple terms, recycling means taking something and giving it a whole new purpose. Avid gardeners amongst you will doubtless be brimming with ideas for quirky and stylish plant pots – why not grow seasonal flowers in a pair of old boots? Or bring on seedlings in empty, washed food tins? What about using shredded newspaper as a mulch?
There are countless ideas that have already been successfully executed, and a lot of websites exist to pass these on – I shall list just three of these at the end of this article. Of course, you will likely find some fun ideas from the Internet that you will want to copy for yourself, but the real fun will be to think “outside the box” for yourself and create your own recycled object. Why not set yourself a challenge to create something useful yet unique? (And then tell us all about it?!) So, check out one or more of the following and get your own creative juices flowing….. www.facebook.com/1millionrecyclingideas www.pinterest.com/styleitchic/recyclingideas www.scoop.it/t/recycling-ideas And over to you … now it’s your turn to have fun and get inventive!
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The Professionals in Optics and Hearing Care - Sharq
- Kuwait City
Urban Desert Living with a Green Twist
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ustainability advocates and the plethora of labels this civilization conjured toward people concerned about our natural balance: are just as selfish and greedy as their capitalist driven counterparts. The difference is the latter has a self-imposed ignorant notion that the world's resources are infinite while history and science has shown the opposite to be true with undeniable clarity. We all have seen this to be true with our own eyes and in our measly lifetime, if not, a simple question to the previous generation is proof 48
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of the drastic changes the world’s resources, diversity and miracles of bioengineering has endured. This change is universal and is not limited to a certain environment. Nations and borders have nurtured the illusion of independence but the simple fact is we have one world, one planet. A local urban legend that Kuwaiti Zubaidi (silver pomfret) is better than Iranian Zubaidi, When the fact is the only difference is handling and time shipments wait at the border control effecting quality, they are otherwise exact in every way.
Our children will inherit what we give them so, I for one am greedy for the ability to hand down a sustainable world; I do not want generations to come to see me as the stupid generation that had a chance but did not act. I am not worried about earth as a planet; it has proven itself to handle mass extinction only to jump back up better than ever as it balances the systems that are in place. Granted it takes thousands of years but if you compare that to the earth’s age, a very small part. My main concern is humans living in a stable sustaining world, as I am sure you are. In this series, we will use human greed as positive driving force towards a better tomorrow and a great today too.
Living in Kuwait and battling our environment to grow my own food taught me to befriend it rather than force what is otherwise not natural. We have extreme seasons but have a stability in where we dwell. So, I started growing indoors during the summer rather than outdoors, this proved to be sustainable and carbon saving on the long run. Controlled environments have the benefit of consistent growth and production. You will be saving the world resources by growing your own instead of relying on imports. In addition to the exclusivity of having the best fresh teas, garnishes, spices and ingredients a scissor away from your kitchen. The security of knowing that the herbs you use only have the best ingredient in to have the best out in an immature food regulation locale.
Now, are you green greedy enough to grow your own herbs in the comfort of your kitchen?
Recipe for the micro Kitchen herb Farm nA daylight source – use 6500K (cool white cfl bulbs) or a bright window (note: most of Kuwait's homes are fitted with tinted 80-90% windows so windowsill light is not enough to sustain growth). nYour choice of herbs - some herbs thrive outdoors like rosemary, sage and other. For your indoor garden, choose herbs that would not like stevia raubidina (sugar plant) the chive family, honey sage, lemon verbena or any you like that can't survive our summer heat.
Chocolate Mint
nA good preferably organic liquid plant food or potting mix.
Thyme
nDecorative porous ceramic pots nScissors nPatience and tender loving care.
Creeping Rosemary
Make your own or buy ready made potting soil
Available online on Pinterest.com
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Ramadan and Nutrition
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ith the holy month of Ramadan coming up , hydration and nutrition are of key importance. The human body is adaptive, it will adapt to whatever you put it through, but what needs to be kept in mind is that although your body stores nutrients, it will eventually run out. The body is like a machine that needs to be fueled regularly. There are a few things that I believe need to be kept in mind during this month. When breaking your fast, please think about what you’re eating. I know it’s extremely tempting when you sit on the table with all that food and you haven’t eaten all day. But remember, you haven’t eaten all day, do you really want to shock your system by eating nonstop from the moment you break your fast
Maha AlRashed
Maha AlRashed is a CHEK Certified Exercise Coach and a regular contributor for CityPages magazine.
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until the moment you go to sleep? I doubt that your body can handle that for an entire month. Ideally, a person would break his fast by having a few dates (to bring their sugar levels up), and some water; once you’ve done that, take a few minutes and let that feeling sink in. Then move on to your soups and salads and if you have waited 20 minutes after breaking your fast, then that would be more than enough of a meal for you. Perhaps a few hours later you will realize that you are still a little hungry, you can go ahead and start with all the main course foods. Switching to a grazing diet would be the way to go, eat small meals more regularly rather than indulging in one large meal a day and moving straight to the caffeinated drinks and sugar loading. Just because you are fasting it doesn’t mean that you should neglect your healthy lifestyle. In fact, I believe that your healthy lifestyle should be maintained throughout the month in order for you to deal with the heat and lack of food more easily. May this coming month be one of great blessings for you, just remember to stay healthy!
Available online on Pinterest.com
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Traveling this summer? These holiday fit tips will keep you looking beach-body beautiful right through to the end
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t’s 4am on a blisteringly cold Tuesday morning in good ol' London town and for someone who should be partying like it’s 1999 as I’m on holiday with the family, I’m trying my best to eat my oats and whey protein in the quietest manner possible so as to not wake up the rest of my family. Yes, you heard me. 4am. Oats and whey. Why? To fuel myself for my 6am gym workout as the rest of my day will be spent traipsing around Windsor Castle, Bath and Stonehenge whilst endearingly irritating my poor mother. The last 8 days of my vacay has pretty much run along to a similar tune. I’m awake several hours before the rest of my family to get my workout sorted before joining in on the family festivities. As the French say; vouloir, c’est pouvoir, or in plain English, where there’s a will, there’s a way. According to an article published on Gulfnews.com, Kuwaitis spent approximately USD$5.2 billion in 2013 on their summer vacations. That’s a lot of travel for a little country. As summer 2014 looms around the corner, there’s no reason why your fitness routine Reshmi Revi Certified Professional Trainer
Reshmi Revi is the Deputy General Manager for MultiWorks Personal Training. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and passionate about fitness! Follow her on Instagram @Q8MissFit
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should go on leave too. I usually would advise be deemed cardiovascular-worthy. Hence my clients to enjoy their vacation whilst still go for a swim, take a jog in the park, rent a being semi-active. This ensures: kayak, try out that complimentary fencing class or abseil in that leisure center that has -that they don’t lose all their fitness and the awesome climbing wall. Just be active. health gains after months of hard work and And if you don’t want to do it alone, bring a healthy eating. friend with you. #funinnumbers -that they’re still mindful of their food consumption while abroad (hey, I’m pretty sure one would feel less guilty eating that donut knowing they got a good workout earlier on that morning).
Light at night
Over the years, I’ve taught myself to eat clean. Hence none of them fried, greasy, cheesy or overly sweet stuff. 5 meals a day, a protein component in every meal and depending -that they don’t have to start back from on the time of the day and the timing of my square one, post-holiday. workouts, I will also cycle my starchy carbs Here are a couple of fit holiday tips that will and good fats. see you active and tummy trim! However when I’m on holiday, I’m a bit more relaxed with my food consumption. If I want KISS (Keep It Short and Sweet) to eat a burger or try that cheesecake for You’re on holiday hence I’m not asking you example, I most definitely will. The difference to live at the gym while on vacay. Keep your is that I will ensure that whatever I’m having workouts short but high on the intensity is eaten before 6pm just so that my body has factor. A non-stop circuit for 40-45minutes ample time to break it down and hopefully would suffice. When I’m abroad, I like doing burn it. Seeing I’m also a bit of a nutrition killing but short circuits that focuses on my narcissist, I’ll treat myself to this once every peripheral heart action or PHA. Circuits that couple of days. For meals after 6pm, I make are PHA-based can be physically demanding sure I’m getting a good hearty portion of and are big calorie burners. PHA training protein be it grilled steak, fish or chicken, lots basically sees one alternating upper and of green veggies and salads with very light lower body exercises. For example a superset dressing and ample water to stay hydrated. (so non-stop) of squats (lower body), bench presses (upper body), deadlifts (lower body), Happily ever after pull-ups (upper body) and burpees (upper The most important aspect of your holiday is and lower). See what I mean? that you should have fun and enjoy yourself. If you’re finding it challenging eating clean or Take a hike, buddy! working out during your trip or if it’s making If you don’t plan on stepping foot in the you unhappy then khalas, don’t be overly gym while on vacay, try participating in an strict or too hard on yourself. Scale it back. activity of some sort. Walking around is great For my new clients, I usually tell them to try however you need to partake in an activity out one activity for example every 4-5 days where your heart rate is elevated for it to and to keep their dinners light.
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Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi
Helping People Achieve Their Fitness Targets Through Pilates Being fit and healthy is all the rage these days and for good reason. Science continues to provide conclusive evidence in support of exercise and its many benefits to your long and short-term well being. As such, people of all ages are looking for direction on what exactly they should be doing to make the most of their time at the gym. Making a decision to get fit and healthy is the easy part. The hard bit comes in actually doing the exercise and sticking to it. If only working out was as easy as finding the excuses not to do any. This is where Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi; a certified fitness instructor, certified nutritionist for exercise and certified STOTT PILATES instructor, comes in. She is also the owner of Fitnessity – health and fitness studio. Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi enjoys passing on the skills she has learnt to benefit others. She is passionate about exercise, sports and seeing people achieve their fitness targets. CityPages recently sat down with Khadijah for an exclusive interview. Read on to know more about this busy mom, entrepreneur and fitness star.
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share? No weaknesses, I always struggle to balance between work and family and both are dear to me.
When things get difficult how do you stay motivated? I look for new courses in London to escape the hectic routine life in Kuwait, though the trip itself gets hectic. I lived in London for 8 years and London is the city that inspires me. However, I am attached to my children so my trips cannot be longer than ten days.
What has been your most proud moment? When my children excel in sports. I am also usually very proud of my children when I return home from a busy day and see them completing their school work independently as they feel responsible towards school work.
The 3 Keys to success according to you:
Please introduce yourself to our and with a valid license to teach sports but I could not find this in Kuwait. Therefore, readers: Khadijah Kamel Al Harmi. I am a certified fitness instructor, certified STOTT PILATES instructor; the only certified STOTT PILATES instructor in Kuwait, a certified nutritionist for exercise and a wife and mother of three.
Tell us about your education: I have graduated with double majors in Political Science and Communications from the Richmond-The American International University in London. I then continued my study in London to become a fitness instructor. I am a certified fitness instructor (zumba, aerobics, spinning, weight lifting, kettlebells, circuit training), certified STOTT PILATES instructor, and certified nutritionist for exercise; I write food diaries for a healthy weight and better health; designed for healthy individuals.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey to your current role/job? Was it always your dream career? All my life, my parents always included sports in our lives. Whether it was basket ball, squash, ballet, swimming, horse riding, or ice skating, our days always included sports. We lived in London for 8 years and no matter what the circumstances were, I was very active in sports. When I moved to Kuwait, it was very hard for me to find a health club or a gym of similar standards as in UK. In many parts of the world, the fitness instructor is certified 56
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I decided to study health and fitness even though I had a lot in my plate; I was married, a mother of two young children, and I had a full time job at Wataniya Telecom working under the directions of General Manager. When the work load increased, I decided to resign from Wataniya Telecom to focus on my passions i.e. sports and studying health and fitness. I had to travel for training courses to London and Dubai and sit exams too.
Now that you are so busy, how do you manage your time? Do you have an average day? I work 7 to 10 hours daily, except for weekends. I taught my children to do their homework without the help of us; the mom and the dad. However, the most important time for me with my children is during bed time. I make sure to be at home most nights to read books to my children, to talk to them and to put them to sleep. I guess, it’s time management from my side and of course, I cannot do all without the help of my beloved nanny and a housekeeper.
Your biggest strength:
-Passion (I love what I do, and I believe in it.) -Hard work -The support of my husband, my family, and the support of the members of Fitnessity; my health and fitness studio
The most inspiring woman according to you: My mother. My mother shaped my personality. My mother always filled our days with sports. I also have lovely memories of my mother in the kitchen every day either baking, or preparing healthy and fresh food for me and my siblings, even though she was working full time. My mother taught me at a very young age, to be responsible, and to always have something useful to do.
Your favourite quote: “A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips”
Your biggest achievement so far: Having Fitnessity - health and fitness studio and my children’s love for sports.
What would you like to achieve further? I want to continue my education in health and fitness, and to expand.
Your biggest fear: Loss, but my faith in God is strong.
My strength... I am determined.
Your weakness or have you made any mistakes along the way that you can
Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
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Eat Healthy this Ramadan
Available online on Pinterest.com Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sanaa holds Masters of Clinical Dietetics from University of Queensland, Australia and is a Clinical dietitian at Hadi Hospital. Sanaa is a also a blogger and very active on Instagram. Read more from Sanaa at: Blog: www.fit-n-fancy.com , Instagram: Sanaa_dietitian
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F
asting during the month of Ramadan is not only a physical but also a spiritual exercise that benefits us in many ways. A fasting person learns to appreciate the value of food as well as learns to have discipline in his/her life. Fasting is known to improve one’s health, but at the same time has the potential to worsen your health if not followed correctly. It is advisable that a person who has been fasting should still eat mindfully during nonfasting hours or upon opening the fast, which
involves paying attention to the quantity and quality (type) of food. Since your daily intake during the month of Ramadan is limited around 2 main meals per day (plus snacks), it is vital you put efforts to incorporate foods from all food groups. nBreads, cereals and other grain products (Choose Complex Carbohydrates) nFruits
and Vegetables
cheese and yoghurt
/ Sugar
feast. 1.Following the Prophets traditions, open your fast with 2 – 3 dates and a glass of water. This will provide you with the muchneeded instant burst of energy along with hydration. 2.You may follow this up with a bowl of lentil/ bean soup. Dinner: Ideally once you have opened your fast and performed prayers you may then eat dinner. This will give you approximately 10 – 15 minutes from the time you opened your fast to when you start eating dinner. Again do not treat this meal as a feast.
Guide to Eating during Ramadan Divide your food intake into two meals and two snacks in between and after. Suhoor (the pre- dawn meal); Iftaar (the evening snack which breaks the day’s fast); followed by Dinner. Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal should be a healthy balanced meal that will keep you full for longer and also provide enough energy during the fasting hours. Include the following: 1.Complex carbohydrates which are rich in fiber. These foods are slow-digesting food (Low GI) which help maintain normal blood sugar and satisfies your appetite without piling on excess calories. Examples: Pita bread, Oats, Multigrain / wholegrain breads and cereal, Natural Museli, Barley, Brown or Basmati Rice, Quinoa, beans and lentils. 2.Include a serve of protein in this meal which also helps your stomach feel satisfied. Examples of a serve of protein source include 65g cooked lean meats such as beef or lamb, 80g cooked lean chicken, 100 gram cooked fish fillet, 1 – 2 eggs; If Alternatives to meat sources (if you are vegetarian) includes handful (~30g) of nuts and seeds, almond butter, peanut butter, tahini , 1 cup (150g) cooked lentils or beans, 1 cup Low fat milk / yoghurt or 30g cheese. 3.Just like a breakfast, this meal should be your largest meal. Iftar: The meal which break’s the day’s fast. Treat this as a moderate snack and not a
1.Follow the healthy plate model: ½ plate covered with vegetables/salad; ¼ carbohydrates (e.g rice, pasta, and sweet potato) and ¼ with protein rich food (e.g. chicken, lamb, fish, lentils, and beef) 2.Eat slowly and chew very well which will help you pace yourself. It is a common practice to eat large amounts of food quickly after long day of fasting, but remember this is where you need to be mindful of the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose to eat. Eating slowly will also give your stomach the time to relay the message to your brain saying it is full. 3.Pay attention to the cooking method. Avoid deep frying, frying or using excessive oil while cooking your meal. Choose to grilling, bake, boil, steam or stir fry your meal. 4.Instead of treating yourself with sweets that are high in sugar and fat, opt for a piece of fruit first. If you are still craving something sweet, stick to a small portion. Snack: It is natural to feel hungry within couple of hours after dinner. It is important to make healthy choices by again sticking to the quantity and quality (type) of food you choose. Below are a few ideas 1. Low fat yoghurt ( 150 – 200g) 2.Fruit smoothie with 1 teaspoon of chia seed 3.Ricotta or cottage cheese with cucumber or baby carrots 4.¼ cup hummus with baby carrots or celery sticks 5. 1 cup low fat milk 6.Handful of nuts
During the whole month of Ramadan Do 1.Drink as much water as possible 8 to 12 cups. ( I also tend to drink barley water) 2.Walk for 30 minutes a day. If you want to walk after iftaar, wait 1 – 2 hours after your meal before engaging in physical activity. 3.Incorporate foods that are mentioned in the Holy Quran and as Prophetic traditions as these also correspond to modern healthy eating guidelines. These include milk, dates, lamb (lean), oats, fruits & vegetables such as olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes as well as pulses such as lentils.
During the whole month of Ramadan Avoid 1.Fried/fatty foods and food high in refined sugar such as french fries, traditional sweets and pastries and fried snacks. These food are empty calorie food which are high in calories and are nutrient deficient. These foods also increase sluggishness and fatigue during Ramadan. 2.Sleeping immediately after iftar and ideally after suhoor if possible, wait for 1 -2 hour before sleeping to allow your food to digest. 3.Avoid caffeine based drinks such tea, coffee or cola during sahoor and iftaar. These drinks are diuretics which will make increase water loss through urination. This in turn can potentially cause dehydration during your fasting hours. Avoid drinking tea at sahoor and right after iftaar as it can potentially interfere with valuable nutrient absorption such as iron. 4. Overeating at either sahoor or iftaar if you want to experience health benefits of fasting and prevent gaining excess weight.
Ramadan Kareem!
7. 1 – 2 pieces of fresh fruit 8. Whole-grain tuna/salad sandwich
June, 2014
Champion of a 110 goals for Kuwait
Available online on Pinterest.com
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hen my Editor in Chief sent me the brief that I would be visiting the museum and interviewing Jassim Yaqoob at his home the name rang familiar, I wondered for a couple of days if it would be the Jassim whom I know to be the Kuwaiti soccer legend. So I arrived at his house and was greeted by his son, I thought to myself Kinda, you really need to start getting the names of people right. The brief was to take a tour of “a museum at Jassim Yaqoubs home� so I assumed that I would be interviewing an art collector by the same name. But when I came down the stairs and walked into the basement I was pleasantly surprised to see that it indeed WAS no other than our beloved soccer legend standing there to greet me. As it turns out, Jassim and his son set up a museum of all the memorabilia related to his years in football in the basement of their large home, and what a treasure trove 60
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it is! The tour was incredibly exciting and brought chills to my spine. His trophies, his gold plated soccer shoes, pictures and accolades fill the walls with Kuwaiti history, of wonderful days gone by which only a few of us had the pleasure to experience. For all of you who don’t know, Jassim Yaqoub is a Kuwaiti first soccer player who played in the FIFA World Cup in 1982, scoring some of the most memorable goals for the Kuwaiti team. He has played against legends, and cohorted with the international soccer greats. He was born in 1952 in Kuwait, and played from his days as a young boy, but contrary to what his other football mates did which was to move on to holding down day jobs, he continued with the sport eventually playing professionally with the Kuwait soccer team which in those days, was heavily backed by the ruling family and sport enthusiasts. He enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the sport, and raised Kuwait’s profile exponentially, still leaving an indelible mark on the sport of soccer even after all these years. Jassim is now retired, however is in the process of further curating his museum which everyone must have the chance to see at least once, for not only is his museum about his career in football, but also recorded moments from Kuwait past that will forever live on in his home, and provides history automatically saved and preserved for the future generations of youth. 62
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Anyone whose dream it is to one day represent Kuwait on the worldwide arena of soccer should try to catch a glimpse of the myriad trophies, rewards and accolades that Mr. Yaqoub earned. They may be the driver behind the decision of one or two hopefuls to follow a natural calling toward the sport. When asked, his advice is to always carry on with your calling, to persevere and not think of the consequences but rather the rewards. For us at CityPages this interview has to be one of the most memorable, and I am proud and honored to have met this superhuman by the name of Jassim Yaqoub.
To find out how to visit the museum, contact us at CityPages. June, 2014
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don’t think I say this enough: I am blessed to have the parents I have. I know it’s Fathers Day this month, but I would like to show my appreciation for both of my parents. They are occasionally a packaged deal but what I love the most about them is their ability to completely remain their own person and hold their own ground with their own freedom. I’m an only child, which automatically means “selfish” to most people unless you’ve met my mother. She taught me diligence pays off and that nothing in life comes without effort. She has made me earn everything that I have wanted in life –and rightfully so. She has been a true matriarch taking in her mother to live with us and also being the main caretaker of my other grandmother. My father taught me how to be patient and loving. He, as an agriculturalist and also the first person to grow strawberries in Kuwait (how cool?!), understands that to grow, one must provide living beings with time and energy. My parents provided a nurturing environment, watering the seed they planted, and always pushed me to do my best. One of the best things they have ever done for me was letting me make my own decisions. When I chose to hold onto my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian and was met with ridicule, they stood by my side the entire time. When I was having issues with funding from the Ministry of Higher Education for veterinary school, my mother started working again after twenty-five years of not working (and she is rocking her job – boss lady!) to help my father fund my goal. My father spends countless days chasing ghosts at ministries in order to get my paperwork well… in order. What I love the most about them is that they are great parents: they are strict but they are also capable of having fun. Seeing photos of them when they
were younger, I always think of how I would’ve loved to be their best friend (I also see how similar we are). But even now! We have an iMessage group chat peppered with witty banter that always puts a smile on my face. They send me photos of themselves hanging out with their friends, of things they see that are interesting, things they read, and they are always laughing. They are constantly the center of attention when I invite my friends over. To me, they have evolved from authority figures to best friends who I can trust with my dreams, darkest thoughts, insecurities, and secrets and would never judge me but will always want the best for me. It wasn’t always this easy, we have had our fair share of rough times, but finding effective modes of communication and listening instead of just hearing has helped. Instead of attacking the other person with “you did this” we talk about how actions made us feel. Exposing your truths to the people you place upon pedestals (and vice versa) is as nerve wrecking as a high rise tight rope walk: you don’t know if you will fall but if you get to the other side (and you will) it’s worth it. I am eternally grateful for them. I don’t think I tell them this enough but I love them and without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I attribute everything to their auras and upbringing and I am forever indebted to them. Their capacity to openly and unconditionally love anyone who walks into their life is an inspiration. I am constantly bathed in their adoration and respect, which is centering and motivating and coaxes me to blossom. But I mean, look how awesome and quirky we are! (Two separate graduation photos: one was highschool graduation, the other was my bachelors graduation, and hopefully the third will be in 2016!)
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Rio De Janeiro Where to Stay
From Marilyn Monroe to Nelson Mandela, Copacabana Palace Hotel have been welcoming the rich and famous since 1923. Overlooking the Copacabana beach, the hotel offers 245 rooms traditionally decorated, with original artworks, three luxurious categories of suites. Choose between the pool ocean view suite, the avenue city view suites, or deluxe one-bedroom suites. Discover the glamorous penthouse suites with a private terrace, the finest view and an exclusive use of a private swimming pool and bar. Close to Arpoador and Ipanema beaches, Hotel Fasano has become one of the most stylish and luxurious hotels of South America, with elegant interior, a white marble pool on the roof, an Italian restaurant and a private beach, it’s the perfect getaway. Popping-up for one year only, from January to December 2014, The Guesthouse Maria Santa Teresa has only six rooms. With bossa nova and barbecues around the pool, DJs and musicians from all over the world, Maria Santa Teresa has big ambitions for its yearlong series of events.
With the world cup approaching, Rio is definitely where you want to be!
Beaches
Famous Copacabana extends for 4.5km along Rio's coast. Ipanema is Rio's richest and chicest beach. Other popular beaches within and near the city include Pepino, Barra da Tijuca, Flamengo and Arpoador.
What to See FAVELAS Travellers are increasingly paying visits to the hillside slums known as favelas. Rio has 600 of these; they are picturesque at night, and fascinating. FOOTBALL Do not miss a guided visit to one of the big matches at Maracanã Stadium. CARNIVAL Dance the night away to the samba! The fabulous carnival takes place in February, but don’t despair! Rio is always up to dance. Nights of beauty, fun and dance are waiting for you all year long. CORCOVADO From Corcovado, you will be spoilt for breathtaking views. Head to the top of Corcovado, the 750m mountain peak home to the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Rio de Janeiro. From here you will see that Rio is divided into two zones, norte (north) and sul (south).
What To Do
HANG GLIDING: The Ti’a Moana guarantees an unforgettable experience, sailing around Bora Bora, Taha’a, Raitea and Huahine. ART LOVERS: You can visit the Museu de Arte de Rio, Movimento and the Bhering Factory, abandoned German iron and steel construction now taken over by a flock of artists and divided into workshops
SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN:
At sunset, take the two cable cars which climb 396m above Rio and the Guanabara bay to the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain.
Do not Miss
Fly to Iguassu, 1200km away from Rio de Janeiro, and transfer to the only resort located inside Brazil's Iguassu National Park, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. By boat or by helicopter, discover the Iguazu falls and the amazing animals, birds and plants that make this an area of extraordinary biodiversity. Located on the border between Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu falls are made of more than two hundred single falls.
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Thuraya Al-Baqasami
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ince her childhood, Award winning Artist and Writer Thuraya Al-Baqasami has been fascinated with the Sheaffer pen. Her dream started with only the wish to have one of her own, but grew into creating a whole new use for the luxurious line of pens. After graduating with a Masters degree from the Arts Institute of Surikov in Moscow, Thuraya went on to win a plethora of awards across the globe including the “Prize for Art Activities” from the European Union of Arts in Prague in 2001, the “Novo Prize” in Hungary in 2010, the “Al Qurain Festival Prize” in Kuwait in 2013 and the “Arab Women Award” in 2014, among many more. Thuraya accomplished her next great achievement as she collaborated with the official distributor of Sheaffer Pens in Kuwait to create an entire collection of artwork using the pens as the only tool. Thuraya AlBaqasami recently sat with CityPages and shared details about the experience and her personal journey with Sheaffer Pens.
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How did you come to know about Sheaffer pens? I came to know about Sheaffer pens from my father, he would always place one in the pocket of his dishdasha. From that moment I wished I would grow up quickly so I could own such a fabulous pen. How did you obtain your first Sheaffer pen? The first time I received a Sheaffer pen was as a prize from the Ministry of Education in Kuwait. In those days Sheaffer pens were given as valuable prizes to outstanding students, by excelling at the subject of art I was able to earn on of these prizes. What were your feelings at that time? It was really amazing. My long time wish was
Available online on Pinterest.com
by: Mohammad Altaf and Chlesha Rhodes
My Journey with Sheaffer Pens Journey with Sheaffer Pens� come about? As I mentioned before, the idea came from How did you get the idea to use Sheaffer Mr. Akeel. He wanted to create an art gallery using writing tools. I found the project very pens in art? interesting so we collaborated and made the Actually, it was Mr. Akeel Behbehani who exhibition happen. came up with the idea to create a gallery of artwork created with writing instruments. It was a great opportunity to explore the artistic How much time did it take to arrange the capabilities of Sheaffer pens. exhibition and how many paintings did you prepare for this exhibition? What quality of this pen made you want I met with Mr. Akeel Behbehani in March 2014 and after that it almost took three to use it in the art? Although Sheaffer pens are used for writing, months to complete and display all the art they are very nice for drawing and sketching pieces. I alone prepared 70 paintings for this as well. They never miss while working exhibition.
fulfilled. I was full of pride and joy.
Europe for a few months and Sheaffer will be accompanying me in every place and the journey will continue. Sheaffer has a wide variety of pens, which one is your favorite? Although all the Sheaffer pens are very good and my favorite, my most favorite of all is the calligraphy set with assorted ink colors.
What is your message for our readers? I would like to encourage the people and private companies to come forward and support artists like Yaqoub Behebhani Company. Most companies support with them and they provide such a smooth sporting events, but I think it's time for more experience. Do you have future plans to continue companies to help and promote the local working with Sheaffer pen? talent so that Kuwait talent can be recognized How did the idea for the exhibition “My Yes I do, in fact I am currently traveling to internationally. June, 2014
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Please describe to us the producing the Sheaffer pens?
factory
Sheaffer produces its instruments at various locations around the world, all under the supervision of Sheaffer employees and ensuring the highest quality standards are followed.
Available online on Pinterest.com
Tell us about your working experience with the Behbehani Group in Kuwait? How did it start and how long has been the association going for?
We are fortunate to have a distributing partner in Kuwait and the professionalism and focus on developing the Sheaffer brand in this market has been excellent. Events such as tonight’s demonstrate a creative vision to highlight what can be achieved with our instruments in the hands of a talented Artist and shows pens are not just for writing. We have been working with Behbehani group since about 2008 and look forward to many more years together. How important is the quality of a pen in the writing process?
Owning a quality instrument allows the user to enjoy both better balance in the hand as well as a smooth writing experience, both of which can only help the writing process. Which are some of your most popular models?
Brian Kenny
International Sales Manager, Sheaffer Pen The Gift Collection is a popular range across the globe as it provides an excellent variety of styles, finishes and price points which appeal to all consumers, for personal use or as a gift. How do you see the future existence of writing instruments during the age of digital technology.
At Sheaffer, we believe that electronic devices and the pen can live side-byside and prosper. Sheaffer although of course a writing instrument, is marketed as ‘The Gift that Matters’. With one hundred years of history behind the brand, a Sheaffer gift (whether for another or for oneself) is timeless. Of course as the needs of our consumers 70
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Over the years the designs have changed to reflect the latest styles, trends, and of course the ever-changing needs of our consumers. As you can imagine, over 100 years we have developed many ranges!.No matter how our designs evolve over the years, however, we endeavour always to remain true to the Sheaffer values of quality and innovation espoused by our founder Walter A. Sheaffer; we continue to incorporate traditional Sheaffer elements, and this can be seen in the current collection. For example, today both the thoroughly modern and architectural Sheaffer How have your designs evolved over the Taranis as well as the more classicyears? What major changes do you see in looking Sheaffer Sagaris have hints of the technique or design in the current day the Sheaffer Triumph, first introduced in models? the 1940s.
and technology evolves, so do our products. For example, Sheaffer now offers a ballpoint with stylus for touchscreen electronic devices as well as a leather tablet case. Beyond adapting our products to modern needs, we believe it is vital to continue to encourage and inspire written expression and communication both in its traditional form and in other creative ways. The works created by Mrs Thuraya Al-Baqsami are an excellent example of this.
ARTronauts and BHCK at REUSE 2014 CREATE.SHARE.INSPIRE
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EUSE by EN V. and Zain was repositioned last year from an annual event in which the ARTronauts and BHCK always participated to an ongoing social development program which, includes activities such as art competitions and educational roadshows, workshops, online environmental campaigns and community events. One of the first activities launched, as part of the program was the “REUSE Recycled Art Competition”. Two-hundred and eighty-six students from eight local schools and universities competed with each other to create the best works made entirely out of scrap / recycled materials, and the top 50 pieces were displayed as an exhibit in The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th 2014. Almost 3,000 people voted for their favorite piece on-site, with an estimated 7,000 people engaged at the exhibit by close to 20 volunteers mostly ARTronauts and BHCK students. This year’s REUSE Recycled Art Competition, our first public activity since participating in REUSE as a sustained social program, held as an exhibit at The Avenues Mall (Phase III) from January 9th to 11th, 2014. Several schools and universities across Kuwait have participated in this exciting competition, including ARTronauts, (BHCK), (KES), (BSK), (UAS), (KAS), (FAIPS), and (AUK). While creating art, students were showcasing the many innovative ways of reusing recyclables. The purpose of the exhibit was to redefine recycling in Kuwait, by reintroducing residents to the importance of waste reduction. A grand prize was to be awarded to the most creative and well-produced exhibited work. The winner(s) will be determined through public voting at the exhibit. 286 entries were made for the REUSE competition by students from eight local schools and universities, but only the top 50 entries were invited to participate in the final stage of the competition, which was held at the Avenues Mall. ARTronauts submitted 5 pieces and BHCK submitted nine pieces created by students as entries for the competition that promotes environmental and social design. The artworks were created from reused or repurposed materials, and
were nominated to participate in REUSE based on a competition held at BHCK in December. The BHCK and ARTronauts, led by Lecturer Roma Soni of the Department of Art and Design and supported by submitted entries created by the following students: Artronauts: Alaa Khalifa Alia Al Qabandi Mohammed Ali Al Zuhaili SLecturer Mr. Constantinos Predaris 1.Amani Talal Al Mutairi “Cocktail Time”: Paper Dress 2.Jumana Waleed Al Mawaizeri Transitional Space – Architectural model 3. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “Butterflies”: Framed work 4. Fatemeh Rezaei Haidari “The three”: Framed work 5.Sarah Mohammed Hubaidah “Mechanical”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 6.Zeenab Ebrahim Bu-Abbas (4th place) “Floating Pool”: Transitional Space – Architectural model 7.Fatima Sulaiman Hussain Abbas “Traditional Roots”: Transitional Space – Architectural model
TA Ms. Alaa Khalifa 8.Kholoud Khalifa Ghayad Al Dalmani - Paper clock 10. Shouq Jaafar Ali Haidar - Side lamp magazine Lecturer Roma Soni’s 11. Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush “Floral Reflections”: Accessory Lecturer Nessreen’s Students 12. Muneerah Rashed AL-Ajmi Newspaper 13.Ms. Lisa Winstanley - Blue bottles Lecturer Reem Al Zamel Lecturer Deena Al Khazendar Volunteers Fatemah Al Zahra Fuad Ghamloush Yousra Ali Suleiman Shorouq Raheif Haider "This is the third year that ARTronauts and BHCK participated in our REUSE competition, and we have come to count on them as partners in our mission to promote environmental awareness and education in Kuwait," said Elisa Franceschinis, programs director at en.v. "We are always impressed by the creativity of BHCK students as well as by the commitment of their professors.” Way to go ARTronauts! Way to go BHCK! June, 2014
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Rhonda McKenzie Witty, Free-spirited artist bringing imagination to life Art can be defined as many things: expression, creativity, imagination. For Artist Rhonda McKenzie it is not just what appears on a canvas, it is a living entity that moves and feels as the artist does. Since age 5 she has been moved by her artistry, allowing her creative nature to lead her. With music and life as her fuel, Rhonda creates fresh, excitingly unique pieces for all to enjoy. CityPages recently sat with Rhonda McKenzie as she shared details about her creative process, influences, inspiration and much more. How long have you been an artist and how did you get started? I’ve been an artist my whole life! Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of“artist-ness”, art by the age of 5.
Where do you get inspiration? “artist-ness”, art by the age of 5. Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept What is the most challenging part about them and do whatever the idea wants until it being an artist? is completed.
What is the most challenging part about being an artist? Maybe being disciplined.
Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins!
What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led. The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the next step in whatever the idea wants. Either way, I allow the process to do its thing and it lets me know when it is finished—never the other way around.
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Maybe being disciplined. What is your creative process like? The creative process starts in one of two ways. One is where I make a silent request to myself that I would like to or have to create a certain kind of art or I have a project/idea in mind that maybe I’ve been commissioned to do or I just want to do. Then I wait, knowing that the “how” will absolutely appear when it’s ready which is always in perfect time. When the “how” or process presents itself, I go with it entirely. I am led.
The other creative process is where an idea instantly pops into my mind and I draw it over and over and over again until the idea becomes more complete or simply do the How long have you been an artist and next step in whatever the idea wants. Either how did you get started? way, I allow the process to do its thing and it I’ve been an artist my whole life! lets me know when it is finished—never the Drawing real, “keep-able” showing-signs-of- other way around.
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Allow whatever it is I am doing to be in charge of the process. When this happens, new ideas are free to present themselves and come thru as pleasant surprises and that is the creative process.
Where do you get inspiration? Unknown. The Universe. Life? Ideas present themselves instantly most times and I accept them and do whatever the idea wants until it is completed. Any rituals you have when you do art? Listening to music and letting the ritual take over. The ritual lasts for days and has necessary intermissions for doing stuff (also known as living life, getting stuff done, meetings, outside commitments, loved ones, friends etc) outside of my work space but even while doing other stuff, I might get some new ideas and definitely be looking forward to getting back into the process. The length is unknowable but when it comes to an end, that is a defined feeling and knowing of completion—that the ritual has run its course and did what it needed to do. There is no more to add. Anything added afterwards does not have the same feeling or look. It’s ‘the khalas’ or perhaps it’s really just another intermission until the next ritual or process begins! Music however, is the essential fuel and it’s gotta be loud! For the Heads Up series it was late 60s and 70s rock, Hendrix, Joplin, The Zombies, The Kinks, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Stones, Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Neil Young, Bowie—that sort of thing—the whole Woodstock, Hyde Park, Monterey, Pinkpop, Glastonbury, Hair (the musical obviously), music festivals—the whole bare foot in the park with some art deco kind of feeling. What is your workspace like? Bright, open, messy, tidy, colourful, paintbrushes, paints, framed artwork of various sizes, photo samples everywhere, coloured paper, pens, scraps, exacto-knives, ladybugs, toy cars, some sofas, cushions and sometimes a cluttered floor and table during the process. What methods and materials have you 74
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enjoyed working with the most? The simple ‘Drawing with a Black Marker repeatedly Method’. I can do this anytime. I keep a little sketchbook in my handbag and a pen or marker and draw or jot down anything that comes to mind at any time. What would you say is your strongest skill and how have you honed it? Drawing-cartooning-designing and the honing comes from that well known: “A thousand hours of practise”—if it can be measured in such ways. Yeah that and eating. Who or what has been the biggest influence on your work? My parents who are big art and textile collectors, love all kinds of music and are extremely creative, especially my Mum. My parents are interested in EVERYTHING. They encouraged me. How has your style changed over the years? It’s gotten more defined rather than changed in that I have a definite style. It’s my own. I feel free and do it without thinking. What do you believe is a key element in creating a good composition? Feeling. When I feel it, then what I’m doing becomes real. It’s not a piece of paper or some lines or a painting, it, the art, the thing it is actually lives, breathes and moves just like the artist did, does and feels. How do you choose the subject of your painting? I rarely if ever do. The subject chooses me. Unless of course I am being commissioned to create something specific but even then, I do not know how the request, the ‘how’, the process will express itself and I like the notknowing. It feels so good. It’s free. How do you keep your ideas fresh?
Do you ever experience creative blocks? I did once a long time ago and I thought I was going mental! No matter what I drew and how hard I tried, it looked all wrong. This went on for over a year I think, maybe 2 years even! Then one day like the jedi, out of nowhere “it” returned. When I think back, I was under a lot of stress and in a totally different environment—maybe that was why I couldn’t perform. Nothing like that has ever happened since. If nothing is happening, if I’m not creating anything new, I know it will. How durable are your finished pieces? Indestructible! Framing is good armour! Do you do anything in particular to seal your art? That’s my newest project, finding the right something to seal a recent project, a series of heads called “Heads Up” where I have worked in a style and with materials that I’ve never worked with before and in order to maintain the bold colours I need to find a spray or some sealant. Otherwise my original art work is kept in direct lighting only when necessary. What’s been your greatest artistic success? That’s an ongoing experience which is any and every time people feel happy or smile when they see my artwork because that’s how I feel when I am creating—exhilarated, happy and free. What’s the last thing that made you say ‘wow’? This magazine, CityPages! And you know that’s the truth. How can our readers see your work or buy? www.rhondamckenzie.wix.com/ramcko [email protected] Tweet me at [email protected] There’s a small collection at Better Books in Salmiya And! They can contact CityPages of course! Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Keep up the funkyfreshcooleclectic scene you call CityPages—love it!
June, 2014
NAT BAKES WITH
A Story of Food, Passion, and Dreams Come True by: Chlesha Rhodes
“When you do something that you love it should never be a task, it should always be a labor of love”, said owner Natalie Van Rooyen, of the new modern yet rustic styled bakery Nat Bakes...With Love, as she shared her awe-inspiring journey into the world of culinary arts.
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ove has always been a key ingredient in Natalie's relationship with food since her childhood. Growing up in her South African home her family never had much, but out of all the hardships she had to endure she can always recall consistently waking up to a house full of wonderfully delicious smells, having a hot scrumptious meal and enjoying a table full of desserts surrounded by loved ones. Now Natalie is passing on that same feeling of love, comfort, and happiness to every guest that walks into the new Nat Bakes...With Love bakery.
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Ever since age 10, when she baked her own birthday cake after encouragement from her mom, Natalie has had an intense passion for baking. “It was a natural talent”, she said as she recalled cooking and baking along side her mom as a child, making cherished family recipes that have been passed on through generations. It was this upbringing that taught Natalie that food is about more than just eating to survive, but about enjoyment, sharing, and of course love. Although food was a very common topic in the Van Rooyen household, Natalie took it a step further to become more knowledgeable and experienced in the art of baking. Despite this fact, she did not immediately pursue it as a career. In the
midst of working for a company whose lifespan was unstable at best, as a hobby Natalie would bake cupcakes for her coworkers who gave her exemplary complements. It wasn't until 2010 that a dear friend and co-worker convinced Natalie that her talent and passion for baking needed to be shared. After the two sat and brainstormed all the wacky name ideas, finally the concept of Nat Bakes...With Love struck a cord, and the vision was born.
beautifully crafted cupcakes are made fresh and moist with a little bit of sassy-humor in every name, like Natalie's favorite Vanilla Vixen and the Raunchy Red Velvet. Beating all the odds, the obstacles, and challenging moments, Natalie and her partner personally invested their time and labor to build the perfect team and bring the vision to life. From choosing the location to finding the perfect wallpaper that finally brought the whole concept together, it has been a Natalie's vision encompassed a whimsical world where people journey that Natalie says she is grateful for everyday. can walk in and “go back to their childhood”. In this fantastical yet sophisticated wonderland, guests can expect to be wowed by the boisterously colorful artwork, homey feel, and delicious “When I'm in the kitchen it's my happy place... and the smells that hug your nose as you enter. additional joy and satisfaction I get from people enjoying what “I just want customers to be happy.. even if it's just for that I put out, it just makes me extremely happy. If that's all that I five minutes where your coming to pick up a dozen cupcakes, ever do with my life, I'm blessed and I'm happy and I couldn't or a cookie, or anything. The music, the smells, the feeling, ask for anything else.. because it's everything.” everything should just be happiness”, she explained. After running a successful home bakery business for four years, Natalie's vision has been brought to fruition in her new Salmiyah location. Nat Bakes will bring traditional South African desserts along with both sweet and savory Van Rooyen family recipes; like their unique Banana Pudding and their Goat Cheese with Caramelized Onion Pastries, filled with layers of flavor that are prevalent in every bite. Everything is made from scratch, from their mouth-watering chocolate chip cookies to their customized cakes made to order. Their
Nat Bakes... With Love will be opening its doors for a spectacular grand opening on 15 June, welcoming all to come experience the difference the “Nat Bakes way”: with freshness, creativity, thoughtfulness, and exclusive desserts like their famous Crack Pie. If you're looking for a place to try something new, head to Block 3, Street 5, House 23 in Salmiyah, choose your treat and take a bite... “and know that it was made with love”.
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Infusions
Creating infused culinary gems to accent both the palate and table There is no substitute for loving what you do, for pouring your heart into everything you create and that is what Infusions is all about. In what began as a way for Patty Marotte, founder of Infusions, to promote and support healthy food culture with the use of natural food ingredients and at the same time do something she was passionate about, over the past few years Patty has created a brand with global following. Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. The mere thought of oils and butters infused with the essence of savory herbs is enough to make the taste buds swoon. When packaged into pretty glass bottles or jars with a label, they make a perfect gift that anyone is sure to enjoy. Patty makes each one herself and takes the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but also the last touch of layering the herbs for pleasant visual effects. Recently, CityPages had a pleasure to meet the very capable and hard-working, Patty Marotte, who tells us how and when she got the idea of starting Infusions, challenges she had to face and her best seller products.
Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery.
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What is Infusions? Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more often.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Patty Marotte and I am an American residing in Kuwait for the last 15 years. I am married to a Kuwaiti and here we are raising our family of 4. For most of my career I have been a KG teacher/supervisor in the private sector and in the last few years after completing more studies, I branched off into Special Needs Education. Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist for autistic children at KDC which is an early intervention nursery. What is Infusions?
and how to enhance the flavors of prepared dishes at an early age because my father and I cooked together as a hobby. Until now it is my passion and I am still learning on daily basis! These products I have been doing for home use for years and when the onset the food movement in Kuwait, I thought to myself my items have found a home other than my kitchen. Where are your products available for our readers to buy? Currently, I sell my items online through our IG account. They can be found at most Shakshooka events, which I consider to be my start of exposure. Next year, I look forward to participating in more markets/ exhibitions. Recently, I was blessed to have an opportunity provided by Chef Firas Al-Zaid to showcase my products at Little Ruby’s Sharq branch in a project called the Community Corner. In the near future, projects include a healthy foodshop opening soon in Salmiya and the launch of www.Yazli.com; which is an app that will enhance the IG shopping experience.
Infusions is a home based business that aims to bring you specialty products infused with regional flavors using quality ingredients. We take everyday ingredients and infuse them with spices and herbs. Ordinary food is transformed to a gourmet level so that you can enjoy food better in a unique way. Our vision is to encourage people to use more of the spices and herbs around us in nature. I want to expose people how to switch to a more healthy food choices by stop using mass produced pre-packed food items filled with preservatives, additives, sugars, and flavor enhancers and cook at home more Tell us more about how you use social media to develop your often. client base: How and when did you get the idea of starting Infusions? Well, honestly I wouldn’t be anywhere without social media! It is how I played with the idea of Infusions after I realized the food culture started to change in Kuwait and when I saw more people interested in natural products and the increasing availability of organic food items in supermarkets. The items I make are an accumulation of a lifetime of learning, as I learned about what ingredients to blend 80
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I got to collaborate with you guys at City Pages. It was through the interactions of IG and Twitter that I was able to gain exposure and meet people who are a part of the food movements in Kuwait and do some research. Social media is how I knew about the various markets. I initially attended as a supporter but at the same time I observed. I
was able to assess peoples’ feedback on a particular event based on their comments and interactions between key figures in the various industries. As an individual through my personal account I met people over last few years that shared similar interests and topics such as family activities, events for causes, where was a good place to eat, sharing recipes, referrals where to buy quality food products, and advice on healthy lifestyle choices. I started to research the kind of items available on social media and I realized there was a small opening in the food movement that I could help fill and do my part to keep it growing. This I feel was prelude to my client pool because all those individuals were my first supporters when I started Infusions. Can you name a few of your unique products? I would say the infused olive oil is the most unique because it is not mass produced like the ones you see in supermarkets. In the Infusions’ olive oils you can see the herbs and spices used. I make each one myself and take the time to not only infuse flavors properly which takes weeks but the last touch of layering the herbs for visual effect. Each bottle is different and unique. They are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and artisanal by all means. Another unique product is my artisanal spice jars…people mistake them for sand art but they are quality spices layered nicely in one convenient jar to use in cooking. Just spoon and mix! Which are some of your best sellers? Italiano olive oil seems to be catching the people’s attention and is sold the most. Other popular items are our Pomegranate Zaatar spread and Honey butter. How often do you introduce new products and what is the process of developing a new product? I would say on a monthly basis I introduce a new product. Before I started Infusions I made a list of all products that I know how to do, then I categorized them into “currently use” and “past used” items. I started the business on 2 products; flavored butters and infused olive oils which were on my “currently use” list. Then I go to my “past used” list and start experimenting with the product but revamping it, researching better techniques, making samples and sending to new and old customers for feedback. If I get good reviews I launch it on the IG account. All my products must have 3 things: function, aesthetics, and beneficial to health in some form. How is starting a food business different from other forms of entrepreneurship? I think starting a food business is different because we have to be careful not to succumb to the common food items that lack creativity but sell because it is a familiar food item. So, I do it Infusion style! A perfect example of this would be my “mabooch” series, typical Kuwaiti condiment found everywhere. However, ours are different because I give them a personality and function. I name the chili pepper used and its benefits as an ingredient. I look for unique chili peppers and play with flavors, like my orange Habanero mabooch infused with coconut and pineapple juice instead of lemon. Serrano green chilies blend well with garlic and red Cayenne peppers are perfect with ginger. Have u ever seen purple mabooch? Stay tuned and you will!
What peculiar challenges does a small food business-owner face? The most peculiar challenge in a small food business is sanitary issues. Other challenges are ensuring that everything is up to standard and hygienic, making sure packaging, utensils, and ingredients are not just in good condition but also sterilized properly. An example of that would be why I do not use fresh garlic in the final product of an olive oil out of the fear of spoilage and build-up of bacteria! I use fresh garlic during the infusing process but in the end product I use sanitized dehydrated garlic free of any contamination. What motivates you? Good health. Plain and simple. I was diagnosed many years back with a condition that can be mostly controlled through good eating habits and an active lifestyle. I love my family and I want them to live a long healthy life so I make sure our kitchen is filled with quality food products. My motivation for my customers is the same as my family: I wish them good health and I want to be a part of that process that they can attain it. What is the one thing you hate doing but still force yourself to do every week? INVENTORY! Such a crucial aspect of a business but I grit my teeth when I have to do it. I do not like anything with numbers. What do you think is the biggest threat to the success of small businesses in Kuwait? The biggest threat to the success of a small business in Kuwait is being a fad, as Kuwaitis say ‘habba’. Being a bright shiny shooting star then fall to your end in darkness in a short period of time. What are your future plans? My future plan for Infusions is to open a little gourmet food shop where my products will be available for purchase. I will also use the store to conduct workshops on spices and herbs and their benefits. I would love a platform to teach international simple dishes. One of my dreams since I was a teenager was to learn a local authentic dish from each country then have this cool recipe book called IbnBatuta’sTravels. I also want to participate in more activities with groups that are collectively working to teach people how to choose healthier food and lead an active lifestyle. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: My message to CityPages is, I am deeply grateful and honored to be heard on this platform. I have always liked CityPages since its inception because of the English being the main language used.The events, stories, and editorials are always current and relevant. Keep up the great work and thanks for featuring local people and their talents. It keeps the sense of community alive.
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The FIFA World Cup is upon us, so what better way to start this segment than with a taste of Brasil. These recipes are very easy to follow, with simple ingredients… and great to serve at gatherings, or upcoming football matches with friends. Enjoy… with love! EMPANADAS
DOUGH RECIPE (Baked Empanadas)
In Spanish “Empanar” means to bread, or coated in bread crumbs, empanadas are moreish pastries, filled with either savory or sweet fillings, anything from minced beef, chicken, cheese to fruit based yumminess. Here we will show you how to make the baked version which is very popular all over South America.
INGREDIENTS: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 tablespoon sugar 8 ounces cream cheese, softened 1 stick butter, softened 1 large egg beaten lightly with 1/4 t. water (for glaze… also known as egg wash – gives pastries a nice golden brown finish )
Filling Recipe – Caramelized Onion with Turkey Ham and Cheddar Cheese. INGREDIENTS: n2 large onions, halved and thinly sliced nSalt and pepper to taste n½ cup of balsamic vinegar n¼ cup of brown sugar n1 cup of chopped turkey ham nDiced cheddar cheese cubes Method - dough nSift the flour, then sift it again with the salt, baking powder, and sugar, and set aside. In a large bowl, using a hand or electric mixer, mix the cream cheese and butter together until well blended. Add the flour mixture and mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. nLightly flour your work surface. nDivide the dough into four pieces (keep the pieces you aren't using in the refrigerator until you
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need them) and use a floured rolling pin to roll out the dough about 1/8 inch thick. nCut the dough into circles, with a cookie cutter or small bowl. nSize the circle according to how large you want your empanadas. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. Method – Filling nSauté onions in hot olive oil, until light brown and semi cooked. nAdd salt and pepper to taste nAdd balsamic vinegar and cook for 5 minutes nAdd brown sugar and cook until sugar is dissolved and sauce is slightly sticky and reduced. nLeave to cool. nAdd 1 teaspoon of caramelized onions, a few cubes of turkey ham and cheddar cheese in center of rolled out empanada dough and fold over to make a half circle. nDon't over-fill! Seal the edges with a fork to make a scalloped edge. nPreheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit). nPlace the pastries on a lightly greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart, brush with the egg wash, and bake until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. nThey can be made ahead of time, refrigerated, and reheated in a 180 degree (350 degrees Fahrenheit ) oven for 4 to 6 minutes.
one country at a time!
Brigadeiros
This is a great Brazilian sweet that is like a bonbon and extremely scrumptious and delicious called brigadeiro! This is a great type of sweet that is loved all over Brazil by children and adults alike. This easy treat is great to serve at social gatherings or to simply have on the table at all times. INGREDIENTS: n3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder n1 can sweetened condensed milk n1 tablespoon butter n2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa for dusting nChocolate sprinkles for decoration Method: nIn a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine cocoa, butter and condensed milk. nCook, stirring, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let rest until cool enough to handle. Form into small balls and roll in cocoa, then chocolate sprinkles. nPlace in small cupcake liners, and serve immediately or refrigerate until desired. nMakes 20 pieces June, 2014
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Advantages and Disadvantages of perfumes and colognes
P
erfume is a product innovated for both men and women to make them cool and fresh. Over the past few years people have been going crazy to search and get different types of delightful perfumes and colognes. Perfumes are the fragrances that are made from both natural and artificial commodities. Fragrance oil specifically produced from flowers, fruit tree blossom and woods. Aroma oils have no aromatherapy healing properties. Perfume and cologne are packed in different sizes. There are hundreds of brands of odor and thousands of scents available nowadays in the world. They are synthetic essential oils. With as many varieties of scents as natural essential oils they are perfect for combining with aroma, cold compress soap, creams, lotions, body lotions, body sprays, shower ASAMA Perfumes
The creative method gave ASAMA Perfumes the time and the opportunity to craft fragrances while working with the highest quality ingredients in a bottle and using Arabic and Western scents as a unique concept point for the fragrances. They welcome your comments at [email protected] Follow them on Instagram and Twitter @ ASAMAPerfumes
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gels, and hand soaps. By testing on your skin you will be able to know exactly how does it smell on your skin, but you cannot try out too many different types of aroma simply because all the perfume that you try after the first one will mix with the first one and you would not get the correct smell of those fragrances. Buying cologne can be a very hard decision, especially when you are buying that for your friend or lover. Different people will have different choice of odor. Also each fragrance will produce a different scent on various types of skin. Therefore, when buying perfume you need to do some good research and try it out before you make the final decision. There is some small sample called vial on card or vial mini as well, those bottles are usually for trial. It is a good idea for you to get those trial first to test it out before going ahead buying a big bottle. Now, there are advantages and disadvantages of these two methods of testing. Designers believe that the advantage of odors combined using oils is that they are
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guaranteed to last longer than other aromas, and just as body oils are applied directly to the skin, perfume oils are readily absorbed by the skin. Care needs to be taken when applying them as they may stain clothing. Feminine colognes have usually extra floral categories. Light and fresh character of citrus notes is often combined with more feminine scents to create Citrus Fragrance. These are the refreshing fragrances for the energetic, sporty woman, and are appropriate for office wear, day wear, or warm evening wear. As well as, serves as an ideal summer floral especially for warm or humid climate. Scents in this family include jasmine, gardenia tangerine, freesia, orange flower, and moon flowers. This category also has base scents of sandalwood, musk, amber, and apricot. Although this actually a sub category of the floral family it is extensive enough to give proper recognition. The perfumes in this family can be worn during the daytime and a night on the town, due to the combination of exotic floras, spices, and essences.
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by:
New at Layla Harmony E
very woman’s dream is to have and keep beautiful hair. Our culture highly values lustrous hair that are thick and shiny. Unfortunately, our environment subjects women to extreme conditions that reflect negativity on the natural state of hair. There are external and internal factors that play critical roles on our hair. External factors affecting hair growth include: Sun bathing, hot water, humidity, hair coloring & dying (specially lower quality products), shampoos, nylon or plastic brushes, style of combing and harsh brushing.
lAvoid
harsh hair combing. comb your hair when it is wet. lTo start untangling your hair from end to the roots. lDivide your hair into a medium strands. lUse hair-type specific products: shampoo, cream, mask, serum, mask, ampoules. lDon’t use on daily basis hair foam, gel or spray. lDon’t wash your hair every day. lDon’t
The new treatment offered by our spa aims to reduce the oily scalp On the other hand, there are internal factors that include: stress, and hair dandruff problem by using the violet rays massage with extreme diet, pregnancy, some medicines, and lack of oxygenation, high frequency machine using special tools and combs (quartz). thyroid gland issues and other hormonal imbalances. The course of treatment consists of 10 sessions A combination of these factors results in hair loss, dandruff, oily hair, l2 sessions: Hair treatment with essential oils. l3 sessions: High frequency with scalp massage. dryness etc. We would like to present you with some advice to reduce the side l5 sessions: Dermo roller with specialized hair products. effects, the unfavorable consequences and maintain the benefit of our treatments. Guaranteed effective results are provided by our spa treatments. lAvoid
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using plastic or nylon brushes.
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Our staff is experienced and highly efficient.
June, 2014
Summer Skin Schedule
W
Available online on Pinterest.com ith every skin being different and changing over time, the derma.cosmetics brand has developed products for every skin type and for every season. With the harsh summers setting in, your skin’s moisture level is compromised by the insufficient moisture in the air caused by air conditioning, excessive sweating or drying out from exposure to the sun. Your skin becomes dry and taut while it frequently flakes, peels and itches. The protective barrier of your skin is weakened.
For this reason, Dr. med. Christine Schrammek dermatological skincare HYDRATING series contains the innovative active ingredient Ectoine, a substance that not only hydrates the skin but also binds moisture in the skin. Additionally, it protects the skin against damage caused by environmental factors such as stress, UV radiation, dryness, heat and cold. With the concept of “skin has many faces” we customize your skin care as your skin demands to result in a fresh, dewy and radiant complexion. BEAUTY 101 RULE: Daily cleansing and skin care routines should always include the throat and décolleté!
SUPER SOFT CLEANSER:
Soothing, moisturizing night care that supports the cell's own repairing and protecting mechanisms. Skin-identical lipids help to stabilize the skin's barrier function and reduce loss of moisture. Apply after cleansing.
HERBAL CARE LOTION:
HYDRA FORCE DAY CREAM:
MOISTURE INTENSE AMPOULE:
Skin is intensively moisturized by the creamy consistency. The unique ingredients support the skin's ability to preserve moisture and counteract aging. Apply after cleansing.
Light, refreshing fluid for sensitive eye area that reduces puffiness. Effective on fine lines & wrinkles. Gently pat on mornings and nights. Free of fragrances, coloring agents, without mineral oils, without parabens.
This moisture booster rebalances moisture deficits in the skin. Synergistic blend of hyaluronic acid supports reductions of wrinkles caused by dryness. Without perfume oils and parabens. Use as a 7 day spa treatment at home.
HYDRA FORCE MASK:
Anisaa New LaFem Salon & Beauty Co.
Anisaa is an Aesthetic Consultant and Trainer with New Lafem Salon & Beauty Co. You can follow them on Facebook and Instagram at: @lafemsalonq8
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HYDRA FORCE NIGHT CREAM:
Cleansing milk with valuable oils. Gently cleanses and prevents the skin from dryingout. PH-neutral and excellently suitable to remove eye makeup. Use mornings and nights.
Soothing and balancing effect with herbal extracts. Dab on after cleansing mornings and nights. Free of parabens. For extra freshness keep Herbal Care Lotion in the fridge!
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ON THIS FATHER’S DAY “THE MEN’S SKIN CARE” AT A GLANCE
The moisture complex from oat and soyalecithin in the mask supplies the skin with extra moisture. Due to intensive hydration the skin obtains a firm appearance. Combats feelings of tautness and fine lines from dryness.
As men’s skin produces more sebum twice as much sebum as women’s skin, men are more prone to skin impurities. This can be combated by thoroughly cleansing the skin every day with PURE SKIN CLEANSING FOAM which clears the skin from any dirt and grime. Daily shaving can cause skin redness, irritation, ingrown and razor burns, for thisGEL SUPER PURIFIANT a refreshing clarifying antibacterial gel offers cooling effect due to the peppermint and camphor. At the same time a deep-acting face mask like theACTIVE CLEARING MASK should be used that will free the skin of excess sebum and skin impurities and will give the skin an anti-inflammatory effect. The star product for all types of skin is the BLEMISH BALM HONEY a special product for blotchy, irritated and impure skin that conceals the blemishes and relieves any inflamed skin. It also helps to soothe any redness after shaving especially for those who have sensitive skin. For the eyes only, HI PERFECTION EYE CREAM - HYDRA FORCE EYE FLUID helps to reduce the dark circles and treat puffiness. For luxury care BEAUTY POWER AMPOULES offer instant glow and radiance. Enjoy Healthy Skin this Father's Day!
New LAFEM Salon & Beauty Co. Salmiya - Hamad AlMubarak Street, Block 9, Bldg. 33, 1st Floor
Tel.: 2 5 7 2 2 5 0 7 / 8 - 6 6 7 3 3 2 2 2 - 6 6 7 1 1 1 4 0 EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTOR & TRAINER - KUWAIT
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lafemsalonq8
Hiba Al Mansour Believes in the power of paper in a digital world
Over the last few years, the digital revolution is having an impact on bookstores. Fewer and fewer bookstores have survived the onslaught of online retailing. Through the trials and tribulations that come with an evolving book industry many intrepid bookstores continue to succeed and even grow. One such is That Al Salasil. Despite enormous competition from online retailers That Al Salasil has remained a vital resource for book lovers in the community. We thought it would be illuminating to talk with Hiba Al Mansour, business development manager at That Al Salasil, a family owned business since 1972. Hiba provides insight about her strategies for thriving, and talks about the history of That Al Salasil and the secret to its success.
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
"We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and Gulf history."
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Please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Hiba Al Mansour and I am a business development manager at That Al Salasil. I am an optimistic and workaholic person who is in love with travelling.
opportunity to the readers to meet them in person. We announce such events through different media such as, radio, newspapers and social media, inviting our loyal customers and public figures.
Tell us about your education: I have completed my schooling in public schools of Kuwait and graduated from College of Business Administration (CBA) with a degree in accounting.
What is the hardest part about the bookstore business currently? It’s a slow business, as we live in a digital age and people lead a fast pace life, they don’t have time to sit and read like before.
What is the history of That Al Salasil bookstore? How long has it been in business? What would you say is the secret to its success? It is a family owned business which started in 1972. My father is a book lover and enjoys the time he spends reading all kinds of books. He understands the fact that books enrich our minds, enhance our life experiences and relieve stress. He is passionate about it and when you love and believe in your business it grows more and more.
Do you encourage browsers to sit in the store and read? Do you have some comfortable sitting areas? One of the main goals of THAT AL SALASIL is to encourage reading so we offer comfortable seating areas in our stores to let our customers enjoy any book they browse or even visit us daily till they finish whatever they were reading. In fact, our bookstore branch at The Avenues is famous for its huge and comfortable seating area.
What has been the most surprising aspect of the A recent trend in bookstores is the presence of bookstore business? a small café or coffee shop, if space permits. Do I am surprised at the number of serious readers you have any such plans? out there who still want to buy paperback books We do have a place for it and we are working on it. despite the increasing popularity of e-books and understand that they have physical beauty, provenance and are collectibles. Speaking of kids, do you encourage children's reading events? What in your opinion is the biggest strength of Yes, we do organize a lot of activities for the kids and we host them all year round. your bookstore? We are proud to be one of the major bookstores in What are some of your future plans? Kuwait with an enormous collection of books both Our main aim is to continue building up our in Arabic and English with a focus on Kuwait and collection of both fiction and non-fiction books to Gulf history. become the best bookstore in Kuwait and Middle East. What types of books are most popular with your customers? Name a book that you have recently read and All kinds of novels are more in demand. would like to recommend to our readers? “1919”, it is Ahmed Mourad’s newly published Do you recommend books to your customers at novel. Ahmed Mourad was nominated for The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF); one of the bookstore? Yes, we have sections in the bookstore with a tag the most prestigious and important literary prizes “we recommend” that we believe are the books in the Arab world. worth reading. What are some of your hobbies? How many different books are on your shelves Travelling, taking adventurous trips to new places, at any given time? discovering all about their culture and rituals and Let’s put it this way, we have more than 8 thousands learning form it. I also like to learn new languages. titles at the bookstore. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Tell us about the author events you often host First, I would like to thank you for visiting us here at and how people can know about them? the bookstore. Secondly, I know it’s cliché to say it Yes, we support all local writers and host special but “life is full of possibilities you only need to focus events at our store to launch their books and give an to acquire it”. 94
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Photographer: Andre Shirazi - @andre_shirazi - Location: That AlSalasil (Avenues Branch) , Wardrobe: Shanghai Tang
JUNE BIRTHSTONE IS the PEARL By: Oussama T. Hussein Giving a piece of jewelry containing a birthstone gem will bring the wearer with good luck and protection. Monthly birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calendar. What is the Birth stone for June? The following old poem provides the answer! "Who comes with summer to this earth And owes to June her hour of birth A pearl should wear against her skin Who's innocence many a heart shall win." ." Properties of the Pearl
Zodiac Sign
For those who were born in the month of June the Pearl is the traditional birthstone. The June birthstone poem reflects some of the properties with which the Pearl is associated - loyalty, faithfulness and friendship. The Traditional Metaphysical Properties for the June Birthstone Pearl are modesty, chastity and purity. The healing properties of the June birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to the heart, spleen, stomach, intestine & ulcer problems. The Pearl is also used to enhance personal integrity.
The twelve Zodiac signs are an astrological version of birthstones in addition to the twelve calendar months. The June birthstone of the Pearl is considered to be the birthstone for Gemini (The sign of the Twins) and relate to those born between May 21 - June 21. The Zodiac sign of Gemini also responds to Emerald, Alexandrite, Agate and the Ruby.
Color of the Pearl
The traditional color associated with the Pearl is the milky white color and was strongly favored as a popular gem in Victorian jewelry. Pearls come in a wide variety of colors ranging from white to black. The popular June Birthstone of the Pearl is found in the following The color of a pearl might be classed as white, silver, cream-colored, countries: gold, green, blue or black. Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Mannar, the South Pacific, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of Mexico, Europe, Japan and Australia
Where are Pearls found?
Tropical Zodiac
Sign
Definition of the Pearl: The word Pearl is derived from the Latin word "pirum" which means "pear" which reflects the shape of the gem. A smooth lustrous round structure having a brilliant luster, with varying tints, found inside the shell of a mollusk such as a clam or oyster. It is formed due to a secretion of shelly substance around some irritating foreign particle. Its substance is the same as nacre, or mother-of-pearl. Pearls which are round, or nearly round, and of fine luster, are highly esteemed as jewels, and compare in value with precious stones. Real pearls are made by oysters or other mollusks whilst imitation pearls are man-made. Cultured pearls are made by mollusks but with human intervention (an irritant introduced into their shells causes a pearl to grow). A good sized pearl can take between five to eight years to form, which is usually the entire life of the oyster or mollusk. The cost depends on the size and the coating, or “nacre”, on a real pearl which gives it its iridescence. 96
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Director: Doug Guillermo Director: Limandel Toro
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Aksel Hennie, Ian McShane, Joseph Fiennes, John Hurt, Rebecca Ferguson
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Charlotte Riley, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way
Genres: Action, Adventure, Period
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller, Action, Epic
Synopsis: Everyone knows the legend of
Synopsis: Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise) is an
Hercules and his twelve labors. Our story begins after the labors, and after the legend… Haunted by a sin from his past, Hercules has become a mercenary. Along with five faithful companions, he travels ancient Greece selling his services for gold and using his legendary reputation to intimidate enemies. But when the benevolent ruler of Thrace and his daughter seek Hercules' help to defeat a savage and terrifying warlord, Hercules finds that in order for good to triumph and justice to prevail... he must again become the hero he once was... he must embrace his own myth... he must be Hercules
officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again.
TAMMY
THINK LIKE A MAN TOO
Director: Ben Falcone
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
THE ROVER
Director:Josh James Wan Director: Boone
Director: David Michod
Starring: Teo Halm, Astro, Reese C. Hartwig, Ella Wahlestedt, Jason GrayStanford, Cassius Willis
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Willem Dafoe, Laura Dern, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Lotte Verbeek
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Guy Pearce, Scoot McNairy, Anthony Hayes, David Field, Gillian Jones
Genres: Adventure
Synopsis: Story of teens who receive
Synopsis: A teenage girl stricken with
Synopsis: The Rover is set in a world ten
cancer falls for a boy in her support group and the two form a bond as they deal with their illnesses. Hazel and Gus are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them -- and us – on an unforgettable journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
years following the collapse of the western economic system, where Australia’s mineral resources have drawn the desperados and dangerous to its shores. With society in decline, the rule of law has disintegrated and life is cheap. The film follows hardened loner Eric (Pearce), who travels the desolate towns and roads of the Australian outback. When a gang of thieves steals his car they leave behind the wounded Rey (Pattinson) in their wake. Forcing Rey to help track the gang, Eric will go to any lengths to take back the one thing that matters to him.
DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
TRANSFORMERS 4: AGE OF EXTINCTION
mysterious messages on their cell phones.
But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
22 JUMP STREET
Director: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Mark Duplass, Susan Sarandon, Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd, Kathy Bates
Starring: Kevin Hart, Terrence Jenkins, Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, Gary Owen, Regina Hall
Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Craig Roberts, Wyatt Russell
Genres: Comedy
Genres: Sci-Fi, Action, Drama, Sequel
Genres: Adventure, Action, Sequel
Synopsis: Tammy (McCarthy) is having a
Synopsis: The couples are back together
Synopsis: Officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and
Synopsis: Continuing the story of how
Synopsis: The film begins after an epic
bad day. She's totaled her clunker car, gotten fired from her thankless job at a greasy burger joint, and instead of finding comfort at home, finds her husband getting comfortable with the neighbor in her own house.
It's time to take her boom box and book it. The bad news is she's broke and without wheels. The worse news is her grandma, Pearl (Sarandon), is her only option—with a car, cash, and an itch to see Niagara Falls. Not exactly the escape Tammy had in mind. But on the road, with grandma riding shot gun, it may be just what Tammy needs.
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EDGE OF TOMORROW
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for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some various situations that threaten to derail the big event.
Jenko (Channing Tatum) go deep undercover at a local college, but when Jenko meets a kindred spirit on the football team, and Schmidt infiltrates the bohemian art major scene, they begin to question their partnership.
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Andy Serkis, Keri Russell, Jason Clarke, Kodi Smit-McPhee
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz,
Gary Oldman, Judy Greer
Brenton Thwaites, Jack Reynor, Stanley
ultra-intelligent simian Caesar presides over the fall of human civilization.
battle that left a great city torn, but with the
A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species.
a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt
world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, to control the direction of history… while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans, Optimus Prime and the Autobots rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.
Travel Made Easy HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
PLANES: FIRE AND RESCUE
Starring: Jay Baruchel, Craig Ferguson, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller
Starring: Dane Cook, Julie Bowen
Genres: Family, Fantasy, 3D, Sequel
Genres: Comedy, Family, Animation
Synopsis: The heroic Viking Hiccup and
Synopsis: Planes: Fire & Rescue features a
his faithful dragon Toothless must protect the peace -- and save the future of men and dragons from the power-hungry Drago. The first movie took us into a war between fire-breathing dragons and Vikings, but when a boy named Hiccup impossibly befriended a dragon named Toothless, their friendship changed their world forever. Dragons 2, the second film of this fantastic epic trilogy continues the story about a man named Hiccup and a dragon named Toothless, and flies into theaters in summer of 2014.
JERSEY BOYS
Director: Jon Favreau, Clint Eastwood Starring: Vincent Piazza, Erich Bergen, Mike Doyle, Johnny Cannizzaro, Christopher Walken, John Lloyd Young
quirky crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from a raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty (voice of Cook) learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of wildfire air attack. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous air attack team, including spirited super scooper Lil’ Dipper (voice of Bowen), heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.
AND SO IT GOES
Director: Rob Reiner Starring: Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton, Frankie Valli
Genres: Musical, Adaptation
Synopsis: Frank Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy
Synopsis: A self-centered realtor enlists
DeVito and Nick Massi go from blue-collar wrong side of the track origins to become American pop sensations, selling 175 million records worldwide before they are 30 years old.
the help of his neighbor when he's suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he never knew existed. There are a million reasons not to like realtor Oren Little, and that's just the way he likes it. Willfully obnoxious to anyone who might cross his path, he wants nothing more than to sell one last house and retire in peace and quiet -- until his estranged son suddenly drops off a granddaughter (Sterling Jerins) he never knew existed and turns his life upside-down. Clueless about how to care for a sweet, abandoned nine-year-old, he pawns her off on his determined and lovable neighbor Leah and tries to resume his life uninterrupted. But little by little, Oren stubbornly learns to open his heart - to his family, to Leah, and to life itself.
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The English Woman In Saudi Arabia
"Hi,"
she said in a broken english accent. I didn't want to look at her, I was too afraid to tell you the truth, I was new to the country and a little scared. "I don't mean to bother you dear, but you look rather lost and it is odd to find a blue-eyed woman with blonde hair in our country. Are you okay?" she asked in a concerned tone. I didn't know whether to reply or just keep quiet, my heart started to beat fast and I felt dizzy and weak. I came all the way to Saudi Arabia to find the man that I had fallen in love with back in England. What on earth was I thinking?
to sob. The woman approached me and hugged me, although I couldn't see her face, as it was covered, her big brown eyes gave me comfort. "I am here to look for this Saudi man, his name is Yousef. I have known him for a long time, he studied with me in college back in my country. But he left to come back here, he asked me to come with him but I couldn't," I sighed. "My parents refused. But after months of him gone, I just couldn't live without him," I whispered, I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I waited for the woman to respond, I did not know what to expect. Would she be angry? I knew this was an Islamic country and as a 20 year old English woman, running away to Saudi Arabia to be reunited with her true love, was I looked around the airport and started not exactly an appropiate story to tell. to panic. I was the only woman that was uncovered and every man that passed me "First of all," she said in a low voice. "You must gave me a look. "Oh no," I cried. "What have I take this scarf and cover your hair." At first I done?" I put my hands to my face and started was a bit hesitant, I followed her eyes as she was looking around at the men staring at me, Nadia AlHassan so I did what I was told. Could I trust her? I had never been in the Middle East, I knew no arabic whatsoever and my family had no idea where I was. But, I had no other choice but to Nadia Al-Hassan is a student in Ireland, studying trust her. Journalism. She is passionate about writing stories and poetry. Nadia loves helping people with her stories. She believes that words are beautiful and powerful.
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From the way he dressed, to the way he spoke. "He was tall, so handsome and gentle," I said with a smile on my face, remembering all our memories together. "He had soft dark brown eyes and a warm smile. Oh, his eyelashes were so beautiful! Thick and long, every womans dream to have," I laughed. I could not see what her face expression was but I somehow knew that she was smiling too. "Do you think I'm foolish to have come all the way here?" I asked. She shook her head and placed her hand on my shoulder. "Love makes us do crazy things, but it does not make us foolish," she replied. I continued with my story, I told her how I met him and how he taught me all about Islam too. "I was intrigued, I wanted to know more about his culture and his religion. He would sit down every evening with me in the college library and teach me all about Islam. I started to want to know more and more, It sounded like such a beautiful religion."
Just as I was telling her about how my mother and father and how they did everything they could to keep me away from him and how I lost all hope, I heard a familiar voice behind "Tell me about this man called Yousef," she me. "Kate," he said. I turned around and there said. We sat for an hour as I described him. he was, handsome as ever, standing.
TOP MUSIC CHARTS DJ Raven Fancy
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American Authors Eric Church Nicki Minaj Lorde
Coldplay
Disclosure 5 Seconds Of Summer Shakira & Rihanna
June, 2014
Photography by: @abdullah_hamadah at @seventyseven_kw studio
12 Great Father’s Day Movies to Enjoy with Dad
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A man’s relationship with his father is one of the most important relationships in his life. Dad is supposed to teach us the manly arts, to always be there as lifelong mentors who lovingly guide us into manhood. At least that’s what every boy hopes for. Of course in real life the relationship between father and son is rarely so simple. A son yearns for the love and respect of his dad and doesn’t always get it. Or he worships his father, only to find out later he wasn’t such a good guy. Or his dad is indeed the real deal, but he exits his son’s life too soon. It’s no wonder that a relationship so fraught with hope and yearning, drama and resentment, joy and regret has often translated into cinematic gold. Men don’t typically cry at movies, but when we do, nine times out of ten the scene involves a father and his kids. Father-themed flicks are guaranteed to make us laugh, get misty-eyed, and feel a little introspective about our own dads, and if we have kids ourselves, how we measure up as fathers. I thought it would be appropriate to highlight some of the very best movies about fatherhood that the world of cinema has to offer.
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch is the man. Pillar of integrity, fighter of racial injustice, humble sharpshooter, and, of course, world’s greatest dad. As a widower he could have shipped his kids off to a relative, but he was absolutely devoted to them. He was kind, protective, and incredibly patient with his two kids, Jem and Scout. And most importantly, he taught his children by example. I find the relationship between Atticus and his daughter to be particularly endearing. If I ever have a daughter, I hope my relationship with her can be like the one Atticus had with his little girl. No wonder the American Film Institute called Atticus the “greatest movie hero of the 20th century.” Of course you can’t top the book itself, but the film version measures up pretty well. Gregory Peck was given some very large shoes to fill, and he did so admirably.
Big Fish
Big Fish is a weird movie. Weird in a good way, though. It was directed by Tim Burton, hence the weirdness. Big Fish focuses on the strained relationship between a father and son–Ed and Will Bloom. Ed is a man who loves to tell (possibly fictitious) stories about his past. Ed’s son, Will, thinks his dad is full of it and can’t stand his tall tales. Will feels he cannot trust his father and eventually stops talking to him for several years. But when Will finds out his dad is dying, he returns home to begin a journey that will lead him to learn who is father really is, a process that allows him to come to peace with his dad. The end of Big Fish is awesome. I won’t spoil it for you. Watch it.
Field of Dreams
To what lengths would a man go for a chance at reconciliation? If it’s for your (dead) father, most of us would do anything. As a young man, Ray Kinsella had a strained relationship with his dad and had once refused to play catch with him, a decision he has regretted ever since. Now grown up, with his father passed away, Ray has become an Iowa farmer. A voice tells him, “If you build it, he will come,” and Ray obeys by building a baseball diamond in his cornfield. The voice continues to guide Ray, and after a series of mysterious and supernatural events, he is able to make amends by playing a simple game of catch with his dead father. Man. That catch scene gets me every time.
The Godfather
At its core, The Godfather is about one man’s struggle to accept and eventually live up to the legacy his father has left him (even if that legacy isn’t the most noble and honorable one). You can gleam a lot of great insights about fatherhood from watching the entire trilogy. My favorite comes from Don Corleone: “A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Be a man. Spend some time with those kiddos. And don’t forget the cannoli.
Father of the Bride
It’s the moment any man with a daughter looks forward to with both happiness and sadness: his little girl’s wedding. You’ve probably seen the 1991 re-make ofFather of the Bride with Steve Martin. Sure, it’s funny, but it’s nowhere near as good as the 1950 original starring Spencer Tracy and a young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. At least, I don’t think so. There’s nothing profound or deep about this film. It’s just a fun, family comedy about the relationship between a man and his daughter. Spencer Tracy rocks it in this movie. One of his best performances.
Road to Perdition
As we mentioned in the introduction, sometimes the relationship between father and son can be pretty complicated. That complexity is at the root of the dark, Depression-era gangster film, Road to Perdition. Every boy wants to grow up to be like his dad, but what if your dad isn’t such a good guy? Tom Hanks plays mob bodyguard and hitman, Michael Sullivan, who must protect his son from his former boss (with whom he had his own almost father/son relationship) and his boss’ son, who has killed the rest of Sullivan’s family. On a mission of revenge, Sullivan draws his son into a life of crime, but hopes he will take a different path in life. It’s a bloody, complicated, and father/son relationshippacked movie; as Hanks puts it, “If you’re a man, and you’ve got offspring…emotionally, it’s devastating.”
The Pursuit of Happyness
An uplifting film based on the true story of now multi-millionaire Chris Gardner's one-year struggle with homelessness while raising his son by himself and working to land a full-time job. The Pursuit of Happynessshows the lengths a father will go for his children. What makes this movie even more emotionally captivating is that Chris Gardner and his son, little Chris, are played by real-life father and son, Will and Jaden Smith.
Parenthood
If you’re a fan of the ABC television comedy, Parenthood, then watch the movie that inspired the show. Like the show, Parenthood the movie focuses on different branch-offs of the same family. And like the show, the movie does a good job showcasing the (often humorous) struggles of being a parent in our crazy modern world. While it’s an ensemble film, Steve Martin’s character Gil Buckman takes center stage. Gil’s a father who’s driven to be the best dad he can be because of his dissatisfaction with his own childhood. Gil’s earnestness to be a good dad often crosses the line into neuroticism, but during the course of the film he learns to mellow out. I really like this film (and the show). Unlike a lot of comedies built on outrageous setups and low-brow gags, Parenthood tries to stay as true to real life as possible. When you watch it, you laugh because you can relate with the characters and their problems.
Boyz ‘N the Hood
Laurence Fishburne plays Furious Styles (what an awesome name), a hard-nosed father trying to raise his rebellious son, Tre, on the mean streets of Los Angeles. Furious gives his son plenty of tough love but also provides him a good example of what it means to be a father, and more importantly, a good man. Boyz ‘N the Hood teaches us that there’s nothing like the influence of a father to mold a boy into a man who does the right thing.
Finding Nemo
A movie about fatherhood that you can watch with your kids. Marlin’s a widower father who loses his wife and 400 of his children (he’s a fish) in a vicious barracuda attack. His only child to survive is Nemo, a headstrong little clown fish who’s frustrated by his father’s neurotic over-protectiveness. Despite Marlin’s best efforts to look out for Nemo, he gets lost and the rest of the movie is dedicated to, well, finding Nemo. Marlin’s love for his son transcends species. Even us human dads can relate to this computeranimated fish.
Paper Moon
Starring real-life dad and daughter, Ryan and Tatum O’Neil,Paper Moon follows Moses and Addie Pray, a father-daughter duo who grift in Depression-Era Kansas. Moses isn’t really an ideal father-figure. He scams old widows out of money by pretending to be a Bible salesman who recently sold their deceased husband an expensive, personalized Bible. But the daddy-daughter relationship between Moses and Addie is awfully charming. Paper Moon is a fun, comedy-filled movie that you can watch with your own little partner in crime.
My Life
My Life is perhaps the best and most underrated movie about fatherhood ever made. Michael Keaton plays Bob Ivanovich, a man who discovers that he has terminal cancer soon after his wife gets pregnant. Knowing he won’t be around to raise his little boy, Bob makes home movies of himself that his son can watch as he grows up. In some of the videos, Bob reads bedtime stories and in others, which will be shown when his son is older, Bob teaches important man skills likehow to shave and how to shake hands. As Bob approaches his death, he also begins to reconcile with his own father,
Abdulaziz AlKhamis Abdulaziz is a Kuwaiti Film Maker, Visual Artist and a Script Writer. He graduated from the UK, with a passion to mix art and visuals. June, 2014
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Poetry by Nada Faris Available online on Pinterest.com Behind the Scenes
What’s holding you back, when I’d surrendered my heel?
Had you taken a moment to peer into your brain you would have squinted and then held your breath, but since you illuminate every cobweb with bright intent you soldier on speaking so-called altruism. Hold on. Swerve the spotlight of this theatrical display behind the scenes, where deserted boxes packed with real events gather dust and insects.
The expanse of time, odorless, forgetful, stretching long and wide, will sooth, will heal the scar spurting blood and broken promises smelling like your shampoo, and phony compliments. Paragon of Decomposition She thinks she is so pure, so she cleans herself, thoroughly washing out every blemish until she forgets what it means to be human, pulsating with emotions, blood bubbling with hemoglobin, bones, meat, nerves, germs, and mistakes.
Expanse of Time
Regrets and heartaches aren't mere temperaments, but conditions upon which humanity is staked.
Rip the scab with fingers dripping my scent, let white turn red, turn drab. No tears translucent will dribble and blend in your brew of fragility, staining,
She’d codify her demise with rituals sanitarily emanating qualities associated with divinity she thinks she owns, or rather, hopes and pretends she does.
fleeting as fugitives, slipping in and out of memories, leaving clues of your trespassing, mercurial, piercing details as needles poking and pulling threads, weaving knots with failed expectations and dread, never to unravel. Nada Faris Nada Faris is a Kuwaiti who writes poetry, articles, and fiction in English. Her latest book, Before Young Adult Fiction, is a collection of short, award-winning articles, poems, and short stories that shaped her writing voice. Reach her at: www.nadafaris.com or @nadafaris
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Avoiding blisters, and the rumbling under her skin, of physical sin calling, she studies sermons so she could teach others about the miracle of her powers, her self-imposed dictatorship of desire, lolled at will to earn her honors, for unlike you and me, she is no mediocrity with filthy flaws.
And unlike Christ who died for love, (can you smell the foul blood on a forsaken prophet of mercy thickening still with treason and loss?) she laves her arms until she levitates, until she glows, until a halo hovers above and crowns her skull, and names her holier than the Lord. She’d rather die alone, than vulgar, suffering from pain or trauma, for she is perfection personified in human form.
Introspection While soaping my body I bellow in disgust at something I’ve washed, you’ve touched, with indifference; how is it now that I foam the soap to cover it up, and scrub as if to get it out entirely, and why does my heart beat faster when I, after forgetting, remember it there, gloating, taunting, and why do I feel the need to ask you for an opinion or a degree of distaste, (be honest now) and don’t, simultaneously, don’t tell me what I already know, in the magazine, on the TV, on billboards, on faces of family members, (be honest now) and don’t, please.
رفق ًا بنومي...
Dream Ceremony أشكرك... ألنك دون أن تدري أشعلت الربيع في داخلي وملئتني دروبًا ملونة واحتفاالت صاخبة جيل من اشكرك ألنك أسكرت قلمي بعد ٍ االنتكاسات ّ رششت السكر على ذاكرتي ،فأصبحت و لذيذ ًة جدا كرائحة الكعك في بالدي... ِ أزهرت على قصائدي ُرمانًا شكرًا ألنك َ وخوخًا وألقيت الفراشات على جملي الثكلى، فأينعت... بش ْه ِد ُق َب َ شكرا ألنك ز ّينت صوتي َ لك
المؤجلة، َ تشكيل زوايا قلبي بما يليق دت وأع َ َ بانتظارنا...
حب رسمتُ ها على ُدرجي بعض و ُ قلوب ٍ ِ المدرسي، هي أيضًا َ لك فخذها...
فخ ْذها زوايا وامأل برائحتك زُهد المكان القلب لك ُ ْ الدمعُ الغافي على وسائدي وتعمد بمطر الحنين ّ ُ الزنبقة (الـ)زرعتُ ها على شرفتي لتحيا بك و المشتاق وارتباكه بوداعة ومشط ِ ِ لك ...فخذها.. ُحلمي... أشعاري ورسائلي الما اكتملت بعد وانزع بقايا االنتظار عن ِّصبا كتفي ُ العاطلة عن العمل أقالمي متمرس على رخام الوقت كطفل و احبي ٍ ٍ ُ تراتيل أحالمي وداعة اسمي وردد بكل ما أوتيت من ٍ ّ و ُ كل صلواتي المتمردةُ َ ، لك فخذها... أحب ِك.. صمت بصمت، واهتف ٍ ٍ مطبقُ : ٍ ُق َبلي الخجلى دفاتر طفولتي المذعورة ُ
لكن أرجوك ببطء ، اخطي ٍ ببطء أكثر ... ٍ ُ أخاف أن أصحو مراس َم الحلم.... فس ُد ُحضو ُر َك ِ في ِ ُ
Tassnim Hassoun
Tassnim is an accounts specialist. She has been writing poetry and short stories since she was twelve and currently is in the process of writing a book, needless to say she loves reading. Additionally Tassnim is a gym and nutrition junky.
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JUNE Book Releases
Summer is a time when many people like to read books that take them to other places (even if, in reality, they are stuck at home). Thrillers and romance are always big sellers, and this look at anticipated June releases has plenty of both!
Written in My Own Heart'sBlood' Diana Gabaldon
The release of Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon, the latest book in the very popular Outlander series, has been rescheduled twice. Finally, the release date is here! Fans of the seven previous novels in the series will surely devour this 800+ page continuation of the story. If you prefer to fill your beach bag with romance rather than action, this is the series for you.
China Dolls Lisa See
Lisa See is beloved for her stories about Chinese and Chinese-American women, such asSnow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls. China Dolls is the story of three Chinese-American young women in San Fransisco in 1938. They are from very different backgrounds, but become best friends. As war looms, they face various trials and must rely on each other.
The Silkworm
Robert Galbraith
When word got out that Robert Galbraith is actually a pen name for J.K. Rowling, Galbraith's first novel, The Cuckoo's Calling, became an instant bestseller. That's how it got our attention, but after reading it, we were glad that it did. The second novel in this new detective series is due out just in time for summer vacation. Rowling/Galbraith fans won't want to miss Silkworm.
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Herman Koch is the bestselling author of The Dinner. In his newest novel, a medical procedure performed by a doctor to the stars goes horribly wrong, and an actor dies. The doctor and actor's families spent the summer before together on the Mediterranean, and a violent incident there may be the key to understanding the actor's death. This is a psychological thriller.
Mr. Mercedes Stephen King
If you love suspense, you can't go wrong with Stephen King. In Mr. Mercedes -- a summer thriller if ever there was one -- King tells the story of a man who has already committed one violent act and is threatening something worse. When Brady Hartfield plowed through a crowd in a stolen Mercedes, he killed eight people and escaped. Still at large, he is threatening another act that could kill or maim thousands. A retired policeman and two allies are in a race to stop him.
That Night
Chevy Stevens
That Night is the story of Toni, a 34 year old woman who was convicted of murdering her younger sister when she was a teenager. She is on parole and wants to move on with her life, but circumstances are making that difficult. She may need to find out what truly happened that night and prove her innocence before she can move on.
An Untamed State
The Vacationers
Roxane Gay's short stories and essays have gained her attention and made her debut novel, An Untamed State, one of the most buzzed about debuts of early 2014. An Untamed State is billed as a page turner that you won't want to put down, but sounds like it is best for those with thicker skin. This is the story of a Haitian-born woman who returns to Haiti with her American husband and baby. She is kidnapped and sexually tortured for almost two weeks. Much of the novel deals with the psychological aftermath and ways her life falls apart after her release.
The Vacationers starts at the airport and ends with the plane ride home
Roxane Gay
Herman Koch
Emma Straub
after two weeks of vacation in Mallorca. During that time, the Post family and some close friends work through family secrets, rivalries and tensions. Emma Straub keeps the pages turning in this summery story.
BOOK CLUB
A woman's Work IS Never DONE T
his book is a great gift to give to a friend as a birthday gift, as I did with my best friend. It is written by my favorite gift books' author Helen Exley. She is well known for having many gift books under different titles that are very popular, such as; To My Great Friend, The Baby Blessing, Little Things Mean A lot and many more. Her business of gift books started as a family initiative that was meant to give people a meaningful gift that friends and family members could share amongst each others. Now Helen's gift books are widely popular. What is special about her gift books is that they are tiny books that can be easily carried in your pocket, they don't consist of many pages which makes it very easy to read, it has a collection of selected quotations by many authors that is relevant to the topic (title of the book) and a collaboration with a caricature artist to make it fun to look at over and over again. In this book Helen wanted to share the never ending works of a woman; she got quotations related to women as, mothers, daughters, sisters, lovers, working ladies and many more. In this specific gift book she collaborated with caricature artist Rowan Barnes Murphy who is well known in that field. Here are examples of some of the quotes that were included in the mini book: "All mothers are physically handicapped. They have only two hands." – Author Unknown
"Just as every human being believes he has a novel in him, so every uxorious husband believes his wife has a cookery book in her." – Alice Thomas Ellis (1912-2005) "The one thing children wear out faster than shoes is parents." – John J. Plomp You could find Helen Exley's gift books at the gift shops stores as well as co-ops at affordable price, I also recommend that you read it before you gift it to your friend, it is always a good read.
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Nada Soliman
[email protected]
Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author.
June, 2014
THE UPCOMING SUMMER
S
ummer is every student’s favorite part of the year, because it’s the time where students relax from all the stress of the final exams and get an abundant amount of free time as reward for their hard work. They spend this 3-month’s vacation leisurely having fun, and enjoying themselves. Some travel to other countries, and others lay back everyday watching TV, playing videogames, or hang out with their family and friends. Summer is, at the beginning, every student’s paradise. But gradually, and after doing all of what they had in mind, it becomes a bore; merely some time to waste before school/ college starts again. Because it becomes Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Adnan is studying Theoretical Physics at the college of Sciences and Technology in Kuwait University. His Hobbies include Anime, manga, heavy metal, jazz, gaming, writing, and reading. In Writing field he is into Reviews, critiques, essays, plays, and short short-stories. Adnan can be contacted by email: [email protected]
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repetitive really soon. Work (or in students’ case: study) is supplementary to our happiness. That’s why we tend to crave going back to school after long breaks. Sadly in Kuwait, students don’t recognize their full potentials. Accomplishments during this vacation are scarce. Most people focus on how to have fun the following day, and that is a major waste of time. Summer is the best time for doing projects. Sure, we should have fun in summer, but summer is all about productivity and creativity, that's why it’s important to consider having a plan for the upcoming summer, and the ones that come after, so that we all could be helpful members in our society. Besides, what's more fun than having a list of achievements crossed out? Imagine all the things you could come up with in 90 days of free time. Think of all the possibilities. Surely, we all have hobbies, and we all like challenges, so why not challenge ourselves (or our friends) to do the greatest
things this summer? You can start practicing on your guitar, or start writing a story. You can arrange a book-reading contest with your friends or family, or you can learn about new topics you weren’t enlightened on. You can practice drawing and sketching, or start a new club with special activities. The choices are endless, the time is abundant, and recreational activities are variant, and only you can decide how this summer turns out in the end. After all, you are the one behind your final decision: This summer can be your best yet, or just another passing vacation. We may have hard times, or some problems with family or such, but we always rise after, and make the best of our time. So ask yourself this: “What’s going to happen this summer?” Will you let it pass, or will you make the best of it? Good luck on your exams, and have a nice productive fun summer vacation!
June, 2014
Wataniya is Now Ooredoo CityPages Meets Sarah Al Enzi at Ooredoo
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
CityPages meets Sarah Al Enzi the Junior Sales Executive – Sales/Retail at Ooredoo for 2.5 years. Sarah holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administrations from Kuwait University. At Ooredoo, her tasks includes: Listening to customers to aid in finding the right bundle of services & products to comply with their needs, selling & marketing the company's products & services to them, providing the customers with information & building loyalty, and acting as a liaison between the company & the market. In our meeting with Sarah we wanted to know more about the transition of Wataniya telecom to Ooredoo and why the name "Ooredoo"?
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. citypageskuwait.com
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it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. June, 2014
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You have done an amazing work at Ooredoo to launch the brand name in Kuwait, however many customers are still not sure of the identity Ooredoo carries. Would you tell us more about your new brand? True, and at my job in retail, we are still spreading awareness on who Ooredoo is, What it means, and what it stands for. Many of our customers still ask us these questions. We are part of a leading international communications company delivering mobile, fixed, broadband internet, and corporate managed services tailored to the needs of consumers and businesses across markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Southeast Asia. The Ooredoo Group operates in some 14 countries including Qatar, Maldives, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine, Myanmar, Iraq, Indonesia, and Oman. We have been the fastest growing telecommunications company in terms of revenue since 2006.
Any change can come with risks. How did your customers react to the change in the brand name from Wataniya Telecom to “Ooredoo”? This was a real challenge to us. As you may already know, our customers come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures within Kuwait, so we had to react to their concerns, comments, and questions with complete understanding and transparency. Naturally, many people might not be adaptable or might not accept change easily, however what we have noticed is that people viewed the change into “Ooredoo” as a positive and new start. They expect more from us now. They want more tailored services and products that fit better with their lifestyles. And More than that, they wanted us to listen to what they want and provide it to them. We have promised ourselves to be Caring, Connecting and Challenging. We want to care for our customers and for what matters to them. We want to connect with them, and listen to what they want. We also want to add some challenge so that they always ask us for more, because that’s how we will develop and innovate.
After the studies done by Ooredoo Group on choosing an Arabic name, why the name “Ooredoo”? The group wanted an Arabic name that represents its Arabic identity across all countries it operates in and it also wanted a name that reflect what customers wants are. Therefore, the name “Ooredoo” was chosen, which in English means “I want.” By this name we give chances to our customers to tell us what they want. Ooredoo is the word that every customer normally says when coming to a branch; “I want” fast internet, “I want” personalized services, and much more. We encourage our customers to tell us what they want so we can continue to innovate and develop more services.
How is the vision of Ooredoo affecting your deliverables to customers? Ooredoo’s vision is all about enriching people's lives in Kuwait. To enrich people’s lives means we want to serve them by not only providing them with telecom services, but also by helping them grow in their communities within Kuwait and supporting them reach their potential to contribute to human growth. This is what makes us different than other telecoms in Kuwait. We are a communitybased company which makes us responsible of contributing to the social development of the communities within Kuwait. We want to enable youth, champion women and empower entrepreneurs and small businesses.
What opportunities does Ooredoo give to young ambitious Kuwaitis like you? With my experience in the Sales Division, I believe that Ooredoo definitely sees potential in Kuwaiti youth. The company believes in their great skills and abilities as there are many young enthusiastic and passionate Kuwaitis working now in different divisions in the company. Ooredoo provides different job opportunities for graduates as well as experienced Kuwaitis. This comes from the company’s vision as it believes in enabling youth and helping them grow. The company also provides continuous training and growth opportunities within it. What we learned from Ooredoo as employees is that it’s not “what we do” but it is “how we do it” that matters and that makes a difference. 112
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Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Ooredoo New Headquarters
to add to your wishlist
An Amazon Fire TV, Digital Paper System, and more amazing must-haves
Nendo Cubic Rubber Band Our favorite design this month is a cubic rubber band. The shape does two things: It makes the band easier to pick up and gives it a firmer grip. We still haven’t found the best way to shoot it, though.
Rhythm Downlight Led Astronauts on the ISS see 15 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. So to help them get into some kind of routine, scientists researched the optimum wavelength of light for suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin. Blue light proved best, which is why Lighting Science’s new Rhythm Downlight bulb uses blasts of blue to keep you alert, followed by a relaxing tune when you need to rest.
Ryno The Ryno looks like the love child of a motorcycle and a unicycle. But unlike either, there’s little balancing required: A gyroscope and accelerometers help keep a rider upright. Leaning forward accelerates the electric bike to speeds up to 10 mph.
Moog Theremini Hitting the right note on a theremin is surprisingly difficult. So Moog added pitch control to its latest model. With the control turned up, it’s impossible to play a wrong note. Lessen it, and there’s room for vibrato.
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Flir One The Flir One is a thermal imaging device for an iPhone. It detects infrared energy from 32°F to 212°F. Uses include seeing in the dark, locating heat loss, and cheating at hide-and-seek.
Digital Paper System Sony’s new Digital Paper System wants to liberate your office from its dependence on dead trees with an E-ink tablet. This low-power device lasts three weeks between charges, lets you edit, create and annotate documents, and at 6.6mm thick is thinner than your average notepad. When you’re done working you can upload your files to the cloud via Wi-Fi or save them to an SD card.
Crescent Switchblade This multi-tool has four interchangeable heads—three blades and a plier—for various activities, such as shingle work and cutting wires.
Htc One (M8)
Click And Grow Smart Herb Garden
Regular readers will remember the Lytro camera we tested in issue 251, which lets you change the focus of a picture after it's been taken. Two years later, the HTC One (M8) is the first smartphone to mimic this feature, using two lenses at the rear of the phone to do the job. This means if you’ve accidentally focused your photo on a lamp post rather than the landscape behind it, you can correct the error when you get home.
If astronauts can grow plants in space, then you can grow them right here on terra firma. Inspired by NASA technology, this miniature garden helps you grow healthy plants indoors. You simply add some water to the specially designed solution – which is full of the optimum O2 and nitrate levels for growth – and then leave the smart pot and light to work their magic.
Amazon Fire Tv Another nail in the coffin for broadcast telly, Fire TV brings streaming services such as Netflix, iPlayer and, of course, Amazon Instant Video to your TV. But unlike other streamers, it also offers streaming videogames and a dedicated games controller. And with Amazon’s purchasing power you can bet they’ll be able to offer access to most on-demand TV before the year’s out.
Feddz Electric Bike An electric motor takes up a lot less space than a petrol one. This battery-driven scooter uses the extra room to let its rider carry much more than they could on a typical motorbike. Where the fuel tank and engine would have been there are now 23 litres of storage space. Fully loaded and charged, it’ll offer a range of 70km – enough for most commutes – and will even charge your smartphone en route. June, 2014
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.تقنيات الثمانيات تعود للحياة
وهي إحدى عمالقة التقنية اليابانية أنها قامت وبشكلSony صرحت ١٤٨ مستقل بتطوير شريط تسجيل مغناطيسي بسعة تخزين تيرابايت١٨٥ وهذا يعني القدرة على تخزين،جيجابايت لكل إنش مربع فيلم بلوراي٣٧٠٠ بمعنى آخر يمكنك تخزين.في شريط كاسيت واحد IBM بشريط كاسيت واحد فقط! هذا اإلنجاز تم بالتعاون مع شركة هذه التقنية، حتى اآلن.والتي ساهمت بقياس كثافة التسجيل مصممة لتخزين البيانات اإلحتياطية للشركات الكبرى والحواسيب نحن نعتقد أنه ستكون هناك منافسة.)Supercomputer( الخارقة على توفيرSony كبيرة مع شركات التقنية األخرى والتي ستجبر لم تعلن عن موعد طرحSony شركة.هذه التقنية للمستهلك الحقًا ولكن عندما يحصل ذلك سيكون بمثابة انتصار،الشريط في األسواق .لحقبة الثمانينات
80's Technology Returns to Life The giant Japanese technology company Sony announced that they have dependently developed a soft magnetic tape technology with areal recording density of 148GB/in2. This means it will be able to record (185TB) worth of storage in a single tape. In other words, you can store 3700 blurays in one simple cartridge. This breakthrough comes with the help of IBM corporation who assisted them with the measurement of the recording density. It's designed for long-term industrial-sized data backup. For now, this technology is designed to work with supercomputers. We think there will be a huge competition between other technology companies that will force Sony to bring this technology to the consumer later on. Sony wouldn’t say when this tape will hit the market, but when it does it will be a victory to the 80's era.
Yousif AlSaeed Saad Almseikan A burger lover who works as a Computer Technician during the day. Saad has a curious mind that likes to discover everything new that's related to computers, hardware, gadgets and technology. You'll most probably find him holding a burger while playing with a new gadget. He is 27 years old, loves Mixed Martial Arts. Music is what keeps him going especially Rock & Roll.
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Yousif holds a BSc. in Information Technology & Computing Degree and is a Teacher and Software Developer. He loves sharing the latest technology news and gadgets with people. Yousif believes that behind everything in the tech-world is a great story. He spends most of his time reading technology blogs and self development.
Available online on Pinterest.com
The End of Apple vs. Google Lawsuit. Apple and Google have agreed to dismiss all the current lawsuits that exist between the two major companies. They also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform. In 2010 Motorola Mobility (Owned by Google) accused Apple of infringing several patent while Apple said they violated its patents regarding smartphones features. Google acquired Motorola Mobility in 2012 for 12.5$ billion. This year Google decided to sell the Motorola Mobility to Lenovo but it will keep the majority of Motorola's patent portfolio.
Third Time is a Charm. Microsoft Suface Pro 3. After two runs on the tablet business, Microsoft gets the hang of it. With this edition, they introduce a lighter and thinner tablet with great features and a stunning screen (2160 x 1440pix ). They even threw a pen with it to make it user-friendly. It comes with redesigned kickstand that allows you to set it at any angle (between 22 - 150 degrees). Also, it has a new 5mm ultra-thin keyboard with backlit .You can pre-order it now starting from 799$ - 1949$ and it ships on August 31st.
The World's Most Valuable Brands are Tech Companies Google got the 1st rank with a value of 159$ billion after beating Apple which slipped to 2nd rank. IBM remain in the 3rd place followed by Microsoft in the 4th ( was 7th ). Facebook is in the 21st place ( was 31st ). Samsung is in the 29th place ( was 30th ). Oracle is in the 45th place ( was 36th ). HP is in the 49th ( was 54th ). The first 4 companies leading this chart are technology companies and their value surpass 500$ billion. How long will these companies hold and lead the chart?!
The Second Worst Data Breach in History More than 145 millions accounts compromised! eBay said that hackers raided its network three months ago. The company advised its users to change their passwords immediately. eBay said "We don't know that they decrypted the passwords because it would not be easy to do.�. These records contain passwords, email addresses, mailing addresses, date of birth and other personal information, but no financial data (credit cards information). The biggest data breach was in October 2013 when a hacker accessed Adobe System and collected information that belongs to 152 million user accounts.
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Samsung New Health SAMI Sensor & SIMBAND Mock-up. Samsung introduced Samsung Architecture Multimodal Interaction or "SAMI" Sensor & SIMBAND with open software, open hardware and mechanical as well. Its a mock-up to help inspire future partners. Samsung's goal is to converge the IT technology with health and wellness. The new era after the wearable gears is "Wearable Sensors". Young Sohn, the president and chief strategy officer of Samsung says: we should know about our bodies as much as we know about our cars for instance. He says, that our aim that someday you have sensors that know much more about your body. Samsung working with Interuniversity MicroElectronics Centre “IMEC" and University of California San Francisco to start the dialog between tech and health. Its a beginning of a new health era that will help us to take care of ourself and our body. Its a great initiative from Samsung and its worth a shout out.
LG G3: The Next Smartphone From LG. After a lot of rumours and gossips regarding the G3, LG officially announced their G3. A metallic skin, an arc design and a 5.5 inch Quad HD display ( 2560 x 1440 ) with a pixel density of 538ppi. 13MP Camera and dual flash. 3000mAh removable battery and a smart keyboard with adjustable height and adaptive keyboard. Its running the latest Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. And definitely it will be coming with 4G/LTE. "Knock Code" feature allow you to access your phone with a simple knock pattern on your screen. "Smart Security� to help you maintain and securing your data when your phone is shared, misplaced or stolen. From what they are saying and how the phone looks, we are sure its going to be a great breakthrough in their smartphone business. 118
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Apple WWDC 2014. What is your app!? An App can open things that you might not know about before. 9 million registered developers. 300 million visitor a week for the app store with 75 billion downloaded apps so far. that is a fraction of what this conference is about. Apple CEO Mr.Tim Cook introduced a new OS X that is going to work seamlessly together with iOS. The new OS X Yosemite will be more friendly to users. With new user interface inspired by iOS 7 and whole new features, user can receive or make calls right from his mac without touching his iPhone. Moreover, user can send SMS/ iMessages, send audio notes too. You can instantly connect to the internet “Instant Hotspot” with just view clicks on your Mac. The new "iCloud Drive” is a new feature to your iCloud account. Now you can create folders and upload any type of files to use it with your iOS apps or your Windows. Now your Mac and your iOS devices know what each other is doing, this “Handoff” feature allows you to start something on you Mac and pick it up on another iOS instantly and vice versa. And now you can send up to 5GB attachment with your email, even if the recipient server have a size limitation, the Mail will use the “Mail Drop” feature to send the attachment file to the iCloud server and give the recipient a secure link for it. But if both of users using Mail in the Mac, then no need for that feature. And a lot of amazing features with this update we can`t elaborate on them all. iOS 8, its all about the software and what`s under the user interface, is the big deal. Apple gives the developers rich access and lots of tools. Now, apps can communicate with each other. For example, you don’t need to open and edit documents using more apps, and to share documents between apps without creating unnecessary copies. There are a lot of new changes and features to the new iOS, its to simply and to make us create our natural experience the way we want it. Starting from the Photo app that make you discover and search your moments, event and specific dates. The design, new notification centre, new widget bar, new automatic photo enhancer, smart keyboard, the whole new "family sharing" feature which we think its really amazing. moreover, new Health app and health kit to make your activity tracker, heart rate monitor, and other health and fitness apps talk to each other. A spotlight search can now search wikipedia, places nearby trending news and much more in a single search bar. What Apple did to developers? Well, they did a lot. With the new SDK they gave the developers the advantages to use the
iCloud, Touch ID, and more to integrates with their apps. With more than 4000 new APIs they give the developers a deeperthan-ever access to iOS capabilities. Starting from Sharing Option, Photo Editing, Custom Action, Notification Centre, Documents to the amazing kits they already releasing like PhotoKit, HomeKit, HealthKit and CloudKit. They didn’t forget the Gaming generation. They are adding the SceneKit to render the games in 3D and a new technology called “Metal” that allow them to squeeze the maximum performance from the A7 chip. Last but not least, they introduce a new programming language, oh yes they did. It`s called Swift. This what they have to say about it: "Swift is an innovative new programming language for Cocoa and Cocoa Touch. Writing code is interactive and fun, the syntax is concise yet expressive, and apps run lightning-fast and it works side-by-side with Objective-C.” Finally, with 97% overall satisfaction for iOS7. iOS 8, Apple`s Giant release so far and we bet its the best integration between the iOS and OS X till this date.
June, 2014
تطورات شركة أبل
تستعد
شركة آبل رسميًا لالعالن رسميًا في السنوي مؤتمرها للمطورين WWDC 2014عن منصة Smart ، Homeحيث تعمل آبل على جعل iOSيتحكم بالمنازل واألعمال الداخلية بداخله ،حيث تسمح بتغيير اعدادات األجهزة االستهالكيه الموجودة في المنزل المتصلة بشبكة االنترنت لكل مستخدمي هواتف ال iPhoneولوحيات ال . iPadوأيضًا يمكنك التحكم في االضاءة داخل وخارج المنزل ، وبامكانك تفعيل أجهزة االنذار عند مغادرة المنزل . من ناحية أخرى شركة جوجل لديها منصة مشابهة لها التي تحمل اسم . Android@Home
تم مؤخرًا تسريب مجموعة من الصور ذات الجودة العالية التي ستتميز بها هاتف iPhone 6الحديث وأيضًا فيديو لنموذج وهمي للجيل القادم من هاتف .iPhoneمن مميزاته سوف تكون شاشة االيفون أكبر بحجم 4.7انش باالضافة الى النحافة التي اضافها جماالً وسوف تكون الحواف للهاتف مدورة، وبالطبع كعادتها سيأتي هيكل الهاتف مصنوعًا أصبحت التكنولوجيا أيضًا ليس بمتناول اليد فقط من االلمنيوم الفاخر .لمشاهدة الفيديو لنموذج بل أيضًا للتحكم بمقتنياتنا ،أسعدني هذا التصريح االيفون المقبل عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة حيث يمكن للمسافرون بالتحكم بالمنزل حيث السريع -: خاصية االنذار لها دور هام في حماية منازلنا .أصبحت تطورات شركة آبل تتنافس بجدارة للوصول الى الصدارة حيث قامت بترويج الجهاز اللوحي iPad Air وقامت بنشر اعالنين يوضح فيها المهام االساسية الستخدام الجهاز ،على سبيل المثال :المساعدة على سهولة التنقل بين البلدان ،ومساعدة أيضًا ضعاف السمع على الكتابة واستغالل مواهبهم .أردت أن أشارككم لمشاهدة االعالنين عن طريق مسح لرمز االستجابة السريع -:
Faisal Ben Dhofari General manager / Owner Click integrated Media Solutions Faisal Ben Dhofari
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Abdulla Ashkanani An entrepreneurial spirit
Translating a European brand in a foreign land Abdulla Ashkanani, partner and general manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait, is a young, motivated and hard-working Kuwaiti with a strong entrepreneurial drive. Abdulla has entrepreneurship deeply rooted in his genes. His grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate, his father was a jeweler and also worked in real estate. Being hailed from a family with strong business background and wanting to tap into fashion retail with a will to build a company off of the simple idea of doing things his own way, owner Abdulla Ashkanani opened up the doors to the Piel De Toro Kuwait store in 2013. You may have thought that the recent rise of clothing label Piel De Toro Kuwait came out of nowhere, but the Spain-based collective has been bubbling overseas for years. This unique Spanish fashion brand has created itself a niche on the international market due to its high level of creativity, quality and the manner in which it interprets the latest trends. Abdulla and his wife Reem Behbehani; who is also the marketing and PR manager of the company, are focused on taking the label to the next level. CityPages caught up with Abdulla Ashkanani to get his thoughts on the state of fashion, challenges his business had to face and how he is setting the pace for the future.
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Hi, Please introduce yourself to our reader: My name is Abdulla Ashkanani, and I am a partner and General Manager of Piel De Toro Kuwait. I am also a Vice President of Business Development in the private sector. Tell us about your education: I hold a bachelors degree in finance from Kuwait University. My international work experience allowed me to tap into some cultures and languages. I speak a little Spanish in addition to Danish, Arabic and English of course. So it all came in handy with this business. How and when did the idea of opening the Piel de Toro store in Kuwait come up? Our first vacation home was in Spain in 1978. So my parents took us there on a yearly basis. I feel very connected to Spain and its culture. So back in 2012, while on one of my visits to Spain with my brother, we spotted Piel De Toro and decided to take the chance and bring it to Kuwait. Upon arriving to Kuwait, we contacted the brand owners, who were very excited to the idea, and things developed quite rapidly from then. What was your previous experience in fashion retail? I come from a family with a lot of business background. My grandfather was in the food business and later moved to real estate. My father was a jeweler, and also worked in real estate. As you can see, our family is fairly new to fashion retail. I think this is might be one of the reasons I took on the challenge to expand our family business and tap into this market. How was the initial response? The initial response was amazing. Those who visit Spain know the brand, and are very excited to see it in Kuwait. Those who were newly introduced to the brand quickly became loyal customers. It is wonderful to see our costumers returning often to update their wardrobe. What are some of the challenges that you had to face and how did you overcome them? It is crucial to any business to understand the market and what customers want. It was a challenge at the beginning being a European brand, with bold colors and smaller sizes, but we swiftly learned to adjust to the local taste. The language barrier is always an obstacle since not too many Spanish people speak English fluently. Nonetheless, the brand owners were very supportive since the launch and are excited to see this project work; especially that this is the first store for Piel De Toro in the Middle East. I’m sure the other challenges we faced are shared by most start ups in Kuwait – ranging from finding the right sales team to bureaucracy and lengthy paperwork cycles.
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Now, you have completed a year in Kuwait. How would you describe the success and experience for the brand in Kuwait within this year? I believe that Piel De Toro is becoming the next big thing in the fashion retail market. Our customers are very proud to be seen wearing Piel De Toro and their support for the brand is what keeps us going. I also believe that Piel De Toro is now becoming a recognized and competing brand amongst the retail fashion brands in Kuwait. Your wife is also involved in running the business. How do you think this has helped you succeed? I was looking for a marketing and PR manager to handle all related aspects of this business, and I have interviewed a few candidates for this position. Unfortunately, I was not satisfied. I truly believe that this position is the face of Piel De Toro, and it required someone with a passion for fashion alongside the academic background. I was hesitant at the beginning, but I could not find a better candidate than my wife Reem Behbehani. She is both passionate and dedicated. Reem holds a bachelors degree in Finance as well, and is currently doing her MBA with a concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. My wife has probably had more experience in the fashion retail having had her own line of accessories, and doing a bit of fashion and weddings-related blogging on the side too. Besides raising our 3 adorable kids, she is an event planner and a window designer. My wife has been with me from the start, and knows almost everything about the history of Piel De Toro Kuwait. She is socially very active too which made it easier for us to plan and execute events, and reach out to the social media, as well as our loyal customers. How often does the new collection arrive at the store? We generally have 3-4 major shipments arrive to Kuwait every year. Usually, our winter collection arrives to Kuwait during September, and our major summer collection arrives in February. We carry a wide selection of men, ladies, and children apparel at very competitive prices. A very successful line for us in the past year has been the “like-daddy” collection. Kids love to dress up like their role models, and we give them just that! Are there any specific designs that you have the brand made for Kuwait market? Yes, there were a few designs that were specifically made for Kuwait during last winter collection, and we hope to see more during the upcoming months. The franchise owners love to hear our feedback, and work hard to provide us with what customers are looking for. What differentiates Piel de Toro from other brands in the same category?
Piel de Toro represents the Andalucian lifestyle. It projects the colors and energy of southern Spain. 90% of all of our apparel are made in Spain, and this positions us strongly in the market for excellent designs, fabrics and finish. What does wearing Piel de Toro mean? It means you’re happy and proud. You radiate with youthful energy, pride (represented by the Andalucían horse), and bravery (represented by the bull). Do you have any customer loyalty scheme in place at the store? We constantly find ways to reward our returning customers; whether through events or special promotions. We are also working with the mother company on developing a special loyalty program to further benefit our base of clientele. What are some of your future plans? We are working on expanding the brand within Kuwait and the GCC markets. We hope to see another location in the region during 2014 inshalah. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I would really like to thank CityPages for celebrating with us our 1st anniversary, and giving us a great coverage for the event. Thank you for this interview. Our Piel De Toro family congratulates you on your recent completion of 50 amazing issues. We are proud of your achievements and the trail you leave for others to follow. Many more years of success! inshalah.
June, 2014
Photograph by: Hassan Younes @hasan_younes , Location: Radisson Blu Hotel - @radissonbluhotelkuwait
Red Carpet Collection 2014 Sixty-seven dazzling creations
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he romance between Chopard and the Cannes Film Festival has blossomed continuously since 1998, the year Chopard became the Official Partner of the world’s most renowned film festival. Since the 60th anniversary of the Festival in 2007, Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Artistic Director of Chopard, has annually created an original Haute Joaillerie collection intended to exalt the beauty of the actresses for their red carpet appearance: the Red Carpet Collection. Each spring, the famous “Red Carpet” of the Festival is the showcase of 126
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dazzling new creations with Chopard taking up the extraordinary challenge of introducing a number of high jewellery pieces equal to the number of Cannes Film Festival editions. For this year, the 67th edition, 67 unique creations inspired by the glamour and the voluptuous beauty of the actresses who lit up the heyday Italian cinema of the 1950’s and 1960’s will be unveiled. As a preview, Chopard is presenting at Baselworld two magnificent pair of earrings, the first composed of diamond briolettes and emeralds, the second one of amethysts
and diamonds, as well as the leading model of the collection, the Riviera jewellery set composed of a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings, radiating a fascinating aura of opulent seduction. The Red Carpet Collection 2014 will once again testify to Chopard’s considerable talents in the field of Haute Joaillerie: a full range of talented and experienced artisans in the workshops of Chopard mingle timehonoured techniques and cutting-edge technologies to craft these unique creations.
Swarovski Women’s Watch Collection 2014 Combining a rich jewelry heritage, a spirit for innovation and the high precision of Swiss watch making, Swarovski offers impeccable timepieces infused with an inimitable touch of glamour. Be it for everyday wear or for special occasions, the watch collection
Hamilton’s latest high-flyer A Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition takes to the skies In the Khaki X-Wind Limited Edition, sophisticated design houses a drift-angle calculator to satisfy the technical and aesthetic demands of all aviation enthusiasts. Proudly rooted in Hamilton’s century-long heritage of aviation firsts, this timepiece is a codeshare of horological fascination and contemporary styling. This special limited edition will be sought after by pilots and wannabe pilots the world over.
comprises pieces that reflect Swarovski’s esthetic codes, expert crystal faceting, and a true passion for the detail. Swarovski unveils at Baselword three new lines for 2014 as well as re-colorings of many popular designs.
Calvin Klein bold Iconic. Sophisticated. Calvin Klein bold. A classic timepiece that celebrates the refined luxury of the Calvin Klein brand. First launched in 2007, the remarkable Calvin Klein bold is now redesigned for both men and women. The black leather strap style is paired with either a polished stainless steel or PVD gold case and black or silver dial. The polished stainless steel bracelet style is offered with a polished and brushed stainless steel case and black, silver, dark blue or light blue dial. Two chronograph options, one with the black leather strap and one with the polished and brushed stainless steel bracelet, are also available. Each watch is enhanced by a “Calvin Klein” logo at 12 o’clock and features superluminova hour and minute hands that subtly illuminate in the dark for convenience.
Gent style is water resistant to 5 bar. Gent chronograph style is water resistant to 10 bar. June, 2014
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BANANA REPUBLIC AND MARIMEKKO ANNOUNCE LIMITED-EDITION CAPSULE COLLECTION FOR SUMMER 2014 Banana Republic Marimekko Collection Brings a Pop of Color to her Summer Wardrobe
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9 POST BEACH: 1.Dolce & Gabbana tee 110k.d 2.Givenchy T 170k.d 3.Alexander
McQueen T 80k.d 4.PRPS skinny jeans 310k.d 5.Alexander McQueen scarf 60k.d 6.Jacob Cohen slim jeans 130k.d 7.Converse sneakers 40k.d 8.Golden Goose Deluxe Brand sneakers 120k.d 9.Christian Louboutin loafers 385k.d
THE BRAND:
sneakers
Price: High top 280k.d / Low top 220k.d
Zouch is about men's fashion, giving insight on what, how and when to wear. Think of Zouch as your personal fashion consultant. This page relates to all men of all ages as a helping tool to dress with style and edge. Find your own individual style as we push boundaries for you. Rest assured we will keep you updated with all the latest fashion news, men's trends and lots more. Instagram: @zouchfashion Twitter: @zouchfashion Facebook: Facebook.com/zouchfashion June, 2014
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VICTORIA’S SECRET ANGEL KARLIE KLOSS REVEALS THE NEW LOOK OF VICTORIA’S SECRET HEAVENLY FRAGRANCE Victoria’s Secret Angel Karlie Kloss unveiled the new look of Heavenly, Victoria’s Secret’s original Angel fragrance. The stunning Supermodel is the face of the brand’s newest campaign. The iconic fragrance she knows and loves has been reinvented. For the first time, Heavenly debuts a sleek new bottle shape and features a jeweled Angel wing charm embedded in the cap. With notes of White Musk, Sandalwood, Vanilla and White Peony, this gorgeous fragrance is heaven scent. The award-winning scent received the prestigious FiFi Fragrance Foundation Award for “Fragrance of the Year” in 2000. Since its debut, there have been more Heavenly Eau de Parfum bottles sold in the U.S. than any other fragrance. “We’re giving our customer an all-new reason to love our Heavenly fragrance,” said Sharen Jester Turney, president and chief executive officer of Victoria’s Secret. “It’s been our best-selling fragrance since it launched in 1999 and now our customer is going to covet the exquisite new bottle design just as much as the Heavenly scent inside.”
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High Jewelry Timepieces “I want to see this stone have grace and beauty and form.” – Mr. Harry Winston
Known as the King of Diamonds, Harry Winston’s life was devoted to celebrating the rarity and beauty of these extraordinary stones. Throughout his lifetime, it is estimated that more than a third of the world’s most important diamonds passed through his hands. Often purchased as rough, several of these spectacular stones were cut, polished and transformed into legends under Mr. Winston’s watchful eye. He reveled in the process of watching a rough stone evolve into a remarkable gem, and took pride in his ability to successfully determine a diamond’s final destined shape by simply holding the stone in his hands. Mr. Winston was particularly fond of fancy-shaped gems, whether featured alone in the striking silhouette of a large solitaire, or as numerous stones combined to create a Winston cluster motif. In this year’s extraordinary new collection of High Jewelry Timepieces, we honor Mr. Winston’s fascination with a diamond’s finished form. Each stunning creation takes its cues from the timeless beauty of fancy-shaped stones, and marries the House’s time-honored techniques in fine jewelry craftsmanship with the traditions of fine Swiss watch making. June, 2014
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A Grunge Affair D espite my bi-polar attitude towards fashion, (meaning my style evolves constantly based on my mood and whatever is tickling my fashion pickle at the time), anyone who knows me would agree that Grunge is my thing. My love for grunge, mainly 90’s inspired grunge with a contemporary touch (a mouthful I know), has evidently grown over the years. I love the effortlessly cool and badass look of it; I love how it’s so… street, for lack of better words. 90’s grunge is an era that brought us 80’s-90’s kids Kurt Kobain, Doc Martins, and Nirvana. All those factors obviously influenced the fashion world when it comes to street style and casual clothing. Hair was messy, t shirts worn out and/or a little too short, and shoes bulky and very rock and roll. Because grunge is so casual, I’m going to stay away from talking about high fashion and going to focus on high street clothing. We have recently seen a great amount of contemporary clothing and grunge influence in fashion for the past few years. So many high street shops like Zara, Topshop and H&M really give into the grunge theme; I love that because I always find something I can use to mix and match with other contemporary designers. Because fashion is so versatile and has no rules (obviously— wouldn’t be fun anymore), many fashion
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lovers like to mix grunge with bohemian or very clean minimalist contemporary clothing. Personally, because I can never make up my mind about what I like best, I find myself always changing it up. My grunge outfits usually consist of ripped jeans, plain v-neck tees, biker boots/doc martins/converse, heavy eye liner, and a lot of rings. I usually go for nude or dark colors for bags; mostly black actually. I also love 90’s style crop tops and tapered high wasted jeans as well, which are normally blue or grey acid wash. When I want to clean up the look a bit more but still keep it edgy and cool, I usually keep the colors and print minimal, so plain white, grey, and black usually, but I still add on the grungy accessories to add a bit of “character”, so to speak, to my outfits. For this look I love to mix my metals and go for plain statement necklaces. I also pay more attention to the cut and style of my clothes so it remains modern, and I almost always rock black nails—only because I think it’s timeless and very chic. Grunge is definitely not boring, and is so easy to pull off when done right. But of course with everything in life, always remember not to go overboard so it doesn’t end up looking too gothic- unless that’s your thing in which case, all the power to you!
Talah Al Abdulaaly Talah is a 23 years young and an avid fashion lover. Her heart lies in fashion, and everything that comes with it. She enjoys writing about it, buying it, styling it, and the list goes on. Living in London, one of the worlds fashion hot spots, for around 5 years gave her the chance to channel her passion even more. She met people from the industry, worked closely with a designer, gained some styling experience, and most importantly, got to be inspired from the ever so urban street style almost everywhere she went.
June, 2014
first produc t to breaking carbon ultra-lightweight
Oakley Ignites Relationship with Scuderia Ferrari
hat goes into the i cars.
in ma terials and craftsmanship represented by both fiber and titanium, it features Scuderia Ferrari red dly distinguishes the collec tion.
The partnership be tween Oakley and Scuderia Ferrari is a deep alliance be tween two brands with a rich heritage of engineering and technical excellence. As the multi-year partnership develops, the companies will share design philosophies and engineering insights even further, enabling greater collaboration and innova tion across a range of areas. With the partnership agreement, Oakley is the Official Licensee in eyewear, as well as the Official Supplier to Scuderia Ferrari. The team’s drivers will carry the Oakley logo on their helme ts throughout the season. The Scuderia Ferrari Carbon Blade™, part of the Scuderia Ferrari collection, is the first product created to celebra te this partnership.
بايليس تطلقتشكيلة جديدة لموسم الصيف تشكيلةجديدةملوسمالصيفتش،العالمة الرائدة في مجال مبيعات األحذية بالتجزئة جلميع أفراد العائلة، تطلقبايليس: وستتوفرالتشكيلة اجلديدةلدىجميع محالتبايليس في الكويت.ملباقة متنوعةمن الصنادل واحلقائب بتصاميم عصرية . مايو27 ابتدا ًءمن وتعكسهذهالتشكيلةالتزامبايليساملتواصل باجلودة العاليةوقدرتهاعلىتلبيةمتطلباتزبائنهاوتعزيزمكانتهاكوجهةأساس باإلضافة إلىاالكسسواراتبتصاميممميزةبأف،يةلألحذيةاملريحة املالئمة لإلستخدام اليوميوتلك اخلاصة باملناسبات اخملتلفة .ضالألسعارجلميعأفرادالعائلة
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Tory Burch Fall 2014 “The inspiration starts with the armor my parents collected. The references are subtle, whether in the mix of textures (woven, quilted, pleated) or in the tapestry brocades and florals. The focus is on clean, strong silhouettes with bold embellishments. Accessories reflect the mood — belts with chain details, lace-up ghillie heels and muffs.” — Tory Burch
GET SUMMER-READY WITH MAKE UP FOR EVER AQUA RANGE Why settle for less when you can get flawless makeup results this summer no matter how hot or humid it is. MAKE UP FOR EVER brings you the summer must-haves for a perfect and longlasting makeup. Its award-winning Aqua range offers you a wide range of colorful products for a fresh and lively summer. Combining long-wear and easy application, Aqua Range is ideal for women who want quick-to-apply makeup that is both flawless and very long-lasting. Guaranteed waterproof, it offers maximum resistance to water and rubbing to provide unique staying power on the face, eyes and lips. The intense pigments hold up perfectly all day long, and all night too to perfect your makeup style!
June, 2014
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What’s Trending Sizzling Stripes
Fashionable Florals Patterns, prints and pastels are in this season, and nothing represents this time of year better than flowers! This year, panning between extremes, floral prints go from subtle to brassy, and modern to nineties. With mixes of colours from greys to pinks, orange and blues, this year turn your summer into a full floral fantasy. First on our list of fashionable florals is the perfect clutch for the summer. Easily transitioned from day to night, the Zulu Clutch is a hot item of the summer with its burst of colour. Also both versatile and fun, the clutch is perfect with a pair of jeans or dressed up for a night out with your girlfriends.
Next on the fashionable floral list is Max&Co.’s SS14’s floral collection, all so uniquely different but one of the same - hot! Beginning with what us girls love and adore, shoes and bags. Available in two different colours, passionate pink or youthful yellow, the Albero tote and Albinoni canvas sneakers come in a fashion for women of different style.
WEEKEND BY MAXMARA - Giudy, striped cotton and linen blend twill Bermuda shorts They say stripes are not flattering, but this summer has proven that wrong. With horizontal and vertical stripes in all shapes, colours and style hitting the runway and shops from casual to luxurious, the ‘nautical’ look has never been more chic. Casual chic is in, and nobody does casual like Weekend by MaxMara. With the perfect apparel that is both comfortable and chic, their SS14 collection focus on the beach and is dedicated to all shades of blue, and stripes of all types. With a fresh perspective on formal outerwear, a favorite of this season is the Giudy shorts. Dressed up in a button-up, or down in a tee, these sizzling striped shorts are a hot trend of the summer and needed in your closet.
JIMMY CHOO - Zulu, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Clutch Bag With hot bags, must always come shoes. Styled in the same burst of colour print is the classic Demi Slip-on. Channelling a luxe sportswear vibe, the trainers are an effortless weekend favorite.
SHOE(S): MAX&CO. - Albinoni, Floral Print Canvas Sneakers
JIMMY CHOO - Demi, Neon Flame, Peppermint and Lime Orchid Print Canvas Slip On Trainers
MAX&CO. - Fair, Jacquard Pique Dress While nautical themed thin blue and white stripes are in and seen in dresses, shirts, shorts, skirts and shoes, so are thick, coloured stripes. Dresses are one of the staple pieces that represent summer, but this year the addition of the Shirtdress is something to note. This SS14, Max&Co. has the perfect combination of colour, cut and stripes found in their Fair Dress. So perfect, that the same print is found in a t-shirt, dress and A-line overcoat. 138
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TOTE BAG(S): MAX & CO. - Albero, Floral Print Canvas Tote Bag
Different florals at Max&Co. also calls for different style.This season, pretty pastel florals are represented through the clothing of the collection. Starting with their signature dress, the Corolla is a top trending item of the season. Perfect for a day out with its cooling fabric texture and simple cut, and great with sandals or slip-ons and a summer hat.
JIMMY CHOO - Nyssa, Green, White and Pallisander Snake Print and Vachetta Leather Flat Sandals While stripes and sandals may not be in their forte, Jimmy Choo’s SS14 collection embodies the trend in a simple, subtle way. With distinct stripes of colour found in its cut and colour, the Nyssa Sandal is the perfect incorporation of stripes into your style, and sandals that can be worn throughout the day.
MAX&Co. - Bellini, Floral Print Silk Satin Corolla Dress
this Summer? While summer time may mean shorts, pants are still in and something enjoyed by all women in Kuwait. With a different take on repeated floral patterns, Max&Co.’s Fila pants are the exact bottoms you need on a hot summer day when you want something pretty on. With a fastening invisible zip on the side, they are slim fit, allowing you to layer a t-shirt underneath without worry about looking frumpy.
Flat is Back Now lets talk about the shift of heels into flats this Spring and Summer season. This season, we’ve seen it all on the runways rom ballets to sandals with a twist of luxury. With clean lines and mixing materials, Jimmy Choo has developed a collection made for the season using matte black python, antique brushed gold leather, pointed toes, gold, leopard, studs, straps and snakeskin.
JIMMY CHOO - Harlow, Neon Flame MAX&Co. - Fila, Crêpe De Chine Palazzo Pants
JIMMY CHOO - Beach
JIMMY CHOO - Tabitha, Neon Flame
June, 2014
From the 3 Al Essa Fashion Show for 2014 Ramadan Collection at AlHamra Mall
From the Aubade Jewelry Opening Event
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At the First Anniversary of Cavalli Caffe in Kuwait
At Diet Care's "My Life Concept' And The Reveal Of Its New Logo Event
June, 2014
For more details please visit any of our stores or contact us on @Caribou_social 148
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@Caribou_social
Caribou_social
At the Opening of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Exhibition and preview of its 2014 New Fine Watchmaking Collection
At Elie Tahari Boutique in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary and Reveal its Very Limited EDITION 1974 Collection
June, 2014
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At the Tracktionoff Event with the Kuwait Red Bull Champion Mubarak AlRumaidhi
At the Porsche Media Event at Harvey Nichols Celebrating the Success of the Launch of the Porsche Macan in Kuwait.
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At the First Year Anniversary of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa Kuwait
At the Grand Opening of LeSilla Boutique at AlHamra Luxury Center
June, 2014
At the Summer and Ramadan 2014 Collection Launch Event at TRUCCO Kuwait
At the Reopening Event of OYSHO Avenues Store
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At the Asrar Alansari Book Signing Event at That AlSalasel
At Piel De Toro Kuwait's 1st Anniversary Event
CONTACT US FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF YOUR EVENTS [email protected]
June, 2014
CONIC showcases ‘THE ICON’ collection at Fashion Forward
FROM THE PRESS
Gulf Bank Sponsors Q8hoops Project Charity Basketball Tournament for Kuwait Center for Autism
Moisturisation has never been so cool! Treat yourself to the frostiest hydration with The Body Shop’s new Body Sorbets!
The Body Shop is pleased to launch Body Sorbets, an industry first cool body moisturiser infused with juicy fruity scents! The breakthrough sorbet texture instantly melts into skin for a frosty burst of fresh moisture. It is light, fast absorbing, leaves skin instantly moisturised and offers up to 24 hours of hydration. The sorbets are available in five scents: Strawberry, Satsuma, Mango, Moringa and Pink Grapefruit. They will allow The Body Shop lovers to fight the scorching heat this summer and to enjoy the frosted moisture sensation which will leave them feeling fresh and fruity all day long! The Sorbet contains cooling Community Fair Trade organic aloe vera that comes from Guatemala. The aloe leaves are hand-harvested, hand-washed and hand-filleted within 12 hours to preserve the freshness of the gel. The Body Shop’s trade generates vital income for the farmers of the El Progreso region and has helped to supply educational materials to over 100 schools.
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Showcasing for the very first time at Fashion Forward (FFWD), ICONIC unveiled ‘THE ICON’ a capsule collection of key pieces that would very easily translate from catwalk to wardrobe. To celebrate this special collection, ICONIC hosted a Selfie party inspired by the worldwide phenomenon that is selfies and ‘THE ICON’ was launched in a unique fashion presentation. ICONIC was also the only highstreet label that featured in the interesting line up for Day 1 at the FFWD. To set the mood and do justice to the theme, the venue had mirror like reflecting walls that formed the main stage. For the fashion presentation there were island like podiums that were set in three different locations with reflecting surfaces. The models strutted on the podium to a fabulous music mix which also saw a model break into an impromptu jig creating excitement. The roaring party saw the guests taking selfies against the reflecting walls with #myiconicselfie which appeared live as they posted on special selfie screens that were set up at the venue. Inspired by the idea of being in love and expressing yourself as someone who defines beauty and loves to be the center of attention, ‘THE ICON’ is inspired by the latest catwalk trends from the Autumn Winter collections across the world and is a blend of the best styles for the season.
Gulf Bank concluded its sponsorship of the Q8hoops Charity Basketball Tournament, which was organized on behalf of the Kuwait Center for Autism to raise awareness of Autism in Kuwait. The game took place at the Kuwait Basketball Arena in Kaifan between four teams whereby all the basketball players from the Kuwait Center for Autism participated. After an exciting grand finale between the Q8hoops team and the Kuwait Center for Autism team, Hadeel Al Fadhli, Senior ManagerCorporate Communications, representing Gulf Bank, presented commemorative medals to the winning team members. Beforehand, the enthusiastic crowd was entertained by three knock-out games, a hoop-shooting contest between sponsoring companies and a guest knock-out game with Kuwait National Team players, who also played a 3 point and dunk competition. Gulf Bank’s involvement in the tournament was to help encourage greater understanding of Autism in the wider community, and what it really means to children, young people and their families. This latest initiative was to support World Autism Awareness Day, which took place on the 2nd April, and was part of the Autism Awareness Month, which is marked in April each year and recognized around the world through special events and awareness-raising activities. Q8Hoops is a basketball-based project that offers a variety of services such as basketball skills development, personal basketball training, group basketball training, basketball events and camps. Based in Kuwait and established in 2011, the main goal of Q8Hoops is to provide the latest and most advanced basketball skills training, strength and conditioning, injury reduction, nutrition tips, and drills to aid players in increasing their basketball potential. Q8Hoops organizers attended various basketball skills and conditioning camps and training in the United States and they have trained alongside some of the best in the world.
Marvel’s Super-Hero, Spider-Man, Swings Into The Crowd At Fantasy World A perfect summer getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” Collection Continuing the Fight Against Heart Disease in Children Starbucks Intorduces The All New Caramel Crunch Frappuccino® For The First Time In The Region We are delighted to announce that once again in 2014, we will be joining forces with globally renowned actress and model, Ms Inès Sastre, and that together we will be fighting the scourge of heart disease, particularly in women and children, through our support to the World Heart Federation (WHF). Inès will once again be Frédérique Constant’s Female Charity Ambassador, a role she so graciously and effectively filled in 2013. This will be the second consecutive year that Frédérique Constant will be honoured to support the WHF’s “Hearts of Children” campaign. This year, our support takes the form of a US $75,000 donation to the WHF, in addition to the design and creation of a new Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection of watches. Four new watches, each uniquely beautiful Rose gold, diamonds and mother of pearl catch the eye. These are the central features of the four new models in the 2014 Ladies Automatic “World Heart Federation” collection. Two of the watches in this new collection are powered by the accurate and reliable FC-303 calibre movement, and the two others by the FC-310, both featuring 26 jewels, automatic winding and a 38 hours of power reserve. The rose gold plated rotor is decorated with the World Heart Federation logo and beautiful sunray bridges, as well as the delicately engraved “Hearts of Children.” The bezel of each model is set with 48 sparkling diamonds, totalling 0.74 carat. Even more diamonds are used as indexes, set on a vanilla dial with a guilloché World Heart Federation logo at its centre, and surrounded by a delicate mother of pearl on the outer ring. The case diameter is 34 mm, and with a depth of just 9.9 mm, this watch will sit comfortably on the most feminine of wrists. Each model offers hours, minutes and seconds functions. In addition, on the FC-303 models, the date is also displayed at 6 o’clock. All have a sapphire crystal see-through case back, and are water resistant to 60 meters. Finally, each watch will come with a dazzling metal bracelet – either rose gold plated or bi-coloured stainless steel and rose gold plated - with butterfly folding buckle, and all models will be presented in a uniquely designed, WHF heart-shaped gift box. Two of the new models, the FC310WHF2PD2B3 and the FC310WHF2PD4B3, also feature Frederique Constant’s signature Double Heart Beat opening at the 12 o’clock position.
Fantasy World, the ultimate destination for kids and Kuwait’s first specialty toy-based store recently concluded an exciting event where visitors and customers received a rare air of “Hollywood” excitement where they hosted the appearance of Marvel’s all-time ultimate superhero, Spider-Man! Held over a three day event at selected Fantasy World stores, children’s favorite and the legendary superhero joined the crowd for an exclusive meet & greet with the kids and families where everyone got a chance to meet up-close with their hero and take pictures with him while enjoying fun-filled activities such as face-painting and exciting in-store surprises for customers! Commenting on Marvel’s officially approved Spider-Man’s appearance at Fantasy World toy stores, Yousef Haddad, Marketing Manager at Fantasy World said, “We are pleased to see the turn-out of the three day appearance of SpiderMan at Fantasy World and happy that a lot of fans utilized the opportunity to meet their favorite Marvel super-hero in person. The excitement and energy amid the customers is a positive indication on how much family entertainment and family time is valued amongst us all and has truly encouraged us to host more events that center around the children’s world as we strongly believe that all kids deserve nothing but the best”. With its inviting store atmosphere and state-ofthe-art technology and modern layout, Fantasy World has successfully built itself to be a leading retailer in the toy industry and a favorite of all families and children in Kuwait. The store hosts an exclusive range of toys and items namely; boys, girls, early years, amazing minds, tweens lifestyle, outdoor and sports including hot sellers from their private labels. Moreover, the store also has a brand new section dedicated for high tech items called the, “tech bar” that displays a range of items compatible with iPhone and iPads as well as Android operated mobile phones and tablets. Built to offer an unmatched personal experience along with a friendly staff service where children can find the hottest and most exciting collection of toys in a fun-filled environment, Fantasy World stores can be visited at Second AvenueThe Avenues, Souk Sharq and Al Bustan Mall and its flagship store at Al Rai.
Starbucks is welcoming this summer season with the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino. For the first time in the region, customers will enjoy the perfect blend of caramel, hazelnut and chocolate chips all in one delicious cold beverage, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate, guaranteed to quench that hot summer thirst. This all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino is definitely the beverage for Caramel connoisseurs and for any sweet tooth. Rana Shaheen, regional communications and CSR manager of Starbucks Coffee MENA, said: “Starbucks is committed to continuously presenting its customers with new and refreshing beverages that complement their day. During this season, people constantly have a mental image of the perfect cool beverage that will melt the summer heat away from the very first sip. Starbucks is turning that image into a reality with this all new Frappuccino beverage, and not only will it tune down the heat of a sweltering day, but it will also leave customers with an unforgettable taste.” Starbucks is also bringing back an all-time favourite this summer: the Strawberry and Cream Frappuccino, a refreshing beverage with a sweet and fruity twist. The unique Tribute Blend coffee will also be featured throughout this season. With the all new Caramel Crunch Frappuccino and the returning favourite, customers can turn any hot day into a summer joy.
This summer Marina Hotel Kuwait is the hot spot to cool down with friends and family as it rolls out itsmuch awaited summer package. The package comes along with a number of benefits to make this summer relaxed, luxurious and memorable.You are invited to enjoy this summer in style in the midst of absolute pampering and leisure with a resortfeel ambience through its wonderful facilities away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Break the daily routine and enjoy some peace of mind with an outstanding getaway at Marina Hotel Kuwait; a destination to experience a pleasant summer away from the regular city life. The all-inclusive Marina Hotel package promises real joy under the sun with its secluded private beach and three pools: lap pool, kids’ pool and family pool with the Marina Waves pool bar. Guests can relax in their rooms, all overlooking the beautiful Gulf Sea, starting from KD 88NET. The package provides free access to the hotel's many facilities: the Coral Reef Health Club, the squash court, beach and pool area. Complete your idyllic stay at any of the hotel's two fabulous restaurants well-known for its delicious international cuisine: ‘The Six Palms’ and the ‘Atlantis.’ For mouth-watering delicacies, indulge in international, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes from a scrumptious array of menu choices in a tranquil music setting. In close proximityto the Marina Mall and Marina Crescent, guests can enjoy a complete holiday with easy access to their favorite shopping and hang out destinationsmaking it ideal for family leisure. The hotel is dedicated to focus on individual guest’s needs and offer the highest standard of service. Marina Hotel offers the pleasures of graceful living and indulgent amenities including a fitness centre and excellent choice of restaurants. Rooms and suites at the Hotel combine intimacy, comfort, exclusivity with personalized service and attention to details. Head towards Marina Hotel and benefit from all the enticing offers. The summer package offer promises guests absolute comfort and leisure in one spotwith quick access to its various amenities. For more information, please visit our website: www.marinahotel.com
June, 2014
داماس تطلق مهرجان األعراس األضخم في الكويت
Sami Bader’s top diet tips services.
Baume & Mercier timepiece is the perfect gift for a new graduate
للمرة الثانية أربعة أيام مذهلة من Bimba Y Lola
Graduation day is a significant milestone in one’s life that paves the way for a promising future. As the graduate prepares to take their first step into the real world, their near and dear ones are filled with immense pride and delight. What better way to convey this happiness than by gifting the new graduate a special gift that encapsulates the essence of this celebration? With this thought in mind, illustrious Swiss watchmaker, Baume & Mercier presents the perfect graduation gift in the form of a Capeland timepiece. Inspired by a model initially launched in 1948, this chronograph is the flagship model of the Capeland collection and impresses with its 44 mm-diameter steel case with a balanced and dynamic design. Water-resistant to 50 meters, this timepiece is driven by a finely-crafted automatic mechanical caliber (La Joux Perret 8120) that is visible through a transparent sapphire case-back. Chic and elegant, it is proposed with a sun satin-finished blue dial, snailed black counters and a date aperture. It also features two graduated scales: one tachymetric and the other telemetric highlighted by red markings. This sophisticated and sporty timepiece is worn with a black alligator strap closed by a triple adjustable folding clasp with security push-pieces. A stylishly clever gift, Baume & Mercier’s Capeland is the ideal token to make graduation day even more special for the one who is ready to take on the world!
قامت شركة داغر أند كو بتلبية رغبة زبائنها الكرام Bimba Y Lola بتنظيم احلدث للمرة الثانية مبتجر الكائن مبجمع األوملبيا وعليه مت عرض تشكيلة بأسعار مميزةوخصومات2013 كبيرة من منتجات وعروض مذهلة كمبادرة شكر وتقدير لزبائنها وقام بحضور،الكرام ليستمر احلدث ملدة أربعة أيام احلدث مجموعة من مسئولي الشركة باإلضافة وباإلضافة إلى جتهيز جو،إلى ممثلي وسائل اإلعالم ترحيبي خاص حتت أنغام املوسيقى احلية إلضافة .الشعور بالتميز
With the initiation of Mr. Sami Bader’s all new dietary services, we can all achieve a diversified human physical infrastructure! Sami Bader’s dietary services have revolutionized the idea of ‘Dieting’. While we have had diet tips that occasionally ensure a short term weight loss, while on the other hand, Mr. Sami’s diet tips ensure a long term output of a balanced and well maintained weight and an organized lifestyle. The diet tips service will provide the users with unique tips based on seasons, as well as personal diet aims. These tips are provided to a large fraction of individuals of different age groups. Not only does this grandeur service provide stupendous results, which are complied with the straightjacket guidelines of the IDA (International Dietetic Association), but it also categorizes a wide variety of those individuals respective to their preferences and essentials. In addition to that, there are distinct and diverse programs for different sorts of conditions, such as ‘Diabetes’, ‘Kidney malfunctions’, ‘Pregnancy & Lactation’, ‘Post-bariatric surgeries’, ‘Gluten intolerance’, ‘Specific Doctor referrals’, and concluding the list with ‘ Aggressive Cholesterol treatment’, which is the only food program based on the latest scientific research to help improve cholesterol levels. Sami’s diet menu comprises of a pool of mouthwatering, and healthy Oriental, Asian, MiddleEastern, European and American cuisine, that are suitable to the appropriate standards of healthy cooking. The subscription service has been launched in Kuwait by ‘Simatel’, a leading telecom marketing service provider. The service will be available for only 500 fils/week with 30 diet contents per week, said a spokesperson from Simatel. ‘Simatel’ is a Kuwait based telecom marketing service provider with presence throughout the Middle East. Simatel provides business to consumer marketing service through telecom operators. Sami is a well-renowned clinical dietician, as well as a respectable member of the Clinical Community Dietician GM, who is currently offering daily magnificent diet tips. He studied in KMBS (Kuwait Maastricht Business School), along with ‘Purdue University’- West Lafayette, IN. You can now subscribe through all 3 mobile carriers,Zain, Viva and Wataniya, by sending an SMS to the following numbers: Zain users can send “D” to the Short code 92270 For Wataniya, Kuwait users can send “D or ” ت to Short code1629 Lastly, Viva Kuwait users can send “D or ” تto Short code55091
شركة اجملوهرات والساعات، أطلقت داماس: "مهرجان،الرائدة في منطقة الشرق األوسط الذي يعتبر أضخم معرض،األعراس" اجلديد لألعراس تطلقه الشركة حصريا ً للمجتمع وميثل إطالق أطقم مجوهرات فاخرة،الكويتي حيث قامت داماس،مخصصة للعرائس للمجوهرات بتصميم تلك األطقم الفاخرة ملواكبة النمو في صناعة مجوهرات األعراس في الذي ميتد، وخالل فترة املهرجان.السوق الكويتي لدى متاجر داماس في2014 طوال شهر مايو ،كل من مجمع الراية التجاري ومجمع الصاحلية سيتمكن العمالء من مشاهدة تشكيلة واسعة من أطقم األعراس املذهلة واحلصول على عروض .خاصة لدى الشراء ً التي تضم قطعا،صممت هذه اجملموعة األنيقة إلرضاء كافة األذواق،فريدة ومتقنة من اجملوهرات وجتسيد األناقة املعاصرة الدائمة للعروس إن مجموعة اجملوهرات.الكويتية في يومها املميز اخلاصة باألعراس واملناسبات ستتخطى كافة .توقعات العمالء في الكويت سيقوم موظفو داماس ذوي اخلبرة،وعالوة على ذلك العالية واملدربني على فهم احتياجات العرائس ،ومساعدتهن في اختيار اجملوهرات املناسبة لهن بتقدمي النصائح للعرائس ومساعدتهن في انتقاء أنواع املاس واألحجار الكرمية والآللئ املناسبة لهن .والتي تنسجم مع فساتني زفافهن طاملا اشتهرت داماس على مدار تاريخها البارز بأنها رائدة في اجلمال وتصميم اجملوهرات الفريدة ومن املتوقع أن.على مستوى الشرق األوسط يشهد هذا احلدث إقباال ً واسعا ً من عشاق املوضة وسيستحوذ،وأصحاب الذوق الرفيع في الكويت .على اهتمام وإعجاب كافة الزوار
June, 2014
BBS students showcase their young talents at the 2014 High School Art Show
National Aviation Services (NAS) launches mobile phone app
ACK Crowned Champions of the UCC Football League
The National Aviation Services (NAS) has published a mobile phone app called “NAS Airports”. This free application is compatible with iPads, iphone and Android devices. It currently covers Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Kigali, Sharm El Sheikh, & Kabul International Airport, as well as “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services Using “NAS Airports” you can: •Receive live flight information updates (Departure & Arrival) •Complete passenger check-in and seat selection procedure from your mobile device •Receive local and global travel and duty free promotions •Book airport “Lounge” services and enjoy fast internet, comfortable waiting area, delicious buffet, kids play area and much more. •Book airport “Meet & Assist” services for arriving and departing passengers to expedite their travel process, provide assistant to elderly and minors, greet guests, and assist with visa processing •Trace lost luggage •Get directions to airport •And now for the introductory stage, you can enjoy a 25 % discount on “Lounge” and “Meet & Assist” services from your mobile Simply download the app by searching for “NAS Airports” or by using the links below: Apple store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ nas-airports/id862302584?mt=8 Google play: https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=com.nascorporate.p6659aa
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The Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) has won the 2014 University Championship Cup (UCC) Football League title outperforming teams from participating universities, including Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), the American University of Kuwait (AUK) and the Arab Open University (AOU). The UCC Football League is a competitive tournament whereby participating university teams face each other in a grueling schedule over several months with the leader crowned Champion and holder of the cup until the following season. On this victorious occasion, the Student Activities Center’s Coordinator, Mr. Basel Dana, stated: “I would like to congratulate our students on winning the league! It’s very rewarding after all their hard work and efforts. They truly have made ACK proud with this achievement and I wish them all the success in their path towards winning the UCC cup again.” ACK’s football team will now begin preparations for the next season of the UCC Football League, with the keen desire to retain the Championship and keep the cup on ACK’s campus.
Under the patronage of renowned Kuwaiti artist, Anglophone poet, and Kuwait University Professor, Dr. Shurooq Amin, the High School art department at Al Bayan Bilingual School (BBS), hosted its annual art show for High School students from 6 May until 8 May. Held at the BBS Hawally campus, the show was put together as a High School art class project, where students were required to reflect on what they had learnt in class and create their own pieces using their imagination, creativity and different art techniques. Participating students showcased 200 of their contemporary art pieces that highlighted various art techniques such as pottery, charcoal, melting wax, graphic design and photography. Students also had the honor to receive first-hand critique on their work from Dr. Amin and a number of local artists who attended the show. Dr. Amin has earned several prestigious titles for her work including being named one of Kuwait's 45 most inspirational people by Sheikha Intisar Al Sabah in her book, The Alchemy of Wisdom, one of Kuwait's 50 Stars by Layalina Magazine, and one of the five top artists from the Middle East today by Your Middle East Journal in 2012. She also received the Artist of the Year title in the 2013 by the Arab Woman Awards, Kuwait chapter. High School art teacher at BBS, Ms. Rihab Al Assadi, said: “By putting together this art show, we want to provide students with an opportunity to explore and express themselves, and to address their interests, concerns and feelings in a fun and healthy environment.” Dr. Amin was pleased to see the level of commitment students put forth while working on their projects. “It was a pleasure being part of this art show, and to be able to witness the artistic side of our youth today, which was clearly reflected in all of their wonderful creations." She added: “Being here brings back so much nostalgia. I remember when I first started my journey as a young artist; I used to love getting my work viewed by my professors and by others fellow artists. I’d like to recognize all the students who took part in this exhibition for their hard work and dedication, and I hope to see them grow in to some of Kuwait’s great future artists .” The exhibition was attended by a number of other local artists in addition to BBS parents, students and staff. The guests enjoyed their evening in an ambience filled with live music played by students.
Seventeen inspirational women recognized at the Arab Woman Award
The seventeen winners of the Arab Woman Awards 2014 were honored at a glittering ceremony paying tribute to inspirational Arab women in Kuwait. The exclusive by-invitation only red carpet event was held at the Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers and was presented by leading Kuwaiti organisation - the Trafalgar Company. The glamorous high-profile event was attended by the winners and their families, VIP members of society as well as media and film personalities including; Egyptian actress Dalia El Beheri and Egyptian TV personality Wajdy Al Hakim. The awards ceremony was hosted by famous Kuwaiti actor Mohamed Al-Mansour.
Address of Hospitality and Original Taste
24747789 - 24747798 : تلفون. الدور السابع- برج امللتقى, دوار املخفر:الفروانية
Farwaniya: Police Station Roundabout, AlMultaqa Tower, 7th Floor. Tel: 24847789 - 24747798
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@agha_kuwait June, 2014
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IKEA holds anniversary dinner for coworkers to celebrate 30 years in Kuwait Asha’s Scores a Perfect 10!
Splash launches FIFA inspired collection
Be amazed with “Samsonite Firelite”: The latest collection of CURV’s Series
Samsonite, the world’s leading luggage brand for more than 100 years proudly present its latest innovation from CURV’s Series: Samsonite Firelite. Hardside’s lugauge made from CURV, an innovation , exclusively from Propex, Germany for its lightweight but strong and endure to pressure under low temperature. Designed for extreme sporty looks inspired from seashells shape with colorful tones of Chili Red, Deep Blue and Charcoal Black, the luggage also comes with highly efficiency functions including TSA Combination Lock and 360 degrees spinner wheels.This exciting new Curv collection has again pushed the boundaries of the luggage world. Made in Europe, this unique, dynamic and strong design features a water resistant PU coated zipper and a functional interior with a bottom lowered elastic cross ribbons and a top fully lined divider. Inspired by extreme sports lifestyles, the Firelite shell is eye-catching, modern and effortlessly absorbs heavy shocks during travel - a case which compliments your active lifestyle and is as rugged and energetic as you are. Firelite is now available at Samsonite stores at The Avenues , Al Hamra Luxury center,360 Mall,Marina Mall
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IKEA Kuwait held an anniversary dinner for all the coworkers of the IKEA store at the Crowne Plaza Baraka Ballroom on Sunday, May 18, 2014, to conclude the celebrations of their 30th anniversary in Kuwait. The event topped off month-long celebrations marking three decades since IKEA Kuwait opened its doors and began providing well-designed, good quality home furnishing solutions to homes across the country. In addition to commemorating 30 years of Swedish furniture being offered to the many, the event also honored coworkers that have been with IKEA for 10 and 20 years, and even a few who have been part of the IKEA Kuwait family since their very first store opened in Shuwaikh on April 24, 1984. Commenting on the closing celebration event, IKEA Kuwait Store Manager Ahmad Al Humaidhi said: “We want to commemorate this special time with all our coworkers and to thank them for all these years of hard work and dedication and for helping to make IKEA Kuwait a success. Our coworkers have been a core driver in building IKEA Kuwait into a brand for the many people of Kuwait, and this is what we celebrate tonight.” The evening included thank you speeches from Al Humaidhi and SYH Retail CEO Marino Maganto, followed by the honoring of IKEA Kuwait’s long-time coworkers, fun activities, giveaways, and lucky draws for tablets and vacation getaways. Also speaking on the celebration, Maganto shared his sentiments, stating: “We wanted to thank our coworkers with something special and memorable. They are very passionate about what they do, they love IKEA, so we want to ensure they know how valuable they are to the brand”
Asha’s, the innovative Indian restaurant known for serving the finest contemporary Indian cuisine, is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Kuwait. Having opened its first restaurant at Marina Crescent, Asha’s has successfully grown through the years adding two more venues in Kuwait at 1st Avenue -The Avenues and Spoons. Today, Asha’s is a name that is synonymous with great food quality and brilliant service. Its vibrant blend of contemporary Indian cuisine and rich interiors, assures its customers of a unique and wonderful dining experience. Asha Bhosle, the legendary Indian singer who founded Asha’s, says: “I am thrilled to be celebrating 10 years of Asha’s in Kuwait in partnership with M.H. Alshaya Co., which operates the brand here. I have visited Kuwait many times and have always been impressed by the positive response to our menu. Kuwaitis really understand global food and we are delighted to have been serving them India’s finest cuisine for a decade.” With a wide array of mouth-watering choices on the menu, guests are truly spoilt for choice at Asha’s. Be it the mocktails, the starters or the main courses, every unique item is created using only the freshest ingredients. Asha Bhosle has taken a special interest in contributing to the menu with a select choice of her own recipes. The dishes on offer reflect the very best of Indian cuisine, and Asha’s, with its innovative style and sophistication, promises to take guests through a truly memorable dining experience. The vision of Asha’s, to be limitless in its cultural appeal and timeless in its ethos, has been proven over the past decade. The restaurant remains as popular today as it was on the day its doors first opened. Ensuring that Asha’s keeps up with the times, and due to demand by its guests, Asha’s also delivers to Salwa, Salmiya and Rumaithiya.
It’s that time again when frenzy takes over football fans across the world. The FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil will see scores of fans supporting their favorite teams. Splash has introduced its special line for the event with a range of apparel and accessories that will ensure you support your teams in style. The range will be available under the Kappa and SPL Active labels for the top 8 countriesGermany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, England, Portugal, Netherlands and Italy for both men and women. You can choose from a variety of T-shirts, shorts, vests, tracks, knit dresses and three-quarter pants. Add a dash of accessories like bags, water bottles, caps, wrist bands, scarves, socks, sunglasses and chains to complete your look for the games. Visit Splash at all Centrepoint Stores and the Avenues Mall to explore the FIFA Collections.
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Warba Bank named Best New Bank in the Middle East for 2014
Warba Bank has been named, according to Banker Middle East Magazine, the “best new bank in the Middle East” from among a number of newly established banks in the Middle east. The award was presented at the annual gala dinner organized by Banker Middle East to honor more than 200 financial institutions across 55 categories in the banking sector in the Middle East. Banker Middle East awards honor the best performance of financial institutions across the MENA region. Final winners were selected by a jury panel of independent industry think-tank. Warba Bank is always keen to enhance the level of customer service, and cater to customers’ financing and investment needs by introducing a number of Sharia compliant banking products and services. Commenting on this event, Jassar Al Jassar, Vice Chairman & CEO at Warba Bank, said: “We are very proud of winning this prestigious award. Actually, the award is added to our previous achievements, and reflects Warba’s growing businesses and focus on developing and expanding its customers base, satisfying customers’ banking needs, and seizing the new opportunities of growth in terms of corporate and retail financing, while satisfying customers and shareholders. This wouldn’t be achievable without God’s support, then the hard work of our Board of Directors, and employees, as well as the support of our customers.” Al Jassar continued: “The bank is striving to bolster its position as an Islamic Bank through expanding its branches network to reach a total of seven branches spread across all areas of Kuwait, to bring our services closer to our customers. Further, new branches will be launched in the near future. In addition, we seek to attract a wider segment of customers, and enhance the role and effectiveness of the Call Centre by means of upgrading its systems and training its personnel to be able to deal with customers more professionally and provide them with a unique service.” Al Jassar added: “We continue to make every effort to improve this promising institution through adopting the highest standards of efficiency across all banking transactions. We also look to expand our customer base and seize new opportunities to develop both corporate and retail financing sectors with a view to support our local economy. At the same time, we aim to enhance our relationship with our corporate and retail customers, providing them innovative Sharia compliant banking solutions, while working closely with owners of large, medium and small scale companies and institutions with a view to help them achieve their goals and to be familiar with all their commercial and banking needs. Indeed, we commit ourselves to helping them and ensuring their success. Consequently, the volume of our financing portfolio showed a growth of 120%, reaching KD 273 million as at the end of the first Quarter of the year 2014 compared to the same period of 2013.” Al Jassar concluded: “Warba Bank is committed to supporting Kuwaitization and makes tangible contributions to the process of developing and training Kuwaiti professionals. The Bank exceeded the Kuwaitization percentage of 60 per cent, and achieved a Kuwaitization percentage of 80 per cent in specific divisions such as corporate and retail financing divisions.”
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Transform yourself this summer with ICONIC SUMMER ’14 collection
Update your summer wardrobe with Iconic Summer 14 collection for women and men. The women’s collection focuses on three covetable trends Sports Chic, Retro Romance and New Boho. The Iconic Summer ’14 collection for men is an embodiment of casual elegance, sophistication and attitude of the by-gone era. SPORTS CHIC: The sports trend goes luxe by moving from the simple, clinical looks of previous seasons to take on a more luxurious, glamorous edgy feel. Expect minimal and simple relaxed silhouettes with textured surfaces in pieces like shift dresses with soft shoulders. RETRO ROMANCE: Summer without flowers doesn’t seem complete does it? The collection showers romance in the air by flirting with overtly feminine looks, incorporating a pretty palette of pastels with a bouquet of floral prints. Pure white, sunshine yellow, yves klein blue, mint green are the prominent shades used lavishly over lace and guipure fabrics. NEW BOHO: The evergreen carefree trend of the Nature Girl explores updated festival looks with 1970s influences drawn into the mix. Festival trend staples include maxi dresses, full length skirts that will create a casual vibe and bypasses the usual hippy boho aspects. The 2014 men collection will showcase three key trends that will ensure you look effortlessly stylish this season. 50’s RETURN (MONOCHROME): Channel the inner chic retro man in you as you relive the fond memories of the 1950s with influences coming from the highways and byways of the USA. Think bad boys, early rockers, 50s B-movies, all mixed in with retro monotone floral and geo prints and clean tailoring. Achieve this trendsetting look in fabrics like new polkas, satin shirt, micro ginghams, jacket weights and embroidery. CRUISE RESORT: The nautical trend is a statement that continues to linger and provides fashion an everlasting look that only evolves every season. This commercial, preppy-nautical trend brings together several of the season’s key fabrics like natural linens- wovens/ jerseys, slubby canvas, smooth cottons, jacquard knits and wovens. Prints like florals, preppy spots and stripes and silhouettes form an easy and cohesive casual smart look. REMINISCE: Embrace the carefree outlook of a nomad and incorporate the rustic elegance in preppy summer smart casualwear enhanced with a refined, tailored aesthetic. From bold neo geo patterns, updated through textural applications and decorative geometric repeats, this is an ideal 70’s summer holiday look. Earthy tones dominate the trend that reflects the influence of nature with shades of sand and beige with summer olives. Add to it a bright palette of vermilion orange and bright yellow which adds to the glory of summer. Head over to ICONIC and shop our latest Summer collection available at The Avenues, The Mall, Level 1.
DHL Express Named ‘Best Employer in the Middle East’
DHL Express, the world’s largest Express network, celebrated a major milestone when the company was named the ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East and North Africa for 2014 by Aon Hewitt, the global talent, retirement and health solutions business of Aon plc. Renowned for its focus and commitment to its human resources, DHL Express MENA proudly received the auspicious award at an exclusive ceremony held at The One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel in Dubai. The award was received by Mr. Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express Middle East & North Africa and was attended by over 200 industry leaders from across the region; including senior management from Aon Hewitt – the award creators - members of the judging panel, CEOs and HR specialists. Launched over a decade ago, the ‘Best Employers Middle East Awards is the culmination of extensive studies conducted by Aon Hewitt that measure and compare employee engagement, performance and satisfaction across 500 participating organizations spanning cross industry in the Middle East region. This year, ten companies were shortlisted as Best Employers across MENA, with four DHL Express offices from around the region making it to the top five positions and securing top honours for DHL Express MENA as ‘Best Employer’ in the Middle East. Nour Suliman, CEO, DHL Express MENA, said “I applaud the efforts and dedication of our employees who are the key drivers and the reason behind this award. This is the second year in a row that DHL Express makes it to the top of the 10 Best Employers in the region, and we are extremely proud that our people genuinely consider this organization a family, and truly consider DHL as the best place to work.” “Our people are the heart of our organization, our greatest asset, and the main force behind the company’s success. Every time we are pronounced the best employer I know that the reason for that is the incredible effort and dedication of the fabulous men and women that make DHL the great place it is today,” said Suliman. This year, Aon Hewitt collected and analyzed view points and data from a sample of 30,000 employees representing a 60,000plus workforce as well as inputs from HR leaders and Business Heads from companies across the region spanning 18 industries. Following rigorous analysis and evaluation of the participating companies by an experienced panel of judges, DHL’s offices bagged five out of the ten Best Employer awards, placing DHL Express MENA in pole position as the Best Employer in the Middle East. Upon receiving the award, Henry Fares, Head of Human Resources, DHL Express MENA, stated “I humbly commend the commitment and salute the hard work of the DHL team; we are fortunate to be surrounded with highly dedicated professionals that successfully work together towards one common goal while sharing the same sense of purpose and values.” “Focus, results, respect and appreciation are the key drivers of DHL’s global HR philosophy that has so far been key to make the company thrive. I therefore, would like to thank DHL’s employees for making all this happen, this is their award,” he added.
Under the theme of “Less Stressful Life” with health and wellbeing OYSHO Hosts Kuwait Media In A Yoga Event
Driven by its commitment to spread the awareness about the health and wellbeing lifestyle concept through its bundle of hip and stylish gym wear, OYSHO organized a yoga event for Kuwait media and gifted them the true meaning of relaxation. The event, held at Flex Resorts was spent in total tranquility with both bodies and minds floating in a deep peaceful meditation which have greatly helped in communicating OYSHO theme of wellbeing mentally and physically. After the yoga session, the guests savored a healthy lunch. “Our guests really had the chance to get over their hectic life schedule while embracing the positive energy in a relaxed calm atmosphere”, said Luma/ OYSHO Brand Manager “we are proud to guide our customers into a new concept of healthy living through our new collection marked with distinguished gym wear designs customized to match different styles and choices. As part of our social engagement, we are committed to lead the way and motivate our youngsters to follow a new lifestyle by taking care of their look and enjoy their life while eliminating the barrier of body types”. Featuring stunning colors, seamless sartorial detail and a touch of retro style, the new SS14 collection offers, with its various prints and motivational quotes, encouragement to explore and lead a healthy and less stressful life.
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1. What do I need to add to 36 to make 100? 2. How many metres in a 1/4 of 1 kilometre? 3. What is 1 less than 4950? 4. How many degrees in one whole turn? 5. 32+8 = 6. Which of these fractions is greater than one half? 7. What is 135 cm in metres? 8. An angle of less than 90 degrees is called 9. -7 + 9 = ? 10. How many right angles are there in 1 whole complete turn?
meter 35cm, 8. acute, 9. 2, 10. 4
ANSWERS: 1. 64, 2. 250meters, 3. 4949, 4. 360, 5. 40, 6. 5/8, 7. 1
FUN RIDDLES
1. who is silent in the parliament 2. What does an Island and the letter T have in common? 3. What do you call a fish without an eye? 4. What part of the Turkey has the most feathers? 5. What's the only room from which no one can enter or leave 6. What demands an answer, but asks no questions. 7.Why do Chinese men eat more rice than Japanese men do 8.A cat had three kittens: January, March and May. What was the mother's name.
ANSWERS:1. The Letter 'A', 2. They're both in the middle of wa'T'er, 3. fsh, 4. The Outside, 5. Mushroom, 6. Telephone, 7. There are more Chinese men than Japanese men., 8. What - It stated 'WHAT' was the mothers name 166
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Jumbled Words 1 . A DY 2. GDLA 3. SGBU 4. LNGO 5. WYH 6. SETT 7. SKUN 8. EXNT 9. SYK 1 0 . R OW M 11. NETT 12. FORG
= = = = = = = = = = = =
ANSWERS: 1.DAY, 2.GLAD, 3.BUGS, 4.LONG, 5.WHY, 6.TEST, 7.SUNK, 8.NEXT, 9.SKY, 10.WORM, 11.TENT, 12.FROG
MATHS QUIZ
Interesting Animal Facts
• Rats breed so quickly that in just 18 months, 2 rats could have created over 1 million relatives. • The blue whale can produce the loudest sound of any animal. At 188 decibels, the noise can be detected over 800 kilometres away. • Horses and cows sleep while standing up. • Giant Arctic jellyfish have tentacles that can reach over 36 metres in length. • Locusts have leg muscles that are about 1000 times more powerful than an equal weight of human muscle. • Hummingbirds are so agile and have such good control that they can fly backwards. • Instead of bones, sharks have a skeleton made from cartilage. • Insects such as bees, mosquitoes and cicadas make noise by rapidly moving their wings. • The horn of a rhinoceros is made from compacted hair rather than bone or another substance. • Sharks lay the biggest eggs in the world. • Even when a snake has its eyes closed, it can still see through its eyelids. • Unlike humans, sheep have four stomachs, each one helps them digest the food they eat. • Despite the white, fluffy appearance of Polar Bears fur, it actually has black skin. • As well as being a famous Looney Tunes character, the Tasmanian Devil is a real animal that is only found in the wild in Tasmania, Australia. It is the largest carnivorous marsupial in the world.
June, 2014
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JUNE HOROSCOPES Change seems to have rocked our world in the last few months, but in June you have the opportunity to slow down and regroup. Mercury turns retrograde on June 7, and Neptune slows down for a nap on June 9. With these two stars of communication and creativity standing still, your mind could work overtime. That project that had been shelved could suddenly seem to have possibilities. The Sagittarius Full Moon on June 12 gives you the bounce to try one more time. A New Moon in Cancer June 27 puts on its "I mean business" hat. Any adversaries will know to stand back.
ARIES (March 21 - April 19)
The June 12 Full Moon expands your horizons, widens your world, and maybe blows your mind. Keep some control so you'll recognize yourself afterward. Don't be afraid to blunder into a great learning experience. June 19 and June 20 are powerful days for you. If your critical mind takes a break on June 19, your instincts could take up the slack. You may be supercharged to the point of hyper on June 20, so do something physically demanding. Your family position gets a boost under the June 27 New Moon. Start something new that makes you happy, and conclude or decide something that makes everyone glad.
TAURUS
VIRGO (March 21 - April 19)
Your powers of critical thinking will get a big boost on June 7. You can make things perfect and correct many minor errors. Fully embrace your discriminatory powers. The June 12 Full Moon shines on your family and home environment. Try to keep things quiet, don't force anything, and let the magic of the night provide its comfort and blessings. If there's friction with friends before June 27, the New Moon brings you a chance to shift things around socially and make some new friends and different alliances. Satisfy yourself and let the chips fall where they may.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21)
The June 12 Full Moon is all yours. Be prepared to shine and attract attention. There's no point in being shy or not speaking up. Be nice about it all. You could be drawn into someone else's affairs just before the New Moon on June 27. Anything you do to help will only benefit you and your family in the long run, but don't get nervous about the preconceived notions of anyone else. The day after the New Moon, June 28, watch for a special personalized blessing, pop of good luck, or simply a chance to do a very good deed.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)
Let the June 12 Full Moon boost your self-confidence and sense of security. Don't hide from people, but expect to do your best work and thinking out of sight and out of the minds of others. There's less criticism that way. June 14 could be a busy and emotionally intense day. Stay cool and calm, and refuse to get rattled. A love interest or romantic involvement could appear close to home at the June 27 New Moon. If a friend of a friend of a sibling has a crush on you, don't be surprised (or rude). Roll with it if it appeals to you.
GEMINI
(September 23 - October 22)
(January 20 - February 18)
Big love is possible at the June 12 Full Moon - so is a generous new lover. Be on guard since these things rarely come without strings attached. You should be able to communicate and network more effectively starting June 20. Try to keep it toned down, though. Avoid getting chatty or overbearing. You can charm your way into almost anything on June 24. Control your temper and impatience on June 25. Money matters are highlighted at the June 27 New Moon. You might have more resources (and fewer problems) at home than you realized. Don't let anyone or anything spook you.
June 7 and June 8 are powerful, if not easy, days. Self-motivation and energy could spike, but you'll still be able to slow down the pace of life to suit yourself. The June 12 Full Moon could whet your curiosity and set you exploring something that interested you before but has since been dropped or forgotten. If work or office life gets a bit rocky before June 27, the New Moon lets you touch up any rough spots with co-workers or superiors. You could even make a major change in career direction. Don't be brash, but don't be anxious, either.
It's a hot social scene at the June 12 Full Moon. People are going to want to be with you. Don't have so much fun that you're exhausted the next day, however. June 16 and 17 could be a roller-coaster ride. Be mentally sharp and bright on June 16, but don't be surprised if you're washed away on a tide of emotion the next day. The June 27 New Moon is a great time to start a bunch of small but significant changes or additions to your work routine or diet. Be good to yourself in a million little ways.
CANCER
(October 23 - November 21)
(March 21 - April 19)
Try to stick close to home at the June 12 Full Moon. Good things will find you there and tend to last. Don't wait idly - keep busy in the meantime. The Sun enters your sign on June 21 and brings the first day of summer with it. Feel comfortable in your own skin no matter what's happening in the world around you. It's a fresh, powerful New Moon for you on June 27. If you've needed to project a stronger selfimage of your choosing, you can do it now. Just remember to include your roots and background. citypageskuwait.com
You could be the center of attention for the first few days of the month, so look good, behave well, and see if you can't gain some extra respect and good memories out of it. Cravings for big fun might rock your world at the June 12 Full Moon, or perhaps it will be an explosion of creativity. Either way, it won't be boring. The June 27 New Moon lets you make some personal changes and start a new approach to an old problem without a lot of people interfering with you. You don't have to tell anyone about anything unless you really trust them.
(April 20 - May 20)
People might make a lot of demands on you during the June 12 Full Moon. Do what you can, accept graciously what is offered in exchange, and then let it go. You may feel less secure and grounded from June 21 through June 23. Keep track of your wallet, phone, and keys, and relax. This won't last long. Siblings (or a few close friends) could descend on you during the June 27 New Moon. Watch your Ps and Qs a few days before. Be well situated and ready to jump in and turn a new corner in a relationship.
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LEO (July 23 - August 22)
June 9 and June 10 could pack a punch that brings to a head something that most people have been avoiding. You may not like it either, but the resolution will be well worth it. Have your finances in order or at least in hand - for the June 12 Full Moon, since this lunation affects your money and material possessions. Think no surprises, and perhaps an opportunity or two for increase. The June 27 New Moon might drag you out of seclusion and push you more into the public. Step up, be yourself, and maybe make some new contacts.
The June 12 Full Moon brings extra light into your work and career efforts. Act generously but speak modestly for the best and most longlasting results. June 18 could be profoundly touchy-feely. Be generous but respectful about hugs. The June 27 New Moon opens doors and provides lots of opportunities for fun and creativity. Psychodrama could peak, too, especially with family, so try to minimize or completely skip that part. Not getting scared or feeling inferior can help. The last few days of the month set you up to do great things for someone else and earn massive karmic brownie points.
*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @ SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted
June, 2014
169
HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz 1.What is a quarter of three-quarters? 2.Technically the avocado ('fruit' of the avocado tree) is a: Berry; Tuba; Nut; or Fungus?
Test Your Vocabulary crude means : 1. impervious to pleas, persuasion, requests, reason
3.From the Greek root word for a pointed pillar, what is the technical term for the division sign ( ÷ ) ?
2. belonging to an early stage of technical development
4.Which occupation traditionally used 'walla' (in the US), 'rhubarb' (UK), and 'gaya' (Japan)?
4. capable of fitting a particular situation or use
7.Crepuscular creatures are mainly active in: Sunlight; Moonlight; Twilight; or Darkness?
ANSWER: Is it gross? Unsophisticated? Totally tasteless and positively offensive? Then you can describe it as crude.
6.SS Ancon was the first ship to navigate what single-vowelled passage on 15 August 1914?
Crude is not rude when it’s used to describe unprocessed oil, which it first was associated with in 1865. From the Latin crudo, meaning "rough, raw,"crude today can be used to describe anything or anyone that's unrefined and rough around the edges. So don’t be too insulted by the large-nosed portrait that cartoonist made for you. It’s just a quick,crude drawing meant to be funny.
5.The medical vasodilatory compound and recreational drug C5H11ONO is more commonly known as: Crack cocaine; LSD; Amyl nitrite; or Speed?
3. tending to become more severe or wider in scope
8. A low-cost 'ratoon' crop (for example of sugar-cane or rice) grows from/on: Windblown seeds; Stubble after cropping; Flooded land; or Astroturf? 9.The two traditional symbols used to indicate treble and bass clefs in musical notation are respectively based on: G and F; P and L; T and B; S and E?
Choose the Right Symbol
10.What high quality gravity/capillary-fed implement was traditionally ruby-tipped gold, and is nowadays usually iridium-tipped stainless-steel? 11.The first almanacs, made in Babylon/Iraq c.750BC, originally listed: Important people; Recipes; Prayers; or Planetary movements?
What mathematical symbol can be put between 5 and 9, to get a number bigger than 5 and smaller than 9?
12.What common mineral's name (technically silica or SiO2) derives from old PolishGerman 'kwardy', meaning 'hard'? 13.AgustaWestland, Bell, Oboronprom and Sikorsky are notable makers of: Solar panels; Helicopters; Telecomms systems; or Nuclear reactors? 14.The particle physics unit of reactionary particle decay is: Strangeness; Weirdness; Oddness; or Bafflement? 15.What product 'brand' from the Gamay is traditionally released the third Thursday of November each year?
17.Analepsis is more commonly known as a what in a play/story/film: Credits; Flashback; Sex scene; or Intermission?
JUMBLED WORDS I M T I L
18.What invention of the Greenland Inuit is also derogatory slang for an outdoor hobbyist who observes or collects things?
S A L C H
19.Baroque (a dramatic heavily detailed style of art form) began in: 500BC Athens; 1200s Paris; 1600s Rome; or 1800s Rio de Janeiro?
B U D E O L
20.A thin middle section of a wooden chair-back, particularly old and carved, is called a: Spit; Splint; Sprout; or Splat?
S E N U U R
citypageskuwait.com
L O F R A M ANSWERS: LIMIT, CLASH, DOUBLE, UNSURE, FORMAL
ANSWERS: 1.Three sixteenths (or 0.1875 - to calculate fractions of fractions, multiply the top digits [i.e., 1 x 3 = 3] and then the bottom digits [i.e., 4 x 4 = 16] to give 3/16ths ), 2. Berry, 3. Obelus (from the ancient Greek root word equating to obelisk), 4. Actor (the words uttered randomly by a group to create the background murmur of a crowd), 5. Amyl Nitrite, 6. Panama Canal, 7. Twilight (dawn or dusk - from Latin crepusculum, twilight), 8. Stubble after cropping ('ratoon' is from old Spanish retono, sprout), 9. G and F, 10. Fountain pen, 11. Planetary movements, 12. Quartz, 13. Helicopters, 14. Strangeness, 15. Beaujolais Nouveau (French wine from the gamay grape and Beaujolais region), 16. Artworks, 17. Flashback, 18. Anorak (anoraq in Greenland Kalaallisut language), 19. 1600s Rome, 20. Splat (an old-English, meaning 'split up')
170
ANSWER: A Decimal Point - 5.9 works nicely
16.The German Bauhaus institution famously combined building design with: Gardens; Artworks; Energy systems; or Water?
ﻟﻴﺰﺭ ﻹﺯﺍﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ ﺍﻟﺠﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﻜﺎﻣﻞ *
ﺧﺪﻣﺎﺕ ﻗﺴﻢ ﺍﻟﺠﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻭ ﺍﻟﻠﻴﺰﺭ : إزاﻟﺔ ﺷﻌﺮ اﳉﺴﻢ ﳉﻤﻴﻊ أﻧﻮاع اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . ﻧﺤﺖ اﳉﺴﻢ و ﻧﻘﻞ اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺗﺼﻐﻴﺮ ﺣﺠﻢ اﻷﻧﻒ ورﺳﻤﻪ ﻣﻦ دون ﺟﺮاﺣﻪ . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻮﻻدة . ﻋﻼج ﺗﺸﻘﻘﺎت اﻟـ Stretch Marksﺑﺈﺳﺘﺨﺪاماﻟﻜﺎرﺑﻮﻛﺴﻲ ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ .
ﺗﻮﺣﻴﺪ ﻟﻮن اﻟﺒﺸﺮة و ﻛﺎﻣﻞ اﳉﺴﻢ . ﺗﻘﻨﻴﺔ اﳌﻴﺰو ﺛﻴﺮاﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﻨﻀﺎرة و ﺷﺪ اﳉﻠﺪ وﺣﺮق اﻟﺪﻫﻮن . ﺟﻠﺴﺎت اﻟـ VillaShape IIﻟﺘﻨﺴﻴﻖ اﻟﻘﻮاموﺷﺪ اﻟﺘﺮﻫﻼت . -ﻋﻼج آﺛﺎر اﳊﺒﻮب واﻟﻨﺪﺑﺎت .
اﻟﺘﺨﻠﺺ ﻣﻦ ﺣﺐ اﻟﺸﺒﺎب ﺑﺸﻜﻞ داﺋﻢ . ﻋﻼﺟﺎت ﺗﺴﺎﻗﻂ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ و ﺗﻜﺜﻴﻔﻪ و زراﻋﺔ اﻟﺸﻌﺮ .ﻋﻼج اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺒﺔ . إﺑﺮ اﻟﺒﻮﺗﻮﻛﺲ ﻟﺸﺪ اﻟﺒﺸﺮة . -إﺑﺮ اﻟﻔﻴﻠﻴﺮ )رﺳﻢ اﻟﺸﻔﺎﻳﻒ( .
اﳉﻠﺪﻳﺔ واﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ -اﻟﻠﻴﺰر واﻟﺘﺠﻤﻴﻞ -ﻃﺐ اﻷﺳﻨﺎن -اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻدة -ﻃﺐ اﻟﻌﺎﺋﻠﺔ -اﻟﻔﺤﻮﺻﺎت اﺨﻤﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ
ﻣﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﻔﻨﻄﺎس اﻟﺘﺠﺎري
I want to check the scores Welcome to the network that helps you grow and achieve your wants ooredoo.com.kw
WATANIYA IS NOW OOREDOO
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i don't know
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A thin middle section of a wooden chair-back, particularly old and carved, is called a?
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Antique and Vintage Chairs - Collector Information | Collectors Weekly
Antique and Vintage Chairs
Overview eBay Auctions Show & Tell Articles
No piece of antique or vintage furniture conveys as much personality and says as much about its owner as a chair, whether it’s a side chair in a hallway, a set of matching chairs in the dining room , or a unique rocking chair on the front porch.
The chair is as old as recorded history itself. The ancient Egyptians had stools, and even wooden folding chairs, with leather seats and fine joinery techniques. The Greeks and Romans came up with chair designs that are still in use today. And in China, fine woodworking and increasingly sophisticated joinery was the norm. The wooden chairs of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) were especially beautiful, with curved pieces carved from a single piece of wood to avoid seams.
At around the same time in Europe, Renaissance craftsmen were producing chairs with open arms and seats to accommodate the billowing women’s fashions of the day. Hard, wooden seats were still the rule, but upholstery was gaining in popularity.
By the 17th century, the chair was becoming something of a small throne, with open arms and legs (called a fanteuil in France), a high padded back (the arms and seat were often also padded), and lots of gilt wood. Wing chairs first appeared in France ; intricately carved wooden chairs featuring cane backs and seats made their debut in the Netherlands.
With a taller back, designers turned their collective attention to the chair’s splat, the vertical piece that runs up the center. Woodworkers used the splat for carving, while artisans used it as a canvas for japanning, which was a European variation on Asian lacquerwork.
Chair designers went positively crazy in 18th century England and France. Chair backs featured elaborate scenes stitched into tapestries or stamped into leather. Chair legs were given a cabriole shape, resembling the hind leg of an animal, whose knees were ornately decorated and whose feet often ended in a claw clasping a ball. Upholstered armchairs were on the rise, thanks to the arrival on the scene of a London furniture designer named Thomas Chippendale.
Indeed, 18th-century England produced much of the furniture vocabulary that we still use today. Relatively simple Queen Anne side chairs, wing chairs, and armchairs were popular ...in the first few decades of the century, followed by more ornate Georgian pieces. That was the era when Chippendale made his mark, along with contemporaries like George Hepplewhite (who favored shields and medallions on his chair backs) and Thomas Sheraton (whose lattice backs presage those of Charles Rennie Mackintosh a century later).
Meanwhile, in the Colonies, Pilgrim chairs and William and Mary chairs sported lots of turned arms and legs (the sausage style was especially popular), as well as spindle backs. There were even chairs with wainscot. Queen Anne and Chippendale chairs in walnut, cherry, and maple echoed the prevailing winds in England. As America gained its independence, a newfound interest in classicism morphed into the Federal style, championed by furniture maker Duncan Phyfe.
The 19th century brought Victorian furniture to American shores, but there were indigenous designs, too. Chief among them were the Shakers, whose ladder-back, cane-seat rockers are contemporary classics. Windsor chairs were a British invention, but dispensing with the splat and building a low-back Windsor was a purely stateside contribution to the form.
Another 19th-century style of note was Biedermeier of Germany. Biedermeier chairs combined the klismos-style legs of the ancient Greeks with mahogany veneers and caned seats. It was also the century of Thonet, whose bentwood furniture designs have changed little in the 150 years since they were first introduced, and Stickley, whose Mission Oak chairs were a hallmark of the budding Arts and Crafts movement that greeted the 20th century.
Chairs evolved yet again with the arrival of Art Deco . Now manufacturing processes permitted designers to shape woods and materials to fit the prevailing aesthetic. Key designers included Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann and Maurice Jallot, who produced chairs upholstered in leather and fine fabric accented by exotic hardwoods.
Molded laminates, steel framing, and chrome also begin to enter the vernacular, as designers from Finland’s Alvar Aalto to the Bauhaus’s Marcel Breuer moved furniture design from Streamline Moderne to pure Modern. Other pre-war designers include Ludwig Mies van de Rohe, Jean Prouvé, and Eileen Gray, whose Bibendum chair is a cocoon of padded rings on a base of chrome-plated steel.
At mid-century, the husband-and-wife team of Charles and Ray Eames produced chairs of molded plywood and fiberglass for the Herman Miller Furniture Company. Some of these chairs were mounted to static metal legs, others were fitted to be compact rockers . A few years later, Scandinavian Arne Jacobsen designed the Series 7 Chair, whose single piece of molded plywood on a steel-tube base is a wonder of economy and style.
But perhaps the most influential chair designer of the mid-century-modern period was Hans Wegner. His JH 501, a low-backed teak-and-cane number, was so iconic (and imitated), it became known simply as The Chair.
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
Chipstone
This beautiful site showcases the collection of Stanley and Polly Stone of Fox Point, Wisconsin, consisting of earl… [ read review or visit site ]
EamesCollector.com
Steven Cabella's personal homage to Charles and Ray Eames. This site is as clean and visually appealing as the Eame… [ read review or visit site ]
Work of Charles and Ray Eames
This Library of Congress microsite is an overview of the postwar modern design work of Charles (1907-78) and Ray (1… [ read review or visit site ]
Herman Miller Consortium Collection
This website showcases several hundred pieces of furniture, held by thirteen museums, that were designed for Herman… [ read review or visit site ]
Modernism
This archived overview produced by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts offers thumbnail sketches of the design moveme… [ read review or visit site ]
Buffalo Architecture and History
Chuck LaChiusa's wonderful guide to the architecture and history of Buffalo, NY, also happens to host an impressive… [ read review or visit site ]
Kentucky Online Arts Resource
This huge online database from the Speed Art Museum is a rich trove of beautiful photos and reference information o… [ read review or visit site ]
Other Great Reference Sites
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Splat
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Since Roman times wine barrels are most commonly made from?
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Artisans of the Valley - Glossary of Woodworking & Architectural Terms
Acroterium:
Originally an ornament on the roof corners of Greek temples. In classical furniture, similar ornaments applied to the top corners of secretaries, bookcases, highboys and other furniture.
Ageing:
Decorative technique used to create the effect of wear-and-tear on a wooden, painted, plastic or other surfaces. Common in country and rustic reproductions, also used to create antique "fakes."
Alcove:
Recessed part of a room. Alcoves serve as great locations for built-in furniture, and often house one or more windows. Bed alcoves exist in Pompeian rooms, and such placing of the sleeping quarters was common in northern Europe through the Middle Ages and later. In the 18th century, designs of special beds such recesses appeared. Other uses include bookcases and cabinets, dining groups, etc.
An individual or group of panels or screens located near or on the altar.
Ambulatory:
A continuous isle, which wraps a circular structure or an apse at its base. Designed for use in Processions.
American Colonial:
Term loosely applied to all American furniture used by the colonies prior to the American Revolution. This style includes rough handmade pieces of the early American frontier, New England versions of Jacobean and Puritan (Cromwellian), furniture imported by settlers from Europe and Americanized versions of formal English and European designs. There is no clear division of this period but most agree to group it into early colonial and late colonial (American provincial).
American Country:
Simple designs originating from the earliest settlers in America during the early colonial period (see above). These pieces are very simple and often rough in design. This charming style is still very popular today.
American Frontier (American Primitive):
A style created during late 1700's to 1800's to meet the demands of the western frontier. Noted pieces include twin wagon seat chairs, sinks without plumbing, cupboards and cobbler's benches. Woods primarily used included ash, hickory, maple, black walnut and pine. Pieces of this period were usually painted black or in primary colors.
Aniline:
The name of a transparent alcohol solvent dye used to color leather or wood, deep penetrating by nature.
A circular finishing found on pillars or piers, sometimes decorated with carvings.
Decorated frontispiece to an altar, featuring allegorical figures in tapestry or carved forms.
Antique Finish (or Antiquing):
A paint or stain finish applied to an object to give an aged look. Techniques commonly employee use of original coloring and finishing materials and procedures. A true antique reproduction will have a proper "antique" finish in appearance and process.
Antique:
Could be anything ranging from a piece of furniture to art. The US government considers any item over 100 years old to be an antique, whereas most collectors use 50 years as a benchmark. Furniture must be pre-1900 or extremely early 20th century for antique status. True antique furniture are pieces made prior to the mass production machine era following WWI.
Apothecary Chest:
A low chest with small drawers originally used to store herbs for cooking and medicinal purposes.
Thin decorative feature applied to a surface, also known as Onlay or Overlay.
Apron:
A board placed to the underside of a shelf, sill, seat, or tabletop for stability and decoration. Carving or stenciling for can add detail to an apron.
Apse:
Particular to the East end of Cathedrals, the Apse is a semicircular form serving as a culmination. The Apse, generally domed, will often form the Altar. The term is derived from the Medieval Latin
A row of arches set atop piers/columns. Sometimes refers to the arched roof itself.
Archivolt:
An ornamental molding seen often in arch shaped portals following the lines of the face with sculpted figures.
Seating that has both a backrest and armrests.
Iron framework used within mason-less Rose Windows to support the glass weight.
Armoire:
A large mobile cupboard or wardrobe featuring doors and shelves for clothes storage, term of French origin. Modern implementations include bedroom entertainment centers.
A cylindrical foot that has tapered and separated from the leg by a turned ring.
Art Deco:
A style characterized by geometric forms and bright, bold colors, popular from c. 1918 to 1940.
Art Nouveau:
A movement and style of decoration characterized by sinuous curves and flowing lines, asymmetry, and flower and leaf motifs.
Small, semi-circular molding applied to the glazing bars on cabinets' bookcases
A metal hook suspended between two studs to form a drawer pull.
Wool fabric resembling felt, usually green, used on gaming tables.
Open slatted back with shelves used for storing goods in the kitchen
An ornamented ball sculpture surmounted in the petals of a flower.
The rounded end of a turned leg having a hooded effect.
Ball-and-claw Foot:
A sculptured foot showing a bird's claw or animal paws grasping a ball; most commonly found on a cabriole leg.
A chair seat where the front rail bows forward in a convex or horseshoe shape.
An upright, such as a table leg or rail, shaped like a vase or urn.
Woodcarving, of Chinese influence, in the shape of natural bamboo forms.
Banding:
Veneer cut into narrow strips and applied to create a decorative effect, usually found around the edges of tables and drawer fronts. Also available in a solid wood strip allowing a routed edge and creating a great illusion of a solid wood piece.
The dominant class of Tracery consisting of decorative patterns formed from stone bars.
The turning of a leg of furniture so that it resembles a screw thread.
Baroque:
An extravagant and heavily ornate style of architecture, furniture, and decoration that originated in 17th century Italy.
Bat-wing Drawer Pull:
A brass drawer pull that is in the shape similar to a bat. Usually on Queen Anne pieces.
Bead:
A small quarter or half round molding. Bead moldings assist in transitions between other moldings or areas, and are often flexible enough to conform to minor discrepancies.
A molding style consisting of convex half-cylinders running the length of the molded piece
Beatle Hole:
(See also Worm Holes) Small holes found in wood, considered a defect in many instances and a character-providing element in others such as rustic furniture pieces. Beatle holes are the result of snacking powder post beetles. These insects may survive the finishing process in dormant form and suddenly come alive when they reach room temperature. Finding mysterious wood dust inside drawers and cabinets is a symptom of a snacking beetle. Immediate action must be taken to avoid further damage to your piece.
Bentwood:
Steamed wood bent into a curvilinear shape. Bentwood is common to such pieces as oxbow desks staircases, and archways.
A 19th-century style originating in Germany, characterized by lack of ostentation
Blanket Chest:
A chest used for general storage, usually kept in the bedroom. Construction may be of any common chest design, block front, flat-panel, raised-panel, or simply plane lumber.
A cube-shaped foot found at the base of square-legged furniture.
Block Front Chest:
A chest of drawers in which the center is concave and the end panels are convex.
Block-Front:
A unique American furniture form, mainly found in chests, where the front is divided vertically by a concave center and two convex end panels that often terminate at the top in flat arches or carved shells.
A decorative boldly rounded surface mold, indicative of the Chippendale style.
Bulbous, curving form; convex fronts and sides of chests.
Bonnet Top Highboy:
Highboy with a full dome or hood over the top of the piece, many antique highboys are missing their bonnet or sustained damage over the years.
Bonnet-Top:
In cabinetwork, a top with a broken arch or pediment, or a curved or scroll top with a central finial motif in the shape of a flame, urn, etc. Commonly atop a highboy or secretary. Straight or ogee molded face.
Ornamental masonry strips used to conceal the breaks in vault work.
A chest-of-drawers with a convex front.
Bracket Foot:
A low right-angled foot of a chest, etc., having two decoratively shaped ends and a vertically first seen in the 18th century.
An inscrolled or knurled foot. Sometimes also called "Spanish foot."
Breakfront:
A cabinet divided vertically into three sections, with the middle section projecting forward. Most commonly seen in hutches, bar backs, or desks.
A sideboard without a hutch or storage cabinet on top.
A round ball acting as a foot used on furniture in the 17th century.
Bureau:
A piece of furniture with drawers, used as a desk. It features either a fall-front, which slopes at 45 degrees, a cylinder front, or a tambour front.
Burl:
A tree knot or natural grain, sometimes as result of a cancer, featuring extremely unique and beautiful patterning. Woodworkers prize burl wood for many applications where appearance is of the utmost importance. Burl wood is inherently unstable and may impart uncontrollable checks or warping. Common practice is to shave burl wood into veneers to avoid such occurrences.
Butler's Tray Table:
A tray with four flip-up handholds that can be removed from the table legs on which it stands. When the sides are down an oval tabletop is created.
Butt Joint:
The junction of the ends of two pieces of wood such as on a sill. This is the most inexpensive and the fastest to constructed, but is weakest woodworking joint.
A small drop-leaf table with swinging supports resembling a butterfly wing on a rudder.
Butterfly:
Inlay of an opposing grain thin slice of wood used to prevent spread of a check or crack in wood.
Cabriole leg:
A leg or support in the form of a conventionalized animal's leg with knee, ankle, and foot. Form tends to swell wider at the top (knee) and bottom (ankle). Very common in Queen Anne designs.
Camel back:
Back of late Chippendale or Hepplewhite style, the top rail of which was in the form of a serpentine curve.
An overhanging shade or shelter above an artwork or statue sometimes situated upon pillars.
Capital:
The upper element of an architectural pillar, often finely decorated in Romanesque and Early Gothic structures.
Carolingian:
The title of this period owes its origin to Charles Martel, the Frankish ruler who defeated the Moors at Poitiers in 732. The artistic advances of this period were initiated by Martel's grandson Charlemagne, who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800. Although the Carolingian empire itself would not survive past the ninth century, the civilizing forces set in motion during this era would form the foundation for cultural growth during the Medieval age. Rare examples of Carolingian architecture remain, excepting such sites as Minster at Aachen.
A conventionalized shield form used as an ornament.
Casters:
Rollers on the end of each foot, behind a skirt, or open to view that allowed for moving easily.
A corner or edge that is beveled, or cut, at an angle or beveled.
Check:
Crack or split that occurs along the grain of wood due to uneven internal pressures. Checking may occur at any time in the life of a piece of furniture, and is usually traceable to a sudden change in temperature and or humidity. Checks may be slowed or stopped using a butterfly inlay.
Chesser:
A combination of a dresser and a chest. Chessers are narrower than a dresser and shorter than a chest, and normally have a small tilting mirror.
A tall chest with a larger chest of drawers that supports a slightly smaller chest.
A tall, narrow piece featuring a series of drawers for storing clothing.
A standing mirror in a freestanding vertical frame. Also called a dressing mirror.
An ancient European design motif consisting of a pattern of pointed zig zags.
The section of a Cruciform Cathedral located between the Nave and the main Altar.
A five sided design of converging arcs, often used in framework.
The foot flares into a flat pad form that is round in shape.
A small, half-round mold applied to edges of a drawer front.
Cocktail Table:
A table normally positioned in front of a sofa, which provides a surface for serving. Cocktail tables are also, known as a coffee tables.
Coffer:
A multi-functional traveling chest with handles and a domed lid but without feet, usually made of oak.
Column Figure:
A statue or sculpted figure, which serves as a supportive or decorative shaft within a portal.
Column:
Architectural feature originating of Greek and Roman design. Columns may be rounded, square, or flat in plain or ornate form. Common decorations include fluting, carving, or applied designs.
Commode:
A small, low chest with doors or drawers, many traditionally styled nightstands are referred to as commodes.
Console:
A term originally applied to a bracket that supported cornices or shelves and later used to describe tables that were affixed to a wall and supported with legs at the front. Today it describes any type of table used along a wall.
Corbel:
Decorative transitional support commonly found on mantels. Corbels can be simple scrolls, or complex cherub, lion, horse, or other three dimensional designs. Corbels support the mantel shelf against the side columns.
Corner Block or Brace:
A diagonal brace placed at the corner of a frame structure to provide strength. Commonly found on the inside corners of dressers and chests for example.
Corner Cupboard:
A triangular shaped dining room china cabinet made to fit into a corner. Modern implementations also extend to entertainment centers and display cabinets.
Cornice:
A horizontal molding or group of moldings crowning the top, or crown, of a cabinet or other furniture. Commonly found on hutches, curios or cupboards.
Cottage Furniture:
A style of casual furniture characterized by being painted and/or decorated. Cottage pieces often feature turned legs and very simple lines.
Country Style:
A casual style that gained popularity in the 1980's and remains popular today, often featuring nature and nostalgic motifs. The "appearance" of handcrafting is also important including visible distressing or ageing.
Credence Table:
A type of small table used for storing food before serving; generally a semi-circular table with a hinged top.
Credenza:
Normally a sideboard or buffet. In office furniture, credenzas are a horizontal filing cabinet, which are often placed behind a desk.
This usually refers to the top rail of a chair back, sofa back, etc.
Crockets:
A distinctive Gothic motif formed of floral and leaf ornamentation. Primarily used on spire and pinnacle sculpture.
Cross-Banding:
A narrow band of veneer forming the frame of a panel; the grain of the wood is at right angles to the line of the frame.
The area of intersection in a Cruciform church, formed by joining the Nave, Transept & Chancel.
Crown Molding:
Angled molding joining horizontal and vertical surfaces in a clean and elegant manner. Common uses include wall to ceiling molding, fireplace mantles, crowns or caps to furniture, and as decorative wall shelving. Crown molding requires complex compound miter and bevel cutting for installation.
A cabinet, box or closet with shelves designed to hold cups, dishes or food.
A case piece featuring glassed in shelves and doors for displaying collectibles.
Found within Tracery decoration to form the meeting point of foils.
Cusped corner:
An indented corner on case and tabletops or other panels, created by the intersection of two carved quarter round corners.
A double curve in a simplified "s" form.
Dado Joint:
A rectangular groove across the width of a board or plank fitting another piece of wood to create additional structure and support. Commonly used to joint shelving into the sides of cases.
Dado Rail:
A wooden rail or molding that is fixed horizontally along a wall, usually about a third of the way up from the floor.
Damp Fold:
A sculpting technique in which the lines are long and subtle, giving the featured material a look as though it was damp and clinging to the figure.
To depress a design in leather, paper, wood, or composition board.
Rectangular blocks equally spaced for ornamentation in a cornice molding.
DeStijl:
A 20th century style originating in the Netherlands. As with other Dutch furniture of the period, destijl furniture is characteristically simple and clean-lined.
Directoire:
Furniture design popular during the era of the French revolution, it bridges the formal Louis xvi and the more reserved empire style, most popular during the late 1700's to early 1800's.
Distemper:
Paints made by mixing pigment with water and bound with casein, glue or egg. Widely used before the arrival of emulsion.
Distressed (or Distressing):
A furniture trait where pieces are purposely dented or otherwise marked to render an antique or rustic appearance.
Dog Tooth Molding:
An ornamental feature in which pairs of 'tooth-like' pieces of wood or stone are set to each other in diagonal rows.
Double-Doweled:
A method of joining two pieces of wood which uses two dowel pins instead of one to ensure no shifting
Dovetail:
Joint construction made by cutting pins in the shape of dovetails, which fit between dovetails upon another piece. Commonly found in drawer construction.
A headless wooden pin used in furniture construction.
A carved three-toed foot. Also a "trifid foot".
A chest of drawers used to store clothes.
Drop Front:
The hinged front of an upright desk that drops down to provide a surface for writing.
A pear-shaped handle made popular in the late 17th century.
A dining or occasional table with hinged leaves that can be lowered.
A desk with a hinged front that covers the inner compartments.
A paint technique utilizing brushwork over a glaze to create a cloudy effect.
Duncan Phyfe:
A furniture style popular in the late 1700's to early 1800's. Duncan Phyfe pieces are characterized by feet that gracefully curve outward on both tables and sofas. Duncan Phyfe seating pieces often have lyre-shaped backs, rolled top rails and arms.
Dutch Foot:
A type of disk or pad foot used in either varying forms on turned or cabriole legs.
Dutch Renaissance:
This style is square, solid and heavy, with straight lines as a rule. Chairs are characterized by turned legs, straight stretchers and straight low backs. Carvings are the main form of decoration featuring foliated ornamentation and scrollwork. Seats were often covered in leather with large brass nails. Oak is predominately used. Most popular during the 1500's through the 1600's.
Dutch Style:
Early Flemish baroque furniture, dating from the 17th century, was but a slight adaptation of the late renaissance style. Typical are oak cupboards with four doors and chairs with seats and backs of velvet or leather held in place by nails. Most pieces are massive, solid unpretentious pieces made of local woods with turnings.
Dye Lot:
Stains, finishes, and paints are manufactured in batches referred to as "lots." Each lot produces a specific amount of liquid product that is of exactly the same color and patina. Even though the same ratio of components may be combined to produce the final solution, variations in components, temperature, mixing time, humidly, etc. Play a factor. Therefore, it is advisable to complete a project from the same identified dye lot if possible, or very subtle variations in color may be apparent.
Early American:
American furniture design of the late 1600's to early 1700's (still popular today), adapted from popular European styles such as Jacobean and William and marries. The look is characterized by straight lines and minimal decoration. The style has merged into what is now called colonial, normally featuring elements of Queen Anne and Chippendale design.
Early English Style:
The beginnings of Gothic in England span from the final years of the twelfth century through the first half of the thirteenth. Cathedrals primarily constructed within this period are Canterbury, Wells, Lincoln and Salisbury. Within each of these, excepting perhaps Salisbury, it is plain to recognize preceding Romanesque forms and elements.
Early Renaissance:
Early 1500's, the transitional period between gothic arts and the classical revival. Characterized by arch form, ornament and detail in style and decoration, high relief carving with diamond shapes and architectural pilasters, and ornamented with olive, laurel and acanthus leaves. Pieces usually featured no hardware.
The protrusions on either side of a Chippendale chair's crest rail.
Eastlake:
Style designed by Charles Eastlake, popular in England and America during the late 1800's. Style was medieval and featured gothic and Japanese ornamentations. Cherry and fruitwoods were primarily used along with tile and metal panel and eye-catching hardware for decoration.
Ebonized:
A painting effect where an object is treated with color to make it look like ebony.
A style of decorating combining furniture and accessories of various styles and periods.
A classic design of alternating oval and dart shapes, commonly applied to cornices.
An oil-based paint that has a low-sheen satin finish.
Eglomise:
The decorative and exacting art of reverse painting on glass, mainly related to the Sheraton style.
Elizabethan:
A large furniture style of severe form that emerged during the reign of Elizabeth I in England during the latter half of the 1500's. Elizabethan pieces are characterized by heavy carving and massive size.
Embossing:
A technique to impress or stamp a design onto a piece of furniture; mostly used on wood pieces to resemble carving.
Empire:
A style inspired by the Napoleonic empire, which features heavy looking classical designs and combines straight lines and curves, sleigh beds are a good example of this styling.
A water-based paint that is most common on walls and ceilings.
Encoignure:
An 18th-19th century casework piece similar to a corner cabinet. Its front is typically rounded or diagonal, and it rests on three or four feet. Often, the top portion contains shelves in graduated sizes.
End Matching:
Two adjacent pieces of veneer, which are joined end to end to form a continuous pattern.
English Style:
The period distinctions of English furniture are somewhat indefinite owing to the variety of labels according to monarchs, designers, typical woods and external influences. Changes were happening so rapidly that primarily the type of wood used distinguished the boundaries of the English style.
A piece of furniture designed to hold entertainment equipment such as TV's and stereo components.
Ergonomic:
Term that relates to furniture design and function for the human form; very commonly found in home office furnishings such ergonomic chairs for example.
A cabinet with a fall front that lowers to form a writing surface.
Escutcheon:
The shaped metal fitting/backing behind a drawer pull or surrounding a keyhole. The term can also apply to a tiny plate that hangs over a keyhole to stop drafts from coming in.
Sophisticated style with great attention to detail and ornamentation.
The flap of a bureau or secrtaire that pulls down to provide a writing surface.
A carving composed of radiating lines in a half-round or fan-shaped pattern.
Fan Vaulting:
An intricate form of Tracery in which the ribs of a Vault arch out in a concave fan pattern.
Faux:
A simulation of something else. An example of this would be faux marble, which is a marble-like surface painted onto walls or other surfaces (see trompe l'oeil).
Two narrow bands of veneer in opposite diagonals.
Federal:
Design period following the American Revolution and running roughly through the early 1800's. Federal styles incorporate the neo-classical influences of Sheraton and Hepplewhite including straight and delicate lines, tapered legs, and contrasting veneers.
Ferrule:
Normally a metal cap attached to the end of a slender shaft for strength or to prevent splitting.
A curved garland of flowers or it can also refer to a strange bird.
A board made of compressed wood fibers and glue.
Fiddle Back:
A backsplat in the shape of a violin (fiddle) that is typically seen on Queen Anne chairs.
Fielded Panel:
A solid wood panel with molded or beveled outside edges and a flat, raised center section.
A pattern made by the natural grain of wood.
A decorative ornamentation that is often produced with fine wires of gold or silver.
Delicate adornment strips applied to shafts and archways along the moldings.
Filling:
A step in the manufacturing finishing process where the filling of natural pores in wood allows the surface to become smoother and more reflective.
Finger Joint:
A joint in which two pieces of wood are cut in an elongated zigzag pattern and joined glue.
Finial:
A decorative detail that has carved or shaped to ornament the top of an upright piece such as a bedpost. Finials are commonly found in the opening of a broken pediment or on the topping a lamp. Common motifs include flames, urns, and pineapples.
Finnish Style:
Finnish furniture designers used bent and laminated (layers of solid wood) woods to create organic, humanistic forms and lightweight open shapes. These designers were also the first to experiment with tubular steel in furniture design.
Fireplace Surround:
Trim or decorative carving and woodworking surrounding a fireplace; may include the mantel and areas directly adjacent to the fireplace, above, or towards either side.
Flamboyant Style:
The closing period of French Gothic during the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. A style characterized by tracery designs that resemble upward spiraling flames, dominant in the north of France. A classic example of this work is the north spire of Chartres, which stands in evident contrast to the remainder of the cathedral, completed two centuries before.
Flame Finial:
A spiral twist ornament used as a terminating motif. Usually on bonnet tops atop urn-shaped finials.
Flame Stitch:
A wavy angular pattern that looks like the shape of a flickering flame, normally found on brocade fabrics.
The outward concave curve of a furniture leg.
Flemish:
Furniture produced by the craftsman of Flanders, Belgium, which was more influential that it was an actual period of design. Generally, Flemish furniture is associated with the Dutch renaissance and it differed in many respects due the French influence. Flemish pieces are recognized for elaborate and skilled carving.
Fluting:
Parallel concave grooves that commonly used to ornament the surface of columns, posts, or panels. May be hand carved on antique or reproduction furniture, commonly made using a router on modern works.
Flying Buttress:
A masonry support branching from the sturdy piers and vertical Standing buttresses. Their role is to transfer the great weight of the vaulted roofs off to this more solid support of the firmly set abutments. In French
A small arc design used in Tracery, often utilized within Rose Windows.
Leaves, as of a plant or tree.
Four Poster:
A bed with posts tall enough to hold a canopy. The original purpose includes a fine insect netting to protect against insect bites while sleeping during spring and summer months. The concept evolved to just a canopy for purely decorative purposes.
This usually refers to the boards that support the seat of a chair.
French Classic:
This furniture was more of an influence that an actual style. All ornamentation was classic and symmetrical and often featured geometric marquetry. This style was predominant during the mid to late 1800's and was inspired by the Italian imitation of antiquity.
French Empire:
Style of the early 1800's that expressed the imperial ambitions of Napoleon created at his command. Inspired by classic Greek and roman design and is considered as grandiose yet dignified. Motifs are symbolic of torches, roman eagles, empire-wreaths, sphinx, lions and the letter "n" (for napoleon of course). Tops are of often of marble, curving is minimized, and metal feet are common. Predominant woods used were mahogany, rosewood and ebony.
Treating a wooden surface with French polish to give it a highly reflective, smooth finish.
French Provincial:
Rustic versions of formal French furnishings of the 1600's and 1700's, such as the Louis xiv and Louis xv styles. Early French provincial pieces were considered as peasant furniture.
French Regence:
Popular in Europe during the early 1700's. Departs in design from Louis xiv pieces, while maintaining many of the basic forms. Style generally features beautiful curves and elaborate decoration. This style introduced rococo ornamentation and new pieces including commodes, chiffoniers and secretaries.
French Renaissance:
Style dating from the mid 1400's to the early 1600's. Influenced by Italian design, although the pieces were smaller in scale than furniture from the Italian renaissance. Noted for elaborate and skilled carving, progresses in textile manufacturing and the weaving of tapestries. Oak is mainly used on earlier pieces and walnut in the later ones, which are known for excessive decoration.
Fresco:
A durable painting technique for walls and ceilings, created by blending watercolors directly into wet plaster. The technique of blending wet plaster with water based paint. As the plaster dries it becomes a lasting surface base. The term applies to the technique as well as the painting itself.
Fretwork:
An open or pierced woodcarving with an oriental influence, primarily used as a decorative element in Chippendale-style furniture.
A decorated horizontal band attached or painted along the top of a wall, usually ornamented.
An arm extending continuously from the back to the front of a piece of furniture.
A rounded molding that is carved in convex curves.
A deep armchair with an upholstered seat and back, padded open arms, and carved decoration.
A small slender railing, usually brass, that borders a sideboard or table.
A miniature railing placed along the edge of a shelf or tabletop.
Gargoyle:
From the French term gargouille, meaning throat. The word refers to sound which water makes as it passes through the gullet. Originally, a reference to the drains atop cathedrals that were later carved into the form of beasts or animals.
Gateleg Table:
A style of drop-leaf table with leaves that are supported by extra legs that swing out like gates.
Gel Stain:
is formulated to be a rapid drying, controllable, multipurpose, gelled stain primarily for use on difficult-to-stain surfaces, such as composition or fiberglass projects. Excellent for use on fiberglass or plastic doors and trim. Gel Stain is the choice of the professional and homeowner for the project with special requirements.
Georgian:
Elegant design of the 1700's, which is heavier and more ornate than Queen Anne. Georgian features include elaborately carved cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, pierced backsplats and ornate carving.
A painted or gilded bas-relief plaster decoration.
A coating with a thin layer of gold or gold-like substance.
Glaze:
A coloring technique used in the finishing process of furniture to highlight the grain characteristics of wood or to give a high sheen to leather.
A chair with curved wooden arms resembling a goose's neck.
Gothic Art:
Seldom separated from the building craft of the Cathedrals, the term is used loosely to refer to religious European art forms of the 12th through 16th centuries. Other mediums utilized extensively during this period, and within similar manner, were Painting, Tapestry, Metalwork, Glasswork and Manuscript Illumination.
Gothic Revival:
Style influenced by gothic and medieval influences popular in the mid-1800s, this style is characterized by lines flowing up to a pointed arch or other architectural features.
Gothic:
Pieces from this period (late 1100's to early 1500's) were straight, large and heavy. Many of these pieces were produced in monasteries, which explains the ornamental carvings of canonical figures. This period produced trestle tables, cupboards and stools. Oak and pine were the primary woods of choice.
An opaque water-based paint in which the pigments are bound with glue.
Grain:
The direction of the fibers in wood. Flat grain wood is sawed perpendicular to the growth rings. Edge grain wood has been sawed parallel to the growth rings.
Grand Rapids Style:
Style inspired by several furniture factories in Grand Rapid Michigan at the turn of the 20th century, and is still popular today. These factories produced pieces that were usually in oak, and finished in a light color. This style is produced in many styles, with the most popular being the oak pedestal table.
Greek Style:
Dating from the 9th century B.C. with Egyptian roots. Characterized by use of bronze animal legs, gilding, encrusted jewels and stones. Used native woods such as olive, yew and cedar. Features include sweeping curves on legs and backs, and centers on couches, chairs, stools, tables, chests and boxes. Usually not highly decorated.
A stained glass window incorporating muted tones as opposed to bright colors.
Groined Vault:
A rib-less vault formed by the meeting of a pair of equal barrel vaults at right angle to each other.
Grotesques:
A class of decorative sculpture forms often found in or on Gothic structures. A term used broadly for gargoyles, although traditionally a gargoyle serves as a drainage spout for rainwater, while a grotesque may function solely as decoration.
A small rounded topped table or stand, elaborately carved, usually with three legs.
Right-angled support beams projecting from wall tops to brace wooden roofs.
Hand Distressing:
Creating a marred surface, lending an aged look to furniture. Similar to aging or distressing a piece.
Hardwood:
Wood derived from trees such as oak, beech, maple, mahogany, and walnut. Hardwood is common for use in furniture and finish carpentry, while soft woods such as pine and spruce are common in construction.
Harvest Table:
A narrow rectangular table that has hinged drop leaves, this design takes up very little space and offers a nice amount of surface area when the leaves are up.
An upright structure rising above the mattress at the head of the bed.
Hepplewhite:
A neo-classic furniture style that followed Chippendale from the late 1700's to about 1820. It overlaps with Sheraton styles and shares similar elements of restrained design, tapered legs and classical ornamentation like urns and shields.
Highboy:
Simply a tall chest of drawers. The style was developed in the 1700's and is usually composed of a base and a top section with drawers, which is often topped with a decorative broken pediment crown. The name comes from the French "haut bois" which means "high wood".
Highlighting:
A color-removal technique in the finishing process that highlights natural grain characteristics and creates a feeling of depth.
Hinge:
Flexible joint of metal, wood, or other material allowing two or more ajoining sections to bend at a point within a specific radius.
Hinge, Ball Tip:
An exposed tip of the pin of a butt hinge that is shaped like a ball.
Hinge, Barrel:
The part of butt hinge where the two halves come together and are joined with a pin.
Hinge, Butt:
A hinge composed of two plates attached to abutting surfaces of a door and cabinet and joined by a pin.
Hinge, Clip On:
A concealed hinge that allows you to attached the two parts of the hinge together by simply snapping them together. Makes finishing the doors a breeze!
This refers to any hinge that does not show from the outside of the cabinet.
Hinge, Cup:
This refers to the door portion of a concealed hinge (such as the Blum hinges) that requires a hole to be drilled in the back of the door. The cup portion of the hinge is inserted into this hole.
Hinge, Degree of Opening:
This refers to how far or to what angle a door will open. Some hinges will allow the doors to open farther allowing for better access to the contents of the cabinet.
Hinge, 270 Degree:
This refer to a hinge that allows the door a full movement of 270 degrees which allows it to open all the way to the outside side of the cabinet wall. This can only be achieved on a frameless full overlay cabinet design.
Hinge, European:
Frameless cabinets which use a concealed hinge. Hinges that are concealed and which use a hole bored into the back of the door.
Hinge, Exposed:
Hinges that show on the outside of the cabinet. Hinges that are not concealed or hidden.
Hinge, Face Frame:
A cabinet is in essence a box. A face frame is a narrow piece of wood, usually about 2" wide that is attached to the front of this box, framing the opening where the doors go.
Hinge, Finial Tip:
An exposed tip of the pin of a butt hinge that has a fancy turned shape.
Hinge, Frameless:
A frameless cabinet is one that does not have a face frame. A frameless cabinet is made like a simple four sided box. This is sometimes called European style.
Hinge, Free Swinging:
This means the hinge can move freely along its path from open to closed. There is no sort of catch feature to keep the door shut.
Will not show at all from the outside of the cabinet.
Hinge, Full Overlay:
In frameless cabinet construction the box is typically made from ¾" thick stock. A full overlay will cover the complete front edge or just slightly less than this stock. A full overlay hinge is typically used on the outsides or ends of a cabinet.
Hinge, Half Overlay:
In frameless cabinet construction the box is typically made from 3/4 inch thick stock. A half overlay is commonly used in the middle of a run of cabinets where the doors share a common single partition wall. This hinge will allow the door to cover up half of the partition wall (or approximately 3/8"). Not to be confused with 1/2 inch overlay which will allow a door to cover up the cabinet or face frame by 1/2 inch.
Hinge, Inset:
A door that sits within the cabinet opening such that the front face of the door is flush with the front of the cabinet or face frame.
Hinge, 3/8" Inset:
This is a door that has a 3/8" x 3/8" rabbet cut all the way around the door on the back edge. This cut allows half the thickness of the door to go back into the cabinet and leaves the front half of the door overlaying the cabinet or face frame. It is also sometimes called a lipped door.
Hinge, Knife:
Shaped like scissors. One half of hinge mounts to top edge (or bottom edge) of door. Other half mounts to horizontal cabinet member directly above (and below) door.
Hinge, Lipped:
This is a door that has a rabbet cut all the way around the door on the back edge. This cut allows part of the door to go back into the cabinet and leaves the remaining part overlaying the cabinet or face frame.
Hinge, Mounting Plate:
The part of a concealed European style hinge (such as a Blum hinge) that mounts on to the cabinet or face frame.
Hinge, No-Mortise:
A style of hinge that can be mounted directed to the cabinet and the door without any mortises or special cuts being made into the wood surfaces.
Hinge, Overlay:
A door which sit in front of the cabinet and covers or overlays a portion of the cabinet or face frame.
Hinge, Pin:
A hinge that pivots on a single point. Offers a very low profile as only the pivoting knuckle is visible from the outside of the cabinet.
Hinge, Pivot:
A concealed hinge for inset doors which uses a bushing placed into the horizontal cabinet members above and below the door, with a pin coming down from the hinge into the bushing.
Hinge, Reverse Bevel:
A door edge that is angled backwards allowing the door edge to serve as the pull. This gives a much simpler, cleaner looking design of cabinets.
Hinge, Self Closing:
This type hinge will have a design feature to help pull the door shut and keep it closed when the door is brought within a few inches of being closed. Sometimes called snap-closing.
Hinge, Semi-Concealed:
This term is applied to a hinge where some of hinge shows on the outside of the cabinet, but a portion of it is hidden behind the door.
Hinge, Slip On:
A concealed type hinge where the two parts of the hinge are fastened together by slipping one half on the other and then tightening a screw.
Hinge, Snap Closing:
This type of hinge will have a design feature to help pull the door in and keep it shut when the door is brought within a few inches of being closed. Sometimes called self-closing.
Hinge, Soss:
A specialty concealed hinge used for inset doors. Requires mortises into the door and cabinet for the bodies of both hinge halves.
Hinge, Surface Mounted:
A hinge that does not need a hole or mortise drilled in the door or cabinet in order to mount it. In a concealed hinge it simple mounts with screw. In an exposed hinge it also means the entire hinge will show on the outside of the door and cabinet.
Hinge, Wrap Around:
A style of hinge where the plates of the hinge are formed around the back edge of the door and/or the face frame. A partial wrap around hinge will wrap around the door and have a plain flat leaf for the cabinet so it can be used on a frameless cabinet. A full back-to-back wrap around hinge with wrap around on both halves of the hinge so it can be used on a face frame cabinet.
Hinge, Zero Clearance:
A hinge that allows unobstructed access for pullout shelves or drawer when a door is open to 90 degrees or more. This means that the door will not protrude into the area of the cabinet opening when open. This is only possible in a full overlay door layout.
Hitchcock Chair:
A black-painted/finished chair with gold powdered stenciling of fruit and flowers on the backrest, named after its designer (Lambert Hitchcock). Heavily influenced by Sheraton designs.
Hitchcock Style:
Style created by Lambert Hitchcock of Connecticut from the early to mid 1800's. Although most famous for the design of Hitchcock chairs, Lambert also produced stools, settees, rockers, cabinets and cradles. The Hitchcock chair is still reproduced to this day.
A cabriole leg having a broken curve on the inner side of the knee.
Hepplewhite or Queen Anne chair with a top rail curving directly into its arms.
A color tone such as red, yellow, blue, etc.
Hunt Board:
Designed to be light and portable so it could be moved outdoors. Originally used for serving food and drinks after a hunt.
Husks:
Refers to the stringing of the outer coverings of various fruits or vegetables, such as corn.
Enclosed cupboard with shelves resting on a solid base such as buffet or desk.
Iconography:
Religious imagery painted upon wooden panels. The term is also used to define the study of symbolism as it relates to the subject of a work of art.
Impasto:
A painting technique where the material is applied in thick layers to wooden panels or canvas. This method creates a textured effect.
Inlay:
Decorative patterns created with pieces of different woods or other materials, which have been set into the surface of wood furniture.
A tile with a different design than the surrounding body of tiles.
Intaglio:
A technique of stylized engraving, which is carved beneath the surface layer of a hard material, often stone or metal.
Intarsia:
A technique of sinking a decorative design across an entire surface. Essentially a Mosaic inlaid within a wooden panel, table or chest. Elements may include ivory or precious stone.
International Style:
Functional modern furniture style developed in Europe during the 1920's and 1930's. The most important origin of this style was Germany's Bauhaus school. Simple lines and an absence of decoration are hallmarks of this design. Popular materials used included chrome and glass.
Italian Provincial:
Loose term applied to furniture of the Italian provinces made during the 1700's to mid 1800's. These pieces, although more rustic, copied the elaborate furniture styles of Milan, Venice, Rome and Florence. Later pieces (late Italian provincial) were heavily influenced by French design. The pieces feature simplified lines and lack ornate decorations. Very few of these pieces are reproduced today.
Italian Renaissance:
Popular through the 1400's to 1600's. This style displays classical inspiration and features lavish carving, marquetry, inlay and classical figures. Pieces were generally straight and squared or rectangular. Walnut was the primary wood of choice.
Jacobean:
Early 1600's English furniture style with a medieval appearance and dark finish. Furniture from this period can be very simple or covered with carvings.
Jamb:
The vertical side masonry of a door, window or portal entranceway, often a place for the setting of statuary.
Japanese Style:
Japanese domestic usage required little furniture. Chests and cupboards were built in with sliding doors. Usually finished with highly polished lacquer flecked with gold and decorated with fine-scaled flower, animal and landscape motives. Thin mats made of rice straw covered the floors and were used for sitting. Cloth cushions were also used, as were small tables of wood and lacquer. The folding screen was an indispensable adjunct to the other furnishings as it could be moved to change the entire aspect of the room. Japanese furniture forms have changed very little for centuries.
Japanning:
A technique of painting that requires several coats of heat-hardened lacquer, commonly used in creating Chinoiserie designs.
Keeled:
A sharp edge often found on the corner of cabriole legs, the term "keeled" is used because it resembles the keel of a boat.
Kiln Dried:
Wood that has dried by a means of controlled heat and humidity in kilns or ovens to specific ranges of moisture content.
Refers to the convex or rounded out area at the top of a cabriole leg.
A desk with a recessed central cupboard.
Knot:
In wood, the area where a branch or the limb of a tree appears on the face or edge of a piece, such as knots commonly found in knotty pine furniture.
Lacquer:
A hard, protective artificial liquid that is applied as a topcoat to furniture. Lacquer provides a plastic like protection and high gloss shine. A common finish from the 1930's forward to modern times. True antique furniture lovers avoid Lacquer finishes, and maintain support of natural shellac and tungoil varnish. Lacquer finishes tend to deteriorate over time resulting in a cracked or "crazed" appearance.
Ladder-Back:
A country style chair having a ladder effect produced by the use of a series of horizontal back rails in place of a splat.
Lady Chapel:
The Lady Chapel will be found in all the Notre Dames, as well as many of the Great Gothic Cathedrals. Usually located behind the Sanctuary, these spaces are dedicated to - sometimes set aside for the use of - the Blessed Virgin.
A cornice that completely frames a window.
Laminate:
Any thin material such as wood or plastic that is glued to the exterior of a cabinet or other surface.
A tall, narrow window that terminates in a pointed apex.
An extended tower or watch house illuminated in its uppermost windows.
A joint of two pieces lapping over one another.
Latin Cross:
A cross form which contains one arm that is longer than the other three, traditionally the base arm. This is the accepted manner of the Crucifixion cross, based upon the upright beam and crossbar commonly used by the Romans for execution. As a central Christian symbol, this motif is utilized in many forms, from literal sculpted figures of the Martyrdom to Cruciform floor plans of churches and cathedrals.
Crossed wood, iron plate bars, etc.
Library Storage:
Drawers, trays, cabinets or racks designed to store cassettes, CD's or videotapes. They often roll or slide out for easy accessibility.
Vaults containing small decorative rib work not originating from the corners; primarily found in England.
Lifestyle:
A term to describe an individual's expression of life. Lifestyle furniture pieces tend to be casual in nature and simple in design.
Lime wash:
A finish that is made of slaked lime and water, which is used for whitening outside walls.
A technique of using liming wax to stain woods a whitish color.
A decorative panel that has molded or carved to look like folded cloth.
A tall narrow seven-drawer chest normally used for storing undergarments and lingerie.
Furniture foot portraying a Lion's paw
Lip mold:
The molded edge on a drawer or door front extending with a rabbet to cover the joint between the front and case structure.
A pullout arm used to support the hinged fall of a bureau.
Louis XIII:
Popular during the early 1600's. This style is mostly straight lined and squared. Prominent features of this design include twisted columns, turned balusters and spiraled legs. Favored decorations include marquetry, inlays, incrustation and elaborate relief carvings. Predominant woods used are walnut, ebony and oak.
Louis XIV, XV and XVI:
Classic French furniture designs ranging from the mid 1600's to the late 1700's. These styles grew to be simpler and more refined. Louis xiv style is larger and more ornate. Louis xv is simpler and features curved lines and some ornamentation. Louis xvi features geometric shapes, straight lines and minimal ornamentation.
Doors that are made up of horizontal wooden slats.
A short chest or table with drawers, normally set on short legs.
A chair with a back resembling a harp.
Lyre Motif:
Representations of a harp-like instrument used on many French and English designs. The lyre is used extensively in the chair backs and table supports of Duncan Phyfe.
Maesta:
Artwork or sculpture, which portrays the Madonna and the Christ child upon a throne, usually attended by angels.
Mandorla:
The artistic interpretation of a halo or aura surrounding the head of holy figures. An almond shaped motif often used in imagery of the Virgin, Christ or particular saints. Symbolically, the Mandorla has great significance within Medieval Christianity, and is related to the Vesica Pisces. The space, which represents the shape of a Mandorla, is the overlapping segment of two intersecting circles. In Christian context, the place where Heaven and Earth join as one, perhaps even the doorway between the two. Many cathedral portals feature Christ or the Virgin enthroned within a Mandorla frame.
Mannerism:
A prevalent style of art during the later half of the sixteenth century, characterized by a self-aware perspective with dominant, often disturbing, themes or moods. With roots in earlier artistic schools, Mannerist painters often projected themselves as opposition to the idealistic artists of the High Renaissance.
Mantel:
The shelf above a fireplace. The term is also commonly used to refer to the decorative trim around a fireplace opening known as a fireplace surround.
Marbleizing (or Marbling):
False appearance of marble as a decorative painting surface. Common on columns and tabletops as an alternative to expensive stonework.
A square block foot under a straight or only slightly tapered Chippendale leg.
Heavy strait legs used in Chippendale designs and others.
Decorative patterns made of inlays, usually applied to veneered surfaces.
Married:
A term referring to an item of furniture that has been made up from two or more associated pieces, usually from the same period/style. In addition, a term for upholstered furniture that is normally manufactured in a particular fabric or leather (opposed to a custom or special order covering).
Form of cladding where long wooden boards are held together with tongue-and-groove joints.
A finish that is more flat than shiny.
MDF:
Medium density fiberboard; made from compressed particles of wood and used in the construction of furniture. Described as "cardboard" in the furniture business, this inexpensive environmentally friendly material allows for cost savings and mass production. Many moldings and fixtures are now available in MDF, providing a cheap alternative to wood for painted applications. MDF does not accept stains or fine finishes.
Mediterranean:
This style originated in counties of the north Mediterranean Sea, such as Spain, Greece and Italy. Mediterranean has been popular since the 1500's and is often referred to today as Spanish modern. Mediterranean furniture ranges from simply functional to extremely formal, characterized by short and squat with ornately turned legs and feet. The hardware used is usually heavy and often burnished. Primary woods used include pecan, chestnut, mahogany and walnut. Mediterranean can often mix with contemporary, country and provincial pieces.
Mission (or Mission Style):
A heavy, normally dark finished oak style with straight rectangular lines originally popular in the early 1900's. This style grew out of the English arts and crafts movement and was a direct reaction against the ornate Victorian furniture styles of that time.
Miter Joint (or Mitered Corner):
A diagonal joint formed at the intersection of two pieces of wood. For example, the joint found at the side and head casing of a door opening is made at a 45-degree angle.
Modern (Modern or Modernist):
A clean streamlined furniture style of 20th century with roots in the German Bauhaus School of design and Scandinavian design. Sometimes referred to as international style.
Molding:
Ornamental shaped strips that are applied to and project from a surface. Also considered Carved contours given to Piers and columns to exploit optical effects of light.
A chest with drawers in the base, the forerunner of the chest-of-drawers.
The vertical wood between window frames.
Muntons (Muntins, Muttons or Mutons):
Dividers over glass panels in windows and china cabinets.
Nailheads:
Decorative brass nails attaching fabric or leather to a frame, thereby outlining its design elements. Nailheads are often applied the arms and backs of upholstered pieces such as sofas.
Natural Finish:
A transparent finish that does not seriously alter the original grain or color of the natural wood. Natural finish applications are commonly oils, varnishes, and or similar materials.
Neo-Classic (or Neoclassicism, Neoclassical Style):
A design style that is elegant and simple, with motifs borrowed from ancient Rome and Greece. This style was widely popular during late 1700's through the 1800's and relates to the Sheraton, Hepplewhite, empire and federal periods.
Neo-Gothic:
Revivals of aspects of gothic detailing, which took place in the 1700's and 1800's. These aspects included gothic arches and tracery applied to rococo furniture. Later neo-gothic styles applied gothic ornamentation to neoclassical forms.
Nesting Tables:
Tables of varying sizes stored one under the other, normally consisting of a set of three.
A vault constructed of intersecting ribs that give the impression of a web or net.
Colors such as white, black, gray and tan that easily blend with other colors.
A recess in a wall for displaying a sculpture or other accessory.
A small, low table or cabinet with drawers that sits by a bed.
General term for small pieces of furniture such as coffee and end tables.
A circular or eye shaped window.
Ogee Arches:
An arch formed by the meeting of two double curves forming a long S shape; a definitive design of the Gothic era.
Ogee Bracket Foot:
A foot commonly used on Chippendale case pieces, which features a double-curved leg that wraps around two sides of the piece.
Ogee:
A classical molding with a double curve or cyma profile, as in an ogee bracket foot.
Decorative trip applied to the surface of a piece, also known as Overlay or Appliqu.
A low upholstered footstool or seat without arms or back.
Ottonian Art:
A German art form which preceded the Romanesque, and followed the Carolingian, in which can be seen some early beginnings of forms and innovations what would later be fundamental to Gothic structures. A primary feature of some Ottonian churches was the use of systematic pier and column support within the Nave.
The shape of a chair back that is often associated with Hepplewhite designs.
A decorative trim piece applied to a flat surface, also known as Onlay or Appliqu.
Oxbow:
The opposite of a serpentine-curve, they somewhat resemble the curve of an oxbow and are used on the fronts of case pieces.
Pad foot:
The foot flares into a pad foot that is round in shape; also called a clubfoot. (See also Dutch foot)
Painterly Form:
A style distinctly different from Linear, emphasizing shape and color over line. Made popular by artists such as Titian, Painterly works are found in several of the later Gothic cathedrals.
Panel:
Normally a thin flat piece of wood or similar material, framed by rails and stiles as in a door, or fitted into grooves of a thicker material with molded edges for a decorative wall treatment.
Furniture inlaid with geometrical designs similar to parquet floors.
Parrot back:
The space on either side of the splat on a Queen Anne chair that resembles a parrot in form.
The decorative or ornamental design of a fabric, veneers, etc.
A flat desk, usually with a leather top, that stands on two banks of drawers.
Pedestal Table:
A table that is supported by a single center base or column. Pedestals may be sided (octagon, hexagonal, etc) or round to match the tabletop. Fluting, carving, or turnings are common decorations for pedestals. Pedestal bases often display scrollwork, paw, or ball-in-claw feet.
The supporting base for a table, vase, sculpture, etc.
Pediment:
An ornamental treatment adorning the top of doors, case pieces, etc. Usually in the shape of a triangle, segmental, scroll, and or broken forms. Common to highboys, curio cabinets, grandfather clocks, etc.
Pegged Furniture:
Early joined furniture constructed by a system of slots known as a mortis, and tenons. Tenons are inserted into mortis slots to form a tight and sturdy joint, but such joins may easily separate. Prior to the invention of and common production of glue, a peg driven through the entire joint provided the necessary structure to hold a piece together. True pegged furniture requires absolutely no glue and still last through generations without fail. Most modern pegs are for decorative purposes only, unless on an authentic reproduction piece.
A drop leaf table with leaves that almost drop to the floor.
Pencil-Post Bed:
A bed with four slender posts generally rising from six to eight feet in height. The design is normally very simple with straight lines. These beds can be used alone or with a canopy.
An ornamental hanging object, usually a turning.
Penetrating Stain:
is formulated to be a fast drying, penetrating, quickly applied, interior wood stain. Excellent for use on new cabinets, woodwork, trim, doors and furniture. Penetrating Stain is the choice of painting contractors and professional finishers, as well as reproduction and restoration artists.
Pennsylvania Dutch:
Produced through the late 1600's to mid 1800's by German families settled around New York and Pennsylvania. They were commonly miscalled Dutch for "detach". The styling is simple with a sense of rustic utilitarianism and is normally squared with minimal rounding or turning. Decoration predominately includes paintings of flowers, fruit, animals, human motifs and German script. Most popular woods were walnut, maple, fruitwoods and pine.
Perpendicular Style:
A distinctive English style within Gothic Architecture, contemporary to the French Flamboyant during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, yet having little else in common. The Perpendicular is clearly influenced by traditional Classicism in manners that are often impressively noble. While there is no cathedral constructed entirely within this style, a close candidate is Gloucester, built in the mid fourteenth century. The Nave at Canterbury was also executed during this time, and its clean, elegant lines are gracefully powerful.
Pickling (or Pickled Finish):
A term for a piece of wood that has been limed. In addition, a method of painting furniture and then wiping off the paint before it has completely dried leaving some on the edges.
Picture Rail:
A molding that runs along the top of the wall a short distance from the ceiling, from which pictures are hung with hooks.
Piecrust Table:
A round occasional table on a three-legged pedestal base that features an ornamented edging resembling a crimped piecrust.
Piecrust Top:
The edges of the top curve in and out like that edges of a pie. This is a complex and time-consuming process offering an elegant beauty and appeal to a piece.
Pier:
Without piers, there would be no Great Cathedrals. The solid standing piers serve as the main support to the heavy strain of the Gothic's' vertical aspirations. The piers take on many column shapes (rounded, cross and rectangular) but will also take the form of a segment of wall. The term derives from the Norman French
Piercing:
A cutout or carved decorative detail seen in chair splats and other furniture originating from the 1700's.
Pieta:
Artwork or sculpture that portrays the Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body of Christ upon her lap.
A half-round or thin rectangular column superimposed over a vertical surface.
Pineapple:
A carving detail commonly used on 19th century furniture (and reproductions) as a symbol of hospitality.
A vertical ornament forming the spire of a turret.
Platform Base:
Three, or four, cornered flat table bases supporting a central pedestal and standing on scrolled or paw feet.
Platform Bed:
A bed whose base consists of a raised, flat horizontal surface meant to support a mattress.
Plinth Block:
Block of wood that rests against floor or base molding used to support a column or molding.
Plinth:
The base of a chest or other furniture that rests on the floor, opposed to sitting on legs.
Polychrome:
A painted finish applied mostly to sculpture work, consisting of multiple combinations of color. Popular during the late nineteenth century.
A ceilinged entranceway to a church, often bordered by columned masonry.
A series of small images or carvings at the base of an altarpiece.
Three colors; red, yellow, and blue.
Provincial:
Furniture from the hinterlands inspired by designs from the major centers of a country, which have been adapted to local tastes, materials and ways of living.
Pull:
Decorative and functional object attached to a drawer or door to allow easy grip for opening and closing.
An intended architectural illusion used to create the sense of a larger room.
A four-sectioned vault, divided by diagonal, transverse ribs.
An ornamental figure, which is divided into four foils, leaves or lobes.
Queen Anne:
The major furniture style/period of the 1700's, which is noted for being rich and innovative in design. This design is elegant and characterized by graceful curved lines such as cabriole legs and broken scroll pediments.
A joint formed by fitting together boards into which rectangular grooves have been cut.
Ragging Off:
A paint effect caused by rubbing/wiping a painted surface with a rag or piece of leather.
The places where the horizontal members of an upholstered frame meet.
The horizontal piece running across the top of a chair back.
The angle or slant of a non-vertical furniture leg.
Rayonnant Style:
The Radiant style, originating during the reign of Louis the Fourteenth in France, sometimes referred to as the Court style or 'the style of the French.' The name that carried through the ages refers to the patterning of the windows that allowed for such radiant lighting.
Decoration formed by a series of bead moldings set together in parallel lines.
A narrow long table design originally used in the dining rooms of religious orders.
Regal:
Generically, a traditional furniture style characterized by majestic forms. Many especially European furniture styles are further characterized by the name of the specific monarch or monarchical dynasty during the style's period, such as William and marry and Tudor.
Rgence Style:
Spanned from about 1715 to 1723, when France was ruled by a regent. This style of design was a transition from massive straight lines to graceful curves.
Regency:
Neoclassical style of British furniture popular during the first half of the 1800's. This style spawned adaptations and true reproductions of Greek and roman furniture and coincided with Directories and Empire styles in France.
Relic:
A sacred object venerated because of its association to a martyr or saint, in certain instances, remains of the saint.
Any sculptural ornamentation raised above its surface or background.
Relieving arch
A supportive arch constructed within a wall to absorb weight upon a passageway or portal below.
Renaissance Style:
This movement began in Italy in the 13th century and continued through the 17th century. It often features ornamentation inspired by Michelangelo and Raphael. The furniture is true to the purpose of the piece and often incorporates mythological or biblical figures. Walnut is often the wood of choice.
New furniture that is a copy of an antique style or period.
A variation of the federal style.
An elaborate wall carving or screen utilized primarily on or behind the high Altar.
Restorations:
Antiques or collectibles that have been brought back to their original condition through reconstruction, refinishing, and/or the replacement of parts. Restoring a significant piece can considerably decrease its value, which is important to consider before doing, or when buying an item that may have been restored.
Sometimes referred to as Reredos, these sculpted structures form the back of altars.
Retro:
A contemporary retrospective view, which reinterprets some of the best-loved looks from the 1930's to 1980's. The mood of these pieces is playful and ironic. The classics have extra emotional punch because you recognize such items as exaggerated Hollywood sofas, 1950's boomerang tables or wacky 70's chairs.
Return:
The piece of an l-shaped desk that is perpendicular to the main desk unit, which provides extra working or computer space.
Revival:
Reproductions of classic American styles from the 1700's, although not always accurate in detail. Revival pieces were popular from the late 1800's through the early 1900's. Also known as just "revival".
A chair with a back resembling entwined ribbon.
Rice Carved Posters:
Tall heavy bedposts that are carved with decorative details such as rice or tobacco plants. They are symbolic of the wealth of plantation owners in northern Georgia and the Carolinas where the style originated.
Ridge Turret:
Found more commonly on churches without towers, located over the crossing and named for their location on the ridge of the roof.
Rietveld Style:
In the early 20th century, Rietveld style grew from the Dutch arts and crafts movement with a strong frank Lloyd Wright influence. Machined forms and manmade materials figured in this style, which sought to preserve the integrity of arts and crafts while embracing the modern world.
An ornament style from the rococo period consisting of an abstract shell or leaf motif.
Rococo:
A style originating in France, but utilized primarily in English and Italian cathedrals of the early 1700s, as well as in renovations of the period. Distinctively lighter in expression with an emphasis on smaller, more graceful motifs.
Rococo Revival:
A very ornate Victorian style originally popular in the mid 1800's, which is best known for elaborately carved rosewood parlor furniture, balloon-backed chairs and triple-crested sofas.
A desk with a slatted panel front that rolls down to hide its writing surface.
Romanesque:
The architectural style immediately preceding the Gothic, first singular influence to spread across Europe in the Medieval age. Clearly identified by broad walls and pillars, the style derives its name from inspirations of Roman architecture. Many cathedrals and churches consist of a blending of Gothic/Romanesque elements. A fine experience of this will be found at Canterbury, within its 11th century Crypt.
Romanticism:
An artistic style that dominated or influenced much of European art through most of the nineteenth century. With an emphasis on emotional expression, the movement embraced the art of the Gothic period. Eventually responsible for the great Neo-Gothic building period of the later years of the century.
Meaning small circle. In architecture, a curved panel or window recess. (Also Roundel)
Rood Screen:
An ornamented piece that serves on the Altar as a separation between the Choir and the Nave. Quite often Rood Screens will contain or support a crucifix.
Rose Window:
Arguably one of the finest developments in the history of Western art. Evolving from the simple round windows of the Romanesque period these intricate works of glass, metal and stone literally flowered into holistic representations of the known Universe. While glass windows were used in cathedrals of other countries, the Rose Window was initially a French creation, first appearing at St. Denis.
Rose Window:
Evolving from the simple round windows of the Romanesque period these intricate works of glass, metal and stone literally flowered into holistic representations of the known Universe. While glass windows were used in cathedrals of other countries, the Rose Window was initially a French creation, first appearing at St. Denis.
Rosette:
A circular ornamentation, often carved to resemble a flower. Commonly used as a corner transition on moldings for case furniture or trim work.
Meaning small circle. In architecture, a curved panel or window recess. (Also Rondel)
Rule Joint:
A quarter-round, molded wood knuckle joint between a table top and drop leaf, leaving no open space when the leaf is down.
Rustic:
Simple style typical of country life, more recently the term has been applied to rustic southwestern furniture.
A leg that has a saber-like curve.
A French term for the gilt-bronze "shoe" at the bottom of furniture legs.
Sacred Conversation:
Artwork or sculpture that portrays the Madonna and Christ child contained in the same setting with saints & angels.
Saddle Seat:
A wooden chair seat, which has been hollowed to the sides and back to resemble the pommel of a saddle.
A sculpted stone tomb or wooden coffin, adorned with ornamentation.
Scale:
The size of an object, or comparisons between a drawing size and the actual size of a piece.
A semicircular shell with ridges radiating from a point at the bottom.
Sconce:
A light fixture fixed on a wall. Commonly sconces are tall and narrow and are often made to hold a candle.
A wooden chair seat that has been hollowed out to fit the body.
Scroll Bracket:
A decorative brace-like member at juncture of legs and aprons on tables, cases, and chairs, characteristic of the Chippendale style.
Scrolls:
Scrolls are the supportive and decorative members shaped like a scroll or curl, which are connected to posts, rails, and each other on many brass (especially traditional) headboards and footboards.
A waving curve on the front of a desk or chest.
Serpentine:
A compound curve with convex center and concave ends used for the fronts of chests, desks, cupboards, and similar pieces.
A long narrow table with drawers for items such as silver and linens.
Settee:
A long seat or bench with a back and arms that can seat two or more people, originally popular in the 1600's.
Settle:
A wooden bench with a high back and solid arms, often featuring drawers or a hinged seat that covers storage space, originally brought to America by the pilgrims.
Sexpartite Vault:
Essentially a four-part (Quadripartite) vault to which an additional transverse rib has been incorporated which divides the vault into six segments. This is yet another form which remained distinct to the Gothic period.
Shaker:
A simplistic furniture design including features such as straight, tapered legs, and woven-strap chair seats. Style originated in the mid 1770's from an American religious sect (shakers). The shaker style is renowned for exceptional design and craftsmanship combined with functionality and beauty.
Shell Motive:
Decorative carving in the form of a scallop shell, popular in Queen Anne and Chippendale styles.
A resinous varnish obtained from the lac insect and used in japanning.
Sheraton:
A formal style of design that developed from Hepplewhite, Sheraton features include delicate straight lines, tapered legs that are usually turned opposed to being square and skilled inlay and veneer work.
A chair with a back shaped like a shield.
Shoe Molding:
Molding that transitions a base or wainscoting to a floor area, commonly a simple bead millwork.
A serving piece with drawers and, or, open shelves for displaying plates, crystal, silver, etc.
Size (Sizing):
A solution used as sealing to restrict the penetration of stains and dyes creating a more even coloring to wood or other material.
Sleigh Bed:
An American adaptation of a popular French empire design. Sleigh beds have a high scrolled headboard and footboard resembling the front of a sleigh.
Slip Match:
An effect produced by slipping sheets of veneer side-by-side to form patterns, such as diamond, sunburst, herringbone and checkerboard.
A removable, upholstered seat frame for a chair or bench.
Snake Foot:
A carved foot where the slender, swelling lines suggest a snake's form, usually on tripod bases.
Wood from a conifer trees such as pine and cedar.
Southwestern:
Contemporary style which is highly influenced by Native American Indian traditions. Light-colored woods, light and bright color palettes, rich patterns and desert scenery characterize the style.
A tapered to the base leg design, usually found in Hepplewhite styles.
The semi-triangular space formed by arches and the moldings surrounding them.
Spanish Renaissance:
Style during the 1500's to 1700's, which had a strong Moorish influence. Can be easily used with other renaissance styles. Features of this style include elaborately carved wood surfaces, inlays in Moorish patterns and large ornate brass nails or studding. Bright red or green leather was typically used for upholstery. The most common wood used for these pieces were oak and cedar.
Painting effect created by flicking a brush with wet paint.
Spindle:
A slender turned and shaped column, which often swells out in the lower half and is usually used in rows such as the back of a Windsor chair.
Spiral Leg:
A leg that has carved, or turned, into the shape of a rope twist or spiral.
Splat:
A flat, vertical piece in the middle of an open chair back, which is often carved or ornamented.
A leg that slants outward from a piece of furniture.
Split Turning:
Turned woodworking made from two separate pieces temporarily jointed to allow a complete turning. The halves are then split along the joint to create exact mirror columns or onlays. Common to the Queen Anne period.
Stain:
Oil, alcohol, or water based chemical that imparts a color into wood, fabrics, or other objects. Controlled use of stain offers a wide variety of coloring to enhance the beauty of wood and display the graining pattern.
Staining:
The step in the finishing process where coloring (stain) is applied to a piece of wood furniture.
Steam Bend:
A method of bending a single piece of wood (bow back chair, bowed splat, etc.) Into a furniture part.
Stenciling:
Method of creating patterns by covering an area of a surface and applying color to the uncovered area.
Stickley:
Furniture designed and built by Gustav Stickley who pioneered the American arts and crafts movement, also known as mission style, which is known for clean straight lines and durability.
The vertical outside member in the framework of doors and cabinets.
A horizontal bracing member connecting legs of a table or chair.
Stretcher:
A horizontal brace in an h or x shape connecting the legs of a table or chair. Often decorated with carving or turning.
Stucco:
Traditionally, a soft, workable plaster sometimes used in sculpting, primarily it is worked into a decorative background.
The decorative design of an object, room, home, etc.
A curved handle popular in the 1700's.
Swing Leg:
A hinged table leg, as in a gate leg, which swings out to support a drop leaf.
A formal, mirror-image balance in design or decorating.
A ceilinged alcove used for the display of statuettes or art pieces.
A French term for a small, portable occasional table.
A stool or small seat that can also be used as a stand.
A tall chest with a larger chest of drawers that supports a slightly smaller chest.
Tambour:
A vertical implementation of a roll-top desk's flexible drawdown cover made of "tambours," which is made up of a succession of narrow strips of flat wood glued to a stiff backing such as canvas.
A leg that becomes incrementally smaller towards the bottom.
Tapestry:
A heavy fabric incorporated with intricate design or imagery, used as wall hung decoration or covering.
Tea Table:
A small portable table, which is frequently used in place of a coffee table. Traditionally the top has raised edges like a tray and side pullouts for candles.
A small piece of freestanding furniture designed for holding tea.
Tempera:
A paint material mixed with egg white, casein or glue, to create an effect of luminescence.
Color created by mixing of two secondary colors.
Tester:
The wooden framework atop a high post bed, for draping with fabric. Also called a canopy.
Tetramorph:
An allegorical figure containing the symbols of the four Evangelists: lion, eagle, bull and man. Traditionally, these are associated to Mark, John, Luke and Matthew.
The Decorated style:
The second of the three distinctive architectural styles of England's cathedrals, the first being Early English, the later, Perpendicular. A generalized date for the Decorated era is the middle thirteenth to the middle fourteenth centuries. It is within this period that the more distinctive features of English Gothic emerge, leaving behind evident transitional links with the Romanesque. Westminster Abbey is an example of construction during this era: the place where the psalms are sung. Loosely used to define the whole East end of a cathedral and as a synonym for Chancel.
The Renaissance:
Occurring after the close of the Gothic age, the Renaissance should be factored into any serious study of these cathedrals. Much of the spiritual expression silenced at the end of the Gothic building period found new voice within Renaissance art forms, although their expression was fundamentally distinct from the Gothic style, which was perceived as crude and barbaric.
Same as a spade foot.
Thumb Piece:
A flange attached to a hinged lid, which when pressed by the thumb raises the lid.
Tilt Top:
A small occasional table with a hinged top that can stand vertically when not in use.
Tracery:
Located throughout Gothic cathedrals, tracery adds much to the distinctive style of Gothic ornament. The variety of Tracery patterns within these cathedrals is nearly endless. Their interlacing lines are incorporated into vaults, walls, columns, windows and the woodwork of the screens. Ornamental stonework consisting of patterned bars; used most often within windows to support the weight of glass. When utilized in this way, such work is more specifically known as Bar Tracery, for its use of thin, decorative bars of stone. Larger window formations are known as Plate Tracery and designs upon solid surfaces without windows are called Blind Tracery.
Traditional:
Traditionally styled furniture is available in both original antique pieces and quality reproductions. This type of furniture usually follows a particular period style such as Georgian, Tudor, regency or Louis xv.
The lateral extensions that form the cross of a Cruciform cathedral or church.
A style of design that blends influences from various style categories.
The horizontal division of a window constructed of wood or stone.
Transverse Vaulting:
The use of ribs or arches set at right angles from the corners of a structure.
Trestle Table:
A long narrow table with two t-shaped uprights that are joined by a single stretcher for added support.
A vaulted gallery that forms or covers the ceiling of an isle.
Makes three points; similar to a drake foot.
Tripod Table:
A small table with a round top supported by a three-legged pillar, originally made for serving tea.
Triptych:
A three paneled art piece, either image or carving, linked by hinges, used in religious iconography.
Trumeau:
A form of two-part mirror frame in which an ornamental panel is featured above the mirrored glass.
Tudor-Elizabethan:
This phase of the English renaissance covered the 1500's on up to about 1603. Furniture shapes are straight and stiff (like gothic), and feature elaborate carving and decoration. All pieces of this style are massive and normally constructed of oak.
Turning:
The lathing process that shapes columns, table and chair legs, finals, pedestals, urns, etc. Also applied as a noun to describe the resulting piece.
Tympanum:
The vertical space between the arch and the lintel of a doorway. This location was often considered the premier site on a structure for sculpture, and so contained significant scenes such as the Last Judgment or Christ enthroned.
The outer vertical posts of a chair.
A rounded vase shape with a pedestal; usually used as a chair splat.
The lightness or darkness of a color.
A carved shaped in the form of a vase; usually used as a chair splat.
In all architecture, an arched structure of stone or masonry forming a ceiling.
Veneering:
The art of utilizing thin layers of fine woods to their best decorative and structural advantage by lamination to a core of less valuable wood.
Vesica Pisces:
The oval shape created by the intersecting of two equal circles. An ancient symbolic motif that has great significance within many cultures. In Christianity, the form represents the sacred Body of Christ.
Victorian:
A furniture style named after England's Queen Victoria, which was very popular through the latter half of the 1800's. Victorian furniture was usually constructed of mahogany, walnut and rosewood in dark finishes, which were often highlighted with elaborate carved floral designs. Common elements of this style include oval chair backs and marble tops on tables and dressers.
A china or curio cabinet with a glass-front for displaying collectibles or other fine pieces.
A spiral scroll form of ornamentation, usually a carving.
A ceiling of curved wooden beams often intersected in intricate designs.
An application of wood molding up to the middle or lower half of a wall.
Wall Units:
Large freestanding or wall hung units which can have drawers, shelves, cabinets, desks, entertainment centers or other features.
A tall upright cabinet with a door or doors. Designed for storing clothing.
A tall, narrow, relatively plain type of chest named after the duke of Wellington.
William & Mary:
This style is named after the 17th century English king and queen. This style came to America in the early 1700's. Common pieces of this style included high-backed upholstered armchairs, highboys, lowboys, etc. The elements of this design include features such as curved lines, marquetry, bun or ball feet, inlay and oriental lacquer-work.
Windsor Chair:
A style of wooden chair originating in the early 1700's, which is still very popular today that features a spindle back shaped in fans, hoops or combs. This style was named for Windsor castle but gained true popularity in America. Woods used included birch, pine, hickory, ash, maple and oak.
Wing Chair (Wing-Back Chair):
A high backed upholstered chair featuring rolled arms and wing shaped protrusions that extend over the arms at the head level.
Wiping Stain:
Wiping stain is formulated to be a slow drying, controllable, multi-purpose, heavy-bodied, interior wood stain. Excellent for use on new or old bare wood, finished wood, and in the wood graining process on steel doors or other projects. This is the choice of the homeowner and do-it-yourselfer, however period furniture reproduction artists will never apply this modern stain. Wiping stain lays on the surface of wood, hiding the beauty of the grain.
Worm Holes:
Small holes found in wood, considered a defect in many instances and a character-providing element in others such as rustic furniture pieces.
Yoke:
A crossbar in the form of two S-curves used for the top rail of chair back.
An oak chair featuring turned front legs and stretchers.
A molding or stitching with a series of frequent sharp turns from side to side.
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i don't know
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The Nazi exclamation 'Sieg heil' means?
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Sieg Heil - Wiktionary
Sieg Heil
Etymology[ edit ]
From German Sieg (“victory”) + Heil (“hail”), a common chant at political rallies in Nazi Germany , meaning roughly "Hail Victory!"
The greeting Sieg Heil , used in the Third Reich during the Nazi era and by neo-Nazis today.
1971, Sydney Morrell, Spheres of Influence", page 216
"Ti-to! Ti-to! Ti-to!" has exactly the same rhythm and resonance as "Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!" at the Nazi demonstrations, or "Du-ce! Du-ce! Du-ce!" in Fascist Italy.
1991, James Davison Hunter, Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America, page 16
All of a sudden a number of the militant homosexuals stood up, raised their hands in a Nazi-style salute and began to chant "Sieg heil! Sieg heil! Sieg heil!" Everyone in the room was paralyzed. How could they accuse us — those who suffered and died in the Holocaust — of being Nazis?
1995, Terry H. Anderson, The Movement and The Sixties, page 224
Tear gas floated into the Hilton, up the air vents, and into the suite of the vice president, who was preparing his acceptance speech. On the street, chanting: "Sieg Heil, Sieg Heil, Sieg Heil," and "The Whole World Is Watching." The world was watching, or at least an estimated 90 million Americans […].
2002, John Rodden, Repainting the Little Red Schoolhouse: A History of Eastern German Education, page 202
And so, sometimes, did their direct effects. At many skinhead concerts, bands led fans in swastika flag-waving and chants of Sieg Heil!
2004, Paul Taylor, Jews and the Olympic Games: The Clash Between Sport and Politics, page 101
Then a few voices started to chant "Sieg heil! Sieg heil!", and these were joined by more voices, and gradually the whole assembly rose to its feet.
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Hail Victory
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What word prefixes the following to make four new words?
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sieg heil meaning and pronunciation - YouTube
sieg heil meaning and pronunciation
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Published on Nov 28, 2014
The German-English translation means "hail victory". The Nazi meaning is "we will win" or "we salute the highest".
sieg heil definition by Urban Dictionary
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i don't know
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What is a fifth of a half?
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Parts of natural numbers, Section 2 -- A complete course in arithmetic
It means that the larger number is not a multiple of the smaller.
100 is not a multiple of 75. Therefore we say that 75 is parts of 100. It is three fourth parts, or simply three fourths.
If the entire figure represents 15, then 5 is the third part of 15, and
10 is two third parts of 15.
If the entire figure represents 18, then 6 is the third part of 18, and
12 is two third parts of 18.
If the entire figure represents 21, then 7 is the third part of 21, and
14 is two third parts of 21.
And so on. Two thirds of a number are twice as much as one third.
Example 1. Fifths. Here is 10 divided into fifths, that is, into five equal parts:
Each 2 is a Fifth. Let us count them.
2 is is the fifth part of 10.
4 is two fifth parts of 10.
6 is three fifth parts of 10.
8 is four fifth parts of 10.
And 10 is all five of its fifth parts.
Example 2. How much is two thirds of 12?
Answer. To name two thirds of 12, we must first name one third. But to name one third, we can simply divide by 3 .
"12 divided by 3 is 4."
Two thirds will then be two times 4: 8.
We see, then, that to take two thirds of a number, divide it by 3, then multiply times 2.
Example 3. How much is two thirds of 27?
Answer. "3 goes into 27 nine times. Nine times 2 is 18."
(One third of 27 is 9. Two thirds are 18.)
Example 4. How much is three fourths of 28?
Answer. "4 goes into 28 seven times. Seven times 3 is 21."
We can illustrate this with any number that has a fourth part, namely any multiple of 4. For example, 12, 40, 100:
One fourth of 12 is 3. Three fourths are 9.
One fourth of 40 is 10. Three fourths are 30
One fourth of 100 is 25. Three fourths are 75.
6.
Example 5. How much is four fifths of 15?
Answer. "5 goes into 15 three times.. Three times 4 is 12."
Each 3 is a fifth part of 15.
6 is two fifth parts of 15.
9 is three fifth parts of 15.
12 is four fifth parts, or simply four fifths, of 15.
Example 6. In a class of 32 students, five eighths are girls. How many boys are there?
Answer. The whole class is eight eighths. Therefore, if five eighths are girls, then the remaining three eighths are boys.
Now, one eighth of 32 -- 32 ÷ 8 -- is 4. Therefore three eighths will be three times 4: 12. There are 12 boys in the class.
Percent: Parts of 100%
We have seen that a percent is another way of naming a part. Since 100% is the whole ( Lesson 4, Question 5 ), and since 50% is half of 100%, then 50% means half. 50% of 40 -- half of 40 -- is 20.
Since 25% is a quarter of 100%, then 25% is another way of saying a quarter. A quarter of 40 -- 25% of 40 -- is 10.
Since 75% is three quarters of 100%, then 75% means three quarters. 30 is 75% of 40.
Whichever part or parts the percent is of 100%, the percent means that part or those parts.
Fifths
Let the circle represent 100%, and let us divide it into fifths, that is, into five equal parts -- into 20's. Each 20% is a fifth of the circle. Two fifths of the circle -- of 100% -- is 40% Three fifths is 60%. Four fifths is 80%.
That is what those percents mean:
20% means one fifth.
100% is the whole; it is all five fifths.
Example 7. How much is 60% of 45?
Answer. 60% means three fifths.
"5 goes into 45 nine times. Nine times 3 is 27.
60% of 45 is 27.
Example 8. A scarf that sells for $35 is on sale at 40% off. How much do you pay?
Answer. "40% off" means that two fifths of the price will be subtracted. One fifth of 35 is 7. Therefore, two fifths are 14. You will pay $14 less:
$35 − $14 = $21.
You will pay $21.
More simply, since 40% of the price will be subtracted, then you will pay 60%. 60% -- or three fifths of $35 -- is three times $7, which is $21.
For more on percent, see Lesson 17 .
Finally, we will state this theorem:
Each number is either a part of a larger number
or parts of it.
(Euclid, VII.4.)
We will illustrate that with each number less than 9. We will see that each number less than 9 is either a part of 9 or parts of 9.
Now, 9 units can be divided either into Ninths or Thirds:
(If 9 is divided into Ninths, then it is divided into 1's. If 9 is divided into Thirds, then it is divided into 3's: 3, 6, 9.)
Let us now see how each number is related to 9.
1 is the ninth part -- or one ninth -- of 9.
2 is two ninth parts of 9.
(The point again is that each 1 is a ninth part of 9.)
3 is three ninths of 9 -- and also the third part of 9.
4 is four ninths of 9. Count them!
5 is five ninths of 9.
6 is six ninths -- and also two thirds -- of 9. 3 + 3.
7 is seven ninths of 9.
8 is eight ninths of 9.
Notice again how each number says its name:
1 is one ninth of 9.
2 is two ninths of 9.
3 is three ninths of 9.
The first number says its cardinal name. 9 says its ordinal name.
Each number less than 9, then, is either a part of 9 or parts of it. We can therefore express in words how each number is related to 9. We can say that 5, for example, is "five ninths" of 9.
Example 9. What relationship has 9 to 10?
Answer. If we divide 10 into 1's, then each 1 is a tenth part of 10.
1 is one tenth of 10.
2 is two tenths of 10.
3 is three tenths of 10. And so on, until we come to 9:
9 is nine tenths of 10.
Again, the numbers 9 and 10 say their names. 9 says its cardinal name "nine." 10 says its ordinal name "tenth."
Please "turn" the page and do some Problems .
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The Tenth
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Pravachol, Lipitor, Mevacor, Altocor, and Zocor are brands of what $multi-billion cholesterol controlling drug, ultimately named after Greek meaning 'causing to stand'?
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Parts of natural numbers, Section 2 -- A complete course in arithmetic
It means that the larger number is not a multiple of the smaller.
100 is not a multiple of 75. Therefore we say that 75 is parts of 100. It is three fourth parts, or simply three fourths.
If the entire figure represents 15, then 5 is the third part of 15, and
10 is two third parts of 15.
If the entire figure represents 18, then 6 is the third part of 18, and
12 is two third parts of 18.
If the entire figure represents 21, then 7 is the third part of 21, and
14 is two third parts of 21.
And so on. Two thirds of a number are twice as much as one third.
Example 1. Fifths. Here is 10 divided into fifths, that is, into five equal parts:
Each 2 is a Fifth. Let us count them.
2 is is the fifth part of 10.
4 is two fifth parts of 10.
6 is three fifth parts of 10.
8 is four fifth parts of 10.
And 10 is all five of its fifth parts.
Example 2. How much is two thirds of 12?
Answer. To name two thirds of 12, we must first name one third. But to name one third, we can simply divide by 3 .
"12 divided by 3 is 4."
Two thirds will then be two times 4: 8.
We see, then, that to take two thirds of a number, divide it by 3, then multiply times 2.
Example 3. How much is two thirds of 27?
Answer. "3 goes into 27 nine times. Nine times 2 is 18."
(One third of 27 is 9. Two thirds are 18.)
Example 4. How much is three fourths of 28?
Answer. "4 goes into 28 seven times. Seven times 3 is 21."
We can illustrate this with any number that has a fourth part, namely any multiple of 4. For example, 12, 40, 100:
One fourth of 12 is 3. Three fourths are 9.
One fourth of 40 is 10. Three fourths are 30
One fourth of 100 is 25. Three fourths are 75.
6.
Example 5. How much is four fifths of 15?
Answer. "5 goes into 15 three times.. Three times 4 is 12."
Each 3 is a fifth part of 15.
6 is two fifth parts of 15.
9 is three fifth parts of 15.
12 is four fifth parts, or simply four fifths, of 15.
Example 6. In a class of 32 students, five eighths are girls. How many boys are there?
Answer. The whole class is eight eighths. Therefore, if five eighths are girls, then the remaining three eighths are boys.
Now, one eighth of 32 -- 32 ÷ 8 -- is 4. Therefore three eighths will be three times 4: 12. There are 12 boys in the class.
Percent: Parts of 100%
We have seen that a percent is another way of naming a part. Since 100% is the whole ( Lesson 4, Question 5 ), and since 50% is half of 100%, then 50% means half. 50% of 40 -- half of 40 -- is 20.
Since 25% is a quarter of 100%, then 25% is another way of saying a quarter. A quarter of 40 -- 25% of 40 -- is 10.
Since 75% is three quarters of 100%, then 75% means three quarters. 30 is 75% of 40.
Whichever part or parts the percent is of 100%, the percent means that part or those parts.
Fifths
Let the circle represent 100%, and let us divide it into fifths, that is, into five equal parts -- into 20's. Each 20% is a fifth of the circle. Two fifths of the circle -- of 100% -- is 40% Three fifths is 60%. Four fifths is 80%.
That is what those percents mean:
20% means one fifth.
100% is the whole; it is all five fifths.
Example 7. How much is 60% of 45?
Answer. 60% means three fifths.
"5 goes into 45 nine times. Nine times 3 is 27.
60% of 45 is 27.
Example 8. A scarf that sells for $35 is on sale at 40% off. How much do you pay?
Answer. "40% off" means that two fifths of the price will be subtracted. One fifth of 35 is 7. Therefore, two fifths are 14. You will pay $14 less:
$35 − $14 = $21.
You will pay $21.
More simply, since 40% of the price will be subtracted, then you will pay 60%. 60% -- or three fifths of $35 -- is three times $7, which is $21.
For more on percent, see Lesson 17 .
Finally, we will state this theorem:
Each number is either a part of a larger number
or parts of it.
(Euclid, VII.4.)
We will illustrate that with each number less than 9. We will see that each number less than 9 is either a part of 9 or parts of 9.
Now, 9 units can be divided either into Ninths or Thirds:
(If 9 is divided into Ninths, then it is divided into 1's. If 9 is divided into Thirds, then it is divided into 3's: 3, 6, 9.)
Let us now see how each number is related to 9.
1 is the ninth part -- or one ninth -- of 9.
2 is two ninth parts of 9.
(The point again is that each 1 is a ninth part of 9.)
3 is three ninths of 9 -- and also the third part of 9.
4 is four ninths of 9. Count them!
5 is five ninths of 9.
6 is six ninths -- and also two thirds -- of 9. 3 + 3.
7 is seven ninths of 9.
8 is eight ninths of 9.
Notice again how each number says its name:
1 is one ninth of 9.
2 is two ninths of 9.
3 is three ninths of 9.
The first number says its cardinal name. 9 says its ordinal name.
Each number less than 9, then, is either a part of 9 or parts of it. We can therefore express in words how each number is related to 9. We can say that 5, for example, is "five ninths" of 9.
Example 9. What relationship has 9 to 10?
Answer. If we divide 10 into 1's, then each 1 is a tenth part of 10.
1 is one tenth of 10.
2 is two tenths of 10.
3 is three tenths of 10. And so on, until we come to 9:
9 is nine tenths of 10.
Again, the numbers 9 and 10 say their names. 9 says its cardinal name "nine." 10 says its ordinal name "tenth."
Please "turn" the page and do some Problems .
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i don't know
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Siena/sienna, ochre and umber are shades of?
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New Riverside Ochre - Pigment
Pigment
New Riverside is your "One Source" for Ochre, Umber and high
performance spray-dried granular pigments
New Riverside Ochre Company, Inc. was founded in 1905
and remains a family owned and operated company
The Industry Leader in Natural Iron Oxide Pigments
New Riverside's success is based
on “world class” mineral reserves.
What are Ochre and Umber?
100% Natural Iron Oxide Pigments
“The most economical pigments in the industry.”
Ochre (pronounced o’-ker) is a natural, mineral, earth pigment. Chemically, it is a hydrated ferric oxide, chemical formulation: FeO(OH). Ochre is inorganic, chemically inert, non-reactive with cement, mortar or brick, and non-toxic.
New Riverside produces two grades of Ochre pigments that are called 548 Ochre and NIROX 412. 548 Ochre is slightly darker. NIROX 412 is more yellow and has a greater tint strength.
Ochre is mined and processed in Cartersville, GA at the only year-round Ochre mining and processing operation in the United States.
How is Ochre used? Ochre can be used alone as a single pigment to achieve a range of colors from light buff to dark buff simply by varying the addition rate. As a way to achieve a broader range of colors with a higher yellow or red shade, Ochre may also be blended with synthetic pigments and used as a cost effective base.
548 Ochre is a brown-yellow, refined natural iron oxide pigment (Fe₂O₃) with an average particle size of ~3 microns. It is the most economical buff color in the pigment industry. Broad application use for all cement applications.
NIROX™ 412 is a yellow-buff, refined natural iron oxide pigment with an average particle size of ~ 1.5 microns. It has an excellent cost/strength ratio which allows it to be used in a broad spectrum of cement applications.
Umber is a controlled product from a manganese enriched form of goethite, a naturally occurring inorganic iron oxide. It is a brown earth pigment that is darker than the Ochre because of its manganese and iron oxide content. It is highly valued as a permanent pigment either in the raw or burnt state. Umber is lightfast, insoluble in water, resistant to alkalis and weak acids and non-reactive with cement, solvents, oils, and most resins.
How is Umber used? Raw Umber can be used to achieve a range of brown colors simply by varying the addition rate. Burnt Umber may be used as the base for producing more reddish brown shades.
Umber RM is a controlled brown, raw umber pigment with an average particle size of ~3 microns. It’s cost effective pricing make it suitable for a broad range of applications. It is also available as Umber RM XF, which is an extra fine powder that is ideal for the coatings industry and capable of meeting a 7 on the Hegman scale.
Redwood (Burnt Umber) is a milled, calcined umber with good heat stability and suitable for all concrete applications. Also available as Redwood XF, which is an extra fine powder that is ideal for the coatings industry and capable of meeting a 7 on the Hegman scale.
Sureflo Granules are spray-dried, highly refined, free flowing pigments.
100% Natural Sureflo Granule colors include:
NIROX™ 412 GS is a yellow-buff, refined natural iron oxide pigment with an average particle size of ~ 1.5 microns. It has an excellent cost/strength ratio which allows it to be used in a broad spectrum of cement applications.
Redwood GS is a reddish brown milled, calcined umber that can be used to shift synthetics into unique, natural shades.
Advantages of Ochre and Umber:
Economical, Permanent, Color Consistent…
Cost Performance: Economy and versatility are the primary reasons why ochre and umber pigments have enjoyed over 110 years of success in the pigment industry.
Economical: Ochre and Umber are the most economical buff colorants available today. Ochre based blends repeatedly outperform synthetic iron oxide colors where earth tone shades are desired. On jobs ranging from a residential driveway to a 100,000-plus cubic yard drainage canal, ochre has been chosen because of its economy and performance quality.
Permanence: Because Ochre and Umber are iron oxides, their color is permanent. They will not fade or wash out. The cave paintings by prehistoric man, as well as the earth pigments used extensively in Renaissance art, attest vividly to the beauty and permanence of natural iron oxide pigments.
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Brown
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What human liquid is 99.5% water, and 0.5% electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds such as IgA and lysozyme? Blood; Sweat; Tears; or Saliva?
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Earth Colours - Jane Blundell - Artist
Jane Blundell - Artist
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Earth Colours
There are some wonderful ancient earth pigments that are used to create useful colours for the palette. Classic colours include Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Burnt Umber and Indian Red. There are also many ochres, Yellow Ochre being the best known, but also including Red Ochre, Brown Ochre and even Blue Ochre (Vivianite). Often one pigment is heated to create the other so the lighter neutral orange Raw Sienna becomes the richer, darker Burnt Sienna when heated. Equally, the cool brown Raw Umber becomes the rich deep brown Burnt Umber, but all these pigments are PBr7. Many of the colours can be created by mixing the 6 split primaries, but the pigments have characteristics that make them valuable for more than just their hue. I recommend Burnt Sienna (PBr7) and Goethite (PY43) or Yellow Ochre (PY43) as really useful additions even to a limited palette. For convenience you may also like to add Burnt Umber and Indian Red, especially if doing a lot of landscape painting. Another useful favourite is the cool deep cool brown Raw Umber - I recommend Da Vinci or Daniel Smith.
For a full range of the earth colours, and in fact all colours available, have a look at the remarkable website handprint.com or click on the link below.
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Sienna PBr7. Daniel Smith watercolour
Burnt Sienna is an ancient colour, made by roasting Raw Sienna, so both colours are made with the pigment PBr 7. It is the most useful earth colour in the palette, as it combines with its opposite, Ultramarine, to form a range of blues, greys and browns (see below). It will create a range of mossy greens if mixed with a Sap Green (which can be made from Phthalo Green and Quinacridone Gold) and wonderful flesh tones when diluted with water, with or without the addition of other colours.
Mixed with a yellow it creates a yellow ochre and raw sienna hue, mixed with a blue it creates a myriad of greys, browns and deep blues and mixed with a red a wonderful range of neutralised red hues. Mixed with a green it can create a range of more mossy greens and very interesting neutrals with a purple - it's a magic colour!
It varies considerably from one manufacturer to another. The Art Spectrum Natural version is slightly more red and very granular - really wonderful for achieving a very granulated appearance (see chart below). Schminke make a browner version. Some manufacturers use mixes with PR101 and other pigments altogether, and should be labelled as a 'hue'. It is always best to use the true pigment if you want to be sure of getting the characteristics you expect. This Daniel Smith and Da Vinci versions are both a lovely versions of a relatively transparent neutral orange. Winsor & Newton uses PR101 to create a brighter, more orange version, which some people prefer. I'd rather use PBr7 for Burnt Sienna and choose a Quinacridone Burnt Orange if I want a brighter mixing option.
(For a comparison of different Burnt Sienna options see my Blog entry here )
Neutrals and greys - Burnt Sienna + Ultramarine Blue
Art Spectrum Burnt Sienna (left) mixd with Daniel Smith Ultramarine (right).
One of the most useful combinations! This mixture is much more lively than a bought Paynes Grey, which usually contains black. For convenience, premix equal quantities of Burnt Sienna and Ultramarine in your palette to make a neutral grey and let it dry for a ready-made bistre that I call Jane's Grey.
Neutralised oranges - Burnt Sienna + Cadmium Yellow Light
Useful for flesh tones. Note the yellow ochre and raw sienna hues in this mix.
Raw Sienna
Raw Sienna. Daniel Smith watercolour.
PBr 7. A beautiful neutral orange-yellow. In my explorations, the Daniel Smith version is the most lovely. Many others are more like a yellow ochre. Another options is Quinacridone Gold or Quinacridone Gold Deep.
One of the special qualities of Raw Sienna is that it doesn't really make greens when mixed with a blue so can be gorgeous in a sky as the warm yellow glaze above the horizon, with the blue above and no green!
Neutralised yellows - Raw Sienna + Cadmium Yellow Light
Raw Sienna (left) mixed with cadmium Yellow Light (right)
These are quite close together but create yellow ochre hues.
Yellow Ochre
Yellow Orchre. Daniel Smith watercolour.
One of the oldest known pigments. Generally opaque. The best versions are made with
PY 43, rather than PY42 which is a synthesised version and may be called Yellow Oxide.
Raw Umber
Raw Umber. Daniel Smith watercolour.
A natural cool brown. It should be dark and cool - leaning towards green rather than orange, and the best are made with PBr 7. Some brands are very light and of no real use as far as I can see. Best examples include Daniel Smith and Da Vinci.
Burnt Umber
Burnt Umber. Daniel Smith watercolour.
A natural warm brown. Once again it should be a dark brown, leaning towards orange not green. The best examples are made with PBr 7 and include Da Vinci and Daniel Smith.
Indian Red
Indian Red. Daniel Smith watercolour.
Generally opaque.
PR 101
There are so many different paints made from PR101, and they range from red-browns to orange browns and from very opaque to very transparent. This is a classic deep Indian Red. Da Vinci makes a lovely slightly lighter version. I really like the earth pigments but this one does need to be washed on and left alone. It is actually useful for flesh tones especially lips and eyes.
Buff Titanium
Buff Titanuim. Daniel Smith watercolour.
A wonderful granulating cream pigment. Granulates in a wash. Fabulous for sandy beaches, shells and pastel florals. This is an unusual choice for watercolour, but as I paint a lot of landscapes, especially featuring Australian sandstone, this is one of my top pigments.
PW 6:1
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i don't know
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The 2010s global TV phenomenon 'Game of Thrones' is based on George Martin's novel series called 'A Song of (What?)'?
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IMDb: Most Popular People With Biographies Matching "Martins, The"
Most Popular People With Biographies Matching "Martins, The"
1-50 of 3,096 names.
Travis Fimmel
Travis Fimmel was born near Echuca, Victoria, Australia, to Jennie, a recreation officer for the disabled, and Chris, a cattle farmer. He was raised on a 5500-acre farm located between Melbourne and Sydney. Until the age of seventeen, his life was spent at school and working on the family farm, morning and night-something he continues to relish on his trips back home.
After high school, higher education called and he was accepted to Melbourne University. It was not long until his intense curiosity led him to begin his global adventures.
While bar-tending in London, giving away almost as much beer as he sold, he met his would-be manager, David Seltzer. David saw a spark in Travis and suggested he move to the United States to become an actor and nurture his talent. Easily enticed by the arts, it was not long before Travis made the move to Los Angeles, and within a week began studying with renowned acting coach Ivana Chubbuck. The teaching veteran, in addition to Travis, has mentored Jake Gyllenhaal, Eva Mendes, Halle Berry, Brad Pitt and Charlize Theron.
Years of struggling and hard work continue to pay off and Travis has chalked up starring roles in several projects including Rocky Point (with Lauren Holly), Southern Comfort (with Madeleine Stowe and Eric Roberts), Restraint (with True Blood's Stephen Moyer), Ivory (with Martin Landau and Peter Stomare), Surfer Dude (with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson), and AE's The Beast (with Patrick Swayze).
Production has taken Travis all over the world but, between roles, he travels back to his family's farm as much as possible. Travis is quick to point out that it is his love for Australian Rules (AKA "No" Rules) Football, the countryside, his two older brothers, and a hard working lifestyle that keeps his feet firmly planted on the ground.
Nicola Peltz
Nicola Peltz is emerging as a force to be reckoned with, on both the big and small screen. Her most prominent roles include the series Bates Motel , and the films The Last Airbender and Transformers: Age of Extinction .
Nicola was born in Westchester County, New York, to Claudia (Heffner), who has worked as a model, and Nelson Peltz, a billionaire businessman whose assets include the Snapple brand of drinks. Nicola is of Ashkenazi Jewish (from her father) and German, Welsh, and English (from her mother) heritage.
Nicola made her stage debut in 2007, opposite Jeff Daniels and Alison Pill , in the Laurence Olivier Award-winning production of "Blackbird", at the Manhattan Theatre Club, directed by Joe Mantello . In 2012, she starred, alongside Melanie Lynskey and Campbell Scott , in Eye of the Hurricane , a compelling family adventure about a small Everglades community struggling to put their lives back together in the wake of a devastating hurricane. In 2010, Peltz starred in M. Night Shyamalan 's The Last Airbender , opposite Dev Patel and Jackson Rathbone . The film was written, directed and produced by Shyamalan and was based on the first season of Nickelodeon's animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender . Peltz made her feature film debut in 2006 in Deck the Halls , with Danny DeVito , Matthew Broderick and Kristin Chenoweth .
In Michael Bay 's Transformers: Age of Extinction , Peltz stars alongside Mark Wahlberg and Jack Reynor . She plays Tessa Yeager, the daughter of a mechanic (Wahlberg) who makes a major discovery that catches the attention of the Autobots, Decepticons, and the U.S. government. The film is the fourth in the blockbuster series of live-action films, and is scheduled for release by Paramount on June 27th.
Later this summer, Peltz will also star in Kevin Asch 's Affluenza , which is set for limited release in July. The film is a coming- of-age story, inspired by "The Great Gatsby" and is set amongst the upper-class in the Long Island suburb of Great Neck, during the weeks leading up to the financial meltdown of 2008.
On the small screen, Peltz reprised her role as "Bradley Martin", a troubled high school student, in the second season of A&E's critically-acclaimed series, Bates Motel . The series is a modern re-imagining and prequel to the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock cult classic, Psycho , which focuses on the life of "Norman Bates" and his mother, "Norma Bates", portrayed by Freddie Highmore and Vera Farmiga .
Zoey Deutch
A vibrant, diversely talented, and charming actress, Zoey Deutch is steadily building on her body of work with dynamic roles alongside notable actors and filmmakers.
Deutch co-stars in Richard Linklater 's latest film Everybody Wants Some!! , a film about a group of college kids navigating their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood. The film, which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival, was released by Paramount in April 2016.
Starring opposite Bryan Cranston and James Franco , Deutch's next project is Why Him? , a film about an overprotective but loving dad (Cranston) who visits his daughter at Stanford and meets his biggest nightmare: her well-meaning but socially awkward Silicon Valley billionaire boyfriend, Laird (James Franco). Directed by John Hamburg ( I Love You, Man ), the film will be released by 20th Century Fox on December 25th.
Deutch is also set to appear in Danny Strong's upcoming film Rebel in the Rye opposite Kevin Spacey and Nicholas Hoult . Based on a true story, the film follows author J.D. Salinger (Hoult) as he prepares to write his classic novel, "Catcher in the Rye". Deutch will play Oona O'Neill , the daughter of legendary playwright Eugene O'Neill, who has an affair with Salinger.
Deutch appears in Vincent N Roxxy , a film that follows a small town loner and a rebellious punk rocker as they unexpectedly fall in love and are forced on the run, that had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2016. She co-stars in the film opposite Emile Hirsch , Zoë Kravitz and Emory Cohen .
Zoey was also seen in the comedy _Dirty Grandpa_ opposite Robert De Niro and Zac Efron . Directed by Dan Mazer, the film centers on a wacky road-trip that unfolds as an uptight man (Efron) is tricked into driving his horny grandfather (De Niro) to Florida for spring break. In 2014, Deutch played the lead role in the Weinstein Company's Vampire Academy . Starring as Rose Hathaway, the actress's performance as a Dhampir - half human-half vampire - garnered her a Teen Choice Award nomination for Choice Movie Actress: Comedy. In addition, she was featured alongside Viola Davis and Emma Thompson in the film adaptation by Warner Bros. of the best-selling novel _Beautiful Creatures_.
On the independent film front, Deutch has wrapped production on several projects. She stars in Before I Fall for director Ry Russo-Young, the adaptation of the 2010 YA novel by Lauren Oliver for Awesomeness Films. The film centers on Samantha Kingston (Deutch), a high school senior who finds that she may be living the last day of her life over and over until she gets it right. In addition, she recently starred opposite her sister Madelyn Deutch in The Year of Spectacular Men , which was the feature directorial debut of their mother Lea Thompson, and written by her sister. The film, which follows a young woman (Madelyn Deutch) fresh out of college as she strikes up and torches relationships with several men, shows Deutch in a contrasting role as the movie star sister with a loving boyfriend (Avan Jogia). She stars alongside Julia Garner, Nicholas Braun, and Dayo Okeniyi in the comedy Good Kids , which tells the story of four overachieving high-school students living in Cape Cod who decide to reinvent themselves following graduation. The script, written by Chris McCoy, made the 2011 Black List.
Deutch first became known for her role as Maya on The Disney Channel show The Suite Life on Deck , which earned her further roles as a rising star in Hollywood. She also starred as Juliet Martin, Sarah Michelle Gellar 's troubled stepdaughter, in the CW's Ringer .
Committed to several charitable causes, Deutch is a strong supporter of the Corazon De Vida Orphanage in Tijuana, and has performed for The Alzheimer's Association, What A Pair, and Race to Erase MS benefits. She also works with Water.org for their Give.Water.org campaign. The actress resides in Los Angeles, CA
Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Rodney Reynolds was born on October 23, 1976 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the youngest of four children. His father, James Chester Reynolds, was a food wholesaler, and his mother, Tammy, worked as a retail-store saleswoman. Between 1991-93, Ryan appeared in Fifteen , a Nickleodeon series taped in Florida with many other Canadian actors. After the series ended, he returned to Vancouver where he played in a series of forgettable television movies. He did small roles in Glenn Close 's Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story and CBS's update of In Cold Blood . However, his run of luck had led him to decide to quit acting.
One night, he ran into fellow Vancouver actor and native Chris William Martin . Martin found Ryan rather despondent and told him to pack everything: they were going to head to Los Angeles, California. The two stayed in a cheap Los Angeles motel. On the first night of their stay, Reynolds' jeep was rolled downhill and stripped. For the next four months, Ryan drove it without doors. In 1997, he landed the role of Berg in Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place . Initially, the show was reviled by critics and seemed desperate for any type of ratings success. However, it was renewed for a second season but with a provision for a makeover by former Roseanne writer Kevin Abbott . The show became a minor success and has led to additional film roles for Ryan, most notably in the last-ever MGM film, a remake of The Amityville Horror . Ryan was engaged to Canadian singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette , another Nickelodeon veteran, between 2004-2006.
He has been married to Blake Lively since September 9, 2012. They have two children. He was previous married to Scarlett Johansson .
Will Smith
Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr. (born September 25, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He has enjoyed success in television, film, and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him "the most powerful actor in Hollywood". Smith has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and has won four Grammy Awards.
In the late 1980s, Smith achieved modest fame as a rapper under the name The Fresh Prince. In 1990, his popularity increased dramatically when he starred in the popular television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show ran for six seasons (1990-96) on NBC and has been syndicated consistently on various networks since then. After the series ended, Smith moved from television to film, and ultimately starred in numerous blockbuster films. He is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million in the domestic box office, eleven consecutive films gross over $150 million internationally, and eight consecutive films in which he starred open at the number one spot in the domestic box office tally.
Smith is ranked as the most bankable star worldwide by Forbes. As of 2014, 17 of the 21 films in which he has had leading roles have accumulated worldwide gross earnings of over $100 million each, five taking in over $500 million each in global box office receipts. As of 2014, his films have grossed $6.6 billion at the global box office. He has received Best Actor Oscar nominations for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.
Smith was born in West Philadelphia, the son of Caroline (Bright), a Philadelphia school board administrator, and Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., a refrigeration engineer. He grew up in West Philadelphia's Wynnefield neighborhood, and was raised Baptist. He has three siblings, sister Pamela, who is four years older, and twins Harry and Ellen, who are three years younger. Smith attended Our Lady of Lourdes, a private Catholic elementary school in Philadelphia. His parents separated when he was 13, but did not actually divorce until around 2000.
Smith attended Overbrook High School. Though widely reported, it is untrue that Smith turned down a scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); he never applied to college because he "wanted to rap." Smith says he was admitted to a "pre-engineering [summer] program" at MIT for high school students, but he did not attend. According to Smith, "My mother, who worked for the School Board of Philadelphia, had a friend who was the admissions officer at MIT. I had pretty high SAT scores and they needed black kids, so I probably could have gotten in. But I had no intention of going to college."
Smith started as the MC of the hip-hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, with his childhood friend Jeffrey "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes as producer, as well as Ready Rock C (Clarence Holmes) as the human beat box. The trio was known for performing humorous, radio-friendly songs, most notably "Parents Just Don't Understand" and "Summertime". They gained critical acclaim and won the first Grammy awarded in the Rap category (1988).
Smith spent money freely around 1988 and 1989 and underpaid his income taxes. The Internal Revenue Service eventually assessed a $2.8 million tax debt against Smith, took many of his possessions, and garnished his income. Smith was nearly bankrupt in 1990, when the NBC television network signed him to a contract and built a sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, around him.
The show was successful and began his acting career. Smith set for himself the goal of becoming "the biggest movie star in the world", studying box office successes' common characteristics.
Smith's first major roles were in the drama Six Degrees of Separation (1993) and the action film Bad Boys (1995) in which he starred opposite Martin Lawrence.
In 1996, Smith starred as part of an ensemble cast in Roland Emmerich's Independence Day. The film was a massive blockbuster, becoming the second highest grossing film in history at the time and establishing Smith as a prime box office draw. He later struck gold again in the summer of 1997 alongside Tommy Lee Jones in the summer hit Men in Black playing Agent J. In 1998, Smith starred with Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State.
He turned down the role of Neo in The Matrix in favor of Wild Wild West (1999). Despite the disappointment of Wild Wild West, Smith has said that he harbors no regrets about his decision, asserting that Keanu Reeves's performance as Neo was superior to what Smith himself would have achieved, although in interviews subsequent to the release of Wild Wild West he stated that he "made a mistake on Wild Wild West. That could have been better."
In 2005, Smith was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for attending three premieres in a 24-hour time span.
He has planned to star in a feature film remake of the television series It Takes a Thief.
On December 10, 2007, Smith was honored at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. Smith left an imprint of his hands and feet outside the world-renowned theater in front of many fans. Later that month, Smith starred in the film I Am Legend, released December 14, 2007. Despite marginally positive reviews, its opening was the largest ever for a film released in the United States during December. Smith himself has said that he considers the film to be "aggressively unique". A reviewer said that the film's commercial success "cemented [Smith's] standing as the number one box office draw in Hollywood." On December 1, 2008, TV Guide reported that Smith was selected as one of America's top ten most fascinating people of 2008 for a Barbara Walters ABC special that aired on December 4, 2008.
In 2008 Smith was reported to be developing a film entitled The Last Pharaoh, in which he would be starring as Taharqa. It was in 2008 that Smith starred in the superhero movie Hancock.
Men in Black III opened on May 25, 2012 with Smith again reprising his role as Agent J. This was his first major starring role in four years.
On August 19, 2011, it was announced that Smith had returned to the studio with producer La Mar Edwards to work on his fifth studio album. Edwards has worked with artists such as T.I., Chris Brown, and Game. Smith's most recent studio album, Lost and Found, was released in 2005.
Smith and his son Jaden played father and son in two productions: the 2006 biographical drama The Pursuit of Happyness, and the science fiction film After Earth, which was released on May 31, 2013.
Smith starred opposite Margot Robbie in the romance drama Focus. He played Nicky Spurgeon, a veteran con artist who takes a young, attractive woman under his wing. Focus was released on February 27, 2015. Smith was set to star in the Sci-Fic thriller Brilliance, an adaptation of Marcus Sakey's novel of the same name scripted by Jurassic Park writer David Koepp. But he left the project.
Smith played Dr. Bennet Omalu of the Brain Injury Research Institute in the sports-drama Concussion, who became the first person to discover chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a football player's brain. CTE is a degenerative disease caused by severe trauma to the head that can be discovered only after death. Smith's involvement is mostly due to his last-minute exit from the Sci-Fi thriller-drama Brilliance. Concussion was directed by Peter Landesman and-bead filmed in Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. It received $14.4 million in film tax credits from Pennsylvania. Principal photography started on October 27, 2014. Actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw played his wife. Omalu served as a consultant.
As of November 2015, Smith is set to star in the independent drama Collateral Beauty, which will be directed by David Frankel. Smith will play a New York advertising executive who succumbs to an deep depression after a personal tragedy.
Nobel Peace Prize Concert December 11, 2009, in Oslo, Norway: Smith with wife Jada and children Jaden and Willow Smith married Sheree Zampino in 1992. They had one son, Trey Smith, born on November 11, 1992, and divorced in 1995. Trey appeared in his father's music video for the 1998 single "Just the Two of Us". He also acted in two episodes of the sitcom All of Us, and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and on the David Blaine: Real or Magic TV special.
Smith married actress Jada Koren Pinkett in 1997. Together they have two children: Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (born 1998), his co-star in The Pursuit of Happyness and After Earth, and Willow Camille Reign Smith (born 2000), who appeared as his daughter in I Am Legend. Smith and his brother Harry own Treyball Development Inc., a Beverly Hills-based company named after Trey. Smith and his family reside in Los Angeles, California.
Smith was consistently listed in Fortune Magazine's "Richest 40" list of the forty wealthiest Americans under the age of 40.
Alexis Bledel
Kimberly Alexis Bledel was born in Houston, Texas, to Nanette (Dozier) and Martin Bledel. Her parents are both Spanish-speakers (her mother was born in Arizona and raised in Mexico, and her father was born in Argentina), and Alexis's ancestry includes Danish, German, English, Scottish, Irish, and French.
Alexis made her television debut in Gilmore Girls , after spending years in front of the camera as a model. Bledel's parents encouraged her to try community theater in Houston when she was 8 years old, hoping it would help their daughter overcome her shyness. She went on to perform in productions of Our Town, The Wizard of Oz and Aladdin, and later was scouted in a local mall to model. She began her modeling career while still in high school, traveling all over to locations like Tokyo, Milan, New York and Los Angeles. After graduating, she enrolled at NYU as a film major. In the Spring of 2000, Bledel landed a manager through her modeling agency and headed to Los Angeles for her first pilot season, where she quickly landed the coveted role of Rory on Gilmore Girls . When she's not working, Bledel enjoys writing, reading, shooting photography, going to the movies and spending time with her family.
Mel Gibson
Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson was born January 3, 1956 in Peekskill, New York, USA, as the sixth of eleven children of Hutton Gibson , a railroad brakeman, and Anne Patricia (Reilly) Gibson (who died in December of 1990). His mother was Irish, from County Longford, while his American-born father is of mostly Irish descent. Mel and his family moved to Australia in the late 1960s, settling in New South Wales, where Mel's paternal grandmother, contralto opera singer Eva Mylott, was born. After high school, Mel studied at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, performing at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts alongside future film thespians Judy Davis and Geoffrey Rush . After college, Mel had a few stints on stage and starred in a few TV shows. Eventually, he was chosen to star in Mad Max and in a movie called Tim , co-starring Piper Laurie . The small budgeted movie Mad Max made him known worldwide, while Tim garnered him an award for Best Actor from the Australian Film Institute (equivalent to the Oscar). Later, he went on to star in Gallipoli , which earned him a second award for Best Actor from the AFI. In 1980, he married Robyn Moore and had seven children. In 1984, Mel made his American debut in The Bounty , which co-starred Anthony Hopkins . Then in 1987, Mel starred in what would become his signature series, Lethal Weapon , in which he played "Martin Riggs". In 1990, he took on the interesting starring role in Hamlet , which garnered him some critical praise. He also made the more endearing Forever Young and the somewhat disturbing The Man Without a Face . 1995 brought his most famous role as "Sir William Wallace" in Braveheart , for which he won two Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director. From there, he made such box office hits as The Patriot , Ransom , and Payback . Today, Mel remains an international superstar mogul, continuously topping the Hollywood power lists as well as the Most Beautiful and Sexiest lists.
Matthew McConaughey
American actor and producer Matthew David McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas. His mother, Mary Kathleen (McCabe), is a substitute school teacher originally from New Jersey. His father, James Donald McConaughey, was a Mississippi-born gas station owner who ran an oil pipe supply business. He is of Scottish, Irish, English, German, and Swedish descent. Matthew grew up in Longview, Texas, where he graduated from the local High School (1988). Showing little interest in his father's oil business, which his two brothers later joined, Matthew was longing for a change of scenery, and spent a year in Australia, washing dishes and shoveling chicken manure. Back to the States, he attended the University of Texas in Austin, originally wishing to be a lawyer. But, when he discovered an inspirational Og Mandino book "The Greatest Salesman in the World" before one of his final exams, he suddenly knew he had to change his major from law to film.
He began his acting career in 1991, appearing in student films and commercials in Texas and directed short films as Chicano Chariots . Once, in his hotel bar in Austin, he met the casting director and producer Don Phillips , who introduced him to director Richard Linklater for his next project. At first, Linklater thought Matthew was too handsome to play the role of a guy chasing high school girls in his coming-of-age drama Dazed and Confused , but cast him after Matthew grew out his hair and mustache. His character was initially in three scenes but the role grew to more than 300 lines as Linklater encouraged him to do some improvisations. In 1995, he starred in Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation , playing a mad bloodthirsty sadistic killer, opposite Renée Zellweger .
Shortly thereafter, moving to L.A., Matthew became a sensation with his performances in two high-profile 1996 films Lone Star , where he portrayed killing suspected sheriff and in the film adaptation of John Grisham 's novel A Time to Kill , where he played an idealistic young lawyer opposite Sandra Bullock and Kevin Spacey . The actor was soon being hailed as one of the industry's hottest young leading man inspiring comparisons to actor Paul Newman . His following performances were Robert Zemeckis ' Contact with Jodie Foster (the film was finished just before the death of the great astronomer and popularizer of space science Carl Sagan ) and Steven Spielberg 's Amistad , a fact-based 1839 story about the rebellious African slaves. In 1998, he teamed again with Richard Linklater as one of the bank-robbing brothers in The Newton Boys , set in Matthew's birthplace, Uvalde, Texas. During this time, he also wrote, directed and starred in the 20-minute short The Rebel . In 1999, he starred in the comedy Edtv , about the rise of reality television, and in 2000, he headlined Jonathan Mostow 's U-571 , portraying officer Lt. Tyler, in a WW II story of the daring mission of American submariners trying to capture the Enigma cipher machine.
In the 2000s, he became known for starring in romantic comedies, such as The Wedding Planner , opposite Jennifer Lopez , and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days , in which he co-starred with Kate Hudson . He played Denton Van Zan, an American warrior and dragons hunter in the futuristic thriller Reign of Fire , where he co-starred with Christian Bale . In 2006, he starred in the romantic comedy Failure to Launch , and later as head coach Jack Lengyel in We Are Marshall , along with Matthew Fox . In 2008, he played treasure hunter Benjamin "Finn" Finnegan in Fool's Gold , again with Kate Hudson . After playing Connor Mead in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past , co-starring with Jennifer Garner , McConaughey took a two year hiatus to open different opportunities in his career. Since 2010, he has moved away from romantic comedies.
That change came in 2011, in his first movie after that pause, when he portrayed criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller in The Lincoln Lawyer , that operates mostly from the back seat of his Lincoln car. After this performance that was considered one of his best until then, Matthew played other iconic characters as district attorney Danny Buck Davidson in Bernie , the wild private detective "Killer" Joe Cooper in Killer Joe , Mud in Mud , reporter Ward Jensen in The Paperboy , male stripper club owner Dallas in Magic Mike , starring Channing Tatum . McConaughey's career certainly reached it's prime, when he played HIV carrier Ron Woodroof in the biographical drama Dallas Buyers Club , shot in less than a month. For his portrayal of Ron, Matthew won the Best Actor in the 86th Academy Awards, as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, among other awards and nominations. The same year, he also appeared in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street . In 2014, he starred in HBO's True Detective , as detective Rustin Cohle, whose job is to investigate with his partner Martin Hart, played by Woody Harrelson , a gruesome murder that happened in his little town in Louisiana. The series was highly acclaimed by critics winning 4 of the 7 categories it was nominated at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards; he also won a Critics' Choice Award for the role. Later in 2014, Matthew starred in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi film Interstellar , playing Cooper, a former NASA pilot.
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese was born on November 17, 1942 in Queens, New York City, to Catherine Scorsese (née Cappa) and Charles Scorsese , who both worked in Manhattan's garment district, and whose families both came from Palermo, Sicily. He was raised in the neighborhood of Little Italy, which later provided the inspiration for several of his films. Scorsese earned a B.S. degree in film communications in 1964, followed by an M.A. in the same field in 1966 at New York University's School of Film. During this time, he made numerous prize-winning short films including The Big Shave , and directed his first feature film, Who's That Knocking at My Door .
He served as assistant director and an editor of the documentary Woodstock and won critical and popular acclaim for Mean Streets , which first paired him with actor and frequent collaborator Robert De Niro . In 1976, Scorsese's Taxi Driver , also starring De Niro, was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, and he followed that film with New York, New York and The Last Waltz . Scorsese directed De Niro to an Oscar-winning performance as boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull , which received eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, and is hailed as one of the masterpieces of modern cinema. Scorsese went on to direct The Color of Money , The Last Temptation of Christ , Goodfellas , Cape Fear , The Age of Innocence , Casino , and Kundun , among other films. Commissioned by the British Film Institute to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of cinema, Scorsese completed the four-hour documentary, A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies , co-directed by Michael Henry Wilson .
His long-cherished project, Gangs of New York , earned numerous critical honors, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Director; the Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator won five Academy Awards, in addition to the Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for Best Picture. Scorsese won his first Academy Award for Best Director for The Departed , which was also honored with the Director's Guild of America, Golden Globe, New York Film Critics, National Board of Review and Critic's Choice awards for Best Director, in addition to four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Scorsese's documentary of the Rolling Stones in concert, Shine a Light , followed, with the successful thriller Shutter Island two years later. Scorsese received his seventh Academy Award nomination for Best Director, as well as a Golden Globe win, for Hugo , which went on to win five Academy Awards.
Scorsese also serves as executive producer on HBO's series Boardwalk Empire for which he directed the pilot episode. Scorsese's additional awards and honors include the Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival (1995), the AFI Life Achievement Award (1997), the Honoree at the Film Society of Lincoln Center's 25th Gala Tribute (1998), the DGA Lifetime Achievement Award (2003), The Kennedy Center Honors (2007) and the HFPA Cecil B. DeMille Award (2010).
Sebastian Stan
Sebastian Stan was born on August 13, 1982, in Constanta, Romania. He moved with his mother to Vienna, Austria, when he was eight, and then to New York when he was twelve. Stan studied at Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts and spent a year at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London.
Ariel Winter
Ariel Winter is one of Hollywood's most promising young talents with notable roles both in both television and film. Ariel stars on ABC's critically acclaimed and Emmy® winning hit series, " Modern Family ." Winter plays 'Alex Dunphy,' the brainy middle child in the Dunphy family, opposite Ty Burrell , Julie Bowen , Sarah Hyland and Nolan Gould . Winter also stars on Disney Jr. as the title character for the series " Sofia the First ." The series follows Princess Sofia, an ordinary little girl who must adjust to royal life after her mother marries the king. The series spawned from the movie " Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess ."
In March 2014, Ariel gave life to the voice of "Penny Peterson" in the animated film, " Mr. Peabody & Sherman ." Other familiar voices in the film include Ty Burrell and Allison Janney .
Ariel recently wrapped production on "Truck Stop" -- a 1970s based drama centered on the friendship between a kid with cerebral palsy and a troubled runaway, directed by Tony Aloupis .
In 2009, Winter appeared in the thriller " Duress ." opposite Martin Donovan. Other credits include playing "Young Trixie" in Warner Bros.' " Speed Racer ," and the films " The Chaperone " opposite WWE star Paul Levesque (Triple H), " Opposite Day ," " Nic & Tristan Go Mega Dega ," and a lead role in the hit thriller " One Missed Call ," where she plays the killer in the film.
Previous television credits include the female lead in the television movie, " Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred " and the sequel to the hit film, " Fred: The Movie " on Nickelodeon, a recurring role on the final six episodes of the award winning drama " ER ," guest-starring roles on hit TV shows Criminal Minds ," " Crossing Jordan ," Nip/Tuck " and " Bones ." Winter also voiced "Marina the Mermaid" in the animated series, " Jake and the Never Land Pirates " for Disney Junior, "Gretchen" on Walt Disney's hit show " Phineas and Ferb " on Disney Channel, and has voiced characters in the hit animated film, " Horton Hears a Who! ," and " Bambi II ."
Winter began her film career at age seven in director Shane Black 's hit cult film, " Kiss Kiss Bang Bang ," starring Val Kilmer , Robert Downey Jr. and Michelle Monaghan . Winter is an avid singer and young activist. She is involved in several charities and organizations such as the Creative Coalition, the Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry, WWE's anti-bullying campaign Be A Star and GLSEN.
Ariel Winter currently resides in Los Angeles.
Sophie Turner
Sophie Turner (born 21 February 1996) is an English actress. Turner made her professional acting debut as Sansa Stark on the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones (2011-present), which brought her international recognition and critical praise. For her performance, she has received four nominations for Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, as well as a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Supporting Young Actress in a TV Series.
Turner has also starred in the television film The Thirteenth Tale (2013) and she made her feature film debut in Another Me (2013). She has also starred in the action comedy Barely Lethal (2015) and played Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016).
Turner was born in Northampton, the daughter of Sally, a nursery school teacher, and a father who works for a pallet distribution company. She moved to Chesterton, Warwickshire when she was two years old. She attended Warwick Prep School until she was eleven, and later attended The King's High School for Girls. Turner has been a member of the theatre company Playbox Theatre Company since she was three years old. Turner has two older brothers, and stated in an interview with The Telegraph that "My childhood was pretty fun. We had pigsties, barns and a paddock, and used to muck around in the mud." Turner had a tutor on the set of Game of Thrones until the age of 16, sending homework back to her teachers at school. She achieved five A and four B grades at GCSE, including a B grade in drama.
Since 2011, Turner has portrayed Sansa Stark, a young noblewoman, in the HBO fantasy drama series Game of Thrones. Sansa is her first television role. Turner's drama teacher encouraged her to audition for the part, and she dyed her blonde hair auburn for the role. In 2012, she was nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series - Supporting Young Actress for her performance as Sansa. To date, Turner has appeared in all six broadcast seasons. In 2013, she had her first big screen role as the lead character in the independent thriller film Another Me, based on the novel of the same name by Catherine MacPhail. She also starred as Adeline March in the 2013 television film The Thirteenth Tale.
In 2013, she was cast in the comedy film Barely Lethal, alongside American actress Hailee Steinfeld, which was released on 29 May 2015 in a limited release and through video on demand. Turner also narrated the audio-book version of the Lev Grossman short story The Girl in the Mirror, which was included in the short fiction anthology Dangerous Women, and was edited by George R.R. Martin. Turner played mutant Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse, which was released on 27 May 2016. On 9 May 2016, it was reported that she would appear in a segment of the anthology film Berlin, I Love You, itself the fourth installment of the Cities of Love franchise.
Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton is known to many for the role of "Puddy" in the hit NBC comedy "Seinfeld," the laconic, enigmatic, quirky Saab salesman and Elaine's boyfriend. Warburton starred for 7 seasons on the hit CBS comedy "Rules of Engagement" with David Spade, Oliver Hudson, and Megyn Price about two couples and their single friend, all at different stages in their relationships dealing with the complications of dating, commitment, and marriage. He is now set to star in NBC's newest sitcom series entitled "Crowded," premiering Sunday, March 20th, about an empty nest couple (Warburton & Carrie Preston) who find out their adult daughters want to move back home with them. Patrick also played "Guy" in the international blockbuster comedy Ted and recently completed shooting the highly anticipated sequel Ted 2 where he reprises his role. Warburton starred on the ABC hit comedy "Less than Perfect," as "Jeb Denton," an opinionated network anchorman; and on the hit show "NewsRadio" as "Johnny Johnson" the unscrupulous business rival who takes over the station. Warburton starred in Disney's major motion picture, live action comedy Underdog, as the archenemy "Cad," based on the 1964 cartoon television series. He is also perhaps the busiest voiceover artist in Hollywood for his many characters including the role of the paraplegic and over-zealous cop, "Joe Swanson," on the hit comedy "Family Guy."
Warburton was the lead in the independent film The Civilization of Maxwell Bright, in which he stared as a vicious and self-destructive anti-hero who desperately needs to save his soul. The film won numerous festival awards in which Warburton captured Best Actor at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, New York VisionFest, and the Boulder International Film Festival. The film's other honors include Viewer's Choice at the Beverly Hills Film Festival, the Special Jury Award at WorldFest Houston and at the Florida Film Festival, Grand Jury Prize at the Florida Film Festival, and the Vision Award for David Beaird at WorldFest Houston. This festival favorite is essentially a modern re-telling of "Beauty and the Beast" that explores what happens when a modern Neanderthal is locked in close proximity with a kind and loving woman. Written and directed by David Beaird, The Civilization of Maxwell Bright co-stars Jennifer Tilly, Marie Matiko, Simon Callow and Eric Roberts. In addition, Warburton starred in the independent feature film I'll Believe You alongside Fred Willard, Thomas Gibson, and Chris Elliott, a comedy for young adults/teens about a hunt for an alleged alien living in a small town after a mysterious phone call is received on a radio broadcast. The film was released in April of 2007 to 1,500 theaters nationwide, quite the accomplishment for a small independent film.
To complement his animated films, Warburton voiced the hit cartoon series "Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated" and the animated feature Bee Movie with Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Uma Thurman and Oprah Winfrey. He played the character "Rip Smashenburn" in the UPN animated series "Game Over," the voice of "Brock Samson" in the animated adult series "The Venture Brothers," and the voice of "Mr. Barkin" on the Disney Channel's "Disney's Kim Possible." He plays the character of Ian, "the ultimate alpha-male," in the Sony animated film Open Season opposite Ashton Kutcher and Martin Lawrence. Playing in both regular theaters and Imax 3-D, it was a box office smash on its opening week as #1 and held top spots following its debut. Warburton's voice can also be heard alongside that of Sarah Michelle Geller, Sigourney Weaver, George Carlin, Andy Dick, and Freddie Prinze Jr. in the animated feature film Happily N'ever After, from the producers of Shrek, where he plays the voice of "Prince Humperdink." As the voice of the "Savior of the Universe" in Disney's animated Saturday morning TV series "Buzz Lightyear," Warburton's voice graced the big screen in the Disney animated film The Emperor's New Groove, Kronks New Groove and "The Emperor's New School."
Warburton started his television career appearing regularly on the CBS sitcom "Dave's World," with Harry Anderson and Mesach Taylor and originally guest-starred on "Seinfeld" as the painted-faced New Jersey Devils' fan and Jerry's mechanic, only to become one of the show's funniest fixtures. He also did commercial spots for American Express (as the voice of "Superman" alongside Seinfeld), Cadillac, and M&Ms. Warburton starred in The Woman Chaser, which received critical acclaim at the prestigious New York Film Festival and The Sundance Film Festival, as well as opposite Sam Neill in The Dish, an Australian production about the first man on the moon. Barry Sonnenfeld directed Warburton in the Columbia Tri Star half-hour comedy "The Tick," which continues to have a huge cult following since its release on DVD. The show gained its popularity with audiences due to its relaxed, adult-friendly comedy. "The Tick", in addition to the DVD, has released action figures, t-shirts, and Quaker Oat Life cereal boxes with "The Tick" character adorning the cover. He also paired up with Tim Allen in Sonnenfeld's feature films Big Trouble and Joe Somebody, and also appeared in Scream 3 and Men in Black 2.
A native Californian, Patrick grew up in Huntington Beach and resides in Los Angeles with his wife Cathy and four children Talon, Alexandra (Lexie), Shane, and Gabriel. When talking about his children, Patrick's face lights up as he describes them as the ultimate joy and love of his life. With what little spare time he has, Patrick gets in a game of golf or tennis, does activities with his children, and spends time in his cabin on the Rogue River in Oregon with his family. Warburton also hosts the annual charity golf tournament "Golf for Kids," a Celebrity Tournament to benefit St. Jude Children's Hospital each year in Palm Springs, CA.
Olivia Wilde
Actress and activist Olivia Wilde is a modern-day renaissance woman. Starring in films and popular television shows, Wilde shares the screen with renowned actors while simultaneously giving back to the community.
Olivia Wilde was born Olivia Jane Cockburn in New York City, to journalists Leslie Cockburn (née Leslie Corkill Redlich) and Andrew Cockburn . Her father is from an upper-class British family and her mother is American-born; her recent ancestry includes English, Scottish, German, Irish, and Manx. Olivia was raised in Washington, D.C., and went to school there, as well as at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, from which she graduated in 2002. Her father was born in England and later became an Irish citizen, giving Olivia dual American and Irish nationality, and facilitating her brief study at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland. After appearing in the short-lived Fox television series Skin , she made her Hollywood debut in The Girl Next Door and then came to public notice in The O.C. , but it was as Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley in House M.D. that she achieved international stardom. She has since starred or co-starred in the films TRON: Legacy , Cowboys & Aliens , In Time , People Like Us and The Words .
Wilde's 2010s film credits include the star-studded Third Person, the Oscar-winning drama Her and critically-acclaimed and Golden Globe-nominated Rush. Wilde also produced and starred in the indie comedy Drinking Buddies.
In 2013, Wilde launched the philanthropic company Conscious Commerce, with the mission to create a guide for conscious living by promoting the causes, brands, people and lifestyles that are forging a new paragon of living. In line with the Conscious Commerce mission, Wilde also recently signed on to be the face of H&M's latest Conscious Exclusive Collection, which is made completely using organic and recycled materials. She is also a board member of Artists For Peace and Justice and sits on the foundation board of the ACLU of Southern California.
In 2015, Wilde produced and starred in the drama Meadowland, which premiered at the year's Tribeca Film Festival. Wilde earned rave reviews for her emotionally charged performance as a mother coping with the heartbreak following her young son's disappearance. Up next for Wilde is the holiday comedy Love The Coopers. The film, which features an ensemble cast, follows the exasperated members of an extended family who gather for their annual holiday celebration.
Returning to television next year, Wilde will star alongside Bobby Canavale in HBO's Untitled Rock 'N' Roll drama. Set in 1970s New York, the series is being produced by Martin Scorsese, Mick Jagger and Terence Winter. Wilde previously starred in FOX's acclaimed medical drama "House," playing the standout Dr. Thirteen for six seasons.
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett was born on May 14, 1969 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, to June (Gamble), an Australian teacher and property developer, and Robert DeWitt Blanchett, Jr., an American advertising executive, originally from Texas. She has an older brother and a younger sister. When she was ten years old, her 40-year-old father died of a sudden heart attack. Her mother never remarried, and her grandmother moved in to help her mother. Cate graduated from Australia's National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1992 and, in a little over a year, had won both critical and popular acclaim. On graduating from NIDA, she joined the Sydney Theatre Company's production of Caryl Churchill 's "Top Girls", then played Felice Bauer, the bride, in Tim Daly 's "Kafka Dances", winning the 1993 Newcomer Award from the Sydney Theatre Critics Circle for her performance. From there, Blanchett moved to the role of Carol in David Mamet 's searing polemic "Oleanna", also for the Sydney Theatre Company, and won the Rosemont Best Actress Award, her second award that year. She then co-starred in the ABC Television's prime time drama Heartland , again winning critical acclaim. In 1995, she was nominated for Best Female Performance for her role as Ophelia in the Belvoir Street Theatre Company's production of "Hamlet". Other theatre credits include Helen in the Sydney Theatre Company's "Sweet Phoebe", Miranda in "The Tempest" and Rose in "The Blind Giant is Dancing", both for the Belvoir Street Theatre Company. In other television roles, Blanchett starred as Bianca in ABC's Bordertown , as Janie Morris in G.P. and in ABC's popular series Police Rescue . She made her feature film debut in Paradise Road . She also married writer Andrew Upton in 1997. She had met him a year earlier on a movie set, and they didn't like each other at first. He thought she was aloof, and she thought he was arrogant, but then they connected over a poker game at a party, and she went home with him that night. Three weeks later he proposed marriage and they quickly married before she went off to England to play her breakthrough role in films: the title character in Elizabeth for which she won numerous awards for her performance, including the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama. Cate was also nominated for an Academy Award for the role but lost out to Gwyneth Paltrow . 2001 was a particularly busy year, with starring roles in Bandits , The Shipping News , Charlotte Gray and playing Elf Queen Galadriel in the "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy. She also gave birth to her first child, son Dashiell, in 2001. In 2004, she gave birth to her second son Roman. Also, in 2004, she played actress Katharine Hepburn in Martin Scorsese's film "Aviator" (2004), for which she received an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress. Two years later, she received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress for playing a teacher having an affair with an underage student in "Notes on a Scandal" (2006). In 2007, she returned to the role that made her a star in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (2007). It earned her an Oscar nomination as Best Actress. She was nominated for another Oscar that same year as Best Supporting Actress for playing Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There" (2007). In 2008, she gave birth to her third child, son Ignatius. She and her husband became artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company, choosing to spend more time in Australia raising their three sons. She also purchased a multi-million dollar home in Sydney, Australia and named it Bulwarra and made extensive renovations to it. Because of her life in Australia, her film work became sporadic, until Woody Allen cast her in the title role in Blue Jasmine , which won her the Academy Award as Best Actress. She ended her job as artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, while her husband continued there for two more years before he too resigned. In 2015, she adopted her daughter Edith in her father's homeland of America. That same year, she and her husband sold their multi-million dollar home in Australia at a profit and moved to America. Reasons varied from her wanting to work more in America to wanting to familiarize herself with her late father's American heritage. She played the title role of Carol , a 1950s American housewife in a lesbian affair with a younger woman. She won rave reviews for the role, and may again be an Oscar contender.
Jason Statham
Jason Statham was born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire, to Eileen (Yates), a dancer, and Barry Statham, a street merchant and lounge singer. Statham has done quite a lot in a short time. He has been a Diver on the British National Diving Team and finished 12th in the World Championships in 1992. He has also been a fashion model, black market salesman and finally of course, actor. He got the audition for his debut role as Bacon in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels through French Connection, for whom he was modeling. They became a major investor in the film and introduced Jason to Guy Ritchie , who invited him to audition for a part in the film by challenging him to impersonate an illegal street vendor and convince him to purchase fake jewelery. Jason must have been doing something right because after the success of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels he teamed up again with Guy Ritchie for Snatch , with co-stars including Brad Pitt , Dennis Farina and Benicio Del Toro . After Snatch came Turn It Up with US music star Ja Rule , followed by a supporting actor role in the Sci-Fi film Ghosts of Mars , Jet Li 's The One and another screen partnership with Vinnie Jones in Mean Machine under Guy Ritchie 's and Matthew Vaughn 's SKA Films. Finally in 2002 he was cast as the lead role of Frank Martin in The Transporter . Jason is also in the summer 2003 blockbuster remake of The Italian Job , The Italian Job , playing Handsome Rob.
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe was born on July 23, 1989 in Fulham, London, England, to casting agent Marcia Gresham (née Jacobson) and literary agent Alan Radcliffe . His father is from a Northern Irish Protestant background, while his mother was born in South Africa, to a Jewish family (from Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Germany). Daniel began performing in small school productions as a young boy. Soon enough, he landed a role in David Copperfield , as the young David Copperfield. A couple of years later, he landed a role as Mark Pendel in The Tailor of Panama , the son of Harry and Louisa Pendel ( Geoffrey Rush and Jamie Lee Curtis ). Curtis had indeed pointed out to Daniel's mother that he could be Harry Potter himself. Soon afterwards, Daniel was cast as Harry Potter by director, Chris Columbus in the film that hit theaters in November 16, 2001, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone . He was recognized worldwide after this film was released. Pleasing audiences and critics everywhere, filming on its sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets , commenced shortly afterwards. He appeared again as Harry in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban directed by Alfonso Cuarón , and then appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire directed by Mike Newell . Shortly afterwards, he finished filming December Boys in Adelaide, Australia, Kangaroo Island, and Geelong, Australia which began on the 14 November 2005 and ended sometime in December. On January 27, 2006, he attended the South Bank Awards Show to present the award for "Breakthrough Artist of the Year" to Billie Piper . Daniel reprised his famous character once again for the next installment of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . In February 2007, he took on his first stage role in the West End play Equus, to worldwide praise from fans and critics alike. Also that year, he starred in the television movie My Boy Jack , which aired on 11 November 2007 in the UK.
After voicing a character in an episode of the animated television series The Simpsons in late 2010, Radcliffe debuted as J. Pierrepont Finch in the 2011 Broadway revival How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, a role previously held by Broadway veterans Robert Morse and Matthew Broderick. Other cast members included John Larroquette, Rose Hemingway and Mary Faber. Both the actor and production received good reviews, with USA Today commenting: "Radcliffe ultimately succeeds not by overshadowing his fellow cast members, but by working in conscientious harmony with them - and having a blast in the process." Radcliffe's performance in the show earned him Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. The production itself later received nine Tony Award nominations. Radcliffe left the show on 1 January 2012. His first post-Harry Potter project was the 2012 horror film The Woman in Black, adapted from the 1983 novel by Susan Hill. The film was released on 3 February 2012 in the United States and Canada, and was released on 10 February in the UK. Radcliffe portrays a man sent to deal with the legal matters of a mysterious woman who has just died, and soon after he begins to experience strange events from the ghost of a woman dressed in black. He has said he was "incredibly excited" to be part of the film and described the script as "beautifully written".
In 2013, he portrayed American poet Allen Ginsberg in the thriller drama Kill Your Darlings , directed by John Krokidas. He also starred in an Irish-Canadian romantic comedy film The F Word directed by Michael Dowseand written by Elan Mastai, based on TJ Dawe and Michael Rinaldi's play Toothpaste and Cigars and then he starred in an American dark fantasy horror film directed by Alexandre Aja Horns. Both of the films premiered at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival. Radcliffe also performed at the Noël Coward Theatre in the stage play revival of Martin McDonagh's dark comedy The Cripple of Inishmaan as the lead, Billy Claven, for which he won the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Actor in a Play. In 2015, Radcliffe starred as Igor in a science fiction horror film Victor Frankenstein , directed by Paul McGuigan and written by Max Landis, which was based on contemporary adaptations of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. In 2016, he appeared as a wealthy villain in the mystery/action film Now You See Me 2 , and as an oftentimes mobile corpse in the indie fantasy Swiss Army Man .
Now being one of the world's most recognizable people, Daniel leads a somewhat normal life. He has made friends working on the Harry Potter films, which include his co-stars Rupert Grint and Emma Watson .
Martin Sensmeier
Martin Sensmeier is an American Actor and is of Tlingit, Koyukon-Athabascan, and Irish descent. He was raised in a Tlingit Coastal Community in Southeast Alaska and grew up learning and participating in the traditions of his Tribes. He is also an ambassador for The Native Wellness Institute, as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and advocates for wellness among Native people of all Nations- focusing largely on the youth.
In 2007, Martin moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. His job schedule working on an oil rig in Alaska allowed him to support his dreams, pay for acting classes and afford living in Southern California.
In 2011, he quit working in the Oilfield and began pursuing a career in the arts full time.
He recently finished filming the remake of The Magnificent Seven, directed by Antoine Fuqua. He played as one of the Magnificent Seven, in the role of Red Harvest, starring alongside Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'onofrio, and several other well known actors.
Sarah Greene
Sarah is originally from Cork and trained in Dublin where she graduated from the Gaiety School of Acting in 2006.
Sarah played Helen McCormick (Slippy Helen) opposite Daniel Radcliffe as Billy Claven in Martin McDonaghs's The Cripple of Inishmaan, directed by Michael Grandage at the Cort Theatre on Broadway,NYC. Sarah was nominated for a TONY award (Best Actress in a Featured Role) 2014 for her performance in this show, one for which she was already nominated for an Olivier Award in 2013 during it's West End run and for which she was awarded the 2014 World Theater Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut.
Other theatre includes Rough Magic's production of PEER GYNT for Dublin Theatre Festival 2011 her acclaimed performance as Alice in thisispopbaby's and the Abbey Theatre's hugely successful production ALICE INFUNDERLAND in 2012. She also appeared in ELLEMENOPE JONES both directed by Wayne Jordan at The Project Arts Centre, Dublin in 2011. Sarah appeared as Sorcha in Paul Howard's play BETWEEN FOXROCK AND A HARDPLACE at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin and Cork Opera House. She played Ismene in Rough Magic's production of PHAEDRA by Hilary Fannin, directed by Lynne Parker as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. Sarah appeared as Amber in Guna Nua's award winning and highly acclaimed production of LITTLE GEM which won the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and led to a remounting of the production in New York as well as tours across the UK and Ireland. Other previous productions have included: Danti Dan for Galloglass, The Death of Harry Leon for Ouroboros, The Year of the Hiker and The Playboy of The Western World, The Empress of India, and most recently Big Maggie, all with Druid Theatre Company and directed by Garry Hynes.
Sarah stars as Christina Noble alongside Deirdre O'Kane, Liam Cunnigham and Brendan Coyle in Stephen Bradley's feature NOBLE and has already won awards Jury and Audience awards at the Boston Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Newport Beach Festival, Nashville and Dallas Festivals.
In 2014, Sarah was cast alongside Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller in The Weinstein's 'Untitled John Wells Project' and joined the cast of Showtime's Penny Dreadful playing Hecate Poole.
Other film and television includes: RAW RTE/Ecosse Films, EDEN/Samson Films, SPEED DATING/RTE, BACHELOR'S WALK/Samson Films/RTE. She played the leading role of Cathleen in the Canadian/Irish feature LOVE AND SAVAGERY directed by John N. Smith. MY BROTHERS (Treasure Films) and THE GUARD (Element) opposite Brendan Gleeson. She most recently appeared as Judith in three episodes of VIKINGS (History Channel/MGM).
Ed Skrein
Ed Skrein grew up in North London, graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins, and is one of the most highly versatile artists of his generation. He was selected by Screen International as one of their "Stars of Tomorrow" in 2013, which showcases the next generation of talent from the UK.
Most recently, Skrein starred as the villain Ajax in Marvel's and Twentieth Century Fox's box office hit, Deadpool , directed by Tim Miller and alongside Ryan Reynolds. The film shattered box office records, nearing $500 million worldwide. Deadpool chronicles the story of Marvel comic book character Deadpool (Reynolds), a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary who adopts an alter ego after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers.
Skrein also recently starred in the Danish drama, The Model , directed by Mads Matthiesen, who won the "World Cinema - Dramatic" award for his film, Teddy Bear at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The Model follows an emerging fashion model attempting to enter the Parisian fashion scene who develops a deadly obsession for top fashion photographer Shane White (Skrein). Nordisk Film Distribution released the film in Denmark on February 11th.
This year, Skrein will appear in the comedy crime film, Kill Your Friends , directed by Owen Harris (Black Mirror) and alongside Nicholas Hoult and James Corden. Based on John Niven's 2008 novel, the film accounts the story of a 27-year-old A&R man working at the height of the Britpop music craze and going to extremes in order to find his next hit. Kill Your Friends screened at Cannes and was purchased by Well Go USA Entertainment, which will release the film on April 1st.
Last year, Skrein starred in the action crime thriller reboot, The Transporter Refueled , directed by Camille Delamarre and produced by Luc Besson and Mark Gao (Lucy, Taken Trilogy). Skrein portrayed the lead role of Frank Martin, a former special-ops mercenary who now spends his life as a transporter of classified packages for questionable people on the other side of the law.
In 2013, Skrein appeared in the critically-acclaimed and BAFTA and Critics Choice Television Award winning HBO series, Game of Thrones. Skrein portrayed the character Daario Naharis, originally a lieutenant in the "Second Sons," who takes over the company after killing his superiors and aligns with Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).
In 2012, Skrein starred in Revolver Entertainment's critically-acclaimed drama Ill Manors, written and directed by Ben Drew. The film revolves around the lives of eight characters as they struggle to survive on the streets. It takes place over the course of seven days, each story blending into the others, painting a gritty picture of a world on the brink of destruction.
Other film credits include The Sweeney, Tiger House, Piggy, Northmen: A Viking Saga, Sword of Vengeance and Goldfish. Other television credits include The Tunnel.
Ed Skrein currently resides in London.
Gabriel Macht
Gabriel Macht is an American actor. He was born in the Bronx, New York, to Suzanne, a museum curator and archivist, and actor Stephen Macht . Gabriel has three siblings, and moved with his parents to California when he was young.
Gabriel had his first success on screen when he was 8-years-old. He was nominated for a Best Young Motion Picture Actor Award for his performance in the movie Why Would I Lie? . Briefly withdrawing from the business as a child, he returned as an adult with favorable roles that further developed his talents. After high school, Macht studied theatre at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama in Pittsburgh. Macht remains active in the theater and is involved with the Mad Dog Theater Company in New York where he performed the play "To Whom It May Concern" for the company at the Belgrade International Theatre Festival in 1997. His other theater credits include "Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile" at Promenade Theater Off Broadway and Theater on the Square in San Francisco; Roger Kumble's "Turnaround" at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles; "La Ronde" directed by Joanne Woodward at Williamstown Theater Festival; "What the Butter Saw" directed by Joe Dowling at Arena Stage in Washington DC. On the big screen, Macht was seen in Edward Zwick's highly acclaimed, "Love & Other Drugs" where he starred opposite Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway who were both nominated for Golden Globes® for their performances. Macht also starred in the comic book inspired film, "The Spirit" as the titular character opposite Samuel Jackson, Scarlett Johannson, and Eva Mendes directed by Frank Miller. He was previously seen in Robert De Niro's critically acclaimed film, "The Good Shepherd" with Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie. Macht's additional screen credits include the comic drama "Middle Men" with Giovanni Ribisi and Luke Wilson, the arctic thriller "Whiteout" with Kate Beckinsale, the romantic comedy "Because I Said So" with Diane Keaton; Joel Schumacher's "Bad Company" opposite Anthony Hopkins; "The Recruit" opposite Al Pacino and Colin Farrell; "Behind Enemy Lines" with Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman and "American Outlaws" where he first starred opposite Colin Farrell. His role in "A Love Song for Bobby Long" garnered Macht critical acclaim for his performance as the tormented writer, Lawson Pines' starring opposite John Travolta and Scarlett Johansson in the 2004 film. On television, Macht had guest starring roles on "Sex and the City," and "Spin City" and was a regular on Steven Spielberg's supernatural drama for NBC "The Others," and starred as William Holden in ABC's "The Audrey Hepburn Story".
Macht is best known for his role as Harvey Specter in USA drama Suits . He resides in New York, Los Angeles, and the Sunshine Coast, Australia. He is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent on both sides of his family.
Woody Allen
Woody Allen was born Allan Stewart Konigsberg on December 1, 1935 in Brooklyn, New York, to Nettie (Cherrie), a bookkeeper, and Martin Konigsberg, a waiter and jewellery engraver. His father was of Russian Jewish descent, and his maternal grandparents were Austrian Jewish immigrants. As a young boy, he became intrigued with magic tricks and playing the clarinet, two hobbies that he continues today.
Allen broke into show business at 15 years when he started writing jokes for a local paper, receiving $200 a week. He later moved on to write jokes for talk shows but felt that his jokes were being wasted. His agents, Charles Joffe and Jack Rollins, convinced him to start doing stand-up and telling his own jokes. Reluctantly he agreed and, although he initially performed with such fear of the audience that he would cover his ears when they applauded his jokes, he eventually became very successful at stand-up. After performing on stage for a few years, he was approached to write a script for Warren Beatty to star in: What's New Pussycat and would also have a moderate role as a character in the film. During production, Woody gave himself more and better lines and left Beatty with less compelling dialogue. Beatty inevitably quit the project and was replaced by Peter Sellers , who demanded all the best lines and more screen-time.
It was from this experience that Woody realized that he could not work on a film without complete control over its production. Woody's theoretical directorial debut was in What's Up, Tiger Lily? ; a Japanese spy flick that he dubbed over with his own comedic dialogue about spies searching for the secret recipe for egg salad. His real directorial debut came the next year in the mockumentary Take the Money and Run . He has written, directed and, more often than not, starred in about a film a year ever since, while simultaneously writing more than a dozen plays and several books of comedy.
While best known for his romantic comedies Annie Hall and Manhattan , Woody has made many transitions in his films throughout the years, transitioning from his "early, funny ones" of Bananas , Love and Death and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex * But Were Afraid to Ask ; to his more storied and romantic comedies of Annie Hall , Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters ; to the Bergmanesque films of Stardust Memories and Interiors ; and then on to the more recent, but varied works of Crimes and Misdemeanors , Husbands and Wives , Mighty Aphrodite , _Celebrity_ and Deconstructing Harry ; and finally to his films of the last decade, which vary from the light comedy of Scoop , to the self-destructive darkness of Match Point and, most recently, to the cinematically beautiful tale of Vicky Cristina Barcelona . Although his stories and style have changed over the years, he is regarded as one of the best filmmakers of our time because of his views on art and his mastery of filmmaking.
Katie Holmes
Born two months premature at four pounds, Kate Noelle Holmes made her first appearance on December 18, 1978, in Toledo, Ohio. She is the daughter of Kathleen Ann (Craft), a philanthropist, and Martin Joseph Holmes, Sr., a lawyer. She is of German, Irish, and English ancestry. Her parents have said that her strong-willed personality is probably from being born premature. Being the youngest in the Holmes clan, completing the family of three other sisters and one brother, Katie was always the baby.
As a teenager, she began attending modeling school. When she was sixteen, her teacher invited her to go to a modeling competition with other girls from her class. She competed in the International Modeling and Talent Association by singing, dancing, and reciting a monologue from To Kill a Mockingbird . By the end of that time in New York, Katie won many awards. But she said she didn't want to model because it wasn't challenging enough. So when she was seventeen, Katie went to Los Angeles to audition for movies. Luckily, on her second audition, she was cast in the movie, The Ice Storm , directed by Ang Lee . Katie's character was Libbets Casey, a rich New Yorker, who is pursued by two of the main characters. It was a small part, but it marked the beginning of her professional acting career.
After the excitement of her first movie, Katie began sending in audition tapes for pilot shows. During that time, she was also starring in her all-girls Catholic high school musical, Damn Yankees, as Lola. After Kevin Williamson received her audition tape for his new show, Dawson's Creek , the producers wanted her to come to Hollywood right away and read live for them. But because they wanted her to come on the opening night for Damn Yankees, Katie had to tell them she couldn't make it. Fortunately, the show's producers wanted her so much for that role, they rescheduled her callback and the result was she got the part as Joey Potter. During her first year with Dawson's Creek , Katie was able to do two movies, Disturbing Behavior and Go , and, for the former, she won Best Breakthrough Female Performance in the 1999 MTV Movie Awards.
The following year, she starred next to Michael Douglas in Wonder Boys , playing Hannah Green, a published author and a boarder at her teacher's (Douglas) house, who has a crush on him, and tries to seduce him. Her first leading role came in 2002, with Abandon . She played a college student named Katie Burke, who is haunted by the mysterious disappearance of her boyfriend who vanished two years prior. With Dawson's Creek coming to a close after six years in May of 2003, it was a bittersweet thing for all the cast. Accustomed to being in North Carolina filming ten months out of a year, the cast members now had the opportunity to make more movies.
Katie demonstrated this in October, when she had two new movies, Pieces of April and The Singing Detective , coming out in that month alone. Pieces of April is a charming Thanksgiving movie about April (Holmes), the black sheep of her family, who wants to give her family the perfect dinner before her mother passes on. The Singing Detective is a dark musical where the main character ( Robert Downey Jr. ) is a writer in a hospital for skin conditions who writes a dark world of seduction and murder in his mind. Katie Holmes plays the kind Nurse Mills who tends to his every need. She also gets to lip sync and dance in this movie. In 2004, she starred in the romantic movie First Daughter , in which she played the President's ( Michael Keaton ) daughter, Samantha, who wants to go to college without any Secret Service tagging along. In 2005, Holmes co-starred in Batman Begins , where she played Rachel Dawes, a childhood sweetheart and love interest to Batman/Bruce Wayne.
Robbie Amell
Along with his sister, Robert Patrick Amell started acting when he was just six years old. At sixteen, he started to land theater roles at Lawrence Park Stage in plays such as Louis and Dave, Picasso at the Lapin Agile and The Importance of Being Earnest. The experience brought Robbie to realize that he wanted to pursue a career in acting.
Shortly after choosing to follow acting, he booked the part of Daniel Murtaugh in the major motion picture Cheaper by the Dozen 2, headed by names such as Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Hilary Duff, Tom Welling and - of whom he played the son - Eugene Levy and Carmen Electra.
Robie was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Jo (Burden) and Rob Amell, who work in custom jewelry. His first cousin is actor Stephen Amell . As it seems is the habit of Canadians, Robbie has played hockey since he was a child. He also takes Muay Thai and break dancing lessons.
Garrett Hedlund
Born in Roseau, Minnesota, Garrett John Hedlund is the son of Kristi Anne (Yanish) and Robert Martin Hedlund. He has two older siblings, Nathaniel and Amanda. His father is of Swedish descent and his mother is of German and Norwegian ancestry.
Garrett spent his early years growing up on a farm in a small town. When he was in the ninth grade, he moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, with his mother, and taking private acting lessons. After graduating from high school, he immediately moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue an acting career. One month later, he would landed the role of Achilles' cousin Patroclus in the major feature Troy opposite Brad Pitt. His next feature was Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton, in which Garrett played a high school football player. He then landed a starring role opposite Mark Wahlberg in Four Brothers , playing one of four brothers whose mother is murdered. He also starred opposite Jeff Bridges and Olivia Wilde in TRON: Legacy , the long-awaited sequel to the science fiction cult classic TRON .
Brendan Gleeson
Brendan Gleeson was born in Dublin, Ireland, to Pat and Frank Gleeson. From a very young age, he loved to learn, especially reading classical text in and outside the classroom. He took great attention to Irish play writers such as Samuel Beckett , which eventually led to him performing in his high school play production of "Waiting for Godot", and paying great attention to detail in his high school drama classes. Upon finishing 12th grade, he spent a couple of years with the Dublin Shakespeare Festival, and under the advice of a director there, headed across to London and auditioned for drama schools. Soon to follow, he was invited to audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford upon Avon, and spent a couple of seasons back in England on the stage. He then, at the age of thirty five, decided to audition for films in the UK and began to build a very respectable resume playing many different diverse characters.
He made his debut as a quarryman in The Field . He had several small roles in major Hollywood movies based in Ireland, such as Far and Away and Into the West . Memorably played historical Irish figure "Michael Collins" in The Treaty . Made his breakthrough in Scottish themed Braveheart , which was largely filmed in Ireland, opposite Mel Gibson . He played Gibson's right-hand man "Hamish". Since then, he has appeared in numerous major films such as Mission: Impossible II , Lake Placid , Turbulence . He has made a name for himself taking the titular role in The General , based on the life of Irish criminal "Martin Cahill", for which he won the Boston Society of Film Critics Award. He appears in director John Boorman 's film The Tailor of Panama as well as Martin Scorsese 's Gangs of New York and Steven Spielberg 's A.I. Artificial Intelligence .
Ever since, he has continued to bring his huge stage presence to the screen, always delivering the character in full development to his audience. He is married to his lovely wife, Mary, since 1982. They have four sons.
Ron Howard
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ron Howard is one of this generation's most popular directors. From the critically acclaimed dramas A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 to the hit comedies Parenthood and Splash, he has created some of Hollywood's most memorable films.
Howard directed and produced "Cinderella Man" starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe, with whom he previously collaborated on "A Beautiful Mind", for which Howard earned an Oscar for Best Director and which also won awards for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. The film garnered four Golden Globes as well, including the award for Best Motion Picture Drama. Additionally, Howard won Best Director of the Year from the Directors Guild of America. Howard and producer Brian Grazer received the first annual Awareness Award from the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign for their work on the film.
Howard's skill as a director has long been recognized. In 1995, he received his first Best Director of the Year award from the DGA for "Apollo 13". The true-life drama also garnered nine Academy Award nominations, winning Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Sound. It also received Best Ensemble Cast and Best Supporting Actor awards from the Screen Actor's Guild. Many of Howard's past films have received nods from the Academy, including the popular hits "Backdraft", "Parenthood" and "Cocoon", the last of which took home two Oscars. Howard was honored by the Museum of Moving Images in December 2005, and by the American Cinema Editors in February 2006. Howard and his creative partner Brian Grazer, were honored by the Producers Guild of America with the Milestone Award in January 2009, NYU's Tisch School of Cinematic Arts with the Big Apple Award in November 2009 and by the Simon Wiesenthal Center with their Humanitarian Award in May 2010. In June 2010, Howard was honored by the Chicago Film Festival with their Gold Hugo - Career Achievement Award. In March 2013, Howard was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. In December 2015, Howard was honored with a star in the Motion Pictures category, making him one of the very few to have been recognized with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Recently, Howard directed "Inferno", the third installment of Dan Brown's Robert Langdon franchise and "8 Days A Week-The Touring Years", a documentary about the rock legends The Beatles. He is also producing second season of "Breakthrough", "Mars", and is directing the first episode of The Genius Series based on the life of Einstein, all for NatGeo.
Howard's recent films include the critically acclaimed drama "Rush", staring Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brüel, written by Peter Morgan; and "Made In America", a music documentary he directed staring Jay Z for Showtime.
Howard also produced and directed the film adaptation of Peter Morgan's critically acclaimed play "Frost / Nixon". The film, which was released in December 2009, was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, and was also nominated for The Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures by the PGA.
Howard's portfolio includes some of the most popular films of the past 20 years. In 1991, Howard created the acclaimed drama "Backdraft", starring Robert De Niro, Kurt Russell and William Baldwin. He followed it with the historical epic "Far and Away", starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Howard directed Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Gary Sinise and Delroy Lindo in the 1996 suspense thriller "Ransom". Howard worked with Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Gary Sinise and Kathleen Quinlan on "Apollo 13", which was re-released recently in the IMAX format.
Howard's other films include "In The Heart of the Sea", based on the true story that inspired Moby Dick; his adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling novels "Angels & Demons", and "The Da Vinci Code" staring Oscar winner Tom Hanks; the blockbuster holiday favorite "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" starring Jim Carrey; "Parenthood" starring Steve Martin; the fantasy epic "Willow"; "Night Shift" starring Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton and Shelley Long; and the suspenseful western, "The Missing", staring Oscar winners Cate Blachett and Tommy Lee Jones.
Howard has also served as an executive producer on a number of award-winning films and television shows, such as the HBO miniseries "From the Earth to the Moon", Fox's Emmy Award winner for Best Comedy, "Arrested Development", a series which he also narrated, Netflix's release of new episodes of "Arrested Development", and NBC's "Parenthood".
Howard made his directorial debut in 1978 with the comedy "Grand Theft Auto". He began his career in film as an actor. He first appeared in "The Journey" and "The Music Man", then as Opie on the long-running television series "The Andy Griffith Show". Howard later starred in the popular series "Happy Days" and drew favorable reviews for his performances in "American Graffiti" and "The Shootist".
Howard and long-time producing partner Brian Grazer first collaborated on the hit comedies "Night Shift" and "Splash". The pair co-founded Imagine Entertainment in 1986 to create independently produced feature films.
Tatiana Maslany
Tatiana Gabrielle Maslany was born September 22, 1985 in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Renate, a translator, and Dan, a woodworker. She graduated from Dr. Martin LeBoldus High school in 2003. She was a well respected student, and participated as often as possible in school productions. She is well known for her participation in the Canadian Improv Games. Maslany starred in the 2006 television movie, Booky Makes Her Mark along with Megan Follows and Stuart Hughes .
She had supporting roles in the films Eastern Promises and The Vow , and came to fame starring in the series Orphan Black , playing a large number of clones. Maslany also had a large role in the 2015 film Woman in Gold , playing a young version of Maria Altmann , Helen Mirren 's character.
Lakeith Stanfield
Lakeith Lee Stanfield is an actor and rapper from Victorville, CA. At the age of 15, Lakeith attended the John Casablancas Modeling & Career Center in Orange County. A few years later, he auditioned for Destin Cretton's then college thesis film Short Term 12 . Later, the newer version of Short Term 12 would mark Lakeith's debut as a professional actor. Subsequently, he landed a role in the Martin Luther King biopic, Selma .
Bill Nighy
Bill Nighy is an award-winning British character actor. He was born William Francis Nighy on December 12, 1949 in Caterham, Surrey, England, to Catherine Josephine (Whittaker), a psychiatric nurse from Glasgow, and Alfred Martin Nighy, who was English-born and managed a garage in Croydon.
At school, he gained 'O'-levels in English Language and English Literature and enjoyed reading, particularly Ernest Hemingway . On leaving school he wanted to become a journalist but didn't have the required qualifications. He eventually went on to work as a messenger boy for the Field magazine. He stayed in Paris for a while because he wanted to write "the great novel", but he only managed to write the title. When he ran out of money, the British consul shipped him home.
Nighy wound up training at Guildford School of Dance and Drama in London, and has since then worked consistently in film, television, and on stage.
Nighy is perhaps best-known to international audiences for his memorable performance as washed-up pop singer Billy Mack in Love Actually , which won him a BAFTA for best supporting actor. He has also made appearances in major franchises: he played vampire leader Viktor in Underworld , Underworld: Evolution and Underworld: Rise of the Lycans , did the performance capture and voice for Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End , and made a brief appearance as Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 .
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Christine Hannah was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She is the daughter of Susan Jeanne (Metzger), a schoolteacher and later a producer, and Donald Christian Hannah, who owned a tugboat/barge company. Her stepfather was music journalist/promoter Jerrold Wexler . Her siblings are Page Hannah , Don Hannah and Tanya Wexler . She has Norwegian, Scottish, Irish, English, and German ancestry.
Daryl graduated from the University of Southern California School of Theatre. She practiced ballet with Maria Tallchief and studied drama at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. In her twenties, she played keyboard and sang backup for Jackson Browne . Hannah, a tall (5' 10") blond beauty, with haunting blue-green eyes, was a natural for show biz.
She started with small roles, such as a student in The Fury and as Kim Basinger 's kid sister in Hard Country . Daryl's breakout role was as the acrobatic, beautiful replicant punk android Pris in Blade Runner ; Pris was the vixen who wanted to live beyond her allotted years and risked the wrath of the title character. Showing her versatility, from there she portrayed a mermaid, Madison, who falls in love with Tom Hanks's character in Ron Howard's zany comedy Splash , and a Cro-Magnon in The Clan of the Cave Bear . Hannah played Roxanne in the eponymous Steve Martins contemporary take on the Cyrano de Bergerac story, and co-starred as Elle Driver in Quintin Tarantino's box office hit Kill Bill: Vol. 2 .
Hannah has been a consistent, strong supporter of independent cinema, both acting in and producing many films, starring in such indie films as John Sayles 's Casa de los babys as well as his political satire Silver City . She worked on several films with the revered Robert Altman , including The Gingerbread Man , as well as several films with the Polish Brothers including Northfork and Jackpot . Daryl starred in the experimental improvised Michael Radford film Dancing at the Blue Iguana and made As a filmmaker, Hannah wrote, directed, and produced an award winning short film, entitled The Last Supper . Hannah also directed, produced and shot the documentary Strip Notes which was inspired while researching her role for Dancing at the Blue Iguana that was shown on HBO and UK's Channel 4. Daryl is in the process of shooting a documentary on Human Trafficking and has traveled undercover to South East Asia to document this atrocity and has become and advocates raising awareness and ending slavery. She has made over 40 video blogs for various websites including her popular dhlovelife.com. She designed dhlovelife.com (online since 2005) her website dedicated to sharing solutions on how to live more harmoniously with the planet and all other living things. Daryl has been passionate, committed and effective advocate for a more ethical relationship with each other and all life on the Planet. She has produced, hosted and shot numerous environmental awareness/ health documentaries, TV appearances and is a frequent speaker on both the conservative and progressive news.
Hannah has been a greening consultant for events such as the Virgin Music Festival, attended by over 150,000 people. Her many speaking engagements include keynote speeches at the UN Climate Change Summit, UN Global Business Conference on the environment,, Natural and Organic Products Expo, LOHAS and numerous national and international universities, conferences and events. She has written articles on self sufficiency and sustainability for many magazines and has done a plethora of interviews on the topic in thousands of publications. The site features weekly five-minute inspirational video blogs which Daryl produces and films. There are daily news updates, alerts, community and access to goods and services. She is a member of the World Future Council, sits on the boards of the Sylvia Earle Alliance, Mission Blue, Eco America, Environmental Media Association (EMA), The Somaly Mam Foundation, and the Action Sports Environmental Coalition, She is the founder of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance (SBA).
Charles Dance
Charles Dance is an English actor, screenwriter, and film director. Dance typically plays assertive bureaucrats or villains. Some of his most high-profile roles are Tywin Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones , Guy Perron in The Jewel in the Crown , Sardo Numspa in The Golden Child , Dr. Jonathan Clemens in Alien³ , Benedict in Last Action Hero , the Master Vampire in Dracula Untold , Lord Havelock Vetinari in Terry Pratchett's Going Postal and Alastair Denniston in The Imitation Game .
He played the role of Tywin Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones , based on the Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin.
In 1989, he played Bond creator Ian Fleming in Anglia Television's drama biography.
Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estévez on September 3, 1965, in New York City. His father, actor Martin Sheen (born Ramon Antonio Gerard Estevez), was at the time just breaking into the business, with performances on Broadway. His mother, Janet Sheen (née Templeton), was a former New York art student who had met Charlie's father right after he had moved to Manhattan. Martin and Janet had three other children, Emilio Estevez , Renée Estevez , and Ramon Estevez , all of whom became actors. His father is of half Spanish and half Irish descent, and his mother, whose family is from Kentucky, has English and Scottish ancestry.
At a young age, Charlie took an interest in his father's acting career. When he was nine, he was given a small part in his dad's movie The Execution of Private Slovik . In 1977, he was in the Philippines where his dad suffered a near-fatal heart attack on the set of Apocalypse Now .
While at Santa Monica High School, Charlie had two major interests: acting and baseball. Along with his friends, which included Rob Lowe and Sean Penn , he produced and starred in several amateur Super-8 films. On the Vikings baseball team, he was a star shortstop and pitcher. His lifetime record as a pitcher was 40-15. His interest and skill in baseball would later influence some of his movie roles. Unfortunately, his success on the baseball field did not translate to success in the classroom, as he struggled to keep his grades up. Just a few weeks before his scheduled graduation date, Charlie was expelled due to poor attendance and bad grades.
After high school, Charlie aggressively pursued many acting roles. His first major role was as a high school student in the teen war film Red Dawn . He followed this up with relatively small roles in TV movies and low-profile releases. His big break came in 1986 when he starred in Oliver Stone 's Oscar winning epic Platoon . He drew rave reviews for his portrayal of a young soldier who is caught in the center of a moral crisis in Vietnam.
The success of Platoon prompted Oliver Stone to cast Charlie in his next movie Wall Street alongside his father and veteran actor Martin Sheen . The movie with its "Greed is Good" theme became an instant hit with viewers.
Shortly after, Stone approached Charlie about the starring role in his next movie, Born on the Fourth of July . When Tom Cruise eventually got the part, Sheen ended up hearing the news from his brother Emilio Estevez and not even getting as much as a call from Stone. This led to a fallout, and the two have not worked together since.
The fallout with Stone, however, did nothing to hurt Charlie's career in the late 1980s and early '90s, as he continued to establish himself as one of the top box office draws with a string of hits that included Young Guns , Major League , and Hot Shots! . However, as the mid-'90s neared, his good fortune both personally and professionally, soon came to an end.
Around this time, Charlie, who had already been to drug rehab, was beginning to develop a reputation as a hard-partying, womanizer. In 1995, the same year he was briefly married to model Donna Peele, he was called to testify at the trial of Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss . At the trial, while under oath he admitted to spending nearly $50,000 on 27 of Fleiss' $2,500-a-night prostitutes.
His downward spiral continued the following year when his ex-girlfriend Brittany Ashland filed charges claiming that he physically abused her. He was later charged with misdemeanor battery to which he pleaded no contest and was given a year's suspended sentence, two years' probation and a $2,800 fine. He finally hit rock bottom in May 1998 when he was hospitalized in Thousand Oaks, California, following a near-fatal drug overdose. Later that month, he was ordered back to the drug rehab center, which he had previously left after one day.
During this stretch, Charlie's film career began to suffer as well. He starred in a series of box office flops that included The Arrival and Shadow Conspiracy . However as the 1990s came to end, so did Charlie's string of bad luck.
In 2000, Charlie, now clean and sober, was chosen to replace Michael J. Fox on the ABC hit sitcom Spin City . Though his stint lasted only two seasons, Charlie's performance caught the eye of CBS executives who in 2003 were looking for an established star to help carry their Monday night lineup of sitcoms that included Everybody Loves Raymond . The sitcom Two and a Half Men starred Charlie as a swinging, irresponsible womanizer whose life changes when his nephew suddenly appears on his doorstep. The show became a huge hit, breathing much needed life into Charlie's fading career.
Charlie's personal life also appeared to be improving. In 2002, he married actress Denise Richards , whom he first met while shooting the movie Good Advice . In March 2004, they had a daughter, Sam, and it was announced shortly after that Denise was pregnant with the couple's second child. By all reports, the couple seemed to be very happy together. However, like all of Charlie's previous relationships, the stability did not last long. In March of 2005, Denise, who was six-months pregnant, filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. She gave birth to a second daughter, Lola, in June of that same year. Their divorce became final in late 2006.
Iain Glen
Iain Glen is a Scottish actor, he was born on June 24, 1961 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy, an independent school for boys (now co-educational), followed by the University of Aberdeen. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he was the winner of the Bancroft Gold Medal. He has appeared onstage as "Macbeth" (Tron Theatre), "Henry V" (Royal Shakespeare Company), starred in "Martin Guerre" and in "The Blue Room" with Nicole Kidman . He also received much acclaim for his role in "Silent Scream". He and his wife, Susannah Harker ( House of Cards , Pride and Prejudice , Ultraviolet ) have a son, Finlay.
Yul Brynner
Exotic leading man of American films, famed as much for his completely bald head as for his performances, Yul Brynner masked much of his life in mystery and outright lies designed to tease people he considered gullible. It was not until the publication of the books "Yul: The Man Who Would Be King" and "Empire and Odyssey" by his son, Yul "Rock" Brynner, that many of the details of Brynner's early life became clear.
Yul sometimes claimed to be a half-Swiss, half-Japanese named Taidje Khan, born on the island of Sakhalin; in reality, he was the son of Marousia Dimitrievna (Blagovidova), the Russian daughter of a doctor, and Boris Yuliyevich Bryner, an engineer and inventor of Swiss-German and Russian descent. He was born in their home town of Vladivostok on 11 July 1920 and named Yuli after his grandfather, Jules Bryner. When Yuli's father abandoned the family, his mother took him and his sister Vera to Harbin, Manchuria, where they attended a YMCA school. In 1934 Yuli's mother took her children to Paris. Her son was sent to the exclusive Lycée Moncelle, but his attendance was spotty. He dropped out and became a musician, playing guitar in the nightclubs among the Russian gypsies who gave him his first real sense of family. He met luminaries such as Jean Cocteau and became an apprentice at the Theatre des Mathurins. He worked as a trapeze artist with the famed Cirque d'Hiver company.
He traveled to the U.S. in 1941 to study with acting teacher Michael Chekhov and toured the country with Chekhov's theatrical troupe. That same year, he debuted in New York as Fabian in "Twelfth Night" (billed as Youl Bryner). After working in a very early TV series, Mr. Jones and His Neighbors , he played on Broadway in "Lute Song" with Mary Martin , winning awards and mild acclaim. He and his wife, actress Virginia Gilmore , starred in the first TV talk show, Mr. and Mrs. . Brynner then joined CBS as a television director. He made his film debut in Port of New York . Two years later Mary Martin recommended him for the part he would forever be known for: the King in Richard Rodgers ' and Oscar Hammerstein II 's musical "The King and I". Brynner became an immediate sensation in the role, repeating it for film ( The King and I ) and winning the Oscar for Best Actor.
For the next two decades, he maintained a starring film career despite the exotic nature of his persona, performing in a wide range of roles from Egyptian pharaohs to Western gunfighters, almost all with the same shaved head and indefinable accent. In the 1970s he returned to the role that had made him a star, and spent most of the rest of his life touring the world in "The King and I". When he developed lung cancer in the mid 1980s, he left a powerful public service announcement denouncing smoking as the cause, for broadcast after his death. The cancer and its complications, after a long illness, ended his life. Brynner was cremated and his ashes buried in a remote part of France, on the grounds of the Abbey of Saint-Michel de Bois Aubry, a short distance outside the village of Luzé. He remains one of the most fascinating, unusual and beloved stars of his time.
Charlie Cox
Charlie Thomas Cox was born in London, England, to Patricia C. A. (Harley) and Andrew Frederick Seaforth Cox, a publisher. He has English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, and descends from several prominent forebears (Baronets of Agnew and Carnegie, an Earl of Findlater, and a Colonial Governor of New York, Andrew Elliot).
Cox was educated and received his training in drama at Sherborne School in Dorset where he appeared in Dealer's Choice / Patrick Marber (Mugsy) The Writing Game (Leo) Code Crackers / Andy Wilkinson (Weasel) Confusions / Alan Aykbourne (Martin & Arthur) Henry V (Nym & John Bates). He received the Gerald Pitman Award for Acting from Sherborne School. He also appeared in Judge John Deed as the Young Vicar.
Michael Douglas
An actor with over forty years of experience in theatre, film, and television, Michael Douglas branched out into independent feature production in 1975 with the Academy Award-winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest . Since then, as a producer and as an actor-producer, he has shown an uncanny knack for choosing projects that reflect changing trends and public concerns. Over the years, he has been involved in such controversial and politically influential motion pictures as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , The China Syndrome and Traffic , and such popular films as Fatal Attraction and Romancing the Stone .
Michael Douglas was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to actors Diana Douglas (Diana Love Dill) and Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch). His paternal grandparents were Belarusian Jewish immigrants, while his mother was born in Bermuda, the daughter of a local Attorney General, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Melville Dill; Diana's family had long been established in both Bermuda and the United States. Douglas's parents divorced when he was six, and he went to live with his mother and her new husband. Only seeing Kirk on holidays, Michael attended Eaglebrook school in Deerfield, Massachusetts, where he was about a year younger than all of his classmates.
Douglas attended the elite preparatory Choate School and spent his summers with his father on movie sets. Although accepted at Yale, Douglas attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. Deciding he wanted to be an actor in his teenage years, Michael often asked his father about getting a "foot in the door". Kirk was strongly opposed to Michael pursuing an acting career, saying that it was an industry with many downs and few ups, and that he wanted all four of his sons to stay out of it. Michael, however, was persistent, and made his film debut in his father's film Cast a Giant Shadow .
After receiving his B.A. degree in 1968, Douglas moved to New York City to continue his dramatic training, studying at the American Place Theatre with Wynn Handman , and at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where he appeared in workshop productions of Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author (1976) and Thornton Wilder 's Happy Journey (1963). A few months after he arrived in New York, Douglas got his first big break, when he was cast in the pivotal role of the free-spirited scientist who compromises his liberal views to accept a lucrative job with a high-tech chemical corporation in the CBS Playhouse production of Ellen M. Violett 's drama, The Experiment, which was televised nationwide on February 25, 1969.
Douglas' convincing portrayal won him the leading role in the adaptation of John Weston's controversial novel, Hail, Hero! , which was the initial project of CBS's newly organized theatrical film production company, Cinema Center Films. Douglas starred as a well-meaning, almost saintly young pacifist determined not only to justify his beliefs to his conservative parents but also to test them under fire in the jungles of Indochina. His second feature, Adam at Six A.M. concerned a young man's search for his roots. Douglas next appeared in the film version of Ron Cowen 's play Summertree , produced by 'Kirk Douglas'' Bryna Company, and then Napoleon and Samantha , a sentimental children's melodrama from the Walt Disney studio.
In between film assignments, he worked in summer stock and off-Broadway productions, among them "City Scenes", Frank Gagliano 's surrealistic vignettes of contemporary life in New York, John Patrick Shanley 's short-lived romance "Love is a Time of Day" and George Tabori 's "Pinkville", in which he played a young innocent brutalized by his military training. He also appeared in the made-for-television thriller, "When Michael Calls", broadcast by ABC-TV on February 5, 1972 and in episodes of the popular series "Medical Center" and "The FBI".
Impressed by Douglas' performance in a segment of The F.B.I. (1965), producer 'Quinn Martin' signed the actor for the part of Karl Malden 's sidekick in the police series "The Streets of San Francisco", which premiered September of 1972 and became one of ABC's highest-rated prime-time programs in the mid-1970s. Douglas earned three successive Emmy Award nominations for his performance and he directed two episodes of the series.
During the annual breaks in the shooting schedule for The Streets of _San Francisco (1972)_, Douglas devoted most of his time to his film production company, Big Stick Productions, Ltd., which produced several short subjects in the early 1970s. Long interested in producing a film version of Ken Kesey 's grimly humorous novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest , Douglas purchased the movie rights from his father and began looking for financial backing. After a number of major motion picture studios turned him down, Douglas formed a partnership with Saul Zaentz , a record industry executive, and the two set about recruiting the cast and crew. Douglas still had a year to go on his contract for "The Streets of San Francisco", but the producers agreed to write his character out of the story so that he could concentrate on filming "Cuckoo's Nest".
A critical and commercial success, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress, and went on to gross more than $180 million at the box office. Douglas suddenly found himself in demand as an independent producer. One of the many scripts submitted to him for consideration was Mike Gray's chilling account of the attempted cover-up of an accident at a nuclear power plant. Attracted by the combination of social relevance and suspense, Douglas immediately bought the property. Deemed not commercial by most investors, Douglas teamed up with Jane Fonda and her own motion picture production company, IPC Films.
A Michael Douglas-IPC Films co-production, The China Syndrome starred Jack Lemmon , Jane Fonda , and 'Michael Douglas' and received Academy Award nominations for Lemmon and Fonda, as well as for Best Screenplay. The National Board of Review named the film one of the best films of the year.
Despite his success as a producer, Douglas resumed his acting career in the late 1970s, starring in Michael Crichton's medical thriller Coma with Genevieve Bujold, Claudia Weill's feminist comedy It's My Turn starring Jill Clayburgh , and Peter Hyams ' gripping tale of modern-day vigilante justice, "The Star Chamber" (1983). Douglas also starred in Running , as a compulsive quitter who sacrifices everything to take one last shot at the Olympics, and as Zach the dictatorial director/choreographer in Richard Attenborough 's screen version of the Broadway's longest running musical A Chorus Line .
Douglas' career as an actor/producer came together again in 1984 with the release of the tongue-in-cheek romantic fantasy "Romancing the Stone". Douglas had begun developing the project several years earlier, and with Kathleen Turner as Joan Wilder, the dowdy writer of gothic romances, Danny DeVito as the feisty comic foil Ralphie and Douglas as Jack Colton, the reluctant soldier of fortune, "Romancing" was a resounding hit and grossed more than $100 million at the box office. Douglas was named Producer of the Year in 1984 by the National Association of Theater Owners. Douglas, Turner and DeVito reteamed in 1985 for the successful sequel The Jewel of the Nile .
It took Douglas nearly two years to convince Columbia Pictures executives to approve the production of Starman , an unlikely tale of romance between an extraterrestrial, played by 'Jeff Bridges', and a young widow, played by Karen Allen. Starman was the sleeper hit of the 1984 Christmas season and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for 'Jeff Bridges'. In 1986 Douglas created a television series based on the film for ABC which starred 'Robert Hays'.
After a lengthy break from acting, Douglas returned to the screen in 1987 appearing in two of the year's biggest hits. He starred opposite Glenn Close in the phenomenally successful psychological thriller, "Fatal Attraction", which was followed by his performance as ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko in 'Oliver Stone''s Wall Street , earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Douglas next starred in Ridley Scott 's thriller Black Rain and then teamed up again with 'Kathleen Turner' and Danny DeVito in the black comedy The War of the Roses which was released in 1989.
In 1988 Douglas formed Stonebridge Entertainment, Inc. which produced Flatliners , directed by Joel Schumacher and starred Kiefer Sutherland , 'Julia Roberts', 'Kevin Bacon' and 'William Baldwin' and Radio Flyer starring Lorraine Bracco and directed by Richard Donner. Douglas followed with David Seltzer's adaptation of Susan Issac's best-selling novel, "Shining Through", opposite Melanie Griffith. In 1992 he starred with Sharon Stone in the erotic thriller from 'Paul Verhoeven' Basic Instinct , one of the year's top grossing films.
Douglas gave one of his most powerful performances opposite Robert Duvall in Joel Schumacher 's controversial drama Falling Down . That year he also produced the hit comedy "Made in America" starring Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson and Will Smith. In 1994/95 he starred with Demi Moore in Barry Levinson's "Disclosure,." based on the best seller by Michael Crichton. In 1995 Douglas portrayed the title role in Rob Reiner's romantic comedy The American President opposite Annette Bening, and in 1997, starred in The Game directed by David Fincher and co-starring 'Sean Penn'.
Jim Sturgess
Jim was born in London, the son of Jane O. (Martin) and Peter J. S. Sturgess. He was raised in Surrey. First and foremost his interest was music. However, he began to develop a secret passion for acting, at age 8, when he auditioned for local theatre to get out of class. Whilst music appeared cool, he felt being in school plays wasn't. So he stuck with small parts, despite a yearning to be in the lead role. At age 15, he joined a band and they began lying about their ages to play gigs in pubs. At school, he received mostly low grades with the exception of music and drama.
For college, he moved to Salford because there was a lot of good music coming out of the Manchester scene. In the hopes of joining a new band, he undertook a Higher National Diploma in Media Performance at Salford University. It was here that he met people that were really interested in filmmaking, and it suddenly felt like a possible career move. He began making short films with his friends and as well as doing theater. He wrote and performed a one-man show, which led an actor in the audience to suggest Jim to his agent. The agent signed him without even meeting him.
Jim moved back to London in 2000, where he joined the band 'Saint Faith'. He had moved to Manchester to join a band, and instead fell into acting. He moved back to London for acting, and ended up joining a band. He took small roles on television to fund his life as a musician.
Problems began in the band in 2006, and Jim heard of an audition for the musical film Across the Universe . He won the leading male role of Jude. He followed this film with The Other Boleyn Girl with Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. His breakthrough role came with Dexter in One Day , based on the bestselling book by David Nicholls. Before his audition, Jim hadn't read the book.
John Hurt
This transatlantic talent was born John Vincent Hurt on January 22, 1940 in Shirebrook, a coal mining village near the busy market town of Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, England. He is the son of Phyllis (Massey), an engineer and one-time actress, and Arnould Herbert Hurt, an Anglican clergyman and mathematician. The youngest of three children, he spent much of his childhood in solitude. Demonstrating little initiative, he was guided into art as a possible direction. The family moved to Grimsby when he turned twelve and, despite an active early passion in acting, his parents thought less of it and enrolled him at the Grimsby Art School and St. Martin's School of Art where he showed some flourish. When he couldn't manage to get another scholarship to art school, his focus invariably turned to acting.
Accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, John made his stage debut in 1962 and remained there in typically offbeat form such plays as "Infanticide in the House of Fred Ginger". An odd, somber, pasty-looking fellow with an aquiline nose (injured while playing sports) and a mass of Irish freckles, he was hardly leading man material. His earlier focus as a painter, however, triggered a keen skill in the art of observation and it certainly advanced his talent for getting into the skin of his characters. His movie debut occurred that same year with a supporting role in the ill-received British "angry young man" drama Young and Willing .
Appearing in various mediums, John increased his profile (and respect) appearing in such theatre plays as "Inadmissible Evidence" (1965), "Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs" (1966), a role he later took to film as Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs , "Macbeth" (as Malcolm) (1967) and "Man and Superman" (1969), while finding prime parts in such films as A Man for All Seasons , a role he was given after director Fred Zinnemann saw his stellar work in "Little Malcolm." He continued on the stage as an unlikely Romeo in 1973, and went on to garner great applause in Pinter's "The Caretaker" and "The Dumb Waiter", as well as "Travesties" (1974).
It was TV, however, that displayed the full magnitude and fearless range of his acting instrument. In the mid-70s he gained widespread acclaim for his embodiment of the tormented gay writer and raconteur Quentin Crisp in the landmark TV play The Naked Civil Servant , adapted from Crisp's autobiography. Way, way ahead of its time, Hurt's bold and unabashed take on the flamboyant and controversial gent who dared to be different was rewarded with the Emmy and the British TV Awards. Far and away one of the most marvelous creations ever captured on the small screen, he was altogether unsettling, unappetizing and unforgettable. Audiences cringed but were mesmerized at the same time -- like a car wreck. He WAS Quentin Crisp.
Doors immediately opened for John. He was handed the best parts film and TV had to offer. Once again he was strikingly disturbing as the cruel and crazed Roman emperor Caligula in the epic TV masterpiece I, Claudius . The chameleon in him then displayed a polar side as the gentle, pathetically disfigured title role in The Elephant Man , and when he morphed into the role of a tortured Turkish prison inmate who befriends Brad Davis in the intense drama Midnight Express , he was barely recognizable. The last two films earned Hurt Oscar nominations. Mainstream box-office films were offered as well as art films. He made the most of his role as a crew member whose body becomes host to an unearthly predator in Alien . Who can forget the film's most notorious scene as the creature explodes from Hurt's stomach and scurries away into the bowels of the spaceship?
Along with fame, of course, came a few misguided ventures generally unworthy of his talent. Such brilliant work as his steeple chase jockey in Champions or kidnapper in The Hit was occasionally offset by such drivel as the comedy misfire Partners with 'Ryan O'Neal (I)' in which Hurt looked enervated and embarrassed. But those were very few and far between.
As for the past couple of decades, the craggy-faced actor continues to draw extraordinary notices. Tops on the list includes his prurient governmental gadfly who triggers the Christine Keeler political sex scandal in the aptly-titled Scandal ; the cultivated gay writer aroused and obsessed with struggling "pretty-boy" actor Jason Priestley in Love and Death on Long Island ; and the Catholic priest embroiled in the Rwanda atrocities in Beyond the Gates .
His rich tones have also been tapped into frequently with a number of animated features and documentaries, often serving as narrator. Presently married to his fourth wife, genius is often accompanied by a darker, more self-destructive side and Hurt was no exception with alcohol being his choice of poison. He has since recovered. He has two children from his third wife.
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez was born on May 12, 1962, in New York City. He is the eldest son of actor Martin Sheen , who at the time was just breaking into the business. His mother, Janet Sheen (née Templeton), was a former New York art student who had met Emilio's father right after he had moved to Manhattan. Martin and Janet had three other children, Charlie Sheen , Renée Estevez , and Ramon Estevez , all of whom became actors. His father is of half Spanish and half Irish descent, and his mother, whose family is from Kentucky, has English and Scottish ancestry.
He lived on Manhattan's Upper West Side until his family relocated to Malibu in 1968. Before graduating from Santa Monica High School in 1980, Estevez had already had a small role as a messenger boy in Apocalypse Now , that was ultimately cut from the film.
Though his father had opted to use the stage name "Sheen" over his more ethnic birth name "Estevez," Emilio chose to retain the family name, hoping to avoid riding his father's coattails. He also thought the double "E" set of initials was "pretty."
He appeared in a few TV movies, the first of which was Seventeen Going on Nowhere , before making his big-screen debut opposite Matt Dillon in 1982's Tex . A part in The Outsiders followed, and Estevez made his first big splash as the punk rocker Otto in the cult classic Repo Man .
Originally cast as Bender (The Criminal) in the seminal John Hughes flick The Breakfast Club , Estevez took the part of Andrew (The Athlete) instead after Hughes could find no one else to fill the role. Another ensemble film, St. Elmo's Fire came next. Then Estevez made his screen-writing debut with That Was Then... This Is Now , a film in which he also starred.
He then starred in the Stephen King thriller Maximum Overdrive , but the film was a failure. The ambitious young actor added directing to his palette with Wisdom in 1986, but the film was universally panned and struck out at the box office. Estevez quickly rebounded with hits like Stakeout and Young Guns , as well as their subsequent sequels. He tried his hand at directing again with Men at Work before taking on one of his most famous roles as Coach Gordon Bombay in The Mighty Ducks . The enormously popular Disney film spawned sequels and an NHL hockey team of the same name, but Estevez was interested in making weighter films.
He agreed to make a brief appearance in D3: The Mighty Ducks in exchange for Disney helping him finance and distribute another effort as actor-director, The War at Home . Though smiled on by critics, The War at Home received a paltry distribution by Disney and thus went largely unseen. A devastated Estevez considered quitting the business but has ultimately continued to work in films, including a fourth effort as director and star, Rated X , which co-starred brother Charlie Sheen and was a selection at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2006, Bobby , a film about the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy that Estevez wrote, directed, and acted in, premiered at the Venice Film Festival and received a seven-minute standing ovation.
Doris Day
One of America's most prolific actresses was born Doris Mary Ann Von Kapplehoff on April 3, 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Alma Sophia (Welz), a housewife, and William Joseph Kappelhoff, a music teacher and choir master. Her grandparents were all German immigrants. She had two brothers, Richard, who died before she was born and Paul, a few years older.
Her parents divorced while she was still a child and she lived with her mother. Like most little girls, Doris liked to dance. At fourteen, she formed a dance act with a boy, Jerry Doherty, and they won $500 in a local talent contest. She and Jerry took a brief trip to Hollywood to test the waters. They felt they could succeed, so she and Jerry returned to Cincinnati with the intention of packing and making a permanent move to Hollywood. Tragically, the night before she was to move to Hollywood, she was injured riding in a car hit by a train, ending the possibility of a dancing career.
It was a terrible setback, but after taking singing lessons she found a new vocation, and at age 17, she began touring with the Les Brown Band. She met trombonist Al Jorden, whom she married in 1941. Jorden was prone to violence and they divorced after two years, not long after the birth of their son Terry. In 1946, Doris married George Weidler , but this union lasted less than a year. Day's agent talked her into taking a screen test at Warner Bros. The executives there liked what they saw and signed her to a contract (her early credits are often confused with those of another actress named Doris Day, who appeared mainly in B westerns in the 1930s and 1940s).
Her first starring movie role was in Romance on the High Seas . The next year, she made two more films, My Dream Is Yours and It's a Great Feeling . Audiences took to her beauty, terrific singing voice and bubbly personality, and she turned in fine performances in the movies she made (in addition to several hit records). She made three films for Warner Bros. in 1950 and five more in 1951. In that year, she met and married Martin Melcher , who adopted her young son Terry, who later grew up to become Terry Melcher , a successful record producer.
Matthew Macfadyen
David Matthew Macfadyen was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, to Meinir (Owen), a drama teacher and actress, and Martin Macfadyen, an oil executive. He is of Scottish and Welsh descent. Because of his father's career, he spent at least part of his childhood in Indonesia, before finishing his education back in England and winning a place at RADA in 1992. He won critical acclaim in the UK with his work with the stage company Cheek By Jowl in the 1990s and was well established as a stage actor when he made his first TV appearance in Wuthering Heights . A couple more TV roles followed but it was his role as Tom Quinn, head of Section D, in the hit BBC series MI-5 that really made his name at home. And, indeed, established his home - he met his wife, Keeley Hawes , while working on the show. A steady stream of TV and film work followed, with his performance as Mr Darcy in Pride & Prejudice firmly establishing his name worldwide.
Mischa Barton
Born in London and raised in New York. From humble beginnings in New York Theater in 1994 where she trained with such esteemed director/writers as James Lapine ("Twelve Dreams" at Lincoln Center with Donna Murphy ), Tony Kushner ("Slavs!" at New York Theater Workshop with Marisa Tomei ), and Naomi Wallace ("One Flea Spare" at the Public Theatre with Dianne Wiest ), she went on to work side by side with modern-day screen icons including Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant on Notting Hill , Bruce Willis and Toni Collette on The Sixth Sense and Sam Rockwell in her Sundance critically-lauded feature film debut Lawn Dogs produced by Duncan Kenworthy in 1998.
Yet, despite this early success in theater and film, what really catapulted Mischa to the next level and made her a household name is her small screen performance as the irrepressible and irresistible "Marisa" on the popular Fox television show, The O.C. (2003 to 2007). The show fast became a global cult phenomenon and has earned many awards including a Television Critics Association Award nomination for "Outstanding New Program of the Year".
Established as one of the most sought after young actresses of her generation Mischa was named "It Girl" by Entertainment Weekly, she was also Hollywood Life's "Breakthrough Actress of the Year", she won several American Teen Choice Awards for the show, and also Cosmopolitan's "Fun Fearless Female Award" for "Knockout Ingenue" and Glamour's "Women of the Year". She has been ranked as one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People" for 5 consecutive years. She was awarded the VIPer Award in 2008 for "Style Icon 2007" by Mr. Karl Lagerfeld . In 2008, she played opposite Shirley MacLaine & Christopher Plummer in Sir Richard Attenborough 's Closing the Ring , with Hayden Christensen in the Dino De Laurentiis film Virgin Territory , and starred opposite Bruce Willis in Assassination of a High School President for the Yari Production Company. In 2007, she filmed Walled In for the French production company "Canal Plus", and she starred in and produced the film Homecoming .
In 2012 Mischa went back to her Theatrical roots and starred in a production of "Steel Magnolias" at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.
Mischa has the following Films slated for release this year, 2013. "Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain" opposite Martin Sheen, "A Resurrection" starring the late Michael Clarke Duncan and Devon Sawa "Apartment 1303 3D" with Rebecca De Mornay, "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" opposite Ryan Eggold and "Beauty and the Least: The Misadventures of Ben Banks".
She has just completed "Mining for Ruby" Directed by Zoe Quist, "Beyond Justice" with Danny Trejo and Vinnie Jones and will star opposite Billy Zane in "Elephant's Graveyard" and with Christopher Plummer and Timothy Hutton in "Butterfly Love" 2014.
Mischa has also made a major impression in the fashion and beauty world. She has already graced the covers of countless international magazines and has become the face of numerous advertising campaigns.
She has developed her own Brand, her successful Handbag line having launched in 2008, together with Accessories, Clothing and Beauty products and her Flagship Boutique opened in Fashionable Shoreditch London in 2012.
This commercial and theatrical success has given the young woman an opportunity to take an extremely influential role in the global community. She became the spokesperson for "Climate Star", an organization that fights global warming through social and legislative activism. She serves as an "Entertainment Industry Foundation" ambassador teaming up with QVC to spread awareness and raise funds for women's cancer research through the "Fashion Footwear Association" of New York "Shoes on Sale Initiative" and is also involved in the "SAFE" campaign for skin cancer awareness. She is an ambassador for "Save the Children" and the "One Water" campaign which brings water to remote locations in Africa, and is on the board of the "Lupus Research Committee" in Los Angeles.
Ben Daniels
Ben Daniels is a multi-award winning performer who is equally at home whether working in Film, Television or Theatre. He was born in the Midlands and became interested in acting through drama lessons while at comprehensive school. He began his career after leaving London's prestigious LAMDA drama school. His early work in theatres around the UK led to him being cast as Richard Loeb , one of the two Chicago "thrill killers" who murdered a nine-year-old boy in John Logan 's factual play, "Never the Sinner", at London's Playhouse Theatre. His performance earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in that year's Laurence Olivier Awards and has led to a highly respected theatre career, notably "Martin Yesterday" by Canadian writer Brad Fraser for which he received a M.E.N. nomination for Best Actor, "As You Like It" (TMA Supporting Actor award nomination), "All My Sons" receiving an Olivier Award and a Whatsonstage Award for Supporting Actor and, most recently, starring opposite Academy Award nominee Laura Linney in the Broadway revival of Christopher Hampton 's "Les Liaisons Dangereuses", for which he received a Tony Nomination for Best Actor, A Theatre World Award for Breakthrough Broadway Performance, a Drama Desk nomination for Distinguished Performance and an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Performance.
Ben's television breakthrough came playing philandering "Finn Bevan" in three seasons of the BAFTA-nominated BBC series Cutting It . Other notable television work includes the late, great Frank Deasy 's hard-hitting drama Real Men and the controversial The Passion , playing "Caiaphas"; "Francis Walsingham" in The Virgin Queen ; HBO's Conspiracy ; Ian Fleming in Ian Fleming: Bondmaker ; the political thriller The State Within and, more recently, four seasons of the acclaimed ITV drama, Law & Order: UK , as senior crown prosecutor "James Steel".
His diverse film work includes the religious fanatic "Goat" in Doom ; "Leopold the Tutor" in Daisy von Scherler Mayer 's Madeline ; neo-hippy "Tony" in Beautiful Thing ; "DJ Bob" in Michael Winterbottom 's I Want You ; "Augustin Robert", the soldier who falls in love with a leopard, in Passion in the Desert , the sadistic "Danny" in Noli 's disturbing Married/Unmarried and the upcoming _Luna (2011), written and directed by cult artist and graphic novelist Dave McKean .
Nia Long
Stunning pop culture icon, Hollywood leading lady and three-time NAACP award winner Nia Long returns to the big screen this fall in the highly anticipated Universal Pictures sequel The best man holiday (in theaters November 15th) where she reunites with original castmates Taye Diggs ("Private Practice"), Terrence Howard (Hustle & flow), Morris Chestnut (The brothers) and Harold Perrineau ("Lost"). Additionally in Spring 2014, Long will star in Tyler Perry's Single mom's club alongside Wendi McLendon- Covey (Bridesmaids), Tyler Perry (Madea) and Amy Smart (Crank).
Early this year, Long joined the all-star cast of Showtime's "House of Lies" alongside Golden Globe Award winner Don Cheadle & Kristen Bell as "Tamara," a business school classmate and former flame of Marty's (Don Cheadle) who has been hired by the same consulting firm Galweather Stearn after taking time off to raise a family.
Long made her film debut in the poignant film portraying the social problems in inner-city Los Angeles, Boyz n the hood , and continued on to star in FRIDAY alongside Ice Cube and Chris Tucker as well as LOVE JONES which won the prestigious Audience Award at Sundance. Other notable film roles include Soul Food, Alfie opposite Jude Law, The Best man, Are We There Yet?, Big Momma's House 1 & 2 opposite Martin Lawrence, Stigmata, the Broken Hearts Club and Made in America.
On the small screen, Long's portrayal of "Officer Sasha Monroe" on NBC's hit crime drama "Third Watch" awarded her two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Actress in a Drama series. Long's other TV accomplishments include "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Boston Legal," "Judging Amy," and "Big Shots." Long also voiced "Roberta" in the first season of the Fox hit "the Cleveland Show."
Making her directorial debut on Ashanti's music video "Baby" and Yolanda Adam's "This Too Shall Pass," Nia continues her work behind the camera and is developing a feature film that centers on renowned world champion boxer and trainer Ann Wolfe.
In addition to her film and TV work, Long's passion lies in serving her community. With her family roots planted in Trinidad, Grenada, and Barbados, Long's long term goals are to connect women in the US to those of the islands and to mentor young girls to regain their self-esteem. Additionally, Long lends her support to Black Girls Rock, an organization that promotes the arts for young women of color and encourages dialogue on the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. In 2012 she was named an official surrogate to the Barack Obama reelection campaign.
A Brooklyn native, Long now calls Los Angeles home where she lives with her 12 year old son, Massai, 14 month old son, Kez and partner Ime Udoka, an Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs. Long loves to cook organic farmer's market fresh meals adding a twist of her Trinidadian heritage. When she's not juggling between her career and motherhood, she enjoys staying active by doing pilates, boxing, hiking, and horseback riding. Long also finds pleasure in traveling and experiencing different cultures throughout the world. One of her favorite locations to visit is Jamaica, a place she calls her second home where she can reflect and refuel.
Ryan Eggold
Southern California native Ryan Eggold graduated from the USC's esteemed theatre department, then immediately landed recurring roles on CBS's Young and the Restless, HBO's Entourage, Cartoon Network's Out of Jimmy's Head, ABC's Brothers & Sisters and The CW's Veronica Mars, before obtaining his first series regular gig on the FX's Dirt. He continues to recur on Entourage, as a member of Johnny Drama's show-within-the-show.
In addition to his work in television, Ryan made his professional stage debut in the acclaimed 2006 Ahmanson Theatre/Center Theatre Group production Dead End, directed by Nick Martin, and has since appeared in productions of Leipzig, and the L.A. Weekly Award-winning production of Marat/Sade.
Along with his continued involvement on Dirt and Entourage, Ryan is hard at work these days on producing, directing and starring in an original screenplay, Lunchers.
When he isn't acting, Ryan is writing music, playing guitar, piano and singing in his band.
Holland Roden
No stranger to primetime television with roles on hit shows such as Lost , Weeds and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation , up and coming actress Holland Roden can be seen in her starring role as "Lydia Martin" in MTV Network's most successful scripted series, Teen Wolf . As a lead role, Holland plays the role of the popular girl Lydia Martin, whom the actress says is a mix of Tracy Flick's IQ ( Election ) meets Violet Beauregarde's spunk ( Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory ).
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Holland was drawn to the arts at an early age. Fascinated by the "Queen of England" at only six years old, Holland would put on one-woman plays for her family, emulating her favorite royal. Holland took her love of performing one step further and enrolled in theatre camps as well as acting classes to further her passion. However, it was Holland's second love, science that brought her out to Los Angeles and jump-started her career.
Holland enrolled at UCLA as a molecular biology major and after one year of school, realized she wanted to return to her passion in acting. Within two months of hiring an agent, Holland got her first big break, a recurring role on HBO's 12 Miles of Bad Road . Holland learned the highs and lows of this business early on, experiencing how such a promising show could be cancelled before it premiered. However, she persevered and went on to book guest starring appearances on shows such as: The Event , Cold Case , Community , and Criminal Minds , as well as a lead in the cult classic franchise: Bring It On: Fight to the Finish . During her hiatus from "Teen Wolf," Holland recently took time out to shoot a guest star episode on ABC's Grey's Anatomy , and a leading role in an independent horror flick titled House of Dust currently in post-production.
Even though Holland has been fulfilling her dream as an actor, she still remained dedicated to her education as a full-time student. However, due to Holland's busy work schedule, she was forced to make the hard decision of switching majors, leaving her love for science behind and majoring in women studies; a field Holland found surprisingly fascinating and received her degree in from UCLA.
In contrast to her professional and academic life, Holland's free time consists of exploring the world of music. Whether it's coming across new indie artists or listening to her all time favorites including Ingrid Michaelson , Josh Rouse , Cat Stevens , Mumford & Sons , and Crash Kings, Holland is a music fan through and through.
Steve Martin
Steve Martin was born on August 14, 1945 in Waco, Texas, USA as Stephen Glenn Martin to Mary Lee (née Stewart; 1913-2002) and Glenn Vernon Martin (1914-1997), a real estate salesman and aspiring actor. He was raised in Inglewood and Garden Grove in California. In 1960, he got a job at the Magic shop of Disney's Fantasyland, and while there he learned magic, juggling, and creating balloon animals. At Santa Ana College, he took classes in drama and English poetry. He also took part in comedies and other productions at the Bird Cage Theatre, and joined a comedy troupe at Knott's Berry Farm. He attended California State University as a philosophy major, but in 1967 transferred to UCLA as a theatre major.
His writing career began on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour , winning him an Emmy Award. Between 1967 and 1973, he also wrote for many other shows, including The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour . He also appeared on talk shows and comedy shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1972, he first appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson , doing stand-up several times each year, and even guest hosting a few years later. In 1976, he served for the first time as guest-host on Saturday Night Live . By 2016, he has guest-hosted 15 times, which is one less than Alec Baldwin 's record, and also appeared 12 other times on SNL.
In 1977, he released his first comedy album, a platinum selling "Let's Get Small". He followed it with "A Wild and Crazy Guy" (1978), which sold more than a million copies. Both albums went on to win Grammys for Best Comedy Recording. This is when he performed in arenas in front of tens of thousands of people, and begun his movie career, which was always his goal. His first major role was in the short film, The Absent-Minded Waiter , which he also wrote. His star value was established in The Jerk , which was co-written by Martin, and directed by Carl Reiner . The film earned more than $100 million on a $4 million budget. He also starred in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid , The Man with Two Brains , and All of Me , all directed by Reiner. To avoid being typecast as a comedian, he wanted do more dramatic roles, starring in Pennies from Heaven , a film remake of Dennis Potter 's 1978 series. Unfortunately, it was a financial failure.
He also starred in John Landis 's ¡Three Amigos! , co-written by himself, opposite Martin Short and Chevy Chase . That year, he also appeared in the musical horror comedy, Little Shop of Horrors opposite Rick Moranis . Next year, he starred in Roxanne , co-written by himself, and in John Hughes ' Planes, Trains & Automobiles , opposite John Candy . His other films include Parenthood and My Blue Heaven , both opposite Moranis. In 1991, he wrote and starred in L.A. Story , about a weatherman who searches meaning in his life and love in Los Angeles. It also starred his then-wife, Victoria Tennant . Same year, Father of the Bride was so successful that a 1995 sequel followed.
During the 1990s, he continued to play more dramatic roles, in Grand Canyon , playing a traumatized movie producer, in Leap of Faith , playing a fake faith healer, in A Simple Twist of Fate , playing a betrayed man adopting a baby, and in David Mamet 's thriller The Spanish Prisoner . Other, more comedic roles include in HouseSitter and The Out-of-Towners , opposite Goldie Hawn , in Nora Ephron 's Mixed Nuts , and in Bowfinger , written by himself and co-starring Eddie Murphy . After Bowfinger, he starred in Bringing Down the House and Cheaper by the Dozen , both earning more than $130 million. He wrote and starred in Shopgirl , and appeared in the sequel of Cheaper by the Dozen. After them, he appeared in The Pink Panther and The Pink Panther 2 , which he both co-wrote, as Inspector Clouseau.
He continues to do movies, more recently appearing in The Big Year , Home , and Love the Coopers . Besides aforementioned, he has been an avid art collector since 1968, written plays, written for The New Yorker, written a well-received memoir (Born Standing Up), written a novel (An Object of Beauty; 2010), hosted the Academy Awards three times, released a Grammy award winning music album (The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo; 2009), and another album (Love Has Come For You; 2013) with Edie Brickell . Since 2007, he has been married to Anne Stringfield, with whom he has a daughter.
James Woods
James Woods is a leanly built, strangely handsome actor-producer-director with intense eyes and a sometimes untrustworthy grin, who has been impressing audiences for over three decades with his compelling performances. James Howard Woods was born on April 18th, 1947 in Vernal, Utah, the son of Martha A. (Smith) and Gail Peyton Woods, a United States Army intelligence officer who died during Woods' childhood. James is of Irish, English, and German descent. He grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island, with his mother and stepfather. He graduated from Pilgrim High School in 1965, near the top of his class. He earned a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; dropping out during his sophomore year in 1967, he then headed off to New York with his fraternity brother Martin Donovan to pursue aspirations to appear on the stage. After appearing in a handful of New York City theater productions, Woods scored his first film role in All the Way Home and followed that up with meager supporting roles in The Way We Were and The Choirboys .
However, it was Woods' cold-blooded performance as the cop killer in The Onion Field , based on a Joseph Wambaugh novel, that seized the attention of movie-goers to his on-screen power. Woods quickly followed up with another role in another Joseph Wambaugh film adaptation, The Black Marble , as a sleazy and unstable cable-T.V.-station owner in David Cronenberg 's mind-bending and prophetic Videodrome , as gangster Max Bercovicz in Sergio Leone s mammoth epic Once Upon a Time in America , and scored a best actor Academy Award nomination as abrasive journalist Richard Boyle in Oliver Stone 's gritty and unsettling Salvador .
There seemed to be no stopping the rise of this star as he continued to amaze movie-goers with his remarkable versatility and his ability to create such intense, memorable characters. The decade of the 1990s started off strongly with high praise for his role as Roy Cohn in the television production of Citizen Cohn . Woods was equally impressive as sneaky hustler Lester Diamond who cons Sharon Stone in Casino , made a tremendous H.R. Haldeman in Nixon , portrayed serial killer Carl Panzram in Killer: A Journal of Murder , and then as accused civil rights assassin Byron De La Beckwith in Ghosts of Mississippi .
Not to be typecast solely as hostile hoodlums, Woods has further expanded his range to encompass providing voice-overs for animated productions including Hercules , Hooves of Fire , and Stuart Little 2 . Woods also recently appeared in the critically praised The Virgin Suicides , in the coming-of-age movie Riding in Cars with Boys , as a corrupt medico in Any Given Sunday , and in the comedy-horror spoof Scary Movie 2 . A remarkable performer with an incredibly diverse range of acting talent, Woods remains one of Hollywood's outstanding leading men.
Martin Sheen
Multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Martin Sheen is one of America's most celebrated, colorful, and accomplished actors. Moving flawlessly between artistic mediums, Sheen's acting range is breathtaking.
Martin Sheen was born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estevez in Dayton, Ohio, to Mary-Ann (Phelan), an Irish immigrant (from Borrisokane, County Tipperary), and Francisco Estevez , a Spanish-born factory worker and machinery inspector (from Parderrubias, Galicia). On the big screen, Sheen has appeared in more than 65 feature films including a star turn as Army Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Francis Ford Coppola 's landmark film Apocalypse Now , which brought Sheen worldwide recognition. The film also starred Marlon Brando , Dennis Hopper and Robert Duvall . Other notable credits include Wall Street (with son Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas ), Academy Award-winning film Gandhi (1982) (with Sir Ben Kingsley ), Catch Me If You Can (with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks ), The American President (with Michael Douglas and Annette Bening ) and a Golden Globe nominated breakthrough performance as Timmy Cleary in The Subject Was Roses , a role he originated on Broadway and for which he received a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actor.
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Ice and Fire
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Tiffi, Easter Bunny, Bubblegum Troll, Mr Toffee, and The Dragon who bathes at the Lemonade Lake are characters in what?
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Frankfurt Book Fair •October 2014• by PRAVA I PREVODI - issuu
issuu
FICTION
Literary
GREEN ON BLUE by Elliot Ackerman “What makes Green on Blue so brilliantly poignant is Ackerman’s feeling of empathy, his ability to get under his characters’ skin, reminding us not only of our vast differences but of our shared humanity.” — Azar Nafisi A stirring debut novel about a young orphan and the intractable nature of war. Aziz and his older brother Ali are coming of age in a village amid the pine forests and endless mountains of eastern Afghanistan. There is no school, but their mother teaches them to read and write, and once a month sends the boys on a two-day journey to the bazaar. They are poor, but inside their mud-walled home, the family has stability, love, and routine. When a convoy of armed men arrives in their village one day, their world crumbles. The boys survive and make their way to a small city, where they sleep among other orphans. They learn to beg, and, eventually, they earn work and trust from the local shopkeepers. Ali saves their money and sends Aziz to school at the madrassa, but when US forces invade the country, militants strike back. A bomb explodes in the market, and Ali is brutally injured. In the hospital, Aziz meets an Afghan wearing an American uniform. To save his brother, Aziz must join the Special Lashkar, a US-funded militia. No longer a boy, but not yet a man, he departs for the untamed border. Trapped in a conflict both savage and entirely contrived, Aziz struggles to understand his place. Will he embrace the brutality of war or leave it behind, and risk placing his brother—and a young woman he comes to love—in jeopardy? Elliot Ackerman has written a gripping, morally complex debut novel, an astonishing feat of empathy and imagination about boys caught in a deadly conflict. Scribner, February 2015
FICTION
“Green on Blue is harrowing, brutal, and utterly absorbing. With spare prose, Ackerman has spun a morally complex tale of revenge, loyalty, and brotherly love. The saga of young Aziz is a chilling and often disturbing glimpse into one of the world’s most troubled regions.” – Khaled Hosseini
–2–
In The Tears of Dark Water, author of A Walk Across the Sun and The Garden of Burning Sand delivers an electrifying, moving novel of tragedy, vengeance and redemption set against the backdrop of a pressing contemporary political issue.
Thriller
THE TEARS OF DARK WATER by Corban Addison
When Somali pirates hijack a sailing yacht in the Indian Ocean, a tense standoff orchestrated by top hostage negotiator Paul Derrick ends in tragedy: Skipper Daniel Parker is shot dead and his troubled son Quentin is critically wounded. The pirates are captured and extradited to stand trial in the USA. A young pirate named Ismail is identified by his cohorts as the shooter. In questioning him, Derrick begins to suspect there is more to his story than a zealot driven by simple, bloodthirsty anti-American extremism. But Ismail says little, fearing the truth will endanger the only person he has left in the world: his sister Yasmin. Yasmin is the youngest (and favorite) wife of a radical Islamist leader named Najiib. But Najiib also thinks she shares the rebellious spirit of her brother Ismail, who escaped soon after the siblings were kidnapped from their Mogadishu schoolhouse by Najiib’s men. As his mistrust grows, Yasmin begins to plan her own escape. Derrick’s sister Megan, a criminal defense lawyer, takes Ismail’s case. Sharing her brother’s sense that there is a mystery to unravel, she begins an investigation that traces Ismail’s journey from Mogadishu to a Kenyan refugee camp, to the large Somali immigrant community in Minneapolis. In his best novel yet, Corban Addison brings together the compassionate storytelling, deep knowledge and masterful orchestration of plot and suspense that make him a young writer to watch closely. Quercus, May 2015
FICTION
–3–
Crime
LAST TO KNOW by Elizabeth Adler Evening Lake: an idyllic, peaceful, western Massachusetts getaway with a close-knit community of families. Detective Harry Jordan sees his lake home as a respite from solving crimes on the streets of Boston... until crime comes to Evening Lake. Harry Jordan is out for a walk when the night is rocked by an explosion: the Havnel house is engulfed in a conflagration and Bea Havnel is seen fleeing, hair on fire, plunging into the lake. Mysterious, rough-around-the edges, and private, Bea and her mother Lacey are newcomers to Evening Lake, and nothing like the well-heeled families of the community. Bea survives the fire, but her mother does not, and Harry is pulled into the investigation. As is young Diz Osborne, who, unbeknownst to any of them, carries a weighty secret about who else he saw rowing on the lake that night. When it’s discovered that Lacey Havnel died not from the explosion but from a knife wound, it’s clear that a murderer is on the loose. And this murderer is poised to strike again, and again. Told with Elizabeth Adler’s inimitable style, illuminating descriptions, and intricate family dynamics, Last to Know is the definition of a page-turner. Minotaur Books, September 2014 “A wonderful, romantic thriller that connects you with the characters very quickly.” — RT Book Reviews “If anyone can combine romance with a creepy CSI-style serial-killer plot, it’s Adler.” — Booklist “A top-notch romantic thriller.” — Library Journal “Film noir on silk sheets.” — Kirkus
FICTION
Elizabeth Adler is a self-confessed romantic, a travel addict and a foodie, all of which she brings to the reader in her novels, along with a tough thrust of suspense and an unfolding mystery that keeps you on your toes. Elizabeth lives in California, has one daughter, Anabelle who is married to rock musician Eric Avery.
–4–
A thoughtful, captivating and ultimately uplifting novel from this uniquely talented author. Jasmine loves two things: her sister and her work. And when her work is taken away she has no idea who she is. Matt loves two things: his family and the booze. Without them, he hits rock bottom. One New Year’s Eve, two people’s paths collide. Both have time on their hands; both are at a crossroads. But as the year unfolds, through moonlit nights and suburban days, an unlikely friendship slowly starts to blossom. Sometimes you have to stop still in order to move on…
Contemporary Romance
THE YEAR I MET YOU by Cecelia Ahern
Original and poignant, The Year I Met You will make you laugh, cry and celebrate life. HarperCollins, October 2014 Before embarking on her writing career, Cecelia Ahern completed a degree in journalism and media studies. Her first novel, PS, I Love You was one of the biggest-selling debut novels of 2004, and an international bestseller. Cecelia lives in County Dublin. Love, Rosie is the upcoming BritishAmerican romance drama film, based on the 2004 novel Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern. It stars Lily Collins and Sam Claflin
FICTION
–5–
Science Fiction
THE WATER KNIFE by Paolo Bacigalupi The brand new novel from Paolo Bacigalupi, author of The Windup Girl and winner of the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and John W. Campbell Memorial awards. In 2009, a novel was released that would sweep the board for science fiction awards, and establish Paolo Bacigalupi as one of the most visionary writers of our time. Listed by TIME magazine as one of the top 10 books of the year, The Windup Girl truly took the world by storm. Now, following the release of two awardwinning YA novels, Paolo Bacigalupi returns with a stunning new novel for adults, and it will undoubtedly be one of the most highly anticipated books of the year. In a future hammered by climate change and drought, mountain snows have turned to rain, and rain evaporates before it hits the ground. In a fragmenting United States, the cities of Phoenix and Las Vegas skirmish for a dwindling share of the Colorado River. But it is the Las Vegas water knives - assassins, terrorists and spies - who are legendary for protecting Las Vegas’ water supplies, and for ensuring Phoenix’s ruin. When rumours of a game-changing water source surface, Las Vegas dispatches elite water knife Angel Velasquez to Phoenix to investigate. There, he discovers hardened journalist Lucy Monroe, who holds the secret to the water source Angel seeks. But Angel isn’t the only one hunting for water, Lucy is no pushover, and the death of a despised water knife is a small price to pay in return for the life-giving flow of a river. Orbit, April 2015 Sales:
FICTION
Russia – AST Turkey – Marti Japan – Hayakawa Poland – Mag Taiwan – China Times Hungary – Gabo Kiado Germany – Karl Blessing France – Au Diable Vauvert UK & Commonwealth – Orbit Spain – Penguin Random House
–6–
Sidney Sheldon’s most popular and enduring heroine: Tracy Whitney of If Tomorrow Comes—returns in a sensational sequel full of passion, suspense, and breathtaking twists. Tracy Whitney never thought she wanted to settle down. With her suave and handsome partner, Jeff Stevens, she’d been responsible for some of the world’s most astounding heists, relishing the danger and intensity of life on the wild side. But there is still one thing missing from Tracy’s perfect life: a baby.
Romantic Thriller
SIDNEY SHELDON’S CHASING TOMORROW by Tilly Bagshawe
At first going straight feels like a new adventure. But as the months pass and Tracy’s longed for pregnancy doesn’t happen, she finds herself yearning for the adrenaline rush of the old days. When a mysterious and beautiful stranger enters their lives, Tracy and Jeff’s once unbreakable partnership is suddenly blown wide open. Jeff wakes one morning to find Tracy gone, vanished without a trace. For more than a decade, a broken Jeff struggles to carry on knowing Tracy is out there somewhere. But the rest of the world believes Tracy Whitney is dead... until a series of murders leads a tenacious French detective to her doorstep. Eleven victims, in ten different cities, over nine years—all of the cities where Tracy pulled off some of her most brilliant capers. Someone is targeting her, manipulating a series of disturbing events and raising terrifying ghosts she thought were dead and buried. Once again, this clever woman finds herself out on the edge, playing the odds in a desperate game of roulette. But this time, she’s got everything to lose—including the man she cannot forget. Tomorrow has come at last. But it isn’t the future Tracy bargained for... HarperCollins, October 2014 Sales: Brazil – Record Argentina – Planeta Greece – Compupress Thailand – Amarin Turkey – Altin Kitaplar “Sheldon, who died in 2007, would have adored this tale. The ending is a great big surprise for the reader, the pace is action-packed to the extreme, and for any Sidney Sheldon fan, this is a truly early Christmas gift!” – Beverly Hills Courier
FICTION
–7–
Historical Romance
THE ESCAPE by Mary Balogh In this poignant novel of longing and salvation, a hopeful widow and a resilient war hero discover the promise of love’s magic and new beginnings. After surviving the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Benedict Harper is struggling to move on, his body and spirit in need of a healing touch. Never does Ben imagine that hope will come in the form of a beautiful woman who has seen her own share of suffering. After the lingering death of her husband, Samantha McKay is at the mercy of her oppressive in-laws, until she plots an escape to distant Wales to claim a house she has inherited. Being a gentleman, Ben insists that he escort her on the fateful journey. Ben wants Samantha as much as she wants him, but he is cautious. What can a wounded soul offer any woman? Samantha is ready to go where fate takes her, to leave behind polite society and even propriety in her desire for this handsome, honorable soldier. But dare she offer her bruised heart as well as her body? The answers to both their questions may be found in an unlikely place: in each other’s arms. Dell, August 2014 “Bestseller Balogh delivers an outstanding third installment of her Survivors’ Club series... This exquisitely written Regency will appeal to Balogh’s legions of fans.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A heroine who has never felt valued and a hero in search of a new purpose learn to take life as it comes and live each moment to the fullest. This tender, deeply insightful, and beautifully plotted romance shimmers with hope, possibility, and love.” — Library Journal (starred review) “Regency romance star Balogh continues her poignant Survivors’ Club series with a quietly intense love story that speaks to open-heartedness, courage and faith in new beginnings.” — Kirkus Reviews “A beautifully rendered love story of two wounded and lost souls who find each other and together discover strength and love. Tender, touching and mature, Balogh’s story slowly unfolds, reaching deep into the characters’ emotions demonstrating how love empowers, heals and redeems. Everything about this story is lovely and near perfect.” — RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)
FICTION
“The Escape is such an apt title—two people escape from unhappy pasts, finding love in their mutual journey. Their capacity for happiness astonishes and delights them and the reader, as they both so deserve their hard-won happily-everafter.” — Fresh Fiction –8–
Clive Barker’s first book for adults in 7 years.
Horror
THE SCARLET GOSPELS by Clive Barker
Additionally, it has the benefit of being a continuation of the Pinhead series, most popular among his fans. The being known only as Pinhead, is a formerly human creature from an extradimensional realm who travels to Earth threough a puzzle box called the Lament Configuration in order to arvest human souls. Intelligent and articulate, Pinhead is a departure from the mute and/or wise-cracking horror villains who have appeared in literature both before and after his invention. Pinhead is an original. From his first appearance in Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart, Pinhead has since gone on to be the antagonist (and sometimes protagonist) in 9 movies, countless comic books, and an upcoming reboot produced by Dimensions Film. Harry D’Amour first appeared in Barker’s short story The Last Illusion, which was later adapted into the film Lord of Illusions. He subsequently showed up in Barker’s novel The Great and Secret Show, and its sequel Everville. Harry is a private detective who seems to be drawn toward cases involving the supernatural, the magical and the malevolent. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot escape this world. To protect him from the evil, he has marked his body with mystical tattoos, though they only warn him of the inevitable danger that constantly threatens to cross his path. A visionary, fantasist, poet and painter, Clive Barker has expanded the reaches of human imagination as a novelist, director, screenwriter and dramatist. An inveterate seeker who traverses between myriad styles with ease, Barker has left his indelible artistic mark on a range of projects that reflect his creative grasp of contemporary media. Sales: France – De Noel Germany – Festa Greece – Oxy the Netherlands – Luitingh Spain – La Factoria de Ideas
FICTION
–9–
Erotica
THE BOSS TRILOGY by Abigail Barnette Sophie Scaife almost ran away once, trading her ticket to college for a ticket to Tokyo. But a delayed flight and a hot one-night stand with a stranger changed her mind, putting her firmly on track to a coveted position at a New York fashion magazine. When the irresistible stranger from that one incredible night turns out to be her new boss – billionaire and publishing magnate Neil Elwood – Sophie can’t resist the chance to rekindle the spark between them… and the opportunity to explore her submissive side with the most Dominant man she’s ever known. Neil is the only man who has ever understood Sophie’s need to submit in the bedroom, and the only man who has ever satisfied those desires. When their scorching, no-strings-attached sexual relationship becomes something more, Sophie must choose between her career and heart… or risk losing them both. Abigail Barnette is a pseudonym for Jenny Trout who also writes as bestselling author Jennifer Armintrout. CreateSpace, November 2014
FICTION
Sales: France – Bragelonne Italy – Newton Compton
– 10 –
First book in the Martine LeDuc series.
Mystery
ASYLUM by Jeannette de Beauvoir
A chilling mystery set in Montreal, featuring amateur sleuth Martine LeDuc and an investigation into the violent deaths of four women that are linked to a dark secret dating back almost half a century. Martine LeDuc is the director of PR for the mayor’s office in Montreal. When four women are found brutally murdered and shockingly posed on park benches throughout the city over several months, Martine’s boss fears a PR disaster for the still busy tourist season, and Martine is now also tasked with acting as liaison between the mayor and the police department. The women were of varying ages, backgrounds and body types and seemed to have nothing in common. Yet the macabre presentation of their bodies hints at a connection. Martine is paired with a young detective, Julian Fletcher, and together they dig deep into the city’s and the country’s past, only to uncover a dark secret dating back to the 1950s, when orphanages in Montreal and elsewhere were converted to asylums in order to gain more funding. The children were subjected to horrific experiments such as lobotomies, electroshock therapy, and psychotropic medication, and many of them died in the process. The survivors were supposedly compensated by the government for their trauma and the cases seem to have been settled. So who is bearing a grudge now, and why did these four women have to die? Not until Martine finds herself imprisoned in the terrifying steam tunnels underneath the old asylum does she put the pieces together. And it is almost too late for her... Jeannette de Beauvoir is an awardwinning author, novelist, and poet whose work has been translated into 12 languages and has appeared in 15 countries. She explores personal and moral questions through historical fiction, mysteries, and mainstream fiction. Home is an old sea captain’s house on the tip of Cape Cod, although she spends some part of every year in Montréal and in Great Britain.
“A string of murders in Montreal are linked to a dark era in Canada’s past when children were sent from orphanages to asylums. Gripping, dark and moving. Perfect for fans of historical crime.” – Kirkus – 11 –
FICTION
Minotaur Books, March 2015
Fantasy
VISION IN SILVER by Anne Bishop Once upon a time... Have you heard this story before? You have. All right, then. Oh, you want another story. Anne Bishop is the author of 17 novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. Her most recent novel is Vision in Silver (ROC March 2015), the 3rd book in Anne’s urban fantasy series set in a re-imagined Earth. She is currently working on the 4th book about the Others, to be published by Penguin/ ROC in Spring 2016.
The Others
The Black Jewels
– 12 –
Legend has it that Paxon Leah is descended from the royals and warriors who once ruled the Highlands and waged war with magical weapons.
Fantasy
THE HIGH DRUID’S BLADE by Terry Brooks
But those kings, queens, and heroes are long gone, and there is nothing enchanted about the antique sword that hangs above Paxon’s fireplace. Running his family’s modest shipping business, Paxon leads a quiet life—until extraordinary circumstances overturn his simple world... and rewrite his destiny. When his brash young sister is abducted by a menacing stranger, Paxon races to her rescue with the only weapon he can find. And in a harrowing duel, he is stunned to discover powerful magic unleashed within him—and within his ancestors’ ancient blade. But his formidable new ability is dangerous in untrained hands, and Paxon must master it quickly because his nearly fatal clash with the dark sorcerer Arcannen won’t be his last. Leaving behind home and hearth, he journeys to the keep of the fabled Druid order to learn the secrets of magic, and earn the right to become their sworn protector. But treachery is afoot deep in the Druids’ ranks. And the blackest of sorcery is twisting a helpless innocent into a murderous agent of evil. To halt an insidious plot that threatens not only the Druid order but all the Four Lands, Paxon Leah must summon the profound magic in his blood and the legendary mettle of his elders in the battle fate has chosen him to fight. Del Rey, September 2014 “High adventure, lots of action, and appealing [characters]... a good place for new readers to jump into the author’s world.” — Library Journal “Terry Brooks is a grandmaster of the fantasy genre, and his latest will both captivate and surprise readers... It’s truly magical.” — Associated Press
– 13 –
FICTION
“Brooks once again gifts readers with a breathless adventure in this new Shannara trilogy, the Defenders of Shannara. The action begins in the first chapter and doesn’t end until the last page.” — RT Book Reviews
Thriller
MEAN STREAK by Sandra Brown From Sandra Brown comes a heart-pounding story of survival, that takes the age-old question, Does the end justify the means? and turns it on its head. Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a pediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her. While police suspect Jeff of “instant divorce,” Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won’t even tell her his name. She’s determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive. Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can’t turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law. Wrong becomes right at the hands of the man who strikes fear, but also sparks passion. As her husband’s deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer from those who wish her dead - and from heartbreak. Combining the nail-biting suspense and potent storytelling that has made Sandra Brown one of the world’s best loved authors, Mean Streak is a wildly compelling novel about love, deceit, and the choices we must make in order to survive. Grand Central, October 2014 “Deft characterizations and eye for detail make this a winner... Satisfying, vintage Brown storytelling.” – Kirkus
FICTION
“Sandra Brown meticulously develops a stellar cast of characters, weaving them into a tense, gritty thriller that offers numerous plot twists leading to stunning revelations and a nailbiting conclusion.” – Publishers Weekly “Hair-raising... a perfect mix of thriller and romantic suspense.” – Boston Globe
– 14 –
A man is left to die in Alaska while on an “adventure vacation” and must somehow survive to get his revenge on those who betrayed him.
Thriller
IMPASSE by Royce Scott Buckingham
Forty and facing a mid-life crisis, Stu Stark has lost his mojo. He simply gave up after being fired from his prestigious job as a prosecuting attorney for losing the biggest case of his career. So when Stu’s best friend gifts him a one-week trip into the Alaskan wilderness to rediscover his manhood, Stu thinks it just might do him some good. But after a horrible week, Stu is crushed when he realizes that no one is coming back for him. Dying, Stu is found by a grizzled old hunter who informs that winter has set in, and they’re not going anywhere for a while. So begins Stu’s training to become the man he never was… and to get revenge on those who betrayed him. This adult debut by the internationally bestselling YA author is a modern day take on The Count of Monte Cristo. St. Martin’s Press, March 2015
In The Terminals, Buckingham tells the riveting story of a covert team of young, terminally ill teens who spend their last year alive running dangerous missions as superspies for an organization that may not be all it seems. For readers who want cinematic action and excitement without the fuss of character development. Thomas Dunne, October 2014 Age range: 14 and up
FICTION
– 15 –
Crime
WAYFARING STRANGER by James Lee Burke James Lee Burke knows evil. In his new novel, Burke, author of 20 Dave Robicheaux mysteries and numerous other works, explores the very idea of sin. Weldon Avery Holland is the protagonist and selfpossessed narrator of Wayfaring Stranger. He is 16 when he first encounters the dark side. It’s 1934. Bonnie and Clyde are hiding out briefly in the woods on his grandfather’s ranch. The young Holland falls hard for the pretty strawberry-blond outlaw. But he is his grandfather’s heir, and with a sense of justice that overtakes his infatuation, he ends up firing his grandfather’s revolver into their car as they flee. His story then jumps to 1944 with Holland now a second lieutenant in World War II. As German tanks sow terror, he saves the life of his sergeant, Hershel Pine. When they end up in a newly abandoned Nazi death camp, they also rescue a young woman, Rosita Lowenstein, whom Holland ends up marrying. Once the three are back home, Pine brings Holland in as a partner in his oil pipeline company. But along with his gratitude and intense loyalty, Pine has weaknesses. A genius where welding and steel are concerned, the country-innocent Pine is easily manipulated by his grasping and childlike wife, Linda. To help his friend — and possibly save the marriage — Holland ends up allying himself with a shady insurance man whose own war record was far from clean. As the two friends follow their fortunes, they find the postwar oil business to be as dangerous, and as deceptive, as any battle they have yet encountered, with rich and powerful competitors gunning to destroy their business. Simon & Schuster, July 2014 “One of his most powerful and ambitious novels to date.” – Associated Press
FICTION
“Burke seems to get better and better with every book. During the last few years in particular, he has opened up a larger canvas to paint brilliant allegorical plots – involving good and evil, money and power, Christianity and morality – and in some ways he has lifted the work above the level of crime fiction in a way that is more obvious to readers.” – Fox News “Wayfaring Stranger is, by any measure, a work cementing Burke into the pantheon of fine literature-makers.” – Kirkus
– 16 –
Identical twins, Sinéad and Sheila, have always done everything together and so, after graduating in millinery, they decide to open their own hat shop. It’s a small business but thanks to hard work and talent, they build up a loyal clientele. Then one day a glamorous young actress buys one of their hats, wears it to the Baftas and suddenly success seems guaranteed. But within weeks, tragedy strikes when Sheila disappears, and is presumed dead. After months of desolation, Sinéad is jst beginning to come to terms with her loss when she is given new hope: there has been a sighting of her sister.
Contemporary Women
FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN by Colette Caddle
While she is filled with excitement at the thought that Sheila might be alive, she is haunted by questions. Why would Sheila have deserted her twin without a word? After all, they had always told each other everything... hadn’t they? A compelling, emotional story from number one bestseller Colette Caddle. Simon & Schuster, Summer 2014 “Caddle can whip up a tremendous love story.” – Irish Independent “If you like Marian Keyes, you’ll love Colette Caddle.” – Company
FICTION
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Historical Thriller
BACK CHANNEL by Stephen L. Carter Stephen L. Carter, the author of this fictionalized account of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, is both a law professor at Yale and a prolific writer. His nonfiction books offer serious reflections on politics, race, religion and law. His novels — this is his 6th — are often fast-moving, fanciful looks at the upper levels of international politics. His new novel, Back Channel, re-imagines those harrowing days in October 1962 when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev sought to install nuclear missiles in Cuba, and President John F. Kennedy tried to stop him without sparking a nuclear World War III. The story also features a young heroine: Margo Jensen, an attractive, intelligent, 19-year-old student at Cornell who becomes the conduit between Kennedy and Khrushchev as both men struggle, rather blindly, to achieve their goals without blowing up the world. And how did this innocent young woman find herself at the center of that cosmic drama? At the outset, it involves a politically connected professor who is fond of her, and a trip to a chess competition in Bulgaria, where she hangs out with that troubled young genius, Bobby Fischer. She also meets a senior Soviet intelligence official who is a dove, by Kremlin standards, and who decides that Margo could be his back channel in negotiating with the White House as the missile crisis heats up. This leads to another complication. Kennedy is willing to discuss life-ordeath issues with Margo, but soon he’s hitting on her. He plays Sinatra records, loosens his tie, has a drink and offers her one, asks her to dance, tells her to call him Jack, and insists that they can be really good friends. As if the president’s amorous overtures weren’t trouble enough, hawks from both the United States and the Soviet Union find out about Margo’s peacemaking role, and soon she’s being chased, shot at, kidnapped and otherwise treated badly all over Washington. Back Channel features nicely observed characters as well as clever scenes of bureaucratic infighting.It is a smart, well written and well informed novel, if it’s a bit of a fairy tale, so be it.
FICTION
Knopf, September 2014 “Carter delivers a satisfying historical thriller with some terrific cliffhanging moments.” – Kirkus “What makes Carter such a pleasure to read is his skill at detailed historical portraits, closeups and wider shots, alongside surprising historical reinventions.” – SF Gate – 18 –
An exuberant novel in which a thirty-something year old woman embarks on a wilderness survival course and discovers that sometimes you have to leave things behind in order to find yourself. A year after getting divorced, Helen Carpenter, thirty-two, lets her annoying, ten years younger brother talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. It’s supposed to be a chance for her to pull herself together again, but when she discovers that her brother’s even-moreannoying best friend is also coming on the trip, she can’t imagine how it will be anything other than a disaster. Thus begins the strangest adventure of Helen’s well-behaved life: three weeks in the remotest wilderness of a mountain range in Wyoming where she will survive mosquito infestations, a surprise summer blizzard, and a group of sorority girls.
Contemporary Women
HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS by Katherine Center
Yet, despite everything, the vast wilderness has a way of making Helen’s own little life seem bigger, too. And, somehow the people who annoy her the most start teaching her the very things she needs to learn. Like how to stand up for herself. And how being scared can make you brave. And how sometimes you just have to get really, really lost before you can even have a hope of being found. St. Martin’s Griffin, March 2015 “Such a charming, heartfelt novel about a woman who needs to escape from her life in order to rebuild it. I read it all in one delicious gulp.” — Sarah Pekkanen, author of The Opposite of Me “Katherine Center has a unique talent for finding humor in the most unlikely scenarios... In the wholly refreshing Happiness for Beginners, she explores life’s messy moments with comic precision and proves that it is possible to make a fresh start—and find true love—in the midst of emotional disaster. Trust me; you’ll feel this satisfying novel deep in your bones.” — Jillian Medoff, bestselling author of I Couldn’t Love You More
FICTION
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Contemporary Women
THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION by Darcie Chan Darcie Chan returns to the enchanting town of Mill River in a novel of family, self-discovery, and forgiveness. Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy. Josie is starting over. Recently widowed, she has fled her New York City home with her two young daughters: spirited Rose and shy Emily. She takes refuge in Mill River, Vermont, to live with her only remaining relative, Ivy, the local bookstore owner and a woman Josie barely knows. There, the young mother and her girls build a new life for themselves, until a shocking tragedy tears the sisters apart. Years later, Josie’s still-estranged daughters return to the quiet town for the reading of their mother’s will, which stipulates that they must work together to locate a hidden key to a safedeposit box containing their inheritance. Even from the great beyond, it seems Josie will do anything to bring about her daughters’ reconciliation. Having no choice but to go along with their mother’s final wishes, Rose and Emily move back to Mill River for the summer to begin the search—discovering that, in the close-knit community known for magic and miracles, an even greater treasure awaits them. Ballantine Books, September 2014 “Delving into the complicated roles of siblings, parents, and neighbors, Chan gives each Mill River character a powerful role in refining and influencing these dynamics.” — New York Journal of Books “Readers looking for a feel-good book about small towns and family bonds won’t be disappointed by Chan’s latest.” — Kirkus Reviews “An engrossing page-turner, reeling readers in further with each layer that’s revealed... a satisfying read with sympathetic and relatable characters that will be good for book group discussions and vacation reading.” — Library Journal
FICTION
“Charming... compelling... Slow reveals and dramatic twists proliferate.” — Booklist
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Jennifer Chance unleashes her hot new series with the tale of a smoldering rock star, and the fangirl who catches his eye—and finds herself living out her wildest dreams. Lacey is a total pro at the talent agency where she works, and it doesn’t hurt that IMO Worldwide Media represents Dante Falcone.
New Adult
ROCK IT by Jennifer Chance
The rock god has starred in her fantasies since she was sixteen—and remains her secret crush to this day. So when Dante picks her to be the interim manager on his Dream It tour, Lacey can’t believe her luck. Handling Dante is sure to be the most exquisite, spine-tingling, nerve-wracking mix of business and pleasureever. Although Dante is grateful for the adoring fans who scream for one more of his full-throttle, soul-searing songs, being surrounded by a cadre of corporate types backstage is wearing thin. Then Lacey shows up. Yeah, she’s organized, smart, quick to get him what he wants before he knows he wants it—but Dante senses there’s something else going on with sweet, sexy Lacey. One kiss tells him what that something might be... and makes him hungry for more. Loveswept, September 2014 “An amazing cast of characters, strong writing, a plot that most women have dreamed of at some time in their life, and all the sexiness that comes with a rock and roll hero make Rock It by Jennifer Chance a chart topper worthy of a Grammy!” — Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews “Rock It is perfect for those of us who like our books the way we like our rockers: smart, sexy, sweet, and a damn good time!” — New York Times bestselling author Lexi Ryan “A true feel-good romance novel, with some hot and steamy sex scenes.” — Cocktails and Books
FICTION
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Contemporary Women
INSIDE THESE WALLS by Rebecca Coleman There is only one day, and I live it over and over… For Clara, routine is the key to enduring the endless weeks, months and years of a life sentence in a women’s prison. Survival is a day-to-day game. When Inside These Walls first opens, Clara has served 25 years of a life sentence for murder. Although a movie has been made about the crimes and despite numerous media requests, she has never granted a single interview. An unexpected visitor is the impetus behind her decision to cooperate with Karen Shepard, the journalist who is writing a memoir about Clara’s long ago boyfriend and partner in crime Ricky Rowan. Clara’s past is slowly exposed through her letters to Karen and her own unflinchingly honest reflections. She takes full responsibility for her past mistakes but some truths are revealed a little too late and a relationship Clara has grown to cherish is threatened. Completely captivating from beginning to end, and narrated in first person by the protagonis, this insightful story is a candid portrayal of a life gone tragically wrong.
Inside These Walls is a beautifully written story of love, forgiveness and ultimately, redemption. Coleman brings you the haunting story of a woman’s deepest passions, darkest regrets and her unforgettable and emotional journey toward redemption. Perfect for fans of Netflix’s Orange is the New Black. Harlequin MIRA, September 2014
FICTION
“Coleman writes with a flair for capturing the underbelly of the human psyche and the allconsuming nature of desire.” - BookPage
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Thriller
JURASSIC PARK & THE LOST WORLD by Michael Crichton From master thriller writer Michael Crichton: imaginative masterpieces of speculative science, full of adventure and larger-than-life characters. In Jurassic Park, scientists of today clone dinosaurs of the prehistoric past to serve as attractions in a modern theme park.
FICTION
The Lost World picks up the story six years later, with scientists scrambling to find the jungle island that served as the dinosaur production factory for Jurassic Park.
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Spy
A COLDER WAR by Charles Cumming From the winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2012 for Best Thriller of the Year, comes a gripping and suspenseful new spy novel. Perfect for fans of John le Carré. Tom Kell, from A Foreign Country, in a tour de force that will dazzle readers and critics alike. A top-ranking Iranian military official is blown up while trying to defect to the West. An investigative journalist is arrested and imprisoned for writing an article critical of the Turkish government. An Iranian nuclear scientist is assassinated on the streets of Tehran. These three incidents, seemingly unrelated, have one crucial link. Each of the three had been recently recruited by Western intelligence, before being removed or killed. Then Paul Wallinger, MI6’s most senior agent in Turkey, dies in a puzzling plane crash. Fearing the worst, MI6 bypasses the usual protocol and brings disgraced agent Tom Kell in from the cold to investigate. Kell soon discovers what Wallinger had already begun to suspect—that there’s a mole somewhere in the Western intelligence, a traitor who has been systematically sabotaging scores of joint intelligence operations in the Middle East. St. Martin’s Press, October 2014 Third in the Thomas Kell series, A SPY DIVIDED, due in Fall 2016. Sales: Bulgaria – Obsidian Denmark – Rosinante France – Le Masque Germany – Goldmann Greece – Modern Times Japan – Hayakawa Norway – Gyldendal Spain – RBA Libros UK – HarperCollins “Charles Cumming’s spy thriller links the past and the present.” – The New York Times
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FICTION
“An espionage maestro... The levels of psychological insight are married to genuine narrative acumen – but anyone who has read his earlier books will expect no less.” – Independent
Adventure
THE EYE OF HEAVEN by Clive Cussler The outstanding new Fargo adventure from the international–bestselling author. Baffin Island: Husband-and-wife team Sami and Remi Fargo are on a climate-control expedition in the Arctic, when to their astonishment they discover a Viking ship in the ice, perfectly preserved—and filled with pre–Columbian artifacts from Mexico. How can that be? As they plunge into their research, tantalizing clues about a link between the Vikings and the legendary Toltec feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl—and a fabled object known as the Eye of Heaven—begin to emerge. But so do many dangerous people. Soon the Fargos find themselves on the run through jungles, temples, and secret tombs, caught between treasure hunters, crime cartels, and those with a far more personal motivation for stopping them. At the end of the road will be the solution to a thousand-year-old mystery—or death.
FICTION
Putnam Adult, September 2014
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“Old-school horror at its best. Not for the faint-hearted, but for the rest of us sick puppies, it’s a perfect gift.” — Stephen King
Horror
THE DEEP by Nick Cutter
From the acclaimed author of The Troop—comes this utterly terrifying novel where The Abyss meets The Shining. A plague is destroying the world’s population. The ‘Gets makes people forget. First it’s the small things, like where you left your keys... then the not-so-small things, like how to drive. And finally your body forgets how to live. But now an unknown substance with extraordinary power to heal has been discovered in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Nicknamed ambrosia, it might just be the miracle cure the world has been praying for. A research lab has been established eight miles below the sea’s surface, but all contact with the team has been lost. Dr Luke Nelson’s brother is down there and as desperation for a cure outweighs common sense, he agrees to descend through the lightless fathoms... perhaps to face an evil blacker than anything he could have imagined. Part horror, part psychological nightmare, The Deep is a novel that fans of Stephen King and Clive Barker won’t want to miss—especially if you’re afraid of the dark. Gallery (Simon & Schuster) February 2015 Sales: UK – Headline Germany – Heyne “Some thrillers produce shivers, others trigger goose bumps; Cutter’s graphic offering will have readers jumping out of their skin.” — Kirkus Reviews “Suspenseful... sinister... horrifying.” — Library Journal “This is proper horror.” — SFX Nick Cutter is the pseudonym for Craig Davidson. He is the author of Rust and Bone, which has been made into a major feature film of the same name starring Marion Cotillard, and The Fighter (Penguin Canada and Soho Press).
FICTION
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Historical Crime
HAVANA SLEEPING by Martin Davies Murder, slavery and intrigue confront a British diplomat posted to Cuba. Havana in the 1850s is a city as dangerous as it is exotic. The murder of a humble night watchman at the British Consulate seems to worry neither the Consul nor the police. But one person cared for the old man. The enigmatic courtesan Leonarda will not rest until she understands the mystery of his death. In wintry England, George Backhouse is plucked from obscurity in the Foreign Office and given an unexpected promotion. His task: to travel to Cuba and take a stand against the illegal slave trade still flourishing there. But Havana is a tinderbox of intrigue. As the great powers of the region conspire against each other with increasing ruthlessness for control of the island, Backhouse comes to see that the most innocent of actions could spark a devastating war. To protect their interests, the powers-that-be in Whitehall are prepared to turn a blind eye to many things. Leonarda will not. But what of George Backhouse? Hodder & Stoughton, August 2014 Translation rights in Martin’s previous books have now been sold in: • Germany • Sweden • Poland • France • Italy • Portugal • Greece • Korea • Russia • Serbia • Turkey • Holland “A compelling and highly readable narrative... Davies proves to be a master of the evocative.” – Observer “The storytelling is masterly. A beautifully evoked narrative from the past.” – Evening Standard
FICTION
“A pacy confection of history, mystery and romance... a most engaging and unusual novel.” – Guardian
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A beautiful and touching life of salmon.
Literary
THE SALMON WHO DARED TO LEAP by Ahn Do-hyeon Translated by Deborah Smith
Salmon is the leading title of Munhakdongne’s Fables for Adults series. By depicting the life of the salmon, which swims upstream to its native river and then dies after spawning, it demonstrates allegorically the preciousness of life. Salmon is a story about the pain and glory of growing up and about aching and ardent love. Salmon tells the growth of a fish named Silver Salmon, who, while returning to his distant mother stream with his friends, loses a sister, falls in love with Clear-eyed Salmon, and ascends a waterfall. The beautiful fate of salmon, which die shortly after spawning, is fused into a warm and moving style of writing that leads the reader into a mysterious, hidden world. A “novel-like fable” and a “fable-like novel,” Salmon deals with a weighty theme, delving into the true nature of life and the pain of existence. Swimming upstream to one’s native river means pursuing something one cannot see, pursuing a dream -- it is an excruciatingly hard but beautiful goal. Silver Salmon’s realization that the purpose of his existence is to protect others here and now, to act as a support for others and not think of himself, provides a humble view of life. Only those salmon that possess the gift of seeing the world in a beautiful light are able to fall in love and have the longing to become bound to the heart of another, to become a deep memory that can never be erased. Eyes that long to see that which is not visible, eyes that know how to visualize that which cannot be seen - such are “eyes of the heart.” Silver Salmon’s love invites us to recover our own “eyes of the heart” so that we can pursue the pure and innocent love we have either forgotten or lost in the face of the binding realities of life. Pan Macmillan, Winter 2015 Sales: France – Philippe Picquier Japan – Seishun Publishing Germany – Suhrkamp Insel Verlag Turkey – Dogan Egmont China – Huazhong University of Science and Technology Taiwan – Rye Field Vietnam – Nja Nam
FICTION
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Literary
NUMERO ZERO by Umberto Eco [ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO PRINT] Disquieting and ironic, the novel projects us into a narrative driven by real events: sometimes harrowing, sometimes grotesque – from our own history. A story of a mish-mash of journalists who cobble together a daily paper concerned not so much with information, but blackmail, mudslinging, and cheap stories. A paranoid staff writer who, roaming round a hallucinatory Milan (or hallucinating in a normal Milan), reconstructs 50 years of history in the light of a sulphurous plot built around the putrefying corpse of a pseudo Mussolini. In the shadows lurk the secret right-wing organization known as Gladio, the P2 Masonic lodge, the supposed murder of Pope John Paul I, the coup d’état planned by Prince Junio Valerio Borghese, the CIA, red terrorists manoeuvred by the secret services, and 20 years of slaughter and smoke screens. A set of inexplicable events that seem pure fantasy until a BBC programme proves they are true, or at least that the perpetrators have confessed to them by now. A corpse that suddenly shows up in Milan’s narrowest and most disreputable street. A tenuous love story between two born losers, a failed ghost writer and a disturbing girl who in order to help her family has dropped out of university to specialize in gossip about romantic attachments, but who still cries when she listens to Beethoven’s Seventh. A perfect manual of bad journalism in which the reader gradually begins to wonder whether it is all make believe or simply true to life.
FICTION
A story that unfolds in 1992, a year that foreshadowed many mysteries and follies of the successive 20 years, just as the two protagonists think that the nightmare is over. A bitter and grotesque episode that takes place in Europe in the period spanning the end of the war, and the present day – and one that will leave the reader feeling every bit as much of a loser as the two protagonists. Bompiani, January 2015 – 30 –
For readers of Amy Bloom and Meg Wolitzer, this is a gripping and ultimately redemptive novel of love and its dangers, marriage and its secrets, youth and its treacherous mistakes. A Small Indiscretion fixes an unflinching eye on the power of desire and the danger of obsession as it unfolds the story of one woman’s reckoning with a youthful mistake. Annie trades a bleak future in a dead-end hometown for a London winter of drinking and abandon. Some two decades later, she is married to a good man and settled in San Francisco, with a son and two daughters, and a successful career designing artistic interior lights. One June morning, a photograph arrives in her mailbox, igniting an old longing and setting off a chain of events that rocks the foundations of her marriage, and threatens to overturn her family’s hard won happiness.
Contemporary Women
A SMALL INDISCRETION by Jan Ellison
The novel interrogates the nature of memory as it moves between Annie’s present life in San Francisco and that distant winter in Europe. The two worlds converge, then explode, when the adult Annie flies to London seeking answers, her indiscretions come to light, and an early morning phone call brings shocking news of her son. Now she must fight to save her family by confronting her own transgressions and piecing together the mystery of her past—the fateful collision of liberation, a bandon and desire that drew an invisible map of her future. A Small Indiscretion is a riveting debut novel about a woman’s search for understanding and forgiveness, a taut exploration of a modern marriage, and of love—the kind that destroys, and the kind that redeems. Random House, January 2015 Sales: Brazil – Novo Conceito Germany – Suhrkamp “An engrossing, believable, gracefully written family drama that reveals our past’s bare-knuckle grip on our present.” — Emma Donoghue, author “Like the photograph that arrives in the mail and sets the plot of this gorgeous novel in motion, A Small Indiscretion reminds us of the intensity of youthful desire and of the fragile nature of a marriage built on secrecy.” — Ann Packer, author
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FICTION
“The impact of narrator Annie’s small indiscretion is anything but; and in a brilliantly paced unraveling, Ellison makes vivid the sometimes tragic interplay of choice and fate, lust and love, youth and adulthood—which can bring its own mistakes. Absorbing, chilling, and moving, this is the debut of an elegant writer who will be known and admired from the start.” — Robin Black, author
Literary
THE HIGH DIVIDE by Lin Enger In 1886, Gretta wakes one morning to discover that her husband is gone. Ulysses has left his family behind on the far edge of Minnesota’s western prairie with only the briefest of notes and no explanation for why he left or where he’s headed. It doesn’t take long for Gretta’s young sons, Eli and Danny, to set off after him, following the scant clues they can find, jumping trains to get where they need to go, and ending up in the rugged badlands of Montana. Gretta has no choice but to search for her sons and her husband, leading her to the doorstep of a woman who seems intent on making Ulysses her own. Meanwhile, the boys find that the closer they come to Ulysses’ trail, the greater the perils that confront them, until each is faced with a choice about whom he will defend, and who he will become. Enger’s breathtaking portrait of the vast plains landscape is matched by the rich expanse of his characters’ emotional terrain, as pivotal historical events: the bloody turmoil of expansionism, the near total demise of the bison herds, and the subjugation of the Plains Indians, blend seamlessly with the intimate story of a family’s sacrifice and devotion. Algonquin Books, October 2014 “Lin Enger sets out from the conventions of the traditional Western and brings the reader into new emotional territory, that of the soul of an exquisitely drawn family. Told with caring patience and precise language, The High Divide is a novel to get lost in.” — James Scott, author of The Kept “The High Divide, a novel about a family in peril, is haunting and tense but leavened by considerable warmth and humanity. Lin Enger writes with durable grace about a man’s quest for redemption and the human capacity for forgiveness.” — Benjamin Percy, author of Red Moon “This masterfully told Western reinvention of Homer’s Odyssey... Set against a backdrop of beauty and danger, this is the moving story of a man coming to terms with his past. In its narrative simplicity and emotional directness, it is reminiscent of John Ford’s classic The Searchers.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
FICTION
“Enger’s novel is told in beautifully exact, liquid language that wastes no time, just as one cannot afford to waste time when making a journey such as Ulysses. Highly recommended.” — Library Journal, starred review
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Intimate, intense, and written with the precision of a Swiss Army knife, poet Jill Alexander Essbaum’s debut novel is an unforgettable story of marriage, fidelity, sex, morality, and, most especially, self. Anna Benz is an electrifying heroine whose passions and choices readers will debate with recognition and fury. Random House, March 2015 “With an elegance, precision and surehandedness that recalls Marguerite Duras’s The Lover and Anita Brookner’s Hotel du Lac, Jill Alexander Essbaum gives us this exquisite tale of an expatriate American wife living in Switzerland and her sexual and psychic unraveling. Hausfrau stuns with its confidence and severe beauty, its cascading insights into the uses of erotic life and the nature of secrets, the urgency of compulsion and the difficulty of freedom. A rare and remarkable debut.” – Janet Fitch, #1 New York Times bestselling author of White Oleander
Contemporary Women
HAUSFRAU by Jill Alexander Essbaum
“I was mesmerized by this book. Hausfrau creates a complete, engrossing and particular world where nothing is as easy as ‘it should be,’ according to the hopeful stories we tell ourselves. It’s a corrective novel, taking character, destiny and our choices as seriously as a novelist can.” – Sheila Heti, author of How Should a Person Be? Sales: UK – Macmillan Czech Republic – Euromedia the Netherlands – De Arbeiderspers France – Albin Michel Germany – Eichborn Israel – Yediot Italy – Feltrinelli Poland – Sonia Draga Brazil – Casa da Palavra Serbia – Vulkan Slovak Republic – Ikar Spain – Lumen/Random House Spain Sweden – Brombergs
FICTION
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Historical Romance
BEATRICE AND BENEDICK by Marina Fiorato The 6th unforgettable historical love story set in Italy from Marina Fiorato, internationally bestselling author of The Venetian Bargain. For fans of Philippa Gregory, Sarah Dunant, Tracy Chevalier and Alison Weir. Hidden in the language of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy Much Ado About Nothing, are several clues to an intriguing tale. It seems that the witty lovers Beatrice and Benedick had a previous youthful love affair which ended bitterly. But how did they meet, why did they part, and what brought them together again? Messina, Sicily, 1588. Beatrice of Mantua comes to the court of her uncle Leonato, to be companion to his daughter, Hero. That fateful summer, Spanish lordling Don Pedro visits for a month-long sojourn on the island with his regiment. In his company is the young soldier Benedick of Padua. Benedick and Beatrice begin to wage their merry war of wit, which masks the reality that they dance a more serious measure, and the two are soon deeply in love. But the pair are cruelly parted by natural disaster and manmade misunderstanding. Oceans apart, divided by war and slander, Beatrice and Benedick begin their ten-year odyssey back to Messina and each other. In a journey that takes us from sunlit Sicily to the crippled Armada fleet and from ancient superstition to the glorious Renaissance cities of the north, Marina Fiorato tells a story of intrigue, treachery and betrayal that will shed a new light on Shakespeare’s most appealing lovers. Hodder & Stoughton, September 2014 Sales: Germany – Goldman Limes Italy – Editrice Nord Norway – Vega Forlag Holland – Artemis Turkey – Beyaz Balina Yalinlari Hungary – Nouvion Bulgaria – Kragozor
FICTION
“Captures the scents, passion and vigour of Italy.” – Booklist
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Meet the Cooke family: mother and dad, brother Lowell, sister Fern, and our narrator, Rosemary, who begins her story in the middle. She has her reasons.
Literary
WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES by Karen Joy Fowler
“I spent the first eighteen years of my life defined by this one fact: that I was raised with a chimpanzee,” she tells us. “It’s never going to be the first thing I share with someone. I tell you Fern was a chimp and already you aren’t thinking of her as my sister. But until Fern’s expulsion, I’d scarcely known a moment alone. She was my twin, my funhouse mirror, my whirlwind other half, and I loved her as a sister.” A Marian Wood Book/Putnam, May 2013 Sales: UK – Serpent’s Tail Germany – Goldmann Israel – Kinneret Czech Republic – Albatros Turkey – Aylak Kitap Italy – Ponte alle Grazie Spain (Catalan) – La Magrana Bulgaria – Soft Press Brazil – Rocco Finland – Tammi/Bonnier Sweden – Kalla Kulor Forlag
Shortlisted for the 2014 Man Booker Prize Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Winner of the 83rd Annual California Book Award’s Gold Medal An Indie Next Pick • Finalist for the Nebula Award Optioned for a TV mini-series • ELLE Magazine’s Reader’s Prize
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FICTION
Named a Best of 2013 pick by: The New York Times Book Review, Slate, Newsday, Chicago Tribune, San Jose Mercury News, The Christian Science Monitor, Library Journal, and BookPage.
Thriller
ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE GENEVA STRATEGY by Jamie Freveletti On one evening in Washington, DC, several high-ranking members of government disappear in a mass kidnapping. Among the kidnapped is Nick Rendel, a computer software coding expert in charge of drone programming and strategy. He is the victim with the most dangerous knowledge, including confidential passwords and codes that are used to program the drones. If revealed, his kidnappers could reprogram the drones to strike targets within the United States. Jon Smith and the Covert One team begin a worldwide search to recover the officials, but as the first kidnapping victims are rescued, they show disturbing signs of brainwashing or mindaltering drugs. Smith’s investigation leads him to a researcher, Dr. Laura Taylor, who had been attempting to create a drug to wipe memory from soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. But Dr. Taylor’s research was suspended almost a year ago, when she was placed in a mental institution. Now, if Smith doesn’t figure out the brainwashing drug, and track down the kidnapped Nick Rendel, the kidnappers will soon have the power to carry out drone strikes anywhere in the world Grand Central, March 2015 JAMIE FREVELETTI is the internationally bestselling author of thrillers Running from the Devil, Running Dark, and The Ninth Day. A trial attorney with a diploma in international studies, she is an avid distance runner and holds a black belt in Aikido, a Japanese martial art. ROBERT LUDLUM was the author of 27 novels. There are more than 225 million of his books in print, and they have been translated into 32 languages. He is the author of The Scarlatti Inheritance, The Chancellor Manuscript, and the Jason Bourne series. “Freveletti lends her imaginative talents to the Covert One series with a book that is nearly impossible to put down and moves at the speed of light.” – BookReporter.com “Freveletti gives us a fast moving, well-written thriller.” – Booklist
FICTION
“Freveletti turbocharges tension to nonstop levels in this Covert-One thriller.” – Kirkus Reviews
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The Italian Wife is a powerful love story about a strong-minded young woman who fights to discover the truth about her husband’s death and in doing so risks her own life. Mussolini’s Italy is growing from strength to strength, but at what cost? One bright autumn morning, architect Isabella Berotti sits at a café in the vibrant centre of Bellina, when a woman she’s never met asks her to watch her tenyear-old daughter, just for a moment. Reluctantly, Isabella agrees – and then watches in horror as the woman climbs to the top of the town’s clock tower and steps over the edge.
Historical Romance
THE ITALIAN WIFE by Kate Furnivall
This tragic encounter draws vivid memories to the surface, forcing Isabella to probe deeper into the secrets of her own past as she tries to protect the young girl from the authorities. Together with charismatic photographer Roberto Falco, Isabella is about to discover that secrets run deeper, and are more dangerous, than either of them could have possibly imagined... From the glittering marble piazzas, to the picturesque hillside villages and winding streets of Rome, Kate Furnivall’s epic new novel will take you on an breathtaking journey of intrigue, romance and betrayal. Sphere, June 2015
FICTION
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Historical Fantasy
OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON 25 MILLION COPIES SOLD 30 TRANSLATIONS A MEGA HIT TV SERIES
What if your future was the past? For Claire Randall, it is. A former combat nurse, she is no 1940’s damsel. Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire’s destiny is soon inextricably intertwined betweentwo vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.
FICTION
Sales: France – J’ai Lu, Turkey – Epsilon Italy – Corbaccio Thailand – Amarin Bulgaria – Pro Films Spain – Salamandra Germany – Blanvalet Finland – Gummerus Israel – Kinneret Zmora Vietnam – Dinh Ti Books Indonesia – Gagas Media
Poland – Swiat ksiazki Russia – Eksmo Sweden – Stockholm Text Portugal – Casa das Letras Estonia – Varrak Publishers Norway – Storyside (Audio) Denmark – Storyside (Audio) French Canada – Groupe Librex Brazil – Saida de Emergencia/Sextante the Netherlands – Meulenhoff Boekerij UK & Commonwealth – Random House – 38 –
On a beautifully restored barge moored on the Seine, Jean Perdu runs a bookshop, or more accurately a “literary apothecary”, for this bookseller has a rare gift for sensing precisely which book will soothe the troubled souls of each and every customer. The only person he is unable to cure, it seems, is himself.
Literary
THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP by Nina George
He has been nursing a broken heart ever since the fateful night, 21 years ago, when the love of his life fled Paris, leaving behind her only a letter that he has never dared open. His memories and his love have been gathering dust, until now. The unexpected arrival of a tearful, mysterious new neighbour at his eclectic apartment building in rue Montagnard, inspires Jean to put aside his loneliness, unlock his heart and set off for Provence, in search of the past and his beloved. Crown, Spring 2015 Sales: Bulgaria – Sluntse Croatia – Mozaik Knjiga Czech Republic – Moba Slovak Republic – Remedium Greece – Klidarithmos Hungary – Maxim Konyvkiado Israel – Modan Latvia – Zvaigzne Lithuania – Alma Littera Russia – Azbooka-Atticus Slovenia – Ucila UK – Abacus Finland – Bazar France – Editions Leduc Germany – Droemer the Netherlands – Luitingh-Sijthoff Italy – Sperling & Kupfer Norway – Cappelen Damm Poland – Otwarte Spain – Penguin Random House Sweden – Bazar
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Science Fiction
THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson William Gibson returns with his first novel since 2010’s Zero History. Where Flynne and her brother, Burton, live, jobs outside the drug business are rare. Fortunately, Burton has his veteran’s benefits, for neural damage he suffered from implants during his time in the USMC’s elite Haptic Recon force. Then one night Burton has to go out, but there’s a job he’s supposed to do—a job Flynne didn’t know he had. Beta-testing part of a new game, he tells her. The job seems to be simple: work a perimeter around the image of a tower building. Little buglike things turn up. He’s supposed to get in their way, edge them back. That’s all there is to it. He’s offering Flynne a good price to take over for him. What she sees, though, isn’t what Burton told her to expect. I t might be a game, but it might also be murder. Putnam, October 2014 “Spectacular, a piece of trenchant, far-future speculation that features all the eyeball kicks of Neuromancer and all the maturity and sly wit of Spook Country. It’s brilliant.” — Cory Doctorow “To read Gibson is to read the present as if it were the future.” — The New York Times “Gibson’s radar is deftly tuned to the changes in the culture that many of us are missing.” — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “One of the most visionary, original, and quietly influential writers currently working.” — The Boston Globe “Like Pynchon and DeLillo, Gibson excels at pinpointing the hidden forces that shape our world.” — Details
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William Gibson is the author of Neuromancer, Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive, Burning Chrome, Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tomorrow’s Parties, Pattern Recognition, Spook Country, Zero History, and Distrust That Particular Flavor. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife.
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What happens when you can’t see that the man you married is actually the one you love? For her whole life Nina Findlay has been in a love triangle with two Italian brothers, Paolo, whom she married, and Luca, with whom she was always in love and who remained her best friend throughout her marriage. Now Nina faces the future alone — estranged from Luca and separated from Paolo, she escapes to the tiny Greek island where she honeymooned twenty-five years earlier.
Literary
THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF NINA FINDLAY by Andrea Gillies
After an accident she finds herself in the hospital telling her life story to an eagerly attentive doctor. As their conversations unfold she comes to understand the twists and turns of her romantic life and the unconscious influence of her parents’ marriage on her own. Other Press, May 2015 “[A] sure, poised, relentlessly honest novel that carries the reader through multiple layers of deception and revelation, showing us the hidden heartbreak in families and marriage.” — Fernanda Eberstadt “Gillies writes magnificently on everything she touches.” — Sunday Times “The Enlightenment of Nina Findlay moves backward and forward across several decades, uncovering intergenerational secrets and the holes in the stories people tell themselves.” — The Guardian “An intelligent, thoughtful, grown-up romance about second chances and the complications of relationships.” — The Herald (Scotland)
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FICTION
“Romance is everywhere, there is love — filial, parental, platonic, amorous — and flirting and coupling and unraveling. But The Enlightenment of Nina Findlay is not chick lit. There’s a provocative intelligence in Gillies’s tale that challenges perceptions and beliefs about love, honesty, and betrayal.” — Bookanista
Crime
THE FRIENDSHIP OF CRIMINALS by Robert Glinski A riveting debut, a page-turner that gives bad guys a good name. Everyone knows not to mess with the Poles... For decades Anton Bielakowski has managed Port Richmond’s underworld. A butcher by day and a shrewd, calculating businessman by night, he’s maintained power and the safety of his community with cold efficiency and violent retribution when called for. It’s served him well until now. When Raymond Rea seizes power of the local mob, he makes it clear that no one in Philadelphia is exempt from his rule. An alliance with the War Boys - a local gang - has for the first time given him the deep pockets needed to enforce those threats. That is unless Anton can mobilize his own cohort of associates, including his old running partner Sonny Bonhardt, the residents of Port Richmond, and maybe even some respected rivals, to take Rea down and restore balance, if not order, to the various criminal elements. Minotaur Books, March 2015 “First rate urban crime… maybe a future classic.” — Lee Child “A fresh, original, and totally enteraining view of mob relations in today’s world. These characters don’t just sing—they’re doing high opera: real, funny, dangerous, smart, and always fascinating.” — John Lescroart
FICTION
“The Friendship of Criminals is a throwback crime tale in the best possible way, a page-turner with the breadth and scope of an epic—one of those novels you tear through in one sitting and come up screaming for more.” — Owen Laukkanen
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Crime
RUN by Andrew Grant For fans of Harlan Coben’s Tell No One and Joseph Finder’s Paranoia—a high-octane thriller featuring a tech consultant who unwittingly steps into the rabbit hole of corporate cover-ups—and finds that his highly demanding job has suddenly become highly dangerous. From Andrew Grant, the critically acclaimed author hailed by Nelson DeMille as “a little bit of le Carré and Ian Fleming, but with more grit and a sharper edge,” comes a thrilling new novel of suspense that hits the ground running when an innocent man suddenly finds himself a moving target. Marc Bowman, a highly successful computer consultant and software designer, walks into his job at a major tech company one morning only to find himself fired on the spot, stonewalled by his boss, and ushered out of the building. Then things get worse: An explosive argument drives his wife away and a robbery threatens to yank a million-dollar idea—and his whole future—out from under him. In a matter of hours, Marc has gone from having it all to being sucker-punched by fate. But it’s only Monday, and before the week is over, he’ll be stalked, ambushed, wiretapped, arrested, duped, double- and triple-crossed—until he can’t tell enemies from allies. Suddenly, the only thing standing between him and the wrath of everyone from the FBI to Homeland Security to his desperate ex-bosses is a flash drive full of data that might just be the holy grail of high-tech secrets—and a holy terror in the wrong hands. Now, as the gloves come off and the guns come out, turning back is hopeless and giving up is madness. The only person left for Marc to trust is himself. And the only thing left to do is keep running—or end up a dead man walking. Ballantine Books, October 2014 “Smart, intricate, dizzying, Run reads with the velocity of data over a high-speed line. Nothing is quite what it seems in this deftly written, twisty tale.” — Andrew Gross “A pulse-pounding technothriller… For sheer nonstop action and suspense in the Harlan Coben mode, Grant ranks high, with another page-turner here.” — Library Journal “Smart, fast, and blazing with nonstop surprises, Run owned me from the first page and, man, those pages kept turning! A perfect thriller.” – Robert Crais
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Grant’s next novel, EDGE OF OBLIVION, to be published by Ballantine Books in February 2016.
Crime
THE OUTCAST DEAD by Elly Griffiths Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway has excavated a body from the grounds of Norwich Castle, once a prison. The body may be that of Victorian murderess Jemima Green. Called Mother Hook for her claw-like hand, Jemima was hanged for the murder of five children. DCI Harry Nelson has no time for long-ago killers. Investigating the case of three infants found dead, one after the other, in their King’s Lynn home, he’s convinced that their mother is responsible. Then a child goes missing. Could the abduction be linked to the long-dead Mother Hook? Ruth is pulled into the case, and back towards Nelson.
A Ruth Galloway Investigation, Book # 6 Quercus, July 2014
THE ZIG ZAG GIRL A magical new crime series, set in the 50s.
FICTION
When the body of a girl is found, cut into three, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens is reminded of a magic trick, the Zig Zag Girl. The inventor of the trick, Max Mephisto, is an old friend of Edgar’s. They served together in the war as part of a shadowy unit called the Magic Men. Max is still on the circuit, touring seaside towns in the company of ventriloquists, sword-swallowers and dancing girls. Changing times mean that variety is not what it once was, yet Max is reluctant to leave this world to help Edgar investigate. But when the dead girl turns out to be known to him, Max changes his mind. Elly Griffiths was born in London. She read English at King’s College, London and worked in publishing for many years. She lives near Brighton with her husband, an archaeologist, and their two children. Quercus, November 2014 – 44 –
From the author of The Sweetness of Forgetting, named one of the Best Books of Summer 2012 by Marie Claire magazine, comes a captivating novel about the struggle to overcome the past when our memories refuse to be forgotten. In this richly told story where Sliding Doors meets P.S. I Love You, Kristin Harmel weaves a heart-wrenching tale that asks: what does it take to move forward in life without forgetting the past? After her husband’s sudden death over ten years ago, Kate never expected to be lucky enough to find another love of her life. But now she’s planning her second walk down the aisle to a perfectly nice man. So why isn’t she more excited?
Contemporary Women
THE LIFE INTENDED by Kristin Harmel
At first, Kate blames her lack of sleep on stress. But when she starts seeing Patrick, her late husband, in her dreams, she begins to wonder if she’s really ready to move on. Is Patrick trying to tell her something? Attempting to navigate between dreams and reality, Kate must uncover her husband’s hidden message. Her quest leads her to a sign language class and into the New York City foster system, where she finds rewards greater than she could have imagined. Gallery Books, January 2015 “Enthralling novel, full of twists and turns that add to the drama and keeps the tale moving along.” – Fresh Fiction “Kristin Harmel’s novels are written with a lot of heart and soul. She has a way of bringing the reader into her stories in such a powerful way that they can often forget they’re reading at all.” – Romantic Times “Kristin Harmel... [is] one of my favorite authors!” – Emily Giffin Sales:
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NA – Gallery Books UK – Quercus Brazil – Novo Conceito France – Denoel Germany – Blanvalet Holland – Orlando Israel – Armchair Italy – Garzanti Norway – Cappelen Damm Portugal – Porto Russia – Sindbad Spain – Planeta Turkey – Marti Yayinlari – 45 –
Contemporary Romance
THE STORIES WE TELL by Patti Callahan Henry A tense family drama about secrets and lies, and the cost of finally telling the truth. Eve and Cooper Morrison are Savannah’s power couple. They’re on every artistic board and deeply involved in the community. She owns and operates a letterpress studio specializing in the handmade; he runs a digital magazine featuring all things southern gentlemen. The perfect juxtaposition of the old and the new, Eve and Cooper are the beautiful people. The lucky ones. And they have the wealth and name that comes from being part of an old Georgia family. But things may not be as good as they seem. Eve’s sister, Willa, is staying with the family until she gets “back on her feet.” Their daughter, Gwen, is all adolescent rebellion. And Cooper thinks Eve works too much. Still, the Morrison marriage is strong. After twenty-one years together, Eve and Cooper know each other. They count on each other. They know what to expect. But when Cooper and Willa are involved in a car accident, the questions surrounding the event bring the family close to breaking point. Sifting between the stories—what Cooper says, what Willa remembers, what the evidence indicates—Eve has to find out what really happened. And what she’s going to do about it. A riveting story about the power of truth, The Stories we Tell will open your eyes and rearrange your heart. St. Martin’s Press, June 2014 “Henry seamlessly combines mystery, family love, and personal journey all in one engrossing tale. From the intriguing beginning to the touching ending, the novel is filled with the warmth, heart and compassion that have become the trademark of her novels.” – Diane Chamberlain
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“A lyrical exploration of love and longing, secrets and suspicion, family and friendship, all told with the author’s trademark insights into the hollows and curves of the heart and mind of a working woman who must balance the demands of motherhood, wifedom, sisterhood, and yes, the deepest cravings for artistic expression.” – Mary Kay Andrews
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Imagine The X-Files meets Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series and set in Victorian London, and New York City... Welcome to The Eterna Files, written by Leanna Renee Hieber, “the brightest new star in literature”(True-Blood.net)
Fantasy
THE ETERNA FILES by Leanna Renee Hieber
London, 1882: Queen Victoria appoints Harold Spire of the Metropolitan Police to Special Branch Division Omega. Omega is to secretly investigate paranormal and supernatural events and persons. Spire, a skeptic driven to protect the helpless and see justice done, is the perfect man to lead the department, which employs scholars and scientists, assassins and con men, and a traveling circus. Spire’s chief researcher is Rose Everhart, who believes fervently that there is more to the world than can be seen by mortal eyes. Their first mission: find the Eterna Compound, which grants immortality. Catastrophe destroyed the hidden laboratory in New York City where Eterna was developed, but the Queen is convinced someone escaped—and has a sample of Eterna. Also searching for Eterna is Clara Templeton, who helped start the project after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln nearly destroyed her nation. Tor, February 2015 “Strange in its happenings and mood and beautiful in its romance and language. Hieber has created a secretive, gothic, paranormal world as well as a character who will resonate with anyone who has found the beauty in being different.” — Booklist “A strangely beautiful tale indeed! An ethereal, lyrical story that combines myth, spiritualism and the gothic in lush prose and sweeping passion.” — Kirkus “A fantastic tale. Gripping and with an onthe-edge-of-your-seat suspense. This book is perfect for fans of the paranormal who enjoy a Gothic setting.” — ParaNormalRomance
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Contemporary Romance
WAITING ON YOU by Kristan Higgins Is your first love worth a second chance…? Colleen is in love with love… just not when it comes to herself. Most nights, she can be found behind the bar at the tavern she owns with her twin brother, doling out romantic advice to the lovelorn, mixing martinis and staying more or less happily single. See, 10 years ago, Lucas Campbell broke her heart… an experience Colleen doesn’t want to have again. Since then, she’s been happy with a fling here and there, some elite-level flirting and playing matchmaker to her friends. But a family emergency has brought Lucas back to town, handsome as ever and still the only man who’s ever been able to crack her defenses. Seems like maybe they’ve got some unfinished business waiting for them—but to find out, Colleen has to let her guard down, or risk losing a second chance with the only man she’s ever loved. Harlequin HQN, September 2014 “Higgins [offers] strong storytelling and a refreshing, sarcastic wit... thoroughly entertaining.” – People Magazine “Well-placed flashbacks; snarky, snappy dialogue; and conflict both tender and traumatic will shove you into love with a perfectly irresistible array of imperfect characters. You’ll adore every bit of this story... Higgins’ latest is sexy, screwy, funny and fulfilling - a simply radiant read.” – USA Today “Romance fans and lovers of women’s fiction will devour this witty and tender novel. Highly recommended.” – Library Journal
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“Both gut-wrenchingly emotional and hysterically funny at the same time... Kristan Higgins writes the books you don’t want to end.” – Robyn Carr
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London, 1727. Tom Hawkins is about to fall from his heaven of card games, brothels and coffee-houses into the hell of a debtors’ prison.
Historical
THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA by Antonia Hodgson
The Marshalsea is a savage world of its own, with simple rules: those with family or friends who can lend them a little money may survive in relative comfort. Those with none will starve in squalor and disease. And those who try to escape will suffer a gruesome fate at the hands of the gaol’s rutheless governor and his cronies. The trouble is, Tom Hawkins has never been good at following rules - even simple ones. And the recent grisly murder of a debtor, Captain Roberts, has brought further terror to the gaol. While the Captain’s beautiful widow cries for justice, the finger of suspicion points only one way: to the sly, enigmatic figure of Samuel Fleet. Some call Fleet a devil, a man to avoid at all costs. But Tom Hawkins is sharing his cell. Soon, Tom’s choice is clear: get to the truth of the murder - or be the next to die. Hodder & Stoughton, July 2014 Sales: UK – Hodder USA – HMH France – Editions XO Germany – Droemer Knaur Greece – Livanis Italy – Newton Compton Poland – Amber “Hodgson’s utterly compelling debut is fiendishly plotted and dripping with atmosphere. I cannot wait for Tom Hawkins’ next adventure.” – Mark Billingham “A hugely enjoyable and fast-paced story which takes the reader into the dark world of Georgian crime. The vividly drawn cast of characters is worthy of Dickens himself.” – Tracy Borman “This is a wonderfully entertaining novel, twisty and claustrophobic as an underground maze. The real-life nightmare of the Marshalsea is the perfect setting for Hodgson’s tale of skulduggery, betrayal and murder. – Maria McCann “A superb debut, tense and atmospheric, that beautifully evokes the dark underbelly of 18th century London. I was gripped. – Saul David Historical fiction just doesn’t get any better than this. And good Tom Hawkins is one of the best protagonists to come along in years. Magnificent! – Jeffery Deaver
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Deliciously dark and twisted... A heart-pounding labyrinth of dead ends, wrong turns, grisly betrayals and intrepid souls, it is a rich and powerful evocation of eighteenth-century London in all its stinking glory. Marvellous. – Victoria Fox
Historical
PILLARS OF LIGHT by Jane Johnson In the Syrian city of Akka Nathanael, a young Jewish doctor, and a Muslim girl called Zohra are about to fall in love, unaware that Jerusalem has just been taken by Saladin’s army and that their city will soon be engulfed by war. Meanwhile in England, a foundling boy called John Savage runs away from his cruel life in a priory with a mysterious figure called The Moor, a man driven by a dream of perfection. John and the Moor become members of a band of conmen travelling through the English countryside faking miracles for cash, until they are are recruited in Richard the Lionheart’s drive to regain the Latin Kingdom from the infidel. Akka awaits. It will be the site of the greatest – and cruellest – siege of its time. But even in the midst of war, lovers will always find a way to make transactions of beauty. Pillars of Light is a powerful and moving novel about the triumph of the human spirit against all the odds. It will delight fans of Philippa Gregory, Ken Follett and Diana Gabaldon. Doubleday, Spring 2015
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Jane Johnson is a British novelist, historian and publisher. She is the UK editor for Dean Koontz and George RR Martin and as Jude Fisher has written the companions to Peter Jackson’s LORD OF THE RINGS and HOBBIT movie trilogies.
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As Julie Kenner, she has written in multiple genres, including romance, young adult, urban fantasy and paranormal literature.
Erotica
IGNITED by J. Kenner
As J.K. Beck, she writes dark, sexy, gritty paranormal romantic suspense. As J. Kenner she writes emotionally charged erotica, including Stark Trilogy, and Most Wanted series. She is the author of over 40 novels, novellas and short stories. Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a “flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations,” Kenner may very well have cornered the market on sinfully attractive, dominant antiheroes and the women who swoon for them. Bantam Books, September 2014 Sales: Czech Republic – Baronet France – Michel Lafon Germany – Verlagsgruppe RH Hungary – Athenaeum Italy – Casa Editrice Spain – Penguin RH UK/BC – Headline USA – Bantam Books
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Short Stories
IN THE COMPANY OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Leslie S. Klinger & Laurie R. King In the follow-up to A Study in Sherlock, a stunning new volume of original stories from award-winning Sherlockians: Laurie R. King and Leslie S. Klinger.
The Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle were recently voted as the top mystery series of all time, and they have enthralled generations of readers—and writers! Now, Laurie R. King, author of the Mary Russell series (in which Holmes plays a co-starring role), and Leslie S. Klinger, editor of the New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, have assembled a stellar group of contemporary authors from a variety of genres and asked them to create new stories inspired by that canon. Readers will find Holmes in times and places previously unimagined, as well as characters who have themselves been affected by the tales of Sherlock Holmes. The resulting volume is an absolute delight for Holmes fans both new and old, with contributions from: Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Michael Dirda, Harlan Ellison, Denise Hamilton, Nancy Holder, John Lescroart, Sara Paretsky, Michael Sims, and more. Pegasus, November 2014 “King and Klinger have not stuck to the usual suspects for this stellar anthology of 16 new short stories that pay homage to the great detective.” – Publishers Weekly
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“Tantalizing. Enough variety for the dabbler, together with enough reverence for the canon to appeal to the true Holmes addict.” – Kirkus Reviews
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A young boy, a musical prodigy, discovering life’s wonders—and mortal dangers. His best friend, also a gifted musician, who will share his journey into destiny. His remarkable family, tested by the extremes of evil and bound by the depths of love... On a collision course with a band of killers about to unleash anarchy. And two unlikely allies, an everyday hero tempered by the past, and a woman of mystery who holds the key to the future.
Suspense
THE CITY by Dean Koontz
These are the people of The City, a place where enchantment and malice entwine, courage and honor are found in the most unexpected quarters, and the way forward lies buried deep inside the heart. Brilliantly illumined by magic dark and light, their unforgettable story is a riveting, soul-stirring saga that speaks to everyone. Bantam Books, September 2014 “Beautifully crafted... The City is many things: serious, lighthearted, nostalgic, courageous, scary, and mysterious...” — New York Journal of Books “Koontz can flat-out write... The message of hope and depiction of how the choices you make can change your life ring true and will remain with you once the book has been closed.” — Bookreporter
Sales:
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USA – Bantam UK – HarperCollins Russia – Eksmo the Netherlands – Luitingh Czech Republic – Albatros Media Slovak Republic – Albatros Media Poland – Albatros
Historical Crime
THE FIGARO MURDERS by Laura Lebow Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart’s librettist, must either find a killer or take the fall himself, and spend the opening night of The Marriage of Figaro dangling from an executioner’s noose. In 1786 Vienna, Lorenzo Da Ponte is the court librettist for the Italian Theatre during the height of the enlightened reign of Emperor Joseph II. This exalted position doesn’t mean he’s particularly well paid, or even out of reach of the endless intrigues of the opera world. In fact, far from it. One morning, Da Ponte stops off at his barber, only to find the man being taken away to debtor’s prison. Da Ponte impetuously agrees to carry a message to his barber’s fiancée and try to help her set him free, even though he’s facing pressures of his own. He’s got one week to finish the libretto for The Marriage of Figaro for Mozart before the opera is premiered for the Emperor himself. Da Ponte visits the house where the barber’s fiancée works—the home of a nobleman, high in the Vienna’s diplomatic circles—and then returns to his own apartments, only to be dragged from his rooms in the middle of the night. It seems the young protégé of the diplomat was killed right about the time Da Ponte was visiting, and he happens to be their main suspect. Now he’s given a choice—go undercover into the household and uncover the murder, or be hanged for the crime himself.
FICTION
Brilliantly recreating the cultural world of late 18th century Vienna, the epicenter of the Enlightenment, Lebow brings to life some of the most famous figures of music, theatre, and politics. Minotaur Books, April 2015
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Mystery
GHOST MONTH by Ed Lin
August is Ghost Month in Taiwan: a time to commemorate the dead; burn incense, visit shrines, honor ancestors, and avoid unlucky situations, large purchases, and bodies of water. A young man who runs a food stand in a bustling Taipei night market doesn’t consider himself superstitious, but this August is going to haunt him no matter what he does. Jing-nan is shocked when he learns his ex-girlfriend from high school has been murdered. She was found scantily clad and shot on the side of a highway where she was selling betel nuts to passing truck drivers. Beyond his harrowing grief for his lost love, Jing-nan is confused by the news. Betel nut beauties are usually women in the most desperate of circumstances; the job is almost as taboo as prostitution. But Julia Huang had been the valedictorian of their high school, and the last time Jing-nan spoke to her she was enrolled at a university, far away in New York. The facts don’t add up. Julia’s parents don’t think so either, and the police seem to have closed the case without asking any questions. Julia’s parents beg Jing-nan to do some investigating on his own: reconnect with old classmates, see if he can learn anything about Julia’s life that she might have kept from them. Reluctantly, he agrees, for Julia’s sake. But nothing can prepare him for what he learns, or how it will change his life. Soho Press, September 2014 “Ghost Month is a unique blend of tension, charm, tragedy and optimism, with characters you’ll love, and a setting so real you’ll think you’ve been there. Highly recommended.” — Lee Child “Lin is an astonishing talent.” — Junot Diaz “Hold on for a breathtaking, multi-cultural ride. With some good luck and a few well-placed joss sticks, you just might survive.” — Martin Limón
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FICTION
“Ed Lin is a new writer, but he has the eye and wit of a pro.” — Playboy
Crime
THE MISSING PLACE by Sophie Littlefield Set against the backdrop of North Dakota’s oil boom, two very different mothers form an uneasy alliance to find their missing sons in this heartrending and suspenseful novel from the Edgar® Award-nominated author of Garden of Stones. The booming North Dakota oil business is spawning “man camps,” shantytowns full of men hired to work on the rigs, in towns without enough housing to accommodate them. In such twilight spaces, it’s easy for a person to vanish. And when two young men in their first year on the job disappear without a trace, only their mothers believe there’s hope of finding them. Despite reassurances that the police are on the case, the two women think the oil company is covering up the disappearances--and maybe something more. Colleen, used to her decorous life in a wealthy Massachusetts suburb, is determined to find her son. And hard-bitten Shay, from the wrong side of the California tracks, is the only person in town even willing to deal with her--because she’s on the same mission. Overtaxed by worry, exhaustion, and fear, these two unlikely partners question each other’s methods and motivations, but must work together against the town of strangers if they want any chance of finding their lost boys. But what they uncover could destroy them both... For fans of Sandra Brown and Gillian Flynn, The Missing Place is a moving chronicle of survival, determination, and powerful bonds forged in the face of adversity. Gallery Books, October 2014 Sales: NA – Simon & Schuster (2-book deal) UK – Head of Zeus Brazil – Novo Conceito Italy – Sperling & Kupfer Germany – Goldmann/Random House
FICTION
“The Missing Place seizes you with its emotional fervor from its first pages and never lets you go. A remarkable novel.” — Megan Abbott
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Science Fiction
STAR WARS by George Lucas A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
The three Star Wars movie novelizations, originally published by Del Rey back in the 70’s: Star Wars: A New Hope The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi so-called: Episodes: IV, V and VI. Since Disney’s taking over of Lucas, the whole world has been awaiting patiently the upcoming new Star Wars movie, Star Wars Episode VII, scheduled for release on December 18, 2015. This movie is set approximately thirty years after Return of the Jedi and the demise of Darth Vader, the plot centers around a trio of young leads, along with characters from the previous installment. J. J. Abrams is directing the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Lawrence Kasdan, and stars Andy Serkis, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong’o, and Gwendoline Christie, with Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker reprising their roles from previous films. LucasBooks Sales: Germany – Random House France – Presses de la Cite Hungary – Agave Brazil – Retina 78 Programaca Spain – Scyla
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Contemporary Romance
LOVE LETTERS by Debbie Macomber In this enchanting novel set at Cedar Cove’s cozy Rose Harbor Inn, Macomber celebrates the power of love—and a well-timed love letter—to mend a broken heart. Summer is a busy season at the inn, so proprietor Jo Marie Rose and handyman Mark Taylor have spent a lot of time together keeping the property running. Despite some folks’ good-natured claims to the contrary, Jo Marie insists that Mark is only a friend. However, she seems to be thinking about this particular friend a great deal lately. Jo Marie knows surprisingly little about Mark’s life, due in no small part to his refusal to discuss it. She’s determined to learn more about his past, but first she must face her own—and welcome three visitors who, like her, are setting out on new paths. 23-year-old Ellie Reynolds is taking a leap of faith. She’s come to Cedar Cove to meet Tom, a man she’s been corresponding with for months, and with whom she might even be falling in love. Ellie’s overprotective mother disapproves of her trip, but Ellie is determined to spread her wings. Maggie and Roy Porter are next to arrive at the inn. They are taking their first vacation alone since their children were born. In the wake of past mistakes, they hope to rekindle the spark in their marriage—and to win back each other’s trust. But Maggie must make one last confession that could forever tear them apart. For each of these characters, it will ultimately be a moment when someone wore their heart on their sleeve—and took pen to paper—that makes all the difference. Ballantine Books, August 2014
FICTION
“Macomber’s mastery of women’s fiction is evident in her latest... She breathes life into each plotline, carefully intertwining her characters’ stories to ensure that none of them overshadow the others. Yet it is her ability to capture different facets of emotion which will entrance fans and newcomers alike.” — Publishers Weekly
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If the past is prologue, then George R. R. Martin’s masterwork—the most inventive and entertaining fantasy saga of our time—warrants one hell of an introduction. At long last, it has arrived with The World of Ice & Fire.
TV Tie-In
THE WORLD OF ICE & FIRE by George R.R.Martin
This lavishly illustrated volume is a comprehensive history of the Seven Kingdoms, providing vividly constructed accounts of the epic battles, bitter rivalries, and daring rebellions that lead to the events of A Song of Ice and Fire and HBO’s Game of Thrones. In a collaboration that’s been years in the making, Martin has teamed with Elio M. García, Jr., and Linda Antonsson, the founders of the renowned fan site Westeros.org—perhaps the only people who know this world almost as well as its visionary creator. Collected here is all the accumulated knowledge, scholarly speculation, and inherited folk tales of maesters and septons, maegi and singers, including: • full-color artwork and maps, with more than 170 original pieces; • full family trees for Houses Stark, Lannister, and Targaryen; • in-depth explorations of the history and culture of Westeros; • 100% all-new material, more than half of which Martin wrote specifically for this book. The definitive companion piece to George R. R. Martin’s dazzlingly conceived universe, The World of Ice & Fire is indeed proof that the pen is mightier than a storm of swords. Bantam, October 2014 Sales: UK – HarperCollins Bulgaria – Ciela China – Chongqing Czech Republic – Talpress the Netherlands – Luitingh Sitjhoff France – Huginn & Muginn Germany – Verlagsgruppe RH Hungary – Nouvion Italy – Arnoldo Mondadori Editore Poland – Poznanskie Brazil – Leya Russia – AST Serbia – Laguna Sweden – Forum Spain – Gigamesh
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FICTION
“The sheer-mind-boggling scope of this epic has sent other fantasy writers away shaking their heads... Its ambition: to construct the Twelve Caesars of fantasy fiction, with characters so venomous they could eat the Borgias.” – Guardian
Historical
MRS ENGELS by Gavin McCrea “Love is a bygone idea, centuries-worn. There are things we can go without, and love is among them; bread and a warm hearth are not.” So says Lizzie Burns in this dazzling novel about love and pragmatism, marriage and passion, ideals and everyday reality. Lizzie is an Irish factory worker in Manchester; her lover is factory boss Friedrich Engels, who is determined to overthrow Capitalism. When he persuades Lizzie to move to London with him, to be closer to Karl Marx, Lizzie is thrown into a confusing world where class barriers have been breached, but the old assumptions of the bourgeoisie (to which Engels belongs) still hold. What happens when the servants move in with the masters? Is love and understanding even possible between people so different? And what is the role of a woman in a man’s world of revolution? Written entirely in Lizzie’s voice, Mrs Engels takes you from the factories of Manchester to the drawing rooms of London, from squalor to wealth, in a brilliantly convincing portrait of late nineteenth-century Britain. At the same time, it pulls at your heart-strings as you watch Lizzie making difficult choices to ensure her survival. McCrea shows with great art and subtlety how a relationship can define a life, and the lives of others. He is a major novelist in the making. Gavin McCrea was born in Dublin in 1978, and has lived in Japan, Belgium, Italy, France and Spain, and London. He received a scholarship to undertake a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, and has subsequently taught Literature and Creative Writing at UEA. UK rights sold to Scribe, April 2015 US publisher to be announced
FICTION
“What an exciting new talent is here! With Gavin McCrea I walked the streets of nineteenth-century London and saw them afresh. McCrea captures so beautifully how the spirit endures despite disillusion, disappointment and disaster. For all her determined pragmatism to survive in the pitiless world of the industrial revolution, Lizzie is a dreamer. She’s a magnificent creation, worthy of comparison to Joyce’s Molly Bloom or Beckett’s Winnie.” – Rebecca Stott, author
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Every so often a thriller appears that offers more to the reader than just entertainment. White Crocodile is just that.
Crime
WHITE CROCODILE by K.T. Medina
Painted on the most ambitious of canvases, White Crocodile takes the reader into a Cambodia that suggests the fraught psychological territory of Conrad’s Africa in Heart of Darkness. In Battambang, not all danger is located in the lethal minefields; young mothers are being abducted. Some are discovered gruesomely mutilated, their abandoned babies by their side. In this superstitious society, people live in fear of the ‘White Crocodile’, a creature that means death for all who encounter it. In England, Tess Hardy has found some equilibrium in her life after severing relations with her abusive husband Luke. Then she receives a call from Cambodia, where Luke is working as a mine-clearer, and Tess realises he has changed. But there is to be no reconciliation; a fortnight later, Luke is dead. Despite her better judgement, Tess sets out for the killing fields of Cambodia to find out what happened to him. But just as in Conrad, the source of evil in a barely civilised foreign country is a metaphor for corruption in comfortable England, and a decades-old act of violence at home is to put Tess in peril in the present. And is the white crocodile corporeal rather than mythical? The real skill of White Crocodile lies in its vulnerable but tenacious heroine Tess Hardy, the perfect conduit for the reader through a novel that is unyielding in its grip. The myth of the white crocodile is still believed in Cambodia today, and Medina’s use of this as the story engine has allowed her to produce both a strongly written thriller and a passionate meditation on the West’s exploitative attitude to a benighted country. It would appear that there is yet another accomplished crime writer joining the sizeable throng of names to which attention must be paid. Faber & Faber, September 2014 Sales USA – Mulholland Germany – Goldmann “An exciting first novel, from a huge new talent.” – Mo Hayder
FICTION
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Fantasy
BURNED by Karen Marie Moning MacKayla Lane and Jerricho Barrons are back and hotter than ever in Burned, the latest novel in the blockbuster Fever series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning.
It’s easy to walk away from lies. Power is another thing.
FICTION
MacKayla Lane would do anything to save the home she loves. A gifted sidhe-seer, she’s already fought and defeated the deadly Sinsar Dubh —an ancient book of terrible evil— yet its hold on her has never been stronger. When the wall that protected humans from the seductive, insatiable Fae was destroyed on Halloween, long-imprisoned immortals ravaged the planet. Now Dublin is a war zone with factions battling for control. As the city heats up and the ice left by the Hoar Frost King melts, tempers flare, passions run red-hot, and dangerous lines get crossed. Seelie and Unseelie vie for power against nine ancient immortals who have governed Dublin for millennia; a rival band of sidhe-seers invades the city, determined to claim it for their own; Mac’s former protégé and best friend, Dani “Mega” O’Malley, is now her fierce enemy; and even more urgent, Highland druid Christian MacKeltar has been captured by the Crimson Hag and is being driven deeper into Unseelie madness with each passing day. The only one Mac can depend on is the powerful, enticing immortal Jericho Barrons, but even their fiery bond is tested by betrayal. It’s a world where staying alive is a constant struggle, the line between good and evil is blurred, and every alliance comes at a price. In an epic battle against dark forces, Mac must decide who she can trust, and what her survival is ultimately worth. Delacorte Press, January 2015
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Inside a Silver Box continues to explore the cosmic questions entertainingly discussed in his Crosstown to Oblivion series of standalone novellas. From life’s meaning to the nature of good and evil, Mosley takes readers on a speculative journey beyond reality. This is his first full-length novel to be published by Tor.
Science Fiction
INSIDE A SILVER BOX by Walter Mosley
In Inside a Silver Box, two people brought together by a horrific act are united in a common cause by the powers of the Silver Box. The two join to protect humanity from destruction by an alien race, the Laz, hell-bent on regaining control over the Silver Box, the most destructive and powerful tool in the universe. The Silver Box will stop at nothing to prevent its former master from returning to being, even if it means finishing the earth itself. Tor, January 2015 Walter Mosley is one of the most versatile and admired writers today. He is the author of more than 34 books, including the major bestselling mystery series featuring Easy Rawlins. He is the winner of numerous awards, including an O. Henry Award, a Grammy, and PEN American Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He is cowriting a pilot for HBO based on his novel The Long Fall, to be directed by Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs). “Well written and imaginative... plenty here—both style and story— to satisfy readers of speculative fiction.” — Booklist “A writer whose work transcends category and qualifies as serious literature.” — Time
FICTION
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Fantasy
UPROOTED by Naomi Novik Naomi Novik, author of the Temeraire novels, is taking us to a new world with Uprooted! The story is a dark fairy tale, where a grim wizard defends villagers from the horrors of an enchanted Wood. In return? He demands ten years of service from a young girl of his choosing. Now the choosing is approaching, and a young woman named Agnieszka fears that her best friend, the lovely Kasia, will be taken. But what if the wizard makes a different choice? Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful. Uprooted is a fantastical Beauty and the Beast type tale: widely accessible and sure to appeal to a broad audience of both adult and YA readers. Legions of fans around the world have fallen in love with the brilliantly imagined, compulsively readable novels of Naomi Novik. Now, in this magnificent new stand-alone, Novik pens a bold fantasy with all the charm and wonder of a dark fairy tale for the modern age. Del Rey, June 2015 Spanish rights sold to Planeta “Every so often you come upon a story that seems like a lost tale of Grimm newly come to light. Uprooted is such a novel. Its narrative spell is confidently wrought and sympathetically cast. I might even call it bewitching.” — Gregory Maguire
FICTION
“The most darkly compelling fantasy I’ve read in ages, Uprooted is overflowing with profound dread and real beauty, and boasts a heroine who blazes with spirit and originality. Not to be missed!” — Christopher Golden
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The Question of Red tells the story of two lovers, Amba and Bhisma, who were driven apart by one of the bloodiest Communist purges in the 20th century: the massacre of up to one million accused Communists in Indonesia, between 1965 and 1968.
Literary
THE QUESTION OF RED by Laksmi Pamuntjak
The novel was published in Indonesian in October 2012 under the title Amba, and became a national bestseller. In the novel, the lives of the central characters reinterpret the Mahabharata—that timeless allegory of war within a family—and move from rural Java to Europe, and to the prison camps of Buru Island, where approximately 12,000 alleged Communists were incarcerated without trial during the Suharto dictatorship. Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 2012 English manuscript available German rights sold to Ullstein “The best (Indonesian) novel since the Earth of Mankind tetralogy [by Pramoedya Ananta Toer].” — J. B. Kristano, literary critic “This novel is more than a romance. It contains life lessons as well and opens many historical windows.” — Dewi Lestari, author “Its grasp of the material, its erudition, the depth of its humanity, and its stylistic mastery… is simply worldclass... Undoubtedly one of the towering achievements of our country’s literature.” — Bambang Sugiharto, literary critic
FICTION
“Laksmi Pamuntjak firmly establishes herself as one of the most eloquent writers... It needs a skillful pen to take on the Mahabharata and to rewrite Indonesia’s recent history.” — Professor Saskia Wieringa, author
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Crime
THE LONG WAY HOME by Louise Penny Louise Penny is the internationally best-selling author of the Inspector Gamache series. Winner of the British Dagger, American Anthony, Barry, Macavity, Dilys, the Canadian Arthur Ellis. Winner of 5 Agatha Awards. Translated into 25 languages. Minotaur Books, August 2014
FICTION
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series
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For fans of Alan Furst and Carlos Ruiz Zafón comes a haunting and layered thriller filled with history, adventure, suspense, and an unforgettable love story.
Historical
THE SIEGE by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Cádiz, 1811. While the city is under siege from the marauding French army, an even greater menace is lurking within the city walls: a serial killer is on the loose, flaying young women to death. Each of these murders takes place near where a French bomb has just fallen. In order to find the murderer, police commissioner Rogelio Tizon begins to perceive the city as a vast chessboard as he tries to predict his unknown opponent’s next deadly move. In the claustrophobic atmosphere of the besieged town, an heiress, an unscrupulous corsair captain, a taxidermist who is also a spy and a hardened soldier begin to cross paths, and behind them all the figure of Tizon is getting closer to deciphering the lethal pattern behind the murders... With all the intrigue and romance of PérezReverte’s bestsellers, The Siege is the story of a city and a people who will never be the same again. Random House, September 2014 Winner of the CWA International Dagger 2014 “That rare thing, an old-fashioned, proper, big novel: The Siege is as much historical fiction as a crime novel. This is a big and bold novel, rich in character and incident.” – The Sunday Times “Arturo Pérez-Reverte is the great European storyteller of the 21st century in the tradition of Dumas.” – Simon Sebac Montefiore “Brilliantly illustrates the sheer delight of fiction.” – Daily Telegraph New novel by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, entitled Good Men, will be published by Alfaguara in 2015.
FICTION
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Thriller
ONCE DEAD by Richard Phillips Jack Gregory, the CIA’s top assassin, went rogue after a mission gone wrong. When a confrontation leaves him bleeding out on death’s doorstep, he is faced with an offer from a dark figure named Anchanchu. If Jack is willing to act as a human host for Anchanchu, the entity will revive him and give him another shot at life. Jack takes the deal...but he must now face the consequences of having the same dark creature in his head as some of history’s greatest villains. Struggling with desires and memories that are not his own, Jack is not the man he once was. One year later, he is known internationally as The Ripper, fixer for hire, and is faced with having to wrest control of his dark compulsions while preventing a nuclear attack on the United States. From the author of the Rho Agenda trilogy comes a globe-spanning thriller with a twist unlike anything you’ve ever seen... 47North, September 2014 Richard Phillips was born in New Mexico, in 1956. In 1979, he graduated from West Point as an army ranger and served for several years as an officer in the United States Army. In 1989, he graduated with a master of science in physics from the Naval Post Graduate School. He previously released the popular sci-fi conspiracy epic the Rho Agenda trilogy.
FICTION
Phillips was hailed by bestselling author Orson Scott Card as someone who “is very quickly going to be very well known as one of the best and most popular writers of near-future sci-fi.”
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The gripping story of a daughter searching for her missing mother; one of Jodi Picoult’s most powerful and affecting novels yet. Alice Metcalf was a devoted mother, loving wife and accomplished scientist who studied grief among elephants. Yet it’s been a decade since she disappeared under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind her small daughter, husband, and the animals to which she devoted her life. All signs point to abandonment - or worse.
Contemporary Women
LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult
Still Jenna - now 13 years old and truly orphaned by a father maddened by grief - steadfastly refuses to believe in her mother’s desertion. So she decides to approach the two people who might still be able to help her find Alice: a disgraced psychic named Serenity Jones, and Virgil Stanhope, the cynical detective who first investigated her mother’s disappearance and the strange, possibly linked death of one of her mother’s coworkers. Together these three lonely souls will discover truths destined to forever change their lives. Deeply moving and suspenseful, Jodi Picoult’s 21st novel is a radiant exploration of the enduring love between mothers and daughters. Ballantine Books, October 2014 Sales: Australia & NZ – Allen and Unwin China – Commercial Press Czech Republic – Euromedia the Netherlands – House of Books Germany – Random House Isarel – Kinneret Hungary – Athenaeum Lithuania – Alma Littera Poland – Proszynski Media Portugal – Presença Brazil – Novo Conceito Russia – Hemiro Slovak Republic – Ikar Turkey – April UK – Hodder
FICTION
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Thriller
THE FINAL OPTION by Stefanie Pintoff Three women. Each knowing she’s about to die. Each given only one choice: how. It will be violent. It will be painful. But it will be the victim’s final choice. At least, that was the case for the first three women. When the murderer abducts a fourth victim, things don’t go according to plan. FBI agent Eve Rossi has to bring the serial killer to justice before it’s too late. But when a key member of Eve’s team goes missing, her plans go awry. Her only solution seems to be recruiting a master hacker and thief, Corey Haddox but this is easier said than done. From Edgar-award winning author Stefanie Pintoff comes the first in a series of electrifying thrillers featuring Eve Rossi, head of a secret division of the FBI known as Vidocq, perfect for readers of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch series. Pintoff’s historical novel In the Shadow of Gotham won the 2010 Edgar Award for Best First Novel, and the Washington Irving Book Prize. Pintoff has also earned nominations for the Agatha, Anthony and Macavity Awards. Fans of Pintoff’s historical fiction will love this new contemporary series, with its strong heroine and secret FBI unit grounded on a terrific historical premise: the fabled success of Eugène François Vidocq, the notorious French master-thiefturned-detective. whose life story inspired several writers, including Victor Hugo and Honoré de Balzac. Bantam Books, September 2015 Russian rights sold to AST Praise for the historical fiction of Stefanie Pintoff. “Pintoff is at the top of her game... Suspenseful and overlaid with symbols, ciphers, and early psychological study, her books are a winner.” – Library Journal (starred review) “Pintoff provides a zingy mix of old-fashioned detective work and then-newfangled forensic science.” – Booklist
FICTION
“Edgar-winner Pintoff proves with her third historical that she’s the equal of Caleb Carr. The author couples spot-on period details with her most sophisticated plot yet.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review) “There are far too few historical mysteries that succeed in balancing their fiction elements with accurate historical details. In actuality, it’s a real challenge. Too much history, and the story is overwhelmed, disappears. Too little history, and the scenes fade out to an uninteresting, anonymous gray before readers’ eyes. Thankfully, Pintoff has a knack for balancing acts, providing readers with a gripping gothic tale of conspiracy, anarchy, and the struggle to bring justice to the city.” – Historical Novels Review – 70 –
Back in the bad old days, when Mo Stark worked for an anti-crime unit in Harlem known as the Wild Geese, the NYPD branded him as a cowboy. Now 40, he has somehow survived and become a sergeant in Manhattan Night Watch. Mostly, his team of detectives conducts a series of holding actions, and after years in police purgatory, Mo is content simply to do his job.
Crime
THE WHITES by Richard Price writing as Harry Brandt
But soon after he gets a 3:00 a.m. call about the fatal knifing of a drunk in a Third Avenue pub, his investigation moves beyond the usual handoff to the day shift. And when he discovers that the victim was once a suspect in the unsolved murder of a 13-year-old girl, he finds himself drawn back to the late 1990s when the Wild Geese were at their most wayward. Before the case can be closed, it will severely test Mo’s new sense of purpose and force him to accept that his troubled past isn’t past at all. Richard Price, one of America’s most gifted novelists, has always written brilliantly about cops, criminals, and New York City. Now, writing under a transparent pseudonym of Harry Brandt, he is poised to win a huge following among all those who hunger for first-rate crime fiction. Henry Holt, February 2015 Sales: France – Presses de la Cite Germany – S. Fischer Spain – Literatura Random House UK – Bloomsbury Sony licensed movie rights to The Whites, with Scott Rudin set to produce. Price’s earlier works include 1972’s The Wanderers, which was adapted into a film in 1979; 1992’s Clockers, which was made into a film directed by Spike Lee; and 2008’s Lush Life. Price also has written the screenplays for several films, including 1989’s Sea of Love, starring Al Pacino, and 1986’s The Color of Money, starring Tom Cruise, for which he won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay. He was also the writer on HBO’s hit series The Wire, which in 2007 won him the Edgar Award.
FICTION
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Horror
MAPLECROFT by Cherie Priest Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks; and when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one... The people of Fall River, Massachusetts, fear me. Perhaps rightfully so. I remain a suspect in the brutal deaths of my father and his second wife despite the verdict of innocence at my trial. With our inheritance, my sister, Emma and I, have taken up residence in Maplecroft, a mansion near the sea and far from gossip and scrutiny. But it is not far enough from the affliction that possessed my parents. Their characters, their very souls, were consumed from within by something that left malevolent entities in their place. It originates from the ocean’s depths, plaguing the populace with tides of nightmares and madness. This evil cannot hide from me. No matter what guise it assumes, I will be waiting for it. With an axe. NAL, October 2014 “Cherie Priest is supremely gifted and Maplecroft is a remarkable novel, simultaneously beautiful and grotesque. It is at once a dark historical fantasy with roots buried deep in real-life horror and a supernatural thriller mixing Victorian drama and Lovecraftian myth. You won’t be able to put it down.” – Christopher Golden “Priest can write scenes that are jump-out-of-your-skin scary.” — Cory Doctorow “Give Cherie Priest fifteen minutes of your time; trust me—you won’t look back. — Bookslut “Priest kills as a stylist.” — Charles de Lint
FICTION
“Cherie Priest kicks ass!” — Maggie Shayne
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This is an equal-parts cocktail of action, adventure, science-fiction and comedy. The book follows a globe-trotting President Taft and Robert Todd Lincoln in a race to solve a mystery stretching back to the Civil War and the Lincoln assassination. Based on true events, readers will find themselves swept into a vast conspiracy spanning four continents and three oceans during the turn of the 20th century. Fascinating technologies will be harnessed, dark secrets revealed, true villains exposed, and some of the most famous figures in history will take the stage. With surprises lurking around every corner, and a vast cast of characters to root for, The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy is a heartpounding adventure that only history could have made possible.
Historical Thriller
THE GREAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN POCKET WATCH CONSPIRACY by Jacopo della Quercia
St. Martin’s Griffin, August 2014 “Quercia deftly adopts a serialized literary style that suits the turn-of-the-century setting. Science fiction, action, adventure, melodrama, comedy, and suspense combine in this delightful steampunk romp cleverly designed to keep readers guessing and the pages turning.” — Booklist “This is a Jules Vernian thrill ride through American history like I’ve never experienced—and I couldn’t put it down.” — Jason Emerson, author “From the secret passages through the steam tunnel labyrinth beneath the Yale campus to a mid-ocean battle upon which hangs the future of humanity, Jacopo’s fantasy novel stretches time and space across a carefully detailed real past!” — Marc Wortman, author “High concept and high adventure collide in a dizzying and thoroughly riveting adventure. Insanely entertaining.” — Jonathan Maberry, author “Amazing... skillfully weaves together one of the best reads of the year as he combines real history with his vivid and somewhat off-beat imagination!” — Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
FICTION
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Crime
THE WINTER FOUNDLINGS by Kate Rhodes The brilliant new novel in the Alice Quentin crime series. Alice is forced to confront a psychopath, to try and save a 10-year-old girl... Four girls have disappeared in North London. Three are already dead. Britain’s most prolific child killer, Louis Kinsella, has been locked up in Northwood high-security hospital for over a decade. Now more innocents are being slaughtered, and they all have a connection to his earlier crimes. Psychologist Alice Quentin is doing research at Northwood. She was hoping for a break from her hectic London life, but she’ll do anything to help save a child, even if it means forming a relationship with a charismatic, ruthless murderer. But Kinsella is slow to give away his secrets, and time is running out for the latest kidnap victim, who is simply trying to survive... Minotaur Books, February 2015 “An enjoyably scary chiller.” — Sunday Mirror “One of those books that leaves the reader wanting more. The life of the each character is so vividly painted that even those in minor roles become intriguing, and the pace never slackens from the first page to the last. — Rachel Abbott “An utterly brilliant, exhilarating read.” — Elizabeth Haynes “Alice is a vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline.” — Sophie Hannah
FICTION
“A fast-moving, entertaining mix of sex, suspense and serial killings.” — Washington Post
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What can we do but reach for the embrace that must now contain both heaven and hell: our doom again and again and again… – from The Vampire Lestat Rice once again summons up the spirit-world of the most powerful forces of the night, in a long-awaited return to the world of the Vampire Chronicles. The novel opens with the vampire world in crisis…vampires have been proliferating out of control; burnings have commenced all over the world, huge massacres…
Paranormal
PRINCE LESTAT by Anne Rice
Old vampires, roused from slumber in the earth are doing the bidding of a Voice commanding that they indiscriminately burn vampire-mavericks in cities all over the world. The worlds and beings of all the Vampire Chronicles: Louis de Pointe du Lac; the eternally young Armand, whose face is that of a Boticelli angel; Pandora and Flavius; and Marius, the true Child of the Millennia; along with all the other new creatures, come together in this ambitious novel to ultimately rise up and seek out who-or what-the Voice is, and to discover the secret of what it desires and why… And, at the book’s center, the hero-wanderer, the dangerous rebel, the dazzling Prince Lestat… Knopf, October 2014 Sales: Spain – Ediciones B Russia – Eksmo Publishers Italy – Longanesi & Co Portugal – Publicacoes Europa-America France – Michel Lafon Brazil – Rocco Film news: The Beauty Trilogy has just been bought for a TV series by Televisa USA. Movie Christ the Lord is currently filming in Rome, to be released for Easter 2016. Film rights to the Vampire Chronicles have been bought by Uviresal; scriptwriting is already underway.
FICTION
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Action Thriller
THE EMPTY QUARTER by David L. Robbins In this follow-up to The Devil’s Waters, his successful first novel of the elite USAF pararescue jumpers known as PJs, Robbins has crafted another intense thrill ride of action, character and setting. Every member of the PJs, swears by the motto “That Others May Live.” A top-secret mission to save a kidnapped Saudi princess will put that oath to the ultimate test. With a force of armed men, a former mujahideen chases across the desert of Yemen to recover his Saudi wife, kidnapped by her powerful father, a prince of the Kingdom. The kidnapping turns violent, she is badly wounded, and the PJs are dropped into the vast sere badlands to rescue the princess and a young western diplomat swept up in the plot. The mission becomes a minute-by-minute race between the pursuing husband’s band of tribal allies, and the PJs rushing to the rescue, as the princess’s life seeps away. The Empty Quarter is a pulse-quickening tour de force featuring the tactics and men of modern combat search-and-rescue and the complex politics of today’s Arabian peninsula. It’s a moving tale of desperate love and sacrifice set in the wastes of the Rub’ al Khali, the world’s largest and harshest sand desert. Amazon Publishing, September 2014 “David Robbins is a master and The Empty Quarter is proof. Nobody writes a better action book... nobody.” — Brian Haig “A military thriller, a love story and a geopolitical tale... Robbins uses his superior knowledge of military and global affairs in concocting a pageturner of a plot, one in which the line between heroes and villains is blurred, the art of betrayal is practiced with dexterity, and the complex relationship between the CIA and the Saudi government is examined with a keen eye.” — Times
FICTION
David L. Robbins is the author of eleven action-packed novels, including War of the Rats, Broken Jewel, The Betrayal Game, The Assassins Gallery, and Scorched Earth.
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Crime
ABATTOIR BLUES by Peter Robinson The 22nd novel in Robinson’s DCI Banks series. Taking the title from the Nick Cave album, this sophisticated thriller, featuring DCI Alan Banks, follows the success of the international best-seller Children of the Revolution. When two boys vanish under mysterious circumstances, the local community is filled with unease. Then a bloodstain is discovered in a disused World War II hangar nearby, and a caravan belonging to one of the youths is burned to the ground. Things quickly become much more sinister. Assigned to the case, DCI Banks and his team are baffled by the mystery laid out before them. But when a motor accident throws up a gruesome discovery, the investigation spins into a higher gear - in another direction. As Banks and his team struggle desperately to find the missing boy who holds the key to the puzzle, they find themselves in a race against time where it’s their turn to become the prey... Hodder & Stoughton August 2014 “Peter Robinson deserves a place near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers’ league.” – The Times “It’s neither the setting nor even the characters that makes Robinson’s work so satisfying, but the plotting of Swiss-watch precision.” – Independent “Classic Robinson: labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation. – Observer “As always with the excellent DCI Alan Banks novels, you can expect the story to grip you from beginning to end.” – Choice Peter Robinson was born in England, and after getting his BA in English Literature, he moved to Canada, where he got his master’s degree in English and Creative Writing. He started writing his DCI Banks books series in 1987.
FICTION
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Thriller
THE 6TH EXTINCTION by James Rollins In a masterful epic that combines timeless mystery and ripped-from-the-headlines scientific intrigue, New York Times bestselling author James Rollins takes humankind to its endpoint, to a fate inscribed in rock and ice in an event known as The 6th Extinction. Life always finds a way... A military research station buried in the remote Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California broadcasts a frantic distress call that ends with a chilling order: “This is sierra, victor, whiskey. There’s been a breach. Failsafe initiated. No matter the outcome: Kill us... kill us all.” The site is part of TECOMM, the U.S. Army Test Command. When help arrives to investigate, they discover that everyone in the lab is dead—not just the scientists, but every living thing for fifty square miles is annihilated: every animal, plant, and insect, even bacteria. The land is completely sterile—and the blight is spreading. Only one team on earth has the scientific knowledge and military precision to handle this mission: Commander Gray Pierce and Sigma. The dead scientists were working on a secret project, researching radically different forms of life on Earth, life that could change our understanding of biology and humanity itself. But something set off an explosion in the lab, and now Sigma must contend with the apocalyptic aftermath. To prevent the inevitable, they must decipher a futuristic threat that rises out of the distant past—a time when Antarctica was green and life on Earth was balanced on a knife’s edge. Following a fascinating trail of clues buried in an ancient map rescued from the lost Library of Alexandria, Sigma will make a shocking discovery involving a prehistoric continent and a new form of life and death buried under miles of ice. Gray Pierce and his dedicated team must race through eons of time and across distant continents to decipher millennia-old secrets out of the frozen past and untangle mysteries buried deep in the darkest jungles of today, as they face their greatest challenge yet: stopping the sixth extinction— the end of humankind.
FICTION
But is it already too late? The 6th Extinction combines pulsating adventure, intriguing history, and cutting-edge advances in science and technology in a thrilling white-knuckle ride that delivers as only James Rollins can. HarperCollins, December 2014 – 78 –
Literary
WHISPERING SHADOWS by Jan-Philipp Sendker
The first in a suspenseful new trilogy by the internationally bestselling author of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, this gripping story follows a retired journalist in contemporary China who tries to crack a murder case as he battles his own personal demons. Paul Leibovitz was once an ambitious advisor, dedicated father, and loving husband. But after living for nearly 30 years in Hong Kong, personal tragedy strikes and Paul’s marriage unravels in the fallout. Now Paul is living as a recluse on an outlying island of Hong Kong. When he makes a fleeting connection with Elizabeth, a distressed woman on the verge of collapse, his life is thrown into turmoil. Less than twenty-four hours later, Elizabeth’s son is found dead in Shenzhen, and Paul, invigorated by a newfound purpose, sets out to investigate the murder on his own. As Paul, Elizabeth, and a detective friend descend deeper into the Shenzhen underworld— against the wishes of a woman with whom Paul has had a flirtation—they discover dark secrets hidden beneath China’s booming new wealth. In a country where rich businessmen with expensive degrees can corrupt the judicial system, the potential for evil abounds. Part love story, part crime thriller, Whispering Shadows is the captivating tale of one man’s desperate search for redemption within the vice of a world superpower, a place where secrets from the past threaten to upend the country’s unchecked drive towards modernization. Atria, April 2015 Sales: Germany – Blessing Verlag Bulgaria – Hermes Serbia – Laguna Israel – Armchair Books Spain – Random House Mondadori Italy – Neri Pozza “A beautiful tale bound to enchant readers.” — Booklist
“An epic narrative that requires… a large box of tissues. Sendker [is] a mesmerizing storyteller” — Publishers Weekly – 79 –
FICTION
“Imbued with Eastern spirituality and fairy-tale romanticism… Fans of Nicholas Sparks and/or Elizabeth Gilbert should eat this up.” — Kirkus
Science Fiction
ALIVE by Scott Sigler First in a trilogy, The Generations, from bestselling author Scott Sigler. Alive is something utterly new: a gripping sci-fi adventure trilogy in the vein of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Red Rising. A group of young adults awake in a mysterious enclosed space with no knowledge of who they are or how they got there... and an indomitable young woman must lead them not only to answers but to survival. M. Savage and her compatriots as they attempt to decipher their past, survive their present, and somehow forge a future. Our heroine awakes trapped in an enclosed space. She has no idea who she is or how she got there. With only her instincts to guide her, she escapes her own confinement--and finds she’s not alone. She frees the other young adults in the room and leads them into a corridor filled with the remains of thousands of bodies from a war long past. The farther these survivors travel, the worse are the horrors they confront. And as they slowly come to understand what this prison is, they realize that the worst and strangest possibilities they could have imagined don’t even come close to the truth. Alive marks Sigler’s departure from edgy and violent thrillers, and his entrance into high-concept adventure fiction with YA crossover potential--a strong category for the industry worldwide. Del Rey, August 2015 Book 2: Alight, February, 2016 Book 3: Away, March, 2016 “Sigler is masterful at grabbing the reader by the throat and refusing to let go.” – Lincoln Child
FICTION
“Part Stephen King, part Palahniuk.” – James Rollins
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Chuck
In 1893, Sherlock Holmes and Henry James come to America together to solve the mystery of the 1885 death of Clover Adams, wife of the esteemed historian Henry Adams; member of the Adams family that has given the United States two Presidents. Clover’s suicide appears to be more than it at first seemed; the suspected foul play may involve matters of national importance.
Historical Thriller
THE FIFTH HEART by Dan Simmons
Holmes is currently on his Great Hiatus; his three-year absence after Reichenbach Falls during which time the people of London believe him to be deceased. Holmes has faked his own death because, through his powers of ratiocination, the great detective has come to the conclusion that he is a fictional character. This leads to serious complications for James, for if his esteemed fellow investigator is merely a work of fiction, what does that make him? And what can the master storyteller do to fight against the sinister power, possibly named Moriarty, that may or may not be controlling them from the shadows? Little, Brown & Company, March 2015 “The Fifth Heart will be from the viewpoint of Henry James, as deep into his psychology, heart, and mind as an honest writer can get without purely making things up and violating the success of James’s brilliant efforts at selfobfuscation but it won’t be in his language. Except for dialogue, of course, which will offer its own profound challenge.” – Dan Simmons Dan Simmons is the best-selling, award-winning author of the Hyperion Cantos, the first book of which won the Hugo Award for best novel. He is also the author of many other novels, including The Terror, Drood, Flashback, the Ilium/Olympos duology, the World Fantasy Award-winning Song of Kali, and the Stoker Awardwinning Carrion Comfort. His latest novel is The Abominable.
FICTION
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Contemporary
FISHBOWL by Bradley Somer A novel about the residents of an apartment building who make life-changing decisions and a goldfish who witnesses the culminating moments as he falls from a 27th-floor balcony. Told through the lens of a goldfish named Ian, (indeed falling from the balcony of an apartment building), this novel follows an eclectic cast of characters on a single day. There is the handsome university student, his girlfriend, and his mistress; the construction worker who feels trapped by a secret; the building’s superintendent who feels invisible and alone; the pregnant woman on bed rest; and the home-schooled boy, Herman, who thinks he can travel through time. Though they share time and space, the characters have something even more important in common: they all face an obstacle and each one must make a decision that will affect how his or her life will proceed. In this one apartment building are stories of love, new life and death, of facing the ugly truth of who one has been and the beautiful truth of who one can become, and of learning that sometimes taking a risk is the only way to move forward. As Ian the goldfish knows, “an entire life devoted to a fishbowl will make one die an old fish with not one adventure had.” St. Martin’s Press, August 2015 Sales: Germany – Dumont Korea – Mirae-N Poland – Proszynski Taiwan – Yuan-Liou UK – Ebury
FICTION
The author, Bradley Somer, was born in Sydney, Australia and grew up in Canada. His short fiction has appeared in literary journals, reviews and anthologies.
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In a thrilling new novel from the author of Justice for Sara, an idealistic young woman marries a man she barely knows only to discover his first wife disappeared under mysterious circumstances
Crime
THE FIRST WIFE by Erica Spindler
As a child, Bailey Browne dreamed of a knight in shining armor swooping in to rescue her and her mother. As she grew older, those dreams transformed, becoming ones of a mysterious stranger who swept her off her feet and whisked her away from her ordinary existence. Then, suddenly, there he was. Despite the ten year difference in their ages, her working class upbringing and his of privilege, Logan Abbott and Bailey fall deeply in love. Marriage quickly follows. But when Logan brings her home to his horse farm in Louisiana, a magnificent estate on ninety wooded acres, her dreams of happily-ever-after begin to unravel. A tragic family history she knew nothing about, plus whisperings about the disappearance of his first wife, True, and rumors about the women from the area who have gone missing—and when another woman disappears, all signs point to her husband’s involvement. At first Bailey ignores the whispers—even as they grow louder and circumstantial evidence against Logan mounts. But finally, Bailey must make a choice: believe what everyone says is true—or bet her life on the man she loves, but is realizing she hardly knows. St. Martin’s Press, February 2015 Spindler’s previous titles have sold to Little, Brown in the UK, G&J in Poland, Harlequin in Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and Cora in Germany. Erica Spindler has written 30 novels, including Watch Me Die, Blood Vines, Breakneck, and Last Known Victim. She lives just outside New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and two sons.
FICTION
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Historical
PEGASUS by Danielle Steel Nicolas von Bingen and Alex von Hemmerle, titled members of the German aristocracy, have been best friends since childhood. Both widowers, they are raising their children: Nick’s two lively boys and Alex’s adored teenage daughter—in peace and luxury on the vast Bavarian estates that have belonged to their families for generations. While Nick indulges in more glamorous pursuits, Alex devotes himself to breeding the renowned white Lipizzaner horses that enthrall audiences throughout Europe with their ability to dance and spin on command, majestic creatures whose bloodlines are rare and priceless. But it is Nicolas’s bloodline that changes everything, when his father receives a warning from a high-ranking contact inside the Wehrmacht. A secret from the past has left the family vulnerable to the rising tide of Nazism: Nick’s mother, whom he never knew, was of Jewish descent. Suddenly Nicolas must flee Germany, wrenching his sons away from the only home they have known, sailing across the Atlantic for a new life in America. Their survival will depend on a precious gift from Alex, their only stake for the future: eight purebred horses, two of them stunning Lipizzaners. In Florida, where Nicolas joins the Ringling Brothers Circus, he becomes Nick Bing, with Alex’s prize white stallion—now named Pegasus—the centerpiece of the show. In this extraordinary book, Danielle Steel tells the story of a family reinventing itself, while the country they left behind is engulfed in flames and madness, and men like Alex von Hemmerle are forced to make unbearable choices. A novel of hope and sacrifice, of tragedy, challenge, and rebirth, Pegasus is a brilliant family chronicle that unfolds across half a century—a masterwork from one of our most beloved writers.
FICTION
Delacorte Press, October 2014
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For fans of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and A Discovery of Witches comes a brilliantly imagined debut novel brimming with rich history, suspense, and magic. Revelation “Reve” Dyer grew up with her grandmother’s family stories, stretching back centuries to Reve’s ancestors, who founded the town of Hawley Five Corners, Massachusetts. Their history is steeped in secrets, for few outsiders know that an ancient magic runs in the Dyer women’s blood, and that Reve is a magician whose powers are all too real.
Romantic Suspense
THE HAWLEY BOOK OF THE DEAD by Chrysler Szarlan
Reve and her husband are world-famous illusionists. They have three lovely young daughters, a beautiful home, and what seems like a charmed life. But Reve’s world is shattered when an intruder alters her trick pistol and she accidentally shoots and kills her beloved husband onstage. Fearing for her daughters’ lives, Reve flees with them to the place she has always felt safest: an antiquated farmhouse in the forest of Hawley Five Corners, where the magic of her ancestors reigns, and her oldest friend—and first love—is the town’s chief of police. Here, in the forest, with its undeniable air of enchantment, Reve hopes she and her girls will be protected. Delving into the past for answers, Reve is drawn deeper into her family’s legends. What she discovers is The Hawley Book of the Dead, an ancient leather-bound journal holding mysterious mythic power. As she pieces together the truth behind the book, Reve will have to shield herself and her daughters against an uncertain, increasingly dangerous fate. For soon it becomes clear that the stranger who upended Reve’s life has followed her to Hawley, and that she has something he desperately wants. Brimming with rich history, suspense, and magic, The Hawley Book of the Dead is a brilliantly imagined debut novel from a riveting new voice. Ballantine Books, September 2014 Sales: Brazil – Novo Conceito the Netherlands – Luitingh-Sijthoff UK – Arrow “You will be hooked on this enthralling tale of magic and witchery from the very first sentence. That’s how quickly the novel weaves the reader into its intricate, suspenseful story. A delicious read.” – Kate Alcott
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FICTION
“A masterpiece. I was completely spell-bound from beginning to end. A storytelling virtuosa, Szarlan has woven a wondrous, scintillating web of suspense, love, history, and magic that will keep you eagerly turning the pages. Readers will be swept away by this book; it has everything a great adventure should have—and so much more.” – Anne Fortier
Historical
UNDER TIBERIUS by Nick Tosches Outrageous and disturbing, Under Tiberius is as black as the ravishing night, shot through with fierce and brilliant light. It is a thrilling story of crime and deceit involving the man who came to be called Jesus Christ. Deep in the recesses of the Vatican, Nick Tosches unearths a first-century memoir by Gaius Fulvius Falconius, foremost speechwriter for Emperor Tiberius. The codex is profound, proof of the existence of a Messiah who was anything but the one we’ve known—a shabby and licentious thief. After encountering him on the streets of Judea, Gaius becomes spin doctor to Jesus, and the pair scheme to accrue untold riches by convincing the masses that Jesus is the Son of God. As their marriage of truth and lies is consummated, a friendship and wary respectdevelop between these two grifters. Little Brown, August 2015 Nick Tosches has worked as a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, and has also been published in Esquire and Open City. He has published four novels, Cut Numbers, Trinities, In the Hand of Dante, and Me and the Devil. He has described his literary influences as “Hesiod, Sappho, Christopher Marlowe, Ezra Pound, William Faulkner, Charles Olson, and God knows who else.” “The single, most brain-searingly dangerous man of letters. Read him at your peril.” — Anthony Bourdain “This is the best, from one of the best writers around. Nick Tosches knows the devil as well as any man has.” — Keith Richards “Nick Tosches’s book is dangerous, dark sexy, beautiful, full of life, bursting with desires.” — John Turturro “Nick Tosches has created an erotic asphalt odyssey that takes him on a subcutaneous awakening, drifting through a world of hallucinations, dark secrets and dangerous desires.” — Peter Wolf “I’m an admirer of anything and everything Nick Tosches writes.” — Tom Robbins
FICTION
“Nick Tosches stands out as the kind of writer other writers only dream of becoming—amazing at fiction, unparalleled in journalism and biography, and possessed of a stature and genius.” —Jerry Stahl “[Tosches writes] without illusion and yet with real sympathy, call it a form of love. That is a real achievement of writing and feeling.” — David Remnick “An extraordinary writer... It is the vastness of Nick Tosches’ heart that makes it possible to reveal the darkness.” — Hubert Selby, Jr. – 86 –
Unique novel about 5 women who meet in therapy to discuss the trials of being married to sex addicts. Gail. Hannah. Bridget. Lizzy. Flavia. Each of them has a shameful secret, and each is about to find out that she is not alone… Gail, a prominent Boston judge, keeps receiving letters from her husband’s latest girlfriend, while her husband, a theology professor, claims he’s nine-months sober from sex with students. Hannah, a homemaker, catches her husband having sex with a male prostitute in a public restroom.
Contemporary Women
THE WEDNESDAY GROUP by Sylvia True
Bridget, a psychiatric nurse at a state hospital, is sure she has a loving, doting spouse, until she learns that he is addicted to chat rooms and match-making websites. Lizzy, a high school teacher, is married to a porn addict, who is withdrawn and uninterested in sex with her. Flavia was working at the Boston Public library when someone brought her an article that stated her husband had been arrested for groping a teenage girl on the subway. He must face court, and Flavia must decide if she wants to stay with him. Finally, Kathryn, the young psychologist running the group, has as much at stake as all of the others. As the women share never-beforeuttered secrets and bond over painful truths, they work on coming to terms with their husbands’ addictions and developing healthy boundaries for themselves. Meanwhile, their outside lives becomes more and more intertwined, until, finally, a series of events forces each woman to face her own denial, betrayal and uncertain future head-on. Perfect read for fans of Anita Shreve and Sue Miller. St. Martin‘s Griffin, February 2015 Sales: Hungary – Pioneer Books Russia – AST
FICTION
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Alternate History
JOE STEEL by Harry Turtledove The hero of this novel is the man, known to history as Joseph Stalin. As you may know, his real name was Joseph Dzhugashvili, and Stalin is the Russian word for steel. But in the novel, a very young Joe Steele emigrates to America. Instead of taking over the Soviet Union, he takes over the United States of America. Harry Turtledove’s thought-provoking forays into the past have produced such intriguing “what-if” novels as Ruled Britannia, Days of Infamy, and Opening Atlantis. Now the maven of alternate history envisions the election of a president whose political power will redefine what the nation is. President Herbert Hoover has failed America. The Great Depression that rose from the ashes of the 1929 stock market crash still casts its dark shadow over the country. Despairing and desperate, the American people hope one of the potential Democratic candidates, New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, and California congressman Joe Steele, can get the nation on the road to recovery. But fate snatches away one hope when a mansion fire claims the life of Roosevelt, leaving the Democratic party little choice but to nominate Steele, son of a Russian immigrant laborer who identifies more with the common man than with Washington D.C.’s wealthy power brokers. Achieving a landslide victory, President Joe Steele wastes no time pushing through Congress reforms that put citizens back to work. Anyone who gets in his way is getting in the way of America, and that includes the highest in the land. Steele’s critics may believe the government is gaining too much control, but they tend to find themselves in work camps if they make too much noise about it. And most people welcome strong leadership, full employment, and an absence of complaining from the newspapers—especially as Hitler and Trotsky begin the kind of posturing that seems sure to drag America into war.
FICTION
Roc/Penguin, April 2015
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Here in the Just City you will become your best selves. You will learn and grow and strive to be excellent.
Fantasy
THE JUST CITY by Jo Walton
Created as an experiment by the time-traveling goddess Pallas Athene, the Just City is a planned community, populated by over 10,000 children and a few hundred adult teachers from all eras of history, along with some handy robots from the far human future—all set down together on a Mediterranean island in the distant past. The student Simmea, born an Egyptian farmer’s daughter sometime between 500 and 1000 A.D, is a brilliant child, eager for knowledge, ready to strive to be her best self. The teacher Maia was once Ethel, a young Victorian lady of much learning and few prospects, who prayed to Pallas Athene in an unguarded moment during a trip to Rome—and, in an instant, found herself in the Just City with grey-eyed Athene standing unmistakably before her. Meanwhile, Apollo—stunned by the realization that there are things mortals understand better than he does—has arranged to live a human life, and has come to the City as one of the children. He knows his true identity, and conceals it from his peers. For this lifetime, he is prone to all the troubles of being human. Then, a few years in, Sokrates arrives—the same Sokrates recorded by Plato himself—to ask all the troublesome questions you would expect. What happens next is a tale only the brilliant Jo Walton could tell. Tor Books, January 2015 Jo Walton won the Hugo and Nebula Awards in 2012 for her novel Among Others. Before that, she won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and her novel Tooth and Claw won the World Fantasy Award in 2004. A native of Wales, she lives in Montreal. “Most fantasies evade opportunities to make the impossible plausible, to give magic accountability in a realistic setting and moral and emotional weight in a modern novel. Jo Walton accepts the double challenge and meets it with courage and skill. She shows how easily the effects of a magic spell can be seen and explained away, and how every action that brings about real change must be paid for – a reciprocity as absolute in the world of three wishes as it is in the world of Newton’s third law.” – The Guardian
FICTION
Fantasy
THE BROKEN EYE by Brent Weeks
The Broken Eye continues the spectacular Lightbringer series from the author of The Black Prism and The Blinding Knife. As the old gods awaken and satrapies splinter, the Chromeria races to find its lost Prism, the only man who may be able to stop catastrophe. But Gavin Guile is enslaved on a pirate galley. Worse, Gavin no longer has the one thing that defined him – the ability to draft. Without the protection of his father, Kip Guile will have to face a master of shadows alone as his grandfather moves to choose a new Prism and put himself in power. With Teia and Karris, Kip will have to use all his wits to survive a secret war between noble houses, religious factions, rebels, and an ascendant order of hidden assassins, The Broken Eye. Orbit, September 2014
“Brent Weeks has a style and immediacy of detail that pulls the reader relentless into his story. He doesn’t allow you to look away.” — Robin Hobb
FICTION
“The Lightbringer series is great fun. Nobody does break-neck pacing and amazingly-executed plot twists like Brent Weeks.” — Brian McClellan “The Broken Eye is a wonderful work of high fantasy with engaging characters facing the perfect antagonists, set in a creatively-wrought and increasingly chaotic world brimful of imaginative magic and interesting politics. Weeks holds fast to the traditions of his genre while adding a compelling new flavor.” — The Ranting Dragon – 90 –
An epic tragedy of brotherly love, a sui generis novel swathed in all the magic of Russian folklore and set against the dystopian backdrop of an all too real alternate present.
Literary
THE GREAT GLASS SEA by Josh Weil
Twin brothers Yarik and Dima have been inseparable since childhood. Living on their uncle’s farm after the death of their father, the boys once spent their days helping farmers in collective fields, their nights spellbound by their uncle’s mythic tales. Years later, the two men labor side by side at the Oranzheria, a sea of glass—the largest greenhouse in the world—that sprawls over acres of cropland. Lit by space mirrors orbiting above, it ensnares the denizens of Petroplavilsk in perpetual daylight and constant productivity, leaving the twins with only work in common— stalwart Yarik married with children, oppressed by the burden of responsibility; dreamer Dima living alone with his mother and rooster, wistfully planning the brothers’ return to their uncle’s land. But an encounter with the Oranzerhia’s billionaire owner changes their lives forever. Dima drifts into a laborless life of bare subsistence while Yarik begins a head-spinning ascent from promotion to promotion until both men become poster boys for opposing ideologies, pawns at the center of conspiracies and deceptions that threaten to destroy not only the lives of those they love but the very love that has bonded the brothers since birth. This is a breathtakingly ambitious novel of love, loss, and light, set amid a bold vision of an alternative present-day Russia. You will be captivated by the bizarre splendor of the images and the alluring wackiness of the events in this novel. Weil isn’t trying to capture a Russia grounded in reality. Actually, he’s not trying to capture Russia at all. The Great Glass Sea is not an alternative history, but a fantastical vision inspired by bits and pieces of Russian language, history and culture. It is beautifully baffled by the mysterious Russian soul. Grove Press, July 2014 Sales: Germany – Dumont UK – Atlantic
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FICTION
“The Great Glass Sea is the most unexpected book by a writer to appear in years…. A grand fable… An absorbing and touching tale... Few young writers appreciate landscape, the way it shapes and diminishes people who live off it, quite like Weil.… An engrossing story of brotherly division.” ― The Boston Globe
Science Fiction
CONFLUENCE TRILOGY by Jennifer Foehner Wells Book 1: Fluency Book 2: Remanence Book 3: Convergence NASA discovered the alien ship lurking in the asteroid belt in the 1960s. They kept the Target under intense surveillance for decades, letting the public believe they were exploring the solar system, while they worked feverishly to refine the technology needed to reach it. The ship itself remained silent, drifting. Dr. Jane Holloway is content documenting nearly-extinct languages and had never contemplated becoming an astronaut. But when NASA recruits her to join a team of military scientists for an expedition to the Target, it’s an adventure she can’t refuse. The ship isn’t vacant, as they presumed. A disembodied voice rumbles inside Jane’s head, You are home. Jane fights the growing doubts of her colleagues as she attempts to decipher what the alien wants from her. As the derelict ship devolves into chaos and the crew gets cut off from their escape route, Jane must decide if she can trust the alien’s help to survive. Blue Bedlam Books, September 2014 “For fans of space opera trilogies, on the level of Guardians of the Galaxy. It is packed with irascible characters, poignant moments, laughter, love and lust, and a cybernetic space squid. What more could a modern audience want?” – Publishers Weekly “This book has a female protagonist that is strong and capable in her own way, without being a stereotypical warrior-type. She’s intelligent and resourceful. The world wants these kinds of characters to look up to now. I think that’s one reason this book has been so popular.” – Independent Book Review
FICTION
Author Jennifer Wells’ writing genius comes from her vast knowledge of the highly technical subject matter and her ability to put the reader in the middle of it without losing him/her in technical jargon while creating characters that seem completely natural and believable.
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Manhattan, 1964. Vivian Schuyler, newly graduated from college, has recently defied the privilege of her storied old Fifth Avenue family to do the unthinkable for a budding Kennedy-era socialite: break into the Mad Me world of razor-stylish Metropolitan magazine.
Historical Romance
THE SECRET LIFE OF VIOLET GRANT by Beatriz Williams
But when she receives a bulky overseas parcel in the mail, the unexpected contents draw her back into her family’s past, and the hushed-over crime passionnel of an aunt she never knew, whose existence has been wiped from the record of history. Berlin, 1914. Violet Schuyler Grant endures her marriage to the philandering scientist Dr. Walter Grant for one reason: for all his faults, he provides the necessary support to her position as a young American female physicist in pre-war Germany. The arrival of Dr. Grant’s magnetic former student at the beginning of Europe’s fateful summer interrupts this delicate détente. Lionel Richardson, a captain in the British Army, challenges Violet to escape her husband’s perverse hold, and as the world edges into war, and Lionel’s shocking true motives become evident, Violet is tempted to take the ultimate step to set herself free, and seek a life of her own conviction with a man whose cause is as audacious as her own. As the iridescent and fractured Vivian digs deeper into her aunt’s past, and the mystery of her ultimate fate, Violet’s story of determination and desire unfolds, shedding light on the darkness of her years abroad... and teaching Vivian to reach forward with grace for the ambitious future–and the love– she wants most. Putnam, September 2014
Sales:
FICTION
Spain – Plaza France – Belfond Brazil – Rocco Germany – Blanvalet Poland – Foksal Turkey – Kirmizi Bulgaria – Obsidian Italy – Nord – 93 –
Thriller
PARIS MATCH by Stuart Woods Stuart Woods is a blockbuster mainstay for Putnam, who publishes three titles per year. Woods’ most recent Stone Barrington novel, Cut and Thrust (July 2014), debuted at #4 on the New York Times Hardcover Fiction bestseller list. Stone Barrington has returned to Paris to attend to some business concerns, and finds himself embroiled in high-stakes trouble on both sides of the pond. An old enemy is still in hot pursuit, and this time he might have a powerful local resource on his side: a gentleman with his own ax to grind against Stone. And back home, the swirling rumor mill threatens to derail a project of vital importance not just to Stone but to the nation. Though Stone is no stranger to peril, never before has he faced threats from so many directions at once... Putnam, October 2014 “Stuart Woods, the Nora Roberts of mystery bestsellerdom.” — The New York Times
FICTION
“The Barrington novels continue to impress, with likable characters, fast pacing, and original storylines.” — BookPage “Stone Barrington is back to give fans another fun-filled ride of action and suspense... With threats coming in every direction, the typical ‘life’ of Stone Barrington will again please fans.” — Suspense Magazine
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“The sly courage, the deft intelligence, and the fierceness of vision that we, his fans, have come to expect from a Rafael Yglesias novel all blaze brightly forth, and cast very dark shadows in The Wisdom of Perversity.” — Michael Chabon
Literary
THE WISDOM OF PERVERSITY by Rafael Yglesias
Brian and Jeff were best friends when they were young, leading lives of promise in New York City in the late 1960s, until something happened that brought an end to both their childhood and their friendship. Forty years later, when their secret surfaces in a terrible new context, they are forced to reunite by Jeff’s cousin, Julie, who was also a victim of their childhood trauma. Together they must decide whether to tell all, unbalancing their lives and threatening their future, or continue to hide the truth and allow others to be victimized. Rafael Yglesias, novelist and screenwriter, has crafted a novel that tells the stories of these three childhood friends who join together as adults to acknowledge the ways in which their lives were altered by the actions of a predator who sexually abused them, and who now, many years later, has been exposed by more recent victims but, thanks to his wealth and influence, is on the verge of escaping punishment. The Wisdom of Perversity unmasks the headlines, giving voice to what has been left unsaid and light to what has been hidden. Yglesias has created a startling, engrossing, unsettling, and moving story of surviving an insidious evil and of a triumphant struggle to heal its wounds. Algonquin Books, March 2015 “Many contemporary works of fiction are bold, but few are this courageous. With The Wisdom of Perversity, Rafael Yglesias has written a frightening, evocative, and intensely compassionate novel that manages somehow to do the impossible, shedding light on one of the darkest corners of this human theater.” — Helen Schulman
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FICTION
Rafael Yglesias is the author of nine previous novels, including A Happy Marriage, winner of the Los Angeles Times Fiction Prize, and Fearless, the basis for the cult film by the same name, as well as the writer of five screenplay.
New Adult
HARDER by Robin York In Robin York’s provocative new novel, two young ex-lovers find themselves together again in the shadow of tragedy—and an intense, undeniable attraction. Caroline still dreams about West. His warm skin, his taut muscles, his hand sliding down her stomach. Then she wakes up and she’s back to reality: West is gone. And before he left, he broke her heart. Then, out of the blue, West calls in crisis. A tragedy has hit his family—a family that’s already a fractured mess. Caroline knows what she has to do. Without discussion, without stopping to think, she’s on a plane, flying to his side to support him in any way he needs. They’re together again, but things are totally different. West looks edgy, angry at the world. Caroline doesn’t fit in. She should be back in Iowa, finalizing her civil suit against the ex-boyfriend who posted their explicit pictures on a revenge porn website. But here she is. Deeply into West, wrapped up in him, in love with him.Still. They fought the odds once. Losing each other was hard. But finding their way back to each other couldn’t be harder. Bantam, August 2014 “York’s beautiful prose and vivid descriptions enhance the realism and impact of the story. Deeper and Harder are sensual and profoundly moving.” — USA Today
FICTION
“[York] again brings exquisite writing. With searing metaphor and visceral descriptions of love, and all its attendant pains, Harder will be loved by many... and talked about by everyone.” — New York Journal of Books
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NON–FICTION
Diet
THE BULLETPROOF DIET by Dave Asprey In his mid-20s, Dave Asprey was a successful Silicon Valley multi-millionaire. He also weighed 150 kilograms, despite the fact that he was doing what doctors recommended: eating 1,800 calories a day and working out 90 minutes a day, six times a week. When his excess fat started causing brain fog and food cravings sapped his energy and willpower, Asprey turned to the same hacking techniques that made his fortune to “hack” his own biology, investing more than $300,000 and 15 years to uncover what was hindering his energy, performance, appearance, and happiness. From private brain EEG facilities to remote monasteries in Tibet, through radioactive brain scans, blood chemistry work, nervous system testing and more, he explored traditional and alternative technologies to reach his physical and mental prime. The result: The Bulletproof Diet, an anti-inflammatory program for hunger-free, rapid weight loss and peak performance. The Bulletproof Diet will change what you think you know about weight loss and wellness. You will skip breakfast, stop counting calories, eat a high-fat diet, work out and sleep less, and handle stress with ease. By ditching traditional “diet” thinking, Asprey has maintained a 50 kg weight loss, increased his IQ, and reached a level of health that seemed unattainable. Rodale Books, December 2014 It’s not vegan, it’s not low-fat, no calorie counting, no measuring. Just eat and feel your brain, body, and hormones re-awaken as your effortlessly lose weight and gain muscle on little or no exercise. Target 50-60% of calories from healthy fats (this is easy and tastes good), 20% from protein, and the rest from vegetables.
NON–FICTION
Some of the studies behind the principles of this diet: • Cereal grains contribute to nutrient deficiencies, autoimmune disease, impaired digestion, and contain opioids which make them addicting; • Brown rice (not white) prevents protein digestion and lowers nitrogen balance; • Gluten and other grain proteins dysregulate the junctions between intestinal cells and increase cancer risk; • 80% of long term vegans are deficient in vitamin B12, which is needed for proper mental function; • Kids who eat a vegan diet are deficient in B12 and have impaired brain function; this reverses when they start eating animal products; • Vegetarians and vegans have lower muscle creatine and carnosine levels; • Saturated fat is not associated with cardiovascular disease; • Saturated fat does not raise cholesterol levels over time; • Vitamin D affects over 1000 genes in the human body; • Magnesium deficiency exacerbates insulin resistance. – 98 –
The official club tribute book to Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, the most decorated player in British history. Back in March 1991, a dark-haired winger stepped out onto the Old Trafford pitch for a First Division game against Everton. Little did the crowd of 45,656 realise that they were seeing the beginnings of a truly unique career that would extend for 24 seasons and see him break almost every record in the book.
Biography
RYAN GIGGS by Steve Bartram & Adam Marshall
Now, in this wonderful tribute to a United legend, we get to hear from those who played with and against him, those who coached him, and those who trained him, and find out what it was that set Ryan Giggs apart from the rest. Fully illustrated throughout, we hear from Eric Harrison how Giggs caught the eye of United’s scouts as a youngster, and the work done that culminated in him becoming the leading light of the famous Class of 92. Senior players from that era, such as Bryan Robson and Steve Bruce, recall the impact he made when he was promoted to the first team, just as the club began its incredible reign of success under Alex Ferguson. After picking up the League Cup in 1992, Giggs went on to win a record-breaking 13 league titles, two Champions League medals, and many other honours in a career that would stretch to 963 appearances for United. His resilience and longevity amazed all who looked on, as he continued to play at the top level past his 40th birthday. And when David Moyes left the club, he was the natural replacement as interim manager, rallying the club to reclaim its roots. Now retired as a player, Giggs is about to begin a new role as assistant to Louis van Gaal. Simon & Schuster, September 2014 “I have always considered myself to be very fortunate. To play for the biggest club in the world, which also happens to be the team I supported as a boy, means I have never had to consider changing away from Manchester United. But football is easy when things are going well, but when its not, it becomes the biggest test.” - Ryan Giggs
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Cookbook
A GIRL AND HER GREENS by April Bloomfield From the chef, restaurant owner, and author of A Girl and Her Pig comes a beautiful, full-color cookbook that offers tantalizing seasonal recipes for a wide variety of vegetables, from summer standbys such as zucchini to earthy novelties like sunchokes. A Girl and Her Greens reflects the lighter side of the renowned chef whose name is nearly synonymous with nose-to-tail eating. In recipes such as Pot-Roasted Romanesco Broccoli, Onions with Sage Pesto, and Carrots with Spices, Yogurt, and Orange Blossom Water, April Bloomfield demonstrates the basic principle of her method: that unforgettable food comes out of simple, honest ingredients, an attention to detail, and a love for the sensual pleasures of cooking and eating. She’ll call for beets, onions, and squash to be roasted skinon. She’ll often insist that parsley and cilantro be employed as delicate sprigs, not as obsessively chopped leaves. The way carrots are carefully cut and lovingly browned in a pan will turn an otherwise pleasant soup into a treat that could upstage even the most expertly roasted pork shoulder. Written in her appealing, down-toearth style, A Girl and Her Greens features beautiful color photography, lively illustrations, and insightful sidebars and tips on her techniques, as well as charming narratives that reveal her sources of inspiration. April Bloomfield is the executive chef and co-owner with Ken Friedman of the Michelin-starred the Spotted Pig, the Breslin, and the John Dory restaurants in New York. Ecco Press (HarperCollins), March 2015
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“Gorgeous photos of the dishes and charming anecdotes scattered throughout suffuse this cookbook with a welcome personal touch. Even if readers have never set foot in one of Bloomfield’s establishments, they’ll likely be blown away by her creativity, passion, and good taste.” — Publishers Weekly
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Lynn Brunelle, has taken her nerdy passion for science, art and education and applied it to the awe-inspiring 11year project that has been raising her children. The results of her “experiment” to date have been surprising, humorous, sometimes misguided, but always meaningful, and are now chronicled in her forthcoming book Mama Gone Geek: Calling on My Inner Science Nerd to Help Navigate the Ups and Downs of Parenthood. We live in a time and in a culture that celebrates scientific and technological innovation. It is also a time when smart kid parenting is a driving trend, especially with book sales. Readers of Mama Gone Geek will learn how one artsy science-nerd mom applies what she knows to raise science savvy and confident kids.
Parenting Memoir
MAMA GONE GEEK by Lynn Brunelle
Readers can follow Lynn’s magical stories as she seamlessly incorporates lessons of the physical world into her sons’ every day lives, whether she uses an accidently ingested magnet to teach them about the human body, or increases their baseball skills through lessons on Newton’s Laws of Motion. Lynn’s stories will appeal to readers of memoirs like Pamela Druckerman’s Bringing Up Bebe, and Amy Chua’s Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother as well as behavioral titles like How Children Succeed by Paul Tough. Roost Books, October 2014 “The book takes readers on an exuberant journey that combines maternal highs and lows with the joys of being a born science ‘nerd’. Brunelle recreates the magic of everyday family life with a scientist’s keen eye for detail and a parent’s faultless ear for mother-son dialogue.” — Publishers Weekly “Lynn loves being a mom, and she loves science. She relays tale after tale of how she engages her kids in wonder after wonder of the world around them—and around all of us. Her science enriches their lives and saves her sanity. This book will do the same for you.” — Bill Nye Lynn Brunelle is a 4-time Emmy Award-winning writer for the television series Bill Nye the Science Guy, with over 20 years of writing experience. Lynn has created, developed and written projects for The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Disney and ABC-TV.
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“A wonderfully hilarious romp through Lynn Brunelle’s world, complete with directions on how to turn the most awkward and smelly aspects of parenting into teaching moments.Mama Gone Geek is a memoir and a how-to book on its surface, but it is also—and more importantly so—a testament to the undying love, joy, faith, and protectiveness a mother feels for her family. Brunelle’s ability to see her world anew, even as she knows precisely how to describe it to her children, is refreshing, touching, and, ultimately, very gratifying. Brava!” – Garth Stein
Popular Psychology
THE SKELETON CUPBOARD by Tanya Byron The Skeleton Cupboard opens with an original story worthy of a television-drama heroine: “I first became fascinated by the frontal lobes of the human brain when I saw my grandmother’s sprayed across the skirting board of her dark and cluttered house.” Such a dramatic beginning befits a book by Tanya Byron, a British psychologist known for television and radio spots. Its six accessible and entertaining sections — episodes, if you will — describe Byron’s journey as a training clinical psychologist in London from 1989 to 1992. In various settings, from a hospital’s outpatient psychiatric department to a care home for the elderly, the younger, inexperienced Byron — not yet certain psychology is her vocation — navigates new professional duties. Through the eyes of her naive and inexperienced younger self, Tanya shares remarkable stories inspired by the people she had the privilege to treat. Gripping, poignant and full of daring black humour, this book reveals the frightening and challenging induction faced by all mental health staff and highlights their incredible commitment to their patients. Macmillan, September 2014
Sales: USA – Flatiron Canada – Harper Collins Canada Germany – btb Korea – Donyang Russia – AST the Netherlands – Unieboek/Het Spectrum Turkey – DoganKitap
“Moving and thought-provoking. A compelling book that will challenge and comfort all who have strived to make the journey from chaos to clarity.” – Psychologies
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“You will love this book for its candour, wisdom and courage. Mistakes are our greatest lessons and other people, wherever we find them, our greatest teachers. As Tanya Byron describes so eloquently, life is about connection. There is nothing else.” – Sally Brampton
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How to Escape Exhaustion and Become Consistently Productive, Successful, and Happy Not long ago Christine Carter, happiness expert at Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, speaker, writer, and mother, found herself caught up in the busyness of modern life: too many conflicting obligations and not enough time, energy, or patience to get everything done. She tried all the standard techniques—prioritizing, multitasking, delegating—but found that she needed a new approach, one that would allow her to live more in that zone we’ve all glimpsed but can never seem to hold on to: the sweet spot of expertise, efficiency, and ease. Drawing on her vast knowledge of the latest psychological, neurological, and biological science related to happiness, productivity, and elite performance, Carter put herself through the practical paces. Her goal was not to live a stress-free life, but rather to build stress resilience and find a quicker path to calm and confidence.
Self Help
THE SWEET SPOT by Christine Carter Ph.D.
Her trials and errors are our reward. In The Sweet Spot, Carter shares what she calls “the sweet spot equation,” a combination of strategies and practices for attaining happiness without giving up success, and for achieving success without compromising happiness. Using a simple formula, The Sweet Spot shows us how to: • take a brief recess, an inoculation against “The Overwhelm” and the key to converting stress into productive and creative energy; • institute daily micro-habits that free you up to focus on and enjoy more important things; • unplug from seemingly time-saving gadgets that can sap our strength, and use technology more strategically; • prioritize our relationships, making use of the hard science that points out how healthy connections help us thrive; • cultivate tolerance for a little discomfort while we build mastery (the skills that make hard things feel easy), and develop the grit to bounce back from life’s inevitable setbacks Complete with practical “easiest thing” tips for instant relief, this timely and inspiring book lets us in on the possibilities for joy and freedom that comes when we stop trying to do everything right—and start doing the right things. Ballantine, February 2015 Sales: Brazil – Sextante the Netherlands – Meulenhoff/Boekerij
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Science
FINAL FRONTIER by Brian Clegg The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever. — Konstantin Tsiolkovsky Star Trek was right — there is only one final frontier, and that is space... Human beings are natural explorers, and nowhere is this frontier spirit stronger than now. But the Earth is running out of frontiers fast. In The Final Frontier we discover the massive challenges that face explorers, both human and robotic, to uncover the current and future technologies that could take us out into the galaxy and take a voyage of discovery where no one has gone before… but one day someone will. In a time of recession, escapism is always popular — and what greater escape from the everyday can there be than the chance of leaving Earth’s bounds and exploring the universe? With a rich popular culture heritage in science fiction movies, books and TV shows, this is a subject that entertains and informs in equal measure. St. Martin’s Press, August 2014 “The Final Frontier is an enjoyable romp across space and time, from Cyrano de Bergerac to future spacewarp-driven interstellar craft, via Verne, Wells and the possibility of colonising the Solar System. A timely reminder of what might be possible in the light of current discussions about the commercial exploitation of the Moon and asteroids.” — John Gribbin
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“Readers will enjoy Clegg’s lively, enthusiastic account of the technical barriers to exploring the universe.” — Kirkus Reviews
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EXCHANGES ON TRUTH, FICTION AND PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
Letters
THE GOOD STORY by J.M. Coetzee and Arabella Kurtz
The Good Story is an exchange between a writer with a long-standing interest in moral psychology and a psychotherapist with a training in literary studies. Arabella Kurtz and J.M. Coetzee consider psychotherapy and its wider social context from different perspectives, but at the heart of both their approaches is a concern with stories. Working alone, the writer is in sole charge of the story he or she tells. The therapist, on the other hand, collaborates with the patient in telling the story of their life. What kind of truth do the stories created by patient and therapist aim to uncover: objective truth or the shifting and subjective truth of memories explored and re-experienced in the safety of the therapeutic relationship? The authors discuss both individual psychology and the psychology of the group: the school classroom, the gang, the settler nation where the brutal deeds of the ancestors have to be accommodated into a national story. Drawing on great writers like Cervantes and Dostoevsky and on psychoanalysts like Freud and Melanie Klein, they offer illuminating insights into the stories we tell of our lives. Penguin/Viking, Fall 2015 UK rights sold to Harvill Secker John Maxwell Coetzee is an author and academic from South Africa, who now lives in South Australia. A novelist, literary critic and a translator, Coetzee has won the Booker Prize twice and was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Literature.
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He is the author of Summertime, Diary of a Bad Year, Slow Man, The Master of Petersburg, In the Heart of the Country, Waiting for the Barbarians, Elizabeth Costello, Boyhood, Youth and Disgrace, among others.
Autobiography
NOT MY FATHER’S SON by Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming grew up in the grip of a man who held his family hostage, someone who meted out violence with a frightening ease, who waged a silent war with himself that sometimes spilled over onto everyone around him. That man was Alan’s father, Alex Cumming. Alex was the dark, enigmatic heart of Cumming family life. But he was not the only mystery. Alan’s maternal grandfather, Tommy Darling, had disappeared to the Far East after the Second World War. The last time Alan’s mother saw her father she was eight years old. When she was thirteen, the family was informed that he had died in an accidental shooting. Curious to explore this second mystery, Alan committed to filming an episode of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? Then out of the blue, his father, who Alan and his brother had not seen or spoken to for more than a decade, called. He had a secret he had to share, one that would shock his son to his very core and set in motion a journey that would change Alan’s life forever. At times suspenseful, at times deeply moving, but always brave and honest, Not My Father’s Son is a powerful story about embracing the best aspects of the past and triumphantly pushing the darkness aside. HarperCollins, October 2014 UK rights sold to Canongate
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“Equal parts memoir, whodunnit and manual for living, this is a beautifully written, honest look at the forces of blood and bone that make us what we are, and how we make ourselves. I was completely sucked in.” — Neil Gaiman “This is a beautiful book—sad, funny, haunting, surprising, suspenseful, gut-wrenching, endearing. It will linger inside of you long after you turn the final page.” — Harlan Coben Alan Cumming is an award-winning actor, writer, and director. He starred in an acclaimed one-man staging of Macbeth on Broadway, and appears on the Emmy Award-winning television show The Good Wife. He won a Tony award for his portrayal as the Emcee in the Broadway musical Cabaret, a role he will reprise in a new Broadway staging that is slated for 2014. He lives in New York and Edinburgh. – 106 –
How One Remarkable Chinese Company is Revolutionizing Global Business What is as powerful as Google, more popular than Facebook, and more economically disruptive than Amazon and eBay combined?
Business
ALIBABA’S WORLD by Porter Erisman
Alibaba operates the world’s biggest online shopping mall, with 600 million registered users (Amazon has roughly 200 million). It executes about 80% of China’s e-commerce transactions and generates nearly 70% of all packages in China, making up close to 2% of China’s GDP. And its marketplaces include another 60 million small and medium-size business users spread over 200 countries. This Chinese company is poised to make its global debut with an IPO that could be the largest in history. But what is Alibaba? How does it work? And why should we be paying attention? Porter Erisman shows how Jack Ma, a charismatic Chinese schoolteacher, rose from obscurity to revolutionize commerce in China, and now the world. He shares stories of weathering the dotcom crash, facing down eBay and Google, negotiating with the Web-phobic Chinese government, and enduring the misguided advice of foreign experts, all to build the behemoth that’s poised to sweep the ecommerce world today. And he analyzes Alibaba’s role as a harbinger of the new global business landscape—with its focus on the East rather than the West, emerging markets over developed ones, and the nimble entrepreneur over the industry titan. Palgrave Macmillan, May 2015 Prior to joining Alibaba.com in 2000, Porter Erisman worked for Ogilvy & Mather in Beijing. From 2000-2008, Porter worked as a Vice President at Alibaba.com and Alibaba Group, at various times leading the company’s international website operations, international marketing, and corporate affairs as one of the company’s first American employees. He is the writer/director of Crocodile in the Yangtze, a documentary about the rise of Alibaba and its famous founder, Jack Ma.
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Medicine
BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming birth, injury, and infectious disease from harrowing to manageable. But in one area medicine’s very advances can harm as well as help. This is the inevitable condition of aging and death, where the goals of medicine often can run counter to the interest of the human spirit. Nursing homes, preoccupied with safety, pin patients into railed beds and wheelchairs. Hospitals isolate the dying, checking for vital signs long after the goals of cure have become moot. Doctors, committed to extending life, continue to carry out devastating procedures that, in the end, extend suffering. In a groundbreaking book, Gawande, a practicing surgeon, fearlessly examines his profession, arguing that quality of life, not its mere prolongation, is the desired goal for patients and families. Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also good mortality. Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt, October 2014 “A deeply affecting, urgently important book—one not just about dying and the limits of medicine but about living to the last with autonomy, dignity, and joy.” — Katherine Boo “We have come to medicalize aging, frailty, and death, treating them as if they were just one more clinical problem to overcome. However, it is not only medicine that is needed in one’s declining years but life—a life with meaning, a life as rich and full as possible under the circumstances. Being Mortal is not only wise and deeply moving, it is an essential and insightful book for our times, as one would expect from Atul Gawande, one of our finest physician writers.” — Oliver Sacks “Western medicine, Being Mortal reminds us, has prepared itself for life but not for death. This is Atul Gawande’s most powerful—and moving—book.” — Malcolm Gladwell Atul Gawande is the author of The Checklist Manifesto, Better, and Complications. He is a MacArthur Fellow, a general surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a staff writer at The New Yorker, and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Being Moratl has been nominated for The Guardian’s 2014 Samuel Johnson Prize, the UK’s most prestigious award for non-fiction.
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Sales: China - Cheers Publishers India - Penguin Books Italy - Einaudi the Netherlands - Nieuwezijds Portugal - Lua de Papel Taiwan - Commonwealth UK - Profile
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From a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, a vivid account of one of the most important moments in fashion: the 1973 runway event at Versailles, where America emerged the dominant force in style.
Fashion
BATTLE OF VERSAILLES by Robin Givhan
Conceived as a fundraiser for the restoration of King Louis XIV’s palace, the world’s elite gathered in Versailles’ grand theater to view a fashion extravaganza of the best that French and American designers had to offer, while being entertained by Liza Minnelli and Josephine Baker. What they saw would forever alter the history of fashion. At the Battle of Versailles five American designers: Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Anne Klein, Halston, and Stephen Burrows—faced off against the five French designers considered the best in the world: Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, Emanuel Ungaro, and Marc Bohan of Christian Dior. Against all odds, the American energy and the domination by their fearless models (ten of whom, in a ground-breaking move, were African-American) sent the audience reeling. By the end of the evening, the Americans had transformed their place on the world stage and sowed the seeds for changing the way race, gender, sexuality, and economics would be treated in fashion for decades to come. The in-fighting between ego-inflated designers, the unforeseen obstacles in staging the show on a shoestring, the triumphant win, the vastly different fates of the designers post-show... Givhan’s meticulous research brings the event alive and places it firmly in the history of fashion, offering an intimate examination of a single moment that teaches us how the culture of fashion as we now know it came to be. Flatiron Books, March 2015 Rights have already sold to Zahar in Brazil Givhan—who is the only fashion critic to ever win the Pulitzer Prize—has had unprecedented access to the story’s major characters. She interviewed models, designers, and attendees of the show and reveals previously unheard stories.
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Biography
AYRTON SENNA by Maurice Hamilton Legendary Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna’s intensity and commitment earned him a reputation as one of the biggest names in world sport. In his brief, fiery Grand Prix career, he won 41 races and three world championships. But it was his belief, passion and raw speed that made him a global superstar - and, at times, a dramatically controversial figure. Senna felt he was the best - and his resilt certainly backed up his belief. But the Brazilian’s rivals - most notably his McLaren team-mate, Alain Prost - were aware that his self-belief could be contentious; his utter refusal to be beaten occasionally led to colourful consequences on the track. Senna’s death at the San Marino Grand Prix on 1 May 1994 stunned the world. Many books have been written since that freak accident at the wheel of a Williams 20 years ago, but none captures the warm relationship he had with McLaren, the team with which he enjoyed his greatest successes. Senna paints a picture of the sport’s most charismatic driver through the voices of the people who knew him best; the team-mates, engineers, mechanics and management personnel who were part of the McLaren family during Senna’s six seasons with the team. It had been Ayrton’s wish to establish a means of helping underprivileged children in Brazil. The Ayrton Senna Foundation, established shortly after his death, has helped more than two million youngsters over the past 20 years. Written with the full support of Ayrton’s family, a portion of this book’s proceeds will go towards funding the foundation’s future work and endeavours. Blink, September, 2014 Illustrated Maurice Hamilton has been a motor sport fan since the age of seven and has covered Formula 1 as a freelance writer since 1977. Maurice has attended more that 500 Grand Prix, and worked as motor sport correspondent for The Guardian, The Independent and The Observer, and as a commentator and summariser for BBC radio’s Grand Prix coverage between 1989 and 2010.
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The author of more than 20 books, Hamilton writes for motor sport magazines and websites across the world, including regular blogs for ESPN F1.
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This groundbreaking collection of unpublished speeches by the late Christopher Hitchens, author of the international bestseller God is not Great—offers sharp rebukes to tyrants and the ill-informed everywhere.
Religion
WHY RELIGION IS IMMORAL by Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens was arguably the most erudite, provocative, and polarizing writer of the last twenty-five years. When he passed away in 2011 from esophageal cancer, writers, readers, pundits and critics the world over mourned his loss. Hitchens had a gift for lifting his audiences, both on the page and in lecture halls, by the passion of his voice, the moral urgency of his attacks, the bite and complexity of his wit, and the swagger and seeming spontaneity of his lyrical soliloquies. His nowlegendary public lectures and debates cemented his status as the kind of literary phenomenon who comes along but once in a generation. Why Religion Is Immoral brings together the most memorable of the arguments he made over the last two decades, including: the case against God, faith and religious observance; the case for intervention in Iraq; jabs at towering political figures like Bill Clinton and Henry Kissinger; as well as celebrations of the pleasures of drinking, and of the writers whose lives and work most influenced his own, such as George Orwell, Thomas Jefferson, and Thomas Paine, among others. Simon & Schuster, January 2015
Sales: Brazil – Globo UK – Atlantic Books Australia & NZ – Allen & Unwin Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011) was the author of Hitch-22: A Memoir, Arguably: Essays, and Mortality, among others. A regular contributor to Vanity Fair, The Atlantic Monthly, and Slate, Hitchens also wrote for The Weekly Standard, The National Review, and The Independent.
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“Why Religion is Immoral is a collection of Hitchens’ most vigorous and memorable interventions including ‘Why Religion Poisons Everything’, ‘Is Islam a Religion of Peace?’ and ‘The Tyranny of Censorship’. It also includes celebrations of the pleasures of drinking, and of the writers whose lives and work most influenced his own. No matter the subject, all of Hitchens’ arguments ultimately point to the same end: freedom from tyranny in any and all forms. It is essential reading.” – Bookseller
Autobiography
UNTITLED by Donna Karan “Age and size are only numbers. It’s the attitude you bring to clothes that make the difference.” – Donna Karan Donna Ivy Faske was born in Queens, New York in 1949. Her remarkable career has spanned nearly five decades, beginning with an internship at Anne Klein, where she rose to head designer in 1974 at age 25. She launched the Donna Karan collection in 1985, introduced DKNY in 1989, and sold her company, where she remains creative director, in 2001. Driven by a conviction to design clothes that empower women and simplify their lives, Karan pioneered a new way of dressing for a new generation. She claims that when she designs clothes, she designs for women like herself, not for top models. People say that before clothes are accepted for production, that they must first flatter Donna Karan. This personal and intimate memoir - her first book - will share her complete life story including her coming-of-age on Long Island (as the daughter of a tailor and a showroom model-turnedSeventh Avenue saleswoman), her meteoric rise in the fashion industry, her two marriages (to Mark Karan and Stephen Weiss), motherhood, and her spiritual journey over the last twenty years. It will include a 16 page photo insert. Karan has a fascination with Eastern mediation and philosophy, and in 2007, she established Urban Zen, a luxury lifestyle brand and foundation that addresses wellness, education, and the preservation of cultures through their artisan communities.
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Music
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: FANDEMONIUM by Anthony Kiedis One-of-a-kind tribute from one of the best-selling bands in the world direct to their legions of fans. The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ performances have become legendary, as much for the music and antics on stage as the generous, loving community of people who stand side by side, screaming their approval. This is a fan appreciation book from the band that puts the emphasis where it should be—on the fans. A vivid montage of words from the band members to their fans, it includes hundreds of photos taken at concerts worldwide, and interviews with fifty of the most devoted RHCP fans around the globe. The stories that emerge range from fantastic to tragic, but always inspirational and life-affirming. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis—author of his memoir, Scar Tissue—writes about the making of this book, and tells the story of the band’s connection with their fans from day one in 1983, and how that relationship has evolved over three decades. Running Press, November 2014 Over 30 years the Chili Peppers have become one of the best-selling bands in history, won seven Grammys, and have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
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Essays
MEN by Laura Kipnis What a subject! There has been no shortage of books on men, both for better and worse, and yet we still can’t seem to get enough. Now comes a lively and provocative collection of essays from none other than notorious cultural critic Laura Kipnis. Men delivers a witty and probing examination of why badly behaved men have been her |our?| lifelong fascination, on and off the page. It’s no secret that men often behave in intemperate ways, but in recent years we’ve witnessed so many spectacular public displays of male excess: disgraced politicians, erotically desperate professors, fallen sports icons, that we’re left to wonder whether something has come unwired in the collective male psyche. In the essays collected here, Laura Kipnis revisits the archetypes of wayward masculinity that have captured her imagination over the years, scrutinizing men who have figured in her own life alongside more controversial public examples. Slicing through the usual clichés about the differences between the sexes, Kipnis mixes intellectual rigor and wit to give us compelling survey of the affinities, jealousies, longings, and erotics that structure the male-female bond. Laura Kipnis is a cultural critic and former video artist whose books have been translated into 15 languages. She is a professor in the Department of Radio/TV/Film at Northwestern University where she teaches filmmaking; she has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Michigan Society of Fellows, and has contributed essays and reviews to: Harper’s, Playboy, New York Times Magazine, New York Times Book Review, and Bookforum. Metropolitan Books, November 2014
NON–FICTION
“Laura Kipnis’s voice is so intelligent and irreverent, her writing so honest and emotionally, as well as intellectually incisive, that I’d gladly read her on any topic—but what she has to say about men, women, sex, and sexism is not to be missed. Whether she is writing about philandering husbands, or university sexual harassment codes, she approaches her subject without ideological blinders; her take is invariably fresh, fair and respectful of the messy, imperfect thing we call the human heart.” — Adelle Waldman “Feisty, unapologetic forays into the messiness of gender relations… rendered in funny, spirited writing.” — Kirkus Reviews
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The Last Crossing of the Lusitania
History
DEAD WAKE by Erik Larson
On May 1, 1915, a luxury ocean liner, as richly appointed as an English country house, sailed out of New York, bound for Liverpool, carrying a record number of children and infants. The passengers were anxious. Germany had declared the seas around Britain to be a war zone, and for months, its U-boats had brought terror to the North Atlantic. But the Lusitania was one of the era’s great transatlantic Greyhounds, and her captain, William Thomas Turner, placed tremendous faith in the gentlemanly strictures of warfare that for a century had kept civilian ships safe from attack. He knew, moreover, that his ship - the fastest then in service - could outrun any threat. Germany, however, was determined to change the rules of the game, and Walther Schwieger, the captain of Unterseeboot-20, was happy to oblige. Meanwhile, an ultra-secret British intelligence unit tracked Schwieger’s U-boat, but told no one. As U-20 and the Lusitania made their way towards Liverpool, forces both grand and achingly small: hubris, a chance fog, a closely-guarded secret and more, converged to produce one of the great disasters of history. It is a story that many of us think we know but don’t, and Erik Larson tells it thrillingly, switching between hunter and hunted while painting a larger portrait of this tragedy. Full of glamour, mystery, and real-life suspense, Dead Wake brings to life a cast of evocative characters, from famed Boston bookseller Charles Lauriat, to pioneering female architect Theodate Pope, to President Wilson, a man lost to grief, dreading the widening war but also captivated by the prospect of new love. Gripping and important, Dead Wake captures the sheer drama and emotional power of a disaster. Crown, March 2015 Sales: Australia/New Zealand – Scribe Brazil – Intrinseca Portugal – Bertrand Editora Spain – Ariel France – Cherche Midi UK – Transworld Germany – Hoffman & Campe Italy – Neri Pozza
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NON–FICTION
Erik Larson is the author of 4 international bestsellers: In the Garden of Beasts, Thunderstruck, The Devil in the White City, and Isaac’s Storm, which have collectively sold more than 10 million copies. His books have been published in fourteen countries.
Autobiography
ANGER IS AN ENERGY by John Lydon John Lydon has secured prime position as one of the most recognizable icons in music history. As Johnny Rotten, he was the lead singer of the Sex Pistols – the world’s most notorious band, who shot to fame in the mid-1970s with singles such as ‘Anarchy in the UK’ and ‘God Save the Queen’. So revolutionary was his influence, he was even discussed in the Houses of Parliament, under the Traitors and Treasons Act, which still carries the death penalty. Via his music and invective he spearheaded a generation of young people across the world who were clamouring for change – and found it in the style and attitude of this most unlikely figurehead. With his next band, Public Image Ltd (PiL) Lydon expressed an equally urgent impulse in his make-up – the constant need to reinvent himself, to keep moving. From their beginnings in 1978 he set the groundbreaking template for a band that continues to challenge and thrive in the 2010s. Anger is an Energy is a fresh and mature look back on a life full of incident from his beginnings as a sickly child of immigrant Irish parents who grew up in post-war London, to his present status as a vibrant, alternative national hero. Simon & Schuster, October 2014 Sales: Germany – Heyne Finland – Like France – Le Seuil USA – HarperCollins
NON–FICTION
“I don’t believe in anarchy, because it will ultimately amount to the power of the bully, with weapons. Gandhi is my life’s inspiration: passive resistance. I don’t want to live in the Thunderdome with Mad Max.” – John Lydon
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The perfect pairing for anyone with a literary thirst! From Jane Austen’s little-known fondness for wine to Hemingway’s beloved mojitos, literature and libations go hand in hand. Cocktails for Book Lovers blends these in a delectable book that will delight both readers and cocktail enthusiasts alike. This irresistible collection features 50 original and classic cocktail recipes based on works of famous authors and popular drinks of their eras, including Orange Champagne Punch, Salted Caramel and Bourbon Milkshakes, and even Zombie Cola. So dip in, pick your favorite author or book, and take a sip—or start at the beginning and work your way through. Cheers!
Cookbook
COCKTAILS FOR BOOK LOVERS by Tessa Smith McGovern
Cocktails inspired by your favorite authors: • Charlotte Bronte • Dani Shapiro • Dorothy Parker • Ernest Hemingway • F. Scott Fitzgerald • Flannery O’Connor • Jhumpa Lahiri • Junot Diaz • Virginia Woolf • Wally Lamb • And 40 more! Sourcebooks, July 2014 “Featuring classics mixed with original cocktails, plus bio and book suggestions, this slim guide should quench your thirst. You’ll find Ernest Hemingway (mojito) plus Junot Diaz (Papi’s Rum Punch) and Anne Tyler (Ian’s Cherry Cola) among them. “ – The Chicago Tribune
NON–FICTION
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Biography
THE NEW TSAR by Steven Lee Myers An epic tale of the path to power of Vladimir Putin, who emerged from obscurity to become one of the world’s most conflicted and important leaders. Vladimir Putin rose out of Soviet deprivation to the pinnacle of influence in the new Russian nation. He came to office in 2000 as a reformer, cutting taxes and expanding property rights, bringing a measure of order and eventually prosperity to millions whose only experience of democracy in the early years following the Soviet collapse was instability, poverty and criminality. But soon Putin orchestrated the preservation of a new kind of authoritarianism, consolidating power, reasserting his country’s might, brutally crushing revolts and swiftly dispatching dissenters, even as he retained the support of many.
New York Times Moscow Bureau Chief, Steven Lee Myers follows Putin’s path in a gripping, page-turning narrative about Russian power and prestige, elucidating the cool and calculating leader whose ambitions are as great as Peter’s, his means as ruthless as Ivan the Terrible’s. It’s a path that mirrors the growing pains of a nation stretching from the ends of Europe to the Pacific Ocean, and is key to understanding the new Russian Colossus. Knopf, February 2015 UK rights sold to Simon & Schuster Manuscript delivery in October 2014
NON–FICTION
Steven Lee Myers has worked at the New York Times for 22 years, five of them in Russia during the period when Putin consolidated his power. He spent two years as bureau chief in Baghdad, covering the winding down of the American war in Iraq, and now covers the State Department. He lives in Washington, DC. This is his first book. – 118 –
From popular science educator Bill Nye, comes an impassioned, compelling argument for the scientific unviability of creationism and the necessity of its removal from the science classroom. Sparked by a provocative comment to BigThink.com last fall, and fueled by a highly controversial debate with Creation Museum curator Ken Ham, Bill Nye’s campaign to confront the scientific shortcoming of creationism has exploded in just a few months into an international crusade. In this book, Nye expands the points he has made, and claims that this debate is not so much about religion versus science, as about the nature of science itself.
Current Affairs
UNDENIABLE: EVOLUTION AND THE SCIENCE OF CREATION by Bill Nye
With infectious enthusiasm, he reveals the mechanics of evolutionary theory, explains how it is rooted in the testable and verifiable scientific method, and why it is therefore a sound explanation of our beginning. He argues passionately that to continue to assert otherwise, to continue to insist that creationism has a place in the science classroom is harmful not only to our children, but to the future of the greater world as well. St. Martin’s Press, November 2014 Bill Nye is a scientist, engineer, comedian, and inventor. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University where he studied under Carl Sagan, and worked on the 747 as an engineer at Boeing before creating and hosting his muchloved Emmy award-winning PBS/ Discovery Channel show “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” He holds three Honorary Doctorate degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Goucher College, and Johns Hopkins, and teaches at Cornell regularly as a visiting professor.
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NON–FICTION
This is a timely and controversial topic, as a staggering number of states and regional education districts in America have recently introduced legislation to mandate the teaching of creationism in public school science classrooms or alert parents when evolution will be taught so they may remove their children. This book will speak directly to the central arguments of this issue and will appeal to readers of current and controversial non-fiction such as the works of Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins.
Science
THINGS TO MAKE AND DO IN THE FOURTH DIMENSION by Matt Parker Math is boring. Part of the problem may be the way the subject is taught, but it’s also true that we all, to a greater or lesser extent, find math difficult and counterintuitive. This counterintuitiveness is actually part of the point, argues Parker: the extraordinary thing about math is that it allows us to access logic and ideas beyond what our brains can instinctively do—through its logical tools we are able to reach beyond our innate abilities and grasp more and more abstract concepts. In this book Parker sets out to convince his readers to revisit the very math that put them off the subject. Starting with the foundations of math familiar from school (numbers, geometry, and algebra), he reveals how it is possible to climb all the way up to the topology and to four-dimensional shapes, and from there to infinity—and slightly beyond. • Cut pizzas in new and fairer ways! • Fit a a coin through an impossibly small hole! • Make a perfect regular pentagon by knotting a piece of paper! • Tie your shoes faster than ever before, saving literally seconds of your life! • Make a working computer out of dominoes! • How can maths help you choose a second-hand car? • Why is a text message like a Sudoku? • How much fun can you have with a barcode? Quite a lot, as it turns out. You will find out that math can be a game. This book can be cut, drawn in, folded into shapes and will even take you to the fourth dimension. So join stand-up Matt Parker on a journey through narcissistic numbers, optimal dating algorithms, at least two different kinds of infinity and more. Penguin Press, September 2014 Sales:
NON–FICTION
USA – FSG Canada – Doubleday Israel – Modan Japan – Hikaruland Russia – AST
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How to Spot Frenemies, Underminers and Toxic People in Your Life
How To
RED FLAGS by Wendy L. Patrick
We all need emotional blinders: the etiquette that keeps society smoothly moving depends on it. But when you absolutely must rely on another person, you have to be able to assess them objectively. Red Flags shares simple strategies anyone can use to spot deceptive or downright dangerous people who use ingratiation and social convention to draw in and lull victims. Readers will learn how even the most skeptical of us use rose-colored lenses on those around us, in 3 sections: — Blinded by Desire—from the alluring lenses of attraction and positive attention to the blindness of marital “bliss” and the distorted lens of delusion; — Overlooking Red Flags in a Professional Setting—how reassuring proximity and the false security of credibility and similarity can lead to costly mistakes; — Be Afraid of What You Can’t See—the ultimate cost of wearing emotional blinders around the truly disturbed/criminal, from sexual predation to domestic abuse, stalking and cyberstalking. Readers will learn how to: — avoid selective attention; — observe people over time (bad guys rely on first impressions); — ask questions: most people’s favorite topic is themselves; — cybersleuth to verify information and track down inconsistencies. You need this book if you: — want to know if a potential boyfriend is trustworthy; — are interviewing or hiring new employees; — are selecting anyone to take care of your children; — are lending money or property; — have partners in business.
NON–FICTION
St. Martin’s Pressm, February 2015
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Movie
THE SOUND OF MUSIC STORY by Tom Santopietro How One Young Nun, One Handsome Austrian Captain, and Seven Singing von Trapp Children Inspired the Most Beloved Film of All Time The ultimate fan book for the world’s most beloved film—The Sound of Music, just in time for the film’s 50th anniversary. On March 2, 1965, The Sound of Music was released and the love affair between moviegoers and the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical was on. Rarely has a film captured the love and imagination of the movie-going public in the way that The Sound of Music did as it blended history, music, Austrian location filming, heartfelt emotion and the yodeling of Julie Andrews into a monster hit. Now, Tom Santopietro has written the ultimate fan book with all the inside scoop from behind the scenes stories of the filming in Austria and Hollywood, to new interviews with Johannes von Trapp and others. Santopietro looks back at the real life story of Maria von Trapp, goes on to chronicle the sensational success of the Broadway musical, and recounts the story of the near cancellation of the film when “Cleopatra” bankrupted 20th Century Fox. We all know that Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer played Maria and Captain Von Trapp, but who else was considered for the parts? Tom Santopietro knows and will tell all while providing a historian’s critical analysis of the careers of director Robert Wise and screenwriter Ernest Lehman, a look at the critical controversy which greeted the movie, the film’s relationship to the turbulent 1960s and the super stardom which engulfed Julie Andrews.
NON–FICTION
St. Martin’s Press, February 2015
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Acclaimed biographer Meryle Secrest turns her attention to the fascinating world of 20th century fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli. Schiaparelli’s innovative, whimsical, and thoroughly modern designs, which incorporated elements from personal friends and major artists of the period, such as Giacometti, Salvador Dalí, and Jean Cocteau, represented a social revolution through clothing.
Biography
ELSA SCHIAPARELLI by Meryle Secrest
Known as the Queen of Fashion and a headline attraction in the international glitter-glamour show of the late twenties and thirties, she hosted and attended fabulous parties and was feted in Rome (her birth place), Paris, New York, London, Moscow, Dallas, Hollywood, and Dublin. From her Italian origins to her scandalous early marriage, from her perilous years as a penniless young mother to the success of her international business during WWII, Schiaparelli’s life was one of daring and bold strokes. With one hundred photographs, Secrest’s book gives the never-before-told story of this most extraordinary fashion designer, peering behind the carefully constructed facade she created to dissect her life from its modest beginnings in the 1920’s to the closing of her Paris salon in 1954. Meryle Secrest is the author of over ten biographies, the subjects of which include Amadeo Modigliani, Frank Lloyd Wright, Stephen Sondheim, Bernard Berenson, and Joseph Duveen. Secrest is originally from England and lives in Washington, D.C. She received the National Humanities Medal in 2006. Knopf, October 2014 The book will feature three inserts of color images. All of the images need to have permissions cleared but publishers are allowed not to use all of them for that reason. “Women dress alike all over the world: they dress to be annoying to other women.” – Elsa Schiaparelli
NON–FICTION
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History
CHASING GOLD by George M. Taber The Incredible Story of How the Nazis Stole Europe’s Bullion In the highly anticipated new book from the author of Judgment of Paris, George M. Taber reveals the integral role gold played in World War II, from its influence on the Nazi war machine to the ultimate triumph by the Allies and the fall of Berlin. For the entire history of human civilization, gold has enraptured people around the globe. The Nazis was no less enthralled by it, and felt that gold was the solution to funding Hitler’s war machine. Gold was also on the mind of FDR across the Atlantic, as he worked with Europe’s other leaders to bring the United States and the rest of the world out of a severe depression. FDR was hardly the first head of state to turn to gold in difficult times. Throughout history, it has been the refuge of both nations and people in trouble, working at times when nothing else does. Desperate people can buy a loaf of bread or bribe a border guard. Gold can get desperate nations oil to keep tanks running or munitions to fight a war. If the price is right, there is always someone somewhere willing to buy or sell gold. And it was to become the Nazi’s most important medium of exchange during the war. Chasing Gold is the story of how the Nazis attempted to grab Europe’s gold to finance history’s bloodiest war. It is filled with high drama and close escapes, laying bare the palate of human emotions. Walking through the tale are giants of world history, as well as ordinary people called upon to undertake heroic action in an extraordinary time. Pegasus, December 2014 “A vivid, robust story.” – Entertainment Weekly “Engrossing.” – The New York Times
NON–FICTION
“A sprightly and definitive account.” – Newsweek
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The Discovery of Modern Science
Science
TO EXPLAIN THE WORLD by Steven Weinberg
A masterful commentary on the history of science from the Greeks to modern times, by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Weinberg; a thought-provoking and important book by one of the most distinguished scientists and intellectuals of our time. In this rich, irreverent, and compelling history, Weinberg takes us across centuries from ancient Miletus to medieval Baghdad and Oxford, from Plato’s Academy and the Museum of Alexandria to the cathedral school of Chartres and the Royal Society of London. He shows that the scientists of ancient and medieval times not only did not understand what we understand about the world—they did not understand what there is to understand, or how to understand it. Yet over the centuries, through the struggle to solve such mysteries as the curious backward movement of the planets and the rise and fall of the tides, the modern discipline of science eventually emerged. Along the way, Weinberg examines historic clashes and collaborations between science and the competing spheres of religion, technology, poetry, mathematics, and philosophy. An illuminating exploration of the way we consider and analyze the world around us, To Explain the World is a sweeping, ambitious account of how difficult it was to discover the goals and methods of modern science, and the impact of this discovery on human knowledge and development. HarperCollins, February 2015 Sales: Prain – Taurus the Netherlands – Athenaeum France – Gallimard UK – Allen Lane Japan – Bungei Shunju Steven Weinberg is a theoretical physicist and the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics, the National Medal of Science, the Lewis Thomas Prize for the Scientist as Poet, and numerous honorary degrees and other awards. He is a member of the National Academy of Science, the Royal Society of London, the American Philosophical Society, and other academies. A long-time contributor to the New York Review of Books, he is the author of The First Three Minutes and Dreams of a Final Theory (Pantheon 1992).
NON–FICTION
“Weinberg challenges the reader with the puzzling ability of the human mind to anticipate nature’s secrets, and offers stunning examples of predictions that turned out to be true.” – Los Angeles Times
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Essays
WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE by Oprah Winfrey In the first issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, Oprah wrote: “We are all the causes of our own effects... That’s why I’ll never stop asking the question, What do you know for sure?” In the fourteen years since Oprah wrote those words, she has retired The Oprah Winfrey Show (the highestrated programme of its kind in history), launched her own television network, become America’s only black billionaire, lost beloved pets and adopted new ones, watched friends and colleagues come and go, celebrated milestone birthdays - and through it all, she’s continued to offer profound and inspiring words of wisdom in her monthly O column, What I Know For Sure. Now, for the first time, these thoughtful gems have been revised, updated and collected in a beautiful book packed with insight and revelation from Oprah Winfrey. Organized by theme, these essays offer a rare and powerful glimpse into the mind of one of the world’s most extraordinary women. Candid, moving, exhilarating, uplifting and dynamic, the words Oprah shares in What I Know For Sure shimmer with the sort of wisdom and truth that readers will turn to again and again. Flatiron Books, March 2015
NON–FICTION
Sales: Brazil – Sextante Bulgaria – Hermes China – Xiron Books Croatia – Profil Denmark – Rosinante French World – Tresor Cache Germany – Fischer the Netherlands – A.W. Bruna Hungary – Édesvíz Italy – Rizzoli Korea – Bookhouse Slovenia – Mladinska Knijga Spain – Santillana Taiwan – Commonwealth Publishing Group UK – Pan Macmillan
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Picture Book
GOOD NIGHT, FIREFLY by Gabriel Alborozo
A strikingly beautiful picture book tale of fireflies and bedtime, perfect for young children, who are not only afraid of the dark but who enjoy a comforting bedtime story. Nina is afraid of the dark. Luckily she has a nightlight, but one night the power goes out. So Nina traps a firefly to keep her company. She has a jolly time with her new friend, until she soon realizes that the firefly doesn’t feel the same way, and she must let it go. This irresistible bedtime story has stunning black-and-white illustrations accented with glowing spots of color—as magical as fireflies themselves! Gabriel Alborozo previously worked as a cartoonist for such magazines as Private Eye and Punch, but his first love is and has always been creating art for children. He lives in London with his wife. Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, June 2015
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
Age range: 3-7
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From author Keri Arthur comes a brand new series featuring heroine Emberly—a phoenix capable of taking on human form, and cursed with the ability to foresee death…
Paranormal
FIREBORN by Keri Arthur
Emberly has spent a good number of her many lives trying to save humans. So when her prophetic dreams reveal the death of Sam, a man she once loved, she does everything in her power to prevent that from happening. But in saving his life, she gets more than she bargained for. Sam is working undercover for the Paranormal Investigations Team, and those who are trying to murder him are actually humans infected by a plague-like virus, the Crimson Death—a byproduct of a failed government experiment that attempted to identify the enzymes that make vampires immortal. Now, all those infected must be eliminated. But when Emberly’s boss is murdered and his irreplaceable research stolen, she needs to find the guilty party before she goes down in flames… Signet, September 2014
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Paranormal
THE WITCHES OF ECHO PARK by Amber Benson Unbeknown to most of humankind, a powerful network of witches thrives within the shadows of society, using their magic to keep the world in balance. But they are being eliminated—and we will all pay if their power falls… When Elyse’s great-aunt Eleanora, the woman who raised her, becomes deathly ill, Lyse puts her comfortable life in Georgia on hold to rush back to Los Angeles. And once she returns to Echo Park, Lyse discovers her great-aunt has been keeping secrets—extraordinary secrets—from her. Not only is Lyse heir to Eleanora’s Victorian estate; she is also expected to take her great-aunt’s place in the Echo Park coven of witches. But to accept her destiny means to place herself in deadly peril—for the world of magic is under siege, and the battle the witches now fight may be their last… Ace, January 2015 “Benson knows how to tell a good story, and she ratchets up the tension with every page.” — Seanan McGuire “Benson has crafted a wellwritten page-turner mystery. Full of colorful characters and hilariousdialogue,thisisaseries supernatural fans will devour.” — Fresh Fiction “Lyse bounces from twist to twist as she explores Benson’s richly imagined world.” — Publishers Weekly “Amber Benson does an excellent job of creating strong characters… A fast-paced and very entertaining story.” — Sacramento Book Review
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“The humorous tone never gets in the way of the imaginative weirdness of the supernatural events.” — Locus “Opens the door on an intriguing, fully thought-out universe, with a likable main character and the potential for mayhem around every corner. It’s a lot of fun.” — Fangoria
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Near the little town of Fairfold, in the darkest part of the forest, is a glass casket. Inside lies a sleeping faerie prince that none can rouse. He’s the most fascinating thing Hazel and her brother Ben have ever seen. They dream of waking him - but what happens when dreams come true? In the darkest part of the forest, you must be careful what you wish for...
Horror
THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black
Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for. Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once. At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking. Until one day, he does… As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough? Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, January 2015 Holly Black is the bestselling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children, including Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale and the international bestselling Spiderwick series. She has been a finalist for the Mythopoeic Award and the Eisner Award, and the recipient of the Andre Norton Award. Holly lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library. Her website is www.blackholly.com
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Science Fiction
FORGED by Erin Bowman Book 3 in the Taken Trilogy The action and suspense rise to explosive new heights in Forged, the epic conclusion to the Taken trilogy—and the perfect next read for fans of sci-fi survival series like the Maze Runner and Gone. Gray Weathersby knows the truth about the Laicos Project, the Order, and the Forgeries. And they all must be stopped. But with each generation of Forgeries deadlier than the one before, the most familiar faces—and even the girl he loves—can’t be trusted. To make a stand against the Order, Gray will have to be ready to risk it all. HarperTeen, September 2014 Sales: Germany – Piper Italy – Sperling Spain – RH Mondadori
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“An action-packed thrill ride from beginning to end. Plenty of suspense and even romance.” – Publishers Weekly
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Chapter books & picture books
BAD KITTY by Nick Bruel
Very bad. But she doesn’t always mean to be. Whether she is trying to be a good little kitty and eat her vegetables, or be a quiet little kitty and behave at a birthday party, it seems that trouble finds a way to her. Children will fall in love with Bad Kitty, and be roaring with laughter at all of her antics. Bad Kitty series is a delightful read through berserk cat behavior. Roaring Brook Press, January 2015 Age range: 7-10
Sales: China (simplified) – Macmillan Century Frence – Bayard Jeunesse Canada – Scholastic Greece – Dioptra Israel – Iguana Publishers Hungary – Konyvolykepzo Kiado Poland – Mamania Brazil – Editora DCL Portugal – Clube do Autor Slovenia – Desk Spain – RBA Libros Turkey – Epsilon Yayinlari
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Fairy Tale
THE PEDDLER’S ROAD by Matthew Cody The Secrets of the Pied Piper, Book 1 This wall was built in 1556, 272 years after the magician stole 130 children away – inscription found on the old town wall in Hamelin, Germany A long time ago, one hundred and thirty children disappeared from the town of Hamelin, led away by a piper. Today Max and her brother Carter will discover where they went. 12 year-old Max and her younger brother are kidnapped by the infamous Pied Piper of legend, and find themselves in a darkly magical land known as the Summer Isle, a land beyond ours where dreams and ghosts dwell. Here, mortal children never grow up and while their days are filled with wonder, their nights are haunted by monsters. The original children of Hamelin, who went missing in 1284, have built themselves a home in the Summer Isle that they call New Hamelin; a walled village to keep out the night’s terrors and to protect them from the Piper’s marauding rats. Together with Lukas and Emilie, the child “elders” of New Hamelin, Max and Alexander set out on a quest to find the mysterious being known as the Peddler who can help them fulfill a prophecy that could bring all the children of Hamelin home again. That journey will lead them to lands beyond the Summer Isle, all the way to a hidden magical metropolis beneath New York City known as the Winter Court, and back again to fight the final war against the Piper and his armies of rats and soul-stealing grey men. But Max and Carter have a destiny to rescue the lost children of Hamelin and in doing so, change the Summer Isle forever.
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
Knopf, January 2015 Matthew Cody is the author of Powerless (Knopf, October 2009), The Dead Gentleman (Knopf, November 2011), Super (Knopf, September 2012), the historical adventure Will in Scarlett and the forthcoming Villainous (Knopf, Fall 2014). Outside of novels, Matthew has written for both Marvel and DC Comics. – 134 –
Perfect Ruin
Fantasy
THE INTERNMENT CHRONICLES by Lauren DeStefano
On the floating city of Internment, you can be anything you dream, unless you approach the edge. Morgan knows getting too close can lead to madness, like her older brother Lex, a Jumper. She takes solace in her best friend Pen, and in Basil, the boy she’s engaged to marry. When she investigates the first murder in a generation, she meets Judas. The suspect was betrothed to the victim, but Morgan believes he is innocent. Nothing can prepare Morgan for the secrets she will find – or whom she will lose. Burning Kingdoms After escaping through the bottom of Internment, Morgan and her fellow fugitives aboard the great mechanical bird land on the ground to finally learn what has lived beneath their floating island home all these eons. The ground is a strange place where water falls from the sky as snow, and customers watch moving pictures and visit speakeasies. A place where families can have as many children as they want, their dead are buried in vast gardens of bodies, and Internment is the feature of an amusement park. It is also a land at war. Everyone who fled Internment had their own reasons to escape their corrupt haven. But caught under the watchful eye of another king that wants to dominate his world, they wonder if coming to the ground will drag Internment down with them. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, March 2015 Sales: Turkey – Artemis Germany – CBJ/Random House UK – Harper Voyager
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Paranormal Romance
SAVE ME by Jenny Elliott With witches, stalkers, and a forbidden soul mate—even Cara’s guardian angel might have trouble saving her. Something strange is going on in the tiny coastal town of Liberty, Oregon. Cara has never seen a whale swim close enough for her to touch it—let alone knock her into the freezing water. Fortunately, cute newcomer David is there to save her, and the rescue leads to a bond deeper than Cara ever imagined. But then she learns something about David that changes everything, and Cara is devastated. She turns to her best friend for support, but Rachel has changed. She’s suddenly into witchcraft, and is becoming dangerously obsessed with her new boyfriend. Cara has lost her best friend, discovered that her soul mate is off limits, and has attracted the attention of a stalker. But she’s not completely alone. Her mysterious, gorgeous new friend Garren is there to support her. But is Garren possibly too perfect? “Romantic, mysterious, and down right engrossing! This book takes off with an unexpected turn of events that leaves you wanting more and at times you’ll be unable to put the book down. Elliott does a great job creating a love story wrapped in thrilling paranormal events where one minute you’re rooting for the couple in love and the next you’re biting your nails hoping they’ll run for their life! Not only is the story great, but you’ll fall in love with the characters.” — Publishers Weekly “Smooth read with some humorous elements and beautiful descriptions of the compelling coastal town and wildlife of the ocean added even more depth. The underlying intrigue of the supernatural pulls you in and keeps your interest until the very last page.” — Amaryllis Scott Svoon Reads, Winter 2015
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
Save Me is one of the two Swoon Reads titles that have been selected by the readers.
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You think your emails are private? Your credit card number is secure? That stock trades, government secrets, and nuclear codes are safe? ... th1nk
Crime
THE CIPHER by John C. Ford
aga1n.
Robert “Smiles” Smylie is not a genius. He feels like he’s surrounded by them, though, from his software mogul dad, to his brainy girlfriend, to his oddball neighbor Ben, a math prodigy. When Ben cracks an ancient, reallife riddle central to modern data encryption systems, he suddenly holds the power to unlock every electronic secret in the world—and Smiles finally has a chance to prove his own worth. Smiles hatches a plan to protect Ben from the government agents who will stop at nothing to get their hands on his discovery. But as he races from a Connecticut casino to the streets of Boston, enlisting the help of an alluring girl, Smiles comes to realize the most explosive secrets don’t lie between the covers of Ben’s notebook—they’re buried in his own past. Eerily close to reality and full of shocking twists, this techno-thriller reveals how easily the private can become public, and just how dangerous it can be to encrypt our personal histories. Viking, February 2015, Age range: 12 and up • An Edgar Award nominee for Best Young Adult Novel • An Agatha Award nominee for Best Young Adult Novel French rights sold to La Martinière
“Ford spins a tale that’s complex but not confusing, never whitewashing some of the harsher crimes people commit. The result is a story that holds its own as a mainstream mystery as well as a teen novel.” – Publishers Weekly, starred “Fast-paced and full of red herrings, it’ll keep you guessing.” – New York Post
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“Ford’s The Cipher is a thrill-a-minute ride. A very cool read.” – David Baldacci
Fantasy
DREAMWALKER by C.S. Friedman All her life Jessica Drake has dreamed of other worlds, some of them similar to her own, others disturbingly alien. She never shares the details with anyone, save her younger brother Tommy, a compulsive gamer who incorporates some aspects of Jessica’s dreams into his games. But now someone is asking about those dreams... and about her. A strange woman has been seen watching her house, and a mysterious visitor to her school has tried to take possession of her dreaminspired artwork. Why? As she begins to search for answers it becomes clear that whoever is watching her does not want her to learn the truth. One night her house catches fire, and when the smoke clears she discovers that her brother has been kidnapped. She must figure out what is going on, and quickly, if she and her family are to be safe. Following clues left behind on Tommy’s computer, determined to find her brother and bring him home safely, Jessica and two of her friends are about to embark on a journey that will test their spirits and their courage to the breaking point, as they must leave their own world behind and confront the source of Earth’s darkest legends—as well as the terrifying truth of their own secret heritage. DAW Books, September 2014 “Like most teens, Jessica really just wants to be normal, but a lifetime of vivid, unsettling dreams and a fractured family set her apart in Friedman’s promising entry into the paranormal YA world. Parallel worlds, alternate dimensions, freewheeling fantastical ideas (including dinosaurs as pets for the elite), and the promise of more books in this open-ended series should attract the attention of readers who usually read in this genre. Existing Friedman fans would do well to note that this is a departure from her usual fare and should go into it expecting something different yet perhaps quite appealing.” — Publishers Weekly
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“The fast pace and younger protagonist will make this an obvious crossover book for YA readers, appealing...to those teens (and adults) who enjoy Cassandra Clare.” — Library Journal
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Wishes, wishes... We all have them.
Fantasy
BECOMING JINN by Lori Goldstein
Forget what you thought you knew about genies! This is not the story of a human getting wishes granted, it’s the story of the fumbling teen Jinn (or genie for those of you who don’t know the technical term) who is forced to grant them – funny and poignant! Though Azra’s Jinn ancestry means magic has always been inside her, the rules don’t allow her to begin drawing upon it until the day she turns sixteen. The day she receives the silver bangle that releases her powers and transforms her into a genie. It doesn’t have to be tight like a handcuff to achieve the same effect. Her destiny is now controlled by the powerful Afrit who rule over the Jinn world, and she must keep her true identity a secret from all but the fellow female Jinn who make up her Zar sisterhood. Though she grew up with this circle of five female Jinn, they’ve always wanted the one thing Azra never has: to become a Jinn. This fact separates Azra from them now more than ever before. When she reconnects with Henry, the boy across the street she used to play with as a child, she finds in him the best friend her Zar sisters are supposed to be. The more she uses her powers, the less she feels like a Jinn. Maybe that’s because her focus begins to shift to Nate, the lifeguard with the underwear model exterior and sweet, shy interior. Her attachments to Henry and Nate and the human world begin to further strain her ties to her Zar and the Jinn. With her attention divided, she skirts the rules, and her genie mistakes begin to mount, along with the consequences.
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
As Azra uncovers the darker world of becoming Jinn, she realizes when genies and wishes are involved, there’s always a trick. Feiwel & Friends, May 2015
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Romance
A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT by Sandy Hall The distinctive new publishing imprint Swoon Reads proudly presents its first published novel— an irresistibly sweet romance between two college students told from 14 different viewpoints. The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks guy, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out. But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, andeveryone can see it. You’ll be rooting for Gabe and Lea too, in Sandy Hall’s quirky, completely original novel A Little Something Different, chosen by readers, writes, and publishers, to be the debut titles for the new Swoon Reads imprint! Swoon Reads/Feiwel & Friends September 2014 Age range: 12-18 Sales: Australia & NZ – Pan Macmillan Germany – Fischer Brazil – Martins Fontens UK – Macmillan
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“If ever two people should get together, it’s Gabe and Lea... The magnetic pull is so strong, in fact, that everyone they come into contact with can feel it, and it is through Gabe and Lea’s interactions with others that their stories unfold... A fun, light romance that will appeal to male and female readers alike.” – School Library Journal
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Long ago, in the Second Age of history, a young Nain explorer by the name of Ven Polypheme traveled much of the known and unknown world, recording his adventures. Recently discovered by archaeologists, a few fragments of his original journals are reproduced in this book. Great care has been taken to reconstruct the parts of the journal that did not survive, so that a whole story can be told...
Fantasy
THE LOST JOURNALS OF VEN POLYPHEME by Elizabeth Haydon
Charles Magnus Ven Polypheme, known as Ven, is the youngest son of a long line of famous shipwrights. He dreams not of building ships, but of sailing them to far-off lands where magic thrives. Ven gets his chance when he is chosen to direct the Inspection of his family’s latest ship, and sets sail on the journey of a lifetime. Attacked by fire pirates, lost at sea and near death, Ven is rescued by a passing ship on its way to the Island of Serendair. Thankful to be alive, little does Ven know that the pirate attack, and his subsequent rescue, may not have been an accident. Shadowy figures are hunting for the famed Floating Island, the only source of the mystical Water of Life. They think Ven can lead them to this treasure, and will stop at nothing to get it, even murder. In a narrative that alternates entries from his journals and drawings from his sketchbooks, Ven begins the famous chronicles of his exciting and exotic adventures; adventures that would later earn him renown as the author of The Book of All Human Knowledge and All the World’s Magic Book 1: The Floating Island Book 2: The Thief Queen’s Daughter Book 3: The Dragon’s Lair
Starscape, 2015 “A delightful epic fantasy that will attract a readership both older and younger than the target audience.” — Booklist, starred review “Haydon’s fantastical universe is filled with fun details,interesting characters, fast-paced adventure, snappy dialogue,and plenty of humor and heart.” — School Library Journal “Haydon spins a story both warm and thrilling.” — Publishers Weekly
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Fairy Tale
ALIAS HOOK by Lisa Jensen A beautifully and romantically written fairy tale perfect for fans of Gregory Maguire and Paula Brackston. “Every child knows how the story ends. The wicked pirate captain is flung overboard, caught in the jaws of the monster crocodile who drags him down to a watery grave. But it was not yet my time to die. It’s my fate to be trapped here forever, in a nightmare of childhood fancy, with that infernal, eternal boy.” Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. From the glamour of the Fairy Revels, to the secret ceremonies of the First Tribes, to the mysterious underwater temple beneath the Mermaid Lagoon, the magical forces of the Neverland open up for Stella as they never have for Hook. And in the pirate captain himself, she begins to see someone far more complex than the storybook villain. With Stella’s knowledge of folk and fairy tales, she might be Hook’s last chance for redemption and release if they can break his curse before Pan and his warrior boys hunt her down and drag Hook back to their neverending game. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen is a beautifully and romantically written adult fairy tale. St. Martin’s Press, September, 2014 Age range: 14 and up “Jensen’s second novel, a twist on the Peter Pan story which reconceives of Captain Hook as a tragic hero, shows how she’s matured as a writer since her excellent debut, The Witch from the Sea. Jensen’s wonderful imagination and devotion to history and myth allow the reader to fly with her through this outstanding adventure–no fairy dust required.” — Publishers Weekly
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“Scintillating description and deep characterization make Jensen’s Neverland a psychologically intriguing place to visit. Jensen offers a humanized take on Captain Hook that will be sure to entertain fans of the fairy tale-retelling genre.” — Library Journal “A rich and darkly humorous tale of a man trapped in a child’s nightmare. A delicious and thought-provoking read.” — Laurie King
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The thrilling 3rd instalment to the Edgar-nominated series, The Shades of London, that started with The Name of the Star and The Madness Underneath. The series is about the teenager, Rory, who arrives in London to attend a boarding school, on the same day as a series of brutal murders brake out across the city, mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.
Paranormal
THE SHADOW CABINET by Maureen Johnson
In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humour, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London, and discover her own shocking abilities. Something is brewing under London, something bigger and much more dangerous than what has come before. The Shadow Cabinet holds the key to everything, and it is up to Rory to unravel its mysteries before time runs out... Hot Key Books, February 2015 Maureen Johnson is the author of 10 YA novels, among them, The Key to the Golden Firebird, Girl at Sea, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, The Bermudez Triangle and Devilish; she wrote the screenplay for a Harry Potter video game, and was named one of Time magazine’s top people. She also ascended to the throne: Johnson recently bested nine other writers to win the U.K.’s Queen of Teen award.
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Fairy Tale
PENNYROYAL ACADEMY by M.A. Larson “Larson has created a magical world of adventure—a world that shows who princesses truly are: people of character and courage and strength. No one rescues Pennyroyal princesses; they rescue themselves.” — Reese Witherspoon The first of a new series, this modern day fairy-tale begins when the prestigious Pennyroyal’s: a school that shapes little girls into warrior princesses, opens its doors to commoners as the last line of defense against an ever-growing terror of wicked witches. Through a series of mishaps, our young heroine (raised by dragons far from normal human society) finds herself enrolled as a cadet in Sparkle Company. She uncovers and develops her unique talents as she battles through training, immerses herself in Princess History, and learns the equally difficult skills of making friends and fighting in slippers. Who needs a handsome prince when princesses can do the difficult work themselves? They are drilled by fairies tougher than Marine Corps leaders at Paris Island. They have to run in slippers through all their days, and learn how to be kind throughout. M.A. Larson is a film and television writer. He has written for Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, Discovery Kids Channel and Nickelodeon. His biggest claim to fame currently is as a writer for all three seasons of the cult sensation My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Putnam, October 2014
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
Reese Witherspoon’s Pacific Standard to produce the film adaptation with Reese playing the part of Fairy Queen drill sergeant. Sales: Hungary – Cicero Kiado Japan– Alphapolis “Flashes of inspiration light up a protagonist with plenty of spine… A sequel-worthy debut…” — Kirkus
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The Stratford Zoo looks like a normal zoo... until the gates shut at night. That’s when the animals come out of their cages to stage elaborate performances of Shakespeare’s greatest works. They might not be the most accomplished actors, but they’ve got what counts: heart. Also fangs, feathers, scales, and tails...
Graphic Novel
THE STRATFORD ZOO MIDNIGHT REVUE PRESENTS MACBETH written by Ian Lendler • illustrations by Zack Giallongo
Ian Lendler’s hilarious tale of afterhours animal stagecraft is perfectly paired with the adorable, accessible artwork of Zack Giallongo. And with Romeo and Juliet coming in book two, this is a promising new series of graphic novels for young readers, as well as a new way to learn about Shakespeare’s plays. First Second, September 2014 Age range: 7-10 “A comic affair that will appeal to younger readers.” – School Library Journal “Those too young to appreciate the original play will certainly grasp this cleverly anthropomorphized, lushly envisioned graphic romp.” – Kirkus Reviews
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Fairy Tale
THE NOVICE by Taran Matharu SUMMONER: BOOK ONE Enter an immersive fantasy world where one boy’s ability to summon demons will change the fate of an empire. Fletcher was nothing more than a humble blacksmith’s apprentice, when a chance encounter leads to the discovery that he has the ability to summon demons from another world. Chased from his village for a crime he did not commit, he must travel with his demon to the Adept Military Academy, where the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. The academy will put Fletcher through a gauntlet of gruelling lessons, training him as a battlemage to fight in the Hominum Empire’s war against the savage orcs. Rubbing shoulders with the children of the most powerful nobles in the land, Fletcher must tread carefully. The power hungry Forsyth twins lurk in the shadows, plotting to further their family’s interests. Then there is Sylva, an elf who will do anything she can to forge an alliance between her people and Hominum, even if it means betraying her friends. Othello is the first ever dwarf at the academy, and his people have long been oppressed by Hominum’s rulers, which provokes tension amongst those he studies alongside. Fletcher will find himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with nothing but his demon Ignatius to help him. As the pieces on the board manoeuvre for supremacy, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. The fate of an empire is in his hands. Feiwel & Friendsm May 2015 Sales:
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
UK – Hodder USA – Macmillan Brazil – Record Germany – Heyne Spain – Planeta Russia – Eksmo Taiwan – Crown France – Pocket Jeunesse
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A new original graphic novel from First Second. David Smith is giving his life for his art—literally. Thanks to a deal with Death, the young sculptor gets his childhood wish: to sculpt anything he can imagine with his bare hands. But now that he only has 200 days to live, deciding what to create is harder than he thought, and discovering the love of his life at the eleventh hour isn’t making it any easier!
Graphic Novel
THE SCULPTOR by Scott McCloud
This is a story of desire taken to the edge of reason and beyond; of the frantic, clumsy dance steps of young love; and a gorgeous, street-level portrait of the world’s greatest city. It’s about the small, warm, human moments of everyday life... and the great surging forces that lie just under the surface. Scott McCloud wrote the book on how comics work; now he vaults into great fiction with a breathtaking, funny, and unforgettable new work. ScottMcCloud is the award-winning author of Understanding Comics, and many other fiction and non-fiction comics spanning 30 years. He’s lectured and consulted on comics and digital media for Google, MIT, Pixar, Sony, and the Smithsonian Institution. He started the international 24 Comic phenomenon, a nd his comics are available in 18 languages in print. First Second, February 2015 Age range: 14 and up Sales: UK – Self Made Hero the Netherlands – Scratch France – Rue de Sèvres Germany – Carlsen Italy – Bao Publishing Korea – Mimesis Spain – Planeta “It’s big, loud and operatic at times, but also grounded in a lot of small, funny, human moments,” McCloud says.
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“Most of all, I just want it to be an engrossing read — a page-turner from beginning to end. The cover had to communicate three things: the supernatural way David shapes the world around him, the love story that forms the book’s emotional center of the book, and their surroundings in New York City. By having David’s lover, Meg, emerge from the brick itself, we were able to combine the second and third elements into one hopefully unforgettable image.” – 147 –
Contemporary
THE TRAGIC AGE by Stephen Metcalfe A brilliant, debut coming-of-age novel, that will teach you to learn to love, trust and truly be alive in an absurd world. Catcher in the Rye for a new generation. This is the story of Billy, heir to a lottery fortune, part genius, part philosopher and social critic, full time insomniac and closeted rock drummer. Billy has decided that the best way to deal with an absurd world is to stay away from it. Do not volunteer. Do not join in. Billy will be the first to tell you it doesn’t always work— not when your twin sister, Dorie, has died, not when your unhappy parents are at war with one another, not when soccer moms in two ton SUVs are more dangerous than atom bombs, and not when your guidance counselor keeps asking why you haven’t applied to college. Billy’s life changes when two people enter his life. Twom Twomey is a charismatic renegade who believes that truly living means going a little outlaw. Twom and Billy become one another’s mutual benefactor and friend. At the same time, Billy is reintroduced to Gretchen Quinn, an old and adored friend of Dorie’s. It is Gretchen who suggests to Billy that the world can be transformed by creative acts of the soul. With Twom, Billy visits the dark side. And with Gretchen, Billy experiences possibilities. Billy knows that one path is leading him toward disaster and the other toward happiness. The problem is—Billy doesn’t trust happiness. It’s the age he’s at. The tragic age. St. Martin’s Griffin, March 2015 Age range: 14-18 Sales: Germany – Droemer Brazil – Novo Conceito Turkey – Epsilon
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“Pick a subject. Grab a word or headline or rumor. Read about it. Google it. Wicki it. Search and surf it. Stuff it. One site leads to another and then another. A new subject or word or phrase grabs your attention. It takes the place of the first one and you follow that trail, moving on and on, subject to subject, site to site, skimming the surface, never really digging deep, a tar baby picking up feathers, on and on until you’ve forgotten what it is that got you started in the first place. In real time. In real life.” – 148 –
This darkly riveting YA debut is Dickens for the digital era. She can be anyone you want her to be. Vivian was raised with one purpose in life: to exact revenge on behalf of her mother.
Paranormal
I AM HER REVENGE by Meredith Moore
Manipulative and cruel, Mother has deprived Vivian not only of a childhood, but of an original identity. With an endless arsenal of enticing personalities at her disposal, Vivian is a veritable weapon of deception. And she can destroy anyone. When it’s time to strike, she enrolls in a boarding school on the English moors, where she will zero in on her target: sweet and innocent Ben, the son of the man who broke Mother’s heart twenty years ago. Anyone…except for the woman who created her. With every secret she uncovers, Vivian comes one step closer to learning who she really is. But the more she learns about herself, the more dangerous this cat and mouse game becomes. Because Mother will stop at nothing to make sure the truth dies with her. Razorbill, April 2015 Meredith Moore is a graduate of Harvard University, with a degree in History and English. After college, she worked as an editorial assistant at Henry Holt.
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
Contemporary
FLOWER POWER by Lauren Myracle
Book 1: Luv Ya Bunches What do Katie-Rose, Yasaman, Milla, and Violet all have in common? Other than being named after flowers, practically nothing. Katie-Rose is a film director in training. Yasaman is a computer whiz. Milla is third in command of the A list. And Violet is the new girl in school. They’re fab girls, all of them, but they sure aren’t friends. And if evil queen bee Modessa has her way, they never will be. But this is the beginning of a new school year, when anything can happen and social worlds can collide... Told in Lauren Myracle’s inventive narrative style—here a fresh mix of instant messages, blog posts, screenplay, and straight narrative—Luv Ya Bunches, the first in a 4-book series, is a funny, honest depiction of the shifting alliances and rivalries that shape school days, and of the lasting friendships that blossom from the skirmishes.
Book 2: Violet in Bloom
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
The Flower Power girls are nurturing their new friendship and busy building LuvYaBunches.com, their very own socialnetworking site. Their first flower-power task? A doomed campaign to get their school to serve healthier snacks. The Jelly-Yums they champion—soon dubbed “beans of grossness”—taste like candied beets. And that’s just the start of their troubles. It will take all the strength and genuine affection of these pals to weather a particularly stormy week of fifth grade. Harry N. Abrams Age range: 9-12 Years
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The Red Harlequin is a series of coming of age fantasy novels aimed at 12-18 year olds. Featuring an aspirational teenage hero named Asheva, living in an imaginary world divided among warring Chrome Nations, the property appeals to a demographic akin to The Hunger Games, Harry Potter and Game of Thrones.
Fantasy
THE RED HARLEQUIN by Roberto Ricci
In an ancient world divided by colors, where everyone wears masks, and mysterious creatures called the Harlequins exist, a clever teen of the Black Chromes named Asheva loses everything he’s ever known, and embarks on a treacherous and exciting journey, where he will discover that beneath the masks, nothing is what it is. In the first Book, Of Masks And Chromes, Asheva, a proud son of the Black Nation, will see his world crumble underneath him, as events too big for his age will force him to run away from his native city of Axyum. A new journey will take him to lands with different colors and different ways from the Black. Yet with the journey, new discoveries will be made and unexpected dangers will be faced. From a desperate escape through the hills and forests of the Black Nation, to the vast Blue Plains of the city of Ayas, Asheva will learn to face the dangers of the wilderness but also to face the even more dangerous nature of the Chromes, including the worst accusation a Chrome can be charged with: being a Harlequin. In the second book, Kingdom of Deceit, Asheva has barely escaped Ayas with his life. Now he must learn to survive on his own and put aside his age-old Black Nation hatred for the Red Chromes. But turmoil is building, both inside and outside the Red city of Samaris, where a violent attack takes the Reds by surprise. Roberto Ricci is a fiction writer of novels, short stories and screenplays. Amongst other things, Roberto has been a journalist and a Senior Executive in a world-renown children’s entertainment company. He attended NYU and the European Business School and has lived in Tokyo, New York, Rome, Milan, Paris, and London.
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
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Fantasy
A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC by V. E. Schwab From V.E. Schwab, the author of The Archived, comes a new universe of daring adventure, thrilling power, and parallel Londons, beginning with A Darker Shade of Magic. Kell is one of the last Travelers—magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel universes—as such, he can choose where he lands. There’s Grey London, dirty and boring, without any magic, ruled by a mad King George. Then there’s Red London, where life and magic are revered, and the Maresh Dynasty presides over a flourishing empire. White London, ruled by whoever has murdered their way to the throne—a place where people fight to control magic, and the magic fights back, draining the city to its very bones. And once upon a time, there was Black London…but no one speaks of that now. Officially, Kell is the Red Traveler, personal ambassador and adopted Prince of Red London, carrying the monthly correspondences between the royals of each London. Unofficially, Kell is a smuggler, servicing people willing to pay for even the smallest glimpses of a world they’ll never see—a dangerous hobby, and one that has set him up for accidental treason. Fleeing into Grey London, Kell runs afoul of Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations, who first robs him, then saves him from a dangerous enemy, and then forces him to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure. But perilous magic is afoot, and treachery lurks at every turn. To save all of the worlds, Kell and Lila will first need to stay alive, and that is proving trickier than they hoped. Tor Books, February 2015
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
UK rights sold to Titan
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After Lane Smith finished work on Grandpa Green, for which he won a 2012 Caldecott Honor, he started scribbling notes for a story that had been percolating for years, one that was not going to fit within the constraints of a picture book.
Fairy Tale
RETURN TO AUGIE HOBBLE by Lane Smith
“The seed of this idea was a script I wrote about 15 years ago for a short film that was going to be set at an amusement part in New Jersey and star [fellow illustrator] Vladimir Radunsky,” he said. Now Smith’s revived idea has grown into his first novel-length work for young readers, Return to Augie Hobble. The setting is no longer New Jersey – it’s New Mexico, where Augie works at Fairy Tale Place, his family’s dilapidated amusement park located along Route 66. It’s a landscape familiar to Smith since childhood. Born in Tulsa, he moved to California at a young age, but his family returned each summer to visit relatives, stopping at different points along the 1,500-mile trip. The hero of his novel, Augie, lives at a “cheesy roadside attraction”. A talented artist who has somehow managed to fail his Creative Arts class, Augie has to redo his final project to earn a passing grade, so his sketchbook is his constant companion. In it, he records – in text, comic strips, fake Polaroids (drawn by Smith), and black-and-white drawings – his thoughts about the loss of his best friend, the indifference of the girl he has a crush on, his torment by bullies, and... the possibly paranormal events that have him convinced he’s turning into a werewolf. This is not an illustrated novel or a graphic novel – its closest literary cousin may be The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick but it’s an apt comparison not because of the subject matter but because a lot of the storytelling exists in a play between words and images. Sales for It’s a Book:
Roaring Brook, May 2015, Age Range: 8-12
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
China (Complex) – Global Kids China (Simplified) – Macmillan Century the Netherlands – Lemniscaat PUbilshers UK – Macmillan Children’s Books Australia & NZ – Walker Books Australia France – Editions Gallimard Germany – Carl Hanser Verlag Greece – Kaleidoscope Israel – Am Oved Publishers Hungary – Csimota Konyvkiado Italy – RCS Libri Japan – BL Shuppan Korea – Munhakdongne Norway – H. Aschehoug & Co. Korea – Munhakdongne Brazil – Cia Das Letras Portugal – Editorial Prescenca Romania – Gama Publishing House Russia – Pink Giraffe Books Spain – Oceano Mexico Sweden – Raben & Sjorgren Thailand – Siam Cement Group
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Adventure
THE ACCIDENTAL HIGHWAYMAN by Ben Tripp An incredibly imaginative and thrilling tale of faeries, princesses, a rogue servant, and myriad other colorful and delightful characters. This thrilling tale of dark magic and true love is the perfect story for fans of William Goldman’s The Princess Bride. In 18th-century England, young Christopher “Kit” Bristol is the unwitting servant of notorious highwayman Whistling Jack. One dark night, Kit finds his master bleeding from a mortal wound, dons the man’s riding cloak to seek help, and changes the course of his life forever. Mistaken for Whistling Jack and on the run from redcoats, Kit is catapulted into a world of magic and wonders he thought the stuff of fairy tales. Bound by magical law, Kit takes up his master’s quest to rescue a rebellious fairy princess from an arranged marriage to King George III of England. But his task is not an easy one, for Kit must contend with the feisty Princess Morgana, gobling attacks, and a magical map that portends his destiny: as a hanged man upon the gallows…. Fans of classic fairy-tale fantasies such as Stardust by Neil Gaiman will find much to love in this irresistible YA debut by Ben Tripp, the son of one of most beloved illustrators, Wallace Tripp (Amelia Bedelia). Following in his father’s footsteps, Ben has woven illustrations throughout the story. Tor Teen, October 2014 Age range: 12-18
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
“Delightful and charming. A swashbuckling adventure in the vein of Robert Louis Stevenson.” — Brandon Sanderson
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The first in a futuristic YA cyberpunk series about a teen hacker, whose friend’s overdose, on an illicit digital drug, leads her to uncovering a dark mystery with roots deep in her LA neighborhood’s crime syndicate.
Cyberpunk
BLUESCREEN by Dan Wells
Marisa’s friend Anja uses a data drug that plugs into your djinni, overloading your sensory feeds to induce a hallucinogenic trip. Mari looks deeper and eventually uncovers a conspiracy of mind control, human slavery, and corporate intrigue: the drug actually plants a virus in your head, letting its controllers use your body like a puppet. She does what she can to stop them, but first she has to find them--and when she does, she realizes that the only way to hurt them is to orchestrate a turf war with one of LA’s other dealers. This proves deadlier than she ever expected when the techno-druglords activate their entire army of puppets, turning thousands of innocent victims into zombie-like warriors hell bent on revenge, including Anja. Balzer & Bray/ HarperCollins Children’s Books, April 2015 German rights sold to Piper Dan Wells writes in a variety of genres, from dark humor to science fiction to supernatural thriller. He is the author of the Partials sequence, the John Cleaver series, the upcoming Bluescreen series, as well as others. He has been nominated for the Campbell Award, and has won three Parsec Awards as well as a Hugo Award for his podcast Writing Excuses.
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
CONTENTS
FICTION
GREEN ON BLUE by Elliot Ackerman THE TEARS OF DARK WATER by Corban Addison LAST TO KNOW by Elizabeth Adler THE YEAR I MET YOU by Cecilia Ahern THE WATER KNIFE by Paolo Bacigalupi SIDNEY SHELDON’S CHASING TOMORROW by Tilly Bagshawe THE ESCAPE by Mary Balogh THE SCARLET GOSPELS by Clive Barker THE BOSS TRILOGY by Abigail Barnette ASYLUM by Jeannette de Beauvoir VISION IN SILVER by Anne Bishop THE HIGH DRUID’S BLADE by Terry Brooks MEAN STREAK by Sandra Brown IMPASSE by Royce Scott Buckingham WAYFARING STRANGER by James Lee Burke FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN by Colette Caddle BACK CHANNEL by Stephen L. Carter HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS by Katherine Center THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION by Darcie Chan ROCK IT by Jennifer Chance INSIDE THESE WALLS by Rebecca Coleman Michael Connelly JURASSIC PARK & THE LOST WORLD by Michael Crichton A COLDER WAR by Charles Cumming THE EYE OF HEAVEN by Clive Cussler THE DEEP by Nick Cutter HAVANA SLEEPING by Martin Davies THE SALMON WHO DARED TO LEAP by Ahn Do-hyeon NUMERO ZERO by Umberto Eco A SMALL INDISCRETION by Jan Ellison THE HIGH DIVIDE by Lin Enger HAUSFRAU by Jill Alexander Essbaum BEATRICE AND BENEDICK by Marina Fiorato WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES by Karen Joy Fowler ROBERT LUDLUM’S THE GENEVA STRATEGY by Jamie Freveletti THE ITALIAN WIFE by Kate Furnivall OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP by Nina George THE PERIPHERAL by William Gibson THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF NINA FINDLAY by Andrea Gillies THE FRIENDSHIP OF CRIMINALS by Robert Glinski RUN by Andrew Grant THE OUTCAST DEAD by Elly Griffiths THE LIFE INTENDED by Kristin Harmel THE STORIES WE TELL by Patti Callahan Henry THE ETERNA FILES by Leanna Renee Hieber WAITING ON YOU by Kristan Higgins THE DEVIL IN THE MARSHALSEA by Antonia Hodgson
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49
CONTENTS
FICTION
PILLARS OF LIGHT by Jane Johnson IGNITED by J. Kenner IN THE COMPANY OF SHERLOCK HOLMES by Leslie S. Klinger & Laurie R. King THE CITY by Dean Koontz THE FIGARO MURDERS by Laura Lebow GHOST MONTH by Ed Lin THE MISSING PLACE by Sophie Littlefield STAR WARS by George Lucas LOVE LETTERS by Debbie Macomber THE WORLD OF ICE & FIRE by George R.R.Martin MRS ENGELS by Gavin McCrea WHITE CROCODILE by K.T. Medina BURNED by Karen Marie Moning INSIDE A SILVER BOX by Walter Mosley UPROOTED by Naomi Novik THE QUESTION OF RED by Laksmi Pamuntjak THE LONG WAY HOME by Louise Penny THE SIEGE by Arturo Pérez-Reverte ONCE DEAD by Richard Phillips LEAVING TIME by Jodi Picoult THE FINAL OPTION by Stefanie Pintoff THE WHITES by Richard Price writing as Harry Brandt MAPLECROFT by Cherie Priest THE GREAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN POCKET WATCH CONSPIRACY by Jacopo della Quercia THE WINTER FOUNDLINGS by Kate Rhodes PRINCE LESTAT by Anne Rice THE EMPTY QUARTER by David L. Robbins ABATTOIR BLUES by Peter Robinson THE 6TH EXTINCTION by James Rollins WHISPERING SHADOWS by Jan-Philipp Sendker ALIVE by Scott Sigler THE FIFTH HEART by Dan Simmons FISHBOWL by Bradley Somer THE FIRST WIFE by Erica Spindler PEGASUS by Danielle Steel THE HAWLEY BOOK OF THE DEAD by Chrysler Szarlan UNDER TIBERIUS by Nick Tosches THE WEDNESDAY GROUP by Sylvia True JOE STEEL by Harry Turtledove THE JUST CITY by Jo Walton THE BROKEN EYE by Brent Weeks THE GREAT GLASS SEA by Josh Weil CONFLUENCE TRILOGY by Jennifer Foehner Wells THE SECRET LIFE OF VIOLET GRANT by Beatriz Williams PARIS MATCH by Stuart Woods THE WISDOM OF PERVERSITY by Rafael Yglesias HARDER by Robin York
50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96
CONTENTS
NON-FICTION
THE BULLETPROOF DIET by Dave Asprey RYAN GIGGS by Steve Bartram & Adam Marshall A GIRL AND HER GREENS by April Bloomfield MAMA GONE GEEK by Lynn Brunelle THE SKELETON CUPBOARD by Tanya Byron THE SWEET SPOT by Christine Carter Ph.D. FINAL FRONTIER by Brian Clegg THE GOOD STORY by J.M. Coetzee and Arabella Kurtz NOT MY FATHER’S SON by Alan Cumming ALIBABA’S WORLD by Porter Erisman BEING MORTAL by Atul Gawande BATTLE OF VERSAILLES by Robin Givhan AYRTON SENNA by Maurice Hamilton WHY RELIGION IS IMMORAL by Christopher Hitchens UNTITLED by Donna Karan RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS: FANDEMONIUM by Anthony Kiedis MEN by Laura Kipnis DEAD WAKE by Erik Larson ANGER IS AN ENERGY by John Lydon COCKTAILS FOR BOOK LOVERS by Tessa Smith McGovern THE NEW TSAR by Steven Lee Myers UNDENIABLE: EVOLUTION AND THE SCIENCE OF CREATION by Bill Nye THINGS TO MAKE AND DO IN THE FOURTH DIMENSION by Matt Parker RED FLAGS by Wendy L. Patrick THE SOUND OF MUSIC STORY by Tom Santopietro ELSA SCHIAPARELLI by Meryle Secrest CHASING GOLD by George M. Taber TO EXPLAIN THE WORLD by Steven Weinberg WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE by Oprah Winfrey
98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126
CONTENTS
CHILDREN • YOUNG ADULT
GOOD NIGHT, FIREFLY by Gabriel Alborozo FIREBORN by Keri Arthur THE WITCHES OF ECHO PARK by Amber Benson THE DARKEST PART OF THE FOREST by Holly Black FORGED by Erin Bowman BAD KITTY by Nick Bruel THE PEDDLER’S ROAD by Matthew Cody THE INTERNMENT CHRONICLES by Lauren DeStefano SAVE ME by Jenny Elliott THE CIPHER by John C. Ford DREAMWALKER by C.S. Friedman BECOMING JINN by Lori Goldstein A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT by Sandy Hall THE LOST JOURNALS OF VEN POLYPHEME by Elizabeth Haydon ALIAS HOOK by Lisa Jensen THE SHADOW CABINET by Maureen Johnson PENNYROYAL ACADEMY by M.A. Larson THE STRATFORD ZOO MIDNIGHT REVUE PRESENTS MACBETH by Ian Lendler THE NOVICE by Taran Matharu THE SCULPTOR by Scott McCloud THE TRAGIC AGE by Stephen Metcalfe I AM HER REVENGE by Meredith Moore FLOWER POWER by Lauren Myracle THE RED HARLEQUIN by Roberto Ricci A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC by V. E. Schwab RETURN TO AUGIE HOBBLE by Lane Smith THE ACCIDENTAL HIGHWAYMAN by Ben Tripp BLUESCREEN by Dan Wells
128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155
International Literary Agency Belgrade
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i don't know
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What's a half plus a third?
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Multiplying Fractions
Multiplying Fractions
When you have finished this page, try the Multiplying Fractions Quiz.
Multiplying fractions is different than adding and subtracting fractions in that it is not necessary to have common denominators. There are some other things to be aware of,however.
To multiply two fractions, one simply multiplies the numerator of one fraction by the numerator of the other fraction and then multiplies the denominator of one fraction by the denominator of the other fraction. One should also reduce the final answer if possible.
The following is a very simple multiplication of fractions. Notice that the answer is a smaller fraction than the two fractions that it was multiplied by. This makes sense when one realizes that the problem is to find one half of one half - which is one fourth.
1
One fourth of the whole.
To multiply a mixed number, one must convert the mixed number to an improper fraction. This is true if one is multiplying two mixed numbers together or a mixed number and a fraction. The example below shows a mixed number one and one half times one half or one and one half split in half.
One and one half is converted to three halves.
The three halves are then split in half making six fourths
One of those halves is equal to three fourths.
Cross Cancellation:
In order to avoid multiplying large numbers and then reducing them, one can do some "pre=reducing" called cross cancellation. The example below shows how.
The numerator of the first fraction, five sixths, can be cross cancelled with the denominator of the second fraction, two fifths by dividing five into both numbers. They are both in red.
The denominator of the first fraction and the numeratof of the second fraction can both be cross cancelled by dividing them by two.
The revised numerators can then be multiplied. In this case one times one equals one.
The revised denominators can then be multiplied. In this case one times three is three.
The final answer is one third.
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five sixths
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What short word prefixes these words to create five different words?
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Multiplying Fractions
Multiplying Fractions
When you have finished this page, try the Multiplying Fractions Quiz.
Multiplying fractions is different than adding and subtracting fractions in that it is not necessary to have common denominators. There are some other things to be aware of,however.
To multiply two fractions, one simply multiplies the numerator of one fraction by the numerator of the other fraction and then multiplies the denominator of one fraction by the denominator of the other fraction. One should also reduce the final answer if possible.
The following is a very simple multiplication of fractions. Notice that the answer is a smaller fraction than the two fractions that it was multiplied by. This makes sense when one realizes that the problem is to find one half of one half - which is one fourth.
1
One fourth of the whole.
To multiply a mixed number, one must convert the mixed number to an improper fraction. This is true if one is multiplying two mixed numbers together or a mixed number and a fraction. The example below shows a mixed number one and one half times one half or one and one half split in half.
One and one half is converted to three halves.
The three halves are then split in half making six fourths
One of those halves is equal to three fourths.
Cross Cancellation:
In order to avoid multiplying large numbers and then reducing them, one can do some "pre=reducing" called cross cancellation. The example below shows how.
The numerator of the first fraction, five sixths, can be cross cancelled with the denominator of the second fraction, two fifths by dividing five into both numbers. They are both in red.
The denominator of the first fraction and the numeratof of the second fraction can both be cross cancelled by dividing them by two.
The revised numerators can then be multiplied. In this case one times one equals one.
The revised denominators can then be multiplied. In this case one times three is three.
The final answer is one third.
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i don't know
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"What famous newspaper displays the motto ""All the News That's Fit to Print"", and is known as The Gray Lady because of its traditional dominance of copy (words) compared to graphics?"
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1 Aug 2011 Best | Hackerbrain
hacker news with inline top comments .. more
.. 1 Aug 2011 Best
home ask best 6 years ago
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926 points by foxit 4 days ago 379 comments top 82
1
edw519 4 days ago replies
I get angry when I realize I will never again be who I've always been before, someone who lived strong and free by the creed that people are essentially good, that if you think optimistically, trust others.
Please don't let them steal this too.
I'm really sorry for your bad experience, but remember:
- You can still live strong and free.
- People are still essentially good.
- You can still think optimistically.
- You can still trust others.
It's true, you will never be who you've always been. But you can be almost the same person, still optimistic and trusting, just a little less naive. You many not realize it now, but the time will come when you may actually appreciate this as a learning experience.
There are bad people out there and some of them will want to hurt you. You don't have to sacrifice who you really are because of them. You just have to live a little bit differently.
Don't let them take away you really are. Believe it or not, that would be much worse than what they've already done.
Lots of well wishes for your quick recovery.
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brianchesky 4 days ago replies
Hey everyone - we were shocked when we heard about this unsettling event. We have been working closely with the authorities, and we want to reassure our community that, with the help of our security infrastructure, we were able to assist the police in their investigation, and we understand from authorities that a suspect is now in custody.
We've created a marketplace built on trust, transparency and authenticity within our community, and we hold the safety of our community members as our highest priority. We will continue to work with our users to stamp out those who would put that community at risk in any way. The vast majority of our community members genuinely respect and protect each other, but we urge users to be careful and discerning with each other and to hold others accountable through reviews, flagging and our customer service channel. Our hearts go out to our host and we will continue to work with her and with the authorities to make this right.
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varunsrin 4 days ago replies
I always found AirBnB's model based on a surprising amount of trust - I for one would never be comfortable just handing over they keys to my place to a total stranger.
Even if they didn't ransack my place completely, as happened to the unfortunate author - I would be concerned about unintentional damage to my property that I might not discover till too late. Renting out something as private as my primary place of residence just seems like a generally bad idea, especially when I am not around to constantly check in on it. Even if I got to meet them, and they seemed like nice people whats to stop them from leaving without paying if they accidentally broke my TV ?
As the service expands, and becomes more craigslist-y (in terms of audience) I can only see problems like this getting worse, and apart from implementing some kind of guest / host rating system (like ecommerce portals do with sellers) I see no clear solution to the problem.
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vladd 4 days ago 2 replies
AirBnB can be used without issues if you own a property and you're willing to operate it like a hotel: you're present on the premises to check in the guests, you have a room or a reception-like place from where you can monitor the situation, and you're able to inspect the place when they leave.
Operating a property remotely via AirBnB implies all sorts of risks, which makes me think that it might be an unsustainable model, because a black swan event might ruin the property to such extent that it offsets the income made in all the other cases.
AirBnB handles property promotion and property booking on the Internet -- that's fine -- but when it advertised itself it included in the message ways to do property administration (as in rent-your-home-while-away). While this is not connected intricately with their core business, it is the model that some owners assumed by default, without realizing the risks involved or the fact that you are still exposed to one-in-one-hundred unpleasant events.
If they manage to warn about this upfront similar to the way Craiglist does, without losing their brand and their community support, then owners will become aware of those issues and take the necessary protection (by i.e. requesting guarantees/deposits/passports or by using their social network to validate the guests). If they don't, I'm afraid a couple of bad PR articles will be enough to destroy their reputation.
P.S.: I haven't heard of hotels managed remotely; there are some hotels where you check in automatically and you get the keys via some sort of robot system but in the morning there is someone handling the checkout, the cleaning etc. In addition they have your credit card on file, your passport, probably your cam photo when you picked up the keys and the most you can destroy is a hotel room (still a great deal of value but somehow limited and the hotel probably has insurance for it). But automation didn't pick up at scale in the hotel industry. In the current state, it thrives partially because the reception provides the safety-checks and balances needed to prevent and offset these black swan events. I'm not sure the remote administration model is scalable or even manage-able due to this.
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gojomo 4 days ago 4 replies
The guests sound like drug addicts. (Maybe meth? Tweakers do bizarre things like move furniture at odd hours or burn fires without opening the flue.)
I've been a happy AirBnb guest on a few occasions; the one time I had someone's whole usual studio apartment I found it a bit strange how much of their life was left on display for me �" like the host's prescriptions still in the fridge! �" but of course respected their privacy.
Each time I've been a guest, we've seen photos of each other on the site, and the keys were handed off in person. While I didn't expect anyone to stop by and check on me during my stays, I always had the impression the host or host's friends were nearby.
A guest with criminal intent would try to pick a place for a longer stay, in a more anonymous building, with a host known to be out-of-town. But then again, that's also what someone seeking to burglarize any vacation-emptied residence would do. More or less this same sort of crime could happen without AirBnb, or perhaps be enabled by nothing more than tracking public tweets/'check-ins' to predict unit vacancy.
(Another development I eventually expect in this progression of tech-mediated sharing: a bad-faith host who surveils their guests.)
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econgeeker 4 days ago 1 reply
AirBnB makes us travelers vulnerable to being scammed as well. In the most recent rental, it really was a roll of the dice to see if we were going to have an apartment or not (and of course, by the time we could have contacted AirBnB to say we'd been scammed, the scammer would already have our money, due to the way AirBnB works, and their lack of any way to contact them.)
I travel full time. I'm a nomad. I would rent thru AirBnB for 365 nights a year if they provided the service that they originally set out to provide. I think they changed their focus, and rather than building an organic community of people renting their places to each other, they are pursuing the expensive travel market. This makes sense given the profits are higher and it is easier to get vacation rentals in the system than individuals. But they're not the ebay of travel anymore, they've become a HomeAway clone.
They also really need to change their policies on communication- they inhibit our ability to talk to the owners before renting, and this is worsened given that many owners may not speak english. Letting us call them or email them is not going to want us to cut AirBnB out of the deal, because the primary value AirBnB provides is the fraud protection of letting us pay by credit card.
There's no reason for any company of this size not to have a 24/hour hotline. It may be midnight in california, but it is 5pm somewhere. You have listings around the world.
AirBnB's priorities seem to have shifted away from building an organic "ebay of travel" with regular people to maximum growth in revenue, by going after the high end travel market, with a distinct lack of customer service. This may not be intentional, but I'm part of the market-- a heavy use part of the market- and that's how it is looking to me.
So, 24 hour hotline, policies for dealing with things that go wrong, to help customers, and letting the people use the site communicate are the changes I'd make. I bet you'll find that more communications means more confidence and more nights rented.
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Luyt 4 days ago 1 reply
How is this:
"... emphasize that the customer service team at airbnb.com has been wonderful..."
reconcilable with this:
"...My next call was to airbnb.com - I tried their "urgent" line, their email address, their general customer support line. I heard nothing - no response whatsoever - until the following day, 14 sleepless hours later, and only after a desperate call to an airbnb.com freelancer I happen to know helped my case get some attention..."
Does that mean you'd have to know someone who works at AirBnB before you can get customer service? I've heard similar stories about Google, too.
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sequoia 4 days ago 0 replies
Moral of the story:
By using a service like AirBnB to make some cash, you are Rolling the fucking dice. It's naïve to think otherwise, and if you're not comfortable with that kind of risk, don't do it. It seems some people see the service as "easy money" and don't consider outcomes like this.
I think it's best compared to hitchhiking:
Is it cheap? Hell yes.
Is it consistant/reliable? no.
Is it as safe as a bus/plane? usually yes, sometimes no in a big way.
I travelled in my youth (5 years ago :p) around several states via thumb. It was a calculated risk I was taking, and both I and other hitchhikers I knew were aware of this risk and took steps to mitigate it (carrying mace, turning down rides�" one friend would take a photo of the plates and text them to a friend each ride, informing the driver that he/she was not anonymous).
AirBnB is like this: you save/make some money, but rather than a Hotel (or bus company) being on the hook for a bad outcome, YOU are on the hook. If you're not prepared for that, don't do it. It's not "easy money."
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rkalla 4 days ago 3 replies
Why was the title of this post changed? It used to have the name "airbnb" in it earlier this morning, around 400 votes.
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lwhi 4 days ago 1 reply
I remember a while back, someone on HN commented that they preferred the AirBnB model to CouchSurfing; because they felt that they were under no obligation to spend time with their host, or try to repay their hospitality with a meal or gift.
CouchSurfing relies upon (and in turn reinforces) a culture of good-will.
Because AirBnB converts the CouchSurfing model into a simple cash transaction - I think a lot of the positive norms that are inherent to CouchSurfing are lost.
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DrStalker 4 days ago 1 reply
Does AirBnB offer any help with insurance? I know my home & contents insurance wouldn't cover any of this: I'd need to get (expensive) commerical insurance or some sort, and I'm guessing most AirBnB hosts don't have that.
The idea of renting out my place with no recourse to insurance if it is destroyed is far too insane to contemplate for me.
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g123g 4 days ago 1 reply
With internet almost run over by all kinds of scam artists, spammers, pedos etc. is there any surprise that such a thing can happen? You have crackers trying their level best to install keyloggers and other tools to read the passwords to your accounts. And in this environment if you hand over the key of your apartment to some complete stranger, I think the writer should also take some blame for his naivety. Just because airbnb is current flavor of the month it does not mean you throw your basic common sense out the door.
Even if you are present in an apartment yourself, it is still too risky to allow a complete stranger to sleep in the room next to you. How much verification can be done by you or airbnb? The Norwegian shooter had no criminal history that could have been caught by any verification. So how can you be comfortable with allowing a stranger into your home with no verification done at all from your side?
I think there should be a service which will allow you to rent the room only to your friends or to friends of friends but no further than that. This friend list can be from facebook, linkedin or Google+. This will reduce the chances of getting a rental but give peace of mind that you are not letting some hardened criminal into your home.
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rdl 4 days ago 2 replies
I am non-representatively paranoid, and have always been afraid of this kind of thing when having guests not personally known to me, visitors to "open house" office events, etc. I think there is little actual risk with almost anyone as a guest (most people ARE good, or at least non-malicious, or at least lazy), but this is why the AirBnB reputation system is so key to their value (and why they'll have a strong network effect).
Maybe the effect of this will be to make people want personal connections (via fb graph or whatever) to their AirBnB guests, or at least requiring minimum numbers of positive reviews from known sources (to prevent the sockpuppet/shill issue).
I wonder if your renter's or homeowners insurance might cover this kind of thing. If it doesn't generally, it'd be awesome if AirBnB could work with a third party insurer (per jurisdiction) to offer optional insurance to hosts (and guests) against this kind of thing.
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speckledjim 4 days ago 3 replies
Always bound to happen. Up next, the host who fits spycams in his shower and posts pics of his naked visitors to porn sites.
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joshfraser 4 days ago 2 replies
This is not the first story like this I have heard about AirBnB. They have just done a good job keeping them hush hush and talking people out of going to the cops. Obviously stories like this are horrible for their reputation and AirBnB have a big incentive to try and take care of issues on their own.
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danenania 4 days ago 1 reply
What happened to this person is awful and it´s understandable that she/he is very emotional at this point, but I don´t think the lesson is you can´t ever trust people, or that the AirBnB model is flawed. It´s more like: hope for the best, plan for the worst. There is always going to be some black swan risk even if AirBnB does do more vetting. There´s no reason for example to leave valuables anywhere in the residence while strangers are there. You can´t be 100% protected unless you´re willing to get insurance, which probably doesn´t make sense for the occasional provider, but you can at least remove the low hanging fruit risk-wise. Perhaps AirBnB should take a more active role in educating its providers on basic precautions.
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jakarta 4 days ago 0 replies
To me, this underscores one of the key risks to having an AirBnB room for rent.
I think if you are going to do it, you really have to be careful.
1. You should probably be someone that works from home / is home often. At least then you can monitor your place more often. You wont be seeing inside the room, but you could at least hear if anything insane is going on in it.
2. You should not have much by way of valuables around your place, nothing easy to steal. The first place I rented on AirBnB was like this. There was no TV/dvd player/ps3, the host had a laptop which he took with him. It consisted mostly of cheap Ikea-ish furniture. This works in my mind because it mitigates what can/can't be stolen.
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innes 4 days ago 1 reply
Hmmm, somebody changed the title of this HN post from "AirBnB: Crimes committed against a host"...
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yalogin 4 days ago 0 replies
The most important thing to note is this has happened even before it hit critical mass, hell its in its infancy still.
This is the reason why Airbnb never made sense to me as a business. The author is lucky there was no bodily harm done to him. It's too much of a risk to rent out your personal property to total strangers. Now they forever know where you live and more so know the complete layout of your house and what you have in it and your schedule. At the end of the day it cannot be more than bedandbreakfast.com used as a listing sits for businesses. That is why the 1billion valuation does not make sense either.
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caf 4 days ago 0 replies
A reminder that there's more to scaling out to millions of users than ensuring your hardware is up to the task.
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VladRussian 4 days ago 0 replies
whats wrong with renting through Craigslist (except obvious problem of spam from companies like AirBnB) ? Both parties may request and provide any documents/verifications until their mutual full satisfaction. We had no problem renting space in Europe from US for example though some amount of communication and search was involved - we didn't like some people, some people didn't like us as we needed full paperwork from them for visas, etc... i wonder how such fine tuning of mutual requirements would be possible through "blind renting" service like AirBnB.
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bluesmoon 4 days ago 0 replies
I haven't use AirBnB before, but I do use CouchSurfing a lot. CouchSurfing's system of verification, vouching and references makes a big difference to how much you feel you can trust someone who asks to use your home. I do still sometimes accept guests with no references, particularly if it's a last minute, but I check their IDs first, and only give them limited access to my home.
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watty 4 days ago 0 replies
So anything remotely related to YC companies that shed good light are immediately frontpaged but something potentially dangerous that is bad PR gets title changed?
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cageface 4 days ago 1 reply
It's yet another tragedy of the commons. As AirBNB becomes more popular I expect this is going to happen more often. Unfortunately I think this is only going to have to happen a few more times before people start to seriously question the wisdom of inviting a relative stranger into their homes.
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varunsrin 4 days ago 0 replies
Can someone please explain why the post name was changed? If it was to 'protect' AirBnB I find that in poor taste - this is a legitimate problem that occurred with the service, though it is likely not a specific problem. if the OP (foxit) requested or made this change, let us know.
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ffffruit 4 days ago 1 reply
Is there anything stopping the renter from taking extra precautions? Like for example photocopy the tenants passport?
I am finding it hard to believe that somebody would drop off the keys to his own apartment to a total stranger, regardless of any guarantees the site does, without even wanting to briefly meet them.
27
prawn 4 days ago 2 replies
Looks like a couple of reporters have already hit the comments area looking for more info for a story. It goes far, far beyond a basic theft or incident of vandalism and could easily blow up internationally and do a great deal of damage to the AirBnB brand.
I don't know the blogger in any way at all, but have to admit that my first thought was to wonder if this might've been arranged by a competing industry or service at all. Sounds a bit over the top to be a pre-conceived plan though. Doubt various hotel associations would be desperately unhappy to see this story though, you have to admit.
Between Google and AirBnB, I'm sure the police could have IP addresses of the perpetrator(s) and track them down unless they were particularly smart (and if they are particularly smart, they'd be picking bigger targets...).
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rdl 4 days ago 1 reply
I'm curious what the specific crime is if you're in a place like NYC or SF (where <30 day rentals are illegal for zoning reasons), you legally permit someone entry to your space, and he just trashes (vs. stealing) stuff. It should be a crime, but what is it? Not theft, not trespass.
"Criminal damage to property", or vandalism, probably counts, but that's really up to the jurisdiction on what it includes.
I wish this guy would try this in Singapore; 3 years in prison and/or caning.
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morganwarstler 4 days ago 1 reply
Airbnb should willingly do MORE to verify users than CarFax, Paypal, Facebook, etc.
Screw your bizmodel.
Run a credit and criminal background check - and charge 4%.
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matdwyer 4 days ago 1 reply
I just was quoted in a national article here in Canada (the Globe & Mail) that talked about using AirBNB... I've passed this story along to the author who is going to see about a followup.
This wont stop me from using AirBNB as a guest, but I was never comfortable with renting my own home anyway.
edit - if AirBNB kept a drivers license scan on file to confirm the credit card was the users, that would be helpful. I know that is difficult with privacy laws, etc, but when I check into a hotel I always have to show my ID to make sure it has my name on it....
31
nhangen 4 days ago 0 replies
Why would you ever rent your place, important valuables inside the property, without being home?
I can understand leaving the place empty of valuables and renting it remotely, but to rent your primary residence while you are away is incredibly foolish. I just don't get it.
32
jaredmck 4 days ago 0 replies
Why was the title of this submission changed? Was it because the old title mentioned AirBnB?
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jv22222 4 days ago 2 replies
This could resolved if airbnb insisted on a refundable deposit of $500-$1000 per visit.
34
timsally 4 days ago 1 reply
After someone has copies of your passport, birth certificate, social security card, etc, what do you even do? Isn't your identity compromised forever?
35
prof 4 days ago 2 replies
I cannot believe he did not meet them in person first. And left valuable things behind.
edit: or she..
grannyg00se 4 days ago 0 replies
"They ... found the passport, cash, credit card and grandmother's jewelry I had hidden inside. They found my birth certificate and social security card, which I believe they photocopied "
Why would you leave your birth certificate and social security card behind when you have strangers occupying your home?
Passports, ids, hard drives, diamonds .... these are all small but very important items that fit perfectly into a safety deposit box.
37
justin_vanw 4 days ago 0 replies
Reading this article, my spidey sense was tingling the entire time. For whatever reason, I instinctively do not believe that the story this person is telling is the truth.
38
inmygarage 4 days ago 3 replies
I wouldn't be surprised if this was organized and executed by an AirBnB competitor.
It is just too malicious and meticulously done to constitute a random crime (do I watch too many crime shows? maybe.) AirBnB just closed a gigantic $100m round and they are doing phenomenally well, and here comes someone who makes "everyone's worst fears" about lending out their apartment to a stranger come true.
39
jarek 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm shocked by some things I've read in this article. I don't want to blame the victim, but the author has rented out their home for a full week and left identity and financial documents behind a plywood or MDF door. Data, passport, birth certificate, and cash. Trusting people is nice, but surely there's a limit at which it becomes insane. I get a little nervous when I leave my documents in my (empty) apartment over a long weekend; I'm flabbergasted as to why the author seemingly wasn't bothered until after the crime.
40
hluska 4 days ago 1 reply
There is a big chicken or egg problem right at the core Of this sad case. On one hand, why would anyone trust someone they have only had limited conversations with to stay in their home...alone? On the other hand, if Airbnb allows renters to do background checks before the agreement is finalized, how do they avoid private sales?
I can't resolve this, so I wouldn't dream of renting my place out unless I was going to be there. And even then, I'd sleep with one eye open!
41
Uchikoma 4 days ago 1 reply
Woman gives apartment keys to complete stranger. Gets robbed.
279 points and 124 comments on HN.
42
mkramlich 3 days ago 0 replies
The description of what happened, supposedly, is so weird, that I'd bet most likely this was an astroturfed (setup) incident. On the other hand, never underestimate just how stupid, mean, random, evil or rude a human can be. The more I live the greater depths you see. Also, even if this was a faked/fraudulent event, regardless, it would still be true that this kind of thing could naturally happen to anybody that makes their place available via AirBNB. It's statistically inevitable, given the nature of the service and the nature of humanity.
43
zeteo 4 days ago 0 replies
Welcome to the real world, such things are bound to happen. The main question is: to what degree does AirBnB know the identity of the perpetrator? Let alone helping the police catch them; but is AirBnB even able to prevent this person from making a new account and repeating the deed?
44
buster 4 days ago 0 replies
Wow.. that's terrible! I really enjoyed all my couchsurfing and airbnb experiences so far, they resulted in the best travels i ever had.. it's sad to see such a thing happen, and i hope the criminaly will be catched and punished.
Still, i am looking forward for my next airbnb trip, it's a great way to travel!
45
pabloiv 4 days ago 0 replies
I really hope this incident doesn't break her spirit. As someone who's been shot at, beat up, robbed, held up, and still trusts people: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
That said, I also rent out my place through AirBnB. ( http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/106355 ) I interview everyone who stays with me through Skype before confirming any reservation. AirBnB, has a very classy membership, and we've had great experiences with all our guests, but due diligence is still a must. Communicating with your potential guests is essential, as is reading between the lines. You should also make an effort to look at their face at least once before booking. Skype is perfect for this and AirBnB doesn't block it.
46
Omnipresent 4 days ago 1 reply
victim is correct, this was bound to happen to someone and as the service goes popularity, there will be more victims in the future. AirBnB should have other security measures in place like providing driver license #, ssn, etc. so that identity of the person renting the place is assured. With all the recent funding leading to great PR, bad elements will start coming in. Site is no longer bound to the nice educated customer base.
47
fakeer 4 days ago 0 replies
Trust me, be it AirBnB or FairBnB, just never hand over your home keys to a stranger - a stranger to "you". Make it a thumb rule.
PS. sad to hear the loss and trauma BTW.
48
deathflute 4 days ago 0 replies
I have always been skeptical about such services. It is like collecting pennies in front of a steamroller. Sooner or later, a tail event like this is bound to happen. A distribution of hosting experiences has to be fat-tailed. It is okay to deal with that risk when even the worst case scenario is acceptable. But, for your own home how can it be acceptable?
49
gord 4 days ago 0 replies
Heartbreaking to read this.
It may help to think that
a) these people are broken in some profound way, possibly from some early abuse
b) this may not be directed at you personally, you did not deserve this, and this was not your fault
I do think the AirBnB business model needs to take into account some kind of insurance cover, or set aside some percentage of funds to apply to help in the edge cases like this - so that some of the practicalities are taken care of [ such as cleaning the apartment, temporary accommodation ] giving the victim some breathing space to heal from this.
50
jasonshen 4 days ago 0 replies
This sort of thing is bound to happen when you have helped over 1 million stays between two people who are usually strangers. I think what's more impressive is how long it took for something this big and this public to happen. Human beings act in strange ways and you take a risk anytime you interact with one. I feel awful that this happened to this woman but I don't think it means Airbnb has a flawed business model or needs to dramatically change the way they sign up users.
51
blinkingled 4 days ago 0 replies
I so wish he had a camera at least on the entrance of the apartment. Besides I hope that since the burglar used Internet for communication the IP address is recorded with AirBNB or Google and that will help track him/her down.
Horrible story to be sure. Trust no one goes too far but trust and verify should be the norm. I for one would have thought twice before giving out house keys to a person who misspelled his/her own last name. I guess as he seems to indicate AirBNB model/markting fooled him into 100% trust.
52
shareme 4 days ago 0 replies
It sounds like AirBnB need to educate first-time users more..
It obviously is not for those people who have property that cannot remove personal items from said property before doing a earn-my-trust AirBnB person trial run..
53
njharman 4 days ago 0 replies
Yeah, guess people are different. I would NEVER invite strangers to be in my house alone. Esp not with my stuff still there. I can't comprehend why anyone would. Can't understand how airbnb is popular service. But, it is. Like I said people are different...
54
rglover 4 days ago 0 replies
This is one of those things that made me weary about the home rental business (not necessarily just AirBnB). While I do feel the idea is great, I'm not sure I'd be as composed as this person; especially coming back to a destroyed and violated home. I guess there's no way around it, but this should definitely add an extra layer of thought before posting your home on AirBnB or any other service. Scary stuff.
55
bignoggins 4 days ago 0 replies
My wife and I been traveling around the world staying at airbnb's for the last 4 months (www.shenventure.com is our travel blog). During our stay in Hong Kong, our host required a photocopy of our passport or driver's license. I think this was a clever deterrent on his part.
56
jmm 4 days ago 0 replies
Call me insensitive, but I think the drama here is overblown. Renting out your room to strangers comes with risks. Theft is an obvious one. Could have been a one or two paragraph post, but maybe this is part of the catharsis in getting over a robbery.
And now call me a cynic, but I kind of have the feeling that the the public drama of this complaint is a way of getting the sweetest customer service response ever from AirBnB. Like, new gear, near apartment, moving costs, all of it. Almost like a cooked up insurance claim... if it's not that, AirBnB will probably experience that kind of scam at some point.
57
mrinterweb 4 days ago 1 reply
It is unfortunate that stories like that could really harm AirBnB's reputation. I am sure that there are plenty of vacation rental stories of people trashing and burglarizing properties, but the difference is that this was not a vacation rental. I hope that thieves do not make a trend of preying on AirBnB hosts to gain access to their private residences.
58
jackpirate 4 days ago 1 reply
How could you, in principle, even tell that it was the bnb'ers who did it? What's to say that they didn't accidentally leave the door unlocked when they left, and someone else broke in?
59
int3rnaut 4 days ago 0 replies
I wrote a comment 2 days ago about some of the psychological barriers of this model that AirBnB would have to overcome--and I never even considered the traveler to be the one who's sketchy/troublesome.
On that note though, it'll be really interesting to see how AirBnB tries to counter this problem--there's a reason why people are so secluded and things are so private and fenced.
60
eric-hu 4 days ago 1 reply
Is no one else struck by the peculiar behavior of the tenants?
Scattering bleach powder across the apartment and taking the time to hang up strange photos seems a bit too erratic to me.
I wonder if the renter has serious mental issues or if this was part of some intelligent plan (i.e. hired by couchsurfing).
This is PURE speculation, don't cite this post as anything else.
61
jackwagon 4 days ago 1 reply
"They found my coupons for Bed Bath & Beyond and used the discount, along with my Mastercard, to shop online."
Are you kidding me? Seriously.
62
Creyels 4 days ago 0 replies
I like the (security) services offered by Onefinestay http://www.onefinestay.com/hosts
Everyday someone checks your home and cleans it.
Additionaly they actually turn your home into a more hotel-like experience - so guests are provided with towels etc. At least for higher priced accomodations a good choice.
63
dools 4 days ago 0 replies
"I certainly cannot and do not blame the agency for what has occurred. If anything, I blame myself"
Yeah no shit. You let strangers stay in your house for a week and all your valuables were still in the apartment?
I guess Airbnb could have a "safety" section but this type of warning would be similar to the "Caution! Hot!" they're forced to put on coffee cup lids now.
64
Syama 4 days ago 0 replies
Personally I think the poster is stupid as f@#&, leaving her apt to complete strangers and then blaming her loss on someone else. What did she expect? B&B's usually have someone onsite to prevent things like this from happening. The person to blame here is the poster and of course the tweakers, not Airbnb.
65
prayag 4 days ago 0 replies
AirBnb is not legally liable. They are however morally liable. Every company does legal. It's the moral compass that differentiates a company and their founders.
66
hobbsmeter2 4 days ago 0 replies
Why isn't the title the original one explicitly mentioning AirBnb? Bad PR for YC's portfolio company?
67
grandalf 3 days ago 0 replies
I dunno this seems like a hoax to me. Something is fishy about it. I suspect it is a negative PR scam aimed at airbnb.
68
justhw 4 days ago 2 replies
She trusted them and left for the weekend?
69
peterwwillis 4 days ago 0 replies
Does AirBnB have owner's/hoster's testimonials like CouchSurfing? It really goes a long way to show someone is trustworthy if they've stayed at 100 people's homes and everyone said nice things about them.
70
lurker19 4 days ago 0 replies
Good explanation of why hotel rooms cost more than AirBnB rooms.
71
badclient 4 days ago 0 replies
With a name like Dj Paterson I'm not sure you could even sign up on google+ or fb.
72
danberger 4 days ago 1 reply
Just out of curiosity, why didn't the victim post any pictures of the damage?
73
hnsmurf 4 days ago 1 reply
Does homeowner's/renter's insurance cover the property damage from renting out your place?
74
cookiecaper 4 days ago 3 replies
I hate that the author broke out the short skirt rape thing. I don't think someone that leaves their house to strangers while they go out of town for a week is quite as innocent as a rape victim that was targeted for lack of modesty.
75
veyron 4 days ago 0 replies
Of all of the items discussed, the birth certificate, social security and passport are the most important (imho). Supposing I kept them in a bank safety deposit box, what would a thief need to get access to that box?
76
imaverickk2 4 days ago 0 replies
It begs the question, what would be a good verification system for online identities so that sites like AirBnB can leverage?
Also, will your property insurance cover this or would this be considered albeit rightly to some extent a carelessness on your part. Come to think of it, like any other insurance industry, providing insurance (dedicated?) for such people for an additional X% wouldn't be a bad start - though it might need more volume for it to be profitable.
77
chris1024 4 days ago 0 replies
Is this real? It sounds like a fictional story.It's awfully flowery prose for someone who was just victimized and "laying in fetal position in her stairwell." Nowhere does it say this isn't fiction. Awful lot of buzz and no further response from the author?
The journalist who commented on the blog who checked with SFPD was unable to find the case.
So -- real or fiction? Someone call in SNOPES!
78
swah 4 days ago 0 replies
There is no way those guys lived there for a week and left no fingerprints.
79
sweetchar 3 days ago 0 replies
How sad. I hope you'll be able to cope from this experience soon.
80
katieben 4 days ago 0 replies
It would be interesting to see AirBnB's response to this.
81
asciilifeform 4 days ago 1 reply
Cui bono?
Hotels.
It seems likely that this "mysterious" crime was paid for by an organization serving the interests of hotels.
82
extension 4 days ago 1 reply
I wonder if the hotel chains would hire goons to do this.
3
910 points by utkarshkukreti 9 days ago 76 comments top 30
1
pilif 9 days ago 7 replies
And yet another control that pretends to be a dropdown box, but isn't. No. I'm not complaining about the appearance or the fact that it has a search field while the real dropdown doesn't.
I'm complaining about the way it responds to mouse actions: The real dropdown box, on my machine, expands the menu on mouse down after a no-doubt OS-specific delay. The fake dropdown doesn't - it only reacts on mouse up.
Of course, you can't make a a control work exactly like its native counterpart - but that IMHO just means that you shouldn't even try imitating them and provide its own unique look.
I really dislike nearly-native controls - they feel wrong to me.
But don't get me wrong: The controls are really cool and incredibly useful. If only they didn't try to mimic the native look without quite matching it.
2
philfreo 9 days ago 4 replies
This project looks awesome. This stuff is annoying to have to replicate yourself, and I'm glad to see MooTools support as well.
That said, my first reaction when looking at the first Country dropdown example was that I liked the native one better since in OS X it shows me dozens of choices at once (fills most of the screen vertically) and then in the "after" suddenly I was constrained to only seeing 7 countries at a time. Not a huge deal but felt like a loss in usability (but a gain visually). If the faux dropdown was just a little taller in height it'd be better.
Secondly, this just killed iPhone support. Apple did a good job with <select>s on iOS and this completely breaks it. It should just turn itself off on iOS.
3
romaniv 9 days ago 1 reply
The more libs like this I see, the more I feel that the core HTML controls should be improved and expanded. They are getting really, really dated and don't address a lot of common problems.
Things I feel would make a lot of sense:
Collapsible trees.
Numeric sliders (preferably done like draggable digits http://worrydream.com/Tangle/ ).
Native drag-and-drop sipport for elements. (And yes, this can be done with plain forms. I can explain how if you want.)
Native rich tooltips and a standard notation to show that something has a tooltip.
Maybe tabs. I think you could do tabs with CSS, but I'm not 100% sure.
If most UI libraries have something, it probably would be a good addtion to HTML spec. It would work faster and eventually have better compatibility.
4
geuis 9 days ago 1 reply
This nearly completely breaks the select ui on iOS. It should do some kind of feature detection so that it can disable itself on browsers that have alternate ui's for controls like this.
For example, this converts a select menu to an input field. On iOS the keyboard comes up instead of the select control.
5
thristian 9 days ago 2 replies
Apparently Chosen takes the placeholder text from the select element's 'title' attribute; does it also support the official HTML5 syntax[1] for placeholder attributes in select elements?
How about integration with jQueryUI's theming system?
hendrik-xdest 9 days ago 1 reply
Best plug-in of the year, so far.
Apart from what it says, I do not see problems in IE7 or IE8 (there is some style issues in IE9, though). Also, it is nearly working in IE6. I think I'll try to diddle around with some z-index and CSS stuff to get it working. Can't be much more than that.
7
skrebbel 9 days ago 2 replies
Excellent. Makes you wonder why browser vendors never improved on the usability of such controls themselves.
8
ww520 9 days ago 1 reply
This is fantastic. ComboBox is what's missing in HTML. This is a keeper.
9
mickeyben 9 days ago 0 replies
For the multiple select, I like this one a lot: http://loudev.com/
It's way simpler for the average user.
10
Inufu 9 days ago 2 replies
Um, what use this?
If I click on a dropdown box, I can already type the value on my keyboard to select it. No javascript necessary.
(using chromium on ubuntu)
InclinedPlane 9 days ago 0 replies
Love it! Sure it's not perfect, but it's a huge improvement already. I've had similar ideas myself but haven't gotten around to implementing them. The existing HTML input controls are clunky and haven't kept up with the pace of web development, maybe we can improve on them using CSS & JS until we develop a new set of canonical input primitives that then become standardized.
12
d0m 9 days ago 0 replies
I would also add a fuzzy matching. I.e. "unitd sta" should match "United States" even with the missing "e". Or "East coast" should match "The East Coast".
13
PhrosTT 9 days ago 0 replies
I've been using the jQuery UI ComboBox for a while, it's essentially this. - http://jqueryui.com/demos/autocomplete/combobox.html
14
andos 9 days ago 0 replies
Writing good widgets from scratch is an endless task. It's missing ARIA roles: http://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria/roles#combobox
15
koblas 9 days ago 0 replies
I think it's pretty cool, though it would be nice if they had a simplified single selection version. Which is to change a single select list into a text field with "instant search". The current incarnation make me first go for the pull down rather than just tabbing over and start typing.
16
tomelders 9 days ago 0 replies
This plugin makes the case that this sort of functionality should be implemented into browsers very well.
17
exch 9 days ago 0 replies
The first sentence on the linked page has a typo: "javsacript"
18
shawndumas 9 days ago 1 reply
Note: IE8 (and lower) support is done via Chrome Frame.
19
bane 9 days ago 0 replies
Hopefully some of these ideas will end up in dojo/dijit (a couple similar takes are already there).
I really like the multi-select control.
20
gorm 9 days ago 2 replies
Does anyone know if it's compatible with formalize.me?
Does it work well on android/iphone?
21
fooyc 9 days ago 0 replies
The UI widgets like this all have the same defects:
1. They are slow, as all their markup has to be generated on the client side each time the page loads
2. They are not ajax friendly. I mean that if you insert a select box in a HTML document with javascript, it will remain a plain native select box unless your script specifically calls the right widget's function. So you have to update all your scripts.
3. They are not drop-in replacements for native widgets, all your script must know how to handle these widgets for things like getting the widget's value, listening for events, etc.
Points 1 and 2 could be fixed by generating the widget's HTML code on the server side and using delegated events (like jQuery's delegate()). (Progressive Enhancement can still be achieved without doing _everything_ on the client side.)
Other than that, the idea of a text input on the top of the options list is awesome.
22
naeem 9 days ago 0 replies
Sexy! I do agree with a previous comment that the more technologies like these that come out, the more apparant it becomes that HTML as a whole needs a long overdue makeover.
23
arctangent 9 days ago 0 replies
Awesome. This is going into my UI toolkit.
24
MaurizioPz 9 days ago 1 reply
I think this is great and would like it to be a browser extension so that I can use it all over the web
25
myworkipad 8 days ago 0 replies
On the iPad, the custom control is decidedly worse. The native one is larger and more appropriate for the device. This idea of custom UI elements seems really bad. It's gonna be worse than native on any platform. The issues with native controls should be addressed on their respective platforms.
26
nerdo 9 days ago 0 replies
Multi-select could use some work. Drag-highlighting, shift, ctrl, etc.
27
piquadrat 9 days ago 1 reply
So... why don't they use this thing on their own web app? The "Project / Task" select box becomes very unwieldy with a growing client base. I spend way too much time looking for the correct project almost every time I have to create a new entry.
28
martin1b 9 days ago 0 replies
Wow. The results are really polished!
29
danberger 9 days ago 1 reply
Has anyone tried this on an iPad?
30
SolarUpNote 9 days ago 0 replies
I love this. LOVE it!
4
824 points by sp332 10 days ago 179 comments top 30
1
giberson 10 days ago replies
If I weren't too timid to risk doing so, I would do the following (read I hope someone else does this).
Process the pdf's with an OCR program to extract as much text from each document as possible. The extraction should be done page by page, so the extracted text can be referenced to a PDF page#.
Then, provide a searchable/browse-able directory of the extracted content. Each page of text has link to the original PDF page so you can easily open up the PDF to the page the text was extracted from.
I'd also make all text user editable wiki style. Combined with the inline PDF page references it would be super easy for any user to fix up translation errors from the OCR process. Tie in a karma system to the users profile so that edits can be thanked/kudos on a job well done to help with automating moderation of user edits by rating the user's current karma to decide if the edit should be accepted automatically or provided as an alternate version other users can check and rate up if they think it should replace current version.
Maybe mash in an image cropping service so diagrams can be cropped from the PDF and inserted inline with the translated text. Provide simple wiki formatting markup to allow users to format the articles.
Use ad revenue/donations to alleviate/cover hosting costs.
1, 2, 3, go.
sp332 10 days ago 3 replies
Jason Scott of textfiles.com has the whole archive downloaded here, if you want to browse the metadata before downloading the files. http://cdmirror.textfiles.com/JSTOR_01_PhilTrans/
3
eykanal 10 days ago 2 replies
For those of you who aren't familiar, there is an intitution that was set up not long ago call the Public Library of Science (PLoS):
They have free journals in numerous fields, and gradually more big-name authors (in my field, neuroscience, at least) have been publishing in it. Its worth checking out.
4
rb2k_ 10 days ago 1 reply
And for people interested in how many bitcoins donations flow his way:
w1ntermute 10 days ago replies
Can anyone explain why all these documents are not available for free? Why does the only place you can download them charge for the privilege?
6
showerst 10 days ago 2 replies
Just to be clear, these are apparently unrelated to the Aaronsw case, right?
7
equark 10 days ago 7 replies
I don't fully understand the logic. Even if the underlying content is free, how are JSTOR scans public domain? If Google spends millions of dollars scanning in public domain books, I don't see how that gives Bing the right to download them all from Google unless given permission.
It also seems we all benefit from allowing companies to invest in scanning public domain works since for whatever reason nobody is doing this by hand now.
8
aidenn0 10 days ago 1 reply
FYI it's potentially NSFW if you don't have adblock
9
tylerneylon 10 days ago 0 replies
[[TL;DR for this comment - Publishers are taking advantage of a prisoner's dilemma / competitive closed market to monetize the near-zero value they supply.]]
Professors don't get much money from direct publication -- in fact, many conferences charge the professors who provide the content. They get paid by grants and their schools. Professors don't want their research to reach a limited audience. The universities doesn't want this either.
The only people in the chain who want limited access are the publishers, since this is how they make money. But between researchers, universities, grants, and publishers, the publishers contribute the least value by far. They generally rely entirely on other professors to edit their journals and conference proceedings, and for all the content. They charge ridiculous rates - often thousands of dollars for a single annual journal subscription - and get away with it because the system is not prone to change. Researchers are rewarded for publishing in "the best" journals, so no one wants to take the leap to publishing in a free space where there is currently much less prestige.
That's basically why academic publishing is messed up. Because there's money to made in keeping it messed up, and money to be lost in fixing it. But the ones who generate the real value _do_ want things to be as freely available as possible. If a critical mass of top-tier researchers agreed to stop publishing in non-free journals and conferences, it would probably start a revolution in this area -- but that's a lot to ask.
It's a prisoner's dilemma, in that the "traitor" researchers who keep publishing in the old journals will be rewarded.
(This is all about academia -- I guess motivations may be different in industry-backed research.)
10
raldi 10 days ago 1 reply
That'll teach 'em. Maybe next time JSTOR will think twice before protecting their network from an apparent DoS attack.
11
aridiculous 10 days ago 2 replies
I wonder what would happen if this happened to Westlaw, one of the 2-3 industry standards for law firms. Incredibly expensive.
The irony alone in the law profession would be tremendous. It'd be interesting to see if law firms would illegally access it: It would be obvious they were if they previously only subscribed to Westlaw, but the reality is most law firms subscribe to more than one database for emergency backup.
12
flocial 10 days ago 0 replies
This illustrates the sad state of affairs. The technology is there to distribute this equitably (using torrents). Scanning these documents is a non-trivial task and most people would only need a handful of the papers in this collection for anything but intellectual curiosity. However, the pricing and legal restrictions put in place for the distribution goes against the history of scholarship. The only reason we have lots of ancient works of prose and scholarship is because monasteries of various creeds institutionally copied these works (by hand).
13
emilis_info 10 days ago 6 replies
Facebook won't let me post a link to this torrent. Anyone know a way around?
URL shorteners don't help.
m0wfo 10 days ago 0 replies
Only just realised Eircom has blocked access to TPB in Ireland at the request of the 4 major record labels. The fact that this HN post is tangential to the issue of music piracy annoys me. Another step closer to censorship.
15
zeratul 10 days ago 3 replies
Medical doctors were very unhappy to pay for research papers that were funded by tax paying Americans. That's why since April 2008 all articles funded by NIH have to be freely available: http://publicaccess.nih.gov/ . Remember, it's impossible for law to work backwards.
16
mestudent 10 days ago 1 reply
Is this[1] the "manifesto"?
If not can someone post it so I don't have to get around the block.
y0ghur7_xxx 10 days ago 0 replies
Link to manifesto
for people who don't have access to the pirate bay.
18
ck2 10 days ago 3 replies
So what percentage is that? Is a "page" still the 2k standard these days?
per wikipedia as of November 2, 2010, the database contained 1,289 journal titles in 20 collections representing 53 disciplines, and 303,294 individual journal issues, totaling over 38 million pages of text
19
danbmil99 8 days ago 0 replies
Can someone explain who exactly is so hellbent on prosecuting Aaronsw? Who's eye did he poke? JSTOR isn't even pressing charges, so I assume it's some other party.
20
dbingham 10 days ago 2 replies
Someone I know is suggesting that these documents were already free and available on the web. I don't really know, since I haven't (and don't have the bandwidth to, really) downloaded the torrent and cross referenced. Here are the links he's provided:
"Unavailable anywhere else? Here's the ones from the 1600s: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/ilej/pbrowse.pl?item=ti... . Here's the ones from 1832-1938: http://catalogue.bnf.fr/servlet/RechercheEquation;jsession... . They're pretty widely available, for free."
"Looks like a bunch are on archive.org, too: http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Royal...
Can anyone confirm that these are the same articles in the torrent?
21
cpeterso 10 days ago 0 replies
When is someone going to do this for the ACM's journals?
22
blinkingled 10 days ago 0 replies
So is it legal to (re-)distribute those files? Or are we going to see more prosecutions AA style involving distributors as well as downloaders?
23
sitkack 10 days ago 0 replies
Please seed. If you are on a mac you can use transmissionbt.
Configure the bandwidth management to acceptable always on background levels and minimize to the dock or put on a different desktop with spaces.
24
Atropos 10 days ago 0 replies
How many different paywalls are there and how many articles are trapped? I'm able to access 5 different databases + one of the biggest research libraries in my state and there are still often articles that are simply inacessible. Or even more ridiculous: Single chapters of a book sometimes cost up to $ 20 online, even if the complete book could be bought for $ 30...
In my mind an easier way to disrupt this system would be to create a p2p site for article sharing - this often takes place informally anyway.
Just a place where you could ask "Does anyone have article..." and then a friendly person would upload it to some filehoster and shares the link.
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slowcpu 10 days ago 0 replies
Not terribly interesting.
Although it is one of the oldest ( if not the oldest ) journals around, it is simply not widely read or terribly important.
In addition, from the journal's web site.
"All issues back to 2001 are free to access two years after publication."
Now, a collection of all of Nature's issues would have been fascinating.
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apas 10 days ago 0 replies
That's why I love the Pirate Bay and its community.
Free art, technology and culture.
Yep, this is the internet.
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nextparadigms 10 days ago 0 replies
This looks like another case of the "Streisand effect".
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nl 10 days ago 0 replies
That is one gutsy move by Greg Maxwell.
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username3 10 days ago 1 reply
What's so good about these articles?
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ivankirigin 10 days ago 2 replies
Scribd should index and host these. I doubt that would greatly add to their current huge scale. They could make a dedicated site for it. They could also probably get the help of the FOSS community to help make the search faster.
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531 points by kodisha 4 days ago 130 comments top 33
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mad44 4 days ago 2 replies
while listening to the talk, I took notes. (Not exact notes, I probably reworded several things, hopefully not twisting the meaning too much.) Here they are, if you don't have time to watch the talk.
-----
Google, "where I work right now", they are doing great work to attempt to change the work. At least more than other companies.
I work on compilers. I like to work on big data, learn about data mining. Because even for compilers work I need to do large data analysis, and face
tremendous scaling problems.
Hollywood blockbusters summer 2011: why is this slide here? These summer movies are all crap, because corporates are greedy, they are incremental, not trying to shoot for real quality, real game changers. They chase money.
Except for "auteurs": people making money while keeping principle. E.g, Pixar. They show their passion, make every one look bad, but make money as well. Apple is also a great example.
Social networks; this is what I work on at Google :-( (lolcatz pictures on the slide). Is this principled? This is fun, and making money. But not principled? Is there anyone in this crowd not working on social networks? This is a hype. Why is everyone working on this? This is money chasing.
You are interested in social networks but when you are 60 you will be interested in your health. But then it is too late. You will wish we had solved these fundamental health problems when you are 60. These are hard problems that require math statistics and big data.
Human genome project: This will be an inflection point in human history. It is also a data-mining project. Reverse engineer the source code (genome) with respect to how treatments work/are-effective. The people who can solve it, data mining people, are working on crap problems, lolcatz social networks :-(
We need to change this culture. In this new culture: everyone is a mathematician. But how do we learn math and science? challeng to O'reilly publish books on math for developers. But, they already do. They have severeal stat and bioinformatics books. These books aren't selling. :-( They are trying to change the world, but we are not helping. Developer popular topics are javascript ipad, php, etc. :-(
Let's affect a culture change.
short-term: infrastructure and scaling
medium-term: math, data mining, bioinformatics
long-term: important problems
I had a midlife crisis instantly after rehearshing this speech once. I am not following my own advice. I had started work on math every evening. And I am officially quitting that social network job at Google. (Is he also quitting Google?)
This way I will be ready when we are in a position to face those important problems in five years.
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rkalla 4 days ago 0 replies
That talk had a really inspiring energy to it.
When it started I thought Yegge sounded nervous and jittery and seemed a little intense, like he had a chip on his shoulder and I thought "Oh boy, I hope he doesn't do a melt-down".
Then as the talk progressed, I realized he was just excited/nervous and that's how he talks.
He gradually hit his stride and the message that his talk was meant to convey slowly started to take shape for me... and it's a hell of a positive message.
It is a call-to-arms to give a damn and use our powers for the advancement of everyone. To stop spending out free time working on icanhascheezeburger SMS alert apps and pickup a book on mathematics, bioinfomatics, data mining and other hard topics and start learning.
It is a call to arms to send yourself back to school (in a sense) that don't be afraid to start learning about other topics that have always seemed interesting to you but maybe you figured were outside of your area of effect, e.g. "I'm a server guy, I'll never do anything interesting in 3D visualization!"
It is also a call to arms to make money and effect change with principle; like a Google or an Amazon.
You don't need to scrape every last piece of skin off of your customers hide in order to post big quarterly profits to be successful. You can develop positive relationships with your customers, employees and the world around you and STILL make the money necessary to continue growing an innovating.
The "quitting" part of the talk is unimportant, it was just his way of illuminating his point. The value is in his message.
3
yanw 4 days ago 1 reply
Bad hive-mind; Hacker News fires Steve Yegge: http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2011/07/hacker-news-fires-st...
4
tom_b 4 days ago replies
So I'm not really an ask me anything type guy, but I work on a bioinformatics team at an academic cancer research center. We have genomic sequencers and a software stack running 24/7/365 plus your normal collection of IT and small dev projects here.
If you have questions about what it's like to be a hacker in this type of environment, post them here and I'll share what my experience is like.
BTW, I completely wish I knew more stats and bioinformatics, so I probably should purchase the Yegge book collection myself . . .
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yanw 4 days ago 0 replies
He only quit the 'cat picture' project he is still on the GOOG's payroll.
It's an inspiring notion if you're into that sort of thing, a bit unfair to his would be colleagues though.
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david927 4 days ago 4 replies
Please change the title to:
Stevey gives up the being part of the chase for the superfluous (in money), and calls for us to do something about the necessary
No one needs a million dollars. No one. Why are we chasing it and dying of heart disease -- heart disease we can cure if we start chasing that instead?
Our priorities are absolutely messed up and it's time we start realigning them. This isn't a speech; this isn't a funny resignation. This is a clarion call to join in. We can do so much better. We can achieve something valuable, if we start to realize where true value lies.
Steve's in. I'm in. Who else around here is in?
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wccrawford 4 days ago 4 replies
Am I the only one that fails to be inspired by this? I think I'm not inspired because it's something I've already thought about. We've always had the option to go make money, or go try to fix the world... And whatever that brings us.
I am very clear on my chances of making big changes to the world: Almost nil. Instead, I decided long ago that I'd do my best to make money and improve my own life.
I'm not saying I don't do little things to help the environment, but there's no chance that I'm going to be on the team that cures cancer. There are too many people out there that are both smarter than me and more learned in the topics needed. The best I could do would be to get in their way.
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dstein 4 days ago 0 replies
More importantly he has revealed that Google will be adding cat picture features to Google Plus. Facebook is in trouble.
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kbutler 4 days ago 1 reply
tl;dr Work on data mining and bioionformatics to change the world, rather than just seeking money by doing trivial things.
Plus publicity stunt of quitting so you'll listen [at 14:15, sounded like quitting a cat-photo-sharing project, rather than quitting Google].
Plus implication that bio is the only domain that is world-changing.
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abijlani 4 days ago 2 replies
Let's stop focusing on the fact that he quit. And focus on WHY he quit. I'm sure we all can relate with what he's saying at some level. He's talking about tackling hard problems and not just low hanging fruit that might (emphasis on might) make a buck. And most of all he's leading by example. I haven't seen this much bravado from anyone in our industry in a long time.
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angrycoder 4 days ago 1 reply
As someone who was originally a science major, then switched to comp sci, I always get a romantic tingle when I hear about bioinformatics. Most of the science I've learned is gone by now, but I am sure it still there somewhere.
What are the good starting points for learning about bioinformatics?
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orangecat 4 days ago 1 reply
I'll watch this tonight, from the summaries I generally agree with him. I feel the same way about brilliant math and physics people doing HFT for Goldman Sachs. But I'd also point out that from a comparative advantage perspective, it may be optimal to earn lots of money in a "useless" area and then donate where it makes a difference. If you can earn $500k/year at a hedge fund and give half of that to SENS, that's probably better than quitting your job to learn molecular biology from scratch.
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boredandroid 4 days ago 0 replies
He didn't quit Google. He just quit the project he was working on at Google. I talked to him the day before and am quite sure that is what he meant.
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wmat 4 days ago 2 replies
Watch the whole talk. It's fantastic. And as a 40 year old, I completely concur.
But what to do about it? Hmmmm.....time to go shopping for books, or search for online courses.
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ZackOfAllTrades 4 days ago 1 reply
Normally I lurk and don't vote. But this is worth people's time to watch.
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jganetsk 4 days ago 0 replies
I have just talked to Steve. I have confirmed that he has not quit Google.
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shareme 4 days ago 0 replies
Folks he has not quit Google..post Title is incorrect
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bartonfink 4 days ago 2 replies
I'm not sure I agree with his premise that, in order to change the world you must work on a problem with "big data." I can't see how the energy crisis is fundamentally data-driven, for example, and it's hard to say that you couldn't change the world by working on that.
Regardless, best of luck to him wherever he winds up (within Google or elsewhere)! And I hope he keeps writing!
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At around 14:10 in the speech - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKmQW_Nkfk8&feature=playe...
Also I'm not sure if he quit Google, or if he just quit the project he was working on.
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kenjackson 4 days ago 0 replies
You want to change the world for the better? Be respectful of others you interact with on a day to day basis as a start. Steve should have given his boss heads up on this.
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cpeterso 4 days ago 0 replies
I am reminded of Richard "Hamming code" Hamming's quote:
"What are the most important problems in your field? Are you working on one of them? Why not?"
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spinchange 4 days ago 0 replies
Watch it for the talk, not the sensationalism. It's a good talk.
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thom 4 days ago 0 replies
c.f. http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/far.html , which tempers some of my optimism for seeing really big problems solved with really big computers and datasets.
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btrask 4 days ago 0 replies
This past week, I decided to start working on a project to build a new type of speech synthesizer. Did I know anything about acoustics or linguistics? No, but I've been reading what I can find about them since then.
I used to have a philosophy of intentionally choosing easy, "overlooked" problems. I figured I wasn't that smart, so I should just stick to the simple stuff. The software I built was good and useful, but a lot of it is already becoming obsolete. I want to make software that will last 50 years, not just 5.
This talk came at a great time for me, and it's strengthened my resolve. I'm going to keep learning about speech synthesis and acoustics (which means a lot of math and physics that I slept through in school), and hopefully I can push the field forward a little bit.
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p_h 4 days ago 3 replies
I've had multiple math professors tell me to study as much math as I can while I'm young, because once you're over 30 it's a lot harder to learn math. I'm in my 20's so I'm not sure if this is true.
It also seems to me that the math you would learn in an O'Reilly book isn't in depth enough to contribute to research.
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T_S_ 4 days ago 0 replies
Can anybody see the books on his dining room table (at 13:49)? I think I spotted Concrete Mathematics at the bottom, Duda and Hart, and Hastie, Tibshirani and Friedman. Good places to start.
What would your list be for Steve?
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hollerith 4 days ago 2 replies
Anyone care to post a summary of the OP (a 15-minute video)?
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thornad 4 days ago 0 replies
Everyone should work on the problems that are close to their heart, that they have a passion for.
He says something similar in the begining but then he confesses he's gonna do exactly the opposite.
this is major bulshit and I would not take this guy advice even if he payed me a million. Because he himself is not following it.
And even if he did, it is bullshit.
You should work on what YOU find important. Not on what someone else decided somewhere else.
YOU have intuitive intelligence that knows what's important and what you and ONLY YOU have a UNIQUE talent for (because you are unique).
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jsavimbi 4 days ago 0 replies
While we debate the merits of Mr. Yegge's principled talk at OSCON Data 2011 and the potential ramifications that a sudden shift in priorities would cause in the developer universe, #imisswhen is trending from my local cat-picture dissemination outfit.
Personally, I believe we've done enough for humanity already.
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avgarrison 4 days ago 0 replies
After we solve all of the hard problems in the world, can we go back to looking at cat pictures?
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rektide 4 days ago 0 replies
He looks so different than OSCON 2007: http://blip.tv/oreilly-open-source-convention/oscon-2007-ste...
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ryan-allen 4 days ago 2 replies
Wow, he really did. How this isn't on the front page, I don't know. It should be!
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zavulon 4 days ago 1 reply
What an ass.
492 points by MaysonL 10 days ago 145 comments top 25
1
adulau 9 days ago 2 replies
"The total official financing will amount to an estimated 109 billion euro. This programme will be designed, notably through lower interest rates and extended maturities, to decisively improve the debt sustainability and refinancing profile of Greece."
Markets and especially the financial sector like banks (especially French banks) owning debt from Greece (or CDO) have positively reacted to the announce for a different reason that the one shown in the press IMHO. The major risk for the banks is the inability from a customer to pay their debt. With the current proposal the risk is again moved to the public sector where they will take the part of the debt that Greece cannot pay or pay with difficulties.
So for the banks, it's a great move as their current contribution is just a small part from their revenue removed of the interest rate on the debt while lowering down the risks of unpaid debt.
Without forgetting that the ECB is feeding the banks with a preferential rate (around 1%) for credit given to other countries by the banks with a higher rate (around 3-4%).
So the winner is clearly the financial sector. We removed the risks for you and States will cover by public financing. It's just like the "refinancing" for CDO in 2008...
2
kahawe 9 days ago 3 replies
What I can still not understand: how could this have happened at all and how come just like with the financial crisis following the housing bubble, it is nobody's fault really, nobody gets the blame and has to answer and step down and get locked up for it... and ultimately banks or the countries just get their bail-out and that's it. Few months from now life will just continue as usual as if nothing ever happened, just like it did on Wall Street. They went right back at it.
The funniest thing, a few weeks ago it was a very popular opinion in the media in Greece (even in respectable papers) that Germany should absolutely have to pay since they got allegedly SOOO rich and happy on all those imports Greece bought from Germany. Which in reality were an absolutely ridiculous amount of like 1 or 2% of all of Greece's imports but it shows how quickly a scape goat was conjured up in the media to direct people's attention and hate away from their own politicians.
Seriously, how can you not blame the politicians in that country and blame whoever was responsible for accepting Greece into the monetary union in the first place when they downright faked their economic statistics and obviously noone did any due-diligence?
There is a constant decline in voters and a general sense of "disenchantment with politics" here; people just care less and less and I can really see why... it doesn't really matter who you vote for anyway, they all get away with whatever they want and the biggest crises of the last 10, 20, 30 years just get brushed off like nothing happened. Insane amounts of bailouts are paid out on the backs of the working citizens and then that's it. It is never anybody's fault so certainly this does not scare off ANYONE to refrain from careless, negligent conduct.
I am not trying to troll, I just really honestly do not understand it... in my own understanding by all that is right, a few people who were actually responsible or in charge and did not do anything to prevent it should be hanging from trees or burning on stakes by now, figuratively speaking (but I would not mind having it literally).
In any company a CEO conducting business like these countries are doing on a daily basis would have been locked up a hundred times over looong time ago for a multitude of very grave misconducts, evasion, falsification of accounts etc etc etc.
When you rob a bank for petty cash, you get locked up; when you "steal a movie" you get locked up even longer. When you frakk over the whole world or the whole EU, then most everyone was joining in anyway so "shit happens", "tough luck", let's write a check and shake hands for the media.
Can someone with more political understanding than I have put all this clusterfuck-shitstorm into perspective for me, please?
3
lefstathiou 10 days ago replies
FYI there is no such thing as a "kind of" or "selective" default. It's binary. You either pay back creditors what they are owed or you dont. It's rare that a company or country defaults on ALL obligations all at once. As a member of Wall Street, I appreciate the WSJ's noble attempt to sugar coat this (article below) but that doesnt change the facts.
Ditto watchandwait below.., glad it finally happened.
marshray 10 days ago 0 replies
The WSJ's article is like all "I have a friend who thinks she might be a teensey weeensey little bit pregnant...".
Tomorrow, the markets make an example out of Greece in order to send a message to the US. But they'd better watch out, it could backfire. Congress now has a taste of the thrill of writing a (raise pinky) one trillion dollar check. If another AIG starts to look shaky...
5
mbateman 9 days ago 0 replies
From the info box on this story in the print edition of the WSJ article this morning:
---
Q:There has been concern about a "credit event" that could trigger payouts on credit default swaps, a type of insurance against default. Will this happen?
A: Probably not. The deal for private-sector contributions is voluntary. If a deal doesn't bind all bondholders, it's unlikely to be considered a credit event.
Q:What use is default insurance if there's a default and no payouts?
A: Good question. It may lead to some soul-searching in the CDS market.
---
So the financial instruments designed to insure against default are being bypassed by deliberately circuitous arrangements and language, to the point that people are wondering what they are even for anymore? That sure seems like strong evidence in favor of the OP's position.
6
flocial 10 days ago 2 replies
The EU sort of rescued Greece, now Greece sort of defaults. Portugal, Spain, and Italy are not that far behind. The biggest problem, aside from Greece's fiscal mess, is that Germany can't muster up enough political support to clean up after their mess more decisively despite the fact that they are now in the same monetary union. The catch 22 of these financial crises is that inaction will result in financial meltdown, decisive rescues political suicide.
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ww520 10 days ago 0 replies
I've gone through the News channel in topchan.tv, which has multiple sources. Out of 180 of news clips for today, only four are related to the Greek bailout. AlJazeera has more details and it mentioned partial default, in the sense that the lenders would take a loss.
france24: Fresh multi-billion euro bailout expected for Greece
afiler 10 days ago 0 replies
Seeing the title "Greece defaults" made me things had taken a turn for the worse compared to news I'd heard earlier in the day, but no, this is just the title of an opinion piece. Other news articles are more nuanced, and in particular, the Wall Street Journal asks "What Constitutes a Greek Default? And Who Decides?": http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311190346110457645...
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Loic 9 days ago 1 reply
Nearly off topic, but all these debt issues make me think that this is why "world level" currency like bitcoin can be interesting. If it starts to spread enough to reach a critical mass over several economies, this kind of electronic currency can be the only currency disconnected from a single economy. The value of such currency would be function of the volume shared in each economy using it, where economy would be the US, EU, Japan, China etc.
You could say, a bit like gold, but easier to pay with.
Note that I am not saying I endorse bitcoin or any kind of crypto currency and recommend you to exchange your Euros/Dollars for some. For me, it is too speculative at the moment. This is just the concept which I find interesting.
10
parallel 10 days ago 2 replies
As I understand it you default on a loan, you don't default as an entity. So it's doesn't really make sense to talk about Greece defaulting without saying which loans they defaulted on. Hence the "kind of"/"selective" etc.
I read this as Greece defaulted on kind of all it's loans, so defaulted on some and not on others. The others may have been renegotiations, longer terms etc.
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eegilbert 10 days ago 1 reply
Greece ^kinda defaults. More context in NYT, of course: http://nyti.ms/pyJ9Ho
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tybris 9 days ago 0 replies
This is called debt restructuring, not defaulting.
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pandaassembly 9 days ago 0 replies
Finally the only right move to do. If you look at greece's huge debt, it was clear that - even in booming economic times - they could have never managed to pay it all back.
Yes the greece default rating, will bring some pressure to the (mostly europrean) banks, but I'm sure the world will not stop moving, it might actually be the first step out of the euro crisis.
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antimora 10 days ago 3 replies
is Greece in default or "kind of default"?
I don't see in other headlines news.
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teyc 9 days ago 0 replies
Greece has been in fiscal deficit for so long, a loan which stays on the books but never gets paid off reminds me of CPS where functions never return.
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rajpaul 10 days ago 0 replies
"kind of default" doesn't mean "Greece sort of defaulted", it means "Greece defaulted in a specific way".
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orenmazor 9 days ago 0 replies
everybody is concentrating about the loans, but there was nothing being said on the lack of social contract in Greece. sure, they get some more loans/time, but the fact remains that the greek dont seem to want to pay their taxes.
18
shareme 10 days ago 1 reply
Translation...Greece gets a bailout for itself, bondholders offered bailout if they commit to increase time-periods of loans, Greece bond rating gets clobbered to default rating....
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senthilnayagam 9 days ago 0 replies
start of a chain reaction :( but who would be next
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joshu 10 days ago 1 reply
well, tomorrow is gonna be fun.
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Maven911 9 days ago 0 replies
Does anyone know where I can get more in-depth analysis of the debt soverign crisis ?
I am quite interested in the topic but most articles are just fluff in terms of deep economic analysis
22
naeem 9 days ago 0 replies
This is terrifying. The possibilities of a double-dip recession turn depression are growing by the day. Excuse me while I start working out, learn how to use a shot-gun and develop a taste for cider while deepening my voice.
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melvinng 10 days ago 1 reply
Finally, that took a while. Why didn't they do it earlier?
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paulocal 9 days ago 0 replies
Does this mean gold and silver prices will go up? I HOPE SO!
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TheAlan 10 days ago 5 replies
The raping of Greece's assets will now begin. EVERYTHING will get privatized, just like a third-world country.
7
467 points by jamesgagan 1 day ago 278 comments top 50
1
jellicle 1 day ago 5 replies
Sounds to me like Paul Graham has made a fairly fundamental and common mistake, which is to say believing the AirBnb people when they reassure him that everything is under control and there's no fire here.
Paul, if you actually read the statements made by the CEO on news.ycombinator.com, it's very clear that AirBnb are the primary, if not only, ones at fault here.
I don't want to call Paul a liar, since it seems likely to me that he has just made a mistake of believing someone else. But he's putting his own reputation behind AirBnb, and AirBnb is lying. That's unwise.
Let me compare a different response that I'm familiar with. A friend of mine had her apartment destroyed in the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks. Insurance companies came and set up booths in Manhattan and were cutting checks left and right, without even SEEING the damage. My friend had a check in her hand on 9/13 if I recall correctly. She didn't get in to SEE her own apartment until a month later, and the insurance company didn't see it until much later than that.
As of today and yesterday, there are articles in newspapers across the land. There are phrases like "As of Friday afternoon, Airbnb had not returned calls from The [Washington] Post requesting comment." - that's a quote from a WashPost story, of course. One thing I know: when the Washington Post calls and a company has something good to say about themselves, they take the call (calls, actually).
It's apparent from the latest newspaper stories that AirBnb is now reacting in a cover-it-up fashion - they're trying to offer the woman a sum of money with the condition that she shut up. That's fine, I guess - very corporate of them.
But frankly I expected better. I guess I sort of expected that even if AirBnb was being dumb, that when the first article hit news.yc, that someone would call them and straighten them out. Instead it seems that PG, also, is blinded by "going to be as big as Ebay".
2
sriramk 1 day ago 4 replies
I can't believe I'm defending Arrington here but for once, I think PG is off and Arrington is right.
Arrington's editorializing has been fairly tame in this story. A lot of the mess has been due to EJ's posts and Airbnb's attempts at damage control.
If you look through the original post, there are only a couple of lines where Arrington says Airbnb isn't financially responsible and that is, imho, a fair interpretation of what the spokesperson/Lukezic told him. TC has also done a fair job of publishing Airbnb's side of the story - guest posts, updating their posts, etc.
Airbnb's real problem here is EJ, not Arrington. Airbnb's image isn't getting tarnished by posts on TC, it is getting tarnished by EJ's blog posts which make Airbnb's people seem cold and insensitive.
If you look at PG's comments on the earlier thread, he seemed to imply that Airbnb disagreed with EJ's version of events (they called her before her second post, etc). That could be Airbnb's big problem - it seems to me they want to say EJ is lying but can't in public.
3
jacquesm 1 day ago replies
Everybody calm down please.
EJ is real, she's a real person, it really did happen, just in case anybody was still wondering about that.
I've passed her contact info to PG and him being the smart man that he is I'm pretty sure that he can come up with a solution that will satisfy everybody and will allow the victim to move on and get AirBNB past this crisis. Any words to the effect that AirBNB is 'setting precedent' are null and void, of course they aren't and even if they were it would not matter one bit, sometimes you just need to do the right thing, even if that hurts you financially. Sometimes lawyers are good, sometimes they muddle the water. In this case I'd advise to leave the lawyers out of it, this is an emotional train-wreck and lawyers are only going to make it worse.
The future can wait until after this has been resolved to EJs satisfaction. Customer = King. Be happy that so far the mainstream press seems to be ignoring this story, the last thing you want at this point is to leave that clock ticking to the point where they do pick it up and who knows how many more EJ stories start hitting the news.
Yes, this could be an isolated case, but given the numbers involved it probably isn't.
Whoever lied will have to come clean about it at some point, maybe PG will owe Arrington an apology, maybe not.
Note that 'offering help' and 'giving help' are two very different things, and PG has not said anywhere that AirBNB has given her help, just that they've been offering it from the beginning, it may have been an unconditional offer, or it may have been a conditional one with conditions unacceptable for EJ. If they did nothing tangible for the last 30 days that really is a problem, but that means that PG can still stand by his words. Whatever hang-ups that stop 'offering' turning in to 'given' need to be resolved immediately.
Time will tell, all that depends on what really happened and other than EJ and one or two people at AirBNB nobody knows, the rest is hearsay. It is very well possible that PG is acting on incomplete or wrong info. The fact that AirBNB is willing to move to keep this out of the media during a funding round may tell us a bit about their attitude towards being truthful with investors, assuming that that is true, which we can not take as read at this point.
As far as damage to the apartment, pictures with some proof would help (and would indicate the extent of the damage), and if the truth is to come out about the interaction with AirBNB then someone would have to dump their email cache.
Personally I don't think that is the best way forward (other than for EJ if she's telling the truth and wants to make that more than plain, and AirBNB turns out to have not done anything tangible other than saying they will 'support her' and have 'offered help'), what this mostly needs is to be taken care of, whether that happens in the public eye or not is not relevant.
I exchanged some email with the lady, EJ is right now literally scared out of her wits, concern for her safety and well being should come first, after that, when the situation has been normalized as far as possible there will be a time of reflection for everybody involved, including PG.
YC companies are hitting bigger home-runs each year and with that comes a need for a more professional approach to PR. When you're dealing at this level and you have this many interactions with your customers (2 million nights booked = 4 million chances for someone to be dissatisfied) there will always be trouble. It is unavoidable, so you have to plan for it and you plan for the worst case scenarios.
Luckily, there was no bodily harm in this case, the perps were gone when she returned. But that is just about the only icing on this cake, other than that there needs to be some real hard work done to set this right and to do what can be done to avoid a repetition in the future. And if there is a repetition (imo inevitable) that person should have been warned up front about the risks in an un-ambiguous way.
Best of luck to all involved, especially to EJ and the AirBNB team.
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redthrowaway 1 day ago 2 replies
Sorry PG, but you have a steep hill to climb if you want to defend aribnb.
The crux of your (and their) problem is this: Why, if, as you say, airbnb was being as helpful as possible from the get-go, did the victim write that second post?
That's it. You cannot have a claim to credibility until you answer that question. Even if that answer is, "she was paid off", the existence of her second blog post puts the lie to airbnb's (and your) claims. Either she's telling the truth, or they (and you) are. They are mutually exclusive stories.
Bringing Arrington's Arringtonity into this is a red herring. The story isn't about him. There are two involved parties, here, and you've aligned yourself with airbnb. The victim's story isn't being run through the TC filter; it's there for everyone to see. So far, the collective 'you' have not addressed it, refuted her points, or shown how the two accounts are compatible.
It's easy to hop on the "Michael Arrington is a sensationalistic dick" bandwagon, because he is. That doesn't address the issue, though, and it comes across as a deflection.
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coffeemug 1 day ago 4 replies
The way many people here jumped to conclusions after the initial AirBnB story based on almost no information is really disheartening. Insulting the founders of the company, the victim, and concocting conspiracy theories based on a few paragraphs of information with barely any evidence is a really poor way to conduct oneself. Most decent people wouldn't do it in face-to-face conversations without getting to know a person at least slightly, and it's unfortunate that our psychology is built in a way that an extra layer of anonymity afforded by the internet enables a large number of people to drop all sense of tact and respect, and jump into personal attacks with very little information about the actual incident. If you're one of the people that engaged in this type of behavior, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You're doing real damage to real people, while knowing almost nothing about what's actually going on, but more importantly, you're damaging your own reputation.
I had the opportunity to hear the founders speak a number of times. They're one of the very few founders that are incredibly genuine about bringing a positive change into the lives of their customers. They live and breathe positive change they bring to the world, to the point where they carry letters from customers that thanked them for saving their lives because the bank would have repossessed their home if not for AirBnB. Jumping on them because they didn't have a chance to give a complete response while handling a crisis is really uncalled for.
I don't know the victim but it's easy to misinterpret events after going through an emotional trauma. Most likely it's a misunderstanding, but even if it isn't, it's really inappropriate to insult people given the information currently available. In fact, it's never appropriate to insult people, and it's best to hold back criticism until more information is available, lest you do some real damage to real people.
There are some valid concerns about where personal responsibility ends and liability begins (legally and ethically), and how AirBnB's service will evolve to address these issues, but there are different ways to discuss these concerns, and discussions here so far have been nothing but poisonous.
EDIT: I posted this comment in the other thread ( http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2825045 ). Sorry for the crosspost, but this is getting ridiculous.
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bugsy 1 day ago 3 replies
That's extremely interesting. When the victim EJ posted (was it Thursday?) about being intimidated and lied to by Airbnb, it was obviously very different from what they were saying publicly. I figured though she is very very upset about everything and overreacting. However, this new report is a second witness that Airbnb is playing dirty behind the scenes while acting all nice guy in public, and PG defending it. Probably he believes what they say, but the fact is that it's Arrington that ends up being right on these articles, but even if it wasn't, we already know the story came from EJ the victim and not Arrington anyway, so PG either didn't do proper diligence in checking before posting or is outright lying to protect his investment. I think PG is honest and just didn't check up on things, but believed what he was told by his unnamed contact at Airbnb, who is clearly angry at the victim. The unnamed Airbnb contact's attitude of anger corroborates EJ's story that she was intimidated by them. What a mess. It's obvious at this point both that PG should apologize to Arrington and Airbnb is basically done for. I am sure they have many people there trying to do the right thing but they have at least one person there in CYA mode who has basically both destroyed the company and lied to PG.
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moonlighter 1 day ago 0 replies
- "Brian Chesky called me and I updated that post"
- "Chesky repeatedly thanked me for the updates by email and on the phone"
Seems like Chesky and Lukezic spent more time talking to Arrington trying to do "PR damage control" rather than talk to their customer EJ. Which, given Arrington's new post, totally backfired, too:
"At least have the decency to stand up and say you're wrong, Airbnb, and apologize for the lies. Because hiding behind investors, and attacking the press, is both dishonorable and stupid. That's no way to gain customer trust."
Ouch. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
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WordSkill 1 day ago 2 replies
You know, I am no cheerleader for Michael Arrington, we've certainly banged heads a few times in comment threads (it's a fun way to spend an evening) but what Paul Graham is doing here is pretty cynical:
Once it became clear yesterday that the empathically-challenged kids in charge at Airbnb had no clue of how to manage the problem, and that the company was hemorrhaging tens of millions in notional value every time Brian Chesky opened his mouth and a bunch of lies and half-truths came tumbling out, the investors called an emergency meeting and tried to figure out a way out of this mess.
Clearly, as the situation had been left to rot for a month, giving the victim plenty of time to become more upset and alienated, it was too late to pretend that the situation itself had been handled in any way properly.
There was also no longer any subtle way to silence to victim - that bridge already been burned by the ham-fisted attempt to bully her into deleting her original post... attempts made, incredibly, OVER THE PHONE!
And, as those attempts were now part of the another blog post, it was too late to act like fucking professionals, meet her in person, put her up in five star luxury while they arrange and pay to have her home cleansed, fumigated, redecorated, refurnished, blessed by a witchdoctor, whatever it took to shut her up.... it was too late for all that.
So, Paul Graham, an intelligent man with a good eye for small details, noticed the one and only sliver of a chance Airbnb has to get out of this mess with it's valuation above the billion mark, rather than far below it: the universal antipathy towards Michael Arrington!
So, now, the course is set and, from here on out, Airbnb and their investors are going to completely ignore the truth that it was the victim's own account which contradicts Airbnb's rapidly shifting assertions, and, instead, they are going to pretend that the whole controversy is a link-bait concoction by Silicon Valley's favorite super-villain, Dr. Arrington. What actually happened will not matter and, right now, you can bet the Paul Graham is down on his knees praying that Jason Calacanis will take the tasty Arrington bait and run this story in the other direction.
Of course, the only reason this story has legs is that Chesky's article turned out to be so astonishingly and needlessly untruthful that the victim felt compelled to sit down and write a practically line-by-line rebuttal. It was truly one of the most remarkable own goals I have ever seen and, if you weren't already questioning the sanity of the CEO of a supposedly $1.3bn company not identifying, a month ago when it happened, that this could be a serious IPo blocker and, as such, promptly nailing it down, you have to wonder just how psychotic he is to have written something so bold, to have put himself in the position of being publicly exposed as a complete and utter bullshitter.
So, that is why Micheal is getting it in the neck and, on this occasion, undeservedly so... but you shouldn't let that spoil your enjoyment of it ;)
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Legion 1 day ago 0 replies
>> Airbnb has been offering to fix it
EJ said as much in the first post. But offers without follow-through are worthless. And the problem is that, from EJ's perspective at least, there has been absolutely none. And swinging a bat at Arrington won't change that.
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cookiecaper 1 day ago 1 reply
There are a lot of long words in these posts, so I doubt anyone will read this, but I want to say it anyway.
First, this whole thing just wreaks of a big disaster of miscommunication between all involved parties. Many commentators I think are being overly sensitive and pedantic (I commented yesterday on the shocking revelation that an airbnb founder would "enjoy meeting" EJ). The following points seem clear to me:
* EJ's perspective is tainted by her negative experience. While she criticized the founder for an impersonal meeting request, she could have disparaged the founder just as easily had it gone the other way: "Oh, the founder sent me this mail gushing with concern... if he really cared, he would have done X and Y differently, now he is just backtracking like a coward in light of media attention"
* airbnb believes that they are helping and is trying to do what's feasible, but is weighed down by concern over insurance, regulation, fault, and other pertinent issues involved in this precedent-setting incident. airbnb also is likely to (subconsciously) give a story that is perhaps unrealistically positive to one of its earliest mentors and investors, who readily believes and defends one of his earliest and most successful investments; I can't help but think there are child-parent-type instincts on that kind of relationship.
* Arrington is writing the story mostly accurately, perhaps not with the rigid journalistic method that ensures precision in retelling, as we generally expect to find lacking in the casual vernacular of a blog. In fact, I think a lot of TC-related controversy stems from nothing more than the casual format that leaves much room for misreadings (and miswritings). While it may not be fun to read or write an article that follows classical journalistic procedure, there is a reason that that procedure was put in place...
* Commentators jump to the defense of EJ prematurely, partly because of white-knight impulses and partly because of the victim's emotionally-charged writing.
I hope that people calm down over this. We need to allow all parties involved some time, I think. This is a major thing in the history of airbnb and the logistics require careful attention -- they may not get it perfectly right, but I believe they're operating out of good faith and trying to do the right thing. I also believe EJ is struggling to get a grip on her new circumstances and would also benefit from some time apart from the sensationalism. As for PG/TC/others, it just causes volumes of unnecessary drama to get publicly entangled.
I'm not sure that anything else productive can be done at this point by continuing to expound on the issue, it merely seems to create more controversy for controversy's sake.
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9oliYQjP 1 day ago 0 replies
Long term, this kind of problem isn't going away for AirBnB. To ignore it would be as foolish as a retailer avoiding the problem of shrink. To treat this case like it is an isolated, unique event, is also ridiculous. AirBnB might be tremendously safe. But so is flying, and people have irrational fears of flying because the odd disaster happens. Airlines have entire disaster teams in place to handle these rare events.
Honestly, I think a big problem here is that you have men handling a situation in which they were completely oblivious to the feelings of their customer. Men can't possibly appreciate the sense of vulnerability most women have walking down the street alone at night, let alone the sense of violation that occurs from events like this. What the woman in question implied in her blog post was anger that the men were cold and not paying attention to her feelings. My advice would be to find a woman with great customer service experience and give her authority to personally handle this situation, in-person.
That would take care of the immediate problem. Long term, AirBnB needs to develop a strategy for handling these sort of cases. Reports of insurance being offered is a good first step. But they need to think about having disaster teams in place similar to the ones airlines and insurance companies have. They are in the same boat as these companies; when something goes wrong, it goes very very wrong. That leaves people in severe distress and it takes more than just a standard customer service response to deal with situations like this.
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ajays 1 day ago 1 reply
Here is something I don't understand.
San Francisco is a tiny city (heck, I've walked from one end to the other; it's just 7 miles x 7 miles, or 11km x 11km for the rest of you). Most of the principles in this sad tale live in San Francisco. HOW HARD IS IT TO JUST WALK OVER AND MEET THIS PERSON?? Instead of relying on PR and telephones and email and blogs; just walk over, give her a hug, talk to her and treat her right! Put a human touch on all this interaction, people! It's not like she's living in Podunk, Nebraska (no offense to Nebraskans) and out of reach. She's living right here!
Close your laptops. Put down your iPhones. Just meet her in person and solve her problems. I am willing to bet that a face-2-face with the principles will solve more problems than all the articles in TC, blog posts, etc.
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OoTheNigerian 1 day ago 2 replies
This is my little 2 cents on this whole fiasco that seems not to go away.
All this would not have come to this if Airbnb guys asked themselves a simple question. How would I handle this if this happened to my sister of wife.
The main problem is Airbnb had about a month to fix this before it became 'viral'. It was only the post by TC that made me realise this issue was about a month ago (30 days!).
As a fan of Airbnb, (I have not used the service, but i have given them a few customers), I am a bit disappointed in the response. I do not blame them for waat happened to EJ. The problem that has happened is as a result of their reaction to what had happened.
I am kind of amazed that after a month, not one of the founders has gone to see the house (they have the address) but rather they have been doing "everything" to help. This is politician talk, not startup talk. Why startups were really cool was the possibility of getting in touch with the founder of it rather than the "automated customer service of big companies".
The only actionable thing Airbnb have done during the last few days fiasco is try to cover their asses. i.e change the security page, write a blog post on TC and defend themselves. Now anything they do will not be perceived in good faith but in reaction to the angry mob (as PG calls it). It is never good to be reactionary.
If I were the CEO of Airbnb, I would do this:
Go and look physically and look at the house.
Go and look for the victim and be sincere in my apology and request for another chance to start again.
Behave as if it was my sister this thing happened to.
I really hope some good "no win no fee" lawyer has not got to her first.
When you are successful, people are out there trying to hang you, please Airbnb, do not give them a rope.
I wish you guys all the best!
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chailatte 1 day ago 0 replies
Why is it left to PG to defend AirBnB? Why aren't the founders handling the PR?
Why isn't AirBnb implementing solutions 5 weeks ago to prevent this from happening again to their users? Why haven't their users heard about this until now?
Why don't we have any tangible proof that AirBnb is actually helping this poor woman? If no, why don't they do it now, instead of saying they are trying?
Are there any grownups in AirBnb? This is not a side project selling cereals that you have fun with anymore. It's a real business! What a sad, pathetic group of people. 1000X valuation for a company that lets 'daddy' do all the dirty work, while they go hide in the corner.
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ig1 1 day ago 1 reply
I think perhaps the more important question here is with pg going to bat for Airbnb against Arrington, is this going to affect the long term relationship between Y Combinator and Techcrunch.
Techcrunch have always provided favourable coverage to YC companies, but if that relationship is going tepid because of this affair, the negative fall-out could be far worse for YC than for AirBnB. Most consumers will forget about stories like this after a while, journalists tend to hold grudges (see Arrington vs Calcanis).
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todayiamme 1 day ago 3 replies
This might seem stupid, but given the line of events if I was AirBNB's founders I would do this; offer EJ my place to stay, and cook a simple meal for her. That's it.
The shortfall of AirBNB over here is that they might care, but they aren't coming across as someone caring, and a little bit of empathy coupled with a genuine act of kindness will go a long way over here.
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resdirector 1 day ago 0 replies
I really look forward to reading a Paul Graham essay about his experience here, once the dust has settled. I know he has written about PR before, but this is probably essay-worthy in of itself (perhaps something like "in the eye of a shitstorm" or similar).
I'd like to know his philosophies and how he came to his decisions to do what when, his thought processes etc.
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nikcub 1 day ago 0 replies
airbnb chose to use Techcrunch as the venue, and there is still no mention of this on their own blog or website.
they should just cut it straight and adress all their users on their own site
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lancewiggs 1 day ago 1 reply
Hundreds of comments and votes. But I have not seen an apology from AirBnB on HN. Perhaps I missed it, but they should be everywhere.
Why don't they understand this? Why are they not incredibly active on this and other forums? Have they no conscience? Do they really not care? Is this really still seen by them as a PR problem rather than a a horrible event that they at least partially enabled and thus should feel terrible about and seek to help the victim in any and all ways they can?
The success of eBay, a P2P business, was initially driven by its community, and members treated each other with respect and were happy to trade with each other. AirBnB is behaving as if it doesn't care about its community, its customers.
Is that the death knell sounding? Perhaps.
To me the only recourse now is a new person or team at the top, folks that actually live the desired values of the company.
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maurycy 23 hours ago 0 replies
Let me start with a very simple sentence: people are good.
The AirBnB service depends on this simple premise. This is the first axiom of their business. No matter how insured everyone is, the axiom has to hold. Otherwise, you end up with an infinite streak of disputes.
If you invite strangers to your home, then you assume that people are good, either. It is that simple. Frankly, only a good person would invite strangers to her home. It might be slightly too naive, but it does not change the fact it takes a lot of good faith, and trust. (It might be too much, I agree, but it is not her fault, as it was not BitCoin begginers' mistake to commit into the idea of the digital currency _too much_. It is more experienced ones' responsibility to share their knowledge.)
Once you find the property destroyed, your world view is going to collapse. It turns out, basically, that some people are not good. What's worse, bad people were physically close to you, just few days ago.
It is _extremely_ stressful.
Here and there I've read comments suggesting that EJ extrapolates a bit. Even if so, so what? She is so distressed, I'm very surprised that there's so little understanding about her current position.
The way the AirBnB folks behave does not reveal that they do genuiely believe that people are good. The way the public sees it right now is that they're very cautious, as well as lawyers, and all that stuff, is rather a defensive, and unsafe, behaviour.
While I somehow understand them, the problem is that the service relies on the assumption that people are good. After all, it is about _sharing your property with complete strangers from Internet_ (no matter if it is your home, or the other one.)
The reason why the story reads so bad is that it mixes up the social context of sharing per se, with the formal context, relying on lawyers and PR firms. All comments points out that getting her a new property sets a precedence for further refunds are totally off the took. To come up with such comment, it takes to view the world as a distrustful place. The view that, basically, contradicts the whole idea.
To me, the whole story is about nerds facing social complexities. The business they've created is not about numbers (i.e. brokering rooms, without having to incur the costs of building a hotel), but about sharing. The sharing, in nearly all cases, of single most valuable thing in your life.
I'm so frightened with lack of common sense.
First of all, the AirBnB folks should ensure her that people are good. I mean, people _are_ good. That the unfortunate event was a nightmarish accident, not the correct image of the world (no BS here, as, statistically speaking, the event is an outlier.)
Ensuring someone that the world is a trustful place definitely does not involve communicating publicly, or privately, with lawyers, or PR companies. I don't know how to explain this but it is all about showing that you're a human (of course, it still makes sense to speak with a lawyer before, though to avoid some simple misunderstaindg.)
We don't know her. We have no idea what are the actions necessary in order to make her safe. I think, though, it takes nothing more than showing your real, not faked, care, and, what comes as a surprise, asking her, not a PR company.
Once this is solved, the community should be somehow informed about the solution. If she wants to, EJ could write the explanation. She would have control over the amount of private informations shared, giving her power she has lost due to the abuse. Also, the really case closed means a good story about the world within that people are good.
Personally, I think it makes a lot of sense to offer her a job. She is an extremely talented writer, and seems to care about people. The AirBnB business operates heavily in the social context, so so good person, coming from inside, would be priceless for a now a bit dry company.
Of course, meanwhile it makes sense to get constant updates on legal implications. This is mostly the internal process, though. It takes very little to commit an honest legal mistake, so it cannot hurt (keep in mind to ask EJ is she needs legal help, too.) The same goes with the PR firm. I'm under impression, though, they would recommend similar steps to me. The PR folks I know are really good people.
It might be that EJ does not want to speak with the founders anymore. There is already a lot of misunderstanding, and I would understand her if they've lost her trust. If so, either the investors or the directors should step in. I realize that it sounds _too much_. However, PG is already involved, and members of both groups signal that there is a more mature instance that overlooks the things to be fine.
I do not believe that the solution cannot be reached. It does. It takes, though, understanding that people are good.
(On a more formal side, the reason why it was really a bad idea to mention lawyers publicly is that the AirBnB itself operates within a grey area. Depending on the local laws, the service is either illegal or not covered with all hospitality laws.
It means that signing up the property to the service takes valuying the social relationships more than legal matters. It cannot be otherwise given that, it turns out, some guests were completely anonymous (guests of the guests?), to say nothing about lack of cameras in most buildings.
The lawyers, and formalities, raised so frequently create a state of understandable confusion. If renting the property is dubiously insurable (I'm not sure whether insurers were that happy if knew that they insure hotel rooms per se; the fact has to spread, yet, though), and there are no legal protections, there is nothing but the social trust to rely on.)
That said, I wish all the parties involved the best.
I wish EJ only good things from now. ;-) And, I wish AirBnB more luck, as they've faced a huge sh*t-storm, and I like their service for the reason it relies on _good_ behaviour.
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rweba 1 day ago 3 replies
This might now end up affecting not only Airbnb but also the image of Ycombinator and pg.
Also the important issue here is not just the (terrible) handling of this specific incident by Airbnb but the fact that it puts into question their entire business model: Is it really smart to rent out your personal residence to a complete stranger? Does the potential benefit($$$) outweigh the significant risks(being completely violated)? Yes, they could put in some more checks but will that be enough to make people feel SAFE?
Personally I think the risk is too high and the problem will only become worse as the service tries to expand to more customers and scammers become more aware of it. That nice "guest" may simply be casing the joint, copying your keys and snooping in your mail. Who needs that risk?
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meinthecity 1 day ago 0 replies
The tragedy about this is that everyone involved here could have done something to avoid this except maybe EJ.
In order of culpability, here are the mistakes they made:
AirBnB's clearly inexperienced leadership has done a horrible job at communication. Sadly, this makes any real action they have taken to help the victim irrelevant to the public. Then again, their business has a fundamental risk, one of crime, which they seem unprepared to address or mitigate. Given their past resourcefulness, I have a feeling they will find ways to improve their product to make this less likely. I am not so sure about their ability to improve their communication.
Michael Arrington's job is to draw more eyeballs to TechCrunch and he invariably picks stoking controversy over responsible journalism. If it wasn't already clear to everyone including pg that he will do this at any cost, it should be now. Michael could have done some real journalism and talked to the police to find out more details, probed AirBnB for more details up front and may be even the victim on the one hand. On the other hand he should certainly have avoided comparing AirBnB to scamville, I don't think anyone thinks AirBnB is scamming users. But that's just who he is. He also takes great pleasure in calling people names. Notice that his latest post about pg has "Liar" emblazoned on the top. Can't say I expected any different, given his past behavior but at least pg will remove his blinders now that Arrington is treating him exactly like he treats non-luminaries.
The fact that PG had to jump into the public fray may have seemed inevitable given AirBnB's incompetent response, but it is almost always a bad tactic to have multiple people presenting the public face of a company. Even minor differences between what they say will be highlighted and will cause more confusion. PG even made the tactical mistake of responding emotionally to Arrington's "make the story more interesting without giving a shit about anyone else" approach, but in the long run this is a good thing. As I said, he'll now remove his blinders about Arrington.
EJ is not at fault except that she should have known that she was taking this risk when she rented her home to complete strangers sight unseen. This may be a flaw in AirBnB's model and their lack of focus on safety on their site, but if EJ had been my 6' 5" wrestler brother, I'd have waited a sufficient amount of time before giving him a knock upside the head and asking him what he expected when he handed over keys to an apartment that held all his belongings to a complete stranger while he was abroad. If EJ were my sister I'd tell her the same thing, minus the knock upside the head!
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rmason 1 day ago 0 replies
I remember seeing Jack Welch being interviewed once about the press. He said for successful people it's a cycle - they're either building you up or tearing you down. If AirBnB wasn't so successful their problem wouldn't be news.
If he hasn't done it already you will see PG bring in a top PR person who is experienced in handling a crisis. Not just to get AirBnB out of trouble but to be a resource for future YC companies in handling episodes of this sort. Quite frankly I am shocked their VC's aren't helping them out this way.
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badclient 1 day ago 0 replies
Arrington nails it. It's the same thing I wrote yesterday in a comment: Airbnb wants to call out the victim but are holding back whether it is for legal or other reasons.
I can understand them. It's hard to just sit idle when someone irrationally attacks you. At the same time, if you have a customer-business relationship, airing the customer's dirty laundry may be strategicay bad no matter how wrong she is. On the other hand, the customer can write piles and piles of questionable content.
Here's what I'd love: for EJ to post the ordinal emails or to show them to techcrunch or arstechnica for an independent take on the situation. At the moment TC is just a megaphone for both parties. May be this can investigate this at the root with original communication between EJ and airbnb, assuming ej agrees to it. And if she doesn't, I would be as suspicious of her as I may be airbnb having read her posts.
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Shenglong 19 hours ago 0 replies
do you really think they are so dumb that they don't realize it's not worth the bad PR to save money and effort in this situation?
I'm siding with pg on this one. I can't imagine any intelligent person making this PR trade-off just for some cash. I don't want to analyze the he-said-she-said, but I've been up to date since this went viral, and I don't see any logiacl reason that AirBnb would refuse to pay for her expenses.
Think about it logically... rather than emotionally.
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trotsky 1 day ago 1 reply
I wish Arrington didn't try to make himself the story so much - I know it's his schtick but it's very distracting from the actual story here.
He's obviously on HN regularly - if he had a problem with the way he was characterized in a HN comment the easiest way to respond to that is right there. Anyone reading pg's comment would see his rebuttal, pg would see it, and people could directlly make up their own minds.
Instead he makes a "oh god look at this liar" TC post because he enjoys using his bully pulpit to shape public opinion. No wonder he lets people like MG call out random CSR lies on twitter and get them fired at AT&T.
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orionlogic 1 day ago 0 replies
Sometime ago i watched a video, a panel directed by Arrington and said to myself "how could PG like this guy"(i see the Arrington way) because PG said this several times. TC really supportive and give good reviews for Ycom startups so its normal to say that i think.
But for this event TC is a bit prolonging the situation. Why not talking millions of happy transactions instead of a unlucky bad one? In 2011 bad news still sells.
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kristiandupont 1 day ago 0 replies
It's amazing to me how polarized the comments are even here on HN where the debate is usually very balanced.
Obviously we know very little about what's going on behind the scenes right now. There are conflicting messages coming from all sides.
I am not saying that EJ is lying. But calling AirBnB are completely cynical and lacking any sense of PR seems incongruent with the skills they have otherwise shown and also with the empathy that they at least managed to convey in interviews etc.
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larrys 1 day ago 0 replies
Maybe PG/YC/Airbnb see this for what it is. A great deal of notoriety that will help this startup after the situation lands on the front page of every major paper as well as the nightly news. Then will come EJ on 20/20, morning shows etc. telling her story as a word of caution. Airbnb will respond that they've fixed the problem though. Then even your aunt will know about airbnb. What's that publicity worth.
In the end, this won't hurt it will help. (Think of all the weird stuff selling on ebay like dead bodies, dead body parts etc that were constantly publicized many years ago. At times it seemed like there were new stories weekly.)
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bane 1 day ago 0 replies
Is it just me or has this entire debacle resulted in an awful lot of beating up of otherwise upstanding HNers and armchair novice PR advice based on a case full of conflicting details where apparently nobody has the complete story?
I'm actually finding this entire thing distasteful from all possible sides. I'd rather just wait and see what happens while the various parties work this out in relative private.
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lwhi 1 day ago 0 replies
Diversionary tactics. Not admirable but I'll still be impressed if he pulls it off.
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bennyfreshness 1 day ago 0 replies
Another example of a select few bad apples ruining it for everyone. This is such a shame. I've had great experiences with Airbnb. The last person who rented my loft left it cleaner that it was before!
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shareme 1 day ago 0 replies
1. Victim is not on trial here.
2. This is not the time to score link bait points.
3. Several layers of communication that are not direct here..let the parties come to their own way of helping and implementing solutions. I would imagine it does not help the police either ..
above all else. MA you are not helping just shut up.
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babebridou 1 day ago 1 reply
This situation is in fact a very understandable vendetta of the unfortunate victim towards the rest of the world - and she is right - everyone should pay for what she suffered. The actual word is compassion, and there's never enough of it in the whole world for any single unfortunate person.
With that said, no company with AirBnB's business model can publicly say they will assist victims whatever the cost. It's just impossible. It would be a blatant lie. They must at least maintain some sort of windshield against insurance frauds, and doing that requires tons of hard PR and legal decisions to be made, and the assistance of lawyers. And everyone hates lawyers. Companies are sometimes inherently good, sometimes not, but they should never be inherently so stupid as to sign their own commercial/financial/legal doom. You can get up from bad PR, but you can't get up from bankrupcy.
Now after this argument in favor of an actual public silence, let's see what we have:
1) a victim
2) there is no 2. There is a victim and that's all.
Just fix the victim. No need to go through internet flamewars or PR messes, no need to even listen to that. Airbnb should just send a team of 24/7 dedicated people with quasi carte blanche (within what the company can afford, of course) to see through that victim gets better, if that objective can even be met. If the "get better" project goes so wrong as to lead to law suits or whatnot, then let justice decide, because in the end, yes, someone has to pay for what happened, and the legal system is here to decide who should pay.
Now about PR: switch the debate from a "what did AirBnB do in that situation" witch-hunt to "This is what we are doing, this is how it's going from our point of view, now what do you (Mr/Mrs Customer) think we could improve on?". Open a public discussion on your social network and dedicate someone to analyze public input. And use it the next time something like this happens (because unfortunately, it will happen again). Centralize this debate somewhere where you can handle all this information, and by "handle" I don't mean "censor" but of course "assimilate".
...and just ignore those stupid emergent flame wars between big internet guns who are mostly in for pride (white knights & trolls) and money (journalists, consultants, lobbyists & investors). Let them deal with the crap they fling around themselves, and keep focusing on the "get better" project: the victim asked specifically for your help, and that's what really matters here.
Related link: an analysis of an excellent online PR crisis management by Monoprix (in French only, sorry) http://guybirenbaum.blogitexpress.com/91728/html
The "victim" (an employee who got fired for taking home unsold & trashed goods) explained that he "tried hard to make a fuss and a buzz" of his situation because he felt that nothing short of prosecution and trial could make him feel better. This is a case of a failing "get better" project with exemplary PR - and to be honest, it's only when the project fails that PR become important. What did Monoprix do? They centralized the debate on their Facebook page, switched the focus from "Monoprix is bad" to a laconic "here's what we are doing, tell us what we can improve on" and they have dedicated Community Managers assimilating and discussing the comments instead of censoring them.
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capdiz 19 hours ago 0 replies
After reading the lady's blog. airbnb dudes you really screwed up. You dare suggest she takes her blog down. I had actually defended airbnb yesterday before reading her side of the story. But am now inclined to believe that you guys screwed up and need to do some damage control.
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djloche 1 day ago 0 replies
The key problem is that MA is reading 'we're not legally liable' as 'we're not going to help her'.
There is a huge difference between the two. Companies go out of their way to fix issues where they have no legal obligation to do so. However, they can still claim that they have no legal obligation with the offended parties to do so, they're just doing it out of the goodness of their hearts (and reputation of the business going forward).
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NIL8 1 day ago 1 reply
Arrington and TC irritate the crap out of me! There was a time when I loved to read TC, but now they are so obnoxiously arrogant and dirty that it makes me cringe to see links from them in HN posts. Why would they drop Paul Graham's name into this empty story?
Can someone explain to me how this is anybody's fault other than the jerk that robbed the lady (and maybe the lady's naïveté)?
I know AirBnB has made a lot of people angry with their business tactics, but how are they responsible for this crime? Can you imagine if the Hampton Inn sued Expedia for someone vandalizing a hotel room or expecting restitution from Kayak for what a vandal did in their hotel?
AirBnB should listen to their lawyers and not accept responsibility for the act of a criminal or the poor judgement of a user.
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chappi42 1 day ago 1 reply
I see airbnb as a match-maker and consider it quite naive to entrust a 'facebook-friend-like' stranger my appartment without proper checking who this person is.
Typical America were drinking hot coffee leads to lawsuits.
(Which doesn't mean i'm not sorry for the person, or that risks shouldn't be stated (more) prominently, or that insurances should be here)
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puppetaccount 1 day ago 0 replies
To AirBnB:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
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dools 1 day ago 0 replies
AirBnB: Air Bold n the Beautiful?
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jamesgagan 1 day ago 0 replies
Listen, someone was gonna post it.
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mindcrime 1 day ago 2 replies
/me puts some popcorn on to pop, cracks open a soda, and sits back to watch the show...
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realou 1 day ago 0 replies
Hello. It seems that this Airbnb business model is a bit flawed because it requires a level of trust from customers which cannot be obtained in the world we currently live in. How to add trust? many solutions exist.
One such solution could be, for example, to have ALL the rented properties daily cleaned up by Airbnb-hired people (contracted 3rd party companies will be happy to do this in most civilized cities). This would be a cool service the renters would appreciate, and would provide the rentees at least some level of trust their home is not being vandalized.
A concierge service could also help.
I am sure many other ways exits to add Trust to the model. This must become Airbnb's most valuable product feature... This should be considered an important "enabling technology" without which the business cannot survive in the long run.
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grovulent 1 day ago 2 replies
It's he said - she said - kinda stuff that ultimately we'll never get to the bottom of.
But Arrington so often finds himself at the centre of these idiotic exchanges and personal attack-fests that it's very hard not to believe PG about this.
It's just a real shame that the reputation of a really cool company rests on that level of exchange between folks. It must be really frustrating for them.
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merubin75 1 day ago 0 replies
He had me until the last line: "I don't know what Paul Graham means by 'typical Arrington fashion,' but I do know this. It's not my job to fix it when companies do stupid things."
Bullshit!
No, it's not your job to fix the mess other companies create through stupid policy or bad decisionmaking. But it's also not your job to pile on and stir up everybody's passions when something goes wrong.
Michael Arrington is a huckster -- Walter Winchell and Drudge mixed together. For years, he's picked fights and written stories that destroy reputations. Then when he's called on to the carpet for his behavior, he reacts in the 'typical Arrington fashion,' by protesting his innocence and calling on his readers to save him.
I'm not an apologist for what Airbnb did here. But Michael Arrington and TechCrunch helped fan the flames. Not because they reported on it, but becausse of the WAY they reported on it. And now when they're called on it, he reacts by wrapping himself in a flag of righteousness.
Yep, smells like bullshit alright.
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Confusion 1 day ago 1 reply
Well, that's a non sequitur drama queen title if I ever saw one. A straw man in so few words: cunning. No one is faulting Arrington for what happened to EJ. Arrington is being faulted, rightly or wrongly, for bad journalism. Bait-and-switch.
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grellas 10 days ago 5 replies
The win-at-any-cost mindset of modern litigating is here on display at its very worst:
1. Disregard truth when it gets in the way of the advantage you seek to attain with the aid of law.
2. Say whatever it takes to get judges to go your way, even if you not only omit important facts in making your petition but also affirmatively misstate whatever inconvenient fact gets in your way.
3. Disregard your duty as a prosecutor - which ultimately is to ensure that justice is done even as you pursue alleged criminal wrongdoing - and place the formidable powers of your office at the disposal of a private civil litigant with whom you want to cozy up.
4. Don't give a second thought to wasting the legal and judicial resources of two governments to help put on a charade that is wholly unnecessary to any legitimate goal of the legal system but that serves the interest of a private litigant only.
5. And, perhaps worst of all, don't hesitate to misuse the law to try to ruin the life of an innocent man in order to protect the market dominance you once had but now see as slipping to the point where it can be upheld only by resort to vicious legal tactics aimed at crushing potential competitors.
One recoils at the thought of it and can only wonder who within Cisco would have countenanced it all.
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kwantam 10 days ago replies
Unfortunately, there is nothing that will prevent Cisco from doing this again in the future. They didn't get the result they wanted, but in all likelihood they aren't going to see any further rebuke for this ridiculous perversion of justice.
At the end of the day, someone at Cisco made the decision to try and completely ruin this guy's life. My sense of justice tells me that person should face criminal liability for his actions.
My sense of cynicism tells me he'll get promoted instead.
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_delirium 10 days ago 2 replies
It might be worth contacting members of Cisco's board of directors to inquire whether they plan to do something to avoid this kind of illicit behavior in the future. A board of directors doesn't manage day-to-day affairs, but is ultimately responsible for high-level oversight. The Cisco board of directors includes a number of people with generally solid reputations (including the president of Stanford University) who ought to be shocked if a company under their watch has engaged in this sort of behavior.
Here is a list, though you'll have to search elsewhere for contact information: http://investor.cisco.com/directors.cfm
Alternatively/additionally, many of us have occasion to do business with Cisco now and then, and if you currently do, you might mention a concern to your local Cisco office/representative.
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smhinsey 10 days ago 3 replies
This is part of a pretty disturbing general trend of large corporations using the criminal justice system as if it were an extension of themselves. I honestly don't see how anyone at Cisco who signed off on this sleeps at night.
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anigbrowl 10 days ago 1 reply
You might want to read the filings in the civil case ( http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2008cv0... ) and poke around Mr Adekeye's websites before taking everything in this story at face value. There's a lot left out, and the reporter's backgrounder on page 2 is simply cut'n'pasted from Adekeye's own bio at http://www.multiven.com/about
The Vancouver Sun, whose reporter wrote this story for Ars, strikes me as a rather sensationalist paper. YMMV.
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Shenglong 10 days ago 1 reply
It seems to me Ronald McKinnon was one of the only sensible authorities in this entire ordeal. I can't believe someone didn't hit the reality check button earlier.
With that being said, I'm not defending him breaking into Cisco's system, and I think the entire act of doing so should lead to actions against him (but not so extreme). Rather than criminal action, I would've thought an injunction, or something to that effect, would've been more appropriate.
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RegEx 10 days ago 1 reply
I always assumed that court rulings were cryptic and overloaded with legal jargon, so I never attempted to read them. However, the ruling provided was very easy to read and just as informative as the article.
(Link to the ruling: http://www.multiven.com/media/news/pdfs/USAvsAdekeye-BC_Cana... )
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kenjackson 10 days ago 0 replies
I was just thinking of buying some Cisco routers (low-end for them -- I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket for them), but I'm definitely not going to now. This image of Cisco will be hard for me shake.
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meow 10 days ago 1 reply
Now any future litigant will think twice before tackling Cisco. I'm sure they consider that part a win, even if they had to finally settle.
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sutro 10 days ago 0 replies
Well done, Ars Technica - the best tech journalism in the business.
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evilswan 10 days ago 0 replies
I've never really followed Cisco before, but this story has really tainted my view of them. I'll think twice next time I see the Cisco logo on something.
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absconditus 10 days ago 0 replies
This and the News Corp. situation seem like real-life examples of what goes on in the show Damages.
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davidjhall 10 days ago 0 replies
Cisco has proven itself an evil company. In other recent news, Cisco promised to create jobs for a "tax holiday" and instead, is laying off employees: http://www.googlemonopoly.eu/index.php/2011/07/19/cisco-want...
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forgotAgain 10 days ago 0 replies
As a US citizen I've found it hard to accept the idea that the US justice system is a thing of the past. At the end of the day though an endless string of examples is proving the fact to be undeniable.
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twilsndfdf 9 days ago 0 replies
This guy has the most ridiculous set of balls. The audacity is just out of this world. To suggest that Cisco "derailed one man's life" is not doing him justice at all. Rather the opposite - one man derailed a massive company's plans for dominating its industry. The really amazing thing is that he is alive at all, given the amount of money Cisco isn't going to have going forward.
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buff-a 10 days ago 1 reply
In no way am I excusing what was done to this guy, but when will people learn that accessing a computer without permission has anything other than serious consequences. As far as the law is concerned, he might as well have raped the CEO's wife.
No - the damage done is not remotely equivalent, and yet the criminal penalties are the same.
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t413 10 days ago 0 replies
Human depravity at its best.
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hariis 10 days ago 0 replies
I was told by my financial advisor to buy CSCO because of its sound fundamentals, BUT after this, I will stay away from them, it is the least I can do.
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naeem 9 days ago 0 replies
Peg me down as sickened to the core. I've given up complaining about corporate influence. I don't even know why they bother putting up a farse anymore, they may as well just cut the crap and come out and say: we will destroy you if it stretches our margins in any way.
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sliverstorm 10 days ago 1 reply
You can be arrested in the middle of a court testimony? That just doesn't make sense.
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duopixel 5 days ago 4 replies
There's a second problem that's popping up lately: font-face on the body text.
System fonts have been painstakingly hinted to make them more readable on-screen. Most web-embeddable fonts don't have appropriate hinting or are just plain bad choices for body text. Hoefler & Frere Jones (one of the most respected foundries around) haven't released embeddable fonts because they've been working on it for years.
The result is fuzzy text at small/medium text sizes. It's huge pain to read. It seems some designers forget that good typography is concerned with readability too.
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blahedo 5 days ago 0 replies
It started out promising. Then the author states, apparently without irony, that "aesthetics are important but aren't the ultimate goal of design", making particular reference to people reading with tiny screens, when his/her own site is quite unusable on a small screen!
I normally keep my browser windows at half the width of my screen, around 700-800 pixels wide (give or take). Just looking at the "page" where the author discusses aesthetics, if you've got a narrow window, a few letters and words are cut off on the left, and while you do get a scrollbar to move to the right, everything to the right of the original view is plain white. (On my screen, the cutoff actually runs right through the "reading tiny screens" text and icon, for added irony.)
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owenmarshall 5 days ago 1 reply
>designers need to think of elderly users with bad vision
There are plenty of us young folks with terrible low-contrast vision, too :) I've personally got HN turned up to 175% zoom, and even that's a bit on the low side if I want to read the text of self-posts.
IMO, this is an important distinction -- I once heard a friend indicate that, because their app was targeted at people aged ~20-30, accessibility wasn't an important focus. I thought that was a very short sighted decision.
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bugsy 5 days ago 1 reply
That's all fine but doesn't go far enough, focusing only on contrast problems (related problems to contrast are using shadow engraving style on small fonts and clashing foreground/background color schemes).
A really big problem on many sites is the length of lines.
It is very difficult to read text that has too many words per line.
A recent abysmal nightmare is Apple's decision to make Mail.app (and other apps) in 10.7 oriented towards full screen as if it was running on vertically oriented mobile, but on large wide screens. Small font sizes here and we have scan lines with up to 30-40 words in some cases, which is complete insanity.
Count the words per line. If the average is much more than 12, either your columns are too wide or your fonts are too small. Here on HN is a typical example with around 24 words per line on top level articles. Bad design, but very typical on the web. However, it is at least manageable, many sites are far worse.
HTML Solution? Some advocate that columns be around 30em width: http://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/em/
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cryptoz 5 days ago 2 replies
The text on that site is so damn large it's actually hard to read.
7
I'd be curious for thoughts from HN readers on my own site's readability. It's what I optimized for, though I'm always open to improvement.
EDIT: reorganized, added eye fatigue
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losvedir 5 days ago 1 reply
Beautiful site.
HN is called out as a site with poor contrast (the text in a self post). I do find myself frequently tilting my monitor back to improve the contrast of posts here, but I think only on the downvoted ones, which, I suppose, is the point.
But now, looking up at the now-clicked-on story link, I see that visited links have rather low contrast, too.
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alexfarran 5 days ago 0 replies
Well maybe. But at least I can run sites with low contrast through Readability. No such luck with this Heath Robinson powerpoint-a-like they've built.
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oneplusone 5 days ago 0 replies
There is such a thing as too much contrast when it comes to text. When typesetting it is advisable to never use pure black for text because it simmers on the page. I normally design the base text on the page to have between 15% and 30% brightness because it makes it more pleasant to read.
There is a place for light gray text. It is all about maintaining a hierarchy of information. Some text should be hidden away and harder to read because it is less important than the copy around it.
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Meai 5 days ago 0 replies
Dear webdesigners: please don't use huge images and CSS3 magic that makes your site ultra slow to scroll.
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sequoia 5 days ago 0 replies
Redux of this comment thread: "But it's not perfect!" enumerate minor flaws. sneer.
Sometimes it's worthwhile to tackle one issue at a time, especially if it's something many people (designers) a) don't care about b) don't want to do c) possibly don't understand.
So yes, perhaps they fall down on graceful degradation / progressive enhancement, but to be fair the target audience is exclusively web designers. In that respect they are playing well to the audience, which in turn makes it more likely that they'll get their point across.
As for "large text is too hard to read" & "I can't read centered text:" seriously? Deep breaths, everyone. ;)
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Robin_Message 5 days ago 0 replies
Their script went wrong towards the end, with the following text on the dark gray background with the fist on it:
"Usability expert Jakob Nielsen has shown many, many times that reading on the computer screen is harder than reading printed material even without making the font illegible. And mobile is worse.
.. and many have written about why gray text is a crime here, here, here and here...
So what we're trying to say is..."
which did rather undermine their point.
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bigohms 5 days ago 1 reply
Propaganda by photoshop clone developers who don't want to design opacity layers into their interfaces.
In all seriousness, if everything was high contrast, everything would be SCREAMING AT YOU FOR ATTENTION. Webdesigners: use your personal judgement when identifying what should be high contrast (higher visual recognition priority) and what should be lower contrast (lower visual recognition priority) and all will be well.
FYI: the HN example on your site actually makes perfect sense. The high contrast content is almost always the thing I consider most important. Index: Titles of threads, Subpages: Comments.
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petercooper 5 days ago 0 replies
There was an article that did well on Hacker News a few months ago that said while high contrast is good, it shouldn't be 100% contrast. Instead, you should very slightly hint toward the theme color. So if you have a bluish background, your text could be #112 or something. I've followed the advice since and it definitely makes things easier on the eye vs #000 everywhere.
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- Correct use of headings, paragraphs, emphasis etc
...
Actually low contrast is a great tool to have. You can't have high contrast all over the page otherwise various elements will be shouting for your attention. Controlling the volume of your copy is just as important as the factors I mentioned above.
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trustfundbaby 5 days ago 0 replies
So glad you use Reeder in your example ... I bought the Reeder app on Sunday and the low contrast thing really put me off (among other things). The app looks really sexy, but sitting there reading tons of articles when you're struggling with the low contrast headlines, can get tiring.
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Omnipresent 5 days ago 2 replies
So glad that Hacker News is on the list. I thought I was the only one who thought that comments are unreadable.
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armandososa 5 days ago 0 replies
Dude: get glasses.
I not even squinted to read the text on his examples. I mean, contrast is important but the guy needs glasses. Or a readability bookmarklet.
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parfe 5 days ago 1 reply
In Fireforx: View -> Page Style -> No Style.
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sycren 5 days ago 0 replies
Any idea how this site was made? Was some kind of framework used or was it all hard coded?
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latch 5 days ago 0 replies
Can't help but think that this is directed at Andy Rutledge...
Anyways, line-height is as important for my eyes.
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tszming 5 days ago 0 replies
I think what we need is a balance.
If everything in your website is in high contrast, big font-size, black & white - it is also a problem.
But I agree the idea behind the "Contrast Rebellion" - the accessibility of web content.
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MetaMan 5 days ago 1 reply
I can't (read won't) take these guys seriously because they commit one of my biggest design 'sins". They use tiny typefaces in places which can barely be read (at least by me) on a standard 13 to 14 inch laptop screen.
you know what they say - "People in glass houses should not throw stones"!
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DuqE 5 days ago 1 reply
Interesting you say about high contrast, all the examples are black on white. Do this mean all content related websites should be white backgrounds and black text?
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mannicken 5 days ago 0 replies
http://andyrutledge.com/images09/newsSite/images/iphone_nyt_... -- in here lower-contrast is used properly, I think. Low-contrast allowed to hide the low-priority details allowing the brain to quickly navigate through important, high-contrast titles. Not all text is important.
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DrummerHead 5 days ago 0 replies
I Find it strange they're only talking about contrast and not line-height. That's the real dealbreaker for me. I am personally constantly changing line-height on other websites much more than type colour.
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- giant letters? check.
- readable? ummmm ...
That said, it's a good suggestion, but the giant letters make this site hard to read on my 1024x600 netbook screen. And they did mention readability on smaller screens.
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sbochins 5 days ago 0 replies
I'm guessing the reason this got up voted so much was because this site was featured as one of the offenders. It is pretty hard to read the text on a sunny day on my phone. Maybe the revolution could start with HN?
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fferen 5 days ago 0 replies
On a side note, it's ironic that mobile versions of sites are usually far less readable than regular versions, at least on my Droid X. On a regular page, I can set the zoomed-in text size to large in the settings. Mobile sites tend to make text tiny and un-zoomable, decreasing usability, which defeats the whole purpose of a mobile site!
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rplnt 5 days ago 0 replies
You should not forget about compatibility, i.e. make sure the site works across various browsers and platforms. Why I'm talking about this? I can't use the lt/gt arrows to view more examples. The compatibility problem translates as an usability problem to the user.
edit: Also, the tooltip text went missing after some actions/time.
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shadowhillway 5 days ago 0 replies
OmniWeb's site preferences feature is my weapon of choice against illegible Web pages. My default colors often make the hard work of the Web designers look totally ridiculous but then again, I'm reading the page to read, goddammit.
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nathanb 10 days ago 6 replies
"it's entirely unacceptable to break into websites and commit unlawful acts"
This is quite the hypocritical statement coming from the FBI. As far as I can tell, the only difference between Anonymous, Lulzsec, and the FBI is that the FBI act by executive fiat. I don't support Internet vigilanteism, but I also don't support the concept of the FBI as an untouchable force who are no longer held accountable by the public they are theoretically serving.
At this point, I'm not sure which one I find more scary.
2
flocial 10 days ago replies
The Lulzsec crew and Wiki Leaks strikes a nerve like modern day Robin Hoods. It makes you wonder if those of us in wealthy democracies are actually experiencing a peculiarly 21st century form of passive aggressive oppression where we may be "free" but monitored and essentially feel helpless and the fact that these unknown hackers are able to duck and evade the same forces that can hunt and kill terrorists with disregard of sovereignty makes them look like folk heroes. We'll see how this saga unfolds.
3
"We're currently working with certain media outlets who have been granted exclusive access to some of the News of the World emails we have."
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lhnz 10 days ago 1 reply
If I had the nerve I would join them.
Bad-taste jokes and troublemaking.
Badly written manifestos.
But I think there are some in the groups who have their heart in the right place and want to do the right thing. And, illegal or not, I've yet to see any other form of western activism that is as disruptive as leaking/hacking.
5
jxcole 10 days ago replies
Why does Anonymous focus so much on attacking the US government (and related rich democratic countries) when it could instead be focused on fighting the governments that are actually oppressive? Nothing the US has ever done, even at it's most oppressive, could ever compare to what North Korea does to it's own citizen's on a regular basis. I would probably be much more sympathetic towards their cause if they focused most on attacking the organizations that are the worst rather than attacking the organizations that will get them the most attention. I read somewhere that an Anonymous hacker used to fight oppressive governments in Africa. Why did he stop? Why does he all the sudden need to deface PBS because they printed negative press coverage of their favorite website, WikiLeaks?
Are they really doing this for the good of mankind or are they just trying to get attention? Anonymous though they may be, they still seem to be just trying to get on the 5:00 news.
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rauljara 10 days ago 2 replies
I think there is room for illegal activities in the name of a free and open society. If this is truly the author's goal, however, they need to stop associating with LulzSec.
There was nothing noble about 9/10's of the crap lulzsec did, and the somewhat decent stuff they did was undercut by the whole "for the lulz" philosophy. If you really are fighting for freedom, you need to be better than DDS'ing game servers, because if you aren't the people who you are opposed to will use that shit against you. Like the FBI is doing now.
I won't shed a tear if the Lulzsec folk get put away. I will be quite upset if Lulzsec turns the public against those who would do the modern day equivalent of releasing the pentagon papers.
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madmaze 10 days ago 1 reply
I certainly agree with their Goals and I see very similar flaws in many governments. I am not sure their way is the best way to make governments listen, but it certainly is one way that gets publicity. The issue with their publicity is that news networks do not broadcast their message, they broadcast their actions which in turn intimidates and scares the less tech-savvy portion of society. This does not achieve their goals, but they make a statement. A statement is better than no statement.
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Shenglong 10 days ago 7 replies
This is absolutely ridiculous.
I don't agree with a lot of the things that various government organizations are allegedly doing either. However, I also understand that I probably don't have all the facts. I also know that even if I had all the facts, I would probably not commit much time to analyzing all of them, in order to make a sound decision on the best course of action. Why don't other people realize this?
We leave the economics to the economists, the physics to the physicists, and the medicine to the doctors. There are people--incompetent or not--who spend their entire lives dealing with government/country related issues. Yes, some of them might be corrupt, but are we naive enough to believe that an entire country is corrupt? Who are we to judge corruption, and what sources of information do we really have?
At one point or another, this argument for civil liberties gets repetitive and overblown. No one I know has ever felt like their freedoms were at stake, and the few government mistakes that the media captures should not be precedence to act against them. I make mistakes, you make mistakes - everyone makes mistakes. Hacking into their servers, getting people fired (and therefore replacing them with less experienced people), and leaking sensitive information so the uneducated public can get their opinions in, is -NOT- going to solve anything. At all. Ever.
Edit: Edited out a preface - wasn't aware. Sorry.
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nextparadigms 10 days ago 0 replies
Anonymous and Lulzsec are more like 21st century revolutionaries, on a global scale. Revolutionaries are always seen as the enemy by the Government. So it's no surprise that the US Government wants to declare war against them and wants to catch them.
If they win, then the Government changes, and the whole society changes after that. If they lose, they end up dead or in jail for whatever crimes the Government said they committed (and if there isn't a crime they can use, they'll make a new law for it like they tried with the SHIELD bill against whistleblowers)
The hacktivists aren't doing any real damage to society, and in fact they may actually end up helping it a lot, in the same way Wikileaks changed some things for the better, and they were also hunted down by Governments.
The real damage they are doing is to the people in power, and those people will fight to keep things the same and get away with their own crimes against the people they should represent.
I think we'll experience major changes in the way our democracies work by the end of this decade. For the fast times we live in, and real time information and feedback, we can only give some feedback once every 4 years, and it's usually just 2 choices: the one that has been in power, and another one. Politicians need to become a lot more accountable, and our feedback should be a lot more direct and often than once every 4 years through the voting of a party or a president.
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click170 10 days ago 1 reply
I read "Lobby conglomerates who only follow their agenda to push the profits higher" and instantly pictured an executive somewhere rolling his eyes as he reads that.
I understand the feelings disgust with the current state of the system, and I get how in leu of an actual solution one would feel frustrated enough to act out in the ways that they have, but I stand firm in my belief that there is a better way of accomplishing the changes we/they want to see, even if nobody has figured out what that is yet.
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ibejoeb 10 days ago 4 replies
Who writes this stuff? It comes across as silly, hyperbolic, and even melodramatic, and detracts from the actual content.
Lulz: consider this constructive criticism. Take it down a notch.
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peterwwillis 10 days ago 3 replies
What are they gonna do when every govt/corporate website starts sanitizing its webapps' input and patching its network services? All they'll be able to do is DoS.
Wouldn't it be funny if the FBI & associated agencies actually worked to increase the security of the nation's networks instead of acting surprised every time they get penetrated?
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pxlpshr 10 days ago 1 reply
Reminds me of the hacker's manifesto, but a lot less eloquent.
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tRAS 10 days ago 0 replies
"Your threats to arrest us are meaningless to
us as you cannot arrest an idea."
Jeez, I got goosebumps reading that. Straight out from V for Vendetta.
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rheide 10 days ago 0 replies
Fairly well phrased, although the arguments against 'corporations' and 'conglomerates' are fairly unsubstantial. (in the pastebin, that is, IRL is a different matter)
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joelmichael 10 days ago 0 replies
A trite leftist screed ripped straight from the Bush years.
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dwilson718 10 days ago 1 reply
I'm sure most of the people here missed the fact that this is a wake-up call. its meant to make people THINK long and hard about the real issues at hand.
I don't know about you, but I'm seeing a lot of critical thinking going on. It's this reason I support these groups.
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feal 10 days ago 1 reply
Can someone rehost this elsewhere like pastie.org or something?
Pastebin is blocked by websense. :/
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andrewcamel 10 days ago 0 replies
I really do not understand why they cannot find someone to write for them who understands English grammatical rules. All I can think of when I'm reading that document are some troublemakers trying to justify malicious attacks. If they could write a decent press release, it might actually convince people that they are trying to do some some good in the world.
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darksaga 10 days ago 8 replies
I wonder if they'll ever understand the people they're trying to protect are actually the victims in their actions.
They hack Sony. Sony loses millions. How do you think they're going to recapture their loses? By passing the loss onto consumers. Increased prices for TV's, games, anything Sony makes is going to increase in price to recoup their loses.
Clearly they haven't thought this all the way through.
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sidcool 10 days ago 2 replies
How do we know this is for legit?
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samkiller18 10 days ago 0 replies
These kids have become the subject of their own joke. But it's funny watching them and reading them on twitter though
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MrFoof 9 days ago 1 reply
A few things.
First, as mentioned in the article, the Museum of Modern Art in NYC will be featuring Dwarf Fortress as part of its "Talk to Me" exhibit. The exhibit will be open from July 24th through November 7th. http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1080
Second, for those looking to get into the game, the two recommended video tutorials are SippyCup's (humorous) http://www.youtube.com/51ppycup , and Captain Duck's (down to business) http://www.youtube.com/user/captnduck#p/a/u/1/yn1iW1QN7_s .
-----
Tarn has The Fisherman Parable philosophy and I have a tremendous amount of respect for that. Doing what you love, no matter the "sacrifice", above everything else. He's probably the biggest reason why I've been working on the side to try to create my own games, so I can get the heck out of finance and do what I wanted to since I was 6 years old. Until that works out for me, I send a monthly donation to ensure that at least someone can fulfill their dream.
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jgfoot 9 days ago 4 replies
Very interesting: "Tarn sees his work in stridently ethical terms. He calls games like Angry Birds or Bejeweled, which ensnare players in addictive loops of frustration and gratification under the pretense that skill is required to win, 'abusive' -- a common diagnosis among those who get hooked on the games, but a surprising one from a game designer, ostensibly charged with doing the hooking. 'Many popular games tap into something in a person that is compulsive, like hoarding,' he said, 'the need to make progress with points or collect things. You sit there saying yeah-yeah-yeah and then you wake up and say, What the hell was I doing? You can call that kind of game fun, but only if you call compulsive gambling fun.' He added: 'I used to value the ability to turn the user into your slave. I don't anymore.'"
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joshklein 9 days ago 3 replies
For those of you who are seeing this for the first time and have any love for games like Minecraft, Civilization, etc... please take the time to break through the very steep learning curve to give this game a fair shake. It is truly a work of art.
Please note that the Wiki helps make the game playable: http://df.magmawiki.com/
5
http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=80022.0
I've never seen other games where people use that as a reason to study geology, farming, beekeeping or whatnot. One person, not satisfied with the material properties of Saguaro wood and unable to find good data online went so far as to track down a sample and measure them.
One person even mentioned that they neglected to study for their geology test and played Dwarf Fortress instead. They got an extremely high score because so many of the questions were relevant to DF, such as asking for the names of common iron ores. Any good DF player can list at least magnetite, limonite and hematite without any trouble.
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jokermatt999 9 days ago 4 replies
If you're ever worried that a feature will be too complex to implement, take a look at the ridiculous number of things Dwarf Fortress keeps track of and simulates some time. The article briefly touches on it, but like any look at Dwarf Fortress, it bared dips its toes in the water. Just a quick list off the top of my head...
In world gen, it simulates geology and erosion, climate/biomes, growing civilizations, politics, war, trade, attacks by various "megabeast" creatures and their battles (in which injuries down to losing a tooth will be kept track of), migration and refuges as a result of war, (I believe) deforestation as a result of logging, and probably a lot more that I'm forgetting. That's just in world generation, before you're actually playing it.
Remember, what one person can program when they're truly dedicated is a pretty incredible feat.
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mvzink 9 days ago 2 replies
Having never been really involved with the Dwarf Fortress community/cult, but having played the game quite a bit, this exposé on the creator is extremely interesting. I always thought it must have taken a certain level of cleverness to build such an impressive simulation, but I honestly didn't think he'd be a Stanford Ph.D. Also, I'm honestly surprised they get that much in donations. It's very well deserved indeed and I'm happy to hear that they do.
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ghotli 9 days ago 2 replies
I have long assumed that it will eventually be unethical to turn off dwarf fortress.
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bcl 9 days ago 1 reply
Here's the game's homepage - http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/
This looks very cool, and there are versions for Linux/OSX/Win
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cydonian_monk 9 days ago 1 reply
If I had to choose a single game to play for the rest of my life, Dwarf Fortress would be an easy choice. The ability to build massively complex systems in a massively complex world appeals to the part of my brain that made me an engineer. There is so much potential in this game. So many things... hidden. So many stories to share.
Just watch out for the Elephants. Or Carp. Or Badgers. Or the random, world-swallowing bugs.
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klbarry 9 days ago 1 reply
Dwarf Fortress is an outstanding game with features not available anywhere else, and I would highly recommend it. The background music, which the creator also composed and performed, is very soothing, as well.
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aycangulez 9 days ago 1 reply
I have always had an inkling that video games should be considered as applied math. According to Tarn, the author of Dwarf Fortress, who also has a Ph.D in math, making games "scratches all the same itches" as math. That sounds just right to me.
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gnosis 9 days ago 2 replies
DF does have very impressive depth and game mechanics. Unfortunately, its interface is one of the worst of any game I've ever played.
It's a pity that DF isn't open source either, as then its interface problems would have long since been fixed. But, as it is, its lead (and only) developer doesn't seem to care enough to fix it himself.
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shin_lao 7 days ago 0 replies
I seriously discourage you from checking out this game if you're on a deadline, building a startup or have any project you'd like to take on.
On the other hand it's a must have if you have a nuclear shelter in your backyard.
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cageface 9 days ago 2 replies
Just as an aside, a game like this with deep algorithmic complexity but trivial graphics seems like a natural fit for a functional language like Scala or Haskell. I wonder why Tarn chose C++ instead. Was it just out of familiarity? With his background in math I'd imagine he'd be very comfortable in an FP language.
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LakatosI 9 days ago 0 replies
Nice to see such a great game receiving some well deserved exposure.
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Swannie 8 days ago 1 reply
Nice article.
Reminds me a little of the two lead characters of "Makers", the Cory Doctorow book. But this is real, and mildly depressing. You want guys like this to be successful, and to have the choice to live the spartan lifestyle if they choose, or one with a better choice of food, beverage, sleeping, etc. options.
Sad to read that relationships are not important though :-(
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anactofgod 8 days ago 0 replies
"Dwarf Fortress unfolds as a series of staggeringly elaborate challenges and devastating setbacks that lead, no matter how well one plays, to eventual ruin."
Soooo.... One can play this game, or one can be in charge of a real country's economic policies. Same outcome. ;)
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jmelloy 9 days ago 1 reply
I haven't played it much, but I've always felt it would make an interesting iPad game. Seems like it wouldn't be too complex to put an objective-c wrapper around the code.
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VirInvictus_ 7 days ago 0 replies
I was terribly happy to see this article all over my Twitter feed. This game is an inspiration for budding programmers, even if the game is terribly difficult to get into comfortably. I've been playing it for quite some time now. Very happy to see it.
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ErikRogneby 9 days ago 0 replies
Wow. I thought Realm of the Mad god ( http://www.realmofthemadgod.com/ ) had low-fi appeal...
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tc 4 days ago replies
> I spoke to Airbnb about EJ's situation. They won't reimburse her for damages
This is bad news.
They're going to backtrack on this. The sooner they do it, the better for them politically.
I understand the problems of setting a precedent. And there really is no getting around the fact that the hosts do have the final responsibility for screening travelers (and travelers for screening hosts).
But rightly or wrongly, they're going to end up on the wrong side of this story unless they make things right for this gal and can tell Arrington and other journalists, "we've made sure our customer is whole."
After saying that, they can use this as a learning exercise for their community about how screening hosts and travelers yourself is important.
--
[Edit]: Is she in San Francisco? It looks like she is. She called SFPD. This is an easy one. Brian, Joe, or Nathan needs to be out there to provide a shoulder to cry on and an open checkbook to fix anything that money can fix. Nothing in that apartment costs more than the value of the ammunition this is going to give to their enemies.
The earlier they do this, the more quietly they can do it, which serves their purposes as well.
[Edit #2]: Some form of insurance might be a worthwhile addition to their offering, but that's something they can debate and decide on after they put out this fire. [added:] Also, insurance doesn't solve the safety issues involved here, so they're still going to need to emphasize the importance of screening travelers (and hosts) carefully.
[Edit #3]: EJ doesn't sound particularly litigious in her post, but consider what happens if she does decide to sue AirBnB and any part of it makes it to a jury. I mean, HackerNews is lining up against them. Consider what 6-12 normal people might decide. The wise move would be to make sure that she's fully satisfied with the way they treated her.
[Edit #4]: Arrington updated the article after speaking with Brian Chesky. Brian, Joe, Nathan and company did the right thing here, as you would expect.
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danilocampos 4 days ago replies
"I spoke to Airbnb about EJ's situation. They won't reimburse her for damages, they say, and they do not insure against losses. They are helping police track down the person who did this, but their help ends there."
...
Fuck. That.
I don't care what the long-term implications are, I don't care about precedent, I don't care about policy, I don't care about cost.
If my business does this to someone I make it right. Even if that means going into my own goddamn pocket. Anything less is simple villainy.
If you are going to enjoy the rewards of your business, you have a moral obligation to ensure that you make things right when that business harms someone else. And let us be clear: this is harm. This isn't "oh dear, my careless guest spilled wine on my TV. Buy me a new one guys."
This is "the guest you sent me destroyed my home and sense of safety." This is completely beyond the pale, an incredible stretch no one, clearly, bothered to imagine. Crucially: it's completely documented by law enforcement.
If it's true these guys aren't going to make this right, Airbnb is dead to me. Fuck Obama O's, to hell with their Cap'n McCains, and all the struggle that earned my admiration. I'd say that to their faces, I'd say that if I worked there, and I'd quit if I worked there and this wasn't made right. This is a test of human decency. I hope they don't fail it.
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pg 4 days ago 0 replies
Before you all rush to judgment again, notice the update at the end of the article:
"Update: I spoke with Brian Chesky. He says the company has offered “to assist financially, find new housing for the host, and anything else she can think of to make her life easier.” He says they intend to “go above and beyond” to make the situation right for her."
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mapgrep 4 days ago 1 reply
Sorry, but the moment of truth has already passed because the moment of truth was when Airbnb didn't bake effective safeguards against this sort of behavior into the very heart of their website for lending your home to complete strangers.
Honestly, if you explain the business model of Airbnb to any ordinary run of the mill US citizen not residing in Silicon Valley, their very first question is going to be, "Why would I trust a stranger in this situation?" Airbnb's response was a joke in their FAQ about a grand piano.
It shouldn't have been. I have rented vacation apartments in Europe and there are plenty of ways to do this RIGHT, starting with identity exposure. There should have been a set of procedures for people to identify and vet one another BEFORE completing the sale. Of course this would have meant that some Airbnb customers would cut deals directly with one another and screw Airbnb out of its revenue share. OH WELL. Safety has a price and a clever entrepreneur would devise incentives - rental history, quality public feedback and ratings - to discourage people from going outside the system.
This isn't just one incident Airbnb needs to respond better to. It exposes a deep flaw, not only in their systems for preventing these types of incidents but for responding to them as well (it took 14 hours and a friend's intervention to get a call returned from the "urgent" hotline, wtf?).
What is especially infuriating about this is that, in an effort to bolster their income statement and become a hot company, Airbnb has created very bad publicity for a FANTASTIC and growing form of lodging.
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dotBen 4 days ago 6 replies
When someone first told me about AirBnB I immediately dismissed it - just like Fred Wilson did. It fell in the group of ideas which I just find puzzling because the concept is totally alien to something I would want to do/buy/participate in.
I don't get why anyone would want to rent out their couch or spare room to a transient stranger - even 'vetted' within a community (and we can see that vetted is very lose here).
Sure, I sort of get the appeal for the renter but I'm lost as to why a homeowner would want to do this - especially considering the risk/reward here. The upside is a few dollars here and there, the downside is $10k's of damage - like this.
If you've never owned a house, you won't know that it's a labor of love and something you invest more than just your money into. Why you would want to risk someone destroying it, I don't know.
AirBnB needs to offer insurance as part of the deal - just like the car sharing programs seem to have negotiated their own insurance for the duration that the other person is driving your car. Otherwise it just seems an unwise risk to offer accommodation on AirBnB.
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jonknee 4 days ago 1 reply
It may just be that Breaking Bad is back in season, but it sounds like she unknowingly rented her house out to be a meth lab with cooks who probably used a bunch of meth in the process.
> The death-like smell emanating from the bathroom was frightening (and still is) and the bathroom sink was caked with a crusty yellow substance. Various pairs of my gloves were strewn about
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kwis 4 days ago 3 replies
The only blessing in this story is that the miscreants made their damage so plainly obvious that the problems were identified quite quickly.
If they'd been a bit more subtle and a little patient, they could've engaged in massive identity theft and financial fraud without ever making it clear that AirBNB was the attack vector.
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jerrya 4 days ago 3 replies
How long before AirBnB offers some form of insurance, much as ebay started offering buyer protection.
Related: how long before your home owner / rental insurance specifically excludes AirBnb type activities?
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efsavage 4 days ago 0 replies
I own a summer home and I was genuinely considering using Airbnb next year. No more.
I can understand that they can't be too forthcoming, as people will trash their own place in hopes of a free remodel.
However, if law enforcement says this is a legit case and even caught a suspect, Airbnb should have had someone onsite with a check in their hands the next day. How much amazing free press would this have generated for, what, $25k? Even if they offered $5k to get her place livable again they could have demonstrated some integrity.
I don't know how much money they think they saved by betraying one of their business partners, but they should debit 5 or 10 years of my waterfront rental from that amount...
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robtoo 4 days ago 1 reply
AirBnB is one rape case away from disaster.
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rwhitman 4 days ago 0 replies
So I definitely got partly scammed in NYC a few months ago by a friendly-seeming girl who found an apartment for the weekend on AirBnB and then promptly turned around and posted it for sublet on Craigslist as her own, raking in thousands in cash "security deposit" money from a number of un-suspecting apartment seekers.
I love Airbnb but there are so many loopholes for disaster like this. As Airbnb goes mainstream, I expect there will be many more similarly unhappy stories on their way...
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skmurphy 4 days ago 0 replies
AirBnB will lose control of the narrative if they frame this on narrow legal liability grounds: they are too large and well established and will be judged by a very different standard than is this had happened a few years ago. This will be a part of someone's advertising and PR campaign, either AirBnB, a plaintiff's attorney, or a hotel lobbying group. AirBnB looks like they are mindful of the legal liability and oblivious of the public goodwill risks.
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ForrestN 4 days ago 2 replies
I feel really bad for all involved, including AirBnB. They must feel awful, and this is obviously incredibly stressful. I agree with the consensus that they have thus far failed to use this as a marketing opportunity (a la Tylenol) or even to mitigate much of the damage.
That said, I would be absolutely fascinated to learn how this is playing out. It would be a huge service to the community for someone to release a blow-by-blow timeline from inside the company about all these responses and the thinking behind them. I have enough humility to know that they have a lot of really smart people thinking through this stuff, and it's likely much more complicated than we all realize. I'd love to hear about that thinking.
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arepb 4 days ago 1 reply
The part in here about the FAQ really burns, now more than ever. Language used regarding renter protection should be as forthright and above-board as that used in payment checkout. Just the facts.
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patrickod 4 days ago 2 replies
Am I the only one that would have presumed that AirBnB would not be financially responsible? They're a forum for helping people find short term tenants. They can't possibly vet everyone who's going through the system.
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watty 4 days ago 2 replies
Lets see if YC changes this title too...
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helipad 4 days ago 1 reply
IMHO AirBnB is no more responsible than CouchSurfing.
Whilst AirBnB charges a fee, that's purely as middleman for connecting two parties.
Of course it's horrific for the person, and this is an extreme example, but it's a lesson learned of how to rent out a property.
Take AirBnB out of the equation, and they've just let a complete stranger free reign over their apartment with a key for a week whilst leaving their own possessions on view.
To not ask a neighbour to hold onto the key, or meet the person beforehand, or get them on video chat, or remove all sensitive documents, or require a deposit, or a way of monitoring the property, is negligent on the owner's part.
Could AirBnB do more to vet users? Sure. Should they be responsible for the combined actions of two parties? Not at all.
A tough, hard-learnt lesson for the owner.
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da5e 4 days ago 0 replies
Arrington reported on her blog post and didn't get his facts straight about the financial help. What he quoted as an update was, in fact, already stated. The impression he gave of airbnb's indifference was unfair.
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earbitscom 3 days ago 0 replies
I'll go out on a limb here and point out that this is just a broken window and some unobservant neighbors away from having nothing at all to do with AirBnB or the concept of short term rentals. These people are criminals and should be treated as such.
Just like you can meet a violent person while dating through Match.com, you can rent out your place to a terrible person using any number of services. The service is something people want and can only do so much to make the marketplace safe. Anytime you connect with strangers, whether it's through AirBnB, the newspaper, a dating service, or by meeting them at a grocery store, there are risks to letting them into your lives. AirBnB is doing the right thing now, and if anything, it's good that this incident will make users of the service more careful. You can't expect companies to perfectly guard every user against every edge case when human elements are involved.
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bluekite2000 3 days ago 0 replies
I rented an upstair room to a backpacker a month ago in Saigon Vietnam. On his last day, he picked up some chick off the street, brought her home and locked the front door from the inside. My staff ( I have an online bookstore there) couldn't get in for half a day. I sent airbnb a message complaining and heard nothing back from them. I don't think it is that hard to hold a credit card number of the guest just in case stuff like this happens. Why they are not doing it is beyond me.
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VladRussian 4 days ago 0 replies
>I was wondering, why is the reaction to this incident so different than the tech community's response to all of the CraigsList incidents? (Which include theft, prostitution and even murder.)
CraigsList isn't a party in the transaction.
>Seems like as soon as you pay for a service, your expectation goes much much higher.
How it could be otherwise?
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campnic 3 days ago 0 replies
I am relieved that this individual is alright. Just imagine if she had returned home early and decided to check in or something and found the individuals in the act. Who knows what the reaction would be. I'm happy it's (mostly) just things that have been lost. What if she would have returned early and been murdered for witnessing something she wasn't supposed to? It seems like airbnb has a huge exposure here and if this woman doesn't attempt to cash out on airbnb, i would expect to see a case where that does happen. They are a very ripe target.
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PedroCandeias 4 days ago 0 replies
The news and the hotel lobbies are going to be all over this. VCs are probably tapping their fingers on the table.
Like others said already, If I were Brian, I'd have lunch with EJ, like, today. Whatever solution they find financially, Brian can't let ABnB's cool image turn all corporate and aloof by leaving this one to the lawyers and bean counters.
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dkokelley 4 days ago 0 replies
While the right PR thing for Airbnb to do is cover the damages done, I am a little disappointed by the Airbnb hate I'm reading here. Why should they be held liable for the damages? Were they negligent? Airbnb offers a service. They match renters with houses. Do they make any warranty as to the reputation of the renters? Go to http://www.airbnb.com/terms and read the very first section.
I'll admit that the victim has a good point about the secrecy imposed between the parties by Airbnb, but that's just a policy, not a liability, and it can be changed. It's like buying a car that isn't as safe as it could be. Sure you could pay more and get a very safe car, but as long as the manufacturer didn't misrepresent the safety of the car, you will have a hard time holding the company liable when you get injured in a crash.
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ChuckFrank 4 days ago 0 replies
No brainer. Build insurance into the site. Renters can either opt for it or not, or AirBnBcan be provided it universally, their call. AirBnB needs to step up their protections. (my apologies if others have already suggested this.)
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hnsmurf 4 days ago 0 replies
If I were AirBnB I'd be talking to an insurance company right now about offering supplemental insurance to renters. AirBnB could make a nice chunk, the way Best Buy does when it gets you to purchase those stupid protection plans, and simultaneously offer users peace of mind that this will at least be taken care of if it happens to them,
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aklein 4 days ago 1 reply
It's horrible but inevitable that something like this would happen.
I can imagine it'd be useful for a third party service that provides identity checks and insurance or escrow for AirBnb customers. Why play with fire (without hazard insurance)?
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seagaia 4 days ago 0 replies
Most unfortunate, but letting a complete stranger into your house with VALUABLES was never the best idea, moreover, with a company that hasn't said anything about this kind of issue before. I suppose this system has worked, but it's beyond me how you could ever trust a stranger to live in a place that you live in regularly and store many valuables in.
I want to sympathize with the victim, but it's somewhat hard to given the circumstances. In any case, AirBnB should suck it up, fix this one situation, then go into full throttle with trying to come up with a plan to prevent future things of this sort.
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code_duck 4 days ago 0 replies
I can't imagine leaving my house for a week, to rent it out to complete strangers, with all of my possessions in it. I'd be afraid they'd rifle through m belongings and perhaps steal some, or even something like this would happen. Maybe they'll copy the keys and come back and rob the place three weeks later. How would one be sure? All in all, being an AiBnB host is a questionable enterprise.
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niels_olson 3 days ago 0 replies
This is a great example of how journalists will shamelessly jump all over a story and selectively represent the truth to the point that, taken as a whole, the article becomes a misrepresentation.
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maeon3 4 days ago 0 replies
If AirBnB comes to the rescue with lots of zeros on their donations to make the person whole. I can envison people taking advantage of this, Have your buddy ransack your house and steal all your stuff, then split the gain of having it all replaced.
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chrismanfrank 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm curious, how would you guys handle this situation if you were running Airbnb?
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devaholic 3 days ago 0 replies
"Update: I spoke with Brian Chesky. He says the company has offered “to assist financially, find new housing for the host, and anything else she can think of to make her life easier.” He says they intend to “go above and beyond” to make the situation right for her. This is different than what a company spokesperson said earlier (see above). I asked Brian if this sets a new policy, and he responded that they'll look at it on a case by case basis."
Basically what they mean by "case by case basis" is that if you cause enough of a media shitstorm to make them look bad, they'll step in and help. And they'll look at your case to determine if you are causing enough ruckus to validate them going "above and beyond."
At least, that's what I gleaned from it.
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farrel 3 days ago 0 replies
If you're going to rent out a fully furnished apartment full of valuables to strangers who you can't vet beforehand the insurance costs will be significant.
I have a feeling AirBnB don't offer insurance because the premiums required (and the cost passed on to hosts) would make the entire thing unprofitable.
Hotels have insurance but it is probably much much lower than what AirBnB could provide to hosts because hotels already have a) security infrastructure in place b) your credit card details and c) your agreement to be held liable for damages.
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luckyeights 4 days ago 1 reply
Anyone else find TC's stock image annoying for this story? I guess it fits the tone, but it twisted my imagination a good deal, even after I'd read the original story. A real photo would have been valuable, but a generic one is distracting.
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Bogdanp 4 days ago 0 replies
I had to check the FAQ question about the piano. It used to be at http://www.airbnb.com/help/question/31 but they seem to have removed it.
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forgot_password 4 days ago 3 replies
Doesn't AirBnb require a credit card from the renter? Wouldn't it be straightforward to find the vandalizing renter using their credit card information? I'm sure that I'm missing something here...
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juliano_q 3 days ago 0 replies
Maybe it is because I live in a 3rd world country where we dont have enough security (Brazil), but I would never think about renting my place to a complete stranger. I would think a lot to rent it even after a lot of interview and research, but I would remove all personal and expensive objects.
That said, I feel really bad for the girl and I hope she recovers. Most people are good, but there are a big number of bad people around to justify some level of security concern.
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JanezStupar 4 days ago 0 replies
Events like this present a pretty big moral dilemma about Internet anonymity - at least in context of this category of services.
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maxklein 4 days ago 0 replies
An agressive competitor (say, a hotel chain) could do things like this every month, and kill airbnb as a business.
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jordank 4 days ago 0 replies
I wonder if there is a reporting bias for people who have had bad AirBnb experiences, given that renting out your apartment is not always legal.
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da5e 4 days ago 0 replies
airbnb has had the advantage of having a mainly "geek" clientele so far. As it expands it's going to get less savory users.
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ashbrahma 4 days ago 1 reply
Dream come true for a law firm. I bet they can make Airbnb pay up in court.
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int3rnaut 3 days ago 0 replies
It does seem a bit strange that this story from June breaks just days after AirBnB rakes in 112 million in funding.
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zenica 3 days ago 0 replies
I wonder why the initial response was "They won't reimburse her for damages"?
Does this mean that as soon as Brian & co are not involved in day to day operation the service AirBnB offers will deteriorate?
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perfunctory 3 days ago 1 reply
Excuse me this naive question, I haven't been following the Airbnb, but how is there service better compared to say free Craiglist?
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DrewG 4 days ago 0 replies
Not having used AirBnB, I was incredibly surprised that they don't have a policy like getarounds, where the owner is fully insured by getaround.
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moultano 4 days ago 6 replies
Throwing an idea out there: Software patents should last no more than 1 year.
If you come up with something worth patenting, you get a year lead on competitors. That's it.
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almightygod 5 days ago 4 replies
I get anxious every time I read another patent troll story wondering when my weekend creations will end up costing me $ when they accidentally infringe on a patent because I roll out some seemingly ubiquitous feature.
I'm deeply saddened by this mess and doubt it will ever be resolved. There is far to much money at stake now to revert things - money = lobbying.
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dstein 4 days ago 1 reply
As the article only touched on, this is precisely why the next computing giant will not come from Silicon Valley or anywhere in the US. The current software patent situation has ensured it.
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danshapiro 4 days ago 4 replies
Did anyone else click the "someone patented toast" link and actually read the claims? It's for toasting bread at 2,500-4,500 degrees, with specialized infrared ovens.
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daimyoyo 5 days ago 1 reply
There is a simple solution to this problem. Make maintenance fees payable yearly, and make a requirement of getting the patent renewed proof that you're actually using it. People filing patents only to sit and wait until someone else infringes is a cancer on American innovation.
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lukejduncan 5 days ago 7 replies
Intellectual Ventures recently posted a rebuttal http://intven.com/newsroom/insights/11-07-25/Disruption_Invi...
They like to say things like "ideas have value" and that they are "disruptive."
Are there examples where the patents they own and monetize actually represent valuable "ideas" and not after the fact claims of invention? I'm guessing not, but open to being proven wrong.
And who, or what, do they think they are disrupting? Isn't IV the incarnation of the status quo?
Reading their website feels like reading a politicians...
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preinheimer 5 days ago 2 replies
As a co-founder of a startup, my most worrying thoughts are not finding customers or improving the product. They're "when will I get a scary legal letter that asks for millions over a patent I've never heard of".
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daniel-cussen 4 days ago 0 replies
It's interesting to see more mainstream media outlets (npr and This American Life (public radio?)) talk more about patent trolling lately. As of a few weeks ago lay people I talked to had no idea programmers generally disliked patents.
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andreyf 5 days ago 1 reply
In the audio version, they mention several times that patent law is founded in the constitution. I wish they would actually read it though, as it's not very complicated:
The Congress shall have Power To [...] promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.
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adorton 4 days ago 2 replies
One of the best TAL episodes in recent memory. The story mentions that modern patents (specifically software patents) lack the novelty that the patent system was originally designed to encourage. Did patent laws change at some point in history to allow this to happen?
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dedicated 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm curious as who are the VC's who invested in IV? Are these typical tech VC's, or are they more of the private equity type that relish in making money off these so called opportunities or arbitrages that don't require actual productive work.
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pg groupies may also want to check out the Econtalk interview with Paul Graham. Finding it is left as an excercise for the reader, primarily to encourage people to check out this amazing resource.
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spenrose 4 days ago 2 replies
Can someone please tell me what Myrvolhd actually DID when he was leading MS Research? I remember no innovations from MS in that era.
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danvideo 5 days ago 0 replies
it's time this issue got more exposure than just the tech world... reporters aren't worried about their company being sued out from under them.
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dredmorbius 4 days ago 0 replies
If you're looking for an organization which is actively working to fix the software patent problem, you can look to End Software Patents: http://endsoftpatents.org/
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pom 4 days ago 0 replies
For some reason, every time I read the name Intellectual Ventures I sound it in my mind as Intellectual Vultures.
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parallel 5 days ago 1 reply
Is this sort of thing an issue in other countries. I'm a tech founder in Australia. I don't think we have the same level of anxiety about being sued for unknowingly breaching a software patent. Can anyone comment on this? Is our patent system different or can we expect to see our industry similarly affected in the future?
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dangrover 5 days ago 2 replies
What if you could pay for some kind of insurance product to protect against patent lawsuits? Or perhaps some kind of co-operative that owned a bunch of bullshit patents to be used for defensive purposes in such a scenario?
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vinced 4 days ago 1 reply
The solution is very simple. Create a simple how to patent template website, then have every developer apply for patents on any business and software process that they can dream of. Within two years you'll choke the entire system into change. Make it impossible for anyone to do anything.
1st idea, the collection, aggregation, and transmittal of electronic messaging data during a waste evacuation process. (i.e. checking your email while on the toilet)
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clc 5 days ago 0 replies
I actually just heard this story over NPR Radio. It's concerning to think about how companies like this can strong-arm smaller startups. But at the same time that doesn't mean that we should hide in fear. We've got to keep on doing what we do best: developing innovative products and solutions for users everywhere. Torpedoes be damned.
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cpenner461 4 days ago 1 reply
Serious question: can/do patent trolls go after open source projects? I'm not thinking of businesses who sell/support open source software (e.g. Red Hat), but would it be a viable "defense" for an indie dev to simply release their project as open source? I've got an idea for a "weekend project" or two that I could conceivably make a few bucks with, or I could release them as open source so that I can at least benefit from the idea without worrying (as much?) about being sued for violating a patent. On the one hand if I'm not making any money from it one would think that the trolls would go elsewhere, but then again...
Just looking for a general idea here, I'm not looking for official legal advice here... :-)
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crizCraig 4 days ago 0 replies
Poll: What's you take on Intellectual Ventures with regard to innovation? http://wepolls.com/1510009
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arvinjoar 4 days ago 0 replies
I wonder why people waste their time and money on defending themselves in court, why don't they hire Tony Soprano to fix their problem instead? It would be a pretty appropriate response.
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mquander 2 days ago 3 replies
Option not listed: I just flag anything that appears on the front page if another, better post about the same thing is also on the front page. If lots of people did this, then we would quickly wind up with exactly one post about a topic on the front page, so people's discussion would mostly go onto that post. Problem easily solved.
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bartonfink 2 days ago 1 reply
Let's say that someone reposts an old Spolsky article that has been around for 3 years and was posted back in the day when it was fresh. Instead of detecting the duplicate and not allowing the repost, I'd like it if HN automatically posted a link to the old discussion as a comment on the new post. Maybe do some sort of filtering on dates, so that the system disallows reposts of recent items as it currently does, but doesn't block posting a 3 year old article again for more discussion. Not everyone was here 3 years ago, and asking someone to search HN for every old article they might be interested in is a pretty crappy interface for discussion.
Edit: Removed dangling "There's value in revisiting discussion" statement.
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AlexC04 2 days ago 1 reply
I think a "related to", "reply to" or "topic threading" mechanism would be neat, but possibly difficult to work out.
People generally want to submit their own threads for various reasons (adsense, unique-impressions, karma, etc...).
The tagging would probably still have to be community driven, but an "is child of topic", or "related to topic" tag would allow users to see a different sort of front page. (GROUP BY TOPIC, ORDER BY DATE DESC)
You'd only see the most recent post on a topic until you clicked on a "show related" follow up link.
Google news seems to do this grouping reasonably well. One headline and see all 872 articles on this topic. Obviously PG isn't going to write that but a poor man's version could be implemented with a 3 column relationships table.
It would also leave the current new and frontpage untouched for those who loathe & fear change (or unintended consequences).
I'm sure there's some other actual considerations to worry about in this - that's only an off-the-cuff response. But generally I think a "related to" list and a front page filter showing only the most recent article in a "thread", with the ability to expand out into the others under "more reading"
Maybe only the highest voted in a thread?
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pseudonym 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd vote for a style of hand-merge mechanism that would
- Take the title of the post with the most discussion
- Turn it into a link like a poll, where each link has it's own "interior" link
- Throw all of the conversations from the posts and throw it into the main body of the combined post.
Users keep the ability to gain points, the front page stays clean, and no data is lost. The only downside is there's no easy way to flag things as "merges", unless the ability to "flag to merge" is added for people at a certain karma level. Enough flags, it automatically rolls them together.
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petsos 2 days ago 1 reply
I think the problem is that you can not change your vote.
When duplicate stories appear in the front page then you will probably upvote the first one. Problem is that this may not be the one with the highest score, or with the biggest discussion. When you then realize that there is a better submission of the same story, you can't change your initial vote.
I think that if you could change your vote, the problem would be corrected by the community itself.
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trotsky 2 days ago 0 replies
I voted for provide a merge mechanism, but I think there are real issues with that approach that would need to be solved. Merging makes a lot of sense for multiple stories on the front page at the same time, but depending on which story you read you might bring back a significantly different take, there might be conflicting facts etc. Then you'd have people arguing details that are all ostensibly correct based on the article they read. Merging stories that had significant time gaps could be even worse as new information may be understood by now (if it's an evolving story) and the comments will have a high volume of high rated comments that will discourage new discussion as it'll be unlikely to be noticed.
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MattLaroche 2 days ago 0 replies
One of the downsides of simply merging items, with different URLs, is that the different articles might both be worth posting because they cover different aspects of a story. So it'd be great to see multiple URLs on one item.
Also, there'd have to be a pretty clear standard about what constitutes one item. Sure, same URL - same item. Probably different URLs for the same story on the same day should be one item. But in the AirBNB ransacking case, I'd argue there should have been multiple articles: one for the initial "This is what happened" blog post and one for the "Suspect in custody, AirBNB has made changes to their organization" followup. Edited to add: And another for todays posting, noting that AirBNB probably hasn't done enough for the victim.
I assume some people blindly post TechCrunch URLs to try to boost karma - so a karma based solution might work. You post a duplicate URL, it changes your karma by -1 or 0. Not enough of a karma hit to really change the overall karma, but perhaps enough to search for the article first.
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hackinthebochs 2 days ago 1 reply
I vote for do nothing. If the story is exactly the same just from a different source, it should be downvoted. Some duplicate stories have a slightly different slant and thus encourage a discussion of the subject from a different perspective. The most obvious example is the AirBnB story from the financial times. There is a lot of overlap in the comments from this submission and previous ones, but there are also different perspectives. I think for stories that are this big its better just to leave it alone instead of attempting to cull the duplicate submissions.
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mindcrime 2 days ago 0 replies
I vote for "do nothing." I don't see this being a big problem, and to the extent that it is a problem, I don't think it merits risking the unintended consequences of a possible "fix."
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politician 2 days ago 2 replies
I'd like to see a tag mechanism where tags may be attached to a submission and voted on. Then, I'd like to be able to view the home page sorted by tags instead of by submissions.
Hopefully, that'd result in all Airbnb stories grouped together under tags representing different aspects of the story as well as automatically cross-referencing it with other examples of PR failure.
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lallysingh 2 days ago 0 replies
If things are on the same topic, but provide separate, unique points of view, they should go into an inner list, like you'd see for multiple google results from the same location.
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pasbesoin 2 days ago 0 replies
I'm in favor of pg remaining the benevolent dictator of HN, but perhaps -- just perhaps -- if a trusted person or cadre here were to implement their own "duplication identifying/deprecating" service that passed muster, he might be willing to consider interfacing with it.
For example, if someone developed a third party tagging mechanism, there might be one or more classes of tags that identify duplicates.
The tagging could remain a third party browser-based overlay, or it might at some point be given access to write appropriate comments re its discoveries or even, gasp, moderate.
With this approach, third parties do what they're going to do, and if it's liked enough -- no guarantees, and no pestering! -- maybe it gets "blessed". Kind of like how search eventually ended up getting a textbox in the footer.
Anyway, I'd favor a design where I can quickly tag; if there were someway to conveniently incorporate the ID of the better post/resource, all the better. Then either let other users see/reference the tags directly, or (and/or) feed them into some form of meta-analysis and/or moderation.
We might also take a pass at improving the existing duplication detection.
I haven't really thought the above through, particularly how it might be gamed or otherwise end up being a negative.
P.S. Ideally, but perhaps not practically, I'd also like duplication detection/flagging to catch the all too numerous instances where people grab references from comments and post them as new posts. It's fairly prevalent and a readily apparent karma whoring mechanism for some. (On the other hand, sometimes such an elevation is warranted; it's not an entirely black and white issue.)
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hluska 2 days ago 0 replies
I feel like this problem is bigger than just Hacker News - with the plethora of different news/discussion sources,I often find that 'breaking news' gets old and stale within an hour of the event. Or, sometimes more damaging, I read an interesting comment, then can't remember where I read it (so I can properly cite another's analysis).
Sadly, I don't know there is a site specific solution. While a merge would theoretically be great, I think we would start to see super threads with several hundred comments (and associated repetition). The search feature would be interesting, though it would discourage extremely busy people from submitting (since you could theoretically have to read three or four articles to determine whether yours deserves to be a separate item).
Perhaps some sort of curated site that grabs content (complete with discussion) from around the web? Different take on a newspaper's editorial section...
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nickolai 2 days ago 1 reply
I voted for merge.
It would also be nice to have an "alternate links" section on top of the comments page, with possibily of upvoting the alternate submissions.
Even better if an alternate link could replace the main one if it is voted as more relevant (ex main blog post replacing a post merely quoting it)
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jff 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd like to see some sort of tagging mechanism, perhaps, so that I could ignore this all-too-common front page:
* Why you should quit college and launch a startup
* Why college is super important
* How I did great without attending college
* Ask HN: Please tell me I'm smart for dropping out of my freshman year
If I could say, "I'm not interested in seeing any more college articles today", I could avoid these waves of "X Considered Harmful", "Considering X Harmful Considered Harmful", etc. posts, which seem to go away after a day or two.
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jakecarpenter 2 days ago 0 replies
I'm not convinced that multiple submissions is a bad thing. We're all going to continue to get out information from different sources, and the discussion that follow a particular submission may have as much to do with the source as the story. Some people might place more trust in one source over another or one poster/submitter over another, and I think that is why the multiple submissions problem hasn't already worked itself out on its own. Any sort of automated merge/filter would be a form of editorializing that could squelch valuable discourse.
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felipehummel 2 days ago 1 reply
Do it like stackoverflow. Search submitted urls/articles and show in the article submission interface. Preferably ajax-y so as user types url and/or title it already sees if he is posting something repeated.
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retube 2 days ago 0 replies
Other tech solution: you could cluster posts by content. E.g extract keywords/key phrases and group submissions that have some threshold of over-lapping terms. Of course not trivial, but an interesting project.
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T-zex 2 days ago 0 replies
I would be a very happy man if I could filter out stories having Airbnb in the title.
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barista 2 days ago 0 replies
Digg handled this very well. When you submit a new story it looks up current submitted stories to see anything matches and recommends those to be used instead.
I loved that because it leaves the decision to the user and gave them option to still post a new one if it had material not covered in already submitted stories
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ajkessler 2 days ago 0 replies
If this is really such big problem, wouldn't it be easy enough to simply check the link that someone is attempting to submit against all previously submitted links?
This wouldn't necessarily stop all repeat stories, but it seems much more feasible than hoping everyone does a search, and would at least stop people from uploading identical links.
You might also consider a time bar of some sort? Say, if the same link was submitted more than xxx days ago, it can be resubmitted, since there is a good chance there is something new to add to its discussion.
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blahedo 2 days ago 0 replies
It need not be a "merge" as such, as long as we are granted the ability to mark something as a dup (and mark what it's a dup of). Everything else can be done algorithmically; I outlined some ideas for this in an Ask HN last year: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1975950
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Mz 2 days ago 0 replies
I sometimes post a cross-reference to say "here is where the still live discussion is". I have never been downvoted. I suspect comments of that sort get downvoted when they come across as somehow ugly -- like they are being critical of the new submission for having been made at all or, worse, are actively discouraging real conversation from breaking out because it didn't happen in some prior submission. I think it's rude when someone remarks that it's a duplicate in a negative sounding way and then links to something where the conversation is long dead. I recently saw this done in a piece where the previous submission was from 12 days earlier. I just thought that was asinine behavior. I replied to it, then thought better of it and removed my remark. (Glad to have this chance to remark on it here though.)
I don't know what a better solution might be. I am just saying I do know that how you comment on the existence of a duplicate and frame the cross-reference matters.
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brk 2 days ago 0 replies
It would be interesting to see some sort of on-the-fly "topic" creation. For the AirBNB scenario, one AirBNB topic that would be a page that links to the 3 or 4 individual submissions currently ongoing (potentially with some comment previews, etc.). This would also cover the case of the same basic story (Foo releases Bar!) that gets picked up on multiple tech news sites and blogs.
For things that are re-posts of the same content it might be best to be hand-curated. Where If the re-post appears to be gaining traction, pull out the old submission and discussion, but put it back on the front page for X amount of time (merging discussions from the new submission into the comment thread of the old one). For scenarios where the re-post is getting no traction then just kill it.
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eykanal 2 days ago 0 replies
Another possibility: when submitting a link, simply have an automated check against previously submitted links, and give an automatic upvotes or two to the previously linked submission. In this way, if a bunch of people resubmit something (say, an old article is making the rounds on the net yet again), it will have a chance to be brought back to the front page - with all the previous discussion - so that HN can stay a place where people can discuss the hot topics of the day, even if the "hot topics" happen to be four years old.
This aims to solve the "double discussion" problem, but it won't fix the "I don't want to see it again" problem.
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egor83 2 days ago 1 reply
So there are two points here: different articles on one topic may contain different perspectives, so they all should be preserved when merging; on the other hand, it would be better if there was a single place where people would discuss a topic.
Maybe a good solution would be to let people vote for merging several articles on the same topic, and once there's enough votes, merge them in one, say by concatenating both links and discussion trees?
If that's too heavy, maybe just extend each article with links to other discussion pages (say, adding beneath the text "This topic is also discussed here (link)").
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FilterJoe 2 days ago 0 replies
I like the Google News approach that algorithmically groups together related stories as follows:
Show the most popular story (or 2 or 3), then provide a link that states "See all 143 related stories."
The hard part on a community news site is how to deal with discussion. I think a neat way to do it would provide a choice to see discussion by submission or merged discussion of all related submissions.
The benefits of doing it like this would be as follows:
1) Declutter the front page of related stories
2) Still make it easy to see all related stories with just one extra click
3) For stories with little discussion, makes it easy to see discussion on all related stories as well
4) For stories with lots of discussion, the traditional way of discussing around 1 story only is a great option, to keep discussion more focused (less overwhelming).
Downside: I suspect this would be difficult to implement and therefore buggy - especially how the algorithm decides to group things. The Google News algorithm does a pretty good job.
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lhnz 2 days ago 0 replies
We should be able to link stories together. The most popular/recent story should then be shown instead of all of the others... (But you should still be able to visit the others if you wish to.)
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zwieback 2 days ago 0 replies
I agree that dilution of new page isn't a big problem and the crowd aspect should ensure interesting links go up.
The problem to solve is split discussions so I think it would be great if duplicate links would be automatically merged and the discussion page unified.
The more challenging problem to solve is how discussions about stories that are almost identical or link to identical stories could be merged. Could there be an option to view discussions independently or show a page that auto-merges similar discussions?
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grandalf 2 days ago 0 replies
Most stories are not just a single news item that is relevant immediately after some event and then less relevant over time.
Many stories evolve and new information is added. The Airbnb stories lately are a perfect example.
If you're busy enough to occasionally miss a day (or even a half day) of HN, you might not realize that something has already been posted.
I really think this is a non issue. Occasionally when there are dupes, I ignore them if I found them boring the last time, or read/comment again if they were fun last time.
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michaelpinto 2 days ago 0 replies
This is a usability problem: On an average day X number of new stories appear �" but now that's a flood of information that only a few people can keep up with. So two solutions that can be tried are:
- Have a design mechanism that allows users to link stories together: So you sort of crowd source the process
- Have categories for stories like Digg: So for example if everyone is suddenly subbing the same breaking biz news story you'll see the dupes right away. This would have the added benefit of allowing users to really see the topics they want: For example as a designer as much as love you programmers I'm not sure that an article about Haskell, and to be fair a programmer may feel the same way about typography. And in a sense you're already doing this by having categories like "Ask HN"
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kirillzubovsky 2 days ago 0 replies
I am not sure what you mean by "merge" mechanism, but it would be wonderful to have a feature like on StackOverflow, where's before you actually click submit, the app recommends that you review suggested links before posting your own.
Of course, this is going to help people who haven't see the same story repeat, but this isn't going to stop those who repost hot topics just for the sake of gaining karma points.
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seles 2 days ago 0 replies
One idea: instead of making the formula for article placement based on the points and decay based on time of creation, don't use time of creation in the formula at all, and instead make just the points themselves decay. This way old things can come to the top again if they start receiving upvotes again.
This idea alone wouldn't solve the problem, but if combined with some sort of "merge" mechanism then it would be sweet.
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hugh3 2 days ago 0 replies
As a partial solution, how about adding a polite note on the "submit" page, asking people nicely to check the past few days' worth of front pages before submitting, to see whether there has already been a discussion on the same subject.
I've just been to the "new" page, where I flagged a few versions of the "Internet Explorer Users Are Stupid" story from yesterday.
And it wasn't a very good story the first time (though it's exactly the sort of thing which tends to get a lot of upvotes, for entirely the wrong reasons).
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rdl 2 days ago 0 replies
The solution should be to create more awesome startups, which will get more press coverage, thus having more unique stories on hn.
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mrb 1 day ago 0 replies
Clearly: provide a merge mechanism, for example by allowing users to vote for a merge. If a certain threshold is met, the two submissions are merged.
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JoelMcCracken 2 days ago 0 replies
Turn HN into twitter (sans 140 char limit). Posts are "unstructured", bit do retain @reply information. User @a and @b posts a link about Airbnb, user @c wants to reply, says "@a @b what #Airbnb really needs to do is bla bla bla.."
Then, the front page becomes a list of "trending topics".
Topics are determined by some kind of statistical analysis of the overall conversation.
The /new page is a list of new posts that are not @replies, or something similar.
Order/score can similarly be determined, such as by reply counts.
More computationally intensive, but more "true".
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oemera 2 days ago 0 replies
What about listing the story with the up votes and merging all the other stories about the same thing under the first one.
I think it would be good like Google did it with discussion. If googles finds a page which seems to be a discussion, you can click the plus icon and all the other related results are getting listed.
What do you think about that? I think it would prevent that other topics are getting to the second page.
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alanh 2 days ago 0 replies
An official mechanism to link related/duplicate submissions would be great. They could be displayed at the top. Listing submission dates there would also be helpful.
I do not like the idea of a merge because often comments are VERY article-specific, NOT simply topic-specific!
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bavcyc 2 days ago 1 reply
Filter on URL would be the first step, if it is a duplicate URL submitted then point the submitter to that story.
Could also use recently, i.e. last week or 24 hours, to compare stories at submitted URLs such that if someone submits a story on G-man advert from a different site it is found or at least present to the submitter to check if their submission is a duplicate.
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n_simplex 2 days ago 0 replies
Idea for the merge mechanism.
If a user thinks a link has been submitted before; the user posts a cross reference comment whose syntax must be simple as in:
MERGE: news.ycombinator.com/link/to/article
If the merge comment gets enough upvote, then a detection algorithm automatically merges it to the other one.
I left out a couple of details, but this is the simplest way I can think of to automate the merging without reverting to clustering algorithms.
I guess this is equivalent to voting the story down the front page, but it allows for salvaging the discussion in the down voted link.
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jodrellblank 1 day ago 0 replies
I really don't mind the constant dribble of down-votes that I get for trying to prevent the splitting of discussions
I don't think you are "harming the community", helping if anything, but after seeing yesterdays posts I do suspect you are more hurt by downvotes than you say you are, and that you might benefit by not being so.
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stretchwithme 2 days ago 0 replies
Prompt submitters with articles using some of the same terms and ask them to be sure its a new topic or a substantially different perspective on an old one.
Use a list of the five likeliest matches. Let sphinx or some other search engine do the work.
This won't work in every case, but even 50% would be a significant improvement.
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Joakal 2 days ago 0 replies
There's a first come first serve mentality with duplicates, so why not transfer the points from it to the first one?
Other ideas: Reference the duplicates, allow people to submit the link (makes moderation easier).
Look to Whirlpool, they lead in Moderation :D
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narrator 2 days ago 0 replies
How about a tagging function. Users can vote if a tag applies or not. That way you get a self-generating ontology.
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dhughes 2 days ago 0 replies
How about a single title but the ability to have multiple links to different sources? Almost like tags but only it's links.
As others have mentioned the same story is often available from multiple sources so merge all sources under one super title.
It's also good since you can update without having to yet again submit a link but for the update and for people who haven't seen either the orignal(s) or the updates it's now all in one place.
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clawrencewenham 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd endorse a script that auto-submits "Richard Feynman and the Connection Machine" every 2 weeks. It'd have a deeper psychological impact than just putting "Please search before posting" on the submissions page, and it's an article every newbie should read anyway.
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chollida1 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd be happy with a hide button
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Jarred 2 days ago 0 replies
There should just be threads with multiple links. The "original source" is what happens when you click it. The secondary source is where things like TechCrunch's opi ion pieces go.
Instead of having some classifier do the grouping, have the high-ranking community members handle this merging. The discussions in these big threads would be about the topic in general, not just TechCrunch's version or Venturebeats version
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ericelias 2 days ago 0 replies
quick note - upon submitting the link, there could be a lookup function on the keywords of the title or linked story title, which shows similar submissions...replicating the Google instant search functionality.
yes, there would be obvious issues with keyword overlap and would not apply for customized titles.
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rexreed 2 days ago 0 replies
You mean like what happens in the regular "mainstream" media? You didn't notice the endless stories on Casey Anthony or the Debt Crisis? This is the normal pattern with ALL new sources. Why should HN be any different?
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tvon 2 days ago 0 replies
I've always wanted a way to associate stories, even if there is just a list under the headline (when viewing comments) listing possibly related stories (based on user feedback).
62
d0m 2 days ago 0 replies
Maybe, when you post something, it could say (Did you know about X or Y posts) a little bit like stackoverflow. So, in a way, it's an automatic search while posting.
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dlikhten 2 days ago 0 replies
Do the same thing that is done in stackoverflow.com. Except that needs to be combined with fetching the title/basic info from the article and trying to combine it with recent articles from past couple of days.
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dools 2 days ago 0 replies
I like the merge idea, but it would be good to preserve all links at the top. So more like grouping than merging. That way if several stories offer different perspectives they are all still viewable
65
mikecane 2 days ago 0 replies
A recent situation that, um, puzzled me in the past few months was a story being posted here and getting no traction until someone else posted it 24-48 hours later. These things just happen, it seems.
66
zacharycohn 2 days ago 0 replies
Even when a big story breaks, there's rarely more than 3 or 4 links that pop to the front page throughout the day. They're from different sources, sometimes they provide different insights. Other times they don't, and they just go away.
If 4/30 links on the frontpage are about the same story, it's really not that big of a deal.
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orochimaru 1 day ago 0 replies
Some intelligent comparison algorithm should be developed to
tag them as possible duplicates of stories that have been published in the last N minutes/hours/days.
It shouldn't be very tough to come up with a beta version of the algorithm. They're asked in most technical interviews and everyone answers them :D
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slmbrhrt 2 days ago 0 replies
While I'd like a mechanical solution, I think the best results are probably going to come from human intervention/interaction.
69
SebMortelmans 2 days ago 0 replies
If you mean the AirBnb news that's all over HN last day, leave it as is, it shows kind of the importance of a topic. It's big news, there should be many views/topics about it, it's logic.
70
rokhayakebe 2 days ago 0 replies
You shouldn't do anything because sometimes you may get an update on the story and the discussion could be totally different.
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peteboyd 2 days ago 0 replies
Merge the article for the purposes of comments, but allow references to each unique article cited. Perhaps an indent under the main story with related stories and just one comment section.
Either that or leave it alone. Most of the airbnb stories are semi unique takes on the same stories.
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zobzu 2 days ago 0 replies
just like bugzilla.
if you dont know what i mean, just go to any bugzilla install and type something generic as new bug title
its going to ajax its way and show you matching bugs while you type.
it could be the same for stories
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aangjie 1 day ago 0 replies
Well perhaps google search style online suggestions for existing posts will help.. i don't like forcing people to search, besides, people might just learn to hit the search and skip buttons from muscle memory.
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pvodsevhcm 2 days ago 0 replies
keep distinct news items, but merge into a parent item that links both, much like the way this polling story work.
The parent item gets the combined vote total of child items, and any summary screen that shows the parent item would then remove all children of that parent item, showing the parent instead.
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Apocryphon 2 days ago 0 replies
One thing I'd like to promote is refraining from reposting too many stories to other aggregator-type sites such as MetaFilter.
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podperson 2 days ago 0 replies
I think we need to repeat this poll, over and over.
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dreamdu5t 2 days ago 0 replies
Merging is the only solution that is feasible and doesn't lose content.
It just requires moderators or people over certain karma thresholds.
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nomdeplume 1 day ago 0 replies
1) change name of site to redd1t or d1gg.
2) Do something like Wikipedia has where people can vote in integrity/quality of source/story.
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kqueue 2 days ago 0 replies
Have HN inform the user that the link has been submitted before.
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saddino 2 days ago 0 replies
Provide a "merge" mechanism. Keep track of merges. When merges exceed a threshold, HN merges them for all.
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nithinpb 2 days ago 0 replies
Automatic search while submitting and display it on the side? Like Stackoverflow?
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swixmix 2 days ago 0 replies
I vote we convert the repetition to recursion, which should be more acceptable to the Y combinator crowd.
83
qusiba 2 days ago 0 replies
How about a done-vote button?
84
Voting on a merge would be nice too...
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sidcool 2 days ago 0 replies
Wow, most on HN are not action oriented?
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velutinous 2 days ago 0 replies
Provide a Google -1 button
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milkmiruku 1 day ago 0 replies
Topic clustering? A la Techmeme, Google News?
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chewbranca 2 days ago 0 replies
It can be a tricky problem because you have a 1 to 1 correspondence of hacker news posts to web pages, so you can't combine articles from multiple sources into a single discussion.
Its a design choice that has pros and cons. One related problem that I find more relevant than multiple posts from multiple sources, is the life time of posts on hacker news. Once something fades from the front page, it falls into irrelevance aside from reference for google search. Which is again a design choice, and I'm not sure the future goals of the site are to support long term discussion.
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reitzensteinm 2 days ago replies
If this is real, I'll be stunned if the auditor keeps his job.
Then again, after working at startups my whole career, maybe I'm just naive about how messed up the real world is.
2
JacobAldridge 2 days ago 4 replies
When "I have been in this industry longer than anyone on that site" is a cornerstone of your defence, you've already lost. Also, I know the UK has really strict laws, but I doubt he'd be able to sue for "liable".
3
dasil003 2 days ago 3 replies
I can't help but feel there is some kind of social experiment going on here.
I mean I know there are a lot of incompetent people out there, but a security auditor asking for a list of plaintext passwords is not something that should take more than an email or two to resolve even in Bizarro world. "Techies" exhibiting this kind of willful ignorance are usually a bit better and hiding under their rock.
4
yaix 2 days ago 1 reply
The auditor was actually serious. Wow. I really thought he just wanted to check the reaction of the admin, to see if he'd actually hand over sensitive stuff.
5
AgentConundrum 2 days ago 2 replies
Please tell me this is a troll. I mean, I've seen some pretty incompetent people doing jobs they're not cut out for before, but I really want to believe this level of incompetence can't actually find jobs.
6
Confusion 2 days ago 2 replies
What's interesting is that the PCI standard seems to be unclear in this respect. He quotes from the standard:
8.4 Render all passwords unreadable during transmission
and storage on all system components using strong
cryptography.
This seems to leave room for passwords to be encrypted instead of hashed. I'd even say it suggests they should be encrypted instead of hashed, by not distinguishing between 'during transmission' and 'during storage'.
At the very least, quoting this isn't going to convince someone that passwords should not be decryptable.
7
iuguy 2 days ago 1 reply
A colleague of mine once had to stand one foot on top of the other and chew his own lip when an SI's "security expert" introduced himself as an 'old-school CISSP' just to stop laughing out loud at him.
There are many idiots in the information security industry (I should know, I are one) - we're doing our best to get rid, but more keep showing up.
8
16s 2 days ago 4 replies
Quite a few managers and auditors really don't understand the difference between a password hash and a password.
I expect the auditor was asking for password hashes, although he was using the phrase "plaintext passwords". Who knows, but that part of the story may just be a wording misunderstanding.
Not everyone speaks geek, and it's important to know when you're talking to someone who does not ;)
Edit: Not sure why this is being down voted as it is a true statement. I've had to explain what a password hash is on several occasions. And even after that, there was still some misunderstanding/confusion.
9
techiferous 2 days ago 0 replies
"any inventive suggestions for how to troll him [the security auditor] a bit?"
Nothing productive could come of that. This situation is not for your entertainment. Just move along...
10
hermannj314 2 days ago 0 replies
From the perspective portrayed in this article, the auditor seems misinformed about fundamentals in his industry and his response to being called on this seemed superficial and borderline childish.
It must be difficult to be ridiculed in a public form of your own profession. Not to mention being called stupid and ignorant for misunderstanding something. I hope I always have the humility to admit when I'm wrong, but also have the patience and understanding when other people don't.
11
codeglomeration 2 days ago 0 replies
This sounds more like social engineering to me. My first thought was this was a hacker who took control of an email address from the security firm, and just tried to exploit the weakest link in order to get plaintext passwords.
13
motters 2 days ago 0 replies
Argument from authority. Nice try.
14
marcamillion 2 days ago 0 replies
At first, I thought that this was a bogus post...but it seems to be real - or this guy is keeping up with the story.
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jarin 2 days ago 0 replies
Incompetent people in the security field really need to be called out like this.
Incompetent developers generally only hurt the company; incompetent security professionals hurt every single customer as well.
16
dougws 2 days ago 0 replies
I haven't been in the industry that long, but I've encountered a few "security professionals"--auditors, penetration testers, etc. All of them have been totally incompetent; they could tell you the definition of, say, a SQL injection attack but had no idea how to really analyze a system. On the other hand, all of the great programmers I've met have had a really good grasp of security. I'm starting to think that if you don't write code, you're not qualified to audit it.
17
blahblahblah 2 days ago 0 replies
Apparently, neither of these guys paid attention in high school civics class. Slander involves oral, not written, communication. Libel (not "liable") is the term for a tort involving false and damaging written communication.
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keithpeter 2 days ago 2 replies
As I live and work in Birmingham, UK, I hope this is all an elaborate hoax.
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Auguste 2 days ago 0 replies
That security auditor could give a lot of the guys featured on The Daily WTF a good run for their money.
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antihero 2 days ago 1 reply
If it's in the UK they may be liable under the Data Protection Act, too.
21
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/20/greathomesandd...
So whats next... well too much actually. I do not have the time nor the patience to dig at all of Andys points. Im sure not all of them are bad, but there is enough there to make me wonder whats wrong with this guy. Again, he is a professional. I am sure he has had critics of his work, and he knows that there was an inner process where a lot of those points were brought up and shown not to hold water. He is now doing the same thing.
So I'll leave it on one final point. Mobile Sites. Its an example of what happens when you don't know that the Times is aware of his point and we discussed it and there was a damn good reason we made the decision that we made.
What am I talking about? He shows the iPhone with the full NYT homepage and has the caption "Um, are you frisking kidding me?". In other words why not a mobile site.
Well, very simple. The iPhone is capable of rendering and interacting with the full page. It was the first browser to do so - it don't require a lite version. You could tap, zoom, pinch, drag and get the full depth of the page. Other browsers - like those for Nokia, RIM etc couldn't handle that.
This was talked over to death. There were compelling arguments about going down this road - or not. In the end, the decision was made to NOT redirect those advanced browsers to the mobile site. You can still go to m.nyt.com if you like, we just wont force you too.
but it should not require anything more than a media
query fetching different CSS and perhaps some additional
scripting so as to simply restyle the content experience
Andy does say that all you need is media quires for the CSS and such and bingo. Well, no. No its not that simple. If you want to redo the homepage for a specific mobile experience then you probably want to serve different sized images, maybe not have some Flash stuff on the iPhone, maybe drop the bandwidth intensive stuff that works well on desktop.
CSS media queries does not solve the problem. It is never that easy and shame on your for saying so. You are a professional. You should know better. Bad Andy. Bad. No biscuit for you.
Man, this makes me bitter. RANT OFF.
2
rjd 5 days ago 6 replies
Well having been in the person in charge of a major news website myself I can say we all have lovely designs like this pinned to the walls next our desks.
And while I really like his designs and have turned to Andy many times for inspiration, there are some serious context problems... and while I'm bored and off work I might as well write a critique...
I had an near identical sports section to the one he designed pinned to me wall. But I can say he's screwed a few things up, gallery needs to be higher, users can't find a gallery that low (I know user testing surprises them hell out me to), no ads again. To use templating that image has to be shrunk, the quality you get through from external sources if often extremely poor, a reality he doesn't seem to have considered. Nothing screams amateur news like big pixalated images some non technical journo uploaded, and credibility is your only asset really.
Another reality is the business requires as many ad units as you can fit on a page, big media is expensive. Way more than a blog with 10 or so staff. Flying people all over the country, investigating stories, hotel rooms. Its like covering CES every day, which for most tech blogs would be there biggest yearly expense. Moan all you will but most people are out of touch with exact what it takes to make decent news.
And you can't win an argument about ads, you get dragged in front of finance, and if you convince them sales will drag you in front of the board, if you win that you get dragged in front of agencies to justify changes which may effect upcoming campaigns. Its a horrible process and really have to have solid arguments and research, essentially you are risking entire revenue streams, for what in a lot of cases isn't even break even business.
He's got what appears to be a lot of promoted content, thats expensive from a support point of view. I had a guy working under me whose job was literally to make the decision about what story superseeded the next.
The back lash you get from people for having a story up too long or not long enough is amazing. I've been called every name under the sun. Your audience isn't a defined well behaved demographic at all. Its like 4chan discussing politics, just a complete mess always on the attack.
..but at least when thanks comes its usually really good, for example this year I got a hand made Christmas card from the Indonesian Fishing Association for getting a reporter in touch with them. Somehow it made up for a year of insults. It was real touching.
The only real solution, and we worked damned hard with Google on this is indexing getting people to the page directly, forgetting all about overview pages and landing pages.
We ended up constructing a 24 hour social media team. We pushed the news via automation, blood, sweat, and tears to the people. And Google rewarded us, we entered the elite list of news suppliers whom google monitor for breaking stories. It works, it really does, but its hard work. I bet there aren't many people hear who have brought Google employees to an argument with your boss ;)
Anyway he's also under estimating the sheer volume of stories being generated. He's designed a nice blog template, not something that produces several hundred of stories a day over dozens and dozens of subsection. He's hasn't considered the scale, and the unreliability of content. You can do editorial pages like that for major events, but not the daily drab. The real solution to the problem was as noted above social engineering, you need to get people (super nodes) who act as conduits to propagate good stories for you.
The next is the infographics. Again beautiful, I used to kill for decent info graphics coming in. If I wasn't snowed under I'd try and create them myself.
But the reality is graphic designer can't do it, they have huge work loads already, and remember you can't just hire more staff, its break even business. THEN you need a subject matter expert to assembly it and give it to the graphic designer.
Infographics takes time, and its something that Google and Twitter have taken away from news journalists by the creation of an attention economy. You need to break a story immediately or you run the risk of not covering your production costs.
You don't have time to crunch numbers, you are literally scrambling for eyeballs to stay in business. You can do it with editorials fine, and one trick I learnt quick was guest bloggers are GOLD. They often bring a crowd with them, they often have great researched stories, infographics you name it. So it became my goal to build those relationships.
But alas 3 months without weekends, high pressure workload, high pressure targets, unyielding worldwide competition take a toll. So I quit. Theres still an open position for me if I want to return, but I don't think I'm ready just yet ;)
EDIT: I don't mean to be harsh towards Andy. I love his work, and his intellectual exercise into improvement is great. I even forwarded it onto my old team for review.
But what I guess my point is sometimes there a reason why things are crap, and fixing may be a hell of a lot harder the moment you try than you expected.
So don't judge people/teams to harshly, instead offer a hand like Andy has done, sometimes they need it (especially in big media)
3
patio11 5 days ago 1 reply
It is easy to create a redesign for a website. It is less easy to pivot a billion-dollar business which has the agility of an aircraft carrier while she is sinking. If your answer to that question is "What do we really need the planes for, anyway?" and "I think the conning tower would look much better in teal.", you might find a wee bit of difficulty getting taken seriously.
4
adamhowell 5 days ago 1 reply
I know everybody hates ads, but it only reinforces the "naive businessmen" stereotype of designers when people say stuff like this:
"Since news is accessed only via subscription, most of the ads can be eliminated from the pages."
That's like saying because you pay for magazines they also don't need to have ads. That's in no way at all how the content business works.
6
dredmorbius 5 days ago 3 replies
I don't like the final result, and Rutledge dismisses many of the realities of site design.
I think the existing NYTimes site is among the examplars of good Web news site design. My principle gripe is that there's too much whitespace around the primary content. That's probably a consequence of both a 1920x1080 display (laptop), and highly aggressive ad blocking. (Yeah, yeah. I'll stop blocking ads when advertisers stop being complete fckwits about making annoying ads, and/or when hell freezes over, whichever comes first.)
There are a few valid points Rutlege makes. Many of the navigation elements are little (or never) used by me, including the left and top sidebars.
I want my microcontent.* That means a brief story summary. I have an RSS reader and subscribe to the NY Time site on it. I rarely read it. Why? Because there's no microcontent. For most news stories, the first paragraph is all I need (actually, in all absolute truth, the headline itself is far too much). If I want to read more, that paragraph really helps make the decision to do so. Jacob Nielson's covered this topic very well.
Presenting the content on the homepage, while making for dense page, does make a good jump point. My eye can scan far more quickly than I can click back and forth through pages.
The classic wastes of time for me on the Times are:
- Video content. Really, text tells the story far more quickly most of the time. A video feature can be a benefit (and for some rare stories it's hugely useful), but I _don't_ think it belongs on the homepage.
- The "Talking Heads" features. There's something in how these are set up that frequently makes for a compelling lede, but fails to deliver. The format just doesn't work for me.
- The formulaic three-headlines-per-section on the front page. Some days some sections deserve far more news, and some sections (sorry, but "Dining", "Fashion", and "Automobiles" hold little or no interest) deserve none. To me.
Rutledge has succeeded in vastly simplifying the Times's front page. By removing most of the informational content and utility from it. His design works for mobile (and as he notes, the Times has a good mobile site). It's not a good full-featured site design.
7
arn 5 days ago 0 replies
The final result looks nice, but I hate these exercises, because if you are not fitting the same number of ads in the page, then you are not actually solving the same problem. You are solving a much easier problem, as almost all sites look better without ads.
Also, there's a major divide between what people seem to think looks nice and what seems to succeed. The Huffington Post is the biggest example of recent success in the news realm. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
Is that despite of its design or because of it? I don't know. It's hard to separate out the effect of the editorial content from presentation.
8
dotBen 5 days ago 0 replies
I was involved in a major redesign of the BBC News Website - when it went form a sigle column approach to the current two-dimensional layout.
What is interesting about Andy's designs is that he's basically taken the current thinking in 'modern' news website design (two dimensions) back to the single column layout. I think this is a fundamental flaw in his design.
People come to a news front page to see the editor's prioritization of the days news agenda. With a single column approach it is very difficult to editorially prioritize stories of similar importance. It works for blogs because they don't have an editorial prioritization as they usually sort by chronological order.
Two-dimensional layouts, like NY Times and BBC, allow for editors to give several articles (perhaps a politics story, a business story and a sport story) equal visual importance. If you have a mainstream appeal you need to be able to give different audiences something of relevance.
9
sjwright 5 days ago 1 reply
Andy's redesign is a disaster for various reasons stated by others, but this is possibly the most important and underlying reason for its failure: The existing design visually demonstrates that 'there's a lot going on here'. His does not.
He failed to communicate the good type of busyness in his re-imagining -- the redesign makes the site look like a five-articles-a-day blog.
10
catshirt 5 days ago 0 replies
so, remove the ads... and replace them with infographics?
forgive me for being crass but this whole post seems naive. don't get me wrong, it's pretty; but we're talking about the new york times. i think this is more accurately "andy rutledge redesigns nyt for andy rutledge". which is fine, but not at all the same thing.
"broken news" is a big claim. i'm not sure a sleek blog theme is going to fix it.
11
verisimilitude 5 days ago 0 replies
I really think this looks amazing. It would likely function amazingly well, too.
However, for this to work, you have to eliminate the space for ads. To deal with this, Rutledge suggests "Quality news is subscription only. You pay for valuable information. Fluff you get for free."
I somehow don't think it's that simple.
If you slam the digital door shut (much more than it is now at the Times), and only allow subscriber access, you'll do two things:
(1) vastly reduce your readership; if you want to go back to showing ads, you can't, because you no longer can brag about the vast numbers reading your website daily
(2) create a hyper-focused pirating scheme around disseminating NYTimes content for free
I love news. I love good reporting. When I'm no longer a student, I'll pay to get the Times at home. BUT, we've got a serious problem here; this design, while well thought-out, fails to acknowledge that it can't exist (eliminating ads) without changing the industry (changing readership drastically).
I very much look forward to seeing this movie: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/page_one_inside_the_new_york... which touches on these issues.
13
lukeschlather 5 days ago 0 replies
>The Times politics page. I think the object of the game must be to fit as much “content” onto the page as possible in an effort to overwhelm the reader, tricking them into believing that the NY Times is just bursting with a mindbogglingly-bottomless array of important information. If only the reader could learn to ignore 60% of what's here, she might have a chance at a pleasant experience. Please stop helping. What you've got here is not content, but noise.
You can't get a good coverage of world events in the number of items that Rutledge wants. The world is noisy, and what Rutledge is suggesting vastly oversimplifies. I'm sure it would convert wonderfully, raise ad revenue, all that. It wouldn't be good journalism. Even if the NYT is full of pointless noise, it's still better than a handful of painstakingly crafted articles. A handful of pretty, well-formed articles cannot accurately reflect a disordered world. If the NYT isn't noisy it's not doing its job.
14
jamesteow 5 days ago 0 replies
As one of the designers of a major news organization redesign, it's very nice to do a pretty page but to honestly think you can get away with no ads is a not only a losing battle but one that doesn't take the needs of the client seriously.
I also like how the NYT's website looks like a newspaper with a variety of content. The redesign looks like a Wordpress template.
15
tjogin 5 days ago 1 reply
I think Andy's design is very stylish and presents the content in a tasteful way. I have no significant qualms about his design in any way.
When he goes into business territory, however, he loses his shit. This is the money quote:
"Since news is accessed only via subscription, most of the ads can be eliminated from the pages. Story pages could still have one or two tastefully-presented ads, but preservation of the content is what will keep readers happy, engaged, and willing to continue paying their subscriptions…just like in olden times."
People didn't pay for news in the olden times. They paid for printing and distribution, and then the advertisement covered the rest, with some tiny variations on that theme. Not significantly different from today.
If you were to make the content subscription only, and some publications have tried this recently, you'd lose 90% of your readers. That means also losing 90% of your ad revenue. Now the remaining 10% of your readers need to make up for that loss. That makes it a rather expensive subscription, losing a lot more subscribers, and around it goes, the vicious circle.
That doesn't mean digital news isn't horribly broken, it is. Just that making it subscription only isn't the solution.
16
flocial 5 days ago 0 replies
The design has its moments but I actually like NYT. The only thing I would like more is fixed dimensions for items on the front page, maybe 2 column layout with both sides perfectly aligned per item. The draw of newspaper sites is both the quality content within articles but the curation of articles themselves so having everything in uniform lists is too confusing. Additions I wouldn't mind are most tweeted or tweeted by your friends type social media integration.
If design was the only thing killing the newspaper industry their problems would be solved.
17
solipsist 5 days ago 0 replies
Popularity has nothing to do with news
If you've been on the internet before, you'll know this is not true.
18
prayag 5 days ago 0 replies
The problem with such a post is that it violates the first principle of user centered design. Talk to your users. Did anyone tell him that NYT is broken? Did he go and ask a single user who goes to NYT everyday to figure out what his problems are? Or saw him use the site.
It's easy to re-design something from outside in. It's much harder to design it inside out when you have a more complete picture of what users are doing and have a rough idea of what they want.
19
rayboyd 5 days ago 0 replies
Martin Belam (IA guy at the Guardian) wrote an excellent rebuttal to this yesterday. http://www.currybet.net/cbet_blog/2011/07/andy-news-redux.ph...
20
petercooper 5 days ago 0 replies
I suspect that while this is a reasonable and logical redesign, it misses out on some non-rational behavior of the majority of people who read news. I know that, non rationally, I quite like a bit of "jumble" from my newspapers and news sites so I can just "wander" around from thing to thing for a while. The redesign showed here turns it more into a blog and I think I'd have trouble wandering around it.. I'd need to know what I was looking for.
I dislike the Daily Mail but I know their site is almost entirely driven by numbers and what catches on (and what doesn't): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ - it has a certain formula to it but it still has an element of randomness and chaos because, I suspect, that's what readers are going for, whether we like it or not.
21
dasil003 5 days ago 0 replies
Andy is a talented designer, but his style shows through a bit too strongly here. He knows how to utilize whitespace to create an aesthetically pleasing visual flow, but I don't think he pays enough respect the essence of a newspaper�"namely density of information.
22
newhouseb 5 days ago 0 replies
To me it is incredibly important that an abstract is presented up front before I click through to the article. For other news sites (like CNN) that are more about breaking news and less about well written and researched journalism - just the headline is fine (because chances are the article won't say much more than the headline).
NYT's strength is that it is a professional journalistic organization and thus taking words _off_ the page would only serve to betray the value that the NYT offers.
23
yarone 5 days ago 0 replies
Andy's designs look beautiful, but I'm reminded of the old saying: "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy".
I'm afraid that if you take his designs as a starting point, and revise them based on the needs of the NYTimes and the expectations of its millions of visitors, they would require a large number of changes and would more closely resemble the current NYTimes.com
24
josscrowcroft 5 days ago 2 replies
Am I the only one who thinks his 'redesign' just looks like any other blog?
25
prawn 2 days ago 0 replies
Khoi Vinh's just responded with, in part:
"I'm purposefully not identifying this person or the project or providing a link back to the redesign itself, mostly because I think it's counter-productive to continue to reward this effort with more unwarranted attention. To me, it felt less like constructive criticism than link-baiting, and so I have tried to avoid making any public comment."
26
brownie 5 days ago 0 replies
The one thing I dislike (on the main page at least) is the separation of news and opinion/analysis. I can't think of many times where I've visited a news site and wanted to read only opinion or only news, but I can think of times where I've visited a site to read about a particular story - and read related articles that happen to be opinions/analysis.
27
prawn 5 days ago 0 replies
Design is always so much easier when you don't have to incorporate ad spots. Very naive.
28
rs 5 days ago 1 reply
Not to be a pain, the design is good, but there's no place to actually put an ad, considering the advertisements are one of their sources of revenue
29
code_duck 5 days ago 0 replies
This is in the vein of just about every 'xx person redesigns yy site'. The elaborate comments from others have done a better job than I could of laying out the details. I don't know why people insist on publishing articles such as these. Oddly, as in in this case, often they end up with a pleasant, but rather common looking, design which is blissfully unaware of all the different constraints and special issues that guided creation of the original.
The conclusion of this article is a rather bland design, in my opinion, which looks like 50 other sites out there and has no space for ads. Hardly worth the wall of text created to herald it.
30
spacemanaki 5 days ago 0 replies
"If you're using an app to deliver content, you're doing it wrong."
He's completely wrong about this. I love the NYT Android app. I can start it at home, while I have decent coverage, and am then able to read the paper any where I am throughout the day, including the subway, because it caches every story on sections you open, even if you don't open those stories. It's one of my favorite Android apps because of this.
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webjunkie 5 days ago 0 replies
He designed a blog... the whole of NYTimes ist not a blog.
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ImperatorLunae 5 days ago 0 replies
I think the object of the game must be to fit as much “content” onto the page as possible in an effort to overwhelm the reader, tricking them into believing that the NY Times is just bursting with a mindbogglingly-bottomless array of important information.
That's just what paper newspapers look like. I don't think that's an accident, either.
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danso 5 days ago 0 replies
"Since news is accessed only via subscription, most of the ads can be eliminated from the pages. Story pages could still have one or two tastefully-presented ads, but preservation of the content is what will keep readers happy, engaged, and willing to continue paying their subscriptions…just like in olden times."
Rutledge hasn't apparently visited the NYT often and maybe hasn't picked up a newspaper in awhile.
1. Not all of the NYT's traffic is through subscribers: it lets the average user access at least 20 articles a month, and its "paywall" is very permeable.
2. Even when you pay full price for an issue at the stand, that newspaper still comes with ads. Subscriptions have not accounted for the entirety of newspapers and magazines revenues in a while...
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RossDM 5 days ago 0 replies
Those look nice, but I still prefer Google News' two-column layout. I can't stand when news organizations try to force everything into a single Twitter-like stream (Google News included).
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robgough 5 days ago 0 replies
Why haven't news sites like this tried the "spotify" model. Where you can pay to have the ads removed?
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karl_nerd 5 days ago 0 replies
Oliver Reichenstein, a swiss/japanese news designer, has been writing about some similar thoughts: http://www.informationarchitects.jp/en/business-class-news/
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benjash 5 days ago 0 replies
Seems odd that he points out that the business model is broken.
Yet, doesn't make any room for advertising on his redesigns.
The main source of income for most newspapers.
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Jason757435 5 days ago 0 replies
Anyone else see the irony in the fact that the very bottom of Rutledge's web page where this article is found is improperly formatted on the iPhone (background color not extended far enough to the right to cover all offered links). Petty? Yes, but if you're going to blast away at NYT, you better make sure your house is in order.
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AverageAtasi 5 days ago 0 replies
Looks ok, but I'd rather them use shitty design than take advice from a right-wing asshole.
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brown9-2 4 days ago 6 replies
It must be a truly great place to work if the sentences "I quit this project" and "I quit this company" don't end up with the same result.
How many companies let the employee choose to stop working on a project they are assigned to?
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tomfakes 4 days ago 1 reply
Here's the money quote:
I'm officially quitting that job on national TV
The use of the word 'job' there implies The Job, not 'the job on the project', hence the overall confusion - people taking the words as said, not as meant
Note: Did HN just screw up this same posting?
3
Edit: Oh it died: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2813976
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bretthoerner 4 days ago 2 replies
So basically his inspirational talk turned into "I was pulled over to the Google Plus team, but I said never mind and went back to working on developer tools"?
Kind of a let down. :(
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calibraxis 3 days ago 2 replies
"Google's interview process -- what's the word I'm looking for here -- ah yes, their process sucks at letting in all the qualified people. They're trying to get better at it, but it's not really Google's fault so much as the fault of interviewers who insist that you're not qualified to work there unless you are exactly like them. Of course, there are interviewers like that wherever you go."
I imagine that's one of the big problems that females, older people and others must face. If you're not like them (or everyone's stereotype of a qualified person), you'll have a harder time getting in. Not to mention enjoying your stay, once you're in.
(Maybe you're in a workplace that's so desperate for a little diversity that it's actually easier for non-stereotypes to get in. But will your coworkers act respectfully? I know that the guys at mine let loose putdowns about females, even with females in the room. They don't even realize they're putting females down.)
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fedd 3 days ago 0 replies
with this headline the magical voice-over told me he was fired from hacker news.
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riprock 4 days ago 1 reply
I think a big reason why most people go with a career and degree in software engineering as opposed to bioinformatics is because of a bigger job market, a higher salary potential, and a lower commitment to achieve the goal (computer science degree as a 4 or 6 year degree, vs a mandatory 8+ year degree in bioinformatics.) Unless these things change, bioinformatics will remain unappealing to top google engineers who are paid to scale cat pictures at salaries like 250k+.
To add one more thing, perl is huge in the bioinformatics community, which would never win a popularity contest among software developers.
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vailripper 4 days ago 1 reply
He mentions how broken the typical interview process is, something I hear repeated frequently. I'm curious what you guys think the "ideal" interview process would look like?
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ddw 4 days ago 1 reply
I'm not trying to be crass, I really don't know: what does he mean by Google is "forcing governments to be more open, forcing corporations to play more fairly"? I'm racking my head on how this could be true as I would really like it to believe it.
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jsavimbi 4 days ago 1 reply
Regardless of what Steve does in his professional life, I, for one, am going to stop procrastinating on all of those R links I've been saving up on Evernote and get down to some science.
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mannicken 3 days ago 3 replies
I interviewed at a Google campus in Kirkland. Unimpressed. Overrated madly, in my opinion. I expected a lot, a lot better campus, sorry. The buildings were boring and I couldn't find the right one because NONE OF THEM have a visible building number.
There is no map of the campus (hell, even community colleges have maps). The parking didn't have cover so after staying under hot sun, my car became extremely hot.
Unpleasant experience to say the least. People were cool, though.
I just had a much better feeling from Microsoft campus than Google's campus.
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suyash 4 days ago 0 replies
Source code can be turned in the form of wikipedia information, how awesome that would be, reading and understanding bad code or not properly documented or written code is one hard problem in the industry that needs a really good solution. Good luck Steve.
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dpapathanasiou 9 days ago 1 reply
"The newly-patented buying system guides users through an intuitive, step-by-step process of clicking 'Buy It Now', entering your password, logging in because they signed your sorry ass out again, getting upsold shit you don't want, continuing to your original destination"
If that were a real patent, GoDaddy would owe Ebay millions.
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corin_ 9 days ago 2 replies
What I find most depressing is that you hear such moronic examples of patents that on reading this title a tiny part of me was thinking "well.. maybe..".
Not sure if that says more about the patents system or my awakeness, I hope the former.
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revorad 9 days ago 0 replies
Oh he's so good. I hope he's back.
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InclinedPlane 9 days ago 1 reply
Ebay is frustrating. They haven't changed the functionality or even the fit and finish of their site substantially for about a decade. They're still the de facto leader in online auctions but I feel as if they're slowly being bled by a lot of more specialized sites (amazon, craigslist, etsy, etc.)
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scottkduncan 9 days ago 1 reply
I bid on something on Ebay for the first time in years this week and although I didn't win and make it to the infuriating checkout process, I was still amazed at how frequently I had resupply my user name and password. When you go back to a site like Ebay you realize how far some other parts of the web have come in promoting user-friendliness and how much some sites are being left behind.
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marknutter 9 days ago 1 reply
Man, this space is ripe for disruption.
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craigmc 9 days ago 1 reply
Fantastic! I used to do lot via the eBay platform as a "Power Seller", and I always thought they were a most bizarre company: one part incredibly innovative, one part money-grabbing corporate and one (big) part terrible UI/UX designers. Glad to hear nothing has changed....
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tlrobinson 8 days ago 0 replies
Has anyone tried to patent the 1-touch checkout for touchscreen devices?
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d4nt 9 days ago 0 replies
For a minute there I though this was going to be a real attempt at challenging amazon's 1-click buying patent by patenting the non-1-click approach. This was funnier though.
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Produce 9 days ago 3 replies
I honestly couldn't tell if this was satire or real for a while. It looks like satire, smells like it, tastes like it but it really isn't. EDIT: It really is satire. Some damn good satire, had me fooled.
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coverband 3 days ago 2 replies
Did they always have this clause in the Java license, or is it new to Oracle's release?
"These Supplemental License Terms add to or modify the terms of the Binary Code License Agreement....
A. COMMERCIAL FEATURES. You may not use the Commercial Features for running Programs, Java applets or applications in your internal business operations or for any commercial or production purpose, or for any purpose other than as set forth in Sections B, C, D and E of these Supplemental Terms. If You want to use the Commercial Features for any purpose other than as permitted in this Agreement, You must obtain a separate license from Oracle."
Sections mentioned are:
B. SOFTWARE INTERNAL USE FOR DEVELOPMENT LICENSE GRANT. ...
Oracle grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license without fees to reproduce internally and use internally the Software complete and unmodified for the purpose of designing, developing, and testing your Programs.
C. LICENSE TO DISTRIBUTE SOFTWARE.
...
Oracle grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license without fees to reproduce and distribute the Software, provided that (i) you distribute the Software complete and unmodified and only bundled as part of, and for the sole purpose of running, your Programs, (ii) the Programs add significant and primary functionality to the Software, (iii) you do not distribute additional software intended to replace any component(s) of the Software, (iv) you do not remove or alter any proprietary legends or notices contained in the Software, (v) you only distribute the Software subject to a license agreement that: (a) is a complete, unmodified reproduction of this Agreement; or (b) protects Oracle's interests consistent with the terms contained in this Agreement and that includes the notice ...
D. LICENSE TO DISTRIBUTE REDISTRIBUTABLES.
...
Oracle grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license without fees to reproduce and distribute those files specifically identified as redistributable in the README File ("Redistributables") ...
E. DISTRIBUTION BY PUBLISHERS. This section pertains to your distribution of the JavaTM SE Development Kit Software with your printed book or magazine ....
Maybe I'm reading too much into it, because of the Android lawsuit?
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famousactress 3 days ago replies
Meh. The world turns. I spent a decade developing primarily in Java, and the last few years were really disappointing. The community splintered, the language and platform really lost any ability to maintain momentum. I might have been stoked about Java 7 three years ago (when it should have come out).
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nkassis 3 days ago 4 replies
So for languages like Clojure,Scala does this offer any new feature for them?
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nextparadigms 3 days ago 1 reply
Does it come with more patents? Serious question.
I'm thinking Oracle tried to put a lot more locks on this version of Java, to make it theirs, and not so open source anymore.
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Emore 3 days ago 5 replies
Anyone know why an OS X release is not on the list?
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macmac 3 days ago 0 replies
Watch out for the Commercial Features as defined in table 1.1 of this document http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/documentation/...
Commercial Features appears to be jRockit technology.
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Lambda expressions (informally, "closures") and defender methods for the Java programming language»
Welcome to the sixties, Java!
Sorry, I couldn't help it >:D
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clobber 3 days ago 0 replies
Excellent. Looking forward to the memory enhancements that should help make Minecraft servers less of a hog :)
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sgt 1 day ago 0 replies
Having created several "enterprise" systems in Java, I'm now looking into Mono, because there are some aspects of Java that I'm simply tired of having to deal with again and again. So far it looks very interesting and it works really well on Linux and OS X. Anyone here got experience with using Mono (and possibly Fluent NHibernate, WCF, ASP.NET MVC, etc) in the "enterprise" environment?
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johnnyo 3 days ago 1 reply
I'm glad to see it's finally available.
I'm especially happy to see some of the language syntax that makes your standard try/catch/finally blocks a little cleaner and less error prone.
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rubyorchard 3 days ago 2 replies
Too little to show for 5 years.
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suprgeek 2 days ago 0 replies
Making sure that the people excited about Java 7 wait until this gets patched http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2820204
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gnoupi 2 days ago 0 replies
Pity though that Swing didn't get much love in this release. But I guess that's the course of things.
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fleitz 3 days ago 0 replies
Awesome, so java finally has closures & lambdas?
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that worried me little bit. what do you think ?
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gmosx 2 days ago 0 replies
A great release (professionally handled by Oracle), but still I am waiting for Java 8 (esp. closures + modules)
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_mayo 3 days ago 1 reply
Does anyone have a link to the changelog?
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kennystone 3 days ago 0 replies
Good for Oracle. There are (reasonable) concerns about their ownership of Java, but at least it's moving forward again.
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dmitrykoval 3 days ago 0 replies
Have anyone done any performance comparison with the openjdk yet? GC related tests would be of high interest :)
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One of the take-away messages they had was "always target Mac and Linux, because it's a bit more work but you'll double your revenue".
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sequoia 5 days ago 2 replies
vvvvvvv is awesome by the way. You can try it here (assuming you have flash installed/enabled): http://www.kongregate.com/games/TerryCavanagh/vvvvvv-demo
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jrockway 5 days ago 2 replies
Interesting stats. There appear to be as many Mac users as Linux users, and Linux users pay 2x more than Mac users.
I guess Mac users spend all their money on OS upgrades :)
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cookiecaper 5 days ago 0 replies
Always excited to see another Humble Bundle. I purchased right away and gave a greater proportion to Wolfire in hopes of encouraging further bundles sooner (not that I paid that much, but I don't have that much money right now :\). The Linux support is what makes this such a happy deal for me.
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listic 5 days ago 2 replies
A commenter on habrahabr.ru+ noticed ( http://habrahabr.ru/blogs/gdev/124990/#comment_4110999 ) that there are Russian black marketers buying bundles for $ 0.01 and reselling for around 50 rubles ($1.50) that, unfortunately, may drive the average price down. Supposedly, people who can't be bothered to get a credit card or Webmoney account buy from them.
I'm worried how the pay-what-you-want model accommodates this behaviour? I hope clients buying directly for a reasonable price will always outnumber the black marketers or people intentionally buying for $0.01 to cause loss, but I don't know for sure.
+ habrahabr.ru is Russian IT news blog filled in large part with content translated from Hacker News.
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SageRaven 5 days ago 2 replies
Lame question: What techniques are used to show real-time stats like that on a web page? I assume those are truly real-time, anyway.
I'm no web developer, but this feature really strikes me as cool in this particular instance. I rarely fancy overly-busy web pages, but these stats seem very nicely executed; interesting in and of themselves, yet clean and nice visual presentation.
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jentulman 5 days ago 4 replies
These bundles are all great. I keep pointing them out to my non-gaming friends as much as possible.
I've dumped my consoles in the last year and moved to finding 'indie' game devs like these because, as the old saying goes, 'It's not about graphics, it's about gameplay'[citation needed] and I don't care how many polygons you can throw at /next big game/ it is almost invariably yet another FPS.
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BenSS 5 days ago 3 replies
This is always absolutely awesome. I chipped in over average this year but I'm dismayed by the people throwing in less than a buck, you're just making the developers pay the CC companies!
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chanux 5 days ago 7 replies
Linux version pays the best average amount. Is there any message?
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neovive 5 days ago 0 replies
I wonder how the Mac App Store and any upcoming App Stores for Windows will impact these various software bundles. Does the Mac App Store allow bundling? If not, this would be a nice add-on feature.
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r0s 5 days ago 0 replies
Hammerfight is an excellent game, very fun and beautifully rendered.
I hope they make a sequel.
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voyvf 5 days ago 0 replies
I'd like to thank the Wolfire crew for making these marvelous games available at a reasonable price - and especially for the Linux support. :D
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kin 5 days ago 2 replies
these are awesome, i just do a $25 and let them decide how to balance it all out. question though, any chance for an iOS humble indie bundle!?
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JoshCole 4 days ago 0 replies
The youtube video showing the youtube video was a nice touch. Recursion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4c6PWtE9mI&feature=playe...
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Indyan 5 days ago 4 replies
The average is less than 5 bucks. That's simply pathetic. If I remember correctly, it was a couple of bucks higher in the earlier editions.
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slowpoke 5 days ago 4 replies
As awesome as this is, I'm quite bothered with the payment options. As it stands, I can't pay even if I wanted. I don't have a CC and all of Paypal, Amazon and Google are utter no-gos for me. It makes me a sad panda that options like PaySafeCard aren't as widespread as I would like them to be.
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mgkimsal 4 days ago 0 replies
Anyone else get 'cogs' to work on the mac? 10.6.6, 13" 2010 mbp, and cogs won't start.
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twakefield 5 days ago 1 reply
The promo video is fantastic. Reminds me of those car demolition show commercials:
THIS WEEKEND...CARASAURAUS REX...THE FIRE BREATHING...CAR EATING...ROBOT MONSTER DINOSAUR! Live at the civic center, tickets available now!
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tobylane 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm starting to feel foolish every time I look at a indie game in the steam store. Bought all four bundles, which are about a quarter of the steam games I own.
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tete 4 days ago 0 replies
I don't consider myself to be a fan of that kind of music, but I always enjoy the Humble Indie Bundle ad. It's so awesome. :-)
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DevX101 10 days ago 1 reply
I love how this post both educates and serves as a great ad for your product. Kudos.
How far along was your product when you were raising? Were you making any significant revenue at the time?
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InfinityX0 10 days ago 1 reply
This is absolutely brilliant. Incredibly well executed. I have never seen a post at once hybridize promotion and great content so well.
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kordless 10 days ago 4 replies
I hate getting emails that ask me for two or three time blocks that work for me. Be respectful of people's time and just pick a few times that work for you. If they don't work for them, they'll usually tell you what does pretty quick.
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nostromo 10 days ago 1 reply
I'd suggest removing the all-caps in those emails. It seems like it's just the author's style, but it can be a bit jarring when read without that context.
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budu3 10 days ago 2 replies
I think it's a great time to be a founder but at the same time I'm also worried about the exuberance that the current market place is showing when a sole founder can raise $350k by sending out a ~10 line email.
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socialmediaking 10 days ago 4 replies
I recommend using a free service called SpyPig to include an invisible image in the email that will notify you when the email is opened (if images are enabled). I usually wait about 10 minutes after the notification and call the client or lead and ask them if they had a minute to check my email. They usually say something like "Yeah you have perfect timing, I just took a look at it..." It's a pretty slick little trick http://www.spypig.com/ Good luck!
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fuzzythinker 9 days ago 0 replies
Side note, I find your right panel bouncing up and down extremely annoying. If you don't want it to be hidden when scroll, why don't you set it as fixed?
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ed209 9 days ago 0 replies
Reality check: the portion of the process these emails cover are not going to make or break a deal.
What would be more useful is detail on "During the fundraising process, I met a ton of investors both through soft introductions, straight out stalking and also through AngelList."
Once you have someones attention, the rest is down to whether they like you and the idea, no amount of email templates will solve that.
So come on TK, give us some detail on how you got in front of those investors in the first place ;)
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Ygor 2 days ago replies
The question now is will this be the Hindenburg moment of this type of services, or is it just a speed bump?
We'll see how all this bad press is going to spread across the rest of the mainstream media and tabloids. I know we are all disappointed with the way airbnb handled the situation, but we really shouldn't be happy if all the sensation seeking press starts using this to boost their sales, and in the process damages this market beyond repair.
2
adnam 2 days ago 4 replies
Why would anyone give the keys to their home to a total stranger? (And leave them on their own for a whole week?)
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arghnoname 2 days ago 3 replies
There's nothing new in the actual story. I thought it's placement on the front page (below the fold) of the print edition was significant. It's not exactly a tech publication.
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bproper 2 days ago 4 replies
It would cost a fraction of their recent raise to make this woman whole again, at least financially.
They should have brought her in, given her a heartfelt apology from the executive team, and paid her a large lump sum. In return she would sign a NDA.
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Omnipresent 2 days ago 0 replies
never imagined this type of thing would happen in startups - top level bureaucracy. Doesn't this happen in big corps?
Maybe I'm looking at this whole black cloud of bad PR in a simplistic way but why is it so hard to bring EJ over or fly over to her, assess the situation, put her in a hotel, replace her stuff, help her find a new place. Doing that will get AirBnB much much more popularity than their famous cereal box story that we've heard so much of.
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chailatte 2 days ago 4 replies
At this point in time, I wonder if it's in pg's best interest to cut loss, and sever the relationship with airbnb altogether. Sell yc's stake in airbnb, and avoid talking about them ever again.
Sure, airbnb has a $1b valuation for now. But does anybody really think they're worth $1b after this, and only on an estimated $10M cumulative revenue? (not to mention the pending stock market collapse and IPO window closing, precipitated by US default next Tuesday)
They have a pretty toxic public image now amongst early adopters, and will only get worse. They have a business process which now appears to be broken, and it will cut into their already miniscule revenue to fix it. They do not have a moral/charismatic leader that can guide them thorough an important crisis like this. They are deemed illegal in many parts of US, and will likely be more so later once more mainstream media picks up on it.
On top of that, they are destroying yc's precarious image. And they're dragging this entire mess on all the other yc's startups (the other yc founders have to stand up to defend airbnb. Other applicants realizes that the best performing company in yc is one that does evil)
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Havoc 2 days ago 0 replies
>These included doubling the size of its customer support team, setting up a 24-hour telephone hotline, and offering insurance products.
That is a pretty weak response. Peddling insurance...really?
Even worse I can't really think of a better response. i.e. The model might be inherently flawed & un-fixable.
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indrax 2 days ago 0 replies
Other times when people get their houses ransacked while on vacation, we don't have a flap of stories about the post office leaving mail in the mailboxes. A criminal decided to use AirBNB to find an empty apartment and provide cover.
It is important for them to react well to this, but they just can't provide real security. And they shouldn't have to, they're matchmakers.
All this media attention is going to make them feel like they need to do everything, but past the basics of providing good customer service lies a few good measures and a lot of security theater. They're being hammered to do the impossible because they are novel.
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shareme 2 days ago 2 replies
Its not a customer service issue..hold on wait..let me explain..
Its an identity problem..How do you have processes and procedures in place that uses identity as the qualifier of being able to trust a person to temp rent to ? Fro example, world wide what do we use as the identifier to get all this info? Is it a credit card number? Is it a credit card number and other pieces of info?
Look at the processes of PayPal..similar identity/trust problem or Amazon Stores..
I submit that Airbnb has not solved the identity/trust set of problems yet and that is their stumbling block not reactions to customer problems as the techmedia has blarred..
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zwieback 2 days ago 2 replies
My first thought was "business opportunity to offer insurance to airbnb customers".
Apparently there are already websites up to do just that.
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pseudonym 2 days ago 1 reply
I'm a little surprised it took this long to start showing up in print, as it were. I'll also be interested in seeing if they do a followup with her latest post.
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civild 2 days ago 2 replies
It won't be long until the tabloids pick this up and run with it, applying their own sensationalist inaccuracies. I think Airbnb have to act quickly to fix this before it turns into a Fox affiliate human interest story and damages their reputation irreconcilably.
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dbuizert 2 days ago 0 replies
I think more importantly, could this have been prevented? They should have done the proper research on the risks involved.
They should also have provided users with a quick (even webpage) on risks involved and precautions people can take and make. And provide the users more background info on the renter. It's not as simple as running a hotel.
To me this looks and feels like a story of simple thinking and bad iterating. I doubt this is the only case out there. There should have been a lot of minor issues as well. And we all know it starts small before it becomes a tornado and tears your house and community down.
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gaurav_v 2 days ago 1 reply
The last line of her most recent blog post pretty much sums up the entire thrust of her story and its problems for Airbnb:
"And for those who have so generously suggested a donation fund be set up to help me recover, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and suggest that instead, you keep the money and use it to book yourself into a nice, safe hotel room the next time you travel. You'll be glad you did."
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helwr 2 days ago 1 reply
There is no such thing as bad publicity
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conesus 6 days ago replies
I used to use Google Reader, but I found that I missed seeing the original site and that I couldn't easily filter out stories I didn't want to read.
So I built NewsBlur -- http://www.newsblur.com . It's open-source and I'd love if more folks followed my development: http://github.com/samuelclay .
It's been a weekend project but it's been a wild ride so far. One of my main goals is to have much of the functionality of Google Reader, most of which has slowly made its way into NewsBlur. I'm currently working on a free iOS app for NewsBlur. I also put out an API so that others could also make their own feed reader.
But really, I missed seeing the original site more than anything. It looks like a security hole, but NewsBlur actually just proxies the site and displays it back to the user. And the intelligence slider keeps me sane, since I slide it towards green and my unread count comes down to a manageable level.
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tlrobinson 6 days ago 6 replies
I used to go through cycles reading RSS feeds and declaring RSS bankruptcy, but I've given up.
I need a priority queue RSS reader. Show me the N most "important" posts across all my feeds since I last visited. Importance would be calculated a number of ways:
* Prioritize posts from low volume feeds. I probably want to see every post from a friend who blogs once a month, but not every post from Engadget.
* Most favorited/liked/whatever, especially among my friends.
* Similar posts to things I've favorited/liked/whatever in the past.
* Manually tagging certain feeds as important.
Also, I have this problem other "streams" of information, like Twitter, and email (Gmail's Priority Inbox is a good start). Some people I follow post a lot of useless stuff, but I still follow them because they're friends or sometimes say interesting things.
Is there anything remotely like this out there?
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smhinsey 6 days ago 4 replies
It's been basically my primary portal to the internet since it came out. Other than HN and reddit, which don't really produce super useful feeds, I don't really browse any sites directly anymore. I have always been looking for the next big thing to replace it, since there hasn't been a tremendous amount of effort put into it lately, but nothing has compared.
The feature that I have been sort of daydreaming about is the ability to use your subscriptions to weight your search results so that sites you've subscribed to are ranked higher.
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jbk 6 days ago 1 reply
I use Tiny Tiny RSS ( http://tt-rss.org/ ). Open source, with a correct mobile web version and an Android application.
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tednaleid 6 days ago 0 replies
I leverage Google Reader, but never go to the website. It stores my subscriptions and current read state. A variety of clients synchronize the latest results. NetNewsWire on the desktop, Reeder on the iPad and NewsRob on my NexusOne Android phone. Not sure which one this falls under, but I picked "No, but I do use another RSS reader on a daily basis".
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lionhearted 6 days ago 0 replies
There's no voting field for "I use it sporadically," or that's what I'd have voted.
I check HN first, my favorite blogs directly second, and the current forums I'm reading third. If I have more time to burn (rarely), I sign in to Reader. I liberally built up my RSS feed with lots of things, so it's great for skimming, but the signal:noise ratio isn't all that great. Hence, my fourth choice for getting some information/entertainment.
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jinushaun 6 days ago 0 replies
As far as I'm concerned, Google Reader is the internet. I rarely interact with websites directly.
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siddhant 6 days ago 0 replies
I use NetNewsWire ( http://netnewswireapp.com/ ). I usually open up a lot of tabs in my browser, so I try and move things away from it as much as I can. Plus, native apps look better than web apps, at least for now (and at least on Macs).
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anigbrowl 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but I find it very frustrating in some respects. It essentially performs a similar function to Gmail, but using an interface that feels 5 years out of date. I really hope that G+ is the beginning of a more integrated approach to input stream classification and management. It drives me nuts that Reader doesn't provide any method for construction of tagging rules, trackback analysis, or filtering.
11
alain94040 6 days ago 0 replies
Warning: this poll is useless due to high selection bias. Why? Most people who don't use Google Reader will not bother to click on the link to the poll. I don't see how to correct for such a huge bias.
12
_delirium 6 days ago 0 replies
Currently not too often. I go back and forth on RSS overall, and am sort of undecided.
Pro, versus normal webbrowsing: I don't end up doing the nervous-tic "reload to see if there's anything new on site A, then site B, then site C..." procrastination dance.
Cons, versus normal webbrowsing: 1) Everything gets put into a standardized layout, while I like the different kinds of design around the web, some of which aren't just aesthetic but include different paradigms (magazine-type versus forum-type versus link-sharing-type site layouts); 2) I end up feeling like I have this constant backlog of stuff to read, as if it were another email inbox, while it's easier to ignore old content when loading up a website.
My compromise is that for now I have only 4 blogs in my RSS feed, which update infrequently--- some of them not even more often than one post every 1-2 months. I have them there because they update infrequently enough that I'd forget to check, but I do want to see new posts when they arrive. Other sites I either check regularly in a browser, or I read whenever someone shares an interesting link to them, or whenever I remember, depending on the site.
13
st3fan 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but indirectly. I use the awesome Reeder app for iOS and OS X. Which grabs stuff from my Google Reader account.
15
ugh 6 days ago 1 reply
Do you mean Reader as a service or Reader as a web app? I use Reader clients across all my devices daily, I wouldn't be caught dead using the Reader web app daily. It's horrific. (I will use it if I happen to be in front of a device where I cannot install anything and only have access to a web browser.)
The service is great, the web app is not.
16
Duff 6 days ago 1 reply
I love Reader. It amazes me that Google keeps creating these new "social" features, where they have a great social thing going already.
I share stuff and discuss things with my colleagues on Reader. Somehow, they launched Google+ without any integration!
17
tshtf 6 days ago 0 replies
I ssh into my server and run Newsbeuter ( http://newsbeuter.org/ ). I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a console based RSS reader.
18
Ronkdar 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Reader on a nearly hourly basis. I suppose I should stop that...
19
mhd 6 days ago 1 reply
Yes, and one of my few wishes for chrome would be something like Firefox' (hidden) "open new windows as background tabs" preference, then using the 'v' key would become an order of magnitude more productive. That's my usual response for TL;DR blog posts. Browse through the whole list with your vi-keys, pick the ones that don't fit (or lose too much essential formatting) for other tabs, skim through the rest within the reader.
As opposed to gmail, I could probably switch to something else if it had a half-way decent mobile version. Reeder isn't that essential to me.
20
Adaptive 6 days ago 1 reply
Reader is also great for managing podcasts via "Listen" (Google's Android Podcast app). Nice because they show up with the rest of my RSS feeds.
21
athst 6 days ago 1 reply
I have never been able to get RSS to work for me - I'd always subscribe to a bunch of feeds, then they'd pile up into hundreds of unread posts, and then I'd just go numb to it and end up visiting the site itself like I did before.
But now, Twitter has filled this hole for me - most every site or writer of significance has a Twitter feed, and it's easy to follow them. I don't feel obligated to read down this huge stack of accumulated posts, so there aren't any mental barriers to use it. In addition, you read the content on the site itself, in the format that it was meant for (or you add it to Instapaper). Twitter is sorta like RSS for normal humans.
22
mcherm 6 days ago 0 replies
"Everyone says" blogs are dead. Maybe they've been replaced by Twitter. But for me, reading blogs is essential: I learn a great deal from them. Many reputable news sources also have RSS feeds. I read from several different locations so I need a web-based tool to be able to keep track of what I have read. I'd be happy to use another tool, but the only decent one I know of is Google Reader.
23
lftl 6 days ago 2 replies
I generally use Feedly ( http://www.feedly.com/home#my ) now, mostly because their Android client is much faster, at least for the way I read. They sync subs, and status with Reader so you can bounce back and forth. Their web client really isn't any better than Google Reader's but it's somewhat habitual now to go there instead of Google Reader.
24
mikeklaas 6 days ago 0 replies
No, because RSS readers are still stuck in the mindset of email clients. Unread counts. Keep track of read state for everything. It's better than nothing, but not much, especially for non-techies.
A better answer would be something like HN: isn't limited to certain sources, the best content floats to the top, and is in tune with the idiosyncrasies that set you apart from mainstream nonsense. [1]
[1] Oh look, I built just that http://zite.com :)
25
rjd 6 days ago 0 replies
You are missing the option "Yes, but via a third party client"
As I normally use net newswire and reeder, both tying into google reader, but I hate the web site interface.
26
there 6 days ago 2 replies
i used bloglines for a long time until they started having problems with feeds not consistently updating. i was comfortable with their interface, so i just duplicated it ( http://den.im/ - http://i.imgur.com/0e8jc.png ) and created all of the code underneath to fetch feeds.
i added twitter oauth support so that twitter streams look and update just like rss feeds (but with posting/replying support). i added voting so that there could be a frontpage full of popular stories, and a mobile version that looks decent on android/iphone.
but by then google reader had taken off and my few beta users had switched to that, so now i'm the only one still using it and the voting is useless. i'd probably just abandon it for something else but i haven't seen anything that integrates rss feeds, twitter, package tracking, and has a decent mobile interface. so for now it just remains a side project.
27
pauljonas 5 days ago 0 replies
Love Google Reader, have ~2,500 subscriptions, it is the only RSS reader that could handle such volume -- NetNewsWire make my Mac sputter and smoke with only ~300 feeds or so.
Many might be aghast at the humungous subscription set, but I do not do RSS like email -- it is more akin to a stream I surf, skim and dip. And it is lightning fast, permitting me to breeze through content in a rapid pace.
That said, I am astonished at how Google has allowed it to languish and stagnate, or by adding incomplete and inconsequential features.
* One of the big reasons I made the switch was the ability to search feeds, but sadly, of late, it looks like "search" (which I thought was the bread and butter Google raison d'être) functionality has deteriorated, not as robust or comprehensive as even a year ago or few months ago.
* No public API.
* Control to let me jump in at a given time point in the stream. Sometimes due to just mistakenly hitting a hotkey that refreshes and resets when I'm in the middle of a stream. Or it might be that I just want to jump to feeds earlier than 8 hours ago, 3 days ago, or 3 months ago.
28
encoderer 6 days ago 1 reply
I changed an ex-girlfriends life with Reader -- I swear to god. She's a (semi) extreme couponer and deal hunter. Every day there's dozens of give-away's. Good, expensive stuff. Be the first 100 to click on this link, or the first 25 to take that survey, etc. She followed a dozen+ blogs every day to stay current on these things.
When I set her up in Reader and she discovered the "Next Item" button, it changed her life. It was really pretty great to be able to help her like that and see her eyes light up.
29
shinratdr 6 days ago 0 replies
Does that include Google Reader clients? I have used the web interface maybe twice in two years, but I use Reeder on my phone & Mac every day.
30
thom 6 days ago 0 replies
I store my blogroll on Google Reader, and sync it to NetNewsWire on my Mac and Reeder on iOS. It often makes me wish Twitter tracked read/unread information across devices.
Never use the web interface though.
31
bentruyman 6 days ago 1 reply
I've been using Fever for (what I think is) a few years now and haven't looked back: http://feedafever.com/
32
ssp 6 days ago 0 replies
I switched to http://fastladder.com/ after bloglines became unusable.
33
spindritf 5 days ago 0 replies
I use Liferea, it came with the system. Tried Google Reader once but its import feature messed up the order the feeds were in and treated hierarchic folders as a flat tag space which, after years of being accustomed to my feeds in a certain way and next to one another, killed my enthusiasm for it.
34
wccrawford 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes. I found this post with it.
35
brg 6 days ago 1 reply
Why? Is this market research for a new reader, or is this tool next on the Google chopping block and your looking for demographics.
36
gmartres 6 days ago 0 replies
Wow, that's unexpected. I'd have thought the HN crowd would be keen not to depend on Google for too many services. Especially when there's a lot of open source alternatives and when it appears that Reader does not even support something as basic and important as offline reading: https://www.google.com/support/forum/p/reader/thread?tid=5fc...
Personally I use Akregator( http://userbase.kde.org/Akregator/fr )
What's so great about Reader?
37
ajpatel 6 days ago 0 replies
I used to use Reader religiously...then I finally spent the time to find all those sites' Twitter feeds and shifted everything over to Twitter...it took forever but it's infinitely easier to share things now.
38
Sindisil 5 days ago 0 replies
The one feature gReader is missing, which may drive me to an alternative, is the ability to chose a set of items to mark as read.
I can "mark all as read", of course, but I'd like to be able to eliminate items I can tell from the title are not of immediate interest.
39
klochner 6 days ago 1 reply
So google has more than 90% RSS reader market share?
That seems surprisingly high to me.
40
wslh 6 days ago 1 reply
Yes, one of the main advantages is having all the historical posts there, since RSS is used only for latest posts.
Another feature is automatic translation, I follow a blog from Ukraine there.
41
forkrulassail 6 days ago 0 replies
A bit of an addict, frankly.
Trying to avert the damage with instapaper and my Kindle.
42
dfischer 6 days ago 1 reply
I stopped using RSS a year ago. Too much shit. I filter what's important through my Twitter followers now.
43
rednaught 6 days ago 0 replies
I've been using Feedlooks ( http://www.feedlooks.com/ ) which also a Twitter client built in. It also takes care of the "mark as read" problem when subscribed to a large number of feeds.
44
robgough 5 days ago 0 replies
Switched from Bloglines many moons ago, and never looked back... I use Reeder on my iPad, Helvetireader2 as a browser script and don't ever really use it on my phone, but when I do I'd use the mobile site.
45
moonlighter 5 days ago 0 replies
I'm using NewsRack (which sync's with Google Reader), so implicitly I'm using Google Reader (just not it's web UI).
46
jaxn 6 days ago 0 replies
I use NetNewsWire every morning on my iPad. However, it is pulling from Google Reader.
My feed reading has changed drastically though. I used to subscribe to over 200 feeds, now I try to keep it under 20 (and not every feed has updates every day).
47
barik 6 days ago 0 replies
I actually use a version of FeedDemon ( http://www.feeddemon.com/ ) which is essentially a desktop application that can integrate with Google Reader. So technically, the answer is between "Yes", and "No, but I do use another RSS reader on a daily basis".
48
neilbowers 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but via Reeder. I gave up on using Google Reader directly.
49
elmindreda 6 days ago 0 replies
Every morning starts with coffee and Liferea.
50
jbui 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, although I rarely ever use their web interface to view the feeds. (I use reeder, if your curious)
51
gtzi 5 days ago 0 replies
No, Twitter has over time replaced Google Reader for me. I don't know how to feel about it.
52
budman 5 days ago 0 replies
I have been an everyday RSS user for a few years now. Jumped around trying Bloglines, a few desktop clients, Google Reader, some unknown smaller sites, etc over that time. Finally I found my perfect aggregator and have been using it daily for about 8 months now. I even took it upon myself to donate a few bucks to developer.
Simple, free and open source: http://rsslounge.aditu.de/
Only catch is it requires your own host/webserver with PHP/SQL and a quick installation. But well worth it for me as I just dropped it onto one of my websites.
53
rhizome31 5 days ago 0 replies
I use Netvibes. Good to see other interesting news readers suggested here. I'll give them a try.
I avoid using Google products as much as I can. I still have a Gmail address that some people use, but it forwards to another address. I should probably set up an auto-reply to tell people to stop using it. I still have a site on App Engine that I need to migrate (will give me a good excuse to try Flask or Brubeck :-) The only Google product that I think I'm going to keep using is Youtube, because it has content I can't watch elsewhere.
54
charlax 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, I read (or skim through) about 200 articles a day (it takes me 30'). I refine my list on a monthly basis and make sure only relevant RSS feed are listed to make sure I am not overwhelmed.
55
losvedir 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but basically only on my phone.
56
simcop2387 6 days ago 0 replies
I use google reader as an aggregator for my feeds and pull them in with Liferea to actually read them. It makes it really nice to use since it keeps all of the readers in sync between machines.
57
Dysiode 6 days ago 0 replies
I tried Reader but it's not in my face enough to remember it, instead I use Opera's built-in RSS reader which has notifications (I imagine Chrome + Reader could have notifications like Gmail Chat).
58
adyus 6 days ago 0 replies
Another option I find myself using more and more often is Newsblur.
59
erikb 5 days ago 0 replies
I'm an IT student in Germany and must say that there is basically nobody here who uses RSS readers at all. The only reason for RSS in Germany seems to be that tools can also read it (like mobile apps for facebook and co.)
60
swah 6 days ago 1 reply
Missing option: Yes, but would use something better.
61
thirdsun 5 days ago 0 replies
If Reeder for iPad is considered as using Google Reader, then yes, daily. This is without a doubt my most used iPad app and very essential for my daily routine.
62
panacea 6 days ago 1 reply
Does via a widget on iGoogle count?
63
Fuzzwah 5 days ago 1 reply
I self host a copy of rnews http://rnews.sourceforge.net/ which I've hacked up to do a heap of extra things, such as tweet links which I click on (I use this as a simple history system).
I was never a fan of the g.reader layout and toyed with a boxed layout on an igoogle page similar to what I have set up in my rnews system but it felt clunky.
65
whalesalad 6 days ago 0 replies
I gave up on RSS... I get most of my news through Twitter and HN actually.
66
dym 6 days ago 1 reply
The missing option is: "Yes, and I wrote code for it" :)
BTW have you tried to enter the Konami code into Reader?
67
ahmetalpbalkan 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Reeder for Mac, which is an app for Google Reader. it uses Google Reader, but I don't use its web interface.
68
Share w/ comment = Share with comment on G+
Are there any other features? related to G+ or otherwise?
69
lilc 5 days ago 0 replies
I didn't use it much until I found you could interact with it via an API. This is what got me using it: http://cpansearch.perl.org/src/GRAY/WebService-Google-Reader...
70
aorshan 6 days ago 0 replies
I just use rockmelt as my browser and have all the news websites I care about on my edge. That way its all there when I want to see it and can see whenever anything is updated.
71
riceadam 6 days ago 1 reply
No, but I use Reeder.
72
urlwolf 5 days ago 0 replies
I use the opera feed reader, it's fantastic. Much faster than greader to move around, works offline.
73
chromejs10 5 days ago 0 replies
I couldn't live without my Google Reader. It's simple and basic which is what I want. I don't need a complex article viewer. I need to see the summary, bookmark some, and be able to view the full article. That's it.
74
jcasman 5 days ago 0 replies
These days it's daily but that comes and goes. It's like any kind of reading, way overloaded which means periodically I consciously give up or... just never get around to it. The Mark All As Read is a key function for me, so I can start fresh.
75
quintinsykes 6 days ago 0 replies
Just gave up Reader after using for a couple of years. I found I could get the same benefit following the same people/blogs/publications in Twitter and using Instapaper for stuff I wanted to read later. For me, it's one less thing to keep up with.
76
realgt 6 days ago 0 replies
i loved Google Reader until i started using feedly which is how reader _should_ have been implemented. i've been cycling through 15K+ items per month on reader for several years now and don't ever see myself not using rss for content discovery
77
LordBodak 5 days ago 0 replies
I love Google Reader! For Android users, I highly recommend D7 Reader - https://sites.google.com/site/d7reader/
It's quite a bit better than the official app.
78
rahilsondhi 6 days ago 0 replies
I used to check it daily, but now I've stopped because of information overload. The most important news finds its way to me (eg through Facebook or Twitter shares), otherwise, I'm much more productive just getting some work done.
79
virtualpain 5 days ago 0 replies
No, but I do use Reader at least weekly. I use RSS reader to avoid blog's annoying advertisement (although some blogs has ads in their RSS but that less annoy) and heavy load theme (yes my internet connection suck)
80
jonmulholland 6 days ago 0 replies
Not anymore, Twitter lists + Flipboard have totally replaced Google Reader for me.
81
yarone 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, and it really needs to be improved! It's been neglected for too long.
82
TodWait 6 days ago 0 replies
I use it, but get a sense fewer people are using it than a few years ago. Most people I know get their interesting links by connecting and following smart folks on Twitter and feeding their links to PostRank.
83
SonicSoul 6 days ago 0 replies
yes, and also Reeder for OSX and iOS. keeps all devices in sync. i wish i found a similar setup for podcasts. i've been trying to use itunes but that is a disaster when you use multiple computers.
84
Concours 5 days ago 0 replies
I use http://www.nerdzine.com on a daily basis for my rss news.
85
orionlogic 5 days ago 0 replies
Yes. Google Reader is my bookmark manager in cloud.
86
beefman 5 days ago 0 replies
"Since April 18, 2007 you have read a total of 118,679 items."
87
barista 6 days ago 0 replies
my yahoo is my reader of choice.
88
quattrofan 5 days ago 0 replies
Love it, but it really needs a link into Google+ asap
89
adsrikanth 6 days ago 0 replies
I used to and now, it seems to be a time killer so, I removed my feeds.
It's a great resource for filtering jobs from sites like craigslist.
90
imagetic 6 days ago 0 replies
No / Yes. I use Reeder daily on the Mac and iPad. I can't stand going to Reader, the UI sucked so bad for so long. Reederapp was a huuuuge win.
92
zobzu 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Firefox live bookmarks.
I tried many feed readers but I never find them as convenient. I must be broken.
93
NathanC 5 days ago 0 replies
I use http://fmeme.com/ and get endless content curated by category
94
brevityness 5 days ago 0 replies
My heart is with Reeder for Mac - http://reederapp.com/mac/
95
arjn 6 days ago 0 replies
I use google reader on my Transformer tablet (Android). While it's not perfect, its reasonably usable and works well.
96
aurynn 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but I'm in the process of moving off google-hosted things, so I'll need to figure out a new topology for this...
97
siri 5 days ago 0 replies
I use reader more than my gmail... sad to see no UI or feature development on reader since longtime..
98
hbzhang 6 days ago 0 replies
I do not use Google reader. I just tech news droid app. It is good enough! GR seems an old concept already.
99
hgarg2011 5 days ago 0 replies
Yes, on Mac and Android phone.
I do use other RSS Readers which in turn connect to Google Reader,
100
mikecsh 6 days ago 0 replies
I use it indirectly to sync NetNewsWire on my Mac, iPhone and iPad. I don't use the app itself though.
101
borland 6 days ago 0 replies
Where's the "Yes, but I never actually use the interface, only third party apps like Reeder on iOS" ?
102
whatgoodisaroad 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes. I have it open 100% of the time.
103
dunhamda 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Google Reader daily, but I probably would not have participated in this poll if I didn't.
104
skilesare 6 days ago 0 replies
Where is the option for 'hourly'?
105
CedriK 5 days ago 0 replies
Yes but may look for another reader. Because they don't add some new features.
106
therationalme 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes... although I should probably moderate my rss habits with a little more discipline
107
horza 6 days ago 0 replies
No, I use Mixtab for Mac, it's available on the Mac App Store.
108
2nd_planet 5 days ago 0 replies
I use it maybe monthly; but not daily.
109
sgentle 9 days ago replies
I think there's an important lesson here that you can take home right now: If your primary email is an @gmail.com address, you have your head firmly in the lion's mouth.
You can backup your data. You can have fallback tools and services. You cannot backup your identity. And if that identity is controlled by Google, you are tying your online existence for the duration to the foibles of a publically traded company with a shitty track record of customer support.
Tell me with a straight face that you know Google won't mess you around like this - not just now, but for the next decade. Hell, tell me you know your account won't be algorithmically disabled tomorrow. If your last name isn't Gundotra, I don't think you can. Why, then, are you taking that risk when the cost is so small?
.com domains retail for about $10/year, Google Apps Free Edition is here: http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html - you can keep the services you like while retaining control of your email address.
Disclaimer: I have an @gmail.com address that I'm suddenly realising is a sword over my head.
2
c2 9 days ago replies
Google has a support problem. I'm amazed after almost a decade of offering services like email and advertising, they still haven't done anything to develop a reasonable support system for customers to address issues like this. Maybe they have a few open lines with their top 1% of customers but the attitude that "it's free, you are a meaningless statistic in our giant revenue stream so too bad" for the rest of their customers in unacceptable.
Your data in Google could disappear in an instant, and you may never know why. That is just scary to me. Advertising, email, - everything - with no one to call and no recourse to get it back.
I will be actively trying to move all my services off of Google starting today.
3
nhashem 9 days ago 1 reply
I used to play World of Warcraft and I used a separate email address for all my WoW activities on web -- emailing, blogging, commenting on blogs, etc.
One day I was about to leave a comment on a blog when I got a message saying Google disabled my account due to the fact that they "perceived a violation." There was a little form I could submit an appeal/explanation to, and they said they would review my account within 30 days.
Being cut off from the WoW blogosphere wasn't the worst thing in the world. About three weeks later I did get access to my account. Turns out I was hacked and the hacker used my account to spam a bunch of people -- not surprising especially since I used a pretty crappy password. Luckily my actual Battle.net account was under my main e-mail address, so ultimately no damage was done.
Still, all I could think was, "man, if this happened to my main email address, I would be so incredibly hosed it wouldn't be funny."
4
Natsu 9 days ago 0 replies
Why doesn't Google just give people a way to download their email & contacts after they've been locked out? I assume it's already bouncing any new email.
At least then, the guy wouldn't be completely screwed, and it's the sort of solution that scales, given that they're not interested in creating expensive support infrastructure for free products.
5
GvS 9 days ago 2 replies
Google+ makes getting backup of all your data really easy ( https://www.google.com/takeout/ ). I'm really worried about Google horror stories but I like using their services, so I'll just settle with doing regular backups.
6
srl 9 days ago 0 replies
I'm not sure why this problem (the general problem - the risk of valid accounts being arbitrarily blocked) isn't an easy fix for google. Most spammers/fraudsters seek efficiency, so just take that efficiency away. When an account is first suspected, start requiring a CAPTCHA for every email sent. Then, when the time comes to block, let there be an annoying but doable automated procedure for unblocking (perhaps involving emails sent from the addresses of several of your frequent contacts), with a time delay - after your first block, it takes 5 hours to unblock, after your second, 1 day, and so on.
It would reduce what is now a very scary prospect for people who (like me) put too many eggs in G's basket, to a minor inconvenience rarely encountered. And I can't see that it would make life much easier for spammers.
10
ditojim 9 days ago 0 replies
i wouldnt be surprised if it turns out he did something to violate google's tos.
regardless, they need to communicate with their users if they close an account, and give users an opportunity to take their data.
11
hannibalhorn 9 days ago 3 replies
I use Backupify to at least maintain a copy of everything with a second, separate service, just in case. It's free at my volumes, and I think a prudent idea for those of us with everything in "the cloud".
12
mark_l_watson 9 days ago 0 replies
I also rely on Google for most online services but I do take a few precautions: I use my own domain for email and route it to GMail and configure outgoing email to look like it is from my domain, I backup GMail, Docs, Blogger blog, and Picasa on a regular basis, and I route my Blogger based blog to blog.MYDOMAINNAME.com.
Sure, it would be awful to lose my Google account but I could recover from it.
13
6ren 8 days ago 0 replies
Maybe "reverse backup"?
Instead of using the cloud to backup your local data, backup your online identity locally. 1TB is about $50-$100 now; and (e.g.) Windows 7 has backup built-in. Someone just needs to extend this to the cloud.
14
dendory 8 days ago 0 replies
Btw with Google+ this will only be more common. Now it's not just a matter of did you spam someone with your Gmail account or did you break the Adsense ToS... but did you post anything at all on Google+, status update, photo, link, etc, that Google didn't like.... boom, no more Google account for you.
18
dendory 8 days ago 0 replies
This is why i have my own personal blog, and am considering moving from gmail to my own domain email
19
16s 9 days ago 1 reply
If you do anything remotely important via email, you should own you own domain name, and pay for a hosted email solution. I can suggest tuffmail. They are awesome and affordable.
20
gerds2007 9 days ago 2 replies
Startup idea: Sync all Google services with local hard drive
21
paul9290 9 days ago 0 replies
Just forward everything to a comcast or ISP email address and make that forward to a yahoo address so you have multiple backups.
22
Limes102 9 days ago 0 replies
This is why I have my own server... If everything gets deleted, it's my fault (I should have been backing up). I'm not going to punish myself for not paying attention to my non-existent terms of service.
I recognise that with the 'cloud', comes simplicity... but I'm not sure if I will ever be able to let go of my own data.
23
js2 3 days ago 7 replies
A few years back, Sergey and Larry were on NPR's Fresh Air. At one point in the interview, Terry Gross says "I tried searching for 'Google' by putting 'Google' into the search box and clicking I'm Feeling Lucky, but it didn't seem to do anything." Larry tries to explain what happened, but it seemed to go over Terry's head. At one point during the explanation I think Sergey mentioned recursion, and Terry asks "Recur-what?" To which Larry's reply was something like "Sergey is just geeking out, nevermind."
edit: maybe I'm misrembering the details a bit. From http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/17770.htm -
"Yah, it was a pretty interesting segment. Sergey talked about idempotence. :) The host (terry gross?) wondered why when you go to www.google.com and type in google and hit I'm Feeling Lucky, it went back to the main google page. Larry called it recursion. I could just imagine NPR listeners' heads shaking all across America. :)"
2
thought_alarm 3 days ago 1 reply
I suppose that's what $2.6 billion in annual operating losses buys you.
3
nostrademons 3 days ago 3 replies
This is ancient, it's been like this since before I joined Google, which was before Bing came out. I think back then Dogpile was #1 (??), then Yahoo, then MSN Live. Occasionally it comes up and people get a good chuckle out of it.
4
luigi 3 days ago 0 replies
Maybe it's because in recent years, much more has been written about Bing as a search engine.
5
uvTwitch 3 days ago 2 replies
This makes sense to me. If you're using google to find 'search', you're probably not searching for google.
6
benologist 3 days ago 1 reply
It's not that surprising, Google doesn't have to optimize for 'search' because they're synonymous for it.
7
markokocic 2 days ago 1 reply
What's even funnier, if you click on "I'm Feeling Lucky", you are automatically transferred to Bing.
It would be nice if they would prepopulate Bing search box with search query.
8
My guess for the reason is this: http://www.google.com/trends?q=google%2C+search
Note the epic rise of "google" as a search, and the decline of "search". "Googling" is replacing "searching".
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jimbokun 3 days ago 0 replies
The interesting thing for me is that it returned a couple of Japanese results in the first page, with the characters "検索" highlighted. I've done a few Japanese searches from this computer before, which I guess is why it's giving me Japanese results, but I was surprised to see them translate search into Japanese and rank the results along with the English results.
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btilly 3 days ago 0 replies
The most surprising thing about it for me is that it told me that someone I knew had shared bing on buzz earlier this year.
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Aqwis 3 days ago 0 replies
Google Search doesn't appear at all if I do the search on Google.no. Yahoo comes first, followed by Bing and search.com. Twitter, AOL and 4shared (a file sharing site) are all on the list, and so is "Google Insights for Search".
I wonder if this reflects the relative popularity of the alternative search engines in different countries. Google's search ranking algorithms hold many mysteries.
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ronnier 3 days ago 0 replies
This is good for Google. They don't want to appear to be a monopoly. Google needs Bing to be mildly successful.
19
(Gmail is still #1 for "mail" though, probably because of their URL - mail.google.com)
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Daniel_Newby 3 days ago 1 reply
On Bing, "search" goes to Yahoo.
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jameshart 2 days ago 0 replies
And the irony is, that Bing's advertising is all about how instead of 'searching', Bing is for 'deciding'. Yet they're not even on the first page for 'decide'. More SEO needed :)
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marquis 3 days ago 0 replies
It also knew very well what my location is and was blatant in using this knowledge to direct me to my local citysearch, for example.
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nsavant 3 days ago 0 replies
I never "search" for things. I "google" them.
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thethimble 3 days ago 1 reply
Google's first result is Bing.
Bing's first result is Yahoo.
Yahoo's first result is Yahoo. Way to break the cycle.
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pawelwentpawel 2 days ago 0 replies
Pretty sure that they know about it. Just shows the google's strong position on the market - then can show bing.com as the first result and still remain the first-choice web search engine ever created.
Not sure whats up with the "feeling lucky" button as if you type something to the input box, it redirects you straight to the live search. You cannot really specify what do you want feel lucky about ;)
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beforebeta 3 days ago 1 reply
Google appears as the last result on the search page!
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anirudh 3 days ago 0 replies
I wonder why they even have the "I am lucky" or even the Google Search button as tyrping even a letter takes me to the results page.
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winsbe01 2 days ago 0 replies
dogpile is still around? didn't know that.
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This one is more surprising : http://www.google.com/search?q=search+engine
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kang 2 days ago 0 replies
A proof that Google is so ethical !
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chintan 3 days ago 0 replies
Take a look at Sponsered Ads on bing and google
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sung1 3 days ago 0 replies
Maybe this is some sort of inside joke?
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autumn_ 3 days ago 2 replies
Google is first on google.com.au
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ryanisinallofus 3 days ago replies
My wife: "Will you take the trash out?"
Me: "Yeah, for sure. I'll take it out tonight."
Tonight rolls by and the next day she tells me "You didn't take out the trash. You lied."
Did I lie? Or did I have honest intentions of taking out the trash with circumstances getting in the way? Maybe I just forgot?
I don't presume to know Jobs' intentions but without a history of lying during presentations I'm going to assume his were true. Maybe the team pushed back? Maybe he just changed his mind? Maybe they are still working on it?
"Steve Jobs Lies" just attracts allot more clicks I guess than "A Year Later, FaceTime is Still Just A Tech Demo."
I would have preferred the later.
2
varunsrin 3 days ago 3 replies
' “Open” isn't just a buzz word. People like the word “open”. Marketers love it. '
A very valid point, everyone these days in jumping on the open bandwagon.
This problem isn't limited to just Apple unfortunately - several companies have been guilty of twisting open to suit their needs (HTC not releasing some modified Android code which was under GPL a while ago, and Google not releasing the Honeycomb source come to mind).
Not that any of these are wrong from a legal standpoint (OK, maybe the HTC one was) but it's still twisting the nature of open standards & platforms to suit business / marketing agendas. Open is quickly becoming the next Web 2.0.
Apple & Google have both done great things for the open standards community ( Webkit, Android etc.) but there is always a conflict between 'true' openness & business interests. Never forget, corporations exist to serve their shareholders - embracing openness is simply a means to that end.
3
rdl 3 days ago 9 replies
I might care more if I'd ever actually observed someone using FaceTime. I have 3 MacBooks, an iPad, an iPhone 4, my coworkers and girlfriend and friends have FaceTime compatible devices too, but I've never seen anyone use it. Maybe they don't open it because it is a dead product.
4
Maakuth 3 days ago 0 replies
My understanding of the situation has been that most of the FaceTime technology is indeed in the open just because they mostly used already existing technology. What is not in the open is the cryptographic key that is used to sign all the FaceTime client keys. So technically you could create a FaceTime compatible client by following open specifications and filling the gaps by reverse engineering, but Apple devices wouldn't want to talk to it without Steve's cryptographic signature.
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joshaidan 2 days ago 1 reply
Reading this makes me think of the iPhone commercial about FaceTime. http://youtu.be/EmAIptWS7Mk
"If you don't have an iPhone, you don't have FaceTime on your phone."
Perhaps it was the marketing department that was not informed of Steve's intentions to open up the FaceTime protocol, or maybe Apple really has changed their position on opening up the protocol.
I really wish they would open up the protocol. It would be very cool. And just think, all these android users would have to get iTunes accounts.
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jsz0 3 days ago 1 reply
Most people have a motive for lying. I don't really see that here. What does Apple have to gain by suggesting FaceTime would be an open standard? Did lines of people show up to buy iPhones because FaceTime would be an open standard? I doubt it. Quite the opposite I think. If you could only FaceTime between iOS devices (and Macs) that might be a competitive advantage. My guess is they simply calculated it was not worth the effort in the end. Making something an open standard and supporting centralized authentication/etc is a nontrivial thing for what purpose?
7
jm4 3 days ago 2 replies
I'm genuinely curious why it even matters whether it's open or not. I get that he said it would be open and now it's not. But beyond that why does it even matter? I can use Tango, Qik, Skype, etc. I think there's an iOS app out there that does Google Talk video. They are even easier because I don't have to explain to my parents how to connect the phone to wifi.
Maybe with the proliferation of all these other video chat apps opening up Facetime became a lower priority?
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jmspring 2 days ago 0 replies
"Steve Jobs Sometimes Lies to You" but following other posts... "Does he respect you in the morning?"
I'm sorry, but re: FaceTime, not opening it up is old news. There is probably more traction in following what is going on in the RTCWeb world than there is in any particular company's opening of their video calling API. Keeping eyeballs in the realm of the proprietary app is key.
Many companies are in paying attention to WebRTC, but it's not there yet. Some companies, I suspect, like Apple, probably don't care (at least for now). It's better to focus on the primary customer experience.
Speaking of experience, I haven't researched, but how do the assorted non-facetime apps compare w/ facetime?
9
It would appear that FaceTime is built on top of open standards, is Steve more explicit than that in the original presentation (for example, does he say that access to Apple's FaceTime servers will be available openly, etc.)?
10
benihana 3 days ago 1 reply
Didn't Apple do something similar when they forked KHTML? I think it took them a few years to make it completely open source after they said they would.
11
marioestrada 3 days ago 0 replies
Here's the only information we have publicly about what happened with the FaceTime open standard: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/05/11/facetime-standar...
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digipen79 3 days ago 1 reply
You have a great point, sir, and Apple (along with other companies) does need to be called out when they say they will allow the general user access to something and they do not put it into practice. What can we do about it, though?
13
jgh 3 days ago 1 reply
Oh gosh, I'm glad all these good people on HN have lined up to defend Steve Jobs, I don't know what I would do if I found out that he, at any point in time, lied to me. I would just... I would probably faint. Just thinking about that possibility has made me all lightheaded. I need a fan. I need to sit down. Steve Jobs will not lie to me! He is a good man! He makes the devices I crave! Electrolytes!
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mmahemoff 3 days ago 0 replies
Good point. Skype haven't been too quick about innovating anywhere lately, but companies like Tango and Fring, would be all over it if it was open. And maybe Google too, given GTalk, Android, and Google+.
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tomazstolfa 3 days ago 0 replies
wrote this a while ago. might be relevant for the debate - http://www.funkykaraoke.com/2010/10/on-facetime.html
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andrewpi 3 days ago 0 replies
The lack of any apparent activity regarding an open FaceTime protocol is pretty annoying. Has anyone emailed Steve to ask what the holdup is?
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ara4n 3 days ago 0 replies
At least Apple's failure to deliver on their promises on Open FaceTime leaves an opening for other folks to deliver (e.g. http://jointheseen.com/sdk )
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mmuro 3 days ago 2 replies
"Open" does not always equal "Open Source."
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known 2 days ago 0 replies
You cannot successfully run a business without lies.
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juliano_q 3 days ago 2 replies
I think Facetime is already open. You can use it on your Mac, on your iPhone, on your iPad. Looks like this is open to Steve Jobs, open to all your iOS devices. Why would you need to have another kind of device anyway?
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tobylane 3 days ago 1 reply
There are plenty of (insert absolutely any apple product here)-killers that are loudly touted by the manufacturer, and any apple-hater that we have never heard of since. Do we whinge that there hasn't been more proof that the iphone/etc are best? Silence isn't incriminating, it's silence.
How open is Honeycomb, or Ice Cream?
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ethank 3 days ago 1 reply
I don't think that a calculated decision not to deliver something indicates that he lied in the moment. Its faulty logic. It means that he set out to deceive rather than made a mistake, spoke too soon, didn't consult with his team or whatever the case may be.
Downvote away, but its true. What may be a lie after the fact was not a lie in situ.
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garbageInnerLo 3 days ago 2 replies
The author of this blog post is a known loud-mouth, a know-it-all, yet wrong 99% of the time.
There's got to be a way to block these ignorant kids and their bullshit, ignorant blog posts. They are stuck in a 12-year-old mindset, and don't know why the tech world operates like it does.
Seriously... look at all of his bullshit blog postings. I'm glad he's focused on that, instead of using his stupidity to harm others. Usually it can be ignored (unless it pops up on 'Hacker-Wannabe-Script-Kiddie-Failed-Businessman' News)
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buster 3 days ago 1 reply
one cent for every lie, and i'd be millionaire by now..
(this had to be said and will be worth the massive downvotes)
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napierzaza 3 days ago 0 replies
He's not in political office. He's not beholden to your or me. Unfortunately they didn't open it. It would be great if they had. But it's just a dead feature. Steve Jobs actual legally binding responsibility is to the share holders that he will make Apple money. Why not reverse engineer FaceTime and release a OpenSource version?
Anyway,if you REALLY want someone to dilly dally with the term "Open", you should get an Android phone.
26
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The New York Times
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The meat substitute product Quorn is made from?
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1 Aug 2011 Best | Hackerbrain
hacker news with inline top comments .. more
.. 1 Aug 2011 Best
home ask best 6 years ago
2
926 points by foxit 4 days ago 379 comments top 82
1
edw519 4 days ago replies
I get angry when I realize I will never again be who I've always been before, someone who lived strong and free by the creed that people are essentially good, that if you think optimistically, trust others.
Please don't let them steal this too.
I'm really sorry for your bad experience, but remember:
- You can still live strong and free.
- People are still essentially good.
- You can still think optimistically.
- You can still trust others.
It's true, you will never be who you've always been. But you can be almost the same person, still optimistic and trusting, just a little less naive. You many not realize it now, but the time will come when you may actually appreciate this as a learning experience.
There are bad people out there and some of them will want to hurt you. You don't have to sacrifice who you really are because of them. You just have to live a little bit differently.
Don't let them take away you really are. Believe it or not, that would be much worse than what they've already done.
Lots of well wishes for your quick recovery.
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brianchesky 4 days ago replies
Hey everyone - we were shocked when we heard about this unsettling event. We have been working closely with the authorities, and we want to reassure our community that, with the help of our security infrastructure, we were able to assist the police in their investigation, and we understand from authorities that a suspect is now in custody.
We've created a marketplace built on trust, transparency and authenticity within our community, and we hold the safety of our community members as our highest priority. We will continue to work with our users to stamp out those who would put that community at risk in any way. The vast majority of our community members genuinely respect and protect each other, but we urge users to be careful and discerning with each other and to hold others accountable through reviews, flagging and our customer service channel. Our hearts go out to our host and we will continue to work with her and with the authorities to make this right.
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varunsrin 4 days ago replies
I always found AirBnB's model based on a surprising amount of trust - I for one would never be comfortable just handing over they keys to my place to a total stranger.
Even if they didn't ransack my place completely, as happened to the unfortunate author - I would be concerned about unintentional damage to my property that I might not discover till too late. Renting out something as private as my primary place of residence just seems like a generally bad idea, especially when I am not around to constantly check in on it. Even if I got to meet them, and they seemed like nice people whats to stop them from leaving without paying if they accidentally broke my TV ?
As the service expands, and becomes more craigslist-y (in terms of audience) I can only see problems like this getting worse, and apart from implementing some kind of guest / host rating system (like ecommerce portals do with sellers) I see no clear solution to the problem.
4
vladd 4 days ago 2 replies
AirBnB can be used without issues if you own a property and you're willing to operate it like a hotel: you're present on the premises to check in the guests, you have a room or a reception-like place from where you can monitor the situation, and you're able to inspect the place when they leave.
Operating a property remotely via AirBnB implies all sorts of risks, which makes me think that it might be an unsustainable model, because a black swan event might ruin the property to such extent that it offsets the income made in all the other cases.
AirBnB handles property promotion and property booking on the Internet -- that's fine -- but when it advertised itself it included in the message ways to do property administration (as in rent-your-home-while-away). While this is not connected intricately with their core business, it is the model that some owners assumed by default, without realizing the risks involved or the fact that you are still exposed to one-in-one-hundred unpleasant events.
If they manage to warn about this upfront similar to the way Craiglist does, without losing their brand and their community support, then owners will become aware of those issues and take the necessary protection (by i.e. requesting guarantees/deposits/passports or by using their social network to validate the guests). If they don't, I'm afraid a couple of bad PR articles will be enough to destroy their reputation.
P.S.: I haven't heard of hotels managed remotely; there are some hotels where you check in automatically and you get the keys via some sort of robot system but in the morning there is someone handling the checkout, the cleaning etc. In addition they have your credit card on file, your passport, probably your cam photo when you picked up the keys and the most you can destroy is a hotel room (still a great deal of value but somehow limited and the hotel probably has insurance for it). But automation didn't pick up at scale in the hotel industry. In the current state, it thrives partially because the reception provides the safety-checks and balances needed to prevent and offset these black swan events. I'm not sure the remote administration model is scalable or even manage-able due to this.
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gojomo 4 days ago 4 replies
The guests sound like drug addicts. (Maybe meth? Tweakers do bizarre things like move furniture at odd hours or burn fires without opening the flue.)
I've been a happy AirBnb guest on a few occasions; the one time I had someone's whole usual studio apartment I found it a bit strange how much of their life was left on display for me �" like the host's prescriptions still in the fridge! �" but of course respected their privacy.
Each time I've been a guest, we've seen photos of each other on the site, and the keys were handed off in person. While I didn't expect anyone to stop by and check on me during my stays, I always had the impression the host or host's friends were nearby.
A guest with criminal intent would try to pick a place for a longer stay, in a more anonymous building, with a host known to be out-of-town. But then again, that's also what someone seeking to burglarize any vacation-emptied residence would do. More or less this same sort of crime could happen without AirBnb, or perhaps be enabled by nothing more than tracking public tweets/'check-ins' to predict unit vacancy.
(Another development I eventually expect in this progression of tech-mediated sharing: a bad-faith host who surveils their guests.)
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econgeeker 4 days ago 1 reply
AirBnB makes us travelers vulnerable to being scammed as well. In the most recent rental, it really was a roll of the dice to see if we were going to have an apartment or not (and of course, by the time we could have contacted AirBnB to say we'd been scammed, the scammer would already have our money, due to the way AirBnB works, and their lack of any way to contact them.)
I travel full time. I'm a nomad. I would rent thru AirBnB for 365 nights a year if they provided the service that they originally set out to provide. I think they changed their focus, and rather than building an organic community of people renting their places to each other, they are pursuing the expensive travel market. This makes sense given the profits are higher and it is easier to get vacation rentals in the system than individuals. But they're not the ebay of travel anymore, they've become a HomeAway clone.
They also really need to change their policies on communication- they inhibit our ability to talk to the owners before renting, and this is worsened given that many owners may not speak english. Letting us call them or email them is not going to want us to cut AirBnB out of the deal, because the primary value AirBnB provides is the fraud protection of letting us pay by credit card.
There's no reason for any company of this size not to have a 24/hour hotline. It may be midnight in california, but it is 5pm somewhere. You have listings around the world.
AirBnB's priorities seem to have shifted away from building an organic "ebay of travel" with regular people to maximum growth in revenue, by going after the high end travel market, with a distinct lack of customer service. This may not be intentional, but I'm part of the market-- a heavy use part of the market- and that's how it is looking to me.
So, 24 hour hotline, policies for dealing with things that go wrong, to help customers, and letting the people use the site communicate are the changes I'd make. I bet you'll find that more communications means more confidence and more nights rented.
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Luyt 4 days ago 1 reply
How is this:
"... emphasize that the customer service team at airbnb.com has been wonderful..."
reconcilable with this:
"...My next call was to airbnb.com - I tried their "urgent" line, their email address, their general customer support line. I heard nothing - no response whatsoever - until the following day, 14 sleepless hours later, and only after a desperate call to an airbnb.com freelancer I happen to know helped my case get some attention..."
Does that mean you'd have to know someone who works at AirBnB before you can get customer service? I've heard similar stories about Google, too.
8
sequoia 4 days ago 0 replies
Moral of the story:
By using a service like AirBnB to make some cash, you are Rolling the fucking dice. It's naïve to think otherwise, and if you're not comfortable with that kind of risk, don't do it. It seems some people see the service as "easy money" and don't consider outcomes like this.
I think it's best compared to hitchhiking:
Is it cheap? Hell yes.
Is it consistant/reliable? no.
Is it as safe as a bus/plane? usually yes, sometimes no in a big way.
I travelled in my youth (5 years ago :p) around several states via thumb. It was a calculated risk I was taking, and both I and other hitchhikers I knew were aware of this risk and took steps to mitigate it (carrying mace, turning down rides�" one friend would take a photo of the plates and text them to a friend each ride, informing the driver that he/she was not anonymous).
AirBnB is like this: you save/make some money, but rather than a Hotel (or bus company) being on the hook for a bad outcome, YOU are on the hook. If you're not prepared for that, don't do it. It's not "easy money."
9
rkalla 4 days ago 3 replies
Why was the title of this post changed? It used to have the name "airbnb" in it earlier this morning, around 400 votes.
10
lwhi 4 days ago 1 reply
I remember a while back, someone on HN commented that they preferred the AirBnB model to CouchSurfing; because they felt that they were under no obligation to spend time with their host, or try to repay their hospitality with a meal or gift.
CouchSurfing relies upon (and in turn reinforces) a culture of good-will.
Because AirBnB converts the CouchSurfing model into a simple cash transaction - I think a lot of the positive norms that are inherent to CouchSurfing are lost.
11
DrStalker 4 days ago 1 reply
Does AirBnB offer any help with insurance? I know my home & contents insurance wouldn't cover any of this: I'd need to get (expensive) commerical insurance or some sort, and I'm guessing most AirBnB hosts don't have that.
The idea of renting out my place with no recourse to insurance if it is destroyed is far too insane to contemplate for me.
12
g123g 4 days ago 1 reply
With internet almost run over by all kinds of scam artists, spammers, pedos etc. is there any surprise that such a thing can happen? You have crackers trying their level best to install keyloggers and other tools to read the passwords to your accounts. And in this environment if you hand over the key of your apartment to some complete stranger, I think the writer should also take some blame for his naivety. Just because airbnb is current flavor of the month it does not mean you throw your basic common sense out the door.
Even if you are present in an apartment yourself, it is still too risky to allow a complete stranger to sleep in the room next to you. How much verification can be done by you or airbnb? The Norwegian shooter had no criminal history that could have been caught by any verification. So how can you be comfortable with allowing a stranger into your home with no verification done at all from your side?
I think there should be a service which will allow you to rent the room only to your friends or to friends of friends but no further than that. This friend list can be from facebook, linkedin or Google+. This will reduce the chances of getting a rental but give peace of mind that you are not letting some hardened criminal into your home.
13
rdl 4 days ago 2 replies
I am non-representatively paranoid, and have always been afraid of this kind of thing when having guests not personally known to me, visitors to "open house" office events, etc. I think there is little actual risk with almost anyone as a guest (most people ARE good, or at least non-malicious, or at least lazy), but this is why the AirBnB reputation system is so key to their value (and why they'll have a strong network effect).
Maybe the effect of this will be to make people want personal connections (via fb graph or whatever) to their AirBnB guests, or at least requiring minimum numbers of positive reviews from known sources (to prevent the sockpuppet/shill issue).
I wonder if your renter's or homeowners insurance might cover this kind of thing. If it doesn't generally, it'd be awesome if AirBnB could work with a third party insurer (per jurisdiction) to offer optional insurance to hosts (and guests) against this kind of thing.
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speckledjim 4 days ago 3 replies
Always bound to happen. Up next, the host who fits spycams in his shower and posts pics of his naked visitors to porn sites.
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joshfraser 4 days ago 2 replies
This is not the first story like this I have heard about AirBnB. They have just done a good job keeping them hush hush and talking people out of going to the cops. Obviously stories like this are horrible for their reputation and AirBnB have a big incentive to try and take care of issues on their own.
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danenania 4 days ago 1 reply
What happened to this person is awful and it´s understandable that she/he is very emotional at this point, but I don´t think the lesson is you can´t ever trust people, or that the AirBnB model is flawed. It´s more like: hope for the best, plan for the worst. There is always going to be some black swan risk even if AirBnB does do more vetting. There´s no reason for example to leave valuables anywhere in the residence while strangers are there. You can´t be 100% protected unless you´re willing to get insurance, which probably doesn´t make sense for the occasional provider, but you can at least remove the low hanging fruit risk-wise. Perhaps AirBnB should take a more active role in educating its providers on basic precautions.
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jakarta 4 days ago 0 replies
To me, this underscores one of the key risks to having an AirBnB room for rent.
I think if you are going to do it, you really have to be careful.
1. You should probably be someone that works from home / is home often. At least then you can monitor your place more often. You wont be seeing inside the room, but you could at least hear if anything insane is going on in it.
2. You should not have much by way of valuables around your place, nothing easy to steal. The first place I rented on AirBnB was like this. There was no TV/dvd player/ps3, the host had a laptop which he took with him. It consisted mostly of cheap Ikea-ish furniture. This works in my mind because it mitigates what can/can't be stolen.
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innes 4 days ago 1 reply
Hmmm, somebody changed the title of this HN post from "AirBnB: Crimes committed against a host"...
19
yalogin 4 days ago 0 replies
The most important thing to note is this has happened even before it hit critical mass, hell its in its infancy still.
This is the reason why Airbnb never made sense to me as a business. The author is lucky there was no bodily harm done to him. It's too much of a risk to rent out your personal property to total strangers. Now they forever know where you live and more so know the complete layout of your house and what you have in it and your schedule. At the end of the day it cannot be more than bedandbreakfast.com used as a listing sits for businesses. That is why the 1billion valuation does not make sense either.
20
caf 4 days ago 0 replies
A reminder that there's more to scaling out to millions of users than ensuring your hardware is up to the task.
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VladRussian 4 days ago 0 replies
whats wrong with renting through Craigslist (except obvious problem of spam from companies like AirBnB) ? Both parties may request and provide any documents/verifications until their mutual full satisfaction. We had no problem renting space in Europe from US for example though some amount of communication and search was involved - we didn't like some people, some people didn't like us as we needed full paperwork from them for visas, etc... i wonder how such fine tuning of mutual requirements would be possible through "blind renting" service like AirBnB.
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bluesmoon 4 days ago 0 replies
I haven't use AirBnB before, but I do use CouchSurfing a lot. CouchSurfing's system of verification, vouching and references makes a big difference to how much you feel you can trust someone who asks to use your home. I do still sometimes accept guests with no references, particularly if it's a last minute, but I check their IDs first, and only give them limited access to my home.
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watty 4 days ago 0 replies
So anything remotely related to YC companies that shed good light are immediately frontpaged but something potentially dangerous that is bad PR gets title changed?
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cageface 4 days ago 1 reply
It's yet another tragedy of the commons. As AirBNB becomes more popular I expect this is going to happen more often. Unfortunately I think this is only going to have to happen a few more times before people start to seriously question the wisdom of inviting a relative stranger into their homes.
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varunsrin 4 days ago 0 replies
Can someone please explain why the post name was changed? If it was to 'protect' AirBnB I find that in poor taste - this is a legitimate problem that occurred with the service, though it is likely not a specific problem. if the OP (foxit) requested or made this change, let us know.
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ffffruit 4 days ago 1 reply
Is there anything stopping the renter from taking extra precautions? Like for example photocopy the tenants passport?
I am finding it hard to believe that somebody would drop off the keys to his own apartment to a total stranger, regardless of any guarantees the site does, without even wanting to briefly meet them.
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prawn 4 days ago 2 replies
Looks like a couple of reporters have already hit the comments area looking for more info for a story. It goes far, far beyond a basic theft or incident of vandalism and could easily blow up internationally and do a great deal of damage to the AirBnB brand.
I don't know the blogger in any way at all, but have to admit that my first thought was to wonder if this might've been arranged by a competing industry or service at all. Sounds a bit over the top to be a pre-conceived plan though. Doubt various hotel associations would be desperately unhappy to see this story though, you have to admit.
Between Google and AirBnB, I'm sure the police could have IP addresses of the perpetrator(s) and track them down unless they were particularly smart (and if they are particularly smart, they'd be picking bigger targets...).
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rdl 4 days ago 1 reply
I'm curious what the specific crime is if you're in a place like NYC or SF (where <30 day rentals are illegal for zoning reasons), you legally permit someone entry to your space, and he just trashes (vs. stealing) stuff. It should be a crime, but what is it? Not theft, not trespass.
"Criminal damage to property", or vandalism, probably counts, but that's really up to the jurisdiction on what it includes.
I wish this guy would try this in Singapore; 3 years in prison and/or caning.
29
morganwarstler 4 days ago 1 reply
Airbnb should willingly do MORE to verify users than CarFax, Paypal, Facebook, etc.
Screw your bizmodel.
Run a credit and criminal background check - and charge 4%.
30
matdwyer 4 days ago 1 reply
I just was quoted in a national article here in Canada (the Globe & Mail) that talked about using AirBNB... I've passed this story along to the author who is going to see about a followup.
This wont stop me from using AirBNB as a guest, but I was never comfortable with renting my own home anyway.
edit - if AirBNB kept a drivers license scan on file to confirm the credit card was the users, that would be helpful. I know that is difficult with privacy laws, etc, but when I check into a hotel I always have to show my ID to make sure it has my name on it....
31
nhangen 4 days ago 0 replies
Why would you ever rent your place, important valuables inside the property, without being home?
I can understand leaving the place empty of valuables and renting it remotely, but to rent your primary residence while you are away is incredibly foolish. I just don't get it.
32
jaredmck 4 days ago 0 replies
Why was the title of this submission changed? Was it because the old title mentioned AirBnB?
33
jv22222 4 days ago 2 replies
This could resolved if airbnb insisted on a refundable deposit of $500-$1000 per visit.
34
timsally 4 days ago 1 reply
After someone has copies of your passport, birth certificate, social security card, etc, what do you even do? Isn't your identity compromised forever?
35
prof 4 days ago 2 replies
I cannot believe he did not meet them in person first. And left valuable things behind.
edit: or she..
grannyg00se 4 days ago 0 replies
"They ... found the passport, cash, credit card and grandmother's jewelry I had hidden inside. They found my birth certificate and social security card, which I believe they photocopied "
Why would you leave your birth certificate and social security card behind when you have strangers occupying your home?
Passports, ids, hard drives, diamonds .... these are all small but very important items that fit perfectly into a safety deposit box.
37
justin_vanw 4 days ago 0 replies
Reading this article, my spidey sense was tingling the entire time. For whatever reason, I instinctively do not believe that the story this person is telling is the truth.
38
inmygarage 4 days ago 3 replies
I wouldn't be surprised if this was organized and executed by an AirBnB competitor.
It is just too malicious and meticulously done to constitute a random crime (do I watch too many crime shows? maybe.) AirBnB just closed a gigantic $100m round and they are doing phenomenally well, and here comes someone who makes "everyone's worst fears" about lending out their apartment to a stranger come true.
39
jarek 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm shocked by some things I've read in this article. I don't want to blame the victim, but the author has rented out their home for a full week and left identity and financial documents behind a plywood or MDF door. Data, passport, birth certificate, and cash. Trusting people is nice, but surely there's a limit at which it becomes insane. I get a little nervous when I leave my documents in my (empty) apartment over a long weekend; I'm flabbergasted as to why the author seemingly wasn't bothered until after the crime.
40
hluska 4 days ago 1 reply
There is a big chicken or egg problem right at the core Of this sad case. On one hand, why would anyone trust someone they have only had limited conversations with to stay in their home...alone? On the other hand, if Airbnb allows renters to do background checks before the agreement is finalized, how do they avoid private sales?
I can't resolve this, so I wouldn't dream of renting my place out unless I was going to be there. And even then, I'd sleep with one eye open!
41
Uchikoma 4 days ago 1 reply
Woman gives apartment keys to complete stranger. Gets robbed.
279 points and 124 comments on HN.
42
mkramlich 3 days ago 0 replies
The description of what happened, supposedly, is so weird, that I'd bet most likely this was an astroturfed (setup) incident. On the other hand, never underestimate just how stupid, mean, random, evil or rude a human can be. The more I live the greater depths you see. Also, even if this was a faked/fraudulent event, regardless, it would still be true that this kind of thing could naturally happen to anybody that makes their place available via AirBNB. It's statistically inevitable, given the nature of the service and the nature of humanity.
43
zeteo 4 days ago 0 replies
Welcome to the real world, such things are bound to happen. The main question is: to what degree does AirBnB know the identity of the perpetrator? Let alone helping the police catch them; but is AirBnB even able to prevent this person from making a new account and repeating the deed?
44
buster 4 days ago 0 replies
Wow.. that's terrible! I really enjoyed all my couchsurfing and airbnb experiences so far, they resulted in the best travels i ever had.. it's sad to see such a thing happen, and i hope the criminaly will be catched and punished.
Still, i am looking forward for my next airbnb trip, it's a great way to travel!
45
pabloiv 4 days ago 0 replies
I really hope this incident doesn't break her spirit. As someone who's been shot at, beat up, robbed, held up, and still trusts people: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
That said, I also rent out my place through AirBnB. ( http://www.airbnb.com/rooms/106355 ) I interview everyone who stays with me through Skype before confirming any reservation. AirBnB, has a very classy membership, and we've had great experiences with all our guests, but due diligence is still a must. Communicating with your potential guests is essential, as is reading between the lines. You should also make an effort to look at their face at least once before booking. Skype is perfect for this and AirBnB doesn't block it.
46
Omnipresent 4 days ago 1 reply
victim is correct, this was bound to happen to someone and as the service goes popularity, there will be more victims in the future. AirBnB should have other security measures in place like providing driver license #, ssn, etc. so that identity of the person renting the place is assured. With all the recent funding leading to great PR, bad elements will start coming in. Site is no longer bound to the nice educated customer base.
47
fakeer 4 days ago 0 replies
Trust me, be it AirBnB or FairBnB, just never hand over your home keys to a stranger - a stranger to "you". Make it a thumb rule.
PS. sad to hear the loss and trauma BTW.
48
deathflute 4 days ago 0 replies
I have always been skeptical about such services. It is like collecting pennies in front of a steamroller. Sooner or later, a tail event like this is bound to happen. A distribution of hosting experiences has to be fat-tailed. It is okay to deal with that risk when even the worst case scenario is acceptable. But, for your own home how can it be acceptable?
49
gord 4 days ago 0 replies
Heartbreaking to read this.
It may help to think that
a) these people are broken in some profound way, possibly from some early abuse
b) this may not be directed at you personally, you did not deserve this, and this was not your fault
I do think the AirBnB business model needs to take into account some kind of insurance cover, or set aside some percentage of funds to apply to help in the edge cases like this - so that some of the practicalities are taken care of [ such as cleaning the apartment, temporary accommodation ] giving the victim some breathing space to heal from this.
50
jasonshen 4 days ago 0 replies
This sort of thing is bound to happen when you have helped over 1 million stays between two people who are usually strangers. I think what's more impressive is how long it took for something this big and this public to happen. Human beings act in strange ways and you take a risk anytime you interact with one. I feel awful that this happened to this woman but I don't think it means Airbnb has a flawed business model or needs to dramatically change the way they sign up users.
51
blinkingled 4 days ago 0 replies
I so wish he had a camera at least on the entrance of the apartment. Besides I hope that since the burglar used Internet for communication the IP address is recorded with AirBNB or Google and that will help track him/her down.
Horrible story to be sure. Trust no one goes too far but trust and verify should be the norm. I for one would have thought twice before giving out house keys to a person who misspelled his/her own last name. I guess as he seems to indicate AirBNB model/markting fooled him into 100% trust.
52
shareme 4 days ago 0 replies
It sounds like AirBnB need to educate first-time users more..
It obviously is not for those people who have property that cannot remove personal items from said property before doing a earn-my-trust AirBnB person trial run..
53
njharman 4 days ago 0 replies
Yeah, guess people are different. I would NEVER invite strangers to be in my house alone. Esp not with my stuff still there. I can't comprehend why anyone would. Can't understand how airbnb is popular service. But, it is. Like I said people are different...
54
rglover 4 days ago 0 replies
This is one of those things that made me weary about the home rental business (not necessarily just AirBnB). While I do feel the idea is great, I'm not sure I'd be as composed as this person; especially coming back to a destroyed and violated home. I guess there's no way around it, but this should definitely add an extra layer of thought before posting your home on AirBnB or any other service. Scary stuff.
55
bignoggins 4 days ago 0 replies
My wife and I been traveling around the world staying at airbnb's for the last 4 months (www.shenventure.com is our travel blog). During our stay in Hong Kong, our host required a photocopy of our passport or driver's license. I think this was a clever deterrent on his part.
56
jmm 4 days ago 0 replies
Call me insensitive, but I think the drama here is overblown. Renting out your room to strangers comes with risks. Theft is an obvious one. Could have been a one or two paragraph post, but maybe this is part of the catharsis in getting over a robbery.
And now call me a cynic, but I kind of have the feeling that the the public drama of this complaint is a way of getting the sweetest customer service response ever from AirBnB. Like, new gear, near apartment, moving costs, all of it. Almost like a cooked up insurance claim... if it's not that, AirBnB will probably experience that kind of scam at some point.
57
mrinterweb 4 days ago 1 reply
It is unfortunate that stories like that could really harm AirBnB's reputation. I am sure that there are plenty of vacation rental stories of people trashing and burglarizing properties, but the difference is that this was not a vacation rental. I hope that thieves do not make a trend of preying on AirBnB hosts to gain access to their private residences.
58
jackpirate 4 days ago 1 reply
How could you, in principle, even tell that it was the bnb'ers who did it? What's to say that they didn't accidentally leave the door unlocked when they left, and someone else broke in?
59
int3rnaut 4 days ago 0 replies
I wrote a comment 2 days ago about some of the psychological barriers of this model that AirBnB would have to overcome--and I never even considered the traveler to be the one who's sketchy/troublesome.
On that note though, it'll be really interesting to see how AirBnB tries to counter this problem--there's a reason why people are so secluded and things are so private and fenced.
60
eric-hu 4 days ago 1 reply
Is no one else struck by the peculiar behavior of the tenants?
Scattering bleach powder across the apartment and taking the time to hang up strange photos seems a bit too erratic to me.
I wonder if the renter has serious mental issues or if this was part of some intelligent plan (i.e. hired by couchsurfing).
This is PURE speculation, don't cite this post as anything else.
61
jackwagon 4 days ago 1 reply
"They found my coupons for Bed Bath & Beyond and used the discount, along with my Mastercard, to shop online."
Are you kidding me? Seriously.
62
Creyels 4 days ago 0 replies
I like the (security) services offered by Onefinestay http://www.onefinestay.com/hosts
Everyday someone checks your home and cleans it.
Additionaly they actually turn your home into a more hotel-like experience - so guests are provided with towels etc. At least for higher priced accomodations a good choice.
63
dools 4 days ago 0 replies
"I certainly cannot and do not blame the agency for what has occurred. If anything, I blame myself"
Yeah no shit. You let strangers stay in your house for a week and all your valuables were still in the apartment?
I guess Airbnb could have a "safety" section but this type of warning would be similar to the "Caution! Hot!" they're forced to put on coffee cup lids now.
64
Syama 4 days ago 0 replies
Personally I think the poster is stupid as f@#&, leaving her apt to complete strangers and then blaming her loss on someone else. What did she expect? B&B's usually have someone onsite to prevent things like this from happening. The person to blame here is the poster and of course the tweakers, not Airbnb.
65
prayag 4 days ago 0 replies
AirBnb is not legally liable. They are however morally liable. Every company does legal. It's the moral compass that differentiates a company and their founders.
66
hobbsmeter2 4 days ago 0 replies
Why isn't the title the original one explicitly mentioning AirBnb? Bad PR for YC's portfolio company?
67
grandalf 3 days ago 0 replies
I dunno this seems like a hoax to me. Something is fishy about it. I suspect it is a negative PR scam aimed at airbnb.
68
justhw 4 days ago 2 replies
She trusted them and left for the weekend?
69
peterwwillis 4 days ago 0 replies
Does AirBnB have owner's/hoster's testimonials like CouchSurfing? It really goes a long way to show someone is trustworthy if they've stayed at 100 people's homes and everyone said nice things about them.
70
lurker19 4 days ago 0 replies
Good explanation of why hotel rooms cost more than AirBnB rooms.
71
badclient 4 days ago 0 replies
With a name like Dj Paterson I'm not sure you could even sign up on google+ or fb.
72
danberger 4 days ago 1 reply
Just out of curiosity, why didn't the victim post any pictures of the damage?
73
hnsmurf 4 days ago 1 reply
Does homeowner's/renter's insurance cover the property damage from renting out your place?
74
cookiecaper 4 days ago 3 replies
I hate that the author broke out the short skirt rape thing. I don't think someone that leaves their house to strangers while they go out of town for a week is quite as innocent as a rape victim that was targeted for lack of modesty.
75
veyron 4 days ago 0 replies
Of all of the items discussed, the birth certificate, social security and passport are the most important (imho). Supposing I kept them in a bank safety deposit box, what would a thief need to get access to that box?
76
imaverickk2 4 days ago 0 replies
It begs the question, what would be a good verification system for online identities so that sites like AirBnB can leverage?
Also, will your property insurance cover this or would this be considered albeit rightly to some extent a carelessness on your part. Come to think of it, like any other insurance industry, providing insurance (dedicated?) for such people for an additional X% wouldn't be a bad start - though it might need more volume for it to be profitable.
77
chris1024 4 days ago 0 replies
Is this real? It sounds like a fictional story.It's awfully flowery prose for someone who was just victimized and "laying in fetal position in her stairwell." Nowhere does it say this isn't fiction. Awful lot of buzz and no further response from the author?
The journalist who commented on the blog who checked with SFPD was unable to find the case.
So -- real or fiction? Someone call in SNOPES!
78
swah 4 days ago 0 replies
There is no way those guys lived there for a week and left no fingerprints.
79
sweetchar 3 days ago 0 replies
How sad. I hope you'll be able to cope from this experience soon.
80
katieben 4 days ago 0 replies
It would be interesting to see AirBnB's response to this.
81
asciilifeform 4 days ago 1 reply
Cui bono?
Hotels.
It seems likely that this "mysterious" crime was paid for by an organization serving the interests of hotels.
82
extension 4 days ago 1 reply
I wonder if the hotel chains would hire goons to do this.
3
910 points by utkarshkukreti 9 days ago 76 comments top 30
1
pilif 9 days ago 7 replies
And yet another control that pretends to be a dropdown box, but isn't. No. I'm not complaining about the appearance or the fact that it has a search field while the real dropdown doesn't.
I'm complaining about the way it responds to mouse actions: The real dropdown box, on my machine, expands the menu on mouse down after a no-doubt OS-specific delay. The fake dropdown doesn't - it only reacts on mouse up.
Of course, you can't make a a control work exactly like its native counterpart - but that IMHO just means that you shouldn't even try imitating them and provide its own unique look.
I really dislike nearly-native controls - they feel wrong to me.
But don't get me wrong: The controls are really cool and incredibly useful. If only they didn't try to mimic the native look without quite matching it.
2
philfreo 9 days ago 4 replies
This project looks awesome. This stuff is annoying to have to replicate yourself, and I'm glad to see MooTools support as well.
That said, my first reaction when looking at the first Country dropdown example was that I liked the native one better since in OS X it shows me dozens of choices at once (fills most of the screen vertically) and then in the "after" suddenly I was constrained to only seeing 7 countries at a time. Not a huge deal but felt like a loss in usability (but a gain visually). If the faux dropdown was just a little taller in height it'd be better.
Secondly, this just killed iPhone support. Apple did a good job with <select>s on iOS and this completely breaks it. It should just turn itself off on iOS.
3
romaniv 9 days ago 1 reply
The more libs like this I see, the more I feel that the core HTML controls should be improved and expanded. They are getting really, really dated and don't address a lot of common problems.
Things I feel would make a lot of sense:
Collapsible trees.
Numeric sliders (preferably done like draggable digits http://worrydream.com/Tangle/ ).
Native drag-and-drop sipport for elements. (And yes, this can be done with plain forms. I can explain how if you want.)
Native rich tooltips and a standard notation to show that something has a tooltip.
Maybe tabs. I think you could do tabs with CSS, but I'm not 100% sure.
If most UI libraries have something, it probably would be a good addtion to HTML spec. It would work faster and eventually have better compatibility.
4
geuis 9 days ago 1 reply
This nearly completely breaks the select ui on iOS. It should do some kind of feature detection so that it can disable itself on browsers that have alternate ui's for controls like this.
For example, this converts a select menu to an input field. On iOS the keyboard comes up instead of the select control.
5
thristian 9 days ago 2 replies
Apparently Chosen takes the placeholder text from the select element's 'title' attribute; does it also support the official HTML5 syntax[1] for placeholder attributes in select elements?
How about integration with jQueryUI's theming system?
hendrik-xdest 9 days ago 1 reply
Best plug-in of the year, so far.
Apart from what it says, I do not see problems in IE7 or IE8 (there is some style issues in IE9, though). Also, it is nearly working in IE6. I think I'll try to diddle around with some z-index and CSS stuff to get it working. Can't be much more than that.
7
skrebbel 9 days ago 2 replies
Excellent. Makes you wonder why browser vendors never improved on the usability of such controls themselves.
8
ww520 9 days ago 1 reply
This is fantastic. ComboBox is what's missing in HTML. This is a keeper.
9
mickeyben 9 days ago 0 replies
For the multiple select, I like this one a lot: http://loudev.com/
It's way simpler for the average user.
10
Inufu 9 days ago 2 replies
Um, what use this?
If I click on a dropdown box, I can already type the value on my keyboard to select it. No javascript necessary.
(using chromium on ubuntu)
InclinedPlane 9 days ago 0 replies
Love it! Sure it's not perfect, but it's a huge improvement already. I've had similar ideas myself but haven't gotten around to implementing them. The existing HTML input controls are clunky and haven't kept up with the pace of web development, maybe we can improve on them using CSS & JS until we develop a new set of canonical input primitives that then become standardized.
12
d0m 9 days ago 0 replies
I would also add a fuzzy matching. I.e. "unitd sta" should match "United States" even with the missing "e". Or "East coast" should match "The East Coast".
13
PhrosTT 9 days ago 0 replies
I've been using the jQuery UI ComboBox for a while, it's essentially this. - http://jqueryui.com/demos/autocomplete/combobox.html
14
andos 9 days ago 0 replies
Writing good widgets from scratch is an endless task. It's missing ARIA roles: http://www.w3.org/TR/wai-aria/roles#combobox
15
koblas 9 days ago 0 replies
I think it's pretty cool, though it would be nice if they had a simplified single selection version. Which is to change a single select list into a text field with "instant search". The current incarnation make me first go for the pull down rather than just tabbing over and start typing.
16
tomelders 9 days ago 0 replies
This plugin makes the case that this sort of functionality should be implemented into browsers very well.
17
exch 9 days ago 0 replies
The first sentence on the linked page has a typo: "javsacript"
18
shawndumas 9 days ago 1 reply
Note: IE8 (and lower) support is done via Chrome Frame.
19
bane 9 days ago 0 replies
Hopefully some of these ideas will end up in dojo/dijit (a couple similar takes are already there).
I really like the multi-select control.
20
gorm 9 days ago 2 replies
Does anyone know if it's compatible with formalize.me?
Does it work well on android/iphone?
21
fooyc 9 days ago 0 replies
The UI widgets like this all have the same defects:
1. They are slow, as all their markup has to be generated on the client side each time the page loads
2. They are not ajax friendly. I mean that if you insert a select box in a HTML document with javascript, it will remain a plain native select box unless your script specifically calls the right widget's function. So you have to update all your scripts.
3. They are not drop-in replacements for native widgets, all your script must know how to handle these widgets for things like getting the widget's value, listening for events, etc.
Points 1 and 2 could be fixed by generating the widget's HTML code on the server side and using delegated events (like jQuery's delegate()). (Progressive Enhancement can still be achieved without doing _everything_ on the client side.)
Other than that, the idea of a text input on the top of the options list is awesome.
22
naeem 9 days ago 0 replies
Sexy! I do agree with a previous comment that the more technologies like these that come out, the more apparant it becomes that HTML as a whole needs a long overdue makeover.
23
arctangent 9 days ago 0 replies
Awesome. This is going into my UI toolkit.
24
MaurizioPz 9 days ago 1 reply
I think this is great and would like it to be a browser extension so that I can use it all over the web
25
myworkipad 8 days ago 0 replies
On the iPad, the custom control is decidedly worse. The native one is larger and more appropriate for the device. This idea of custom UI elements seems really bad. It's gonna be worse than native on any platform. The issues with native controls should be addressed on their respective platforms.
26
nerdo 9 days ago 0 replies
Multi-select could use some work. Drag-highlighting, shift, ctrl, etc.
27
piquadrat 9 days ago 1 reply
So... why don't they use this thing on their own web app? The "Project / Task" select box becomes very unwieldy with a growing client base. I spend way too much time looking for the correct project almost every time I have to create a new entry.
28
martin1b 9 days ago 0 replies
Wow. The results are really polished!
29
danberger 9 days ago 1 reply
Has anyone tried this on an iPad?
30
SolarUpNote 9 days ago 0 replies
I love this. LOVE it!
4
824 points by sp332 10 days ago 179 comments top 30
1
giberson 10 days ago replies
If I weren't too timid to risk doing so, I would do the following (read I hope someone else does this).
Process the pdf's with an OCR program to extract as much text from each document as possible. The extraction should be done page by page, so the extracted text can be referenced to a PDF page#.
Then, provide a searchable/browse-able directory of the extracted content. Each page of text has link to the original PDF page so you can easily open up the PDF to the page the text was extracted from.
I'd also make all text user editable wiki style. Combined with the inline PDF page references it would be super easy for any user to fix up translation errors from the OCR process. Tie in a karma system to the users profile so that edits can be thanked/kudos on a job well done to help with automating moderation of user edits by rating the user's current karma to decide if the edit should be accepted automatically or provided as an alternate version other users can check and rate up if they think it should replace current version.
Maybe mash in an image cropping service so diagrams can be cropped from the PDF and inserted inline with the translated text. Provide simple wiki formatting markup to allow users to format the articles.
Use ad revenue/donations to alleviate/cover hosting costs.
1, 2, 3, go.
sp332 10 days ago 3 replies
Jason Scott of textfiles.com has the whole archive downloaded here, if you want to browse the metadata before downloading the files. http://cdmirror.textfiles.com/JSTOR_01_PhilTrans/
3
eykanal 10 days ago 2 replies
For those of you who aren't familiar, there is an intitution that was set up not long ago call the Public Library of Science (PLoS):
They have free journals in numerous fields, and gradually more big-name authors (in my field, neuroscience, at least) have been publishing in it. Its worth checking out.
4
rb2k_ 10 days ago 1 reply
And for people interested in how many bitcoins donations flow his way:
w1ntermute 10 days ago replies
Can anyone explain why all these documents are not available for free? Why does the only place you can download them charge for the privilege?
6
showerst 10 days ago 2 replies
Just to be clear, these are apparently unrelated to the Aaronsw case, right?
7
equark 10 days ago 7 replies
I don't fully understand the logic. Even if the underlying content is free, how are JSTOR scans public domain? If Google spends millions of dollars scanning in public domain books, I don't see how that gives Bing the right to download them all from Google unless given permission.
It also seems we all benefit from allowing companies to invest in scanning public domain works since for whatever reason nobody is doing this by hand now.
8
aidenn0 10 days ago 1 reply
FYI it's potentially NSFW if you don't have adblock
9
tylerneylon 10 days ago 0 replies
[[TL;DR for this comment - Publishers are taking advantage of a prisoner's dilemma / competitive closed market to monetize the near-zero value they supply.]]
Professors don't get much money from direct publication -- in fact, many conferences charge the professors who provide the content. They get paid by grants and their schools. Professors don't want their research to reach a limited audience. The universities doesn't want this either.
The only people in the chain who want limited access are the publishers, since this is how they make money. But between researchers, universities, grants, and publishers, the publishers contribute the least value by far. They generally rely entirely on other professors to edit their journals and conference proceedings, and for all the content. They charge ridiculous rates - often thousands of dollars for a single annual journal subscription - and get away with it because the system is not prone to change. Researchers are rewarded for publishing in "the best" journals, so no one wants to take the leap to publishing in a free space where there is currently much less prestige.
That's basically why academic publishing is messed up. Because there's money to made in keeping it messed up, and money to be lost in fixing it. But the ones who generate the real value _do_ want things to be as freely available as possible. If a critical mass of top-tier researchers agreed to stop publishing in non-free journals and conferences, it would probably start a revolution in this area -- but that's a lot to ask.
It's a prisoner's dilemma, in that the "traitor" researchers who keep publishing in the old journals will be rewarded.
(This is all about academia -- I guess motivations may be different in industry-backed research.)
10
raldi 10 days ago 1 reply
That'll teach 'em. Maybe next time JSTOR will think twice before protecting their network from an apparent DoS attack.
11
aridiculous 10 days ago 2 replies
I wonder what would happen if this happened to Westlaw, one of the 2-3 industry standards for law firms. Incredibly expensive.
The irony alone in the law profession would be tremendous. It'd be interesting to see if law firms would illegally access it: It would be obvious they were if they previously only subscribed to Westlaw, but the reality is most law firms subscribe to more than one database for emergency backup.
12
flocial 10 days ago 0 replies
This illustrates the sad state of affairs. The technology is there to distribute this equitably (using torrents). Scanning these documents is a non-trivial task and most people would only need a handful of the papers in this collection for anything but intellectual curiosity. However, the pricing and legal restrictions put in place for the distribution goes against the history of scholarship. The only reason we have lots of ancient works of prose and scholarship is because monasteries of various creeds institutionally copied these works (by hand).
13
emilis_info 10 days ago 6 replies
Facebook won't let me post a link to this torrent. Anyone know a way around?
URL shorteners don't help.
m0wfo 10 days ago 0 replies
Only just realised Eircom has blocked access to TPB in Ireland at the request of the 4 major record labels. The fact that this HN post is tangential to the issue of music piracy annoys me. Another step closer to censorship.
15
zeratul 10 days ago 3 replies
Medical doctors were very unhappy to pay for research papers that were funded by tax paying Americans. That's why since April 2008 all articles funded by NIH have to be freely available: http://publicaccess.nih.gov/ . Remember, it's impossible for law to work backwards.
16
mestudent 10 days ago 1 reply
Is this[1] the "manifesto"?
If not can someone post it so I don't have to get around the block.
y0ghur7_xxx 10 days ago 0 replies
Link to manifesto
for people who don't have access to the pirate bay.
18
ck2 10 days ago 3 replies
So what percentage is that? Is a "page" still the 2k standard these days?
per wikipedia as of November 2, 2010, the database contained 1,289 journal titles in 20 collections representing 53 disciplines, and 303,294 individual journal issues, totaling over 38 million pages of text
19
danbmil99 8 days ago 0 replies
Can someone explain who exactly is so hellbent on prosecuting Aaronsw? Who's eye did he poke? JSTOR isn't even pressing charges, so I assume it's some other party.
20
dbingham 10 days ago 2 replies
Someone I know is suggesting that these documents were already free and available on the web. I don't really know, since I haven't (and don't have the bandwidth to, really) downloaded the torrent and cross referenced. Here are the links he's provided:
"Unavailable anywhere else? Here's the ones from the 1600s: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/ilej/pbrowse.pl?item=ti... . Here's the ones from 1832-1938: http://catalogue.bnf.fr/servlet/RechercheEquation;jsession... . They're pretty widely available, for free."
"Looks like a bunch are on archive.org, too: http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Royal...
Can anyone confirm that these are the same articles in the torrent?
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cpeterso 10 days ago 0 replies
When is someone going to do this for the ACM's journals?
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blinkingled 10 days ago 0 replies
So is it legal to (re-)distribute those files? Or are we going to see more prosecutions AA style involving distributors as well as downloaders?
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sitkack 10 days ago 0 replies
Please seed. If you are on a mac you can use transmissionbt.
Configure the bandwidth management to acceptable always on background levels and minimize to the dock or put on a different desktop with spaces.
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Atropos 10 days ago 0 replies
How many different paywalls are there and how many articles are trapped? I'm able to access 5 different databases + one of the biggest research libraries in my state and there are still often articles that are simply inacessible. Or even more ridiculous: Single chapters of a book sometimes cost up to $ 20 online, even if the complete book could be bought for $ 30...
In my mind an easier way to disrupt this system would be to create a p2p site for article sharing - this often takes place informally anyway.
Just a place where you could ask "Does anyone have article..." and then a friendly person would upload it to some filehoster and shares the link.
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slowcpu 10 days ago 0 replies
Not terribly interesting.
Although it is one of the oldest ( if not the oldest ) journals around, it is simply not widely read or terribly important.
In addition, from the journal's web site.
"All issues back to 2001 are free to access two years after publication."
Now, a collection of all of Nature's issues would have been fascinating.
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apas 10 days ago 0 replies
That's why I love the Pirate Bay and its community.
Free art, technology and culture.
Yep, this is the internet.
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nextparadigms 10 days ago 0 replies
This looks like another case of the "Streisand effect".
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nl 10 days ago 0 replies
That is one gutsy move by Greg Maxwell.
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username3 10 days ago 1 reply
What's so good about these articles?
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ivankirigin 10 days ago 2 replies
Scribd should index and host these. I doubt that would greatly add to their current huge scale. They could make a dedicated site for it. They could also probably get the help of the FOSS community to help make the search faster.
5
531 points by kodisha 4 days ago 130 comments top 33
1
mad44 4 days ago 2 replies
while listening to the talk, I took notes. (Not exact notes, I probably reworded several things, hopefully not twisting the meaning too much.) Here they are, if you don't have time to watch the talk.
-----
Google, "where I work right now", they are doing great work to attempt to change the work. At least more than other companies.
I work on compilers. I like to work on big data, learn about data mining. Because even for compilers work I need to do large data analysis, and face
tremendous scaling problems.
Hollywood blockbusters summer 2011: why is this slide here? These summer movies are all crap, because corporates are greedy, they are incremental, not trying to shoot for real quality, real game changers. They chase money.
Except for "auteurs": people making money while keeping principle. E.g, Pixar. They show their passion, make every one look bad, but make money as well. Apple is also a great example.
Social networks; this is what I work on at Google :-( (lolcatz pictures on the slide). Is this principled? This is fun, and making money. But not principled? Is there anyone in this crowd not working on social networks? This is a hype. Why is everyone working on this? This is money chasing.
You are interested in social networks but when you are 60 you will be interested in your health. But then it is too late. You will wish we had solved these fundamental health problems when you are 60. These are hard problems that require math statistics and big data.
Human genome project: This will be an inflection point in human history. It is also a data-mining project. Reverse engineer the source code (genome) with respect to how treatments work/are-effective. The people who can solve it, data mining people, are working on crap problems, lolcatz social networks :-(
We need to change this culture. In this new culture: everyone is a mathematician. But how do we learn math and science? challeng to O'reilly publish books on math for developers. But, they already do. They have severeal stat and bioinformatics books. These books aren't selling. :-( They are trying to change the world, but we are not helping. Developer popular topics are javascript ipad, php, etc. :-(
Let's affect a culture change.
short-term: infrastructure and scaling
medium-term: math, data mining, bioinformatics
long-term: important problems
I had a midlife crisis instantly after rehearshing this speech once. I am not following my own advice. I had started work on math every evening. And I am officially quitting that social network job at Google. (Is he also quitting Google?)
This way I will be ready when we are in a position to face those important problems in five years.
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rkalla 4 days ago 0 replies
That talk had a really inspiring energy to it.
When it started I thought Yegge sounded nervous and jittery and seemed a little intense, like he had a chip on his shoulder and I thought "Oh boy, I hope he doesn't do a melt-down".
Then as the talk progressed, I realized he was just excited/nervous and that's how he talks.
He gradually hit his stride and the message that his talk was meant to convey slowly started to take shape for me... and it's a hell of a positive message.
It is a call-to-arms to give a damn and use our powers for the advancement of everyone. To stop spending out free time working on icanhascheezeburger SMS alert apps and pickup a book on mathematics, bioinfomatics, data mining and other hard topics and start learning.
It is a call to arms to send yourself back to school (in a sense) that don't be afraid to start learning about other topics that have always seemed interesting to you but maybe you figured were outside of your area of effect, e.g. "I'm a server guy, I'll never do anything interesting in 3D visualization!"
It is also a call to arms to make money and effect change with principle; like a Google or an Amazon.
You don't need to scrape every last piece of skin off of your customers hide in order to post big quarterly profits to be successful. You can develop positive relationships with your customers, employees and the world around you and STILL make the money necessary to continue growing an innovating.
The "quitting" part of the talk is unimportant, it was just his way of illuminating his point. The value is in his message.
3
yanw 4 days ago 1 reply
Bad hive-mind; Hacker News fires Steve Yegge: http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2011/07/hacker-news-fires-st...
4
tom_b 4 days ago replies
So I'm not really an ask me anything type guy, but I work on a bioinformatics team at an academic cancer research center. We have genomic sequencers and a software stack running 24/7/365 plus your normal collection of IT and small dev projects here.
If you have questions about what it's like to be a hacker in this type of environment, post them here and I'll share what my experience is like.
BTW, I completely wish I knew more stats and bioinformatics, so I probably should purchase the Yegge book collection myself . . .
5
yanw 4 days ago 0 replies
He only quit the 'cat picture' project he is still on the GOOG's payroll.
It's an inspiring notion if you're into that sort of thing, a bit unfair to his would be colleagues though.
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david927 4 days ago 4 replies
Please change the title to:
Stevey gives up the being part of the chase for the superfluous (in money), and calls for us to do something about the necessary
No one needs a million dollars. No one. Why are we chasing it and dying of heart disease -- heart disease we can cure if we start chasing that instead?
Our priorities are absolutely messed up and it's time we start realigning them. This isn't a speech; this isn't a funny resignation. This is a clarion call to join in. We can do so much better. We can achieve something valuable, if we start to realize where true value lies.
Steve's in. I'm in. Who else around here is in?
7
wccrawford 4 days ago 4 replies
Am I the only one that fails to be inspired by this? I think I'm not inspired because it's something I've already thought about. We've always had the option to go make money, or go try to fix the world... And whatever that brings us.
I am very clear on my chances of making big changes to the world: Almost nil. Instead, I decided long ago that I'd do my best to make money and improve my own life.
I'm not saying I don't do little things to help the environment, but there's no chance that I'm going to be on the team that cures cancer. There are too many people out there that are both smarter than me and more learned in the topics needed. The best I could do would be to get in their way.
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dstein 4 days ago 0 replies
More importantly he has revealed that Google will be adding cat picture features to Google Plus. Facebook is in trouble.
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kbutler 4 days ago 1 reply
tl;dr Work on data mining and bioionformatics to change the world, rather than just seeking money by doing trivial things.
Plus publicity stunt of quitting so you'll listen [at 14:15, sounded like quitting a cat-photo-sharing project, rather than quitting Google].
Plus implication that bio is the only domain that is world-changing.
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abijlani 4 days ago 2 replies
Let's stop focusing on the fact that he quit. And focus on WHY he quit. I'm sure we all can relate with what he's saying at some level. He's talking about tackling hard problems and not just low hanging fruit that might (emphasis on might) make a buck. And most of all he's leading by example. I haven't seen this much bravado from anyone in our industry in a long time.
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angrycoder 4 days ago 1 reply
As someone who was originally a science major, then switched to comp sci, I always get a romantic tingle when I hear about bioinformatics. Most of the science I've learned is gone by now, but I am sure it still there somewhere.
What are the good starting points for learning about bioinformatics?
12
orangecat 4 days ago 1 reply
I'll watch this tonight, from the summaries I generally agree with him. I feel the same way about brilliant math and physics people doing HFT for Goldman Sachs. But I'd also point out that from a comparative advantage perspective, it may be optimal to earn lots of money in a "useless" area and then donate where it makes a difference. If you can earn $500k/year at a hedge fund and give half of that to SENS, that's probably better than quitting your job to learn molecular biology from scratch.
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boredandroid 4 days ago 0 replies
He didn't quit Google. He just quit the project he was working on at Google. I talked to him the day before and am quite sure that is what he meant.
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wmat 4 days ago 2 replies
Watch the whole talk. It's fantastic. And as a 40 year old, I completely concur.
But what to do about it? Hmmmm.....time to go shopping for books, or search for online courses.
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ZackOfAllTrades 4 days ago 1 reply
Normally I lurk and don't vote. But this is worth people's time to watch.
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jganetsk 4 days ago 0 replies
I have just talked to Steve. I have confirmed that he has not quit Google.
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shareme 4 days ago 0 replies
Folks he has not quit Google..post Title is incorrect
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bartonfink 4 days ago 2 replies
I'm not sure I agree with his premise that, in order to change the world you must work on a problem with "big data." I can't see how the energy crisis is fundamentally data-driven, for example, and it's hard to say that you couldn't change the world by working on that.
Regardless, best of luck to him wherever he winds up (within Google or elsewhere)! And I hope he keeps writing!
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At around 14:10 in the speech - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKmQW_Nkfk8&feature=playe...
Also I'm not sure if he quit Google, or if he just quit the project he was working on.
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kenjackson 4 days ago 0 replies
You want to change the world for the better? Be respectful of others you interact with on a day to day basis as a start. Steve should have given his boss heads up on this.
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cpeterso 4 days ago 0 replies
I am reminded of Richard "Hamming code" Hamming's quote:
"What are the most important problems in your field? Are you working on one of them? Why not?"
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spinchange 4 days ago 0 replies
Watch it for the talk, not the sensationalism. It's a good talk.
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thom 4 days ago 0 replies
c.f. http://boingboing.net/2011/07/14/far.html , which tempers some of my optimism for seeing really big problems solved with really big computers and datasets.
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btrask 4 days ago 0 replies
This past week, I decided to start working on a project to build a new type of speech synthesizer. Did I know anything about acoustics or linguistics? No, but I've been reading what I can find about them since then.
I used to have a philosophy of intentionally choosing easy, "overlooked" problems. I figured I wasn't that smart, so I should just stick to the simple stuff. The software I built was good and useful, but a lot of it is already becoming obsolete. I want to make software that will last 50 years, not just 5.
This talk came at a great time for me, and it's strengthened my resolve. I'm going to keep learning about speech synthesis and acoustics (which means a lot of math and physics that I slept through in school), and hopefully I can push the field forward a little bit.
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p_h 4 days ago 3 replies
I've had multiple math professors tell me to study as much math as I can while I'm young, because once you're over 30 it's a lot harder to learn math. I'm in my 20's so I'm not sure if this is true.
It also seems to me that the math you would learn in an O'Reilly book isn't in depth enough to contribute to research.
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T_S_ 4 days ago 0 replies
Can anybody see the books on his dining room table (at 13:49)? I think I spotted Concrete Mathematics at the bottom, Duda and Hart, and Hastie, Tibshirani and Friedman. Good places to start.
What would your list be for Steve?
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hollerith 4 days ago 2 replies
Anyone care to post a summary of the OP (a 15-minute video)?
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thornad 4 days ago 0 replies
Everyone should work on the problems that are close to their heart, that they have a passion for.
He says something similar in the begining but then he confesses he's gonna do exactly the opposite.
this is major bulshit and I would not take this guy advice even if he payed me a million. Because he himself is not following it.
And even if he did, it is bullshit.
You should work on what YOU find important. Not on what someone else decided somewhere else.
YOU have intuitive intelligence that knows what's important and what you and ONLY YOU have a UNIQUE talent for (because you are unique).
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jsavimbi 4 days ago 0 replies
While we debate the merits of Mr. Yegge's principled talk at OSCON Data 2011 and the potential ramifications that a sudden shift in priorities would cause in the developer universe, #imisswhen is trending from my local cat-picture dissemination outfit.
Personally, I believe we've done enough for humanity already.
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avgarrison 4 days ago 0 replies
After we solve all of the hard problems in the world, can we go back to looking at cat pictures?
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rektide 4 days ago 0 replies
He looks so different than OSCON 2007: http://blip.tv/oreilly-open-source-convention/oscon-2007-ste...
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ryan-allen 4 days ago 2 replies
Wow, he really did. How this isn't on the front page, I don't know. It should be!
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zavulon 4 days ago 1 reply
What an ass.
492 points by MaysonL 10 days ago 145 comments top 25
1
adulau 9 days ago 2 replies
"The total official financing will amount to an estimated 109 billion euro. This programme will be designed, notably through lower interest rates and extended maturities, to decisively improve the debt sustainability and refinancing profile of Greece."
Markets and especially the financial sector like banks (especially French banks) owning debt from Greece (or CDO) have positively reacted to the announce for a different reason that the one shown in the press IMHO. The major risk for the banks is the inability from a customer to pay their debt. With the current proposal the risk is again moved to the public sector where they will take the part of the debt that Greece cannot pay or pay with difficulties.
So for the banks, it's a great move as their current contribution is just a small part from their revenue removed of the interest rate on the debt while lowering down the risks of unpaid debt.
Without forgetting that the ECB is feeding the banks with a preferential rate (around 1%) for credit given to other countries by the banks with a higher rate (around 3-4%).
So the winner is clearly the financial sector. We removed the risks for you and States will cover by public financing. It's just like the "refinancing" for CDO in 2008...
2
kahawe 9 days ago 3 replies
What I can still not understand: how could this have happened at all and how come just like with the financial crisis following the housing bubble, it is nobody's fault really, nobody gets the blame and has to answer and step down and get locked up for it... and ultimately banks or the countries just get their bail-out and that's it. Few months from now life will just continue as usual as if nothing ever happened, just like it did on Wall Street. They went right back at it.
The funniest thing, a few weeks ago it was a very popular opinion in the media in Greece (even in respectable papers) that Germany should absolutely have to pay since they got allegedly SOOO rich and happy on all those imports Greece bought from Germany. Which in reality were an absolutely ridiculous amount of like 1 or 2% of all of Greece's imports but it shows how quickly a scape goat was conjured up in the media to direct people's attention and hate away from their own politicians.
Seriously, how can you not blame the politicians in that country and blame whoever was responsible for accepting Greece into the monetary union in the first place when they downright faked their economic statistics and obviously noone did any due-diligence?
There is a constant decline in voters and a general sense of "disenchantment with politics" here; people just care less and less and I can really see why... it doesn't really matter who you vote for anyway, they all get away with whatever they want and the biggest crises of the last 10, 20, 30 years just get brushed off like nothing happened. Insane amounts of bailouts are paid out on the backs of the working citizens and then that's it. It is never anybody's fault so certainly this does not scare off ANYONE to refrain from careless, negligent conduct.
I am not trying to troll, I just really honestly do not understand it... in my own understanding by all that is right, a few people who were actually responsible or in charge and did not do anything to prevent it should be hanging from trees or burning on stakes by now, figuratively speaking (but I would not mind having it literally).
In any company a CEO conducting business like these countries are doing on a daily basis would have been locked up a hundred times over looong time ago for a multitude of very grave misconducts, evasion, falsification of accounts etc etc etc.
When you rob a bank for petty cash, you get locked up; when you "steal a movie" you get locked up even longer. When you frakk over the whole world or the whole EU, then most everyone was joining in anyway so "shit happens", "tough luck", let's write a check and shake hands for the media.
Can someone with more political understanding than I have put all this clusterfuck-shitstorm into perspective for me, please?
3
lefstathiou 10 days ago replies
FYI there is no such thing as a "kind of" or "selective" default. It's binary. You either pay back creditors what they are owed or you dont. It's rare that a company or country defaults on ALL obligations all at once. As a member of Wall Street, I appreciate the WSJ's noble attempt to sugar coat this (article below) but that doesnt change the facts.
Ditto watchandwait below.., glad it finally happened.
marshray 10 days ago 0 replies
The WSJ's article is like all "I have a friend who thinks she might be a teensey weeensey little bit pregnant...".
Tomorrow, the markets make an example out of Greece in order to send a message to the US. But they'd better watch out, it could backfire. Congress now has a taste of the thrill of writing a (raise pinky) one trillion dollar check. If another AIG starts to look shaky...
5
mbateman 9 days ago 0 replies
From the info box on this story in the print edition of the WSJ article this morning:
---
Q:There has been concern about a "credit event" that could trigger payouts on credit default swaps, a type of insurance against default. Will this happen?
A: Probably not. The deal for private-sector contributions is voluntary. If a deal doesn't bind all bondholders, it's unlikely to be considered a credit event.
Q:What use is default insurance if there's a default and no payouts?
A: Good question. It may lead to some soul-searching in the CDS market.
---
So the financial instruments designed to insure against default are being bypassed by deliberately circuitous arrangements and language, to the point that people are wondering what they are even for anymore? That sure seems like strong evidence in favor of the OP's position.
6
flocial 10 days ago 2 replies
The EU sort of rescued Greece, now Greece sort of defaults. Portugal, Spain, and Italy are not that far behind. The biggest problem, aside from Greece's fiscal mess, is that Germany can't muster up enough political support to clean up after their mess more decisively despite the fact that they are now in the same monetary union. The catch 22 of these financial crises is that inaction will result in financial meltdown, decisive rescues political suicide.
7
ww520 10 days ago 0 replies
I've gone through the News channel in topchan.tv, which has multiple sources. Out of 180 of news clips for today, only four are related to the Greek bailout. AlJazeera has more details and it mentioned partial default, in the sense that the lenders would take a loss.
france24: Fresh multi-billion euro bailout expected for Greece
afiler 10 days ago 0 replies
Seeing the title "Greece defaults" made me things had taken a turn for the worse compared to news I'd heard earlier in the day, but no, this is just the title of an opinion piece. Other news articles are more nuanced, and in particular, the Wall Street Journal asks "What Constitutes a Greek Default? And Who Decides?": http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311190346110457645...
9
Loic 9 days ago 1 reply
Nearly off topic, but all these debt issues make me think that this is why "world level" currency like bitcoin can be interesting. If it starts to spread enough to reach a critical mass over several economies, this kind of electronic currency can be the only currency disconnected from a single economy. The value of such currency would be function of the volume shared in each economy using it, where economy would be the US, EU, Japan, China etc.
You could say, a bit like gold, but easier to pay with.
Note that I am not saying I endorse bitcoin or any kind of crypto currency and recommend you to exchange your Euros/Dollars for some. For me, it is too speculative at the moment. This is just the concept which I find interesting.
10
parallel 10 days ago 2 replies
As I understand it you default on a loan, you don't default as an entity. So it's doesn't really make sense to talk about Greece defaulting without saying which loans they defaulted on. Hence the "kind of"/"selective" etc.
I read this as Greece defaulted on kind of all it's loans, so defaulted on some and not on others. The others may have been renegotiations, longer terms etc.
11
eegilbert 10 days ago 1 reply
Greece ^kinda defaults. More context in NYT, of course: http://nyti.ms/pyJ9Ho
12
tybris 9 days ago 0 replies
This is called debt restructuring, not defaulting.
13
pandaassembly 9 days ago 0 replies
Finally the only right move to do. If you look at greece's huge debt, it was clear that - even in booming economic times - they could have never managed to pay it all back.
Yes the greece default rating, will bring some pressure to the (mostly europrean) banks, but I'm sure the world will not stop moving, it might actually be the first step out of the euro crisis.
14
antimora 10 days ago 3 replies
is Greece in default or "kind of default"?
I don't see in other headlines news.
15
teyc 9 days ago 0 replies
Greece has been in fiscal deficit for so long, a loan which stays on the books but never gets paid off reminds me of CPS where functions never return.
16
rajpaul 10 days ago 0 replies
"kind of default" doesn't mean "Greece sort of defaulted", it means "Greece defaulted in a specific way".
17
orenmazor 9 days ago 0 replies
everybody is concentrating about the loans, but there was nothing being said on the lack of social contract in Greece. sure, they get some more loans/time, but the fact remains that the greek dont seem to want to pay their taxes.
18
shareme 10 days ago 1 reply
Translation...Greece gets a bailout for itself, bondholders offered bailout if they commit to increase time-periods of loans, Greece bond rating gets clobbered to default rating....
19
senthilnayagam 9 days ago 0 replies
start of a chain reaction :( but who would be next
20
joshu 10 days ago 1 reply
well, tomorrow is gonna be fun.
21
Maven911 9 days ago 0 replies
Does anyone know where I can get more in-depth analysis of the debt soverign crisis ?
I am quite interested in the topic but most articles are just fluff in terms of deep economic analysis
22
naeem 9 days ago 0 replies
This is terrifying. The possibilities of a double-dip recession turn depression are growing by the day. Excuse me while I start working out, learn how to use a shot-gun and develop a taste for cider while deepening my voice.
23
melvinng 10 days ago 1 reply
Finally, that took a while. Why didn't they do it earlier?
24
paulocal 9 days ago 0 replies
Does this mean gold and silver prices will go up? I HOPE SO!
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TheAlan 10 days ago 5 replies
The raping of Greece's assets will now begin. EVERYTHING will get privatized, just like a third-world country.
7
467 points by jamesgagan 1 day ago 278 comments top 50
1
jellicle 1 day ago 5 replies
Sounds to me like Paul Graham has made a fairly fundamental and common mistake, which is to say believing the AirBnb people when they reassure him that everything is under control and there's no fire here.
Paul, if you actually read the statements made by the CEO on news.ycombinator.com, it's very clear that AirBnb are the primary, if not only, ones at fault here.
I don't want to call Paul a liar, since it seems likely to me that he has just made a mistake of believing someone else. But he's putting his own reputation behind AirBnb, and AirBnb is lying. That's unwise.
Let me compare a different response that I'm familiar with. A friend of mine had her apartment destroyed in the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks. Insurance companies came and set up booths in Manhattan and were cutting checks left and right, without even SEEING the damage. My friend had a check in her hand on 9/13 if I recall correctly. She didn't get in to SEE her own apartment until a month later, and the insurance company didn't see it until much later than that.
As of today and yesterday, there are articles in newspapers across the land. There are phrases like "As of Friday afternoon, Airbnb had not returned calls from The [Washington] Post requesting comment." - that's a quote from a WashPost story, of course. One thing I know: when the Washington Post calls and a company has something good to say about themselves, they take the call (calls, actually).
It's apparent from the latest newspaper stories that AirBnb is now reacting in a cover-it-up fashion - they're trying to offer the woman a sum of money with the condition that she shut up. That's fine, I guess - very corporate of them.
But frankly I expected better. I guess I sort of expected that even if AirBnb was being dumb, that when the first article hit news.yc, that someone would call them and straighten them out. Instead it seems that PG, also, is blinded by "going to be as big as Ebay".
2
sriramk 1 day ago 4 replies
I can't believe I'm defending Arrington here but for once, I think PG is off and Arrington is right.
Arrington's editorializing has been fairly tame in this story. A lot of the mess has been due to EJ's posts and Airbnb's attempts at damage control.
If you look through the original post, there are only a couple of lines where Arrington says Airbnb isn't financially responsible and that is, imho, a fair interpretation of what the spokesperson/Lukezic told him. TC has also done a fair job of publishing Airbnb's side of the story - guest posts, updating their posts, etc.
Airbnb's real problem here is EJ, not Arrington. Airbnb's image isn't getting tarnished by posts on TC, it is getting tarnished by EJ's blog posts which make Airbnb's people seem cold and insensitive.
If you look at PG's comments on the earlier thread, he seemed to imply that Airbnb disagreed with EJ's version of events (they called her before her second post, etc). That could be Airbnb's big problem - it seems to me they want to say EJ is lying but can't in public.
3
jacquesm 1 day ago replies
Everybody calm down please.
EJ is real, she's a real person, it really did happen, just in case anybody was still wondering about that.
I've passed her contact info to PG and him being the smart man that he is I'm pretty sure that he can come up with a solution that will satisfy everybody and will allow the victim to move on and get AirBNB past this crisis. Any words to the effect that AirBNB is 'setting precedent' are null and void, of course they aren't and even if they were it would not matter one bit, sometimes you just need to do the right thing, even if that hurts you financially. Sometimes lawyers are good, sometimes they muddle the water. In this case I'd advise to leave the lawyers out of it, this is an emotional train-wreck and lawyers are only going to make it worse.
The future can wait until after this has been resolved to EJs satisfaction. Customer = King. Be happy that so far the mainstream press seems to be ignoring this story, the last thing you want at this point is to leave that clock ticking to the point where they do pick it up and who knows how many more EJ stories start hitting the news.
Yes, this could be an isolated case, but given the numbers involved it probably isn't.
Whoever lied will have to come clean about it at some point, maybe PG will owe Arrington an apology, maybe not.
Note that 'offering help' and 'giving help' are two very different things, and PG has not said anywhere that AirBNB has given her help, just that they've been offering it from the beginning, it may have been an unconditional offer, or it may have been a conditional one with conditions unacceptable for EJ. If they did nothing tangible for the last 30 days that really is a problem, but that means that PG can still stand by his words. Whatever hang-ups that stop 'offering' turning in to 'given' need to be resolved immediately.
Time will tell, all that depends on what really happened and other than EJ and one or two people at AirBNB nobody knows, the rest is hearsay. It is very well possible that PG is acting on incomplete or wrong info. The fact that AirBNB is willing to move to keep this out of the media during a funding round may tell us a bit about their attitude towards being truthful with investors, assuming that that is true, which we can not take as read at this point.
As far as damage to the apartment, pictures with some proof would help (and would indicate the extent of the damage), and if the truth is to come out about the interaction with AirBNB then someone would have to dump their email cache.
Personally I don't think that is the best way forward (other than for EJ if she's telling the truth and wants to make that more than plain, and AirBNB turns out to have not done anything tangible other than saying they will 'support her' and have 'offered help'), what this mostly needs is to be taken care of, whether that happens in the public eye or not is not relevant.
I exchanged some email with the lady, EJ is right now literally scared out of her wits, concern for her safety and well being should come first, after that, when the situation has been normalized as far as possible there will be a time of reflection for everybody involved, including PG.
YC companies are hitting bigger home-runs each year and with that comes a need for a more professional approach to PR. When you're dealing at this level and you have this many interactions with your customers (2 million nights booked = 4 million chances for someone to be dissatisfied) there will always be trouble. It is unavoidable, so you have to plan for it and you plan for the worst case scenarios.
Luckily, there was no bodily harm in this case, the perps were gone when she returned. But that is just about the only icing on this cake, other than that there needs to be some real hard work done to set this right and to do what can be done to avoid a repetition in the future. And if there is a repetition (imo inevitable) that person should have been warned up front about the risks in an un-ambiguous way.
Best of luck to all involved, especially to EJ and the AirBNB team.
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redthrowaway 1 day ago 2 replies
Sorry PG, but you have a steep hill to climb if you want to defend aribnb.
The crux of your (and their) problem is this: Why, if, as you say, airbnb was being as helpful as possible from the get-go, did the victim write that second post?
That's it. You cannot have a claim to credibility until you answer that question. Even if that answer is, "she was paid off", the existence of her second blog post puts the lie to airbnb's (and your) claims. Either she's telling the truth, or they (and you) are. They are mutually exclusive stories.
Bringing Arrington's Arringtonity into this is a red herring. The story isn't about him. There are two involved parties, here, and you've aligned yourself with airbnb. The victim's story isn't being run through the TC filter; it's there for everyone to see. So far, the collective 'you' have not addressed it, refuted her points, or shown how the two accounts are compatible.
It's easy to hop on the "Michael Arrington is a sensationalistic dick" bandwagon, because he is. That doesn't address the issue, though, and it comes across as a deflection.
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coffeemug 1 day ago 4 replies
The way many people here jumped to conclusions after the initial AirBnB story based on almost no information is really disheartening. Insulting the founders of the company, the victim, and concocting conspiracy theories based on a few paragraphs of information with barely any evidence is a really poor way to conduct oneself. Most decent people wouldn't do it in face-to-face conversations without getting to know a person at least slightly, and it's unfortunate that our psychology is built in a way that an extra layer of anonymity afforded by the internet enables a large number of people to drop all sense of tact and respect, and jump into personal attacks with very little information about the actual incident. If you're one of the people that engaged in this type of behavior, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. You're doing real damage to real people, while knowing almost nothing about what's actually going on, but more importantly, you're damaging your own reputation.
I had the opportunity to hear the founders speak a number of times. They're one of the very few founders that are incredibly genuine about bringing a positive change into the lives of their customers. They live and breathe positive change they bring to the world, to the point where they carry letters from customers that thanked them for saving their lives because the bank would have repossessed their home if not for AirBnB. Jumping on them because they didn't have a chance to give a complete response while handling a crisis is really uncalled for.
I don't know the victim but it's easy to misinterpret events after going through an emotional trauma. Most likely it's a misunderstanding, but even if it isn't, it's really inappropriate to insult people given the information currently available. In fact, it's never appropriate to insult people, and it's best to hold back criticism until more information is available, lest you do some real damage to real people.
There are some valid concerns about where personal responsibility ends and liability begins (legally and ethically), and how AirBnB's service will evolve to address these issues, but there are different ways to discuss these concerns, and discussions here so far have been nothing but poisonous.
EDIT: I posted this comment in the other thread ( http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2825045 ). Sorry for the crosspost, but this is getting ridiculous.
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bugsy 1 day ago 3 replies
That's extremely interesting. When the victim EJ posted (was it Thursday?) about being intimidated and lied to by Airbnb, it was obviously very different from what they were saying publicly. I figured though she is very very upset about everything and overreacting. However, this new report is a second witness that Airbnb is playing dirty behind the scenes while acting all nice guy in public, and PG defending it. Probably he believes what they say, but the fact is that it's Arrington that ends up being right on these articles, but even if it wasn't, we already know the story came from EJ the victim and not Arrington anyway, so PG either didn't do proper diligence in checking before posting or is outright lying to protect his investment. I think PG is honest and just didn't check up on things, but believed what he was told by his unnamed contact at Airbnb, who is clearly angry at the victim. The unnamed Airbnb contact's attitude of anger corroborates EJ's story that she was intimidated by them. What a mess. It's obvious at this point both that PG should apologize to Arrington and Airbnb is basically done for. I am sure they have many people there trying to do the right thing but they have at least one person there in CYA mode who has basically both destroyed the company and lied to PG.
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moonlighter 1 day ago 0 replies
- "Brian Chesky called me and I updated that post"
- "Chesky repeatedly thanked me for the updates by email and on the phone"
Seems like Chesky and Lukezic spent more time talking to Arrington trying to do "PR damage control" rather than talk to their customer EJ. Which, given Arrington's new post, totally backfired, too:
"At least have the decency to stand up and say you're wrong, Airbnb, and apologize for the lies. Because hiding behind investors, and attacking the press, is both dishonorable and stupid. That's no way to gain customer trust."
Ouch. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
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WordSkill 1 day ago 2 replies
You know, I am no cheerleader for Michael Arrington, we've certainly banged heads a few times in comment threads (it's a fun way to spend an evening) but what Paul Graham is doing here is pretty cynical:
Once it became clear yesterday that the empathically-challenged kids in charge at Airbnb had no clue of how to manage the problem, and that the company was hemorrhaging tens of millions in notional value every time Brian Chesky opened his mouth and a bunch of lies and half-truths came tumbling out, the investors called an emergency meeting and tried to figure out a way out of this mess.
Clearly, as the situation had been left to rot for a month, giving the victim plenty of time to become more upset and alienated, it was too late to pretend that the situation itself had been handled in any way properly.
There was also no longer any subtle way to silence to victim - that bridge already been burned by the ham-fisted attempt to bully her into deleting her original post... attempts made, incredibly, OVER THE PHONE!
And, as those attempts were now part of the another blog post, it was too late to act like fucking professionals, meet her in person, put her up in five star luxury while they arrange and pay to have her home cleansed, fumigated, redecorated, refurnished, blessed by a witchdoctor, whatever it took to shut her up.... it was too late for all that.
So, Paul Graham, an intelligent man with a good eye for small details, noticed the one and only sliver of a chance Airbnb has to get out of this mess with it's valuation above the billion mark, rather than far below it: the universal antipathy towards Michael Arrington!
So, now, the course is set and, from here on out, Airbnb and their investors are going to completely ignore the truth that it was the victim's own account which contradicts Airbnb's rapidly shifting assertions, and, instead, they are going to pretend that the whole controversy is a link-bait concoction by Silicon Valley's favorite super-villain, Dr. Arrington. What actually happened will not matter and, right now, you can bet the Paul Graham is down on his knees praying that Jason Calacanis will take the tasty Arrington bait and run this story in the other direction.
Of course, the only reason this story has legs is that Chesky's article turned out to be so astonishingly and needlessly untruthful that the victim felt compelled to sit down and write a practically line-by-line rebuttal. It was truly one of the most remarkable own goals I have ever seen and, if you weren't already questioning the sanity of the CEO of a supposedly $1.3bn company not identifying, a month ago when it happened, that this could be a serious IPo blocker and, as such, promptly nailing it down, you have to wonder just how psychotic he is to have written something so bold, to have put himself in the position of being publicly exposed as a complete and utter bullshitter.
So, that is why Micheal is getting it in the neck and, on this occasion, undeservedly so... but you shouldn't let that spoil your enjoyment of it ;)
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Legion 1 day ago 0 replies
>> Airbnb has been offering to fix it
EJ said as much in the first post. But offers without follow-through are worthless. And the problem is that, from EJ's perspective at least, there has been absolutely none. And swinging a bat at Arrington won't change that.
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cookiecaper 1 day ago 1 reply
There are a lot of long words in these posts, so I doubt anyone will read this, but I want to say it anyway.
First, this whole thing just wreaks of a big disaster of miscommunication between all involved parties. Many commentators I think are being overly sensitive and pedantic (I commented yesterday on the shocking revelation that an airbnb founder would "enjoy meeting" EJ). The following points seem clear to me:
* EJ's perspective is tainted by her negative experience. While she criticized the founder for an impersonal meeting request, she could have disparaged the founder just as easily had it gone the other way: "Oh, the founder sent me this mail gushing with concern... if he really cared, he would have done X and Y differently, now he is just backtracking like a coward in light of media attention"
* airbnb believes that they are helping and is trying to do what's feasible, but is weighed down by concern over insurance, regulation, fault, and other pertinent issues involved in this precedent-setting incident. airbnb also is likely to (subconsciously) give a story that is perhaps unrealistically positive to one of its earliest mentors and investors, who readily believes and defends one of his earliest and most successful investments; I can't help but think there are child-parent-type instincts on that kind of relationship.
* Arrington is writing the story mostly accurately, perhaps not with the rigid journalistic method that ensures precision in retelling, as we generally expect to find lacking in the casual vernacular of a blog. In fact, I think a lot of TC-related controversy stems from nothing more than the casual format that leaves much room for misreadings (and miswritings). While it may not be fun to read or write an article that follows classical journalistic procedure, there is a reason that that procedure was put in place...
* Commentators jump to the defense of EJ prematurely, partly because of white-knight impulses and partly because of the victim's emotionally-charged writing.
I hope that people calm down over this. We need to allow all parties involved some time, I think. This is a major thing in the history of airbnb and the logistics require careful attention -- they may not get it perfectly right, but I believe they're operating out of good faith and trying to do the right thing. I also believe EJ is struggling to get a grip on her new circumstances and would also benefit from some time apart from the sensationalism. As for PG/TC/others, it just causes volumes of unnecessary drama to get publicly entangled.
I'm not sure that anything else productive can be done at this point by continuing to expound on the issue, it merely seems to create more controversy for controversy's sake.
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9oliYQjP 1 day ago 0 replies
Long term, this kind of problem isn't going away for AirBnB. To ignore it would be as foolish as a retailer avoiding the problem of shrink. To treat this case like it is an isolated, unique event, is also ridiculous. AirBnB might be tremendously safe. But so is flying, and people have irrational fears of flying because the odd disaster happens. Airlines have entire disaster teams in place to handle these rare events.
Honestly, I think a big problem here is that you have men handling a situation in which they were completely oblivious to the feelings of their customer. Men can't possibly appreciate the sense of vulnerability most women have walking down the street alone at night, let alone the sense of violation that occurs from events like this. What the woman in question implied in her blog post was anger that the men were cold and not paying attention to her feelings. My advice would be to find a woman with great customer service experience and give her authority to personally handle this situation, in-person.
That would take care of the immediate problem. Long term, AirBnB needs to develop a strategy for handling these sort of cases. Reports of insurance being offered is a good first step. But they need to think about having disaster teams in place similar to the ones airlines and insurance companies have. They are in the same boat as these companies; when something goes wrong, it goes very very wrong. That leaves people in severe distress and it takes more than just a standard customer service response to deal with situations like this.
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ajays 1 day ago 1 reply
Here is something I don't understand.
San Francisco is a tiny city (heck, I've walked from one end to the other; it's just 7 miles x 7 miles, or 11km x 11km for the rest of you). Most of the principles in this sad tale live in San Francisco. HOW HARD IS IT TO JUST WALK OVER AND MEET THIS PERSON?? Instead of relying on PR and telephones and email and blogs; just walk over, give her a hug, talk to her and treat her right! Put a human touch on all this interaction, people! It's not like she's living in Podunk, Nebraska (no offense to Nebraskans) and out of reach. She's living right here!
Close your laptops. Put down your iPhones. Just meet her in person and solve her problems. I am willing to bet that a face-2-face with the principles will solve more problems than all the articles in TC, blog posts, etc.
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OoTheNigerian 1 day ago 2 replies
This is my little 2 cents on this whole fiasco that seems not to go away.
All this would not have come to this if Airbnb guys asked themselves a simple question. How would I handle this if this happened to my sister of wife.
The main problem is Airbnb had about a month to fix this before it became 'viral'. It was only the post by TC that made me realise this issue was about a month ago (30 days!).
As a fan of Airbnb, (I have not used the service, but i have given them a few customers), I am a bit disappointed in the response. I do not blame them for waat happened to EJ. The problem that has happened is as a result of their reaction to what had happened.
I am kind of amazed that after a month, not one of the founders has gone to see the house (they have the address) but rather they have been doing "everything" to help. This is politician talk, not startup talk. Why startups were really cool was the possibility of getting in touch with the founder of it rather than the "automated customer service of big companies".
The only actionable thing Airbnb have done during the last few days fiasco is try to cover their asses. i.e change the security page, write a blog post on TC and defend themselves. Now anything they do will not be perceived in good faith but in reaction to the angry mob (as PG calls it). It is never good to be reactionary.
If I were the CEO of Airbnb, I would do this:
Go and look physically and look at the house.
Go and look for the victim and be sincere in my apology and request for another chance to start again.
Behave as if it was my sister this thing happened to.
I really hope some good "no win no fee" lawyer has not got to her first.
When you are successful, people are out there trying to hang you, please Airbnb, do not give them a rope.
I wish you guys all the best!
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chailatte 1 day ago 0 replies
Why is it left to PG to defend AirBnB? Why aren't the founders handling the PR?
Why isn't AirBnb implementing solutions 5 weeks ago to prevent this from happening again to their users? Why haven't their users heard about this until now?
Why don't we have any tangible proof that AirBnb is actually helping this poor woman? If no, why don't they do it now, instead of saying they are trying?
Are there any grownups in AirBnb? This is not a side project selling cereals that you have fun with anymore. It's a real business! What a sad, pathetic group of people. 1000X valuation for a company that lets 'daddy' do all the dirty work, while they go hide in the corner.
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ig1 1 day ago 1 reply
I think perhaps the more important question here is with pg going to bat for Airbnb against Arrington, is this going to affect the long term relationship between Y Combinator and Techcrunch.
Techcrunch have always provided favourable coverage to YC companies, but if that relationship is going tepid because of this affair, the negative fall-out could be far worse for YC than for AirBnB. Most consumers will forget about stories like this after a while, journalists tend to hold grudges (see Arrington vs Calcanis).
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todayiamme 1 day ago 3 replies
This might seem stupid, but given the line of events if I was AirBNB's founders I would do this; offer EJ my place to stay, and cook a simple meal for her. That's it.
The shortfall of AirBNB over here is that they might care, but they aren't coming across as someone caring, and a little bit of empathy coupled with a genuine act of kindness will go a long way over here.
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resdirector 1 day ago 0 replies
I really look forward to reading a Paul Graham essay about his experience here, once the dust has settled. I know he has written about PR before, but this is probably essay-worthy in of itself (perhaps something like "in the eye of a shitstorm" or similar).
I'd like to know his philosophies and how he came to his decisions to do what when, his thought processes etc.
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nikcub 1 day ago 0 replies
airbnb chose to use Techcrunch as the venue, and there is still no mention of this on their own blog or website.
they should just cut it straight and adress all their users on their own site
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lancewiggs 1 day ago 1 reply
Hundreds of comments and votes. But I have not seen an apology from AirBnB on HN. Perhaps I missed it, but they should be everywhere.
Why don't they understand this? Why are they not incredibly active on this and other forums? Have they no conscience? Do they really not care? Is this really still seen by them as a PR problem rather than a a horrible event that they at least partially enabled and thus should feel terrible about and seek to help the victim in any and all ways they can?
The success of eBay, a P2P business, was initially driven by its community, and members treated each other with respect and were happy to trade with each other. AirBnB is behaving as if it doesn't care about its community, its customers.
Is that the death knell sounding? Perhaps.
To me the only recourse now is a new person or team at the top, folks that actually live the desired values of the company.
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maurycy 23 hours ago 0 replies
Let me start with a very simple sentence: people are good.
The AirBnB service depends on this simple premise. This is the first axiom of their business. No matter how insured everyone is, the axiom has to hold. Otherwise, you end up with an infinite streak of disputes.
If you invite strangers to your home, then you assume that people are good, either. It is that simple. Frankly, only a good person would invite strangers to her home. It might be slightly too naive, but it does not change the fact it takes a lot of good faith, and trust. (It might be too much, I agree, but it is not her fault, as it was not BitCoin begginers' mistake to commit into the idea of the digital currency _too much_. It is more experienced ones' responsibility to share their knowledge.)
Once you find the property destroyed, your world view is going to collapse. It turns out, basically, that some people are not good. What's worse, bad people were physically close to you, just few days ago.
It is _extremely_ stressful.
Here and there I've read comments suggesting that EJ extrapolates a bit. Even if so, so what? She is so distressed, I'm very surprised that there's so little understanding about her current position.
The way the AirBnB folks behave does not reveal that they do genuiely believe that people are good. The way the public sees it right now is that they're very cautious, as well as lawyers, and all that stuff, is rather a defensive, and unsafe, behaviour.
While I somehow understand them, the problem is that the service relies on the assumption that people are good. After all, it is about _sharing your property with complete strangers from Internet_ (no matter if it is your home, or the other one.)
The reason why the story reads so bad is that it mixes up the social context of sharing per se, with the formal context, relying on lawyers and PR firms. All comments points out that getting her a new property sets a precedence for further refunds are totally off the took. To come up with such comment, it takes to view the world as a distrustful place. The view that, basically, contradicts the whole idea.
To me, the whole story is about nerds facing social complexities. The business they've created is not about numbers (i.e. brokering rooms, without having to incur the costs of building a hotel), but about sharing. The sharing, in nearly all cases, of single most valuable thing in your life.
I'm so frightened with lack of common sense.
First of all, the AirBnB folks should ensure her that people are good. I mean, people _are_ good. That the unfortunate event was a nightmarish accident, not the correct image of the world (no BS here, as, statistically speaking, the event is an outlier.)
Ensuring someone that the world is a trustful place definitely does not involve communicating publicly, or privately, with lawyers, or PR companies. I don't know how to explain this but it is all about showing that you're a human (of course, it still makes sense to speak with a lawyer before, though to avoid some simple misunderstaindg.)
We don't know her. We have no idea what are the actions necessary in order to make her safe. I think, though, it takes nothing more than showing your real, not faked, care, and, what comes as a surprise, asking her, not a PR company.
Once this is solved, the community should be somehow informed about the solution. If she wants to, EJ could write the explanation. She would have control over the amount of private informations shared, giving her power she has lost due to the abuse. Also, the really case closed means a good story about the world within that people are good.
Personally, I think it makes a lot of sense to offer her a job. She is an extremely talented writer, and seems to care about people. The AirBnB business operates heavily in the social context, so so good person, coming from inside, would be priceless for a now a bit dry company.
Of course, meanwhile it makes sense to get constant updates on legal implications. This is mostly the internal process, though. It takes very little to commit an honest legal mistake, so it cannot hurt (keep in mind to ask EJ is she needs legal help, too.) The same goes with the PR firm. I'm under impression, though, they would recommend similar steps to me. The PR folks I know are really good people.
It might be that EJ does not want to speak with the founders anymore. There is already a lot of misunderstanding, and I would understand her if they've lost her trust. If so, either the investors or the directors should step in. I realize that it sounds _too much_. However, PG is already involved, and members of both groups signal that there is a more mature instance that overlooks the things to be fine.
I do not believe that the solution cannot be reached. It does. It takes, though, understanding that people are good.
(On a more formal side, the reason why it was really a bad idea to mention lawyers publicly is that the AirBnB itself operates within a grey area. Depending on the local laws, the service is either illegal or not covered with all hospitality laws.
It means that signing up the property to the service takes valuying the social relationships more than legal matters. It cannot be otherwise given that, it turns out, some guests were completely anonymous (guests of the guests?), to say nothing about lack of cameras in most buildings.
The lawyers, and formalities, raised so frequently create a state of understandable confusion. If renting the property is dubiously insurable (I'm not sure whether insurers were that happy if knew that they insure hotel rooms per se; the fact has to spread, yet, though), and there are no legal protections, there is nothing but the social trust to rely on.)
That said, I wish all the parties involved the best.
I wish EJ only good things from now. ;-) And, I wish AirBnB more luck, as they've faced a huge sh*t-storm, and I like their service for the reason it relies on _good_ behaviour.
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rweba 1 day ago 3 replies
This might now end up affecting not only Airbnb but also the image of Ycombinator and pg.
Also the important issue here is not just the (terrible) handling of this specific incident by Airbnb but the fact that it puts into question their entire business model: Is it really smart to rent out your personal residence to a complete stranger? Does the potential benefit($$$) outweigh the significant risks(being completely violated)? Yes, they could put in some more checks but will that be enough to make people feel SAFE?
Personally I think the risk is too high and the problem will only become worse as the service tries to expand to more customers and scammers become more aware of it. That nice "guest" may simply be casing the joint, copying your keys and snooping in your mail. Who needs that risk?
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meinthecity 1 day ago 0 replies
The tragedy about this is that everyone involved here could have done something to avoid this except maybe EJ.
In order of culpability, here are the mistakes they made:
AirBnB's clearly inexperienced leadership has done a horrible job at communication. Sadly, this makes any real action they have taken to help the victim irrelevant to the public. Then again, their business has a fundamental risk, one of crime, which they seem unprepared to address or mitigate. Given their past resourcefulness, I have a feeling they will find ways to improve their product to make this less likely. I am not so sure about their ability to improve their communication.
Michael Arrington's job is to draw more eyeballs to TechCrunch and he invariably picks stoking controversy over responsible journalism. If it wasn't already clear to everyone including pg that he will do this at any cost, it should be now. Michael could have done some real journalism and talked to the police to find out more details, probed AirBnB for more details up front and may be even the victim on the one hand. On the other hand he should certainly have avoided comparing AirBnB to scamville, I don't think anyone thinks AirBnB is scamming users. But that's just who he is. He also takes great pleasure in calling people names. Notice that his latest post about pg has "Liar" emblazoned on the top. Can't say I expected any different, given his past behavior but at least pg will remove his blinders now that Arrington is treating him exactly like he treats non-luminaries.
The fact that PG had to jump into the public fray may have seemed inevitable given AirBnB's incompetent response, but it is almost always a bad tactic to have multiple people presenting the public face of a company. Even minor differences between what they say will be highlighted and will cause more confusion. PG even made the tactical mistake of responding emotionally to Arrington's "make the story more interesting without giving a shit about anyone else" approach, but in the long run this is a good thing. As I said, he'll now remove his blinders about Arrington.
EJ is not at fault except that she should have known that she was taking this risk when she rented her home to complete strangers sight unseen. This may be a flaw in AirBnB's model and their lack of focus on safety on their site, but if EJ had been my 6' 5" wrestler brother, I'd have waited a sufficient amount of time before giving him a knock upside the head and asking him what he expected when he handed over keys to an apartment that held all his belongings to a complete stranger while he was abroad. If EJ were my sister I'd tell her the same thing, minus the knock upside the head!
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rmason 1 day ago 0 replies
I remember seeing Jack Welch being interviewed once about the press. He said for successful people it's a cycle - they're either building you up or tearing you down. If AirBnB wasn't so successful their problem wouldn't be news.
If he hasn't done it already you will see PG bring in a top PR person who is experienced in handling a crisis. Not just to get AirBnB out of trouble but to be a resource for future YC companies in handling episodes of this sort. Quite frankly I am shocked their VC's aren't helping them out this way.
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badclient 1 day ago 0 replies
Arrington nails it. It's the same thing I wrote yesterday in a comment: Airbnb wants to call out the victim but are holding back whether it is for legal or other reasons.
I can understand them. It's hard to just sit idle when someone irrationally attacks you. At the same time, if you have a customer-business relationship, airing the customer's dirty laundry may be strategicay bad no matter how wrong she is. On the other hand, the customer can write piles and piles of questionable content.
Here's what I'd love: for EJ to post the ordinal emails or to show them to techcrunch or arstechnica for an independent take on the situation. At the moment TC is just a megaphone for both parties. May be this can investigate this at the root with original communication between EJ and airbnb, assuming ej agrees to it. And if she doesn't, I would be as suspicious of her as I may be airbnb having read her posts.
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Shenglong 19 hours ago 0 replies
do you really think they are so dumb that they don't realize it's not worth the bad PR to save money and effort in this situation?
I'm siding with pg on this one. I can't imagine any intelligent person making this PR trade-off just for some cash. I don't want to analyze the he-said-she-said, but I've been up to date since this went viral, and I don't see any logiacl reason that AirBnb would refuse to pay for her expenses.
Think about it logically... rather than emotionally.
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trotsky 1 day ago 1 reply
I wish Arrington didn't try to make himself the story so much - I know it's his schtick but it's very distracting from the actual story here.
He's obviously on HN regularly - if he had a problem with the way he was characterized in a HN comment the easiest way to respond to that is right there. Anyone reading pg's comment would see his rebuttal, pg would see it, and people could directlly make up their own minds.
Instead he makes a "oh god look at this liar" TC post because he enjoys using his bully pulpit to shape public opinion. No wonder he lets people like MG call out random CSR lies on twitter and get them fired at AT&T.
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orionlogic 1 day ago 0 replies
Sometime ago i watched a video, a panel directed by Arrington and said to myself "how could PG like this guy"(i see the Arrington way) because PG said this several times. TC really supportive and give good reviews for Ycom startups so its normal to say that i think.
But for this event TC is a bit prolonging the situation. Why not talking millions of happy transactions instead of a unlucky bad one? In 2011 bad news still sells.
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kristiandupont 1 day ago 0 replies
It's amazing to me how polarized the comments are even here on HN where the debate is usually very balanced.
Obviously we know very little about what's going on behind the scenes right now. There are conflicting messages coming from all sides.
I am not saying that EJ is lying. But calling AirBnB are completely cynical and lacking any sense of PR seems incongruent with the skills they have otherwise shown and also with the empathy that they at least managed to convey in interviews etc.
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larrys 1 day ago 0 replies
Maybe PG/YC/Airbnb see this for what it is. A great deal of notoriety that will help this startup after the situation lands on the front page of every major paper as well as the nightly news. Then will come EJ on 20/20, morning shows etc. telling her story as a word of caution. Airbnb will respond that they've fixed the problem though. Then even your aunt will know about airbnb. What's that publicity worth.
In the end, this won't hurt it will help. (Think of all the weird stuff selling on ebay like dead bodies, dead body parts etc that were constantly publicized many years ago. At times it seemed like there were new stories weekly.)
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bane 1 day ago 0 replies
Is it just me or has this entire debacle resulted in an awful lot of beating up of otherwise upstanding HNers and armchair novice PR advice based on a case full of conflicting details where apparently nobody has the complete story?
I'm actually finding this entire thing distasteful from all possible sides. I'd rather just wait and see what happens while the various parties work this out in relative private.
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lwhi 1 day ago 0 replies
Diversionary tactics. Not admirable but I'll still be impressed if he pulls it off.
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bennyfreshness 1 day ago 0 replies
Another example of a select few bad apples ruining it for everyone. This is such a shame. I've had great experiences with Airbnb. The last person who rented my loft left it cleaner that it was before!
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shareme 1 day ago 0 replies
1. Victim is not on trial here.
2. This is not the time to score link bait points.
3. Several layers of communication that are not direct here..let the parties come to their own way of helping and implementing solutions. I would imagine it does not help the police either ..
above all else. MA you are not helping just shut up.
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babebridou 1 day ago 1 reply
This situation is in fact a very understandable vendetta of the unfortunate victim towards the rest of the world - and she is right - everyone should pay for what she suffered. The actual word is compassion, and there's never enough of it in the whole world for any single unfortunate person.
With that said, no company with AirBnB's business model can publicly say they will assist victims whatever the cost. It's just impossible. It would be a blatant lie. They must at least maintain some sort of windshield against insurance frauds, and doing that requires tons of hard PR and legal decisions to be made, and the assistance of lawyers. And everyone hates lawyers. Companies are sometimes inherently good, sometimes not, but they should never be inherently so stupid as to sign their own commercial/financial/legal doom. You can get up from bad PR, but you can't get up from bankrupcy.
Now after this argument in favor of an actual public silence, let's see what we have:
1) a victim
2) there is no 2. There is a victim and that's all.
Just fix the victim. No need to go through internet flamewars or PR messes, no need to even listen to that. Airbnb should just send a team of 24/7 dedicated people with quasi carte blanche (within what the company can afford, of course) to see through that victim gets better, if that objective can even be met. If the "get better" project goes so wrong as to lead to law suits or whatnot, then let justice decide, because in the end, yes, someone has to pay for what happened, and the legal system is here to decide who should pay.
Now about PR: switch the debate from a "what did AirBnB do in that situation" witch-hunt to "This is what we are doing, this is how it's going from our point of view, now what do you (Mr/Mrs Customer) think we could improve on?". Open a public discussion on your social network and dedicate someone to analyze public input. And use it the next time something like this happens (because unfortunately, it will happen again). Centralize this debate somewhere where you can handle all this information, and by "handle" I don't mean "censor" but of course "assimilate".
...and just ignore those stupid emergent flame wars between big internet guns who are mostly in for pride (white knights & trolls) and money (journalists, consultants, lobbyists & investors). Let them deal with the crap they fling around themselves, and keep focusing on the "get better" project: the victim asked specifically for your help, and that's what really matters here.
Related link: an analysis of an excellent online PR crisis management by Monoprix (in French only, sorry) http://guybirenbaum.blogitexpress.com/91728/html
The "victim" (an employee who got fired for taking home unsold & trashed goods) explained that he "tried hard to make a fuss and a buzz" of his situation because he felt that nothing short of prosecution and trial could make him feel better. This is a case of a failing "get better" project with exemplary PR - and to be honest, it's only when the project fails that PR become important. What did Monoprix do? They centralized the debate on their Facebook page, switched the focus from "Monoprix is bad" to a laconic "here's what we are doing, tell us what we can improve on" and they have dedicated Community Managers assimilating and discussing the comments instead of censoring them.
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capdiz 19 hours ago 0 replies
After reading the lady's blog. airbnb dudes you really screwed up. You dare suggest she takes her blog down. I had actually defended airbnb yesterday before reading her side of the story. But am now inclined to believe that you guys screwed up and need to do some damage control.
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djloche 1 day ago 0 replies
The key problem is that MA is reading 'we're not legally liable' as 'we're not going to help her'.
There is a huge difference between the two. Companies go out of their way to fix issues where they have no legal obligation to do so. However, they can still claim that they have no legal obligation with the offended parties to do so, they're just doing it out of the goodness of their hearts (and reputation of the business going forward).
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NIL8 1 day ago 1 reply
Arrington and TC irritate the crap out of me! There was a time when I loved to read TC, but now they are so obnoxiously arrogant and dirty that it makes me cringe to see links from them in HN posts. Why would they drop Paul Graham's name into this empty story?
Can someone explain to me how this is anybody's fault other than the jerk that robbed the lady (and maybe the lady's naïveté)?
I know AirBnB has made a lot of people angry with their business tactics, but how are they responsible for this crime? Can you imagine if the Hampton Inn sued Expedia for someone vandalizing a hotel room or expecting restitution from Kayak for what a vandal did in their hotel?
AirBnB should listen to their lawyers and not accept responsibility for the act of a criminal or the poor judgement of a user.
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chappi42 1 day ago 1 reply
I see airbnb as a match-maker and consider it quite naive to entrust a 'facebook-friend-like' stranger my appartment without proper checking who this person is.
Typical America were drinking hot coffee leads to lawsuits.
(Which doesn't mean i'm not sorry for the person, or that risks shouldn't be stated (more) prominently, or that insurances should be here)
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puppetaccount 1 day ago 0 replies
To AirBnB:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
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dools 1 day ago 0 replies
AirBnB: Air Bold n the Beautiful?
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jamesgagan 1 day ago 0 replies
Listen, someone was gonna post it.
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mindcrime 1 day ago 2 replies
/me puts some popcorn on to pop, cracks open a soda, and sits back to watch the show...
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realou 1 day ago 0 replies
Hello. It seems that this Airbnb business model is a bit flawed because it requires a level of trust from customers which cannot be obtained in the world we currently live in. How to add trust? many solutions exist.
One such solution could be, for example, to have ALL the rented properties daily cleaned up by Airbnb-hired people (contracted 3rd party companies will be happy to do this in most civilized cities). This would be a cool service the renters would appreciate, and would provide the rentees at least some level of trust their home is not being vandalized.
A concierge service could also help.
I am sure many other ways exits to add Trust to the model. This must become Airbnb's most valuable product feature... This should be considered an important "enabling technology" without which the business cannot survive in the long run.
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grovulent 1 day ago 2 replies
It's he said - she said - kinda stuff that ultimately we'll never get to the bottom of.
But Arrington so often finds himself at the centre of these idiotic exchanges and personal attack-fests that it's very hard not to believe PG about this.
It's just a real shame that the reputation of a really cool company rests on that level of exchange between folks. It must be really frustrating for them.
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merubin75 1 day ago 0 replies
He had me until the last line: "I don't know what Paul Graham means by 'typical Arrington fashion,' but I do know this. It's not my job to fix it when companies do stupid things."
Bullshit!
No, it's not your job to fix the mess other companies create through stupid policy or bad decisionmaking. But it's also not your job to pile on and stir up everybody's passions when something goes wrong.
Michael Arrington is a huckster -- Walter Winchell and Drudge mixed together. For years, he's picked fights and written stories that destroy reputations. Then when he's called on to the carpet for his behavior, he reacts in the 'typical Arrington fashion,' by protesting his innocence and calling on his readers to save him.
I'm not an apologist for what Airbnb did here. But Michael Arrington and TechCrunch helped fan the flames. Not because they reported on it, but becausse of the WAY they reported on it. And now when they're called on it, he reacts by wrapping himself in a flag of righteousness.
Yep, smells like bullshit alright.
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Confusion 1 day ago 1 reply
Well, that's a non sequitur drama queen title if I ever saw one. A straw man in so few words: cunning. No one is faulting Arrington for what happened to EJ. Arrington is being faulted, rightly or wrongly, for bad journalism. Bait-and-switch.
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grellas 10 days ago 5 replies
The win-at-any-cost mindset of modern litigating is here on display at its very worst:
1. Disregard truth when it gets in the way of the advantage you seek to attain with the aid of law.
2. Say whatever it takes to get judges to go your way, even if you not only omit important facts in making your petition but also affirmatively misstate whatever inconvenient fact gets in your way.
3. Disregard your duty as a prosecutor - which ultimately is to ensure that justice is done even as you pursue alleged criminal wrongdoing - and place the formidable powers of your office at the disposal of a private civil litigant with whom you want to cozy up.
4. Don't give a second thought to wasting the legal and judicial resources of two governments to help put on a charade that is wholly unnecessary to any legitimate goal of the legal system but that serves the interest of a private litigant only.
5. And, perhaps worst of all, don't hesitate to misuse the law to try to ruin the life of an innocent man in order to protect the market dominance you once had but now see as slipping to the point where it can be upheld only by resort to vicious legal tactics aimed at crushing potential competitors.
One recoils at the thought of it and can only wonder who within Cisco would have countenanced it all.
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kwantam 10 days ago replies
Unfortunately, there is nothing that will prevent Cisco from doing this again in the future. They didn't get the result they wanted, but in all likelihood they aren't going to see any further rebuke for this ridiculous perversion of justice.
At the end of the day, someone at Cisco made the decision to try and completely ruin this guy's life. My sense of justice tells me that person should face criminal liability for his actions.
My sense of cynicism tells me he'll get promoted instead.
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_delirium 10 days ago 2 replies
It might be worth contacting members of Cisco's board of directors to inquire whether they plan to do something to avoid this kind of illicit behavior in the future. A board of directors doesn't manage day-to-day affairs, but is ultimately responsible for high-level oversight. The Cisco board of directors includes a number of people with generally solid reputations (including the president of Stanford University) who ought to be shocked if a company under their watch has engaged in this sort of behavior.
Here is a list, though you'll have to search elsewhere for contact information: http://investor.cisco.com/directors.cfm
Alternatively/additionally, many of us have occasion to do business with Cisco now and then, and if you currently do, you might mention a concern to your local Cisco office/representative.
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smhinsey 10 days ago 3 replies
This is part of a pretty disturbing general trend of large corporations using the criminal justice system as if it were an extension of themselves. I honestly don't see how anyone at Cisco who signed off on this sleeps at night.
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anigbrowl 10 days ago 1 reply
You might want to read the filings in the civil case ( http://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2008cv0... ) and poke around Mr Adekeye's websites before taking everything in this story at face value. There's a lot left out, and the reporter's backgrounder on page 2 is simply cut'n'pasted from Adekeye's own bio at http://www.multiven.com/about
The Vancouver Sun, whose reporter wrote this story for Ars, strikes me as a rather sensationalist paper. YMMV.
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Shenglong 10 days ago 1 reply
It seems to me Ronald McKinnon was one of the only sensible authorities in this entire ordeal. I can't believe someone didn't hit the reality check button earlier.
With that being said, I'm not defending him breaking into Cisco's system, and I think the entire act of doing so should lead to actions against him (but not so extreme). Rather than criminal action, I would've thought an injunction, or something to that effect, would've been more appropriate.
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RegEx 10 days ago 1 reply
I always assumed that court rulings were cryptic and overloaded with legal jargon, so I never attempted to read them. However, the ruling provided was very easy to read and just as informative as the article.
(Link to the ruling: http://www.multiven.com/media/news/pdfs/USAvsAdekeye-BC_Cana... )
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kenjackson 10 days ago 0 replies
I was just thinking of buying some Cisco routers (low-end for them -- I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket for them), but I'm definitely not going to now. This image of Cisco will be hard for me shake.
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meow 10 days ago 1 reply
Now any future litigant will think twice before tackling Cisco. I'm sure they consider that part a win, even if they had to finally settle.
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sutro 10 days ago 0 replies
Well done, Ars Technica - the best tech journalism in the business.
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evilswan 10 days ago 0 replies
I've never really followed Cisco before, but this story has really tainted my view of them. I'll think twice next time I see the Cisco logo on something.
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absconditus 10 days ago 0 replies
This and the News Corp. situation seem like real-life examples of what goes on in the show Damages.
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davidjhall 10 days ago 0 replies
Cisco has proven itself an evil company. In other recent news, Cisco promised to create jobs for a "tax holiday" and instead, is laying off employees: http://www.googlemonopoly.eu/index.php/2011/07/19/cisco-want...
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forgotAgain 10 days ago 0 replies
As a US citizen I've found it hard to accept the idea that the US justice system is a thing of the past. At the end of the day though an endless string of examples is proving the fact to be undeniable.
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twilsndfdf 9 days ago 0 replies
This guy has the most ridiculous set of balls. The audacity is just out of this world. To suggest that Cisco "derailed one man's life" is not doing him justice at all. Rather the opposite - one man derailed a massive company's plans for dominating its industry. The really amazing thing is that he is alive at all, given the amount of money Cisco isn't going to have going forward.
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buff-a 10 days ago 1 reply
In no way am I excusing what was done to this guy, but when will people learn that accessing a computer without permission has anything other than serious consequences. As far as the law is concerned, he might as well have raped the CEO's wife.
No - the damage done is not remotely equivalent, and yet the criminal penalties are the same.
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t413 10 days ago 0 replies
Human depravity at its best.
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hariis 10 days ago 0 replies
I was told by my financial advisor to buy CSCO because of its sound fundamentals, BUT after this, I will stay away from them, it is the least I can do.
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naeem 9 days ago 0 replies
Peg me down as sickened to the core. I've given up complaining about corporate influence. I don't even know why they bother putting up a farse anymore, they may as well just cut the crap and come out and say: we will destroy you if it stretches our margins in any way.
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sliverstorm 10 days ago 1 reply
You can be arrested in the middle of a court testimony? That just doesn't make sense.
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duopixel 5 days ago 4 replies
There's a second problem that's popping up lately: font-face on the body text.
System fonts have been painstakingly hinted to make them more readable on-screen. Most web-embeddable fonts don't have appropriate hinting or are just plain bad choices for body text. Hoefler & Frere Jones (one of the most respected foundries around) haven't released embeddable fonts because they've been working on it for years.
The result is fuzzy text at small/medium text sizes. It's huge pain to read. It seems some designers forget that good typography is concerned with readability too.
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blahedo 5 days ago 0 replies
It started out promising. Then the author states, apparently without irony, that "aesthetics are important but aren't the ultimate goal of design", making particular reference to people reading with tiny screens, when his/her own site is quite unusable on a small screen!
I normally keep my browser windows at half the width of my screen, around 700-800 pixels wide (give or take). Just looking at the "page" where the author discusses aesthetics, if you've got a narrow window, a few letters and words are cut off on the left, and while you do get a scrollbar to move to the right, everything to the right of the original view is plain white. (On my screen, the cutoff actually runs right through the "reading tiny screens" text and icon, for added irony.)
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owenmarshall 5 days ago 1 reply
>designers need to think of elderly users with bad vision
There are plenty of us young folks with terrible low-contrast vision, too :) I've personally got HN turned up to 175% zoom, and even that's a bit on the low side if I want to read the text of self-posts.
IMO, this is an important distinction -- I once heard a friend indicate that, because their app was targeted at people aged ~20-30, accessibility wasn't an important focus. I thought that was a very short sighted decision.
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bugsy 5 days ago 1 reply
That's all fine but doesn't go far enough, focusing only on contrast problems (related problems to contrast are using shadow engraving style on small fonts and clashing foreground/background color schemes).
A really big problem on many sites is the length of lines.
It is very difficult to read text that has too many words per line.
A recent abysmal nightmare is Apple's decision to make Mail.app (and other apps) in 10.7 oriented towards full screen as if it was running on vertically oriented mobile, but on large wide screens. Small font sizes here and we have scan lines with up to 30-40 words in some cases, which is complete insanity.
Count the words per line. If the average is much more than 12, either your columns are too wide or your fonts are too small. Here on HN is a typical example with around 24 words per line on top level articles. Bad design, but very typical on the web. However, it is at least manageable, many sites are far worse.
HTML Solution? Some advocate that columns be around 30em width: http://www.maxdesign.com.au/articles/em/
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cryptoz 5 days ago 2 replies
The text on that site is so damn large it's actually hard to read.
7
I'd be curious for thoughts from HN readers on my own site's readability. It's what I optimized for, though I'm always open to improvement.
EDIT: reorganized, added eye fatigue
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losvedir 5 days ago 1 reply
Beautiful site.
HN is called out as a site with poor contrast (the text in a self post). I do find myself frequently tilting my monitor back to improve the contrast of posts here, but I think only on the downvoted ones, which, I suppose, is the point.
But now, looking up at the now-clicked-on story link, I see that visited links have rather low contrast, too.
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alexfarran 5 days ago 0 replies
Well maybe. But at least I can run sites with low contrast through Readability. No such luck with this Heath Robinson powerpoint-a-like they've built.
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oneplusone 5 days ago 0 replies
There is such a thing as too much contrast when it comes to text. When typesetting it is advisable to never use pure black for text because it simmers on the page. I normally design the base text on the page to have between 15% and 30% brightness because it makes it more pleasant to read.
There is a place for light gray text. It is all about maintaining a hierarchy of information. Some text should be hidden away and harder to read because it is less important than the copy around it.
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Meai 5 days ago 0 replies
Dear webdesigners: please don't use huge images and CSS3 magic that makes your site ultra slow to scroll.
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sequoia 5 days ago 0 replies
Redux of this comment thread: "But it's not perfect!" enumerate minor flaws. sneer.
Sometimes it's worthwhile to tackle one issue at a time, especially if it's something many people (designers) a) don't care about b) don't want to do c) possibly don't understand.
So yes, perhaps they fall down on graceful degradation / progressive enhancement, but to be fair the target audience is exclusively web designers. In that respect they are playing well to the audience, which in turn makes it more likely that they'll get their point across.
As for "large text is too hard to read" & "I can't read centered text:" seriously? Deep breaths, everyone. ;)
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Robin_Message 5 days ago 0 replies
Their script went wrong towards the end, with the following text on the dark gray background with the fist on it:
"Usability expert Jakob Nielsen has shown many, many times that reading on the computer screen is harder than reading printed material even without making the font illegible. And mobile is worse.
.. and many have written about why gray text is a crime here, here, here and here...
So what we're trying to say is..."
which did rather undermine their point.
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bigohms 5 days ago 1 reply
Propaganda by photoshop clone developers who don't want to design opacity layers into their interfaces.
In all seriousness, if everything was high contrast, everything would be SCREAMING AT YOU FOR ATTENTION. Webdesigners: use your personal judgement when identifying what should be high contrast (higher visual recognition priority) and what should be lower contrast (lower visual recognition priority) and all will be well.
FYI: the HN example on your site actually makes perfect sense. The high contrast content is almost always the thing I consider most important. Index: Titles of threads, Subpages: Comments.
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petercooper 5 days ago 0 replies
There was an article that did well on Hacker News a few months ago that said while high contrast is good, it shouldn't be 100% contrast. Instead, you should very slightly hint toward the theme color. So if you have a bluish background, your text could be #112 or something. I've followed the advice since and it definitely makes things easier on the eye vs #000 everywhere.
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- Correct use of headings, paragraphs, emphasis etc
...
Actually low contrast is a great tool to have. You can't have high contrast all over the page otherwise various elements will be shouting for your attention. Controlling the volume of your copy is just as important as the factors I mentioned above.
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trustfundbaby 5 days ago 0 replies
So glad you use Reeder in your example ... I bought the Reeder app on Sunday and the low contrast thing really put me off (among other things). The app looks really sexy, but sitting there reading tons of articles when you're struggling with the low contrast headlines, can get tiring.
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Omnipresent 5 days ago 2 replies
So glad that Hacker News is on the list. I thought I was the only one who thought that comments are unreadable.
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armandososa 5 days ago 0 replies
Dude: get glasses.
I not even squinted to read the text on his examples. I mean, contrast is important but the guy needs glasses. Or a readability bookmarklet.
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parfe 5 days ago 1 reply
In Fireforx: View -> Page Style -> No Style.
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sycren 5 days ago 0 replies
Any idea how this site was made? Was some kind of framework used or was it all hard coded?
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latch 5 days ago 0 replies
Can't help but think that this is directed at Andy Rutledge...
Anyways, line-height is as important for my eyes.
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tszming 5 days ago 0 replies
I think what we need is a balance.
If everything in your website is in high contrast, big font-size, black & white - it is also a problem.
But I agree the idea behind the "Contrast Rebellion" - the accessibility of web content.
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MetaMan 5 days ago 1 reply
I can't (read won't) take these guys seriously because they commit one of my biggest design 'sins". They use tiny typefaces in places which can barely be read (at least by me) on a standard 13 to 14 inch laptop screen.
you know what they say - "People in glass houses should not throw stones"!
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DuqE 5 days ago 1 reply
Interesting you say about high contrast, all the examples are black on white. Do this mean all content related websites should be white backgrounds and black text?
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mannicken 5 days ago 0 replies
http://andyrutledge.com/images09/newsSite/images/iphone_nyt_... -- in here lower-contrast is used properly, I think. Low-contrast allowed to hide the low-priority details allowing the brain to quickly navigate through important, high-contrast titles. Not all text is important.
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DrummerHead 5 days ago 0 replies
I Find it strange they're only talking about contrast and not line-height. That's the real dealbreaker for me. I am personally constantly changing line-height on other websites much more than type colour.
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- giant letters? check.
- readable? ummmm ...
That said, it's a good suggestion, but the giant letters make this site hard to read on my 1024x600 netbook screen. And they did mention readability on smaller screens.
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sbochins 5 days ago 0 replies
I'm guessing the reason this got up voted so much was because this site was featured as one of the offenders. It is pretty hard to read the text on a sunny day on my phone. Maybe the revolution could start with HN?
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fferen 5 days ago 0 replies
On a side note, it's ironic that mobile versions of sites are usually far less readable than regular versions, at least on my Droid X. On a regular page, I can set the zoomed-in text size to large in the settings. Mobile sites tend to make text tiny and un-zoomable, decreasing usability, which defeats the whole purpose of a mobile site!
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rplnt 5 days ago 0 replies
You should not forget about compatibility, i.e. make sure the site works across various browsers and platforms. Why I'm talking about this? I can't use the lt/gt arrows to view more examples. The compatibility problem translates as an usability problem to the user.
edit: Also, the tooltip text went missing after some actions/time.
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shadowhillway 5 days ago 0 replies
OmniWeb's site preferences feature is my weapon of choice against illegible Web pages. My default colors often make the hard work of the Web designers look totally ridiculous but then again, I'm reading the page to read, goddammit.
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nathanb 10 days ago 6 replies
"it's entirely unacceptable to break into websites and commit unlawful acts"
This is quite the hypocritical statement coming from the FBI. As far as I can tell, the only difference between Anonymous, Lulzsec, and the FBI is that the FBI act by executive fiat. I don't support Internet vigilanteism, but I also don't support the concept of the FBI as an untouchable force who are no longer held accountable by the public they are theoretically serving.
At this point, I'm not sure which one I find more scary.
2
flocial 10 days ago replies
The Lulzsec crew and Wiki Leaks strikes a nerve like modern day Robin Hoods. It makes you wonder if those of us in wealthy democracies are actually experiencing a peculiarly 21st century form of passive aggressive oppression where we may be "free" but monitored and essentially feel helpless and the fact that these unknown hackers are able to duck and evade the same forces that can hunt and kill terrorists with disregard of sovereignty makes them look like folk heroes. We'll see how this saga unfolds.
3
"We're currently working with certain media outlets who have been granted exclusive access to some of the News of the World emails we have."
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lhnz 10 days ago 1 reply
If I had the nerve I would join them.
Bad-taste jokes and troublemaking.
Badly written manifestos.
But I think there are some in the groups who have their heart in the right place and want to do the right thing. And, illegal or not, I've yet to see any other form of western activism that is as disruptive as leaking/hacking.
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jxcole 10 days ago replies
Why does Anonymous focus so much on attacking the US government (and related rich democratic countries) when it could instead be focused on fighting the governments that are actually oppressive? Nothing the US has ever done, even at it's most oppressive, could ever compare to what North Korea does to it's own citizen's on a regular basis. I would probably be much more sympathetic towards their cause if they focused most on attacking the organizations that are the worst rather than attacking the organizations that will get them the most attention. I read somewhere that an Anonymous hacker used to fight oppressive governments in Africa. Why did he stop? Why does he all the sudden need to deface PBS because they printed negative press coverage of their favorite website, WikiLeaks?
Are they really doing this for the good of mankind or are they just trying to get attention? Anonymous though they may be, they still seem to be just trying to get on the 5:00 news.
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rauljara 10 days ago 2 replies
I think there is room for illegal activities in the name of a free and open society. If this is truly the author's goal, however, they need to stop associating with LulzSec.
There was nothing noble about 9/10's of the crap lulzsec did, and the somewhat decent stuff they did was undercut by the whole "for the lulz" philosophy. If you really are fighting for freedom, you need to be better than DDS'ing game servers, because if you aren't the people who you are opposed to will use that shit against you. Like the FBI is doing now.
I won't shed a tear if the Lulzsec folk get put away. I will be quite upset if Lulzsec turns the public against those who would do the modern day equivalent of releasing the pentagon papers.
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madmaze 10 days ago 1 reply
I certainly agree with their Goals and I see very similar flaws in many governments. I am not sure their way is the best way to make governments listen, but it certainly is one way that gets publicity. The issue with their publicity is that news networks do not broadcast their message, they broadcast their actions which in turn intimidates and scares the less tech-savvy portion of society. This does not achieve their goals, but they make a statement. A statement is better than no statement.
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Shenglong 10 days ago 7 replies
This is absolutely ridiculous.
I don't agree with a lot of the things that various government organizations are allegedly doing either. However, I also understand that I probably don't have all the facts. I also know that even if I had all the facts, I would probably not commit much time to analyzing all of them, in order to make a sound decision on the best course of action. Why don't other people realize this?
We leave the economics to the economists, the physics to the physicists, and the medicine to the doctors. There are people--incompetent or not--who spend their entire lives dealing with government/country related issues. Yes, some of them might be corrupt, but are we naive enough to believe that an entire country is corrupt? Who are we to judge corruption, and what sources of information do we really have?
At one point or another, this argument for civil liberties gets repetitive and overblown. No one I know has ever felt like their freedoms were at stake, and the few government mistakes that the media captures should not be precedence to act against them. I make mistakes, you make mistakes - everyone makes mistakes. Hacking into their servers, getting people fired (and therefore replacing them with less experienced people), and leaking sensitive information so the uneducated public can get their opinions in, is -NOT- going to solve anything. At all. Ever.
Edit: Edited out a preface - wasn't aware. Sorry.
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nextparadigms 10 days ago 0 replies
Anonymous and Lulzsec are more like 21st century revolutionaries, on a global scale. Revolutionaries are always seen as the enemy by the Government. So it's no surprise that the US Government wants to declare war against them and wants to catch them.
If they win, then the Government changes, and the whole society changes after that. If they lose, they end up dead or in jail for whatever crimes the Government said they committed (and if there isn't a crime they can use, they'll make a new law for it like they tried with the SHIELD bill against whistleblowers)
The hacktivists aren't doing any real damage to society, and in fact they may actually end up helping it a lot, in the same way Wikileaks changed some things for the better, and they were also hunted down by Governments.
The real damage they are doing is to the people in power, and those people will fight to keep things the same and get away with their own crimes against the people they should represent.
I think we'll experience major changes in the way our democracies work by the end of this decade. For the fast times we live in, and real time information and feedback, we can only give some feedback once every 4 years, and it's usually just 2 choices: the one that has been in power, and another one. Politicians need to become a lot more accountable, and our feedback should be a lot more direct and often than once every 4 years through the voting of a party or a president.
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click170 10 days ago 1 reply
I read "Lobby conglomerates who only follow their agenda to push the profits higher" and instantly pictured an executive somewhere rolling his eyes as he reads that.
I understand the feelings disgust with the current state of the system, and I get how in leu of an actual solution one would feel frustrated enough to act out in the ways that they have, but I stand firm in my belief that there is a better way of accomplishing the changes we/they want to see, even if nobody has figured out what that is yet.
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ibejoeb 10 days ago 4 replies
Who writes this stuff? It comes across as silly, hyperbolic, and even melodramatic, and detracts from the actual content.
Lulz: consider this constructive criticism. Take it down a notch.
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peterwwillis 10 days ago 3 replies
What are they gonna do when every govt/corporate website starts sanitizing its webapps' input and patching its network services? All they'll be able to do is DoS.
Wouldn't it be funny if the FBI & associated agencies actually worked to increase the security of the nation's networks instead of acting surprised every time they get penetrated?
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pxlpshr 10 days ago 1 reply
Reminds me of the hacker's manifesto, but a lot less eloquent.
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tRAS 10 days ago 0 replies
"Your threats to arrest us are meaningless to
us as you cannot arrest an idea."
Jeez, I got goosebumps reading that. Straight out from V for Vendetta.
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rheide 10 days ago 0 replies
Fairly well phrased, although the arguments against 'corporations' and 'conglomerates' are fairly unsubstantial. (in the pastebin, that is, IRL is a different matter)
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joelmichael 10 days ago 0 replies
A trite leftist screed ripped straight from the Bush years.
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dwilson718 10 days ago 1 reply
I'm sure most of the people here missed the fact that this is a wake-up call. its meant to make people THINK long and hard about the real issues at hand.
I don't know about you, but I'm seeing a lot of critical thinking going on. It's this reason I support these groups.
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feal 10 days ago 1 reply
Can someone rehost this elsewhere like pastie.org or something?
Pastebin is blocked by websense. :/
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andrewcamel 10 days ago 0 replies
I really do not understand why they cannot find someone to write for them who understands English grammatical rules. All I can think of when I'm reading that document are some troublemakers trying to justify malicious attacks. If they could write a decent press release, it might actually convince people that they are trying to do some some good in the world.
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darksaga 10 days ago 8 replies
I wonder if they'll ever understand the people they're trying to protect are actually the victims in their actions.
They hack Sony. Sony loses millions. How do you think they're going to recapture their loses? By passing the loss onto consumers. Increased prices for TV's, games, anything Sony makes is going to increase in price to recoup their loses.
Clearly they haven't thought this all the way through.
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sidcool 10 days ago 2 replies
How do we know this is for legit?
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samkiller18 10 days ago 0 replies
These kids have become the subject of their own joke. But it's funny watching them and reading them on twitter though
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MrFoof 9 days ago 1 reply
A few things.
First, as mentioned in the article, the Museum of Modern Art in NYC will be featuring Dwarf Fortress as part of its "Talk to Me" exhibit. The exhibit will be open from July 24th through November 7th. http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/exhibitions/1080
Second, for those looking to get into the game, the two recommended video tutorials are SippyCup's (humorous) http://www.youtube.com/51ppycup , and Captain Duck's (down to business) http://www.youtube.com/user/captnduck#p/a/u/1/yn1iW1QN7_s .
-----
Tarn has The Fisherman Parable philosophy and I have a tremendous amount of respect for that. Doing what you love, no matter the "sacrifice", above everything else. He's probably the biggest reason why I've been working on the side to try to create my own games, so I can get the heck out of finance and do what I wanted to since I was 6 years old. Until that works out for me, I send a monthly donation to ensure that at least someone can fulfill their dream.
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jgfoot 9 days ago 4 replies
Very interesting: "Tarn sees his work in stridently ethical terms. He calls games like Angry Birds or Bejeweled, which ensnare players in addictive loops of frustration and gratification under the pretense that skill is required to win, 'abusive' -- a common diagnosis among those who get hooked on the games, but a surprising one from a game designer, ostensibly charged with doing the hooking. 'Many popular games tap into something in a person that is compulsive, like hoarding,' he said, 'the need to make progress with points or collect things. You sit there saying yeah-yeah-yeah and then you wake up and say, What the hell was I doing? You can call that kind of game fun, but only if you call compulsive gambling fun.' He added: 'I used to value the ability to turn the user into your slave. I don't anymore.'"
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joshklein 9 days ago 3 replies
For those of you who are seeing this for the first time and have any love for games like Minecraft, Civilization, etc... please take the time to break through the very steep learning curve to give this game a fair shake. It is truly a work of art.
Please note that the Wiki helps make the game playable: http://df.magmawiki.com/
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http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=80022.0
I've never seen other games where people use that as a reason to study geology, farming, beekeeping or whatnot. One person, not satisfied with the material properties of Saguaro wood and unable to find good data online went so far as to track down a sample and measure them.
One person even mentioned that they neglected to study for their geology test and played Dwarf Fortress instead. They got an extremely high score because so many of the questions were relevant to DF, such as asking for the names of common iron ores. Any good DF player can list at least magnetite, limonite and hematite without any trouble.
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jokermatt999 9 days ago 4 replies
If you're ever worried that a feature will be too complex to implement, take a look at the ridiculous number of things Dwarf Fortress keeps track of and simulates some time. The article briefly touches on it, but like any look at Dwarf Fortress, it bared dips its toes in the water. Just a quick list off the top of my head...
In world gen, it simulates geology and erosion, climate/biomes, growing civilizations, politics, war, trade, attacks by various "megabeast" creatures and their battles (in which injuries down to losing a tooth will be kept track of), migration and refuges as a result of war, (I believe) deforestation as a result of logging, and probably a lot more that I'm forgetting. That's just in world generation, before you're actually playing it.
Remember, what one person can program when they're truly dedicated is a pretty incredible feat.
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mvzink 9 days ago 2 replies
Having never been really involved with the Dwarf Fortress community/cult, but having played the game quite a bit, this exposé on the creator is extremely interesting. I always thought it must have taken a certain level of cleverness to build such an impressive simulation, but I honestly didn't think he'd be a Stanford Ph.D. Also, I'm honestly surprised they get that much in donations. It's very well deserved indeed and I'm happy to hear that they do.
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ghotli 9 days ago 2 replies
I have long assumed that it will eventually be unethical to turn off dwarf fortress.
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bcl 9 days ago 1 reply
Here's the game's homepage - http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/
This looks very cool, and there are versions for Linux/OSX/Win
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cydonian_monk 9 days ago 1 reply
If I had to choose a single game to play for the rest of my life, Dwarf Fortress would be an easy choice. The ability to build massively complex systems in a massively complex world appeals to the part of my brain that made me an engineer. There is so much potential in this game. So many things... hidden. So many stories to share.
Just watch out for the Elephants. Or Carp. Or Badgers. Or the random, world-swallowing bugs.
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klbarry 9 days ago 1 reply
Dwarf Fortress is an outstanding game with features not available anywhere else, and I would highly recommend it. The background music, which the creator also composed and performed, is very soothing, as well.
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aycangulez 9 days ago 1 reply
I have always had an inkling that video games should be considered as applied math. According to Tarn, the author of Dwarf Fortress, who also has a Ph.D in math, making games "scratches all the same itches" as math. That sounds just right to me.
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gnosis 9 days ago 2 replies
DF does have very impressive depth and game mechanics. Unfortunately, its interface is one of the worst of any game I've ever played.
It's a pity that DF isn't open source either, as then its interface problems would have long since been fixed. But, as it is, its lead (and only) developer doesn't seem to care enough to fix it himself.
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shin_lao 7 days ago 0 replies
I seriously discourage you from checking out this game if you're on a deadline, building a startup or have any project you'd like to take on.
On the other hand it's a must have if you have a nuclear shelter in your backyard.
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cageface 9 days ago 2 replies
Just as an aside, a game like this with deep algorithmic complexity but trivial graphics seems like a natural fit for a functional language like Scala or Haskell. I wonder why Tarn chose C++ instead. Was it just out of familiarity? With his background in math I'd imagine he'd be very comfortable in an FP language.
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LakatosI 9 days ago 0 replies
Nice to see such a great game receiving some well deserved exposure.
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Swannie 8 days ago 1 reply
Nice article.
Reminds me a little of the two lead characters of "Makers", the Cory Doctorow book. But this is real, and mildly depressing. You want guys like this to be successful, and to have the choice to live the spartan lifestyle if they choose, or one with a better choice of food, beverage, sleeping, etc. options.
Sad to read that relationships are not important though :-(
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anactofgod 8 days ago 0 replies
"Dwarf Fortress unfolds as a series of staggeringly elaborate challenges and devastating setbacks that lead, no matter how well one plays, to eventual ruin."
Soooo.... One can play this game, or one can be in charge of a real country's economic policies. Same outcome. ;)
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jmelloy 9 days ago 1 reply
I haven't played it much, but I've always felt it would make an interesting iPad game. Seems like it wouldn't be too complex to put an objective-c wrapper around the code.
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VirInvictus_ 7 days ago 0 replies
I was terribly happy to see this article all over my Twitter feed. This game is an inspiration for budding programmers, even if the game is terribly difficult to get into comfortably. I've been playing it for quite some time now. Very happy to see it.
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ErikRogneby 9 days ago 0 replies
Wow. I thought Realm of the Mad god ( http://www.realmofthemadgod.com/ ) had low-fi appeal...
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tc 4 days ago replies
> I spoke to Airbnb about EJ's situation. They won't reimburse her for damages
This is bad news.
They're going to backtrack on this. The sooner they do it, the better for them politically.
I understand the problems of setting a precedent. And there really is no getting around the fact that the hosts do have the final responsibility for screening travelers (and travelers for screening hosts).
But rightly or wrongly, they're going to end up on the wrong side of this story unless they make things right for this gal and can tell Arrington and other journalists, "we've made sure our customer is whole."
After saying that, they can use this as a learning exercise for their community about how screening hosts and travelers yourself is important.
--
[Edit]: Is she in San Francisco? It looks like she is. She called SFPD. This is an easy one. Brian, Joe, or Nathan needs to be out there to provide a shoulder to cry on and an open checkbook to fix anything that money can fix. Nothing in that apartment costs more than the value of the ammunition this is going to give to their enemies.
The earlier they do this, the more quietly they can do it, which serves their purposes as well.
[Edit #2]: Some form of insurance might be a worthwhile addition to their offering, but that's something they can debate and decide on after they put out this fire. [added:] Also, insurance doesn't solve the safety issues involved here, so they're still going to need to emphasize the importance of screening travelers (and hosts) carefully.
[Edit #3]: EJ doesn't sound particularly litigious in her post, but consider what happens if she does decide to sue AirBnB and any part of it makes it to a jury. I mean, HackerNews is lining up against them. Consider what 6-12 normal people might decide. The wise move would be to make sure that she's fully satisfied with the way they treated her.
[Edit #4]: Arrington updated the article after speaking with Brian Chesky. Brian, Joe, Nathan and company did the right thing here, as you would expect.
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danilocampos 4 days ago replies
"I spoke to Airbnb about EJ's situation. They won't reimburse her for damages, they say, and they do not insure against losses. They are helping police track down the person who did this, but their help ends there."
...
Fuck. That.
I don't care what the long-term implications are, I don't care about precedent, I don't care about policy, I don't care about cost.
If my business does this to someone I make it right. Even if that means going into my own goddamn pocket. Anything less is simple villainy.
If you are going to enjoy the rewards of your business, you have a moral obligation to ensure that you make things right when that business harms someone else. And let us be clear: this is harm. This isn't "oh dear, my careless guest spilled wine on my TV. Buy me a new one guys."
This is "the guest you sent me destroyed my home and sense of safety." This is completely beyond the pale, an incredible stretch no one, clearly, bothered to imagine. Crucially: it's completely documented by law enforcement.
If it's true these guys aren't going to make this right, Airbnb is dead to me. Fuck Obama O's, to hell with their Cap'n McCains, and all the struggle that earned my admiration. I'd say that to their faces, I'd say that if I worked there, and I'd quit if I worked there and this wasn't made right. This is a test of human decency. I hope they don't fail it.
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pg 4 days ago 0 replies
Before you all rush to judgment again, notice the update at the end of the article:
"Update: I spoke with Brian Chesky. He says the company has offered “to assist financially, find new housing for the host, and anything else she can think of to make her life easier.” He says they intend to “go above and beyond” to make the situation right for her."
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mapgrep 4 days ago 1 reply
Sorry, but the moment of truth has already passed because the moment of truth was when Airbnb didn't bake effective safeguards against this sort of behavior into the very heart of their website for lending your home to complete strangers.
Honestly, if you explain the business model of Airbnb to any ordinary run of the mill US citizen not residing in Silicon Valley, their very first question is going to be, "Why would I trust a stranger in this situation?" Airbnb's response was a joke in their FAQ about a grand piano.
It shouldn't have been. I have rented vacation apartments in Europe and there are plenty of ways to do this RIGHT, starting with identity exposure. There should have been a set of procedures for people to identify and vet one another BEFORE completing the sale. Of course this would have meant that some Airbnb customers would cut deals directly with one another and screw Airbnb out of its revenue share. OH WELL. Safety has a price and a clever entrepreneur would devise incentives - rental history, quality public feedback and ratings - to discourage people from going outside the system.
This isn't just one incident Airbnb needs to respond better to. It exposes a deep flaw, not only in their systems for preventing these types of incidents but for responding to them as well (it took 14 hours and a friend's intervention to get a call returned from the "urgent" hotline, wtf?).
What is especially infuriating about this is that, in an effort to bolster their income statement and become a hot company, Airbnb has created very bad publicity for a FANTASTIC and growing form of lodging.
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dotBen 4 days ago 6 replies
When someone first told me about AirBnB I immediately dismissed it - just like Fred Wilson did. It fell in the group of ideas which I just find puzzling because the concept is totally alien to something I would want to do/buy/participate in.
I don't get why anyone would want to rent out their couch or spare room to a transient stranger - even 'vetted' within a community (and we can see that vetted is very lose here).
Sure, I sort of get the appeal for the renter but I'm lost as to why a homeowner would want to do this - especially considering the risk/reward here. The upside is a few dollars here and there, the downside is $10k's of damage - like this.
If you've never owned a house, you won't know that it's a labor of love and something you invest more than just your money into. Why you would want to risk someone destroying it, I don't know.
AirBnB needs to offer insurance as part of the deal - just like the car sharing programs seem to have negotiated their own insurance for the duration that the other person is driving your car. Otherwise it just seems an unwise risk to offer accommodation on AirBnB.
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jonknee 4 days ago 1 reply
It may just be that Breaking Bad is back in season, but it sounds like she unknowingly rented her house out to be a meth lab with cooks who probably used a bunch of meth in the process.
> The death-like smell emanating from the bathroom was frightening (and still is) and the bathroom sink was caked with a crusty yellow substance. Various pairs of my gloves were strewn about
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kwis 4 days ago 3 replies
The only blessing in this story is that the miscreants made their damage so plainly obvious that the problems were identified quite quickly.
If they'd been a bit more subtle and a little patient, they could've engaged in massive identity theft and financial fraud without ever making it clear that AirBNB was the attack vector.
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jerrya 4 days ago 3 replies
How long before AirBnB offers some form of insurance, much as ebay started offering buyer protection.
Related: how long before your home owner / rental insurance specifically excludes AirBnb type activities?
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efsavage 4 days ago 0 replies
I own a summer home and I was genuinely considering using Airbnb next year. No more.
I can understand that they can't be too forthcoming, as people will trash their own place in hopes of a free remodel.
However, if law enforcement says this is a legit case and even caught a suspect, Airbnb should have had someone onsite with a check in their hands the next day. How much amazing free press would this have generated for, what, $25k? Even if they offered $5k to get her place livable again they could have demonstrated some integrity.
I don't know how much money they think they saved by betraying one of their business partners, but they should debit 5 or 10 years of my waterfront rental from that amount...
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robtoo 4 days ago 1 reply
AirBnB is one rape case away from disaster.
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rwhitman 4 days ago 0 replies
So I definitely got partly scammed in NYC a few months ago by a friendly-seeming girl who found an apartment for the weekend on AirBnB and then promptly turned around and posted it for sublet on Craigslist as her own, raking in thousands in cash "security deposit" money from a number of un-suspecting apartment seekers.
I love Airbnb but there are so many loopholes for disaster like this. As Airbnb goes mainstream, I expect there will be many more similarly unhappy stories on their way...
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skmurphy 4 days ago 0 replies
AirBnB will lose control of the narrative if they frame this on narrow legal liability grounds: they are too large and well established and will be judged by a very different standard than is this had happened a few years ago. This will be a part of someone's advertising and PR campaign, either AirBnB, a plaintiff's attorney, or a hotel lobbying group. AirBnB looks like they are mindful of the legal liability and oblivious of the public goodwill risks.
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ForrestN 4 days ago 2 replies
I feel really bad for all involved, including AirBnB. They must feel awful, and this is obviously incredibly stressful. I agree with the consensus that they have thus far failed to use this as a marketing opportunity (a la Tylenol) or even to mitigate much of the damage.
That said, I would be absolutely fascinated to learn how this is playing out. It would be a huge service to the community for someone to release a blow-by-blow timeline from inside the company about all these responses and the thinking behind them. I have enough humility to know that they have a lot of really smart people thinking through this stuff, and it's likely much more complicated than we all realize. I'd love to hear about that thinking.
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arepb 4 days ago 1 reply
The part in here about the FAQ really burns, now more than ever. Language used regarding renter protection should be as forthright and above-board as that used in payment checkout. Just the facts.
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patrickod 4 days ago 2 replies
Am I the only one that would have presumed that AirBnB would not be financially responsible? They're a forum for helping people find short term tenants. They can't possibly vet everyone who's going through the system.
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watty 4 days ago 2 replies
Lets see if YC changes this title too...
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helipad 4 days ago 1 reply
IMHO AirBnB is no more responsible than CouchSurfing.
Whilst AirBnB charges a fee, that's purely as middleman for connecting two parties.
Of course it's horrific for the person, and this is an extreme example, but it's a lesson learned of how to rent out a property.
Take AirBnB out of the equation, and they've just let a complete stranger free reign over their apartment with a key for a week whilst leaving their own possessions on view.
To not ask a neighbour to hold onto the key, or meet the person beforehand, or get them on video chat, or remove all sensitive documents, or require a deposit, or a way of monitoring the property, is negligent on the owner's part.
Could AirBnB do more to vet users? Sure. Should they be responsible for the combined actions of two parties? Not at all.
A tough, hard-learnt lesson for the owner.
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da5e 4 days ago 0 replies
Arrington reported on her blog post and didn't get his facts straight about the financial help. What he quoted as an update was, in fact, already stated. The impression he gave of airbnb's indifference was unfair.
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earbitscom 3 days ago 0 replies
I'll go out on a limb here and point out that this is just a broken window and some unobservant neighbors away from having nothing at all to do with AirBnB or the concept of short term rentals. These people are criminals and should be treated as such.
Just like you can meet a violent person while dating through Match.com, you can rent out your place to a terrible person using any number of services. The service is something people want and can only do so much to make the marketplace safe. Anytime you connect with strangers, whether it's through AirBnB, the newspaper, a dating service, or by meeting them at a grocery store, there are risks to letting them into your lives. AirBnB is doing the right thing now, and if anything, it's good that this incident will make users of the service more careful. You can't expect companies to perfectly guard every user against every edge case when human elements are involved.
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bluekite2000 3 days ago 0 replies
I rented an upstair room to a backpacker a month ago in Saigon Vietnam. On his last day, he picked up some chick off the street, brought her home and locked the front door from the inside. My staff ( I have an online bookstore there) couldn't get in for half a day. I sent airbnb a message complaining and heard nothing back from them. I don't think it is that hard to hold a credit card number of the guest just in case stuff like this happens. Why they are not doing it is beyond me.
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VladRussian 4 days ago 0 replies
>I was wondering, why is the reaction to this incident so different than the tech community's response to all of the CraigsList incidents? (Which include theft, prostitution and even murder.)
CraigsList isn't a party in the transaction.
>Seems like as soon as you pay for a service, your expectation goes much much higher.
How it could be otherwise?
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campnic 3 days ago 0 replies
I am relieved that this individual is alright. Just imagine if she had returned home early and decided to check in or something and found the individuals in the act. Who knows what the reaction would be. I'm happy it's (mostly) just things that have been lost. What if she would have returned early and been murdered for witnessing something she wasn't supposed to? It seems like airbnb has a huge exposure here and if this woman doesn't attempt to cash out on airbnb, i would expect to see a case where that does happen. They are a very ripe target.
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PedroCandeias 4 days ago 0 replies
The news and the hotel lobbies are going to be all over this. VCs are probably tapping their fingers on the table.
Like others said already, If I were Brian, I'd have lunch with EJ, like, today. Whatever solution they find financially, Brian can't let ABnB's cool image turn all corporate and aloof by leaving this one to the lawyers and bean counters.
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dkokelley 4 days ago 0 replies
While the right PR thing for Airbnb to do is cover the damages done, I am a little disappointed by the Airbnb hate I'm reading here. Why should they be held liable for the damages? Were they negligent? Airbnb offers a service. They match renters with houses. Do they make any warranty as to the reputation of the renters? Go to http://www.airbnb.com/terms and read the very first section.
I'll admit that the victim has a good point about the secrecy imposed between the parties by Airbnb, but that's just a policy, not a liability, and it can be changed. It's like buying a car that isn't as safe as it could be. Sure you could pay more and get a very safe car, but as long as the manufacturer didn't misrepresent the safety of the car, you will have a hard time holding the company liable when you get injured in a crash.
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ChuckFrank 4 days ago 0 replies
No brainer. Build insurance into the site. Renters can either opt for it or not, or AirBnBcan be provided it universally, their call. AirBnB needs to step up their protections. (my apologies if others have already suggested this.)
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hnsmurf 4 days ago 0 replies
If I were AirBnB I'd be talking to an insurance company right now about offering supplemental insurance to renters. AirBnB could make a nice chunk, the way Best Buy does when it gets you to purchase those stupid protection plans, and simultaneously offer users peace of mind that this will at least be taken care of if it happens to them,
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aklein 4 days ago 1 reply
It's horrible but inevitable that something like this would happen.
I can imagine it'd be useful for a third party service that provides identity checks and insurance or escrow for AirBnb customers. Why play with fire (without hazard insurance)?
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seagaia 4 days ago 0 replies
Most unfortunate, but letting a complete stranger into your house with VALUABLES was never the best idea, moreover, with a company that hasn't said anything about this kind of issue before. I suppose this system has worked, but it's beyond me how you could ever trust a stranger to live in a place that you live in regularly and store many valuables in.
I want to sympathize with the victim, but it's somewhat hard to given the circumstances. In any case, AirBnB should suck it up, fix this one situation, then go into full throttle with trying to come up with a plan to prevent future things of this sort.
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code_duck 4 days ago 0 replies
I can't imagine leaving my house for a week, to rent it out to complete strangers, with all of my possessions in it. I'd be afraid they'd rifle through m belongings and perhaps steal some, or even something like this would happen. Maybe they'll copy the keys and come back and rob the place three weeks later. How would one be sure? All in all, being an AiBnB host is a questionable enterprise.
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niels_olson 3 days ago 0 replies
This is a great example of how journalists will shamelessly jump all over a story and selectively represent the truth to the point that, taken as a whole, the article becomes a misrepresentation.
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maeon3 4 days ago 0 replies
If AirBnB comes to the rescue with lots of zeros on their donations to make the person whole. I can envison people taking advantage of this, Have your buddy ransack your house and steal all your stuff, then split the gain of having it all replaced.
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chrismanfrank 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm curious, how would you guys handle this situation if you were running Airbnb?
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devaholic 3 days ago 0 replies
"Update: I spoke with Brian Chesky. He says the company has offered “to assist financially, find new housing for the host, and anything else she can think of to make her life easier.” He says they intend to “go above and beyond” to make the situation right for her. This is different than what a company spokesperson said earlier (see above). I asked Brian if this sets a new policy, and he responded that they'll look at it on a case by case basis."
Basically what they mean by "case by case basis" is that if you cause enough of a media shitstorm to make them look bad, they'll step in and help. And they'll look at your case to determine if you are causing enough ruckus to validate them going "above and beyond."
At least, that's what I gleaned from it.
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farrel 3 days ago 0 replies
If you're going to rent out a fully furnished apartment full of valuables to strangers who you can't vet beforehand the insurance costs will be significant.
I have a feeling AirBnB don't offer insurance because the premiums required (and the cost passed on to hosts) would make the entire thing unprofitable.
Hotels have insurance but it is probably much much lower than what AirBnB could provide to hosts because hotels already have a) security infrastructure in place b) your credit card details and c) your agreement to be held liable for damages.
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luckyeights 4 days ago 1 reply
Anyone else find TC's stock image annoying for this story? I guess it fits the tone, but it twisted my imagination a good deal, even after I'd read the original story. A real photo would have been valuable, but a generic one is distracting.
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Bogdanp 4 days ago 0 replies
I had to check the FAQ question about the piano. It used to be at http://www.airbnb.com/help/question/31 but they seem to have removed it.
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forgot_password 4 days ago 3 replies
Doesn't AirBnb require a credit card from the renter? Wouldn't it be straightforward to find the vandalizing renter using their credit card information? I'm sure that I'm missing something here...
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juliano_q 3 days ago 0 replies
Maybe it is because I live in a 3rd world country where we dont have enough security (Brazil), but I would never think about renting my place to a complete stranger. I would think a lot to rent it even after a lot of interview and research, but I would remove all personal and expensive objects.
That said, I feel really bad for the girl and I hope she recovers. Most people are good, but there are a big number of bad people around to justify some level of security concern.
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JanezStupar 4 days ago 0 replies
Events like this present a pretty big moral dilemma about Internet anonymity - at least in context of this category of services.
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maxklein 4 days ago 0 replies
An agressive competitor (say, a hotel chain) could do things like this every month, and kill airbnb as a business.
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jordank 4 days ago 0 replies
I wonder if there is a reporting bias for people who have had bad AirBnb experiences, given that renting out your apartment is not always legal.
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da5e 4 days ago 0 replies
airbnb has had the advantage of having a mainly "geek" clientele so far. As it expands it's going to get less savory users.
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ashbrahma 4 days ago 1 reply
Dream come true for a law firm. I bet they can make Airbnb pay up in court.
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int3rnaut 3 days ago 0 replies
It does seem a bit strange that this story from June breaks just days after AirBnB rakes in 112 million in funding.
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zenica 3 days ago 0 replies
I wonder why the initial response was "They won't reimburse her for damages"?
Does this mean that as soon as Brian & co are not involved in day to day operation the service AirBnB offers will deteriorate?
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perfunctory 3 days ago 1 reply
Excuse me this naive question, I haven't been following the Airbnb, but how is there service better compared to say free Craiglist?
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DrewG 4 days ago 0 replies
Not having used AirBnB, I was incredibly surprised that they don't have a policy like getarounds, where the owner is fully insured by getaround.
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moultano 4 days ago 6 replies
Throwing an idea out there: Software patents should last no more than 1 year.
If you come up with something worth patenting, you get a year lead on competitors. That's it.
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almightygod 5 days ago 4 replies
I get anxious every time I read another patent troll story wondering when my weekend creations will end up costing me $ when they accidentally infringe on a patent because I roll out some seemingly ubiquitous feature.
I'm deeply saddened by this mess and doubt it will ever be resolved. There is far to much money at stake now to revert things - money = lobbying.
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dstein 4 days ago 1 reply
As the article only touched on, this is precisely why the next computing giant will not come from Silicon Valley or anywhere in the US. The current software patent situation has ensured it.
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danshapiro 4 days ago 4 replies
Did anyone else click the "someone patented toast" link and actually read the claims? It's for toasting bread at 2,500-4,500 degrees, with specialized infrared ovens.
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daimyoyo 5 days ago 1 reply
There is a simple solution to this problem. Make maintenance fees payable yearly, and make a requirement of getting the patent renewed proof that you're actually using it. People filing patents only to sit and wait until someone else infringes is a cancer on American innovation.
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lukejduncan 5 days ago 7 replies
Intellectual Ventures recently posted a rebuttal http://intven.com/newsroom/insights/11-07-25/Disruption_Invi...
They like to say things like "ideas have value" and that they are "disruptive."
Are there examples where the patents they own and monetize actually represent valuable "ideas" and not after the fact claims of invention? I'm guessing not, but open to being proven wrong.
And who, or what, do they think they are disrupting? Isn't IV the incarnation of the status quo?
Reading their website feels like reading a politicians...
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preinheimer 5 days ago 2 replies
As a co-founder of a startup, my most worrying thoughts are not finding customers or improving the product. They're "when will I get a scary legal letter that asks for millions over a patent I've never heard of".
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daniel-cussen 4 days ago 0 replies
It's interesting to see more mainstream media outlets (npr and This American Life (public radio?)) talk more about patent trolling lately. As of a few weeks ago lay people I talked to had no idea programmers generally disliked patents.
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andreyf 5 days ago 1 reply
In the audio version, they mention several times that patent law is founded in the constitution. I wish they would actually read it though, as it's not very complicated:
The Congress shall have Power To [...] promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.
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adorton 4 days ago 2 replies
One of the best TAL episodes in recent memory. The story mentions that modern patents (specifically software patents) lack the novelty that the patent system was originally designed to encourage. Did patent laws change at some point in history to allow this to happen?
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dedicated 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm curious as who are the VC's who invested in IV? Are these typical tech VC's, or are they more of the private equity type that relish in making money off these so called opportunities or arbitrages that don't require actual productive work.
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pg groupies may also want to check out the Econtalk interview with Paul Graham. Finding it is left as an excercise for the reader, primarily to encourage people to check out this amazing resource.
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spenrose 4 days ago 2 replies
Can someone please tell me what Myrvolhd actually DID when he was leading MS Research? I remember no innovations from MS in that era.
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danvideo 5 days ago 0 replies
it's time this issue got more exposure than just the tech world... reporters aren't worried about their company being sued out from under them.
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dredmorbius 4 days ago 0 replies
If you're looking for an organization which is actively working to fix the software patent problem, you can look to End Software Patents: http://endsoftpatents.org/
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pom 4 days ago 0 replies
For some reason, every time I read the name Intellectual Ventures I sound it in my mind as Intellectual Vultures.
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parallel 5 days ago 1 reply
Is this sort of thing an issue in other countries. I'm a tech founder in Australia. I don't think we have the same level of anxiety about being sued for unknowingly breaching a software patent. Can anyone comment on this? Is our patent system different or can we expect to see our industry similarly affected in the future?
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dangrover 5 days ago 2 replies
What if you could pay for some kind of insurance product to protect against patent lawsuits? Or perhaps some kind of co-operative that owned a bunch of bullshit patents to be used for defensive purposes in such a scenario?
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vinced 4 days ago 1 reply
The solution is very simple. Create a simple how to patent template website, then have every developer apply for patents on any business and software process that they can dream of. Within two years you'll choke the entire system into change. Make it impossible for anyone to do anything.
1st idea, the collection, aggregation, and transmittal of electronic messaging data during a waste evacuation process. (i.e. checking your email while on the toilet)
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clc 5 days ago 0 replies
I actually just heard this story over NPR Radio. It's concerning to think about how companies like this can strong-arm smaller startups. But at the same time that doesn't mean that we should hide in fear. We've got to keep on doing what we do best: developing innovative products and solutions for users everywhere. Torpedoes be damned.
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cpenner461 4 days ago 1 reply
Serious question: can/do patent trolls go after open source projects? I'm not thinking of businesses who sell/support open source software (e.g. Red Hat), but would it be a viable "defense" for an indie dev to simply release their project as open source? I've got an idea for a "weekend project" or two that I could conceivably make a few bucks with, or I could release them as open source so that I can at least benefit from the idea without worrying (as much?) about being sued for violating a patent. On the one hand if I'm not making any money from it one would think that the trolls would go elsewhere, but then again...
Just looking for a general idea here, I'm not looking for official legal advice here... :-)
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crizCraig 4 days ago 0 replies
Poll: What's you take on Intellectual Ventures with regard to innovation? http://wepolls.com/1510009
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arvinjoar 4 days ago 0 replies
I wonder why people waste their time and money on defending themselves in court, why don't they hire Tony Soprano to fix their problem instead? It would be a pretty appropriate response.
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mquander 2 days ago 3 replies
Option not listed: I just flag anything that appears on the front page if another, better post about the same thing is also on the front page. If lots of people did this, then we would quickly wind up with exactly one post about a topic on the front page, so people's discussion would mostly go onto that post. Problem easily solved.
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bartonfink 2 days ago 1 reply
Let's say that someone reposts an old Spolsky article that has been around for 3 years and was posted back in the day when it was fresh. Instead of detecting the duplicate and not allowing the repost, I'd like it if HN automatically posted a link to the old discussion as a comment on the new post. Maybe do some sort of filtering on dates, so that the system disallows reposts of recent items as it currently does, but doesn't block posting a 3 year old article again for more discussion. Not everyone was here 3 years ago, and asking someone to search HN for every old article they might be interested in is a pretty crappy interface for discussion.
Edit: Removed dangling "There's value in revisiting discussion" statement.
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AlexC04 2 days ago 1 reply
I think a "related to", "reply to" or "topic threading" mechanism would be neat, but possibly difficult to work out.
People generally want to submit their own threads for various reasons (adsense, unique-impressions, karma, etc...).
The tagging would probably still have to be community driven, but an "is child of topic", or "related to topic" tag would allow users to see a different sort of front page. (GROUP BY TOPIC, ORDER BY DATE DESC)
You'd only see the most recent post on a topic until you clicked on a "show related" follow up link.
Google news seems to do this grouping reasonably well. One headline and see all 872 articles on this topic. Obviously PG isn't going to write that but a poor man's version could be implemented with a 3 column relationships table.
It would also leave the current new and frontpage untouched for those who loathe & fear change (or unintended consequences).
I'm sure there's some other actual considerations to worry about in this - that's only an off-the-cuff response. But generally I think a "related to" list and a front page filter showing only the most recent article in a "thread", with the ability to expand out into the others under "more reading"
Maybe only the highest voted in a thread?
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pseudonym 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd vote for a style of hand-merge mechanism that would
- Take the title of the post with the most discussion
- Turn it into a link like a poll, where each link has it's own "interior" link
- Throw all of the conversations from the posts and throw it into the main body of the combined post.
Users keep the ability to gain points, the front page stays clean, and no data is lost. The only downside is there's no easy way to flag things as "merges", unless the ability to "flag to merge" is added for people at a certain karma level. Enough flags, it automatically rolls them together.
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petsos 2 days ago 1 reply
I think the problem is that you can not change your vote.
When duplicate stories appear in the front page then you will probably upvote the first one. Problem is that this may not be the one with the highest score, or with the biggest discussion. When you then realize that there is a better submission of the same story, you can't change your initial vote.
I think that if you could change your vote, the problem would be corrected by the community itself.
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trotsky 2 days ago 0 replies
I voted for provide a merge mechanism, but I think there are real issues with that approach that would need to be solved. Merging makes a lot of sense for multiple stories on the front page at the same time, but depending on which story you read you might bring back a significantly different take, there might be conflicting facts etc. Then you'd have people arguing details that are all ostensibly correct based on the article they read. Merging stories that had significant time gaps could be even worse as new information may be understood by now (if it's an evolving story) and the comments will have a high volume of high rated comments that will discourage new discussion as it'll be unlikely to be noticed.
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MattLaroche 2 days ago 0 replies
One of the downsides of simply merging items, with different URLs, is that the different articles might both be worth posting because they cover different aspects of a story. So it'd be great to see multiple URLs on one item.
Also, there'd have to be a pretty clear standard about what constitutes one item. Sure, same URL - same item. Probably different URLs for the same story on the same day should be one item. But in the AirBNB ransacking case, I'd argue there should have been multiple articles: one for the initial "This is what happened" blog post and one for the "Suspect in custody, AirBNB has made changes to their organization" followup. Edited to add: And another for todays posting, noting that AirBNB probably hasn't done enough for the victim.
I assume some people blindly post TechCrunch URLs to try to boost karma - so a karma based solution might work. You post a duplicate URL, it changes your karma by -1 or 0. Not enough of a karma hit to really change the overall karma, but perhaps enough to search for the article first.
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hackinthebochs 2 days ago 1 reply
I vote for do nothing. If the story is exactly the same just from a different source, it should be downvoted. Some duplicate stories have a slightly different slant and thus encourage a discussion of the subject from a different perspective. The most obvious example is the AirBnB story from the financial times. There is a lot of overlap in the comments from this submission and previous ones, but there are also different perspectives. I think for stories that are this big its better just to leave it alone instead of attempting to cull the duplicate submissions.
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mindcrime 2 days ago 0 replies
I vote for "do nothing." I don't see this being a big problem, and to the extent that it is a problem, I don't think it merits risking the unintended consequences of a possible "fix."
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politician 2 days ago 2 replies
I'd like to see a tag mechanism where tags may be attached to a submission and voted on. Then, I'd like to be able to view the home page sorted by tags instead of by submissions.
Hopefully, that'd result in all Airbnb stories grouped together under tags representing different aspects of the story as well as automatically cross-referencing it with other examples of PR failure.
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lallysingh 2 days ago 0 replies
If things are on the same topic, but provide separate, unique points of view, they should go into an inner list, like you'd see for multiple google results from the same location.
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pasbesoin 2 days ago 0 replies
I'm in favor of pg remaining the benevolent dictator of HN, but perhaps -- just perhaps -- if a trusted person or cadre here were to implement their own "duplication identifying/deprecating" service that passed muster, he might be willing to consider interfacing with it.
For example, if someone developed a third party tagging mechanism, there might be one or more classes of tags that identify duplicates.
The tagging could remain a third party browser-based overlay, or it might at some point be given access to write appropriate comments re its discoveries or even, gasp, moderate.
With this approach, third parties do what they're going to do, and if it's liked enough -- no guarantees, and no pestering! -- maybe it gets "blessed". Kind of like how search eventually ended up getting a textbox in the footer.
Anyway, I'd favor a design where I can quickly tag; if there were someway to conveniently incorporate the ID of the better post/resource, all the better. Then either let other users see/reference the tags directly, or (and/or) feed them into some form of meta-analysis and/or moderation.
We might also take a pass at improving the existing duplication detection.
I haven't really thought the above through, particularly how it might be gamed or otherwise end up being a negative.
P.S. Ideally, but perhaps not practically, I'd also like duplication detection/flagging to catch the all too numerous instances where people grab references from comments and post them as new posts. It's fairly prevalent and a readily apparent karma whoring mechanism for some. (On the other hand, sometimes such an elevation is warranted; it's not an entirely black and white issue.)
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hluska 2 days ago 0 replies
I feel like this problem is bigger than just Hacker News - with the plethora of different news/discussion sources,I often find that 'breaking news' gets old and stale within an hour of the event. Or, sometimes more damaging, I read an interesting comment, then can't remember where I read it (so I can properly cite another's analysis).
Sadly, I don't know there is a site specific solution. While a merge would theoretically be great, I think we would start to see super threads with several hundred comments (and associated repetition). The search feature would be interesting, though it would discourage extremely busy people from submitting (since you could theoretically have to read three or four articles to determine whether yours deserves to be a separate item).
Perhaps some sort of curated site that grabs content (complete with discussion) from around the web? Different take on a newspaper's editorial section...
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nickolai 2 days ago 1 reply
I voted for merge.
It would also be nice to have an "alternate links" section on top of the comments page, with possibily of upvoting the alternate submissions.
Even better if an alternate link could replace the main one if it is voted as more relevant (ex main blog post replacing a post merely quoting it)
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jff 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd like to see some sort of tagging mechanism, perhaps, so that I could ignore this all-too-common front page:
* Why you should quit college and launch a startup
* Why college is super important
* How I did great without attending college
* Ask HN: Please tell me I'm smart for dropping out of my freshman year
If I could say, "I'm not interested in seeing any more college articles today", I could avoid these waves of "X Considered Harmful", "Considering X Harmful Considered Harmful", etc. posts, which seem to go away after a day or two.
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jakecarpenter 2 days ago 0 replies
I'm not convinced that multiple submissions is a bad thing. We're all going to continue to get out information from different sources, and the discussion that follow a particular submission may have as much to do with the source as the story. Some people might place more trust in one source over another or one poster/submitter over another, and I think that is why the multiple submissions problem hasn't already worked itself out on its own. Any sort of automated merge/filter would be a form of editorializing that could squelch valuable discourse.
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felipehummel 2 days ago 1 reply
Do it like stackoverflow. Search submitted urls/articles and show in the article submission interface. Preferably ajax-y so as user types url and/or title it already sees if he is posting something repeated.
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retube 2 days ago 0 replies
Other tech solution: you could cluster posts by content. E.g extract keywords/key phrases and group submissions that have some threshold of over-lapping terms. Of course not trivial, but an interesting project.
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T-zex 2 days ago 0 replies
I would be a very happy man if I could filter out stories having Airbnb in the title.
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barista 2 days ago 0 replies
Digg handled this very well. When you submit a new story it looks up current submitted stories to see anything matches and recommends those to be used instead.
I loved that because it leaves the decision to the user and gave them option to still post a new one if it had material not covered in already submitted stories
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ajkessler 2 days ago 0 replies
If this is really such big problem, wouldn't it be easy enough to simply check the link that someone is attempting to submit against all previously submitted links?
This wouldn't necessarily stop all repeat stories, but it seems much more feasible than hoping everyone does a search, and would at least stop people from uploading identical links.
You might also consider a time bar of some sort? Say, if the same link was submitted more than xxx days ago, it can be resubmitted, since there is a good chance there is something new to add to its discussion.
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blahedo 2 days ago 0 replies
It need not be a "merge" as such, as long as we are granted the ability to mark something as a dup (and mark what it's a dup of). Everything else can be done algorithmically; I outlined some ideas for this in an Ask HN last year: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1975950
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Mz 2 days ago 0 replies
I sometimes post a cross-reference to say "here is where the still live discussion is". I have never been downvoted. I suspect comments of that sort get downvoted when they come across as somehow ugly -- like they are being critical of the new submission for having been made at all or, worse, are actively discouraging real conversation from breaking out because it didn't happen in some prior submission. I think it's rude when someone remarks that it's a duplicate in a negative sounding way and then links to something where the conversation is long dead. I recently saw this done in a piece where the previous submission was from 12 days earlier. I just thought that was asinine behavior. I replied to it, then thought better of it and removed my remark. (Glad to have this chance to remark on it here though.)
I don't know what a better solution might be. I am just saying I do know that how you comment on the existence of a duplicate and frame the cross-reference matters.
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brk 2 days ago 0 replies
It would be interesting to see some sort of on-the-fly "topic" creation. For the AirBNB scenario, one AirBNB topic that would be a page that links to the 3 or 4 individual submissions currently ongoing (potentially with some comment previews, etc.). This would also cover the case of the same basic story (Foo releases Bar!) that gets picked up on multiple tech news sites and blogs.
For things that are re-posts of the same content it might be best to be hand-curated. Where If the re-post appears to be gaining traction, pull out the old submission and discussion, but put it back on the front page for X amount of time (merging discussions from the new submission into the comment thread of the old one). For scenarios where the re-post is getting no traction then just kill it.
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eykanal 2 days ago 0 replies
Another possibility: when submitting a link, simply have an automated check against previously submitted links, and give an automatic upvotes or two to the previously linked submission. In this way, if a bunch of people resubmit something (say, an old article is making the rounds on the net yet again), it will have a chance to be brought back to the front page - with all the previous discussion - so that HN can stay a place where people can discuss the hot topics of the day, even if the "hot topics" happen to be four years old.
This aims to solve the "double discussion" problem, but it won't fix the "I don't want to see it again" problem.
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egor83 2 days ago 1 reply
So there are two points here: different articles on one topic may contain different perspectives, so they all should be preserved when merging; on the other hand, it would be better if there was a single place where people would discuss a topic.
Maybe a good solution would be to let people vote for merging several articles on the same topic, and once there's enough votes, merge them in one, say by concatenating both links and discussion trees?
If that's too heavy, maybe just extend each article with links to other discussion pages (say, adding beneath the text "This topic is also discussed here (link)").
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FilterJoe 2 days ago 0 replies
I like the Google News approach that algorithmically groups together related stories as follows:
Show the most popular story (or 2 or 3), then provide a link that states "See all 143 related stories."
The hard part on a community news site is how to deal with discussion. I think a neat way to do it would provide a choice to see discussion by submission or merged discussion of all related submissions.
The benefits of doing it like this would be as follows:
1) Declutter the front page of related stories
2) Still make it easy to see all related stories with just one extra click
3) For stories with little discussion, makes it easy to see discussion on all related stories as well
4) For stories with lots of discussion, the traditional way of discussing around 1 story only is a great option, to keep discussion more focused (less overwhelming).
Downside: I suspect this would be difficult to implement and therefore buggy - especially how the algorithm decides to group things. The Google News algorithm does a pretty good job.
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lhnz 2 days ago 0 replies
We should be able to link stories together. The most popular/recent story should then be shown instead of all of the others... (But you should still be able to visit the others if you wish to.)
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zwieback 2 days ago 0 replies
I agree that dilution of new page isn't a big problem and the crowd aspect should ensure interesting links go up.
The problem to solve is split discussions so I think it would be great if duplicate links would be automatically merged and the discussion page unified.
The more challenging problem to solve is how discussions about stories that are almost identical or link to identical stories could be merged. Could there be an option to view discussions independently or show a page that auto-merges similar discussions?
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grandalf 2 days ago 0 replies
Most stories are not just a single news item that is relevant immediately after some event and then less relevant over time.
Many stories evolve and new information is added. The Airbnb stories lately are a perfect example.
If you're busy enough to occasionally miss a day (or even a half day) of HN, you might not realize that something has already been posted.
I really think this is a non issue. Occasionally when there are dupes, I ignore them if I found them boring the last time, or read/comment again if they were fun last time.
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michaelpinto 2 days ago 0 replies
This is a usability problem: On an average day X number of new stories appear �" but now that's a flood of information that only a few people can keep up with. So two solutions that can be tried are:
- Have a design mechanism that allows users to link stories together: So you sort of crowd source the process
- Have categories for stories like Digg: So for example if everyone is suddenly subbing the same breaking biz news story you'll see the dupes right away. This would have the added benefit of allowing users to really see the topics they want: For example as a designer as much as love you programmers I'm not sure that an article about Haskell, and to be fair a programmer may feel the same way about typography. And in a sense you're already doing this by having categories like "Ask HN"
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kirillzubovsky 2 days ago 0 replies
I am not sure what you mean by "merge" mechanism, but it would be wonderful to have a feature like on StackOverflow, where's before you actually click submit, the app recommends that you review suggested links before posting your own.
Of course, this is going to help people who haven't see the same story repeat, but this isn't going to stop those who repost hot topics just for the sake of gaining karma points.
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seles 2 days ago 0 replies
One idea: instead of making the formula for article placement based on the points and decay based on time of creation, don't use time of creation in the formula at all, and instead make just the points themselves decay. This way old things can come to the top again if they start receiving upvotes again.
This idea alone wouldn't solve the problem, but if combined with some sort of "merge" mechanism then it would be sweet.
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hugh3 2 days ago 0 replies
As a partial solution, how about adding a polite note on the "submit" page, asking people nicely to check the past few days' worth of front pages before submitting, to see whether there has already been a discussion on the same subject.
I've just been to the "new" page, where I flagged a few versions of the "Internet Explorer Users Are Stupid" story from yesterday.
And it wasn't a very good story the first time (though it's exactly the sort of thing which tends to get a lot of upvotes, for entirely the wrong reasons).
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rdl 2 days ago 0 replies
The solution should be to create more awesome startups, which will get more press coverage, thus having more unique stories on hn.
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mrb 1 day ago 0 replies
Clearly: provide a merge mechanism, for example by allowing users to vote for a merge. If a certain threshold is met, the two submissions are merged.
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JoelMcCracken 2 days ago 0 replies
Turn HN into twitter (sans 140 char limit). Posts are "unstructured", bit do retain @reply information. User @a and @b posts a link about Airbnb, user @c wants to reply, says "@a @b what #Airbnb really needs to do is bla bla bla.."
Then, the front page becomes a list of "trending topics".
Topics are determined by some kind of statistical analysis of the overall conversation.
The /new page is a list of new posts that are not @replies, or something similar.
Order/score can similarly be determined, such as by reply counts.
More computationally intensive, but more "true".
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oemera 2 days ago 0 replies
What about listing the story with the up votes and merging all the other stories about the same thing under the first one.
I think it would be good like Google did it with discussion. If googles finds a page which seems to be a discussion, you can click the plus icon and all the other related results are getting listed.
What do you think about that? I think it would prevent that other topics are getting to the second page.
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alanh 2 days ago 0 replies
An official mechanism to link related/duplicate submissions would be great. They could be displayed at the top. Listing submission dates there would also be helpful.
I do not like the idea of a merge because often comments are VERY article-specific, NOT simply topic-specific!
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bavcyc 2 days ago 1 reply
Filter on URL would be the first step, if it is a duplicate URL submitted then point the submitter to that story.
Could also use recently, i.e. last week or 24 hours, to compare stories at submitted URLs such that if someone submits a story on G-man advert from a different site it is found or at least present to the submitter to check if their submission is a duplicate.
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n_simplex 2 days ago 0 replies
Idea for the merge mechanism.
If a user thinks a link has been submitted before; the user posts a cross reference comment whose syntax must be simple as in:
MERGE: news.ycombinator.com/link/to/article
If the merge comment gets enough upvote, then a detection algorithm automatically merges it to the other one.
I left out a couple of details, but this is the simplest way I can think of to automate the merging without reverting to clustering algorithms.
I guess this is equivalent to voting the story down the front page, but it allows for salvaging the discussion in the down voted link.
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jodrellblank 1 day ago 0 replies
I really don't mind the constant dribble of down-votes that I get for trying to prevent the splitting of discussions
I don't think you are "harming the community", helping if anything, but after seeing yesterdays posts I do suspect you are more hurt by downvotes than you say you are, and that you might benefit by not being so.
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stretchwithme 2 days ago 0 replies
Prompt submitters with articles using some of the same terms and ask them to be sure its a new topic or a substantially different perspective on an old one.
Use a list of the five likeliest matches. Let sphinx or some other search engine do the work.
This won't work in every case, but even 50% would be a significant improvement.
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Joakal 2 days ago 0 replies
There's a first come first serve mentality with duplicates, so why not transfer the points from it to the first one?
Other ideas: Reference the duplicates, allow people to submit the link (makes moderation easier).
Look to Whirlpool, they lead in Moderation :D
53
narrator 2 days ago 0 replies
How about a tagging function. Users can vote if a tag applies or not. That way you get a self-generating ontology.
54
dhughes 2 days ago 0 replies
How about a single title but the ability to have multiple links to different sources? Almost like tags but only it's links.
As others have mentioned the same story is often available from multiple sources so merge all sources under one super title.
It's also good since you can update without having to yet again submit a link but for the update and for people who haven't seen either the orignal(s) or the updates it's now all in one place.
55
clawrencewenham 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd endorse a script that auto-submits "Richard Feynman and the Connection Machine" every 2 weeks. It'd have a deeper psychological impact than just putting "Please search before posting" on the submissions page, and it's an article every newbie should read anyway.
56
chollida1 2 days ago 0 replies
I'd be happy with a hide button
57
Jarred 2 days ago 0 replies
There should just be threads with multiple links. The "original source" is what happens when you click it. The secondary source is where things like TechCrunch's opi ion pieces go.
Instead of having some classifier do the grouping, have the high-ranking community members handle this merging. The discussions in these big threads would be about the topic in general, not just TechCrunch's version or Venturebeats version
59
ericelias 2 days ago 0 replies
quick note - upon submitting the link, there could be a lookup function on the keywords of the title or linked story title, which shows similar submissions...replicating the Google instant search functionality.
yes, there would be obvious issues with keyword overlap and would not apply for customized titles.
60
rexreed 2 days ago 0 replies
You mean like what happens in the regular "mainstream" media? You didn't notice the endless stories on Casey Anthony or the Debt Crisis? This is the normal pattern with ALL new sources. Why should HN be any different?
61
tvon 2 days ago 0 replies
I've always wanted a way to associate stories, even if there is just a list under the headline (when viewing comments) listing possibly related stories (based on user feedback).
62
d0m 2 days ago 0 replies
Maybe, when you post something, it could say (Did you know about X or Y posts) a little bit like stackoverflow. So, in a way, it's an automatic search while posting.
63
dlikhten 2 days ago 0 replies
Do the same thing that is done in stackoverflow.com. Except that needs to be combined with fetching the title/basic info from the article and trying to combine it with recent articles from past couple of days.
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dools 2 days ago 0 replies
I like the merge idea, but it would be good to preserve all links at the top. So more like grouping than merging. That way if several stories offer different perspectives they are all still viewable
65
mikecane 2 days ago 0 replies
A recent situation that, um, puzzled me in the past few months was a story being posted here and getting no traction until someone else posted it 24-48 hours later. These things just happen, it seems.
66
zacharycohn 2 days ago 0 replies
Even when a big story breaks, there's rarely more than 3 or 4 links that pop to the front page throughout the day. They're from different sources, sometimes they provide different insights. Other times they don't, and they just go away.
If 4/30 links on the frontpage are about the same story, it's really not that big of a deal.
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orochimaru 1 day ago 0 replies
Some intelligent comparison algorithm should be developed to
tag them as possible duplicates of stories that have been published in the last N minutes/hours/days.
It shouldn't be very tough to come up with a beta version of the algorithm. They're asked in most technical interviews and everyone answers them :D
68
slmbrhrt 2 days ago 0 replies
While I'd like a mechanical solution, I think the best results are probably going to come from human intervention/interaction.
69
SebMortelmans 2 days ago 0 replies
If you mean the AirBnb news that's all over HN last day, leave it as is, it shows kind of the importance of a topic. It's big news, there should be many views/topics about it, it's logic.
70
rokhayakebe 2 days ago 0 replies
You shouldn't do anything because sometimes you may get an update on the story and the discussion could be totally different.
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peteboyd 2 days ago 0 replies
Merge the article for the purposes of comments, but allow references to each unique article cited. Perhaps an indent under the main story with related stories and just one comment section.
Either that or leave it alone. Most of the airbnb stories are semi unique takes on the same stories.
72
zobzu 2 days ago 0 replies
just like bugzilla.
if you dont know what i mean, just go to any bugzilla install and type something generic as new bug title
its going to ajax its way and show you matching bugs while you type.
it could be the same for stories
73
aangjie 1 day ago 0 replies
Well perhaps google search style online suggestions for existing posts will help.. i don't like forcing people to search, besides, people might just learn to hit the search and skip buttons from muscle memory.
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pvodsevhcm 2 days ago 0 replies
keep distinct news items, but merge into a parent item that links both, much like the way this polling story work.
The parent item gets the combined vote total of child items, and any summary screen that shows the parent item would then remove all children of that parent item, showing the parent instead.
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Apocryphon 2 days ago 0 replies
One thing I'd like to promote is refraining from reposting too many stories to other aggregator-type sites such as MetaFilter.
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podperson 2 days ago 0 replies
I think we need to repeat this poll, over and over.
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dreamdu5t 2 days ago 0 replies
Merging is the only solution that is feasible and doesn't lose content.
It just requires moderators or people over certain karma thresholds.
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nomdeplume 1 day ago 0 replies
1) change name of site to redd1t or d1gg.
2) Do something like Wikipedia has where people can vote in integrity/quality of source/story.
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kqueue 2 days ago 0 replies
Have HN inform the user that the link has been submitted before.
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saddino 2 days ago 0 replies
Provide a "merge" mechanism. Keep track of merges. When merges exceed a threshold, HN merges them for all.
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nithinpb 2 days ago 0 replies
Automatic search while submitting and display it on the side? Like Stackoverflow?
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swixmix 2 days ago 0 replies
I vote we convert the repetition to recursion, which should be more acceptable to the Y combinator crowd.
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qusiba 2 days ago 0 replies
How about a done-vote button?
84
Voting on a merge would be nice too...
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sidcool 2 days ago 0 replies
Wow, most on HN are not action oriented?
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velutinous 2 days ago 0 replies
Provide a Google -1 button
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milkmiruku 1 day ago 0 replies
Topic clustering? A la Techmeme, Google News?
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chewbranca 2 days ago 0 replies
It can be a tricky problem because you have a 1 to 1 correspondence of hacker news posts to web pages, so you can't combine articles from multiple sources into a single discussion.
Its a design choice that has pros and cons. One related problem that I find more relevant than multiple posts from multiple sources, is the life time of posts on hacker news. Once something fades from the front page, it falls into irrelevance aside from reference for google search. Which is again a design choice, and I'm not sure the future goals of the site are to support long term discussion.
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reitzensteinm 2 days ago replies
If this is real, I'll be stunned if the auditor keeps his job.
Then again, after working at startups my whole career, maybe I'm just naive about how messed up the real world is.
2
JacobAldridge 2 days ago 4 replies
When "I have been in this industry longer than anyone on that site" is a cornerstone of your defence, you've already lost. Also, I know the UK has really strict laws, but I doubt he'd be able to sue for "liable".
3
dasil003 2 days ago 3 replies
I can't help but feel there is some kind of social experiment going on here.
I mean I know there are a lot of incompetent people out there, but a security auditor asking for a list of plaintext passwords is not something that should take more than an email or two to resolve even in Bizarro world. "Techies" exhibiting this kind of willful ignorance are usually a bit better and hiding under their rock.
4
yaix 2 days ago 1 reply
The auditor was actually serious. Wow. I really thought he just wanted to check the reaction of the admin, to see if he'd actually hand over sensitive stuff.
5
AgentConundrum 2 days ago 2 replies
Please tell me this is a troll. I mean, I've seen some pretty incompetent people doing jobs they're not cut out for before, but I really want to believe this level of incompetence can't actually find jobs.
6
Confusion 2 days ago 2 replies
What's interesting is that the PCI standard seems to be unclear in this respect. He quotes from the standard:
8.4 Render all passwords unreadable during transmission
and storage on all system components using strong
cryptography.
This seems to leave room for passwords to be encrypted instead of hashed. I'd even say it suggests they should be encrypted instead of hashed, by not distinguishing between 'during transmission' and 'during storage'.
At the very least, quoting this isn't going to convince someone that passwords should not be decryptable.
7
iuguy 2 days ago 1 reply
A colleague of mine once had to stand one foot on top of the other and chew his own lip when an SI's "security expert" introduced himself as an 'old-school CISSP' just to stop laughing out loud at him.
There are many idiots in the information security industry (I should know, I are one) - we're doing our best to get rid, but more keep showing up.
8
16s 2 days ago 4 replies
Quite a few managers and auditors really don't understand the difference between a password hash and a password.
I expect the auditor was asking for password hashes, although he was using the phrase "plaintext passwords". Who knows, but that part of the story may just be a wording misunderstanding.
Not everyone speaks geek, and it's important to know when you're talking to someone who does not ;)
Edit: Not sure why this is being down voted as it is a true statement. I've had to explain what a password hash is on several occasions. And even after that, there was still some misunderstanding/confusion.
9
techiferous 2 days ago 0 replies
"any inventive suggestions for how to troll him [the security auditor] a bit?"
Nothing productive could come of that. This situation is not for your entertainment. Just move along...
10
hermannj314 2 days ago 0 replies
From the perspective portrayed in this article, the auditor seems misinformed about fundamentals in his industry and his response to being called on this seemed superficial and borderline childish.
It must be difficult to be ridiculed in a public form of your own profession. Not to mention being called stupid and ignorant for misunderstanding something. I hope I always have the humility to admit when I'm wrong, but also have the patience and understanding when other people don't.
11
codeglomeration 2 days ago 0 replies
This sounds more like social engineering to me. My first thought was this was a hacker who took control of an email address from the security firm, and just tried to exploit the weakest link in order to get plaintext passwords.
13
motters 2 days ago 0 replies
Argument from authority. Nice try.
14
marcamillion 2 days ago 0 replies
At first, I thought that this was a bogus post...but it seems to be real - or this guy is keeping up with the story.
15
jarin 2 days ago 0 replies
Incompetent people in the security field really need to be called out like this.
Incompetent developers generally only hurt the company; incompetent security professionals hurt every single customer as well.
16
dougws 2 days ago 0 replies
I haven't been in the industry that long, but I've encountered a few "security professionals"--auditors, penetration testers, etc. All of them have been totally incompetent; they could tell you the definition of, say, a SQL injection attack but had no idea how to really analyze a system. On the other hand, all of the great programmers I've met have had a really good grasp of security. I'm starting to think that if you don't write code, you're not qualified to audit it.
17
blahblahblah 2 days ago 0 replies
Apparently, neither of these guys paid attention in high school civics class. Slander involves oral, not written, communication. Libel (not "liable") is the term for a tort involving false and damaging written communication.
18
keithpeter 2 days ago 2 replies
As I live and work in Birmingham, UK, I hope this is all an elaborate hoax.
19
Auguste 2 days ago 0 replies
That security auditor could give a lot of the guys featured on The Daily WTF a good run for their money.
20
antihero 2 days ago 1 reply
If it's in the UK they may be liable under the Data Protection Act, too.
21
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/07/20/greathomesandd...
So whats next... well too much actually. I do not have the time nor the patience to dig at all of Andys points. Im sure not all of them are bad, but there is enough there to make me wonder whats wrong with this guy. Again, he is a professional. I am sure he has had critics of his work, and he knows that there was an inner process where a lot of those points were brought up and shown not to hold water. He is now doing the same thing.
So I'll leave it on one final point. Mobile Sites. Its an example of what happens when you don't know that the Times is aware of his point and we discussed it and there was a damn good reason we made the decision that we made.
What am I talking about? He shows the iPhone with the full NYT homepage and has the caption "Um, are you frisking kidding me?". In other words why not a mobile site.
Well, very simple. The iPhone is capable of rendering and interacting with the full page. It was the first browser to do so - it don't require a lite version. You could tap, zoom, pinch, drag and get the full depth of the page. Other browsers - like those for Nokia, RIM etc couldn't handle that.
This was talked over to death. There were compelling arguments about going down this road - or not. In the end, the decision was made to NOT redirect those advanced browsers to the mobile site. You can still go to m.nyt.com if you like, we just wont force you too.
but it should not require anything more than a media
query fetching different CSS and perhaps some additional
scripting so as to simply restyle the content experience
Andy does say that all you need is media quires for the CSS and such and bingo. Well, no. No its not that simple. If you want to redo the homepage for a specific mobile experience then you probably want to serve different sized images, maybe not have some Flash stuff on the iPhone, maybe drop the bandwidth intensive stuff that works well on desktop.
CSS media queries does not solve the problem. It is never that easy and shame on your for saying so. You are a professional. You should know better. Bad Andy. Bad. No biscuit for you.
Man, this makes me bitter. RANT OFF.
2
rjd 5 days ago 6 replies
Well having been in the person in charge of a major news website myself I can say we all have lovely designs like this pinned to the walls next our desks.
And while I really like his designs and have turned to Andy many times for inspiration, there are some serious context problems... and while I'm bored and off work I might as well write a critique...
I had an near identical sports section to the one he designed pinned to me wall. But I can say he's screwed a few things up, gallery needs to be higher, users can't find a gallery that low (I know user testing surprises them hell out me to), no ads again. To use templating that image has to be shrunk, the quality you get through from external sources if often extremely poor, a reality he doesn't seem to have considered. Nothing screams amateur news like big pixalated images some non technical journo uploaded, and credibility is your only asset really.
Another reality is the business requires as many ad units as you can fit on a page, big media is expensive. Way more than a blog with 10 or so staff. Flying people all over the country, investigating stories, hotel rooms. Its like covering CES every day, which for most tech blogs would be there biggest yearly expense. Moan all you will but most people are out of touch with exact what it takes to make decent news.
And you can't win an argument about ads, you get dragged in front of finance, and if you convince them sales will drag you in front of the board, if you win that you get dragged in front of agencies to justify changes which may effect upcoming campaigns. Its a horrible process and really have to have solid arguments and research, essentially you are risking entire revenue streams, for what in a lot of cases isn't even break even business.
He's got what appears to be a lot of promoted content, thats expensive from a support point of view. I had a guy working under me whose job was literally to make the decision about what story superseeded the next.
The back lash you get from people for having a story up too long or not long enough is amazing. I've been called every name under the sun. Your audience isn't a defined well behaved demographic at all. Its like 4chan discussing politics, just a complete mess always on the attack.
..but at least when thanks comes its usually really good, for example this year I got a hand made Christmas card from the Indonesian Fishing Association for getting a reporter in touch with them. Somehow it made up for a year of insults. It was real touching.
The only real solution, and we worked damned hard with Google on this is indexing getting people to the page directly, forgetting all about overview pages and landing pages.
We ended up constructing a 24 hour social media team. We pushed the news via automation, blood, sweat, and tears to the people. And Google rewarded us, we entered the elite list of news suppliers whom google monitor for breaking stories. It works, it really does, but its hard work. I bet there aren't many people hear who have brought Google employees to an argument with your boss ;)
Anyway he's also under estimating the sheer volume of stories being generated. He's designed a nice blog template, not something that produces several hundred of stories a day over dozens and dozens of subsection. He's hasn't considered the scale, and the unreliability of content. You can do editorial pages like that for major events, but not the daily drab. The real solution to the problem was as noted above social engineering, you need to get people (super nodes) who act as conduits to propagate good stories for you.
The next is the infographics. Again beautiful, I used to kill for decent info graphics coming in. If I wasn't snowed under I'd try and create them myself.
But the reality is graphic designer can't do it, they have huge work loads already, and remember you can't just hire more staff, its break even business. THEN you need a subject matter expert to assembly it and give it to the graphic designer.
Infographics takes time, and its something that Google and Twitter have taken away from news journalists by the creation of an attention economy. You need to break a story immediately or you run the risk of not covering your production costs.
You don't have time to crunch numbers, you are literally scrambling for eyeballs to stay in business. You can do it with editorials fine, and one trick I learnt quick was guest bloggers are GOLD. They often bring a crowd with them, they often have great researched stories, infographics you name it. So it became my goal to build those relationships.
But alas 3 months without weekends, high pressure workload, high pressure targets, unyielding worldwide competition take a toll. So I quit. Theres still an open position for me if I want to return, but I don't think I'm ready just yet ;)
EDIT: I don't mean to be harsh towards Andy. I love his work, and his intellectual exercise into improvement is great. I even forwarded it onto my old team for review.
But what I guess my point is sometimes there a reason why things are crap, and fixing may be a hell of a lot harder the moment you try than you expected.
So don't judge people/teams to harshly, instead offer a hand like Andy has done, sometimes they need it (especially in big media)
3
patio11 5 days ago 1 reply
It is easy to create a redesign for a website. It is less easy to pivot a billion-dollar business which has the agility of an aircraft carrier while she is sinking. If your answer to that question is "What do we really need the planes for, anyway?" and "I think the conning tower would look much better in teal.", you might find a wee bit of difficulty getting taken seriously.
4
adamhowell 5 days ago 1 reply
I know everybody hates ads, but it only reinforces the "naive businessmen" stereotype of designers when people say stuff like this:
"Since news is accessed only via subscription, most of the ads can be eliminated from the pages."
That's like saying because you pay for magazines they also don't need to have ads. That's in no way at all how the content business works.
6
dredmorbius 5 days ago 3 replies
I don't like the final result, and Rutledge dismisses many of the realities of site design.
I think the existing NYTimes site is among the examplars of good Web news site design. My principle gripe is that there's too much whitespace around the primary content. That's probably a consequence of both a 1920x1080 display (laptop), and highly aggressive ad blocking. (Yeah, yeah. I'll stop blocking ads when advertisers stop being complete fckwits about making annoying ads, and/or when hell freezes over, whichever comes first.)
There are a few valid points Rutlege makes. Many of the navigation elements are little (or never) used by me, including the left and top sidebars.
I want my microcontent.* That means a brief story summary. I have an RSS reader and subscribe to the NY Time site on it. I rarely read it. Why? Because there's no microcontent. For most news stories, the first paragraph is all I need (actually, in all absolute truth, the headline itself is far too much). If I want to read more, that paragraph really helps make the decision to do so. Jacob Nielson's covered this topic very well.
Presenting the content on the homepage, while making for dense page, does make a good jump point. My eye can scan far more quickly than I can click back and forth through pages.
The classic wastes of time for me on the Times are:
- Video content. Really, text tells the story far more quickly most of the time. A video feature can be a benefit (and for some rare stories it's hugely useful), but I _don't_ think it belongs on the homepage.
- The "Talking Heads" features. There's something in how these are set up that frequently makes for a compelling lede, but fails to deliver. The format just doesn't work for me.
- The formulaic three-headlines-per-section on the front page. Some days some sections deserve far more news, and some sections (sorry, but "Dining", "Fashion", and "Automobiles" hold little or no interest) deserve none. To me.
Rutledge has succeeded in vastly simplifying the Times's front page. By removing most of the informational content and utility from it. His design works for mobile (and as he notes, the Times has a good mobile site). It's not a good full-featured site design.
7
arn 5 days ago 0 replies
The final result looks nice, but I hate these exercises, because if you are not fitting the same number of ads in the page, then you are not actually solving the same problem. You are solving a much easier problem, as almost all sites look better without ads.
Also, there's a major divide between what people seem to think looks nice and what seems to succeed. The Huffington Post is the biggest example of recent success in the news realm. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
Is that despite of its design or because of it? I don't know. It's hard to separate out the effect of the editorial content from presentation.
8
dotBen 5 days ago 0 replies
I was involved in a major redesign of the BBC News Website - when it went form a sigle column approach to the current two-dimensional layout.
What is interesting about Andy's designs is that he's basically taken the current thinking in 'modern' news website design (two dimensions) back to the single column layout. I think this is a fundamental flaw in his design.
People come to a news front page to see the editor's prioritization of the days news agenda. With a single column approach it is very difficult to editorially prioritize stories of similar importance. It works for blogs because they don't have an editorial prioritization as they usually sort by chronological order.
Two-dimensional layouts, like NY Times and BBC, allow for editors to give several articles (perhaps a politics story, a business story and a sport story) equal visual importance. If you have a mainstream appeal you need to be able to give different audiences something of relevance.
9
sjwright 5 days ago 1 reply
Andy's redesign is a disaster for various reasons stated by others, but this is possibly the most important and underlying reason for its failure: The existing design visually demonstrates that 'there's a lot going on here'. His does not.
He failed to communicate the good type of busyness in his re-imagining -- the redesign makes the site look like a five-articles-a-day blog.
10
catshirt 5 days ago 0 replies
so, remove the ads... and replace them with infographics?
forgive me for being crass but this whole post seems naive. don't get me wrong, it's pretty; but we're talking about the new york times. i think this is more accurately "andy rutledge redesigns nyt for andy rutledge". which is fine, but not at all the same thing.
"broken news" is a big claim. i'm not sure a sleek blog theme is going to fix it.
11
verisimilitude 5 days ago 0 replies
I really think this looks amazing. It would likely function amazingly well, too.
However, for this to work, you have to eliminate the space for ads. To deal with this, Rutledge suggests "Quality news is subscription only. You pay for valuable information. Fluff you get for free."
I somehow don't think it's that simple.
If you slam the digital door shut (much more than it is now at the Times), and only allow subscriber access, you'll do two things:
(1) vastly reduce your readership; if you want to go back to showing ads, you can't, because you no longer can brag about the vast numbers reading your website daily
(2) create a hyper-focused pirating scheme around disseminating NYTimes content for free
I love news. I love good reporting. When I'm no longer a student, I'll pay to get the Times at home. BUT, we've got a serious problem here; this design, while well thought-out, fails to acknowledge that it can't exist (eliminating ads) without changing the industry (changing readership drastically).
I very much look forward to seeing this movie: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/page_one_inside_the_new_york... which touches on these issues.
13
lukeschlather 5 days ago 0 replies
>The Times politics page. I think the object of the game must be to fit as much “content” onto the page as possible in an effort to overwhelm the reader, tricking them into believing that the NY Times is just bursting with a mindbogglingly-bottomless array of important information. If only the reader could learn to ignore 60% of what's here, she might have a chance at a pleasant experience. Please stop helping. What you've got here is not content, but noise.
You can't get a good coverage of world events in the number of items that Rutledge wants. The world is noisy, and what Rutledge is suggesting vastly oversimplifies. I'm sure it would convert wonderfully, raise ad revenue, all that. It wouldn't be good journalism. Even if the NYT is full of pointless noise, it's still better than a handful of painstakingly crafted articles. A handful of pretty, well-formed articles cannot accurately reflect a disordered world. If the NYT isn't noisy it's not doing its job.
14
jamesteow 5 days ago 0 replies
As one of the designers of a major news organization redesign, it's very nice to do a pretty page but to honestly think you can get away with no ads is a not only a losing battle but one that doesn't take the needs of the client seriously.
I also like how the NYT's website looks like a newspaper with a variety of content. The redesign looks like a Wordpress template.
15
tjogin 5 days ago 1 reply
I think Andy's design is very stylish and presents the content in a tasteful way. I have no significant qualms about his design in any way.
When he goes into business territory, however, he loses his shit. This is the money quote:
"Since news is accessed only via subscription, most of the ads can be eliminated from the pages. Story pages could still have one or two tastefully-presented ads, but preservation of the content is what will keep readers happy, engaged, and willing to continue paying their subscriptions…just like in olden times."
People didn't pay for news in the olden times. They paid for printing and distribution, and then the advertisement covered the rest, with some tiny variations on that theme. Not significantly different from today.
If you were to make the content subscription only, and some publications have tried this recently, you'd lose 90% of your readers. That means also losing 90% of your ad revenue. Now the remaining 10% of your readers need to make up for that loss. That makes it a rather expensive subscription, losing a lot more subscribers, and around it goes, the vicious circle.
That doesn't mean digital news isn't horribly broken, it is. Just that making it subscription only isn't the solution.
16
flocial 5 days ago 0 replies
The design has its moments but I actually like NYT. The only thing I would like more is fixed dimensions for items on the front page, maybe 2 column layout with both sides perfectly aligned per item. The draw of newspaper sites is both the quality content within articles but the curation of articles themselves so having everything in uniform lists is too confusing. Additions I wouldn't mind are most tweeted or tweeted by your friends type social media integration.
If design was the only thing killing the newspaper industry their problems would be solved.
17
solipsist 5 days ago 0 replies
Popularity has nothing to do with news
If you've been on the internet before, you'll know this is not true.
18
prayag 5 days ago 0 replies
The problem with such a post is that it violates the first principle of user centered design. Talk to your users. Did anyone tell him that NYT is broken? Did he go and ask a single user who goes to NYT everyday to figure out what his problems are? Or saw him use the site.
It's easy to re-design something from outside in. It's much harder to design it inside out when you have a more complete picture of what users are doing and have a rough idea of what they want.
19
rayboyd 5 days ago 0 replies
Martin Belam (IA guy at the Guardian) wrote an excellent rebuttal to this yesterday. http://www.currybet.net/cbet_blog/2011/07/andy-news-redux.ph...
20
petercooper 5 days ago 0 replies
I suspect that while this is a reasonable and logical redesign, it misses out on some non-rational behavior of the majority of people who read news. I know that, non rationally, I quite like a bit of "jumble" from my newspapers and news sites so I can just "wander" around from thing to thing for a while. The redesign showed here turns it more into a blog and I think I'd have trouble wandering around it.. I'd need to know what I was looking for.
I dislike the Daily Mail but I know their site is almost entirely driven by numbers and what catches on (and what doesn't): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/ - it has a certain formula to it but it still has an element of randomness and chaos because, I suspect, that's what readers are going for, whether we like it or not.
21
dasil003 5 days ago 0 replies
Andy is a talented designer, but his style shows through a bit too strongly here. He knows how to utilize whitespace to create an aesthetically pleasing visual flow, but I don't think he pays enough respect the essence of a newspaper�"namely density of information.
22
newhouseb 5 days ago 0 replies
To me it is incredibly important that an abstract is presented up front before I click through to the article. For other news sites (like CNN) that are more about breaking news and less about well written and researched journalism - just the headline is fine (because chances are the article won't say much more than the headline).
NYT's strength is that it is a professional journalistic organization and thus taking words _off_ the page would only serve to betray the value that the NYT offers.
23
yarone 5 days ago 0 replies
Andy's designs look beautiful, but I'm reminded of the old saying: "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy".
I'm afraid that if you take his designs as a starting point, and revise them based on the needs of the NYTimes and the expectations of its millions of visitors, they would require a large number of changes and would more closely resemble the current NYTimes.com
24
josscrowcroft 5 days ago 2 replies
Am I the only one who thinks his 'redesign' just looks like any other blog?
25
prawn 2 days ago 0 replies
Khoi Vinh's just responded with, in part:
"I'm purposefully not identifying this person or the project or providing a link back to the redesign itself, mostly because I think it's counter-productive to continue to reward this effort with more unwarranted attention. To me, it felt less like constructive criticism than link-baiting, and so I have tried to avoid making any public comment."
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brownie 5 days ago 0 replies
The one thing I dislike (on the main page at least) is the separation of news and opinion/analysis. I can't think of many times where I've visited a news site and wanted to read only opinion or only news, but I can think of times where I've visited a site to read about a particular story - and read related articles that happen to be opinions/analysis.
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prawn 5 days ago 0 replies
Design is always so much easier when you don't have to incorporate ad spots. Very naive.
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rs 5 days ago 1 reply
Not to be a pain, the design is good, but there's no place to actually put an ad, considering the advertisements are one of their sources of revenue
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code_duck 5 days ago 0 replies
This is in the vein of just about every 'xx person redesigns yy site'. The elaborate comments from others have done a better job than I could of laying out the details. I don't know why people insist on publishing articles such as these. Oddly, as in in this case, often they end up with a pleasant, but rather common looking, design which is blissfully unaware of all the different constraints and special issues that guided creation of the original.
The conclusion of this article is a rather bland design, in my opinion, which looks like 50 other sites out there and has no space for ads. Hardly worth the wall of text created to herald it.
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spacemanaki 5 days ago 0 replies
"If you're using an app to deliver content, you're doing it wrong."
He's completely wrong about this. I love the NYT Android app. I can start it at home, while I have decent coverage, and am then able to read the paper any where I am throughout the day, including the subway, because it caches every story on sections you open, even if you don't open those stories. It's one of my favorite Android apps because of this.
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webjunkie 5 days ago 0 replies
He designed a blog... the whole of NYTimes ist not a blog.
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ImperatorLunae 5 days ago 0 replies
I think the object of the game must be to fit as much “content” onto the page as possible in an effort to overwhelm the reader, tricking them into believing that the NY Times is just bursting with a mindbogglingly-bottomless array of important information.
That's just what paper newspapers look like. I don't think that's an accident, either.
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danso 5 days ago 0 replies
"Since news is accessed only via subscription, most of the ads can be eliminated from the pages. Story pages could still have one or two tastefully-presented ads, but preservation of the content is what will keep readers happy, engaged, and willing to continue paying their subscriptions…just like in olden times."
Rutledge hasn't apparently visited the NYT often and maybe hasn't picked up a newspaper in awhile.
1. Not all of the NYT's traffic is through subscribers: it lets the average user access at least 20 articles a month, and its "paywall" is very permeable.
2. Even when you pay full price for an issue at the stand, that newspaper still comes with ads. Subscriptions have not accounted for the entirety of newspapers and magazines revenues in a while...
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RossDM 5 days ago 0 replies
Those look nice, but I still prefer Google News' two-column layout. I can't stand when news organizations try to force everything into a single Twitter-like stream (Google News included).
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robgough 5 days ago 0 replies
Why haven't news sites like this tried the "spotify" model. Where you can pay to have the ads removed?
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karl_nerd 5 days ago 0 replies
Oliver Reichenstein, a swiss/japanese news designer, has been writing about some similar thoughts: http://www.informationarchitects.jp/en/business-class-news/
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benjash 5 days ago 0 replies
Seems odd that he points out that the business model is broken.
Yet, doesn't make any room for advertising on his redesigns.
The main source of income for most newspapers.
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Jason757435 5 days ago 0 replies
Anyone else see the irony in the fact that the very bottom of Rutledge's web page where this article is found is improperly formatted on the iPhone (background color not extended far enough to the right to cover all offered links). Petty? Yes, but if you're going to blast away at NYT, you better make sure your house is in order.
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AverageAtasi 5 days ago 0 replies
Looks ok, but I'd rather them use shitty design than take advice from a right-wing asshole.
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brown9-2 4 days ago 6 replies
It must be a truly great place to work if the sentences "I quit this project" and "I quit this company" don't end up with the same result.
How many companies let the employee choose to stop working on a project they are assigned to?
2
tomfakes 4 days ago 1 reply
Here's the money quote:
I'm officially quitting that job on national TV
The use of the word 'job' there implies The Job, not 'the job on the project', hence the overall confusion - people taking the words as said, not as meant
Note: Did HN just screw up this same posting?
3
Edit: Oh it died: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2813976
4
bretthoerner 4 days ago 2 replies
So basically his inspirational talk turned into "I was pulled over to the Google Plus team, but I said never mind and went back to working on developer tools"?
Kind of a let down. :(
5
calibraxis 3 days ago 2 replies
"Google's interview process -- what's the word I'm looking for here -- ah yes, their process sucks at letting in all the qualified people. They're trying to get better at it, but it's not really Google's fault so much as the fault of interviewers who insist that you're not qualified to work there unless you are exactly like them. Of course, there are interviewers like that wherever you go."
I imagine that's one of the big problems that females, older people and others must face. If you're not like them (or everyone's stereotype of a qualified person), you'll have a harder time getting in. Not to mention enjoying your stay, once you're in.
(Maybe you're in a workplace that's so desperate for a little diversity that it's actually easier for non-stereotypes to get in. But will your coworkers act respectfully? I know that the guys at mine let loose putdowns about females, even with females in the room. They don't even realize they're putting females down.)
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fedd 3 days ago 0 replies
with this headline the magical voice-over told me he was fired from hacker news.
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riprock 4 days ago 1 reply
I think a big reason why most people go with a career and degree in software engineering as opposed to bioinformatics is because of a bigger job market, a higher salary potential, and a lower commitment to achieve the goal (computer science degree as a 4 or 6 year degree, vs a mandatory 8+ year degree in bioinformatics.) Unless these things change, bioinformatics will remain unappealing to top google engineers who are paid to scale cat pictures at salaries like 250k+.
To add one more thing, perl is huge in the bioinformatics community, which would never win a popularity contest among software developers.
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vailripper 4 days ago 1 reply
He mentions how broken the typical interview process is, something I hear repeated frequently. I'm curious what you guys think the "ideal" interview process would look like?
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ddw 4 days ago 1 reply
I'm not trying to be crass, I really don't know: what does he mean by Google is "forcing governments to be more open, forcing corporations to play more fairly"? I'm racking my head on how this could be true as I would really like it to believe it.
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jsavimbi 4 days ago 1 reply
Regardless of what Steve does in his professional life, I, for one, am going to stop procrastinating on all of those R links I've been saving up on Evernote and get down to some science.
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mannicken 3 days ago 3 replies
I interviewed at a Google campus in Kirkland. Unimpressed. Overrated madly, in my opinion. I expected a lot, a lot better campus, sorry. The buildings were boring and I couldn't find the right one because NONE OF THEM have a visible building number.
There is no map of the campus (hell, even community colleges have maps). The parking didn't have cover so after staying under hot sun, my car became extremely hot.
Unpleasant experience to say the least. People were cool, though.
I just had a much better feeling from Microsoft campus than Google's campus.
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suyash 4 days ago 0 replies
Source code can be turned in the form of wikipedia information, how awesome that would be, reading and understanding bad code or not properly documented or written code is one hard problem in the industry that needs a really good solution. Good luck Steve.
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dpapathanasiou 9 days ago 1 reply
"The newly-patented buying system guides users through an intuitive, step-by-step process of clicking 'Buy It Now', entering your password, logging in because they signed your sorry ass out again, getting upsold shit you don't want, continuing to your original destination"
If that were a real patent, GoDaddy would owe Ebay millions.
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corin_ 9 days ago 2 replies
What I find most depressing is that you hear such moronic examples of patents that on reading this title a tiny part of me was thinking "well.. maybe..".
Not sure if that says more about the patents system or my awakeness, I hope the former.
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revorad 9 days ago 0 replies
Oh he's so good. I hope he's back.
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InclinedPlane 9 days ago 1 reply
Ebay is frustrating. They haven't changed the functionality or even the fit and finish of their site substantially for about a decade. They're still the de facto leader in online auctions but I feel as if they're slowly being bled by a lot of more specialized sites (amazon, craigslist, etsy, etc.)
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scottkduncan 9 days ago 1 reply
I bid on something on Ebay for the first time in years this week and although I didn't win and make it to the infuriating checkout process, I was still amazed at how frequently I had resupply my user name and password. When you go back to a site like Ebay you realize how far some other parts of the web have come in promoting user-friendliness and how much some sites are being left behind.
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marknutter 9 days ago 1 reply
Man, this space is ripe for disruption.
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craigmc 9 days ago 1 reply
Fantastic! I used to do lot via the eBay platform as a "Power Seller", and I always thought they were a most bizarre company: one part incredibly innovative, one part money-grabbing corporate and one (big) part terrible UI/UX designers. Glad to hear nothing has changed....
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tlrobinson 8 days ago 0 replies
Has anyone tried to patent the 1-touch checkout for touchscreen devices?
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d4nt 9 days ago 0 replies
For a minute there I though this was going to be a real attempt at challenging amazon's 1-click buying patent by patenting the non-1-click approach. This was funnier though.
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Produce 9 days ago 3 replies
I honestly couldn't tell if this was satire or real for a while. It looks like satire, smells like it, tastes like it but it really isn't. EDIT: It really is satire. Some damn good satire, had me fooled.
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coverband 3 days ago 2 replies
Did they always have this clause in the Java license, or is it new to Oracle's release?
"These Supplemental License Terms add to or modify the terms of the Binary Code License Agreement....
A. COMMERCIAL FEATURES. You may not use the Commercial Features for running Programs, Java applets or applications in your internal business operations or for any commercial or production purpose, or for any purpose other than as set forth in Sections B, C, D and E of these Supplemental Terms. If You want to use the Commercial Features for any purpose other than as permitted in this Agreement, You must obtain a separate license from Oracle."
Sections mentioned are:
B. SOFTWARE INTERNAL USE FOR DEVELOPMENT LICENSE GRANT. ...
Oracle grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license without fees to reproduce internally and use internally the Software complete and unmodified for the purpose of designing, developing, and testing your Programs.
C. LICENSE TO DISTRIBUTE SOFTWARE.
...
Oracle grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license without fees to reproduce and distribute the Software, provided that (i) you distribute the Software complete and unmodified and only bundled as part of, and for the sole purpose of running, your Programs, (ii) the Programs add significant and primary functionality to the Software, (iii) you do not distribute additional software intended to replace any component(s) of the Software, (iv) you do not remove or alter any proprietary legends or notices contained in the Software, (v) you only distribute the Software subject to a license agreement that: (a) is a complete, unmodified reproduction of this Agreement; or (b) protects Oracle's interests consistent with the terms contained in this Agreement and that includes the notice ...
D. LICENSE TO DISTRIBUTE REDISTRIBUTABLES.
...
Oracle grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license without fees to reproduce and distribute those files specifically identified as redistributable in the README File ("Redistributables") ...
E. DISTRIBUTION BY PUBLISHERS. This section pertains to your distribution of the JavaTM SE Development Kit Software with your printed book or magazine ....
Maybe I'm reading too much into it, because of the Android lawsuit?
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famousactress 3 days ago replies
Meh. The world turns. I spent a decade developing primarily in Java, and the last few years were really disappointing. The community splintered, the language and platform really lost any ability to maintain momentum. I might have been stoked about Java 7 three years ago (when it should have come out).
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nkassis 3 days ago 4 replies
So for languages like Clojure,Scala does this offer any new feature for them?
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nextparadigms 3 days ago 1 reply
Does it come with more patents? Serious question.
I'm thinking Oracle tried to put a lot more locks on this version of Java, to make it theirs, and not so open source anymore.
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Emore 3 days ago 5 replies
Anyone know why an OS X release is not on the list?
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macmac 3 days ago 0 replies
Watch out for the Commercial Features as defined in table 1.1 of this document http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/documentation/...
Commercial Features appears to be jRockit technology.
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Lambda expressions (informally, "closures") and defender methods for the Java programming language»
Welcome to the sixties, Java!
Sorry, I couldn't help it >:D
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clobber 3 days ago 0 replies
Excellent. Looking forward to the memory enhancements that should help make Minecraft servers less of a hog :)
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sgt 1 day ago 0 replies
Having created several "enterprise" systems in Java, I'm now looking into Mono, because there are some aspects of Java that I'm simply tired of having to deal with again and again. So far it looks very interesting and it works really well on Linux and OS X. Anyone here got experience with using Mono (and possibly Fluent NHibernate, WCF, ASP.NET MVC, etc) in the "enterprise" environment?
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johnnyo 3 days ago 1 reply
I'm glad to see it's finally available.
I'm especially happy to see some of the language syntax that makes your standard try/catch/finally blocks a little cleaner and less error prone.
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rubyorchard 3 days ago 2 replies
Too little to show for 5 years.
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suprgeek 2 days ago 0 replies
Making sure that the people excited about Java 7 wait until this gets patched http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2820204
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gnoupi 2 days ago 0 replies
Pity though that Swing didn't get much love in this release. But I guess that's the course of things.
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fleitz 3 days ago 0 replies
Awesome, so java finally has closures & lambdas?
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that worried me little bit. what do you think ?
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gmosx 2 days ago 0 replies
A great release (professionally handled by Oracle), but still I am waiting for Java 8 (esp. closures + modules)
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_mayo 3 days ago 1 reply
Does anyone have a link to the changelog?
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kennystone 3 days ago 0 replies
Good for Oracle. There are (reasonable) concerns about their ownership of Java, but at least it's moving forward again.
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dmitrykoval 3 days ago 0 replies
Have anyone done any performance comparison with the openjdk yet? GC related tests would be of high interest :)
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One of the take-away messages they had was "always target Mac and Linux, because it's a bit more work but you'll double your revenue".
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sequoia 5 days ago 2 replies
vvvvvvv is awesome by the way. You can try it here (assuming you have flash installed/enabled): http://www.kongregate.com/games/TerryCavanagh/vvvvvv-demo
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jrockway 5 days ago 2 replies
Interesting stats. There appear to be as many Mac users as Linux users, and Linux users pay 2x more than Mac users.
I guess Mac users spend all their money on OS upgrades :)
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cookiecaper 5 days ago 0 replies
Always excited to see another Humble Bundle. I purchased right away and gave a greater proportion to Wolfire in hopes of encouraging further bundles sooner (not that I paid that much, but I don't have that much money right now :\). The Linux support is what makes this such a happy deal for me.
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listic 5 days ago 2 replies
A commenter on habrahabr.ru+ noticed ( http://habrahabr.ru/blogs/gdev/124990/#comment_4110999 ) that there are Russian black marketers buying bundles for $ 0.01 and reselling for around 50 rubles ($1.50) that, unfortunately, may drive the average price down. Supposedly, people who can't be bothered to get a credit card or Webmoney account buy from them.
I'm worried how the pay-what-you-want model accommodates this behaviour? I hope clients buying directly for a reasonable price will always outnumber the black marketers or people intentionally buying for $0.01 to cause loss, but I don't know for sure.
+ habrahabr.ru is Russian IT news blog filled in large part with content translated from Hacker News.
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SageRaven 5 days ago 2 replies
Lame question: What techniques are used to show real-time stats like that on a web page? I assume those are truly real-time, anyway.
I'm no web developer, but this feature really strikes me as cool in this particular instance. I rarely fancy overly-busy web pages, but these stats seem very nicely executed; interesting in and of themselves, yet clean and nice visual presentation.
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jentulman 5 days ago 4 replies
These bundles are all great. I keep pointing them out to my non-gaming friends as much as possible.
I've dumped my consoles in the last year and moved to finding 'indie' game devs like these because, as the old saying goes, 'It's not about graphics, it's about gameplay'[citation needed] and I don't care how many polygons you can throw at /next big game/ it is almost invariably yet another FPS.
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BenSS 5 days ago 3 replies
This is always absolutely awesome. I chipped in over average this year but I'm dismayed by the people throwing in less than a buck, you're just making the developers pay the CC companies!
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chanux 5 days ago 7 replies
Linux version pays the best average amount. Is there any message?
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neovive 5 days ago 0 replies
I wonder how the Mac App Store and any upcoming App Stores for Windows will impact these various software bundles. Does the Mac App Store allow bundling? If not, this would be a nice add-on feature.
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r0s 5 days ago 0 replies
Hammerfight is an excellent game, very fun and beautifully rendered.
I hope they make a sequel.
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voyvf 5 days ago 0 replies
I'd like to thank the Wolfire crew for making these marvelous games available at a reasonable price - and especially for the Linux support. :D
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kin 5 days ago 2 replies
these are awesome, i just do a $25 and let them decide how to balance it all out. question though, any chance for an iOS humble indie bundle!?
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JoshCole 4 days ago 0 replies
The youtube video showing the youtube video was a nice touch. Recursion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4c6PWtE9mI&feature=playe...
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Indyan 5 days ago 4 replies
The average is less than 5 bucks. That's simply pathetic. If I remember correctly, it was a couple of bucks higher in the earlier editions.
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slowpoke 5 days ago 4 replies
As awesome as this is, I'm quite bothered with the payment options. As it stands, I can't pay even if I wanted. I don't have a CC and all of Paypal, Amazon and Google are utter no-gos for me. It makes me a sad panda that options like PaySafeCard aren't as widespread as I would like them to be.
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mgkimsal 4 days ago 0 replies
Anyone else get 'cogs' to work on the mac? 10.6.6, 13" 2010 mbp, and cogs won't start.
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twakefield 5 days ago 1 reply
The promo video is fantastic. Reminds me of those car demolition show commercials:
THIS WEEKEND...CARASAURAUS REX...THE FIRE BREATHING...CAR EATING...ROBOT MONSTER DINOSAUR! Live at the civic center, tickets available now!
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tobylane 4 days ago 0 replies
I'm starting to feel foolish every time I look at a indie game in the steam store. Bought all four bundles, which are about a quarter of the steam games I own.
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tete 4 days ago 0 replies
I don't consider myself to be a fan of that kind of music, but I always enjoy the Humble Indie Bundle ad. It's so awesome. :-)
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DevX101 10 days ago 1 reply
I love how this post both educates and serves as a great ad for your product. Kudos.
How far along was your product when you were raising? Were you making any significant revenue at the time?
2
InfinityX0 10 days ago 1 reply
This is absolutely brilliant. Incredibly well executed. I have never seen a post at once hybridize promotion and great content so well.
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kordless 10 days ago 4 replies
I hate getting emails that ask me for two or three time blocks that work for me. Be respectful of people's time and just pick a few times that work for you. If they don't work for them, they'll usually tell you what does pretty quick.
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nostromo 10 days ago 1 reply
I'd suggest removing the all-caps in those emails. It seems like it's just the author's style, but it can be a bit jarring when read without that context.
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budu3 10 days ago 2 replies
I think it's a great time to be a founder but at the same time I'm also worried about the exuberance that the current market place is showing when a sole founder can raise $350k by sending out a ~10 line email.
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socialmediaking 10 days ago 4 replies
I recommend using a free service called SpyPig to include an invisible image in the email that will notify you when the email is opened (if images are enabled). I usually wait about 10 minutes after the notification and call the client or lead and ask them if they had a minute to check my email. They usually say something like "Yeah you have perfect timing, I just took a look at it..." It's a pretty slick little trick http://www.spypig.com/ Good luck!
7
fuzzythinker 9 days ago 0 replies
Side note, I find your right panel bouncing up and down extremely annoying. If you don't want it to be hidden when scroll, why don't you set it as fixed?
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ed209 9 days ago 0 replies
Reality check: the portion of the process these emails cover are not going to make or break a deal.
What would be more useful is detail on "During the fundraising process, I met a ton of investors both through soft introductions, straight out stalking and also through AngelList."
Once you have someones attention, the rest is down to whether they like you and the idea, no amount of email templates will solve that.
So come on TK, give us some detail on how you got in front of those investors in the first place ;)
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Ygor 2 days ago replies
The question now is will this be the Hindenburg moment of this type of services, or is it just a speed bump?
We'll see how all this bad press is going to spread across the rest of the mainstream media and tabloids. I know we are all disappointed with the way airbnb handled the situation, but we really shouldn't be happy if all the sensation seeking press starts using this to boost their sales, and in the process damages this market beyond repair.
2
adnam 2 days ago 4 replies
Why would anyone give the keys to their home to a total stranger? (And leave them on their own for a whole week?)
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arghnoname 2 days ago 3 replies
There's nothing new in the actual story. I thought it's placement on the front page (below the fold) of the print edition was significant. It's not exactly a tech publication.
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bproper 2 days ago 4 replies
It would cost a fraction of their recent raise to make this woman whole again, at least financially.
They should have brought her in, given her a heartfelt apology from the executive team, and paid her a large lump sum. In return she would sign a NDA.
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Omnipresent 2 days ago 0 replies
never imagined this type of thing would happen in startups - top level bureaucracy. Doesn't this happen in big corps?
Maybe I'm looking at this whole black cloud of bad PR in a simplistic way but why is it so hard to bring EJ over or fly over to her, assess the situation, put her in a hotel, replace her stuff, help her find a new place. Doing that will get AirBnB much much more popularity than their famous cereal box story that we've heard so much of.
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chailatte 2 days ago 4 replies
At this point in time, I wonder if it's in pg's best interest to cut loss, and sever the relationship with airbnb altogether. Sell yc's stake in airbnb, and avoid talking about them ever again.
Sure, airbnb has a $1b valuation for now. But does anybody really think they're worth $1b after this, and only on an estimated $10M cumulative revenue? (not to mention the pending stock market collapse and IPO window closing, precipitated by US default next Tuesday)
They have a pretty toxic public image now amongst early adopters, and will only get worse. They have a business process which now appears to be broken, and it will cut into their already miniscule revenue to fix it. They do not have a moral/charismatic leader that can guide them thorough an important crisis like this. They are deemed illegal in many parts of US, and will likely be more so later once more mainstream media picks up on it.
On top of that, they are destroying yc's precarious image. And they're dragging this entire mess on all the other yc's startups (the other yc founders have to stand up to defend airbnb. Other applicants realizes that the best performing company in yc is one that does evil)
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Havoc 2 days ago 0 replies
>These included doubling the size of its customer support team, setting up a 24-hour telephone hotline, and offering insurance products.
That is a pretty weak response. Peddling insurance...really?
Even worse I can't really think of a better response. i.e. The model might be inherently flawed & un-fixable.
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indrax 2 days ago 0 replies
Other times when people get their houses ransacked while on vacation, we don't have a flap of stories about the post office leaving mail in the mailboxes. A criminal decided to use AirBNB to find an empty apartment and provide cover.
It is important for them to react well to this, but they just can't provide real security. And they shouldn't have to, they're matchmakers.
All this media attention is going to make them feel like they need to do everything, but past the basics of providing good customer service lies a few good measures and a lot of security theater. They're being hammered to do the impossible because they are novel.
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shareme 2 days ago 2 replies
Its not a customer service issue..hold on wait..let me explain..
Its an identity problem..How do you have processes and procedures in place that uses identity as the qualifier of being able to trust a person to temp rent to ? Fro example, world wide what do we use as the identifier to get all this info? Is it a credit card number? Is it a credit card number and other pieces of info?
Look at the processes of PayPal..similar identity/trust problem or Amazon Stores..
I submit that Airbnb has not solved the identity/trust set of problems yet and that is their stumbling block not reactions to customer problems as the techmedia has blarred..
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zwieback 2 days ago 2 replies
My first thought was "business opportunity to offer insurance to airbnb customers".
Apparently there are already websites up to do just that.
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pseudonym 2 days ago 1 reply
I'm a little surprised it took this long to start showing up in print, as it were. I'll also be interested in seeing if they do a followup with her latest post.
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civild 2 days ago 2 replies
It won't be long until the tabloids pick this up and run with it, applying their own sensationalist inaccuracies. I think Airbnb have to act quickly to fix this before it turns into a Fox affiliate human interest story and damages their reputation irreconcilably.
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dbuizert 2 days ago 0 replies
I think more importantly, could this have been prevented? They should have done the proper research on the risks involved.
They should also have provided users with a quick (even webpage) on risks involved and precautions people can take and make. And provide the users more background info on the renter. It's not as simple as running a hotel.
To me this looks and feels like a story of simple thinking and bad iterating. I doubt this is the only case out there. There should have been a lot of minor issues as well. And we all know it starts small before it becomes a tornado and tears your house and community down.
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gaurav_v 2 days ago 1 reply
The last line of her most recent blog post pretty much sums up the entire thrust of her story and its problems for Airbnb:
"And for those who have so generously suggested a donation fund be set up to help me recover, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and suggest that instead, you keep the money and use it to book yourself into a nice, safe hotel room the next time you travel. You'll be glad you did."
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helwr 2 days ago 1 reply
There is no such thing as bad publicity
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conesus 6 days ago replies
I used to use Google Reader, but I found that I missed seeing the original site and that I couldn't easily filter out stories I didn't want to read.
So I built NewsBlur -- http://www.newsblur.com . It's open-source and I'd love if more folks followed my development: http://github.com/samuelclay .
It's been a weekend project but it's been a wild ride so far. One of my main goals is to have much of the functionality of Google Reader, most of which has slowly made its way into NewsBlur. I'm currently working on a free iOS app for NewsBlur. I also put out an API so that others could also make their own feed reader.
But really, I missed seeing the original site more than anything. It looks like a security hole, but NewsBlur actually just proxies the site and displays it back to the user. And the intelligence slider keeps me sane, since I slide it towards green and my unread count comes down to a manageable level.
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tlrobinson 6 days ago 6 replies
I used to go through cycles reading RSS feeds and declaring RSS bankruptcy, but I've given up.
I need a priority queue RSS reader. Show me the N most "important" posts across all my feeds since I last visited. Importance would be calculated a number of ways:
* Prioritize posts from low volume feeds. I probably want to see every post from a friend who blogs once a month, but not every post from Engadget.
* Most favorited/liked/whatever, especially among my friends.
* Similar posts to things I've favorited/liked/whatever in the past.
* Manually tagging certain feeds as important.
Also, I have this problem other "streams" of information, like Twitter, and email (Gmail's Priority Inbox is a good start). Some people I follow post a lot of useless stuff, but I still follow them because they're friends or sometimes say interesting things.
Is there anything remotely like this out there?
3
smhinsey 6 days ago 4 replies
It's been basically my primary portal to the internet since it came out. Other than HN and reddit, which don't really produce super useful feeds, I don't really browse any sites directly anymore. I have always been looking for the next big thing to replace it, since there hasn't been a tremendous amount of effort put into it lately, but nothing has compared.
The feature that I have been sort of daydreaming about is the ability to use your subscriptions to weight your search results so that sites you've subscribed to are ranked higher.
4
jbk 6 days ago 1 reply
I use Tiny Tiny RSS ( http://tt-rss.org/ ). Open source, with a correct mobile web version and an Android application.
5
tednaleid 6 days ago 0 replies
I leverage Google Reader, but never go to the website. It stores my subscriptions and current read state. A variety of clients synchronize the latest results. NetNewsWire on the desktop, Reeder on the iPad and NewsRob on my NexusOne Android phone. Not sure which one this falls under, but I picked "No, but I do use another RSS reader on a daily basis".
6
lionhearted 6 days ago 0 replies
There's no voting field for "I use it sporadically," or that's what I'd have voted.
I check HN first, my favorite blogs directly second, and the current forums I'm reading third. If I have more time to burn (rarely), I sign in to Reader. I liberally built up my RSS feed with lots of things, so it's great for skimming, but the signal:noise ratio isn't all that great. Hence, my fourth choice for getting some information/entertainment.
8
jinushaun 6 days ago 0 replies
As far as I'm concerned, Google Reader is the internet. I rarely interact with websites directly.
9
siddhant 6 days ago 0 replies
I use NetNewsWire ( http://netnewswireapp.com/ ). I usually open up a lot of tabs in my browser, so I try and move things away from it as much as I can. Plus, native apps look better than web apps, at least for now (and at least on Macs).
10
anigbrowl 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but I find it very frustrating in some respects. It essentially performs a similar function to Gmail, but using an interface that feels 5 years out of date. I really hope that G+ is the beginning of a more integrated approach to input stream classification and management. It drives me nuts that Reader doesn't provide any method for construction of tagging rules, trackback analysis, or filtering.
11
alain94040 6 days ago 0 replies
Warning: this poll is useless due to high selection bias. Why? Most people who don't use Google Reader will not bother to click on the link to the poll. I don't see how to correct for such a huge bias.
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_delirium 6 days ago 0 replies
Currently not too often. I go back and forth on RSS overall, and am sort of undecided.
Pro, versus normal webbrowsing: I don't end up doing the nervous-tic "reload to see if there's anything new on site A, then site B, then site C..." procrastination dance.
Cons, versus normal webbrowsing: 1) Everything gets put into a standardized layout, while I like the different kinds of design around the web, some of which aren't just aesthetic but include different paradigms (magazine-type versus forum-type versus link-sharing-type site layouts); 2) I end up feeling like I have this constant backlog of stuff to read, as if it were another email inbox, while it's easier to ignore old content when loading up a website.
My compromise is that for now I have only 4 blogs in my RSS feed, which update infrequently--- some of them not even more often than one post every 1-2 months. I have them there because they update infrequently enough that I'd forget to check, but I do want to see new posts when they arrive. Other sites I either check regularly in a browser, or I read whenever someone shares an interesting link to them, or whenever I remember, depending on the site.
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st3fan 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but indirectly. I use the awesome Reeder app for iOS and OS X. Which grabs stuff from my Google Reader account.
15
ugh 6 days ago 1 reply
Do you mean Reader as a service or Reader as a web app? I use Reader clients across all my devices daily, I wouldn't be caught dead using the Reader web app daily. It's horrific. (I will use it if I happen to be in front of a device where I cannot install anything and only have access to a web browser.)
The service is great, the web app is not.
16
Duff 6 days ago 1 reply
I love Reader. It amazes me that Google keeps creating these new "social" features, where they have a great social thing going already.
I share stuff and discuss things with my colleagues on Reader. Somehow, they launched Google+ without any integration!
17
tshtf 6 days ago 0 replies
I ssh into my server and run Newsbeuter ( http://newsbeuter.org/ ). I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a console based RSS reader.
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Ronkdar 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Reader on a nearly hourly basis. I suppose I should stop that...
19
mhd 6 days ago 1 reply
Yes, and one of my few wishes for chrome would be something like Firefox' (hidden) "open new windows as background tabs" preference, then using the 'v' key would become an order of magnitude more productive. That's my usual response for TL;DR blog posts. Browse through the whole list with your vi-keys, pick the ones that don't fit (or lose too much essential formatting) for other tabs, skim through the rest within the reader.
As opposed to gmail, I could probably switch to something else if it had a half-way decent mobile version. Reeder isn't that essential to me.
20
Adaptive 6 days ago 1 reply
Reader is also great for managing podcasts via "Listen" (Google's Android Podcast app). Nice because they show up with the rest of my RSS feeds.
21
athst 6 days ago 1 reply
I have never been able to get RSS to work for me - I'd always subscribe to a bunch of feeds, then they'd pile up into hundreds of unread posts, and then I'd just go numb to it and end up visiting the site itself like I did before.
But now, Twitter has filled this hole for me - most every site or writer of significance has a Twitter feed, and it's easy to follow them. I don't feel obligated to read down this huge stack of accumulated posts, so there aren't any mental barriers to use it. In addition, you read the content on the site itself, in the format that it was meant for (or you add it to Instapaper). Twitter is sorta like RSS for normal humans.
22
mcherm 6 days ago 0 replies
"Everyone says" blogs are dead. Maybe they've been replaced by Twitter. But for me, reading blogs is essential: I learn a great deal from them. Many reputable news sources also have RSS feeds. I read from several different locations so I need a web-based tool to be able to keep track of what I have read. I'd be happy to use another tool, but the only decent one I know of is Google Reader.
23
lftl 6 days ago 2 replies
I generally use Feedly ( http://www.feedly.com/home#my ) now, mostly because their Android client is much faster, at least for the way I read. They sync subs, and status with Reader so you can bounce back and forth. Their web client really isn't any better than Google Reader's but it's somewhat habitual now to go there instead of Google Reader.
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mikeklaas 6 days ago 0 replies
No, because RSS readers are still stuck in the mindset of email clients. Unread counts. Keep track of read state for everything. It's better than nothing, but not much, especially for non-techies.
A better answer would be something like HN: isn't limited to certain sources, the best content floats to the top, and is in tune with the idiosyncrasies that set you apart from mainstream nonsense. [1]
[1] Oh look, I built just that http://zite.com :)
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rjd 6 days ago 0 replies
You are missing the option "Yes, but via a third party client"
As I normally use net newswire and reeder, both tying into google reader, but I hate the web site interface.
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there 6 days ago 2 replies
i used bloglines for a long time until they started having problems with feeds not consistently updating. i was comfortable with their interface, so i just duplicated it ( http://den.im/ - http://i.imgur.com/0e8jc.png ) and created all of the code underneath to fetch feeds.
i added twitter oauth support so that twitter streams look and update just like rss feeds (but with posting/replying support). i added voting so that there could be a frontpage full of popular stories, and a mobile version that looks decent on android/iphone.
but by then google reader had taken off and my few beta users had switched to that, so now i'm the only one still using it and the voting is useless. i'd probably just abandon it for something else but i haven't seen anything that integrates rss feeds, twitter, package tracking, and has a decent mobile interface. so for now it just remains a side project.
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pauljonas 5 days ago 0 replies
Love Google Reader, have ~2,500 subscriptions, it is the only RSS reader that could handle such volume -- NetNewsWire make my Mac sputter and smoke with only ~300 feeds or so.
Many might be aghast at the humungous subscription set, but I do not do RSS like email -- it is more akin to a stream I surf, skim and dip. And it is lightning fast, permitting me to breeze through content in a rapid pace.
That said, I am astonished at how Google has allowed it to languish and stagnate, or by adding incomplete and inconsequential features.
* One of the big reasons I made the switch was the ability to search feeds, but sadly, of late, it looks like "search" (which I thought was the bread and butter Google raison d'être) functionality has deteriorated, not as robust or comprehensive as even a year ago or few months ago.
* No public API.
* Control to let me jump in at a given time point in the stream. Sometimes due to just mistakenly hitting a hotkey that refreshes and resets when I'm in the middle of a stream. Or it might be that I just want to jump to feeds earlier than 8 hours ago, 3 days ago, or 3 months ago.
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encoderer 6 days ago 1 reply
I changed an ex-girlfriends life with Reader -- I swear to god. She's a (semi) extreme couponer and deal hunter. Every day there's dozens of give-away's. Good, expensive stuff. Be the first 100 to click on this link, or the first 25 to take that survey, etc. She followed a dozen+ blogs every day to stay current on these things.
When I set her up in Reader and she discovered the "Next Item" button, it changed her life. It was really pretty great to be able to help her like that and see her eyes light up.
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shinratdr 6 days ago 0 replies
Does that include Google Reader clients? I have used the web interface maybe twice in two years, but I use Reeder on my phone & Mac every day.
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thom 6 days ago 0 replies
I store my blogroll on Google Reader, and sync it to NetNewsWire on my Mac and Reeder on iOS. It often makes me wish Twitter tracked read/unread information across devices.
Never use the web interface though.
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bentruyman 6 days ago 1 reply
I've been using Fever for (what I think is) a few years now and haven't looked back: http://feedafever.com/
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ssp 6 days ago 0 replies
I switched to http://fastladder.com/ after bloglines became unusable.
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spindritf 5 days ago 0 replies
I use Liferea, it came with the system. Tried Google Reader once but its import feature messed up the order the feeds were in and treated hierarchic folders as a flat tag space which, after years of being accustomed to my feeds in a certain way and next to one another, killed my enthusiasm for it.
34
wccrawford 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes. I found this post with it.
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brg 6 days ago 1 reply
Why? Is this market research for a new reader, or is this tool next on the Google chopping block and your looking for demographics.
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gmartres 6 days ago 0 replies
Wow, that's unexpected. I'd have thought the HN crowd would be keen not to depend on Google for too many services. Especially when there's a lot of open source alternatives and when it appears that Reader does not even support something as basic and important as offline reading: https://www.google.com/support/forum/p/reader/thread?tid=5fc...
Personally I use Akregator( http://userbase.kde.org/Akregator/fr )
What's so great about Reader?
37
ajpatel 6 days ago 0 replies
I used to use Reader religiously...then I finally spent the time to find all those sites' Twitter feeds and shifted everything over to Twitter...it took forever but it's infinitely easier to share things now.
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Sindisil 5 days ago 0 replies
The one feature gReader is missing, which may drive me to an alternative, is the ability to chose a set of items to mark as read.
I can "mark all as read", of course, but I'd like to be able to eliminate items I can tell from the title are not of immediate interest.
39
klochner 6 days ago 1 reply
So google has more than 90% RSS reader market share?
That seems surprisingly high to me.
40
wslh 6 days ago 1 reply
Yes, one of the main advantages is having all the historical posts there, since RSS is used only for latest posts.
Another feature is automatic translation, I follow a blog from Ukraine there.
41
forkrulassail 6 days ago 0 replies
A bit of an addict, frankly.
Trying to avert the damage with instapaper and my Kindle.
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dfischer 6 days ago 1 reply
I stopped using RSS a year ago. Too much shit. I filter what's important through my Twitter followers now.
43
rednaught 6 days ago 0 replies
I've been using Feedlooks ( http://www.feedlooks.com/ ) which also a Twitter client built in. It also takes care of the "mark as read" problem when subscribed to a large number of feeds.
44
robgough 5 days ago 0 replies
Switched from Bloglines many moons ago, and never looked back... I use Reeder on my iPad, Helvetireader2 as a browser script and don't ever really use it on my phone, but when I do I'd use the mobile site.
45
moonlighter 5 days ago 0 replies
I'm using NewsRack (which sync's with Google Reader), so implicitly I'm using Google Reader (just not it's web UI).
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jaxn 6 days ago 0 replies
I use NetNewsWire every morning on my iPad. However, it is pulling from Google Reader.
My feed reading has changed drastically though. I used to subscribe to over 200 feeds, now I try to keep it under 20 (and not every feed has updates every day).
47
barik 6 days ago 0 replies
I actually use a version of FeedDemon ( http://www.feeddemon.com/ ) which is essentially a desktop application that can integrate with Google Reader. So technically, the answer is between "Yes", and "No, but I do use another RSS reader on a daily basis".
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neilbowers 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but via Reeder. I gave up on using Google Reader directly.
49
elmindreda 6 days ago 0 replies
Every morning starts with coffee and Liferea.
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jbui 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, although I rarely ever use their web interface to view the feeds. (I use reeder, if your curious)
51
gtzi 5 days ago 0 replies
No, Twitter has over time replaced Google Reader for me. I don't know how to feel about it.
52
budman 5 days ago 0 replies
I have been an everyday RSS user for a few years now. Jumped around trying Bloglines, a few desktop clients, Google Reader, some unknown smaller sites, etc over that time. Finally I found my perfect aggregator and have been using it daily for about 8 months now. I even took it upon myself to donate a few bucks to developer.
Simple, free and open source: http://rsslounge.aditu.de/
Only catch is it requires your own host/webserver with PHP/SQL and a quick installation. But well worth it for me as I just dropped it onto one of my websites.
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rhizome31 5 days ago 0 replies
I use Netvibes. Good to see other interesting news readers suggested here. I'll give them a try.
I avoid using Google products as much as I can. I still have a Gmail address that some people use, but it forwards to another address. I should probably set up an auto-reply to tell people to stop using it. I still have a site on App Engine that I need to migrate (will give me a good excuse to try Flask or Brubeck :-) The only Google product that I think I'm going to keep using is Youtube, because it has content I can't watch elsewhere.
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charlax 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, I read (or skim through) about 200 articles a day (it takes me 30'). I refine my list on a monthly basis and make sure only relevant RSS feed are listed to make sure I am not overwhelmed.
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losvedir 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but basically only on my phone.
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simcop2387 6 days ago 0 replies
I use google reader as an aggregator for my feeds and pull them in with Liferea to actually read them. It makes it really nice to use since it keeps all of the readers in sync between machines.
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Dysiode 6 days ago 0 replies
I tried Reader but it's not in my face enough to remember it, instead I use Opera's built-in RSS reader which has notifications (I imagine Chrome + Reader could have notifications like Gmail Chat).
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adyus 6 days ago 0 replies
Another option I find myself using more and more often is Newsblur.
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erikb 5 days ago 0 replies
I'm an IT student in Germany and must say that there is basically nobody here who uses RSS readers at all. The only reason for RSS in Germany seems to be that tools can also read it (like mobile apps for facebook and co.)
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swah 6 days ago 1 reply
Missing option: Yes, but would use something better.
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thirdsun 5 days ago 0 replies
If Reeder for iPad is considered as using Google Reader, then yes, daily. This is without a doubt my most used iPad app and very essential for my daily routine.
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panacea 6 days ago 1 reply
Does via a widget on iGoogle count?
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Fuzzwah 5 days ago 1 reply
I self host a copy of rnews http://rnews.sourceforge.net/ which I've hacked up to do a heap of extra things, such as tweet links which I click on (I use this as a simple history system).
I was never a fan of the g.reader layout and toyed with a boxed layout on an igoogle page similar to what I have set up in my rnews system but it felt clunky.
65
whalesalad 6 days ago 0 replies
I gave up on RSS... I get most of my news through Twitter and HN actually.
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dym 6 days ago 1 reply
The missing option is: "Yes, and I wrote code for it" :)
BTW have you tried to enter the Konami code into Reader?
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ahmetalpbalkan 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Reeder for Mac, which is an app for Google Reader. it uses Google Reader, but I don't use its web interface.
68
Share w/ comment = Share with comment on G+
Are there any other features? related to G+ or otherwise?
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lilc 5 days ago 0 replies
I didn't use it much until I found you could interact with it via an API. This is what got me using it: http://cpansearch.perl.org/src/GRAY/WebService-Google-Reader...
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aorshan 6 days ago 0 replies
I just use rockmelt as my browser and have all the news websites I care about on my edge. That way its all there when I want to see it and can see whenever anything is updated.
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riceadam 6 days ago 1 reply
No, but I use Reeder.
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urlwolf 5 days ago 0 replies
I use the opera feed reader, it's fantastic. Much faster than greader to move around, works offline.
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chromejs10 5 days ago 0 replies
I couldn't live without my Google Reader. It's simple and basic which is what I want. I don't need a complex article viewer. I need to see the summary, bookmark some, and be able to view the full article. That's it.
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jcasman 5 days ago 0 replies
These days it's daily but that comes and goes. It's like any kind of reading, way overloaded which means periodically I consciously give up or... just never get around to it. The Mark All As Read is a key function for me, so I can start fresh.
75
quintinsykes 6 days ago 0 replies
Just gave up Reader after using for a couple of years. I found I could get the same benefit following the same people/blogs/publications in Twitter and using Instapaper for stuff I wanted to read later. For me, it's one less thing to keep up with.
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realgt 6 days ago 0 replies
i loved Google Reader until i started using feedly which is how reader _should_ have been implemented. i've been cycling through 15K+ items per month on reader for several years now and don't ever see myself not using rss for content discovery
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LordBodak 5 days ago 0 replies
I love Google Reader! For Android users, I highly recommend D7 Reader - https://sites.google.com/site/d7reader/
It's quite a bit better than the official app.
78
rahilsondhi 6 days ago 0 replies
I used to check it daily, but now I've stopped because of information overload. The most important news finds its way to me (eg through Facebook or Twitter shares), otherwise, I'm much more productive just getting some work done.
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virtualpain 5 days ago 0 replies
No, but I do use Reader at least weekly. I use RSS reader to avoid blog's annoying advertisement (although some blogs has ads in their RSS but that less annoy) and heavy load theme (yes my internet connection suck)
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jonmulholland 6 days ago 0 replies
Not anymore, Twitter lists + Flipboard have totally replaced Google Reader for me.
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yarone 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, and it really needs to be improved! It's been neglected for too long.
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TodWait 6 days ago 0 replies
I use it, but get a sense fewer people are using it than a few years ago. Most people I know get their interesting links by connecting and following smart folks on Twitter and feeding their links to PostRank.
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SonicSoul 6 days ago 0 replies
yes, and also Reeder for OSX and iOS. keeps all devices in sync. i wish i found a similar setup for podcasts. i've been trying to use itunes but that is a disaster when you use multiple computers.
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Concours 5 days ago 0 replies
I use http://www.nerdzine.com on a daily basis for my rss news.
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orionlogic 5 days ago 0 replies
Yes. Google Reader is my bookmark manager in cloud.
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beefman 5 days ago 0 replies
"Since April 18, 2007 you have read a total of 118,679 items."
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barista 6 days ago 0 replies
my yahoo is my reader of choice.
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quattrofan 5 days ago 0 replies
Love it, but it really needs a link into Google+ asap
89
adsrikanth 6 days ago 0 replies
I used to and now, it seems to be a time killer so, I removed my feeds.
It's a great resource for filtering jobs from sites like craigslist.
90
imagetic 6 days ago 0 replies
No / Yes. I use Reeder daily on the Mac and iPad. I can't stand going to Reader, the UI sucked so bad for so long. Reederapp was a huuuuge win.
92
zobzu 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Firefox live bookmarks.
I tried many feed readers but I never find them as convenient. I must be broken.
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NathanC 5 days ago 0 replies
I use http://fmeme.com/ and get endless content curated by category
94
brevityness 5 days ago 0 replies
My heart is with Reeder for Mac - http://reederapp.com/mac/
95
arjn 6 days ago 0 replies
I use google reader on my Transformer tablet (Android). While it's not perfect, its reasonably usable and works well.
96
aurynn 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes, but I'm in the process of moving off google-hosted things, so I'll need to figure out a new topology for this...
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siri 5 days ago 0 replies
I use reader more than my gmail... sad to see no UI or feature development on reader since longtime..
98
hbzhang 6 days ago 0 replies
I do not use Google reader. I just tech news droid app. It is good enough! GR seems an old concept already.
99
hgarg2011 5 days ago 0 replies
Yes, on Mac and Android phone.
I do use other RSS Readers which in turn connect to Google Reader,
100
mikecsh 6 days ago 0 replies
I use it indirectly to sync NetNewsWire on my Mac, iPhone and iPad. I don't use the app itself though.
101
borland 6 days ago 0 replies
Where's the "Yes, but I never actually use the interface, only third party apps like Reeder on iOS" ?
102
whatgoodisaroad 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes. I have it open 100% of the time.
103
dunhamda 6 days ago 0 replies
I use Google Reader daily, but I probably would not have participated in this poll if I didn't.
104
skilesare 6 days ago 0 replies
Where is the option for 'hourly'?
105
CedriK 5 days ago 0 replies
Yes but may look for another reader. Because they don't add some new features.
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therationalme 6 days ago 0 replies
Yes... although I should probably moderate my rss habits with a little more discipline
107
horza 6 days ago 0 replies
No, I use Mixtab for Mac, it's available on the Mac App Store.
108
2nd_planet 5 days ago 0 replies
I use it maybe monthly; but not daily.
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sgentle 9 days ago replies
I think there's an important lesson here that you can take home right now: If your primary email is an @gmail.com address, you have your head firmly in the lion's mouth.
You can backup your data. You can have fallback tools and services. You cannot backup your identity. And if that identity is controlled by Google, you are tying your online existence for the duration to the foibles of a publically traded company with a shitty track record of customer support.
Tell me with a straight face that you know Google won't mess you around like this - not just now, but for the next decade. Hell, tell me you know your account won't be algorithmically disabled tomorrow. If your last name isn't Gundotra, I don't think you can. Why, then, are you taking that risk when the cost is so small?
.com domains retail for about $10/year, Google Apps Free Edition is here: http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/group/index.html - you can keep the services you like while retaining control of your email address.
Disclaimer: I have an @gmail.com address that I'm suddenly realising is a sword over my head.
2
c2 9 days ago replies
Google has a support problem. I'm amazed after almost a decade of offering services like email and advertising, they still haven't done anything to develop a reasonable support system for customers to address issues like this. Maybe they have a few open lines with their top 1% of customers but the attitude that "it's free, you are a meaningless statistic in our giant revenue stream so too bad" for the rest of their customers in unacceptable.
Your data in Google could disappear in an instant, and you may never know why. That is just scary to me. Advertising, email, - everything - with no one to call and no recourse to get it back.
I will be actively trying to move all my services off of Google starting today.
3
nhashem 9 days ago 1 reply
I used to play World of Warcraft and I used a separate email address for all my WoW activities on web -- emailing, blogging, commenting on blogs, etc.
One day I was about to leave a comment on a blog when I got a message saying Google disabled my account due to the fact that they "perceived a violation." There was a little form I could submit an appeal/explanation to, and they said they would review my account within 30 days.
Being cut off from the WoW blogosphere wasn't the worst thing in the world. About three weeks later I did get access to my account. Turns out I was hacked and the hacker used my account to spam a bunch of people -- not surprising especially since I used a pretty crappy password. Luckily my actual Battle.net account was under my main e-mail address, so ultimately no damage was done.
Still, all I could think was, "man, if this happened to my main email address, I would be so incredibly hosed it wouldn't be funny."
4
Natsu 9 days ago 0 replies
Why doesn't Google just give people a way to download their email & contacts after they've been locked out? I assume it's already bouncing any new email.
At least then, the guy wouldn't be completely screwed, and it's the sort of solution that scales, given that they're not interested in creating expensive support infrastructure for free products.
5
GvS 9 days ago 2 replies
Google+ makes getting backup of all your data really easy ( https://www.google.com/takeout/ ). I'm really worried about Google horror stories but I like using their services, so I'll just settle with doing regular backups.
6
srl 9 days ago 0 replies
I'm not sure why this problem (the general problem - the risk of valid accounts being arbitrarily blocked) isn't an easy fix for google. Most spammers/fraudsters seek efficiency, so just take that efficiency away. When an account is first suspected, start requiring a CAPTCHA for every email sent. Then, when the time comes to block, let there be an annoying but doable automated procedure for unblocking (perhaps involving emails sent from the addresses of several of your frequent contacts), with a time delay - after your first block, it takes 5 hours to unblock, after your second, 1 day, and so on.
It would reduce what is now a very scary prospect for people who (like me) put too many eggs in G's basket, to a minor inconvenience rarely encountered. And I can't see that it would make life much easier for spammers.
10
ditojim 9 days ago 0 replies
i wouldnt be surprised if it turns out he did something to violate google's tos.
regardless, they need to communicate with their users if they close an account, and give users an opportunity to take their data.
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hannibalhorn 9 days ago 3 replies
I use Backupify to at least maintain a copy of everything with a second, separate service, just in case. It's free at my volumes, and I think a prudent idea for those of us with everything in "the cloud".
12
mark_l_watson 9 days ago 0 replies
I also rely on Google for most online services but I do take a few precautions: I use my own domain for email and route it to GMail and configure outgoing email to look like it is from my domain, I backup GMail, Docs, Blogger blog, and Picasa on a regular basis, and I route my Blogger based blog to blog.MYDOMAINNAME.com.
Sure, it would be awful to lose my Google account but I could recover from it.
13
6ren 8 days ago 0 replies
Maybe "reverse backup"?
Instead of using the cloud to backup your local data, backup your online identity locally. 1TB is about $50-$100 now; and (e.g.) Windows 7 has backup built-in. Someone just needs to extend this to the cloud.
14
dendory 8 days ago 0 replies
Btw with Google+ this will only be more common. Now it's not just a matter of did you spam someone with your Gmail account or did you break the Adsense ToS... but did you post anything at all on Google+, status update, photo, link, etc, that Google didn't like.... boom, no more Google account for you.
18
dendory 8 days ago 0 replies
This is why i have my own personal blog, and am considering moving from gmail to my own domain email
19
16s 9 days ago 1 reply
If you do anything remotely important via email, you should own you own domain name, and pay for a hosted email solution. I can suggest tuffmail. They are awesome and affordable.
20
gerds2007 9 days ago 2 replies
Startup idea: Sync all Google services with local hard drive
21
paul9290 9 days ago 0 replies
Just forward everything to a comcast or ISP email address and make that forward to a yahoo address so you have multiple backups.
22
Limes102 9 days ago 0 replies
This is why I have my own server... If everything gets deleted, it's my fault (I should have been backing up). I'm not going to punish myself for not paying attention to my non-existent terms of service.
I recognise that with the 'cloud', comes simplicity... but I'm not sure if I will ever be able to let go of my own data.
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js2 3 days ago 7 replies
A few years back, Sergey and Larry were on NPR's Fresh Air. At one point in the interview, Terry Gross says "I tried searching for 'Google' by putting 'Google' into the search box and clicking I'm Feeling Lucky, but it didn't seem to do anything." Larry tries to explain what happened, but it seemed to go over Terry's head. At one point during the explanation I think Sergey mentioned recursion, and Terry asks "Recur-what?" To which Larry's reply was something like "Sergey is just geeking out, nevermind."
edit: maybe I'm misrembering the details a bit. From http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum3/17770.htm -
"Yah, it was a pretty interesting segment. Sergey talked about idempotence. :) The host (terry gross?) wondered why when you go to www.google.com and type in google and hit I'm Feeling Lucky, it went back to the main google page. Larry called it recursion. I could just imagine NPR listeners' heads shaking all across America. :)"
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thought_alarm 3 days ago 1 reply
I suppose that's what $2.6 billion in annual operating losses buys you.
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nostrademons 3 days ago 3 replies
This is ancient, it's been like this since before I joined Google, which was before Bing came out. I think back then Dogpile was #1 (??), then Yahoo, then MSN Live. Occasionally it comes up and people get a good chuckle out of it.
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luigi 3 days ago 0 replies
Maybe it's because in recent years, much more has been written about Bing as a search engine.
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uvTwitch 3 days ago 2 replies
This makes sense to me. If you're using google to find 'search', you're probably not searching for google.
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benologist 3 days ago 1 reply
It's not that surprising, Google doesn't have to optimize for 'search' because they're synonymous for it.
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markokocic 2 days ago 1 reply
What's even funnier, if you click on "I'm Feeling Lucky", you are automatically transferred to Bing.
It would be nice if they would prepopulate Bing search box with search query.
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My guess for the reason is this: http://www.google.com/trends?q=google%2C+search
Note the epic rise of "google" as a search, and the decline of "search". "Googling" is replacing "searching".
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jimbokun 3 days ago 0 replies
The interesting thing for me is that it returned a couple of Japanese results in the first page, with the characters "検索" highlighted. I've done a few Japanese searches from this computer before, which I guess is why it's giving me Japanese results, but I was surprised to see them translate search into Japanese and rank the results along with the English results.
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btilly 3 days ago 0 replies
The most surprising thing about it for me is that it told me that someone I knew had shared bing on buzz earlier this year.
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Aqwis 3 days ago 0 replies
Google Search doesn't appear at all if I do the search on Google.no. Yahoo comes first, followed by Bing and search.com. Twitter, AOL and 4shared (a file sharing site) are all on the list, and so is "Google Insights for Search".
I wonder if this reflects the relative popularity of the alternative search engines in different countries. Google's search ranking algorithms hold many mysteries.
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ronnier 3 days ago 0 replies
This is good for Google. They don't want to appear to be a monopoly. Google needs Bing to be mildly successful.
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(Gmail is still #1 for "mail" though, probably because of their URL - mail.google.com)
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Daniel_Newby 3 days ago 1 reply
On Bing, "search" goes to Yahoo.
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jameshart 2 days ago 0 replies
And the irony is, that Bing's advertising is all about how instead of 'searching', Bing is for 'deciding'. Yet they're not even on the first page for 'decide'. More SEO needed :)
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marquis 3 days ago 0 replies
It also knew very well what my location is and was blatant in using this knowledge to direct me to my local citysearch, for example.
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nsavant 3 days ago 0 replies
I never "search" for things. I "google" them.
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thethimble 3 days ago 1 reply
Google's first result is Bing.
Bing's first result is Yahoo.
Yahoo's first result is Yahoo. Way to break the cycle.
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pawelwentpawel 2 days ago 0 replies
Pretty sure that they know about it. Just shows the google's strong position on the market - then can show bing.com as the first result and still remain the first-choice web search engine ever created.
Not sure whats up with the "feeling lucky" button as if you type something to the input box, it redirects you straight to the live search. You cannot really specify what do you want feel lucky about ;)
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beforebeta 3 days ago 1 reply
Google appears as the last result on the search page!
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anirudh 3 days ago 0 replies
I wonder why they even have the "I am lucky" or even the Google Search button as tyrping even a letter takes me to the results page.
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winsbe01 2 days ago 0 replies
dogpile is still around? didn't know that.
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This one is more surprising : http://www.google.com/search?q=search+engine
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kang 2 days ago 0 replies
A proof that Google is so ethical !
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chintan 3 days ago 0 replies
Take a look at Sponsered Ads on bing and google
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sung1 3 days ago 0 replies
Maybe this is some sort of inside joke?
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autumn_ 3 days ago 2 replies
Google is first on google.com.au
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ryanisinallofus 3 days ago replies
My wife: "Will you take the trash out?"
Me: "Yeah, for sure. I'll take it out tonight."
Tonight rolls by and the next day she tells me "You didn't take out the trash. You lied."
Did I lie? Or did I have honest intentions of taking out the trash with circumstances getting in the way? Maybe I just forgot?
I don't presume to know Jobs' intentions but without a history of lying during presentations I'm going to assume his were true. Maybe the team pushed back? Maybe he just changed his mind? Maybe they are still working on it?
"Steve Jobs Lies" just attracts allot more clicks I guess than "A Year Later, FaceTime is Still Just A Tech Demo."
I would have preferred the later.
2
varunsrin 3 days ago 3 replies
' “Open” isn't just a buzz word. People like the word “open”. Marketers love it. '
A very valid point, everyone these days in jumping on the open bandwagon.
This problem isn't limited to just Apple unfortunately - several companies have been guilty of twisting open to suit their needs (HTC not releasing some modified Android code which was under GPL a while ago, and Google not releasing the Honeycomb source come to mind).
Not that any of these are wrong from a legal standpoint (OK, maybe the HTC one was) but it's still twisting the nature of open standards & platforms to suit business / marketing agendas. Open is quickly becoming the next Web 2.0.
Apple & Google have both done great things for the open standards community ( Webkit, Android etc.) but there is always a conflict between 'true' openness & business interests. Never forget, corporations exist to serve their shareholders - embracing openness is simply a means to that end.
3
rdl 3 days ago 9 replies
I might care more if I'd ever actually observed someone using FaceTime. I have 3 MacBooks, an iPad, an iPhone 4, my coworkers and girlfriend and friends have FaceTime compatible devices too, but I've never seen anyone use it. Maybe they don't open it because it is a dead product.
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Maakuth 3 days ago 0 replies
My understanding of the situation has been that most of the FaceTime technology is indeed in the open just because they mostly used already existing technology. What is not in the open is the cryptographic key that is used to sign all the FaceTime client keys. So technically you could create a FaceTime compatible client by following open specifications and filling the gaps by reverse engineering, but Apple devices wouldn't want to talk to it without Steve's cryptographic signature.
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joshaidan 2 days ago 1 reply
Reading this makes me think of the iPhone commercial about FaceTime. http://youtu.be/EmAIptWS7Mk
"If you don't have an iPhone, you don't have FaceTime on your phone."
Perhaps it was the marketing department that was not informed of Steve's intentions to open up the FaceTime protocol, or maybe Apple really has changed their position on opening up the protocol.
I really wish they would open up the protocol. It would be very cool. And just think, all these android users would have to get iTunes accounts.
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jsz0 3 days ago 1 reply
Most people have a motive for lying. I don't really see that here. What does Apple have to gain by suggesting FaceTime would be an open standard? Did lines of people show up to buy iPhones because FaceTime would be an open standard? I doubt it. Quite the opposite I think. If you could only FaceTime between iOS devices (and Macs) that might be a competitive advantage. My guess is they simply calculated it was not worth the effort in the end. Making something an open standard and supporting centralized authentication/etc is a nontrivial thing for what purpose?
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jm4 3 days ago 2 replies
I'm genuinely curious why it even matters whether it's open or not. I get that he said it would be open and now it's not. But beyond that why does it even matter? I can use Tango, Qik, Skype, etc. I think there's an iOS app out there that does Google Talk video. They are even easier because I don't have to explain to my parents how to connect the phone to wifi.
Maybe with the proliferation of all these other video chat apps opening up Facetime became a lower priority?
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jmspring 2 days ago 0 replies
"Steve Jobs Sometimes Lies to You" but following other posts... "Does he respect you in the morning?"
I'm sorry, but re: FaceTime, not opening it up is old news. There is probably more traction in following what is going on in the RTCWeb world than there is in any particular company's opening of their video calling API. Keeping eyeballs in the realm of the proprietary app is key.
Many companies are in paying attention to WebRTC, but it's not there yet. Some companies, I suspect, like Apple, probably don't care (at least for now). It's better to focus on the primary customer experience.
Speaking of experience, I haven't researched, but how do the assorted non-facetime apps compare w/ facetime?
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It would appear that FaceTime is built on top of open standards, is Steve more explicit than that in the original presentation (for example, does he say that access to Apple's FaceTime servers will be available openly, etc.)?
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benihana 3 days ago 1 reply
Didn't Apple do something similar when they forked KHTML? I think it took them a few years to make it completely open source after they said they would.
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marioestrada 3 days ago 0 replies
Here's the only information we have publicly about what happened with the FaceTime open standard: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2011/05/11/facetime-standar...
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digipen79 3 days ago 1 reply
You have a great point, sir, and Apple (along with other companies) does need to be called out when they say they will allow the general user access to something and they do not put it into practice. What can we do about it, though?
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jgh 3 days ago 1 reply
Oh gosh, I'm glad all these good people on HN have lined up to defend Steve Jobs, I don't know what I would do if I found out that he, at any point in time, lied to me. I would just... I would probably faint. Just thinking about that possibility has made me all lightheaded. I need a fan. I need to sit down. Steve Jobs will not lie to me! He is a good man! He makes the devices I crave! Electrolytes!
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mmahemoff 3 days ago 0 replies
Good point. Skype haven't been too quick about innovating anywhere lately, but companies like Tango and Fring, would be all over it if it was open. And maybe Google too, given GTalk, Android, and Google+.
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tomazstolfa 3 days ago 0 replies
wrote this a while ago. might be relevant for the debate - http://www.funkykaraoke.com/2010/10/on-facetime.html
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andrewpi 3 days ago 0 replies
The lack of any apparent activity regarding an open FaceTime protocol is pretty annoying. Has anyone emailed Steve to ask what the holdup is?
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ara4n 3 days ago 0 replies
At least Apple's failure to deliver on their promises on Open FaceTime leaves an opening for other folks to deliver (e.g. http://jointheseen.com/sdk )
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mmuro 3 days ago 2 replies
"Open" does not always equal "Open Source."
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known 2 days ago 0 replies
You cannot successfully run a business without lies.
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juliano_q 3 days ago 2 replies
I think Facetime is already open. You can use it on your Mac, on your iPhone, on your iPad. Looks like this is open to Steve Jobs, open to all your iOS devices. Why would you need to have another kind of device anyway?
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tobylane 3 days ago 1 reply
There are plenty of (insert absolutely any apple product here)-killers that are loudly touted by the manufacturer, and any apple-hater that we have never heard of since. Do we whinge that there hasn't been more proof that the iphone/etc are best? Silence isn't incriminating, it's silence.
How open is Honeycomb, or Ice Cream?
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ethank 3 days ago 1 reply
I don't think that a calculated decision not to deliver something indicates that he lied in the moment. Its faulty logic. It means that he set out to deceive rather than made a mistake, spoke too soon, didn't consult with his team or whatever the case may be.
Downvote away, but its true. What may be a lie after the fact was not a lie in situ.
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garbageInnerLo 3 days ago 2 replies
The author of this blog post is a known loud-mouth, a know-it-all, yet wrong 99% of the time.
There's got to be a way to block these ignorant kids and their bullshit, ignorant blog posts. They are stuck in a 12-year-old mindset, and don't know why the tech world operates like it does.
Seriously... look at all of his bullshit blog postings. I'm glad he's focused on that, instead of using his stupidity to harm others. Usually it can be ignored (unless it pops up on 'Hacker-Wannabe-Script-Kiddie-Failed-Businessman' News)
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buster 3 days ago 1 reply
one cent for every lie, and i'd be millionaire by now..
(this had to be said and will be worth the massive downvotes)
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napierzaza 3 days ago 0 replies
He's not in political office. He's not beholden to your or me. Unfortunately they didn't open it. It would be great if they had. But it's just a dead feature. Steve Jobs actual legally binding responsibility is to the share holders that he will make Apple money. Why not reverse engineer FaceTime and release a OpenSource version?
Anyway,if you REALLY want someone to dilly dally with the term "Open", you should get an Android phone.
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